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} In a word, unfortunate. The damn thing will never see production in
} its current form, as it interferes with the established Indiana Jones
} chronology. Have a look at the opening "teaser" sequence, which was
} meant to run before the main title:
}
} EXT. ISLAND, DAY--
} Paramount logo FADES into a view of a rocky peak. The sky is gray, full
} of scudding clouds. Camera PANS DOWN to reveal an island coastline,
} beaten by waves.
}
} TITLE:
} MAINE, 1921
}
} An old, beat-up FISHING BOAT pulls into view. CUT to--
}
} EXT. DOCK, DAY--
} A very dilapidated dock. Boards, cleats etc. are in disrepair, but
} more from age and neglect than from wear (not many people want to put
} in here). The FISHING BOAT pulls up close to the dock but does not tie
} up. Nobody is around, and nobody is seen on the boat.
}
} A well-worn PACK is tossed from the boat to the dock. A moment later, a
} young man (INDY, in his early 20's) leaps after it. He NEARLY LOSES
} HIS BALANCE on the dock, as the BOAT BEGINS PULLING AWAY almost before
} he has left it.
}
} INDY:
} Hey!
}
} INDY'S POV--
} The BOAT is receding in the distance.
}
} INDY:
} Great. Left before I could
} arrange for a pickup. Now how
} am I gonna leave when I'm done?
}
} CUT to--
}
} INT. KITCHEN, NIGHT (OPENING CREDITS UNDER)--
} INDY is eating supper (a thin, fishy stew of some sort) in the kitchen
} of a local cottage, with a shriveled elderly FISHERMAN and his WIFE.
} The only light comes from the cast-iron stove and a single kerosene
} lantern. Spooky shadows dance on the walls. The LOCALS cast an
} occasional suspicious glance at INDY but otherwise ignore him and each
} other.
}
} INDY:
} I'm grateful for your hospitality,
} of course. I hope the terms are
} acceptable--I'm willing to pay up
} front, if you'd like.
}
} The FISHERMAN grunts--or maybe he's just reacting to a bit of gristle
} in the stew. The silence drags.
}
} INDY:
} (uncomfortable with the long silence)
} Er...I'm a grad student in archaeology.
} I'm doing a research project on the old
} native statues; that's why I wanted to
} stay here.
}
} The LOCALS suddenly both stare at him sharply. The WIFE rises and
} EXITS immediately.
}
} INDY:
} I've only seen fragments of the
} statues, of course. I reckoned
} I might uncover some more complete
} pieces if I actually came to the
} island.
}
} FISHERMAN:
} Eyah. I reckon you might, at that.
}
} OFF FISHERMAN'S EXPRESSION--
} CUT TO--
}
} INT. BEDROOM, NIGHT
} INDY is in a bed that's a bit too small for him, getting readdy for
} sleep. He leafs through his JOURNAL, filled with SKETCHES of the
} fragmentary statues. Then he PUTS the journal under his pillow, BLOWS
} OUT a kerosene lamp and settles in.
}
} A NOISE of stone moving against stone (SFX) is briefly, softly heard.
}
} INDY reacts, sits up in bed. Except for jacket and hat, he is almost
} FULLY DRESSED.
}
} The NOISE is repeated. INDY gets out of bed. CUT TO--
}
} EXT. COTTAGE, NIGHT
} INDY, dressed as in last scene (boots on, but untied) and carrying the
} re-lit lantern, is sneaking around the cottage in search of the noise.
}
} INDY'S POV--
} A faint, yellow LIGHT is coming from the ROOT CELLAR. Indy ENTERS to
} investigate.
}
} INT. ROOT CELLAR, NIGHT
} A normal root cellar, small, cramped, full of stuff. But yellow LIGHT
} is shining from a floor-level CRACK in the back wall.
}
} INDY feels along the back wall, pries at the crack, etc. At last he
} MOVES A JAR on a shelf. The BACK WALL SWINGS away and up (same SFX,
} but louder now) to reveal a stone PASSAGEWAY lit by the eerie yellow
} LIGHT.
}
} INT. PASSAGEWAY, NIGHT (jumping occasionally to INDY'S POV)
} Indy steps into the passageway, and the WALL SWINGS back into place
} (SFX). He PROCEEDS down the sloping passageway, encountering several
} man-size STATUES of similar design to his journal sketches. After a
} while, a sound of many voices CHANTING is heard, and gradually the
} words (such as they are) become distinguishable, if not intelligible.
}
} CHANT:
} Ia! Ia Nyarlathotep! [etc.]
}
} INDY rounds a bend in the passageway, and comes upon a CAVERN.
}
} INT. CAVERN, NIGHT (INDY'S POV)
} The CHANTING is very loud indeed now. A quick glimpse of about a dozen
} LOCALS, naked and draped in seaweed, is suddenly obscured by a large,
} shapeless MASS which LOOMS up over Indy.
}
} OFF INDY'S REACTION--
}
} The MASS POUNCES (oozes? collapses?) over INDY before he's halfway
} turned to run.
}
} Quick FADE TO BLACK, ROLL MAIN TITLE
}
} The remainder of the film mainly consists of an eldritch, undead Indy
} shambling around trying to bring about the end of humanity's dominion
} on earth. The marketing and licensing wonks at Paramount threw a fit.
} The script is currently in extensive rewrite, and there's no chance of
} it going into production before November 2001. With luck, it might be
} ready for release in summer 2003, but the smart money says it'll be
} held up until 2004 at least.
}
} You owe the Oracle a DVD of "The Thin Man Meets the Terminator".
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