Missing scene from 'Cave of Fear'
INT – ENTRANCE
TO CAVE
MARGUERITE makes her
way slowly out of the cave, shrinking back from the walls. ROXTON is not far
behind, a hand on her arm to help keep her steady. SUMMERLEE follows them both,
Lapprand's naked skull in his hands. Just inside, he stops, startled. Roxton
notices Summerlee isn't behind him, and turns back.
ROXTON
Summerlee? What are you waiting for, man? Let's get the hell out of here!
SUMMERLEE
Just a moment, John. I think I saw something.
Roxton stops beside Summerlee
in time to see a black beetle scurrying by.
ROXTON
It’s just a bloody beetle. This is not the time for an entomological lesson.
SUMMERLEE
This isn’t just
any beetle! I can feel it. This beetle will one day have momentous importance
for the Lost World.
Arthur the Beetle in
V. O.
ARTHUR
You’re damn right, old man. It’ll take two more seasons, but then I’ll be out in my
full glory. Cocoon and all!
Roxton suddenly understands.
ROXTON
You’re being affected
by the fungus as well. We need to get out of here immediately.
Roxton drags the unwilling
botanist out of the cave. The beetle looks after them, befuddled.
ARTHUR in V. O.
ARTHUR
But what about me? A trip to the treehouse would be nice. I promise not to stay overnight.
Roxton and Summerlee
have already forgotten about the beetle and join Marguerite outside. Exhausted, they sit down on the ground. Summerlee places
the skull next to him.
SUMMERLEE
What an ordeal!
MARGUERITE
(eyeing the skull distastefully)
I wish we didn’t
have to take this ghastly thing with us.
ROXTON
We have no choice. It’s
the only way to save Challenger.
Meanwhile the beetle
is hurrying out of the cave. He scurries over leaves, grass and stones, worried that he’ll be left behind. He reaches
the skull and crawls up, disappearing into the eye socket, unnoticed by Roxton, Marguerite and Summerlee.
Arthur in V. O.
ARTHUR
Maybe that stupid raptor is right and I should work out more. I’m all out of breath.
ROXTON
Do you hear that?
MARGUERITE
What?
SUMMERLEE
I don’t hear anything.
ROXTON
Exactly.
All look at each other,
fear on their faces.
ROXTON, MARGUERITE and SUMMERLEE
(in unison)
Raptors!
They grab their weapons
and check the load. Just then a young raptor comes out of the jungle, whistling Kung
Fu Fighting. Suddenly he stops.
JOE THE RAPTOR
Stupid song! Can’t get it out of my head! That’s what I get for visiting my cousin, the gecko.
Roxton sees the raptor
and shoots at him, missing him by a hair’s breadth.
JOE THE RAPTOR
(in raptor-speak)
Whoaaa!! Who are these trigger-happy maniacs? Is no part of the jungle safe from them?
He jumps to the side,
trying to dodge further bullets.
Arthur the Beetle peeks
out of the eye-socket of the skull.
ARTHUR
(in slightly beetle-accented raptor-speak)
Watch out for the woman! They usually shoot better than men.
JOE THE RAPTOR
(exasperated)
I could use some help here, Arthur.
ARTHUR
(guffaws)
What do you expect me to do? Risk my own life? For someone who isn’t even a beetle? Sorry, raptor,
but it’s a jungle out here.
JOE THE RAPTOR
(fed up)
I’m out of here!
Summerlee, Roxton and
Marguerite continue to shoot at the raptor. He zigzags across the clearing, then turns around and runs into the jungle.
ROXTON
That was close! These blood-thirsty animals are really getting on my nerves.
Arthur in V. O.
ARTHUR
He might like raptors better, if he tasted that raptor stew the Manouins have been cooking all day long.
Maybe I should give him a hint. I wish my English wasn’t so heavily accented. I’m often misunderstood. That big
fellow might think I’m talking about beetle stew. You never know with humans.
Roxton, Summerlee and
Marguerite put down their weapons.
ROXTON
We'd best not waste
any time getting back to that compound. I didn't like the looks of those Manouin
guards.
MARGUERITE
I wasn't too keen on
the queen, either. She throws a nice dinner party, but -
Roxton takes the lead
back down the jungle trail.
ROXTON
I take it, Marguerite,
that you think she knew about that fungus when she sent us to the cave.
MARGUERITE
She was just a little
too sure we'd run into trouble.
She reaches to check
the pistol in her belt holster.
MARGUERITE
Let's just make sure
she doesn't have one waiting for us.
Arthur peeks out of the skull and gives Marguerite an appreciative look.
Arthur in V. O.
ARTHUR
Hey, I like her. She’s not only nice to look at, she also seems to be the brains of the outfit.
Summerlee picks up the skull and puts it into the pouch. Roxton, Summerlee and Marguerite start walking into the jungle.
Hidden behind a large tree Joe the Raptor observes them intently.
JOE THE RAPTOR
(with a misguided attempt at a wolfish grin)
We will see each other again, Lord Roxton. And that will be the one day when you don’t bring enough
ammunition.
FADE OUT
