The Relic Page #32

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MARGO:

You smell that?

PENDERGAST:

It's coming. Run.

INT. SUB-BASEMENT - NIGHT

The group has reached another intersection of tunnels. The left fork

turns back uphill. D'Agosta indicates this tunnel.

D'AGOSTA

At least we'll be dry.

They all press forward in the low vaulted darkness. As they move

steadily upwards the water recedes. Kawakita's flashlight flickers and

he bangs it. It comes on again.

KAWAKITA:

I believe in you a hundred percent,

Vince, but that's the second time

we've been at that intersection.

D'AGOSTA

Not so loud.

D'Agosta shines his light forward and they see that the shaft ends in

a large round PIPE.

KAWAKITA:

What's that?

D'AGOSTA

All right everybody, hold up!

Kawakita and D'Agosta move past the shivering people who are strung

out along the sides of the tunnel. D'Agosta touches each person as he

passes.

D'AGOSTA

We don't know what's in there. Let

me go first.

INT. PIPE - NIGHT

The Mayor follows behind with the group as Kawakita and D'Agosta lead

the way. The pipe is dry and rusted. They move forward with stealth.

In twenty feet the pipe ends abruptly in darkness. D'Agosta steps out

first.

INT. CAVERN - NIGHT

The group huddles at the mouth of the pipe, confused, as D'Agosta pans

his flashlight around the huge space. The walls are carved out of dirt

and rounded like a cave. From the ceiling hang huge cobwebs. There's a

large pile of sticks in one corner fashioned rather like a bed. On a

mound of dirt beside this bed rests a battered duffel bag.

Greg moves to it, shines his light on the side. A name is written in

marker.

D'AGOSTA

What does it say?

KAWAKITA:

(looks up, shocked)

Dr. John Whittlesley.

D'AGOSTA

What's that doing here?

KAWAKITA:

I don't know. I thought Dr.

Whittlesley died in South America.

MAYOR:

(interrupts)

Look. There's a ladder at the end. I

think it goes up to the street!

They move forward into the darkness eagerly, towards the ladder which

leads up to a manhole. But as they pass the bed of twigs, something

loud CRUNCHES underfoot.

KAWAKITA:

What is that?

D'Agosta shines his light down and everyone freezes. Then one woman

SCREAMS!

The wide dirt floor around them is carpeted in clean white BONES! The

HUMMING noise is louder and we see its source. Atop the bones is the

body of CUTHBERT! It's covered with BLACK DERMESTID BEETLES. They're

stripping the skeleton clean, devouring the flesh!

The group panics and breaks for the ladder. Kawakita and D'Agosta once

more guard the rear.

KAWAKITA:

Dear God. Where are we, Lieutenant?

D'AGOSTA

I'd say we're in its home.

INT. HALL OF THE NORTHWEST COAST INDIANS - NIGHT

Pendergast and Margo run down the long dark room, passing an enormous

hollowed-out canoe. As they exit the far end, the dark shape of Mbwun

emerges. It leaps forward, closing in fast.

INT. HALL OF THE ASIAN PEOPLES - NIGHT

Margo and Pendergast enter a series of maze-like room with hidden

corners, nooks and crannies with cases full of esoteric Buddhist and

Japanese Art. They're running through the twists and turns as fast as

they can.

PENDERGAST:

We're not going to make the storage

room!

MARGO:

Listen to me, Pendergast. Mbwun's

DNA is part homo sapien. In

primates, the eye is a direct path

to the brain! If you get a clean

shot, there's only one place you can

kill it. Shoot it in the eye!

AT THIS THEY ROUND A CORNER AND MBWUN LEAPS OUT! It circled ahead and

was waiting in front of them! The animal swipes at Margo and

Pendergast. The force of the monster's blow sends Margo reeling and

slams Pendergast into the wall. He falls, crumples and drops his gun!

The case beside him SHATTERS spewing relics, as Mbwun pushes past.

Pendergast groans and gets to his knees with difficulty.

MARGO is frantically crawling away in the dark! The beast makes a low

sound of pleasure and reaches out one claw, easily pins her down.

Pendergast looks frantically for any kind of weapon!

ON MARGO now PINNED BENEATH the heaving body of the monster!

Powerless, she looks up into the horrible face of death as Mbwun

raises an enormous claw! Pendergast, desperate, cries out --

PENDERGAST:

Please, no! Don't hurt Margo!

Oddly enough, the beast pauses for once. Talking to the damn thing is

the one tactic no one has tried! The claw halts in mid-air. The beast

blinks once and looks from Pendergast to Margo. Margo sees a flash of

something unexpectedly HUMANin its eyes! In astonishment, she

whispers...

MARGO:

My God. You understand.

As they stare, amazed, imperceptibly, the beast appears to narrow its

eyes in response! Margo controls her voice, keeps it even.

MARGO:

Please let me go. We won't hurt you.

A strange noise comes out of the monster. A low, confused growl. He

doesn't loosen his grip on Margo, but he leans down to look at her

closer with one green, unblinking eye.

She struggles not to turn away in revulsion. His enormous jaws are

right near her throat. Everything is very still. And then...

A BARRAGE OF FIRE breaks out! The S.W.A.T. team is in the doorway,

laying down everything they've got. The creature ROARS as if betrayed,

leaves Margo and LEAPS UP. It barrels down on the S.W.A.T. team, picks

up Jennings and SPIKES HIM TO THE GROUND. Jennings hits the floor with

his neck at a crazy angle. It snaps like a twig. The other men drop

back. Mbwun follows, tearing through the men, cutting a deathly swath!

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