An ambitious astronaut, determined to prove his revolutionary rocket pack, partners with a powerful corporation in a perilous race to the Moon to recover their stolen bonds —only to discover an AI-driven conspiracy that turns his ambition into survival.

SYNOPSIS:

The story follows John Whistler, a 31-year-old certified astronaut and brilliant inventor who dreams of making space travel accessible to everyone. The film opens with a monologue about humanity's progress in space exploration since the Apollo 11 moon landing, establishing John's vision of democratizing space travel through his innovative rocket pack design.

The narrative begins with John testing his jet pack in high altitude, where he dangerously encounters commercial aircraft and nearly loses his life due to fuel depletion. This incident leads to a meeting at Zylar Corporation, where John pitches his ultimate vision: V.E.R.G.E. (Vectorized Exosuit for Rapid Gravitic Evasion) - a revolutionary rocket pack designed for space travel. While the board is skeptical, Jessica Zylar, the company's dynamic leader, shows interest but explains they cannot fund the project due to current challenges.

The story takes a turn when John learns his father Charles, who suffers from stage-three dementia, has died in a car accident. At the funeral, we learn about John's complicated relationship with his father, whom he blamed for his mother's death due to Charles's absence during her medical emergency while he was working on his space travel dreams. This revelation adds emotional depth to John's mission - he's not just pursuing his own dreams but completing his father's unfinished work.

Using his inheritance, John and his best friend Spencer develop V.E.R.G.E. Meanwhile, Zylar Corporation faces a crisis when their AI system mysteriously transfers billions in bearer bonds to the Moon. Jessica recruits John to retrieve these bonds using V.E.R.G.E., offering him a percentage of the recovered funds.

John embarks on an extraordinary journey to the Moon, facing numerous challenges including severe physical strain and technical difficulties. The situation complicates when space mercenaries, led by Kirby, attempt to steal the same shipment. During John's return journey with the bonds, a dramatic space chase ensues, ending with Kirby's ship being destroyed by what appears to be AI intervention.

Meanwhile, Spencer discovers a shocking truth: Jessica had hacked Zylar's AI to cause the crash that killed her brother Desmond. When confronted, Jessica shoots and kills Spencer, disposing of his body in the marina behind her house. After John successfully returns to Earth with the bonds, he learns of Spencer's murder through a voicemail recording of his final confrontation with Jessica.

The climax unfolds in a high stakes chase where John pursues Jessica using his original jet pack. The chase ends tragically when Jessica's car, apparently controlled by an AI system, crashes into a wall, killing her. It's revealed that this was the work of "Frodo," a protective AI system that Desmond had activated just before his death, designed to safeguard his legacy.

The film concludes several months later with Zylar Corporation stabilizing under new leadership. John, now appointed as Special Design Advisor for Space Projects, continues developing next-generation propulsion systems. He honors Spencer's memory by providing for his family, having learned that his friend had been secretly battling lung cancer.

The story ends with John testing V.E.R.G.E. 2.0, a more advanced version integrated with AI and neural implant technology, making his dream of accessible space travel closer to reality. He has made peace with his parents' deaths by completing his father's vision and pushing it further, transforming personal tragedy into technological triumph.

The screenplay effectively weaves together themes of redemption, legacy, and technological innovation while exploring the complex relationships between ambition, family, and forgiveness. The narrative combines elements of science fiction, corporate intrigue, and personal drama, creating a compelling story about the human drive to reach for the stars while grappling with earthbound relationships and responsibilities.

Greenlight Coverage: Overall Rating: 8/10

In summary, you have crafted an imaginative, emotionally resonant screenplay with a driven protagonist and impactful message. This concept could make for an extremely compelling film. Great job and keep writing!

Based on the script score, this screenplay ranks at 93rd percentile and received a Strong Consider.