Jumanji Page #3

He sighs, uncertain.

ERIC (CONT’D)

Krystyl might come over today. (beat)

No, Krystyl; the redhead. (Eric looks

annoyed) Mom, she’s just a friend.

(beat) She was just trying to be nice!

(beat) I do get it!

Eric rolls his eyes.

ERIC (CONT’D)

If you say so. Okay, so you’re

coming back what time tomorrow?

(beat) Okay. (beat) Alright, that’s

fine. (beat) Tell Grandma “Happy

Birthday” for me. (beat) Yes, I’ll

call her then. Alright, have a nice-

... what?

Eric looks to a bare corner of the living room.

ERIC (CONT’D)

The square, wooden table? Yeah, I

brought it up to the attic last

winter. (beat) Alright, alright;

I’ll bring it down. Anything else?

(beat). It’s no problem. I’ll see

you Sunday. (beat; smile) No wild

parties; gotcha. Okay. (beat) Love

you, too. Bye.

He turns off the phone and pockets the rubber band.

The doorbell RINGS.

ERIC:

Speak of the devil.

INT. ERIC’S HOUSE – FOYER – AFTERNOON

Eric opens the door and comes face to face with a grinning

Krystyl.

She has changed out of her lacrosse clothes and into a designer

hoodie and jeans. Her fire-red hair has been tied into a

ponytail. She carries her duffel bag and lacrosse stick over a

shoulder.

ERIC:

Hey.

KRYSTYL:

Hey, yourself. Sorry I brought my

equipment, but I never like to just

leave it in a car. So, what do you

want to do first?

INT. ERIC’S HOUSE – ATTIC – AFTERNOON

Eric and Krystyl trudge up the creaky stairs. Eric flicks on

the light. It is a medium-sized attic; organized and free of

clutter.

KRYSTYL:

Whew... It’s like an oven up here.

ERIC:

Yeah, I know. I just want to bring

this table down now so I don’t forget.

After that, we can watch our movie.

He spies the wooden table in a corner of the attic.

ERIC:

Here we go. I’ll grab this end...

Eric and Krystyl position themselves at opposite ends of the

table.

KRYSTYL:

Okay, I’ve got it.

They lift the table and start walking. However, it is unwieldy

and difficult to hold up.

ERIC:

Easy...

KRYSTYL:

I’ve got it... I’ve got it...

She loses her balance and the table falls hard on the floor,

cracking an old floorboard in half.

KRYSTYL:

Oh, no! Eric, I’m so sorry! I’m

such a klutz...

Eric pushes the table out of the way and inspects the damage.

He starts to pull out chunks of wood from the hole.

ERIC:

It was an accident. Let me just-...

huh?

He stops short. Frowning, he reaches further into the hole and

feels around.

KRYSTYL:

What is it?

ERIC:

There’s something in here.

Slowly, he PULLS a cloth bag out of the hole, tattered and

yellowed with age.

KRYSTYL:

Whoa... What’s that?

ERIC:

I don’t know.

He unties the cloth bag and extracts its contents. Both he and

Krystyl stare, perplexed.

KRYSTYL:

Cool.

It is a folded, wooden board game. The word “JUMANJI” is

clearly displayed in white letters across the front.

ZOOM IN on the game in Eric’s hands.

The screen BLURS and DISSOLVES to a night sky full of bright,

shining stars.

EXT. JUNGLE – ENCAMPMENT – NIGHT

The CAMERA PANS DOWN to show the explorers’ campsite in the

middle of a clearing. Tents are pitched and gear is strewn

around a campfire that seems to be losing strength.

INT. JUNGLE – ENCAMPMENT - ALISTAIR’S TENT – NIGHT

Alistair is holding a small hand-mirror and trimming his

moustache by the light of a lantern. He appears satisfied with

his progress.

Felix’s loud, boisterous LAUGHTER suddenly echoes, causing

Alistair to flinch and trim too much. He snarls and FLINGS his

tools to the ground. He STOMPS out of the tent, livid.

INT. JUNGLE – ENCAMPMENT – NIGHT

Felix and Hasani are seated by the fire, engaged in some sort of

game. Dice are heard being ROLLED.

FELIX:

Well done, my friend! One last turn

and you may indeed be the victor,

this evening!

Hasani, not understanding Felix’s words, merely smiles and

continues to roll the dice.

ALISTAIR:

Kauffman! What in blazes are

you doing?

Felix motions for him to come closer.

FELIX:

(quietly)

I’m testing out a new product on

our native friend, here. But don’t

let Nigel tell him that.

He scrutinizes Alistair and gives him a hard look.

FELIX:

Word to the wise, Colonel, you may

find it in your best interest to

schedule a bit of grooming this

evening. Your moustache looks a

tad uneven.

Before Alistair can respond, Hasani throws the ivory dice.

CLOSE UP on the game.

It is a hinged game with a black orb directly in the center.

Leading to the orb are two sets of game tiles in a spiral

pattern, with two small wooden pyramids as the game tokens.

Hasani slowly counts in his language, and moves his piece to the

center orb.

FELIX:

Well! The battle is over, the

fight has been won, and to the

victor go the spoils! Forty-five

paces, each one systematically

explored, divided and conquered!

You... are the winner.

Felix tips his hat for dramatic effect. Alistair’s frustration

is replaced by utter confusion.

ALISTAIR:

Enough with the damn theatrics,

Kauffman! He can’t understand a word

you’re saying! He lacks the mentality.

FELIX:

Ah, but to Felix J. Kauffman, a

customer is a customer.

ALISTAIR:

What exactly is this rattletrap

of yours?

Felix grins and presses his thumbs and index fingers around the

orb’s rim and gives it a little TWIST. The orb SPLITS open down

the middle, revealing a mango.

Hasani eagerly snatches up the fruit and begins devouring it.

Felix nods with approval.

FELIX:

My latest invention! Not of a very

complex design, yet as you can

plainly see, quite effective.

Two players simply place whatever

they wish to play for into the

glass orb. They take turns rolling

the dice until one fortunate reaches

the center. Then, the winner merely

unlocks the orb and claims his prize!

He eagerly rubs his hands together in anticipation.

FELIX (CONT’D)

In this land, where the trading is

good and the natives are enamored by

even the slightest representation of

Western culture, I’ll sell thousands

of them!

ALISTAIR:

So long as you don’t mind being paid

in shrunken heads.

FELIX:

(excited)

Prime trading material!

Timothy and Nigel exit a tent, talking amongst themselves.

Felix quickly packs up the game and stuffs it into his rucksack.

FELIX:

Tell no one!

Nigel speaks to Hasani and points to the fire. Hasani finishes

his fruit and begins tending to the fire.

TIMOTHY:

Colonel, Felix, would you two sit

down for a moment? There is something

of... considerable importance that

I’d like to share with you.

ALISTAIR:

Van Allsburg, it has been a long and

trying day. Whatever you wish to

share may wait until morning when we

are refreshed.

FELIX:

Regrettably, I am inclined to agree.

A trader’s mind must be kept rested

and sharp. Sleep is a luxury Felix

J. Kauffman cannot afford to sacrifice.

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