EXT. BASE CAMP AT THE CAVE OF SWIMMERS. 1939. DAY
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Almásy sits on a ridge transferring map information from his Herodotus onto a sheet of paper. He looks up at the sound of Clifton's approaching Steerman. It passes fast and horrifying close to his head. THE PATIENT: I was packing up the Base Camp at the Cave of Swimmers. Clifton had arranged to fly down from Cairo to collect me. He flew like a madman, so I didn't take much notice...... |
Clifton is flying toward the landing strip. From the air it's possible to make out Almásy scrambling down from the ridge toward where stones indicate a landing area, carrying the last of the materials from the Cave of Swimmers.
EXT. BASE CAMP AT THE CAVE OF SWIMMERS. DAY
Almásy watches as the plane drops towards him, shielding his eyes against the sun. He stoops to gather up his luggage.
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Almásy looks up to
see the plane swerve, now suddenly HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARD HIM. He's
completely vulnerable, nowhere to run. He dives at the ground. THE PLANE
SMASHES AGAINST AN INVISIBLE RIDGE AND TURNS OVER AND OVER, the wings
snapping off like twigs as it hurtles past the prostrate Almásy.
He gets to his feet and starts to run toward the wreckage.
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A blue line of smoke is uncoiling from the plane, but no fire. Almásy pulls away the debris to find GEOFFREY--SLUMPED, NECK BROKEN, BLOODY. He tries to move him, and in the process reveals, to his ABSOLUTE horror, KATHARINE, STARING GRIMLY AHEAD, UNABLE TO MOVE. He's frantic.
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ALMÁSY: Katharine! Oh dear God, Katharine--what are you doing here? KATHARINE (eyes rolling, an incredible weariness): I can't get out. I can't move. |
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Almásy starts to pull at the wreck around her. DURING THIS-- KATHARINE:
"A surprise," he
said. |
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ALMÁSY: I have to get you out. Almásy puts his arm around Katharine to try and pull her clear. She can't stand the pain. KATHARINE: Please don't move me. ALMÁSY: I have to get you out. KATHARINE: It hurts too much.
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ALMÁSY (can't bear to hurt her): I know, my darling, I'm sorry. He pulls--hard--the pain from which causes Katharine to gasp, then pass out. They slip haphazardly to the ground, cushioned a little by the sand. He lifts her gently into his arms and carries her from the danger of the place. |
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EXT. THE CAVE OF SWIMMERS. DAY
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Almásy has WRAPPED
KATHARINE IN THE SILK FOLDS OF HER PARACHUTE and emerges from near the
familiar cleft in the rock, struggling with the exertion of the climb
as they approach the Cave of Swimmers. He has a large water bottle slung
around his neck and a haversack, and is loaded like a pack horse. Katharine
opens her eyes.
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KATHARINE (whispering): Why did you hate me? ALMÁSY: What? KATHARINE: Don't you know you drove everybody mad? |
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ALMÁSY: Shhhh. Don't talk.
KATHARINE (gasping): You speak so many bloody languages and you never want to talk.
They stagger on. He suddenly notices a stain of gold at her neck. It's saffron, leaking from a silver THIMBLE which hangs from a black ribbon.
ALMÁSY (overwhelmed): You're wearing the thimble.
KATHARINE: Of course. You idiot. I always wear it. I've always worn it. I've always loved you.
ALMÁSY CRIES as he walks--huge sobs, no words--convulsed with the pain of it. They approach the Cave.
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