The trio lingers through the dust and mud trails. They're
way off their potentials now. Dirty, distressed, and angry.
JACK
I kinda get the point of the legend
now... The curse must still work...
LORA
Shut up!
(to Ivan)
Do we at least know where we are
going?
IVAN
We came from the north.
(points out)
That's north.
JACK
Whatever you say, skipper...
IVAN
Look guys, those bulldozers weren't
flown here ok? There must be a road
near by. We get to it, we hitch.
JACK
Can't we just dial 911...for air
support?
He takes out his cell phone.
JACK (CONT'D)
The net is still good...
IVAN
Jack...don't mouth your energy out,
pal...
(checks on Lora)
You good? You need a break?
Lora doesn't respond. Just pretends to be focused on the
road ahead.
IVAN (CONT'D)
I'm sorry...Never crossed my mind
this could happen...
LORA
As most things in life do...
JACK (O.S.)
Hey guys! Something peaks up at the
front!
Ivan and Lora look up.
Not far away a portable quarter cabin catches their sight.
JACK (CONT'D)
Only we could find someone there...
IVAN
Let's move out.
They approach the seemingly abandoned place. Ivan checks
inside through the window.
Jack scouts around.
Lora just drops her backpack and sits on it. Catching a
moment of relief.
JACK
There's no fucking fountain,
nothing! How we're supposed to get
some water?
(to Ivan)
I'm dry empty, man...
IVAN
Seems abandoned...shit. I was
hoping to get some directions.
JACK
So what now?
IVAN
Now, we take a rest and continue.
JACK
You're screwing me. We outta
supplies. Lora is half dead!
LORA
I can manage...
IVAN
You have any better idea? Want me
to call on a chopper in here?
JACK
Fuck...fuck this third world
country shit! Next time is off to
Coney fucking island!
LORA
Would you two just stop arguing for
Christ sake!
By the corner of her eye, Lora notices a PALE SHADOW
up-rising in front of her.
She jerks up, SCREAMING.
Ivan and Jack drop the argument and instantly look Lora's
way.
In the front of them a lurky figure of a man standing,
looking somewhat funny in his worker terrain gear, helmet
and fluorescent vest. Carefully maintained goatee on him,
mid 30s in age - this is LAKI.
He apologies to Lora with gesture, probably not sure they
would understand his native speech.
JACK
Where the fuck this guy came from?
IVAN
(to Laki)
You speak English?
LAKI
Ah...so-so...
IVAN
We are off to Trinity monastery,
but got...lost...Can you point us
the way?
Laki calculates. Like finding the right words to present.
LAKI
Well...monastery is back that
way...
JACK
Well, great!
IVAN
We were told it was south. Is there
any path crossing this pipeline, we
can get back short?
LAKI
No, I think no.
IVAN
Ok, so how do we get to the
monastery?
LAKI
Well...you go back, around the
woods, below to road...
LORA
Oh, fuck! Ivan, this guy's killing
me!
IVAN
Calm down...
(to Laki)
So you're telling me no other way?
No cuts?
LAKI
I don't know...maybe but I don't
know...
Ivan takes a beat. Million plans in his head.
IVAN
Where does this pipeline go to? Any
way down?
LAKI
Yes...near here, all the way to the
main road...but...very...difficult
path...you must careful.
IVAN
To the road? Where cars go?
LAKI
Yes, yes...main road.
JACK
(to Ivan)
Ask him if there's any road up
here? How did fucking Mr T and his
family got up with their jeep?
LORA
I'm not going back. No fucking way!
IVAN
Ok, ok...
(MORE)
IVAN (cont'd)
(to Laki)
We saw people back there in the
woods with jeep. How did they drive
there? Must be some road here?
LAKI
Look...I work here long time. I
tell you no roads here, only
pipeline. The road is below, so you
must go down to it.
(beat)
Where you from?
No one answers that question.
JACK
You at least have something to
drink?
LAKI
Sure man...
Enters the cabin, comes back with a plastic bottle.
LAKI
Here...
Jack takes the bottle, makes a sip with all his strength.
Pukes to hell.
JACK
What the fuck is this!?
LAKI
(laughs)
Ah, Rakija...
JACK
You fucking with me?
Laki's smile drops. Now his face gets stone sinister.
JACK (CONT'D)
Any water?
LAKI
You not say so...
(beat)
Around the corner...
Jack leaves, bypassing Ivan and Lora's argument.
LORA
I'm telling you Ivan. No way...no
way in hell...
IVAN
Wasn't it your joy ride? C'mon we
still get a chance if we move
faster.
LORA
No more...not for today...Let's
just get down this fucking hill and
go home.
Jack gets back, joins in.
JACK
You better not be discussing
getting back to monastery, right?
(beat)
Cause there's no fucking way I'll
do that.
IVAN
Starting to get that impression...
JACK
We're outta food,
water...strength...we look like
shit...these fucking clowns toying
with us...let's call it quits and
get back to the town.
LORA
I'm perfectly with him, Ivan...
IVAN
Ok...let's get down and back...
(to Laki)
You say downhill is not too far?
LAKI
You not miss. Just go straight
about two-three hundred meters and
look right.
IVAN
All right. Thanks.
(they shake hands)
I'm Ivan, by the way.
LAKI
Laki.
JACK
Yes you are...working in this dump.
Laki looks to Jack blunt. Jack waives off.
JACK (CONT'D)
Let get the fuck outta this place
guys.
The trio gathers and slowly moves forward. Laki looks upon
them from behind.
As they nearly disappear, he goes back to his cabin.
Mini atom-bomb blast inside. Dirty, things scattered around,
bed not made for at least a month, nude girl posters swarm
the walls.
Laki takes off a pretty new and expensive cell phone. Makes
call.
He talks some native, sounds pretty menacing.
He ends the call. Takes out a larger box and puts in on a
table.
He takes out a gadget - phone signal jammer with two
straight antennas popping out of it. He turns it on.
Goes out with the gadget.
Ivan reaches the verge of the vertical strip. Checks down.
Goes further. No road nor nothing for that matter on sight.
Jack comes along. Lora follows.
IVAN
It's a solid rock as far as I can
see...
JACK
Doesn't look so narrow. We can do
this.
IVAN
Well...we get screwed again, at
least I know the guy's name...
JACK
Yea...you do press charges...
LORA
Would you two finally stop and let
us just get down?
Ivan checks his watch, and checks his cell phone.
IVAN
Network looks good, but we are
tight on time.
(beat)
I call give or take two hours to
get down before we start losing the
light.
LORA
I call would be more than enough.
(screaming)
HOT FUCKING TUB, HERE I COME!
She starts moving down. Ivan spots her lifting her mood for
the first time they have entered the climb.
Suits good on him. He follows her down. Jack's next.
— ⑤
EXT. PIPELINE TRAIL - LATER
The trio lingers through the dust and mud trails. They're
way off their potentials now. Dirty, distressed, and angry.
JACK
I kinda get the point of the legend
now... The curse must still work...
LORA
Shut up!
(to Ivan)
Do we at least know where we are
going?
IVAN
We came from the north.
(points out)
That's north.
JACK
Whatever you say, skipper...
IVAN
Look guys, those bulldozers weren't
flown here ok? There must be a road
near by. We get to it, we hitch.
JACK
Can't we just dial 911...for air
support?
He takes out his cell phone.
JACK (CONT'D)
The net is still good...
IVAN
Jack...don't mouth your energy out,
pal...
(checks on Lora)
You good? You need a break?
Lora doesn't respond. Just pretends to be focused on the
road ahead.
IVAN (CONT'D)
I'm sorry...Never crossed my mind
this could happen...
LORA
As most things in life do...
JACK (O.S.)
Hey guys! Something peaks up at the
front!
Ivan and Lora look up.
Not far away a portable quarter cabin catches their sight.
JACK (CONT'D)
Only we could find someone there...
IVAN
Let's move out.
EXT. CABIN PERIMETER - CONTINUES
They approach the seemingly abandoned place. Ivan checks
inside through the window.
Jack scouts around.
Lora just drops her backpack and sits on it. Catching a
moment of relief.
JACK
There's no fucking fountain,
nothing! How we're supposed to get
some water?
(to Ivan)
I'm dry empty, man...
IVAN
Seems abandoned...shit. I was
hoping to get some directions.
JACK
So what now?
IVAN
Now, we take a rest and continue.
JACK
You're screwing me. We outta
supplies. Lora is half dead!
LORA
I can manage...
IVAN
You have any better idea? Want me
to call on a chopper in here?
JACK
Fuck...fuck this third world
country shit! Next time is off to
Coney fucking island!
LORA
Would you two just stop arguing for
Christ sake!
By the corner of her eye, Lora notices a PALE SHADOW
up-rising in front of her.
She jerks up, SCREAMING.
Ivan and Jack drop the argument and instantly look Lora's
way.
In the front of them a lurky figure of a man standing,
looking somewhat funny in his worker terrain gear, helmet
and fluorescent vest. Carefully maintained goatee on him,
mid 30s in age - this is LAKI.
He apologies to Lora with gesture, probably not sure they
would understand his native speech.
JACK
Where the fuck this guy came from?
IVAN
(to Laki)
You speak English?
LAKI
Ah...so-so...
IVAN
We are off to Trinity monastery,
but got...lost...Can you point us
the way?
Laki calculates. Like finding the right words to present.
LAKI
Well...monastery is back that
way...
JACK
Well, great!
IVAN
We were told it was south. Is there
any path crossing this pipeline, we
can get back short?
LAKI
No, I think no.
IVAN
Ok, so how do we get to the
monastery?
LAKI
Well...you go back, around the
woods, below to road...
LORA
Oh, fuck! Ivan, this guy's killing
me!
IVAN
Calm down...
(to Laki)
So you're telling me no other way?
No cuts?
LAKI
I don't know...maybe but I don't
know...
Ivan takes a beat. Million plans in his head.
IVAN
Where does this pipeline go to? Any
way down?
LAKI
Yes...near here, all the way to the
main road...but...very...difficult
path...you must careful.
IVAN
To the road? Where cars go?
LAKI
Yes, yes...main road.
JACK
(to Ivan)
Ask him if there's any road up
here? How did fucking Mr T and his
family got up with their jeep?
LORA
I'm not going back. No fucking way!
IVAN
Ok, ok...
(MORE)
IVAN (cont'd)
(to Laki)
We saw people back there in the
woods with jeep. How did they drive
there? Must be some road here?
LAKI
Look...I work here long time. I
tell you no roads here, only
pipeline. The road is below, so you
must go down to it.
(beat)
Where you from?
No one answers that question.
JACK
You at least have something to
drink?
LAKI
Sure man...
Enters the cabin, comes back with a plastic bottle.
LAKI
Here...
Jack takes the bottle, makes a sip with all his strength.
Pukes to hell.
JACK
What the fuck is this!?
LAKI
(laughs)
Ah, Rakija...
JACK
You fucking with me?
Laki's smile drops. Now his face gets stone sinister.
JACK (CONT'D)
Any water?
LAKI
You not say so...
(beat)
Around the corner...
Jack leaves, bypassing Ivan and Lora's argument.
LORA
I'm telling you Ivan. No way...no
way in hell...
IVAN
Wasn't it your joy ride? C'mon we
still get a chance if we move
faster.
LORA
No more...not for today...Let's
just get down this fucking hill and
go home.
Jack gets back, joins in.
JACK
You better not be discussing
getting back to monastery, right?
(beat)
Cause there's no fucking way I'll
do that.
IVAN
Starting to get that impression...
JACK
We're outta food,
water...strength...we look like
shit...these fucking clowns toying
with us...let's call it quits and
get back to the town.
LORA
I'm perfectly with him, Ivan...
IVAN
Ok...let's get down and back...
(to Laki)
You say downhill is not too far?
LAKI
You not miss. Just go straight
about two-three hundred meters and
look right.
IVAN
All right. Thanks.
(they shake hands)
I'm Ivan, by the way.
LAKI
Laki.
JACK
Yes you are...working in this dump.
Laki looks to Jack blunt. Jack waives off.
JACK (CONT'D)
Let get the fuck outta this place
guys.
The trio gathers and slowly moves forward. Laki looks upon
them from behind.
As they nearly disappear, he goes back to his cabin.
INT. CABIN - CONTINUES
Mini atom-bomb blast inside. Dirty, things scattered around,
bed not made for at least a month, nude girl posters swarm
the walls.
Laki takes off a pretty new and expensive cell phone. Makes
call.
He talks some native, sounds pretty menacing.
He ends the call. Takes out a larger box and puts in on a
table.
He takes out a gadget - phone signal jammer with two
straight antennas popping out of it. He turns it on.
Goes out with the gadget.
EXT. PIPELINE TRAIL - LATER
Ivan reaches the verge of the vertical strip. Checks down.
Goes further. No road nor nothing for that matter on sight.
Jack comes along. Lora follows.
IVAN
It's a solid rock as far as I can
see...
JACK
Doesn't look so narrow. We can do
this.
IVAN
Well...we get screwed again, at
least I know the guy's name...
JACK
Yea...you do press charges...
LORA
Would you two finally stop and let
us just get down?
Ivan checks his watch, and checks his cell phone.
IVAN
Network looks good, but we are
tight on time.
(beat)
I call give or take two hours to
get down before we start losing the
light.
LORA
I call would be more than enough.
(screaming)
HOT FUCKING TUB, HERE I COME!
She starts moving down. Ivan spots her lifting her mood for
the first time they have entered the climb.
Suits good on him. He follows her down. Jack's next.