Fantastic Voyage Page #21

Reid presses button.

542INT. OPERATING ROOM

Still in tableau. All hear:

REID'S VOICE

(o.s.)

The Proteus has passed the Inner

Ear.

Instantly the tension breaks. There is coughing, clearing of throats.

Someone sneezes, evoking:

AD LIBS:

--Just in time! I couldn't hold

it back another second!

--I was afraid to !

--My foot's asleep.

--Only one?

--I thought I'd die when the

scissors hit the floor!

The Female Surgical Aide picks up the scissors.

543INT. CONTROL TOWER

Reid is moving to the window overlooking the MAIN OPS ROOM. Carter

turns from the Minute Recorder, which now reads .

CARTER:

(on edge)

Only eight minutes left...

As he joins Reid and both look down into the MAIN OPS ROOM, they see

the Grid Officer moving the Proteus to the Quadrant at the base of the

Brain.

REID:

(softly)

Imagine -- they're in the Human

Mind --

544

545CEREBRAL LIGHTS

A dazzling display of flashing lights fills the screen. Then as the

CAMERA PANS DOWN slowly, we see a high wall of complex circuitry, in

which the tiny lights glow on and off rapidly. Finally, as the CAMERA

NEARS the bottom, it reveals:

546EXT. PROTEUS - IN CRANIAL FJORD

The sub seems a mere speck as it cruises through a chasm formed by two

walls of similar circuitry and electronic pyrotechnics. There is a

sense of order despite the complexity.

547INT. PROTEUS

Grant has joined Cora and Duval at the bow. The three are deeply

impressed and moved by what they see. Michaels remains at the chart.

As they look on:

DUVAL:

(softly)

"Yet all the suns that light the

Corridors of the Universe shine dim,

Before the blazing of a Single

Thought -- "

GRANT:

"Proclaiming in incandescent glory

The myriad Mind of Man..."

Cora looks at Grant in rather surprised awareness of this other side

of him.

MICHAELS:

Very poetic, gentlemen. You seem to

see a great deal out there. Let me

know when we pass the Soul.

Duval turns from the bow windows to face Michaels with the answer:

DUVAL:

(quietly)

The Soul? The finite mind cannot

comprehend Infinity. And the Soul

which comes from God is Infinite.

MICHAELS:

Take a close look at your Soul, and

your Infinity, and your God out

there --

548GRANT

In thoughtful response to:

MICHAELS' VOICE

(o.s.)

-- and you'll find it's nothing but

a combination of atoms, molecules --

549INT. PROTEUS

Not letting Duval interrupt:

MICHAELS:

--and certain chemicals involving

proteins --

DUVAL:

You left something out.

MICHAELS:

What's that?

DUVAL:

(flatly)

The Breath of God...

Before Michaels can reply:

OWENS' VOICE

(from Bubble)

Doctor -- what's that up ahead?

They turn toward bow, see:

550EXT. FOREST OF DENDRITES

As it comes into view with the sub turning the corner of the chasm: a

huge semi-circular area of branchlike nerves, through which the

cerebral lights flash. In the center is the site of the injury. The

lights stop at its perimeter, as if short-circuited, causing a dark

area.

DUVAL:

(up at Bubble)

There it is. That's the site of the

injury -- the dark spot. We'd better

get prepared.

They move into the Lab Section, where they put on their Breather Packs

quickly during:

MICHAELS:

It's too late...

Startled, they follow his look, see the Minute Recorder now reads .

MICHAELS:

You couldn't possibly operate and

get out before the hour's up.

(up at Bubble)

Captain, keep going. Head for the

Removal Point.

He begins to spread out a map of the Removal Area.

DUVAL:

Removal Point? What're you talking

about!

MICHAELS:

We have no alternative. With only

six minutes left, we'll just barely

make it.

GRANT:

(up at Bubble)

Hold it, Skipper.

(to Michaels)

What happens if we overstay?

MICHAELS:

Once time's up, De-Miniaturization

begins. In a matter of seconds the

ship will grow big enough to become

a danger to the System. Then White

Corpuscles will swarm to destroy it,

as they would any invader.

GRANT:

(up at Bubble)

How long will it take to get from

here to the Removal Point?

OWENS'VOICE

(from above)

Approximately two minutes.

DUVAL:

That still leaves me four minutes to

operate.

MICHAELS:

All you'll succeed in doing is

getting us trapped!

(glancing at Minute

Recorder)

Captain, you will proceed

immediately to the Removal Point.

OWENS' VOICE

(from above)

Yes sir.

Grant moves quickly to the Manual Panel and throws some key switches

into the OFF position.

551INT. BUBBLE

Owens is startled to see the lights over the buttons go off, rendering

the controls inoperative. The sub comes to a stop at some distance

from the Forest of Dendrites and the dark area up ahead.

OWENS:

My power's gone!

(looks down, sees him)

Grant -- what're you doing!

551AINT. PROTEUS

With manner of taking over:

GRANT:

Get the laser, Dr. Duval.

As Duval and Cora move quickly into the Lab Section:

MICHAELS:

(furiously)

I'm in charge of this mission! You

were instructed to take orders from

me, not give them!

GRANT:

Sorry, but the situation has

changed.

MICHAELS:

Nothing has changed as far as

authority goes! He is going to

operate! Not in the little time we

have left! There's no chance of

success! It's sheer suicide for all

of us!

He breaks off as Duval and Cora come out of the Lab Section carrying

the laser and power unit. As they move to the Escape Hatch door, which

Grant opens:

MICHAELS:

(furiously)

Dr. Duval, you are not going through

with this! I absolutely forbid it!

I'm responsible for the lives of

everyone here! I will not allow you

or anyone else to leave this ship!

DUVAL:

I'm going to do what I can to save

Benes.

He steps into the Escape Hatch with Cora. Grant closes the door.

MICHAELS:

(rageng at Grant)

You fool! Don't you see what you've

done? You've given him a perfect

opportunity to kill Benes!

The lights start flashing red, indicating the Escape Hatch is being

flooded. Grant puts on his Breather Pack during:

GRANT:

I don't believe that.

MICHAELS:

Why not? Because of his gibberish

about GOd and the Soul? Camouflage

-- that's all it is -- to blind the

gullible like you! And to hide his

real identity -- a fanatic whose

only purpose is to kill Benes! And

you made it possible!

The light over the Escape Hatch turns green. As Grant opens the door:

GRANT:

I've come up against fanatics

before, and Duval just doesn't fit

the pattern.

(up at Bubble)

I'm going out there, Skipper. Maybe

I can be of some help...

OWENS:

Remember -- we can't take more than

five minutes to get out.

As Grant starts closing the door, he glances at:

551BMINUTE RECORDER

It now reads .

551CINT. PROTEUS

Grant closes the door. The light over it flashes red. Michaels moves

to the bow window to observe:

552-

553

554EXT. SITE OF INJURY - P.O.V. MICHAELS

Duval and Cora are swimming toward the dark spot with the laser and

the power unit. They reach:

555EXT. SITE OF INJURY - CLOSER

Duval presses the laser control, not knowing if it will work. To his

relief, a beam of light shoots out. Instantly a small portion of the

clot begins to light up. This gradual encroachment of flashing lights

in place of the dark area marks the progress of the operation.

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