RELIC

                              MARGO
                    That thing could kill ten people in
                    a matter of minutes.

                              PENDERGAST
                    But what can we do?  Our guns are
                    useless --

                              MARGO
                    We have the fibers.  Don't you see?
                    The creature is hungry.  It wants the
                    hormones in these plants.  It would
                    take hundreds of human brains to
                    supply what's in these fibers.  We're
                    just a poor substitute.  To make it
                    stop hunting, we have to give it
                    what it wants.

     INT. CUTHBERT'S OFFICE - NIGHT

     Cuthbert enters with Jonathan and the dog, Hobbes.  Cuthbert locks the
     door with shaking hands.  He mutters to himself in terror.

                              CUTHBERT
                    Solid oak.  Two inches thick.  Tell me
                    they'll hold.

     Cuthbert scurries to his desk and pulls out a Ruger .38 Magnum.

                              CUTHBERT
                    I got it after I was mugged in the
                    subway last spring.

                              JONATHAN
                    Where's the walk-in safe?

                              CUTHBERT
                    Behind you.

                              JONATHAN
                    What's the combination?

                              CUTHBERT
                    I'll do it.  Just let me find my
                    portable phone.

     He rummages in the darkness, going through his desk.

                              JONATHAN
                    Forget it!

                              CUTHBERT
                    Calm down.  I found it!

     Cuthbert flips the phone open and turns it on.

                              CUTHBERT
                    Battery's dead.  Shit.

                              JONATHAN
                    Let's go!

     Cuthbert crosses to a huge wall safe, starts frantically turning the
     tumblers.  Jonathan follows with the dog.

                              CUTHBERT
                    That thing won't come after us,
                    right?  It's going for bigger game.
                    The group blundering around in the
                    basement.  Poor fools.

                              JONATHAN
                    Hurry up!

                              CUTHBERT
                    Just a minute.  I'm shaking!  Take the
                    gun.

     Cuthbert fumbles to hand over the Ruger.  As he does, something drops.

                              CUTHBERT
                    Oh God!  I dropped my rabbit's foot!

     Cuthbert drops to his knees, groping in the darkness.

                              JONATHAN
                    For Chrissake, I'll do it.  What's
                    the combination?!

                              CUTHBERT
                    To the left twice then five no...
                    sorry... I think it's fifteen... it's
                    been a while...

                              JONATHAN
                    Oh Jesus...

     Jonathan starts again, sweating.  The tumblers fall with agonizing
     slowness.  Cuthbert continues groping frantically for his good luck
     charm.  Meanwhile, unnoticed by Jonathan, the dog is staring at the oak
     doors.  We see the HAIR ON HIS BACK rise!

                              JONATHAN
                    Fifteen... what's next?

                              CUTHBERT
                    Eight to the right!  Look!  I found
                    it!

     Clutching the rabbit's foot like a talisman, Cuthbert leaps up just as
     the last tumbler falls.

     At this the oak doors behind them CRASH OPEN, splintering like so many
     match sticks.

     Cuthbert SCREAMS in a high pitch whine at the sight of the beast.  The
     dog barks wildly at Mbwun!  Jonathan lifts his shot gun.  But the
     monster barrels past him and zeros in on Cuthbert!

     A HUGE RED TONGUE LICKS OUT and encircles Cuthbert's waist!  It
     squeezes him horribly, drags him towards the open jaws!  Cuthbert
     bellows like a lamb being led to the slaughter.  He opens his hand and
     the rabbit's foot drops!  The last Jonathan sees of Cuthbert is his
     head disappearing down Mbwun's throat.

     Hobbes barks and whines in terror.  Jonathan takes the leash and drags
     the animal out.

     INT. MUSEUM HALLWAYS - NIGHT

     Jonathan and Hobbes tear down the hallway and disappear.  Behind them
     comes a roar so loud it rattles the walls.

     INT. HALLWAYS - SECURE STORAGE AREA - NIGHT

     The door opens slowly and Pendergast appears.  He shines his beam in
     both directions.

                              PENDERGAST
                    All clear.

     Margo and Frock quickly come out.  Margo holds the crate.  Frock tries
     to follow in his wheelchair.

                              FROCK
                    I'm coming with you.

                              MARGO
                    No, Dr. Frock.  You can't.

                              PENDERGAST
                    You'd slow us down and put Margo in
                    danger.

                              MARGO
                    Unlock one of the other storage
                    rooms.  We're going upstairs.  We'll
                    leave a trail back to 1012 and try
                    to trap the monster in here.

                              FROCK
                    Margo, this is too dangerous.  You
                    always think you can solve
                    everything.  This time you don't have
                    enough information.  The animal might
                    behave in unexpected ways.
                        (to Pendergast)
                    Leave her here with me.  Don't put
                    her in danger.

                              PENDERGAST
                    He's right.

                              MARGO
                    No.  You'll need me --

     At this a LOUD SOUND comes from upstairs!

                              FROCK
                    What's that?

                              PENDERGAST
                    Footsteps!

                              MARGO
                    No, not footsteps!  People running
                    for their lives!

     All three know this ends the discussion.  Frock opens the door to room
     1010.  Inside are shelves of priceless ivory tusks.  Margo takes
     Pendergast's handkerchief and wraps her hand.  She quickly sprinkles
     some of the fibers inside the door to room 1012.  Before Dr. Frock
     disappears into room 1010, he looks back to Margo one last time.

                              FROCK
                    Come back and get me.

                              MARGO
                    We will.

                              FROCK
                    Remember, it has poor eyesight.  It
                    hunts with its sense of smell.  So
                    for God's sake, Margo, don't get
                    those fibers on your clothes!

     INT. OSTEO PREP - NIGHT

     Margo and Pendergast emerge from the hall to the storage rooms and run
     for the far stairs.  From somewhere above the sound of running is
     louder now.

     INT. PLANETARIUM - NIGHT

     D'Agosta and his group enter the large domed space in disarray.
     They're spread out and panicked, the young helping the old.  Dr. Pound
     is finding it hard to keep up.  Frank and his daughter Lauren bring him
     along.  The Mayor quietly urges people forward.  His wife's face is
     streaked with tears.  Kawakita runs with D'Agosta.

                              KAWAKITA
                    It's still back there!

                              D'AGOSTA
                    I know.

     Now a voice is heard in the distance.

                              PENDERGAST (OS)
                    Where are you?  Who's there?

     Everyone stops.  D'Agosta shines his light into the large space.  Above
     them constellations glow.  D'Agosta calls out...

                              D'AGOSTA
                    Pendergast!

     INT. HALL OF NORTH AMERICAN MAMMALS - NIGHT

     Margo and Pendergast run.  Margo carries the crate carefully wrapped in
     Pendergast's jacket.

                              PENDERGAST
                    That was D'Agosta.

                              MARGO
                    The planetarium!

                              PENDERGAST
                        (calls out)
                    Vince!

                              D'AGOSTA (OS)
                    Over here!

     There's a double steel fire door at the end of the hallway.  Pendergast
     and Margo run for it.  Pendergast shoves at the door.  It won't budge.
     There's a small glass window.  In it, D'Agosta's face appears.

                              D'AGOSTA
                        (through the window)
                    Pendergast!  Help!  It's right behind
                    us!

                              PENDERGAST
                    This door's locked.  Try shooting the
                    hinges off.

     INT. PLANETARIUM - NIGHT

     D'Agosta turns to his group.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    Step back!

     D'Agosta, Frank and Kawakita aim their guns at the door and shoot
     repeatedly.  The shots echo wildly.  The sound is terrifyingly loud.  The
     small glass window shatters.  Then the men lean heavily on the door.  It
     still won't budge.  D'Agosta looks through the window.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    It's no use.  We have to get out of
                    here!
                        (to Kawakita)
                    Give them your walkie talkie.

     Kawakita hands his walkie talkie through the window.  Margo takes it.

                              KAWAKITA
                    Is Dr. Frock safe!

                              MARGO
                    Yes, he's fine.  Greg... take care of
                    yourself!

     INT. HALL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN MAMMALS - NIGHT

     Pendergast looks desperately at the blueprints.

                              MARGO
                    Is there another way around?

                              PENDERGAST
                    No.  The planetarium is in the next
                    cell.  This is one of the fire
                    doors...

     Pendergast returns to the window.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Vince?  There's no way we can get to
                    you with the fire doors down.
                    There's an entrance to the sub-
                    basement in the hall off the north
                    side exit.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    The sub-basement?

                              PENDERGAST
                    I've been down there.  It links up to
                    the old sewer system.  I can guide
                    you out.

     D'Agosta turns to the others.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    How much ammo do we have to make a
                    stand?

                              KAWAKITA
                    You're asking me?  I don't even know
                    how to load this thing.

                              FRANK
                    Four rounds...

     There's a movement of air... and a ripe, fetid smell.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    Oh shit.

     D'Agosta pumps his shot gun.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    I smell it.  It's here.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Go out the north exit!  There's a
                    hallway and a false wall by the
                    Greek vases.  Run!

                              D'AGOSTA
                    Everybody.  Get behind me.

     The others move past.  D'Agosta, Frank and Greg Kawakita hold the rear.
     The group runs to the side exit to the planetarium and in a moment,
     disappears.

     INT. HALL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN MAMMALS - NIGHT

     Pendergast remains at the window watching anxiously.  From the south
     entrance to the planetarium, an ENORMOUS DARK SHAPE slinks into view!
     Pendergast steps back from the doorway, turns to Margo.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Hide quickly!

                              MARGO
                    What are you going to do?

     Pendergast checks his gun, totally calm.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Buy them some time.