Dune Page #7

85. INT. SUB-SUB-SUB-BASEMENT - ARRAKEEN PALACE - DAY

TROOPS come off an elevator. The glow-span indicates

the very bottom floor of 18 sub-floors. The ground

is uneven rock and the ceiling is low. The troops

fan out shining chemical lamps here and there. A

soldier suddenly stops. Ahead in his light is a dead

Harkonnen -- bloody vomit dried around his mouth. He

lies beside an electronic device.

86. INT. AUTOPSY ROOM - ARRAKEEN PALACE - DAY

Dr. Yueh covers his face with his hands in a

darkened room... sobbing.

86A. EXT. WALL - ARRAKEEN PALACE - NIGHT

SEARCHLIGHTS sweep over the faces of City Fremen who

are sitting or moving solemnly around the outer wall

of the Palace. Some are chanting "Mahdi" and "Lisan

al-Gaib." Others hold up one open hand as a sign

they feel the messiah is near. A slow-moving spike-

backed dog sucks ants up out of a small anthill; he

snorts.

86B. INT. GREAT HALL - ARRAKEEN PALACE - NIGHT

In the darkened Hall we can HEAR the distant sound

of the Fremen reverberating.

--

87. INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - ARRAKEEN PALACE - DAY

Duke Leto sits with Paul, Thufir, EIGHT GENERALS and

SIX SUB-LIEUTENANTS. The Duke's small dog wanders

under the table and rests his head on the Duke's

boot. In front of Thufir is a device FLASHING

brilliant light bursts over his face. The others are

all talking among themselves. Suddenly Thufir's face

turns brilliant red (as red as his sapho-stained

lips) and he begins speaking rapidly into the

machine in code using a strained high voice.

--

THUFIR:

(Mentat voice)

Sector 6 - 80 -- copy the sixth -- the

summit -- the eight the quadrant over the

ninth plus eighty -- four circles -- weave

the eighty and call the fourth copy --

enter nine -- seven by seven a seven the

seven call seven B seven -- enter the

circles call the sixth copy the sixth over

the summit.... eight.

The machine FLASHES several bright irregular

SIGNALS. Then it stops and HUMS. The blood leaves

Thufir's face.

THUFIR (CONT'D)

(very fast and casually)

Eight.... Thufir Hawat... Mentat... Master

of Assassins.

The hum stops. Thufir turns to Duke Leto. He looks

up. Everyone is quiet now.

THUFIR (CONT'D)

The Palace is now secure. The city of

Arrakeen is under martial law... we have

troops here headquartered underground on

sub-floors six through ten. The rest of

the troops are stationed in Arrakeen and

we have some on the airfield. Our new army

is still training, but everything is

shielded.... With the shielding, we are

impenetrable. Dr. Kynes is waiting, Sire,

for your inspection of spice mining

operations, but since the attempt of the

young master, I am against your leaving

the Palace.

DUKE LETO:

(very angry)

The attempt failed... Harkonnen captives

have already been taken. We must crush the

Harkonnen machine on Arrakis.... You all

know what to do.

(Turning towards Gurney)

...Gurney! We desperately need more spice

miners... many are threatening to leave on

the next shuttle. We need spice drivers,

weather scanners, dune men ... any with

open sand experience. You must persuade

them to enlist with us.

--

GURNEY:

They shall come all for violence: their

faces shall sup as the east wind. And they

shall gather the captivity of the sand.

DUKE LETO:

(squints at Gurney)

Very moving, Gurney. On your way... and

take care of Dr. Kynes until Paul and I

arrive. We will not be prisoners here in

this place.

GURNEY:

(artfully easing the Duke's anger)

Behold as a wild ass in the desert go I

forth to my work.

Gurney strides off. Thufir sits, contemplating. Paul

and Duke Leto smile at each other and shake their

heads.

88. INT. JESSICA'S CHAMBER - ARRAKEEN PALACE - DAY

Jessica is sitting in a small room, smiling, reading

a note. It reads "I miss you. Leto." She sets the

note down. She begins to tremble. She becomes

fearful. In her mind she SEES quick images:

MENTAL IMAGES:

89. INT. CONTROL ROOM - HEIGHLINER

A blurred Guild Navigator.

89A. INT. MAKER ROOM - SEITCH TABR - NIGHT

Paul dead on a stone floor.

89B. EXT. ARRAKEEN PALACE - NIGHT

Fire burning.

90. INT. JESSICA'S CHAMBER - ARRAKEEN PALACE - DAY

Jessica continues to tremble.

JESSICA:

(inner voice)

I must speak with you Leto!

--

91. INT. PASSAGEWAY - ARRAKEEN PALACE - DAY

Outside in the passageway, feet suddenly move

quietly toward the door to Jessica's room.

92. INT. JESSICA'S CHAMBER - ARRAKEEN PALACE - DAY

Jessica HEARS this and looks up just as the Shadout

Mapes silently enters her room.

JESSICA:

(staring at the blue-eyed woman --

waiting for possible danger.)

Yes?

SHADOUT MAPES:

I am the Shadout Mapes, your housekeeper,

Noble Born. What are your orders.

JESSICA:

You may refer to me as "my lady." I am not

noble born. I'm the bound concubine of

Duke Leto -- mother of the heir

designate.... "Shadout"... that's an

ancient word.

MAPES:

(strangely asked)

You know the ancient tongues?

JESSICA:

I know the Bhotani Jib and Chakobsa, all

the hunting languages.

MAPES:

As the legend says.

JESSICA:

(inner voice)

That's it! The Missionaria Protectiva has

been here planting protective legends

against a day of Bene Gesserit need. And

that day has come. I must play out this

sham.

(out loud)

I know the Dark things and the way of the

Great Mother. Miseces prejin.

Mapes takes a step backward to flee.

JESSICA (CONT'D)

I know many things. I know you came

prepared for violence with a weapon in

your bodice.

--

MAPES:

My lady, I... the weapon was sent as a

gift if you should prove to be the one.

JESSICA:

And the means of my death should I prove

otherwise.

(inner voice)

Now we will see which way the decision

tips.

Slowly Mapes reaches into her dress and brings out a

sheathed knife. She unleashes it.

MAPES:

Do you know this my lady?

JESSICA:

(inner voice)

It could only be one thing....

(out loud)

It's a crysknife.

MAPES:

Say it not lightly...

(very slowly)

Do you know its meaning?

JESSICA:

(inner voice)

Here is why this Fremen has taken service

with me, to ask that one question. Delay

is as dangerous as the wrong answer.

Shadout is Chakobsa... knife, in Chakobsa

is... maker of death.

(out loud)

It's a maker...

Mapes SCREAMS with elation and grief.

JESSICA (CONT'D)

(inner voice)

Maker?... Maker is the key word... the

tooth of the worm? That was close...

(out loud)

Did you think that I, knowing the

mysteries of the Great Mother, would not

know the maker?

MAPES:

My lady, when one has lived with prophecy

for so long, the moment of revelation is a

shock.

Mapes sheathes the blade... slowly

--

JESSICA:

(inner voice)

There's more here... yes!

(out loud)

Mapes, you've sheathed that blade

unblooded.

With a GASP Mapes drops the knife into Jessica's

hands and opens her blouse.

MAPES:

Take the water of my life!

Jessica withdraws the knife from the sheath and,

with the blade, scratches a line just above Mapes'

right breast.

MAPES (CONT'D)

You are ours.... You are the one.

Jessica's eyes stare ahead. She knows these words

ring with truth.

93. INT. TUNNEL - OBSERVATION ROOM - ARRAKEEN PALACE -

DAY:

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