Transcript for “The Source”
Episode 2x10
Originally Aired:  1/27/ 01      
Writer:  Scott Kraft            
Director:  Michael Pattinson             
Transcribed by Carol Murdock for TWIZ TV.com

[Scene:  The Jungle – There is a drought.  Veronica is filling up a water sac.]

Roxton:  This place draws quite a crowd.

Veronica:  It means the water can’t be too bad.

Roxton:  Yeah it’s the only bar in town.  I guess we scared off the regulars.

Veronica:  If it’s us or them - I vote for us.

[They see a dinosaur footprint.]  

Roxton:  More Raptors huh?

Veronica:  At least seven or eight not too long ago.

Roxton:  Well let’s hope they’ve gone somewhere to sleep it off.  I’ll get the others.

[Scene:  Another part of the jungle. – Challenger is looking at a rock.]

Challenger:  It’s like polished glass.  A couple of months ago, this place must have been pounding with crystal clear water.

Marguerite:  Stop it; you’re making me thirsty.

[She reaches for her canteen.]

Malone: Hey remember, whatever water we have has to last until we find another source so…

Marguerite:  Then why don’t we just head back to the treehouse?

Challenger:  Because I think we’re close to finding a way off the plateau.  These rocks are from an earlier geological period then the surrounding territory.

Malone:  Which means?

Challenger:  If there is a rift in the valley that leads off the plateau then this is where it’s likely to be.

[Roxton approaches]

Malone:  Roxton!

Marguerite:  Any luck?

Roxton:  Yeah, we found a watering hole.

Marguerite:  A place a girl can get a decent martini?

Roxton:  If you like them very dry - small, brackish and frequented by raptors.

Marguerite:  That’s charming.

Malone:  At least we can tank up enough to keep looking.

[The group approached Veronica.]

Malone:  How is it?

Veronica:  It’s not the best but it hasn’t killed me yet.

[Two raptors jump from the bush.]

Roxton:  Heads up everybody, we’ve got company.

Veronica:  This way

[Two more raptors block their way.]

Roxton:  They’re on both sides!  Back against the wall!

[The group is surrounded.]

**** Begin Intro****
At the dawn of the last century 
A band of explorers searched for a prehistoric world 
Driven by ambition
Secret desires
A thirst for adventure
And seeking the ultimate story
They are befriended by an untamed beauty
Stranded in a strange and savage land
Each day is a desperate search for a way out - of the Lost World
****End Intro****    
 
Challenger:  Any bright ideas?

Roxton:  Yeah, learn to fly.

[A cargo net is released from the ledge above them.]

Roxton:  Somebody get up top and give me some cover!

[The group climbs to safety.]

Malone:  Come on Roxton!

[Malone pulls up Roxton.]

Roxton:  Thanks Malone.

[A woman appears dressed in old fashion Spanish attire.  Malone is smitten.]

Ana:  My name is Ana Pissarro it is a pleasure to meet you.

Malone:  Ned…Ned Malone.  The pleasure, Miss Pissaro, is all mine.

Veronica:  Ned I hate to interrupt but could you ask Miss Pissaro if she’s got anything to drink?

Roxton:  Yes it appears we missed last call downstairs.

Ana:  There is just a trickle, I am afraid.  Follow me.

[Ana leads them to a where a small amount of water is dripping down between the rocks.  Challenger fills the canteens.]  

Malone:  When exactly did your ancestors leave Spain?

Ana:  In the year of our Lord fifteen hundred and four.

Malone:  And was it an official expedition?

Ana:  So many questions, Senor Malone; you exhaust me.  I’ll make you a deal.  Help me get back to my pueblo and I’ll show you the way my ancestors got here from the Amazon.

Marguerite:  So you do know a way off?

Ana:  Where there is a way in there is a way out.

Challenger: See? I told you Malone the way off the plateau would be in this part of the world.

Malone:  That’s great, that’s amazing.

Roxton:  Yeah, took the words right out of my mouth.

Ana:  But I will need your assistance though.  Help me get home and I will show you the route.

Marguerite:  When do we start?

Ana:  Now please.

Roxton:  Yes this spring attracts far too many predators.  

Marguerite:  Lead the way.

Malone:  Allow me. [He takes Ana’s pack to carry for her.]

Ana:  Thank you.

[They start on the trail to Ana’s pueblo.]

Challenger:  I can’t wait to taste the sweet revenge when the Zoological Society has to eat its bitter words.

Malone:  I can see it now; it will be a victory for you to savor. 

[A man on horseback watches the group from a distance.]

Challenger:  How about you Malone, will you relish the fame of being a chronicler of the Lost World?

Malone:  I hope to publish a few articles.

Challenger:  A few articles!  Malone you gotta think big; I see books, lecture tours, tea with the King.  Oh, we will join those immortal few who have witnessed and recorded history.  Our work will survive long after we’ve gone.

[The group gets to a clearing.  Ana stops.]

Ana:  We must stop now.

Roxton:  There’s still enough daylight left.  We should stop when we lose the sun.

Ana:  No…no...no I must pray.  We can continue after but I must pray now.  S?nor Malone would you like to keep watch?

Malone:  Of course.

Marguerite:  Ah the ever-chivalrous Ned Malone.

Malone:  You don’t want her out in the jungle alone do you?  She is your ticket out of here.    

[Ana and Malone stop in a secluded spot.  Ana turns facing Malone and begins to unbutton the front of her dress.]

Ana:  I must cleanse myself in preparation for my prayers.

[Ned turns his back.]

[Scene:  Several horsemen ride.  Roxton and Veronica are in the clearing.  It has bones scattered all around.  Veronica is holding a skull bone.]

Roxton:  Horse bones.  Looks like they were all dumped here.

Veronica:  They were, by horsemen.

Roxton:  Horsemen?

Veronica:  More like warriors - very fierce, very territorial.  We’re on their land… and they don’t exactly welcome visitors.

Roxton:  This is not from a horse.

Veronica:  It’s a ceremonial cup made from a human skull.  They use it to drink the blood of their enemies.

Roxton:  I hate to see what they use for brandy snifters.

Veronica:  This isn’t a joke Roxton, look around you.  This is a horsemen’s killing ground.  And they don’t take very many prisoners if you know what I mean.

Roxton:  There are a lot of rough folks on this plateau. 

Veronica:  They’re the last you’d pick as neighbors.

Roxton:  Miss Pissaro, you think she’s lying about her pueblo?

Veronica:  I think she’s lying about everything.

[Malone and Ana return to the group.]

Roxton:  Where exactly are we going?

Ana:  Another two days walk through the valley.

Veronica:  Is that how you came here?  

Ana:  No, we can’t get back that way.

Veronica:  This is horsemen territory and you’re leading us straight into the heart of it?

Ana:  That’s were my home is.

Veronica:  They wouldn’t let outsiders live here.  Not for four days let alone four hundred years.

Ana:  Our pueblo is in the steep cliffs.  We’re very well protected and we have no grazing areas so they leave us alone.  

Veronica:  We’re not well protected here.

Ana:  Don’t worry; the horsemen are taking their horses to the higher meadows for water.  We can get through without being seen.

Veronica:  You know what they do to their enemies?

Malone:  What?

Veronica:  Drag them from the back of their ponies until their legs fall off or they die.

Marguerite:  If the route off wasn’t a risk we would have found it long ago.  We’re nearly halfway there; let’s keep going.

Ana:  All this talk, we must move.

[Horsemen ride up behind the group.]

Veronica:  You see what I see?    

Roxton:  We better warn the others.  [Veronica and Roxton run to catch up to the others] Challenger! Challenger!  

Challenger:  What is it?

Veronica:  A horsemen scouting party not far behind.

Ana:  We must move quickly.

Roxton:  Four men on horseback; we’ll never outrun them.

Ana:  Well maybe they have not yet seen us?  

Veronica:  We’re not that lucky.

Challenger:  We’ll make for the jungle.

Roxton:  We’ll never get there in time.

Ana:  We must do something.

Roxton:  We’ll make our stand here; check your weapons.

[The riders surround them.]

Challenger:  What do you want?

Horsemen Leader:  Give us the witch.  

[Roxton walks by Marguerite]

Roxton:  Friend of yours?

Marguerite:  That’s not funny.

Horsemen Leader:  She stole our water.

Roxton:  We’re all a bit dry but if you’re thirsty we’ll spot you a pint.

Horsemen Leader:  She stole the water from our parents now she steals it from us.  

Malone:  What’s he talking about?

Challenger:  Are you accusing Ana of causing the drought?

Horsemen Leader:  She must die so the rain will come.  Give it to us and you can go.

Roxton:  And if we don’t?

Horsemen Leader:  You will all die.

Roxton:  I had a funny feeling he’d say that.

Ana:  They will kill me.

Roxton:  We’re just passing through; we don’t want to fight.

Horsemen Leader:  All who travel with the witch have died.  We can wait for you to die too.  Then we’ll kill her.

[The horsemen leave]

Roxton:  Well that was too easy.

Marguerite:  Where do you think they’re going?

Veronica:  To get reinforcements.  They don’t like you very much, do they?

Ana:  Like you said, the horsemen do not like trespassers.

Malone:  What did he mean by you stole the water from their families?

Ana:  They are superstitious.  Our pueblo is near a river which is their main water source.  Every time there is a drought they blame us.

Marguerite:  So what do we do?

Roxton:  Well if we’re all agreed we won’t give Ana up.  We’ve only three choices.  Now we can turn around and go home.

Veronica:  If they let us.

Roxton:  True enough.  We can stay here and die of thirst or we can get to Ana’s pueblo before the horsemen get us.

[Horses can be heard approaching.]

Ana:  We must move now.

Challenger:  Run! Take cover!

Malone:  They’re riderless!

Roxton:  It’s just a decoy!  Hold your fire for the real attack!

[The riders attack on horseback.  One rider swoops down to grab Ana.]  

[Fade Out]

[Roxton shoots the rider.  The group fires on the riders who are surrounding them.  One of the riders throws bolos around Ana’s feet and she falls to the ground.]

Malone:  Ana!

[Malone hits one of the riders approaching Ana and the rider falls from his horse.  Veronica throws her knife at a horseman to protect Malone from getting axed in the back.  Malone helps free Ana from the bolo.  Marguerite uses her whip to unhorse one of the riders.  The riders retreat riding off.]

Roxton:  Everyone all right?

Veronica:  Yeah.

Ana:  Thank you Ned, you saved my life.

Malone:  If it wasn’t for Veronica I wouldn’t have been around to do it.

Ana:  Then I’m forever in your debt Veronica I hope I find a chance to repay you.

Veronica:  Thanks, its okay.

 [The group head out.  The sac Ana is holding leaks water.  The water falls on a dried up plant; it springs to life producing beautiful flowers.]

Veronica:  Ana’s friends will no doubt be back.

Marguerite:  Well let’s keep moving.

[Scene:  The trail]

Veronica:  That was a stupid thing you did back there; you could have been killed.

Malone:  Good throw.

Veronica:  Next time I might not be around.  You don’t know anything about Ana.

Malone:  Neither do you.  Why do you dislike her so much?

Veronica:  I don’t trust her; she’s up to something.

Malone:  Why…why do you say that?

Veronica:  Her story doesn’t add up.

Malone:  Really? Well who do you think she is?

Veronica:  I don’t have all the answers but if you weren’t so infatuated with her…

Malone:  What!

[Malone and Veronica stop.  The rest must walk between them as they argue.]

Veronica:  Why else are you following her around with your tongue hanging out?

Malone:  Maybe you’re just jealous because I’m paying attention to Ana and not you.

Veronica:  I’m concerned; I’m not jealous.

Malone:  I appreciate your concern but I can take care of myself.

[They continue along the trail.]

Malone:  You’ve never been off the plateau?  Not even for supplies or to visit relatives?

Ana:  I have lived here my whole life.

Malone:  And you know nothing of Europe or the outside world?

Ana:  Just stories that have been passed down of Isabella and Ferdinand and Columbus.

Malone:  The automobile? The airplane?

Ana:  What are these things?

Malone:  Aren’t you curious?

Ana:  No.

Malone:  But why not?

Ana:  Have you ever heard of Menendez y Pelayo?

Marguerite:  The Illuminati? 

Ned: Who?

Marguerite: Spanish mystics who believe they can communicate with God in private - find him in themselves.

Ana:  Yes, well we still believe that. 

Marguerite:  You’re descended from them? 

Ana:  Yes, after they were convicted of heresy by the Inquisition; we had to flee Spain under threat of death.

Malone:  And they ended up on the plateau?

Ana:  Searching for their own utopia; a new Eden.

Marguerite:  Ah, it’s a pity they got stuck here.  [Marguerite leaves to catch up to the others] Wait! 

Ana:  No…no this was beyond their deepest prayers.  They found a home.  If we leave here we will be killed.

Malone:  By whom?

Ana:  In Spain people who believe what we believe are burned at the stake.  

Malone:  Ana, things have changed a little bit in the last four hundred years.  We don’t burn people for their religious beliefs anymore.  It’s the twentieth century.

Ana:  Hmm, this may be so, but if there is one think I have learned in my life - people mistrust the unfamiliar.  

[The group is making camp.]

Challenger:  Veronica, give the girl some privacy.

Veronica:  Here let me give you a hand
       
Ana:  Oh no thank you, I don’t want to be any trouble.

Veronica:  No trouble, it will give us a chance to get to know each other.

Ana:  Thank you. 
 
Veronica:  You and I have a lot in common you know.

Ana:  Really?

Veronica:  Yes, we both grew up on the plateau; both about the same age.  We’re both alone.

Ana:  What a remarkable series of coincidences.  

Veronica:  Yeah, I’ll say, so how do you explain the fact that I’ve never heard of you, or your people?

Ana:  What exactly are you troubled by?

Veronica:  I don’t like you giving my friend Malone so much grief.  

Ana:  Malone seems grief-stricken to you?  I think he’s old enough to decide these things himself.  

[Malone is filling a bowl with sap from a tree.  He drinks from the bowl.  He takes off his shirt as Ana approaches.]

Ana:  It is good?

Malone:  It’ll do.

[He hands her the bowl and she takes a drink.]

Ana:  And me, will I do?  I want to thank you for saving my life.

Malone:  But Ana, you- you’ve already done that.

Ana:  If there is anyway I can repay you.

[Roxton appears in the distance and gives a whistle signal.]

Roxton:  You’re first watch Ned.  Between horsemen and wild beasties, you’ll want to keep your wits about you.

Ana:  There’s something I don’t understand.  You seem to like me yet…are you afraid of me s?nor Malone?

Malone:  It’s complicated.

Ana:  Only if you make it that way.  Life is a wonderful gift, except when you are lonely then mere hours seem like an eternity.  Don’t spend the rest of your life alone Ned.

Malone:  I’ve got to go keep watch.  

Ana:  If you feel like leaving this life instead of waiting for the next let me know, huh?

[Scene:  Nighttime in the camp.  Ned is keeping watch.  Challenger approaches to relieve him.]

Challenger:  Any sign of our friends?

Malone:  I heard a couple of raptors but no sign of the horsemen.

Challenger:  Oh you know, sometimes I think it might be nice to be back in civilized society; where dying of boredom is the most constant danger. 

Malone:  Do you think that world even remembers us anymore?

Challenger:  You’re thinking of that girl you left behind.  I thought you realized you didn’t belong in that world anymore.

Malone:  What choice do I have?  Everyone must all think we’re dead by now.

Challenger:  You always have a choice.

Malone:  Even if Gladys is still waiting for me; I’m not the same man who left.  

Challenger:  If you’re asking my advice I’d say what do you really want.  I have seen the way Ana looks at you.  

Malone:  Ah, she’s just grateful.

Challenger:  How youth is wasted on the young.  You know if I was your age on the adventure of a lifetime with a beautiful woman like that looking at me.- I know what I’d be doing.  Still, you’re a writer Ned not a doer.

Malone:  That’s not true.

Challenger:  Of course, the world will be a richer place for you having sat on the sidelines and recorded your observations.  

Malone:  Great, put that on my gravestone.  He was a writer not a doer.

[Malone walks over to where Ana is washing herself with her back to him.  She turns around when she hears his footsteps her face is that of a very old woman.]

Malone:  Noooooooo!

[Fade Out]

[Ana takes a cloth and pats her face.  Her skin returns to its youthfulness.]

Malone:  Ana!

[The others wake up and run to see what’s going on.] 

Challenger:  Malone?

Roxton:  What happened?

Malone:  She….

Roxton:  Are you alright?

Ana:  I am fine.

Malone:  Her face it was…it was old.  You were…it was…ancient.

Challenger:  Calm down Malone.

Malone:  I saw it!

Ana:  Do not worry; you have not gone mad Ned.  

Malone:  How did you do that?

Ana:  Your eyes have not deceived you.  Friends, I am afraid I have been less than truthful.

Veronica:  That’s the first honest thing she’s said so far.

Ana:  I am not descended from the Spanish explorers who came here four hundred years ago.  I am a survivor of that expedition. 

Roxton:  I think I liked it better when you were lying.

Ana:  We came in search of and found Ponce de León’s fountain of youth.

Veronica:  That’s ridiculous.       

Challenger:  Well maybe not Veronica.  The discovery was hinted at in ancient Spanish texts.   

Ana:  Oh it exists, I assure you.  The fountain is in a cave on the other side of the valley.    For centuries the horsemen had been kept at bay, but the drought has made them desperate.  As were we; we went in search of drinking water; they killed the rest of the search party.

Roxton:  You don’t really expect us to believe this story?

Marguerite:  I could believe it.

Malone:  I saw it.  She washed her face and it….

Ana:  Here let me show you, I have not yet finished bathing.   

[Ana shows her back to everyone, she pulls her long hair to the side.  They see a spot on her skin is old and wrinkled.  She dabs it with the cloth dipped in the fountain of youth water.  When she pulls the cloth away her skin is smooth.]

Marguerite:  Oh, I’ll take a gallon to go.

Ana:  I escaped with just the elixir I am carrying.  I must get back to the fountain otherwise I will die.  Help me make it to the fountain; I will give you the gift of eternal youth. 

Marguerite:  Of course and what about the way off the plateau?

Ana:  All tunnels from the plateau were buried in lava long ago. 

Veronica:  So there is no way off?

Ana:  There is just the plateau……and the fountain of youth.

Marguerite:  Ponce de León’s fountain of youth.

[Scene:  Morning - the group is breaking camp.]

Marguerite:  Time to get going.

Veronica:  To where exactly?

Marguerite:  Well, the fountain of course!

Veronica:  If it exists.

Ana:  You must believe me.  I am sorry Ned.

Malone:  Veronica was right; I didn’t know who you were.

Ana:  But I am just as I appear.  Once we get to the fountain we need never have to change.  

Veronica:  Roxton, talk sense to them.

Marguerite:  She showed us the proof. We saw it with our own eyes.

Roxton:  Maybe it’s a trick of some sort, maybe there is something in the water.

Marguerite:  Yes!  Exactly, something that makes you young again.

Veronica:  It’s not worth the risk. 

Marguerite:  Why don’t I drop by in say twenty years time and see how you feel then?

Veronica:  Eternal youth won’t do you any good when the horsemen are sipping from your skull.

Marguerite:  Well the horsemen seemed to have moved off away from us.

Roxton:  It’s true.

Challenger:  And it is just a half a day.  Seems like too good a chance to miss.

Marguerite:  Coming Ned?  Another story of a lifetime.

Malone:  Bring back a bottle for me.  I’m going back to the treehouse with Veronica.

Marguerite:  Huh, your short life.

[The group separates.  Roxton, Marguerite, Challenger and Ana toward the fountain of youth; Veronica and Marguerite back to the treehouse.]

Roxton:  So tell me Marguerite eternal youth?  Won’t it get boring?

Marguerite:  A question only a man could ask.

Roxton:  And why is that?

Marguerite:  Because men get more valuable with age.

Roxton: Hmmm, and women?

Marguerite:  And women, for every year - every wrinkle drops your stock a little lower.

Roxton:  Oh, is it really all that bad?

Marguerite:  Don’t you know anything?  I mean, take our little Ana here.  When Malone thought she was twenty-two years old he was all over her.  Now she’s just another washed up four hundred year old where’s sweet Ned?  

[Scene:  The trail back to the treehouse.]

Malone:  Wait up!

Veronica:  I don’t need your protection.

Malone:  I know that. Tell me you weren’t the least bit interested in the fountain of youth?

Veronica:  All right.  I’m not the least bit interested in the fountain of youth.  Did you see Ana?  She’s a slave to the water of the fountain. Just like an opium addict.

Malone:  It’s not exactly the same.

Veronica:  Are you sorry you’re not going with her, because it’s fine with me.

Malone:  No, she said she was one thing; she turned out to be something else.

Veronica:  You saw just what you wanted to see.

Malone:  Maybe I did.  

Veronica:  So the only reason you’re not going is because you’re in a snit?

Malone:  It’s not the only reason.

Veronica:  Oh?

Malone:  What if Challenger’s right.  What if I’m a watcher not a doer.

Veronica:  Well that’s a choice, right?

Malone:  That’s right, what’s the point of living forever if you’re going to be a non-participant?  Aren’t you afraid of growing old?

Veronica:  What’s wrong with growing up?  If you’re going to come with me stay close, move fast and be quiet.  We just might get past the horsemen without being killed.

[Scene:  The trail to the fountain of youth.  The horsemen ride to catch up with the group.  Challenger is squeezing water from a tree limb into his canteen.]

Challenger:  What is it?

Roxton:  Raptors I think, been following close the last hour or so.

Challenger:  What the hell are raptors doing trailing us?  Do you think they can smell our water?

Roxton:  More likely they smell dinner.

[Five horsemen gallop toward them armed with crossbows.]

Ana:  We have not far to go.  The fountain is in a cave half way up this mountain.

Marguerite:  Then let’s go. Raptors can’t chase us up the mountain.

[The horsemen come into sight.]

Roxton:  Forget raptors, looks like our friends haven’t given up after all.  

 [Challenger, Marguerite and Ana take cover.  Roxton makes a run for cover toward the mountain; he dives to avoid an arrow.  From the ground he turns and shoots one of the horsemen.  Challenger shoots another horseman.  Challenger, Marguerite and Ana duck as arrows come whizzing by.  One of the arrows hits Ana’s water sac causing it to leak.  The water spills on the ground and a plant spontaneously grows.  Ana leaves cover to get her water sac.  Challenger goes to help Ana.  Roxton joins the other by the mountain base.]

Horseman Leader:  Give us the witch.

Marguerite: Over there! If they want the water witch, let’s just give her to them!

Challenger:  Look out Marguerite!

[Challenger pushes Marguerite out of the way when a horseman throws an axe.  It hits Challenger in the left thigh.]

Marguerite:  Roxton, it’s deep.

Challenger:  Marguerite!

[A horseman gallops up to them.  Marguerite shoots.]

Roxton:  We’ve got to get him out of here; he won’t survive the battle.

Marguerite:  Ana, come here!

[The horsemen ride off.]

[Scene:  The trail back to the treehouse.]

Malone:  Would you slow down.  What’s the rush?

Veronica:  What’s wrong Malone, growing old?

Malone:  At this pace we’ll be back to the treehouse before you know it.

Veronica:  What’s wrong with that?

[Scene:  The base of the mountain.  Roxton is tearing cloth to wrap Challenger’s wound in a tourniquet.]

Marguerite:  How is he?

Ana:  It is not good.

Challenger:  It’s nicked the anterior tibial artery.  I won’t last long.

Roxton:  Oh no old boy, you’re not checking out on us now.  We’ll think of something.

Marguerite:  You better think fast.

[Fade out]

Marguerite:  He’s out again.

Roxton:  Hang in there old boy; we’ll fix you up as good as new.

Ana:  We must keep moving.  The horsemen will not be slowed down for long.

Marguerite: Ana’s right.

Roxton:  Ana it’ll kill Challenger to move.  

Marguerite:  Oh my God.

Ana:  There is one thing.

[Ana pours water from her sac on Challenger’s leg.  It instantly heals itself.]

Marguerite:  Did you see that?

Roxton:  It’s sealed the wound.

Marguerite:  Your water will heal him?

Ana:  If I have enough, yes.  It will repair the tissues, reverse the damages of age and yes heal the wound.  I can give him the rest but I must get to the cave.  I cannot survive with the water from the fountain.  

Roxton:  Save him.  We’ll get you to your cave.

[Ana pours some water into Challenger’s mouth.  She saturates a cloth and lays it over Challenger’s face.]

Roxton:  Well, now what?

Ana:  That is all there is left.

Roxton:  Then we’ll carry him to the fountain.                   

[They help Challenger to his feet.]

Challenger:  Put me down!

[The cloth falls from Challenger’s face.  His hair and beard appear redder.

Challenger:  I don’t believe it.  My wound…it’s healed.  [He snaps the tourniquet branch and jumps up on a rock.]  How did you do this?  The water?   From your fountain?

Ana: The last of it. 

[Challenger leaps to the ground and gives Ana a kiss on the forehead.]

Challenger:  Oh….thank you. Why - I don’t have the words.

Ana:  Please, just get me to the fountain immediately.

Challenger:  Yes! [he lifts Ana and spins her around] Yes, of course!  That water is the greatest scientific discovery of our age.  It will transform the world.

Ana:  To tell you the truth it is not the world I am concerned about right now.

Challenger:  Then let’s go, together we will make history.

[They climb the side of the mountain.  Challenger is helping Ana while Roxton and Marguerite lag behind.]

Roxton:  Well come on Marguerite, we can’t afford to lose our fearless leaders.

[While the others still climb, Challenger stands on the mountain’s ledge.]

Challenger:  I have never felt more alive.

Marguerite:  How old did he say he was again?

Roxton:  He didn’t.

Challenger:  The rheumatism in my shoulder is gone.

Roxton:  Imagine millions of cranky old people running around trying to make up for lost time.

Marguerite:  Imagine never growing old at all. 

Roxton:  I get tired just thinking about it.

[Challenger helps Ana to the ledge.  He sees she is growing older.]

Challenger:  How long have you got?

Ana:  We must hurry Challenger.

Challenger:  You used all your water to save me?  I will get you to that fountain on time.  [The ground begins to shake.  Boulders fall down the side of the mountain.]  Look out!

Roxton:  I wonder what set that off?  Come on.

[Roxton and Marguerite get to the ledge and see Ana who is becoming weaker.]

Ana:  Without my bath I’m afraid I’m not a very pretty sight.

Roxton:  Will you make it?

Ana:  I hope so.

[Challenger appears and startles Roxton who pulls his pistol.]

Challenger:  Horsemen above us.

Roxton:  How many?

Challenger:  Three, four; I don’t know.

Roxton:  Is there a way around?

Ana:  There are sheer cliffs on either side.

Challenger:  We don’t have to go around.

Roxton:  What do you suggest?

Challenger:  We go straight through them.

Roxton:  Yeah, right, you and whose army?

Challenger:  I don’t need an army.

Ana:  Where is he going?

Roxton:  Now he’s got the gift of eternal youth; he’s off to get himself killed.

[Challenger appears behind two horsemen who are attempting to push another boulder off the side of the mountain.  Challenger begins to fight the two men.  One horseman is knocked off  the side of the mountain.  Challenger easily takes on the second man.] 

Challenger:  Welcome to Christmas.

[Another horseman appears and he pulls his knife.  Challenger fights him. The other horseman gets up but the two horsemen stumble over each other.  Challenger picks up a boulder and tosses it at the two men.  They run away.]

Challenger:  And a happy new year.

[Challenger runs back to the others.]

Challenger:  I did it! The way is clear.  Ana.  [She now appears very old with grey hair.]  We are going to make it.

Roxton:  I think we found it.

Challenger:  Come on, soon we’ll both be young again forever.

Ana:  There it is - the cave to the fountain of youth.

[Challenger is now carrying Ana toward the entrance to the cave.]

Ana:  Here it is.  Oh, can you hear it?  What a beautiful sound.  We have done it.  Thank you, Challenger.

[Challenger looks at Roxton and Marguerite because there is no sound.  They enter the cave.  Ana walks to the fountain; she sees her youthful reflection in the water.  She places her hands in the pool of water and it instantly turns to dust.  She turns around and is very old now.  Her hair is thin and has almost completely fallen out.]

Challenger: Ana?

[Ana turns to dust before their eyes.  Challenger picks up a handful of dust from where Ana once stood and lets it filter through his fingers.]

Challenger:  From dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

[Fade out]

[Challenger, Marguerite and Roxton exit the cave.  The head horseman points a crossbow at them.]

Horseman Leader: Where is the witch?

Challenger:  Turned to dust.

Horseman Leader:  Give us back the water.

Roxton:  There is no water.

[The sky blackens and a sudden Thunderstorm erupts.  It’s begins to pour down rain.]

Horseman Leader:  Rain.

[Epilogue]

[Scene:  The treehouse.  It’s still storming.]

Malone:  See, she was a witch.

Veronica:  Whatever she was she certainly had your number.

Malone:  I’m not the only one.  Marguerite wanted to bottle the fountain of youth and sell it.

Marguerite: Well, I still think it’s a good idea.

Roxton:  Why don’t you ask Challenger?  He’s the only one who got to benefit from the fountain of youth.

Veronica:  Oh really?

Malone:  She gave you some of her water? Ana?

Challenger:  Only to heal my leg.  She saved my life.

Malone:  And you were young again?

Challenger:  Oh yes.

Malone:  And able to take advantage of your newfound youth?

Challenger:  Oh yes.

Malone:  So how was it?

Challenger:  You should have been there…it didn’t last long.  Hmmm.

Roxton:  What’s the matter Challenger, your leg? 

Challenger:  Oh, the Rheumatism in my shoulder is playing up again.

Malone:  So it was better when you were younger?

Challenger:  Better - it’s hard to say.  Older sure hurts more.

[End of episode]