Starbound Encounter season one

Act One Scene One

Scene 1: The Ordinary Day

INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING

The scene opens with the bustling sounds of a typical high school morning. Students fill the halls, chatting, laughing, and hurrying to their classes. We see BEN, a 16-year-old boy with messy hair, wearing a backpack. He walks through the crowd, slightly disengaged, lost in his thoughts. Ben is your average high school student, kind-hearted but a little awkward, unsure of his place in the world.

BEN (V.O.)
(monologue)
"Most days, life is the same. Wake up. Go to school. Deal with the same people. Nothing special. But sometimes, I wonder... what if there was more? Something out there, waiting to be discovered?"

Ben walks toward his locker and fumbles with the combination lock. His best friend, KEVIN, a cheerful and energetic boy, approaches.

KEVIN
(grinning)
"Ben! Man, you look like you're walking through molasses. What's up?"

BEN
(sighs)
"Just... tired, I guess. Same old routine, y'know?"

KEVIN
"Well, good thing we've got Mr. Boring's history class first! Nothing like starting the day with a snooze-fest, huh?"

Ben chuckles as they walk toward their classroom.

BEN
"Yeah, a great way to kick off the day..."

As they walk into the classroom, the BELL RINGS. Students settle down, and the teacher, MR. JENKINS, a gruff older man, begins the lesson.

MR. JENKINS
"Alright, class, today we're going to talk about the history of exploration. The search for new lands, new civilizations..."

Ben stares out the window, zoning out as Mr. Jenkins drones on. The lesson barely registers with him, but his eyes suddenly catch something outside: a faint, bright flash in the sky. He blinks, unsure if it was real.

BEN (V.O.)
"I must be seeing things..."

EXT. SCHOOL FIELD - LUNCHTIME

The scene shifts to lunch hour. Ben and Kevin sit at a picnic table on the grassy school field, eating their lunches. The sky is clear, but Ben can't stop thinking about the flash he saw earlier.

KEVIN
"So, are you coming over tonight? We can finish that video game—"

BEN
(interrupting)
"Did you see that earlier? In the sky?"

KEVIN
(confused)
"See what?"

BEN
"There was this weird flash, like a light or something..."

KEVIN
(laughs)
"Dude, you've gotta stop watching all that sci-fi stuff. It's messing with your head."

Ben frowns, still thinking about it, but brushes it off. He takes a bite of his sandwich, but the uneasy feeling lingers.

EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS - AFTER SCHOOL

Ben walks alone on his way home, taking his usual route through the quiet neighborhood. As he approaches a park, he hears a distant, unfamiliar sound. A low HUMMING, like an engine... or something else. He looks around but sees nothing.

BEN (V.O.)
"Okay, now I'm officially freaking myself out."

He takes a few more steps, but the hum grows louder. Ben stops, scanning the area, and then—

BOOM!

A bright light explodes in the sky, followed by a streak of something crashing into the woods nearby. The impact shakes the ground. Ben stumbles back, eyes wide in shock.

BEN
(whispers)
"What the hell was that?"

Against his better judgment, Ben runs toward the source of the crash. His heart races as he reaches the tree line. Smoke rises from a small clearing, and as he pushes through the bushes, he sees it—an alien spacecraft, sleek and futuristic, lodged into the ground.

Before he can react, the hatch of the ship opens, and out steps a GIRL, about his age, with silvery hair and glowing blue eyes. She looks frantic, scanning her surroundings.

GIRL
(panicked)
"They're coming..."

BEN
(stunned)
"Who... who are you?"

The girl whirls around, spotting Ben. She looks relieved but still on edge.

GIRL
"You need to run. Now."

BEN
(run?)
"What? Why? Who are you?"

GIRL
"My name is ARYA. There's no time to explain. The Tundroik are coming. They've found me!"

Suddenly, a loud ROAR echoes through the forest. Ben's eyes widen as dark, looming SHAPES appear in the distance, advancing rapidly toward them.

ARYA
(grabbing Ben's hand)
"RUN!"

Without hesitation, they bolt into the woods, dodging trees as the alien creatures chase them. The Tundroik, towering, monstrous beings with metallic skin and glowing red eyes, move with terrifying speed. Ben's heart pounds as they race for their lives.

BEN (V.O.)
"This... can't be real."

END OF ACT ONE, SCENE ONE