The Time Machine Page #20

CLOSE ON WEENA 244

An expression of fear comes slowly over her face

as the LOW SIREN is joined by ANOTHER of HIGHER

PITCH. The Two make a grating dissonance. Slowly

she turns in the direction of the sound.

BACK WITH TIME TRAVELLER 245

He looks up, concerned, pausing in his descent.

BACK TO WEENA 246

As the THIRD DISCORDANT BLAST joins the other two,

Weena's fear is gone. In its place is an expres-

sion of utter resignation. Like someone in a

trance she opens her eyes and stares straight

ahead. Then, as though she is summoning all her

strength to go through some ordeal, she starts

walking away. The CAMERA PANS and we see the breeze

ripple her silken robe about her as she moves.

(NOTE:
During the above and throughout the follow-

ing sequence the dirge-like WHISTLES

CONTINUE, ECHOING mournfully.)

REVERSE SHOT 247

Weena is walking forward and disappears behind the

trees as the Time Traveller emerges from the well

in the b.g.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 248

Looking for Weena. She is nowhere to be seen.

His face shows exasperation, bewilderment.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Weena! Where are you, Girl?

WEENA - FULL SHOT 249

She continues to walk toward the source of the

SIRENS.

TIME TRAVELLER - MOVING SHOT 250

The DIRGE-LIKE MELODY becomes LOUDER, pulsating,

as he pauses to watch:

EXT. EDGE OF FOREST - LONG SHOT - (DAY) 251

Emerging from the forest are two Eloi, a man and

a woman. They are several paces apart and pay no

attention to one another. Both have exactly the

same manner as Weena. They walk along, eyes

straight ahead, faces expressionless.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 252

As he looks ahead, then left and right, searching.

VARIOUS GROUPS OF ELOI - (SPLIT?) 253-254

In the open country now, the forest behind them.

In their colorful robes, the Eloi march slowly

across the green landscape.

All are converging toward a single point somewhere

ahead.

WEENA AMONG ELOI 255

They walk close together, paying no attention to one

another, following the command of the MELANCHOLY

STRAINS OF THE SIRENS.

BACK ON TIME TRAVELLER 256

His concern has turned to apprehension as he tries

to grasp the meaning of what he observes.

EXT. THE SIRENS ON THE SPHINX - FULL SHOT - (DAY) 257

(MINIATURE)

It is the source of the sound. There are little

bursts of vapor from the tops of the sirens as

they repeat their tones, like a fantastic pipe

organ behind the Sphinx.

TIME TRAVELLER AND ELOI 258

All of them walk in the same direction. The Time

Traveller looks this way and that, bewildered.

But the Eloi disregard him and march straight

ahead, eyes forward.

The Time Traveller breaks into a run.

TWO SHOT 259

The Time Traveller overtakes the Young Man, seizes

his arm and jerks him to a halt. Around them pass

the shadows of the marching Eloi.

TIME TRAVELLER:

What's happening? Tell me!

The Young Man shows no emotion as he struggles to

free himself. His movements are almost mechanical.

This unnerves the Time Traveller. He stares at

him, releasing his grip.

The moment the Young Man is free, he faces about

and continues his march. The Time Traveller re-

mains motionless, watching him go. The ECHOING

SIRENS are now getting on his nerves.

EXT. ENTRANCE TO THE GREAT BUILDING - LONG SHOT - 260

(DAY)

The Eloi pour out of the Great Hall, walking in

a trance-like state.

EXT. LANDSCAPE - EXTREME LONG SHOT - (DAY) - (SPLIT?) 261

From all directions the Eloi in their bright robes

are moving, singly and in long files. The impres-

sion is one of vastness -- a feeling that mankind

is marching to some unknown doom.

TIME TRAVELLER - MOVING SHOT 262

He spots a girl, rushes up, grabs her from behind.

But it is not Weena. Disappointed, he releases

her, then goes on again, covering his ears with

his palms, fighting to retain command of his own

reason.

SEVERAL SHOTS OF THE SIRENS - (MINIATURE) 263-265

At various angles -- up, sideways, tilted. The

WAILING is DEAFENING.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 266

He still strives to control himself, moves forward,

then pauses in amazement, looking straight ahead.

EXT. THE SPHINX - FULL SHOT - (DAY) - (MATTE) 267

It is toward the white sphinx that the Eloi have

been marching. But now the panel, upon which the

Time Traveller had pounded so hard, is wide open,

revealing a dark entrance into the pedestal.

And despite their previous repugnance to the

Sphinx, all of the people are now marching across

the lawn resolutely to it.

AT THE PEDESTAL - LONG SHOT 268

The Young Man is the first to reach it. He enters

the wide opening and starts descending into sub-

terranean darkness. Others follow, Weena among

them.

TIME TRAVELLER (o.s.)

Weena!

Without hearing him she passes through the entrance.

TIME TRAVELLER - MOVING SHOT 269

He desperately pushes forward, elbowing his way

past others in his haste to overtake Weena. The

crowd impedes his progress and he shoves the

Eloi impatiently aside as he fights on.

TIME TRAVELLER (shouts in

despair)

Weena!

THE PANEL 270

Slowly closing and the sound of the SIRENS gradually

DIES AWAY. The Time Traveller reaches the panel as

it shuts tight before he can touch it. He spreads

his palms against it in despair, then turns to face

those Eloi who, like him, are locked outside. What

he sees astonishes him.

GROUP OF ELOI 271

They no longer approach the sphinx. The ceasing of

the sirens seems to have released them from their

hypnotic spell and now, awake again and frightened,

they are retreating.

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