Raiders of the Lost Ark Page #17

74.

Under the moving wing, Indy delivers a knockout right cross

to the German Mechanic which sends him staggering back toward

a roaring propeller. Indy’s grimace registers the man’s

demise and a fine mist of blood wafts toward him. Indy spins

toward the sound of crumpling metal and sees -

The other top of the Flying Wing slice into a tank truck. The

airplane fuel inside floods out onto the pavement,

surrounding the plane. Indy backpedals away from the plane,

his eyes searching the scene for Marion. Suddenly, he is

shocked to see her in the cockpit. He runs toward her,

skidding through the gasoline.

.

INDY:

Get out! Get out!

Marion is struggling with the top of the cockpit. She can’t

budge it. She’s trapped.

110 EXT. THE COMMAND TENT - DAY 110

Three Armed Nazis stand guard around the wooden crate

containing the Ark. It is sitting near the flopped-open

entrance to the Command Tent and there is furious activity

going on here. Belloq, Shliemann, Golber, Belzig and assorted

Aides are packing up all the papers and personal items in

preparation for a hasty departure.

A large crowd of Arab Diggers are milling about among the

tents. They all want to get a look at the Ark. Sallah is

among them. All at once, there is an earthshaking explosion.

All eyes turn toward the rise that hides the airstrip. A huge

fireball floats into view over there. Everyone starts running

toward it. Shliemann yells at Belzig and the Armed Nazis.

SHLIEMANN:

Stay with the Ark!

111 EXT. THE RISE ABOVE AIRSTRIP - DAY 111

Almost all the Arabs and Germans in the digs have congregated

here and are staring at the burning remains of the Flying

Wing. Belloq and Shliemann arrive just as the second fuel

tank blows up. The concussion knocks many of the observers

flat. Belloq, Shliemann and Gobler watch the scene in alarm.

SHLIEMANN:

Sabotage!

75.

BELLOQ:

We must get the Ark away from this

place immediately!

SHLIEMANN:

(to Gobler)

Have it put on the truck. We’ll fly

out of Cairo.

Gobler snaps his heels, turns to go.

SHLIEMANN:

And Gobler -(

Gobler stops)

-- I want plenty of protection.

Gobler nods and runs off. Shliemann heads back toward camp.

Belloq hesitates a long moment, studying the burning wreckage

with an odd, suspicious look. Finally, he turns and leaves,

passing a nearby stack of barrels. When he has passed, Sallah

appears from among the barrels. He searches the crowd for his

people and starts a broken field run along some tents to

avoid a group of Germans and is running flat-out when someone

sticks out a leg and sends him flipping. Sallah, dust all

over his face, looks angrily toward the concealed culprit. At

once, a flashing white grin splits his darkened face. Indy

and Marion, splotched with soot and oil, are hiding in the

flap of a tent. Sallah runs into their arms and the three

embrace warmly. When they break -

.

SALLAH:

Holy smoke, my friends! I am so

pleased you are not dead.

MARION:

Us too.

SALLAH:

(suddenly remembering)

The Ark! They’re taking it on a

truck to Cairo.

INDY:

Where is it?

Sallah gestures to follow and all three run off stealthily

through the mostly deserted camp.

76.

112 EXT. AMONG THE TENTS - DAY 112

Sallah, Indy and Marion run into a hiding spot behind some

water barrels near the Command Tent. They peek out at this

activity -

In the big space near the Command Tent is parked an open

German staff car; inside is a Blond Driver and an Armed

Guard. Directly behind it is a canvas-topped troop truck. At

this moment, Belloq and Shliemann are supervising the careful

placement of the crated Ark in the back of the truck. When it

is securely placed inside, we hear an ominous marching sound

and Nine Armed Nazis appear at a trot from between some tents

and climb into the back of the truck with the Ark.

Behind the water barrels, Sallah and Marion exchange hapless

looks, but Indy just concentrates on -

The scene by the truck: Belloq and Shliemann are about to

climb into the front staff car when they pause to check out

the final component of the convoy. Rolling into place behind

the truck is another open staff car. But this one is special

-mounted in the back is a big, black machine gun, manned by

a Gunner. At the wheel of the car is Gobler and next to him

sits Belzig.

Sallah and Marion look at Indy. Belloq and Shliemann climb in

the back seat of the front car and the caravan pulls out.

Indy watches it go, thinking hard.

INDY:

You two get back to Cairo quick and

get us transportation to England --

a plane, a ship, anything.

.

MARION:

What about you?

INDY:

I’m going to get that truck. I’ll

meet you at Omar’s. Be ready for

me.

Sallah nods. Marion looks at him like he’s nuts. Indy jumps

up, looks around desperately.

MARION:

How are you going to get that

truck?

77.

INDY:

(still searching)

I don’t know. I’m making this up as

I go.

He runs away between two tents.

113 EXT. AT THE EDGE OF THE DIGS - DAY 113

From among the tents, Indy suddenly bursts into view, happily

astride a magnificent white Arabian stallion. He gallops off

across the desert.

114 EXT. THE DESERT (VARIOUS SHOTS) - DAY 114

Indy cuts cross-country avoiding the road the convoy has

taken. He leaps gullies, climbs dunes, slides down slopes.

Soon the convoy comes into view far below him. He tears along

a parallel ridge, like an Indian shadowing a wagon train.

115 EXT. DESERT ROAD - DAY 115

The convoy is entering rougher country. The narrow mountain

road we’ve seen earlier ascends ahead. To the wide of the

road are tall boulders. Suddenly, Indy shoots out from

between two rocks and rides directly for the truck. The Armed

Nazis in the back of the truck can see nothing because the

canvas hides their view. But Gobler, Belzig and the Gunner in

the rear staff car have a brief line on him. Belzig points

and the Gunner fires away at Indy, the bullets kicking up

sand near Indy’s horse.

The Armed Guard in the cab of the truck leans out to see

what’s happening. Indy has been riding alongside. Now he

stands on the horse and leaps to the cab. In a second, he has

flipped the Armed Guard out of the truck. He slides into the

cab and begins grappling with the Truck Driver. The Truck

Driver tries to hit the brakes, but Inyd kicks his foot away

and floors the gas pedal. The truck doubles its speed and

shoots onto the steep mountain road.

.

116 EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY 116

The Blond Driver of the front staff car sees the truck move

up on him in the rearview mirror and speeds up. Belloq,

Shliemann and the Armed Guard in the car twist around to look

at the struggle in the truck. The Blond Driver begins what

will be a continuing preview of the twists in the road. He

turns his wheel sharply and takes the lead car around a bend.

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