The Relic Page #13

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DISSOLVE TO:

INT. SUPERSTITION EXHIBIT - NIGHT

ON MARGO... lying on the carpet. There's a large, nasty bump on her

forehead. The totem pole is on the floor beside her. Leaning over her

is PENDERGAST. Margo starts to sit up. Pendergast gently restrains

her.

PENDERGAST:

What happened?

MARGO:

I don't know.

PENDERGAST:

I heard you calling and I ran after

you, but you kept disappearing and I

couldn't keep up.

MARGO:

(she touches her forehead)

You were behind me? Running after

me?

Pendergast nods. As Margo rises he tries to help her but she waves him

off, collecting her thoughts.

MARGO:

It's okay, I'm all right. I remember

now... It was an animal. Something

large! I could smell it. It was

hunting me. I saw two green eyes in

the dark.

PENDERGAST:

Where did you see it?

MARGO:

Behind me. Over there.

Margo turns and points behind her to...

A large NORTHWEST COAST INDIAN MASK. It's carved out of wood in a

horrible grimace, inset with two glowing green eyes. Pendergast sees

it too, says nothing.

MARGO:

That's not what I saw.

PENDERGAST:

All right. If you're positive.

She leans against the wall, touches her forehead, panic overcoming her

again.

MARGO (CON'T)

I can't think straight at the

moment. I know how crazy this seems.

Please, Mr. Pendergast, I need some

fresh air. Could you get me out of

here?

EXT. ROTUNDA FRONT ENTRY - EXHIBIT - NIGHT

THREE COPS including MCNITT, RODRIGUEZ and ROGERS prepare to enter the

exhibit. All are armed. Margo watches as Pendergast gives them

instruction. She appears rattled and confused.

PENDERGAST:

Stay in formation together. Take it

room by room. Check for footprints,

any signs of disturbance. If you see

or hear anything the least bit

suspicious, I want to know.

He points to DOYLE, an older red-haired cop who takes up a post

outside the exhibit. Pendergast hands Doyle his walkie talkie.

PENDERGAST:

Bailey's going to be in the guard

house outside. Officer Van Dorn is

right down that hall. When McNitt's

done, he'll relieve you.

Doyle nods. Pendergast and Margo walk out.

EXT. MUSEUM - NIGHT

Margo and Pendergast exit. The cold air is like a slap in the face.

PENDERGAST:

Dr. Green...

MARGO:

I didn't imagine it. I know what I

saw. Are you sure there are enough

men in there?

PENDERGAST:

They're all heavily armed.

MARGO:

(stops)

All right. This is hard for me. I'm

a scientist. I like order and logic.

Sometimes too much. There's got to

be an explanation. There can't be an

animal in there. But I saw

something.

PENDERGAST:

What was it?

MARGO:

I don't know.

(she has a thought)

Mr. Pendergast. Do me a favor. Get

me a DNA readout on that claw.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. MUSEUM - NIGHT

All is quiet.

INT. MUSEUM FRONT - EXHIBIT FRONT DOOR - NIGHT

The doors to the exhibit are closed. Doyle looks at his watch,

impatient. It's almost eleven now. He pulls out his walkie talkie.

DOYLE:

Bailey? Doyle here. I'm still

waiting outside the exhibit. Where

the hell is McNitt?

BAILEY:

Should be there any minute. They

came out a side door a while ago.

Said the exhibit's clear. McNitt's

headed back to spell you.

DOYLE:

I'm on double over-time, man.

BAILEY:

I know. You can go home if you want

to. I'll come relieve you myself.

Doyle shuts off his walkie talkie, frowns. He fidgets, looks at his

watch once more.

DOYLE:

What the hell.

He turns, takes off the walkie talkie and leaves it, but then he hears

something, stops. It's a low SCUFFLING from inside the exhibit, coming

from behind the closed doors. Doyle freezes, turns.

DOYLE:

McNitt?

No answer. Doyle pauses. His hand goes to his gun for reassurance as

he hears a footstep and a muffled thump. He moves to the door of the

exhibit, opens it and takes a step inside.

DOYLE:

McNitt? Cut the crap. I know it's

you. You're not scaring me. Come on.

Silence meets him. The shadows of the exhibit loom. Doyle takes one

more step inside, scanning the darkness with his gun. Does he hear

BREATHING? He freezes. Yes, he does. The hair on his neck rises and he

loses the spit in his mouth. He takes a step backwards, but he's half

a second too late. The door SLAMS BEHIND HIM and a HUGE DARK FORM

LEAPS OUT!

INT. EXHIBIT ENTRANCE - NIGHT

Officer MCNITT enters from a side corridor, zipping up his fly. The

hall is still. McNitt checks his watch, sees Doyle's walkie talkie and

turns it on.

MCNITT:

McNitt here. I'm outside the

exhibit. All's quiet. But I don't

see Doyle.

BAILEY (OS)

He called a minute ago looking for

you. He starts vacation tomorrow and

he wanted out. I said you were on

the way. He could split.

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