Люк Бессон (Luc Besson)1 EXT. DESERT NILE RIVER VALLEY - DAY
Somewhere in the Nile at the edge of the desert.
CREDITS ROLL
WRITTEN: EGYPT 1913
OMAR and his mule zigzag along the bottom of sun scorched dunes
2 EXT. TEMPLE EXCAVATION - DAY
The mule and the boy finally reach a camp. A few tents dwarfed by a huge temple door jutting out of the sand. The camp is deserted except for some kids by the temple entrance holding large mirrors, reflecting light into the temple.
Omar leaves his mule in the shade, seizes two goatskins and slips inside the temple.
3 INT. TEMPLE - DAY
Omar makes his way uneasily down a pillared corridor that opens into a vast room where an old scientist stands on a small wooden ladder in front of the wall across the room. PROFESSOR MASSIMO PACOLI. A young man is beside him, BILLY MASTERSON, age 25, an American student. He has a large sketchpad in his hands. Behind them AZIZ, age 10, whose job is to hold the last mirror which shines light into the expansive room.
PROFESSOR (deciphering) "..when the three planets are in eclipse.."
His fingers trace across the wall which is covered with symbols and strange hieroglyphs as he deciphers.
PROFESSOR "..the black hole like a door is open... Evil comes ... sowing terror and chaos..." See? The snake, Billy. The Ultimate Evil ... make sure you get the snake!
The Professor points emphatically to the snake, the symbol of Evil, coming through the door between the three planets in eclipse. C.U. Billy's hand sketches the snake quickly. He is a natural artist.
BILLY And when is this door opening snake act supposed to occur?
The Professor's fingers touch the signs.
PROFESSOR ..if this is the five..and this the thousand..
He calculates.
PROFESSOR Every five thousand years..
BILLY (kidding) So I have some time..