King Kong - 1933 Screenplay

EXT. JUNGLE - FULL SHOT - DAY

Denham makes his way through the jungle, left to right, PAN
TO FOLLOW, on his way back to the village.

LAP DISSOLVE

EXT. MOUNTAIN - GENERAL VIEW - DAY

Kong crosses foreground of a big shot with mountain and cliff
in background. Boy pursues on the run.

EXT. POOL - FULL SHOT - DAY

ANIMATION & MIN. TO DO

Driscoll runs through the pool and waterfall set after Kong.

EXT. BASE CLIFF - FULL SHOT - DAY

ANIMATION & MIN. TO DO

Kong comes from the jungle and starts up the base of a cliff.
(Deadfall set of Most Dangerous Game.) Driscoll runs out of
the jungle and starts up the cliff after Kong.

LAP DISSOLVE

EXT. FISSURE - FULL SHOT - DAY

DISSOLVE IN as Kong climbs to a ledge from which a great
fissure in the rock opens into the mountains.
He is unaware that the boy is following him. He enters this
fissure with the girl.

INT. CAVERN - GENERAL VIEW - DAY

A great black pool lies at camera right. Entrance as at back.
It has an outlet through the rock through which the water
pours out in a waterfall. Steep walls of rock rise to an
immense height all around. A trail leads up camera left to a
ledge high above. This ledge looks out upon an opening
through which daylight pours. It is this daylight which
faintly illuminates the subterranean depths below. Kong
enters with the girl, passes along the camera left side of
the pool towards the trail.

The head of the monster rears out the pool. He stares at
Kong, who can be seen starting up the path which leads
towards the ledge above. The monster lunges for the shore and
starts to glide up the trail after Kong.

Driscoll enters in the background and at once dunks behind a
rock.

Kong places the girl on a small ledge beside the trail to his
lair. He plunges down over the side of his lair, with a roar,
to attack the sea monster. Eve Ann is in the foreground of
this shot, on the ledge.

Instantly, the water monster winds himself about Kong and
draws him toward the pool.

Kong fights to keep himself from being drawn into the pool by
the monster, whose tail has a purchase in the bottom of the
water somewhere. He grips rocks with his feet, locks his
great arms about the monster, crushing him, sinking his teeth
into the monster's body. The monster in turn winds his coils
about the great ape trying to crush him. After a few moments
of frantic struggle, accompanied by hideous noises, both
lapse into low grunts and hisses as each exerts strength
against the other.

It is a question of which will be crushed first. Driscoll in
the foreground or background of this shot. As the monsters,
locked in a death embrace, grow still, hardly moving at all,
FADE OUT.

FADE IN. THE GREAT GATE - NIGHT - Sailors on guard.
Englehorn, 2nd Mate and others in group round Denham who is
sitting on the ground, torn, dishevelled, still panting.

DENHAM
--Skipper, I tell you this Kong is
the biggest thing on earth.
He shook the men off that log like
flies.

ENGLEHORN
All those men lost! Incredible!

DENHAM
Driscoll said he'd try to signal us
when he found Ann.

ENGLEHORN
(groans)
We'll never see either of them
again.

2ND MATE
Don't give up, Skipper. There's
still a chance for Driscoll.

DENHAM
We'll have to wait for daylight.
Then we'll bridge the ravine.
Where's that other case of bombs?

SAILOR
Here, sir.

ENGLEHORN
This--this monster that you saw,
will he care for bombs.

DENHAM
If we can get near enough to use
'em, you bet he'll care. Had any
trouble with the natives?

ENGLEHORN
Yes, just after you left.

DENHAM
What happened?

ENGLEHORN
We fired a couple volleys over
their heads, and they took to their
huts like scared rabbits.

DENHAM
Gunpowder's something new in their
lives, huh?

ENGLEHORN
They're terrified.

2ND MATE
They've kept under cover ever
since.

DENHAM
(to 2nd Mate)
Briggs, get up on the wall and keep
your eyes peeled. We'll start at
dawn, whether we get a signal for
Driscoll or not.

LAP DISSOLVE