AvPGalaxy Exclusive – Early John Logan Alien: Covenant Script!

@ Michelle - "You clearly do not read other peoples posts in the thread because I actually made that point in my first post I am well aware of where this script sits in the evolution."

"You make many very good points but it gives the impression you are not in a conversation but a monologue." 

What the hell? Chill. I could have said the same of you - many times - but did not.

But to your accusation, I did read your posts in this thread and you never mentioned the script date or that Ridley changed his tune about the sequel story in interviews around that time. And I was agreeing with you, so I don't know what you are talking about. Are you thinking of something you said in another thread?

"It’s watchful, careful. It settles near Ledward’s ear, and
then enters the ear canal... the soft pink flesh... quickly
attaches itself -- a feeding tube plunging into his flesh--""

Indeed some interesting changes, a thing to remember is this seems to add up to some of the drawings by David, and we have to remember its likely Production started to do its concept work etc based on potentially earlier drafts which could include this one.

I also thought the images of Dr Shaw are indeed just Davids Fantasies as a way for me to explain how come we see nothing like them done to Dr Shaw.. so its nice to find out this indeed is what they are.

@Michelle

I have yet to read this draft yet, and so i cant comment on the simplicity of how Dr Shaw got infected, so my assumption was only looking really at what evidence Alien Covenant gave us, so i assumed Something was grown from David Experimenting on her then this was then unleashed on Dr Shaw.

It appears from what you say that the Draft in question, has it simply that due to the Black Goo it contaminated the Planet and Egg like things grew out of the ground.

As far as the Source, again a lot was to be taken with a Pinch of Salt, and was based as far as they claim on the October 2014 Paglen/Green draft and since then RS had changed the direction of the Plot to basically brush the Engineers and Shaw and Prometheus themes under the carpet apart from those that have to directly apply to what use the Black Goo could have to reach the Ends to what David had done.

Looking at the Source as far as everything they said, i can see some connections, but also many differences and again the only way to confirm if any of it was true would only be IF and When a Paglen/Green Drafts come to light.

But the hints about Engineer Culture seem to be close, especially when considering concept works and also the Source had mentioned more than One David,  TWO Xeno Monsters (and the differences) hints at what happened to Dr Shaw, and i see connections to these in the concepts and art work in Davids workshop...

But alas.... until we get any earlier drafts, it is by no means to be taken as based on any Fact....   If there was no Jon Spaights Draft or related concept work released but someone explained what Jon Spaights draft was about then it would too not really add up with Prometheus.

So who knows if we ever see Paglen and Green Drafts, i would be interested in them, just to see how accurate or not the Source was as the vague clues well way they gave them did seem to make for a interesting way forwards.

That the John Logan more basic approach seemed to lack... I will be looking to read this draft and see how more Basic and Spoon Fed kind of Plot it was, or how interesting it is.

As indeed the ADF book seemed to add some interesting things that was a shame they was not what we saw in the Movie.

people also have to remember the thing about various drafts. the vast majority of people who see the film haven't read the earlier drafts so these drafts really cant be taken as gospel unless shown onscreen or deliberately added in an accompanying extras dvd.

Thank you for posting this, looking forward to reading it!

Thanks for the post!

@Kethol

This is what I said in my first post about where John Logan's script sits in the continuity. 

"Aaron absolutely, this is post Paglen/Green and is the beginning of the Alien Prefix period which began with Paradise Lost and morphed into Covenant".

What could be clearer. Kethol you come across like the patronising school teacher who knows best about everything when in fact you lose the philosophical and over arching points of whats being communicated. Your theory about the four different pathogens is over complicated nonsense and your trying to project your cleverness into the narrative because in the real world you know something about the real science of pathogens. 

I am very happy to ignore your posts and please do the same to mine. I come here for relaxation and know the people I can banter with without them getting all self righteous and precious.

All the best to you and enjoy your time here I am sure someone finds you interesting.   

BigDave

Thanks for your reply. 

Like you I am interested in Paglen's draft particularly because John does not credit it which indicates he is not building on that version and does not require accreditation, though Paglen is in the film credits. 

Just to clarify when we began discussing this two years ago you will recall I was very pleased that the combination of the Martian and John Logan gave me hope that the follow up would be much more character focused and out of character would come answers rather than the more impressionistic symbolic vibe of recent Green and Paglen movies.

I think the beats (two creatures/two Davids) and the philosophical point that the Engineers creationism involved mechanical aspects are all from your source period there is a direct thread.

What I think has been lost is the allegorical elements like (Shaw as Sin) and the emblematic ones (the significance of the naming of the film) and the riffing of Matrix etc etc that you often referred to and of course any sense of the mankinds experiences with the Engineers.

What I think this draft shows is a desire to make a straight forward more generic science fiction movie (the solar sails and protective force field) based around David and David, as is clear from the script, as the one who takes several pathogen evolved elements from the planet (eggs, parasitical insect life) and infect Shaw who was face hugged.

What then clearly happened from Nov 2015 onwards is the script evolved Guy Pierce and Noomi were invited down to Sydney and extensions were included artists like Matt and Dane added sub text and all of those additions were about making more connections with Prometheus whereas someone else has commented on the forum this script comes across as primarily an Alien origins movie ignoring Prometheus other than David brought the Pathogen and Elizabeth with him.  

I would have preferred this version I think the final act is more elegant and focused and whilst some elements of the dialogue are better there are some losses. I think this would have played better to the general audience, entertaining in the way the Martian was but not to fan boys who would feel John is not respectful to the franchises past. I would defend this point because as you often remark the franchise as a whole is a mess with people getting bent out of shape by Morphing verses Queens, A verses A's, issues of continuity over sizes of Juggernauts and Jockeys and the basic premise that half the fan base is not interested in prequels at all and want the guy with denture issues to remain a mystery.    

Will do Michelle. Best see a doctor about having that corncob removed.

Indeed Michelle its interesting that Paglen/Green are not credited so this does then seem to show that a majority of the ideas set out in Paglen/Greens works are not used in Logans.

So its near enough like a complete re-write and Change of Direction and geared towards a more straight forwards Plot that pleased the Alien Fans and leads us more directly to the Xenomorph Origins as opposed to loosely covering these but to explore more so the whole reasons behind why the Engineers create life and why they chose to destroy some of it.

I think for a change of plan... they Felt Logan could work on and write a more direct less ambiguous kind of movie that draws closer to the Egg Cargo on the Derelict rather than away from Alien as far as the Derelict incident.

Logans Draft certainly seems to be taking that direction.

I know some may be relieved to now see all the Philosophical Type themes that Prometheus and Alien Covenant linked to Prometheus scenes had covered..  are now seemingly being by-passed.

I feel the Black Goo will now remain a Mystery as far as its Origins, its now going to be clearly how the Early Xenomorph Creation David has, evolves and ends up being Thousands of Eggs.

I do fear the Engineers Return will only be used as mainly  Plot Device to Highlight the Threat and Prowess of the Xenomorphs David creates and Ultimately the Engineers will return as THEY (RS/FOX) Need One of their Ships and a Pilot to become the Derelict and Space Jockey

What is this Alien Prefix thing I keep seeing mention? And please don't jump all over me. I am only asking a question (hides).

Prometheus = no 'Alien' pre-fix
Prometheus 2 = no 'Alien' pre-fix
Alien: Covenant = yes 'Alien' pre-fix

Got it. Thanks.

Something else from the script I forgot to mention that goes with a something discussed here about that Alan Dean Foster interview. Faris sends Walter outside to analyze the air first before the crew exits the lander in the script. So that was not just something Alan Dean Foster added to the novelization all on his own.

It's not in the deleted scenes, so it most have been cut in a later draft, or maybe never filmed?

Someone said in another poste here that Muther says the air is clear when the crew is suiting up to leave the ship, so maybe it was just changed from David to Muther checking the atmosphere.

One thing that I don’t think anyone has mentioned in this thread is the difference in Shaw’s message? In the movie (as in the novelization) she’s just singing Denver's “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. In the script she is more terrified, pleading for anyone to come and rescue her. She even says a Catholic prayer (her crucifix is later found), and the hologram stops with her anxiously turning around (as if something has crept up behind her?).

Oram is also a religious man (like Shaw) and says to Mother to slow the screeching sound in the signal down - and to reverse it. It’s the devil’s sound - the sound of lies. This would fit with the allusions to “Paradise Lost”, Hell, the fallen angel (David) etc? It would have been creepier . . .

Perhaps they felt like changing this since Oram wouldn’t have made the decision to investigate the source (which was also a part of the tension between Daniels and Oram)? On the other hand, it might have built up more tension in the movie if, for example, it was part of their contract to answer distress calls (like in Alien)?

We also learn that it took 4 days for the engineers to all die, and Shaw also mentions this in the distress call: “Please, please, if you hear this, come and . . . help us . . . Everyone’s dying. They’re all dying . . . Mountains of them now . . .”. But she wasn’t infected herself - or was she?

As for the script discussion, we read on the title page that it is “Based on the screenplays by Dante W Harper And Michael Green”. “screenplays” is in the plural so did they write several drafts together or perhaps two separate ones?

“Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven” is also stated on the title page which hints at this story being centered around David and his rebellion?

She is describing the bombing, so she must have sent the distress message after the Juggernaut crashed and David later used it to lure a ship. I wonder why the did not use that message in the movie?

They don't find Shaw's mutilated body in this script like they did in the movie. David's says he used a face hugger on her so that must have been how she died.

@Thombach

The Alien Prefix is a attempt by FOX/RS to connect the Prequels now more with Alien as far as bringing back Xenomorphs and explain their Origins and the Alien Prefix is also to show people that these movies are ALIEN ones and not Prometheus ones.

As i think FOX are concerned for Marketing Reasons a Prometheus 2 sequel or even a movie that does not have Prometheus in it or Alien, would maybe not be something that could gain as much interest.

My taking the route now to explore the Xenomorph Origin in a more Direct and Spoon Fed way and now Re-introducing the Xenomorph, FOX hoped this would gain more interest than Prometheus did and by Prefixing the ALIEN: it is to Market and Show potential viewers that these Movies are now more Directly connected to ALIEN..

@Chli

Indeed this was just going to be a Flaw Really, a lot of people felt Prometheus had some Dumb Decisions, some felt Oram made a Dumb Decision..  We could see Daniels Questions Orams Decision to investigate Planet 4.

If the Signal was exactly as in Logans Draft, then the Covenant Crew you would expect would be pretty much Extremely Cautious they would even have to Question is rescuing ONE Person worth the risk of 2000 Colonist plus 1000 embryos?

The only way such a Plot would Logically make sense if they went this route, would be if Oram had a secret Weyland Agenda and play the Burke from Aliens kind of role.

Also the Shaw SOS where she says she was seeing death, contradicts a bit the explanations of what happened to Shaw, she could not have seen the death as she described.

But then i have only had ONE Quick Read of this Daft.

@chli - Based on interviews, all the writers worked on their drafts with Ridley separately. Paglen was first, then Green re-wrote that initial story, then Harper did a re-write, then John Logan.

I'm still trying to work out how the heck what David says about the pathogen, in this script, fits with what we see in the movie.

@BigDave - Yes, I get the what Alien Prefix means now. I thought it was the title of another Covenant short film or something. I am new to this forum so I have not read all the previous threads.