_ACT ONE_ FADE IN EXTERIOR JUNGLE - DAY Forbidding. A rank vapor clings above the brackish black water of a mangrove swamp. First we hear the labored, slow breathing and splashing of three men, then they plunge at us out of the mists. The shouts of natives goad them back into flight. ON MEN - FOLLOWING CLOSE They are heavily bearded, dressed in tattered prison clothes. Mud, filth and gleaming perspiration almost obscure the fact that they are white. One of the three, a young Englishman, seems to be their leader. ENGLISHMAN (pointing) That way! (clumsy French) Allou y! Allou y! He pushes the others toward some thick foliage. Camera adjusts to discover the faces of: ANGLE TO NATIVE MANHUNTERS A trio of powerful, vicious-looking native men lurking in the shadows. Their arms and necks are wrapped with spiral bands of shark teeth. They carry small, stone-weighted nets and bamboo hunting spears. ON PRISONERS The prisoners are desperately wading through waist-high water, stumbling on debris below the surface, slipping, helping each other, one prisoner lagging behind the other two. Like a single huge umbrella, the natives sail several nets as one. The lagging prisoner is helpless to avoid a net from covering him. He screams and loses his balance, going under as other nets tangle around him. The remaining two men crash into the jungle after only a quick look back at their fallen comrade. ANOTHER ANGLE A small squad of prison guards emerges from the bush on the far shore; hard men wearing soiled uniforms reminiscent of the French Foreign Legion. The natives drop the drowned prisoner's body in front of the guards, bundled in the nets like a chrysalis. One of the guards uses the tip of his boot to roll over the corpse, water and mud streaming from it. GUARD (disgusted) Mort. EXTERIOR JUNGLE - DAY - PRISONERS At a fork in the trail one prisoner veers left. ENGLISHMAN Dupree! No! With a hideous wail Dupree suddenly falls through the ground into a Burmese mantrap. ENGLISHMAN Dupree! Are you all right? Etes-vous bien? At sounds of pursuit he takes the right trail. HIGH ANGLE ON MANHUNTERS - INTO PIT They gather around the pit. Dupree's body is motionless, draped over an array of sharpened bamboo. The guards appear, taking quick looks into the pit. One guard raises his eyebrows ruefully at another and winces. Not a nice way to go. LOW ANGLE - THE ENGLISHMAN gasping for breath, trying to hide in a hollow in the ground. Boots of the guards and bare feet of the natives pass him less than three feet away. He rolls out of the hollow ready to run. Out of nowhere, one of the manhunters' hooked spears catches him in the arm. He spins away only to be grabbed by another spear, then another. NEW ANGLE The French guards have returned. They watch the hapless Englishman for a few beats, neither enjoying the spectacle or very sympathetic. One guard steps forward with a set of chains connecting four iron manacles. GUARD Halte! The Englishman slumps to his knees, braced for the coup de gras. The guard seems genuinely puzzled. GUARD (slight French accent) Why do you run so hard when you have nowhere to run? CUT TO EXTERIOR SKY - DAY - THE GOOSE drifting past us toward a small island sitting on the horizon. JAKE'S VOICE OVER A pilot's supposed to have what people call a "bird's eye view."..on top of everything, a look at what's really going on.... INTERIOR COCKPIT - ACROSS JAKE TO CORKY It's not the most carefree scene. Jake is chewing on a cold cigar butt, eyes fixed ahead. Corky is doing some dead reckoning navigation on a well-traveled chart, glancing nervously ahead of the plane. JAKE'S VOICE OVER Don't you believe it. From a few thousand feet in the sky, everything has a tendency to clean up real good. That island, down there, for example. INTERCUT - EXTERIOR ISLAND - DAY - THEIR POINT OF VIEW It shines like an emerald against the indigo water, topped by thunderheads hugging its peaks. CORKY (a quaver) There she is, Jake...Death Island. JAKE I asked you not to call it that. Call it Lagoda Island like it says on the map. Lagoda Island sounds like a place you wouldn't mind visiting, right, Jack? From his spot between the seats Jack barks once. CORKY See. JAKE Corky! CORKY Yeah, Jake.... JAKE Take over for a minute. Jake lets Corky get the feel of the plane, then releases the yoke and unbuckles himself from his seat. Corky is totally absorbed in holding the plane level. INTERIOR GOOSE'S CABIN - DAY Jake steps over Jack to enter the cabin from the cockpit and kneels beside a lone passenger. This is Arthur Fromby, a member of the British working class with a Cockney accent and a Beefeater's complexion. He is a sweet but uncertain man, pushing his courage to the limit on this adventure, a face betrayed by a nervous tic. Fromby and his tropical suit are both wilted from hours in the steamy cabin. He keeps mopping his forehead with a handkerchief. Jake points out the window. JAKE That's Lagoda off our starboard wing. Fromby takes a look out the window. FROMBY Not quite what I pictured...actually rather beautiful from up here. JAKE I was just saying the same thing. (beat) Louie radioed ahead, but they didn't answer. FROMBY (worried) Why wouldn't they answer? JAKE Their transmitter's probably out. Fromby nods, trying to act more reassured than he is. JAKE Don't worry. I'm sure everything will be just fine. Jack barks once for "no" and heads for his secure spot on the life vest and parachute, having to nearly leap over Jake to get there. Jake ignores this and heads for the cockpit. EXTERIOR THE GOOSE - BAY - DAY as it skims in to touch down on the calm waters of a small island bay...a typical, peaceful end to a long trip. ANGLE PAST BEACH TO GOOSE as it taxis toward the improved beach which serves as a landing for the island. A few launches are hauled onto the sand. Camera pans to discover Rouget, the sergeant in charge, a giant lantern-jawed man, standing with his hands on his hips as he watches the Goose taxi towards the shore. His guards pull a canvas cover off a tripod-mounted Vickers .303 machine gun and charge the chamber, tracking the Goose. Beside them is a large billboard-type sign in French, English and several other languages, black letters on a screaming yellow background: "Warning! Lagoda Prison Colony. Unannounced intruders will be fired upon." INTERIOR GOOSE'S COCKPIT - DAY Jake and Corky miss none of this as they taxi closer. CORKY They're...they're gonna fire that thing, Jake! JAKE No, they're not. CORKY Oh, yes they are. Rouget nods to the guards and they fire a burst across the nose of the plane. Jake slaps the throttles, slowing the Goose and spinning it sideways. ACROSS ROUGET - TO THE GOOSE as Jake shuts down the engines. The resulting quiet lets us hear the common sounds of jungle life punctuated by the distant orders of guards, heavy hammers on stone, and even the crack of a lash. Jake sticks his head out the cockpit window. ROUGET (slight French accent) This is a penal colony. No one can land here. JAKE I'm carrying Arthur Fromby. His son is a prisoner here and he has permission to visit him. ROUGET Impossible. Fromby sticks his head out the rear hatch. JAKE You're not listening to me, I said.... ROUGET (cuts him off) Landing in our lagoon is landing inside the walls of our prison. In here, you listen to me. No visitors! Now go! JAKE The Magistrate de Justice on Boragora tried to radio you, but I guess your shortwave is out. Mr. Fromby here has permission.... Fromby is fumbling open a zippered leather valise, producing some papers. He waves them, a supplicant. FROMBY (finishes) ...from the Directeur des Prisons...in Paris...Special permission. Please...show them to your Commandant. JAKE I'm sure he wouldn't want to offend the Directeur des Prisons or the Magistrate de Justice. CLOSE ON ROUGET We're not sure if he's going to let them ashore, or open fire. CUT TO EXTERIOR PRISON COMPOUND - DAY The handful of prisoners in sight squat in the shade of their shelters. An old man is wandering around snatching at imaginary flies in the air. One of the guards grins and makes the gesture for crazy. Suddenly the prisoner lunges at Jack, but is caught by a guard and thrown on the ground. Jack takes a few wary steps backward, growling. ROUGET (laughing) Pogo is thinking about a dog stew for dinner. CORKY Pretend you didn't hear that, Jack. Jack barks once for "no" as they arrive at the Commandant's quarters. A square, one-story whitewashed structure with a small porch. Rouget pounds on the heavy door. VOICE (from within) Entrer. Jake motions to Corky to keep Jack outside on the porch. INTERIOR COMMANDANT'S OFFICE - DAY - COLONEL VILLIER buttoning his tunic as Jake and the party march in. Villier is a lean, hard-featured man with flashing teeth. He has a habit of looking at you without focusing his eyes, making him seem distant. The office is spartan with a few incongruous touches: a campaign table with ornate crystal decanters...a leather arm chair where Villier was seated a moment before. His speech is practically without accent. ROUGET (re Fromby) He has a letter of permission to see his son. Fromby takes a nervous step forward, his speech prepared. FROMBY Colonel Villier...My name is Arthur Fromby. I've traveled here from England because I --- Villier snatches the papers out of Fromby's hand, silencing him as sharply as the slamming of a door. Villier begins to pace, leafing through the documents. Jake gives Fromby an encouraging nod. VILLIER You've traveled for nothing. I can't let you see your son. Villier thrusts the papers back at Fromby, who has been seemingly immobilized by Villier's words. JAKE Colonel, what's the problem? The man's got every signature and seal on there you could want. He's even got a letter from the magistrate on Boragora. VILLIER He has no authority here. JAKE That'll be news to him. Louie told me you'd roll out the red carpet. VILLIER France is a republic, monsieur. Our last bolt of red carpet led to the guillotine. ON FROMBY He has regained his wits, making an emotional plea. FROMBY Colonel, my son was arrested, tried and incarcerated in your prison before he could get word out to me or anybody who could help him. Show some mercy. Let me see him. VILLIER Your son is a murderer. FROMBY He wrote me it was justifiable homicide. JAKE What difference does it make? Mr. Fromby has permission to see his son. VILLIER Ordinarily it would make no difference, but Mr. Fromby's son led an escape attempt two weeks ago. Fromby reacts. VILLIER I'm sorry. He's being punished. FROMBY For the love of God, man. He's my son! Jake puts a comforting hand on Fromby's arm. JAKE The Colonel isn't gonna knuckle under out of compassion, Mr. Fromby. We'll get Louie and return with him. Villier and Rouget exchange looks. VILLIER It would seem you exert great influence on the Magistrate de Justice. JAKE We're -- acquainted. Villier takes a few beats to consider. VILLIER I repeat...the Magistrate has no power here. However, contrary to your statement I do have compassion. (to Rouget) Show him his son. FROMBY Thank you, Colonel. Thank you. EXTERIOR VILLIER'S QUARTERS - DAY Blinking in the glare, Jake and Fromby emerge, led by Rouget who strides off screen toward the compound. Corky and Jack stand where they were seated on the steps. ROUGET Wait here. CORKY What's happening, Jake? JAKE Mr. Fromby's going to get to see his son. CORKY That's great! (beat) Then can we go? JAKE (smiles) Yeah, Corky. Then we can go. CORKY (relieved) Good. JAKE Corky, you okay? CORKY Sure, Jake...Jack's just a little nervous, that's all. Ain't you, Jack? Jack barks once and Corky frowns sheepishly. ANGLE TO SOLITARY - CENTRAL COMPOUND Rouget is directing guards who are dragging the limp, filthy body of the young Englishman we saw before out of a low earthen structure in the middle of the compound with a black tin roof. It is called the oven. One uses a key to release the manacles he still wears, then they drag him to the infirmary. Fromby breaks into a run across the compound, followed by the others. Rouget stops them. FROMBY (horrified) What have you done to him? He looks dead. ROUGET Then we would be taking him to his grave instead of the infirmary. JAKE Looks like you just took him out of the grave. ROUGET (hard) You are what the Americans call a...wisenheimer. JAKE Not really. ROUGET (smiles) Yes. Really. Too bad you're not a prisoner. I would cure you of it. Off their looks.... CUT TO INTERIOR INFIRMARY - DAY Santos, the medical orderly, is easing the unconscious man into a bed. The infirmary is otherwise empty. The party enters, and Fromby hurries down the length of the room to the bed followed by Rouget. Jake and Corky hold back a bit, as does Jack. CLOSE ON FROMBY as he kneels down by his son, lying there semi-conscious, face sunken, the wounds inflicted by the natives now infected. Jake, Corky and Jack approach in the background. FROMBY Eric...it's Dad. Eric? No response. FROMBY He's dying! ROUGET Santos will fix him up. SANTOS (Spanish accent) With what? I have nothing until the supply ship arrives. JAKE There's a first aid kit on the Goose. I'll get it. SANTOS Bueno. (beat) I'll clean his wounds...give him fluids. By morning we will know if he'll survive. Jake motions Corky outside. Fromby is slumped, looking for hope. EXTERIOR INFIRMARY - DAY Jake leads Corky away from the infirmary door and the ears of the listening guards. Jack follows. JAKE Listen, Fromby's gonna want to stay at least until morning to see if his kid's gonna make it. (beat) You think...Jack can hang in 'till then? CORKY Sure, Jake. (sees something) Oh oh. Watch it, Jack, there's another one! ANGLE - PAST THEM TO INCLUDE HENRI A giant, mild-faced man-child what some might call a moron. He has approached, across the compound, also in prisoner's garb, carrying a broom. Now he is grinning from ear to ear, holding his hand out to Jack. Corky makes an effort to grab Jack for protection, but Jack makes a beeline for Henri. Henri stoops and begins to pet Jack lovingly, enraptured. Jack eats it up. JAKE Guess everybody doesn't like dog stew. CORKY Not funny, Jake. ANGLE TO INFIRMARY DOOR Rouget emerges. ROUGET I see Henri has found a friend. He has a special way with the dumb beasts. I guess they speak his language. CORKY Jack's not dumb. JAKE I think he means Henri can't talk, Corky. CORKY Oh...that kind of dumb. ROUGET (to Henri) You have work to do. Henri grins and hurries off, taking a wide turn around Rouget as he goes to Villier's quarters. Rouget steps up to Jake and Corky. ROUGET The Commandant requests you dine with him tonight. Seven sharp...and don't be late. With that he spins on his heel and walks off. CORKY (nervous) Jake...do we have to eat with him? JAKE Aren't you hungry? CORKY (licks his lips) Just thirsty. Jake gives Corky a look and we.... CUT TO INTERIOR VILLIER'S QUARTERS - NIGHT - CLOSE ON A BRANDY BOTTLE as Villier pours a snifter full. We widen to reveal Jake and Corky at the table with him. Two guards are just outside the open door. Although dinner is over, the table is still filled with chicken, roast, cheeses and fresh vegetables. Villier holds up the bottle of brandy as an offer. VILLIER Brandy? Jake shakes his head, "no." Villier looks to Corky who looks to Jake, then back to Villier. CORKY No thanks. Villier shrugs and corks the bottle. JAKE'S VOICE OVER I was proud of Corky. He was nervous as hell being here and badly in need of a drink, but he was sticking it out. Villier swirls the brandy and holds it up to the light before sniffing it. Corky is dying. JAKE'S VOICE OVER Of course, every man has his limit. JAKE Corky, why don't you take some food to Fromby in the infirmary. He may not be hungry, but he should eat. CORKY (rising) Sure, Jake. As he piles food on a plate.... JAKE You might pass out some to the inmates, too, they look like.... VILLIER (interrupts) No! (off their looks) Mr. Fromby and that is all. JAKE But, there's plenty of.... VILLIER (interrupts again) I am not used to having my orders discussed, Captain Cutter! Corky looks to Jake, who motions for him to leave with what he has. As Corky moves out.... VILLIER (to guard in French) Go with him. The infirmary only. CLOSE ON JAKE AND VILLIER as the guard drops in behind Corky. Jake leans in. JAKE This food will just go to waste. Villier stares at him, then picks up a nice rare piece of roast and offers it to Jack. VILLIER No, it won't. CLOSE ON JACK He barks twice and growls menacingly at the offered meat. BACK ON VILLIER AND JAKE The Colonel jerks his hand back quickly, then is embarrassed that he was frightened by Jack. VILLIER You ought to teach your cur manners. JAKE I did. (off Villier's look) Why couldn't we share some of this with the prisoners? Some of them look half starved. VILLIER These prisoners are the dregs of the Pacific territories...as tough as any imprisoned on Devil's Island in Guiana. Therefore, I must be a little tougher. (pointed) If you were to spend some time with me, you would see what I mean. JAKE I don't need to spend any time. (beat) I know a sadist when I see one. (stands) Good night, Colonel. Jake rises. Villier stares at him, his face reddening. Then he smiles. VILLIER (in French to guard) Escort him to his plane. Jake exits and we move in close on Villier's face. The smile fades and the eyes grow cold. CUT TO EXTERIOR SUNRISE OVER LAGODA - STOCK The sky turns from pink to blue over the palm trees and lagoon. EXTERIOR GOOSE'S PORT ENGINE as the big props slowly turn over. There is a belch of black smoke and the engine catches with a roar. EXTERIOR VILLIER'S QUARTERS - ON VILLIER standing inside the house, looking through a window, sipping coffee from a demitasse. The slight smile back on his face. INTERIOR GOOSE COCKPIT - ON JAKE as he smoothes out the port engine and fires up the starboard. Corky is sitting across from him, Jack in the middle. JAKE'S VOICE OVER By dawn, Fromby's son was sleeping and out of danger. Maybe his recovery was due to his youth or the Spaniard's nursing. Or maybe it was just having his dad beside him. Unfortunately, our pass was only good for twenty-four hours and I had to fly Fromby out. Only God knew what would happen to his son when we left. (beat) I intended to return with Louie before nightfall. CORKY (pointing) Here he comes. THEIR POINT OF VIEW - FROMBY AND GUARD crossing from the camp towards the Goose. The guard has his arm around Fromby. CORKY'S VOICE Kinda friendly...ain't they. Jack barks twice. CLOSE ON JAKE squinting to see better. His face pales and he moves out of his seat. JAKE Keep the engines running! Corky grabs the throttles and looks at Jake in surprise. CORKY What's wrong? But Jake is gone. EXTERIOR GOOSE REAR HATCH Jake flings the door open and leaps into the waist-deep water, wading quickly ashore. ON FROMBY AND GUARD as they approach. It's obvious now that Fromby is half carrying the guard and that it is his son. Jake rushes up and helps support the boy, looking back towards the prison for pursuit. JAKE How the devil did you do it? FROMBY A great deal of money...and luck. (beat) They'll throw him back in that oven the minute we leave...you know it. Please...help me. JAKE I'll have to turn him over to Louie as soon as we land. FROMBY Of course. Just help me get him out of here before they kill him. Jake helps Fromby lift the boy into the hatch, then climbs in behind him. INTERIOR COCKPIT - ACROSS CORKY as Jake rushes into the cockpit and slides into his seat, grabbing the controls. CORKY Jake...that wasn't any guard! That was Fromby's son! JAKE (gunning engine) I know, Corky. I know. CORKY But, Jake. If they catch us. Jake guns the port engine, slowly pushing the port pontoon off the sand and into the water. EXTERIOR VILLIER'S QUARTERS - ON VILLIER still standing in the window, sipping coffee and watching. He nods and Rouget steps from off camera through frame. We follow as he trots across the compound shouting to the guards. INTERIOR COCKPIT Jake guns the engine again, the Goose rotates a bit more...it is almost clear to take off. CORKY (eyes widening) Jake! Jake flicks a look to his right. EXTERIOR BEACH - ACROSS ROUGET TO THE GOOSE as he clears the Vickers and fires a burst across the water just forward of the Goose's nose, the bullets kicking up spurts of water. ROUGET (shouts) Cut your engines. Now! He fires another burst, this time stitching the Goose's nose just forward of the cockpit. INTERIOR COCKPIT - DAY - ON JAKE A long moment, then he reaches up and cuts the engines. FADE OUT _END OF ACT ONE_ _ACT TWO_ FADE IN EXTERIOR TROPICAL SUN - ESTABLISHING - STOCK as it beats down on the islands. EXTERIOR PRISON COMPOUND - DAY Jake, Corky, Fromby, Fromby's son and Jack sit under the blazing sun in the center of the compound. The boy is barely conscious, his head cradled in Corky's lap as Fromby shades his face with a handkerchief. Rouget is sitting in the shade of a palm umbrella, pouring a glass of water from a cooling jug. Four guards with rifles watch over the group. FROMBY (to Rouget) Please...my son needs water. Rouget downs the water. Fromby rises and starts forward. FROMBY (moving) Please...he'll die without it. One of the guards trips Fromby and he falls forward in the dust. Rouget laughs, then pours a glass of water. Fromby climbs to his feet. As he gratefully reaches for the glass, Rouget turns it upside down, pouring the water out onto the ground. Then he motions and the guard shoves Fromby back into the group. FEATURE JAKE as he slowly stands. JAKE'S VOICE OVER One of the first things I learned in the islands was not to take on someone else's troubles. (beat) But one of the first things I learned from my mom was to help the helpless. And I'd known Mom, rest her soul, a lot longer than I'd been in the islands. Jake walks straight to the water jug, pours a glass and takes it to Fromby, who quickly gives it to his son with Corky's help. Through this, Rouget motions for the guards to let Jake do it. ANGLE ON ROUGET He stands, seemingly a great strain, then he slowly walks to Jake, smiling. He stares eyeball-to-eyeball with Jake, then without turning slaps Jake with the back of his hand across the mouth, drawing blood. JAKE Okay...I deserved that. Rouget backhands him again. JAKE (tense) But not that. Jake flashes a right cross that takes Rouget by surprise. He sends the big man sprawling. The guards leap forward and pin Jake's arms. Corky and Fromby move to help, but the other guards jam rifles in their backs. JAKE (to Corky and Fromby) No! Don't do anything! CORKY But, Jake.... JAKE Corky! I can handle this. Rouget gets to his feet and pulls his pistol. JAKE You shoot me and they'll testify it was in cold blood. ROUGET Then better I shoot all of you. JAKE You can't kill two Americans and an Englishman and get away with it...especially when they're friends of the magistrate on Boragora. VILLIER'S VOICE He's right, Rouget.... They turn to see.... ANGLE ON ALL - FEATURE VILLIER as he strides from the house through the dust to the prisoners. VILLIER (continuing) Even though they tried to help a prisoner escape, death might seem too harsh a punishment. FROMBY Commandant. These men are not responsible for my son's being on that plane. Only I am culpable. VILLIER Tres gallant, Monsieur Fromby...but you are all as you say, culpable. (to Rouget) Shackle them and put the boy back in the oven. FROMBY No! JAKE It'll kill him! VILLIER (cold) And shoot the dog. Jack barks once. Rouget smiles and swings his pistol towards Jack. Jake struggles to break loose from the two guards, but can't. Corky makes a move toward Rouget, but a guard puts him down and holds him there with a rifle. JAKE Jack...go! ON JACK He turns and takes off like a greyhound after a rabbit. A bullet kicks up dirt beside him. He manages to elude three shots before disappearing into the jungle. BACK ON OUR GROUP They are cheering at Jack's escape. Rouget is furious. Only Villier is calm. VILLIER Sergeant...you are a lousy shot. He turns and starts back toward his house. JAKE (yelling after him) I want to talk to the magistrate on Boragora. VILLIER (without looking) He will be informed. Rouget shouts orders in French to the guards and they begin to march the group across the compound. Two of them drag young Fromby along between them. CLOSE ON JAKE AND CORKY as they move across the compound. CORKY (nervous) He...he can't keep us here. Can he, Jake? JAKE He's got to radio Louie, sooner or later. ANGLE ON THE OVEN as the guards drag Fromby's son to it and push him inside. BACK CLOSE ON JAKE watching, jaw tense. JAKE For young Fromby's sake, I hope it's sooner. CUT TO EXTERIOR BORAGORA - DAY - ESTABLISHING Over the sleepy village and empty dock, we hear.... SARAH'S VOICE (furious) I don't believe it! It's ridiculous! INTERIOR MONKEY BAR - DAY It's jammed with passengers from the Clipper. Sarah is following Louie from his office to the bar, where Gushie is working with the parrot on his shoulder. As the scene progresses, Louie gets as furious as Sarah. LOUIE However ridiculous, I assure you it's true. The Commandant radioed me from Lagoda that they were caught trying to help Fromby's son escape. He's incarcerated all of them. SARAH Well, get them out! You're the Magistrate de Justice for these stinking islands! LOUIE It's not that simple! SARAH Why not? LOUIE (to bartender) Cognac. (to Sarah) As magistrate, I have no jurisdiction over a federal prison. The Commandant answers only to the Directeur des Prisons in Paris. SARAH You mean -- you're just going to let them rot in that...that.... GUSHIE (volunteers) Hell hole? SARAH Hell hole! LOUIE Sarah, there is nothing I can do! Sarah stares at him. The bartender brings Louie's cognac, but Sarah takes it.... SARAH Well...there's something I can do! She downs the cognac and storms upstairs. As she goes, we hold on Louie and Gushie. Louie shakes his head and turns. GUSHIE The launch is fueled and ready. LOUIE Bon. I should be back within the week. Try not to rob me blind in the meantime. And see that Sarah doesn't leave the island. GUSHIE (smiles) When she finds out you've gone to Lagoda without her.... LOUIE (smiles) Fortunately, I won't be around to hear it. He tosses down a cognac the bartender has put in front of him, and strides out the door. We hold on Gushie and the parrot. GUSHIE (to himself) But I will. PARROT Me, too! Me, too! Off Gushie's look.... CUT TO INTERIOR SARAH'S ROOM - DAY She enters, slamming the door behind her. She is one pissed lady. She pulls the suitcase out from under her bed, throws it open, tosses out the clothes and starts setting up the radio to send a transmission. As she does all this.... SARAH Frenchmen! They're all alike...Kiss your hand...whisper in your ear, but when you're in trouble where are they? Sipping cognac and making excuses! (beat) Don't you worry, Jake. Maybe Mademoiselle Liberte' doesn't give a plugged franc whether you rot in that hell hole or not, but Uncle Sam will! We move in closer on her face as she begins to send. She's biting her lip and there are tears welling up in her eyes. CUT TO EXTERIOR JUNGLE - DAY - ON JACK crouched down behind a tree. JACK'S POINT OF VIEW - GUARD on hands and knees carefully setting out a trap. He unwraps a piece of paper and takes out a piece of bait, then puts it down in the trap. Finished, the guard stands, brushes off his uniform and walks off. CLOSE ON JACK trotting out from behind the tree. He goes over to the trap to get at the meat, but is smart enough not to trigger the trap. He lies down in front of it, salivating like Pavlov's dog. A branch reaches in from off screen and springs the trap. Camera widens to find Henri. He puts down the branch and plucks the meat out of the trap, feeding it to Jack. Jack wolfs it down as Henri pets him. CUT TO EXTERIOR SWAMP - DAY - ON JAKE, CORKY AND FROMBY dirty, grubby, and badly in need of shaves. They pry logs out of the greenish water under the watchful eye of a guard. Several other work gangs are in the background but too far away to talk with. When our group speaks, it's in whispers. JAKE'S VOICE OVER Life in Lagoda Penal Colony wasn't so bad...if you didn't mind breaking your back in a hundred twenty degrees for eighteen hours, then goin' in for a nice hot meal of what...the best I could figure...was old bath water and chicken bones. FROMBY If they would only let us work with the others...perhaps I could find out something about my son's condition. JAKE He's still alive. FROMBY (hopeful) Are you sure? JAKE I saw them take a water bottle to the oven last night. They wouldn't do that for a dead man. FROMBY (relieved) Thank God, there's still hope. JAKE There's always hope, my friend. GUARD No talking! As they go back to work.... CLOSE ON JACK He appears out of the jungle on the opposite side of the swamp, watching Jake and the others work. CLOSE ON CORKY AND JAKE as Corky spots Jack. CORKY (whisper) Jake.... JAKE (warning whisper) Ixnay. I see him. (smiles) Looks like he's been eating. CORKY Yeah...but what? Jake starts to smile then looks up to see.... ROUGET standing a few feet away. He takes the rifle from a guard and aims toward Jack. JAKE (yells) Jack! Look out! ON JACK He jumps aside, just as Rouget fires, the bullet kicking up the dirt beside him. BACK ON ALL as Rouget chambers another round. CORKY (yells) Jack...quit showing off and get the hell outta here! Jack barks twice and disappears just as Rouget is ready to fire. He lowers the gun. ROUGET He won't elude me for long. CORKY Wanna bet. You'll never get Jack. Never! JAKE Corky.... CORKY (pissed) Well, he won't! Rouget hands the rifle back to the guard, then points to Jake and Corky. ROUGET (in French) Clean these two up. (beat) They have a visitor.... Off their surprised looks.... CUT TO EXTERIOR COMMANDANT'S HOUSE - DAY - ON VILLIER AND LOUIE standing together on the porch waiting for Jake and Corky to arrive. LOUIE (in French) I had heard that you were a reasonable man. Now I am sure of it. VILLIER (smiles; in French) I try, Magistrate. I try. (looks up) Here are your friends. Louie looks up and immediately strides out to.... JAKE AND CORKY dressed in cleaner clothes, but still shackled. They are led in by Rouget and a guard across the compound towards Louie. LOUIE Mes amies! JAKE Louie...you're a sight for sore eyes. CORKY Ain't that the truth. I thought you'd never spring us out of here. LOUIE Come...let's not stand in the sun, only fools and Englishmen do that. CORKY And...prisoners. Louie leads them to the table Rouget's at. There is lemonade and fruit on the table. Corky digs in immediately. Rouget and the guard watch from a few meters away. LOUIE Where's Jack? JAKE Hiding in the jungle. CORKY (looking at Rouget) He tried to shoot him. Rouget smiles. LOUIE (shocked) Shoot Jack! No! JAKE Louie, this isn't a resort. (points) Fromby's son is dying in what they call the oven. THEIR POINT OF VIEW - THE OVEN through the shimmering heat. JAKE'S VOICE Before we arrived, the Commandant was punishing him in there for trying to escape. BACK ON ALL Louie is looking uncomfortable. JAKE (continuing) That's why I let Fromby sneak him onto the Goose. LOUIE (sighs) So you did try to free a prisoner. JAKE Not free him. Get him to you and some medical attention. He was dying, Louie... (looks to oven) ...and still is. CORKY He'll be okay. Now that you're getting us all out, right, Louie? Louie takes a sip of lemonade. Jake and Corky both stop eating. JAKE Right, Louie? LOUIE The boy is a murderer. CORKY He wrote his dad it was...it was...ah.... JAKE (finishes) Justifiable homicide. CORKY (picking it up) Justifiable homicide! LOUIE Perhaps in England, but not in the islands. (beat) The boy fell in love with an island girl and married her. When he found her in bed with her old lover...he shot them both. (shrugs) Different cultures...different mores. JAKE Damn! CORKY I...I don't think his dad knows he did that. JAKE Even so, it's no reason to let him die in that oven. LOUIE Jake. I will see what I can do, the Commandant is a reasonable man.... JAKE Reasonable! LOUIE Oui, reasonable. He is going to let you two and Mr. Fromby go. JAKE (stunned) When? LOUIE In a week. CORKY Couldn't we leave in the Goose now? JAKE (looking around) Where is the Goose? LOUIE They towed it to the other side of the island to make room for the supply ship that's due. (sternly) Now. He could have you imprisoned here for ten years for what you did. I convinced him that a week, to teach you a lesson, was more reasonable. JAKE Louie...I don't believe it. LOUIE Jake, mon ami. Believe it. If you aren't back in Boragora in a week, I will personally lead the assault to free you. JAKE And young Fromby? LOUIE I will see what I can do...but this is a French Penal Colony. Men are sent here to be punished. JAKE But not executed. ROUGET (calls out) Time! As Rouget and the guard move towards Jake and Corky. JAKE Louie...we owe you. LOUIE (in French) It is nothing. CORKY Save me a tall cold one, Louie. LOUIE I shall, mon ami. As the guard leads them away.... JAKE (calls back) How's Sarah? LOUIE Screaming her lungs out. CORKY (surprised) You mean she's still singing with us gone. LOUIE Something like that. I'll see you in a week. He waves and we hold on his face. The smile fades...he looks worried. CUT TO EXTERIOR LANDING - DAY - CLOSE ON JACK Jack can't resist a bark after Louie. The guards immediately begin excitedly ad libbing in French, looking for the source of the bark. Henri steps into view, acting crazy and diverting the guards as Jack flees into the jungle. Louie never hears or sees him. CUT TO EXTERIOR JUNGLE - SWAMP - DAY Jake, Corky and Fromby are standing in the thigh-high water using ropes around their chests to haul logs out of the muck. They are showing signs of deteriorating health and spirit. The work is murderously hard. Insects, heat, malaise are winning. Fromby falters and slips. Jake pauses to help him up. FROMBY (spitting water) I'm afraid I'm not as young as I once was. JAKE You're looking younger every day. FROMBY (weak smile) Nice of you to lie, old boy. (beat) You didn't do that about my son, did you? JAKE (after a beat) No. Louie said he'd see what he could do. FROMBY Good. Good. And when we get out of here, I'll get Eric a fair trial and...we'll go home. (beat) We'll go home, together. He nods and goes back to work, tears in his eyes. We hold on Jake who looks terribly sad. ANOTHER ANGLE as Corky slides over to Jake. CORKY (whisper) You...gonna tell him? JAKE Not until we're out of here. Corky nods and turns. Suddenly he yells and thrashes about in the water, jumping wildly despite his shackles. CORKY (yells) Jake...somethin' bit me! Jake looks around. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - WATER SNAKE as it slithers away in the swamp. ON CORKY as he pulls himself on shore and lifts his trousers. The puncture marks are clearly visible on his leg. CORKY (looks up scared) Jake.... FEATURE JAKE as he turns to the guard. JAKE Give me your knife. The guard just stares at him. JAKE (an order) Give me your knife! The guard hands over his knife. Jake slices the bite diagonally and then puts his mouth to the wound. He spits out the poison. JAKE (to Fromby) Give me your belt. As Fromby takes off his belt, Jake sucks out more poison, then uses the belt for a tourniquet. As he works, Corky starts shaking from fear. JAKE (joking with him) Corky, I knew you'd do anything for a drink...but this is ridiculous. CORKY (scared smile) A drink? Oh, I get it. Whiskey is snake bite medicine. That's funny, Jake... (eyes fluttering) ...real funny.... With that, Corky passes out. FADE OUT _END OF ACT TWO_ _ACT THREE_ FADE IN INTERIOR SARAH'S ROOM - DAY She is wearing her headset, deciphering a message coming in on her suitcase radio. SARAH (writing) Imprisonment of Jake Cutter and party purely a French civil matter...American attache in Manila powerless to intercede! Suggest you try consul in Hawaii! Sarah crumples up the paper and drops it to the floor where a couple of others lie. SARAH (pissed) They suggested I try you! There is a knock at her door. LOUIE'S VOICE Sarah. Are you there? SARAH (brightly) Louie! She leaps up, starts for the door, then remembers the radio and dashes back, throwing the clothes in the suitcase and slamming it under the bed. As she does.... SARAH Just a minute! I'm not decent! LOUIE'S VOICE Then for heaven's sake -- open the door! EXTERIOR SARAH'S DOOR as she flings it open, all smiles. SARAH Louie. You're back! INTERIOR ACROSS SARAH TO LOUIE He is standing there, looking a bit bushed, but holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses. LOUIE Oui. I'm back. SARAH (suddenly stern) I'm furious with you! You went to Lagoda without me! LOUIE Oui, mon cherie, I did. But do you want to be furious at me or do you want to celebrate? SARAH (realizes) You did it! (looks out) Where are they? LOUIE They won't be home for a week. But the Commandant gave me his word -- one week and they will be released. Sarah hugs and kisses Louie. SARAH Louie, you're wonderful! You did what Uncle Sam couldn't do. (beat) I always did love a Frenchman. LOUIE (opening champagne) That's not what Gushie said. Sarah gives him a sheepish grin, the cork pops and Louie pours two glasses. LOUIE (toasting) To their safe return. CORKY'S VOICE I'll drink to that! SMASH CUT TO INTERIOR INFIRMARY - DAY - RAIN Rain is pouring down outside as Jake and Fromby hobble in their shackles through the doors carrying Corky. They lay him on a bed. He is tossing and turning, already delirious. A guard watches as they hold him down. JAKE He needs water. CORKY (delirious) Hey, Jake...I remember what I did with your razor. I put it in the emergency locker in the Goose. Fromby gets some water and Jake gives Corky a drink. JAKE (worried) That's great, Corky. CORKY Oh boy, Jake. I'm really remembering now! Last Sunday the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates six to three...and a letter came from your Aunt Nellie -- I put it in the tool kit...and it's your birthday next week...the twenty-fifth. FROMBY He's burning up. JAKE (yells to guard) Where's the Spaniard...what's his name? CORKY Santos. His name is Santos. JAKE (to guard) Get Santos! Santos! The guard exits. CORKY Jake -- I left that copy of 'Gone with the Wind' on the dock at Tagataya...and Jack's spare eye patch is in the bottom drawer of my dresser, under a photo of my mom. Jack barks twice. Jake looks up in surprise. CLOSE ON WINDOW Henri appears in the rain, holding Jack. Jack leaps inside and trots straight to Corky. JAKE Jack! Boy am I glad to see you. Jack looks at Corky, then up to Jake. JAKE He -- got bit by a snake. Jack growls, then turns back to Corky. CORKY Jake...the log book I lost in China. It's under the seat of the P- 40 you flew...I taped it there so I wouldn't lose it. JAKE Good, Corky. I'll pick it up the next time I'm in China. FEATURE JAKE as he moves to the window. JAKE You've been feeding Jack? Jack barks twice. JAKE Thank you. Henri smiles and nods. FROMBY The guard's returning! JAKE Okay, Jack, get out of here! Jack barks once. He refuses to leave Corky. JAKE This is no time for heroics. He snatches Jack and tosses him out the window to Henri, who catches him and ducks just as the guard comes back with Santos. ANOTHER ANGLE Santos hurries to Corky and examines him. CORKY Five right...twenty-two left...forty right. FROMBY What's that? CORKY The combination to my high school locker. SANTOS (sighs) At best he will lose the leg. JAKE At best? SANTOS I have seen many bitten like this. The wound will get infected. Even if it doesn't, he may die from dehydration and the fever. JAKE You've got to do something. SANTOS What? We have no aspirin to break the fever. No antiseptic to clean the wound. JAKE We do on Boragora. SANTOS In case you haven't noticed...we're not on Boragora. He goes back to checking Corky. We hold on Jake's determined look. SMASH CUT TO EXTERIOR INFIRMARY - DAY - RAIN The door slams open and Jake strides out into the rain. Behind him the guard rushes out. He levels his rifle. GUARD (in French) Halt! Fromby throws his arms around the guard to stop him from shooting. FROMBY Don't shoot him! He's not trying to escape! He's going to see the Commandant! The guard tosses Fromby off, but doesn't shoot as he sees that Jake is walking straight to the Commandant's quarters. EXTERIOR VILLIER'S QUARTERS - DAY - ON JAKE running up the porch steps. A guard stops him from entering. Jake pushes against the guard. Other guards rush up and wrestle him into the mud. JAKE Villier! ON VILLIER standing in the door, pulling on his boots. Rouget appears beside him drinking from a bottle. JAKE'S VOICE (fighting) Villier, I have to see you! VILLIER (calling) Let him up. Jake sits up, soaked to the skin, panting. VILLIER Yes? JAKE My friend is dying. I have to fly him to Boragora. VILLIER (pulling on other boot; shrugging) Men die on this island every day. JAKE They don't need to. VILLIER We have no transportation. JAKE The Goose. Let me fly him in my plane. Send a guard...send five guards with me. I'll come back. VILLIER Out of the question. The supply ship is here in a few days. They will have medicines. JAKE What if he doesn't live till then? VILLIER If he dies...I will bury him. Jake lunges at Villier, but Rouget steps in and slugs Jake while the guards hold him. He hits him again, until.... VILLIER Enough. Rouget drops Jake, who painfully gets to his feet, and stands shakily. He yells after Villier as rain streams off his face. JAKE If Corky dies, Villier...there's no place you can hide where I won't find you. You hear me -- no place! DISSOLVE TO INTERIOR INFIRMARY - DAY Corky is lying on the bed soaked with sweat as Fromby wipes him with a cloth. Jack is back, sitting beside the bed. The door at the end of the long room opens and Jack ducks under the bed. Jake stumbles in from the rain and the guard closes the door, staying outside. FROMBY Good lord, what happened to you? JAKE (approaching) Had a little tete-a-tete with Sergeant Rouget. (looking at Corky) Any change? Jack barks once and comes out from under the bed, resuming his position. JAKE Jack! FROMBY Henri brought him back, then disappeared! (nodding to Corky) I think he's sleeping. JAKE (checks him) He's in a coma. (angry) Where's Santos? FROMBY He said he could do nothing. He left. Jake looks ready to slam his fist into the wall. He stands at the window, staring out, trying to think of what to do. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - PRISON COMPOUND Three manhunters, two of them carrying a prisoner hanging from a pole, walk through the rain. They dump the prisoner at Rouget's feet. JAKE'S VOICE Look at that. Rouget hands the manhunters some coins and they disappear back into the jungle. BACK ON JAKE AND FROMBY watching from the infirmary window. FROMBY Filthy blighters. JAKE That's what's waiting for us in the jungle. (beat) If we could get a boat, we could go around the island to the Goose instead of over land. FROMBY That's a big "if." JAKE (turns to Jack) Jack, do you know where your friend Henri is? Jack barks twice. Fromby is puzzled. JAKE (to Fromby) Nobody pays much attention to Henri. If anyone could get us a boat, it'd be him. (to Jack) Would he do it? Jack gives Jake a dirty look, then leaps out of his arms. EXTERIOR INFIRMARY Jack dashes through the rain along the building and into the jungle. INTERIOR INFIRMARY Fromby and Jake both hobble in their shackles to the other side of the room to follow Jack. THEIR POINT OF VIEW - JACK as he comes out of the jungle and dashes under Villier's quarters. BACK ON JAKE AND FROMBY as their faces sag. JAKE He's under the Commandant's office! FROMBY I saw Henri sweeping up there when we first arrived. But how can you get there? JAKE (studying compound) I might make it, if I follow the same path Jack just took. (beat) The guards didn't see him. FROMBY He's a ten-inch high dog! Behind them Corky moans. JAKE I don't have a choice. EXTERIOR PRISON COMPOUND - DAY - RAIN Rouget is using his keys to unshackle the body the manhunters brought in when we see Jake sneak out of the infirmary window and make a hobbling dash for the jungle. Just as he dives in, Rouget turns around, but he doesn't see him and goes back to unshackling the body. ANOTHER ANGLE - ON JAKE as he hobbles out of the jungle on the same path Jack took and dives under Villier's quarters. BENEATH VILLIER'S QUARTERS Jake comes scooting under to find Jack waiting for him. JAKE What now? Jack darts through the dark opening of a covered ventilation shaft. With a shrug, Jake follows on hands and knees. CLOSE ON LOUVERED DOORS Jack pushes them open with his nose and bounds through. INTERIOR VILLIER'S OFFICE - ON HENRI who is sweeping the floor. As Jack comes into frame, Henri kneels and strokes the dog in delight. ON LOUVERED DOORS Jake crawls through, rises. JAKE Henri. Henri motions for silence then closes the blinds. Before he has finished, Jake impatiently grabs Henri's arm and turns him around. JAKE Henri, I need a boat. Do you understand? Henri nods and crosses to a filing cabinet from which he pulls an old and yellowed sheaf of papers. Jake shakes his head in frustration. JAKE No, Henri, not papers. Papier. (thinking) Le barque. Henri forces the stack of papers into Jake's hands. He looks at them in exasperation, then in surprise. JAKE Well, I'll be damned. He flips through the sheets of paper. JAKE Villier...Rouget...they're prisoners? Henri nods and Jack barks twice for "yes." Suddenly the door opens. Jack scoots into the closet. Henri takes the handle of his broom and shoves it across Jake's throat imprisoning him against a wall. Villier walks in with Rouget and stops at the sight. ON HENRI Again, his face has adopted the simple mask of foolish loyalty. VILLIER Thank you, Henri. I wish I could let you keep him dangling like that, but Mr. Cutter would accuse me of cruelty. Henri lets Jake drop, and he goes to his knees gasping. Villier takes the files from Jake's hand, a menacing scowl crossing his features. VILLIER Too bad. I was going to let you go. I really was. JAKE The hell you were. You're prisoners! ROUGET Only until the supply ship docks tomorrow. Then we sail away free men and let you have this rock as your final resting place, along with dear departed Colonel Villier and his faithful Sergeant Rouget...and a few others. JAKE But the rest of the prisoners...you still work them in the swamps. VILLIER The supply ship is very small. And not everyone on this island was nice to me when I was wearing the striped shirt. Why should I be nice to them? JAKE That's why you wouldn't let us mix with them. VILLIER You can socialize all you want after we sail -- if you're still alive. Villier motions and Rouget steps forward. CUT TO EXTERIOR CENTRAL COMPOUND - DAY - ON 'OVEN' DOOR Rouget's hand grabs ahold of the handle and lifts the heavy metal door. ON JAKE battered and beaten, supported by two guards. Rouget stands aside as the guards drag Jake to the small building and push him inside. ROUGET (looking down at Jake) Enjoy your final night...wisenheimer! The metal door crashes back in place and Rouget drops the bar across the door. FADE OUT _END OF ACT THREE_ _ACT FOUR_ FADE IN EXTERIOR PRISON COMPOUND - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING It has stopped raining, but the ground is covered with puddles. INTERIOR OVEN - NIGHT - CLOSE ON JAKE He's doing something in shadows. JAKE'S VOICE OVER There's a lot of talk about the bond between a mother and her son. Camera widens to include the body of Fromby's son, curled against one wall. Jake is straightening the man's clothes. Closing his eyes. JAKE'S VOICE OVER Well, there's also a bond between a father and a son. Fromby had come halfway around the world to help his boy. He'd been too late, but at least I could tell him his son's dying thoughts were of him. moving in on: WRITING IN THE DIRT where Eric had scratched as he died..."Thanks, Dad. I love you. Eric." BACK ON JAKE as he stares at the message, thinking of his own father. Then there is a clink from outside and Jake peers through the small window in the door. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - JACK working the bar with the top of his head. CLOSE ON JAKE JAKE (a sigh of relief) Jack, I could kiss ya. Jack stops bumping the bar and barks softly once. JAKE Okay, forget it. Jack resumes bumping the bar. Suddenly it tips out of its braces. Somehow Jake finds the strength to open the door up and climb out. He eases the oven door back down. ANGLE - JAKE hobbling across the compound with Jack in the lead. Jake barely makes it behind a shelter as a guard walks past. He pounds at his shackles in frustration. JAKE We have to get Rouget's keys. Jack barks softly twice and trots off. EXTERIOR GUARD BARRACKS - NIGHT Jack trots over to the building and stops under one of the windows. Jake crouches down beside it. He lifts his head and looks through the window. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - ROUGET sprawled out on his bunk dead to the world, an empty whiskey bottle hanging from his limp hand. Rouget's key ring is seen lying on the table. RESUME JAKE crouching back down. JAKE Keep an eye out. He stands and quickly climbs in through the window. INTERIOR ROUGET'S ROOM - NIGHT A floorboard squeaks under Jake's weight and he freezes and looks over at Rouget, snoring away. Jake makes his way over to the table and carefully picks up the key ring. He turns and starts back towards the window. CLOSE ON ROUGET'S HAND as the whisky bottle drops out of it. Camera pans as it rolls across the room. The bottle comes to a stop against Jake's leg. Jake's heart is in his mouth as he glances over at Rouget. Rouget mumbles something in his sleep and shifts position. Jake reaches the window and gets the hell out of there. INTERIOR INFIRMARY - NIGHT Fromby is wiping Corky's brow by lantern light as Jake climbs through the window with Jack. FROMBY (surprised) Jake! How'd you get out! (spots keys) And where did you get those? JAKE Jack opened the bar on the oven. (tossing Fromby keys) Get those shackles off. Jake lifts Corky in a fireman's carry as Fromby works on his shackles. FROMBY My son? Where is he? Jake pauses, unable to deal with the question. His face tells it all. FROMBY (hollow) He's dead, isn't he? Jake nods. JAKE I'm sorry...He scratched a message in the dirt...'Thanks, Dad. I love you.' Fromby bites his lip and begins to cry. Jake touches his shoulder. CORKY (weakly) Jake.... Jake diverts his eyes from the suffering Fromby. JAKE (to Corky) We're gettin' you outta here, buddy. CORKY You'll never make it...with me, Jake. Leave...me here. JAKE What...and lose the best airplane mechanic between here and Hawaii. CORKY I'm the only airplane mechanic between here and Hawaii. JAKE That's why you're the best. EXTERIOR PRISON COMPOUND - NIGHT - ON GUARD walking past on patrol. As he disappears from view, Jake, carrying Corky, steps out of the shadows followed by Fromby and Jack. They make their way over to the edge of the jungle and disappear into the undergrowth. JUNGLE - NIGHT We eventually lose Jake, Corky and Fromby and stay with Jack. He's picking his way carefully through the undergrowth. Without warning, a snare rigged for his capture closes about his paw, pulling it into the air. Jack struggles on the end of the snare line, helpless to get free as the others continue further and further from him. EXTERIOR JUNGLE CLEARING - NIGHT - ON PARTY stopping as Jake tries to get his bearings. JAKE We should pick up the trail just beyond that cropping of trees... (beat) Where's Jack? FROMBY He was right beside me when we left the compound. JAKE I'm going back to look for him. (glancing up at the sky) It's going to be light soon. Can you carry Corky? FROMBY You'd risk capture for a dog? CORKY managing to lift his head. CORKY (weakly) What d'ya mean...dog...Jack's...family. The effort is too much and he passes out again. FROMBY (to Jake) I'll do my best. Jake helps Corky onto Fromby's shoulders in a fireman's carry. Jake turns and disappears in the jungle, in the direction of the camp. INTERIOR PRISON COMPOUND - NIGHT - ON JAKE skirting around the perimeter of the camp, looking for Jack. Suddenly he hears Jack growling. ON JACK struggling to pull free, his leg caught in the snare trap. A guard grins and opens a burlap sack he's holding. A hand taps the guard on the shoulder. He turns around and Jake clips him one. The guard goes sprawling but regains his footing and pulls his pistol. Out of the night a huge hand literally yanks the guard into the air and away. It's Henri, who pauses to toss Jake the guard's pistol. He takes a moment to pet Jack, then disappears with the guard into the jungle. JAKE (releases Jack) You make good friends, Jack. Jack barks twice for "yes." EXTERIOR JUNGLE - DAY - MOVING WITH FROMBY carrying Corky. Dawn has broken. There's the sound of rustling in the jungle behind them. Fromby puts down Corky and picks up a rock and hefts it in his hand to use as a weapon. ON JAKE AND JACK stepping into view. Fromby lowers the rock and lets out a sigh of relief. FROMBY Good show, lad. ANGLE - JACK going over to Corky. JAKE How's he doing? FROMBY He comes around now and then.... The sound of a distant siren cuts through the jungle. JAKE Let's go...they're after us! He hefts Corky over his shoulders and takes off through the jungle. EXTERIOR LAGOON - DAY - ON PARTY struggling through the waist-high water. It's especially tough carrying Corky. EXTERIOR JUNGLE - DAY - MOVING WITH MANHUNTERS as they make their way down a trail, nets and pikes, reminding us of their tactics. EXTERIOR JUNGLE - DAY - ON FROMBY Leading, he suddenly disappears from view with a cry as the ground gives under his weight. Jake barely manages to keep from stumbling in with Corky. Fromby clutches desperately to a root as he dangles over a dozen razor sharp bamboo stakes embedded in the floor of the pit. Jake peers over the edge of the pit fearing the worst. He reaches down a hand. JAKE Grab hold of my hand. Holding onto the root with one hand, Fromby reaches up with his other and strains to grip Jake's hand. Their fingertips just miss touching. Jake extends dangerously far over the edge. JAKE Try again. Fromby reaches up again, straining to grab ahold of Jake's hand. Loosened soil crumples away from the root. FROMBY I don't think it can hold my weight much longer. JAKE (straining) Reach! CLOSE ON ROOT suddenly tearing loose. BACK WIDE grabbing hold of Fromby's hand and taking his weight just as the root is torn out of the ground. Jake grasps Fromby's other hand and pulls him out of the pit. JACK starts to growl. CLOSE ON MANHUNTER in the bush. Discovered, he hurls his net but with Jack's warning, Jake and Fromby avoid it. Growling, Jack takes off. JAKE Jack, no! MOVING WITH JACK as he streaks along the trail. The manhunter sees him coming and reaches for his knife. Jack is on the man and grabs his leg. The manhunter lets out a howl of pain and tries to shake Jack loose. ON JAKE standing up. JAKE Jack! FROMBY'S VOICE Jake...behind you! Jake twirls around to see another manhunter charging toward him with a raised pike. Jake fires. The manhunter is sent spinning off his feet. JAKE Jack! Jack streaks into the clearing and jumps over the tree trunk. JAKE (to Fromby) Head for the Goose. I'll hold them off. Fromby shoulders Corky and they break for the cover of the jungle. Jake fires a covering round. MOVING WITH JAKE as he makes his way down the trail bringing up the rear guard. A manhunter suddenly stands up twenty feet from Jake and hurls his net. Jake twirls around then fires twice, sending the manhunter crashing into the underbrush. The net falls partially across his shoulder. He tosses it off, then cracks open his pistol. INSERT - PISTOL showing two bullets left. ON VILLIER, ROUGET AND MEN passing a dead manhunter on the trail. They quicken their pace. EXTERIOR BEACH - DAY - ON FROMBY, CORKY AND JACK They break from the cover of the jungle. Fromby runs down the beach toward a pair of rowboats beached at the shore line. He puts Corky aboard one of the boats and pushes off. Jack leaps aboard. ON ROUGET as he bursts onto the beach. He raises his pistol. ROUGET'S POINT OF VIEW - THE BOAT Fromby's back is to him as he rows towards the Goose. But Jack is standing in the rear, growling. Rouget is first going to shoot Jack. BACK ON ROUGET He smiles and starts to pull the trigger. Suddenly a shot rings out and Rouget gets a surprised look on his face. He drops out of frame to reveal Jake standing in the jungle ten meters away...his gun smoking. EXTERIOR SEA - DAY - ON ROWBOAT as it reaches the Goose. Fromby throws the Goose's cargo door open and Jack jumps in. Then Fromby helps Corky, who's barely conscious, inside. INTERIOR GOOSE'S CABIN - DAY Corky holds onto the door for support. CORKY (to Fromby) Help me...up front. Fromby throws Corky's arm around his shoulders and helps him forward. EXTERIOR BEACH - DAY - MOVING WITH JAKE across him to background. He charges out of the jungle and runs toward the beach ahead of pursuit by Villier, his men and the manhunters. Jake turns and fires his last bullet at his pursuers, throws the gun and plunges into the water...as the others fire at him. The manhunters plunge in after Jake, strong swimmers. It's a race. Villier and his men push off in the remaining rowboat. INTERIOR GOOSE - DAY - CORKY He has mustered his strength to start up the Goose's port engine. It turns over sluggishly. He's so dazed he can't be sure of the controls. CORKY (praying) C'mon, baby...catch! The engine dies. Corky turns it over again. CORKY'S POINT OF VIEW - THE CONTROLS A wavering, out of focus confusion. Suddenly the engines catch. Corky smiles through his pained exhaustion. EXTERIOR SEA - DAY Villier exhorts his men to row harder. VILLIER (in French) Faster! Faster! Ahead of him he can see Jake past the natives in the swells. The rowboat closes the distance between them. ON JAKE trying to reach the Goose. He can see Fromby standing in the door of the Goose yelling at him to swim faster. Somehow Jake finds the strength to make it those last few feet to the Goose. He grabs hold of Fromby's hand and is pulled aboard. INTERIOR GOOSE'S COCKPIT - DAY Completely out of breath, Jake slides in next to Corky. CORKY (weak grin) What took...you...so long? JAKE (frantically working controls) My breast stroke is a little rusty. EXTERIOR SEA - DAY - ON GOOSE starting to taxi. Villier and his men fire at her. The Goose gathers speed. FROMBY (standing behind Jake) It looks like we're a bunch of lucky blokes. JAKE (grimly) Not just yet. CLOSE ON JACK in his usual spot, between the life preservers and the parachutes. He covers his head with his paws. ON JAKE holding the stick against his stomach. JAKE Come on, baby, we're running out of water! As if in answer to his plea, the Goose suddenly breaks free of the water's grasp and rises. The windshield is full of glorious blue sky. JAKE Now we're a bunch of lucky blokes. ON THE GOOSE It wings over, free, flying against the rose dawn sky toward home. FADE OUT _END OF ACT FOUR_ _TAG_ FADE IN INTERIOR MONKEY BAR - DAY The place is jammed with passengers getting ready to leave on the Clipper. As a steward walks through the room.... STEWARD Take off in fifteen minutes. Everyone please board the Clipper now! Take off in fifteen minutes. We follow him and find Jake and Fromby standing together near the door. Fromby has a suit and hat on. He is shaking Jake's hand. FROMBY Thank you, Jake. I appreciate all you did even if.... He can't finish. Jake nods in understanding. And Fromby starts to exit. JAKE (calling) Mr. Fromby.... He turns back. JAKE (continuing) If Eric hadn't tried to escape, we'd have left the island the next day never knowing anything was wrong. Villier and the others would have killed the crew of that supply ship and only God knows who else once they sailed. (beat) In my book, a lot of people owe Eric their lives. FROMBY (smiles) Thank you. He exits. ANGLE ON SARAH as she walks up to Jake. SARAH In my book...that was very nice. Jack barks twice. JAKE (astounded) I don't believe it, you mean you're finally going to let me off for losing your eye? Jack barks once and trots away. LOUIE'S VOICE Monsieurs and Mademoiselles...I give you the 'Hero of Lagoda!' They turn to see.... CORKY being carried down the steps by two strong island boys with applauding -- Louie in the lead. They carry him through the crowd to a table. Gushie wheels up with a big schooner of beer. Corky's eyes are as wide as saucers. CORKY (to Louie) Can I? LOUIE As your doctor I absolutely prescribe it! Corky takes a big sip and his grin is from ear to ear. Jake and Sarah join him. JAKE Well, I see our hero is back to his old self. CORKY (drinking) I soon will be! LOUIE Oh, Jake, the Directeur des Prisons sent a wire. He is coming out to personally take charge of reforming the prison. SARAH I guess something good comes out of everything that happens. CORKY There was nothing good in that snake biting me! SARAH Oh, but there is. Jake said your memory improved. Right, Jake? JAKE That's right. CORKY I don't remember that. JAKE Sure you do. (beat) Where'd you put my razor? Corky goes through the usual facial gymnastics trying to remember. He draws a blank. CORKY I don't remember. Jake shakes his head and starts out. CORKY Hey -- where you going? JAKE To find a snake. On Corky's look we.... FREEZE FRAME FADE OUT _THE END_
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