0 of 117

                  The Gate of Shambala

                           By

                    Timothy Sheridan

                     (c) 2013-2015

EDITED VER. 1.2.6

info@theubie.com

0

1 of 117

OPEN

EXT/INT. CUBA LARGE VILLA LATE AFTERNOON

Father and Son are in black tie and walk to a largevilla.  The father carries an object in a mall box.

ERNST How do I look.       

KIT Good.       

ERNST Now pay attention. I’ll show you how this is done.       

KIT Yea, Sure. GREETER Buenos Nochas

ERNST Ernst Aton and his Son Kit.

GREETER Right this way please enjoy your visit.

Ernst and son traverse the grand foyer to a large reception room.  They wait in a short line and greet their host.

ERNST How do you do Mr. Presidente.  And Mrs Presidente.

EL PRESEDENTE Ah, Seinor Aton. Your reputation precedes you.  You have the item? 

ERNST Yes, Here it is Mr. Presedente.

EL PRESEDENTE Ah, I would like to present this at dinner. 

1

2 of 117

ERNST Of course.

EL PRESEDENTE Naturally the University will receive these precious items. (points)  Please make your selves comfortable.  Dinner will begin in a few minutes.

ERNST We’ll wait for the introductions then we’ll leave. These things can go all night.   Hi.    

KIT I’m ok.        

ERNST Hey, don’t drink it all at once.    

KIT This is my first one.         ERNST Yea I know.        Hi..       

INTERESTED GUEST Mr Aton I have read of your work in pre-Columbian history.        

ERNST Thank you. We're finding tribal

history is much older than the text books would have you think.

INTERESTED GUEST Oh. 

ERNST Yes. The accepted 4000 year timeline is only a starting point. Last year we found artifacts at much lower strata than the traditional kiln fired work.  I think we can add centuries to the

2

3 of 117

accepted time line for habitation.        

INTERESTED GUEST Really, I will be very interested to hear more of this.

ERNST The University will be publishing very soon.  It's the start of a whole new era for the field.

INTERESTED GUEST Ah..mm..

STEWARD If you will come this way dinner is ready.

Guests assemble at dinner.

INT. DINNING ROOM LATE AFTERNOON

A guard speaks something to the presedente who then welcomes guests. He introduces Ernst and son and explains the art items.

All sit. EL PRESIDENTE Thank you all for coming. And sharing this meal with us. This is a time of struggle and challenges. But it is good to have with us so many friends. We hold strong to our beliefs and history. And tonight we have two distinguished guests, senior Aton and his son, who bring to us a special piece of our heritage for our national museum, a very rare pottery which, is thousands of years in age.

Rebels storm the entrance and glass breaks from shots. Guests duck and shriek.  The president is hurried away. Guards turn to the commotion. Guns fire.

ERNST This doesn't look good.  Come on. 

3

4 of 117

Stay down.

The soldiers take the front entrance and make their way toward the guests.  Soldiers are of little help. A few drop or duck.  The guests are hurried to another room.

Ernst Grabs the Item. He and kit run. But they are trapped. They observe the commotion and yelling as more shots are fired.

KIT Jesus what are they doing?

ERNST Things broke apart faster than I expected.

KIT You expected this?

ERNST Expected? No. There's been some problems.. But I uh..,  Can we talk about this later?  Ok come on, go!

Ernst and kit circle around and duck from the cross fire. They run to a closet under the stairs careful not to disturb a drum set.

KIT So were, doing this in the middle of a revolution. ERNST Sometimes countries have problems.

KIT Problems?

ERNST It’s not my fault!  Alright, lets go.

Someone runs past. Ernst and son make their way upstairs into a well-appointed study and climb out on the balcony. EXT. BALCONY

4

5 of 117

Ernst jumps a guard taking his hat and gun.  Kit must climb down the trellis.

ERNT come on.

KIT (climbing down) Just a second.

ERNST We don’t have time for this.

Ernst fights another soldier.

ERNST The cars are blocked. Get the keys. (from the other soldier)

KIT Got em.

A soldier keeps guard but as he turns back Ernst subdues him from behind a corner.

ERNST Ok this could get a little hairy.

Ernst and son flee across the yard to the cars and take a truck. Ernst loosens his tie.

ERNST Hey.. Hey.. Ok.. Let's just hope they stay put..

ERNST You alright?

KIT I'm disillusioned. But I'll be ok. ERNST Hold on.. looks like we got trouble.

A second truck follows them ...chase.. bump, push, bump, push, turn, turn, Ernst and son are pinned down in a circle

5

6 of 117

with a fountain. Now they are surrounded by police. The rebels close in and begin shooting it out with police.

ERNST Woa.. This isn’t our fight.  Let’s go.  Come on. Over here. Go get in.

Ernst and son flee down an alley. They hotwire a car.

KIT Uh isn't this stealing?

ERNST Only if they stop shooting.

ERNST Ok.  Hold on.

KIT You better move it.

Ernst and son turn a corner but are stopped surrounded by more police and arrested. They lose the bribe money and the item.

ERNST Woa. Looks like the jig is up. Just stay quiet. Let me do the talking.

EXT/INT. JAIL

Ernst and his son are taken to jail.

JAILER What is it?

COP A couple car thieves.

JAILER Put them in the back.

KIT Were not!..

ERNST Hey, don’t bother.

6

7 of 117

They're not interested. Just sit tight. I made a couple plans.

KIT Good.  Cause they don't look too friendly.

They are slammed in to a cell.

INT/EXT. JAIL CELL

Moments later a friend frees them and strums some money, plucking some out handing Ernst the rest and some keys. 

ERNST Benne. Am I glad to see you. 

BENNE' I should think so.  There's not much time. 

ERNST You have it?

BENNE' Here.  This should get you there. And here's something for the air field.

ERNST Thanks. I’m going to need a car.

BENNE' In the back. Just pump the gas petal.

ERNST Thanks Benne.  Another time.

BENNE' Another time.

INT. THIRD CAR RIDE

Ernst and son flee in an old car provided by the friend. But they no longer have the item.

7

8 of 117

ERNST That was close. You all right?   

KIT Yea I’m learning a lot.  Thanks.   ERNST There’s no need to be sarcastic. We had a little obstacle. These things happen sometimes.

KIT I think we hit another one.. (pursuer)      

ERNST Yea. Hold on.

They are rammed by the same truck which gives chase down a long plantation road along an irrigation ditch.

KIT They're shooting at us!

ERNST You don't have to tell me!

KIT Well what do we do?

ERNST Benne was supposed to leave a pistol in the glove box.

KIT Oh..  so What was this for?

ERNST For contingencies.  Here.. (checks it)  Just point and shoot.  Not too fast.

KIT (pow, pow ,pow) It’s not working!

8

9 of 117

ERNST It rarely does.

KIT (pow pow pow) Ok I got to reload.

ERNST Oh Damn. 

KIT What? ERNST Looks like the bridge is out.  Hang on I'm going to have to make a short cut.

KIT huh? Oh. no. No no. I can walk.

ERNST There's no time for that.

KIT Oh no. No.  No no no no no no no.

Kaflump crash klang. The car lands on the other side of the irrigation ditch. But the soldiers are not far behind and the car is wrecked. 

ERNST She’s' stuck.  Let's go.

Ernst and his son flee the car and run across a banana field.  But the pursuers who are making their way across the stream. Ernst runs into a can of petrol and lights a fire in the field to thwart his pursuers. There is a light wind.

ERNST Here.  Watch out.  This ought to slow them down.

KIT Hurry they’re getting across.

Ernst throws a burning leaf on the petrol which flashes and flairs

9

10 of 117

across the small furrow.

ERNST Just wait. There. Come on!

They run from the flames. Ernst and kit find the plane hidden in the bushes.

ERNST Over here.  Get in.

KIT What’s a matter? no hanger space left?

ERNST It's still here isn't it? Go just turn it.

KIT Good point.   It's not starting. ERNST Let me try.

KIT Are you pumping it?

ERNST Yea I'm.. You try again.

KIT Nothing.

ERNST We’re running out of time.

You get in.

They are spotted. Ernst rips off his sleeves, throws open the engine cover and pumps the engine as Kit tries to start it. He hits it repeatedly with a wrench, to unload the plugs and carburetor. It starts!

Ernst hunches over the wing as the plane circles.  He climbs in the cockpit.

KIT

10

11 of 117

Woa!

ERNST There’s not enough runway! We'll have to turn around! 

KIT And they're shooting at us!

ERNST Ok just hold it there and pull up when I tell ya!

Ernst shoots, blam blam..

ERNST Ok now.  Pull up!  Pull up!

He shoots more.. blam blam..

The plane takes off narrowly missing a small house and a truck with men who shoot at them. They soar upward through the raging flames of the plantation. The ember sunset reflects off the sea as the father and son fly to Florida.

OPENING CREDITS

INT. HOME  BREAKFAST TABLE

Ernst is finished breakfast and reading the paper.  He can’t sit still.

ERNST Congress, holds more hearings.  Since when it is illegal to join a political party?

JOY What do you think about a vegetable Garden? We can grow our own saffron.

ERNST Look at this. The Russians have the bomb, music is all jitterbug and

11

12 of 117

our guys are putting monkeys in space!  Can you believe it? 

JOY Oh that’s just how they test the rockets.  My instructor says its Dharma.

ERNST Don’t start with that.  I’m serious. Next thing you know they’ll want to land on the moon. 

JOY But maybe that’s our bliss?

ERNST The only bliss around here is when people come home at a reasonable hour. Where were you? 

KIT I had things to do. 

ERNST You were out all night.

KIT I was with friends.  ERNST Your mother was worried. 

KIT Sorry. 

ERNST What’s this?

KIT Stereos.

ERNST Your selling stereos? 

KIT I’m helping a friend. 

12

13 of 117

ERNST Well apologize to your mother.

KIT Yes. 

ERNST What?

KIT Yes sir. I'm Sorry.

ERNST Thank you. 

KIT Oh, and I’m suspended. 

ERNST What?

KIT I wasn’t cheating!  They were copying me! 

ERNST You expect me to believe that?

KIT Yes.

ERNST All right. If you say so, then I believe you.  KIT Thanks. 

JOY See that’s your karma.  The peace maker. 

ERNST Don’t start with me! 

JOY

13

14 of 117

Fine.  I believe you.

KIT Thanks mom.

ERNST Things are going to have to change around here!

INT. ERNST AT WORK

ERNST I’m broken up about it too.  There was no way out.  We were trapped.

BOSS I understand. There was nothing any of us could do. But it does put us in a bind.

ERNST I’m Sorry     

BOSS It wasn’t your fault.

ERNST No but I should have seen it coming.

BOSS Well it has set us back.  We were counting on the deal.

ERNST I’ll get you something.  There’s a dig in Guatemala.  I’ve already made arrangements. BOSS We need you in Paris.  The school has made a deal to exchange you in return we receive artifacts from the Louvre and British museum.

ERNST You sold me?

14

15 of 117

BOSS We need you.

ERNST You sold me. And.. cheap.

BOSS I have no choice in the matter.  We could send Commings or Steadman.

ERNST You sold me. 

BOSS Think of it as a sabbatical.

ERNST I’ll think it over.

INT. HOME GATHERED IN LIVINGROOM FOR FAMILY TALK

Ernst sits the family down in the living room and demands the family go on a vacation.

ERNST I’ve decided to take a sabbatical. We’re going to travel together.   

KIT We just took a vacation. You set the place on fire.

ERNST Yea well this is different.

KIT I can’t. I have school.

ERNST You're suspended!     

KIT I have friends.      ERNST You can see them when you get back.

15

16 of 117

JOY I have my class.  The sensei feels I have a very bright aura.

ERNST You can take the book! 

GROUP (hemming and hawing)

ERNST We’re going to take this vacation.

GROUP (Hemming and hawing)

ERNST We're going to Paris - as a family!

EXT. PARIS  HOTEL. LATE MORNING

A taxi stops and out rises Father with duffel bag (case with strap) on his shoulder.  Then out comes Mother with several suit cases a hat box, cosmetic case and two coats.  They drag this a slight distance toward the doorman who assists.  The kid appears with a small case, his jacket and a map.

ERNST Ah.. Paris.    City of lights.  

JOY Oh just a minute. Let me this and uhh thank you.. oh. Thank you.

KIT I don’t know. It looked bigger in the picture. It's all right.

INT. HOTEL

The family enters emboldened.  And the hero knows the staff.

ERNST Piere’ how are you?

16

17 of 117

PIERRE Ah misure.  ERNST Got the family on vacation. 

PIERRE And you’ve come to spend a little time in Pari, wonderful.   

ERNST It’s good to see you again. 

PIERRE Oui, Se bon.  And Mrs. Aton

JOY Hi Pierre.

PIERRE And this..

KIT I'm Kit. Were a family.

PIERRE Eh Bien

ERNST I’ll be needing a bigger room. Of course. (waives) 

PIERRE Ah Oui, Take measur' and his family to the balcony suite.

Son sees many beautiful women in the hotel.

ERNST Pace yourself; it’s a big city.

ERNST Here. 

(placing a handkerchief in Kits Pocket)

Now you look like a gentleman.

17

18 of 117

KIT What's this? ERNST It was your grandfather's.

KIT Monogrammed.  Thanks.

JOY It looks nice on you.

KitThanks

JOY Remember materiality is an illusion. 

ERNST Yea an expensive one.

INT. MUSEUM LOADING DOCK

Ernst oversees the loading dock of the museum.  They intake a Sarcophagus with the unknown star map.. and a curse.. referring to constellations which indicate truth, protector and avenger.                            ERNST                   Ok Steady.  Take it down. Good.                   Let’s get it open. Mentuhotep                   the second. Early Middle kingdom.                    It’s unusual it has a star clock                   Tells the rising star for each                 hour of the night. And the offset for each month.

CURATOR                   What’s that?                      ERNST A curse.

CURATOR                   Oh

18

19 of 117

ERNST                   And to them who are false in the      presence of the pharaoh, death.    CURATOR A curse of truth. 

ERNST Yea. He didn’t mess around. A good piece. We’ll have it cleaned and mounted in a couple days. Listen, I’m meeting the misses and some friends for dinner at the café de France your welcome to join us.

CURATOR Thank you, I think I will.

ERNST Great. See you there. Oh Enri,

(the watchman) you’ll take care of the pharaoh for us?

ENRI Yes sir Mr Aton.  (checks locked door) EXT. MUSEUM 5:00PM

Ernst finishes work and leaves the museum. There is Joy who is now laden with shopping bags..       

ERNST I though you said the material world was an illusion.        

JOY I though you said it was expensive. 

ERNST He helps her with the bags.

Around the corner(same shot) is the son is kicking

19

20 of 117

around the city alone.  He enters the boulangerie.        

KIT What is this?  Give me one of these. And this.

ANDELECE Deux franks.

KIT I don’t know what is this?

She picks the coins out of his hand.     

KIT Uh  Thanks.  So you work here?  Do you make all these?  All these.  You make all these?  This one?  You make this.  How do you do that? Is that baked?  You bake them?  And that stuff, you put that on after or before? 

She smiles.

KIT Hey you know. Maybe um. Well you Know, why don’t you,  you know.. 

She hangs up her apron, rinses and hangs a towel. 

KIT What time do you get off of work? 

She turns the sign on the door. Locking it behind as they leave.  They proceed down the steps.  She starts to leave. KIT Oh well um its early. How about we take a walk?  You wanta take a walk?  Your probably hungry. You wanta to go to a cafe?

ANDELECE Une Cafe uhhh oui.. 

KIT

20

21 of 117

You’re hungry?        

ANDELECE un petite. 

They walk..

INT. CAFÉ

Kit and Andelece sit in a sunlit corner café as they get comfortable with one another.

KIT This is good.  Oh I like this.  We have these. So tell me about you. 

ANDELECE Vous, les Américains. Je travaille à la boulangerie. Je étudie à l'Ecole debosart. Mais je pars pour un semestre. nous verrons.   

(translation : You Americans.  I work at the bakery.  I study at the ecole debosart. But I'm off for a semester.  We'll shall see.)   

KIT Oh I don't understand you but um.. that sounds good. 

They laugh..

EXT. WAlKING IN PARK BY RIVER

KIT So I’m here with my family. It’s a working vacation.  Dad works at the museum.  He’s a um well, he does a lota different stuff.    Hey you should see it.  Do you go to museums? You like that? Come on.

EXT. DARK ALLEY BEHIND MUSEUM

Kit jimmies the lock of the dock entrance. KIT

21

22 of 117

It's alright my father works here.  I come here at night.  I just have to. Come on its kind of interesting.

ANDELECE I think perhaps you are a criminal?

KIT Huh?  Nah. Come on?  You'll see.

INT. MUSEUM RESTORATION

Kit grabs a flashlight from a closet..

KIT just a minute.. here..  You take one.  Now we go over here. see.. lights.   See look at all this stuff. See? This is some kind of ancient writing.  And this is like a mummy or a pharaoh or something.  These symbols all mean something.. but this is a calendar.. and these are uh extra stars or something. 

ANDELECE Étoiles

KIT yea.  And here,

He gives her a pith helmet. He takes a visor with magnifying lens.. (they laugh)  He spreads out “his new handkerchief” and reveals a split of Champagne and the stuff he bought at the bakery.  He feeds her.  They are picnicking on the cask of mentuhotep. 

KIT Here you take this.

She brushes him with a brush. He uses the magnifying glass on her and they laugh.  She leans in closer.  A beat.  There is a sound !

KIT It’s alright. It’s probably the guard. 

22

23 of 117

But it’s a truck which bursts through the dock door. Out come men with tommy guns followed by a well decorated Asian general.        

KIT Woa! Just stay down.. the watchman never comes back here.

The kids hide behind the sarcophagus as men ransack the other room.  The men take the sarcophagus.  But the kids hide. One of the gunmen hears something.  He opens fire. Ba da da da.

GUNMAN 1 Lung bein peing kenu (It's just a rat.)

He shoots it.  Then he hears the kids in a scaffold above. He strafes the scaffolding with bullets.  The scaffolding collapses and the kids rise from the debris with hats on.

GUNMAN 2 Nem por cow! (Bring them!)

Two other soldiers load the kids and sarcophagus into the back of a truck.

Enri the security guard arrives in the hall.  His appearance in the doorway draws machine gun fire splintering the doorframe.  He high-steppes back into the hall sweating and panting against the wall.

GUNMAN 2 clin ya pay mah (move it !)

The sarcophagus is loaded into the truck.

The other security guard arrives. The two nod and open fire from the doorway.  The same soldier strafes the door again. And the two guards swim-run out of the way taking cover flanking the doorway.

A third guard arrives.  The two guards eye each other’s frightened resolve.

23

24 of 117

The gunman watching the doorway draws near the hall door. But the other gunman calls to him.

GUNMAN 2 Bi-ken-ker ! (Let's go) The first security guard grabs a look and runs after the truck into the shade of the alley. His gun is wobbling. He takes aim. But he does not see a shot.

INT. CAFE D' FRANCE

The parents dine with friends at the cafe.  The gendarme enter and ask for Ernst.

                    ALEX So he here plucks it out of his hands and says, too late I already bought it.

                    GROUP                (laughter)

                    CURATOR I bet they were surprised.

                    ALEX Not as surprised as the university when they saw the bill.

                    GROUP                 (laughter)

                    GENDARME Monsieur Aton there has been a burglary. You will come with me?     

                    ERNST Hey pal we walked here.

                    GENDARME You are Ernst Aton who works at the Paris museum.        

                    ERNST Yea what’s this about?

24

25 of 117

                    GENDARME The Museum has been Robbed.                     CURATOR Robbed? Sir, I’m Gilean Sebastion I curate the Egyptology department.

                    GENDARME Then I must also ask you to come with me.

                    ERNST You stay here.

                    JOY No I'm going with you.

                    ALEX I'm going too.

INT. MUSEUM

Ernst, joy and friends arrive at the museum and there are police.  They enter the back room and find the handkerchief and an earring.

ERNST Jeffrey, Enri, what’s going on?

JEFFERY They’ve taken Mentuhotep.

ENRI They entered through the loading dock. 

                    INSPECTOR You were the last to see the..?        

ENRI Sarcophagus. yes      

ERNST Actually this is the sarcophagus but it contained an inner cask.  

INSPECTOR

25

26 of 117

And you were the last to see the cask?        

ERNST Yes. Mentuhotep II, first pharaoh of the middle kingdom. Known for justice and rule of law. We were cataloging its return to France. 

JEFFREY But who would take it?  It would be almost impossible to sell, even on the black market.

ENRI That is what we will find out. You can vouch for Monsieur Aton and his wife?        

ALEX Yes we were having dinner at the restaurant.    

INSPECTOR And can you identify this? (handkerchief)

ERNST That belongs to Kit.  My son.

INSPECTOR And where is your son?     

ERNST I don’t know he was supposed to meet us at dinner.

INSPECTOR Can you explain what he was doing here?  

ERNST He must have been here when they took the pharaoh and inner coffin but.. 

INSPECTOR

26

27 of 117

And this? (an earring)

Ernst grins.

ERNST Heh.. There must have been someone with him. I can assure you he's not involved.

INSPECTOR You will remain available?

ERNST Yes of course. EXT. MUSEUM

Father and wife leave the museum and hasten to contact a friend at the Moulin Rouge. They hail a cab.

ERNST (to wife) I didn’t want to tell the gendarme but if anything is going on in this town I know somebody who can tell us what it is.

INT. MOUIN ROUGE

ERNST Rusty how are you?    

RUSTY Ernst Aton this is a surprise.   How long has it been?

ERNSTS Too long. 

RUSTY But now, am I seeing double?

RUSTY Rusty this is my wife Joy.

RUSTY

27

28 of 117

It’s a pleasure madam.

RUSTY Rusty we have a problem.  My son is missing and there was a robbery at the museum.       

RUSTY That is a problem. But not unexpected.        

ERNST No?  What do you hear?

RUSTY Well there’s been a lot of odd  characters in here. And not the kind you would want. One of them is right over there.  The suspicious character sees them talking about him. Ernst approaches him.  Ernst waives and says hello. But the spy hastens away behind the stage!  Ernst follows.   INT. BACK STAGE MOULIN ROUGE

The spy enters a small room with chairs and coats a desk and a podium. 

ERNST I just want to ask you a couple questions. 

Ernst grabs his shoulder but the SPY turns and throws a punch and runs overturning a podium. He heads down another hall.  Ernst follows. The spy turns and lunges. The two begin fighting in the dressing room.         

ERNST Who robbed the Museum!?

They struggle landing in the dress rack.         

ERNST They stole a sarcophagus, who was it?

28

29 of 117

A kick separates them scattering a table of cosmetics.  

ERNST I’m not going to harm you they have my Son. 

The spy overturns a small cabinet and runs out another exit  as Ernst grabs him. They whirl through the curtains onto the stage.

INT. ONSTAGE WITH THE CAN CAN

The two exchange punches causing them to reel back and forth behind the dancers. The spy tries to flee as Ernst grabs him. They spin as dancers recede behind the two men. The two weave between them. More punches tip the men off balance.

The audience cheers. 

The dancers ignore them and duck the men effortlessly. 

The dancers come forward as others recede. The spy is doubled over by a punch and rushes Ernst pushing him back.

Ernst lifts the spy by the collar. ERNST Who was it?

The spy pushes him away rolling under the curtain.  Ernst searches for him under the curtain.  The can-can separates as the spot light lands on Ernst.  He turns to the audience and smiles.

The dancers close in again.  Ernst turns and leaves under the curtains.

The bartender sees Ernst and leaves the bar to assist.

Ernst runs down a hallway and sees the spy climbing up a Ladder and grabs his legs but is kicked away.  Ernst climbs the ladder. The spy hits him with a chair as he reaches the top.  Ernst grabs his leg and pulls him down.

INT. THE MOUIN

29

30 of 117

Ernst and the spy tumble in the glare of the low sun searing through a small window against the dark frame of the walls.  They are inside the windmill.  It is full of chairs and boxes of paper.  The spy leaps up and tries the window but is pressed against it by Ernst, breaking it.  The spy hangs out of the window.

ERNST Who knocked over the Paris Museum? 

The spy grabs a window blind and presses it against Ernst’s throat pushing him away. The two of them twirl into a pile of chairs. Ernst blasts the Spy with a chair. The spy falls then runs down an adjoining stairwell. Ernst grabs him and the two tumble down the stairs. Smashing through the landing and rolling onto a buffet of plates and cups.  The Can-Can is still loudly covering their activities.

INT. MULOIN RUGE 1ST FLOOR AGAIN

The spy runs searching his way through the layers of curtains and leaps off the stage.  Ernst follows, leaping through the center of the can-can into the audience over a table and into the crowd as the two scramble for the exit.  The Spy passes the bar and looks back to see Ernst politely making his way.  The spy is struck by a whiskey bottle and lands hard on the crowded floor.  Joy holds the broken bottle end.  She is frozen in a moment of disbelief that the vacation has led her to such intrigue. Ernst arrives at the bar.  He eyes his wife who shrugs.  He grabs the spy and questions him. 

ERNST Who was it?   

SPY The General. He robbed the museum. Military types. From Bangkok.  But you’re too late. The train has already left.

ERNST Sorry for the mess Rusty, we need a plane.        

30

31 of 117

RUSTY Well there’s an airfield a couple minutes from here.  I can take you there I know the colonial.

EANST Alright.

EXT. CAR RIDE TO AIRPORT

RUSTY Word is, there was a delegation from Bangkok, a rich general and some shady characters but nothing out of the usual. But what does he want with a Egyptian mummy?

ERNST Beats me. Not easy to sell something like that, even on the black market. It changes hands a few times then somebody gets left holding the bag.        

JOY What do they want with Kit?        

ERNST I don’t know.

EXT. AIRFIELD -AFTERNOON

RUSTY There’s been a robbery at the Paris Museum. Were here to See Colonel Anderson.    AIR GUARD I can’t let you in.    

Rusty shows a military ID.    

AIR GUARD Oh Sorry lieutenant.

(salutes)

EXT. HANGER

31

32 of 117

They exit the car and talk with the hanger guard.

RUSTY Jack I need a plane.  Tell Anderson There was an attack on the Museum.  And they've got a hostage. (shows ID again)

Go!        

HANGER GUARD Yes sir. But the only thing I have with fuel right now is that old Crop-duster.      

ERNST It'll due.

They enter the hanger.

Grabbing headgear and jackets as they walk.

RUSTY You know what you’re doing?

ERNST I’ll be all right. The train runs on the hour we’re not that far behind.  I’ll catch up to them by Leon.  Have somebody there in case we need help.

ERNST Here.. It gets cold up there. 

Ernst wiggles the wing. Rusty bangs on the side of the plane.

RUSTY You got gas.

Ernst looks at the machine gun mount. ERNST Does this work?

Rusty hands him the machine gun for the plane.

32

33 of 117

RUSTY It does now.  Let’s hope you don’t need it.    

Ernst fixes the gun to the plane.

Joy ratchets the gun to readiness.

ERNST Careful with that thing.  You point up! 

JOY Oh.. 

ERNST And don’t hit the wings. 

JOY Right.

Ernst starts the engine and they take off.  Buzzing into the air.

EXT. IN THE AIR

Ernst and Joy pursue the train and find it but are intercepted by three other planes.

ERNST Alright there's the train station. The train departs east.  I'll take it east from here.  The General’s entourage should be easy to spot.   They’ll follow the main roads. Keep your eye out for a couple trucks. I’ll try to get ahead of them.

JOY There.

ERNST Hey what’s this? A plane pulls up alongside. 

33

34 of 117

ERNST Oh We’ve got trouble.

The plane begins shooting.  Ernst dives.

ERNST Hold on.

The other plane dives but they see a second plane as they do.  The pilot grins.  Ernst pulls back and flies his landing gear into the second plane which veers off.  A third plane aligns next to them.  The first plane begins shooting with a machine gun.  Ernst rolls away.

ERNST Ok! Start Shooting!

JOY I am! This thing is stuck!

The second plane draws back and fires making inconsequential holes.  Ernst turns toward the sun and flies low. 

JOY The general’s getting away! 

ERNST I know that!

The three planes follow.  Two begin shooting again.  Ernst Veers as he passes over the river.  He climbs and rolls.  Ernst climbs back and flips the safety.

ERNST Here! Aim up! 

Joy begins shooting at the planes. She is quickly out of bullets. 

JOY I’m out. What we you do now? 

ERNST I don’t know!  I’m winging it,

Hold On!  He narrowly avoids a collision with one two of the planes.

34

35 of 117

He makes a severe roll. The machine gun falls off. A tool box floats up into Joy's arms. The other plane is below. And Wife begins throwing the tools. She chips the propeller of the other plane as its sound changes.  Smoke begins to pour from the engine as the damaged pursuer descends.

ERNST What are you doing?

JOY I’m Winging it!  Look out!

The planes soar into them ripping their upper wing.  Ernst flies lower to evade the pursuers. He runs along the river but the pursuers shoot more.

JOY Woha!  If we make it out of this you’re in big trouble.

ERNST Not now.

Ernst looks ahead. 

JOY Look out!

They pass under a bridge on the seine and lose their top wing. JOY I said look out! 

ERNST I was!

But the pursuer crashes. Ernst and Joy cheer with success. 

BOTH Hooray. Ha haaaa!

But another plane is heading right for them.  Ernst veers over some mansard roofs taking out a weather vane and a clothes line. 

Ernst flies along a busy street, past alley ways, buzzing a café, a flower shop, a small park with a pedestrian and a

35

36 of 117

dog on a leash.  But the other plane is in hot pursuit. The planes fly over a topiary garden in succession. The pursuer fires again.

Ernst pulls upward again over the place de Concorde and down the Champs Islese’.   Ernst flies side to side in the larger street and over the arch de triumph.

Ernst climbs upward.  The other plane follows.  It shoots.

Ernst begins to stall then swoops straight down. The other plane follows, fires more holes in the remaining wing. Ernst continues his long decent and swoops under the Eiffel Tower.

JOY Oh No..  Ohhh!

She closes her Eyes and ducks.  The Parents make it through the Eiffel Arch.  But the last pursuer clips his wing on the tower struggling to maintain stability he lands roughly against the statue d' liberte’. Spinning and flopping to a halt. The parents see this and cheer.

BOTH Yeaa..  Haaaa!!

Earns looks up to heaven and rolls his eyes.  They follow the train again. 

ERNST You all right?

JOY Yea! But you’re in hot water mister.

ERNST Good. We’re not far behind. Keep your Eyes open.  We need to find that train

before dark. 

JOY There is it is !

They fly nearer.

36

37 of 117

ERNST That’s it!  That’s the General’s Train!

They pull up along-side the train. 

JOY Good now what?  

ERNST I’ll take us ahead to the next station!   

They pull away and pass it. But they begin running hot then sputtering.  They are out of gas.  They land in a field.

EXT. PLANE - FARM FIELD -DUSK

Ernst and Joy land in a Farm field.  Ernst must hop over several hey stacks before landing. JOY Look out!  Oh!   Oh!  Oh!

They land.

JOY Nice flying, sailor.        

ERNST They must have got the fuel tank. 

JOY Well fix it.      

ERNST I would but were out all the tools.

JOY Well I had to do something.

ERNST Don’t worry we’ll find them.  We’ll get the next train. I’ll have Singer cable ahead.

37

38 of 117

INT. PARIS CONSULATE

Singer and Ernst make plans.

ERNST If he gets across the border we’ll never find him. 

SINGER Even if we cable ahead they may intercept the communique.  I recommend you take the next train. 

ERNST We’ll stay on his heels.

SINGER I’ve arraigned for you to meet Our man in Bangkok. He should have something for you by the time you arrive. 

ERNST Thanks.

SINGER Oh and Be careful these

fellas are not RAF.

JOY AND ERNST I will. SINGER Oh, you’re not taking the Misses?

JOY (flairs with anger) You listen.

ERNST (pulls her away) Come on Honey we don’t want to be late.  Thank you for your help.

EXT. BANGKOK STATION –LATE MORNING

38

39 of 117

A massive locomotive steams through the Asian jungle toward Bangkok station. It stops and the parents exit. A hot breeze sweeps over them.  The smell of rattan and roasting meat fills the air.  They meet Lieutenant Roderick Codwell II.

LIEUTENANT Mr. Aton?  Mrs. Aton. 

ERNST Hello. 

ERNST Lieutenant Codwell II.  I’m sorry to hear of your predicament.  Let me assure you we will do all we can to find your son.  Come with me.  I’ve arraigned a meeting with a local art dealer.  If anything has come in he should know about it.  Fella by the name of Saurus.

ERNST Galen Saurus?

LIEUTENANT Why yes.

ERNST Attended Oxford a couple years deals in black market antiquities, mostly fakes.  Published some theories about Pre Mesopotamian Astrology being the root of Egyptian Ontology.        

LIEUTENANT If the Sarcophagus is here he should know. ERNST Actually, It’s not a Sarcophagus but the inner Burial Cask. It holds the Mummy.        

LIEUTENANT yes. Right. We had better go.

39

40 of 117

EXT. SAURUS ESTATE

Ernst and Ltnt. Roderric Codwel II Investigate a Local Art Dealer by the name Of Galen Darian Saurus. The lush vegetation does not conceal the sizable two story estate. They pull into the circle and knock.  A butler answers.  They find Saurus in his ‘Aviary’ of stuffed birds, among jars of deformed fetuses and two headed animals.

LIEUTENANT How do you do I’m lieutenant Codwell and this is Mr & Mrs Aton we are here to speak with Mr. Saurus.      

BUTLER Right this way.        

INT. SAURUS ESTATE    

SARUS Ah, Mr Aton. 

ERNST Hello Galen. 

SAURS and..

LIEUTENANT Codwell, Lieutenant Codwell the second.  

SARUS What a pleasant surprise. I’m sorry for your misfortune. How can I help?        

LIEUTENANT We’re looking for a Sarcophagus which went missing from the Paris Museum along with a young man.  What can you tell us about it?    ERNST A burial cask, early middle kingdom, contains the remains of

40

41 of 117

Mentuhotep II.        

SAURUS Obviously I have no knowledge of it. Why? Are you interested in it?    

ERNST They Have my Son.        

SAURUS I’m sorry. That is very serious.        

LIEUTENANT We understand you deal in artifacts of uncertain origin. We’d like any information you can provide. This would remain strictly confidential.      

SAURUS I only know that a General Twang controls most of the trade in this region. If it were here he would be the most likely front.   If he has them, they would be held at the General’s Warehouse on the river. And you Mr. Aton, have you uncovered any artifacts of uncertain origin?    

ERNST I sell to museums, Galen.        

SAURUS Of course you do.(tea arrives) Gentlemen I wish you the best of luck.

INT. Codwell’S OFFICE -DAY

Parents and Codwell discuss the situation over tea -without sitting down.

LIEUTENANT Of course we’ve been monitoring him for some time.

41

42 of 117

ERNST He’s dirty.

LIEUTENANT I think we agree. ERNST What happened to the Generals train were you able to spot anything?         

LIEUTENANT I’m afraid not.  He may have used another route in to the city.

ERNST I’ll need a look at that warehouse.

LIEUTENANT I understand.  But you see things here are somewhat complicated.  

JOY Can’t you just search the warehouse?

ERNST Our treaties are somewhat tenuous. Repercussions could be serious. The General controls most of the business in town. His men are very loyal.

JOY So where is my Son?

LIEUTENANT I’m afraid the General has little to fear here. I recommend caution.  I am somewhat limited in what I can do.  However if you were to pay him, a visit.        

ERNST I understand.     

42

43 of 117

JOY So you can’t just search the place.        

LIEUTENANT I’m afraid that might start a civil war. And it would not be advantageous. But I can help you with logistics.     

ERNST(sarcastic)

Great.       LIEUTENANT I understand your concern. I will do what I can from here. The General’s Warehouse is here. Best access is going to be from the alley here.  We’ll have men here and here.  But I’m afraid we will be of little help against the General’s men should things so rotten.         

ERNST The whole thing’s rotten.       

LIEUTENANT Yes it is. But we’re behind you.  And we’ll be close by.

ERNST Thank you for your help. Let’s hope I don’t have to come calling. 

LIEUTENANT Good I’ll brief the men.  God speed.

ERNST Thanks.

EXT/INT. BANGKOK WAREHOUSE

The Parents case the warehouse. The father quietly enters the warehouse and finds the sarcophagus.  But a curtain

43

44 of 117

draws away and behind it are two soldiers with machineguns. Ernst waves and smiles.  He tips the sarcophagus toward the men and runs across a long well-appointed table which is diced by gunfire. He slides and rolls off behind a crate which is blistering from shots.  He runs behind a large vase which breaks away under fire.  The gunmen advance. Ernst climbs up the crates and pushes them over toward the gunmen.  He swings from the chandler over them and runs through the narrow isle between more crates. He quietly spies the gunmen splitting-up to corner him. Ernst is trapped in a short isle of crates. He throws a goblet in one direction then waves to one gunman at the other end. He turns back, placing his hat on a statue. A moment later the two gunmen open fire from opposite directions on the wobbling statue with the hat. Ernst rolls over from atop the boxes looking back down at the vanquished gunmen. 

Ernst crawls over the crates and through a window. He sees two more men running to the warehouse. He drops to an interior court yard then slips down the opposite hall fighting another guard along the way. He comes to a small front courtyard. The door reveals a gate. He is trapped and the machinegun he took from the guard in the hall is useless because they are behind him now. On the other side of the gate soldiers hold his wife.

INT. GENERAL'S OFFICE

Ernst and Joy are taken to a second location and questioned by the general. They are reunited and do family introductions with the Pastry Girl. Husband and wife argue that they would be invaluable if the general is seeking artifacts. 

GENERAL'S AID Here they are sir. We caught them trying to steal the sarcophagus.

GENERAL You are accused of very serious crime. What do you have to say for yourselves?

ERNST That Sarcophagus is stolen. It belongs to the Paris museum and Were not the only ones who know about it.

44

45 of 117

We’re willing to make you a deal. Hand it over to the museum and I can arrange a fee, no questions asked.

GENERAL Tempting Offer. But you are in no position to negotiate.

ERNST Oh, well if you plan to sell it. You'll need someone who can verify it. We're experts. We can guarantee its authenticity. We can draft a provenance, a detailed history, for a small fee of course.

GENERAL Ah but I already have experts. Where are my two experts?

GENERAL'S AID Bring them in.

KIT Stop your pushing. You really have a problem you know that?

ERNST Kit

JOY You're all right.

KIT You see I told you my father'd come form me.

GENERAL You know these people?

KIT Who them? Yea. You're in trouble now. Cause, tell em. Go on. Let em’ have it.

ERNST These are no experts. That's my

45

46 of 117

son. And... uhh

KIT Oh uh.. mom dad this is...

ANDELECE Andelece.

ERNST Oh hello. JOY I'm his mother. It's nice to meet you.

ERNST It's a pleasure.

GENERAL I am not interested in introduction! Now I have four experts. I don't need four experts!

KIT Oh see that's where you're wrong. He's Really smart with old stuff you know. And she's really good with cultures. See that's in addition to us. We are different experts. You know, writings and wood. Things made of wood. Whatever you need exerts for, that's all of us. That's what we do. They're invaluable. Invaluable to our work.

GENERAL Silence! You are all different Experts?

KIT Yea that's right.

ERNST Well..

JOY

46

47 of 117

Basically. Yea. Yea So what do You want?

GENERAL Put them away, we sort this our later.

KIT Hey just watch it. I told you before.

ANDELCE Ceci est votre famille? (This is your family?)

KIT (embarrassed)

Yea.

ADELECE They seem, nice.

KIT Thanks.

EXT. STEAMER ON A TROPICAL RIVER DAY

A small steamer chugs up a tropical river. Steep valley walls rise on either side. A thick humid mist lays on the water. The first mate leaves a bowl of slop and a loaf of bread. The four captives are resolute in their plan to wait for an opportunity to escape.

ERNST I figure were about half way up the Mi-jang. But I can’t be sure.

KIT I can do it.  I’ll swim to shore and get help.  

ERNST You'll get shot and ruin a nice vacation. The whole trip will be for nothing. Besides the water’s teaming with those.  (Kimono dragons) And when there’s a lot of

47

48 of 117

em, you can bet they’re hungry. We’ll hold tight until there’s an opportunity. 

JOY Can you at least give us some idea where you’re taking us?

CAPTAIN You’re in no position to ask.      

KIT I’m telling you I can take them.

ERNST Settle down.  We’ll need our strength wherever were going. They’re up so something. Maybe something valuable.  JOY Oh That’s just like you.  Always thinking of material gain.    

ERNST Yea and were gona need it if we don’t recover that pharaoh.      

JOY Can you tell us how much longer?  

ERNST Don’t bother. Look.

Though the mist they see it. The Giant Buddha. The statue is carved into the cliff face and rises ten stories above them.

ERNST It’s supposed to be a legend.  The men must have uncovered it from the undergrowth.

EXT. GIANT BUDDHA DOCK

At the dock there is a flurry of activity. Men prepare scaffolding and ropes in the oppressive heat. The family de-boards at gun point, through the crowded new dock. The

48

49 of 117

family meets their captor, the rich Collector from Bangkok!

SAURUS Ah Good.  They are all in one piece.  Excellent.  Mr. Aton it’s so nice to see you again.  I hope your trip was pleasant.  I see you have found your Son. 

ERNST You don’t need the kids Saurus.   Let them go.

SAURUS I’m afraid I cannot do that.  You see it was a fortunate mistake finding them.   The men thought they were kidnaping you. But there is so much to discuss after you locate the secret temple.    

ERNST I don’t know what you’re talking about.  SAURUS The Secret Temple of Indra. Surly you have read the myths. The early Mithrians worshiped their sun god in caves.  And time does not forget such things.

ERNST What does that have to do with a Hindu deity?   

SAURUS The future is always built atop of the past, Mr. Aton.  I believe this statue conceals something very unique. And you are going to find it for me.

ERNST You already found the statue.  Why don’t you quit while your ahead?

49

50 of 117

SAURUS Ah but I neither sell it nor take it with me.         

ERNST Then write a book.        

SAURUS Ha ha.  No, I want that the statue conceals. That is where you come in. Take them. (the children)    

JOY No..

ERNST No.. (struggle, guns a-ready.)     Alright I’ll do what you ask, just don’t hurt them.        

SAURUS Always a reasonable man.

The party proceeds to the statue.

KIT (quietly) We’ll take em. When we get to the top, we’ll take em.

ERNST (quietly) Slow down.  First, let’s see if there’s anything in it for us. KIT I have to get in to that?      

SAURUS I’m afraid so.    

ERNST Just do what he says.

SAURUS (to guard) If he moves, shoot him.

50

51 of 117

They are forced to climb high in the rickety lift then repel onto the face of the great sculpture to find to find the Secret Temple of Indra. ERNST If there’s an earlier temple on this site then it’s probably accessed through the upper chakra. 

KIT Huh? 

ERNST The head. Early sun worshipers held their initiations underground.  Probably for safety. But they’d have to leave an air hole. If it’s out there I’ll find it.  Have your men throw down some ropes.

WORKMAN churlee shuo ! (ropes here!)

The men throw down two ropes. Ernst ties the other ends to the scaffold and tests them. The sweat drips from his brow. He hands one rope to the Son.

KIT Oh no. This’s not good for me.      

ERNST What’s a matter?    

KIT This is your line of work. I’m not good with falling.

Ernst grabs the rope tightly Wrapping it around his arm.    

WIFE No!   ERNST It’s alright. Well get to the bottom of this.

51

52 of 117

He steps to the edge preparing to swing across.

ANDELECE (gasp) 

ERNST Sorry.    

Ernst swings across. He finds nothing in the upper head. Then he traverses and lowers himself to the face.  The massive eye.  The nose.  The rope dislodges some rocks at the top.  He falls inches. 

ANDELECE (Scream)

JOY I can’t look.

The rope holds. He lowers himself again and walks precariously across the chin. He clears a hand hold and finds a snake in a ledge just at eye level. He rolls away in revulsion.  He resists his fear and swats it off the ledge.  He tries to see if any more remain.  Then he repels across the cheek to the ear on the near side.  Then the far side.

He moves a large rock then stands on a ledge. There is just enough room to turn a stone and slip in.

ERNST I found it!  Have your men lower the scaffolding!

He crouches inside the Ear of the giant statue.

EXT/INT. GIANT BUDDAH CAVE ENTRANCE DAY

The workmen bring scaffolding (establishing shot music) The family is forced to enter the giant Buddha, followed by the villains. Inside they can stand. There are bats covering the ceiling. A guard disturbs them.

The Father shouts “Duck”. Bats swarm out of the cave.   

ERNST

52

53 of 117

Duck.

OTHERS(9 sec)

Oh! Ahhh! Ahhh!  Ahhhhhhhhh!  ERNST They’re just bats. 

INT. CAVE TEMPLE

Ernst and family enter. The workmen bring in a table, lights and equipment.  The rich collector enters. He is accompanied by a Kidnapped Gypsy, a Blind Sketch Artist and a Technical Person who arranges various psychic ephemera.  

ERNST Looks pre vedic, a temple to Mithra.  But this looks like a statue of sache and Indra her husband.  First kingdom maybe older.        

SAURUS Much older if I am correct. You should be happy to know you have discovered the secret temple of Indra.

ERNST It predates the others by centuries.        

SAURUS By a thousand years Mr Aton. As you see this temple its self was built upon a temple of Mithra before it. 

ERNST The Eye.  He’s right.    

SAURUS You are all so very lucky to participate in my discovery.

ERNST

53

54 of 117

All right you found your temple now let us go.        

SAURUS Oh but we are just beginning.   Asia is full of temples.  I am seeking something more illuminating. This temple holds the memory of the origin. The eternal city.  ERNST Eternal city?

SAURUS Surly you have heard of the legend of Shambala.        

ERNST According to the Vedas. It’s where the last incarnation of Buddah will rule forever.

SAURUS You have done your homework.   The legend recalls that 150 years after his death, an image of the Buddha visited king Manjuśrīkīrti  while on an excursion in the south of India. There he instructed him on the path to enlightenment. He named his kingdom after the teachings. He called it Shambala.   I am seeking that original city.  The true Shambala.

ERNST Your insane. Shambala is a myth. A spiritual city. A city of the mind. Explorers have scoured the Himalayas for thousands of years and found nothing. 

SAURUS Oh but the ancient texts agree with me.  From Adam and eve to the Kalachakra Tantra.  From Hinduism

54

55 of 117

to Buddhism, Mr. Aton. Even the old testament records the lost Eden.  

ERNST Those writings have a thousand meanings.    

SAURUS Ah yes, but a common origin.  An ancient city.  And I am going to find it.

Work men have installed table and chairs and gear. The sarcophagus is carried in with a pole and two ropes. An assistant starts the arch generator and smoke vessel. The Séance begins. But Ernst secretly unties the rope. SAURUS Good. Leave us.  Now that we are all assembled. I am sure you want to know what you are doing here.

KIT Yea what is all this?

SAURUS Archeology is such a tattered science. So little remains of the past. So I plan to contact the dead to uncover the truth. Think of the impact on a world at war to find the ancient Eden.  Have you ever participated in a séance Mr. Aton?        

ERNST Hocus pocus parlor tricks. You’re out of your mind.        

SAURUS Am I?  Here, we have already found the secret temple of Indra by your own admission.  Built upon the ruins of an older Mithran cave,  built by ancients to mark the path we must follow.  But forgive

55

56 of 117

my manners, let me introduce you to Dr. Sawgunoff, who’s work I think you will find most enlightening.  He will assist Mrs. Beenalova. Her powers have already yielded much success.  And this is Mr. Tendow his special skill is to record what we cannot see.  I trust you are already acquainted with the Pharaoh who was so kind to lend his abode. The ancients knew the answers we seek. And you, my young friend, are going to tell us.      

KIT You can forget it. I’m not going to tell you anything. You’re wasting your time. SAURUS I would not be so sure. This relic before you was chosen for a purpose.  Perhaps you are aware that it bears a curse which insures that we will be fruitful in our endeavor.  I must warn you it is a curse of death, upon the untruthful.  The Pharaohs of the middle kingdom were strict in their worship and law.

KIT You can go ahead but I’m not saying anything.

ERNST You want to find the city of a future Buddha?

SAURUS According to the kalichacra. Yes  And here we are in the great future Buddha they constructed to mark the trail.  

ERNST The Future Buddha. That could mean

56

57 of 117

anything, Christ, Mohamed or even Lau Tsu.  Your grasping at straws.

SAURUS Am I? We shall soon find out. Our work requires someone with a detailed knowledge of ancient history.  Which I have. 

ERNST You’ve got me, so let the others go.  

SAURUS Oh but they have a connection to you which will aid in our work.  I'm told someone of relative youth.  The appearance of your son and his acquaintance was simply my good fortune. Their youth will enhance the connection as well.  Doctor if you will.

The lights dim and the séance begins. MRS BEENALOVA Yes, we begin.

KIT What connection?

MRS BEENALOVA Forces of darkness. Mystery.  Mystery. Forces eternal.  Rise.  Rise.

SAURUS We appeal to you here shielded from your great eye in the eternal darkness beneath the earth. In all your incarnations.  Great Eye.  We call upon you.  Reveal. Reveal.

MRS BEENALOVA From Death Reveal.  Reveal. Reveal the ancient Shamballa.  Keeper of the secrets. (She lurches)  Place your hands upon the ancient

57

58 of 117

body.  uhhhhhhhhhhhAhhhhhh!

ERNST Go on, just do what they say.

Crackling arc generator. Kit’s eyes grow heavy.

SON It’s nothing. I’m fine. 

SAURUS Tell me way to the ancient Shambala.

Crackle wizzzzz!  The son lerches.

KIT Oh is that all you got.  It’s nothing. I’m having a party. I’m not saying anything. You'll never make it across the gate.

MRS. BEENALOVA Where?  Where is it? Where is the ancient gate? Tell us the way?

KIT Uh Uh. mm. no I’m thinking of nothing.  Nothing.  You can forget it.  I’m clearing my mind. MRS. BEENALOVA Lead us to the gate of shambala!

Crackle sizzle.. pop pop Wizzz..! Shreeek!

KIT Ahhhh!  Ahhhhh!  No.  No.  I don’t know. Aghhh..

Enter smoke and mirrors

The séance gets freaky. The thereon monitor and electric arc enricher begin shrieking and crackling wildly at the appearance of the image in the smoke retention vessel.  The shocked Son feels the curse. His veins throb. He breaks and tells the father various trivial white lies he had kept from

58

59 of 117

him earlier.

KIT Uuuhhhh  Ahh! Oh I said I was Studying, all night at school and we had a big exam, but I just wanted the car so I could go out drinking with my friends.  All night.  Just drinking, with my friends. I was wrong. There I said it.  I just want to get that off my chest, ok?.. I’m fine. Nothing. You're getting nothing.

MRS.BEENALOVA Reveal.  Reveal.

KIT Ahhhh..  Ahh! I shirk on my chores. You know. I put the lawn clippings into Mr. Wilk’s garbage.  Alright? There. I’m a garbage poacher. Ok?

MRS. BEENALOVA More.. more..

KIT Ahhhhh Ahh! Naaah I broke the window in the den.  We were doing a stupid stunt with a bat. I’m an idiot. I’m sorry.  It cost you 2 dollars and fourteen cents and I’m sorry. Ahhh! No! I’m not telling you anything.  You’ll have to find somebody else. Uhhhhh! Ahhh! Mmm!. MRS.BEENALOVA Lead us. Lead us. Oh great one.  Lead us to the Shambala.

Then it gets scarier. The son’s face darkens with veins. He is near death. JOY Stop! 

ERNST Saurus! 

59

60 of 117

JOY Your Killing him.

Kit becomes possessed.  He mumbles strange things.  The gypsy interprets. The proceedings reveal they cannot enter Shamballa without the “qutara”- a golden sword.  The blind sketch artist confirms.

KIT (Mumbo jumbo…)

MRS.BEENALOVA The way you cannot go. Sealed by fire. Prison of darkness. The Qutara, The Qutara. Sword of fate. Only with the Qutara shall any pass.

ERNST That translation is closer to sword of fire. But it could mean sword of death or truth.  You’ve got what you want.  Now Let him go!

The villain presses for more information.

SAURUS The Qutara. Tell us how. How do we find the Qutara?  Where is it?

MRS.BEENALOVA The Qutara is forever hidden without the sacred words.

SAURUS And what are they? Tell us the incantation. What is it? Reveal to us the Qutara! KIT (Repeating) Ny hery Mahery... ('the force is strong' in malagasey)

60

61 of 117

The possessed Son begins toppling objects, chanting in an unknown language. Ernst rushes the guards. The lights go out, sparks fly and a small fire is begun. Shots light the cave. Father rushes one of the guards. The participants begin fighting, ducking, hiding.

The Son grabs a stone sword from a Shiva sculpture. He swings it wildly yelling, panting, chanting. It is covered in clay which begins to break away. It glistens freakishly. Kit wields it back and forth. It bumps the wall and blasts the cliff-side out and a guard with it.  The son regains his senses.  He is shocked.  The sword is crawling with moving flame engravings.  He drops the blade. 

Light streams in from the gaping hole in the cave.

The fight continues. Guns are kicked, punches are thrown, lamps overturned, hopping across tables, ducking, crawling, punching, guns sliding on the floor. A table leg is swung.

JOY grabs a stick of dynamite and lights it on an overturned lamp fire.  She grins intently at her triumph.

Everyone Stops. 

Reality sets in and she yells Run!  She throws the stick.  The family runs into the cave. The villains jump to the scaffolding.  The blast explodes.

   SAURUS Find them! Bring the crane! Go, Go! INT. TEMPLE CAVERNS

The Carved walls of the cave branch in many directions.  Ernst Stops in a moment of indecision then takes one.

(CUT AWAY) Men follow into the cave.

SAURUS Lower the scaffold!

INT. TEMPLE CAVERN CONT.

The Family races around obstacles and through the half glow. There is a massive spider web. Water runs into a deep hole

61

62 of 117

they must step around to cross. Some villains fall in.

Family reaches the end of the tunnel overlooking the river. Father pushes stones away revealing the light. KIT Woa,

ERNST It’s too high to jump. Stay back.

They see men running in through the missing temple wall. Father throws a stick of dynamite into the opening. Stone and scaffolding break away. Men scream and fall away and leap from the opening to the scaffolding.  The blast throws the family to the edge. A billow of smoke puffs out from behind them. Ernst helps some of the family members. They are spotted. Men open fire. The family crawls back inside.

Father throws a stick of dynamite at shooters below. The men are lowering the lift. Father grabs a rope from the collapsed scaffold and swings toward the Buddha landing on the lift. There is more shooting. He lodges a stick of dynamite and swings back. The lift blows up, causing it to fall crashing onto the rocks below, scattering the shooters.

From a scaffold Saurus directs the general to the family. The General directs a large gun at the cliff face. Father loosens a large rock which falls taking out more men. The Family turns back. The General’s aim widens the opening after they leave.

The family returns to the deep hole with water flowing in. But there are more men and they duke it out.  Knocking out one, then another falls into the hole. But instead of crossing the hole, the Family takes another path. Then there is another split. The Father stops and lights his zippo.  He sees which way it blows.

ERNST Come on this way. 

The family runs run as flashlights and voices follow in the labyrinth. They pause to hear them. There is a room of stalagmites, a room of stalactites. They run up a raised tunnel and enter a large rocky area. Bones litter the floor.  They proceed cautiously through the piles of bones.

62

63 of 117

A white tiger appears from the darkness on a large rock snarling. The Hero bends the length of cord like snake and stings the beast the nose. He whips again. It snarls.

ERNST Stand Still.  Don’t look at him. The pursuers arrive.  They grin at the situation.  Then they turn their guns from the family to the tiger. Ernst yells.

ERNST No! Don’t fire! You’ll frighten it.

The beast snarls loudly. But they shoot and the Tiger attacks the shooters as the family escapes.

ERNST That tiger means there’s another exit.

Ernst spies more bats near one direction.  Quieting the group he points. They go that way. There are smaller stalactites. The Family finds a room with a hole in the ceiling.  They hear more shooting and screaming from the caves. Father climbs up through the leaves of the forest into the tangled jungle.  He helps the family through. They start off through the leafy groundcover. EXT. DAPPLED JUNGLE DAY

The Family walks through a small tree filled glen. It is a kimono dragon den. They are cornered.  They run across the stream rocks as Ernst whips the Dragons on either side. They press their way through the jungle and see the upper villain encampment. EXT. VILLAIN UPPER ENCAMPMENT

Ernst leaves the family in the tree line and runs across The clearing to steal a truck.  He punches a guard, pulls other out of a truck, jumps in and rams into the other truck pushing it over the edge of the cliff. Villains begin shooting, a villain climbs in. They fight as the truck spins close to the cliff, then Ernst kicks him out. He hits another with the truck door while turning around Then he rear-ends the crane, which falls into the building. The building

63

64 of 117

explodes from some just-damaged gas barrels. Ernst picks up the family near the edge of the wood. They Speed off.  But a third truck was just returning. The returning truck picks up four monks who have cudgels with long blades on either end. They speed after the family.                               JOY Think you made them mad enough?                              ERNST I wasn’t thinking about protocol.

                              JOY                      (looking back) Well you better start.

The villains follow and twirl razor sharp cudgels atop the truck. They ram the truck, push and shove. The long sharp cudgels slash the canvas of the truck frightening the Kids who are in back. The kids fight back with bits of lumber.

ERNST Take the wheel!

JOY What?  Oh!

Two monks jump onto the truck and man the doors. Ernst opens his door throwing off one. More are on the top of the truck stabbing at the kids through the canvas. The kids reel side to side. The other

monk is at Joy’s door. Ernst bumps into the other truck crushing the other monk and throwing the stabbers to the other truck.

But one monk remains and stabs the cab! Ernst slips out the door and climbs up on the truck. The cudgel is stuck! He punches the guy off and removes the cudgel.

But the other truck rams back! And two more monks step onto the canvas. Ernst punches one and kicks the other off. Joy is annoyed and rams back. As Ernst stands he is thrown to the other truck! And three more monks have climbed on top.

A monk swings at Ernst with a sharp cudgel. Ernst ducks and jumps. The trucks collide. The trucks collide again and they are

64

65 of 117

now all on Ernst’s truck!

Ernst ducks and spins one as the others reels back. Ernst punches him and he falls away hanging on his pole between the two trucks. The Kids poke at him with lumber.

Ernst now has a cudgel. The other villain jumps off the truck. Ernst runs across The stuck pole to take the other truck but two more villains climb on the other truck. He swings clashing with the other villains.

The villains chop the blade off the end of Ernst’s cudgel. Ernst is cornered over the cab. They chop the other end off. Ernst throws the stub at the two monks who wince.

Ernst rushes them. They struggle getting over him. They stab at him as he lays on the top of the truck. Ernst kicks back the monk hanging on the stuck pole who falls back and hangs on the pole again. Ernst ducks side to side as they stab at him. He grabs the two cudgels. The villains pull. This elevates Ernst. He punches one and kicks the other. The kicked villain loses his balance and falls. Ernst struggles with the last villain. They struggle over the cudgel. He punches. The cudgel is lost. They lock. They roll back and forth on the villain truck and fall off. The villain falls away but Ernst is now hanging on the pole between the two trucks.

He punches the villain hanging on the pole.  He punches Again the villain falls away.  The trucks separate. Ernst hangs by the hooked pole. He climbs on the villain truck removing the driver and steers the truck back toward the other and climbs back over to drive again. The other truck tumbles away into a ditch.

But before he can get in the cab, a third truck arrives with the same configuration of crazed monks whirling cudgels. Ernst exhausted to fight them. He hangs outside the door. He raps on the window signaling to roll it down. Joy acquiesces Ernst steers across the road and takes the other lane. As the monks pulls up, he smiles and waves hello then veers pushing them into the rice paddy. Splashhhhhhhh. The monks are stuck. Ernst climbs back into the cab with the family.

INT. TRUCK (OPEN CAB TO REAR)

                    ANDELECE

65

66 of 117

Mon Dieu!

KIT Are you alright?

ERNST           Were fine.

               JOY Your father just wanted to show us a good time.

ERNST What were you doing back there?

JOY Defensive driving!

KIT That sword in the cave looked really valuable.

ERNST Yea It’s the Qutara according to that psychic.

KIT I had it right in my hand.

ERNST The sword would have brought a good price but it won’t pay for the sarcophagus we lost in the explosion.

KIT That was no explosion, that was the sword with some kind of magic power. It blasted those men out of the cave. 

ERNST I don’t know what you saw, But That was dynamite kid.  And right now were out the cost of the trip and the goods too. 

KIT

66

67 of 117

Yea.

ERNST That’s just not how it works in this business; I’m going to have to go get it back. 

The Family protests vehemently.

FAMILY No… / Absolutely not… / Oh no way…  Meard”. 

ERNST ! I didn’t say I was dumb enough to go up against the General and his men to get it ! FAMILY Well then how are you..? / Then it’s impossible./  Mais alors comment allez-vous faire cela? qu'il est impossible?” (Mais qu'est-ce donc?)

ERNST ! No, I plan to use my head! I’m going to have to see an old friend.

The truck drives into the distance.

EXT/INT. INDIA MAHARAJA’S PALACE --MID DAY

Knowing only that the rich villain was trying to find “The Gate of Shambala”, Father consults the Raj in Delhi. There are farm protests and festivals.

ERNST Ernst Aton a friend of his highness.      

ROYAL ATTENDANT Come this way.

JOY Oh look at this. It’s so.      

67

68 of 117

KIT This guy does pretty good for himself.        

JOY Oh I like your tiara. That’s a beautiful sari.

ROYAL ATTENDANT The others will wait here.  

KIT Yea fine.  You want a drink of water? Is this a drinking fountain?

The Father is admitted while the others are entertained.  He enters the inner palace like Moses parting the red sea. He and the Raj share old times and the amazing artifact he once recovered for him.  The intrigued Raj makes him an offer. ROYAL ATTENDANT Ernst Aton Antiquities

RAJ Mr. Aton.        

ERNST Your Highness.        

RAJ You may step forward. Ernst.  

ERNST Dale.    

RAJ How have you been?    

ERNST Oh you know. Ups and downs.      

RAJ It’s good to see you. How long has it been?      

ERNST

68

69 of 117

Too long.        

RAJ Yes it has.  I wish to tell you how grateful I am for your help.  Thank you.  The stone is a treasured part of our history. 

ERNST Thank you, your highness. 

RAJ Do you want to see it. 

ERNST May I?    

RAJ Please. (leaning forward to show the stone in his turban) ERNST (leaning forward to see it) There is none finer in all the world. 

RAJ I think so.

ERNST You have good taste.    

RAJ I am indebted to you for recovering it.  So what brings you to India? 

ERNST A quest, your highness.  A quest for enlightenment.      

RAJ Ah now I am intrigued. Go on. 

ERNST We just uncovered a cave in Leshan with a Temple of Indra. There was

69

70 of 117

a sword called a Qutara. It’s linked to an ancient legend. A Gate of Shambala.  We need to find the ancient myth that tells the way to it.  I hoped perhaps your highness would have some record of it in the ancient manuscripts. 

RAJ Shambala I have heard of.  But this sword I do not know.

ERNST It’s some kind of key to open the gate.    

RAJ Well my friend I have not forgotten our rugby matches. My libraries are open to you.  You will tell me the outcome? 

ERNT I will. 

RAJ And, if you are successful, there will be an expedition?  ERNST Yes.    

RAJ Then I will supply all you need for the expedition. (raises a finger a footman bows)        

ERNST You won’t regret it.

They shake then hug.

RAJ Take care my friend.  

INT. ROYAL LBRARY --DAY

70

71 of 117

Ernst is accompanied to the library by one of the Raj’s men.  They find the books but one is missing.

ROYAL ATTENDANT By his excellence the Maharajah.

LIBRARIAN Enter.  How may I assist you.

ERNST I’m looking for the Gate of Shambala.

LIBRARIAN You may want the Bhagavad-Gita, It has a reference to the city of Shambala.  Here are the Upanishads.  And various prophesies.

ERNST There is a volume missing? 

LIBRARIAN Oh. That book is not kept here. It is kept by the Yogi, fara-sadra-nanda. (solemn and quiet)

ERNST How do I find him?

LIBRARIAN He has the villa a mile from the palace near the city.     ERNST Thank you.

INT. RETURN TO OUTER PALACE --EARLY AFTERNOON

Ernst goes through the big doors again.

INT. PALACE OUTER CHAMBERS --EARLY AFTERNOON

The ladies are dolled up in eastern dress.  The Son is fed canapés which he picks over.

71

72 of 117

ERNST We’ve got access to the royal library.        

KIT Oh.        

ERNST Don’t yawn kid. The archives have been closed to all but the royal family for centuries.        

KIT Yea ok. It’s a big honor. I’m with ya. 

ERNST Where’s your mother?  Joy. Look at you.  

KIT I hope your happy. 

JOY Delighted.

ERNST Not planning on staying are you? 

JOY I considered it.

ERNST I bet you did.  Come on.  You’ll fit right in.

EXT/INT. THE YOGI RESIDENCE –DAY

They arrive at the Yogi residence.   ERNST We need to speak with his holiness the Yogi. 

YOGI AID This way. 

ERNST

72

73 of 117

Your grace, We seek the prophesy of the Gate of Shambala. 

YOGI Shambala.  How do you come to be on such a quest? 

ERNST We have found a temple of Indra and an object called the Qutara.  A sword with power to open the Gate Shambala.

YOGI Do you have the sword?

ERNST No.

YOGI (laughing) Then you will need much help. What can I do? 

ERNST We need to know the route to Shambala.

YOGI Ah.. that is in the book of prophesies. But I do not have it. 

ERNST Who does?

YOGI The swami.  You must see the swami, One mile toward town near the square. 

ERNST Thank you. (makes a small donation) EXT. STREETS --DAY

ERNST

73

74 of 117

We’ve got to find that book. We need to know exactly what that legend says. The swami should be able to translate.

EXT/INT. SWAMI RESIDENCE --DAY

The swami lives near a busy square. There is a large protest and numerous religious events. The Swami tells the myth of how to find the mythical Shambala.

ERNST We are here to see the Swami.

AID What is this concerning?

ERNST He has a book from the Yogi.  It's part of the Maharaja's collections.  We need to see it.  and ask his help in the translation.

AID Come this way.  (he whispers to swami) 

SWAMI ah travelers.  I am blessed.  How may I help you?

ERNST We need to know the legend of the route to Shambala.  His holiness the Yogi tells us you have a book of prophesies.

SWAMI Yes this is true. In the seventh century the wife of the third yogi wrote an epic poem.

ERNST Can you tell us what it says about the route to Shambala?

74

75 of 117

SWAMI Yes. But I should also tell you no one has ever found it.  The monks believe it is located in Tibet. SWAMI It is here.  The passage reads East from the face of the great river, through the river of the serpent.  And onto the mountain of light.   

ERNST That's it?

SWAMI I am afraid so.

ERNST Thank you for your time your excellency.

Ernst makes a donation. 

SWAMI Your generosity is blessed.   The streets are very busy.  Please take the rear exit for your safety.

EXT. SWAMI RESIDENCE REAR – TOWN CENTER --DAY

The family exits and discusses the matter.  But they are Overheard.

JOY So what does all this mean? East from the great river?

KIT Yea I think he was playing us.  River of the serpent.  Mountain of light.  That could mean anything.

ERNST We have a long trip ahead.  According to legend, xa-in-gala was somewhere in eastern India. But that sword was Assyrian or early

75

76 of 117

Mesopotamian. They’re not talking about the Ganges. They’re talking about the tigress river. It’s not Sha-im-bala, its Ka-ding-arra.    Ancient Babylon.  We’ll depart from Bagdad. 

KIT This gives us an advantage!  We’ll beat Sarus to the site! ERNST It's Saurus's men!  This way!  We'll lose them in the square.

The family flees toward the commotion. The streets are full of protesters. The family climbs a platform in the square to see which way to go.

ERNST Up here. (beat) That swami double crossed us!.

THE CROWDS Yea!!

ERNST (turning to the crowds) No not you.

THE CROWDS No!! 

He motions for them to quiet down but the crowd imitates him and begins chanting.

THE CROWDS Mayhee, Mayhee, Mayhee. (no …)

ERNST No!

THE CROWDS Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

The crowd cheers and a riot breaks out.  

76

77 of 117

ERNST No No No.. Come on!

The family runs as commotion overwhelms the square. The streets are filled with chaos. The henchmen grab the pastry girl and get punched.

KIT Look out!

ANDELECE (Scream) Ahhh! 

Thwalp. Pow.

The family runs to another platform then jumps onto some horsemen.   ERNST This way. Up here.  We'll be safe at the palace. We need to get to the other side. 

ANDELECE Oh non. Regarde!

ERNST Come on!

But the crowds are too dense and the family must climb over horses then trucks and carried shrines. Some of the occupants complain, others, carrying the shrine cheer.

The family flees down an alley. But the crowds are blocking the other end. There are three snake charmers’. The Father grabs an oboe and throws the cobras at the villains who scream.

The Family climbs upon a retaining wall and runs along it.  They descend to a less dense area and run through the crowd. 

INT. BUILDING WITH BALCONY --DAY

The family hides in a building but fighting bursts in.  So they run to the second floor.  From the inner balcony they see the villains follow. The family runs to the outer balcony.

77

78 of 117

The Family must leap onto gigantic elephant gondolas (howdahs). They climb inside to hide. But the villains jump into more passing gondolas.

ERNST Over here. Jump!  Go.

JOY They are so majestic.

ERNST Not Now Joy. Jump!

JOY (Scream)

EXT. ATOP ELPHANTS  --DAY

The family rides three elephants in the dense crowds the young elephant guides flee in fright. The family is followed by villains in elephants. ERNST Stay there I’ll.. I’m come to you !

JOY Aton I hope you know what your doing!

Ernst is overtaken first.  The villain jumps Ernst. They fight and Ernst throws him off.

A second Villain attacks. Ernst Dispatches that villain.

The other villains are gaining on the family.

Ernst lags all.  The brawling crowds are throwing things. Ernst finds a switch or rope in the howda. The hero creates a stampede by whipping the elephant’s butt with it. Ernst whips elephant.  Elephant rears up and begins running.  The crowds flee screaming with hands in the air.

Charging Elephant approaching.  Elephant passing. Elephant view as crowds flee. Elephant coming.  Elephant view as

78

79 of 117

crowds flee.

Ernst rams the villain elephants which also rear up. They run into the family knocking them down in their gondolas. This causes all the elephants to run.

All Elephants coming. Elephant view of people fleeing elephants.

Ernst must whip again to catch up.

The massive riot is now frantically running. The elephants are galloping. They hit a truck knocking it out of the way as the fleeing crowds swarm out of the way. The elephants trample a kiosk.

The family tries to unite into the same gondola. Joy, Villains, Kids, Villains.

Ernst is jumped by pursuers. He fights and throws them off. Joy fends off an attacking gondola. Ernst jumps to the villain’s gondola and fights. The villain falls into the stampede. 

VILLIAN 1 Uh! Uh! Ahhaa!

One henchman approaches the kids but is flung off by a tree branch. 

VILLIAN 2 Uhhhhg!

Another henchman prepares to jump the kids’ gondola. JOY Look out!

The kids defend from another villain with an umbrella. The Joy takes a poke at villains. Andelece hits villain with a brass carafe. 

Thwack thwack..  Pow..  Klunk..

Ernst whips his elephant to intercept then jumps to the villain’s elephant. They duck tree branch as Cavalry are pressed out of the way.

79

80 of 117

Before Ernst can jump to the kids villain’s elephant another villain jumps on to the back of his gondola and they fight.

He dispatches that villain throwing him off. He jumps to the gondola attacking the kids. He fights and throws the villain over the back. But the two men roll off the back. Ernst catches himself as the villain falls away. But the wood breaks. He grabs another piece but loses ground.

He falls off the back of the elephant! Ernst lands on the tusks of his former elephant up to his shoulders. He rights himself toward the elephant still up to his shoulders.

A villain jumps onto the tusks and Ernst throws his legs up and hurls vaults the villain in front of the stampeding elephant. 

Ernst climbs up to sit on the elephants tusks, clinging for Safety, hugging it's massive head.

The kids are saved by another passing tree which separates the pursuers elephant from theirs.

Still galloping, Ernst slowly climbs up to stand but there is another villain waiting for him with an evil grin.  Ernst, now angry, just throws the villain out of the gondola.

Ernst is standing on the tusks trying to get back atop the elephants head.

A villain tries to reach for Joy from a gondola. Joy wallops the villain with the cushion from her gondola holding him at bay. 

Ernst now jumps to the villain’s elephant and struggles with the villain, punching him.

wack wack.. The villain falls hanging on the tusks.  Father tries to whip the villain’s hands but the whip is stuck on the tusk.

Another pursuer jumps on stepping on the firsts’ fingers, forcing him to fall away.

VILLIAN 3

80

81 of 117

Ahhhh!

Ernst struggles with the new villain then punches him and he falls away.  But the whip is still stuck.

VILLIAN 4 Ahhhhh!     Ah!

The other elephants rear-end Ernst with a jolt. He falls backward. The remaining villains are near the Joy's elephant.

The kids steer to push the villain out of the way.

Before Ernst gets to his feet, A tall villain jumps on to the head of Ernst's elephant and towers over Ernst with his sword. Ernst crawls back away from him. The villain raises his sword. But Ernst pulls the stuck whip, the elephant bucks and slows as the villain tumbles backward screaming into the stampede.

TALL VILLIAN AhhAhh!

Joy thwarts knife-swings from a passing gondola.

Ernst jumps to the back of joy's gondola and climbs down to the ground. He is running with the bulls.  He runs under the pursuer’s gondola and begins unhitching it. Tusks and trunks are swinging around his head. But the giant belt is stuck.  He is hanging on the buckle, his feet are barely touching the ground. One villain climbs out to jump Joy. Ernst pulls him off the villain gondola.

VILLIAN 4 Ahhh! 

Finally the belt breaks free. Ernst hangs a moment longer to regain his footing. He runs back and climbs into Joy's gondola.  The villain gondola draws closer but Ernst kicks it.  It rolls off into the stampede and the remaining villain with it.

The villains are vanquished. Joy and Ernst cheer.

JOY AND ERNST Ha Ah!

81

82 of 117

The stampede slows at a fork and comes to a halt in a clearing of trees. The family dismounts in the country side as small children run to collect their elephants. But now, they have the mythical route to Shambla.

ERNST Is everyone all right? 

KIT Were fine.

ERNST All right.  Listen.  With what we have now, the Maharaja will fund the expedition!  Were back in business!

EXT/INT. LARGE SHIP - CARGO HOLD - DAY

Father sees the camels and speaks with an assistant (Adize), making sure the plans are correct.

ADIZE Ten Camels, 4 for your party, three for local guides and three for supplies.        

ERNST The camels, they’re good for.?  

ADIZE Twenty days, thirty if anything goes wrong.    

ERNST Good and supplies. 

ADIZE We have water and dried foods. 

ERNST We’ll pick up the rest when we dock.    And protection..    

Adize pats rifle and holster.

82

83 of 117

ADIZE My men are good a shot.  No problems on the trail. 

ERNST Thanks Adizes.  You’ll dine with us to night.  ADIZE Yes sir. Thank you.

EXT. SHIP’S DECK - MID DAY

The young lovers play cards on the main deck. Father climbs to the deck and enters the quarter lounge.

KIT Look Three aces, that’s three of a kind.  Beats two of a kind.  See like this, that’s a full house.  You have three of a kind.  Let’s try again.

ERNST Hey go easy, don’t wear out your luck.

KIT I don’t know.  She’s a natural.  I’m down two to one.  It’s not fair. 

ERNST It never is. Come on in you’ll want to hear this.

INT. QUARTER LOUNGE --MID DAY

ERNST Alright were fully supplied. Ten camels, three guides and two for supplies.  This is going to be a dangerous two-day trek across open desert, the most inhospitable place imaginable.  The earth is bone dry.  The sand storms can bury a

83

84 of 117

camel overnight.  We’ll have to take camels because the trails disappear as fast as they’re cut. It it’s too dangerous to bring all of you.  So I’ll have to go in alone.  You can stay in Bagdad. But I should be back in a week, maybe two.

JOY Oh no. No you don’t.  You know our rule.  ERNST Rule?  That was about me being away with work, all the time.  This is different.  Your with me! 

JOY You know how I feel about our time together.

ERNST Oh do we have to talk about this now? Pardon us for a minute.  I’m not risking you and them out there in the unknown.     

JOY Unknown? You’re forgetting I grew up in the Desert.  I know it just as well as you, maybe better. 

ERNST That’s what I’m worried about.  It’s dangerous. 

JOY Not as dangerous as if you leave me behind.   

ERNST Behind? You’re staying in Bagdad.

JOY I’m going with you. 

84

85 of 117

ERNST NO you’re not!    

JOY Yes I am. (grabbing Andelece’s arm) Were in this together.

ANDELECE Oui Solidard. 

KIT What? I don’t even get a say?

ERNST Fine.  Were leaving at 0800.

JOY Fine. ERNST Now listen.  We head east toward the desert and across the bad lands. If our directions are right that should put us in range of the next landmark. Adiez will arrange with the locals for three guides.  And by day two we meet the foot hills and the river of the serpent.

a beat

ERNST What?

JOY I just love it when you admit you're wrong.

EXT. STAGING AREA NEAR DOCK --LATE MORNING

FADE IN

The men unload the boat and pack camels.

ERNST

85

86 of 117

That’s nine camels.  Where’s ten?  From the boat Adiez leads a stubborn camel

CAMMEL  Errrrrhh! 

ADIZE Come on! Come on!. You beast.

CAMEL Phhhhh!  Errrhh! (stubborn camel antics)

ADIZE There you are ten.

ERNST Ten?  I’m not.. 

JOY Just pay the man Aton and let’s get out of here. 

ERNST Here.  Keep in mind I might be back. 

ADIZE But I do not know this. ERNST Yea I bet you don’t. All right! Let’s get these animals ready.

MOZIRE Hesmadulahum! (pack them) Duh-hydruka!(move)          Lenasheba! (lets go)

ERNST We’ll have supplies for a week. And the animals can last a month. These are our three local guides. This is MOZIR, BACHIR, and ROCKMAN. 

ROCKMAN

86

87 of 117

How do you do. 

ERNST Mozere is the leader.  If you need anything you ask to him.  Were loosing daylight so we had better get a move on.  We’ll want to travel early.

ERNST Put them over there.  Thanks Adize. 

The men pry the crate begin handing everyone a rifle.   

JOY What’s this?    

ERNST What do you mean. 

JOY Rifles? 

ERNST You bet your sweet..

KIT I don’t think that’s such a bad idea.    

ERNST Yea it’s a good chance for the Boy to learn how to shot.    

Andelece does a one handed reload.

(A beat)

ANDELECE Oh, le Cinema? JOY I don’t like this. 

ERNST Look, We’ve been lucky so far.  But

87

88 of 117

were up against some bad characters.  I don’t want any problems. 

KIT Yea He’s right (Slinging a belt of ammo over his shoulder.)

ERNST I’ll teach him, the basics. They can handle themselves.

JOY Aton.    

ERNST It’s for safety.

(a beat) It’s just a precaution. (a beat) They’ll stay in the holster!    

JOY Fine.

ERNST Ok get on em.

They mount the beasts.

    ERNST You just watch Mozir.. Ok. See just break down and hop on.  Come on you.

The stubborn camel ignores him.

Kit helps pastry girl then gets on his.

KIT Woahh.    

Mother is more tactful. 

JOY Come on dear. Hah..

88

89 of 117

(the camel rises) See that? ERNST Come on you stinking, pile of.. 

CAMEL pffffffhhhhh

ERNST Camels.

He knees it in the leg and it drops.

ERNST Good Boy.

Camel turns its head.

ERNST Watch-it you.  (Mounts)  Ok Up!..

The camel still does nothing.

Ernst gives a sigh.. then kicks. the camel rises. ECU

A beat.

ERNST Ok Let’s Go!

EXT. DESERT

The heroes embark on a trek across the desert.  The vista is wide.  The trail is long.  The trail is hot.  The travelers are persistent.  They stop at an oasis.

EXT. OASIS LATE AFTERNOON

There is life in the desert. The tired travelers break at sundown.  The oasis is alive with people.  A young woman bakes bread. The sun sets over the camp.  

ERNST We’ll camp here for the night. 

89

90 of 117

According to Mozir this is the last waterhole before the mountains so drink up.

Son breaks up a chocolate bar for a couple small children then deals some salt for bread.                     KIT Here.  Look see? Salt. You eat it.

                                                     BEDIOUN No no..

                    KIT See look good quality. Taste it.                    BEDOUIN Ah  ya.. mm..                    KIT Thanks good choice..  Mmm.. (mouth full) Oh.. mm. Yea.. Oh.. Hey..! we have bread…

Ernst ascends a rise near the camp and looks out over the horizon. Wife joins him.

JOY It’s beautiful isn’t it.  

ERNST Yea. It’s beautiful.  But it worries me.  Call it instinct.

JOY Were alone out here.  Nobody in their right mind would follow this far out.

ERNST That’s what bothers me. Saurus won’t stop till he finds what he’s looking for.  If he’s out there, there could be trouble.

90

91 of 117

JOY Don’t get soft on me now. I know that look.  ERNST That sword was at least 4 thousand years old. But that's not what bothers me. The ancient Babylonians had sophisticated astronomy. Sophisticated enough to find their location anywhere on earth. The angle of the sun would give them a latitude. The rising star on the shortest day of the year would tell them longitude. If this thing is lost, then it’s lost for a reason.

JOY So we’ll find out.

ERNST Yea. I know.

EXT. OASIS --NIGHT

Parents join the Kids at the camp fire. Father and Son decipher the cartouches from the Sarcophagus which the Son has written on his sleeve during his captivity. This makes the Father wonder if he really was cheating in college. But the Mother defends him. There is music and dancing under the moonlight.

ERNST Did you get enough to eat?

KIT Yea this is great. 

ERNST Oh? The snake or the locust?

KIT This one.

ERNST Oh the locust. Yea that’s good.  More bread?

91

92 of 117

KIT No thanks.  I thought we packed food.

ERNST We don’t want to be inhospitable. Here try the goats milk. KIT Thanks, I like to have a big breakfast.

ERNST What’s this?

KIT After we were captured I wrote down the star patterns from the Sarcophagus. 

ERNST uhh?

KIT Uh Inner cask.. I thought it might be useful.

ERNST Let me see that.  So this how you study?

KIT What are you saying?  That I’m cheating?  We were captured.

JOY Where was he supposed to write them down?

ERNST Well it looks a little damning.

KIT It helps me remember.

JOY

92

93 of 117

I think it’s resourceful.

KIT Thank you.

ERNST Now stop taking his side.  I’m just saying that it could be confused with cheating.

KIT Well it’s not. ERNST Let me see that. These are the rising stars for hours of the evening. And they repeat offset for each week of the year. The rising star changes throughout the year. So this is a weekly calendar and clock.  But this.  And this.  This is Sirius the brightest star in the sky which would rise at dawn during the start of the rainy season. The beginning of their year. But this is a number.  The height of the sun measured against the horizon. This is a latitude.  A location for the calendar. When the star and was directly overhead on the shortest day of the year It would be the center of the world according to their system.

JOY That a boy.

KIT Oh so now it’s useful?

ERNST Well. yea.  But 4 thousand years ago the stars would be rotated slightly.  So there’s no way to know exactly.  But it looks like were on course.

93

94 of 117

A woman dances for the music.

EXT. DESERT DAY TWO

Day two, the family leaves the oasis.  The little children wave good bye.  A long trek across desert. The day is hot again.  Hey pause to water themselves.

ERNST We’re should be near the location on that star map.  Drink up.  Have some of this. You need the salt. (to the guides)  Were coming up on the location. Not far. Let’s head on. The expedition continues on. But the guides will not continue past the desert into the foothills which hum beneath their feet.

ROCKMAN Ohh woa..  Mela-Ona.

BACHIR No.. Mela-ona..

ERNST What’s the matter?

MOZIR The men. They will not go further. The hills, they say are cursed. 

ERNST It’s just singing sand.  

MOZIR We cannot go into the hills.

ERNST Tell him its just the noise of the sand.

He leaps off his camel and runs to the top of a dune then runs down thumping causing more sound.  He men talk among themselves. 

ERNST

94

95 of 117

You see? Just sand.

MOZIR He says it’s not the sound of the sand but the demons live out there. 

ERNST Well what am I paying you for?

MOZIR If your quest is honorable, Allah will protect you. We will wait for you at the Oasis. 5 days.

ERNST I can’t believe your gona walk off on us.  MOZIR We’ll take one of the supplies camels.

ERNST Alright we go alone from here!

JOY Well this is optimistic. 

KIT Aren’t you glad I brought a star map?

The family continues in the hilly landscape.  The singing sands chanting beneath them.  The Son pauses before marching down the next hill. There is a dung beetle. The sun beats down relentlessly. Water jugs are passed around.

Ernst spots vultures in a valley among the dunes.  He leaps off his camel and runs to the top of a dune.  He sees the villains.  He runs down.

ERNST It’s Saurus and his men.  Wait here. 

He runs through the dunes and spies the villains.  One of

95

96 of 117

their trucks is stuck.  He runs to it and looks in the back.  There are two crates.  He opens the large one and it’s the sarcophagus.  He opens the smaller one and it’s the sword.  He eyes its freakish flame engravings. He starts to take it but puts everything back and returns. 

ERNST It’s them.  They have the cask and the sword. We’ll have to wait till dark to recover them.

KIT Why didn’t you take the sword?

ERNST And tip Saurus’ men?  We’d loose the sarcophagus.

The Sun sets.  The Family refreshes and eats  Father checks his watch. The Son runs down the hill.

ERNST In another hour I’ll be able to go in. KIT You better come see this.

A sand storm is approaching on the horizon filled with light of the setting sun.

ERNST Change of plans.  Get these camels down.  Hold them.  Don’t let them up!  Cover the supplies.  Stay here till I get back.  Don’t move.

JOY What are you going to do?

ERNST I’m not sure but I won’t have long.

EXT. VILLIAN CAMP

As the sand storm approaches there is a flurry of activity at the villain camp.  They cover trucks and collapse tents. 

96

97 of 117

The men working on a stuck truck are told to stop.

SAURUS Leave it!  Secure the supplies!  Everyone in the trucks!

Ernst cowers under the 400 foot wall of dust. 

The sandstorm strikes.  The silt is oppressive.  He wretches and coughs and covers his face.  Borrowing against the winds as he breaks for the villain camp. 

EXT. VILLIAN CAMP --LATE AFTENOON SANDSTORM

He overcomes the two drivers and steals the truck but its stuck. The wheels spin hopelessly in the storm.

Flashlights pierce the dust and Ernst runs behind the truck. He opens the truck and climbs inside. He removes the sword placing it in the sarcophagus crate.  But the crate is too heavy so he takes the sarcophagus out of the crate. He extends it over the back of the truck.  He climbs down and shoulders the sarcophagus.

The villains see the flapping burlap on the back of the truck and begin scurrying around. Ernst takes the sarcophagus and continues but the winds and Dust are too much. The villains search the area around the truck. Ernst must drop the cask behind a small dune and flee. Nearly suffocating, Ernst tries to find his way back.  But he’s lost. He must hold out the night in the dunes under his scarf.  The moon is only occasionally visible through the thick clouds of sand.

EXT. DESERT MORNING

Ernst wakes and finds the trucks gone.  The sarcophagus is nowhere to be found.  He circles around and finds the family half buried in sand.  The camels are gone.

ERNST What happened?  I leave you for five minutes.

KIT They ran off. The camels, went

97

98 of 117

crazy and ran off.

ERNST Saurus and his men are gone. I should have kept the sword but it won’t bring the kind of money that we’d get for a pharaoh. Where are the supplies?  Is this it?

KIT We have to find the camels. 

ERNST No. We have to find water.  Come on.

EXT. AMONG THE DUNES --LATE MORNING

The family is alone in the vast desert. They continue east on foot toward the mountains to look for water.  Suddenly they are surrounded by horsemen. The Father is quick to strike a stand-off which the horsemen respect. They laugh and take the family to the Yazidi leader. 

ERNST Don’t make any sudden moves.  El-ar-a-be-at-o ?  (Arabic?) Da-hed-da-so-brad-bay ? (Speak Arabic?)

HORSEMEN Ha ha ha.. The leader points a pistol at him. Several rifles are raised.  Their leader is amused.

REBEL LEADER Ahh..  Ak-ha-Hr-hum! (bring them)

The family is given two horses and they climb on.

ERNST Go on.

KIT Get on?

98

99 of 117

ERNST They’re helping us. You don’t want to be a poor guest.  We’ll sort this out when we get where were going. Just follow my lead.

KIT Travel the friendly skys, see the world.

EXT. REBEL CAMP

The family eats and drinks with the yazidi.  There is music.

ERNST They’re probably an offshoot of the yazidi. Considered rebels by their own people. Considered devil worshipers by the outside world. If I’m right they’ll take us to their leader.

JOY Yea.. with any luck we could get sold into slavery and not die in the desert.

ERNST Don’t knock it.  This is as good as it get around here.

The family is presented to the tribal leader who offers them water and food.   ERNST They’ve been isolated in this part of the desert for 2000 years.  Maybe they’d like some company. Just eat whatever they give you.  Hello.  By-hah-lend

TRIBAL LEADER Ah baheed dahala edjsoluso (greetings come sit)

ERNST I think he wants us to sit with

99

100 of 117

him.  The dialect is hard to understand.

TRIBAL LEADER (Claps) Bahabud  Bahabud  (bring bring)

A feast is laid out.  They refresh themselves as the young lovers make eyes at each other and the parents listen to the old man tell stories.

ERNST He says they have lived in this part of the desert since the beginning. But they rarely see young people from the outside.  Their people are the regional people descended from Adam. And the hills are sacred to them. But most outsiders are unfriendly. He says they will give us what we need to continue.

JOY Tell him thank you.  His karma is very kind.

ERNST She says thank you. Sucrend. (Thankyou) Deshcoriba (many thanks)

The old man is told that the day is ¾ with a gesture from a younger man.

ERNST He wants us to follow him (the younger man) The leader gives them their own supplies back and they prepare to depart. But a guard stops them.  He questions the Father in a foreign language and becomes angry.  

ERNST They’re giving us our supplies back.  Minus one of the supply camels it looks like.  (To the stubborn camel)

100

101 of 117

Good. It’s about time we got rid of you.

CAMEL ppppppshhh

ERNST Thank you. Sucrend. (Thankyou)

JOY What is it?

ERNST I don’t know. He wants something. What? What do you want?  I can’t understand it’s too fast. 

JOY Thank you for your hospitality.

ERNST Listen pal I don’t know what your.

The father offers water.  It is rejected.  He offers food.  It is rejected.

ERNST Here.  No?  Take it.  No? Here.

The shouting is more intense and he is knocked to his knees. 

ERNST I don’t know..  Ugh..

The family Squirms.  The Guard is adamantly shouting.  Then the father removes something from his pocket.  The guard raises his sword.  It’s a small transistor radio with an earplug.  The Father turns it on.  There is nothing.  Nothing but static.  Static.  Static. Static. Then a channel with Glen Miller.  The guard lowers his sword.  The guard takes the radio to the leader who is amused.  The Guard is suddenly friendly again and encouraging the Father to get up.  The Group agrees the gift is good.  The family is saved.  They bid Farwell to the tribe.

101

102 of 117

JOY Well you pulled it off Aton.  I’m proud of you.

ERNST Were not out of this yet.  But let’s get a little distance.

KIT Yea I’m fresh.  How are you.

ANDELECE Bon.

EXT. DESERT AFTER YAZITI

The Family continues on.  The day is long and hot.  They reach the end of the dunes near the foothills.

ERNST Alright we go on foot from here. We don’t want to override the camels.  It’ll give them time to rest.

EXT. DESERT SHADE

The family breaks for a tiny sliver of shade in an outcrop of rock.

KIT (exhausted) Ok.. I’m fine.

ERNST Your dehydrated.  Take more salt from the pack. We’re looking for the river of the serpent.

KIT River!, There isn’t water in a hundred miles of here. 

ERNST Yea but ten thousand years ago this region was a fertile grassland.  This arroyo should be the largest for several miles. We follow it.  

102

103 of 117

The family comes upon an outcrop of rock that looks like a cobra.

ANDELECE C'est ça

KIT There it is!

ERNST And Sirius is nearly setting. Were close. Very close. Now we follow this river until the mountain of light. 

JOY What does it mean?

ERNST I don’t know.  Keep your eyes open.  

More marching. A snake confronts them. Father whips the snake.

ANDELECE Scream!

ERNST Look out! (pistol shot) Must be a dry year.  They usually keep to themselves.

Then they see it.  The sun has set across the desert but one mountain stands out illuminated.

ERNST There it is. 

JOY The mountain of light. 

ERNST We go there.

EXT. MOUNTIAN

103

104 of 117

Arriving the mountain the family discovers the villains down in a deep rift.  They look down on the villain camp.

ERNST Ok Listen. If we take the sword they’ll scour the hills for us.  We’ll need to disable the vehicles.  I’ll go in you stay here.

JOY No we can help.  It’ll be faster.

ERNST I can’t risk it.  I need you here if things go bad.

JOY What do you mean if things go bad? 

ERNST I don’t know yet.

JOY Yet? 

ERNST Yea, Yet.

JOY That doesn’t sound very good.

ERNST Well it was never this complicated.

JOY What’s that supposed to mean.

ERNST Can we talk about this later?  Just wait here.

EXT VILLIAN ENCAPMENT -DUSK

104

105 of 117

The father tries to steal the sword but is captured in a net and apprehended.  The mother and kids are devastated.  They decide to take action.  The Son and Girl drain the gas tanks.   But they are caught.  The mother tries to rescue them but is also captured.

SAURUS Mr. Aton.  How surprised we all are to see you.  Did you really think you could take this?  Now where are they?  That lovely family of yours?  (to guards) Find them.  We are just preparing for our ascent.  I’m sure you won’t be joining us.

Above the encampment watching.

KIT No! It’s up to us. We have to do something. I’m going in there.

ANDELECE Non. Solidarde.

JOY Yea, we’ll do this together. Ernst is marched at gunpoint to the camp center is the sarcophagus, lights and two large flaming torches. Aton is under gunpoint. Then the trucks blow up.

SAURUS You know success is a fickle mistress.  But patience is a golden virtue.  And we have been very patient.  Haven’t we?  Now where are they?

Kaboom! fire ploom. Kaboom!.. another fire ploom.

SAURUS Ah.  The young ones.  Get them.

The guards find the Son. Then the women appear with rifles. The guards point machineguns at the Father and Son.

JOY

105

106 of 117

Hold it right there. You’re wrecking my bliss buster.

SAUURUS Oh. How do you do misses Aton? But tell me. Which of them are you going to shoot first?

The Mother raises her gun at the one guarding the Kit.

SAURUS But what about your husband?

The pastry girl lifts her gun and points at the guard near the father.  Saurus laughs dismissively. The girl flicks the safety.

SAUUS Huh huh..   Such bravery.  But I am afraid you are out gunned. He pulls a revolver from his pocket and points it at the Father then raises toward his head.  

SAURUS Two against three.

The Women lower their weapons.

SAURUS I’m glad we could all be reasonable.  Light the fires!  Prepare the table. While you were ransacking the world for treasures I was seeking wisdom.  Yes. Mr Aton. The Egyption book of the dead.  And I have it. The original light, in the pen of the prophet.  You followed riches.  But I have followed stars hune on the tombs of kings.  Now we are here before the Patala. The Nashi-mu.  Vaejah,  Avalon. We stand before The Gate Of Shambala!  Now we will summon the mighty Origin. But the ancient prophets were very clear.  The spells can only be read by a young

106

107 of 117

male who has not known women.

KIT Oh, well, now you’re done.  Your plans are over, Cause It won’t work!  I can tell you right now.

SAURUS Oh but I think it will. I have seen you look at the girl.

KIT Yea well.  That’s just me. You know. I’m worldly. But it’s not going to work. Ok. That’s all I can tell ya.

ERNST It just means unmarried. Go on. Do what he says. KIT Pachiyambi, ndinu woyamba yekha wangwiro. Kutsegula njira kwa ife.  (In the beginning, you are the First, the only, the perfect. Open the Gate to us.)

As he reads the sky turns darker.  Lightening encircles the mountain.  It wrecks the camp as the villain laughs manically. It begins to rain violently then stops.  They have stirred the forces of the divine. 

SAURUS Thank you. Gather the equipment! Prepare to ascend the mountain!

Suddenly a roar, an enormous torrent!  A quick scuffle and some punches.  The entire arroyo is washed away, the tents, the trucks, the villains and the gear. The family takes shelter behind a giant boulder as the water roars around them.  When the water stops the mountain is now aglow in light. They hug. The family proceeds up the mountain.

ERNST Were safe for the moment.

107

108 of 117

KIT We go up, don’t we?

ERNST We go up. Looks like his way.  Watch your step.

KIT Uhh..Are you sure about this?  Cause I feel like we’re getting beyond archeology here.   

ERNST This is what we came for. You’re not gona back out now are you?    

KIT No, I‘m sure this is a typical for you. Business as usual right?  

ERNST You can ask your mother about that.

JOY Things happen. EXT. ROCK FACE DUSK    

The family reaches the rock face and the father finds a fissure in the rock.  The opposing edges don’t match.  They move a rock and proceed inward. The walls are covered with spiders.

ERNST Alright were here.  The Tibetan legends speak of an underground cave. Over here.  These edges don’t match.  Give me a hand. This glow is probably an electrical property of the rock.

JOY There’s something on the walls.

ERNST Just spiders. 

108

109 of 117

KIT Spiders?

ERNST Relax, It’s all right, as long as they’re not the jumping kind.

EXT. ROCK FACE

A beat, they all come running out of the cave screaming and flailing. They proceed back in with more torches.

ALL Ahhhh.  Ahhh!  Ahhhh!  Oh ooooh Aghhh Ak! Oh Ah!..

KIT I though you said it was all right.

ERNST I didn’t say make friends with them. Now come on. Just don’t touch the walls.

They reach a dead end.

ERNST This rock, it’s been sealed. It’s some kind of door but we’d need a crane to break through. KIT I got a bad feeling about this.

The villain arrives with two guards. He carries a recording of the incantations the Son spoke in the séance and it activates the sword which opens the wall of rock.

SAURUS Ah, but I have a very good feeling about this. Yes, very much alive.  And my two friends.  I have solved this impediment.  If you will stand away from the encasement.  Thoroughness is a habit of mine and this sojourn is so very important to me.

109

110 of 117

Astonishment and curiosity at the recording and the sword activating.

SAURUS It was no leap of faith that the Qtara is the fabled sword of fire.  You see the legends are not wrong they are merely difficult to obtain.

The villain  touches the sword to the rock which cracks and blasts away. Inside they discover an elaborate Babylonian temple with an unadorned wall flanked by two pillars and lion statues.  There is a golden tablet which the villain reads.

They proceed inward flanked by the guards.

JOY Ok Aton, what have you got us into now?

KIT What is it?

ERNST Not a tomb.  Maybe a temple.  But pre Zoroastrian.  Very early.

SAURUS I don’t wish to interrupt but it is the Cave of Adam it’s self.  And now we shall see.  Mr. Sang, the scrolls.  Kutsegula kwa ife wakale njira. (Open to us the ancient way) KIT It is not working. 

SAURUS Keewah.. Kaywahh…  Kutsegula kwa ife wakale njira. (Open to us the ancient way)

SAURUS It is not working.  Bring the Boy.

110

111 of 117

KIT No I don’t think so.

SAURUS Take her. If he resists, shoot her.

ANDELECE Ohh..

KIT No, No! Don’t hurt her.  Ok, I’ll read it.  Kutsegula kwa ife wakale njira. (Open to us the ancient way)

KIT Ok You found a golden tablet. You should be happy.  You can let us go.

JOY Not so fast.  Look.

Then slowly.. the wall becomes a portal.  The mist swirls and the faint trees glisten unnaturally on the other side.  There is a stream in the vignette.  The wall is alive with imagery.

SAURUS HA HA!  

The portal’s landscape becomes more tranquil. 

ECU SAURUS (to him self) Edenu.  HA HA…! The Eden GUARDS Jen-atu-add-na! (eden) Ad-dno..(The Eden) Mu-kudesun (holy)  El-th-lru-lena (Forgive us)

SAURUS Get up you fools.  I hold the sword.  It is me you should fear.

111

112 of 117

GUARDS Mu-kudesun Jen-atu-add-na! (holy eden)  El-th-lru-lena, El-th-lru-lena.. (Forgive us, Forgive us)

SAURUS It is Shambala! The great portal! And I shall Enter!

The Villain marches forward with the golden sword.  But an ethereal 14’ apparition in a tunic appears and defends the portal from him. Its sword moves instantly reappearing in position each time. First piercing the ground in front of the villain sending him backward.

One guard opens fire. He is pierced by the apparition who’s scale changes making his arm and sword longer.  The guard is dissolved in flame. The other guard moves defensively.  He raises his gun and is also dissolved. 

Saurus lowers his sword and steps closer testing the angel. The angel no longer defends the portal. He steps forward into the 4 foot light emanating from the portalwall. Saurus now glows with the light of the portal. He steps forward and now becomes translucent. He drops the sword in amazement and walks slowly toward the siren song of the portal. Ernst yells.

ERNST Saurus ! Don’t do it!

As Saurus enters he is consumed by the portal as his flesh is torn away layer by layer and seeping into his bones which also wither to a wisp of dust. This leaves a shocked young spiritbody, humbled, cowering as it flees into the scene.  In the distance an ancient figure receives him. He waves as some rocks become birds..

KIT Woa. It’s over. ERNST It’s over.

KIT I’ll get it. Its ok, as

112

113 of 117

long as I don’t cross to the other side.

Kit walks cautiously toward the emanation. Ernst shouts no! But it is too late. Kit has crossed into the glowing light.

ERNST No!

KIT I’m ok. It’s so peaceful. I… I…

Kit Steps forward closer to pick up the sword. But now he’s glowing translucent. He turns to the family.

KIT I have it ! But I.. I..

ERNST Just stay where you are! Don’t move!

A joyful glaze comes over his eyes. He turns toward the portal!

ANDELECE No!

Andelece runs to grab him! She looks back then toward Kit then back again unable to move. Indecision comes over her. Andelece turns toward the portal and starts to enter still holding Kit.

JOY STOP! Joy steps just into the glow holding Andelece.

JOY Hold on! Don’t do it!

ERNST JOY !

Ernst Reaches into the glow pulling on Joy and the others. His face penetrates the glow. His jaw drops. But he strains to keep his face outside the light. He can just reach the alter behind him and pulls on a hand hold in the unhewn rock.

113

114 of 117

Ernst pulls them free. Each awakens from their trance as the emerge from the emanating glow of the Gate..

KIT Ok I've seen enough.

ERNST Me to.

JOY What are you going to do?

The family is horrified. The Father picks up the sword and hurls it into the scene where it is consumed by fire. There is a quake and the exist is sealed. Flames pour out of the wall. ERNST Look out!

KIT No!  It's sealed!

JOY You are in such trouble.

ERNST Get Down!

The flames grow stronger and stronger until they become a wind from the portal.  Nearly scorching them family.  They family ducks away from the intense heat.

Then a powerful white light begins to surround the portal.  It grows stronger and stronger nearly overwhelming the family who fall to the ground from the intense light.  The light overcomes them.  But as the light grows stronger the ethereal apparition becomes more visible. Its shadow protects the family from the overwhelming illumination.  Its outstretched wings sheltering them.  The intense light subdues the flames.  Then seemingly without dimming, the light simply dissolves into the peaceful glowing rock of the cave.  It is over.  And they have prevailed. The sword falls from the wall onto the dust of the cave.

The father rises and walks cautiously forward.  He looks up at the blank stone wall and lifts the golden tablet.  He

114

115 of 117

turns to the family.

ERNST We’re not meant to walk into paradise, were meant to build it, here, in this world.

Kit grabs the golden sword.

They family turns to find the exit was reshaped shaped by the wings of the apparition during the flames.  They walk through the now rounded arch of rock into the predawn. EXT. DESERT ARROYO -DAYBREAK

Ernst secures the sarcophagus, tablet and sword then boards his Camel. The recorder bulges from the rear of the pack. The family rides briskly into the sunrise.

[Theme Music]                                   FADE

INT. MUSEUM                            DECENDING CRANE

The parents present the golden tablet.

MUSEUM DIRECTOR This piece is on loan with thanks to Ernst Aton and his Wife.  Mr. Aton. 

ERNST Thank you. This was recovered from a cave in the southern Ararat mountains.  It’s believed to be pre second millennium BC and as you can see it has an inscription which is  a prayer to return to eden.  We were also fortunate to recover the Cask or inner sarcophagus of Mentuhotep the second which is on display here in the Egyptology wing.  Thank you.

INT. MUSEUM EGYPTOLOGY WING

The kids give museum tours about the restored sarcophagus with the star map and they dismiss the last tour of the

115

116 of 117

day. 

KIT And uh this is the cask of Mentuhotep.  Which we recovered when it was nearly destroyed in a flood.  It has a star calendar which tells the rising star for each hour of the night.  And this little thing here is actually a star map. For the rising star at sundown.  Take your time enjoying the exhibit.  The museum will be closing soon. ANDEECE Ce tonneau est Mentuhotep. Cela a été récupéré à partir d'un suivi terribles. Le motif étoile que vous voyez est un calendrier pour les heures de la nuit. Et un peu carte des étoiles il au fond  (Translation: This cask is entuhotep. This was recovered from a terrible flood.  The Star pattern you see is a calendar for the hours of the night.  And a little star map there at the bottom.)

EXT. PARK BENCH

After work, the young couple makes-time on a park bench near a famous fountain.

KIT Over here. Do you want to sit down.  So uh you never told me your last name.

ANDELECE Veronique.

KIT Oh.  Hm..

They kiss.

116

117 of 117

EXT. HOTEL BALCONY

The parents celebrate on a balcony with a sunset view of the Eiffel tower.

ERNST (pouring Champaign) I have it right here. There you are.

JOY There we are.   We needed a break. Didn’t we?

ERNST Yea we did.

JOY So what are you planning now Aton? ERNST I’ll let you know.

A beat 

They kiss.

END

117