screenplay - the relic

8/19/2019 Screenplay - The Relic

1/208

RELIC

A screenplay by Amy Holden Jones

Based on the book by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

arch !"# !$$%

&I&LE CARD''' BELE BRA(IL ) J*L+'''

E,&' BELE -&REE&- ) .I/H&

A ta0i careens do1n narro1 road1ays at breakneck speeds'

I.&' &A,I ) .I/H&

In the back seat is 2HI&&LE-LE+' Early 345s# the 1reck o6 a once

handsome man' *nsha7en' -1eat stained' Rail thin' -cratches on his

arms# a 6resh scar on one cheek' As the ta0i roars do1nhill to1ards

the harbor# 2hittlesley leans o7er the 6ront seat' 8Italics indicate

Portuguese to be subtitled9

2HI&&LE-LE+

:aster; 2e 1on5t make it'

DRI.I:E# puts it to the dri7er5s ?ugular 7ein'

2HI&&LE-LE+

Do you=

-1eat pouring do1n his bro1# the dri7er re)doubles his speed'


2/208

E,&' BELE -&REE&- ) .I/H&

&he ta0i s1er7es around a corner# nearly crashing into a 6ruit cart#

6lies out o6 sight'

E,&' HARB@R ) BELE ) .I/H&

Light rain obscures the bulky outlines o6 tethered 6reighters' 2e hear

6aint laughter lea7ened 1ith Portuguese phrases# distant Calypso music

6rom 1ater6ront bars' @ne o6 the smaller boats# the -A.&A L*CIA# is

loading as the &A,I 6ishtails to a halt'

2hittlesley gets out# sees the boat still at dock' His 6ace 6loods

1ith relie6'

2HI&&LE-LE+

&hank /od'

He tosses a hand6ul o6 bills into the dri7er5s lap# sprints up the

pier as the dri7er shouts curses a6ter him in Portuguese' 2hittlesley

sho7es past the dock hands as the last load goes onto the -anta Lucia'

&he boat5s engines churn to li6e'

2HI&&LE-LE+

I need to speak to the captain;

2here is he=

&he sailors hold 2hittlesley back'


3/208

2HI&&LE-LE+

/et your hands o66 me; I5m trying

to sa7e your li7es# you 6ools;

-e7eral cre1 members murmur the 1ord loco' Hearing the commotion# a

suat man 1earing a billed hat and smoking a cigar approaches' CAP&AI.

:RA.C@'

:RA.C@

American=

2HI&&LE-LE+

+es' &hank Christ somebody speaks

English' I5m Dr' John 2hittlesley'

+ou ha7e some crates o6 mine on

board' &hey 1ere shipped by mistake

to the .atural History useum' 2e

ha7e to get them o66 the boat'

:RA.C@

+ou ha7e I'D'=

2hittlesley runs a trembling hand through his hair# trying to keep

control and appear reasonable'

2HI&&LE-LE+

.o' Let me e0plain' I 1as on an

e0pedition 6or the museum on the

*pper ,ingu' -omething horrible

happened' I5m the only one 1ho got


4/208

out ali7e' I lost e7erything# my

I'D'# e7erything' I ha7e to make

sure no one else dies' &he crates#

the crates 1ere sent out be6ore 1e

kne1' &here5s something unspeakable

inside' I6 your boat lea7es harbor

1ith those crates on board# I can5t

be responsible' y /od# i6 they

reach .e1 +ork'''

2hittlesley5s 6ists clench spasmodically' :ranco looks to his men'

:RA.C@

Loco'

2HI&&LE-LE+

.o; I5m not cray; As /od is my

1itness# I5m telling the truth'

:ranco barks an order and se7eral sailors grab 2hittlesley by the

arms' &hey start to lead him back to shore'

2HI&&LE-LE+

Don5t do this; +ou ha7e to belie7e

me' +our li7es are in danger'

&he sailors laugh' But 1ith an almost super)human strength born o6

desperation# 2hittlesley thro1s them o66' He pulls out his 1allet'

2HI&&LE-LE+


5/208

Cash' Cash# you see= American money'

2hittlesley thro1s the money do1n on the deck' &he breee scatters the

bills across the bo1 and all the men# including Captain :ranco#

scramble 6or the money# chattering in Portuguese' 2hile they are

occupied# 2hittlesley slips by unnoticed and disappears belo1 deck'

I.&' H@LD ) -A.&A L*CIA ) .I/H&

2hittlesley ducks bet1een cages o6 goats# bo0es o6 6arm euipment# his

mo7ements ?erky 1ith panic' As he continues searching# the camera

mo7es past him# into the darkness o6 the hold' 2e hear 2hittlesley

mumbling bet1een lo1# ragged breaths' At the back o6 the boat the

camera 6inds'''

A -&AC> @: CRA&E-''' clearly labeled .A&*RAL HI-&@R+ *-E*' o7e in on

these as''' &he CRA&E- LACE o6 &2@ ARR@2-# one gold# another sil7er'

2hittlesley stares 1ide)eyed into the blackness o6 the hold' &he goats


6/208

start BLEA&I./ in blind panic' A sha6t o6 moonlight comes through a

porthole as the boat turns' &he moonlight 6alls on

&HE CRA&E-' 2hittlesley5s eyes lock onto them and he inches to1ards

them# dra1n ine0orably closer''' closer'''

2HI&&LE-LE+

.o''' no'''

He begins mumbling a prayer'

@ED CAR ) DA+

At the 1heel is a strikingly digni6ied and imposing black man 1earing

a simple# old)6ashioned dark suit# narro1 black tie# and 1hite shirt'


7/208

&his is -PECIAL A/E.& PE.DER/A- :BI'

A BACH [email protected]&A 6or 7iolin and harpsichord plays on the tape deck'

Pendergast hums along as he dri7es' A -ALL &@2. C@P rides shotgun'

&he cop is intimidated both by Pendergast and the morning5s e7ents' He

s1eats hea7ily as he brings Pendergast up to date'

-ALL &@2. C@P

@ne o6 the locals 6ound it at da1n'

Didn5t belie7e him 5till I sa1 it

mysel6' E7en then I didn5t belie7e

it' -cared my men shitless' e too'

I mean''' hell''' +ou could smell it a

hal6 mile a1ay# r' Pendergast'

PE.DER/A-&

8unperturbed9

Any o6 your men go on board=

-ALL &@2. C@P

.o sir' .o 1ay' .one o6 us 1anted

to# I5m the 6irst to admit it' I

said# Don5t get 1ithin a mile o6

this thing' It5s 1ay to big 6or us'

I5m calling the :BI'

Pendergast nods his appro7al# resumes humming along 1ith a

particularly intricate harpsichord ri66' As al1ays# the man is

un6lappable and totally calm as he dri7es'


8/208

E,&' L@*I-IA.A BEACH ) DA+

&he ocean is still# the air sti6ling and close' A hot sun beats do1n

on the deck o6 the -A.&A L*CIA' &he boat lists at a cray angle 1here

it has been 1ashed up on the shore' At 6irst glance# it appears to be

deserted' A barrel rolls back and 6orth as the boat is rocked by each

successi7e 1a7e' 2e hear sirens approaching and the phalan0 o6 suad

cars pulls up' Joining them no1 are &2@ AB*LA.CE-'

PE.DER/A-& gets out along 1ith the others' All o6 the cops immediately

co7er their 6aces# gagging 7iolently at the smell' Pendergast sni66s

once and 6ro1ns' Apart 6rom this# he doesn5t react'

-ALL &@2. C@P

8choking9

/oin5 up)1ind i6 you don5t mind'

Pendergast nods' &he cops all 6all back in re7ulsion' &hey 1atch 6rom

a sa6e distance as Pendergast approaches the ghost ship' His shiny

laced 1ing)tips sink in the sand' He leans do1n# pulls them o66 one at

a time' He balls both socks# puts them care6ully into his shoes and

proceeds bare6oot to1ards the boat'

*sing a piece o6 dri6t1ood as a plank# Pendergast leans it against the

-anta Lucia' 2ith surprising agility# he leaps up the plank to the

deck' At the top he touches a rail' It5s co7ered in a DAR> -&IC>+

LI*ID'

BL@@D' :lies bu loudly' A LAR/E ACHE&E lies abandoned in the stern'

Chairs are o7erturned' A DEAD /@A e7iscerated# lies in the bo1' A


9/208

li6eboat hangs hal6 o66 the stern' Pendergast mo7es a6t' &he C@P-

1atch 6rom the sand belo1# un1illing to get any closer' Pendergast

hears A D@@R slamming open and closed' He 6ollo1s the noise and

sees'''

&HE D@@R &@ &HE H@LD' He approaches# pushes it open and looks do1n the

stair1ell' Belo1 deck are

B@DIE-''' stacks o6 them' &hey57e been &@R. &@ -HRED-'

&HE CAERA @ &@ :RA.C@5- HEAD'

:ADE &@ BLAC>

-ilence then 1e begin hearing sounds o6 the city''' horns# tra66ic#

construction 1ork'

-*PER &I&LE''' .E2 +@R> CI&+# :@*R @.&H- LA&ER as 1e'''

:ADE I.

@. A .EC>LACE o6 &2@ ARR@2-# one o6 gold# the other sil7er' &he t1in

to the one seen on 2hittlesley' 2iden to'''

E,&' R@@:&@P /ARDE. ) AR/@5- .E2 +@R> APAR&E.& ) @R.I./


10/208

And the 1oman 1earing the necklace''' AR/@ /REE.' -he sips her morning

co66ee as she makes notes on se7eral large :@--ILI(ED &EE&H' Her hair

is neatly combed' .o make)up' -he doesn5t need it' -he has a natural#

unsel6conscious beauty and a mind like a steel trap'

At argo5s elbo1 is a small &' 1ith remarkably clear eyes'

E,&' CE.&RAL PAR> ) @R.I./

HELIC@P&ER -H@&''' -1ooping o7er the 6all 6oliage o6 the Park# a riot

o6 color and botanical li6e''' &he camera picks out AR/@5- BIC+CLE

making its 1ay along the 1inding roads# dodging ta0i cabs' argo 1ears

?eans# a 1ork shirt# a 6ine blue gabardine ?acket 1ith a rhinestone

D@*BLE HELI, PI.' @n her back is a LEA&HER BAC> PAC> 1hich holds her

lap top computer' -he emerges 6rom the park# catches the green light

and rolls up to'''

E,&' *-E* @: .A&*RAL HI-&@R+ ) DA+

As argo arri7es# the camera mo7es up and o7er the building# comes to

rest on the imposing turrets# intersecting roo6 lines# and /othic


11/208

arches o6 the *-E* @: .A&*RAL HI-&@R+' &his is not an ordinary

buildingF it5s a !$th century monument to science and mankind' &he

structure 6ills an entire city block'

Happy 7isitors pour into the museum as argo takes the imposing 1ide

stone steps t1o at a time' 2e hear -CREA- o6 pleasure and release#

the normal raucous noises o6 a large group o6 &HIRD /RADE CHILDRE.'

argo is amused to 6ind hersel6 surrounded by kids' &heir teacher#

R-' BEA-LE+# a stern 1oman in glasses 1ith a thick .e1 +ork accent#

calls a6ter them as they all head inside'

R-' BEA-LE+

Don5t run# children; -tay 1ith your

partner and do not run; I6 anyone

runs they 1ill be sent back to the

bus;

Ignoring rs' Beasley# &2@ B@+- charge past argo' HE.R+ and LARR+'

Henry has a bu cutF Larry has rasta dread knots' Both are G years

old# 1ear high top sneakers and shorts so big they grae their ankles'

R-' BEA-LE+

Henry; Larry; 2hat did I ?ust say;

+ou 1alk right this minute; Did you

hear me=;

Reluctantly# Henry and Larry slo1 to a rapid race)1alk as they reach

the huge door1ay 6lanked by t1o .orth1est Coast Indian totem poles'

Abo7e the door1ay 2@R>E. are hanging a LAR/E BA..ER' It reads

-*PER-&I&I@. E,HIBI&''' @PE.I./ @C&' $


12/208

I.&' *-E* R@&*.DA-&AIR2ELL ) DA+

&he school children burst into a three story space dominated by a

li6e)sied statue o6 a HERD @: ELEPHA.&-' &he kids chatter 1ith

e0citement# look up in a1e' argo nods to a /*ARD 1ho smiles as she

pins on a plastic I'D'

/*ARD

orning# Dr' /reen'

AR/@

orning Joe' Beauti6ul day'

Henry 1atches argo pass through the turnstiles 1ithout paying' He

s1aggers o7er'

HE.R+

+ou 1ork here=

AR/@

+es# I do'

HE.R+

2hat do you do=

AR/@

8leans do1n# amused9

I5m an E7olutionary Biologist' 2hat

do you do=


13/208

HE.R+

.othing' I5m in third grade' 2hat5s

a re7olutionary 1hat ch5a ma5

callit=

AR/@

E7olutionary Biologist' I study ho1

li6e on earth e7ol7ed o7er millions

o6 years'

HE.R+

8brightens9

2ay cool' &hen you kno1 1here the

dinosaurs are'

AR/@

:ourth 6loor# 2est 1ing# but stay

1ith your class'

rs' Beasley heads into the museum and Larry and Henry merge 1ith the

rest o6 the kids' argo turns to1ards the stair1ell# passing'''

IA. C*&HBER&''' useum Director''' a pudgy man in 1ire rim glasses 1ho

dresses and thinks like a banker' Hired 6or his amaing ability to

raise money# Cuthbert is one o6 a ne1 generation o6 useum Directors

1hose 6ocus must al1ays be on the bottom line'

AR/@

Hello# Ian' E7erything ready 6or the


14/208

opening o6 the -uperstition E0hibit=

C*&HBER&

I5m on my 1ay to get the last piece

out o6 storage right no1'

AR/@

I5d 1ish you luck but I5m not

superstitious'

C*&HBER&

+ou 1ill be a6ter tomorro1 night'

Cuthbert 1a7es merrily' A 1orkman uses a LADDER in the stair1ell'

Cuthbert is about to 1alk under the ladder# stops and care6ully 1alks

around it instead' argo smiles# goes on upstairs'

I.&' *-E* BA-EE.& ) DA+

Cuthbert enters 6rom the lo1er stair1ell' He is no1 in one o6 the

hundreds o6 areas o6 the museum that are closed to the the general

public' He 6ollo1s a labyrinthine route do1n a dim passage1ay lined

1ith rumbling steam pipes' &here are storage areas on both sides

labeled @R.I&H@L@/+# HERPI&@L@/+# CE.&RAL A-IA E,PEDI&[email protected]#

A>ELE+

E,PEDI&[email protected]# 2HALE [email protected] :@--IL- and so on' :inally Cuthbert comes to a

door marked

2HI&&LE-LE+ E,PEDI&[email protected] !$G)$%' Cuthbert pauses and gets out a key#

but to his surprise the door pushes open' &he lock and doorknob

mechanism are both broken o66; Cuthbert 6ro1ns'


15/208

C*&HBER&

2hat the''' =

He goes inside'

I.&' 2HI&&LE-LE+ C@LLEC&I@. BA-EE.& ) DA+

Cuthbert 6lips on a light to see a tall# narro1 space' -tacks o6 metal

shel7es reach up into the gloom' E7ery1here 1e see spears# shields#

masks# 7arious arti6acts' Ancient tribal costumes lie shrouded in

plastic like corpses against the 1alls' And in the middle o6 the

gloom# sitting ominously in the light o6 a sole hanging bulb are'''

&HE 2HI&&LE-LE+ CRA&E-' &he same ones last seen in the hold o6 the

ill)6ated -anta Lucia' &hey are scattered about in disarray' @ne in

particular has been broken open# its contents spread on the 6loor'

Cuthbert mutters in surprise and dismay# kneels by the crate'

C*&HBER&

.o# it can5t be'

Cuthbert 6eels gently through the packing material# lets out a sigh o6

relie6 as he pulls out a 6igurine' It is a small# beauti6ully car7ed

statue o6 A @.-&ER crouched on all 6ours'

&he room 6alls totally silent as Cuthbert studies &HE RELIC' It5s a

truly 6rightening piece''' massi7e# raor sharp cla1s# large round

nostrils# enormous teeth and red rimmed eyes' -uddenly Cuthbert sees a

DR@P @: BL@@D on his hand; He5s been C*&;


16/208

C*&HBER&

Damn'

Cuthbert rises# shakes his 6inger in pain' Blood drips on the 6loor'

He pulls out his pocket handkerchie6 and 1raps the 1ound' &he

handkerchie6 rapidly soaks through' -uddenly a HA.D CLAP- on

Cuthbert5s shoulder; He5s not alone; He lets out a +ELP# almost

dropping the Relic and spins to see'''

A *-E* /*ARD standing behind him' His nameplate reads''' BEA*RE/ARD'

He5s a gentle young 6ello1 1ith 1hite blond hair and a rolling

southern accent'

C*&HBER&

Beauregard; +ou scared me hal6 to

death'

BEA*RE/ARD

I5m sorry# sir' +ou okay=

C*&HBER&

-omeone broke into this room'

BEA*RE/ARD

Anything missin5=

C*&HBER&

Doesn5t look like it' 2e5re damned

lucky' &his statue is priceless'


17/208

Cuthbert holds up the RELIC o6 &HE @.-&ER' Beauregard stares'

C*&HBER&

b1un' A -outh American 1arrior

deity' He carries a po1er6ul curse'

E7ery member o6 the e0pedition that

6ound this statue# died'

Beauregard sees Cuthbert5s cut 6inger'

BEA*RE/ARD

Looks like the curse is still at

1ork'

C*&HBER&

&he cla1s are sharp''' I must ha7e

cut mysel6'

8uneasy laugh9

Better mo7e these crates to the

secure storage area 1here they5ll be

sa6e'

Beauregard studies the door as Cuthbert heads out 1ith the 6igurine'

BEA*RE/ARD

Don5t kno1 i6 it5ll do any good# r'

Cuthbert'

C*&HBER&


18/208

2hy not=

BEA*RE/ARD

.o one broke into this room# sir'

-omeone broke out' &hat lock 1as

torn o66 6rom the inside'

Cuthbert glances at the e7il 6ace o6 b1un# pales' As he e0its# H@LD

@. BEA*RE/ARD# le6t alone 1ith the crates'

I.&' PH+-ICAL A.&HR@P@L@/+ LAB ) DA+

Huge centri6uges# hissing autocla7es# electrophoresis apparati#

glo1ing monitors# elaborate blo1n)glass distillation columns and

titration set)ups' @ne o6 the most ad7anced technical 6acilities o6

its kind' And mi0ed in 1ith all the modern machinery are

->ELE&@.- @: ALL >I.D-' Complete homo sapien specimens are scattered

around the room' -tanding midst all this is /RE/@R+ >A2A>I&A# early

t1enties' >a1akita makes sharp# ?erky o7erhead mo7ements 1ith his le6t

hand# 1a7ing something about' He5s practicing casting' 2e hear the

ing o6 a line and the 1hirring o6 the 6ly reel as AR/@ E.&ER-' A 6ly

1hips out# passing right under her nose'

>A2A>I&A

&hird 6rom the end; Right shoulder'

Aleut# pro7enance unkno1n'

&he 6ly ooms across the room and lights on the shoulder o6 the third

skeleton 6rom the end# labeled Aleut# pro7enance unkno1n' argo


19/208

rolls her eyes and >a1akita smiles 1ith pride'

>A2A>I&A

I6 I spent hal6 the time on my

:ractal E7olution thesis that I

spend on this 6ly rod# I5d ha7e my

PhD'

AR/@

8small smile9

But at 1hat a price'

>a1akita reels in his line as argo drops her backpack on her large

desk' An enormous ICR@-C@PE stands by the eually imposing computer

topped by a tiger skull' A screen sa7er o6 an animated pterodactyl

plays' argo unpacks bo0es o6 6ossil teeth# hits some keys re7ealing

columns o6 seemingly indecipherable chemical euations on the computer

screen'

AR/@

I ha7e the species identi6ication on

these teeth' 2e can e0tract D.A and

start running tests on the

e0trapolator program' Call Dr'

:rock' He 1anted a demonstration'

>A2A>I&A

argo# you ha7en5t heard=

AR/@


20/208

2hat=

>A2A>I&A

:rock5s been 6ired'

argo straightens# stunned'

AR/@

&hat5s impossible'

>A2A>I&A

8a1k1ard9

I5m sorry to be the bearer o6 bad

tidings# but you kno1 me' &elegraph'

&elephone' &ell >a1akita' I got the

de6initi7e 1ord 6rom Cuthbert5s

secretary' &his is Dr' :rock5s last

1eek'

argo is already out the door'

I.&' C@RRID@R--&AIR2ELL ) *-E* ) DA+

argo charges through double doors leading into the south1est to1er'

-he hal6 runs do1n an elegant# Ed1ardian 6i6th)6loor corridor# her

6ootsteps lost in the thick carpet' At the 7ery end is a hea7y oak

door bearing a plate ent1ined 1ith brone lea7es that reads simply

Dr' :rock'

I.&' :R@C>5- @::ICE ) DA+


21/208

argo bursts into the uniue o66ice# 1hich is in startling contrast to

the modernity o6 her o1n' &1o large bo1 1indo1s look out o7er the

park' *pholstered # and he5s in the middle o6 packing' He looks up#

smiles apologetically'

DR' :R@C>

Hello# argo' -orry about the mess'

AR/@

Is it true= /reg said you5d been

6ired'

:R@C>

+es' Bit o6 a shock' But as Cuthbert

so tact6ully put it# the museum

needs ne1 blood' And since I57e been

here since the esooic Era ))

AR/@

I don5t belie7e it'

:R@C>

.o1 argo# don5t o7erreact' Cuthbert


22/208

has to cut costs someho1' y lea7ing

makes per6ect sense' &his isn5t

e0actly early retirement' I57e

o7erstayed the party a bit'

AR/@

2e can5t do 1ithout you' +ou5re one

o6 the 6oremost authorities on

primiti7e pharmacology' +ou5re

practically an institution around

here'

:R@C>

&hat# apparently# is the problem'

I5m yesterday5s ne1s' 2ho needs a

Curator o6 Plant Biology in a museum

1ith one e0hibit on plants= onsters

and dinosaurs# cannibals and shamans

are the ne1 currency o6 the realm'

:rock goes back to his 1ork packing to hide his emotion and argo

mo7es to his side' -he pulls :rock5s books back out o6 the bo0#

returns them to his desk'

AR/@

Phyletic &rans6ormation and the

&ertiary :ern -pike is not going

any1here' I5ll talk to Cuthbert and

put a stop to this right no1'


23/208

-he starts 6or the door and :rock 1heels into her path' .o1 6or the

6irst time she sees 1hat he5s been care6ully hiding''' the deep pain in

his eyes'

:R@C>

Please' Don5t humiliate me 6urther'

AR/@

Let me help' I can take care o6

e7erything'

:R@C>

.o# argo' &his is one problem you

can5t sol7e' +ou ha7e to stay out o6

it' &he 6act is# I 1ant to retire'

AR/@

Ho1 can you say that= +ou kno1 it5s

not true'

:R@C>

+es it is' I5m tired and I5m no

longer needed ))

AR/@

y 1ork on 6ossil intermediates

1ould be crippled 1ithout you'

:R@C>

2ith all due respect# dear# that5s


24/208

bull' +ou dance rings around me 1ith

your ne1 technology' +ou57e le6t me

in the dust'

AR/@

8stubbornly loyal9

+our 1ork is highly rele7ant' 2hat

about your display on Primiti7e

Pharmacology= Cuthbert told me

himsel6 he 1as going to 6eature it

prominently in the -uperstition

E0hibit'

:R@C>

Healing plant use among the >i tribe

o6 Bechuanaland has been cancelled

to make room 6or &ibetan Erotic Art'

:rock reaches out and sueees her hand gently 1ith a look that says

the discussion is o7er'

:R@C>

Come on' I5ll 1alk you back to the

ele7ator'

AR/@

I5m not gi7ing up'

:R@C>

+ou must'


25/208

I.&' *-E* HALL2A+- ) DA+

:rock rolls back do1n the hall the 1ay argo ?ust came' argo is

beside him# do1ncast' -he5s not used to de6eat'

:R@C>

&his isn5t a death sentence' /reg

has promised to teach me 6ly

6ishing' I5ll garden' I5ll 1rite'

AR/@

+ou are this museum' It 1on5t be the

same 1ithout you'

:R@C>

E7eryone needs a change o6 scenery'

I57e been rolling do1n these halls

6or 6orty)odd years' &hat5s uite

enough'

argo gets in the ele7ator reluctantly' He smiles and meets her eye'

:R@C>

I5ll see you at lunch'

He 1a7es her o66 merrily' But once the doors close and argo5s out o6

sight# :rock5s smile 6ades and his shoulders sag' He ducks his

1heelchair uickly into the Hall o6 A6rican ammals'


26/208

I.&' HALL @: A:RICA. AAL- ) A:&ER.@@.

&1o stories high# dark and dramatic' A 7ery special display' Dioramas

o6 lions# hippos# 1art hogs etc' In the middle is a large statue o6 a

/@RILLA beating its chest' :rock takes re6uge in the darkness o6 the

e0hibit' His 1heelchair sits in a uiet corner and 1e see him uickly

1ipe the back o6 his hands across his eyes'

I.&' @LL*->- E,HIBI& ) DA+

-hells and sea li6e line the 1alls' A sign announces the e0hibit

ollusks and @ur 2orld' &he &HIRD /RADE CLA-- s1eeps in' Larry and

Henry start to sing ollusks and @ur 2orld to the tune o6 2elcome

to @ur 2orld# the :'A'@' -ch1art theme song' rs' Beasley shoots

them the e7il eye and Henry 1hines'''

HE.R+

rs' Beasley# it5s almost time to go

and 1e still ha7en5t seen the

dinosaurs;

BEA-LE+

I6 you ask me about the dinosaurs

once more# I5II strangle you both;

-he starts to lecture about horseshoe crabs in a droning monotone'

Henry and Larry hang back'

LARR+

81hispers9


27/208

&his room sucks'

HE.R+

-he5s ne7er going to take us to see

the dinosaurs' &hat lady said they

1ere on the 6ourth 6loor'

LARR+

Let5s ditch and 6ind them oursel7es'

&hey dart o66 do1n a side corridor and up a 1ide stairs'

I.&' REP&ILE- A.D APHIBIA.- R@@ ) DA+

Larry and Henry emerge and 1alk 1ide)eyed among the cases o6 liards#

chameleons# tortoises' High 1indo1s light the room' @utside the sun is

going do1n' A 1oman pushing a child in a stroller e0its and the boys

ha7e the hall to themsel7es'

LARR+

Look at this' A >omodo dragon'

As Larry checks out# the huge# dragon)like reptile# 1hich has ?ust

sunk its Ja1s into a stu66ed boar' Henry points to a stu66ed /ecko

climbing 7ertically up the side o6 its case'

HE.R+

Check out this one' It can 1alk up

1alls'


28/208

Larry already has his eyes on the 6ar end o6 the hall 1here temporary

barricades ha7e been put up to pre7ent access to the ne0t room'

Painting is in progress' -ca66olding ?ust begs to be climbed' Henry

runs o7er and starts up the sca66olding' Larry hesitates'

LARR+

2e5re not supposed to go back there'

HE.R+

Chicken' &his is a great short cut'

Henry drops on the other side o6 the sca66olding and Larry 6ollo1s' In

a moment both disappear 6rom sight'

I.&' *-E* HALL @: BIRD- ) DA+

2indo1less and dark' A closed display under maintenance' &housands o6

little stu66ed birds line the 1alls 6rom 6loor to ceiling# 1hite

cotton poking out o6 sightless eyes' Henry and Larry enter and slo1

do1n' Larry5s getting scared'

LARR+

I don5t 1ant to go this 1ay'

HE.R+

Don5t be a 1uss' Come on'

&he boys continue on1ard more slo1ly# their 6oot6alls echoing in the

silence'


29/208

I.&' BAC> HALL2A+- ) DA+

&he children are no1 6ar 6rom the other tourists and their class'

Larry is 6rightened' &he hall takes a sharp dog)leg# ending in a

darkened cul)de)sac 6ull o6 display cases 6illed 1ith hideous car7ed

masks' Against the side o6 the chamber is a barricade o6 1ood 1hich

looks much like a 1all' Henry tugs at it and the barricade mo7es' He

looks behind'

HE.R+

Hey# there5s a secret staircase back

here' Cool'

Henry disappears behind the barricade lea7ing Larry completely alone

in the dark room 1ith the -haman masks'

LARR+

Henry# come back;

Henry doesn5t respond' &he lights in the cases thro1 strange shado1s'

Larry starts to sni66le# 6alls to hiccuping# sits do1n' He pulls on a

little 6lap o6 rubber that5s coming o66 the toe o6 his sneaker# all

bra7ado gone'

LARR+

Henry; Henry;

.o ans1er' Larry rises and peeks behind the barricade' He sees the

circular stair' It descends into total darkness' :rom belo1 comes a

strange smell that makes Larry5s nose 1rinkle'


30/208

LARR+

Henry=

.o ans1er' Larry puts his 6irst 6oot on the stair'

LARR+

Henry; Come up; Please;

2ith no other option but staying alone in the dark# Larry 6ollo1s

Henry do1n'

I.&' -PIRAL -&AIRCA-E ) DA+

Larry clutches the banister# 1hispers'''

LARR+

Henry= 2here are you= Henry=

Larry takes another step' Another' And another' He stops' Belo1 him he

hears -.*::LI./# rather like a large dog' Larry 6reees# starts to

cry'

LARR+

Henry; Henry; It smells a16ul'

Ans1er me; Are you all right=

Larry can barely see a dim hall1ay stretching out in t1o directions'

He pauses near the bottom o6 the stairs# eyes 1ide# holding his

breath' &here appears to be a darker area o6 -HAD@2 at the end o6 the


31/208

hall' It5s gliding &@2ARD- &HE;

-uddenly something CL@-E- on Larry5s leg and he +ELP-' It5s HE.R+'

Henry pulls Larry the rest o6 the 1ay do1n the stairs' &hey stand

alone together in the darkness' Henry hisses'

HE.R+

uiet;

LARR+

2hat is it=

HE.R+

I don5t kno1' But I think it5s bad'

&hey keep their eyes locked on the shape at the end o6 the hall as

they back up# step by step' o7e in as their 6aces suddenly &2I-& 2I&H

:EAR' &HE B@+-''' -CREA BL@@D+ *RDER''' &he sound echoes in the

darkness as 1e'''

C*& &@

I.&' AR/@5- APAR&E.& ) .I/H&

argo sits up in the darkness# gasping' oonlight cuts across the bed'

It takes a moment 6or her to realie that she5s had a nightmare' -he

reaches 6or her light' As she s1itches it on# 1e see a photo on her

bedside table' It sho1s a group on a mountain in &IBE&' &here are

se7eral people 1ith their arms slung around each other' At the end is

a younger AR/@ holding hands 1ith J@H. 2HI&&LE-LE+' &hey appear to be


32/208

more than 6riends'

@. AR/@''' she looks at the photo a moment# then turns o66 the light

and lies back# alone in her bed'

DI--@L


33/208

AR/@

2hat5s going on=

C@P

All employees are to go to the IA,

room 6or a brie6ing# Dr' /reen'

I.&' -IDE HALL ) *-E* ) DA+

-e7eral cops go by 1ith tracking dogs' argo looks back at the dogs#

increasingly uneasy# almost bumps into'''

HE.R+ A.D LARR+' -urprisingly# they are ali7e and 1ell and seated 1ith

R-' BEA-LE+ outside an o66ice' argo e0changes a look 1ith both boys#

remembering them 6rom yesterday' A tentati7e smile starts but Henry

and Larry don5t return it' -erious and chastened# they drop their

eyes' argo continues on'

&2@ C@P- stand outside the door to the rest room# their backs turned

to argo as she approaches'

C@P @.E

2hat 1as that= -i0=

C@P &2@

Lost count'

argo glances past them to see an @LDER A. 1earing the badge o6 a

.I/H& 2A&CHA.# leaning o7er a sink' He 1ipes his mouth' argo5s eyes


34/208

mo7e do1n to see''' &HE A.5- -.EA>ER- are soaked in blood'

I.&' HALL @: AD


35/208

D5A/@-&A

Don5t touch anything until the

-'@'C' has 6inished 1ith those

stairs' >eep e7eryone clear o6 the

perimeter' I don5t 1ant any

contamination' &here5s an incredible

amount o6 blood e7idence do1n here'

2e need more light' 2here5s the

photographer= &ell him to uit

eating donuts# I need him'

As Pendergast enters# D5Agosta looks up at this serious A6rican)

American in simple black suit# 1hite shirt and dark tie'

D5A/@-&A

2ho are you= &he undertaker=

PE.DER/A-&

-pecial Agent Pendergast' :BI'

D5A/@-&A


36/208

operates 6rom the gut' Pendergast gestures to the 6orm on the ground'

PE.DER/A-&

&he body=

D5A/@-&A

2hat5s le6t o6 it'

PE.DER/A-&

ind i6 I ha7e a look=

D5Agosta calls to A P@LICE PH@&@/RAPHER 1ho comes do1n the staircase

carrying lights# a donut stu66ed in his mouth'

D5A/@-&A

2e need light in here# stat'

PE.DER/A-&

2here5s the head=

D5Agosta points to a lump the sie o6 a bo1ling ball that5s in the

corner'

D5A/@-&A

Care6ul' &hat mess on the ground is

brains'

PE.DER/A-&

2hose 6ootprints=


37/208


38/208

AR/@

Dr' :rock# I ?ust sa1 a man back

there 1ho5d been 1ading in blood'

As /reg >a1akita sits in the chair ne0t to argo'''

AR/@ [email protected]&9

:or once I5m glad you5re rumor

central' 2hat in the 1orld is going

on=

>A2A>I&A

-omeone5s been murdered' .ot shot#

strangled or stabbed# either' &orn

limb 6rom limb' &here5s talk o6 a

psychotic killer or e7en an animal'

:R@C>

:or hea7en5s sake# /reg# someone5s

been killed' Look# it5s Cuthbert'

Let5s hear 1hat really happened'

At this e7eryone 6alls silent and IA. C*&HBER& steps 6or1ard to

address the cro1d' He appears dra1n and grey'

C*&HBER&

&his has been a tragic and upsetting

morning' I ha7e terrible ne1s 6or us

all' A member o6 our security 6orce

has been 6ound murdered' &he police


39/208

ha7e ?ust in6ormed me it 1as Daniel

Beauregard'

8murmuring 6ills the room9

uiet' Please' 2ith the help o6 our

head o6 security# r' Ippolito''' the

museum has been secured'

IPP@LI&@''' rises in the back and nods to the cro1d''' He5s an imperious

looking# pompous man 1ith shi6ty eyes' Right no1 he5s de6ensi7e'

@7ernight# his ?ob is on the line'''

C*&HBER&

&he police are satis6ied 1e5re in no

danger# that 1e5re all per6ectly

sa6e' 2e57e been asked to remain in

the /em Room and be a7ailable 6or

uestioning 6or the rest o6 the day'

@b7iously# 1e 1ill all do e7erything

1e can to cooperate' Are there any

uestions=

Ippolito raises a hand'

IPP@LI&@

&he party 6or the opening o6 the

-uperstition E0hibit''' I imagine in

the light o6 1hat5s happened it 1ill

be pushed back'

C*&HBER&


40/208

.o action has been taken yet' &he

opening o6 the e0hibit is crucial to

the 6inancial health o6 this museum'

-o 6or no1# 1e e0pect that the

-uperstition E0hibit 1ill open on

schedule# tomorro1 night'

Ippolito registers surprise' &he audience bues again'

I.&' /E R@@ ) DA+

argo# Dr' :rock and /reg >a1akita enter' &he room is 6ull o6

spectacular displays o6 gemstones o6 e7ery type' /reg drapes himsel6

o7er a grey so6a' argo leans on a giant geode'

AR/@

&hat Cuthbert' 2hat a piece o6 1ork'

-omeone5s dead and all he cares

about is his -uperstition E0hibit'

:R@C>

Cuthbert5s counting on the

e0hibition5s success' &he museum is

in debt' Contributions and public

6unding ha7e dried up' Admissions no

longer co7er o7erhead' &he last big

in6usion o6 cash 1e had 1as the >ing

&ut e0hibit' Cuthbert 1as hired to

get us out o6 the red' I6 the

-uperstition E0hibit isn5t


41/208

lucrati7e# he5ll ha7e to start

auctioning o66 some o6 these gems'

>A2A>I&A

2ith all this bad publicity# it5s no

1onder he looks like that'

&hey glance o7er and see Cuthbert in the corner' He appears ill# is

compulsi7ely 6ingering his 1atch chain 6rom 1hich hangs a RABBI&5-

:@@&' :rock goes o7er to speak to him# 6ollo1ed by argo and /reg'

:R@C>

Ian' Are you okay=

C*&HBER&

8shakes his head9

Beauregard' I can5t belie7e it' I

may ha7e been the last one to see

him ali7e' He 1as 1ith me ?ust

yesterday# 1hen I got out the statue

o6 b1un'

AR/@

8taken aback9

b1un'

>A2A>I&A

8sensing more gossip9

2hat5s that=


42/208

argo 6ro1ns# suddenly uneasy' -he and Dr' :rock e0change a look'

AR/@

2arrior deity o6 the >othoga# an

e0tinct -outh American tribe' Dr'

John 2hittlesley led an e0pedition

that 6ound the only kno1n

representation o6 b1un' &he statue

is said to carry a curse'

8she looks a1ay# uiet9

E7ery member o6 2hittlesley5s

e0pedition died'

C*&HBER&

I got the relic out yesterday to put

on display' Beauregard 1as there'

&he crates had been broken into and

the contents 1ere stre1n about' But

nothing 1as missing' It 1as

do1nright 1eird' 2e ?oked that it

1as the curse o6 b1un' I5m not

laughing no1'

:R@C>

Come# Ian' 2e all kno1 you5re

superstitious' But you5re among

scientists here' 2e deal in 6acts'

&hat statue had nothing to do 1ith

1hat happened to Beauregard'


43/208

C*&HBER&

All I kno1 is# e7eryone 1ho has come

in contact 1ith that relic# is dead'

I.&' B*-I.E-- @::ICE- ) *-E* ) DA+

D5Agosta has set up a temporary command post among the antiue desks

and chairs' &he room is on the ground 6loor 1ith a 7ie1 o6 the park'

/a1kers are outside looking in' D5Agosta pulls the blinds in their

6aces'

D5A/@-&A

8mutters9

/et a li6e'

Pendergast is looking closely at one o6 the large paintings o6 birds

that line the 1alls'

PE.DER/A-&

An original Roger &ory Peterson o6 a

Red)Breasted erganser' Amaing' I

ha7e a copy o6 this in my o66ice at

home'

D5A/@-&A

Can5t really 6ocus on birds at the

moment# Pendergast' I5m tryin5 to

keep my break6ast do1n'

PE.DER/A-&


44/208

In this 7iolent 1orld# I belie7e the

only 1ay to stay sane is to take

time to notice beauti6ul things'

D5A/@-&A

I drink' A6ter hours o6 course' @n

duty# I smoke'

8he pulls out a 6at cigar9

Do you mind=

PE.DER/A-&

.ot at all' I en?oy the smell o6 a

good cigar'

D5A/@-&A

&hen you 1on5t like this one' It5s a

piece o6 shit'

He bites o66 the end# spits it out on the 6loor'

PE.DER/A-&

Lieutenant ))

D5A/@-&A

Call me


45/208

on board'

D5A/@-&A

2ho didn5t= Big ne1s' @ut o6 Brail#

1asn5t it=

PE.DER/A-&

+es' &hat5s my case' .o1 it5s yours'

All the corpses 1ere badly mutilated

in a 7ery particular 1ay'

Decapitated' Brains e0tracted' Limbs

torn to shreds' It looked like the

1ork o6 a large animal# but there

1as no sign o6 an animal on board'

D5A/@-&A

-o the method o6 death is the only

connection=

PE.DER/A-&

.o' &here5s more' &here 1ere crates

6rom this museum in the hold o6 the

boat'

BAILE+ enters# interrupts'

BAILE+

*h#


46/208

It better be good'

BAILE+

&here are a couple o6 kids 1ho 1ere

lost yesterday near the site o6 the

murder' Claimed they sa1 a monster'

&hey5re pretty determined to tell

you their story' +ou 1ant to see

them=

D5A/@-&A

8rolls his eyes9

.o'

PE.DER/A-&

I6 you don5t mind# this could be

important'

D5A/@-&A

+ou5re kidding'

PE.DER/A-&

*n6ortunately# no'

I.&' *-E* CLA--R@@ ) DA+

A modern classroom that has been taken o7er by the police 6or the

purpose o6 interrogation' -eated on small chairs at a plain table

are'''


47/208

HE.R+ and LARR+# looking like t1o little boys 1ith a story they are

desperate to share' -tanding behind them is R-' BEA-LE+# starchier

than e7er' D5Agosta takes a chair across 6rom the boys# at their eye

le7el' By this time o6 day he looks pretty rumpled and tired'

Pendergast stands upright and unru66led in a door1ay behind' &his

isn5t hard duty 6or D5Agosta' He5s surprisingly genial and at ease

1ith kids' Larry kicks his sneaker against the table leg in

e0citement' Henry tugs his t)shirt'

D5A/@-&A

Hi' I5m Lieutenant D5Agosta' +ou can

call me


48/208

2e 1ere ?ust lost# okay= And 1e 1ent

do1n this cur7y staircase' At the

bottom 1as a big shado1'

LARR+

Big as a house'

HE.R+

.ot that big'

LARR+

2ell almost' Depends 1hich house' It

smelled like old hamburger# and it

made this 1eird noise'

Henry makes a lo1 /R@2L in his throat' D5Agosta suppresses a smile#

shoots Pendergast a look' But Pendergast 1atches the kids intently'

LARR+

And it snu66led the ground like a

dog'

HE.R+

Like this'

He goes on hands and knees# sni66s the ground'

LARR+

It had a long tongue# teeth this big

and yello1 eyes'


49/208

HE.R+

&hey 1ere green eyes and they 1ere

slit like a liard5s'

LARR+

&hey 1ere yello1;

HE.R+

+ou5re color blind'

BEA-LE+

Boys# please;

8to D5Agosta9

&hese t1o get in a lot o6 mischie6

and they tell some amaing 1hoppers'

D5A/@-&A

I can see that'

HE.R+

&his isn5t a 1hopper; It5s the

truth'

Pendergast no1 mo7es 6or1ard# pulls up a chair as i6 deeply

interested'

PE.DER/A-&

Ho1 did you get a1ay=


50/208

HE.R+

2e ran and screamed and stu66' And

1e got through a little door ?ust in

time' &here 1as a guard there and he

1ent back to check'

PE.DER/A-&

A guard= Do you remember his name=

LARR+

He 1as 1earing one o6 those I'D'

badges' His name 1as Bo''' something'

D5A/@-&A

Beauregard=

LARR+

+eah'

E,&' *-E* ) DA+

An ambulance pulls a1ay# lights 6lashing' Pendergast and D5Agosta 1alk

to a suad car'

D5A/@-&A

I57e got to admit# that 1as a damn

sight better than the dog ate my

home1ork'

PE.DER/A-&


51/208

Ho1 do you e0plain the part about

Beauregard=

D5A/@-&A

&hey heard the 7ictim5s name and

1o7e him into their story' .ice

touch'

PE.DER/A-&

I belie7ed them'

D5Agosta stops# stunned'

D5A/@-&A

+ou think 1hat 1e57e got here is a

monster as big as a house that

smells''' like hamburger=

PE.DER/A-&

.o' I think 1hat 1e57e got here is a

psychotic killer 1ielding some kind

o6 unusual 1eapon''' 1ho 1ants us to

belie7e he5s a monster'

D5A/@-&A

8totally con6used9

@h'

I.&' .E2 +@R> CI&+ @R/*E ) E


52/208

D5Agosta and Pendergast thread their 1ay do1n a hall lined 1ith bodies

on gurneys' It5s dark and uiet' &hey go into the autopsy room'

I.&' A*&@P-+ R@@ ) A:&ER.@@.

A large gurney# currently empty# sits like an unin7ited guest under

the bright lights o6 the autopsy suite' Beside it is a tall# imposing

doctor in her late %45s# 1ith intense eyes' &his is DR' (IE2(IC' 2ith

her are the PH@&@/RAPHER seen passing out at the museum# and a young

intern# D@C&@R /R@--'

DR' (IE2(IC

+ou5re late#


53/208

DR' (IE2(IC

Lo7ely bouuet' A6ter our last case#


54/208

photographer' Let5s see 1hat 1e57e

got'

&hey pull o66 the sheet and D5A/@-&A s1allo1s hard# closes his eyes to

keep his stomach in check' &he photographer goes green# but is

determined not to clutch this time' PE.DER/A-& leans closer# totally

impassi7e' He puts on a small pair o6 1ire rim glasses# assumes an

e0pression much like a man reading a menu in a restaurant'

DR' (IE2(IC

Caucasian male' Age about ' Blond'

Height 1ell I can5t gi7e a height

because r' Beauregard has been

decapitated' &he state o6 the body

is such that other identi6ying marks

are out o6 the uestion' &here are

numerous lacerations proceeding 6rom

the le6t anterior pectoral do1n1ards

through the sternum and terminating

in the abdomen' &his is a massi7e

1ound# t1o 6eet long and a 6oot

1ide' &he head has su66ered se7ere

trauma and the occipital portion o6

the cala7arium has been crushed and

remo7ed' It almost looks like'''

DR' /R@--

8beat9

A bite'


55/208

(ie1ic turns to Pendergast'

DR' (IE2(IC

2hat are 1e talking about here=

PE.DER/A-&

-omeone 1ho makes the Hacksa1

urderer look like other &eresa'

DR' (IE2(IC

Right'

8back to 1ork9

&he entire brain appears to ha7e

been e0tracted' ay I see it#

please=

/ross passes o7er a grey# 1atery mass that sits in a stainless steel

pan' (ie1ic studies Beauregard5s brain# or 1hat5s le6t o6 it'''

DR' (IE2(IC

Curious' &here5s something missing'

PE.DER/A-&

&he thalamus and the hypothalamus#

perhaps=

DR' (IE2(IC

8looks up# surprised9

+es' &1o organs the sie o6 a 1alnut

ha7e been remo7ed 1ith 1hat looks


56/208

like surgical precision'

D5A/@-&A

2hat happened to them=

PE.DER/A-&

I6 you don5t mind a suggestion# you

might try a sali7a test'

(ie1ic# /ross and D5Agosta look at Pendergast' &he photographer is

staring at the 1all# silently mouthing multiplication tables to keep

6rom 1oo6ing all o7er the place'

D5A/@-&A

8incredulous9

-ali7a test= +ou mean# you think

someone ate part o6 the brain=

PE.DER/A-&

Correct'

A long moment o6 silence# then''' (1ieic uses a s1ab 6or the sali7a

test# puts the result in a petrie dish'

DR' (2IE(IC

@kay' @ne sali7a test' .o1''' let5s

look at these lacerations' &hey

start 1ide and then con7erge'

D5A/@-&A


57/208

Long 6ingernails= -cratches=

DR' (2IE(IC

&oo e0treme' Perhaps some kind o6

1eapon' I5m no1 probing the 1ound

and''' there5s a piece o6 6oreign

material deep in the muscle# lodged

on a rib' Photograph'

&he photographer gathers his courage# steps 6or1ard 1ith D5Agosta and

Pendergast' (1ieic rinses the ob?ect o66 in a beaker o6 sterile

1ater' It turns bro1nish red' -he holds it up' &hey all stare in

astonished silence' D5Agosta s1allo1s'

D5A/@-&A

-1eet Jesus'

DR' (2IE(IC

It5s a cla1'

&he photographer5s 6lash goes o66'

DI--@L


58/208

Pendergast sits in silence' D5Agosta is 7isibly disturbed'

D5A/@-&A

I don5t like animals' .e7er ha7e'

Dog bit me 1hen I 1as little' A6ter

that I ga7e up on pets' Animals are

irrational' /i7e me a psychotic

killer any day' I6 there5s one thing

that makes me ueasy it5s being part

o6 a 6ood chain' y 6irst case as a

rookie# t1o brothers climbed a 6ence

at the oo' It 1as late August' @7er

ninety' &he polar bear 1as inside

his ca7e' >ids didn5t kno1 he 1as in

there' All they sa1 1as the pool'

&hey got to s1imming and splashing'

&he noise 1oke up the bear' By the

time I arri7ed# both little boys

1ere in pieces' &he bear 1as

dragging one kid around by the 6oot'

I can still hear the mother

screaming ))

PE.DER/A-&

&his isn5t an animal#


59/208

Pendergast' +ou ha7e a suspect

capable o6 this=

Pendergast looks o7er# nods uietly'

PE.DER/A-&

Let me tell you about it#

&he yello1 crime scene tape is torn and 6lapping in a light rain' ost

o6 the emergency 7ehicles ha7e le6t' &he police ha7e released the

employees 1ho are no1 headed home' 2e see :rock and >a1akita e0it'

Cuthbert isn5t 6ar behind' Pendergast approaches them# headed back

inside'

PE.DER/A-&

E0cuse me' Has Dr' /reen le6t=

>A2A>I&A

Be6ore eight= +ou must be ?oking'

-he5s in the physical anthro lab

making up 6or lost time'

Pendergast nods his thanks'

I.&' *-E* HALL @: &HE /E- ) .I/H&

&he gems glo1 in the darkness as Pendergast passes through the no1

empty room'


60/208

I.&' E&E@RI&E R@@ ) .I/H&

Pendergast5s 6oot6alls are lost in the carpet as he goes do1n the 6ar

stairs'

I.&' HALL2A+ ) *-E* ) .I/H&

Pendergast goes do1n a long# dark hall alone' He arri7es at a door

marked PH+-ICAL A.&HR@P@L@/+ LAB# enters'

I.&' PH+-ICAL A.&HR@P@L@/+ LAB ) .I/H&

&he skeletons thro1 odd shado1s on the ceiling' argo5s computer

screen glo1s at the end o6 the room# casting the only light' But her

chair is empty' &he room is uiet' Pendergast approaches slo1ly# looks

around'

PE.DER/A-&

Dr' /reen=

.o ans1er' Pendergast glances at the computer screen# sees graphs and

complicated notations' He scrolls do1n# leans closer' He can5t 6igure

it out' He slides into argo5s chair# 6ascinated' &hen'''

AR/@ 8@-9

+ou ha7e a 1arrant to look at that=

Pendergast leaps up' argo has appeared in the door1ay behind him# a

cup o6 co66ee in her hand'


61/208

PE.DER/A-&

-pecial Agent Pendergast' :BI'

:orgi7e me' I guess I 1as snooping'

2hat is this=

AR/@

An in7ention o6 mine' It5s a

computer program designed to

describe the characteristics o6 a

gi7en species 6rom a reading o6 its

D.A' I call it the /enetic -euence

E0trapolator'

PE.DER/A-&

Ho1 does it 1ork=

AR/@

2ith a D.A analysis 6rom a 6ossil

you can use this program to tell the

species and se0 o6 the animal#

1hether it 1as nocturnal# 1hat it

ate# ho1 it hunted# ho1 big it

1as'''

8abrupt9

+ou aren5t here 6or a lesson in D.A'

PE.DER/A-&

.o'

8a moment9


62/208

I came to talk about Dr' John

2hittlesley'

argo turns to put do1n her co66ee' -he takes a moment to compose

hersel6' 2hen she turns back# her 7oice is uiet'

AR/@

-omeho1# 1hen all this happened''' I

kne1 it 1ould come back to John' Is

he really dead=

PE.DER/A-&

aybe not'

AR/@

I6 he 1ere ali7e he5d ha7e contacted

me'

PE.DER/A-&

+ou ha7e time to talk=

I.&' *-E* HALL- ) .I/H&

Pendergast and argo 1alk together though 7arious e0hibits and halls'

&hey pass dioramas o6 6erocious 1ild animals that ha7e been tamed and

stu66ed behind glass'

PE.DER/A-&

Dr' 2hittlesley 1as last seen in

Belem#


63/208

rest o6 his e0pedition disappeared'

A ta0i dri7er dro7e him to the

harbor 1here he boarded a cargo

boat' &hat boat 1ashed up in my

district' E7eryone on board 1as

killed'

AR/@

And John=

PE.DER/A-&

Disappeared' His body 1asn5t among

the 7ictims'

AR/@

I don5t understand'

PE.DER/A-&

&he people killed 1ere mauled and

their brains 1ere eaten' Just like

Beauregard' @ne part o6 the brain

1as e0tracted 1ith surgical

precision' &he hypothalamus and

thalamus to be e0act'

argo pales'

AR/@

John couldn5t ha7e anything to do

1ith a horrible thing like that' He


64/208

1as a 6ine man despite his

problems ))

PE.DER/A-&

+ou lo7ed him'

AR/@

8a moment# taken aback9

+es' @nce' 2e met at Columbia' John

held the Cad1alader Chair in

-tatistical Paleontology 1hen I 1as

a grad student there'

PE.DER/A-&

+ou 1ere going to be married'

AR/@

Ho1 did you kno1 that=

PE.DER/A-&

I ran an internet search on Dr'

2hittlesley' /ot a list o6 his

scholarly articles and the

engagement announcement in the

&imes' I also 6ound a record o6 your

restraining order'

AR/@

&hat 1as t1o years ago' John 1as

still in lo7e 1ith me'


65/208

8she looks do1n9

He 1ouldn5t lea7e me alone'

PE.DER/A-&

+ou 1ere a6raid o6 him# 1eren5t you=

AR/@

He 1as a6raid o6 himsel6' He tried

suicide once' He 1as ill' anic

depressi7e' He had 1ild emotional

highs and lo1s' .ot a happy

a66liction 6or a scientist' He5d

been re7ered in our community' By

the end he 1as a ?oke'

PE.DER/A-&

&ell me about the last e0pedition'

2hat 1as he looking 6or=

AR/@

A legendary monster called b1un'

PE.DER/A-&

A monster=

AR/@

+es' He de7eloped his o1n theory

that he called the Calisto E66ect'

It held that e7olution 1asn5t al1ays

gradual or dri7en by natural


66/208

selection' &he en7ironment 1ould

sometimes cause sudden and grotesue

changes 1hich could result in a

monster species' It made no sense'

But he 6elt he had e7idence that

b1un 1as such a monster# li7ing in

isolation on the tepui 6or thousands

o6 years'

PE.DER/A-&

2hat happened=

AR/@

.o one kno1s' &he >othoga 1ho li7e

on the tepui are cannibals'

argo5s 7oice catches again' Pendergast reaches 6or his handkerchie6

but she shakes her head# determined to keep control'

AR/@

.o' I5m all right' I 1on5t let this

a66ect me anymore' John 1ouldn5t get

help' His ego endangered the li7es

o6 others' His theory came 6irst'

PE.DER/A-&

2hat i6 2hittlesley arri7ed on the

tepui and no monster 1as there= 2as

he desperate enough to create one=


67/208

AR/@

I don5t understand'

PE.DER/A-&

-omething came up in autopsy

tonight' Imbedded in Beauregard5s

body 1e 6ound a cla1'

AR/@

y /od' &hen it 1as an animal'

PE.DER/A-&

I don5t think so' I think 1e 1ere

meant to think it 1as b1un' Did

2hittlesley5s monster ha7e cla1s=

AR/@

I don5t kno1' He sent back a statue

that5s supposed to be an e0act

representation' But I57e ne7er seen

it' It5s in the e0hibit'

PE.DER/A-&

2ould you mind sho1ing it to me=

I.&' -*PER-&I&I@. E,HIBI& ) .I/H&

&his e0hibit is unlike anything 1e57e seen in the museum' Horri6ying

arti6acts under single spots appear to 6loat in a 7el7et blackness'

Patterns o6 light and shado1 play o7er skeletons and 7oodoo dolls'


68/208

&here are tombs# a torture chamber# and endlessly cur7ing# mae)like#

1inding halls'

PE.DER/A-&

2here 1ould 1e 6ind it=

AR/@

I5m not sure' 2e should split up'

+ou take that hall and I5ll take

this one'

PE.DER/A-&

All right' I5m as macho as you are'

Perhaps'

2ithout 6urther discussion# argo takes the right 6ork lea7ing

Pendergast behind'

@. AR/@'''

As she 6inds hersel6 alone' &he silence is intense' -he heads slo1ly

into another long# dark# tunnel passing a set o6 aori tattooed heads'

&he eyes are stu66ed 1ith 6ibers# the shri7eled lips are dra1n back

6rom rotting teeth' argo passes 1ithout a look'

@. PE.DER/A-&

In another part o6 the e0hibit# he nears a ayan tomb' A skeleton in

the center 1ears a headdress and tribal robes' /old rings encircle

bony 6ingers' Pendergast takes a moment to appreciate it# heads into


69/208

the ne0t hall'

@. AR/@

getting 6arther 6rom pendergast# and e7er deeper into the gloom' &he

1alls around her are lined 1ith symbols o6 1itchcra6t' &here are

shaman dancers# masks co7ered in grasses and shells' :rom the .e1

/uinea coast there is >okpah# /od o6 a secret male society# and (oe)

ba# an a1esome manneuin in black costume 1ith an angry pointed mask'

:inally the 1alls open up into another gallery' Beyond it is more o6

the shado1y hall' argo stops and 6or the 6irst time she 1a7ers' &his

gallery is the most 6rightening yet' It 6eatures images o6 &HE DE


70/208

crouch' It5s long 6orearms trail to the ground ending in &HREE LAR/E

CLA2-;

@. AR/@''' she starts# then remembers Pendergast'

AR/@

r' Pendergast; I 6ound it'

.o ans1er' -he turns# tries again# louder'

AR/@

Pendergast; @7er here ))

Her 7oice catches as she stops and sni66s the air' A -&E.CH rolls o7er

her' -he co7ers her 6ace# backs up# holding her breath'

AR/@

2hat the'''

-he steps directly into a nasty statue o6 the &ibetan lord o6 the

Dead' argo starts# steadies the statue' &he room is silent once more'

But then# unmistakably''' she hears it' An odd rustling sound' -lo1'

Deliberate' addeningly so6t on the thick carpet' And another 1a7e o6

&HE -ELL' argo looks in the direction she came# do1n the long dark

hall' Her 7oice comes out a bit 6rightened as she calls'''

AR/@

Pendergast=

8no ans1er9

2ho5s there=


71/208

But no1 she 6reees' At last she5s truly scared' A shado1# black

against black# is gliding stealthily to1ards her# mo7ing o7er the

display cases and grinning arti6acts;

argo stands stock still# her eyes on the shado1' -he lets out a small

gasp o6 shock' -he can5t belie7e her eyes' It de6ies reason' -lo1ly#

she backs up' -he slips uietly through the e0hibit and out the other

side' In the ne0t room she pauses again# listens''' no1 hearing a

distinctly animal# -.*::LI./ -@*.D;

-omething large is &RAC>I./ HER; &here5s no doubt'

@7ercome by a blind panic# argo turns and runs' -he passes through a

display on mythical creatures# disappears do1n another 1inding dark

hall'

Behind her comes'''

&HE P@*.DI./ @: -@E&HI./ I. A HEA


72/208

gro1l; Re6lected in the glass o6 the door in 6ront o6 her is the long

dark hall' argo starts as a 6ace appears I. &HE RE:LEC&I@.'''

&he image is 1a7ering and unclear' It5s a large# hulking 6orm behind

her; &2@ /L@2I./ -LI& /REE. E+E- in the dark; argo -CREA- as the

thing leaps 6or1ard# hitting one o6 the totem poles' argo sinks to

the ground# unconscious' At last 1e hear Pendergast calling as

darkness 6alls'

PE.DER/A-&

Dr' /reen; Dr' /reen;

DI--@L


73/208

couldn5t keep up'

AR/@

8she touches her 6orehead9

+ou 1ere behind me= Running a6ter

me=

Pendergast nods' As argo rises he tries to help her but she 1a7es him

o66# collecting her thoughts'

AR/@

It5s okay# I5m all right' I remember

no1''' It 1as an animal' -omething

large; I could smell it' It 1as

hunting me' I sa1 t1o green eyes in

the dark'

PE.DER/A-&

2here did you see it=

AR/@

Behind me' @7er there'

argo turns and points behind her to'''

A large .@R&H2E-& C@A-& I.DIA. A->' It5s car7ed out o6 1ood in a

horrible grimace# inset 1ith t1o glo1ing green eyes' Pendergast sees

it too# says nothing'

AR/@


74/208

&hat5s not 1hat I sa1'

PE.DER/A-&

All right' I6 you5re positi7e'

-he leans against the 1all# touches her 6orehead# panic o7ercoming her

again'

AR/@ [email protected]&9

I can5t think straight at the

moment' I kno1 ho1 cray this seems'

Please# r' Pendergast# I need some

6resh air' Could you get me out o6

here=

E,&' R@&*.DA :R@.& E.&R+ ) E,HIBI& ) .I/H&

&HREE C@P- including C.I& R@DRI/*E( and R@/ER- prepare to enter the

e0hibit' All are armed' argo 1atches as Pendergast gi7es them

instruction' -he appears rattled and con6used'

PE.DER/A-&

-tay in 6ormation together' &ake it

room by room' Check 6or 6ootprints#

any signs o6 disturbance' I6 you see

or hear anything the least bit

suspicious# I 1ant to kno1'

He points to D@+LE# an older red)haired cop 1ho takes up a post

outside the e0hibit' Pendergast hands Doyle his 1alkie talkie'


75/208

PE.DER/A-&

Bailey5s going to be in the guard

house outside' @66icer


76/208

animal in there' But I sa1

something'

PE.DER/A-&

2hat 1as it=

AR/@

I don5t kno1'

8she has a thought9

r' Pendergast' Do me a 6a7or' /et

me a D.A readout on that cla1'

DI--@L


77/208

came out a side door a 1hile ago'

-aid the e0hibit5s clear' c.itt5s

headed back to spell you'

D@+LE

I5m on double o7er)time# man'

BAILE+

I kno1' +ou can go home i6 you 1ant

to' I5ll come relie7e you mysel6'

Doyle shuts o66 his 1alkie talkie# 6ro1ns' He 6idgets# looks at his

1atch once more'

D@+LE

2hat the hell'

He turns# takes o66 the 1alkie talkie and lea7es it# but then he hears

something# stops' It5s a lo1 -C*::LI./ 6rom inside the e0hibit# coming

6rom behind the closed doors' Doyle 6reees# turns'

D@+LE

c.itt=

.o ans1er' Doyle pauses' His hand goes to his gun 6or reassurance as

he hears a 6ootstep and a mu66led thump' He mo7es to the door o6 the

e0hibit# opens it and takes a step inside'

D@+LE

c.itt= Cut the crap' I kno1 it5s


78/208

you' +ou5re not scaring me' Come on'

-ilence meets him' &he shado1s o6 the e0hibit loom' Doyle takes one

more step inside# scanning the darkness 1ith his gun' Does he hear

BREA&HI./= He 6reees' +es# he does' &he hair on his neck rises and he

loses the spit in his mouth' He takes a step back1ards# but he5s hal6

a second too late' &he door -LA- BEHI.D HI and a H*/E DAR> :@R

LEAP- @*&;

I.&' E,HIBI& E.&RA.CE ) .I/H&

@66icer C.I&& enters 6rom a side corridor# ipping up his 6ly' &he

hall is still' c.itt checks his 1atch# sees Doyle5s 1alkie talkie and

turns it on'

C.I&&

c.itt here' I5m outside the

e0hibit' All5s uiet' But I don5t

see Doyle'

BAILE+ 8@-9

He called a minute ago looking 6or

you' He starts 7acation tomorro1 and

he 1anted out' I said you 1ere on

the 1ay' He could split'

C.I&&

2ell he5s gone'

BAILE+ 8@-9


79/208

Any sign o6 a green)eyed monster=

C.I&&

8chuckles9

.ope'

c.itt shuts o66 the 1alkie talkie# settles at his post'

I.&' -*PER-&I&I@. E,HIBI& ) .I/H&

In the blackness a large shape is @


80/208

PE.DER/A-&

I had no idea the useum had a

complete collection o6 Piranesi5s

:orum sketches'

C*&HBER&

I6 you like them# they5re 6or sale'

Another day like yesterday and hal6

the collection 1ill be on the block'

PE.DER/A-&

I57e read about the useum5s

6inancial troubles'

C*&HBER&

2e57e been operating in the red 6or

years' &hat 1as the 1hole idea

behind the -uperstition E0hibit' It

1as designed to pull people in'

2e57e spent e7ery penny 1e ha7e on

ad7ance publicity# betting

e7erything on the opening5s success'

I6 1e postpone at the last minute'''

.o' I don5t 1ant to think about

that'

D5A/@-&A

8che1s on his toothpick# mild9

2e all lo7e the museum' I come here


81/208

mysel6 1ith my kids' 2e5re trying to

1ork 1ith you'

C*&HBER&

I appreciate that'

PE.DER/A-&

I6 the party goes 6or1ard# and

that5s a big i6''' I57e arranged 6or

a large police presence'

C*&HBER&

Do they ha7e to 1ear uni6orms=

PE.DER/A-&

+es'

C*&HBER&

I don5t 1ant to scare people'

PE.DER/A-&

I understand' But r' Cuthbert#

1e57e got bigger problems' Depending

on 1hat 1e 6ind today# 1e may ha7e

to shut you do1n'

Cuthbert looks grim'

I.&' PH+-ICAL A.&HR@P@L@/+ LAB ) DA+


82/208

D5Agosta e0amines the huge centri6uges# autocla7es# electrophoresis

apparati# monitors# computers etc' as argo and /reg >a1akita look at

the cla1'

>A2A>I&A

2hat do you make o6 it# argo=

AR/@

It5s not mammalian# that5s 6or sure'

I think it5s reptilian'

PE.DER/A-&

&hat 1ould ?i7e 1ith 1hat 1e got

6rom the preliminary D.A read)out'

Here# ha7e a look'

He hands them a computer read)out' argo checks it uickly as >a1akita

looks on'

AR/@

According to this# t1enty)6i7e

percent o6 the cla1 D.A is

unidenti6iable# about a third is

homo sapien# and the rest is

Hemidactylus &urcicus'

D5A/@-&A

8looks o7er9

2hat5s that=


83/208

argo pulls o66 her glasses'

AR/@

&urkish /ecko# I belie7e' A liard'

>A2A>I&A

Liard D.A and human D.A on the same

strand= Impossible' &he sample must

be contaminated'

AR/@

&here5s another possibility' A lot

o6 repeated base pairs could suggest

a high le7el o6 genetic damage'

PE.DER/A-&

/enetic damage=

AR/@

2hen D.A is de6ecti7e# it o6ten

uncontrollably replicates long

repeating seuences o6 the same base

pair'


84/208

secure storage area'

>A2A>I&A

&ry Dr' :rock' He5s the curator o6

Plant Biology' All the curators

ha7e keys' And he kno1s e7ery inch

o6 this museum' &he rest o6 us still

get lost'

I.&' *-E* HALL2A+ AREA ) DA+

Pendergast# D5Agosta and Dr' :rock get o66 are in an older# plain

corridor 1ith a long ro1 o6 locked hea7y steel doors' &he doors are

numbered up to eight# then the corridor turns'

As the three go 6or1ard# the creaking o6 the 1heelchair echoes 6aintly

in the hall'

PE.DER/A-&

&hank you 6or taking the time to

help us 1ith this# Dr' :rock'

:R@C>

Happy to be use6ul' It5s rare enough

these days' According to security#

Beauregard put the 2hittlesley

crates in storage area !4!'

PE.DER/A-&

Ho1 many storage areas are there=


85/208

:R@C>

&hey 6ill se7en 6loors' 2e ha7e the

largest collection o6 mammals and

dinosaurs in the 1orld' Just to gi7e

you an idea# there are more than

three million insects specimens' .ot

to mention amphibians# reptiles#

birds# anthropological arti6acts#

meteorites# minerals and gems' @nly

about 6i7e percent o6 the museum

collection is actually on display'

D5A/@-&A

&his place is a mae'

:R@C>

I5m one o6 the 6e1 1ho kno1 e7ery

inch it# no1 that John is gone'

PE.DER/A-&

8looks o7er9

Do you mean Dr' 2hittlesley=

:R@C>

+es' John made uite a study o6 the

1hole museum' He had a copy o6 my

original plans'

:rock heads through a double door that leads to a :REI/H& ELE


86/208

that5s as big as a small room' &he operator# >ARL has it decorated

1ith a table# chair# and PIC&*RE-'

AR/@

@steo prep# >arl'

&he doors creak closed' &hey are no1 inside'''

I.&' :REI/H& ELEarl# 1ho is si0ty and 1ears a red toupee# leers'

>ARL

&hey keep me company' /ets kinda

lonely sometimes'

D5A/@-&A

y 6a7orite is the t1o camels'

>ARL

Really= I5m partial to the skunks'


87/208

:inally the doors open and they e0it to a hall# enter another set o6

doors' .o1 they are in

I.&' @-&E@L@/ICAL PREPARA&I@. AREA ) DA+

It looks more like a biarre industrial kitchen than anything else'

Deep stainless steel tanks line one 1all' @n the ceiling near the

tanks hang massi7e pulleys and grappling hooks 6or the larger

carcasses' In a 6ar corner o6 the 1orkshop is a stainless)steel gurney

bearing a DEAD /@RILLA' A pink 6aced eighty year old man is 1orking on

the carcass 1ith sharp tools' &his is D@. @-&ERBAA.'

:R@C>

Did you e7er 1onder 1here 1e get all

our skeletons= &his is the

laboratory 1here animal carcasses

are reduced to bones'

8to @sterbaan9

2hat5s cooking today# Don=

D@.

(ebra'

:rock looks into a large maceration tank 1ith Pendergast and D5Agosta'

A ebra carcass can be seen under the muddy sur6ace# its 6lesh and

so6t tissues 6alling o66'

D5A/@-&A

an# that5s ripe'


88/208

:rock no1 opens the door on a humid closet ad?acent to the main room'

Inside on a stainless steel table lies the corpse o6 a 6o0' It5s

cra1ling 1ith BLAC> BEE&LE- 1hich are de7ouring it' D5Agosta and

Pendergast 1atch the grily scene# properly impressed'

:R@C>

Dermestid beetles' &he second method

o6 preparing a skeleton# used in

.atural History useums 1orld 1ide'

Bugs are clean and highly e66icient'

&hey5ll polish that 6o0 o66 in no

time'

As Don casually peels back the gorilla5s 1hole 6ace e0posing the

skull'''

@-&ERBAA.

2ant to ha7e a look at a gorilla

brain= /ot one right here'

:R@C>

&hanks Don' 2e5re in a hurry' -ome

other time'

I.&' HALL2A+ ) DA+

ore ro1s o6 stainless steel doors under hissing steam pipes' &he

light is dim here# and se7eral bulbs are burned out' But the numbers

on the storage rooms are much higher no1' &he three men come out o6

the darkness' :rock rounds a last corner and 1heels to a stop'


89/208

:R@C>

&his should be it' Can you read the

number=

Pendergast reaches up abo7e them and &AP- &HE LI/H& B*LB' It comes on

and they all see the hea7y steel door o6 the storage area' D5Agosta5s

?a1 drops and his toothpick 6alls out' &he door has been scored 6rom

top to bottom by long# 7icious# CLA2-;

D5A/@-&A

Holy shit'

:rock stares in amaement# shaken' He runs a 6inger do1n the deep

ruts'

:R@C>

-omething tried to get into this

room;

PE.DER/A-&

And 6ailed' &hese doors are solid

steel'

:R@C>

&his means there must be an animal

loose in the museum;

PE.DER/A-&

I 1ouldn5t be so sure'


90/208

Pendergast takes :rock5s keys and opens the door' It s1ings 1ide on

oiled hinges' D5Agosta turns on a light'

I.&' -&@RA/E R@@ ) .I/H&

&hey all enter' .othing has been disturbed' &he crates sit in the

middle o6 the small room# untouched' Pendergast kneels by the only one

that5s been opened'

PE.DER/A-&

&his must be the one that held the

statue' Let5s see 1hat else is

inside'

Pendergast remo7es the lid and hands it to D5Agosta# pulls out a BL@2

DAR& /*.# -EED P@D-# a CAR


91/208

:R@C>

8e0cited9

ay I see that=

D5Agosta hands the letter to :rock'

:R@C>

It5s 6rom John' &hose t1o arro1s

1ere his insignia' It5s addressed to

Louis oriarty# a patron 1ho

6inanced his e0peditions'

PE.DER/A-&

Read it out loud'

:R@C>

Dear Louis#

&omorro1 1e go to the south

end o6 the tepui 1here 1e5ll be in

the greatest danger# so I5m sending

Carlos back 1ith the crates' +ou

al1ays belie7ed in me# Louis# e7en

in the darkest days' -o it gi7es me

great pleasure to tell you your

6aith has been re1arded' 2e57e made

an incredible 6ind' I enclose a

representation o6 b1un' .ote the

e0aggerated cla1s# the reptilian

attributes# the hints o6 bipedalia'

It5s beyond belie6# but this statue


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is accurate' I kno1 because I57e

seen the beast'

:rock stops# looks up at D5Agosta and Pendergast' His 6ace 6lushes

1ith the thrill'

:R@C>

Did you hear that= y /od' He says

that b1un is real;

D5A/@-&A

8snorts9

Pardon my :rench# but bull shit'

:R@C>

&his on top o6 the scratches''' isn5t

it proo6=

PE.DER/A-&

I think the scratches 1ere put there

to scare us' Perhaps e7en lead us to

this note'

Pendergast looks out to the dark corridors'

PE.DER/A-&

+ou said John 2hittlesley made a

study o6 your blueprints o6 the

museum'


93/208

:R@C>

+es'

PE.DER/A-&

Are there any hidden rooms or

staircases= Places 1here someone

could hide=

:R@C>

.ot really' Just the sub)basement'

D5Agosta and Pendergast e0change a look'

PE.DER/A-&

2here is that=

:R@C>

I don5t kno1' It 1as 1alled o7er' .o

one5s been do1n there in years'

PE.DER/A-&

+ou said you had plans o6 the

museum' Could 1e see them# please=

E,&' *-E* -IDE D@@R ) DA+

A series o6 bo0es labeled PR@:E--@R :R@C> sit on the loading dock' A

small mo7ing 7an# partially loaded 1ith the contents o6 :rock5s

o66ice# sits 1aiting' :rock del7es through one o6 the bo0es 1hile

Pendergast and D5Agosta look on'


94/208

:R@C>

I kno1 they5re here some1here' It5s

a good thing 1e caught the mo7ers in

time' &hey5re nineteen century

blueprints 6rom 1hen the museum 1as

built' I remember the sub)basement

1as belo1 the regular basement#

linked to the city se1er' I only

kno1 about it because it 6looded all

the 1ay up to the museum during the

hurricane o6 53$' I lost so many

precious books'

:rock continues to unload bo0es# scattering things right and le6t'

It5s the most amaing assortment o6 paraphernalia' A collection o6

1ild6lo1ers# soil samples# a stu66ed o1l' :inally he pulls out some

7ery old blueprints and 6lashes a triumphant smile'

:R@C>

Eureka' 2ho says it doesn5t pay to

be a pack rat= .o1 please be care6ul

1ith these' 2hen you5re done# I5d

like them back'

I.&' HALL @: &HE A:RICA. AAL- ) DA+


95/208

blueprints as they 1alk'

D5A/@-&A

Ho1 big is the sub)basement=

PE.DER/A-&

Apparently it5s huge'

D5A/@-&A

I think I should come 1ith you'

PE.DER/A-&

2e ha7en5t got time' +ou ha7e to

meet 1ith museum security so 1e can

make a decision about tonight'

I.&' *-E* ) -&AIRCA-E ) DA+

Pendergast# Jonathan# his dogs and the deputies make their 1ay do1n an

industrial set o6 stairs into the basement'

I.&' BA-EE.& C@RRID@R ) DA+

In a moment they arri7e at the site o6 Beauregard5s murder' &he area

at the bottom o6 the spiral stair1ay is still littered 1ith chalk#

crime tape# spray paint and the remains o6 scores o6 people tramping

in and out'

PE.DER/A-&

&hese plans indicate there5s a


96/208

1alled o7er entrance to the sub)

basement right around here'

&hey mo7e care6ully do1n the dark corridor 1hich 1e remember 6rom the

time 1e last sa1 it 1ith Henry and Larry' *nkno1n to Jonathan or

Pendergast# the dogs are 1alking directly to1ards the spot 1here the

boys 6aced the monster'

[email protected]&HA.

&he dogs are picking up something#

r' Pendergast'

&he dogs start barking in animation# sni66ing the 1all' Pendergast

studies the blueprints 1ith a 6lashlight# mo7es to the spot' &here5s

nothing to be seen' He shines his 6lashlight o7er the 1ater)stained#

une7en stucco bet1een t1o steel beams' &he dogs sni66 6uriously at the

point 1here the 1all meets the 6loor' Pendergast mo7es his 6ingers to

the ?oint bet1een the stucco and the beam# sho7es hard' &he 1all

pushes back' It5s a door;

I.&' -&AIR2ELL ) -*B)BA-EE.& ) DA+

&hey enter a dank stair1ell 1ith brick stairs' 2ater drips on the

1alls'

DEP*&+ @.E

2hat is this= A dungeon=

Jonathan looks uneasy# double 1raps the dogs5 leashes around his

black)glo7ed hands' &he t1o deputies remo7e their ! gauges 6rom their


97/208

shoulders' &hen they all 6ollo1 the animals# descend do1n the inky

stair1ell'

I.&' -EC*RI&+ [email protected] CE.&ER ) *-E* ) DA+

&he place looks like the control room o6 a nuclear po1er plant' &1o

-EC*RI&+ /*ARD- monitor a battery o6 closed)circuit screens

screenplay - the relic

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