ATLANTIS IN REVERSE
ATLANTIS IN REVERSE
Selected Scene
INT. PYRAMID – MEXICO – DAY
Inside the pyramid.
A local man known as BIRD OF PARADISE shows UNCLE MICHAEL, a scientist, an ancient SARCOPHAGUS and a strange CONTROL PANEL.
BIRD OF PARADISE
And here it is — the communication station!
He proudly points to an old ROTARY TELEPHONE.
Uncle Michael examines it.
UNCLE MICHAEL
The telephone is real...
BIRD OF PARADISE
No idea if it works. Nobody’s used one of these in ages.
(beat)
Go on. Pick up the receiver.
Uncle Michael does.
UNCLE MICHAEL
What number am I supposed to dial?
Bird of Paradise rushes over to the sarcophagus and studies the ancient inscriptions.
BIRD OF PARADISE
Try 3-2-2!
Uncle Michael turns the rotary dial.
UNCLE MICHAEL
Three... two... two...
He listens.
UNCLE MICHAEL (CONT'D)
Hmm. It’s ringing.
VOICE ON PHONE (V.O.)
Hello!
Startled, Uncle Michael SLAMS down the receiver.
He stares at the phone.
Then cautiously picks it up and dials again.
UNCLE MICHAEL
Three... two... two...
VOICE ON PHONE (V.O.)
Hello! I’m listening!
Uncle Michael immediately SLAMS the receiver down again.
He turns to Bird of Paradise, shaken.
BIRD OF PARADISE
What? It works?
UNCLE MICHAEL
What kind of fever dream is this?
(beat)
Scientifically speaking — nonsense!
The telephone RINGS.
They both stare at it.
BIRD OF PARADISE
You’d better answer. It’s rude not to.
Uncle Michael reluctantly picks up.
UNCLE MICHAEL
Hello...
VOICE ON PHONE (V.O.)
Hello! Is this the zoo?
UNCLE MICHAEL
Not exactly.
VOICE ON PHONE (V.O.)
Then why is there a monkey answering the phone?
The Voice bursts out LAUGHING and hangs up.
Uncle Michael’s jaw drops.
He furiously dials 3-2-2 again.
UNCLE MICHAEL
Why are you fooling around on an official telephone?!
VOICE ON PHONE (V.O.)
Me?! Who keeps calling me and saying nothing?
Bird of Paradise leans toward the receiver, offended.
BIRD OF PARADISE
How dare you speak to a divine being like that?!
VOICE ON PHONE (V.O.)
How tall is your divine being?
UNCLE MICHAEL
One meter eighty.
VOICE ON PHONE (V.O.)
I’m three meters tall! You wanna argue?
CLICK.
The Voice hangs up.
Uncle Michael stares at the receiver, then puts it down.
UNCLE MICHAEL
This isn’t a pyramid. It’s a kindergarten!
He takes a deep breath.
Calms himself.
UNCLE MICHAEL (CONT'D)
All right. All right. Forget it.
Something on the control panel catches his eye.
A large RED BUTTON.
Uncle Michael points to it.
UNCLE MICHAEL (CONT'D)
And what does this little button do?
Bird of Paradise’s eyes widen.
BIRD OF PARADISE
The legend says never, ever press it! Nobody knows what it does — and nobody needs to know!
Uncle Michael studies the button.
UNCLE MICHAEL
All scientific research is based on experimentation.
His finger moves toward it.
UNCLE MICHAEL (CONT'D)
What if...?
He looks at Bird of Paradise.
Bird of Paradise frantically waves both hands.
BIRD OF PARADISE
What are you, five?!
Uncle Michael looks mildly offended.
UNCLE MICHAEL
One meter eighty.
He PRESSES THE RED BUTTON.