KING KONG script
...e pier. BEFORE THEY CAN MOVE A large CROCODILE suddenly LUNGES AT ANN! It's SNAPPING JAWS thrust in through her SIDE WINDOW. ANN falls back into JACK'S LAP ... The CROC'S shoulders are too wide for the window - it gets wedged, SNAPPING at ANN, inches short of her nose! MORE CROCODILES descend on the TRUCK, CLAWING AT JACK'S WINDOW and the WINDSCREEN - it threatens to break under the strain. A FLASHLIGHT BEAM plays on the car ... the TWO SOLDIERS approach holding RIFLES. JACK (CONT'D) (yelling) Shoot them! MORE CROCS scramble onto the TRAY, snapping through the broken REAR WINDOW! JACK and ANN huddle together, their mouths at water level, TEETH SNAPPING ALL AROUND THEM. JACK can see the TWO SOLDIERS through the SIDE MIRROR .. they're ENJOYING THE SHOW - cracking a private JOKE. JACK (CONT'D) (yelling) Come here! The TWO SOLDIERS don't respond. JACK (CONT'D) (yelling) I said come here! I don't have a will and I've got twenty grand stashed in a Singapore Bank. I want you to have it! As JACK speaks, he is GASPING FOR AIR and SPITTING OUT WATER ... The TWO SOLDIERS WARILY APPROACH, their rifles trained on JACK. JACK (CONT'D) I know you guys aren't sadistic, evil scum. I know you're really good boys at heart, and I want you and your families to get some pleasure from my lifetime of hard work. JACK'S POV The TWO SOLDIERS edge closer along the PIER -totally prepared for any trick JACK might pull ... Behind them - A HUGE FAT CROC has climbed the river bank and is WAITING STEALTHILY onto the pier!!! JACK (CONT'D) Royal Bank of Singapore ... Ask for Mr Sanyun Khan. For Christsake, don't get him mixed up with Sulkin Khan - the guy works at the next desk and is a total asshole. Won't give you anything! THE SOLDIERS NOD . The FAT CROC is getting near, but moving VERY SLOWLY.' ANN too is watching the approaching CROC through the MIRROR. A SNAPPING CROC nips JACK'S shoulder DRAWING BLOOD. He gasps... JACK (CONT'D) I'll give you the account number. You should write it down ... One ... Seven ... Guys! I'm real worried you're going to forget this! I've got enough stress at the moment - write the damn thing down! SOLDIER 1 lowers his rifle and pulls a NOTE-PAD out of his pocket - just as ... THE FAT CROC CHARGES! He covers the last few feet moving at LIGHTENING SPEED. He takes SOLDIER 2 in his JAWS and with a FLICK of his TAIL, sweeps SOLDIER 1 INTO THE WATER! ALL THE CROCS leave the TRUCK and descend on the THRASHING SOLDIER like a PACK OF PIRANHAS. ANN grabs the floating MAP, pushes the door open ... she and JACK quickly wade to the bank the water behind them a CHURNING MAELSTROM! The SOLDIER'S VEHICLE ... JACK races up to it and leans in - NO KEYS! JACK (CONT'D) Damn! He does retrieve a PISTOL from the back seat. He tucks it into his belt. CUT TO EXT. SUMATRAN ROAD - NIGHT ANN and JACK are walking along a road. PADDY FIELDS on one side, JUNGLE on the other ...the LIGHTS OF PALEMBANG are glowing about 3 miles ahead. CAR HEADLIGHTS appear behind them. They quickly duck into the UNDERGROWTH. ANN (excited) It's Dougie's car!! JACK hurries to the middle of the road, WAVING at the car. It slows down ... SUDDENLY ACCELERATES, BOWLING JACK!! He rolls across the hood, landing in a heap on the ground. ANN (CONT'D) (shocked) Jack! ANN runs over to him ... the CAR stops and RANDELL PEEK hops out! PEEK Oh God! I didn't see him! JACK'S EYES FLUTTER OPEN - he looks up to see ... PEEK suddenly club ANN! She topples over and PEEK snatches the map, an "it's my lucky night" look on his face. JACK tries to get up, but he's too stunned and can only watch as PEEK jumps back in the car and speeds away. CUT TO EXT. PALEMBANG HARBOR - DAWN The "Venture' is STEAMING AWAY from the DOCKS - SMOKE shoots out of it's FUNNEL as the boiler pressure rises ... The ORANGE LIGHT of DAWN fills the sky. CUT TO EXT. PALEMBANG DOCKS - DAWN JACK and ANN run onto the DOCK ... They look filthy, bruised and very tired. ANN watches in despair as the "VENTURE" leaves the HARBOR MOUTH. ANN (urgent) Where do I charter a boat? JACK There's nothing fast enough to catch that. Forget it. It's over. ANN (angry) I not doing this for me, Jack! It's for my father. This is possibly the greatest anthropological discovery of the last two hundred years! It belongs to him! I'm going to that island ... nothing's going to stop me! JACK glances at a NATIVE DUG-OUT. JACK You might have some luck with that ... if you paddle as fast as you talk. JACK turns and walks away, DUCKING INTO THE SHADOWS as a MILITARY VEHICLE cruises past in the distance. ANN (O.S.) Jack. JACK turns ... ANN is looking at the OLD 2-SEAT FLOAT-PLANE, beached on the muddy bank. It is a TOTAL WRECK - broken wings, rudder hanging by one hinge, control wires snapped and tangled. ANN (CONT'D) (hopeful) Can you fly? JACK Are you kidding?! That heap of junk will never leave the ground! He turns and carries on walking ... JACK (CONT'D) Besides, I've given it away. I ain't flown since the war. I ain't ever flying again. CUT TO EXT. SUMATRAN COAST - MORNING The "VENTURE" is a couple of miles off the Sumatran coast, and heading out to sea. INT. VENTURE BRIDGE -- MORNING CAPTAIN ENGLEHORN is steering the ship. DENHAM is pacing anxiously while KURT studies ANN'S PENCIL RUBBING. He is marking a course on a MODERN MAP. KURT Here! DENHAM watches with excitement as KIURT makes a CROSS in the middle of a vast empty ocean. KURT (CONT'D) It says the island is surrounded by salak-pur ... a fog bank. DENHAM How many days? ENGLEHORN (adement) There's no island there. We're wasting our time! DENHAM (angry) I'm chartering this vessel,Engelhorn - how many days? ENGLEHORN (sullen) Two... maybe three. The SOUND of an approaching PLANE!!! EXT. VENTURE DECK - MORNING DENHAM and KIURT come out onto the deck, scanning the sky for the plane ... KURT Mr Denham! KURT is pointing at the SEA. DENHAM (confused) What the - CRASH CUT TO EXT. SUMATRAN COAST - MORNING The OLD FLOAT-PLANE, is speeding along the SURFACE OF THE WATER! The engine is belching BLACK SMOKE, but is still propelling the wreck at a far rate of knots. The floats slow signs of HASTY REPAIR to keep them watertight. CLOSE ON JACK in the FRONT COCKPIT, with ANN behind him ... SEA SPRAY is showering them. JACK is keeping an eye on the GAUGES. CRASH CUT TO JACK (yelling above noise) I'm gonna pull along side. I can't cut the engine - she'll never start again. EXT. VENTURE/OCEAN - MORNING Most of the CREW are lining the DECKS, watching with AMUSEMENT as the FLOAT-PLANE pulls up along side. ENGLEHORN has cut the engines. DENHAM groans when he recognizes ANN. ANN (yelling) I'm coming onboard! Throw down a ladder! DENHAM (yelling) You're outta your depth here, Miss Darrow! ANN (yelling) There's no hard feelings, Mr Denham! I just want to come to the island with you! DENHAM (yelling) Does this look like the "Queen Mary"?? We don't take passengers! Full steam ahead, Captain Engelhorn! DENHAM walks away. JACK (sarcastic) Well, that was certainly worth the effort! Whaddya do for an encore? ANN suddenly reaches forward, SNATCHING THE PISTOL out of JACK'S belt! DENHAM and ENGELHORN head toward the BRIDGE ... BANG! BANG! ... GUNSHOTS! They race back to the side ... BANG! BANG! ANN is PUMPING BULLETS into the plane's FLOATS! It immediately starts SINKING! ANN (yelling) Are you going to stand there and watch us drown, Gentlemen? ENGLEHORN (O.S.) (orders) Throw down a ladder ... Quick now! CLOSE ON ... DENHAM. DENHAM (muttering) Shit! CUT TO EXT. OCEAN - DAY WIDE SHOT ... The "VENTURE" steaming towards the horizon. INT. ANN'S CABIN - DAY ANN is shown into a SMALL, FUNCTIONAL CABIN by KURT. ANN Thank you. EXT. VENTURE DECK - DAY KURT closes ANN'S door ... JACK is holding a BUNDLE OF DRY CLOTHES. Standing outside, KURT 'Fraid Miss Darrow' s taken the last cabin. I could put you - JACK (interrupts) I'll take care of myself. Thanks. JACK heads towards the FRONT OF THE SHIP. He approaches an OPEN DOOR ... A PAIR OF FEET protrude from beneath the door. JACK suddenly kicks the door! With a SCREAM, RANDELL PEEK drops to the deck, clutching his BLEEDING MOUTH! JACK (CONT'D) Sorry! I didn't see you there. JACK walks on. EXT. STERN DECK/VENTURE - DAY CLOSE ON A GOLF BALL sitting on a TEE. WHACK! DENHAM hits the ball OUT TO SEA ... He is aiming at a small raft with a GOLF HOLE & FLAG that is being towed a 100 yards behind the ship! He wears a CAP and PLUS FOURS. ANN (O.S.) Mr Denham ... DENHAM glances at ANN as he tees up again. She is wearing a borrowed set of MEN'S CLOTHES. ANN (CONT'D) Can I see the map? My father spoke of references to a Beast God ... DENHAM (interrupts briskly) Kong is a myth, nothing but a native superstition, Miss Darrow. All we're going to find on that island are some primitive people in grass skirts. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to reduce my handicap. DENHAM swings at the ball ... ANN Have you considered a personality transplant? DENHAM misses the ball. EXT. FORE-DECK - DAY HERB is CLEANING HIS CAMERA in the sunshine - it lies on a blanket IN PIECES. His SHOULDER is still BANDAGED from the TIGER ATTACK. ANN is relaxing beside him. HERB I know he can be a little crass, but Mr Denham's basically a good guy ... put both my kids through school. HERB lifts the CAMERA BODY and WINCES. ANN ANN How's your shoulder? HERB Shoulder's fine ... It's this - HERB pulls up his sleeve - ANN flinches at the sight of an UGLY SCAR on his arm. HERB (CONT'D) (matter-of-fact) Sea Lion up in Nova Scotia. No hospitals ... it was stitched up by an Eskimo housewife using penguin gut. The sinew never really mended. ANN That's terrible! HERB (misunderstanding) No, no - we got the shot. Mr Denham won an award for that picture. Personally I'm more proud of "Animal Love in the Rockies" -I got some wonderful footage of a pair of Grizzlies - er, you know ... mating. Excuse my language! HERB pulls up his TROUSER LEG, revealing AN ARTIFICIAL LIMB! HERB (CONT'D) Cost me my leg - but as Mr Denham says ... "Pain is temporary, Film is forever" ANN looks appalled. EXT. DECK - NIGHT ANN emerges from the door, walks past a COVERED LIFE BOAT and leans on the RAIL. KURT is hunched on a box, playing a VIOLIN. It is a HEAVY SEA, and SPRAY mists over ANN, her BLONDE HAIR blows in the wind ... it is a LYRICAL MOMENT. ANN (to KURT) Do you know "Brahm's Lullaby"? KURT (shakes head) Can't say I do, Miss Darrow. ANN When I was little and away from home, father would sing it to me when I got scared ... (singing softly)) "Lullaby and good-night, Go to bed and sleep tight ..." KURT recognizes the TUNE and JOINS in with his VIOLIN ... ANN continues singing, withdrawing her father's SILVER FOB-WATCH from her jacket. ANN (CONT'D) (singing softly) "Close your eyes, start to yawn, Pleasant dreams until dawn." ANN releases her father's WATCH and it disappears into the churning sea ... She wanders away down the deck. VOMIT SOUNDS ... ANN JUMPS WITH FRIGHT as the LIFEBOAT COVER suddenly lifts up and JACK leans out, THROWING UPi He glances at ANN with BLEARY EYES. JACK Haven't found my sea-legs yet. I'm not a good sailor ... bur's who's complaining? I'm on a wonderful cruise with first class accommodation ... and a beautiful babe has just walked into my bedroom. JACK rolls back in the LIFEBOAT ... JACK (CONT'D) Yeah! Life's looking pretty damn good at the moment. ANN I don't know what happened to you, Jack ... but I can't believe you were always this much of a bastard. JACK (shrugs) When this boat finally reaches Jakata, I'll be first off. You'll never see me again ... and believe me - that day cannot come soon enough. I've got no problem with you ignoring me for the rest of the voyage. ANN turns and walks away ... to the SOUND of the SOULFUL VIOLIN. INT. ANNE'S CABIN - DAWN ANN wakes to the SOUND of VOICES and RUNNING FEET. EXT. DECK - DAWN ANN emerges from her cabin, hurriedly pulling a SWEATER on. KIURT runs past, heading for the BRIDGE. KURT (excited) We've arrived! INT. BRIDGE - DAWN A SWEEPING PAN of the HORIZON ... ... NOTHING BUT EMPTY SEA. DENHAM, ENGLEHORN, KURT and ANN are standing BRIDGE, looking in ALL DIRECTIONS. ENGLEHORN (smug) I guess that answers your questions. There's no island on these co- ordinates - not even a lousy fog-bank. DENHAM (angry) Well, that was a monumental waste of time! I pay good money, only to be taken on some wild goose chase! (to KURT) I made the mistake of trusting my idiot translator! JACK arrives in the doorway ... He glances at the CHARTS. ANN It has to be here! It was on the map! ENGLEHORN I'm turning this ship around. We're charting a course for Jakata! ANN No! This is my father's discovery! You can't just abandon the search. DENHAM I have to apologize, Miss Darrow. It seems we've all been badly misled. Kurt! I want you to take this the right way - you're a genuine moron! ANN BREAKS DOWN INTO SOBS ... JACK looks at her - MAKES A DECISION ... JACK We're further south than this. He's pointing at the CROSS marking the island. ANN looks at him, a flicker of HOPE crosses her face. DENHAM raises his eyebrows ... ENGLEHORN FROWNS. JACK (CONT'D) I'd guess we're at least half a degree below the charted course. The island's a couple of hundred miles north-west. ENGLEHORN Impossible! JACK I know how to navigate, Captain Englehorn. You've made a mistake. ENGLEHORN (flustered) This is lunacy! He's talking nonsense. DENHAM (darkly) Steer a course north-west, Captain Englehorn. EXT. DECK - DAWN JACK is walking away from the bridge ... ANN runs after him. ANN Jack! JACK pauses ...he turns. She wipes the LAST OF HER TEARS AWAY ANN (CONT'D) I want to thank you. JACK It's ok.I know what you were feeling. ANN I can't imagine you crying. JACK Relax ... it was fifteen years ago. I don't do it now. JACK turns and walks away. CUT TO INT. DENHAM'S CABIN - NIGHT DENHAM hosting dinner for JACK and ANN. He is in a relaxed, jovial mood. He reaches under the TABLE and produces a GIFT-WRAPPED PRESENT ... he hands it to ANN - she is surprised. DENHAM It's time to smoke the peace pipe - as we say back in America. (gestures at gift) I bought it in Singapore for the wife, but I'd like you to have it. ANN holds up a PALE SATIN NIGHTDRESS and QUILTED DRESSING GOWN. JACK raises his eyebrows. DENHAM (CONT'D) I hope it fits ... Mrs Denham's a big lady. ANN (being polite) It's ... lovely. DENHAM Miss Darrow ... I've been thinking. I would very much like to dedicate this motion picture to the memory of your father. It's a great shame he wasn't able to join us on this adventure. Truly a wonderful man. JACK and ANN exchange a look. DENHAM (CONT'D) I thought that with your assistance we could have the premiere at the Albert Hall. We'll take out a full page ad in Variety - "The Lord Darrow Benefit screening". We'll invite the King of England - hell, we'll get the whole Royal Family along! It'd be good for them and good for us! ANN (pause) To be quite honest, Mr Denham ... I find the whole idea to be quite reprehensible. DENHAM grins and lights a CIGAR ... DENHAM Thank you! I thought it was quite clever myself! AT THAT MOMENT The SHIP'S ENGINES SUDDENLY STOP. DENHAM frowns. EXT. DECK/VENTURE - NIGHT DENHAM leads the way onto the deck, followed by JACK and ANN ... ALL THREE STARE IN AWE ... WIDE SHOT The "VENTURE" sits on a FLAT SEA, DWARFED by nearly vertical TOWERING WALT. OF FOG ... It rises hundreds of feet into the air, lit by an EERIE MOONLIGHT. INT. BRIDGE - NIGHT CLOSE ON ENGLEHORN knocks back a GLASS OF SCOTCH. He sits alone in the BRIDGE ... the ship has stopped, the wheel abandoned. DENHAM, ANN and JACK race into the BRIDGE. ENGLEHORN I can take you no further, Denham. Is trembling with fear. KURT arrives on the BRIDGE. DENHAM Kurt! Take her into the fog. Nice and slowly. KIURT pushes the lever to "Slow Ahead" and MANS THE WHEEL as the "VENTURE" starts to crawl towards the fog. ENGLEHORN downs ANOTHER SCOTCH. ENGLEHORN Seven years ago I picked up a castaway - the skipper of a Norwegian barque. The GROUP listen to ENGLEHORN in SILENCE. ENGLEHORN (CONT'D) I have never seen a man so mentally ravaged. He had gone blind, not through any injury -but because his mind could no longer deal with the terrible sights he had witnessed. I sat with him during his last night on earth, listening to his fevered whisperings. He spoke of sailing into a thick fog and of running aground on an uncharted island. He spoke of a huge wall, built by a long forgotten civilization and of a creature - neither man nor beast - that lived behind that wall. Of the thirty crewmen who made it ashore, he was the only one who looked into the eyes of the Beast and survived. ANN instinctively grasps JACK'S HAND. ENGLEHORN (CONT'D) If we sail into that fog, it will be the death of us all. LOW ANGLE DENHAM - the WINDOWS of the bridge behind him. ENGLEHORN (CONT'D) I'm not a man who easily succumbs to fear, Captain Englehorn. As DENHAM talks, the FOG swirls over the WINDOWS, encapsulating the "VENTURE" in a MILKY SHROUD. CUT TO EXT. FOG BANK - NIGHT The "VENTURE" glides silently through the fog. EXT. VENTURE DECKS - NIGHT MONTAGE ... TENSE FACES ANN ... JACK ... DENHAM ...ENGLEHORN. Nobody talks, just stares ahead into the gloom ... CREW line the front of the boat, looking for rocks ... The PROPELLERS push the ship forward ...The PROW cuts through the water. ANN There's a light up ahead. JACK Sun's coming up ... (checks watch) We've been in the fog for six hours. The FOG now glows a SICKLY YELLOW as the "VENTURE" glides on. EXT. UNDERWATER - DAWN The "VENTURE'S" HULL scraps against a CORAL OUTCROP. EXT. VENTURE DECKS - DAWN A SAILOR calls from the prow ... SAILOR (yelling) Eight fathoms! KURT is manning the wheel ... he glances at DENHAM, who is staring intently ahead. DENHAM Hold her steady ... ANN GASPS! The FOG is suddenly clearing ... within seconds the spectacular sight of S ISLAND materializes in front of them! ... About 7 miles long by 1 mile wide, STEEP CLIFFS rising from the sea, DENSE JUNGLE growth across it's interior. The island has several JAGGED RIDGES, dominated by a tall, sheer MOUNTAIN at the far end. ANN is looking through BINOCULARS. ANN (exited) I can see the wall! JACK takes the BINOCULARS ... BINOCULAR POV At the closest end, the island forms a NARROW PENINSULA ... jutting above the canopy of TREES, JACK can make out the top of a HUGE STONE WALL., seemingly cutting the peninsula off from the rest of the island. OTHER RUINS are visible ... At the foot of the peninsula is a SANDY BEACH, the only visible LANDING SITE. DENHAM has been conspicuously SILENT ... he is leaning against the rail, ENTRANCED by the island. CLOSE ON DENHAM. DENHAM (quietly) We've hit paydirt ... CUT TO EXT. SKULL ISLAND -- DAY Of the LONGBOATS is rowing towards the island. DENHAM, JACK, ANN, ENGLEHORN, KURT, HERB, PEEK and TWO SAILORS are on board. With the exception of ANN, JACK and HERB, everybody carries RIFLES. The "VENTURE" is moored in the background. HERB is FILMING from the prow. They row through jagged rocks ... past the WRECK of a wooden coastal schooner - possibly the NORWEGIAN BARQUE, ENGLEHORN referred to. The SKELETAL SHIP is a creepy sight - particularly the row of STRANGE BIRD- LIKE CREATURES perched along a rotten mainspar. The BOAT rounds an OUTCROP of rocks, and lines up for the shore ... An EERIE PHENOMENA suddenly occurs - The distant MOUNTAIN, a mid range RIDGE LINE and foreground ROCKS all line up - providing an abstract, but distinct image of a HUMAN SKULL ... visible only from that one position. ANN (captivated) Skull Island ... CUT TO EXT. BEACH - DAY The BOAT is washed onto the beach. HERB jumps out, CAMERA & TRIPOD on his shoulder. KURT jostles PEEK who is struggling with his TAPE RECORDER. PEEK (angry) Watch the tape recorder! You wanna buy me a new one? DENHAM Let me go first ... Roll camera! HERB films as DENHAM wades ashore, playing to the camera. DENHAM (CONT'D) (to cameras) This is a historic moment as Carl Denham becomes the first white man to set foot on virgin soil! ANN bounds excitedly up the beach. ANN Look! Runs towards the edge of the JUNGLE ... STONE STRUCTURES become visible, half buried in VINE STREWN JUNGLE. The style of stonework is unusual - As advanced as the INCAS or EGYPTIANS, but with flowing GAUDI-like lines and the strange mixture of STONE, BRONZE and BONE seen earlier. ANN heads towards an ARCHWAY, set into a cliff. It is clearly the ENTRANCE to a tunnel. She is so excited, like a little girl at a picnic ... JACK realizes she's unstoppable and runs after her, calling back to the others. JACK Everybody stay close! KURT and PEEK follow JACK, but DENHAM no intention of compromising his film. DENHAM Get a shot of me discovering the ruins, Herb! HERB sets up. INT. TUNNEL/CRYPT - DAY ANN is leading JACK, KURT and PEEK into the tunnel. It is man-made, and ORNATELY DECORATED. LIGHT FILTERS in through cracks in the roof and occasional areas where STONES have fallen in. The TUNNEL suddenly widens out to a large CHAMBER ... The GROUP collectively GASP at the sight of over a hundred MUMMIES lining the walls! They are all neatly arranged in alcoves and are dressed in some kind of CEREMONIAL clothing ... A HUGE STATUE of KONG stands sentry at the far end of the chamber - which clearly carries on through another archway. The place has the atmosphere of a Cathedral. ANN picks up a SMALL. BRONZE FIGURINE of KONG ... ANN (exited) It's the same image - Kong! JACK Leave it, Ann. OLD DRIED FLOWERS adorn the MUMMIES, arranged in garlands ... JACK frowns as he approaches one MUMMY, decorated with BRIGHTER THAN USUAL flowers ... he touches them. JACK (CONT'D) These are fresh ... EXT. BEACH/JUNGLE - DAY DENHAM is onto his third take of a shot which involves him pulling vines away from a statue and reacting in terribly theatrical manner. HERB'S VIEWFINDER POV DENHAM pulls vines away and REACTS ... he suddenly looks past CAMERA and REACTS with GENUINE ALARM as SPEARS enter HERB'S SHOT! They are pointing at DENHAM. CLOSE ON HERB, his eye to the eyepiece as we sense FIGURES gathering BEHIND HIM. DENHAM (tense) Keep rolling, Herb. ENGLEHORN and the TWO SAILORS close in behind DENHAM, RIFLES at the ready. WIDER A steadily increasing GROUP of SKULL ISLAND NATIVES are emerging from the thick undergrowth between the ruins. DENHAM'S EYES flick left and right as he becomes aware that his small party is becoming surrounded. The SKULL ISLAND NATIVES are similar to Solomon Islanders Their skins are very dark, their features broad - but that is where the Melonesian likeness stops ... Like the architecture, their dress, head-wear and weapons suggest an INCA or EGYPTIAN level of culture, but with a fierceness, or even violence suggested in their design. This is not afro and grass skirt territory - these people are SCARY ... we will refer to them as "NATIVES" ... The NATIVES have their WEAPONS poised ... a TENSE MOMENT, it could go either way. DENHAM offers his hand to the LEAD NATIVE. DENHAM (CONT'D) Hi, Carl Denham ... how's it going? Do you boys mind if we do a little filming? The LEAD NATIVE raises a knife ... DENHAM blanches ... fingers TIGHTEN on TRIGGERS ... The LEAD NATIVE produces a leather GOURD and stabs it -MILKY LIQUID flows out. He takes a mouthful and offers it to DENHAM. ENGLEHORN (tense) Take a drink, Denham. DENHAM drinks a mouthful and passes it to ENGLEHORN and the SAILORS. DENHAM wipes his lips, relieved at this gesture of friendliness. He clamps a hand on the LEAD NATIVE'S shoulder. DENHAM Sir ... How would you like to star in a major motion picture? (belches) ... I can offer you some net points! CUT TO INT. TUNNELS/CRYPT - DAY JACK, ANN, PEEK and KURT are in the MUMMY chamber when the DRUMS START ... accompanied by a LOW MOANING, almost TRANCE-like. ANN leads the way further up the tunnel complex - towards the SOUND. PEEK This is crazy! We gotta go back to the ship - get more guys! The OTHERS ignore him and continue their WARY journey ... INT. SKULL CHAMBER - DAY JACK, ANN, KURT, followed by PEEK - too scared to head back by himself - walk into a large chamber, about the size of a squash court. DAYLIGHT FLOODS IN through openings carved in the representation of the EYES, NOSE and MOUTH of a SKULL ... The MOUTH being the doorway which leads straight into the heart of the NATIVE CITY. The RITUALISTIC SOUNDS are very LOUD. The GROUP hurry across the chamber and peer out Of the doorway, careful to remain concealed ... They stare in WONDERMENT at the sight ahead ... EXT. NATIVE CITY -- DAY SPECTACULAR RUINS surround an open square ... It is FILLED with NATIVES - in the midst of a WEIRD RITUALISTIC CEREMONY ... A YOUNG WOMAN sits bedecked in flowers atop AN ALTAR in the center of the square ... ... DWARFING ALL ELSE is the WALL. It rises directly from the square, towering 5 stories into the air. A STONE structure, with ORNATE CARVINGS and decorated with HUGE TUSK-like BONES and BRONZE KONG figures. In the center of the wall is an ENORMOUS 40 foot WOODEN GATE, strongly built and very old. From the vines and weeds that grow from cracks, it has clearly not been used for many years. The wall is not vertical on this side - it slopes like the pyramids, allowing quick access to the top. JACK frowns ... DENHAM, ENGLEHORN, HERB and the TWO SAILORS are TAKING PART in the CEREMONY!! They are totally out of it - DENHAM is stripped down to his BOXER SHORTS and GARTERED SOCKS! He is in a frenzied dance with 2 NATIVE GIRLS, drinking greedily from the GOURD, milky fluid spilling down his chest ... ENGLEHORN is on his knees in some kind of FERVOR, MAIDENS smearing paint over his bare chest, a WITCH-DOCTOR piercing his nose with a ring! HERB and the TWO SAILORS are in similar states of DRUG INDUCED DELIRIUM. PEEK Holy shit! The NATIVES suddenly drop to their knees, all facing the YOUNG WOMAN who remains STRANGELY SERENE. They start CHANTING softly ... "KONG ... KONG ... KONG" ANN (whispering) She looks like a bride ... Is it a wedding? KURT It's a sacrificial ceremony. They're gonna kill the girl. ANN looks at him ... HORRIFIED. JACK (sudden urgency) She's not the only one! From JACK'S position he can see YOUNG NATIVE MEN armed with SPIKED CLUBS quickly closing in on DENHAM, ENGLEHORN, HERB and the TWO SAILORS - who are still off their faces, oblivious to their own impending deaths. JACK turns to PEEK. JACK (CONT'D) Give me your gun! PEEK (worried) What for? JACK (yelling) Give it to me! JACK wrenches the RIFLE out of PEEK'S grasp ... TOO LATE! SAILOR 1 is clubbed to the ground] JACK targets ANOTHER NATIVE about to kill ENGLEHORN ... BANG! The NATIVE is shot off his feet! ... The CEREMONY SUDDENLY GOES QUIET! Without the incessant noise, we can clearly hear DENHAM SINGING a MUSIC HALL TUNE. JACK steps out into the SQUARE, SWINGING the RIFLE from SIDE TO SIDE ... The LOUD GUNSHOT has stunned the NATIVES, but JACK knows they haven't got much time. JACK (CONT'D) (urgent) We're heading back to the ship. Grab them! KURT and PEEK step into the square ... followed by ANN. The NATIVES GASP! They stare at her ... She looks around nervously, GOLDEN HAIR swirling in the SUNLIGHT. NATIVES resume their chant "KONG ... KONG ... KONG" - except this time it's DIRECTED AT ANN! ANN, KURT and PEEK quickly steer DENHAM, ENGLEHORN, HERB and SAILOR 2 back through the RUINED CITY towards the beach. They have to herd them like sheep ... DENHAM is staring at his fingers like someone who has never seen a hand before ... ENGLEHORN is GIGGLING at some private joke. A NATIVE starts rising ... JACK fires into the air, and they back away EN MASS. PEEK puts his hands over his ears as over 100 NATIVES suddenly emit a strange PIERCING SCREECH like a pack of frightened monkeys. JACK (CONT'D) (yelling) Go ... Go! ANN pushes DENHAM, drags ENGLEHORN by the hand ... KURT has LIFTED HERB over his shoulder ... EXT. RUINED CITY/JUNGLE - DAY The GROUP hurrying through the last of the RUINS ... nearing the BEACH. NATIVES are following them, stealthily slipping behind RUINS and UNDERGROWTH ... ALL EYES ON ANN. JACK is covering their retreat, occasionally shooting over the NATIVE'S HEADS if they get too close. PEEK is roughly shoving SAILOR 2 along - he suddenly STOOPS DOWN, snatching up DENHAM'S discarded RIFLE ... He spins around and starts shooting straight at the NATIVES! PEEK (screaming) Get back you bastards ... Back! The NATIVES suddenly FRENZY at the sight of their comrades FALLING DEAD ... THEY CHARGE! JACK (yelling) Run! EXT. BEACH - DAY ANN races across the sand, pushing DENHAM and ENGLEHORN ... KURT staggers towards the boat, carrying HERB. He spins around, FIRING HIS RIFLE one handed ... JACK is FIRING ... PEEK runs past, heading for the boat -having abandoned SAILOR 2 to his fate ... he falls under a sea of NATIVE CLUBS and SPEARS. KURT reaches the boat, dumping HERB on top of PEEK. He pulls ANN, DENHAM and ENGLEHORN in as the NATIVES flood across the beach. JACK pushes off and clambers into the boat ... They rapidly head out to sea, leaving the NATIVES SCREAMING on the beach. CUT TO INT. DENHAM'S CABIN/VENTURE - NIGHT DENHAM is slumped across the table, holding his head ... EYES BLOODSHOT, SALIVA hangs in a drop from his chin ... It's the hangover from hell! KURT/RT is fussing around ... he offers DENHAM a GLASS OF LIVER SALTS. The CABIN DOOR swings open and ENGLEHORN stands there, supporting himself in the doorway. He looks worse than DENHAM, mainly due to the RING PIERCING HIS NOSE - the whole area has come up in a NASTY BRUISE. It is now NIGHT ... clearly several hours having passed since their return to the ship. ENGLEHORN (gasping) They're stoking the boilers. As soon as we've got some steam, we're outta here. DENHAM (slurred) We should never have come! I pay you good money, only to have my life endangered. You'll be hearing from my lawyer! ENGLEHORN gives DENHAM a parting SCOWL, and staggers away... EXT. VENTURE DECKS - NIGHT ENGLEHORN lurches down the deck. ENGLEHORN (gasped yell) Prepare the ship for sailing! JACK is leaning against the rail, looking at Skull Island. ANN hurries over. ANN (worried) Jack! JACK We're leaving. ANN But . . . we can' t Jack, I need time to collect artifacts ... make sketches ... gather evidential information. JACK (sighs) Ann ... you're father is dead. You have nothing to prove anymore. ANN'S hand TIGHTENS on something in her pocket. JACK frowns and gently pulls her hand out ... she's clutching the small KONG FIGURINE! JACK (CONT'D) Oh Jesus ... you took it. ANN Jack! This is the archeological find of the century! JACK (angry) This shit is bad luck! Don't you understand? You treat it like a game - two men have already died! JACK grabs the FIGURINE. ANN (angry) Give it back! JACK I'm not sailing with this thing on board! ANN (horrified) No! Don't! JACK THROWS IT OVERBOARD! ANN (CONT'D) (furious) You bastard! ANN tries to STRIKE JACK - he GRABS HER WRISTS. JACK Don't blame me if something bad happens, coz I ain't gonna be around to save you! ANN pulls away. ANN (yelling) Save me? Is that what you think your role in life is? You've been out of circulation far too long! Things have moved on since Tarzan and Jane! You poor, puffed up little peacock of a man - you're pathetic! Storms off ... JACK looks HURT. INT. ANN'S CABIN - NIGHT POV from ANN'S PORTHOLE The PENINSULA on SKULL ISLAND is AGLOW with an ORANGE LIGHT ... DRUMS and CHANTING can be heard ... PULL back into ANN'S CABIN. She is sitting on the bed, hugging her knees ... looking at the island. The "VENTURE'S" ENGINES start HUMMING, drowning out sounds from the NATIVES. ANN looks THOUGHTFUL ... EXT. VENTURE DECK - NIGHT ANN steps onto the DECK, hugging the coat around her shoulders. She looks around ... The TARPAULIN on JACK'S LIFEBOAT moves. ANN approaches it... ANN Jack? About those things I said ... I didn't mean it. Jack, I'm sorry. KURT (O.S.) (yelling) Weigh the anchor! LOW ANGLE from inside LIFEBOAT looking up at ANN She sighs, leans against the boat ... SUDDENLY! TWO NATIVES RISE BEHIND ANN!!! They grab her, clamping a hand over her mouth! WIDER SEVERAL NATIVES are silently creeping over the -VENTURE"! They lift ANN over the side ... she STRUGGLES helplessly as they PASS HER DOWN into a NATIVE DUG OUT. WITHOUT A SOUND, THE NATIVES slip back into their CANOES and paddle away towards SKULL ISLAND! JACK (O.S.) (alarmed) ANN!!! JACK is running along the DECK, having just CAUGHT A GLIMPSE of the CANOES before they VANISH into the GLOOM. The "VENTURE'S" ENGINES WIND UP and she starts MOVING AWAY towards the FOG BANK! INT. DENHAM'S CABIN - NIGHT JACK bursts into DENHAM'S cabin ... JACK They've taken Ann! DENHAM grunts and reaches for his clothes. EXT. VENTURE DECK - NIGHT JACK runs along the ship, yelling at the WHEEL-HOUSE. JACK Stop the ship! ENGLEHORN emerges from the wheel-house. JACK (CONT'D) Ann's been taken! DENHAM strides down the deck. DENHAM (yelling) All hands on deck! I want volunteers! SAILORS flood out of doorways. CUT TO INT. VENTURE ARMORY - NIGHT DENHAM is in the bowels of the ship ... He is unlocking a HEAVY PADLOCKED DOOR while about JACK and 20 SAILORS crowd in behind him. DENHAM A man's gotta have a little insurance in a job like mine ... DENHAM throws the door open ... 25 brand new THOMPSON SUB-MACHINE GUNS are neatly lined up in racks. Complete with 70 round drum magazines, the TOMMY GUN is the Chicago gangster's weapon-of-choice. DENHAM swings around, clipping a DRUM into his TOMMY GUN ... a FAT CIGAR in his mouth. DENHAM (CONT'D) Carl Denham Productions has lust declared war on Skull Island! CUT TO EXT. NATIVE CITY - NIGHT CLOSE ON ANN ... She is being prepared for SACRIFICE! NATIVES are holding her arms ... A BRIDAL HEAD-DRESS is placed on her head, COVERING HER HAIR. She is in the middle of the CROWDED SQUARE, lit by FLAMING TORCHES. She closes her eyes ... STRANGELY SUBDUED. The WITCH-DOCTOR DANCES in front of her, FLICKING OILS from a small pot over her body. ANN SUDDENLY LASHES OUT She kicks the WITCH-DOCTOR in the NUTS, simultaneously PULLING HER HANDS FREE and RUNNING through the crowd towards the beach' She only gets 5 paces ... ANN is TACKLED and ROUGHLY HOISTED ONTO the ALTAR. HER HANDS are tied securely to 2 ornately carved pillars. TEARS flood into her eyes. "KONG ... KONG ... KONG" THE CHANT begins. NATIVES start TURNING a HUGE WHEEL and the ALTAR STARTS TO CLIMB the slope towards the TOP OF THE WALL, moving on tracks like a primitive cable car. CLOSE ON NATIVE FACES, screaming and Chanting, building up to a FRENZY. They climb the WALT behind ANN, carrying FLAMING TORCHES. NATIVE SOUNDS FADE AWAY ... BEAUTIFUL, SAD MUSIC drifts in, giving the sequence an ETHEREAL ATMOSPHERE. EXT. WALL./JUNGLE - NIGHT ANN is weeping as the ALTAR reaches the top of the wall. For the first time, we get a glimpse of the OTHER SIDE ... The WALL falls away vertically into a ROCKY GROTTO that leads into the DENSE TANGLED JUNGLE of S ISLAND. The ALTAR stops ON TOP OF THE WALL.. Over 100 natives arrive just behind ANN, and spread out along the parapet. 2 NATIVES in CEREMONIAL COSTUME kneel beside the ALTAR, quickly and expertly adjusting BOLTS AND LEVERS. They signal back down to the SQUARE ... ANN gasps as the ALTAR suddenly lurches out OVER THE EDGE OF THE WALL! It is being slowly SWUNG OUT over the GROTTO by a pair of cantilevered arms, hinged at the base of the wall. CLOSE ON NATIVE torches LIGHT POOLS OF OIL contained in cavities at the top of the wall. SMALL DAMS are released, allowing the FLAMING OIL to flow down CHUTES and CHANNELS, cleverly cut into the cliffs on either side of the grotto. The FLAMING OIL ignites LARGER POOLS in HUGE HOLLOWED OUT CHAMBERS within the cliffs - carved into the shape of SKULLS. The SKULLS burst into GLOWING LIFE - just like 40 foot high HALLOWEEN PUMPKINS! WIDE SHOT ANN looks TINY atop the ALTAR which has almost reached the ground ... The ENORMOUS GLOWING SKULLS illuminating her ... The WALL TOWERING UP BEHIND HER. NATIVES line the top of the wall, holding FIERY TORCHES. The ALTAR settles into neatly CARVED RECESSES. THE HUGE GONG STARTS TOLLING ... ANN is facing the INKY BLACK JUNGLE ... She is PANTING hard, trying to face her death with as much composure as she can muster. A LOUD SPLINTERING SOUND comes from within the JUNGLE -something VERY BIG is moving towards the GROTTO! NATIVES CHANT "KONG ... KONG ... KONG" ANN instinctively pulls at her bonds - to no avail. She can now see a DARK SHAPE approaching her. OILY SMOKE from the FIRES drifts across, OBSCURING HER VISION ... she can now only hear the FOOTSTEPS. It is a HUGE CREATURE, BREATHING HEAVILY ... It stops in front of her - SMOKE still blocking her vision ... She looks down - a GIANT LEATHERY FOOT is visible! She looks up into the murk ... TEARS ROLL DOWN HER CHEEKS... The NATIVES suddenly go SILENT. KONG! ... a 25 foot SILVER-BACK GORILLA.A. His fur is MATTED, ANCIENT SCARS mark his body - evidence of life and death struggles with unknown beasts. His face is AGED - SILVER HAIR predominant. He is resting on his KNUCKLES. KONG rises on his hind legs and BEATS HIS CHEST ... ANN SCREAMS!!! ALL the NATIVE'S launch into their piercing MONKEY SCREECH ... It WINDS KONG UP! He leans down, ROARING only inches from ANN'S FACE, then suddenly starts PACING FURIOUSLY from SIDE TO SIDE - like a caged animal. He ROARS at the NATIVES atop the WALL. KONG suddenly CHARGES at the WOODEN GATE! He crashes against it, causing the ENTIRE WALL TO SHUDDER violently ... A NATIVE loses his balance and topples off! He THUDS INTO THE GROUND at KONG'S FEET ... KONG quickly scoops him up and BITES HIS HEAD OFF in a PG 13 kinda way! The NATIVES ROAR like spectators in a gladiator's arena. KONG leans over ANN ... The strength suddenly drains out of her legs and she SLUMPS between the pillars. KONG reaches forward and with an almost delicate touch, he lifts her in his hand. She SCREAMS as she rises into the air ... TOWARDS HIS MOUTH. He ROARS at her, and turns abruptly back to the JUNGLE. The NATIVES CHANT "KONG ... KONG ... KONG" SUDDENLY! BAM! BAM! BAM! NATIVES topple in a BURST OF GUNFIRE! EXT. NATIVE CITY - NIGHT JACK is leading the charge into the RUINED CITY! 40 GUYS - most armed with TOMMY GUNS - are blazing in all directions! The NATIVES flee in a MAD PANIC as JACK runs straight for the GATE. He rushes up to a small OBSERVATION GRILL ... JACK'S POV KONG disappearing into the JUNGLE clutching ANN - she is SCREAMING and KICKING. JACK turns back to the SAILORS ... JACK (urgent) Ann's alive! Quick! JACK backs away from the wall, and starts FIRING his TOMMY GUN at the BOLT securing the WOODEN GATE. OTHER SAILORS join in, SPLINTERING the TIMBERS in a HAIL OF LEAD. Ail 40 SAILORS push the HUGE GATE and it slowly OPENS, exposing the JUNGLE beyond. DENHAM runs up, SWEATING AND PANTING. DENHAM Did you see her? JACK Yeah, I saw her ... she was carried into the jungle by ... an animal. DENHAM (worried) What was it, Jack? JACK HESITATES ... JACK An ape ... some kind of ape. DENHAM sighs with relief ... He turns to the SAILORS. DENHAM (heroic) Did you hear that, boys? We're looking for a monkey! Englehorn -stay here with twenty men. Keep the natives at bay. The rest of you, follow me! (to HERB) Cut! Was that great or what? HERB has been FILMING DENHAM! HERB GREAT, MR DENHAM' JACK grabs DENHAM'S ARM. JACK Listen buddy! Cut the crap! We're looking for Ann, not making a Goddamn movie! DENHAM Jack ... You get to save the girl and I get my third act! It's gonna be good for you and good for me! JACK You better not slow us down, Denham! JACK hurries through the gates towards the JUNGLE, followed by DENHAM, PEEK, HERB, KURT and 20 sailors. JACK (CONT'D) Single file - never lose sight of the man in front! CUT TO EXT. SKULL ISLAND JUNGLE - NIGHT Beyond the GREAT WALl., SKULL ISLAND is like no place you've ever seen before ... The VOLCANIC ROCKS form a JAGGED, TORTURED LANDSCAPE of DEEP ASSES and TOWERING CLIFFS. The vegetation is THICK, the JUNGLE DARK. ANCIENT KNARLED TREES twist out of the ground, thick LICHEN and long MOSSES hang form branches and TANGLED VINES. STEAM RISES from festering SWAMPS[PS ... DEEPER into the island, the steam is VOLCANIC - hissing out of FISSURES and BUBBLING MUD POOLS. The way light and contrast plays on the landscape is reminiscent of the etchings of 19th century artist Gustave Dore. It is into this "Jurassic Park from Hell" that JACK leads DENHAM and the party of TWENTY SAILORS. HERB is limping along with the heavy CAMERA & TRIPOD on his shoulder. DENHAM suddenly looses his footing and SPRAWLS ON THE GROUND ... his EYES WIDEN at the sight of the deep KONG FOOTPRINT he has just stepped in. DENHAM Holy shit! Look at the size of that! JACK That's your monkey, Denham. DENHAM Kong ... DENHAM'S EYES meet JACK'S - he is scared. So are the SAILORS ... everyone suddenly has their FINGERS ON THE TRIGGER, eyes nervously scanning the THICK JUNGLE. A NOISE! Cracking BRANCHES ... heavy FOOTSTEPS The SAILORS PANIC! The start FIRING in ALL DIRECTIONS, the flashes from TOMMY GUNS and RIFLES, blinding in the darkness. JACK (yelling)) Hey! Stop! Cut it out! SILENCE ... Smoke drifts away from the guns as the GROUP listens for SOUNDS ... Like a pair of mighty trees being felled, Two DEAD prehistoric creatures - 30 foot tall LAMBEOSAURS -suddenly topple out of the gloomy foliage and THUD TO THE GROUND in front of the startled SAILORS!! They warily approach the DEAD DINOSAURS ... DENHAM Hey! I thought these things were supposed to be extinct! JACK (dryly)) They are now. JACK and the SAILORS look in awe at the bodies of the HUGE BEASTS. JACK pulls a LEAFY BRANCH out of a LAMBEOSAUR's MOUTH. JACK (CONT'D) They were just tasting the berries. DENHAM (grunts) Yeah? ... Well, I gave 'em a taste of American lead ... and I don't see 'em coming back for seconds! CUT TO EXT. NATURAL AMPHITHEATER - NIGHT KONG climbs down into a ROCKY HOLLOW - a vine-strewn natural AMPHITHEATER. He DROPS ANN TO THE GROUND, and stands over her, poised on his knuckles. ANN Looks up at KONG ... She doesn't move ... He leans over her and ROARS! ANN suddenly scrambles to her feet and RUNS! Within seconds KONG has OVERTAKEN HER and blocked her path ... ANN turns and runs in the other direction. Again KONG blocks her path - it is clear that he is playing CAT AND MOUSE. ANN trips on something and falls over - A HUMAN RIB-CAGE juts out of the MUDDY GROUND. ANN sobs as she SEES ALL AROUND HUMAN BONES, some still encased in the remnants of BRIDAL DRESS and HEAD-WEAR ... This place is KONG'S KILLING GROUND! KONG scoops ANN up ... lifts her TOWARDS HIS MOUTH! She SCREAMS and struggles in his grip. His MOUTH OPENS and she KICKS and BEATS HIS FINGERS in a seemingly hopeless attempt to fight for her life. Suddenly ... The NATIVE HEADDRESS FALLS OFF. Her LONG BLONDE HAIR falls onto her shoulders. KONG suddenly pauses ... ANN is frozen - she is looking into KONG'S EYES, trying to anticipate his next move. ANN (scarcely audible) "Lullaby and good night, Go to bed and sleep tight ... KONG TOUCHES HER HAIR, as if mesmerized ... ANN (CONT'D) Pleasant dreams until dawn." KONG'S LIPS peel back, exposing HUGE TEETH and PINK GUMS. KONG suddenly pulls ANN PROTECTIVELY to his breast, ROARS FieRCELY and DISAPPEARS into the DARK JUNGLE. CUT TO EXT. SKULL ISLAND VISTA - DAWN The SUN rises over the ROCKY CRAGS of SKULL MOUNTAIN. EXT. PINNACLE VALLEY - MORNING CLOSE ON KONG'S FOOTPRINT ... in a SANDY dried-up stream bed. JACK looks up at the direction KONG has taken ... The tracks head towards a SHEER CLIFF on the side of a NARROW, DRY VALLEY, an area deep in the heart of SKULL ISLAND, dominated by spectacular PINNACLES of STONE, jutting out of the ground like giant fingers. The VALLEY is less than 75 feet wide, flanked by sheer, seemingly unscalable cliffs. JACK wipes the sweat from his brow, looking for a possible route up the cliff. Further down the valley, DENHAM and the SAILORS are grouped around the camera ... CLOSE ON An ANKYLOSAUR is being PELTED WITH STONES ... HERB is filming, whilst DENHAM and the SAILORS try to coax some action out of the slow-witted, cow-sized DINOSAUR ... It staggers around in confusion. DENHAM (frustrated) People'il think it's a Goddamn guy in a suit! DENHAM suddenly gets an idea ... DENHAM (CONT'D) HEY! I GOTTA GREAT IDEA! WE COULD TURN THIS PLACE INTO A HUGE AMUSEMENT PARK SORTA LIKE CONEY ISLAND WITH DINOSAURS! (excited) It's a goldmine! I'll cut you boys in for twenty percent! We're gonna be rich! The SAILORS CHEER. JACK Hey! JACK is yelling from up the valley, waving for the group to join him. JACK (CONT'D) This way! Come on Frowns at JACK. DENHAM Let's keep this between ourselves...asshole's are not included! SAILORS LAUGH. AT THAT MOMENT ... The GROUND TREMBLES! The SAILORS look around - ALARMED. JACK almost loses his footing as the ground under him literally BOUNCES. He looks up the WINDING VALLEY ... A DUST CLOUD suddenly spills out from around the next corner ... immediately followed by the BREATHTAKING SIGHT of a herd of TWELVE BRONTOSAURS, RUNNING in a WILD PANIC, down the narrow valley!! A PACK of 15 CARNOTAURS - 9 foot tall MEATEATERS - are PURSUING THEM. Spectacular TRACKING SHOT With the STAMPEDE ... A CARNOTAURUS leaps onto the back of a FLEEING BRONTOSAUR, causing the it to falter and slide against the cliff. TWO MORE CARNOTAURUS leap onto the ailing BRONTOSAUR as the rest of the pack stream past. JACK turns and starts running! The STAMPEDING DINOSAURS are stretched across the valley behind him, less than fifty yards away and closing! JACK runs down the rocky slope towards DENHAM and the SAILORS - who seem to be frozen in fear! JACK (yelling) Run! EVERYONE TURNS and FLEES! GUNS and EQUIPMENT are abandoned ... HERB hoists the TRIPOD & CAMERA on his shoulder and limps after the others! JACK is running as fast as he can ... he glances over his shoulder - the WALT. Of THUNDERING BRONTOSAUR LEGS are about to ENGULF HIM! JACK changes direction slightly, to make sure he is BETWEEN DINOSAURS ... They overtake JACK and he suddenly finds himself in a SEA of HUGE LEGS -like wildly pounding Redwood trees! The CARNOTAURS are snapping and snarling at the LEGS ... They see JACK! His only hope of survival is too stay WITHIN THE STAMPEDE, out of reach of the MEATEATERS! PEEK is running faster than the others He is way ahead, still clutching his TOMMY GUN ... as the STAMPEDE engulfs DENHAM and the OTHER SAILORS. QUICK IMAGES 20 SAILORS in the SEA OF LEGS ... A SAILOR trips and is CRUSHED UNDER FOOT. A COUPLE OF SAILORS lump clear of the BRONTOSAURS - only to be set on by the CARNOTAURS. DENHAM .. HERB . . . SAILORS, everyone is running madly, dodging 'BRONTOSAURS, CARNOTAURS and trying not to trip' A CARNOTAUR focuses on JACK ... It skillfully weaves IN BETWEEN and UNDER BRONTOSAURS and emerges right behind JACK, it's SNAPPING JAWS inches away from his head! JACK suddenly SIDE-STEPS, bringing the CARNOTAUR right along side ... he SHOULDER-BARGES it SIDEWAYS - under a BRONTOSAURS LEGS. The CARNOTAUR is instantly trampled! PEEK is managing to stay ahead of the stampede - possibility RUNNING FASTER than any human before him! A CARNOTAUR races out in front of the stampede and bears down on PEEK with incredible speed! PEEK desperately waves the TOMMY GUN back towards the CARNOTAUR ...TOWARDS THE STAMPEDE! JACK sees it coming ... JACK (CONT'D) (yelling) NO!!! PEEK FIRES, missing the CARNOTAUR ... ... but he hits the LEAD BRONTOSAUR in the chest. The BRONTOSAUR COLLAPSES AT FULL SPEED! It CARTWHEELS OVER, it's huge NECK and TAIL thrashing out. The OTHER BRONTOSAURS PLOUGH INTO IT, tripping and rolling! JACK, DENHAM and the SAILORS suddenly find themselves in the middle of an amazing FLESHY FREIGHT TRAIN PILE-UP! SAILORS are crushed as BRONTOSAURS come down on top of them! A CARNOTAUR is squashed when TWO BRONTOSAURS slam together. JACK throws himself onto the ground, rolling against a rock as MOUNTAINS of BRONTOSAUR TUMBLE all around him. The space of seconds, the MIGHTY HERD of BEHEMOTHS is reduced to a VAST PILE of DEAD or WOUNDED ANIMALS ... The CARNOTAURS immediately go to work, leaping onto BRONTOSAURS, ripping into fleshy stomachs. Amazingly JACK, DENHAM, HERB and at least 9 SAILORS have survived ... however, they must now escape from the blood crazed MEATEATERS. JACK crawls past huge HEAVING BELLY'S and TWITCHING LEGS ... he looks around for some escape route ... He spots PEEK - desperately scrambling up a steep rocky slope. It leads to a narrow fissure in the cliff - a possible way out. JACK staggers out of the DINOSAUR PILE-UP ... he turns back at the SOUND OF LOUD HISSING - A Carnotaur is climbing over a DEAD BRONTOSAUR, intent on JACK ... he can do nothing! The CARNOTAUR leaps ... BAM! BAM! BAM! The CARNOTAUR is suddenly riddled with BULLETS and falls DEAD at JACK'S FEET! KURT hurries towards JACK clutching his TOMMY GUN! KURT I'LL keep the bastards at bay'. JACK nods ... he waves at SURVIVING SAILORS that are emerging from the PILE-UP. JACK (yelling) This way! SURVIVING SAILORS scramble past JACK and head up the steep slope. DENHAM puffs his way past - not looking at JACK - totally focused on personal survival. By some miracle, HERB limps out of the PILE-UP, covered in DUST -but still carrying the CAMERA & TRIPOD on his shoulders! KURT blasts at a CARNOTAUR'S - it TOPPLES BACKWARDS. He turns to JACK ... KURT Go Jack! JACK heads up the slope. KURT backs away ... TWO CARNOTAURS suddenly charge at him. He fires the TOMMY GUN, shredding them with bullets, but cannot react fast enough when a THIRD ATTACKS from the other direction! KURT SCREAMS BRIEFLY as he falls to the ground, under CLAWING FEET and SNAPPING JAWS. The FOUR SURVIVING CARNOTAURS head up the slope! JACK Hurry ! JACK and the OTHERS are desperately scrambling up the STEEP SHALE SLOPE - LOOSE STONES that are impossible to get a grip on ... SAILORS start sliding backwards in their panic. The CARNOTAURS are sliding too, but their powerful legs are working furiously, propelling them closer and closer to the flailing SAILORS! A SAILOR loses his footing completely ... he rolls past TWO CARNOTAURS before being grabbed by the JAWS of THE THIRD. The SAILORS grab hold of WEEDS, ROCKS ... ANYTHING, to get away from the DINOSAURS. They move into a network cf NARROW FISSURES between PINNACLES ... The CARNOTAURS can barely squeeze through. ONE SAILOR is trying to escape up a sheer rock face ... he slips and falls back into the CARNOTAUR'S CLUTCHES. The SAILORS REACH SAFETY ... a narrow fissure - too small for the CARNOTAURS - leads into STEAMY JUNGLE/ beyond the VAT.LEY. JACK looks back ... HERB is struggling, a CARNOTAUR'S snapping at his heels. JACK climbs back down the slope to help pull him up. The CARNOTAURUS lunges at HERB, grabbing his FOOT in it's JAWS! HERB screams and rolls over on his back, the camera on his chest. The CARNOTAUR is CRUSHING HIS ANKLE between it's TEETH!... Luckily it's HERB'S ARTIFICIAL LEG! DENHAM looks at the frantic struggle ... DENHAM (yelling) Roll camera! HERB flicks the switch, aiming CARNOTAUR'S head, only inches away! The CAMERA at the HERB ( screaming) Speed ! Another CARNOTAUR is scrambling up behind the first ... JACK rushes forward, scooping up a LARGE BOULDER. He smashes it down on the CARNOTAUR'S head! It releases HERB'S FOOT and rolls away down the slope, collecting it's BUDDY on the way! JACK and another COUPLE OF SAILORS grab HERB and the CAM-ERA GEAR and scramble to SAFETY through the FISSURE. EXT. EDGE OF SWAMP - DAY JACK, DENHAM, PEEK, HERB and the 7 surviving SAILORS are a bedraggled GROUP ... CUT, BRUISED, COVERED in DUST, SOAKED in SWEAT. PEEK has the only TOMMY GUN left between them. They collapse into a NARROW CLEARING on the edge of MISTY SWAMP-LIKE LAKE. Cliffs rise out of the swamp on both sides ... the only way forward is ACROSS. DEAD TREES jut out of the water ... some have fallen onto the shore. JACK is still driven with URGENCY. JACK Let's strap these trees together ... build rafts. Hurry! The SAILORS set to work. DENHAM is slumped on the ground ... PEEK approaches him. PEEK Mr Denham, I have some concerns about personal safety ... I'm really starting to feel that this particular assignment is not for me. DENHAM looks up a PEEK ... his eyes are glazed - there is a real danger that DENHAM is starting to lose it. DENHAM (growling) You walk out on a Carl Denham picture, you walk out of a career. You will have no money to feed your wife and kids! PEEK I don't have any kids. DENHAM grabs PEEK by the collar and pulls him close ... DENHAM (threatening) And I will personally guarantee it stays that way! CUT TO EXT. SWAMP - DAY TWO MAKESHIFT RAFTS drift silently across the surface of the SWAMPY LAKE. HERB, PEEK and SAILORS are in the first, JACK, DENHAM and 3 SAILORS in the second. JACK is punting his raft along using a LONG BRANCH. The SWAMP is creepy ... DEAD TWISTED TREES stick out of the surface ... a thin film of FOG hangs in the air. SMALL FLYING LIZARD-type things flit about from tree to tree. The first raft reaches the SHORE - a narrow SANDY BEACH leading into GLOOMY DENSE JUNGLE. JACK and DENHAM'S RAFT is still 20 yards off shore. DENHAM (yelling) Set up the camera boys! Get a shot of me comin' ashore! JACK Forget it, Denham ... for Godssake DENHAM suddenly stands up, causing the unstable raft to ROCK in the water. Me the pole, Driscoll! Seems to be on the verge of a BREAKDOWN ... he steps towards JACK, nearly tipping the raft over! JACK throws the pole at him and tries to balance himself. DENHAM (yelling) Roll camera! I said roll camera! I want this on film! DENHAM thrusts the pole into the SWAMP, and pushes ... the RAFT spins around. JACK and the SAILORS cling on as it ROCKS VIOLENTLY! DENHAM pushes on the pole, again and again, growing more FRANTIC. He starts HYPERVENTILATING .. JACK sees a ROW OF BUBBLES moving rapidly towards the RAFT! JACK (alarmed) Denham! ANGLE Looking down on the RAFT ... THREE HUGE SHAPES glide in the MURK below the surface of the SWAMP. They RISE beneath the RAFT ... TIPPING IT OVER! EXT. BENEATH WATER - DAY The SWAMP is about 8 ft deep ... The JACK, DENHAM and the THREE SAILORS fall STRAIGHT TO THE BOTTOM as if weighted. STRINGY 5 foot WEEDS rise from the bottom like tentacles. JACK looks around ... the WATER is DARK and MURKY. The SAILORS are trying to kick back up to the SURFACE, with no luck ... for some reason this water has zero buoyancy. SUDDENLY a TERRIFYING CREATURE emerges from the gloom! It is some kind of PREHISTORIC AXOLOTL-type thing with WIDE TEETH. It is about 25 foot long - the size of a huge White Shark. With a frightening grace, the AXOLOTL sweeps a SAILOR up in it's JAWS! TWO MORE giant AXOLOTL'S glide out of the gloom! ANOTHER SAILOR tries to run, but is taken by the SECOND AXOLOTL. The third AXOLOTL comes straight at JACK! He throws himself down, and the CREATURE glides over the top of him. JACK gets back on his feet - he does the only thing he can to escape - run for the shore along the swamp bed. Pushes through the THICK FOREST of WEED, his cheeks bulging as he struggles to retain his air. Suddenly something GRABS HIS ANKLE! JACK looks down at DENHAM ... he is desperately clinging onto JACK'S FOOT! An AXOLOTL suddenly sweeps by, causing JACK to duck. He grabs DENHAM'S arm and starts dragging him through the WEEDS. EXT. SWAMP BEACH - DAY JACK and DENHAM stagger onto the beach. SAILORS pull them other SAILOR survivor from the clear of the water ... the raft crawls onto the beach too. HERB has his tripod set up and is filming it all. JACK is gasping for air ... DENHAM lies moaning. An AXOLOTL ROCKETS OUT OF THE WATER'. These things have legs and it scuttles towards the GROUP with incredible speed' Within seconds it has grabbed the SAILOR survivor in it's JAWS and disappears back into the swamp ! ANOTHER AXOLOTL charges out of the swamp ! It comes straight at HERB, who has no choice but to abandon his CAMERA and quickly back away ... The AXOLOTL lunges at the CAMERA & TRIPOD, SWALLOWING IT with one gulp! BAM BAM! BAM! PEEK blasts the AXOLOTL with his TOMMY GUN. It slumps to the ground DEAD . .. it's mouth hanging open. There is a stony silence as DENHAM lurches to his feet. He GLARES AT HERB ... DENHAM (yelling) Jesus, Herbert! How could you be so careless? Do you know how much those things cost? TEARS well in HERB'S eyes ... the man is deeply hurt by this criticism. HERB I'll be pleased to cash in my life insurance, Mr Denham. Buy you a new camera, sir. Is having a TANTRUM. DENHAM (yelling) I don't want a new camera! Herb ... I want you to crawl into the fish and recover my equipment! HERB Right you are, Mr Denham! HERB removes his jacket and cap ... he takes his glasses off and puts them in his pocket. He crawls into the mouth of the AXOLOTL ... DENHAM holds his feet and PUSHES HIM DOWN the CREATURE'S THROAT. HERB (CONT'D) ( muffled) Just a bit further, Mr Denham ... I can see the pan handle! DENHAM pushes him further in ... only his knees are sticking out of the AXOLOTL' S MOUTH ... The creature' s TORSO is BULGING GROTESQUELY as HERB wrestles to free the camera. HERB (CONT' D) (CONT'D) ( muffled) Ok! Pull us out' Hard now - the Magazine's stuck in the pancreas! AT THAT MOMENT ... The AXOLOTL'S JAWS CLAMP SHUT! It was ONLY STUNNED!!! A MUFFLED SCREAM emits from DEEP INSIDE the creature as it REARS UP. DENHAM Holy shit!!! The AXOLOTL PULLS AWAY, and VANISHES INTO THE WATER! DENHAM turns back to the SHOCKED GROUP ... he is holding HERB'S ARTIFICIAL LEG. DENHAM (CONT'D) I'm gonna dedicate this movie to Herb Cooper - the world's greatest cameraman! He thrusts the LEG at a SAILOR. DENHAM (CONT'D) Make sure this gets back to his wife and kids. The SAILOR NODS. DENHAM (CONT'D) I'm calling a wrap. We're heading back to the ship. JACK What? DENHAM The girl's dead, Driscoll. There's no point continuing on. JACK addresses the SAILORS. JACK Who's With me? NOBODY steps forward. SAILOR 1 You're mad, Driscoll. SAILOR 2 It's hopeless. JACK Come on. Fellas. Come on! PEEK In it for you? ... is she that good in bed? JACK punches PEEK to the ground! He has one last scornful look at the DENHAM and the SAILORS ... then turns and heads into the JUNGLE ALONE. DENHAM Dinosaur munchie traveling! The SAILORS chuckle. EXT. JUNGLE GLADE - DAY A PACK OF UTAHRAPTORS are feasting on a DINOSAUR CARCASS, intent on stripping every last piece of flesh off the bones. A RAPTOR suddenly looks up, alarmed by a NOISE ... WHACK! KONG'S FIST smashes down on his head, KNOCKING HIM OUT! The other RAPTORS turn to flee ... WHACK! KONG'S FOOT stamps down on another ... He grabs another by the head, SNAPPING IT'S NECK with a quick flick. The surviving RAPTORS scurry into the JUNGLE ... KONG sits down, placing ANN on the ground. She looks and frightened and exhausted. KONG starts eating the DEAD RAPTORS like someone with a KFC craving! EXT. LOG CHASM - DAY WIDE SHOT KONG hungrily eating in the distance ... ANN is visible at his feet. JACK crawls into the FG! He peers out from behind a bush ... KONG is about 150 feet away, on the other side of a NARROW CHASM. A HUGE TREE has fallen across the CHASM ... creating a LOG BRIDGE. JACK hurries towards the LOG, carefully staying low and ducking from bush to bush. The CHASM is deep, maybe 100 feet to the bottom - a VINE ENTANGLED MORASS. JACK carefully starts to cross the LOG BRIDGE ... it is covered in wet moss and quite slippery. He is totally vulnerable ... He watches KONG carefully, but the Gorilla is seemingly focused on his RAPTOR finger food. JACK is over halfway across when KONG casually GLANCES IN HIS DIRECTION ... JACK throws himself forward on the log, trying to stay out of sight behind a bulky lichen covered STUMP. He carefully sneaks a look at KONG ... who is still peering over towards the LOG. EXT. SWAMP BEACH - DAY DE, PEEK and the last 4 SAILORS are still on the SWAMP BEACH, gathering What remains of their equipment together. They TURN IN UNISON ... as a TRICERATOPS lumbers towards them along the beach! These are 30 foot long Rhino-like DINOSAURS. DENHAM and the SAILORS step back warily as the TRICERATOPS slowly wanders past them ... not paying them any attention. CLOSE ON The TRICERATOPS innocently steps on PEEK'S TAPE RECORDER, instantly CRUSHING IT. BAM! BAM! BAM! The TRICERATOPS FAT.T.S DEAD ... PEEK advances forward, his TOMMY GUN smoking ... a look of disbelief on his face as he looks at the MANGLED REMAINS of his beloved EQUIPMENT! PEEK That cost me seventy-five bucks! PEEK kicks the DEAD TRICERATOPS. AN ANGUISHED BELLOW.LOW! WHIP PAN onto 3 more TRICERATOPS, including a LARGE BULL, ROARING WITH GRIEF! DENHAM and the SAILORS react with horror as the TRICERATOPS CHARGE! ... They move with surprising speed ... HUGE HORNS lowered for the kill! BAM! BAM! BAM! PEEK fires, but the bullets RICOCHET off the BONY FRILL that surrounds the TRICERATOPS'S head! The GROUP turns and flees into the JUNGLE! EXT. JUNGLE GLADE - DAY KONG and react to the sounds of GUNFIRE and MEN YELLING. KONG SNARLS ... he scoops ANN up and places her HIGH in the BRANCHES OF A DEAD TREE, some 30 foot off the ground. KONG bounds away towards the CHASM! EXT. LOG CHASM - DAY JACK is still clinging to the LOG ... he turns at the SOUNDS of the APPROACHING SAILORS ... PEEK rushes out of the JUNGLE first, followed by DENHAM, the SAILORS and 3 ANGRY TRICERATOPS! A SAILOR trips and is immediately ENGORGED by a TRICERATOPS'S HORN! PEEK races onto the LOG in a blind panic, followed by the 3 surviving SAILORS and DENHAM ... PEEK only just realizes JACK is in his way and almost collides with him ... PEEK looks up suddenly and SCREAMS!!! WHIP ONTO KONG STANDING at the end of the LOG BRIDGE, towering above PEEK! He beats his chest, ROARING FIERCELY! The SAILORS are trapped on the LOG BRIDGE between the enraged TRICERATOPS on one side and the enraged KONG on the other! KONG reaches Dow and LIFTS his end of the LOG BRIDGE. JACK, DENHAM and the 3 SAILORS cling on for dear life ... PEEK desperately leaps from the LOG and CLINGS onto VINES hanging over the cliff on KONG'S side of the CHASM. KONG vigorously TWISTS and SHAKES the LOG, bucking the MEN into the air. JACK manages to hang onto the STUMP, but behind him SAILORS are FALLING OFF! BOTTOM OF CHASM SAILORS PLUMMET to the bottom ... ONE SAILOR crunches onto rocks, but the OTHER TWO have their falls broken by a THICK NETWORK of VINES, and appear to land relatively UNHURT. JACK and DENHAM cling on ... KONG ROARS with FRUSTRATION and HURLS the END OF THE LOG into the CHASM! DENHAM - who is close to the far side - manages to LEAP TO THE BANK, but JACK RIDES THE LOG DOWN! CRASH! The LOG SMASHES INTO THE ROCKS and JACK flies off it ... He bounces off vines and lands on the ground, STUNNED. A SAILOR is crawling along the ground with a SPRAINED ANKLE ... SUDDENLY!!! A ROUND DIRT LID - larger than a manhole cover - POPS OPEN and a HUGE DOOR SPIDER DARTS OUT!! It grabs the SAILOR and drags him SCREAMING into it's LAIR, the LID neatly closing again!! JACK scrambles to his feet! Ail around, MONSTROSITIES OF NATURE emerge from DANK BURROWS and crawl towards him and the LAST SURVIVING SAILOR ... These are HUGE INSECTLIKE THINGS - combinations of SPIDERS, CRABS, MANTISES and CENTIPEDES! JACK snatches up a LONG STICK and uses it like a SPEAR to' fend these CREATURES off. He looks on helplessly as the SAILOR attempts to CLIMB THE WT.T. out of the CHASM, but slips in the PINCERS of some CRAB/SPIDER THING! A GROUP of SPIDERS with 7 foot LEG SPANS close in on JACK! Behind them hangs a LONG VINE, leading directly up to the top of the CHASM ... JACK charges at the SPIDERS, LEAPING as HIGH as he can. He lands on the BACK of the FIRST SPIDER, and using the bounce, he propels himself onto the back of the NEXT, and the NEXT - like a series of MINI-TRAMPS!! He leaps off the LAST and GRABS HOLD OF THE VINE, pulling himself away from the FRENZIED SPIDERS! JACK is climbing HAND OVER HAND ... SUDDENLY! He starts RISING FAST ... KONG is perching on the EDGE of the CHASM, pulling the VINE up ... like a FISHERMAN reeling in a CATCH!! JACK is HELPLESS!! EXT. JUNGLE GLADE - DAY ANN looks around FEARY from her PERCH - HIGH in the BRANCHES of the ROTTEN TREE ... she has heard the SCREAMS, but has seen nothing. A HUGE SHAPE moves beneath her ... ANN freezes at the sight of an ALLOSAUR. Entering the clearing. This is a 25 foot tall MEATEATERS - SKULL ISLAND'S most fearsome predator! The ALLOSAUR snatches a DEAD RAPTOR off the ground and crunches it in POWERFUL JAWS ... It pauses, as if SNIFFING. The ALLOSAUR'S head is only a FEW FEET below ANN ... she is too scared to breathe! The ATJOSAUR suddenly looks up ... straight at ANN! He immediately CIRCLES THE TREE in big powerful strides ... ANN shifts her position to keep the ALLOSAUR in sight ... it is clearly getting very AGITATED! With an almost delicate movement, the ALLOSAUR nudges the TRUNK with it's head ... the TREE lurches dramatically! ANN hangs on desperately ... The ALLOSAUR pushes HER, sending the tree TOPPLING TO THE GROUND! ANN rolls away from the tree, jumps to her feet and RUNS!! She races through the JUNGLE, dodging TREES, leaping over FALLEN LOGS, smashing through BUSHES ... The ALLOSAUR POUNDING AFTER HER! It' s BREATH RASPING . . . FOOTSTEPS THUMPING. The HUGE JAWS open - only INCHES FROM ANN'S HEAD ! SHE SCREAMS! EXT. LOG CHASM - DAY KONG has almost REELED JACK IN when he hears ANN'S SCREAM. He immediately DROPS THE VINE, sending JACK PLUMMETING back down the CHASM! Fortunately the COILS of LOOSE VINE at the top of the chasm TANGLE, stopping JACK with a jerk about HALF WAY DOWN. KONG RUSHES OFF towards the SOUNDS of ANN'S SCREAMS. EXT. DENSE JUNGLE - DAY ANN is stumbling ... the ALLOSAUR positions it's HEAD for the FINAL LUNGE - JAWS OPEN ... From out of the DENSE JUNGLE - KONG CHARGES! He meets ANN and the ATJ.OSAUR HEAD-ON at FULL SPEED! KONG swings his fist, smashing into the ALLOSAUR'S HEAD ... ANN has to throw herself against a tree as the DINOSAUR SPRAWLS onto the ground beside her ... In a flash, KONG is ON TOP of the ALLOSAUR, POUNDING HIS FIST DOWN ... The ALLOSAUR lies still ... ANN'S legs turn to jelly and she COLLAPSES. KONG is clearly startled ... he gently takes her in his hand ... AT THAT MOMENT! The SECOND ALLOSAUR ATTACKS!!! He comes charging into shot, grabbing KONG'S ARM in his JAWS! KONG ROARS, ripping free just as the THIRD ALLOSAUR strides into the CLEARING! The FIRST ALLOSAUR scrambles back to it's feet! KONG holds ANN protectively as he braces himself for the FIGHT OF HIS LIFE. The THREE ALLOSAUR'S CIRCLE around him. THEY ATTACK KONG and ANN! ... What follows is a BREATHTAKING FIGHT TO THE DEATH. KONG fights like a madman ... not only does he have to do battle with the ALLOSAUR, he is also PROTECTING ANN - constantly transferring her from ONE HAND to THE OTHER as the ALLOSAUR SNAP AT HER throughout. KONG punches and smashes with his fists, but he also uses wrestling- style headlocks and flips ... for a brief moment, ANN rolls free on the ground and has to dodge 25 foot DINOSAURS and the GORITJ, as the frenzied fight THUNDERS all around her. The FIRST ALLOSAUR. Is taken out when KONG PULLS a LARGE JAGGED TREE TRUNK out of the ground and RAMS IT into the ALLOSAUR'S MOUTH, PUSHING it out the BACK OF IT'S HEAD! The SECOND ALLOSAUR he kills by grabbing it in a HEADLOCK, FLIPPING it over his shoulder, but REVERSING DIRECTION suddenly - BREAKING IT'S BACK with a sickening CRUNCH! ANN is suddenly GRABBED by the LAST ALLOSAUR! She is taken in his JAWS ... It BITES DOWN - JUST as KONG GRABS HIS JAWS in BOTH HANDS. He rolls the ALLOSAUR onto it's back, ANN still wedged in it's MOUTH! The razor sharp TEETH dig into her as KONG desperately uses all his strength to force the ALLOSAUR'S MOUTH OPEN ... ANN slides out, raking her back against the teeth. KONG forces the JAWS OPEN until they RIP APART at the HINGE! The ALLOSAUR sprawls back DEAD. KONG is PANTING HEAVILY ... he has been BITTEN, RAKED and CUT. He puts his foot on the LAST ALLOSAUR and BEATS HIS CHEST TRIUMPHANTLY! ANN is HURT ... BLEEDING ... KONG carefully picks her up and HURRIES INTO THE JUNGLE. EXT. LOG CHASM - DAY JACK is clinging onto the VINE, trying to pulling himself onto the TOP OF THE CHASM ..- but his strength is weakening - just below the edge. PEEK leans over ... he looks TERRIFIED, still gripping his TOMMY GUN JACK (urgent) Peek! For a moment you'd think PEEK is actually considering the idea of kicking JACK back down into the CHASM! ... He reaches down the PULLS JACK TO SAFETY. DENHAM (O.S.) (loud whisper) Hey Jack! DENHAM is on the other side of the CHASM ... looking VERY JUMPY. JACK Denham! Go back to the wall ... Tell'em to give me twelve hours to get back with Ann! DENHAM (panicked) I can't get back to the wall! I'll get eaten! JACK suddenly snatches PEEK'S TOMMY GUN. PEEK (alarmed) Hey! Whadda ya doing? JACK hurls the TOMMY GUN across the CHASM. JACK They've gotta keep the gate open for me. DENHAM clutches the TOMMY GUN, as if holding a newborn baby. DENHAM Twelve hours, Driscoll. Good luck! JACK heads into the JUNGLE. PEEK (angry) You're insane! You'll be killed! JACK keeps going ... PEEK alone... and runs after JACK. Suddenly realizes he's EXT. JUNGLE/MOUNTAIN - DAY ANN'S POV ... upside down shot WHIPPING through FOLIAGE with long LOPING STRIDES. ANN is DRAPED in KONG'S HAND as he POWERS THROUGH the JUNGLE at HIGH SPEED. She is weak ... her EYES GLAZING, SWEAT DRIPPING from her brow. ANN'S POV ... becomes MORE FEVERED. KONG climbs out of the JUNGLE, SCALING a nearly SHEER CLIFF ... he uses ONE HAND to climb - the OTHER HOLDS ANN to his breast. As KONG climbs HIGHER AND HIGHER, ANN drifts into UNCONSCIOUSNESS ... her last FEVERED POV being that of the VERTIGO INDUCING drop down the face of the CLIFF. EXT. KONG'S LAIR - EVENING FADE UP ... ANN'S FEVERED POV KONG pacing ANXIOUSLY ... He leans down towards , ROARING nervously. Behind him the sky his bathed in an ORANGE SUNSET. WIDE KONG is in his LAIR - a LARGE ROUND CAVE with a LEDGE that juts out high over SKULL ISLAND ... in fact his CAVE is one of the "eyes" of the SKULL visible from the coast. Over the ledge is a DIZZYING DROP of at least 1000 feet down to the JUNGLE. The "VENTURE" can be seen - moored off the TIP OF THE ISLAND, some 3 miles away. Sinister BAT-TYPE CREATURES hover in the SKIES ... these have 8 foot wing spans and TALONED FEET. Their faces are more reptile then bat. ANN is lying on a BED OF STRAW in an ALCOVE on the LEDGE ... ONE of the BAT-THINGS swoops in ... ANN'S FEVERED POV ... Large FLAPPING BAT WINGS fill her vision. KONG snatches the BAT-"THING out of the sky and rips it's wings off. He gently lifts ANN and retreats further inside his cave. EXT. WALL/RUINED CITY - NIGHT ENGLEHORN puffs on his PIPE ... SAILORS armed with RIFLES and TOMMY GUNS are patrolling the WALL.... the area is effectively CORDONED OFF. Everyone is relaxed. SENTRY SAILOR (yelling)) Hey! Somebody's approaching! SAILORS rush to pull the GREAT GATES open ... DENHAM staggers in and COLLAPSES. He is even more disheveled than when we saw him last. His clothing is TORN ... blood seeps from CUTS ... he's lost the GUN. ENGLEHORN gives him a drink from a CANTEEN. DENHAM is GASPING heavily. ENGLEHORN Just take it easy .-- Where are the others? DENHAM (panting) They' re dead. ENGLEHORN (shocked) Oh my God ... Ann? DENHAM pauses ... DENHAM (quietly) She's dead ... Driscoll too. We've gotta get back to the ship! ENGLEHORN nods. ENGLEHORN (yelling) Prepare to break camp, men! We're heading back to the Venture'. There's a SENSE OF RELIEF amongst the CREW. TWO SAILORS lift DENHAM up and support him between them. AT THAT MOMENT! A ZIPPING SOUND fills the air ... a VOLLEY of ARROWS, DARTS and SPEARS fly towards the SAILORS! Within SECONDS 7 SAILORS fall dead, including the TWO supporting DENHAM. He runs with incredible speed and throws himself behind a wall. ENGLEHORN and the 12 SURVIVING SAILORS take shelter and FIRE WILDLY in all directions. DENHAM (panicked) We've gotta get outta here! (grimly) That's going to be more difficult than you think ... NUMEROUS HEAVILY ARMED NATIVES are fleetingly visible ... darting behind RUINS and TREES - cutting the SAILORS off from the beach. EXT. KONG'S LAIR - NIGHT ANN'S FEVERED POV SURREAL IMAGES of KONG STATUES ... of FLAPPING BAT- THINGS --- of ALLOSAUR JAWS ... of FIERY CARVED FACES ..- and finally of KONG'S EYES - staring LOVINGLY at her. DISSOLVE TO EXT. KONG'S CAVE - EARLY MORNING CLOSE ON ... ANN. She wakes up, looking rested and calm IT IS CLEAR THAT HER FEVER HAS PASSED. WIDER ... ANN is CRADLED in KONG'S HAND. He is lying on his side, ASLEEP ... holding ANN close to his face like a child would sleep with a teddy bear. KONG stirs, suddenly opening his mouth in a HUGE YAWN. He opens his eyes, and for a few quiet moments, he and ANN stare at each other. KONG sits up, placing ANN on the ground ... They are deeper into KONG'S CAVE. ANN can see that the back of the cave leads to a way out as DAYLIGHT streams in. A SMALL, but DEEP LAKE fills part of the CAVE, surrounded by smaller ROCK POOLS. KONG sits on his haunches, looking for all the world like the king of his domain. A SHADOW flutters over ANN as a BAT-THING makes an attempt to GRAB HER ... KONG reaches forward and snatches it out of the air. He bites the head off the BAT-THING ... RIPS OFF one of it's LEGS ... drops the BLOODY LEG on the ground in front of ANN! ANN looks aghast at the OFFERING as KONG eats the rest of the BAT-THING with a certain amount of RELISH. She backs away from the MEAT ... KONG leans forward and pushes it closer to her. ANN steps away and SHAKES HER HEAD. ANN No ... thank you. KONG SHAKES HIS HEAD! ... and pushes the MEAT closer. ANN holds her nose and P A FACE. KONG puts a FINGER UP TO HIS NOSE and PULLS A FACE'. He pushes the meat closer ... ANN takes a big step backwards and ... trips over a rock' KONG looks ALARMED for a moment. ANN (CONT'D) I'm ok ... see ... ANN stands and with GREAT DRAMATICS, she deliberately falls over! KONG gets excited ... he SLUMPS BACKWARDS against the WALL. ANN stands up and with a SQUEAL, she goes into a FORWARD ROLL! KONG is HIGHLY EXCITED! He ROLLS FORWARD on his side! ANN LAUGHS at him ... she does a CARTWHEEL! KONG paces from SIDE TO SIDE like an over-excited kid. He suddenly turns and disappears out of the back entrance of the cave. ANN is a little nervous ... she clutches her shoulders against a cold rush of morning breeze ... she hears a FLUTTERING OF BAT-THINGS WINGS. KONG hurries back into the cave he holding a TINY OBJECT between his THUMB and FOREFINGER. With great DELICACY, he drops a RIPE MANGO at ANN'S FEET! ANN bites into it, suddenly realizing how hungry she actually is. ANN (CONT'D) (eating) Good! More? More? KONG acts COYLY at this praise ... he rushes out of the cave again ... returning with the ENTIRE MANGO TREE, which he drops at' ANN's feet! ANN laughs and KONG ROLLS FORWARD ... out onto the LEDGE. In the distance we can see the "VENTURE" and just HEAR the distant SOUND of SPORADIC GUNFIRE from the NATIVE CITY. KONG SNIFFS the MORNING AIR ... He FROWNS ... suddenly gets AGITATED. KONG looks up ... ... over 20 BAT-THINGS are MASSING on the CLIFFS above the LAIR, clearly preparing an ATTACK to get ANN! KONG races into the CAVE, just as another 20 BAT-THINGS flutter in through the BACK ENTRANCE!! He scoops ANN to his breast, ROARING DEFIANTLY at them. CLOSE ON A NARROW FISSURE in the VOLCANIC ROCK towards the back of the cave. JACK and PEEK are HIDDEN from view as BAT-THINGS flutter above them. PEEK looks around ter...