Dune Page #9

Everyone looks at one another.

GURNEY:

The worm is eight minutes away, Sire.

VOICE:

(over radio)

Spotter control -- give me a report by the

numbers.

Over the radio MANY VOICES report they have no

contact with the carryall.

DUKE LETO:

Damn it... Harkonnens.

He punches a control button and grabs a microphone.

DUKE LETO (CONT'D)

(into microphone)

We are coming down to take you off the

harvester... All spotters are ordered to

comply.

VOICE:

(over radio)

Ordered by whom?

--

DUKE LETO:

(angrily)

Duke Leto Atreides....

Gurney and Paul turn to each other, worried.

VOICE:

(over radio)

Yes... yes, Sire!

DUKE LETO:

How many men do you have?

VOICE:

(over radio)

Full crew -- twenty-six men -- but Sire,

we can't leave this spice...

DUKE LETO:

Damn the spice! Get out of there.

103. EXT. HARVESTER - DESERT - DAY

All the spotters begin landing and the Duke descends

directly in front of the harvester which has stopped

mining yet emits a tremendous rythmic GRINDING

noise. No one is coming out.

104. INT./EXT. ATREIDES ORNITHOPTER/DESERT - DAY

Gurney nervously scans the sky for enemy ships. A

very low, powerful SOUND starts now and the ground

begins to shake.

105. EXT. HARVESTER - DESERT - DAY

A hatch opens and MEN come pouring out.

106. INT. ATREIDES ORNITHOPTER - DESERT - DAY

DUKE LETO:

(yelling at the men)

Two men in each of the spotters... You!...

over here... run!!

The ground is really shaking now. A tremendous low

THUNDERING sound grows along with a high rasping

HISS.

KYNES:

(to Paul and Gurney -- yelling over

the noise)

I can't see him yet but he's very close...

--

DUKE LETO:

(out loud to himself as he watches

the men scrambling)

Damn sloppy -- really damn sloppy.

FOUR MEN begin tumbling into the Duke's machine.

GURNEY:

Come on boys... come on.

(Then, to the Duke)

We're going to be heavy, Sire.

The men press on Gurney and Paul. Paul can feel the

fear. The sound is a horrible ROAR and deeper

RUMBLING now and the `thopter is vibrating and

shaking violently. The air suddenly begins to SPARK

with static electricity.

KYNES:

(nervous)

Here he is... We've got to go.

The Duke closes the doorways, surveys the area one

last time, then takes the controls.

106A. INT. ATREIDES ORNITHOPTER - DAY

The ship strains and lifts off -- slowly.

Paul sees the brown powder clumped on the suits of

the men... their bluish eyes. He smells the spice.

He begins to feel its affect.

PAUL:

(inner voice as a blinding light

comes and goes)

Spice!... pure un-refined spice!

KYNES:

(murmuring)

Bless the Maker and his water... Bless the

coming and going of him. May his passage

cleanse the world.

DUKE LETO:

(yelling)

What's that you're saying?

KYNES:

Nothing.

A spice miner turns and sees Kynes, who remains

silent.

--

SPICE MINER #1

(astonished)

Liet!

SPICE MINER #2

Shhhhh.

Paul hears this, then looks to Kynes -- locks on his

image.

PAUL:

(inner voice)

Liet?

KYNES:

(pointing down and yelling)

You are about to witness something few

have seen -- watch! Watch!

Paul looks down as the Duke banks over the

harvester.

107. EXT. HARVESTER - DESERT - DAY

Static electricity is IGNITING in the air and the sand is

swirling around the harvester. Then they see it. A wide

hole emerges from the sand, glistening spokes within it.

The hole is twice the size of the harvester. Suddenly

the machine turns and slides into the hole, parts of it

EXPLODING. The SOUND is deafening. The Duke's ship is

WHINING to stay aloft.

108. INT. ATREIDES ORNITHOPTER - DAY

GURNEY:

Gods, what a monster.

DUKE LETO:

Someone is going to pay for this... I

promise.

KYNES:

(inner voice -- as he studies the

Duke)

This Duke is more concerned over his men

than the spice! I must admit... against

all better judgement... I like this Duke.

FADE TO:

109. through 113B. (Deleted)

--

114. INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - ARRAKEEN PALACE - NIGHT

Duke Leto walks into the room. The NIGHT GUARD

comes to attention as he passes. DUNCAN IDAHO,

wearing a dark, dusty stillsuit, emerges from the

shadows. DUKE LETO and DUNCAN meet at the foot of

the steps. The men embrace and separate.

DUKE LETO:

(happily)

Duncan! What have you discovered about

the Fremen, Duncan -- tell me. Why

haven't we heard from you?

DUNCAN:

My lord... I suspect so much. I think

they are the allies we seek... they are

strong and fierce... they do not give

their loyalty easily or quickly.... As

you know, the Imperium has never been able

to take a census of the Fremen. Everyone

thinks that there are but few -- wandering

here and there in the desert.... My lord,

I suspect an incredible secret has been

kept on this planet... that the Fremen

exist in vast numbers... vast numbers...

and it is they that control Arrakis.

115. through 116. (Deleted)

116A. NEW SCENE - SHADOUT MAPES ALONG PASSAGE

117. INT. PAUL'S SUB-BASEMENT ROOM - ARRAKEEN PALACE -

NIGHT:

DUKE LETO'S VOICE

Guard. Open the door.

Paul is in a fitful sleep. Leto enters and smiles

at his son.

DUKE LETO:

Sleep well... my son.

The Duke smiles at Paul then leaves the room, but

after he goes, Paul strains with all his might to

lift himself to call out.

PAUL:

(struggling painfully)

Father!... father... drugged...

--

122. INT. BARON'S QUARTERS - HARKONNEN SHIP - NIGHT

The BARON's face -- expressionless. The SOUND of

his ship screams in the background. The DOCTOR is

seated beside him.

118 INT. SUB-BASEMENT PASSAGEWAY - ARRAKEEN PALACE -

NIGHT:

The Duke walks down the steps to a very narrow

passageway. The passageway becomes very dark.

Suddenly the Duke hears a strange MEWLING sound. He

turns down an even darker passageway. He can hear

the shield WHINING in the distance. He almost has

to feel his way. Up ahead he sees a shape. He

bends down and sees the SHADOUT MAPES dying on the

cold stone floor in the darkness. She tries to

speak but cannot. She falls. Suddenly the Duke

HEARS the shield generator start whining down.

DUKE LETO:

What happened? What?

(as Mapes dies)

The shield!

The Duke reaches to activate his shield be a large

dart is shot into his shoulder. The Duke lurches

upwards then tumbles to the ground. Out of the

darkness comes Dr. Yueh. The dart drops and

CLATTERS as if a dream.

DUKE LETO (CONT'D)

(mind racing -- struggling)

Yueh!

(inner voice)

He's sabotaged the house generators, we're

wide open.

YUEH:

(with self-disgust)

I've brought House Atreides down. I've

destroyed the new army's weirding modules.

DUKE LETO:

(hoarse whisper)

... Why?

The generator WHINES lower and lower

--

YUEH:

I wish to kill a man... not you, my dear

Duke, but the Baron.... You were dead

already... but you will be close to the

Baron before you die. You will be tied

and drugged but you can still attack.

When you see the Baron you will have a new

poison tooth. He will want you close so

he can gloat over you. One bite on this

tooth and a strong exile...

DUKE LETO:

Refuse...

YUEH:

No! -- You mustn't... for in return I will

save the lives of your Paul and Jessica.

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