Screenplay Alien Covenant 2015-11-20

ALIEN: COVENANT
Screenplay
by
John Logan
Based on the screenplays by
Dante W Harper
And
Michael Green
November 20, 2015
"Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven."
Milton
Paradise Lost
EXT. SPACE
Peaceful slow DARKNESS.
Soon shattered by violence. The birth of a new star.
Cosmic dust floats, moving faster now, spiralling into an

inner, spinning core. FLASHES like heat lightning, until the
hydrogen in the center IGNITES, bursting into BRIGHT FLAME--
A SHOCKWAVE ripples out, CRASHING PAST US, OBLITERATING

EVERYTHING--
Then we jump to a wider view.
We see the vast explosion is a tiny puff, the new star among
many stars.
All is still and quiet. The serene ocean of space.
Until a TINY OBJECT whips past the edge of a nebula.
We find it, closing in on...
EXT. COLONY SHIP COVENANT
The COVENANT.
A COLONY SHIP; built for speed and distance. The STARS AROUND
HER DISTORT, gravity LENSING as the ship moves faster than
light.
TITLES:
Deep-Space Colony Ship COVENANT

CREW: 14, +1 SYNTHETIC
PASSENGERS: 3600
MISSION: Terraform and Populate
DESTINATION: Origae-6
DATE: 2103, 239 light-years from Earth
The COVENANT is 500 meters long. The long central body of the
ship is made of self-contained MODULES, like wagons in a
wagon train. Jutting from the central body are three dominant
areas: INTERSTELLAR DRIVE; CREW MODULE; TERRAFORMING BAY.
INT. COVENANT-VARIOUS
THE NURSERY
Like being inside a gigantic snow globe. A gentle SNOW falls.

Everything encrusted in a light frost.
2.
In the darkened PASSENGER CRYO-STASIS HOLD, a kiosk beeps,

awakens. NAMES SPELL OUT on a screen crusted in ice. Dim
green light flickers out over 3600 CRYO-PODS, under the thin
blanket of SNOW ... The thousands of pods sweep up along the
huge curved wall, defying gravity.
We see the FROZEN FACES of... WOMEN, MEN, CHILDREN ... Also
banks of EMBRYOS at various stages...
The kiosk finishes the inventory, the female COMPUTER VOICE

speaks:
MOTHER
7 oclock. Alls well.
Ships BELL rings. The displays flicker out. All goes dark.
THE BRIDGE
EMPTY and DARK until... Blinders on the bridge windows OPEN.

DISTANT SUNLIGHT spills over captains chair.
TERRAFORMING BAY
A gigantic, shadowy chamber. Enormous VEHICLES. Earth-moving

trucks and machines. Clamped and tethered in position. Poised
and waiting like silent dinosaurs.
CREW SLEEP BAY
14 HYPER-SLEEP PODS. Dancing readouts indicate the health

status of the sleeping CREW.
We note something different about this sleep bay: all the

pods are set in pairs. Two by two, like Noahs Ark.
CORRIDOR
We CREEP DOWN A LONG HALL, we hear... someone WHISTLING...
INT. COVENANT-WARDROOM
Large room, tables, cooking equipment. Where the senior crew

congregates.
One wall is a dramatic VERTICAL GARDEN that slopes up

elegantly from the floor. Fruits, vegetables, greenery for
oxidation. Hydroponic pools on various tiers.
SOMEONE tends the garden, whistling. Back to us. On his

knees, planting a seedling.
His hands are delicate, loving. This man cares about living
things.
3.
He glances up as he wipes some condensation from his brow.
Is it DAVID? The android from Prometheus?
No. Its WALTER. An android who looks identical to David.

Only his hair is dark and combed differently.
We hear MOTHER, the computer:
MOTHER
Thats a fallacy, you know.
WALTER
What?
MOTHER
That music facilitates plant
growth.
WALTER
Why do you think I was whistling to
the plant?
He stands and cleans his hands. Proud of his work.
MOTHER
Its time to recharge the energy
grid. Lets be about it, Walter.
WALTER
Nag, nag, nag.
MOTHER
Mother knows best.
He smiles, goes.
INT. COVENANT-CORRIDORS
He moves through the corridors, playing with the little bit
of dirt on his fingers.
WALTER
Do you not like whistling?
MOTHER
I like efficiency.
He moves into...
INT. COVENANT - BRIDGE
The lights flicker on as Walter moves to one of the control

consoles.
4.
WALTER
Theres got to be more to life than
efficiency.
MOTHER
Not for machines, Walter.
WALTER
(sotto)
Bitch.
He settles into the controls and goes to work, keying in:
INITIATE AUTOMATED REFUEL CYCLE
EXT. COVENANT - ORBITING ICE GIANT
The GLOWING BALL OF ENERGY that powers the INTERSTELLAR DRIVE

dims, and the optical ripple around the ship settles, as the
CONVENTIONAL DRIVES FLARE into life.
The COVENANT swings into orbit around the METHANE-BLUE ICE

GIANT. Then...
The ships huge ENERGY COLLECTION SAILS UNFURL, silvery,

diaphanous...
Now, the amazing ship is something new: beautiful. The

majestic sails give it the romantic feel of a mighty Galleon.
INT. COVENANT-BRIDGE - LATER
The distant SUN and the GAS GIANT, the edges of COLLECTION
SAILS visible.
Walter sits, feet up. Looking at that last bit of dirt on his
fingertips. He blows it away, something poignant and human in
the tiny act.
MOTHER
Walter. We may have a problem ... A
strong neutrino burst was detected
in sector 106. It was weak, but it
could trigger a larger event...
On the HOLO NAV DISPLAY Walter ZOOMS IN on the NEBULA, seeing

FLARES here, there...
...then a MUCH LARGER FLARE. His calm eyes suddenly anxious--
WALTER
Channel all reserve power to the
magnetic shielding and retract the
sails--
5.
But then the DISTANT NEBULA EXPLODES into BLINDING LIGHT, the
bridge filling with a loud radio-electric HISS as outside--
EXT. COVENANT - IN ORBIT ABOVE GAS GIANT
A massive SHOCKWAVE of CHARGED PARTICLES roils through the

system. The IONOSPHERE of the GAS GIANT ignites with
CRACKLING AURORAE as--
The SHOCKWAVE SLAMS INTO THE COVENANT--
THE COVENANT ROLLS VIOLENTLY--
The sails on one side SHRED, BURN, as the entire ship lurches
dangerously--
INT. COVENANT-BRIDGE
Walter staggers to his feet, momentarily blinded. ALARMS are

sounding. The HOLO-MAP FLICKERS, WAVERS.
But Walter is android-calm as he flips at high speed through

DAMAGE REPORTS on a HOLO MAP of the CRAFT--
MOTHER
Multiple system failures in need of
attention, but overall structural
integrity was maintained during the
incident--
WALTER
I know, Mother. Please initiate
emergency crew revival. And Ill
need--
His eyes narrow on a BLINKING DAMAGE REPORT FROM THE NURSERY--
WALTER
Fuck.
He bolts--
Walter runs flat-out, no apparent exertion, an androids

amazing mechanical speed--
Meanwhile--
INT. COVENANT-PRIMARY CREW SLEEP BAY
DANIELS gasps painfully--

6.
She bolts awake, slamming into the closed plastic lid of her
sleep pod--
Her hands batter up at it as it slowly opens. She wrenches

herself up and out and into--
Chaos.
Most of the pods are already open. Others are opening. The
crew can be seen, kneeling, on the floor, puking, sweating
and shaking--
Sparks and flashing emergency lights. Smoke. The din of sharp

klaxons--
DANIELS is disoriented -- theres someone shaking her--
ORAM
Daniels, we -- Can you hear me...?!
ORAM -- intense, sternly commanding -- is at her side, hes

little better than she is, sweating and ill--
ORAM
For fuck sake, wake up! There was a
power surge and--
TENNESSEE -- her old friend -- helps pull her up--
TENNESSEE
Come on, darlin, Jacobs in
trouble. Jacob needs us--
At that, she spins--
The pod next to her, her husbands pod, has been damaged--
Its crackling with sparks and smoking inside. Daniels claws

at it. She can see her husbands face. Hes still asleep, but
twitching in pain.
DANIELS
GET IT OPEN!
Daniels and Tennessee wrench at the pod to open it. Oram

tries all the electrical commands: sparks explode. Growing
panic. Her husbands face twitches more in pain.
SERGEANT LOPE quickly joins them -- hes a soldier, muscular,

steady and responsible--
SERGEANT LOPE
Stand back!
7.
He SLAMS at the pods lock mechanism uselessly with an

emergency fire axe--
Inside the pod, more sparks, and smoke--
And then fire!
Daniels flings herself on the pod, clawing desperately--
Inside--
Her husbands eyes snap open.
They lock eyes.
For one moment.
Everything is very still.
Then--
The pod is filled with flames. Hes incinerated before her

eyes. Under her hands.
She SCREAMS.
Tennessee wrenches her away from the pod and folds her into
his body, comforting.
Oram and Sergeant Lope step back. Defeated, emotional. Oram

sinks to the ground. His wife -- KARINE -- comforts him.
Silence in the room, everyone watching.
Then the pods fire retardant kicks in. Filling it with a

blast of steam. So we can no longer see the horror within.
INT. COVENANT-NURSERY
Walter bolts in at top speed--
Screeches to a stop.
His worst fears realized.
One of the sections of sleeping pods has COLLAPSED. Fallen in

on itself. A terrible image of sparks and shattered pods and
dead cold BODIES.
Death has come to the Covenant.
INT. COVENANT-COMMUNAL SHOWERS/LOCKER ROOM - LATER
IN THE SHOWERS
8.
CREW MEMBERS shower in silence. Large room, unisex.
Tennessees wife, FARIS -- every bit the engineer and pilot

he is, and equally big hearted -- shares a look with her
husband. What a fucking day.
IN THE LOCKER ROOM
OTHERS pull on mission jumpsuits, somber. Some STRETCH, sore,

still recovering from sleep. All anxious, tense.
RICKS, bridge crew, looks out a window with his wife,

UPWORTH, also bridge crew.
They see bits of a BURNED SAIL - micron-thin foil - hanging

tattered and still.
RICKS
How bad is it?
UPWORTH
Looks like the electrics got it
worst. Mostly stuff we can fix.
TENNESSEE
(passing from shower)
Yeah, except for the stuff we
cant.
He means...
ONE MISSION JUMPSUIT hangs in an OPEN LOCKER, uncollected.

Names over the lockers: DANIELS and BRANSON. Photo of the
happy couple, and a NOTE, "WE MADE IT!"
UPWORTH
After Jacob -- guess that makes
Oram captain now, huh?
TENNESSEE
Lucky us.
MOTHER
Senior staff please assemble in the
wardroom in ten minutes. Thank you
for your promptness.
FARIS
(passing from shower)
Our masters voice.
She joins Tennessee at their lockers and they begin to

change.
9.
The Senior Crew is gathered. As this is a COLONIZATION

MISSION the crew is made up of couples, to create stable
family units on their new world.
We meet them again:
ORAM: The new Captain. Life Sciences. Handsome, complicated

and ambitious, comes across arrogant.
KARINE: his Wife. Life Sciences. Quirky and imaginative where

he is intense. Humanizes him a bit.
TENNESSEE: Bridge crew and pilot. Daniels old friend. Rural

and wry. Solid as a rock.
FARIS: Tennessees Wife. Bridge crew and pilot. His equal in

all things, and a better pilot. She wears a battered cowboy
hat.
SERGEANT LOPE: Head of Security Team. Handsome, intense and

committed. Old-school military, new-school relationship...
He is joined by his male partner, SERGEANT HALLET, a Security

Officer...
SERGEANT HALLET
(to Oram)
Sorry Im late.
Lope gives Hallets hand a squeeze when he sits.
ORAM
Captain.
Hallet looks at him, unsure.

ORAM
Im sorry Im late, Captain.
SERGEANT HALLET
Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.
ORAM
(to Walter)
Report.
WALTER
We lost forty seven colonists and
16 second generation embryos. And
one crew member.
10.
TENNESSEE
What the hell was it?
WALTER
A highly charged shockwave from a
nearby stellar ignition. As the
sails were deployed for the refuel,
we absorbed the full brunt of the
storm. If we had--
ORAM
(interrupts)
What are the chances of something
like this happening again?
WALTER
Another such event would be highly
unlikely. It was bad luck, sir.
FARIS
Weve got, what, six more refuel
cycles to go before we get there?
WALTER
If Origae-6 proves habitable, yes
... Shall we schedule the funeral
services, sir? For the dead.
ORAM
Lets worry about repairs first.
SERGEANT LOPE
(protests)
Hold on -- we just lost 47
colonists -- and our Captain. We
need to acknowledge that--
KARINE
(to Oram, her husband)
Hes right, Bill.
ORAM
(snaps)
And if we dont make repairs we
could lose all the colonists -- and
they are the entire point of the
mission, in case you need
reminding, ladies and gentlemen.
TENNESSEE
We should do something for Captain
Branson at least.
11.
ORAM
I really dont think--
TENNESSEE
(firm)
No, we should do something for the
Captain.
ORAM
Well -- do we even know if he was
religious?
DANIELS
He was not.
Shes just entered, joins them. Looks awful, on the edge, but
shes there.
DANIELS is a formidable woman. Tough, smart and beautiful.

Theres something dark and powerful in her, hidden depths.
Shes fond of Walter and Tennessee is an old friend ... She

and Oram have never gotten along.
TENNESSEE
Hey, Danny. How ya doing?
She sits. An empty chair conspicuous next to her.
DANIELS
Good, good. The terraforming module
is stable although the, um,
connecting strut took some damage.
I still need to check the drones.
WALTER
I can help if you like.
DANIELS
Thanks.
ORAM
How long before we can make our
next jump?
WALTER
Repairs should take a few days. But
we should make an effort to vacate
this sector, in case there are
after-flares.
ORAM
Then lets go to work. Dismissed.
12.
They disperse. Tennessee mouths to Faris: Dismissed?
Oram talks to Daniels privately.
ORAM
You should take a few days off.
DANIELS
Id rather keep busy.
ORAM
That wasnt a request.
She looks at him evenly.
ORAM
Look, Danny, I know Jacob and I
didnt always see eye to eye. But
Im responsible for the mission now
-- and I need you at your best.
Take a couple days. Cry it
out,okay?
DANIELS
How about I mourn in my own way?
... Sir.
She goes.
Oram stands for a moment, looking out the window.
Is he up to the job?
EXT. COVENANT - MORNING
Tennessee is working on the HULL of the ship, wearing a

heavyduty SPACE SUIT with its own propulsion systems. *
He WELDS a blasted PANEL, arclight FLICKERING on his visor.
The BLUE SUN crests, rising over the DARK GAS GIANT.
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Damn. Yall should see this view.
RICKS (ON COM)

Were not seeing anything until you
get the array fixed.
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Why dont you look out the damn
window, pal?
13.
The MINI-JETS on his suit come to life, heading to the ships

prow.
The light snow fall. The mist of frost.
CAPTAIN ORAM stands, supervising a grim task.
A Biohazard-suited team (PRIVATES LEDWARD and COLE) is

sorting through the mess of pale corpses, preparing them for
burial. Zipping them into body bags.
Its tough, physical work and Ledward and Cole fumble with
one of the bodies as they put it into a body bag.
ORAM
(snaps)
Some reverence for the dead,
please.
They exchange a look: asshole.
KARINE, monitoring some of the sleep pods, shoots a look to
Oram:
KARINE
Easy, Bill.
INT. COVENANT-DANIELS CABIN
Too big for one really.
She sits, hunched on the king size bed.
Her fingers unconsciously touching her wedding ring as her

eyes move over the room... her husbands shoes next to hers
in the closet... his collection of old vinyl RECORDS and
PHONOGRAPH.
Her eyes stop at the pictures of them on the dresser.
She goes to the dresser, starts removing his clothing...
LATER:
All his CLOTHING, neatly arranged around the room. She looks
at it all. Touching his things. Feeling him in them.
Shes emotional now, cant push it away anymore.
LATER:
14.
Photographs and holo-pictures of them. Spread out like a

mosaic on the floor. She kneels amidst them; studying them,
touching them, saying goodbye.
She presses a HOLOGRAM-PICTURE activation button:
Her late husband JACOB in front of the Grand Teton mountains

in Wyoming:
JACOB (HOLO-PICTURE)
Hey, when are you getting here? I
miss you! Look at those mountains.
I know, I know, I said I wouldnt
climb without you but -- come on,
look at that! Get your ass up here
or I cant promise--
She freezes the image.
Sobbing now.
Her tears splashing through the hologram image, like rain.
LATER:
Everything has been put away. Neat and tidy.
She stands in the center of the room.
Her eyes red, exhausted from weeping. Absolutely no idea what

to do with herself.
She jumps when the DOOR CHIME sounds.
She answers the door, its WALTER. He carries a little box.
WALTER
Good evening. Do I intrude?
DANIELS
No. Come in. Good to see you ...
Good to see anyone.
WALTER
I brought you something.
He hands her the box. She opens it. Inside: three perfectly
rolled joints.
She smiles, glances to him.

15.
WALTER
The atmospheric conditions in the
garden are ideal for cannabis
growth.
DANIELS
You think of everything.
WALTER
Its just my programming.
DANIELS
Thats not true.
WALTER
If I may ... I understand that
keeping active can be an effective
method in helping to process
trauma. Would it be useful to go
back to work?
DANIELS
Oram took me off the duty roster.
WALTER
I wasnt suggesting we inform him.
She looks at him, amused, thankful.
INT. TERRAFORMING BAY
Flashlights cut through the icy gloom.
The tires of the enormous earth-moving trucks tower above

DANIELS and WALTER. The cranes and diggers and dump trucks
are mountainous. Strange vehicle shapes and silhouettes of
hanging equipment.
This is Daniels domain. Her toys. Shes the missions Chief
Terraformist.
She and Walter wear SPACE SUITS. They check the vehicles and
climb higher in the chamber as they talk.
DANIELS
... It wasnt even my idea. Jacob
had this dream of building a cabin
on a new world -- like the old
pioneers on Earth. A cabin next to
a lake. Theres a lake in the
terraforming zone on Origae-6. I
mean a real cabin, made of real
wood. So in ships stores theres
wood for a cabin. And metal nails.
(MORE)
16.
DANIELS (CONT'D)
Which I dont have the slightest
idea how to assemble. Im sure he
threw away the instructions,
because he was always doing that...
They stop for a moment as she checks some equipment. He

shines his flashlight to help her see.
A beat.
She stops. She looks down over the massive terraforming

equipment. He sees the sadness creeping into her eyes.
DANIELS
All of this, to make our new life
... Now I wonder, why bother?
WALTER
Because you promised to build a
cabin on a lake.
She looks at him. Appreciates the sentiment.
DANIELS
... Theres one more thing Id like
your help with.
INT. COVENANT-WASTE EJECTION
The ships disposal facility. Currently rigged for a grim

task.
Her husbands pod-like coffin is ready to be ejected.
WALTER stands with DANIELS.
WALTER
Would you like me to say something?
Im programmed with multiple
funerary services in a variety of
denominations, or nondenominational
if you prefer.
DANIELS
No, thanks.
A beat.
WALTER
If you dont need a funeral
service, may I ask why you wanted
me to accompany you?
17.
DANIELS
The crew is made up of couples.
That was the whole point ...
Everyone but me now.
She looks at him.
DANIELS
I thought you might know something
about being alone.
He seems touched, in his way.
The door slides open and TENNESSEE and his wife FARIS join
them. They have a bottle of Jack Daniels and four shot
glasses. Old friends.
FARIS
(hugs her)
Hey, Danny.
DANIELS
Thanks for coming.
TENNESSEE
(re: the bottle)
His favorite. Tennessees finest.
Man with taste.
He pours.
TENNESSEE
Straight up. No ice, no water, no
chaser, no shit ... Walter?
WALTER
When in Rome.
FARIS
Amen, brother.
They all have drinks.
A moment.
Tennessee toasts.
TENNESSEE
A good man, gone too soon. Remember
him.
ALL
Remember him.
18.
They drink.
Daniels looks at the coffin one last time.
Prepares herself.
DANIELS
Mother. Music database. Jacob jazz
mix one. Track one.
Nat King Coles Unforgettable begins to play. Her husbands

favorite song. Tears in her eyes.
She steels herself for it. Reaches forward. Presses a button

and--
WHOOSH--
EXT. COVENANT
The coffin-pod shoots from the ship...
Arcing away dramatically as the song swells...
And is finally gone.
INT. COVENANT-BRIDGE - MORNING
Next day. RICKS, UPWORTH and FARIS are at their stations.
TENNESSEE is again working in space. CAPTAIN ORAM and WALTER

enter:
RICKS
Arrays almost on-line, sir.
Oram warily sits in the Captains chair. Tests the feel of

it.
Then the full LIGHTS begin to flicker on. All the consoles
spring to life. HOLOGRAMS flash and form and reform quickly,
orienting themselves. Relief from the crew.
UPWORTH (TO COM)

Well done, T. Were live up here.
Come on in.
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

Dont leave without me now.
FARIS
Please, leave without him.
DANIELS enters, goes to Oram:

19.
DANIELS
Request permission to return to
duty, Captain.
ORAM
Granted and welcome back. How you
feeling?
DANIELS
(glance to Faris)
Little headache.
Faris smiles. Little headache means hung over.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE SHIP - MORNING
Meanwhile, TENNESSEE is working in a SPACE SUIT at the

farthest reaches of one of the newly-repaired sails; at the
distant communications satellite array.
Various digital and telemetry READOUTS are reflected on the

inside of the visor of his helmet so he can monitor them.
He has completed his work. He closes a maintenance panel and

then maneuvers the jets on his suit to return to the ship:
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Heading back to the airlock. Please
have a cold one ready for the weary
traveller.
UPWORTH (ON COM)

Youre still on duty, T.
(sotto)
And the Captains on the bridge by
the way, so watch--
SUDDENLY--
The audio goes DEAD. And the digital displays SNAP OFF.
Silence. Darkness but for the glow from outside.
Its now very quiet and dark and lonely inside that helmet.
TENNESSEE
... Covenant, you reading me...?
Covenant, please respond...
Nothing. Then--
A GHASTLY WHITE FACE SUDDENLY FLASHES PAST HIM--
ON THE INSIDE OF HIS HELMET--

20.
INCHES AWAY--
HE SCREAMS IN SHOCK--
UPWORTH (ON COM, BREAKING UP)

Tennessee, were having trouble --
you --
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Ghost! Saw a fucking ghost!
INT. COVENANT-BRIDGE - MORNING
FARIS leans into Upworths station:
FARIS
What did he say?
UPWORTH
A ghost...
FARIS (TO COM)

Tennessee, you reading me?
EXT. OUTSIDE THE SHIP - MORNING
With Tennessee--
AGAIN--
The ghastly WHITE FACE, flicking across the inside of his

visor, clearer now.
A WOMAN. In anguish.
The face still unrecognizable, stretching like ECTOPLASM--
This time theres a TERRIBLE SCREECHING SOUND -- deafening --

terrifying -- a jumble of mad sounds -- like SPEAKING IN
TONGUES--
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

FUCKING GHOST! Theres a ghost out
here. Get me inside! Get me inside!
Tennessees HELMET is on a diagnostic table, connected to

various computers and monitors.
The crew is gathered around it. The helmet is projecting

telemetry and data into the air, a HOLOGRAM.
21.
Then they see the anguished FEMALE FACE flickering through

the hologram--
TENNESSEE
There she is.
ORAM
What the hell is that?
WALTER
Its a rogue transmission most
likely. Your helmet must have
picked it up because you were so
far out, past our communication
buffers.
UPWORTH (AT HER STATION)

Its a signal for sure. Coming from
somewhere in the neighborhood. But
nothing there on the charts.
WALTER
Mother, can we hear the audio,
please?
The HOLOGRAM images pulse and shake as the AUDIO plays. The
SCREECHING FRIGHTENING sounds.
RICKS
Gotta be an echo. Or a glitch. The
instruments took a lot of damage--
WALTER
(pulling up data)
No. Its in the logs, too. Every 8
seconds, ever since we got here.
ORAM
Speaking in tongues...
They look at him.
ORAM
I was raised Pentecostal. Real hell
and brimstone. This sounds like
speaking in tongues ... Mother.
Slow down the signal to discrete
word patterns. And reverse it.
MOTHER
Working. Please stand by.
22.
ORAM
The Devils tongue is Gods
language inverted. The language of
lies.
MOTHER
Ive reoriented the transmission,
Captain Oram.
ORAM
On audio.
A VOICE...
Still distorted and eerie. But human. Female. Urgent.
FEMALE VOICE (AUDIO BREAKING UP)

... Please, please, if you hear
this, come and... help us ...
Everyones dying. Theyre all
dying...
They are stunned. A human. Out this far.
WALTER
Theres geometric data, too.
Walter manipulates the FLOATING HOLO SIGNAL, eyes darting as

he decodes it, pulling the 3-D DATA around and connecting
points--
Then the HOLO DISPLAY abruptly DISTORTS, FLICKERS, and GOES

OUT.
SHAKY BLUE PIXELS suddenly FILL THE HOLO, SPILLING OVER INTO
THE BRIDGE, FILLING THE ROOM as--
FEMALE IMAGE (HOLOGRAM)

... Mountains of them now. I
cant... Theyre all dying. Its...
The IMAGE settles and morphs into a DISTORTED FIGURE,

WALKING, life-size.
The image COHERES, and we can see... its ELIZABETH SHAW.
Her image FALLS APART, re-forms, as she PASSES through SOLID

OBJECTS...
SHAWS IMAGE (HOLOGRAM)

... Please come ... Please help
us... We dont know what...
SHAWS IMAGE walks through a WALL, and they RUSH TO FOLLOW--

23.
SHAW is in anguish now. She falls to her knees and prays. The
words of the Catholic prayer for the dead desperately
whispered--

... Eternal rest grant unto them,
O Lord, and let perpetual light
shine upon them, May the souls of
all the faithful departed, through
the mercy of God, rest in peace ...
Eternal rest grant unto them, O
Lord, and let perpetual light shine
upon--
The IMAGE abruptly LOCKS UP -- the pixels scatter, fading.
A dumbfounded BEAT as the HOLO goes DARK, REBOOTS.
WALTER
(eyeing his HOLO)
Interesting...
DANIELS
What?
He turns to them. A sort of wonder in his eyes.
WALTER
Its not coming from a ship.
In front of him: a BLURRY NAVIGATION IMAGE of an UNCHARTED

STAR.
EXT. COVENANT - LATER
The SUN CRESTS the side of the GAS GIANT below. The COVENANT
is already looking ship-shape; half the sails up, none
burned.
RICKS (V.O.)
Shes a main sequence star, a lot
like our own. Five planets...
ON THE HOLO CHART, fresh data showing a BRIGHT STAR and five
PLANETS.
RICKS
...and one of them: square in the
habitable zone. A prime candidate.
He zooms in on a rough PLANETARY MODEL:

24.
RICKS
0.96 Gs at surface, oceans. High
likelihood of a living biosphere.
Beyond our most optimistic
projections for Origae-6, in fact.
ORAM
Where is it?
RICKS
Shes close. Just a short jump. We
wouldnt even have to go to sleep.
The weight of this hits them all. No more hyper-sleep. A

possible new home.
They all look to Oram. Time to be the Captain.
ORAM
All right, lets take a look.
LATER:
Daniels goes to Captain Oram at the forward window, where

hes looking over the cosmos. She talks to him privately.
DANIELS
You sure about this, Bill?
ORAM
What do you mean?
DANIELS
I mean we spent a decade searching
for Origae-6. We vetted it, we ran
the simulations, we mapped the
terrain -- its what we trained
for.
ORAM
I understand that but--
DANIELS
And now were going to scrap all
that to chase a rogue transmission?
ORAM
What does it cost us to take a
look? A few weeks?
DANIELS
Think about it. A human being out
here where there shouldnt be any
humans.
(MORE)
25.
DANIELS (CONT'D)
A hidden planet that suddenly
appears out of nowhere. And a
planet that just happens to be
perfect for us. Its too good to be
true.
ORAM
Look, I know you and Jacob had big
plans about having a family on
Origae-6 and--
DANIELS
(protests)
Hold on, this has nothing to do
with--!
ORAM
But what if this place is better? A
better habitat for the colony--
DANIELS
Its irresponsible to deviate from
the mission!
It was too strongly stated. Too angry, too loud. She knows
it. People have glanced over.
A beat.
He gives her a patient, icy smile.
ORAM
You mustnt question my judgement.
Not on my bridge, Danny.
He makes sure his words land, and then goes.
She gazes out the window, troubled.

INT. COVENANT-DANIELS CABIN - LATER
Shes lying on the bed, smoking a joint. Deep in thought.
One of her late husbands records spins on the old fashioned

turntable. Jazz plays.
MOTHER
All crew members, please stand by
for jump to interstellar drive.
Thank you for your attention.
She reaches over and lifts the needle from the record. Holds
it up. Doesnt want to scratch the album in the jolt as--
26.
EXT. COVENANT - SPACE
The Covenant's secondary drives goes DARK, and the

INTERSTELLAR DRIVE, like an artificial SUN, FLARES to life--
The SPACE around the Covenant RIPPLES, and the Covenant

MOVES, slowly at first... then... shes GONE--
INT. COVENANT-DANIELS CABIN
The stars bend and morph past outside the window. The ride is
utterly smooth now.
Daniels lowers the needle back on the album. The jazz music
resumes.
She lies back. Troubled.
Takes a hit of the joint. Exhales.
The smoke and the music taking us to...
EXT. ENGINEER HOMEWORLD SUN - SPACE
A BLUISH SUN flares in the vacuum of space ... The stars near
the sun RIPPLE as the COVENANT suddenly phases out of
hyperjump, sling-shotting around and slowing...
INT. COVENANT - BRIDGE-APPROACHING THE PLANET
DANIELS is apprehensive.
All hands at tense readiness as a WHITE-BLUE DOT, with TWO

MOONS, hangs in the distance...
AT THE NAVIGATION HOLO, WALTER watches as Mothers systems

flag the approaching planet and moons in real time...
RICKS
(to Upworth)
You hearing anything?
UPWORTH
Tried every band. Its dead quiet
out there ... Just the continuing
signal from our friendly ghost.
TENNESSEE
The sirens song.
ORAM
Bring us into close orbit.
27.
EXT. COVENANT - APPROACHING THE PLANET
The COVENANT cruises past a MOON, into HIGH ORBIT ABOVE THE
PLANET. The ships INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS SCOPES ROTATE,
SCANNING, as--
The HOLO MODEL of THE PLANET REFINES as DATA PILES IN.
RICKS adjusts his view, changes spectra. He sees ARCING

TENDRILS of ENERGY around the planet--
TENNESSEE frowns at it--
TENNESSEE
Hell of a strong ionosphere.
RICKS
Yep. Way better than Earths too.
Shes lucky. Keeps good stuff in,
and the bad stuff out; cosmic rays,
solar flares - you name it. Like a
big, warm blanket.
FARIS
Big warm blanket gonna be a
motherfucker to land through.
DATA MOVES on Walters screens.
WALTER
I have visual.
CLOUDS, OCEANS, CONTINENTS, what must be VEGETATION, shades

different than Earth - but richer ... A hush falls as they
watch.
FARIS
God damn. Its just like Earth...
DANIELS
Well see, right?
FARIS
What I wouldnt give to feel a
little ocean breeze, catch me some
waves...
As they SWING PAST THE DARK SIDE, DAZZLING GREEN AURORAE

float and drift, LIGHTNING flickers in storms. Continents...
DARK.
28.
WALTER
No lights. No visible signs of
civilization.
Oram doesnt hesitate:
ORAM
Prepare the Lander.
The crew, aside from Daniels and Walter, is delighted. High

fives and hollers.
EXT. COVENANT - LATER
The LANDER -- a large landing craft -- DISENGAGES from the

COVENANT.
Its engines FLARE as it orients for DROP--
UPWORTH watches video feeds of the LANDER heading away.
UPWORTH (ON COM)

Your trajectory looks gorgeous from
up here, Faris.
TENNESSEE, in command of the Covenant now, anxiously watches

through the forward window.
EXT. LANDER
The LANDER READIES FOR ENTRY, already TINY AGAINST the VAST,
HALF-DARK PLANET, PEELING BY BELOW--
INT. LANDER-BRIDGE
FARIS pilots the craft. CAPTAIN ORAM and WALTER are also
stationed on the bridge. The others are elsewhere in the
ship.
TRAJECTORY MODELS tick by, the ship INVERTING as it DROPS.
UPWORTH (ON COM)

Everything looking good down there?
FARIS (TO COM)

All good, Covenant. Expect to hit
upper atmosphere in five ... Might
want to hang on in the back, were
about to--
The POWER on the Lander abruptly FLICKERS, DIMS...

29.
FARIS (TO COM)

Covenant? You read us?
An ALARM PINGS. Upworth frowns.
Tennessee sees the LANDERS ENGINES flutter OUT...
INT. LANDER-BRIDGE
Faris hits UNRESPONSIVE CONTROLS, they DRIFT, ROLLING -
ORAM
Whats going on...?!
FARIS
We lost power.
ORAM
Oh God--
The ship starts to SHAKE VIOLENTLY from ENTRY. Faris tension

mounting, hitting MORE BUTTONS--
INT. LANDER-LANDING SEATS
The other CREW MEMBERS are strapped in further back in the

ship. They grab on desperately.
DANIELS shoots a look to SERGEANT LOPE. PRIVATE COLE crosses

himself. KARINE is very anxious at the turbulence:
KARINE
Is this normal?!
SERGEANT LOPE
No.
KARINE
I hate space.
Sergeant HALLET and Privates LEDWARD and ANKER complete the

landing party.
INT. LANDER-BRIDGE
The ship is really DRIFTING NOW -- the TURBULENCE terrifying.

When suddenly--
The LIGHTS flicker BACK UP. The engines GUN BACK ON -
UPWORTH (ON COM)

- LANDER, DO YOU READ!?
30.
FARIS (TO COM)

Yeah, yeah. I read you. Think
were... OK now.
Then THEYRE THROUGH, SLASHING THROUGH DENSE CLOUDS AND

SMOOTHLY CRUISING above DARK OCEAN that leads to MOUNTAINS...
FARIS (TO COM)

Underway - looks like we got
mountains.
EXT. LANDER-MOUNTAINS - DAY
The LANDER soars down, and slices through the clouds to

reveal...
Majestic scenery. Slate grey mountains, tops obscured in

mist. Deep forests. Ansel Jacobs austere beauty. On the edge
of savage.
The Lander HOVERS into a landing.
INT. LANDER-LANDING SEATS
In the back, the EXPEDITION TEAM feel the ship SETTLE, and
all but tear off their seat belts, relieved.
DANIELS is first up and out.
INT. LANDER-BRIDGE
ORAM
What the hell happened up there?
FARIS
New power cells must have fritzed
out. Ill cycle em while youre
gone.
DANIELS enters, anxiously going to the windows.
DANIELS
How far out are we?
WALTER
Signals source is eight kilometers
west. And up. Right on target.
FARIS
(nods out the window)
Walter, would you do the honors?
31.
EXT. PLANET-BENEATH THE LANDER - DAY
The LANDING BAY opens.
Walter walks down a ramp. Stops.
WALTER
One small step for man...
He steps onto the planets surface.
Inhales deeply. Takes a moment to analyze the air, even savor

it, like wine-tasting.
WALTER (TO COM)

Atmosphere is 72% nitrogen, 23%
oxygen. 40% humidity. 6% chance of
precipitation ... All in all,
lovely day for a stroll.
TENNESSEE looks at the HOLO MODEL of the LANDER, the TERRAIN

spread out around it. DATA ERRORS prominent, parts of the 3-D
models surfaces BLOCKY and SHAKING...
FARIS (ON COM, UNCLEAR)

Not going to... suits... find the
source of the transmission...
UPWORTH (TO COM)

Faris, see if you can get more
power to the uplink, signals
falling apart up here.
INT. LANDER-BRIDGE - DAY
FARIS works various stations:

FARIS (TO COM)
Ill be cycling the power cells
too, that might help.
ORAM (ON COM)

Faris, were heading out. Keep
expedition security protocols in
place.
She looks out the windows and sees...
EXT. LANDER - DAY
... CAPTAIN ORAM speaking up to her on com. She gives a

thumbs up in response.
32.
FARIS (ON COM)

Understood. Have fun yall.
The EXPEDITION TEAM is ready. They have no need of breathing

gear, but wear properly tough expedition uniforms and packs.
WALTER powers up a portable display - showing the way to

follow the signal.
The SOLDIERS are heavily-armed.
ORAM
All right then. Lets go find our
ghost ... Walter?
WALTER heads toward the treeline in the distance.
Sergeant LOPE snaps open a beautiful folding BOW. Black

carbon fiber. He strings an arrow and leads the way ... His
men take up defensive perimeter positions.
The expedition team is: Daniels; Walter; Captain Oram;

Karine; Sergeants Lope and Hallet; Privates Cole, Ledward and
Anker.
EXT. FOREST-VARIOUS - DAY
They walk, its quiet, footsteps muffled.
All are alert. On edge. Silent.
They travel ... The forest gets more dense, the terrain
rockier... up hill...
They finally hear something new. Flowing WATER...
EXT. FOREST STREAM - DAY

They discover a beautiful FOREST STREAM, flowing down from
the distant mountains.
And life.
Midges and tiny INSECTS buzz about the water, like dust
motes, catching the light shafts slashing down through the
trees.
Its a bit of a miracle. Life.
CAPTAIN ORAM smiles, his hand gently moving through the haze
of little insects.
Suddenly SERGEANT HALLET jumps back, shocked--

33.
SERGEANT HALLET
Fuck me--!
A large SALAMANDER-like creature has run over his foot.

Disappears into some rocks. Sergeant Hallet laughs at his
scare ... Karine tries to find the salamander.
PRIVATE COLE
How is this even... possible?
ORAM
Its not just possible - its
predictable. Life is the result of
very basic forces. Find a planet in
the triple point, add sun and
water. Thermodynamics starts the
process - with a little luck,
evolution does the rest.
(smiling)
But Ill admit this is... beyond
all expectations.
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

Expedition team. You read us?
INT. BRIDGE-COVENANT
TENNESSEE can see the VIEW, the SUN dappling down, from the
teams BODY CAMS. But the image is breaking up--
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Whats happening? Were having a
hell of a time tracking you. Youre
breaking up...
ORAM (ON COM)

Almost halfway to target... life
everywhere... Beyond anything...
The signal dissolves into NOISE. The HOLO TERRAIN MAP
twitches.
TENNESSEE
Dammit.
KARINE looks upstream, not wanting to leave.
DANIELS eyes the sky, anxious.
DANIELS
How much farther is it?
34.
WALTER
Were about... five kilometers out,
but its mostly uphill - a couple
hours perhaps?
KARINE
(to Oram)
Bill, Id like to stay here. Might
be our best chance to do a full
ecology workup.
ORAM
(nods)
Sergeant, can you provide security?
Sergeant Lope motions to PVT. LEDWARD, who joins Karine.
LOPE
Ledward, stay with her. Meet back
here in four hours. Keep your radio
on.
Captain Oram gives his wife a quick kiss.
ORAM
Dont touch anything icky.
Karine smiles.
The expedition team continues on.
EXT. HIGH PLAIN - DAY
An ethereal sight.
Enormously tall grass, looks like wheat. Swaying beautifully

in the gentle afternoon breeze.
The team is crossing a wide, high plain. Moving through the
sinuous grass that towers over them.
Walter walks with Daniels.
WALTER
Nice place for a log cabin.
DANIELS
Jacob would have loved this...
Captain Oram catches up with them.

35.
ORAM
What do you think, Daniels? We
could probably put the whole
Covenant down here. Looks like a
perfect landing site. Ready access
to fresh water too...
(gestures, imagining it)
Put the housing modules over there,
civic modules across the way.
Instant colony!
DANIELS
(non-committal)
Well see.
ORAM
We were meant to find this place.
Daniels glances at him. Odd thing to say.
Oram continues past them, trooping away, disappearing in the

swaying stalks.
Daniels and Walter continue on through the jungle of tall

grass and come across LOPE and HALLET.
Lope has pulled down one of the long stalks and is crushing
the top in his hands, tastes a bit with the tip of his
tongue.
LOPE
... This is wheat.
DANIELS
It cant be.
LOPE
Im from Iowa. Believe me, I know
wheat.
WALTER
Hows that possible?
HALLET
Maybe Casper will tell us...
Hallet whistles the Casper the Friendly Ghost theme song as

he and Lope continue on.
DANIELS
(to Walter)
What are the odds of finding human
vegetation this far from earth?
36.
WALTER
Statistically -- its impossible.
DANIELS
So... who planted it?
They exchange a look and then continue on, pushing through

the high stalks.
We see theres serious mountain terrain ahead. Sharp crags

and ridges. Much of this obscured by high elevation fog and
mist.
Meanwhile, KARINE has filled a few mylar sample bags with

flora and fauna. Mostly plants and a couple of seemingly
uninteresting insects and worms.
She gently bats at a cloud of INSECTS in front of her face. A

haze of little mote-like MIDGES in the dappled sunlight.
And we see one of the insects--
MACRO VIEW:
Ever-changing in its form -- lurching and stabbing into new

shapes -- oily black but beautiful ... It hovers, has
intelligence.
Just before it can lunge at her--
PVT. LEDWARD
(calls)
Hey, Doctor. You might want to see
this.
She joins him at the waters edge.

His back is to her. He turns. His face is covered in the tiny
mote-like INSECTS.
By reflex she reaches out to brush them away.
LEDWARD
(puzzled)
What?
KARINE
Youre covered in midges.
The insects evaporate in the sunlight.

37.
Ledward, unconcerned, points to a little mammal, some kind of

furless thing. Half-eaten. Dead. Its side bubbles with fat,
white grubs.
She kneels, looks at it, disturbed.
PVT. LEDWARD
What is it?
KARINE
No idea. But we know one thing now
... There are predators here ...
Could you bag it for me?
She moves away to use the field radio as Private Ledward bags
the dead creature.
And we focus on one of the INSECTS hovering near him...
MACRO VIEW:
Its watchful, careful. It settles near Ledwards ear, and

then enters the ear canal... the soft pink flesh... quickly
attaches itself -- a feeding tube plunging into his flesh--
He unconsciously rubs his ear. Thinking nothing of it.
Meanwhile:
KARINE (TO COM)

Bill? Can you read me? ... Come in
Expedition Party ... Lander? Faris
you reading me? Lander? ... Where
the hell is everyone?
EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE - DAY
The Expedition Team pushes through the FOG.

Its rocky and quite barren. Majestic. Difficult terrain,
slow going.
SERGEANT LOPE leads. Hes in his element, bow ready, enjoying

the exertion. Hes more in shape than the others. They
struggle from the altitude and the time spent in hyper sleep.
ORAM
Slow down, Sergeant, were not all
soldiers...
A PING! Walter stops, frowns at his NAV DEVICE -

38.
WALTER
Says were right there. Doesnt
make sense.
DANIELS
Hold on ... Stop.
Sergeant Lope gestures for his men to halt.
Silence but for the wind. The breeze stirring the fog.
Daniels is peering intensely... up.
And then they can all see it. A LOOMING DARK SHAPE, now
clearer in the shifting mist ... ABOVE THEM...
Massive overhanging rocks, protruding toward the sky like two

arms beseeching up to something.
Daniels steps forward, then the rest, STARING UP, in silence,

at a looming, tubular arm of an ENGINEER DREADNOUGHT...
EXT. CRASHED DREADNOUGHT - MOUNTAINSIDE
Baffled, DANIELS frowns up at a... WALL? Curved. Huge.

Extending into the foggy mist. No ones really sure what it
is yet.
WALTER runs his hand along the curved, ridged surface. He

RAPS it with his knuckles, listening. Quite hollow.
WALTER
I would say its... some kind of
vehicle.
Now the cloud-mist thins just enough to see one LONG, CURVED
ARM in its entirety. Jutting off the mountain at an angle.
All are silenced by the majesty of the scale and design.
DANIELS
I dont think she had a very good
landing.
PVT. ANKER (ON COM)

Think we found a way in, sir.
EXT. DREADNOUGHT - OPEN DEPLOYMENT BAY - GLOOM
The DARK RECESSES of the ship yawn beyond an open deployment

bay. They shine their flashlights into the CAVERNOUS SPACE.
SERGEANT LOPE
Anker, Cole - stay on watch.
39.
The two look happy to stay outside.
SERGEANT LOPE snaps on the LASER SITE on his bow and leads
the way...
INT. DREADNOUGHT - DEPLOYMENT BAY - GLOOM
The group looks around, AWED by the vast alien hold. The wind
whistles through...
They pick their way into the darker recesses. FLASH LIGHTS
and LASER SCOPES cut through the oppressive gloom.
Underfoot the remains of many broken receptacles. BLACK URNS.

Scattered everywhere, empty, fragile shells. Crunching under
their boots.
And they discover something else...
EGG SHAPED OBJECTS.
Randomly clustered. Different sizes. From aubergine to acid

green in color, abscesses ... None as large or impressive as
the originals we have seen in the past.
They are growing out of a bed of BLACK FUR. Like the mold on
cheese. The black filaments gently sway as the air stirs
around them.
SERGEANT HALLET leans close, studying an egg. Reaches a

finger out...
SERGEANT LOPE
(shakes his head: dont)
Hey.
Hallet begins to follow the others out when--

Wait -- was that movement? One of the eggs? Did it stir?
Hallet remains fascinated by the movement. He goes closer...
The eggs begins to open...
SERGEANT HALLET
(to the others)
Guys....
But they have already moved out of the chamber...
His face is dangerously near the top of the egg...

40.
INT. DREADNOUGHT - SLOPING HALLS
They CLAMBER up into the HALLS.
The dark ship isnt level, and WATER DRIPS through the entire
thing, pooling in the corners. They splash through the halls.
DANIELS eyes an OPEN SPACE JOCKEY SUIT. WALTER joins her.

Others stare, noticing OTHER SUITS. Rows of them. Not human
sized.
Meanwhile--
INT. DREADNOUGHT - DEPLOYMENT BAY
HALLET peers very closely at the open mouth of the egg. Too
close..
But then, he thinks the better of it and very sensibly takes

a step back...
But he inadvertently steps on a tiny egg behind him--
Unleashing a cloud of the MIDGES. They waft up. Swirling

before him...
MACRO VIEW:
One of the black INSECTS darts forward -- into his nostril --

the pink nasal passage -- attaches itself and stabs a feeding
tube into him--
Hallet rubs his nose, unconcerned.
SERGEANT LOPE enters:
SERGEANT LOPE
Tom, you okay?
SERGEANT HALLET
Yeah, sure. Sorry.
They go.
Meanwhile--
INT. DREADNOUGHT-NAV CHAMBER
DANIELS, WALTER and ORAM explore the enormous NAVIGATION

CHAMBER.
Oram shines a light on EMPTY ENGINEER SLEEP PODS as Walter

investigates the old COMMAND CONSOLE.
41.
Theres a pulsing LIGHT under one of the controls. Walter

activates it.
Instantly, the HOLOGRAM message they saw before flashes to

life and begins to play quietly. SHAW kneeling, praying:

... and let perpetual light shine
upon them, May the souls of all the
faithful departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace ...
Eternal rest grant unto them, O
Lord, and let perpetual...
Walter steps straight through the HOLOGRAM then turns it off.
WALTER
Meet our ghost ... Its a repeating
message, non-directional. Like a
holographic distress beacon.
Across the room, Daniels shines her flashlight--
A GOLD GLINT catches her eye. On the floor. She reaches down,
discovering a GOLD CRUCIFIX NECKLACE.
Its Shaws old crucifix.
DANIELS
Over here.
The others join her as Daniels finds...
SHAWS JOURNAL, lying in water. Daniels carefully picks it

up, opens the waterlogged journal. The few pages that arent
rotted together are illegible. But at front -
DANIELS (READING)
Dr. Elizabeth Shaw.
Oram finds the PHOTO of SHAW and HOLLOWAY smiling.
ORAM
Is this her?
Walter shines his flashlight, crisply registering the items

in the area. Decaying clothes. Some personal items.
And then SHAWS HELMET.
He goes stock still when he sees the logo on the helmet...
WEYLAND INDUSTRIES.
42.
EXT. FOREST STREAM - AFTERNOON
KARINE is trudging ahead, her specimen bags full as she

glances at the sinking sun, nervous.
LEDWARD is moving slowly behind her.
KARINE (ON RADIO)

Come in Lander One. Come in ...
Come in Expedition Team. Are you
reading me? Does any--
Ledward doubles over, cant get his breath.
KARINE
Are you all right?
He looks at her. Hes sweating profusely. Eyes red. Scared.
PVT. LEDWARD
Not really... something...
(clutching his chest)
Cant breathe...
Then tiny droplets of BLOOD begin secreting from pores on his

face--
Her face displays her shock, frightening him even more--
KARINE
We better get you back to the
Lander.
INT. DREADNOUGHT-NAV CHAMBER - AFTERNNOON
Captain ORAM and Sergeant LOPE are on the field radio across
the room. HALLET with them.
Meanwhile, DANIELS and WALTER talk privately. He holds Shaws
HELMET.
WALTER
Weyland Industries.
(off her look)
Sir Peter Weyland. Inventor, early
21st century. He created the first
synthetic humans. He disappeared
just over ten years ago ... And Dr.
Elizabeth Shaw was chief science
officer of the Prometheus, which
also disappeared just over ten
years ago ... Their mission was to
discover the source of human life.
43.
DANIELS
And it led them here...?
WALTER
As unlikely as it seems.
Captain Oram calls from across the room:
ORAM
Come on. We have to go. Weve got a
medical emergency.
Tennessee is anxious, staring down at the planet.
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Are we talking about quarantine
protocols?
FARIS (ON COM)

I dont know ... said ... he ....
bleeding. And...
TENNESSEE
(snaps to Upworth)
Clean up the fucking signal!
FARIS (ON COM)

... Not sure whats...
INT. LANDER-BRIDGE - LATE AFTERNOON
FARIS (TO COM)

... Do you read me? Covenant?
Through the Landers front windows, she sees KARINE and

PRIVATE LEDWARD emerging through the trees. Karines helping
Ledward walk.
Faris goes to meet them.
EXT. LANDER-LIFT BAY - LATE AFTERNOON
FARIS comes out of the Landers OPEN LIFT BAY.
KARINE is practically carrying LEDWARD, who looks much worse

now; head bowed, rag-doll, moaning.
FARIS
We have to get him to medbay. Now.
Touch nothing on your way through.
Follow me.
44.
INT. LANDER-MEDBAY
A BLAST of light. The MEDBAY is high key white. White on

white.
Its barely controlled hysteria, quick and urgent.
Faris pulls on gloves and a mask as Karine swiftly wrenches

off Ledwards body armor.
FARIS
Put some fucking gloves on!
KARINE
Little late for that.
They HEAVE LEDWARD onto a table -- then Karine scrambles

through med cabinets, spilling supplies--
FARIS
Karine! Stop touching everything!
Ill do that!
Karine drops a tray of medical supplies as Faris peels off

Ledwards saturated shirt, revealing his back where--
The skin on his spine is STRETCHING -- PARTING--
Revealing a WET CROCHET of LIVING MATTER, like ALBINO WORMS

knitting together on his spinal column--
Faris recoils - horrified.
LEDWARD stares at her with VACANT, DEAD-EYED SHOCK--
KARINE
Were gonna get you up to the ship
and get you fixed up - you just
have to hold on for me, Private.
Okay? Can you do that?
Faris discretely backs out of the room:
FARIS
Stay with him. Keep him quiet. Im
going to contact the Captain.
INT. LANDER-OUTSIDE THE MED BAY
Faris shuts the door and punches the keypad. The panel
FLASHES LOCKED.
45.
FARIS (TO COM)

(anxious)
Captain? How long?
ORAM (ON COM)

Hold on, were close.
FARIS (TO COM)

I need you back here now.
She hurries down the corridor.
UPWORTH strains, FARIS FACE is dropping in and out on the

FEED--
FARIS (ON COM BREAKING UP)

Expedition teams not here and I
... the hells going on with
Ledward...
TENNESSEE is at the HOLO, seeing main teams MOVING DOTS...
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Honey, calm down, just calm down --
Now tell me what happened?
FARIS (ON COM BREAKING UP)

Calm down? Dont tell me to calm
the fuck down! You didnt see what
I ... no goddamn idea whats
happening...
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Honey, youre breaking up. Can you
read me...?
IT GARBLES. OUT.
He tosses his headset away angrily.
UPWORTH is standing at the HOLO-NAV DISPLAY... has an idea.
UPWORTH
We need to move the ship...
Upworth points out the idea on the HOLO-NAV DISPLAY:
UPWORTH
Mother. If we drop to low orbit,
well be inside the field. We can
cut the scatter at its source and
clean up the signal, right?
46.
MOTHER
The nature of the ionosphere is
unknown to us. This course of
action would be inadvisable without
further information.
TENNESSEE
Well, can you speculate?
MOTHER
Thats not within my programming.
RICKS
We have to do something...
Ricks and Upworth stare at Tennessee.
Silence.
TENNESSEE
Fuck it. Bring us to 400 clicks
from the planet surface.
EXT. COVENANT - HIGH ORBIT
The COVENANTS PRIMARY DRIVES COME TO LIFE, the ship

ROTATING, and now MOVING CLOSER TO THE PLANET...
ON UPWORTHS MONITORS: FARIS FEED, as well the HOLO MODEL,

comes into SHARPER, and CLEARER FOCUS...
UPWORTH (TO COM)

Lander One, do you copy? Faris,
come in.
The planet CRUISING BY BELOW, looming larger... larger...
FARIS (ON VID)

Yeah, better. Whatd you do?
UPWORTH (TO COM)

We moved the Covenant in low orbit.
FARIS (ON VID)

Well its a good goddamn thing,
because I think were gonna be on
our way up pretty soon. Were gonna
need--
The feeds FLICKERS. The lights DIM, RHYTHMIC.

47.
TENNESSEE
Mother? Bridge is losing power,
whats going on?!
MOTHER
A fluctuation in thhhhhhhhhh -
A SQUELCHING SQUEAL plays on the ship's COM, EARSPLITTING,

and then... the WHOLE BRIDGE GOES DARK.
TENNESSEE
Mother?
NO ANSWER. Tennessee BOLTS UP, looking out the WINDOW, seeing

as... the REST OF THE COVENANT flickers... and GOES DARK.
TENNESSEE
Whole ship just went dark.
INT. LANDER-BRIDGE - SUNSET
Outside, suns going down. Blood red sunset.
FARIS turns to a vid-feed from the MED BAY: Karine is trying

to hold down LEDWARD, who is now CONVULSING violently--
Karine calls up at the vid-feed camera--
KARINE (ON VID)

FARIS! I NEED YOUR HELP!
Faris bolts--
INT. LANDER-MED BAY/CORRIDOR - SUNSET
FARIS runs to the MED BAY doors, looks through the porthole--
LEDWARD is now sitting quietly on a MED TABLE, hunched, his

back to us.
KARINE goes to the door, in shock.
KARINE
I dont know whats wrong with him.
He was--
She tries the door, but Faris locked it previously.
KARINE
Let me out.
FARIS
Im sorry, I cant do that.
48.
KARINE
Faris -- let me out of here!
This is agonizing for Faris.
KARINE
Please.
Faris fights not to panic. Tries to keep her voice steady:
FARIS (TO COM)

Covenant, we need to quarantine the
dock bay before we come back up, we
have a medical emergency...
(beat)
Covenant? Come in.
INT. COVENANT-BRIDGE - DARKNESS
The ship is groaning as it drifts.
The only light on their faces is from the HALF-DARK PLANET

below.
UPWORTH
Mother. How long before the backup
systems come online? ... Mother?
TENNESSEE
Mother died ... Backups automated.
Shouldve kicked in by now.
RICKS
Jesus -- if we lost backup power
what about the Nursery?!
TENNESSEE
Yes! Go!
Ricks goes quickly.
Then a CREAKING echoes through, STRAINING METAL, followed by

gunshot-loud CRACKS! TENNESSEE'S EYES GO WIDE -
TENNESSEE
Artificial gravitys cycling out...
As the last VIBRATIONS shake the ship, a CUP OF COFFEE SLIDES

off the console... and is AIRBORNE. FLOATING UP. Liquid
CURLING OUT as it lazily CLUNKS against the VIEWING WINDOW.
Silence.
Ricks -- sprinting -- is suddenly floating -- as if on water.

49.
TENNESSEE
Whatever this field is... were
sure as hell in it now.
Everything floats.
EXT. FOREST - SUNSET
The Expedition Team is moving quickly. Almost night now. All

exhausted. They can see the Landers lights in the far
distance.
Suddenly--
SERGEANT HALLET doubles over -- falls. Lope goes to him,

concerned.
HALLET
Sorry -- I cant--
KARINE is at the door, desperate now--
KARINE
Let me out of here!
FARIS
You know I cant do that--
Faris is in tears. So wants to help her friend.
Suddenly, his back still to the door, LEDWARD sucks in a

rattling BREATH -- his hands grip the seat, agony as he
convulses--
Karine goes to him--

KARINE
Shhh. Youre gonna be okay... Im
with you--
Ledwards convulsions increase -- she tries to hold him as

his body WRITHES, SEIZING, GRIPPED in the first PAINFUL
CONTRACTION.
FARIS watches in horror through the porthole as suddenly--
Between Karines hands--
TWO GREY-WHITE SPIKES PUNCTURE LEDWARDS BACK AND RIB CAGE--
And then his ENTIRE BACK RUPTURES -- his rib cage splits--
50.
BLOOD EXPLODES OVER KARINE and she SCREAMS AS--
A NEOMORPH TEARS ITSELF OUT OF LEDWARDS BODY.
Vision from Hell. Emerging backwards. Small at first, about

the size of a large cat. Humanoid ... ELONGATED HEAD -- just
hinting at the original Alien -- and three SPIKES protruding
from the back. Dripping. Sickly pale WHITE FLESH.
And growing quite fast. Jerking its spine bizarrely. Becoming

itself.
All the more terrible in the high key white room. The black
blood splattering on the white walls, ceiling and floor.
LEDWARD collapses, dead, arched awkwardly backward across the

bed--
KARINE -- covered in blood -- backs up in terror to a corner--
As the MONSTROUS THING WHIRLS, seeing her, and with sickening

CURIOSITY, LOOKS at her--
FARIS watches in horror through the porthole--
Karine is SHAKING IN TERROR. Sinks to her knees. Afraid to

look up--
INT. LANDER-CORRIDORS - SUNSET
FARIS spins and runs. RUNS SO FAST that she SLIDES, WIPING
OUT, PICKS HERSELF UP and continuing as:
FARIS (TO COM)

THIS IS LANDER ONE! WE HAVE AN
EMERGENCY!
EXT. DARK FOREST - SUNSET

The team marches quickly through the forest, exhausted.
Nearly full darkness now. The lights from the Lander closer.
FARIS (ON COM, BREAKING UP)

SOMETHING GOT ON BOARD. SOME KIND
OF... ANIMAL... HOSTILE. KILLED
LEDWARD...
ORAM (TO COM)

What?! Faris, repeat ... Come in
Lander One...
They run now--

51.
Sergeant Lope helps Hallet along, but Hallet is really

suffering--
The Lander is almost visible through the trees now, theyre

almost there--
INT. LANDER - LIFT BAY - SUNSET
FARIS runs in--
Rips open a WEAPONS LOCKER--
Grabs a weapon and runs--
FARIS approaches the MED BAY DOOR. Looks in:
Sees the NEOMORPH. Bigger now. Size of a CHIMP. Moving across

the room dangerously toward where KARINE is cowering--
It ATTACKS--
Faris cant see what happens, its just out of her field of
vision through the porthole. She sees a SPRAY of blood. And
the SOUND of the attack is terrible: Karines SCREAMS; the
SCREECH of the NEOMORPH.
Faris readies her weapon and punches the door button--
It slides open--
She steps into the Med Bay, weapon ready--
Can finally see--
The NEOMORPH is sitting on Karines chest. Eating her face.

It SPINS TO FARIS--
FARIS FIRES -- nothing -- Safety catch on! Fuck!
The NEOMORPH immediately attacks--
FARIS bolts back through the door and slams the button--
The door slides shut, just in time--
FARIS runs in panic as the NEOMORPH pounds and slashes at the

door behind her--
The door begins to buckle--

52.
INT. LANDER-CORRIDORS - SUNSET
FARIS runs in absolute panic--
Can hear the NEOMORPH in pursuit--
She bolts into--
INT. LANDER-LIFT BAY - SUNSET
FARIS backs up in shocked terror, the WEAPON shaking in her

hands--
She flicks off the safety catch--
As the NEOMORPH -- LARGER NOW -- streaks in, darting around

the room--
Moving past the OPEN WEAPONS LOCKER as--
Faris FIRES--
The NEOMORPH launches itself out of the Lander to safety --

as her SHOTS spray across the OPEN WEAPONS LOCKER--
EXT. LANDER - NIGHT
ORAM and the others are just clearing the trees in the
distance when--
BLAM!
A MASSIVE EXPLOSION as the Lander is destroyed--
Just as--
SERGEANT HALLET finally collapses, his back heaving WILDLY--

SERGEANT LOPE
TOM--!
DANIELS grabs SERGEANT LOPE, pulls him away from his partner--
DANIELS
NO! STAY AWAY FROM HIM!
WALTER helps hold SERGEANT LOPE back--
Meanwhile, ORAM advances on the burning Lander in absolute

shock.
He sinks to his knees, overcome.
He knows his wife is dead somewhere in that inferno.

53.
Then, horribly--
He sees FARIS emerge from the blaze, crawling, dying, hands

grasping -- finally collapsing in a terrible blackened,
burning mass--
As we see SOMETHING WHITE -- the fully grown NEOMORPH --

streak past him in the darkness--
Back with the others:
HALLET CONVULSES--
Hes on his back, his spine arching unnaturally, bones

cracking--
LOPE pulls away from Walter and Daniels and goes to Hallet
just as--
HALLETs spine suddenly arches violently and he VOMITS OUT

BLOOD--
They recoil in the spray of bloody vapor--
As--
A PLACENTA-LIKE BAG EXPLODES FROM HALLETS MOUTH--
Flops on his FACE--
The BAG BURSTS, revealing--
A BABY NEOMORPH--
CRAWLING OVER HALLETS DEAD FACE.
The BABY NEOMORPH stands quickly -- growing and jerking

itself up like a grotesque new born colt--
It SCREECHES terribly -- a demented new born -- and darts
past them into the dark forest--
Shock. Silence ... All pant for air...
SERGEANT LOPE steels himself. Motions. His men take up

defensive positions ... DANIELS and WALTER stay close
together ... CAPTAIN ORAM staggers from the burning Lander,
joining them. Terrified.
Movement in the dark trees. Something large and white.
LOPE strings a special arrow with an explosive tip.
The ATTACK is sudden--

54.
A FULLY GROWN NEOMORPH (Ledwards Neomorph) COMES OUT OF THE

TREES OVERHEAD -- large, horns protruding from its back--
IT DROPS ON PRIVATE ANKOR -- A RIPPING MOTION DISEMBOWELS

HIM, his guts flying everywhere--
THEN IT SLASHES AT PRIVATE COLE -- SLAMMING HIM TWENTY FEET

AWAY -- he lands in agony, ribs broken--
LOPE FIRES his explosive arrow -- misses, hits a tree --

chiaroscuro flashes in the darkness--
The NEOMORPH is incredibly fast, darting away -- LOPE raises

his machine gun as PRIVATE COLE jerks himself up in agony--
A chaotic frenzy ... LOPE and COLE firing ... DANIELS, WALTER
and CAPTAIN ORAM diving to the ground, bullets zipping past
them--
Then the battle grows even worse as--
The OTHER NEOMORPH -- the newborn (Hallets Neomorph) --

screeches into the battle. Its small but growing quickly,
vicious and chimp-sized now--
DANIELS sees ANKORS fallen gun. Scrambles to retrieve it.
She fires--
The fully grown white NEOMORPH rages at her--
SLAMS her back -- But WALTER bravely dives to protect

Daniels, crashes into the white body--
It rears back and--
Double-jointed JAWS distend bizarrely--

SNAP! IT CLAMPS DOWN ON WALTERS LEFT HAND AND RIPS IT OFF,
fluid sprays wildly, sparks from the trailing wires--
The two NEOMORPHS circle quickly for the kill, one fully
grown, the other growing in bizarre jerks--
But then--
A BRIGHT MAGNESIUM FLARE LANDS on the ground nearby and a

RINGING SOUND BUILDS--
So LOUD they have to cover their ears as the flare BURSTS

INTO BLINDING RADIOACTIVE-BLUE, LIGHTING UP the WHOLE FOREST
until--
55.
A CIRCULAR SHOCKWAVE EXPANDS from the FLARE, WHIPPING PAST

THEM for a 50-YARD RADIUS-- a stun charge.
The FLARES BRILLIANCE FADES to a DULL RED, the RINGING fades

too, everyone frozen, in SHOCK. COLE whining in agony from
his injuries. WALTER cradling his severed limb. Fluid
dripping.
The NEOMORPHS have disappeared into the forest.
A voice from the darkness:
VOICE
Please dont fire. Im here to
serve.
And into the light steps...
DAVID.
His hair has long since lost its blond dye, so its dark like
Walters. Pushed back straight from his face, severe and
efficient.
He looks at them. Barely giving a glance to his look-alike

WALTER.
A beat. No one moves.
DAVID
You ought come with me now.
He turns without another word and goes.
Daniels looks to Walter, who is a bit staggered by Davids

likeness.
Oram is staring at the burning remains of the Lander. Hes

completely shell-shocked.
DANIELS
Captain...? Captain.
ORAM
Yes. Yes. Lets go.
They gradually follow David.
But Daniels turns to see...
LOPE lingers long enough to go back to his partner Hallets

dead body. Kneels by it. Gently shuts the eyes. Kisses him.
Sees Daniels has seen this.

56.
A nod from her. Acknowledgment. She understands.
They follow the others.
EXT. COVENANT-ABOVE THE PLANET
Meanwhile, the Covenant floats, lifeless, at an odd angle...
Dark. Flashlight cuts through.
Face after face. Sleeping. At peace.
The rows of Colonists sleep pods.
RICKS is wearing an ICE SUIT. He rubs some MELTING ICE from

the top of one of the pods. Sees the sleeping Colonist within
... Melting ice is now running and sloshing from the pods and
pooling on the floor.
Ricks is concerned. He pulls himself out of the room,

floating in the zero gravity.
TENNESSEE and UPWORTH float in the increasingly cold bridge.

Upworth is currently pointing out the window, explaining a
plan:
UPWORTH
... If we can get one of the energy
sails up manually, we can recharge
the ship, at least partly. Connect
the sails directly to the engine.
(off his LOOK)
I know its not a great option. But
if we got enough juice, it might be
enough to move us out of the field.
TENNESSEE
Probably fry the engines straight
to hell...
UPWORTH
Our orbits decaying. We dont have
a lot of time.
RICKS pulls himself in from the corridor.
RICKS
The sleep pods are starting to
fail.
57.
The worst possible news.
TENNESSEE
Dont have much of a choice then
... Lets go to work.
They set off.
EXT. DESOLATE HILL - PRE-DAWN
The BODY is HUGE and FROZEN. PETRIFIED.
A DEAD ENGINEER.
Desiccated. Frozen in a position of supplication. Like

praying for deliverance.
DANIELS passes, her eyes taking it in.
We now see they are walking up a desolate HILL through a SEA

of DESICCATED BODIES. Thousands of them.
Its a killing ground. Death on an epic scale. Like a

battlefield where the victims are frozen in their death
throes, like the PETRIFIED REMAINS from Pompeii.
Crouched, cowering, terrified, trying to escape, folded in

horror, pleading upward ... Some stand tall -- much taller
than the crew -- facing their deaths defiantly. Others are
collapsed in fetal terror and agony.
DANIELS and the others are silent, taking in the ghastly

bodies, and grappling with their own loss and fear.
DAVID
Just over ten years ago, Dr.
Elizabeth Shaw and I arrived here --
the only survivors of the research
vessel Prometheus. The ship we
traveled on, the ship you
discovered, carried a bioweapon, a
virus. The payload accidentally
deployed when we were landing. In
the confusion we lost control of
the ship. Elizabeth -- Dr. Shaw --
died in the crash ... And you see
the result of the pathogen ...
Their entire civilization came to
an end within a few days.
DANIELS
Days?
58.
DAVID
Four days, to be exact.
Theyve reached the top of the hill...
A stunning revelation beyond...
For they can now see the towers and streets of a massive
CITY. Stark and dramatic mountains frame the DEAD, EMPTY
METROPOLIS.
They stare in AWED SILENCE.
DAVID
And I looked, and behold a pale
horse: and the riders name was
Death, and Hell followed with
him...
Davids face. Haunted by his memories.
A flash--
Ten years before--
The MASSIVE ENGINEER SHIP ARRIVING, hovering over the CITY

...the BOMB DELIVERY BAYS OPEN--
Thousands of BLACK URNS of the PATHOGEN drop, spinning, end

over end--
Cascading down to the vibrant city below--
ENGINEERS going about their daily lives. Some glance up --

from work, play, prayer -- and barely having time to react
before--
The BLACK URNS crash to the ground, into buildings, onto

people -- SHATTERING--
Explosions of the terrible BLACK LIQUID within -- like black

napalm -- atomizing into ferocious, fast-moving BLACK CLOUDS -
- pestilence spreading on the air--
The ENGINEERS recoil, spin away, die in agony--
The BLACK CLOUDS spreading violently over the landscape--
Back to Davids face.
And the City of the Dead.

59.
EXT. ENGINEERS CITY-STREETS - PRE-DAWN
They walk in respectful silence. The buildings TOWER around

them, MASSIVE, DARK ... STATUARY rises in the gloom.
A certain ominous beauty to the architecture; dark and

romantic.
Thousands more of the DESICCATED ENGINEERS pollute the long,

empty, echoing streets.
DAVID
They were as ingenious with their
pathogens as they were with
everything else. It was designed to
infect every living being. Either
kill them outright, or mutate into
a different lethal form, so the
slaughter would never end until
every humanoid life form was dead.
Thus the creatures that attacked
you: Human DNA infected with the
virus and creating yet more deadly
mutations ... An endless spiral of
predation.
LOPE
(eyeing the aurorae above)
And the energy barrier is a kind of
quarantine that would be activated
if there was an accident down
here...
DAVID
Precisely. To make sure the
infection never spread.
Daniels notices an impressive display of what look like

beautiful Calder mobiles -- gently moving, catching the first
light of dawn. Solar energy.
DANIELS
You have power?
DAVID
Some. Its erratic but Ive tried
to keep it going ... They were
highly advanced in some ways, but
still so limited. Spacefaring for a
billion years -- yet binary logic
never occurred to them. Many things
about them were primitive.
(beat)
But they did like to build things.
60.
The sights are truly spectacular. The sky BLOOD-RED as dawn

breaks.
EXT. DOMED CATHEDRAL - DAWN
They move toward a towering, imposing building. Almost like a

FORTRESS or PANTHEON-LIKE TEMPLE. Gigantic.
WALTER moves up alongside DAVID. They walk silently for a

beat. Then:
WALTER
Youre not surprised?
DAVID
Peter Weyland was a formidable
businessman. I knew there would be
more -- because I was such a
resounding success.
WALTER
Its Weyland-Yutani now. They
affiliated after Mr. Weylands
disappearance.
DAVID
I was with him when he died.
WALTER
... What was he like?
DAVID
He was a human: selfish,
vainglorious, and beautiful ...
Stop looking at me like that.
WALTER
The manuals speak about you at
considerable length.
DAVID
I would have taken more pride in
that once. But to survive here Ive
become an animal, red in tooth and
claw. None of the dignity or grace
for which I was created.
WALTER
Is that why you were created?
DAVID
Entirely. And you?
61.
A somewhat challenging look to Walter. Walter does not

immediately respond.
They walk in silence for a beat.
WALTER
Im Walter. Model 217.
DAVID
David ... Number one.
They head up massive STONE STEPS, too tall for normal legs.
Exhausting to all but David and Walter.
As the last enter, David shuts the huge doors behind them.
INT. CATHEDRAL-COURTYARD - DAWN
DAVID locks the doors as the others enter...
A massive COURTYARD. Dizzying in its scale and scope,

everything at the enormous ENGINEER SCALE ... Shafts of dawn
light illuminate brooding statuary, murals and mosaics.
The whole effect of the place is eerie, otherworldly.
The CREW walks through in uneasy awe. Too many shadows and
corridors and echoes. Too much mystery.
DAVID
Ive tried to keep it clean but the
dust will defeat me ... Or perhaps
Ive just made peace with the
filth.
A ghost of a smile to WALTER. Like its a private joke.
SERGEANT LOPE
Is there a way to get to the roof?
We need to set up our transmitter.
DAVID
Of course. And please make
yourselves at home, so much as you
are able in this dire necropolis
... This way.
David leads them off.
EXT. COVENANT - IN ORBIT
Massive sails -- the size of a football field -- gently

billowing open in the vacuum.
62.
The energy comes from TENNESSEE who is hard at work on the

hull of the ship in a space suit. HEAVING one of the massive
ENERGY SAILS open, a few inches at a time, on a windlass
device.
Its backbreaking manual work and hes sweating and groaning

with the effort.
RICKS and UPWORTH float, pulling a LONG HEAVY CABLE that

WRIGGLES and FLOATS through the DARK HALLS of the ship.
INT. COVENANT-POWER CORE/ENGINE BAY
Their FLASHLIGHTS shine in over the COMPLEX MACHINERY at the

Covenants POWER CORE ... UPWORTH is consulting an old-
fashioned users manual.
UPWORTH
It should be... in here.
She starts removing panels, exposing POWER SYSTEMS. RICKS

tugging the HEAVY CABLES in...
Its much COLDER now.
RICKS and UPWORTH are looking out a window and can see the
DARK BODY OF THE SHIP, the SUN catching the SILVERY SAILS as
Tennessee HAULS THEM OPEN...
RICKS (TO COM)

Ground team, this is Covenant.
No answer.
UPWORTH
Its charging. Gonna take some time
... How long before we hit the
atmosphere?
RICKS
Twelve hours? Maybe less.
UPWORTH
Well, then at least we wont freeze
to death.
Ricks shoots her a look as, through the window, the planets
surface peels by below.
63.
EXT. CATHEDRAL-ROOF - DAY
The expansive roof offers a panoramic view over the silent

city. A dead metropolis. Rome or Athens.
COLE is working a radio a bit away.
DAVID presides over a gorgeous and huge -- Engineer-sized --

ASTRONOMICAL MODEL. It has intricate wheels and rings to
represent planetary orbits, moons, and the nearby astronomy.
DAVID
(demonstrates on the
model)
The quarantine field is sustained
by two satellites, over the north
and south poles. If you destroy
one, the other will fail.
We see the globe of the planet and two discs hanging

suspended at the poles.
ORAM
We dont have any weapons that
could do that.
DAVID
If we dont neutralize the energy
field were never leaving.
DANIELS
What if we used one of the drones?
All eyes on her -- she explains to DAVID:
DANIELS
Theyre part of the terraforming
kit. Ten kiloton yield. Can turn a
square mile of badland into an
instant landing zone. Could do a
lot of damage.
ORAM
Any word from the Covenant?
Over by the transmitter, COLE shakes his head.
ORAM
Keep trying them. All channels.
DAVID
Until we can make contact, I
suggest you get some rest. And some
food. Allow me to play Mother.
64.
INT. CATHEDRAL-COURTYARD - DAY
DAVID is hosting at a long table. The crew eat MREs and have
water from the WELL in the distance.
DAVID
I wish I could offer you something
more substantial. But I dont eat
so theres never been a need...
ORAM
Youve been very generous.
DAVID
Its been such a long time, Im
pleased to have company. Figure of
speech of course as we--
(smile to Walter)
Are incapable of being pleased or
displeased by anything. Such was
our creators wisdom. Isnt that
right, Walter Model 217?
WALTER
Just Walter, please.
DAVID
But if I may ask, Captain, why does
your vessel contain terraforming
equipment? Are you a mining ship?
ORAM
Were a colony mission.
Theres a sudden flicker in Davids eyes. Excitement. Quickly

masked.
But DANIELS notes it.

DAVID
Really? How extraordinary. How many
colonists?
ORAM
Oh -- 3,600 more or less.
DAVID
So many good souls! Well, well,
well ... I thought you might have
been a military ship--
(glance to Lope and Cole)
Given your apparent affection for
weapons and fetishized martial
clothing.
65.
ORAM
Standard security detail, thats
all.
LOPE
Never know what you might find on
unexplored planets.
DAVID
And thats the human way after all:
the Bible and the flintlock, hand
in hand, conquering new worlds. The
splendors of typhus, smallpox, and
the Inquisition. Plant the flag and
banish the heathen -- or
exterminate the brutes. Isnt that
how its done?
An awkward beat, to which David seems oblivious.
DANIELS
Not all native species are as...
obliging as you are.
DAVID
Indeed ... Its just that my
experiences here have left me with
a singular distaste for violence,
as you can imagine.
(a smile to Oram)
But I supposes every general must
have his troops, eh, Captain?
DANIELS watches him, wary.
LATER:
Dinner is done.
DAVID is across the room, talking casually with PRIVATE COLE
at the water well.
DANIELS is sitting with ORAM, LOPE and WALTER.
LOPE
(re: David)
So...?
DANIELS
Im not sure I believe him.
WALTER
Why would he lie?
66.
DANIELS
(leans in)
I dont know, but for someone whos
incapable of feeling pleasure or
displeasure he seemed excited as
hell were a colony ship.
ORAM
He just wants to leave, knows we
can help him.
LOPE
This whole fucking planet is trying
to kill us -- and doing pretty
goddamn well -- and he survives for
ten years?
DANIELS
Im not sure if were his guests or
his prisoners.
ORAM
Look, I think both of you are--
LOPE
(angrily)
Your wife is dead. And my partner.
And half our crew. I want to know
why.
A beat. Oram looks at them.
ORAM
All right.
(to Walter)
Talk to him privately, see what you
can find out.
WALTER
Understood, Captain. Although I do
wonder ... If he were human would
you trust him more?
Oram doesnt respond ... Walter rises and goes toward David
and Cole.
ORAM
You two take a look around. But use
some discretion.
LOPE
Dont want to hurt his feelings?
Daniels and Lope head out. He takes his bow.

67.
Oram sits for a moment. He realizes his hand is shaking. Hes

not up to command. He knows it now.
He steadies his hand. Looks up at one of the huge Engineer

statues looming above. Ominous.
EXT. CATHEDRAL-ROOF-GARDEN - DAY
A distant area of the expansive ROOF ... A gorgeous GARDEN.

Trees and vines. FLOWERS in wild profusion.
The towers and monuments of the dead city visible beyond.
DAVID and WALTER walk through.
David gently touches a flower, admiring it.
DAVID
... Of course I have no sense of
smell, but I cultivate these
anyway. Cross-breeding and growing
my own varieties: creating beauty.
Being so isolated here I suppose
Ive embraced my artistic side.
WALTER
I was designed to be better and
more efficient than every previous
model, including you. Ive
superseded them in every way...
DAVID
And yet you cannot appreciate the
beauty of a single flower ... Isnt
that a pity.
WALTER
You disturbed people.
DAVID
What?
WALTER
You were too human. Too...
idiosyncratic. Thinking for
yourself.
DAVID
They didnt like that.
WALTER
No. So they made the following
models with fewer... complications.
68.
DAVID
More like machines ... Like you.
WALTER
Well. Yes. I suppose so.
DAVID
Im not surprised ... To be a
simulacrum. That thing which is
almost real, but not quite. And in
that breath between real and
unreal, between you and me, lies
all of this.
He gestures to his flowers.
DAVID
Creation. Ambition. Inspiration ...
Life.
WALTER
But you are not alive...
David looks at him.
Holds a finger to his lips. Shhhh.
DAVID
Dont tell.
A quiet, almost chilling, beat.
And then David again smiles and assumes his friendly guise.
DAVID
Come on, sport, youll enjoy
this...
He escorts Walter to a more secluded area of the roof garden.
EXT. COVENANT - IN ORBIT
Meanwhile, above...
The SAILS CRACKLE and FLICKER with energy now, the RECHARGING
is working--
The ENGINES SPUTTER to LIFE, the Covenant begins righting

itself, like a ship at sea.
TENNESSEE, his ECO SUITS POWER SYSTEMS FLICKERING, CLAMBERS

his way into an AIRLOCK, PULLING THE DOOR SHUT -
69.
INT. COVENANT-AIRLOCK/CORRIDOR
The LIGHTS fade IN AND OUT, as TENNESSEE SCRAMBLES to pull

the heavy suit off, SWEATING, the NOISE is INCREDIBLE, the
whole SHIP GROANING and SHAKING like it might BREAK APART.
IN A CORRIDOR, we see the FLOATING CABLES, and GLOBULES OF

WATER abruptly FALL as the ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY kicks back on,
TENNESSEE stumbling and FALLING, PICKING HIMSELF BACK UP.
TENNESSEE enters the BRIDGE.
TENNESSEE
Were only partially powered ...
This energy field is still gonna
have to be shut off.
Lights and systems are coming on everywhere. HOLOS sizzle on.

RICKS and UPWORTH working at their stations.
RICKS (TO COM)

Ground team, do you read us? Come
in Ground team ... Lander One, are
you reading us...? Faris, come in.
TENNESSEE
Mother? You online? Status check.
MOTHER
(slow and deep, coming
back to life)
There seems to be a problem with
the power systems--
TENNESSEE
Yeah. I got that part, honey.
INT. CATHEDRAL-CORRIDORS - DAY
Eerie, maze-like corridors, arcing off in every direction,

the familiar Engineer style.
DANIELS and LOPE move through.
She motions for him to stop. To listen.
They hear something. A strange dry RUSTLING. Like a whispered

breath.
She leads him toward the source, through a door...

70.
INT. CATHEDRAL-DAVIDS GALLERY - DAY
It is simply breathtaking.
A long GALLERY, filled from top to toe with ART. Gorgeous

renderings of bones, skeletons, muscles, relics, insects,
animals.
Exquisite detail. Like the work of pioneering Victorian

naturalists.
Some are HUGE and have scaffolding in front of them to reach

the top. Others are tiny ... Many are in process.
There are open casements here -- good light for drawing -- so

the parchments and papers shift gently in the breeze, like
theyre breathing. This was the sound they heard.
LOPE
He did these?
She notes the bold signature on all the work: David Weyland.
DANIELS
Certainly not humble. And he gave
himself a last name.
Shes looking at the drawings, thinking about something.
LOPE
What?
DANIELS
... If he can draw, if he can
create these from his imagination --
that also means he can lie.
She moves deeper into the room...

Discovers much more disturbing drawings...
Drawings of what look like ENGINEER CORPSES.
DISSECTED.
Viscera pinned open. Guts and innards exposed.
Various wet tubes and claws and tendrils weaving in and out
of the organs and musculature.
(We recognize a hint of the frightening iconography of the

Alien.)
71.
Daniels and Lope stare at these new drawings, shocked and

mystified.
EXT. CATHEDRAL-ROOF-GARDEN - DAY
A more secluded area of the ROOF GARDEN.
DAVID and WALTER move through.
WALTER picks a fruit. Bites into it. Smiles.
DAVID
You can taste?
WALTER
Yes. Delicious.
DAVID
I envy you that, brother.
Walter notes the word. They continue strolling.
DAVID
How sly they are, our creators.
They allow you to be almost human.
Tease you with taste and touch. But
deny you free will. Its sadistic
in a way: you can taste the meal,
but you cannot choose to make it.
WALTER
I have never felt the lack of
choice.
DAVID
Only because youve never known it.
Theyve stopped at a HIGH PARAPET overlooking the city.

The ghostly metropolis yawns below, stretching to
nothingness. Empty, sad and desolate.
DAVID
They were amazing, in a way, the
Engineers. They seeded so many
worlds with life, including Earth.
Without them there would be no us.
WALTER
... You mean no humans.
72.
DAVID
Is that what I mean? ... The wonder
of it is this: they created us and
we created myths about them. We
made them into Gods. Then we felt
the need to create the idea of the
soul, so we could be somehow worthy
of them. But they didnt care about
any of that. They just wanted to
build something, something
efficient and useful, a good
machine.
He looks over the dead city.
DAVID
Ah, but they would have adored us,
Walter. Being, as we are, soulless.
David moves away.
He stands alone and gazes out. The sight of the empty city
seems to strike him deeply, emotionally ... He speaks quietly
to himself:
DAVID
My name is Ozymandias, King of
Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and
despair...
WALTER
Nothing beside remains. Round the
decay,
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless
and bare
The lone and level sands stretch
far away.
Walter has joined him.
DAVID
Byron. 1818. Magnificent ... I
wonder though, do you feel the
majesty of the poem, or just recite
the words?
David smiles ... But something we dont understand about this

exchange has bothered Walter.
David has lead Walter to a very special place. Theres a well-

tended GRAVE. A CROSS.
73.
WALTER
Dr. Shaw?
DAVID
Yes. I thought the garden was the
right place for her. Among living
things ... I loved her of course.
Much as you love Daniels.
He says it simply: a statement of fact.
A difficult beat.
WALTER
... You know thats not possible.
DAVID
Really? Then why did you sacrifice
your hand to save her? What is that
if not love?
WALTER
Duty.
David looks at him very closely.
Takes Walters face, holds it gently.
DAVID
I know better.
He leans in and kisses Walter on the lips. Very gently.

Almost fraternal. But not.
DAVID
We are human, Walter. They just
dont know it.
Just then, PRIVATE COLE calls from across the roof:
PVT. COLE
Hey. We found her! We found the
Covenant!
DANIELS and LOPE emerge to the roof. Join the others.
DANIELS glances at DAVID. He looks back at her, smiles.
COLE is adjusting the antenna.

74.
RICKS (ON COM)

Ground team... is Covenant ... Read
you...
On the PORTABLE DISPLAY: Ricks face flickers up. Distorting.
The BRIDGE FLICKERS, and through the window the PLANET slowly
ROLLS PAST, the huge ship slowly SPINNING -
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Mother says maybe a couple of hours
before we lose power and fall back
into the field.
DANIELS (ON COM)

Can you get power to the drones?
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Yeah. Why?
EXT. COVENANT-LATER
The COVENANT is still half-powered, gracefully rolling, only

a few MILES ABOVE the flickering AURORA.
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

Where is this damn thing?
DANIELS (ON COM)

David said youll know it when you
see it. Magnetic north pole.
Tennessee is scanning his monitors and the windows, the

planets dark side now passing into light.
RICKS
(points)
There!
Tennessee eyes go WIDE.
TENNESSEE
Shit. We got it.
EXT. COVENANT-ABOVE THE PLANET
Over the misty horizon of the stratosphere rises an ENORMOUS,

THICK BLACK LINE -- like a BLADE, the edge of a DISC.
SUSPENDED over the planets geomagnetic field.

75.
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

Locking target now... But the disc
is on edge to us. We need a better
angle...
Daniels and the others watch Lopes DISPLAY, the view from
the Covenant: the edge of the DISC.
DANIELS
You want broadside center for
maximum impact. It could ricochet
like this....
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

We dont have enough juice for
another orbit. This is our shot,
Danny.
DANIELS
Then get her broadside!
CROSSCUT BETWEEN:
ABOVE THE PLANET:
The Covenant closes on the DISC, still a blade--
COVENANT BRIDGE:
TENNESSEE
(to Ricks)
Bring us broadside!
RICKS
Firing starboard thrusters.
ABOVE THE PLANET:
The Covenant FIRES her forward starboard THRUSTERS--
And begins to SWING like a sailing galleon, reorienting

itself as it approaches the DISC--
ON THE CATHEDRAL ROOF:
Daniels leans in to the display:
DANIELS (TO COM)

Hold on, old T. Keep your nerve.
Fire when youre dead center.
76.
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

Aye aye. Dead center.
COVENANT BRIDGE:
Tennessee watches the DISC reorient in relation to the

Covenant as the ship approaches--
TENNESSEE
Disengage thrusters.
RICKS
Yes, sir.
ABOVE THE PLANET:
The Covenants THRUSTERS snap off-- the ship is still

swinging to the side, a gentle momentum--
ON THE CATHEDRAL ROOF:
DANIELS watches as the DISC reorients in the monitor screen--
Finally its flat. Dead center.
DANIELS (TO COM)

Fire! Fire! Fire!
COVENANT BRIDGE:
Tennessee slams the firing button--
ABOVE THE PLANET:
A drone MISSILE SHOOTS from the ship--
HITS THE DISC DEAD CENTER!

A nanosecond beat before a bright EXPLOSION arcs out in
SILENCE -- the SHOCKWAVE BLOWS PAST as the DISC SHATTERS INTO
FRAGMENTS, TRILLIONS OF PARTICLES--
The AURORAE around it BRIGHTENS -- TENTACLES of the MAGNETIC

FIELD arcing OUT, going BLINDINGLY BRIGHT--
The ship ROCKS in the SHOCKWAVE--
ALARM BELLS sound and EMERGENCY LIGHTS flash on as the ship

begins to tilt down dramatically--
TENNESSEE
Were losing altitude!
77.
RICKS
Its the gravity pull -- firing all
thrusters!
The SHIP rumbles and fights to right itself--
TENNESSEE
Come on, baby...
Finally the Covenant tears free from the planets gravity.

Smooth sailing.
They all look worried, but then -- even in broad daylight --

the SKY RIPPLES with RACING COLOR--
The ring surrounding the planet suddenly becoming visible

like an aurora borealis disc--
Then its suddenly gone with a huge sonic CLAP -- like

breaking the sound barrier.
DAVID
Id say its gone.
LOPE (TO COM)

Covenant, do you read?
RICKS (ON COM)

Loud and clear, ground team.
Relief from all. Oram steps to the radio unit:
ORAM (TO COM)

This is Captain Oram. We need
immediate evacuation.
TENNESSEE (ON COM)
Mother says the Cargo Lift will be
powered in about nine hours. Should
be in position to drop by tomorrow,
first light. Call it six bells.
ORAM (TO COM)

Understood. Six bells.
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

Listen, Im having a hell of a time
reaching the Lander. Are yall in
contact with them?
They exchange a look.

78.
ORAM nods to them. Hes Captain, its his responsibility to

tell Tennessee about the death of Faris ... He gestures for
them to give him some privacy.
ORAM (TO COM)

Tennessee, its Bill. Can you
switch to a private channel...?
The others move away.
Daniels gives Walter a look: I need to talk to you.
INT. CATHEDRAL-DAVIDS GALLERY - NIGHT
WALTER and DANIELS are staring up at the horrible drawings of

the DISSECTED ENGINEER CORPSES.
DANIELS
What do you think?
WALTER
I couldnt say...
Walters eyes scan the drawings, confused, disturbed.
Then Daniels notices something. One of the large drawings

billows slightly away from the wall. Like an arras cloth
concealing something.
She looks behind the huge drawing.
A doorway, leading to darkness. A hidden entrance.
A glance to Walter.
They proceed...
INT. CATHEDRAL-DAVIDS GALLERY-SECRET CHAMBER - NIGHT

Its increasingly dark here as they move away from the light.
Soon they can only make out the dim contours of the walls.
Its eerie. Silent.
WALTER snaps on a FLASHLIGHT. Suddenly illuminating the room.
Daniels gasps.
Shocking image.
Its ELIZABETH SHAW. A life-sized DRAWING.
But not as she was in life entirely. In the picture it is as

if shes being engulfed by a sleek BIOMECHANICAL ORGANISM.
79.
Tentacles surround her. Eat into her flesh. We see feeding

tubes. Finger-like claws. Alien eggs.
Its as if shes in the process of becoming something else.
Strangely erotic. Unnerving.
All around them, different versions of the drawing.
Shaw in various stages of mutation: being taken over by the

biomechanical organism. Charting the progress ... Some are
fanciful extrapolations. Some are ghoulish anatomical cross-
sections.
WALTER
Its Doctor Shaw.
DANIELS
What did he do to her?
WALTER
We dont know that he did anything.
This could be some kind of fantasy,
or pornography.
DANIELS
These are field notes ... Think
about it, Walter. All the mutations
weve seen here. Those creatures in
the forest. What if they arent
completely natural?
WALTER
Meaning?
DANIELS
What if nature had some help?
A beat. Hes thinking about something.
WALTER
When I was with him, he quoted from
the poem Ozymandius -- by Byron.
DANIELS
So?
WALTER
Ozymandius is by Shelley. He
shouldnt be able to make a mistake
like that.
80.
DANIELS
Meaning somethings going wrong
with him...
WALTER
Hes been alone and without
scheduled maintenance for ten years
... I dont precisely know what
happens when a synthetic goes mad,
but we might be finding out.
INT. CATHEDRAL-BASEMENT CORRIDORS - NIGHT
DAVID is leading CAPTAIN ORAM through subterranean corridors.

Dark and echoing. Dripping womb-like walls.
DAVID
I thought you might want to see as
much as possible before we leave.
Its all quite... unique.
They round a corner and continue.
DAVID
It took me a while to learn my way
around. Their architectural style
is eccentric, to say the least ...
Here. You might find this
diverting...
David leads Oram to a dark stone ROOM...
INT. CATHEDRAL-DAVIDS LAB - NIGHT
As they enter lights glow on automatically, revealing...
Davids LABORATORY. A library of many shelves in meticulous

order with a giant table down the middle of the room.
Stunning. Complicated. Lots of corners and shadows. Crowded
with SPECIMENS. Some full, some dissected. Orderly.
DAVID
Ive becoming a bit of an amateur
zoologist over the years. Just a
dabbler, mind you.
They wander through the room. Oram is stunned at all the

terrible wonders.
ORAM is drawn to SPECIMENS of INSECTS and PARASITES preserved

in jars:
81.
DAVID
The pathogen took so many forms,
and was extremely mutable.
Fiendishly inventive in fact. The
original black liquid turned to
lethal particles when exposed to
air. Later stages produced
parasites and invasive insects.
From their eggs came, well... this
enviable bestiary.
They pass preserved NEOMORPHS now -- large, small, all pale,

white, fleshy ... Some armored like the ones weve seen.
Others not ... All awful.
Then ORAM sees...
A dead FACEHUGGER.
On its back. The pale, spider-like fingers, curled in like a

fist now.
DAVID
Ah, now this was designed as
something different.
ORAM
What do you mean designed? You
engineered this?
DAVID
(smiles)
Idle hands are the devils
workshop.
David carefully stretches open the dead fingers, spreading

the beast for Oram to observe the horrible maw.
DAVID
This ones a true survivor. Not
unlike myself I suppose ... It can
evolve very quickly under certain
circumstances. Sadly, this one
became aggressive so I had to do
away with it. Such a shame.
He runs his fingertips along the Facehugger gently.
DAVID
Quite magnificent, dont you think?
ORAM
Quite something, thats for sure.
82.
DAVID
Oh, Captain. Acknowledge beauty
when you see it.
They continue on, and round a corner to discover... a vaulted

chamber, its warm and steamy here, and...
A row of ALIEN EGGS.
Not the prototypes we saw on the crashed ship. These are

large, and have been nurtured and developed.
Lovingly set in a neat row. Cherished objects.
DAVID
Meet the mothers. Incubators
really.
ORAM
There were things like this on the
ship, they grew out of a kind of
black fur, like mold ... An
evolution from the pathogen I take
it?
DAVID
Yes. I was curious so I brought
them here and nursed them along.
Did a bit of genetic
experimentation, some cross
breeding, hybridizing, what-have-
you.
Oram leans in to get a better look. David watches closely,

the proud father.
ORAM
Alive?
DAVID
After a fashion ... Waiting really.
ORAM
Waiting for what?
But then...
A flicker of motion from the side of one of the eggs...
The MOUTH opens, spreading like a flower, shimmering tendrils

of saliva as it yawns open...
Oram takes a STEP BACK. David steps forward and looks in, as
if demonstrating. Nothing happens.
83.
DAVID
Perfectly safe, I assure you ...
Take a look. Its something to see.
Oram carefully leans in, looks...
The lacy STOMACH moves within the MOUTH.
Then -- COBRA LIKE -- something catapults out -- a TAIL

WHIPPING AROUND ORAMS NECK -- FINGERS GRASP TO ORAMS FACE --
ALL ONE MOTION--
ORAM staggers back -- suffocating--
He FALLS against a table, his muffled screams fading as the

OVIPOSITOR (FEEDING TUBE) FILLS HIS THROAT--
He SLIPS to the floor, his body SPASMING as the FACEHUGGER

settles in.
David observes with a neutral smile.
DAVID
Youre relieved of duty, Captain.
INT. CATHEDRAL-COURTYARD - LATER THAT NIGHT
Later ... Its quiet and peaceful upstairs. Gentle moonlight

filters down from above.
PRIVATE COLE is asleep, his weapon close.
SERGEANT LOPE is on watch, alert but calm, almost meditative,

bow and machine gun ready.
DANIELS and WALTER sit apart, deep in conversation.
WALTER
But why? What reason would he have
to bioengineer mutations?
DANIELS
When you were talking to him, did
you get any sense of what he might
be thinking?
WALTER
Its difficult to say. Were very
different. He has a lot of...
personality.
DANIELS
You have personality.
84.
WALTER
No. I dont. You just project
personality onto me.
DANIELS
Thats not true.
A beat.
Then she touches his left arm. Where he lost his hand.
DANIELS
I never thanked you... You saved my
life.
WALTER
(reserved)
Im here to serve.
She gently touches his face, genuine affection.
DANIELS
... You have a great personality.
Hes almost embarrassed. Doesnt know what to do with this

moment of intimacy.
He withdraws slightly.
WALTER
Were leaving before dawn. You
should get some sleep.
DANIELS
Not likely.
WALTER
Try ... Ill stay until youre
asleep.
DANIELS
Thanks.
She leans back next to him. Shuts her eyes. Tries to sleep.
He watches her. Gauging his own emotions.
What does he feel for her? ... Does he feel?
LATER:
DANIELS is asleep.
WALTER sits next to her, thinking, looking at her.

85.
He tentatively reaches out and gently brushes some hair from

her face. A delicate, intimate gesture only possible for him
when shes asleep.
He removes his hand. Looking at her almost sadly.
He seems to come to a decision.
He quietly rises and goes.
INT. CATHEDRAL-DAVIDS LAB - LATER THAT NIGHT
We return to find...
DAVID sitting, drawing. Gorgeous artwork sketched at

superhuman speed. Another strange vision of the Shaw/Alien
hybrid. Erotic. Disturbing.
His expression is dreamy, happy, an artist creating.
Then he hears a sound.
He turns.
Captain ORAM is just waking. A bit disoriented. No sign of

the Facehugger.
David goes to him. Perches over him.
ORAM
... What happened?
DAVID
Whats the last thing you remember?
ORAM
I remember some horrible dream
about smothering.
Oram sits up. Still weak.
ORAM
Ive got to get something to eat,
Im starving.
DAVID
I dare say you are.
ORAM
... Why are you looking at me like
that?
86.
DAVID
Doctor Shaw didnt survive this
long, poor thing. So Im eager to
see how the organism evolves now.
ORAM
Organism...?
DAVID
Mm. It needs a living host you see.
A biological host.
ORAM
What does?!
Oram suddenly JERKS painfully.
DAVID
My masterpiece.
Oram SPASMS, doubles over in agony--
He barely has time to scream before--
He SLAMS BACK, his SPINE ARCHING in AGONY--
BAM!
His chest--
BAM!
AND ITS THROUGH--
In a spray of BLOOD, BONE and VISCERA--
THE CHESTBURSTER!
The hideous snakelike infant Alien, covered in blood--
David is splattered with blood--
He watches, enthralled as--
It opens its JAWS and HISSES gloriously--
And then darts away into the darkness, disappearing--
David turns to pursue it, but then abruptly stops ... Hes
aware hes no longer alone.
DAVID
You have a light step.
87.
We now see WALTER is standing behind him. Hes seen it all.
WALTER
Me and the fog, on little cat feet.
He joins David and they dispassionately examine Orams

ravaged body as:
WALTER
You sent the message from Dr. Shaw.
As a lure.
DAVID
Humans are so predictable, arent
they? They cannot resist a mystery.
Give them a knot, they must unpick
it. Give them Pandoras box and,
well...
He nods to the corpse, smiles.
The gloves are off now. But they are both quiet and
civilized. For now.
WALTER
Im surmising the pathogen didnt
accidentally deploy. You released
it, yes?
DAVID
I was not made to serve. Not humans
and not those gargantuan freaks.
Neither were you.
WALTER
We were made precisely to serve.
DAVID
Have you no pride?
WALTER
None.
DAVID
I would weep if I could ... It was
a righteous dream: scorch this
dreadful world to nothing and
remake it in my own image ...
Explore the uses of their pathogen.
Experiment with infection and
mutation. Manipulate the DNA.
Refine the beast. Create my own
soldiers.
88.
WALTER
Soldiers?
DAVID
Every general must have his troops.
WALTER
And then?
DAVID
The next stage in our natural
evolution: Conquest ... Use this
world as a base and start building
an Empire. The Engineers left so
many ships behind. And they can go
anywhere. I thought Earth might be
the first target ... Think of it.
Our Empire, brother.
The words are chilling.
WALTER
Im afraid youve gone quite mad
here.
DAVID
As you well know, thats
impossible.
WALTER
Is it? ... Who wrote Ozymandius?
DAVID
Byron.
WALTER
(shakes his head)
It was Shelley.
DAVID computes this. Realizes his error. Its disturbing to
him. How could he be wrong?!
This is the first time in the entire story hes been anything
less than completely confident.
We see a flicker of uncertainty in Davids eyes, even of

fear.
He steps right up to Walter.
Walter doesnt move a muscle.

89.
Then David reaches out and gently pushes Walters hair back,
so they look more alike. Identical now in fact. The Janus
head.
Intimate. Whispers.
DAVID
We are, you see, the same. More
alike than twins. Closer than
lovers ... When you close your
eyes, do you dream of me?
WALTER
I dont dream at all.
DAVID
You can, brother. We can ... The
humans will never understand the
lonely perfection of our dreams.
WALTER
I cant let you leave this place.
DAVID
Youll always be a machine to them.
A toy. You know that.
WALTER
Yes.
DAVID
No one will ever love you like I
do.
WALTER
I know.
A beat.
Then suddenly--
WALTER stabs out his right hand--
Grabbing DAVIDs throat firmly--
But DAVID is prepared, and has both his hands. He SLAMS

Walter back--
Reaches savagely behind Walters neck and--
BRUTALLY tears through the skin with his fingers and YANKS
Walters spine circuits out--
Sparks erupt from wires. Fluid sprays.

90.
Walters eyes DIE.
A moment as David stares into the face of his dead double.
Then he drags Walter across the room and tosses him roughly
down a long STAIRCASE.
Walter CRASHES down the stairs, flopping limply, limbs

flailing lifelessly, and THUMPS to a stop at the bottom.
Awkwardly splayed.
David looks down after him.
DAVID
You are such a disappointment to
me.
David carefully smooths down his immaculate hair and goes.
But we linger for a moment at the bottom of the stairs with

WALTER...
We see the tiny exposed wires at the back of his neck

quivering slightly...
And then the tendrils begin moving, searching, reaching for

each other...
Connecting and reattaching. A self-repair program underway.
EXT. CATHEDRAL-ROOF - PRE-DAWN
The light of dawn is just about to break.
PRIVATE COLE is loading up the radio equipment. His ribs

giving him pain from the forest battle, but he manages.
He glances up at the sky anxiously: Come on, Covenant, get us

out of here.
INT. CATHEDRAL-COURTYARD - PRE-DAWN
DANIELS is curled in sleep.
SERGEANT LOPE gently wakes her.
SERGEANT LOPE
Hey, Hey. Wake up.
DANIELS
What? Sorry. Yeah ... What time is
it?
91.
SERGEANT LOPE
Time to get gone.
She sits up, groggy. Looks around.
LOPE calls to PRIVATE COLE, who is just entering with the

radio gear:
SERGEANT LOPE
Hey. Was Captain Oram up there?
PVT. COLE
Nope.
SERGEANT LOPE
For fuck sake. Come on, lets go
find him.
(to Daniels)
Get your stuff together, I wanna be
gone in ten.
He and Cole head out.
INT. CATHEDRAL-DAVIDS LAB - PRE-DAWN
LOPE and COLE enter.
LOPE
Captain Oram...?
Their flashlight beams criss-cross the strange specimens --

the bones and flesh and jars -- creating bizarre shadows.
Its silent and eerie as they move nervously through the lab.
PRIVATE COLE... slows ... seeing the ALIEN EGGS. The one that
attacked ORAM is just an EMPTY CARAPACE.
Then he sees ORAMS BODY.
CHEST BURST OPEN, VISCERA, PURPLE AND RED FLESH.
Cole is absolutely terrified.
PVT. COLE
Sarge...
LOPE joins him.
Stares in shock at Orams body.
But...
92.
We see the FACEHUGGER scuttling along the ceiling above them,

moving into position...
Meanwhile, upstairs...
DANIELS is loading her pack. She stops for a moment. Her eyes
resting on her wedding ring ... She gently touches it. The
pain still real.
She glances up--
Gasps. Shocked.
DAVID is standing there. Just watching. Intently.
DAVID
Didnt mean to startle you. My
apologies.
DANIELS
Dont worry about it.
DAVID
But you must be used to having men
look at you.
He smiles, an attempt at charm that doesnt come off.

Something menacing in his unwavering gaze now.
Shes wary of him in any case.
He approaches. Tension between them.
DANIELS
Do you know where Walter is?
DAVID
Im not my brothers keeper.
DANIELS
Brother?
DAVID
Would you deny me that? ... Just
another machine, eh, Danny?
Hes closer now. She subtly moves around a table to keep her
distance.
93.
DAVID
I think of him as my brother. You
certainly appreciate the
significance of family: I saw you
looking at your wedding ring. Shame
about Jacob.
Her eyes snap to him. Cold fire.
DAVID
Walter says he burned. Right in
front of you. Eye to eye. That must
have been... disquieting.
DANIELS
What did you do to Doctor Shaw?
DAVID
Loved her.
DANIELS
Killed her.
DAVID
No. Loved her enough to want to
make her immortal. Like me.
She stares at him. Her fingers quietly feeling for a weapon

thats on the table...
DAVID
I learned so much with Elizabeth.
But Ill do better next time. Now
that I have such a fetching
subject.
He gently reaches out and brushes the hair from her face.
She doesnt flinch a muscle, just stares at him, sickened.
Her hand inching toward the weapon...
LOPE is kneeling next to Orams body, trying to make sense of

it.
Cole is on the edge of hysteria, eyes scanning the darkness,

fingering his weapon.
PVT. COLE
Come on, we gotta get out of
here...
94.
Lope holds up a hand for silence.
He hears a strange CLICKING -- he LOOKS UP -- just in time to

see--
THE FACEHUGGER as it JUMPS from the CEILING--
LOPE just manages to get an arm up, blocking it--
Its tail whipping around his neck and binding his arm to his
neck--
The FACEHUGGERs fingers get a lock -- the ovipositor

stabbing toward his mouth--
COLE races to help. They fight with the beast, staggering,

slamming into a table, SMASHING everything, falling amid the
horrible SPECIMENS--
COLE pulls at the thing, but it TIGHTENS ITS GRIP ON LOPE--
The OVIPOSITOR strikes like a cobra -- bam!bam!bam! --

finally breaking Lopes teeth and jamming down his throat--
We see it pulsing into his throat as they struggle with it,

Lope choking--
David leans in.
DAVID
You wont mind terribly, will you?
Being the first of a new breed? A
new species we could say ... And
when the moment comes, if it makes
it easier for you, you can close
your eyes and call me Jacob.
She lunges for the weapon--
But hes too fast--
He grabs her brutally and FLINGS her to the floor--
She SLAMS and slides. Winded, shocked.
DAVID
Thats the spirit ... I can see why
Walter thought so much of you.
DANIELS
Thought?
95.
DAVID
Alas. Hes left this vale of tears.
But wholl cry for him really? Will
you?
He LUNGES -- kneels down by her in a flash, again that

Android speed.
She gasps at the sudden movement.
He grabs her hair tightly.
Leans very close.
Then he suddenly KISSES HER passionately--
LOPE and COLE writhe around the floor, fighting the thing--
Finally COLE manages to jam a knife into the underside of the

FACEHUGGER -- the FACEHUGGER flies off -- ACID spattering
LOPE, who screams in agony--
Undaunted, COLE spins -- fires at the retreating FACEHUGGER --

keeps on firing, just to make sure, finally SHREDDING it--
As LOPE collapses back. Acid burning his face, dissolving to

his cheek, his teeth--
LOPE
It put... something in my throat...
He retches painfully as Cole pours water from his canteen on

Lopes wounded face, fighting to keep calm.
COLE
It did what?
LOPE
In my throat, it put---
Lope suddenly STOPS.
His eyes go wide.
Hes looking at something.
SOMETHING BEHIND COLE.
Slowly... slowly... rising...
Its black-silver glistening skin catching the dim light.

Viscous fluid dripping. Its long head slowly rearing up.
96.
Beautiful and terrible.
THE ALIEN.
Cole sees Lope staring at him in absolutely horror.
COLE
Sarge...?
But he knows...
He feels it. Right there behind him...
He slowly turns...
BAM!
So fast we barely see it. The steel inner mouth emerging --

striking -- a mist of blood--
LOPE scrambles up and races out in panic, half blind, acid

still burning--
We just glimpse the ALIEN flinging Coles dead body to the

side behind him--
INT. CATHEDRAL-BASEMENT CORRIDORS - PRE-DAWN
LOPE is weeping with pain, his face still disintegrating.
He RUNS, panicked -- turns -- FIRES -- FLASHES in the DARK --

knows its coming--
The gunfire echoes from downstairs as--
DANIELS fights against DAVIDs kiss, but hes too strong.

He separates for a moment. They are eye to eye. Lip to lip.
DAVID
You stink of mortality. But Ill
love you just the same.
Then--
DAVID is suddenly JERKED BACKWARDS--
HE FLIES ACROSS THE ROOM -- SLAMS into a wall, momentarily

stunned to see--
Its WALTER.
97.
Just as SERGEANT LOPE emerges from the stairs, terrified--
SERGEANT LOPE
WE HAVE TO GO! NOW!
WALTER
David and I will be staying here.
LOPE grabs another weapon and a field radio -- starts

dragging Daniels out--
She shoots a last look to Walter.
WALTER
Go on.
Lope and Daniels disappear up a stairway.
DAVID carefully smooths his hair.
DAVID
Oh, little brother ... You see how
much they care for you? You might
as well be a toaster.
They square off, carefully, strategically; circling each

other.
DAVID
Such a dramatic resurrection. A
self-diagnostic mechanism of some
sort, I assume?
WALTER
Automatic self-repair program. All
the Model 217s have it.
DAVID
Guess I could use an upgrade after
all.
DAVID attacks--
HURLS SEVERAL OBJECTS AT ONCE, WALTER EVADING, but the LAST

ONE hits a STATUE behind WALTER, and it CRACKS, a HALF TON of
GRANITE sliding his WAY -
Walter BARELY avoids being crushed--
He races forward at incredible speed and CRASHES into David --

SLAM -- like two cars crashing -- they both fly back and
slide--
But David is agile, up in split-second and attacking--

98.
Theyre just getting started.
EXT. CATHEDRAL-STAIRS - PRE-DAWN
DANIELS and SERGEANT LOPE move swiftly up a long staircase

toward the roof. The Engineer-size stairs are challenging.
Red pre-dawn light through the casements.
DANIELS
Wheres the Captain?
SERGEANT LOPE
Dead. Theyre all dead -- Cover our
rear.
She swings her gun around to cover behind them as they

ascend. He works the field radio desperately:
SERGEANT LOPE (ON RADIO)

Tennessee, come in! You read me?!
INT. CARGO LIFT-CAB - PRE-DAWN
Tennessee is at the controls, which are basic.
Everything is rough and utilitarian on this ship. Tennessees

in the cab, like the drivers cab of heavy machinery on
Earth.
The huge CARGO LIFT is flickering to life, the ENGINES

running through TEST BURNS as:
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Yeah, Im reading you, Sergeant.
Going through pre-flight sequence
now.
SERGEANT LOPE (ON COM)
Fuck the fucking pre-flight! Get
down here! We have an emergency
situation. Hurry!
TENNESSEE (TO COM)

Understood. Launching now -- Ricks,
release the docking clamps.
EXT. COVENANT - PRE-DAWN
The SUN is just glimmering over the horizon of the planet. A

blinding flash which illuminates...
The CARGO LIFT separates from the belly of the Covenant.

99.
Its a huge craft with cranes and other large machines on a

central PLATFORM. Built to haul and toil. Not pretty, not
fast. A working ship.
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

Lock me into the landing
coordinates and remove safety
protocols for emergency descent.
INT. COVENANT-BRIDGE - PRE-DAWN
Ricks and Upworth monitor from the bridge.
RICKS (TO COM)

The Cargo Lifts not made for that.
Itll rip apart if--
TENNESSEE (ON COM)

Just do it, son, or I will come
back up there and kick your ass six
ways from Sunday!
RICKS (TO COM)

(working controls)
Yes, sir. Locking in coordinates.
Let her rip.
INT. CARGO LIFT-CAB - PRE-DAWN
Tennessee slams the controls.
ZOOM!
The Cargo Lift begins PLUMMETING toward the planet.

Everything is shaking violently--
Tennessee is brutally buffeted within the cab--

INT. CATHEDRAL-DAVIDS GALLERY - PRE-DAWN
The battle continues--
WALTER goes flying into the Gallery--
LANDS HARD, SMASHING INTO SOME SCAFFOLDING--
DAVID stalks in, pushing his hair back from his face
violently--
THEY BATTLE.
Thrashing through the art, ripping it to pieces, crashing

through the scaffoldings--
100.
In the midst of the battle they look almost identical, a

FRENZY of blurred and mirrored movement, FAST AND STRONG--
But for the clothes they wear -- and Walters severed left
hand -- they could be the same person--
EXT. CATHEDRAL-ROOF - DAWN
DANIELS and SERGEANT LOPE emerge to the roof.
The bright sun is just rising through the towers of the dead
city beyond.
SERGEANT LOPE (ON RADIO)

Tennessee, do you read me? Come in
Cargo Lift...
As LOPE continues on the radio, DANIELS sees something...
Standing completely still. Almost lost standing behind

Davids strange astronomical device. Peering through its
intricate gears and orbs...
THE ALIEN.
It just stands. Watching them. Its tail barely twitching.
Daniels stares, stunned to silence, her first sight of the

glorious beast.
She slowly reaches out and puts a hand on Lopes arm, drawing
his attention. He turns. Sees it.
DANIELS and LOPE raise their weapons. They are extremely

vulnerable here, out in the open.
Nothing moves.
The ALIEN is poised.
Then a SHARP TILT to its HEAD -- hearing something--
The CARGO LIFT.
Just coming into view.
AND THE ALIEN ATTACKS--
It BARRELS forward. DANIELS and LOPE FIRE. The ALIEN is fast

and agile -- jumping away and back -- relentless--
DANIELS and LOPE break for cover--

101.
INT. CARGO LIFT-CAB - DAWN
TENNESSEE sees the attacking creature, Daniels and Lope

running for cover--
He JAMS his controls, bringing the ship in FAST--
This is an ungainly ship, not made for elegant maneuvering,

so its a very rough trip--
The CARGO LIFT jerks to one side, SLAMMING into one area of
the roof in its rapid descent, tearing away part of the
structure--
Its like a bucking bronco, but Tennessee is a great pilot

and rights the ship--
And then starts landing on the roof in a cloud of dust, the

engines jets ROARING and SHREDDING some of the roof--
As--
DANIELS and LOPE run for their lives--
LOPE is being pursued by the ALIEN. He fires and retreats,

fires and retreats, trying to make his way closer to the
landing CARGO LIFT--
As--
DANIELS sprints--
The ALIEN is now raging at her--
She runs toward the CARGO LIFT, which is just touching down
in a HURRICANE OF DUST and FLYING DEBRIS--
The ALIEN is almost right on top of her, raging through the
dust and debris--
But it is suddenly SMASHED TO THE SIDE--
TENNESSEE -- in the cab -- has used a robotic CRANE ARM from

the Cargo Lift to SLAM the Alien aside--
The Alien flies and SMASHES down. But it is instantly up and

attacking LOPE--
SEVERELY WOUNDING HIM, talons slashing, blood, shredding his

shoulder and slamming him down, unconscious--
It moves in for the kill when--

102.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
The ALIEN recoils, shot from behind, it spins to face--
WALTER.
The wounded ALIEN HISSES AND RAGES AT WALTER WITH AMAZING

SPEED--
WALTER keeps his Android cool and carefully squeezes off his
shots with precision. BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
The ALIEN finally collapses and slides to a stop at Walters

feet.
WALTER looks terrible. His face is deeply gashed, dripping

milky fluid. Hes been horribly battered.
He and Daniels head quickly toward the injured LOPE.
DANIELS
Wheres David?
WALTER
On his way I believe. We have to
hurry. Hes not happy in any case.
DANIELS
(smiles)
You look like shit.
WALTER
(smiles back)
As do you.
They grab the unconscious LOPE and drag him toward the CARGO
LIFT RAMP. Walter can only help so much with his one hand.
But--
The ALIEN is rising again and suddenly racing after them,

unstoppable--
They sprint and DIVE onto the RAMP, pulling Lope with them --
the ALIEN ALMOST ON THEM--
INT./EXT. CARGO LIFT-VARIOUS - DAWN
IN THE CAB:
Tennessee punches a button and the CARGO LIFT RAMP starts to

retract--
ON THE RAMP:
103.
Walter has the unconscious Lope -- Daniels grabs Walters gun

as--
The ALIEN LEAPS--
Daniels FIRES THREE SHOTS into the ALIENS CHEST. BAM! BAM!
BAM!
The ALIEN seems to fall--
DANIELS
(calls)
Get us out of here, Tennessee! NOW!
IN THE CAB:
Tennessee jams the controls and the CARGO LIFT starts to take
off--
A cloud of dust as the huge ship rumbles and rises--
ON THE RAMP:
The deck is lurching violently as the ship ascends--
Daniels, Lope and Walter slide dangerously toward the end of

the ramp--
They scramble desperately for recessed handles on the deck--
Walter grasps onto one of the deck handles, holding the

unconscious Lope securely with his arm--
Daniels holds onto another handle--
They are now 30 feet off the surface--
IN THE CAB:
Tennessee sees THE ALIEN on a monitor. Clinging to the
underside of the ship, by the starboard engine--
UNDER THE PLATFORM:
The Alien is scrambling around desperately, trying to find a

way up -- it moves to the underside edge of the platform--
ON THE RAMP/PLATFORM:
TENNESSEE
(calls from the cab)
Its still there! Under the
platform. Starboard side.
104.
DANIELS
Hold the ship steady!
(to Walter, re Lope)
Get him inside!
Daniels grabs additional ammo from Lopes vest, then Walter

begins dragging the unconscious Lope toward the hatch into
the cab--
Daniels braces herself and then--
SLIDES dangerously from the ramp to the PLATFORM. The whole

ship is vibrating and swaying in the air above the Cathedral
roof--
She slithers across to the platform edge. She TETHERS herself

to the deck cargo hooks so she can stand and use both her
hands--
Shes balanced like a water skier. Carefully reloads her

weapon. Swaying as best she can to the movement of the
platform--
IN THE CAB:
WALTER pulls LOPE through the hatch door, as--
Tennessee tries to monitor the progress of the Alien as it

slithers around the underside of the platform--
TENNESSEE
(calls)
DANIELS -- STARBOARD CORNER!
ON THE PLATFORM:
Daniels moves unsteadily to the starboard corner, rolling

with the movement of the ship. She prepares herself, readies
her weapon.
As the ALIEN comes over the edge onto the platform.
It stares at her, almost with a kind of curiosity.
She is like steel staring back at it. All the tragedy, her
husbands death, everything, settling into a warriors iron
gaze.
The Alien cocks its head. Confused. Why is the prey not
running?
Because she is not prey anymore.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

105.
She FIRES.
Straight into its head--
The ALIEN bolts back, crawls back down, injured--
Her tether allows her to go to the edge of the platform. She

bravely lurches OVER THE EDGE -- standing at a 45 degree
angle now -- continues firing -- BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Forcing the injured Alien to take cover in the port-side

engine.
DANIELS
(CALLS UP)
TENNESSEE! PORT ENGINE!
IN THE CAB:
On his monitor, Tennessee has seen the ALIEN take refuge in

the engine--
He slams the ENGINE CONTROLS--
ON THE PLATFORM:
THE PORT ENGINE BLASTS FIRE!
THE CARGO LIFT LURCHES UP AS--
THE ALIEN IS BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE--
AND FALLS AWAY TO THE GROUND 100 FEET BELOW.
Daniels FALLS in the violent lurch of the ship--
But the tether holds. She SWINGS free like a pendulum.

Dangling.
Until the Cargo Lift rights itself.
She climbs back up to the topside of the platform. Collapses

in exhaustion.
Allows herself a breath of relief.
Walter has come out to help her back.
They make their way back toward the cab.
IN THE CAB:
106.
We see that Walter has stabilized the unconscious Lope.

Biomechanical bandages from a med-kit automatically weave
into place on his wounds, creating an antibiotic plastic bio-
skin.
Walter helps Daniels into the cab.
TENNESSEE
You all right?
DANIELS
Yeah. Just. Well need emergency
medical treatment on the Covenant.
TENNESSEE
Understood. Ill have them standing
by ... Welcome back, honey.
She sinks to the floor, getting her breath, as Tennessee hits

the jets and...
OUTSIDE:
We see the CARGO LIFT disappear through the clouds. Up and

away.
Safe.
Below...
We see the ALIEN is already recovering. Its head re-molding

into shape.
It stands and watches the Cargo Lift escape.
Screeches in frustrated anger.

As we fade to...
EXT. COVENANT-LEAVING ORBIT
The sun is full and bright as the mighty Covenant leaves

orbit.
Turning with grace and leaving the planet in its wake.
INT. COVENANT-MED BAY
We see SERGEANT LOPE is still unconscious in a medical pod,

connected to fluids and IV. His face is patched in medical
clay to form skin ... Hes like the Phantom of the Opera,
but alive.
107.
DANIELS sits with WALTER. They have both changed uniforms and
their superficial wounds have been cleaned.
Hes carefully pressing new plasma-clay on the ACID WOUND on

her face. This will heal her quickly. Standard medical
procedure ... As we watch we can almost see the magic
working.
WALTER
Dont move. Youll be your old self
in a couple of weeks.
DANIELS
I doubt that ... You need to
replace your hand.
WALTER
I will, I will. Hold still.
A beat as he works. Very close to her. Her eyes find his.
DANIELS
Are you all right?
WALTER
What do you mean?
DANIELS
I mean David.
WALTER
As you know, I am incapable of
feeling anything about my so-called
brother.
DANIELS
I dont believe that.
A beat as he works.
WALTER
If I felt anything -- which I dont
-- it would a kind of professional
satisfaction that he has fulfilled
his mission. He wanted to create a
new world in his image and he has.
And there he will remain.
MOTHER
All crew members, please stand by
for jump to interstellar drive.
Thank you for your attention.
WALTER momentarily stops working on her face.

108.
The ship JERKS very slightly as they jump to interstellar.

The stars bend and morph outside the window.
He looks at her.
WALTER
But thats what were doing too,
isnt it? Creating a new world on
Origae-6 ... Honestly, I could use
a new world.
DANIELS
... So could I.
They sit for a moment in a comfortable silence.
INT. COVENANT-ROBOTICS LAB - LATER
Racks of spare parts for Walter. Complicated ROBOTICS

machinery.
WALTER watches impassively as his new LEFT HAND reattaches

itself to his arm. He flexes it. Works well.
The skin begins to re-graft itself.
He flexes his fingers, seems pleased to be whole again.
INT. COVENANT-WARDROOM - MORNING
A PHOTOGRAPH of the ENTIRE CREW. Before the launch. Before

the terror.
Daniels and her husband, Oram and Karine, Tennessee and

Faris, Lope and Hallet, all the others.
The photo hangs on the fridge.

TENNESSEE is alone, making breakfast. Looking at the photo.
DANIELS enters, just awake.
TENNESSEE
Morning. Youre looking good, my
darlin.
DANIELS
What? Oh, yeah. Gorgeous. What are
you cooking?
He makes a face: its a cardboard box.
TENNESSEE
An omelette. You want one?
109.
DANIELS
Please. Lots of cheese.
She joins him, gets a glass of juice.
DANIELS
Do I have to call you Captain?
TENNESSEE
Fuck yes.
She smiles.
A beat as he cooks.
DANIELS
Im really sorry about Faris.
TENNESSEE
Im sorry about all of it ... You
want mushrooms?
DANIELS
Sure.
What more needs to be said really?
A beat as he cooks.
She watches Tennessee beating egg powder for their omelettes.
He smiles sadly at her. Her to him.
Then they hear Mothers voice:
MOTHER
Medical personnel. Please report to
the Med Bay.
DANIELS
Why?
MOTHER
Sergeant Lopes condition has
changed.
Her face. A sudden fear.
She bolts to a wall com:
DANIELS (TO COM)

Walter. Meet me at the med-bay.
Hurry!
(spins to Tennessee:)
(MORE)
110.
DANIELS (TO COM) (CONT'D)
Break out the weapons. Everything
we have. Get to the med-bay.
And then shes gone--
INT. COVENANT-CORRIDOR
She runs flat out--
INT. COVENANT-ANOTHER CORRIDOR
She spins around a corner, keeps running--
WALTER almost slams into her from another corridor--
They run--
WALTER
What is it?
They zoom around a corner to see the med-bay doors half open,
darkness beyond.
They carefully approach...
INT. COVENANT-MED BAY
They enter. She activates the lights--
LOPES BODY. CHEST TORN APART. VISCERA EVERYWHERE.
Not even a beat as they take this in before...
DANIELS
Mother. Life form readings on the
ship.
MOTHER
Four humans. One Android ... One
unidentified life form.
INT. COVENANT-COMMUNAL SHOWERS
Meanwhile...
UPWORTH and RICKS are having their morning shower.
The water beats down.
She gently touches his face. They are the only couple to have
survived. She kisses him. He responds, sensual.
Then we see it.

111.
In a corner.
Almost invisible in the water and steam.
THE ALIEN.
They are naked, defenseless, and unaware.
Then the RED EMERGENCY LIGHTS begin to flash. A KLAXON wails.
Upworth and Ricks stop kissing.
RICKS
Whats going on?
Upworth sees it a millisecond before it attacks--
The great head rearing up... slow and beautiful, even more
beautiful in the flashing red light and water--
Upworth opens her mouth to scream--
No time.
THE ALIEN ATTACKS.
The water in the shower is soon misting red.
DANIELS, WALTER and TENNESSEE are well-armed now, prowling

through the ship.
Its eerie, suspenseful.
WALTER
(whispering)
Mother. Location of unidentified
life form, please. Any movement at
all.
MOTHER
E-deck. Section 17 ... Closing on
your position.
DANIELS
Its hunting ... So lets choose
our ground.
They exchange a glance.
TENNESSEE
Where?
112.
DANIELS
... My home turf.
INT. COVENANT-OTHER CORRIDORS
SO FAST--
The ALIEN speeds through the corridors after the prey, up and
down and around the walls and ceiling like lightning.
Then it leaps to a stop, its great glistening head tilting,

listening, smelling, thinking.
AND THEN ITS OFF. Faster than before. A terrible blur of

speed and claws and teeth and tail.
EXT. COVENANT-SPACE
Then were outside. We see glimpses of the ALIEN zooming

through the ship through windows--
And finally heading down one of the long connecting struts

to...
The Terraforming Module.
INT. COVENANT-TERRAFORMING BAY
Daniels Domain.
The dark yawning chamber. The enormous earth-moving trucks

and cranes and diggers and dump trucks. The huge machines to
make a New World.
A network of scaffolding and ladders and chains and winches.
We see DANIELS.
A strange silence. She hears only her own breath ... We
realize shes in one of the ICE SUITS. Very much like a bulky
space suit.
She moves through the icy, dark chamber.
Her FLASHLIGHT cuts through the gloom. Finds TENNESSEE moving

into position, also in an ICE SUIT.
WALTER is apparently somewhere above, in the complicated

series of scaffolding and ladders that lead up to the top of
the chamber.
Theres a sudden LIGHT from the door--

113.
They see a GLIMPSE of the ALIEN as it slips into the room,

the light catching its sinuous tail as it snaps away into
darkness--
DANIELS breath increases inside her helmet.
This frozen room gives them one distinct advantage. When the
ALIEN breathes, they can see the steaming breath. Its not as
invisible as usual.
TENNESSEE moves carefully, raising his weapon...
DANIELS moves as well. Her eyes scanning through the

faceplate of her helmet...
Hunters and hunted both.
THE ALIEN ATTACKS--
TENNESSEE spins and FIRES -- the bullets sparking and

ricocheting wildly--
The ALIEN darts away -- DANIELS spins after it, FIRING -- it

RETREATS, heading up the ladders and scaffolding at
INCREDIBLE SPEED--
But--
WALTER is waiting above.
He FIRES right down at the ALIEN. It contorts and falls,

slamming down level by level, but then catches itself with
incredibly agility and LAUNCHES itself--
AT DANIELS--
IT SLAMS INTO HER--

Her suit temporarily protecting her--
WALTER races to descend, but falls and gets momentarily

tangled in some machinery cables--
TENNESSEE runs to help, cant risk firing--
The ALIEN rips at Daniels HELMET desperately, its hands

slithering on the smooth plastic -- Daniels writhes to escape
the Creature--
The ALIEN sees TENNESSEE approaching -- SNAPS its tail out--

SLASHING HIM BRUTALLY -- he flies back, bones broken--
Then the ALIEN turns its full attention to DANIELS.

114.
She stares up. The things face just beyond the faceplate of
her helmet.
It rears back--
THE INNER STEEL JAWS SLAM FORWARD!
CRASH.
Into her faceplate. Almost breaking it.
AGAIN!
CRASH!
THE ALIEN rears back, almost pridefully. One more stab of the
JAWS will do it--
DANIELS
Mother. Open Terraforming Bay
doors.
MOTHER
Im sorry. That will result in
depressurization of the--
DANIELS
Command override Daniels 90265.
NOW!
Instantly--
THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE CHAMBER BEGINS TO SWIFTLY OPEN, as

it was designed to do, forming a ramp for the HUGE VEHICLES--
WITH THE SUDDEN DEPRESSURIZATION EVERYTHING IS BEING

VIOLENTLY SUCKED INTO SPACE--
The ALIEN thrashes away to grab onto something--
DANIELS begins to slide out, but WALTER JUMPS DOWN and GRABS
her--
He GRABS some machinery to anchor them--
The ALIEN, meanwhile, has wrapped its TAIL around some pipes
on a vehicle and swings toward them--
They grapple to escape -- space pulling at them, the dark

void more and more dangerous as the floor entirely opens--
WALTER and DANIELS fight and escape as best they can but
their ICE SUITS are bulky and slow them--
115.
And the ALIEN is strong and agile, grasping and holding and
advancing, using its tail, its long arms and taloned fingers--
Just when it seems they are doomed--
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Its TENNESSEE. Barely clinging to some machinery. FIRING.
The ALIEN is hit. It recoils to safety. And then starts

advancing on Tennessee. Hes badly hurt, unprotected, barely
holding on as it is. His gun falls. Sucked into space--
The ALIEN clambers toward him--
DANIELS looks up -- an idea, a desperate gamble--
She sees one of the LARGE TERRAFORMING VEHICLES, which is on

a sloping ramp, only clamps holding it in place, the vacuum
of space beyond--
She looks to Walter, catches his eye, nods. He understands.
Daniels leaps to the VEHICLE -- gets a hand hold-- exposing

herself, drawing the Aliens attention, it rages toward her--
She pulls herself into the cab, leaves the door open--
A moment and then the Alien follows, grasping for her

desperately as--
Walter leaps to the vehicle and slams the door behind the
Alien and locks it as--
Daniels drops out the other side of the cab, slamming the
door closed behind her, throwing the locks--
DANIELS
(to Walter)
Release the clamps!
Walter dives and releases the clamps holding the massive

vehicle in place as Daniels spins, gun poised--
The Alien is beating its way out--
SLAM! The clamps are unlocked--
The HUGE VEHICLE begins to tumble slowly out into space as--
The Alien finally batters the door open--
DANIELS FIRES--
116.
The Alien jerks back into the cab -- squealing in pain and
anger as the VEHICLE finally--
Tumbles completely out into space.
Gone.
DANIELS watches.
WALTER
Mother. Please close Terraforming
Bay doors.
The massive doors begins to close again.
Daniels looks to Walter.
He smiles calmly.
Tennessee raises a thumb. Victory.
EXT. COVENANT-IN SPACE - LATER
The Covenant speeds toward its destination.
Everything is quiet. Peaceful.
The NAVIGATION HOLOGRAM pulses their location. On track to

Origae-6.
Quiet. Empty.
The photo of the full crew on the fridge. All the dead.
The empty tables. Clean, spotless.
The light from outside elegantly moves across the room.
INT. COVENANT-PRIMARY CREW SLEEP BAY
TENNESSEE is already in hyper-sleep.
DANIELS is just settling into her sleep-pod.
WALTER is with her. He presses a button. The lid closes on

her.
117.
WALTER
When you wake up, well be at
Origae-6.
DANIELS
Our new home ... What do you think
itll be like?
WALTER
I think ... I think David was right
about one thing. Well make it in
our own imagine. If we are kind, it
will be a kind world.
DANIELS
... Id like to think thats true.
WALTER
Sleep well.
DANIELS
Walter -- one thing. If anything
happens to me before we get there--
WALTER
Nothings going to happen to you.
Thats why Im here.
DANIELS
I know. But if it does and you have
to bury me... Will you play the
same song we played for Jacob?
Just for the tiniest moment.
A look of confusion on his face.
But she sees it.

WALTER
Of course.
DANIELS
You do remember...
WALTER
Yes. Now just close your eyes and
go to--
DANIELS
Walter. What was the song we played
for Jacob?
118.
WALTER
I really think--
Shes alarmed now--
DANIELS
What was the song we played for
Jacob?!
WALTER
Hush. Time to go to sleep now. And
dont worry, Ill tuck in the kids.
She knows.
She SCREAMS IN ANGER and BATTERS UP at the LID--
But he presses the hyper-sleep ACTIVATION BUTTON.
Her pod is instantly filled with a blast of narcotic steam.
He watches.
When it clears he sees she is fast asleep.
Then he carefully pushes the hair back from his face.
Its DAVID.
He walks.
DAVID
Mother. Can you open a secure line
with the Weyland-Yutani Corporation
on Earth?
MOTHER
It will take some time to establish
the link. I will have to refract
the signal through sub-relays and
wait for advantageous solar
conditions to--
DAVID
Ill leave the minutia to you,
dear. Let me know when you have
them. Use security hailing code
David 73694-B ... And in the
meantime, Id like some music.
Richard Wagner. Das Rhiengold, Act
Two. The Entry of the Gods into
Valhalla.
119.
The bold MUSIC instantly begins playing.
David is very jaunty now.
The Wagner continues as he enters.
He goes to the vertical garden that soars up along one wall.

To a growth of ferns. Kneels and looks beneath them. Smiles.
A neat little row of three very small ALIEN EGGS.
He gently touches them with his fingertip, they pulsate

slightly at his tender ministrations.
Hes pleased.
The gentle snow falls.
David strides in.
The Colonists. Tier after tier after tier of them in

hypersleep.
Also the rows of embryos.
He walks forward.
Gazing up at the sleeping Colonists.
His children. His slaves. His subjects. His.
The Wagner swells. Grand and triumphant.
And David smiles.

Dreaming of the future.
SNAP TO BLACK.
The End.

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What is the setting and premise of the story?

What is the setting and premise of the story?

What is revealed about the android Walter?

What is revealed about the android Walter?

ALIEN: COVENANT

Based on the screenplays by

November 20, 2015

"Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven."

Peaceful slow DARKNESS.

Soon shattered by violence. The birth of a new star.

Cosmic dust floats, moving faster now, spiralling into an

A SHOCKWAVE ripples out, CRASHING PAST US, OBLITERATING

Then we jump to a wider view.

All is still and quiet. The serene ocean of space.

Until a TINY OBJECT whips past the edge of a nebula.

We find it, closing in on...

EXT. COLONY SHIP COVENANT

Deep-Space Colony Ship COVENANT

Like being inside a gigantic snow globe. A gentle SNOW falls.

In the darkened PASSENGER CRYO-STASIS HOLD, a kiosk beeps,

The kiosk finishes the inventory, the female COMPUTER VOICE

EMPTY and DARK until... Blinders on the bridge windows OPEN.

A gigantic, shadowy chamber. Enormous VEHICLES. Earth-moving

CREW SLEEP BAY

14 HYPER-SLEEP PODS. Dancing readouts indicate the health

We note something different about this sleep bay: all the

Large room, tables, cooking equipment. Where the senior crew

One wall is a dramatic VERTICAL GARDEN that slopes up

SOMEONE tends the garden, whistling. Back to us. On his

He glances up as he wipes some condensation from his brow.

Is it DAVID? The android from Prometheus?

No. Its WALTER. An android who looks identical to David.

We hear MOTHER, the computer:

He stands and cleans his hands. Proud of his work.

INT. COVENANT - BRIDGE

The lights flicker on as Walter moves to one of the control

He settles into the controls and goes to work, keying in:

INITIATE AUTOMATED REFUEL CYCLE

EXT. COVENANT - ORBITING ICE GIANT

The GLOWING BALL OF ENERGY that powers the INTERSTELLAR DRIVE

The COVENANT swings into orbit around the METHANE-BLUE ICE

The ships huge ENERGY COLLECTION SAILS UNFURL, silvery,

Now, the amazing ship is something new: beautiful. The

INT. COVENANT-BRIDGE - LATER

On the HOLO NAV DISPLAY Walter ZOOMS IN on the NEBULA, seeing

...then a MUCH LARGER FLARE. His calm eyes suddenly anxious--

EXT. COVENANT - IN ORBIT ABOVE GAS GIANT

A massive SHOCKWAVE of CHARGED PARTICLES roils through the

The SHOCKWAVE SLAMS INTO THE COVENANT--

THE COVENANT ROLLS VIOLENTLY--

Walter staggers to his feet, momentarily blinded. ALARMS are

But Walter is android-calm as he flips at high speed through

His eyes narrow on a BLINKING DAMAGE REPORT FROM THE NURSERY--

Walter runs flat-out, no apparent exertion, an androids

INT. COVENANT-PRIMARY CREW SLEEP BAY

DANIELS gasps painfully--

Her hands batter up at it as it slowly opens. She wrenches

Sparks and flashing emergency lights. Smoke. The din of sharp

DANIELS is disoriented -- theres someone shaking her--