Jumanji Page #4

Felix begins to stand while Alistair begins to turn away.

TIMOTHY:

I’d like to tell you about Jumanji.

The Colonel and Felix freeze in their tracks; they were not

expecting that.

They glance at each other briefly, before turning back to

Timothy.

ALISTAIR:

So... the United States’ greatest

explorer has decided that we are

worthy enough to be privy to such

information. Tell me, Van Allsburg,

what brought about this little

epiphany?

TIMOTHY:

Well, according to Nigel, we should

be getting closer to our destination.

In the interest of safety and

cooperation, I think it’s best that we

all have a clear understanding of what

we may encounter. I know that I haven’t

been as forthcoming as you may have

preferred, and despite that you’ve both

been very patient with me; especially

you, Colonel. I’d like to tell you the

legend of Jumanji in the hopes that you

will better understand why I’ve brought

us all here.

Felix, already seated, begins to munch on some trail mix. The

Colonel stands, contemplating, before finally sitting down on a

log by the fire.

ALISTAIR:

Well?

Timothy and Nigel take their seats around the fire. Everyone

takes a moment to get comfortable. Hasani continues his work.

TIMOTHY:

My father was a schoolteacher.

One of his students was a boy named

Thomas whose family had fled the

South years earlier... fled the

Confederacy, I should say. His

ancestors were prolific storytellers

and of all tales, myths and lore

they passed down from generation to

generation, none of them captivated

my father as much as that of Jumanji.

He pauses, gathering his thoughts.

TIMOTHY (CONT’D)

The Jumanji, according to legend,

were a most unusual tribe. Very

secretive; few tribes within Africa

even knew of their existence. They

were shrouded in mystery, and deeply

feared.

ALISTAIR:

Feared? Whatever for?

TIMOTHY:

Supposedly, the Jumanji were capable

of doing ... unnatural things. They

were rumored to be able to tame the

wildest of animals, control the

weather to their preference, and even

turn day into night.

Alistair shoots Hasani a brief, strange look.

TIMOTHY (CONT’D)

Although the Jumanji were strange,

they were not known to be aggressive,

so long as everyone left them

undisturbed. For centuries they lived

and grew in absolute isolation; never

mingling with any other tribe; not

even for trade.

FELIX:

(sadly)

Some people just have no business

sense.

TIMOTHY:

Eventually, European colonists

began to arrive. There were certain...

incidents between the Jumanji and

the white men whom they eventually

came to despise.

FELIX:

(munching loudly)

What’s not to like?

TIMOTHY:

The Jumanji feared that they were

in danger of losing their home and

all its history, but they lacked the

proper weapons to successfully defend

themselves against invaders. In

desperation, they sought the help of

a... “Kah-Kho-Toh-Rah.”

Hasani immediately looks at Timothy, afraid. He slowly steps

back into the shadows and darkness.

ALISTAIR:

What’s that, a shaman?

NIGEL:

The best translation is... “demon.”

TIMOTHY:

Yes. And they say that this...

demon... put a type of curse on

the Jumanji people; one that would

seal them off from the rest of the

world. By doing so, the tribe could

continue to sustain itself while

remaining safeguarded from those who

may have wished to harm them or

exploit their land.

Alistair can no longer hide his burgeoning interest. He looks

at Timothy very seriously; any former contempt gone.

ALISTAIR:

What happened?

TIMOTHY:

Jumanji... disappeared.

ALISTAIR:

What?

FELIX:

Disappeared?

TIMOTHY:

Gone without a trace. No one ever

saw any hint of Jumanji’s existence

ever again. Its entire people, all

of its architecture, all of its

animals... as if they had never been.

They say that the “Curse of Jumanji”

is still in effect to this day, and

it is precisely what is hiding them

from the rest of the world.

The fire casts an ethereal glow on his face.

TIMOTHY (CONT’D)

And they say that anyone who attempts

to find or conquer the lost tribe of

Jumanji... will in turn disappear.

There is a long silence.

FELIX:

Sir, that is a fantastic story.

ALISTAIR:

That’s all it is, though; a story.

TIMOTHY:

I thought so, too. That is, until

I began my job at the university and

met Professor Dawson, here.

NIGEL:

The tales that this man has shared

with me are identical to those which

I have deciphered in ancient writings

concerning the folklore and history

of central Africa. Also, the land

and locations of tribal villages

divulged by young Thomas are

concurrent with the old, hand-drawn

maps left by previous explorers who

either died trying to find Jumanji...

or were never heard from again.

TIMOTHY:

Well gentlemen, there you have it.

Once I was satisfied that there

might be some degree of truth to the

story, I enlisted the professor here

for his ability to translate most of

the languages we would encounter.

Now that you understand why we have

come here... do you wish to continue?

Alistair and Felix are silent, contemplating. Felix rubs his

chin thoughtfully.

FELIX:

You will still adhere to our original

agreement?

NIGEL:

We will indeed, Felix. Just as we

promised before we left: in exchange

for your assistance, you may claim

any items and treasure we encounter

along the way as yours to keep for

stock in your stores back in the

United States.

FELIX:

Then I am pleased to say that you may

continue to rely on the full cooperation

of the one and only Felix J. Kauffman!

TIMOTHY:

Are you quite sure?

FELIX:

Certainly! My merchandise would

double in value were it obtained

from a mystical, previously unknown

culture!

TIMOTHY:

Excellent. Happy to have you with

us, Felix. And you, Colonel?

Alistair stares into the fire, not moving an inch.

TIMOTHY:

Colonel?

Alistair thinks long and hard. Finally, he nods.

ALISTAIR:

A discovery of this magnitude would

all but completely ensure immortality

for us; the one thing any man yearns

for.

FELIX:

Well, then! In that case...

He stands and places his hand in front of him palm down to

“cement a deal.”

Timothy stands and places his hand atop Felix’s.

TIMOTHY:

For Jumanji.

NIGEL:

(standing and joining)

For Jumanji!

FELIX:

For Jumanji! Colonel?

After a pause, Alistair gives an ambitious half-smile and SMACKS

his hand down on the others’.

The four hands cemented in a deal by the fire is instantly

replaced by-...

INT. ERIC’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – AFTERNOON

Eric and Krystyl are sitting on chairs with a coffee table in

between them.

They are examining the Jumanji game intently.

ERIC:

“Jumanji.” Wow...

KRYSTYL:

What do you think it is?

ERIC:

It’s... “Jumanji,” apparently.

KRYSTYL:

Kind of sounds like a children’s book.

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