150    EXT.  OCEAN FLOOR                                                                                                150

 

We SEE the submersibles.  First, the Deep Quest, then the Turtle, then the Sea Cliff.

 

151    INT.  TURTLE – CONTROL AREA                                                                          151

 

We SEE Giordino, DRUMMER and SPENCE.  Full concentration on their instruments and the oceanscape

outside.  Giordino is at the controls and is looking through one port.  Drummer is at the second port.  Spence is

on the sonar.

 

SPENCE

I think we’re spinning our wheels. 

I mean if you ask me we’re up

a creek without a paddle.

 

GIORDINO

Stay loose.  If you tighten up

you’ll never hit a curve ball. 

Check your lights.  Starboard

first.

 

151A EXT. UNDERWATER                                                                                              151A

 

As we HEAR Spence do the drill we SEE four starboard lights, one at a time, switch off, then back on.

 

SPENCE (V.O.)

One . . . okay.  Two . . . okay.  Three . . .

okay.  Four . . . okay.

 

151B INT. TURTLE                                                                                                           151B

 

DRUMMER

(to Giordino)

I think Spence is right.  We’re

shootin’ blanks down here.

 

SPENCE

Five weeks we spend in one spot

checking out the ocean floor

with a magnifying glass.  Then

all of a sudden . . . boom, we pick

up and move to a whole new

 location.

 

GIORDINO

So what?  Check port lights.

 

DRUMMER

So it looks to me like we got

a dingbat in the chart room. 

Somebody lost his compass.

 

151C EXT. UNDERWATER                                                                                             151C

 

Light drill again.

 

SPENCE (V.O.)

Five . . . okay . . . Six . . .

 

In the black silence there is a sudden DEAFENING ROAR.  A blinding flash of electric blue light silhouettes

Sea Cliff against the dark of the ocean.

 

SPENCE (V.O.)

(staying cool;

into the phone)

Control . . . Turtle to Control . . .

 

152    INT. C.I.C. ROOM – MODOC – BURK, MERKER AND PERSONNEL                152

 

SPENCE (V.O.)

. . . the pressure just ate one of

our lights . . . We’re checking for

further damage . . .

 

Burke and Merker exchange a look.

 

153    INT. TURTLE – GIORDINO                                                                                      153

 

With the eyes of the crew upon him.  A beat, then:

 

GIORDINO

Let’s take her up.

 

SPENCE

(into the phone)

Control.  This is Turtle.  Request

permission to surface.

 

154    EXT. OCEAN FLOOR                                                                                                 154

 

FULL SHOT.  The Turtle stops forward motion in preparation for ascent.  Suddenly . . . a sharp, persistent

BUZZER SOUND.

 

155    INT. TURTLE                                                                                                              155

 

The BUZZING CONTINUES.

 

GIORDINO

What’s that?

 

DRUMMER

We passed over something metallic. 

The scanner picked it up.

 

GIORDINO

Stay on it.  Get us a fix.

 

SPENCE

Let’s go aft.  Just ease it back.

 

156    EXT. OCEAN FLOOR                                                                                                 156

 

Turtle moves slowly backward.  The BUZZING SOUND gets more intense and penetrating.

 

DRUMMER (V.O.)

We’re on it.  It’s just below us.

 

GIORDINO (V.O.)

Roger.  We’ll hover right here. 

Drummer, stay on the magnetometer. 

Spence, sing out if you see something.

 

157    INT. TURTLE                                                                                                              157

 

In the area below the control pocket, we SEE Spence looking out the starboard viewport.  Giordino

energizes the grapplers.

 

158    EXT. TURTLE                                                                                                             158

 

We SEE two claw-like mechanical arms come out, flexing their pincers.

 

GIORDINO (V.O.)

(filter)

You see anything?

 

SPENCE (V.O.)

(filter)

Not yet.

 

159    INT. TURTLE                                                                                                              159

 

            All three men are staring through the glass or checking the TV screens.  Searching.

DRUMMER

From the sound we’re getting it

must be in those rocks.

 

SPENCE

Wait a minute . . .

 

GIORDINO

You spot something?

 

SPENCE

I think so.  At three o’clock. 

See that funny shape there? 

Looks like something wedged

between two rocks.

 

GIORDINO

Yeah.  It looks like . . . what the

heck is it?

 

DRUMMER

Looks like some kind of a bell.

 

160    THEIR POV                                                                                                                  160

 

We SEE, vaguely, the object they’re talking about.

 

GIORDINO (O.S.)

A bell?

 

SPENCE (O.S.)

That’s what it looks like.

 

GIORDINO

Drummer . . . you see it?

 

161    INT. TURTLE – TWO SHOT – DRUMMER AND SPENCE                                   161

 

DRUMMER

Yeah.  We’re on it.  Get us a

little closer.

 

162    EXT. TURTLE                                                                                                             162

 

It eases forward.  The two arms are trying to pick up the object.  They dislodge it.  It falls over the flat and

into the silt.

 

GIORDINO (V.O.)

(filter)

Come on, come on.

 

163    INT. TURTLE                                                                                                              163

 

Giordino is operating the grappling arms.

 

DRUMMER

Can you get it?

 

GIORDINO (V.O.)

Just about . . .

 

164    EXT. OCEAN FLOOR                                                                                                 164

 

The arm is trying to pick up the crusted, barnacled object.

 

SPENCE (V.O.)

. . . there you are.  You got it!

 

165    INT. TURTLE                                                                                                              165

 

LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS we SEE the hooked pulled object in through an opening into a

partially-enclosed, porch-like storage area, forward on the Turtle.

 

GIORDINO (V.O.)

What is it?

 

DRUMMER (V.O.)

Darned if I know.  Looks like . . .

I don’t know what.  Looks like

a horn.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

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