SPACE CASES
             "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TOO (YEAH!)"
                        TEASER

                                                  FADE IN:

INT. BOY'S BUNKROOM - BOVA, HARLAN

Bova is lying on the floor, STARING AT...an object.  The
object is semi-spherical in shape, looking like a bizarre
cross between a meteor and, to some extent, and egg.  It's
fairly large, at least two feet in diameter.  The object is
perched atop a small table.  Next to Bova is a bizarre
musical instrument that looks like a futuristic piano.  Then
HE HEARS the SFX Jump Tube, indicating that someone is
coming.  Quickly he tosses a sheet or blanket over the
meteor, grabs up the instrument and starts playing a weird,
slow haunting tune on it.  Harlan slides in through the
tube.

                           HARLAN
          You're getting really good on that 
          pianophone, Bova.

                           BOVA
          Thanks...

He lifts a hand in a dismissive "it's nothing" gesture.  The
pianophone keeps playing in precisely the same way.

                           BOVA
          ...it's just a matter of 
          practicing.

Bova suddenly realizes that the bit's blown.  Harlan looks
at him, amused.

                           HARLAN
          "A matter of practicing?"

                           BOVA
          I was practicing faking.

Bova sighs, shuts off the instrument.

                           HARLAN
          Bova, you okay?  Something 
          bothering you?

Bova shakes his head.  Harlan shrugs, turns his attention to
the meteor, not having been fooled for a second by Bova's
clumsy attempt to hide it.

                           HARLAN
          So...what are you hiding there?
               (beat)
          It's that rock formation, isn't it. 
          The one you found when we were 
          exploring the surface of Cygnus 12. 
          The on Commander Goddard and Miss 
          Davenport said you couldn't bring 
          with you.

                           BOVA
               (guarded)
          Maybe.
               (beat)
          There were lots of them around. I 
          figured, who's going to care?

                           HARLAN
          Anyone else see you sneak it 
          aboard?

                           BOVA
          No. The girls were busy elsewhere, 
          and Radu...

                           HARLAN
               (overlapping)
          ...was laid up in medlab with a 
          sprained ankle, so he never even 
          got out there.  Okay. Let's keep 
          it hidden and between us for now. 
          The fewer people who know about it, 
          the less chance of it getting back 
          to the Commander or Miss Davenport.

Grabs his compupad.

                           HARLAN
          We're due for class. You coming?

                           BOVA
          Sure, why not.  It's not like I had 
          any other plans.

                           HARLAN
          Why'd you bring that rock aboard, 
          anyway?

                           BOVA
          A...present for myself.  That's 
          all.

Harlan, not understanding, shrugs and heads out and Bova,
the last one out, looks over his shoulder and sighs...

                           BOVA
          After all...most people get a 
          present on their birthday.

He EXITS and, as the door slides closed, the pianophone
starts up again.  And then we PAN OVER to show the meteor
under the blanket.  The music from the pianophone starts to
speed up...and now the meteor actually begins to REACT.  It
trembles under he blanket...and suddenly the blanket ERUPTS
in a burst of light.  The blanket is gone.  Then the table
begins to sag under the meteor, as if the object's weight
has begun to increase substantially.  The legs of the table
bend inward, and then the entire table SHATTERS UNDER THE
WEIGHT.  And seconds later, objects start vibrating and then
leaping off the shelves, clattering, falling, breaking in
some instances.  The room is not shaking.  Only the
objects are as the room erupts in total destruction.  And
the music from the pianophone keeps going, and we PUSH
IN ON THE METEOR, vibrating wildly as we...

                                                  FADE OUT.

                       END TEASER