A saga of everyday life in the Big L and a wry look at contemporary culture
By Tony Carden
Episode Thirty Five
The train shuddered as it switched tracks. Andrew turned from reading the article in Mother & Baby he was sharing with Jill to staring out the window. I can’t believe I’m going to be a father. The autumn was advancing. He noticed many of the trees were now nearly bare of leaves. Leaves on the line. That’s what Network SouthEast will be announcing. Perhaps the wrong kind of leaves. Brexit leaves, perhaps? He glanced at his mobile. We should be arriving at Buxted soon.
‘Are your parents going to meet us?’
‘Uh?’ Jill looked up from the magazine. ‘What did you say?’
‘Are we being met at the station?’
‘Mum only comes to pick me up if its raining.’ It’s a beautiful sunny day, so we’re spared any possible scene at the station. He looked at Jill’s stomach. Does she look pregnant? He couldn’t tell. His mind turned the forthcoming meeting with her parents. Why hadn’t we simply told them when we Skyped? There’s no good answer to that. No, that’s not true. You can’t tell them something like that on the phone—even if it has pictures. We have to tell them face to face. He looked at Jill. I know you’re dreading the meeting. That’s why we put it off. You put it off. His mind wandered back to their discussion.
*
‘I think we must tell them.’
‘No, Andrew. They’ll go ballistic.’
‘But the longer we leave it…’
‘We’ll go down to see them and tell them then.’
Unwittingly, his gaze descended to her midriff.
‘Do you think it shows?’
‘Oh no, I don’t think so. How long has it been now?’
‘Well, based on the doctor, it must be four months. But I think it’s three.’
‘What about letting your parents know?’
‘We can phone them from the delivery room.’
‘Are you being serious?’ She shook her head. ‘You’ll be expected to go home at Christmas. Your parents would insist. What then?’
‘I could say we’re going to your folk.’
‘They’d only suggest the New Year, then.’
‘Suppose so.’ She gave him a drawn smile. ‘I’m not looking forward to it, you know.’
‘Well, I’m not enthusiastic either.’ But since we are here, we are here. There’s no escape from telling them. The longer we leave it, the worst it will be.
‘Let’s not go, then.’
‘No, Jill, we must. And the sooner the better. After all, three or four months, they’ll be hurt you haven’t said anything earlier.’
‘And we’re agreed on what we’re planning?’
‘Keeping the baby? Getting married? Of course.’ Well, I think so.
She beamed at him.
*
The train slowed as it came into the station. Andrew read the sign: Buxted.
Jill touched his arm. ‘Well, this is it.’ She smiled at him.
He got up and went over to rescue their bags from the luggage rack. Jill joined him at the door. The train stopped. She pressed the release button and the door opened. He followed her out of the carriage.
He looked up and down the station. ‘It doesn’t change, does it?’
‘It’s a sleepy part of England, if that’s what you mean.’
‘I can’t see your parents.’
‘It’s a postponement, not a reprieve.’ Jill rubbed her stomach.
‘You alright?’
‘Butterflies.’
‘My stomach feels queasy. Perhaps we’ve eaten something we shouldn’t?’
Jill laughed. ‘Probably a dodgy Prêt A Manger sandwich.’
‘You think so?’
‘No, of course not. Well, let’s go, we’ve got to face them sometime.’
She led him along as he rolled their overnight cases behind him as they walked towards her family home. It was as he remembered it from his last visit. The same suburban houses. The same well-tended gardens, now autumnal.
They entered the cul de sac. Whether it was nerves or because the ground over which he had to pull their cases was rougher, but he slowed up as they got nearer to the house.
Jill unlocked the door. ‘Mum. Dad. It’s me.’
Susan emerged from the kitchen.
‘Jill! How lovely to see you.’ She hugged Jill and then smiled at Andrew. ‘Welcome. You’re earlier than I expected. I thought you said you wouldn’t be here before six o clock?’
‘We took an earlier train.’ Jill looked around as if searching. ‘Where’s Dad?’
‘Oh, he went off to get some more gin. I forgot to get some when I was at Waitrose.’
Jill took her mother’s arm. ‘There’s something I’ve got to tell you.’
Susan glanced at the two of them. ‘Shouldn’t we wait till your father gets home?’
Jill tugged at her mother. ‘Come into the lounge.’ They all went into the living room. Susan sat down on the sofa. Jill took a seat next to her. Andrew occupied the nearby armchair.
Susan looked at the both with a somewhat quizzical expression. ‘Well, this is all very mysterious. Are you planning a surprise for him?’
Jill frowned. ‘It will be a surprise, yes. But it’s not about him. It’s about me.’
‘I see.’ Susan turned to look at Andrew. Well, yes, I’m involved too.
Jill tugged on her mother’s arm. Susan turned to her. ‘I’m pregnant.’
‘Oh!’ Her hand up shot to cover her mouth. There was a silence. Susan turned back to Andrew then looked at her daughter. ‘You intend to keep it.’
Jill nodded. ‘Andrew and I will be getting married.’
‘Ah!’ Again, Susan paused. ‘Have you set a date?’
‘We thought we’d wait until after the baby is born.’
‘I see.’ Susan got to her feet. ‘I’ll make us all a cup of tea.’
Jill got up. Andrew followed. They traipsed into the kitchen. Susan fiddled with the kettle, pulled out a teapot and several mugs.
‘When is the baby due?’
‘May.’
Andrew could see her doing the mental arithmetic about when conception took place.
‘So, you’re thinking of summer for the wedding, then?’
‘Andrew and I were thinking of September.’
‘I see.’
‘Do you think Dad will be furious?’
‘I’m sure he wants what’s best for you.’
‘You think he’ll take it badly, don’t you?’
The kettle shrieked. She clicked the off tab, poured some water into the teapot, sloshed it around before returning it to the kettle. She snapped it back on.
‘It might be a good idea if I talked to your father before you tell him.’
‘You know Daddy best.’ With one hand Jill fiddled with the sleeve of her other arm. ‘You’ll tell him, won’t you?’
‘Oh, Jill, shouldn’t you be the one to let him know?’
‘I hope he’ll be pleased.
‘I’m sure of it.’
Andrew took hold of Jill’s arms. ‘Let’s get ourselves unpacked. You can rest up for a while.’
Jill looked at him, pulled free of his grasp, then patted his arm. ‘I think that’s a good idea.’
As they collected their luggage, they heard a car arrive. It pulled up in the drive. The engine stopped.
‘Daddy’s back, Mum.’
‘Thanks.’ She went towards the door. ‘I’ll call you down when I’ve talked to him.’
With Jill leading, they scuttled upstairs.
On the landing, Jill looked down as they heard the door open. Andrew could hear voices but not make out what was being said. The unheard conversation was cut off as David and Susan went into either the kitchen or the living room.
‘We’ve been given separate rooms.’ Jill pointed at her bedroom and the spare. ‘But I think we can share mine tonight.’
‘Won’t that be rubbing it a bit in their face?’
‘We’re a couple, aren’t we?’
Andrew smiled. ‘A couple with a baby on the way.’
‘See.’ She pulled him into her bedroom. ‘Mum will fetch us after they’ve talked.’
It was about twenty minutes later that Andrew heard someone on the stairs. Susan knocked before entering. She lingered in the doorway. Andrew examined her. She seems quite stressed. That’s not good news.
‘’Oh dear. Your father’s not taking this very well.’ She stood away from the door. ‘He’s waiting to talk to you downstairs.’ Her voice broke a bit. ‘Don’t keep him waiting.’
Jill reached out a hand to Andrew. ‘Let’s go.’
They went down the stairs side by side and made for the lounge. David was standing by the window looking out.
‘Daddy?’
He turned, scowled at them before indicating they should sit down.
‘Your mother tells me you’re pregnant.’ He turned to Andrew. ‘You’re the father.’ Andrew nodded.
‘Oh daddy, I know you’re disappointed. It was a mistake.’
‘Really?’ He gestured towards Andrew. ‘You took advantage of my daughter.’ If only you knew! It’s her, not me.
‘We got carried away.’
‘Is that what you call it? In my time, we had more self-restraint.’ He harrumphed.
‘We are going to get married.’
‘So your mother says. She mentioned the autumn.’
‘Well, after the baby is born.’
‘What will my friends think? What of my work with the party? Did you think about that before you…’ His voice trailed off.
‘Daddy, it’s not as if it is uncommon.’
‘Is that how you put it? It’s being common is it? That’s not how I brought up my daughter.’ He looked up. Andrew turned. Susan was standing in the doorway. David gestured in her direction. His voice rose. ‘See how you’ve upset your mother.’
Susan came into the room and sat down next to Jill. ‘David, you said you’d keep calm about this.’
‘I am keeping calm.’
‘No, you’re not. You’re raising your voice.’
‘I’ll raise my voice if I want to.’
‘David!’ Susan jumped out of the sofa. ‘Stop it!’ She pointed at Jill. ‘It’s your daughter, not some Trollope on TV.’
Jill got to her feet. David and Andrew likewise stood up.
‘Mum, Dad, please. Arguing about it won’t make it better.’ She grabbed Andrew’s arm. ‘I thought you’d react this way. That’s why we kept putting off letting you know.’ She hugged Andrew. ‘We’re going to be married.’ She confronted her father. ‘I was hoping you’d want to walk me down the aisle.’
David looked at the three of them before turning away. He made towards the door to the hall.
‘David! She’s your daughter, for Christ’s sake.’
He turned and glared at them. Andrew could see the hurt and anger in his eyes.
‘Not anymore.’ He slammed the door.
‘Oh dear, oh dear.’ Susan was in tears. Jill was digging her fingers into his arms. What a bloody mess.
* * *
Ahmed hooted the horn. The driver in front v-signed him back. Ahmed leaned out the window. ‘Get a f**king move on, yah garden tool.’ He honked again. The car edged forward before picking up speed. Ahmed followed behind.
They came to a red light. The car in front stopped. Ahmed pulled up behind. He turned to his passenger. ‘It’s getting bloody worse every day, yah know? Idiots at the wheel everywhere.’
‘I know what you mean. That’s why I don’t drive.’
‘Yah don’t?’ Ahmed shrugged his shoulders.
The lights turned. The queue moved on. But movement was slow. Ahmed honked.
They got stuck at the next lights. Ahmed swivelled to be able to see his passenger. ‘Sorry ‘bout the progress, mate.’
‘It isn’t your fault.’
‘Yeah, but I’d like to get yah to your destination, double quick-like.’
‘I’m sure you’re doing your best.’
The car in front of him revved its engine. Ahmed turned back to see it move forward as the light had gone green. Ahmed managed to get his car through just as it turned amber.
On the other side of the lights, the traffic now moved faster. Ahmed had to concentrate as cars tried to cut across in front of him.
There was another light ahead. As he raced towards it, following the cars in front, the lights started changing. The car in front of him accelerated to get through—but the light was now red. Ahmed braked and stopped.
Ahmed watched as the other car raced across the intersection. Then, as he watched in horror, the lights jumper ploughed into a car coming from the side street. The speeding car was flung into the air and did a leap over the other car before crashing down to the ground again. Ahmed heard the crunch it made as it hit even insulated inside his Prius. Panels and tires from the wrecked car flew off in every direction.
‘Effing ‘ell!’
Ahmed put on his warning lights, unbelted, opened the door and got out.
He waved at his passenger. ‘Bit of a problem, see.’
He rushed over to the wrecked car. When he got to the crash he noticed a strong smell of diesel. He looked at the wreck. The smashed car had a puddle that, as Ahmed watched, grew larger. He went to the driver’s side. The driver’s window had been smashed. He looked in. The airbags had inflated. Ahmed reached in. The driver did not respond when Ahmed shook him.
‘Shit!’
Someone ran up to Ahmed. ‘You shouldn’t move him in case he’s suffered an injury.’
Ahmed gestured towards the puddle. ‘The f**king tank’s ruptured. This could go up in flames any second.’ He pulled open the door. ‘Ere, give us an ‘and with ‘im.’
‘Sure mate.’
Ahmed reached over the driver for the release for the seatbelt. But he struggled to get it to work. Then it clicked open. He pulled the man sideways and disentangled him from the belt.
His helper grabbed the man under the arms and yanked him out.
Between the two of them they got the man to the side of the road.
Depositing the injured driver Ahmed was able to pay attention to what else was happening. Spectators had gathered. Some were going up close to use their phones to take pictures.
Ahmed left the casualty and walked over to the photographers. ‘Get back. The car could go up in flames any minute.’
‘Yah kiddin’ right?’
There was a whoosh. The car burst into flames. People backed off.
‘I was friggin’ right.’
In the distance Ahmed heard a siren.
* * *
INDY REF2 AND THE LOST CRUSADE
Part 7
The story so far:
Several years after his encounter in Trafalgar Square with Panama hat, Indy finally manages to best the radical Eurofanatic 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.
Discovering that his father is a prisoner of the Eurofanatics in a castle in Austria, Indy heads there to rescue him. They are taken prisoner but manage to escape and head for a boathouse where they dupe their pursuers by making them think they have made off in a motor launch. Except they haven’t…
CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL
A large box which suddenly BREAKS APART as Indy, now on a
motorbike with Sean in the sidecar, ROARS PAST THE DOCK,
hitting TWO SOLDIERS who scream as they fall into the river.
Vogel screams after Indy and Sean as they drive off.
STRAIGHT CUT TO:
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD – DAY
Indy looks pleased as he drives the motorbike along the road,
but Sean appears worried.
INDY
Ha!
FOUR SOLDIERS ON MOTORCYCLES
They chase down the road after Indy and Sean.
Indy turns the motorbike down a smaller, dusty tree-lined
road. Sean gasps as he is jostled about in the sidecar. One
of the Nazi Soldiers gives chase along a higher road running
in the same direction.
EXT. ROAD BARRICADE – DAY
Indy approaches the barricade from one direction as one of
the Soldiers approaches from a higher road.
A GUARD steps from the road station and calls to the vehicles
as Indy and Sean SMASH THROUGH THE BARRICADE.
GUARD
Halt! Halt!
The Soldier rides his motorcycle through the other side
of the barrier — IT SHATTERS.
INDY AND SEAN
Indy grabs at a FLAGPOLE as they roar past — it snaps off
in his hand.
The Soldier drives his motorcycle toward Indy and Sean.
He unshoulders his machine gun.
Indy uses the broken flagpole as a lance and knocks the
Soldier from his motorcycle.
THE RIDERLESS MOTORCYCLE
Drives on toward the other Soldiers now approaching the
guardhouse, COLLIDING WITH TWO OF THEM.
The remaining Soldier manoeuvres his motorcycle around
his fallen comrades and continues the chase.
INDY AND SEAN
As the remaining Soldier rides alongside their motorbike
he cocks his gun, preparing to fire.
Indy quickly jams the remaining portion of the flagpole
through the spokes of the Soldier’s motorbike’s front wheel.
The SOLDIER’S MOTORCYCLE FLIPS THREE TIMES, throwing
him high into the air.
Indy glances back and smiles, but the smile fades as he looks
forward again to see a sign at a CROSSROAD. Arrows pointing
in opposite directions indicate the way to “BERLIN” or
“VENEDIG”.
Indy starts down the road marked “VENEDIG”.
SEAN
Stop!
INDY
What?
SEAN
Stop! Stop!
The motorbike skids to a stop.
SEAN
You’re going the wrong Way! We have
to get to Berlin!
INDY
(pointing towards
Venedig)
Brody’s this way.
SEAN
My Notes are in Berlin.
INDY
You don’t need your Notes, Dad. Marcus
has the diagram.
SEAN
There is more in the Notes than just
the diagram.
INDY
All right Dad — tell me.
SEAN
Well, he who finds Orwell’s Manuscript must
undertake the key task.
INDY
What key task?
SEAN
Three issues of public policy.
INDY
Policy holes?
SEAN
Oh, yes. But I found the answers that
will safely allow us to apply Orwell’s principles, in
Plato’s Second Republic.
INDY
But what are they? Can’t you remember?
SEAN
I wrote them down in my Notes so
that I wouldn’t have to remember.
INDY
Half the EU Security Force’s on our tail
and you want me to go to Berlin?
Into the lion’s den?
SEAN
Yes! The only thing that matters is
Orwell’s Manuscript.
INDY
What about Marcus?
SEAN
Marcus would agree with me.
INDY
Two selfless martyrs. Bloody Hell!
Sean slaps him across the face. Indy is rocked to his
foundations, not by any means entirely by the blow itself.
SEAN
That’s for bad language. The quest for
Orwell’s manuscript is not academic. It’s a
race against evil. If it is captured
by the Eurofanatics, the armies of darkness
will march all over the face of the
earth. Do you understand me?
INDY
This is an obsession Dad. I never
understood it. Never. Neither did
Mom.
SEAN
Oh yes, she did. Only too well.
Unfortunately, she kept her illness
from me until all I could do was
mourn her.
EXT. CROSSROADS – DAY
Arrows point in opposite directions to VENICE and BERLIN.
The CAMERA MOVES IN on the portion of the sign reading BERLIN.
EXT. CITY SQUARE – BERLIN – NIGHT
A Eurofanatic Rally — a book-burning is in process.
The mound of burning books is ten feet tall and growing by
the minute as College Students and EU Functionaries
continually toss more books onto the fire.
Flags, banners and standards displaying the EU stars are
waved rhythmically from side to side in a motion that echoes
the mounting frenzy of the enormous crowd.
Indy and Sean walk toward the Square. Indy wears the uniform
of a Eurofanatic Soldier. He is now buttoning up the tunic — which
happens to be several sizes too big.
SEAN
My boy, we are Pilgrims in an unholy
land.
Then… Indy sees something that makes him stop in his tracks.
WE PAN ALONG HIS LINE OF SIGHT to:
THE PODIUM
Where high-ranking Officers of the European Commission stand flanking
J-C JUNKET as they oversee the rally.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Elsa is walking away in an open area, background of torches,
vehicles, Eurofanatics… one of whom is now none other
than Indy, coming up to her before she knows he is there.
His voice is quiet and tough, his eyes hard.
INDY
Fraulein Doctor. Where is it?
Still startled, her reaction makes it clear that Indy is
even now a lover in her thoughts.
ELSA
How did you get here?
INDY
Where is it? I want it.
Indy pushes Elsa against a column and begins to search her
clothing for the Diary. He pulls the notebook from Elsa’s pocket.
ELSA
You came back for the notebook? Why?
INDY
My father didn’t want it incinerated.
She understands him. It’s as though he slapped her.
ELSA
Is that what you think of me? I
believe in Orwell’s manuscript, not the EU.
INDY
(vicious)
Yet you stood up to be counted with
the enemy of everything that Orwell
stands for — who gives a damn what
you think?
ELSA
(hard and fast)
You do.
Now it’s as though she’d slapped him back. His hands fly to
her neck.
INDY
All I have to do is squeeze.
ELSA
All I have to do is scream.
It’s a standoff emotionally. He knows he’d never do it. she
knows it too. And the same goes for screaming.
Indy releases her and backs away. She looks at him with a
lover’s pain. He moves over to Sean.
INDY
I’ve got it. Let’s get the hell out of here.
They move off and almost run headlong into Junket and his
entire entourage coming down from the Podium. 50 kids push
their autograph books forJunket’s signature.
Junket pauses to sign them. Junket looks Indy’s way. They
make eye contact. It only lasts a moment, but the moment is
electric.
Junket breaks the spell by taking the Notebook from him,
opens it to the first page and signs his autograph. He hands
it back and moves on.
EXT. AIRFIELD – BERLIN, GERMANY – DAY
Indy’s motorcycle pulls up to the main terminal.
INT. TERMINAL BUILDING – DAY
A Plainclothes Agent distributes leaflets bearing SEAN’S
PICTURE to Eurofanatic Soldiers inside the terminal.
Sean leans in a doorway reading a newspaper as Indy enters
down the stairs and taps Sean’s shoulder.
They begin to walk toward the boarding gates.
SEAN
What did you get?
INDY
I don’t know. The first available
flight out of Germany.
SEAN
Good.
Indy and Sean show their papers to the Boarding Guards,
then join the line of passengers, which has already begun to
move toward a:
MOORED ZEPPELIN
Ten stories tall and longer than two football fields: Flying
in the grand tradition!
INT. THE ZEPPELIN – PASSENGER COMPARTMENT – DAY
The Zeppelin is about to take off. Indy and Sean make
themselves comfortable in one of the compartments.
INDY
Well, we made it.
Sean looks over his newspaper at Indy.
SEAN
When we’re airborne, with Germany
behind us, then I’ll share that sentiment.
INDY
Relax.
But Indy looks out the window and is suddenly concerned when
he sees:
VOGEL AND A EUROINTEL AGENT
Rushing across the tarmac toward the Zeppelin.
VOGEL
Nicht zumachen! Wir steigen ein!
INDY
Sits back in his chair, looks to Sean, now reading his
newspaper.
A Steward enters and sets a bowl of nuts on the table in
front of Indy and Sean, then continues down the aisle of
passengers. Indy follows after the Steward. He puts his arm
around the Steward’s shoulder and together they walk up a
flight of stairs.
VOGEL
Now walks up the aisle. He approaches a MALE PASSENGER hidden
behind a newspaper. Vogel uses his walking stick to lower
the newspaper and show the Passenger the leaflet with Sean’s
photograph.
VOGEL
Haben sie diesen Mann gesehen?
The Passengers at the table shake their heads in the negative.
Vogel shows the picture to other Passengers.
FEMALE PASSENGER
Nein.
INDY (O.S.)
Fahrscheine, bitte.
MALE PASSENGER
Nein.
Vogel turns to see:
INDY — WEARING THE HAT AND JACKET OF THE CHIEF STEWARD
MALE PASSENGER (O.S.)
Ich habe ihn nicht gesehen.
INDY
Tickets please.
The Passengers do not react to the request, made in English.
INDY
Fahrscheine meine Dame. Bitte.
VOGEL
Approaches Sean, still hidden behind his newspaper. Again,
Vogel uses his walking stick to lower the paper, revealing
Sean’s face.
VOGEL
Guten Tag, Herr Ref2.
Now Indy, still playing the role of Steward, asks Vogel for
his ticket.
INDY
Fahrscheine mein Herr.
VOGEL
Weg.
INDY
Tickets please.
Sean looks confused.
VOGEL
(in German)
Was?
Vogel glances up and recognizes Indy — who quickly punches
Vogel in the face, knocking him toward the window. In another
quick move, Indy TOSSES HIM OUT THE WINDOW onto the tarmac
below.
Shocked Passengers blink in bewilderment.
INDY
(in German; with a shrug)
No ticket.
Everyone else with a ticket quickly produces it and waves it
in Indy’s face.
EXT. AIRFIELD TARMAC – DAY
Vogel gets to his knees as the huge Zeppelin rises into the
sky above him, revealing an airplane attached to the belly
of the airship. Vogel shakes his fist at the rising Zeppelin.
VOGEL
Du wirst nochmal horen von mir!
INT. ZEPPELIN – DAY
Indy and Sean together again in their compartment.
SEAN
You know, sharing your adventures is
an interesting experience.
INDY
(meaning Elsa)
That’s not all we shared. It’s
disgraceful. You’re old enough to be
her fa… er, her grandfather!
SEAN
Well, I’m as human as the next man.
INDY
I was the next man.
SEAN
(laughs)
Ships that pass in the night…
Sean opens his Notebook and begins to thumb through it.
INDY
Do you remember the last time we had
a quiet drink? I had a milk shake.
SEAN
Hmmm… What did we talk about?
INDY
We didn’t talk. We never talked.
SEAN
And do I detect a rebuke?
INDY
A regret. It was just the two of us,
Dad. It was a lonely way to grow up.
For you, too. If you had been an
ordinary, average father like the
other guys’ dads, you’d have
understood that.
SEAN
Actually, I was a wonderful father.
INDY
When?
Sean looks up from his Diary.
SEAN
Did I ever tell you to eat up? Go to
bed? Wash your ears? Do your homework?
No. I respected your privacy and I
taught you self-reliance.
INDY
What you taught me was that I was
less important to you than people
who had been dead for five hundred
years in another country. And I
learned it so well that we’ve hardly
spoken for twenty years.
SEAN
You left just when you were becoming
interesting.
INDY
Dad, how can you?
SEAN
(interrupting)
Very well. I’m here now.
He closes the Notebook and leans back in his seat.
SEAN
What do you want to talk about? Hmmm?
Indy stutters uncomfortably as Sean stares at him, waiting
for a response.
INDY
(laughs)
Well… I can’t think of anything.
SEAN
Then what are you complaining about?
(laughs)
Look, we have work to do. When we
get to the Isle of Skye we will face
three challenges.
(he reads from the
Diary)
“First, the hardman of Arbroath. Only the
penniless man will pass. Second, the
Burns Supper, only in the footsteps
of the haggis will he proceed. Third, the
Power of the People God, only in the leap from
the lion’s head will he prove his
worth.”
INDY
What does all that mean?
SEAN
(laughs)
I don’t know. We’ll find out.
Sunlight falls across the table from the window. Indy reaches
for the drink. The bar of sunlight turns like the hand of a
clock over the tabletop across the drinks.
We see Indy puzzled. Only for a moment.
INDY
They’re turning around. They’re taking
us back to Germany.
INT. FRAMEWORK OF ZEPPELIN – DAY
Indy and his father emerge from the hatchway into the belly
of the Zeppelin. The Zeppelin’s elaborate metal framework is
exposed.
Indy and Sean hurry down the catwalk until arriving at a
PAIR OF DOORWAYS framed into the Zeppelin’s outer skin.
INDY
Well, I thought it would take them a
lot longer to figure out the radio
was dead. Come on, Dad. Move!
Then Indy opens the doors. We see plenty of blue sky and
white clouds. We also see a small PLANE that is suspended
from the Zeppelin by a HOOK & CRANE DEVICE.
INDY
Come on, Dad. Come on!
EXT. AIRPLANE – DAY
Indy climbs into the front seat in the cockpit of the plane as Sean takes
the seat behind.
SEAN
(with delight)
I didn’t know you could fly a plane.
INDY
Fly… yes. Land… no.
INT. THE BIPLANE – DAY
Indy turns in his seat to give Sean the “thumbs up.” Sean
smiles valiantly and points down to the ground.
Then they both become aware of a STRANGE SOUND in the skies
behind them. Something between a ROAR and a WAIL. TWO
EUROFIGHTERS streak out of the clouds and
race across the sky.
INDY AND SEAN
Shrink in their seats as the EUROFIGHTERS (going three
times as fast as they are) SCREAM past on either side.
INDY
Dad, you’re gonna have to use the
smoke machine. Get it ready.
Sean looks down at the console in front of him with a perplexed
expression.
INDY
(turning; pointing)
Eleven o’clock!
Sean looks at his watch.
INDY
Dad — eleven o’clock!!
SEAN
What happens at eleven o’clock?
Indy uses his arm to demonstrate that he’s referring to a
direction and not a time.
INDY
(frustrated)
Twelve — eleven — ten. Eleven
o’clock. There!
Sean does — and the SMOKE makes him cough and nearly pass out.
Indy’s slow speed and small size works to his advantage. The
speeding EUROFIGHTERS continually overshoot him, WHIZZING
past in a blur — making wide turns miles away in the sky.
Sean has one of the Eurofighters in sight on his console. He pulls
back on the switch – PUFF-PUFF-PUFF!
The Eurofighter banks to the left, but Sean keeps it in
centred on his console’s screenhis gun sight. Sean presses a button on the console, inadvertently
EJECTING THE CHARGE AND CUTTING HIS OWN REAR STABILIZER IN HALF.
INDY
Dad, are we hit?!
SEAN
More or less.
(pause)
Son, I’m sorry. They got us.
Indy looks back at the missing tail section, then at his
father.
The plane begins to go down. Indy struggles to control its
descent.
INDY
Hang on, Dads We’re going in!
Sean slumps down fearfully in his seat.
EXT. A FIELD – DAY
The wheels of the plane touch down. OUT OF CONTROL, the PLANE
SKIDS and CRASHES first into a corral of goats and then into
the farmhouse beyond sending a cloud of dust into the air.
As Indy pulls himself from the cockpit:
SEAN
(sarcastic)
Nice landing.
INDY
Thanks.
Suddenly, Indy’s attention is directed to:
TWO SCREAMING EUROFIGHTERS
Coming in low. Guns BLAZING.
As BULLETS EXPLODE around them, Indy and Sean jump over a
stone barricade. Sean, frightened, grabs at Indy.
SEAN
Those people are trying to kill us!
INDY
I know, Dad!
SEAN
It’s a new experience for me.
INDY
It happens to me all the time.
To be continued…
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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