FADE IN:
EXT. LAKE PETEN ITZA, GUATEMALA - JUST BEFORE DUSK
We can see the top of the mountains, it is raining heavily. An enormous BIRD flies INTO FRAME. The bird has a huge wingspan with SLOW MOTION movements. As it flies it passes by a HUMMINGBIRD hovering over a flower. The fast little bird flies away. The ANGLE MOVES to REVEAL a large lake being disturbed by the heavy rains. It's foggy. A RUMBLING SOUND.
Four BIG SHIPS cut the fog with their lights. The RUMBLING SOUND grows louder---THE ENGINES.
AT THE BRIDGE MOVING - MOVING
The MAIN SHIP is completely wet. The ROPES are swinging. The WINDS are howling. Everybody is very excited and working very hard running from one place to another.
The CHIEF TECHNICIAN is leaning on the railing of the bridge. He is talking through loud hailers to the ENGINEER team leader who is on the deck of a nearby ship.
CHIEF TECHNICIAN
Louder!
ENGINEER
As soon as the rain stops---we'll be able to see the beaches---I think.
CHIEF TECH.
Talk louder, can't hear a thing!
ENGINEER
What? What is it?---
(pointing)
---Over there, the beaches.
SECOND OFFICER moves INTO FRAME. We see his back and on his back we can read a CORP. SIGN:
CHEMSTAR-Research Company, Inc.
SECOND OFFICER
(interrupts Chief Tech.)
We're coming right 15 degrees, about 1/2 mile to anchor point. The radar picture is pretty good---The navi~gator thinks he can get us in.
CHIEF TECH.
(ignores Second Officer, continuing to Engineer) Yeah! Yeah!
ENGINEER
What?---What is it? Can't hear!
CHIEF TECH.
The Mayas!---The Mayas Ruins are right at the end of the lake.
SECOND OFFICER
(continuing)
...Get your people ready to go ashore. Stay away from the boats and fore deck till the crew says okay!
BOATSWAIN
(yelling to someone)
Stand by the flags---Stand by the anchor winches!
NAVIGATOR
(to everyone)
Passing reference point 3 on the port beam. Range 1200 meters---10 cables to anchor point. 40 feet below the keel---all hands stand by for anchoring. Pass it to the other boats!
OFFICER #1
(to navigator)
Breakman ready! Chain flagged at 10 shot!
CHIEF TECH.
(to Engineer)
Just hang on pal!
THE NAVIGATOR walks. As he does, he passes by FACUNDO DANIEL SARTORI, about 48, who has long black hair in a ponytail.
In collaboration with Walter Von Huene:
INT. LIVING ROOM - OPEN KITCHEN - NIGHT
The walls haven't been painted in years. The furniture is old and would be lucky to sell at a garage sale. A small color tv is against one wall. Dino walks in and stops cold when he sees his Grandpa, an 80 year old Italian, standing in the middle of the room holding a man, dressed in a coat and tie, at bay with an old WWII rifle. Dino quickly goes to his Grandpa and takes the rifle out of his hand.
. . .
Dino helps Grandpa to his chair, where an old cheap cane is. Grandpa mutters to himself as he watches an old SPEEDY GONZALES cartoon on TV. Dino turns to the man.
DINO (CONT'D)
I'm sorry, I..
MR. BLAUSER
I'm Mr. Blauser, from the department of social services, and I resent being held at gunpoint.
DINO
Relax, it's a relic, It hasn't been fired in fifty years.
MR. BLAUSER
It's still going in my report. As I was trying to explain to your grandfather here, we've received some complaints regarding his behavior.
DINO
Like what?
MR. BLAUSER
Like standing on the roof and peeing on your neighbors car.
DINO
That was months ago. He hasn't done it since.
MR. BLAUSER
We've been researching his living conditions and his health, and we've come to the conclusion that he'd be better off in a state nursing home.
DINO
What! No way!
GRANDPA
No way!
DINO
I take care of him just fine!
GRANDPA
He take a good care of me!
MR. BLAUSER
(Sarcastic)
Oh really.
He reaches for his notepad and reads from it.
MR. BLAUSER (CONT'D)
You go to school, you only work part time, and from our observation, you're never home much. You can barely support yourself.
. .
EXT. VAN - REAL WORLD - NIGHT
It's windy, and starting to thunder and lightening, as Shannon finishes her jump out of the van. She and Lewis look back inside. They freak.
LEWIS
She's gone!
Sartori hears this coming around the back of the van. He's stunned.
SARTORI
No! She can't be dead.
LEWIS
She's not dead, she's gone.
Disappeared. Vanished.
JOHN
Where'd she go? Didn't I tell you to watch her!
MARGARITA
That little sucker's quick.
SARTORI
Find her!
They all start calling and looking around the area. After a beat they all reconverge in front of the building.
LEWIS
She isn't anywhere.
Sartori's angry.
SARTORI
(To John)
How could you let her escape?
JOHN
It wasn't my fault.
MARGARITA
She didn't get past me.
SARTORI
Well she got passed somebody.
They all start arguing about Muji. As they argue Muji appears behind them on the steps.
. . .
