THE GORGE screenplay (3 page)

DOVE

I never talk when my mouth is full. Now get down here and shut me up.

Raintree watches from the woods. He tosses down a pill.

CUT TO:

EXT. ROCKY CREVICE. MORNING.

SKEEK
—a creature’s shriek fills the sky. Castle peers out of the mouth of a cave. Suddenly a creature’s face swings upside down from above, fangs glistening, tongue hanging. Castle screams.

Castle’s eyes snap open—he has been dreaming. He awakes groggy, looks around where he had pressed himself into a rocky crevice to hide. He pulls Samford’s toboggan from his pocket and fingers the frayed rip in it. He grips the Glock, his face hardening as he gets to his feet.

He looks off the ledge to the UnegamaRiver churning below.

CUT TO:

EXT. RIVERBANK. MORNING.

Ace carries the backpack, Clara beside him as they walk along the river. They reach a shallow, quieter stretch.

ACE

I figure we’ll head downriver. It comes out at a lake. We can steal a car and head for Montana.

Clara, pale, only nods.

ACE (CONT’D)

What’s the matter? Sardines ain’t good enough for you?

CLARA

I don’t feel so good.

Clara falls to her knees and retches. Ace goes over to her.

ACE

Shit, we don’t got much food. Can’t afford to waste it.

(softer)

Oh, come on, honey. Keep the faith.

CLARA

I can’t walk any farther.

Ace glowers, then looks upstream. A canoe is headed toward them, a middle-aged couple, PETE, 40’s, chubby, and JENNY, 40’s, way too made-up for the outdoors, both struggling to paddle the canoe. They wear white helmets that glisten in the sun.

ACE

The Lord provides.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMP BY RIVER. MORNING.

Bowie emerges from the woods. The camp is mostly broken, the tents packed, equipment and backpacks piled near the campfire. A thin thread of smoke rises from the charred pit.

The rest of the group—Dove, Farrengalli, Raintree, and C.A.—are gathered around Travis, who is gushing about the two deflated ProVentures kayaks laid out before him. Bowie saunters up during the presentation. Dove deliberately ignores him.

TRAVIS

The ProVentures Muskrat is the latest breakthrough in whitewater adventure, double-layer rubberized nylon. Inflatable, it weighs four pounds, making it easy to pack out to remote areas.

Raintree attaches a portable air pump and begins inflating the first of two kayaks.

C.A.

Like a rubber ducky in a bathtub.

Travis tosses C.A. a small tube. He opens it and unlocks a telescoping paddle handle.

TRAVIS

Lightweight titanium paddles. Seats three. Carrying capacity of 800 pounds.

Dove elbows Farrengalli.

DOVE

(to Farrengalli)

Just enough to float your ego.

FARRENGALLI

Ride with me, baby, and you’ll see what weighs 800 pounds.

TRAVIS

Focus. This is serious. Right, Bowie?

BOWIE

The UnegamaRiver has some of the most dangerous stretches of whitewater in the eastern United States. Water hazard rankings run from Class One to Class Six, with “six” carrying the risk of death. Unegama ranges from three to six.

Raintree has inflated the first kayak and Travis nudges it with his foot to check the air pressure.

TRAVIS

The perfect place to test out the Muskrat.

(nods to Dove)

Which is why Dove’s media coverage is so important.

FARRENGALLI

Better put me in the centerfold.

C.A.

Let’s see who makes it to the end first, Little Italy.

BOWIE

This isn’t a reality show. This is reality. Let’s get these in the river. We should make BabelTower by early afternoon.

TRAVIS

(claps his hands)

You heard the boss. Let’s make a splash.

As the group disperses to get their equipment, Farrengalli goes to Raintree, who is inflating the second raft. Farrengalli taps him on the back.

FARRENGALLI

Looks like too many chiefs and not enough injuns, huh?

Raintree keeps pumping.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST PATH. DAY.

Castle finds signs of Ace’s and Clara’s bedding—a matted place in the leaves, the dead campfire, an empty sardine can. A pair of rumpled, stained panties lays in the dirt.

CUT TO:

EXT. RIVERBANK. DAY.

Ace stands at the water’s edge and waves to Pete and Jenny, who paddle through a calm stretch of water. The canoe wobbles and their strokes are uncoordinated.

ACE

Howdy, folks. Having trouble there?

JENNY

(Jersey accent)

This was supposed to be the easy stretch. ‘Get away from it all,’ he says.

PETE

Shut it, Jenny.

JENNY

I was port and you were starboard. You screwed up. As usual.

They paddle badly toward shore, Jenny accidentally bumping Pete’s helmet with her paddle.

PETE

Christ, we can walk out. It’s only eight miles to the ranger station.

ACE

Nice day for a hike.

JENNY

Some vacation.

PETE

Shut it.

They bump into shore. Ace helps out Jenny, who eyes him nervously.

JENNY

You got a trail map?

Ace grins and shakes his head.

ACE

Strait is the gate and narrow is the way.

Pete sits in the canoe, Ace gripping the bow.

PETE

Jenny, we’d better get the boat back.

(to Ace)

We registered with the Park Service, and you know how they can get.

ACE

I don’t see no park service.

PETE

Listen, we didn’t bring any money. You can take our wedding rings, but that’s all we got.

Ace pulls the Colt out from where it was hidden in his waistband.

ACE

You’re mighty cooperative.

JENNY

(to Pete)

Jeez. He’s going to rape me, isn’t he?

Pete glowers like he wouldn’t mind watching.

ACE

I don’t do nothing to a woman against her will.

(calls into woods)

Right, honey?

Clara steps out, wearing the backpack, looking pale and sweaty.

CLARA

You going to shoot them?

ACE

Nah, they’re in God’s hands.

(to Pete)

Now get out of the goddamned boat before God changes his mind.

Pete scrambles out of the canoe, splashing in knee-deep water. Ace holds the canoe steady while Clara gets in. He settles behind her and works the paddle, pushing away from shore.

PETE

What about our gear? We’ll get lost.

ACE

There’s only one right path.

He strokes, makes some distance, then hollers over the swelling splash of the river.

ACE (CONT’D)

You might want to watch out for them angels, though.

Pete and Jenny hug each other, looking small and isolated in the vista of the peaceful gorge.

CUT TO:

INT.CAVE. DAY.

A little light leaks into the rocky crevice. Samford’s flashlight bulb has grown dim. Samford lays on the flat rock, his skin ravaged, cloths shredded, blood soaking the stone, his face shriveled. His eyes open—

They glow red. His mouth opens—he has mutated, his teeth are sharp. From the blackness of his throat—
SKEEK
.

CUT TO:

EXT.RIVER. DAY.

SLOOSH—explosion of river spray as a kayak splashes between two boulders and shoots down a roostertail of current. Farrengalli, Dove, and Raintree are in the lead Muskrat. They wear helmets, lifejackets, and snug drysuits, working the paddles. They are in control, moving with teamwork, faces set in a mix of joy and concentration.

Upriver trails the second Muskrat—Bowie in the rear, Travis, C.A. in front. Their Muskrat is headed for a sheer boulder, spinning sideways.

BOWIE

(shouts over current)

Curler off port!

Bowie dips his paddle, using it as a rudder, as C.A. tries to pole the Muskrat away from the rocks. Travis is indecisive, his paddle poised over the rapids.

BOWIE (CONT’D)

Left, left, left.

Travis finally joins in, the kayak spins until it is pointed downriver. It smacks into the boulder and Bowie shoves against the rock with his oar, pushing them free. The kayak bounces over a swell and splashes water in their faces.

C.A.

Whoo! Only fuckin’ natural.

TRAVIS

Told you it was tough.

BOWIE

Keep your panties dry. We’re not through yet.

As they struggle to regain control, the other Muskrat has reached calmer water on the far side and below them. Raintree raises up and points, cups his mouth and yells.

C.A.

Raintree’s pointing.

BOWIE

Shit. The river’s changed. Floods from the hurricanes.

TRAVIS

You don’t remember this?

The current suddenly accelerates. They are being drawn to a straight drop of fifteen feet, the water swirling in a suction.

BOWIE

(calm)

Hang onto your asses, gentlemen.

In slow motion, the Muskrat is sucked down the falls. Water drops hang like jewels in the sun. The river is hushed and sibilant as the Muskrat goes airborne. Travis flails, his paddle smacking Bowie’s helmet, C.A. opens his mouth to yell, the kayak is almost like a live animal is it arcs toward the churning foam.

KA-SWOOSH. The Muskrat smacks, dips into the water briefly, throwing its passengers. A paddle bobs up, then Travis’s head. He spits water and hacks as he drifts downstream.

BLOOP. Underwater, Bowie kicks against the current, which is spinning him and tugging him down. Above, light strikes the surface of the river, taunting him. He finally swims free and struggles toward calm water.

Raintree and Dove are knee-deep, helping Travis. Farrengalli sits in the other Muskrat, watching.

RAINTREE

C.A. He didn’t come up.

BOWIE

Shit.

Bowie peels off his lifejacket and dives back into the chaos he just escaped from. Underwater, he squirms upstream, fighting the current, beneath the pounding falls, face contorted. Then he’s under the falls and emerges. There’s an open space between the wall of water and the rocks. C.A. is resting, safe, half out of the water.

C.A.

Thought I’d take a break.

BOWIE

You asshole. This isn’t a game.

C.A.

Sure it is. Say, what do you think of Dove? Pretty hot, huh?

Bowie edges along the rocks toward the side of the waterfall where the water is calmer.

BOWIE

You want to play kissy-face with death, do it on your own time.

C.A. gives a mock salute.

C.A.

Aye-aye, Captain.

CUT TO:

EXT. RIVERBANK. DAY.

Castle emerges from the woods to find Pete and Jenny sitting on a fallen log. Castle doesn’t realize he’s carrying the Glock. Pete stands up.

PETE

If you’re going to rob us, you’re too late. We’re still open to rape, though.

JENNY

Shut it, Pete. Can’t you tell he’s a cop?

PETE

He doesn’t look like no cop.

(to Castle)

Are you a cop?

CASTLE

I’m a lunatic with a gun. Good enough?

PETE

It was a man, short, bad teeth, weird eyes. Had a girl with him, cute young thing.

JENNY

How do you know? You didn’t look above her tits.

(to Castle)

You know the way out of here?

CASTLE

They headed downriver?

PETE

We had a $500 deposit on the canoe.

JENNY

(to Castle)

Atlantic City, I told him. But, no, he had to go to hillbilly hell.

CASTLE

Seen any...unusual wildlife?

JENNY

Besides talking monkeys with guns?

Castle starts walking along the riverbank, headed downstream.

JENNY (CONT’D)

You just going to leave us out here? Some public servant.

Castle rummages in his backpack, gives Pete a trail map.

CASTLE

Stay north and you’ll hit the main trail. Keep walking and you should hit a highway by morning.

Pete squints at the sky.

PETE

Which way’s north?

CASTLE

(points)

Just go that way. And don’t stop, come hell or high water.

CUT TO:

EXT. RIVERBANK. DAY.

Lane sits in sand, recovering, Dove and Raintree attending to him. Travis is woozy but otherwise okay. Bowie and C.A. wade toward shore.

FARRENGALLI

Maytagged their asses. Put ‘em through the spin cycle.

DOVE

Pulse is normal, no sign of shock.

RAINTREE

He passed out from fright.

FARRENGALLI

Wet his pants, huh?

DOVE

(to Farrengalli)

Why don’t you make yourself useful and go catch the other Muskrat?

Bowie and C.A. reach shore, passing Farrengalli on the way.

FARRENGALLI

Maytagged your asses.

Farrengalli swims downstream after the abandoned Muskrat. Bowie hurries to Travis.

BOWIE

How is he?

TRAVIS

I’m fine. Told you the Muskrat would hold up to anything.

BOWIE

It didn’t bust, but it took on water.

Travis waves an unsteady hand.

TRAVIS

The boys in the lab will fix that.

BOWIE

They can’t fix a dead man.

C.A.

Save the melodrama, Bowie. This is a test run.

BOWIE

Your job is to look good, but mine is to get us all out of here in one piece.

DOVE

Let’s take a break. We’ll still make BabelTower before dark.

Bowie flashes rebellion, then relaxes.

BOWIE

Fine.

CUT TO:

EXT.FOREST. DAY.

Raintree is alone in the trees, the river rushing in the background. He squints against the tall cliffs, where a lone creature soars in slow circles. It’s too far away to identify.

RAINTREE

Figures that my spirit guide would be a vulture.

Farrengalli crashes through the brush.