FADE IN: EXT. PLANET OF ZENN-LA - DAY PANNING ACROSS its peaceful countryside, where predator and prey roam side by side through green fields. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) Zenn-La! Although only in my mind, it seems so real, so near... THE ACADEMY Where beings of all kinds have gathered to study. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) Planet of my birth, where I lived, and learned... We TIGHTEN ON two of the more human-like beings: NORRIN RADD and SHALLA BAL. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) And, yes, where I loved -- Norrin Radd and Shalla Bal lean forward to steal a kiss. But before their faces can touch everything around them EXPLODES INTO: EXT. DEEP SPACE - MATCHING SHOT - THE SILVER SURFER WARPING IN on his board, against the star-studded velvet of space. He wobbles unsteadily on his board. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) As the reality is gone, so too is the vision, like a fever dream! (wobbling unsteadily) Yet how can I have a fever, when Galactus’ power cosmic has removed from me the travails of common mortality...? The Surfer dips into the pipeline of a COSMIC WAVE and soars into an asteroid field, slaloming through the jagged rocks. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) Just as he has doomed me to an endless search for my home -- CLOSER ON THE SILVER SURFER He misses a move -- and smashes his shoulder against a small asteroid! The Surfer reels backward, as: SILVER SURFER (V.O.) What is happening? I have soared through far more treacherous courses and never missed a twist or turn -- He hits another asteroid and GRUNTS from the impact. His body starts to shake as though from the cold. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) No! I -- felt -- that! (realizing) Just as I feel the icy vacuum of space seize my bones! THE SILVER SURFER’S POV - SPACE AROUND HIM As he looks around. Everything blurs, clears, then blurs again. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) My head throbs...can scarcely see -- BACK TO THE SILVER SURFER As he tries to sweep out of the path of the rest of the asteroids. But he can’t pull it off, and another one hits him, then another, another. The Surfer falls to one knee, hands reaching out to hang onto the board. Completely out of control, he caroms from asteroid to asteroid like a maddened billiard ball, and with each collision his speed increases, so that he’s going faster and faster, heading toward: A GRAVITY WELL Black and pulsating, it’s a huge, violent gash in the very fabric of space, into which cosmic debris is being inexorably pulled, all of it EXPLODING upon reaching its core. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) A gravity well...! ANOTHER ANGLE The asteroids alter their course, streaming toward the gravity well -- and carrying the helpless Silver Surfer with them! SILVER SURFER (V.O.) Nature’s most destructive force, capable of sucking even the most powerful of celestial bodies into its maw... Frantically, tries to scramble away, like a surfer on Earth paddling from a shark! Still, he and the board are sucked back toward the gravity well. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) And I have only a fraction of my accustomed strength -- With every ounce of resolve he possesses, the Surfer forces himself to his feet. He angles the board at a 90-degree angle to the gravity well and tries to fly away, only to look up and see -- THE SILVER SURFER’S POV - AN APPROACHING ASTEROID As a big as a small planet. It’s coming directly AT CAMERA at breakneck speed! BACK TO THE SILVER SURFER CRYING OUT WORDLESSLY as he and the huge asteroid collide! The asteroid SHATTERS into powdery fragments, both the fragments and the now unconscious Surfer shooting back, back -- into the overpowering blackness of the gravity well! FADE OUT. END OF TEASER ACT ONE FADE IN: EXT. DEEP SPACE - THE GRAVITY WELL ANGLING WITH the remaining asteroids from the asteroid field as they are sucked into the center of the well, where, one after another, they EXPLODE! INT. THE GRAVITY WELL - THE SILVER SURFER Limp and unconscious, he moves closer and closer to the core of the gravity well, until: A STREAKING GOUT OF FLAME BLAZES into the gravity well and envelopes the Surfer and his board! As the flame streaks onward, we HOLD ON where the Surfer was: Both he and the board are gone! EXT. DEEP SPACE - WIDE ON THE GRAVITY WELL The streaking flame continues in a wide arc, zooming back around to the edge of the gravity well and then emerging from it. We ANGLE WITH the flame as it continues through space like a comet. The flame moves faster, faster, FORESHORTENING INTO WARP as we DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - MATCHING SHOT - A BLAZING SUN Its fiery surface fills a black sky. We ANGLE WITH the tendril of a sunspot as it wafts through empty space to: EXT. AN AIRLESS PLANET - NIGHT FINDING the Silver Surfer lying on its rocky, lifeless surface. His dull body GLOWS as he absorbs the tendril of SOLAR ENERGY, and he awakens with a GROAN, looks around him. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) This is not the afterlife the Master taught. Where am I...? He trails off as he turns to see: A FLAME FLICKERING DIMLY. Another tendril of SOLAR ENERGY enters it, and, WIDENING, we SEE that the flame is part of the hair of NOVA, the beautiful new herald of Galactus. She too is lying on the ground, but as she absorbs the energy Nova also GLOWS MORE BRIGHTLY, and raises her head with a GROAN of her own. She smiles when she sees the Surfer. NOVA Silver Surfer! We made it! SILVER SURFER You are the one who rescued me? I am in your debt. NOVA Actually, it’s kinda like a debit card. You might say you pre-paid. The Surfer gets to his feet. Nova does the same. He looks at her closely. SILVER SURFER (puzzled) Had I ever encountered such a one as yourself, I am certain I would recall. NOVA I’m Nova. You saved my life once, on a little mudball called Earth. (beat) I looked a little different then... And we TIGHTEN ON the Surfer and SMASH CUT TO: EXT. THE PLANET EARTH - VENICE BEACH - DAY (FLASHBACK FROM EPISODE #1875-03) The Silver Surfer kneels on the beach before the injured FRANKIE RAYE, his eyes GLOWING with a BEAM OF HEALING ENERGY. NOVA (V.O.) The name was Frankie Ray... As Frankie’s friend, AMBER, looks on, astonished, the HEALING ENERGY bathes Frankie in its light, and the young woman opens her eyes and looks at the Surfer, healthy once more as we SMASH CUT TO: EXT. AN AIRLESS PLANET - NIGHT As the Surfer nods in realization. More tendrils of SOLAR ENERGY spin around and into into both Nova and him, the two of them slowly returning to their "normal" vibrant colors as: SILVER SURFER You have indeed changed -- but how did this come to be? NOVA Call it the ultimate makeover, by your old boss. (beat) I’m Galactus’ new herald -- and I’m here to ask you to help keep Big G alive! SILVER SURFER You serve Galactus? And you think that I, who have toiled for him, and fought with him, and suffered beyond measure because of him, would want to save the Devourer of Worlds? NOVA As a matter of fact, I do. (beat) ‘Cause if he goes, so does everything he and his power cosmic have ever touched. You, me -- The Surfer cuts her off. We TIGHTEN ON his haunted face. SILVER SURFER Shalla Bal...! And, on the Surfer’s reaction, we DISSOLVE TO: EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM PANNING ACROSS a solar system where everything is blasted, seared, destroyed. We ANGLE PAST a planet that’s been shattered into whirling chunks, the Silver Surfer and Nova WARPING IN nearby, as: SILVER SURFER We have traveled to virtually the other side of the universe! How did you find me at such a distance? NOVA I always find what I look for. Since I was a kid, anywhere I’ve needed to be -- bam! -- I’ve been there! They continue deeper into the star system, Nova leading the way. NOVA That’s why Galactus gave me your old job after just one interview. He said I had some kind of trick gene that was triggered when you healed me -- SILVER SURFER Nova! Get down! ANOTHER ANGLE The Surfer reaches out to Nova’s flaming form, pushing her out of the way of a chunk of planet. Both of them go head over heels, barely able to stop themselves, and the planetoid continues on. We HOLD ON the Surfer, still shaking with cold, and Nova, sweating from her own heat. SILVER SURFER With each passing instant, I grow weaker! NOVA You’re not the man you used to be, Silverado, and I’m not the new me... (beat) It’s ‘cause we’re sick. And the reason we are is right there. Nova points ahead of them, and the Surfer follows her gaze to: THE DARK PLANET A cracked, dead world, completely sucked dry. Imbedded deep into the planet are Galactus’ cables of destruction, FIZZLING weakly. We ANGLE UP the cables TO: GALACTUS’ SHIP Still huge, but no longer very impressive. Many of its cables hang limply, like dead spider legs, and at the top of the ship, FAINTLY COLORED ENERGY WISPS drift from the control center. SILVER SURFER (O.S.) This is Galactus’ ship? My mind cannot accept what my eyes see -- ! The Surfer breaks off as an enormous, pterodactyl-like creature swoops through the ENERGY WISPS at the ship. THE SILVER SURFER AND NOVA As the two of them react. SILVER SURFER A Harpy Rasp! NOVA It’s worse than I thought! The ship’s defenses must be completely down! Without planning it, they act in unison, the Surfer unleashing a COSMIC POWER BLAST, while Nova FIRES a COSMIC POWER FIREBALL at: THE HARPY RASP SCREECHING, it EXPLODES into a fiery nothingness! Other Harpy Rasps which have been circling nearby TRILL excitedly and scatter -- but not very far. THE SILVER SURFER AND NOVA Are staggered by the effort. SILVER SURFER Harpy Rasps feed only on the raw energy of dying power! NOVA What -- you thought I was kidding? Both the Surfer and Nova force themselves to fly to the ship faster. As they sweep at the control center we ANGLE TO the Harpy Rasps, who are gathering around the ship once again. TIGHTENING ON them, we SEE that they aren’t organic at all. Rather, they are mechanical constructions, with strange protuberance hidden behind their wings. The fake Harpy Rasps gaze down at Galactus’ ship, and the protuberances BEEP, red "eyes" blinking in a way we’ve seen before -- on Draconian spy satellites! We HOLD ON the strangeness of this as: EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER Oblivious to what’s going on behind them, the Silver Surfer and Nova fly in, and immediately are greeted by: GALACTUS (O.S.) Ah, Nova, do my dimming eyes deceive me, or is that truly the First Herald you have in tow? The Surfer turns toward the familiar voice, and GASPS as: THE COMMAND CHAIR - INTERCUTTING AS NECESSARY WITH THE SILVER SURFER AND NOVA Escaping ENERGY wafts up from the Planetary Converter beneath the chair, instead of being absorbed. Starting at Galactus’ mighty boots, we ANGLE UP the chair and the form within it as, with a bitter LAUGH: GALACTUS (O.S.) Tell me, Silver Surfer, have you come to pluck at my essence with the Harpy Rasps? Or merely to shovel the last bit of cosmic dirt over my grave? NOVA I brought him here, my master, to help you survive! GALACTUS (O.S.) The survival of Galactus was the least of my First Herald’s concerns when he chose to renege on his vow and go his own way. SILVER SURFER That is not precisely what happened, great Galactus -- We REACH Galactus’ helmeted head. What we can SEE of it (little more than his mouth, or cheekbone, or an eye) is shrunken, the skin loose. His skin is ashen, almost dead white. It’s the face of a very sick man. GALACTUS Still must you so self-righteously dispute me? I need no help from you, Silver Surfer. (roaring with all his strength) Go! We TIGHTEN ON Galactus’ finger as it stabs out at a control on the command chair -- but never reaches it. Instead, the finger stops in mid-movement, quivering impotently. ANOTHER ANGLE - CONTINUING TO INTERCUT The Silver Surfer and Nova stare as: GALACTUS I cannot...move... Galactus’ voice fills with pain. His whole body shudders. GALACTUS Within my body, I know not where, is a rot so deep that it has poisoned my very core... Convulsively, Galactus trails off, and his eyes close. All the power in the control center BLINKS OFF, then RETURNS, and at the same time the Surfer’s color darkens, then lightens again, while Nova flares up, then dims, the two of them recovering as: NOVA Surfer, please, you’ve got to do something before it’s too late for all of us! SILVER SURFER There are those who consider me a traitor to life for ever having served Galactus! Would not saving him be the ultimate in treachery? NOVA Hey, give me some credit, huh? The only way I could live with myself was by changing the big guy’s diet. (beat) As long as I’m around, all he gets is "planet light." No salt. No sugar. No intelligent life -- GALACTUS (eyes snapping open) Nova! WIDER At Galactus’ bellow, both the Surfer and Nova whirl -- just in time to spot the Harpy Rasps who are diving right into the control center. Once more, the two of them unleash their versions of the POWER COSMIC -- and, with more SHRIEKS, the creatures EXPLODE! CLOSER ON THE SILVER SURFER AND NOVA Nova collapses, falling to the floor. The Surfer sweeps down to her. He looks at her sorrowfully -- and makes a decision. SILVER SURFER When did this begin? NOVA I did what I always do, and found the planet below. Everything seemed just fine -- ‘til Galactus tried to absorb its energy Then he started shaking and bellowing -- (realizing) Surfer -- the best job I could get without a college degree’s going right down the tubes -- and I’m responsible! SILVER SURFER Responsibility is not the issue now. A solution is. (beat) If there were a way to actually enter Galactus, together we might still be strong enough to fight whatever is there -- GALACTUS’ HELMETED HEAD Nova breaks off as, with a GROAN, Galactus convulses again. His lips are barely able to move as: GALACTUS There is a way, but I cannot risk both of you in one stratagem. The Silver Surfer must go alone. (beat) Nova, you can best use your talents to guide him from without. WIDER The Surfer soars upward, circling before Galactus’ eyes, as he gets another idea: SILVER SURFER Galactus! Still is there one condition to be met -- GALACTUS I know what you wish -- and I grant your boon. (with great effort) Do what you must -- and all my knowledge of Zenn-La will be yours! The Surfer smiles grimly, and a CRACKLING BEAM OF ENERGY lashes out from Galactus’ eyes, engulfing the Surfer in an ENERGY BUBBLE. We ANGLE WITH THE BUBBLE as it zooms toward the source of the beam, shrinking all the while. The BUBBLE and the Silver Surfer get smaller, smaller, until they -- and WE -- are lost in the unfathomable whiteness of Galactus’ pupil-less eye! The brightness is almost BLINDING as we CUT TO: INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - BRAIN An area of pulpy mountains and hills, SIZZLING with SYNAPSES. Through the brown-and-gray brain tissue run what look like BRIGHTLY-COLORED rivers: These are the blood vessels, flowing sluggishly with a pulsating current. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) Indeed, this is incredible. I have entered Galactus’ brain... As the Surfer speaks, we WIDEN TO SEE the Surfer on his board, looking around him in awe as he skims alongside one of the "rivers." Suddenly, a COMMUNICATION BEAM APPEARS before him, along with: NOVA (O.S.) (filtered) Silver Surfer... EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - NOVA Flying up toward Galactus’ head, her COMMUNICATION BEAM activated, as, continuing: NOVA Can you hear me? INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - BRAIN Before the Surfer can respond, dozens of vibrating beings with spider-like arms and bulging, globule-like bodies burst from the nearby blood vessel. SQUEALING like banshees, they grab at the Surfer. SILVER SURFER Nova! I am attacked! That’s all he gets to say as the arms of the spider-beings intertwine with both him and his board, pulling them down to the "ground." More of the things SPLASH from the blood vessel, and for a beat the Surfer is completely engulfed. ANOTHER ANGLE TWIN COSMIC POWER BEAMS BLAST, and the creatures fall back, their SQUEALS turning to ones of pain. The Surfer emerges from the pack, and, with another PAIR OF BLASTS, he leaps back onto the board, and soars away. EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - NOVA Nova reaches Galactus’ enormous head just in time to veer out of the way as it slams slam backward with pain! GALACTUS (roaring) This is not supposed to be!!! His eyes close. Again, the control center goes dead, then revives, while Nova’s flame flares, then dims so that it’s fainter than before. NOVA Galactus...? No response. Now Nova cries out via a COMMUNICATION BEAM: NOVA Surfer! Galactus is out...! INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - BRAIN - THE SILVER SURFER Flying barely high enough so the spider-things can’t reach him. Both he and his board are wobbling. NOVA (O.S.) And I’m not doing all that well either! The Surfer looks down at the spider-things. They’re still in a frenzy. SILVER SURFER I believe I have had an encounter with his immune system. And not to our mutual benefit. (beat) I must look someplace else for the infection -- but where? EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - NOVA Still managing to hover before Galactus, she gazes at him intently, a RED BEAM STREAMING from her eyes. NOVA’S POV - GALACTUS (SUBJECTIVE CAMERA) As Galactus’ entire body turns translucent, and we SEE as much of his innards as we dare to. Muscle gives way to bone, which gives way to the various organs, all of them throbbing and GLOWING not like physical objects but like RADAR or SONAR blips. It’s very SURREAL, CONTINUOUSLY MOVING, CHANGING. We TIGHTEN ON Galactus’ brain, where the Surfer is a moving silver dot. NOVA (O.S.) And I thought pictures of smokers’ lungs were disgusting...! One area, deep in Galactus’ chest, is conspicuous by virtue of being a dull, hideous BLACK. We ANGLE TO it as: NOVA (O.S.) You’ve got to get down to his heart... INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - BRAIN - THE SILVER SURFER Flying across the pulpy mountains of brain matter. NOVA (O.S.) There’s a trail just ahead of you -- the spinal cord! SILVER SURFER (peering out) Yes -- I see it! We WIDEN TO SEE what looks like a tunnel up ahead. The Surfer heads for it, soaring to: INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - SPINAL COLUMN A series of dark, interconnected tunnels through which thread ganglions of winding nerves. Picture the Surfer spiraling down, down, down through a rendering by Escher -- and you still won’t be close! From all around him comes a DEEP, RHYTHMIC SOUND. SILVER SURFER The heartbeat of Galactus...! The SOUND STOPS for a beat -- and this time the Surfer literally DISAPPEARS, then REAPPEARS, steadying himself, as the HEARTBEAT RESUMES much more slowly. SILVER SURFER Nova! Galactus is weakening! Time is running out! How near am I to our foe? EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - NOVA’S POV - GALACTUS The silver dot that is the Surfer zigzags closer to Galactus’ chest. NOVA (O.S.) You’re almost to the chest cavity. The dot reaches a point where the spine goes off into several branches. We TIGHTEN ON this maze-like area as: NOVA (O.S.) Take the left branch. You’re getting close... INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - SPINAL COLUMN - THE SILVER SURFER He slips into the left branch, continuing to: THE END OF THE TUNNEL Directly ahead of the Surfer, the open bone suddenly seals into a dead-end. We WIDEN TO INCLUDE the Surfer as he stops himself just before a crash and goes tumbling from his board. NOVA (O.S.) Surfer! What happened? The board circles back to him, and the Surfer climbs (he’s no longer able to leap) back onto it. SILVER SURFER I do not know. I will go back -- ANOTHER ANGLE As the Surfer heads back where he came from -- NOVA (O.S.) Look out! Again, the Surfer stops short -- as another dead-end forms! He holds up his hand, FIRES a SPUTTERING VERSION OF HIS COSMIC POWER BLAST. The vertebra BLOWS open -- and a WALL OF ENERGY GUSHES OUT, inundating him like a tidal wave! CLOSER ON THE SILVER SURFER Behind him, what was a dead-end suddenly opens up, and, CRYING OUT WORDLESSLY, the Surfer is swept through it by the ENERGY WAVE as: EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - GALACTUS’ MOUTH He CRIES OUT wordlessly. We ANGLE TO Nova, falling as though she herself was struck. Around her, one of Galactus’ giant holographic viewscreens EXPLODES! NOVA Surfer -- ! And then she breaks off, as, O.S., we hear the SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION, Galactus’ entire ship rocking with the impact as: EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - GALACTUS’ SHIP Around it, a vast fleet of starships is WARPING IN. These are the ships of the WANDERERS, some large, some small, some marked with fancy designs, others bare. All the ships have two things in common: They are tattered, patched- together, old -- and they are using their ENERGY WEAPONS like there’s no tomorrow, BLASTING away at Galactus for all they’re worth! We HOLD on the sudden attack, Galactus’ ship reeling, and we FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO FADE IN: EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - GALACTUS’ SHIP Under heavy ENERGY FIRE from the new arrivals. The ship doesn’t -- can’t -- fight back -- but it does shake and shimmy with each hit! NOVA (O.S.) Surfer! Somebody’s trying to blow us out of the universe...! EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - NOVA Getting no response. An ENERGY BEAM DETONATES in the air above her, its CONCUSSION WAVE sending Nova sprawling across the control center. Her flame becomes a shade lighter, weaker, as she picks herself up only to go sprawling when the ship shudders from another hit. Forcing herself to move, Nova flies upward to: GALACTUS’ HELMETED HEAD Hanging back, his giant eyes closed. DISSIPATING ENERGY continues to waft upward from him. Nova circles Galactus’ head. Her tone is a cross between panic and irony as: NOVA Oh great, just great...! Panicked, she flies in closer to one huge ear, shouting like Tinkerbell trying to get Peter Pan’s attention: NOVA Galactus! Can I help it if this is my first space war? What do I do? What do I do? There’s no response as we TIGHTEN PAST Nova’s fearful face TO one of the remaining viewscreens. Another ship is WARPING IN, and like the spy satellites, it too is familiar: We HOLD ON the Draconian Mother Ship and CUT TO: INT. DRACONIAN MOTHER SHIP - BRIDGE - A VIEWSCREEN REVERSE ANGLE of the same view: Galactus’ ship taking its pounding from the Wanderers’ smaller vessels as: FIRST MINISTER IVAR (O.S.) My lord! Is it possible? Can Galactus’ truly be defenseless...? As he talks, we WIDEN TO SEE LORD GLENN and FIRST MINISTER IVAR, watching the viewscreen. Nearby, at their stations, are the rest of the robotic Draconian bridge crew. LORD GLENN We will know soon enough, Ivar. The probes have shown all they can... Lord Glenn points to the viewscreen, where the fake Harpy Rasps come into view. Beyond them, ENERGY BEAMS BLAST everywhere. LORD GLENN Now it is up to our allies to draw the Devourer out -- Ivar breaks off, as, from the ship’s communicator: GAMORA (O.S.) (filtered) Lord Glenn! INT. GAMORA’S SHIP A one-person fighter craft, the lone occupant of which is GAMORA, a beautiful -- and lethal -- young humanoid woman with blue skin and black hair. LORD GLENN (O.S.) (filtered) I read you, Gamora. Are you as astonished by what lies before us as I? ANOTHER ANGLE - INCLUDING THE FRONT VIEWPORT Gamora gets Galactus’ control center in the middle of her sights, hits a button, speaks into her communicator. GAMORA Every night in my dreams I relive the destruction of my home planet by Galactus. Yet now I find his ship even more awesome than I remembered... EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - THE ATTACK Gamora’s ENERGY BLAST stabs at the control center! A chunk of Galactus’ ship is torn off, BLOWING into space! LORD GLENN (O.S.) And, it would seem, more vulnerable as well. GAMORA (O.S.) Frankly, Lord Glenn, I’m almost as frightened by the fact that he’s not fighting back as I would be if he did... INT. DRACONIAN MOTHER SHIP - BRIDGE Where the viewscreen shows Galactus’ ship rocking from the attack. GAMORA (O.S.) I can’t shake the feeling that this is a trap. LORD GLENN But why would a being with the power of Galactus resort to such a tactic? EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - THE ATTACK As Gamora’s ship swoops closer to that of Galactus. GAMORA (O.S.) I guess we’ll have to find out. (quickly) Refugee One to Wanderers -- move in another notch, people -- but stay prepared to cut and run... And, as the other ships follow her lead, we CUT TO: INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - SPINAL COLUMN - THE SILVER SURFER Helpless, out of control on a chute-the-chutes ride through Galactus’ spinal cord. He’s swamped by the ENERGY the way an earth surfer would be by a wave, and he clings to his board by his fingertips! SILVER SURFER (V.O.) Everything that has happened since I entered Galactus’ body must be a product of his immune system... The "tunnel" in which the Surfer is trapped makes an abrupt right turn, slamming him against it, and he almost loses his grip on the board. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) How can I fight both him and the disease -- ? Another, opposite, turn. He slams against the "wall" again, continues forward toward: THE SILVER SURFER’S POV - WHAT’S COMING DEAD AHEAD Another dead-end -- but before it dangle long fibrous tissues like thick ropes. The tissues wriggle like the legs of jellyfish as the Surfer comes closer, closer -- BACK TO THE SILVER SURFER Reaching the fibers. With every last ounce of strength, he grabs onto them, swinging up out of the ENERGY WAVE. GRUNTING with exertion, the Surfer makes use of all his momentum, swinging up toward the "ceiling" of the "tunnel." ANOTHER ANGLE As the Surfer nears the top, he lets go of the fiber with one hand, FIRING a POWER ANOTHER PALE COSMIC BLAST directly above. At first, nothing happens. Then, in the knick of time, the tissue dissolves, the Surfer arcing into the hole. SILVER SURFER To me, my board! THE SILVER SURFER’S BOARD Careening against the tide of ENERGY and soaring upward to: INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - CHEST CAVITY The Surfer leaps onto his board, soaring into a dark chamber like an enormous, striated cave. He glides to a stop and tumbles off the board, lying exhausted and sweating on his side. He calls out hoarsely, trying to be heard through the REVERBERATING BEATING of Galactus’ heart: SILVER SURFER Nova! Can you hear me...? EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - UPSHOT The ships that we’ve learned belong to the WANDERERS come in low, STRAFING the control center. We ANGLE TO: SILVER SURFER (O.S.) I am within Galactus’ chest...! GALACTUS’ HELMETED HEAD Hit by one beam, another. He spasms as though jolted by an electric shock, but otherwise shows no sign of knowing about the attack. NOVA (O.S.) I hear you, Silverado... WIDENING, we FIND Nova, crouched on Galactus’ shoulder. She ducks as an ENERGY BOLT almost hits her. The young woman both looks and sounds terrified as: NOVA But I can’t exactly help much right now -- ! She rushes across Galactus’ neck, out of the way of another VOLLEY. The BLASTS take out a bank of machinery. Suddenly, Nova GASPS as: NOVA’S POV - SPACE OVER THE CONTROL CENTER Where the WATCHER RIPPLES INTO VIEW, his somber face looking down at the attack on Galactus’ ship. NOVA (O.S.) Silverado! There’s this weird looking bald guy staring at us from the middle of nowhere! INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - CHEST CAVITY Where the Surfer’s having his own troubles, trying to get to his feet. From the COMMUNICATION BEAM come the SOUNDS of the attack. SILVER SURFER The Watcher...! His presence here shows that this is indeed a portentous event! Using his board for support, the Surfer forces himself to his knees. SILVER SURFER You must defy fate, Nova...! EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - NOVA TIGHTENING ON her as the Surfer continues: SILVER SURFER Reach inside yourself, and replace the strength you have lost with the courage you will always have! His words get to her, and Nova’s face shows with new resolve. NOVA Silverado, if you ever get tired of hanging ten through the spacewaves, I know some folks at Notre Dame who’d love to sign you up as a coach! And, as she says it, her FLAME BURNS MORE BRIGHTLY, and she launches herself upward, to: EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - GALACTUS’ SHIP Dozens of FIRE STORMS rage across the areas where the surface of the ship has been hit, and the cables of destruction are mangled and broken. A Wanderers’ ship banks and STRAFES -- and, suddenly, Nova appears, soaring from the control center like a fiery streak. A STREAM OF FLAME SPEWS from her outstretched hand, engulfing the ship, and it goes spinning out to space end over end! CLOSER ON NOVA Allowing herself a grim smile. NOVA Back to the cheap seats, creeps! And try some take-out -- like my solar flambe! Concentrating intently, Nova holds out both her hands, sweeping them around in a huge circle, and from them SPRAYS: A WALL OF FIRE Nova orbits Galactus’ ship, and the wall of flames surrounds it, cutting it off from the attacking vessels as: INT. GAMORA’S SHIP - CONTROL CONSOLE AND VIEWPORT Nova and her wall are plainly visible as panels SPARK AND SIZZLE from the intense heat. We WIDEN TO SEE Gamora yanking back her hand just in time to keep from being burned by a tongue of flame that dances along the console. She continues into the communicator: GAMORA Wanderers, this is Refugee One -- disengage! Repeat -- disengage! EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - THE WATCHER Looking on closely as Gamora veers away from the wall of fire, the other ships following her lead. We TIGHTEN PAST the activity to Nova. NOVA (V.O.) How ‘bout that? Looks like the kid from Venice Beach just won a round... INT. DRACONIAN MOTHER SHIP - BRIDGE - THE VIEWSCREEN Where the retreat continues as: FIRST MINISTER IVAR (O.S.) That resource is not in our database! What is happening? We WIDEN TO SEE Lord Glenn stride to the viewscreen, Ivar right behind him. LORD GLENN Ah, Ivar, is that not the question we lesser beings have been asking about Galactus since the beginning of time? Or did you genuinely believe his end would come so easily? FIRST MINISTER IVAR I had hoped, my lord -- how I had hoped! -- to cause him to suffer, as he has caused us... LORD GLENN As did we all, Ivar. (beat) As did we all... Lord Glenn’s expression grows as thoughtful as a robot’s can. We ANGLE PAST him to the viewscreen again. The Wanderers’ withdrawal is complete, the little ships huddled around the Draconian mother ship as we CUT TO: EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - GALACTUS’ HELMETED HEAD Reflecting the RED GLOW from Nova’s fire wall. Suddenly, Galactus convulses again, as: INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - CHEST CAVITY Where the Surfer slogs exhaustedly into the cavern, carrying his board. The entire cavern shudders, and ENERGY FLASHES like lightning. For a beat, the LOUD HEARTBEAT FALTERS, the Surfer once again FLASHING OUT OF EXISTENCE, then reappearing as Galactus’ heart resumes even more slowly than before. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) Galactus grows still weaker -- and so do I! Another LIGHTNING BOLT strikes, and the Surfer throws himself aside, stares at the source of the bolt, stunned. SILVER SURFER (V.O.) What manner of bodily organs are these? ANOTHER ANGLE Deep within the chest cavity are spherical masses resembling nothing so much as the gutted planets we SAW elsewhere in this star system. They drift in a CURRENT OF ENERGY, the kind of LIGHTNING that almost struck the Silver Surfer triggering the opening and closing of gigantic containment valves. From the spheres comes a KEENING SOUND, like the moaning of millions of lost souls! As the Surfer makes his cautious approach, the LIGHTNING STRIKES again, hitting him and sending him flying backward as: THE VOICE OF THE SPHERES Silver Surfer! Noble Lackey of Galactus! So good of you to visit our ignoble selves! The voice RESONATES like a sarcastic chorus. The Surfer looks from sphere to sphere. SILVER SURFER What are you, to mock me like this? THE VOICE OF THE SPHERES We will show you! Another LIGHTNING BOLT strikes the Surfer, and, dropping his board, he goes sprawling as we TIGHTEN ON his face and SMASH CUT TO: INT. SILVER SURFER’S MIND - VARIOUS PLANETS - SERIES OF SCENES All garishly OVEREXPOSED TO A NUMBING WHITENESS, and including the following: A FANTASTIC CITYSCAPE Starting to crumble as Galactus’ cables of destruction plunge into it from the sky! AN ALIEN VILLAGE All but vanishes as the cables strike! AN UNDERWATER EMPIRE Fishlike inhabitants swimming for safety as the water roils and boils and bubbles around a group of cables! A MONTAGE OF PLANETARY DESTRUCTION As SEEN from space: Planets of all colors turn shrivelled and BLACK as Galactus’ cables suck out their energy! The IMAGES COME FAST AND FURIOUS, and the Surfer CRIES OUT: SILVER SURFER (O.S.) STOP!!! And, on his anguished cry, we SMASH CUT TO: INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - CHEST CAVITY LIGHTNING STRIKES everywhere. Valves open and close. The prostrate Surfer gasps for breath. THE VOICE OF THE SPHERES Do you recognize us now, Silver Surfer? We are the essence of the worlds consumed by Galactus...! The Voice of the Spheres becomes almost a whisper: THE VOICE OF THE SPHERES Consigned by you and your master to this limbo of eternal despair! SILVER SURFER I was not myself! I knew not what I did! The Surfer’s tone is defensive. More LIGHTNING STRIKES on each side of him, and, in a voice as quiet as that of the Voice of the Spheres: SILVER SURFER (continuing; realizing) Yet still, do I hold myself accountable... Now ANOTHER VOICE responds...deep...malignant: THE INFECTION (O.S.) Then you must allow me to put an end to the evil! With a final FLASHING OF LIGHTNING, more valves open and close, shunting the Spheres aside and revealing: GALACTUS’ HEART An enormous, red ventricular sac, moist and GLISTENING. Running along the heart are thick, viscous lines of BLACK FLUID, like tendrils, leading to a BLACK CENTER that is like a smaller version of the Dark Planet over which Galactus’ ship now orbits. The tendrils squeeze the ventricular sac, and GALACTUS’ HEARTBEAT BECOMES even slower than before. In the black center a saw-toothed mouth opens in vile LAUGHTER! THE SILVER SURFER Determined, he rises, takes a step toward the blackness. SILVER SURFER You are the infection! CUT TO: EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - THE WATCHER Looking down at the WALL OF FIRE around Galactus’ ship. Suddenly, the FLAME DIMS. We ANGLE TO Nova, flying unsteadily. The FLAME SPEWED by her hands starts to SPUTTER. NOVA (V.O.) Feel so drained...can’t hold out much longer...sure miss Amber...and the boardwalk... (catching herself) No! Gotta -- keep -- going! She gives it all she’s got, and both her flame and the WALL OF FIRE BRIGHTEN again as: INT. DRACONIAN MOTHER SHIP - BRIDGE Where Lord Glenn and Ivar see the change in the flame. From the communicator we HEAR: GAMORA (O.S.) (filtered) Lord Glenn, Galactus’ defense is weakening again! LORD GLENN May I remind you, Gamora, that organic tissue such as yours is notoriously frail? I suggest you and your people continue to reconnoiter. INT. GAMORA’S SHIP She’s looking out the view port intently. GAMORA Lord Glenn, I’ve waited to get at Galactus since I six years old. Now that I’m this close I can’t keep backing away. (harder) Call it the curse of being "merely organic," but the Wanderers’d much rather have revenge than survive! EXT. BLACK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - THE WATCHER Looking on as, around Galactus’ ship, the FIRE WALL steadily weakens with Nova’s fading power. FIRING, Gamora and her fleet sweep forward! NOVA Is a wreck. The FIRE WALL GROWS STILL DIMMER, and her own FLAME IS SPUTTERING as we CUT TO: INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - CHEST CAVITY Where a tendril of the INFECTION’s black fluid flows out at the Surfer. He stumbles away -- and another tendril wraps around his ankle. The Surfer CRIES OUT as the area around the tendril BUBBLES and turns BLACK! SILVER SURFER Where do you come from? Why are you doing this? Another tendril grabs the Surfer’s other leg, and that leg too BUBBLES AND BLACKENS! The Infection LAUGHS. THE INFECTION I am the Universal Scourge, born and bred to be Galactus’ last meal...! The Surfer tries to pull away -- and another tendril wraps around his arm, making it too BUBBLE AND BLACKEN! THE INFECTION Millennia ago, a selfless civilization dedicated all its resources, its very life, to the eradication of the Devourer! (beat) For eons they followed in his wake, collecting the detritus Galactus left behind and bringing it to the planet below, where its toxicity was cultivated as in a garden... ANOTHER ANGLE The Surfer never stops struggling -- and a tendril grabs his remaining arm, which BUBBLES AND BLACKENS as: THE INFECTION The effort destroyed them, but the venom, powerful enough to exterminate even the Dreaded One, lived on -- sending out a signal of false energy, and inviting Galactus to dine! Again, the Infection laughs. The Surfer summons all his strength, and his body starts to GLOW. SILVER SURFER NOOO!!! And the Surfer BLASTS ALL HIS POWER COSMIC directly at: THE INFECTION LAUGHS as the BLAST SPUTTERS harmlessly! THE INFECTION You think you can stop something begun before any race now living rose from the slime?! WIDER More black tendrils writhe toward the Surfer, who BLASTS uselessly as they wrap around his body, BUBBLING AND BLACKENING it completely. The Surfer cries out in despair: SILVER SURFER Galactus! I have not the strength! (even louder) You must focus your remaining energy, and trust me with all your POWER!!! EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - GALACTUS’ EYES As the Silver Surfer’s voice RESOUNDS OVER everything, Galactus’ eyelid flutters. There’s a tense beat, and then the eye snaps open! GALACTUS (O.S.) First Herald...! Within Galactus’ pupil-less eyes, ANGRY ENERGY FLASHES. We TIGHTEN ON it as: INT. GALACTUS’ BODY - CHEST CAVITY - A BOLT OF THE POWER COSMIC THUNDERS through the cavern like a BOMB -- and strikes: THE SILVER SURFER The black tendrils EXPLODE, and the Surfer’s darkened surface shines silver once more. He leaps onto his board, soars at: GALACTUS’ HEART The Infection’s mouth opens in an EAR-SPLITTING SCREAM as the rejuvenated Surfer FIRES twin BLASTS OF THE POWER COSMIC into the center of the infection! ANOTHER ANGLE The Surfer BLASTS again and again, and, one after another, the black tendrils SPARK and DISSOLVE! SILVER SURFER Scourge of the Universe, you do what you must... (beat) But so do I... As the Surfer continues BLASTING, we TIGHTEN ON the center of the Infection. It too SPARKS, WITHERS -- and DISSOLVES! The Infection dwindles, getting smaller and smaller, its SCREAM BECOMING A PITIFUL MOAN as we CUT TO: EXT. BLACK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - GALACTUS’ SHIP Around it, the FIRE WALL gives one final SPUTTER and DISSIPATES COMPLETELY, Gamora and her ships flying in, WEAPONS BLAZING! NOVA Collapsing, unconscious, and falling back toward the gigantic ship while ENERGY BLASTS all around her. ANOTHER ANGLE Suddenly, a silver streak soars from Galactus’ control center: The Surfer, catching hold of Nova just as she caught him, and arcing back down to the ship with her as, in a barely contained ROAR of incredulity and fury: GALACTUS (O.S.) WHO DARES?! EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - GALACTUS’ HAND As, with no trouble at all, Galactus’ finger hits a button on the command chair and: EXT. BLACK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - GALACTUS’ SHIP Surges to life! The cables straighten, no longer flailing ineffectually with the buffeting of the vessel, and a RING OF ENERGY FLARES out from the ship’s hull, heading in an ever-expanding circle for: THE WANDERERS Seeing what’s coming, the ships peel off, turning away from Galactus’ ship as: INT. GAMORA’S SHIP As she works the controls madly. GAMORA (into communicator) The giant’s up and kicking! Abort! Abort! INT. DRACONIAN MOTHER SHIP - BRIDGE Where both Lord Glenn and First Minister Ivar are astounded. Lord Glenn calls out to the helmsman: LORD GLENN (to helmsman) Emergency maneuvers! Take us out of here! Take us out! Like all Draconians, the helmsman has a central panel in his chest. It opens, and a single flexible limb snakes out, frantically working the ship’s controls as: EXT. BLACK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM Desperately fleeing from Galactus’ ENERGY RING, the Draconians and the Wanderers FORESHORTEN INTO WARP. In the space they’ve left behind, the ENERGY RING hits the Harpy Rasps, and they POLARIZE from positive to negative and back, VANISHING INTO PARTICLES. We HOLD ON this part of space. All that remains beyond Galactus’ ship is the impassive face of the Watcher. He RIPPLES AWAY as we DISSOLVE TO: EXT. GALACTUS’ CONTROL CENTER - GALACTUS’ MOUTH As grim and powerful as ever, as: GALACTUS My herald! You have work to do! We WIDEN TO SEE the Silver Surfer and Nova, both of them at full strength, circling before what we can make out of Galactus’ huge face. Nova screws up her courage: NOVA Galactus -- the Silver Surfer just saved your life, and that’s all you’ve got to say? GALACTUS I stand corrected, my Nova. There is indeed more. (beat) Know that the Great Hunger is upon me -- and it is far greater than ever before! Galactus speaks as though the Surfer isn’t even there. Nova looks astonished, but the Surfer simply shakes his head. He soars from the control center, Nova following his lead. We TIGHTEN ON Galactus’ mouth once more -- as it opens for his sardonic LAUGH. EXT. DARK PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM - GALACTUS’ SHIP As the Surfer and Nova sweep out toward the edge of the system. The Surfer speaks thoughtfully: SILVER SURFER I hope that the universe can forgive me -- for even I am not certain I did the right thing. NOVA Did Galactus make good on his promise? Did he tell you where your homeworld is? SILVER SURFER In his way, Galactus is an honorable man. He said he would tell me all he knew about Zenn-La, and he did... They start going faster -- SILVER SURFER (continuing; bitterly) In his great anger, my former master flung the planet so far into space that even he is not aware of where it came to rest! And faster -- NOVA I’m sorry, Surfer. SILVER SURFER (getting an idea) Nova, you said something to me earlier -- about always finding what you seek. Do you think you could find Zenn-La? NOVA Silverado -- I thought you’d never ask! She smiles, and, as they FORESHORTEN INTO WARP, we FADE OUT. THE END