INDIANA JONES AND THE FOURTH REICH
FADE IN:
EXT. MEXICAN PRAIRIE -- ON MONASTERY -- DAWN
Hovering above is the steeple of a mexican monastery, made of
adobe. A RISING SUN beats down an orangey yellow glow over
HISSING rattlesnakes. Tumbleweeds blow by in the dusty breeze.
Several hooded monks can be SEEN milling about the monastery and
nearby well. Village farmers chew straw while rocking back adn
forth on their porchs. This appears to be the type of laid-back
plce that doesn't see much excitement...
SUPERIMPOSE: "Mexico, 1946"
The monastery is the centerpiece of a small village of humble
farmers untouched by innovation or industry. A YOUNG MEXICAN
GIRL, about eight or so plays in the sand with a wooden doll.
Brushing hair from her eys, she notices:
HER POV -- THE HORIZON
A HAZY IMAGE APPEARS in front of the magnificient BURNING SUN. A
group of mounted horsemen in brimmed hats who GALLOP closer.
BACK TO SCENE
Frightened, the girl hot-foots it back to her home. Villagers
stir and look on with GASPS and SPANISH MURMURS as the three
riders approach the monastery. The riders are frantic, out-of-
breath... hunted. As they get closer we SEE they are:
Men dressed as revolutionaries (spurs, sombreros, bandolero
belts), speaking in thick rapscallion accents. The leader,
DIEGO, dismounts pulling two pistols on the nearby monks.
Drooping from the corner of his mouth -- a burning cigarette that
like Diego... is lean, slender and full of fire. His strong (but
not so bright) companions, SANCHEZ and CARBALO, dismount and
draw. Sanchez is large, body and face covered in tatoos... while
Carbalo is plump in his poncho.
DIEGO
(in spanish)
Keep your distance!
The hooded monks swiftly retreat through the large wooden doors
of the monastery. Sanchez and Carbalo swivel, warding off
frightened villagers with their pistols. Families WHISPER,
rushing indoors. Windows close. Doors shut. Nervous eyes peer
out on the drama from open shutters.
A moment of calm. Diego walks to his horse, pulling a bundle
from the saddle.
DIEGO
My men arrive tomorrow! So tonight we stay in your
village! Those who remain calm... will remain living!
With a victorious smile, Diego fires his pistol in the air with
glee. The others follow along, SHOUTING as they disappear inside
the monastery, leaving the innocent villagers in stunned fear.
INT. THE MONASTERY
The sanctuary is quite open and large. A bell dangles from the
open bell tower above.
The alarmed mexican monks cower backwards through the pews. The
three brutish bandits breath heavily; Sweat drips down their
brows. Sanchez and Carbalo carefully peer through the stained-
glass windows in front, worried and excited with adrenaline.
SANCHEZ
Diego. Do you think he followed us?
DIEGO
(false confidence)
Four days travel across the barren prarie... Two days
backtracking through the hills... I don't think so.
DIEGO
still puffing his long ciggy, carries the bundle to the alter.
He slowly unravels it. The object, which remains BELOW FRAME,
reflects a golden glow on Diego's determined face.
DIEGO
(softly; to himself)
Welcome to the big time, brothers...
Carbalo approaches peering over Diego's shoulder.
CARBALO
Ey, Diego-man, let me see it again.
Diego quickly wraps it up, moving away.
DIEGO
(immediately harsh)
You've seen it enough already!
CARBALO
Ey man, what's your problem ey? We're brothers.
DIEGO
We're partners... And I don't wan' your greasy
fingers tarnishing it. This is the ticket, Carbalo.
Our days of poverty in the city are over. So until
tomorrow... I don't trust anyone.
Diego turns to a nearby monk who listens in on their
conversation, pulling a pistol in the same movement
DIEGO
What's so compelling eh!? I'm not interested in
confessing to you!
CARBALO
Diego-man, take it easy. They are just monks.
Diego grabs Carbalo, smashing him into the wall.
DIEGO
They would kill us all if they got the chance.
CARBALO
You paranoid Diego. We are safe here, okay? Like you
say, there is no way we we're followed, okay? He
won't find us.
SANCHEZ
There is someone coming!
Diego and Carbalo run to the window with Sanchez.
THEIR POV
Out front a man wearing a mexcian commoners garb dismounts a
horse, walking toward the church, his eyeline concealed under the
sombrero.
BACK TO SCENE
The excitement of the three bandits quickly becomes fear.
CARBALO
(escalating nerves)
Is him man! I knew he would find us! Stick with the
low-time thieving-- I always said, Diego! You do
that, you die an old man!
DIEGO
(uninterested)
You'll die now if you don't shut up.
The man with the sombrero approaches. A KNOCK on the large
wooden doors. Diego, Carbalo and Sanchez sitatue themselves just
behind the doors, pistols flaring. After a pause, Diego flings
the doors open.
ANGE ON THE DOORS as they fly open... pistol hammers are CLICKED,
guns are shoved in the stranger's face. The stranger is startled
lifting his head to REVEAL he is... a young ASIAN MAN!--about
twenty or so who speaks in a CRISP AMERICAN ACCENT. He throws
his hands in the air with a GASP. The three Mexicans are in
SHOCK.
DIEGO
(beat)
Who the hell are you!?
ASIAN MAN
Please! Don't shoot!
SANCHEZ
Who are you? What do you want!
ASIAN MAN
I was paid! Told to ride out here and meet someone!
DIEGO
Who sent you?!
ASIAN MAN
A man... a man in a brown leather jacket... with a
brown hat...
Carbalo and Sanchez jolt with the realization they had feared.
CARBALO
(curses in spanish)
I knew it!
DIEGO
Keep cool!
(to the Asian Man)
Where did you last see the man in the hat?
ASIAN MAN
(genuinely frightened)
He gave me a hundred pesos! Said he'd be here. Said
he'd need my help. I don't know him. I don't know
what this is about. I'm only in it for the pesos.
There is a moment of silence. Diego ponders the stranger's
story. A thought hits him.
DIEGO
Aren't you a little far from home, Shanghai?
ASIAN MAN
(beat; still nervous)
How... how did you know I'm from Shanghai...
The three bandits pause, looking down on the pathetically nervous
foreigner. They begin to chuckle to themselves, lowering their
weapons. Their chuckles turn to laughter. The Asian Man
uneasily follows along.
The monks nervously look on from their hiding spot in the pews.
DIEGO
(over laughter)
Come inside, Shanghai.
The Asian man is led inside by the laughing mexicans. He steps
further into the monastery COVERING the three men in the FRAME.
Sudennly we HEAR THE CLICK of a pistol hammer. The Asian man's
eyes open wide... his head jolts up.
DIEGO
Do you think we are stupid, senor?
The Asian man turns to Diego, who SMASHES HIM ACROSS THE FACE
with his pistol. He falls on his back, GROANING. Diego allows a
large puff of smoke to escape his lungs.
DIEGO
Why exactly did he send you here. To scare us?
Distract us?
ASIAN MAN
(in tremendous pain)
I was supposed to meet him here... I'm... I'm late...
Diego is unsatisfied with the answer, forebodingly raising his
pistol.
DIEGO
Late, Shanghai? You are more right than you know.
While this drama unfolds we FOCUS IN ON one of the monks situated
in the pews. This particular monk, stands, slowly pulling back
his robe to REVEAL A BULLWHIP. He pulls it forth, THRASHING IT
around Sanchez's neck. Sanchez screams violently. Diego and
Carbalo react quickly, aiming their pistols... but not quick
enough. The monk whips out a revolver HITTING Carbalo across the
face and SHOOTING DIEGO'S pistol away.
The monk JOLTS BACK on the whip, immediately pulling Sanchez to
him. With that, the monk rips back his hood--he is, of course,
famed archaeologist INDIANA JONES, now sporting a scruffy grey
beard. WHACK - Indy takes out Sanchez.
Diego rubs his hands. The Asian man is dazed. Indy aims his
revolver at Diego.
INDY
(to the Asian man)
Get outta here. All of you!
The Asian man flees out the front doors. The monks in the pews
dash past, running for cover.
DIEGO
Pays to have friend, eh Dr. Jones? Or in your case,
well-paid friends.
INDY
Where is it, Diego?
DIEGO
Who are you to come all this way... to claim this
prize from Diego?!
INDY
I know you Diego. I knew you'd come here to rendevouz
with your men. I knew every move you'd make... even
before you did.
Diego grabs the bundle, and pulls the cloth wrapping off to
REVEAL the PERUVIAN IDOL Indy lost to Belloq long ago in Peru.
The idol is as mystically golden as ever.
DIEGO
Came for this?! What makes you think you deserve this
more than me eh?! I saw you steal it with my own
eyes. And I stole it from you, fair and simple.
Indy moves towards the bandit.
INDY
Fair and simple? I've tracked that idol for ten
years.
(seizes it)
And no two-bit bandit will keep me from it now.
Just then, the front doors are BUST OPEN by the hooves of two
reared up horses. Astride the animals ride two more of Diego's
gang. Indy turns his pistol on them, but they already have him
in their sights. Diego smiles exultantly.
DIEGO
What about two-hundred?
(to his men)
You're early. The rendezvouz was tomorrow.
BANDIT
Thought you might need some help.
DIEGO
For once, you thought right.
(to Indy; a beat)
Fair and simple, Dr. Jones.
Indy reluctantly hands over the idol. One of the bandits quickly
pulls Diego onto his saddle behind him. Diego smirks as the
horses carry the men outside.
EXT. MONASTERY
An ENTIRE ARMY OF TWO HUNDRED BANDITS have encircled the church.
Diego jumps to his own horse. His posse FIRES their pistols
upward. Diego shouts to Indy.
DIEGO
The future doesn't look so bright, eh archaeologist?!
INT. THE MONASTERY
Indy backs up, quickly scanning the monastery for a fail-safe.
DIEGO
You like to dig things up?
EXT. MONASTERY
Diego lights a new cigarette.
DIEGO
How about digging things out.
Diego holds out his hand... a fellow bandit supplies him with a
stick of dynamite. Diego SHOUTS ORDERS IN SPANISH, and five of
his men also whip out dynamite, lighting their weapons. Diego
lights the stick with his cigarette.
Another SPANISH ORDER. The dynatmite is lobbed SHATTERING
stained-glass windows in the church.
A pause. Seconds later... SEVERAL BOOMS rock the village, along
with the RING OF A BELL. Diego smiles. Bits of monastery fly in
all directions as two walls of the monastery collapse in on
themselves, leaving only sections of wall and roof in tact... and
a severed stairwell leading to the monasteries bell tower.
Diego puffs away. The sound of crumbling dies. He signals his
men.
DIEGO
...bring me his head.
Four bandits approach the destroyed structure
FADE IN:
EXT. MEXICAN PRAIRIE -- ON MONASTERY -- DAWN
Hovering above is the steeple of a mexican monastery, made of
adobe. A RISING SUN beats down an orangey yellow glow over
HISSING rattlesnakes. Tumbleweeds blow by in the dusty breeze.
Several hooded monks can be SEEN milling about the monastery and
nearby well. Village farmers chew straw while rocking back adn
forth on their porchs. This appears to be the type of laid-back
plce that doesn't see much excitement...
SUPERIMPOSE: "Mexico, 1946"
The monastery is the centerpiece of a small village of humble
farmers untouched by innovation or industry. A YOUNG MEXICAN
GIRL, about eight or so plays in the sand with a wooden doll.
Brushing hair from her eys, she notices:
HER POV -- THE HORIZON
A HAZY IMAGE APPEARS in front of the magnificient BURNING SUN. A
group of mounted horsemen in brimmed hats who GALLOP closer.
BACK TO SCENE
Frightened, the girl hot-foots it back to her home. Villagers
stir and look on with GASPS and SPANISH MURMURS as the three
riders approach the monastery. The riders are frantic, out-of-
breath... hunted. As they get closer we SEE they are:
Men dressed as revolutionaries (spurs, sombreros, bandolero
belts), speaking in thick rapscallion accents. The leader,
DIEGO, dismounts pulling two pistols on the nearby monks.
Drooping from the corner of his mouth -- a burning cigarette that
like Diego... is lean, slender and full of fire. His strong (but
not so bright) companions, SANCHEZ and CARBALO, dismount and
draw. Sanchez is large, body and face covered in tatoos... while
Carbalo is plump in his poncho.
DIEGO
(in spanish)
Keep your distance!
The hooded monks swiftly retreat through the large wooden doors
of the monastery. Sanchez and Carbalo swivel, warding off
frightened villagers with their pistols. Families WHISPER,
rushing indoors. Windows close. Doors shut. Nervous eyes peer
out on the drama from open shutters.
A moment of calm. Diego walks to his horse, pulling a bundle
from the saddle.
DIEGO
My men arrive tomorrow! So tonight we stay in your
village! Those who remain calm... will remain living!
With a victorious smile, Diego fires his pistol in the air with
glee. The others follow along, SHOUTING as they disappear inside
the monastery, leaving the innocent villagers in stunned fear.
INT. THE MONASTERY
The sanctuary is quite open and large. A bell dangles from the
open bell tower above.
The alarmed mexican monks cower backwards through the pews. The
three brutish bandits breath heavily; Sweat drips down their
brows. Sanchez and Carbalo carefully peer through the stained-
glass windows in front, worried and excited with adrenaline.
SANCHEZ
Diego. Do you think he followed us?
DIEGO
(false confidence)
Four days travel across the barren prarie... Two days
backtracking through the hills... I don't think so.
DIEGO
still puffing his long ciggy, carries the bundle to the alter.
He slowly unravels it. The object, which remains BELOW FRAME,
reflects a golden glow on Diego's determined face.
DIEGO
(softly; to himself)
Welcome to the big time, brothers...
Carbalo approaches peering over Diego's shoulder.
CARBALO
Ey, Diego-man, let me see it again.
Diego quickly wraps it up, moving away.
DIEGO
(immediately harsh)
You've seen it enough already!
CARBALO
Ey man, what's your problem ey? We're brothers.
DIEGO
We're partners... And I don't wan' your greasy
fingers tarnishing it. This is the ticket, Carbalo.
Our days of poverty in the city are over. So until
tomorrow... I don't trust anyone.
Diego turns to a nearby monk who listens in on their
conversation, pulling a pistol in the same movement
DIEGO
What's so compelling eh!? I'm not interested in
confessing to you!
CARBALO
Diego-man, take it easy. They are just monks.
Diego grabs Carbalo, smashing him into the wall.
DIEGO
They would kill us all if they got the chance.
CARBALO
You paranoid Diego. We are safe here, okay? Like you
say, there is no way we we're followed, okay? He
won't find us.
SANCHEZ
There is someone coming!
Diego and Carbalo run to the window with Sanchez.
THEIR POV
Out front a man wearing a mexcian commoners garb dismounts a
horse, walking toward the church, his eyeline concealed under the
sombrero.
BACK TO SCENE
The excitement of the three bandits quickly becomes fear.
CARBALO
(escalating nerves)
Is him man! I knew he would find us! Stick with the
low-time thieving-- I always said, Diego! You do
that, you die an old man!
DIEGO
(uninterested)
You'll die now if you don't shut up.
The man with the sombrero approaches. A KNOCK on the large
wooden doors. Diego, Carbalo and Sanchez sitatue themselves just
behind the doors, pistols flaring. After a pause, Diego flings
the doors open.
ANGE ON THE DOORS as they fly open... pistol hammers are CLICKED,
guns are shoved in the stranger's face. The stranger is startled
lifting his head to REVEAL he is... a young ASIAN MAN!--about
twenty or so who speaks in a CRISP AMERICAN ACCENT. He throws
his hands in the air with a GASP. The three Mexicans are in
SHOCK.
DIEGO
(beat)
Who the hell are you!?
ASIAN MAN
Please! Don't shoot!
SANCHEZ
Who are you? What do you want!
ASIAN MAN
I was paid! Told to ride out here and meet someone!
DIEGO
Who sent you?!
ASIAN MAN
A man... a man in a brown leather jacket... with a
brown hat...
Carbalo and Sanchez jolt with the realization they had feared.
CARBALO
(curses in spanish)
I knew it!
DIEGO
Keep cool!
(to the Asian Man)
Where did you last see the man in the hat?
ASIAN MAN
(genuinely frightened)
He gave me a hundred pesos! Said he'd be here. Said
he'd need my help. I don't know him. I don't know
what this is about. I'm only in it for the pesos.
There is a moment of silence. Diego ponders the stranger's
story. A thought hits him.
DIEGO
Aren't you a little far from home, Shanghai?
ASIAN MAN
(beat; still nervous)
How... how did you know I'm from Shanghai...
The three bandits pause, looking down on the pathetically nervous
foreigner. They begin to chuckle to themselves, lowering their
weapons. Their chuckles turn to laughter. The Asian Man
uneasily follows along.
The monks nervously look on from their hiding spot in the pews.
DIEGO
(over laughter)
Come inside, Shanghai.
The Asian man is led inside by the laughing mexicans. He steps
further into the monastery COVERING the three men in the FRAME.
Sudennly we HEAR THE CLICK of a pistol hammer. The Asian man's
eyes open wide... his head jolts up.
DIEGO
Do you think we are stupid, senor?
The Asian man turns to Diego, who SMASHES HIM ACROSS THE FACE
with his pistol. He falls on his back, GROANING. Diego allows a
large puff of smoke to escape his lungs.
DIEGO
Why exactly did he send you here. To scare us?
Distract us?
ASIAN MAN
(in tremendous pain)
I was supposed to meet him here... I'm... I'm late...
Diego is unsatisfied with the answer, forebodingly raising his
pistol.
DIEGO
Late, Shanghai? You are more right than you know.
While this drama unfolds we FOCUS IN ON one of the monks situated
in the pews. This particular monk, stands, slowly pulling back
his robe to REVEAL A BULLWHIP. He pulls it forth, THRASHING IT
around Sanchez's neck. Sanchez screams violently. Diego and
Carbalo react quickly, aiming their pistols... but not quick
enough. The monk whips out a revolver HITTING Carbalo across the
face and SHOOTING DIEGO'S pistol away.
The monk JOLTS BACK on the whip, immediately pulling Sanchez to
him. With that, the monk rips back his hood--he is, of course,
famed archaeologist INDIANA JONES, now sporting a scruffy grey
beard. WHACK - Indy takes out Sanchez.
Diego rubs his hands. The Asian man is dazed. Indy aims his
revolver at Diego.
INDY
(to the Asian man)
Get outta here. All of you!
The Asian man flees out the front doors. The monks in the pews
dash past, running for cover.
DIEGO
Pays to have friend, eh Dr. Jones? Or in your case,
well-paid friends.
INDY
Where is it, Diego?
DIEGO
Who are you to come all this way... to claim this
prize from Diego?!
INDY
I know you Diego. I knew you'd come here to rendevouz
with your men. I knew every move you'd make... even
before you did.
Diego grabs the bundle, and pulls the cloth wrapping off to
REVEAL the PERUVIAN IDOL Indy lost to Belloq long ago in Peru.
The idol is as mystically golden as ever.
DIEGO
Came for this?! What makes you think you deserve this
more than me eh?! I saw you steal it with my own
eyes. And I stole it from you, fair and simple.
Indy moves towards the bandit.
INDY
Fair and simple? I've tracked that idol for ten
years.
(seizes it)
And no two-bit bandit will keep me from it now.
Just then, the front doors are BUST OPEN by the hooves of two
reared up horses. Astride the animals ride two more of Diego's
gang. Indy turns his pistol on them, but they already have him
in their sights. Diego smiles exultantly.
DIEGO
What about two-hundred?
(to his men)
You're early. The rendezvouz was tomorrow.
BANDIT
Thought you might need some help.
DIEGO
For once, you thought right.
(to Indy; a beat)
Fair and simple, Dr. Jones.
Indy reluctantly hands over the idol. One of the bandits quickly
pulls Diego onto his saddle behind him. Diego smirks as the
horses carry the men outside.
EXT. MONASTERY
An ENTIRE ARMY OF TWO HUNDRED BANDITS have encircled the church.
Diego jumps to his own horse. His posse FIRES their pistols
upward. Diego shouts to Indy.
DIEGO
The future doesn't look so bright, eh archaeologist?!
INT. THE MONASTERY
Indy backs up, quickly scanning the monastery for a fail-safe.
DIEGO
You like to dig things up?
EXT. MONASTERY
Diego lights a new cigarette.
DIEGO
How about digging things out.
Diego holds out his hand... a fellow bandit supplies him with a
stick of dynamite. Diego SHOUTS ORDERS IN SPANISH, and five of
his men also whip out dynamite, lighting their weapons. Diego
lights the stick with his cigarette.
Another SPANISH ORDER. The dynatmite is lobbed SHATTERING
stained-glass windows in the church.
A pause. Seconds later... SEVERAL BOOMS rock the village, along
with the RING OF A BELL. Diego smiles. Bits of monastery fly in
all directions as two walls of the monastery collapse in on
themselves, leaving only sections of wall and roof in tact... and
a severed stairwell leading to the monasteries bell tower.
Diego puffs away. The sound of crumbling dies. He signals his
men.
DIEGO
...bring me his head.
Four bandits approach the destroyed structure