"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

                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

        Empty, cavernous.

        INT. ENGINE CUBICLE

        Circular, jammed with instruments.
        All of them idle.
        Console chairs for two.
        Empty.

        INT. OILY CORRIDOR - "C" LEVEL

        Long, dark.
        Empty.
        Turbos throbbing.
        No other movement.

        INT. CORRIDOR - "A" LEVEL

        Long, empty.

        INT. INFIRMARY - "A" LEVEL

        Distressed ivory walls.
        All instrumentation at rest.

        INT. CORRIDOR TO BRIDGE - "A" LEVEL

        Black, empty.

        INT. BRIDGE

        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

        Lights come on.
        Seven gowns hang from the curved wall.
        Vault door opens.

        INT. HYPERSLEEP VAULT

        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

        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

        Another lid pops open.
        A young woman sits up.

                                 LAMBERT
                  What time is it.

                                 KANE
                         (voice over)
                  What do you care.

        INT. GALLEY

        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

        Two more lids pop open.
        A pair of men sit up.
        Look at each other.

        INT. GALLEY

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        A moving image of a starfield.

        EXT. NOSTROMO

        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

        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

        Giant reactor system purring smoothly.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM

        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

                                 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

        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.
                  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
        STAR/PLANET SYSTEM

        INT. BRIDGE

        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

        Moving within range of the planet.

        INT. BRIDGE

        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 punches buttons of his own.

        EXT. NOSTROMO

        The Refinery separates from Nostromo.

        INT. BRIDGE

        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

        Engines coughing to life.
        Nostromo begins its descent.

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

        INT. BRIDGE

        The viewscreen shimmers.

                                 RIPLEY
                  Turbulence.

        EXT. NOSTROMO

        Tug-module hydroplaning downward.
        A set of brilliant lights switch on.
        Cut through the thick atmosphere.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM - CUBICLE

        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

        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

        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

                                 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

        Another huge vibration.
        An electrical fire breaks out along three control panels.

        INT. OILY CORRIDOR

        Huge flash fire whips along corridor.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM - CUBICLE

        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

        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
                         (voice over)
                  God damn electrical fire, that's
                  what happened.

                                 BRETT
                         (voice over)
                  It's big.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM

        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

                                 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

        The wind sounds.
        Storm continues to blow around the craft.
        A few glittering lights distinguish the Nostromo from
        absolute darkness.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE

        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

        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

        Bridge lights come to life.
        Illuminate nothing but a patch of featureless ground.
        The wind and storm now at a higher pitch.

        INT. BRIDGE

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        Ash descends companionway to blister.
        Punches up screens and instrumentation.

        INT. MAIN AIR LOCK - DAWN

                                 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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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 signal starts.

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

                                 LAMBERT
                  How about our break.

                                 DALLAS
                  No. Let's move on while we've
                  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

        Ash receiving the video transmission.
        Notices something within the formation.
        Freezes the image.
        Enlarges it.
        Enlarges again.

        EXT. THE NOSTROMO - SUNRISE

        Atmosphere turning the color of blood.
        Then the sun is up.

        EXT. THE NOSTROMO - SUNRISE

        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

        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

        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

        Dust clearing.
        Three tiny figures against the landscape.

        EXT. PLANET - DAY

        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

        A gargantuan construction rising from the rock.
        Clearly of nonhuman manufacture.

        EXT. PLANET - DAY

        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

        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

                                 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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        Dallas and Lambert.

                                 DALLAS
                  How long till sunset.

                                 LAMBERT
                  Twenty minutes.

        A look from Lambert.

        INT. HOLD

        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

                                 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

        Kane is now pinioned between Dallas and Lambert.
        The storm raging through and beyond the entrance...
        Dallas begins to assemble travois.

        EXT. THE NOSTROMO - SUNSET

        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

        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

        Dallas and Lambert dragging Kane on a travois towards landing
        leg.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY NEAR AIR LOCK

        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

        Dallas and Lambert drag Kane onto lift platform.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY NEAR AIR LOCK

        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

        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
                  us 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've 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

                                 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

        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

        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

        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

        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

                                 BRETT
                  Shit.  It's going to eat through
                  the decks and go out the hull...

        He starts to run for the companionway.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" DECK

        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

        Ripley and Parker move cautiously down the passageway.
        Look up to the ceiling bulkhead.

                                 PARKER
                  Don't get under it.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" DECK

        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 it penetrated two
                  levels.

                                 RIPLEY
                  What about Kane.

        Starts up companionway.

        INT. INFIRMARY

        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 now.

        Ash sets aside his partially melted pen.
        Looks at Dallas.

                                 DALLAS
                  You go back to work.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE

        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

                                 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

                                 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

        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

        Lambert playing with some string, amusing Jones.
        Cat's Cradle.
        Both looking bored.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE

        Parker and Brett at work on the final intake screen.

        INT. NARCISSUS

        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

        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

        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

        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

        The Nostromo's engines roaring.
        Belching out streams of superheated air.
        The starship vibrates.
        Begins to surge forward.

        INT. BRIDGE - SUNRISE

        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 - SUNRISE

        The Nostromo hovering above the ground.
        Held on beams of shimmering force.
        The landing struts begin folding.

        INT. BRIDGE - DAY

                                 DALLAS
                  Take us up.

        Lambert bends over the voice amplifier.

                                 LAMBERT
                  One kilometer on ascension.

        INT. PLANET

        The Nostromo begins to levitate skyward.
        Seemingly pushing upward on the beams of light.

        INT. BRIDGE - DAY

        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

        Parker and Brett strapped in and vibrating.

                                 PARKER
                  We fix something it stays fixed.

                                 BRETT
                  Right.

        EXT. NOSTROMO - DAY

        The starship hovering below cloud ceiling.
        Then begins to accelerate through the dense atmosphere.

        INT. BRIDGE - DAY

        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

        The ship moves at an acute angle.
        Slices through the boiling clouds.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE

        Parker and Brett watching the guages.

        INT. BRIDGE - DAY

        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

        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

        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

        The Nostromo now safely beyond 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

        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

        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.

        INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE INFIRMARY WINDOW

        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

        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

        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

        Kane's body wrapped in a makeshift shroud.

        INT. BRIDGE

        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

        The outer hatch opens.
        Yawning space outside.
        Kane's body shoots out into eternity.
        The hatch closes.

        INT. MESS

        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 cut 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

        The Nostromo continues through the vortex.

        INT. INFIRMARY

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        Ripley and Parker walk along.
        Tracker signal weakens.
        Finally stops.

                                 RIPLEY
                  Nothing here.

                                 PARKER
                  Let's go back.

        INT. UNDERCARRIAGE ROOM - "C" LEVEL

        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

        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.

        Pause.

                                 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

        Nostromo at light plus four.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL

        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

        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

        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

        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

        Parker and Lambert get set.

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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        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

        Ripley waiting.

        INT. AIR SHAFT

        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

        Lambert sees something on the tracker.

                                 LAMBERT
                  Beginning to get a reading on
                  you.

        INT. AIR SHAFT

        The shaft makes yet another turn.
        Puts Dallas into an almost immobilized position.

        INT. FOOD STORAGE LOCKER NUMBER 12

        Ash staring at the ventilator opening.

        INT. AIR SHAFT

        Dallas against a wall of the shaft.
        Clutching his flamethrower.
        Whispers into his throat mike.

                                 DALLAS
                  Ripley.

        INT. AIR LOCK VESTIBULE

                                 RIPLEY
                  Read you clear.

        INT. AIR SHAFT

                                 DALLAS
                  I don't think this shaft goes
                  much farther... It's getting hot
                  in here.

        He readies the flamethrower.

        INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA

        Parker readies his weapon.

        INT. AIR SHAFT - DOUBLE-TIERED PASSAGEWAY

        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

        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

        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

        Ripley bends forward.
        Hears the sounds of the struggle...
        And Dallas' screams.
        She cries out.

                                 RIPLEY
                  Dallas...Dallas...

        INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA

        Lambert and Parker.
        Hearing it all.

                                 RIPLEY
                         (voice over)
                  Oh my God.

        Then silence.

        INT. MESS

        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

        Parker selects two full methane cylinders.
        He tests them.
        Moves out.

        INT. CORRIDOR TO BRIDGE

                                 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

        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

        Ripley and Lambert.
        Parker's voice on voice-amp.
        Muffled.
        Ripley hits a toggle.

                                 RIPLEY
                  Ripley.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL

        Parker covers the wall communication with his hand.

                                 PARKER
                  Keep it down...

        Up the corridor, the movement stops.

        INT. BRIDGE

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

        INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL

        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

        Ash listens.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL

        Parker still whispering.

                                 PARKER
                  Open it...slowly.

        INT. BRIDGE

        Ripley hesitates.
        Starts to reply.
        Throws switch.

        INT. AIR LOCK - "B" DECK

        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

        Parker watches...

        INT. AIR LOCK

        Creature move further into air lock.
        Fascinated by green light.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY - "B" LEVEL

        Urgent whisper into voice-amp.

                                 PARKER
                  Now...Now...

        INT. BRIDGE

        As Ripley moves to throw switch...

        INT. AIR LOCK

        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

        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

        Metal still boiling.
        The outer hatch begins to open.

        INT. BRIDGE

                                 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

        Air lock open.

        INT. PASSAGE NEAR AIR LOCK - "B" LEVEL

        Parker unconscious.

        INT. AIR LOCK

        The inner hatch still closed.
        Metal boils.
        The hole growing deeper.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY - "A" LEVEL

        Ripley runs toward the air lock corridor.

        INT. AIR LOCK

        Metal boiling in door.

        INT. PASSAGEWAYS - "B" DECK

        Ripley slams to a momentary halt against a bulkhead.
        Regains her balance.
        Starts running.

        INT. PASSAGE NEAR AIR LOCK - "B" LEVEL

        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

        Lambert watches.
        Emergency light readings.

                       "Hull Breached"
                       "Emergency Bulkheads Closed"

                                 LAMBERT
                  Ash, get the oxygen.  Meet me at
                  the air lock.

        Rushes out.
        Down corridor.

        INT. PASSAGEWAY NEAR AIR LOCK - "B" LEVEL

        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

        Plume of vapor freezes in the vacuum.

        INT. PASSAGE NEAR AIR LOCK - "B" LEVEL

        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

        Ripley cautiously descends the stairs to the blister.
        Carrying a flamethrower.

        INT. ASH'S BLISTER

        Looks around the blister.
        Satisfied 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

        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 slams 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.

        They 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 still don't
                  realize what you're dealing with.
                  The Alien is a perfect 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 perfection.
                  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 wish 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

        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 should 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

        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

        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

        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

        Ripley furious but still speaking gently.

                                 RIPLEY
                  Here kitty...come here kitty...

        Jones moves away.

        INT. FOOD LOCKER NUMBER 6 - "B" DECK

        Arms full, Parker moves out of the locker.
        Lambert is still making her selection.
        A faint light on the tracker.
        Unnoticed.

        INT. BRIDGE

        Ripley finally corners Jones.
        Finds his box.
        Tries to put him in it.
        Jones resists.
        Ultimately futile.

        INT. FOOD LOCKER CORRIDOR - OUTSIDE

        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

        Ripley freezes as she hears Lambert's screams.

        INT. CORRIDOR - OUTSIDE

        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

        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

        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

        Ripley descends, cautiously, holding flamethrower.
        Jones left above, squalling.

        INT. CORRIDOR - "B" DECK

        Ripley moving warily, carrying flamethrower.
        Nears entrance to food locker, looks in.
        Sees carnage.

        INT. OILY CORRIDOR - "C" DECK

        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

        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.
        Flamethrower 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

        Ripley emerges from below.
        Gasps for breath.
        Regains control of herself.

        EXT. OUTER SPACE

        At light speed.
        The Nostromo and refinery appear to hang motionless.
        Star clusters rolling past in the infinite distance.

        INT. ENGINE ROOM - CUBICLE

        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

        Ripley running toward the "B" deck companionway.

        INT. "B" LEVEL - CORRIDOR

        Ripley starts toward Narcissus.
        Remembers Jones.

        INT. "A" TO "B" LEVELS - COMPANIONWAY

        Jones howling.
        In his box.
        Ripley reaches up and grabs him.

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

        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.
        Ripley turns and bolts toward the engine room, leaving
        Jones on "B" level companionway.

        INT. COMPANIONWAY TO OILY CORRIDOR - "E" LEVEL

        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

        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 runs 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

        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

        She reaches companionway.
        Picks up Jones.

        INT. "B" LEVEL - CORRIDOR LEADING TO NARCISSUS

        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

        Ripley scans the narrow deck...empty.

        INT. VESTIBULE

        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

        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

        The retainer clips drop away.
        A blast of ram jets.
        The shuttle is launched from the mother ship.

        INT. NARCISSUS

        Ripley frantically straps herself in.
        G-forces from the shuttles acceleration pulling against her.

        EXT. SPACE

        The Narcissus continues to power away from the mother ship.
        The larger bulk of the Nostromo quietly receding.
        All is strangely serene.

        INT. NARCISSUS

        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

        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

        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

        Piece of debris float past.
        The boiling fireball fades into nothingness.
        The Nostromo has ceased to exist.

        INT. NARCISSUS

        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 whirls.
        Finding herself facing the Creature.

        Ripley's first thought is 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

        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

        The Alien moves to the pressurized cat box.
        Bends down and peers inside.
        The cat yowls louder as his container is lifted.

        INT. LOCKER

        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

        The Alien picks up the cat box.
        Shakes it.
        The cat moans.

        INT. LOCKER

        Ripley is halfway into a pressure suit.

        INT. NARCISSUS

        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

        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

        Ripley inhales.
        Kicks the door open.

        INT. NARCISSUS

        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

        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

        Ripley looks for any salvation.
        Grabs the hatch level.
        Yanks it.
        The hatch slams shut, closing Ripley safely inside.

        EXT. NARCISSUS

        The Alien still outside the shuttle-craft.
        Within the vacuum of space.
        The top of its appendage mashed into the closed hatch.

        INT. NARCISSUS

        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

        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

        Ripley hurries to the rear hatch.
        Peers through the glass.

        EXT. OUTER SPACE

        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

        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

        The shuttle-craft Narcissus sails into the distance.

                                                FADE OUT

                                THE END