OPENING CREDITS:

 

INT. GOVERNMENT COMPLEX - DAY

 "1983" appear for seconds at bottom screen.

The marble floor provides a hint of seriousness from AMBASSADOR YAMASAKI. AMBASSADOR BARISHKOV walks stiffly, step by step. AMBASSADOR PENIPE, worried, follows along.

HENRY THOMAS, Canadian Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, and LUDWIG STERN, Czechoslovakian Ambassador to Canada are smiling in a friendly conversation as they lead the other three and follow a Canadian Air Force corporal.

Ambassador Thomas chuckles and looks away.

INT. GOVERNMENT COMPLEX - DAY

                                AMBASSADOR STERN
                   Henry, there is not much difference between
                   normal employee and executives here.

Ambassador Thomas ponders the statement.

                                AMBASSADOR THOMAS
                      Really, Ludwig? How do you see that?

                                AMBASSADOR STERN
                     Hmmm... I look at the buildings you work in, and
                     everything looks similar, but smaller scale. Back
                     home, people who work for government do not
                     have so many pretty things.

Ambassador Yamasaki looks suspiciously at Ambassador Barhishkov.

Ambassador Thomas ponders the statement.

                                AMBASSADOR THOMAS
                      Yes... I guess you make a good point.

The corporal opens a door in the hallway and steps in. All follow.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

The corporal stands inside the door, watching the six sit around the conference table pushed close to one wall.

Two tent cards labelled as "RESERVED" correspond to two chairs at the far end of the table, side closest to the wall.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL BLACK, carrying a briefcase, enters the room and takes the chair at the other end of the table.

The lieutenant colonel opens briefcase, withdraws a handful of documents, places them on the table and stores briefcase.

He takes a cell phone from his belt, punches numbers and places it to his ear.

                                LT COL BLACK
                      This is Kernal... Check that. Black here. Is the
                      generator set to go?... Yes the standard procedure....
                       yes, standby.

He returns cell to belt and looks around the room.

Ambassador Stern turns to Henry sitting beside him.

                                AMBASSADOR STERN
                      So, Henry, how is your wife coming along?

                                AMBASSADOR THOMAS
                      I'm going to the hospital right after this meeting.
                      From what her doctor says, she's due any day now.
                          (He notices the lieutenant colonel looking at
                          a wall and glancing at his watch.)

                                AMBASSADOR THOMAS (CONT'D)
                      But she's big enough to make me think she'll give
                      birth any minute.

                                AMBASSADOR STERN
                      Yes, my friend. I understand. We are expecting in
                       few weeks. We return to home for the birth.

The Lieutenant colonel faces the group.

                                LT COL BLACK
                      Gentlemen. Excuse me.

All murmuring stops.

                                LT COL BLACK (CONT'D)
                      I want to make sure you understand the instructions
                      you received for this meeting.

                                AMBASSADOR THOMAS
                      Yes.

The others nod and mumur.

                                LT COL BLACK
                          (Taking one of the documents)
                      You understand that you are to stay after the meeting
                      and sign these release and agreement forms?

All nod again

                                LT COL BLACK (CONT'D)
                      Good. Thank you all

He looks at his watch, and glances at the door before turning away.

Voices are heard coming from the hallway.

Ambassadors Thomas and Stern turn to the door.

A man in an expensive suit enters with a young woman holding a file folder and cell phone. The man looks around and nods before turning to her.

                                MINISTER MACKNAY
                      That'll be all for now, Mary. Come back in about, say,
                      an hour.

Mary appears confused, staring intently.

                                MARY
                      Excuse me, sir. But are you sure? I  thought you'd want
                      me to take minutes or be there in case of an emergency?

                                 MINISTER MACKNAY
                      No. That's OK, Mary. I'm pretty sure that  won't be necessary.

She shows him a puzzled and almost hurt "look" before stepping out.

 The minister signals the corporal to approach.

                                 MINISTER MACKNAY (CONT'D)
                          (above a mumble)
                      You too lad. Please Leave the room, and no matter
                      what you see or hear, do not come in and do not open
                       that door. Understand?

The corporal appears confused. He walks to the colonel and addresses him. The lieutenant colonel nods. The corporal leaves, closing the door behind him.
 
                                MINISTER MACKNAY (CONT'D)
                          (To the ambassadors)
                      Glad to see you're all committed.
                          (stiking open palm at
                           Ambassador Barishkov)
                      How do you do? Herb Macknay, Minister of
                      National Defense.

                                AMBASSADOR ROMANOV
                          (without smiling)
                      Hello. Andreyevich Barishkov. Nice to be
                      here.

                                MINISTER MACKNAY
                      Yes. I'm glad you could substitute on such short
                      notice.
                          (to Lieutenant Colonel Black)
                      Are we all set Lieutenant Colonel?

The Lieutenant Colonel looks at his watch and nods.

                                MINISTER MACKNAY (CONT'D)
                      Great.
                          (He walks around the table,
                           passing behind Ambassador
                           Thomas)
                      Let's get to it then. I'm anxious to meet them.

The lieutenant colonel and the minister stand, their backs close to the wall. The Lieutenant colonel presses a button on his watch.

Two columns of light spheres start to materialize against the opposite wall.

The room lights fade then short out and the central air is heard shutting down.

Seven spheres of light form one column, and fourteen spheres make up the other column beside it, seven of those are smaller, bunching at its centre.  

Emergency lights click "on".

Eight sheets of light form cocoons around the pillars, two spreading throughout the room before settling on the columns strengthening the cocoons.

One takes the form of a man, the other a pregnant woman, facing the minister and lieutenant colonel. Both approach the visitors with hands open, ready to shake.

The man and woman cross arms as though in meditation, resting hands on shoulders.

                                 ALADYAH
                          (Echoed and without opening
                           mouth)
                      Greetings. We are Aladyah and Pratha.
 
                                PRATHA
                          (Echoed and without opening
                           mouth)
                      Greetings. We are Aladyah and Pratha.

 Their voices fill the room.

Ambassador Thomas shifts uncomfortably. The other ambassadors appear frozen.

Minister Macknay clears his throat. He steps sideways, creating a path to the "RESERVED" chairs.

                                MINISTER MACKNAY (CONT'D)
                          (to Aladyah and Pratha)
                      If you wouldn't mind, could you please
                      step this way.

Aladyah and Pratha ignore the instructions and move towards Ambassador Thomas. They revert to cocoons and spheres as they           pass through the table and re-materialize in the "RESERVED" chairs.

An eerie silence as the minister and the lieutenant colonel return to their chairs.

                                 AMBASSADOR THOMAS
                          (to all)
                      You know... we were briefed on what to expect with
                      this meeting... but seeing it ... well...

                                 PRATHA
                          (echoed voice)
                      We are sorry to have...

                                ALADYAH
                          (echoed voice)
                      We are sorry to have...

Ambassador Thomas leans on the table. A complete contrast to the other ambassadors who appear to be stuck to the chairs.
 
Aladyah and Pratha look at each other and nod.
 
                                ALADYAH
                          (normal male voice)
                      We apologize for causing such discomfort. Each
                      civilization we encounter presents its own method
                      of communication. Though reading your thoughts
                      would have provided sufficient insight as to your level
                      of comfort, we prefer to establish trust and learn about
                      your culture before thought connections are established.
                      Again, we apologize for startling you.

 Ambassador Thomas sits back and settles, looking at the other ambassadors settling in their own way. Minister Macknay and Lieutenant Colonel Black appear un-phased.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER

Contracts are distributed to the ambassadors.

CROSS DISSOLVE TO:
 
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER
 
Ambassador Thomas with steady hand signs the contract.