Curse of the Rubyheart - part one

c u r s e O F T H E r U B Y H E A R T - PART ONE

  FADE IN:

  BEFORE MAIN CREDITS:

  INT. THE RHODES MANSION, KITCHEN - NIGHT

  Large, homey and down right ordinary for the legendary Rhodes family. At the kitchen table, HAMP RHODES, famous entrepreneur, inventor and adventurer and his curly blonde haired daughter, JENNY are deeply immersed in a game of Gin.

  HAMP

  Here you go Jenny, just what you've

  been looking for, the Queen of Spades.

  JENNY

  Yeah, right Dad, thanks but no thanks.

  I'll take my chances with the draw.

  ? Jenny draws slowly - so that she can see two cards.

  HAMP

  Jenny, take the top card.

  I once took something that wasn't

  mine and I have always regretted it.

  JENNY

  Okay, I'm sorry. I was just curious.

  HAMP

  Yeah, so was I.

  JENNY

  Let me see, what shall I discard?

  She looks at TUFFY, the ragged teddy bear at her side, picks him up - fingers him nervously.

  HAMP

  Come on butch, give me something good. Like the Ace of Hearts.

  JENNY

  Yeah, I'd bet you'd like another Ace.

  Jenny discards the two of Diamonds. Hamp draws.

  HAMP

  I said something good.

  JENNY

  Admit it Dad, you don't like to loose.

  Dad? Are ever going to re-marry?

  Hamp, with an incredulous look, discards the Queen of Hearts. Jenny jumps up and grabs it.

  JENNY (CONT'D)

  Gin. Gin. Gin. I did it, I did it, We did it, Tuffy

  (Tuffy's eyes twinkle

  I beat you again Poppy. Pay up.

  Hamp counts silently, ruffles the cards and pushes a pile of change to a beaming Jenny.

  JENNY (CONT'D)

  You'd better not be letting me win, Dad. That's just as bad as cheating.

  Jenny weighs the coins in her hands, then carefully drops them into an antique piggy bank. She gloats.

  HAMP

  Hey! Would I do that?

  JENNY

  Dad, your mind's not on the game. You're a million miles away.

  HAMP

  No, just two thousand. I'm leaving real early in the morning. And don't worry. I won't miss your birthday. Tens a big one - I might even have a very special surprise.

  JENNY

  A pony poppy? Please, please, pretty please.

  HAMP

  No! But perhaps better, much better. Jenny - get to school on time. You know how important it is - it's your job to learn.

  JENNY

  Yes poppy. Hug-gy. Please poppy

  (sinking into Hamp's arms)

  MAIN CREDITS ROLL over:

  EXT. BANKS OF the TORRID, SEETHING AMAZON - NIGHT

  SUPER:

  "T H E A M A Z O N, 1 9 5 7"

  A crude bamboo sign that says, "CURSE" Blood drips from the top shrunken heads to the scattered skulls and rotting human remains lacing the sign. Jungle DRUMS begin a slow melodic BEAT, normal jungle SOUNDS BUILD in intensity until you know that nature has been disturbed.

  PULL BACK, THEN SEARCH UP -

  and into the dense foliage. Shadowy, strange creatures move eerily, but quickly. Suddenly -

  TWO SNAKES - form the letters - "OF"_

  Then slither away. Continue the UPWARD SEARCH as patch ? of blue appears through the tree-tops, then a small swatch of red appears in the clear sky. Like a mongoose on a cobra the CAMERA knows it has found what it has been searching for and gives CHASE - up, up - into the blue. Suddenly the red blur stops. EMBLAZONED across THE SUNSET SKY IS THE WORD:

  "RUBYHEART"

  Quickly the Rubyheart morphs into a multifaceted heart-shaped ruby moving quickly, away and over the cloud tops. The CAMERA FOLLOWS. Moving faster, faster, faster till the cotton candy clouds are nothing but a blur.

  But the RUBYHEART is faster. It is not much more than a dot in front of us. It drops down into the clouds - we follow through the mist. Down, down, DOWN! Twisting, turning, a roller coaster ride. Faster, faster - out of the mist. The sea below looms ahead.

  Pull back - brake, brake - barely miss the water, level off - our adrenaline is at its limits. Now, we cruise erratically skimming the water. The Rubyheart waits far ahead, taunting. Give chase again as it moves away.

  EXT. ABOVE A RUSTED FREIGHTER - DAY

  DECK HANDS watch the red Rubyheart approach quickly. It suddenly swerves and cuts a swath through the ships rigging. Narrowly missing the booms and rigging.

  EXT. ON THE RUSTED FREIGHTER - DAY

  DECK HANDS on the tossing ship make signs of the Cross and various voodoo gestures to ward away evil. We watch the ship diminish, then turn 180 degrees to face near collision with other ships on their way to -

  ext. BAHIA BAY - eveNING

  The lights of Bahia twinkle up to meet the evening - backlit by a majestically endless, tropical sunset. We race over the harbor and above the red tiled roofs of the colonial city then down into the busy narrow cobble stoned streets.

  A right turn, a left turn, the Rubyheart is no longer in view - we're lost - another turn -

  EXT. cantina - outside an upper window - EVENING

  The Rubyheart waits then vanishes and moves forward with trepidation.

  EXT. BELOW THE CANTINA - eVENING

  Four MISSIONARIES, led by a demure and feisty woman, picket the Cantina AD LIB moral fortitudes to all who dare enter. We enter the smoky, poorly lit and tattered room through window.

  INT. ROOM ABOVE THE CANTINA - eVENING

  At the bar, JOSE the barkeeper, battles a pesky fly with a swatter. Behind him a BALD MAN flirts with the pretty, dark, curvaceous CANTINA GIRL.

  The bald man lifts his drink as the fly lands on his head. Jose swats it, the choking bald man falls backward into a large spittoon which splatters onto some of the legs under a poker table. A fat foot kicks him in the jaw.

  BALD MAN

  I'm sorry, Cajon. Lo siento

  A half dozen rough men including Hampton Rhodes sit under a naked bulb playing poker on a battered table. The stakes are high, anxiety is thick. The Cantina Girl takes orders as AD LIB bidding continues.

  POKER PLAYER 1

  I hear, big things are happening in the deep jungle. They say that an ancient god is returning. Know anything about it?

  CAJON's face shows he knows something about it.

  poker player 2

  Naw, I just want this babe, here.

  He reaches out for her but she squirms away and into the arms of Cajon, a pox marked ugly short, fat man, smoking an ugly short, fat cigar. Cajon pats her on the rump. Knowing where her bread is buttered she moves away flirtatiously.

  CANTINA GIRL

  You wouldn't know what to do with

  me IF you had me.

  (Cajon reaches for her again)

  I said If.

  Cajon lifts a fistful of money. The Cantina girl shakes her head, takes a small bill and leaves the change.

  CANTINA GIRL (CONT'D)

  No, No. But maybe I'll fix you up with one of my friends.

  (under her breath)

  She lives in a tree.

  Hamp sleepless, unshaven and disheveled, leans back and studies his three Queens. He scrutinizes the others. They're crusty - Cajon, a one eyed BANDIT, a cantankerous FRIAR, a weathered PROSPECTOR and a greasy bureaucratic SLEAZE. All eyes wait for Hamp. He pushes a pile of cash into the larger pot.

  HAMP

  I'll rais
e.

  VIGNETTE the player's reactions - squirming and re-examining their cards. The prospector reluctantly places a nugget on the table and looks to Hamp. He nods approval. The Friar puts an jeweled cross on the pile and Hamp nods. Cajon mumbles an AD LIB to a dark HENCHMAN standing behind him. The room quickly QUIETS as he pulls a ladies DERRINGER - from his coat. Everyone, but Hamp, pushes away from the table. El Cajon's fearful reputation is written on their faces. Cajon's HENCHMEN speaks for him as he twirls the pistola.

  HENCHMAN

  (broken)????? )

  Senor, If you would be so kind, my

  friend would like to use this

  pistola - as you yanks say pistol, to raise - to call your hand.

  A straight jawed Hamp, nods approval. El Cajon holds the gun out. It is - ENGRAVED - B. J. R. He drops it with a THUD into the pile of money and chips.

  HENCHMAN (V.O.) (CONT'D)

  Senor, I'm sure you will find it

  of great value.

  Blood drains from Hamp's face. He is oblivious as the doors BLOW open. Hamp grabs the gun and fingers it gently. The missionaries charge into the room waving their bibles.

  They surround the card players and are led let by the demure MISSIONARY LADY from the street below.

  MISSIONARY LADY

  Brothers let us pray for these heathen devil worshipers from the jungle. The devil. The devil Arn or whatever has led them into sin. God have mercy on their souls. Let us pray.

  El Cajon rises, pushing his nose into the Missionary's face.

  EL CAJON

  (subtitles /Portuguese)

  You witch, you have destroyed our

  game. You are tempting my god, who

  is more powerful than yours.

  I suggest you leave now.

  While you still have a chance.

  El Cajon's men wait for his sign.

  MISSIONARY LADY

  There is only one God, Cajon.

  Now he walks in righteous anger.

  The Missionary Lady nods. The other Missionaries topple the poker table. Hamp struggles to get to Cajon but he is blocked by other Missionaries and on-lookers.

  MISSIONARY LADY (CONT'D)

  And who is this god, sinner?

  EL CAJON

  Arnath.

  (he spits in her face)

  Arnath, el mejor de todo mundo

  The name of Arnath silences the room. The Friar makes the sign of the cross.