117 of 117
The Gate of Shambala
By
Timothy Sheridan
(c) 2013-2015
EDITED VER. 1.2.6
OPEN
EXT/INT. CUBA LARGE VILLA LATE AFTERNOON
Father and Son are in black tie and walk to a large
villa. The father carries an object in a mall box.
ERNST
How do I look.
KIT
Good.
ERNST
Now pay attention. I’ll show you how
this is done.
KIT
Yea, Sure.
GREETER
Buenos Nochas
ERNST
Ernst Aton and his Son Kit.
GREETER
Right this way please enjoy your
visit.
Ernst and son traverse the grand foyer to a large reception
room. They wait in a short line and greet their host.
ERNST
How do you do Mr. Presidente. And
Mrs Presidente.
EL PRESEDENTE
Ah, Seinor Aton. Your reputation
precedes you. You have the item?
ERNST
Yes, Here it is Mr. Presedente.
EL PRESEDENTE
Ah, I would like to present
this at dinner.
ERNST
Of course.
EL PRESEDENTE
Naturally the University will
receive these precious items.
(points) Please make your selves
comfortable. Dinner will begin in
a few minutes.
ERNST
We’ll wait for the introductions
then we’ll leave. These things can
go all night. Hi.
KIT
I’m ok.
ERNST
Hey, don’t drink it all at once.
KIT
This is my first one.
ERNST
Yea I know. Hi..
INTERESTED GUEST
Mr Aton I have read of your work
in pre-Columbian history.
ERNST
Thank you. We're finding tribal
history is much older than the
text books would have you think.
INTERESTED GUEST
Oh.
ERNST
Yes. The accepted 4000 year
timeline is only a starting point.
Last year we found artifacts at
much lower strata than the
traditional kiln fired work. I
think we can add centuries to the
accepted time line for habitation.
INTERESTED GUEST
Really, I will be very interested
to hear more of this.
ERNST
The University will be publishing
very soon. It's the start of a
whole new era for the field.
INTERESTED GUEST
Ah..mm..
STEWARD
If you will come this way dinner is
ready.
Guests assemble at dinner.
INT. DINNING ROOM LATE AFTERNOON
A guard speaks something to the presedente who then welcomes
guests. He introduces Ernst and son and explains the art items.
All sit.
EL PRESIDENTE
Thank you all for coming. And
sharing this meal with us. This is
a time of struggle and challenges.
But it is good to have with us so many
friends. We hold strong to our
beliefs and history. And tonight
we have two distinguished guests,
senior Aton and his son, who bring
to us a special piece of our heritage
for our national museum, a very
rare pottery which, is thousands of
years in age.
Rebels storm the entrance and glass breaks from shots.
Guests duck and shriek. The president is hurried away.
Guards turn to the commotion. Guns fire.
ERNST
This doesn't look good. Come on.
Stay down.
The soldiers take the front entrance and make their way
toward the guests. Soldiers are of little help. A few
drop or duck. The guests are hurried to another room.
Ernst Grabs the Item. He and kit run. But they are trapped.
They observe the commotion and yelling as more shots are
fired.
KIT
Jesus what are they doing?
ERNST
Things broke apart faster than I
expected.
KIT
You expected this?
ERNST
Expected? No. There's been some
problems.. But I uh.., Can we talk
about this later? Ok come on, go!
Ernst and kit circle around and duck from the cross fire.
They run to a closet under the stairs careful not to disturb
a drum set.
KIT
So were, doing this in the
middle of a revolution.
ERNST
Sometimes countries have problems.
KIT
Problems?
ERNST
It’s not my fault! Alright, lets go.
Someone runs past. Ernst and son make their way upstairs
into a well-appointed study and climb out on the balcony.
EXT. BALCONY
Ernst jumps a guard taking his hat and gun. Kit must
climb down the trellis.
ERNT
come on.
KIT
(climbing down)
Just a second.
ERNST
We don’t have time for this.
Ernst fights another soldier.
ERNST
The cars are blocked. Get the keys.
(from the other soldier)
KIT
Got em.
A soldier keeps guard but as he turns back Ernst subdues him
from behind a corner.
ERNST
Ok this could get a little hairy.
Ernst and son flee across the yard to the cars and take a truck.
Ernst loosens his tie.
ERNST
Hey.. Hey.. Ok.. Let's just hope
they stay put..
ERNST
You alright?
KIT
I'm disillusioned. But I'll be ok.
ERNST
Hold on.. looks like we got
trouble.
A second truck follows them ...chase.. bump, push, bump,
push, turn, turn, Ernst and son are pinned down in a circle
with a fountain. Now they are surrounded by police. The
rebels close in and begin shooting it out with police.
ERNST
Woa.. This isn’t our fight. Let’s
go. Come on. Over here. Go get in.
Ernst and son flee down an alley. They hotwire a car.
KIT
Uh isn't this stealing?
ERNST
Only if they stop shooting.
ERNST
Ok. Hold on.
KIT
You better move it.
Ernst and son turn a corner but are stopped surrounded by
more police and arrested. They lose the bribe money and the
item.
ERNST
Woa. Looks like the jig is up. Just
stay quiet. Let me do the talking.
EXT/INT. JAIL
Ernst and his son are taken to jail.
JAILER
What is it?
COP
A couple car thieves.
JAILER
Put them in the back.
KIT
Were not!..
ERNST
Hey, don’t bother.
They're not interested.
Just sit tight. I made a couple
plans.
KIT
Good. Cause they don't look too
friendly.
They are slammed in to a cell.
INT/EXT. JAIL CELL
Moments later a friend frees them and strums some money,
plucking some out handing Ernst the rest and some keys.
ERNST
Benne. Am I glad to see you.
BENNE'
I should think so. There's not
much time.
ERNST
You have it?
BENNE'
Here. This should get you there.
And here's something for the air
field.
ERNST
Thanks. I’m going to need a car.
BENNE'
In the back. Just pump the gas
petal.
ERNST
Thanks Benne. Another time.
BENNE'
Another time.
INT. THIRD CAR RIDE
Ernst and son flee in an old car provided by the friend. But they
no longer have the item.
ERNST
That was close. You all right?
KIT
Yea I’m learning a lot. Thanks.
ERNST
There’s no need to be sarcastic. We
had a little obstacle. These things
happen sometimes.
KIT
I think we hit another one..
(pursuer)
ERNST
Yea. Hold on.
They are rammed by the same truck which gives chase down a
long plantation road along an irrigation ditch.
KIT
They're shooting at us!
ERNST
You don't have to tell me!
KIT
Well what do we do?
ERNST
Benne was supposed to leave a pistol
in the glove box.
KIT
Oh.. so What was this for?
ERNST
For contingencies. Here.. (checks
it) Just point and shoot. Not too
fast.
KIT
(pow, pow ,pow)
It’s not working!
ERNST
It rarely does.
KIT
(pow pow pow)
Ok I got to reload.
ERNST
Oh Damn.
KIT
What?
ERNST
Looks like the bridge is out. Hang
on I'm going to have to make a
short cut.
KIT
huh? Oh. no. No no. I can walk.
ERNST
There's no time for that.
KIT
Oh no. No. No no no no no no no.
Kaflump crash klang. The car lands on the other side of the
irrigation ditch. But the soldiers are not far behind and
the car is wrecked.
ERNST
She’s' stuck. Let's go.
Ernst and his son flee the car and run across a banana
field. But the pursuers who are making their way across the
stream. Ernst runs into a can of petrol and lights a fire in
the field to thwart his pursuers. There is a light wind.
ERNST
Here. Watch out. This ought to
slow them down.
KIT
Hurry they’re getting across.
Ernst throws a burning leaf on the petrol which flashes and flairs
across the small furrow.
ERNST
Just wait. There. Come on!
They run from the flames. Ernst and kit find the plane
hidden in the bushes.
ERNST
Over here. Get in.
KIT
What’s a matter? no hanger space
left?
ERNST
It's still here isn't it? Go just
turn it.
KIT
Good point. It's not starting.
ERNST
Let me try.
KIT
Are you pumping it?
ERNST
Yea I'm.. You try again.
KIT
Nothing.
ERNST
We’re running out of time.
You get in.
They are spotted. Ernst rips off his sleeves, throws open
the engine cover and pumps the engine as Kit tries to start
it. He hits it repeatedly with a wrench, to unload the plugs
and carburetor. It starts!
Ernst hunches over the wing as the plane circles. He climbs
in the cockpit.
KIT
Woa!
ERNST
There’s not enough runway! We'll
have to turn around!
KIT
And they're shooting at us!
ERNST
Ok just hold it there and pull up
when I tell ya!
Ernst shoots, blam blam..
ERNST
Ok now. Pull up! Pull up!
He shoots more.. blam blam..
The plane takes off narrowly missing a small house and a
truck with men who shoot at them. They soar upward through
the raging flames of the plantation. The ember sunset
reflects off the sea as the father and son fly to Florida.
OPENING CREDITS
INT. HOME BREAKFAST TABLE
Ernst is finished breakfast and reading the paper. He can’t
sit still.
ERNST
Congress, holds more hearings.
Since when it is illegal to join a
political party?
JOY
What do you think about a vegetable
Garden? We can grow our own
saffron.
ERNST
Look at this. The Russians have the
bomb, music is all jitterbug and
our guys are putting monkeys in
space! Can you believe it?
JOY
Oh that’s just how they test the
rockets. My instructor says its
Dharma.
ERNST
Don’t start with that. I’m
serious. Next thing you know
they’ll want to land on the moon.
JOY
But maybe that’s our bliss?
ERNST
The only bliss around here is when
people come home at a reasonable
hour. Where were you?
KIT
I had things to do.
ERNST
You were out all night.
KIT
I was with friends.
ERNST
Your mother was worried.
KIT
Sorry.
ERNST
What’s this?
KIT
Stereos.
ERNST
Your selling stereos?
KIT
I’m helping a friend.
ERNST
Well apologize to your mother.
KIT
Yes.
ERNST
What?
KIT
Yes sir. I'm Sorry.
ERNST
Thank you.
KIT
Oh, and I’m suspended.
ERNST
What?
KIT
I wasn’t cheating! They were
copying me!
ERNST
You expect me to believe that?
KIT
Yes.
ERNST
All right. If you say so, then I
believe you.
KIT
Thanks.
JOY
See that’s your karma. The peace
maker.
ERNST
Don’t start with me!
JOY
Fine. I believe you.
KIT
Thanks mom.
ERNST
Things are going to have to change
around here!
INT. ERNST AT WORK
ERNST
I’m broken up about it too. There
was no way out. We were trapped.
BOSS
I understand. There was nothing any
of us could do. But it does put us
in a bind.
ERNST
I’m Sorry
BOSS
It wasn’t your fault.
ERNST
No but I should have seen it
coming.
BOSS
Well it has set us back.
We were counting on the deal.
ERNST
I’ll get you something. There’s a
dig in Guatemala. I’ve already
made arrangements.
BOSS
We need you in Paris. The school
has made a deal to exchange you in
return we receive artifacts from
the Louvre and British museum.
ERNST
You sold me?
BOSS
We need you.
ERNST
You sold me. And.. cheap.
BOSS
I have no choice in the matter. We
could send Commings or Steadman.
ERNST
You sold me.
BOSS
Think of it as a sabbatical.
ERNST
I’ll think it over.
INT. HOME GATHERED IN LIVINGROOM FOR FAMILY TALK
Ernst sits the family down in the living room and demands
the family go on a vacation.
ERNST
I’ve decided to take a sabbatical.
We’re going to travel together.
KIT
We just took a vacation. You set
the place on fire.
ERNST
Yea well this is different.
KIT
I can’t. I have school.
ERNST
You're suspended!
KIT
I have friends.
ERNST
You can see them when you get back.
JOY
I have my class. The sensei feels I
have a very bright aura.
ERNST
You can take the book!
GROUP
(hemming and hawing)
ERNST
We’re going to take this vacation.
GROUP
(Hemming and hawing)
ERNST
We're going to Paris - as a family!
EXT. PARIS HOTEL. LATE MORNING
A taxi stops and out rises Father with duffel bag (case
with strap) on his shoulder. Then out comes Mother with
several suit cases a hat box, cosmetic case and two coats.
They drag this a slight distance toward the doorman who
assists. The kid appears with a small case, his jacket and
a map.
ERNST
Ah.. Paris. City of lights.
JOY
Oh just a minute. Let me this and
uhh thank you.. oh. Thank you.
KIT
I don’t know. It looked bigger in
the picture. It's all right.
INT. HOTEL
The family enters emboldened. And the hero knows the staff.
ERNST
Piere’ how are you?
PIERRE
Ah misure.
ERNST
Got the family on vacation.
PIERRE
And you’ve come to spend a little
time in Pari, wonderful.
ERNST
It’s good to see you again.
PIERRE
Oui, Se bon. And Mrs. Aton
JOY
Hi Pierre.
PIERRE
And this..
KIT
I'm Kit. Were a family.
PIERRE
Eh Bien
ERNST
I’ll be needing a bigger room. Of
course. (waives)
PIERRE
Ah Oui, Take measur' and his family
to the balcony suite.
Son sees many beautiful women in the hotel.
ERNST
Pace yourself; it’s a big city.
ERNST
Here.
(placing a handkerchief in
Kits Pocket)
Now you look like a gentleman.