Fantastic Voyage Page #19

481DUVAL IN LAB SECTION

Clutching the laser.

482EXT. ORGAN OF CORTI - WITH CORA

As she is tossed toward the Cells of Hensen: a series of tall columnar

structures, non-rigid, with cuticular plates forming a mosaic pattern.

483CORA

She is horrified as she sees where she is heading for:

484P.O.V. - CHASM

One wall consists of the TECTORIAL MEMBRANE, opaque, with built-in

huge fibers. The other wall: geometric and translucent. Spaced at

intervals are what appear to be electrical conduits with four exposed

strands spanning the two walls. All the conduits are vibrating.

485WITH CORA - DOWN THE CHASM

She is thrust over the curved edge, starts falling head down. She

narrowly misses the first connective conduit. Then her Breather Pack

snags on one of the strands of the next conduit, which flings her

partially to one side so that her legs are caught between the other

strands. As she hangs head down, the weight of her body causing the

strands -- and herself -- to be whipped back and forth, she is further

terrifled to see:

486LONG SHOT - CHASM - CORA'S P.O.V.

All the quadruple strands are vibratlng in the seemingly bottomless

abyss.

487BACK TO CORA

As she tries to extricate herself, which causes her to be "vibrated"

with even greater intensity:

CORA:

(screaming)

Help!

488EXT. COCHLEAR DUCT

In the distance, the Proteus is being brought under control. Michaels

and Grant are in view, swimming against the force set off by the

diminishing vibrations in this part of the Ear.

489GRANT

He hears:

CORA'S VOICE

(barely audible:
over

audio)

Please! Help!

Grant looks about. There is no sign of her.

490CORA

Struggling head down, in terror, she hears:

GRANT'S VOICE

(over audio; in

distance)

Cora! Where are you?

CORA:

I don't know! I think I'm caught on

some auditory fibers!

491EXT. COCHLEAR DUCT

Michaels swims up to Grant.

GRANT:

Where would that be?

As Michaels points, Grant hears:

MICHAELS' VOICE

(over audio)

Right down there.

They both swim off in the indicated direction, reach:

492EXT. EDGE OF CHASM

Both look down. At first they don't see her. Then Grant spots Cora. He

points for Michaels' benefit. They see:

493CORA IN CHASM - THEIR P.O.V.

Far below, still trying to struggle loose.

494CORA IN CHASM

As she hears:

GRANT'S VOICE

(on audio)

Okay! I can see you!

She stops struggling. But unseen by her, the vibrating strands in

which she is entangled have called forth, in apparent response:

495FEW ANTIBODIES - IN CHASM

Appearing from the far side, and below Cora. They start moving toward

her. More Antibodies instantly appear from the same area.

496EXT. EDGE OF CHASM

Grant and Michaels are swimming over the curved mosaic cells.

497INSIDE THE CHASM

Grant and Michaels swim down toward Cora on the strands. Now the

Antibodies become visible, gathering in increasing numbers as they

stream up toward Cora. They are as yet unlinked, but she is

unmistakably their target.

MICHAELS:

(startled)

Antibodies!... Coming at Cora! She's

triggered them off!

498

499CORA ON STRANDS

From her head-down position, she sees:

500LONG SHOT - ANTIBODIES - CORA'S P.O.V.

Streaming upward in increasing numbers toward her.

501GRANT AND MICHAELS - IN CHASM

GRANT:

Doctor! Get back in the sub! Quick!

Michaels starts swimming fast as he can toward the Proteus.

502

503EXT. CHASM - GRANT, CORA AND ANTIBODIES

He is racing to reach Cora before they do.

504ON THE AUDITORY STRANDS - IN CHASM

From her head-down position, Cora sees vast numbers of: Antibodies,

now nearer. Frantic with fear, she tries to free herself, causing the

strands to start vibrating again, which calls forth more Antibodies to

stream out of the far side. Grant reaches her, starts working

desperately to get her loose. She tries to help as he yanks at her

Breather Pack, trying to work it off the wires.

505EXT. PROTEUS - COCHLEAR DUCT

Near the edge of the chasm. Duval is seen at the bow windows, looking

out anxiously.

506INT. PROTEUS

Duval turns as the door of the Escape Hatch opens from within and

Michaels steps out. He closes the door quickly. The light over it

instantly flashes red.

DUVAL:

Where are they?!

As Michaels pulls off his swimming mask, breathing hard:

MICHAELS:

Below the Cells of Hensen. If those

Antibodies reach her, they'll attack

as if she were bacteria...

507LONG SHOT - ANTIBODIES - IN CHASM - P.O.V. CORA (HEAD DOWN)

They are beginning to link up.

508EXT. CHASM - CORA AND GRANT

He is still trying to get her Breather Pack loose.

CORA:

(franticaliy)

Hurry! Oh please, please!

He manages to get her pack loose, now starts pulling the strands apart

at her ankles so that she can extricate herself. As she finally does,

they execute a half-somersault in the stream to start swimming upward.

Both get a fleeting look at:

509LONG SHOT - ANTIBODIES - P.O.V. GRANT AND CORA

The links have now formed chains the of Cora.

510EXT. CHASM - GRANT AND CORA

Grant grabs her at the torso and starts to propel her upward.

511LONG SHOT - CHASM - ANTIBODIES AND PRINCIPALS

The long links, in vast numbers, now race after the frantically

swimming Cora and Grant.

512EXT. EDGE OF CHASM

Grant and Cora appear, swim over the slippery edge of the mosaic

cells. She is too exhausted to keep up the pace. Grant holds her with

one arm as he keeps swimming toward:

513EXT. PROTEUS

Duval and Michaels can be seen at the bow windows, looking out. Owens

is visible within the Bubble, peering out anxiously.

514EXT. VENTRAL HATCH

The two reach it, Grant still helping Cora. They are at the point of

exhaustion. Grant reacts as he sees:

515LIGHT OVER VENTRAL HATCH

Flashing red.

516EXT. VENTRAL HATCH

Grant waits, hand at the wheel. Cora looks back toward the edge of the

chasm for signs of the Antibodies.

CORA:

(gasping)

Open it! Open it before they get

here!

GRANT:

I can't till the hatch is flooded!

At her look of fright, he turns and sees:

517ANTIBODIES - EDGE OF CHASM - P.O.V. CORA AND GRANT

The long links catapult over the edge of the chasm like Polaris

missiles in flight, then begin to execute a turn for a massed attack

in the direction of:

518-

520

521EXT. VENTRAL HATCH

The light flashes green. Grant begins turning the wheel quickly as he

can.

522INTERCUT ANTIBODIES

Hurtling down toward Cora, and the wheel turning.

523EXT. VENTRAL HATCH

Just as the door drops down, the vanguard of the Anti-bodies reaches

Cora. Two coils whip transversely around her shoulders. There is no

time to tear them off. Grant thrusts Cora through the door, then

follows, with the massed attackers streaming in after them.

524INT. ESCAPE HATCH

Cora is clawing at the Antibodies which are coiling around her from

every direction. For the moment, Grant can't help her as he struggles

to close the door against:

525ANTIBODIES AT VENTRAL DOOR

The crystalline links are forcing their way in, against the pressure

of the closing door. Grant struggles with all his strength against the

coiling mass. Finally he manages to get the door closed and locked.

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