Serpent (2017) Movie Script

1
[ELECTRICITY CRACKLING]
[SOFT RUSTLING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[PHONE RINGS]
[RUSTLING CONTINUES]
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
[ELEVATOR DOORS SLIDE OPEN]
[MECHANICAL GRINDING]
[PHONE CONTINUES RINGING]
[ELEVATOR CHIMES]
[RUSTLING CONTINUES]
[ELEVATOR BEEPS]
[ELEVATOR CHIMES]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
[SOFT RUSTLING]
WOMAN [OVER RECORDING]:
You have four new messages.
First message...
MAN: I'm in our usual room,
504, so...
[PHONE BEEPS]
WOMAN:
Message deleted.
Next message...
MAN:
Don't do this.
- [BEEPS]
- WOMAN: Message deleted.
- Next message.
- MAN: Voice mail again.
I can do this all weekend.
You know I...
- [PHONE BEEPS]
- WOMAN: Message deleted.
Next message.
MAN 2:
Hey, uh, it's me.
Um, yeah, dinner's on the go.
Uh, look forward
to seeing you at home.
Okay. Love you. Bye.
[BEEPS]
[PHONE RINGS]
[BEEPS]
[SOFT RUSTLING]
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO]
MAN:
Hello, you.
Can't decide what to wear.
That's just the fallout.
WOMAN: It'll be like
you never left.
How's the real world?
Mm. Just want
to shower it all off.
- Guess what.
- What?
We got the grant.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
Dr. Kealey.
It will mean
more time away.
[PHONE CHIMES]
God, we had this ridiculous
team-building exercise today,
- but I...
- [SIZZLING]
What are you burning?
Oh, shit.
Okay.
WOMAN: I thought this was
a recipe book.
You should see
this place, hmm?
Full of all
the creepy-crawly nature stuff?
No, thank you.
No phone reception,
for a start.
That sounds awful.
How long till we eat?
Mm...
Oh, Adam, gross.
Not by the food.
Lookit...
I know that this
has been hard on us.
Yeah, but...
we're almost out
on the other side, 'kay?
I am proud of you.
What you do matters.
It's real.
No, you do not leave
that stove.
I'm starving.
[PHONE RINGS]
Hello.
MAN: So I have to call
from another number
- just to get to...
- [PHONE BEEPS]
[CLOSES DOOR]
[PANTING]
[PHONE CHIMES]
[PHONE CHIMES]
- [SIZZLING]
- [UTENSIL CLATTERS]
Take me with you...
just you and me.
What's going on?
Pete and I have been
working on this for months.
It's a big deal.
When I get back,
you know, we'll...
We'll...
We'll go away.
Please. Come on.
This isn't the kind of trip
- you can just...
- Don't!
Take me.
Take me to this world
you've been hiding.
ADAM:
Pete.
You know I'd never...
Ah, shit.
Need to talk
about this trip.
Something's come up.
You bet. Are you driving?
No, you better come down.
- [PHONE RINGS]
- Yeah, now's good.
Sorry. Sorry.
Hang on a second, Pete.
- [PHONE RINGS]
- Shannon.
Look, I don't
really think that...
One second.
Sorry.
Where were we?
- Hi, Shan.
- SHANNON: Hi.
We're on for Saturday,
right?
[SIGHS]
Have you forgotten?
The dress.
Hey, if Adam's going
in the morning,
why don't you stay
with me for the weekend?
Forget it. You seem...
Shannon, sorry.
I'm going with Adam.
You know, I'll call you later.
Promise.
[PHONE BEEPS]
Why have you never
given them to me?
I don't know.
Won't the firm
fall apart without you?
It's quite a leap...
this...
going from boycotting
anything to do
with shoes like these to...
Well, to where
we're headed.
It's isolated.
WOMAN:
And I know.
I want to be
part of this.
Well, that's our lead,
Scarabaeoidea Coleoptera.
Some locals
stumbled across it,
and if it is
a whole new species,
then we're gonna have
to move fast to protect it.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Hello.
It's Pete.
I'm gonna need to deal
with this face to face.
- You wait for me.
- Yeah.
We'll eat together.
ADAM: Last chance
to go girly on me.
No going back from here.
WOMAN:
He says in reverse.
Here.
- What's this?
- Watertight and shockproof
- for the urban addict.
- Aw, he loves me.
Yeah, he knows you.
- It's cute. I like it.
- In nature,
that color is an alarm,
means, "Leave me the fuck alone.
I'm poisonous."
So, do we, like, have a matching
pair or something?
No.
No, I've, uh,
got a spare phone in my bag.
You know, if it wasn't for
this tiny, little stag beetle,
we wouldn't even
be allowed in there.
Come on!
There's a lot
riding on this, you know?
But they are there.
I'm sure of it.
I like that,
something flourishing,
despite us.
[CAR HORNS HONKING]
Not feeling well?
Roll the window down.
Get yourself some air.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER,
TRAFFIC NOISE INCREASES]
Hey, babe, I just really suck
at being a passenger.
Do you mind
if I drive?
I'll get the med bag
for you,
see if we got
anything in there, eh?
I'll be fine if...
If you're
not behind the wheel.
Thanks.
[CAR HORN HONKS]
You might be in luck.
That looks serious.
Yeah. Pete's brother
brought her back from Baghdad.
She comes on every trip.
It's our lucky bag.
She?
Matilda.
[CHUCKLES]
Right.
Tape, bandages,
sterile, atropine.
What's that?
Huh?
That is our comedown
in case of chemical warfare,
but we keep it
in case of a snakebite.
Or we could take it
and watch the stars.
I'll be keeping that
away from you, then.
Anyway, there's only
enough for one of us.
Mm, doesn't look
like we've got anything.
So who would get
to take it, then?
Oh, me of course.
See the sign
for Suicide Gorge?
- Yeah.
- Follow that sign.
Are you serious?
ADAM: It's only gonna be found
here in the gorge.
Their ecosystem
is that small.
[TURNS OFF ENGINE]
[INSECTS DRONING]
[SIGHS]
Thank you.
I don't like
what I did to Pete.
I like
what you did for us.
[EXHALES]
Thanks.
It's already so hot.
Yeah.
ADAM:
All right...
shouldn't take any longer than
a couple of hours
to hike
up to the summit.
We descend
from there.
Don't we need more stuff?
There's a research hut
on the other side of the gorge.
It's got supplies in it.
You got Nemo?
- Huh?
- Your phone.
He hasn't got long left,
just patches
of reception.
He's not the only fish
out of water.
Okay.
You gonna walk
this slowly the whole way?
Couldn't you find a bug
in, like, the Bahamas?
ADAM:
'Cause of the heat,
they spend
most of their lives underground,
come up
for three weeks a year.
You know,
when I find it,
I'm gonna name it
after you.
Who?
Scarabaeoidea.
The whole reason
that we're...
Never mind.
It all kinda looks
the same.
I find it frightening.
Right.
The smaller stone...
in the direction of home...
and there you go.
[PHONE CHIMES]
You can always
turn it off.
[WATER RUNNING]
All right.
Here we are.
Ah, we'll climb
straight down from here.
[GRUNTS]
Okay.
Gwynn.
Look.
It's a baboon spider.
GWYNN:
It's creepy beautiful.
- Does he bite?
- No.
- Okay.
- This one's got tiny jaws.
Hold him?
This one actually looks like
he's been stung by a wasp.
That's why
he's so docile.
A wasp will probably be digging
around here somewhere.
She'll bury him alive.
Why?
Mm, keep him fresh
for her eggs,
which she's already
laid inside of him.
Isn't there
anything we can do?
It's already done.
No, let me go first.
ADAM:
Just watch your step.
The snakes are out
this time of year.
- That's comforting.
- Don't worry about it.
The birds'll let you know
if you get too close.
Butcherbird makes
a hell of a noise.
Wow.
GWYNN:
Look at this place.
It's magical.
Worth it, right?
How did you find it?
I don't know.
It's just...
perk of the trade,
I guess.
Right.
We should keep moving.
This is
no place to camp.
The sun will hit early.
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm done.
I am in love
with this place.
[WATER DRIPPING]
[BIRDS SHRIEKING]
[SHRIEKING FADES]
- [INSECTS CHIRPING]
- [METAL SCRAPES]
[METAL SCRAPES]
[BIRDS SQUAWKING]
You hungry?
Thank you.
Camp out here.
The wine'll
make up for it.
I know this.
Italy.
Remember?
Under the olive trees.
How did you find it?
Oh, might have hidden one away
for a special occasion.
What took you
so long to get here?
I'm here.
Okay...
[INSECTS CHIRPING,
BIRDCALLS CONTINUE]
[]
[SOFT RUSTLING]
[SOFT RUSTLING]
[SOFT RUSTLING]
[RUSTLING FADES]
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[ZIPPER UNZIPS]
[BIRDS WARBLING]
[SHRIEKING]
[BIRD SHRIEKING]
[SHRIEKING FADES]
[SOFT SCRAPING]
[SOFT SCRAPING]
[]
[SCRAPING STOPS]
[WHISPERING]
Gwynn.
[FABRIC RUSTLES]
[FABRIC RUSTLES]
Gwynn.
[FABRIC RUSTLES]
[IN NORMAL VOICE]
Gwynn.
There's something
in the tent.
[FABRIC RUSTLING]
Don't move.
- Yeah...
- Don't...
move.
[ADAM EXHALES]
[SHUDDERING]
Where is it?
[HISSES]
- [HISSES]
- ADAM: Christ.
What is it?
A black mamba.
Get it out.
- Gwynneth.
- [HISSES]
Don't move.
[RUSTLING]
If it bites, we've got
20 minutes to get help.
Gwynneth,
you have to calm down.
[GWYNN PANTING]
If we're calm,
it's calm.
You have to calm
your breathing. Okay?
And then what?
[PANTING]
Adam.
Look, if we're
gonna get out...
If?
we can't get bitten.
Kill it.
Your knife.
It's outside.
I fell asleep.
What else can we do?
Did you let it in?
There has to be something.
You don't just take on
a fucking black mamba
with your bare hands,
do you?
We can't just lie here,
either.
Do something.
[HISSES]
Oh, God.
We need to get it
away from the door.
The sleeping bag,
we can use it
as a shield.
But you
will have to move.
[GASPS]
Yes, you can.
Ready?
Slowly.
Easy.
Don't.
Slowly.
[GWYNN GASPS]
You okay?
You all right?
- [GRUNTS]
- You're all right.
Wait.
Stop.
[GWYNN GRUNTS]
Can you see it?
[GWYNN WINCES]
[PANTING]
It's going
to touch you.
[GWYNN GRUNTS]
[GASPING]
My leg.
It's all right.
Shh. Look at me.
I need you
to stay with me.
- [SOBS]
- Stay with me.
[GASPING]
ADAM:
Come on.
It might draw him off you.
[ADAM BREATHING DEEPLY]
ADAM:
Look at me.
I can't.
Gwynneth,
if it hits my heart,
I've got
five minutes.
Look at me.
You need
to get yourself out.
No.
I always wanted you
out here, you know?
Don't say that.
I could grab its neck...
hold it down.
It'd give you a chance.
Then what?
Suck out the venom?
Tourniquet?
Just old wives' tales.
[SNIFFLES]
No.
We won't.
[SIGHS]
You... We can't die here.
[EXHALES]
Can you reach it?
Careful.
[GASPS]
Don't.
ADAM:
Don't do anything stupid.
ADAM:
You're gonna kill us both.
Cut a hole
in the side of the tent
big enough for it to get out.
That's all it wants.
Where is it?
[SHUDDERS]
GWYNN: Is she sleeping,
or is she dead?
Is this really
what life wanted for us?
I don't know.
You have to.
You always have to
know what you want.
Life isn't all about
how you die.
[FABRIC RUSTLING]
[HISSES]
Oh, Jesus.
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[GASPS]
Do it.
You know, in the heat,
it'll be game over.
[HISSES]
ADAM:
Do it.
[HISSES]
[FABRIC RUSTLING]
[HISSES]
[GWYNN GASPS]
[HISSES]
[PANTING]
Pierce it.
Don't stab it.
Can't.
[PANTING]
Please.
Please, please.
Get it...
off me.
Sorry.
Could you just
please get it off?
[PANTING]
Please.
Please just
get it off me.
Take its power away,
hmm?
You turn it into
whatever works for you,
like with the spider.
Fucking hate spiders.
Then why are
you here, then?
I'm pregnant.
Adam.
How long
have you known?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
Adam.
ADAM: Ah, there's gotta be
something I'm missing.
Matilda.
The atropine.
It might buy us
some time...
...if I get bitten.
GWYNN:
I don't see the bag.
[PHONE BEEPS]
Did you leave it
in the car?
Pete said it must be something
big to get you out here.
Stop messing
with my phone.
How long have you known?
Could you stop
playing with my phone?
- Adam, where's...
- The bag.
[FAINT VOICES OVERLAPPING]
Where is it?!
[ADAM CHUCKLING]
"Where's the bag,
Adam?"
Adam, where's the bag?
[ECHOING]
Where did you put the bag?
Adam...
the bag.
42 degrees.
I told you
the sun'd hit.
GWYNN:
The bag, Adam.
[FAINT, ECHOING]
The bag.
Not knowing...
eats at you.
Rip it.
GWYNN:
That beetle...
does it exist
as a result of us...
or has it
always been here?
[]
[HEART BEATING]
[FLIES BUZZING]
[FLUTTERING EYELIDS ECHOING]
[FLICKING TONGUE ECHOING]
[ECHOING CONTINUES]
Adam.
Will someone come?
ADAM:
No.
Pete'll be at
the research hut in two days.
[PHONE BEEPS]
GWYNN:
He's coming?
Yeah.
ADAM:
It's two days too late.
When were you gonna
tell me he's coming?
We could gas it.
There is a small chance that
it would go down before we do.
[HISSING]
Gas sinks,
so if our heads
are higher than...
Gwynn.
I'm gonna try
and edge around him.
If not,
you get out,
and go for the bag.
Think it's at the top.
You'll have to climb.
No way back, remember?
There's always a way.
You'll find it.
No.
I want you to go.
Call for help.
Get the atropine.
If not,
you just keep going.
You can't do this.
You'll both live.
[EXHALES]
- GWYNN: Wait.
- [HISSES]
Don't.
[HISSING]
[HISSING]
[FAINT, ECHOING]
No. No.
Don't. Don't. Don't.
- I don't want...
- [HISSES]
I don't want this.
I don't want it.
[GWYNN SOBS]
What did you do?
It's not my baby,
is it?
[HISSES]
[BOTH PANTING]
I don't know.
"I don't know."
Where's my wife?
[PANTING]
[GAGGING]
[COUGHS]
[GAS HISSING]
[COUGHS]
[GRUNTING]
[COUGHING]
[GAS HISSING]
- [GASPING]
- [CHILD LAUGHING]
[STIFLED YELPING]
[GRUNTS]
[HISSES]
- [GRUNTS]
- [HISSES]
[GAGS]
[WAILS]
- [GRUNTS]
- [COUGHING]
[ADAM GRUNTING]
[GAS HISSING]
- [GWYNN GASPING]
- [ADAM GRUNTING]
[YELLING]
Fuck!
[COUGHING]
[GAS HISSING]
[COUGHS]
[GASPING]
It was always you.
It's slowing down.
Let's go for
the sleeping bag.
ADAM:
Go.
- Hold it!
- Oh, fuck.
- [GASPS] Shit!
- Ohh.
- [GRUNTING]
- Adam!
Okay! Okay!
[PANTING]
We need to cut
our way out.
Where's
the phone casing?
Whoever gets bitten
must stay calm.
You elevate the bite.
You try not to get bitten again.
The other one
goes for the bag.
I'm the better runner.
Isn't that the truth.
What the fuck
does he have that I don't?
Please just hold it!
I mean, would he do this?
Would he die for you?
I don't know.
Would he try to kill me?
Look at me.
Ah, clearly we both
deserve this, but what?
I mean, I die so you can
just run back into his arms?
It's not like that.
What is it like, exactly?
Pete was right.
This is our baby.
No.
This is our baby.
No, this isn't some mind game
you can just screw me with.
Nobody has to know.
I know.
I know.
I knew I would break us.
It was my fault.
Look at you.
Does that
make me weak?
Ah, fuck this.
All right.
I'm gonna shove
the little fucker in the corner.
When I give the word,
you open the door
and stay tucked up
on the far side.
I'll close the bag around it
and throw it out.
Once it's out, it won't want
anything to do with us.
Only then, you move.
If I get bitten...
will you
please come back?
[HISSING]
[HISSING ECHOES]
[YELLING]
- Die!
- Gwynn!
Gwynn!
No!
- [HISSING]
- Gwynn!
ADAM:
Oh, God.
[YELLS]
[ADAM GRUNTING]
[ADAM GRUNTS]
Keep your arm up!
Okay, I'm coming back!
[FABRIC RIPPING]
Please help me.
[HISSING]
[ROCKS CLATTER]
[GASPING]
Shit.
[YELLS]
[YELLS]
[GASPING]
[YELLS]
[MUFFLED GRUNTING]
[]
[GASPING]
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[PANTING]
[GRUNTING]
[PANTING]
[BIRD SHRIEKING]
[GRUNTING]
[PANTING]
[BIRD SHRIEKING]
[SOFT RUSTLING]
What?
It's you.
[GASPS]
[GASPING]
[GRUNTING]
Damn!
Ahh! Fuck!
[SOBBING]
[GASPS]
[GASPING]
[SCRAPING]
[WATER SPLASHING]
[WATER SPLASHING]
[PANTING]
Please.
[SCRAPING]
[ADAM GASPING]
[WATER SPLASHING]
[GROANS]
[GASPING]
Please.
[GASPING]
[YELPS]
[GASPING]
[SPITS]
[COUGHS]
[SPITS]
[GWYNN PANTING]
[PANTING]
[HEART BEATING]
Come on.
Come on.
Come on. Come on.
God.
Come on.
[BEEPING]
[GASPING]
[BABY CRYING]
[CRYING CONTINUES]
[CRIES]
[GURGLES]
[BABY CRYING WEAKLY]
[DISTORTED CRYING]
[HISSES]
[HISSING]
[GWYNN CRYING]
[SPLASHING]
[DISTORTED BABY CRYING]
[CRYING STOPS]
[SPLASHING]
[PANTING]
[CRYING]
No.
[SOBBING]
[WATER DRIPPING]
No. No!
No!
You can't...
die for me.
You take care
of him for me.
Promise me.
[GROANS]
Don't die for me!
No.
No.
[BIRDS SHRIEKING]
No. No.
[SOBBING]
[INSECTS DRONING]
[STEADY THRUMMING]
[HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD]
[HELICOPTER FADES]
[]