EXT. BUCHTTON- DUSK

A whir whizzes through the air as orange-colored smoke rises in the darkening sky. A shadow creeps along the fringes of the clouds, the noise becoming louder as something approaches. With a loud buzz, a large flying object breaks through the clouds into view; a chunk of earth with a city connected to its top. A propeller rises above the buildings and churns the air.

GALACIA (O.S.)

Are we nearly there, yet, Mayla?

FADE TO:

INT. CITY- DUSK

On the platform carrying the city, two young woman stand at the edge of a cliff, looking down at the dusty ground flowing beneath their vehicle.

ANGLE ON THE OLDER WOMAN: she stares out at the scene below with much interest but a sense of sadness as well as if she had left something very dear behind.

The younger woman strokes her partner's back and the elder turns to her friend and sister with a sad smile.

MAYLA

We're nearly there. I can see the ocean from here.

GALACIA

I just wish Mom, Dad, and Lisra were able to come.

MAYLA

You know that isn't possible. One of us had to stay behind to take care of our parents. It just happened to be Lisra.

GALACIA

Do you think she hates us now? She's always complaining about how the middle child has to do the dirty work.

MAYLA

(giggling)

You worry way too much, Galacia. Lisra will be fine. She's a smart, strong girl.

Galacia nods to her younger sister. She turns back to the view, watching as the city's shadow casts darkness over the land. Speckles of silver twinkle on the earth and the remnants of burnt houses and buildings line the sand.

GALACIA

When did Buchtton get so desert-y?

MAYLA

I think I remember reading how after the fiery rain stopped, their was much hurricanes and natural disasters that changed the landscape. I doubt we'll be able to recognize much of our old home.

Galacia stares down at the railing, her eyes growing distant from memories.

MAYLA

(comforting)

I remember leaving here with Dad. You, Lisra, and Mom had already left two years earlier, but Dad and I were still here. Dad left me alone while he went and found Grandma's old spaceship. It was so scary. I was only six.

Mayla combs her black hair, lost in time.

MAYLA

(whispering)

Everything was so different then. I used to be so nervous and you used to be so boisterous.

Galacia gives a slight grin but doesn't look up.

MAYLA (CONT'D)

It's crazy how much changes in eighteen years.

GALACIA

(sighing)

You're right. We should get to bed so we can explore early tomorrow before the crowds start coming.

We pan out from the two sisters, expanding our field of view to see the whole city, then the sand dunes, and finally, the clouds encircling all.

EXT. BUCHTTON- DAWN NEXT DAY

A river of sand inches across the ground, swallowing up any speck of green plant-life. The wind whistles in the sky and a hand lurches forwards into view, snatching a few straggling greens.

A woman kneels on the dunes, wearing a simple dirty white tunic. Her long black hair is tied in a messy bun. She appears identical to Galacia, but her expression is wary and full of mistrust. She places her findings in a small sift and gently shakes. Voices rise over the wind and she pauses, fear sparking in her brown eyes. Nervously, she stands and scurries away.

ANGLE ON GALACIA AND MAYLA: the two sisters trudge across the sandy surface, squinting to see through the dusty air.

MAYLA

I thought I heard something.

Galacia pauses and concentrates on her senses. She gives a curt nod.

GALACIA

I think I hear voices. Let's go see!

MAYLA

(laughing)

Now that's the Galacia I remember.

The two young woman stride forward, their gaits embedded with purpose. The wind quiets and the dust clears, revealing the soft clanging of pots and the murmer of human voices.

EXT. BUCHTTON- A FEW MINUTES LATER

Mayla and Galacia arrive at the edge of a small valley between the dunes. In the ruins of an old house, a small family sits around a rusty pot, pouring themselves green soup. The woman from earlier can be seen braiding the hair of a girl that appears to be her daughter.

A boy finishes spooning his soup and meets Galacia's eyes. He calls out and the rest of the family: the woman, a man, and two girls. They look up, abandoning their activities. The woman gives a dark glance and stands.

MAYLA

They don't look too happy to see us. Maybe we should just let them be.

Galacia shakes her head and as if drawn by a string, she shuffles down the dune, determination clear in her eyes. Sighing, Mayla follows more carefully.

They pause in front of the woman who looks at them with distaste.

ZOELI

What are you two doing here? You're not from around here.

GALACIA

We're not. I'm Galacia and this is my younger sister Mayla.

ZOELI

(scowling)

You two don't look much like each other.

ANGLE ON MAYLA AND GALACIA: Galacia's tanner skin and more narrow face becomes prominent in comparison to Mayla's lighter skin tone. Even their black hair is different. Where Mayla's is wavy, Galacia's is frizzy.

GALACIA

(her eyes narrowing)

So what? We're both adopted.

Zoeli stares at the ground as if the word "adopted" bothers her.

ZOELI

(stiffly)

Excuse me, I'm not used to meeting other adoptees. I'm Zoeli. This is my family. Welcome to Buchtton.

Galacia's eyes widen and she turns to Mayla. Mayla shakes her head, urging Galacia not to speak. Galacia glares at her sister and turns back to Zoeli.

GALACIA

You're adopted?

ZOELI

Unfortunately, yes.

GALACIA

That's such a coincidence!

Mayla roles her eyes and gives Zoeli a sympathetic smile.

ZOELI

I think abused and traumatized are better words to put it. My adopters left me for planet Enki when I was twelve years old. Honestly, the fiery rain was better than the abuse they gave me all those years.

GALACIA

(frowning)

I don't remember you from school.

ZOELI

Probably because I lived in Barnstable, not Buchtton. Anyways, what are doing here and when are you going to leave?

ANGLE ON MAYLA: she looks nervously between Zoeli and Galacia. She makes a soft cough and waits a beat before speaking.

MAYLA

Hi, Zoeli. Sorry for intruding on your home. My sister and I have been living on Enki since I was six and she was eleven. We just wanted to see how much things have changed since we last were here. We won two tickets in a raffle to travel here.

Zoeli gives a stern nod. She turns to the rest of her family who are huddled by the pot.

ZOELI

Fine then. Have some soup and leave. As you can see, things have changed.

ANGLE ON GALACIA: she looks more closely at Zoeli and gasps, touching her own face and hair.

GALACIA

(intrigued)

We look so similar. When's you birthday?

ZOELI

(frowning)

I guess we kind of do. My estimated birthday is June sixteenth o'eight. How much soup do you want?

Galacia and Mayla gasp, glancing at each other. Mayla twists her head between her sister and Zoeli, the physical similarities between the two woman shining through.

GALACIA

So you're thirty-one like me? And we have the same birthday? Well, estimated birthday.

ZOELI

(shrugging)

Seems so. Are you going to have soup or not?

Galacia's eyes widen and she trembles with excitement. Mayla smiles happily, too, but she calms herself.

MAYLA

Thank you so much, Zoeli. My sister and I will share a bowl.

EXT. BUCHTTON- Night

Galacia and Mayla sit atop the ruins of a building. A fire burns below where Zoeli and her family sit eating fresh greens. The two sister above eat granola bars they had packed earlier that day.

MAYLA

I can't believe you've found a biological twin sister. It seems insane that would happen.

GALACIA

(excitedly)

I know. I don't know what to do. Do I tell Mom and Dad? Should I talk to her more? I mean, she doesn't seem to want to talk to me. Do you think she hates me?

MAYLA

(chuckling)

I doubt that. I think she's just annoyed that us two foreigners are invading on her property. We're lucky she's let us stay this long.

Galacia nods, her eyes darkening. She looks up at the sky, staring at the myriad of stars. She focuses in on the direction of the planet Enki, the place she has called home for twenty years.

GALACIA

(quieter)

To be honest, this is so confusing. Who do I refer to as my real family? You guys or Zoeli? I love all of you, even Zoeli who I just met today, but I don't really know what to do.

MAYLA

(nodding)

I don't blame you for being confused. If I were in your situation, I would be freaking out as well. I guess it's up to you to decide who your family is. That sounds a lot easier said than done, but the truth is, I don't know either. Maybe there is no right answer.

Galacia nods. She pulls out her backpack from behind her and unravels a sleeping mattress across the platform. Mayla assists her and takes out a blanket. The two sister lay down underneath the sky, both gazing out into the distance.

MAYLA

Let's sleep on it. We can talk more tomorrow.

Galacia closes her eyes and the scene fades into darkness.

EXT. BUCHTTON- NEXT MORNING

Mayla taps Galacia's shoulder, her eyes darting around the area nervously.

MAYLA

Wake up!

Galacia's eyes snap open and jerks up, blinking wildly into the dim morning sunlight.

MAYLA

Sorry. It's just I woke up and I noticed that they're gone. Zoeli and her family.

Galacia peers down at the clearing. Sure enough, the pot, the children, and the adults are nowhere to be seen. Only the burnt wood of the fire from last night remains.

GALACIA

(sighing)

I knew it wouldn't end up perfectly. We should go home.

MAYLA

You sure?

GALACIA

Yeah. Zoeli obviously doesn't want to talk to me. There's nothing here. Let's go.

Mayla nods sadly and helps her older sister pack up. Once ready, the two girls trudge off into the sunrise, the sand wiping away their tracks. The flying city can be seen whirring in the distance in front of the sun.

EXT. BUCHTTON- MORNING

Zoeli steps across the sand dunes, her family lumbering behind her. She peers at the sun where the flying ship can be seen a long way off. She pauses, giving a sad smile, before moving in the opposite direction.

Thank you for reading! If you like my screenplay, please don't be afraid to give it a vote. Comments are always welcome and I love hearing your thoughts. Question: Why do you think Zoeli left?