Fantastic Voyage Page #17

The co-ordinates are seen being moved to indicate the sub is passing

through a Lymphatic Duct on its way to the first Node, which is

followed by a series of others, strung out like sausage links.

MICHAELS' VOICE

(from below)

Only until we get through the Nodes

-- the Lymphatic Glands. Follow your

present compass heading.

397EXT. PROTEUS - LYMPHATIC DUCT

As it courses easily through the sunny stream, to suddenly emerge

into:

398EXT. LYMPHATIC NODE

A startlingly different world. The headbeams reveal what appears to be

an underwater marshland: a tangle of reticular fibers which wave with

the gentle cross currents seeping through the mesh. Weird bacterial

forms drift by, moving in groups like raiding parties. The yellowish

light of the Lymphatic Stream still filters through.

399INT. BUBBLE

Owens is forced to slow down as he carefully begins to thread his way

through the tangle, trying not to brush against the tendrils. But for

all of Owens' care, the nose of the sub breaks some fibers as it

nudges through the increasingly narrow spaces of the brambly mesh.

400INT. PROTEUS

Grant reacts as he sees the broken fibers drift against the bow

windows, and then become momentarily entangled around them. When the

tendrils clear the windows, he looks back to the stern.

401FLOATING TENDRILS - P.O.V. GRANT

They are floating aft. Some adhere to the propulsion section, trailing

out so that Grant can see them.

402INT. PROTEUS

Grant reacts, looks back and up toward Bubble.

GRANT:

Skipper, you're picking up seaweed

-- or whatever it is.

MICHAELS:

(reassuringly; at chart)

Reticular fibers. We ought to be

clear of them soon.

403EXT. LYMPHATIC NODE - P.O.V. BUBBLE

With Owens, we see the way ahead is more tangly. As he keeps slowing

down to get through safely:

OWENS:

(anxiously)

I hope so, Doctor. If that stuff

clogs the vents, the engine'll

overheat --

He breaks off as a big clump of fibers is torn loose, for all his

skillful steering.

404EXT. UNDERSIDE OF SUB

The mass of tendrils drifts down the length of the underside. Part of

the clump adheres to the ventral hatch, another section twines around

the exhaust:
In so doing, it snags on the brambles beneath.

405INT. LAB AND STORAGE SECTION

Scalpel poised over the wire, Duval reacts as the Proteus momentarily

jars while it pulls loose. He exchanges looks with Cora, who is

holding the lamp.

406INT. PROTEUS

Grant glances back toward the open door of the aft compartment,

realizing the danger of trying to repair the laser now. He looks at

Michaels, who is bent over the chart.

GRANT:

Doctor --

He is interrupted by a loud WHAM against the bow windows. Startled,

both look off, see:

407EXT. LYMPHATIC NODE - BEGINNING OF BATTLE BETWEEN BACTERIA AND

ANTIBODIES - P.O.V. PRINCIPALS

Flashing reflected light from the headbeams, elongated crystalline

structures with rod-like projections which make linkage possible, are

whipping against the bow windows where they have trapped a mass of

ferocious-looking large Bacteria. The smaller crystalline Anti-bodies

are rapidly coupling with others that speed in to join the fray. The

Bacteria fight back with their flagella, in a death struggle.

408VIEW OF BATTLE FROM INT. BUBBLE

Owens ducks involuntarily as the linking Antibodies and the Bacteria

slam against the Bubble in such numbers and sizes as to make the way

ahead virtually invisible. As a result, the sub tears through a clump

of fibers like a scythe.

409INT. PROTEUS

Duval appears in the doorway.

DUVAL:

What's causing all that -- ?

He breaks off as he sees the Antibodies and Bacteria whipping against

the windows. Cora appears behind him, gasps at the sight of the

monsters locked in battle.

GRANT:

Looks like somebody declared war.

MICHAELS:

Just what it is. Antibodies,

destroying Bacteria -- or any other

foreign invader that threatens the

System.

410BIG CLOSEUP - ONE ANTIBODY AND BACTERIUM

As both slam and hold against the bow windows in a life-and-death

struggle. An amazing phenomenon is taking form: Antibodies are hooking

up at the rods to completely encase the Bacterium -- and the geometric

forms fit the antagonist .

CORA'S VOICE

(o.s.)

Look -- it's taking its exact shape!

GRANT'S VOICE

(o.s.)

Like hand-in-glove.

MICHAELS' VOICE

(o.s.)

Much closer. Like two atoms.

Now the crystalline geometric links start pressing together with

inexorable force. The Bacterium fights back with its flagella. Then

suddenly it goes limp. As the destroyed Bacterium drifts off, another

mass of virulent monsters smashes into the windows and are instantly

embattled with a swarm of Antibodies that come linking up. Now the

SOUND of the battle can be heard along the entire length of the sub.

Meanwhile, the sub is jarred hard, as it breaks through another clump

of entangling fibers. The sound and sight of the mortal battle

increases in intensity, as does the forced passage during:

DUVAL:

(with glance at Minute

Recorder)

We'll never get there in time, at

this rate.

GRANT:

(to M1chaels)

Isn't there another route? So we can

by-pass all this?

DUVAL:

Yes...

(to Michaels)

We can transfer over to the Inner

Ear, and go by way of the

Endolymphatic Duct.

GRANT:

(to M1chaels)

Then why not take it?

MICHAELS:

It's infinitely more hazardous than

going this way. Once we enter the

Inner Ear, sound in the

Operating Room will be disastrous.

At our reduced size, the vibrations

inside the Ear would have a

shattering effect.

Another jar of the sub, and more smashing against the hull and bow

windows, as the battle of the Antibodies and Bacteria reaches a

climax.

GRANT:

(over sound)

They're tracking us Topside. Once

they see where we're going, I'm sure

they'll take every precaution.

MICHAELS:

Let's hope they realize the danger.

(up at Bubble)

Captain, I'll give you a new compass

heading.

411BENES' SHAVED HEAD

With the radial lines in the f.g. Beyond, the Tracking Devices are now

weaving back and forth in the area of the Neck.

411AINT. MAIN OPS ROOM

CAMERA on the TRACKING POST, PICKING UP the Four Technicians before

their Radarscreens. CAMERA then TILTS UP to the big grid map. We see

the Grid Officer above, positioning the replica of the Proteus in the

Inner Ear.

412INT. CONTROL TOWER

Reid and Carter are looking down at the OPERATING ROOM. They turn as

the Communications Aide announces:

COMMUNICATIONS AIDE

Proteus turning in Quadrant 73.

Reid and Carter move to window overlooking the MAIN OPS ROOM. They

exchange relieved looks as the Grid Officer moves the sub to the

lateral quadrant, in the Neck.

REID:

(with relief)

At last they're heading for the

Inner Ear...

Carter glances at the Minute Recorder. It flashes .

CARTER:

(biting into unlit

cigar)

About time they realized they'd

never make it the other way.

Reid moves to the Control Section, presses button.

413

414INT. OPERATING ROOM

The Surgical Team and the Technicians exchange looks as they hear:

REID'S VOICE

(o.s.)

The Proteus is about to enter the

Inner Ear... You are not to walk,

talk, or make a sound of kind.

(strongly)

must be

maintained until they are out of the

danger area...

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