RELIC

                              IPPOLITO
                    This huge police presence tonight
                    isn't necessary, Lieutenant.  You'll
                    just scare people off.  I can handle
                    the security behind scenes with this
                    system.  It's state of the art.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    The cops are non-negotiable,
                    Ippolito.  Why don't you just tell me
                    how this space station works.

                              IPPOLITO
                    It's fool proof, basically.  I
                    designed this whole thing myself.
                    Every valuable object in the Museum
                    carries a small electronic chip.  If
                    anything's moved so much as an inch,
                    we get an alarm pinpointing the
                    exact location of the attempted
                    theft.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    That's great if you're stopping a
                    burglar.  Not our goal here.  Are
                    there motion detectors?

                              IPPOLITO
                    In every exhibition room.  The
                    museum's divided into five cells.
                    The reception and exhibit are in
                    cell five.  We could arm the motion
                    detectors in cells one to four, then
                    seal the perimeter with our fire
                    doors.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    That would leave one exit for
                    hundreds of people.  You'd be
                    violating every fire regulation on
                    the books.  We'll guard the perimeter
                    with my men and engage the motion
                    detectors in the other cells.  One
                    more question.  I see a big hole.  If
                    this entire thing is run by
                    computer, what happens if the power
                    fails?

                              IPPOLITO
                        (snorts)
                    You don't know much about computers,
                    Lieutenant.  There are safeguards
                    built in.  We have back-up systems
                    with redundancies.  There's no way
                    these computers can fail.
                   
     INT. PHYSICAL ANTHRO LAB - DAY

     Margo, Kawakita and Frock are studying the contents of the crate.

                              FROCK
                    I can't help thinking there's
                    something that Pendergast
                    overlooked.  If the scratches were
                    made by whatever killed Beauregard,
                    it wants something that's in here.

                              MARGO
                    A blow dart.  Seed pods.  A plant
                    press.  Pretty unimpressive stuff.

                              FROCK
                    Let me see the plant press.

     Frock opens the plant press and sees a specimen inside.

                              MARGO
                    What is it?

                              FROCK
                    I'm not sure.  As you know, the
                    Kothoga lived outside civilization
                    on the tepui for thousands of years.
                    Species flourished in isolation when
                    man and pollution rendered them
                    extinct.  This could be one of the
                    last remaining samples of an unknown
                    plant.

                              MARGO
                    Whatever it is, it must be common on
                    the tepui.  John used it as packing
                    material.

                              FROCK
                    You're right.

     Kawakita lifts out a bit of the fibers, as does Frock.

                              FROCK
                    They're curiously fleshy.

                              KAWAKITA
                    And they smell delicious.

     Kawakita TAKES a NIBBLE.

                              KAWAKITA
                    Taste great.

                              FROCK
                    I wouldn't put that in your mouth
                    until we do a chemical analysis,
                    Greg.

                              KAWAKITA
                    I can handle that for you while
                    we're waiting on the G.S.E.

     Kawakita rises and exits with some of the plant.

                              MARGO
                    What about those seed pods?  Are they
                    from the same plant?

     Frock takes a moment to study them, looks up.

                              FROCK
                    Margo, these aren't seed pods.

                              MARGO
                    What are they?

                              FROCK
                    They're eggs.

     INT. SUB-BASEMENT - DAY

     Black as night.  The only light comes from the men's flashlights.
     They're at a crossroads.  Crooked corridors, with arched ceilings
     barely the height of a man stretch in several directions.  Jonathan is
     crouched down, resting with the panting dogs.  The deputies are having
     a smoke.  They all look both uneasy and exhausted except for
     Pendergast.  He stares at the blueprints.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Hard to read in this light.  The ink
                    is so faded.

                              JONATHAN
                    The dogs have lost the scent, Mr.
                    Pendergast.  Maybe we should head
                    back.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Not yet.  Let's try the fork to the
                    left.

     The men reluctantly shoulder their shotguns and push on.  The hounds
     walk ahead, carelessly nosing the ground.  The flashlight beams
     illuminate lime-encrusted, cave-like walls.

                              DEPUTY TWO
                    This place gives me the creeps.

     At this the dogs begin to WHINE.  The HAIR on their backs rises in a
     ridge.  Pendergast turns as a BREEZE stirs his clothes.

                              JONATHAN
                    They've got something.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Keep the light up.  I can't see.

     The dogs strain and pull forward, sniffing the air ahead.  The deputies
     raise up their shotguns as they all move deeper into the darkness.  The
     flashlight beams streak crazily in all directions, barely penetrating
     the gloom.  Suddenly the dogs break into a terrifying BAYING which
     bounces off the walls.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Shut them up!

                              JONATHAN
                    Heel Argo!  Hobbes!  Heel!

     The dogs drag Jonathan forward, paying no attention, foaming at the
     mouth.  Jonathan is now frightened.

                              JONATHAN
                    They're going crazy!  I need help!

     Too late.  As Jonathan tries to grab the collars, one of the dogs LEAPS
     forward, and the leash slips through Jonathan's hands.

                              JONATHAN
                    He's loose!  Argo!

     Argo BOLTS into the darkness.  The men start after the dog, following
     the frantic barking which echoes farther and farther in the distance.
     Pendergast is in the lead.  Suddenly he throws out his arms, halts.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Stop!

                              JONATHAN
                    Holy mother, what is that?

     A goatish odor envelops them all.

                              DEPUTY ONE
                    Smells God-awful.  Like rotten meat.

                              JONATHAN
                    Argo!  Come!

                              PENDERGAST
                    Quiet!

     A SCUFFLING sound of claws dragging on brick is heard followed by a
     ROAR.  The men all freeze.  The other dog leaps and twists with
     excitement.  In the confusion it also breaks free!  It tears after the
     first dog, disappearing into the darkness.  Now Jonathan is wild-eyed.

                              JONATHAN
                    No!  Hobbes!

     The deputies are terrified, retreat.  The darkness is stifling,
     claustrophobic.  The flashlights are small help.  Pendergast alone
     remains dead calm.  His voice is cool and commanding.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Forget the dogs.  You two, get back
                    here.  Don't point that gun at me.

     The deputies regain control and follow Pendergast's orders.  They fall
     into position, pump their shotguns and aim them down the hall.  In the
     echoing darkness ahead of them, the barking falters and stops.

     There is a moment of silence, then a terrible, unearthly SHRIEK.  The
     deputies quail, frozen in their tracks.  Jonathan leaps forward.

                              JONATHAN
                    Argo!  Hobbes!

                              PENDERGAST
                    Get back!  Now!

     At that moment a SHAPE hurtles at them from the darkness!  The men YELL
     in terror.  There are two stunning BLASTS from the shotguns, two
     FLASHES of light accompanied by a deafening roar.  The rumble echoes
     and dies and there's an intense silence, followed by a sob.

                              JONATHAN
                    You shot my dog!

     Hobbes lies five feet from them, a black shadow of death.  Jonathan
     kneels by the dog, tears in his eyes.  Down the animals side is a GASH.

                              JONATHAN
                    My dog...

                              DEPUTY ONE
                        (stammers)
                    He was coming right at me...

     In the distance they can hear a terrified howl.  It's the second dog,
     hurt or frightened.  It's a pitiful sound.

                              DEPUTY TWO
                    Let's get out of here!

                              JONATHAN
                    I'm not going anywhere!  Not without
                    my dog!

     Pendergast grabs at Jonathan who slips from his grasp.  Jonathan inches
     back down the hallway calling desperately.

                              JONATHAN
                    Hobbes!

                              DEPUTY ONE
                    Get back!

     Jonathan shakes his head no.

                              JONATHAN
                    There's something out there!  Let's
                    go get it now!  That's why we came
                    down here, isn't it?

                              PENDERGAST
                        (to the deputies)
                    He's right.  Follow me.

     But the two deputies are terrified.  They cling to the wall, inching
     backwards, sheer horror in their eyes.

                              DEPUTY ONE
                    No way.  I say we get help.  A lot
                    more guns.

                              PENDERGAST
                    I'm ordering you!  Cover me!

                              DEPUTY TWO
                    We'll cover you from here!

     Jonathan is disappearing in front of them.  Pendergast has no choice.
     Grim faced, he pulls his Colt .45 Anaconda from a shoulder harness.
     It's a narrow and evil-looking gun.  From a pocket comes a handful of
     255 grain wadcutter and 147 grain FMJ flatnose ammunition.  He loads
     up, goes after Jonathan, who's no longer in sight.  Pendergast passes
     down a long, sloping hallway into cavernous blackness ahead.  At the
     bottom Pendergast stops.  He has to stoop down as he goes through an
     archway and into...

     A VAST ARCHING ROOM...

     A dark stream of water runs between concrete walls with tunnels going
     off from all sides.  It appears to be part of the sewer system.  The dog
     cowers in a corner.  Jonathan moves to his side.

                              JONATHAN
                    Look.  It's Hobbes!  He's all right.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Come on.  Let's get back to the
                    others.  We can't leave them alone.

                              JONATHAN
                    It's alright.  I can tell by the way
                    the dog's acting that whatever was
                    out there is gone.  What is this
                    place?

                              PENDERGAST
                    Not on the map.  Looks like it
                    connects with the city sewer.

     Pendergast calls back down the tunnel for the deputies.

                              PENDERGAST
                    We're coming back!

     The words go unanswered.  From the hall comes a loud REPORT.  It's the
     shotguns, blasting desperately.  Something flies up all around them as
     the sound echoes.  BATS!

     Pendergast and Jonathan shield themselves from the flurry of beating
     wings.  Finally the animals settle and Pendergast and Jonathan exchange
     a look.  The silence is filled by a soft RUMBLING SOUND.  They stand
     together, waiting.  Pendergast points his gun at the hall leading back
     to the deputies.  A ridge of hair on the dog's back rises and it
     growls.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Identify yourself!  Who's there?

     No answer.  The rumbling continues, growing louder.  Then a dark object
     appears.  It comes rolling out of the hallway, bounces in front of them
     and stops.  Pendergast shines his light on...

     DEPUTY ONE'S HEAD!  The mouth is open wide in terror.  Across the cheek
     is a vicious claw mark.

                              JONATHAN
                    Oh... my... God!

                              PENDERGAST
                        (hisses)
                    Quiet.

     And now they hear a GUT WRENCHING SHRIEK that's abruptly cut off,
     followed by a second rumbling sound!  Jonathan grabs Pendergast by the
     shirt, panicked.

                              PENDERGAST
                    Stay calm.

     They head quietly for the exit at the other end of room which seems to
     slope up.  After they're gone a few moments the head of DEPUTY TWO
     rolls to a stop.

     EXT. MUSEUM - NIGHT

     Cabs and limousines tangle outside the west entrance.  A huge rotating
     SPOTLIGHT is now turned on.  Elegantly dressed men in dinner jackets
     and women in gowns rush to get out of the pelting rain, umbrellas
     jousting.

     INT. CUTHBERT'S OFFICE - EVENING

     Cuthbert's putting on his tux.  He adjusts the cummerbund, humming
     happily as D'Agosta looks on.  D'Agosta paces, highly agitated and
     worried.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    I'm telling you, something's wrong.
                    I still haven't heard from
                    Pendergast.  I think you should call
                    it off.

                              CUTHBERT
                    It's too late now.  Guests are
                    arriving.  The Mayor's car is pulling
                    up.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    I'll go down and speak to him.

                              CUTHBERT
                        (irritated)
                    You haven't got the authority.  Only
                    Pendergast can pull the plug.

                              D'AGOSTA
                    Pendergast may be in trouble.  Don't
                    you understand?  He still hasn't come
                    back.  It's been over three hours --

                              CUTHBERT
                    He'll be back.  Relax.  We're in good
                    shape.  Your security is air tight.
                    There've been no more incidents,
                    nothing suspicious.  There's no
                    reason to call off the opening now.

     INT. GREAT ROTUNDA - NIGHT

     Resounding with the echoes of several hundred expensive shoes crossing
     the marble expanse and heading down the rows of palm trees leading to
     the Hall of Heavens.  The palms themselves are festooned with orchids
     and violet lights.  Somewhere inside, an invisible band is playing "New
     York, New York".  An army of waiters in white tie thread their way
     through the guests carrying large silver platters crowded with
     champagne glasses.  Cuthbert enters and crosses to meet The MAYOR and
     THE MAYOR'S WIFE.  Photographers step forward and flashbulbs pop.

     INT. HALL OF THE HEAVENS - NIGHT

     Food is out.  Hundreds of tables are set with black linen table cloths.
     Decorations have a dark, haunted house theme.  A hum of activity floats
     up past the vast Corinthian columns into the circular dome above.

     INT. MARGO'S LABORATORIES - NIGHT

     An explosive sneeze rattles the beakers and dislodges the plant
     specimens.  Margo interrupts her work at the computer to hand Greg a
     tissue as Frock looks on.

                              KAWAKITA
                    What kind of egg is it?

                              MARGO
                    It's reptilian.

                              FROCK
                    Like the claw.

                              MARGO
                        (cautious)
                    Let's not jump to conclusions.  This
                    egg could belong to any number of
                    reptiles, Dr. Frock.

                              FROCK
                        (excited)
                    Come on, Margo.  We're on the verge
                    of something huge.  Let's consider
                    the possibility, just the three of
                    us, alone in this room.  What if John
                    was right.  I mean, what if?  And he
                    sent back an egg of his monster in
                    the crates.  When it got to the
                    museum, it hatched.

                              MARGO
                    Several problems with that theory.
                    For one thing, this egg is intact.
                    For another, according to
                    Pendergast, the crates were shipped
                    here on a boat.  Everyone on board
                    was killed like Beauregard.  If the
                    thing hatched in mid-ocean, where
                    did it go?