"ALIEN"

by

Walter Hill

and

David Giler

Based on screenplay

by

Dan O'Bannon

Story by

Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett

REVISED FINAL

JUNE, 1978

Brandywine Productions

10201 W. Pico Boulevard

Los Angeles, California 90035


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:

     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 helmet.

     An electronic conversation ensues.

     Reaches a crescendo.  

     Then silence.

     The lights go off, save the yellow.

                                                           

     INT. CORRIDOR TO HYPERSLEEP VAULT:                     4-A

     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.

     Pale.

     Kane 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, Lambert.

              

     INT. HYPERSLEEP VAULT                                  7

     Another lid pops open.

     A young woman sits up.


                              LAMBERT

               What time is it.


                              KANE

                      (voice over)

               What do you care.


     INT. GALLEY                                            8


     Pot now half-full.

     Kane watches it drip.

     Inhales the fragrance.


                              KANE

               Now Dallas and Ash.

                      (calls out)

               Good morning Captain.


                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               Where's the coffee.


                              KANE

               Brewing.


     LAMBERT walks into the kitchen.

     Pours herself a cup.


     INT. HYPERSLEEP VAULT                                  9


     Two more lids pop open.

     A pair of men sit up.

     Look at each other.


     INT. GALLEY                                           10


     Kane enjoys a freshly-brewed cup.


                              KANE

               Ripley...


     Another moment.

     And then the sound of another lid opening.


                              KANE

               And if we have Parker, can

               Brett be far behind.


     Lid opening sound.


                              KANE

               Right.


     INT. HYPERSLEEP VAULT                                 11


     DALLAS looks at his groggy circus.  

     

                              DALLAS

               One of you jokers get the cat.


     RIPLEY picks up a limp cat out of one of the compartments.


     INT. MESS                                             12


     The crew of the United States commercial starship Nostromo

     seated around a table.


              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.


                              LAMBERT

               Jesus am I cold.


                              PARKER

               Still with us, Brett.


                              BRETT

               Yo.


                              RIPLEY

               Lucky us.


     They yawn, stretch, shiver.

     Dallas looks over at a flashing yellow light.


                              KANE

               I feel dead.


     Kane is not yet fully awake.

     Yawns.


                              PARKER

               You look dead.


                              ASH

               Nice to be back.


                              PARKER

               Before we dock maybe we'd

               better go over the bonus

               situation.


                              BRETT

               Yeah.


                              PARKER

               Brett and I think we deserve a

               full share.


                              DALLAS

               You two will get what you

               contracted for.  Just like

               everybody else.


                              BRETT

               Everybody else gets more than us.


                              DALLAS

               Everybody else deserves more

               than you two.


                              ASH

               Mother wants to talk to you.


                              DALLAS

               I saw it.  Yellow light for my

               eyes only...Now, everybody hit

               their stations.


     INT. COMPUTER ROOM ANNEX                               13

     Floor to ceiling data banks.

     Another flashing yellow light.

     A legend underneath.

     COMMAND PRIORITY ACCESS ONLY.

     Dallas enters.

     Sits at his console.

     Removes insignia master computer key attached to

     his shirt.

     Plug it into the board under the light.

     All banks burst into life.

     Dallas punches up a computer code on the keyboard.


     Legend on the screen...


               What's my God damn key.


     Print-out from computer answers...


               01335 on the binary side.


                              DALLAS

               Thank you Mother.


     Dallas punches up the combination on the keyboard.

     Immediately start getting a readout.


                                                    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.


                              LAMBERT

               Take a look at this.


     On each screen, blackness speckled with stars.

                              LAMBERT

               Where's Earth.

              

                              KANE

               You're the navigator.

              

                              RIPLEY

               That's not our system.


                              KANE

               Scan.

              

     Lambert hits several toggles.

     On the screens the images begin to drift.

     ONE OF THE SCREENS                                     15

     A moving image of a starfield.

     EXT. NOSTROMO                                          16


     The Factory Starship lumbering with the depths

     of inter-stellar space.

     Function:           Petroleum tanker and Refinery.

     Capacity:           2000,000,000 tons.

     Length:             One and one half kilometers.

     Battered exterior encrusted with dark sludge.

     INT. BRIDGE                                            17

     Lambert pores over charts.

     Consults her console.

     Puzzled.

                              KANE

               Contact traffic control.

              

     Ripley switches on her transmission unit.

                              RIPLEY

               This is commercial vessel Nostromo. 

               Registration number 180246.  Do

               you read me.  Over.

              

     Nothing but the hiss of static.

                              RIPLEY

               Nothing.

              

                              KANE

               Keep trying.


     Turns to Lambert.

     Ripley attempting transmission in b.g.


                              KANE

               You got a reading yet.

              

                              LAMBERT

               We're way out in the boondocks

               here...

              

                              KANE

               Keep trying...

              

                              LAMBERT

               Working on it.


     Eureka.


                              LAMBERT

               Found it.


                              KANE

               Hard to believe.


                              LAMBERT

               What the hell are we doing out

               here.


                              KANE

               What are you talking about.

              

                              RIPLEY

               It's not our system.

                                                           

     INT. ENGINE ROOM                                       17-A

     Giant reactor system purring smoothly.

     INT. ENGINE ROOM                                       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.

              

     They move towards the companionway.

                                                           

     INT. MESS                                         20

     Entire crew present.

                              DALLAS

               Some of you may have figured

               out that we're not home.

              

                              BRETT

               What the hell.

              

                              DALLAS

               Mother's interrupted the course

               of the voyage.


                             DALLAS

               Mother is programmed to interrupt

               the course of out voyage if

               certain conditions arise.  They

               have...

                     (pause)

               We've received intermittent

               transmission from quadrant points

               QBR 157, 052.  Somebody's gone

               down.


                              BRETT

               So what.


                              KANE

               We're obligated under Section B2...


                              PARKER

               Christ.  We're a commerical ship

               not some rescue team.  This kind

               of duty's not in our contract.


                              ASH

               You better read your contract.

               Transmissions received in non-

               commercial lanes...

     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.

                      (smiles)

               Sir.


     Dallas turns to ASH.


                              DALLAS

               Can we land on it.


     He takes a print-out from Mother out of his hand.


                              ASH

               The other ship did.


                              DALLAS

               That's what I mean.


     Studies the print-out.


                              ASH

               It's big enough.  Can't see any

               reason why not.


                                                    CUT TO:


     EXT. NOSTROMO AND REFINERY APPROACHING THE             20-A

     STAR/PLANET SYSTEM


                                                    OUT     21-

                                                            23

                                                           

     INT. BRIDGE                                            24


     Dallas at his console speaking to Ash.


                              DALLAS

               We're coming into range of the

               planet.  What kind of orbit do

               you plan for the cargo.


                              ASH

               Z local vertical mode.


                              DALLAS

               You figure it will hold that.

                              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.

                      (pause)

               Feel better?

              

                              DALLAS

               A lot.


     EXT. NOSTROMO                                          25


     Moving within range of the planet.


     INT. BRIDGE                                            26


     The crew strap themselves to their seats.


                              DALLAS

               Prepare for separation and

               orbital insertion of the cargo.


     Much preparation for separation, etc.


                              DALLAS

               Give me an EC Pressure reading.

              

                              ASH

               3.45 n/c m^2 squared (5 psia)

              

                              DALLAS

               Shout if it changes.  Deactivate

               probe retract system.


                              KANE

               What about the pressure seal.


     Dallas hits appropriate switches.


                              DALLAS

               Now the probe retract system.


     Kane hits other equally appropriate switches.


                              KANE

               Okay.


                              DALLAS

               Release captive hatches and

               disengage probe.


     Kane working switches and buttons.


                              KANE

               Disengaged.


     Dallas pucnhes buttons of his own.

              

     EXT. NOSTROMO                                          27

     The Refinery separates from Nostromo.

     INT. BRIDGE                                            28

     Dallas watches the refinery moving away on a viewscreen.


                              KANE

               All free and clear.


                              DALLAS

               Ash.


                              ASH

               Orbital insertion complete.


                              DALLAS

               Okay.  The money's safe.  Let's

               take it down.

              

     EXT. NOSTROMO                                          29


     Engines coughing to life.

     Nostromo begins its descent.


     Below night's tide rolls across the planet's surface.

     INT. BRIDGE                                            30  

     

     The viewscreen shimmers.


                              RIPLEY

               Turbulence.


     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

               Chirst.  Overloading.  What the

               hell are we going through.


                              BRETT

               Dust fritzing the compressor.


                              PARKER

               There goes the conversion

               stabilizer.


                              BRETT

               I don't know if the digital

               solenoid...


                              PARKER

               Forget it.  If we don't crash,

               dollars to your aunt's cherry

               we get an electrical fire...

     INT. BRIDGE                                            33

     The turbulence continues unabated.

     Lambert's eyes follow cross-plot gauges.

                              LAMBERT

               Drop begins...now.  Fifteen

               kilometers and descending...

               twelve...ten...eight and

               slowing.  Five.  Three.  Two.

               One kilometer and slowing.

              

                              DALLAS

               Lock tractor breams.

              

     A loud electrical hum.

                              KANE

               Locked.

              

                              DALLAS

               Kill drive engines.

              

     The engines fall silent.

                              LAMBERT              

               Nine hundred meters and dropping.

               Eight hundred.  Seven hundred.


     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.

     Light go out.


                              KANE

               Lost it.  Lost it.

     INT. ENGINE ROOM                                       36

       

     Another huge vibration.

     An electrical fire breaks out along three control panels.

     

     INT. OILY CORRIDOR                                     36-A

     

     Huge flash fire whips along corridor.

     

     INT. ENGINE ROOM - CUBICLE                             37


     Parker and Brett see the pandemonium below.

     Brett hits the secondary generator switch.

     A pressure valve blows.

     Another conduit breaks loose.

     All lights go out.

     They grab hand lights from wall.


     INT. BRIDGE                                            38


     Still in darkness.

                              LAMBERT

               Secondary generator should

               kick over.

              

                              KANE

               Where is it.


     Moments.  Nothing.  Kane grabs emergency headlamp from

     facia.

     Followed by Dallas and Lambert.

              

                              DALLAS

               What happened?

     Ripley hits the voice-amp.

                             

                              RIPLEY

               Engine room, what happened.

              

                              PARKER

                      (voicer over)

               God damn electrical fire, that's

               what happened.

              

                              BRETT

                      (voice over)

               It's big.

              

     INT. ENGINE ROOM                                       39

     Parker fighting an electrical fire on one of his panels.

     Brett shouting into his voice-amp.


                              BRETT

               The intakes are clogged.  We

               overheated and burned out a

               whole cell...Christ, it's really

               breaking loose down here...

     INT. BRIDGE                                            40

                              DALLAS  

               Somebody give me a simple answer,

               Has the hull been breached.


     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

               4 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)

               Couldn't fix it out here anyway.

               And we need to reroute a couple

               of these ducts.  Can't really fix

               them without a whole drydock...


                              DALLAS

               What else.

              

                              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

                                                           

     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

               every thirty-two seconds.  All

               the other channels are dead.


     Pause.


                              DALLAS

               Kick on the floods.


                                             CUT TO:

              

     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 at the dark screens.

                              KANE

               We can't go anywhere in this.


                              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.


                              KANE

               Close enough to walk.

              

                              DALLAS

               Let's run an atmospheric.

              

     Ash punches buttons, starts to consult his panel.

                              ASH

               10 percent agron, 85 precent

               nitrogen, 5 percent neon...I'm

               working on the trace elements.

              

                              DALLAS

               Pressure.

              

                              ASH

               Ten to the fourth dynes per square

               centimeter.


                              KANE

               Moisture content.


                              ASH

               None.  Zero.

              

                              DALLAS

               Anything else.

              

                              ASH

               Rock, lava base.  And cold...

               well below the centrigrade line.


                              KANE

               I volunteer for the first group

               going out.


                              DALLAS

               I hear you.  Lambert.  You too.


     Pause.


                              LAMBERT

               Swell.


                              DALLAS

               One more thing.  Let's get out

               some weapons.

                                                           

     EXT. SHIP - DAWN                                       47


     Sunrise.

     The atmosphere begins to lighten.

     Silhouette of the Nostromo becoming dimly visible.

     Starship perched on barren rock.

     More rolling clouds of dust.

     The floodlights automatically shut off.


     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, you'll both get

               what's coming to you.

              

                              BRETT

               I'm not doing any more work unless

               we get full shares.

              

                              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 looks at her.

     Snaps on the laser weld.

     Starts to join another section of the duct.

                              BRETT

               Right.

                                                           

     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

               I'm sending.  Do you hear me.

              

                              KANE

               Receiving.

              

                              LAMBERT

               Receiving.

              

                              DALLAS

               All right.  Keep away from the

               weapons unless I say otherwise.


     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.

     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

               Now I can't see a God damn thing.

              

                              ASH

                      (voice over)

               Turn on the finder.

              

                              DALLAS

               It's on...Ash are you receiving.

              

     INT. ASH'S BLISTER - DAWN                              53

     Ash leaning over his console.

     Watches them beneath him.

     Corresponding images on the screen in front of him.

                              ASH

               See you.  Read you.  Good contact

               on my board.

                     

                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               Getting you clear and free.  Let's

               keep the line open.

              

     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 sheets.

     Lambert repeats.

                              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 intently.

     Images on each screen of the trio.

                              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  

               It's close.

              

     They approach a towering rock formation.

     The transmission stops.

                              LAMBERT

               It's gone again.


                              KANE

               Did we pass it.


                              DALLAS

               Not unless it's underground.

               Let's take a break

              

     They shelter with the rock formation.

     Storm howls round them.

     Dallas adjusts headset.

     The signals starts.


                              DALLAS

               I've got it again.  Let's go.


                              LAMBERT

               How about our break.


                              DALLAS

               No. Let's more on while we're

               got the signal, again.

       

     Dallas gets up.


     They stand for a moment...


     Then move away from the rock formation.

     Fossilized into the other side of the rock is a shape.

     Fifteen feet tall.

     Unseen by the members of the party.


     INT. BLISTER - DAWN                                    56-A

     Ash receiving the video transmission.  

     Notices something within the formation.

     Freezes the image.

     Enlarges it.

     Enlarges again.


     EXT. THE NOSTROMO - SUNRISE                            57

     Atmosphere turning the color of blood.

     Then the sun is up.

     EXT. THE NOSTROMO - SUNRISE                            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.

     INT. BLISTER - DAY                                     59

     Ash still working on the video image.

     Enhances the enlargement.

     Transfers the image to cathode ray.

     The image reveals itself to be a giant form.  Indistinct.


     Ripley's voice comes over.

                              RIPLEY

                      (voice over)

               How's it going.


     Ash quickly shuts off the video image.

     Hits the intercom.

              

     INT. BRIDGE                                            60

     Ripley at her console.

     Looking at Ash on her screen.

     Ash's video image not visible to Ripley.

                              ASH

                      (voice over)

               All right.

                              RIPLEY

               Have you tried putting the

               transmission through ECIU.

              

                              ASH

                      (voice over)

               Mother hasn't identified it as yet.

               It's not a language.

              

                              RIPLEY

               I'll give it a shot.

                             

                              ASH

                      (voice over)

               Be my guest.

              

     She pushes some button.

     The noise 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 spaceship.

              

                              LAMBERT

               Are you sure.  It's weird...

              

                              DALLAS

               Ash, can you see this.

              

     INT. ASH'S BLISTER - DAY                               65

     Ash looking at the craft 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 ship.


     INT. BLISTER - DAY                                     67

     Ash still adjusting image of form in rock.  

     It suddenly resolves.

     A skeleton.  Fifteen feet long.

     He enlarges the image.


                              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.


     His voice fades into static.

     Disappears.

                                                    CUT TO:

                                                           

     EXT. 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.

     Walls covered with shadowy lattices.

     Ghostly light filters dust-filled air.

     A few meters in an opening appears.

     Dallas leans over and looks into the hole.

     Only blackness.

     He unclips the light from his belt.

     Shines it down into the hole.

                              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, sees...

     A large, glossy urn, tan coloration.

     Round opening at the rop, empty within.

     Then Dallas shines his light on nearby lattice...

     Moves closer.

                              DALLAS

               Over here.

              

     They approach.  

     Train their lights along the floor.

     A machine.

     On the mechanism, a small bar moves steadily back

     and forth.

     Sliding noiselessly in the grooves.


                              KANE

               Still functioning.


     Lambert looks down at her direction finder.


                              LAMBERT

               Automatic recording.


     Dallas snaps it off.

                              DALLAS

               Now for a look down below.

                      (looks at Kane)

               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. STRUCTURE 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

               Hotter in here.  Warm air rising

               from below.

     He starts down, playing out the line.

     Descending in short leaps.

     Stops to catch his breath.

     Breathing rasping loudly in his helmet.

     A little sunlight filters from above.

     Looking up, Kane can see the mouth of the hole...

     A glowing spot of light.

                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               You okay in there.

              

                              KANE

               Haven't hit bottom yet.

               This is work.  Can't talk now.

              

     He kicks off and continues down.

     Taking longer and longer hops as he gains confidence.

     Pausing for a moment to regain his breath, he shines the

     light on his instruments.

                              KANE

               I'm below ground level.

              

     INT. BRIDGE                                            71                                                           

     

     Ripley at her console, still working on transmission.

     Gets a readout.

     Looks worried.

     Speaks into communicator.


                              RIPLEY

               Ash, tell Dallas Mother speculates

               that the noise is some kind of

               warning.


                              ASH

                      (voice over)

               I can't tell him anything.  I've

               lost contact.  The transmission

               around the ship is killing all

               communications.


     Pause.


                              RIPLEY

               I'm going out after them.


                              ASH

                      (voice over)

               I don't think so.  We can't

               spare the personnel.  We've

               got minimum takeoff capability

               right now.  That's why Dallas

               left us on board.


                              RIPLEY

               I still think we should go after

               them.


                              ASH

                      (voice over)

               What's the point.  In the time

               it take to get there.  They'll

               know if it's a warning.


     Ripley looks steadily at Ash on her monitor.

     His screen, not visible to her, shows blowup of helmeted,

     skeletal head.  Not human.


     INT. STRUCTURE                                         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...Tunnel's gone.  Cave or

               something below me.  Feels like

               the goddamn tropics in here...

              

     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 weird.

              

                              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 sealed...soft to the

               touch.

              

                              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.


                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               Don't open it.  You don't know

               what's in 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.

                              KANE

               Jesus...

              

                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               What.

              

     Viscera and mandible now visible.

     The interior surface spongy and irregular.

     Kane shines the light inside.

     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

               It'll yank him right off his feet

               if he's not expecting it.


                              DALLAS

               Try him again.

              

                              LAMBERT

               Kane...Kane...Goddamn it.  Answer

               me.

              

     Dallas begins to fiddle with the wench mechanism.


                              DALLAS

               The line's slack.


     Pause.


                              LAMBERT

               He doesn't answer.

                      (pause)

               Do you think he could have unhooked

               himself.

     

     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.

     Shakes his head.


                              DALLAS

               Line's still moving.


     A long moment.

     Dallas shines his light again.

                              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.

     INT. ENTRANCE TO DERELICT - SUNSET                     75-A                                                           

     

     Kane is now pinioned betweeb Dallas and Lambert.

     The storm raging through and beyond the entrance...

     Dallas begins to assemble travois.

                                                           

     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                                            76

     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, Lambert.  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.

              

     Ripley stares at the screen.


                              ASH

               I'll go.

     

     Ash moves from the room.

     Ripley remains seated at her console.

     EXT. LANDING LEG - NIGHT                               76-a

     Dallas and Lambert dragging Kane on a travois towards 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


     Parker comes running up.


                              PARKER

               What's going on.


                              ASH

               Kane got hurt somehow.


                              PARKER

               How bad.

     Ash shrugs.

     Brett appears at the top of the companionway.

     Puzzled look on his face.

     INT. BRIDGE                                            80

     Ripley seated alone in the room.

     Dallas appears as a huge image on all screens.

     Lambert behind him.

     Kane pinioned to Dallas.

                             

                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               Ripley, are you there.

              

                              RIPLEY

               Right here.

              

                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               We're coming up.  Open the

               lock.

              

                              RIPLEY

               What happened to Kane.  I need

               a clear definition.

              

                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               Some kind of organism.  It's

               attached itself to him.  Let

               is in.

                      (long moment)

               You hear me.  Open the lock.

                             

                             RIPLEY

               If we let it in, the ship could

               be infected.


                              DALLAS

                      (voice over)

               Goddamn it.  Open the hatch.


                              RIPLEY

               We're already broken every rule

               or quarantine.  If we bring an

               organism on board, we won't have

               a single layer of defense left.

              

                              LAMBERT

                      (voice over)

               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. 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. BRIDGE - NIGHT                                    82

     Ripley staring at the console.

     She can't believe what she sees.

     Turns to the viewscreens.

     Watches Dallas, Kane and Lambert enter.

     INT. PASSAGEWAY NEAR AIR LOCK                          83                                                           

     

     The servo again turns over.

     Another clunk.

     The outer door has closed.

     Red light off.

     The inner door slides open.

     Dallas and Lambert stagger into passageway.

     Carry Kane's body between them.

     Dallas pulls off his helmet.


                              DALLAS

               Stay clear.


     Ash and Parker move back.


                              ASH

               God.


                              PARKER

               Is it alive.


                              LAMBERT

               I don't know, but don't touch it.


                              DALLAS

               Take him to the infirmary.


                              BRETT

               Right.


     Ash and Brett move in carefully to help with the limp burden.

                                                           

     INT. INFIRMARY                                         84

     Kane's helmet.

     Hands begin to open it with a laser cutter.

     The helmet separates easily.

     The two halves part...

     ...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

               Let me try.


     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.

                              BRETT

               It's not going to come off without

               pulling his whole faceoff at the

               same time.


                              DALLAS

               Let the machine work on him.

              

     The 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.


     ANGLE ON THE DOORWAY                                   84-A


     Ripley appears.

     Dallas turns and looks at her.

     A long moment.


                              DALLAS

               When I give an order, I expect

               it to be obeyed.


                              RIPLEY

               Even if it's against the law.


                              DALLAS

               That's right.


     Lambert steps forward and slaps Ripley across the face.

     Ripley slowly puts her hand to her cheek.


                              LAMBERT

               You were going to leave us out there.


                              PARKER

               Maybe she should have.  Who the

               hell knows what that is.


                              BRETT

               Right.


     Ripley looks at Lambert.

     A moment.


                              RIPLEY

               Let's call it settled.


     Lambert gives her a curt nod.

     Ash turns attention to the instrumentation.


                              RIPLEY

               Somebody fill me in.


                              DALLAS

               He went into the structure alone,

               we lost radio contact.  When we

               pulled him out, it was on his face...


                              ASH

               Where did it come from...


                              DALLAS

               Somewhere inside that ship.


                              PARKER

               How the hell is he breathing.


     They study the monitors.


                              ASH

               Blood's throughly oxygenated.


                              DALLAS

               How.  His nose and mouth seem

               to be blocked.


                              ASH

               We better look inside his head.


     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.

                              BRETT  

               It's got something down his goddamn

               throat.


                              ASH

               That must be how it's getting

               oxygen to him.


                              RIPLEY

               It doesn't make sense.  It paralyzes

               him, puts him into a coma, then

               keeps him alive.


                              PARKER

               Let's kill it.  We can't leave the

               damn thing on him.


                              ASH

               I don't know.  At the moment the

               Creature is keeping him alive.

               If we remove it we might

               terminate Kane...

                              DALLAS

               I don't think so.  Let's take the

               chance and cut it off him.

                              ASH

               You'll take the responsibility.

                              DALLAS

               That's right.


     Slips into surgical gloves.

     Presses a switch, Kane slides back out of the booth.


                              DALLAS

               Give me the knife.

              

     Ripley takes a surgical laser blade from the case.

     Carefully passes it to Dallas.

     He manipulates the knife until he has a comfortable grip.

     Flicks a small button with his thumb.

     The blade begins to hum.

     Dallas advances on Kane's prostrate form.

     Touches the scalpel to the Creature.

     The electronic blade slices effortlessly downward.

     Suddenly a urine-like fluid begins to drip from the wound.

                              DALLAS

               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.

     More smoke rising, sending the crew into a coughing jag.

     The crew jostle their way out of the cabin.

     Huddle in the passageway outside, still coughing.

     Dallas frantically applies pressure to the wound.

     In the process, smoke of the fluid gets on Dallas's gloves.

     They begin to smoke.

     Dallas leaps back, pulls them off.

     Then runs out into the corridor.

     INT. PASSAGEWAY OUTSIDE INFIRMARY                      85

                              BRETT

               Shit.  It's going to eat through

               the decks and go out the hull...

              

     He starta to run for the companionway.

     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" DECK                             86

     Dallas wrenches an emergency lamp from a socket.

     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.

                              ASH

               What can we put under it.

     Ripley and Parker charge down the companionway below.

     INT. SECOND LEVEL - "C" DECK                           87

     Ripley and Parker move cautiously down the passageway.

     Look up to the ceiling bulkhead.


                              PARKER

               Don't get under it.

              

     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" DECK                             88

              

     Dallas, Brett and Ash crouch by the spot where the acid

     sizzles.

     Ash fishes a pen out of his pocket.

     Probes the hole in the deck.

                              ASH

               It's stopped penetrating.

     Ripley comes charging back up.              

     

                              RIPLEY

               What's happening.


                              ASH

               I think it's lost steam.  No

               longer active.


     Ripley checks the opening.

     Ash straightens up.

     Starts to put the pen back in his pocket.

     Changes his mind and stands holding it by the end.

                              ASH

               I've never seen anything like that,

               except molecular acid...

                              BRETT

               This thing uses it for blood.

                              ASH

               It's the asbestos that stopped it,

               otherwise it would have gone straight

               through.


                              DALLAS

               Wonderful defense mechanism.

               You don't dare kill it.

              

     Parker comes up the companionway.


                              PARKER

               It's stopped bleeding.


                              DALLAS

               Yeah.  After is penetrated two

               levels.


                              RIPLEY

               What about Kane.


     Starts up companionway.

     INT. INFIRMARY                                         89

     They return.

     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.


                              LAMBERT

               There must be some way we can get

               it off.


     And look at Dallas.


                              ASH

               I don't think you ought to try

               again.  It didn't work out too well

               last time.

     Dallas gives him a look in return.

     Ripley presses a button.

     Kane slides back into the diagnostic coffin.

     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.


                              RIPLEY

               What's the stain on his lungs.


     The X-ray reveals a spreading dark blot in the chest cavity.

     At the center, the stain is completely opaque.


                              ASH

               Whatever it is, it's blocking

               the X-ray.


     A long moment.

     The stain spreads.


                              BRETT

               What happens know.


     Ash sets aside his partially melted pen.

     Looks at Dallas.


                              DALLAS

               You go back to work.

     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.

                             

                              RIPLEY

                      (voice over)

               What's happening.

              

                              PARKER

               This goddamn woman.  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'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.

              

     She clicks off.

     Parker turns away.

                              PARKER

               Smart mouth broad.

     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.  A lot of Amino

               Acids for prolonged reistance to

               adverse environmental conditions...

               That enough for you.

                              RIPLEY

               Plenty.  What's it mean.

                              ASH

               Interesting combination of elements

               making it one 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 at 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

               This is your official position as

               a 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.

     Walks out.

     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 IMFIRMARY WINDOW                 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.


                              ASH

               We can't open the door.  We don't

               want to let it out.


                              RIPLEY

               Yeah, I remember.  We can't grab

               it.  We can't kill it...


                              DALLAS

               Maybe we can catch it.


                              ASH

               As long as we're careful not to

               damage it.


     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 to Ripley)

               You okay.

                              RIPLEY

               Yeah.

     She 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.

                              ASH  

               Look at those suckers.  No wonder

               we couldn't get it off him.


                              RIPLEY

               Where's its mouth.


                              ASH

               It's this tube-thing, up in

               here.

                      (carefully extracts

                      the end of the organ)

               It's hardening.

                      (slips the Creature

                      under a fluoroscope)

               It's 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.


                              RIPLEY

               I need some coffee.


     She turns and walks away.

                                                           

     INT. COMPUTER ANNEX                                    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 Thedus,

               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

               They're pretty much finished now.  

               

                              DALLAS

               Why didn't you say so?


                              RIPLEY

               There are still some thing 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.

               

                              RIPLEY

               Is that a good idea.


                              DALLAS

               I want to get out of here.

               Let's get this turkey off the

               ground.

                                                           

     EXT. PLANET - SUNRISE                                  99

     The Nostromo's engines roaring.

     Belching out streams of superheated air.

     The starship vibrates.

     Begins to surge forward.

                                                                

     INT. BRIDGE - SUNRISE                                 100


     The crew at their posts.

     An electrical hum permeates the air.


                              RIPLEY

               Lock tractor beams.


     The pitch of the hum changes.

     The ship levels itself.


                              RIPLEY

               Retract leading struts.


     EXT. PLANET - SUNSIRE                                 101


     The Nostromo hovering above the ground.

     Held on beams of shimmering force.

     The landing struts begin folding.


     INT. BRIDGE - DAY                                     102

       

                              DALLAS

               Take us up.


     Lambert bends over the voice amplifier.


                              LAMBERT

               One kilometer on ascension.


     INT. PLANET                                           103


     The Nostromo begins to levitate skyward.

     Seemingly pushing upward on the beams of light.


     INT. BRIDGE - DAY                                     104  

     

     The ship continues vibrating.


                              DALLAS

               Switch on lifter quads.


     A powerful, deep throbbing begins.

     The vibrations increase.


                              RIPLEY

                      (into speaker)

               Everything holding together

               down there.


     INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE                              105


     Parker and Brett strapped in and vibrating.


                              PARKER

               We fix something it stays fixed.


                              BRETT

               Right.


     EXT. NOSTROMO - DAY                                   106


     The starship hovering below cloud ceiling.

     THen begins to accelerate through the dense atmosphere.


     INT. BRIDGE - DAY                                     107


     All viewscreens operational.


                              DALLAS

               Engage artificial gravity.


     Lambert throws a switch.

     The ship lurches.

                              LAMBERT

               Engaged.

                              DALLAS

               Altering the vector now.

              

     A huge tremor runs throughout the ship.

                              PARKER'S VOICE

                      (o.s.)

               Dust is clogging the damn intakes

               again.  We're overloading.


                              DALLAS

               Just hold us together until

               we're beyond G1...

       

     The pitch of the engines changes...deepens.

     EXT. NOSTROMO - DAY                                   108

     The ship moves at an acute angle.

     Slices through the boiling clouds.

     INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE                              109

     Parker and Brett watching the guages.

     INT. BRIDGE - DAY                                     110

     Outside the screens, clouds, clouds, clouds.

     Another tremor runs through the ship.

     The crew's eyes riveted to their instruments.


                              DALLAS

               Let's pick up the money and go

               home.

     EXT. NOSTROMO                                         111

     The ship clears the top of the cloud layer.

     Bursts out into star-sprinkled space.

     Trailing a wake of glimmering dust flecks.

     Attached itself to the hovering refinery.

     INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE                              111-A

     Brett waves his arms in exultation.  

     

                              BRETT

               We did it


                              PARKER

               Walk in the park.  When we fix

               something it stays fixed.


     Big smiles.

     INT. BRIDGE                                           112

     The Nostromo now safely beyong gravity.                              

                              

                              DALLAS

               Set our course and get us up

               to light plus four.


     Lambert begins punching buttons.


                              LAMBERT

               Feets get me out of here.

     EXT. OUTER SPACE                                      113

     The Nostromo now at light speed.

     Preceptible movement in the surrounding universe.

     A corona effect emerges.

     Stars approaching the Nostromo appear blue.

     Receding stars going to amber.

     Redshift, made visible because of the craft's velocity.

     INT. MESS                                         114

     Parker, Brett, Dallas and Ripley around the table.

     Drinking coffee.

                              PARKER

               The best thing to do is just to

               freeze him.  Stop the goddam

               disease.  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 regular 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...


                              LAMBERT

               It'll take us six weeks to get

               back on course.


                              DALLAS

               How far to Earth.

                              LAMBERT

               Ten months.

                              RIPLEY

               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

               see him.

              

                                                     OUT   115

                                                           

     INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE INFIRMARY WINDOW                116

     What they see is...Not what they expect.

     Kane is sitting up in bed...wide awake.

     They enter...

                              LAMBERT

               Kane...Are you all right.


                              KANE

               Mouth's dry...can I have some

               water.


     Instantly, Ash brings him a plastic cup and water.

     Kane gulps it down in a swallow.


                              KANE

               More.


     Ripley quickly fills a much bigger container.

     Hands it to Kane.

     He greedily consumes the entire contents.

     Then sags back, panting, on the bunk.

                              DALLAS

               How do you feel.

                              KANE

               Terrible.  What happened to me.  

               

                              ASH

               You don't remember.


                              KANE

               Don't remember anything.  I can

               barely remember my name.


                              PARKER

               Do you hurt.

                              KANE

               All over.  Feel like somebody's

               been beating me with a stick

               for about six years.

                      (smiles)

               God, I'm hungry.


                              RIPLEY

               What's the last thing you can

               remember.


                              KANE

               I don't know.


                              DALLAS

               Do you remember what happened

               on the planet.


                              KANE

               Just some horrible dream              

               about smothering.  Where

               are we.


                              RIPLEY

               We're on our way home.

              

                              BRETT

               Getting ready to go back into

               the freezers.

                              KANE

               I'm starving.  I want some food

               first.

                              PARKER

               I'm pretty hungry myself.

                              DALLAS

               One meal before bed.

                                                           

     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.


     Pause.

                              PARKER

               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.  It hurts.

                      (stands up)

               Ooooooh.

                              BRETT

               What is it.  What hurts.

              

     Kane's face screws into a mask of agony.

     He falls back into his chair.

                              KANE

               Ohmygooaaaahh.

              

     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.

              

                              BRETT

               What was that.  What the Christ

               was that.


                              PARKER

               It was growing in him the whole

               time and he didn't even know it.


                              ASH

               It used him for an incubator.


                              RIPLEY

               That means we've got another

               one.


                              DALLAS

               Yeah.  And it's loose on the

               ship.


     Slowly they gather around Kane's gutted corpse.

     Then they all look at one another.

     Then at Kane.

     Dead on the table.

     INT. CORRIDOR - "A" DECK                              118


     Empty.  

     Parker and Brett descend companioway.

     They join Ash, Lambert, Ripley and Dallas.


                              DALLAS

               Any signs.


                              LAMBERT

               Nothing.


                              ASH

               Nothing.


                              PARKER

               Didn't see a goddamn thing.


                              BRETT

               Didn't see anything.


                              RIPLEY

               We can't go into hypersleep with

               that thing running loose.  We'd

               be sitting ducks in the freezers.

               We have to kill it first.


                              LAMBERT

               We can't kill it.  If we do, it

               will spill its body acids right

               through the hull...


                              BRETT

               Son-of-a-bitch.


                              RIPLEY

               We have to catch it and eject

               it from the ship.


                              ASH

               Our supplies are based on us

               spending a limited amount of

               time out of suspended animation.

               Strictly limited.


                              RIPLEY

               First we have to find it.


                              DALLAS

               No.  First we've got something

               else to do.


     He looks at Kane's body through mess doorway.


     INT. AIR LOCK                                         119

     Kane's body wrapped in a makeshift shroud.

     

     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 to say.

     He nods to Ripley.

     She presses a button.

     INT. AIR LOCK                                         121

     The outer hatch opens.

     Yawning space outside.

     Kane's body shoots out into eternity.

     The hatch closes.

     INT. MESS                                         122

     The crew is assembled.  

     

                              RIPLEY  

               I've checked on the supplies.

               For about a week we can stay

               out of hypersleep.


                              BRETT

               Then what.


                              LAMBERT

               We run out of food and oxygen.


                              DALLAS

               All right, that's what we've got.

               A week.  It's plenty of time.


                              PARKER

               I say we put on our pressure

               suits and blow all the air out

               of the ship.  That might kill it.


                              LAMBERT

               What a swell idea.


                              PARKER

               What's wrong with it.


                              ASH

               We've got forty-eight hours of

               air in our pressure suits and

               it takes six months to get home.


                              LAMBERT

               Other than that...A swell idea.


     Parker won't give up on this idea.


                              PARKER

               Maybe we could out some kind

               of special lines to the tanks.

               Brett and I are pretty good

               practical engineers...We got

               us back up you know.


                              RIPLEY

               All by yourselves.


                              ASH

               I hate to point this out but

               it might be better off without

               oxygen.  It lived that way long

               enough.


                              RIPLEY

               There's another problem.  How

               do we find it.  There's no

               visual communication on B and

               C decks.  All the screens are

               out.


                              DALLAS

               We're going to have to flush it

               out.

                              ASH

               Sounds great...but how.

                              DALLAS

               Room by room, corridor by corridor.


     One of those suggestions that nobody likes.

                              LAMBERT

               And what do we do when we find it.

                              RIPLEY

               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.


                              LAMBERT

               Why do we listen to this meathead.


     Dallas turns it over.


                              DALLAS

               He might be right...

              

     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...

                                                           

     INT. NARCISSUS                                        125


     Dallas seated in the shuttle craft.

     Staring at the myriad lights of outer space.

     Ripley climbs beside him.


                              RIPLEY

               I thought I'd find you here.


     Dallas continues to stare.


                              DALLAS

               Are the nets finished.


     Pause.


                              RIPLEY

               We've got an hour...Look I

               need some relief.


                              DALLAS

               Why did you wait until now.


     Ripley leans forward.


                              RIPLEY

               Let me tell you something.  You

               keep staring out there long

               enough, they'll be peeling you

               off the wall.


     Ripley begins taking off her boots.


                              DALLAS

               We're the new pioneers, Ripley.

               We even get to have our own

               special disease.


                              RIPLEY

               I'm tired of talking.


     She rises and removes her upper garments.


                              DALLAS

               You waited too long.


                              RIPLEY

               Give it a try anyway.


     Clothing removed.

     His arms move around her.

     

     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 goddamn 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 bastard

               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  

               We'll break into two teams.

               Whoever finds it first catches

               it in the net and ejects it

               from the nearest air lock.

                      (pause)

               For starters, let's make sure

               the bridge is safe.


     Parker turns on his unit.

     Scans it around the room.


                              LAMBERT

               We seem to be okay...If this

               damn thing works.


                              DALLAS

               Ash and myself will go with

               Lambert.  Brett and Parker will

               make up the second team.  Ripley,

               you command it.


     They start doling out the equipment.


                              DALLAS

               Channels are open on all decks.

               We'll be in constant touch.


     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

               Goddamn, 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 in that direction.

     Entering drab section of the ship.

     Surrounded by deep shadows.

     Footsteps clanging on the metal deck.

                              RIPLEY

               I thought you fixed 12 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...

               Goddamn 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.

                              LAMBERT  

               Now what.


                              PARKER

               Blast the rotten bastard with

               a laser and take our chances.

                              RIPLEY

               No.  At its present size it's  

               holding enough acid to tear a

               hole in this ship as big as this

               room.

                              ASH

               It wouldn't do any good.  It's

               self-regenerating.  You saw that

               when we operated on it.

                              RIPLEY  

               The only plan that's going to

               work is the same one we had

               before.  Drive it into an air

               lock and blow it out into space.


                              PARKER

               Drive it...The son-of-a-bitch

               is huge.


                              LAMBERT

               For once he has a point.  How

               do we drive it.

                              RIPLEY

               The science department should

               be able to help...


                              ASH

               According to Mother, he's a

               primitive form of encephlepod...


                              LAMBERT

               How come it's a he.


                              ASH

               Just a phrase.  As a matter of

               fact he's both, bisexual or

               hermaphrodite to be precise.


                              DALLAS

               Skip its sex life.  How do

               we kill it.

                              ASH

               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

               Curious isn't it...That the

               Alien is an encephlepod...


                              ASH

               What's so curious about that.


                              RIPLEY

               It's curious because lower

               species can't adapt as quickly

               as higher ones.  And this one's

               doing very well.  A real survivor.

               Might even have as good a chance

               as we do.


                              ASH

               You're getting paranoid again.


                              RIPLEY

               All right.  What about the

               temperature.  What happens

               if we change it.

                              ASH

               Let's give it a try.  Most

               animals retreat from fire.


     Puase.


                              PARKER

               I can hook up a couple of

               incinerating units in about

               fifteen minutes.


     Pause.


                              DALLAS

               Anybody got any better ideas.


     Nobody does.


                              DALLAS

               Okay.  When Parker's ready,

               we'll work our way back down

               to 'C' deck.

     EXT. OUTER SPACE                                      133-A

     Nostromo at light plus four.


     INT. PASSAGEWAT - "B" LEVEL                           134


     Parker and Dallas lead.

     Armed with flamethrowers.

     They descend from companionway.

     Suddenly both tracking devices beep frantically.

     Sound of rending metal up ahead.

     The move forward cautiously.


                              DALLAS

               It's in that food locker.

     EXT. FOOD LOCKER NUMBER 12                            134-A


     More rending noises.


                              LAMBERT

               Jesus.  It must be huge.


                              PARKER

               It's got to be using the

               airshafts to move around...


     Dallas raises flamethrower.


                              DALLAS

               Do these things really work.


                              PARKER

               I made them didn't I.


                              RIPLEY

               That's what worries me.


     Dallas indicates door handle.

     Parker reluctantly takes it.


                              DALLAS

               Now.


     Parker wrenches open door.

     Dallas fires a long blast.  Another.

     Another and another...Silence.

     They move inside...


     INT. FOOD STORAGE LOCKER NUMBER 12 - "B" LEVEL        135


     Charred wreckage.

     Packages have been ripped to shreds.

     Foodstuffs scattered over the floor.

     Carefully, they poke through the smouldering garbage.


                              RIPLEY

               We didn't get him.


                              DALLAS

               This is where he went.


     On the wall, a ventilator grill has been ripped open.

     They move to the shredded ventilator.

     Shine their lights inside the shaft.


                              DALLAS

               This could work for us.  The

               duct comes out at the starboard

               air lock.  There's an exit on

               the way.  But we can close that

               off.  Then we drive it into the

               air lock and blast it into space.


                              LAMBERT

               Yeah.  All you have to do is

               crawl in the vent with it, find

               your way through the maze and

               hope it's afraid of fire.


                              DALLAS

               Well Parker, you wanted an

               equal share...


                              PARKER

               Yeah.


                              DALLAS

               Get in the pipe.


                              PARKER

               Why me.


                              DALLAS

               I just wanted to see you get

               your full share.


                              PARKER

               No way.


                              RIPLEY

               I'll go.


                              DALLAS

               Forget it.  You take the

               air lock.  Parker and Lambert

               cover the exit.




     No doubt as to who's going inside the vent.


     INT. STARBOARD AIR LOCK - VESTIBULE                   135-A


     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.

     INT. MAINTENANCE LEVEL                                135-B

     Parker and Lambert get set.

     INT. FOOD STORAGE LOCKER NUMBER 12 - "B" LEVEL        136     

     

     Ash hands Dallas the makeshift flamethrower.

     He fires a couple of short bursts.


                              DALLAS

               It's still working.


                              ASH

               Why do you have to go.  Why

               didn't you sent Ripley.


                              DALLAS

               It's my responsibility.  I let

               Kane go into the craft.  Now

               it's my turn.


                              ASH

               You're the captain.  It'll be

               harder on the rest of us, if

               we lose you.


                              DALLAS

               Nothing I do that Ripley can't.


                              ASH

               I don't agree.


                              DALLAS

               The decision is final.


     He removes the master computer key.

     Hands it to Ash.


                              DALLAS

               If I don't take it back,

               Ripley will need this.


     Ash nods.

     Dallas turns and climbs into the ventilator opening.

     Just large enough to crawl through.

     

     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 starboard 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. MAINTENANCE LEVEL                                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'd like

               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.


     INT. FOOD STORAGE LOCKER NUMBER 12                    144

     Ash staring at the ventilator opening.                                                           


     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. MAINTENANCE LEVEL                                149-A

     Lambert huddled over her tracker.

     Puzzled.

                              LAMBERT

               I'm not sure.  There seems

               to be some kind of double

               image.

              

     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.


     Further on.

                              DALLAS

               Lambert, am I coming in any

               clearer.

                              LAMBERT

                      (voice over)

               It's clear all right, but I'm

               still getting two blips.

                      (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.


                              RIPLEY

                      (voice over)

               Oh my God.


     Then silence.

     INT. MESS                                         152

     Dallas' flamethrower on the table surface.

                              PARKER

                      (voice over)

               We just found it laying there.

               No sign of him.  Only a hole

               torn through to the central

               cooling complex.

              

     The remaining crew standing at the table.

                              RIPLEY

               This puts me in command.


                              PARKER

               Okay.


     For the first time he's dropped his bullshit.

                              RIPLEY

               Unless someone's got a better

               idea about dealing with the

               Alien, we'll continue with the

               last plan.


     Silence.


                              RIPLEY

               How are our weapons.

                              PARKER

               They're working fine...We could

               use more fuel for that one.

              

     Indicating Dallas' flamethrower.

                              RIPLEY

               Get it.

               

                              PARKER

               Right.

              

     He leaves.

     Ripley turns to Ash.

                              RIPLEY

               Any ideas.  From you or Mother.

                              ASH

               Nothing new.  Just the one

               you're operating under.


                              RIPLEY

               You mean to tell me with

               everything we've got, we're

               still powerless against the

               Beast.


                              ASH

               That's the way it looks.


                              RIPLEY

               I can't believe that.

                              ASH

               I'm sorry captain.  what would

               you like me to do.

                              RIPLEY

               Go back to Mother and keep

               asking questions until you

               get some better answers.


                              ASH

               All right...I'll try.


     He starts to go.


                              RIPLEY

               Dallas didn't leave the master

               computer key with you.


                              ASH

               You didn't get it.


                              RIPLEY

               No.


                              ASH

               Well, we probably won't need

               it anyway.


     He leaves.


                              RIPLEY

               I know Ash has got the key.


                              LAMBERT

               Why should he lie.


                              RIPLEY

               He knows I want to check up on

               him...Without that key we've got

               no access to command priority

               information.


                              LAMBERT

               Swell.


     Lambert shrugs.

     They start to leave.


     INT. MAINTENANCE AREA - "C" DECK                      153


     Parker selects two full methane cylinders.

     He tests them.

     Moves out.

     

     INT. CORRIDOR TO BRIDGE                               154


                              RIPLEY

               Did you ever sleep with Ash?

                              LAMBERT

               No.  What about you.

                              RIPLEY

               No.


                              LAMBERT

               I never got the impression he

               was particularly interested...

                                                           

     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL                           155


     Parker returning with methane cylinder.

     Turns a corner.

     Comes to an abrupt halt.

     A movement in front of him beyond the air lock.

     He hesitates.

     Then another shadowy movement...


     INT. BRIDGE                                           156


     Ripley and Lambert

     Parker's voice on voice-amp.

     Muffled.

     Ripley hits a toggle.


                              RIPLEY

               Ripley.


     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL                           156-A


     Parker covers the wall communication with his hand.


                              PARKER

               Keep it down...


     Up the corridor, the movement stops.


     INT. BRIDGE                                           156-B


                              RIPLEY

               Can't hear you...Repeat...


     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL                           157


     Parker whispering.


                              PARKER

               The Alien...It's outside the

               main air lock door.  Open the

               door slowly...When I shout...

               close it fast.


     INT. BLISTER                                          157-A


     Ash listens.


     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL                           157-B


     Parker still whispering.


                              PARKER

               Open it...slowly.


     INT. BRIDGE                                           158


     Ripley hesitates.

     Starts to reply.

     Throws switch.


     INT. AIR LOCK - "B" DECK                              159


     Low servo whine.

     Door opens.

     Slowly.

     Green light throbbing inside air lock.

     Creature looks curiously at it.

     Moves onto the threshold.


     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL                           159-A


     Parker watches...


     INT. AIR LOCK                                         159-B


     Creature move further into air lock.

     Fascinated by green light.


     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL                           159-C


     Urgent whisper into voice-amp.


                              PARKER

               Now...Now...


     INT. BRIDGE                                           159-D


     As Ripley moves to throw switch...


     INT. AIR LOCK                                         159-E


     Suddenly, from out of nowhere a klaxon wails.

     The Creature leaps back across the threshold of the air lock.

     Bewildered.

     Screams as the inner hatch closes on an appendage.

     Acid boiling out.

     The appendage crushed.

     The acid bubbles.

     Metal boils in door.


     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL                           160


     Parker watches.

     Frozen.

     The Alien wrenches itself free.

     Comes flying outward.

     Smashes Parker down.

     Flees.

     On the wall a green light goes on.


                              "Inner Hatch Closed"


     INT. AIR LOCK                                         161


     Metal still boiling.

     The outer hatch begins to open.


                                                    OUT    162


     INT. BRIDGE                                           163


                              RIPLEY

               Parker...


     Pushes a switch.

     Pushes it again.


                              LAMBERT

               What's happening, Parker.


     In front of her a green light blinks.

     "Inner Hatch Closed."


                              RIPLEY

               Inner hatch sealed.  The outer

               hatch is open.


                              LAMBERT

               What about Parker.


                              RIPLEY

               I don't know.  Take over.


     Ripley bolts out of the bridge.


     EXT. NOSTROMO                                         163-A


     Air lock open.


     INT. PASSAGE NEAR AIR LOCK - "B" LEVEL                164


     Parker unconscious.


     INT. AIR LOCK                                         165


     The inner hatch still closed.

     Metal boils.

     The hole growing deeper.


     INT. PASSAGEWAY - "A" LEVEL                           166


     Ripley runs toward the air lock corridor.


     INT. AIR LOCK                                         167


     Metal boiling in door.


     INT. PASSAGEWAYS - "B" DECK                           168


     Ripley slams to a momentary halt against a bulkhead.

     Regains her balance.

     Starts running.


     INT. PASSAGE NEAR AIR LOCK - "B" LEVEL                169


     Parker now half conscious.

     Ripley arrives as the hole in door blows open.

     Escaping air shrieks.

     Flashing sign comes on.

     Critical depressurization.

     Emergency klaxon.

     Simultaneously vestibule doors close either end.

     Sealing in Ripley and Parker.

     Door nearest to Parker half-closed on one of the methane

     cylinders.

     Leaving large gap.

     Windstorm begins as hole in air lock grows.

     Ripley reaches for other cylinder.

     Begins smashing the jammed cylinder out of door.

     Blood froths at their noses and ears.

     Cylinder finally is driven out.

     The door slams closed.


     INT. BRIDGE                                           169-A


     Lambert watches.

     Emergency light readings.


                    "Hull Breached"

                    "Emmergency Bulkheads Closed"


                              LAMBERT

               Ash, get the oxygen.  Meet me at

               the air lock.


     Rushes out.

     Down corridor.


     INT. PASSAGEWAY NEAR AIR LOCK - "B" LEVEL             169-B


     Ripley staggers toward an emergency panel.

     At far end of corridor.

     Pinging sound.

     Misty atmosphere.

     Tries to activate the door.

     Cannot.

     Lambert appears other side of bulkhead.

     Activates door from outside.

     Rush of oxygen.


     EXT. NOSTROMO                                         170


     Plume of vapor freezes in the vacuum.


     INT. PASSAGE NEAR AIR LOCK - "B" LEVEL                171


     Repressurization sounds.

     Parker regains consciousness.

     Struggles to breathe.

     Ripley unable to move.

     Breath coming in shallow pants.

     Lambert with an oxygen tank.

     Ash follows.

     Oxygen administered to Ripley and Parker.


     Finally.


                              ASH

               You all right.


                              PARKER

               We didn't get it.  The warning

               went off and it jumped back in

               the ship.


                              ASH

               Who hit the warning.


                              RIPLEY

               You tell me.


                              ASH

               What does that mean.


                              RIPLEY

               I guess the alarm went off by

               itself.


                              ASH

               If you've got something to say

               say it.  I'm sick of these coy

               accusations.


                              RIPLEY

               Nobody's accusing you.


                              ASH

               The hell you're not.


     Sullen silence.


                              RIPLEY

               Go patch him up.


     Ash and Parker leave.

     Ripley turns to Lambert.


                              RIPLEY

               How much oxygen have we lost.

               I want an exact reading.


                              LAMBERT

               You were accusing him.


                              RIPLEY

               If I could find the command

               computer key, I could prove it.


                              LAMBERT

               You're still accusing him of

               stealing the key.


                              RIPLEY

               You think I'm wrong.


                              LAMBERT

               I don't know.  Wrong or crazy.


                              RIPLEY

               Thanks.


     INT. BLISTER STAIRCASE                                172


     Ripley cautiously descends the stairs to the blister.

     Carrying a flamethrower.


     INT. ASH'S BLISTER                                    173


     Looks around the blister.

     Satidfies it's deserted.

     She puts down the flamethrower.

     Methodically begins to search for the key.

     Faint tapping sound.

     Then stops.

     She looks around.

     Sees nothing.

     Resumes searching near blister window...

     Ripley finds key...

     Tapping sound.

     She whips around to see:

     Kane's disfigured face slapping against the plexiglass.

     She stifles a scream.

     Drops the key onto the curved surface of the blister.

     Fishes for it...

     Kane's bloated face swings in...

     Beneath her.

     She grabs the key and bolts up companionway.


     INT. COMPUTER ANNEX                                   174

     Ripley plugs the key into the board.

     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:  WHO TURNED ON AIR LOCK 2 WARNING SYSTEM.

     Response:  ASH

     Another code.

     Question:  IS ASH PROTECTING THE ALIEN.

     Response:  YES

     New code.

     Question:  WHY

     Response:  SPECIAL ORDER 937 SCIENCE EYE'S ONLY

     She starts a new code.  

     A hand slmas down next to Ripley's arm.

     It sinks elbow deep into the computer.

     She whips around in her chair.

     Faces Ash.

     Ripley lashes out with her foot.

     Kicks him in the middle.

     No effect.

     Ripley twists away.

     Ash throws a punch at her.

     Misses.

     She pushes a chair at him.

     Overturns the desk...

     And runs through bridge into mess.

              

     He moves after her.

     Gets her.     

     Parker and Lambert burst into the Mess.

     Lambert falls on Ash's back.

     Ash turns to Lambert.

     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 Droid.

              

     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

               Damn you.

              

     Kicks the headless body.

     Lambert looks at Ripley.

                             LAMBERT

               Tell me...What the hell's going on.


     Pause.


                              RIPLEY

               Let's find out.  Wire him back up.


                              PARKER

               What kind of crap is that.


                              RIPLEY

               Do it.


     The set to work.

     Begin to reassemble the wiring in Ash's head.


                              RIPLEY

               Ash let it on board.  Ash let it

               grow inside Kane.  Ash blew the

               warning signal.


                              LAMBERT

               Why.


                              RIPLEY

               Special Order 937.


                              PARKER

               What's that.


                              RIPLEY

               That's what I want to know.


     Ash's head is placed on the table.

     His eyes flicker into consciousness.


                              RIPLEY

               What is Special Order 937.


                              ASH

               You know I can't tell you that.


                              RIPLEY

               Then there's not point in talking

               to you.  Pull the plug.

                              

                              ASH

               Special Order 937 in essence

               asked me to direct the ship to

               the planet, investigate a life

               form, possibly hostile and bring

               it back for observation.  With

               discretion, of course.


                              RIPLEY

               Why.  Why not tell us.


                              ASH

               Would you have gone.


                              PARKER

               It wasn't in the contract.


                              ASH

               My very point.


                              RIPLEY

               They wanted to investigate the

               Alien.  No matter what happened

               to us.

                              

                              ASH

               That's unfair.  Actually, you

               weren't mentioned in the order.


                              LAMBERT

               Those bastards.


                              ASH

               See it from their point of view.

               They didn't know what the Alien is.


                              RIPLEY

               How do we kill it.

                              

                              ASH

               I don't think you can.  Not

               in this ship, given its life

               support systems.  But I might

               be able to.


                              RIPLEY

               How.

                              

                              ASH

               I don't know quite yet.  I'm not

               exactly at my best at the moment.

               If you would reconnect...


                              RIPLEY

               No way.

                              

                              ASH

               Don't be so hasty.  You'll never

               kill it without my help.


                              RIPLEY

               We've had enough of your help.

                              

                              ASH

               You've barely got any oxygen left.

               If you don't go into hypersleep,

               you'll die with or without the

               Alien.


                              RIPLEY

               Nice try, Ash.

                              

                              ASH

               I will do whatever I can to help

               you.  I swear it.


                              PARKER

               Pull the plug.


                              LAMBERT

               I agree.


                              ASH

               You idiots.  You stll don't

               realize what you're dealing with.

               The Alien is a prefect organism.

               Superbly structured, cunning,

               quintessentially violent.  With

               your limited capabilities you have

               no chance against it.


                              LAMBERT

               You admire it.


                              ASH

               How can one not admire prefection.

               I will kill it because I am

               programmed to protect human life

               as you know.


                              RIPLEY

               Even if you have contempt for it.

                              

                              ASH

               Even then.


     Bitter and angry.


                              RIPLEY

               Sorry Ash.  I don't buy it.


                              ASH

               You egocentric morons.  You'll

               be ripped to shreds, destroyed

               and...


     Ripley make a movement.

     Ash softens...


                              ASH

               I can only with you well...


     Ripley pulls the plug.


                              PARKER

               He was probably right.  We do

               need him.


                              RIPLEY

               He was conning us.


                              LAMBERT

               He was programmed to protect

               human life.


                              RIPLEY

               He wasn't protecting our human

               lives and that's all I care about.

               Anyway it's done.


     Ripley exits to the bridge.

              

     INT. BRIDGE                                           175                                                           

     

     Ripley in the Computer Annex.

     Lambert and Parker enter.


                              RIPLEY

               He's right about one thing.

               We've got less than twelve

               hours oxygen left.


                              PARKER

               It's all over.


     Gloom.


                              LAMBERT

               I don't know about the rest of

               you, but I think I prefer a

               painless peaceful death to any

               of the alternatives on offer.


                              RIPLEY

               We're not there yet.


     Lambert holds up a small card of spansules.

     Suicide pills.


                              LAMBERT

               We're not.  Huh.


                              RIPLEY

               I think we shuld blow up the

               ship.


                              LAMBERT

               I'll stick with chemicals if

               you don't mind.


                              RIPLEY

               We leave in the shuttle and

               then blow up the ship.


     INT. AIR LOCK - NARCISSUS                             175-A  

     

     Ripley, Lambert and Parker loading oxygen tanks onto the

     Narcissus.


                              RIPLEY

               That's all the oxygen.


                              PARKER

               That's it.


                              RIPLEY

               Now.  Let's get the food, shut

               off the engines and get out...

               Jones.  Where's Jones.


                              PARKER

               Who knows.


                              LAMBERT

               Last I saw him was in the mess.


                              RIPLEY

               Go look.  We don't want to leave him.


                              LAMBERT

               I don't want to go by myself.


                              PARKER

               Always hated that damn cat.


                              RIPLEY

               I'll go.  You load up the food.


     They move out.


     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.

     We hear 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.


                                                  CUT TO:

     INT. FOOD LOCKER NUMBER 6 - "B" LEVEL                 175-C

     Parker and Lambert loading food.

                              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. FOOD LOCKER NUMBER 6 - "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. FOOD LOCKER CORRIDOR - OUTSIDE                   185

     Parker attempts to pick up the flamethrower.

     Can't manage it and the food.

     Drops some of the packages.

                              PARKER

               Goddamn.

              

     In the locker Lambert gathers food.

                              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.

     Unfolding, the Alien grabs for her.

     INT. BRIDGE                                           185-A

     Ripley freezes as she hears Lambert's screams.

     INT. CORRIDOR - OURSIDE                               186

     Parker looks back into the locker.

     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

               Goddamn you.

              

     INT. FOOR LOCKER NUMBER 6                             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                                           187


     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.

     INT. "B" LEVEL - COMPANIONWAY                         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 carnage.

                                                  OUT      188  

     INT. OILY CORRIDOR - "C" DECK                         189

     Ripley running toward engine room.

     Out of breath.

     Exhausted she stops, gulps for air.

     Suddenly, ahead of her, the sound of human weeping.


     She moves quietly ahead until the source of the sound is

     directly under her feet.

     She is standing on a round metal plate.

     Ripley starts to remove the disc.

     INT. UNDERCARRIAGE MAINTENANCE ROOM NUMBER 4          190


     The round opening illuminates a dakr ladderway.

     Still carrying flamethrower, Ripley starts downwards.

     Pitch black.

     Ripley arrives at deck level.

     Shines her light.

     Its arc reveals the Alien's layer.

     Bones, shreds of flesh.

     Pieces of clothing, shoes.

     Bizarre extrusions on the wall.


     Something moves in the darkness.

     Ripley spins, turns her light toward the movement.


     Hanging from the ceiling is a huge cocoon.

     Woven from fine, white, silk-like material.

     Falmethrower ready, Ripley approaches.

     Sees that the cocoon is semi-transparent.

     The body of Dallas inside.


     Unexpectedly, his eyes open.

     FOCUS ON Ripley.

     His voice is a whisper.


                              DALLAS

               Kill me.


                              RIPLEY

               What did it do.


     Dallas moves his head slightly.

     Ripley turns her light.

     Another cocoon dangles from the ceiling.

     But of a different texture.

     Smaller and darker, with a harder shell.

     Almost exactly like the ovoids in the derelict ship.


                              DALLAS

               That was Brett...


                              RIPLEY

               I'll get you out of there...

               We'll get up the autodoc.


     A long moment.

     It's hopeless.


                              RIPLEY

               What can I do.


                              DALLAS

               Kill me.


     Ripley stares at him.

     Raises the flamethrower.

     Sprays a molten blast.

     Another blast.

     The entire compartment bursts into flames.

     Ripley turns and scrambles back up the ladderway.

     INT. OILY CORRIDOR - "C" LEVEL                        191


     Ripley emerges from below.

     Gasps for breath.

     Regains control of herself.


     EXT. OUTER SPACE                                      192


     At light speed.

     The Nostromo and refinery appear to hang motionless.

     Star clusters rolling past in the infinite distance.


                                                  OUT      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

                      (o.s.)

               Attention.  The cooling units for

               the light-plus engines are not

               functioning.  Engines will over-

               load in four minutes, fifty seconds...

              

     INT. OILY CORRIDOR - "C" LEVEL                        194-A

     Ripley running toward the "B" deck companionway.

     INT. "B" LEVEL - CORRIDOR                             194-B

     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.


     INT. "B" LEVEL - CORRIDOR LEADING TO AIR LOCK         195


     Ripley carrying Jones, holding flamethrower.

     Jones hisses.

     Fur rises.

     Ripley stops, and stares down corridor toward Narcissus.

     The Alien can be heard thrashing about the shuttle craft.

     Riplet turns and bolts toward the engine room, leaving

     Jones on "B" level companionway.


     INT. COMPANIONWAY TO OILY CORRIDOR - "E" LEVEL        196


     Ripley bounds down the companionway.

     Her footsteps clanging metallically throughout the ship.

     A final sprint towards the engine room.


                              MOTHER'S VOICE

                      (o.s.)

               Attention.  Engines will overload

               in three minutes, twenty seconds.


     INT. ENGINE ROOM - CUBICLE                            197


     The door crashes open, Ripley comes pounding in.

     The chamber filled with smoke.

     Engines whining dangerously.

     Ripley breaks out in perspiration from the intense heat.

     She rusn to the controls.

     Begins throwing the cooling unit switches back into place.

     The sirens continue sounding.


                              MOTHER'S VOICE

                      (o.s.)

               Attention.  Engines will overload

               in three minutes.


     Ripley pushes a button and speaks into it.


                              RIPLEY

               Mother, I've turned all the

               cooling units back on.


                              MOTHER'S VOICE

                      (o.s.)

               Too late for remedial action.

               The core has begun to melt.

               Engines will overload in two

               minutes, thirty-five seconds.


     A moment.

     The Ripley turns and runs from the engine room.


     INT. OILY CORRIDOR - COMPANIONWAY                     198


     Ripley runs back down the corridor.

     Up the companionway, exhausted, stumbling...


                              MOTHER'S VOICE

                      (o.s.)

               Attention.  Engines will overload

               in two minutes.


     INT. "B" LEVEL - COMPANIONWAY                         198-A


     She reaches companionway.

     Picks up Jones.


     INT. "B" LEVEL - CORRIDOR LEADING TO NARCISSUS        199


     Ripley staggers towards the air lock.

     The Narcissus berthed beyond.

     She drags Jones and raises the flamethrower.

     Turns to see if the Creature is behind her.

     Then advances down the passageway.

     Goaded on by the computer.


                              MOTHER'S VOICE

                      (o.s.)

               Attention.  Engines will explode

               in ninety seconds.


     She makes it to the vestibule.

     Looks into the shuttle.


     INT. NARCISSUS                                        200


     Ripley scans the narrow deck...empty.


     INT. VESTIBULE                                        201


     She turns and dashes back.

     Grabs the cat box.

     Runs back toward the shuttle.


                              MOTHER'S VOICE

                      (o.s.)

               Attention.  The engines will

               explode in sixty seconds.

                                                           

     INT. NARCISSUS                                        202

     Ripley enters on the run.

     Hurls the cat box toward the front.

     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 crew mates.

     A very long moment.

     Then, behind her, the lethal hand emerges from deep shadow.  

     The Alien has been in the shuttle-craft all along.

     The cat yowls.


     Ripley whils.

     Finding herself facing the Creature.


     Ripley's first thought if for the flamethrower.

     It lies on the deck next to the Alien.

     Next she glances around for a place to hide.

     Her eye falls on a small locker containing a pressure suit.

     The door standing open.

     She begins to edge toward the compartment.

     The Creature stands.

     Comes for her.

     Ripley dives for the open door.

     Hurls herself inside.

     Slams it shut.

     INT. LOCKER                                           211


     A clear glass panel in the door.

     The Alien puts its head up to the window.

     Peers in at Ripley.

     Their faces only two inches apart.

     The Alien looking at Ripley almost in curiosity.

     The moaning of the cat distracts it.


     INT. NARCISSUS                                        212


     The Alien mvoes to the pressurized cat box.

     Bends down and peers inside.

     The cat yowls louder as his container is lifted.


     INT. LOCKER                                           213


     Ripley knocks on the glass.

     Trying to distract the Creature from the cat.

     The Alien's face is instantly back at the window.

     Getting no more interference from her, the Creature

     returns to the cat box.

     Ripley looks around.

     Sees the pressure suit.

     Quickly begins to pull it on.


     INT. NARCISSUS                                        214


     The Alien picks up the cat box.

     Shakes it.

     the cat moans.


     INT. LOCKER                                           215


     Ripley is halfway into a pressure suit.


     INT. NARCISSUS                                        216


     The Creature throws the cat box down.

     Very hard.

     Picks it up again.

     Hammers it against the wall.

     Then jams it into a crevice.

     Begins to pound the container into the opening.

     The cat now beyond all hysteria.


     INT. LOCKER                                           217


     Ripley pulls on the helmet, latches it into place.

     Turns the oxygen valve.

     With a hiss, the suit fills itself.

     A rack on the wall contains a long metal rod.

     Ripley peels off the rubber tip.

     Revealing a sharp metal point.


     INT. SPACE SUIT LOCKER                                218


     Ripley inhales.

     Kicks the door open.


     INT. NARCISSUS                                        219


     The Creature rises.

     Faces the locker.

     Catches the steel shaft through its midriff.

     The Alien clutches at the spear.

     Yellow acid begins to flow from the wound.

     Before the fluid can touch the floor...

     Ripley reaches back and pulls the switch.

     Blows the rear hatch.

     The atmosphere in the shuttle immediately sucked into space.

     The bleeding creature along with it.

     Ripley grabs a strut to keep from being pulled out.

     The Alien shoots past her.

     Grab's Ripley's ankle with an appendage.


     EXT. NARCISSUS                                        220


     Ripley now hanging halfway out of the shuttle-craft.

     The Alien clinging to her leg.

     She kicks at it with her free foot.

     The Creature holds fast.


     INT. NARCISSUS                                        221


     Ripley looks for any salvation.

     Grabs the hatch level.

     Yanks it.

     The hatch slams shut, closing Ripley safely inside.


     EXT. NACISSUS                                         222


     The Alien still outside the shuttle-craft.

     Within the vacuum of space.

     The top of its appendage mashed into the closed hatch.


     INT. NARCISSUS                                        223


     Acid starts to foam along the base of the hatch.

     Eats away at the metal.

     Ripley stumbles forward to the controls.

     Pushes the ram jet lever.


     EXT. NARCISSUS - OUTER SPACE                          224

     The Creature struggling.

     Jet exhaust located at the rear of the craft.

     The engines belch flame for a few seconds.

     Then shut off.

     Incinerating, the Alien tumbles slowly away into space.

     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.

     The shape bloats, then bursts.

     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.

     Calm and composed, almost cheerful.

     Cat purring in her lap.

     She dictates into a recorder.

                              RIPLEY

               I should reach the frontier in

               another five weeks.  With a

               little luck the network will

               pick me up...This is Ripley,

               W564502460H, executive officer,

               last survivor of the commercial

               starship Nostromo signing off.

                      (pause)

               Come on cat.


     She switches off the recorder.

     Stares into space.

              

     EXT. OUTER SPACE                                      228

     The shuttle-craft Narcissus sails into the distance.

                                             FADE OUT

                              

THE END