Primož Jakopin
THE VOYAGE OF MARY ANN
Screenplay, 2006 - 2009
FADE IN:
EXT. UNPAVED FOREST ROAD DAY
Tranquil summer forest scene, the road as seen thru the eyes
of a horse pulling a buggy, play of light thru the foliage
of trees.
A young couple, MARCO and MARY ANN, rides a light
single-horse carriage. Their two children, EVA and LANCO,
are seated behind with two baskets of provisions for a
picnic. The carriage is passing by, slightly uphill, Marco
and Mary Ann, with a broad hat, are not seen in the face.
EXT. FOREST TRACK DAY
The carriage moves on, in the dense shadow of tall pine
trees, Marco walking at the horse's head, holding the bridle,
Mary Ann at the reins, looking at the kids to assure them
that all is well.
EXT. FOREST TRACK DAY
The forest opens up into a large meadow on top of the hill.
EXT. MEADOW DAY
The horse is tied to a birch tree, Marco and Mary Ann are
lifting the children and the provisions from the back of
the carriage. Marco's identity is hidden from the viewer.
A large tablecloth is stretched on the grass, Marco and Mary
Ann are laying out the food from the baskets. Eva and Lanco
hop around.
Mary Ann is holding Eva and Lanco in her lap.
EVA
And how did you meet our daddy?
MARY ANN
The whole story began in the summer
some ten years ago when I returned
home after the end of college.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD INTERSECTION DAY
The schoolbus arrives from a distance, on an unpaved road.
It stops, the door opens and Mary Ann descends with a
suitcase and a backpack.
The bus departs, Mary Ann moves a few steps to the side.
It is a country landscape, with just the road and forest
in sight.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD INTERSECTION DAY
Mary Ann is waiting at the intersection. After a while she
puts on the backpack, takes the suitcase in her hand and
starts walking on the side road.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD DAY
Mary Ann stops and puts the suitcase down. A red Ford
Mustang 1964 convertible is seen approaching, obviously to
fetch her. It stops and the driver, her elder brother JEFF,
jumps out to help her with the luggage.
JEFF
Oh, dear sis, how nice to see you
again!
MARY ANN
The pleasure is all mine. You
haven't changed, not a little
bit. Late as ever.
JEFF
Mom told me in the morning to go
and fetch you, but I was so busy
that I simply forgot.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD DAY
Jeff and Mary Ann riding home in the car. After a while
Mary Ann starts the conversation.
MARY ANN
And the car! How did you manage
to persuade Barry to sell it?
You couldn't do it in years.
JEFF
No big deal. You know that his
roof was about to collapse for
quite some time now. I made a
new frame and the old man gave in.
MARY ANN
Can I drive for a little while?
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD DAY
The car stops at the side. Jeff opens the driver's door and
walks to the other side. Mary Ann moves to the left and
adjusts the seat and the mirror.
JEFF
Be careful. It has much lower
clearance than the pickup you
are used to.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD DAY
Mary Ann and Jeff are driving home.
MARY ANN
And how is everybody? Mom, dad,
Barbara?
JEFF
Old people are fit as ever, and
Barbara ... well, Barbara seems
to have a boyfriend.
MARY ANN
Don't say. Anybody that I know?
JEFF
Never mind, I know very little.
You know how touchy she is.
EXT. COUNTRY FARM DAY
Mary Ann and Jeff arrive in the yard of the house. Mother
SALLY, about 50 and sister BARBARA, about 18, hurry out of
the house. Barbara jumps forward to hug Mary Ann, Sally
joins them.
SALLY
Now look at you. What a woman
has become out of my little girl.
JEFF
(laughing)
Even knows how to drive a car.
MARY ANN
Where is Father?
BARBARA
Out in the field. He will be back
by dinner.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE KITCHEN NIGHT
Family gathered for dinner. Father TOM is at the head of
the table.
TOM
(lifting the cover
of the pot)
What do we have here? Now, now,
chicken and potatoes a la Sally.
Just pretty.
SALLY
Maybe it is not spicy enough,
Mary Ann likes it mild.
JEFF
(adding salt
and pepper)
You bet it is not.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE KITCHEN NIGHT
Family dinner.
TOM
And what is it going to be now,
Mary Ann? Any position in sight?
SALLY
Don't push her. She just arrived.
MARY ANN
It's OK. I have a few job offers
from New York, one from LA. But
first I will stay here a few days.
BARBARA
So that I can show you around.
JEFF
Not your beau I suppose.
BARBARA
Better you and your waitress.
MARY ANN
Look, look at all that has happened
since my last visit home.
SALLY
Cool down, you two. And, it's
time for dessert.
MARY ANN
No apple pie like your apple pie,
mom.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE BEDROOM DAY
Barbara and Mary Ann in the twin bed, upstairs in a room
with low ceiling. Morning sun pokes thru the windows.
Barbara wakes up, sits in bed, stretches out her arms, and,
after a while, starts teasing sleeping Mary Ann with the
corner of the sheet. When Mary Ann is about to wake up,
Barbara lies down again to hide what she has been doing.
BARBARA
Did you sleep well, sis?
MARY ANN
What funny dreams I had. A cat
was tickling my nose with her
tail.
BARBARA
(laughing)
Yes, yes, all those cats. How
was life at college?
MARY ANN
Classes and exams you can imagine
but love life is what you mean
to ask, isn't it??
BARBARA
(clapping her
legs in bed)
Yes, yes.
MARY ANN
Nothing particular. Learning and
learning and learning, and boys
lazy for anything but basketball.
BARBARA
No romance, not a single
candidate for Mr. Right?
MARY ANN
(hesitating)
There was one ...
BARBARA
And?
MARY ANN
A poet, so handsome, and such a
sweet and gentle soul, oh, oh...
BARBARA
Don't say he was gay?
MARY ANN
No, not that.
BARBARA
But?
MARY ANN
He could not decide between me
and my best friend... In the end
he walked out on both of us.
BARBARA
What a pig. How sad that guys are
either childish or such jerks.
SALLY
(at the door)
Girls, it's time for breakfast.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE BEDROOM DAY
When mother leaves the room, Barbara and Mary Ann, in
T-shirts and underpants, look at each other, get up from the
bed and rush thru the door to the bathroom.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE BATHROOM DAY
Mary Ann is brushing her teeth, Barbara sits on the toilet
cover.
MARY ANN
Jeff hinted that you are in some
relationship, too.
BARBARA
Well, not quite, Michael is more
like a good friend.
MARY ANN
How come?
BARBARA
He likes me very much, but we are
still, sort of, at the beginning.
MARY ANN
How old is he?
BARBARA
Old enough, your age, but very
shy - you shall see for yourself.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE KITCHEN DAY
Sally, Barbara and Mary Ann at the table.
MARY ANN
Father and Jeff are already out?
SALLY
Yes, they left at seven. Did you
sleep well?
MARY ANN
Yes, yes - I was tired, the air,
the smell of fresh linen, it all
helped.
SALLY
And what are the plans for today?
BARBARA
I will show Mary Ann around. We
shall all go downtown to show her
off the day after tomorrow,
won't we?
SALLY
You mean to the Sunday mass...
MARY ANN
Am I such a celebrity?
BARBARA
It is a small village, not much
happens here. You will be just
fine.
EXT. COUNTRY HOUSE YARD DAY
Barbara and Mary Ann come out of the house, Sally after them.
Barbara walks to the side door of the house, enters and after
a while appears with a bicycle. Mary Ann joins her and
brings another bicycle out.
SALLY
Tom and Jeff took the tractor and
the pickup. How will you go?
MARY ANN
Barbara will get us something.
BARBARA
There is one left for you too,
Mary Ann.
EXT. COUNTRY HOUSE YARD DAY
Girls departing. Barbara puts a small basket on the rear
rack of her bike.
SALLY
Have a good time, and be back by
supper!
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD TRACK DAY
Forest landscape, trees on both sides of the road.
The girls ride side by side.
EXT. AT THE CREEK CROSSING DAY
Barbara and Mary Ann arrive to a place, where the track
is crossed by a creek. There is no bridge. They stop.
MARY ANN
Where are we going to, Barbara?
BARBARA
Michael has some climbing
practice at the Black Ridge wall
and he invited me to come along.
MARY ANN
And what should I do there?
BARBARA
It will not take long, just that
you see him. But ...
MARY ANN
But what?
BARBARA
Don't you try anything on him.
He is mine and I want to keep him.
MARY ANN
Now I really want to see this
treasure. How do we get to the
other side of the water?
BARBARA
Just watch and follow me!
EXT. AT THE CREEK CROSSING DAY
Barbara makes a few steps backward for longer run and drives
rapidly into the creek, lifts her legs on the bike to avoid
getting wet and easily gets to the other side of the slow
stream, which is half a foot deep and some ten feet long.
Mary Ann follows her, screaming, but is not fast enough and
stops just at the end of the creek. She jumps ashore to
avoid stepping into the water.
EXT. AT THE CREEK CROSSING DAY
Girls at the other side of the creek. They mount the
bicycles again.
BARBARA
See, no big deal.
MARY ANN
No big deal, no big deal.
I nearly landed in the water.
EXT. BELOW THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
Barbara and Mary Ann arrive at the wall and dismount. The
wall is some 60 feet high and a rope hangs down from top. No
Michael in sight.
BARBARA
(shouting)
Michael! Michael!
EXT. ABOVE THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
Michael, in climbing outfit and with a caving helmet, comes
to the edge of the wall and looks down to the girls. He
waves at them.
MICHAEL
Hello, Barbara! Wait a little, I
am coming down!
EXT. BELOW THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
Michael descends down the wall along the rope. He detaches
himself and shakes hands with Mary Ann.
MICHAEL
Nice to see you, Barbara. And
this must be your sister.
MARY ANN
You came down in no time. How
did you do it?
BARBARA
He is an instructor. Such walls
are a piece of cake for him.
MICHAEL
Not yet. I am only a candidate.
The exams are in a fortnight.
BARBARA
What are you practicing?
MICHAEL
(pointing at his
right leg)
I am testing this new rope clamp.
Would you like to try a descent?
BARBARA
No, no. We are not properly
dressed and we can't stay long.
MARY ANN
Why not. I would like to.
MICHAEL
OK. You two follow the trail to
the top and I will climb up.
EXT. THE TRAIL TO TOP OF THE WALL DAY
Barbara and Mary Ann walking up the trail.
BARBARA
I didn't know that you are such a
climbing type.
MARY ANN
I am not. But it looks exciting and
I never had such an opportunity.
EXT. ABOVE THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
The girls come up the wall where Michael is waiting with
one more set of climbing gear and one more helmet. He helps
Mary Ann put it on and gives her the gloves. Barbara is
observing the whole scene with disapproval, especially when
he helps Mary Ann fasten the front of the climbing belt. He
attaches the rope to the stop descender.
BARBARA
How shrewd you are. You have
brought a second climbing set.
MICHAEL
Always be careful to start with
the upper side of the rope and
follow the picture on the plate.
MARY ANN
Must it all be so intertwined?
MICHAEL
Even so a new or wet rope can
pass thru quite fast, very fast.
BARBARA
(ironically)
Be careful not to break your
little finger, if it gets jammed.
MICHAEL
Be turned to the wall and push
yourself away with your legs. If
anything goes wrong, just hands
off the descender. It will stop.
EXT. ABOVE THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
Mary Ann, fully equipped, with the helmet, starts to rappel,
while Michael and Barbara hurry down the trail to intercept
her below the wall.
EXT. BELOW THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
Michael and Barbara at the end of the rope, Mary Ann
rappels, slowly at first, and then faster and faster. She
pauses some 10 feet above ground after Michael's warning.
She continues, lands gently and detaches herself from the
rope.
MICHAEL
Slow down now! You may hit the
ground too fast.
BARBARA
Well done, see how talented my
big sister is!
MARY ANN
Wow! It is really amazing!
MICHAEL
Now crouch. So you can ease the
rope when you stand up again.
EXT. BELOW THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
Michael, Barbara and Mary Ann are sitting below the wall.
Mary Ann has the helmet at her side, she is still in the
climbing gear.
MARY ANN
So you are about to become a
climbing instructor.
MICHAEL
Not actually. A caving instructor.
MARY ANN
Are you a caver then?
MICHAEL
Yes, climbing skills are part of
a caver's training. We need them.
MARY ANN
Aren't you afraid in the dark?
You don't see where you are going.
BARBARA
Yes, he does. He has a light on
the helmet.
MICHAEL
Depth frightens you more in the
open as you see the entire void.
In the cave you see only what is
close, depth doesn't seem so vast.
MARY ANN
How did you climb the wall so
quickly? You were up before us.
MICHAEL
You still have the gear on. I
can show you both if you like.
EXT. BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
A sequence of short scenes depicting Mary Ann ascending the
wall, getting out on top, discussing with Michael,
rappelling again, rebelaying. They are followed by
Barbara climbing action, including her turning around in
the air, laughing and stretching her arms. No sound, just
music.
EXT. BELOW THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
Barbara detaches herself from the rope, Michael and Mary Ann
at the side.
BARBARA
What is enough is enough. I am
hungry.
MARY ANN
Me too. Let us check what
Mother put in the basket.
EXT. BELOW THE TREE, BELOW THE WALL DAY
Barbara, Michael and Mary Ann are having a picnic. On the
floor a tablecloth is stretched, with food on it. Barbara
is lying at the side supporting her head with the arm while
Michael and Mary Ann are sitting.
MICHAEL
I am not hungry.
BARBARA
Don't be silly. I know that your
sandwich is long gone, and that
you are hungry more than we are.
MICHAEL
(looking at his
watch)
My mother would ... er...
BARBARA
like to see you at home already,
wouldn't she?
MARY ANN
I guess it would be okay if you
tell her that you stayed a little
longer with your girlfriend.
MICHAEL
I haven't exactly told her yet ...
BARBARA
about this girlfriend thing?
MICHAEL
Well ...
MARY ANN
Never mind, keep us company for a
little while and then hurry home.
EXT. BELOW THE BLACK RIDGE WALL DAY
The party is splitting up. Mary Ann and Barbara take their
bikes, Michael is at the side to say goodbye. Mary Ann
rides first, Barbara hugs Michael briefly and departs, they
wave at each other.
EXT. AT THE CREEK CROSSING DAY
Barbara and Mary Ann appear from the distance and cross the
creek without problems.
EXT. COUNTRY HOUSE YARD DAY
Girls arrive, it is late afternoon. Sally is at the door.
SALLY
Hi, girls, nice to have you back.
BARBARA
(dismounting the
bicycle)
Hello, mom, what's up?
SALLY
It must have been a rough ride.
Look at your trousers!
MARY ANN
(beating the trousers
to get the clay off)
It isn't grease, it will go away.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE KITCHEN DAY
Barbara, Mary Ann and Sally chat in the kitchen. Barbara
and Mary Ann sit down. Sally gives Mary Ann the letter,
she walks away with it, upstairs.
BARBARA
Something new, where are father
and Jeff?
SALLY
They will be back by supper. And
there is a letter for Mary Ann.
BARBARA
A letter? From your poet?
SALLY
What poet? The letter is from
abroad, from Slovenia.
BARBARA
It will be from our tenth cousin
then. Tina or what is her name.
MARY ANN
(turning the letter
around)
Yes, yes, from Tina it is.
BARBARA
Can't you read it here? Are
there some secrets to hide?
MARY ANN
No, no, I just want to read it in
peace. I will make a complete
report later.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE BEDROOM DAY
Mary Ann comes into the room, sits on the bed, throws her
back to the pillow so that the legs jump into the air and
stretches her on the bed.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE BEDROOM DAY
Mary Ann on bed reading the letter.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE BEDROOM DAY
Mary Ann on bed. She puts the letter away and looks towards
the window, deep in thoughts. Barbara enters, comes to bed
and sits.
BARBARA
Well, what's up over there, in
Father's homeland?
MARY ANN
Nothing particular. Everybody is
well, the weather is fine. Only ...
BARBARA
Skip the weather. What only?
MARY ANN
Tina's elder sister, Mariya,
is getting married.
BARBARA
At last. It was about time, I
guess. How old is she?
MARY ANN
She is not that old at all. And
I am invited to come.
BARBARA
And I am not! That just isn't
fair! She is your penfriend, no
doubt, but I am her relative, too.
MARY ANN
I promised her to come, some time
after college, and now is
probably a good opportunity.
BARBARA
You are always better off. I
would also like to go.
MARY ANN
There will be another chance,
Barbara, you shall see.
INT. COUNTRY HOUSE KITCHEN NIGHT
Family gathered for supper. Father TOM at the head of the
table.
TOM
I hear that you got an invitation.
Will you go, Mary Ann?
MARY ANN
I would like to.
JEFF
Where exactly is this Slovenia of
yours, father?
MARY ANN
Shame on you, Jeff. It is in the
Alps, close to Slavonia, Slovakia
and to the west of Count Dracula.
SALLY
It is very far, isn't it? And
how much will it cost you?
MARY ANN
A last-minute flight ticket from
Chicago would be about 800 dollars.
SALLY
Aunt Gretchen could fly you to
Chicago.
BARBARA
And other costs?
MARY ANN
I will be staying with the family,
I do not need much, you know me.
JEFF
Not bad. I was told American
women are hot over there. You
may knock someone down.
BARBARA
Oh yes, such a sugarbabe as Mary
Ann. Simply irresistible.
SALLY
Is it safe there? Have they
stopped killing each other?
TOM
Don't be nasty, Sally. You know
very well it is a lot safer there
than Chicago or New York.
BARBARA
We shall see. Hopefully they
don't eat her alive.
EXT. COUNTRY AIRPORT DAY
TITLE OVER: ONE MONTH LATER
A small airfield with grass runway, and a little plane on it.
Tom, Sally, Jeff and Barbara greet Mary Ann goodbye. She
hugs the mother and Barbara and steps in to the back seat,
aunt Gretchen moves into the pilot seat, shuts the door and
the plane takes off.
EXT. THE SKY DAY
The sky with large white clouds that pass to the right and
to the left, as seen from the cockpit of a plane.
EXT. SLOVENIAN AIRPORT DAY
A small, two-seater plane lands and taxis to the vicinity of
the airport hangar. The pilot steps out, Mary Ann gives him
the suitcase and the backpack. He helps her to step down.
INT. SLOVENIAN AIRPORT DAY
Mary Ann is greeted by TINA. They hug. Tina takes
the suitcase, Mary Ann the backpack.
TINA
Nice to see you, my dear faraway
cousin. How was the trip?
MARY ANN
The last leg of the flight was the
best. It was fun to fly with Janez.
TINA
Let us move on. You must be
tired.
EXT. SLOVENIAN COUNTRY ROAD DAY
Tina and Mary Ann are driving in a small red sunroof car on
a paved road, meadows on one side, forest on the other.
TINA
I can't believe you are here,
really. After all these years
and so many letters.
MARY ANN
Neither do I. But blood is not
water, after all, and I am so
glad to see this land of yours.
TINA
It is not only mine, it is, sort
of, yours too. Welcome!
MARY ANN
Thank you for getting me here.
The wedding will be on Saturday?
TINA
Yes, four days to go.
MARY ANN
Sorry for this, Tina, but the Tuesday
flight was the least expensive.
TINA
No problem, Mary Ann. So we
will have more time together.
EXT. HOUSE BY THE RIVER DAY
The sandy yard of the house where Tina's family lives.
A long, single-story house with attic windows,
stretched along the river. Tina and Mary Ann arrive.
Tina's brother, ADRIAN, a teenage boy, who has been fixing
a bicycle, runs into the house as he sees them. MARIYA,
Tina's sister, their mother SYLVIA and Adrian appear at the
door. They greet Mary Ann.
SYLVIA
You must be Mary Ann. Welcome to
our house, welcome to our family.
MARY ANN
Thank you, and, Mariya, for
inviting me to your wedding.
MARIYA
Nice that you could come. I like
that you are not too skinny.
ADRIAN
(in Slovenian)
What funny shoes she has.
SYLVIA
Adrian, your English is probably
better than Mary Ann's
Slovenian.
MARY ANN
It must be better. I only know a
few words. What did he say?
TINA
That you have interesting shoes.
ADRIAN
Well, why not.
SYLVIA
Mary Ann, you must be tired and
hungry. Now, have a shower and
I will prepare something to eat.
INT. HOUSE BY THE RIVER, UPSTAIRS DAY
Tina's room, she is sitting on the chair at the small desk,
Mary Ann, wrapped in a towel, her hair wrapped in another
one, comes from the bathroom across the hallway and sits on
the small bed at the side.
TINA
We added this humble bed for you.
Will it do?
MARY ANN
It is all I need. And I used to
sleep with my sister.
TINA
Do you have any particular wishes
for this week?
MARY ANN
No, I haven't. What do you have
in mind for us?
TINA
I could show you Slovenia as I
like it.
MARY ANN
In three days?
TINA
Slovenia is not big, I will show
you just a few of the best places
and we shall skip the cities.
MARY ANN
I would love it. How shall we go?
TINA
My mother will loan us her car,
the one we drove today.
MARY ANN
It's nice, but why it is so tiny?
TINA
Tiny it is but it holds everything and
and it consumes very little gas.
EXT. HOUSE BY THE RIVER DAY
Tina and Mary Ann put two backpacks in the trunk of the car,
a large bag and two oars on the back seat and depart.
EXT. RIVER CANYON DAY
View of the river canyon with a castle on the elevation of
the river bend. Mary Ann and Tina paddle on the river in a
small rubber boat. At the river dam they step out of the
boat, move it down over the dam and paddle away downstream.
EXT. RIVER IN THE PLAIN DAY
View of the slow flowing river in the flat landscape. Tina
and Mary Ann are walking on the trail on the riverbank.
A floating river mill is in the background.
EXT. MOUNTAIN VALLEY DAY
View of a mountain valley with a white track of road in
the middle. Mary Ann and Tina on the meadow trail.
EXT. MOUNTAIN FOREST LAKES DAY
View of small marsh lakes, surrounded by the pine forest.
Tina and Mary Ann on a trail, made of tree trunks. Birds
over the water.
EXT. FOREST WATERFALL DAY
View of the waterfall, falling over black stone, in the
middle of a deep forest. Mary Ann and Tina at the pool
below the waterfall. They wash hands in the water.
EXT. WINDY MOUNTAIN DAY
View of the top of the mountain slope. Tina and Mary Ann
walk on the dry grass and force their way upwards thru
the wind. Play of wind and their hair.
EXT. SHALLOW SEA BELOW THE CLIFF DAY
View of the cliff and the sea below it. Mary Ann and Tina
are splashing in the crotch deep water. Tina descends into
the water hands forward, stands on hands for a little while
in a layout position, allows the body to slip flatly into
the water. Mary Ann and Tina, holding their hands, run in
the ankle-deep water so that the water sprinkles all around
them. In the end they both fall into the water.
EXT. PEBBLE BEACH BELOW THE CLIFF DAY
View of the crescent moon shaped bay with high cliff and a
pebble beach below it. Tina and Mary Ann with backpacks on
their shoulders walk on the pebbles just above the wave
line. At the cape they descend into the ankle-deep water to
make it around the rock.
INT. CAVE RAILROAD NIGHT
View of electrically lit cave gallery with rails on the
floor. A tourist train with open waggonets appears from the
corner, with Mary Ann and Tina seated in the last bench,
and disappears in a low tunnel.
EXT. ALPINE LAKE DAY
View of the lake with an island in the background. A large
stone staircase leads from the shore up to a church.
Tina and Mary Ann swim slowly and effortlessly towards the
island. Mary Ann disappears below the surface briefly, as
to put her hair in order, and they resume swimming.
EXT. ALPINE WATERFALL DAY
View of a very tall waterfall with the water falling down
from an opening in the rock. There is a trail behind the
waterfall. Mary Ann and Tina come, disappear behind the
water curtain and reappear on the other side.
EXT. MOUNTAIN WALL VALLEY DAY
View of a magnificent mountain wall from the valley. Tina
and Mary Ann sit on the grass and eat, with the wall in
front of them.
EXT. MOUNTAIN MEADOW DAY
View of a small meadow among high mountain peaks. There is
a little pond in front, with a dominant, nicely carved peak
in the background. Tina and Mary Ann come by, stop to enjoy
the view and run around the bank of the pond.
INT. TINA'S ROOM NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann in beds. Smalltalk before sleep.
TINA
Home, sweet home. No bed like
mine.
MARY ANN
What a strange country. So
little, yet so diverse and so
lovely. Why did my ancestors
have to leave it?
TINA
Farm living used to be very hard
and poor not long ago. America
was a chance for a better life.
MARY ANN
How come that we, caver as you
are, visited only one cave?
TINA
Would you like to see more?
MARY ANN
You really showed me a lot.
I should not be too greedy.
TINA
No, no. Maybe I will show you some
day a real, non-tourist cave.
EXT. HOUSE BY THE RIVER TERRACE DAY
Tina, Mary Ann, Sylvia and Adrian sit at the table on the
terrace above the river and eat.
SYLVIA
How was the trip, Mary Ann?
MARY ANN
We managed to see a lot. And it
was fun.
ADRIAN
I guess it was just caves. Tina
is so pathetic about them.
TINA
No, I am not. I am a caver and
there's nothing wrong if I like it.
MARY ANN
We have been to just one cave.
The one with the train.
SYLVIA
And which place did you like most
of what you saw, Mary Ann?
MARY ANN
To be honest, the sea with the
sand below the cliff was the best.
ADRIAN
Mary Ann is a bit complicated.
Why not make the name smoother.
TINA
Adrian, again one of your crazy
ideas. What's wrong with Mary Ann?
MARY ANN
No, no, it's OK, Tina. What
do you suggest, Adrian?
ADRIAN
I meant nothing bad. Just to
make her more one of us.
SYLVIA
You mean the Slovenian version of
Mary Ann, that is Maryanna.
ADRIAN
Yes, Maryanna. It has a lighter
melody, without a breakup.
MARY ANN
Maryanna, Maryanna. I wonder
what my folks would say. But
I will not mind if you use it.
EXT. HOUSE BY THE RIVER YARD DAY
The wedding party is getting ready to depart. The yard is
full of cars and people going into the house and out.
Mariya presents her groom ANDREY to Mary Ann.
MARIYA
Honey, this is our distant cousin
from America, Mary Ann.
MARY ANN
Nice to meet you.
ANDREY
The pleasure is all mine. And
my aunt is Maryanna, too.
MARY ANN
Good looking groom you have,
Mariya.
TINA
Isn't he cute?
MARIYA
Enough, girls. He is mine and
we are late. Let us move on!
EXT. HOUSE BY THE RIVER YARD DAY
The wedding party is departing. The family packs in a large
Minivan. After a short discussion with bride's father,
Andrey sits behind the wheel and Mariya next to him. The
parents go to the middle row, Adrian, Tina and Mary Ann in
the back seat. They drive out of the yard, others follow.
EXT. CITY HALL DRIVEWAY DAY
The minivan stops at the staircase before the city hall,
a fountain and a two towers church are in the background.
The party greets the wedding guests that have been waiting
and they rush up into the city hall.
INT. WEDDING HALL DAY
The ceremony in the wedding hall. Wedding couple with the
best man and maid of honor sit in the first row, the family
and the wedding guests are seated behind them. The
officiant and his assistant speak to the couple. The party
stands up, after the vows the couple exchanges the wedding
rings, kisses, congratulations of the family and guests
follow.
INT. CITY HALL STAIRCASE DAY
The couple comes down the stairs, awaited by the family and
the photographers. Two elder relatives, probably aunts of
the bride or the groom, exchange some words before the
couple comes down and after the exciting moments of the
passing by in the midst of flashlights and in a cascade of
rice. The bride walks down vigorously, swinging the
bouquet.
AUNT BETTY
Are they expecting a baby?
AUNT MARYANNA
I don't know. But we will find
out very soon.
AUNT BETTY
How do we know?
AUNT MARYANNA
Look at how she is holding the
wedding bouquet and how she walks.
The steps tell all.
AUNT BETTY
Well, what do you say?
AUNT MARYANNA
She is definitely not pregnant.
AUNT BETTY
Poor girl! Maybe she will have
more luck next time.
EXT. CITY HALL STAIRCASE DAY
The bride and bridegroom on top of the staircase at the
city hall entrance. Unmarried girls from the wedding
party gather below the stairs waiting for the bride to throw
her bouquet. Mary Ann is hesitating to join.
SYLVIA
(in Slovenian)
Mary Ann, come along!
MARY ANN
This is not for me, I do not
have a boyfriend.
TINA
Do it just for fun, you do not
have to catch it.
EXT. CITY HALL STAIRCASE DAY
There is a lot of jostling below the staircase. Mary Ann is
standing modestly in the back, to stay out of the main
action. The bride throws the bouquet, which flies in a long
arc over the front line of girls. It would fall to the
ground if Mary Ann would not catch it in the last moment.
MARY ANN
How come? Why me?
TINA
(looking around)
You never know when happiness will
strike. And where is the prince
charming?
Her eye stops at the side where five boys are chatting,
Among them Marco, EVAN and ROCK. Evan waves at Tina. She
waves him back.
TINA
(in Slovenian)
She will get one alright.
INT. TINA'S ROOM NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann in beds. The wedding bouquet is in a vase
close to Mary Ann's head.
TINA
What will you do next?
MARY ANN
Well, I have a few days left.
TINA
When exactly is your flight home?
MARY ANN
In a week, next Monday.
TINA
Evan, a fellow caver, called today
for the mountain cave crossover.
MARY ANN
And?
TINA
We shall start tomorrow and you
can accompany us to the mountain
top. It would be a nice trip.
MARY ANN
Is it difficult to find the way
back?
TINA
No, there is a good trail from top
to the other foot of the mountain,
not far from the railway.
MARY ANN
How long will it take?
TINA
One day to get to the top, and
less to return.
MARY ANN
So I would be back on Monday with
6 days left on my own. Not bad.
EXT. RAILWAY STATION DAY
A small train station. Tina and Mary Ann with bacpacks
await the train which arrives from the distance. They enter
and the train departs.
INT. TRAIN DAY
Mary Ann and Tina come to an empty compartment, take off the
backpacks and sit down.
MARY ANN
Why didn't we go by car?
TINA
It could be a crossover - we enter
the abyss on the mountain and get
out in another, lower cave.
MARY ANN
So what?
TINA
It is more pleasant by train, it's
nice to travel together and it's
not expensive.
INT. TRAIN DAY
The train stops at another small train station. Tina waves
at Evan, Marco and NINA.
INT. TRAIN DAY
The compartment of Tina and Mary Ann. Evan, Nina and Marco
enter and are introduced to Mary Ann by Tina.
TINA
This is Mary Ann, my distant
cousin from America. You saw her
at the city hall, at the wedding.
EVAN
(in Slovenian)
Yes, I remember how you caught the
bouquet. Do you know any Slovenian?
MARY ANN
(in Slovenian)
Good day, thank you, so long ...
TINA
OK, be kind to her and try to
speak English.
Marco and Mary Ann exchange a long look.
MARCO
No problem. It's a language I
know well and feel comfortable
with.
EVAN
Don't be kidding. Where did you
catch that phrase?
MARCO
An old professor at Stanford used
it when asked why he still does
all his programming in FORTRAN.
TINA
Are we all here?
EVAN
No. One seat is still empty,
for Rock.
EXT. RAILWAY DAY
Train rails in the middle of a large forest. The train
comes from the distance, drives over the camera and the
landscape is again only the rails and the forest.
EXT. RAILWAY STATION DAY
Another small train station. The train comes to a stop and
Rock, with a large backpack, pops in.
INT. TRAIN DAY
Rock enters the compartment, gets rid of the backpack and
greets the party.
NINA
Hello Rock, this is Mary Ann,
Tina's cousin from America.
ROCK
Nice to meet you. Are you going
with us into the cave?
MARY ANN
No, no. I will just keep you
company till the entrance.
ROCK
So much the better. We have a
lot to carry.
MARCO
And girls are always welcome.
TINA
An extra boy also comes in handy,
doesn't he, Nina?
NINA
Oh yes, especially if it is Rock.
EXT. TRAIN STATION DAY
Station platform in front of the exit door of the wagon.
The train stops, the door opens and they all get off. The
door closes and the train departs.
EXT. FOREST TRACK DAY
The party, with large backpacks, oar canes are lurking from
one of them, walks down the track, green canopy and the sun
are in the background.
EXT. FOREST TRACK JUNCTION DAY
The group with Evan in front comes from the right and turns
left at the junction.
EXT. TOP OF THE COLLAPSED VALLEY DAY
Evan comes to the start of descent into the valley and stops.
Tina, Mary Ann, Marco, Nina and Rock come from behind.
MARCO
A little break?
EVAN
No, we made a small detour to see
the blowhole of Ben and Peter.
TINA
Where does it lead?
EVAN
To the unknown underground river,
hopefully.
MARY ANN
Is it far from here?
EVAN
No, but we shall leave the
backpacks here.
EXT. TOP OF THE COLLAPSED VALLEY DAY
The party unloads the backpacks and starts to descend.
EXT. AT THE MINE DAY
At the bottom of the valley there is a three-pole wooden
frame above the pit with a rope and a pulley. JEAN, an elder
man, is just pulling a bucket of gravel and earth from the
pit. Marco comes down the slope, followed by the others.
MARCO
Hi Jean. You have made a real mine
here? How is it going?
JEAN
Some English guests?
TINA
Just Mary Ann, my American cousin.
EVAN
Ben and Peter are down?
JEAN
Yes, it opened up a bit again. We
are 50 feet deep already.
MARCO
The pile behind you is quite
impressive.
JEAN
Oh, yes. It will be twelve hundred
buckets soon.
INT. AT THE TOP OF THE PIT DAY
A view from inside the pit out, as seen by Ben who is coming
up. All seven are looking down.
EVAN
Hi Ben. How does it look?
BEN
We are advancing down the wall with
unstable rocks at the side.
MARCO
A nasty business.
JEAN
There are supporting iron rods but
it is still not safe to go down.
MARY ANN
How much more to dig to the river?
BEN
The squeeze is widening slowly.
A week maybe. Or a month.
TINA
Good luck to you all. See you.
BEN
Bye, have a nice trip. That you
would also find something new.
OTHERS
Bye.
EXT. THE SLOPE ABOVE THE NATURAL BRIDGE DAY
Evan and the others are descending along the steep narrow
trail.
EXT. NATURAL BRIDGE DAY
An empty riverbed is passing thru a short natural tunnel in
the stone wall, open forest on one side, the gorge with
trees on the other. Evan, Tina, Mary Ann, Marco, Nina and
Rock come thru the tunnel.
EXT. RIVERSIDE DAY
The group on the trail by a small river, a meadow on one
side and a forest on the other.
NINA
A nice place for a picnic.
ROCK
Indeed.
MARY ANN
Look!
EXT. RIVERSIDE DAY
Evan throws a small flat stone low over the water so that it
skips several times in and out of the water. Marco competes
with him while Rock takes a rope from the backpack, attaches
a stone to its end and throws it over the branch of an oak
tree.
ROCK
Take care! I will throw a rock.
TINA
It looks like somebody is gonna be
hanged tonight.
MARCO
Not me, not me ...
ROCK
Just wait and see.
EXT. RIVERSIDE DAY
Rock swings himself over the water on a double rope to make
sure the branch will hold. He picks a small wooden plank
from below the roots of the oak tree.
He cuts a hole in the middle of it with his knife and puts
the double rope thru it. A knot on the other side and a
swing is ready. He helps Nina to sit and swings her far
above the water.
ROCK
Nina, let's see if it works.
NINA
You made it just for me?
MARCO
And for other children. But some
intruder won't hurt either.
EXT. TRAIL BY THE RIVER DAY
The group on the trail by the river, forest on both sides.
EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE DAY
A narrow stream of a creek is flowing out of the cave and is
falling into a pool. At the side there is a traverse with
an old, rusty rigging and metal footholds. The group passes
over it, Evan helping Mary Ann, Rock to Nina and Marco giving
a hand to Tina.
NINA
Do we proceed here?
ROCK
Yes, there is a traverse at the
right side.
TINA
This rigging looks rather rusty.
EVAN
Rock's uncle had made it and we
passed here only last month.
MARCO
It will hold, but we better put
gloves on.
EXT. UNDERGROUND CREEK TRAIL DAY
The trail, a foot above the water, is passing along the wall
in a cave. The light is falling thru the side ceiling
openings. The group is standing on a small, single-arc
stone bridge. They look up, to a window-like opening.
MARY ANN
How high it is. Does it have a
name?
TINA
It is called the Little Natural
Bridge.
EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE DAY
The water stream comes out of a cave, from around the corner.
Another two caves are seen in the background. The group is
sitting at the end of the trail. Evan takes a cave map out
of his backpack. They all look at it.
EVAN
The trail ends here. On return we
could come out of this very cave.
NINA
How can you be sure that we shall
get thru?
EVAN
At the moment it is only wishful
thinking. But look at the map.
Here is the mountain with the
abyss shown in black.
TINA
And here is this cave at the foot.
ROCK
It's a darn long way up there.
And no established connection.
MARY ANN
Is this the lake at the bottom of
the pits?
EVAN
Yes, only it ends with a very long
sump. Hopefully it is the same
water that ends this cave here.
MARCO
I don't like to swim in cold
water.
EVAN
Neither do I. There are narrows
in the abyss and so the divers
couldn't get to the lake yet.
MARCO
So let us pray the global warming
lowered the water level enough.
TINA
This was the driest winter on
record, followed by a dry summer.
NINA
So it's a good chance for the
navy to push thru.
EVAN
We have two rubber boats, why not.
NINA
How come that nobody made the
crossover yet?
TINA
There was a big expedition in the
winter, to widen the narrows.
MARY ANN
You were there?
TINA
No, I was not. Evan was.
EVAN
In 6 weeks the Russian scuba team
is coming to help. If they don't
make it thru nobody will.
MARCO
So we are a last-ditch effort to
save face.
ROCK
I was told we should only check
that the ropes in the pits are
OK after the spring rains.
EVAN
That is our task. The boats we
have are only for pleasure.
ROCK
What a delightful excercise to
carry them to the mountain top.
MARCO
Luckily we have the girls to help.
TINA
The mermaids that will lure the
brave over the lake of eternal
darkness ...
MARY ANN
At least the trip will not be
boring and uneventful.
NINA
You bet. Shall we move on or do
we have to go back now?
EVAN
No. There is a path up behind us.
EXT. ELEVATION ABOVE THE GORGE DAY
The group in the middle of the ascent. The riverbed with
the small stream and cave entrance in the background.
EXT. FOREST TRACK DAY
Evan, Tina, Mary Ann, Marco, Nina and Rock walking on the
forest track.
EXT. MEADOW DAY
The group is sitting on a trackside. They are eating apples
and sandwiches. A lone mountain peak is on the horizon,
with patches of snow. Marco lies down on the grass.
EVAN
What do you say? A mighty
mountain.
MARCO
I would rather say it is very far.
TINA
No wonder it was a sacred place.
MARCO
(yawning)
And this grass is a real blessing.
EXT. MOUNTAIN TRAIL DAY
TITLE OVER: THREE HOURS LATER
The party is on the timberline. A few small deciduous
trees in the foreground, meadows with serpent trail and
the mountain peak on the horizon.
EXT. MOUNTAIN TRAIL DAY
The group, in the middle of a blooming meadow, meets an
elder man, the PAINTER. He is just packing away his easel,
covering the canvas before they could see it.
PAINTER
(in Slovenian)
Hello, boys and girls.
EVAN
Hello. Packing?
PAINTER
An English speaking party?
EVAN
(in Slovenian)
One guest only. We speak English
so that she does not feel lost.
PAINTER
I see. About packing: yes, shade
calls, it is too hot for painting.
MARY ANN
Some nice landscape?
PAINTER
Actually not.
TINA
Maybe flowers?
PAINTER
Nay, no flowers either.
MARCO
Maybe something from the air?
PAINTER
You've got it right, young man.
It is clouds that I paint.
NINA
Could we see the picture?
PAINTER
How could I deny a wish to such a
lovely girl as you.
MARCO
What a nice cloud. Such generous
figure. Just like Tina.
TINA
How can you be so sure? Have you
ever seen me in the nude?
MARCO
How could I? We are always so
buttened up. Just imagination ...
EVAN
Thank you for the mini exhibition.
PAINTER
Have a good time, you all. Why
such a load? Some across the
border smuggling?
ROCK
No, no. It's caving gear.
PAINTER
So good luck. Underground and
hell are close neighbors.
EXT. BELOW THE PEAK DAY
The party just below the peak, advancing on a steep stone
path. A rock below the Nina's foot flips and she falls down
on her backpack. Rock helps her to stand up.
TINA
Does it hurt? Show me.
NINA
It's nothing. I just made a
wrong step.
ROCK
Can you walk?
NINA
Sure I can.
EXT. THE PEAK DAY
On the peak. A view to the south with the sea, large bay
and two islands on the horizon.
MARY ANN
What a view. Is it Croatia?
EVAN
Yes, the border is on the
southeast, one hour walk from here.
TINA
And where does the rainfall from
the mountain go?
ROCK
Part to the northwest, also to
the cave on the map.
MARY ANN
And the rest?
ROCK
To the south, to the sea.
TINA
Are there any caves on the coast
where this water would come out?
EVAN
The coast is submerged by 150 feet
and most springs are underwater.
MARCO
So are possible caves. It would be
not only swimming but deep diving.
TINA
And where is the abyss?
EVAN
Just behind you. Take care not to
fall in.
EXT. AT THE ABYSS DAY
The group is gathered at the lower side of the abyss
entrance, partly covered with snow. They are peeking in.
ROCK
Nice pit, not very deep.
EVAN
The first rope is missing, to
avoid some tourist mishap.
TINA
Nina, how is your ankle? Can I
see it?
NINA
(taking off
the shoe)
Well, it is as it is.
ROCK
(holding the ankle)
It is swollen. Does it hurt?
NINA
It only hurts if I step on my
leg the wrong way.
ROCK
It looks as if it is not broken,
but twisted.
EVAN
Your mission ends here, Nina.
NINA
I would like to stay. It was
such a wonderful opportunity.
EVAN
Sorry, Nina, you see how it is.
How shall we get you down?
MARY ANN
I am going back anyhow. I can
accompany her.
EVAN
It is a good hour walk to the
nearest road on the south slope.
ROCK
I shall go with them, too. I can
carry her in places if necessary.
NINA
Thank you, Rock.
EVAN
So be it. It leaves us three to go.
We shall leave the civilian gear
at the bottom of the first pit.
EXT. AT THE ABYSS DAY
They unpack the backpacks to rearrange the equipment and
prepare for the cave. Tina pulls Mary Ann to the side.
They leave the group and disappear round the corner.
EXT. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PEAK DAY
Tina and Mary Ann discussing.
MARY ANN
What's wrong, Tina?
TINA
Mary Ann, please have mercy on me.
I can't go with Evan and Marco.
MARY ANN
Why not? Are they womanizers?
TINA
No, of course not. None has a
girlfriend, as far as I know, they
are too much involved in caving.
MARY ANN
What do they do for a living?
TINA
Ivan has a big greenhouse and Marco
is an excellent computer programmer.
He was offered a job at Google.
MARY ANN
So what is the problem? Are you
afraid that they would fight for
you?
TINA
No, probably not. But it would
be so much easier for me if you
would go, too.
MARY ANN
I would certainly like to help,
but I have no proper experience,
and no equipment.
TINA
It is not so difficult, you shall
see. As for the gear - Nina and
you are about the same size.
MARY ANN
My dear cousin. I have a plane
to catch.
TINA
In a week. We shall be out again
in three days at the latest.
MARY ANN
Well, well ...
TINA
Please, please!
MARY ANN
OK. Let us see what Evan says.
TINA
(hugging Mary
Ann)
You are my sunshine ...
EXT. AT THE ABYSS DAY
Tina and Mary Ann return to the group.
TINA
Mary Ann decided to go with us.
EVAN
How is that? Who will be
responsible for her?
TINA
Her sister's boyfriend is a caver,
he taught her the rope technique.
EVAN
If something happens I shall have
to take the blame.
MARCO
Better four than three. And it
will be more fun.
TINA
Evan, please ...
EVAN
Mary Ann, do you feel you can
make it?
MARY ANN
I feel fine and I love my cousin.
MARCO
You see how brave American women
are. Would you dare to go, Tina?
TINA
We shall see very soon how brave
you are.
EVAN
OK. Rock and Nina, you better go.
We shall spend the night here for
a fresh start tomorrow.
INT. IN THE TENT DAY
Marco, Evan, Mary Ann and Tina in the sleeping bags in a
small tent, closely packed one by one. It is early morning.
Tina is stretching her arms, Mary Ann is also awake.
TINA
How did you sleep?
MARY ANN
I couldn't fall asleep but when I
did I slept till now.
EVAN
Good morning. What's the time?
TINA
It is half past six.
MARY ANN
Don't talk so loud, Marco is
still asleep.
EVAN
It's time to wake him up.
TINA
Marco, Marco, breakfast is ready!
MARCO
Leave me alone. Breakfast would
be ready if I made it.
EXT. IN FRONT OF THE TENT DAY
The party is having a breakfast. It is just after sunrise,
forested hills and the sea on the horizon.
EXT. AT THE ABYSS DAY
The group is changing to caving suits, desert-storm colored,
and taking on the climbing gear. Evan and Marco have
carbide headlights while Tina and Mary Ann only have
electric lights on their helmets. Marco attaches the rope
to the piton and throws it into the abyss. Evan lights up
his carbide lamp, checks if it is on and attaches a heavy
bag to his waist.
MARY ANN
What funny suits we have. Are we
going to fight in some desert war?
EVAN
Not exactly. The cloth was not
expensive, and it is very tough.
TINA
It is also for Klok. He loves
to take pictures where it is
difficult to spot the figure.
EVAN
This camouflage blends in very
well with the flowstone.
MARCO
All in the service of beauty.
Girls must be pretty.
TINA
As long as you are not, all is
well.
EVAN
I shall go first. Take care at
the rebelay.
EXT. AT THE ABYSS DAY
Evan descends down the shaft.
INT. MIDDLE OF THE FIRST SHAFT DAY
Evan rappels down.
EXT. AT THE ABYSS DAY
Tina is ready. She follows Evan.
EVAN
(from the depth)
The rope is clear. You may go.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE FIRST SHAFT DAY
Evan is already attached to the second rope. When Tina
reaches the anchor point he starts to move down.
EXT. AT THE ABYSS DAY
Marco checks Mary Ann's descender and she starts rappelling.
MARCO
OK. Good luck.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE FIRST SHAFT DAY
Tina, attached to the second rope, is waiting for Mary Ann.
When she arrives, Tina is watching as Mary Ann attaches her
to the carabiner of the next piton, releases the descender
and lets herself loose from the first rope.
A view from below to the small shaft opening with daylight.
TINA
Marco! Clear!
TINA
Wait for Marco. He will help you
to rebellay.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE FIRST SHAFT DAY
Tina disappears in the void below. The rope trembles as she
advances.
INT. MIDDLE OF THE SECOND SHAFT DAY
Tina rappels down with great speed.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE FIRST SHAFT DAY
Marco rappels down to Mary Ann and stops. When Tina signals
that the rope is free, Mary Ann rebelays to the next rope
with some trouble releasing the short prussik cord from the
carabiner because of the heavy bag attached to her waist.
Marco helps her by lifting the rope with the bag.
TINA
(from below)
Clear! Off rope!
MARCO
It is really clumsy with that pig.
MARY ANN
Thank you.
MARCO
Good luck. Take care.
INT. MIDDLE OF THE SECOND SHAFT DAY
Mary Ann rappels down, stops, swings on the rope for a
while and moves on.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE SECOND SHAFT DAY
Tina is waiting for Mary Ann, attached to a third,
horizontal rope. The last rays of daylight illuminate the
scene from above. Mary Ann appears, rapelling.
TINA
Here is a short traverse. Take
care not to slip down.
INT. TOP OF THE THIRD SHAFT NIGHT
Tina rebelays to the rope leading into the third shaft and
disappears into darkness. Mary Ann waits at the end of the
traverse.
INT. MIDDLE OF THE THIRD SHAFT NIGHT
A series of short scenes with Evan, Tina, Mary Ann and Marco
rapelling in the third shaft.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE THIRD SHAFT NIGHT
Eva, Tina and Mary Ann rest at the botton of the third shaft
while Marco appears sliding down the rope. He brakes above
the bottom, swings a bit and lands.
TINA
So far, so good.
EVAN
First 2,000 feet are behind us.
What do you say about the ropes?
MARCO
No noticeable damage. Water
obviously flows somewhere else.
TINA
Mary Ann, you did it nicely.
MARY ANN
With a little help. Rebelaying
and the bag really wear you out.
MARCO
The bag, yes. But it helps you
to race down like a rock.
TINA
What follows?
EVAN
A short walk, a squeeze and
another set of pits.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE THIRD SHAFT NIGHT
The group departs. They put on the bags and move on further
into the cave.
INT. IN FRONT OF THE SQUEEZE NIGHT
Evan, Tina, Mary Ann and Marco arrive to the squeeze. Evan
moves in first, Tina passes him the bag.
MARCO
Nice hole.
TINA
How do we get thru?
EVAN
It is rigged as it ends on a
ledge above the pit.
MARY ANN
Will it be head first, and what
do we do with the bags?
EVAN
No, it will be legs first, without
bags. Marco will pass it to you.
INT. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SQUEEZE NIGHT
Evan's legs appear from the hole, followed by the rest of
his body, he is pulling the bag behind him. He attaches the
descender to the rope below the anchor point, detaches
himself from the traverse rope and rappels down.
EVAN
Free! Attach yourself close to
the piton and swing into the void.
INT. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SQUEEZE NIGHT
Tina is attached to the next rope. She pulls the bag from
the hole and attaches it to the waist. Mary Ann follows.
MARY ANN
Tina, I am a little scared.
TINA
Me too. But you needn't be.
Marco will help you out.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH PIT NIGHT
Evan is holding the rope while Tina rappels down, brakes
above the rocks on the floor and lands.
INT. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SQUEEZE NIGHT
Marco helps Mary Ann attach the bag to her waist. He is
holding it so that she can descend softly to the point
where the descender is engaged.
MARCO
Don't be worried, Mary Ann. You
are doing just fine.
INT. THE PITS NIGHT
A sequence of short scenes with members of the party
rappelling, clearing the rope, rebelaying.
INT. THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST PIT NIGHT
Evan, Mary Ann and Marco are waiting for Tina at the bottom
of the pit. She is descending down the rope when her bag
gets loose and falls down.
TINA
(from above)
Attention! The bag!
INT. THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST PIT NIGHT
Marco pulls Mary Ann to the side, and jumps to prevent the
bag falling deeper down when it lands. He passes the bag to
Evan. Tina arrives down the rope, brakes and clears the rope.
Evan is examining the cord on the bag.
TINA
Sorry. I don't know how the bag
escaped me.
EVAN
The cord was worn out. I have a
spare one.
MARY ANN
(to Tina)
It only matters that you are safe.
MARCO
What about the content of the bag?
EVAN
The bigger boat is inside. We shall
check it on the lake.
INT. FLAT GROUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST PIT NIGHT
They have mounted the bags and are about to depart.
TINA
This is it?
EVAN
Yes, the pits end here. We are
3500 feet deep now.
MARY ANN
And the lake with the sump?
EVAN
It is not far from here. You
shall see.
INT. THE BANK OF THE LAKE NIGHT
The party comes to the bank of the underground lake.
TINA
(checking the
water)
It is darn cold.
EVAN
(measuring the
temperature)
Forty-one degrees Fahrenheit.
MARY ANN
So no swimming today.
MARCO
(approaching
Tina)
Who knows, if someone would give
her a little push ...
TINA
Don't you dare!
EVAN
A long way is behind us, we
better prepare the tent.
MARCO
What if we check the sump first?
TINA
So that we shall know what it
will be like tomorrow.
MARY ANN
How is the water level?
EVAN
It is lower than it was in the
winter, by about two feet.
MARCO
A dinner would not be a bad idea
either.
EVAN
OK. Let us make it, the sump
can wait for later.
INT. THE BANK OF THE LAKE NIGHT
Marco is cooking the soup in a large pot on the gas cooker
while Evan, Tina and Mary Ann are fixing the tent.
INT. AT THE BANK OF THE LAKE NIGHT
The party is eating soup with pasta.
MARY ANN
How delicious it is if you are
hungry.
TINA
Not bad considering Marco's poor
taste and experience.
MARCO
OK, next time the pleasure of
complaining will be all mine.
EVAN
All is well as long as I don't
have to cook.
INT. AT THE BANK OF THE LAKE NIGHT
Marco is inflating the rubber boat with a pump, Evan is
checking if its surface is hard enough, while Tina and Mary
Ann are assembling the oars.
TINA
What a tiny boat! Will it hold?
EVAN
It holds 400 pounds if you take
care and divide the weight well.
If it sustained the fall we shall
see soon enough.
MARY ANN
Who will check the sump?
TINA
At best they both will. For peace
of mind and to avoid sour faces.
MARCO
Thank you, Tina. What a clever
girl you are.
INT. AT THE BANK OF THE LAKE NIGHT
Evan and Marco embark on the boat and depart towards the
other side of the lake.
MARY ANN
The boys are gone. Do you think
they will find something?
TINA
They could. Hopefully we will
not have to fish them out.
INT. AT THE LAKE NIGHT
Evan and Marco paddle slowly along the border of the ceiling
which sinks into the water.
INT. OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE NIGHT
Marco, with an electric diving torch in hand, scans the
depth of the water at its contact with the ceiling.
Marco folds the sleeve on right hand and sinks the torch
in the water. Evan keeps the boat still by holding with
one hand onto a grip in the wall.
MARCO
Here it looks like something.
Hold the boat still if you can.
EVAN
Do not lean out too much, the
boat will capsize easily.
MARCO
Do you see what I see?
EVAN
It really looks like a passage.
MARCO
It's clear and it goes down slowly.
EVAN
OK. We can't make it thru but at
least we have found the way.
INT. AT THE BANK OF THE LAKE NIGHT
Evan and Marco paddle back to shore, land and disembark.
The shore is empty. Marco disembarks first.
EVAN
Careful! Hold the boat down
until I step out.
MARCO
The girls are gone. Hopefully the
cave ghost did not take them away.
EVAN
Tinaaa! Mary Ann!
MARCO
(after a while)
No reply. Just the echo.
EVAN
We better find them.
INT. HALL OF THE VELVET PILLAR NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann appear from around the corner and admire
the tall column.
TINA
It can't hurt if we look around.
MARY ANN
Certainly not. What a pillar!
TINA
Nice indeed. But the hall looks
blind.
MARY ANN
Let us take a close look, maybe
some passage pops up.
INT. CORNER OF THE HALL NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina come to a low passage, peek into it a bit
and crawl into it one after the other.
INT. SMALL CHAMBER NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann in front of a squeeze. Mary Ann tries to
move on but to no avail.
TINA
It looks like a dead end.
MARY ANN
It really does. I will try to
push a little bit further.
TINA
If you are willing to ...
MARY ANN
It is hopeless. The flowstone
sealed the passage completely.
INT. HALL OF THE VELVET PILLAR NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann returned to the hall.
TINA
Nice hall, but no continuation.
MARY ANN
What if we give it one more try?
TINA
Why is that? We checked it all.
MARY ANN
All these side passages are very
lookalike. Let us do it anew.
TINA
OK, but let us split up this time.
INT. SIDE CHAMBER NIGHT
Tina is peeking into a tight spot.
INT. ANOTHER CHAMBER NIGHT
Mary Ann crawls back from a low passage. Tina joins her
from the other side of the hall.
MARY ANN
Tina! Tina! Come over here!
TINA
What is it?
MARY ANN
Come with me. It looks like a
continuation.
INT. CONTINUATION PASSAGE NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina are moving on through a narrow passage.
INT. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PASSAGE NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina are exit the passage and stand up.
MARY ANN
Tunnel, a real tunnel!
TINA
See, you have made it thru!
INT. BELOW THE VERTICAL DROP NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina arrive to an end of the passage, but a
continuation is visible some 15 feet above ground.
MARY ANN
It started so nicely, but looks
like an end here.
TINA
We can't know. Maybe you have
really found a bypass.
MARY ANN
It looks a bit risky to climb.
TINA
That's what the boys are for.
INT. HALL OF THE VELVET PILLAR NIGHT
Evan and Marco are standing at the pillar.
EVAN
We have checked it all.
MARCO
Indeed. At best we wait here a
little while. Tinaaa! Mary Ann!
INT. CONTINUATION PASSAGE NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina returning.
MARY ANN
Stand still. Do you hear?
TINA
Yes, they are calling us.
MARY ANN
Uuuuuaaaaaa!
TINA
We can wait. They will hear us.
INT. CONTINUATION PASSAGE NIGHT
Evan and Marco are in front of the squeeze, Tina is just
crawling out, Mary Ann follows.
MARCO
Some crawling practice?
TINA
Mary Ann found a continuation.
EVAN
How does it look?
MARY ANN
It is a tunnel which ends in a
climb that we could not do.
MARCO
Long live Mary Ann! Let us see
her new discovery.
TINA
After crawling practice, that is.
EVAN
It is getting late, but let us
make a quick check.
Mary Ann crawls back into the narrow passage.
INT. BELOW THE VERTICAL DROP NIGHT
Evan, Mary Ann, Tina and Marco below the ascent.
TINA
Who will be the lucky one?
EVAN
Will you go, Marco?
MARCO
(hesitating)
It would not be fair. Let us help
Mary Ann who discovered it.
Mary Ann climbs on, standing on the shoulders of Marco.
INT. ABOVE THE VERTICAL DROP NIGHT
Mary Ann climbs to the top, moves on and disappears
in the dark.
INT. THE MUDDY GALLERY NIGHT
Mary Ann descends from around the corner, peeks on and
returns.
INT. BELOW THE VERTICAL DROP NIGHT
Mary Ann reappears on top of the drop.
EVAN
How is it?
MARY ANN
It does go on, but it is muddy.
MARCO
Good, good, Mary Ann.
TINA
Didn't I tell you it was worth
taking her along?
EVAN
If we find something more it will
be impossible not to go on.
TINA
So what?
EVAN
We are tired, and we should not
overstretch the luck we have had.
MARY ANN
Tina, Evan is right.
TINA
(mocking Mary Ann)
We all know how the proverb goes:
Prudence is the mother of wisdom.
MARCO
And, as old Thomas would say, the
sister of cowardice.
EVAN
Suit yourselves, I am going to bed.
INT. AT THE TENT NIGHT
Evan, Marco, Tina and Mary Ann undress the caving oversuits
and disappear into the tent.
INT. IN THE TENT NIGHT
Marco, at the extreme left, and Evan, next to him, are in
the sleeping bags already while Tina, next to Evan, and Mary
Ann are crawling into theirs. The only illumination is a
LED torch in Evan's hand.
TINA
What was the most difficult for
you today?
MARY ANN
The squeeze - turning around at
the end, above the abyss.
MARCO
But you have made it. And racing
down the rope was a pure pleasure.
EVAN
Tomorrow could be a different
story, up with the bags.
TINA
If we do not find the crossover.
MARY ANN
The tunnel is very small and may
end any time.
MARCO
Small tunnel, big tunnel, it does
go on. How did you find it?
MARY ANN
I was just curious.
TINA
On the way back to the lake she
persuaded me to have one more look.
MARCO
Pure blooded explorer. She just
would not give up.
EVAN
(turning his LED
light off)
Sure, sure. Good night.
INT. IN THE TENT NIGHT
Marco and Mary Ann are sitting in their sleeping bags, both
with LED torches, looking curiously at Evan, who is happily
and with closed eyes holding Tina's head in his hands and
just gives her a kiss on her forehead. Tina is also awake,
surprised by what is happening to her. Marco and Mary Ann
are whispering not to wake Evan up.
MARY ANN
Look what he is doing.
MARCO
Tina, what have you been doing to
him? He's never been so loving.
TINA
(shows with her
eyes that she
does not know)
MARY ANN
Obviously nothing. Maybe he is
just sleepwalking or something.
MARCO
I shall wake him up.
INT. IN THE TENT NIGHT
Marco wakes up Evan who is unprepared for the situation and
immediately lets Tina's head free and keeps hands up as if
to say: I did nothing.
MARCO
What a scene. Since when do you
have such a crush on Tina?
EVAN
Well, er ...
MARY ANN
Maybe you had some nice dream.
EVAN
Yes, it was so great.
TINA
What was it about?
EVAN
I could explain something.
MARCO
Not something, everything.
We are all ears.
EXT. SOCCER FIELD DAY
A view of a small soccer field on the rim of the forest.
There are some spectators around and two caving teams,
dressed casually, are playing. A referee, properly dressed,
moves along the field. He looks at his watch, the match is
close to the end. Evan is the goalkeeper on the upper side
of the field. A sequence of brisk dribbling and ball
passing scenes.
EVAN NARRATING
It was towards the end of the match
and we were leading by one goal.
EXT. SOCCER FIELD DAY
A huge striker escapes and pops up in front of Evan, with
only one tiny goal-side player as defense. A goal seems
inevitable when he throws himself down in front of the
striker, who stumbles and falls over. The referee whistles
a foul and without hesitation points to the penalty mark.
EXT. SOCCER FIELD DAY
Evan swings to the left and to the right in crouching
position as the striker moves a few steps back. A short
dash and the ball flies to the left upper corner where
Evan has also jumped, by chance. He grabs the ball.
He falls with it to the ground. The referee whistles off
The end of the game. Evan holds the ball firmly and gives
it a kiss.
INT. IN THE TENT NIGHT
Marco, Evan, Tina and Mary Ann. Evan is caressing Tina's
hand.
EVAN
And so we won. Excuse me, Tina
if I spoiled your sleep.
TINA
No problem, Evan, I was about to
wake up anyhow.
MARCO
Lucky you that he did not kick
the ball back in the field.
MARY ANN
I know he wouldn't.
INT. THE BANK OF THE LAKE NIGHT
The gear is packed, everybody is in caving oversuits already
and they are mounting the backpacks.
TINA
Do we have to take the oars?
They are so clumsy.
EVAN
True - but if we don't take them ...
MARCO
... a new lake will pop out of the
blue when we are far enough.
MARY ANN
I will take them.
INT. CONTINUATION PASSAGE NIGHT
In front of the passage Evan and Tina are making an arrow
out of small stones. It has curved blades and points in.
MARY ANN
A true work of art.
MARCO
And if we mess something up, the
rescuing team will know where to go.
INT. ABOVE THE VERTICAL DROP NIGHT
Tina as the last in the group passes her bag to Marco,
climbs herself to the top. Marco gives her a hand.
INT. THE MUDDY GALLERY NIGHT
Evan descends from around the corner, followed by Mary Ann,
Marco and Tina. They move on through the gallery.
INT. JUNCTION HALL NIGHT
The group comes from the left and stops in the hall. They
dismount the bags.
TINA
A junction hall.
EVAN
We shall explore all the tunnels,
hopefully one of them leads on.
INT. BLIND END OF THE JUNCTION HALL NIGHT
Marco is looking back from a narrow passage, just his face
is seen. Mary Ann is in front of the entrance.
MARY ANN
How is it?
MARCO
It ends here. Nice but blind.
INT. JUNCTION HALL NIGHT
Tina shows the continuation with her hand. They mount the
bags and move on to the left.
TINA
A continuation is here, down there
and to the right.
INT. JUNCTION HALL NIGHT
A view of another pebble arrow on the floor.
INT. ENTRANCE TO THE KEYHOLE HALL NIGHT
Evan moves in through a low passage, Marco is passing him
the bags.
EVAN
A pretty hall. Pass me the bags.
INT. KEYHOLE HALL NIGHT
The group is standing standing below a keyhole-like opening
in the ceiling, Evan illuminates it from the rear.
TINA
What a special shape.
MARY ANN
Like a keyhole, only very big.
MARCO
High waters must have carved it out.
EVAN
First the keyhole, then the hall.
INT. TUNNELS TO THE SOUTH OF THE KEYHOLE HALL NIGHT
A sequence of short scenes depicting the group moving
through a nicely dripstone-decorated, mostly white tunnels.
It is interrupted by a compass scene. Evan is trying to
locate his but to no avail.
EVAN
We don't have the survey gear, and
I even forgot my compass. Only
the thermometer is here.
MARCO
I don't have a compass either.
TINA
I've got one, a present from
Mary Ann.
EVAN
Can you have a look where the
tunnel is heading?
TINA
I sure can ...
Compass, the needle barely moves.
TINA
It is 325 degrees.
EVAN
Northwest. On target.
INT. TUNNELS TO THE SOUTH OF THE KEYHOLE HALL NIGHT
Another sequence of scenes in a nicely decorated,
predominantly white tunnels.
INT. MUDDY TUNNEL, AT THE PASSAGE TO THE LOWER FLOOR NIGHT
Evan and Marco are peeking into a small opening at the side
of the wall.
MARCO
What do you say? Is it worth a try?
EVAN
(laughing)
No need to toss a coin, is it?
MARCO
Certainly not. Should I go or will
it be you this time?
EVAN
I can go, no problem.
INT. CHAMBER ABOVE THE ABYSS NIGHT
Evan descends slowly into the chamber, flaps his gloves to
get rid of the dirt and looks around. He shouts and his
voice echoes off the walls. He moves a little bit
forward and throws a stone in the abyss.
EVAN
Uaaaaa!
INT. MUDDY TUNNEL, AT THE PASSAGE TO THE LOWER FLOOR NIGHT
Evan pops up from the opening.
EVAN
It goes on.
MARCO
Let us call the girls.
INT. MUDDY TUNNEL, DOWN THE CANYON NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann are walking along the bottom of a muddy
canyon, towards the lower end which looks like a dry sump.
MARY ANN
Another dead end.
TINA
As could be expected.
MARCO (V.O.)
Tina! Maryanna!
INT. CHAMBER ABOVE THE ABYSS NIGHT
Evan is sitting with legs in the passage, Marco is
completing a clay arrow, the girls are crouching.
TINA
So the cave does go on.
MARCO
Yes, Evan found a chamber which
leads to an abyss.
MARY ANN
Is it deep?
EVAN
Couldn't say. I did not see to
the bottom. At least 60 feet.
TINA
We shall go and we shall see.
INT. CHAMBER ABOVE THE ABYSS NIGHT
Marco is attaching the rope around a large stalagmite and
passes it on to Evan.
INT. ABOVE THE ABYSS NIGHT
Evan is standing on a ledge above the abyss and throws the
rope in the void.
INT. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ABYSS NIGHT
The rope falls through the air with a hiss and swings along
the wall as it reaches the floor.
INT. THE BOTTOM OF THE ABYSS NIGHT
Evan is descending along the rope in the abyss and lands on
a slippery slope. He detaches himself from the rope.
EVAN
Clear! Off rope!
INT. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ABYSS NIGHT
Tina, with a bag hanging below her, descends down the rope
and pushes herself away from the wall with her feet.
INT. THE BOTTOM OF THE ABYSS NIGHT
Mary Ann is drifting down slowly through the air. Just
before landing on the slope Marco grabs her bag and pulls
Mary Ann to the leveled ground on top.
EVAN
Careful! It is very slippery.
INT. ON THE SLOPE NIGHT
Evan, followed by Tina, Marco and Mary Ann descend carefully
down the slope. Mary Ann slips but Marco stops her in the
last moment.
INT. AT THE STALAGMITE NIGHT
They stop at the large circular stalagmite with a little one
on top.
MARY ANN
What a stalagmite!
MARCO
No offense, but it really looks
like a very big tit.
TINA
(touches it)
It even has a nipple.
EVAN
Any suggestions for a name?
MARCO
It radiates power. What about
Maria Theresia's tit?
TINA
Not bad. It certainly could not be
named after you.
EVAN
Be it that way or another, let us
move on.
INT. THE PASSAGE TO THE LARGE HALL NIGHT
Evan appears on top of the passage, where a narrow tunnel
opens up into a big hall. He shouts.
EVAN
Uaaaaa!
TINA
This is getting really big.
MARY ANN
Can you descend without a rope?
EVAN
I shall try, wait where you are.
INT. BELOW THE PASSAGE TO THE LARGE HALL NIGHT
Evan carefully slips down, helps Tina and Mary Ann who are
descending behind him. Marco is passing him the bags.
INT. LARGE HALL NIGHT
The group is advancing over the clay hill and disappears in
the dark.
INT. UNDERGROUND STAIRCASE NIGHT
Evan and Tina are illuminating the ceiling of the hall with
a narrow beam of a torchlight, Mary Ann and Marco join them
from behind.
EVAN
Quite a high ceiling.
TINA
The water must have flown here
long ago.
MARCO
So that the flowstone floor had
time to spread out.
MARY ANN
Like a staircase.
INT. AT THE GIANT STALACTITE NIGHT
The hall with a giant stalactite. It grows down from the
ceiling, only a short distance is separating it from the
stalagmite below. It is in the dark at first but gets more
and more visible as the group is closer.
MARCO
What a size!
TINA
We named the previous one Maria
Theresia's tit, what about this?
MARY ANN
I would suggest Evan's stalactite.
TINA
Nice name. Better than Evan's ...
you know what I mean.
EVAN
Watch your step. There is an abyss
here below.
INT. THE STEEP SLOPE NIGHT
A sequence of short scenes showing the descent of the group
from the side of the funnel-like slope. Four tiny lights in
a vast empty expanse.
INT. MUDDY VALLEY NIGHT
Evan and Tina are walking on the bottom of the valley-like
tunnel, Marco and Mary Ann slide down to them from the top
of the side slope.
EVAN
Tina, can you check the
direction again?
TINA
Yes, I can ...
It is 340 degrees.
EVAN
North-northwest. OK.
INT. CROCODILE PASSAGE NIGHT
Play of light over the passage where the remains of the side
wall resemble crocodiles hanging in the air. Evan comes
along, followed by Mary Ann, Tina and Marco.
MARY ANN
Lovely carved out rocks.
TINA
Just like crocodiles.
MARCO
It could be Crocodile Passage then.
EVAN
I do not object.
INT. ABOVE THE RAVINE HALL NIGHT
A view of the group of three on top of an abyss, which
widens into a large hall. Evan steps as far out as is
feasible but not too far because of the slippery, muddy
slope.
TINA
It looks like the end of story.
EVAN
Yes, we only have a short piece of
rope and this ravine is really deep.
MARY ANN
Where is Marco?
TINA
Listen, I heard something.
INT. LOWER PASSAGE TO THE RAVINE HALL NIGHT
Marco is squeezing himself between the rocks into a smaller
tunnel. He discovers an opening and shouts.
MARCO
Hoooooy!
INT. ABOVE THE RAVINE HALL NIGHT
Distant voice is heard from below.
EVAN
It looks as if Marco had coined
a bypass.
INT. BEGINNING OF THE PASSAGE TO THE RAVINE HALL NIGHT
Tina is peeking into a small opening between the rocks,
Evan and Mary Ann beside her. Evan wants to slip in but
stops to hear what Marco has to say.
TINA
This is it, Marco's bag is here.
INT. END OF THE PASSAGE TO THE RAVINE HALL NIGHT
Marco stands in the higher part of the tunnel and shouts
over the rocks.
MARCO
(shouting)
Don't go down the chimney, use the
narrow passage on the left.
INT. IN THE PASSAGE TO THE RAVINE HALL NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann slip over the rock, Evan is passing Marco
the bags.
EVAN
The luggage is over now.
INT. THE SLOPE OF THE RAVINE HALL NIGHT
Marco, followed by Evan, Mary Ann and Tina are descending
down the muddy slope, towards the water.
INT. AT THE LAKE NIGHT
The group is at the strait between two underground lakes, the
water flows from the upper lake into the lower. There is a lot
of olms in the lower one.
MARY ANN
Impressive hall, Marco.
TINA
Like a seashore.
EVAN
(with a
thermometer)
It is forty-five degrees Fahrenheit.
MARY ANN
Warmer than the first lake.
MARCO
Look, look here!
MARY ANN
What fair skin they have.
TINA
And how quickly they swim
out of light.
INT. AT THE LAKE NIGHT
The cavers are wondering what to do next.
TINA
The olms tell that we have reached
the underground water table.
EVAN
Yes, but the lower lake is a sump.
MARCO
That's bad news but good news is
that it is lunchtime.
MARY ANN
I'm hungry too.
TINA
Mary Ann, we are not choosy, are we?
MARCO
So it is the boys' turn again,
isn't it? It is the end of the
cave, so be it.
EVAN
We have taken enough food for five,
and there is quite some left.
MARCO
Mary Ann, show Tina around, we need
concentration for best performance.
INT. AT THE LAKE NIGHT
The lunch is ready. Tina and Mary Ann return from the
darkness while Marco and Evan are waiting at the tablecloth
with arranged delicacies.
EVAN
Come closer and see what the house
has to offer.
TINA
What do you say, Mary Ann?
MARY ANN
Old lady Europe at its best. This is
better than nouvelle cuisine.
MARCO
Mesdames et messieurs, bon appetit!
INT. AT THE LAKE NIGHT
A series of short lunch scenes, hands grabbing prosciutto,
mozzarella cheese, corn bread, mushrooms, garlic, grapes.
EVAN
Eat garlic. It is good for your
memory, skin, it kills cancer cells.
MARCO
Roman gladiators and Egyptian
pyramid builders liked it, too.
TINA
Why must it have such a terrible
odor?
INT. AT THE LAKE NIGHT
Very little is left of the lunch. They are packing the bags.
EVAN
Carbide lamps are waning. It would
be a good time for a refill.
MARCO
Why not. Tina, pass me the black
bag.
INT. AT THE LAKE NIGHT
Evan and Marco refill the carbide lamps and light them again
when finished.
INT. AT THE LAKE NIGHT
The bags are packed and the group is about to return.
MARCO
What if we check the wall on the
other side a little?
TINA
It is no use. Don't be so greedy
and leave some for the next time.
EVAN
It may be so, but why not. The
hall would have a mystery about it.
INT. ON THE SLOPE ABOVE THE LAKE NIGHT
Marco scans the opposite wall with a long torchlight.
MARY ANN
There is some opening far above.
EVAN
Might be a gallery entrance.
MARCO
I could try to climb there.
TINA
To break your neck.
EVAN
Marco, Tina is right.
It is dangerous.
MARCO
Just a little, to the first ledge?
I would use the rope for safety.
MARY ANN
Marco, how will we carry you out
if you hurt yourself?
INT. THE WALL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE NIGHT
Marco steps on Evan's hands and on his shoulders as he moves
along a fissure in the wall. Quite high already he makes a
sling on the rope and puts it around a rocky horn. When all
seems fine he makes a wrong step and falls down.
EVAN
Tina and Mary Ann, step away. He
might hurt you if he falls down.
INT. BELOW THE WALL NIGHT
Marco drops down from above and lands using a martial
arts-like fall technique to minimize impact. Yet he does not
move. Mary Ann is the first at his side. After a while Evan
flips him on the back, on an aluminum foil rescue blanket,
and Mary Ann starts to revive him.
EVAN
(measuring pulse
on the hand)
He is alive, but unconscious.
Anybody versed in first aid?
MARY ANN
I am. But ... Tina, would you try?
TINA
No, no, go ahead, Mary Ann. Just
be careful, he ate a lot of garlic!
INT. MARCO'S VISION NIGHT
The rocky horn with the rope sling as it fades away during
the fall. It morphs into a fractal animation showing
incoming black voids which end with a large red explosion
and a burnt white (animated fractal gif sequence).
INT. ON THE BEACH AT SEA DAY
Marco is taking a nap on a large towel, laid on the fine sand
of the beach, close to the shallow sea with faint waves. He
is lying on the stomach, head turned to the sea. Mary Ann is
sitting at the water line. She plays with a LITTLE GIRL,
they are making small sand heaps. After a while they come to
Marco.
MARY ANN
Look, look, my sweatheart. Daddy
fell asleep.
MARY ANN
Should we wake him up? The tide
is coming, it will wet him.
MARY ANN
(holding his hand)
Marco, Marco dear, wake up!
INT. BELOW THE WALL NIGHT
Mary Ann is successful. Marco opens up his eyes and looks
at Mary Ann, at him and around, evidently surprised.
MARY ANN
Marco, Marco dear, wake up!
MARCO
Oh my darling, oh my love.
TINA
Look at him! I knew, if that
'Marco, dear' would not wake him
up, nothing would.
EVAN
You are in a cave and you fell
from the ledge. How are you?
MARCO
(smiling)
Shaken, not stirred.
Mary Ann moves his legs, Evan removes his boots and they
are examining his feet.
MARY ANN
Can you move your legs?
Does this hurt?
MARCO
No, as long as you do it.
EVAN
The bones seem to be unbroken and
in place. But he is shattered.
MARCO
I am just fine.
TINA
Let us move, there is a long way
back.
INT. BELOW THE WALL NIGHT
Evan is trying to detach the rope from below but it sticks
to the rock horn.
TINA
We can leave the rope here.
EVAN
No, we need it for some emergency.
A piton on top and it will go off.
INT. TOP OF THE WALL NIGHT
Evan climbs to the rock horn with the rope, detaches it and
moves on to the entrance of the upper tunnel where he
hammers in a piton. He attaches the carabiner, from which the
rope is hanging, to the piton and throws the rope into the
abyss.
IVAN
Careful! The rope!
INT. BELOW THE WALL NIGHT
Marco is resting on a bag with another bag between his back
and the wall. Tina and Mary Ann look up at Evan, who throws
the rope down but, instead of descending, disappears into
the upper tunnel.
INT. TOP OF THE CRYSTAL HALL NIGHT
Evan pops up from behind a white wall onto a slope full of
flowstone decorations, stalagmites and stalactites. He
descends down the slope.
INT. AT THE CREEK, CRYSTAL HALL NIGHT
Evan arrives to an underground creek.
INT. BELOW THE WALL NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann at the rope, Marco at the wall.
TINA
It's quite some time since he left.
MARY ANN
Let us hope that he is OK.
TINA
No, no, he is very careful.
He probably found something.
INT. TOP OF THE WALL NIGHT
Evan is back at the tunnel entrance. He attaches himself to
the rope and rappels down. At his voice Marco jumps up.
EVAN
Hoho, girls!
INT. BELOW THE WALL NIGHT
Evan descends, detaches himself from the rope and they begin
discussing further options. Marco is the most eager to
continue exploration.
TINA
Evan, what's up?
EVAN
There is a creek on the other side!
MARCO
A creek! I did not climb in vain!
MARY ANN
Is it far?
EVAN
No, just down the flowstone slope.
TINA
Can we have a look at it?
EVAN
Actually we should not. Marco is
hurt and the way back is long.
MARCO
I have recovered and camping at the
creekside would not be a bad idea.
MARY ANN
Tina, do you agree?
TINA
Oh yes, so the happy couple could
have some water fun.
MARCO
Why not? Evan might have another,
more humid sleepwalking dream.
MARY ANN
Enough! Stop it, both of you!
INT. THE WALL NIGHT
Tina is ascending along the rope, with long, well-thought
moves.
INT. THE WALL NIGHT
Mary Ann is ascending along the rope, with short, vivid
strokes.
INT. TOP OF THE WALL NIGHT
Evan and Marco are pulling the bags upward.
INT. CRYSTAL HALL NIGHT
The group is moving between the concretions, they stop at
the stalagmite in the form of a cross.
MARY ANN
What a form. How could the
stalagmite grow that way?
TINA
After the basic stalagmite was made
the flowstone gradually closed the
fissure on the ceiling and ...
MARCO
... the dripping point moved away.
That's the basic idea.
EVAN
Anyhow, this is beauty above beauty,
a real Crystal hall.
INT. AT THE CREEK, CRYSTAL HALL NIGHT
The group of four arrives to the creekside. Evan measures
the water temperature, Marco takes some water in his palm
and he tastes it.
EVAN
Fourty-seven degrees Fahrenheit.
MARCO
Still cold, clear and, clean.
Tina unpacks the two boats and oars, Evan starts to inflate
the first one.
TINA
And now, Mary Ann, it will be some
boating for the girls, too.
MARY ANN
No offense, but how do we find the
way back?
EVAN
It is always easier than going in.
MARCO
As with horse-riding - you have to
force the mare away from the stable,
but she goes back by herself.
MARY ANN
I am not a mare and I have never
been in such a small boat.
MARCO
Of course you are not. I just feel
like one when we are going back.
TINA
About the boat, you just have to be
gentle and make no sudden moves.
MARY ANN
And who will go into which boat?
EVAN
One boat is slightly smaller, it
will be for you and Tina.
INT. AT THE CREEK, CRYSTAL HALL NIGHT
They pack the bags and themselves into the boats and depart,
boys in front, girls after them.
INT. ON THE LAKE NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann in the boat, rotating at first, but after
a while they find out how to row to move forward.
INT. END OF THE FIRST LAKE NIGHT
Evan and Marco land at the rocks where the lake ends. They
disembark and pull the boat ashore. Tina and Mary Ann
arrive.
MARCO
Be careful at landing, Tina. When
you step out of the boat, hold it
firmly until Mary Ann is out, too.
EVAN
Tina, let us have a look what is
on the other side of the collapse.
INT. COLLAPSE BETWEEN THE LAKES NIGHT
Ivan and Tina are climbing across the collapse. Ivan gives
Tina a hand.
TINA
Thank you.
INT. END OF THE FIRST LAKE NIGHT
Marco and Mary Ann are sitting on backpacks. Marco is deep
in his thoughts.
MARY ANN
Are you OK? What are you thinking
of?
MARCO
Thank you, I am fine. I just have
an impossible wish.
MARY ANN
What wish? Maybe it is not
impossible.
MARCO
I do not dare to tell it.
MARY ANN
I will not mind. Just say.
MARCO
I would like to be a little kid
and sit in your lap.
MARY ANN
What's impossible here?
MARCO
I am too big and heavy and it just
does not make sense.
MARY ANN
So you wish I would sit in your lap.
INT. THE SECOND LAKE NIGHT
Tina and Evan on the shore of the second lake. They step
into the water.
EVAN
It is shallow. We could walk here.
They walk along the bank of the lake in ankle-deep water.
TINA
And here is another lake.
INT. END OF THE FIRST LAKE NIGHT
Mary Ann is sitting in Marco's lap. They look at each other.
Marco closed his eyes and is approaching Mary Ann's face, he
is about to kiss her.
MARY ANN
What if someone would see us?
MARCO
This can be fixed in no time.
Marco dismounts his helmet, blows the flame off, turns off
the light on Mary Ann's helmet. A kiss is heard.
INT. END OF THE FIRST LAKE NIGHT
Evan and Tina return to Mary Ann and Marco who pretend that
they are fixing the cords on cloth boat covers.
MARY ANN
Nice to have you back.
MARCO
How does it look?
TINA
There is another lake with a
pretty flowstone bottom.
INT. THE SECOND LAKE NIGHT
Evan and Marco, Tina and Mary Ann bring the boats over the
collapse to the lake. They continue over the shallows to
embark in deeper water. The boats disappear downstream.
INT. THE LAKE WITH A PILLAR NIGHT
Both boats navigate to the left and right of the flowstone
pillar in the middle of the stream.
INT. LOW PASSAGE NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann arrive to the part of the riverbed where
the ceiling of the tunnel descends low towards the water.
Evan and Marco follow.
MARY ANN
Should we try first?
We are smaller.
EVAN
OK, but be careful. Go back if
the current will get stronger.
MARCO
Here, hold the cord so that we can
pull you back if necessary.
TINA
Yes, I've got it.
INT. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PASSAGE NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina move slowly and arrive to the point where
the ceiling gets high again.
TINA
(shouting)
We are thru! Pull the cord back!
INT. THE SHORE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PASSAGE NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina at the boat on the shore, Evan and Marco
arrive, disembark and pull the boat out of the water.
MARY ANN
There is a cascade in front.
Come and have a look.
INT. THE CASCADE AT THE CONFLUENCE NIGHT
Tina, Mary Ann, Evan and Marco pop up between the
stalagmites at the place where the creek flows into a larger
lake. Marco drops the boat onto the water with a loud bang.
EVAN
Nice place, a real water temple.
MARCO
And the nymphs ...
MARY ANN
(stretching her
arms)
... would be dancing, if the space
was not so narrow.
TINA
Push him a little and we will also
have a wet olm shepherd.
EVAN
It looks like this creek is a
tributary of a bigger one.
MARCO
Check if it collects the water
from the same basin.
EVAN
Yes, I have to go a bit upstream.
TINA
How much is it?
EVAN
47 degrees Fahrenheit again.
INT. AT THE CONFLUENCE NIGHT
Evan, Marco, Mary Ann and Tina pack into the boats and
depart.
INT. AT THE ICE CREAM CONE CONCRETION NIGHT
The girls row in the bay to the right of a large ice cream
cone-shaped stalagmite and circumnavigate it on the left.
INT. THE ISLAND NIGHT
Evan and Marco row by the island and stop behind it. They
blow the headlights off and watch the light of the incoming
girls, reflected in the water.
INT. THE ISLAND NIGHT
The girls arrive and the boys join them at a large side
opening.
TINA
A large gallery. Do we explore it?
MARCO
Probably not. The stream runs here.
EVAN
It may be useful if we hit a sump
downstream.
MARY ANN
It would also be a good campsite,
with a view above the water.
INT. THE MUSHROOM NIGHT
The two boats flow by from around the bend and illuminate
a large mushroom-like flowstone dome. Marco taps on it
gently to see if it is hollow.
EVAN
The tunnel is getting smaller.
TINA
It really looks like a bypass.
MARCO
The stream must have used the other
gallery before carving out this one.
MARY ANN
It seems to be a little hollow.
INT. THE SECOND ISLAND NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann try to land with the boat at the narrow
island with two large stalagmites.
MARY ANN
Lovely little island. Like a ship.
EVAN
Careful, the rock is sharp, it
could puncture the boat.
TINA
It is sharp, but it is really
handsome.
MARCO
I wonder what awaits us downstream.
TINA
Why are you so eager to push on?
MARCO
The cave is handsome, she gave me
my life back, you have beautiful
eyes, how could I wish to return?
TINA
(sprinkling him
with water)
Beautiful eyes, ay? You, you,
lousy flatterer.
INT. BEFORE THE SECOND CASCADE NIGHT
Evan and Marco land at the small dam between the two lakes.
They disembark and pull the boat ashore. Tina and Mary Ann
arrive.
TINA
Another cascade?
MARCO
Yes, and watch your step. The
flowstone floor is very fragile.
EVAN
Tina, can you check the direction
once again?
TINA
Yes, why not ...
Compass needle, scarcely moving.
TINA
320 degrees.
EVAN
Northwest. Steady, steady.
INT. AT THE SECOND CASCADE NIGHT
Evan brings the larger boat and puts it onto the water with
a bang, followed by Marco with the smaller boat. Tina and
Mary Ann follow with the bags. They embark and depart.
INT. AT THE PILLARS NIGHT
The party arrives to the lake with a group of flowstone
pillars growing from the water at the left side.
MARY ANN
How did they grow out of the water?
TINA
Probably they started to grow when
the water level was lower.
MARY ANN
They remind me of piers in a harbor.
EVAN
Pillars like in Venice.
MARCO
Venetian harbor, what do you say?
INT. AT THE LOW STRAIT NIGHT
The ceiling of the tunnel lowers considerably. The two boats
appear from around the bend and land on a clay shore.
EVAN
It seems that the stream ends here.
TINA
This could really be a sump.
MARY ANN
Above here is the old riverbed.
MARCO
Go, go, let us have a look at it!
INT. ABOVE THE LARGE LAKE NIGHT
The party arrives to a ledge above a large lake.
TINA
The show must go on.
MARY ANN
And what a show.
EVAN
Nothing to be done, let us fetch
the boats again.
INT. ROCKY SHORE OF THE LARGE LAKE NIGHT
The boats are put into the water, embarked and floated
across the lake. Mary Ann and Tina go forward, Evan and
Marco paddle into the side channel.
EVAN
We shall explore the side tunnel
and you two go down the lake.
MARY ANN
Be careful and see you soon!
MARCO
You too, and don't go too far.
TINA
Bye, bye, bye.
INT. THE STRAIT BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE SIDE TUNNEL NIGHT
Evan and Marco disembark at the strait, pull the boat over
to the side lake, embark again and proceed into the tunnel.
INT. THE LARGE LAKE NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina paddle on the lake.
INT. THE BEND OF THE TUNNEL NIGHT
Evan and Marco disembark at the bend, pull the boat ashore
and continue upwards into the dry tunnel.
INT. THE LARGE LAKE NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina stop in the middle of the lake and watch
the two opposite shores. Light appears on top of the left
side slope. After a while Evan and Marco pop up on top and
wave at the girls.
TINA
Do you see what I see?
MARY ANN
Light in the tunnel above the
shore. Who could it be?
TINA
Maybe we have reached the lower
cave and this could be Logachani.
MARY ANN
Who is Logachani?
TINA
The gang from Logatec caving club.
They always discover what others
cannot.
MARCO
Hohohoy!
INT. TOP OF THE DRY TUNNEL NIGHT
Marco and Evan look down at the lake with the boat of Tina
and Mary Ann. They run to the shore.
INT. SHORE OF THE LARGE LAKE NIGHT
Mary Ann and Tina paddle to the shore, where Marco and Evan
are waiting for them. They help the girls to land.
TINA
How did you come over so quickly?
EVAN
(showing the
tunnel)
The side lake is quite short, it
ends with this tunnel.
MARY ANN
We thought you were Logachani.
MARCO
Nice guys but still not us.
INT. THE STRAIT BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE SIDE TUNNEL NIGHT
Marco and Evan paddle to the strait, transfer the boat over
and continue downstream the large lake.
INT. THE END OF THE LAKE NIGHT
The two boats hit the end of the lake, where the creek
continues with a shallow stream. They disembark, move the
boats ashore and continue on foot.
MARCO
The lake ends, the cave doesn't.
TINA
Do we continue on foot?
EVAN
Yes, we shall leave the gear here.
MARY ANN
There is a faint sound of rapids.
TINA
At least they are not far.
INT. AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SINK NIGHT
Over a series of slight yellow-brown flowstone steps they
arrive to the bend, where the stream turns right into a
narrow passage.
MARY ANN
It looks narrow.
MARCO
It sure does. Maybe it is possible
to negotiate a passage above water.
TINA
Just don't fall again. The water
is cold.
EVAN
OK. I will go with you.
INT. THE SINK NIGHT
Marco is climbing on the smoothly carved out dark rocks
above the water, Evan is behind him.
INT. THE END OF THE SINK NIGHT
Marco reached the final chamber. After examining the two
side chambers he decides to return.
EVAN
How does it look?
MARCO
There are two small side chambers,
but too narrow to proceed.
EVAN
Impressive walls and floor.
MARCO
Yes. If I were filthy rich, I
would have a bathroom like this.
INT. ENTRANCE OF THE TUNNEL ABOVE THE SINK NIGHT
Tina and Mary Ann depart to the upper tunnel which leads away
from the sink, in the direction of the stream riverbed.
INT. THE BEND OF THE TUNNEL NIGHT
On the flowstone slope a new, large and long gallery with a
small lake opens up before the girls.
MARY ANN
This looks like the old path
of the water.
TINA
Yes, before it carved out a new
one where Evan and Marco went.
MARY ANN
And there is another gallery
here on top.
INT. AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SINK NIGHT
Evan and Marco return. As the girls are not there they
decide to follow them but stop as they hear them coming and
see the lights. Mary Ann and Tina come from the tunnel.
TINA
The cave continues over here.
MARY ANN
It is a dry tunnel, like an old
riverbed.
MARCO
So, let us pack the boats and
fetch the bags.
EVAN
We have come far enough, it would
be a good time to return.
MARY ANN
Marco, Evan is right. There is
a long way back.
TINA
To peek just a little bit forward?
EVAN
A little bit? Without the bags?
MARCO
I will pack the boats and I will
cook the supper.
EVAN
Stubborn you are, but OK under
two conditions.
TINA
Which are?
EVAN
That we return if we hit the river
again, and that Mary Ann agrees.
MARCO
Mary Ann, please ...
MARY ANN
(hesitating)
It's a deal.
INT. THE OLD RIVERBED TUNNEL NIGHT
Tina, Evan, Mary Ann and Marco proceed down the tunnel to
the place with a side spring. They follow the water to a
small waterfall which drops into a sump. Evan descends and
returns.
MARCO
The sump?
EVAN
Yes. The passage ends here.
TINA
True. But the cave forks at the
beginning of this tunnel.
MARY ANN
And the upper passage is left
to be explored.
INT. THE BEND OF THE TUNNEL NIGHT
The party returns. They mount the flowstone slope.
INT. THE HALL ABOVE THE RAVINE NIGHT
Evan comes to the edge of a deep pit and tells the others
not to go too close.
EVAN
Careful! It is very deep here.
MARCO
It could be an access to the river.
TINA
Yes, but it is so quiet down there.
INT. THE HALL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAVINE NIGHT
The lights are seen high above ground in the dark.
INT. THE HALL ABOVE THE RAVINE NIGHT
Marco and Mary Ann are standing on the edge of the precipice.
MARY ANN
Here, a stone.
MARCO
Throw it yourself, just be careful
not to lose balance.
Mary Ann throws the stone in the void.
INT. THE HALL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAVINE NIGHT
A stone falls from above, rolls on the floor and into the
water with a loud splash.
INT. THE HALL ABOVE THE RAVINE NIGHT
Discussion continues.
TINA
It did fall into the water.
EVAN
And no rope to go down.
MARCO
This gallery continues. Maybe
there is another passage down.
INT. AT THE LITTLE LAKE NIGHT
The tunnel gets narrower but very high. They cross the side
of a little lake with flowstone banks.
INT. OVERHANGING STALAGMITES NIGHT
The path leads over a pit, once filled with clay on which
stalagmites grew. Later a stream of water removed the clay
and the concretions remained partly hanging in the air.
TINA
They look so fragile.
EVAN
Indeed. Don't touch them. It
could all fall down.
MARY ANN
How will we climb across?
MARCO
I will help you.
INT. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PIT NIGHT
Evan is standing on top, Marco passes him the bags. They
also help Tina and Mary Ann to climb on top.
INT. THE TUNNEL ABOVE THE RIVER NIGHT
The party arrives to a place where the tunnel opens up below
the ceiling of a very large and deep gallery.
MARCO
Hohohohoy!
TINA
What a hall!
MARY ANN
And what a thunder!
EVAN
It can only be a river.
MARY ANN
Look at the patterns.
TINA
They look like man-made, don't they?
MARCO
Hieroglyphs. They are earth
deposits from a nearly still water.
INT. TOP OF THE SLOPE TO THE RIVER NIGHT
Evan, Marco, Tina and Mary Ann are carefully approaching the
edge of a ravine that leads down to the river.
TINA
It looks very steep. Is there any
rope left?
EVAN
No, just the cord for the boat.
MARCO
If we look up close maybe something
can be done.
EVAN
It will be safer if I go.
MARY ANN
Be careful, Evan.
TINA
We will not be able to help you
from above.
INT. THE SLOPE TO THE RIVER NIGHT
Evan is slowly negotiating his way down the muddy rock. He
tries to climb in the fissure but finds better grips to the
left of it.
EVAN
I am down! Pass me the bags!
Marco is passing him the bags, they are attached to the cord.
INT. RIVERBANK NIGHT
The party arrives to the riverbed, full of black boulders.
Between them a large stream with rapids is flowing.
MARCO
This is not the creek that we left
at the sump.
EVAN
Definitely not. This is much, much
bigger. This is a real river.
MARY ANN
Why are the rocks so black?
EVAN
They are covered with manganese
dioxide.
MARCO
Black is black,
I want my baby back.
TINA
Mary Ann, where are you?
He wants you back.
INT. RIVERBANK ABOVE THE WATERFALL NIGHT
They advance downstream and arrive to a big waterfall.
INT. RIVERBANK AT THE WATERFALL NIGHT
Evan and Marco stop briefly just above the waterfall, Tina
and Mary Ann are behind them. Marco descends along the
fissure on the bank, the others follow.
INT. BELOW THE WATERFALL NIGHT
They arrive to the bank where further advance along the
shore is no longer possible.
EVAN
Something is wrong.
TINA
What, Evan, could possibly be wrong?
EVAN
The river is too big.
MARCO
A lot bigger than the creek below
the Little Natural Bridge.
Evan is measuring the temperature.
EVAN
And it is 54 degrees Fahrenheit.
MARY ANN
You mean we are not in the cave
where we were supposed to exit.
EVAN
Definitely not. Tina, can you check
the direction of the stream?
TINA
It is 320 degrees, northwest.
MARCO
(looking at the
compass)
You bet something is wrong with
this compass.
EVAN
Give it here, I shall have a look.
Evan is looking at the compass and is tapping on it.
EVAN
It got stuck. Tina, where did you
keep it?
TINA
In the shafts it was in the bag,
later I have moved it to my inner
pocket.
MARCO
The boat survived the fall, the
needle of the compass got stuck.
Evan has got the compass moving properly again.
EVAN
It is in order again ... it shows
184 degrees, straight to the south.
TINA
So we were travelling the opposite
way.
MARY ANN
South, not north.
MARCO
Straight to the Dalmatian coast.
MARY ANN
... which is submerged by 150
feet, with underwater caves.
INT. THE RIVER NIGHT
View from the other side of the river, across the waterfall
and to the four lights below the rocky wall.
INT. BELOW THE WATERFALL NIGHT
Discussion continues.
MARCO
Every stick has two ends, the good
one and the bad one. Which is the
good one here?
EVAN
That we may finally head back to
the top.
MARY ANN
That we have discovered the most
beautiful cave.
TINA
Every cave has a charm of its own,
but this one is really special.
MARCO
And it's dinnertime! Let us find
a suitable beach.
TINA
You and your earthly delights.
But this time I am hungry alright.
INT. BELOW THE WATERFALL NIGHT
Evan and Marco inflate the boats and the party departs down
the lake.
INT. ON THE LAKE NIGHT
The two boats navigate around the bend, away from the
waterfall and towards more calm waters. They arrive to a
small beach. Evan and Marco land there, Tina and Mary Ann
are approaching.
MARCO
Would this beach suit you?
TINA
It's nice, but still too much noise
from the waterfall.
EVAN
OK, Marco, what do you say?
MARCO
Let Mary Ann decide.
MARY ANN
Yes, Tina is right, we can't really
hear each other here.
INT. IN THE NARROW BAY NIGHT
They move on into a calmer narrow channel, where the banks
are almost vertical.
MARCO
Something else is wrong, Evan.
TINA
Don't say your boat leaks.
MARCO
No, not much. But do you feel
the warmth?
MARY ANN
Yes, the more away from the cascade
we are the warmer it gets.
EVAN
(checking the
temperature)
It is 63 degrees now.
TINA
Let us find the warmest place.
INT. ALONG THE SANDY SHORE NIGHT
The boats pass a lake with a sandy beach.
INT. THE ROCKY CHANNEL NIGHT
The boats are in a narrow channel, they stop at the side.
EVAN
Here it is 68 degrees.
TINA
Nice, let us move on.
INT. THE ROUND HALL NIGHT
They arrive into a round hall with vertical walls. On the
left side there is a rocky outcrop.
MARCO
Taste the water.
TINA
It is salty.
EVAN
And 73 degrees Fahrenheit.
MARCO
Obviously this is a blind alley,
the stream would be much cooler.
MARY ANN
But we have reached the sea.
TINA
What a pity the coast is
submerged by so much.
MARCO
Let us check the walls.
INT. THE ROUND HALL NIGHT
Evan paddles slowly along the rim of the hall, while Marco
is checking the lake banks with an underwater torch.
INT. THE ROUND HALL NIGHT
Evan and Marco arrive to a rocky outcrop. Tina and Mary Ann
have tied their boat to the rock and are sitting on a ledge.
TINA
How does it look?
EVAN
Bleak. The walls are going
straight down. In places the
bottom is visible.
MARCO
Could we set the tent up there?
MARY ANN
It would be difficult, the place
is scarce, and it is too rugged.
EVAN
OK. There are better places
upstream.
MARCO
Before we return, I would like to
make one last check, under water.
TINA
Marco, you nearly killed yourself
once, don't try your luck too often.
MARY ANN
Do you promise not to go too deep?
MARCO
I do.
INT. ROCKY OUTCROP NIGHT
Marco takes his clothes off and plunges into the water.
MARCO
Don't stare at me. Look elsewhere.
TINA
How could we. We don't have a
Chippendale in a cave every day.
INT. THE ROUND HALL NIGHT
Marco is swimming around the rim of the hall looking down
with an underwater torch. He takes a dive, but his light is
still visible.
INT. THE ROUND HALL NIGHT
Marco reappears on the surface and steps on a natural bridge
in the middle of the lake. He takes a deep breath and makes
another dive. This time his light disappears.
TINA
This guy is really crazy. Evan,
how could you let him go.
MARY ANN
(praying)
Saint Barbara and Saint Neptune,
please bring him back.
EVAN
He is not stupid. He will be back.
INT. THE ROUND HALL NIGHT
Marco reappears on the surface, breathing deeply and swims
to the rocky outcrop. He climbs out of the water.
MARCO
Nice bottom. There is a natural
bridge below and a lot of black fish.
TINA
Forget about the fish. Is there
a passage?
MARCO
Yes. With scuba gear it would
be a piece of cake to get thru.
EVAN
Well done, Marco. Next time we
shall bring the heavy hardware.
MARY ANN
(rubbing him with
a small tablecloth)
You are shivering. Dress yourself.
INT. THE ROUND HALL NIGHT
The two boats depart.
MARY ANN
So long, deep sea.
TINA
Bye, bye.
INT. THE BEACH NIGHT
Evan and Marco land and help Tina and Mary Ann get out of
the water. They set the tent up and prepare the sleeping bags.
INT. THE BEACH NIGHT
The party at dinner. Evan and Marco, Tina and Mary Ann are
eating vegetable soup with bread from two aluminum dishes.
TINA
Not such a feast as you two have
made, but the best we could muster.
MARCO
Not bad, Mary Ann obviously added
taste to your experience.
MARY ANN
Don't tease her, Marco.
EVAN
All I can say - it is edible.
INT. IN THE TENT NIGHT
They move into the sleeping bags, stretched on sleeping pads.
Evan is on the left side, next to Tina, followed by Marko and
Mary Ann at the end.
EVAN
Good night everybody.
MARCO
Treeleelee, treeleelee, good night
and sleep well.
TINA
Good night, Evan and sweet dreams,
you two little pigeons.
MARY ANN
(giggling)
Good night.
INT. IN THE TENT NIGHT
It is time to wake up. Evan, already seated, turns his LED
torch on, but turns it into the wall of the tent to make the
light softer. Tina lifts her head. They whisper.
TINA
Is it morning already?
EVAN
I can not sleep anymore, so it is
very likely day.
TINA
It's been a hard day's night.
Do you feel every bone as I do?
... Pass me the torch.
EVAN
I am fine. Here it is.
TINA
(illuminating
the pile
beside her)
Look, look, what we have here.
I would bet there were two
sleeping bags last night.
EVAN
They still are, only one is empty.
INT. THE BEACH NIGHT
They seat on the sides of the boat tubes, sip tea and eat
biscuits.
TINA
It will be a long ride, and
upstream.
MARY ANN
There were no strong currents,
it should not be too hard.
EVAN
You shall see, Tina, going back
is always easier, we know the way.
TINA
I am not stupid. It will go fast
alright, until we hit the shafts.
MARCO
Yes, yes, shafts are slow upwards.
Can we ride down to the sea again?
TINA
Save your breath for return.
I am not going.
EVAN
I agree with Tina. It is of no use.
MARCO
Mary Ann, come with me ...
MARY ANN
OK. We shall be back soon.
INT. PASSAGE TO THE ROUND HALL DAY
Marco and Mary Ann paddle from the passage into the hall,
straight into the light, shining from the bottom of the lake.
INT. ROUND HALL DAY
They stop at the rocky outcrop.
MARY ANN
(hugs Marco)
Marco, how did you know?
MARCO
I was not sure. I dived below the
wall and I saw light above me, on
the surface.
MARY ANN
What was it?
MARCO
I thought it was the glowing
plankton but now I guess it was
the moon.
MARY ANN
Will you try to get thru now?
MARCO
Yes, it is not deep. Come with me.
INT. ROCKY OUTCROP DAY
Marco and Mary Ann tie the boat to the rocky outcrop, climb
on it and leave their clothes there. They plunge into the
water.
INT. ROUND HALL DAY
Marco and Mary Ann swim on the surface before diving.
MARCO
Are you able to look under water?
MARY ANN
I have never tried.
MARCO
Do it, if you can. If not,
just swim and I will direct you.
INT. BELOW THE WALL DAY
Marco and Mary Ann dive in. They swim under water through
the passage and up to the surface.
EXT. CAVE OPENING AT SEA DAY
Mary Ann and Marco pop out of the water, into a sunny day,
below a mighty stone arch of a coast cavern.
MARCO
Yoohoo!
MARY ANN
What a lovely day!
EXT. THE SEA DAY
A view of the sea with an open, empty horizon.
EXT. THE SEA DAY
Seagull in flight.
EXT. ROCKY PIER AT SEA DAY
Mary Ann and Marco are in the water, close to a rocky pier on
the other side of the opening.
MARCO
Mary Ann, will you marry me?
MARY ANN
Well, it is all so fast. Aren't
you just overtaken by the moment?
By us as we are?
MARCO
No, no, I am dead serious. And
I had a vision when I fell.
MARY ANN
What vision?
MARCO
Of you, of me and of a little girl.
MARY ANN
We had a little girl?
MARCO
Yes, and she was as cute as you are.
MARY ANN
(hugs him and
gives him a kiss)
Close your eyes.
INT. THE BEACH NIGHT
Evan and Tina are waiting for Marco and Mary Ann.
TINA
It is quite some time since they
left. What if they are in trouble?
EVAN
I don't think so. But let us check.
EXT. ROCKY PIER AT SEA DAY
Marco is swimming to Mary Ann with a cord in his hand.
MARCO
The cord is fixed in the cave. Tie
it to the rock and I will bring the
bags over.
MARY ANN
OK, but I am going with you. I don't
want to stay here alone, like this.
INT. ROUND HALL DAY
Marco is passing Mary Ann the two bags, wrapped in green
plastic garbage bags, sealed with a small cord on top. Oars
are tied to the second bag. Mary Ann attaches the bags to
the cord by carabiners. Marco joins her in the water.
MARY ANN
Why are they so heavy?
MARCO
I have added some rocks so that
they will not escape up.
INT. BELOW THE WALL DAY
Marco and Mary Ann are pulling the two bags along the cord
to the other, sea side.
EXT. ROCKY PIER AT SEA DAY
Marco climbs out of the water, Mary Ann passes him the two
bags.
MARCO
Now you can dress yourself.
I am going to fetch Evan and Tina.
MARY ANN
Take care. I don't want to lose
you now.
INT. PASSAGE TO THE ROUND HALL DAY
Evan and Tina paddle from the passage into the hall, full of
silver light, just as Marco pops out of the water.
TINA
What a light!
MARCO
Welcome at sea.
TINA
Where is Mary Ann?
MARCO
On the other side.
EVAN
And the ropeway? For safety and
for the bags?
MARCO
Yes, it works fine, you just have
to add some rocks in the bags.
TINA
Is it a long way to swim?
MARCO
No, just thirty feet or so.
EVAN
OK. Let us pack the boat.
EXT. THE SEA DAY
Mary Ann is sitting on the rocky pier, in a white T-shirt.
Marco, in white boxer shorts, is standing just above the
water. Tina pops out of the water, followed by Evan. They
swim to the pier.
MARY ANN
Hi, Tina.
TINA
Hi, my cousin. Nice to see you
again.
EVAN
The bags are attached to the
end of the cord.
MARCO
OK. I will pull them out.
EXT. THE SEA DAY
Marco and Mary Ann are in one boat, Evan and Tina in the
other. They are about to depart.
TINA
Marco, you get a kiss. I never
believed it would be a one way ride.
EVAN
He probably got one already, from
Mary Ann.
MARY ANN
And if he did. It was well
deserved.
MARCO
Evan, thank you for the invitation.
I enjoyed every bit of the trip.
TINA
Lucky you, you have found each
other, you two little pigeons.
EXT. THE SEA DAY
The two boats depart and slowly disappear on the horizon.
EXT. MEADOW DAY
Mary Ann, Eva and Lanco beside her, Marco is lying on a
blanket watching them.
LANCO
And what happened next?
MARY ANN
(hugging the kids)
What happened next? Nothing
spectacular, just the lovely
two of you.
Aerial view of the meadow, the forest and the hilly
landscape.
FADE OUT:
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