The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Page #14

The screen brightens. A BRAND LOGO appears (a circle made

of a dotted line with an "M" in the middle) then a sub-

title:
MAGRATHEAN PUBLIC ARCHIVE. Zaphod fast forwards

until a noisy picture DISSOLVES TO...

45 EXT. OUTSIDE TEMPLE OF DEEP THOUGHT -- DAY 45

A procession surrounds a CHARIOT. Two young philosophers,

LUNKWILL and FOOK (20'S) ride it into a grand TEMPLE.

46 INT. TEMPLE OF DEEP THOUGHT. 46

The aisles are lined with Priest-Technicians. Ahead is

DEEP THOUGHT - a huge Buddha-esque computer.

The procession peels away to both sides. Lunkwill and

Fook dismount and approach.

DEEP THOUGHT:

(deep and sonorous)

What is this great task for which I, Deep

Thought, the second greatest computer of

all time have been called into existence?

LUNKWILL:

Your task, O computer...

FOOK:

Hang on. Did you say second greatest?

DEEP THOUGHT:

Second greatest. Yes.

FOOK:

But we designed you to be the greatest

computer so you could...

LUNKWILL:

You're not talking about the Milliard

Gargantubrain which can count all the

atoms in a star in a millisecond?

DEEP THOUGHT:

The Milliard Gargantubrain? A mere abacus,

mention it not.

FOOK:

The Omnicognate Neutron Wrangler then?

(CONTINUED)

4 41.

HHGG 3rd Revised Draft 8/8/03

6 CONTINUED:
46

DEEP THOUGHT:

The Omnicognate Neutron Wrangler could

argue all four legs off an Arcturan

Megadonkey, but only I could persuade it

to go for a walk afterwards.

FOOK:

Then what's the problem?

DEEP THOUGHT:

I am the greatest computer you are able to

design without my help. Which, one day,

you are going to need.

LUNKWILL:

(to Fook)

Let's just ask the question.

FOOK:

Oh Deep Thought, your task is this. We

want you to tell us -- the Answer.

Long pause. Deep Thought bleeps and bloops.

DEEP THOUGHT:

The Answer...to what?

LUNKWILL:

You know. The answer. To Life...the

Universe...Everything.

FOOK:

We'd really like an answer. Something

simple. Can you do it?

DEEP THOUGHT:

The Ultimate Question of Life, the

Universe and Everything. Yes. There is an

answer. But I'll have to think about it.

Lunkwill glances at his time piece, Fook at the expectant

throng behind them. They wait.

DEEP THOUGHT (CONT'D)

Return to this place in exactly... seven and

a half million years.

LUNKWILL & FOOK

What?!

PSSSH. The screen goes to snow.

47 EXT. HEART OF GOLD BRIDGE. - CONTINUOUS 47

Ford and Arthur look confused.

FORD:

That's it?

(CONTINUED)

4 42.

HHGG 3rd Revised Draft 8/8/03

7 CONTINUED:
47

ZAPHOD:

No, no. There's more. They go back.

ARTHUR:

Seven and a half million years later?

Zaphod nods, hits play. We PUSH BACK IN ON THE SCREEN.

48 INT. TEMPLE OF DEEP THOUGHT -- 48

Lunkwill and Fook enter the now modern temple, flanked by a

crowd. They have beards and look like they're in their

40's. Deep Thought rises, looks lifeless. WORRIED MUTTERS

FROM THE CROWD. Slowly, Deep Thought groans to life.

DEEP THOUGHT:

Can I help you?

FOOK:

Deep Thought. Do you have...

DEEP THOUGHT:

An answer for you? Yes. I have.

FOOK:

There really is an answer?

DEEP THOUGHT:

Yes. There really is one.

FOOK:

(almost strangled with emotion)

Oh!

LUNKWILL:

Can you tell us what it is?

DEEP THOUGHT:

Yes. Though I don't think you're going to

like it.

FOOK:

Doesn't matter! We must know it!

DEEP THOUGHT:

You're really not going to like it.

FOOK:

Tell us!

DEEP THOUGHT:

Alright. The answer to the ultimate

question ...

LUNKWILL:

Yes ...

(CONTINUED)

4 43.

HHGG 3rd Revised Draft 8/8/03

8 CONTINUED:
48

DEEP THOUGHT:

... of Life, the Universe, and Everything ...

FOOK:

Yes!

DEEP THOUGHT:

... is ...

CROWD:

Yes ...!

DEEP THOUGHT:

(longest pause yet)

Forty two.

Rate this script:3.0 / 3 votes