REST AREA 51 Logline: Two tourists meet a strange character at a roadside souvenir shop outside of Roswell, New Mexico.

FADE IN: EXT. DESERT ROAD - DUSK A black jeep drives down a deserted two lane road, spilling ethereal instrumental music out of its open windows. It passes a sign proclaiming “Rest Area 51 - Authentic Alien Artifacts! 2 Miles”. EXT. REST AREA 51 - DUSK A small souvenir shop sits off the road in a dusty parking lot. A glowing neon sign designed to look like an alien giving the peace sign reads “Rest Area 51”. The jeep parks in the lot beside the only other car there. A bumper sticker on the jeep says “I brake for little green men.” EDGAR and GLADYS (40s) exit the jeep. He wears an “I Want to Believe” X-Files shirt with the “want to” crossed out. Her shirt simply states “Probe Me!” They enter the shop. INT. REST AREA 51 - CONTINUOUS Sitting behind the counter is ALLEN (50s). The door chime rings as the couple enters and Allen looks up with a smile. ALLEN Welcome, visitors! How can I help you? GLADYS Oh, what a delightful shop you’ve got here! Edgar moves to a nearby shelf to examine a row of glowing purple rocks. EDGAR Gladys, look at this - Oort Cloud Alien Eggs! I’ve only ever read about these! He consults his “Everything Alien” Guidebook. ALLEN Yeah, well, we’re well-stocked. Roswell’s right next door.

2.

EDGAR Still Earth’s busiest spaceport! Xenophile Magazine estimated that over 20,000 travelers used it last year. ALLEN Maybe even more. Why don’t you two have a look around. Let me know if you have any questions. Edgar and Gladys start shopping, then look up at the sound of approaching hoofbeats. Through the window they see a man in rancher attire, MARTIN (50s), riding a beautiful brown pony. ALLEN (CONT’D) That there’s my closest neighbor, Martin. Owns a ranch about five miles south. Says he saves money riding that pony instead of driving. GLADYS How quaint! What’s its name? ALLEN Andromeda. You ask me, though, I think it’s a little creepy. He’s got this strange connection with her. They watch through the window as Martin seems to be having a conversation with the pony, which turns her head at different angles as if she understands him. She stays standing still as Martin walks toward the store. The door chime sounds again as Martin enters. ALLEN (CONT’D) Welcome, visitor! Martin waves, then moves down one of the aisles. MARTIN Hey! Where are the Martian Power Bars? ALLEN Oh, moved ‘em to aisle 3 with the other edibles.

3.

Edgar and Gladys approach the checkout counter, arms filled with merchandise. Allen starts ringing it up. EDGAR I just can’t believe how much cool stuff you have. We’ve been to over twenty other shops, and it’s always the same knickknacks - nothing like what you’ve got here. MARTIN That’s because it’s all authentic alien goods. Like the sign says. But if I were you, that’s not what I’d be looking for. Martin saunters over to join the discussion, dropping his power bars onto the counter. MARTIN (CONT’D) If I were you, I’d be looking for actual aliens. GLADYS What do you mean? MARTIN Well, you’re thinking in terms of little green men. Or gray stick people with big black eyes. That’s what we’re trained to expect. But it’s not the truth. Allen rolls his eyes and resumes ringing up the merchandise. ALLEN And I suppose you know the truth? MARTIN Sure do. Did you know that some wasps can waltz right into ant colonies and deposit their own eggs? They give off a chemical that makes the ants end up raising the baby wasps as their own, never knowing they’re from a different species. GLADYS That’s incredible... MARTIN And it’s not only insects - birds, too. (MORE)

4. MARTIN (CONT'D) Some deposit their eggs in other species’ nests, and their chicks mimic the sound of those chicks, tricking the parents into feeding them.

EDGAR I don’t get whatMARTIN What that’s got to do with it? Think about it. If species on our own planet can do stuff like that, why couldn’t extraterrestrials? I bet they can look like whatever they want to. Heck, they can probably even look human. Martin’s eyes grow serious as he makes eye contact with each of them. MARTIN (CONT’D) You could be talking to one and not even know it... Everyone stares at Martin, holding their breath. He scans their faces one by one, as if reading their thoughts. Then... He BURSTS OUT LAUGHING. MARTIN (CONT’D) Oh my God! You should have seen your faces! Edgar and Gladys chuckle uneasily. ALLEN Real funny. You seriously had me going there for a second. Martin wipes tears from his eyes, still laughing. MARTIN Sure did. Allen turns back to Gladys and Edgar. ALLEN You’ll have to excuse my friend. He spends too much time with his pony. Anyway, that comes to $152.88. Edgar pays, scoops up the goods, and heads for the door with Gladys. They turn back, still on edge.

5.

EDGAR Thanks again. It was... nice meeting you. Allen and Martin wave as they leave. Allen shakes his head, chuckling. ALLEN I don’t know why you insist on messing with the tourists. MARTIN The same reason you sell them junk you make in your basement - it’s amusing. Martin tosses some money on the counter and walks out. MARTIN (CONT’D) I’ll catch you tomorrow. ALLEN See ya. Allen watches through the window as Martin hoists himself onto his pony, bites into a power bar, and rides off. A strange CLICKING SOUND comes from below, and Allen looks down as a mouse scurries across the floor. He quickly STOMPS HIS FOOT DOWN, catching the mouse’s tail. He reaches down and picks it up by the tail, dangling it in front of his face. ALLEN (CONT’D) Well, hello there. He leans his head back and opens his mouth, his jaw unlatching with a CRACK, his mouth opening to three times its normal size. He drops the mouse and swallows it whole. His long black tongue licks his lips as his eyes flicker a reptilian yellow. The door CHIMES and he quickly closes his mouth, his jaw SNAPPING SHUT, his eyes going normal. He turns around to see a MAN, 40, walking in with his DAUGHTER, 8. Allen wipes his mouth and smiles. ALLEN (CONT’D) Welcome, visitors! How can I help you? FADE TO BLACK.