Jumanji

FADE IN:

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CLASSROOM – DAY

DR. MCNAMARA, a large, mustached man addresses his students from

a podium.

DR. MCNAMARA

And so our protagonist in “The Most

Dangerous Game” finds himself being

hunted like a wild animal by the

antagonist.

He crosses to the whiteboard and writes down some notes.

DR. MCNAMARA

So we’ve got... “man versus man,”

“man versus nature,” and... “man

versus self.”

The students don’t seem to be paying much attention. One in

particular, ERIC TOWNSEND (18), is busy fiddling with a

paperclip and a rubber band. He is of medium height with a lean

build, and appears more depressed than bored.

DR. MCNAMARA

Now, the first two themes are pretty

easy to identify, but who can give us

some more information on the last one?

Anybody?

A few students raise their hands. Eric glances around briefly,

then returns to what he was doing.

Dr. MCNAMARA (O.S.)

Michael?

MICHAEL (O.S.)

Rainsford is fighting to keep his

head while he’s in the jungle.

DR. MCNAMARA (O.S.)

Good.

Eric stretches the rubber band between his left thumb and right

index finger, and carefully inserts the paperclip like a

makeshift slingshot.

DR. MCNAMARA

Rainsford has to keep reminding

himself, fighting with himself, to

keep his sanity even though he knows

his life is in danger.

Eric sets his aim on a nearby trash can and pulls the paperclip

back...

DR. MCNAMARA (CONT’D)

He knows it’s a struggle for survival,

and if he doesn’t keep a cool head

he’ll end up over Zarkov’s mantel!

The rubber band slips off Eric’s thumb and snaps back, hitting

him in the eye.

ERIC:

Ahh!

The entire class, including Dr. McNamara, shifts its attention

to Eric. Some of the students laugh as Eric rubs his eye.

DR. MCNAMARA

Looks like Eric’s all set to graduate,

over there.

The class laughs harder as a whole; Dr. McNamara chuckles good-

naturedly. Eric gives a little embarrassed smile.

A SCHOOLBELL rings.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY – DAY

Students of every conceivable stereotype are talking with

friends, milling about or walking in and out of classrooms.

Eric is standing with his locker wide open exchanging books for

his next class. He sighs.

As he SLAMS his locker shut, KRYSTYL APPLEGATE (16) is revealed

to be leaning against the other lockers, smirking. She is a

short, slender girl with tranquil green eyes. Most notable is

her brilliant red hair; the same color as a freshly minted

copper penny.

KRYSTYL:

Hey, you.

Eric turns, and his dull face brightens.

ERIC:

Hey, Krystyl. What’s going on?

KRYSTYL:

Not too much. Haven’t seen you

around, lately...

ERIC:

(Defensive)

Hey, we seniors have a lot to do.

Got to tie up all loose ends before

I’m thrown out into the “real world”

all kicking and screaming...

KRYSTYL:

Oh, don’t be so dramatic about it.

Are you coming to the party next

weekend?

ERIC:

Yeah, probably.

KRYSTYL:

“Probably?” You have to! We all

have to spend as much time together

as we can before half the group

leaves for college in the fall!

Eric once again assumes a dour look. Krystyl looks concerned.

KRYSTYL:

Eric, what’s the matter?

She reaches out and rubs his arm gently.

KRYSTYL (CONT’D)

I feel like you’re avoiding us.

And every time somebody mentions

college or graduating or whatever,

you always get that look on your

face. What’s wrong; aren’t you

excited?

Eric shrugs. Krystyl lets go of his arm and gesticulates.

KRYSTYL (CONT’D)

How can you not be?! I mean, two

months left of high school, then you

have the entire summer to party, and

then at the end of August, fwoosh!

She makes a dramatic SWEEPING motion.

KRYSTYL (CONT’D)

You’re off to bigger and better things

at Penn State! I should be depressed...

School’s not going to be as much fun

without you- I mean, you and the

others around.

ERIC:

Okay, so I’m off to Penn State, but

then what? Krystyl, college is just

four years of limbo between having

fun when you’re young and being thrown

into the corporate world.

Krystyl playfully PUNCHES Eric on his shoulder.

ERIC (CONT’D)

I’m serious! No more senior pranks,

no more playing hooky... no more

adventure.

KRYSTYL:

Eric, you can find adventure anywhere

as long as you still want to!

Eric nods, but does not seem entirely convinced.

ERIC:

I guess so.

KRYSTYL:

God, for a senior, you are so grim.

ERIC:

For a sophomore, you’re way too

enthusiastic.

Krystyl giggles.

A slight pause follows. Krystyl looks uncomfortable.

KRYSTYL:

So, um... any plans for the weekend?

ERIC:

(shrugs)

Yeah, I might work on my car a little.

KRYSTYL:

(let down)

...Oh.

ERIC:

Why?

KRYSTYL:

Well, I don’t know; I figured...

maybe if you weren’t busy or anything,

we could hang out.

ERIC:

Just us, you mean?

KRYSTYL:

Why not? I mean, we only see each

other in our little group of friends.

Let’s get together; just the two of

us. I think you could use the company.

What do you say?

She SMILES, hopeful. Eric thinks it over.

ERIC:

Sure. That does sound like fun.

Why don’t you come over tomorrow?

KRYSTYL:

Yeah! I- I mean, I have lacrosse

practice at ten, so how about I

come by around two or three? You

know, after I make myself a little

prettier-

She catches herself and stops short.

KRYSTYL (CONT’D)

I- I mean, presentable.

Eric smiles and nods.

ERIC:

Sounds great. We can watch a movie,

get some pizza, and forget about

reality for a while.

KRYSTYL:

Awesome. See you then!

Krystyl leaves and Eric goes back to his locker. After a few

steps, she pauses and turns back to face him.

KRYSTYL:

(calling)

Eric?

ERIC:

(turning his head)

Yeah?

KRYSTYL:

I meant what I said about adventure.

Just because you’ll be leaving high

school doesn’t mean it’s over.

College, life... It’s a jungle out

there.

She smiles and leaves. Eric watches her go into the throng of

students. After a moment of thought, he opens his locker and

pulls out his Biology book.

He flips through the pages until he finds a picture of a literal

jungle.

ERIC:

(to himself)

A jungle... Right.

CLOSE UP on the picture.

The scene DISSOLVES until the picture becomes the actual

setting.

EXT. JUNGLE – DAY

It is a hot, sweltering tropical rainforest, with thick foliage

completely obscuring the ground from view.

SUPER:
AFRICA, 1895

INT. JUNGLE – DAY

A large feral hog is trotting along the jungle floor, brushing

through foliage noisily.

The hog stops at a stream, lowers its massive head, and begins

to DRINK.

MAN (O.S.)

(whisper, to himself)

Oh, yes...

Nearby, the barrel of a large gun pokes out of some bushes.

The hog swivels its head to SNIFF at the ground.

MAN (CONT’D, O.S.)

Hmm... Tusks aren’t particularly

impressive, but in the interest of a

successful kill, I suppose we could

overlook that. A trophy is a trophy,

after all...

A finger readies to pull a trigger...

MAN #2

(frantic)

No! Don’t!

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