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"The Caverns"
by
James R. Hickey
FADE IN:
EXT. SNOWY MOUNTAINS - DAY
EARLY MORNING. Mist hangs upon the jagged mountain scape.
GERMANY, 1934
There is only silence, when buzzing engines cut in. A
prototype prop plane flies low, followed by two German
biplanes, machine guns ablaze.
An AIR RAID SIREN WAILS, echoing throughout the valley.
The prototype, pushed to it's limits, smoke pouring from
numerous bullet holes. It sputters before darting into the
clouds above.
INT. PROP PLANE - DAWN
The PILOT looks intense hunched over the controls. His face
is obscured by goggles and a scarf.
Taped to his instrument panel is a photo of a beautiful red
head with a warm smile. Along the front, it reads:
ROSE(V.O.)
Come home to me, Allen. Love, Rose.
EXT. SNOWY MOUNTAINS - DAWN
The Pilot maneuvers left, right then sweeps through the
clouds.
MAC
Rockwell, come in. Rockwell.
Machine guns blast again as he pushes into a dive towards
the mountain.
PILOT
This isn't a good time Mac. The
prototype is leaking fuel and I've
got two barons on my tale.
The fighters follow the smoke trail, gaining on him.
MAC
Did you recover the U-235?
PILOT
Yeah, I've got it right here.
MAC
The General is giving me hell about
it, Captain. Even if the prototype
goes down you'll need to recove--
PILOT
It's alright Mac, I've got the
tracker in my pack so --
Bullets SMASH against the hull, one destroys the radio as
the Pilot inside fights to keep the plane up.
PILOT
Mac?-- Mac?
The engine sputters again, drops a couple feet then
straightens out.
PILOT
Whoa!
EXT. SNOWY MOUNTAINS - MORNING
A biplane swings into position, fires but misses as the
prototype turns hard to the right. The Pilot releases his
seat belt, reaches for a small satchel. Visible in the open
pack is a steel canister, with U-235 written on it.
The biplanes swoop in, aiming as the Captain swerves wildly.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!
Bullets rip through the tail of the plane, the engine
billows smoke. The pilot throws open the hatch and gets
ready to jump.
GERMAN PILOT
Ich bein reich verstech!
All three planes race dangerously towards the mountain when
the prototype sputters and drops again.
The pilot is almost thrown, the U-235 canister falls under
the seat. He reaches for it but machine guns fire, blasting
through the wing.
The plane spills fuel, the gauge dropping fast as the plane
loses altitude. One German swoops in, aims down his barrel
and fires. Pilot grabs the woman's photo and jumps just as
the cockpit is destroyed.
He falls to the earth, holds the photo tight then pulls his
chute as the prop plane smashes into the mountains and
EXPLODES in a ball of flame.
Pilot speeds towards the ground, his parachute won't fully
open. He slams into the windswept snowbanks with a THUD.
PILOT
Aaagh!
FADE TO WHITE:
EXT. BASE OF SNOWY MOUNTAIN - MORNING
The Pilot trudges towards the mountain with his leg wrapped
now as a blizzard rushes in.
He holds up a beeping tracking device then looks towards a
cave opening in the mountain above. Smoke pours from the
peak as he hikes on.
FADE TO:
White. A gloved hand comes into frame, heavy breaths. The
pilot, half way up the mountain, struggles to climb further
as the snow whips across his face.
CUT TO:
EXT. CLIFF OF SNOWY MOUNTAIN - MIDDAY
Pilot labors over the cliff face, pulls himself up with a
grunt. Hunched over, he looks up towards the cave opening
then walks ahead cautiously.
He unwraps his scarf, removes his cap to reveal a brave
face, a thick mustache, and a permanent scowl.
The Pilot's name is CAPTAIN ALLEN ROCKWELL and he takes out
an old flashlight before moving deeper into--
INT. DARK TEMPLE, MIDDAY
The temple, dug into the earth long ago has since flooded
leaving the carved, stone features worn.
The Captain steps in slowly, his flashlight cuts through the
dark then rests on a carving of a creature sucking blood
from a man's neck.
Captain sweeps the light around, apprehensive, then hears
something overhead. He aims the flashlight up and startles a
nest of vampire-bats. One bares his teeth with a HISS as
bats begin to fly around the temple.
He swats at them, pushing forward, then pulls out the
tracking device as they disperse.
DARK CAVERN
The Captain, following the low BEEP of his tracker, sneaks
through the twists and turns of the cavern before spotting a
cable embedded in the ceiling.
CAPTAIN
Hmm.
He traces the cable to it's origin, towards a dim light,
draws his pistol. The tracker beeps again over the sound of
a low groan in the distance.
LABORATORY
Captain moves into a carved out room with caution. His
flashlight cuts through the atmosphere, moves around the
room.
It shines across a fleshy object collapsed against a
transmitter, steam rises from a torn chest cavity; a
clenched hand stuck in the air.
It's the silhouette of a corpse, the victim of a brutal
assault.
CAPTAIN
Ah hell.
Disgust is apparent on the Captain's face as he moves on,
examines equipment filling the room.
Against the walls, he sees machinery and three large
canisters. Each one holds a mutated animal inside, their
bones twisted into unnatural forms.
The canisters' light pours onto the Captain's face as he
inspects them. One twitches, giving him a scare.
He spots a large recording device, clicking it on and off
but nothing happens.
Another groan echoes as the Captain follows his flashlight
to an offshoot.
STORAGE ROOM
The Captain puts his pistol away then spots a gray breaker
switch, SLAMS it into position. A few dim lights turn on
throughout the control room, the tape recorder begins to
play loudly.
An older man with a German accent speaks:
SCIENTIST(V.O.)
...growing beyond our control. They
now show severe signs of
aggravation and violence. My
colleagues believe it is madness
caused by U-235 treatments but I
believe--
DARK CAVERN
A large silhouette wakes as a few lights CACHUNK on. The
unseen creature creeps through the cavern, light reflects
from it's black eyes.
INTER CUT BETWEEN CAPTAIN AND CREATURE
Captain glances around the storage room, his flashlight
illuminates a case that reads: dynamite.
SCIENTIST(V.O.)
Day 35. I have made a terrible
mistake. The beasts have gone
beyond our control.
The creature's clawed feet sink into the soft ground with
each step towards the control room.
SCIENTIST(V.O.)
killing Doctor Krenchal during
feeding.
Captain leans down, inspecting the crate. He shoves a
handful of it into his bag.
SCIENTIST(V.O.)
And now many have broken free,
making a nest deep within the
caves.
The creatures shoulders heave up and down as it SNARLS.
BACK TO:
LABORATORY
The Captain hearing the sound, stops, backs into the dark
storage room just as The creature lurches forward.
SCIENTIST(V.O.)
Many return during the night to
feed on those of us who remain.
Looks into the empty room, sniffing the air.
STORAGE ROOM
The Captain, presses his back against the wall, pulls the
gun from his belt. The creature moves forward, out of focus
behind him.
SCIENTIST(V.O.)
I now fear I am the only one left
alive...
The Captain backs into the shadows, clutches his gun as it's
breathing gets louder.
SCIENTIST(V.O.)
God forgive us for what we have
done.
The creature looms closer, now only half dozen steps away
from the storage room, now five, now four - -
SCIENTIST(V.O.)
We didn't know. How could we
know...
It's silhouette is visible from the storage room as it peers
in -- The shadowy room appears empty.
The Captain lunges out of the shadows, SLAMS into the
creature, knocking it back.
LABORATORY
The creature lunges as the Captain fires two shots into it's
body. The creature swipes at him with a muscular wig, knocks
the gun away as the Captain fires a shot into the cave wall.
Captain HOLLERS as the beast slashes his arm. He drops the
gun and it CLANGS across the floor.
CAPTAIN
Damn it!
He stumbles back, gripping his arm as the creature snaps at
him. He struggles to hold it back long enough to draw his
knife.
The beast snarls, snaps again. This time too close for
comfort and the Captain slices one of it's eyes, blinding
the creature.
It lets out a horrible SCREAM and doubles back. For the
first time it is visible in good lighting. It is a bat-like
creature, larger than a man, with it's strong wings
outstretched.
It's jaw is clenched and blood trickles from it's now
useless eye.
The horrific scene washes over the Captain as he dashes into
the unknown tunnels ahead.
The creature's shrieks echo throughout the maze of caverns
and reaches-
CUT TO:
INT. CAVERN NEST, DAY
A huddled nest of mutated bats. One begins to move, wakes
the others. A creature unwraps it's wings, quickly twists
around, HISSING.
BACK TO: DARK CAVERN
The Captain turns at the sound of the rushing creature,
passes through hanging roots.
His tracker BEEPS as he runs further in.
He looks back again, the blinded creature charges closer.
The Captain speeds around the bend, reaching a sudden drop
off, then falls.
DEEP CREVICE
Hands scraping the tunnel- grabs a protruding root, with an
agonizing howl as it snaps tight.
His satchel and tracker fall downward into the endless void.
The blinded bat only a few feet above as it attempts to claw
him. The Captain's grasp slips as he dangles then falls into
the dark crevice.
He crashes onto the ground below with a severe THUMP!
The blinded bat snarls as it attempts to descend the damp
walls.
CUT TO:
INT. LOWER LEVEL, DAY
Dust begins to settle as the Captain stirs. He's in bad
shape with cuts on his face, rips in his clothes. He is
lucky to be alive.
As the Captain lifts himself up and grabs his gun. He sees
his pack strewn across the floor, the tracker now smashed
from the fall.
CAPTAIN
You've got to be kidding me.
The beast struggles, scratches, clings to the walls.
Rockwell grabs his pack as the sounds of the bat, scraping
down the walls, reaches him.
He leaps out of the way just as the bat drops to the cavern
floor.
The Captain rushes away, down the corridor.
CUT TO:
INT. CAVERN NEST, MOMENTS LATER
The Captain jumps down, splashing onto a flooded floor. His
flashlight leads as he hurries on.
Ahead, the path widens with deeper puddles of stagnant
water. A putrid stench hangs in the air and the Captain's
face shows it-
He walks deeper in, sees shapes in the water.
With a closer look, the shapes become bodies. Some are fresh
but most have long been skeletons.
He quickly scans the dreary nest, sees equipment and against
the wall, sit generators.
There is almost no light in the open space. Only the
unmistakable sound of soft movement as the ceiling begins to
crawl with life.
CUT TO:
INT. LOWER LEVEL, DAY
The bat creature lurches forward, past the flooded floor.
It's shrieks echo as it moves into the larger space, eying
the Captain at the other end.
BACK TO: CAVERN NEST
The Captain turns and here it is.
Silhouettes in the mist, this is the Creatures' nest. Hordes
of bats, frenzy in the shadows as the Captain breaks into a
run.
CAPTAIN
You've got to be fucking kidding
me!
Charging around debris, the Captain fires shots as he sees
the bats gather behind him. He throws the pistol towards the
horde once his clip runs out.
His plane's fiery wreckage sits in small area ahead. He
reaches the opening and goes through.
MUNITIONS STORAGE
The plane, though mostly intact, has crushed munitions and
supplies, spilling fuel across the ground.
Captain rushes towards a large machine, slams his weight
against it as the bat creatures rush closer. With a strong
heave the machine tilts then crashes down, blocking the
entrance.
Silence then-
CRASH! The creatures slam into the machine from the far
side. Metal scrapes against rock.
Rockwell climbs the tangled wing, flames lick his hand as he
reaches for the damaged radio.
He rips it out as the photo falls from his jacket. It
catches fire and starts to curl in the flames. Before the
image vanishes we see that it is the picture of Rose.
Only static chatters from the broken radio as the frenzied
creatures smash into the machine. The captain pulls dynamite
from his pouch.
CAPTAIN
Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is
Rockwell.-- MAYDAY, Rockwell. --
Scraping metal as the machine CRASHES to one side and the
creatures rush through. The blinded leader entering the
storage room, lets out a psychotic HOWL.
The Captain crawls over the wreckage to the collapsed wall,
aims his flashlight at the closest creatures but it blinks
off. He taps it on his good leg as they begins to reach out,
he taps it again and the light flashes on.
A beacon of light arcs across the cavern, blinding the
snarling beasts as they draw back for a moment.
Captain Rockwell lights the dynamite and throws it towards
the munitions He turns and runs as the dynamite lands
between fuel tanks.
NARROW TUNNEL
He races down the tunnel leading to a light ahead as the
creatures claw past the wreckage. The fuse burns quickly,
almost gone.
The horde gains on the injured man but he fights to keep
going. The dynamite EXPLODES!
A rumble in the distant shakes the mountain, the munitions
and plane are engulfed.
Fire shoots up the tunnel then bursts out as the Captain
leaps through the opening, crashing into the snowy cliff
below.
CUT TO:
EXT. CLIFF OF SNOWY MOUNTAIN - PRE-SUNSET
Captain Rockwell crawls to the edge, fires smoldering around
the collapsed cave. He sits painfully, holding the radio and
the U-235 canister.
After a moment, he clicks the transmitter on and speaks
tired voice:
CAPTAIN
Come in base 3-X. Come in base 3-X.
I located the wreckage and -- some
mutated species but there were both
destroyed. Not much of the caverns
left either.
And the canister--
He throws the canister into the ravine below, watching it
CLANG against the jagged rocks.
CAPTAIN
It must have destroyed in the
blast.
Moving over the mountain as the lone hero sits motionless
against the cliff face. The only sound is the wind. The
fires smolder on. Bright embers pushed by the rushing wind.
A single creature swoops past the smokey, pre-sunset, sky.
FADE OUT.
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