RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

 

Screenplay

 

by

 

LAWRENCE KASDAN

 

Story

 

by

 

GEORGE LUCAS

 

REVISED THIRD DRAFT AUGUST 1979

 

This screenplay is the property of

 

MEDWAY PRODUCTIONS, INC.

 

and is intended solely for company

 

personnel. Distribution to any

 

Unauthorized persons is prohibited.

 

MEDWAY PRODUCTIONS, INC.

 

P.O. BOX 8669

 

Universal City, CA. 91608 (213) 760-3800

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

FADE IN:

 

1 EXT. PERU - HIGH JUNGLE - DAY 1

 

The dense, lush rain forests of the eastern slopes of

 

the Andes, the place known as "The Eyebrow of the Jun-

 

gle". Ragged, jutting canyon walls are half-hidden by

 

the thick mists.

 

The MAIN TITLE is followed by this:

 

PERU

 

1936

 

A narrow trail across the green face of the canyon. A

 

group of men make their way along it. At the head of

 

the party is an American, INDIANA JONES. He wears a

 

short leather jacket, a flapped holster, and a brimmed

 

felt hat with a weird feather stuck in the band. Behind

 

him come two Spanish Peruvians, SATIPO and BARRANCA.

 

Bringing up the rear are five Yagua INDIANS. They act

 

as porters and are wrangling the two heavily-packed

 

llamas. The Indians become increasingly nervous. They

 

speak to each other in bursts of Quechua. The American,

 

who is known to his friends as Indy, glances back at them.

 

BARRANCA

 

(irritated)

 

They're talking about the Curse

 

again!

 

He turns and yells at the Indians in Quechua, his anger

 

giving an indication of his own fears. The party reaches

 

a break in the canyon wall and takes the trail through it.

 

When they emerge, their destination is revealed to them

 

in the distance. Beyond a thick stand of trees is the

 

vegetation-enshrouded TEMPLE OF THE CHACHAPOYAN WARRIORS,

 

2000 years old.

 

The entire party is struck by the sight. The Indians,

 

terrified now, chatter away. Suddenly the three at the

 

back turn and run, dropping their packs as they go. Bar

 

ranca yells at the fleeing Indians and pulls his pistol

 

out. He starts to raise his arm to aim but Indy restrains

 

it in a muscular grip.

 

INDY

 

No.

 

Barranca looks evilly at Indy's hand upon him. Indy re-

 

leases him and smiles in a friendly way.

 

INDY

 

We don't need them.

 

Satipo watches this confrontation with some concern.

 

BARRANCA

 

I do not carry supplies.

 

INDY

 

We'll leave them. Once we've got

 

it, we'll be able to reach the plane

 

by dusk.

 

He turns back to the trail. Satipo gets the two remaining

 

Indians moving behind Indy. Satipo and Barranca then have

 

a fast, silent communication: Barranca indicates his de-

 

sire to slit Indy's throat; Satipo gives him a look that

 

says "Be patient, you idiot".

 

2 THE APPROACH TO THE TEMPLE 2

 

The party fans out to fight their way through the en-

 

twined trees that guard the temple. Visibility is cut to

 

five feet in the heavy mist. Satipo extracts a short,

 

native dart from a tree and examines the point gingerly

 

SATIPO

 

(showing Indy)

 

The Hovitos are near. The poison

 

is still fresh...three days. They're

 

following us, I tell you.

 

INDY

 

If they knew we were here, they would

 

have killed us already.

 

The two Indiana jabber in Quechua, near hysteria. Bar-

 

ranca is sweating profusely, eyes darting. He yells at

 

the Indians in Quechua to "shut up".

 

In the undergrowth, there is slithering movement.

 

Indian #1 draws aside a branch and is faced with a hor-

 

rific stone sculpture of a Chachapoyan demon. The Indian

 

is so frightened no sound comes out when he screams. He

 

turns and runs silently away.

 

Indian #2 calls to his friend. Getting no response, he

 

steps in that direction. A huge macaw, flushed from the

 

undergrowth, screams and flies away. Indian #2 does ex-

 

actly the same thing, never to be seen again.

 

Indy, Satipo and Barranca, just clearing the trees, look

 

back in that direction. They all turn to face the Temple.

 

It is dark and awesome. Vegetation curls from every

 

crevice, over each elaborate frieze. The entrance--

 

round, open and black--has been designed to look like

 

open jaws.

 

INDY

 

So this is where Forrestal cashed in.

 

SATIPO

 

A friend of yours?

 

INDY

 

Competitor. He was good, very good.

 

BARRANCA

 

(nervous)

 

No one has ever come out of there alive.

 

Why should we put our faith in you?

 

Indy takes the weird feather from the band of his hat.

 

From around its point, he slips a tightly rolled piece

 

of parchment. Barranca and Satipo exchange a quick "So

 

that's where is was!" look. They all kneel as Indy

 

spreads out the parchment. On it is one-half of a crude

 

floorplan of the Temple.

 

INDY

 

No one ever had what we have...

 

partners.

 

Indy fixes them with an expectant stare. Satipo produces

 

a similar, but folded, piece of parchment. He lays it--

 

the other half of the floorplan--next to Indy's. They

 

all regard it for a moment, then Indy stands and walks

 

toward the Temple. Barranca's eyes are shining as they

 

dart between the floorplan and Satipo.

 

INDY

 

(back turned)

 

Assuming that pillar there marks

 

the corner and...

 

Barranca is suddenly on his feet, quietly drawing his pis-

 

tol. He raises it toward Indy as Satipo realizes with

 

alarm what he's doing. Too late. Indy's head turns and

 

he sees Barranca.

 

Indy's next move is amazing, graceful and fast, yet

 

totally unhurried. His right hand slides up under the back

 

of his leather jacket and emerges grasping the handle of

 

a neatly curled bullwhip. With the same fluid move that

 

brings Indy's body around to face the Peruvian, the whip

 

uncoils to its full ten foot length and flashes out.

 

The fall of the whip (the unplaited strip at the end of

 

the lash) wraps itself around Barranca's hand and pistol.

 

He could not drop the gun now if he tried.

 

Indy gives the whip a short pull and Barranca's arm in

 

jerked down, where it involuntarily discharges the gun

 

into the dirt. Barranca is amazed, but feels some slack

 

in the whip and immediately raises the gun toward Indy

 

again, cocking it with his free hand.

 

Indy's face goes hard. And sad.

 

Indy sweeps his arm in a wide arc. Barranca spins around,

 

enclosed in the whip, his gun hand stuck tight against

 

his body. Indy gives one more short jerk on the whip

 

handle and Barranca's gun fires. Barranca falls dead.

 

Indy looks quickly at Satipo, who is shocked and fright-

 

ened. He raises his arms in supplication.

 

SATIPO

 

I knew nothing! He was crazy!

 

Please!

 

Indy looks him over, then nods. He frees the whip from

 

Barranca's body and picks up the man. His eyes sweep

 

the surrounding woods.

 

INDY

 

Let's go.

 

3 INT. TEMPLE - INCLINED PASSAGE - DAY 3

 

Indy and Satipo, carrying a torch, walk up the slightly

 

inclined, tubular passage from the main entrance. The

 

interior is wet and dark, hanging with plant life and

 

stalactites. Their echoing footsteps intermittently

 

overpower the sounds of loud dripping, whistling air

 

drafts and scampering claws.

 

4 HALL OF SHADOWS 4

 

Indy leads the way down a twisting hallway, Satipo's

 

torch barely lighting his way from behind. Indy dis-

 

appears in a shadow and when he reappears a moment later

 

a huge black tarantula is crawling up the back of his

 

jacket. Indy doesn't notice and disappears into another

 

shadow, emerging with two more tarantulas on his back.

 

Satipo sees them and makes a frightened grunting sound.

 

Indy looks at him, sees what he's pointing at and cas-

 

ually brushes all three spiders off with his rolled

 

whip, as he would a fly. Satipo pirouettes for an in-

 

spection and Indy flicks one off the Peruvian's back.

 

Indy begins picking up little pocket-sized artifacts from

 

the niches and ledges of the Temple. He continues to

 

do this as the men penetrate the Temple. His collecting

 

is quick and expert, evaluating the pieces in an instant,

 

discarding some, stuffing others into his clothes, and

 

never stopping his forward progress.

 

5 CHAMBER OF LIGHT 5

 

The men reach an arch in the hall. The small chamber

 

ahead, which interrupts the hall, is brightly lit by a

 

shaft of sunlight from high above. Indy stops, looks

 

it over.

 

SATIPO

 

What's wrong? Are you lost?

 

Indy picks up a stick and throws it through the shaft

 

of light. Giant spikes spring together from the sides

 

of the chamber with a ferocious CLANG! And impaled on

 

the spikes are the remains of a white man, half-fleshed,

 

half skeleton, in explorer-type grab. Indy reaches out

 

and takes hold of the man's carcass. As the spikes slowly

 

retract, Indy pulls it free and seats the remains gently

 

on the floor.

 

INDY

 

Forrestal.

 

SATIPO

 

(gulps)

 

We can go no further.

 

INDY

 

Now, Satipo, we don't want to be

 

discouraged by every little thing.

 

Indy steps sideways into the chamber. His back pressed

 

against the very points of the retracted spikes, he moves

 

along the edge of the light beam, and steps clear on the

 

other side. Satipo grimaces and begins sweating his way

 

through.

 

6 STAIRWAY 6

 

Indy and Satipo come down stone stairs to a tight land-

 

ing. Framing the entry are a carefully strung network of

 

dead vines, each somehow hooked into the wall, narrowing

 

the opening even more.

 

INDY

 

(taking torch)

 

Let me see that.

 

He lowers the torch to the floor of the landing. The

 

landing is carpeted with human skeletons, one on top of

 

another, all squashed flat as cardboard. Satipo gasps.

 

Indy looks up at the ceiling of the landing, then steps

 

onto skeletons, which make a cracking noise under his feet.

 

INDY

 

Try not to touch the vines.

 

 

 

7 FOYER OF THE SANTUARY 7

 

The men are in a high, straight hallway 50 feet long.

 

The door at the end is flooded with sunlight.

 

SATIPO

 

Senor, I think we are very close.

 

Indy stands still looking at the hall.

 

SATIPO

 

(impatient)

 

Let us hurry. There is nothing

 

to fear here.

 

INDY

 

That's what scares me.

 

They begin walking down the hall side by side. Satipo

 

has inched a little ahead. Suddenly his lead foot comes

 

down and through the floor! As Satipo begins to pitch

 

forward, Indy grabs him by the belt and pulls him back.

 

They both look down at the "floor".

 

Indy swings his whip across the floor. Fifteen feet of

 

it cuts open beneath the lash, falling away to reveal

 

black pit as wide as the hall. The illusory floor was

 

made of dust-covered cobwebs. Satipo picks up a stone

 

and drops it down the pit. No sound. The two men ex-

 

change glances. Indy looks up at the high roof of the

 

hall. He swings the whip up around a support beam, tests

 

its strength with a pull and swings over the pit on the

 

whip. From the other side he swings the whip back to

 

Satipo, who throws Indy the torch. Satipo swings across.

 

When they are both standing on solid floor there is a

 

moment of quiet in which they hear, from far, far below--

 

SPLASH! Indy wedges the whip handle into the wall and

 

leaves it strung to the beam for quick retreat.

 

8 THE SANTUARY 8

 

A large, domed room. Ten evenly-spaced skylights send

 

their shafts of sunlight down to a unique tiled floor:

 

white and black tiles laid out in a lovely, intricate

 

pattern. Indy and Satipo stand at the door and look

 

across the wide room at the altar. There, in the supreme

 

hallowed spot, is a tiny jeweled figurine, Indy's real

 

objective.

 

Two torches, many years old, are in holders by the door.

 

Indy takes one down and lights it. He gives the regular

 

torch to Satipo.

 

SATIPO

 

There's plenty of light, amigo.

 

Indy kneels and uses the unlit end of the torch to reach

 

out and tap a white tile. It is solid. He taps a black

 

tile. There is a whizzing sound and a tiny dark sticks

 

in the torch. Satipo points to the wall nearby: there is

 

a recessed hole there.

 

SATIPO

 

From that hole!

 

Indy nods, stands and looks around the sanctuary. The

 

entire room is honey-comed with the same kind of hole.

 

Satipo sees it too and is properly impressed.

 

INDY

 

You wait here.

 

SATIPO

 

If you insist, senor.

 

Torch in hand, Indy begins his careful walk across the

 

sanctuary. Stepping only on the white tiles, he almost

 

appears to be doing a martial arts kata. Before each

 

big move he waves the torch in front of him head to toe,

 

looking at the flame. Halfway out, he sees something

 

on the floor and kneels to look at it.

 

A dead bird lies on one of the white tiles. Its body is

 

riddled with little deadly darts. This has great signi-

 

ficance to Indy and he stands with even greater caution.

 

He waves the torch ahead of him and at waist height an

 

air current whips at the flame. Indy ducks under it and

 

leaves a burn mark on the white tile beneath it.

 

Satipo watches, wide-eyed and mystified.

 

Indy reaches the altar. The tiny idol looks both fierce

 

and beautiful. It rests on a pedestal of polished stone.

 

Indy looks the whole set-up over very carefully. From

 

his jacket he takes a small, canvas drawstring bad. He

 

begins filling it with dirt from around the case of the

 

altar. When he has created a weight that he thinks ap-

 

proximates the weight of the idol, he bounces it a couple

 

times in his palm concentrating. It's clear he wants to

 

replace the idol with the bag as smoothly as possible.

 

His hand seems ready to do that once, when he stops, takes

 

a breath and loosens his shoulder muscles. Now he sets

 

himself again. And makes the switch! The idol is now in

 

his hand, the bag on the pedestal. For a long moment it

 

sits there, then the polished stone beneath the bag drops

 

five inches. This sets off an AURAL CHAIN REACTION of

 

steadily increasing volume as some huge mysterious mechanism

 

rumbles into action deep in the temple.

 

Indy spins and starts his kata back across the sanctuary

 

at four times the speed.

 

Satipo's eyes widen in terror. He turns and runs.

 

9 THE RETREAT - INTERCUTTING INDY AND SATIPO 9

 

The sanctuary has begun to rumble and shake in response

 

to the mysterious mechanism. Just as Indy goes out the

 

door, a rock shakes loose from the wall and rolls onto the

 

tiles floor. Immediately, a noisy torrent of poison darts

 

filles the room.

 

IN THE FOYER, Satipo swings across the pit. He makes it

 

just as the whip comes undone from the beam, leaving Indy

 

without an escape. Satipo, extremely nervous, regards

 

the whip a moment then turns back to face Indy, who has

 

run up to the far side of the pit.

 

SATIPO

 

No time to argue. Throw me the

 

idol, I throw you the whip.

 

Indy hesitates, eyeing the rumbling walls.

 

SATIPO

 

You have no choice! Hurry!

 

Indy concurs with that assessment. He tosses the idol

 

across the pit to Satipo. Satipo stuffs it in the front

 

pocket of his jacket, gives Indy a look, then drops the

 

whip on the floor and runs.

 

SATIPO

 

Adios, amigo!

 

Indy grimaces. He had a feeling this might happen. He

 

looks around.

 

AT THE VINED LANDING, Satipo flies through like a chubby

 

ballet dancer and takes the steps five at a time.

 

IN THE FOYER, Indy runs in full stride to the edge of the

 

pit and broad jumps into space. He doesn't make it. His

 

body hits the far side of the pit and he begins to slide

 

out of view. Only wild clawing with his fingers at the

 

edge of the pit stops his descent. With just the tips

 

of his fingers over the edge, he begins pulling himself up.

 

AT THE CHAMBER OF LIGHT, Satipo has slowed down. He begins

 

to edge carefully around the light shaft.

 

AT THE VINED LANDING, Indy sails through sideways and rolls

 

to a stop at the bottom of the steps. His whip is grasped

 

in his hand. As he raises himself, he hears, from above

 

the giant spikes of the Chamber of Light CLANG! and an

 

abrupt, sickening rendition of SATIPO'S LAST SCREAM. Indy

 

runs up the steps. The rumbling sound grows louder.

 

AT THE CHAMBER OF LIGHT, Indy slides to a stop. The

 

spikes have retracted, taking Satipo's body to one side.

 

Indy edges into the chamber with his back to the shaft

 

of light. Soon he is face to face with the dead Satipo;

 

spikes protrude from several vital spots in the Peruvian's

 

body. Indy removes the idol from Satipo's pocket and

 

moves quickly out the other side.

 

INDY

 

Adios.

 

10 THE INCLINED PASSAGE 10

 

Indy shoots out of a cut-off hallway and turns toward the

 

exit. The rumbling is very loud and now we see why:

 

right behind Indy a huge boulder comes roaring around a

 

corner of the passage, perfectly form-fitted to the passage-

 

way. It obliterates everything before it, sending the sta-

 

lactites shooting ahead like missles. Indy dashes for

 

the light of the exit. His hat flies off his head. Almost

 

immediately it is crushed by the boulder. Indy dives out

 

the end of the passage as the boulder slams to a perfect

 

fit at the entrance, sealing the Temple.

 

11 EXT. FRONT OF THE TEMPLE - DAY 11

 

Indy lies on the ground, gasping for air. A shadow falls

 

across him and he looks up.

 

WHAT HE SEES. looming above him are three figures. Two

 

are HOVITOS WARRIORS in full battle paint and loin cloths.

 

They carry long blow guns. But the man in the center draws

 

Indy's attention. He is a tall, impressive white man,

 

dressed in full safari outfit including pith helmet. His

 

name is EMILE BELLOQ. His face is thin, powerful; his eyes

 

hypnotic; his smile charming, yet lethal. His heavily

 

French-accented speech is deep, mellifluous, wonderful.

 

Back beyond Belloq and his two escorts, thirty more Hovitos

 

Warriors hover at the edge of the trees.

 

BELLOQ

 

Dr. Jones, you choose the wrong

 

friends. This time it will cost you.

 

Belloq extends his hand. Indy looks at it, then pro-

 

duces the idol and hands it to Belloq. Belloq extends

 

his other hand, smiling. Indy hands over his gun. Belloq

 

sticks it in his jacket.

 

BELLOQ

 

And you thought I'd given up.

 

INDY

 

(eyeing the Hovitos)

 

Too bad they don't know you like

 

I do, Belloq.

 

BELLOQ

 

(smiles)

 

Yes, too bad. You could warn

 

them...if only you spoke Hovitos.

 

With that, Belloq turns dramatically and holds the idol

 

high for all the Hovitos to see and says something in

 

Hovitos. There is a murmur of recognition and all the

 

Indians, including Belloq's escorts, prostrate themselves

 

upon the ground, heads down.

 

Indy is immediately up and running toward the edge of the

 

clearing.

 

BELLOQ

 

(in Hovitos)

 

Kill him!

 

AT THE EDGE OF THE CLEARING, Indy disappears into the

 

foliage. An instant later, the leaves are peppered with

 

a rain of poison darts and spears.

 

12 EXT. THE JUNGLE - INDY'S RUN - VARIOUS SHOTS - DAY 12

 

Indy runs like hell through steadily falling terrain.

 

And always close behind, a swift gang of angry Hovitos.

 

Occasionally they get close enough to send a dart or

 

spear whizzing past Indy's head.

 

13 EXT. THE URUBAMBA RIVER - DUSK 13

 

An amphibian plane sits in the water beneath a green cliff.

 

Sitting on the wing is JOCK, the British pilot. Indy

 

breaks out of some distant brush and runs along the path

 

at the top of the cliff.

 

INDY

 

(yelling)

 

Get it going! Get it going!

 

Jock hops in and fires up the plane's engines. Indy

 

reaches a spot on the cliff above the place, glances

 

back, them jumps into the river. He comes up, swims

 

to the plane and grabs a strut.

 

INDY

 

GO!

 

Jock starts the plane moving across the water as Indy

 

walks across the wing and falls into the passenger com-

 

partment.

 

14 OMIT OMIT 14

 

15 OMIT OMIT 15

 

16 INT. JOCK'S PLANE - DUSK 16

 

Indy relaxes and lies across the seat, a big smile on

 

his face. One hand drops to the floor of the cabin and

 

Indy jumps, hitting his head. On the floor of the cabin

 

is a huge boa constrictor. Indy tries to get his whole

 

body onto the seat. Jock sees what's happening.

 

JOCK

 

Don't mind his. That's Reggie.

 

Wouldn't hurt a soul.

 

INDY

 

I can't stand snakes.

 

JOCK

 

The world's full of them, you know.

 

INDY

 

I hate them.

 

JOCK

 

Come on now, Sport, show a little

 

of the old backbone.

 

17 EXT. JOCK'S PLANE - TWILIGHT 17

 

It soars off over the dark jungle.

 

18 INT. INDY'S OFFICE, SMALL EASTERN COLLEGE - DAY 18

 

It's authum and the pretty, New England campus out Indy's

 

window reflects it in dazzling color. A few weeks be-

 

fore the start of classes. Activity just picking up.

 

Some students about.

 

Indy is at a bookcase near the window and he looks

 

quite different in this setting. His outfit is tweedy,

 

slightly rumpled in the professional style. Part of his

 

attention is focused in a book and he wears glasses to

 

see the fine print. The office is cramped, absolutely

 

innundated with books, maps, etchings and archeological

 

artifacts. In fact, the only neat spot in the room right

 

now is Indy's desk, which has been cleared off expressly

 

for the benefit of--

 

MARCUS BRODY, the Curator of the National Museum in Wash-

 

ington, D.C. Brody is examining the small artifacts Indy

 

pocketed on his way into the Peruvian Temple. He occasion-

 

ally uses a jeweller's eyepiece to get a closer look. But

 

he is distracted, his concerns elsewhere, and it is this

 

that his old friend Indy senses from across the room.

 

BRODY

 

Do you think the idol will ever

 

show up?

 

INDY

 

I don't know. Just because Belloq

 

had it doesn't mean he kept it.

 

Indy snaps the book closed and puts it on the shelf.

 

He takes his glasses off and focuses on Brody. At the

 

windowed door to his office, two pretty Coeds pause for

 

a moment, look in at their sexy Archeology professor,

 

giggle and disappear.

 

INDY

 

Getting it away from those Indians

 

would be a neat trick

 

(a hard look)

 

I hope they got him.

 

A young male graduate student, Indy's TEACHING ASSISTANT,

 

taps on the door and then pushes his way in with an arm-

 

load of reference books. Indy helps him find a spot

 

for them.

 

TEACHING ASSISTANT

 

I couldn't get the McNabe, Professor.

 

Someone's got it checked out 'til

 

next month when classes start.

 

INDY

 

That's all right, Phil. Thanks

 

a lot.

 

TEACHING ASSISTANT

 

(eager to please)

 

Will there be anything else?

 

INDY

 

No. I'll see you Thursday.

 

The Teaching Assistant leaves. Brody is scowling as

 

he examines the last of the artifacts.

 

INDY

 

Hey, if you don't like them, I can

 

always return them.

 

BRODY

 

No, they're beautiful. The Museum

 

will but them as usual. No ques-

 

tions asked.

 

INDY

 

Then what's wrong?

 

BRODY

 

I brought along some people today.

 

INDY

 

What kind of people?

 

BRODY

 

Government.

 

INDY

 

(concerned)

 

Government?

 

BRODY

 

Don't worry, it's not about your

 

business.

 

(indicates the artifacts)

 

They're from the Army.

 

INDY

 

I've already served.

 

BRODY

 

Army Intelligence. They're looking

 

for Abner.

 

19 INT. INDY'S LECTURE HALL/CLASSROOM - DAY 19

 

Indy's course--a combination of archeology and anthro-

 

pology--is taught in this amphitheater-type lecture hall.

 

His desk and lectern hold large reference books; black-

 

boards line the wall. Bones, maps, charts festoon the

 

walls.

 

Indy leans against his desk talking with Brody and two

 

uniformed Army officers, COLONEL MUSGROVE and MAJOR

 

EATON, who are situated around the first seats in the

 

classroom.

 

MUSGROVE

 

--But you did study under Professor

 

Ravenwood at the University of Chicago?

 

INDY

 

(nods)

 

We haven't spoken in ten years.

 

I'm afraid we had a bit of a fall-

 

ing out.

 

EATON

 

You know nothing of his whereabouts?

 

INDY

 

(negative)

 

Just rumors. Somewhere in Asia, last

 

I heard.

 

Musgrove and Eaton exchange a look; they're disappointed.

 

EATON

 

(to Musgrove)

 

Maybe Dr. Jones can make sense of it.

 

Again the military men have a silent communication, de-

 

ciding what to reveal.

 

MUSGROVE

 

Well...you must understand, Dr. Jones,

 

this is all strickly confidential.

 

INDY

 

I understand.

 

MUSGROVE

 

Yesterday, one of our European sec-

 

tions intercepted a Nazi communique

 

from Cairo to Berlin. We don't

 

quite know what to make of it.

 

Musgrove takes a sheet from his briefcase.

 

MUSGROVE

 

Here it is--"Tanis development pro-

 

ceeding. Acquire headpiece, Staff

 

of Ra, General Tengtu Hok, Shanghai.

 

Locate Abner Ravenwood, U.S."

 

Brody is excited. He looks at Indy.

 

BRODY

 

Tanis. They must have discovered

 

the lost ruins.

 

Indy contemplates this big news; he's impressed.

 

INDY

 

(to himself)

 

Tanis. Ain't that somethin'!

 

EATON

 

Frankly, we're a little suspicious...

 

An American being mentioned so prom-

 

inently in a secret Nazi cable.

 

INDY

 

Ah, Ravenwood's no Nazi.

 

EATON

 

Then what do they want him for?

 

INDY

 

They're looking for the headpiece

 

to the Staff of Ra.

 

MUSGROVE

 

(indicates his sheet)

 

But it says here that's in China.

 

INDY

 

Only half of it. Ravenwood had

 

the other half.

 

EATON

 

What would the Nazis want with

 

this--this Staff of Ra?

 

BRODY

 

I can tell you that. Over the last

 

two years the Nazis have had teams

 

of archeologists running around the

 

world looking for all kinds of re-

 

ligious artifacts.

 

MUSGROVE

 

That's right. Hitler's a nut on

 

the subject. Crazy. He's obsessed

 

with the occult.

 

EATON

 

What is this Staff of Ra, anyway?

 

INDY

 

It all has to do with the Ark of

 

the Covenant.

 

(the Army guys look mystified)

 

The chest the Hebrews used to carry

 

around the Ten Commandments.

 

Now it's the Army men who are impressed.

 

INDY

 

An Egyptian pharoah stole the Ark

 

from Jerusalem and took it back to

 

the city of Tanis. A short time

 

later, Tanis was consumed by the

 

desert in a sandstorm that lasted

 

a year. But before that, the Phar-

 

oah had had the Ark hidden away in

 

a secret chamber called the Well of

 

the Souls. Which is where the Staff

 

of Ra comes in.

 

Indy moves to the blackboard and makes a quick sketch

 

to give a rough idea of the system as he describes it.

 

(And we get a glimpse of what an interesting and enthu-

 

siastic teacher he must be)

 

INDY

 

Now this was rather clever. The

 

Staff was really just a big stick--

 

oh, I don't know, say like this--

 

(he indicates about six feet)

 

--no one really knows for sure. Any-

 

way, it was capped by an elaborate

 

headpiece with a carving of the sun

 

at the top. What you had to do was

 

take the Staff to a special map room

 

in Tanis--it had the whole city laid

 

out in miniature on the floor. When

 

you placed the Staff in a certain

 

spot in this room, at a certain time

 

of day, the sun would shine through

 

a hole here in the headpiece and then

 

send a beam of light down here--to

 

the map--giving you the location of

 

the Well of the Souls...

 

MUSGROVE

 

...where the Ark of the Covenant

 

was kept.

 

INDY

 

(nods)

 

Which is probably what the Nazis

 

are after.

 

EATON

 

What's this Ark look like?

 

INDY

 

Look like? Why, it's right here...

 

Indy pulls a big format book from the stack on his lectern

 

and flips through the pages until he finds a large color

 

print. The other men gather to look.

 

THE PRINT fills the screen.

 

It shows a Biblical battle. The Israelite Army is van-

 

quishing an opposition force. At the forefront of the

 

Israelite ranks, two men carry the Ark of the Covenant,

 

a beautiful gold chest, crowned by two sculptured gold

 

angels. The men do not touch the Ark itself; rather

 

they carry it by use of two long wooden poles which pass

 

through rings in the corners of the Ark. The painting

 

is very dramatic, full of smoke, tumult and sinewy dying

 

men. But the most astounding thing in the picture is the

 

brilliant jet of white light and flame issuing from the

 

wings of the angels. It pierces deep into the ranks of

 

the retreating enemy, wreaking devastation and terror.

 

EATON

 

Good God!

 

INDY

 

Yes. That's what the Hebrews thought.

 

MUSGROVE

 

What's that supposed to be coming

 

out of there?

 

INDY

 

Who knows...lightning...fire...the

 

power of God.

 

EATON

 

I'm beginning to understand Hitler's

 

interest in this thing.

 

INDY

 

Oh yes. The Bible tells of it level-

 

ing mountains and wasting entire re-

 

gions. Moses promised that when the

 

Ark was with you, "your enemies will

 

be scattered and your foes fell be-

 

fore you".

 

(pause)

 

An army which carries the Ark before

 

it is invincible.

 

Eaton and Musgrove exchange worried looks.

 

INDY

 

Oh, there's one other thing that

 

Hitler undoubtably believes about

 

the Ark...

 

(a long pregnant pause)

 

It's said that the Lost Ark will be

 

recovered at the time of the coming

 

of the True Messiah.

 

MUSGROVE

 

Dr. Jones, you've been very helpful.

 

I hope we can call on you again if

 

we have questions.

 

INDY

 

Most certainly.

 

Brody and Indy exchange a look as they all shake and

 

Brody starts to leave with the Army men.

 

20 EXT. FRONT DOOR, INDY'S HOUSE - NIGHT 20

 

INdy's English Tudor, upper middle class hoem. Quite

 

toney; well beyond the financial reach of an honest

 

college professor. Marcus Brody has already rung the

 

bell. Indy opens the door. He is dressed in a tuxedo.

 

BRODY

 

I've got to talk to you.

 

INDY

 

This isn't really a good time.

 

BRODY

 

Indy, it's important.

 

INDY

 

All right. Come on in.

 

21 INT. FOYER, INDY'S HOUSE 21

 

The lush tone continues here in Art Deco and shiny marble.

 

Indy motions Brody toward the study to one side.

 

INDY

 

I'll be in in a minute.

 

As Brody passes the entrance to the expansive living room,

 

he spots a beautiful, silk-gowned Harlow-type lounging on

 

the sofa in front of a roaring fire. She is sipping cham-

 

pagne.

 

22 INT. STUDY, INDY'S HOUSE 22

 

Brody enters the book-lined, dark-wooded study. He paces

 

for a moment before the fire which is dying in the fire-

 

place, then spots something and goes over to Indy's big

 

desk. The surface is covered with open books, monographs,

 

maps and drawings--all about the Ark of the Covenant.

 

Brody smiles; he knows his friend very well. Indy comes

 

in, closing the door behind him. Brody turns to him with

 

a triumphant expression.

 

BRODY

 

They want you to go for it. And

 

they'll pay.

 

INDY

 

(smiles)

 

Good work, Marcus. I had a feeling

 

this would happen. And, of course,

 

the Museum gets the Ark when we're

 

done.

 

BRODY

 

(smiles)

 

Of course.

 

Indy's manner is vigorous, agressive.

 

INDY

 

Okay, here's the way it's gonna be.

 

First, I'll high-tail it to Shanghai

 

and get the piece from General Hok.

 

Then I think I know where I can find

 

Ravenwood. If only I can get--

 

BRODY

 

General Hok's a tough customer. They

 

don't call him the Wild Boar for nothing.

 

And he's tied in with the Japanese.

 

INDY

 

I'll worry about that when the time

 

comes. My only hope is to find the

 

Well of the Souls before the Nazis do.

 

WIPE TO:

 

23 EXT. IN THE AIR - DAY/NIGHT 23

 

A Pan Am Clipper flies west over the Pacific.

 

WIPE TO:

 

24 INT. KEHOE'S CAR (SHANGHAI AIRPORT) - DAY 24

 

Indy is barely into the front seat of a dilapidated

 

Ford as the driver, BUZZ KEHOE, is peeling out into

 

traffic. In the back seat is a Chinese named BANG

 

CHOW. Kehoe zigs crazily through traffic with only

 

his left hand as he reaches over to shake with Indy.

 

KEHOE

 

Buzz Kehoe, Army Intelligence.

 

You've met Bang Chow.

 

INDY

 

What's the hurry?

 

KEHOE

 

Some German agents got here two

 

hours ago. Luckily, Bang was able

 

to have them detained at Customs.

 

We'll have to hurry.

 

25 OMIT OMIT 25

 

26 OMIT OMIT 26

 

27 OMIT OMIT 27

 

28 OMIT OMIT 28

 

29 EXT. HOK'S STREET - DAY 29

 

Kehoe's car emerges from an alley. Down the block is

 

Tengtu Hok's modest, walled palace. Kehoe's car slows

 

a bit and Bang steps from the moving car with a small

 

black suitcase in his hand. While he heads down the

 

street toward Hok's place, Kehoe's car continues across

 

the street and into an alley on the other side.

 

30 EXT. HOK'S STREET - IN FRONT OF PALACE - DAY 30

 

A Mercedes limousine appears round a corner and squeals

 

to a stop at the front gate of the palace, which is manned

 

by a sturdy Chinese Gateman. There are three Germans in-

 

side, one the driver.

 

31 EXT. ALLEY BEHIND HOK'S MUSEUM - DAY 31

 

Kehoe, alone now, pushes a trash container casually into

 

position to hide a newly created hole in the rear wall of

 

Hok's Museum where several stone blocks have been removed.

 

He looks around and ambles back to the car.

 

32 INT. HOK'S PALACE - ENTRY HALL 32

 

The three Germans wait impatiently in a magnificent foyer.

 

A chime sounds and huge double doors open to reveal TENGTU

 

HOK, flanked by two uniformed Japanese Soldiers and a

 

roved Chinese Advisor. He wears a fantastic gold orna-

 

mental robe. Despite the majesty, however, nothing can

 

disguise the fact that Hok is basically a wild, fat bar-

 

barian; an animal. Hok and his escort group bow in what

 

is the beginning of a long welcoming ceremony. The Germans

 

exchange impatient glances but decide they should play it

 

as it comes. They bow.

 

33 INT. HOK'S MUSEUM 33

 

No person in sight. Instead, we see a magnificent dis-

 

play of ancient artifacts. Glass cases hold the velvet-

 

couched pieces at random spots on the shining marble

 

floor. We hear an odd sound. Near the floor on the rear

 

wall of the museum, a steel ventilation grate moves. A

 

hand slides it gently across the marble. Indy sticks his

 

head out and looks around.

 

34 INT. HOK'S PALACE - TEA ROOM 34

 

The three Germans are being served tea and exotic deli-

 

cacies. A pleased Tengtu Hok watches from a throne-cushion.

 

When the tray of tiny delicacies is presented to him, he

 

takes a massive handful, crushing them together on their

 

way to his smiling mouth.

 

35 INT. HOK'S MUSEUM 35

 

A huge golden gong, seven feet in diameter, is suspended

 

from the ceiling by a hook. An enormous hammer hangs

 

poised above it, from which emanate myraid tiny threads

 

which run up and across the ceiling, then down to the

 

various display cases. Indy looks up at the gong, then

 

continues his quick, quiet foray among the cases. Be-

 

yond him, a high window.

 

36 INT. HOK'S PALACE - TEA ROOM 36

 

Hok and his visitors stand to go. The German's pleased

 

expressions make it clear they're finally on their way

 

to the museum.

 

37 INT. HOK'S MUSEUM 37

 

Indy arrives at his destination. The lovely, carved gold

 

section of the headpiece is nested on purple velvet in a

 

glass case. At the bottom of the piece is a round hollow

 

where the staff would fit. There is a grunting sound be-

 

hind Indy and he spins, already reaching for his revolver.

 

A fierce Japanese Samurai is running at Indy full speed

 

down an aisle of display cases. His sword is raised over

 

his shoulder ready to cut Indy in half. He's six feet a-

 

way when Indy's gun levels and fires twice, blasting him

 

backwards. Indy is still looking over his gun when an-

 

other samurai sword comes down from the side and knocks

 

the pistol brutally out of Indy's grip; his hand avoids

 

amputation by a quarter of an inch.

 

An amazed Indy backs away from the crossing aisle as the

 

Second Samurai steps in to face him, sword raised. Indy

 

backs away into an open space and his bullwhip appears

 

in his hand. He gives it one savage CRACK! to announce

 

its arrival and the Samurai slows down, eyeing it curiously.

 

The Samurai does not look unhappy about this confrontation.

 

How pure it is--The Sword versus The Whip.

 

38 EXT. HOK'S PALACE - SECOND FLOOR WALKWAY - DAY 38

 

Tengtu Hok and the Germans have obviously heard something.

 

They are hurrying along the walkway at the side of the

 

building, Hok in the lead. Up ahead is the foot bridge

 

which crosses from the palace to the museum entrance over

 

a moat.

 

39 EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF THE PALACE - DAY 39

 

The Lovely Mercedes limousine blows up.

 

40 EXT. HOK'S PALACE - SECOND FLOOR WALKWAY - DAY 40

 

The Germans spin toward the blast. Drawing weapons, they

 

run back to investigate. Hok follows them, confused.

 

41 INT. HOK'S MUSEUM 41

 

Indy and the Samurai face each other. They're both breath-

 

ing hard from previous, no-contact passes at each other.

 

Now Indy begins swinging the whip over his head again. It

 

whizzes out toward the Samurai's face. The Samurai takes

 

two lightning-quick cuts at the leather, but misses. Indy

 

swings for the Samurai's feet; the Japanese jumps nimbly,

 

slashing at the whip. Indy does it again. The Samurai

 

hops it. Once more. The Samurai is concentrating on hop-

 

ping it.

 

Indy sees it. The split second he wants. The whip flashes

 

up from the floor and wraps solidly and irrevocably around

 

the Samurai's neck. Indy gives it a murderous pull and

 

the Samurai is dead on his feet.

 

42 EXT. HOK'S PALACE - SECOND FLOOR WALKWAY - DAY 42

 

Hok and the three Germans are looking d-wn at the flaming

 

remains of the Mercedes. A look of concern crosses Hok's

 

face. He turns and runs back toward his beloved museum.

 

43 INT. HOK'S MUSEUM 43

 

Indy is at the case containing the headpiece. He smashes

 

the glass with a samurai sword, reaches in and grabs the

 

piece. Immediately, behind him, the huge hammer falls

 

and the sound of the gong thunders through the museum.

 

44 EXT. HOK'S PALACE - SECOND FLOOR WALKWAY - DAY 44

 

At the sound of the gong, the running Hok skids to a halt

 

with a crazed expression on his face. He disappears for

 

two seconds in an alcove and emerges holding a big, black

 

Thompson Submachine Gun. He runs across the foot bridge

 

and is just barely over it when it blows up. Hok, safe,

 

looks behind him in amazement and then turns to the museum.

 

45 INT. HOK'S MUSEUM 45

 

The double doors at the entrance slam open to reveal Hok.

 

Indy is halfway along an unprotected wall back to his ven-

 

tilation entry route. Hok opens up on him, cutting off

 

his retreat. Indy jumps behind a marble column, which is

 

promptly blasted with machine gun fire.

 

Indy looks above him, sees the giant disk of the gong.

 

Reaching up, pushing with tremendous effort, he maneuvers

 

it off the hook. It bounces down to the floor on its side,

 

chipping the marble with its monstrous weight. Indy stead-

 

ies it and then puts his whole body into rolling it across

 

the room toward the window. As it starts to roll, Indy

 

slips behind it and runs across the room with it.

 

Hok can see the rolling gong. He opens up on it.

 

The vicious cacophony of machine gun fire is joined by

 

the musical reports of bullets hitting the gong and ri-

 

cocheting away. Very, very noisy.

 

Behind the gong, Indy gauges his move. As the gong is

 

about to be stopped by a marble bench, Indy talks a long

 

stride onto the bench and dives through the glass of the

 

high window. Hok's bullets hit the wall.

 

46 EXT. ROOF - DAY 46

 

Indy lands in a shower of glass on the jutting roof of

 

the museum's first floor. He rolls to a crouch and is

 

immediately being fired upon. The Germans, cut off from

 

the museum, are standing on the palace walkway firing at

 

him. Indy takes off fast for the rear of the museum.

 

47 EXT. ALLEY BEHIND MUSEUM - DAY 47

 

Kehoe, craning to locate Indy, has the Ford rolling slowly

 

along the back of the museum. Bang scouts from the back

 

seat. Indy appears on the roof at a run, gauges the move-

 

ment of the car and jumps from the roof of the museum to

 

the roof of the sedan. Unfortunately, the roof of the

 

old car can't take it and Indy's legs knife right on

 

through to the interior, where he scares the hell out of

 

Kehoe.

 

48 INT. KEHOE'S CAR - DAY 48

 

Indy squirms his way down into the front seat.

 

KEHOE

 

Jesus! Are you all right!

 

INDY

 

(he's felt better)

 

Great. Got it.

 

Kehoe guns it, throwing Indy back against the cushions.

 

KEHOE

 

What now?

 

INDY

 

I've got to get to Nepal.

 

49 OMIT OMIT 49

 

WIPE TO:

 

50 EXT. DC-3 IN THE AIR - DUSK 50

 

The plane flies west into the sunset.

 

51 INT. DC-3 - NIGHT 51

 

Under a meager seat light, Indy is pouring over a jour-

 

nal article by Abner Ravenwood and related map of Nepal.

 

A few rows back, across the aisle, a trenchcoated Euro-

 

pean Spy eyes Indy.

 

WIPE TO:

 

52. INT. "THE RAVEN" SALOON - PATAN, NEPAL - NIGHT 52

 

A huge stuffed raven, wings spread wide, is mounted be-

 

hind the long bar in the noisy, crowded saloon. A lively

 

mix of patrons is represented in the late hour tableau:

 

Nepalese natives, fierce Sherpa mountain guides, sleazy

 

international smugglers and fugitives, and, of course,

 

mountain climbers from every corner of the earth. A tall

 

Nepalese, MAHDLO, is the bartender.

 

In a corner near the fireplace trouble breaks out

 

suddenly between the groups at two neighboring tables.

 

Ferocious representatives from each table--one a wild-

 

looking SHERPA, the other a muscular Australian CLIMBER--

 

jump up to face each other. As the two contenders stand

 

poised for action, their respective supporters shift in

 

their places, fondling lethal ice axes and clubs.

 

SHERPA

 

Gmoiska! Shurga rintoik!

 

CLIMBER

 

Aye! That'll be your last word.

 

The bar has quieted ominously and so we hear with startling

 

clarity when--a door behind the bar slams open with a huge

 

BANG! and some Presence, too small to be seen as it moves

 

through the forest of towering patrons, makes a beeline

 

for the troubled corner of the bar. A path clears for it.

 

The Sherpa and the Climber are about to kill each other

 

when the Presence arrives directly between them: she is

 

MARION RAVENWOOD, twenty-five years old, beautiful, if a

 

bit hard-looking. At this moment, however, that look

 

does not hurt. She is not intimidated by the combatants;

 

she jabs accusatory fingers into their chests. She is

 

angry as hell. The patrons shrink under her gaze.

 

MARION

 

That does it! I've been patient

 

with you no-goods long enough. I'm

 

not open at 2 o'clock for myself,

 

you know. It's all for you. And

 

how do you repay me: Trouble and

 

noise and blood on my floor! I

 

won't have it. Everybody out! Out!

 

Out! We're closed. Closed! Do your

 

killing outside! And don't leave any

 

bodies on the porch!

 

The place clears quickly. Stragglers and grumblers are

 

given special attention by Marion and Mahdlo, who has

 

come from behind the bar carrying a big axe handle.

 

Mahdlo herds the crows out the front door as Marion turns

 

and walks behind the bar.

 

A scowl on her lovely face, she has just begun clearing

 

the bar of glasses when she notices one remaining Patron

 

huddled over a glass at the far end of the bar. Grimacing

 

in exasperation, she heads that way like a locomotive.

 

MARION

 

Hey you, deaf one! I said out of

 

my place. I don't mean next Easter,

 

I mean now--

 

She is almost on him when Indy looks up smiling. Marion

 

stops, stares, shocked.

 

INDY

 

Hello, Marion.

 

She hits him with a solid right to the jaw, knocking him

 

off the barstool on the floor. He rubs his jaw and

 

smiles up at her.

 

INDY

 

Nice to see you, too.

 

MARION

 

Get up and get out.

 

INDY

 

(getting up)

 

Take it easy. I'm looking for

 

your father.

 

MARION

 

(bitterly)

 

Well you're two years too late.

 

Indy's attitude changes instantly. This is sad news. He

 

is silent for a long time. Mahdlo comes in the front door

 

and hurries forward when he sees Indy with Marion. He

 

looks to her for guidance, but she stays him with a gesture.

 

MARION

 

Go home, Mahdlo. I'll see you to-

 

morrow.

 

Mahdlo is hesitant, but lays the axe handle on the bar and

 

goes out. Indy has been barely aware of him. Now he set-

 

tles again on the barstool. Marion has a vindictive look.

 

She'll let him stay, but she wants to inflict as much pain

 

as possible.

 

INDY

 

What happened?

 

MARION

 

Avalanche. Up there. He was dig-

 

ging. What else? He spent his

 

whole life digging. Dragging me all

 

over this rotten earth. For what?

 

INDY

 

Do you find him?

 

MARION

 

Hell no. He's buried where he was

 

working. Probably preserved real

 

good, too. In the snow.

 

Suddenly the hardness cracks. She is on the verge of

 

tears and does not want him to see them. She turns away

 

and takes a whiskey bottle from the shelf, then turns

 

back to pout herself a drink.

 

INDY

 

Not a bad way to go. Doing what

 

he loved.

 

MARION

 

(vitriolic)

 

Don't give me taht stuff! What

 

do you know?

 

(she takes a drinks)

 

I'm the one that was left in a bad

 

way. He didn't have a penny. Guess

 

how I lived, Mister Jones. I worked

 

here. And I wasn't the bartender.

 

(another swallow)

 

Finally the guy that owned the joint

 

went crazy. Snow crazy. They took

 

his away screaming. As they dragged

 

him out, he said the place was all

 

mine for life.

 

She looks around the saloon.

 

MARION

 

Can you imagine a more evil curse?

 

(pause)

 

So far, it's working.

 

INDY

 

Why not leave? Go back to the States.

 

MARION

 

I'll go back. I'll get there. Not

 

that there's a soul there who knows

 

my name of cares. But I'll go. And

 

when I do, they'll know me. 'Cause

 

I'm going to go back in style. With

 

money. A soddamn lady!

 

INDY

 

Where you gonna get it?

 

MARION

 

If I knew that, you think I'd still

 

be running this dive?

 

Indy looks at her, thinking. Under his gaze, she blushes,

 

for reasons only she understands. She looks into her

 

glass and, for a moment, she softens.

 

MARION

 

I'll tell you something Indy. I've

 

learned to hate you in the last ten

 

years. But somehow, no matter how

 

much I hated you, I always knew that

 

someday you'd come through that door.

 

I never doubted that. Something made

 

is inevitable.

 

(hopefully)

 

Why are you here...now...tonight?

 

Indy takes a long time to answer.

 

INDY

 

I need one of the pieces your father

 

collected.

 

Marion's eyes go icy. She swings at him again with her

 

right, but this time he catches her at the wrist. Then

 

he stops her left, which she has brought up to slap him.

 

MARION

 

You son-of-a-bitch! You know what

 

you did to me, to my life? This

 

is your handiwork.

 

INDY

 

I never meant to hurt you.

 

MARION

 

I was a child!

 

INDY

 

You knew what you were doing.

 

MARION

 

I was in love.

 

INDY

 

I guess that depends on your

 

definition.

 

MARION

 

It was wrong. You knew it.

 

Indy releases her arms.

 

INDY

 

Look, I did what I did. I don't

 

expect you to be happy about it.

 

But maybe we can do each other

 

some good.

 

MARION

 

Why start now?

 

INDY

 

Shut up and listen for a second. I

 

want that piece your father had.

 

I've got money.

 

This stops her.

 

MARION

 

How much?

 

INDY

 

Enough to get you back to the States.

 

Where are his things?

 

MARION

 

Gone. I sold it all. It was all

 

junk. The junk he wasted his life on.

 

INDY

 

Everything?

 

Marion nods.

 

INDY

 

(giving up)

 

That's too bad.

 

Indy feels tired, defeated. Marion is pleased.

 

MARION

 

You look disappointed. I like

 

that. How's it feel?

 

Indy has to smile at her glee.

 

MARION

 

(nods at his empty glass)

 

What are you drinking?

 

INDY

 

Seltzer.

 

MARION

 

(refilling his glass)

 

Real man's drink. Me, I like scotch.

 

And I like bourbon. And vodka and

 

gin. I'm not much for brandy. I'm

 

off that.

 

She pours herself another as Indy watches, amused.

 

INDY

 

You're a tough broad now, aren't you?

 

MARION

 

It's no act, pal. This ain't Sche-

 

nectady.

 

INDY

 

I can only say I'm sorry so many

 

times.

 

Marion looks at him thoughtfully, takes a drink.

 

MARION

 

You really have money? You don't

 

look rich.

 

(Indy nods)

 

I may be able to locate some of his

 

things. I know who's got them.

 

What do you want?

 

INDY

 

A bronze piece, about this size. In

 

the shape of the sun. Probably

 

broken off at the bottom. Has a

 

little hole in it, off-center.

 

Does that sound familiar?

 

Marion thinks, nods slowly.

 

INDY

 

Do you know where it is?

 

MARION

 

Maybe. How much?

 

INDY

 

Three thousand. American.

 

MARION

 

(negative)

 

That'll get me back, but not in

 

style. This doodad must be pretty

 

importnat.

 

INDY

 

Maybe.

 

A huge smile lights up Marion's face.

 

MARION

 

I knew it would happen eventually.

 

I knew it. Something had to go my way.

 

(pours herself another drink)

 

I've got to think this out. I'm

 

used to bargaining with yaks.

 

INDY

 

Okay, five thousand. That's all I

 

can give you now. I can get you more

 

when you land in the States.

 

MARION

 

You word, huh?

 

(Indy nods)

 

Just like you said you'd be back last

 

time? That was your word too.

 

INDY

 

I'm back, aren't I?

 

Marion sneers and they smile together.

 

INDY

 

You can trust me.

 

MARION

 

Come back tomorrow.

 

INDY

 

Why?

 

MARION

 

Because I said so, that's why. It's

 

about time I called the shots in this

 

relationship.

 

Indy nods, gets up to go.

 

MARION

 

Wait a minute. Leave the five thou-

 

sand here.

 

(Indy hesitates)

 

You want trust, give some. I want to

 

smell your money.

 

Indy thinks about this a moment, then reaches inside his

 

shirt and pulls cash from a money belt. He lays five grand

 

on the bar.

 

INDY

 

I trust you.

 

MARION

 

You're an idiot.

 

INDY

 

I've heard that.

 

Indy starts fro the door. Marion takes another think.

 

She is getting high.

 

MARION

 

Hold it. Come here.

 

INDY

 

(moving back)

 

Bossy, aren't you?

 

MARION

 

That's right. Give me a kiss.

 

Indy looks into her eyes, then leans over the bar and

 

kisses her deeply. When the kiss ends, their faces are

 

very close. Marion is flushed. She liked it and would

 

like more. She raises her glass between them to disci-

 

pline herself.

 

MARION

 

Get out of my place.

 

Indy smiles and walks to the front door. Then, without

 

looking back--

 

INDY

 

Tomorrow.

 

He's gone. Marion stares after him, thinking. She takes

 

a drink. Then slowly, her hand comes up to loose the

 

scarf that is draped around her throat. It falls away,

 

revealing her graceful neck above the dipping top of her

 

blouse. Hanging there on a gold chain against her white

 

skin is a sun-shaped golden medallion. The bottom looks

 

broken off. Marion lifts the medallion so she can see it

 

in her hand, then looks thoughtfully after Indy.

 

53 EXT. STREETS OUTSIDE "THE RAVEN" - NIGHT 53

 

Indy sits thinking at the wheel of an old car. Finally,

 

he puts the car in gear and drives away.

 

Across the street, the shadow in a doorway comes to life.

 

A dark form steps out to look at Indy's departing car;

 

it is the European Spy from the DC-3. He hurries off

 

in the opposite direction.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

54 INT. "THE RAVEN" - NIGHT 54

 

Marion stands before the fire that is shrinking in the

 

fireplace. She jabs at it abstractedly with a poker,

 

thinking. Suddenly tears well up in her eyes. She lets

 

the poker slip from her hand, wipes away the tears. She

 

walks across the room to the end of the bar, still clut-

 

tered with bottles and glasses, and stops at the pile of

 

American money Indy has left. She takes the chain from

 

around her neck and lets the medallion slide off it into

 

her hand. She places it on the bar next to the pile of

 

money, thinking. Then, having reached some decision, she

 

picks up the pile of bills, walks up the back of the bar

 

and pulls a small wooden box from under the bar. She flips

 

open the top, puts the cash inside and closes the top.

 

She leaves the box on the bar and starts back toward

 

the medallion. The front door of the saloon bursts

 

open and Four Bad Men come in. Marion, halfway between

 

the valuable possessions and not wishing to draw

 

attention to either, stops where she is.

 

The Four Bad Men who advance on her are:

 

1.) the obvious leader, a short, vile, sadistic German

 

in spectacles by the name of BELZIG.

 

2.) a trenchcoated SECOND NAZI.

 

3.) a ratty-looking NEPALESE and

 

4.) a mean MONGOLIAN. The second NAZI and the MONGOLIAN

 

both carry submachine guns.

 

BELZIG

 

Good evening, Fraulein.

 

MARION

 

The bar's closed.

 

BELZIG

 

We are not thirsty.

 

The Mongolian and the Nepalese poke around, checking

 

to make sure there's no one else there.

 

Down at the end of the bar, the medallion lies partially

 

hidden by surrounding glasses and bottles. The Second

 

Nazi stops very near it, but turns his back to it to face

 

Belzig and Marion.

 

MARION

 

What do you want?

 

BELZIG

 

The name thing your friend Dr. Jones

 

wanted. Surely he told you there would

 

be other interested parties.

 

Marion shakes her head.

 

BELZIG

 

Ah, the man is nefarious. I hope

 

for your sake he has not yet acquired

 

it.

 

MARION

 

Why, are you willing to offer more?

 

BELZIG

 

Almost certainly. Do you still have it?

 

MARION

 

No. But I know where it is.

 

Belzig's smile fades at this news. He's not a patient sort.

 

Marion is chilled by the look. She turns and moves to the

 

shelf of bottles behind her, reaching high for one, very

 

near the large stuffed raven. He hand lingers there a

 

moment and we see--

 

From an angle behind the stuffed raven, that the left wing

 

spread hides a Baretta automatic pistol. Marion's hand is

 

very near it, but withdraws with only a whiskey bottle as

 

the Mongolian walks toward her behind the bar.

 

Marion opens the bottle before Belzig, who watches her

 

intently.

 

MARION

 

How 'bout a drink for you and your

 

men?

 

The Second Nazi lights up at this suggestion. Belzig gives

 

him a withering look.

 

BELZIG

 

We will stick to the business at hand,

 

Fraulein.

 

MARION

 

(tough)

 

Fine. Why don't you come back to-

 

morrow when Jones is here and we'll

 

have an auction?

 

Belzig gives her a cold look then turns and walks over to-

 

ward the firplace. As soon as his back is turned, the

 

Second Nazi grabs the nearest whiskey bottle and takes a

 

quick pull. In so doing, he leaves the medallion completely

 

exposed. Marion is aware of this as she looks at him. But

 

he quickly puts the bottle down again, obscuring the medal-

 

lion, when Belzig speaks from the fireplace.

 

BELZIG

 

I'm afraid an auction is not possible.

 

(pause)

 

Your fire is dying here, Fraulein.

 

(a beat, then threatening)

 

Why don't you tell us where the

 

piece is right now?

 

MARION

 

Listen, Herr Mac, I don't know who

 

you're used to dealing with, but

 

no one tells me what to do in my

 

place.

 

Belzig, still looking in the fire, sneers and shakes

 

his head.

 

BELZIG

 

Americans! You're all alike. Frau-

 

lein Ravenwood. I'll show you want

 

I'm used to.

 

He motions with his hand. The Mongolian moves up behind

 

Marion and lifts her roughly over the top of the bar,

 

knocking over bottles and spilling liquor. He deposits

 

her on the other side, where the Nepalese and the Second

 

Nazi flank her and hold her cruelly, arms behind her back.

 

Marion raises a ruckus.

 

Belzig turns from the fireplace. In his hand is the poker,

 

its end glowing orange. He advances on Marion. Marion

 

stops yelling, her eyes widen in terror.

 

MARION

 

Wait! I can be reasonable--

 

BELZIG

 

That time is passed.

 

The glowing poker point moves inexorably across the room

 

toward Marion's face.

 

MARION

 

You don't need that. I'll tell you

 

everything!

 

BELZIG

 

Yes, I know you will.

 

Belzig has no intention of stopping now. The glowing tip

 

is approaching Marion's face. The Nepalese watches with

 

savage glee.

 

The tip of the poker is five inches from Marion's nose

 

when there is a loud CRACK! and the fall of Indy's bull-

 

whip wraps around the middle of the poker and tears it

 

out of Belzig's hands. The poker sails high across the

 

room, free of the whip, and lands in the heavy curtains

 

that cover one window. The curtains immediately burst

 

into flame.

 

The four Bad Men look in surprise toward the front en-

 

trance. Indy is poised there, the whip in his right

 

hand, a .45 automatic raised toward them in his left.

 

INDY

 

Hello.

 

Now everything begins to happen very fast--

 

The Mongolian had just come around the bar at the end

 

opposite the medallion. He dives back to crouch behind

 

the end of the bar, raising his submachine gun.

 

Belzig and the Second German dive behind tables near the

 

bar. The Nepalese is slower to leave Marion, he draws a

 

Luger. Indy's .45 barks and the Nepalese dies spinning

 

against the bar. Indy fires in the direction of the

 

Mongolian.

 

Marion swings up over the top of her bar. Belzig fires at

 

her, but his bullets smash bottles behind the bar and thud

 

into the raven.

 

Marion flattens out on the floor behind the bar as bullets

 

hit above her. She reaches up, snatches the axe handle

 

from where Mahdlo left it, and begins crawling down the

 

length of the bar toward--

 

The Mongolian, who sticks his submachine gun out and fires

 

blindly in Indy's direction.

 

Indy is in a crouch behind a table, trying to get a shot

 

at someone. He doesn't notice in the din and confusion

 

when the door bursts open. An incredible, fearsome GIANT

 

SHERPA, almost seven feet tall, soars in and tackles Indy

 

from behind. The whip flies from Indy's hand as he and

 

the Giant Sherpa roll across the floor, upsetting furniture.

 

The Mongolian, seeing this, stands up confidently. Marion

 

rises behind him and bashes him over the head with the axe

 

handle. He goes down and out.

 

Fire has completely engulfed the curtains and is working

 

across the ceiling on decorative yak skin bunting. A burn-

 

ing fragment drops to the top of the bar, which immediately

 

lights up, fueled by the spilled alcohol. Full whiskey

 

bottles explode like Molotov cocktails.

 

Rolling on the floor, Indy and the Giant Sherpa are fight-

 

ing for control of Indy's .45. Belzig sees this and shouts

 

to the Second Nazi, who is rising from cover with submachine

 

gun in hand.

 

BELZIG

 

Shoot them both!

 

SECOND NAZI

 

He's our man!

 

BELZIG

 

Do as I say!

 

Both the Giant Sherpa and Indy hear this. The Giant

 

Sherpa exchanges an alarmed look with Indy and together

 

they swing the .45 around toward the surprised Second

 

Nazi. Two blasts blow him away.

 

That done, Indy brings a brass spittoon down on the Giant

 

Sherpa's wrist and the .45 slides away. Indy jumps up and

 

kicks the Giant Sherpa, who barely seems to feel it. He

 

grabs Indy and flips him effortlessly onto a table.

 

Belzig now has a clear shot at Indy. He raises his luger.

 

Marion, at the end of the bar, finally gets the hand of

 

the Mongolian's submachine gun. It roars to life in the

 

general direction of the ceiling.

 

Belzig runs for cover as Marion gets control of the gun

 

and levels it. Belzig dives around the end of the bar

 

opposite Marion. When he has set himself, he peeks up over

 

the edge of the scorched bar. The alcohol fire has moved

 

down the bar and now, much to Belzig's surprise, he finds

 

himself staring at the fire-blackened sun-shaped medallion!

 

His eyes widen. He cannot believe his good fortune. With-

 

out hesitation he picks up the metal medallion, palming it.

 

Immediately there is a sickening searing sound and Belzig's

 

expression changes from joy to agony. He screams in pain

 

and tries to shake the red-hot medallion from his skin.

 

Marion opens up and the bar starts to splinter in front of

 

Belzig. The medallion comes free of Belzig's hand and

 

rolls across the floor.

 

Belzig has had enough. In excruciating pain, he turns,

 

sees a window, runs and dives through the glass.

 

An exhausted Indy uses his whole body to upend the Giant

 

Sherpa, who lands hard on his back. They are surrounded

 

by flames.

 

55 EXT. "THE RAVEN" - SNOW BANK - NIGHT 55

 

Belzig has his burned hand stuck deep in the snow. Now

 

he withdraws it, steaming, and scurries off into the night

 

like a wounded animal.

 

56 INT. "THE RAVEN" - NIGHT 56

 

Marion throws down the empty submachine gun and moves

 

through the flames to the center of the bar where she left

 

the box with the five grand. She finds the remains of the

 

box and its contents: a shapeless pile of ash and charred

 

wood.

 

MARION

 

Unbelievable!

 

At the end of the bar, the Mongolian has come back to life.

 

He shakes out his head, then reaches inside his coat and

 

pulls out a Mauser pistol.

 

Indy smashes a chair over the head of the Giant Sherpa and

 

the huge creature goes down.

 

The Mongolian points his Mauser through the smoke and flame

 

at Indy. Suddenly, the Mongolian is shot dead.

 

Marion stands beneath her stuffed raven with the Baretta.

 

Indy moves quickly through the flames, his eyes scanning

 

the floor. He picks up his bullwhip and his crumpled felt

 

hat. He peers through the smoke till he spots Marion mov-

 

ing among the burning furniture.

 

INDY

 

Let's get out of here!

 

MARION

 

Not without that piece you want!

 

INDY

 

It's here?

 

Marion nods, kicks aside a burning chair. Another burning

 

beam falls from the roof. Indy pulls Marion close to him

 

protectively.

 

INDY

 

Forget it! I want you out of here.

 

Now!

 

He begins dragging her out.

 

MARION

 

(pointing)

 

There!

 

She breaks away from him, darts back and picks the hot

 

medallion up in the loose cloth of her blouse.

 

INDY

 

Let's go!

 

MARION

 

(looking around)

 

You burned down my place!

 

INDY

 

(figuratively)

 

I owe you plenty!

 

MARION

 

(literally)

 

You owe me plenty!

 

INDY

 

(smiles)

 

You're something!

 

MARION

 

I am something. And I'll tell you

 

exactly what--

 

She holds up the medallion possessively.

 

MARION

 

I'm your partner!

 

57 EXT. CAIRO - VARIOUS SHOTS - DAY 57

 

First we see the sprawl, the soaring minarets, the an-

 

cient skyline. Then we're closer, in the narrow, exotic

 

streets, teeming with life: fierce-looking men in tattered

 

galabiyas, black-gowned women with veiled faces, ragged,

 

barefoot children.

 

58 OMIT OMIT 58

 

59 INT. DINING ROOM - SALLAH'S HOUSE (OLD CAIRO) 59

 

Indy and Marion have been welcomed like family into the

 

crowded home of SALLAH, his wife FAYAH, and their NINE

 

CHILDREN (ages 4 - 18). Fayah, a huge, imposing woman,

 

appears, at first glance, to be the power in the house.

 

Sallah, a small, cheerful, energetic fellow in his for-

 

ties defers to his wife in all matters of little importance.

 

Suddenly the general liveliness at the children's table

 

escalates into pandemonium, attracting the attention of

 

the adults.

 

FAYAH

 

Silence!

 

(there is silence)

 

Why do you forget yourselves?

 

The gaggle of grinning off-spring parts to reveal in their

 

midst--a MONKEY. It is munching some flat Arab bread.

 

FAYAH

 

What is this? Who brought this

 

animal in?

 

All the children chatter their innocence at once. The

 

Monkey chatters too; it's an entertainer. The Monkey

 

jumps from the children's table to the adults' and struts

 

slowly up toward Marion, who thinks it's the cutest thing

 

she ever saw. When it reaches her, it takes off its tur-

 

ban and does a deep, grand bow to her. She is deligthed

 

and takes the Monkey into her arms. The Monkey kisses

 

her cheek. The children laugh.

 

MARION

 

Why, thank you. I like you too.

 

FAYAH

 

Then it shall be welcome in our house.

 

MARION

 

Oh, no! You don't have to have it

 

around if you don't want it--

 

SALLAH

 

(cheerfully)

 

All of Allah's creatures are welcome

 

here. You please us by letting us

 

please you.

 

60 OMIT OMIT 60

 

61 EXT. COURTYARD - SALLAH'S HOUSE - NIGHT 61

 

Indy and Sallah sit in the small, protected courtyard.

 

Sallah holds the two sections of the headpiece, the medal-

 

lion and the base, and has for the first time fitted them

 

together. They fit perfectly and complete the headpiece.

 

He peruses the markings on the headpiece quizzically. Indy

 

is cleaning and loading a .45 automatic.

 

INDY

 

I knew the Germans would hire you,

 

Sallah. They couldn't have an ex-

 

cavation in the desert without the

 

best digger in Egypt.

 

SALLAH

 

All Arabs look alike to them, Indy.

 

INDY

 

Tell me about the map room at Tanis.

 

SALLAH

 

We found it three days ago. I

 

broke through myself.

 

INDY

 

Those Nazis are moving awfully fast.

 

SALLAH

 

The Frenchman is helping them.

 

Indy reacts.

 

INDY

 

Belloq. So he got away from the

 

Indians. This is going to be

 

more interesting that I thought.

 

SALLAH

 

I'm afraid this has put the Germans

 

close to finding the Well of the Souls.

 

INDY

 

(indicates the headpiece)

 

Even Belloq won't be able to find it

 

without that. Can you make anything

 

of those markings? They're nothing

 

I'm familiar with.

 

SALLAH

 

(shakes his head "no")

 

But I know someone who might. You

 

can go to see him tomorrow.

 

(a worried expression)

 

Indy...something bothers me.

 

INDY

 

What is it, my friend?

 

Sallah finds it hard to say. When he finally speaks, his

 

words are accompanied by a strange, eerie, foreboding rush

 

of wind through the courtyard. Just a coincidence we might

 

suppose.

 

SALLAH

 

It is the Ark. If it is there, at

 

Tanis...It is not something man was

 

meant to disturb...Death has always

 

surrounded it. It is not of this

 

earth.

 

The wind dies down. Indy shakes off a chill and stares

 

thoughtfully at his friend.

 

62 EXT. HEAVILY TRAFFICKED CAIRO STREET - DAY 62

 

Indy and Marion are briskly walking along one of Cairo's

 

busy bazaar streets. Vendors with fine cloth, pottery,

 

baskets, jewelry, etc line the street. Marion has the

 

Monkey from Sallah's house on her shoulder.

 

INDY

 

Do you really need that monkey?

 

MARION

 

I'm surprised at you, Indy. Talk-

 

ing that way about our baby. He's

 

got your looks, too.

 

INDY

 

And your brains.

 

As Indy and Marion turn a corner, the Monkey seems to

 

notice something and immediately jumps from Marion's

 

shoulder and hurries off at a frantic pace down the street.

 

MARION

 

(looking disappointed)

 

Hey! Hey!... where're you going?

 

INDY

 

(dragging Marion on)

 

He'll be OK. Come on. Come on.

 

63 EXT. ANOTHER CAIRO STREET - DAY 63

 

The Monkey is seen running around another corner and

 

jumps into the waiting arms of MONKEY MAN, who appears

 

to be like a beggar with a dirty turban and an eye patch.

 

MONKEY MAN immediately hurries down the street and passes

 

into a building. In the building are two GERMAN AGENTS.

 

MONKEY MAN and the MONKEY both give the Heil Hitler salute

 

and engage in quick talk.

 

MONKEY MAN quickly leaves the two GERMAN AGENTS and gets

 

back to the street. He is obviously shadowing Indy and

 

Marion. Indy and Marion are just now passing by the MONKEY

 

MAN ducks back behind some baskets.

 

64 EXT. ANOTHER BUSY CAIRO STREET - DAY 64

 

Indy and Marion are passing under a balcony where a lone

 

GERMAN AGENT stands watch. After they pass, the AGENT nods

 

to some BAD ARABS who are hiding in the shadows of the

 

street. In a moment, Indy and Marion pass by the break.

 

Monkey Man turns and looks up at a roof further down the

 

alley. He waves with his hand. Someone up there waves

 

back.

 

65 EXT. A SMALL BAZAAR - DAY 65

 

Indy and Marion have reached a tiny square, made even

 

more cramped by its use as a small bazaar. They have

 

started working their way through the crowd when several

 

Bad Arabs and a German Agent begin to converge on them.

 

Indy immediately sees what's happening and pulls the bull

 

whip from his jacket. The first Bad Arab to reach them

 

gets hit in the mouth by the handle of the whip. Now all

 

hell breaks loose, with Bad Arabs, Innocent Shoppers, bas-

 

kets of fruit and tables of goods flying every which way

 

in the constricted space.

 

INDY

 

(to Marion)

 

Run! Get out of here!

 

Indy catches a dagger-wielding Bad Arab around the legs

 

with the whip and flips him. Marion is reluctant to leave

 

Indy.

 

INDY

 

Go, dammit! Go!

 

Marion goes. She runs off between two buildings. A Bad

 

Arab takes off after her. Monkey Man, now standing at

 

the edge of the square, points at Marion. The Monkey

 

jumps off his shoulder and follows Marion.

 

66 EXT. BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS - DAY 66

 

Marion runs along the narrow space and soon encounters a

 

five foot wall. She flops over it. The Bad Arab is

 

right on her heels. He reaches the wall and vaults over.

 

On the other side of the wall, the Bad Arab lands in a

 

crouch, looks ahead and doesn't see Marion. Immediately

 

a heavy earthen pot smashes over his head, putting him

 

out. Marion steps from an alcove and starts to run to-

 

ward the street at the other end of the walkway. Suddenly

 

another Bad Arab and a new German Agent appear in the

 

street at that end. Before they can spot her, Marion

 

retreats to the alcove again. There is a huge rattan

 

basket sitting there. Marion climbs in and closes the

 

top above her.

 

The only witness: The Monkey, who is now perched on the

 

fire foot wall.

 

67 EXT. THE SMALL BAZAAR - DAY 67

 

Chaos. An entire booth of pots and pans collapses on a

 

Bad Arab and a German Agent as Indy whips away a support.

 

68 EXT. BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS - DAY 68

 

The chattering Monket leads a German Agent and two Bad

 

Arabs to Marion's hiding place, gesturing manically.

 

69 EXT. THE SMALL BAZAAR - DAY 69

 

Indy ducks under the swinging blade of a huge Arabian

 

sword and kicks the Bad Arab Swordsman in the groin.

 

70 EXT. SIDE STREET - DAY 70

 

The German Agent leads the way as the two Bad Arabs carry

 

the huge basket above their heads. The basket top has

 

been fastened closed, but Marion is making a fuss inside.

 

At the place where the street cuts across the far side

 

of the bazaar, Marion is able to wedge the top open one

 

inch and screams--

 

MARION

 

Indy-y-y-y!

 

71 EXT. THE SMALL BAZAAR - DAY 71

 

Indy has heard her. He looks across the square as the

 

basket and its escorts disappear beyond a building. One

 

last Bad Arab rises before him. Indy's whip flashes and

 

the Bad Arab's robe falls down to his ankles. Indy fran-

 

tically pushes his way through the panicked mass of human-

 

ity in the direction the basket has gone.

 

72 EXT. THE FOOT CHASE - INTERCUTTING INDY AND THE 72

 

MOVING BASKET - DAY

 

The Bad Guys move the basket as fast as they can through

 

streets, alleys and passageways thick with people. Indy

 

always seems to round a corner just in time to catch a

 

glimpse of the basket before it disappears around a new

 

corner. Indy must fight a flow of humanity as powerful

 

as an ocean riptide. Finally, at the head of one par-

 

ticularly crowded alley, Indy leaps up onto a wall for

 

a clearer view. Whatever he sees gives him an idea and

 

he cuts between two buildings rather than following

 

the basket.

 

73 EXT. DESERTED ALLEY - DAY 73

 

Two Bad Arabs come running down the Alley with the basket

 

between them. Suddenly, Indy's whip flashes out sending

 

both Arabs and the basket tumbling. Indy steps into view,

 

his .45 trained on the sprawled Arabs, and looks at the

 

basket. The top has come flying off and the contents have

 

clattered onto the cobblestone: inside is not Marion,

 

but a load of contraband pistols, rifles and ammo. Indy is

 

advancing on the trembling Bad Arabs with an ugly look

 

when suddenly he hears Marion scream around the corner.

 

74 EXT. DESERTED SQUARE - DAY 74

 

Indy rounds the corner and is immediately driven back by

 

machine gun fire. Taking cover, he gets quick, inter-

 

mittent glimpses of this scene: At the far corner of the

 

large, deserted square is a canvas-covered truck. Two

 

Bad Arabs are hurrying toward is with a large rattan bas-

 

ket between them, Marion screaming inside. A German Agent

 

is covering their retreat with a machine gun from the cab

 

of the truck. Indy runs up to see the rattan basket

 

being heaved into the back of the truck.

 

75 EXT. BACK OF THE TRUCK - DAY 75

 

What Indy cannot see is that the basket lands among an

 

ominous load of German munitions, dynamite and firearms.

 

The truck immediately peels out.

 

76 EXT. DESERTED SQUARE - DAY 76

 

The German Agent has stopped firing in order to drive. He

 

floors it, aiming for a street at the corner of the square.

 

Indy uses the lull to take careful aim at the German Agent's

 

profile and fire off three careful shots. The German Agent

 

is hit, blasted dead against the steering wheel. The speed-

 

ing truck swerves, hits a wall, rolls over and explodes in

 

an enormous, multi-leveled eruption as its contents ignite.

 

Several surrounding buildings are leveled.

 

Indy, blown back across the square, looks on, astounded and

 

horror-stricken.

 

INDY

 

Marion.

 

77 INT. ARAB BAR - NIGHT 77

 

A dark, smoke-filled den on iniquity. The patrons,

 

almost all fearsome Arabs, sit in small shadowy groups

 

around the room. Indy stands at the bar finishing off

 

a fifth of bourbon. He is drunk. The ARAB BARTENDER

 

places a new bottle of expensive bourbon in front of him.

 

Indy eyes is queerly.

 

ARAB BARTENDER

 

The gentleman in the corner sent it.

 

He would like you to join him.

 

INDY

 

(doesn't even look)

 

Too bad. I'm drinking alone.

 

The Arab Bartender does a take, looking at the three,

 

tough GERMAN HENCHMEN who have surrounded Indy from out

 

of the smoke, their hands stuffed in bulging trenchcoat pock-

 

ets. Indy notices them now with a bleary glance. He

 

decides he's in no shape to kill or be killed and moves

 

with them across the room, taking his bottle with him.

 

The Arab patrons take this in and mind their own business.

 

The occupant of the smoke-shrouded corner table becomes

 

visible only as Indy -eaches there: it is Emile Belloq.

 

He is drinking wine.

 

INDY

 

Belloq.

 

BELLOQ

 

Good evening, Dr. Jones.

 

INDY

 

I ought to kill you right now.

 

BELLOQ

 

It was not I who brought the girl

 

into this dirty business.

 

Indy knows its true; that's what's tearing him up.

 

BELLOQ

 

Sit down, please, before you fall

 

down. We can behave as civilized

 

people. I'm afraid it will be your

 

last opportunity.

 

Indy sits, glancing at the German Henchmen, who settle

 

nearby, just out of earshot.

 

INDY

 

Not a very private place for a murder.

 

BELLOQ

 

(looking around)

 

These Arabs will not interfere in

 

the white man's business. They do

 

not care if we kill each other off.

 

(takes a sip of wine, refers to it)

 

Terribly difficult finding a decent

 

vintage here. You were quite vig-

 

orous in Shanghai. Unfortunately,

 

our friend the Wild Boar had taken

 

the precaution of making several

 

copies of the piece.

 

Indy registers this as he takes a drink. Belloq watches

 

him with disdainful amusement.

 

BELLOQ

 

How odd that is should end this way

 

for us, after so many...stimulating

 

encounters. I almost regret it.

 

Where shall I find a new adversary

 

so close to my own level?

 

INDY

 

Try the local sewer.

 

BELLOQ

 

I know you despise me. We always

 

hate in others that which we most

 

fear in ourselves. And you and I

 

are very much alike.

 

INDY

 

Now you're getting nasty.

 

BELLOQ

 

We have always done the same kind of

 

work. Our methods have not differed

 

as much as you pretend. I am a sha-

 

dowy reflection of you. But it would

 

have taken only a nudge to make you

 

the same as me, to push you out of

 

the light.

 

There's a certain amount of truth to this; the recognition

 

of it flickers across Indy's bleary eyes. Belloq sees

 

it there.

 

BELLOQ

 

You know it to be true! How nice.

 

And how ironic the timing.

 

Belloq leans forward, eyes shining, voice suddenly different.

 

BELLOQ

 

Do you realize that the Ark is?

 

(very intense)

 

It's a transmitter. A radio for

 

talking to God! And now it is

 

within my grasp.

 

INDY

 

What about your boss, Der Fuhrer?

 

I thought he was waiting to take

 

possession.

 

Belloq glances into the gloom at the German Henchmen.

 

BELLOQ

 

(quieter)

 

When the time is right. When I am

 

finished with it.

 

INDY

 

I hope your friends are patient.

 

Dangerous work, Belloq.

 

BELLOQ

 

Yes. Very. You may consider your-

 

self fortunate that your involve-

 

ment concludes here.

 

INDY

 

Tell me, did you get away with

 

the idol?

 

BELLOQ

 

(negative)

 

I was lucky to get away with my

 

life. The Hovitos proved quite

 

narrow-minded about the whole matter.

 

Indy takes a drink.

 

INDY

 

You know, if it's God you want to

 

talk to, maybe I can arrange it.

 

BELLOQ

 

(smiles)

 

You have not changed. But, please,

 

do not reach for your weapon until

 

you are ready to die.

 

The front door of the bar slams open and all nine of

 

SALLAH'S CHILDREN scamper in and over to a surprised

 

Indy. Two of the smallest hop into his lap.

 

LITTLE SON

 

Uncle Indy, we have been looking

 

for you.

 

LITTLE DAUGHTER

 

Come home now, Uncle. Hurry!

 

Suddenly the Arab patrons of the bar take an intense in-

 

terest in the situation, shifting their weapons.

 

INDY

 

Yes. Yes, I'll come now.

 

Indy stands up. The German Henchmen and poised. Belloq

 

eyes the Arab patrons and signals for the Henchmen to relax.

 

BELLOQ

 

Next time, Indiana Jones, it will take

 

more than children to save you.

 

The children usher Indy out.

 

78 INT. SALLAH'S TRUCK - IN FRONT OF ARAB BAR - NIGHT 78

 

Indy climbs into the cab of Sallah's truck with a smiling

 

Sallah as the children pile into the back. Sallah pulls out.

 

SALLAH

 

I thought we would find you there.

 

(indicating the kids)

 

Better than the United States Ma-

 

rines, eh?

 

INDY

 

(nods)

 

Thanks you.

 

(grave)

 

Marion's dead.

 

SALLAH

 

Yes, I know. I am sorry.

 

(pause)

 

More reason than ever to beat the

 

bastards.

 

(he touches Indy)

 

Life goes on, Indy.

 

(indicates the kids again)

 

There is the proof.

 

Indy looks back there, nods.

 

SALLAH

 

I have much to tell you, Indy.

 

***************************** PAGE 51 MISSING *****************************

 

81 (CONTINUED) 81

 

Fayah brings in a tray of food and puts it on the table.

 

The bowl of dates is in one corner. As Fayah leaves the

 

room, the Monkey slips out of Sallah's lap and disappears

 

under the table. Indy leans over the food tray, his hand

 

hovering over the dates. But he chooses some cheese and

 

bread instead.

 

INDY

 

And they made the calculation in

 

the map room?

 

SALLAH

 

(nods vigorously)

 

This morning. Belloq and the boss

 

German, Shliemann. When they came

 

out of the map room, we were given

 

a new spot in which to dig...out

 

away from the camp.

 

INDY

 

(resigned)

 

The Well of the Souls.

 

Sallah nods, moves to the food. He picks up a date, then

 

changes his mind and drops it, taking a bunch of grapes

 

instead. Indy picks up a chicken leg in one hand and a

 

date in the other, his mind distracted. Fayah enters

 

the room just in time to see Indy flip the date high into

 

the air and try to catch it in his mouth. It bounces off

 

his chin and falls to the floor. Indy looks sheepishly at

 

Fayah. Fayah picks up the fallen date and puts it in the

 

dirty ash tray she is now removing. Amir speaks in a

 

slow, raspy voice without looking up.

 

AMIR

 

Come. Look.

 

The two men go and huddle over the old man. The Monkey

 

peeks up over the edge of the table at the array of food.

 

He picks up a date and disappears below the table. Amir

 

points to some markings on the lower part of the headpiece.

 

AMIR

 

This is a warning...not to disturb

 

the Ark of the Covenant.

 

INDY

 

Just want I need.

 

The Monkey's paw comes up over the edge of the table and

 

grabs another date.

 

INDY

 

How 'bout the height of the staff?

 

Did Belloq get it off of there?

 

AMIR

 

Yes...it is here.

 

Indy, nervous, goes back to the food tray, picks up another

 

date. When he turns back to the men, the Monkey's paw

 

grabs another date.

 

We see the headpiece in closeup on the table. Amir's crooked

 

fingers trace a line of markings along the bottom section

 

to the break in the piece.

 

AMIR

 

It says it is...ten jamirs high...

 

SALLAH

 

About seventy-five inches.

 

AMIR

 

Wait! I am not finished...

 

Amir's finger moves across the break as the markings con-

 

tinue on the sun medallion.

 

AMIR

 

(reading)

 

"And one jamir to honor the Hebrew

 

God whose Ark this is."

 

Indy, still holding the date, exchanges a long look with

 

Sallah.

 

INDY

 

You said their top section was blank.

 

Are you absolutely sure?

 

Sallah nods.

 

INDY

 

Belloq's staff is seven and a half

 

inches short. They're digging in

 

the wrong spot!

 

Sallah and Indy begin to laugh. Amir gives them a glance

 

and returns to his wine. Sallah leans over and kisses the

 

old man.

 

SALLAH

 

(to Amir)

 

A home run, my friend, grand slam!

 

(to Indy)

 

We have a saying--"A little luck is

 

better than much smartness." Indy,

 

pardner, you are very lucky fellow.

 

Indy hoots. Then he takes the data in his hand and flips

 

it high in the air. He opens his mouth to catch it, but

 

it doesn't come down. He has inadvertently thrown it into

 

a bowl of a hanging lamp. This makes the men laugh even

 

harder.

 

Indy goes over and picks up another date. He turns laugh-

 

ing to Sallah and doesn't see as the Monkey's paw comes up,

 

slowly, takes another date and begins to withdraw. Sudden-

 

ly the paw is stricken with palsy and the unseen Monkey

 

goes into its death throws. Sallah watches the paw as

 

though hypnotized. Finally the paw slips from sight and

 

we hear a solid THUMP! on the floor. Sallah walks around

 

the table and looks at the floor. The Monkey lies dead

 

among a mess of date pits.

 

Indy is in a happy world of his own. He throws his date

 

high in the air. He positions himself under it and waits

 

for it to drop in. Here it comes. Right on target. As

 

it's about to disappear into Indy's mouth, Sallah's hand

 

flashes in and grabs it. Indy looks mystified and disap-

 

pointed. Sallah motions toward the dead Monkey.

 

SALLAH

 

Bad dates.

 

82 EXT. DESERT ROAD - MORNING 82

 

Two old trucks come down a narrow mountain road and onto

 

the flat surface of the desert.

 

Further out into the desert, the one in the lead, Sallah's

 

truck, stops and the second one, Omar's truck, pulls up

 

beside it. There are half dozen Arab Diggers in Omar's

 

truck. Indy, dressed as an Arab, gets out of the cab of

 

Sallah's truck and moves over to confer with OMAR, another

 

old friend. They point off into the desert and reach some

 

conclusion. Indy gives him a pat on the back; Omar turns

 

off the road and drives into the desert with his workers.

 

Indy hops back in the cab of Sallah's truck with Sallah.

 

As they move down the road we see that the back of the

 

truck holds three other Arab Diggers.

 

83 EXT. RISE ABOVE THE TANIS DIGS - MORNING 83

 

Indy and Sallah are lying in classic shouting fashion at

 

the top of the rise looking down on the Tanis Digs. Down

 

behind them, Sallah's truck is parked with the three Arab

 

Diggers.

 

INDY

 

My God! They aren't kidding!

 

WHAT HE SEES. The Tanis Digs are laid out below like a

 

painting. Trucks, bulldozers, Arab workers and German

 

supervisors are everywhere. The excavations themselves

 

are extensive and somewhat random-holes have been dug

 

and then abandoned, foundations and passageways unearthed

 

and then deserted. Beyond the main digs, a crude airstrip

 

has been created. Sallah points to what appears to be a

 

mound of dirt with a hole in it near the center of the

 

activity.

 

SALLAH

 

There! That is the map room!

 

INDY

 

What time does the sun hit the map?

 

SALLAH

 

Just after eight.

 

INDY

 

We haven't got much time. Where are

 

the Germans digging for the Well of

 

the Souls?

 

Sallah points out into the desert a short way beyond the

 

main area of activity. The desert turns to sand dunes

 

out there, the surface undulating into the distance.

 

Several trucks and men are out there and a bulldozer is

 

lumbering noisily toward it.

 

INDY

 

Okay. Let's go.

 

84 EXT. THE TANIS DIGS - MORNING 84

 

Sallah's truck drives through the camp, one of the Arab

 

Diggers at the wheel. Indy and Sallah are in the back and

 

look just like the other two Arab Diggers. Sallah's

 

truck does behind a tent and when it appears on the other

 

side, Indy and Sallah are gone.

 

85 EXT. AMONG THE TENTS - MORNING 85

 

Indy and Sallah move stealthily among the tents. Indy car-

 

ries a smooth wooden staff almost seven feet tall. They

 

stop between two tents and look across a path at the en-

 

trance to the map room. What appeared to be a mound of

 

dirt is actually the roof on the ancient building. The

 

hole/entrance is a five-foot square skylight. Indy looks

 

around, then walks casually to the edge of the hole and

 

looks inside. Sallah joins him, producing a length of

 

rope from his robes. Indy drops the staff into the un-

 

seen map room as Sallah ties the rope around on oil drum.

 

When it's secure, Indy wastes no time disappearing down

 

it into the map room.

 

86 INT. MAP ROOM 86

 

Indy is down the twenty feet to the floor of the room in

 

seconds. He tugs on the rope and it immediately gets pulled

 

up. Indy looks around with real wonder and excitement.

 

The room is lovely, with elaborate wall carvings and fres-

 

coes, all lit by the bright stream of sunlight flooding

 

in from above. This beam of light leads Indy's eye to

 

the far end, and the room's truly remarkable feature: built

 

into the floor in meticulous relief is a miniature stone

 

model of the ancient city of Tanis. Already, the sunlight

 

has worked its way down the far wall and is edging onto

 

the miniature of the city. On the floor, to the skylight

 

side of the miniature, is an elaborate line created by

 

embedded mosaic tiles. The evenly spaced slots in the line,

 

each accompanied by a symbol of a time of year, are for the

 

base of the staff. Indy pulls the headpiece from his robes--

 

it has been welded together--and reaches for the staff.

 

87 EXT. ABOVE THE MAP ROOM - DAY 87

 

An extremely nervous Sallah has the gathered rope in his

 

hands and is trying to appear casual as he inches back to-

 

ward the oil drum. There is now a good bit of activity

 

going on up here.

 

JEEP GERMAN OS

 

Hey! You, the skinny one!

 

Sallah jumps about three feet. The JEEP GERMAN is standing

 

in an open space ten yards away looking at Sallah.

 

JEEP GERMAN

 

Yes, you. What are you doing there?

 

Sallah gestures his innocence.

 

JEEP GERMAN

 

Well bring that rope over here, you

 

cur.

 

The Jeep German starts back toward his major concern:

 

his jeep is stuck in some sand beyond the next tent.

 

Some Arab Workers are trying in vain to budge it. Now

 

another German has backed his truck up to it. Sallah

 

can think of nothing to do expect obey. With a worried

 

glance at the map room, be begins untying the rope from

 

the oil drum.

 

88 INT. THE MAP ROOM 88

 

Indy is examining the results of Belloq's work. Red paint

 

marks one of the miniature buildings in the layout and a

 

white calibrated tape has been strung from that building

 

back to a miniature of the map room. Now Indy begins ex-

 

amining the mosaic base line for the staff. Sunlight has

 

moves further down across the miniature.

 

89 EXT. IN THE CAMP - DAY 89

 

Sallah watches nervously as his precious rope is pulled

 

taut between the pulling truck and the stuck jeep. He

 

doesn't notice that he has chosen to stand next to a large,

 

steaming kettle of food until--

 

HUNGRY GERMAN OS

 

Bring us some of that!

 

He points to the kettle. Sallah looks frantically from

 

the rope, back to the skylight of the map room, to the

 

kettle of food.

 

HUNGRY GERMAN

 

Now, idiot!

 

Sallah picks up some serving pieces and gets to work.

 

90 INT. THE MAP ROOM 90

 

The moment has arrived. Even the tension of the circum-

 

stances cannot distract Indy from the purity of what he

 

is about to do. All his calculations are adjustments com-

 

plete, Indy takes the Staff of Ra and places it--CLINK!--

 

in the right depression on the base line. This is as active

 

and exciting a moment as any archeologist can dream of

 

and, at heart, that is exactly what Indy is. The sunlight

 

catches the very top of the headpiece and moves within a

 

fraction of an inch of the tiny hole in its sun.

 

The edge of the sunlight moving across the miniature city

 

is still a good two feet beyond the spot Belloq has settled

 

on. And now that line of light is broken by the shadow

 

of an ornate sun at the top of the staff.

 

Indy's face reflects his concentration. And then his

 

immense pleasure. He sees what he came for.

 

Out of the miniature city, one small building is being

 

lit by a tiny beam of sunlight in the center of the sha-

 

dow of the metal sun. And by some trick of ancient artis-

 

try, this one building responds to the sunlight like none

 

of the others. The golden light permeates it: it seems

 

to glow. The building is in a direct line with Belloq's--

 

all the Frenchman's other calculations were right--but it

 

is a foot and a half beyond it.

 

91 EXT. IN THE CAMP - DAY 91

 

Sallah, sweating profusely, has finished serving the line

 

of Breakfasting Germans and now heads back to replace the

 

kettle and get away.

 

HUNGRY GERMAN

 

Water. Bring us water.

 

92 INT. MAP ROOM 92

 

Indy is on his knees at the miniature city, a special tape

 

measure in his hand. Indy has the tape strung from Belloq's

 

mistaken spot to his own correct spot. He gets his reading,

 

leaps up and crosses to the erect staff. He pulls the head-

 

piece off the staff and hides it in his robes. He quickly

 

breaks the wooden staff in two and throws the pieces behind

 

a pile of debris. Then he moves quickly to beneath the

 

skylight.

 

INDY

 

(stage whisper)

 

Sallah.

 

(he waits, then louder)

 

Sallah!

 

More waiting. Nothing. Indy looks around for some alter-

 

native means of escape. The room doesn't offer any. He

 

looks up at the skylight again.

 

INDY

 

(loudest)

 

Sallah!

 

A long pause. Then something comes down. A makeshift

 

rope. Really just a bunch of clothing tied together--

 

tunics, robes, pants. But what we see first and most

 

prominently, the first section of Indy's escape rope, is

 

a bright Nazi flag. Indy beams and climbs.

 

93 EXT. ABOVE THE MAP ROOM - DAY 93

 

Indy sticks his head out the skylight, sees it clear

 

and flops his body out. Sallah, crouching behind the

 

oil drum, immediately starts pulling in the makeshift

 

rope. Sallah stuffs the rope in the oil drum and the

 

two men begin waking toward some tents.

 

HUNGRY GERMAN OS

 

Hey, you! More water over here!

 

Sallah glances at Indy, Then hurries back in that direc-

 

tion. The Hungry German focuses on Indy.

 

HUNGRY GERMAN

 

Why aren't you at the digs? Come

 

here!

 

Indy bows in wild subservience and hurries off in the

 

opposite direction.

 

HUNGRY GERMAN

 

(yelling after him, irritated)

 

No, dummkopf, I said come!

 

94 EXT. BETWEEN TWO TENTS - DAY 94

 

Indy hustles between the tents. Up ahead, two German

 

Officers stop to talk, blocking his exit. He moves a-

 

long the side of one of the tents until he finds an

 

opening and slips inside.

 

95 INT. THE TENT 95

 

Indy finds himself in a tent set up for rather comfort-

 

able living. He has just started to cross it when he

 

hears a loud, excited grunting. He turns toward the sound.

 

In the corner, tied to a chair and gagged is Marion.

 

Indy rushes to her, snatches the gag from her mouth and

 

embraces her. They kiss, deep and long.

 

INDY

 

I though you were dead.

 

MARION

 

They were throwing me around like

 

a rag doll.

 

INDY

 

They must have switched baskets.

 

Thank god for that! Bless those

 

bastards. Have they hurt you?

 

MARION

 

No. Not since I got here. They

 

just asked about you--what you knew.

 

The Frenchman's got the hot's for me.

 

I've been playing that along. Oh,

 

Indy, get me out of here.

 

Indy pulls out a knife and then stops suddenly, thinking.

 

MARION

 

What's wrong?

 

INDY

 

(putting the knife away)

 

I have to leave you here for a little

 

while. I know where the Ark is. If

 

I take you out of here they'll start

 

combing the place for us.

 

MARION

 

(louder)

 

Cut me loose!

 

INDY

 

Keep your voice down.

 

MARION

 

(screaming)

 

I said get me out of--

 

Indy pops the gag back in her mouth. Her eyes widen in

 

fury and she grunts obscenities at him.

 

INDY

 

Look, you don't know how glad I am

 

to see you. And I don't like do-

 

ing this. But the whole thing will

 

be shot if you don't just sit here

 

quietly. They haven't hurt you in

 

the last twenty-four hours, they

 

aren't going to start now. I'll be

 

back to get you in no time.

 

He kisses her forehead, jumps up and hurries out of the

 

tent.

 

96 EXT. SAND DUNE OUTSIDE DIGS - DAY 96

 

With the digs behind them, Indy and Sallah run up to the

 

ridge of the dune and over the top. At the bottom of the

 

far side, Omar's truck is parked. Omar and his men are

 

waiting.

 

97 EXT. DIFFERENT DUNE - DAY 97

 

This new spot gives Indy a higher, better view of the

 

whole scene. Indy is using a surveyor's instrument to

 

take a reading--

 

WHAT HE SEES. Looking through the instrument, Indy gets

 

a line from the map room through the site where the Nazis

 

are digging in the dunes to a spot several dunes over.

 

We focus on that virgin spot of well-hidden sand as--

 

INDY

 

There!

 

98 EXT. INDY'S DIG - DAY 98

 

Omar's truck is parked at the stop just viewed from afar.

 

Dunes rise on either side. One of Omar's men has been

 

posted as a lookout up on a ridge. Everybody else--Indy,

 

Sallah, Omar, and his men--have begun digging for the

 

Wells of the Souls.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

SAME SCENE, NIGHT. They continue to dig furiously, all

 

of them drenched in sweat. The hole has grown but this

 

is slow, back-breaking work.

 

99 INT. COMMAND TENT - TANIS DIGS - NIGHT 99

 

Belloq, SHLIEMANN the ranking Nazi, and Shliemann's Aide,

 

GOBLER, come into the tent, which is full of charts and

 

maps, drawings of the Ark, radio equipment, liquor and

 

food. The men have been out digging for the Well all

 

day. They are tired, discouraged, testy. In all matters,

 

Gobler shows his alliance with Shliemann against Belloq

 

with small looks and body language. The Frenchman has

 

disappointed them and he is feeling the isolation of a

 

scapegoat. Belloq gets himself a drink as Shliemann towels

 

off his face.

 

BELLOQ

 

I cautioned you about being prema-

 

ture with that communique to Berlin.

 

Archeology is not an exact science.

 

If does not adhere to time schedules.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

The Fuhrer is not a patient man. He

 

demands constant reports and he ex-

 

pects progress. You led me to be-

 

lieve--

 

BELLOQ

 

Nothing. I have made no promises.

 

I said only that it looked very

 

favorable. Perhaps the Ark will

 

still be found in an adjoining

 

chamber. Based on the informa-

 

tion in our possession, my cal-

 

culations were correct. Perhaps

 

some bit of evidence still eludes

 

us. Perhaps

 

GOBLER

 

Perhaps the girl can help us.

 

Belloq shoots him an angry look.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

My feeling exactly. She was in

 

possession of the original piece

 

for years. She may know much.

 

(really evil)

 

If properly motivated...

 

BELLOQ

 

I tell you, she knows nothing use-

 

ful.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

I'm surprised to find you squeamish.

 

That is not your reputation. But

 

it needn't concern you. I have the

 

perfect man for this kind of work.

 

Shliemann signals Gobler, who steps outside the tent a

 

moment, calls someone and then reappears. Belloq looks

 

warily at the entrance. After a moment Belzig enters,

 

reeking villiany. When his eyes find Shliemann, his

 

superior, he snaps a crisp "Heil, Hitler!" at him, hold-

 

ing his palm rigid a long time, exposing a burned scar in

 

the prefect shape of the sun medallion.

 

100 EXT. INDY'S DIG - NIGHT 100

 

In the eerie conjunction of moonlight and torchlight, Indy

 

and the other men step back in awe of their discovery:

 

there, flush with the bottom of their pit, is a heavy

 

stone entry door to an underground chamber. Special pry-

 

ing tools are produced. With two men assigned to each of

 

the two long tools, they work in unison to open the vault.

 

They open it a foot and the other men rush in to flop the

 

heavy door completely open. Down inside, only blackness.

 

The men quickly prostrate themselves around the edge of

 

the entry to look inside. Indy and Sallah each take a

 

torch and hold them down the hole.

 

WHAT THEY SEE. The Well of the Souls is a spooky chamber

 

thirty feet deep. The walls are covered with hieroglyphics

 

and carvings. The roof is supported intermittently by

 

stone pillars, the closest of which hits the roof very near

 

the entry hole. The Well is quite large; as Indy and Sallah

 

wave their torches, more and more of the room is revealed.

 

Now the far end of the chamber comes into view. There is

 

a stone altar down there and on this elaborated carved

 

platform is a stone chest, big enough to enclose the Lost

 

Ark and protect it from the ravages of time. This altar

 

appears to be the only place on the floor of the Well that

 

is not covered by a strange, dark carpet of some kind.

 

INDY

 

The Ark must be in that stone case.

 

What's that gray stuff all over the

 

floor--

 

He breaks off realizing exactly what that carpet is. He

 

blanches. Indiana Jones blanches.

 

Indy drops his torch to the floor of the Well. This is

 

answered by the most horrific HISSING imaginable.

 

WHAT HE SEES. That think dark carpet is moving. It's

 

alive. It's thousands and thousands of deadly poisonous

 

snakes--Egyptian asps. And the only thing that seems ca-

 

pable of avoiding this venomous groundcover is the altar.

 

The snakes ebb and flow near it, but never encroach on it,

 

as though repelled by some invisible force.

 

Indy shakes his head and talks to himself.

 

INDY

 

Why snakes? Why did it have to be

 

snakes? Anything else.

 

After a moment of this, he stops. He gathers his energy

 

and resolve and gets back to the task.

 

SALLAH

 

Asps. Very dangerous.

 

Where Indy's torch had landed is a circle of snake-free

 

floor. The snakes hate the flame; they stay away.

 

INDY

 

Lots of torches. And oil. I

 

want a landing strip down there.

 

101 INT. THE WELL OF THE SOULS 101

 

Fifteen torches have been dropped to the floor of the

 

chamber, combining to make a good-sized clear zone. Smoke

 

begins to fill the room. Several canisters of oil have

 

been lowered into this space. Now, a large wooden crate

 

is lowered slowly by rope. Rope handles are attached to

 

each end of the crate.

 

Up at the hole, Indy gives Sallah a reassuring pat, takes

 

a breath, and swings carefully onto a rope hanging from

 

the hole. Despite his care, he swings a bit and his feet

 

hit the stone pillar which is so near the entry. Surpris-

 

ingly, the pillar catually moves a bit, showering a light

 

rain of crumbled stone to the floor below.

 

Indy lands on the floor of the Well. He looks at the altar

 

over a sea of undulating death. He picks up an oil canister

 

and splashes two parallel lines of oil and lights them. A

 

path six feet wide begins to open to the altar. Behind

 

Indy, Sallah comes quickly down the rope.

 

We begin to INTERCUT all the action in the Well from here

 

on with insert shots of the snakes outside the flames.

 

Snakes and snakes. We see: snakes piled and entwined six

 

inches deep; mother snakes laying snake eggs; snake eggs

 

hatching little snakes; snakes cannibalizing other snakes.

 

102 OMIT OMIT 102

 

103 INT. MARION'S TENT 103

 

Belloq has been talking to the still-bound Marion. He

 

has removed her gag. He is impatient, angry, uncomfort-

 

able. Caught between two forces.

 

BELLOQ

 

Believe me, you make a mistake. If

 

you would just give me something to

 

placate them. Some bit of informa-

 

tion.

 

MARION

 

I swear to you, I know nothing more.

 

I have no loyalty to Jones. He's

 

brought me only trouble.

 

He wants to believe her.

 

BELLOQ

 

I cannot control them.

 

Marion's frightened look shifts suddenly to the entrance

 

of the tent. There are new arrivals there--Shliemann,

 

Gobler and Belzig. Belzig carries a black leather case.

 

He steps forward and smiles at Marion.

 

BELZIG

 

We meet again, Fraulein.

 

104 EXT. INDY'S DIG - JUST BEFORE DAWN 104

 

The sky is just beginning to lighten over the dunes to

 

the east, making dangerously obvious the thin column of

 

smoke rising from the entrance to the Well. Omar and his

 

men are peering through the smoke down into the Well.

 

105. INT. THE WELL OF THE SOULS 105

 

Indy and Sallah are on the altar. Pushing together with

 

all their strength, the heavy stone top of the protective

 

chest begins to slide away. Indy and Sallah exchange slightly

 

wary but very excited looks, then continue to push. As the

 

Ark begins to be exposed, the air seems to almost vibrate,

 

to become electrostatically charged. We hear what sounds

 

like a low HUM. The sea of snakes around the altar draws

 

back further from this presence.

 

As the top of the stone chest is pushed completely off and

 

slams down beside it, we see THE LOST ARK OF THE COVENANT.

 

It is awesomely beautiful, breathtaking. 4 feet long,

 

2.5 feet wide and 2.5 feet high. It's height, however, is

 

increased by the two sculptured gold angels mounted facing

 

each other on the top. Though the body of the Ark is aca-

 

cia wood, it has been overlaid with gold. An elaborate

 

gold crown surrounds the top edge and gold carrying rings

 

are attached to each corner.

 

Sallah is mesmerized by the sight. His hand starts to

 

reach out and touch one of the angels, but Indy grabs it.

 

INDY

 

Don't touch it! Never touch it!

 

The wooden crate stands open next to the stone chest. Now

 

Indy extracts the wooden poles from its rings and begins

 

fitting them through the rings in the Ark. This takes

 

some maneuvering by the two men, but soon they are able

 

to lift the Ark clear of the stone chest and into the

 

wooden crate. They extract the poles, fasten the top of

 

the crate and stick the poles through the rings of the

 

wooden crate. They start back toward the space under the

 

hole.

 

The fire strips have begun to dwindle, as have some of

 

the torches. The snakes move slowly in toward the clear

 

spaces. Indy and Sallah eye them nervously as they hurry

 

along with their heavy load. Under the hole, they hurried-

 

ly attach ropes to the wooden crate and it is pulled up.

 

Indy's concentration is on the tide of snakes.

 

INDY

 

Hurry up! Why did it have to be

 

snakes?

 

Sallah takes the next rope and climbs quickly out of the

 

Well. Indy has picked up a torch and now throws it at a

 

pool of snakes who are too close for his comfort. He turns

 

and takes hold of the exit rope. He gives it a first tug

 

and it falls down into the Well, landing partly beyond the

 

ring of fire where is instantly disappears in a tangle of

 

angry, hissing asps. Indy looks up at the hole.

 

INDY

 

What the--

 

Smiling down at him from the perimeter of the entry are

 

Belloq, Shliemann and Gobler.

 

BELLOQ

 

Why, Dr. Jones, whatever are you

 

doing in such a nasty place?

 

Belloq and the Germans laugh.

 

INDY

 

Why don't you fellows come down

 

here? I'll show you.

 

BELLOQ

 

No thank you, my friend.

 

(he glances around him)

 

I think we are all very comfortable

 

up here.

 

106 EXT. INDY'S DIG - DAWN 106

 

Sunlight is flooding this tableau: Sallah, Omar and his

 

men are being held at bay by ten armed Nazis. The wooden

 

crate sits safely nearby. Belzig and another Nazi have

 

the gagged Marion held in their rough grasp.

 

BELLOQ

 

(down to Indy)

 

After all these years, it is most

 

considerate of you to aid me in

 

this way.

 

As Belloq speaks, Shliemann exchanges a look with Belzig.

 

Belzig smiles and takes the gag from Marion's mouth.

 

107 INT. WELLS OF THE SOULS 107

 

Shliemann smiles down at Indy.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

I'm afraid we must be going now, Dr.

 

Jones. Our prize is awaited in Berlin.

 

But I do not wish to leave you down in

 

that awful place...

 

(he give a sign)

 

...all alone.

 

Belzig and the Nazi move Marion to the hole and, to Belloq's

 

surprise, push her in. Marion falls thirty feet screaming.

 

Indy drops his torch, braces, and catches her! Her weight

 

knocks him to the ground, almost into the snakes. She

 

looks around at the snakes, clinging to him more desper-

 

ately as he struggles to his feet trying to unload her.

 

MARION

 

Don't put me down!

 

Up at the hole, there's plenty of dissension.

 

BELLOQ

 

The girl was mine!

 

SHLIEMANN

 

She is of no use to us. Only our

 

mission for the Fuhrer matters.

 

Shliemann glances meaningfully around at the other Nazis.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

I wonder sometimes, Monsieur, if you

 

have that clearly in mind.

 

Belloq feels how much he is the outsider, his own vulner-

 

ability. He backs down with the wisdom of survival. He

 

turns to look down at Indy and Marion. His manner is gal-

 

lant.

 

BELLOQ

 

Goodbye, mademoiselle.

 

(a pause, then with respect)

 

Indiana Jones...adieu!

 

Belloq and the others step back from the hole and unseen

 

Nazis slam the heavy stone door into place. Marion screams.

 

Her scream is accomanied by--

 

A huge WHOOSH! as air is sucked out and the chamber is seal-

 

ed. Half of the torches still burning go out with the sound.

 

The remaining torches continue to extinguish at punctuating

 

intervals throughout the following action and the snakes

 

immediately flood into the newly-darkened spaces. Indy

 

puts Marion down and snatches up two burning torches. He

 

hands one to Marion.

 

INDY

 

Don't panic. There's plenty of time

 

for that later. Wave that at any-

 

thing that slithers.

 

Indy holds his torche out like a lantern and begins a slow

 

360o turn, his eyes peering into the gloom, examining every

 

inch of wall and ceiling.

 

MARION

 

What are you doing?

 

INDY

 

Just watch the floor.

 

Reminded of the encroaching snakes, Marion waves her torch

 

at the nearest edge of their circle. She looks faint. In-

 

dy continues his slow turn.

 

MARION

 

Whatever you're doing, do it faster.

 

INDY

 

(he spots something)

 

There!

 

His head whips around, looking at the pillars around the

 

room. He sees what he wants. He grabs one of the oil

 

canisters, looks back to the spot on the wall he's chosen

 

and splashes oil on the floor in that direction, then lights

 

it. A path opens toward that wall.

 

INDY

 

Come on!

 

Marion is frozen in her spot. Indy drags her after him.

 

He splashes oil the rest of the way to the wall. It lights

 

and Indy pulls Marion over to the wall. He pours the re-

 

maining oil in a circle around them, creating a safe zone

 

there.

 

INDY

 

Stay here!

 

MARION

 

(grabbing him)

 

Where are you going?

 

INDY

 

I'll be back in a minute. We're

 

going through this wall.

 

Marion looks at the wall, which looks like all the rest

 

to her. She thinks he's crazy.

 

INDY

 

Just keep your eyes open and get

 

ready to run. No matter what happens

 

to me.

 

MARION

 

(panicked)

 

What do you mean?

 

Too late. Indy runs back through the path of flames to

 

the center of the room. Snakes strike as his flying heels.

 

Indy reaches the base of the pillar which he touched briefly

 

on his original descent. He uses his torch to clear

 

away the scattered snakes climbing on it, then pulls out

 

his whip. He draws it back, then wraps is solidly around

 

the pillar 15 feet up. With the torch in his mouth, he

 

begins climbing the pillar. It moves ominously under his

 

weight.

 

The last two torches still burning on the floor go out.

 

Now the only light in the chamber is provided by the torches

 

held by Indy and Marion and the dwindling oil flames. Snakes

 

move in and surround the base of Indy's pillar. The path

 

between Marion and the center of the room is overrun. The

 

circle of flame around Marion is dying down. She looks be-

 

yond it with terror-widened eyes, then up through the in-

 

creasing smoke at the distant Indy.

 

Near the top of the pillar, Indy's hands strain along his

 

taut whip, which he has moves higher. A snake slithers

 

into view there, inches from Indy's straining face. Indy

 

turns his head so the torch in his mouth can burn it. The

 

snake falls from the pillar. Indy's torch is dwindling.

 

Indy works his body around so that he in on the side of

 

the pilar away from Marion. The pillar moves, showering

 

dust. Indy looks at the chamber wall five feet away, takes

 

a breath and swings his legs up against it. He is now

 

braced between pillar and wall.

 

MARION OS

 

(screaming)

 

Where are you?!

 

Snakes are moving in force up the pillar toward Indy's

 

dwindling torch. Indy grasps the pillar for dear life,

 

grimaces with exertion and pushes against the wall with

 

all he's got. The pillar begins to break loose of the

 

ceiling, then stops. Indy's eyes are on the torch. It

 

is just a spot of flame now. Snakes are sliding up to-

 

ward his hands. Indy again pushes against the wall and

 

the torch falls out of his mouth.

 

The pillar goes! In the dim light, we see it fall like

 

a tree directly at Marion. Indy rides it down. The top

 

hits the wall three feet from a cringing Marion and smashes

 

through to a black chamber beyond. Indy flies off into

 

the darkness. Gone. Marion clutches her torch at the

 

black hole.

 

MARION

 

Indy! Where are you?! Please Lord!

 

There is a moment that seems an eternity, then Indy ap-

 

pears like an apparition out of the void.

 

INDY

 

Come on!

 

He grabs her and helps her over the remains of the wall

 

into--

 

108 INT. THE CATACOMBS 108

 

The winding string of connected chambers is revealed to

 

them only a few feet at a time as their torch lights the

 

way.

 

MARION

 

The snakes...are they here?

 

INDY

 

I guess not. I think I'd be dead.

 

MARION

 

Do you know where you're going?

 

INDY

 

Absolutely.

 

MARION

 

Thank god. Where?

 

INDY

 

Out.

 

They round a corner and flush a covey of bats. Marion

 

screams.

 

INDY

 

Don't do that. It scares me.

 

Marion gives him a look. They round a corner and begin

 

a walk through a maze of chambers that present for their

 

inspection: moldering mummies and stacked saracophagi;

 

a room decorated with a thousand human skulls; a wall

 

crawling with huge scarabaeid beetles. Marion is quite

 

naturally a nervous wreck; she jumps when Indy grabs her

 

suddenly and points.

 

INDY

 

Look!

 

WHAT THEY SEE. There, coming through the crack in the

 

corner of the next chamber, is white blessed sunlight.

 

109 EXT. THE TANIS DIGS - NEAR AIRSTRIP - DAY 109

 

Indy and Marion peek out into the light from the shadows

 

of an abandoned excavation. Before them is the improvised

 

airstrip serving the digs: a crude runway, a tent supply

 

depot, two fuel tank trucks. Down by the fuel trucks a

 

German Mechanic is looking skyward. Now Indy and Marion

 

look there too, drawn by the roaring sound of--

 

A Flying Wing, which is circling over the digs in prepar-

 

ation to landing.

 

Now a new figure approaches the German Mechanic. It is

 

Gobler; he yells to the mechanic, indicating the plane.

 

GOBLER

 

Get is gasses immediately! It has

 

an important cargo to take out!

 

In the distance, the Flying Wing lands and rolls toward

 

the men. Gobler spins and heads back toward the main camp,

 

which is hidden from view by a rise. Indy and Marion watch

 

him go.

 

INDY

 

When the Ark gets loaded, we're al-

 

ready going to be on that place.

 

The Flying Wing rolls up into the space near the fuel trucks.

 

The German Mechanic puts blue blocks in front of the tires

 

as the engines continue to roar.

 

Indy and Marion run in a crouch to a hiding spot closer to

 

the plane, near the supply tent. Suddenly, a Second German

 

Mechanic appears behind them. He is as surprised as they

 

are, but recovers quickly and swings a big monkey wrench

 

at Indy. Indy grabs the swinging arm and the two men tum-

 

ble out into the open, wrestling. Marion remains hidden,

 

moving fast among the crates.

 

The first German Mechanic, who is just pulling the fuel hose

 

from the tank truck to the plane, sees the combatants and

 

runs to help his countryman. He is almost upon them when

 

Indy puts the Second German away with a devastating left--

 

right--left combination. He turns to find the first German

 

Mechanic flying at him. The roll toward the rear of the

 

Flying Wing and its lethally spinning reversed propellers.

 

In the cockpit of the Flying Wing, the Pilot has been fid-

 

dling with his gauges just prior to shutting off his engines.

 

Now he notices the fight going on outside.

 

The fistfight between Indy and the German Mechanic has taken

 

on a new stomach-tightening dimension. The men are fighting

 

and flailing in and out between the spinning props at the

 

back of the plane's wings. Each man comes within inches of

 

becoming instant mincemeat.

 

The Pilot slides away the top of his cockpit and stands up.

 

He pulls a Luger from his side and points it, waiting for

 

a clear shot at Indy. The German Mechanic kicks Indy away

 

from him and the Pilot aims his pistol. Suddenly, Marion

 

appears behind the Pilot, standing on the opposite wing,

 

and bashes him over the head with one of the blue blocks

 

that was holding the tires. The Pilot drops down into

 

the cockpit, his body falling on the throttle. The engines

 

roar louder, revving up. The plane begins to roll, rotat-

 

ing around its one still-blocked set of tires. Marion grabs

 

onto the cockpit to keep from slipping into the props. She

 

bends into the cockpit, trying to pull the Pilot's body off

 

the throttle. No luck. She grimaces and climbs inside.

 

Her shoulder bumps the top of the cockpit; it slides tight-

 

ly shut above her.

 

Under the moving wing, Indy delivers a knockout rightcross

 

to the German Mechanic which sends him staggering back to-

 

ward a roaring propeller. Indy's grimace registers the man's

 

demise and a fine mist of blood wafts toward him. Indy

 

spins toward the sound of crumpling metal and sees--

 

The other top of the Flying Wing slice into a tank truck.

 

The airplane fuel inside floods out onto the pavement,

 

surrounding the plane. Indy backpedals away from the plane,

 

his eyes searching the scene for Marion. Suddenly, he is

 

shocked to see her in the cockpit. He runs toward her,

 

skidding through the gasoline.

 

INDY

 

Get out! Get out!

 

Marion is struggling with the top of the cockpit. She

 

can't budge it. She's trapped.

 

110 EXT. THE COMMAND TENT - DAY 110

 

Three Armed Nazis stand guard around the wooden crate con-

 

taining the Ark. It is sitting near the flopped-open en

 

trance to the Commmand Tent and there is furious activity

 

going on here. Belloq, Shliemann, Gobler, Belzig and as-

 

sorted Aides are packing up all the papers and personal

 

items in preparation for a hasty departure.

 

A large crowd of Arab Diggers is milling about among the

 

tents. They all want to get a look at the Ark. Sallah is

 

among them. All at once, there is a earthshaking explo-

 

sion. Al eyes turn toward the rise that hides the air-

 

strip. A huge fireball floats into view over there. Every-

 

one starts running toward it. Shliemann yells at Belzig

 

and the Armed Nazis.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

Stay with the Ark!

 

111 EXT. THE RISE ABOVE AIRSTRIP - DAY 111

 

Almost all the Arabs and Germans in the digs have congre-

 

gated here and are staring at the burning remains of the

 

Flying Wing. Belloq and Shliemann arrive just as the sec-

 

ond fuel truck blows up. The concussion knocks many of

 

the observers flat. Belloq, Shliemann and Gobler watch

 

the scene in alarm.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

Sabotage!

 

BELLOQ

 

We must get the Ark away from this

 

place immediately!

 

SHLIEMANN

 

(to Gobler)

 

Have it put on the truck. We'll fly

 

out of Cairo.

 

Gobler snaps his heels, turns to go.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

And Gobler--

 

(Gobler stops)

 

-- I want plenty of protection.

 

Gobler nods and runs off. Shliemann heads back toward camp.

 

Belloq hesitates a long moment, studying the burning wreck-

 

age with an odd, suspicious look. Finally, he turns and

 

leaves, passing a nearby stack of barrels. When he has

 

passed, Sallah appears from among the barrels. He searches

 

the crowd for his people and starts a broken field run along

 

some tents to avoid a group of Germans and is running flat-

 

out when someone sticks out a leg and sends him flipping.

 

Sallah, dust all over his face, looks angrily toward the

 

concealed culprit. At once, a flashing white grin splits

 

his darkened face. Indy and Marion, splotched with soot

 

and oil, are hiding in the flap of a tent. Sallah runs in-

 

to their arms and the three embrace warmly. When they break--

 

SALLAH

 

Holy smoke, my friends! I am so

 

pleased you are not dead.

 

MARION

 

Us too.

 

SALLAH

 

(suddenly remembering)

 

The Ark! They're taking it on a

 

truck to Cairo.

 

INDY

 

Where is it?

 

Sallah gestures to follow and all three run off stealthily

 

through the mostly deserted camp.

 

112 EXT. AMONG THE TENTS - DAY 112

 

Sallah, Indy and Marion run into a hiding spot behind some

 

water barrels near the Command Tent. They peek out at this

 

activity--

 

In the big space near the Command Tent is parked an open

 

German staff car; inside is a Blond Driver and an Armed

 

Guard. Directly behind it is a canvas-topped troop truck.

 

At this moment, Belloq and Shliemann are supervising the

 

careful placement of the crated Ark in the back of the

 

truck. When it is securely placed inside, we hear an om-

 

inous marching sound and Nine Armed Nazis appear at a

 

trot from between some tents and climb into the back of the

 

truck with the Ark.

 

Behind the water barrels, Sallah and Marion exchange hape-

 

less looks, But Indy just concentrates on--

 

The scene by the truck: Belloq and Shliemann are about to

 

climb into the front staff car when they pause to check out

 

the final component of the convoy. Rolling into place be-

 

hind the truck is another open staff car. But this one is

 

special--mounted in the back is a big, black machine gun,

 

manned by a Gunner. At the wheel of the car is Gobler and

 

next to him sits Belzig.

 

Sallah and Marion look at Indy. Belloq and Shliemann climb

 

in the back seat of the front car and the caravan pulls

 

out. Indy watches it go, thinking hard.

 

INDY

 

You two get back to Cairo quick and

 

get us transporation to England--

 

a plane, a ship, anything.

 

MARION

 

What about you?

 

INDY

 

I'm going to get that truck. I'll

 

meet you at Omar's. Be ready for me.

 

Sallah nods. Marion looks at him like he's nuts. Indy jumps

 

up, looks around desperately.

 

MARION

 

How are you going to get that truck?

 

INDY

 

(still searching)

 

I don't know. I'm making this up

 

as I go.

 

He runs away between two tents.

 

113 EXT. AT THE EDGE OF THE DIGS - DAY 113

 

From among the tents, Indy suddenly bursts into view, hap-

 

pily astride a magnificent white Arabian stallion. He gal-

 

lops off across the desert.

 

114 EXT. THE DESERT (VARIOUS SHOTS) - DAY 114

 

Indy cuts crosscountry avoiding the road the convoy has

 

taken. He leaps gullies, climbs dunes, slides down slopes.

 

Soon the convoy comes into view far below him. He tears

 

along a parallel ridge, like an Indian shadowing a wagon

 

train.

 

115 EXT. DESERT ROAD - DAY 115

 

The convoy is entering rougher country. The narrow moun-

 

tain road we've seen earlier ascends ahead. To the side

 

of the road are tall boulders. Suddenly, Indy shoots out

 

from between two rocks and rides directly for the truck.

 

The Armed Nazis in the back of the truck can see nothing

 

because the canvas hides their view. But Gobler, Belzig

 

and the Gunner in the rear staff car have a brief line on

 

him. Belzig points and the Gunner fires away and Indy, the

 

bullets kicking up sand near Indy's horse.

 

The Armed Guard in the cab of the truck leans out to see

 

what's happening. Indy has been riding alongside. Now

 

he stands on the horse and leaps to the cab. In a second,

 

he has flipped the Armed Guard out of the truck. He slides

 

into the cab and begins grappling with the Truck Driver.

 

The Truck Driver tries to hit the brakes, but Indy kicks

 

his foot away and floors the gas pedal. The truck doubles

 

its speed and shoots onto the steep mountain road.

 

116 EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY 116

 

The Blond Driver of the front staff car sees the truck move

 

up on him in the rearview mirror and speeds up. Belloq,

 

Shliemann and the Armed Guard in the car twist around to

 

look at the struggle in the truck. The Blond Driver begins

 

what will be a continuing preview of the twists in the road.

 

He turns his wheel sharply and takes the lead car around

 

a bend.

 

In the cab of the truck, Indy and the Truck Driver stop

 

their fight temporarily and cooperate in turning the steer-

 

ing wheel. The truck barely stays on the road.

 

A full view reveals the incredible geography of this ride.

 

The convoy in tiny against the spectacular mountainside,

 

the cliffs drop hundreds of feet.

 

At the wheel of the rear car, Gobler swerves to stay on

 

the road and accidently sideswipes a boulder. The Gunner

 

perched in the back is flipped head over heels out of the

 

car. Gobler and Belzig are having trouble seeing the road

 

through all the dust the convoy is kicking up.

 

The lead staff car reaches the summit of the road and bare-

 

ly makes the hairpin turn there, delivering a destructive

 

blow to the guard rail that has been placed there. The

 

guard rail is now bent.

 

In the cab of the truck, Indy and the Truck Driver again

 

stop trying to choke each other long enough to negotiate

 

the turn together. The bumper of the truck hits the bro-

 

ken guard rail and sends it flying off the cliff. The

 

truck, however, holds the road.

 

In the rear car, Gobler and Belzig are trying to see through

 

the thick clouds of dust. Suddenly is clears completely.

 

Unfortunately for them, this happens because their car

 

has shot out into space at the hairpin turn. They are

 

flying to their final reward. Belzig, eyes wide behind

 

his evil spectacles, screams as he goes.

 

In the cab of the truck, the Truck Driver is distracted

 

by the sight of the flying staff car. Indy plasters him

 

and he tumbles out.

 

Far, far below, Belzig's staff car explodes on the rocks.

 

In the back of the truck, a TOUGH SERGEANT takes command

 

of the situation. He picks out six Armed Nazis and motions

 

for them to start climbing around the outside of the

 

truck to the cab. With some trepidation the lucky ones

 

begin that maneuver. The truck is swerving like crazy.

 

In the front staff car, the Armed Guard aims his submachine

 

guns back at Indy, alone now in the truck's cab. Shliemann

 

knocks the barrel roughly away.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

(yelling)

 

If anything happens to that Ark,

 

we're all dead men ! The Fuhrer

 

will see to it!

 

Indy sees this from the cab and reacts by speeding up, put-

 

ting even more pressure on the Blond Driver.

 

Along the back of the truck, Armed Nazis are edging up to-

 

ward the cab, three on each side. They hang on as the

 

truck rounds a corner and goes into a straightaway that

 

leads through a short tunnel.

 

In the cab, Indy has been concentrating on the lead staff

 

car. Now, just before entering the tunnel, he looks in

 

the side view mirror and sees the Nazis on his side. A

 

quick glance to the other mirror reveals the others. As

 

the truck sweeps into the tunnel, we see Indy just start

 

to turn his steering wheel--he is going to sideswipe the

 

walls of the tunnel

 

At the other end of the tunnel, we hear the roar of the

 

two engine and two long, screeching, scraping sounds. The

 

lead staff car shoots out of the tunnel, then the truck,

 

its sides cleaned of Nazis.

 

In the rear of the truck, the Tough Sergeant is looking

 

with distaste back at the tunnel. There remains only him

 

and two Armed Nazis with the Ark. He sends these two climb-

 

ing up over the top of the truck.

 

In the lead car, the Blond Driver is being pressed hard

 

by Indy, who now edges up to bump them from the rear. Sud-

 

denly the Armed Guard next to the Driver sees the two Armed

 

Nazis appear on the top of the truck. Without thinking,

 

he starts to point them out to Shliemann, then realizes

 

his stupidity.

 

In the cab, Indy has seen this and is at first mystified.

 

He checks his sideview mirrors. Then he figures it out

 

and slams on his brakes. The brakes lock, the wheels burn

 

and the truck skids to a dusty halt. The two Armed Nazis

 

fly off the truck, over the cab to the road in front.

 

Indy immediately hits the gas again. The two Armed Nazis,

 

just aiming their weapons, get wiped out.

 

In the rear of the truck, the crated Ark is bouncing all

 

along, no one in sight, because--

 

The Tough Sergeant is on the top of the truck, making his

 

way steadily forward. This guy clearly knows what he's

 

doing. A submachine gun is slung across his back.

 

The truck and the staff car race through a series of

 

S-curves. In the staff car, Belloq and Shliemann spot the

 

Tough Sergeant as he reaches the front of the truck's top

 

and begins to lower his submachine gun barrel toward the

 

cab. Indy is unaware. Bellow and Shliemann exchange looks.

 

Then Shliemann yells to the Armed Guard in the front seat.

 

The Tough Sergeant has a line on Indy. He points his gun.

 

The Armed Guard blasts away at the truck. The Tough Ser-

 

geant dies in a hail of bullets and flies off.

 

Indy, who has ducked at the gunfire, is confused. But when

 

he sees the Armed Guard up front lower his gun, Indy again

 

floors it and begins bumping the staff car in earnest.

 

The road is almost down to a level now. In the distance--

 

Cairo. The road takes a little dogleg just before reach-

 

ing level ground again. Just as the staff car is about to

 

make the turn, Indy smashes them from behind. The staff

 

car flies off the road and down a twenty foot embankment.

 

Indy takes the truck speeding down the road and off toward

 

Cairo.

 

In the staff car, the occupants are bruised but safe.

 

Shliemann points at the departing truck and yells at the Blond

 

Driver. The staff car fishtails out of its sandy resting

 

place and takes off after the truck.

 

117 EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF CAIRO (VARIOUS SHOTS) - DAY 117

 

Indy has an ever-decreasing lead on the staff car as the

 

race thunders into the narrow streets. People and animals

 

leap out of the way; carts and barrels go flying helter

 

skelter. Indy takes the truck down a street so narrow

 

there are only inches to spare on each side. Pedestrians

 

jump into doorways.

 

118 EXT. OMAR'S SQUARE - DAY 118

 

When the truck clears the narrow street, it is in a small

 

square. Omar's garage s gaping open on the opposite side.

 

Indy hits the brakes and the truck skids across the square

 

and into the garage. The garage door slams shut and tent-

 

ing drops from the building to hide the door. Various arabs,

 

friends of Omar, rush out with fruit carts and baskets

 

and set up a mini-bazaar in seconds. Two Arab Boys sweep

 

the tracks of the truck into obliviion. They throw aside

 

their brooms just as the staff car appears from the narrow

 

street. Belloq and Shliemann look around desperately as

 

the Blond Driver steers the car through the square and out

 

the other side.

 

119 EXT. CAIRO DOCKS - NIGHT 119

 

The waterfront is dark and misty. An old tramp steamer,

 

THE BANTU WIND, sits by the pier. Several fierce Black

 

African Pirates, the crewmembers, are taking on final

 

stores.

 

A small light illuminates the top of the gangplank. In

 

its circle, Indy and Marion exchange long, warm embraces

 

with Sallah. A short distance away the ship's Captain, a

 

handsome, powerful black named SIMON KATANGA, watches from

 

the rail, smoking a pipe.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

120 EXT. OPEN SEA - THE MEDITERRANEAN - NIGHT 120

 

The Bantu Wind is bathed in moonlight as it cuts across

 

even seas.

 

121 INT. INDY'S CABIN - NIGHT 121

 

Indy comes in, takes off his hat, jacket, whip and holster.

 

The door which connects this cabin to the next opens and

 

Marion appears. She is carrying a half-full glass of

 

liquor, but what you notice is the long, snow-white, high-

 

necked nightgown she is wearing. It is very prim. Very

 

innocent. And very sexy. Marion does a slightly embarrassed

 

model's turn for Indy.

 

MARION

 

I have a feeling I'm not the first

 

woman to travel with these pirates.

 

There's a whole wardrobe in there.

 

INDY

 

It's lovely.

 

Indy sits on the cot, takes off his boots. He leans back

 

against the wall and rubs his eyes. Marion sits on the

 

bed, leans back against the wall with him and looks down

 

at her white nightgown. She chuckles.

 

MARION

 

I feel like a virgin bride in this.

 

INDY

 

That's what you look like.

 

MARION

 

(takes a drink)

 

There are some things you can recap-

 

ture in this life, but that isn't

 

one of them.

 

INDY

 

What would you like to recapture?

 

MARION

 

(after a long pause)

 

Nothing. That is the way it is.

 

He watches her closely as she drains her glass and puts

 

it down.

 

INDY

 

Did I ever say I was sorry I burned

 

down your tavern?

 

She turns so their lips are very close.

 

MARION

 

No. Then again, I burned up that

 

plane.

 

INDY

 

You saved my life.

 

MARION

 

And you saved mine.

 

INDY

 

Seems things have worked out kind of

 

even.

 

MARION

 

That's the way I like them.

 

INDY

 

Maybe we should consider all past

 

accounts closed.

 

Marion thinks about this a long time.

 

MARION

 

No. Not yet.

 

INDY

 

What else?

 

She looks into his eyes. A smile jumps from her lips to

 

his. He kisses her and they sink slowly to the cot.

 

122 INT. IN THE HOLD 122

 

The ship's rats are agitated. They tremble and chitter

 

at the edges of the compartment, darting about. Out in

 

the center of the hold, sitting all by itself, is the

 

crated Ark. HUM-M-M-M.

 

123 INT. INDY'S CABIN - DAY 123

 

Marion awakes with a start, alone in the cot. Something's

 

wrong. The ship is quiet. Indy is strapping on his holster.

 

He pulls his ship and jacket from a hook.

 

MARION

 

What is it?

 

INDY

 

The engines have shut down.

 

MARION

 

Why?

 

INDY

 

I'm going to find out.

 

124 EXT. LOWER DECK - DAY 124

 

Indy runs toward the bow, then climbs some steps four at

 

a time. A MESSENGER PIRATE is hurrying to get him, but

 

flies by him on the steps. By the time the Pirate stops

 

himself, Indy is gone.

 

MESSENGER PIRATE

 

Mister Jones! The Captain he say--

 

125 EXT. THE BRIDGE - DAY 125

 

Captain Katanga is looking with concern ahead of the ship.

 

Indy appears behind him.

 

INDY

 

What's wrong?

 

KATANGA

 

You have most important friends.

 

Katanga turns quickly, pointing with a sweeping hand. Indy

 

looks. Arrayed in a rough semicircle around the ship are

 

ten German Wolf Submarines. All of their deck guns are

 

manned and trained on the Bantu Wind. Worse, at least five

 

heavily-armed boarding parties in rafts are closing quickly

 

on the ship.

 

INDY

 

Holy shit.

 

KATANGA

 

(fast)

 

I sent my man for you. You and the

 

girl must disappear. We have a place

 

in the hold. Go, my friend!

 

126 EXT. UPPER DECK - DAY 126

 

Indy tears along the deck. He looks over the rail and

 

sees two Nazi rafts already next to the ship.

 

127 EXT. LOWER DECK - DAY 127

 

Indy flies down some stairs and starts to round a corner.

 

Suddenly he throws himself backwards, out of view. Three

 

uniformed Nazis are clustered near a cabin door holding

 

the Messenger Pirate. Now two more come out of the cabin

 

trying to maintain their grasp on a kicking, yelling Marion.

 

She is still wearing her white nightgown. More Nazis clam-

 

ber onto the deck and head toward Indy, slamming open doors,

 

rousting Pirates, spouting racial epithets. Indy steps

 

backwards and fades into the maze of the ship.

 

128 EXT./INT. THE BANTU WINDS (VARIOUS SHOTS) - DAY 128

 

The ship is swarming with Nazis. The Black Pirates are

 

herded forward, subjected to rough physical and verbal

 

abuse by the Aryan Supermen. The Pirates are clearly

 

under orders not to resist, but not one of these strong

 

men likes it. They'd gladly give their lives to rip the

 

throat out of a few Krauts. In the hold, the door slams

 

open and Nazis pour in; they smile at the sight of the

 

crated Ark.

 

129 EXT. THE BRIDGE - DAY 129

 

Captain Katanga watches as his crew is crowded into a cir-

 

cle of Nazis on the wide deck below him. He is surrounded

 

by Belloq, Shliemann, and several Nazis, two of whom are

 

holding Marion. Now the Nazis from the hold appear on the

 

lower deck carrying the crated Ark by means of the long

 

poles. Belloq's eyes shine at the sight.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

Take it aboard the Wurrfler!

 

BELLOQ

 

And be very careful!

 

The Ark is taken away.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

(to a Sergeant below)

 

What about Jones?

 

SERGEANT

 

Not a trace yet, sir!

 

KATANGA

 

Jones is dead.

 

Belloq and Shliemann regard him suspiciously.

 

KATANGA

 

We killed him. He was of no use to

 

us. The girl, however, has certain

 

value where we are headed. She will

 

bring a very good price. If that

 

cargo you have taken was your goal,

 

then go in peace with it. But leave

 

us the girl. It will reduce our loss

 

on this trip.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

Savage. You are not in a position

 

to ask for anything. We will take

 

what we wish and then decide whether

 

or not to slow your ship from the

 

water.

 

Belloq steps forward and puts a proprietory hand on Marion's

 

arm, fixing Shliemann with a steady look.

 

BELLOQ

 

That girl goes with me. It will be

 

part of my compensation. I'm sure

 

the Fuhrer would approve.

 

Shliemann considers.

 

BELLOQ

 

If she fails to please me, you can

 

do with her as you wish.

 

This appeals to Shliemann's nature. He signals his agree-

 

ment with a gesture. Belloq ushers Marion away with her

 

two keepers.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

130 EXT. "THE WURRFLER" - CONNING TOWER - DAY 130

 

The Nazis have returned to their subs. Shliemann is on

 

the bridge with THE WURRFLER'S CAPTAIN and the Captain's

 

Aides. The Captain is an honorable career Navy man.

 

THE WURRFLER'S CAPTAIN

 

Colonel Shliemann, all torpedoes

 

are loaded.

 

Shliemann nods and continues to stare at the Bantu Wind,

 

as does the Captain. The Pirate crew is all lined across

 

the bow. Towering above the others, standing on the rail,

 

proud and defiant, is Katanga. Shliemann looks at the

 

Wurrfler's Captain a moment.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

What do you think, Captain?

 

THE WURRFLER'S CAPTAIN

 

(earnestly)

 

I think not, Colonel. Nothing is

 

to be gained. We are not at war.

 

Shliemann mulls this, then turns to the hatch.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

...yet. Let the vermin live. We

 

must be on our way.

 

Shliemann disappears down the hatch. The Captain is very

 

pleased. A Radioman speaks into his headset, then follows

 

the other Aides down the hatch. In the distance the other

 

subs begin to move away from the ship. The Captain, alone

 

on the bridge, looks once more at Katanga.

 

On the Bantu Wind, Katanga executes what might be taken

 

for a salute.

 

The Wurrfler's Captain smiles, salutes crisply, then goes

 

below, pulling the hatch closed. Immediately, the Wurrfler

 

begins to move. And as it does, we see the rail at the aft

 

of the main deck. From nowhere, a wet sleeve appears and

 

a hand grabs the rail!

 

Indy pulls his dripping body onto the sub's main deck. He

 

has lost his felt hat once and for all. Other than that,

 

his outfit is the same as always, just wetter. Suddenly,

 

water is washing over his feet; the Wurrfler is beginning

 

to submerge. Indy runs through quickly deepening water

 

toward the haven of the conning tower. Halfway there, he

 

slips and goes down. Only by grabbing the base of the

 

aftmast light does he keep from being swept away. He strug-

 

gles to his feet and sloshes through knee-deep water to the

 

base of the conning tower.

 

Indy climbs the ladder to the bridge of the conning tower

 

and looks down. The water is rising toward his fast. Indy

 

climbs the ladder to the top of the turret and braces him-

 

self between the two uprights there--the 7 foot radio mast

 

and the 20 foot periscope. Still the ocean comes up to

 

meet him. Soon the top of the turret is under water and

 

the radio mast is disappearing. Indy shifts his grip to

 

the periscope, working his way up it and hanging on for

 

dear life as the ocean whips at his body. The periscope is

 

quickly going under. Indy hangs on to the top three feet,

 

all that remains above.

 

The forward movement of the sub continues, but, to Indy's

 

slowly dawning delight, the dive stops. No more of the

 

periscope goes under. Indy smiles; it's a pretty good

 

smile, too, given the circumstances. Indy pulls out his

 

bullwhip and begins tying himself to the periscope.

 

131 EXT. THE PERISCOPE - AFTERNOON 131

 

The sun warms that part of his body Indy has contrived to

 

keep out of the water. The rest floats out behind. Indy

 

isn't comfortable, but all in all, it's not as terrible

 

as he might have feared.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

132 EXT. THE PERISCOPE - DUSK 132

 

It's as terrible as Indy might have feared. He looks

 

wasted. Waterlogged and exhausted. The wet leather of

 

the whip is contracting and he must struggle constantly

 

to keep it from cutting into his skin.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

133 EXT. THE OCEAN - NIGHT 133

 

Several shark fins cut the surface, appearing and disap-

 

pearing in the bright moonlight. They are shadowing--

 

134 EXT. THE PERISCOPE - NIGHT 134

 

Indy looks through barely open eyes at the sharks running

 

alongside. There is nothing to be done. His eyes close.

 

FADE OUT.

 

FADE IN:

 

135 EXT. THE PERISCOPE - NIGHT 135

 

The submarine has stopped. The water is calm. The moon

 

is bright. A gentle swell splashes Indy awake. He blinks,

 

tries to regain his senses. He makes an inventory of his

 

body. Surprised to find himself intact, his spirits lift.

 

Some hidden reserve of energy flows through him. He frees

 

his aching arms from the wet leather of his whip, leaving

 

only one loop around his waist to hold him to the sub. He

 

rubs his hands and stretches. Once again, he has survived.

 

To fight again. He looks around.

 

WHAT HE SEES. A lovely island. No sign of man's presence.

 

The sub has stopped at the mouth of a wide cove completely

 

ringed by tall white rock cliffs. Suddenly the sub begins

 

to move again. It is headed directly toward the center of

 

the cliffs. Indy holds on, mystified, alert. When the

 

cliffs are very close, the sub begins to dive.

 

INDY

 

Damn!

 

He thinks hard. Inspiration hits just before the water.

 

Indy flips his leather jacket up over his head and holds

 

the jacket out in front of him. His head is hidden by the

 

jacket as he goes under water.

 

136 INT. THE UNDERWATER TUNNEL - NIGHT 136

 

The sub enters an underwater tunnel that penetrates into

 

the cliffs. Indy is held to the periscope by his crossed

 

legs and the whip. His impromptu air bubble is working,

 

but it's a struggle to maintain it.

 

The sub begins to cut through think marine vegetation.

 

Each dangling growth pulls at Indy's body and slaps at his

 

leather bubble. Now a clump of entwined seaweed rips the

 

leather out of his hands and his bubble of air rises away.

 

Indy hangs on, holding his breath, but the vegetation gets

 

denser. Finally, it pulls him off the periscope. The

 

sub moves on, disappearing ahead.

 

Indy rises desperately through the dark water, his hand

 

outstretched. Then, almost simultaneously, hand and head

 

hit solid rock. But no air. Indy feels along the ceiling

 

of rock. Nothing. It's all submerged.

 

Indy dives, stroking deep into the tunnel. When he has

 

descended 15 feet, he grabs a vine and steadies himself.

 

His eyes search the dim roof of the tunnel. He sees his

 

last hope in the distance--a small blue circle, an air

 

pocket. He swims for it.

 

In the air pocket, Indy's head breaks the surface and

 

smashes into rock again. The pocket is only six inches

 

deep. No matter. Indy loves it. He'd like to move in.

 

He gulps air.

 

137 INT. THE SUB BASE - DOCKING BAY 137

 

The Wurrfler has arrived at an extraordinary base built

 

in the hollow interior of the island. This chamber, with

 

the docking bay, is almost all water. A huge natural cav-

 

ern, it has been reinforced and enlarged by the Germans.

 

The Wurrfler sits surfaced at the dock. The Ark has been

 

unloaded and placed on a cart. Shliemann, Belloq and Marion

 

have just disembarked and been met by a Nazi contingent

 

from the base. Marion looks worse for the trip. Her white

 

nightgown is now ripped and smudged.

 

One of the greeting Nazis, a TALL CAPTAIN, salutes Shlie-

 

mann and Belloq. As he speaks to them, we notice that right

 

behind this group, just above a great deal of sub unloading

 

activity, Indy's whip hangs from the periscope. Working

 

Nazis pass within feet of it unaware; the Tall Captain would

 

see it in a moment if he were not so focused on the new

 

arrivals.

 

TALL CAPTAIN

 

(to Belloq)

 

The tents have been arranged in accor-

 

dance with your radioed instructions,

 

sir.

 

BELLOQ

 

Good. We must take the Ark there now.

 

Shliemann looks a little unhappy about this exchange, but

 

says nothing. The group moves swiftly toward the

 

end of a mine train arrangement. The train, consisting

 

of small, separate, electric-powered cars, sits on a track

 

which disappears into a tunnel cut in the rock.

 

On the turret of the Wurrfler, the Wurrfler's Captain lights

 

a cigarette as he watches the mine train disappear, then

 

returns his attention to the activity on the dock. He leans

 

idly against the periscope, his head two feet below Indy's

 

dangling whip. Something catches his eye, he yells an or-

 

der and climbs down from the turret to deal with the matter.

 

We hold on the whip for a long moment, until its owner's

 

hand appears and quickly reclaims it.

 

138 INT. TRAIN TUNNEL 138

 

The Ark and its entourage are moving slowly up the tight

 

dark tunnel, their way lit by intermittent lanterns. The

 

tunnel is irregular, but generally about 7 feet wide. It's

 

height varies from an average of about 7 feet to a low of

 

only about 4.5 feet at the points (every 40 feet) where sup-

 

port beams cross the track. The result is that there is

 

only about a foot of clearance above the mine cars at those

 

points; passengers must duck to keep from being hit in the

 

head. Shliemann, looking worried, and Belloq, very excited,

 

are focused on the Ark in the car ahead.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

I am uncomfortable with the thought

 

of this--

 

(spitting it out )

 

--Jewish ritual. Are you sure it's

 

necessary?

 

BELLOQ

 

(playing him)

 

Let me ask you this--Would you be

 

more comfortable opening the Ark in

 

Berlin--for the Fuhrer--and finding

 

out only them if the sacred pieces

 

of the Covenant are inside? Knowing,

 

only then, whether you have accom-

 

plished your mission and obtained the

 

one, true Ark?

 

Shliemann doesn't like any of his alternatives. He looks at

 

Belloq with some suspicion as the train comes into bright light.

 

139 INT. COMMAND CENTER 139

 

A second natural cavern, even bigger than the first, has been

 

worked over by the Germans into a rectangular, three-story

 

high supply center around a huge, open, center court. Uni-

 

formed Nazi Soldiers are everywhere, wrangling supplies and

 

ammunition, monitoring electronic equipment. At the far end

 

of the court, a second train tunnel disappears into the rock.

 

Across the open court, Belloq sees his destination: a large,

 

brilliant white silk tent has been erected in the midst of

 

all this hardware. It looks incongruous, and more than a

 

little eerie. It is the Tabernacle.

 

140 INT. TRAIN TUNNEL 140

 

Indy is making his way up the tunnel. He hears cars coming

 

from up ahead and steps into the shadows. A mine car passes

 

with several laughing Nazis. Indy continues on his way.

 

141 INT. THE TABERNACLE 141

 

The light in here is lovely, unearthly. Oil lamps burn.

 

The Tabernacle is really several concentric, silk tents,

 

which creates a flowing maze effect. The innermost tent

 

has at its center a 3-foot high, tapestry-covered altar.

 

Belloq watches with gleaming, obsessed eyes as two Nazis

 

carefully lift the actual Ark out of its crate by means

 

of the long poles. The Ark dazzles the eye, seeming to

 

glow gold in this strange light. The two Nazis place it

 

carefully on the altar. Shliemann and some Aides hang

 

back. Marion is nowhere to be seen.

 

142 INT. COMMAND CENTER - END OF TUNNEL 142

 

Indy makes a fast break from the shadows of the tunnel to

 

the protection of a high stack of supplies. He climbs the

 

back of the stack, peeks over and surveys the area.

 

WHAT HE SEES. In addition to the Tabernacle, the second

 

train tunnel entrance, and all the activity, Indy's glance

 

rests momentarily on a large, heavy metal door halfway

 

down one wall toward the Tabernacle. It bears the words,

 

in German: DANGER - MUNITIONS.

 

Indy continues to scan the scene.

 

143 INT. THE TABERNACLE 143

 

In the central area with the Ark, Shliemann and the other

 

Nazis wait impatiently, eyeing the Ark with some discom-

 

fort. Belloq is not visible, because at the moment he is--

 

In the folds of the Tabernacle, the silk of the tents un-

 

dulating around him. The light is even stranger, the scene

 

almost dreamlike. With the help of the Tall Captain, Belloq

 

lets an extraordinary, gold-embroidered, ceremonial robe

 

fall over his head and onto his body. Belloq looks trans-

 

ported, possessed. The Tall Captain unlatches a wooden case

 

and takes from it a sturdy ivory rod about 5 feet long, elab-

 

orately engraved. Belloq takes it from him, turns and slips

 

back through the silk. The Tall Captain stays in the folds.

 

Back in the central area, Shliemann and the other Nazis are

 

taken aback by Belloq's appearance in the robe. They ex-

 

change looks. From one knot of men there is muttering about

 

"Juden" and such, but when Belloq turns a fiery gaze on them

 

there is immediate silence. Shliemann looks uncertain in

 

this presence.

 

Bellow approaches the Ark. He stops a few feet from it and

 

begins murmuring an invocation in Hebrew. After a few mo-

 

ments of this he advances a step and is about to place the

 

ivory rod in a notch under the lid of the Ark itself. The

 

end of the rod is an inch from the notch when--

 

Indy steps into the Tabernacle. On his shoulder is a ba-

 

zooka and it is aimed directly at the Ark.

 

INDY

 

Hold it.

 

(the Nazi react)

 

One move from anybody and I blow

 

that box back to Moses.

 

Shliemann makes it clear to the other Nazis that Indy is

 

to be obeyed.

 

BELLOQ

 

Jones, your persistence surprises

 

even me. You are going to give

 

mercenaries a bad name.

 

INDY

 

What about you? Talked to God yet?

 

(Belloq's eyes flash)

 

Where's the girl?

 

SHLIEMANN

 

Doctor Jones, surely you don't think

 

you can escape from this base.

 

INDY

 

That depends on how reasonable we're

 

all willing to be. All I want is

 

the girl. We'll keep possession of

 

the Ark only till we've got safe

 

transport to England. Then it's

 

all your.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

If we refuse?

 

INDY

 

Then the Ark and some of us are go-

 

ing up in a big bang. I don't think

 

Hitler would like that a bit. Now

 

I don't want to talk about this any-

 

more. Show me that girl in five

 

seconds or--

 

The Tall Captain flies out of the silk and takes Indy down

 

by the neck. The bazooka clatters across the cement floor

 

as two other Nazis help subdue Indy. The three Nazis take

 

Indy's pistol from his holster and raise him roughly in

 

their grasp.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

Jones, this is the second time I

 

have seen you looking very foolish.

 

INDY

 

It's a bad habit. I'm trying to

 

break it.

 

Shliemann draws his Luger.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

I'll help you. This time I'll kill

 

you myself.

 

Shliemann raises the pistol.

 

BELLOQ

 

No! Not in the presence of the Ark!

 

Take him outside.

 

Shliemann eyes Belloq, then the Ark. He lowers the pistol,

 

motions for the Nazis to take Indy out ahead of him. They

 

stop a moment only when Belloq speaks.

 

BELLOQ

 

Indiana Jones, I salute you. I am

 

even a little sorry you will miss

 

this moment.

 

INDY

 

Thanks. If you talk to Him, tell

 

Him I'm on my way up.

 

Shliemann motions them out and follows. Belloq turns back

 

to the Ark, raising the ivory rod.

 

144 INT. COMMAND CENTER 144

 

Shliemann, the Tall Captain, Indy and the two Nazis hold-

 

ing him emerge from the Tabernacle. Shliemann points to

 

a nearby wall and the group starts that way with Shlie-

 

mann and the Tall Captain slightly ahead.

 

145 INT. THE TABERNACLE 145

 

Belloq has the ivory rod inserted in the notch under the

 

lid of the Ark. He utters a short phrase in Hebrew and

 

begins to press down on his end of the rod. The lid of

 

the Ark begins to lift. It's difficult work. Belloq puts

 

his whole weight into one big press on his end and the

 

lid opens two feet.

 

Inside the Ark of the Covenant is a preview of the end of

 

the world. A light so bright, a power so fearsome, a

 

charge so jolting, that there is nothing in our world to

 

compare to it. It's as though this magnificent golden

 

box has been gathering electric energy for three thousand

 

years, waiting for just this crack of the lid to release

 

it all in one fast, cleansing explosion of pure force.

 

Blinding arcs of light shoot out across the Tabernacle

 

instantly killing all the Nazis inside and turning the

 

white silk to flame. But it is Belloq in his obsession

 

who takes the full blast. His whole body seems lit by

 

a million volt current and, for amoment, his complete

 

form is white, then blue, then maybe green, but it is

 

hard to tell because our eyes are blinded now too. Two

 

aspects of this ghastly, beautiful display are somehow

 

communicated in the chaos, although the communication

 

is subliminal. First, that Belloq, in the instant of

 

his destruction, has experienced some kind of sublime,

 

transcendental knowledge. If a death's-head can smile and

 

look satisfied, that is how Belloq's incandescent face

 

would be described. Secondly, this event is accompanied

 

by a sound like no other. A sound so intense and so odd

 

and so haunting that the suggestible among us might im-

 

agine it were the whisper of God.

 

146 INT. COMMAND CENTER 146

 

Choas. Shliemann and the Tall Captain have been tempo-

 

rarily blinded by the light from the Tabernacle. Indy

 

makes short work of his two escorts. He bashes their

 

heads together. When only one goes down at this, Indy

 

uses the handle of his bullwhip, which has appeared in-

 

stantly in his hand, to put the second one down.

 

Shliemann, hand on his eyes, aims his Luger blindly at

 

the scuffle. Indy pushes the Tall Captain at Shliemann,

 

who fires on impact, killing the Tall Captain. Indy knocks

 

out Shliemann.

 

Behind Indy, the brilliant light and weird noise of the

 

Ark have suddenly ceased, but the Tabernacle is ablaze

 

and the fire has quickly apread to stacks of supplies on

 

either side. Smoke is already starting to fill the cavern.

 

Nazis are running around, yelling for firefighting water.

 

A burning crate at the side of the Tabernacle is pushed

 

over, only to knock over a drum of heavy black oil. A

 

river of flame shoots across the cement.

 

Indy grabs a rifle with bayonet from the prostrate body

 

of one of his former escorts and runs back into the flaming

 

Tabernacle.

 

147 INT. THE TABERNACLE 147

 

Indy jumps through the flames into what is now a tent of

 

fire. He looks around at the dead bodies, then at the Ark.

 

The lid has slammed down shut again and the Ark shines gold

 

in the flames. Before it, where Belloq once stood, is a

 

pile of ash and charred debris. Indy registers this, then

 

continues to scan the scene.

 

INDY

 

Marion! Marion, can you hear me?

 

Suddenly, Indy looks as--

 

The far side of the Tabernacle burns completely away, re-

 

vealing Marion, tied spread-eagle between two upright posts.

 

Her nightgown is now in tatters, black with soot. She is

 

gagged, but her eyes are screaming, focused on the flaming

 

river of black oil which is about to engulf her feet.

 

Indy rushes toward her, unaware of a uniformed Nazi who

 

has appeared from the flames. Marion looks up to see

 

Indy and the Nazi leveling his submachine gun at Indy.

 

She motions desperately with her eyes. Indy dives and

 

rolls through the flames just as the Nazi opens fire.

 

From the floor, Indy blasts the Nazi.

 

The river of burning oil is only a foot from Marion.

 

Indy jumps up and runs toward the bound Marion, his bayo-

 

net aimed directly at her. Her wide eyes flash between

 

the flames and the shining balde. Ecpertly, Indy slashes

 

down both sides at Marion, cutting all four bindings. Mar-

 

ion falls backwards, away from the flames, but before she

 

hits the ground, Indy is there, catching her in his arms.

 

They embrace. They kiss. They break.

 

INDY

 

Hi.

 

MARION

 

Oh, Indy! Thank god you're here.

 

INDY

 

Glad I could make it.

 

Indy rises, pulling her up with him. The Tabernacle is

 

burning away so fast that soon Indy and Marion will be

 

completely exposed. Indy rushes over and grabs the sub-

 

machine gun and a Luger from the dead Nazi.

 

INDY

 

Let's get out of here.

 

MARION

 

What about the Ark?

 

Ondy stops, startled by her spunky attitude. He's con-

 

sidering their changes.

 

INDY

 

Are you game?

 

MARION

 

Hell yes! We've made it this far.

 

INDY

 

(grins at her)

 

Okay. Let's do it.

 

They approach the altar through the dying flames, Indy

 

slinging the submachine gun over hsi back. The long

 

carrying poles are still in place.

 

INDY

 

Whatever you do, don't touch it.

 

Let's put it on the floor.

 

Marion nods. Each taking an end with the poles, they lift

 

the Ark from the altar and lower it to the floor. Marion

 

grunts under the weight. Indy registers this, hands her

 

the submachine gun. He pulls out hsi whip, motions her

 

back, and sweeps the whip tightly around the body of the

 

Ark. The fall wraps snugly around the plaiting and Indy

 

ties it off. The Ark is now harnessed to the whip handle.

 

Indy gives it an experimental pull and the Ark slides across

 

the smooth cement. Indy indicates the direction of the

 

second train tunnel.

 

INDY

 

We'll go down that side. Shoot any-

 

one who looks at us crosseyed.

 

148 INT. COMMAND CENTER 148

 

Two huge stacks of goods are ablaze and the Nazis are having

 

trouble getting water to them. The Nazis main concern at

 

this point is an enormous, neat stack of wooden cartridge

 

boxes which are piled down the wall from one of the already

 

blazing, and now teetering, stacks of general goods. Ner-

 

vous Nazis are moving the heavy cartridge boxes as fast as

 

they can, but it's slow work and the threatening fire is

 

close.

 

Indy and Marion make their way along the side of the center

 

court, Indy grimacing with the strain of pulling the Ark.

 

One Nazi stops directly in front of them, looking at them

 

queerly. Indy knocks his out with the butt of his Luger

 

just as Marion is about to fire.

 

Out in the court, Shliemann has regained his eyesight. Now

 

he crouches, scanning the scene desperately for Indy. He

 

looks into the remains of the Tabernacle and spots the empty

 

altar. Beyond it, the unoccupied posts where Marion was

 

bound.

 

At the entrance to the second train tunnel, Indy and Marion

 

struggle to lift the Ark into a mine car. Marion has the

 

submachine gun slung over her back. The Ark drops heavily

 

into the bottom of the car. The noise attracts the attention

 

of five water-carrying Nazis. They see what's going on and

 

reach for their side-arms. Indy grabs Marion, pulls her in

 

front of him--as though to use her as a shield--and flips

 

the submachine gun, still on her back, toward the Nazis.

 

He opens fire, turning Marion's body so he can mow all

 

five down.

 

Shliemann spins around and looks at the tunnel entrance.

 

He points at Indy and Marion, who have just hopped into the

 

mine car with the Ark.

 

SHLIEMANN

 

Stop them! Kill them!

 

A dozen Nazis spin and look at the mine car. Marion is just

 

leveling the submachine gun. Indy pushes forward the throttle

 

and the mine car moves toward the tunnel, picking up speed.

 

As the Nazis raise their guns to fire, Marion and Indy both

 

open up, peppering the area with lead. As the mine car is

 

about to disappear into the tunnel--

 

INDY

 

(to Marion)

 

Get down!

 

As the car disappears, bullets pock the entrance of the

 

tunnel. Shliemann runs up with three Nazis. They jump

 

into the next mine car and take off, disappearing into

 

the tunnel.

 

Over at the burning stack of goods, some terrified fire-

 

fighters scurry away as the burning pile of general goods

 

falls over onto the stack of cartridge boxes. The wooden

 

boxes immediately start burning. Many of the Nazis just

 

want to get out of there, but a couple of disciplined OF-

 

FICERS are trying to salvage the situation. They point to

 

the far side of the court, the walls are lines with oil

 

and gas drums.

 

OFFICER

 

We must cover the drums! Protect

 

them from the bullets!

 

149 INTERCUTTING Indy and Marion with Shliemann and the Nazis,

 

we see a most extraordinary pursuit. This tunnel is of

 

identical design to the first, except more twisty. This

 

early section goes slightly uphill, as though headed for

 

the summit of a rollercoaster. The low cross beams and

 

the higher sections in between are causing the Nazis to

 

alternately stand and duck in their efforts to get a

 

clear shot at the lead car. One German times it wrong and

 

gets whacked. Indy in unhappy with the speed of his car

 

and he's right, the Nazis are moving faster and gaining.

 

When both cars are in the same high section, the Nazis blast

 

away at them. The noise is deafening, with barking guns,

 

splintering rock, and twanging ricochets contributing to

 

the din. As Marion fires a return volley low over the Ark,

 

Indy kicks at the throttle, convinced it is jammed.

 

150 INT. COMMAND CENTER 150

 

The Officers are directing the placement of every move-

 

able item in front of the oil drums. Desks, crates, chairs,

 

food, all are heaped in front of the fuel. All the workers

 

cast frequent nervous glances back at the burning cartridge

 

boxes across the court. Suddenly the worst begins to hap-

 

pen at the cartridge boxes. Hundreds of thousands of live

 

cartridges begin exploding, flying around the court like

 

shrapnel. Hot lead begins to zing off the exposed fuel

 

drums, leaving big dents.

 

151 INT. TRAIN TUNNEL - LONG STRAIGHTAWAY 151

 

The car with Indy and Marion looks almost sluggish com-

 

pared to the pursuing Nazi car as they both make their way

 

into an usually long straightaway. Marion discards her

 

empty submachine gun as Indy kicks at his throttle and casts

 

a worried look back at Shliemann.

 

Shliemann, sensing victory, smiles evilly and carefully

 

takes aim. Indy and Marion will be easy targets until they

 

reach that approaching low cross beam, which is the crest

 

of the rising tunnel.

 

152 INT. COMMAND CENTER - CLOSE ON FUEL DRUM 152

 

A fuel drum, already pocked by bullets is finally pene-

 

trated by high velocity hot lead. It explodes in a ball

 

of flame. And then its neighbor. Then all is exploding

 

flame.

 

153 INT. TRAIN TUNNEL - LONG STRAIGHTAWAY 153

 

Shliemann and his cohorts hear the explosions behind them

 

and look back that way.

 

Indy kicks the throttle one more time and it goes! Their

 

car doubles its speed and shoots under the low cross beam

 

at the same instant as--

 

A huge dragon of all-consuming fire shoots up the tunnel

 

behind the Nazis, catches their car and incinerates

 

Shliemann and his men. The tunnel collapses in this section,

 

burying the fried Nazis forever.

 

154 INT. TRAIN TUNNEL 154

 

Indy and Marion look back at the low cross beam as the last

 

tongue of flame makes it there and then is doused by falling

 

rock and dirt. They look at each other, then turn their

 

attention back to their own predicament. Their mine car is

 

going incredible fast as it moves into a downward section

 

of wildly twisting tunnel.

 

MARION

 

Slow it down!

 

Indy is already pulling the throttle. It moves easily.

 

Unfortunately, it is no longer attached to the motor. The

 

mine car is out of control. After several moments, far

 

ahead, appears a circle of bright daylight-- the end of the

 

tunnel! It approaches at a frightening rate. Indy reaches

 

out and grasps Marion's hand. They exchange looks and then

 

turn to look ahead.

 

THEIR POV. We're taking this last stretch with them. It's

 

a familiar nightmare. It has to do with a rollercoaster

 

that ends suddenly and disastrously. The shocking bright-

 

ness of sunlight rushes up to engulf us, blinding us in

 

its glare.

 

155 EXT. THE ISLAND - END OF TRACKS, DOCK 155

 

High up on the slope of the island, Indy and Marion's mine

 

car shoots out of the black tunnel and roars down toward

 

a little dock at the end of the tracks.

 

A small Nazi transport launch, carefully disguised as a

 

Greek fishing boat, sits bobbing by the dock. The only

 

human: a Nazi Sentry dressed as a Greek peasant. He is

 

perched on a pile of seed bags which are stacked at the

 

very end of the train tracks. As the mine car barrels

 

noisily down toward him, he throws away some burlap to

 

reveal a mounted machine gun which he spins quickly around

 

toward the approaching mine car. He opens fire.

 

In the out-of-control mine car, Indy pulls Marion down with

 

him. They are squashed into the corner trying to avoid con-

 

tact with the bounching Ark. Bullets clang against the out-

 

side of the car and whiz inches overhead. Indy and Marion

 

are forced into a tighter and tighter embrace of life.

 

At the machine gun post, the Nazi Sentry has been firing

 

like crazy, but now there is terror in his eyes. He

 

realizes the car is not going to stop. He lacks faith in

 

his stronghold. Too late.

 

The mine car smashes into the seed bag bunker. And right

 

on through. The Nazi Sentry, his machine gun and a dozen

 

bursting seed bags are slammed into the ocean in a wild,

 

hurtling mass. The mine car jumps, bounces and spins around,

 

then slides to a stop in a cloud of seed at the edge of the

 

water.

 

156 INT. COMMAND CENTER 156

 

Fire. Everywhere. No sign of life. A large gaping door-

 

way, flames ringing it, blazing into the room beyond. Hang-

 

ing by one hinge there, its metal blasted and jagged, is a

 

heavy door with the signed lettering, in German, DANGER -

 

MUNITIONS.

 

The first explosion happens. It's a baby compared to what's

 

coming yet is rocks the earth. It's terrible. And then,

 

almost immediately, another. The long, irregular, ever-

 

larger chain of explosions begins.

 

157 EXT. THE ISLAND - VARIOUS SHOTS - DAY 157

 

The island rumbles and shakes. From fissures and small

 

natural caves, dirt and rock shoot out like spraying water.

 

Still the explosion continue. A huge chuck of white cliff

 

falls away into the turbulent sea. Birds scream and soar,

 

afraid to land.

 

Finally, we settle on a full shot of the island. We can

 

recognize that the small opening high on the slope from

 

which a cloud of smoke and dust is billowing is the end

 

of the mine tunnel. And there below it, quite small from

 

this distance is the dock. And the boat that looks like

 

a Greek fishing boat. There can be no mistake even from

 

this far away--the boat is chugging out to sea.

 

158 INT. THE PENTAGON - DAY 158

 

Indy, Brody, and Marion, looking very stylish, are seated

 

in Colonel Musgrove's huge office. Sun pours in a window,

 

through which Washington can be seen sparkling across the

 

Potomac. Everything is neat and clean and regular. In-

 

cluding the three men who are arrayed around the office.

 

Two we know--Col. Musgrove and Maj. Eaton. The third is

 

an unnamed Bureaucrat. He hangs back, smiling and genial,

 

his features obscured by the glare of the window. He doesn't

 

say anything, yet you have a sense that the others defer to

 

him in the matter at hand. He is the essence of all that

 

is Byzantine and inscrutable in our scrubbed government

 

machine.

 

Indy and Brody are dissatisfied with the way the meeting

 

has gone. Marion, on the other hand, is very happy and

 

eager to get out of there. Eaton's manner is irritatingly

 

cheery.

 

MUSGROVE

 

You've done your country a great

 

service.

 

EATON

 

--And we trust you found the settle-

 

ment satisfactory?

 

MARION

 

Quite.

 

EATON

 

Good, good.

 

(glances around at the others)

 

Then I guess that about does it.

 

BRODY

 

When can we have the Ark?

 

Eaton's glance flicks over to the mysterious Bureaucrat,

 

then back to Brody.

 

EATON

 

I thought we answered that. It's

 

someplace very safe--

 

INDY

 

(heated)

 

That's a powerful force. Research

 

should be done--

 

EATON

 

Oh, it will be, Dr. Jones, I assure

 

you. We have top men working on it

 

right now.

 

INDY

 

Who?

 

EATON

 

Top men.

 

Indy exchanges a look with Brody.

 

INDY

 

We may be able to help.

 

EATON

 

We appreciate that. And we won't

 

hesitate to call on you.

 

MUSGROVE

 

(dismissing them)

 

Thank you all. Thank you again.

 

Indy looks them over coldly. He gets up, sullen.

 

159 EXT. PENTAGON STEPS - DAY 159

 

Indy, Brody and Marion emerge from the building. Brody

 

bids them farewell and moves off in another direction.

 

Marion clings to Indy's arm in an energetic, very feminine

 

way, scolding him.

 

MARION

 

--Well they aren't going to tell

 

you, so why don't you just forget

 

it. I'd think you'd has enough

 

of that damn Ark. Just put your

 

mind on something else.

 

Indy stops, looking across the river, his mind occupied.

 

INDY

 

Yeah, like what?

 

Marion makes a face, then puts her arms around his neck

 

and plants a humdinger of a kiss on his mouth. It goes

 

on a while. Finally they break.

 

INDY

 

It's not the Ark...but it'll have

 

to do.

 

They move down the steps, smiling.

 

160 INT. GOVERNMENT WAREHOUSE 160

 

The Ark of the Covenant sits in a wooden crate. A wooden

 

lid comes down and hides it from view. The lid is solidly

 

nailed to the crate as we read the stenciled message on top--

 

TOP SECRET

 

ARMY INTEL. #9906753

 

DO NOT OPEN!

 

The hammering is completed and hands shift the heavy crate

 

onto a dolly.

 

THE END CREDITS ROLL AS WE SEE--

 

A Little Old Government Warehouseman begin pushing the

 

crated Ark down as aisle. Soon we see that the aisle is

 

formed by huge stacks or crates. They come in many shapes

 

and sizes, but when it comes right down to it, they all

 

look like the one that holds the Ark. All have markings

 

like the message we've just seen. Pretty soon we're far

 

enough and high enough away from the Little Old Government

 

Warehouseman to see that this is one of the biggest rooms

 

in the world. And it is full. Crates and crates. All

 

looking alike. All gathering dust.

 

And then we notice that the Little Old Government Ware-

 

houseman, pushing his new crate ahead of him, has turned

 

into another aisle and disappeared from view.

 

FADE OUT.

 

THE END