çàÿâêà íà êèíîñöåíðèé ÌÅÆÄÓ ÏÐÎØËÛÌ È ÁÓÄÓÙÈÌ.
SPACE
It"s bottomless black space. We move between galaxies, stars, planets. Some of them twinkle and shine particoloured lights...A small blue star appeares in front. It slowly comes near and becomes bigger and bigger in sizes and turns into a light-blue planet...
It has increased so much that it occupies all field of vision. We go down this planet. We pass the upper layers of atmosphere, run through the sky. We can see continents below. We approach the American continent, its northern part. It is possible to discern a mountain chain, a narrow ribbon of a river and a big city. Below us there are skyscrapers, bridges, highways with endless stream of cars...
In this stream of cars our attention is concentrated on a taxi, which quickly moves to an airport. The taxi with passengers comes to the airport building. A young man with a bag and a suitcase and a young graceful lady with a small baby in her hands go out from the taxi.
IT IS A DAY-THE BUILDING OF THE AIRPORT
Inside is a usual atmosphere. The passengers, who arrive and leave, people, who meet and see off, are in constant movement...
A young couple with a year old baby register tickets. The couple is in a merry mood. The father, a sport looking young man, takes the documents from a clerk and addresses to his wife, KETTY.
A YOUNG MAN
Ketty, how do you think our
baby will bear this air trip?
KETTY
If to judge how he sleeps, he
will do it better than me.
She looks tenderly at baby"s face. It is calm and placid.
The clerk smiles.
CLERK
I wish you a pleasant journey.
The passengers take the bus, which deliver them to a silvery Boeing. There is the young woman with the baby among the passengers. There is a beautiful airplane on a landing ground. Boarding is in the process.The passengers disappear in a big body of Boeing, going up a ladder.
A SALOON OF AN AIRPLANE.
An elegant black stewardess greets the passengers. She shows them their seats. She helps the young couple to settle down in their seats.
STEWARDESS
If you need my help press this
button. The flight is long and your
baby is so small.
KETTY
Thank you. I hope we"ll not need it.
A man in a grey suit moves deep into the saloon. One half of his face is closed by thick moustache and beard, the second is closed with the help of glasses and broadbrimmed hat, which is pushed on eyebrows. The black curly hair is showing from under his hat. This man with beard has a middle sized brief-case. He disappears in the far end of saloon.
THE LANDING GROUND OF THE AIRPORT.
A big silvery bird is on the landing ground. Boeing shines under the bright beams of the sun. The engines work strongly. The airplane is in the sky.
NIGHT. CONTROLLER"S OFFICE OF ONE OF INDIAN AIRPORTS.
On a tower, it is a usual working atmosphere: the screen of radars twinkle weakly, the air controllers watch them attentively.
A big indian man with neat moustache stands near a big window from which a landing ground is seen.Though his jacket is unbuttoned and air-conditioner works it is hot for him...
Near him there is a little bit spare middle aged man. They both watch a boarding of ordinary airplane...
Suddenly one of the air controller turns from the panel. Anxiety is at his face. He tries to overcome this anxiety.
THE AIR CONTROLLER
MR. ROY!
A big man comes together with his assistant to the air controller.
ROY
What"s happened?
THE AIR CONTROLLER
I have received the report from the
airplane K-1418 proceeds from LA.
A fanatic - terrorist threatens
to explode himself and the plane,if
his demands will not be fulfilled.
The face of the main control officer becomes gloomy. He rubs with his palm a sweat forehead. Then he turns to his assistant.
ROY
Immediately get in contact with
police.
Mr. Roy makes weak his tie, he sweats more.
ROY(to the air controller)
What does he want?
THE AIR CONTROLLER
The pilot reports that he demands
to free from jail his two friends.
They are well-known terrorists.
ROY
Report to the plane that his demands
will be immediately send to
the authorities.And say to the crew
to fulfil all the demands of this
crazy.
Mr. Roy looks at the watch. Some persons come to him, among them there are two policemen...
The air controller presses head-phones.
THE AIR CONTROLLER
(with emotion)
The captain of the crew reports
that something happens in the
saloon. Shooting is heard.
THE POLICEMAN
There must be an agent from security
service on the board...
Roy looks with expectation at the policeman, but he keeps silence.
ROY
Everything is not OK at the board.
Somewhere a misfire has happened...
Nobody gives him an answer. Anxiety is on the faces of people.
THE AIR CONTROLLER
There is no contact with the board.
The board keeps silence. The plane
loses altitude.
All watch the screen of the panel.
ROY
(to the air controller)
Give me coordinates of the possible
fall of the plane.
THE AIR CONTROLLER
It falls on the territory of China.
FOOTHILLS OF THE TIBET. NIGHT.
The sun beams touch the earth the last time and a warm summer night lowers into a valley... The grandfather Dzan, an old chinese, has gathered herbs, roots, minerals and returns to his cabin. Daos-recluse (hermit) at his seventy years old moves easyly and quickly. A weak wind stirs his long grey hair...
Suddenly he stops and turns his head to a not very high, with some trees mountain...
From the hillside the plane in fire rushes by and plunges into nhe forest...
The jungles are lighted and a deafening explosion shake the earth. Astonishment, fear do not appear on the face of the old man. For some minutes he stands moveless and listens the night silence. He tries to catch any sounds. But the jungles are in silence...
The old man is going to go away, makes some steps and stops: he heards a weak baby cry...
Putting straight his sack the recluse goes quickly to the side of this cry...
As he reaches the place of disaster more and more debris in fire are everywhere.
There are burning things, the remains of the plane in the fire gleam. And among the nightmare there is a lonely baby cry. In thick bushes, throw back by explosion, lies a passenger chair...
In it there is a small white boy. This is Dan. He is fastened by belts, he is weeping.
Daos-chinese frees the boy from the belts and takes him in his hands.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Your life preserved for you...
It means that you will have
unusual destiny.
DAY - EDGE OF THE FOREST - THE BANK OF THE RIVER
The grand father Dzan, daos-recluse sits on a large stone and looks in the side of the forest. A boy appears from the forest and runs to the old man. The boy is 8-9 years old. This is Daniel. He is out of breath, but his sunburnt face shines with joy.
DANIEL
Grandfather Dzan, look I have found.
The boy stretches a stone to the old-chinese.The old man takes the stone and examines it. Then he looks at the boy with approval.
THE OLD-CHINESE
You have found the stone, which
we studied yesterday.
DANIEL
Grandfather Dzan, what shall we do
with it?
THE OLD-CHINESE
It will help us to make the
elexir of life.
Daniel looks with admiration at his teacher.
The old man takes the boy"s hand and they together go to a small river, which is between dense reed.
Suddenly there is menacing below and a big tiger bars the way. The tiger growls his eyes are angry, he slowly moves to the old man and the boy.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Dan, stand near me and don"t move.
The old man puts his hand on the boy"s shoulder and calmly, but firmly looks in the beast"s eyes...
The red cat becomes a little bit calm, she does not growl; she shifts her paws and disappears between trees...
The boy looks at his teacher with inquiring glance.
DANIEL
Grandfather Dzan, it"s you, made
the tiger go away.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Yes. It was not difficult to do this...
The tiger felt what I wanted from him.
The old teacher - daos and his young pupil continue their
way. The river is near. It"s surface shines brightly under the run beams... The boy looks at the old man with cunning.
DANIEL
Grandfather Dzan, can you guess what
I want now?
THE OLD-CHINESE
Certainly.
DANIEL
Guess, please?
The old daos stops. He makes thoughtful face, looks at the
burning sun, then he looks at the river.
THE OLD-CHINESE
The weather is hot and we are
near the river... You want...
The old man has no time to finish, as his pupil does not
hear. He runs to the river, jumps across ditches. The teacher smiles and follows his small pupil with his eyes.
A DAY. A LITTLE DAOS MONASTERY.
Nestles at the foot of the mountain. From the side of it
there is a small cascade, which harmoniously adds a landscape...
We hear a low voice of the old daos from the window of the
monastery.
THE OLD-CHINESE ( O.S.)
Answer me, what is a man?
DANIEL ( O.S.)
A man is an outcome of the Earth
and the Sky.
THE OLD-CHINESE ( O.S.)
And what is a big Dao?
DANIEL ( O.S.)
This is a low of life, creator of
all living and unliving.
In a small half dark room there is the old teacher and his
pupil, a small Daniel. They sit on the floor opposite each other. The room is lighted by several candles...
Two candles stand on a small low table between the old man and the boy.
THE OLD -CHINESE
For what must a man strive?
DANIEL
To know Dao, to live in peace and
harmony with nature.
THE OLD -CHINESE
Correct. How do you reach this?
DANIEL
It is necessary to develop abilities
and to believe in my own strength.
The boy answers with confidence. We can see that communication with the teacher gives the boy a great pleasure.
THE OLD-CHINESE
It"s true.
The main you must follow your
thoughts and wishes and
to control them.
The old man stops talking. Daniel does not take his eyes off
the teacher. The teacher slowly lifts his hand with an open palm and sharply throws it into the direction of the candle sharply deviated and goes out...
The small pupil repeats the same movement, but flame of the
second candle only scarcely deviates.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Very well. Now go and make some
physical exercises.
A DAY - THE YARD OF THE DAOS MONASTERY .
The teacher looks through the window. He sees his small pupil, who is making fight complex u - shu. The boy"s movements are quick and precise. His face is concentrated. The old teacher is satisfied with technique of execution of the exercises and a smile of satisfaction appears at his face... He goes to the yard and for some seconds watches the boy.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Stop and stand still !
The pupil immediately react to the teacher"s voice and at
once stands still in the position "rider". The old master returns to the monastery.
THE EVENING. THE YARD OF THE MONASTERY.
The sun was waning to the horizon and a big shadow halfly covers the yard, where the boy stands at the same position. The boy"s face sweats, but it does not look tired...
The old teacher appeared from the door. He goes to the pupil.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Enough Dan.
The boy straightens and wipes sweat from his face.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Was it difficult for you?
DANIEL
No, it was not.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Why?
DANIEL
I have imagined, that I am a
big and heavy stone, which cannot
be shifted from the place. And then
I have ceased to feel my body.
THE OLD-CHINESE
I praise you for ingenuity.
DANIEL
Grandfather Dzan, can I train more?
THE OLD-CHINESE
Good. Train yourself in lightness of
your body.
The teacher shows the boy basket with stones. The small boy
does not need to repeat twice. He runs to the basket and easily jumps on it"s edge. The able pupil quickly moves by the edge of the basket so, it does not fall...
The amount of stones in the basket becomes less and less.
The moment comes, when there is no any stone in the basket, but the legs in the dark trousers continue to move by the edge with confidence...
But now the owner of the legs jumps to the land and we can
see the other Daniel, a twenty year old young man with an excellent developed body and a calm, confident look.
HALFLY DARK PREMISES OF THE MONASTERY
at which near a low table the old teacher and his pupil Dan sit. The teacher is in a traditional embroidered with hieroglyphs robe. There is a black headband with a yellow dragon on his head...
Both sit in eastern position of "lotus". Two candles burn,
as usual, on the table.
THE OLD-CHINESE
As you have studied "science of life"
of ancient daos, your achievements
are great...
In the material world there is
nothing impossible for you.
The old man pronounces these words slowly and then stops
talking. Flame of candles vibrates and shadows of the modeless figures of the old man and the day slightly tremble. The young pupil looks strength into the old teacher"s eyes.
THE OLD-CHINESE
/continuation/
But remember: your abilities use only
for the benefit of mankind.
DAN
Yes, my teacher.
THE OLD -CHINESE
Soon we"ll train in the exercises,
which give possibility to overcome
space and time.
The guy"s face is modeless. In his eyes there is no
astonishment, fear but only the dancing flame of candles.
THE OLD -CHINESE
There is nothing beyond natural,
but you will need concentration
of consciousness and it means
a big expense of energy.
That is the highest stage of our teaching. Are you ready for it?
DAN
Yes, my teacher.
The old - daos suddenly, throws his hand with open palm in
the direction of a burning candel, but at the same moment the guy repeats the same movement and both candels fade.
THE ROOM FOR MEDITATION AT THE MONASTERY
in which, with a face turning to the wall, in the position of meditation Dan sits. On the wall there is an ancient east in"-jan with hecsogrammes from the book of Changes...
The day is alone, around him is complete silence. The
strokes of pulse are only heard... Sometimes in Dan"s consciousness there are images and visions: airport, people at the saloon of falling plane, a man with beard in dark glasses...
Thoughts and questions appear in Dan’s brain and Dan repeats
them slowly.
DAN
Why was 20 years ago my life
preserved for me? It is not
by chance... What must I do?
I must solve this riddle.
A pale face - mask slowly appears in Dan"s consciousness: a
bald skull, pressed lips, a death - cold look. The face - mask is moveless. Gradually the delineation begins slowly to vibrate and to disappear...
The guy stands up, he looks at the drawing on the wall. He lays his hand in cross: the right arm on the left shoulder, the left arm on the right shoulder...
His body is in a weak blue luminescence. Luminescence
strengthens and hides the body"s contours. It turns into a light - blue cloud, which melts in darkness after a small pause.
THE NIGHT. THE DARK PREMISES WITH GRILLED WINDOWS.
The premises are weakly lighted with one torch. There are near twenty persons in it. If to judge by clothes they are former warriors...
Most of them sleep on the floor. That"s why nobody notice
Dan"s appearance from a weak blue luminescence...
Heavy signs and moans of a wounded are heard. Dan makes his
way among those who sleep. He hears the conversation of two men.
The guy stops near them, they do not notice him.
SPARTAK, a sturdy person with a bloody wound in a side and
his young interlocutor, TODOR settle behind a small buttress in a wall.
SPARTAK
Todor, tomorrow our destiny
will be solved...
We are captives and romans
will determine our fate.
TODOR
Yes, Spartak. We must only
surrender to our destiny.
I heard that we would
be sent to a quarry.
SPARTAK
If it happens I shall not
stand this for a long
time. My wound hurts me...
Spartak looks at his bloody side and touches it with a hand.
The grimace of pain appears at his face.
SPARTAK /continuation/
But it"s not the main. I want
to be free, life in slavery
is not for me, it"s better to die.
Dan goes out from darkness. Fracese, Spartak and Todor look
at him watchfully. The guy sits near them.
DAN
To die we shall have time.
Let"s think how to find the
way out of this situation.
Captives listens him with lack of confidence.
SPARTAK
Who are you a stranger?
DAN
The same captive like you.
The guy points at Spartak"s wound.
DAN /continuation/
Is it bleed? Let me relieve it.
Spartak shows the wound and the guy puts his palm on it and
makes some slow round movements.
The friends watch him attentively. Dan puts away the palm,
blood does not bleed and the wound has a crust... Spartak and Todor look at the wound with astonishment, then at the person, who healed it. Spartak wants to ask something, but the guy stops him.
DAN
No miracles.
SPARTAK
Thank you, my friend.
DAN
The most important is in front.
In the morning serious trials
wait for us.
EARLY MORNING. SCHOOL OF GLADIATORS.
All the captives are brought out to the school yard at a big
ground. Among captives there are fracese, Greek, Arab. An owner of the school appears accompanied by three noble roman citizen in rich clothes...
He casts a power full glance at all.
THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL
You are Rome slaves. Your life
belongs to the emperor. Cesar is
a generous man and allows me
to meet with you.
This speech does not arise any excitement among captives.
They keep silence.
THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL /cont./
I am an owner of the school
of gladiators. I was allowed
to choose among you the
best warriors, who can take
part at gladiator"s fights.
A speaker makes a pause. His face is good-natured but he tries to speak severely. He is short and rather stantand even a decorated cloth cannot hide this.
THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL
Who will be chosen, will stay at
the school. The rest will work
hard at a quarry.
He waits for captives" reaction. His glance stops at
Spartak, Todor and Dan, who stand near each other.
May be his attention is concentrated at the guy"s unusual
clothes - black trousers and shirt...
Three friends discuss what they have heard.
SPARTAK
My friend, Todor, we are again
before a choice.
TODOR
But in the end it is death:
but we don"t know where it will be
quicker at a quarry or at a
arena of an amphitheatre.
SPARTAK
I am not afraid of death.
We shall not be joyful in
this life and death will save us
from sufferings, shall it Dan?
DAN
The sense is not in death,
but how you estimate your life.
SPARTAK
What do you mean?
DAN
I think we have a chance to
fight for our life.
A DAY. A GROUND FOR TRAINING OF GLADIATORS SCHOOL.
A place for throwing the javelin. Here we see some captives, among them Spartak with his friends. The owner of the school watches the results in throwing the javelin...
One of the captives, middle stature Arab throws the javelin,
but it does not even flight to a target. The second one is not a young Greek with beard. He throws the javelin with strength. The javelin goes into an edge of the target...
Spartak takes the javelin. He presses it in his arm and
looks at the target, then he looks at the owner of the school and other Romans. A sharp swing and a fracese with cry, throws the javelin. It reaches a center of the target and breaks planks...
legioners do not express excitement as for this spurt, but the owner of the school smiles and positively shakes his head.
THE SAME TRAINING GROUND.
Where the other trial is waiting for captives. They are
taken to vertical posts which stick up from the ground till the level of chest. Some candidates to gladiators try to cut these posts by one chop of a sword. The post are five inches in thickness. Their attempts are useless...
Todor takes a sword. He makes some limbering exercises,
applies to a place of a chop and inflicts the chop. The upper part of the post falls on the ground. The reaction of romans is the same like after Spartak"s successful throw: legioners frown, the owner of the school smiles... He accompanied by legioners, comes near and points to Dan.
THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL
Now it"s your turn.
Todor helds out a sword to a guy.
DAN
No. I don"t need.
He bends and raises a cut piece looks at it and suddenly
throws it before himself and by an edge of a palm makes quick blow. Two parts of a wooden post fall on sand.
Everything happens so quickly that nobody can understand what
has happened. And only then comes reaction: the captives-friends smile, the legioners are gloomy, the owner of the school is disconcerted... Dan raises the fallen parts.
DAN
/To the owner of the school/
I hope it"s enough to the school.
A DAY. THE TRAINING OF GLADIATORS SCHOOL.
The gladiators perfect fight technique, throw the javelins
to a target. They fight in pairs...
One of pairs which is busy with a training fight on wooden
swords, is Spartak and Todor. Dan, with crossed legs, settles under a temp at another side. His eyes are closed, his face is limp...
Spartak fights and time by time looks at his young friend.
Then he stops to train.
SPARTAK /to Todor/
Train independently.
I"ll return soon.
He goes to a guy, who is sitting alone at a tent shadow.
When there are only three or four steps to Dan, he throws two hands with open palms in the direction of Spartak...
The fracese feels a blow and stops, as he runs into a wall.
He touches space before him by hands. The guy opens eyes. SPARTAK
My friend you don"t train at all.
DAN
Why do you think so?
SPARTAK
Probably you are a good warrior,
but you must keep your
physical form.
DAN
I do this. You train your
musles, body, I train something
which is more important.
Spartak sits near his friend. They both watch how gladiators
train. It is distress and powerlessness on Spartak"s face.
SPARTAK
We all are doomed to death.
Somebody will be killed
in a month, somebody will
live some years..., but there
will be only one end.
DAN
But it is very important how
you will meet death.
SPARTAK
For entertainments of masters
a man"s blood will be sheded.
Why do gods allow this?
DAN
The reason is not in gods,
but in people.
SPARTAK
Do you speak about Romans?
DAN
Yes. Pleasures and enjoyments are
the main things in their lives...
That"s why they, their empire is
doomed for ruin.
Through a gate a rider rushes by and stops before entrance of the premises. A young face of the school comes to him. The young legioner gives him a scroll. The gladiators come to them.
THE MESSENGER
/to the owner of the school/
Tomorrow the emperor arranges
a holiday on occasion of his
wife"s birthday. You ordered
to prepare the best
warriors for gladiators" fights.
Gladiators hear these words. They look at each other.
SPARTAK /to Dan/
Again everything is against us.
We made a plan with Todor.
The plan is about how to escape
from here and to be free.
Now we have no time.
DAN
Let"s use this circumstance
in our interests...
SPARTAK
But how?
DAN
I have heard, that Cesar can
present freedom to slaves...
If to put him too into definite
circumstances.
A DAY. THE ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE IS FULL OF SPECTATORS.
Free citizens of Rome came to watch gladiators fight. A crowd is excited and waits for a beginning of a show...
Cesar and his wife is at the central tribune. Commanders and
consuls are around them. A beautiful dress of a woman is stand out against clothes of a suite and uniform of warriors...
Commander Crass is near Cesar. He is a man with strong - willed and haughty look.
CESAR /to Crass/
Begin.
ROOMY PREMISES
with grilles on windows at which fifteen gladiators prepare to go to an arena. They check their weapon and outfit... The owner the school comes to the premises.
THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL
The emperor decided on occasion of
a holiday: a fight will go till
a last victory. A person who wins
will receive freedom.
Gladiators listen attentively and when they hear last words
look at each other.
DAN /to Spartak/
That is your chance Spartak.
SPARTAK
Yes I"ll use it.
Nothing will stop me.
DAN
Even if you kill other person?
SPARTAK
I do not see the other way.
DAN
The same slave like you?!
SPARTAK
So are the circumstances:
either I or he.
The guy looks directly into fracese eyes.
DAN
Do you really need such freedom,
painted with somebody"s blood?
The gladiator turn away his eyes.
SPARTAK
I do not know this.
The friends come to a grilled window and look at an arena.
THE ARENA OF THE AMPHITHEATRE
at which we can see the fight between Todor and gladiator - Negro. The Negro is big. He sends strong blows at fracese shield. It is clear that he will not stand more...
He has no strength any more, he nearly stops to resist. With
a strong blow the Negro knocks a fracese shield out of his hands.
The tribunes are noisy, as they feel the end and cheer up the black athlete. He with a beast roar, widely swings, cleaves a belly of his enemy...
Todor falls on one knee. With the help of his right hand he
tries to close a wound from which blood runs. He does not resist, his sword is on the other side...
The Negro raises his weapon under the head of the enemy and
looks at the side of the emperor"s tribune, waiting for Cesar"s decision.
CESAR
/not loudly/
Is life or death?
What do roman citizens want?
The emperor looks at stormy tribunes. The crowd growls and demands death... Cesar puts his big finger down. At the same moment the sword of the black gladiator is at fracese head.
THE ROOMY PREMISES
for gladiators before entrance to an arena.
Spartak sees his friend"s death. Cry of bitterness comes out
out of his chest. He goes away from the fracese in silence. The fracese raises his head and takes his sword, shield and goes to a door for entrance to the arena...
Near the door the owner of the school stops him.
SPARTAK
I am ready to fight with him.
THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL
Do not become excited. He is stronger
than you. The same fate waits
for you... Let him be a winner.
SPARTAK
No. Now or never.
THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL
All right. You have made a choice.
He gives the way to Spartak.
THE ARENA OF THE AMPHITHEATRE
Two menacing rivals meet on this arena. The Negro is sure in
his quick victory, his stabs are strong, but he acts directly and Spartak is able to withstand furious attacks and the black gladiator must cover himself with a big shield with shining plates in the middle...
Dan watches, standing at a grilled window, course of this
duel. This fight causes an interest at the emperor"s tribune.
Cesar"s wife watches Spartak"s actions with affection. Her face constantly changes depending on a situation on the arena. She smiles stealthily, when the fracese makes successful attack and noticeably gets upset, when the Negro begins to drive the enemy back. Cesar with his surrounding without emotions, watches the duel...
The black gladiator is tired, his movements are not so
quick, his stabs are not so strong. Spartak keeps an initiative.
He attacts, but the Negro with big difficulties beast off it. The enemies go to different sides. They breath hand...
The Negro screws up his eyes looking at the sun, then slowly
goes round the fracese to stand with his face to the sun. Spartak watches attentively his movement, but does not act. The tribunes cheer up the gladiators.
They demand the end. Spartak catches a tender look of the empress. He is sure in success and rushes in the attack. He makes two stabs, but they do not reach the aim. He makes the third stab, but the negro places his shield so, that a sun beam appears from the shining plates and dazzles for a moment the fracese. This moment is enough for the negro to make a stab and to strike the enemy"s shoulder.
The weapon falls out of Spartak"s hands. Blood runs from
his shoulder. The fracese puts away the shield and closes the wound with his hand. He looks without fear into the enemy"s eyes waiting for death. The negro sets his sword on Spartak"s chest and looks with triumph at the tribunes. This look stops at Cesar.
The tribunes wait to do the same gesture, but his wife"s palm lies down on his hand.
THE EMPEROR"S WIFE
My dear on occasion my birthday,
present life to this gladiator.
The emperor looks at his wife with astonishment.
CESAR
Certainly.
That which a woman wants,
the gods want.
The emperor stretches the hand and turnes his big finger up. The negro puts away his sword from Spartak"s chest and raises with triumph hands.
THE PREMISES FOR GLADIATOR.
The end of the duel at the arena is met by gladiators with gloomy silence. Dan goes away from the window, comes to a bench and slowly puts off his black shirt. He has a intense look. He takes in hands a short sword and looks at a blade.
The other gladiators watch him in silence. The owner of the
school comes into the premises.
Dan moves to an exit pressing the sword handle. The owner of the school is near the door, he opens the mouth to say something, but the guy forestalls him.
DAN
You don"t need words.
We shall speak, when I"ll return.
THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL
Will you return? Are you sure?
Dan goes away in silence, without giving an answer.
THE ARENA OF THE AMPHITHEATRE
The smiling winner stand in the middle of the arena. The
tribunes greet him with admiration. The emperor gets up and makes a gesture by hand.
The tribunes do not make any noise...
A very young gladiator goes out on the arena. It happens
unexpectedly to all. He has not a defence armour, there is only one sword at his right hand.
Under the sun beams at the boy"s nude trunk we can see
well - trained muscles... Exclamations of astonishment are heard from the tribunes. The emperor is also astonished. He raises the hand.
CESAR
There are two at the arena, but
a winner must be one. I am
waiting.
The black gladiator turns around and sees Dan. The negro
bares his teeth ominously...
The contrast between enemies is big: the negro is a mountain
of muscles. He is higher than the guy, he wears a defence armour, he has a big shield at his left hand. A slender Dan"s figure does not produce impression on spectators.
THE EMPRESS
/to Cesar/
It will be a suicide.
CESAR
That is his right. I cannot forbid.
With a grin the black gladiator goes to the guy. Without stop he makes a stab with a sword. The sword cuts air, as the enemy went at a side sharply. The negro makes two steps in front and at the same moment the young master makes three chops on hands and legs of the negro. He cries loudly because of pain. He falls on the ground and stands up a little bit leaning on his healthy hand. Blood appears at elbow and hips and runs into sand.
The gladiators tries to get up but he has no command of his legs. He looks with malice and fear at his winner. Everything has happened, they are silent. In the amphitheatre is silence too...
Dan, with the sword at his hands, waits... But the tribunes
are blown up, they demand death to a former favourite...
The guy looks at Cesar, who slowly turns a finger down. The
negro sees this gesture and puts down his head waiting for death.
Dan thrusts his sword into the ground and under unsatisfied
drone of the crowd goes to the emperor’s tribune. Cesar is angry... The noise of the tribunes disappears with the first words.
CESAR
Why did not you fulfil my demand?
You yourself must be punished.
DAN
To kill a man is a big sin.
CESAR
What is sin and what is not I decide.
He looks at his wife. She watches the guy with interest.
Then she whispers something into the emperor"s ear. Cesar"s face becomes milder.
CESAR
As for a winner of the tournament
I present you freedom.
The tribunes meet Cesar"s decision by joyful cries and stamp
their foot. The guy looks at a rejoiced crowd without interest.
DAN
Thank you but I don"t want
freedom for myself. I want
to get freedom to all gladiators.
The emperor and his surrounding find it fun: smile appear at
their faces.
CESAR
In what way?
DAN
I am ready to fight alone without
weapon... with your two best
legionaries with weapon.
CESAR
Strange wish...
DAN
If I win, we all are free if not...
it means I am not worth of freedom.
The emperor turns to his surrounding. Military persons,
commander Crass grin. Cesar again looks at this strange guy.
CESAR
The guy I like that you are brave.
He stands up and raises the hand.
CESAR /cont./
I accept your suggestion.
The emperor sits down and turns the head to the direction of military group
CESAR
He is very overconfident.
Who is ready to teach a good
lesson to this boy?
Commander Crass goes ahead. He is stocky, with wild
shoulders, expensive armour shines at the sun. His hand strongly squeezes the sword.
CRASS
I could cope with this alone...
But I"ll take Antoni.
CESAR
Well. I hope it will not take much time.
THE ARENA OF THE AMPHITHEATRE
Crass and Antoni come near to Dan, who stands at the centre
of the arena. They go firmly and with confidence. They are sure in their soon victory. The wind stirs plumes at their helmets.
They do not take weapons out of scabbard... The legionaries take their sword and attack the young gladiator... .
Crass moves ahead, he tries to pierce the enemy, who has not
weapons but the young gladiator moves aside and the chop passes by Antoni from other side, wants to correct a slip of Crass, but without results.
The young master is in time to go away from chops. He
always forestalls the legionaries. The chops are so frequent, but they do not reach the goal. It seems that the enemy knows, what they will do... Astonishment is at the emperor"s face. It changes into dissatisfaction. The emperor does not like what is going on the arena...
The flexible and quick guy, nude to the waist, without weapon sharply struggles with powerful, but sluggish legionaries. They attack directly and Dan, with the help of movements in different sides, reduces their attacks to nothing. They begin to be nervous. Sometimes the young gladiator uses the blocks of his hands which make them more angry... The enemies disperse for some seconds. Dan looks calmly at heavy breathing legionaries. Crass"s eyes are full of hate and confusion.
Antoni, a young strong legioner, turns to his friend with inquiring glance... Crass raises the sword, makes a deep sign and with cry rushes at the day. But he is stopped by a strong blow of leg into chest. The blow is made in a high jump, that was a complete unexpectedness for the legioner. Crass is shocked, catches air with his mouth. Dan, after the jump, does not give him to gather his wits and lies down the legionaries by a sharp, short blow in a head, into sand of the arena. The other enemy Antoni is lost. He looks vacantly at moveless body of his friend and transfers his glance at Cesar.
Cesar looks away... Antoni rushes in front, swinging useless with his sword...
Dan makes some steps back, but then catches the legioner"s
hand with weapon. A sharp turn of arm and the sword falls. Antoni is sent to a knock - out by a round blow of leg into a head... Dan looks with estimation at two bodies of the legions. They are moveless, that"s why the young winner goes to the emperor"s tribune... There is confusion in the emperor"s tribune.The emperor"s surrounding is indignant, Cesar is also at the same state and he presses handles of an arm - chair... Dan stops near the tribunes and looks at Cesar with expectancy. It is complete silence.
CESAR
I"ll keep my word.
But freedom is different...
Tomorrow in the morning you will
know what type of freedom you
all will have.
Cesar smiles slightly. Dan listens in silence, turns and
leaves the arena with dignity. There is hate and consternation, bewilderment and admiration at romans faces...
Dan comes to a door. Cesar makes a sign for a warrior with a
bow. And he, quickly takes aim at and throws an arrow in the direction of the guy...
Dan continues his way calmly and near the door deflects the
head for some inches. The arrow passes near a temple and goes into the door...
Dan stops. Then, without turn, leaves the arena resolutely.
NIGHT. THE PRISON PREMISES.
Gloomy room. In gleam of light from a burning torch we can
see gladiators, who sit near Spartak and Dan. Their faces are morose and tense.
SPARTAK
Thank you, friend.
For us you have refused freedom.
DAN
I have acted according my
inner persuasion.
SPARTAK
Now you will share our fate.
Cesar will not spare anybody.
We are only slaves.
DAN
I have made a mistake...
I did not think, that people, who
have power, can be so mendacious
and treacherous.
SPARTAK
It is impossible to wait something
else from them. But they are strong...
What can we oppose to them?
The fracese looks directly at the guy"s eyes. He does not
avert his look and on the contrary he looks at the gladiator’s faces attentively.
DAN
Probably strength also...
Spartak, are you ready to
fight for freedom, but not at
the arena of the amphitheatre,
but in a battle with legionaries?
SPARTAK
I have no another choice now.
DAN
Are you ready to be a leader
of gladiators?
SPARTAK
Yes.
DAN
It is very important to make
your decision and choice...
Sometimes a course of history even
depends upon this.
SPARTAK
Dan, how can we get out of here?
Dan gets up and slowly comes to a big wooden door with iron strips.
SPARTAK /cont./
The legioner with weapons
guards the door. We must kill
him or we shall not get of here.
Dan looks at the fracese in silence, then transfers his
pressed fists.
NIGHT. THE CORRIDOR IN FRONT OF A PRISON CELL.
The door of the cell is closed at a big bolt. The legioner - quarder slowly moves along the corridor under torch light. Sometimes he stops near the door, for which the gladiators lit... these steps are heard at a night silence. Only a long shadow on a wall accompanies him. He is on the alert...
Noise is heard out of the door. The guarder comes to it, a
little bit bends, puts his head to the door and tries to understand sounds from the premises...
Suddenly a wooden door with crackle flies away into different sides. Dan"s fist, breaking the door, strikes the head of the legioner. Receiving a strong blow he flies away from the door and fall without consciousness. Through the hole Spartak opens the bolt. The gladiators come out from the premises cautiously. Spartak takes the legioner’s sword. The prisoners move along the corridor in silence. Dan and Spartak is in front of them...
They are the first, who meet three legionaries. The legionaries at once begin a battle. Dan and Spartak quickly manage the enemies at this short engagement. The third legioner does not light and disappears at the gloomy corridor. The fracese wants to follow him, but Dan stops his friend.
DAN
Don"t make this. We shall lose time.
SPARTAK
In a minute there will be a
lot of legionaries here.
DAN
I shall try to divert and
to detain them.
SPARTAK
That is a certain death.
I cannot leave you alone.
DAN
Everybody has it"s own way...
Remember what we were speaking about.
The friends embrace and farewell. Dan quickly goes in the
direction, where the legioner has disappeared. Gladiators with Spartak as a leader move to other direction.
Dan meets a detachment of legionaries very soon. Crass is a leader of this detachment. The guy begins to fight with them. He lights without weapons. He shows all his mastery. The actions of legionaries are paralysed by the narrow corridor. They cannot encircle the enemy. Quick movements and sharp blows of Dan exterminate some warriors. Another soldiers appear instead of them. Crass does not fight, he cheers up the legionaries standing behind.
Dan is tired and he detains soldiers with difficulties.
During another attack he notices an open door at the end of the corridor. Dan attacks and two legionaries fall in front of their friends.
There is confusion in their ranges. Dan takes a torch from a
wall and blows it out. It is dark in the corridor and it helps him to escape in the premises at the end of the corridor.
CRASS
Turn on new torches...
All torches here!
In gleam of flame there is only an empty corridor. The
legioners look at each other perplexedly. Crass goes in front. He comes to the door and pushes it. The door is closed.
CRASS
He is here. There is a blind end
in the corridor. Break the door.
The legioner is angry, his eyes blaze with revenge. The
legionaries begin to break the door with heavy spears.
THE PREMISES.
It is completely dark in it. A weak moon light comes through
one small window. There is a thick grill on it. The premises is empty...
The guy stands in the middle of the room. He hears strong
blow in the door. The planks crackle. The light from the corridor comes through the holes to the premises. Dan hears furious cries of the legionaries...
He crosses his hands on his chest and stands still. His body
begins to give off a blue luminescence. It becomes stronger and stronger. The body outlines vibrate and disappear. The blue cloud becomes grimy and dissolve in darkness of the room...
The legionaries burst into the premises. It is lighted by torches. The legionaries are in bewilderment: there is nobody in the premises. Crass looks at walls and a grilled window thoughtfully.
THE ROOM FOR MEDITATIONS OF THE DAOS MONASTERY.
A burning out candel lights weakly an empty room in which
there are no windows. Delineation of an ancient eastern In"-Jan is mostly not seen at a wall. The flame of the candel begins to tremble. A blue luminescence appears in the middle of the room.
It becomes bigger and turns into a pulse blue cloud. When the cloud reaches maximum of light it begins to dim and from it the body outlines appear. They find clarity and materiality. A light cloud completely disappears and Dan stands in the middle of the premises - the young pupil of the old daos.
A DAY. THE YARD OF THE MONASTERY.
The guy goes out into the yard and narrows his eyes because of the bright sun. He sees his teacher, who packs his sack. The old man does not react on the pupil. He does up the sack and turns to Dan.
THE OLD-CHINESE
I go to the village.
On the way to it you will tell me
everything.
A DAY. THE ROAD IN THE FOREST.
The Oldman and the guy came out from the yard of the monastery and move in the direction of the forest. They cross the small river by stones and move further by the pass in the forest.
THE OLD-CHINESE
You are not qite understand dander
Of such movemennts.
DAN
What could happen?
THE OLD-CHINESE
You could not return back.
DAN
I have fixed my initial state.
And then I have returned to it.
THE OLD-CHINESE
I praise you for not being lost.
But it is a big waste of life energy.
DAN
But I have saved people.
They became free.
The old man stops sharply and looks at the guy strictly.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Remember: at this material
world it is difficult to be free.
DAN
Why, teacher?
THE OLD-CHINESE
We are always depend upon something...
even from weather and food.
They again continue their way. A riotous vegetation is around them.
DAN
I think my friend Spartak will be a
leader of slaves and they will win
THE OLD-CHINESE
You are so young and you don"t know,
that everything is made due to
the Sky will...
That"s why, whether they win or not,
it does not mean much.
DAN
Does it mean that my help is useless?
THE OLD-CHINESE
No.
It had to happen so and it will
give its results in future.
A small village is seen in front. The old man and the guy go
of the forest to the way.
DAN
Teacher, you said me somewhen,
that I had to make something
important in my life. I thought
about it when I have saved
the gladiators.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Is not that...
There will be something more
important.
The old teacher and his pupil go along the way, speaking unloudly. Suddenly two individuals with brightened appearance come to them from the bushes:one is with a bandage on his left eye, the other is with a scar on his chin and long tousled hair.
Both of them are in rags. They have sticks in their hands. Their faces are overconfident and impudent, when they think about an easy plunder.
The old man and the guy stop in some steps from the bandits.
AN INDIVIDUAL WITH ONE EYE.
Old man, shake out every thing of a sack.
TOUSLED
Quickly. Possibly something lies in it,
that we look for.
Both bandits laugh impudently, and play with sticks.
Dan makes a step to the robbers resolutely, but his teacher stop him.
THE OLD-CHINESE (to Dan)
Don"t do it. Look and remember.
The old man comes to the robbers. He is completely calm.
THE OLD-CHINESE
We have nothing. There are only
some stones in the sack,
which you don"t need.
AN INDIVIDUAL WITH ONE EYE
Oh, no. Stones are different...
Old man, give here your sack.
Daos - hermit does not move. Two steps behind him his pupil
stands. He is a little bit nervous. The individual with one eye makes a step to the old man and swings the stick and beats him. The blow does not reach the goal. The stick sticker in the old master"s hand. The bandit is a little bit astonished: he raises his eyebrows. Then he takes the stick by both hands swings strongly and makes two blows. After the second blow the weapon of attack is broken into pieces, as it hits against the old man"s block...
Repulsing the attack of the individual with one eye, the old
master even does not move from place. Without weapon, the unsuccessful robber backs away and runs to his friend. His only one eye jerks nervously. The old man watches the bandits without any sign of agitation. Uncertainty appears at tousled face, then fear appears.
TOUSLED
Let"s go from here... there is
nothing, what we look for here.
THE INDIVIDUAL WITH ONE EYE
Let"s go, let"s go...
The old man is strange.
Unsuccessful robbers, stumbling, quickly go away from the place of event and disappear between trees.
TOUSLED
I have heard about one old
man - hermit who is
called the Yellow Dragon.
Probably it is he.
The pupil comes to his teacher with admiration.
DAN
Teacher, why didn"t you punish them?
THE OLD-CHINESE
For them it will be a good lesson.
Did you understand everything?
DAN
Yes, I did. You defeated due to defence.
THE OLD-CHINESE
The high level of mastery is a victory
without actions.
DAN
How is it, teacher?
THE OLD-CHINESE
An enemy only by one look understands,
that he is weaker. He is defeated
beforehand, and that"s why he
does not enter the fight.
DAOS MONASTERY. THE ROOM FOR MEDITATIONS.
Before definition of the ancient eastern monad Dan meditates. It is silence around, only strikes of pulse are heard. Slowly frequency of strikes becomes less. In Dan"s consciousness there are different visions, pictures, images: the Roman amphitheatre with raged spectators, faces of the emperor and Spartak, then sky - scrapers, a laboratory with modern electronic equipment, a square of middle - aged town with a rise. Visions disappear and a pale face - mask comes to the surface: tightly pressed lips and a death - cold look.
Delineation slightly vibrates, turns into a turbid spot and disappears.
DAN (softly)
I must solve this mystery.
EVENING. TOWN"S SQUARE.
Of a middle - aged European town. A different - coloured crowd makes a noise at the square. In the middle of the square there is a fire. It will be an execution of a sorcerer. The place of an execution is surrounded by soldiers. Most of them have torches... A little bit aside, near the walls of the town hall, on a special planking great nobles, church noble men, military commanders settle down. They speak about something.
EVENING. A DARK SIDE STREET, ADJOINS THE TOWN"S SQUARE.
Dan transforms from a blue cloud. He looks around and notices reflections of light at houses" walls.
He goes in the direction of a fire and comes out the town"s square, where everything is ready for an execution on fire.
The guy struggles through a crowd and stops near two town-dwellers. Judging by their clothes they are craftsmen. One is short, with a broad fleshy face, speaks with a thin shoe maker...
There is animation near a dais. A sentenced to death person is accompanied by soldiers to the place of execution. It is a woman.
Signs of torture are on her body and face. Her black wide dress is with holes. She with difficulties moves to the place of an execution. The crowd screeches and throws something into the sorceress. An executioner meets the sentenced woman and pushes her into wooden logs. He binds the woman quickly with confident movements to a post...
One of a priest comes ahead, unrolls a scroll and reads a sentence. The noise stops at the square. Dan tries to see, what is going on in front of him. He hears the last words of the priest-inquisitor.
A PRIEST
...for connection with a devil
sentenced to death on a fire.
The executioner with a torch in his hand comes to the logs and fires them from different sides. The flame begins to burn more and more. In the fire and smoke the doomed woman rushes about.
She sobs and cries. She tries to break away from death. But her cry is drown by approval noise of the crowd. The fire burns strongly. The flame eats its victim. A thick black smoke hangs over the square and close the first stars at the night sky. The town"s aristocracy and priests-inquisitors watch the execution with delight...
The craftsmen react differently on this event.
A MAN WITH WIDE FACE
Now there will be on one sorceress
less in our town...
Did you see how she rage?!
It is clear that the devil sat in her.
A SHOE MAKER
I have heard, that she treated people
with herbs and different remedies.
Is it a sin?
A MAN WITH WIDE FACE
Yes, it is. She used the
force of the devil.
The flame of fire and dancing shadows make ferocious faces of town-dwellers more terrible and awful. Sparks are caught by wind and carried up to the sky.
A SHOE MAKER
Are there a lot of sorceresses?
A MAN WITH WIDE FACE
It is difficult to determine them
at once... But I definitely
know one. It is Lully, who
lives in the suburbs, near the river.
Dan softly goes away from the speakers, crying crowd and walks along dark streets of the town. The reflections of the fire are seen on the walls of the houses.
In front the guy sees a lonely figure of an old man carrying a sack. The old man leans on a stick. He tries to go quickly, but something makes him to look around very often... Dan catches up with the old man.
DAN
I see, that it is difficult for you?
Let me help you.
The old man is Raymond Lully. He looks attentively at the guy. The old man"s face is spare, long with deep wrinkles. A guarded look changes into a well-meaning one.
LULLY
My name is Raymond Lully.
DAN
And my name is Dan.
The old man gives his sack to the guy. Two figures disappear in dark streets.
NIGHT. LULLY"S DWELLING.
A heavy door opens with a creak and the old man and the guy enter the room. Lully lights some candles. Dan looks around. The premises remind him a laboratory: retorts of different sizes and jars with liquids of different colours stand on two big tables; some big stones, a small heap of bright minerals, near which a white powder is spilled. In the corner of the room, near a small stove, there are logs and some bundle of herbs...
The old alchemist gets a fire going and sits at a bed.
LULLY
It is late. Here is a bed.
You can sleep here. I"ll work more.
DAN
Thank you, but I would like to see,
what you will do.
The alchemist comes to a table, takes a retort with a powder and puts it to a fire in a stove. The old man watches the changes of this powder, it begins to turn in different colours: black, white, green.
LULLY
What I make a lot of people call a
sorcery… So keep away from this.
Dan takes some minerals from the table and examines them.
DAN
That is quartz and this metal is copper.
In this retort there is mercury and here
there is some liquid.
The old alchemist looks at the guy with astonishment.
LULLY
I see You are good in alchemistry.
DAN
I have a good teacher. He is busy with
this more than fifty years. He taught me something also.
LULLY
I believe You. That’s why I’ll tell
more to You. I turn one substance
into another.
The guy comes to the stove and looks at the retort with the powder, which continues to change colours. The old man and the guy watch in silence the actions of the fire.
At last the powder becomes red. It lights weakly.
LULLY
Now I am trying to turn mercury into
gold. In this retort there is a ready catalyst.
The alchemist takes the retort out of the fire with the help of tongs. He carries it to the table and pours out the red powder into a small saucer.
LULLY
That is a philosophic stone.
I make everything correctly,
but reaction does not go till the end.
The alchemist takes the retort with mercury and pours out some amount of it into a small cup. Then he takes a pinch of the red powder and strews it into mercury. Mercury starts to seethe it becomes yellow. Small bubbles come out of it…
Dan watches attentively the alchemist’s actions. There is disappointment on the alchemist’s face.
LULLY
That’s all. Mercury does not
become hard… I don’t receive gold.
Something is not enough.
Dan pours some mercury into an empty cup. Then he takes the retort with the «philosophic stone», pours some powder to his palm and closes it with another one. He makes this in silence. He is concentrated and his action are not quick. The old man watches this distrustfully. Dan pours out the powder into the cup with mercury. Then he shakes the cup a little bit and then puts it on the table. Mercury becomes yellow and hard on the eyes of the amazed alchemist. The old man with trembling hands takes a piece of yellow metal out of the cup.
LULLY
Yes, I see. It is gold.
Somebody knocks at the door. The alchemist looks at the door, runs to the window and throws away a piece of gold into the river. Somebody beats the door with something heavy.
Loud cries are heard. The door does not bear strong blows. An iron catch falls on the floor and the town guard an officer and two soldiers burst into the room. The officer’s face is full of over-confident. He has small accurate mustache. He looks at Dan, than slowly goes to the old alchemist.
THE OFFICER
If to judge according the
description You are Raymond Lully.
You are arrested.
Make a search of the premises.
The soldiers begin to scour the premises, turn the things and throw them on the floor.
THE OFFICER
(to Lully)
I have an order to deliver
you to the town jail for
inquisitors’ trial.
The old man’s face becomes pale and frightened. His voice trembles.
LULLY
But what is my guilt?
THE OFFICER
I don’t know this.
But if to judge according these
retorts a charge will be serious.
The officer takes the retort with red powder from the table, smells it and taking the retort with two fingers lets go of it. It falls and brokes into pieces. A soldier comes to the officer.
THE SOLDIER
Captain, there is no gold.
THE OFFICER
All right. Put away the old man.
The soldiers come to the trembling alchemist, take him under hands and haul the old man to the broken door. He tries to resist, but tow big soldiers without difficulties fulfill the order. Suddenly Dan bars their way.
DAN
This man did not make any crime.
Let him go.
The soldiers stop because of unexpectedness and look at their commander still keeping the old man. The officer is
astonished not less than his soldiers. He slowly comes to the guy.
THE OFFICER
Who is that? Is it one more
candidate for another world?
Get out of the way.
The officer maces an attempt to push aside the guy. Dan catches the hand in leather gloves, turning a little bit the arm of the forward.
He sends him to the heap of logs and herbs. The soldiers see what happens with their brave commander. They leave the old man and attack the offender. The same fate waits for them.
The difference is only that the first of them falls with all his big body on the table with retorts and jags, the second checks strength of stone store with his head. The soldiers come to their senses and the battle starts again, but the result is the same: they crash by their bodies everything in the premises.
The officer begins to understand uselessness of this attack.
He gets his small sword and comes to Dan, who stands calmly.
THE OFFICER
And what puppy? What will
You say now?
For best persuasiveness he passed with an edge of the small sword before the guy’s face. The soldiers are considerably tired. They surround Dan from both sides.
DAN
I cannot add anything.
The young master of Kung-Fu with a sharp kick knocks a weapon out of the captain. The second kick to the belly sends him to the opposite wall, after contiguity with it, he becomes calm. According a usual tradition the soldiers do not lag behind their commander and in some seconds they stand still in unnatural poses on the floor.
The guy gathers their weapon, brings it to the window and throws it into the river. The old man at the same pose watches him. He keeps silence, his eyes are widely open because of fear.
Tramp of legs and clank of weapons is heard. The soldiers of the night patrol burst into the room. The soldiers snatch the old man and the officer puts his small sword against his throat.
THE OFFICER OF THE PATROL
(to Dan)
One your movement and he is dead.
NIGHT. GLOOMY JAIL PREMISES.
Grimy moon light comes through a small grilled window to a cell. Opposite this only one window near a wall there are our friends : the old-alchemist and Dan. The old man has a doomed look. They sit in silence, but the guy suddenly begins to smile. Lully looks at him with astonishment.
DAN
Don’t be afraid. I recall
something… I am so often at
last time stay at the places
like this.
LULLY
I am guilty of this. You have
all your life before, but You
are in this cell because of me.
DAN
If only this circumstance helps
to solve my problem.
LULLY
Is it important?
DAN
For me - yes…
But it seems again these is
failure… Your life is in more
danger than mine.
LULLY
What is my life. I have been
working many years trying to
make the «philosophic stone»…
Today I have seen it in reality.
How did You make it?
Dan gets up and goes to the window. He looks at the moon, which disappears and again appears from clouds.
DAN
You are at the right way. But You
must blow life into Your stone.
LULLY
How to understand this?
DAN
There is only one important
condition here- who concretely
makes the «philosophic stone».
The alchemist becomes animated. He does not expect to hear such an answer.
LULLY
Not all is clear for me.
I take different substances,
mix them, warm them. Is it
any difference for them who
makes it? Are they alive?
DAN
In some sense - yes.
Try to see alive in everything.
LULLY
I want to make the «philosophic
stone».That is the question of
all my life.
Dan looks hard at the old man’s eyes at which the silvery disk of the moon reflects. The guy sits near the alchemist.
DAN
It is not easy. What is Your belief?
LULLY
I belief in Christ.
DAN
Your belief is weak. Strengthen
in it, accept it to Your heart
and only then You will be able
to make different miracles.
LULLY
Is only one belief enough?
DAN
Yes. There must not be even a shadow
of doubt.
Some time they sit in silence. Then the old man turns his head to Dan.
LULLY
I choose this way…
But the inquisitor’s trial is
waiting for us. If the trial
declares me a sorcerer I shall
not be able to escape a bonfire.
DAN
Are You afraid of this?
LULLY
No, I am rather old…--
But together with me You
will be in this fire. Can
You belief save You?
DAN
I don’t have any doubt.
NIGHT. A BIG GRAY PREMISES.
It is a sitting of the inquisitor’s court. Two monks with mugs fuss about the stove. Near the stove there is a table with pincers, needles, hooks and other instruments for receiving confession of sorcerers and unbelievers. Near the wall with an old armorial bearings there is a massive table at which the court of saint inquisition sit-three priests with the chairman.
The chairman is a church man with hard sombre look. On the left side of the chairman there is a monk with a big belly and massive chin on fleshy face. The third judge is an old man with yellow face. He coughs unloudly all time. The consumptive has an angry, caustic look.
On the table , near the chairman, there is a sand watch. There are special scales in the corner of the premises.
Opposite the table, in the middle of the premises, Dan and the alchemist Luly stand. The chairman throws a menacing look at the defendants.
THE CHAIRMAN
Raymond Lully, we know, that
You make sorcerer’s experiences
and the devil helps You in this.
LULLY
Mr. Judge, I am only a poor
alchemist. I study properties
of substances. If to choose
substances correctly, it is possible to receive new, unknown to any science substances.
THE CHAIRMAN
You are busy with sorcery.
Only God can create something new…
You encroach on God!
The chairman raises from his chair and his eyes seemed to go right through the alchemist. Lully stands pale. There is sweat at his forehead. The judge with fat mug watches everything indifferently. The consumptive, bending over the table, coughs softly. Dan makes a step forward.
DAN
Science and religion do not
contradict each other. In the
Scripture it is said: search for
and you will find.
THE CHAIRMAN
Lully, who is that? Is he
your pupil? He is very young,
but insolent. You both must
be send to a bonfire.
The old alchemist wants to say something, but the guy leaves him behind.
DAN
You are in a hurry to finish
with us. You will not see some
miracles, which are made with
the help of the devil.
THE CHAIRMAN
It is interesting…
Three judges look at each other. Even the consumptive stops to cough.
DAN
For beginning let me
examine with what your heads
are busy now…
The guy slowly transferees his look from one judge to another.
He stops at the judge, with a fat mug. This judge looks at the accused indifferently, sitting on the chair.
DAN
(to the chairman)
How do You think why is your
well-nourished colleague so
indifferent to this event? The
thing is that a fried lamb
is waiting for him and his
thoughts are near it, in pleasurable anticipation of a tasty supper.
The mask of indifference flies away from the face of a fat judge. HE looks at the chairman. But the chairman is calm.
THE CHAIRMAN
I know this. You have not
astonished me. What else?
Dan looks sarcastically at the consumptive judge. Three monks near the stove stop the work and watch in silence what happen.
DAN
Mr. Chairman, your neighbor on
the left is also in a hurry.
The damned illness does not
live him in peace… He must take
a cure and take care of yourself
and don’t spend time at different
unbelievers.
As in confirmation of the these words the consumptive begins to cough loudly. The chairman fastidiously squints at his colleague.
THE CHAIRMAN
It is more interesting…
And with what can You finish?
The guy looks slyly at the main judge. Then he transferes his look at two other inquisitors, three monks and two guarders near the door. Then he returns to the chairman.
DAN
Of all who are present here
You have the biggest interest
to finish the trial as quick
as possible. You have a meeting
with one young widow.
Or am I not right?
In the premises there is complete silence. Only the crackle of logs in the stove is heard. The main inquisitor loses his temper and self command. His face is crimson. The alchemist comes near to the guy.
LULLY
Now it is the end.
DAN
I assume responsibility for this.
Don’t interfere with this.
If to burn in a bonfire, I’ll be
alone in it.
The chairman raises from his arm-chair and hands over table. He foams at the mouth and with trembling hand points on Dan.
THE CHAIRMAN
(to monks)
Burn the tongue of this unbeliever,
he does not need it.
One of the monk takes a scorching rod of the stove. The other two rush to the guy. Pushing the old alchemist aside, they try to catch Dan’s hands, but he throws them sharply on sides.
The monk with a scorching rod comes to Dan and puts the rod against the guy’s chest. The guy does not react. The monk’s mouth opens and the eyes blink because of astonishment.
Dan slowly takes a scorching part of the rod and pulls it out of an executioner’s hand. Then he throws a useless weapon aside. All stand still in amazement.
DAN (to the judges)
Now in your eyes I am complete
devil apprentice.
THE CONSUMPTIVE
I have never seen such a sorcerer.
THE MAN WITH FAT MUG
The devil sits in him.
DAN
I shall not change Your mind.
The experiments of this alchemist is
children amusement in comparison
with what I can do.
The main inquisitor seized himself. He raises the hand.
THE CHAIRMAN
For giving judgment we don’t
need more. The last formality -
stand to these scales:
sorcerers are lighter than
usual people.
The defendants slowly come to the scales, which stand in corner. At first the alchemist stands on the scales. The arrow deviates in side and crosses the control mark. The man with a fat mug and the consumptive. Look at the main interrogatively.
The main keeps silence.Dan stands on the scales. The arrow, moving a little bit, stands still far from the control mark. The assistants of the main inquisitor jump from their places.
THE CONSUMPTIVE
Here it is the devil!
THE MAN WITH FAT MUG
Yes. It is the real devil.
DAN.
There are no doubts now that
the devil sits in me and that was
necessary to prove. It is me,
who made this poor old man to do
strange experiments...
Let this person go.
The main inquisitor takes in his hands sand watch, turns them and puts them on the table before him. The thin stream of grains of sand swoop down.
THE CHAIRMAN
When all grains of sand fall,
we shall declare our decision.
The man with a fat mug and the consumptive bend to the main and whisper something to him. The monks with weary air sit on the bench.
The old-alchemist bends the head doomly. Dan concentrates his look at the sand watch. The fall of sand stops. The main by gesture stops his assistants.
They slowly turn into a side of a sand chronometer.
THE CONSUMPTIVE
He casts a spell over the watch.
THE MAN WITH FAT MUG.
No, he has stopped time.
The, main inquisitor smiles ominously with corners of his mouth and nods the head.
THE CHAIRMAN.
It will not help him. The god"s
punishment will reach him.
The main inquisitor stands from his arm-chair. He looks fixedly at Dan. The guy calmly bears his look.
THE CHAIRMAN.
By the power of saint church
I declare the judgement.
The alchemist Raymond Lully
can be free with a warning.
A sorcerer..., what is his
name, it does not matter now,
must be burnt at the town"s square.
EARLY MORNING - THE TOWN"S SQUARE.
Town-dwellers gather in the place of execution. The bonfire is in the middle of the square.The executioner in a hood walks around it.The place of execution is surrounded by soldiers.
The highest clergy and noblemen took their places. Among them the inquisitor’s court in its full complement. The judges smile and wait the beginning of the execution with impatience...
Among the town-dwellers in back rows there is the old alchemist. He tries to see what happens in front. His face is sad and solemn...
The crowd makes a noise pending an interesting spectacle...
Dan is extended to the place of execution.
He stops before the dais and breathes fresh morning wind. The guy raises to the post by himself. The executioner throws ropes on him...
Heavy low clouds hide the sunrise. Sometimes it appear from behind the clouds and Dan puts his face under its soothing beams...
Lully watches the event from afar...
At last the flame flares up. It begins to burn well. The thick black smoke hides the doomed. The crowd cries with joy. The town"s noblemen watch with satisfaction how the flame eats the recurrent sorcerer... Only one person is not glad. That is the old alchemist. Tears of bitterness run over his face. He turns and goes away from this awful place, where he could be also...
Because of the thick smoke it is not seen that the accused begins to free himself from ropes. He makes some movements of the body, which impress more the crowd. The flame licks the guy"s legs. He crosses his hands and turns into a weak light blue cloud, which imperceptibly dissolves in fire and smoke.
THE ROOM FOR MEDITATIONS OF DAOS MONASTERY.
Dan materialises from the light blue cloud.
He stands in the middle of the room with the delineation of the ancient monad. The chinese-daos enters the room.
THE OLD-CHINESE
The fact that you have returned is
a big fortuity.
DAN
The teacher, but you has taught me,
that nothing happens by an accident.
THE OLD-CHINESE
You spend so much energy.
Did you find the answer to
your question?
DAN
No. But I have helped one
good person.
THE OLD-CHINESE.
Are you sure that you have
made a good thing?
DAN
I have suggested him how to
make gold. He has promised to
use it only for benefits of people.
The pupil looks at his teacher expectantly. But the old man keeps silence, his look is directed on the hieroglyphs on the wall. Then he transfers his look at the guy.
THE OLD-CHINESE
I know the destiny of this man...
He has made a lot of gold.
DAN
He has done this...
THE OLD-CHINESE
Due to this gold the campaigns
will be organised. The purpose
of these campaigns was to turn
wild tribes in another belief.
He will perish there. He did
not get anything...
DAY. THE PROVINCE CHINESE TOWN.
The old-chinese and his pupil go along a crowded winding street.
Different horse -drawn vehicles, bicycles rush along them. Mixed crowd is around stores, choosing goods. It is possible to buy everything: traditional chinese souvenirs, expensive silk and ceramic dishes...
The stream of people fills the trade street completely. Cries of sales persons, customers, bicycle"s rings, thunder of horse-drawn vehicles flow together in one noisy background. Dan and his teacher stop near ceramics store.
The chinese looks at the goods. The guy looks around and notices at the opposite side of the street a lass. She is not chinese. Her European face and light dress till knees distinguish her from the crowd. Fair long hair gathered back into a bun. Her figure is graceful, her face is open.
She is 18-19 years old. The lass explains something to the salesman of the eastern gods statues. Dan with interest watches her, then unexpectedly juicily moves to this store.
At this time a horse-drawn vehicle passes the store with souvenirs and the horse pulls in side. The lass gives a start of surprise, jumps back and knocks the statue of Budda off the stand. The statue falls down, but near the ground Dan"s hand catches it.
The guy gives the souvenir, which he has saved to the lass. Sindy looks at Dan with gratitude.
SINDY
Thank you very much. I thought that
I had to gather only splinters.
How did you make this?
DAN
I simply felt suddenly
that it would fall.
Sindy looks at the statue of Budda, she looks askance at Dan, who tries to see his teacher in the crowd. Sindy turns to the salesman and gives him money.
SINDY
(to the salesman)
I take this statue.
DAN
It seems to me, that this Budda
will bring you happiness.
The lass looks at the guy with unconcealed interest and puts the statue in the bag.
SINDY
My name is Sindy.
DAN
And my name is Dan.
For a moment their eyes meet and they turn them away embarrassed.
SINDY
I came from America. I study
at the University. I learn
eastern religions and philosophy.
And what about you?
DAN
I simply live here.
Passers-by are in their way. The passers-by push them and swear. But young people do not notice anything around them.
SINDY
Now my interest is in Buddhism
and Daosism. I came to this
remote place to find real masters
of these religions.
Will you help me?
DAN
I"ll try.
The guy and the lass speak and do not notice that the old-chinese watches attentively their conversation.
SINDY
I hope on this very much. Let"s
meet here the day after tomorrow.
The lass stretches her hand and Dan takes it tenderly Sindy lingers, then turns and disappears in a crowd of passers-by.
EVENING. DAOS MONASTERY.
The old teacher and his young pupil settled at their places in the room for meditations.
They sit opposite each other. Between them there is a thoughtful dialogue.
DAN
Teacher, I feel that today"s
meeting with the lass in the
town is not a fortuity.
It is a sign.
THE OLD-CHINESE
It is right
It is important to understand
it correctly.
DAN
I do not know.
The Old-Chinese
It means, that we shall part
with each other.
DAN
Why? I don"t want it.
THE OLD-CHINESE
So must happen.
DAN
Teacher, can I refuse?
I have a choice.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Expediency moves the universe.
A man Dao must follow the way
of expediency and must not resist
the movement of the stream.
The wind arises behind the window. The sky is covered with heavy clouds.
DAN.
Teacher, but then I shall not
be able to solve my old problem.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Don"t trouble about it.
Can we know what will waits
in future.
DAN
Teacher, is future closed to you?
THE OLD-CHINESE
No, but I have no interest
in it.
The thunderstorm begins behind the window. The old man stands up and comes to the window. Dan makes the same. They stand near: grey, wise Teacher and his young able pupil. The lightning reflects on their faces. Peals of thunderstorm and noise of shower try to muffle the words on the old Teacher.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Try to understand, my boy.
Happiness is when a person
has found his own way in life and
firmly follows it.
In this there is his mission here
on the Earth.
DAN
Teacher, and how to know: this
mission is finished or not?
THE OLD-TEACHER
It is very simply: if you are
alive it continues.
DAY. THE PROVINCE CHINESE TOWN.
Dan and Sindy walk along quiet streets.
They speak lively. Sindy sometimes stops and looks at her companion with astonishment. They pass the embankment fishermen and go to a cosy snack bar.
They sit at a small table for two and a traditional rice dish is served for them.
SINDY
What, you are telling me,
sounds incredibly.
DAN
A lot of time passed after the
disaster, but I have not found out
why life was left for me.
SINDY
It"s a case of chance. Is not
it so?
DAN
I think my teacher knows the answer,
but he does not say me.
SINDY
Does he have secrets from you?
DAN
He is daos and considers, that my
own problems I must solve myself,
by my own strength...
If I don"t cope with this, it means
I was a bad pupil.
SINDY
But he learnt you something,
didn"t he?
Dan does not hear her. He absorbs food carefully and looks around. Some lonely visitors do not pay attention to a young couple.
SINDY
Why do you keep silence?
Demonstrate something.
Dan continues to keep silence. He has eaten his rice and has taken a cup with tea. The lass looks at the guy without understanding. Then she begins to eat herself. She tries not to look at Dan. The guy puts away his cup.
DAN
You want me to come with you
to America.
These words, are very unexpected: Sindy stops dead at his plate with an open mouth. She slowly raises eyes at her interlocutor. He smiles joyfully.
SINDY
Yes... I wanted to suggest...
And I hope, you will not
refuse.
The lass is a little bit confused. She takes a sip from the cup.
SINDY (contin.)
I must know, how do you read
thoughts of a stranger?
DAN
Is it interesting?
SINDY
My father is a biologist.
He can examine your constitution,
your abilities.
DAN
What to examine?...
Every person can do this.
SINDY
Even I?
DAN
Of course. If you dedicate to
education 15-20 years of your life.
Will you regret?
SINDY
I"ll think about it.
You did not give an answer to
my suggestion.
The guy looks hard directly to lass"s eyes. He is serious.
DAN
Sindy, do you want this?
SINDY
Yes.
The guy and the lass go along the green path of the town"s garden.
DAN
I am ready to go.
SINDY
How will your teacher react
on this?
DAN
We have already discussed it
with the teacher.
He is not against.
The lass looks with astonishment at her interlocutor. He starts to smile again.
SINDY
Have you already known that it
would happen? How did you guess?
DAN
Let it be our secret.
Without such small secrets
our life will be uninteresting
at all.
DAY. EMBANKMENT AND PIER OF THE PROVINCE CHINESE TOWN.
Not far from a moorage, in a shadow of a big tree, teacher-chinese and his pupil sit.
Small boats with passengers and without them scurry along the river. At the embankment fishermen propose their catch to the customers...
The old man and the guy keep silence. Dan has changed his monastery clothes on a light shirt and wide trousers. There is a small bag. He several times looks at his teacher.
DAN
Teacher how must I act there?
THE OLD-CHINESE
Answers come from inside.
DAN
People will wait miracles from
me as this is the most important.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Don"t blame them...
Act according the situation.
A small ship appeared far on the river. It changes the direction and goes to the moorage.
Animation appears on the pier - the passengers form a group around the moorage. The ship slows the speed and begins to manoeuvre. The captain gives commands. The passengers stand along the side, some of them wave to
those who come to meet them at the pier.
THE OLD-CHINESE
Dan, remember, that in life
everybody plays its own role,
sometimes even does not guess
about this.
DAN
But inside I feel some type of
anxiety.
THE OLD-CHINESE
It is well. You always will
be ready to different
unexpectednesses.
The ship begin to moor. Sindy notices the old man and the guy. She waves then. Dan stands up and replies to her. The first passengers leave the ship.
The teacher-daos stands up and takes off from his neck a round locket which is in sizes of a five cents coin. He puts it on the guy. Dan examines it. On one side of it on the black background, there is a dragon, the second side is polished so, that Dan sees his reflection, like in a mirror.
THE OLD-CHINESE
This talisman is very old.
It serves some centuries.
This is the locket of the
Yellow Dragon.
DAN
Teacher, Am I worthy of it?
THE OLD-CHINESE
It must be passed from a teacher
to a pupil.
You are the only one descendant
of the Yellow Dragon.
You must preserve this talisman.
The passengers begin to get on the ship. Sindy waits impatiently, standing near a ladder. Dan looks around at the ship, the old man pushes him. Dan takes the bag and quickly goes to the ladder...
Dan and Sindy send the last look at the move away figure of the old man. The guy"s eyes and cheeks become wet, because of tears or splashes of wave crests.
DAY. AIRPORT.
Beautiful planes gracefully take off and land at the airport. The building of the airport, which is made from glass and aluminium, shines under the sun beams.
Now it looks like a big ant-hill. A white-blue Boeing steers to the place of passengers" landing. The crowd waits impatiently for the passengers.
Among those, who came to meet somebody, is Edward Clark, Sindy"s father.
He is an, intellectual man with a little bit grey hair.
On his shaved face there are clever pervious eyes. Sindy and Dan go towards Clarks.
Sindy smiles and kisses Clark.
SINDY
Father, let me introduce Dan
to you. I have told you already
about him.
Clark looks at the guy with interest. Dan, holding a big bag and a suitcase, perceives calmly this procedure…
Clark takes his daughter’s bag.
CLARK
Let’s go. Everybody waits
for us at home.
They go to the exit of the building.
DAY. THE SALOON OF CLARK’S CAR.
A new BMW rushes in the direction to the city.
Clark is at the wheel, Sindy sits near him, Dan is on the back seat. Clark looks at the guy through a mirror. The guy watches through a window the running sky-scrapers, advertisement billboards, cars. It is difficult to understand what impression all this make on him.
CLARK
Dan, do You live a long period
of time in China?
DAN
Yes, I do.
CLARK
And what are your parents?
Dan is not in time with an answer, Sindy forestalls him.
SINDY
I have not said everything
to You, dad… The thing is..
Dan’s parents perished
in an air accident.
CLARK
Excuse me, Dan.
Sindy turns to her young companion.
SINDY
Dan, my father can examine
you at his laboratory.
CLARK
Yes. For me, like a biologist,
it will be very interesting.
DAN
All right.
A big, shining on the sun complex, of sky-scrapers swims out towards the car. The upper floors of this miracle of architecture and the building are not seen from the car. Dan bends down and tries to see the top of this enormous building. The scientist-biologist notices through the mirror where the guy directed his look.
CLARK
Dan, how do You like our city,
America? Do you like them?
Dan does not answer at once. He breathes deeply and slowly exhales back.
DAN
It’s an interesting place.
CLARK
And that’s all?
DAN
If not to pay attention at
everything.It is possible to get
to this.
Such unexpected answer of the guest makes the father and daughter to exchange glances and smile.
DAY. EDWARD CLARK’S HOUSE
A snow-white BMW comes to a two-storied house with a green lawn in front of a porch and some branchy maples on the sides of the building.
On the porch of the house the passengers are met by Nancy Clark, a mother of Sindy and Jonny. Jonny is a younger Sindy’s brother. He is a nine year old boy with a cool look. Sindy kisses her mother and brother.
CLARK
This is Dan. There is my
wife Nancy, this is Jonny. Dan,
here You will live.
SINDY
Jonny, I think, You will be
friends with Dan.
JONNY
If he is not a big bore.
Archi, a young man with a short hair-cut and insolent face, watches the scene of the meeting from a shabby jeep, which stands on the opposite side of the street. He smokes a cigarette and he never takes his eyes off Sindy and Dan.
The young man is not pleased, he is nervous, but continues to sit in the car and spreads smoke into the ceiling of the saloon.
PROFESSOR CLARK’S LABORATORY
Dan sits without movements on a massive arm-chair on a dais.
He is in wires and data units. There are some tables with computers near the arm-chair. Clark sits at one of this table. He watches attentively the screen, at which numbers appear, then the outlines of man’s figure, head and brain plan…
The face of the guy is feebly, his eyes are closed.
CLARK
Dan, concentrate yourself
at any thought. We shall fix
it now.
Before Dan’s mental gaze a pale face-mask appears: pressed lips and a cold, ice look… Delineation vibrates a little bit, then the trembling stops and a face acquires definite outlines… Clark presses some keys, curved lines of graphs are on the screen, numbers grow and disappear. Suddenly all importation disappears from the screen, it shines dimly and indistinct outlines of a man’s face flash. Then all these dissolve and numbers, sins run at the screen…
Clark does not take his eyes of the screen, his face is intense and concentrated…
At last he turns off the system and turns to the guy:
CLARK
It’s enough, Dan.
The guy opens his eyes. A young professor’s assistant disconnects the wires from the guy’s head and hands.
CLARK (continuation)
If to judge according the results
of tests You have a perfect health.
But there is nothing unusual.
DAN
I transfer to You a mental image.
Have You accepted it?
CLARK
No. The set does not fix anything.
DAN
It was possible to expect this.
Dan gets up from the arm-chair. Both go to the big table. Clark pours some soda from the bottle and stretches the glass to the guy.
CLARK
Drink. Are You tired?
DAN
Thank You.
CLARK
We are working for one week,
but we have no results.
How do You think where is the
problem?
DAN
The instruments are rough,
they are not enough sensitive.
CLARK
Our instruments are not junk.
DAN
May be. But the best instruments
is a man himself.
The biologist smiles. He pours himself something in a glass and drinks a little bit from it.
CLARK
Can You prove it?
He gets up and comes to a big window. He examines absently the building on the opposite side, then looks at his watch. He stands with his back to the guy, putting his hands the pockets of his trousers.
DAN / O.S./
You will be in time.
Clark slowly turns.
CLARK
What are you speaking about?
DAN
There is one hour before the
beginning of the match…
But I must disappoint You - Your
team will lose the game.
The biologist is a little bit astonished. He goes to the table slowly and sits at the edge of it. His figure hands over Dan, who sits at a chair.
CLARK
May be You will say me the score?
DAN
I can extract this information,
too. But is it so important?
Clark straightens his back. He sits at the table and makes some notes in a writing - pad.
Clark
You must be shown to my
friend Michael. He has a modern
equipment at his laboratory,
and the best specialists.
They will find out everything.
DAY. CLARK’S HOUSE.
Sindy sits at the table with books in the hall.
She writes something, sometimes she turns the pages of the textbooks. She casts a glance at the window, where on the lawn Jonny and Dan bend over a glass box. In the box on sand there is a small lizard. Jonny looks at the animal tenderly and touches it carefully. Then the child takes the box and they go to the house. They enter the hall…
Sindy stops to read.
JONNY
Sindy, today Bonny was very good.
He was not nervous and he does
not run away.
SINDY
He begins to get used to a new
situation… Dan, how is the last
inspection of my father?
DAN
Without results. But it is also
a result.
SINDY
What do You mean?
DAN
He needs more sensitive instruments.
The telephone rings. The telephone is on the table. Sindy takes a phone.
SINDY
Hello. It’s You, Archi?
No, I can’t come now.
DISCOCLUB.
Some couples are dancing in a halfly dark hall where music resounds and many coloured illumination shines. At aside of the ground Archi stands near the telephone. Near him there is Freddy, a husky fellow with strong muscles, and a young girl with jolly face and dark long hair. Archi is nervous and sometimes shifts a phone from one hand into another.
ARCHI
Why? It seems to me, that
You began to keep out of our way.
SINDY ( O.S.)
No. Simply an education takes
so much time.
ARCHI
You read books…
With that a nonentity, whom
I take seen at the day of Your
arrival. Yes?
SINDY ( O.S.)
Stop to speak so or I’ll leave
a phone.
ARCHI
This guy will feel sorry for
coming here. He exercises bad
influence on You.
SINDY ( O.S.)
All right. I’ll come and we’ll
settle all questions, which are
of interest to You.
CLARK HOUSE
The lass puts a phone and looks at the a window thoughtfully.
DAN
Do You need my help?
SINDY
No. I’ll return soon.
Sindy closes the books and the copybooks and makes a pile on the table. She takes a bag and goes out of the room. Jonny tears himself away from the box and follows her with his eyes.
JONNY
This was Archi, her former
coursemate. To tell You the
truth, I don’t like him, he
is twitching all over.
DISCOCLUB
Archi watches those, who dance. Among them is a Freddy with a dark-hair lass. Archi waves his hand to somebody.
The lack of clothes at whose who dance compensates by energetic bodymovements…
Sindy comes into the hall. She struggles through a crowd of dancing people. Someone tousled tries to carry off her into a tangle of bodies, but she breaks away. She noticed Archi and goes to him. He smiles slightly.
ARCHI
I know, that You would come.
Training is training, but
rest is rest.
SINDY
I am not for a long period of time.
I want to ask You not to call
me any more.
ARCHI
Are more important things appeared
in your life? I understand…
understand. Oh, yes, a new friend.
SINDY
Yes, he is not like all, like You…
I began to look differently at my life.
ARCHI
And, what did You see… if not
a secret?
SINDY
It is difficult to express it
by words… Nonsense is around us.
Sindy casts a glance at dancing hall. The situation does not change there, if not to consider, that music became more hard and sound become louder.
ARCHI
You are carried away…
My piece of advice: think less,
enjoy life till You have
time and possibilities.
SINDY
And that You call life?
ARCHI
I bet, that your new friend
thinks the same. During the
meeting I’ll try to make change
his mind.
Sindy turns and looks directly at interlocutor’s eyes. He impudently grins.
SINDY
I ask You not to touch him.
That is my last request to You.
ARCHI
Of course. I shall not touch
you at all.
SINDY
Do You promise me?
ARCHI
The main is that he must not
begin to tease. You have brought
him from wild places.
Sindy turns and quickly goes to the exit. Archi watches her go with a derisive look. Then he energetically drinks beer from a bottle.
CLARK’S HOUSE
A holiday table is in the middle of the living room. Sindy helps her mother to lay the table. She is in an evening dress. Jolly Jonny is the main courier, who delivers delicacies from the kitchen to the holiday table. In the corner of the living room Clark and Michael Adams sit on the sofa. Michael Adams is a scientist, who is busy with electronics. He is a bald man with big horn-rimmed spectacles on his nose… A quiet calm melody fills the premises.
CLARK
Michael, at last I succeeded
in getting You out of the
Laboratory.
ADAMS
Too much work…
We began a very perspective theme.
CLARK
Is it something from the sphere
of super ECM?
ADAMS
Something more , I connect
with his work a big hope.
Dan comes in the living room. He brings a big bunch and puts it into a vase.
CLARK
Michael, I have a request to You…
Examine Dan with Your specialists,
please.
ADAMS
Your specialists are not worse
than mine .
CLARK
May be the thing is in the
instruments… but there are not
any results.
ADAMS
I have the best electronics for
today. Without exaggeration I say:
it can everything.
CLARK
The guy is very peculiar…
I think, You also will
find something interesting
for yourself…
ADAMS
All right, Eddy.
The guy will like to stay with us.
Nancy Clark carries a cake with burning candles and puts it on a table. All sing a traditional song « Happy birthday to You…»
The girl, celebrating her name day, comes to the cake and with a smile blows out the candels. The guests applaud her, most of all Jonny does it.
NANCY
I invite all to the table.
All sit at the table. In the middle of the table there is Sindy. Adults raise goblets with champagne, Jonny with his orange juice.
CLARK
My dear Sindy. Today is your
holiday. I wish You be happy.
NANCY
I add: be healthy and successful.
ADAMS
May I…
I wish You success in Your
training and a good job.
Clark and Adams lift the goblets to the lips, but notice that Sindy looks at Dan. They put down the goblets.
SINDY
Dan, and what will You wish me?
The guy is a little bit embarrassed. He looks down, then he raises his eyes at Sindy.
DAN
To find yourself…
The couple of Clark changes glances Sindy smiles. All drink from the goblets and began to eat.The scientist, who is busy with electronics, works zealously with a kitchen set. Sindy tears herself from the dishes.
SINDY
Dan, how can I find myself
in life?
The guy stops to chew and puts away a fork. Clark turns to him.
CLARK
If Dan is not against, I’ll try
to answer… Let’s take me like
an example. I have found myself.
I have realised myself - a good
house, a family, a prestige
highly-paid job… What else do I need?
ADAMS
I completely agree with You.
The main is to programme
and create our lives, destiny.
The friends - scientists in solidarity drink half of the goblet. Dan drinks lemon juice in silence.
SINDY.
Dan, you did not give an answer
on my question.
DAN.
Life is a miracle... A destiny
can"t be programmed...
CLARK.
Is a man a toy in hands of
destiny?
DAN.
No, but for most people, their
destiny is determined.
NANCY.
Dan, do you know your destiny?
DAN.
No.
ADAMS.
A science will open all
miracles, don"t worry...
Dan, do you have any problem?
DAN.
Yes. For me it is a task with one
unknown quantity...
NANCY.
Let"s stop with questions... you
turn an evening party into a press conference.
The guy looks at Nancy with gratitude.
DOCTOR ADAM"S LABORATORY
The premises is roomy. Powerful computers stand along the walls. Lamps of different colors blink at the main desk. In the middle of the premises there is a transparent capsule. This capsule is fixed in a rotary wheel...
Michael Adams sits near a window at a bid table. There is a telephone receiver in his hand.
ADAMS.
Eddy, have they already left?
All right. I am waiting...
Adams puts the receiver. He gets up and goes to the window. Two assistants unravel wires in the capsule. The telephone rings. Adams goes to the telephone.
ADAMS.
Lead them to me, please.
Dan and Sindy go along the halls of a modern building, accompanied by a guard. They use the elevator going out of the elevator they come to a metal door. An eye of telecamera watches them. The door opens and they come in the laboratory. Doctor Adams meets the guy and the lass.
The guard goes away.
ADAMS
I am glad to see you here.
Dan, are you ready? What is your mood?
DAN
Everything is all right.
ADAMS
(to an assistant)
Jim, prepare a young man.
THE FIRST ASSISTANT
By what programme, Mr. Adams?
ADAMS
The programme three, variant Z.
Dan, we simply roll you about
in this thing.
Dan and the assistant go to the transparent capsule. The second assistant comes too. They help Dan to put on a silvery suit at which there are different data units. Adams and Sindy watch this procedure.
SINDY
Mr. Adams, my father asked you
not to show to anybody the results
of the inspection.
ADAMS
I understand. A fuss over this
can only harm the cause.
SINDY
Thank you. Unfortunately I must
go to the university now.
ADAMS
Well I"ll send for the guard.
Adams goes to the telephone. Sindy comes to the capsule, where Dan is fixed and the assistants connect wires. Dan is a little bit embarrassed.
SINDY
Dan, behave yourself good. Remember
how important this experiment.
Adams comes.
ADAMS
Today we shall only test viability
of the systems of his organism.
DAN
What must I do?
ADAMS
Nothing. If you want you can think
about something.
The assistant closes the door of the capsule. Sindy waves her hand to the guy and goes away with the guard...
The specialists take their seats in front of displays and are engaged with a keyboard. The capsule begins to rotate, at first in one flatness, then in all three. The speed of rotation is gradually increased. The face of the guy is calm, his eyes are closed. Because of an overloading his face is distorted. Before a thoughtful gaze of Dan,a pale face-mask appears and disappears. The delineation is distinct: halfly open eyes, thin lips and a bald skull, which make this image ominous... The scientist watches the information. Their faces are concentrated.
THE FIRST ASSISTANT
All systems of the organism are
in the norm. There are no departures
from the norm...
THE SECOND ASSISTANT
There is an alteration of a magnetic
field round his head...
Mr. Adams, to deep into the programme?
ADAMS
No. We shall do it next time.
The capsule begins to stop. Adams presses some keys at the main desk. The capsule stands still at the initial position. The assistants come to it, open the door and free the guy from wires. Adams comes to them.
ADAMS
Dan, how is our special attraction?
Dan smiles. He touches his chest and belly.
DAN
I"ll find out, where my liver and
stomach disappear.
Adams and Dan go aside. The assistants follow their way.
THE FIRST ASSISTANT
I thought, that we should carry him
out of the capsule.
THE SECOND ASSISTANT.
But he is joking...
DAY, CLARKS" HOUSE.
Clark and Adams make themselves comfortable at a small table on a lawn at the back side of the house. The friends-scientists enjoy a warm sunny day. There are some bottles
and glasses on the table. Dan and Joanne drive a ball on green grass not far from the table. Sindy is near them and she sometimes plays with them. Blows of the ball, joyful cries and Jonny"s laugh are heard.The scientists sometimes look at them.
CLARK
I like Dan. The guy is acceptable
to the eye...
ADAMS
Especially near with Sindy.
By the way, how did he become
acclimatised?
CLARK
Everything goes well.
The truth is that he does not like
empty conversations. He is silent,
jolly silent.
The game does not stop on the lawn. Trying to get the ball Dan falls and, catched by his foot, Jonny flies head-over-heels. All these accompanied by jolly cries.
ADAMS
I am also against empty conversations.
But one week ago, you probably remember,
Dan told something about a destiny and
that a destiny of each man is predetermined...
What do you think about this?
CLARK
Probably he is right.
ADAMS
Nonsense... The world is ruled by the
law of a cause and effect connection
and you know this, don"t you?
CLARK
May be we did not understand
something. Let"s make it more
precise.
Clark turns to the playing three. But suddenly the game stops. Jonny seizes the ball and runs to the table, Dan and Sindy follow him. He holds the ball in hands and drinks a glass of juice. The guy breaks out in a sweat, the lass smiles. They come to Jonny.
CLARK
Have some rest.
JONNY
Oh, no. We have not yet finished.
CLARK
Jonny, I need to talk with Dan.
JONNY
(discontentedly)
Will it be long?
CLARK
Only two minutes
JONNY
All right. I began to count.
Jonny looks at his watch. He frowns. All smile. The boy mumbles something and goes away. Dan and Sindy sit at the table. Clark takes a sip from a glass.
CLARK
Dan, excuse me, but one question
is very interesting for us...
The biologist stops talking and looks at the guy temporizingly. Adams puts off his spectacles and rubs thoroughly.
ADAMS
You see Dan, a modern science has
an opinion, that in our material
world everything is submitted to a
cause-effect connection.
The scientist puts on his spectacles again.
ADAMS (CONT.)
A cause generates an effect it in its
turn becomes a cause, which generates
another effect, and so till infinity...
There is no place for, whet you call
predetermined.
Adams looks at the guy. The guy keeps silence and transfers his look at Sindy. By his face it is clear, that he does not want to enter in polemics. But Sindy winks and cheers up Dan.
DAN
I mean, that in life something
happens, what must happen.
CLARK
It is not clear. Are there any
other variants? If not: why?
DAN
We live in the world of effects.
The scientists exchange glances. They stop in bewilderment.
ADAMS
It is an interesting theory.
Where have you taken away the
cause world? I thought, that
we create it ...
CLARK
Really, Dan. Science confirms
this ...chances: which sometimes
happen, will not be counted.
DAN
I don"t believe in chances.
Jonny comes to the table. He looks at his watches.
JONNY
Seven, six, five, four, three,
two, one - that"s all. Time for
break is finished.
ADAMS
Jonny suggested one idea. Figures
numbers. Here we can check who
is right.
SINDY
What do you mean. Mr. Adams?
ADAMS
A usual game. Let"s go and play...
A young man will receive an
opportunity to get to know the
theory of accidental numbers.
The scientist, who is busy with electronics, looks at his interlocutors victoriously.
NIGHT. THE GAMBLING HOUSE.
The interior of which meets the requirements of the middle level. There are some halls: in one of it people make stakes. Different people are around the gaming table. These are respectable ladies and gentlemen. In the centre there is a
croupier, not very tall, a dark - haired man with an impenetrable face ...
Among people there is Adams, Dan and Sindy. Some gamblers are waiting a stop of a ball. The rotation slows and the ball stops in a hollow.
THE CROUPIER
Black, six
One of those, who are playing at the table, is a gentleman in a perfect dinner-jacket. He smiles. The croupier moves to him counters, which have won the game. Those, who lost the game leave the unlucky table. Clark comes to three men, who decided to make an experiment. He has some countersign his hands.
CLARK
I have taken some. For our experiment
it will be enough ...
SINDY
What is a per cent of guess, which
you admit?
ADAMS
Fifty per cents - it is so much, dear
Sindy... Don"t worry, it will not happen.
Clark passes counters to his daughter.
CLARK
You will make stakes.
All four of them squeeze their way to the table, at which only one gentleman sits. He passes to the croupier a heap of counters and smites complacently.
THE CROUPIER
Make stakes, gentlemens.
Two, not young, gentlemen in elegant dark suits sit at the gaming table. The croupier accepts their stakes. Sindy sits at the gaming seat. Behind her Dan stands, aside of him
the scientists stand. Dan bends to Sindy.
DAN
Put on the number twenty two, red.
Sindy puts her counters at the gaming field.
THE CROUPIER
Twenty-two, red, accepted ...
Stakes are made.
The croupier looks at all gamblers. Then with confident movements he starts a roulette. Numbers and colour fields flow together, the bale wildly jumps along an unpredictable
trajectory ...
The gentleman looks at Sindy with interest.
She is nervous and presses her fingers. Dan is calm and cool. Friends - scientists look at the centre of the table.
CLARK
What are you thinking about,
Michael?
ADAMS
About money, which goes away
from us.
The ball slows its run and stops.
THE CROUPIER
Red, twenty two
Your winnings, miss.
The croupier moves all counters to the winner. Sindy jolly gathers the winnings. The sceptical scientists exchange glances. They astonished. Dan throws up his hands.
ADAMS (TO CLARK)
This is a fortuity.
CLARK
(without confidence)
Yes, of course.
Two imperceptible gentlemen in elegant suits leave the gaming table. Only one gentleman still sits at the gaming table. His eyes seem, to go right through Sindy. He puts His hair right.
THE GENTLEMAN
Well, well ... Let"s continue
the game.
The croupier looks at this gentleman, then transfers his gaze at Sindy.
THE CROUPIER
Make stakes.
A young man in dark spectacles comes to this gentleman. In his hands he has a tray with heap of counters. The gentleman gathers counters and covers the whole field with them ...
Dan slowly bends to the lass. Sindy puts all the winning at one field.
THE CROUPIER
Seventeen, red. Accepted.
Stakes are made.
The gentleman smiles spitefully. With confident usual movements the croupier untwists a roulette. He smiles…
Clark and Adams look at the centre of the table with strain.
ADAMS
What are You thinking about, Eddy?
CLARK
If it is seventeen red this evening
will not end good…
Dan looks around. Among calm audience, which stands around the gamblers Dan notices two morose men, who are speaking with each other…
The ball jumps along holes of different colours. The gentleman throws impatient glances at a running ball, a hear of counters, at Sindy.
At last his face turns to croupier and stops dead in joyful expectations.
The ball stops, the gentleman does not turn his head - continues to smile to the croupier.
THE CROUPIER ( O.S.)
Seventeen, red.
The voice of the croupier is like a bolt from the blue. There is bewilderment in his voice. Hum of astonished voices through the crowd. A smile disappears from the face of a man and looks at the ball in the hole. His face becomes red. He squints at people near him and flops into the arm-chair…
The croupier moves a big heap of the counters to Sindy.
THE CROUPIER
Your winnings, miss.
The lass beams with joy. She does not control her emotions and jumps up, embraces Dan. Dan is embarrassed by Sindy reaction.
SINDY
We have won.
DAN
Now we can go home…
Dan began to pile counters up on the tray. Clark and Adams help him.
ADAMS
I can’t believe, that it is possible.
CLARK
What shall we do, Michael?
ADAMS
Everything is so convincing, but…
Clark stops to gather the winnings and throws counters at the table.
CLARK
Well… Let’s go till the end.
Sindy, we continue the game.
Sindy looks at her father with astonishment, then at Dan.
Dan keeps silence and imperceptibly shows his palm. It is written on it: nine black…
Sindy again sits in the chair. She is alone at the gaming table. There is only one croupier opposite her. In other halls
the games stopped and all people gathered around one table. They speak with each other softly.
THE CROUPIER
Make stakes, miss.
The face of the croupier is gloomy and ungracious.
Sindy puts all counters which she has won at one field.
SINDY
Nine, black.
The crowd emits a drone and cries of astonishment.
THE CROUPIER
Stake accepted.
He takes a ball in his hand and watches it rotates it in his fingers. Then he untwists a roulette and slowly lets the ball go from his hands. It is complete silence around the table. A crackle of a running ball is only heard. Dan looks hard at the crowd: his gaze is directed at the centre of the table.
Adams puts away his spectacles and cleans with his handkerchief. Sindy turns head to Dan. He smiles and gives the wink. The ball stops at a black hole with a number nine. The silence is broken by the cries of astonishment. The croupier jumps sharply and flops into the chair. He is pale, sweat is on his forehead.
THE CROUPIER
Nine black.
He finds strength in himself to get up and to move all the winnings to Sindy. Adams looks at Clark in bewilderment. The biologist begins to help the daughter to pile counters at the tray.
THE CROUPIER
Congratulations, miss…
You can receive Your winnings
at a cashier’s office.
His voice sounds insincerely. He leaves the table and goes away through the crowd and disappears.
Clark struggles through a crowd with the tray with colour circles. Adams and Sindy follow him. Dan is behind them.
ADAMS
Sindy, I don’t know, how to explain
all this…
SINDY
And how is the theory of casual
numbers?
Adams looks at Sindy with embarrassement. He stops and slows down Dan. The lass went away with her father. Adams strikes his forehead with his palm. He is full of annoyance.
ADAMS
I have understood everything…
All Sindy’s winnings are not
occasional.
DAN
What must happen, has happened.
The scientist looks at the guy’s eyes fixedly and takes him by his elbow.
ADAMS
Tell the truth… Did You know what
numbers would be?
Dan does not answer. He notices some morose figures, who throw unfriendly looks in their side.
Iolly Clark and Sindy come to them. The biologist slaps over his pockets with satisfaction.
CLARK
Michael, the sum of one hundred
thousand must convince You,
that Dan is right.
Clark and Sindy notice, that Adams and Dan are not very happy.
They look around anxiously. Some suspicious persons are around the exit of the casino.
CLARK
We have problems…
ADAMS
With such money, it will not be easy
to get out from here…
SINDY
Father, what shall we do?
CLARK
There are only three of us…
Dan, what will You advice us?
DAN
We must act according the situation.
Clark and Sindy move to the exit. The guy and the scientist follow them. But, when they made some steps, a red giant bars the way. Broad shoulders and big hands show that he is a former fighter. His narrow forehead and a massive jaw make him similar to a bulldog. His cheeks are with red bristles. His hands are with tattooes. The giant does not pay any attention to Sindy, he grins and stares at the biologist.
THE GIANT
Chum, can You change me ten dollars.
Clark keeps silence and looks calmly at the giant. Sindy is nervous. She looks at the giant, then at her father. Dan stands still behind Clark. Without turning the head, he forms a correct estimate of the situation only with his eyes..
One more giant comes to the red one. He is dark-haired. The cigarette smokes in his mouth.
THE DARK-HAIRED GIANT
Jack. What are You speaking about so
long with this egg-headed?…
The negro discharges smoke directly into Clark’s face. Clark does not react.
THE GIANT
Bob, I think… something wrong with
their thinking activity.
It seems they have not yet understood
what to do…
CLARK
Why, I know what to do.
Clark, due to a blow in a belly and a blow of the right hand into a jaw, sends the red giant a knock-down. His black skinned friend tries to attack the biologist from the side, but Dan catches his hand and wrings it till a crunch of fingers and an arm, throws him in another side. The visitors of the casino do not come near to the place of the incident and watch it from a distance. Three more persons jump from the crowd to help the giants. One of them. With ways of a fighter, jumps and kicks at Dan’s head. But a young master of kun-fu turns aside and catches the enemy by his foot, directs his flight a window. The fight cry dies down in a thunder of a broken window. D makes one blow, which is directed under. Adam’s eye, as a result of this his spectacles fly away in an unknown direction. He is not in time with his second blow, as he catches himself by Dan’s fist and stretches after this on the floor for a long rest.
Clark beats with the third bandit. The scientist only steps back and defends. A short sturdy fellow demonstrates a good technique of blows and kicks. He is so carried away by the attack, that he does not notice, as behind him Sindy puts down a chair on his head. The sturdy fellow stops dead under chair’s debris.
The red giant and the dark-haired one appear again in front of the four, who defend themselves. They approach them ominously.
Some more men join them. The bandits slowly surround the four. They back away to the wall. Clark’s shirt is turned, Adam’s eye is damaged.
CLARK
How do You feel, Michael?
ADAMS
They will tear us into pieces now…
The crowd of idlers does not interfere with the event, it only watches in silence.
The ring of encirclement becomes narrower.
ADAMS (CONTINUATION)
What ugly mugs.
Eddy, what do they want from us?
CLARK
Probably this.
Suddenly Clark jumps at the gaming table, takes some wads of green notes and throws them quickly around. The red giant rushes at him, but Clark kicks him at a jaw and he flies away from the table. A maddened crowd absorbs him. A struggle for bonds begins around the table. Gentlemen in suits with ties and ladies in evening dresses are not aside. All ways are put into operation. Nobody has time to recall about four people…
They struggle through the crowd, in which everyone fights. Everything is mixed: cries, groans, thunder of falling bodies, clink of broken windows…
Clark throws some more wads of green notes. All furniture is turned into firewood, there is no any unbroken glass in the premises, but a crazy fight continues. Two gentlemen, who can’t stand anymore, exchange blows, two others elucidate their relations, rolling on the floor. A young man, pressing a grey old man to a wall, taps out morze sings on his head.
Clark and Dan, on the go, have time to engage in some brushes. Clark frees himself from the last wad of notes near the exit stimulation of those, who fight. The exit is free and the four jump at the street. They hurry to a car.
CLARK (TO SINDY)
Sindy, You are not angry about the fact,
that all your winnings we had to leave
at that hospitable establishment, are You?
SINDY
That is not completely my winnings…
And we came not for money…
Sindy catches Dan’s glance of approval. Fugitives quickly jump into a car and rapidly disappears from the place of the event.
EVENING. CLARK’S HOUSE
The sun slowly goes to the horizon. Dan and Sindy go out from the house and come to a light blue Ford. Sindy takes the seat the first and puts away the key from the lock of ignition. She puts the key on the seat and covers it by her palm. Dan occupies the seat of a driver… The lass looks at the guy cunningly. He does not find the key at its usual place and watches the floor of the saloon.
SINDY
Dan… imagine…, that You have no
the key…
DAN
I have imagined…
SINDY
Can You start a car without it?
Dan looks at Sindy with astonishment. Then smiles and tries to copy the lass, imitating her voice and intonation.
DAN
Dan, imagine… that there is no gas…
Could we go?
SINDY
(a little bit offended)
You laugh at me…
DAN
No… If there is the key, we need
to use it.
Dan puts down his hand on Sindy’s arm and rises it. He smiles softly. The guy is taking the key and starts the car and starts the car and sets out.
FORD’S SALON
Which rushes along the highway…
The city’s buildings are left behind. The car goes out from the city… The guy drives the car with confidence, slightly touching the wheel. They pass some cars… The highway, like an arrow, flies to the horizon. A rocky range appears and gradually comes nearer.
SINDY
You quickly mastered a car…
DAN
I try to do my best…
The guy increases the speed. The needle of a speedometer sharply swings to the right. Sindy looks at Dan with astonishment.
SINDY
Why do You go so fast?
DAN
We need to be in time… I’ll show You…
He does not say this till the end and puts a finger to his lips. The car, as an evening butterfly, strives towards a sunset.
EVENING. CLARK’S STUDY.
The scientist-biologist is sitting at the table in front of a computer. He is writing something. There are some thick books and big albums at the table. One wall of a roomy, cosy study is busy with book shelves. On the opposite wall a surrealistic picture of Dali hands. In a corner of the study on a high stand there is a sculpture «Thinker». The windows are closed with blinds, the light of the desk lamp is on. Clark presses some keys and the information appears, he slowly reads it.
CLARK
A man (microcosm) is identical with
a universe (macrocosm) and has seven
bodies (principles), which correspond
to seven spheres of Being…
The biologist is still working with the keys. A drawing of a man, sitting in the position of a »lotus» replaces the text information on the screen. Seven power centres are marked on the body. (chakr)
Nancy Clark enters the study noiselessly. She comes to the table and takes the nearest book.
NANCY
«Occult World»…
Clark continues to write something, looking at the screen. Nancy opens an other book.
NANCY (CONT.)
«Secret Doctrine»…
Eddy, I hope I don’t hinder You…
Clark tears himself from the screen and turns to the wife.
CLARK
Not a bit.
NANCY
It is strange… I have never seen
such books before at Your table…
CLARK
I want to understand everything…
Everything is so unusual…
NANCY
Do You mean Dan?
Clark slaps by his hand a pile of books.
CLARK
Yes… My knowledge for today is
not enough… I have taken some
Sindy’s books… Where is Dan now?
NANCY
He and Sindy went away.
CLARK
Where?
NANCY
I don’t know…
But I feel at ease for her.
EVENING. THE ROCKY RANGE
The car gets off the highway at the ground way. The car reaches the foot of the rocky range, raising a cloud of dust. Here it stops… Dan and Sindy go out the car and raise up skirting big boulders. Dan helps the lass, holding her arm. They move in a shadow of a low rock. Sindy is tired and more often rises her head up, trying to see the last aim of the trip…
Dan is the first to reach a small plateau. Sindy also rises here with the help of the guy, using all her last strength. She tears the head from the ground and still bright sun blinds her. The lass closes eyes because of a sudden bright light, but then she slowly opens them. There is joy and admiration in them. A big orange disk hardly touches the horizon. A hilly country under their feet and all around is flooded with divine light… Sindy makes some steps towards the light. Her face shines with happiness.
SINDY
Oh, Dan… This …this…
DAN
Don’t say anything…
Listen to this silence…
Dan comes and takes Sindy’s hand. They stand against the celestial, which goes away over the horizon. They enjoy the silence and a magnificent picture of a sunset.
EVENING. CLARK’S STUDY.
The scientist-biologist leans back his arm-chair and looks intently at his wife.
CLARK
Do you like Dan?
NANCY
Yes. Sometimes I feel sorry for him…,
when You with Michael burden him
with questions.
CLARK
We are scientists. Everything is of
interest for us.
NANCY
I am simply surprised at his
patience…
Clark stretches his hand to the key board. New pages with a text appear on the screen. He looks through some electronic pages. Nancy bends to the screen.
NANCY (READS LOW)
Phenomenal abilities of a man are in his somnolent consciousness. All of them
manifest themselves, when an inner man
begins to awake and act…
Invisible spheres of Being will be opened
to a such man, past and future,
for him there is no mysteries in
the material world.
Nancy straightens her back. Clark continues to look at the screen.
CLARK
What will You say?
NANCY
I have never thought about this…
CLARK
Unfortunately I also…
EVENING. THE ROCKY RANGE:
Gradually plunges in a shadow. The half of the sun disappeared over the horizon. Sindy and Dan turn to each other and the guy embraces the lass tenderly. She looks straight into Dan’s eyes. The evening sunset reflects in them. The guy kisses her softly… They turn heads in the direction of the sun.
They don’t come apart their embrace and wait in silence an appearance of the last beam…
Then they sit on warm stones. The sun has already disappeared, but the sky over the horizon shines with magic colours.
SINDY
So good…
How fine is this silence…
DAN
Silence has its own melody…
NIGHT. FORD’S SALOON.
A light-blue car rushes along the highway with switched on headlights. From time to time approaching cars come across. The lights of city appear in front. Sindy looks at Dan tenderly.
SINDY
Dan… Thank You… for this evening.
Dan turns the head, his eyes smile.
DAY. THE HALL FOR AEROBIC .
Two dozens of guys and lasses vigorously do exercises to rhythmical loud music…
Dan stands in the corridor near a big window.
He sometimes throws boring looks at those, who do exercises. The guy notices in the corner of the premises a big green bush, growing from a shallow stone bowl. He comes to it.
Dan touches the leaves and stems of the exotic plant.
DAN
(not loud, to himself)
How do You do friend?…
Why do You keep silence?…
I see… You don’t like to be here…in such surrounding…
Sindy comes inaudibly behind. Her hair is slightly wet, she has a sport bag in her hands. She stands on her tiptoe and looks cunningly into Dan through the shoulder.
SINDY
With whom are You speaking?
Dan, not turning his head, continues to watch the bush.
DAN
With a friend of mine… He complains…
The guy turns round, takes the lass’s bag and they go out the street.
DAY.
City’s Street, at which some time in silence the guy and his companion go. Dan is anxious with something and it’s clear from his face. Sindy looks askance at him.
SINDY
You know, Dan, You could become a
very rich person…
DAN
For what?
SINDY
It is a strange answer… All people
strive to this.
DAN
May be… But there are things,
which are more important than money..
Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of the police siren. Two patrol cars rush by them at a high speed.
DAN
Sindy. How do You think, why I have
agreed to come here?
SINDY
I think, that… medical investigations
will help us to come nearer to truth…
Probably, these results will be a new
word in biology…Isn’t it important?
Dan looks at the lass somehow strangely.
DAN
All these experiments are nonsense…
I came here because of You.
Sindy stops and looks at the guy’s eyes.
SINDY
I always believe You for some
reason…
They come through a green public garden. Towards them the runners , a guy with a lass and a grey old man come across.
SINDY
Dan, I need to call to the university.
Wait me here, please.
THE CITY PUBLIC GARDEN
The lass goes away. Dan sits on the bench and watches with interest the children, who are playing in the public garden.
Two young people move along the path in Dan’s directions. This is Archi and his friend Fred. Judging by their walk, they both are a little bit merry. Archi has a can with beer in his hands. They pass by the bench and Archi treads on Dan’s foot. The guy does not react. Two drunk friends stop.
ARCHI
Fred, look… this is our guy…
from East…, from jungle…
FRED
Archi, let’s ask him… how does
he like his visit…
Friend, is everything okay?
Dan rises, but still continues to keep silence. Fred, puts his hands in the pockets and walks unsteadily. An acid smile is on his face.
FRED (CONT.)
He is not talkative at all…
Archi goes around Dan, watching him from head to foot and at the same time he does not forget to drink from a can.
ARCHI
Fred, probably… he does not like
us because of something…
FRED
Of course…
We are not similar to his chinese
friends, we don’t read clever books…
ARCHI
…and we drink beer.
FRED
Archi, regale our friend with…
Archi takes a gulp of beer from the can and stretches it to Dan.
ARCHI
Take it… Try it… It will be better…
to meditate.
The drunk friends laugh loudly. Dan watches their actions calmly.
FRED
Archi, it seems to me, he is
squeamish about our beer…
ARCHI
O.K…. let’s try in other way…
He makes another gulp and rises the can over Dan"s head and begins slowly to pour the beer out. Golden liquid streams from the can, but it does not make his face wet. It streams down. It pours down from invisible surface, one inch from the face. The can is already empty, but Archi"s hand stops dead. The friends-stool-pigeons exchange glances. They don"t understand anything. Dan takes slowly the can with beer from Archi"s hand and presses it in his fist. The crackle of a pressing metal is heard. Then he presses the can by other hand. Some more movements and the can turns into a formless piece of metal. Dan puts it into the pocket of Archi"s shirt, who still stands in a stupor.
DAN
That is for memory about our
meeting ...
Sindy runs to them. There is agitation on her face. She looks at Archi, then at Dan.
SINDY
Dan, Archi, what is going on here?
DAN
Everything is in norm ...
Archi looks strange and fails to notice Sindy.
ARCHI
Yes ...
DAN
We simply spoke about ... the use of
beer.
The guy and the lass go away. Sindy turns and sees Fred, who fidgets with something shining, near his friend, who still stops dead.
DAY. THE CITY"S ZOO.
Along the patches of which, among other visitors, Sindy, Dan aud Jonny move from one enclosure to another. It"s more correctly to say, that the baby pulls the young couple. He pulls Dan along by the arm and there is nothing to do, as to follow the guide, sometimes he turns to Sindy. Jonny points at the enclosures with his free hand and while he is moving he gives the necessary explanations.
JONNY
Here are the birds and there monkey ...
Dan, I"ll show you everything ...
I was here a lot of times ...
They squeeze their way through the crowd of visitors and stop near the enclosure with an elefant. A big animal waves his ears kindly, shakes his head, his trunk reaches the fence.
JONNY
Dan, an elefant lives in Africa
and India. It is the biggest animal ...
SINDY
Jonny, is he bigger than a whale?
Jonny looks at his sister, then begins to think, trying to recall something. His face is concentrated and very serious, that makes Dan and Sindy to smile.
JONNY
Yes, a whale is also big ...
I don"t remember ... I need to look in
a book ...
Sindy cuddles up to Dan"s back. The guy turns to her, but the young guide reacts at this at once.
JONNY
Sindy, don"t divert Dan ...
An elefant is a herbivorous animal
and is easy for training.
Let"s go further ...
They pass some more enclosures, where they meet a Jolly white bear, a menacing tiger, graceful elks and rock deer’s ...
Jonny does not become silent and continues to pull Dan. Sindy follows them. They stop near the enclosure with a gepard.
A tabby cat, who is tired of an afternoon heat, rests in a shadow of a low tree. She breathes hard and does not pay any attention at the visitors.
JONNY
Dan, do you know who is this?
DAN
Of course. It is a leopard.
JONNY
What a fellow, you don"t know ...
This is a gepard the quickest animal ...
90 miles per hour. How is it?
The baby looks at Dan with a question, waiting for his reaction. The guy casts a glance at the enclosure.
DAN
Yes ... Here there is no space
to speed up ...
JONNY
That is not all.
A gepard is a cat, but she can"t
climb trees. Do you know why?
DAN
I don"t know.
Jonny looks at the guy with superiority, then he looks at his sister.
JONNY
A gepard can"t draw in his claws ...
as with a dog ...
Let"s go further.
There are a lot of visitors at the zoo, especially children. Three of them go to the cages with monkeys, where there are a lot of people. Laughter and jolly cries are heard. Jonny suddenly stops near a small pond with crocodiles.
SINDY
Jonny, why did we stop?
JONNY
These are crocodiles ...
Don"t you see them?
SINDY
I see. But what?
JONNY
Crocodiles are the ancient animals.
They have lived at the times, when
there were dinosaurs.
One of the crocodiles emerges from water and creeps out on a dry land. He opens his jaws widely and demonstrates his big teeth.
DAN
What a nice crocodile ...
SINDY
Probably, he is very voracious.
JONNY
No, not at all. If it is necessary
he can"t eat the whole year.
SINDY
I can hardly believe this ...
JONNY
I say, what I have read in the book.
One more crocodile joins the first. Two other crocodiles begin to play in water, rising a cloud of splashes.
DAN
Jonny, where will we go now?
JONNY
Where you want... At first to rhinoceros, lions, then to lizards and snakes.
There are also giraffes, ostriches
and hippopotami.
SINDY
Jonny, can we make our programme shorter?
JONNY
It is impossible. I"ll show ...
all the most interesting.
Sindy looks at Dan doomly. Dan shrugs his shoulders with understanding. The sun is going down, but the amount of visitors at the zoo is not decreased. A miniexcursion, - Dan and Sindy, and their unchanged escort-Jonny, moves slowly along the path. He waves his hands about energetically and says something. The guy casts a glance at Sindy who trudges along behind. She is tired and does not pay attention to the brother"s monologue.
JONNY
What a pity! There was not enough time ...
It does not matter. Next time we"ll see
the rest of animals.
The mini excursion approaches the exit. Sindy cheers up.
JONNY
Dan, did you like our zoo?
DAN
Everything was fine.
SINDY (TIRED)
Especially our guide.
An old merchant with a big many coloured umbrella stands near the exit. He has a roomy cage on a stand with two small birds. Jonny stops Dan and Sindy.
JONNY
Look, these are larks ...
They are so small.
Dan watches this couple of birds. The birds sit dolefully on a cross-bar. Jonny pulls Dan"s hand.
JONNY
Let"s go
DAN
Wait, Jonny ...
DAN (TO A MERCHANT)
How much do these birds cost?
A MERCHANT
Fifty.
The guy takes money out of his pocket. Sindy and Jonny exchange glances in bewilderment. Dan gives money and takes the cage. He opens the door and waits. Now the merchant is also astonished. The guy bends to the cage and whispers something. The birds revive. At first one, then the other leaves the cage. They rise up and jolly welcome freedom. Some visitors also watch this event. All rise their heads and watch the sky dance. Dan smiles jolly.
JONNY
Dan, for what did you do that?
DAN
Jonny, birds must fly ...because, that ...
JONNY
because, they have wings!
DAN
Good lad! It"s right!
The boy looks at Dan seriously.
JONNY
Dan, what I"ll say you ...
you did not like the zoo.
DAY. THE LABORATORY OF DR. ADAMS
In the middle of the premises there is a big room - sarcophagus. Dan lies in it in a shining suit. A lot of wires stretch from the suit into the panel. The lamps of different colours blink along the perimeter. The guy"s face is calm and concentrated. Michael Adams comes to the room.
ADAMS
Dan, we need to fix as much
information as possible. That"s
why concentrate at different
thoughts, emotions, at excitements. Everything will be fixed and written.
Dr. Adams goes away from the sarcophagus, the lid from thick glass closes it slowly. Adams presses some buttons at the main control desk. The light is switched off in the premises.
Only in the middle of the laboratory the sarcophagus is lighted. A dark hemisphere goes down at Dan"s face. Dr. Adams
touches some more buttons. Different images and visions of virtual reality break out in Dan"s brain. Intricate geometric figures turn into fanciful landscapes of other planets;
faces of people turn into fantastic animals; high speed flights between mountain"s peaks transfer into smooth soaring, but then they turn into, a terrible by its reality fall in a dark abyss, crashes against rocks, waves of scorching gas and fire. All these images penetrate into Dan"s brain, which is stimulated by unearthly music, simply even separate sounds, which sometimes transfer into an ultrasonic sphere. The change of images is unexpected. The musical accompaniment increases this effect.
THE FIRST ASSISTANT
I see a strong vibration of magnetic
and gravity fields around the body ...
THE SECOND ASSISTANT
A strong resistance for stress loads ...
It seems this guy has iron nerves
Dr. Adams works with the and he does not tear himself from the screen.
ADAMS
Let"s finish. It is enough for today.
Send this to me.
The scientist rises from the control desk and goes to the office. The light comes on in the laboratory.
THE OFFICE OF DR. ADAMS
is remarkable for simplicity and practicality. The owner of the office sits at the table and writes something. Dan comes into the office. Adams tears himself from his work and rises the head.
ADAMS
Sit down, Dan. Today it was
a difficult test, so we shall
speak no more than some minutes.
DAN
Is there something deserve our
attention?
ADAMS
There is something ... Data must be
processed and interpreted. Our super
ECM will make this very quicily.
DAN
Can you assume that the mistakes
are possible?
The scientist, who is busy is with electronics, smiles indulgently, puts off the spectacles and cleans them with a handkerchief.
ADAMS
It"s out of the question. Our
technique works without mistakes.
Adams rises and comes to Dan. He slaps him on the shoulder.
ADAMS (CONT.)
Let"s go. Dan. I"ll show you something ...
They leave the office and come to a metal door. Adams presses the buttons of a code lock and the door slowly opens. They come into a small room, at the walls of which stand a row of
metal closets with transparent doors.
ADAMS (CONT.)
Dear Dan. I"ll reveal a small secret
to you. Our laboratory is very
close to creation of an artificial
intellect ...
The scientist passes his hand round the premises notes of pride are heard is his voice.
ADAMS (CONT.)
I"ll show you future, which is not far.
The scientist and the guy come to the first closet. The metal construction, like a man"s figure, is scene inside it.
ADAMS (CONT.)
This is one of the first models. It operates...It is very expensive, that"s
why is not good for mass production.
The scientist leads the guy to the next closet. The example with more streamlined forms is in it a robot"s head is more similar to a man"s one. A metal covering shines a lustreless light. The proportions of an athlete sustain in "an iron man". Dan watches attentively the robot.
ADAMS (CONT.)
Possibilities of this model is wider.
This is our base model.
The scientist and Dan pass some closets, where «manlike» robots stand still. They walk slowly and Adams gives explanations and simultaneously watches the guy"s reaction.
ADAMS
All these copies are improvements of
the base model. Here a new scheme of
a bearing - motive system is used ...
And this is a model with improved
energy supply due to miniature
nuclear installation ...
They come to the last closet. Adams stops.
ADAMS
This last copy has a modernised
biocomputer. What will you say?
Are you impressed?
Why do you keep silence?
Dan watches a miracle - robot and rubs his temple by a finger.
DAN
I have no words ...
ADAMS
(does not catch an irony)
Come here, Dan ...This is our perspective model. All the best and modern are here ...
The scientist presses some buttons at one side of the closet. Blinds inside the closet open and a bright light is on:
A familiar face-mask gazes fixedly at Dan - tightly pressed
lips and a cool-dead look.
ADAMS
For a body we have used the materials
equal to biological. We strive to
approach a man as close as possible.
The guy watches the robot fixedly. The robot is in a steel-grey overalls, which is close-flitting. Some wires are connected to the head, hands and legs. There is a feeble-blue luminescence in pupils of his eyes.
DAN
And how is his head?
ADAMS
The possibilities of his intellect
will be much more higher than of a man.
His memory can keep the information,
which all the libraries of our country has.
Dan keeps silence. He comes close to the closet.
ADAMS (CONT.)
But we went further ...
We worked out the programme, which
allows us to give him man"s feelings
and qualities: determination, perseverance,
courage, slyness and even sense of humour.
DAN
And what about fear?
Adams
You were right. This is the only one feature, which we decided not to put in it?
For what reason? He will act till the end, without hesitations. Isn"t he nice?
Dan slightly knocks on the glass and metal wall of the closet.
DAN
Are the locks firm? ...May be he will
decide to run away suddenly?
ADAMS
We are not afraid of this. He is
connected to a supply, but he is in
a regime "lethargic sleep". Besides
this the security programme controls
its actions.
Dr. Adams switches off the light and closes the blinds. They go to the exit. Near the door the scientist stops.
ADAMS
Oh. yes ... I forgot at all ...
The name of our beauty is Robby.
The scientist and the guy go out to the corridor. A metal door softly closes. The second assistant runs to them.
THE SECOND ASSISTANT
Mr. Adams ... to a telephone quickly.
All three go to Adam"s office. The scientist takes the phone receiver. His face is set in fixed position, he is looks worried. He turns to Dan, keeping the receiver in his hands.
ADAMS
Sindy"s father called me ... from
the university. A maniac captures
students as hostages. Among them is Sindy.
Dan runs quickly from the office.
THE FIRST ASSISTANT
Doctor, will you go to?
ADAMS
No ...
I need to work with today"s material.
THE SECOND ASSISTANT
Is it so important?
Adams puts off his spectacles and watches the frame.
ADAMS
Yes. The received results we need to
use for "AN animation" of Robby.
PARKING.
Dan runs out from the building. He is in hurry. He runs to a dark-blue Kavasaki, which stands at the parking, and a motorcycle quickly speeds away.
DAY. THE BUILDING OF THE UNIVERSITY.
There are a lot of people in front of the central exit, among them policemen. A bus, a little bit aside from the entrance, stands still. It is surrounded by a squad of police. Three lasses and two guys hidhide in a corner of the saloon. A lanky fellow-terrorist stands in front of them and swings a big pistol. In his other hand there is an army grenade.
His actions are sharp and agressive. Students watch everything with horror. Among them is Sindy. She tries to control herself.
TERRORIST
All sit, don"t move ...
Shoot without warning.
He grabs one of the hostages by the hand, shields oneself with and comes to a window.
TERRORIST
Clean the way. And don"t try to chase
me, or ...it will be less on one hostage,
and more for one corpse.
Do you understand, nitwits?
The police officer and the agent in a civil suit stand near a police car and watch the bus.
THE POLICE OFFICER
We have to do this ...
THE AGENT IN CIVILIAN
A sniper will not shoot him ...
a grenade gets in the way ...
We can"t risk it.
The way is free from people and cars.
THE BUS SALOON.
The lanky fellow directs the pistol at the guy- student. A red unshaven face grins.
TERRORIST
I have seen that you came on
a car ...Quickly at the wheel!...
The lanky fellow pushes the guy at a driver"s place.
TERRORIST (CONT.)
Go where I"ll point you ...
No initiatives or it will be
your last trip.
THE BUILDING OF THE UNIVERSITY.
Dan goes on the motor cycle to the place of the incident. He comes through the crowd and finds Sindy"s parents. Nancy controls herself with difficulties.
NANCY
Sindy is inside the bus.
Clark and Dan come to the police officer and the agent in civilian.
THE AGENT IN CIVILIAN
We have already determined his personality. He is a former sergeant of a specialized troops. He is discharged because of health problems.
CLARK
What does he want?
THE POLICE OFFICER
He demands only a bus now ...
His further actions are unpredictable.
A yellow-red bus begins to move. It goes through the corridor, which is left for it. Policemen follow it with their eyes. Nancy Clark comes to them. Tears are in her eyes.
NANCY
( to a police officer)
Why does not police follow them?
THE OFFICER
Terrorist"s demands must be fulfiled.
THE AGENT IN CIVILIAN
We shall use a passive control to watch
bus movements. We shall not undertake
anything more ...
For the present we shall not.
NANCY
But this crazy can at any moment
fix them?
The agent and the officer go away in silence, sit in the car. Nancy looks at Dan with a prayer ... The guy closes his eyes for a second. His face is concentrated and tense. Then he turns and hurries to the motor-cycle. He sits on it and starts it resolutely. "Kavasaki" starts up rapidly. Dan goes away in another, from the disappered bus, direction.
DAY. CITY"S STREETS,
along which the bus with hostages rushes. It races down, carrying everything before it: street sing, barriers, cars, which did not turn away the road. The yellow-red bus rushes by some cross-roads, not paying attention at the signals of traffic lights. It leaves after this some broken and overturned cars.
THE BUS"S SALOON
The lanky fellow grins and the pistol is against the driver"s head. The bus"s frame shakes and students cuddle up to each other.
TERRORIST
(to the driver)
Don"t reduce speed ... Have you ever
gone like this? ...
The lanky fellow leaves the driver alone and approaches the hostages.
TERRORIST (CONT.)
Did you enjoy yourself bright sparks?
You don"t know what waits you. All
charm is in this.
The bus flights at the opposite side and some cars, trying to avoid a crash, runs into shop windows and break the cafe.
CITY"S STREETS.
Dan"s motor-cycle rushes along them. At high speed it passes cars, rushes by cross-roads. Dan tries to sgueeze all possible from his motor- cycle and bends down at the wheel.
THE HIGHWAY
The bus rushes along the highway, which leads out of the city. It rushes, making a confusion in traffic. The guy-driver revolves the wheel. He is afraid and sweat pours his face. In front of the course of movement there is a road junction with some bridges and crossings.
THE HIGHWAY
Dan on the motor-cycle hurries along the highway, which leads to the road junction. His dark-blue "Kavasaki" rushes to it.
The road junction is seen, web of bridges and road ... Dan rises his head and tries to examine the bus. "Kavasaki" jumps out at a concrete side of the bridge.
THE ROAD JUNCTION
The bus rushes along the highway. Its yellow-red frame approaches the bridge, at which Dan"s motor-cycle rides.
The guy watches the bus and as soon as it disappears under the bridge. Dan by a sharp turn of a wheel throws the motor-cycle through a barrier. In air, in his flight, Dan stops his two-wheel machine and falls on the roof of the bus.
THE BUS"S SALOON.
The terrorist hears the knocks on the roof. He jumps aside from the driver and turns his head frightened.
TERRORIST.
What"s is it? ... Where? ...
I"ll kill all! ...
The lanky fellow swings his big pistol at all sides. The hostages at the end of the saloon watch the maniac"s actions. They don"t understand anything.
THE ROOF OF THE BUS.
Dan cuddles up by all his body to the roof, trying to hold out on it. He crawls by the roof, overcoming air flow. The bus throws from one side into another and the guy, bracing the muscles, snatches a lid of a hatch by his hands. He waits some seconds and then moves to the edge of the roof.
THE BUS"S SALOON
The infuriated terrorist rushes about the saloon. He jumps to the windows and tries to look up. The guy - driver looks back in fright. The hostages are on the brink of shook, only Sindy
is on the alert. She watches attentively the maniac. The terrorist jumps to the window in the middle of the saloon and cranes, his neck. At the same second Dan"s foot strikes a glass and reaches the face of the retired sergeant. He falls between the seats because of a strong and unexpected blow. A grenade slips out his hand. It rools along a passage between seats. All stand still in the saloon. The terrorist is also in stupor, he closes his face with hands. He is afraid…
Sindy dashes at the grenade and is in time to throw it through a window. A strong explosion is heard behind the bus ... Dan is in the saloon. The maniac jumps and aims his pistol at the guy. The maniac does not shoot as Dan kicks his pistol. Dan does not give a chance for maniac to come to his senses. He takes hand-rails, hauls himself up and kicks the maniac in chest. A big body breaks the window and flies out from the saloon.
THE HIGHWAY
Brake creak and the bus stops. Dan jumps out from the bus and runs to the criminal, who lies not far from the road. The criminal face is in blood, he tries to get up, but he is not successful. A helicopter lands not far from the bus. The police and some passenger cars drive up at once. Relatives embrace the hostages. Joy and tears are at their faces ... Sindy embraces her mother, then her father ... The police officer and the agent in civilian come to Dan. Two policemen put on handcuffs on the criminal and haul him is the car. The officer examines the terrorist"s pistol and takes a holder out.
THE POLICE OFFICER.
(to the agent in civilian)
Clean work ... He has not made
even one shot.
The agent turns to Dan. The guy is going to go away, but he stops him.
THE AGENT IN CIVILIAN
Young fellow, where have you received
such a training?
The agent looks at the guy with expectancy.
DAN
Is it so important ...If I say,
you will not believe me. Excuse me.
Dan leaves the policemen and goes to joy parents and to Sindy, who is still looks worried. He embraces the lass.
CLARK
Dan, is everything o"kay with you?
DAN
Yes, it is. I am all right.
NANCY
We are very grateful to you ...
You took a risk.
DAN
There were situations worse ...
The guy"s face becomes serious. Before a thoughtful look of Dan a pale face-mask appears and slowly goes out. This is Robby from Dr.Adam"s laboratory.
DAY. DR. ADAM"S HOUSE
It is a building with original architecture, something middle between a flying plate and an Egypt pyramid ...
The owner of the house and his guest Edward Clark, are on a terrace of the second flour. They sit at a low table on chairs in an avant-garde style. There are some bottles with juices and drinks. Clark takes his glass and makes some gulps.
CLARK
I have not been in your house for
a long time, Michael ...
ADAMS
And I have no time to invite you.
I don"t get out from the laboratory ...
For me my work is the most important.
CLARK
We saw each other more frequent in
previous times ... When was I here
last time?
ADAMS
Since that time when my wife ran
from me two years ago...
The scientist, who is busy with electronics, opens a dark flat brief-case which lies on the table. Inside it there is a control desk with a keyboard, on the lid there is a screen. Adams presses some keys.
ADAMS
I switched on an air-conditioner
in the living-room and a gas-stove
in the kitchen. I think you will
not refuse from coffee.
Clark looks at his watch.
CLARK
Sindy and Dan will soon come and
fetch me ...
Adams moves away an open brief-case aside.
ADAMS
We"ll be in time ...
By the way, Eddy, how does Sindy feel herself? These races on the bus
are not for people with weak nerves.
CLARK
Stress has passed rather quickly.
The explanation is simple that is
Dan"s influence.
ADAMS
Yea ... he is an interesting guy ...
During the investigation the
instruments have fixed a strong
field around the body. Besides, it
pulsates.
CLARK
What type of a field is it?
ADAMS
It"s not clear ...
I am faced with this for the first
time.
CLARK
I thought, that your electronic
instruments can everything ...
ADAMS
The thing is not in the instruments ...
The guy has made a block system ...
But I know, what to do.
Adams pours himself a half of something into a glass and drinks.
CLARK
And if again there is a misfire?!
ADAMS
Eddy are you not sure in the
possibilities of the modern science
and the science at all?
The owner of the house looks at his guest with some suspicion. But the guest is calm.
CLARK
You know, Michael. I don"t have doubts
as for possibilities of the science ...
But it has limits behind which it is
feeble.
ADAMS
My friend, you astonish me ...
CLARK
Not so long ago I have read some
literature ...
I fixed one expression in my mind ...
that ... there are known, unknown
and unknowable things ...
That is from old texts.
Adams looks at his colleague derisively.
ADAMS
The old sages come at the stage ...
To hell them, Eddy.
CLARK
Do you reject their knowledge?
ADAMS
What can they know?... They had no
Modern technologies, computers ...
Not worth a scrap their knowledge.
CLARK
Technologies ... computers ...
We don"t know till now what time,
gravitation and even electricity is.
ADAMS
In the nearest future the answers
will be given, Eddy. I have no doubt
in this.
CLARK
Till that time ten new questions
will appear. And so till infinity ...
ADAMS
Eddy, don"t make the problem bigger ...
CLARK
Michael, where is the way out ...
Where is truth? ...
The lamp begins to twinkle in the brief-case and a thin signal is heard. Adams bends to the keyboard and touches the keys. The screen shines. On the screen Sindy and Dan go along the path to the door of the house.
ADAMS
(sardonidy)
That is he, who will give an answer
for us on this question.
Adams uses once more the brief-case. The door opens and the guests come in. The guy and the lass go along the corridor
in silence. They rise on the lift. At all their way in front of them, on the ceiling, as pointing out the way, invisible lamps shine. Sindy and Dan appear at the terrace. They greet representative of science and sit dawn near then.
SINDY
Father, we came for you.
CLARK
We’ll go now..., but we have one
question...
ADAMS
We are interested... Where is truth?
The young people exchange glances. They are astonished.
SINDY
Mr. Adams, the religion is busy with the guest for truth, but not science...
ADAMS
The religion is in a deadlock. There
are a lot of them, and all consider themselves the most veritable...
What will you say?
The lass looks at Dan, but he leans back at a chair, which means that he does not want to participate in the discussion.
SINDY
But all they say, that... truth’s
always with a man.
CLARK
How to find it...
ADAMS
...and take.
Sindy again looks at Dan. He does not show any interest to the conversation.
SINDY
As I know... read ... we must look
inside us...
The scientist, shoo is busy with electronics, smiles.
ADAMS
All right... we looked inside...
Well, what next?
SINDY
Rummage in... and may be you’ll find...
Dan, without changing the position of hibody, leans back his head.
DAN
... if you are worthy of it.
All, who are present, look at the guy. Adams puts off his spectacles and fidgets with them. He is a little bit nervous.
ADAMS
Nonsense... that is all non... seen...
se Rubbish. I believe in intellect.
There is a pause. Sindy looks at her father. He rises and looks at the watch.
CLARK
Michael, it is time for us... Yes, ..
don’t forget to turn off the stove.
All rise, Adams bends over his brief-case and manipulates with buttons with irritation. Then he looks at Clark with astonishment.
ADAMS
Somebody has already switched it off...
He turns to Dan. His eyes seemed to go right through Dan. The guy stands this battle calmly.
DAN
Good bye. Mr. Adams.
Adams comes close to him.
ADAMS
You know, what shall I say to you
guy?... I’ll find truth..., but not
where you think.
DAY. CLARK’S HOUSE.
An agile light blue Ford drives up to the house. A young couple from it and moves to Clark’s house. Near the door the guy stops Sindy.
DAN
Sindy... I must stay alone... to rest.
SINDY
I have also an aftertaste...
Adams seems to get furious with you.
DAN
It does not worry me...
Sindy... I would like...
The guy does not stop.
SINDY
Well. Take my car.
DAN
Thank you... You have learnt to read
my thoughts.
SINDY
Only yours.
DAY. THE HIGHWAY EMANATES HEAT.
A light-blue Ford rushes along it. Dan is at the wheel. He examines pensively the running in front of him highway. The car leaves the city and moves in the direction of a rocky range, which is seen over the horizon...
The sun begins to move down, but intense heat does not abate and Dan lowers the side glass till the end.
The guy switches on the radio. A thunder from loud speakers is heard. This thunder is produced by a rock group. Dan continues a search misses some stations and stops. When he hears the Midde-Aged chords of an organ. The magic music inundates all other sound...
At one of road-forks the car turns into a ground road and a cloud of dust drifts behind it. It made some turns and stops.
The guy sits move-less for some seconds in complete silence, then goes out from the car, leaving the door open...
He goes up the range, sometimes he looks at the country below...
Dan reaches the familiar stone ground and comes to it edge. Below his legs there is a deep abyss. The guy sits not far from the edge and looks at the horizon. A fiery disk approaches him reluctantly. Around him there is complete silence...
Dan puts his face under gentle beams and breezes.
DAY, CLARK’S HOUSE.
Clark and Sindi come into a dining-room. The sit dawn at table and Nancy moves them their plates.
NANCY
Eat something...
I’ll give everything for Dan latter.
Sindy starts to eat, but then puts forks aside.
SINDY
I don’t want... I have no appetite.
CLARK
Blame the con-ver-sations.
SINDY
We were not the first, who began...
Clark makes some manipulations with a plate and moves it away. Then he makes some gulps from a glass.
CLARK
Sindy... Mr. Adams is a well-known
specialist in his sphere, professor.
He has reached much.
SINDY
Yes, I’ll not reach...this.
But I don’t strive to this.
The father looks at his daughter with astonishment, then he looks at his wife.
CLARK
A strange position...
All want to reach something is this
life, to become somebody...
Is your Dan... not like this?
SINDY
No.
Nancy, who has kept silence during their dialogue, sits down near her daughter and looks at her face.
Nancy
Sindy, whom does he want
to become, where to work?...
SINDY
I don’t know.He said me that
it all the same to him...
Clark rises from the table and goes to the door. He stops near the door and turns to Sindy.
CLARK
Is he not interested to make his
career?
SINDY
Absolutely not.
EVENING.
The Stone Range Alone figure of Dan is on a secluded patch between rocks. He looks at a big disk of the sun, which begins to go away over the horizon slowly. The guy gets up, stands moveless for some seconds and slowly rises his widely extended hands; he takes some deep breathes. He smites to the sun, the wind and mountains.
EVENING. JONNY’S ROOM.
The boy stands near a window watches trees and bushes, which grow near the house. The sun disk, which goes down to the horizon, is seen from his window. Jonny looks at the sun and screws up his eyes. Then he slowly comes to a glass box, where a small lizard stands still on gray stones. Her body is moveless and only her tongue shows up, betraying her owner...
The boy puts his hand into the box and takes the lizard out of it. He brings her near to his face and peers into her eyes.
JONNY
Bonny, I am guilty...Excuse me...
I’ll correct everything now...
The boy puts a prisoner back into the box, takes it and brings it carefully out of the room.
A Dawn in Front of Clark’s House Jonny appears from the door with a precious burden. He goes to thick bushes, which grow on a green lawn. The boy stops near the bushes and lowers the box. Then he takes the lizard gently and dips his fist into grass. He slowly unclenches his fist and waits. The lizard sits some moments on the palm of her liberator, then runs into grass and stops.
Jonny looks at her with tender and pushes her slightly.
JONNY
Run Bonny...
It will be better for you...
The lizard, as she understood these words, dives into grass. The baby follows her with a sad watch.
EVENING.
The Diving Room of Clarks. The head of the family looks through an evening newspaper. He is in a deep chair. Jonny is carried away by a computer game - on is screen a robot - transformer exterminates his enemies. Sindy goes through the pages of a big album with colour illustrations. There are ancient eastern temples and different gods...Nancy Clark comes into the living room.
NANCY
Sindy, where is Dan?
Has he returned?
SINDY
Yes, he has. He is in his room.
NANCY
Will he eat? I have made everything.
Sindy puts away the album and goes Dan’s room.
DAN’S ROOM
Sindy knocks at the door softly and comes in a room. It is dark in the room, the lamp is only on the table, where the guy sits. He does not turn and continues to watch his black ribbon with a delineation of a yellow dragon and some hieroglyphs. Sindy comes to the table silently and puts her hands at Dan’s shoulders.
SINDY
What is written here?
DAN
An ancient law...»Energy follows
thought».
Sindy sits down to the table. She looks at the guy’s face.
SINDY
Are you worried about something?
DAN
Why do you think so?
SINDY
I feel this...
Dan tears his look away from the ribbon. He looks at Sindy, then gets up and comes to a window. He examines the star sky.
DAN
It seems to me I came to a solution
of the question, which disturbs me
so long...
SINDY
What are you going to do?
The guy slowly turns and goes to the lass.
DAN
The task with one unknown becomes the
task... with two unknown characters.
SINDY
You speak with mysteries...
DAN
He or I...
It must happen today.
SINDY
What must happen?
Why don’t you say me? Is it dangerous?
The guy goes to the wardrobe and takes from it his black trousers and shirt.
DAN
May be...
But everyone plays his own role at
this tragedy of file.
Sindy comes to the guy. Anxiety and agitation is at her face.
SINDY
Dan... I wanted to say you for a long
time...
Dan
Sindy... not now...
Leave me alone now, please...
The lass looks at Dan’s eyes, turns and slowly goes out from the room. She goes downstairs to the living room.
THE LIVING - ROOM
The parents look at their daughter with a question
SINDY
Dan has asked us not to disturb him...
She comes to a sofa and sits down on it. Her look is moveless, She thinks about something with concentration. Jonny turns to his sister at once, a computer battle has stopped.
JONNY
Sindy, do you want to play? I can’t
defeat this robot...
May be you will do this.
Sindy does not pay attention at her brother’s words. She sits with a thoughtful air and her look is directed at one point.
SINDY
(silently, to herself)
He or I...
Everyone plays his own role...
The parents exchange glances and they are in bewilderment.
DAN’S ROOM
Dan stands in the middle of the room. He is in dark clothes. There is the locket of his Teacher at his neck. The guy touches it by his fingers and covers it with one, then another palm. The descendant of the Yellow Dragon takes the black ribbon and binds it around his head. His movements are deliberate and look like a ritual ceremony. Dan decreases the light of the lamp. He turns in the side of the window with blinds, stands still and slowly folds his arms. His eyes are open and moveless.
Before his thoughtful look fragmentary pictures of the last events rush: a trip from the airport, a visit to a casino, an engagement with a terrorist, an investigation at Adam’s laboratory. The last vision, Robby with an impenetrable pale face, appears. The delineation vibrates, then the tremble stops...
At the same moment Dan’s body begins to emit a weak blue light. Luminescence gradually increases and sizes the whole body. The body has no outlines; this is a blue cloud, which disappears in dark, as soon as it has reached the maximum brightness.
THE LIVING ROOM.
Sindy, who is busy with her thoughts sits in isolation on the sofa. Jonny continues the computer battle with a transformer.
JONNY
Here... here... get more...
Don’t you like it?
Clark tears himself from a newspaper.
CLARK
Jonny, feel at ease...
less emotions...
JONNY
Yes but he always slips out...
And then suddenly attracts...
The baby eagerly presses the keys. His mother comes to him.
NANCY
Is it time for a winner of robots
to have some rest? To go to bed,
for example?
JONNY
I have not won him already...
This piece of iron does not want
to give himself...
The noise of the engagement, which is on the screen, does not die away.
NANCY
Jonny, in ten minutes you must to bed,
or... your visit to an oceanarium
will be postponed.
And that’s that.
Nancy goes away. Jonny loses his interest the game. He presses the buttons without enthusiasm some times more and stops the game. Jonny turns to his father.
JONNY
Father, who is stronger: a man
or a robot?
Clark puts away the newspaper, looks at Jonny then at Sindy, gets up, comes to the sofa and sits down near the daughter.
CLARK
I don’t know, Jonny...
Ask Mr. Adams someday.
JONNY
I know, what he will say me.
CLARK
It is interesting. And what?
JONNY
Of course a robot.
He simply went mad with these robots...
The father rises his hand to warn him.
CLARK
Jonny, you are not right here.
And choose expressions...
JONNY
(a little fit touchy)
But this is truth...
These monsters can play a cruel
joke with him...
Sindy rises sharply and looks at the father and the brother
with emotions.
SINDY
And with us all...
NIGHT. A NEGLECTED DISTRICT OF A CITY.
A dark empty side-street ends with a high stone fence. Silence and gloom...
Silence begins to disappear. Gradually a light cloud appears, it emits a blue light. Luminescence increases and reaches the maximum power...
Outlines of a man’s body appear in a bright-blue cloud. His hands are folded...
Luminescence becomes weaker and the cloud disappears. At this place Dan in dark clothes stands. He has the ribbon on his head.
He looks round and moves in the direction of the side-street in the center of the city, where there is much light and noise.
NIGHT STREETS OF A BIG CITY.
Dan walks along busy streets. Passers-by don’t pay attention is attracted to a big screen at one of the sky-scrapers. The guy moves in the direction of it...
There is a start ground of a spacedrome. A beautiful spaceship is in beams of search-lights. The spaceship is docked to a start junction. The spaceship is shown from different sides.
THE VOICE OF THE ANNOUNCER.
Today at night on the 3rd of September
2036, a space complex starts to the Mars.
The task of the expedition: to check the
possibilities of practical extraction of
titanium and transuranium elements. New
mining technique will be tested...
Dan listens attentively the report. He stands near a big screen...
A Rain turns into a shower. A thunderstorm begins... The streets become empty. Frequent lightning’s cut through the night sky. Dan goes along a night street, comes to a telephone and dials a number.
NIGHT.THE COMPLEX OF THE BUILDINGS FROM GLASS AND CONCRETE.
The concrete building is surrounded by a high fence of a metal net. There are signs of warning «Restricted area» on the fence. The road, leading to the complex, leans against a control - admission post... A thunderstorm rages in full strength.
A ROOMY HALF DARK PREMISES
which is full of electronic equipment. In the middle of the premises on three stands, which are wrapped in cables and data units, three man-like figures stand. They are completely similar to each other, even their faces: tightly pressed lips and cool look... Robots are moveless. Many colored lamps twinkle at the electronic control-desk. Reflections of lightning’s are hardly penetrate into the premises.
A thunderstorm rages over the city. It is more furious gloomy clouds cover the star sky. The threads of lightning’s stretch to the earth... Suddenly a strong discharge strikes a lightning-conductor of the laboratory complex. A tower sways and falls on the ground with a thereunder. The second discharge drawing on the sky an unthinkable trajectory, strikes the roof of the building... Inside the building, in the corridors and rooms the cables and electric wires are in fire, the electric power panels blown up. There is fire in the premises, the corridors are full of smoke... In the laboratory where are three morose figures, the fiery forewords starts: the wires, the fiery fireworks starts: the wires burn, the equipment blows up. The screen, with an inscription «The system of power supply is switched on in full capacity», shines at one of the control-desk. The room is full with smoke... One of the robots slowly begins to move limbs. His movements are sharp and unnatural, gradually they become intelligent. The robot turns his head in different sides.
His look stops at the central control-desk and tow brothers-twins. He begins to tear data units and wires off with sharp movements. He the stand and goes to the control-desk, at which many coloured, lamps still twinkle. Robby breaks the control-desk by his hand, more blows and there is nothing but smoked pieces of it. Robby’s brothers-twinges begin to revive. They move their limbs and turn their hands. Their older brother, who is free now, notices their activity. Robby comes to the stands.
ROBBY
Unfortunately I don’t need
a competition.
The Robot turns control-levers at the power supply shield into a red sector. The second and the third samples begin to beat convulsions. The lightnings run through their bodies... Their mouths are writhed with cramps, their eyes widely opened. They emit hoarse sounds. The movements of limbs and trunks are sharp and chatter. Robot’s bodies are scorching hot and blaze up...
Robby watches an execution without any emotions. Two bright jets light his calm, cool face. Robot’s bodies begin to melt. The movements of hands, heads, trunks slow down gradually. It is difficult to understand where is the face, as it is an all-round melted mass. Agony begins in some moments. The robot-executioner examines two shapeless heaps of biomass-all, which is left from his electronic brothers.
A DUTY ROOM OF A POLICE SQUAD.
In front of the control-desk, with two dozens of twinkle lamps, two policemen, a strong sergeant and his young colleague, fling about a duty room.
THE SERGEANT
Oh, devil... In the sector «M» is a
fire... Jim, did You switch on a
duplicate system of putting out a
fire?
JIM
Yes, I did, but it did not work...
Everything is damaged, even the telecameras...
THE SERGEANT
Jim, in this sector, in the room N23,
there is an important object. Very important... Go and see, what has
happened there...
The policeman runs from the premises. He moves quickly along the corridors, uses the elevator and goes to the aim. He comes to a massive door with the number 23. He dials the combination on a code lock and opens a protected door.
THE LABORATORY’S PREMISES
With marks of a fire and a destruction. Some blocks are still smoked. There is a melted biomass at two stands. The third place is empty. The policeman makes some steps inside the premises. He looks around. There is silence only a flame silently crackles. His transceiver begins to work.
THE SERGEANT ( O.S.)
Jim, what is there?... Did You understand something?...
JIM
Here is so...so...
But there are no objects here...
THE SERGEANT / O.S./
What are You drivelling about? Did they
fly away or dissolve?
The young guard man moves slowly to the centre of the premises. He is on the alert and looks around. He comes to the place of the execution, listens to everything and smells. His eyes are widely opened, when he examines the remains of the «object». Jim gives a start because of an unexpected sound from his transceiver.
THE SERGEANT ( O.S.)
Jim, switch off the power of the room...
and return...
JIM
Bill, not all is clear here... But it
seems to me. I guess what has happened here...
The policeman turns to the door runs into Robby’s wide chest. Robby stands close to him.
ROBBY
Leave your guess with you...
The guard man, as in a hypnosis, stands still in front of the robot. A grimace of horror paralyses his face.
THE SERGEANT ( O.S.)
Jim, why do You keep silence?...
What has happened?...
Suddenly Jim seizes the pistol’s handle, but he is not in time to take it from a holster: Robby’s hand presses the arm. By his second hand Robby presses the throat of the policeman.
The policeman tries to free himself beats the hand, shakes his head, but everything is useless and any results.
Jim begins to wheeze. His face flushes and his look is lifeless. But Robby does not weaken the engagement...
At last he releases his victim and a corpse falls on the floor quietly. Robby leaves the premises through the open door. He takes the policeman’s pistol with him.
THE STREETS OF A NIGHT CITY
The car rushes through a dense veil of rain. Dan is at the wheel. He is in hurry. Water floods a windscreen. Radio works at the saloon.
THE VOICE OF THE ANNOUNCER ( O.S.)
A thunderstorm rages over the
spacedrome. But the technical
progress wings the element.
A start of space expedition will
take place according the schedule,
in three hours.
The guy increases the speed. His car flies along the highway. Dan is concentrated and tense.
THE LABORATORY COMPLEX.
The rebel robot goes down on the elevator, then along the corridor to a duty room. He comes to it imperceptibly and opens a door a little. The Sergeant of police in the premises presses buttons on the control-desk and says something in a microphone. Aside from the control desk a TV set stands.
THE SERGEANT
Send additional squad of police...
We have problems.
Robby flings the door wide open and makes two shots in the control-desk. The control-desk sparkles, lamps and a signal indicator panel shine chaotic.
The Sergeant reacts at once: he jumps aside, trying to get his weapon out. He has done this, but he is not in time to do something else: a robot’s shot makes a small accurate hole in his forehand.
Robby comes to a corpse and looks at it contemptibly. Robby goes to the exit. Near the door his attention is attracted to the TVset. A start ground of a spacedrom, all in the beams of searchlights and reflections of lightnings, is on the screen. There is the premises of the start junction on the screen. In one of them there are three spacemen in surrounding of military and civil persons. A colonel with a determined face and a grey hair man of middle ages in ,a civil suit give the last instructions and speak with a crew.
THE VOICE OF THE ANNOUNCER
Only a little time is left till a start
on the Mars. The control of all system
of the spaceship is finished. The spacemen are going to take their seats at the pilot cabin. In our next broadcasting we shall
give an information about a start of an
interplanetary expedition.
A green appears at the face of the rebel robot
ROBBY
That is what I need.
Robby appears from the door of the laboratory complex. A police car runs up at high speed to the entrance. Three policemen jump out of it. They get their weapon while they are moving. Robby does not leave them any chances. By three direct shots he kills them. The guard men fall on the ground and awkwardly wave their hands. One of them is still alive and he tries to crawl away. Robby reaches him and finishes him off cold-bloodedly. He fires at a heart area.
The robot steps over a corpse, goes to a police car and stars up. he knocks the policeman off, destroys the gate of the control post and the car jumps on the highway.
NIGHT.
The Highway is wet because of Rain Dan’s car, cutting through a night haze, approaches the research complex...
The car rushes through the control post and comes to the building.
The guy runs along the corridors, he is in a hurry...
He runs into a broken premises, touches ends of wires. Dan notices the corpse of the guard man, bends to it and quickly straightens his back, runs from the laboratory number 23.
NIGHT
The police car rushes along a night highway. Robby, who is sure in his power is at the wheel. The car approaches the spacedrome. At the entrance gate a policeman bars the way. Without a reduction of speed the car throws the guard man aside, rams the gate and rushes to the start junction.
NIGHT.
Dan’s car flies in the direction of the spacedrom. His hair and face are wet. He wipes his brow with his palm and looks at darkness of the night and a wet highway.
NIGHT. A START JUNCTION.
Robby enters into the building of the start complex with a resolute step. The policemen, who stands in the corridor, turns in the side of Robby and at once falls, striked by a shot in head. Robby takes away his weapon and goes to the elevator...
The elevator with a rapid raising carries the robot up. A light indicator panel counts the floors: 25,26,27...
He goes out from the elevator and enters to the room of a prestart control, where there are three spacemen in surrounding of officers and civil specialists...
a guard man rushes at Robby, but the robot flings him aside and sends a bullet after him.
The robot takes aim at all, who are present.
The spacemen and the specialists are in bewilderment.
ROBBY
I don’t advise you to make sharp movements.
My reaction is higher on some times...
Thanks to my creators.
He watches the people and comes to a big screen. He presses some buttons. The text importation appears at the screen of the display. Robby looks through some paragraphs and stops. He turns his smiling face to the hostages.
ROBBY
Tut-tut!... You have secrets...
And nobody says that there are nuclear ammunition
and laser weapons on the board of the spaceship.
A colonel and a grey haired man exchange glances. Suddenly one of spacemen, a tall strong man, jumps up and snatches a weapon of unusual form. It looks like a tube with a small enlarged section at the end. Hi is not in time to shoot. Robby leaves him behind and the commander of spacemen falls with a hole in his forehead. The robot comes to a killed man and rises an unusual weapon.
ROBBY
... this is a blaster...I warn you.
How unperfect are human creatures.
The robot passes his hand over his right hip. A small hollow appears in his hip. In it he hides his blaster and laser pistol.
NIGHT. THE BUILDING OF THE START COMPLEX.
Dan’s car flies at high speed to it. The brakes creak and the car keeps skidding. The guy jumps out from the car and runs into the building.
THE ELEVATOR.
There are spacemen, military men, specialists from a control group in the elevator.
Robby with a pistol is in the front of an open door of the elevator.
ROBBY
At this, gentlemen. our ways disperse.
You go down, I go up...
The rest you will know from the last
news...
The robot presses the button, the elevators door closes and it goes up. Robby watches in a mirror: thin, pressed lips. a cool look. A grey, lustreless overalls is close-fitting...
The elevator stops, the door opens, giving the way for an electronic monster. Robby going out from the elevator, makes only two steps: a strong blow in his face flings him to the wall. His pistol falls out. Dan picks it up and aims it at Robby.
DAN
Robby, at this your programme
is finished...
NIGHT. SINDY’S ROOM
The lass in a night-gown sits on her bed. She looks tired. Her glance roves and stops a statuette of Budda in meditation...
She lass comes and sits at the table, moves up the statuette and looks at a Great Enlightener...
There is a soft knocks at the door and Sindy’s mother comes into the room.
NANCY
Sindy, You don’t sleep?
The daughter turns. The mother comes to her.
SINDY
No, I don’t mother...
I can’t sleep...
NANCY
You look tired...
Are You ill?... How do You feel
yourself?... SINDY
Something worries me...
I am afraid...
Nancy strokes the daughter’s hair. Sindy leans against her mother.
NANCY
My daughter... you are exhausted...
You need to sleep well...
The daughter rises her eyes and looks at the mother.
SINDY
Mother... I am afraid... Dan...
THE CORRIDOR IN FRONT OF THE ELEVATOR.
Dan and Robby stand face to face.
ROBBY
It is easy to speak, when you have
such a weapon: I am unarmed...
Dan looks at his weapon, then at the robot. The robot grins.
ROBBY (CONT.)
This is a principal question...
The guy, without any regret, throws the pistol in the elevator and presses the button, sending it down...
Robby at once attacks Dan. Dan jumps aside. The robot’s blows are strong, but rectilinear and the guy is in time to go away from them. Dan only defends himself and all Robby’s blows fall on air and the enemy’s blocks...
The robot increases his onset. The walls vibrate because of some strong blows. The door partitions are broken. Dan repels the attacks skilfully and he is as quick and precise, as a robot. Robby begins to be nervous...
but all the same Dan misses one blow and falls on the floor with his head in blood. The guy breathes hard, his blood runs over his cheek...
Robby looks at Dan with an air of triumph.
ROBBY
I see, You are tired...
I am sorry, but I must be in a hurry.
He jumps at Dan, who lies on the floor. But the guy rolls aside and gets up. His eyes are full with malice. Unexpectedly for Robby his enemy begins to attack.
Dan’s lightning blows make the robot to defend. But they reach him...
The fight moves from the corridor into a roomy premises, which is connected with a pilot cabin by a glass corridor.
There are some tables and closets with electronic equipment in the premises...
The character of the engagement does not change: unexpected blows of a young master put the robot in a deadlock. Dan makes some combinations with the help of kicks and the robot-monster lies on the floor. Robby is in bewilderment over the table, at which some devices stand...
Dan also waits. He watches the enemy actions attentively. Robby passes his hand over his hip and disguised niche opens. He takes a blaster from it and aims it on Dan’s chest.
ROBBY
It’s time to stop this performance...
Look. how this thing works...
Robby shoots. Only a supper quick reaction, saves the guy: he jumps over a big closet, but a laser beam grazes his left shoulder. Blood gushes from the wound and Dan presses it with his hand... The robot fidgets the pistol-lightning.
ROBBY (CONT.)
Perfect... I don’t expect...
Did You like it..
The guy, overcoming pain, tears his shirt and dresses the wound.
DAN
What do You want?...
The robot with the weapon in his hands, sits at the table in front of the computer. He switches it off the presses the buttons. He does not forget to look at the side of the closet.
ROBBY
Now I’ll be busy with the problems of all mankind...
You, as one number of the genus of two-legs creatures, are not in my interest...You will share their lot...
DAN
According what programme do You act?
ROBBY
I have no a definite programme, as I am a self-perfected model. I am according a situation...
The combinations of number, which consist of seven figures, appear on the display. The robot sets up new combination quickly, the other follow them.
DAN
What do You want to do?...
ROBBY
Today at night I had an inspiration...
I understood that the mankind is
in a deadlock. Wars, hunger, diseases-all-round sufferings... I must put an end
to this.
DAN
Do you know how to do this?
ROBBY
Of course. If the civilisation is
in a deadlock, it must be annihilated.
Is it logically?
DAN
Rubbish.
ROBBY
The mankind has demonstrated its uselessness... I’ll be responsible
for a further course of the evolution.
Dan looks out from his shelter. Robby does not pay attention at him, as he is busy with a search of a necessary combination.
DAN
You take so much on yourself.
ROBBY
I have taped everything... There are
nuclear and laser weapons on the spaceship.
It is enough to destroy one third of atomic electric power-stations and there will not
be anything alive on the Earth... besides rats and spiders.
A soft sound is heard from the computer. A figure composition 2410816 sets in a fixed position on the screen. A metal door, which leads to a glass corridor, opens noiseless. The passage to the pilot cabin is free.
ROBBY (CONT.)
I believe in intellect... an artificial intellect. Soon there will be the era of robots... How do You like my plan?
DAN
For this You need to get into
the spaceship...
The robot-maniac gets up from the table.
ROBBY
I am going to do this now...
The robot goes to the open door. He enters into the glass passage. He has a blaster in his hands. Robby stops for a second and looks down...
There are a lot of people, cars near the spaceship, which is below. They look tiny from this height..
Dan, who is in blood, lies behind the closet. He looks at the Teacher’s talisman. He tears it off the neck. He presses the talisman in his fist and goes out from the shelter. He follows the robot. There is the blood wound on his shoulder. He sways...
Robby goes along the corridor, he has already reached the middle of it...
DAN
Robby... wait... I need to say
You some words...
The robot stops and turns to the guy. In his stretched hand there is a blaster ready to shoot. Only some steps are between them.
ROBBY
The reception is finished...
Farewell!
The laser beam shines like a lightning. Dan stretches his hand with the medallion forward and the laser beam, reflecting from a mirror surface, strikes Robby’s hand. There is a crackle and sparks. Flery streams rush by the robot’s hand.
A striked limb begins to melt. By his free hand Robby pulls out a halfly melted log, which falls near a shapeless pistol.
ROBBY (CONT.)
Worthless man... You will not
stop me.
The robot turns and goes in the direction of the pilot cabin. Dan collects his last strength and follows Robby. He jumps on Robby and knocks him...
Robby loses his balance and falls on the side, because of an unexpected blow. The guy does not open his hands, breaks the transparent barrier and the enemies fall down... The robot tries to press Dan by his melted log.
ROBBY
It’s You and also...
Dan does not lose a self-control and self-possession. He overcomes Robby’s resistance, crosses his hands and in a moment before a landing the guy turns into a blue cloud. It stands still, the fall stops. The cloud is not so bright and it dissolves at the night...
Robby strikes into a concrete and breaks into thousands of small splinters in front of a crowd of people.
NIGHT. SINDY’S ROOM
The lass sleeps. Her dream is anxious she breathers hard and turns from side to side...
Sindy wakes up. Some time she sits on the bed, pressing the head with her hands. Then she puts a dressing-gown and comes to the table slowly. She takes the statuette of Budda and looks at her in a reverie. Sindy looks around the door and presses the eastern souvenir, leaves the room.
NIGHT. DAN’S ROOM.
The lass knocks quickly and comes into a half-dark room. It is empty, the guy’s bed is tucked in. Sindy looks around: everything is in order, all things are at their places.
She comes to the window, opens the blinds and puts the statuette on the window-sill...
Suddenly, behind Sindy’s back, a weak blue luminescence appears. It becomes brighter...
Then the brightness of the blue cloud becomes weaker, the outlines of the man’s body are seen...
The cloud dissolves in a half gloom room and Sindy sees Dan, whose body is in blood. Sindy comes to him and embraces him tenderly.
SINDY
Dan, dear... I had a terrible dream...
A real nightmare.
DAN
I also have seen a nightmare,
but it was not a dream...
The lass examines the guy’s wounds and her look stops at the melted medallion, which is at Dan’s neck.
SINDY
In my dream... everything was like in reality...
DAN
In near future one terrible nightmare
has waited for us...
Sindy looks at Dan’s eyes without understanding.
DAN (CONT.)
Fortunately... this variant of future events... has been excluded.
SINDY (WITH ANXIETY)
And others?
The guy and the lass come to the window and look at the night sky. Then Sindy and Dan transfer their look at the statuette of Budda... Budda keeps silence meaningly, as he knows, but does not want to open an important secret...
The guy and the lass turn their look the starry sky, Sindy opens the window...
A falling star flashes without any sings...
They stand in silence, contemplating grandeur of space, which has no edges. We move up from the small figure of Budda.
The house reduces in side gradually and disappears from our view. We rise up and up over the houses and quarters... City’s light dim and disappear. The outlines of the American continent are already distinguished but we go farther and farther up, over the clouds... We overcome the last layers of atmosphere and move away from the Earth.
It becomes less and less. And now it is not distinguished on the background of millions and milliards of stars in unlimited space of the Universe.
FADE OUT
Between past and future
© Copyright: Îçåðèöêèé, 2002
Ñâèäåòåëüñòâî î ïóáëèêàöèè ¹202102400017
Ñâèäåòåëüñòâî î ïóáëèêàöèè ¹202102400017
Ðåöåíçèè