Fantastic Voyage

FADE IN:

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3

3AEXT. TWA PLANE IN FLIGHT OVER LOS ANGELES - NIGHT

With the myriad lights of the city beneath it. As the plane lands:

3BEXT. HUGE HANGAR

Troop carriers filled with ARMED SOLDIERS are lined up before the

hangar; several official cars filled with SECRET SERVICE MEN, four

MOTORCYCLE POLICEMEN, and a caravan of three limousines complete the

waiting entourage. The CHIEF of the SECRET SERVICE looks toward the

airfield as the plane is heard taxiing in. He turns and gets into one

of the limousines, followed by the others.

3CLONG SHOT - VEHICLES ON AIRFIELD

Coming toward camera. The plane looms in the f.g. A motorized stairway

is on the way toward the door of the plane. The vehicles come to a

halt before the camera.

3DHIGH ANGLE SHOT - PLANE

The Armed Soldiers leap out of the troop carriers and form a cordon

around the plane. The Secret Service Men get out within the circle of

guards, wait for the door to open.

4EXT. JET DOOR

It opens. GRANT steps out: in middle thirties, with the air of a man

who takes nothing seriously -- his coverup for involvement. He turns

to help JAN BENES out of the plane. Benes is Mittel European in dress

and manner. Physically, he is Schweitzer at forty: the leonine head,

the shock of hair. He carries a battered suitcase. In response to

Grant's gesture, he precedes him down the stairs.

5ON THE FIELD

As Benes reaches the last step, he is greeted by the Chief of the

Secret Service, who shakes his hand, introduces him to several of his

subordinates, and leads him to a limousine. Their words are lost in

the din of jets. About to get into the car, Benes turns and moves back

quickly to Grant, who is near the bottom of the stairs. Benes extends

his hand. They shake warmly. Benes moves back toward the limousine.

6GRANT - ON PLATFORM STAIRS

He watches as Benes gets into the limousine and the caravan takes off

with the Motorcycle Escort. The Soldiers are climbing back into the

troop carriers. Grant starts down the stairs, is lost to view in the

general activity.

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8

8AEXT. PICO BOULEVARD

Down which the cavalcade speeds.

8BEXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT OF STUDIO (BACK LOT)

The cavalcade races through an area of dark warehouses.

8CEXT. DESERTED STREET (BACK LOT)

A rundown area. The cavalcade starts down the street. In the second

floor of an otherwise dark house, a light is turned on and off, an

evident signal. PAN DOWN to a heavy car, waiting in a narrow alley

which opens into the street. Its headlights are off, the sound of its

engine completely drowned by the concerted roar of the oncoming cars

and motorcycles. As the cavalcade nears the entrance to the alley, one

of the motorcyles comes speeding up from the rear of the escort. The

car in the alleyway starts toward the entrance to the alley.

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15

15AEXT. ALLEYWAY

The car starts hurtling forward at full speed. The front of the

limousine is now visible. A broadside impact seems inevitable.

15BEXT. ALLEY

The motorcycle from the rear reaches the limousine as the kamikaze car

comes hurtling out like a motorized projectile. It hits the motorcycle

-- a totally unexpected obstruction -- and sends the Policeman flying

out of scene. It is sufficient to deflect the kamikaze car from its

deadly aim. The car hits the rear of the limousine, sends it spinning

out of control. The suicide car, also out of control, careens toward

the opposite side of the street. The limousine smashes into a

telephone pole, which brings it to a jolting stop.

16INT. LIMOUSINE

The impact throws Benes to the side. His head hits the door handle

with stunning force, almost knocking him out.

17EXT. STREET

The kamikaze car slams directly into a brick wall. It instantly bursts

into fire, engulfing the Driver. The fitful flames illuminate the

otherwise dark street.

18EXT. LIMOUSINE

The Chief of the Secret Service jumps out of the limousine, waves to a

sedan to pull up, his shouts lost in the general turmoil. Other Secret

Service Men are helping the dazed Benes out, shielding him. A sedan

pulls up beside the limousine.

19INT. SEDAN

The Chief of the Secret Service instantly hustles Benes into the rear.

As he climbs in beside him, and the other Secret Service Men rush to

the other side to get in, there is the sharp crack of a rifle shot. It

shatters the rear window of the sedan, narrowly missing Benes. The

Chief thrusts him onto the floor, sprawls on top of Benes to cover

him, while shouting to the Driver to get going, his words

indistinguishable in the confusion of more rifle shots, which sends

glass and bullets ricocheting through the interior of the sedan.

20EXT. STREET

In the eerie light of the burning car, the sedan can be seen speeding

off, flanked and spearheaded by Motorcycle Police. The Secret Service

Men and those in the sedans are left behind, firing toward the top

floor of a nearby bullding from which the rifle fire came.

21SERIES OF IMPRESSIONISTIC CUTS THROUGH CREDITS

Without divulging the nature of the hospital, the unconscious Jan

Benes is seen undergoing a fast and thorough medical probe by

TECHNICIANS and SPECIALISTS, using the latest equipment. Huge X-ray

machines, Centrifuges whirling blood samples, EKGs, Encephalographs,

and a variety of instruments used in cerebral examinations are

featured. After the LAST CREDIT:

21AEXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT

It is late. A car is speeding along.

21BINT. CAR

Seated in the rear, Grant looks as if he has just been aroused from

sleep and hustled into the car in a hurry. He is getting into his

shirt, helped by a MAN beside him. There is a smudge of lipstick on

his cheek.

MAN:

Sorry we had to get you up at this

hour, Mr. Grant.

GRANT:

(yawning)

I thought I was on my vacation...

What's it all about?

MAN:

I can't tell you.

GRANT:

Where we going?

MAN:

I can't tell you that either...

Excuse me, Mr. Grant, but you've got

a smudge on your cheek.

He takes out handkerchief, realizing Grant can't see it.

MAN:

May I?

GRANT:

Go ahead.

As Grant finishes buttoning on his shirt, the Man rubs off the

lipstick. Then he throws the handkerchief out of the car.

GRANT:

What'd you do that for?

MAN:

I'm married.

GRANT:

And she said it was indelible...

DISSOLVE TO:

21CEXT. DESERTED WAREHOUSE - PARKING AREA - NIGHT

The car bearing Grant pulls up on an unpaved parking area used for

loading trucks. Nothing stirs. The DRIVER shuts off the engine and

lights.

21DINT. CAR

The Driver and the Man in the rear get out. As Grant starts to follow:

MAN:

You're to stay inside, Mr. Grant.

(answering look)

And wait...

They close their respective doors, leaving Grant alone in the car,

looking out mystified into the darkness.

21EEXT. PARKING AREA

The two men move off together, until they reach what they obviously

know is a proscribed distance from the car. Then they stop and look at

it. For a moment nothing happens, then the ground seemingly starts to

sink with the car.

21FINT. CAR

Grant is startled to see the earth sliding up past the car.

21GLONG SHOT - ELEVATOR SHAFT

It now becomes apparent that the car has been resting on what is

really the top of an elevator shaft. The sides of the shaft now become

visible:
it is seemingly bottomless.

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