The Legend of El Misti

The Legend of El Misti

By Kaili Purviance

FADE IN.

EXT SMALL LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN A SMALL PERUVIAN TOWN 

Four foreign travels stand with gear on their backs and tired from a long overnight bus trip looking at advertisements of local hiking trips in the area. Conversation banter between them about their fatigue.

MATT HANSON rests this hands on his hips looking up at the local agency's banners trying to translate the writing. 

KYLE JACKSON currently on one knee tying his shoe glancing down the streets taking in the surroundings. 

TWIN BROTHERS, ZACH AND VICTOR MADISON, are flipping through a travel guild researching about their local surroundings and scoping out their next move.

The four together step into the small local agency and begin conversation with the local business owner. The twins take the lead as they are the most versed in the foreign language. 

ZACH

Hola! Do you have any day hikes in the area this morning?

VICTOR

The canyons or the volcano? We only have today.

OWNER

Si. 

The four, with their tired smiles, are happy that one thing seems to be easy and effortless. After an overnight bus ride with a overflowing bathroom, they welcome the thought of an easy sell.

FLASH BACK TO OVERNIGHT BUS TRIP.

VICTOR LEANING BACK IN HIS BUS SEAT, MATT LEANING AGAINST THE WINDOW. BOTH MOVING AROUND TO FIND A COMFORTABLE POSITION. BATHROOM JUST TO THEIR LEFT, THE DOOR CRACKS OPEN AFTER EVERY SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE BUS. 

AIR FRESHENER IS SPRAYED TO MASK THE SMELL BUT ONLY SEEMS TO MAKE IT WORSE AS THE FACES OF THE FOUR OUR OBVIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THEIR GROTESQUE ENVIRONMENT. 

FORWARD TO PRESENT. SMILES ALL AROUND.

ZACH

Great! Which one can we go on?

OWNER

You leave tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock am. Meet you here. Take you to the volcano.

MATT

We only have today! Can we leave today? Anything right now?

The four can see the confusion on the owner's face and the smiles that once lit their faces have disappeared. There shoulders begin to slouch and the fatigue finds it's way back to their faces. 

KYLE

Yeah. Can we leave right now? 

OWNER

No. Nothing until tomorrow. Last group left at 9 o'clock am.

Knowing that they can not just sit around an do nothing. MATT had mentioned before that "we came here to dominate!" They continued to talk with the owner and try and persuade him to create another trip.

MATT

We're very strong. We can catch the early group! We just need a ride to the volcano. 

The brilliance of Kyle shows as he flexes and points to his biceps. It gets a laugh from the twins knowing that his spanish vocabulary is very limited. 

Zach leans to his brother and whispers that we will pay more if we have to. Matt overhears them and offers the owner more money.

MATT

How much for the trip? 

OWNER

40 US Dollars! Tomorrow. 

MATT

We will pay you 50 US dollars each if we can go today. Right now! Can you call another guide?

OWNER

Ok. One moment. 

Excited by the offer on the table the owner doesn't hesitate to run over to the pay phone and make a call. 

PAN BACK TO FOUR TOURISTS. THEY CONVERSE AND ROAM THE TRAVEL SHOP LOOKING AT HANGING PICTURES OF TOURS AND PACKAGES. 

THE OWNER SPEAKS INTO THE PHONE AND CONVERSES WITH WHOMEVER IS ON THE OTHER LINE. 

The conversation between the owner and the other person on the phone ends with a quick "si" "si" and then the owner hangs up the phone and walks towards the wondering four. 

CAMERA BACK TO THE FOUR AS THE OWNER WALKS BACK TO THEM IN A QUICK MANNER. 

OWNER

I have a guide at 1:30pm. Pick you up here and take you to the EL MISTI VOLCANO. Do you have tent or sleeping bag?

MATT

Ok but we don't have any gear. Can we rent?

ZACH

So we can leave today and come back tomorrow?

OWNER

Si. Pick up here at 1:30pm. Hike and camp today. Come back tomorrow early.

Victor

Alright! Lets do it!

The excitement fills the small one room agency. Victor high-fives Matt. Matt high-fives Zach. Kyle has made his way outside the small shop and into the street dancing around like the tourist he is. The owner gives the details to the remaining three.

CAMERA FOLLOWS KYLE TO STREET AND THEN PAN BACK TO GROUP LISTENING TO DIRECTIONS.

OWNER

Four sleeping bags. Two tents. Four sleeping mats. You carry. 

VICTOR

Ok. Quanto?

OWNER

50 U.S. Dollars. Each.

ZACH

Great! We'll do it! 

The four start to count their money. Each pulling money out of pockets, shoes, bags and any other places that might have been a stashing spot through their travels. 

PAN SHOT ALONG WALLS OF TRAVEL AGENCY. HANGING PICTURES OF PAST TRAVELERS AND ROUTES OF MULTI-DAY HIKES FINALLY FOCUSING ON THE HIKE OF EL MISTI.

to be continued...