1937 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029162/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2
LOST HORIZON
Screenplay
by Robert Riskin
based on the novel by James Hilton
Shooting Draft, 1937
Columbia Pictures
FADE IN:
Over the titles we see SUPERIMPOSED the snow-capped
mountains leading to Shangri-La.
CLOSE-UP of an impressive-looking book. The covers open
and the pages turn. The first page reads:
In these days of wars and rumors of wars - haven't you
ever dreamed of a place where there was peace and security,
where living was not a struggle but a lasting delight?
THE SECOND PAGE READS:
Of course you have. So has every man since Time began.
Always the same dream. Sometimes he calls it Utopia -
sometimes the Fountain of Youth - sometimes merely "that
little chicken farm."
THE THIRD PAGE READS:
One man had such a dream and saw it come true. He was Robert
Conway - England's "Man of the East" - soldier, diplomat,
public hero—
THE FOURTH PAGE READS:
Our story starts in the war-torn Chinese city of Baskul,
where Robert Conway has been sent to evacuate ninety white
people before they are butchered in a local revolution.
The fifth and final page reads:
Baskul - the night of March 10, 1935.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BASKUL FLYING FIELD - NIGHT
1. LONG SHOT
The field is aflare with floodlights - on one side is an
office building - on the other are hangars. The whole field
is filled with Chinese refugees running around wildly. An
Army transport is in front of the office building, motors
going.
2. REVERSE SHOT
Showing in the distance, probably several miles away, the
effect of a burning city, which is Baskul. Over the shot
we hear the steady boom-boom of gunfire. In the f.g., we
see the silhouetted figures of Chinese running away from
Baskul and toward the Camera, their personal packs on their
backs.
MED. CLOSE SHOT
Toward office building. Conway comes out of the building,
followed by a small group of white people with frightened
faces. They have to fight their way through a horde of
milling Chinese.
4. MEDIUM SHOT
As Conway and group finally reach the plane where Conway
forces the white people in. In this he is aided by his
brother, George, a young and vigorous Englishman. The pilot
sticks his head out of the cockpit.
PILOT
Conway, we can't take more than
seven!
Conway pulls a passenger out and gives the pilot a signal
to start.
CONWAY
(to passenger)
All right. I'm sorry. There will
be another plane in a minute. All
right - go on.
5. LONG SHOT
Motors roar, and the plane starts to move, scattering those
of the Chinese who were unfortunately too close to the
ship. Conway and George rush back into the office building.
INT. LARGE OFFICE ROOM
6. FULL SHOT
There are about thirty white refugees, men, women and
several children. They all lift their panicky faces to
Conway and George as they enter. A barrage of questions
are flung at them.
AD-LIB
Are there any more planes? Do you
think the bandits will come here?
Please take my wife next, Mr.
Conway!
CONWAY
Wait, wait! Everybody, wait! There
are plenty of planes coming. Now
everybody have patience. Everything
will be all right.
He crosses to a back room.
GEORGE
You have nothing to worry about.
Leave everything to my brother.
INT. RADIO ROOM
7. MEDIUM SHOT
As Conway enters to speak to operator.
RADIO OPERATOR
Yes, sir - with seven passengers
aboard.
RADIO SPEAKER
Seven passengers? Good.
CONWAY
Get me Shanghai.
OPERATOR
I'm talking to them now, sir.
CONWAY
Hello? Hello?
RADIO SPEAKER
Hello. Hello.
CONWAY
(into mike)
Conway speaking. Is Colonel Marsh
there?
COLONEL'S VOICE
Right here, Conway. Go ahead.
8. CLOSE SHOT
As Conway continues into mike.
CONWAY
Colonel, I need more planes. I've
still about twenty people to get
out. Where are those planes you
promised us?
COLONEL'S VOICE
We sent everything we could find,
Conway.
CONWAY
They better get here soon or I
can't be responsible—
9. WIDER ANGLE
As George rushes in.
GEORGE
Bob! I think I hear motors!
CONWAY
(listening - then
into mike)
Colonel, wait a minute, they may
be here now!
(to George)
Say George, get down on that field
and guide those planes in when
they get here.
GEORGE
Yes.
He starts for the door.
CONWAY
And be sure that none of the natives
get in.
GEORGE
(exiting)
Yes.
CONWAY
Hello? Colonel?
COLONEL'S VOICE
Hello, Conway. Yes?
CONWAY
Thanks - and take care of that
liver of yours.
COLONEL'S VOICE
Oh, ho - my word!
INT. OFFICE ROOM
10. FULL SHOT
As Conway enters.
CONWAY
All right, get ready everybody.
The planes are here.
The people crowd around him pleading for priority.
CONWAY
One at a time. Children first.
Where are they? Come on now, and
stand over here.
A woman pushes some children forward.
CONWAY
Where's the mother?
PRIEST
(standing nearby)
They're orphans, Mr. Conway.
CONWAY
I see. All right.
(directing people
aside - pulling
out an old lady)
Well, you come - right over here -
and you, and you—
(looking off scene)
—come on—
OLD MAN
What about us, Mr. Conway?
CONWAY
Gentlemen, please wait your turn.
11. CLOSE SHOT
A girl slouched in a corner. We meet Gloria Stone, a surly,
wan-looking prostitute.
GLORIA
You'd better take some of those
squealing men with you first. They
might faint on you. I'll wait.
CLOSE SHOT - CONWAY
Something of a smile crosses his face.
CONWAY
Just as you say!
Just then, a terrific explosion is heard in the distance.
13. FULL SHOT
All the lights go out. Everybody starts screaming.
CONWAY
(sharply)
Whoa! Don't lose your heads now -
I'll see what it is.
He dashes out.
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING
CLOSE SHOT AT DOOR
Conway rushing out, meets George coming back.
GEORGE
The power house - they've blown it
up! The planes can't land without
lights.
CONWAY
(thinking fast)
Come on! We'll burn the hangar.
That will make light for them!
He grabs a lantern and dashes off.
15. MEDIUM SHOT
As they run through the screaming mob toward the hangar.
INTERIOR HANGAR
16. FULL SHOT
It is filled with Chinese refugees clinging to their
household goods. Conway and George enter. Conway speaks to
them in Chinese, ordering them out. Some hesitate, and
they have to push the terror-stricken waiting coolies out.
When they have all left, Conway opens the spigots of several
gasoline tanks, waits for the fuel to spill on the ground,
then tosses a lantern on the fuel, igniting a blaze. At
the same moment, he and George dash for the door.
EXTERIOR FIELD
17. LONG SHOT
Conway and George rush out of hangar. When they are at a
fairly safe distance, the building bursts into flames.
DISSOLVE TO:
18. LONG SHOT
Against a background of the burning hangar, a plane is
just leaving the ground, as another one is landing.
19. MEDIUM SHOT
Of Conway, signalling.
CONWAY
All right, go ahead!
(to George)
We go on to the next plane. Bring
out any people that are left.
GEORGE
Right, Bob.
REVERSE ANGLE - LONG SHOT
Shooting toward the burning city of Baskul in the distance.
We see the bandits coming, flashing bayonets, in pursuit
of screaming refugees.
21. MED. SHOT FRONT OF OFFICE BUILDING
Conway emerges, followed by Gloria, and an American,
Barnard. CAMERA FOLLOWS THEM to the ship just as the pilot,
Fenner, is climbing down from cockpit.
CONWAY
Hello, Fenner.
FENNER
(broad grin)
Hello, Conway. Having a little
trouble?
CONWAY
You never mind me. Get this gadget
off the ground.
George is pushing off Chinese.
GEORGE
Bob, these are all that are left.
CONWAY
(to George)
Come on! Quick! This way.
MED. SHOT AT PLANE
When Conway and others approach, George helps Gloria Stone
up, while Conway faces the mob, punching at those who try
to wedge their way forward. Finally one of them manages to
get his foot on the step, and Conway pushes him violently.
CLOSE SHOT - MAN
Who staggers back and falls, sprawling. As he hits the
ground, he yells:
MAN
You can't leave me here, you
blighter.[2] I'm a British subject!
We meet Alexander P. Lovett.
24. MEDIUM SHOT
Conway looks his surprise and lifts him off the ground.
CLOSE SHOT - A CHINAMAN
Glaring off toward Conway, picks up a board and starts
toward Conway.
26. MED. CLOSE SHOT ENTRANCE TO SHIP
George emerges in time to see the Chinese lift the board
and about to clout Conway on the head. George moves quickly,
puts out his left hand, wards off the blow and with his
right he punches the Chinese, who reels out of the scene.
GEORGE
Look out, Bob!
27. MEDIUM SHOT
A shadowy figure materializes in the cockpit, and clubs
Fenner from behind. He shoves Fenner aside and takes his
place.
28. MEDIUM SHOT
Conway pushes George up and starts to mount himself. He
looks off - and what he sees startles him.
CONWAY
(yells off)
All right, Fenner! Go ahead!
29. LONG SHOT
Of what Conway sees. Several trucks loaded with bandits -
in makeshift uniforms - come tearing up the road - come to
a stop. Some fire toward plane - others are setting up
machine guns. Droves of refugees scramble to cover.
INT. PLANE
30. FULL SHOT
Already present are Barnard, an American; Gloria Stone,
the prostitute; and Lovett, whom we saw dressed as a
Chinese. Conway slams the door shut - looks off - then
cries:
CONWAY
Get down on the floor, everybody.
Go ahead, Fenner!
They all fall on their faces.
GEORGE
Fenner, let's go!
MED. CLOSE SHOT
Of the new pilot setting the controls and lifting the plane
into flight.
EXT. FIELD
32. LONG SHOT
As the plane swings around - taxies crazily - and leaves
the ground, accompanied by gunfire of the bandits.
INT. PLANE
33. FULL SHOT
The occupants are still on the floor. Conway rises and
glances out of a window, warily.
CONWAY
(mumbling)
Well, I guess we're out of range.
(to others)
Everybody all right?
There are murmurs of "Yes" - "I'm all right" - as they
raise themselves.
GEORGE
Whew! That was close.
34. MEDIUM SHOT
Conway starts for the back seat and suddenly sees Lovett.
CONWAY
Where did you come from?
LOVETT
I'm Alexander P. Lovett, sir.
CONWAY
Why aren't you registered through
our office?
GEORGE
(chiming in)
It would serve you right if you
were left behind.
LOVETT
(high-pitched voice)
How could I know that a war was
going to break out right over my
head!
(a grave injustice)
Right over my head. Oh, my word! I
tell you, those Chinese were
pouncing on me from every direction.
I had to get into these ridiculous
clothes in order to escape.
CONWAY
Where were you hiding?
LOVETT
Hiding? Oh, no. Hunting - I was in
the interior - hunting fossils.
This morning I looked up suddenly—
CONWAY
I know - and a war broke out right
over your head.
GEORGE
The next time you're in wild country
like this, keep in touch with the
British Consul.
CONWAY
Aha - very good, Freshie.[3] Very
good. You'd better put his name on
the list and make out a report
later.
He proceeds to the back seat. Barnard, the American, who
is in front of Lovett, leans over toward him.
MED. CLOSE SHOT - THE TWO
Barnard and Lovett.
BARNARD
I beg your pardon, brother. What
did you say you were hunting?
LOVETT
Fossils.
BARNARD
Fossils, huh?
LOVETT
I'm a paleontologist.
BARNARD
(blankly)
A what?
LOVETT
A paleontologist.
BARNARD
Oh, I see.
Lovett produces a small box clutched under his arm.
LOVETT
I have here a discovery that will
startle the world. It's the
vertebrae from the lumbar of a
Megatherium,[4] found in Asia.
BARNARD
Well, what do you know about that!
LOVETT
Found in Asia!
BARNARD
Uh-huh.
LOVETT
When I get home I shall probably
be knighted for it.
BARNARD
Knighted! You don't say. Do you
mind if I take a look at it?
LOVETT
(proudly)
Not at all.
He lifts the lid and Barnard peeks inside.
INSERT: OF BOX
Wrapped carefully in absorbent cotton is something that
resembles a dry chicken bone.
BACK TO SCENE:
Barnard reaches for the box, but Lovett pulls it away from
him.
BARNARD
Sorry.
LOVETT
This is the only thing I was able
to save when those heathens
surrounded me.
BARNARD
(he is allowed to
take it out and
examine it -
unimpressed)
Uh-huh.
LOVETT
You see, from this vertebrae I
shall be able to reconstruct the
entire skeleton.
BARNARD
Wait a minute, you expect to be
knighted for finding that soupbone?
LOVETT
It was the vertebrae of a
Megatherium - found in Asia.
BARNARD
Yeah, I remember. You said that
before.
LOVETT
Sir Henry Derwent was knighted,
and he never got beyond the mesozoic
era.
Barnard stares at Lovett unbelievingly.
BARNARD
Ah, poor fellow.
Lovett glares at him resentfully, and snaps the lid shut
on his box.
LOVETT
Yes, it just shows—
(taking offense)
I don't know why I'm talking to
you. I don't know you. Who are
you?
BARNARD
(turns away)
Okay, brother.
LOVETT
Don't call me brother.
BARNARD
Okay, sister.
(chuckles to himself)
No offense. No offense!
36. CLOSE SHOT - GLORIA AND BARNARD
Gloria sits slumped in her seat, looking glumly out. Barnard
glances at her curiously. Finally he makes a friendly
overture.
BARNARD
Cigarette?
Gloria turns her head, surveys Barnard coldly, and without
responding, turns back.
BARNARD
I say, will you have a cigarette?
GLORIA
No.
BARNARD
(unabashed)
Say, you're an American, aren't
you?
GLORIA
(irascibly)
Say, listen - will you go and annoy
the rest of your playmates? Let me
alone!
He shrugs his shoulders and slides back into his seat.
37. FULL SHOT
All is silent for a moment. Conway is writing on a small
pad - which he rests on an uplifted knee. George is
rummaging through a closet - rear of the cabin.
38. MED. SHOT - GEORGE AND CONWAY
Conway still writes, undisturbed. George reaches into the
closet and emerges with a bottle of whiskey. His face lights
up.
GEORGE
(holds up bottle)
Hello! Look what I found!
He crosses to Conway.
GEORGE
Just what I needed too.
CONWAY
(looks up - smiling)
You?
GEORGE
Just this once, Bob. I feel like
celebrating. Just think of it, Bob -
a cruiser sent to Shanghai just to
take you back to England. You know
what it means.
(hands him cup)
Here you are. Don't bother about
those cables now. I want you to
drink with me.
(holds his cup up)
Gentlemen, I give you Robert Conway -
England's new Foreign Secretary.
Conway watches him, amused. George gulps down his drink.
CONWAY
(after a slight
hesitation - downing
his drink)
Hurray!
GEORGE
How I'm going to bask in reflected
glory!
(dreamily)
People are going to point to me
and say, "There goes George Conway -
brother of the Foreign Secretary."
CONWAY
Don't talk nonsense. Give me the
bottle.
Conway takes the bottle from him and pours himself a second
drink.
GEORGE
That's why they're sending for
you, Bob. With all these foreign
entanglements, it was bound to
happen. They need you.
Conway, with a poured drink in hand, laughs.
GEORGE
All right, you can laugh if you
want to. But who else can they
get? Who else is there in all of
England half the fighter, half the
diplomat, who has half your
knowledge of the foreign situation?
They can't stop you now, Bob.