MACULA

MACULA

FADE IN

1 INT. DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS/TA UNIVERSITY – DAY

In the entrance hall, a stage covered in black cloth is set up. Four men drive a bier bearing a simple wooden coffin onto the stage. They cover the coffin with a black sheet. Two women spread the cloth and smooth out the wrinkles. Two gardeners place flower pots on either side of the bier. The women clean the dry leaves from the flower pots. A man places a portrait photograph with a black ribbon on a stand. The women place bouquets near the coffin.

People arrive and stand in a circle around the coffin. Some are whispering to each other.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

2 INT. KOPPEL’S APARTMENT – MORNING

Doctor JONAH KOPPEL (30, good-looking, sporty, bespectacled) repairs a bicycle chain.

COMPUTER EMAIL NOTIFICATION BUZZ

He rushes to his desk computer, where stock charts are displayed on a large screen. He opens the mail browser.

POV: (EMAIL) FROM CIM TO DR. JONAH KOPPEL - $5,000 TRANSFER HAS BEEN MADE FOR #7679 SURVEY. SUZANNE LEIDER (CEO)

He finishes his coffee, grabs a small backpack and a cyclist’s helmet, and leaves the apartment.

3 INT./EXT. KOPPEL’S BUILDING – MORNING

Koppel picks up a can of cat food from his mailbox labeled 'Koppel', and feeds the street cats. He unlocks his bike and rides to the main street.

4 EXT. MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY - MORNING

Koppel locks his bike at the Ministry of Industry building.

5 INT. MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY/THE LIBRARY - DAY

An elderly bored SMOKING SECRETARY feeds a photocopier with pages containing diagrams, tables, and formulas. She looks to the sides to make sure no one notices her actions.

Koppel browses through articles in a binder. He picks up another binder from a stack. Its cover is embossed with the emblem of the State of Israel, 'MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY - CHIEF SCIENTIST,' and a sticker that reads 'REJECTED PROPOSALS.'

She staples the pages and hands them to Koppel.

SMOKING SECRETARY

(Hebrew, winks)

I never met you.

Koppel looks at the title:

POV: CYRUS - AN INNOVATIVE METHOD FOR FINDING RARE METAL DEPOSITS. PROPOSAL BY NATHANAEL ZANDMAN, PHD. FRS, IAU, NAS, [STAMPED] 'INAPPLICABLE’.

Koppel inserts the pages in his backpack and pulls out a fancy box of chocolates, which he places on the table.

KOPPEL

(winks)

A deal is a deal.

6 INT./EXT. THE OBSERVATORY - EVENING

Prof. NATHANAEL ZANDMAN (55) leaves his room. He opens the circuit breaker box, re-marks a pale label, and switches them off. He locks the desert observatory and drives off in an old silver Mazda.

7 INT. KOPPEL’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Koppel arranges internet charts of Bitcoin, the Euro, and the US dollar.

TINDER NEW PROFILE ALERTS

In his cellphone, he swipes left (declines) women's profiles.

He uncorks a Canadian whiskey bottle decorated with ornaments.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION ALERT

POV: (EMAIL) FROM CIM TO DR. JONAH KOPPEL - DEAR DR. KOPPEL, YOU ARE KINDLY INVITED TO ARRIVE AT CIM HEADQUARTERS FOR A MEETING. OUR SECRETARY WILL WAIT FOR YOU AT THE ZOO ENTRANCE TOMORROW AT 12:00. SUZANNE LEIDER (CEO)

8 EXT. A DESERT ROAD – NIGHT

The silver Mazda with its headlights on is the only vehicle on the road.

9 INT./EXT. THE SILVER MAZDA – NIGHT (TRAVELING)

Zandman is driving erratically and keeps wiping his glasses.

POV: THE CENTER OF THE ROAD BLURS.

10 EXT. A DESERT ROAD – NIGHT

The car's headlights light up a camel crossing the road.

11 INT. THE SILVER MAZDA – NIGHT (TRAVELING)

POV: THE ROAD IS BLURRED.

BRAKE SQUEAL AND CRASHING SOUND

POV: THE WINDSHIELD BREAKS, AND A CAMEL’S HEAD WITH BLOODY, TINY GLASS SPLINTERS SHOOTS TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL. THE IMAGE BECOMES OPAQUE.

12 INT. EMERGENCY ROOM – NIGHT

AMBULANCE SIRENS

PARAMEDICS push a stretcher along a busy corridor.

LOUDSPEAKER

(Hebrew)

Doctor Beylin to the emergency room, Doctor Beylin to the emergency room.

A NURSE rolls an ELDERLY MAN in a wheelchair, passing by a WOUNDED SOLDIER and a BEDOUIN MOTHER feeding her baby. Two doctors examine a skull X-ray.

A NURSE applies a large adhesive bandage to Zandman's forehead. One eyelid is swollen, and the other eye is hemorrhaged and closed. A POLICE INVESTIGATOR copies Zandman's driver's license details into a tablet.

POLICE INVESTIGATOR

(Hebrew)

In a few days you'll look like new!

Tell me what happened?

ZANDMAN

I don’t know. The road was empty. Suddenly, a camel flew into the windshield! Boom! Out of nowhere!

POLICE INVESTIGATOR

It was irresponsible of you to drive here in your condition.

The nurse cleans Zandman's cuts. A FEMALE DOCTOR approaches.

FEMALE DOCTOR

(Hebrew, whispering, )

I can't examine his eyes now. So swollen. He can't drive, that's for sure.

POLICE INVESTIGATOR

The doctor will discharge you. She says that you shouldn't drive today. You can barely open your eyes.

The investigator hands Zandman his driver's license.

POLICE INVESTIGATOR (cont'd)

I had to suspend it. Sorry.

ZANDMAN

Suspend for how long?

POLICE INVESTIGATOR

Until an ophthalmologist clears you.

The nurse cleans the strands of camel hair stuck to the bloodstains on Zandman's shirt.

POLICE INVESTIGATOR (cont'd)

There is a tow truck shop not far. Would you like me to call him? He might take you home right now.

13 EXT. TOW TRUCK IN THE HIGHWAY – NIGHT (TRAVELING)

Zandman's silver Mazda is being towed.

BROADCASTER (V.O.)

(Hebrew)

Listen to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. The first movement, in C minor and alla breve, is composed in modified sonata-allegro form.

14 INT. TOW TRUCK – NIGHT (TRAVELING)

The DRIVER in overalls is smoking.

BROADCASTER (V.O.)

The movement opens with an octave in the left hand and a triplet figure in the right.

Zandman is dozing, his head resting on the driver's shoulder.

BROADCASTER (V.O.) (cont'd)

A melody primarily played by the left hand is performed against an accompanying ostinato triplet rhythm.

MOONLIGHT SONATA PIANO MUSIC

DRIVER

(in Russian)

Ostinato my ass.

The driver puts out the cigarette and switches stations.

LOUD RUSSIAN HIP HOP MUSIC.

Zandman covers his ear and shifts to the other side.

The truck passes under big traffic signs TO TEL-AVIV.

15 EXT. TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY – DAY

MIRA HOFFMANN (28, attractive, wearing a colorful scarf) unzips her backpack at the security checkpoint. The GUARD points to a wicker picnic basket attached to her bicycle. She releases the latch, and he opens the lid. He is startled and quickly closes it.

She locks her bicycle at the Department of Astrophysics building and enters, carrying the wicker basket.

16 INT. PROFESSOR LANZANI'S CLINIC/WAITING ROOM - DAY

STICK KNOCKING.

A visually impaired man taps a rhythm with a white walking stick. A child wearing thick glasses is operating a plastic windmill. A woman wearing oversized dark sunglasses sits in front of Zandman. He adjusts the band-aid on his forehead as a young girl helps an elderly man with a bandaged eye leave the doctor's office. PROFESSOR LANZANI motions for Zandman to come in.

17 EXT. ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN - DAY

Koppel rides his bike to the Zoological Garden. He passes a blue helicopter parked nearby.

A LOUD ELEPHANT TRUMPETING SOUND

Koppel locks his bike near the entrance, next to a van marked "PEST CONTROL SERVICES”.

CURLY-HAIRED SECRETARY

Doctor Koppel?

He nods, and she opens the electronic gate using her tag. They ride in a golf cart passing visitors, animal compounds, and cages. They enter an old building.

18 INTR. CIM HEADQUARTERS – DAY

Koppel follows the secretary into a reception lobby. A large CIM logo, along with the slogan 'REVEALING THE UNKNOWN!', is displayed across the wall.

LEIDER (40, dressed in an executive suit) extends her hand to Koppel. He places the helmet under his left arm, and shakes her hand.

LEIDER

Leider. Pleased to meet you.

KOPPEL

My pleasure.

LEIDER

Thanks for coming on such short notice.

Two men move a large mock-up of a mine facility across the hall.

LEIDER (cont'd)

Our last project. Tanzania. Nickel.

Leider leads Koppel into her office and offers to sit on a sofa by an aquarium.

LEIDER (cont'd)

We examined your research methodology. Your conclusions validated our analysis and strategy.

KOPPEL

I consider it a compliment.

LEIDER

It definitely is.

KOPPEL

Did you actually spend $5000 on something you already knew?

LEIDER

Indeed.

She gets up to feed the fish.

LEIDER (OFF)

We hire top-quality personnel, that we thoroughly vet. We cannot afford any wrong decisions. We don’t hire anyone with immoral behavior, addiction, or financial problems.

KOPPEL

That's clever.

The curly-haired secretary comes in with a coffee pot and cups.

LEIDER

We can now offer you a generous contract, which we ask you to consider.

She hands Koppel the contract, which he scans quickly.

A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

Leider partially opens the door and whispers to a MUSTACHED MAN (inaudible).

KOPPEL

What about health insurance? Company options? Annual leave?

Leider makes changes. As Koppel reads, she approaches the door and whispers something to the secretary.

LEIDER

Anything else?

KOPPEL

It is a standard practice to explicitly state my right to receive an additional Finder’s Fee when applicable.

LEIDER

What are we talking about?

KOPPEL

15% of the first-year Annual Contract Value for any project I introduce to you.

LEIDER

Well...

She adds the terms, and they sign.

LEIDER (cont'd)

You are definitely a good negotiator.

The secretary enters. She places a praline parcel topped with a box of his personal CIM business cards and hands him an entrance chip tag.

KOPPEL

I have to admit, I didn't see this coming.

Leider pours Canadian whiskey from an ornamented bottle.

LEIDER

We know our employees’ preferences.

She hands him a Jeep key.

LEIDER (cont'd)

Part of our employment benefits. You’ll soon receive your next assignment. Your office will be ready in a few days.

KOPPEL

How did you find me?

LEIDER

Professor Maurice Stein from MIT. He spoke very highly of you.

KOPPEL

Oh, he was my PhD advisor. My mentor, so to speak.

LEIDER

He said you're the right man for our needs, so here we are.

Leider stands up to end the meeting. They head toward the door.

KOPPEL

I will update him.

LEIDER

You can’t.

He just passed away. A car accident. In Switzerland.

KOPPEL

I didn't know. He enjoyed skiing.

LEIDER

The curve was icy. He crashed into the riverbed.

KOPPEL

Terrible.

At the door, they encounter AVRI, wearing a pilot’s jumpsuit.

LEIDER

Avri. Our helicopter pilot. Doctor Koppel.

They shake hands, and Avri gives Koppel his business card.

Koppel copies Avri's details into his cellphone.

LEIDER (OFF)

He can land on the tip of the Empire State Building.

KOPPEL

I’ll keep that in mind.

LEIDER

Please keep us updated on any new findings you come across.

KOPPEL

Actually, I came across something.

19 EXT. ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN - DAY

A TIGER'S ROAR

Koppel drives the golf cart to the parking lot. He loads his bicycles and helmet into the yellow Jeep with the CIM logo.

20 INT. DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS/MIRA’S ROOM – DAY

Mira adds milk to a saucer near the open wicker basket.

MIRA

Baba! Baba! Come here!

The kitten comes and drinks. Mira types commands and watches the computer screen displaying Cyrus asteroid's orbit. She glances at the clock and gets up to check Zandman’s room.

POV: ZANDMAN'S ROOM IS EMPTY.

She dials her cellphone.

MIRA (cont'd)

Hi Nathan. Where are you? Give me a call.

21 INT. DR. LANZANI'S CLINIC/DOCTOR'S ROOM - DAY

Zandman covers his left eye as Lanzani presents him with a square-shaped grid.

LANZANI

Can you see the black dot in the center?

ZANDMAN

Yes.

LANZANI

What do you notice around the black dot?

ZANDMAN

Lines are kind of wavy all around.

LANZANI

Now, the other eye. What do you see?

ZANDMAN

Lines are even more wavy.

Lanzani turns on the desk lamp and begins writing.

LANZANI

You were lucky to hit a camel instead of a person. We'll need to examine your retinas.

ZANDMAN

Is there a problem?

LANZANI

The center of your vision, the macula. That's the problem.

ZANDMAN

I don't feel anything.

LANZANI

Your retinas are degenerating. Gradually, it will be difficult for you to read. Recognize faces.

(Pause)

Sometimes vision deteriorates within weeks.

ZANDMAN

No treatment?

LANZANI

There is an experimental treatment, but... Anyway, try to complete important tasks.

ZANDMAN

What do you mean by ‘important tasks’?

LANZANI

Finish your articles. Your projects.

ZANDMAN

It sounds just like an obituary.

LANZANI

I tell my patients, ‘In a short while, you’ll see the future, but not the present’.

ZANDMAN

Not funny.

PAUSE

LANZANI

Sell your car.

22 EXT. DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS – DAY

A taxi pulls up to the Department of Astrophysics building, and Zandman gets out.

23 INT. DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS/ZANDMAN’S OFFICE - DAY

Pens and pencils arranged by size sit neatly alongside rulers, sharpeners, and erasers. Holding a magnifying glass, Zandman marks a printout with a thin red pen. He reaches the last page and closes the printout.

POV:

[TITLE PAGE] UNIVERSITY OF TEL-AVIV, DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS

MOON ALBATEGNIUS CRATER ANOMALIES REVISITED

MIRA HOFFMANN

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

ZANDMAN (OFF)

Mira!

MIRA (OFF)

Coming. I didn't hear you arrive. Your students are waiting!

Mira enters.

POV: A LARGE BAND-AID COVERS ZANDMAN'S FOREHEAD.

MIRA

What happened to you?

ZANDMAN

A camel kissed me.

MIRA

So you're dating!

ZANDMAN

It was a blind date. Kind of.

MIRA

Ha ha

He hands her the binder.

ZANDMAN

Start working!

She flips through the pages.

POV: PAGES ARE FILLED WITH RED NOTES.

ZANDMAN (OFF)

A few spelling errors. Conclusions could be expressed more clearly. We’ll discuss it after my lecture.

Mira's face sinks as she continues flipping through, close to tears.

ZANDMAN

It’s a brilliant thesis. I won’t let you spoil it with careless writing.

He walks to the door.

ZANDMAN (cont'd)

You wouldn't allow yourself to miss a single dot in your program, right? Or leave an extra blank space in the code. The program will stop, right? It's the same here! A PhD thesis should be flawless.

He leaves and comes back.

ZANDMAN (cont'd)

I don't want your Baba in my room, OK?!

24 EXT. KOPPEL’S BUILDING – DAY

Koppel parks the yellow Jeep and feeds the cats. He unloads the bicycles and heads to the main road.

25 EXT. DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS – DAY

Koppel locks his bicycle and enters the building.

26 INT. DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS/MIRA’S ROOM - DAY

Mira is examining moon craters on a screen.

CELLPHONE RINGS.

MIRA

Hi Mom... In my office... The same... Again? I blocked him, so he calls you... He can't get no for an answer!... Yes, Mom, it was a great love, but-... I want to forget this episode...

DOOR KNOCKS

MIRA (cont'd)

I can't tell him the reason, he will not understand, but I can tell you-

Mira opens the main door.

KOPPEL

Excuse me.

MIRA

...Listen, Mom, I’ll call you later... Kiss Dad for me.

KOPPEL

I wonder if I could meet Professor Zandman.

MIRA

Do you have an appointment with him?

KOPPEL

No. It's spontaneous, so to speak.

Koppel. Doctor Jonah Koppel.

MIRA

Mira. He is lecturing right now.

KOPPEL

Well...

MIRA

Would you like to go there?

KOPPEL

Sure!

A kitten comes out of her room and rubs her ankle. Koppel strokes it gently. Mira joins him.

MIRA

Baba - Doctor Koppel. She's adopted. No manners. Professor Zandman doesn't like her here. She pees on his desk.

Mira leaves Baba inside her room and takes the lead. Students are rushing through the corridors.

KOPPEL

It’s kind of you to-

MIRA

You can meet him after the lecture. He enjoys coffee breaks.

Are you an astrophysicist?

KOPPEL

Not really. Are you-

MIRA

I am his PhD student. Research assistant.

KOPPEL

Asteroids?

MIRA

Moon craters.

KOPPEL

I'm interested in his Cyrus idea.

MIRA

I programmed it.

KOPPEL

Oh.

27 INT. DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS/LECTURE HALL - DAY

Mira and Koppel enter the hall.

MIRA

(Whispers)

First-year students. They know nothing. Bored and lazy.

Zandman, with the bandage on his forehead, holds a remote control. Mira points to two empty seats at the end of the row.

They struggle to pass a student who is busy with his laptop. At each seat, they manage to glimpse at Zandman or the big screen.

ZANDMAN

Asteroids are rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, just like Earth. See here? Sun... Earth's orbit... Cyrus's orbit.

KOPPEL'S POV: ASTEROID BELT

ZANDMAN (OFF)

This is Cyrus, my favorite one.

KOPPEL'S POV: ASTEROID ROCK BODY

They pass two students consulting their Tinder matches.

KOPPEL'S POV: ANIMATION OF AN ASTEROID APPROACHING EARTH.

ZANDMAN (OFF) (cont'd)

Every few years, the two orbits intersect, and Cyrus gets close to Earth.

Mira and Koppel pass a student who is solving Sudoku.

ZANDMAN

Earth’s gravity is powerful enough to cause parts of it to break apart.

KOPPEL'S POV: A SMALL LUMP BREAKS OFF FROM THE ASTEROID.

Mira and Koppel pass students tapping on their cellphones.

ZANDMAN (OFF)

When this particle is large enough, it can penetrate the atmosphere-

Mira and Koppel stop in front of a knitting student.

ZANDMAN (OFF) (cont'd)

...and collide with Earth.

KOPPEL'S POV: A RED DOT FLICKERS OFF THE COAST OF CYPRUS.

Mira and Koppel struggle to pass over the stretched legs of a dozing student and take the adjacent seats. Placing their hands on the armrest of the shared chair, their hands touch and they recoil. Laying their hands again on the armrest, Koppel's palm softly rests on Mira's. His finger feels the gemstone on her ring.

MIRA (OFF)

My grandmother's.

KOPPEL (OFF)

It's pitted. A crack.

MIRA (OFF)

I don't like diamonds. They lack personality.

KOPPEL (OFF)

Turquoise?

MIRA (OFF)

Aha.

KOPPEL (OFF)

I like this texture.

MIRA (OFF)

It's my skin.

KOPPEL (OFF)

I know.

KOPPEL'S POV: BARRINGER CRATER IN ARIZONA

ZANDMAN (OFF)

Barringer Crater. One kilometer in diameter was formed by a tiny asteroid fragment of fifty meters across. Here we find a high concentration of rare metals.

Mira's and Koppel's fingers interlace as they look at each other silently.

KOPPEL'S POV: (CHANGE OF SLIDE) VREDEFORT CRATER IN SOUTH AFRICA.

ZANDMAN

Vredefort Crater. The largest gold and platinum reserves on Earth.

Zandman turns on the lights.

ZANDMAN (cont'd)

Most craters are hidden beneath forests, jungles, desert sands, snow, ice, or oceans. Without these metals, modern industry cannot function.

(pause)

Any questions?

(pause)

See you next week.

Zandman and the students leave the hall. Koppel and Mira remain