The Thing Page #3

The chess game is of larger than normal size. The pieces

move automatically with the press of a button. He sits

down and chuckles over his opponent's bad move.

MACREADY:

Poor little son of a b*tch. You're

starting to lose it, aren't you?

He confidently taps out his move. His companion's

response is immediate.

VOICE:

Pawn takes queen at knight four.

MacReady's grin slowly fades as he examines the board.

There is a pounding at his door. MacReady broods for a

bit, heedless of his visitor and makes his next move.

VOICE:

Rook to knight six. Check.

More impatient pounding. MacReady glares at his opponent

for a beat. He bends forward, opens up a flap containing

the chess game's circuitry and pours in his drink. There

ensues a snapping, popping sound as smoke and sparks rise

from the machine; followed by a flush of chess gibberish.

MacReady gets up from his seat, mumbling on his way to the

door.

MACREADY:

... Cheating bastard...

He opens the door. Norris steps in followed by a flurry

of snow and wind.

NORRIS:

You jerking off or just pissed?

MACREADY:

We got any more of those electronic

chess things down in supply?

NORRIS:

Get your gear on.

MACREADY:

What for?

EXT. OUTPOST

One of the grounded choppers is being readied for take-

off. Childs holds a huge industrial torch to the engine,

warming it up.

INT. MAIN COMPOUND - CORRIDOR

Garry, Bennings, Dr. Copper, Palmer and MacReady wind

their way through the slender corridors on their way to

the chopper. Dr. Copper carries a satchel of medicine

supplies. MacReady, going over his flight chart, looks

mad as hell. Dialogue overlaps.

MACREADY GARRY

... Craziness... ... Quit the griping

This is goddamn insane... MacReady. Sooner

you're there -- sooner

you're back.

MACREADY:

It's against regulations to go up

this time of year!

DR. COPPER

Screw regulations! Four guys could

be crawling around on their bellies

out there!

MACREADY:

So, I don't want to end up crawling

around with them when we go down.

GARRY:

Look, if you're going to keep

bitching, MacReady -- Palmer's

offered to take him up...

MACREADY:

What are you talking?! He's had two

months training in those choppers!

PALMER:

(defiant)

Four!

MACREADY:

(to Bennings)

What is it out there, anyway?

Forty-five knots?

BENNINGS:

Sixteen.

MACREADY:

(disgusted)

And the horse you rode in on.

Sixteen for how long?! You can't

predict this time of year...

INT./ EXT. CHOPPER

Dr. Copper sits next to MacReady, who is at the controls.

MacReady tightens the string of his sombrero around his

neck and starts up its choking engine.

MacReady fights violently with the controls as he

struggles to get the craft into the air. It finally

rights itself and moves up and off into the grey-white

sky.

INT. MAIN COMPOUND

A couple of the men mingle in the area. Clark, the dog

handler, looks out the window.

CLARK:

Mac's really taking it up, huh?

The dog, a large bandage on his hip, wades through the

room. Under tables. Past men's legs. It hobbles

slightly. No one takes notice.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE CHOPPER

moves over a ridge of ice. Columns of smoke can be seen

rising ominously from a quarter mile off.

INT. CHOPPER - POINT OF VIEW

As they near, the smoke looms thicker. A black, tar-like

gush; billowing up into the grey sky from the whiteness

below.

EXT. NORWEGIAN CAMP

Smoke climbs upward in the f.g. MacReady sets his craft

down. Pull back to reveal the camp itself: resembling

the aftermath of a western fort, sacked and ravaged by

Indians.

Small fires and debris are strewn everywhere. The prefab

Administration Building exposes gaping holes. Smoke rises

from the almost entirely snow-buried Quonset huts. Embers

swirl in every direction.

INT. CHOPPER

The two men look at each other in silence. They get out.

CLOSE ON A LARGE, MAKESHIFT FUNERAL PYRE

smoldering to a close. A hastily conceived crematorium.

Wood, books, furniture, tires, anything that will burn has

been mixed together with the charred remains of several

dogs and the body of a man.

Curious mounds of a melted and blackened goo are heaped

within the mess.

A small can of gasoline lies nearby. A large oil drum not

far off.

MACREADY AND COPPER

their faces ashen as they take in this grotesque sight.

MacReady turns to view the Norwegian compound. He then

exchanges a look with Copper. MacReady heads back toward

the chopper.

THE CHOPPER:

MacReady unhinges the shotgun that is latched to the panel

behind the seats.

EXT. THE MAIN BUILDING - THE DOOR

MacReady and Dr. Copper stand hesitantly amidst the wisps

of snow and embers. MacReady tries the door. It is

unlocked. He slowly pushes it open with his gun. A

creaking. A long pitch-black corridor. Copper shines a

flashlight.

DR. COPPER

Anybody there?!

No answer. Just wind. They exchange a look and enter.

INT. NARROW CORRIDOR

The two men move slowly. It is dank and cold. Their

breath, bleating like exhaust. A soft, steady wind howls

overhead. The flashlight is not much help.

Further down, they hear a faint hissing sound. As they

get closer it more resembles static. The flashlight finds

a door at the end of the corridor. The sputtering static

comes from within.

The face of the door has been shredded. An ax sticks out

from its middle. MacReady wrenches out the ax. There is

blood on it. The men acknowledge this for a beat.

MacReady tries the knob. It opens slightly. Something is

blocking it from the other side.

MACREADY:

Anybody in there?!

Nothing.

DR. COPPER

We're Americans!

Nothing.

MACREADY:

Come to help you!!

MacReady pushes against the door.

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