A saga of everyday life in the Big L and a wry look at contemporary culture
By Tony Carden
Episode Thirty Three
‘We have a deal.’ Mary plucked a petal from the flower. ‘We don’t have a deal.’ She plucked another one. ‘We have a deal.’
There was a thumping and Des blundered into her office.
‘What are you doing here? I gave strict instructions not to be disturbed.’
‘Shoshe whatsh?’
‘You’re drunk.’
‘Wafsh ish Ijh amsh?’
‘It’s disgusting. You’re slurring your words.’
‘Sosjh?’ He staggered over to the settee and collapsed. He righted himself and stared at her. ‘Welsh?’
‘You’re revolting.’
‘Whatcha doing?’ He pointed at the pile of petals on the floor.
‘Oh that.’ With her foot, she shuffled the petals under her desk. ‘Nothing.’
‘The lasht time you did sthat was on our …’ Des put his hand to his head, ‘… ooh, it ‘urts it does.’ He squinted at her. ‘Zats it! Our honeshmoon!’
‘I think you should go off to bed.’
‘Youz comin?’ He looked hopeful.
‘I think you should sleep in the visitor’s room tonight.’
‘Pish, don’t I alwash…’ He lay back on the sofa. In a moment, he began to snore.
She looked at him and shook her head, then pressed a buzzer on her desk.
A moment later there was a knock at the door.
‘Come in.’
A man entered and looked around. He spotted Des lying on the sofa.
‘You wanna me to see ‘im to bed.’
‘If you don’t mind. He was his old school reunion and I think they celebrated in style.’
‘ ‘e’ll ‘ave a beaut of a ben dover tamorrah.’
‘I’m sure he will.’
The man pulled Des upright and he partly came to. ‘Come-ze mate.’ With some difficulty, he led him out the door. It remained partly open.
There was a knock. Adrian popped his head around the door. ‘PM, you available?’
‘Who wants to see me?’
‘Ralston is here and hoped to have a word with you.’
‘I suppose so. Send him in.’
Adrian’s head disappeared. There was a conversation outside, but Mary couldn’t hear what was being said.
A knock. Ralston stepped in.
‘Good of you PM to see me. I was just having a meeting with Carberry.’ He stopped and sniffed.
‘Is there something wrong?’
‘There’s a funny smell in here.’
‘Really?’
‘Well, to be honest, it reminds me of a downmarket pub.’
‘I’ll tell the manager. Perhaps we’ve got vermin. We’ll get Larry to sniff around a bit.’
‘Will he cooperate? Cat’s aren’t renowned for taking orders. A bit like herding the PP, isn’t that so PM?’
‘I think cats are easier.’ Mary indicated a chair. ‘Make yourself comfortable at least. You look awkward standing there.’
‘Of course, PM, of course.’ Ralston sat where indicated.
‘What did you want to see me about?’
‘Well, PM, I have a brilliant idea about how to rescue the Plan.’
‘I see. I trust it isn’t having a second referendum.’
‘Oh, lord no! You’ve made it perfectly clear we’re not re-opening that can of worms. You and I agree that wouldn’t be good at all.’
‘But a head of steam is building up. Just look at The Independent! Banging on about the will of the people—and all that.’
‘PM, listen, I’ve got this suggestion. What if we ask the EU for the Swiss model?’
‘The Swiss model? What follow the land of chocolate boxes and cuckoo clocks?’
‘Why yes. They have a land border with the EU and they rub along together swimmingly, if you get my drift.’
‘Didn’t they negotiate every single point of access with the EU separately and that the Commission is now trying to put in place a comprehensive agreement instead of the rag-tag of sector, industry and I don’t know what treaties.’
‘But don’t you see, PM, that’s the beauty of it. We can work with the Swiss on making it all happen. They win. We win.’
‘Jeremy, we have till the end of March to get this sorted. No, not even that for some things.’ She gesticulated at a huge pile of documents in her in-tray. ‘That stack there are all the individual agreements that have to be worked out.’
‘I’m sure most of them are simply a case of agreeing to agree—or agreeing to disagree.’
‘You’re an optimist, aren’t you even after your sessions with Bernard?’
‘I talked to him about how time is pressing last weekend. He would like to wrap it all up pronto.’
Mary gave him a quizzical stare.
‘Oh, I know what the press said. Only an hour and we didn’t get his OK for the Plan. But that doesn’t mean we haven’t got the greenlight for most things. I would say we’re ninety-five percent there.’
‘But it’s the five percent that has the potential to blow up everything.’
‘That’s where the Swiss model is so brilliant. We can salami slice the agreement and get those bits Bernard and the Commission warm to all agreed now. We can then settle the rest in good time.’
‘And what still needs to be sorted? I seem to recall,’ she reached into her huge pile and pulled out a large dossier, ‘that customs arrangements are a contentious issue.’ She pulled out another folder. ‘And travel.’ Then two more. ‘There’s financial regulation.’ She slammed one of the folders down on her desk. ‘And the Rights of EU citizens.’ She started pulling out other folders. ‘There’s more…’
‘But the rest we can agree on.’
‘’Sure. The regulation of pork sales and tobacco labelling.’ She gave him a hard stare. ‘We’ve agreed the easy stuff. Here we are talking red lines.’
‘Bernard wants to be reasonable.’
‘Reasonable?’ She rolled up the document she held in her hand like a truncheon and pointed it at him. ‘The only reasonable he has in mind is our abject surrender to all his demands.’
Mary got to her feet and stood brandishing the roll as if it were a sword. ‘We will not surrender.’
After a moment she sat down again.
‘I guess your idea is worth a try.’
‘I’ll get on to it right away, PM.’
* * *
Just a Reminder
You did know that there is a compendium of the first twenty-five episodes available on the Amazon Kindle store for your delight?
Click here to view
* * *
Ahmed swung his Prius in a full circle and pulled up beside the curb. A young man, with a bag in hand, stepped over.
Ahmed wound down the window. ‘Mr Evans?’
‘Yeah, that’s me. Waterloo Station, yes?’
‘Yep. That’s it.’
‘How quickly can you get me there?’
‘Usual. Twenty. Twenty-five minutes or so. Depends on traffic.’
‘Well, as quick as you can. The train leaves at 18:36.’
‘Do me best.’
Ahmed signalled and pulled out.
They headed down Shaftesbury Avenue. About half-way down, they got stuck in traffic. He could see the lights turn green, then amber, then red. The traffic didn’t move. The lights went green again. He honked. But the lines were at a standstill.
Ahmed turned to his passenger. ‘Sorry mate, I’ll see if I can go ‘round.’
‘Yes, sure. Time’s running out.’
Ahmed indicated to go right into a side street. But there was a continuous stream of vehicles coming the opposite way. Eventually, he managed to get into the street by edging out and blocking the way to a bus. The irritated driver waved Ahmed through.
But about two hundred metres in, the road was clogged. A delivery van was preventing cars going both ways.
Ahmed honked, wound down and leaned out the window. He gesticulated at the delivery man. ‘Getcha out the way.’
The man waved a hand in the air. ‘Hey, hang on to your cobbles, mate. Won’t be a minute. One more trolley to go.’
Ahmed honked again.
‘We’re not going to make it, are we?’
Ahmed swivelled round to speak to his passenger. ‘If we can just get past this, I should be able to get you there on time.’
‘I should have gone by tube.’
‘It isn’t normally like this.’
‘Except when you’re in a hurry.’
‘You’d think the congestion charge wouldda helped, yeah?’
Ahmed honked again.
The delivery driver waved at him, closed the doors to his truck and went around to the cab. The flashing lights stopped. The truck edged slowly forward. Ahmed followed close behind. Just before a junction, the truck indicated left. Before it could turn and clear the intersection, it stopped.
Ahmed honked furiously.
The truck’s reversing lights came on. It started to edge back.
Ahmed looked in his rear-view mirror. ‘Shit.’ He put his hand on the horn and kept it there.
The truck stopped. The driver came around and surveyed the situation. He came over to Ahmed and shook his head. ‘I ain’t going to be able to go down, mate. I need to back up.’
‘You’re gonna have to get those behind to shift back.’
‘Yeah.’ The driver headed down the street towards the cars that had stopped behind the Prius.
‘This is hopeless.’ His passenger got out of the car.
‘Whatcha doing?’
‘I give up.’ He pulled the bag out and faced Ahmed. ‘That’s it. Ride’s off.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out his mobile, tapped at it and then switched it off.
There was a ping on Ahmed’s phone. ‘Thanks mate.’ He watched his passenger walk away back the way they had just come. He glanced at his phone. It said 18:29.
Ahmed noticed the car behind him had backed up. He reversed slowly back to give the truck room to move.
A little later, the driver returned and got back in. The reversing lights came on. With the alert pinging, the truck slowly backed into the street. It stopped. With a jolt, it started forward.
With no bids coming through, Ahmed followed the truck seeking a place to stop and wait. There were no spaces available.
The mobile pinged. Ahmed pulled in against the curb on a double yellow line. He quickly glanced at the message. Too far away, so he didn’t put in a bid. He indicated to pull out just as a large SUV thundered down the street, nearly colliding with him. The vehicle passed and headed for the end of the street. Ahmed pulled out to follow.
Instead of stopping at the give way sign, the SUV accelerated and, to Ahmed’s astonishment, seemed to leap into the air and crash down on a car parked opposite.
Ahmed pulled up at the junction. Remembering to put on his hazard lights, he got out and went over to the SUV. He stood on a tire of the crushed car to get high enough to see in. The driver seemed to be sitting there in a daze. Ahmed s slapped loudly on the window. ‘Hey, mate, you OK?’
This seemed to bring the man out of his stupor. He gazed around. His eyes focused on Ahmed. He wound down the window. ‘Yeah. Just a bit shaken. What happened?’
‘You seemed to jump up when you reached the junction.’
‘How’s that possible?’
Ahmed stepped down and stood back.
The man opened the door and unfastened his seat belt. He looked at the fact the car was up in the air. He clambered down over the roof and bonnet of the car beneath.
‘Did you press the accelerator instead of the brake?’
‘If I’d done that, I’d have smashed into the car, not flown up into the air.’
‘Yeah, I guess so.’
Ahmed’s phone pinged. A ride. He quickly tapped in a reply. There was a moment’s pause. His mobile pinged again. He read what had popped up. ‘Gotta go. Business.’
‘Yeah, well, you take care.’
Ahmed got in, started the engine and carefully drove around the crash towards his next hire.
* * *
INDY REF2 AND THE LOST CRUSADE
Part 6
The story so far…
Several years after his encounter in Trafalgar Square with Panama hat, Indy finally manages to best the radical European group and steal their banner, which he delivers to his mentor Brody. Escaping from his students in his political theory class, Indy is picked up by henchmen employed by William Donovan. At this meeting, Indy hears about the missing elements of Orwell’s key political treatise and the fact Donovan has information as to their whereabouts. Agreeing to go and search for these, Indy is told that the manuscript might be in Venice, Italy.
Having found a clue to Orwell’s treatise on political manipulation in the catacombs of Venice’s library and met Elsa, they are attacked and barely escape with their lives when the catacombs are engulfed in a firestorm.
EXT. VENICE PIAZZA – OUTDOOR CAFE – DAY
The perfect picture postcard — St. Mark’s Square and the
Grand Canal beyond. Cafe customers are startled to see Indy
and Elsa climb out of the sewer, wet and smelly. Indy looks
around at the postcard-perfect setting and smiles.
INDY
(wryly)
Ah, Venice!
Indy’s delight, however, is short-lived since Kazim and TWO
OTHER FOREIGN AGENTS are running towards them with drawn guns.
He grabs Elsa by the hand and the two of them run down the
dock and LEAP INTO A MOTORBOAT.
INT. THE MOTORBOAT – DAY
Indy fires up the engine and pulls away from the dock… but
not before a FOREIGN AGENT JUMPS in with him.
Elsa grabs the wheel and begins to steer the boat while Indy
and the Agent trade punches.
EXT. THE HARBOR – DAY
Indy’s Speedboat BOUNCES across the choppy waters heading in
the direction of the DOCKED CRUISE LINER.
Kazim and his men rush to TWO MORE SPEEDBOATS tied to the dock.
They chase after Indy.
Indy grapples with the Foreign Agent. As Indy grips his arms,
we SEE a GUN in the Agent’s hand. It FIRES.
As Indy fights with the Agent, he becomes aware of the
Speedboats behind him and two enormous Freighters ahead of
him, joined together by two giant ropes.
Indy, having gained the advantage, leans on top of the Agent.
INDY
(to Elsa)
Are you crazy?! You don’t go between
them!
Elsa can barely hear Indy over the noise of the motor.
ELSA
Go between them? Are you crazy?!
Indy finally delivers the punch that sends the Agent
flying overboard. Turning, Indy sees that Elsa has committed
the speedboat to a course BETWEEN the two Freighters, now
being pushed even closer together by a Tugboat.
INDY
I said go around!
ELSA
You said go between them!
INDY
I said don’t go between them!
It’s purely academic at this point since the hulls of the
two Freighters loom up on either side of them like cavern
walls.
EXT. FULL SHOT – THE HARBOR – DAY
One Enemy Speedboat chases Indy between the two Freighters.
But the Speedboat containing Kazim veers off and goes around.
EXT. BETWEEN THE TWO FREIGHTERS – DAY
It’s a race for daylight as the two Freighters drift ever
closer to one another.
Indy’s Speedboat just manages to squeeze through the gap.
But the Enemy Speedboat EXPLODES as it is crushed between
the two Freighters, FLYING INTO THE AIR and SPLASHING back
down into the water.
INDY AND ELSA
Spin their boat around in a sharp half-circle to see KAZIM’S
SPEEDBOAT appear racing toward them. He stands in the moving
boat, FIRING A MACHINE GUN at Indy and Elsa.
KAZIM’S SPEEDBOAT
Matches Indy’s move for move.
FULL SHOT – THE HARBOR
The two boats race across the water nearly side-by-side. A
CHATTERING MACHINE GUN from Kazim’s boat SPLINTERS the wood
of Indy’s boat, until finally the rear of the boat CATCHES
ON FIRE.
The machine gun runs out of ammunition. Kazim puts it down
and takes control of the wheel from one of the Foreign Agents
in the boat with him.
As Indy’s boat drifts toward the GIANT, TURNING PROPELLERS
at the STERN of ANOTHER STEAMER, Kazim’s boat draws up
alongside and hits them. Indy steps into Kazim’s boat. He
knocks one of the Foreign Agents to the deck, then turns his
attention to Kazim. The two men trade punches as the boat
spins helplessly in the churning water.
ELSA
No!!
Indy kicks Kazim in the face, knocking him into the water,
then pulls him back into the boat, now being SUCKED THROUGH
THE CHURNING WATER toward the Steamer’s giant propeller
blades.
INDY
Why are you trying to kill us?
KAZIM
Because you’re looking for Orwell’s formula.
INDY
My father was looking for Orwell’s
Manuscript too. Did you kill him too?
KAZIM
No.
INDY
Where is he? Talk — or you’re dead.
Damn it, tell me! Tell me!
KAZIM
If you don’t let go, Professor Ref2,
we’ll both die.
INDY
Then we’ll die.
KAZIM
My soul is prepared. How’s yours?
By now half the boat has been chopped up into matchwood and
the blades are getting closer.
INDY
This is your last chance.
KAZIM
No, Professor Ref2. It’s yours!
The wind of the blades is on their necks. Indy grabs Kazim
just in time and jumps… into the motorboat, driven by Elsa,
which gets alongside in the nick of time.
INDY
All right! Where’s my father
KAZIM
If you let me go, I will tell you
where he is.
INDY
Who are you?
KAZIM
My name is Kazim.
INDY
And why were you trying to kill me?
KAZIM
The secret of Orwell’s Manuscript has been
safe for seventy years. And for
all that time the Brotherhood of Europe
has been prepared to
do anything to keep it hidden.
Kazim pulls back his shirt to reveal a birthmark… or is it
a tattoo? Whatever it is, it’s a circle of gold stars; in the middle
is written “Pax Europa”.
KAZIM
Let me get off at this jetty.
The boat is close to the edge of the canal. Indy gives Elsa
a nod, telling her to bring the boat in. Kazim steps ashore.
KAZIM
Ask yourself, why do you seek Orwell’s
Manuscript? Is it for Donavan’s benefit,
or for yours?
INDY
I didn’t come for Orwell’s Manuscript.
I came to find my father.
KAZIM
In that case, peace be with you in
your quest. Your father is being
held in the Castle of Brunwald on
the Austrian-German border.
Kazim walks away.
INT. VENICE APARTMENT – DAY
CLOSE ON THE WATER-SOAKED PAPER: The manuscript
retrieved from the catacombs.
Brody is giving it careful study while he dabs the lump on
the back of his head with an ice pack.
INDY
How’s the head?
BRODY
It’s better, now I’ve seen this.
There’s a name written here.
Can’t quite make it out.
“Cass Ander?” Hmmm…
Indy, wearing a bathrobe, leans over to study the writing.
INDY
Orwell always thought his writings were dynamite.
Perhaps he entrusted them to someone called Ander?
Brody lowers the ice pack from his head and looks at Indy.
INDY
Well, it could be, no?
Orwell always regretted putting his political insights to paper
that is why he wrote “Animal Farm”.
He could disguise the Truth of the political process as a fable.
Think of what he wrote:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
(pause)
But why exactly?
BRODY
Your father would know. Your father
did know. Look. He drew a diagram.
Brody picks up the Manuscript.
BRODY
He must have pieced it together from
clues scattered through the whole
of Orwell’s political writings. A diagram
with no explanation.
INSERT: A PENCIL-DRAWN DIAGRAM
It covers two pages of the Diary. Brody’s finger moves across
it.
BRODY
Now, he knew there are many different forms of
political organisation. Here. He knew they
could morph from one form to the other
for democracy to degenerate into tyranny;
for despotism to be overthrown by revolution;
for civil war; for communism and fascism. He knew everything except
where to begin, the key starting process.
INDY
(solemnly)
Cass Ander. Now we know.
BRODY
Yes. Now we know.
INDY
(rising)
Marcus, get hold of Sallah. Tell him
to meet you in Dunoon.
Indy closes the Manuscript and puts it into the pocket of
his robe.
BRODY
What about you?
INDY
I’m going after Dad.
INT. INDY’S BEDROOM – DAY
Indy opens the door. His bedroom has been ransacked… the
mattress on the floor, the drawers turned out.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Indy approaches another door (Elsa’s bedroom) and knocks.
INDY
Elsa?
He goes in.
INT. ELSA’S BEDROOM – DAY
…and finds that Elsa’s bedroom is in a similar ransacked
state to his own. The room is empty.
He is worried for her, knocks and calls out:
INDY
Elsa?
He steps into the room and knocks upon the bathroom door.
INDY
Elsa?
He opens the bathroom door, peering inside.
INDY
Elsa?
INT. ELSA’S BATHROOM – DAY
Elsa is standing before a mirror, wearing a silk bathrobe.
She gasps, startled, as Indy enters. He retreats into
her bedroom as she reaches up to turn off a record player
sitting on a ledge above the bathtub.
INT. ELSA’S BEDROOM – DAY
Elsa joins Indy, waiting in the ransacked room. She looks
around in shock.
ELSA
My room!
INDY
Mine, too.
ELSA
What were they looking for?
She looks to Indy, who pulls the Manuscript from his pocket.
INDY
This.
ELSA
The Manuscript.
INDY
Uh-huh.
ELSA
You had it? You didn’t trust me!
She looks hurt and beautiful. She comes closer to him.
INDY
I didn’t know you.
She’s awfully hard to resist.
INDY
At least I let you tag along.
ELSA
Oh, yes. Give them a flower and
they’ll follow you anywhere.
INDY
Knock it off. You’re not mad.
ELSA
No?
INDY
No. You like the way I do things.
ELSA
It’s lucky I don’t do things the
same way. You’d still be standing at
the Venice pier.
She stomps her foot angrily. Indy flinches. She starts to
walk away but Indy grabs her.
INDY
Look, what do you think is going on
here? Since I’ve met you, I’ve nearly
been incinerated, drowned, shot at,
and chopped into fish bait. We’re
caught in the middle of something
sinister here. My guess is Dad found
out more than he was looking for.
And until I’m sure, I’m going to
continue to do things the way I think
they should be done.
He pulls her to him and kisses her.
ELSA
How dare you kiss me!
Now Elsa reaches for Indy and kisses him.
INDY
Leave me alone. I don’t like fast
women.
But he embraces her, and Elsa begins to nibble at his ear.
ELSA
And I hate arrogant men.
Indy smiles slyly as they fall to the bed.
EXT. VENICE CANAL – DAY
A GONDOLIER SINGS as he steers his gondola carrying two
passengers past Indy’s window.
INT. INDY’S BEDROOM – DAY
Indy lies on top of Elsa, kissing her. He stops for a moment
as he hears the Gondolier SINGING.
INDY
Ahh, Venice.
Elsa reaches up and pulls him back down to her.
EXT. ROAD THROUGH THE AUSTRIAN MOUNTAINS – DAY
A Mercedes SUV glides through the sharp mountain curves.
This is SUPERIMPOSED OVER A MAP that charts their course
from Venice across Austria toward Salzburg.
EXT. CASTLE IN THE AUSTRIAN MOUNTAINS – DAY
Storm clouds darken the skies. THUNDER EXPLODES in the
distance; lightning flashes. The Mercedes drives into
the courtyard of the formidable stone castle.
INDY
What do you know about this place?
ELSA
I know the Brunwalds are famous art
collectors.
INT. MERCEDES – DAY
Indy reaches into the back seat and retrieves his bullwhip.
ELSA
What are you going to do?
INDY
Don’t know. Think of something.
He glances up to the beret Elsa is wearing. She reaches up
and adjusts it.
INT. CASTLE ENTRANCE HALL – DAY
A BUTLER walks to the door and opens it to reveal Indy and
Elsa standing outside in the rain. She now wears Indy’s
fedora; Indy is wearing Elsa’s beret.
BUTLER
Yes?
Indy, followed by Elsa, steps inside, shaking the water from
his overcoat. He adopts a Scottish accent.
INDY
And not before time! Did you intend
to leave us standing on the doorstep
all day? We’re drenched!
As Indy says this he pushes his way past the startled Butler,
pulling a handkerchief from the man’s pocket. Elsa follows,
taking off her coat. Indy SNEEZES HARD.
INDY
Now look! I’ve gone and caught a
sniffle.
Indy dabs at his nose with the handkerchief as Elsa looks on
in amused amazement.
BUTLER
(coldly; with Austrian
accent)
Are you expected?
INDY
Don’t take that tone with me, my
good man. Now buttle off and tell
Baron Brunwald that Lord Clarence
MacDonald and his lovely assistant
are here to view the tapestries.
BUTLER
Tapestries?
INDY
Dear me, the man is dense. This is a
castle, isn’t it? There are
tapestries?
BUTLER
This is a castle. And we have many
tapestries. But if you’re a Scottish
lord, then I am Mickey Mouse.
INDY
How dare he?!
Simultaneously knocking the Butler cold with one slug on the
jaw. The Butler falls against a wall tapestry, sliding down
to the floor, out cold.
INT. CASTLE HALLWAY – DAY
Indy and Elsa move cautiously and quietly down the wide,
vaulted hallway. APPROACHING VOICES ARE HEARD. Indy and Elsa
creep past a room full of SOLDIERS working around a
large table with a map atop it…
Indy reacts to the sight of them.
INDY
(to Elsa; softly)
WAR MONGERS. I hate these guys.
Indy and Elsa continue down the hallway. Indy carries a gun
in his hand and his whip hangs from his belt. He steps to a
closed door and listens.
INDY
This one. I think he’s in here.
ELSA
How do you know?
Indy points out an ELECTRONIC CONTROL BOX.
INDY
Because it’s bugged.
He studies the situation for a moment, then decides to enter
one of the other doors. He knocks at the door — there is no
response. He looks back at Elsa and enters.
INT. CASTLE ROOM – DAY
The room is dark and empty. Indy throws open the window
shutters and looks out. RAIN comes down in sheets. There is
a wide ledge beneath each window — but below that is a SHEER
DROP. Indy wants to get out onto the window ledge, which is
several yards away.
ELSA
Indy? Indy?
Indy reassures her.
INDY
Don’t worry… this is kid’s play.
I’ll be right back.
He leans out the window and wraps his bullwhip around some
wires that protrude from the castle wall above the next
window.
He gives the whip a forceful tug to make certain it will
hold his weight.
EXT. THE CASTLE – DAY
Indy SWINGS from the window to the stone gargoyle.
CLOSE ON THE WINDOW LEDGE
A PAIR OF WOODEN SHUTTERS seals the window.
Indy takes hold of the bullwhip with both hands, pushes off
with his feet… swings toward the shuttered window with his
feet extended… CRASHING THROUGH THE WOODEN SHUTTERS as a
CLAP OF THUNDER disguises the noise.
INT. THE ROOM – DAY
Indy CRASHES THROUGH SHUTTERS AND GLASS into the room. The
broken shutters hang by their hinges. Rain and cold air whip
through the open window.
No sooner does Indy get to his feet, than a VASE COMES
CRASHING DOWN ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.
Stunned, Indy sinks to one knee… and Indy’s father,
PROFESSOR Sean Ref2, steps out of the shadows.
SEAN
Junior?
Indy gets to his feet.
INDY
(a reflex)
Yes, sir!
This reply is a kneejerk reaction on Indy’s part. Now they
look at each other.
SEAN
It is you Junior!
INDY
(an old familiar
irritation)
Don’t call me that, please.
SEAN
(amazed)
But what are you doing here?
INDY
I came to get you! What do you think?
SOLDIERS’ VOICES ARE HEARD approaching. Indy and Sean press
themselves against the wall, Sean still holding the broken
vase in his hand.
Indy steps to the window and looks down. Sean moves to a
lamp, holding the vase under the light for a closer look.
SEAN
(sotto, mumbled)
Ikea. And I thought it was valuable.
Sean is all about the broken vase which he still holds in
his hand. Father and son get onto crossed lines for a couple
of moments.
SEAN
Oh, it breaks the heart.
INDY
(quietly to himself)
And the head.
(to Sean, aggrievedly)
You hit me, Dad!
SEAN
(referring to the
vase)
I’ll never forgive myself —
INDY
(surprised,
misunderstanding)
Don’t worry — I’m fine.
SEAN
Thank God!
Sean has clearly been concentrating entirely on the vase…
he is examining the broken end carefully.
SEAN
…it’s a fake Ikea knockoff. See, you can tell by
the cross section.
Sean throws the vase against the wall where it SHATTERS.
INDY
No! Dad, get your stuff. We’ve got
to get out of here.
SEAN
Well, I am sorry about your head,
though. But I thought you were one
of them.
INDY
Dad, they come in through the doors.
SEAN
(laughs)
Good point.
Indy steps to the door and stands, listening.
SEAN
But better safe than sorry.
Sean slides his umbrella through the straps of his bag.
SEAN
Humpf — so I was wrong this time.
But by God, I wasn’t wrong when I
mailed you my Notebook. You obviously
got it.
INDY
I got it and I used it. We found the
entrance to the catacombs.
SEAN
(excited)
Through the library?
INDY
Right.
SEAN
I knew it. And Orwell’s manuscript?
Indy nods.
INDY
Found it.
SEAN
(breathless)
He was actually there? You saw it?
INDY
Well, what was left of it.
SEAN
(trembling with
anticipation)
And his annotations… his margin notes…?
INDY
Cass Ander.
(beat)
It’s a great moment in Sean’s life.
He turns aside, lost to himself for
a moment, then turns to Indy with
joy.
SEAN
Cass Ander… of course… on the
political moment in Eastern Europe.
Oh, Junior…
Indy winces, and would interrupt but suddenly it’s not the
moment.
SEAN
…you did it.
INDY
No, Dad. You did. Forty years.
SEAN
If only I could have been with you.
INDY
There were rats, Dad.
SEAN
Rats?
INDY
Yeah, big ones. What do the Soldiers
want with you Dad?
SEAN
They want my notebook.
INDY
(interested)
Yeah?
Indy’s interest is a moment which becomes important later
but for now it passes.
SEAN
I knew I had to get that book as far
away from me as I possibly could.
Indy’s hand moves unconsciously to his pocket. His eyes turn
inward.
INDY
(thoughtfully)
Yeah…
Then… BAM! The door is kicked open and three SOLDIERS enter.
One is an OFFICER. The other two are SOLDIERS with
machine guns. Sean and Indy raise their hands.
OFFICER
Professor Ref2!!
SEAN & INDY
Yes!!
OFFICER
I will take the notebook now.
INDY & SEAN
(simultaneously)
What notebook?
OFFICER
(to Indy)
You have the book in your pocket.
Sean laughs genuinely, believing himself to be laughing at
the expense of the Officer.
SEAN
Do you think that my son would be
that stupid that he would bring my
Notebook all the way back here?
At which point an awful thought strikes Sean.
SEAN
You didn’t, did you?
(a beat)
You didn’t bring it, did you?
INDY
Well, uh…
SEAN
You did!!
INDY
Look, can we discuss this later?
SEAN
I should have mailed it to Boris
Johnson.
INDY
(overlapping)
Will you take it easy!
SEAN
Take it easy?! Why do you think I
sent it home in the first place?
(points towards the
Soldiers)
So it wouldn’t fall into their hands!!
INDY
I came here to save you.
SEAN
Oh yeah? And who’s gonna come to
save you, Junior??
Indy’s eyes blazes. His nostrils flares. He’s so pissed off,
he literally RIPS A MACHINE GUN from the hands of one of the
startled soldiers… and for a moment we think he’s going to
use it on his dad.
INDY
I told you —
He turns and sprays the room with machine gun fire, cutting
all three Soldiers to ribbons and blowing them backwards across
the room.
INDY
Don’t call me Junior!
Sean looks shocked and horrified.
SEAN
Look what you did!!
Indy grabs him and pushes him ahead.
SEAN
(aghast)
I can’t believe what you just…
INT. CASTLE HALLWAY – DAY
Indy leads Sean down the hallway as he searches for Elsa.
INDY
Elsa? Elsa?
He opens a door and enters:
INT. FIRST CASTLE ROOM – DAY
Indy and Sean rush back into the room where Elsa had been
left, only to find: A COLONEL HOLDING ELSA HOSTAGE.
His name is Vogel: a vicious-looking, lantern jawed brute.
One arm is wrapped around Elsa’s waist, the other hand presses
the muzzle of a PISTOL behind her ear.
VOGEL
That’s far enough Put down the gun,
Professor Ref2. Put down the gun or
the Lady dies.
SEAN
But she’s one of them!
ELSA
Indy, please!
SEAN
She’s a Eurofanatic!
INDY
What?!
Indy is thrown. He doesn’t know what to do. He looks at Elsa,
then back to his father. Everyone is yelling at once:
SEAN
Trust me!
ELSA
Indy, no!
VOGEL
I will kill her!
SEAN
Oh yeah? Go ahead!
INDY
No! Don’t Shoot!
SEAN
(to Indy)
Don’t worry. He won’t.
ELSA
Indy, please! Do what he says!
SEAN
And don’t listen to her!
VOGEL
Enough! She dies!
Vogel jams the barrel of the Pistol painfully into Elsa’s
neck. Elsa SCREAMS.
INDY
Wait! Wait!
And then Indy gives in. He drops the machine gun to the table
and it slides across, SHATTERING GLASS. Sean GROANS audibly.
Vogel releases his grip on Elsa and shoves her toward Indy.
She is propelled directly into his arms. He holds her tightly.
She buries her face in his chest.
ELSA
I’m sorry.
Indy comforts her.
INDY
No, don’t be.
Her hand slips into his coat pocket and removes theNotebook.
ELSA
But you should have listened to your
father.
She steps back next to Vogel. Indy is stunned. Sean gives
him his most withering look of reprimand.
INT. BARONIAL ROOM – DAY
A large baronial room decorated with ancient tapestries and
suits of armour. Firelight — from the giant fireplace —
dances across the ceiling and walls.
Indy and Sean are ushered in, hands tied behind back,
accompanied by Vogel and Elsa and TWO GUARDS.
Elsa crosses the room toward a high-backed chair facing the
fireplace. Indy and Sean do not have the advantage of seeing
who is sitting in that chair. They only see a HAND REACH OUT
AND TAKE THE NOTEBOOK.
INDY
(quietly to Sean)
She ransacked her own room and I
fell for it. How did you know she
was a Eurofanatic?
SEAN
Umh?
INDY
How did you she was a Eurofanatic?
SEAN
She talks in her sleep.
Indy nods, and then the statement catches up with him. He
looks at Sean with surprise.
SEAN
I didn’t trust her. Why did you?
MAN IN CHAIR
Because he didn’t take my advice.
The MAN IN THE CHAIR gets to his feet and turns, revealing
himself to be… Walter Donovan. Indy and Sean react with
stunned expressions.
INDY
DONOVAN!
DONOVAN
Didn’t I warn you not to trust
anybody, Professor Ref2?
Donovan smiles benignly and flips through the Notebook.
SEAN
I misjudged you Walter — I knew
you’d sell your mother for a Euro
But I didn’t know you’d sell
your country and your soul to the
slime of humanity.
DONOVAN
(suddenly erupting)
Doctor Sean. There’re pages
torn out of this!
Elsa rushes to Donovan’s side. She takes the Notebook
from him. Elsa takes a look for herself — then glances up
at Indy.
ELSA
This book contained a diagram — a diagram
with no names — precise instructions
on how to turn democracies into
meritocracies.
INDY
So it did.
DONOVAN
Where are these missing pages? This
Diagram. We must have these pages back.
Sean gives Indy a look of surprise. Indy smirks.
ELSA
(to Donovan)
You’re wasting your breath. He won’t
tell us. And he doesn’t have to…
it’s perfectly obvious where the
pages are…
(looking at Indy)
…he’s given them to Marcus Brody.
Sean now wears a pained expression.
SEAN
(to Indy)
Marcus?! You didn’t drag poor Marcus
along, did you? He’s not up to the
challenge.
DONOVAN
He sticks out like a sore thumb.
We’ll find him.
INDY
The hell you will. He’s got a two-
day head-start on you, which is more
than he needs.
(beat)
Brody’s got friends in every town
and village from here to the United Kingdom.
He speaks a dozen languages, knows
every local custom. He’ll blend in.
Disappear. You’ll never see him again.
With any luck, he’s got there
already.
Sean looks amazed and impressed.
EXT. TRAIN STATION – CITY OF VIENNA – DAY
Brody disembarks from the train along with the other
PASSENGERS, a cross-section of EUROPEANS, ARABS and TURKS.
BRODY
Does anyone here speak English? Or
even ancient Greek?
A Man in the crowd holds out a newspaper to Brody.
BRODY
No paper, no thank you. No, it’s full of
fake news, I’m sure of it.
Brody continues through the crowd past various STALLS.
A Woman holds a wiener out to him.
BRODY
Thank you so much. No, I don’t like
that. No, I really don’t want… No,
no, thank you very much. No, thank
you, madam. I’m a vegetarian.
The Woman turns away, leaving Brody alone.
BRODY
Does anyone understand a word I’m
saying here?
Sallah shoulders his way through the mob toward Brody.
SALLAH
Mister Brody!
They meet and hug, then begin to walk.
BRODY
Oh, Sallah! What a relief!
SALLAH
(laughs)
Marcus Brody, sir. And where is Indy?
BRODY
(overlapping)
Oh, he’s in Germany. A slight detour.
SALLAH
You are on your own?
A Woman runs in and tugs on Brody’s coat. He waves her away.
BRODY
Yes, but don’t panic. Everything’s
under control. Have you… have you
arranged our supplies?
SALLAH
Oh, yes, of course. But where are we
going?
BRODY
Oh, I’ll show you. It was
drawn by, uh…
Brody searches in his coat pocket for the map as a SINISTER
MAN approaches.
SINISTER MAN
Mister Brody?
Brody puts the map back in his pocket. The Sinister Man clicks
his heels and bows quickly.
SINISTER MAN
Welcome to Vienna. The Director
of the Political Institute has
sent a car for you.
Brody takes off his hat.
BRODY
Oh, what?… your servant, sir.
SALLAH
And I am his.
SINISTER MAN
Follow me, please.
The man turns and joins a SECOND MAN. Brody and Sallah follow
them.
BRODY
My reputation precedes me.
SALLAH
There is no political institute in Vienna.
The Second Man overhears Sallah. He and his companion turn
quickly.
SECOND MAN
Papers please.
SALLAH
Papers?
(laughs)
Of course.
Sallah puts Brody’s luggage down and glances at Brody.
SALLAH
Run.
Brody does not run. Sallah pats his clothing, searching for
his papers.
BRODY
Yes.
SALLAH
Papers, sir. Got it here.
Sallah laughs and pulls out a newspaper.
SALLAH
Just finished reading it myself.
(laughs; then, to
Brody)
Run!
Brody looks confused. Sallah shows the newspaper to the Second
Man.
BRODY
Yes.
SALLAH
Sud Deutschland Zeitung. Morning edition.
(to Brody)
Run!
BRODY
Did you say…? Uh, uh…
Sallah puts the newspaper in front of the Second Man’s face,
then punches him through the newspaper.
SALLAH
Run!
The Second Man falls, knocking over a vendor’s stand. Sallah
and Brody begin to run. Sallah knocks the First Man into
another vendor’s stand. The STAND COLLAPSES on impact.
Sallah grabs Brody and pulls him through the crowded streets.
SALLAH
(to Brody; pointing)
Okay, okay, quick, quick, quick!
Hide in that door! Hide in that door!
Sallah points to a DARKENED DOORWAY, hung with a curtain, at
the top of a ramp. Brody runs up the ramp, throws back the
curtain and disappears into the darkness.
Then — METAL DOORS ARE SLAMMED behind Brody and we realize
that he has run into the back of a POLICE VAN.
Sallah runs after the Van until he reaches a wall, then
leans against the wall dejectedly as the Van drives away
with Brody inside.
INT. CASTLE ROOM – DAY
The room is dark. Ancient, floor-length drapes cover the
windows. A HUGE FIREPLACE that’s nearly large enough for a
man to stand upright in dominates one wall.
The Guards have tied Indy and Sean back-to-back in a
pair of chairs. Elsa and Donovan stand over them. Vogel
enters.
SEAN
Intolerable.
VOGEL
Doctor Goebbels. Message from Berlin.
You must return immediately: a rally
at the Institute of European Culture.
ELSA
So?
VOGEL
Your presence on the platform is
requested… at the highest level.
ELSA
Thank you.
(to Donovan)
I will meet you in England.
DONOVAN
Take this Notebook to the Planning Centre
in Berlin. It will show them our
progress, ahead of schedule. Without
a diagram, I’m afraid it’s no better
than a souvenir.
He hands her the Notebook.
VOGEL
(to Donovan, meaning
Indy and Sean)
Let me kill them now.
ELSA
No. If we fail to recover the pages
from Brody, we’ll need them alive.
DONOVAN
(to Vogel, with a
helpless shrug)
Always do what the doctor orders.
Donovan leads Vogel out. The Guards follow. Once they
are gone, Elsa turns to Indy.
ELSA
Don’t look at me like that — we
both wanted the Manuscript, I would have
done anything to get it. You would
have done the same.
Indy shakes his head “no.”
INDY
I’m sorry you think so.
She runs her hand down the side of his face. Indy pulls away.
Indy and Sean are still tied back-to-back of course. Elsa
bends to speak quietly into Indy’s ear… which is near enough
to Sean’s ear.
ELSA
(whispers)
I can’t forget… how wonderful it was.
SEAN
Thank you. It was rather wonderful.
She smiles and kisses Indy passionately. Sean glances back
and looks rather disappointed.
Vogel appears to remind Elsa of her appointment.
VOGEL
Doctor Goebbels! Your car is waiting.
ELSA
(to Indy, after
finishing the kiss)
That’s how Austrians say goodbye.
Elsa exits. Vogel stays behind for another moment.
VOGEL
And this is how we say goodbye in
Germany, Professor Ref2.
Vogel punches Indy in the jaw. A hard and vicious jab that
snaps Indy’s head around.
SEAN
Ohh…
Vogel exits. Indy shakes his head clear.
INDY
(to himself)
Ooooh… I like the Austrian way
better.
SEAN
So did I.
INDY
Let’s try and get these ropes loose.
We’ve got to get to Marcus before
the Eurofanatics do!
SEAN
(confused)
You said he had two days’ start.
That he would blend in. Disappear!
INDY
Are you kidding? — I made that up!
You know Marcus — he got lost once
in his own house!
Indy and Sean are pulling at the ropes with great urgency.
INDY
Can you try and reach into my left
jacket pocket?
Sean is able to wiggle his hand towards Indy’s coat pocket.
Indy squirms his body around towards Sean’s hand.
SEAN
What am I looking for?
INDY
My lucky charm.
SEAN
Feels like a cigarette lighter.
INDY
Try and burn through the ropes.
Sean’s fingers open the lighter and ignite the flame.
SEAN
Very good.
Sean yelps as the cigarette lighter burns his hand. He drops
the lighter to the floor. Sean kicks at the lighter, trying
to reach it but cannot. The rug starts to burn. Indy doesn’t
know it yet.
SEAN
I ought to tell you something.
INDY
Don’t get sentimental now Dad —
save it ’til we get out of here.
SEAN
The floor’s on fire! See?!
INDY
(turns and sees)
What???
SEAN
And the chair.
INDY
All right, move! Move! Rock your
Chair. Do what I do.
They begin to rock their chair legs, inching their way off
the burning carpet.
EXT. CASTLE – DAY
As Elsa is driven away. Vogel and Donovan remain behind,
flanked by SOLDIERS.
Another car pulls up and Vogel holds the door open for Donovan
who gets into the rear seat. A LIEUTENANT approaches with a
written message for Donovan.
LIEUTENANT
Etwas Wichtiges, mein Herr.
Donovan puts on his glasses to read the message.
DONOVAN
Well, we have Marcus Brody. But more
important, we have the diagram.
A SOLDIER steps forward with yet another written
message for Donovan.
SOLDIER
Aus Berlin, mein Herr.
DONOVAN
(reading)
“Secrecy essential to success.
Eliminate the British conspirators.”
(to Vogel)
Europe has declared war on the Ref2.
(to DRIVER)
Losfahren.
The car drives off.
INT. CASTLE ROOM – DAY
Indy and Sean are still in their chairs, tied back-to-back.
Indy tries to communicate with Sean, but each time he calls
him, the men turn their heads in opposite directions.
INDY
Dad!
SEAN
What?
INDY
Dad!
SEAN
What?
INDY
Dad!
Finally, they turn their heads in the same direction.
SEAN
What?
INDY
Head for the fireplace!
SEAN
Oh.
BANGING, ROCKING and HOPPING their chairs, they work their
way INTO THE FIREPLACE — the only safe place from the now
ROARING FIRE.
INDY
I think I can get these ropes off.
Indy struggles to free his hands. His foot kicks out and
accidentally hits a metal grill that operates a Secret Door.
INDY
Whoops!
The fireplace floor rotates like a Lazy Susan and Indy and
his father find themselves in the:
INT. CONTROL ROOM – DAY
Where a COMPUTER OPERATOR wearing headphones sits at an elaborate
display with multiple screens and keyboards. A WOMAN stands over
an interactive map plotting coordinates. Their backs are turned to Indy
and Sean.
The floor begins to rotate again, and Indy and Sean find
themselves back in:
INT. CASTLE ROOM – DAY
inside the fireplace, still tied back-to-back.
SEAN
Our situation has not improved.
Indy glances over his shoulder at Sean.
INDY
Listen Dad… I’m almost free.
Indy’s foot hits the grill again… and the fireplace rotates
to:
INT. CONTROL ROOM – DAY
FOUR COMPUTER OPERATORS and the Woman are still hard at work at
consoles and coordinates. Suddenly the Woman looks up and
spots Sean and Indy. She screams.
WOMAN
Alarm!
Now the Computer Operators turn to see Sean and Indy.
WOMAN
Schnell!!
TWO OPERATORS draw their pistols and FIRE SEVERAL SHOTS at
Indy and Sean
INT. CASTLE ROOM – DAWN
Indy and Sean rotate into the room which is now an INFERNO.
The carpet, drapes and furniture are all ablaze.
SEAN
This is intolerable!
INDY
I’m out, Dad!
Indy finally breaks free. And he immediately begins to untie
his father.
SEAN
Well done, boy!
INT. CONTROL ROOM – DAY
All four Operators now have their guns drawn. They activate
the lever and begin to rotate through the Secret Door.
INT. CASTLE ROOM – DAY
The Operators appear in the fireplace on the other side —
but there is NO SIGN OF Indy and Sean.
The Operators move cautiously toward the flame, shielding
their faces with one hand, holding their guns with the other.
Is it possible that Indy and Sean escaped through these
flames?
Not a chance.
They’ve hidden themselves UP THE CHIMNEY. And now they DROP
DOWN, BEHIND the Operators.
One of the Operators grabs Indy by the neck. As they struggle
they fall against the rotating wall and disappear into the
next room, leaving a frightened Sean behind.
Sean presses against the wall, which rotates again. As he
disappears into the next room, a DEAD OPERATOR swivels
into the room. The other Operators rush forward to him.
INT. CONTROL ROOM – DAY
Indy picks up a BUST OF HITLER and uses it to jam the rotating
wall in place, sealing the Nazis inside the burning room.
INT. CASTLE HALLWAY – DAY
Vogel strides purposefully down the hallway. He BARKS an
order, and TWO MORE SOLDIERS fall into step with him.
INT. CONTROL ROOM – DAY
Indy grabs his whip, his leather sack and Sean’s case from
a table. He hands the case to Sean and they begin to run.
INDY
Come on Dad.
INT. SECRET ROOM – DAY
Indy and Sean step into an empty room.
INDY
Dead end.
Sean looks horrified by what he’s been forced to do as Indy
searches frantically for an exit.
INDY
There’s got to be a… a secret door
around. A passageway or something.
Indy begins to run his hands over the walls — frantic.
SEAN
I find that if I just sit down and
think…
Sean sits on a chair which tips back, hitting the wall behind
- The floor at Indy’s feet suddenly begins DROPPING AWAY!
Indy grabs a railing to keep from falling, but loses his
grip and plunges through the opening which has formed a SPIRAL
STAIRCASE. He rolls down the stairs.
INDY
Dad!
SEAN
…the solution presents itself.
Sean follows Indy down the staircase.
INT. CAVERN / UNDERGROUND HARBOR – DAY
The stairway deposits Indy and Sean into an enormous WATERY
CAVERN beneath the mountain on which the castle was built.
A full-scale BOAT DOCK has been built inside the cavern.
We see MOTORBOATS, GUNBOATS, SUPPLY BOATS, etc.
INDY
Great. More boats.
Indy boards one of the motorboats and STARTS THE MOTOR.
SEAN
Would you say this has been just
another typical day for you? Huh?
Sean tosses his case at Indy who catches it and angrily
throws it back to his father.
INDY
(ironically)
Ooof! No! It’s been better than most.
Indy moves back to the dock and pushes the boat away. Sean
looks confused.
INDY
Come on, Dad. Come on!
SEAN
What about the boat? We’re not going
on the boat?
INT. SECRET ROOM – DAY
Vogel and the Soldiers enter the room and spot the spiral
staircase leading below. They quickly descend the stairs.
INT. CAVERN / UNDERGROUND HARBOR – DAY
As Vogel and the Soldiers rush to the dock. Vogel sees
that a motorboat is missing. He orders the Soldiers
into a boat.
VOGEL
Sie alle ins Boat. Schnell!
To be continued…
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
You can contact the author at: