La lecture à portée de main
Informations
Publié par | script-cinema |
Publié le | 01 janvier 2004 |
Nombre de lectures | 9 |
Licence : |
En savoir + Paternité, pas d'utilisation commerciale, partage des conditions initiales à l'identique
|
Langue | English |
Extrait
by
Guillermo del Toro
PRODUCTION DRAFT
6/14/03
OMIT
INT. DARKROOM - INTERVIEW 1
In a photographic DARKROOM: old optical enlargers, porcelain trays, timers, and stills hanging out to dry.
GEORGE MATLIN, a slightly obese, nearsighted man in his seventies.
Is he real? Oh yeah -- Absolutely.
Super: CPL. GEORGE MATLIN, combat photographer.
I haven't talked about it for years, you know? (looks at the camera) Everyone called me crazy...
Matlin smiles as he paws through a box of old negatives.
But I have the negative.
Someone turns on the darkroom's red safety light for an eerie, dramatic effect.
Get ready, 3-2-1... Roll tape.
It all started back in ´44. I was a Corps photographer aboard an allied submarine...
CUT TO:
INT. SUBMARINE HALLWAY - NIGHT
YOUNG MATLIN's hands again paw through a bunch of negatives, again under a red light. Now, at 21, he's wedged in a submarine corridor, a crowded maze of pipes and gauges.
35mm still cameras dangle from his neck. He shrinks back as a squad of MARINES hustles past him, loading weapons.
...off the coast of Scotland. Classified mission. I was 21...
SGT. WHITMAN, 44, tough as nails, pushes through, his uniform soaked in sweat.
We had an English civilian on board. Not much older than me but already an advisor to President Roosevelt. "Paranormal" advisor, I kid you not --
Whitman continues down the passageway until he reaches a small...
INT. SUBMARINE STATEROOM - NIGHT
Within, an incongruously proper young Englishman "reading" an ancient set of Tarot cards.
His name was Trevor. Profesor Trevor --
-- Broom! Topside, now.
TREVOR "BROOM" BRUTTENHOLM is a gaunt, olive-skinned man in his late twenties. In his hands, a tarot deck. He turns the cards face up: THE FOOL, THE MOON...
The sooner we're done, the better.
Broom grabs a worn-down wooden box full of books and amulets. It has a leather strap that allows him to carry it, much like a carpenter's tool box.
This is an important mission, Sgt. Whitman. I hope you realize that.
Oh -- you don't wanna know what I think. Topside, now.
He moves away. Broom takes a small box and a few amulets.
Before exiting, he pauses and tensely turns the last TAROT CARD: THE DEVIL.
CUT TO:
OMIT
INT/EXT. SCOTLAND - TUNNEL - NIGHT
Super: OCTOBER 9, 1944, SCOTLAND.
It's raining like hell now. Soldiers move through a short tunnel carved into the mountain.
Whitman signals his men to spread out, then comes alongside Broom.
Sgt. Whitman!! Sgt. Whitman!! May I have a word??
(impatient)
What is it?
In private, if you don't mind...
EXT. SCOTLAND CHAPEL REMAINS
They enter the remains of a small chapel. Broom produces the small box. It's full of rosaries.
Your men -- They'll need these --
Whitman scowls and huffs. A life-sized wooden Christ contemplates the scene from above.
You are a Catholic??
Amongst other things, yes -- but that's hardly the point.
Whitman locks and loads an automatic.
Here. You'll need one of these.
I abhor violence. (Whitman moves away) Sergeant Whitman, I hope you don't think me mad --
Three days too late for that one, "professor."
He moves away. Broom looks up to the wooden Christ: It has no eyes.
EXT. DITCH
MATLIN hauls his tripod and gear and joins the troops on the move. Broom catches up with Whitman.
You're wasting our time: There's nothing on this island but sheep and rocks.
Ruins. Not rocks. The remains of Trondham Abbey. Built on an intersection of Ley Lines, the boundaries between our world and the other --
(interrupts him)
What a load of crap. Hell, a week ago I hadn't even heard the word parabnormal --
"Paranormal" (Whitman moves on) But -- you read the transmission.
Half transmission. Nonsense -- German ghost stories!
I have seen ghosts, Whitman.
Oh, I'll bet you have.
Reaching a slope, Matlin sets down his camera. Turning, he sees lights.
Sweet Jesus.
Drenched, Broom and Whitman look down upon an impressive ROMANESQUE RUIN. Under worklights, dozens of NAZI SOLDIERS swarm among thick stone walls and archways.
They must be here for the sheep.
OMIT
EXT. AMONG THE RUINS - NIGHT
A dozen German soldiers swiftly assemble a large steel MACHINE. The work is monitored by a spindly Nazi in BLACK LEATHER, his face covered by an odd gas mask: KROENEN.
The freak in the gas mask --
Karl Ruprecht Kroenen, one of the Reich's top Scientists. Head of the Thule Occult Society.
EXT. NEARBY - BROOM - NIGHT
He lowers a pair of binoculars and passes them to Whitman.
If he's here, this is worse than I thought.
(to the radio man)
Air and sea backup. What's closest?
The RADIOMAN cranks a transmitter to life.
Londonderry, sir. Forty minutes away.
We don't have forty minutes.
EXT. ABBEY RUINS - ALTAR AREA - NIGHT
Kroenen throws a switch: On the machine, dozens of gears respond!
Steam pistons thrust copper rails upright, lifting two mighty metal rings, not unlike a gyroscope. Kroenen grunts and signals for more floodlights to be turned on.
EXT. BEHIND THE ALTAR - NIGHT
The lights flood an ancient sacristy lined with eroded stone saints. GRIGORY, tall and gaunt, stands naked, arms fully extended.
No matter what happens to me, you must carry on with the work.
ILSA, a severe, ageless Aryan beauty, reverentially drapes an embroidered robe over his bony shoulders.
I will not leave you.
Yes, you will... Leave me. Deny me.
Never --
He hands her a small LEATHER-BOUND BOOK. It contains hand- drawn notes and illustrations.
This will guide you back to me.
He pulls her close, the clouds of their breath mingling.
I grant you everlasting life, youth and the power to serve me.
He dips his fingers in a wooden bowl full of blood, then wipes her tears away with a crimson thumb, both a consolation and a ritual.
VON KRUPT, an acrid German General, wearing dark SCARLET glasses and LEATHER GLOVES, appears. Looks at his pocket watch. On the gold lid: a SWASTIKA.
It's time.
OMIT
EXT. ABBEY RUINS - ALTAR AREA - CEREMONY - NIGHT
Grigory walks towards the machine, its colossal steel and copper clockworks gleaming in the floodlights.
Five years of research and construction, Grigory. Five years!!
He strides alongside Grigory and Ilsa, who holds an umbrella to shield her master from the pouring rain.
The furhrer doesn't look kindly on failure.
There will be no failure, General. I promised Herr Hitler a miracle. I'll deliver one.
Kroenen mutters excitedly as he opens a polished oak box containing a massive gold and copper MECHA-GLOVE.
Grigory extends his hand so that KROENEN may fit him with the contraption, which is attached to cables and hoses.
EXT. THE HILLTOP - ALLIED SOLDIERS - NIGHT
The Americans fan out, unseen.
Broom and Whitman dive into a ditch barely in time to avoid a German foot patrol.
Other GI's take up positions below a machine gun nest.
EXT. ABBEY RUINS - ALTAR AREA - NIGHT
Grigory walks to the top of the altar, cables trailing behind him.
Tonight, We will open a portal and awaken the OGDRU JAHAD: The seven Gods of chaos. (beat) Our enemies will be destroyed. In an instant, all impurity in this world will be razed and from the ashes a new eden will arise.
He looks down at the machine and whispers --
Ragnarok, Anung Ia Anung.
He flexes his fingers and in response --
-- the two metal rings swing around the machine's central axis. TCHINK!!! WHIRRR!!! STEAM escapes from the ducts and pipes. An invisible blast of energy forces the falling rain to swerve momentarily away from Grigory's body.
Ilsa signals TWO NAZI SCIENTISTS standing at a control panel.
More Power!! Don't let the level drop!!
One of them inserts a 20 inch SOLID GOLD CYLINDER into the machine. Two openings remain vacant next to it.
A blade of light opens in the air!
Burning symbols slash the air, like living serpents of fire.
EXT. COSMIC SLIT - NIGHT
The edges of the cosmic slit sizzle with color; an ALIEN GALAXY sparkles on the other side. Suddenly, a work light tears loose and flies in.
EXT. COSMIC SLIT - FROM THE OTHER SIDE - NIGHT
The six-foot work light tumbles by the massive OGDRU JAHAD: seven egg-like monoliths of unholy origin.
Within their translucent walls, horrible creatures lie slumbering. As the light sweeps by, one of the giants opens a filmy eye, and then another, and another, and another...
Fleshy tentacles move lazily within their crystalline prison.
EXT. ABBEY RUINS - ALTAR AREA - NIGHT
Grigory screams as his body rises. Veins swell in his neck, his face distorted by ecstasy and pain.
CLICK. Someone shoots a photograph.
EXT. RUINS - IN THE UNDERBRUSH - NIGHT
It's Matlin, snapping for all he's worth. Whitman pulls him down and pulls out a large bayonet blade.
Listen to me, you moron: you do that again, I'll carve you a new --
Too late. One of the NAZI SCIENTIST has heard them.
EXT. RUINS, IN THE UNDERBRUSH - NIGHT
The Nazi SCIENTIST approaches. Pauses next to the box with the GOLD CYLINDERS.
(fierce whisper, to WHITMAN) Listen to me!!! The portal is open!!! We have to stop them!!!
EXT. ABBEY RUINS - ALTAR AREA - NIGHT
Grigory dangles like a marionette in a new surge of energy. Even the skeptical Von Krupt is in thrall.
The NAZI SCIENTIST reaches for a second GOLD CYLINDER. But something else lands next to him: A GRENADE!!!
The explosion blows him to pieces. In a few seconds, the squad of Allies storms the area.
A hail of bullets cuts down a dozen Nazis. The Allies overrun the machine gun nest as grenades explode everywhere.
VON KRUPT shoots wildly, hitting Broom in the leg. But Whitman's bullets rip into the old Nazi's chest.
Leaving a trail of blood, Broom crawls to a dead G.I. and grabs a grenade from his belt.
TCHKKK!!! Kroenen extends two gleaming blades from twin steel bands on his wrists and takes on an entire group of soldiers, mowing through them with swords spinning like deadly rotors. The steel chops clean through their weapons.
Broom pulls the pin and throws the grenade at the generator.
CLICK-CLACK!! It wedges itself between two moving tie rods.
Kroenen squeals and -- retracting his blades -- lunges after it. The gyrating rails slice through his leather jacket. As his fingers reach the grenade, it EXPLODES!!!
Kroenen flies through the air, hitting a stone wall, where two long pieces of shrapnel pin him like an insect.
Another rail plunges -- FFFFT!!, like a javelin -- into the earth right next to MATLIN.
Grigory!
EXT. ABBEY RUINS - ALTAR AREA - NIGHT
Grigory's face is distorted, pulled like ectoplasmic taffy, his body contorting and breaking. The cosmic portal suddenly implodes! Nothing is left but a few burnt rails and the metal glove, empty and smoking.
As the Allies approach, the fighting rages on.
Grigory and Ilsa are gone. And for now, so is Kroenen. Embedded in the wall where he was pinned, two bloody rails, nothing more.
OMIT
EXT. INSIDE THE CHURCH - NIGHT
Allied SOLDIERS penetrate the ruins. Matlin helps Broom up.
It's almost over!!
No. It's not.
He picks up a sample of white, viscous goo from the outer rings of the smoking machine. Whitman approaches.
Cordon off the area. Something came through.
From where??!!