Transcript for “Cave of Fear” Episode 1x05 Originally Aired: 10/16/99 Writer: Alison Lea Bingeman Director: Catherine Millar Transcribed by Carol Murdock for TWIZ TV.com [Scene: The jungle – Malone is gathering twigs when he spots Veronica bathing under the waterfall. Later Challenger, Malone and Veronica are walking down a trail. They stop when they come across a sign.] Veronica: It’s a taboo sign - a warning [Challenger walks past the sign] Whoa…whoa - you can’t go in there. Challenger: Don’t be absurd. We’ve spent days trying to find a sulfur spring. Malone: Maybe we can find another one. Challenger: We don’t have time without sulfur we have no gunpowder. We’ll just have to risk it. Veronica: I’m trying to keep us alive. Challenger: As am I. Veronica: Stay close and keep your eyes open. Malone: You heard the lady. [They find the spring.] Challenger: Excellent, ripe with deposits. [They are startled by a sound from the jungle.] Malone: That sounded almost human. [They continue working getting the sulfur when Challenger pulls on a vine a body wrapped in cloth falls on top of him.] Challenger: Get this thing off me. Veronica: This is a burial ground. We’re getting out of here now. Challenger: It’s ingenious. The sulfur stench masks the smell of decaying corpses and keeps the scavengers at bay. Veronica: Yeah, we’ll all be corpses if we don’t get out of here. [They are attacked by Manuins. Challenger is surrounded, Veronica and Malone escape.] **** Begin 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: The treehouse – Veronica and Malone are getting the others to go help Challenger.] Marguerite: For God sake Roxton the man is dead. Roxton: We don’t know that. Marguerite: I hardly think they were planning to throw him a party. Veronica: I should have stopped him. Malone: You tried. Summerlee: Stubborn fool - to the last. Roxton: When I signed on to this expedition; I told Challenger I’d follow him to hell and back. And I intend to do just that. Summerlee: John he may well be gone. Roxton: Then I’ll bring back his body and bury him. Summerlee: Well, we best get going then we’ve got a lot of ground to cover before dark. Marguerite: He better be dead or I’ll kill him myself. [Scene: The jungle – The group is walking along a trail. Summerlee is getting out of breath.] Malone: You okay? Summerlee: I’m alright I just need a moment to catch my breath. Veronica: We’re there. [They walk into a village. They find a caldron filled with liquid; bones are floating in it.] Malone: I hope that’s not Challenger. Veronica: Doesn’t smell human. Roxton: Where is everybody? Summerlee: Maybe they’re not expecting a rescue party. Marguerite: Maybe it’s a trap. Roxton: Only one way to find out. [They enter the compound. The gate opens and they cautiously enter the main hut where Challenger is waiting.] Challenger: You see my dear, I told you they would come for me. Lord John Roxton may I have the pleasure of introducing Lady Cassandra Yorkton. Lady Yorkton: I assume you’ll be staying for dinner. [Scene: Everyone sitting on the floor around the table for dinner; surrounded by the Manuins.] Roxton: You certainly throw an interesting dinner party Lady Yorkton. Lady Yorkton: Well, ten seasons in London society taught me a trick or two. Marguerite: Your footmen would certainly make a splash. Summerlee: Oh no more, thank you very much. It’s all been simply delicious. Challenger: So tell us Cassandra how does the infamous Lady Yorkton end up? Lady Yorkton: Building a menu among lizards and grubs? Marguerite: Close enough. Lady Yorkton: I made the mistake of getting married. Marguerite: Lord Alfred Lapprand. Roxton: The explorer? Lady Yorkton: Twelve years ago we mounted an expedition to the Amazon. It was grueling – deadly, we lost our guides we would never have survived if it weren’t for the Manuins. Malone: Where’s your husband now? Lady Yorkton: He’s dead. Come, a toast to old friends and new ones. [They all raise their drinks.] All: To old and new. Challenger: This has been a delightful evening and I am reluctant to be the one to end it, but it is late and we must be leaving at first light. [Challenger rises but a Manuin puts a knife to his throat.] Roxton: What the hell is this? Lady Yorkton: I’m afraid there’s a problem a rather serious one. Veronica: The burial ground. Lady Yorkton: Well you did break a sacred taboo. Challenger: You don’t mean this. [Roxton’s hand carefully inches to his pistol at his side.] Lady Yorkton: Oh but I do, the punishment is death. Summerlee: But surely as their queen you have some influence - Lady Yorkton please! Lady Yorkton: It’s out of my hands……unless. [Scene: Lady Yorkton has the group gathered around looking at a map.] Lady Yorkton: Here, this is where Alfred was wounded. He crawled into this cave and died. Malone: So you’re saying the Manuins will trade Challenger’s life for Lapprand’s bones? Lady Yorkton: He was their King. To finally be given a ritual burial, yes. It would be considered a sacred offering. Veronica: But if you knew where he died, then? Marguerite: Why hasn’t anyone else gone on this little excursion? Lady Yorkton: They can’t - the cave is taboo. No Manuin would risk offending the spirits even if it meant recovering their King. Roxton: All right. Lady Yorkton: Challenger stays here of course. Challenger: Like hell I will. Lady Yorkton: As a gesture of good faith; you’ll be my honored guest. You have until nightfall tomorrow, after that, Queen or not, there’s nothing I can do. [Fade Out] [Scene: On the trail to find Lapprand’s bones.] Marguerite: Face it if it weren’t for Challenger arrogance we wouldn’t be rustling through these prehistoric brambles. Roxton: Tell us how you really feel. Malone: We couldn’t abandon him. Marguerite: Why not? Veronica: Shhh hear that? Summerlee: I don’t hear anything. Roxton: Exactly no birds no animals nothing at all. Malone: So? Roxton: So what scared them off? Veronica: Raptors [The come across a dead T-Rex gutted.] Malone: What the hell could do this to a T-Rex? [A raptor jumps out at Malone. Roxton comes up behind him.] Roxton: Shoot! [Malone is paralyzed. The raptor knocks him down and bites his left leg. Malone screams in agony. Marguerite shoots the raptor before it can go in for the kill.] Summerlee: Good God what a horrible gash. I’ll have to make a tourniquet and stop the blood. Here take your shirt off. Let me help you. No no no leave the boot on. It will help constrict his circulation. Veronica: But his wound? Summerlee: I’m going to tie the tourniquet around his thigh. Malone: You’re the doctor. [Roxton brings some leaves and stuffs it in Malone’s boot.] Roxton: Here - this will sting but it will help stop the bleeding. Veronica: We’ve got to move. Malone: I don’t think I can walk. Roxton: We’ll carry you. Marguerite: Carry him? Roxton: Raptors hunt in packs of three. Veronica: Don’t even think of leaving him behind. Summerlee: We’re never gonna get him back to the treehouse. Roxton: No time anyway not if we’re gonna save Challenger by sundown. Marguerite: What about the burial ground - sulfur springs. Roxton: That would mask the smell of the blood. Veronica: That’s what got us into this. Roxton: It’s that or be hunted by his two friends. Veronica: You go to the cave. Malone: Veronica I’ll be okay. Veronica: Not alone you won’t, come on. [Roxton hands Malone a rifle.] Roxton: Next time use this. [The group splits up. Veronica and Malone to the sulfur springs – the others to find the cave] [Scene: The compound – Challenger is pacing; Lady Yorkton enters wearing a sheer silk dress.] Challenger: Cassandra Lady Yorkton: Miss me? Challenger: Why didn’t you tell me about this? Lady Yorkton: You haven’t touched your food. Challenger: You hardly can expect a condemned man to show much of an appetite. Lady Yorkton: Hmm well that’s funny. I’ve always found a little danger usually increases a man’s appetite. Challenger: So twelve years you’ve been here you still haven’t found a way off the plateau. Lady Yorkton: Why would I want a way off? Challenger: Don’t you want to go home? Lady Yorkton: I am home. In London I lived off the richest man I could find. I was a whore. Challenger: Cassandra Lady Yorkton: Why should we pretend otherwise? It was only a matter of time before my looks and influence waned. But here I am Queen not courtesan. I choose lovers not to please them but because they please me. [She kisses Challenger.] Challenger: Cassandra I’m a married man. Lady Yorkton: How delightfully Victorian. Challenger: I can’t. Lady Yorkton: Of course you can. Look at where we are; there are no rules here. This is a new world – feel it – touch it. There’s only you and me in this moment. Don’t let it slip away. [Cassandra removes her dress; they kiss.] [Scene: The trail to the cave.] Roxton: We better find this place soon. There won’t be enough light to get back. Marguerite: According to the map we should be nearly there. Summerlee: As long as we don’t meet any more raptors. Marguerite: Or ape-men; cannibals; T-Rex’s. Roxton: Always the optimist Marguerite. [They come to a cave.] Marguerite: This could be it. Roxton: I don’t think so. Summerlee: How can you tell; the maps not to scale? Roxton: Because it’s not the same taboo sign. Marguerite: Let’s check it out. Roxton: Stay sharp everybody. [Before they can step into the cave a dinosaur comes out of the opening. Summerlee falls to the ground. Marguerite tries to get to him but Roxton keeps her behind him. He shoots at the dinosaur] Marguerite: Summerlee! Roxton: No! Marguerite: Any ideas? [Roxton hands Marguerite his rifle.] Roxton: Yeah cover me [Roxton runs to Summerlee] On your feet. Now! [They run away. Summerlee is out of breath.] Roxton: Summerlee - pull yourself together man. Marguerite: Give him a minute. Roxton: We don’t have a minute to give. We’re down Veronica and Malone we can’t afford to lose him to. Now are you with us? Summerlee: I’m alright, I’m fine. Roxton: Good we have to keep going. Summerlee: I know. Roxton: Then let’s go. Marguerite: Come on. Summerlee: John I’m sorry. [They come to another cave. Roxton gives Summerlee his rifle.] Roxton: Why don’t you - stay here. Summerlee: Oh nonsense I’ll be just fine. Roxton: Summerlee we’ll need someone to watch our backs. Summerlee: Very well if you’re absolutely certain. Marguerite: Yeah if we’re not out in twenty minutes call Scotland Yard. [Roxton and Marguerite enter the cave with torches lit. As they make their way deeper inside Marguerite slips on the rocks, Roxton helps her up.] Roxton: You sure you don’t want to stay outside with Summerlee? Marguerite: And let you have all the fun. [They come to a split in the cavern] I’ll take the left. Roxton: Don’t go far, one hundred yards we meet back here - got it? Marguerite: Got it. Roxton: Oh Marguerite – be careful. [They split up.] [Roxton slips and gets a gooey gel like substance on his hand. He comes to a pond and looks at his reflection. He sees his brother’s reflection behind him. Startled he drops the torch in the pond and pulls his gun but no one is behind him.] [Scene: Roxton’s hallucination – Roxton’s back in the treehouse aiming his pistol.] William: Hello Brother. Roxton: William? William: You’ve come to kill me again? [Fade Out] Roxton: William? No William: Come now John is that any way to greet your dear departed brother? [William has a blood stain on his shirt over his heart] Oh of course terrible thing a gun shot wound. Imagine a freight train slamming into your chest and plowing through your rib cage like it was a pile of twigs. Roxton: No, this isn’t possible. William: Well luckily I didn’t suffer my heart exploded almost immediately [William puts on his jacket covering his stained shirt] That’s better, well we’ve got a lot of catching up to do Johnny. How have you been since you murdered me? Roxton: This can’t be. You can’t be real. [William punches Roxton sending him flying across the room smashing down on top a table.] William: Is that real enough for you [William kicks Roxton] Oh snuck that one in didn’t I? Time was you’d have seen it coming. Roxton: What the hell’s going on? William: This is just like the good old days aye? We were a right couple of yobbos fighting and scrapping and kicking. Roxton: William I’m sorry. William: But look at you now; you’re getting soft Johnny. [William reaches out a hand to help Roxton up then smacks him down again.] Roxton: Damn you what do you want from me? William: Your fear. [Scene: Marguerite making her way through the caverns. She ducks under an opening and gets the gel substance on her hair.] Marguerite: Oh wonderful. [She hears a noise] Roxton is that you? [Scene: Marguerite’s hallucination – A little girl’s bedroom. She touches a hand mirror she turns around to see a woman behind her.] Woman: You’re beautiful. Marguerite: Where am I? [The woman walks toward her and picks up a music box and opens it showing a figure of a woman dancing inside.] Woman: Do you remember this? No I don’t suppose you could - Vienna; falling leaves; chestnuts; hot chocolate. Your father would have bought you a whole orchestra. Marguerite: This is impossible. I’m going insane. Woman: You always were a stubborn baby. Marguerite: All right I want some answers. Let’s start with who you are. Woman: Dear Marguerite you already know who I am. [Scene: Sulfur springs - Veronica and Malone are using picks to chip off the sulfur. Malone groans in pain.] Veronica: Take it easy you’re hurt. Malone: I’m fine. Veronica - back there. Veronica: It could have happened to anyone. [They hear a rustling in the bush; Malone picks up his rifle and shoots chasing off an animal. Veronica laughs.] Veronica: That was an angry pig. Malone: That was a wild boar. Veronica: Oh sit down. Malone: I aimed high if it would have been a raptor I would have killed it. Veronica: You’re bleeding Malone: Veronica I want you to go catch up with the others. It’s stupid both of us risking our lives. Veronica: If you’d just sit still; stay alive a lot longer. Malone: I’ve got a few rounds left I’ll be fine. Veronica: We’ll be fine. Malone: You don’t have to do this. Veronica: I want to do this. [Scene: Marguerite’s hallucination] Marguerite: It’s not true you’re not my mother. [The woman has a locket around her neck.] Woman: You have one just like it. No pictures just the inscription ‘For our daughter Marguerite forever in our thoughts.’ You remember. [Marguerite hugs the woman; she does not hug Marguerite back.] Marguerite: It’s like I’ve dreamt this a thousand times. [Scene: The compound – Challenger and Lady Yorkton are in bed] Challenger: Oh my God. Lady Yorkton: Not even he can help you now. Challenger: You are an amazing woman. Lady Yorkton: I am a woman free of society; unhindered by counterfeit morality. Challenger: Only as long as we live in this world. Lady Yorkton: So stay. Challenger: My friends will be back by nightfall. Lady Yorkton: I thought you were beginning to like it here. Challenger: Oh my lovely lady indeed I do, but I have another destiny. Lady Yorkton: Your friends aren’t coming back. Challenger: What? Lady Yorkton: Many people have entered the cave a fear no one’s ever come out. [Scene: Outside the cave – Summerlee checks his watch.] Summerlee: Where the dickens are they? [Summerlee enters the cave.] Marguerite! Roxton! [Scene: The treehouse – Roxton’s hallucination.] William: Gentlemen of the jury you see this man before you John Roxton until he murdered his own brother stole his title now he’s Lord John Roxton to you. Roxton: No it was an accident. William: An accident he says. Roxton: You were being attacked by an ape I was trying to save your life. William: You deny you shot me. Roxton: I shot the ape the bullet went through it. William: An ape and your brother; two more trophies for the wall. Roxton: Stop it! William: Who was it who convinced father that I should go on safari? Yes convicted by his own silence gentleman. Roxton: It was for your own good. Father thought it was time you faced your fears. William: Gentlemen my brother Lord John Roxton, world famous big game hunter; notorious ladies man; toast of international society. You want to know what I was afraid of? You - dear brother. Everything I never could be or would be; staring me in the face over breakfast every day. Did either of you stop, and ask me what I wanted? Roxton: No William: Face your fears you said. Well I did and you killed me. Members of the jury how say you? [Scene: Marguerite’s hallucination - Marguerite is looking at the dolls.] Marguerite: All my dolls, my locket, my baby hair. All these years I felt something. Someone guiding me; protecting me; it must have been you, your love. Woman: Love? No Marguerite: What? Woman: I didn’t love you. How could a mother give up a child she loves? It’s not natural. Marguerite: I don’t understand you kept all my things. Woman: When we found out we were going to have a baby your father and I were so happy; so excited. But then you were born, right away I knew there was something wrong with you different - evil. Marguerite: No stop. Woman: Your father didn’t see it at first, but as you grew older even he saw. Marguerite: Why are you doing this? Woman: All these things everything in this room I kept them to remind me never to have another child. Marguerite: Stop mother please stop please. Woman: I brought sin into this world once I couldn’t risk it again. [Fade Out] [Scene: The sulfur springs – Veronica is coming back from gathering fruit.] Veronica: Ned? Not much but at least we won’t starve. [Malone is gone.] Ned? [Veronica runs to find him calling his name. He appears behind her.] Malone: I found water. Veronica: We’ll be lucky if we live long enough to get thirsty. See your blood trail? You just invited every predator in the neighborhood over for dinner. [They are startled by a noise.] Malone: Raptors Veronica: Come on. [Scene: Marguerite’s hallucination.] Woman: Oh baby - don’t cry baby it’s gonna be all right, that’s why I’m here. [The woman picks up a knitted blanket from a table] Come here, you wouldn’t remember this. Marguerite: What is it? Woman: The blanket you were christened in. Go on it’s yours. [Marguerite unwraps the blanket revealing a gun.] Marguerite: Why are you doing this? Woman: You know why baby. Marguerite: No I don’t. Woman: That aching inside - all that darkness. It’s not right. And those thoughts you have those terrible thoughts. Oh baby I’m sorry but this is not your world. You know you don’t belong here. You know what needs to be done. [Marguerite picks up the gun.] [Scene: The compound – Challenger is sneaking out of bed. He gets just outside the compound when he is stopped by the Manuins.] Lady Yorkton: Trouble sleeping, you know one word from me and they’ll kill you. Challenger: Cassandra please let me explain. Lady Yorkton: No man leaves me - not anymore. Challenger: My friends. Lady Yorkton: Your friends are dead……on your knees. Challenger: What? Lady Yorkton: You have defied the honor of their queen. On your knees! Challenger: No never! [The Manuins force Challenger on his knees.] Lady Yorkton: They’re now that’s more like it. [Scene: The cave – Summerlee is wandering through the caverns. He almost touches the gel substance on the wall but stops himself. He takes a whiff.] Summerlee: Good heavens. [Scene: The treehouse – Roxton’s hallucination.] William: Guilty [William punches Roxton sending him flying] of desertion of leaving his mother to rot in an empty house while he chased glory on a fools expedition. What say the jury? Guilty - yes of the murder of your own brother and our father’s death. Roxton: No William: Three weeks later, heart attack or heartbreak? What say you good men of the jury? Guilty. [Roxton gets up and slams William into the wall.] Roxton: Enough! William: Yes that’s it, be a hero be a man kill me again. Roxton: I loved you William. I’m sorry. I was trying to save you. William: Save me. Remember how I used to be afraid of heights brother? [William jumps on top the railing of the balcony.] Roxton: What are you doing? Get down! William: Giving you a chance to make it up to me. Roxton: Stop it! No more games. [William almost falls.] William: That was a close one. Roxton: Get down off there! William: Come on John, it’s a long way to the ground. But you could save me. [William falls and John reaches over the balcony.] [Scene: Roxton is dangling off a cliff inside the cave head first; lava flowing beneath him. Summerlee, a handkerchief over his nose and mouth, is holding on to him he pulls Roxton up.] Roxton: William! Summerlee: Snap out of it! Here put this over your nose. The fungus is hallucinogenic. Come on let’s get you out of here. Roxton: Marguerite [Scene: The cave – Marguerite is sitting down by a pile of bones with the gun in her hand. Her shadow against the cave wall shows her pointing the gun at her head. Roxton reaches her and gently takes the gun away from Marguerite.] Roxton: Didn’t anyone teach you not to play with guns? [Marguerite breaks down and becomes violent] Shhh it’s okay it isn’t real Marguerite look at me…look at me it isn’t real. [She calms as he holds her in his arms] Let’s get her out of here. [Roxton transfers Marguerite into Summerlee’s arms.] Summerlee: Yes, but what about the bones. Roxton: What about them? Summerlee: How can we be sure they’re Lapprands? [Roxton looks at the gun Marguerite had and it has the initials AL engraved on them.] Roxton: A.L. Alfred Lapprand - take a look for yourself. [Roxton hands the gun to Summerlee and takes Marguerite back into his arms. Summerlee takes the skull from the pile of bones.] [Scene: The jungle - Veronica and Malone are running from a raptor; Malone being hindered by his injured leg.] Veronica: They’re gaining on us. [Malone trips, Veronica turns back to him.] Malone: Go! Veronica: Don’t be crazy. Malone: I’m telling you - leave me. Veronica: I’m not leaving you here to be some raptors lunch. [Veronica kisses Malone.] Malone: What was that for? Veronica: Inspiration, now move your ass. [The raptor catches up to them in a clearing. Veronica pushes Malone out of the way and she is on the ground the raptor going in for the kill. Malone shoots the raptor but another raptor comes up from behind. Malone turns around and puts the barrel of the rifle in the mouth of the raptor.] Malone: Eat this [He pulls the trigger] I think that’s all of them. Veronica: Thanks Malone: Let’s go home. [Scene: The compound – Roxton, Marguerite and Summerlee arrive outside.] Roxton: Ready? [Summerlee nods his head.] Roxton: If you want to sit this one out? Marguerite: Oh I told you, I’m fine. Roxton: There’s nothing you have to prove. Marguerite: Whatever we went through in there it’s over. Roxton: If you ever want to talk about it. Marguerite: I won’t. Is there anything else? Roxton: No, I guess there isn’t. [Challenger is being tied up to posts.] Lady Yorkton: You’re a fool Challenger. How many times does a man get offered a kingdom? Challenger: I have no desire to share your kingdom. Lady Yorkton: Tell me I didn’t give you the greatest pleasure you’ve ever known. Challenger: There was this barmaid once in Brighton or was it Liverpool. [Lady Yorkton kisses Challenger.] Lady Yorkton: I wonder how long it will take for you to die. Challenger: Madame I told you they would do it. [Roxton, Marguerite and Summerlee enter.] Lady Yorkton: I don’t believe it. [Summerlee raises a sack.] Summerlee: The proof milady as promised. Roxton: Untie him. Lady Yorkton: I’m sorry I’ve had a change of heart. Marguerite: Bitch! Lady Yorkton: Queen Roxton: Haven’t we forgotten something? Summerlee: Poor Alfred. [Summerlee puts the sack, holding the skull, on the table. Lady Yorkton picks up the skull not realizing it has the gel substance on it. The skull comes to life and Alfred talks to Lady Yorkton. Lady Yorkton drops the skull and picks up the gun. She hallucinates that Alfred is walking toward her.] Alfred: Cassandra Lady Yorkton: Alfred? Alfred: Cassandra Lady Yorkton: No you’re dead. Alfred: Didn’t you think I’d come back for you, even though you left me to die. Lady Yorkton: Stay away from me. Alfred: But I still love you Cassandra. Lady Yorkton: You’re not real. Alfred: Kiss me. Lady Yorkton: No [Lady Yorkton shoots the gun at Alfred but really hits one of the Manuin.] Alfred: Put down the gun Cassandra and let me hold you in my arms. Lady Yorkton: Never [Lady Yorkton is shooting blindly hitting more Manuins. The Manuin attack Lady Yorkton.] Roxton: That’s our queue to leave now. [Lady Yorkton is screaming Roxton runs and unties Challenger. Challenger pauses at the door.] Roxton: Come on Challenger there’s nothing you can do. Challenger: God save the Queen. [They escape the compound.] [Epilogue] [Scene: Nighttime the treehouse – Veronica is putting a salve on Malone’s leg.] Malone: This is supposed to make me better? Veronica: Don’t worry you’ll get used to the smell - in a couple of days. Malone: You were wonderful. Veronica: It was you who saved my life remember. Malone: I know the only reason you kissed me was probably because you thought I was. But I was wondering if it might of. I mean not that I’m assuming. Could we do it again…sometime…soon? Veronica: Maybe [Roxton is checking his rifle Summerlee walks over to him.] Summerlee: I’ve never seen anything quite like it; must have been some kind of saprophytic fungus with psychotropic properties. Roxton: If you say so Professor. Summerlee: You know you haven’t said one word about what happened in there. Roxton: That’s right. Summerlee: I see. Roxton: Thank you for saving my life. Summerlee: Only too happy to have been of service old boy. [Marguerite is alone by the balcony she looks inside her locket.] Marguerite: For our daughter Marguerite forever in our thoughts. End of episode