Sci-Fi Short Film "Orbit" | A DUST Exclusive

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"Orbit" by Nicholas Camp and Don Thiel III
Story based on "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

In this sci-fi retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," a pair of astronauts work on a small space station orbiting a distant planet. As the mysterious narrator attempts to convince himself of his sanity while describing his brutal act of murder, he becomes haunted by a thunderous heartbeat that could only come from the far reaches of space.

An old astronaut and his young trainee are studying a mysterious planet in deep space. The trainee is distressed over the old man’s deformed eye, and it turns into a deadly obsession. The trainee murders the old man, and believes he is free of the eye’s ghastly power.

While presenting a spotless crime scene to the investigators, the trainee descends to an abyss of fear and paranoia. He hears the sound of a heartbeat coming from beneath the floor, and it begins to grow louder...

Filmmaker's Links:
http://www.HideousHeart.com/
http://www.NicholasCamp.com/

Filmmaker's Statement:
Nicholas had always wanted to make a movie taking place on a space station orbiting a mysterious planet, and Don wanted to follow up his award-winning short, “The Raven,” with another Edgar Allan Poe story. As they discussed their next projects, it did not take long to realize that setting “The Tell-Tale Heart” on a small space station could add to the isolated, eerie tone of the story, and help motivate the lead character’s descent into madness.

Narrative "Making Of":
We were determined to create a tangible, realistic feel that is inspired by the movies we watched growing up. All of the interior and exterior sets are real, hand-crafted models, and the planet and space elements were made with mixtures of thick, colorful liquids.

Tragically, this is the final project released featuring actor Jacob Witkin as he passed away shortly after production wrapped. Jacob had an incredible presence on set, and people from our cast and crew often pulled us aside to mention how enjoyable it was to work with him. Jacob had a great sense of humor, and he was an incredible actor. His scope of work illustrates his interest in all kinds of stories and characters, and we are so lucky to have him in “Orbit.”

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[Sinister brass sound]

- [Narrator] True!

Nervous --

very, very dreadfully nervous I am.

But why will you say I'm mad?

The disease has sharpened my senses --

not destroyed, not dulled them.

Above all was my sense of hearing acute.

I heard all things
in heaven and in the earth.

And I heard many things in hell.

How, then, am I mad?

Hearken and observe how healthily, --

how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

[Sinister brass sound]
[Heart beats]

It is impossible to say how
the idea first entered my brain, --

but once conceived, --

it haunted me day and night.

I loved the old man.

He never wronged me.

He never insulted me.

But, I think it was the eye.

He had the eye of a vulture.

A pale blue eye, with a film over it.

Whenever it fell upon me,
my blood ran cold.

And so, very gradually, --

I made up my mind to take
the life of the old man, --

and rid myself the eye forever.

[Clapping sound]

At this point, you fancy me mad.

[Dark ambient sound]

But how wisely I proceeded --

with what caution, --

with what foresight, --

with what dissimulation, --

I went to work.

I did this for seven long nights.

But I found the eye was always closed.

And so, it was impossible to do the work.

For it was not the old man
that vexed me, --

but his evil eye.

[Dark ambient sound intensifies]

- And every morning, --
- Did you still sleep through the night?

- when day broke,

Well, you’ve endured
this false gravity for so long.

- I offered only the esteem he deserved.

It will be impossible
to replace your talents here.

- And he would have had
to be a very clever man indeed.

But, luckily, your training skills
have matched that of your work.

- To suspect that every night.

You're undoubtedly cut out
for your next phase in life.

- I watched over him while he slept.

[Ominous music]

- Never before the eighth night
had I felt the extent of my own powers --

of my sagacity.

[Chuckles]

[Malign laugh]

Who’s there?

- Death had him stalked
with his black shadow before him.

Ship. Åpne vinduet.

- His room still black
as pitch with the thick darkness.

It is nothing but creaks
in the old floor panels.

- That dull blue vulture's eye,
with a hideous veil over it

that chills the very marrow of my bones.

His fear grows louder and louder.

It increases my fury,

as the beating of a drum
stimulates the soldier into courage.

[Raising voice] So strange a noise as
this excited me to uncontrollable terror.

And anxiety seized me!

[Squalling]
[Noise of struggle]

[Squalling]
[Noise of struggle]

[Squashing noise]

[Squalling]

[Distraught laugh]

♪[Richard Wagner -
Siegfried's Funeral March]♪

Yes, --

he was stone dead.

And I am singularly at ease.

As the craft will be discovered
soon without a corpse, --

I worked hastily, --

but in silence.

[Telecom device rings]
[Cutting noise]

- [Deputy Chief] wasn't
scheduled to vacate your ship

prior to the program completion.

What is going on down there?

I awoke from the sound of his pod
as it expelled from our vessel.

I worry of his sudden flee.

Space is always as dark as midnight.

Has there been a terrible accident?

We'll rendezvous with this pod soon.

An investigation unit will
dock with you shortly.

[Metal panel sound]

[creaking plastic]

No human eye, not even his, --

could detect anything wrong.

There was nothing more to wash out.

No stain of any kind,
no blood spot whatsoever.

[Dark ambient sound]

I opened the airlock with a light heart.

[Alarm sound]

What have I now to fear?

[Airlock doors opening]

Welcome.

Good evening trainee. Let’s get to it.

A screech was audible prior
to the unscheduled departure.

Likely the clunky air release
as he entered the pod.

This vessel is beginning to age severely.

We'd like to take a look
around his quarters.

We hope to discover clues
for the reason of his departure.

Certainly.

Right this way.

I showed them his quarters, --

secure, undisturbed.

♪[Maurice Ravel -
Oiseaux Triste]♪

The investigators were satisfied
as my manner convinced them.

- [Lieutenant] I barely knew him,
but he trained a few of my friends.

How long were you stationed here together?

- [Narrator] 400 revs.

He will be absorbed into
that ghastly atmosphere in due time.

This is disappointing.

We cannot properly bury him.

We'll surely find his body
before he reaches the atmosphere.

I wished them gone.

-[Lieutenant] Perhaps
his brilliance led to --

eccentricities.

-[Officer] Undetected after all this time?

Impossible.

My head ached.

Or maybe, apprehension over his impending
promotion pushed him over the edge.

[Sudden strident sound]

All those years on this systems --

Why would they not be gone?

-- I can’t understand how you guys do it.

With the knowledge --

pushes humanity forward.

And, the beauty is undeniable.

It’s great until you’re driven
insane from it.

Oh God!

What can I do?
It's possible they cannot hear?

Perhaps its time to return
and deliver our report.

- No! No! They heard!
-[Lieutenant] Yes.

They are making a mockery of this horror!

[Heart beats]

Anything is better than this agony!

It is peaceful out here, though.

Anything is more tolerable
than this derision!

I sometimes wish for
an extended investigation --

so close to these massive bodies.

I could bear those
hypocritical smiles no longer!

I want to scream or die!

[Dark ambient sound]

[Thumping sound]

[Screeching]
[Thumping sound]

[Pastoral choir]

[Squalling]
[Squashing sound]

And now, again!

Hark!

Louder!

[Screeching]

Louder!

Louder!

[Screaming]
Louder!

Louder!

Villains!

Dissemble no more!
I admit the deed!

Here, here!

It is the beating of his hideous heart!

[Sinister brass sound]
[Beating heart]

Now, --

at the dead hour of the night, --

[Locking sound]

amid the dreadful silence of space, --

I’m satisfied in the wild
audacity of my triumph.

The eye would trouble me nevermore.

♪[W.A. Mozart - Lacrimosa]♪