Raiders of the Lost Ark Page #21

90.

We hold on the whip for a long moment, until its owner’s hand

appears and quickly reclaims it.

.

138 INT. TRAIN TUNNEL 138

The Ark and its entourage are moving slowly up the tight dark

tunnel, their way lit by intermittent lanterns. The tunnel is

irregular, but generally about 7 feet wide. It’s height

varies from an average of about 7 feet to a low of only about

4.5 feet at the points (every 40 feet) where support beams

cross the track. The result is that there is only about a

foot of clearance above the mine cars at those points;

passengers must duck to keep from being hit in the head.

Shliemann, looking worried, and Belloq, very excited, are

focused on the Ark in the car ahead.

SHLIEMANN:

I am uncomfortable with the thought

of this -

(spitting it out)

-- Jewish ritual. Are you sure it’s

necessary?

BELLOQ:

(playing him)

Let me ask you this -- Would you be

more comfortable opening the Ark in

Berlin -- for the Fuhrer -- and

finding out only then if the sacred

pieces of the Covenant are inside?

Knowing, only then, whether you

have accomplished your mission and

obtained the one, true Ark?

Shliemann doesn’t like any of his alternatives. He looks at

Belloq with some suspicions as the train comes into bright

light.

139 INT. COMMAND CENTER 139

A second natural cavern, even bigger than the first, has been

worked over by the Germans into a rectangular, three-story

high supply center around a huge, open, center court.

Uniformed Nazi Soldiers are everywhere, wrangling supplies

and ammunition, monitoring electronic equipment. At the far

end of the court, a second train tunnel disappears into the

rock.

Across the open court, Belloq sees his destination: a large,

brilliant white silk tent has been erected in the midst of

all this hardware. It looks incongruous, and more than a

little eerie. It is the Tabernacle.

.

91.

140 INT. TRAIN TUNNEL 140

Indy is making his way up the tunnel. He hears cars coming

from up ahead and steps into the shadows. A mine car passes

with several laughing Nazis. Indy continues on his way.

141 INT. THE TABERNACLE 141

The light in here is lovely, unearthly. Oil lamps burn. The

Tabernacle is really several concentric, silk tents, which

creates a flowing maze effect. The innermost tent has at its

center a 3-foot high, tapestry-covered altar. Belloq watches

with gleaming, obsessed eyes as two Nazis carefully lift the

actual Ark out of its crate by means of the long poles. The

Ark dazzles the eye, seeming to glow gold in this strange

light. The two Nazis place it carefully on the altar.

Shliemann and some Aides hang back. Marion is nowhere to be

seen.

142 INT. COMMAND CENTER - END OF TUNNEL 142

Indy makes a fast break from the shadows of the tunnel to the

protection of a high stack of supplies. He climbs the back of

the stack, peeks over and surveys the area.

WHAT HE SEES. In addition to the Tabernacle, the second train

tunnel entrance, and all the activity, Indy’s glance rests

momentarily on a large, heavy metal door halfway down one

wall toward the Tabernacle. It bears the words in German:

DANGER - MUNITIONS.

Indy continues to scan the scene.

143 INT. THE TABERNACLE 143

In the central area with the Ark, Shliemann and the other

Nazis wait impatiently, eyeing the Ark with some discomfort.

Belloq is not visible, because at the moment he is-

In the folds of the Tabernacle, the silk of the tents

undulating around him. The light is even stranger, the scene

almost dreamlike. With the help of the Tall Captain, Belloq

lets an extraordinary, gold-embroidered, ceremonial robe fall

over his head and onto his body. Belloq looks transported,

possessed. The Tall Captain unlatches a wooden case and takes

from it a sturdy ivory rod about 5 feet long, elaborately

engraved. Belloq takes it from him, turns and slips back

through the silk. The Tall Captain stays in the folds.

.

92.

Back in the central area, Shliemann and the other Nazis are

taken aback by Belloq’s appearance in the rove. They exchange

looks. From one knot of men there is muttering about “Juden”

and such, but when Belloq turns a fiery gaze on them there is

immediate silence. Shliemann looks uncertain in this

presence.

Belloq approaches the Ark. He stops a few feet from it and

begins murmuring an invocation in Hebrew. After a few moments

of this he advances a step and is about to place the ivory

rod in a notch under the lid of the Ark itself. The end of

the rod is an inch from the notch when--

Indy steps into the Tabernacle. On his shoulder is a bazooka

and it is aimed directly at the Ark.

INDY:

Hold it.

(the Nazi react)

One move from anybody and I blow

that box back to Moses.

Shliemann makes it clear to the other Nazis that Indy is to

be obeyed.

BELLOQ:

Jones, your persistence surprises

even me. You are going to give

mercenaries a bad name.

INDY:

What about you? Talked to God yet?

(Belloq’s eyes flash)

Where’s the girl?

SHLIEMANN:

Doctor Jones, surely you don’t

think you can escape from this

base.

INDY:

That depends on how reasonable

we’re all willing to be. All I want

is the girl. We’ll keep possession

of the Ark only till we’ve got safe

transport to England. Then it’s all

yours.

SHLIEMANN:

If we refuse?

93.

INDY:

Then the Ark and some of us are

going up in a big bang. I don’t

think Hitler would like that a bit.

Now I don’t want to talk about this

anymore. Show me that girl in five

seconds or-

The Tall Captain flies out of the silk and takes Indy down by

the neck. The bazooka clatters across the cement floor as two

other Nazis help subdue Indy. The three Nazis take Indy’s

pistol from his holster and raise him roughly in their grasp.

.

SHLIEMANN:

Jones, this is the second time I

have seen you looking very foolish.

INDY:

It’s a bad habit. I’m trying to

break it.

Shliemann draws his Luger.

SHLIEMANN:

I’ll help you. This time I’ll kill

you myself.

Shliemann raises the pistol.

BELLOQ:

No! Not in the presence of the Ark!

Take him outside.

Shliemann eyes Belloq, then the Ark. He lowers the pistol,

motions for the Nazis to take Indy out ahead of him. They

stop a moment only when Belloq speaks.

BELLOQ:

Indiana Jones, I salute you. I am

even a little sorry you will miss

this moment.

INDY:

Thanks. If you talk to Him, tell

Him I’m on my way up.

Shliemann motions them out and follows. Belloq turns back to

the Ark, raising the ivory rod.

94.

144 INT. COMMAND CENTER 144

Shliemann, the Tall Captain, Indy and the two Nazis holding

him emerge from the Tabernacle. Shliemann points to a nearby

wall and the group starts that way with Shliemann and the

Tall Captain slightly ahead.

145 INT. THE TABERNACLE 145

Belloq has the ivory rod inserted in the notch under the lid

of the Ark. He utters a short phrase in Hebrew and begins to

press down on his end of the rod. The lid of the Ark begins

to lift. It’s difficult work. Belloq puts his whole weight

into one big press on his end and the lid opens two feet.

Rate this script:5.0 / 3 votes