King Kong Page #22

JACK:

It's this. When you grow up, bad things may happen, but you don't ever

wanna lose touch with your heart. Now go and give the propeller a turn

- nice and slowly.

The KID runs around to the propeller ... JACK reacts to the sound of

DISTANT PLANE ENGINES.

EXT.EMPIRE STATE BUILDING/MANHATTAN - DAWN

Looking at MANHATTAN from the HARBOR ... The Empire State Building

rises from the MIDTOWN area like a giant solitary finger, reaching for

the heavens.

SIX NAVAL BIPLANES suddenly ROAR INTO SHOT, sweeping low over the

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT ... and closing in on KONG. These are TWO-

SEATERS, armed with TWIN MACHINE-GUNS for the PILOT, and a flexible

MACHINE GUN for the OBSERVER.

A COLD WIND blows ANN'S hair as she stands on the lip of the dome,

watching the PLANES approach. KONG is UNEASY about these BUZZING

PREDATORS as they CIRCLE above him.

CLOSE ON NAVAL PLANE COCKPIT ... the LEAD PILOT talks to the others via

an RT.

LEAD PILOT:

(over RT)

Here we go, boys! The NAVAL PLANES peel off into an ATTACKING DIVE at

KONG.

DOWN GUN-SIGHTS ... drifting left and right as KONG grows in size ...

LOCKED ON!

CLOSE ON PILOT'S FINGER on trigger.

KONG is suddenly FEARFUL ... he INSTINCTIVELY REACHES FOR ANN, holding

her protectively!

LEAD PILOT (CONT'D)

(over RT)

Pull out! Pull out! He has the girl!

The PLANES split to either side of KONG, ZOOMING close by with a

deafening roar.

EXT. 39TH STREET - DAWN

CLOSE ON .. The SOPWITH CAMEL'S Gnome rotary engine SPINS, COUGHS and

DIES.

JACK is at the FRONT of the PLANE, desperately SPINNING the PROPELLER

with both hands, trying to kick the plane into life. The KID is sitting

in the cockpit.

JACK:

(urgent)

Flick the switch again!

JACK SPINS THE PROP ... the engine COUGHS, blows out a CLOUD OF BLACK

SMOKE ... and ROARS INTO LIFE!!

JACK lifts the KID out and clambers into the cockpit! The engine NOISE

is LOUD ... propeller wash blasts his hair and clothes.

KID:

(yelling)

Hey mister! You dropped this!

The KID picks up JACK'S ENVELOPE - containing the 2 grand- off the

road. He offers it to JACK.

KID (CONT'D) (CONT'D)

(yelling)

You wanna be more careful.

JACK hesitates ... he SMILES at the KID.

JACK:

(yelling)

It's your lucky day, kid! Stand back!

The KID steps back, clutching the ENVELOPE as JACK OPENS THE THROTTLE.

The ENGINE WINDS UP and the SOPWITH CAMEL starts moving down 39th

street!

It BUILDS UP SPEED VERY QUICKLY, racing past ABANDONED CARS and

BUILDINGS ... The TAIL LIFTS OFF THE GROUND ...

SUDDENLY!

A MILITARY VEHICLE DRIVES across an INTERSECTION directly in front of

the PLANE! JACK pulls back on the stick and the SOPWITH CAMEL LURCHES

INTO THE AIR! It SKIMS over the VEHICLE, CLIMBING into the air rapidly!

EXT.EMPIRE STATE BUILDING/MANHATTAN - DAWN

KONG is getting ANGRY at the BUZZING PLANES around him ... He puts ANN

DOWN on the DOME! Circling

ANN:

( yelling)

No! Pick me up! Kong!

KONG ROARS at the PLANES, as if issuing a CHALLENGE.

The LEAD PILOT waves to the OTHER PLANES.

LEAD PILOT:

(over RT)

Ok ... this time! Here we go ...

The NAVAL PLANES PEEL AWAY for the ATTACK ... They dive towards KONG

... lining him up in their sights ...

KONG ROARS at them ... ANN is screaming ...

ANN:

NO!!!

AT THAT MOMENT ... JACK'S SOPWITH CAMEL zooms right past KONG and ANN,

flying STRAIGHT AT THE NAVAL PLANES!!! JACK is VISIBLE in the cockpit,

HAIR BLOWING in the wind.

ANN (CONT'D)

(yelling)

Jack!!

The NAVAL PLANES are forced to SCATTER in ALL DIRECTIONS as the tiny

SOPWITH CAMEL meets them HEAD-ON!!

JACK TURNS TIGHTLY and flies at the REGROUPING NAVAL PLANES, sending

them into disarray!

LEAD PILOT:

(over RT)

Ignore the cowboy ... Go for the ape! Go for the ape!

The SIX NAVAL PLANES fly at KONG from different directions! MACHINE

GUNS START FIRING! JACK throws his plane around like a MADMAN, trying

to deflect their AIM.

KONG ROARS, and SNATCHES at the NAVAL PLANES as they ZOOM by ... he

FLINCHES as he is HIT BY BtU-LETS! ANN SCREAMS!

JACK DIVES at a NAVAL PLANE, causing it to TURN SHARPLY -straight into

KONG'S GRIP! KONG grabs the NAVAL PLANE, RIPPING IT'S WINGS OFF! He

hurls it down towards the street!

JACK nearly hits the LEAD PILOT, who desperately veers away!

LEAD PILOT (CONT'D)

(over RT)

Let's take this guy out!

The NAVAL PLANES OPEN FIRE on JACK ... he DODGES around the SKY,

avoiding STREAMS OF TRACER FIRE ... nearly hitting the TOP of the

CHRYSLER BUILDING!

JACK'S LUCK runs out ... The SOPWITH CAMEL shudders as BULLETS SMASH

INTO IT'S ENGINE. BLACK SMOKE streams out as JACK quickly loses

control.

JACK knows it's all over ... he GRIMLY STEERS his CRIPPLED PLANE

straight at a NAVAL PLANE attacking KONG ...

With a CRUNCH, JACK'S WHEELS clip the NAVAL PLANE'S WING, sending it

spinning out of control! The NAVAL PLANE SMASHES into the side of the

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING!

JACK'S SOPWITH CAMEL flips on it's BACK ...

CRUUMMP!!! KONG GRABS JACK'S PLANE! He waves it above his head JACK

FALLS OUT OF THE COCKPIT! He slides down KONG'S' out-stretched arm,

rolls on his shoulder and just manages to GRAB THE FUR ON KONG'S BACK -

preventing a 1000 foot fall to the street!

ANN:

( shocked)

JACK!!!

JACK dangles and swings as KONG continues to SWAT at the ATTACKING

PLANES! MACHINE GUN FIRE strikes KONG in the BACK, just below JACK'S

FEET. KONG SLUMPS, giving JACK the chance to ROLL OFF HIS BACK ... JACK

lands on the DOME, SLIDING TOWARDS THE EDGE!!

ANN REACHES OUT, grabbing his HAND. She pulls JACK to safety!

AT THAT MOMENT ... KONG PICKS ANN UP. JACK can only watch as KONG

TENDERLY HOLDS HER ... the great ape is WEAKENED by BULLET HITS and

clearly in PAIN ... yet he looks mesmerized at ANN as her long blonde

hair blows in the wind.

The NAVAL PLANES are regrouping in the distance ... The FOUR remaining

PLANES turn towards KONG and form a straight line.

LEAD PILOT:

(over RT)

We are ignoring the girl! I repeat ... ignore the girl. She's going

down with the ape! Here we go!

The NAVAL PLANES start their ATTACK RUN!

JACK can see what's coming ...

JACK:

(desperate yell)

Ann! They are going to shoot! Ann!

KONG looks down at JACK ...

He very gently lowers ANN and returns her to JACK. JACK HOLDS ANN

tenderly as she starts SOBBING.

KONG looks FEARFULLY AT THE APPROACHING PLANES ... He is BREATHING in

GASPS ... very DISTRESSED.

ANN:

Kong'. Look at me ... please

KONG looks at ANN ... He gently touches her hair. She clutches his

FINGERS, hugging them, trying COMFORT HIM. TEARS STREAM DOWN HER FACE

...

ALL. SOUND FADES AWAY ... except for a gentle breeze ...

ANN (CONT'D)

(singing softly)

Lullaby ... and good-night, Go to bed and sleep tight ...

The FEAR leaves KONG ... he looks at ANN with TENDERNESS and LOVE. She

fights back the urge to burst into tears.

ANN (CONT'D)

(singing softly)

Close your eyes, start to yawn, Pleasant dreams until dawn.

CLOSE ON KONG ... he SUDDENLY WINCES SOUND CRASHES BACK IN ... with the

DEAFENING ROAR of the PLANES flying past.

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