a screenplay by Hilma L. Volk Screenplay Registered WGAw No. 987160 Copyright 2004 All Rights Reserved |
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Out of Yellowstone
by Hilma Volk
FADE IN:
EXT. OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER - DAY
The famous geyser spouts.
MONTAGE
BEGIN MONTAGE showing Yellowstone National Park as beautiful,
wild and vast, full of wildlife and unique features, as well
as having crowds of people.
END MONTAGE
EXT. ARTIST POINT - DAY
Lower Yellowstone Falls jewels the magnificent Grand Canyon
of the Yellowstone.
ASSORTED VISITORS at the overlook take in the grandeur.
EXT. RIM NEAR ARTIST POINT - SAME
TWO YOUNG MEN (19) walk along the wide trail along the rim.
The first young man ignores the warning signs (international
symbol for a person falling off a cliff) and leaves the trail
to stand on the edge. The second young man joins him.
They're not the first, it is well worn.
EXT. ARTIST POINT OVERLOOK - DAY
The earth shakes, only for a couple seconds. The assorted
visitors react in combinations of wonder and fear.
Loose rocks chatter down the canyon walls.
The visitors scurry toward the parking lot.
EXT. RIM NEAR ARTIST POINT - DAY
The earth shakes. The first young man slips and grabs the
second one for balance. They both fall, vainly grabbing for
handholds on the jagged slide down.
They land crumpled 30 feet below on a narrow precarious
ledge. One slip and it's a 1000 foot deadly decent to the
churning Yellowstone River below. Both are scraped up and in
pain. They strain to maintain a grip.
A LITTLE LATER
A CROWD has gathered where the young men fell and where
Ranger ROBIN TAYLOR (43) expertly sets up climbing ropes,
using trees that are about five feet from the edge as
anchors. She's tall, athletic, naturally pretty without
makeup, which she never wears anyway.
SIRENS wail.
THREE more RANGERS (males, 20's) join in.
Quickly Robin double checks the climbing setup, clips herself
in, and grabs the coiled free part of a rope. Webbing,
cramming devices and other climbing gear dangle from her
harness. On her back, her pack sports first aid crosses.
Intrepidly standing at the very edge, she yells down.
ROBIN
Watch your heads, I'm throwing a
rope.
(beat)
Rope!
The rope sails out.
Robin dons a climbing helmet, nimbly rappels down, and softly
lands on the ledge.
The first young man looks up at her in a mixture of relief
and fear.
FIRST YOUNG MAN
I, I can't move my legs.
The very pale second young man, clings to the rock wall with
his one good arm. The other is painfully tucked close with
his thumb hooked around his T-shirt collar.
A tiny headset allows her to talk into her two-way radio.
ROBIN
(into radio)
Probable back injury. Send down
down the backboard with the Stokes.
A LITTLE LATER
Above them, two male rangers rappel slowly down with the
Stokes stretcher.
One of their boots kicks loose a rock.
MALE RANGER #1 (V.O.)
Rock!
Coolly, Robin hunches to protect the first young man and
simultaneously pulls up the pack to cover her neck.
The angular rock hits the wall right above her and bounces
off, just missing her head.
The rock sails off into the magnificent abyss.
A LITTLE LATER
The first young man lies on the backboard, immobilized by the
cravats. A cervical collar circles his neck.
Robin and the two rangers lift the backboard to put the first
young man in the Stokes, but the narrowness of the ledge
makes this very awkward.
Ranger #1's boot slips. The board tilts steeply. Terrified,
the young man in the stretcher screams.
FIRST YOUNG MAN
Nooo!
ROBIN
You're fine.
Recovered, Ranger #1 and Robin exchange "that was a close
one" glances.
Bits of the rim above break loose. Dirt and rock cascade
down on top of them.
The group on the ropes hang motionless, then gradually begin
to stir.
MALE RANGER #1
(shakily)
Are you okay?
EXT. PARKING LOT NEAR ARTIST POINT - DAY
Up on the rim, a PARAMEDIC closes the ambulance door.
Robin, no longer in climbing harness or other gear, carries a
coiled rope toward the cars. TIM, 45, a stocky, still boyish
faced Park Policeman, struts up and offers a high-five.
TIM
Alright, Robin. Way to go, kid.
With a hint of disdain, Robin matter-of-factly returns the
high-five.
EXT. HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - DAY
The Park Headquarters sign identifies the building.
INT. HEADQUARTERS - DAY
Park Superintendent REX MONTGOMERY stands leaning wearily
over the pages of a thick report that's on a file cabinet.
Rex, 50, handsome, with his tan and trimmed mustache has the
look of a distinguished outdoorsman.
MIKE, late 40's, Assistant Park Superintendent, travels from
his office to the door.
MIKE
Good night, Rex. See you in the
morning. Oh, that's right, I guess
I won't.
REX
No, you've got the helm for the
next two days.
Mike is almost out the door.
REX
Say Mike, I'm going fishing. Care
to join me?
MIKE
Aah, can't. The kids have
softball, first game of the season.
Another time, hey?
REX
Sure.
Mike leaves. Rex dejectedly closes the report.
EXT. A FISHING RIVER - LATE DAY
The river runs pristine and pure. Upstream, dressed in
waders and other typical garb, Rex fly fishes. He has the
stream all to himself.
The casts are perfect, and A SERIES OF SHOTS show what fly
fishing dreams are made of.
Rex brings in another trout and maneuvers it into the landing
net.
This is a really nice fish. Any fisherman would be
exhilarated, but Rex is not. With a deep sad sigh he
carefully releases it and watches it swim off.
He forlornly puts up his fly. Reeling in, he heads for
shore.
INT. REX'S HOUSE - DUSK
In the front entry way, Rex finishes putting away his fishing
gear.
Walking in, he glances at the pieces of junk mail in his
hands and tosses them into a waste basket.
Followed by his ENGLISH SETTER, he moves to the small
entertainment center in the living room, scratches the dog's
ears a couple times, then turns on the CD player. The MUSIC
is soft.
The government house is neat and nicely furnished, nothing
extravagant. The few pictures that we see on the walls are
either wildlife or mountain scenery. There are a couple
outdoor pieces around, like a carved trout on an end table.
As Rex walks on, his eyes lock longingly on the two 5x7
framed pictures on his desk. They are of two boys, about 13
and 16. He reaches for the telephone and begins to dial.
Then he thinks better of it and hangs up.
His finger flicks one picture face down, then the other.
They join an 8x10 already face down.
EXT. ENTRANCE TO GARDINER, MONTANA - DAY
Robin's Jeep Wrangler cruises out of the park toward the
village. A golden retriever, BEAU, hangs his head out the
passenger side window.
EXT. STREET IN GARDINER, MONTANA - DAY
Outside a cafe in Gardiner, Beau sits on the driver's side of
the parked Jeep.
The back windows are plastered with decals of an assortment
of environmental groups plus those of mountaineering, rock
climbing, kayaking clubs, etc.
INT. A CAFE IN GARDINER - DAY
In a booth, Robin, now dressed in jeans and a Polar Fleece
sweater, drinks a glass of milk with her dinner as she reads
the small local paper.
Tim, the Park Policeman, (still in uniform) slides in.
TIM
May I join you?
Robin indifferently gestures that it's okay.
SAL, the waitress, flirtatiously comes over with a glass of
water and an order pad. She chews gum and wears a little red
and white checkered apron over her blouse and blue jeans.
She's in her mid-20's.
SAL
Oooh. It's Terrible Tim with a
capital T.
Tim is unimpressed.
TIM
Hey, Sal. Um, I'll have...
TIM AND SAL
(in unison)
A cheeseburger, fries, and a large
coke.
ROBIN
Ah, adventures in cuisine.
Sal goes away, hips swaying.
TIM
How did you get involved today?
ROBIN
I happened to be there. I just
finished playing tour guide to a
geology class from Michigan State.
You know, one of those vacations
for college credit.
She leans back with a faint self-satisfied smile.
ROBIN
It's nice to play rescue. I don't
get to do much of that anymore. As
if I ever did.
TIM
I had a good one the other day.
The guy had scalding burns on 40
percent of his body.
ROBIN
Fell through the crust in a thermal
area?
TIM
No, he was an inept chef at the Old
Faithful Inn.
Robin snickers, resumes her straight face, then snickers
again. They both laugh.
TIM
Would you like to go to the play
tonight?
ROBIN
I saw it last week. Cute. That
Summer Stock puts on a good
performance.
TIM
Who'd you go with?
ROBIN
(Southern Belle accent)
Why just little ol' me.
Tim shakes his head and eyes her in exasperation.
TIM
How can you do that, Robin, just go
alone everywhere?
ROBIN
Well I would have taken Beau, but
they kind of discriminate against
dogs.
A sudden jolt RATTLES plates.
MURMURING and EXCLAMATIONS exude from other restaurant
PATRONS.
Robin calmly eyes the swaying hanging plant.
TIM
Humm. Been a lot of those lately.
(pause)
You wanna do something else?
ROBIN
Nawh. I'm gonna take Beau for a
run in the National Forest. Then
I've gotta pack for a two day
meeting in the Tetons.
TIM
What kind of meeting?
ROBIN
Oh, a bunch of big wigs from
Washington are coming to Jackson
Hole, Secretary of the Interior and
all that. They're getting briefed
by us and the Grand Teton folks on
priority National Park issues.
It's really just an excuse to get
out of Washington.
Robin finishes the last of her dinner.
TIM
Why are you involved in that?
ROBIN
I'm basically the Park's PR person.
Rex has only been here a few
months, and you know how wishy
washy Mike is. I may not be good at
one-on-one conversation, but give
me an audience and, hey, I'm
golden. I'll baffle 'em with my
brilliant bullshit, as usual.
Tim contemplates that last sentence. Sal returns with his
order and runs her fingers up his arm.
SAL
Did you feel me shake the earth for
you?
TIM
You sure didn't shake your tail for
me.
SAL
(naughtily)
I can do that.
ROBIN
Be seeing you.
Leaving a tip, Robin gets up and walks away.
TIM
Say "Hi" to Rover for me.
Robin ignores the remark. She doesn't look back. Tim's gaze
wistfully follows her.
INT. ROBIN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
It's dark except the glow of the alarm clock which reads
3:12. Beau BARKS AND HOWLS. Robin switches on the lamp on
the night stand.
Robin gets up trying to figure out why Beau is frantic.
ROBIN
What is it Beau?
The house shakes. Pictures fall from the wall. One crashes
to the headboard and thuds on her pillow. A glass of water
from the night stand shatters on the floor.
EXT. MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS - EARLY MORNING
The Mammoth Hot Spring terraces steam in the crisp morning
air. On the road below a Parks Service Sedan leaves the
village. Though it's difficult to tell, Rex and Robin are
inside.
INT. SEDAN - SAME
Rex is driving. Scenery moves by.
ROBIN
I thought and George was coming.
REX
He is. He spent the night in
Jackson.
ROBIN
Ah yes. Sylvia.
REX
Did you feel that earthquake last
night?
ROBIN
Yeah.
REX
It reminded me of my x-wife.
ROBIN
Excuse me?
REX
She's back in San Francisco.
Robin doesn't get the connection, nor cares to.
REX
I mean they have earthquakes there.
EXT. OLD FAITHFUL EXIT - DAY
Their car motors on.
INT. SEDAN - DAY
REX
Do you fish?
ROBIN
Nawh. Maybe once or twice a year.
I can't get excited about torturing
an animal by hooking its mouth.
Rex tries not to show his disappointment.
ROBIN (continuing)
Besides, I already know I'm smarter
than a fish. I don't need some
trout to prove otherwise.
EXT. JACKSON LAKE - DAY
The spectacular Grand Teton mountains grace the background as
sedan goes by.
ROBIN (O.S.)
You know this meeting is
ridiculous.
Any info they want they can get
electronically, or if nothing else
a conference call. But no, the
Washington types like to play in
Jackson Hole. We're already into
the busy season. The latest they
should have had this is April.
INT. SEDAN - SAME
ROBIN (continuing)
But the weather's too lousy for 'em
then.
REX
You'd do the same thing if you were
in Washington.
ROBIN
I couldn't live there, I'd smother.
EXT. SIGNAL MOUNTAIN LODGE - DAY
The sedan parks.
INT. LODGE HALLWAY BY CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Casual introductions take place in the hallway outside the
open doorway to the conference room.
Robin and Rex are the only ones in uniform. SEVEN WASHINGTON
MEN are dressed in sport jackets and ties. One of them,
THOMAS CORTWRIGHT, has a southern accent, is a little older
than Rex, but of similar stature.
REX
Robin, this is Thomas Cortwright,
Director of The National Park
Service. This is Robin Taylor, my
Head Naturalist.
ROBIN
Yes, we've met before.
In a sudden jolt, things rattle a bit, then everything is
back to normal. The Washington men look around and at each
other with some amazement. Robin indifferently watches their
reactions.
THOMAS
Do they get earthquakes often?
ROBIN
There's tremors all the time.
Usually they're too small to feel.
But these are major fault lines
here. That's what created these
mountains. Jackson Hole is overdue
for a mighty big one.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Thomas Cortwright speaks from a tabletop podium on the end of
a large table that the group, which now includes SIX other
UNIFORMED PARK PERSONNEL, are seated around. There are also
a flip chart and a VCR with a large TV screen.
THOMAS
...and it gives me great pleasure
to introduce Henry Rasmussen,
Secretary of the Interior, who will
enlighten us on the sentiment on
Capital Hill as regards to the
National Park Service, particularly
any special appropriations...
EXT. SIGN FOR NORRIS GEYSER BASIN - DAY
The sign at Norris Geyser Basin is easily readable as cars
enter the parking lot.
EXT. PARKING LOT, NORRIS GEYSER BASIN - DAY
A nice Winnebago with a Chicago Bears spare tire cover is
parked next to a shiny tour bus in the crowded parking lot.
INT. GUS'S MOTOR HOME - DAY
Inside the spotless Winnebago, GUS and STELLA sit at the
table eating lunch. They drink Coke, her from a glass, him
from the can.
Gus, upper 60's, is brawny and rough-hewed from years of hard
physical employment. He wears a handlebar T-shirt. Vintage
tattoos cover his biceps. He speaks with a Chicago accent.
Stella, 65, is a diminutive woman wearing a house dress.
She's a bit slumped over from years of cowering. She studies
the visitor map as she eats.
Gus picks up his can. Noting that it's empty, he taps it.
GUS
Stella.
She dutifully gets him another one from the refrigerator.
STELLA
Aren't we at least going to look
around a little bit? This is
Norris Geyser Basin. It's supposed
to be the hottest one in the park.
GUS
Oh, you heard that couple. A lot
of walking to see a bunch of
geysers that aren't doing anything.
You can go. I'll take a nap. I've
spent the whole morning looking at
geysers that weren't geysing.
STELLA
We did see Old Faithful.
GUS
Whoopee.
The motor home jerks and rocks.
GUS
Damn.
Gus grabs a remote control from the wall mounted magazine
rack. He aims and clicks it.
The stereo speakers BARK and GROWL like ferocious dogs.
Gus storms to the door, yelling through it.
GUS
Hey, punks! Get outta here.
Amscray. I'll sic the dogs on ya.
The rocking and jolting end. Calmer now, but still ready for
bear, Gus admonishes the imaginary dogs.
GUS
Killer, hush. Thor, enough. Take
it easy. Good boys.
He clicks the remote control. The dog sounds switch to LOW
GROWLING and WHINING. Gus clicks off the sound effects and
cautiously peeks out the door.
EXT. PARKING LOT, NORRIS GEYSER BASIN - DAY
LITTLE OLD LADIES are hurrying toward the tour bus. Some
look frightened. Others, like the two nearest Gus, are
excited about the adventure.
OLD LADY #1
I've never felt an earthquake
before.
OLD LADY #2
We had them all the time in L.A.
Why I remember when I was a little
girl, one time we were all in
church...
Gus returns his head inside and closes the door.
INT. GUS'S MOTOR HOME - DAY
Stella still sits politely at the table. Gus walks back a
little shaken.
GUS
Earthquake? This ain't no
California. This is Montana for
Chris' sake.
STELLA
I think this is Wyoming, Dear.
GUS
Same difference.
A LOUD ROAR, like a jet engine, frightens Stella. The sound
intensifies.
STELLA
What's that noise?
Red anger runs up Gus's neck.
GUS
They must of built this place next
to an Air Force Base.
He determinedly plunks himself in the driver's seat, starts
the engine and shifts into gear.
GUS
We're going where I can eat my
lunch in peace.
Stella rolls her eyes and bites down on her lower lip to keep
herself from saying anything. With unexpected agility she
grabs the lunch stuff to keep it from sliding onto the floor
as he turns the vehicle.
Simultaneously she strains to look out the window to find out
what is really happening. She also manages to quickly check
the Visitor Map.
INT. HALLWAY IN SIGNAL MOUNTAIN LODGE - DAY
The doors to the conference room open. The pack begins to
file out and head down the hall. Rex and Thomas are the
first out, engaged in a fishing conversation.
THOMAS
...So I would have pretty good luck
on midges?
REX
Oh yeah. They're peaking right
now. The trout are hammerin'. You
know, if you want,...
Their voices trail off as they go down the hall. Three
others follow, LAUGHING at a joke one of them told.
A WASHINGTON MAN
Oh, that's a good one.
Robin exits into the hall just as GEORGE shows up.
George, late 20's, is very good looking and knows it. His
mustache and thick hair are neatly trimmed. His clothes are
casual Western, from hat to boots.
ROBIN
Geez George, nice of you to show up
for lunch.
GEORGE
Aw, I had wait for my pickup to get
out of the shop. I hit an elk last
night.
ROBIN
Good God!
GEORGE
Aw, I just clipped her hind leg.
But I didn't want to drive around
with that headlight whacked out.
(excitedly)
Guess what? Heard it there on the
radio. Steamboat erupted.
Robin is visibly upset that she is missing the event.
ROBIN
No. No. Geez. Steamboat. I've
been waiting seven years for that
geyser to go off. And here I am
stuck down here.
GEORGE
It's a bitch alright. Where were
you the last time?
ROBIN
At a training session in Harpers
Ferry.
EXT. STEAMBOAT GEYSER - DAY
An enormous geyser in full eruption ROARS like a jet. A
packed crowd of delighted and awe-struck SPECTATORS watch the
spectacular Steamboat Geyser.
Some of the children hold their hands over their ears. Tons
of water fountain skyward. Misty spray falls over the crowd.
ONE MAN
Unbelievable!
In another portion of the spectators, A BALD MAN talks
excitedly to the family next to him. He almost has to yell
over the noise.
BALD MAN
I was down there. And this
earthquake hit. Then five minutes
later I heard this roar. And I
knew. I just knew Steamboat had
done it. It's been going like this
for 45 minutes.
Farther back, a SOPHISTICATED LOOKING WOMAN talks with a
FEMALE RANGER.
SOPHISTICATED WOMAN
That looks so much bigger than Old
Faithful.
FEMALE RANGER
Way bigger! Way more volume.
Three times the height. It's the
largest and most powerful geyser in
the world.
SOPHISTICATED WOMAN
But I've never heard about it.
FEMALE RANGER
Steamboat's unpredictable. It's
been almost four years since the
last eruption. This could go on
for two hours. Old Faithful only
lasts a puny five minutes.
SOPHISTICATED WOMAN
So this is something.
FEMALE RANGER
This is something.
Steamboat continues its show.
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