THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA © (Screenplay)

THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA
Screenplay by Dick Croy Story by Robert W. July
9413 Southgate Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-984-0131

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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA FADE IN: EXT. NIGHT - BEER BAR in some deserted urban wasteland on the outskirts of L.A. The SKULLS, a very rough-looking motorcycle gang (each of whom will be identified later), pull up. Nervous though macho expressions: something heavy's about to go down. Led by COUGAR, some go inside with guns, others wait impatiently outside in the rain with the bikes. Suddenly the silence is shattered by AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE punctuated with heavy SHOTGUN BLASTS. The bikers come running out. BIKER #1 Cops! We're dead, man! They'll be lookin' for us all over L.A.! BIKER #2 There's more cops runnin' drugs now than dealers! BIKER #3 You gotta find us a place t' hide, Cougar! COUGAR Hide? Where the fuck we gonna hide? Africa?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. DAY - KENYA - SERIES OF SHOTS A) Game herds in the Mara Reserve west of Nairobi. B) Native fishing canoes on Lake Victoria. C) Activity within a Masai manyatta, or thorn-fenced compound of mud huts.
D) Arid thorn trees in bush country along the 2-lane highway from Nairobi southeast to Mombasa. E) A fishing village on the Swahili coast. A festive crowd is gathered, as the PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER for the Mombasa District an urbane-looking black man in his 40's officiates at a wedding ceremony. F) More game in Amboseli National Park G) The ancient and flavorful Indian Ocean seaport of Mombasa, Kenya. H) A market in the town square of an unidentified city. DRUMMING in bg. In crude stands covered with palm fronds, all manner of goods are being sold: cloth and yardgoods, meats, produce, the Money Changers' Booth...and tray after tray of dried bat wings, monkey claws and snake heads. Suddenly, the frenzied hands of the Drummers. This exotic and grisly scene of everyday African magic makes a strong impression which will come back to haunt us later. I) Asians and Africans, many in traditional dress, throng the modern streets of Nairobi. EXT. DAY - CAMPUS of the National University of Kenya in a park-like natural setting on the crowded urban outskirts of Nairobi. INT. - CLASSROOM PROFESSOR (pointing to wall map) ...So you can see that from this vast watershed - about one-quarter (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PROFESSOR (CONTD) of Kenya - our denuded soil is being carried away by rivers and deposited hundreds of kilometers away in the Indian Ocean. Our life-blood flowing away from us. STUDENT You mean all these government schemes to rehabilitate the land have failed? PROFESSOR The problem is spreading too fast for bureaucrats to deal with. We can't expect government to solve all our ills. Individual citizens must take some initiative too. At our final meeting, MARIA THIAKA... MARIA 18, pretty and full-figured, smiles modestly.
PROFESSOR (contd, V.O.) ...will tell us about her experience mobilizing local people in her district, Machakos, for reforestation of some barren hills there. EXT. - CAMPUS Maria is approached by a Male CLASSMATE who's obviously attracted to her. She enjoys the attention. PROFESSOR (contd, V.O.) Remember, final exams are the week after next. CLASSMATE You're becoming famous for your tree-planting, Maria. MARIA Kamba women like to plant and watch things grow and bear fruit.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA CLASSMATE (in hushed tone) Why don't you come to the meeting of our political club tomorrow night? The poet Thiongo will be there. MARIA Thiongo? I thought he was in exile. CLASSMATE Shush! He is passing through in disguise, to help revive our national vision. Uhuru remember? There will be mellowing "refreshments" of course. MARIA It sounds enticing but my field is ecology, not political adventurism. CLASSMATE It's only a party, Maria with a distinguished guest. MARIA I have to begin work tomorrow anyway, so I can come back to school next term. CLASSMATE All work and no play make Maria a dull ecologist. MARIA (mischievously) You don't know me entirely, Kamante. She begins to run to catch her bus. CLASSMATE (shouting) Where will you be working?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MARIA Ahmad's Cafe, in Kwagata! Stop by if you come out that way!
Maria boards the packed bus for the long trip to Machakos. There are no seats so she stands in the crowded isle holding a strap as the bus lurches ahead. EXT. DAY - SERIES OF SHOTS A) The bus bounces over potholes in the cratered road. B) It careens through suburban Nairobi streets crowded with pedestrians. C) It traverses the din and congestion of center city Nairobi. D) It moves along the super highway east of Nairobi among convoys of fuel tankers and lorries belching black diesel smoke, engines roaring as they pull a long grade. EXT. DAY - CENTRAL HIGHLANDS A panorama of wildflowers, songbirds, gazelles grazing, and baboons feeding in a clearing. EXT. DAY - HOMESTEAD European design; immaculate lawn, ornamental trees and shrubs. This idyllic scene of East African splendor is the modest estate of GEOFFRY BEALES, a small wiry Englishman in his 50's: one of the best professional hunters in Africa, though he is semi-retired. EXT. DAY - TEAHOUSE A small detached thatch-roofed building at the end of a flower-lined walkway. The teahouse overlooks a vast stretch of bush country. INT. - TEAHOUSE
In top physical condition, Beales, reading, is a gentleman of aristocratic character. In concentration, his intelligent ruggedly handsome face shows the lines and texture of a life spent outdoors. INSERT - BOOK: CONRADS HEART OF DARKNESS Beales is interrupted by a shout from his WIFE, as hardylooking and attractive as her husband. MRS. BEALES (O.S.) Geoffry, telephone! EXT. DAY - HOUSE MRS. BEALES It's Patrick! INT. - STUDY Trophy heads adorn the walls, along with bookshelves and a rack of expensive telescopic rifles. Beales enters, sits down at his desk and picks up the phone. BEALES Jambo, Patrick, good to hear from you, lad. What's up? INT. DAY - GAME RANGER POST A cluttered office with the typical appearance of a malesonly administrative outpost anywhere. On the phone is PATRICK, chief game ranger of Kenya's Kajiado District and head of an anti-poaching unit. He is a tall, handsome, powerfully built man. CUT BACK & FORTH between the two locations. PATRICK Wonderful news, Beales! We've found rhino in the district, near Selengei. BEALES That's incredible. How the hell were they overlooked for so long?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK The bush got very thick down there. The Masai pulled their cattle out; road washed out; no game, no hunting. We'll have to act fast if we're going to protect them though. Reports say two Somali gangs are heading into the area. After butchering six elephants in Amboseli. BEALES Damn! you're right, that increases the urgency. I'll have a party of hunters at Ithumba between August 1st and 10th. Why don't I meet you at Selengei on the 12th? PATRICK Sounds good. Who are your clients. BEALES Four Japanese first-timers, filthy rich. We're going after the usual: antelope, buff and a lion plus the one leopard allowed. MacPherson could handle it, of course, but I have to put in an appearance too. PATRICK They want to hear all those stories of the good old days. BEALES (laughing) You bet. Besides, it's a chance to lobby for the cause. We got $60,000 from the last group; that's how we were able to lease the Kitui Ranch next door. We can suffer a few hunters to protect 20,000 acres of habitat, don't you agree? PATRICK Better that than these bloody Somali poachers! See you on the 12th, Beales.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA INT. - STUDY Mrs. Beales enters. BEALES You too, Patrick. Kwaheri. MRS. BEALES You haven't talked to Patrick for a while, have you. BEALES Not since his promotion to unit leader. They've found rhino in Kajiado District near Selengei. MRS. BEALES Good Lord back from extinction. BEALES Reports have Somali poachers heading into that area. He'll be getting help from the air wing, but I told him MacPherson and I would do some reconnaissance. MRS. BEALES Well you be careful! That seems awfully risky for someone who's "retired". BEALES I'd do it for Patrick even if I wouldn't for the rhino. I wish to God Kenya had a hundred like him.
Suddenly he's interrupted by the DISTANT SOUNDS of a FEROCIOUS ANIMAL FIGHT. He sweeps the curtains of his study aside to see... EXT. - BABOON TROOP ...a violent fight among the baboons we saw earlier. A large...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MALE BABOON ...bares his fangs. EXT. DAY - MARIA'S BUS is now the only vehicle on a lonely rural road. INT. - BUS
With the bus less crowded, Maria is seated now, looking out the window in a pensive mood. A man sitting nearby turns and looks at her. She shudders. What an evil-looking man: the archetypal witch doctor! She quickly looks away, out the window right at a... ROADSIDE TOTEM This is a crudely made figure with a human skull for a head, its body covered with a bizarre array of hides, feathers, horns and trinkets. It reinforces... MARIA'S ...fear. Her face breaks out in a cold sweat as she experiences a childhood FLASHBACK. EXT. NIGHT - KAMBA VILLAGE A frightened YOUNG MARIA is led by her Mother to a Witch Doctor or AJOUGA, seated before a fire. He is tiny, wrinkled and old, wrapped tightly in a dirty animal skin, his grizzled, shaggy hair matched by a scraggly beard. DRUMS pound violently as mother and daughter hurry past a group of Kamba WARRIORS performing a CEREMONIAL DANCE. Their faces smeared with paint, their grimaces exposing teeth filed to ugly points, they thrust spears at imaginary enemies. Topless, frenzied FEMALE DANCERS in the bg catch the young girl's attention. The fire casts a flickering glow over the Ajouga's wrinkled face as Maria's mother sits down in front of him. Maria peers out fearfully from behind her back as the Ajouga utters incantations over magical charms he empties from a pouch.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BACK ON BUS
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Maria is startled from her trance-like memory by the voice of the Driver. DRIVER (O.S.) Kwagata Junction! The evil-looking passenger is gone. Maria gets off the bus with other bundle-laden people. EXT. DAY - KWAGATA A row of grimy buildings a store or duka, a derelict gas station, and a cinderblock building with a corrugated iron roof, bearing the sign: AHMAD'S PLACE on the road from Mombasa to Nairobi. Opposite them on the other side of the road are another small cafe and petrol station. MARIA casts a long hard look at the cafe, her expression revealing nothing, even when... A DRUNK ...staggers through the door, attempts a jig and collapses in a cloud of dust. EXT. LATE AFTERNOON - SCENIC LANDSCAPE In good spirits now, Maria makes the 10-kilometer walk to her family compound. The harsh white glare of midday is gone; the sun's slanting rays restore the warm rich colors and bold textures of the rolling hills. EXT. DAY - BARE SLOPE Some Kamba women and children are planting trees on the gullied slope. They wave to Maria.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. - IMPALA HERD
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along a swampy watercourse. Maria admires them, then spots an approaching... RIDER This is MRS. JAMES, a handsome strong-looking rancher. MRS. JAMES Jambo, Maria. Want a lift? MARIA Hello, Mrs. James. It's only five kilometers. I need the stretch. MRS. JAMES Are you through school for the year? MARIA Two more weeks. How's the venison business? MRS. JAMES We shipped a couple of tons to Nairobi last week, but it may be our last. The government's conducting another nationalizing campaign. They just put half our ranch on the auction block. MARIA They must be mad! Do they know how much protein your game is producing for the markets? MRS. JAMES I doubt it. Fortunately we have some influential friends in a wildlife foundation who may get us a reprieve. Americans their money talks in Kenya. EXT. DUSK - MARIA'S VILLAGE
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A dozen or so shambas small but well-kept adobe structures with sheet metal roofs, each with a large vegetable garden in which only women and children are working. No streets or utilities. Chickens and a few goats run free. Maria waves to her mother, hoeing corn, then casts a rueful glance toward the center of the village, where most of the men are lounging in the shade of a large fig tree, before entering her family's two-room home. EXT. NIGHT - PORT OF LOS ANGELES Motorcycles are crated and loaded aboard a rusty freighter, while the Skulls lurk in the BG. Cougar surreptitiously hands the First Mte a very large wad of bills. EXT. DAY - AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK Identified by road sign. A herd of 10-15 scrawny cattle kick up a cloud of dust beside the highway. Behind them are 2 tall skinny MASAI in toga-like cloaks and carrying long staffs. Two dusty Landrovers approach. In one are... INT. - FIRST LANDROVER ...Geoffrey Beales and the Driver, MACPHERSON, a big strapping man with a thick mustache, in his late 40's one of the best professional hunters in Africa. In the back seat are two uniformed African Rangers: JACOB and CLEOPHAS (CLEO). MASAI HERDSMAN Jambo. BEALES (waving) Do you think your Japanese chaps are ready for leopard? MACPHERSON (grunting) I don't think the bloody fools could bring down a Masai steer if they shot point-blank into the herd.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BEALES That still leaves them a few notches above the lot we're after. MACPHERSON Poachers, bloody businessmen on safari...I don't know, Beales they're all the same to me. BEALES You're beginning to sound like you've been too long in the bush, Mac. MACPHERSON Too long leading people like this lot through it. INT. - SECOND LANDROVER
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Four JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN in safari garb jabber excitedly. INT. - FIRST LANDROVER MACPHERSON Has it ever bothered you, Beales, to think how we've helped the "civilized world" plunder a whole continent? BEALES My God, man, you're worse off than I thought. I do believe the Kamba have set their witch doctor against you. What do you think, Cleo? CLEO (laughing) That right, Bwana. Ajouga put big curse on Bwana Mac. MACPHERSON You can laugh all you like, but I'm telling you by the time you (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MACPHERSON and I are dead, the Africa we know will be finished. BEALES People like us may be, and the poachers and trophy hunters. Even the carbon-copy little dictators they're just visitors here too. But Africa? INSERT - MT. KILIMANJARO towers above bush savanna southwest of Nairobi. BEALES (V.O.) Africa's where mankind was born, Mac. A hundred-thousand years from now they'll be digging our bones out of African soil. EXT. DAY - MOMBASA DOCKS
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Unloading a freighter, a ship's crane swings a cargo net high over the wharf. A heavily-built FOREMAN wigwags the winch operator to stop and lower the load. Gesturing like a symphony conductor, he guides the heavy net to an unloading area on the wharf. A dozen barefoot stevedores move in wordlessly to remove the cargo of slatted crates. The foreman takes the stub of a thin cigar from behind his ear, lights it and signals the net away. The stevedores are already prying open the crates with hammers and crowbars. They exclaim excitedly when they see what's inside. INSERT - MOTORCYCLE a stripped-down hog. BACK TO SCENE - MONTAGE One crate after another reveals the same cargo. The bikes aren't new, but they're in good condition.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA NEARBY
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eyeing the operation uneasily, are their owners. Meet the Skulls: TANK: Slight and spidery from the waist down, enormous in his upper body squeezed into a black leather jacket whose dazzling display of chrome snaps and zippers reflects the hot tropical sun. Beneath the partially open jacket is a filthy sweat-stained T-shirt, around his waist a wide belt with a brass buckle shaped in the Gang's insignia: a grinning skull. Tank puts a thumb to one of his nostrils and blows copiously. In front of him, his "squaw" DOLL dark and rather pretty in a hard, sleazy way cringes. COUGAR: the Leader, as intelligent-looking as Tank is brutal, but still very much a biker. Calmly picking his teeth while studying a map of Kenya, he registers just the slightest disgust as Tank wipes the back of his hand across his nose. Cougar's clothes are as ill-suited to the heat as the others', but his are clean. He's clean-shaven, his hair cut short. BIRDBRAIN: Storklike and scrawny, with the flat, glassy eyes of a psychopath. B.O.: A small wiry, lynxlike man, palpably odoriferous. BUCKET: Short and blonde with more charisma than looks. Self-consciously, she caresses the ample rump responsible for her name. NIG: The lone black man in the Gang. Very, very big. CHICKEN: Tall and gangly, with a constantly bobbing Adam's apple. HONEYPOT: A tall redhead with gorgeous legs inside her thin, faded Levis. T&A are well turned out too. WETBACK: The Latino lover of the Gang. Shrewd and extremely good looking. WEARY: Eyes perpetually heavy-lidded and a drawl to match his sleepy appearance.
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JAILBAIT: Sweet 16 and never been...hell, ain't nothin' she's never been. SOLLY: Jewish features, with a demented brilliance in his eyes. FATSO: The name says all that matters. STUD, CAT, FELIX, and ACE: the rabble. THE STEVEDORES are uncrating the motorcycles, lining them up beside a warehouse. Nearby are some rusty petrol pumps. THE BIKERS TANK Fuckin' coolies. What's takin' em so long? BIRDBRAIN You in that big a hurry t' meet this here "Black Hitler"? COUGAR Stow it, Birdbrain, or we'll never get out of Mombasa. TANK I just wanta get outa this goddamn steambath. NIG Better get used to it, man. Ain't no cooler where we're goin'. DOLL (unzipping Tank's jacket) Make yourself comfortable, big boy. Tank knocks her hand away roughly. She expected it.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA NIG (chuckling) You sure come to the wrong place if you can't stand the heat, man. WEARY How's it feel t' be "home", Nig? NIG Feels good, Honky! BIRDBRAIN Why don'cha take yer boots off, like the brothers there?
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Nig picks him up by the shirt with one hand and tosses him like a floppy stuffed doll into a stack of metal containers. They collapse noisily around him. This is entertainment to the Skulls. THE FOREMAN looks over at the commotion with annoyance. THE BIKERS COUGAR Can't you assholes stay quiet for five fucking minutes? He goes back to his map. WETBACK How many miles? INSERT MAP: KENYA AND UGANDA COUGAR (V.O.) Looks like...Christ! maybe 7-800 miles to avoid towns. BACK TO SCENE SOLLY Sure ain't no freeway, the way we're goin'.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA STUD No shit, Daniel Boone. CHICKEN Where'd we be if we din't have you t' guide us, Hebe? SOLLY Lookin' at murder-one from inside the county jail, fetus-brain or have you forgotten already? CHICKEN I ain't forgot. It wasn't you got us over here. DOLL Yeah, and now we're stuck in this ...'tropical paradise'. TANK I'll take it over death row any day. You're one smart dude, Cougar. They must be lookin' for us from Mexico to Alaska right now. SOLLY You think brains is what got us out of the country? That we'd a got off the dock without that hundred-grand ticket we gave the good captain? TANK (arm around Nig's shoulders) Who was it sized up my man here and figured out you could make a Skull out of a nigger dockworker? NIG (shrugging off the arm) If it wasn't for this nigger longshoreman you'd never a got them bikes on board. Cap'n didn't have shit to say about that.
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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA TANK (to Solly) You bitched the whole way across. What's wrong, don't you wanta ride with this Umy Adan or whatever the hell his name is? NIG I'd think a Jew would like ridin' for the 'Black Hitler'. Talk about a nigger in the woodpile...
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The Skulls' derisive laughter is interrupted by a CUSTOMS OFFICIAL. He wears a starched khaki uniform and the supercilious expression of the bureaucrat. CUSTOMS OFFICIAL Is anyone in charge here? COUGAR You can talk to me. We're in kind of a hurry, man. We'd like to get our bikes outa here and split. WETBACK We wanta see some a this beautiful country you got here. You know tourists. Eyeing him suspiciously, the official consults his clipboard. CUSTOMS OFFICIAL This is your cargo unloading? COUGAR It's ours. The Skulls crowd closer with a suggestion of menace. The official pushes abruptly from the circle. CUSTOMS OFFICIAL I'm sorry, I cannot conduct the necessary formalities under these conditions. Could you please ask your companions to remain to one side?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA Cougar gives them a nod and they move back. CUSTOMS OFFICIAL Thank you. Now, what is your cargo please? COUGAR (gesturing to bikes) Youre lookin at 'em. CUSTOMS OFFICIAL They will have to be declared. You'll need to file form AG-734 for each vehicle. In triplicate. There is a rumble of protest. CHICKEN Triplicut? What the hell's that? NIG Sumpin' 'bout customs, man (spitting) Fuckin' foreigners. WEARY (to Tank in undertone) Come on let's bugger the dude and blow. TANK (to Cougar) You're not gonna take no shit from the little bastard are ya?
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Cougar elbows him viciously in the gut without turning around. Tank keels over, trying to catch his breath. Cougar's eyes are hard but his voice is soft now. COUGAR These are our hogs, man. We just wanta take 'em and go, quiet-like. CUSTOMS OFFICIAL Ownership is easily determined through proper documentation. (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA CUSTOMS OFFICIAL But unless these vehicles are found to be road-worthy, they will be impounded until properly repaired, at the owners' expense. COUGAR What the fuck? CUSTOMS OFFICIAL Then there is the matter of the resale deposit. COUGAR The what? CUSTOMS OFFICIAL In the event the vehicles are sold here in Kenya, you must pay the specified customs duty. The resale deposit simply guarantees this. Of course, if you do not sell, your deposit will be returned. Cougar is beginning to see the humor in this. There's almost a chuckle in his voice. COUGAR And how much is this "resale deposit"? CUSTOMS OFFICIAL $430. For each vehicle.
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Openly laughing now, Cougar turns to share the joke with the others. COUGAR $430. They laugh and begin surreptitiously withdrawing... INSERT - BRASS KNUCKLES, KNIVES, ETC.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BACK TO SCENE CUSTOMS OFFICIAL (counting bikes) There are 13... COUGAR (pointing) Fourteen. All eyes sweep up to the... SHIP'S CRANE ...which is lowering the last crate in the cargo net. CHICKEN That's yours, Tank. THE FOREMAN
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gestures for the winch operator to continue. Suddenly, the line slackens. THE LOAD drops a few feet, then jerks to a halt. The bike breaks through the crate and falls 50 feet to the dock with a sickening crash, narrowly missing the Foreman. It is utterly destroyed. For a moment Tank is stunned. The Skulls turn to him, eyes wide. Finally Tank erupts. TANK ...Holy sweet Jesus. My baby! He runs over and drops to one knee, holding his arms out, then rocks back and forth. TANK (contd) My baby! What have the fucking motherfuckers done to my baby? Tank flings himself on the twisted metal, trying in vain to pull it upright, tugging at the mangled parts as if somehow to magically restore them. At last he kneels and breaks into a high-pitched toneless wail.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA THE SKULLS mourn silently with him. TANK
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lays his hand gently on the crushed machine, then traces the outline of a... INSERT - CRUMPLED SKULL ...staring up grotesquely from its silver banner on the front fender. BACK TO SCENE Now we can sense that Tank feels the foreman standing behind him. THE FOREMAN knows what's coming too. He grabs a piece of pipe from the dock as Tank makes his move. TANK rises, cycle chain in hand. An unconscious ANIMAL GROWL rises with him from the depths of his being. COUGAR stepping forward with one swift graceful move, dispatches the startled customs official. COUGAR (nodding to pumps) Gas 'em up. TANK swings wildly with the chain. The foreman dodges it and
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clubs him a glancing blow with the pipe. Tank roars in pain, revealing a bloody scalp, then charges. Like a skilled matador, the foreman leaps aside, bashing him with the pipe as he bulls past. Tank goes down hard. THE SKULLS who are watching while in the bg the bikes are being gassed yell for him to get up, but... TANK ...seems to be down for the count. The foreman moves in to finish him off. Not yet Tank rolls away as the heavy pipe clangs against the pavement, inches from his head. He springs to his feet, his left arm dangling uselessly, blood trickling into his eyes. The foreman takes him by surprise, ramming him with his head. But he didn't count on Tank's big metal belt buckle. They're both stunned as they stagger back to their feet, and now the foreman's forehead is bleeding heavily. Hurt and winded, they circle each other warily. Tank wants blood; the docker, only to survive. That makes a difference. Gathering the links loosely in his right hand and turning slightly, to hide his left, Tank suddenly lashes out with the chain. Reacting, the foreman lunges with the pipe, and misses. But Tank was only drawing his opponent out feinting with the right hand, no longer holding the chain, while gripping the other end in his left. He pumps the good arm back down for the end held ready...and swings the chain up in a blur. A scream, cut off abruptly. The foreman has just lost face in the worst possible way. THE BIKES roar to life. COUGAR Tank! Let's go! Wetback swings over and picks him up, and all 13 bikes go roaring up and down...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA THE WHARF
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...scattering the Stevedores driving some into the ocean and cutting others down before they can get away. For a few moments the Skulls own the dock, performing a ballet of noise, violence and expert handling of their Harleys. Then, forming a double column, they crash through a gate at the end of the pier and are gone. A breeze scatters customs forms across the pavement. The obnoxious little customs official stares in mute amazement at the sky, dead. Moaning, a crippled Stevedore crawls out of the hot sun. EXT. DAY - AHMAD'S PLACE Maria spreads the last of the day's washing on the bushes to dry and enters the cafe. INT. - CAFE AHMAD, an ordinary little middle-aged man, is perched above a polished mahogany bar in front of a dusty cut-glass mirror with its shelves of bottles. Like a sleeping dog he opens one eye as Maria enters. She pays him no attention as she wipes down the plastic table tops and empties cheap overflowing metal ashtrays advertising Campari, Cinzano and Pepsi Cola. Empty bottles and half-filled glasses stand about in puddles of spilled beer. The curtains are drawn; the room is in semi-darkness. On the wall, artificial flowers alternate with travel and movie posters for the Bijou in Mombasa. In the shadows is a portrait of a grizzled but dignified old African: MZEE JOMO KENYATTA, LIBERATOR AND FIRST PRESIDENT. Maria rearranges the plastic chairs with peeling chrome legs and begins to mop the floor. EXT. - VILLAGE The hot midday sun, and siesta, have shut down the two petrol stations. A scrawny dog noses listlessly among scraps of garbage. A petrol tanker from Nairobi stops in front of the cafe, and the DRIVER and TURNBOY enter.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA INT. - CAFE
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Ahmad stretches. Maria reverts to her native dialect in conversation with her less educated countrymen. DRIVER Eh, Maria you marry me today, hey? MARIA Why you want me marry Luo man? Luo man with Nairobi wife? DRIVER Please, Maria, Nairobi wife but no wife in Kwagata. The men sit down at one of the tables. DRIVER You take me to your nice warm bed, eh? I buy you cloth. Cigarette. I not beat you much. She ducks his reach, her skirt swirling to reveal shapely thighs. The truckers exchange a leer. MARIA (getting beers) Kamba girl marry Kamba man. Or rich American movie star like Tom Cruise. DRIVER Nice for making love, eh? TURNBOY She not for fat. Like that big Grace in Mombasa. Now that fine woman. DRIVER (grunting) Husband find her with man. Chop man with panga. Bad for man, bad for husband. Police take husband for prison. Now no wife.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA The SOUND OF VEHICLES STOPPING outside. TURNBOY Landrover. From Tsavo. Maybe touristi. Maria comes past the door with their beers. MARIA (to Ahmad) German tourists. Maybe six, eight people.
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She gives the men their beers, then arranges tables and chairs as the GERMAN TOURISTS, 6 men and a woman, enter. The paunchy florid-faced men are decked out in brand-new khaki bush suits. They stomp in heavily, talking and laughing too loudly and ignoring the table arrangement Maria has hastily set up, requiring much moving of tables and chairs. From their manner it is obvious that stopping at a place like Ahmad's is an adventure for them. TOURIST You there! Bitte. (consulting guidebook) Bring...60...beer. And...1...Coca Cola. Maria suppresses a giggle at his mistaken order. TOURIST Wass ist? Mach schnell. [Stupid girl.] By now several children are peering through the windows, and the bolder of Kwagata's citizens have ventured inside to take in the spectacle. Her pride wounded, Maria plays a game of wits with the man. MARIA Excuse, Bwana. No 60 beer for ice. (holding up 6 fingers) Only six. TOURIST Of course we don't want 60 beers, you fool! Bring the order at once!
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He consults his guidebook again and, discovering his error, curses, takes out a gold watch, and lays it on the table to time her. BEHIND COUNTER Seeing this, Maria scowls. Then with a wickedly mischievous smile, she puts a beer and six Cokes on her tray. TABLE When she returns with the scrambled order, the man jumps up with rage as his companions try to calm him. Across the room, the Truckers grin at Maria's little joke. TOURIST Five minutes und ist all nicht recht! Schnell! He gestures savagely at Ahmad, who pads over with a look of disapproval at Maria, her features now wreathed in an expression of incomprehension. AHMAD A thousand pardons, Bwana. I will surely beat my girl if you wish it. He motions for Maria to refill the order, while the loudmouth sits down smugly. TOURIST You see what a little discipline can do? These ignorant people they are children. They were better off in the colonies. Maria returns with the correct order, places the glasses and bottles on the table, opens them and pours a little into each glass. Then, she "accidentally" spills a glass into her tormentor's lap. He jumps up again, spilling more bottles and glasses and knocking his expensive watch to the floor. Maria wipes at his drenched suit, only spreading the beer around. Completely out of control now, he shoves her arm violently away, and the heel of his heavy boot comes
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA down squarely on the... INSERT - WATCH EXT. DAY - FISHING VILLAGE
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A police CONSTABLE hurries through the throng of villagers at the wedding feast we saw earlier. The Provincial Commissioner frowns when he sees him coming. CONSTABLE I'm very sorry to bother you, Commissioner but there's been an incident, Sir. COMMISSIONER What kind of incident? CONSTABLE On the docks, Sir. Two men were killed. By American tourists. COMMISSIONER Tourists? Are you sure? CONSTABLE Well, Sir, that's the report I got. From "C" Berth in Mombasa: a customs official and the stevedores' chief foreman, dead. COMMISSIONER You mean murdered? CONSTABLE Yes sir. COMMISSIONER Well I can't believe it....It simply doesn't sound like the sort of thing tourists... CONSTABLE They were like gangsters, Sir (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA CONSTABLE (CONTD) on motorcycles. You know, like the Americani films. COMMISSIONER Motorcycles? CONSTABLE We have reports they took the Nairobi road. COMMISSIONER We must bring these people in, Constable. At once. Tourists may be lucrative business, but they are here at our favor. They must obey the law. Kenya is a sovereign nation. CONSTABLE Very well, Sir. We have two armored cars... After his outburst, the Commissioner has regained his composure. He interrupts the Constable with a laugh. COMMISSIONER Really, Constable you sound like you're preparing for war. From what you say, theyre just a few cyclists. EXT. DAY - TARU DESERT - AERIAL SHOT
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Below on the 2-lane Nairobi Road through bush country of stunted trees and thorn, are the Skulls. At this distance their bikes SOUND like a swarm of INSECTS. COMMISSIONER (V.O. contd) Where can they go? How can they get on in a strange land? Without food or shelter, probably with no k nowledge of the language or a clear idea of where they are....No, this is easily handled. Send a car with two constables to intercept (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COMMISSIONER (V.O. contd) them as quickly as possible. Have them returned to Mombasa for questioning, immediately. THE BIKES - GROUND LEVEL
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After weeks at sea and the violence on the docks the "easily-handled tourists" are excited by this new adventure in an exotic land. EXT. DAY - AHMAD'S PLACE Patrick gets out of his Landrover and enters the cafe. The Germans have left. INT. - CAFE Walking past the doorway, Maria sees him and reacts with pleasure. But with a toss of her head she stifles the spontaneous emotion and goes on about her business as Patrick enters. At the bar he takes off his uniform cap and wipes his brow, as Ahmad sets a beer and glass in front of him, then pours another for himself. AHMAD You are late today, Patrick. PATRICK There was a message from Mombasa. All mixed up. Bad reception. Patrick is as hesitant about making eye contact with Maria as she is determined to avoid it, to torment him. AHMAD Wireless like that sometimes. PATRICK (shaking his head) This was different. From headquarters. Some trouble in Mombasa.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA AHMAD (shrugging) Mombasa far from Kwagata. PATRICK ...But why they call me? He takes a long pull on his beer. MARIA
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moves about, needlessly straightening tables and chairs. She and Patrick steal glances at each other, she in growing frustration at his tongue-tied refusal to acknowledge her. The... TRUCKERS ...grin and nudge each other. DRIVER Maria! Two beer. MARIA catches Patrick looking at her and smiles coyly. ANOTHER ANGLE PATRICK (flustered) Hello, Maria. Would you like a beer? MARIA (rural dialect) Why you offer beer to young girl, Patrick? You the chief game ranger! He is too flustered to reply. She sets the beers down in front of the truckers, and before she can open his, the driver picks it up and opens it with his teeth. Maria pretends to be impressed.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA DRIVER Why you not sit with us? PATRICK
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watching Maria flirt with them, gets up abruptly and slams out of the cafe. MARIA & THE TRUCKERS laugh, but hers has an edge of disappointment. EXT. DUSK - HIGHWAY A car with the Provincial Commissioner and Constable. INT. CAR COMMISSIONER You know, the more I think about it I think these may be terrorists we're dealing with, not tourists. Probably Uma Adan's. He's ripe for a coup right now, unless he comes up with a diversion of some kind. CONSTABLE He's sucked his own people dry, Sir. Maybe after Kenya blood now. COMMISSIONER Get on the radio. Let's order those two armored cars after all. EXT. DUSK - HIGHWAY - MONTAGE A flaming sunset. Some spectacular STUNTS, as the thirsty Skulls take turns stealing one another's nearly empty canteens at 80 miles an hour. INT. - COMMISSIONER'S CAR
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA CONSTABLE (on mic) Peter Charlie One. Suddenly he peers intently through the windshield. HIGHWAY - POV CONSTABLE
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in the dusk, bobbing lights like a swarm of lightning bugs. CONSTABLE (O.S.) Lights! Now they're everywhere, and blinding! INT. - CAR The Constable spins the wheel. The car goes into a skid... EXT. - CAR ...leaves the highway, and careens over a steep bank, bursting into flames in the dry Tsavo Riverbed. EXT. HIGHWAY The Skulls roar past, whoopin' and hollerin'. EXT. DUSK - AHMAD'S PLACE Patrick gets in his park ranger vehicle and turns on the radio. All he gets is a blast of static. DISPATCHER (on radio) Hello, Kwagata. Hello, King-3. This is Mike Able-1. PATRICK (suddenly alert) Hello, Mike Able-1, this is King-3. Come in.
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The RADIO SQUAWKS loudly, but the Dispatcher's VOICE is BARELY AUDIBLE and interrupted by BURSTS OF STATIC. DISPATCHER (on radio) ...motorcycles...Mombasa Road ...Americani... Patrick tries to tune in the signal but gives up. PATRICK Can't read you Mike Able-1. Too much static. Try later. Over. Agitated and disgusted, he re-enters Ahmad's. INT. CAFE The truckers are whirling Maria in a dance between them to a loud TAPE PLAYER. The Driver embraces her, rocking gently with her; Maria leans back, liking it. The turnboy pours beer into her mouth. We're seeing another side of Maria's personality. It's all fairly innocent; neither of them is pawing her, but... PATRICK ...can't stand it. He grabs the turnboy's shoulders roughly and spins him around. PATRICK You leave here. Now! The turnboy pulls away, and the truckers share a look between them, considering whether they're willing to take Patrick on if he pushes them too far. PATRICK Get out of here both of you. MARIA isn't sure whether she's offended or pleased. AHMAD
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA comes out from behind the bar. AHMAD Please no trouble....Please.
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He puts his arm around Patrick's shoulders but the game ranger brushes him aside. PATRICK Go! Now! Maria moves to Ahmad's side. The driver plucks an empty bottle from a nearby table and shatters it against the edge, leaving just the jagged neck in his hand. Maria's eyes widen. Suddenly, the MASSED DRONING SOUND of MOTORCYCLES APPROACHING grabs everyone's attention. They are all puzzled by the sound as it gets LOUDER AND LOUDER...then suddenly STOPS. EXT. EVENING - ROADSIDE The Skulls have pulled up on the outskirts of town. COUGAR Hole up in town for a while. I'm goin' on up the road to find us a place t' camp. He roars on into town. INT. EVENING - AHMAD'S PLACE Hearing a BIKE APPROACHING, everyone goes to the door. EXT. - CAFE As the bike roars toward them... MARIA ...in the doorway, gasps in horror.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR - POV MARIA
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In her somewhat dazed state, the Biker reminds her of a DEMON from the tribal tales of witchcraft she's grown up with. She remembers the... "WITCH DOCTOR" - FLASHBACK ...on the bus, who in turn becomes the... AJOUGA ...from her flashback of the village ceremonial she witnessed as a child. BACK TO SCENE As Cougar approaches in SLOW MOTION against the sunset he acquires MONSTROUS FEATURES. Then, he's gone. PATRICK walks into the middle of the road and looks after him. INT. - CAFE Ahmad and the truckers are bewildered by the incident. DRIVER Ahmad more beer! Big thirst. As the truckers return to their table, Maria stands in the doorway, stunned. EXT. - PATRICK gets back in his Landrover and tries the radio again. Unsuccessful, he drives slowly out of town, peering intently through the windshield, in the direction Cougar came from.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. - THE SKULLS DOLL Why can't we spend the night here? Tank's really wacked.
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Slumped behind Wetback, Tank looks bad but hes not going to let the rest think he's getting soft. TANK (rousing himself) Nothin' wrong with me, bitch! WEARY What say we crash here anyway? Fuzz ain't gonna be after us out here in the boonies fer days, man. SOLLY Listen to this we got us a oneman African Affairs Bureau here. BIRDBRAIN I say we stay. Shack up with the local shines. Whattaya think, Nig? NIG Your mouth's gonna get you wasted over heres what I think punk. TANK Cut the crap. You heard what Cougar said. C'mon, Wetback, let's find us a beer joint. They start their bikes and ride into town harassing Patrick as they pass him on both sides to... EXT. - AHMAD'S PLACE ...where they stop and go in. TANK (obviously in pain) First fuckin' place that's looked like home since we got to Africa!
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA INT. - CAFE
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As they swagger in, the Truckers sit frozen in their chairs. The Bikers own the joint. They eye Maria; overwhelmed, she manages to rise far enough above the daze she's in to go behind the bar for drinks. CAT Cold beer, friend! AHMAD Excuse, gentlemen no more cold beer. STUD Whattaya mean, no beer? What the fuck are they drinkin'? The truckers studiously attend to their own beers. The other bikers still coming in, pulling out chairs and stomping about the place become more menacing. MARIA is loading a tray with (warm) beer. ANOTHER ANGLE AHMAD Sorry, gentlemen... STUD (grabbing him by the shirt) Listen, asshole all I want is a lot of cold, fucking beer. You dig? AHMAD (choking) Only warm beer... HONEYPOT He don't understand, man. You got 'im too scared (to Ahmad) Look, Pops, we ain't gonna hurt no one.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA She spots Maria approaching with the tray of beers. HONEYPOT (contd) See? It's all how ya handle it.
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Stud reaches out in disgust and grabs a beer from the tray as Maria comes past. He takes a big swig...and spits it out angrily. STUD Jeez Christ! I din't order hot coffee! TANK (checking out the cooler) He's right ain't a cold beer in the house. BIRDBRAIN So we drink it African-style. Prob'ly elephant piss anyhow. He leers at Maria now doing her best to keep everyone happy, swirling about with her tray and grabs a beer. Most of the others follow suit. Ahmad is relieved. THE TRUCKERS are beginning to enjoy the spectacle. TURNBOY These mzungu (white men)! Wanyama (animals)! The worried driver gestures him into silence. BIKERS FATSO (drinking) Well it's wet and I'm dry screw it! When Maria hands Wetback a bottle, he pulls her onto his lap.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA WETBACK What's a pretty little thing like you doin' in a hellhole like this? Maria struggles at first to get up... WETBACK We're just here to have some fun. Why don't you just relax, baby, and go along for the ride?
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...but then thinks better of it and forces herself to relax or is she pretending? She holds her hand out for a drink. BIRDBRAIN Hey, Nig! Wetback's movin' in on your territory here. Better put you some moves on. Nig looks at Maria, then disdainfully at Birdbrain. NIG Kiss my black ass, turdbrain. Maria chugalugs Wetback's beer, to appreciative applause from the Skulls but scowls from... BUCKET & HONEYPOT ...who don't like the competition. THE TRUCKERS Their grimacing faces reveal they know what Maria doesn't seem to: she's playing with fire. NIG is taking in more the physical atmosphere of the place than the raucous activities. PATRICK
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA enters and is taken aback by the whole scene. THE SKULLS take note of his uniform. MARIA
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not seeing Patrick, appears to be having a great time on Wetback's lap. TRUCKERS The Driver nudges the Turnboy to look at... PATRICK ...whos rubbing his head in dismay. BUCKET & HONEYPOT like this chick less and less. BIRDBRAIN & CHICKEN ...look like they'd love to do unmentionable things to her. ANOTHER ANGLE WETBACK You know how to fly, Baby? Let me show you how. He sweeps across the room to the door with her. Maria sees Patrick standing there, stunned. She gives him a fleeting stricken look, then Patrick steps aside for them with an expression of bewildered hurt and anger. EXT. NIGHT - CAFE But...
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Wetback kicks his bike to life and roars off with Maria, who grabs hold of him at the last moment. THE RIDE - POV MARIA The whole world flashes past. INSERT - MARIA'S FACE This is the most exhilarating experience she's ever had. INT. - CAFE The bikers help themselves to the beer, singing and dancing to guitars and a harmonica. Joints make the rounds, the truckers included. Honeypot does a bump-and-grind on the bar. The truckers are enthralled. STUD getting drunk now, doesn't like what he sees. THE TRUCKERS can't take their eyes away. HONEYPOT loves the attention, and... BUCKET & JAILBAIT ...urge her on. STUD is really pissed now.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA THE TURNBOY
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is suddenly lifted bodily from his seat. Stud's blow sends him sprawling across the room. STUD No one looks at my bitch that way, Nigger! The Truckers prepare to defend themselves, but Stud turns his rage on Honeypot. STUD I'll teach you t' show yer pussy to the world! He kicks at her but misses. The party's in full swing. PATRICK undecided, looks over at Ahmad, who shakes his head, gesturing: "Don't try to interfere." THE FRONT DOOR Wetback and Maria return. Dazed by the ride and this wild party, she's unable to focus on Ahmad and her waitressing duties. Looking at the boogying Skulls, she sees, in FLASHBACK... EXT. NIGHT - THE KAMBA WARRIORS ...in the ceremonial dance she witnessed as a child when taken to the ajouga. DOLL & TANK are the only Skulls not partying Tank because of his injured shoulder.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA DOLL They're gonna tear up the joint, Baby. You'd better do somethin'. TANK (eyes glazed in pain) ...Hell with 'em. Lemme be. He drops his head on the table and passes out. WEARY (to Bucket) Come on. Whattaya say? BUCKET What's it worth to ya? WEARY I'll show ya what it's worth.
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Reaching inside his jacket, he uncoils a blacksnake whip from around his waist then brings it crashing down on the floor with an explosive CRACK! WEARY Move it, ya goddamn squaw! The bash turns into an orgy. Bottles, glasses and chairs are smashed. Honeypot, Bucket and Jailbait do stripteases, each on her own table. MARIA appalled yet fascinated, in another FLASHBACK from her traumatic childhood visit to the ajouga, sees the topless biker chicks as the bare-breasted... EXT. NIGHT - NATIVE WOMEN in the frenzied village ceremonial dance. PATRICK has had enough.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK (to Ahmad) I'm going to stop this barbarity! AHMAD How? You don't even have a gun, Patrick. PATRICK In the Landrover. AHMAD (restraining him) The damage I can repair. It's all happened before. PATRICK Not in my district. He exits. EXT. NIGHT CAF Right behind him are the truckers. DRIVER (to Patrick) They white devils! TURNBOY Witches! They climb hurriedly into the cab of their tanker. INT. - CAFE
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The SOUND of the TANKER STARTING, outside...then SPUTTERING into silence. CAT holds up a short section of plastic fuel line.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA B.O. How long you think it'll take those bozos to figure out the Doc here done a biopsy on their fuel line? JAILBAIT
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comes by riding piggyback (actually piggyfront) on Cat's shoulders. BUCKET is lying on the table on her back, her legs cocked at the knees, ready to take on the house. MARIA is both repelled and aroused. When Wetback tries to unbutton her blouse, she knocks his hand away. The small confrontation brings her more to her senses; she looks around as if only now coming to realize the full extent of the danger she's in. INT. - LANDROVER Patrick reaches for his assault rifle before seeing that the gunrack is empty! Cursing, he digs beneath the driver's seat and comes up with a handgun, which he checks to make sure it's loaded. The RADIO tries again futilely to communicate. He punches it in frustration and gets out. INT. CAF Now it is Maria lying on a table, clumsily trying to obey commands shouted at her by the Skulls. Weary's whip is like a snake's tongue flicking over the table and chairs at her feet. WEARY C'mon, Baby, make it hot! You can do better'n that.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA WETBACK
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is on his hands and knees in front of the door, shaking his bloodied head. The door opens, and two booted feet walk INTO FRAME. Its... PATRICK ...who freezes in the doorway. MARIA POV PATRICK FATSO (O.S.) Hey, how about our li'l chocklit drop! ANOTHER ANGLE BIRDBRAIN Whattaya think, Nig? Think she oughta join the party? NIG Do whatcha want with her, man. BIRDBRAIN She's yer dish, man nice dark meat... The whip CRACKS in front of Birdbrain's face. WEARY My dish, Birdbrain! Suddenly two GUNSHOTS (O.S.) in rapid succession. PATRICK standing in the doorway, lowers his gun after shooting into the ceiling. PATRICK Let her up! The sudden SILENCE after the shots is broken by a murmur of
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA disbelief and a few catcalls, but... THE SKULLS
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...gathered around Maria move far enough away for her to scramble down from the table. PATRICK gestures her to his side. PATRICK I want to see your papers! All of you! BEHIND THE BAR Ahmad's head rises cautiously into view ANOTHER ANGLE PATRICK Passports! No proper papers, you'll have to be detained. Derisive laughter from the Skulls. Curses, the SOUND of BREAKING BOTTLES. STUD The little soljer wants passports! BIRDBRAIN I don't need no passport, Mr. po-lice-man. (pulling knife from his boot) I got the key to the fuckin' city. When Patrick turns his attention for just a moment to Birdbrain, Cat clobbers him from behind with the game ranger's own rifle. Patrick slumps to the floor, and Cat motions for someone to follow him in through the open door of the cafe. Maria slinks behind the bar.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA CAT C'mon in, boys. Fun's just beginnin'.
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It's the two truckers. Cat shoves them toward the center of the cafe with the assault rifle. CAT They were gonna leave the party without sayin' good-bye. Gonna save all their talkin' fer the fuzz! DRIVER We say nothing! The truckers are pushed violently from one Skull to another until the driver finally takes a swing at someone and gets a full bottle of beer upside the head in return. The big man topples like a tree. Chicken makes as if to do the same thing to the turnboy, then twirls the bottle like Mr. FastDraw in a B Western, opens it with his teeth, and hands it to the cringing trucker to the great appreciation of the Skulls. CHICKEN Party down, Dude. Meanwhile... WEARY approaches Maria with the whip again, flicking it with sick expert dexterity along the littered bar. BIRDBRAIN C'mon, man do it with one thing or the other and get on with it. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. NIGHT - HIGHWAY - POV COUGAR He is riding at great speed toward a flickering red glow in the distance.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA INSERT COUGAR COUGAR What the fuck? BACK TO SCENE
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Much of Kwagata is ablaze, as Cougar pulls up in front of... AHMAD'S ...which is beginning to go up in flames. INT. - AHMAD'S Cougar rushes in to see the place in a shambles. Ahmad, the truckers and Patrick lie on the floor. The bar is askew, the mirror behind it shattered. Cougar hears a high-pitched MOAN. In the corner, tied and spread-eagled across a tabletop, is Maria. Weary is looking down at her like a cat with a mouse it is torturing. WEARY Where you been, man? You missed all the fun. You and Nig he wouldn't play. Ain't that a racist sonofabitch for ya? The flames get closer. The look on Cougar's face is one of profound loathing. He lunges...but Weary is ready. The whip snakes out and bites his shoulder. WEARY Too slow, Cougar Man. Yer gettin' soft. You leave li'l Chocklit Drop here t' me. (eyeing approaching flames) You spose she'll melt? COUGAR (voice thick with loathing) ...You're one sick sonofabitch, Weary.
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Weary's eyes film over like steam on a mirror. He doesn't seem to be looking at anything, least of all Cougar. But Cougar sees the whip move and dives to one side. This time it whistles past his ear and CRACKS beside his head. The sound revives Maria, who looks up groggily. Cougar grabs a chair, confronting Weary with it like a lion-tamer. He dodges the whip again...then catches it the next time in the rungs of the chair. Weary tries unsuccessfully to yank the chair from his hand. Then Cougar jerks the chair back, pulling the whip from Weary's hands. Weary grabs the nearest bottle and breaks it over the table Maria is tied to. Cougar smashes the chair against the floor and comes up with a leg. Too anxious, Weary makes a pass with the jagged bottle neck. He misses and it's going to cost him. The sudden cold look in Cougar's eyes is unearthly like metal in space. He creams Weary with the chair leg. He hits him again, methodically looking for a vital spot...then again, with a grunt of satisfaction. Weary is finished. Cougar picks up the whip. Then returning to his senses as the fire draws nearer, he releases the dazed Maria, throws her over his shoulder, and carries her outside a moment before the roof collapses. EXT. - CAFE The Skulls are on their bikes, waiting. He throws the whip up for grabs, and Wetback claims it. Then Cougar lifts Maria from his shoulders and stands there holding her in his arms, obviously wondering what to do with her. She looks back at him, fearful, exhausted and in pain. He carries her to his bike and sets her abruptly on her feet. COUGAR Stand up. She staggers but manages to remain upright, swaying against him. COUGAR (mounting the bike) Get on. She reaches for some inner strength and climbs on behind him.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR Now hold on.
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He starts the bike...and The Skulls roar out of town. Then, his shirt ablaze, Patrick staggers from the wreckage of the cafe and away from the tanker to which the fire is spreading. Suddenly it goes, in a tremendous EXPLOSION. Patrick has escaped incineration by a matter of seconds. MARIA terrified and alone, holds tightly to Cougar, as... THE SKULLS ...ride through the night. EXT. DAWN - CAMPSITE Lush streamside in Tsavo bush country. Jungle SOUNDS. BIRDS and a MONKEY, chattering excitedly. A pattern of branches, OUT OF FOCUS, against the pale light of the sky. This is the disoriented POV of... COUGAR ...on awakening. THE BRANCHES POV COUGAR ...come gradually INTO FOCUS as the CAMERA PANS TO REVEAL the monkey and the cause of its distress: A DEADLY MAMBA on a limb just beyond striking distance of the monkey. COUGAR sits up and looks around. The rest of the Skulls are still
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asleep. So is Maria, tied to a tree. He gets up, stretches and rolls up his blanket. Keeping an eye on the ground and the snake overhead, he makes his way to the stream with his canteen. He splashes the water around to flush out anything dangerous an assortment of insects and creepy-crawlies then washes his face, rinses his mouth and scrubs his teeth with a finger before refilling the canteen. MARIA is watching when he returns. COUGAR nudges Tank with his boot. Tank wakes defensively. COUGAR Let's go. Tank pulls the blankets back, rousing Doll from sleep. TANK Ain't she a beauty first thing in the morning? DOLL (thickly) Wakin' up's bad enough, without you startin' in....Where the hell are we? COUGAR Probably just this side of the whole Kenya army after that bonfire you made last night. TANK The Skulls against Kenya huh? Well, we kicked their ass so far. COUGAR (to Doll) Keep an eye on the chick for me, will ya? Don't let anyone near (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR (C0NTD) her. She's our ticket to Uganda. (to Tank) How's the arm? TANK (testing it, wincing) It's comin' back. COUGAR Help me get these clowns on their feet. TANK Snake! Crockydile!
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The campsite erupts in a flurry of blankets and sleeping bags. Cougar goes over to Maria. COUGAR What happened last night won't happen again, long as you do what I tell ya. He kneels beside her with the map he had on the dock. INSERT - MAP COUGAR (O.S.) Here's where we are now. Here's where we wanta go. BACK TO SCENE COUGAR (contd) Can you get us there without usin' any of the main roads? Maria doesn't answer. Cougar grabs her by the chin and jerks her head up so they're face to face. COUGAR Listen, Maria you do what I say, and you're safe. But if you can't help us, I'm givin' you back to them. You understand?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MARIA (almost a whisper) ...I understand. COUGAR Good. You're a smart girl, Maria. You and me's gonna get along fine. INT. DAY - HOSPITAL ROOM
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Patrick, head bandaged, is visited by a DOCTOR with the Constable we saw at the fishing village and LT. GICHURU, an intelligent-looking Kenyan. DOCTOR How are you feeling? He consults Patrick's chart as the patient mumbles a reply, then looks up at Gichuru. PATRICK Lieutenant, what about Mar what happened to the young woman? GICHURU We think they've taken her as a hostage perhaps. PATRICK (trying to get up) I am responsible. I'll help look for her. DOCTOR Wait just a minute! Your x-rays show no fracture, but a head injury can have delayed effects. You need to rest. PATRICK May I leave, Sir? I'm a good tracker. GICHURU Do you think you could stretch a point and release this man?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA DOCTOR Well, I can use the bed. GICHURU Very well. You know the country, Kitoki? PATRICK Yes, Sir. I am from Kajiado, near here. Before joining the service I worked for a professional hunter, in the safari business. GICHURU Good. Report to HQ at noon. You'll be with a squad of Riflemen in Landrovers. EXT. DAY - THE BUSH - SERIES OF SHOTS
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A) The Skulls are barreling along a track in the middle of a wilderness of gaunt trees and thickets struggling to grow in the dry red soil. The Bikers are sweltering in their leather jackets. Their pants are torn and bloody from the thorn bushes. B) They pass a small herd of elephants. The bull leading the herd lefts its ears and TRUMPETS a warning, but he is too far away to be dangerous. C) Later, they stop for a rest, in a clearing with a mud hole in the middle. They are hot, thirsty and tired, and Fatso's bike is overheating. NIG Your hog's always overheatin', man. STUD Fats'd overheat a Mack truck. WETBACK Fats'd overheat a Mack engine on a goddamned bicycle!
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA TANK Don't look good, man. We ain't made 20 miles today. COUGAR (to Maria) You ain't been leadin' us in a circle have ya? MARIA (playing "dumb native") No, Bwana. Nyika bad country. Bad for water. (pointing to mud hole) But water here. DOLL You expect us t' drink that shit? MARIA In desert, all water good. She goes over, kneels and drinks from cupped hands. MARIA Good water. Cougar follows her example and almost gags. STUD Yeah, I can see how good it is. COUGAR Anybody don't fill their canteen goes without. The others approach suspiciously. Meanwhile... BIRDBRAIN
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...disturbs a scorpion. Nearly tearing himself in two getting away, he coaxes it into the boot he's removed and drops it in front of Chicken who jumps back, knocking Fats into Stud into Tank, in a domino effect. Tank sends his angry response back down the line. The Skulls are on edge.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MARIA is studying the map. MARIA Bwana, I think we are here. INSERT - MAP COUGAR (O.S.) What's this some kinda lodge? BACK TO SCENE MARIA Yes, Bwana. Tsavo National Park. (shading her eyes, pointing) Off that way, Chyulu hills better country. COUGAR C'mon we'll be able t' gas up there. Tonight. INT. DAY - CONFERENCE ROOM
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Patrick and others in a 10-man DETAIL sit attentively as Lt. Gichuru, standing behind his desk, briefs them. GICHURU (pointing to map) We picked up their tracks this morning...here. If they don't bog down, they should come out in Tsavo West. Sgt. Mwangai, you will attempt to overtake them with your two Landrovers. A third will try to cut them off from the highway. PATRICK Sir, what of the hostage? GICHURU Most important. Extreme care must be taken to avoid harming her. But she is one of their weapons and they will use her.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. DAY - POLICE COMPOUND
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The two Landrovers full of riflemen pull noisily away in a cloud of dust. INT. LANDROVER Patrick's lips are set. His determined expression makes him appear older and certainly more heroic than when we first met him. EXT. DAY - COUNTRYSIDE - SERIES OF SHOTS A) The Skulls are crossing a vast open valley covered with short tufted grass. Three or four abreast, their bikes almost touching, they ride with military precision. In the distance, its glaciers glowing in the afternoon sun, towers Mt. Kilimanjaro. B) The valley narrows, forcing them through a gap between acacias, into a glade covered with white powdery dust. Suddenly they come to a skidding halt. Blocking their way are water buffalo standing at the edge of a thicket 25 yards away. A small flock of tick-eating birds circles them noisily. C) Buffalo and Bikers eye each other warily. The birds settle on their backs again. The huge beasts SNORT loudly, prompting screams from a couple of the women. But the buffalo merely turn and trot away. BIRDBRAIN C'mon! Them buggers is tame! The others follow him after the buffalo. MARIA There is danger, Bwana! The "cowboys" continue to harass the buffalo, driving them away from one another. BUCKET C'mon, Buffalo Bill!
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Stud actually gets close enough to kick one of them in the butt. The Skulls buzz around the beasts like big flies, until they're too exhausted to go any farther and the Skulls become bored with the game. NIG I always heard water buffalo was supposed t' be such mean motherfuckers. BIRDBRAIN Shit, they're like Fats: big and dumb. TANK Man, if this is as tough as it gets over here, we'll own the place in a few weeks. COUGAR (to Maria) Danger huh? Proud of themselves now, the Skulls break ranks for some stunt-riding. Meanwhile, the landscape changes. Vegetation becomes heavier. The mirages they've been chasing all day are replaced by a real river. WETBACK (pointing) Real water! They park their bikes on the... RIVERBANK ...and plunge in. Some of them take their clothes off, others go in fully dressed, boots and all. Wading birds move daintily away from the commotion without interrupting their feeding. SOLLY Let's look around. He, Jailbait, Nig and Fatso walk along the bank, lined by reeds and sedges, dominated by graceful crowns of papyrus.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA Then they see... A HIPPO JAILBAIT Look, a rhino! NIG That ain't no rhino. Nothin' but a fuckin' hippo. SOLLY Let's do a number on it. Who wants to grab its tail? NIG C'mon, Fats. Five bucks says you're scared t' get within 50 feet of it. FATS Shit! You want some tail? I'll give you fuckin' tail.
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He takes his Buck knife from his boot and walks stealthily toward the hippo. Now the old bull sees him for the first time. SOLLY Watch out, Fats he may be horny! Fatso's about halfway to the hippo when, with no warning, it charges. Both man and beast are faster than we'd have guessed but it's no contest. The look of terror on Fatso's face is his last. The enraged animal catches him in its huge jaws, its great swordlike tusks slicing Fats almost in two. His broken body is tossed into the air, then stomped into the ground. At last, its anger vented, the hippo trots off rapidly toward the lake. THE BIKERS are stunned. Jailbait is crying hysterically. Solly is on his knees, puking. Nig just stands there, his mouth agape, his eyes wide.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. DAY - LANDROVERS - SERIES OF SHOTS
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A) The Riflemen's 2 vehicles slip and swerve along narrow tracks. B) They are forced to stop, until the riflemen cut a path with their machete-like pangas. C) Encountering the small elephant herd the Skulls passed, they are forced by the angry bull to detour. EXT. DAY - RIVER The Skulls have just finished burying Fats in a crude shallow grave. They mill around for a moment, holding onto their emotions, then walk away. MARIA is surprised by their lack of ceremony. She looks curiously at Jailbait, the last to leave. JAILBAIT (a sob in her voice) What are you lookin' at? As the Skulls start their bikes, vultures have begun to circle overhead, and two jackals move in only to be chased away by a hyena. EXT. LATE AFTERNOON - TSAVO PARK LODGE The Skulls arrive at the top of a rise, overlooking buildings in a valley. Beside a stream is a sprawling single-story structure with a wide verandah. Separated from it by a grove of acacias is a cluster of rondavels and, nearby, rectangular buildings. Cougar's expression demands an answer from Maria. She continues her Pidgin Englishspeaking role of "ignorant savage". MARIA It is lodge near Masoti, Bwana. Has food and petrol.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR Who's in charge? MARIA Lodge run by Parks Service. For European tourist. COUGAR Tourists huh? All right, listen up! We go in nice and easy. Get what we need and pay for it. We're tourists, on safari. Got it? SKULLS Har har. COUGAR (looking at map) We're headin' south, to Tan... (mispronouncing it) ...ZAN-ya. (gesturing to distant peak) What's that mountain? MARIA Kilimanjaro. COUGAR We're gonna check out Kilimanjaro. BIRDBRAIN Kill a man who? TANK Kill a man 'fore he can kill you, asshole. C'mon let's get goin' fer chrissake! COUGAR Remember keep it cool! They ride up to the... EXT. - SERVICE BUILDINGS
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Two AFRICANS are talking. One of them, in a Parks Service
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA uniform, comes over, eyeing them curiously. COUGAR Need some gas petrol. And camping supplies. He nods for Skulls to enter the store. The man starts pumping gas. ATTENDANT Where you come from? Several Skulls answer at once. TANK South America. BIRDBRAIN L.A. COUGAR (glaring at them) Australia. ATTENDANT What direction, I mean? COUGAR (waving vaguely) Over yonder. ATTENDANT Maybe you come from Voi? My friend say there is trouble on Mombasa road. BIRDBRAIN We been in the bushes, man. Huntin' - deer and moose an' like that. TANK You asshole there ain't no moose in Africa. (to Attendant) Lions an' tigers, man.
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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA ATTENDANT (sharing joke with friend) Tiger. (to Skulls) Those bikes nice. They come from America, yes? COUGAR I told ya, man Australia. ATTENDANT (nodding) ...Why you have Americani registration plate? COUGAR I said Australia ya dig. Now piss off, an' get this job done!
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The other African has approached by now, and the two of them speak together in rapid Swahili. The Skulls prepare for battle. MARIA who has been observing carefully, slips off Cougar's bike and takes the Africans aside. THE SKULLS sure they're about to be betrayed, move to stop her but Cougar, almost as surprised by his reaction as the others are, intercedes. COUGAR Let her go. TANK Are you crazy? COUGAR Maybe. There is an ugly undertone among the Skulls as...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MARIA
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...chatters to the Africans. We can SEE by their expressions that, somehow, she is gradually changing their opinions of the bikers: from hostile suspicion to something approaching respect. She returns. The Africans now maintain a deferential distance. COUGAR What the hell'd you tell 'em? MARIA I say you missionaries. From World Youth Mission. That why you dress strange. You come from across great desert to convert white men in South Africa. Cougars impressed. He turns to Tank with arched eyebrows. Is that a gleam in Maria's eyes, or just our imagination? MARIA I tell them you like to speak with them. Help them find Jesus. Tank is chug-a-lugging a beer handed to him by the others who have returned with the supplies. When he hears this, he spews it out with a gush. The attendant pays him little attention as he comes forward to take Cougar's money. ATTENDANT Please, Bwana you stay and speak for Jesus? COUGAR Later, man tomorrow. Just gimme the change. Suddenly, another man yells something from the store. MARIA (to Cougar) Radio! ATTENDANT Pardon, Bwana important message on radio.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR Friend, you're holding up the message of the Lord. Let's have the change.
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The attendant hesitates. The man in the store yells out again and shrugs, as Solly saunters through the door. The attendant gives Cougar his change, with an ingratiating smile. Solly gives him... INSERT ...a length of radio antenna, clipped at each end. BACK TO SCENE SOLLY I hate talk radio, man. He shoves his switchblade into his boot, and gets on his bike. Tank gives him a thumb's up. The Skulls roar away from the pumps and out of the compound. TANK (laughing) Bikers for Jesus! EXT. DUSK - TSAVO PARK LODGE The two Landrovers arrive. Patrick and the Sergeant get out. SERGEANT We tried to reach you on radio. ATTENDANT It broken. We think men cut antenna. SERGEANT What men? ATTENDANT They say missionaries. Ride motorcycle. Dress in black, like priest.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA SERGEANT Like death, is more like it. They've killed six people we know of. PATRICK What of the hostage? ATTENDANT Hostage? What hostage? SERGEANT Young Kamba woman 18. ATTENDANT She the one say man preach for Jesus. PATRICK is stunned by this. Just then... THE THIRD LANDROVER ...arrives, and one of the riflemen jumps out. RIFLEMAN We think we make contact, Sergeant. SERGEANT Where? RIFLEMAN We find place on both sides of road where grass matted down. Bush cut. We think motorcycle men cross Taveta Road going north. ATTENDANT They say go to Kilimanjaro. SERGEANT (thinking aloud) ...Why north? Better they go south (MORE)
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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA SERGEANT (CONTD) out of the country maybe to Zimbabwe. North takes them deeper into Kenya. RIFLEMAN (holding something out) We find this, Sir. SERGEANT What this prove? This Kamba, not Americani. PATRICK Wait! Let me see please. (examining it) Yes, I know this. This is Maria's bracelet. SERGEANT How do you know? PATRICK I gave it to her. You see what's happening? Maria's leading them into Kenya. She left this for us to find. They're going for the Chyulu forest good protection, but also slow speed. Please, Sir, let me take the Landrover and constables and go after them. SERGEANT ...Very well, Kitoki. I think you'll find nothing, but I'll give you a Landrover. I can't spare any men. PATRICK Thank you, Sir! SERGEANT Keep in radio contact. Don't try anything on your own wait for reinforcements.
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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. NIGHT - SKULLS' CAMP
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They are partying around a large campfire. The flames give their faces a demonic appearance, all fire and shadow. Their movements have a disturbing stroboscopic effect. Now these natural effects are ENHANCED. We are reminded of the "Demon" Maria saw in front of the cafe...and realize this is her POV. MARIA beside the fire she shares with Cougar, puts her hands over her eyes. She is trembling. She looks away from the fire toward the jungle. THE JUNGLE - POV MARIA is just as frightening as the Skulls: impenetrable darkness, except for nearby trees and underbrush lit crazily by the firelight. Jungle night SOUNDS HYENA CACKLES, LION ROARS, etc. as she hears them. COUGAR - POV MARIA bites off the end of a cigar and lights it with a brand from the fire. The flames give his face a flickering, fiery complexion. Cursing, he quits trying to read the map in front of him and turns to Maria. For a moment he says nothing, a black void where his eyes should be. COUGAR How far is it...to Uganda? MARIA Uganda? What you want in Uganda? COUGAR Never mind why. How far? MARIA Oh, long way distant. Maybe 2-, 3-day journey.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR You know the way? MARIA I can take you there, Bwana. COUGAR (getting up) What's the country like? MARIA Very bad. Hot, thirsty, bush then mountains, jungle.
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Cougar sits beside her. She falters for a moment, fear on her face. Then, as if to stem the rising hysteria in her voice, she continues to speak, rapidly. MARIA Farther west easier for drive. All Masai country. Open, much grass and game. Beyond are hills... Cougar puts his hand on her knee. She pauses again, afraid and confused. COUGAR (beginning to undress her) ...Go on. MARIA (eyes wide, almost sobbing) Hills. Hills beyond. Slower there. But forest...forest good place to, to hide... Cougar slips off her blouse and bra and cups her breasts in his hands with surprising tenderness. COUGAR Hide? Why would we want to hide? We're the Skulls, Baby....Don't you be hidin' on me either. Come out and play with your Cougar man. With one hand on her breast, his fingers kneading her nipple, he pulls her head back by the hair with the other. His actions are forceful but not brutal. His hands are firm
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when they need to be, caressing when she isn't fighting him. His voice is that of a lover's. But Maria refuses to relax, fighting him in this way rather than with her fists. Her hands are clenched, her eyes at first wide with fear, then tightly closed. COUGAR Maria...don't fight me, Baby. There's no point in that. Life is short. Mean and violent and then it's over. But this can be so sweet, if you'll let it. Just let it take hold of you, Baby. Let it take you away.... Cougar apparently enters her (penetration O.S.), and we experience his thrusts from Maria's POV. Is it unambiguously horrible for her...or is there a hint of some savage atavistic lust as well? When he is finished, there is a long moment of silence. Maria gulps and opens her eyes. Then, sensing something above and behind her, she looks up to see... PATRICK ...looking down at her in horror, revulsion and absolute paralysis. Then he is brought to his knees by a crushing blow to the kidneys from behind. FADE TO: EXT. DAWN - ANOTHER CAMP Geoffrey Beales stretches like an animal. He takes in the incredibly sensual beauty of his surroundings with such obvious physical pleasure that we can feel it ourselves. Africa is everything to him. But his early morning reverie is interrupted by a commotion and the jabber of JAPANESE VOICES in a nearby tent, which we SEE now for the first time. Annoyed, he turns from the tent to a leopard skin staked out on the ground to dry A shudder sweeps over him and we... DISSOLVE TO: EXT. AFTERNOON - KORONGO This kind of bush-lined streambed is the leopard's favorite
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haunt. Beales and his party of Japanese hunters have just finished baiting a tree and settled into a blind to wait. BEALES Remember now, if we get in a jam with a wounded leopard, you stay clear. You're not ready for that. They wait. The DRONE OF INSECTS in the hot grass. The monotonous COOING of a RING-NECKED DOVE as the shadows lengthen. THE JAPANESE perspire and fidget. BEALES sits calmly but alertly, waiting. LATE AFTRNOON - SAME SCENE A Japanese Hunter slaps in irritation at his face. Then... A LEOPARD ...steals soundlessly to the foot of the tree...and leaps onto a low branch, where it stares intently at the fresh bait. Outlined against the foliage some 50 feet away, motionless but for the slow rhythmic twitching of its long tail, it's a perfect target. THE HUNTERS BEALES (urgent whisper) Shoot man! Dead on you can't miss! The hunter next to him fires. The leopard jumps to the ground and bounds into the heavy bush of the korongo.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA HUNTER #1 [Japanese exclamation] BEALES (savagely) You only wounded him! He leaves the blind, and the hunter starts to follow. BEALES Stay here! You had your chance. KORONGO
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Seeing bloodstains at the foot of the tree, Beales curses and enters the heavy underbrush cautiously. His reluctant but disciplined stalking conveys both the man's courage and the extreme danger he faces. Suddenly a twig SNAPS behind him! It's the fool hunter. Beales waves him away frantically, then whirls around at the ferocious SNARL behind him. He fires just as the leopard springs...and goes down beneath it. The hunter rushes up, takes aim... BEALES Don't shoot! ...and fires. Neither man nor animal moves, and it looks as though Beales has been shot. Then, furious, he throws the leopard's body off with the strength only an adrenaline rush can bring. BEALES You fool! My own bloody client! He points with his boot to the spot of blood over the animal's heart. BEALES My shot killed him. Yours nearly killed me! INSERT LEOPARDS SHATTERED SKULL BEALES (O.S.) And blew the hell out of any chance of a trophy!
76 DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. DAWN - BEALES CAMP - THE PRESENT From the nearly headless leopard skin...to Beales, looking down at it and shaking his head. He glares at the tent of his Japanese clients, who are still CHATTERING away. BEALES (muttering to himself) Thank God you're leaving today. EXT. EARLY MORNING - SKULLS' CAMP Patrick lies on the ground apart from the bikers, gagged and tied up. MARIA lying beneath blankets next to Cougar looks as if she's been awake for some time. Her expression is one of torment, fear, humiliation. The CAMERA PANS across the campfire. We sense that something is very wrong somewhere. Now we are on the faces of... BUCKET & STUD ...both of them serenely stupid in sleep He shakes himself awake. STUD Jesus! Why'nt you cut yer fuckin' toenails! BUCKET Huh? Whassamatter? STUD You woke me up's, what's the matter. BUCKET I woke you up? How'd ouch! You sonofabitch, you don't hafta kick me! Stud's eyes open.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA STUD I didn't kick you...
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They get the same thought at the same moment and roll frantically out of their blankets. Something stirs beneath them. Tank creeps over and lifts them with a long stick, to reveal... INSERT A PUFF ADDER opens its mouth wide hissing, ready to strike again. COUGAR blows it apart with his .357 magnum. STUD & BUCKET terrified, look down at their bloody, swelling ankles. ANOTHER ANGLE Maria rushes up beside Cougar. Seeing what has happened, she says in a hushed voice: MARIA Adder. We can do nothing...they will die. BUCKET begins to wail. EXT. MORNING - TSAVO PARK LODGE The two remaining Landrovers stand ready, each with its own Riflemen, as Lt. Gichuru addresses them: GICHURU Weve lost radio contact with Kitoki. He must be in trouble. (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA GICHURU (CONTD) These motorcycle men are savages. Touristi have come here and slaughtered our animals all my life. But these Americani kill our people. We must stop them! Fists and voices raised in spontaneous agreement. GICHURU (holding up bracelet) Show me where you found this. EXT. DAY - BEALES' CAMP
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Beales is seeing off the Japanese, who are ready to leave in their rented Landrover. His tone of voice and manner are so cordial they don't seem to be aware he is ridiculing them; they just deep nodding their heads and smiling. BEALES Good hunting, chaps. Damn shame you didn't get your leopard trophy. Next time I'll call in an air strike and napalm one for you. If that doesn't work we'll nuke the poor bugger. Still nodding and waving, they drive away. BEALES (to himself) Bloody tourists! I'm damn lucky to have my hide. INT. - LANDROVER HUNTER #1 (in perfect English) Wise-ass bastard isn't he? HUNTER #2 Too bad you missed. They laugh.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. DAY - SKULLS' CAMP
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Stud and Bucket are really suffering now. The others are getting so badly rattled that Cougar exercises the only humane option he has and shoots them. A sense of deja vu as shallow graves are scratched in the dirt and the carrion eaters drop in to wait for breakfast. JAILBAIT Four of us in 3 days. We should never a come here. TANK Shut yer trap. We ain't used t' this place yet. Just gotta be more careful. SOLLY That's right, all we need's a fuckin' minefield around us. Tank lifts him clear off the ground. TANK How'd you like to join 'em? Solly nods toward... VULTURES ...wheeling in the sky. SOLLY (V.O.) Looks like they already have company. BACK TO SCENE TANK You... Cougar steps in. COUGAR Knock it off! That's just what we need right now: to start fightin' (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR (CONTD) amongst ourselves. We're the Skulls, goddamnit!...Let's get outa here.
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As the others mount up, he walks over to where Patrick lies bound and gagged. It looks as if he plans to shoot him too, but Maria intervenes. MARIA Please, Bwana don't kill him. He is no danger to you. COUGAR Danger? Hell no, he's no danger. But this is the second time he's stuck his goddamned nose in where it don't belong. MARIA He not bother you again. Right, Patrick, you not follow us? You promise? Patrick can't say anything, his eyes tell us he feels such shame for Maria he probably wouldn't speak to her anyway. COUGAR "Patrick" huh? You this cop's little girlfriend? Not anymore though, huh, Patrick? Not after you seen how she likes t' bounce with ol' Cougar, the bad biker dude. Missionary for Jesus H. Christ. He grabs her by the ass; Maria spins angrily away, her eyes still pleading for Patrick's life. COUGAR All right, you black sonofabitch. But remember this: your lady's gonna pay for your worthless life, o-ver and o-ver. And if I see you again, I'll feed your balls to the h yenas and keep you alive to watch. You dig?
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He grabs Maria by the arm and hustles her over to his chopper. The others are waiting. He starts it, gives Patrick one menacing last glance, and leads them away. EXT. DAY - MASAI COUNTRY Near the village we saw at the beginning. Two MASAI HERDSMEN, dressed in cloaks covering a shoulder and carrying spears, are tending a dozen scrawny cattle. The herdsmen have closely-cropped hair and large ear ornaments. Their easy-going banter reveals their good natures, but their readiness to challenge a... YOUNG MALE LION ...hungrily eyeing a calf, reveals their courage. BACK TO SCENE They drive the lion away by brandishing their deadlylooking spears, each with a gleaming 2-foot blade at one end. Moments later, they're laughing easily again. EXT. DAY - A FEW MILES AWAY The Skulls are relieving some AMERICAN TOURISTS of their water, food and gasoline. FIRST WOMAN Can't you do something, Walter? FIRST MAN Yeah, I can get myself killed. Is that what you want? SECOND MAN I gotta come all the way to Africa to get mugged by a goddamned motorcycle gang. SECOND WOMAN How can you just leave us stranded like this?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR Hey, we're all Americans here. What part don't you understand? EXT. DAY - MONTAGE
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The Skulls hit the road again through rock-strewn bush country. Wetback, cursing and sweating profusely, is inflating his much-patched tire with a hand pump. The Skulls' dirt-caked bikes are all in the same shape. Spotting movement in the bushes ahead, they stop. MARIA Is all right, just Masai cattle. The cattle and MASAI HERDSMEN we saw earlier emerge from the bush and cross the road in front of the gang. The Skulls move forward slowly, their engines idling. As one of the herdsmen stands stork-like in the bg, leaning on his spear, the other approaches, smiling. HERDSMAN Jambo (holding out hand) Maji. TANK What's he want, matches? These dudes smoke, fer chrissake? MARIA No "maji" mean water. Now the other herdsman approaches. Both ask for water, still smiling. HERDSMAN Maji...maji. MARIA They mean no harm, Bwana. You give water and they move cattle. COUGAR We ain't got none to spare. Tell 'em to fuck off.
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Maria speaks to them in SWAHILI. They look perplexed at first, then angry, as they launch into lengthy monologues. One of them shakes his spear as he speaks. MARIA They say this Masai country. You come here as guest. You give water or you go. Cougar, ever the politician, appears about to relent. TANK Who the hell's runnin' things now, Cougar you or the shine here? Cougar takes his anger out on Maria. COUGAR (grabbing her arm) You tell your boyfriends to get their fuckin' flock off the road or we ice the lot of 'em, cows and all! MARIA very much distressed now, interprets. THE SKULLS WETBACK Lookit them fucked-up cows, would ya? They ain't had a square meal in weeks. BIRDBRAIN And I ain't had no steak in weeks neither. NIG What the fuck you doin', man? Birdbrain pulls his pistol out of his saddlebag and shoots the calf the Herdsmen were so protective of.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA THE CALF drops and twitches in the dust. THE HERDSMEN are too stunned even to react at first. BIRDBRAIN
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runs up to the twitching calf and cuts its throat, then turns to the Skulls. BIRDBRAIN Fresh meat! A Masai spear catches him full in the throat. He reaches for it...staggers and drops without a sound. TANK tackles the spear-thrower. COUGAR tackles the other one, who is about to spear Tank. TANK guts the first one with his knife. THE OTHER HERDSMAN is shot as he wrestles with Cougar. MARIA runs to one, then the other. When she sees theyre dead she is first dazed, then enraged. She explodes at Tank, clawing for his face. He backs away from her, to Doll's amazement.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MARIA You killed them! You murderers! Animals! Her fingers strike home, and now Tank erupts. TANK You bitch! He raises the bloody knife he's holding. TANK All right, you little cannibal you wanta play? Why not? Let's make it three spades for the day.
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Suddenly Cougar is between them. He pushes Maria aside. COUGAR Back off, Tank! But Tank confronts him. They slowly begin to circle. DOLL and the others are turned on and cluster around them. Maria gradually realizes that Cougar is willing to fight for her, to risk his life for hers. DOLL Take 'im, Baby! The Skulls need a man for a change! TANK impulsively throws his knife away. But the look on his face says he's going to kill Cougar with his bare hands. He has to make contact with him first though. COUGAR is very fast: the equivalent of a 10th-Degree Black Belt in a technique combining martial arts and street fighting. When Tank connects, Cougar shows he can take it too.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MONTAGE - FIGHT SCENES
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The brawl not only leaves both men exhausted without seriously injuring either of them but is an emotional release for the whole gang. When it's over, the two men embrace wearily, totally ignoring Doll and Maria. TANK You sonofabitch, if you'd stood still I'd a killed ya! COUGAR I'd have to be as dumb as you are t' do that, asshole. Or as slow. They down beers from a cooler stolen from the tourists, and the others share the rest. Then Tank makes an announcement: TANK He may be a pussy-whipped little fucker, but I'll ride with him! DOLL doesn't share Tank's opinion. Meanwhile... MARIA secretly picks up... INSERT - TANK'S KNIFE BACK TO SCENE ...and hunkers down in grief, ignoring the festivities and despite the defense of her life. She can't shut out the sight of the dead Masai. Finally... COUGAR ...gets out his map again.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR Maria! Quit yer mopin' and gether black ass over here. The rest a you take care a Birdbrain while I figure out where we spend the night. NIG What about them? (the Masai) COUGAR (surprised) ...You wanta bury 'em go right ahead. TANK does, and when... MARIA ...starts to help him, Cougar calls her back. COUGAR Where do ya think you're goin? (consulting map) ...Maybe we could camp there, by that lake. MARIA (dully) Lake Magadi soda lake. Not good for water. COUGAR What's this here? INSERT - MAP MARIA (V.O.) Olorgasailie. Maybe Park man there, maybe not. BACK TO SCENE
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Cougar starts to call her on her half-hearted help but thinks better of it.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR (yelling to Skulls) Move yer asses! We got a long way t' go yet! EXT. DAY - VULTURES wheeling lazily in the sky, above a... BURNED-OUT LANDROVER EXT. DAY - THE BUSH - MONTAGE
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A) Gichurus riflemen point out the circling birds to one another from one of the remaining Landrovers. B) They drive and hack their way through heavy underbrush to the Skulls' abandoned campsite. C) Finally, they run toward Patrick, scaring white-headed vultures and marabou storks away from their anticipated meal. They release his gag and untie him. He's quite weak. RIFLEMAN (untying gag) You anywhere hurt? PATRICK (weakly) No but praise God you came. These fellows were sizing me up for dinner. One of the men fires at the hated birds and they rise clumsily and fly away. INT./EXT. DAY - BEALES' LANDROVER He is approaching a band of six Masai moran, as they call their warriors, whom we can SEE through the windshield. They are in battle dress, each armed with spear, shield, sword and club their hair combed to points in front and back.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BEALES What the devil? They're in bloody battle-dress. EXT. - LANDROVER
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Beales pulls up amongst the warriors and speaks to them in SWAHILI. One of the Masai reaches down and pulls a tuft of grass, the traditional sign of peace, and answers him. We recognize only "Americani" by the Masai who point out the way the Skulls have gone and "Olorgasailie", spoken by Beales: apparently his guess of their destination. What we can't understand in words is clear in the hatred on the faces of the Masai and in the disbelief, then grim determination, in Beales' expression as he learns what's happened. EXT. DUSK - OLORGASAILIE PARK Gichuru's riflemen arrive in their two Landrovers to find the park a shambles. The rondavels are gutted and smoldering. The supply shed has been looted. Several bodies are strewn about in the grotesque postures of death. At first no one can speak. GICHURU ...They must be camped nearby. Now we will make them pay. EXT. NIGHT - LANDROVERS A full moon rising. The two vehicles move slowly, close together. The men hold their rifles alertly, peering into the trees. Then they spot the bikes. INT. - LANDROVER GICHURU Surround the camp. Wait for my shot at first light to attack. EXT. NIGHT - SKULLS' CAMP
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They are partying. Maria is drunk. Egged on by the Skulls, she gives a reluctant performance around the campfire. They keep plying her with more booze and take turns dancing with her, while Cougar keeps a tolerant eye on the drunken revelry. Meanwhile... THE RIFLEMEN ...surround the Skulls as silently and gracefully as night-hunting animals. PATRICK observes Maria's behavior stoically, then continues to move into position with the others THE SKULLS Cougar, the only one who's not drunk, senses danger. Unobtrusively, going from one person to another, he moves away from the light of the campfire...until finally he's gone having slipped away into the dark. TANK meanwhile, improvises a "native" rhythm section among the Skulls. Using sticks, rocks, hands on flesh, and various pitches and rhythms of metal against metal, they get one hell of a session going. Finally giving in to the alcohol and music, Maria dances like a woman possessed, while... PATRICK ...watches, sick at heart, his hands at last finding what comfort they can in the... INSERT - ASSAULT RIFLE ...he will use at dawn.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA THE SKULLS As Maria's dance winds down in the BG... COUGAR
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...returns and again moves casually among the gang. One by one, they stiffen at something he tells them...then relax as he moves on to someone else. GICHURU'S MEN are barely visible in the dark, from the reflection of the Skulls' fire in their eyes or as highlights on skin, or from their silhouettes against the flames. DISSOLVE TO: CAMPFIRE - LATER has burned lower, around it the sleeping Skulls. DISSOLVE TO: GICHURU'S MEN - DAWN Just before daylight. They move in stealthily in the gray light, as Gichuru motions for them to begin their surprise attack. But the Skulls beat him to it! With an earsplitting ROAR from ABOVE us, the unfamiliar underside of Cougar's bike making it look like some mechanized predator pouncing on us the Skulls' leader takes the Riflemen by surprise. Gichuru is crushed beneath the heavy machine. Then the SOUND OF MOTORCYCLES all around us, and a fusillade of GUNFIRE. It is the riflemen, not the Skulls, who have been surrounded during the night. When a motorcycle runs over a sleeping biker, tearing off his blanket, we SEE that the "bodies" around the fire are just rocks and firewood. In a chaos of mayhem, the riflemen are routed. The more fortunate ones are shot, others are ridden down and forced over a cliff. One is lassoed and dragged to death through the trees. Much of the action is shot against the rising sun and EDITED from the disoriented POV of the hapless Africans.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK
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is singled out by Nig, who abandons his bike to stalk him in the underbrush, black man against black. Without his motorcycle the biker is less intimidating. NIG suddenly runs out of ammunition, it looks as if... PATRICK ...will win their personal duel. He draws a bead, pulls the trigger...and gets only an impotent CLICK. He's out of ammo too. So... NIG & PATRICK ...fight it out by hand. Although the African is more at home in this setting, the biker is the better, and more brutal, street-fighter. But Patrick is close to winning until... NIG ...draws his knife from his boot. We SEE an inkling of humanity in the man's face as he prepares, reluctantly now, to kill the brother who has fought him so bravely and so well. There is no fear in... PATRICK'S ...face, as he prepares for death. Then suddenly... NIG ...lurches and slumps to the ground. Only then does the high-powered RIFLE'S REPORT reach us from the distant ridge where...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BEALES
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...kneels, his eye against his gun's telescopic sight. PATRICK looks in amazement toward the sound as... CAT ...roars up to finish him off. But hes picked off too. BEALES - POV PATRICK stands and waves his arms. PATRICK runs toward him with all the strength he has left. THE SKULLS regroup, in triumph. We SEE now why Maria failed to warn the Africans. JAILBAIT Whatta we do with her? She's still passed out from last night. COUGAR Get her ready to ride. Don't nobody tell her about this. She's still the best insurance we got long as she don't turn against us. ...Where's Cat an' Nig? ACE They bought it, man. Somebody dropped 'em clean with two shots. I didn't stick around to find out who.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA WETBACK That does it, man! We're gettin' picked off like flies! First Weary and then Fatso. Then Bucket and Stud DOLL Then Birdbrain, and now Cat and Nig. Enough's enough, man! I mean this Black Hitler dude don't even know we're comin', right? If we ever get there. TANK Doll's right, Cougar. I been with ya right from the beginning on this. But how many Skulls we gotta lose before you admit we mighta made a mistake here? B.O. This just ain't bike country, man. I been sayin' that ever since we got off the boat. This is spookland. Gives me the fuckin' creeps. SOLLY And here we are, trustin' our lives to one a the spooks! WETBACK Losin' our lives, ya mean! SOLLY That's right, losin' our lives cuz of a wacked-out aborigine thinks we're all a buncha witches, fer chrissake. JAILBAIT She's the witch! We never had such bad luck before. Now everyone I know's gettin' wasted!
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She breaks into sobs, and the others start shouting. Maria edges closer to Cougar for protection. He pulls out his .357 and fires a shot at the sky. During the harangue that
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follows, he strides back and forth with the mastery of a charismatic and powerful dictator. COUGAR Who just wiped out a whole fuckin' patrol witches? Evil spirits? The Skulls, Baby! Trouble is, them skulls a yours is gettin' emptier by the minute. And when you got mostly shit for brains t' begin with, you can't afford to lose very goddamn much. Aborigine! Haven't you assholes figured it out yet? We're the ignorant savages on this turf. Black Beauty's the only one can get us outa here....I never said meetin' up with this Black Hitler would be easy. But if we was still back in the States, how much better off would we be? You rather have cops and bullets and the feds comin' down on yer ass or a few skinny Watusis with spears? You prefer steel bars to trees? Cougar stops pacing, his voice a menacing snarl. COUGAR (contd) Now the bottom line is, we ain't changin' our plans. We're goin' on. Anybody wants t' cut an' run... WILDERNESS - POV SKULLS Following Cougar's sweeping gesture, the CAMERA reveals nothing but endless wild country. COUGAR (V.O. contd) ...be my guest. BEALES Patrick staggers up to him, gasping for breath. PATRICK They killed all of us, Beales. (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK (CONTD) Everyone but me. We have no power against these devils. BEALES (embracing him) Take it easy, old friend. Catch your breath. Are you all right? PATRICK They are witches. Demons! BEALES Nonsense, Moran. Mad dogs is more like it. MacPherson's about somewhere. And you're still the best tracker in Kenya. Let's forget about the poachers for now and go after these animals. It won't be any antelope hunt this is strictly wounded buffalo, in bush. EXT. DAY - COUNTRYSIDE
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The Skulls are on the move again across rolling grassland plains, and through wooded areas along streams and on the slopes of low hills. GROVE OF TREES The bikers lie wearily, and irritably, in the shade. Their complaining and quarreling annoy... COUGAR ...his ever-present map in front of him. He sees... MARIA ...coming toward him with a dripping canteen.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MARIA (handing him canteen) Bwana, there is water good spring water. (sitting beside him) ...I hear them talking. They are afraid you can not lead them to safety. COUGAR (drinking) I know, I know they're scared shitless. We'll make it: 150 miles, we're in Uganda.
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Studying the map has lifted his spirits. He embraces and kisses her exuberantly. Although she stiffens at first, Maria gradually relaxes. Cougar pulls away from her in pleased surprise and looks into her eyes. His expression is a fascinating combination of conquest, contempt and what appears to be genuine affection. Maria meets his gaze, then blinks and drops her head. COUGAR (yelling) Tank! Get 'em ready! EXT. DAY - LANDROVER Patrick and Beales are tracking the Skulls. INT. LANDROVER PATRICK Stop here, Beales. EXT. - LANDROVER Beales pulls over. Patrick jumps out before the vehicle has stopped. At the edge of a dry stream bed, he stoops for a closer look, then climbs down into the channel of rocks and powdery silt. PATRICK They went off here.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BEALES But their tracks go on up the road... INSERT - TIRE TRACKS BEALES (V.O.) ...plain as day. PATRICK PATRICK (chuckling) You're a good hunter, Beales. Patrick's a better tracker.
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He goes back to the spot that first caught his attention. PATRICK See here? Footprint. INSERT - FAINT FOOTPRINT BEALES (V.O.) Just a bloody smudge. Wouldn't there be some sort of heel print? BACK TO SCENE PATRICK I didn't say shoe print footprint. (pointing) Let's see where the tire tracks lead. They get back into the... EXT - LANDROVER ...cross a wooden bridge over the korongo, and follow the tracks for half a mile or so. INT. - LANDROVER
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK Stop. You see there? INSERT - TIRE TRACKS veer off the side into a thicket. BEALES (V.O.) Why would they go in there? BACK TO SCENE PATRICK (getting out) They didn't they turned around. Went back to the bridge, where we first stopped. (stooping to examine tracks) You see these tracks? INSERT TRACKS PATRICK (V.O.) Groove of tire points out. Here the groove points in. Same tire goes both ways. BACK TO SCENE PATRICK Marks made by 2, maybe 3 machines. They went back and forth, made marks of many. STREAMBED
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Back where they started, Patrick leads the still doubtful Beales up the dry channel he believes the Skulls followed. BEALES I don't see a sign of a track, Moran. PATRICK They were very careful maybe (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK (CONTD) carried bikes in some places, rolled them over smooth stones in others. They're not wearing shoes even yet....There, Beales!
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He points to the 2-foot high korongo bank and scrambles over to it with Beales following. PATRICK You see? They brought the bikes up by hand. See where the grass is matted? BEALES How do you know it was the Americani? Couldn't it have been an animal? Patrick holds his finger in front of Beales' nose. PATRICK Animals don't leave this kind of dropping. BEALES Oil! By God, Moran, you haven't lost your touch. INT. DAY - CONFERENCE ROOM A special Kenyan Cabinet meeting is in session, with the VICE PRESIDENT of the country presiding. Also present are the MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, the ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF, and the CHIEF INSPECTOR OF INTERNAL SECURITY, along with various aides. VICE PRESIDENT Gentlemen, the President is alarmed by the reports we have received of these mercenaries, or terrorists, on a rampage. He wants the matter given top priority. Inspector, what new developments do you have?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA INSPECTOR There are reports from all over the country, Sir. (reading from notes) ...A fishing fleet sighted what appeared to be an amphibious landing craft 25 miles south of Mombasa. If confirmed, this could be the spearhead of an invasion from Tanzania. Another sighting places a column of motorcycles bearing automatic rifles and antitank bazookas in northern Turkana country.
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His Aide leans toward him, whispering, handing him a note. INSPECTOR (continuing, embarrassed) I am informed that the actual source of this report was in fact four Peace Corps volunteers with scooters on an informal safari. There is some clearing of throats and nervous coughing by the others in sympathy for their colleague who, it becomes clear, has not read the reports until now. VICE PRESIDENT (irritably) Well, go on. INSPECTOR Yes. A, uh, farmer in Nyanga spotted American paratroopers descending last night over his farm. And this was confirmed by his wife who saw them, after they landed, transform themselves... His expression and tone of voice change as he sees, a split second before reading it aloud, the rest of the report and attempts to turn it into a joke. INSPECTOR ...into crocodiles and disappear (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA INSPECTOR (CONTD) into Lake Victoria heaven knows with what devilish intent.
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No one laughs, and the Vice President gives him a withering look. INSPECTOR That's all we, uh, have for now, Sir. ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF The Army thinks the only significant development, Mr. Vice President, is a broadcast monitored this morning on Uganda radio. Uma Adan has offered to send a battalion of troops to track down the invaders. Naturally, we're proceeding on the basis that this could be cover for a Uganda incursion. VICE PRESIDENT You think, then, these may be Adan's terrorists? CHIEF OF STAFF Very possible, Sir. They're bloodthirsty enough. And Adan's crazy enough to try something like this. MINISTER OF INTERIOR Sir, the Interior Department would like to urge caution against an excessive response to this incident. I know I needn't remind any of you that we have a multimillion-dollar tourist industry to think of. VICE PRESIDENT (rising abruptly) Aside from circulating reports that we're being invaded simultaneously by Tanzania, Uganda, and American paratroopers who've turned (MORE)
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA VICE PRESIDENT (CONTD) themselves into crocodiles, I see no danger of that. General, Inspector, I want hourly updates of all Army and police activity on this. I want these intruders apprehended. At once. EXT. DAY - COUNTRYSIDE
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The Skulls are on a broad plain bordered by low hills. Cougar spots something far ahead and slows to a stop. TWO LANDROVERS POV COUGAR BACK TO SCENE COUGAR They got what we need: gas. Now, we go in nice an' easy no funny stuff this time. We find out who they are and what they know. WETBACK What the hell? They got gas, let's bust 'em. TANK You dumb bastard, Cougar's right DOLL (under her breath) For once. TANK See what we're up against, then COUGAR Okay, General, I say what goes down. If it looks like we should jump 'em, I'll give the signal. They start toward the...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA LANDROVERS
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MacPherson is skinning an antelope. He lays down his knife at the distant DRONE of the BIKES and. Nearby are Jacob and Cleo, the uniformed Rangers introduced at the beginning. MacPHERSON Strange-looking blokes. What do you make of them, Jacob? JACOB Maybe they see sign of poachers, Bwana Mac. A TAWNY RIDGEBACK BARKS ferociously at the window. Another Hunter, DENNING, MacPherson's client, pokes his head out. DENNING Shut up, King! Down! What's going on? MacPHERSON Don't know yet, Mr. Denning. Never seen that kind of transport in these parts before. MacPherson watches uneasily as the dirty gang of bikers ride up into a semicircle facing the two vehicles and cut their engines. He glances toward one of the Landrovers. INSERT - INT. LANDROVER - MAC'S RIFLE His holstered pistol also hangs from a hook. BACK TO SCENE MacPherson greets the bikers stiffly. MacPHERSON What can we do for you chaps? COUGAR Just travelin' through. D'ya know where we can get some gas and food? We're runnin' low.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MacPHERSON (looking them over) We're right on the edge of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. There's a lodge not too far from here. How far is Keekorok, Cleophas. CLEO Not far, Bwana. Maybe 20 mile. WETBACK sneaks behind the Landrover that, unbeknownst to him, Denning and the dog are in. BACK TO SCENE MacPHERSON You could get supplies at Keekorok. TANK We might not make it. Maybe you could help us. DENNING (from the window) Where are you coming from? He holds tightly to the collar of the dog, which is snarling, trying to scramble through the window. COUGAR The States. We're on safari. Been up in North Africa and we just came across the desert. MacPHERSON North Africa? You mean to say you drove those bikes across the Sahara? Where did you start from? COUGAR I can't remember all them foreign names, man. Anyway we loaded the bikes up and came across by truck.
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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA THE RANGERS have struck up a conversation with other Skulls. JACOB You not see poachers? B.O. Poachers? What's that some kinda egg? JACOB (puzzled) Poacher set trap, for catch animal.
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He reaches into the Rangers' Landrover for some old iron spring traps and wire loops. JACOB (demonstrating) Make noose. Tie to bush across track. Animal step on cord, bush jump up, pull noose tight. He makes a choking gesture with his hands across his throat and shakes his head sadly. B.O. Kinda takes their breath away huh? CHICKEN (giggling insanely) 'Minds me of the way a buddy a mine used t' break up with his wimmen. Jacob steps back uneasily. MARIA suddenly sees... WETBACK ...on the other side of the trailer. A moment later, the
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA dog goes berserk inside. MARIA
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cries out and slumps to the ground. Attention shifts from the Dog to her, and... WETBACK ...is able to slip back unnoticed. ANOTHER ANGLE DOLL (beside Maria) She's fainted. Get some water. One of the Rangers hands her a canteen, and Doll sprinkles water on Maria's face. She stirs and mumbles something unintelligible then sneaks a peek to confirm that her ruse to prevent another confrontation worked. Doll cradles her head in her lap. DOLL You'll be all right, honey. Maria sits up and gives Cougar a look. MARIA (weakly, to Rangers) We my friends here we need petrol. We can pay. ANOTHER ANGLE CLEO (to MacPherson) We have plenty petrol, Bwana. Maybe we help? MacPherson walks over to Denning. DENNING You think they're okay?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MacPHERSON ...The Rangers seem to think so. I suppose we could let them have some petrol and provisions. We'll be going in tomorrow might as well cut some of our expenses. What do you say it's your show? DENNING Dunno. They look like a sinister lot to me. THE SKULLS Its obvious that, although they cant hear the conversation, a lot hangs on Denning's answer. DENNING ...Okay, let 'em have what they need. The bikes are gassed from auxiliary tanks in the Landrovers. Cougar pays for gas and food. INT. DAY - BEALES' LANDROVER Beales is still driving, Patrick beside him. BEALES I can't understand why they're still headed north. If they keep this up, they'll end up in Lake Victoria. PATRICK ...I think she's leading them. BEALES You mean Maria, the hostage? Why? PATRICK I'm not sure, Beales. Maria troubles my mind. She's a decent girl, but it looks like she's helping them escape. Its like they've bewitched her.
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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BEALES (laughing) Oh, come on, Moran, you don't still believe in all that witchcraft business do you? Patrick doesn't answer. BEALES You're a civilized African not one of those... PATRICK Naked savages?...I am African, Beales. I know. Maria is what we call bewitched. Maybe you call it something else. EXT. DUSK - COUNTRYSIDE
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The Skulls are driving extremely hard, considering the failing light and rough terrain. They and their bikes are beat to hell by now. They hardly resemble the cocky wellfed outlaws who disembarked in Mombasa. COUGAR & MARIA are bouncing all over the place, when they're suddenly flanked by... TANK & DOLL ...on one side and... WETBACK & HONEYPOT ...on the other. COUGAR comes to a stop.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR Now what the fuck do ya want? TANK I wanta get off this goddamn bike that's what! Let's call it a day. COUGAR Listen, Tank Maria says we get past this park, we'll have real roads again. We get to 'em before dark, we can ride all night. DOLL Maria says. TANK It's already too dark to ride on this shit. We're gonna start bustin' wheels again. WETBACK Who the hell wants to ride all night anyway, Cougar even if we do find a road? COUGAR Do you have any idea how hot we are right now, dick brain? If we keep goin', we can be in Uganda by morning. TANK That's what yer black pussy says. How we gonna find a fuckin' road in the dark, man?
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Suddenly there is a loud, chilling SOUND, obviously made by an animal in pain. MARIA Simba look! Not more than 50 yards away, crouched under a clump of saplings, is a large male lion. There is something strange about its posture.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR What's the matter with him? MARIA He sick. Dangerous.
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Even as she says this, he lunges toward them...only to be pulled up short, his front paw jerked into the air. He falls onto his side, his leg pointing awkwardly. MARIA Poacher trap! He's caught. COUGAR (to Tank) Get yer rifle. They ride over to the lion and dismount cautiously WETBACK Hell, why shoot him? Let's keep him for a pet. B.O. Put a collar on 'im and teach 'im some tricks. He runs up to the enraged animal and dances a little jig to taunt him. Again it springs forward, and B.O., though out of range, falls backward into a thorn bush. B.O. (screaming) Sonofabitch! He frantically pulls thorns from the seat of his pants as the others howl. Honeypot dances lewdly beside him, mimicking his tortured gyrations. HONEYPOT Whatsamatter, B.O.? You finally get a good piece of ass? CHICKEN Hell no, man daddy lion stuck it to him!
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA B.O. I'll kill the motherfucker!
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He hurls a rock, hitting the lion in the ribs and prompting a new charge. JAILBAIT Hey, yeah let's git 'im stoned! Now Wetback approaches, with Weary's whip dangling in one hand, while he smokes a joint with the other. CHICKEN Hey, Wetback betcha can't handle that half as good as Weary! WETBACK Well, let's jus' see about that. He circles the lion, flicking the whip in the dust. ACE strums an accompaniment on his guitar to Wetback's careful stalking. One by one... THE SKULLS ...take up a formless TUNE with no words or melody, but which they all seem to know. COUGAR gives up trying to control them. He leads Maria away. COUGAR You don't wanta see this. MARIA (distressed) Why don't you why you not stop them? Cougar doesn't answer, but he appears to have noticed for
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the first time that Maria's Pidgin English may be a ruse. MARIA (desperately now) Why you not stop them, Cougar? COUGAR jerking her around) Better a goddamn lion than you ain't it? I'd think you'd know all about jackals and wild dogs. O.S. the WHIP CRACKS and the LION ROARS IN PAIN. EXT. DUSK - MacPHERSON'S CAMP He's using the Rangers' radio. Beales and Patrick have arrived. MacPHERSON It has to be them. Ten or 12 of them, on 8 motorcycles. African girl with them. PATRICK & BEALES eat hungrily, surrounded by Denning and the Rangers. HEAR MacPherson on the radio in bg. MacPHERSON They should be in the Mara Game Park by now. Can you give us helicopter support? Over. DEMMING Christ, I had a feeling about those people. PATRICK Did they have a young native woman with them? DEMMING She's the one who talked us into letting them have the supplies. (MORE) We
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA DEMMING (CONTD) ...I suppose we owe her our thanks, in a way. If it hadn't been for her...
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He leaves the statement unfinished as MacPherson walks up. MacPHERSON They won't use the choppers till morning. But theyll send patrols in from all directions. It's up to us to stay after the bloody bastards and keep Nairobi advised of their position. BEALES (standing) We'll do that all right. And if the police muck it up again... (picking up his rifle to load) ...we'll be there to finish the job ourselves. INT./EXT. NIGHT - LANDROVERS - MONTAGE, Beneath a full moon, their headlights probing the darkness, the three vehicles Beales' and the two in MacPherson's party bounce over the rough terrain. PATRICK strains forward, peering through the dusty windshield. POV PATRICK - LIGHTS flicker in the distance. PATRICK (V.O.) Off to the left, Beales do you see them? BEALES (V.O.) ...Now I do! What do you think? Poachers?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA INT. LANDROVER PATRICK No. It's them. EXT. - LANDROVERS
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Beales slams to a stop. The others pull up beside him. BEALES We'll go in on foot. Fan out as we get closer. Heavily armed, they move in stealthily. The... FLICKERING DOTS ...prove to be three bonfires. Silhouetted figures dance around them in the moonlight. Wild SCREAMS and SHOUTS carry through the darkness. Then, the blood-curdling SOUND of an ANIMAL in terrible pain. THE HUNTERS BEALES Good God! PATRICK Simba. MacPHERSON What in God's name is happening to it? BEALES All right, spread out now. We've got to move up! They crawl through the dark on their stomachs. THE SKULLS dance in an orgy of stoned, drunken abandon.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA JAILBAIT
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makes an inept attempt with the whip, and Solly steps in to show her how. THE LION roars in rage and pain again. MARIA is lying on her stomach, head in her arms, sobbing. COUGAR is well away from the action, pacing and smoking, his back to what is going on. TANK is about to take a turn, when a SHOT rings out, and... THE LION ...falls dead. TANK whirls around to see... BEALES ...and the others approaching from the darkness with rifles pointed at the Skulls. Beales shoots the bolt of his gun, and the spent shell jumps from the breech. BEALES What kind of animals are you? COUGAR
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA walks into the light. COUGAR What's your problem, friend? BEALES You people are mad dogs. You come in here pillaging, killing...but that's over now. We're taking you in. COUGAR
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actually smiles. From his glance out of the corner of his eyes, we suspect he's stalling so other Skulls can circle around behind Beales' group. COUGAR You and whose army, you fuckin' hypocrite? "Great White Hunter." Shoots animals for a living. Then tries t' make a goddamn hero out of hisself for puttin' one lousy lion out of its misery. Well listen, "bwa-na" what if I decide t' mount your dick over my mantel? Although on the surface cool and in control... BEALES ...makes a surreptitious head-count of the Skulls. SKULLS - POV BEALES Tank and two or three others are missing. MARIA startled to see Patrick, mouths his name silently. BEALES (O.S.) Look here...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BACK TO BEALES BEALES (contd) ...There's no point in resisting. You'll be picked up sooner or later. Youd be better off to come quietly now. COUGAR Who wants t' volunteer for the slammer, man. We like it fine on the outside. BEALES ..."Slammer"? ANOTHER ANGLE MacPHERSON Prison. BEALES Well you can't hope to escape prison, can you. But if you surrender peacefully, I'm sure that will be taken into account. COUGAR ...Suppose we do make a deal. What've you got in mind, friend. MARIA
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is obviously trying to determine which Skulls are here and which are missing. MARIA Patrick! There are too many! They will kill you! PATRICK She's right, Beales they're not all here! He no sooner speaks than GUNFIRE and the ROAR OF MOTORCYCLES erupt at the same time.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BEALES goes down immediately. MacPHERSON Gets off a wild shot before he's mowed down by Tank. PATRICK and one of the Rangers are wounded. THE OTHER RANGER and Demming throw down their rifles as... B.O. & ACE ...circle them with drawn guns on their choppers. COUGAR bends over Beales COUGAR This one's iced. TANK So's mine. Whatta we do with the others? Suddenly it gets darker, and Cougar glances up at... THE SKY A cloud is passing in front of the moon. BACK TO SCENE
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As it gets darker, Denning drops to one knee, shoots Tank
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point-blank with a pistol he had concealed and reaches for the rifle he threw down. DENNING Break for it, lads! MARIA Patrick! PATRICK watches incredulously as... TANK ...not only doesn't fall, but blows Denning away. PATRICK and the Ranger charge off in different directions into the darkness, as SHOTS ring out from all sides. COUGAR Find 'em! Don't let 'em get away! Patrick runs for his life through the dark, supporting his wounded arm with the other as best he can. Finally he stops and listens. PATRICK (whispering) Jacob? Then in the distance: MALE VOICE (O.S.) Here's one! I got one! A flurry of GUNSHOTS, and Patrick knows he is alone. Against the moon, he sees... FIGURE ON MOTORCYCLE - POV PATRICK The bike looks conventional...but the rider has the body of a hyena and the head of a vulture!
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stifles a scream, takes a deep breath...and begins to run again. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. NIGHT - MANYATTA A fortified Masai village near the game park, surrounded by a woven thorn bush fence. The village is celebrating some festive occasion. DRUMS, SHOUTS & CHANTING from within. PATRICK follows the fence to the closed entrance. PATRICK (calling out) Greetings!...May your cattle prosper. I seek entry. GUARD (O.S.) ...May the ancestors protect you. Who are you? We do not know you. PATRICK May you have many sons. I am Patrick, son of Amos of the thousand steers. Amos of Narok. Let me enter. It is urgent. GUARD May your daughters marry well. What business brings you here at this hour? PATRICK May you kill a lion. I wish to see Laibon, called Mata. Very urgent. GUARD May you never suffer bewitchment. Laibon feasts. He cannot be disturbed.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK I know, but there is great trouble. With Americani. GUARD We hear of Americani. They kill herders. PATRICK They are witches. Let me in please! I must see Laibon. GUARD You wait.
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...Moments later, someone from inside removes a small section from the bottom of the entrance, leaving a gap just wide enough for Patrick to wriggle through. INSIDE he finds himself surrounded by a circle of warriors, their spears ready. PATRICK Please. I am Patrick, son of Amos. A circle of round dome-shaped huts borders the inside of the thorn enclosure. An ELDER steps forward. He wears the same cape wrapped around his shoulders and falling to his knees as the Warriors, but not their earrings or special headdress. ELDER Come. They walk toward the center of the compound, an enclosure where the cattle are kept, then along the circle of huts. The intensity of the drumming increases, as does the light from a... BONFIRE ...where the villagers are gathered. As...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK ...is led past, he stops for a moment to watch... THE DANCERS
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In a curious way, the celebration seems somehow the culmination and climax of the Skulls' orgiastic chanting and dancing around the snared lion. Now it reaches the peak of frenzy. Remembering the urgency of his errand, Patrick tears himself away, and the Elder leads him to the Laibon's hut. ELDER Wait. ...He emerges with the Laibon, an old man whose body is wrapped in a cloak. LAIBON Greetings, Patrick. What is it you seek in the night? PATRICK Greetings, Father Laibon. I seek special magic to destroy evil spirits. LAIBON We have heard of Americani. It is said they ride chariots that roar like lion. PATRICK Father, I need your help. LAIBON ...I speak only to good spirits, and ancestors. We must consult sorcerer, who knows the way of demons. Come. He leads Patrick to... ANOTHER HUT
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA LAIBON Greetings, Ajouga! We wish to speak with you. AJOUGA (weak high-pitched voice) ...Go away. I am tired. I am trying to sleep. LAIBON Greetings, Ajouga! You must speak with us. You know way of the witch. AJOUGA I am old. What is it you want of me, Ajouga? Speak. LAIBON We seek your magic against power of witches. Come speak with us. It is Laibon who speaks.
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After much RUSTLING, BUMPING, and complaining, the AJOUGA appears. This tiny, wizened, evil-looking man resembles the figures from Maria's childhood initiation rite and her bus-ride home from school. As then, he is wrapped tightly in a dirty animal skin. He spreads a worn, grimy goatskin in front of his entrance and settles on the ground before it with a small clay pot covered by a section of grass mat. He mumbles some incantations, then finally looks up through watery eyes yellow with age. AJOUGA ...What message do you have for Ajouga? The Laibon nods to Patrick to speak. PATRICK Master...there are witches in the land. We seek your help. Send magic to destroy them. The Ajouga blows his nose with thumb and forefinger.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA AJOUGA ...Each man is force. When one man gains, another loses. It is bad when forces not equal. Patrick fidgets. AJOUGA ...Man who wants courage, eats heart of lion. For speed, foot of cheetah. For strength, leg of elephant.
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The old man appears to doze off. His eyes are closed, and a thin trickle of spittle runs down his chin. At last he looks up, with a toothless grin. AJOUGA Ajouga cast many spells. Save many man. Patrick looks helplessly at the Laibon, who is watching the old man intently. The Ajouga utters a long toneless wail, then carefully removes the mat from his pot and addresses Patrick. AJOUGA Americani kill White Hunter tonight. Patrick is startled and impressed. AJOUGA Americani powerful witch. I see witch substance. Witch substance live in liver. Live in bowel. Witch substance black and thick, make witch strong. Stronger than White Hunter. PATRICK Yes, Master. Three White Hunters are dead. Lifting a handful of cowry shells from his pot, the Ajouga arranges them on the goatskin, followed by small...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA ANIMAL BONES
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...which he also arranges. From the folds of the filthy skin he is wearing, he takes the remains of a... VULTURE'S HEAD ...part skull, part dried flesh and matted feathers. He places this in the center of the shells and bones. AJOUGA Americani witch sharp like claw of leopard. Swift like wing of eagle. Sly like nose of jackal. Americani witch hold great power. Ajouga need much help for spell to work. PATRICK (glancing at Laibon) Master, we offer what strength Ajouga ask. THE LAIBON nods approvingly. Again... THE AJOUGA ...closes his eyes and sits motionless. Then, eyes still closed, he rearranges his... INSERT - COWRIES ...and utters a series of guttural sounds. Suddenly, a high SQUEALING NOISE comes from the... POT ...which shakes violently for a moment. PATRICK
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA observes intently, his expression a combination of skepticism, amazement and fear. BACK TO AJOUGA AJOUGA ...The Spirits speak. PATRICK ...What do they say, Father? AJOUGA It is not for you to know. It is magic too powerful. They wish to do combat with Americani witch. We must weave spell of magic, like cloak without seam. We must suck his strength as leach sucks a man's blood. We will fall upon him, and destroy him! THE SKY Again a cloud hides the face of the moon. BACK TO SCENE
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As the Ajouga fades into vague shadow, two points of light flare up and gleam in the dark. PATRICK realizes, in amazement and horror, that it is the... VULTURE'S EYES ...glowing in the dark. Then they go blank. Outside, a HYENA'S LAUGH rises to a SHRIEK. EXT. NIGHT - SKULLS' CAMP The Bikers are gathered around Tank, examining his dented skull belt buckle.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA DOLL I thought you was a goner, Baby. He couldn't a been more than six feet away. TANK Hell, you aint gonna bring down no Tank with a goddamned pistol are ya? DOLL Shit, you're just a walkin' hard-on, Baby. TANK Hey, now that's what I like t' hear.
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He gives her an affectionate one-arm hug that nearly pops out her eyeballs. COUGAR Okay, let's quit jerkin' each other off and get back in the saddle. The night's about shot, but we still got three or four hours left. DOLL Cougar, you been gettin' us inta one jam after another. We're tired a yer pushin', man. Tell 'im, Tank. TANK Uh, yeah, we been talkin', Cougar. We think maybe it's time we split up. You wanta go on ahead, fine but we're gonna get some sleep first. We need it, man. Cougar realizes it's futile to argue this time. COUGAR (shrugging) ...So who's stayin'?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA TANK B.O., Ace, and Jailbait besides me an' Doll. We'll need a map. COUGAR You still headin' north? TANK Hell yes. You tell that jigaboo Hitler t' roll out his red carpet. EXT. NIGHT - COUNTRYSIDE
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Cougar's followers ride across the Mara Plains in ghostly moonlight. Eerie MUSIC. Is the Ajouga's sorcery at work? MARIA looking around fearfully at... TREES ...looming out of the murky darkness, obviously feels something is amiss. A BAOBOB TREE becomes a hulking Demon; its spidery latticework of branches are clutching claws reaching out to ensnare the unwary. The CRY of the TREE HYRAX sounds like the gibbering of tormented souls. THE RED EYE of the nightjar, in Maria's eyes, could be the sulfurous trail of the high-flying witch. MARIA huddles against Cougar's broad leather-clad back.
130 DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. DAY - NATIVE VILLAGE is beginning to stir as Cougar's group enters. The local duka is already open. The Asian proprietor emerges, smiling jovially at the prospect of so much business so early. COUGAR Soon as we gas up, we'll find us a place to lay low for the day. Tomorrow we'll be in Uganda. ...Fill 'em up, friend. As Cougar supervises the refueling... MARIA still troubled and jumpy, wanders across the road to... A GARDEN ...where two small girls are playing One calls excitedly to the other and points to the ground. MARIA walks over to investigate...then gasps and recoils. INSERT - DEAD BAT covered with red ants. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. DAY - SENTRY POST VINCENT & JUSTUS, two Ugandan Soldiers, drive up in a Jeep and get out. Slinging their rifles over their shoulders, they walk to the blockhouse sentry post. JUSTUS You got cigarette?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA VINCENT Why you always need cigarette? Maybe you bring your cigarette sometime. JUSTUS You know why I not have cigarette. We send big shipment for Kampala last night. VINCENT Why you not save some for self? You greedy, Justus. You sell everything, then borrow from Vincent, Yendi any man too foolish to say you no. JUSTUS We make nice profit on cigarette. You not like profit? You not like Toro man? VINCENT Why you always talk of Toro man? You not Toro man. JUSTUS What you mean not Toro man? Mother from Katarangaiya clan. Very close, royal clan. Not common man like you, Vincent. VINCENT And father? Maybe father come and go like wind in night. Maybe Hutu man from Rwanda...maybe cattle thief. JUSTUS (exploding) Father scout and hunter from Sudan! Not lazy banana farmer from Masaka. VINCENT You not like Ganda people, Justus? You think maybe Sudan man better than Uganda man?
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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA JUSTUS (cagily) Maybe we ask Lt. Tarena. Lieutenant come from Sudan I think. VINCENT All right, Justus. You say you Toro man all right, you say that. JUSTUS Lt. Tarena say he worry about you, Vincent. He say you not like trade for cigarette...not like milk from Kenya for Uganda baby. He say maybe Vincent not patriot. Not loyal to great President, Gen. Adan.
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Clearly frightened now, Vincent pulls out a pack of cigarettes, tears off the cellophane and starts to offer his companion one then gives him the whole pack instead, taking out another for himself. They light up in silence. The door of the sentry post opens. GUARD Hurry up, you two! We not keep ladies of Uganda waiting this night! EXT. LATE AFTERNOON - SKULLS' CAMP A secluded spot in the forest. Cougar's group is waking after sleeping all day. COUGAR turns to Maria beside him, but she's not there. MARIA appears to be randomly searching the ground, when she spots something and gasps. Without taking her eyes away, she breaks a dead branch from a tree and pokes at whatever has mesmerized her with fear.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA CAMP COUGAR We're outa here in half an hour. You better get something to eat, 'cause once we get started, we're goin' all the way to Uganda. SOLLY Yer girlfriend's givin' me the creeps, man. Jabberin' in her sleep about some kinda hex. COUGAR Foreign spades are fulla that juju shit. That don't mean you gotta believe in it.
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Honeypot, standing beside, them, looks with revulsion at something O.S. HONEYPOT Jesus Christ! What's she got now? They all turn to see... MARIA ...approaching with a section of snakeskin dangling from a stick. Her expression is one of resignation more than fear now, as if it's too late to be afraid. ANOTHER ANGLE COUGAR Now what, Maria?! MARIA (mumbling) Skin of python. COUGAR I don't give a damn if it's the skin offa King Cong's cock!
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA MARIA Dead bat in garden...now python skin. My people say this sign of heavy death. Bad two time bad.
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Furious, Cougar knocks the branch out of her hand and pulls her off to the side. COUGAR Goddamnit, Maria! I'm countin' on you now I can't have you pullin' this kinda shit! You see those bikes over there? This is the 21st fuckin' century, Baby! Witch doctors went out with dragons and fairy stories. (calming down, almost pleading) ...Listen, when we get to Uganda, you an' me's gonna live like fuckin' kings. You understand? King and queen. A Black Hitler's gotta have his SS don't he? That's us! That's the Skulls. We'll have anything we want. MARIA Realizes that Cougar is cracking up. EXT. DUSK - SENTRY POST Two tractor-trailers approach a barrier Vincent lowers across the highway. Floodlights come on; Justus joins him. The second truck pulls up, and the two drivers get out. DRIVER #1 Jambo. VINCENT Who you? Where Peter? DRIVER #1 Peter sick. Here papers.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA VINCENT Never mind papers. We inspect cargo. Also speak of fee. DRIVER #1 Special shipment. Not for inspection. VINCENT What you mean, "special shipment"? JUSTUS No inspection, no pass. (gesturing with rifle) DRIVER #1 Shipment for Major Minawa, State R esearch Bureau. No inspection. Vincent and Justus exchange nervous glances. VINCENT Secret Police not tell us of special shipment. JUSTUS ...Open up. We look at cargo.
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The drivers look at each other, at the guards' guns, then shrug and open the rear doors of the first trailer. Justus plays his flashlight over... THE CARGO We SEE glimpses of rich wood veneers, marble tabletops, velvet upholstery, the glimmer of crystal, brass and silver. BACK TO SCENE Now its the guards' turn to exchange glances. JUSTUS (gesturing with flashlight) Now other one.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA It too is opened, to reveal... ANOTHER FULL CARGO
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...of weapons, ammunition and explosives. The SOUND of an automatic RIFLE'S SAFETY being CLICKED OFF. A SMALL AFRICAN in a flowered shirt and dark glasses, walks up, holding the gun. Covering the two guards, he gestures for the drivers to disarm them, then at the cargo. AFRICAN ...You like? Now you lie down. The guards are too terror-stricken to move. The driver who's done the talking pushes Justus to the ground. DRIVER Get down! A VOICE (O.S.) What you dudes think you're doin'? TANK and his armed group approach from the dark, surrounding the astonished Ugandans. TANK Get the guns, B.O. (to Guards) Looks like you need the Skulls worse'n we thought. They was fixin' t' ice you dudes. VINCENT ...Who you? TANK The Black Skulls, man! From the good ol' U.S. of A. Here to ride with this Black Hitler a yers. Seig Hiel! Right?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA VINCENT Seeg...hial? TANK Whattaya want us t' do with these dudes waste 'em? JUSTUS (in SWAHILI, subtitled) What does he say? VINCENT (in SWAHILI, subtitled) He speaks English but I not understand it from school. JUSTUS (in SWAHILI, subtitled) We must get guns. VINCENT Please...you give gun? Puzzled, Tank starts to comply. DOLL Wait a minute! TANK (aside) Ain't these the shines we hafta kiss up to? DOLL Let's find out a few things before we give 'em our guns, Baby. B.O. Ask 'em who these dudes is. TANK They don't speak English worth a shit, man. (to Vincent) ...We friend... (pointing to belt buckle) (MORE)
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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA TANK (CONTD) ...Black Skulls. Come to see big man, Black Hitler dig? Come to ride with Adan. VINCENT (in SWAHILI, subtitled) He say friend for President I think. I not understand. (smiling, holding hands out) ...You like give gun now? TANK Sure, we give gun soon as we see Uma Adan. Tell 'im how we saved yer ass. EXT. NIGHT - CONVOY
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Vincent, Justus and the disarmed agent, in the Jeep...followed by the two tractor-trailers, with Tank, and Doll and B.O. on their flanks...and Ace and Jailbait bringing up the rear. EXT. NIGHT - ARMY COMPOUND half a mile from the Sentry Post, surrounded by a stucco wall topped with razor wire. The guards direct the trucks to park outside; but even disarmed, the agent retains authority. AGENT No, inside! JUSTUS (to Vincent) Dangerous explosives. VINCENT That Lt. Tarena's worry. He motions for the drivers to follow the motorcycles inside the compound. All but the drivers enter a two-story structure with a verandah which was once a private residence.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA INT. - BUILDING
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They pass a Soldier asleep at the duty desk in the corridor and enter a... WAITING ROOM VINCENT Please to wait. He and the Agent enter a closed door, while Justus remains with the Skulls in the waiting room. B.O. lays the automatic rifle he took from the agent on top of a battered desk. Muffled VOICES come from the inner office as the Skulls fidget. The door opens and Vincent comes back out to confer with Justus in an undertone, making the bikers even more uneasy. Both guards jump when the commanding officer barks out an order. LT. TARENA Come in! Followed by the Guards, the Skulls enter... LT. TARENA'S OFFICE With the agent standing to the side behind him, LT. TARENA sits at a large desk of polished wood, bare but for an elaborate pen holder with a marble base but no pen. Slim and dark, Tarena wears a military cap, his neatly tailored uniform decked out with a Sam Browne belt and several rows of military ribbons. LT. TARENA Excuse. I speak English not so good. You will sit? The Skulls sit down hesitantly. LT. TARENA You Americani? TANK Yeah, man. We're the Black Skulls. Come to ride for Adan, the dude in charge.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA DOLL We wanta see him.
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Tarena is offended by Doll's interruption and, though he covers it, contemptuous of Tank for allowing it. LT. TARENA You know Gen. Adan? TANK Nah but we figure he can use dudes like us. In the States no one fucked with the Skulls. B.O. You dudes have some tough jobs... them's the kind we specialize in, ya might say. He grins and spits on the wood floor. A cold hostility flickers across Tarena's face. Other soldiers are filtering unobtrusively into the room. LT. TARENA ...You come from Kenya? TANK That's right. LT. TARENA What you do there please? TANK Just ridin' through. Tourists, ya might say. LT. TARENA (nodding at B.O.'s gun) Tourist not carry gun. Why you carry gun? TANK Protection, man. LT. TARENA Maybe if you tourist, you give gun here.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA TANK (glancing at Doll) Not till we see Adan, friend. LT. TARENA You not give up gun? Maybe you not tourist. Maybe you spy. TANK Whatta you, crazy, man?
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B.O. jumps up with the automatic. A Soldier hits him in the face with the butt of his gun. B.O.'s weapon clatters to the floor. Before Ace or Tank can draw, they're surrounded and disarmed. LT. TARENA (standing) Yes mercenaries from Kenya! It is good we able to capture. Take them down for questioning. ...I will question woman myself. DOLL Like hell you will, you slimy little scumbag! A soldier jerks her head back by the hair. Tank just about takes his head off and is beaten to the floor by several gun butts. Jailbait wails hysterically. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. NIGHT - COUGAR'S GROUP riding in formation. COUGAR (yelling over his shoulder) We about there? MARIA Very close, Bwana....Look! ROADSIDE AHEAD POV MARIA Nothing is visible in the stabbing headlights but bushes and trees.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR (O.S.) ...I don't see nothin'. Then something moves. MARIA (O.S.) There, Bwana! BACK TO SCENE
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Cougar waves for the others to slow down and draws his magnum. The look on his face turns to horror. POV - COUGAR It's B.O. or what's left of him. His mouth is just a bloody toothless gap in his battered face. One ear is missing...and he's been scalped. COUGAR Sweet holy shit! B.O., is that you? B.O. (a moaning croak) Cou-ar?...Bugger's beat us up, Cou-ar. Knock ou' my teef Cuk aw muh ear. His liquid gurgle is actually meant to be a chuckle. WETBACK Jesus, B.O.! They scalped ya! B.O. (beginning to shake) Ah, 'at wath it. Wunner wha' 'ey goo. COUGAR Who did it, B.O.? B.O. 'Uckin' 'Gandans. HONEYPOT We gotta get 'im to a doctor!
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA WETBACK Where the hell we gonna find a doctor? B.O. No, wai! 'Ey go' Tank...uh girls. Gonna kill 'em. We go' ge'm out. COUGAR Those motherfuckers. So it was all for nothin' huh? We come all this way... B.O. Go'damnit! Ya gonna ge' 'em ou' er no'?
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When Cougar comes out of his thoughts, his eyes have a maniacal gleam that wasn't there before. His voice has the soft, menacing quality of early Jack Palance. COUGAR ...You damn right we're gonna get 'em, B.O. You just lead the way. EXT. NIGHT - ARMY COMPOUND silent and deserted in the moonlight. The WIND is RISING, RUSTLING THE LEAVES of the large eucalyptus trees surrounding the compound A faint flash of lightning, the distant RUMBLE OF THUNDER. INT. NIGHT - LT. TARENA'S OFFICE Only slightly more rumpled than before, Tarena straightens up at his desk, where he's been asleep, and looks at his watch. Cursing, he buckles his gun belt and exits. CORRIDOR There is no Duty Guard. Growing more angry, Tarena races down the stairs to the...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA BASEMENT
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...where half a dozen soldiers are sprawled out on benches and the floor. Empty soft drink, beer and liquor bottles litter the floor. Resisting the urge to start kicking ass, Tarena unlocks a closed door and enters with his gun drawn. "INTERROGATION" ROOM Doll and Jailbait are tied face-down to two wooden benches. Two soldiers are asleep on the floor. A third, his pants down, has passed out on top of Jailbait. Tarena lifts Doll's head roughly, and she moans without regaining consciousness. He reaches down to pull the Soldier off of Jailbait, and notices that her eyes are open, staring vacantly. She is obviously dead, but he feels for a pulse anyway. Finding none, he drags the bare-assed Soldier to the floor. It is Vincent. LT. TARENA You Mulire you Ganda dog! Wake up, carrion! Vincent does a pulling-his-pants-up break dance. LT. TARENA Get up, swine! Wake the others the whole detail! Tarena opens a door at the end of the room to find... TANK & ACE ...unconscious and tied securely to chairs. Both have been badly beaten. Releasing his gun's safety, he unlocks another door off of this room and looks in cautiously. INT. - ROOM where B.O. was "interrogated". A window is open. Tarena explodes and goes storming back through the...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA ROOMS
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...he just left. Vincent hasn't buckled his pants yet. LT. TARENA (kicking the others savagely) Get up, you drunken scum! Muster in two minutes! Do you hear? I want everyone fully armed! INT./EXT. MONTAGE The compound comes alive with frantic activity, as the men, dress...grab their equipment...and run to the main building. In the midst of this, the faces of... COUGAR & B.O. ...emerge from the shadows a moment after a group of soldiers rush past on their way to muster. B.O. The one I want's 'at 'ucking 'ieu'enant. Cougar isn't listening; he's just spotted an... ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX "INTERROGATION" ROOM Doll and Chicken are untying Tank, who is groggy, and Ace who topples from his chair. CHICKEN Ace is croaked. Doll is nearly naked and hurting but fear and fury are carrying her. DOLL C'mon, Baby, snap out of it. We're gonna destroy the bastards!
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. - MAIN BUILDING Felix, on the ground, and... WETBACK
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...on the roof, have set up a crossfire in front of the building's main entrance. Meanwhile... SOLLY ...has staked out the rear entrance. The WIND is blowing in savage gusts now. Lightning rakes the horizon, and the THUNDER is much LOUDER than before. HONEYPOT & MARIA are crouched just outside the wall surrounding the compound. HONEYPOT I'll watch you like Cougar says but if my man gets in trouble, I'm goin' in there. The first drops of the tropical storm begin to fall. INT. - BASEMENT CORRIDOR main building. Soldiers in duty helmets and cartridge belts stand at attention, rifles at their sides. Tarena paces in front of them, tapping a swagger stick in his hand. LT. TARENA You drunken fools! You let a prisoner escape! You, you and you, Mulire pick up his trail outside. The rest of you search the entire area. I'm putting you all on report. It will be a long time before any of you get back to your villages. Now get out of here!
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As the men rush to the stairs, a short BURST from a semiautomatic. One clutches his... INSERT - THROAT Blood spurts heavily through his fingers. BACK TO SCENE LT. TARENA The prisoner! Kill him! ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX Cougar throws the switch, and everything goes black. STAIRWAY The Soldiers panic. VINCENT (invisible in darkness) What happen to lights? They're all shooting into the dark at once, with muzzle flashes the only thing visible. The Soldiers stampede up the stairs. A BURST OF GUNFIRE in the basement. JUSTUS (invisible in darkness) I kill him! I kill prisoner! He lights a match to illuminate the face of... VINCENT ...lying on the floor, too far gone to speak. Suddenly a pair of boots APPEAR in the light beside his face. JUSTUS looks up to see...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA CHICKEN
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...glaring down at him over the barrel of a shotgun. Fire erupts from the barrel. It's all over for Justus. EXT. - MAIN BUILDING Panicky Soldiers come running out...and get mowed down in the Skulls' crossfire. It's pouring now. Lightning and THUNDER are almost continuous. Then... WETBACK ...is hit and topples from the roof. HONEYPOT screams and runs to him. MARIA seeing her advantage, steals away into the dark. INT. - BASEMENT Dimly, we can make out Lt. Tarena. Having waited coolly in the dark until the commotion has subsided, he creeps toward the stairway with his semi-automatic. Then he hears hoarse WHISPERS and turns toward the room where Doll and Tank were tied. INT. - ROOM In the dark Tank coveres the door while Doll hurriedly dresses. With all the firing outside of the building, and the beating he's taken, Tank has grown careless. TANK (whispering) Who did it to ya, Doll? I'll blow their fuckin' face off!
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA DOLL I tolja they all did. I lost count after awhile. You just keep your eye on the door. TANK Nobody's here now they're all outside. Suddenly the lights come back on. DOLL Tank! Look out! TARENA
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is standing in the doorway. Surprised for just a second by the lights, he grins evilly as he finishes them off. TANK & DOLL lie dead on top of each other. After the gunfire, the SILENCE is deafening...broken suddenly by a SCRAPING SOUND nearby. TARENA shoots out the overhead light. Another burst of GUNFIRE, somewhere behind him in the basement and a light in the bg goes out. Another BURST this time in one of the two rooms ahead of him and the basement is completely dark again. The last image we SEE is Tarena's startled expression on realizing he's caught between two unknown assailants. MONTAGE - CAT-AND-MOUSE PURSUIT B.O. and Cougar are the cats, and Tarena is an increasingly more frightened mouse. We're as much in the dark as the three of them, trying to follow their moves. All we get are BRIEF GLIMPSES of faces and silhouetted movements. Cougar picks up a semi-automatic dropped on the stairway by a soldier. Suddenly, although we CUT from black to...
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA EXT. BLACK
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...we know we're outside again, because of the intense DOWNPOUR. Maria's face comes INTO FRAME. She is looking with longing, but fear, at... THE FOREST - POV MARIA She could lose the Skulls in there, but it looks like anything but a sanctuary in this storm. MARIA looks around frantically for an escape route, then runs toward the rear of the... EXT. - MAIN BUILDING We sense someone behind her. Solly grabs her by the arm, nearly jerking her off her feet. SOLLY You did this, you little bitch! Brought us to this fuckin' hellhole to die! Well you're goin with us. She strikes out at him, but he grabs her tightly. They fall and thrash about in the mud. INT. BASEMENT Still in total darkness, Cougar creeps stealthily to an open doorway, points his semi-automatic through the doorway so he himself is not exposed, and fires. TARENA seeing the muzzle flash, fires a round in that direction then grunts and straightens up abruptly.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA B.O.
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has him by the throat. We SEE only their sweat-shiny faces. Tarena's eyes are bugged out, his mouth open. B.O.'s words are uttered between gasps, his face strained with exertion from an act we can't see. B.O. How's 'at feel, 'ieu'enant? Don't die on me...not yet wouldn't wancha miss nothin'. You jus' follow along here with me...as we go...right...up...the gut! Tarena's eyes and mouth keep opening wider, his only sound a rasping in-drawn breath. Both men collapse. COUGAR steps around the corner of the doorway and bends over them. His tone of voice indicates he's speaking to a man who can no longer hear him. COUGAR I think youre even, B.O. EXT. COMPOUND The storm drives sheets of water horizontally through the air. WIND tears at the trees, ripping loose roofing, fencing, anything not secured. Lightning reveals the surroundings a split second at a time in eerie "photoflashes" with confusing after-images. THUNDER is ear-splitting and continuous. Most of the... SURVIVING SKULLS ...are regrouping around the motorcycles. Honeypot is tending Wetback, propped up against a bike. SOLLY AND MARIA are lying motionless in the mud, breathing heavily. Solly is on top, apparently having just raped her.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR (O.S.) Get up, Solly! COUGAR - POV SOLLY From this angle, Cougar looks as tall as a tree. SOLLY - POV COUGAR scrambles off of Maria, cringing. SOLLY (talking fast) She got us into this, Cougar... her and her witchcraft. The Skulls are finished because of her. COUGAR You're finished, Solly.
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Lightning illuminates the scene garishly. THUNDER eclipses the SOUND of the SHOT. ANOTHER ANGLE Cougar picks Maria up tenderly and carries her toward the Skulls and their bikes. COUGAR We'll get you cleaned up and dry before we get outa here. MARIA (exhausted) I'm tired of running. SOLLY (O.S.) Cougar! ANOTHER ANGLE Although mortally wounded, Solly is stumbling toward them with a semi-automatic. He starts firing wildly, and Cougar dives to the ground with Maria. The other Skulls dive for
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA cover. But some of Solly's bullets rip into the... TRAILER-LOAD OF EXPLOSIVES There is a gigantic EXPLOSION.
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WHITE OUT: WHITE IN: EXT. DAWN - HIGHWAY Still on the run, Cougar and Maria emerge through the piercing rays of the rising sun. As they get closer, we can SEE that they're utterly exhausted. MARIA (shaking his shoulders) We stop now! They pull into a... SECLUDED GLADE ...and park. MARIA It safe here. We rest. Cougar almost falls off the bike with fatigue. Maria unrolls a blanket, and he sinks onto it, asleep as soon as he hits the ground. DISSOLVE TO: SAME SCENE - TIME LAPSE With the CAMERA FOCUSED on the trees overhead, we WATCH the sun rise to mid-morning. Accompanying is a REPRISE OF EERIE MUSIC from scene with Ajouga. MARIA is awake, lying on her back, staring straight overhead with an expression of utter despair.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA COUGAR
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wakes to the gorgeous morning. He lies there a moment, confused at first, looking at the... SUN ...filtering through the branches... COUGAR AND MARIA ...and listening to the BIRDS SINGING. We sense this is the first day of a new life for him. He looks over at Maria, then rolls over and watches her a moment. She hasn't moved nor changed her expression. The familiar calculation in his face is gradually replaced by a tenderness we've barely seen. ANOTHER ANGLE Finally he embraces and kisses Maria. Her only response is to blink. He kisses her again: gentle kisses on her neck and cheeks before even reaching for her mouth. COUGAR Maria...Baby. It's just you an' me now. You and me against the goddamn world. I'm in your hands now, Baby. You know the country, you know the people and I'll find us a way. Set up somewhere so you can live like you never dreamed of, Baby not what you call livin' around here. ...Goddamn, I can't believe how I feel about you, Baby. I love you. Sweet Jesus, I really do. Tears run down Maria's cheeks now. COUGAR ...What's wrong, Baby?
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA She tries unsuccessfully to choke back a sob. COUGAR You just need a little lovin', same as me.
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In a moment he has her panties off...and obviously enters her, although the penetration is O.S. Maria arches her back and erupts into a WAIL that ends as a SHRIEK...while Cougar suddenly registers a look of profound shock. He looks into her eyes, his face asking, "Why?" But her face has become totally expressionless. O.S., we HEAR VEHICLES rapidly APPROACHING, as the CAMERA PULLS BACK to REVEAL...that Maria has stabbed Cougar in the back with Tank's knife. Still O.S., we HEAR the VEHICLES roar up nearby and STOP...followed by MEN'S SHOUTS and RUNNING FOOTSTEPS through the underbrush. Cougar's body contracts violently...then relaxes in death. PATRICK & KENYAN SOLDIERS come running toward the couple with drawn guns. FIRST SOLDIER Don't move! SECOND SOLDIER He dead! She kill him! PATRICK Maria! One of them pulls Cougar off of her. Patrick covers her with his jacket and lifts her like a feather into his arms. FIRST SOLDIER You all right? Who is this man? Dazed and confused, Maria looks down at Cougar with no sense of recognition whatsoever, then up at Patrick without appearing to recognize him either. MARIA ...He tried to rape me. I don't know him. I never saw him before.
THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA PATRICK You're all right now, Maria...the Americans won't hurt you now. They're gone, all of them. You're a brave, strong woman, Maria...a true African woman....I'm proud of you. Very, very proud.
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The CAMERA BEGINS a long, long PULLBACK, until the big man with the girl in his arms is part of a much broader composition, that is uniquely...African. FADE OUT. THE END

THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA © (Screenplay)

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THE BIKES FROM MOMBASA

Screenplay by Dick Croy Story by Robert W. July

9413 Southgate Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-984-0131