Fantastic Voyage Page #12

251AINT. PROTEUS

All are listening to Grant reading the end of the message.

GRANT:

-- at which point the Heart will be

stopped by electric shock.

CORA:

(into the silence)

And if it should take more time to

get through --

DUVAL:

(flatly)

We can't take a second more.

MICHAELS:

(up at Bubble)

Captain -- head in the d1rection of

the flow and drift with it.

He takes out a detailed Cardiac Map.

252INT. BUBBLE

Through the Repeater, Owens can see Michaels spread the Cardiac Map.

He reacts to its great complexity.

OWENS:

I'll never find my way through that.

MICHAELS:

I'll guide you, once we're in the

Heart.

253EXT. PROTEUS

Drifting down the Jugular Vein.

254

255INT. MAIN OPS ROOM

The Grid Officer can be seen moving the replica of the Proteus down

the Jugular Vein.

255AINT. CONTROL TOWER

Carter and Reid are looking down at Benes in the OPERATING ROOM.

256INT. OPERATING ROOM

Benes is now rigged for electric shock. The Tracking Devices are

concentrated on his chest. The Heart Specialist looks at the

Cardioscope Screen. The big screen registers the beat of the Heart

with a cathode-tube effect, each pulsation causing an electronic

pattern. They are very slow, regular. The Heart Specialist nods to one

of his Technicians who wears headphones. The latter presses a button.

257-

260

261INT. CONTROL TOWER

A warning buzzer SOUNDS. The Communications Aide moves up to Reid and

Carter at the Tracking Station Monitor and Radarscope.

COMMUNICATIONS AIDE

Ready for Cardiac Shock...

Reid nods, acknowledging the message. As he removes the map off the

Radarscope, Carter takes out an OVERLAY MAP OF THE HEART from the Map

Case and places it on the Radarscope. The blip is seen progressing

down the Vena Cava, leading to the entrance of the Heart.

REID:

(pressing button)

Stand by.

Carter takes out a stop watch.

262

263INT. PROTEUS

Grant and the others respond as they begin to hear the SOUND of a

distant boom-boom, slow and measured. It has an ominous effect. It

quickly gets louder during:

CORA:

(in awe)

Listen...the Heart.

MICHAELS:

Yes...slowed down agreat deal.

GRANT:

Sounds like heavy artillery...

MICHAELS:

It lays down quite a barrage in a

lifetime. Forty million beats.

DUVAL:

(quietly)

And every beat separates a man from

[LINE OF DIALOGUE CUT OFF]

264EXT. PROTEUS - IN VENA CAVA

The SOUND of the Heart is now very loud, each measured boom like heavy

artillery in a relentless barrage. The headbeams illuminate the long

passage, the walls of which are lost to view.

265INT. PROTEUS

Grant and the others look on ahead, responding to the now-deafening

beat, which increases as they near the source in the bluish channel.

And then they react with wonder as they see:

266LONG SHOT - TRICUSPID VALVE - P.O.V. PROTEUS

In the distance, three huge membranes are billowing open, with

tendrils resembling supporting strands of parachutes.

267EXT. PROTEUS - IN THE ATRIUM

The parachute-like membranes are at the end of the Atrium, the

entrance of which the sub now approaches. As the membranes blossom

fully, with a lovely effect, a big aperture is revealed. The dilation

causes a big forward surge of the stream.

268INT. PROTEUS

All hold onto whatever is at hand as the sub is swept onward, rocking

with the tidal wave. Now in the distance they can see:

269LONG SHOT - TRICUSPID VALVE - P.O.V. PROTEUS

It is beginning to close, the three membranes seemingly collapsing

like three parachutes over the aperture. The boom of the beating Heart

is massive, making any communication very difficult.

MICHAELS:

(over the sound; up at

Bubble)

Captain! They'll stop it on the next

beat!

270INT. BUBBLE

Owens at the controls, eyes on the now-closed membranes, as he hears:

MICHAELS' VOICE

(from below)

As soon as the Valve opens again, go

through and give it everything

you've got!

271TRICUSPID VALVE - P.O.V. BUBBLE

The sub approaches the now seemingly solid wall. Owens steers directly

to where he last saw the aperture. The closed membranes loom closer

and closer, the headbeams illuminating the delicately threaded

strands. Suddenly, the three membranes start billowing open again.

272THE CARDIOSCOPE SCREEN

The electronic pattern is recording the beat.

273THE CARDIO-VERTER AND TECHNICIAN

He immediately presses the triggers on two electrodes held against

Benes' chest.

274AMPERE NEEDLE ON CARDIO-VERTER

The needle swings over into the red zone.

275THE CARDIOSCOPE SCREEN

The electronic pattern indicating the heartbeat instantly flattens out

and remains so.

276INT. BUBBLE

Owens is throwing on the full-speed-ahead control. The sound of the

Heart has completely stopped.

277EXT. EXHAUST JETS

A surge from the twin jets as the sub is propelled forward with a

tremendous burst of power.

278INT. PROTEUS

All hang on against the acceleration.

279PROTEUS IN TRICUSPID VALVE

As it sweeps through the now-motionless membranes which wave limply in

the stream, with no life of their own.

280INT. OPERATING ROOM

A tense silence pervades. The Heart Specialist and his Technicians

concentrate on the various instruments. The Surgical Team stands by,

immobile.

281TRACKING DEVICES

The little cones are the only things that move in the Operating Room.

As they weave back and forth:

282STOP WATCH

Calibrated in seconds. The hand is now crossing .

283INT. CONTROL TOWER

In the silence, Carter looks up from the stop watch in hand to check

with the big radar screen. Moving across the OVERLAY MAP OF THE HEART

is a blip, indicating the sub's passage.

284

285EXT. PROTEUS - IN RIGHT VENTRICLE

Racing through a subterranean channel partially illuminated by the

headbeams:
a forest of tendrils, connecting huge roots which are the

chordae tendineae extending into the walls. The color of the stream is

predominately blue, and the overall effect is that of a weird

wonderland. As the sub surges ahead at top speed:

286INT. OPERATING ROOM

Everyone stands rooted.

287INT. CONTROL TOWER - HEART MAP OVERLAY ON RADAR SCREEN

The blip has crossed more than half the distance. Carter and Reid look

on, tense. The Proteus moves further down the Ventricle. Carter

glances at his stop watch.

CARTER:

Twenty-four seconds left including

the three to revive him.

288

289INT. PROTEUS

Michaels is anxiously scanning the way ahead for signs of an opening.

There is none.

OWENS' VOICE

(from above)

Nineteen seconds, Doctor.

MICHAELS:

The Semi-Lunar Valve should be on

our left any time now.

290INT. CONTROL TOWER

Reid and Carter are tensely watching the Heart Map Overlay, as the

time runs out and the sub is nearing the end. Carter looks at the stop

watch. It now shows only fifteen seconds to go, which means they must

be out in twelve.

291

292INT. OPERATING ROOM

The Heart Specialist is watching the blip nearing the end of the Radar

Screen, with time running out. The Heart Technician standing before

the Cardio-Verter stands immobile, looking at the needle which is at

Zero Amperes.

293-

294

295EXT. PROTEUS - IN RIGHT VENTRICLE

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