Fantastic Voyage Page #20

526INT. ESCAPE HATCH - GRANT, CORA AND ANTIBODIES

The water level starts falling, accompanied by the hissing of air

pressure. Grant and Cora try to claw at the crystalline structures.

But in the extremely narrow confines of the chamber, there is little

either can do. Suddenly Cora's expression changes to one of horror and

pain.

CORA:

(gasping)

They're tightening...

Desperately, Grant tries to get at least one coil loose, but to no

avail. The crystalline structures are now constricting around her.

527INT. PROTEUS

Duval and Michaels stand before the Escape Hatch, waiting for the red

light to change to green.

DUVAL:

(up at Bubble)

How much longer?!

OWENS' VOICE

(from above)

Ten seconds --

DUVAL:

That's too long!

He starts to twist the wheel, to open the Hatch.

528INT. ESCAPE HATCH

The water is now down to their knees. Grant is still pulling at one of

the many links around Cora, but without any effect.

CORA:

(barely audible)

Please -- I -- can't -- can't

breathe...

And she is cut off as all the Antibodies lock into place. Her mouth

remains open, in the manner of someone being choked to death. The

crystalline coils about her body give her the appearance of a female

Laocoon... Suddenly the entrance door is thrust open behind them.

529INT. PROTEUS

Water pours out from the Escape hatch as Grant drags Cora out. She

falls on the floor. Duval and Michaels instantly start pulling at the

Antibodies. Cora is almost unconscious. Grant joins in the frantic

effort to free her. And then Owens, who comes bounding down from the

Bubble. All four men pull at the structures with all their strength.

And suddenly they begin to break off, shattering into crystalline

fragments. With some coils broken, the others soon lose their lethal

adhesion. Finally Cora is free. As soon as she finds her breath, she

begins to cry hysterically. Duval bends over, calming her.

530INT. OPERATING ROOM

All are still immoblle, sweating out the long wait. The Female

Surgical Aide who caused the scissors to drop stands holding the

towel. The scissors is still on the floor at her feet. In the silence,

she carefully reaches out and dabs at the rivulets of sweat running

down the Head Surgeon's face. Now all are concentrating on the:

531TRACKING DEVICES

Moving silently back and forth across Benes' head, the only contact

with what is transpiring within.

532INT. CONTROL TOWER

Reid is looking down into the OPERATING ROOM, Carter is pouring two

fresh cups of coffee. At the SOUND of a warning buzz, both look at the

TV monitor. They see the INTERIOR OF THE TRACKING POST. The blip is

moving on the radar screen.

COMMUNICATIONS AIDE

Proteus proceeding toward Quadrant

75...

Reid takes the coffee which Carter extends.

REID:

(relieved)

On their way again...

Carter glances at the Minute Recorder. It now reads . He upends

empty sugar container without looking at it.

CARTER:

Twelve minutes left --

(breaks off; sees no

sugar)

Of all the time to run out of

sugar...

534EXT. ENDOLYMPHATIC DUCT

The Proteus is speeding through the very wide passage.

535INT. PROTEUS

Michaels is spreading out a chart of the Brain, with the help of

Duval. As the complexity comes into view, Grant reacts. With glance at

the Minute Recorder:

GRANT:

Looks like quite a way to go...

MICHAELS:

No, we should reach the base of the

Brain shortly. And from there, it's

not far to the site of the injury.

Suddenly, light pours in. Astonished, Grant sees:

536HUGE OVAL MEMBRANE - THROUGH BOW WINDOWS

Semi-transparent. The immense pillars which form the Stapes of the

Inner Ear are illuminated by the light behind it.

GRANT'S VOICE

(o.s.)

Where's that light coming from?

MICHAELS' VOICE

(o.s.)

The outside world. Filtering in

through Benes' Eardrum...

537INT. PROTEUS

Duval bends over the chart.

DUVAL:

(pointing; to Michaels)

That puts us right here... Which

means we can head straight for the

Sub Arachnoid Cavity.

MICHAELS:

Yes...

DUVAL:

If we can go in past the Oculomotor

Nerve...

As both men remain bent over the chart, conferring, Grant moves into:

538INT. LAB AND STORAGE SECTION

Cora is lying on the cot. As Grant enters, she starts to rise.

GRANT:

No need to get up --

CORA:

I feel much better now...

But she remains seated, still weak. As the light grows brighter:

CORA:

(quietly)

The outside world... I thought I'd

never see it again.

Grant stops at the laser which is fastened securely, runs his hand

along it.

CORA:

(turning to Grant)

Thank you for saving my life.

GRANT:

That's what they pay me for.

CORA:

A great deal more than that, I

believe...

He looks up from the laser.

GRANT:

Such as?

CORA:

Keeping an eye on Dr. Duval...

GRANT:

(into the silence)

What gives you that idea?

The light now dims back to normal, indicating they have passed the

Eardrum.

CORA:

That's why you're really here. I

knew it from the start.

GRANT:

As obvious as that? Our Security

people will jump for joy.

(with smile)

I suppose Duval's onto me, too?

CORA:

You're not the first, but he's much

too innocent, much too involved with

his work, to realize what's going on

around him.

GRANT:

Under a cloud without cause, I take

it.

CORA:

Oh, no. Plenty of cause. He won't

follow the herd, or change his

convictions -- even when they're not

popular. And he believes in an

absolutely free interchange of

information between scientists of

different countries -- and these

days, there's nothing more

suspicious than that.

GRANT:

Depends on which end of the

telescope you look through.

CORA:

What do you mean?

GRANT:

Well, if you happen to be very fond

of him -- even in love with him --

it would certainly affect your point

of view.

Before she can answer, they hear:

DUVAL'S VOICE

(o.s.)

It's out of the question.

MICHAELS' VOICE

(o.s.)

Now be reasonable!

DUVAL'S VOICE

I won't do it.

GRANT:

Sounds like trouble...

The two move toward the door.

539INT. PROTEUS

Grant and Cora silently witness:

DUVAL:

It's against my better Judgment...

MICHAELS:

Better Judgment?! To wait until the

actual operation -- when it may be

too late?

DUVAL:

I've done all I could with the

laser.

MICHAELS:

All I'm asking is you test it

beforehand!

DUVAL:

If it won't work, it's beyond my

power to fix it. But if it does,

there's no telling how long it will

hold up. It's a jury rig, at best,

and we'll need every second of use

we can get out of it. That's why I

don't want to put any extra strain

on the connections by running

unnecessary tests.

MICHAELS:

Dr. Duvall I insist you test the

laser.

DUVAL:

(angrily)

I'll do nothing of the sort! The

operation is responsibility! I

won't do it, and that's final!

MICHAELS:

(controlling himself

with difficulty)

As usual, you want everything your

way. Except this time there's more

than your damned ego at stake.

DUVAL:

(tightly)

I know only too well what's in the

balance, Doctor. And it's not my

ego, damned or otherwise.

540GRANT

Looking thoughtfully after Duval.

541INT. CONTROL TOWER

Reid and Carter are relieved to hear:

COMMUNICATIONS AIDE

Proteus turning into Quadrant 791

Level F.

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