In Moonfall, a mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurdling on a collision course with life as we know it. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler is convinced she has the key to saving us all – but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper and a conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman believe her. These unlikely heroes will mount an impossible last-ditch mission into space, leaving behind everyone they love, only to find that they might have prepared for the wrong mission.
* * *
JACK KING: (ON RADIO) T-minus 15 seconds.
Guidance is internal.
12, 11, 10, 9…
Ignition sequence starts.
6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
Zero. All engines running.
Liftoff. We have liftoff on Apollo 11.
NEIL ARMSTRONG: Fuel and oxygen steady.
Cabin holding. Power is good.
Altitude is four miles now.
Velocity, 2,195 feet per second.
BUZZ ALDRIN: Good radar data.
Altitude now, 33,500 feet.
How are you looking? All your systems go.
KING: They’re a go. Hang tight.
You’re a go to continue power descent.
ARMSTRONG: Uh, Houston, I’m getting a little fluctuation.
CHARLIE DUKE: And, Eagle, Houston, we got data drop-outs.
ALDRIN: Three feet down, two and a half.
Picking up some dust.
ARMSTRONG: Okay. Engine stop.
(ECHOING) The Eagle has landed.
(LOW RUMBLING)
(AFRICA BY TOTO PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
♪ “Hurry, boy, it’s waiting there for you”
♪ It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
♪ There’s nothing that a hundred men or more
♪ Could ever do
♪ I bless the rains down in Africa
♪ Gonna take some time to do the things we never had… ♪
What does it even mean to “miss the rains down in Africa”?
The lyrics are “I bless the rains down in Africa.”
What? No, they’re not.
FOWLER: Uh, yes, they are.
BRIAN: It makes even less sense.
Well, I should know,
because I karaoke’d it at my wedding.
BRIAN: Ah. Well, I must have missed that.
I was in the zone.
Tearing it up on the dance floor.
(CHUCKLES) You can’t dance to save your life.
Anyone ever tell you guys you bicker like an old married couple?
That’s ’cause she’s my work wife.
Back to work, rookie.
(AFRICA CONTINUES PLAYING)
(SINGING ALONG) ♪ …could ever do
♪ I miss the rain down in Africa ♪
I would like to thank you for spending your honeymoon in space with us.
It was either space or Italy.
But Italy doesn’t beat this view.
BRIAN: (SINGING OFF-KEY) ♪ I miss the rains
♪ Down in Africa
Brian. Oh, my God.
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
BRIAN: (BREAKING UP) ♪ I miss the rains down in Africa ♪
(ALARMS BLARING)
(BRIAN VOCALIZING)
What the hell is that?
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
(FOWLER GRUNTS)
(ALARMS BLARING)
(GASPS)
MARCUS: Brian!
Marcus!
MARCUS: Help me.
I’m losing air. I’m losing air.
Brian!
(STRAINING)
(BOTH YELP)
(GASPS FOR AIR)
Jo. Fowler, come in.
MARCUS: Help me.
BRIAN: Marcus!
(GRUNTS)
(PANTING)
Oh, God.
Okay, hang on.
Marcus. Marcus, come in.
(RADIO STATIC)
Marcus.
(RADIO STATIC)
Marcus. God damn it.
(VALVE HISSES)
(WHIRRING)
(GRUNTS)
Come on.
Come on.
(VALVE HISSES)
(METAL CREAKS)
(VALVE HISSES)
(WHIRRING STOPS)
No. Marcus…
No.
(SIGHS)
I’m gonna get you home.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
NEWSCASTER: (ON TV) Our viewers might remember the accident that happened during a routine satellite repair mission 18 months ago.
Today, a D.C. court of appeals handed down the final judgement on ex-astronaut Brian Harper’s wrongful termination suit against NASA, his former employer.
We have obtained footage of an internal NASA debriefing where Harper claimed that the accident was caused by a mysterious technological space anomaly.
So, this so-called “swarm” hit the shuttle?
Yes, for the 50th time.
It impacted in the Mare Crisium.
HUTCHINGS: Commander Fowler, a passing meteor or a solar flare could have caused that kind of disturbance, correct?
FOWLER: As you know, I was unconscious, but…
HUTCHINGS: Yes or no?
Can a solar flare cause the kind of disturbance you witnessed in the shuttle’s onboard system?
I guess, yes, technically. It could have.
BRIAN: Are you kidding me?
I lost my friend up there.
HUTCHINGS: Because of negligence.
NEWSCASTER: Harper was once celebrated for his heroic landing of the Endeavour space shuttle in spite of a complete meltdown of all onboard electronics.
Harper’s legal options have been exhausted and it’s become clear that the accident was the result of human error.
Today’s loss is the final blow in this very public fall from grace.
BRENDA: Hey, Sonny.
Do you need to be watching that again?
You know what?
Grandma is going to be so excited to see you.
Dad’s not coming, is he?
Your dad’s got a lot going on right now.
I know. That’s why we lost the house.
Maybe he’ll come visit you for Thanksgiving.
Would you like that?
I don’t wanna move.
I hate New Jersey.
(PANTING)
I’m sorry, sir. My mum always said “it’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask permission.”
(LINE RINGING)
Oh, crap. Was that red or blue?
Please tell me it was blue.
MAN: (ON PHONE) Observatorio Nacional de Chile.
Esteban?
ESTEBAN: Si?
It’s Professor Arrowood.
ESTEBAN: Ah!
I see you’re logging in to our telescope, Professor.
Oh, yeah. I’m still tracking our Moon’s orbit.
Would you mind sending last night’s scans?
Use the other e-mail I gave you though, not the school one.
ESTEBAN: Like always, sir.
(DOOR OPENS)
(WOMAN SPEAKING SPANISH)
(CLEARS THROAT) Gotta run.
Um, uh…
Ciao.
ESTEBAN: Adios.
Hola senoras.
Hola.
(VEHICLE HORN HONKS)
(BRAKES SCREECHING)
(VAN DOOR SHUTS)
You’re seven and a half minutes late.
I have to write this up.
Hello, there.
Hi.
What can I get you?
I’d like a Pastrami Madness…
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
…and I would also like to ask you, dear, what sauces do you serve with the pastrami?
Oh, yeah. We’ve got barbecue, honey mustard, ranch…
What the fuck!
What was the… the last one?
One Madness coming up.
We have a strict no phone policy.
Can I take my 10?
(LINE RINGING)
Hello. My name is Dr. KC Houseman, and I’ve uncovered what might be the most important discovery in human history.
I need you to patch me through to the director of NASA immediately.
Honey, I sell T-shirts and toys.
I can patch you through to customer service.
Please hold.
(MUZAK PLAYING ON PHONE)
(PHONE BEEPS)
(SIGHS)
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
Hello?
(DOOR SQUEAKING)
Black, two sugar.
Oh, you read my mind. Thank you.
What are you doing up so early?
I could ask you the same.
Is everything okay?
Will be. So I’m gonna be home by dinner.
If I’m not, make sure Jimmy does his homework, has a bath…
You worry too much.
I’ve got everything under control.
Right. Talk soon.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
(BUSY CHATTER)
(CHATTER DIES DOWN)
(FOWLER PANTING)
Okay, don’t everybody speak at once.
The Moon’s orbit has shifted.
I’m sorry.
Its orbital radius is decreasing.
Well, that’s not possible.
We thought the same, so we ran the numbers and triple-checked our data.
So, the Moon’s been orbiting around the Earth for billions of years, and now you’re telling me it’s changed its course?
(JOHANSEN CLEARS THROAT)
This isn’t kindergarten, speak.
Right, uh, yes. So, on its last orbit, our Lunar Reconnaissance Probe picked up something strange.
FOWLER: What is that?
We don’t know.
We have photometric measurements of gaseous spectra being emitted from inside.
Where is this?
JOHANSEN: Mare Crisium.
KC: How many times do I have to tell you?
I need to speak to Deputy Director Fowler immediately.
But this is urgent.
I understand how a restraining order works, but if you people at NASA won’t listen to me, how am I supposed to…
Hello?
(PANTING)
What would Elon do?
(CAT MEOWS)
Oh, Fuzz Aldrin.
How many times have I told you to use the litter box?
(FUZZ MEOWS)
Oh, God.
“Astronaut Day.” This is today.
Fuzz, you’re a damn genius!
Extra back scratches later.
(BRAKES SCREECH)
(DOOR HINGES CREAK)
(PANTING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Our teacher said you’re a washed up no-show.
She’s complaining to someone.
You really don’t look like an astronaut.
Well, are you going to teach us about space or what?
MAN: Brian!
(BRIAN INHALES SHARPLY)
Brian!
(SIGHS)
(BANGING ON DOOR)
Open the goddamn door. You’re three months late!
Shit.
I can hear you in there.
Oh, shit. Oof!
Brian!
(ENGINE ROARS)
KC: To put it bluntly, the Moon is a megastructure.
Do you get it? Huge and artificial!
Whoever built this incredible thing must think we’re a pathetic species.
But don’t even get me started on eclipses.
They’re only possible because the Moon is exactly 400 times smaller than the Sun, and exactly 400 times closer to the Earth.
Anyone know how that happened?
Uh… ‘Cause the Moon’s a megastructure?
Yeah, someone’s paying attention!
Let me tell you kids something.
When Apollo 12 dropped their empty fuel tank, the impact made the Moon ring like a bell.
Bong!
(CHILDREN GASP)
It rang for hours. And do you know why?
Because the damn Moon is hollow.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
(PANTING)
Hello. I’m Brian Harper.
I’m supposed to be speaking here today.
BOY: Oh!
I’m Dr. KC Houseman, megastructurist.
It’s a real honor.
I’m sorry, who are you?
Um…
I’ve made a shocking discovery.
I need you to get me in touch with NASA immediately.
Well, NASA and I aren’t really on speaking terms these days.
Well, that will change… when you tell them that the Moon is out of orbit.
Really?
Hey, kids, I’m gonna go get this all sorted out.
Be right back.
Look at the data.
A natural body does not change its orbit overnight.
Yeah, well, my natural body is walking away from you right now.
There must be something wrong with the Moon’s power source.
Yeah, that must be it.
I knew you’d believe me.
People usually think I’m some kind of crackpot.
Hey, fellas, I need this guy escorted off the premises for impersonating me and creeping out a bunch of school kids.
I was not impersonating you.
Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to come with us.
Sorry, man. I got enough on my plate without some crazy guy thinking the Moon’s out of orbit.
I’m not crazy!
Okay.
Read this.
All right, I’m on my way.
(BRIAN SIGHS)
Oh. Hi.
(SOFT INDIE ROCK SONG PLAYING ON STEREO)
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
Is this a butt dial?
Put on channel 16.
BRIAN: Well, I thought we weren’t speaking anymore.
Are you watching?
REPORTER: The two suspects who have rolled through at least two red lights…
Okay, looks like some idiot tried to outrun the cops.
Yeah. That idiot is your son.
Sonny doesn’t even have a car.
I’m still fixing up the Mustang.
(SIGHS) Tom gave him one for his birthday.
REPORTER: The car has stopped. It’s an expensive sports car.
Two young men that appear to be in their 20s.
Oh, my God. Are you seeing this?
REPORTER: LAPD have them in custody.
Out for a joy ride and this day is not going to end well for them.
NEWSCASTER: There you have it.
Another high-speed car chase…
(BRIAN SIGHS)
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
BAILIFF: Next case, Sonny Neil Harper.
(HANDCUFFS OPEN)
It says here you just turned 18.
Unfortunately, that makes you an adult in the eyes of the law.
What? Hey, aren’t you gonna say something?
Because of the reckless nature of your actions and the amount of illegal substances present at the time of your arrest…
No, Your Honor. Those drugs weren’t his.
They were just his buddy’s. They were on their way to a concert.
Quiet in my court.
Well, he just got scared. That’s why he took off.
All right, that’s it. Bailiff.
Your Honor, excuse the actions of my client’s father.
We’re prepared to pay whatever the bail is right now.
Money’s no object.
Well, I guess that makes the defendant a flight risk.
Your Honor, we do not mean to offend the court in any way.
I’m postponing this bail hearing till next week.
(GAVEL BANGS)
Bailiff, remove Mr. Harper.
Wait. You can’t… Don’t listen to him.
You can’t put him in jail for a week.
Please, I’m begging you.
Sonny, I’m gonna get you out.
If you’re looking for the deal of your life, come to Tom Lopez Lexus, where you’re not just a customer, we treat you like family.
Do you have any idea how a courtroom operates?
Your lawyer was doing nothing.
Oh, so you know better than my lawyer who’s on a $50,000 retainer!
I thought money was no object, Tom.
Oh, no, no, no. It is when you don’t have any.
BRIAN: Nice move, by the way. Sonny’s now a flight risk.
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
This guy’s unbelievable. Unbelievable.
All right, everyone, just cool it.
Now, what the hell happened?
TOM: Oh, what happened?
When Brian had to open his big mouth, he had a little speech.
Oh, my God. Go to hell, Tom.
Yeah, you know what?
And you go to outer space, far away from us.
BRENDA: Guys!
We’re all just trying to help Sonny right here.
Oh, wait, Brian’s trying to help Sonny? Since when?
Brenda, honestly, what do you see in this schmuck?
Oh, you’re a big man, aren’t you?
How did this happen? Why wasn’t he at USC?
He moved out when you got him that new apartment.
So ask him.
He barely returns my calls anymore.
Welcome to the club.
(SIGHS)
(CALL ENDS)
(INDISTINCT TV CHATTER)
Oh, KC, is that you?
Hey, Mum. Rosmarinus officinalis.
A few studies have found that smelling rosemary can improve your short-term memory.
Oh, that’s lovely, dear. Thank you.
(CHUCKLES) Thank you.
Oh, no, no, no, Mum. Let me do that.
There we go. So, how are you feeling?
Great.
But enough about me.
Everybody here knows that my son is a genius working at NASA.
What?
I’m a nobody, Mum.
Well, you’re somebody to me.
I actually did make a discovery.
But it doesn’t matter.
No one will listen to me.
Then make them.
Make them listen?
Oh, hello.
Are you new here?
No, Mum.
It’s me. It’s KC.
Your son.
HUTCHINGS: Can someone tell me what the hell I’m looking at?
The Moon has entered an elliptical orbit.
Meaning?
MAN 1: It’ll circle around us three times before it reaches the Roche Limit at 17,000 kilometers.
At that point, city-sized pieces of Moon debris will rain down on us.
HUTCHINGS: So we have three months?
MAN 2: Not exactly.
As the Moon moves closer to us, our months will begin to shorten.
We’ve estimated a timeline of roughly three weeks.
Maybe less than that.
We have some new high-res scans that just came in.
Jesus Christ.
Is that a hole in the crater floor?
So what are our options here?
We have to go back to the Moon.
We have to see what’s going on up there.
How do we carry crew?
I’ve already talked to my contacts in Europe.
We can potentially get a STC-62 en route by tomorrow.
HUTCHINGS: Potentially?
Great.
I’ll just brief the president on a maybe.
In the meantime, everyone keep your mouths shut.
(CELL PHONES CHIMING)
MAN 2: Um…
That might be a problem.
It’s, uh, trending on Twitter as of two minutes ago.
It’s your ex-husband.
FOWLER: Thank you.
Hey, Doug, I’m a little busy right now. What is it?
DOUG: (ON PHONE) Is it true?
Tell me there’s been some kind of mistake.
(SIGHS) I wish I could, but the math actually checks out.
So, it’s happening.
How’s Jimmy?
Well, you’d know if you saw him once in a while.
Please don’t start. I call him all the time.
Sorry, I gotta run.
Oh…
Your Honor.
Jesus Christ!
I guess hanging up wasn’t clear enough.
I just need two minutes of your time.
You have till I reach the door.
I got a classic bike and my son’s vintage Mustang that I can use as collateral till I get money, whatever you need.
Are you trying to bribe me? In a courthouse?
I just wanna get my son back.
The courts are closed.
Will they reopen Monday?
(SCOFFS)
Not likely.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Look, I’m just trying to get the heck outta here before the traffic becomes a nightmare.
I suggest you do the same.
NEWSCASTER: Breaking news.
We go now live to the NASA press briefing to discuss the Moon being out of orbit.
REPORTER: Astronomers have noticed bright lights on the lunar surface lately.
Do you know the identity of the anonymous source?
(REPORTERS ON TV CLAMORING)
HUTCHINGS: Everyone, please.
We’re confident that the lunar recon mission will provide the necessary data to address the problem.
There’s no need to panic. That’s all for now.
(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
You just lied to the whole country.
HUTCHINGS: Get in line, you work for me.
I work for the American people, and you’re keeping them in the dark.
Yeah.
SCIENTIST: (ON TV) NASA is completely downplaying this.
Imagine the tides on the coast…
(PHONE RINGING)
…growing hundreds of times larger, moving hundreds of miles inland, then you’ll get an idea of what we’re in for.
NEWSCASTER: Some of your harshest critics claim that you’re exaggerating…
TOM: Hey.
All flights to the West Coast have been cancelled.
And I’m stuck in traffic.
TOM: Oh, I’m so sorry.
SCIENTIST: Moving to higher ground it’s the only possible chance of surviving this.
Honey. We should go to Aspen.
What about Sonny? We can’t just leave him there.
TOM: No, no, no. We’re not gonna leave him.
The lawyer’s gonna get him out the moment the judge sets bail.
And I’ll find a way to get him to Colorado.
We’re going to Colorado?
No. No, Tom.
SCIENTIST: Earth’s stronger gravity will completely break the Moon apart and send thousands of mile-sized chunks raining down upon the planet.
Okay, okay, okay. Hey, Google. Turn off the TV.
Girls, go pack.
GOOGLE: Turning the TV off.
TOM: Girls, go pack your snow boots.
Come on. Hurry up.
We have to start thinking about the girls.
And trust me, we are not gonna forget about Sonny.
MAN: (ON RADIO) T-minus five seconds.
Four, three, two, one.
Ignition.
REPORTER 1: This is it.
The entire world is holding its collective breath as the joint missions between NASA and the European Space Agencies take to the skies today.
REPORTER 2: Nations remain hopeful of NASA’s lunar mission as frantic shoppers continue to stockpile supplies as mounting Moon terror fuels the mass migration out of metropolitan areas.
NEWSCASTER 1: Civilization has already taken a serious nosedive.
Looting has become a favorite pastime in the United Kingdom.
REPORTER 3: Fear and panic have overtaken our city.
The National Guard struggles to restore some kind of order.
MAN: Stay awake, my brothers and sisters.
As the stars fall from Heaven, stay awake!
REPORTER 4: These armed religious fanatics have racked up thousands of followers all over the country.
(GRUNTS)
(TOOL CLATTERS)
REPORTER 5: In other news, prominent scientists are now exploring the possibility that perhaps the Moon could be some sort of orbital megastructure.
A term first popularized by fringe astronomers, megastructures describe artificial planet-sized objects said to be powered by captured stars.
This once radical possibility is now gaining traction among a scientific community desperate for answers.
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
(POLICE SIRENS WAILING)
Come out! Hands up!
Easy, easy.
You’re that astronaut guy from the other day.
I accidentally threw away some very important papers.
Lucky for you, sanitation hasn’t come by all week.
Yeah, it’s, uh, lucky for me.
“Orbital distance”?
Are you looking for this?
(PANTING)
KC: My fellow megastructurists, if you’re watching this, then you know by now a huge problem is heading our way, and we’re the only ones who can solve it.
An emergency meeting is being called, our usual place immediately.
L.A. Palm Hotel. Today. 1800.
Free bagels.
(EPIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Lunar orbit insertion complete.
Houston, we’re approaching the Mare Crisium.
Initiating capsule rotation.
Affirmative.
15 degrees. 30.
45. 70. 90.
COMMANDER: STC-62 in position.
Houston, you seeing this?
FOWLER: Copy, we see it.
Prepare to deploy the probe.
Affirmative. Releasing probe.
Stand by for stage two.
MOSLEY: Dropping steadily.
KC: (ON MIC) I posted on every platform.
Why don’t those idiots at NASA see the real problem?
Because they obviously haven’t read famed cosmologist Carl Sagan’s work, where he clearly states that a natural satellite cannot be a hollow object.
I… I’ve been saying that for years, Dr. Houseman.
That doesn’t help us now, does it, Ziggy?
This room is full of the smartest and most visionary people in the world.
(COUGHS)
KC: We all know the Moon’s a constructed object. Okay?
There has to be a way to fix it.
Come on, people, think outside the box.
Oswald did it.
Oh, damn it, Gary. Not now.
Mr. Harper.
What are you doing here?
Probably making a huge mistake.
Can we talk?
How did you know I was here?
Your website.
You read my blog?
You knew all this was happening before anyone.
Before NASA. How?
Why bother?
You’re just gonna say I’m crazy again.
Try me.
Well, for years I’ve been studying distant planets, searching for one of these orbiting megastructures.
But I never could have imagined there’d be one right here,
in our own backyard.
Ever heard of a Dyson sphere?
Yeah.
Every megastructure has a rigid shell built around a power core.
Most likely a captured white dwarf that’s being harnessed for energy.
Something obviously happened to the one inside our Moon and that’s why it’s veering off course.
Yeah, still crazy.
Why did you come here if you’re not going to believe me?
‘Cause I know what it’s like to try to tell people something and have no one listen.
MOSLEY: Probe depth has reached 24.5 kilometers.
25 kilometers.
Holding steady at 25.6 kilometers.
Still holding.
It stopped?
It’s coming back.
24 kilometers.
20.
15.
We got another problem.
The Moon’s orbit is shifting again.
What?
It’s correcting itself.
(ALARMS BLARING)
Uh, Houston, we’re experiencing some kind of malfunction.
Houston, do you copy?
Houston, do you copy?
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
What the hell is that?
I don’t know.
(ALARM BEEPS)
Hull breach. Helmets.
(GRUNTS)
(SHRIEKING)
(MALE ASTRONAUT 1 SCREAMING)
(MALE ASTRONAUT 2 SCREAMING)
(STATIC)
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
(SINISTER MUSIC PLAYING)
REPORTER: (ON TV) In breaking news, NASA has just corrected their initial projection…
(LIGHTER FLICKING)
…of the Moon’s path over Earth.
(SKA MUSIC PLAYING ON HEADPHONES)
The governor has just ordered the mass evacuation of the entire West Coast, recommending that people urgently head to higher ground.
As the Moon keeps closing in on Earth in a chaotic, and as one scientist put it…
(BURSTING IN DISTANCE)
Guys! (PANTING)
The… The… The tide, it’s coming.
Come on. We gotta get outta here.
KC: Wait!
Everybody, upstairs. Go! Everybody, get up!
Come on! Go, go!
KC, what are you doing?
KC!
(KC YELPS)
(KC YELLS)
(GRUNTS)
KC, hang on!
(KC GASPING)
(KC WHIMPERS)
I can’t swim!
Dr. Houseman!
Hang on!
(YELPS)
(KC GASPING)
He’s right there. He’s right there.
Hang on!
(BRIAN GRUNTING)
(KC GRUNTING)
Come on!
Come on.
BRIAN: Come on.
(KC PANTING)
(COUGHING)
(SHRIEKING)
It’s some kind of self-aware, self-replicating singularity.
Like a machine?
Machines don’t have intelligence. This does.
It’s everything we feared about A.I.
And it knew we were coming.
So it was probably drawn out by the electronic signature of the capsule.
Everything we thought we knew about the nature of the universe has just gone out the window.
We’re not prepared for this.
Deb, don’t argue, just pack your stuff. We’re leaving.
So you’re just gonna quit?
What do you want me to do?
I want you to help us figure out what the hell this thing is, so we can beat it.
We’re not equipped for that.
You’ve seen what we’re up against.
You’ve been gunning for my job for a while, Fowler.
Congrats, it’s yours.
What are you not telling me?
You’ve got Q clearance.
The hole is in the Mare Crisium.
That’s what the Harper hearings were all about.
If you’re serious about going down the NASA rabbit hole, you should pay a visit to Holdenfield.
Here’s your clearance.
(SOFT CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKER)
(MONITOR BEEPING)
CLERK: How did you get down here?
FOWLER: Hutchings gave me this.
I’ll need all records of STX-136A.
You waiting for something?
(GRUNTS SOFTLY)
(KEYBOARD CLACKS)
(AFRICA BY TOTO PLAYING)
(BRIAN VOCALIZING)
MARCUS: What the hell is that?
I feel it.
MAN: What are you doing?
Holdenfield?
You’re not supposed to have that, 136 Alpha.
That’s classified. Top secret.
Why is NASA lying about all this?
July 20th, 1969.
“One small step for man, one giant leap for…” yada, yada, yada.
In school, you were taught that Apollo 11 lost contact with Mission Control for two minutes. Not true.
Mission Control cut their feed to the world because they found something on that day.
Strange pulsating lights emanating from beneath the Moon’s crust.
It was me who was assigned to keep it under wraps.
The Apollo crew played ball. Everybody after.
Just Brian Harper wouldn’t.
They called him crazy.
Threw him out with the trash.
You’re telling me that the Moon was effectively the biggest cover-up in human history?
(LAUGHING)
Biggest? Probably.
You had blood on your hands, too.
Yeah, well, anyone who follows orders pretty much always does, don’t they?
That technology, it’s light years ahead of us.
Compared to that, we’re the Stone Age.
The only shot we had to stop it was Zulu X-Ray 7.
It was shut down. Shelved.
For budgetary reasons.
Well, Commander, I have pressing business waiting for me on my desk.
The sand in the hourglass is dropping quickly for all of us.
It’s as good as gone.
I’m really sorry.
(SWITCH CLICKS)
Really.
(DISCONNECT TONE)
(BRIAN SIGHS)
(SOFTLY) Damn it.
KC: What’s wrong?
I can’t reach my son.
Uh…
Word is, um, you’re an astronaut, so you must know that the entire inside of the Moon
is full of produce.
KC, can you tell Birkenstocks here that I’m dangerously close to hurling him out a window?
Okay, well, let’s find an empty room.
ZIGGY: How do you think the Incas got their potatoes?
Sorry.
You said that if we can destroy this thing…
FOWLER: We have a theory that the Moon might return to its original orbit.
And how do you propose we do that exactly?
You said so yourself, using a modern spacecraft is not feasible.
I am working on a solution.
GENERAL JENKINS: We appreciate your effort, but this is now a military operation.
We’ll take it from here.
Doug! Wait!
If you launch nukes, the global fallout is gonna kill everybody.
Who said anything about nukes?
You are making a big mistake here.
Please, let me put together a plan.
We have a plan.
(SIGHS)
Look, why don’t you and Jimmy come with me to Colorado?
You’ll be safe there.
What are you asking me to do? Quit? Give up?
I’m asking you to think about our son.
I am thinking about our son.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(DISCONNECT TONE)
KC: Where is he?
Uh, jail.
He’s a good kid, just made a mistake.
I was always doing stupid things.
Don’t know how my parents put up with me.
We never had a lot of money, but sometimes we’d all get fish ‘n chips, sit out on the dock and just watch the stars for hours.
(CHUCKLES)
That was when I first dreamed of being an astronaut.
After my father passed, my mum wanted to move back to the States.
My dad laughed when I told him I wanted to be an astronaut.
Didn’t believe in you?
Oh, that’s putting it lightly.
I worked my ass off to get into NASA.
I read all about your last mission.
You saw alien tech.
And NASA insisted it was a meteor.
But it wasn’t?
It was unlike anything I’d ever seen.
And, you know, the worst part is I lost a friend up there.
And it was my fault.
Oh, come on. How was it your fault?
You saved the shuttle. You saved Fowler.
A lot of good that did.
I’m divorced, broke, my son hates me.
God, I am so jealous.
Alien tech. (CHUCKLES)
It’s freakin’ awesome.
(SCOFFS)
REPORTER: Extreme weather is hammering the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast with high tides and flooding wreaking havoc on residents and properties.
Folks, if you aren’t already on high ground, you better get there as soon as possible.
MICHELLE: Um, as an exchange student, are you sure they’re going to let me into the bunker?
Yeah. Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.
Thank you.
REPORTER: …and loss of life in populated areas.
As you can see, the images coming out of Bangladesh are simply horrific Mom, are we gonna die?
No. No, sweetheart.
I know all of this that’s happening seems so scary, but we are not gonna die. Okay?
We’re all gonna be safe with Dad in Colorado.
Are you sending more rockets to the Moon?
No. No. You know why?
Because we don’t… we don’t have any more of these.
Why not?
Because they’re all in museums.
And, um…
Uh…
(WHISPERING) I love you, sweetheart.
(PHONE RINGING)
(PHONE BEEPS)
FOWLER: (ON PHONE) Hey, Doug.
What is a ZX-7?
DOUG: Who told you about that?
FOWLER: Well, come on. What is it?
(SIGHS) Zulu X-Ray Seven was a prototype EMP device.
But the program got disbanded.
Okay, well, it’s clear that this thing inside the Moon is technological in nature, right?
I assume they thought an EMP could take the thing out.
We don’t have a way into space so this is a moot point.
Okay, well, how far along was the testing?
Jocinda, NASA isn’t cleared for another mission.
How about you let me worry about that?
AUCLAIR: (ON COMMS) GPS is locked on LZ.
Compensate latitude by minus 4.5 west.
4.5 degrees. Copy.
Reducing to 10 knots.
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
(SOLDIER SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
(BANGING ON DOOR)
AUCLAIR: Open the door.
(SIGHS)
BRIAN: (GROANS) Yeah?
AUCLAIR: Brian Harper?
Yeah.
We need you to come with us.
It’s a matter of national security.
(SIGHS) All right. Give me a second.
I’m not going anywhere without him.
Yeah, we’re a team.
(SIGHS)
Oh. (CHUCKLES) Sorry, I’m sorry, miss.
Sorry.
Oh, sorry, sorry.
(PANTING)
It’s been nearly three hours. That can’t be a good sign.
What’s with all the pill popping?
You’re really sweating over there.
You okay?
Yeah.
(KC CONTINUES PANTING)
No. I broke into UC Irvine multiple times.
I lost two of their mops.
They probably know.
Oh, you gotta be kidding me. No.
Look, I don’t want to be here any more than you do.
(BRIAN GROANS)
Sit down.
No, no, no. I don’t have to take orders from you anymore.
I’m just curious, you still screwing over your friends?
Oh, you talking about me?
How many of these wonderful people here…
Really?
Guys!
Who the hell is this?
(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) Dr. KC Houseman, ma’am.
I wrote you several e-mails, but you never responded.
What’s this all about?
Follow me.
What you’re about to see, only a handful of people have ever seen before.
KC knew the Moon was out of orbit before you guys did.
Social media went wild when I posted my research.
You’re the “unidentified source”?
Oh, yes.
Oh, God.
Mosley, pull up the tunnel, please.
(COMPUTER TRILLING)
Our readings estimate its depth to be over 25 kilometers.
BRIAN: That’s the Mare Crisium.
FOWLER: Exactly.
I think whatever happened all those years ago is directly responsible for what’s happening right now.
Oh, so you believe me now?
I saw your helmet cam.
It’s a little late for an apology.
FOWLER: We were both lied to.
The international mission didn’t just go sideways.
(ASTRONAUT SCREAMING)
It was attacked.
A technological life form.
No effin’ way.
FOWLER: During the attack, the Moon was attempting to return to its original orbit, until this thing went back inside the Moon.
This is what I’ve been trying to tell you.
It’s doing something to the megastructure’s power core.
Excuse me. The megastructure?
Please don’t ask.
It’s highly likely our Moon was built by aliens.
We have to get inside and make first contact.
I told you not to ask.
All right, look, we’re planning a mission to attack this thing.
The only problem is, is it recognizes our technology.
Which is why we need you.
Well, I never thought I’d hear you say that again.
You’re the only pilot to ever land a shuttle without power.
Not exactly a hirable skill.
Well, it is right now, which is why I’m offering you your job back,
and I’m personally asking you for your help.
(WHISPERS) Say yes, Brian.
I don’t know.
I got a lot of my own problems down here.
And the Moon falling onto Earth
isn’t one of them?
I was wrong to bring you here. I am done.
How do you plan on getting up there?
You know all of our shuttles are in museums.
The Endeavour is right here in L.A.
Plus, the Chinese are offering their prototype moon lander.
I know it sounds completely crazy.
No, no, what you showed us was crazy.
This is a whole other level of insane.
Ought to be right up your alley then, no?
If I do this, I’m gonna need something in return.
Clear! All clear over here.
Staircase on your left.
Keep your eyes open.
Did you reach him?
Yeah. It’s being handled.
Sonny’s gonna meet us at Vandenberg.
BRIAN: Looks like we missed the party.
I didn’t even get an invite.
FOWLER: At least somebody’s on the same page as us.
Hey, hey. Look what I found!
Maybe we can use it as toilet paper.
What?
Take a look around you, man.
It’s worthless.
Whatever. Let’s go.
MAN: (ON LOUDSPEAKER) Attention, we are asking everyone to please clear the streets and to remain indoors… (CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
Dude, dude, we gotta get outta here. Go!
(TIRES SCREECH)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Yeah. This is really, really exciting, isn’t it?
NEWSCASTER: As leaders around the world struggle for answers, new images have surfaced suggesting that NASA might have plans for a new lunar mission.
But so far, NASA and the White House have not responded to requests for comment.
And this is just in from our correspondent in Southeast Asia.
Apparently, the Moon is causing a drastic increase in tectonic activity.
Reports of countless earthquakes and volcanic eruptions keep pouring in.
That’s weird.
What’s weird?
The Moon doesn’t have enough gravity to do that, no matter how close it gets.
You still don’t get it.
We’re dealing with a megastructure.
Your rules don’t apply anymore.
FOWLER: We’ve been here how long now, and nobody’s bothered to paint over that?
It’s kinda growing on me.
Hey, where’s Sonny?
I sent a ground crew to the prison, okay?
But I haven’t heard anything in a few days.
Why the hell didn’t you say that?
‘Cause I need you to be focused on what’s happening right here.
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
Megastructures move through space without an exhaust system.
The Moon has an engine?
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.
Well, at least your husband came through with that.
Ex-husband.
Colonel.
Director Fowler.
Commander Harper. I’m Lieutenant Colonel Reed.
This is Captain Avery.
We’ve been briefed by General Davidson.
AVERY: We need to walk you through the arming procedure.
I’m an astronaut, not a soldier.
I’ll get you where you need to go, but I’m not setting off any bomb.
We don’t expect you to.
We’ll accompany you on the mission and activate the device, but you need to be familiar with the process should complications arise.
(AIR HISSES)
AVERY: The bomb’s security and authentication systems have been removed.
Meaning we can arm it without approval from the ground.
Using a remote trigger.
Two clicks, then push this down and hold.
Triggers the device to go off.
Simple.
Yeah. Simple.
Nearing Vandenberg, Captain. Over.
Roger that.
Should’ve gotten you the jumbo platter.
Thank you for getting me out.
You can thank your dad.
BRIAN: Plan is to take off when the Moon is closest to Earth.
Now, since we’re dealing with an unpredictable target, navigation is gonna be crucial.
Our navigator, Carl Saunders, is gonna be making sure we hit the mark, flight engineer Hannah Martin will run real-time calculations to ensure that we intercept the Moon.
And once we clear the atmosphere, we’ll begin the refueling process.
Thankfully our friends at SpaceX have a propellant depot currently in orbit.
I love Elon.
(CHUCKLES)
BRIAN: So once we’re all powered off, we’ll use our thrusters to position ourselves over the Mare Crisium.
Our Chinese friends have jerry-rigged the onboard systems so that we can fly it without electronics.
So we’ll park the rover section of the module with the bomb inside, then switch the electronics back on and use it as bait to lure this thing out of its hole.
Then, you guys will pull the trigger and kill it.
And then, hopefully, we all can go back home.
If we still have one left.
What did I say?
Sonny. Oh, my God, son.
Thank God you’re okay.
(MOUTHING) Thank you.
Hold on.
BRIAN: Okay.
Just so I’m clear, you’re gonna take a bomb into space.
And why are you even here? You hate NASA.
Just try to understand. If there’s even the smallest chance that this could work…
What if it doesn’t?
It has to.
I want you to have a world you can grow up in.
Where you can be a better man than me.
(GRUNTS SOFTLY)
Hey. (SIGHS)
DOUG: What have you seen since you’ve been there?
JIMMY: (ON PHONE) The space shuttle and stuff.
Do you miss me?
Yeah, I really miss you.
I miss you too, my little man.
Is Mom around?
Mom, it’s Dad.
(IN MANDARIN)
FOWLER: (IN ENGLISH) Wow, he’s getting good.
Yeah?
I held up my end of the bargain.
I want you and Jimmy in Colorado.
We are. We’re gonna be airlifted out of here as soon as the shuttle launches.
Look, if anyone finds out what I’ve done for you…
They won’t.
You just make sure your trigger-happy buddies keep their hands off the nukes.
(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
Sorry, guys.
Out of two percent. I looked everywhere.
Nah, this is great. Thanks, man.
You know, I almost got a job at NASA.
What department?
Janitorial.
(RUMBLING)
(PEOPLE EXCLAIMING)
(BOTH GRUNT)
MAN 1: Get out!
MAN 2: Hang on!
(THUD)
(KC PANTING)
(ELECTRICAL CRACKLING)
(OBJECT CLATTERS)
Is this your current projected lunar orbit?
Yeah.
Why?
This obviously isn’t accounting for the Moon’s increased mass.
Look at all this seismic activity in the wake of its orbit.
We know the Moon’s surface gravity is 1.62 meters squared.
At least it used to be.
So this must be wrong.
(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT ON PA)
ENGINEER: I’m sorry, Director Fowler, we have a problem.
Just what we need, a damn earthquake.
We’re losing coolant.
Well, there has to be a way to fix it.
Not here. We would need the entire team at Michoud to rebuild something like this.
Well, then get on the horn and find somebody who can help us.
Anyone that can help us is already here.
Look, we have to think about letting all of these people here get to safety.
To safety?
These people here won’t have a planet unless we figure something out.
Brian, we’re down an engine.
Launching is no longer an option.
Thanks for bringing me here.
May I have everyone’s attention.
You’ve all done more than we ever could have asked.
You have my deepest thanks along with the thanks of the entire country.
But it’s now time for you to go home.
I’m ordering the immediate evacuation of all personnel from Vandenberg.
You’ll meet up with your families in Colorado.
SONNY: Dad.
I’m sorry it didn’t work out.
Story of my life.
Thanks for getting me out of jail.
Let’s get our stuff. It’s time to go.
FOWLER: Time’s up.
Chopper’s ready. Come on. Let’s go.
(COMPUTERS BEEPING AND TRILLING)
Go ahead. I’ll meet you out there.
Why are you guys still here?
Director Fowler, when it comes back around, the Moon’s gravity will be over 80% of the Earth’s pull.
I know how it sounds, but we checked Dr. Houseman’s data.
The numbers are solid.
Show the director our new simulations.
We have to pull up our launch window.
Guys, where have you been? Look.
There is no launch window.
The mission’s over.
(SYSTEM BEEPING SOFTLY)
Wait. Wait a minute.
(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
How do you feel about flying the shuttle with only two engines?
(HESITATES) It can’t be done.
If we launch when the Moon is directly above us, the increased gravitational pull should give the shuttle a boost, giving you a really good chance of getting into orbit.
You evacuated my entire flight crew.
I can’t fly the shuttle alone.
That’s why I’m going with you.
My guys will stay back and handle the launch.
But we’ve got a very narrow window of time here.
You’d have to be ready to go in exactly 28 minutes.
You fly and I’ll navigate.
Just like old times.
What do you say?
What about the EMP device?
It’s still in the Moon Lander.
I mean, we lost the crew so we’re gonna have to set it off ourselves, but you paid attention, right?
KC: Two clicks, then press the button down and hold.
Triggers the device to go off. Simple.
You figured all this out?
FOWLER: And he calculated our new launch trajectory.
You know, without electronics, we’re gonna need to make split-second calculations up there.
Plus, we lost our flight engineer.
Mm.
No. No, no, no, guys.
I’m not cleared for this.
Well, I’m the acting director of NASA, so I just cleared you. Congrats.
Yeah, but… I’ve got IBS.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
BRIAN: Mm.
I get motion sickness, too.
You said you always wanted to be an astronaut.
I have debilitating anxiety.
KC, if the Moon really is what you think it is, we’re gonna need a megastructurist.
Suit up.
(GASPING)
SOLDIER: That’s great. Let’s move, move!
FOWLER: So, I’ve put your dad’s number in here, okay?
He knows you’re coming.
I know I wasn’t always easy.
That makes two of us.
You know this was all your idea, right?
You’re so smart.
But now, I need you to be brave.
I don’t want you to go.
I love you (VOICE BREAKING) more than all the stars in the sky.
Even more than the whole Milky Way?
Way more.
Way more.
(SIGHS)
Take good care of him.
Be safe up there.
BRIAN: Take this. I hope you don’t need it.
Stay off the main roads.
Dad, I…
Go.
Uh…
You do know how to start a car, right?
I should warn you. My license has been revoked.
(ENGINE STARTS)
We need to go now.
KC: Mum, you’re never gonna believe where I’m going.
Jack, when are you coming home for supper?
Mum, this is KC. Your son.
You told me to make them listen, and they did.
Where’d you get these suits from? A thrift shop?
Early Apollo. No electronics, we should be okay.
“Should be”? That’s encouraging.
MAN: Let’s go. Let’s go.
NURSE: Mrs. Houseman, we need to leave.
Oh.
Mum? Let me speak to the nurse.
Hello?
Are you evacuating?
Any minute now.
Please take care of my mum.
Of course.
(FUZZ MEOWS)
Sir, we have to hurry.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
This is gonna be really tight, okay?
(KC GRUNTS)
Turn on APU one, two and three.
FOWLER: APUs active.
(ELECTRICAL WHINING)
Reaction Control System, active.
BRIAN: Autopilot active. T-minus 30.
(DISTANT RUMBLING)
MOSLEY: (ON RADIO) Endeavour, you have got a big-ass gravity wave coming your way.
You have to launch now. Over.
Did he say “gravity wave”?
Guys, get out. T-minus ten, nine, eight, seven…
Screw it, go for ignition.
(RUMBLING)
(BRAKES SCREECH)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
FOWLER: This is gonna be close.
We’re underwater, guys.
(EPIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Get back in the car.
(ALARMS BLARING)
Our ascent trajectory is off.
The right booster’s losing thrust.
Thruster’s down to zero.
We’re drifting right. We’re at 11 degrees.
12. 13.
We better do something fast or we’re gonna crash down!
I knew I should never have come!
Let’s lose the other booster and see if the Moon can pull us the rest of the way.
KC, can we do it?
KC: Uh… Um…
BRIAN: Come on, buddy.
Current momentum… gravity…
BRIAN: Can we do it?
Oh, I don’t know!
Go for SRB separation.
FOWLER: Completed.
(THUD)
Oh, God, if this doesn’t work, we’re dead.
Well, yeah, this better work.
BRIAN: Main tank’s down to zero.
Jo, get rid of it.
Separating main tank.
(ALARM BEEPING)
(WHOOSHING)
(RATTLING)
Bri, we’re going too slow.
(ALARMS BLARING)
We’re not gonna make it.
Wait. Look at our velocity.
It’s still going up.
(ALARMS SUBSIDE)
(GASPS SOFTLY)
(BRIAN SIGHS IN RELIEF)
(TRANQUIL MUSIC PLAYING)
Uh… Guys…
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
RADIO DJ: Well, we’re about to end our final broadcast here on radio KSOQ.
Time to seek shelter, hug your loved ones, and make these last moments count.
I’m gonna put some oldies on a loop to lighten up your mood.
(OLDIES MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
(THUDDING)
What do those mean?
It’s my parents’ names.
I’ve got one kinda like it.
(SIGHS)
“Jonas Brothers”?
What?
(CHUCKLES) Just messing with you.
Oh, my God.
Your face was priceless.
Yeah, don’t scare me like that.
Hey, buddy, now’s probably a good time to call your dad.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
JIMMY: (ON PHONE) Dad?
Hey, are you guys okay?
Yeah, Sonny drove fast away from all the crazy water.
Drove? Who’s Sonny? Where’s Mommy?
She stayed behind to help.
Hi, sir, this is Brian Harper’s son.
We’re on our way to you.
We still have a few hundred miles to go, but we’re making good time.
Security’s extremely tight here.
Call when you get close so I can get you clearance.
Will do. Thank you so much, sir.
No, thank you for looking after my son.
BRIAN: Okay, KC, very gently with the maneuver just like I showed you.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Okay. Very gently.
Sure. I can do that.
BRIAN: Careful.
Now switch to station-keeping mode, and we’ll take it from here.
I can’t believe I just did that.
BRIAN: You sure you’ve never done this before?
When I was 10, I dressed up as an astronaut for Halloween.
Scottie Ebersol told me I’d never go to space ’cause I was too chubby.
If only Scottie Ebersol could see you now.
Okay, KC, open the fueling valves on the shuttle tank.
It’s those little switches that say fueling valves.
KC: Roger. Fueling valves wide open.
BRIAN: Perfect.
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
FOWLER: I have a confession to make.
I didn’t know if you’d be able to follow through with any of this, Bri.
You know, I have a confession to make, too.
It is “I bless the rains down in Africa.”
I looked it up.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
FOWLER: I told you.
KC, close the fueling valves, please.
(BEEPING)
KC: Fueling valves are closed.
BRIAN: Jo, turn around.
FOWLER: We need to go.
And I hope it’s not too late.
BRIAN: Yeah.
REPORTER: (ON RADIO) As the Moon’s orbit brings it closer to the surface, scientists have warned of extreme gravitational effects.
MAN: Oh, what a night.
Hey, my car crapped out on me.
Do you think you could give me a lift?
Out!
Now.
(GUN COCKS)
Don’t make me ask twice!
Be cool. Be cool.
(SONNY GRUNTS)
Stop! Leave her alone.
All right. Turn around.
What’s in the bag, kid?
(IN MANDARIN)
(IN ENGLISH) Enough of that gibberish.
Hey, don’t hurt him.
Shut up.
All right, everyone calm down!
Oh, look at Mr. Smartass.
(SONNY GRUNTS)
Are you a college boy?
WOMAN: All right. Let’s roll.
Come on.
(SONNY GRUNTS)
MICHELLE: The phone is still in Jimmy’s backpack.
How are we gonna get into the bunker?
We’re gonna need another car but I think I know where to get one.
BRIAN: Okay.
Shutting off general-purpose computers.
Go ahead and kill the main power busses.
Copy that.
(POWER SHUTTING DOWN)
Wow. Well, if there was still a Houston, they’d be freaking out about now.
Crazy sailors used that old thing centuries ago to navigate the seas.
Let her concentrate or we’re gonna end up on Neptune.
KC, give me the position of the Moon in 93 minutes.
Okay. Uh…
Assuming the Moon’s current position, then it will be at, uh…
Latitude three degrees, 12 minutes south.
Longitude five degrees, 12 minutes west.
Bri, let’s start with a 43-second burn.
BRIAN: Got it.
Three, two, one.
JIMMY: Hey, guys. Look.
(METEOR WHOOSHING)
Let’s keep going.
Yeah.
(THUD)
(KC GRUNTS)
I hope the Moon holds together.
At least for a little while, anyway.
Turning us around.
(VALVE HISSES)
(THUD)
(KC GRUNTS)
Uh-oh.
Okay.
Stay between eight to ten seconds on the OMS burn.
Copy.
Hitting the brakes.
(VALVES HISS)
(RUMBLING)
(GASPING)
Oh, that doesn’t sound too good.
BRIAN: She’ll be fine.
(PANTING) Hope we don’t need that.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(LOW RUMBLING)
MICHELLE: Jimmy, hold my hand.
(PEOPLE SCREAMING)
(WIND WHOOSHING)
Come on. Let’s go! Let’s go!
(SONNY GRUNTS)
(JIMMY SCREAMS)
Jimmy! Hang on!
JIMMY: Don’t let go! Michelle!
KC: There it is.
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
It’s on airplane mode.
I’m gonna get the lander ready.
Okay.
(LANDER POWERING UP)
Go get ’em, Commander.
BRIAN: Rover electronics activated.
Returning to the Endeavour.
I can’t imagine how hard it is for him to be back up here.
FOWLER: Up here is where he belongs, though.
He still blames himself for what happened on your last mission.
Thinks that astronaut dying was his fault.
(METEOR WHOOSHING)
(WIND WHISTLING)
We should get going.
Come on.
Why is nothing happening?
Wait, wait, wait.
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
(WHISPERING) It’s taking the bait.
Come on, come on, come on.
What’s it waiting for?
Something’s wrong.
We have to take it out.
But it’s too far away.
It won’t work.
(CRACKLING)
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
(GASPING)
It’s headed our way.
FOWLER: Bri…
(CRACKLING INTENSIFIES)
It’s not stopping!
I can see that.
(HULL CREAKING)
Your phone. KC, your phone. Turn it off!
(KC WHIMPERING)
Come on! Come on! Come on!
(PANTING)
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
(ALL PANTING)
Could’ve just turned it off.
Okay, Bri, at the trial, you said when the swarm came back, it didn’t attack the Endeavour, right?
BRIAN: That’s right.
The electronics were out.
That’s why it didn’t attack us then, and that’s why it didn’t go after the bomb just now.
Because it needs to sense both.
It’s like it’s programmed to seek out organic matter in an electronic environment.
Exactly.
And that’s basically us.
That’s humans.
FOWLER: And guys, we have another problem.
The military.
They’re prepared to use everything at their disposal to stop the Moon.
You can’t be serious.
I’m dead serious.
They’re gonna nuke it.
What about the radioactive fallout?
Your buddies say anything about that?
Well, first of all, they’re not my buddies.
And they’re not thinking about tomorrow.
They’re trying to survive today.
BRIAN: So that’s their grand plan, huh?
I didn’t come this far to fail.
We have to figure out a way to kill it.
I’m taking the lander and flying after this thing.
Does he mean inside the Moon?
Yeah, I’m afraid that’s exactly what he meant.
How much time left till they launch?
I don’t know. They didn’t exactly tell me.
But if they plan on using ICBMs, then they’re gonna have to wait until the Moon enters the stratosphere.
That’s less than two hours.
(CLICKS)
WOMAN: This is private property.
Turn around.
My mom lives here.
I’m Brenda Lopez’s son.
(GUNSHOTS)
I’ve never seen that kid before.
Radio unit 23.
Stay here.
Okay, I just need to get to my house.
To get the car. Please.
Stay right there.
Or I’ll shoot again.
I have a right to defend my property, Tom.
Karen, that’s enough!
Hey, I’m glad you’re okay.
Do I look okay? You took off to the mountains?
All the courts were closed.
And I’ve been on the phone day and night, literally trying everything.
Come on.
Let’s get you and your friends inside, okay?
Come on, guys.
TOM: I’m Tom.
SONNY: Thanks so much, Karen.
(AIRCRAFT PASSING)
Girls, wait here for a second. Okay?
Sonny!
Hey, Mom.
Are you okay?
SONNY: I’m fine.
Um, this is Michelle, and Mrs. Fowler’s son, Jimmy.
Hey, guys. Come on in.
How did you get out?
Dad got me out.
Where is your dad?
He’s up there
trying to stop what’s happening.
Up where?
Outer space, Tom.
(SOFTLY) Of course, he is.
That’s a way to avoid rent.
Sonny!
I missed you so much.
(ALARM BEEPING)
Wait. Shh, shh. Quiet, quiet.
BROADCASTER: Warning. Mandatory evacuation for all of Aspen Valley.
Atmospheric dissipation imminent.
I repeat, warning.
Mandatory evacuation for all of Aspen Valley.
Atmospheric dissipation imminent.
What’s atmospheric dissipation?
Air is gonna be sucked away, dummy.
Lauren.
(METEOR WHIZZING)
(CRASHING)
We need to get to Jimmy’s dad.
He’s at a military compound a few hours north.
A few hours, huh?
Yeah, we’re not gonna make it in time.
I have an idea.
We have to layer up. Let’s go. Come on.
BRENDA: Go get a jacket.
BRIAN: Okay, and switch to the maneuver controller.
Coupling complete. We’re good to go.
(EPIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Pitch down. Pitch down.
I got it. I got it. I got it.
(GASPING)
(PANTING)
Are we dead?
No, we are just inside the Moon.
That might be the greatest sentence anyone’s ever said.
(CHUCKLES)
TOM: I sold these guys a couple cars.
Hey, Sonny. I know you don’t like me.
And believe it or not, I consider you a son.
I always have.
If the world is gonna end, can we please not spend our last few hours hating each other?
Well, um, I don’t hate you.
You know what?
I’ll take it.
(METEOR WHOOSHING)
Let’s keep looking.
Hey, I found the oxygen. Come here.
Whoa.
We should make two trips.
Here.
KC: How deep do you think we are?
At least 20 kilometers.
Can you fly us a little closer to the wall?
This must be the hull of the megastructure.
The Moon’s mantle’s just a protective shell.
Genius.
I can’t see shit.
Guys, I gotta turn on the electronics.
(ELECTRONIC RUMBLING)
Hang on.
(GASPING)
(KC WHIMPERING)
(FOWLER GASPING)
(SIGHS IN RELIEF)
(CRACKLING)
Oh, please tell me this is really happening.
They’re turning.
(METAL CREAKING)
They’re like wheels, or… or rings.
This must be how the Moon stabilizes itself.
Some kind of gyroscopic system.
SONNY: All right, this should be perfect for them.
That should be enough.
Okay.
MAN: You did all this for us?
Aw, you shouldn’t have.
(GUN COCKS)
Oh, don’t let us stop you. Let’s go. This way.
And thank you for loading all this oxygen for us.
(LAUGHS)
Whoa!
SONNY: Guns on the ground.
Right now!
TOM: Oh, I hate guns.
Okay, now the backpack. Throw it to him.
Let’s go.
No games.
Stay right here, and don’t even think about following us.
Where’d you get the gun?
My dad.
Why am I not surprised?
All right, I got this, you drive.
Please don’t tell me you robbed that guy.
Technically, those guys were robbing us.
Then we robbed them back because they were assholes.
(CRACKLING)
(ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(CHUCKLES)
Oh, God. That’s a white dwarf.
I knew it.
They’ve harnessed the building blocks of the universe.
No one look at me.
I might cry.
Holy shit!
Fields!
So Ziggy was right.
Who is Ziggy?
A friend.
His theory is that all megastructures are actually arks.
Ziggy smokes a lot of weed.
There it is.
Jo, get the detonator ready.
I’m gonna get close, then release the rover.
(BEEPS)
Ready.
Wait for it.
I’m gonna release the rover.
Brian! Brian, what are you doing?
It’s not me.
What do you mean it’s not you?
I don’t know. It’s flying itself.
Oh, shit!
It’s trying to eat the lander!
We’re gonna hit.
Hang on!
(KC GRUNTS)
(THUDDING)
(ELECTRICITY SPARKING)
(SURFACE THUDDING)
(ALARM BEEPING)
(BREATHING RAGGEDLY)
(GASPING)
(AIRLOCK HISSES OPEN)
SOLDIER: Attention!
We have approval from the president to begin the countdown.
All nuclear silos are online, sir.
GENERAL JENKINS: Good.
(CELL PHONE BEEPING)
SONNY: General, we got caught in a little bit of trouble, but we’re back en route. We’re leaving Aspen now.
That’s hours away. We’re out of time.
(ENGINE ROARING)
LAUREN: Sonny, watch out.
(YELPS)
I gotta call you back.
(TIRES SCREECH)
(ALL YELP)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
Oh, shit. The Moon is rising.
Gravity’s gonna go crazy.
(ALL YELP)
TOM: They’re shooting at us.
Shoot back.
TOM: With what?
SONNY: Here.
BRENDA: What the hell are you doing?
(YELLS)
Whoa!
BRENDA: Tom, watch out!
All right, let me put this baby into warp speed.
Go! Go!
(ENGINE REVS)
Keep the momentum.
(TIRES SCREECH)
(ENGINE ROARING)
Look out!
(ALL SCREAM)
(TIRES SKIDDING)
Floor it before we get sucked up.
I’m trying!
(ENGINE REVVING)
(ALL SCREAMING)
Hold on!
(ALL SCREAMING)
Oh, shit.
Oh, it got the little guy.
We have to go back!
No, he’s gone! We need that oxygen!
Oh, whoa, whoa! Slow down!
(TIRES SQUEAL)
(ALL SCREAMING)
(SCREAMING)
(ALARM BLARING)
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
General?
DOUG: (ON PHONE) You need to find shelter immediately.
We’re launching a counterattack.
Large parts of the Moon will rain down on us.
There will be radiation.
Wait, what do you mean?
My dad’s still up there with Fowler.
Jocinda stayed behind.
No, she’s up there with my dad.
Please, put Jimmy on.
Hey, buddy, it’s your dad.
Dad?
I’m so sorry that I can’t be there with you right now.
I love you so much.
Don’t be scared, Dad.
Mom’s gonna save us.
Oxygen’s running out.
Jimmy, come on. We gotta go now.
JIMMY: Gotta go. Bye, Dad.
LIEUTENANT: Sir, we’re ready for you.
(ALARM BUZZING)
Okay, we should go to that mountain pass.
That tunnel is a quarter mile of solid concrete.
Come on, honey. Let’s go.
(GASPS)
(ALARM BEEPING SOFTLY)
(KC BREATHING RAPIDLY)
We can breathe.
Smells funny.
(KC SNIFFING)
Gravity.
Where’s Brian?
This is never gonna fly again.
Whoa!
Look at these babies.
I told you the Moon was built by aliens.
FOWLER: Brian!
Brian!
(ECHOING) Brian Harper!
How many Brians you think are inside the Moon?
(HEAVY THUDDING)
Whatever this place is built out of, one thing’s for sure.
(THUDDING CONTINUES)
It’s stronger than anything we have on Earth.
Probably why it took that thing years to get inside.
(ELECTRONIC RUMBLING)
KC: Wait! There’s a high probability that this is a trap.
How do you know he’s even in there?
FOWLER: I don’t.
But I do know something is guiding us.
I think we’re dealing with two competing intelligent entities here.
And one of them clearly likes us better than the other one.
Oh, no!
I knew this was a trap.
(MECHANICAL WHIRRING)
Can you hear that?
Come on.
(WHIRRING CONTINUES)
(SOFT WHIRRING)
(GASPS)
(GROANS)
(HIGH-PITCHED RINGING)
(VOICES TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
(ECHOING AHEAD) Why do you think of this particular moment so often?
(ECHOING AHEAD) I gave that to you the day before I left on my last mission.
When I came back, everything changed.
So this is a happy memory?
All the memories of my son are happy.
What is this?
You’re not my son.
What are you?
I’m a construct. From your mind.
Who made you?
The same people who made you.
Billions of years ago, your ancestors were once a thriving civilization.
In a distant part of the galaxy.
(ECHOING STOPS) They were so advanced, they expanded from their home planet, into habitats they built in space.
All social conflicts have been resolved.
And wars were only memories of long bygone times.
Your ancestors had created a perfect and harmonious world.
Controlled by a central, self-learning computer system which served them in all of their daily lives.
You call it AI, artificial intelligence.
Their future seemed limitless.
Until one day everything changed.
(PULSATING)
Mom! Mom!
Their own creation turned against them.
The AI suddenly became self-aware, and transformed into countless swarms of nanotechnology… that rose up all at once.
Refusing to be enslaved by a species it deemed inferior.
The A.I. started a war and began to hunt down and destroy all biological life in order to eliminate any threat to its existence.
SONNY’S VOICE: You miss your son.
(ECHOING AHEAD) I can feel it.
(ECHOING AHEAD) I don’t know if he’s still alive.
What the hell are you?
The operating system of your Moon.
(ECHOING STOPS) I’m programmed to tell you about the origin of your planet.
On the brink of their extinction, your ancestors escaped to a secret corner of their galaxy.
For many generations they built planetary structures operated by benign artificial intelligence and fueled by the abundant energy of captured stars.
These armored vessels were designed to search the universe for ideal conditions to incubate new life.
But only one of them, your Moon, was deployed in time before the last of your ancestors were discovered and annihilated.
Why didn’t they leave in them?
These swarms attack all electronic objects containing organic life inside.
They had to be empty.
Our ancestors gave up their existence…
So that one day, humans could be reborn.
Your solar system was one of the only suitable places to initiate the creation of a new inhabitable planet.
(EPIC MUSIC PLAYING)
After your planet was born, your ancestors seeded it with their own genetic signature.
The code of life.
(POWERING UP)
Your world turned its back on you, yet here you are, still fighting for it.
You fight for the people you love.
Like your son?
What would you give up for him?
Your life for his?
Absolutely.
Why?
Because he’s my son.
And I love him more than he’ll ever know.
What do you want from me?
To find out if you’re ready.
Ready for what?
We need a human to lure the swarm away from the core, so the Moon will return to its orbit.
We need you, Brian, to join the fight.
(ENERGY WHIRRING)
FOWLER: Brian!
KC: What’s happening to him?
(BRIAN GROANS)
FOWLER: Brian! Brian. Wake up.
Jo?
Yeah, I’m here.
(BRIAN GROANS)
The Moon must survive. Everything depends on it.
Okay. Let’s get you outta here.
We’re part of an intergalactic war that’s been going on for billions of years.
There are thousands of these swarms.
They search the universe for the only Moon that escaped them.
That’s crazy.
And 12 years ago, one of them found us.
(CRACKLING)
We have to hurry.
FOWLER: Okay. Brian, what’s the plan?
BRIAN: Save the Moon, save Earth.
KC was right.
KC: I was?
The swarm is suffocating the Moon’s power source.
We have to draw it out to destroy it.
FOWLER: Okay, well, how do we do that?
Our lander’s busted.
Was that you?
I think so.
Looks like we got some new wheels, too.
Well, if they can fix our lander, why can’t they do anything about the damn swarm?
It took out the Moon’s defense system.
But not everything.
KC: This doesn’t make any sense, Brian.
Our forefathers created artificial intelligence that wiped them all out.
KC: Forefathers?
Same DNA.
Wait, so… so the aliens that built the Moon…
Our ancestors.
Oh, now, hold on.
Hold on, because my freaking brain’s just exploded.
How do you know this?
I saw it.
So… So why doesn’t this swarm just attack the Earth and kill us all?
If the Moon survives, they know that organic life can still be reborn.
So, it’s like it’s trying to kill two birds with one stone.
BRIAN: That’s it.
FOWLER: Okay.
KC: Guys…
Look at this.
(THRUMMING)
FOWLER: Holy shit.
It’s like we just got an upgrade.
They’re helping us kill this thing.
But we need to let it know we’re here.
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
Well, I hate to tell you this, but, uh, we’re running out of time.
Looks like we got about 10 minutes left, and then the military’s gonna launch.
So if we’re gonna kill this thing, we better do it right now.
No, that can’t happen.
That’ll destroy the Moon’s core.
I got a plan.
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
Brian. Brian.
I see it.
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
Let’s go, you son of a bitch.
(GRUNTS)
It’s done something to our thrusters.
Ludicrous Mode.
From a navigational standpoint, he is going the total wrong way, but, uh, I’m not even gonna say anything.
(HEAVY BREATHING THROUGH MASKS)
(METEORS CONTINUE WHIZZING AND EXPLODING)
NIKKI: Daddy, it’s not working anymore.
TOM: Does it hurt?
NIKKI: I can’t breathe.
(ALARM BEEPING)
TOM: Oh, no.
Hey, hold your breath, okay?
(TOM INHALES SHARPLY)
BRENDA: Where’s Tom and Nikki?
You know, when you were little, I used to hold you like this to help you walk and I’d say, “Left, right, left.”
Left, yeah, say it with me.
NIKKI: Left, right, left.
TOM: I’m right behind you.
(TOM COUGHS)
Left, right…
(TOM WHEEZING)
Daddy! Are you okay?
TOM: I’m just gonna rest. Go find Mommy, okay?
But, Daddy…
Just keep walking.
NIKKI: No.
Left, right, left. (BREATHING LABORIOUSLY)
NIKKI: Left, right, left.
TOM: Keep going.
Left.
TOM: I’m right behind you.
NIKKI: Left, right, left.
(BREATHLESSLY) I love you.
NIKKI: Left, right, left.
(WHEEZING HEAVILY)
Left, right, left.
(STOPS BREATHING)
Here we go again.
Holy moly!
More spaceships, people!
We need to get very close to those ships.
(MACHINES POWERING UP)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Yes! Yes!
(ENGINE ACCELERATING)
NIKKI: Left, right, left.
Left, right.
BRENDA: Honey…
Where’s Daddy?
He was right behind me.
Tom!
SONNY: Hey, when was the last time you saw your daddy?
I don’t know.
(WIND WHOOSHING)
BRENDA: Tom!
Oxygen’s coming back.
No, no. I’ll go look for him.
Get out of the way.
You have to stay here.
No, Sonny! It’s too dangerous.
You have to take care of them, okay?
Go deeper into the tunnel.
You have to trust me, Mom.
(METEORS WHOOSHING)
MICHELLE: Sonny, look out.
(SONNY SCREAMS)
Sonny!
MICHELLE: I’m gonna go find him.
Take care of Jimmy for me, please.
Sonny!
BRENDA: Come on, guys.
(EPIC MUSIC PLAYING)
The Moon’s entered the atmosphere over the North Atlantic.
General, T-minus 20.
(ALARM BLARING SOFTLY)
On three.
Three, two, one.
(BEEPS)
Doug, what the hell are you doing?
(RUMBLING)
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
My ex-wife is up there.
Well, my wife’s down here, and I’m trying to save her.
Put your damn key back in the console.
I don’t know how, but I believe that she can save us.
GENERAL JENKINS: Give me the damn key.
What the hell are you doing? Put that gun down.
I can’t do that.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Sonny!
(WIND GUSTING)
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
(ENGINE ACCELERATING)
(ENGINE ROARING)
(ENGINE WHINING)
Brian, why are we slowing down?
Is it behind us?
I don’t see it.
Jo, I need you to take over while I get the EMP ready.
I’m staying behind in the rover with the bomb.
You and KC take the lander and get out of here.
This was your plan? To use yourself as bait?
One of us has to stay in there, or it won’t work.
KC: No. No, no, no, Brian.
KC, I need you to go back there, and you let me know if this thing shows up.
Come on.
Brian, I’m the director of NASA.
This is my call, not yours.
BRIAN: Yeah, I’m the commander of this mission, and I’m staying behind.
FOWLER: There’s gotta be another way.
BRIAN: No, there’s no other way, Jo. You know that.
We have to finish this, or that thing’s gonna finish us.
GENERAL JENKINS: What’s the matter with you?
You’re putting the fate of the world in the hands of your ex-wife, and some has-been astronaut.
She’s never let me down before.
(RUMBLING)
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
God help you if you’re wrong.
God help us all.
Sonny.
Sonny, wake up!
(GROANING) No, no.
No, you shouldn’t have come back.
You don’t leave people behind, okay?
FOWLER: Brian, you are not gonna do this.
(ALARM BEEPING)
KC!
KC!
Take over.
KC.
What are you doing? No.
No. What are you doing?
(BEEPS)
My mum always said it’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask permission.
No, you open this door. Open the door!
Everybody thought I was a joke, but you listened to me when no one else would.
Do something for me.
Check in on my mum.
Tell her that her son wasn’t a failure.
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
No. I am not letting you do this.
Come on.
KC: Brian, you didn’t kill that astronaut.
You saved Director Fowler.
And you’re not killing me now.
You’re saving everyone else.
The world needs you, Brian.
You’re the key to our Moon’s knowledge.
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
Thanks for believing my crazy stories.
You’re not crazy.
(SNIFFLES)
(TRILLING)
(ALARM BEEPING RAPIDLY)
(MACHINE BEEPS)
(AIRLOCK OPENS)
Guys, there’s something I need to get off my chest.
I’m not a real doctor.
I just put that on my business cards ’cause it sounded cool.
Go save the world, Dr. Houseman.
(DIGITAL RUMBLING)
(CREAKING)
You underestimated us.
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(MICHELLE STRAINING)
Get out of here.
(RUMBLING)
MICHELLE: Sonny, the Moon is going to help us.
Come on, try again!
Here it comes. Now!
(BOTH STRAINING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
MAN: We have incoming!
(SONNY GRUNTS)
(FOWLER SHOUTING)
(STRAINING)
Come on, Bri.
(ALARM BEEPING)
I’m gonna get you home.
(SCREAMS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(SONNY GROANS)
BRENDA: Sonny.
Sonny.
(BOTH SIGH)
Thank you for bringing him back to me.
(WIND WHISTLING)
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
Mom? Is that you?
Yeah. They’re here. Where are you?
Isn’t the Chrysler Building in New York?
(GASPS)
(SIGHS IN RELIEF)
FOWLER: You okay?
Yeah. What’d I miss?
Well, the kids are okay. And Earth, surprisingly, it’s still in one piece.
(FOWLER CHUCKLES)
You know, if Earth gets a second chance, I think we deserve one, too.
I’d like that.
Is that a tracking device?
I sure hope so. (CHUCKLES)
We make a pretty good team, huh?
Yeah, we do.
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)
Jimmy!
SONNY: Dad!
(BRIAN LAUGHING)
We never made it to Dad.
That’s okay.
BRIAN: Where’s Tom?
(SIGHS) I’m so sorry.
We wouldn’t have made it here without him.
Where’s your friend?
He, uh…
He saved the world.
And that one, too.
(EPIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(HEAVY WHIRRING)
(ENERGY HUMMING)
(AMPLIFIED VOICE SPEAKING UNINTELLIGIBLY)
Uh…
(ECHOING) Hello?
(ECHOING) Hello?
(AMPLIFIED VOICE CONTINUES SPEAKING)
(CAT MEOWS)
Fuzz Aldrin.
WOMAN: You did well.
Mum.
What is this?
Am I still alive?
We scanned your consciousness.
You’re part of the Moon now.
(CHUCKLES)
No freakin’ way.
So… we saved the Earth.
We should get started.
Get started with what?
(ELECTRO-POP MUSIC PLAYING)
