FADE IN:

EXT. SPACECRAFT

A spacecraft approaches Earth.  On its side in bold letters:

"Voyager 3 - Mars"

INT.  SPACECRAFT

HANK (40's) and BILL (30's) tinker with dials and switches.

HANK

Try it now.

Lackluster, Bill moves over to the communications system, hits a button and speaks into a mic:

BILL

This is Voyager Three.  Do you--

Bill, let's go of the button, slumps back.

BILL

What's the point, Hank?  It's been two

years since their last transmission.

HANK

We've been through this a million times. 

What's the bigger likelihood, Bill?

Bill mouths the phrase along with Hank.

HANK

That Earth blew up... or our craft is

experiencing technical issues?

Hank frowns and points at a little window displaying Earth in the distance.

HANK

I can see Earth right there, Bill. 

I refuse to believe no one's left.

Bill sighs and leans back into the mic.  As he hits the button, their system picks up a signal.

Hank and Bill instantly perk up in disbelief, then scan the data coming up on their computer screens.

HANK

It's video.

Bill types some commands - a video stream window pops up on his machine.

The men are glued to the black screen.  Then, an image appears.

Their delighted faces instantly turn to horror.

BILL

What the fuck is this?

A nude woman sits tied to a chair, a TV screen in place for her head - bloody teeth glued to the screen where her mouth would be.

Behind her, the American flag and other governmental insignia.

Her TV head flickers on.  It displays images of flourishing crops - endless farm land. 

TV HEAD

TV HEAD

(commercial voice)

Tired of your corn looking and tasting like

sand paper? Tired of the pest-induced

blemishes on your apples? Our seeds

are guaranteed to withstand any

natural or man-made hazard-- 

Images display the crops resistant to pests, even fire.

TV HEAD

and produce twice the amount of

nutritious goodness for your family.

Images of people harvesting like crazy. 

An Ethiopian family in a little hut sits at a table, full plates - all smiles.

A close-up of the crops reveals that dead insects and birds cover the ground.  A grotesquely mutated frog "hops" by.

The image flips to a lab with scientists experimenting.  Kids and pregnant women receive shots.  Everyone smiles.

TV HEAD

(commercial voice)

Tired of your little ones having to endure

the pesky flu, chicken pocks, obesity or

ADHD? Our kids are guaranteed to withstand

any natural or man-made hazard because

every one of us deserves a bright, happy future.

A child without eyes smiles at the camera.

The TV voice turns to that of a female politician.

TV HEAD

Your government is committed to serve you. 

We are here to protect you, your loved ones,

your family.  Don't forget, if you want

to be heard - vote.  God bless.

The TV Head on top of the nude woman, turns to static.

The deranged face of a MAN jumps into view. 

Hank and Bill startle.

The Man has lesions all over his face.  He waves at the camera with bloody pliers.

MAN

Welcome to Earth.

EXT. SPACE

The spacecraft drifts on.

FADE OUT.