King Kong Page #9

CUT TO:

EXT. FOG BANK - NIGHT

The "VENTURE" glides silently through the fog.

EXT. VENTURE DECKS - NIGHT

MONTAGE ... TENSE FACES ANN ... JACK ... DENHAM ...ENGLEHORN. Nobody

talks, just stares ahead into the gloom ... CREW line the front of the

boat, looking for rocks ... The PROPELLERS push the ship forward ...The

PROW cuts through the water.

ANN:

There's a light up ahead.

JACK:

Sun's coming up ...

(checks watch)

We've been in the fog for six hours.

The FOG now glows a SICKLY YELLOW as the "VENTURE" glides on.

EXT. UNDERWATER - DAWN

The "VENTURE'S" HULL scraps against a CORAL OUTCROP.

EXT. VENTURE DECKS - DAWN

A SAILOR calls from the prow ...

SAILOR:

(yelling)

Eight fathoms!

KURT is manning the wheel ... he glances at DENHAM, who is staring

intently ahead.

DENHAM:

Hold her steady ...

ANN GASPS!

The FOG is suddenly clearing ... within seconds the spectacular sight

of S ISLAND materializes in front of them! ... About 7 miles long by 1

mile wide, STEEP CLIFFS rising from the sea, DENSE JUNGLE growth across

it's interior. The island has several JAGGED RIDGES, dominated by a

tall, sheer MOUNTAIN at the far end.

ANN is looking through BINOCULARS.

ANN:

(exited)

I can see the wall!

JACK takes the BINOCULARS ...

BINOCULAR POV At the closest end, the island forms a NARROW PENINSULA

... jutting above the canopy of TREES, JACK can make out the top of a

HUGE STONE WALL., seemingly cutting the peninsula off from the rest of

the island. OTHER RUINS are visible ... At the foot of the peninsula is

a SANDY BEACH, the only visible LANDING SITE.

DENHAM has been conspicuously SILENT ... he is leaning against the

rail, ENTRANCED by the island.

CLOSE ON DENHAM.

DENHAM:

(quietly)

We've hit paydirt ...

CUT TO:

EXT. SKULL ISLAND -- DAY

Of the LONGBOATS is rowing towards the island. DENHAM, JACK, ANN,

ENGLEHORN, KURT, HERB, PEEK and TWO SAILORS are on board. With the

exception of ANN, JACK and HERB, everybody carries RIFLES. The

"VENTURE" is moored in the background. HERB is FILMING from the prow.

They row through jagged rocks ... past the WRECK of a wooden coastal

schooner - possibly the NORWEGIAN BARQUE, ENGLEHORN referred to. The

SKELETAL SHIP is a creepy sight - particularly the row of STRANGE BIRD-

LIKE CREATURES perched along a rotten mainspar.

The BOAT rounds an OUTCROP of rocks, and lines up for the shore ... An

EERIE PHENOMENA suddenly occurs - The distant MOUNTAIN, a mid range

RIDGE LINE and foreground ROCKS all line up - providing an abstract,

but distinct image of a HUMAN SKULL ... visible only from that one

position.

ANN:

(captivated)

Skull Island ...

CUT TO:

EXT. BEACH - DAY

The BOAT is washed onto the beach. HERB jumps out, CAMERA & TRIPOD on

his shoulder. KURT jostles PEEK who is struggling with his TAPE

RECORDER.

PEEK:

(angry)

Watch the tape recorder! You wanna buy me a new one?

DENHAM:

Let me go first ... Roll camera!

HERB films as DENHAM wades ashore, playing to the camera.

DENHAM (CONT'D)

(to cameras)

This is a historic moment as Carl Denham becomes the first white man to

set foot on virgin soil!

ANN bounds excitedly up the beach.

ANN:

Look!

Runs towards the edge of the JUNGLE ... STONE STRUCTURES become

visible, half buried in VINE STREWN JUNGLE. The style of stonework is

unusual - As advanced as the INCAS or EGYPTIANS, but with flowing

GAUDI-like lines and the strange mixture of STONE, BRONZE and BONE seen

earlier.

ANN heads towards an ARCHWAY, set into a cliff. It is clearly the

ENTRANCE to a tunnel. She is so excited, like a little girl at a picnic

... JACK realizes she's unstoppable and runs after her, calling back to

the others.

JACK:

Everybody stay close!

KURT and PEEK follow JACK, but DENHAM no intention of compromising his

film.

DENHAM:

Get a shot of me discovering the ruins, Herb!

HERB sets up.

INT. TUNNEL/CRYPT - DAY

ANN is leading JACK, KURT and PEEK into the tunnel. It is man-made, and

ORNATELY DECORATED. LIGHT FILTERS in through cracks in the roof and

occasional areas where STONES have fallen in.

The TUNNEL suddenly widens out to a large CHAMBER ... The GROUP

collectively GASP at the sight of over a hundred MUMMIES lining the

walls! They are all neatly arranged in alcoves and are dressed in some

kind of CEREMONIAL clothing ... A HUGE STATUE of KONG stands sentry at

the far end of the chamber - which clearly carries on through another

archway. The place has the atmosphere of a Cathedral.

ANN picks up a SMALL. BRONZE FIGURINE of KONG ...

ANN:

(exited)

It's the same image - Kong!

JACK:

Leave it, Ann.

OLD DRIED FLOWERS adorn the MUMMIES, arranged in garlands ... JACK

frowns as he approaches one MUMMY, decorated with BRIGHTER THAN USUAL

flowers ... he touches them.

JACK (CONT'D)

These are fresh ...

EXT. BEACH/JUNGLE - DAY

DENHAM is onto his third take of a shot which involves him pulling

vines away from a statue and reacting in terribly theatrical manner.

HERB'S VIEWFINDER POV DENHAM pulls vines away and REACTS ... he

suddenly looks past CAMERA and REACTS with GENUINE ALARM as SPEARS

enter HERB'S SHOT! They are pointing at DENHAM.

CLOSE ON HERB, his eye to the eyepiece as we sense FIGURES gathering

BEHIND HIM.

DENHAM:

(tense)

Keep rolling, Herb.

ENGLEHORN and the TWO SAILORS close in behind DENHAM, RIFLES at the

ready.

WIDER A steadily increasing GROUP of SKULL ISLAND NATIVES are emerging

from the thick undergrowth between the ruins. DENHAM'S EYES flick left

and right as he becomes aware that his small party is becoming

surrounded.

The SKULL ISLAND NATIVES are similar to Solomon Islanders Their skins

are very dark, their features broad - but that is where the Melonesian

likeness stops ... Like the architecture, their dress, head-wear and

weapons suggest an INCA or EGYPTIAN level of culture, but with a

fierceness, or even violence suggested in their design. This is not

afro and grass skirt territory - these people are SCARY ... we will

refer to them as "NATIVES" ...

The NATIVES have their WEAPONS poised ... a TENSE MOMENT, it could go

either way. DENHAM offers his hand to the LEAD NATIVE.

DENHAM (CONT'D)

Hi, Carl Denham ... how's it going? Do you boys mind if we do a little

filming?

The LEAD NATIVE raises a knife ... DENHAM blanches ... fingers TIGHTEN

on TRIGGERS ...

The LEAD NATIVE produces a leather GOURD and stabs it -MILKY LIQUID

flows out. He takes a mouthful and offers it to DENHAM.

ENGLEHORN:

(tense)

Take a drink, Denham.

DENHAM drinks a mouthful and passes it to ENGLEHORN and the SAILORS.

DENHAM wipes his lips, relieved at this gesture of friendliness. He

clamps a hand on the LEAD NATIVE'S shoulder.

DENHAM:

Sir ... How would you like to star in a major motion picture?

(belches)

... I can offer you some net points!

CUT TO:

INT. TUNNELS/CRYPT - DAY

JACK, ANN, PEEK and KURT are in the MUMMY chamber when the DRUMS START

... accompanied by a LOW MOANING, almost TRANCE-like.

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