Fantastic Voyage Page #15

352EXT. PROTEUS

Grant drops out of the hatch. Michaels follows. Grant then closes the

hatch. With Grant in the lead, they swim toward:

353EXT. TOP OF PROTEUS

Grant reaches the snorkel, looks toward Bubble.

354INT. BUBBLE

Where Owens has now swiveled so that he faces the stern. Owens sees

Grant signal to proceed. Owens presses button on SNORKEL RELEASE.

355EXT. PROTEUS

The snorkel starts rising. When the tube is a few feet above the sub,

Grant takes the bobbing end, holds it under one arm, and starts

swimming with his free arm toward the Capillary Wall on the left.

356EXT. SIDE OF PROTEUS

As Grant swims by with the end of the unreeling tube, Michaels joins

him. Then Duval and Cora, who are now coming out of the ventral hatch.

All swim to the nearby Capillary Wall. (NOTE: During the following,

their action is complicated by the big Corpuscles flowing by in a

steady stream, taking on oxygen and bumping into them.) They reach:

357EXT. ALVEOLAR CREVICE

It shimmers with the liquid that seems to cover it like a door of

reflecting glass. The opening is just large enough for all to look

within. They see:

358INT. ALVEOLUS

A vast conical volcano, the upper part lost to view. Numerous

outcroppings of immense crags are visible on all sides.

GRANT:

It's full of rocks!

(NOTE:
During all Swimming Sequences, we will hear the Speaker's Voice

via the AUDIO PICKUP within the swimming mask of the one who

responds vocally.)

MICHAELS:

In a way -- yes. Those are

impurities imbedded in the Lung

after a lifetime of 'Civilization.'

Carbon from smoke and smog -- specks

of dust --

GRANT:

Well, we better get on with it.

He starts shoving the front of the snorkel through the vertical liquid

entrance. To his startled surprise, it immediately comes flying out

with great force. Michaels and Duval grab it in time to prevent the

snorkel from snaking off down the stream.

MICHAELS:

Careful! There is a tremendous air

pressure in there -- in relation to

our size!

Grant grabs hold or the front part again.

GRANT:

I'll try to hold it from the other

side of the wall, while you push

from out here. Maybe that'll do it.

CORA:

You can't --it's too dangerous --

MICHAELS:

Yes -- with all that pressure, and

suction within --

GRANT:

There's no other way. Tie my safety

line to the sub.

DUVAL:

Here, let me have it.

Grant takes out his safety line, hooks it onto his suit. Duval starts

swimming with the other end back to the Proteus.

359INT. BUBBLE

Owens is eyeing the pressure gauges anxiously. He reacts as he sees:

360EXT. PROTEUS - P.O.V. BUBBLE

With Owens we see Duval is nearing the sub, the safety line strung out

behind him.

361EXT. PROTEUS - AT VENTRAL HATCH

Duval hooks Grant's safety line onto a ring for the purpose, signals:

362EXT. ALVEOLUS CREVICE

Grant acknowledges signal. The Alveolar Wall can be seen dilating

slightly.

GRANT:

All right now -- push the snorkel

through as soon as I get inside.

MICHAELS:

(eyes on Wall)

Walt for the lull -- between the

time he inhales and exhales.

As the dilating stops:

MICHAELS:

!

Grant pushes quickly through the shimmering entrance.

363INT. ALVEOLUS

He has literally transposed himself into another element: air. There

is no turbulence, no sound. Instantly he props his feet against both

sides of the entrance. The snorkel is shoved through. As he grabs it

and holds, a breath is heard starting. Only Grant can hear the ensuing

sound.

364CAPILLARY SIDE OF ALVEOLUS

Duval now joins Michaels and Cora. They hold against the increasing

pressure from within. Grant can be seen straining on the other side

against the enormous wind pressure.

365INT. BUBBLE

Owens' finger is on the button of the MASTER PRESSURE GAUGE, waiting.

Tha indicator is quickly swinging toward FULL.

366INT. ALVEOLUS

The wind is rising to gale force. Grant is holding on with all his

strength to the end of the snorkel. The others can be seen pushing

from their side, to keep the tube from flying out.

367MASTER PRESSURE GAUGE

As the indicator hits the FULL position:

368AIR TANK CONTROL BUTTON

Owens' finger presses down while:

OWENS' VOICE

(o.s.)

Full!

369INT. ALVEOLUS

In response, Grant lets go of the snorkel, which is instantly whipped

out. Buffeted by the howling wind, he now tries to get out. But the

hurricane causes Grant to lose his balance. He falls, slammed against

the outcroppings by the force of the wind. Finally the lull comes.

Instantly, Grant starts climbing back, hand over hand, using the rope

as one would in scaling a mountain. The crevice is still far up ahead

when suddenly a new breath starts in the upward direction. Grant is

caught in the tremendous suction of the exhalation and is pulled

toward the interior of the Lung.

370SAFETY CLASP ON SUB RING

The Safety Clasp breaks off at the end of the nylon.

371EXT. ALVEOLUS CREVICE

Michaels, Duval and Cora react as the line snakes past them through

the crevice.

CORA:

(horrified)

He's gone!

372INT. ALVEOLUS

The suction sends Grant flying upward, past the crevice, with the

safety line trailing after him. The wind whips him toward a fantastic

height. Finally he hits:

373COLUMNAR CILIA

Long stalks, with a waving motion that makes it resemble a vast field

of wheat. Grant is seen flying through it, until he is lost from view.

Then as the wind subsides:

374EXT. ALVEOLUS CREVICE

The three are waiting, tense.

DUVAL:

(to Michaels)

What can we do?

MICHAELS:

Nothing -- against all that force.

CORA:

But we just can't leave him in

there! What'll happen to him?

MICHAELS:

We'll know -- in the next breath...

They react as they see the Alveolar Wall starting to dilate again,

signaling the advent of another breath.

375INT. ALVEOLUS - SHOOTING UP

The wind starts howling. And then Grant is seen at a vast height,

plummeting down. Part of the way he hits a spongy area, bounces, is

caught up again by the blasting wind, hits another spongy section,

with a big outcropping of "rock."

376EXT. OUTCROPPING

Fighting the gale, he manages to snake his safety line around the big

rock. As he hangs on, he sees:

377P.O.V. - PRINCIPALS AND SUB - THROUGH CREVICE

Not too far above, with rocks between.

378GRANT

He waits it out until the howling tornado subsides. Then in the lull,

he releases himself quickly and clambers toward the opening. He

thrusts himself through the crevice, just as another breath begins.

379EXT. ALVEOLUS CREVICE

The others grab him, pull him through all the way before he can be

sucked back.

380EXT. CAPILLARY WALL - P.O.V. BUBBLE

Owens is relieved to see the four start swimming back to the sub.

381INT. CONTROL TOWER

Carter is pacing in the heavy silence. Reid is watching the monitors.

Carter glances at the Minute Recorder. It flashes to . Suddenly

the tapping starts. Tense, they wait for the message. It is brief. As

the Wireless Operator tears it off the pad, Carter takes it.

CARTER:

(reading)

'Proteus reports putting in to

refuel air. Proceeding through the

Pleural Cavity.'

(suddenly realizing)

Refuel air?

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