The Relic Page #31

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D'AGOSTA

I think you took its tonsils out!

They haul ass down the tunnel, firing behind them as they go. Ahead is

another fork. The group is waiting. When they see D'Agosta and

Kawakita, a cheer goes up.

MAYOR:

Which way!

As he runs up, D'Agosta grabs for his walkie talkie. The holster IS

EMPTY, the walkie talkie gone! Without missing a beat he registers

what's happened, then covers it up with the next breath. He points to

the right as if there's no doubt and says...

D'AGOSTA

This way!

D'Agosta exchanges a look with Kawakita, who understands exactly what

happened. As they plunge into the right tunnel, Greg mutters...

KAWAKITA:

Holy sh*t.

INT. HALL OF THE AFRICAN MAMMALS - NIGHT

Pendergast and Margo come out of the door leading to the back entry to

the dioramas. Pendergast holds the walkie talkie, desperate.

PENDERGAST:

Vince? Can you hear me? Vince!

Nothing but static comes in response. Margo paces in agitation.

MARGO:

We have to try and draw it off!

PENDERGAST:

How?

MARGO:

The answer's right in front of us.

She points to one of the dioramas. It shows a bird being stalked by a

fox.

MARGO:

That's a ptarmigan, feigning a

broken wing. The bird pretends to be

injured to draw the fox away from

its nest!

PENDERGAST:

(starts running)

It's deceptively simple. Like a

Bruckner Symphony or a Matisse.

Margo heads for the Planetarium, calling...

MARGO:

Help! Please someone! Help!

They disappear down the hall with the Greek vases, both calling with

all they've got.

EXT. MUSEUM ROOF - NIGHT

There are increasing numbers of SWAT vehicles around. A HELICOPTER

lands on the roof. The rescue effort continues to be slowed by rain

pouring down. Ippolito is in the thick of the action. The S.W.A.T.

commander, JENNINGS, comes over buckling an ammo belt over his

fatigues.

JENNINGS:

We're ready. We've got enough

firepower to turn a herd of lions

into a fine red mist.

IPPOLITO:

Then do it.

Jennings nods, goes off. As Ippolito watches the S.W.A.T. team break

the glass skylights, gets ready to go in.

INT. HALL OF THE REPTILES - NIGHT

Jonathan crouches in the staircase at the end of the Hall of the

Reptiles. Hobbes is still by his side. He keeps the gun pointed out

into the room, his eyes scanning the dark. He whispers to Hobbes, as

if to comfort both of them.

JONATHAN:

It's okay, Hobbes. We'll be all

right. Help has got to come

eventually... We'll make it. We'll be

fine.

Suddenly he sees something. What appears to be a BODY lying on a glass

case! Jonathan pumps his gun, approaches slowly. The man wears a

tuxedo, is lying very still. As we get closer we see it's THE DRUNK

Kawakita ran into in the stairwell so long ago! He suddenly HICCUPS.

Jonathan starts. Now the man gently snores. Jonathan moves to him,

shakes the drunk's shoulder.

JONATHAN:

Hey! Wake up!

The man snorts, opens his eyes and frowns.

DRUNK:

Who the hell are you?

JONATHAN:

You first.

Jonathan helps the drunk off the glass case. The man's a little

unsteady as he tugs at his tux.

DRUNK:

I got lost tryin' to find the

bathroom. I was walkin' in circles.

I lay down for a nap. What's going

on?

JONATHAN:

You wouldn't believe me if I told

you.

Hobbes has started to wag his tail and tug at the leash to draw

Jonathan's attention.

JONATHAN:

What is it, boy?

From above comes the beating of a distant HELICOPTER and then the

sound of breaking glass. Hobbes pulls Jonathan back to the staircase.

Jonathan grins, follows behind with the drunk.

DRUNK:

Where we going?

JONATHAN:

I think we're going home.

INT. HALL OF THE DINOSAURS - NIGHT

Huge skeletons of Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus and Brontosaurus loom in

the darkness. Rain is pouring in. Jonathan, Hobbes and the drunk

enter, looks up to the sky lights. A FLASH OF LIGHTING hits,

illuminating the dinosaurs and a S.W.A.T. team which is descending on

a series of ropes. It's a sixty foot drop. Jonathan steps forward.

JONATHAN:

Hello! We're over here!

They run across the long hall and wait as the the men descend. The

first one down is Jennings.

JENNINGS:

Are you hurt?

JONATHAN:

We're fine. I don't know about the

people downstairs. In the Hall of

the Heavens. The basement... you'll

need help. There's a monster down

there.

A sling suspended on ropes is lowered down.

JENNINGS:

The rescue workers will lift you out

one at a time.

Jennings signals to a group of five men, heavily armed and in flack

jackets. They prepare to get the drunk out.

INT. HALL WITH GREEK VASES - NIGHT

Pendergast and Margo are at the top of the long, narrow shaft.

Pendergast's flashlight sends a circle of light onto a sheet of black,

oily water below. Both of them continue calling, trying to draw off

the monster.

MARGO:

Help someone!

PENDERGAST:

Oh God! Help!

They suddenly hear the sound of splashing. An updraft rustles their

clothes. Margo sniffs the air, turns to Pendergast.

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