Excerpt from The Lost Lamp of Al’ Adin
The Lost Lamp of Al’ Adin excerpt. A Finalist in the Fresh Voices Screenplay competition 2019
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Lamp-AlAdin-Gregory-Burgess-ebook/dp/B0F77J2VYK?ref_=ast_author_dp
FADE IN
EXT. THE ROC’S NEST – NIGHT
SUPER: The Roc’s Nest, Zagros Mountains, Iran. Headquarters
of the Divine Assassin’s cult. 1978.
An ancient stone fortress looks formidable high in the Zagros
mountains. Several windows of the fortress glow with light.
Two huge stone bird-of-prey gargoyles frame a pair of large
glass doors that open on to a large stone balcony. A fire
flickers within.
INT. THE ROC’S NEST MARTIAL ARTS PRACTICE DOJO – NIGHT
A large amphitheater with walls of stone and a dirt floor glows with torchlight. A group of ASSASSIN TRAINEES sit on
the stone seats carved into the walls. A lone trainee, JURAD GHUL (early 20s), son of Hamsa Ghul, stands waiting. Shadows dance and flicker around the practice space.
HAMSA GHUL (40s), Chief Assassin for The Divine Assassin’s cult, swiftly emerges from the shadows and wraps a garrote around Jurad’s neck. He drags Jurad back into the shadows. The Jurad’s hands grip the garrote and his booted feet struggle with fear. Hamsa’s voice emanates with authority from the shadows.
HAMSA
“You must strike swiftly from behind, like the scorpion. And drag your prey into the shadows. Disappearing. Like a djinn into the desert.”
Hamsa exits the shadows. The trainee is nowhere to be seen. A figure wearing white robes with a scorpion embroidered on it enters. He waits.
HAMSA (CONT'D)
“We only leave prey visible when ordered to. Otherwise they should never be seen again.”
Hamsa motions the scorpion robed man over. The man approaches and leans in. He whispers in Hamsa’s ear. Hamsa nods.
HAMSA (CONT'D)
“Practice this maneuver on each other. Wawi, Feroze. Help Jurad when he wakes. Maybe get him some water.”
Hamsa exits.
WAWI GHUL (late 20s), Hamsa’s elder son, and FEROZE (late teens), go to help Jurad.
INT. THE ROC’S NEST – NIGHT
Hamsa stands at attention in a lavish room facing an imposing robed figure, THE SULTAN (50s).
The Sultan stands in front of a large terrarium with his back to Hamsa. He obsessively fingers an ornate sword hilt in an elaborate sheath that hangs at his waist. The terrarium houses a large black scorpion.
HAMSA
“Sultan. We’ve located the Texcatlipoca. It is where Surena said it would be.”
THE SULTAN
“Excellent, Hamsa. Then the lashings shall cease. For now.”
HAMSA
“We’ve located the daughter, Tehminah, as well. She also seeks the statue.”
THE SULTAN
“Then see that she does not acquire it.”
HAMSA
“Yes, Sultan.”
EXT. DRUG LORD COMPOUND – DAY
SUPER: Colombia, 1978
TEHMINAH CRUZ (25), Persian-American adventurer with piercing green eyes, crouches beneath a guard tower holding an air powered tranquilizer rifle. She wears her father’s worn “Montecristi” Panama hat with camouflage netting and an eye patch over her left eye. The patch mostly covers an old burn scar.
An armed THUG walks the perimeter. The thug rounds a corner. He stops abruptly. PFFT! She misses with the first dart. He walks. He stops and swats bugs. PFFT! She misses with the second dart.
TEHMINAH
(whispers)
“Damn it! Daisy, where are you when I need you?”
The thug sees the dart. He starts to raise the alarm. A lasso drags him over the railing.
THUG
“Ooooof!”
The thug falls. He lands, stunned. He watches wide eyed as Tehminah jams a third dart into his neck.
TEHMINAH
“Bullseye.”
The thug falls asleep. Tehminah sneaks to the hacienda.
EXT. INNER COMPOUND – DAY
Tehminah hides behind a column. A well-dressed, very short man, THE HORNET (40s) and a HANDSOME IMPECCABLY DRESSED MAN (30s) walk with HENCHMEN.
HORNET
(in Spanish)
“The Americans are coming this evening. I assume the coca is ready?”
HANDSOME IMPECCABLY DRESSED MAN
“Si, jefe.”
They enter the building. Tehminah glances at a map. She lassos a protruding support beam. She scales a wall to a
veranda.
INT. STUDY IN HACIENDA - DAY
Tehminah enters a lavish study. A painting of The Hornet towers over the room. A gold jaguar statue of the Aztec god
Texcatlipoca rests on a black stone stand in a large alcove. She looks for tripwires and sensors. She finds none. She picks up the statue. A CLICK. Alarms WAIL. PRISON BARS fall from the ceiling.
TEHMINAH
“Oh camel spit!”
Tehminah kicks the stand. It blocks the bars. She ducks under the gap. She gets over the wall and drops as
HENCHMEN arrive.
EXT. GUARD TOWER – DAY
Tehminah exits from the garden bushes. Dirt ERUPTS with bullets. She tries another route.
EXT. CORRAL - DAY
Tehminah sees a fine white horse. Distant SHOUTS. She pulls out a Mister Goodbar candy bar. She offers it to the horse. The horse takes the candy. She mounts the horse. Bullets ERUPT where she stood. The horse jumps the fence.
EXT. ROADWAY LEADING UP TO THE HACIENDA - DAY
HENCHMEN riding motorcycles, pickup trucks, and a 1976 Cadillac convertible chase her. The Handsome Impeccably Dressed Man drives. The Hornet sits shotgun. GUNFIRE blasts at Tehminah and the horse.
HORNET
(in Spanish)
“Not the horse! Not the horse!”
HANDSOME IMPECCABLY DRESSED MAN
(in Spanish)
“Close the gate! Close the gate!”
Tehminah guides the horse to the gate. CLANG! The gate slams shut. Bullets CHIP at the stone walls. The horse swerves. It makes a mighty leap over the wall.
HANDSOME IMPECCABLY DRESSED MAN (CONT'D)
(in Spanish)
“Open the gate! Open the gate!”
EXT. INTERSECTION OF ROADWAY AND NARROW JUNGLE PATH – DAY
Tehminah gallops down the dirt path. Bullets BURST around her.
EXT. WIDE CLEARING – DAY
Tehminah exits the jungle. Motorcycles close the gap.
TEHMINAH
“Good girl! Almost there. C’mon, Daisy! Where are you?!”
The horse and motorcycles approach distant trees by a river. A motorcycle pulls up to Tehminah. The rider draws a pistol.
EXT. TREELINE BY RIVER – DAY
Tehminah hears the CRACK of a large bore rifle. A puff of smoke appears in the distant tree line. A bullet knocks the
rider off his motorcycle.
TEHMINAH
“There you are!”
Another motorcycle catches up. The rider grabs Tehminah’s leg. Another rifle BLAST. He falls. The motorcycles stop. The riders unsling rifles. Tehminah makes it to the trees.
DOROTHY “DAISY” FINCH-ROSE (25), a Rodeo Princess-type blonde, crouches in a tree, dressed fashionably for the jungle. She wears a studded choker and black shooting gloves. She drops from her perch.
DAISY
“You were followed.”
TEHMINAH
“You’re overdressed.”
Daisy looks puzzled.
TEHMINAH (CONT'D)
“Oh, I thought we were taking turns stating the obvious.”
DAISY
“Did you get it?”
Tehminah holds up the sack.
TEHMINAH
“Let’s get this back to its rightful home.”
A large branch EXPLODES near her head.
DAISY
“Gotta be an easier way to make a living!”
Tehminah slaps the horse’s rump. It runs back blocking the gunmen’s aim.
TEHMINAH
“Thanks, girl! She’s as fast as Mirabel.”
DAISY
(Indignant)
“No horse’s as fast as Mirabel.”
Both go down to the riverside. They get into kayaks.
EXT. RIVER – DAY
The ROAR of jet skis and outboards. A flotilla gives chase.
DAISY
“Told you we should have gotten jet skis.”
TEHMINAH
“Kayaks are stealthier.”
Daisy looks back at the rapidly approaching skis.
DAISY
“And slower.”
TEHMINAH
“We still playing the obvious game?”
EXT. RAPIDS - DAY
Tehminah and Daisy take the rapids at a split in the river. The skis follow. The boats take the wider bilabong. Daisy
wedges her kayak between two rocks. She lassos a JET SKIER who SWERVES and SLAMS into another skier. Both riders go flying. She gets on a ski.
Tehminah has more difficulty with her attackers. She swings her paddle missing the Jet Skier bearing down on her. The riderless ski Daisy dispatched slams into Tehminah’s kayak, spinning her around. Her kayak flips over. Bullets SPLASH around her.
She surfaces facing the muzzle of a pistol.
The GUNMAN waves “bye-bye” just before Daisy knocks him off his ski with her rifle.
DAISY
“Stop fooling around and get on that ski!”
Tehminah reaches beneath her partially submerged kayak and gets her backpack and a U.S. Army .45 pistol.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“Come on!”
Tehminah puts her backpack on a ski. A rapid knocks her into the water. The ski floats away with the backpack. Daisy offers a hand. Behind Daisy the last skier takes aim. Tehminah raises her pistol. Daisy looks TERRIFIED. Tehminah shoots the gun from the rider’s hand Lone Ranger style. He falls off his ski. Daisy pats herself looking for a wound.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“Missed me! Been practicing?”
Tehminah scowls. She gets on behind Daisy.
TEHMINAH
“We gotta get that pack!”
Tehminah and Daisy shoot the rapids. They exit into a circle of boats. All guns point at them. The Handsome Impeccably Dressed Man grabs the backpack from the ski.
HORNET
“Buenos Dias, senoritas.”
The Hornet waves a gold-plated pistol at them.
HORNET (CONT'D)
(in Spanish)
“Seize them!”
EXT. STERN OF SMALL CABIN CRUISER - DAY
HENCHMEN haul Tehminah and Daisy aboard the boat.
DAISY
“Oooh! Pretty gun!”
HORNET
“Bajarse!”
The Hornet waves his gun indicating Tehminah and Daisy should kneel. They look puzzled. They shrug. They try to get back on their ski. The Hornet flails his gun in a rage.
HORNET (CONT'D)
“On your knees! Get down!”
Tehminah and Daisy squat. The Hornet waves the gun for them to raise their hands.
HORNET (CONT'D)
“Levantase sus manos!”
Puzzled looks. Tehminah and Daisy rise. The Hornet stomps his feet.
HORNET (CONT'D)
“Up! Get your hands up!”
Tehminah and Daisy slowly comply.
HORNET (CONT'D)
“So you thought you could steal from The Hornet. Stupido! Do you know who I am?”
DAISY
“A Chupacabra?”
TEHMINAH
“Kid, if you’re going to shoot us you should take the safety off.”
The Hornet smacks Tehminah across the face. Daisy glares at him.
DAISY
“Never know when to shut it do you? Who’s side you on, anyway?”
TEHMINAH
“Didn’t think he’d hit the pretty one.”
DAISY
(Indignant)
“I’m the pretty one!”
HORNET
“Silence!”
The Handsome Impeccably Dressed Man ransacks the backpack. He comes up with a handful of tampons and a bag of Mr. Goodbars.
HANDSOME IMPECCABLY DRESSED MAN
“It’s not here, jefe!”
The Hornet points his pistol at Tehminah.
HORNET
“Where is my Tezcatlipoca?”
TEHMINAH
“It’s not yours. It belongs to the Nahuas.”
HORNET
“Where’s my statue!”
The Hornet points the pistol between Tehminah’s eyes. He takes the safety off.
TEHMINAH
“Probably at the bottom of the river back there where your jackal shot my boat.”
The Hornet grins.
HORNET
“Prepare to feel the Hornet’s sting! Any last requests?”
TEHMINAH
“May I say a last goodbye to my friend?”
Tehminah looks at Daisy. The Hornet backs off. He waves his gun granting permission.
HORNET
Si, si. So none shall say the Hornet is without mercy.”
Tehminah and Daisy stand. They gaze deeply into each other’s eyes. Tehminah bends Daisy back and kisses her passionately.
Distracted, the men lower their weapons in disbelief. As they kiss, Tehminah gets Daisy’s stiletto from a hidden sheath. Daisy gets Tehminah’s Bowie knife from its sheath on her back.
DAISY
(sighs)
“Far out!”
The men stand dumbfounded.
TEHMINAH
(in Spanish)
“Have I ever told you that I love you?”
DAISY
“Only if you count that weird birthday card you gave me in eighth grade.”
They leap apart. Tehminah throws the stiletto at the Hornet’s gun hand. She hits it. The Hornet drops his pistol.
Daisy holds the Bowie knife at the Handsome Impeccably Dressed Man’s throat. Tehminah grabs the gold-plated pistol.
TEHMINAH
“Dropped your stinger!”
DAISY
(in Spanish)
“Tell them to drop their guns.”
The Hornet nods rapidly ‘yes.’
HORNET
(in Spanish)
“Drop them! Drop your guns!”
The men drop their guns.
TEHMINAH
(in Spanish)
“Now. Tie each other up. All of you!”
The men tie each other up. Daisy looks at Tehminah.
DAISY
“Your aim is improving.”
Daisy kisses the Handsome Impeccably Dressed Man. He smiles.
Tehminah scowls.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“What? I appreciate a man with good taste in clothes!”
Tehminah and Daisy lock the men in the cabin.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“So where’s the statue, anyway? You got it, right?”
TEHMINAH
“Of course I’ve got it. It’s in my kayak.”
DAISY
“The one that sank back there? Perfect! Let’s get the SCUBA gear.”
TEHMINAH
“It didn’t sink. I saw it pass by after yours. My hat was caught on it.”
DAISY
“You grabbed your backpack and not the statue when that maniac was about to blow my head off!?”
TEHMINAH
“It had my Mr. Goodbars in it. I also grabbed my pistol which saved your sorry hide.”
DAISY
“Mr. Goodbars?!”
They use an open launch to go get the statue.
EXT. DOWN THE RIVER – DAY
They find Tehminah’s kayak and hat in a mangrove. Tehminah grabs her hat. Daisy looks at herself in a compact.
DAISY
“Oh dear! I look a mess!”
Tehminah nods her head indicating maybe Daisy wants to help.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“What? Me? I’m just a hired gun. And I’ve already broken a nail on this venture.”
Tehminah sighs. She gets into the water. She extracts the sack with the statue. They motor off downstream.
EXT. EMPTY DOCKS, SMALL RIVER TOWN – DAY
They get to the docks. No one in sight. They walk up the roadway towards the center of town. They pass a corral.
Tehminah sees a small boy hiding in the corral filled with livestock. She approaches. He shrinks away. She offers a
candy bar. He bites it. Smiles.
TEHMINAH
(in Spanish)
“Where is everyone?”
DAISY
“Siesta?”
The boy shakes his head. Glances at the cafe. Becomes scared.
TEHMINAH
“All in the cafe? We aren’t getting home that easy.”
Tehminah whispers in the boy’s ear. She makes a V victory/peace sign with her fingers. She points to the cafe.
He hesitates. She takes out two candy bars. He shakes his head “no.” She scowls. She offers him the whole bag. He nods, ‘yes.’
INT. SMALL CAFE OVERLOOKING THE DOCKS – DAY
Large group of people sit or stand around inside the cafe. Jurad Ghul sits at a table near a window overlooking the town square. He has a bandana around his neck from when he was almost garroted by his father. He looks through binoculars.
Wawi Ghul, sits at the bar drinking. Both are heavily armed. Jurad sees Tehminah and Daisy walk along the docks.
He nods.
Wawi picks up a walkie-talkie.
WAWI
(in Persian)
“She’s arrived.”
Wawi puts a finger to his lips as he stares menacingly at the crowd.
EXT. RIVER TOWN MAIN SQUARE – DAY
Tehminah and Daisy walk up the main square. Tehminah has the gold and the Army Issue pistols. Daisy has her rifle.
A two person helicopter descends. She raises her pistols. Daisy shakes her head.
DAISY
“Shooters in the window. Ten o’clock.”
TEHMINAH
“I suppose another kiss is out of the question.”
DAISY
“Boooo.”
They watch the helicopter land. Hamsa Ghul jumps out from the pilot’s seat.
HAMSA
“Tehminah Cruz.”
TEHMINAH
“What do you want?”
Hamsa raises his hand to keep the dust raised by the propeller blades out of his eyes. He exposes a SCORPION
TATTOO emblazoned on his forearm. Tehminah stares at the TATTOO, mesmerized. Hamsa draws a pistol and levels it at Tehminah and Daisy.
HAMSA
“The Tezcatlipoca.”
TEHMINAH
“Maman...”
EXT. COLOMBIAN RIVER TOWN – DAY
Smoke rises from the barrel of Hamsa’s pistol that he fired into the air. He holds out his other hand for the statue.
HAMSA
“The statue. Please.”
DAISY
“What is with you people? It belongs to the Nahua!”
HAMSA
“Now it belongs to the highest bidder.”
He lowers the pistol. He aims it at Daisy and Tehminah. Daisy scowls.
DAISY
“Scumbag.”
HAMSA
“Don’t be mad. It’s only business.”
Tehminah recovers from her shock at the TATTOO. She looks at the armed men.
TEHMINAH
“It’s all yours.”
Tehminah raises one hand in the air. She makes the “V” peace/victory sign with her fingers as she tosses the statue
halfway between her and Hamsa. He lunges to catch it.
DOCK URCHIN
“Yi! Yi! Yi! Yi!”
The small boy stampedes the livestock. A dust cloud and stampeding animals engulf everything. Tehminah and Daisy leap in the helicopter. They look at the controls.
TEHMINAH
“Sure you can fly this?”
DAISY
“Can’t be more difficult than your abuela’s combine. Where’s the up button?”
TEHMINAH
“You’re hopeless!”
They each flick switches. Nothing happens. Bullets STRIKE the cowling. Tehminah tromps on a pedal. The blades speed up.
DAISY
“What’s this do?”
Daisy pulls a lever by her seat. The helicopter leaps drunkenly in the air. Tehminah tries to steady the joystick.
She presses the other pedal. More yaw and pitch. They get away.
EXT. SKY ABOVE VILLAGE, SUNSET - DAY
The helicopter slips and slides drunkenly into the sunset.
TEHMINAH (O.C.)
“Stop pulling that!”
DAISY (O.C.)
“I know what I’m doing!”
TEHMINAH (O.C.)
“You never could run Abuelita’s combine!”
DAISY (O.C.)
“You going to keep that pretty gun?”
INT. HOTEL – NIGHT
Daisy sits at the bar. She wears a seductive disguise. Hamsa, Wawi, and Jurad exit the elevator. A CONCIERGE stands behind the front desk.
HAMSA
“We are checking out. Where is the limousine we ordered?”
CONCIERGE
“Si, Senor Ghul. The limousine, she has arrived.”
Hamsa carries a small black bag. Daisy looks at a brown bag at her feet. She looks heavenward.
DAISY
“Why do we always have to do this the hard way?”
Daisy takes out a small walkie-talkie.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“Plan B.”
TEHMINAH
“Plan B? What Plan B?”
DAISY
“Just sit tight.”
Daisy drops the walkie-talkie into the brown bag. She walks towards the men. She fumbles in her purse and extracts a cigarette case. She bumps into Hamsa.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“Pardoname, senor!”
Hamsa glares. He then notices Daisy’s decolletage and her tight fitting, low cut dress.
HAMSA
“Foo-senorita! It was my fault. I should have watched where I was going.”
The two younger Ghuls puff up trying to impress.
DAISY
“You’ve managed to acquire the only limousine in Bogota it seems. I was asking the kind man at the desk for one but he says yours is the only one available. Could I possibly-“
Daisy takes out a cigarette. She looks at the men. They all fumble to get their lighters. Hamsa glares at his sons. They stop. He lights her cigarette.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“Ride along with you to the airport? You see I have to pick up my employer and he always travels first class.”
HAMSA
“As do we.”
DAISY
“Only the best, right? Anyway, I mean, how was I to know all the limos would be unavailable? This wouldn’t happen in New York City.”
HAMSA
“Tut-tut. It could happen to anyone. Lucky for you, you happen to be in the company of gentlemen, miss...”
DAISY
“Oakley. Annie Oakley.”
HAMSA
“Well Miss Oakley. I am Hamsa. Hamsa Ghul. And how may I assist you this evening?”
DAISY
Well I was wondering, and I completely understand if you say no. I mean, you just met me and all. But could I possibly go with you to the airport and use this limousine to pick up my employer? I’ll pay for it and everything.”
HAMSA
“I think that could be arranged.”
Daisy puts her arm through his.
DAISY
“Oh you’ve saved my life! You noble knight!”
The limo arrives. Tehminah drives, disguised as a chauffeur.
Tehminah tries to take the black bag. Hamsa strikes her hand.
HAMSA
“Leave that one! If I had wanted it stored I would have left it with the others.”
Hamsa picks up the bag. He escorts Daisy into the limo. He nods, directing his sons to use the front seat. Tehminah
loads the trunk with their bags.
INT. LIMOUSINE, BACK SEAT - NIGHT
HAMSA
“Annie Oakley? Isn’t she a famous American?”
DAISY
Yes. She was a great shooter. My mother idolizes her. I think she married my father just for his last name. Then she named me Annie.”
She squeezes Hamsa’s thigh.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“Gee I really appreciate this. It’s my first time out of the country and I really want Mr. Barnes to think I can do this job.”
HAMSA
“One cannot let bad things happen to a damsel as pretty as you.”
Daisy pulls out the gold-plated pistol from her handbag.
DAISY
“But evil dark knights always get what they deserve! I’ll be taking that!”
Daisy takes the bag. She knocks a signal on the privacy glass.
INT. LIMOUSINE FRONT SEAT – NIGHT
Tehminah draws her pistol. She covers the sons.
INT. LIMOUSINE BACK SEAT – NIGHT
Daisy kisses Hamsa on the cheek leaving lipstick marks.
DAISY
“Don’t be sad. It’s only business. Besides, You got to sit next to a pretty girl. That must not happen to you much.”
The limo stops. She waves him out the door with the pistol.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“Now. Get out.”
Hamsa exits next to his sons. The limo drives away. Tehminah lowers the privacy glass.
TEHMINAH
“Annie Oakley. Really?”
DAISY
“C’mon! She was awesome!”
TEHMINAH
“You’re more the Calamity Jane type.”
DAISY
(indignant)
“Pfft!”
TEHMINAH
“What’s with all the kissing?”
DAISY
“You know I have a soft spot for the bad boys.”
She sits back like an Empress on her throne. Waves at Tehminah.
DAISY (CONT'D)
“Now, driver! Take me back to the Hotel. I need a drink!”
TEHMINAH
“The only thing you need is a shower.”
They drive off.
