Message #28372

[Stacy Dohm]

The Sumatran COLONEL IN CHARGE steps up.

COLONEL
We are closing you down! No more permit! You go home!

TENTS are being TORN DOWN ... ARTIFACTS swept into SACKS. BOOKS and
PAPERS are thrown into a pile and DOUSED WITH PETROL.

LORD DARROW
You can' t destroy these things ... They're part of history.

COLONEL
Some things better left alone.

WHROOOSH' The FIRE roars into life.

A SUDDEN YELL - RANDELL PEEK is thrown to the ground by TWO SOLDIERS.
He is clutching ANN'S MAP!

SOLDIER
He was caught trying to escape!

The COLONEL unrolls the MAP ...

ANN
(very tense)
That's mine.

COLONEL
Burn everything.

He hands the map to a SOLDIER 1 ... ANN tries to rush forward, but is
RESTRAINED by SOLDIER 2.

LORD DARROW sees SOLDIERS streaming away from the KONG STATUE.

LORD DARROW
(distressed)
We're shipping that back to England -

COLONEL
That won't be necessary.

KABOOM!!! The KONG STATUE is BLOWN INTO A 1000 PIECES!!!

LORD DARROW
(quietly)
God forgive you.

DARROW sinks to his knees, CLUTCHING HIS CHEST.

ANN
(horrified)
Father!!!

ANN rushes over as LORD DARROW gently pitches forward onto the ground.
She cradles her father's head in her lap.

ANN (CONT'D)
(panicked)
Somebody help me! Help me!

JACK kneels over LORD DARROW ... shakes his head.

JACK
I'm sorry ...

ANN
(shocked)
No!

ANN bursts into tears ... falls on her FATHER'S BODY, SOBBING with
GRIEF. The COLONEL takes her arm.

COLONEL
Everyone under our protection. You and your father's body will be
escorted to airfield in the morning for plane home. No more permit!

The COLONEL attempts to PULL ANN away from her father's body. JACK
roughly shoves the COLONEL away.

JACK
Leave her alone for Chrissake!

SOLDIER 2 CLUBS JACK with his RIFLE BUTT! JACK falls to the ground ...
SOLDIER 2 snatches LORD DARROW'S FOB-WATCH as a trophy.

SUDDENLY! JACK rockets up, GRABBING SOLDIER 2'S RIFLE. He rams the butt
into the COLONEL'S stomach, smashes SOLDIER 2 across the chin ... The
FOB WATCH falls to the ground. SOLDIER 1 is by the FIRE, about to burn
ANN'S MAP - HE RAISES HIS RIFLE ... In a flash, JACK throws the RIFLE
at SOLDIER 1, knocking him into the FIRE! ANN'S MAP flutters to the
ground.

CONFUSION ERUPTS! SOLDIERS SHOOT wildly at JACK as he disappears into
the darkness ... ANN stands alone by her father's body - ZOMBIE-LIKE.

CLOSE ON The FOB-WATCH ... ANN picks it up. A PIECE OF PAPER blows at
her feet - she looks down at THE MAP.

CLOSE ON PEEK watching her.

CUT TO

JACK dodges a flurry of GLOFIRE and leaps into his TRUCK. He guns the
engine and ROARS OFF down the JUNGLE TRACK.

EXT. JUNGLE TRACK - NIGHT

CLUNK! SOMEBODY jumps onto the TRAY of his TRUCK before he gains much
speed. JACK plants boot and SWERVES VIOLENTLY, trying to THROW THEM
OFF. The INTRUDER nearly rolls out - JACK looks into his SIDE MIRROR
...

ANN'S only just clinging to the side, still CLUTCHING THE MAP ... She
stares ANGRILY INTO THE MIRROR.

ANN
For Godssakes it' s me!

JACK slows enough to allow ANN to clamber into the CAB through the
PASSENGER DOOR.

SMASH! A BULLET shatters the REAR WINDOW as TWO SUMATRAN MILITARY CARS
speed up behind them'

ANN (CONT'D)
They're gaining on us!

The CHASE ACCELERATES out of the jungle, and down a narrow MOUNTAIN
ROAD ... A SHEER 300ft DROP on one side. JACK throws his TRUCK around
corners with recklessness. The STONY TRACK is barely wide enough for a
vehicle -not one sliding around TIGHT CORNERS ... at times ONE WHEEL
hangs out in space. ANN clings to her seat.

JACK has gained on the MILITARY VEHICLES as they reach the bottom of
the hill, racing on a DIRT ROAD beside a MUDDY RIVER ... JACK looks
back - FAILING TO TAKE A CORNER ...

EXT. RIVER - NIGHT

The TRUCK flies off the road, SPLASHING INTO THE RIVER!

JACK and ANN brace themselves as the TRUCK lurches to a halt ... It
lies HALF SUBMERGED in the RIVER beside an old WOODEN PIER. The WATER
LEVEL is just above the bottom of the TRUCK'S WINDOWS. Within seconds
the WATER fills the CAB up to THEIR NECKS.

The FIRST MILITARY VEHICLE roars past ... but the SECOND STOPS. Our old
friends - SOLDIERS 1 & 2, get out and approach the PIER.

JACK
(whisper)
Get out ... Stay under the pier.

BEFORE THEY CAN MOVE A large CROCODILE suddenly LUNGES AT ANN! It's
SNAPPING JAWS thrust in through her SIDE WINDOW.

ANN falls back into JACK'S LAP ... The CROC'S shoulders are too wide
for the window - it gets wedged, SNAPPING at ANN, inches short of her
nose! MORE CROCODILES descend on the TRUCK, CLAWING AT JACK'S WINDOW
and the WINDSCREEN - it threatens to break under the strain.

A FLASHLIGHT BEAM plays on the car ... the TWO SOLDIERS approach
holding RIFLES.

JACK (CONT'D)
(yelling)
Shoot them!

MORE CROCS scramble onto the TRAY, snapping through the broken REAR
WINDOW! JACK and ANN huddle together, their mouths at water level,
TEETH SNAPPING ALL AROUND THEM. JACK can see the TWO SOLDIERS through
the SIDE MIRROR .. they're ENJOYING THE SHOW - cracking a private JOKE.

JACK (CONT'D)
(yelling)
Come here!

The TWO SOLDIERS don't respond.

JACK (CONT'D)
(yelling)
I said come here! I don't have a will and I've got twenty grand stashed
in a Singapore Bank. I want you to have it!

As JACK speaks, he is GASPING FOR AIR and SPITTING OUT WATER ... The
TWO SOLDIERS WARILY APPROACH, their rifles trained on JACK.

JACK (CONT'D)
I know you guys aren't sadistic, evil scum. I know you're really good
boys at heart, and I want you and your families to get some pleasure
from my lifetime of hard work.

JACK'S POV The TWO SOLDIERS edge closer along the PIER -totally
prepared for any trick JACK might pull ... Behind them - A HUGE FAT
CROC has climbed the river bank and is WAITING STEALTHILY onto the
pier!!!

JACK (CONT'D)
Royal Bank of Singapore ... Ask for Mr Sanyun Khan. For Christsake,
don't get him mixed up with Sulkin Khan - the guy works at the next
desk and is a total ****. Won't give you anything!

THE SOLDIERS NOD . The FAT CROC is getting near, but moving VERY
SLOWLY.' ANN too is watching the approaching CROC through the MIRROR.

A SNAPPING CROC nips JACK'S shoulder DRAWING BLOOD. He gasps...

JACK (CONT'D)
I'll give you the account number. You should write it down ... One ...
Seven ... Guys! I'm real worried you're going to forget this! I've got
enough stress at the moment - write the damn thing down!

SOLDIER 1 lowers his rifle and pulls a NOTE-PAD out of his pocket -
just as ...

THE FAT CROC CHARGES! He covers the last few feet moving at LIGHTENING
SPEED. He takes SOLDIER 2 in his JAWS and with a FLICK of his TAIL,
sweeps SOLDIER 1 INTO THE WATER! ALL THE CROCS leave the TRUCK and
descend on the THRASHING SOLDIER like a PACK OF PIRANHAS.

ANN grabs the floating MAP, pushes the door open ... she and JACK
quickly wade to the bank the water behind them a CHURNING MAELSTROM!

The SOLDIER'S VEHICLE ... JACK races up to it and leans in - NO KEYS!

JACK (CONT'D)
Damn!

He does retrieve a PISTOL from the back seat. He tucks it into his
belt.

CUT TO

EXT. SUMATRAN ROAD - NIGHT

ANN and JACK are walking along a road. PADDY FIELDS on one side, JUNGLE
on the other ...the LIGHTS OF PALEMBANG are glowing about 3 miles
ahead.

CAR HEADLIGHTS appear behind them. They quickly duck into the
UNDERGROWTH.

ANN
(excited)
It's Dougie's car!!

JACK hurries to the middle of the road, WAVING at the car. It slows
down ...

SUDDENLY ACCELERATES, BOWLING JACK!! He rolls across the hood, landing
in a heap on the ground.

ANN (CONT'D)
(shocked)
Jack!

ANN runs over to him ... the CAR stops and RANDELL PEEK hops out!

PEEK
Oh God! I didn't see him!

JACK'S EYES FLUTTER OPEN - he looks up to see ...

PEEK suddenly club ANN! She topples over and PEEK snatches the map, an
"it's my lucky night" look on his face. JACK tries to get up, but he's
too stunned and can only watch as PEEK jumps back in the car and speeds
away.

CUT TO

EXT. PALEMBANG HARBOR - DAWN

The "Venture' is STEAMING AWAY from the DOCKS - SMOKE shoots out of
it's FUNNEL as the boiler pressure rises ... The ORANGE LIGHT of DAWN
fills the sky.

CUT TO

EXT. PALEMBANG DOCKS - DAWN

JACK and ANN run onto the DOCK ... They look filthy, bruised and very
tired. ANN watches in despair as the "VENTURE" leaves the HARBOR MOUTH.

ANN
(urgent)
Where do I charter a boat?

JACK
There's nothing fast enough to catch that. Forget it. It's over.

ANN
(angry)
I not doing this for me, Jack! It's for my father. This is possibly the
greatest anthropological discovery of the last two hundred years! It
belongs to him! I'm going to that island ... nothing's going to stop
me!

JACK glances at a NATIVE DUG-OUT.

JACK
You might have some luck with that ... if you paddle as fast as you
talk.

JACK turns and walks away, DUCKING INTO THE SHADOWS as a MILITARY
VEHICLE cruises past in the distance.

ANN (O.S.)
Jack.

JACK turns ... ANN is looking at the OLD 2-SEAT FLOAT-PLANE, beached on
the muddy bank. It is a TOTAL WRECK - broken wings, rudder hanging by
one hinge, control wires snapped and tangled.

ANN (CONT'D)
(hopeful)
Can you fly?

JACK
Are you kidding?! That heap of junk will never leave the ground!

He turns and carries on walking ...

JACK (CONT'D)
Besides, I've given it away. I ain't flown since the war. I ain't ever
flying again.

CUT TO

EXT. SUMATRAN COAST - MORNING

The "VENTURE" is a couple of miles off the Sumatran coast, and heading
out to sea.

INT. VENTURE BRIDGE -- MORNING

CAPTAIN ENGLEHORN is steering the ship. DENHAM is pacing anxiously
while KURT studies ANN'S PENCIL RUBBING. He is marking a course on a
MODERN MAP.

KURT
Here!

DENHAM watches with excitement as KIURT makes a CROSS in the middle of
a vast empty ocean.

KURT (CONT'D)
It says the island is surrounded by salak-pur ... a fog bank.

DENHAM
How many days?

ENGLEHORN
(adement)
There's no island there. We're wasting our time!

DENHAM
(angry)
I'm chartering this vessel,Engelhorn - how many days?

ENGLEHORN
(sullen)
Two... maybe three.

The SOUND of an approaching PLANE!!!

EXT. VENTURE DECK - MORNING

DENHAM and KIURT come out onto the deck, scanning the sky for the plane
...

KURT
Mr Denham!

KURT is pointing at the SEA.

DENHAM
(confused)
What the -

CRASH CUT TO

EXT.

SUMATRAN COAST - MORNING

The OLD FLOAT-PLANE, is speeding along the SURFACE OF THE WATER! The
engine is belching BLACK SMOKE, but is still propelling the wreck at a
far rate of knots. The floats slow signs of HASTY REPAIR to keep them
watertight.

CLOSE ON JACK in the FRONT COCKPIT, with ANN behind him ... SEA SPRAY
is showering them. JACK is keeping an eye on the GAUGES.

CRASH CUT TO

JACK
(yelling above noise)
I'm gonna pull along side. I can't cut the engine - she'll never start
again.

EXT. VENTURE/OCEAN - MORNING

Most of the CREW are lining the DECKS, watching with AMUSEMENT as the
FLOAT-PLANE pulls up along side. ENGLEHORN has cut the engines.

DENHAM groans when he recognizes ANN.

ANN
(yelling)
I'm coming onboard! Throw down a ladder!

DENHAM
(yelling)
You're outta your depth here, Miss Darrow!

ANN
(yelling)
There's no hard feelings, Mr Denham! I just want to come to the island
with you!

DENHAM
(yelling)
Does this look like the "Queen Mary"?? We don't take passengers! Full
steam ahead, Captain Engelhorn!

DENHAM walks away.

JACK
(sarcastic)
Well, that was certainly worth the effort! Whaddya do for an encore?

ANN suddenly reaches forward, SNATCHING THE PISTOL out of JACK'S belt!

DENHAM and ENGELHORN head toward the BRIDGE ... BANG! BANG! ...
GUNSHOTS! They race back to the side ...

BANG! BANG! ANN is PUMPING BULLETS into the plane's FLOATS! It
immediately starts SINKING!

ANN
(yelling)
Are you going to stand there and watch us drown, Gentlemen?

ENGLEHORN (O.S.)
(orders)
Throw down a ladder ... Quick now!

CLOSE ON ... DENHAM.

DENHAM
(muttering)
****!

CUT TO

EXT. OCEAN - DAY

WIDE SHOT ... The "VENTURE" steaming towards the horizon.

INT. ANN'S CABIN - DAY