Lake Placid Page #15

BICKERMAN:

About six years. He first appeared

in May of nineteen-ninety-one.

Bernie was out fishing and it

followed him home. So we threw him

some scraps and well... he didn't

seem to bother anybody. He became

kind of like a pet who lived in the

wild.

JACK:

He just appeared. You have no idea

how he arrived in this lake?

BICKERMAN:

No. Do you?

KEOUGH:

Ma'am. Your husband, Bernie. You

didn't, by any chance, lead him to

the lake blindfolded?

BICKERMAN:

(offended)

No, I did not.

(then)

The crocodile did kill him, though.

But it was all... it was a mistake.

KELLY:

A mistake.

BICKERMAN:

One of our horses got loose two

years ago, went to the lake to

drink and... well the crocodile

started coming in, Bernie went to

intercede and... it was all a

terrible misunderstanding.

(then)

If I reported it, they would've

sent people to kill it.

Keough, Kelly and Jack can't quite believe what they're hearing.

Then--

KEOUGH:

Ma'am, how could you not report

this? He puts human life at risk

and--

BICKERMAN:

Nobody lives on this lake. it's

really his lake now.

EXT. LAKE - CONTINUOUS

The chopper, free-floating, is drifting near a small cove.

Hector, in diving gear, is about to go into the water, as Gare

tries to dissuade.

GARE:

(getting panicked)

C'mon Hector. I know you're crazy

but you can't--

HECTOR:

I need to see his habitat.

As he drops in.

GARE:

Please. I'll have sex with you,

anything, but get out of the water.

HECTOR:

He's not gonna hurt me.

CUT TO:

INT. BICKERMAN HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Kelly, Jack and Keough with Bickerman.

BICKERMAN:

Murders and rapes in the cities.

People bomb planes... can the

police stop them? No. But feed

one little cow to a crocodile...

KEOUGH:

You're to wait right here until the

police show, you're under full

house arrest.

BICKERMAN:

Thank you, Officer Fuckmeat.

GARE (O.S.)

(through walkie-talkie)

Hank! We got a problem with

Hector.

KEOUGH:

(into walkie-talkie)

What problem?

GARE (O.S.)

(through walkie-talkie)

He went swimming.

CUT TO:

EXT. LAKE - UNDERWATER - CONTINUOUS

Hector is underwater, exploring.

ANGLE GARE ON THE CHOPPER

Her radar is up, she heard something. But she doesn't see

anything. She scans the surface closely.

EXT. LAKE - UNDERWATER - CONTINUOUS

The water is slightly more visible as Hector swims. Other than

the odd school of fish, an otter, a snapping turtle... nothing

extraordinary. Then, a flash shadow looms over him. He looks

up, but sees nothing. Probably just the sun ducking under a

cloud. It does make him sufficiently nervous, however, to head

for the surface. He swims upward.

EXT. LAKE (SURFACE) - CONTINUOUS

Hector breaks the top. Lifts his mask, looks toward the

chopper, which he sees about forty yards out. He continues to

breaststroke on the surface. Suddenly... the croc's head rises

up right behind Hector, who's oblivious. He continues to swim.

The croc follows. Then... maybe divine intuition... Hector gets

a feeling he's being followed. He then turns to look the other

way, upon which his face goes rigid.

HIS P.O.V.

About three feet from his nose... are two giant eyes staring at

him.

ANGLE HECTOR:

ashen.

HECTOR:

(weakly)

Oh.... my.

The croc doesn't move. It just stares at him. Then end of his

snout is almost touching Hector. Hector himself doesn't dare

move, for fear of spooking the croc into action. We get the

idea that looking into the eyes of this crocodile is not filling

any spiritual voids. A beat.

HECTOR (CONT'D)

I suddenly feel a bit foolish.

(then)

You're different from the others.

The croc raises his head now to reveal the snout. And his

deadly smile. Hector just tries to tread water with as little

motion as possible. He deathly fears a quick movement will

cause his life to be over. Perhaps this is what he came for.

To be judged by this symbol of mythology.

He backswims ever so slightly. The croc pursues just as slowly,

their eyes are locked. He could snap off Hector's head in an

instant.

HECTOR (CONT'D)

(terrified; trying to

convince himself)

Holy spirit of Sobek. Holy ghost.

(swallows)

Holy sh*t.

CUT TO:

INT. SEA CHOPPER - CONTINUOUS

Gare still scans the water's surface, looking for any sign of

Hector. And her face freezes. Oh yes, there's the sign.

HER P.O.V.

Hector continues to backswim slowly to the plane and the croc

slowly follows.

GARE:

Hector!!

We can hear the quaking fear in Hector's voice. As he continues

to slowly backswim.

HECTOR:

(to Gare; forced calm)

Just turn the ignition, it's fuel

injected.

Gare turns the ignition, the ENGINE KICKS and DIES.

GARE:

Come on.

She turns it again and the ENGINE TURNS OVER.

ANGLE HECTOR:

The crocodile is still right with him as they inch closer and

closer toward the chopper.

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