The Fifth Element

FADE IN:

1EXT. DESERT NILE RIVER VALLEY - DAY

Somewhere in the Nile at the edge of the desert.

CREDITS ROLL:

WRITTEN:
EGYPT 1913

OMAR and his mule zigzag along the bottom of sun scorched dunes.

2EXT. TEMPLE EXCAVATION - DAY

The mule and the boy finally reach a camp. A few tents dwarfed by a huge

temple door jutting out of the sand. The camp is deserted except for

some kids by the temple entrance holding large mirrors, reflecting light

into the temple.

Omar leaves his mule in the shade, seizes two goatskins and slips inside

the temple.

3INT. TEMPLE - DAY

Omar makes his way uneasily down a pillared corridor that opens into a

vast room where an old scientist stands on a small wooden ladder in front of

the wall across the room. PROFESSOR MASSIMO PACOLI. A young man is beside

him, BILLY MASTERSON, age 25, an American student. He has a large sketchpad in

his hands. Behind them AZIZ, age 10, whose job is to hold the last

mirror which shines light into the expansive room.

PROFESSOR:

(deciphering)

"..when the three planets are in eclipse.."

His fingers trace across the wall which is covered with symbols and

strange hieroglyphs as he deciphers.

PROFESSOR:

"..the black hole like a door is open...

Evil comes ... sowing terror and chaos..."

See? The snake, Billy. The Ultimate Evil

... make sure you get the snake!

The Professor points emphatically to the snake, the symbol of Evil,

coming through the door between the three planets in eclipse. C.U.

Billy's hand sketches the snake quickly. He is a natural artist.

BILLY:

And when is this door opening snake act

supposed to occur?

The Professor's fingers touch the signs.

PROFESSOR:

..if this is the five..and this the thousand..

He calculates.

PROFESSOR:

Every five thousand years..

BILLY:

(kidding)

So I have some time..

He reaches for the pad.

ANGLE ON:
Omar. Standing at the entrance to the chamber with the water

bag, entranced by the sight. A skeletal hand falls on his shoulder. Omar

turns to an ancient PRIEST in a rough milled black cannock.

PRIEST:

I will take it to them my son.

Startled but obedient, Omar gives the water bag to the Priest.

PRIEST:

Go with God.. be safe from Evil..

The Priest makes the sign of the Cross on the boy's forehead, dismissing

him.

As soon as he is gone, the Priest turns a worried eye to the Professor.

ANGLE ON:
The Professor is back to translating, Billy to sketching.

PROFESSOR:

"..then arrange the elements of life against

the Terror just so.."

His fingers run on.

PROFESSOR:

"..Water..fire..earth..air..four

elements around the fifth.."

His fingers fall on the one element that has a human shape, surrounded by

all the others.

The Priest opens the water skin and begins to pour a vial of powder into

the skin.

ANGLE ON:
Aziz falling asleep. The mirror falls, the light fails.

PROFESSOR:

Aziz! Light!

The boy struggles to stay awake. The mirror comes up.

PRIEST:

Lord forgive me.. they already know too,

much..

PROFESSOR:

"..in which all the history of the Universe resides

..all the strength..all the hope..Protect us from

Evil.."

PRIEST (V.O.)

Amen..

The Professor turns to the Priest who is pouring water into a tin cup

from the skin.

PROFESSOR:

Father.. it in the most extraordinary thing..

the greatest find in history..can you imagine

the implications.

PRIEST:

Only too well... here you must be

parched..

He hands the cup to the Professor. The Professor takes it, has it almost

to his lips when..

PROFESSOR:

I mean look.. it is like a battle plan..

In his excitement he does not drink, much to the Priest's chagrin.

PROFESSOR:

Here the Good.. Here the Evil..

As the Priest looks up, Aziz the mirror boy, tips his mouth under the

water skin, drinking the leakage.

PROFESSOR:

Here..

He points to the Five Elements.

PROFESSOR:

A weapon against evil. Amazing! I am

going to be famous.

PRIEST:

Then let us toast to your fame! Here Billy..

The Priest hands Billy a cup.

PRIEST:

Drink!

PROFESSOR:

To fame.. salud..

The Professor raises the cup to drink, and then...

PROFESSOR:

We cannot toast with water.. Billy !

In my sack.. the Grappa!

The Priest watches, disconsolate, as the Professor tosses away his water.

Billy finishes his cup before running off into the tunnel.

4EXT. COLONNADE - DAY

A muffled SOUND grows steadily louder. Outside, a monstrous linear shadow

disturbs the kid's game and gradually darkens the temple entrance.

5INT. TUNNEL - DAY

Billy is looking for the grappa in the Professor's bag. He comes upon a

machine pistol. When the muffled SOUND suddenly grabs his attention. He

leans toward the corridor and sees part of a spaceship appear. Billy is

paralyzed.

6INT. TEMPLE ROOM - DAY

The Professor keeps reading over the inscription.

PROFESSOR:

"..this perfect person.. this perfect

being.." I do not understand this.. perfect?

PROFESSOR:

Where is that boy? Billy!

7INT. TUNNEL - DAY

Billy presses himself against the wall, in the shadows, terrified, but

sketching away like mad, as large shadowed figures lumber past him. He

begins to blink, feeling the effects of the Priest's potion..

8INT. TEMPLE ROOM - DAY

The Professor reads the wall.

PROFESSOR:

And this divine Light they talk

about.. what is Divine light?

At that moment, the reflection from Aziz's mirror drops again. The light

fails.

PROFESSOR:

(without turning)

Aziz light!

The room is flooded with light all of the sudden.

PROFESSOR:

Better.. this is the most unbelievable thing

I have ever seen..

The Professor turns around, and is stunned speechless to find himself

face to face with two MONDOSHAWANS. A dozen others fill the hall manning

the source of the light, large luminous globes. Aziz is fast asleep.

PROFESSOR:

(uncomprehending)

...Uh, yes?

The Professor is lifted up and carried off to the side by the aliens.

The KOMMANDER stops in front of the Priest who is still on his knees, face

to the ground.

PRIEST:

Master... He was about to discover everything,

but I had the situation under control.

The two MONDOSHAWAN GUARDS hold the professor three feet off the ground.

PROFESSOR:

(in a panic)

Who are you? Are you Germans? Sprechen

Sie Deutsch?

9INT. TUNNEL

Billy staggers forward, a machine pistol in his hand.

10INT. TEMPLE ROOM

The KOMMANDER holds out his hand to the Priest.

PRIEST:

What did I do wrong?

The Priest jumps to his feet excitedly.

KOMMANDER:

Servant, you and the thousand guards

before you... You have done your work well,

but we have to recover the elements. War will

soon engulf your planet. We must keep them safe.

The Kommander goes over to the wall and seems to be looking for a lock.

He finds it and slides in his metallic finger which is more intricate

than a key to a safe. He turns his hand, activating a mechanism that opens

the wall.

PROFESSOR:

Unbelievable!!!

The Kommander turns around and crooks a finger. One of the MONDOSHAWANS

waves his hand, puts the professor to sleep and heads down the hallway

revealed by the opening. He is followed by his men. The Priest slips in

behind them.

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