Fantastic Voyage Page #8

162INT. MINIATURIZATION ROOM

The view:
the ampule has shrunk way below the

Miniaturizer. Its far smaller size reflects only a spark of light. The

sub is now only a particle, shrinking with the ampule. The Technicians

and Nurse look on, grouped at the tripod which is beyond the range of

the Miniaturizer.

162AEXT. PROTEUS

As the sub shrinks to invisibility, disappearing before our eyes:

163EXT. AMPULE AND PROTEUS

In its now fully reduced size, we see the ampule is actually a glass

cylinder about two inches long and half-an-inch in diameter.

164MIN GRID - P.O.V. CONTROL TOWER

With Carter we see the two blips merge and hold. Instantly the lights

in the Miniaturizer go off. The hum stops. A loud CLICK is heard. All

look up at:

165CLOSEUP - ELECTRIC MINUTE RECORDER

A big flashes on, and holds. (NOTE: We will see the same kind of

clock, in varying sizes, in every set, flashing on the passage of time

in , from now to the end of the picture.)

166INT. MINIATURIZATION ROOM - P.O.V. CONTROL TOWER

The Zero Module now begins to rise above floor level. The ampule, on

its reduced cork base, appears very tiny from this height.

GARTER:

(to Wireless Operator)

Inform Proteus they are at Full

Reduction.

The Technician taps out the Proteus' call letters. All wait, tense,

for a response, as the tapping stops. They react, relieved, as they

hear:

167INT. PROTEUS

Grant tapping out reply. Now, for the first time, we get the

view of what all see from their various vantage points,

distorted through liquid and the glass walls. The light is dim, all

are finding it very hard to breathe in the unventilated craft. When

the incoming message stops:

GRANT:

[LINE OF DIALOGUE CUT OFF]

168INT. BUBBLE

Owens glances at his wrist watch. Then he flips a switch. He watches

the buttons on his panel. None light up. There is an anxious moment.

Then the myriad lights on the panel begin to glow dully. The Minute

Recorder on the panel begins to flash .

169INT. PROTEUS

The lights become brighter. Cora, Duval and Michaels react with

relief. The ventilators come on, permitting all to breathe easier.

170INT. BUBBLE

The buttons on the panel are now aglow. Owens makes a test: he touches

a button which spins his seat, with the control panel before him, in a

complete 360 degree turn within the Bubble.

171INT. CONTROL TOWER

After a brief message is heard coming in:

COMMUNICATIONS AIDE

Proteus On-Power.

With relief, Carter turns to Reid.

CARTER:

It's all yours, Don.

Reid moves from the monitors, presses a button on the Control Section.

172INT. MINIATURIZATION ROOM

As the Technicians at the tripod hear:

REID'S VOICE

(over loudspeaker)

Phase Four.

The Technicians move the tripod so that the vertical arm is brought

directly over the ampule and lowered, until the two sets of mechanical

fingers clamp the cylinder firmly. Then the ampule is raised a few

inches from its position on the module. The reduced cork base still

encases the bottom. The Nurse and a Technician move to the ampule. He

holds a small instrument case.

173AT AMPULE

When they reach the clamped ampule, the Technician opens the case. The

Nurse takes out a plunger. Very carefully, she begins to insert it

into the top of the ampule without disturbing the liquid. She then

gently pulls away the cork remaining at the base of the ampule,

revealing a small opening in the center. But owing to the pressure

above, the liquid does not run out. She takes a needle out of the case

and carefully fits it into the nipple. We now see the ampule is

actually a hypodermic syringe.

174INT. MINIATURIZATION ROOM - P.O.V. CONTROL TOWER

Ried and Carter watch as the tripod is carefully wheeled across the

room.

175THE HYPODERMIC NEEDLE - MOVING SHOT

The saline solution in the cylinder is sloshing slightly, despite the

great care of those moving it.

176INT. PROTEUS

The sub is being rocked, causing everyone to hold on for support.

177INT. BUBBLE

Owens is trying to keep an even keel with his controls, now in full

operation.

178INT. MINIATURIZATION ROOM

As two big doors slide open for the tripod to pass through:

179EXTREME CLOSEUP - RADIAL LINES

What appears to be a myriad number of radial lines crossing each other

to form tiny squares over a domed surface is revealed to be:

180BENES' HEAD

Now shaved clean, the head is grid-marked for Stereo-encephalatomic

measurements. In the background, the tripod is seen being wheeled in.

181INT. OPERATING ROOM

Moving with the hypodermic needle clamped in the tripod, we now get

the full impact of the set: the floor is marked off for True North and

South, with latitudinal and longitudinal lines. The modern operating

table is set so that Benes' head corresponds with the exact position

of the Arterial Head on the big grid map in the Main Ops Room. Benes

is lying under a thermal blanket, covered up to the collarbone. Thin

rubber pipes lead out from the blanket to the Central Thermal Unit

under the operating table, out of the way of everyone. A TEAM OF

GAUZE-MASKED SURGEONS AND ASSISTANTS stand grouped around the

unconscious patient. In a semi-circle at the head of the bed, beyond

the head, is a series of SMALL TRACKING DEVICES resembling radio-

telescopes. They are remotely controlled. The Minute Recorder, in a

prominent position now changes from to .

182INT. OPERATING ROOM - P.O.V. CONTROL TOWER

Reid and Carter are looking on. The Communications Aide stands at his

side. They see the clamped hypo rolled up to the side of Benes' head

and brought to a gentle stop.

183BENES AND HYPO

A small circle marks the exact spot of the injection. A SURGICAL AIDE

swabs the area with alcohol.

184CLOSE SHOT - ACTIVATOR

It is brought down mechanically by use of worm-gears on the tripod

toward the plunger, engaging it.

185INT. CONTROL TOWER

Reid, watching the proceedings below:

REID:

(to Wireless Operator)

Contact Proteus --

186INT. PROTEUS

Grant takes down the message as it comes in. When message stops:

GRANT:

(loud enough for Owens

in Bubble)

Stand by for injection!

Suddenly the sub begins to rock hard. All hold on.

187INT. BUBBLE

Owens is manipulating controls, trying to keep an even keel.

188INT. OPERATING ROOM

The hypodermic is being angled by the precision gears of the tripod

for the exact degree of injection. When this is accomplished:

189BIG CLOSEUP - BENES' NECK

The point of the needle approaches the exact spot, which we now see is

marked off by a tiny cross within the circle on the Artery.

190TECHNICIAN AT TRIPOD

He presses the mechanical activator which sends the needle plunging

into Benes' neck O.S.

191INT. CONTROL TOWER

Instantly a warning klaxon goes off. It keeps on for a few seconds,

then stops. Into the silence:

REID:

Tracking.

A Technician flips a switch.

192INT. TRACKING POST - ON MAIN MONITOR IN CONTROL TOWER

Four TECHNICIANS are seated before their radar screens, which show

flat electronic lines, except one. This is picking up a blip.

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