The Legend of El Misti

Continued...

CAMERA SHOT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF AN ON-COMING PASSENGER BUS APPROACHING THE FOUR MEN.

BUS APPROACHES. CAMERA PANS TO RIGHT. WIDENS TO SHOW ALL FOUR. 

The four men stand outside the local agency were they began their day fresh from the overnight bus ride from the east coast of Peru. The sun is shinning brightly. The dry air sets the stage of a truly epic adventure. The clock reads 1:43PM. 

KYLE

This must be the 4x4. I imagined something a bit more...4x4.

MATT

What? Never underestimate the power of a...

He leans to the right side to take a look at the manufacture of the aged and wore white multi-passenger bus. 

...umm, 1974 hot-pickle bus.

VICTOR

This is going to be awesome!

The driver hops out of the driver's side and comes over to the curb where the four stand and starts to load the hiker's bags and equipment. The owner comes out of the store and assists the driver and gives him instructions in spanish.

DRIVER

Hola. 

MATT, ZACH, VICTOR

Hola. 

KYLE

Hi.

OWNER

We wait for guide. On his way down. Just a few minutes. Not Long. 

The four sit in the bus. The bags tightly packed in front. Kyle and Zach sit in the middle seats next to the bags. Victor sits in the back with Matt as he stretches his legs out. The four relax in the van and await the guide. It's 2:02PM. 

ALL FOUR LOUNGE IN THE VAN. CAMERA SHOT FROM OUTSIDE SLIDING DOOR. 

Time passes. The clock now reads 2:34PM. The owner and the driver stand outside the store talking. The four remain in the van.

KYLE

Where not going anywhere.

ZACH

This sucks... 

Where is the guide?

 Didn't he say he was on the way down the mountain?

MATT

That's what he said. I bet he's calling one right now.

VICTOR

He'll be here.

KYLE

You're so glass half full. 

I love it...

 But I don't think we are going anywhere today. 

FOCUSED ON THE CONVERSATION OF THE OWNER AND DRIVER AND FOLLOW AS THE DRIVER APPROACHES THE VAN AND GETS IN.

The owner comes to the door of the van and speaks to the four who still sit in the van very relaxed and visibly tired and low. 

OWNER

We are going to meet the guide and pick him up on the way. 

Ok? He is on his way.

MATT

Alright.

ZACH

Are we going to have enough time to make it to the top?

OWNER

You said you were strong. You hike fast.

The four laugh but the expressions on their faces show that they know the owner's words are only half jokingly. Excitement again fills the faces as the van starts and rolls towards the volcano.

The van continues to make turn after turn through the city streets. The four pier through the van's windows looking for their destination. The van comes to a stop at an intersection. 

DRIVER

We wait for the guide.

ZACH

Again?

KYLE

We aren't going anywhere.

MATT

I am starting to believe you.

VICTOR

My glass is half empty.

The clock now reads 3:27PM and still no guide. Matt and Zach are standing outside the van looking over a brick wall that separates a school's play area from the town streets. They make faces at the staring children. Kyle stretched out in the van is falling asleep and Victor is playing with his iphone. 

DRIVER

He's here!

A small blue pickup truck pulls up behind the van and a man wearing a hat and a pair of sunglasses gets out of the passenger seat and walks towards the van. His pack is the size of the small blue pickup.

GUIDE

Hola.

He continues to speak in spanish to the driver and they pile back into the van and head towards the volcano. Conversation banters between the guide and driver in spanish. 

KYLE

Did anyone ask to see if the guide speaks english?

ZACH

I am sure he speaks a little.

KYLE

He hasn't said an english word yet.

 This is getting more interesting by the minute. 

CAMERA TURNS FROM CONVERSATION BETWEEN DRIVER AND GUIDE TO KYLE AND ZACH AND THEN FOCUSES ON MATT AS HE STARES OUT THE VAN'S WINDOW.

MATT

Domination... might have to wait a few days.

The van turns onto a dirt road and as the van makes a quick left the volcano stands alone with a bright blue sky. It's huge. The clock on the dashboard reads 3:43PM.

VICTOR

Oh, shit...

That's big. 

Victor turning from looking out the window reaches down for his water bottle. Grabbing it and then lifting it to his mouth to take a drink. He realizes his bottle is empty.

ZOOM IN ON BOTTLE AND VICTOR AS HE TURNS TO HIS VAN MATES HOLDING HIS WATER BOTTLE AS TO TELL EVERYONE THE ADVENTURE HAS BEGUN. CAMERA TURNS TO FOCUS ON THE BACK SEAT WHERE MATT AND ZACH SIT. THEY STARE AT THE BOTTLE AND THEN AT EACH OTHER. 

Kyle grabs his water bottle from his bag. He holds it and turns to the three others then to Victor. 

KYLE

Quick! Fill it up!

to be continued...