The Time Machine Page #14

ANOTHER, CLOSER SHOT 168

A beautiful GIRL, dressed in a silken robe of white

and gold, starts running. As she runs, she loosens

her robe which drifts to the sand and she dives deep

into the crystal water.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 169

He smiles philosophically and leans back against a

tree trunk, watching the distant swimmers, reassured.

TIME TRAVELLER (musingly,

to himself)

So this is man's future...

GROUP SHOT 170

The people, apparently without any cares of the

world, play, romp and swim.

TIME TRAVELLER (o.s.)

...to bask in the sunlight, bathe in

the clear streams and eat the fruits

of earth with all knowledge of work

and hardship forgotten.

BACK TO TIME TRAVELLER 171

He pauses, thinking back on what he has just said.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Well, and why not?

Suddenly a SHRILL SCREAM COMES OVER from the pool.

He turns.

THE POOL - LONG SHOT 172

The Girl has swum out too far and is caught by the

swift torrent. She CRIES OUT PITEOUSLY.

The other people turn their heads toward her, but

make no move to help.

CLOSE ON GIRL 173

She has caught a ledge of rock and clings. Two

little men, their bare feet dangling in the water,

sit nearby but ignore the Girl's plight.

TIME TRAVELLER - MOVING SHOT 174

He jumps out from the foliage, rushes to the bank,

points toward the Girl and tries to attract the

attention of those near her on the bank.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Help her!...

No one moves. He runs toward the ledge.

BACK TO THE GIRL 175

Her grasp on the ledge grows weaker. She is at

the point of letting go.

TIME TRAVELLER - MOVING SHOT 176

Reaching the ledge, he pushes past the people nearby

and grasps the Girl's wrist just as her fingers

slip. Quickly, he pulls her out of the river's

turbulent current and lifts her up in his arms.

GIRL - EXTREME CLOSE UP 177

Looking up at the Time Traveller bewildered, she

shows neither fear nor gratitude.

TIME TRAVELLER - EXTREME CLOSE UP 178

Gazing back at the Girl thoroughly puzzled. He

turns and glances down at the two little people

on the ledge.

CLOSE TWO SHOT 179

These two men will later be known as the YOUNG MAN

and the MAN IN WHITE. They return the Time Travel-

ler's look of scorn with pleasant smiles as if they

do not know the meaning of a mean look.

TIME TRAVELLER & GIRL - EXTREME CLOSE, MOVING SHOT 180

Trying to avoid looking at the dripping, robeless

Girl - after all he is a Victorian - he carries her

to the safety of the bank and sets her down on the

sandy beach beneath the trees. The CAMERA FOLLOWS

him as he straightens, then quickly takes off his

jacket and throws it around her.

He looks at her for the first time sees the almost

ultimate in feminine beauty.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Are you all right?

TIME TRAVELLER & GIRL - FULL SHOT 181

Wearing his velvet jacket very appealingly, she

calmly rises, turns and, without a word, walks

away. The Time Traveller stares after her in

astonishment.

The disconcerned people, now all dressed in multi-

colored robes, are leaving the pool. They walk

past the Time Traveller as though he was a part of

the scenery, merely adding to his confusion.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 182

Perplexed.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ENTRANCE TO THE GREAT BUILDING - (SUNSET) 183

Shooting toward the ARCHWAY. The sun is sinking as

the last stragglers of the little people enter the

great hall. The Time Traveller slowly follows them.

He pauses on the steps to see if any will turn back

to either welcome him or resent his intrusion, but

they move on with lack of interest, completely. He

sits down on the steps, thoroughly perplexed at this

utter indifference.

TIME TRAVELLER - MED. SHOT 184

Seated on the steps leaning against a column. He

senses another's presence, looks about, sees no one,

then turns to glance over his shoulder. The Girl, now

wearing her robe and holding his jacket over her arm,

appears from behind the column. He looks at her and

smiles reassuringly, but makes no move toward her. -

She comes closer, then sits on the step above him and

returns his jacket. While he slowly slips it on,

she slides down a step to sit alongside him.

THE GIRL:

Why did you?

TIME TRAVELLER:

Why did I what?

THE GIRL:

Come after me.

TIME TRAVELLER (ironic)

I did it to save your life, young

lady, which I'm afraid doesn't hold

much meaning for you or anyone else.

THE GIRL (simply)

It doesn't.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Must have been fifty of your friends

watching you drown. Not one of

them so much as lifted a finger. -

(shakes his head)

A curious attitude - in a curious

world.

(a pause, then a

smile)

Aren't you the least bit interested

in what I am...where I come from?

THE GIRL (innocently)

Should I be?

TIME TRAVELLER (smiles)

Perhaps you'd better take me to

someone a bit older I can talk to.

THE GIRL:

There is no one older.

The Time Traveller is suddenly struck by the truth

of her words. All of the little people seem to be

of the Girl's age or younger.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Doesn't anyone age in this land

of yours?

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