FINNEGAN'S SQUAD: "Prandium Canis"

               BEGIN OPENING ACT:

               EXT. SPACE - AT STATION L5

               The large Life Wheel of the station majestically rotates
               around the central hub.

               We truck in on it's leading edge, closer and closer until the
               outer decks of the wheel are visible then we begin to rotate
               with the wheel until we're matching it's speed, all the while
               continuing a slow approach until we come to...

               EXT. STATION L5 - UPPER OBSERVATION DECK

               The narrowest deck on the Life Wheel is the Upper Observation
               Deck.  At various points along this deck are space bars and
               restaurants but for the most part it's a simple open space
               filled with casual lounges and observation corridors.

               We are tracking one such corridor where a series of
               dignitaries idly walk along the deck enjoying the view of the
               moon.

               INT. STATION L5 - UPPER OBSERVATION DECK

               At the head of the pack is PETRA SNELLING, the Number Two
               person with the United Network Command Authority and arguably
               the second most powerful person on Earth.  Beside her is DAN
               MISTRY, Station Administrator.  Behind them are various
               dignitaries and hangers-on.

               Farther up the corridor is FINN and a few other military
               types including some UNCA Security Officers.  They are moving
               through the corridor checking for threats.

               Finn turns, glancing back at Snelling and Mistry, making sure
               they don't get too far ahead of them.  Finn tilts his head
               down, speaking toward his Comm-Badge.

                                   FINN
                         We're entering... 

               Finn glances at two sets of four rectangles on either side of
               the joint connecting one section to the next.  For both sets
               the top rectangle includes the STATION L5 Ident on a Dark
               Blue background.  The next rectangle is also the same on both
               sets, one silver square and one silver dot on a grey
               background.  The third rectangle is solid blue on the left
               and solid red on the right set while the fourth rectangle is
               solid Purple on the left and solid Blue on the right. 
               Believe it or not this identifies exactly where on the
               station they are.

                                   FINN (cont'd)
                         ...Leaving Silver Six, B F for C A.

                                   OPERATIONS (V.O.)
                         Silver 6, B F to C A.  Roger.

               Finn and the others move carefully up the corridor sweeping
               the area with an array of scanners and other equipment.

               Behind them Snelling has stopped to peer out the window.

                                   SNELLING
                         Can you see the Earth at all?

                                   MISTRY
                         More from the Core Decks but there
                         are times the wobble gives us a
                         peek.

                                   SNELLING
                         Wobble?

                                   MISTRY
                         Over the course of a month there is
                         a slight... wobble.

               Snelling nods and then continues on.  Where the joint is no
               viewports are present so the group attempts to move through
               here relatively quickly.  

               All except Snelling who stops suddenly in the middle of the
               archway, her facial expression goes wide just before she
               clutches her chest and starts gasping.

               Quickly sycophants rush around her.  Mistry catches her as
               she falls while looking around for help.

                                   MISTRY (cont'd)
                         Medic!

               Finn turns and moves through the crowd quickly with his squad
               of security and Troops following as he calls back.  

                                   MISTRY (cont'd)
                         She needs help!

               He pushes people aside as he closes in on Snelling, his Comm
               Link already out.

               He runs the scan over her body.

                                   FINN 
                         Cardiac arrest.

               Finn pockets the Comm-Link and then as quickly he scoops up
               Snelling in his arms.

                                   FINN (cont'd)
                         Clear the way!

               He quickly sees the path ahead clearer than the one behind
               and not much further that way the Elevator.  Finn rushes to
               the Elevator.

               EXT. STATION L5 - UPPER OBSERVATION DECK

               As Finn rushes down the deck with Snelling in his arms and
               enters the Elevator we truck out taking a wider view of the
               station and then pivoting to match angle with the central
               core we truck in again, towards Viewports near one of the few
               external hatches on the Station and the large blue square
               with the white "H" on it.

               INT. STATION L5 - HOSPITAL DECK

               Finn rushes through the emergency doors entering triage. 
               Groups of Medics are there along with Orderlies ready to take
               possession of Snelling.

                                   MEDIC
                         What happened?

                                   FINN
                         She collapsed.  Scanners indicate
                         cardiac arrest.

               The Medic who first attends Snelling starts calling out
               instructions as they wheel her through a hermetic field and
               into O-R.  

                                   MEDIC
                         Get her in O-R.  Prep
                         resuscitation, stand by on
                         surgery...

               Finn glances at an Orderly nodding if it's OK to follow.  The
               Orderly points to a spot where he'll be out of the way and
               Finn moves there attentively following what's going on.

               Snelling is on the bed, the Displays come to life showing
               everything from vitals to internal bio-scans and detailed
               medical history.  

               Medic Two stops, staring at the bank of displays around them.

                                   MEDIC TWO
                         Diz?

               The Medic has been running his hands through a disinfecting
               beam on his side of the operating station.  He stops and
               turns following Medic Two's gaze. 

               He carefully studies the bank of scans and displays opposite
               him.

                                   MEDIC 
                         That doesn't make sense...

               Medic picks up a specialized wand from the surgery tray and
               leans in quickly cutting away the tunic Snelling was wearing. 

               In a matter of seconds the chest is opened.

               Inside the chest is everything you would expect, ribs,
               muscle, lungs but where the heart would be is a gaping hole
               flooded with blood.

                                   MEDIC TWO
                         Where's the heart?

                                   MEDIC 
                         How is this possible?

                                   MEDIC TWO
                         It isn't.  Not in any way I know.

                                   MEDIC 
                         Is there any record of previous
                         surgery?

                                   MEDIC TWO
                         Negative.  Not that it matters...
                         you don't walk around without a
                         heart.

               Medic looks up again, the patient's systems have crashed. 
               She's dead.

                                   MEDIC TWO (cont'd)
                         Could we by-pass?

                                   MEDIC
                         Not with any hope of recovery. 
                         There's... not enough to...

               Finn looks at the displays, he doesn't understand what's
               going on.

               Medic Two looks at a Nurse as the Medic steps back while
               looking at the displays with awe.

                                   MEDIC TWO
                         Call it.

                                   NURSE
                         Fourteen twenty one forty seven.

               The Medic starts moving away from the table toward the exit. 
               Finn reaches out stopping him with his hand.

                                   FINN
                         Doc?  What's going on?

               The Medic looks at Finn.

                                   MEDIC
                         There's no heart...

               He glances down again.

                                   FINN
                         What do you mean?

                                   MEDIC
                         I can't resuscitate what isn't
                         there.

               The Medic looks back at Snelling.

                                   MEDIC (cont'd) (CONT'D)
                         Somehow, someone removed her heart.

               Finn looks at the Displays again.  What he's just been told
               fits what he's seeing.

               Meanwhile the eyes of Snelling remain wide and empty,
               searching the sky for answers that will never come.

               END OPENING ACT: