Transcript for “The Journey Begins” (Part 1 of 2)
Episode 1x01
Originally Aired:  04/03/99
Writer:  Jim Henshaw & Peter Mohan
Director:  Richard Franklin
Transcribed by Carol Murdock for TWIZ TV.com

[Note: William de Vry plays Ned Malone in this episode]

[Scene:  Nighttime - William Maple-White is running through the jungle in a 
raging storm.  He’s being chased.  He falls and drops two templates.  
Something drags him into the bush.]

***Start Intro***
At the dawn of the century
A band of adventures set out to prove the impossible
The existence of a prehistoric world
The Visionary
The Heiress
The Hunter
The Scientist
And the Reporter
All chasing the story of a lifetime
Stranded in a savage land
Befriended by an untamed beauty
Together they fight to survive
In this amazing world of lost civilizations and terrifying creatures
Always searching for a way home
A way out of……the Lost World
***End Intro***

[Scene:  A Camp]

Challenger:  What’s all the commotion about Kappakochu?

Kappakochu:  The chief said they have found a man tonight; a white man.

Challenger:  A white man here? [They enter the hut.  Maple-White is badly 
injured] Who is he; where did he come from?

[Kappakochu questions a native man in his own language.]

Kappakochu:  He does not know.  The man stumbled into the village and 
collapsed.  They could not help him but thought you might know how.

Challenger:  Massive infection.  The only one to help him now is his maker.  
Tell them to get water we’ll make what little time he has left as 
comfortable as possible.

Maple-White:  My journal.

Challenger:  The bag.

Maple-White:  Please show them.

[Maple-White dies.  Challenger looks through Maple-White’s journals.  The 
natives in the hut pray.]

Challenger:  Tell me what are they so afraid of?

Kappakochu:  He says the man visited the other world.  He went where living 
men are not meant to go.

Challenger:  Now you’re talking my language [looks through the journal] Mr. 
Maple-White seemed like a damn fine scientist.  He could have told us a lot 
about this land.  What else is in that pack?  [They go through the pack] The 
plates there.

[Challenger holds the plate up to the light.  An image of a Pterodactyl is 
on it.  The native men become agitated.]

Challenger:  What are they saying?

Kappakochu:  The devil spirit.

Challenger:  Devil spirit…indeed.

[Fade out]

[Scene:  Night time - The London Zoological Society auditorium.]

Challenger:  Once again I am shocked.  Night after night I listen to my 
esteemed colleagues pass judgment on the permanence of certain animals upon 
the earth.  Because our Dr. Summerlee has never seen a so called prehistoric 
animal he assumes do not cannot insist.  If he had never been to North 
America I’m sure he would still hold that the world is flat.

[Scene:  Marguerite is walking along a foggy London street; a man is 
watching her from the shadows.]

[Scene:  The auditorium.]

Challenger:  I speak here of creatures who could hunt down and devour the 
fiercest of present day predators as if this they were lambs.

Summerlee:  Professor Challenger You can hardly expect a room full of top 
flight scholars to share your demented fantasies.

Challenger:  Still I feel compelled to share my findings with you ungrateful 
swine that you prove to be.

[Scene:  Marguerite turns a corner aware she is being followed.  The man 
follows; Marguerite appears behind him.]

Marguerite:  Do I know you?

[The man pulls a pistol.]

Man:  No.

Marguerite:  But you know me.

Man:  Does it matter?

Marguerite:  Just wondering if it’s business or personal?

Man:  To the Field Marshal it’s very personal; to me it’s only business.

Marguerite:  Good then we can negotiate.

Man:  Sadly that would be bad business.

Marguerite:  Oh I see. [Marguerite fires her pistol killing the man] Pity

[Scene:  The auditorium]

Challenger:  Gentlemen your proof of my contentions.

[Challenger projects Maple-White’s plate on the screen.  The room laughs.]

Summerlee:  A Pterodactyl?

Challenger:  That’s right a Pterodactyl.  Long held to be extinct since the 
Mesozoic Era but here visible in the photograph taken not more than six 
months ago.

Summerlee:  Professor you must surely know that fraudulent photographs are 
not unheard of.  The scientific process demands more substantial 
confirmation.

Challenger:  Precisely sir precisely.  That is why I propose that several of 
you good gentleman join me on a mission to put my claims to the test.  What 
about you Dr. Summerlee.  Do you have the courage of your convictions or is 
that merely the reserve of true scientists?

Man sitting behind Summerlee:  Come man, for the honor of the society.

Summerlee:  Very well I’ll do it.

Challenger:  Who else……who else will volunteer?

Roxton:  I will.

Challenger:  And you are?

Roxton:  Lord John Roxton sir - I’ve already been up the Amazon and have 
special qualifications for the expedition.

Challenger:  Lord Roxton’s reputation as an adventurer is world famous.  We 
would be honored to have you sir - anybody else?

Malone:  Ned Malone sir, International Herald Tribune.  I have experience as 
a war correspondent and would serve as an unprejudiced witness.

Challenger:  You are an American?

Malone:  Yes sir.

Challenger:  Well we won’t hold that against you welcome aboard.

Summerlee:  And just how do you propose to fund this wild goose chase?

Challenger:  Well naturally given the evidence I’ve supplied you with today 
I assumed the society would pick up the expense.

Summerlee:  You assumed sir.  This society does not have the resources.  I’m 
afraid this fairy tale expedition is out of the question.

Marguerite:  I will provide funding. [Marguerite enters the auditorium] My 
name is Marguerite Krux.  I offer whatever resources are required to fund 
the mission.

Summerlee:  Madam - do you have any idea just how much such an expedition 
might cost?

Marguerite:  My resources are not limited the funds shall be placed in a 
bond by tomorrow afternoon.

[Marguerite exits the auditorium.]

Challenger:  It’s done then.  You will have your proof by years end and the 
world……the world will be amazed.

[Scene:  The group is canoeing down the Amazon they are split up in 
different canoes – Roxton/Marguerite – Challenger/Summerlee/Kappakochu – 
Malone.]

Roxton:  At it already Malone?  Shouldn’t think there was anything to write 
about yet.

Malone:  My editor’s demanding a blow by blow account.  This, my friend, is 
all color.

[Marguerite, in front of Roxton in the canoe, takes off her shirt wearing a 
lace camisole underneath.]

Roxton:  I see what you mean.

Summerlee:  Do you know this stretch of river well?

Kappakochu:  Nobody knows this section of the river.  Nobody but me would be 
stupid enough to bring up a party here.

Summerlee:  Why is that so stupid?

Kappakochu:  I thought you knew Dr. Summerlee - it’s cursed.  I owed a 
gambling debt to Manaos.  If I hadn’t accepted Professor Challenger’s offer 
I would probably be dead by now.  This way I suppose I have a fighting 
chance.

Roxton:  So when are you going to tell us the real reason you funded this 
expedition?

Marguerite:  I funded it, what does it matter?

Roxton:  I know the reasons the others are here:  For Challenger it’s a 
quest for knowledge; Summerlee pride; Malone’s looking for the story of the 
century and I’m sure you know why I’m here.

Marguerite:  To irritate and bore?

Roxton:  Really, what are you after?

Marguerite:  Maybe I have a passion for adventure too.

Roxton:  Begging your pardon ma’am but you’re as cold a customer as ever 
I’ve seen.  You’re after something else.

Marguerite:  A gentleman’s duty is to believe what a lady tells him.

Roxton:  Don’t let the title fool you.  I’m as far from being a gentleman as 
you are from being a lady.

Summerlee:  Surely you don’t believe in curses do you?

Kappakochu:  No man who’s gone where we’re going has ever survived; that 
much I know.  It could be a curse or it could be as plain as a blow pipe 
arrow to the neck and your shrunken head added to the collection.  Either 
way dead is dead.

Challenger:  That’s enough for today.  Let’s make camp before it gets dark.

Summerlee:  What did I get myself into?

Challenger:  Did you say something Doctor?

Summerlee:  Nothing…..nothing at all.

[Fade out]

[Scene:  Camp]

Challenger:  All right everybody gather around and I’ll show you our route 
for tomorrow.  Now judging from our position this afternoon we’re here.  
We’ll take this left fork here to here if we make good time shouldn’t be 
more than a day’s travel.

Summerlee:  Not a moment too soon for me.

Malone:  I don’t want to burst your bubble Doctor but I have a feeling 
that’s when the real adventure begins.

Roxton:  Where’s Miss Krux?

Summerlee:  She said she was going for a walk.  In that direction I think.

Roxton:  She shouldn’t be out there alone.

Challenger:  That’s what I told her you can imagine her response.

[Scene:  Marguerite is bathing in the lake.  Roxton approaches and sees her 
clothes hanging on bushes.  He uses the barrel of his rifle and picks up her 
white lace camisole.  Waving it like a flag of surrender.]

Marguerite:  What are you doing here?

Roxton:  A beautiful woman should not bathe alone.  No telling what kind of 
dangers she might run into out here.

Marguerite:  Danger?  You’re the only thing I have to worry about. Sneaking 
around in the bushes like some Peeping Tom.

Roxton:  Madam you flatter yourself.

Marguerite:  Go find yourself some native girl to give you your cheap 
thrills.  I demand you leave this instant.

[Roxton pulls his rifle and aims behind her]

Roxton:  Miss Krux get out of the water, quickly!

Marguerite:  Not until you turn your back and lower you gun.

Roxton:  Miss Krux, if I have to ask you one more time I’m going to shoot 
you and save you the pain of being eaten alive by that crocodile!

Marguerite:  For your information there are no crocodiles in the Amazon.  
They’re an indigenous reptile that are similar to a crocodile it’s called a 
Caiman.

[The Caiman swims toward Marguerite.  She swims to shore and Roxton jumps in 
the lake on top of the Caiman.]

Roxton:  Behind you!

[Roxton is fighting the Caiman in the water.  Marguerite takes the rifle and 
shoots the Caiman it sinks to the bottom leaving a pool of blood.  Roxton 
surfaces - Marguerite ducks behind the bushes and dresses.]

Roxton:  What did you do that for?

Marguerite:  He was about to eat you.

Roxton:  For your information I was toying with him.

Marguerite:  And by the looks of it you made a fine chew toy.  How long were 
you watching me?

Roxton:  So is that how you thank me.

Marguerite:  Thank you.  Who killed the beast?

Roxton:  Why you ungrateful little……you’re bleeding.

Marguerite:  It’s nothing I slipped.

[Roxton bends down to check the scrape on her leg.]

Roxton:  It needs to be cleaned.  You shouldn’t walk on it.

[Roxton sweeps Marguerite in his arms.]

Marguerite:  Lord Roxton put me down! [bangs on his chest] I said put me 
down!

[Roxton dumps Marguerite on the ground.]

Roxton:  Whatever you say.

[Scene:  The expedition is back in canoes on the river.  They hear drums in 
the distance.]

Summerlee:  What is that?

Challenger:  Jungle telegraph.

Malone:  Do you understand it?

Challenger:  A smattering, something about food - seems like a menu.  You 
catch any more?

Kappakochu:  A little, their description of Roxton was not flattering found 
him stringy but be flattered Professor you’re the main course.

Challenger:  Keep your rifle at hand Roxton.

Roxton:  It never left.

[A native is watching the group pass by in the river.  The group comes to 
shore and unpack the canoes.]

Challenger:  Come on time to move.

[They make their way along the trail.  They come to a clearing with a 
mountain range in the distance.]

Challenger:  This is it.

Marguerite:  You’ve found the plateau?

Challenger:  Yeah I’m sure of it.

Summerlee:  All we found is an escarpment I don’t see any plateau.

Challenger:  And what do you think is beyond those clouds Doctor?

Summerlee:  More rock.

Challenger:  I had hoped that proving your scientific knowledge to be 
nothing more then rank amateurism would have been enough.  But no, obviously 
something more physical is necessary to curb your negative attitude.

Roxton:  Gentlemen that’s enough.  When we get back to England you can kill 
each other then.

Summerlee:  If we get back to England.

Malone:  Professor - excuse me but we should get the balloon assembled and 
inflated if we want to ascend in the morning.

Challenger:  All right lets make camp.  Let’s get to work there’s a lot more 
to do before we sleep.

[The drums start up again Challenger leans to Summerlee.]

Challenger:  Consider that motivation not to dilly-dally.

Roxton:  Mood music.

[Fade out]

[Scene:  Nighttime at the camp – Malone is getting the balloon ready.]

Marguerite:  What’s that?

Malone:  Sulfuric acid - it reacts with the iron filings to produce the 
hydrogen that floats the balloon.

Marguerite:  I’ll believe that when I see it.

[Summerlee, Roxton and Challenger are sitting around the campfire when 
Marguerite approaches.  Challenger is playing with a few twigs contemplating 
what looks like a helicopter propeller.]

Summerlee:  Now I know you’ve gone mad; an airplane without wings that 
ascends vertically.

Challenger:  Think about it Doctor a rotating wing slicing through the air 
providing uplift just like a fixed wing.  It will retire the balloon 
outright.

Marguerite:  I’d put my money behind.

Summerlee:  Good money after bad.

[Scene:  Morning – Challenger, Roxton and Malone are loading the balloon.]

Challenger:  Get Summerlee to wake the bearers.

Roxton:  Summerlee! Wake the bearers we need help packing the balloon.

Summerlee:  Morning gentlemen rise and shine your services are needed.  
Hello?  Have you seen the bearers?

Marguerite:  There’s one over there.

Summerlee:  You…you sir we need to be off.  I spoke to you sir the least you 
could do is reply.

[The bearer has his back to Summerlee and leaning against a tree.  Summerlee 
walks in front of him and sees a spear sticking out of the man; he is dead.  
Summerlee looks around him and sees all the bearers’ dead.]

Summerlee:  Dead the bearers their all dead.

Challenger:  Get anything else that’s essential into the balloon, we’re 
leaving.

[Natives enter the camp and attack.]

Summerlee:  Run for your life Miss Krux!

[Kappakochu is killed.  The natives are hitting the balloon, as it ascends, 
with blow darts and spears.  Malone barely makes it into the balloon.]

Roxton:  Close call Malone.

Challenger:  Were out of range now.

Malone:  Does this change your opinion about ballooning Doctor?

Summerlee:  It has its uses.

[The balloon drifts into the mountains.  The balloon begins to jerk.]

Marguerite:  What in God’s name is that?

Challenger:  Up draft.

Malone:  I’ve never seen anything like it Professor.

Challenger:  Secure what you can.

[The balloon drifts into a violent storm.]

Malone:  Hold on tight!

Summerlee:  Help!

Challenger:  It’s taking us into the storm cell!

[Suddenly everything is calm.]

Summerlee:  Thank God that’s over.

[The balloon drifts through a fog.  The balloon strikes something; everyone 
wakes up on the ground.  Malone is hanging upside down tangled in the ropes 
of the balloon.]

Challenger:  Miss Krux - Summerlee – Malone!

Malone:  Right here.

Summerlee:  I’m alive.  I’m alive.

Marguerite:  Figures you’d land on top of me.

Roxton:  I must say you broke my fall quite nicely.

[An ape-man watches from a distance.]

Summerlee:  Over fifty flights without a scratch aye.

[Summerlee looks at the scratch on Malone’s arm.]

Challenger:  Can’t believe we all pulled through.

Marguerite:  The balloon didn’t fare so well.

Malone:  Most of the fabrics intact but she’ll need a complete re-rigging.

Roxton:  It doesn’t matter we wouldn’t survive another trip through that up 
draft.

Challenger:  We’ll assemble what we can the rest we’ll leave until we’ve 
made camp.  Well come on, lets get to it we’ve got a whole world to explore.

[Malone discovers a mimic plant, the flowers echo his whistling.  Vines 
reach out and wrap around his neck and arms.  The vines pull him off the 
ground.  Malone calls out for Challenger and Roxton.  Before they get to him 
Veronica swings by and cuts Malone loose.  The others come running.]

Roxton:  Are you alright Malone?

Malone:  Yeah I’m fine.

Challenger:  Who is she?

Malone:  I don’t know but she just saved my life.

Summerlee:  Stay away from her she may be dangerous.

Challenger:  She could be the key to cracking the mysteries of this land.  
We must communicate with her.

Summerlee:  Why don’t you offer her some food that’ll get her to trust us.

[Malone holds out some food and shows Veronica how to eat it.  Veronica 
takes a whiff and shies away.]

Challenger:  Leave this to me I’ve had vast experience with underdeveloped 
races.  We come from many moons.  Me – friend - Challenger – you.

Summerlee:  Good Lord man this isn’t Edgar Rice Burrows you don’t expect her 
to understand English do you?

Veronica:  Well my French is a little rusty but I’m willing to give it a 
try.  Allow me to introduce myself my name is Veronica.

Summerlee:  Delighted to meet you Miss Veronica.

[Scene:  They follow Veronica along the trail.]

Veronica:  It’s a long way yet Professor.

Summerlee:  Fascinating.

Malone:  Professor look at this.

[Malone sees a dinosaur hoof print in the ground.]

Challenger:  What does this say to you Summerlee?

Summerlee:  It says a large animal passed this way recently.

Challenger:  Large animal - what large animal has that span?  It’s a 
dinosaur Summerlee a dinosaur.

[Roxton, Malone and Summerlee take a rest on a nearby rock; while Challenger 
measures the print.]

Roxton:  Gentlemen if you’ll excuse me I’ve heard this little ditty before.  
All I know is there’s nothing to see; more important nothing to shoot.

Summerlee:  Dinosaur indeed, just as I suspected this whole ridiculous 
expedition is nothing more than a waste of time.

[The rock under Summerlee moves.  It’s the tail of a brontosaurus.]

Challenger:  Malone I need the camera.  [Challenger lowers Roxton’s rifle]  
No don’t shoot.  I promised you dinosaurs didn’t I Summerlee.

Summerlee:  Indeed you did.

[They watch in amazement as dinosaurs roam through the open valley.]

[Fade out]

[Scene:  Veronica leading the group to her treehouse.]

Challenger:  Now that’s what I call a treehouse.

Roxton:  Yes a sanctuary from the reptiles.

Marguerite:  How do we get up?

Veronica:  Well on the elevator of course.

Malone:  I don’t see an elevator.

Roxton:  How does it work?

Veronica:  On simple counterweight principles.  Water’s collected from the 
rainforest canopy then released into and out of the log.

Challenger:  Ingenious

Summerlee:  Thomas Edison would be green with envy.

[Scene:  Inside the treehouse - Veronica, Challenger, Summerlee and Roxton 
step off the elevator into the common room.  Veronica collects their hats 
and packs.]

Veronica:  I’ll take that.

Summerlee:  Oh thank you.  Oh it’s wonderful everything a scientist could 
possible need.

Marguerite [voice from the ground] Hey how about us?

Challenger:  Have you ever seen the likes of this?

Roxton:  Never

Veronica:  I’ll be right down.

Marguerite:  Don’t worry about me.

[Scene:  Veronica is giving the explorers a tour.]

Veronica:  This is where I live.

Malone:  You built this?

Veronica:  So what do you think Professor?

Challenger:  It’s stupendous - finding an outpost of civilization in the 
middle of this wilderness.  It’s Incredible

Veronica:  My parent’s party built it themselves.  [Veronica pulls down a 
picture of the Layton party]  That’s my mother pregnant with me at the time. 
  That’s my father.

Summerlee:  Are we going to meet them?

[Veronica readies some tea.]

Veronica:  They’re not here.  They went out to collect samples.

Challenger:  When do you expect them back?

Veronica:  I don’t know.  They’re missing.

Malone:  How long have they been missing?

Veronica:  Eleven years.

Roxton:  Eleven years?  Eleven years in the jungle and you think they’re 
still alive?

Veronica:  You have no idea where you are do you?  They could be out 
there…anywhere trying to find their way back home.

Marguerite:  What about the others; the rest of your parent’s party?

Veronica:  They’re all dead.  I know that for a fact.  No one escapes the 
ape-men.

Challenger:  The ape-men?

[Later]

Veronica:  Is that why you’re here a zoological expedition?

Challenger:  We’re here to find a rare specimen.  Perhaps you’ve seen 
something like it? [Challenger shows Veronica a picture of a T-Rex]  Vicious 
creature isn’t he?

Veronica:  Forget your science; forget your ambition; forget whatever 
brought you here.  Where these beasts are is not a place where you want to 
go.

Roxton:  That’s exactly where I want to go.

Veronica:  I’ll show you how to make contact with the Zanga Indians.  Some 
say they know of caves which travel down to your world.  You had better take 
me up on my offer before anything else can happen.

Roxton:  We have company.

Veronica:  No don’t shoot.  If you’re looking for reasons to use your 
weapons; you’ll have plenty where you’re planning on going.  You don’t have 
to shoot my friends.

[Assai enters the treehouse. Veronica greets her with a kiss on both cheeks]

[Scene:  Nighttime - Summerlee, Challenger and Malone are listening to music 
- relaxing.  Veronica and Assai are standing by the gramophone.]

Veronica:  Dr. Summerlee, Chopin one of my father’s favorites.

Summerlee:  “Opus 10 Etude in E major” wonderful, a little culture in this 
barbaric land thank you my dear.

[Scene:  Marguerite is looking at gems through a magnifying glass on the 
lower level.  Roxton approaches.]

Roxton:  Miss Krux - nice isn’t it?  You’d hardly believe you’re in a 
primeval jungle on the rooftop of the world.

Marguerite:  I believe it.

Roxton:  When are you going to come clean and tell me why you’re really 
here?  You’re no geologist.

Marguerite:  Why does it matter so much to you?

Roxton:  Because the little voice inside keeps telling me, for the good of 
party, I should throw you to the wolves first chance I get.

Marguerite:  So why don’t you?

Roxton:  Because another voice tells me you only meet a woman made of fire 
and steel once in a blue moon.  And you don’t want to waste her when she’s 
in your hands.

[Marguerite and Roxton kiss.  Roxton pulls back when Marguerite bites him on 
the lip.]

Marguerite:  I am not in your hands Lord Roxton and any time you wish to 
throw me to the wolves I suggest you try.  You might be surprised which one 
of us gets eaten.

[A bell rings and Marguerite makes her way to the upper level.]

Roxton:  Yes well I always say anything that isn’t worth shedding a little 
blood over, isn’t worth the getting.

[Everyone’s in the common room.]

Challenger:  Alright everybody gather round I’ve come to a decision.  We 
came here to prove a theory, ape-men or not, I intend to do just that.  
Anybody who doesn’t want to come I’ll understand.  But I’m leaving first 
thing in the morning.

Roxton:  We’ve come a long way for this hunt and I’m not going back with out 
a trophy.

Marguerite:  Wherever my money goes I go.

Malone:  I’ve still got a story to write.

Challenger:  Summerlee?  Do you have the stuffing to come with us?

Summerlee:  I’ll see this through.

Challenger:  Splendid - Mr. Malone you re-jig the balloon it may prove 
useful.

[Scene:  Morning – The balloon is floating along the plateau.  Malone and 
Challenger are inside.  Challenger is taking pictures of the dinosaurs 
roaming along the landscape.]

Challenger:  Steady Malone we don’t want to blow the image.

Malone:  Do you prefer I set down amongst them?

Challenger:  Let’s find another one.

Malone:  Professor you’ve used almost all your plates in one day.  Maybe 
you’d like to save the rest for another day.

Challenger:  Science doesn’t wait on tomorrow my lad; another specimen over 
there.

[Scene:  Summerlee and Veronica are sitting outside in the jungle, he has a 
reference book open she is sharpening her knife.]

Summerlee:  Dinosaurs I still can’t believe it.

Veronica:  I’ve kind of gotten used to them actually.

[A large bug is crawling on the tree branch behind them.]

Summerlee:  You know you constantly amaze me Miss Veronica.  A member of the 
fairer sex especially   as one as cultured as you to have survived so long 
in this primitive environment is absolutely amazing.

[Veronica takes her knife and kills the giant bug behind them.]

Veronica:  You’ve got to watch these they’ve got sulfuric acid for blood.  
Luckily they’re pretty slow.

[Scene:  Roxton is hunting.]

Roxton:  Come out come out wherever you are [A raptor charges him and Roxton 
shoots it]There that wasn’t so hard [A T-Rex comes up behind Roxton.  Roxton 
shoots at it but the bullets don’t faze the T-Rex.  Roxton runs] A lot of 
good this will do me.

[Fade out]

[Scene - Marguerite is doing laundry outside as Roxton approaches.]

Marguerite:  Don’t you look like the cat that swallowed the canary.

Roxton:  You know if you turn that around it might actually apply.

Marguerite:  You’re making even less sense than usual Roxton.

Roxton:  I’ve just been out hunting.

Marguerite:  I recognize the look.  Kill anything interesting?

[Roxton grabs an apple.]

Roxton:  Yes a small dinosaur.

Marguerite:  How brave of you.

Roxton:  I think he wanted to eat me.

Marguerite:  No accounting for taste.  So where’s your trophy?

Roxton:  Probably in the belly of a T-Rex.

Marguerite:  This gets even better.  You actually saw a T-Rex.

Roxton:  Oh yes, he was magnificent.  He must have chased me for at least 
three miles before I lost him.

Marguerite:  But you’re certain you lost him?

Roxton:  Oh yes.

[They hear rustling in the jungle.]

Marguerite:  I’ll finish this later.

Roxton:  Good idea.

[They run back to the treehouse.]

[Scene:  Nighttime – The treehouse.]

Summerlee:  It’s time we got home and showed it to the world.

Marguerite:  You’re been premature.  Some of us haven’t been fortunate 
enough to realize our goals yet.  I have only Assai’s stones to indicate the 
geological potential here.  And they’re useless unless we discover where 
they came from.

Summerlee:  There are those who place a higher value on knowledge then 
jewelry.

Marguerite:  And most of them are flat broke.

Malone:  Listen we already have more evidence then a balloon can carry - 
unless you want to risk it.

Marguerite:  Professor?

Challenger:  I’m afraid he’s right Miss Krux - makes no sense collecting 
data we can’t transport.

Roxton:  So how do we get down?  There’s a better than even chance that with 
those winds the balloon won’t make it.

Challenger:  If we came to an understanding with chief Jacoba would he lead 
us down through the caves?

Assai:  My father does not trust outsiders.

Summerlee:  But surely there is something we can offer him.

Assai:  There’s only one thing here he wants.

Malone:  Well we’ll find the caves ourselves.

Marguerite:  Perhaps if he spoke to an outsider [she begins speaking to 
Assai in the Zanga language]

Assai:  Not bad.

Marguerite:  Your language isn’t that difficult.  The most important thing 
is to convince him he has nothing to fear from us.

Assai:  I’ll take you to him in the morning.

Challenger:  Splendid – Hey Doctor you and Mr. Malone accompany Marguerite.

Roxton:  I think I should go things could get out of hand.

Challenger:  This is a diplomatic envoy John besides I need you and Veronica 
elsewhere.  There is one more item we need to collect.

[Scene:  Daytime – The jungle.]

Roxton:  Steal a dinosaur egg and carry it though a jungle full of 
predators?  You’re out of your mind.

Challenger:  John no matter how many photographs we have there will always 
be some naysayer crying fake.  Proof like this nobody can question us, 
especially once it hatches.

Roxton:  Hatches - in England?

Challenger:  With luck long before that; so it’s acquired a suitably 
impressive size before our arrival.  Think about it John, the whole of 
London laid out at your feet.  A man of the hour - Lord John Roxton hunter 
of the biggest game that ever lived.

Roxton:  Can it be done?

Challenger:  You tell him Veronica only one reptile nests at this altitude.

Veronica:  Well a Pterodactyl. They hunt by daylight.

Challenger:  And by nightfall we’ll be back at Veronica’s residence toasting 
our success.  What do you say?

Roxton:  All right - let’s do it then.

[Scene:  Assai is leading Summerlee, Malone and Marguerite to the Zanga 
village.  They pass skeletons strung up on trees.]

Summerlee:  Great Jehovah!

Assai:  Shhh we mention no Gods but Atunga here - he rules our dead

[Scene:  High atop a cliff near a waterfall lays a Pterodactyl nest.]

Challenger:  You can make it up the left face it won’t take any time at all.

Roxton:  One Pterodactyl egg coming up.

Veronica:  Be careful.

Challenger:  Don’t worry he’ll be fine.

[Roxton climes up the cliff and steps into the nest.]

Challenger:  Well done Roxton.

[Roxton grabs the egg.  A Pterodactyl hovers behind Roxton.  The Pterodactyl 
flies up in the air and makes a few passes at Roxton trying to grab him.  
Roxton tumbles back and nearly falls off the cliff.  The Pterodactyl flies 
at Roxton.]

To be continued……