by bob chartain
nowhere.
Every movement rocks the plane. Hadji balances toward the door and steps into the tree limbs. He ties the plane down to the trees with ropes.
INT. JENNY'S BEDROOM, - NIGHT
Emma waits at the door. Jenny, hangs on Hadji's every word.
JENNY
Tell me about my mom, Hadji. Dad never says much.
HADJI
Your mom was a sweet lady, Jenny. She was young and extremely talented. She was an actress and on her way to fame and fortune. She quit so she could be with your Dad and have you.
JENNY
How did you get out of the trees?
HADJI
We lowered you and your mother
from the plane and your Dad went off to look for that glimmer in the jungle.
Emma enters.
EMMA
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Tomorrow's a school day and you promise you wouldn't be late anymore.
Jenny reaches down beside the rocker, picks up a dog eared copy of LIFE MAGAZINE with Betty Jo's picture on the cover, then she looks at her mother's picture on the bedside stand.
JENNY
Wasn't my mother beautiful Mrs. McMurtree? Won't you let Hadji finish the story? You're almost finished, aren't you?
EMMA
Just few more minutes, young lady.
HADJI (V.O.)
While your Dad looked for civilization, I tried to get us organized.
EXT. BELOW THE PLANE IN THE JUNGLE, - DAY
Hadji makes a camp out of the odds and ends salvaged from the plane while Betty Jo nurses Jenny.
hADJI(V.O.)
I was trying to make the best out
of a bad situation. Your mother
was trying to get you to sleep. I was just about finished with lowering the modest supplies down from the plane when your Dad came running into camp as though he had just seen the Devil.
????????
Hamp runs, dripping wet and his hands clutching. He trips over one of the ropes and the most amazing ruby rolls from his hand.
HADJI (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I only saw it from a distance but it was the most amazing ruby I had ever seen. Diamonds certainly are beautiful - but this stone was perfect. Light danced within it as if it were alive.
HAMP
Hadji, they're right behind me.
Get the guns. Where's your pistol? Here's your Rubyheart.
The brilliant cut ruby rolls to Betty Jo's feet. She bends and picks it up.
HAMP (CONT'D)
Betty Jo, get your pistol.
Suddenly POISON DARTS AND ARROWS -
WHOOSH through her vacated position. Hamp throws his knife. In a tree, Hadji fires with deadly aim. Betty Jo grabs a crying Jenny and picks up Tuffy. She moves low to a hollowed out tree. A dart hits her in the tush as she squirms in.
Hadji tosses Hamp a pistol, as he reaches his arm is grazed by another dart. Hamp, reacts violently to the poison but fights on in a near delirium. With precision - HADJI'S MARKSMANSHIP makes quick work of the remaining Head-hunters. He swings down to Hamp and wraps a tourniquet around his wound, then sucks the poison from his arm.
HAMP (CONT'D)
Where's Betty Jo and Jenny?
Hadji points to the tree stump, Hamp passes out.
INT. JENNY'S BEDROOM, - NIGHT
Emma waits patiently at the door
JENNY
What happened to my mother?
HADJI
When I found your mother she was clutching you and Tuffy in ??????? her arms, she was dead. The poison dart had stopped her heart.
Tears spill from Jenny's eyes.
JENNY
That's so sad, Hadji. What happened to the Rubyheart?
HADJI
The savages returned many times. I never had a chance to look for the Rubyheart.
Emma stands sternly. Jenny gives her a just a minute look.
JENNY
How did you get us back, Hadji?
EXT. THE JUNGLE, - DAY
Under the filtered light of the canopy, Hadji lashes a raft together.
HADJI (V.O.)
I lashed a raft together from fallen trees and vines.
EXT. THE RAFT ON THE RIVER, - DAY
Hamp, still delirious, is bundled under covers and looks like death warmed over. Jenny CRIES. Hadji places Tuffy in her arms, she quiets, COOS. Hadji pushes the raft towards a bend in the river, a dilapidated river boat steams into view.
HADJI (V.O.)
I pushed the raft down the river for days when suddenly I spotted a river steamer, but that's another story for another time. It's late.
INT. JENNY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
EMMA
She's lost everyone and now her father. Jenny, it's time for bed.
JENNY
Do I have to?
HADJI
Don't forget your prayers.
He carries her to the bed and gently sets her down as Emma rolls back the bed covers. Hadji bends, kisses her forehead.
JENNY
God bless you both and please protect my Dad from danger - God please take care of my mommy in heaven.
Emma flicks the switch and leaves. Jenny climbs under the covers with a flashlight, Tuffy and a book on the Amazon.
INT. HALL - NIGHT
EMMA
Poor little tyke. Hadji, there's a curse on this family.
HADJI
Emma, you may be right. How do you say people say it? He has gone off the deep end. He went to look for Betty Jo. I told him it was a trick. She's dead, I buried her myself.
EXT. A DEEP GORGE UNDER MOONLIT SKY, - NIGHT
Hamp repels down the rock walls to the moon drenched water below. He stops on a ledge and looks across the ravine.
HAMP
It should be just on the other side of the cliff.
He adjusts the rope, then begins another long repel. Suddenly the rope tugs, then moves out and away from the rocks. Hamp is swung out and away from the sheer wall. Above Hamp the shadow of a winged creature moves across the moon with Hamp's rope in its beak. Hamp dangles like a worm on a string and he is pulled up higher and higher.
HAMP (CONT'D)
Good god almighty.
Incarnus' evil LAUGH echoes through the gorge.
INT. A DARK ANTE CHAMBER IN THE TEMPLE OF ARNATH - NIGHT
INCARNUS, still laughing is the evangelist of Arnath. He moves from a LOOKING GLASS with its VIEW of Hamp to face the CAMERA.
Incarnus towers. His ashen death mask of dried yellowed skin, tightly covers prominent cheek bones and splays upward to a bulbous cranium. The mask is sardonic and his LAUGH is like the deep rasp of a death rattle.
He swishes like a drag queen to the heavily embossed table. On the table is AN ANCIENT MAP OF THE WORLD.
Small STRAW VOODOO DOLLS in the shape of Jenny, Hadji, Hamp and others are positioned in their respective geographical locations. He slowly picks up HAMP'S VOODOO DOLL, from the Amazon area and with his long nailed bony fingers. He crushes Hamp's doll till every grain of the red sawdust is gone.
Stay tuned for part 2 as Jenny tries to get to the Amazon to save her dad.
