diff --git "a/unformated_scripts/Script_Eight Legged Freaks.txt" "b/unformated_scripts/Script_Eight Legged Freaks.txt" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/unformated_scripts/Script_Eight Legged Freaks.txt" @@ -0,0 +1 @@ + ARAC ATTACK (Eight Legged Freaks) byJesse Alexander & Ellory Elkayem July 2000 Draft FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY ARAC ATTACK!FADE IN:EXT. DESERT - NIGHTA rabbit hops across rough terrain.EXT. HIGHWAY (DESERT) - NIGHTThree trucks from Chemical Technologies carry barrels oftoxic waste. They pass a sign: PROSPERITY, NEVADA, POP454.INT. THIRD TRUCK (HIGHWAY, DESERT) - NIGHTA sleepy trucker called PIG PEN drives the third truck. SELF-HELP TAPE (V.O.) I will be self-assured and confident around women. PIG PEN I will be self-assured and confident around women.EXT. HIGHWAY (DESERT) - NIGHTThe rabbit stops at the edge of the road. The firsttruck speeds past. Then the second. The rabbit crossesthe highway in front of the third.INT. THIRD TRUCK (HIGHWAY, DESERT) - NIGHT SELF-HELP TAPE (V.O.) I will not fear the unexpected. PIG PEN I will not fear the unexpected.The rabbit appears in the road, frozen by headlights. PIG PEN Ahhhhhhhhhh!Pig Pen jams on his brakes and swerves to avoid thebunny.EXT. HIGHWAY (DESERT) - NIGHTThe truck slews crazily. Missing the bunny by a whisker. 2.INT. THIRD TRUCK (BRIDGE, DESERT) - NIGHTPig Pen sees a bridge ahead. If he doesn't regaincontrol, he will crash. At the last second, he gets therig together.EXT. BRIDGE (DESERT) - THIRD TRUCK - NIGHTThe rim of a wheel tags the curb. One of those toxicwaste barrels falls out of the back and plunges to thewater below.EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH - NIGHTA biohazard warning label is legible as the barrel slipsbeneath the surface. Glowing toxic waste seeps from agash in its side. Spreading through the pool like neonink.EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH - DAYThe ditch is littered with garbage. The DRONE ofINSECTS. No visible traces of toxic waste. A butterflynet sweeps through the air to capture an oversizedhorsefly.JOSHUA TAFT (70s), scrutinizes the bug. This old codgeris more comfortable studying bugs than socializing withpeople. JOSHUA Hey, Mike. Check this one out.MIKE PALMER (12) steps over for a look. Puberty hit hardand fast for this bright, little nerd. MIKE He's huge! JOSHUA They've been like this all week. Must be something extra tasty in the water. MIKE Like what? JOSHUA Dead coyote. Snake maybe. Back in the 'Nam we'd eat python with a dash of habanero sauce. Mighty satisfying. (CONTINUED) 3.CONTINUED: MIKE You ate snake? JOSHUA When you're thirty klicks out from the nearest firebase. Humpin' through the wake-up with your finger on the trigger. Charlie doesn't give you time to stop for cutlet.As Mike skims his own net over the water, he glimpses afamiliar barrel at the bottom of the pool. The brightly-colored biohazard warning label is clearly visible.EXT. ROAD - JOSHUA'S HOUSE - DAYTwo bicycles are parked outside a cabin in the middle ofnowhere.INT. JOSHUA'S HOUSE - DAYThe decor is an odd mix of Vietnam era war relics andhomegrown scientist. Charlie the Parrot sits on a perch. CHARLIE (V.O.) Charlie, don't surf! JOSHUA Quiet, bird. We're working.Mike and Joshua stand near the spider tanks. A dozenaquariums on low shelves. Each glass tank replicates aspecific environment: jungle, desert, cavern, pond, etc. JOSHUA (dims tank lights) The sun is going down, my nocturnal hunters. It's time to come out and feed.Mike watches Joshua deposit bugs into each spider tank. MIKE Yeah. They're definitely getting bigger. JOSHUA I've calculated a growth factor of twelve percent over the last forty-eight hours. But that seems to be accelerating. (CONTINUED) 4.CONTINUED: MIKE All from eating these bugs? Maybe I should try some.Mike pauses at the desert tank, watching a cricket searchfor food. A trap-door spider pops out of its camouflagedden like a jack-in-the-box. The arachnid yanks thecricket below and replaces the roof in a nanosecond.Mike looks in another tank where ogre-eyed spittingspiders shoot blasts of paralyzing goo at haplessinsects. MIKE Run, little guys. JOSHUA They can't outrun the food chain. MIKE I could get away. JOSHUA Imagine yourself the size of that fly. A scytodes spitter would be as big as a Cadillac. You'd be spider chow, kid.Mike looks in a tank where jumpers chase fleeingcrickets. He moves toward another tank that is coveredwith a towel. MIKE Are the new tarantulas in here? JOSHUA Took me forever to get a breeding set of Chilean reds. I must have bribed every customs agent from Vegas to Santiago.Joshua unveils the tank. Dirt floor. Several burrowentrances. Joshua pours in the bugs. A large, maletarantula comes out of a burrow. It pounces on a bug,then wraps its prey in webbing, turning the insect into amummy-like bundle. MIKE That is too cool. JOSHUA Male tarantulas compete for the female's attention. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 5.CONTINUED: JOSHUA (CONT'D) Each one tries to bring her the best present. Bugs, rats, even the occasional parrot.CHARLIE SQUAWKS. JOSHUA The prey is cocooned alive so she can eat them in her nest. You know how women love breakfast in bed.Joshua leads Mike to the back of the tank. A network ofsubterranean tunnels is revealed. The male tarantulasscuttle through carrying their mummified offerings. JOSHUA Take a look, the female of the species is three times as big as the male.Mike peers into a large den. The female tarantula stepsout of the shadows. This is Consuela, the Chilean redtarantula. JOSHUA Say hello to Consuela.Mike watches Consuela unwrap one of the mummifiedbundles. She begins to eat the paralyzed insect within. JOSHUA She fills her prey with digestive acid to liquify the internal organs. Now watch... She'll drink her victim from the inside out. While it's still alive! MIKE (looks queasy) And you wonder why my mom doesn't like me hanging out with you. JOSHUA Arachnids have been roaming the earth for millions of years. And they'll be here long after the human race is dead and buried.Suddenly Consuela lunges at the glass. Mike recoils. MIKE Bad! Bad Consuela!Consuela backs up, apparently she can be intimidated. 6.TARANTULA POV - MIKEThe multi-eyed spider's PANORAMIC VISION. Mike loomslarge at the edge of the glass, wagging his finger.BACK TO MIKEMike stares into the many eyes of Consuela. MIKE Do that again and I feed you to the parrot.CHARLIE SQUAWKS hungrily. The sound of a CAR HORN. JOSHUA There's your mom. MIKE See you tomorrow, Joshua!Mike heads for the door.EXT. DESERT - DAYThe entrance to a mine shaft protrudes from a hillside.A pickup truck is parked nearby. The faded logo on thedoor reads: McCORMICK AND SON MINING COMPANY,PROSPERITY, NV.INT. MINE SHAFT - DAYRotten beams. Chipped walls. A GENERATOR POWERS astring of lightbulbs. A lone figure works at the end ofthe tunnel.CHRIS McCORMICK (30s) has rugged good looks. Weatheredclothing. Dirt-stained face. Ripped muscles.Chris chips at the wall with his pickaxe. As it makescontact, the occasional spark flies up. Chris pauses toscrutinize the target area with his helmet-light.Something sneaks along the floor of the mine behind him.Chris is oblivious to his unseen stalker. He chips awaya section of stone to reveal shiny minerals. Reflectionsof silver and gold splash across his face. His smilefades... CHRIS Damn. (CONTINUED) 7.CONTINUED:Chris bends over, reaching for a bottle of water. Alarge rat scurries out of hiding dragging away Chris'ssack lunch.Chris grabs his pick-axe and goes after the rat. Therodent dodges every hit. Sparks fly when the axe strikesrock. These ignite a vent of methane gas.A BRIEF EXPLOSION knocks Chris off his feet. He noticesa small hole in the floor is lit like the burner on astove. Chris pats out the flame as the rat scurries awaywith lunch. CHRIS Hope you like bologna!EXT. HIGHWAY - DAYA police car drives with a bicycle hanging out of thetrunk.INT. POLICE CAR (HIGHWAY) - DAYSAMANTHA "SAM" PALMER (30s) is the sheriff of Prosperityand a confident, single mother. Mike is seated besideher. MIKE You should see them, Mom. Each one has a unique feeding behavior. The spitters fire poisonous snot. The tarantulas mummify their prey. The jumpers can... SAM Why does he have all those things? MIKE He studies them. NASA uses spider webs in outer space. And for medicine. They've been here forever, and they'll be here long after we're all dead. SAM You're givin' me nightmares. MIKE Nightmares are cool. (CONTINUED) 8.CONTINUED: SAM U.P.S. brought this to the station.Sam hands Mike a small package. MIKE It's from Dad! He didn't forget my birthday. I told you he wouldn't. SAM Better late than never.Mike tears open the box to reveal a Cassiopeia PDA. MIKE Rockin'! SAM Is that the one you wanted? MIKE Cassiopeia 2304 with 64 megs of ram. Integrated modem. Voice recording capability. This baby is tight.Mike can't turn on the gizmo. SAM What's wrong? MIKE He forgot to send the batteries. SAM (annoyed) I told him to send batteries.EXT. DESERT - DAYThe ROAR of two off-road MOTORCYCLES tearing up thedesert.BRET HALE (18) leads the way. A Kid Rock-punk with goodlooks and FU attitude. Seated behind him is ASHLEYPALMER (16). This milk-fed desert honey is a wannabeBritney Spears. LARRY (17) is the wiseacre on the otherbike. BRET Hang on, babydoll! (CONTINUED) 9.CONTINUED:They GUN their BIKES onto the highway. Slalom the yellowlines. Wheelie for days. Ashley peeks over Bret'sshoulder at a police car coming at them in the oppositelane. ASHLEY Oh shit.INT. POLICE CAR (HIGHWAY) - DAYSheriff Sam watches intently as the bikes wheelie past. SAM Hang on. MIKE Why?EXT. HIGHWAY (DESERT) - DAYThe police car does an impressive bootlegger 180. Lightsablaze. SIREN WAILING. The bikes pull over to theshoulder.EXT. SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY (DESERT) - DAYThe motorcycles stop with the cop car behind. Sam'svoice barks over the PA. SAM (V.O.) Party's over, gentlemen. Off the bikes.Sam exits the car and approaches. The bikers dismount. BRET There is something very sexy about an older woman in uniform. LARRY Her nine-millimeter gives me a stiffy. ASHLEY Don't antagonize her, you guys. SAM I told you not to act like kamikazes. Especially with Ashley riding behind. That is unacceptable, Bret. (CONTINUED) 10.CONTINUED: BRET I could always ride her from behind.Larry snickers. Sam steels her rage. SAM You just bought yourself a reckless.Sam begins to write up the ticket. ASHLEY Can't you give 'em a break? SAM Get in the car, Ashley. Now. ASHLEY But, Mom!Sam shoots his daughter an intimidating glance. BRET No sweat, babydoll. We'll hook up later. SAM (threatening) Over my dead body.INT. SAM'S COP CAR (HIGHWAY) - DAYMike grins from the front seat as Ashley climbs in back. MIKE You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used... ASHLEY Shut up, dork.EXT. SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY - DAYSam hands Bret the ticket. BRET Larry, do we know anybody at City Hall who can mark this go away? (CONTINUED) 11.CONTINUED: LARRY Your Dad is the Mayor. BRET Oh, yeah. (to Sam) He signs your paycheck. SAM The next time you put my daughter's life in danger, I'll show you exactly how little that means to me.Bret and Larry feel her resolve. BRET Relax, bee-otch. It's all good.The punks remount their bikes. SAM I want both wheels on the ground.The punks REV their BIKES and defiantly wheelie towardtown.INT. POLICE CAR - DAYSam climbs behind the wheel. MIKE I read her her rights. SAM I can always count on you, Mike.Sam STARTS the CAR and drives toward town. ASHLEY Do you get off on humiliating me? SAM This bad girl act doesn't suit you, Ash. ASHLEY I'm just trying to have fun. Don't you remember what it's like to grow up here? SAM That's what scares me. (CONTINUED) 12.CONTINUED:Sam reaches over and opens the glove box. She pulls outa stun gun. Mike passes it through the bars to Ashley. SAM I told you to keep this with you.Ashley slides the zapper into her backpack. ASHLEY You are so over protective.Mike and Ashley lip-sync along with Sam's response. SAM A mother's job is to protect her children. ASHLEY You need to start trusting me. SAM I'd like to. But you keep skipping classes to go to the dunes with Bret. ASHLEY Why do you hate him so much? SAM I don't hate him. I just want you to have a future. I thought you wanted to get out of town. Go to med school. ASHLEY Maybe I want to stay. I could get pregnant by nineteen. Then divorce with a couple of kids I can't handle. Slap on a badge and be a trailer trash sheriff. SAM (deeply hurt) Thanks for the flashback.They drive on in painful silence. Mike turns ON theRADIO. HARLAN (V.O.) ... listening to W.F.R.E. Freedom radio. We've put aside the U.F.O.'s and conspiracy theories... 13.INT. PICKUP TRUCK (HIGHWAY) - DAYChris drives into town with the RADIO ON. HARLAN (V.O.) ... for some down home talk back with our own mayor: Wade Hale. CHRIS Oh, great. WADE (V.O.) Thanks, Harlan. As I was saying, Chemical Technologies has been looking for viable storage sites. And Prosperity is lucky enough to be on that list. HARLAN (V.O.) Lucky? I think most of us are insulted that some outsiders think our town is a perfect place to dump toxic waste. CHRIS Right on.EXT. MAIN STREET (TOWN) - DAYChris's pickup approaches... The entire town is not muchbigger than a few football fields. The kind of placewhere everybody has known each other since childhood.Some buildings date back to the 1880's gold rush. HARLAN (V.O.) Isn't this just your latest get- rich quick scheme?At one end is the Prosperity Mall. A huge windowlessrectangle in the sand. Permanent signs tout the manyoutlet stores inside: Victoria's Secret, Home and GardenSupplies, Sport Chalet, etc. Hand-painted signs reveal:"GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE. EVERYTHING MUST GO. FINALCLOSE OUT." On the roof of the mall is a very tall radioantenna. HARLAN (V.O.) Your mall has more employees than customers.INT. PICKUP TRUCK (TOWN, MAIN STREET) - DAYChris smiles as he listens to the RADIO. (CONTINUED) 14.CONTINUED: WADE (V.O.) I may have overestimated the need for 100,000 square feet of outlet shopping.EXT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE - DAYBEVERLY (40's) is tending to her garden as she listens toa transistor radio. HARLAN (V.O.) And your ostrich ranch? WADE (V.O.) If the government subsidies hadn't dried up, I'd still be rolling in cash.EXT. HARLAN'S TRAILER (MAIN STREET, TOWN) - DAYAn airstream at the far end of town. Signs identify itas: "FREEDOM RADIO." A brand new humvee is parked outfront.INT. HARLAN'S TRAILER - DAYWalls decorated with clippings about aliens, monsters,and conspiracies. Two men sit at a home builttransmitter.HARLAN GRIFFITH (40s) wears an "Aliens Go Home!" T-shirt. He eats from a box of Frosted Flakes and drinksJolt cola.WADE HALE (40s) is the mayor of Prosperity. A slick-haired dandy who looks more like a Vegas lounge singerthan a Mayor. WADE With one phone call I could put together a deal that would make us all very rich. HARLAN They say money doesn't buy happiness. WADE They probably don't have any. 15.INT. POLICE CAR (HIGHWAY) - DAYSam and her kids listen to the radio. WADE (V.O.) Money pays for kids to go to college. It pays the mortgage.INT. DINER (MAIN STREET, TOWN) - DAYAn attractive waitress on roller-skates. A harried CHEF.Locals chow down. The RADIO BLARES in the b.g. WADE (V.O.) It puts food on the table. Haven't the people of this town lived hand-to-mouth for long enough?INT. BARBERSHOP (MAIN STREET, TOWN) - DAYFLOYD and LEROY are the Jurassic era barbers. Floyd cutsLeroy's hair. The two men listen to the RADIO. WADE (V.O.) We're all gonna die in this hell hole. FLOYD Yeah, of boredom.INT. POLICE STATION - DAYDEPUTY PETE sits with his feet up on the desk readingPlaystation magazine. He listens to the RADIO. WADE (V.O.) Wouldn't it be nice not to worry about surviving retirement? Or taking a shot at that life-long dream?INT. HARLAN'S TRAILER - DAY WADE Think about it, Harlan, you could buy a commercial transmitter and start broadcasting to a national audience. HARLAN It would be nice to get the message out. Let people know the aliens walk among us. 16.INT. PICKUP TRUCK - DAYChris slows to a stop in front of the McCormick and SonMining Company. This stately edifice was once thedriving force behind the local economy. WADE (V.O.) If Chris McCormick refuses to sell his mines. The rest of us are out of luck.Chris frowns.INT. POLICE CAR (HIGHWAY) - DAY WADE (V.O.) I don't think it's fair for one person to wield that much power. But he's just like his father. Selfish. Greedy. And more than a little bit nuts. SAM Uh-oh.Sam flips on the SIREN and accelerates.INT. DINER - DAYThe locals stop eating and look toward the radio. WADE (V.O.) That family has been digging in those tunnels since the twenties. If there was something down there, don't you think they would have found it by now?INT. BARBERSHOP - DAYFloyd and Leroy stare at the radio. WADE (V.O.) Common sense does not apply to crazy people.INT. PICKUP TRUCK - DAY WADE (V.O.) Might as well be chasing a leprechaun's pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. (CONTINUED) 17.CONTINUED:Chris is furious as he PEELS OUT and speeds towardHarlan's.INT. DINER - DAYThe locals watch Chris's pickup speed by. WADE (V.O.) ... lunatics...INT. BARBERSHOP - DAYFloyd and Leroy watch Chris speed by. WADE (V.O.) ... certifiably nuts...INT. POLICE CAR - (MAIN STREET, TOWN) - DAYAs Sam pulls into town. She sees Chris skid to a stop infront of Harlan's trailer. He leaps out of his pickup. WADE (V.O.) ... at the very least...INT. HARLAN'S TRAILER - DAYChris yanks the door open in time to hear... WADE ... those McCormicks are just plain-old dumb.Wade stands up to protest. But it's too late. Chrispunches him in the nose. The mayor tumbles back. CHRIS I've warned you not to talk about my family! HARLAN We have a surprise guest in the studio.Chris drags Wade to his feet, shoving him against thewall. CHRIS My family built this town! (CONTINUED) 18.CONTINUED: WADE Am I supposed to be grateful?Chris draws back his fist for another shot. Sam runs inand grabs him from behind. SAM That's enough! CHRIS Stay out of this, Sam!She manhandles Chris toward the door.EXT. HARLAN'S TRAILER - DAYPractically the entire town has gathered outside. Samdrags Chris through the door. Wade and Harlan are closebehind. CHRIS Did you hear what he said? SAM I heard. WADE I want him locked up! SAM Let's all calm down.Wade tries to take advantage of the assembled audience. WADE We have no economy! People are barely scraping by! And now we've been offered the deal of a lifetime. You don't have the right to stand in our way! CHRIS Those mines are full of gas. One spark in the wrong place could blow this entire valley sky high. Do you really want to load that gun with toxic waste? WADE Chem-Tech did seismic analysis, vapor checks, groundwater reads, soil sampling. They found isolated methane pockets, but no benzene or hydrogen sulfide. (CONTINUED) 19.CONTINUED: CHRIS How could they run tests? I didn't give them permission to go into the mines.Wade retreats toward his shiny new Hummer. CHRIS I asked you a question, you greedy son of a bitch! WADE I'm greedy?! You're the one keeping us down so you can search for gold!Chris tries to go after Wade. Sam holds him back. SAM Don't take another step.Chris stares at her. CHRIS You're taking his side? SAM I'm trying to keep the peace. WADE You're crazy! Just like your father!Wade drives off in his humvee. The crowd begins todisperse. CHRIS (sotto) He wasn't crazy. SAM It's okay.Chris heads off to his truck. Sam watches him go. Hereyes drifting down his body. Ashley steps up beside hermom. ASHLEY Maybe you're not gay after all. SAM What are you talking about? (CONTINUED) 20.CONTINUED: ASHLEY You can't take your eyes off his butt. SAM Where did you learn that it's okay to talk to me like this? ASHLEY Relax, Mom. He's hot for an old guy. I can admit it. Why can't you?Sam watches Chris get into his truck. He gives her onelast look before pulling out. Sam smiles with herdaughter.INT. MINING MUSEUM (MAIN STREET, TOWN) - DAYVintage mining gear. Walls covered with sepia-tonephotos chronicling the history of the McCormick mines.GLADYS LAUDERBACK (50s) sits at a desk. She blows smokefrom her Kool into the breeze of an air conditioner.Ignoring the signs behind her head: "NO SMOKING!","DANGER GAS!"As Chris enters, Gladys hides her lit cigarette in adrawer. GLADYS Did you pop him one? CHRIS He had it comin'. But Sam Palmer... That woman abuses her power. GLADYS Why? Because she stopped you from givin' Wade another pop? CHRIS I'm not proud of it.Chris goes to a table and a map of the mines thathoneycomb beneath the town. Many of them are marked"explored." Many aren't. Chris checks another tunneloff the list. He sniffs the air and glares at Gladys.Smoke rises out of her desk drawer. Gladys yanks it openand puts out the flame. (CONTINUED) 21.CONTINUED: CHRIS I thought you were trying the patch. GLADYS I am.She raises her sleeve to reveal several nicotine patches.Chris exits through a door at the back of the museum.INT. MUSEUM - LIVING ROOM - DAYChris enters the family living quarters. The furniturewas new in 1947. He continues to the adjacent kitchen.INT. MUSEUM - KITCHEN - DAYChris takes a beer out of the fridge. Then he notices anodd CLICKING. He tracks the sound to a stove burnerpermanently on "light."Chris moves to a fuse box in the adjacent hallway. Heremoves the fuse for the stove. The SPARKING STOPS.Chris sits at the table and has a cooling sip of beer.Gladys enters with a stack of bills. CHRIS That burner's on the fritz again. GLADYS Oh something's broken? What else is new? (lays bills on table) You need to pay these by the end of the month. CHRIS (looks at bills) Today... For a split second... I actually thought I had it. GLADYS Another vein of iron pyrite? CHRIS Yeah... Then a rat stole my lunch. I practically blew myself up trying to get it back. (CONTINUED) 22.CONTINUED: GLADYS I'm glad you like my bologna sandwiches. (beat) Maybe you should talk to Wade. CHRIS What are you saying? GLADYS Honey, if he really does have a buyer... CHRIS You of all people know how much my dad wanted to find that mother lode. GLADYS Your daddy wanted to get rich. I don't think he cared how that happened. If he was still alive, maybe he'd sell those mines.Chris takes umbrage... CHRIS And maybe you didn't know him so well after all.A tense beat. GLADYS You're right... I'm just worried about how we're going to pay these bills. CHRIS Don't give up on me, Gladys. I promised him I'd find the gold. And I will.Gladys steels her fear, patting Chris on the hand.EXT. TOWN - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAWNThe sun rises. The town slowly comes to life. HARLAN (V.O.) Good morning, Prosperity, Nevada. It's another beautiful day on the frontier.Locals prepare their stores for business. 23.INT. JOSHUA'S HOUSE (DESERT) - DAY HARLAN (V.O.) No charges have been filed in yesterday's fracas between Chris McCormick and Wade Hale. And we've got...Joshua turns the radio down. He holds a tape measure toa glass spider tank, recording the size of an unseenarac. JOSHUA An exponential growth rate... That's impossible. CHARLIE Me so horny. Me love you long time.Joshua doesn't look back at the parrot sitting on itsperch. JOSHUA Be quiet, bird!Charlie looks over at the tarantula tank. Watchingcuriously as the cloth cover moves slightly. As if oneof the spiders is escaping. Charlie flies over toinvestigate. He lands on the counter and peers aroundthe back of the tank. CHARLIE Charlie's in the wire! Incoming!Something yanks the parrot O.S. JOSHUA Stop screwing around...!Joshua looks back in search of the parrot. He noticesseveral feathers floating down to the floor. He headsover to investigate. Joshua pulls the blanket clear toreveal the top of the cage has been pushed aside. Nosign of any tarantulas. Joshua checks the back side ofthe tank. JOSHUA Where'd you go? Consuela?She's nowhere to be seen. Joshua spots somethingsticking out from under the table. Two parrot feet.Joshua pulls Charlie out from under the table. It's ahorrible sight. The bird is wrapped in spider webbing.His body desiccated. (CONTINUED) 24.CONTINUED: JOSHUA Charlie... Semper fidelis.Joshua sees Charlie is attached to a web. He tugs on thewebline. Something tugs back. Joshua leans down to lookunder the table. His eyes go wide at what he sees. Thena shadow looms over his head. Joshua looks up and...EXT. JOSHUA'S HOUSE (DESERT) - DAYSCREAMS and the sounds of BREAKING GLASS come fromwithin.EXT. PALMER HOUSE (TOWN) - DAYRanch style. Cop car in front. Chris's pickup cruisesby.INT. PICKUP TRUCK - OUTSIDE PALMER HOUSE - DAYChris drives past. He catches sight of a figure in awindow.INT. PALMER HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAYSam is brushing her teeth at the window as Chris drivesby. They make eye contact. Chris moves on. Sam looksat herself in the mirror. Bathrobe. No makeup. Messyhair. Mouth full of toothpaste. SAM Work it, babe.INT. PALMER HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAYSam comes out of the bathroom dressed in her uniform. SAM It's all yours.Ashley and Mike exit their rooms. Mike is dressed forthe day. Ashley in a robe. They race for the bathroom.Mike is first. Then Ashley hip-checks him out of theway, slamming the door in his face. ASHLEY (O.S.) Ladies first. (CONTINUED) 25.CONTINUED: MIKE What's your excuse!?Sam sticks her head out of a room at the end of the hall. SAM You still want a ride, Mike? MIKE I'm just going to the mall. SAM Have fun.Mike heads down the hallway and out of the house.INT. PALMER HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAYAshley turns on the shower, drops her robe, and climbsin.INT. BATHROOM - SHOWER - DAYAshley is surrounded by steam. She sings an edgy gangstarap tune by NWA. Tres' bizarre, non? Shampoo lathercascades down her face. Her eyes close. She isoblivious to a small spider crossing a web in front ofher. The spider gets clear as Ashley rinses off thesoap.Ashley rubs conditioner into her hair. The latherbuilds. Covering her face. Forcing her eyes closed oncemore. The spider returns across its web right in frontof her eyes.The water stops. Ashley reaches for the showerheadblindly knocking the spider off its web. She feels nowater coming out, and fumbles for a washcloth. Reachingwith eyes closed, she can't see the little spider haslanded on top of the cloth. As Ashley retrieves it, thespider scurries onto its opposite side.Ashley wipes the soap off her face. The spider rides thewashcloth and moves toward her hand. Before it canstrike, Ashley gets her eyes clear and drops the cloth.The cloth lands on the floor atop the spider. As thebeast stares out from under it, barefoot Ashley steps onthe cloth. Crushing the spider without ever knowing itwas there. (CONTINUED) 26.CONTINUED:Ashley turns her attention to the showerhead. She cranksthe water handles, trying to get the water flowing again.The handles suddenly pop off. Dozens of tiny spiderspour from the holes onto the floor. Ashley shrieks inhorror.Sam bursts into the bathroom and yanks open the showerdoor. She drags Ashley out and looks at all the littlespiders. SAM Now what?Ashley just screams.INT. HANK AND EMMA'S HOME - DAYThe SCREAM of a SAWZALL. A house in the midst ofremodeling. Sections of wall are exposed. Sheets coverfurniture. HANK (30s) is the Bob Villa-poseur.A cat sits near an open section of wall. Watchingsomething intently. The cat charges into the wall afterunseen prey.EMMA (30s) comes downstairs wearing her bathrobe. Sheclutches her ears in pain, screaming for Hank to stop.He can't hear. She grabs his shoulder and he STOPSCUTTING. EMMA Why do you need to do that as six in the morning!? Do you hate me that much!? HANK I want to finish before I go to work. EMMA You've been saying that for six months! HANK I can't finish if you keep interrupting!Hanks RESTARTS the SAW as Emma staggers into the kitchen. 27.INT. REMODELED HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAYEmma makes herself a hangover helper. Egg, tabasco,lemon juice, and a shot of vodka. All of it goes intothe BLENDER. She FIRES it UP. Competing with the noiseof Hank's SAW. Then Emma notices a bowl of uneaten catfood.INT. REMODELED HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAYEmma comes back in and UNPLUGS the noisy SAW. HANK If you're gonna keep pulling the plug... EMMA Have you seen Zeke this morning? HANK He was chasing something earlier. EMMA If he got into the wall again, it's your balls in the blender.They hear FAINT MEOWING. Hank traces the source. It'scoming from behind a partially-dismantled wall. HANK Hey, Zeke. Breakfast is ready. EMMA I'll get the tuna.Emma heads back into the kitchen. Hank listens at thewall. After a beat he hears the CAT RUSTLING aroundinside. HANK Zeke?Emma re-enters with a can of tuna. She hears ZEKE HISS. EMMA What's wrong with him?Hank shakes his head. The CAT noises become moreaggressive. The panicked couple tries to follow thecat's progress. They tracks the sounds of BATTLE alongthe wall. The noises become FRANTIC. SCRABBLING CLAWS.HOWLS of KITTY pain. HANK & EMMA Zeke!? Zeke! Zeke! (CONTINUED) 28.CONTINUED:They follow the cat's frenzied movement up the wall,across the ceiling, and down the other wall. Hankhurries over. He can feel his cat thrashing maniacallyon the other side. A FELINE SCREAM. And then deafeningsilence.Hank tears open the drywall, reaching for his cat. HANK I've got him by the tail.He withdraws all that remains of the Zeker... a bloodytail.EXT. MALL - DAYMike hops off his bike before it stops moving. Lettingit crash in the dirt. He enters the mall through glassdoors.INT. MALL (PROSPERITY) - DAYMike passes NORMAN (18), a janitor polishing the floors.Norman listens to LOUD DEATH ROCK TUNES on a SonyWALKMAN. NORMAN (conspiratorial) Hey, dude. Yeah. You.Mike comes over to this goatee'd rascal. NORMAN Wanna buy some smoke? MIKE A pack of cigarettes? NORMAN Smoke to get high, not to die. My stuff is hydroponically grown in a top secret location. No artificial flavors. No preservatives. Just 110 percent homegrown. MIKE Where's this secret location? (CONTINUED) 29.CONTINUED: NORMAN I could have a dime bag for you toot sweet. But if I tell you where exactly, I'd have to kill you. MIKE Norman, you know my mom's the sheriff. NORMAN Oh yeah... Right on... (considers this) Does she get high?Mike walks away, deeper into the mall. A dozen storesline the hallway: Victoria's Secret, ElectronicBoutique, Sport Chalet. Most of the stores are closedfor good. A large atrium features a fountain and junglegym. Skylights cover the ceiling. Mike enters the Homeand Garden store.INT. HOME AND GARDEN STORE - DAYMike goes up to the counter. The CLERK snaps at him. CLERK The bug spray is on aisle five! MIKE What? CLERK You want mousetraps!? Is that it?! Aisle five!Mike grabs some batteries and lays them on the counter. CLERK Oh. I thought you wanted...An OLD LADY walks past. OLD LADY Excuse me, young man. Where can I find the bug spray? CLERK Aisle five!The Clerk grabs the PA's microphone. (CONTINUED) 30.CONTINUED: CLERK (over PA speakers) All bug spray, rodent traps, ant poison and fly paper is on aisle five!He returns his attention to Mike. CLERK That'll be three fifty-two.Mike pays the man. MIKE Where's aisle five?The annoyed Clerk points. Mike heads over. He sees theaisle is crowded with locals squabbling over the fewremaining cans of Raid, Black Flag and Off.EXT. BEVERLY'S HOUSE (TOWN) - DAYBeverly uncoils a hose, cranks a spigot. She sprays hervegetable garden with water. After a beat, a solidobject is coughed up through the hose.Beverly continues watering. Two more unidentifiedobjects are spewed from the hose. She reacts by crankingthe spigot on full. The water sprays harder. Theninexplicably stops.Beverly checks the spigot. She looks into the opening ofthe hose. Puts it to her ear and listens. Sniffs. Nowshe puts the end of the hose in her mouth and sucksdeeply, trying to siphon away the blockage.Beverly removes the hose. A FAINT RUMBLING sound. Sheputs it back in her mouth and sucks. A solid objectcomes through the hose and into her mouth. Then another.And another. A dozen things pump through the hose andinto her mouth.Beverly yanks it out. Water spews from her mouth and outof the hose. Apparently the blockage has cleared.Beverly falls to her knees. Hunching forward. Shevomits forth a stomach full of water... and smallspiders. Mouth agape. Eyes wide in horror. She watchesthem scurry into the garden. Beverly tries to scream...but can only retch. 31.EXT. STREET (TOWN) - DAYMike Palmer rides his bike through a puddle of water. Hesees Beverly throwing up in her vegetable garden. Mikeit thoroughly grossed out.EXT. JOSHUA'S HOUSE (DESERT) - DAYMike rides his bike into Joshua's front yard. Hedismounts before the BIKE stops. It CRASHES. Mike headsinside.INT. JOSHUA'S HOUSE - DAYMike stops short in the doorway. An off-hook TELEPHONEBEEPS incessantly. WIND MOANS through shattered windows.Furniture is tipped over. Mike moves through the chaos. MIKE Hello? Joshua? Charlie?The spider tanks are shattered. No trace of theiroccupants. Mike pulls out his Cassiopeia PDA and startsrecording. MIKE (into PDA) Captain's log. Stardate...Stops recording, PLAYS it BACK, listens to HIS VOICE. MIKE Cool! (records again) The house is deserted. No sign of Joshua Taft or his bird. The spider tanks are shattered. There is broken glass everywhere.Mike moves toward the back door of the cabin. It swingsopen and shut in the WIND.EXT. JOSHUA'S HOUSE (DESERT) - BACK YARD - DAYMike comes out and notices hundreds of coin-sizedfootprints. He follows these tracks to a cluster ofwooden barricades labeled: "McCORMICK AND SONS MININGCOMPANY." Mike peers toward a vertical mine shaft behindthe barriers. (CONTINUED) 32.CONTINUED: MIKE (into PDA) Animal tracks. Definitely too big to be spiders. Could be rats.Mike slips past the barricades. Following the tracks tothe edge of the abyss. He can't see anything. It's toodark.Mike turns away and returns to the yard. Neverrealizing...Several feet down the shaft. Hidden under a rock... theshriveled and desiccated corpse of Joshua Taft. It hangsfrom the side of the shaft in thick sticky webbing.Grisly.Suddenly the corpse is tugged loose and dragged deeperinto the shaft by some unseen creature.EXT. MINE SHAFT - DAYChris's pickup is parked outside another mine shaft.INT. MINE TUNNEL - DAYChris works with his pick-axe. He pauses, listening to aDISTURBING NOISE somewhere down the tunnel. A growl? Aroar? Chris isn' t so sure. And then a new sound... aSCREECHING. The noise grows LOUDER. Something's coming.Chris shines his light into the darkness. Trying to seewhat's causing the unsettling crescendo...Suddenly dozens of RATS burst from the darkness.EXT. MINE SHAFT - DAYChris runs out the mouth of the tunnel. The rat stampedeis on his tail. He leaps into the back of his pickup.The manic rodents continue off into the desert.Chris looks back toward the gaping mouth of the tunnel. CHRIS What am I, the Pied Piper... 33.EXT. MAIN STREET (TOWN) - BARBER SHOP - DAYMike rides his bike. Floyd the barber stands out frontchatting with an elderly couple. They hold a dog's leashin their hand. FLOYD I'm sorry. I haven't seen him.EXT. MAIN STREET (TOWN) - DAYMike rides on. He notices a guy taping a flyer to a lamppost. Mike glances over. It's a sign for a missing dog.EXT. MAIN STREET (TOWN) - POLICE STATION - DAYMike arrives at the local police station. Several carsare parked out front. The door is ajar. Locals arecrowded inside. Mike lets his bike crash as he enters.INT. POLICE STATION - DAYSam is behind her desk. The place is swarming withlocals. SAM Quiet! Quiet please!The mob is not listening. BEVERLY They were clogging up my house! EMMA I want to know what killed Zeke! TRAVIS He was a good dog! He wouldn't just get up and go!Deputy Pete whistles at top volume. Everybody shuts up. SAM I had spiders at my house too. We need an exterminator not a sheriff. TRAVIS What about my dog? (CONTINUED) 34.CONTINUED: SAM I don't know, Travis. We're gonna keep an eye out. But we're not gettin' anywhere like this. You should go back out there and look for your animals. If they haven't shown up by tonight. I'll call Fish and Game. Okay?Pete ushers the grumbling mob out of the office. Mikeavoids the crush and manages to stay inside. MIKE Mom! Mom! All Josh's spiders are gone! SAM I can't do this right now, Mike! Everyone's having pest problems! MIKE But Joshua is gone! SAM Maybe he's out looking for his spiders? MIKE Mom, I'm serious! You're not listening! SAM Mike... I've got missing pets. Spiders in the plumbing. Rats and mice coming out of basements. And your sister's about to end up on a milk carton. I can't have you losing...The PHONE RINGS. Sam answers it. SAM Hello? Wade... wait a second... your ostriches?OFF Mike's look.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - DIRT DRIVEWAY - DAYProsperity is clearly visible just a mile away. Thepolice car drives down a long road lined with fences. 35.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - RANCH HOUSE - DAYWade's new Hummer is in the driveway. A CATTLE DOG BARKSas Wade leads Sam and Mike around the side of the house. WADE Came out to feed my birds this morning. SAM Coyotes? WADE Hell no!The trio steps to the fence. Only three mangy ostrichesare there to greet them. WADE My flock had fifty birds! Where'd they go, dammit! Who the hell steals fifty birds that can't even fly!? SAM All this happened last night? WADE I guess. And we didn't hear a thing.Sam gestures toward the BARKING DOG. SAM What about him? WADE Not a peep.Mike notices some ostrich feathers on the ground. Heheads over for a closer look.The DOG watches his progress. BARKING excitedly.Sam talks to Wade. SAM How's the ostrich business? WADE Not so good lately. SAM You've got that new Hummer. You must be makin' enough to pay for it. (CONTINUED) 36.CONTINUED: WADE (annoyed) You like it? I'll take you for a ride. SAM These birds are insured. Right? WADE I didn't kill my birds, Sam. Is that what you think?Mike looks back to see his mom confronting Wade. WADE (in the distance) ... reject... absolutely not...Mike scrutinizes what appear to be more of those tracksthat he found at Joshua's. But this time they arelarger: MIKE (into PDA) I've found more tracks. Even larger now.Mike follows the trail toward another mine entrance.This one is plugged with concrete. The tracks don't gothere. They stop at what appears to be a normal patch ofground. Several ostrich feathers are scattered nearby.Mike takes a closer look. Something doesn't seem right.An odd demarcation in the soil. His fingers trace theedge of a thin film of material. It is a lid of sorts.A sheath of sticky webbing coated with dirt. Mike isable to lift it.Mike peers into a deep dark burrow three feet wide.INT. UNDERGROUND BURROW - DAYTwenty feet down the shaft. A shape moves.TRAPDOOR SPIDER POV - MIKEA MULTI-EYED SPIDER'S VIEW of Mike at the top of theburrow.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - OSTRICH PEN - DAYMike squints into the burrow but can't see anything. 37.INT. UNDERGROUND BURROW - DAYA dark shape inches up the burrow toward Mike.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - OSTRICH PEN - DAYMike is oblivious as he peers into the dark.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - RANCH HOUSE - DAYThe BARKING CATTLE DOG SNAPS its TETHER and charges Mike.Sam and Wade see this and run after it.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - OSTRICH PEN - DAYMike doesn't see the dog. He's too busy looking in thehole.INT. UNDERGROUND BURROW - TRAPDOOR SPIDER POV - MIKEThe kid is FRAMED IN the burrow opening just a few feetaway.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - OSTRICH PEN - DAYMike senses something approaching in the darkness.Suddenly he's grabbed from behind. Sam drags him away asCLYDE the cattle dog continues BARKING. WADE (to Clyde) Now you're on the job?! What the hell were you doin' last night?! SAM Come on, Mike. Let's hit it.Sam leads her son toward the house. Mike glances back.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - DIRT DRIVEWAY - DAYMike and Sam are in the cop car. Wade is at Sam'swindow. WADE I need to know what happened to my birds! (CONTINUED) 38.CONTINUED: SAM If I find anything I'll let you know. (a beat) So you can fill out that insurance form.Sam drives down the driveway. Wade takes off his hat andwipes his brow. He watches Clyde run parallel to theaccelerating police car.INT. POLICE CAR (DIRT DRIVEWAY) - DAYSam eyes the road ahead. Mike is lost in thought. MIKE We have to go back. SAM Mike? MIKE That was a trapdoor spider's burrow. SAM What are you talking about? MIKE Joshua was feeding his spiders bugs from the creek. And they were getting bigger.Mike glances out the window at the dog running nearby. MIKE (agitated) What if they didn't stop growing? What if they broke out of their tanks. Ate Joshua. And went into the mines?Sam looks at him like he's out of his mind. MIKE That could be why the other species are coming out into the open. They're trying to get away from the giant spiders. (a beat) The ecosystem is out of balance. (CONTINUED) 39.CONTINUED: SAM Have you been overdosing your Ritalin?She checks him for a fever.EXT. WADE'S RANCH - DIRT DRIVEWAY - FENCE LINE - DAYCLYDE runs next to the car. Suddenly he disappearsunderground with a YELP. Only still frame on a DVDplayer will capture the trapdoor spider's lunge from acamouflaged den. The dog's empty collar rolls to a stopin a cloud of dust.INT. POLICE CAR (DIRT DRIVEWAY) - DAYMike turns from his mother and looks out the window. Heis confused when he doesn't see any sign of the dog. MIKE Maybe I am losing it...He checks himself for a fever.INT. ABANDONED TRUCK STOP (DESERT) - DAYA dingy collection of buildings surrounded by dunes androck. The structures have boarded windows. Graffiti onthe walls. Teenagers hang out. Off-road motorcyclesparked nearby.Bret Hale's monster truck does donuts in the parking lot.Ashley hangs out the passenger window shrieking withglee.INT. BRET'S TRUCK (TRUCK STOP) - DAYBret smokes a Phillies Blunt as he donuts his TRUCK.Ashley laughs hysterically. Bret steers them around tothe back of the truck stop. He SKIDS to a stop. ASHLEY Woo-hoo!Bret offers his stogie. Ashley refuses. Bret puffsaway. ASHLEY Haven't you had enough of that? (CONTINUED) 40.CONTINUED: BRET No such thing. Norman's bud is da'kine.He coughs and they both laugh. BRET When I medal at the X-Games, Honda will give me full sponsorship. Then I'll take you with me on the Supercross tour.Ashley is silent. BRET Are you still thinking about going away? ASHLEY I don't know. I want to do something with my life, Bret. Help people. Maybe med school is still an option. BRET Not if you keep hanging out with me. ASHLEY Thanks, Mom.They kiss. Things head toward a serious level of "getdown." Bret slides his hand up Ashley's shirt. Ashleygets into it. But then Bret slides his hand toward thebuttons of her 501s. Ashley removes his hand. ASHLEY Slow down...Bret persists. Ashley climbs off of him. BRET I thought you loved me. ASHLEY I do! BRET Then what's the problem? You want to leave town. You don't want to make out. ASHLEY I don't feel... (CONTINUED) 41.CONTINUED: BRET What? ASHLEY I don't want to lose my virginity in the front seat of a monster truck. BRET Why didn't you say so? We can go outside. I've got a blanket in the back. ASHLEY No... I guess... I'm just not ready. BRET Tammy and Larry do it every night! ASHLEY Then call them! Have a menage a trois! BRET Come on, Ashley. Mommy's not around. You don't have to play the good girl. Let Daddy give you what you really want.Bret goes after her once more. Ashley's not into it. ASHLEY Please, Bret... Please don't...But Bret won't listen. Ashley isn't strong enough tofight him. She reaches into her purse and pulls out herstun gun. She rams it up in Bret's crotch and pulls thetrigger.Bret howls like a baboon in a wood chipper. Hespasmodically jerks off of Ashley and tumbles out thedriver's side door.EXT. BEHIND TRUCK STOP - DAYBret twitches on the ground. BRET My balls? Ahh! My balls! (looks down) I pissed myself?! Damn, bee-otch! (CONTINUED) 42.CONTINUED:Ashley watches from the truck. ASHLEY I told you to back off!Ashley closes the door of the truck and rolls up thewindows.Bret is dazed as he gets to his feet. Then his eyesrack-focus to a nearby dune. A Rottweiler-sized jumpingspider stands atop it. Two large eyes surrounded by sixsmaller orbs. Orange and black designs on its abdomen.Wiry hair. Dagger-sized fangs. Bret can't quite believewhat he sees.Ashley STARTS the TRUCK. This snaps Bret back toreality. BRET Ashley, wait! ASHLEY Screw you, Bret. I'm going home.Bret sees the spider leisurely coming down off the dune.He runs over to the door of the pickup and tries to openit. BRET Please! Open the door! I'm sorry! ASHLEY I can't believe my mom was right about you. Do you know how embarrassing that is?Ashley starts to pull away. Bret keeps banging on theglass. BRET Open the door, baby! I love you! I want to marry you! Have my children! Please!Ashley flips him the bird and BURNS RUBBER. As the truckmoves out of the way, Bret finds himself staring atseveral more jumping spiders that are methodicallyapproaching. Bret sprints around to the other side ofthe truck stop. 43.EXT. TRUCK STOP - PARKING LOT - DAYBret runs from behind the building. Larry Witzer and abunch of other kids see him coming. LARRY Dude, did you piss in your pants? RANDY Ha-ha! Bret pissed his pants!All the kids start laughing and pointing at Bret. Noneof them see the approaching jumping spiders. BRET Get out of here! They're coming! RANDY The only one coming is you, dude.Larry and Randy high-five. A jumping spider lands onRandy's back, piercing him with its fangs, throwing himto the ground. Randy screams. The kids have a front-rowseat as the spider's pincers mash their buddy into anedible pulp.Bret leaps onto his MOTORCYCLE and FIRES it UP. Severalmore jumping spiders bound across the parking lot. BRET Ride!The kids scramble, leaping onto their bikes. One rideris picked off by a spider. The others kick up roostertails as they accelerate away. The spiders chase theminto the dunes.EXT. SAND DUNES - DAYA wasteland on the outskirts of town. The sandy wavesare "surfed" by the noisy MOTORCYCLES. The jumpingspiders keep after them, leaping a dozen feet in a singlebound.A biker is ripped off a motorcycle. The BIKE CRASHES.Larry ends up with a jumper on his bike. Another bikertries to kick it off, managing to knock the critter intothe motorcycle's spokes. The spider gets munched. Butthen the courageous biker crashes and is set upon by ahungry jumper.Larry continues riding. But a spider lands on his backand sinks fangs into his spine. Larry yells bloodymurder. (CONTINUED) 44.CONTINUED:Bret sees Larry go down in a cloud of gore and sand.Bret is the only human left. A jumper comes after him inmid-air. Bret does an X-Games style rocket air, kickingbackward with booted legs. He knocks the spider away andkeeps on riding.EXT. HIGHWAY - DAYThree familiar trucks cruise down the highway. This timethey are devoid of any toxic waste cargo.INT. THIRD TRUCK - HIGHWAY - DAYPig Pen stares fixedly at the endless road ahead of him. SELF-HELP TAPE (V.O.) I will live every moment of my life as if it were my last. PIG PEN I will live every moment of my life as if it were my last.Suddenly Bret Hale wheelies across the road. A jumpingspider explodes against the windshield. Spider gutssplatter everywhere. Pig Pen screams as he JAMS on theBRAKES.EXT. HIGHWAY - DAYThe TRUCK jack-knifes into a line of telephone poles.Knocking them over and rolling multiple times beforeEXPLODING. Several jumping spiders are caught in theblast. Bret Hale rides on with several more jumpersbehind.INT. PALMER HOUSE - MIKE'S ROOM - DAYThe black and white classic: Tarantula, plays over anold TV and VCR. Mike is at his computer, downloading aspider encyclopedia into his PDA. A message flashesacross the screen: CONNECTION LOST. Mike picks up thetelephone. MIKE Hello? Hello?The line is dead. 45.EXT. DESERT - DAYBret rides into a dead-end canyon with the spiders veryclose behind. Bret steers for the mouth of a hillsidemine shaft.INT HORIZONTAL MINE SHAFT - DAYBret speeds inside. He looks over his shoulder to checkfor his pursuers, they're gone. Bret looks relieved. Hefaces forward as... whack! A support beam knocks himfrom his bike. The bike continues on into the tunnelalone. From the sound of things it travels pretty farbefore crashing.Bret lies on the ground as dust settles onto his face.He looks up at a support beam which begins to crack.Bret moves clear just as the ceiling caves in, sealinghim in the mine.EXT. MAIN STREET (TOWN) - DAYSeveral locals put up more signs for missing pets.INT. DINER/EXT. MAIN STREET (TOWN) - DAYHarlan is kibitzing with Travis. Pete and Emma consoleeach other over dessert. Wade sits alone at a table fortwo. The attractive WAITRESS on roller-skates give him afresh beer. WAITRESS The phones went down for some reason. Maybe that's why Bret didn't call. Did you want to go ahead and order? WADE Just give me the usual. WAITRESS One ostrich steak, comin' up.Wade reacts glumly to the word "ostrich."INT. MUSEUM - KITCHEN - DAYGladys smokes as she puts together the fixings for alarge meal. She has a cookbook out. Pots and pans.Chris enters. Gladys quickly drops her cigarette in thedisposal. (CONTINUED) 46.CONTINUED: GLADYS What are you doing home? CHRIS Need some rat traps. GLADYS Try the basement. CHRIS What is all this? GLADYS I wanted to surprise you with a special dinner. Turkey De La Gladys. CHRIS I'll have mine without Nicotine. GLADYS Not as good that way.Chris goes through a nearby door to the basement.INT. MUSEUM - BASEMENT - DAYChris comes downstairs. He rummages through some junk.comes up with several rat traps. He turns around todiscover an odd hole in the wall. He ventures over for alook. CHRIS Rats...Chris leans into the hole, his jacket restricts hisentry.Chris pulls out of the hole, standing to reveal a largemale tarantula on his back. Chris is oblivious as hetakes off his jacket. The coat lands in a heap atop thespider.Chris gets back down and places one of the rat traps inthe hole. He doesn't notice the jacket moving behindhim.Chris backs out of the hole. He picks up his jacket.The spider is gone. He grabs his traps and headsupstairs. 47.INT. MUSEUM - DAYChris passes through the kitchen. He eyes Gladys warily. CHRIS Have you been smoking? GLADYS No.Smoke pours out of her nostrils. CHRIS Gladys... GLADYS Get back to work. I'll see you tonight.Chris starts out. GLADYS Sam called for you.Chris hesitates. GLADYS She wants you to come by the station. CHRIS She really has it in for me. GLADYS Oh please. CHRIS What? GLADYS You two should just sleep together and get it over with. CHRIS Me and Sam... Hook up... GLADYS I may be older than electricity, but I used to be a nice-looking piece of tail. CHRIS Too much information. (CONTINUED) 48.CONTINUED: GLADYS I'm not kidding. I got more action than those chicks on VIP. So when I tell you Sam thinks your butt is U.S.D.A. choice... CHRIS This is where I throw up. GLADYS Don't tell me you don't think she's a fox.Chris mulls this over. Testing his own feelings. Heopens his mouth to ask another question. And then headsout. GLADYS See you for dinner.Gladys doesn't notice the basement DOOR CREAK openslightly.INT. POLICE STATION - DAYSam is on the phone at her desk. SAM Nothing yet. I'm sorry. We're still trying to get...Chris enters. SAM Let me call you back. (hangs up) This has been one crazy day. We've got missing pets, dead ostriches. God only knows what's next. CHRIS I'm sorry about yesterday. Wade is... He knows how to push my buttons. SAM I wanted to ask you... CHRIS On a date?Sam freezes for a second. Chris laughs. (CONTINUED) 49.CONTINUED: CHRIS I'm kidding. What did you want to ask? SAM Have you noticed anything strange in the mines? CHRIS Define strange. SAM I had spiders in my house. Hector had roaches in his basement. Some mice... CHRIS How about stampeding rats? SAM Were they running away from something? CHRIS Could have been. Never saw them do that before. I guess it qualifies as strange.Sam thinks this over. CHRIS Sam... Do you want to go out sometime? SAM (taken aback) Are you asking me out on a date? CHRIS Only if you're going to say yes.Sam smiles slightly.INT. MUSEUM - KITCHEN - DAYThe basement door is wide open. Gladys mixes food in abowl. A cigarette with a massive ash hangs off her lip.A male tarantula moves across the ceiling. The creatureis the size of a pit bull. Two quivering palps flankdart-sized fangs. Multiple eyes the size of quarters.Hair all over. (CONTINUED) 50.CONTINUED:Gladys is oblivious to the ominous threat above her. Asshe works, the spider shadows her. Every time the spideris about to strike, she goes another direction to getspices, utensils, a pan.Gladys places her bowl on the stove. Suddenly thetarantula drops onto the stove right in front of her.Gladys shrieks. The tarantula lashes out at her. Gladysgrabs a frying pan and smashes it across the face as shestumbles backward. The spider reels, striking the burnerknobs, turning on the gas.Gladys registers the sound of ESCAPING GAS. She looksback toward the fuse box and makes a run for it. As shegoes, the tarantula fires a webline at her.Gladys gets the fuse off the top of the fuse box, but thewebline prevents her from slotting it home.Gladys strains with all her might, finally slots thefuse. She turns toward the kitchen just in time to seethe broken burner spark to life. The gas ignites. Thetarantula is engulfed in flame.Gladys is knocked down by the blast. She lies on herback when a second male tarantula nails her with awebline. Gladys screams as she's dragged across thefloor toward the basement door.The fire grows more intense, spreading quickly.INT. POLICE STATION - DAY CHRIS So that's a 'No.' SAM My kids are the world to me, Chris. When their dad left... it really took a toll. On all of us. I can't go through that again. I won't. CHRIS No... I understand... I don't know what I was thinking... (laughs) Gladys has some crazy ideas. I'm gonna kill her.Deputy Pete throws open the door. (CONTINUED) 51.CONTINUED: PETE The museum's on fire!OFF Chris's look.EXT. BURNING MUSEUM - DAYThe museum burns. The volunteer fire department attacksthe conflagration. All the locals are there to help.Sam's COP CAR SKIDS to a stop. Chris leaps out. Staresat the fire for a beat. And then he charges toward theinferno. Sam tackles him from behind. Pinning him tothe ground. CHRIS No! Let me go! Gladys! Let me go!The museum collapses. Chris watches it burn to theground.EXT. MUSEUM - DAY (LATER)The fire is out. The once-proud building is now asmoldering pile of rubble. Locals stand in small groups.Chris wanders through the ruins as firemen mop up. Hepicks something out of the char. The map of the mines.Almost completely burned. Soaked with water. He staresat it for a heavy beat. All that remains of his legacy.Sam steps up. SAM Maybe she got out.Sam puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. CHRIS (devastated) She was cooking. The stove was broken. SAM Why don't you come home with me? We'll get you cleaned up.Chris hesitates for a moment. And then he lets the mapfall. He walks out of the ruins with Sam. (CONTINUED) 52.CONTINUED:Mike stands off to the side. He spots something near theedge of the ruins. He goes over to pick it up. It's apiece of arachnid exoskeleton. A spider's leg. Big.Very big. Travis the fire chief warns him away. TRAVIS Get away from there, Mike!Mike hurries clear with his prize. He puts it on theground, sketches the outline of a spider to fit the scaleof the leg. MIKE Holy God...Mike looks around for his mom. He sees her driving offin the cop car with Chris. MIKE Mom! Wait!EXT. PALMER HOUSE - DUSKThe sun hangs low in the sky. Sam's cop car parks besideBret's monster truck.INT. PALMER HOUSE - DAYAshley watches TV. A doctor resuscitates a dying patientwith CPR. The doctor counts as he pumps the man's chest. TV DOCTOR (V.O.) One... two... three...Ashley watches intently. The patient is revived. TV DOCTOR (V.O.) Helping people never gets old.Ashley hears KEYS in the front DOOR. She quicklyswitches channels to MTV. Sam enters with Chris. SAM Is Bret here? ASHLEY No. SAM Then why is his truck out front? (CONTINUED) 53.CONTINUED: ASHLEY Don't worry about it. SAM What do you mean? What happened? ASHLEY Nothing.Ashley starts crying. Sam goes to comfort her daughter.Chris stands by in shock. Watching, Upset. ASHLEY Nothing happened, alright!Ashley runs off to her room. Sam follows.Chris stands alone for a beat. He walks to the kitchenand pulls a bottle of Vodka from the freezer. He putsthe cold bottle against his head and neck. Trying tocool off.Mike bursts into the house carrying his piece ofexoskeleton. He sees Chris opening the bottle of vodka. MIKE Spiders shed their skins when they grow.Chris looks at Mike for a moment. MIKE Like snakes. CHRIS Gladys is dead.Chris drinks vodka straight from the bottle. MIKE Maybe not.That got Chris's attention. MIKE This is a tarantula's leg. Or it was. It's an exoskeleton, to be scientific. CHRIS It's a little large. (CONTINUED) 54.CONTINUED:Chris has another gulp of vodka as Mike holds up hisCassiopeia full of spider data. He shows Chris a videoof a male tarantula mummifying its food. Chris watchesin amazement. MIKE See! Male tarantulas wrap their prey in webbing. Tight like a mummy. The food stays alive so they can eat it later.Sam enters the room in time to overhear this. SAM Mike, please. Now isn't the time.Chris looks up at Sam. CHRIS They keep their food alive.Mike hands his mother the new piece of exoskeleton. SAM What is this? MIKE A spider's leg!Sam flinches, dropping the object to the floor. MIKE Careful! SAM No. That's a piece of cactus. Look... It's covered with spines. MIKE Those are quills! Tarantulas can flick them at you like darts!Mike does an odd flicking motion. Kind of like a dogscratching a flea. SAM Giant tarantulas? MIKE Tarantulas! Wolfs! Trapdoors! Joshua had a ton of exotics! (CONTINUED) 55.CONTINUED: CHRIS If there were giant spiders roaming the desert, don't you think somebody would've seen them by now? MIKE The jumpers hunt in daylight. But not the others. They only come out when the sun goes down!The group looks to the window, the sun hangs low in thesky.EXT. TOWN - DUSKProsperity is bathed in sunset. The mine shaft entrancesare clearly visible. Like black holes of malevolentpromise.INT. PALMER HOUSE - GARAGE - DAYThe garage is cluttered. Old station wagon. Bikes.Skis. Sam leads Chris to a bag full of her ex-husband'sclothes. SAM I guess I should watch more 'Oprah.' It must be a textbook 'no-dad' kind of thing.Chris shifts awkwardly. In shock. Sad. Sam holds up aflannel shirt. CHRIS That one looks kind of scratchy.Sam holds up a shirt that Chris approves of. He takes itand proceeds to take off his old soot-stained shirt. SAM All Jason cared about was getting out and starting over. I guess that included buying a new wardrobe.Sam turns to pass Chris a pair of Levis. He's buttoningup the new shirt. Chris takes the pants. He doesn'tregister Sam ogling his exposed chest. (CONTINUED) 56.CONTINUED: CHRIS Gladys thought I should sell... but you know... I never wanted to get rich. If it was about the money, I would have sold out to Wade a long time ago.Chris moves behind the car and takes off his pants. CHRIS I think I just wanted to prove the gold was down there. That my family wasn't crazy to keep looking. Even after we'd lost so much. And now... she's gone, too. SAM I'm sorry, Chris. CHRIS Do you know what I'm trying to say? SAM It wasn't about spending the gold, it was about finding it. CHRIS That's right. That's exactly right.Sam glimpses Chris through car windows. The poor guy'sstruggling to pull on some 501s. Sam turns away, butcatches sight of him in a propped-up glass door. CHRIS Remind me never to let you do my laundry.She turns, only to see him in a mirror. He steps outfrom behind the car. Sam stares at him. SAM They look great.INT. ASHLEY'S ROOM - SUNSETA melancholy N'SYNC ballad plays over a BOOM BOX. Ashleysits on her bed with her back to the open window. Thesun setting in the distance. She rips up the photographsof Bret. (CONTINUED) 57.CONTINUED:Ashley doesn't notice the Great Dane-sized spittingspider crawling in through her window. It is stripedlike a jungle predator.It comes all the way into the room and then lingers amongAshley's stuffed animal collection.INT. MIKE'S ROOM - DUSKMike checks the phone. Still dead. He types at hiscomputer, entering the specification of the piece ofexoskeleton. A digital representation of a spider growson his monitor screen. Showing Mike exactly how big thespider would be after shedding this skin. Mike isdistracted by the LOUD MUSIC coming from Ashley's room. MIKE Can't you turn that down?!INT. ASHLEY'S ROOM - DUSK MIKE (O.S.) I'm doing spider research!Ashley stops ripping. She goes to the pile of animals,oblivious to the spider. The beast doesn't move. Ashleygrabs a pink teddy bear with a heart on its belly. Shereturns to bed and cuts the bear's heart out withscissors.The spitting spider sneaks up behind Ashley. As itmoves, so does Ashley. She scoops up the torn photos andmutilated bear, dumping them in the trash. She turnsaround to find the giant spider on her bed. She freezesmomentarily. ASHLEY (sotto) Spider... Mike... Spider...Ashley sees her stun gun is on the dresser. She lungesfor it. She's almost got it. The spider squirts twolines of gummy web at Ashley. The glop hits her int hechest, carries her backward. Glues her to the wall.INT. GARAGE - NIGHTChris finishes dressing. He faces Sam. There is an oddmoment as they find themselves standing close. If thecircumstances were different they'd probably end upkissing. And then they hear ASHLEY'S bloodcurdlingSCREAM. 58.INT. HALLWAY - NIGHTMike pops out of his door. Sam and Chris run down thehallway. Sam yanks open the door to Ashley's room.INT. ASHLEY'S ROOM - NIGHTSam, Chris and Mike stand in the doorway staring at agiant spider menacing Ashley. The spitter fires anotherwebby blast, sticking the girl's legs to the wall. MIKE Wow! A scytodes spitter!Chris pushes past Sam and Mike. He grabs a chair andshoves it at the spitter like a lion tamer. The spiderbacks off. Sam takes off running down the hallway. ASHLEY Where are you going?INT. SAM'S BEDROOM - NIGHTSam runs up to find a gun case. She tries to get ashotgun, but finds it locked. She doesn't have the key.Sam grabs objects in the room and smashes the gun rack topieces.INT. ASHLEY'S ROOM - NIGHTChris has the chair in one hand to fend off the spider.With the other hand he tries to get Ashley out of thewebbing. Mike stands nearby reading from his Cassiopeia. MIKE The scytodes spits a gooey discharge to immobilize their prey. ASHLEY No shit!The spider hits Chris's chair with a blast of webbing.The chair is blown from his hand, and stuck to the wall.Chris stands weaponless before the spider. ASHLEY Use my stun g...Ashley is nailed in the face with another blast of goo.Mouth sealed shut. Chris reaches under the bed andpushes it over on to the spitter. The spider leaps clearonto the wall. (CONTINUED) 59.CONTINUED: MIKE (reads) Watch its fangs! The spitter's fangs move from side to side as it fires! CHRIS I'll keep that in mind.Chris grabs the spitter from behind and drags it off thewall. The spider turns to fight. Chris wrestles it tothe ground. He sees the fangs begin to move from side toside and rolls clear of a point-blank web shot.INT. SAM'S BEDROOM - NIGHTSam takes a purposeful step back and launches a spinningroundhouse kick that snaps the shotgun out of itsbinding. She grabs the bang stick and runs from theroom.INT. ASHLEY'S ROOM - NIGHTChris puts himself between Ashley and the spider. Helooks for a weapon. Lunges for the scissors, but thespitter nails him with a blast of glue. Chris is flungacross the room and stuck to the wall by the sleeve ofhis shirt. He shrugs out of it and makes another grabfor his scissors. He gets them. MIKE Get under it! Stab it in the abdomen! They don't have any armor down there! CHRIS How am I supposed to do that!?The spider leaps at Chris... and EXPLODES in midair.Bits of gore shower Chris. He stands to see Sam in thedoor with her shotgun. Chris is covered in spider guts. CHRIS I'm gonna need some new pants.INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHTSam finishes loading new shells into her shotgun and thenpops a fresh clip into her 9mm. Chris comes out of thegarage wearing clean clothes. Sam chucks him the pistol. (CONTINUED) 60.CONTINUED: SAM Ever used one of these? CHRIS I'm a fast learner.Chris tries to put the gun in his pocket. And then hiswaistband. But these damn pants are too tight.Ashley uses scissors to cut web out of her hair. MIKE I told you! I told you all! But nobody ever listens to Mike! Still think I'm crazy, Mom? SAM I'm sorry I didn't believe you.Ashley is about to hyperventilate. SAM Calm down, baby. ASHLEY There aren't enough wine coolers in the world to calm me down! SAM I won't let anything happen to you.Sam ka-chacks a fresh round into her shotgun. CHRIS What other spiders did Joshua have? MIKE Spitters, jumpers, orb weavers, tarantulas... CHRIS Why couldn't he keep goldfish like a normal person?Sam checks the phone. It's dead. SAM We need to warn people. CHRIS How about the radio station? (CONTINUED) 61.CONTINUED: SAM Good one. We'll go to Harlan's. ASHLEY Outside? You want to go outside?EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - PALMER HOUSE- NIGHTChris and Sam open the front door of the house. Samlooks one way. Chris the other.No giant spiders lurking about. Chris and Sam continueonto the lawn. Mike and Ashley watch from the safety ofthe doorway. They listen to the comforting SOUNDS OF aSUMMER NIGHT. SAM It's okay...Mike and Ashley move out of the doorway. Joining theadults. They move toward the cop car.EXT. STREETS (TOWN) - NIGHTThe cop car cruises. The occupants peer out the windows.Everything appears normal. Although no people arevisible.EXT. HARLAN'S TRAILER - NIGHTSam, Chris, and the kids move away from the cop car tothe door. They are at the far end of town. All appearsto be normal.INT. HARLAN'S TRAILER - NIGHTHarlan is broadcasting. HARLAN ... I'm saying the invasion has already occurred. The aliens are among us. But they've taken common forms. They hide in plain sight.Harlan is startled as Sam and the others enter with guns. SAM We need to make an emergency broadcast. (CONTINUED) 62.CONTINUED: HARLAN What happened? MIKE Giant spider invasion.Harlan's jaw drops. Sam takes the microphone. CHRIS What are you going to say? You can't tell them the truth. SAM (into microphone) Is this thing on? Hello? This is Sam Palmer. We have an emergency situation.EXT. STREET (TOWN) - NIGHT SAM (V.O.) A pack of rabid coyotes is loose in town.Wolf spiders crawl across rooftops. Spitters scalebuildings Tarantulas lurk in the shadows. Jumpersscuttle out of the mineshafts. Trapdoors prepare theirburrows.INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHTThis funky old couple relaxes in their LaZee-Boys. SAM (V.O.) They are extremely dangerous.The forelegs of a tarantula reach over the top of theman's recliner, yanking him clean out. The woman isoblivious as her husband is dragged away across thefloor.EXT. HANK AND EMMA'S HOME - NIGHTEmma bursts out of the front door, screaminghysterically. Hank is behind her with the SawzAll. Awolf spider crawls after them from inside the house. SAM (V.O.) Arm yourselves with any weapons you can find.Hank raises the saw, overextending the power cable. Heloses power. Drops the saw and runs for his life. 63.INT. BARBERSHOP - NIGHTFloyd and Leroy use brooms to fend off several wolfspiders. SAM (V.O.) Stay together and head for the mall.INT. DINER - NIGHTA spider eats the chef. The waitress roller-skates awayfrom an arachnid. She jumps through the window into thestreet.EXT. HOUSE - NIGHTA family piles into their mini-van. Oblivious to thejumper hiding in the "way back." They close the door anddrive off.INT. HARLAN'S TRAILER - NIGHTHarlan has donned a vintage football helmet and pads. CHRIS The mall? SAM The walls are concrete and the exits have steel gates. We could hold an entire army of giant spiders from inside. ASHLEY You just said giant spider on the air.Sam sees the microphone is keyed. HARLAN Now that's great radio! SAM Not giant spiders! I meant to say...Harlan notices long spider legs passing the window. HARLAN The aliens! 64.EXT. HARLAN'S TRAILER - NIGHTSam and the others spill out of the trailer. They headfor the cop car. As they get closer, a wolf spiderclimbs onto the car's roof and gnaws on the light bar.Sam raises her gun to blast it. MIKE Wait, Mom! The noise will attract more of them! CHRIS Let's try for the mall.Sam leads the others toward town.EXT. MAIN STREET - NIGHTChris and Sam hang onto the panicked kids. Harlan bringsup the rear. The place is chaos. People are chased byspiders. Dragged by spiders. Killed by spiders. Eatenby spiders. CHRIS My truck's at the museum. SAM Your keys? CHRIS In my other pants. MIKE Look out!The group flees a trio of goo-firing spitters. Suddenlya familiar mini-van races past. HARLAN Stop! Take us with you!Harlan tries to flag down the speeding ride but sees...The van's occupants are locked in combat with a jumper.The beast is inside their vehicle and tearing them topieces. The van crashes.EXT. POWER LINES (MAIN STREET, TOWN) - NIGHTA group of orb weavers scurry across power lines. Theyhit a transformer, shorting it out. The entire town issuddenly plunged into darkness. Headlights. GUNFIRE.Moonlight. Spotty illumination for the arachnids'feeding frenzy. 65.EXT. ALLEY (TOWN) - NIGHTA dumpster. The lid rises slightly. Wade Hale peers outfrom within. He lifts the lid higher, oblivious to thewolf spider on top of it. The spider reaches down athim. WADE No! Please!The spider is suddenly BLOWN AWAY by Sam and Chris. Wadeclimbs out of the dumpster. WADE Thank you!Chris and Sam move on with the kids. Wade runs afterthem. Mike looks at garbage-covered Wade. MIKE You stink. WADE (to Ashley) Have you seen Bret? ASHLEY He was out at the dunes. SAM Go ahead. I've got your butt. CHRIS What? SAM Your back! I've got your back!Chris gives Sam a funny look. Maybe Gladys was right...EXT. MAIN STREET - NIGHTSam leads her group down toward the mall. Other groupsof survivors do likewise. As they get closer to the mallthe groups coalesce into one large pack. We recognizeDeputy Pete. Fireman Travis. The roller-skatingwaitress. Floyd. Leroy. Hank. Emma. And many otherlocals.EXT. DESERT (NEAR MALL) - NIGHTSam and Chris are at the front of the mob with theirkids. (CONTINUED) 66.CONTINUED:Suddenly a trapdoor spider pops out of the ground. Itgrabs Travis the fire chief, and pulls him under, quicklyreplacing the roof of its den. TRAVIS SCREAMSunderground. MIKE Trapdoors! They're all around us! SAM How can we spot them?Mike consults his Cassiopeia. MIKE I didn't download that part! ASHLEY You dork!The group wheels at the MUFFLED SOUNDS. They seenothing. They hear another MUFFLED SCREAM, and the topof the spider's den pops up. Travis drags himself out ofit. TRAVIS Help... me... please...He is dragged back underground.The group continues toward the mall entrance. Suddenly agun-toting hunter is grabbed by a trapdoor. He goescyclic, madly FIRING his GUN into the air as he's draggedunder.More beasts rise out of their dens. Reaching for thehumans. CHRIS Keep going!Chris and the others flee toward the mall. Some of themSHOOT at the spiders as they run.Leroy is grabbed by a trapdoor. Floyd tries to help butthe spider plunges its fangs into poor Leroy, dragginghim under.The group clears the trapdoor minefield. But some of thespiders have vacated their dens and are coming afterthem. 67.EXT. MALL ENTRANCE - NIGHTChris and Sam and the kids lead just fifteen othersurvivors to the glass doors. The doors are locked.Wade pulls out a ring of fifty keys and fumbles with themdesperately. ASHLEY There's someone inside!The group sees Norman the dope dealer janitor approachingout of the gloom. He's staring at them all curiously. NORMAN We're closed.Sam points her gun at him. Norman raise his hands inshock. NORMAN Wait! I have a prescription! It's for my glaucoma! SAM Open this goddamn door! NORMAN Yes, ma'am.Norman unlocks the door and lets the group in.INT. MALL - NIGHTThe survivors hustle inside. They lock the glass doorsbehind them. The spiders are still coming. MIKE Get away from the doors! NORMAN Be cool, little dude. They're locked. MIKE Glass won't stop them!The spiders begin smashing through the glass doors.Chris and Sam SHOOT to keep them back. People flee intothe mall. SAM The gates! Close the gates! (CONTINUED) 68.CONTINUED:Wade and Norman proceed to lower the slotted steelsecurity gates. Only problem is: Sam and Chris are onthe other side. ASHLEY Mom! MIKE Hurry up!Sam and Chris see the gate coming down. They run for itand slide underneath just as the gate comes down. Amassive trapdoor slams up against the metal. But themetal holds. SAM Shut the other entrances!Norman and Chris run toward the opposite end of the mall.INT. MALL - SOUTH ENTRANCE - NIGHTChris and Norman arrive. Spiders are SMASHING throughthe GLASS. Chris and Norman bring the gate down. Theyback away as more spiders slam against the steel. NORMAN Trick or treat.Chris and Norman head back to join the others. Theyfind...INT. HOME AND GARDEN STORE (MALL) - NIGHTThe survivors gather makeshift weapons. Floyd take achainsaw off the wall. Norman practices swinging a heavysledgehammer, accidentally toppling a stack of paintcans. Hank stands before a display of circular buzzsaws.Chris goes to where Sam doles out the few firearms. CHRIS We're sealed up at both ends.Sam hands Chris a shotgun. He tries to get the feel ofit. SAM You pump the slide to jack in a fresh round. Point at your target and squeeze. (CONTINUED) 69.CONTINUED:Chris tries it out, pumping the slide. A shell flies outthe slide of the weapon and hits Wade in the head. WADE Watch it! CHRIS Like that?Sam shakes her head and takes the gun back. She pulls amachete off the wall and hands it to Chris. SAM Try not to cut yourself.INT. MALL - NIGHTThe place has the feeling of a fortress under a siege.Separate groups of townspeople are stationed at theentrances to watch the spiders' every move.INT. MALL - NORTH ENTRANCE - NIGHT WADE Why didn't we see them earlier? MIKE For the last time! They can't handle the sunlight. They were waiting in the mines for the sun to go down! CHRIS Then at daybreak they'll go back inside. We can walk out the front door. MIKE We won't make it that long. ASHLEY They're gonna come in after us? MIKE They're growing very fast. They need food to sustain that kind of development. HANK Someone should go out and get help. (CONTINUED) 70.CONTINUED: EMMA You go, Sam. SAM Me? WADE You're the sheriff. SAM I don't have that many handcuffs. PETE What about the police radio? SAM You're not goin' back out there, Pete. None of us are. CHRIS Radio Shack is full of cell phones. WADE But the signal won't get out of the valley. That's why we couldn't sell any of the damn things. HARLAN My antenna...The group looks up. The moon-cast shadow of the antennais visible on the skylights that run the length of themall. HARLAN I could climb up to the top. I bet I could get a signal out. WADE Great idea. You should do that. CHRIS I'll cover you, Harlan.INT. MALL - NIGHTWade leads Chris and Harlan toward an access door. Samstands with her kids. Watching. Chris looks over hisshoulder for one last look. Sam runs up to him, giveshim the shotgun. (CONTINUED) 71.CONTINUED: SAM Are you sure you can handle this? CHRIS (re: pants) While I'm gone, do you think you could find me a size 32? SAM I'll do my best. (a beat) Uhh... Do you want to go out sometime? Dinner? Maybe a movie?Chris takes her in his arms and plants a kiss on herlips.Wade holds open the nearby access door. WADE Hey, loverboy... you've got a town to save.Chris and Harlan head out. Sam watches them disappearthrough the door and then returns to the survivors. ASHLEY You're not really going to get him bigger pants are you? SAM No way.INT. MALL - ACCESS STAIRS - NIGHTWade leads Chris and Harlan up a tight staircase. Thedoor at the top is identified as "Roof Access." Wadereaches the door. The others bunch up behind him. CHRIS Don't even think about locking this door. WADE I'll be right here waiting.Wade slowly opens the roof door.EXT. MALL - ROOF - NIGHTChris and Harlan step onto the roof with their gear. Nosign of any spiders. (CONTINUED) 72.CONTINUED:Wade closes the door behind them and locks it. Chris andHarlan aren't happy to hear that LOCK TURN.They sneak across the roof toward the base of theantenna. CHRIS It looks clear.Harlan starts climbing. Chris stands guard at thebottom. Neither of them sees the horde of spidersclimbing up the side of the building toward the roof.INT. VICTORIA'S SECRET - MALL - NIGHTMike collects perfume. Packing it into his pockets likegrenades. Ashley is nearby, checking out the lingerie. ASHLEY I didn't know you wore cologne. MIKE I don't. It's spider repellent.Sam steps in through the door. SAM Let's stay together, guys. ASHLEY (holds up a teddy) Can I get this? SAM Move it!The kids run out to join their mom. After they go...The grill of an air vent is pushed open. A huge spittingspider pushes its way through. Dropping to the floor.Another spider follows.EXT. MALL - ROOF - ANTENNA - NIGHTHarlan is high up on the antenna. He has a cell phone inhand. It still indicates: "NO SERVICE." He keepsclimbing.EXT. MALL - ROOF - NIGHTChris sees spiders flood onto the roof. (CONTINUED) 73.CONTINUED: CHRIS We've got company!He tries to COCK the SHOTGUN. Ejecting a shell out theside. CHRIS This always looks so easy on TV!Chris gets it figured out just in time to BLAST anattacking spider. He fades back toward the antenna.SHOOTING.EXT. MALL - ROOF - ANTENNA - NIGHTHarlan checks the phone. HARLAN I've got a signal!He dials 911.EXT. MALL - ROOF - NIGHTChris is surrounded by spiders. He starts climbing upthe antenna. CHRIS They're coming!EXT. MALL - ROOF - ANTENNA - NIGHTHarlan is on the phone. He hears... OPERATOR (V.O.) 911 Emergency. HARLAN I'm calling from Prosperity Nevada! We're being attacked by giant spiders! The entire town has been overrun!Chris yells up to him. CHRIS No! Don't say that! OPERATOR (V.O.) This is Emergency Services. Not dial-a-joke. (CONTINUED) 74.CONTINUED:CLICK. The LINE GOES DEAD. Chris climbs up beside him.He FIRES several BLASTS at the approaching spiders. CHRIS What happened? HARLAN They didn't believe me! CHRIS What a shock! Try again!The spiders are closing in as Harlan re-dials. OPERATOR (V.O.) 911 Emergency. HARLAN There was a massive explosion! Everybody's dead! OPERATOR (V.O.) Sir, your number has been flagged as a source of a crank call. I'm afraid I must terminate this conversation.CLICK. HARLAN She hung up on me! CHRIS Climb!Chris FIRES the SHOTGUN. The spiders are closing in.INT. MALL - NIGHTSam gazes up at the skylight. She can see the silhouetteof Chris and Harlan climbing the antenna. Pursued byspiders. SAM (sotto) Oh my God...Ashley screams in horror nearby. ASHLEY They're inside! (CONTINUED) 75.CONTINUED:Sam whirls to see Ashley pointing at several spiderscoming out of Victoria's Secret. Sam runs over to fightthem. WADE Over here!He faces off against more spiders coming through the Homeand Garden store.EXT. MALL - ROOF - ANTENNA - NIGHTHarlan is at the top. Chris is a bit lower. The spidersare still coming. Chris SHOOTS at them. His GUN RUNSDRY. He flips it around and butt-strokes an approachingarac.A spider fires a web at Harlan. Nails the poor guy. Anddrags him off the antenna.Harlan falls off the antenna, back toward the spiders.Chris reaches out and grabs him. Holding Harlan's hand. CHRIS I've got you!Harlan makes eye-contact with Chris. They're both aboutto be killed unless... HARLAN Defend the human race! CHRIS No!Harlan jerks away from Chris's hand. He cannonballs downinto the horde of spiders. Splattering several of thebeasts along with himself.Chris throws the useless shotgun at an approaching aracand climbs even higher. He pulls out his machete andbegins hacking at the guide-wires that hold the antennaupright.The spiders close in. Chris slices one wire. Theantenna quivers. Chris slices another wire. The antennashakes.INT. MALL - NIGHTDeputy Pete is standing with Sam and the kids when he'sjerked off his feet and hauled into the maw of anarachnid. (CONTINUED) 76.CONTINUED: SAM Ashley! Mike!She sees Mike and Ashley avoid an arac by taking refugeinside the tunnels of the jungle gym.Sam FIRES the GUNS like Annie Oakley, putting spidersdown left and right, trying to reach her kids.Floyd the barber confronts a spider with his chain-saw. FLOYD Having a bad hair day?!The spider charges. Floyd slices its legs off. FLOYD How about a little off the top!He slices another arac.EXT. MALL - ROOF - ANTENNA - NIGHTChris dodges a spider's webline. Several more come athim. CHRIS You're going down!Chris cuts the last wire and hikes out over the skylight.The antenna keels over. Chris hangs tight as he dropstoward the glass.INT. MALL - NIGHTSam looks up to see Chris come crashing down through theskylight on the antenna. The antenna tilts in at a sixtydegree angle. Chris hangs off the end. Orb weavers ridetheir weblines down to the floor of the mall.Mike peeks out from the top of the jungle gym. He sees ahundred spiders coming in on webs. Flooding out of thestores. The devil-spawned monsters are everywhere! MIKE Arac attack!Chris leaps from the antenna to a nearby web. He slidesdown it like a pole, squashing the orb weaver at thebottom. Sam runs to his side. (CONTINUED) 77.CONTINUED: SAM Did you get help?! Is anybody coming!? CHRIS We're on our own!Sam tosses him a gun and they head toward the jungle gym.The waitress roller-skates away from the spiders. Sheslaloms clear of several spitters. But gets tackled by ajumper.INT. MALL - JUNGLE GYMAshley and Mike are hiding. ASHLEY I can't stay in here!Ashley starts to move out of the tube. She discovers theend has been covered with web. She pushes it. Somethingon the other side pushes back. Ashley scrambles back.Mike is already moving. The kids flee through the tubesto get away. ASHLEY What are they doing? MIKE (checks Cassiopeia) They're trapping us like ants in a log! Once they have all the exits blocked, they'll come in through the last one!They see a way out, head for that exit, only to find aspider coming through it. Mike tosses one of his perfumegrenades at the spider, covering their retreat.Another spider comes after them through one of the tubes.Mike chucks another perfume bottle. The spider cowers. MIKE We've gotta go!Ashley finds a hole that leads to the slide. ASHLEY Here!She starts down with Mike close behind. A large spiderlooms at the end. Ashley tries to arrest her slide. Butit's no use. At the last second Sam's boot kicks thearachnid clear. 78.INT. MALL - NIGHTAshley and Mike pour out of the slide. Chris and Samfinish off the spider and then run with the kids.Emma runs parallel to them across the playground'ssandbox. Only to be yanked under by a trapdoor spider.Hank sees this and goes after the spiders with all histools. Getting revenge with a nail gun in each hand. HANK It's tool time!Floyd is still going crazy, slicing spiders with hischain-saw, he lets out a victorious yell until a hungryspider descends on him from above and knocks him to thefloor.Chris passes a clothing store displaying Levi 501s. Hestops for a moment to look at the jeans. SAM (O.S.) Chris!Chris continues on.All of the survivors meet in the middle of the mall andprepare for Custer's last stand. Spiders charge from alldirections.Mike throws his perfume grenades. Sam and Chris SHOOT.Others use their make-shift weapons.Norman pulls out a joint and sparks it. Mike sees thisand gets an idea. MIKE Where do you grow your weed?! NORMAN Dude, if I tell you, I have to kill you.Norman takes a hit on his reefer. MIKE They're going to kill us, you stoner!Norman sees the army of spiders closing in. NORMAN Over here! (CONTINUED) 79.CONTINUED:Norman opens an access door. Sam and the other survivorsrun over and crowd through it. Norman shuts the doorbehind them. The groups of pursuing spiders collide andbegin ripping each other to pieces in a feeding frenzy.INT. MALL - ACCESS STAIRS - NIGHTNorman leads the survivors down the tight hallway. WADE Where are you taking us? NORMAN To Shangri-la.INT. MALL - BASEMENT POT ROOM - NIGHTNorman leads the survivors into a basement room full ofpot paraphernalia. Hookahs. Weed growing in hydroponicunits under battery powered lights. Psychedelic posters. NORMAN You aren't going to arrest me for this are you? SAM Not today.The group can hear SPIDERS BASHING at the upstairs door. WADE (to Norman) Oh great! Now you've trapped us!Chris moves to the bottom of the stairs. CHRIS We should be able to hold them off for a little while.Suddenly a loud BANGING ERUPTS on the wall behind them. ASHLEY They're coming through the wall!The group tightens up. Back to back. Ready for the end.Suddenly a human hand punches through the wall. CHRIS What the hell? (CONTINUED) 80.CONTINUED:Bret Hale rips through the drywall. Filthy but alive.Standing in a horizontal mine shaft. He sees Sam's gunpointed right at him. BRET I didn't touch her! I swear!Sam looks at Ashley. ASHLEY Don't waste your bullets.Wade embraces his son. WADE I thought you were a goner, boy!Chris steps to the opening for a closer look at the mine. CHRIS We can get out this way! ASHLEY Aren't the spiders in there? MIKE Not until daylight.The BANGING on the upper door gets more INTENSE.Norman grabs a flashlight and a bunch of battery poweredgrow lights from his weed farm. He passes them out tothe group.Chris takes the flashlight and leads the way into themine shaft. Bret is shocked as the others follow him.The group uses the grow lights, and flashlights. BRET You're going back in there?! Are you all crazy!? WADE Come on, Bret! BRET No way! I'm not going!Bret is alone in the room as the upper DOOR IMPLODES andspiders flood downstairs. Bret dives through theopening. 81.INT. MINE TUNNEL - NIGHTBret runs past Sam and Chris. Sam FIRES her SHOTGUN atthe first spider that enters the tunnel. Her GUN CLICKSDRY. She un-holsters her PISTOLS and FIRES. CHRIS Cover me! SAM What are you going to do?!Chris uses the machete to cleave into the tunnel's uppersupport beam. More spiders come into the tunnel. SamFIRES desperately. Chris keeps on hacking. SAM Hurry!Sam's GUNS CLICK DRY. Spiders charge. Chris swings themachete hard. The ROOF COLLAPSES onto the attackingspiders.Chris and Sam leap back. Landing in a heap. Clouds ofdust swirl around them. They are tangled up for anawkward beat. Their faces just inches from each other... SAM Hold that thought.They manage to disengage and move on.INT. MINE TUNNEL - NIGHTChris and Sam move toward the bobbing lights of the fewremaining survivors. WADE We're trapped again! CHRIS At least they can't follow us. SAM Which way do we go? CHRIS I think we're in one of the old tunnels. SAM Can you get us out of here? CHRIS Don't worry, Sam.Chris takes point with the others following nervously. 82.INT. MINES - JUNCTION - NIGHTA boarded-up shaft entrance. Suddenly the WOODSPLINTERS. Chris and the others bash through. They fileinto a slightly more open area with two branchingtunnels. The place is stacked from floor to ceiling withbarrels of toxic waste. CHRIS I don't believe it...Mike recognizes the BioHazard warning label he saw on thebarrel in the drainage ditch. MIKE I've seen one of these before! ASHLEY What are they? CHRIS Toxic waste. SAM Where did you see it, Mike? MIKE The creek where Joshua gets his spider food. There was one in the water.Chris starts toward the sloping tunnel. CHRIS We can get out this way! BRET No, we can't. (turns to Wade) Isn't that tunnel blocked off, Dad?Chris and the others look at Wade. WADE Uh... yeah... he's right. We can't get out that way. CHRIS You did this? WADE I knew you'd never sell... We're under my property so... (CONTINUED) 83.CONTINUED: SAM You put all of us at risk. WADE I didn't have a choice! I was broke! They gave me a hundred grand!Sam punches him. Knocking Wade to the ground. SAM I think our lives are worth a little more than that. CHRIS We're wasting time.Chris heads toward the only exit available. The othersfollow. Wade staggers to his feet. Stumbling afterthem.INT. MINE TUNNEL - NIGHTChris leads the group down a tunnel. They come acrossbits of vintage mining gear. A string of old light bulbsruns along the roof into both tunnels. CHRIS One end of these lights should be connected to a generator. That'll be near the entrance.They continue down the tunnel. Entering...INT. MINES - TARANTULA DEN - NIGHTA large cavern. Animal carcasses litter the ground.Some human remains. Dead pets. Dead ostriches. WADE My birds! You see, Sam? I wasn't lying! That's what I can put on the insurance form... giant spiders! ASHLEY Ewww... what's that smell?The others are reacting strongly. (CONTINUED) 84.CONTINUED: CHRIS Methane. This cavern is full of gas. ASHLEY What does that mean? CHRIS One spark and we're all dead.Norman swallows his glowing joint.Chris shines his flashlight on a pile of mummy bundles. MIKE That's what I was talking about, Chris. Presents from the male tarantula to the female. BRET So the female's around here?Bret looks around nervously.The group moves closer. They sine their lights on ahorrifying sight. Joshua's corpse is a deflated fleshballoon. Yellowed teeth sneer from a shattered skull.He's completely desiccated. Every ounce of liquiddrained away.Mike hides his eyes. Ashley comforts him. SAM That one just moved!Chris runs over and slices it open with his machete. Theweb comes away to reveal a human hand. CHRIS There's somebody in here!Chris cuts away more web as the other survivors help.They finally reveal Gladys. CHRIS Gladys!The woman's body begins to spasm. CHRIS Gladys, please... (to the others) Can anybody help her?! (CONTINUED) 85.CONTINUED:Suddenly Ashley pushes her way forward. ASHLEY Her breathing is shallow. She's going into arrest.Ashley proceeds with CPR. Just like she saw on TV.Suddenly Gladys snaps out of it. Gasping for air. CHRIS It's okay. It's okay.Gladys starts to get a grip. Trying to focus on Chris.From this angle Chris look like he has a golden halo. GLADYS Am I... dead? CHRIS You're okay. GLADYS I'm not in heaven? CHRIS No... GLADYS Then what's with all the gold?Gladys points behind Chris's head to the wall of thecavern. The group turns their lights on it. Thereflection is dazzling. Veins of gold criss-cross thecavern walls. WADE Gold! Gold! Look! It's everywhere! SAM Is it real?Chris checks it out. CHRIS Jesus... it's the mother lode... He was right. My dad was right...Chris helps Gladys to her feet. They share an emotionallook of recognition. GLADYS So were you. (CONTINUED) 86.CONTINUED:Wade chips away at the gold. WADE Get as much as you can!Bret looks at Ashley. BRET Nice work, Doc.Ashley acknowledges him. Bret chips gold with Wade. Samputs her hand on Ashley's shoulder. SAM You saved my life.Ashley smiles.Gladys leans over to Norman. GLADYS Have you got a smoke, kid? NORMAN The man says this cavern is full of highly flammable methane gas. I smoke to get high, not to die. SAM Spiders!The group sees a cluster of normal-sized tarantulasscuttling out of the shadows. NORMAN What's the big deal?Norman steps on the closest one, grinding it under hisboot. He stomps around, crushing as many as he can.Mike watches this curiously. Taking a look at one of thesquashed bodies. MIKE I think you should stop. NORMAN Why? MIKE They don't have hair. They aren't fully grown tarantulas.Chris and Sam look over. (CONTINUED) 87.CONTINUED: MIKE They're giant babies!Norman freezes. He hears SOMETHING MOVING around in thedark. And then a spine chilling... GROWL.Chris reacts to the noise. He can guess what's coming...The FEMALE TARANTULA steps out of the shadows. Consuelahas grown to be as big as a Volkswagen MicroBus. By farthe largest spider we've seen yet. Covered in hair.Massive eyes. Her two fangs are the size of machetes.Mike's eyes go wide at the sight of his old nemesis. MIKE Consuela. CHRIS Consuela?The fur on Consuela's back seems to undulate. There issomething weird there. A lot of weird things. Infact... her entire back is littered with hundreds of babytarantulas.As Consuela advances, she flicks several dart-sizedquills off her belly right into Norman. A dark stainspreads across the drug dealer's shirt. NORMAN Bummer...Consuela pierces Norman with her fangs, holding himtight. Babies flood of her back and onto the doper,chewing him to pieces like ravenous piranhas. CHRIS Go!The group flees toward the opposite end of the cavern. Amale tarantula drops down to block their escape. SamBLOWS it away. Wade and Bret are still chipping awaybits of gold. CHRIS Leave it! WADE So you can keep it all!? Hell no!Wade gets a nugget off the wall. He only has ananosecond to admire it before Consuela suddenly loomsbehind him. (CONTINUED) 88.CONTINUED: BRET Dad!Bret reaches out toward his father. Wade reaches forhim. Consuela's fangs suddenly protrude from Wade'schest and he's hauled backward. The tarantula flingsWade into the cave. CHRIS Bret, come on!Bret runs after the others. But he sees Consuela firingmore quills at the group. Directly at Ashley. Bretleaps into harm's way. He's turned into a pin cushion. ASHLEY Bret!Ashley goes to his side. BRET I'm sorry I...Bret dies. Sam drags Ashley away from him.INT. MINES - NIGHTThe survivors flee along the tunnel. Chris jumps up torip down the string of light bulbs from the ceiling. SAM We have to get out! CHRIS This is our chance to kill them all.Chris smashes the bulb at the end of the strand. CHRIS When the power comes on, the bulb will ignite the methane and torch them! SAM Where did you get an idea like that!?Chris looks at Gladys. GLADYS I blew up the kitchen. (CONTINUED) 89.CONTINUED: CHRIS Keep going up the tunnel. There should be a generator at the exit. Start it up and await for my signal to throw the switch. SAM And the toxic waste... CHRIS Will be buried under tons of rock! Go! SAM What about you? CHRIS I need to set the fuse as close to the spiders as I can. That should give us time to get clear.Sam and Chris share a brief beat. And then Chris pullsdown the lights, dragging them back toward thetarantula's den. SAM He has a cute butt. Don't you think? GLADYS U.S.D.A. choice.INT. MINES - TARANTULA DEN - NIGHTChris comes through with his light bulb fuse. Consuelaand her babies are feasting on the bodies of Bret andWade Hale.Chris finds a vent in the ground. He sprinkles dust overit to identify a faint draft. CHRIS Bingo.He positions the shattered light bulb beside this gasjet.INT. MINE TUNNELS - NIGHTMike helps Gladys up the tunnel. Sam and Ashley arebehind. Suddenly a male tarantula steps out of theshadows, separating the groups. (CONTINUED) 90.CONTINUED: MIKE Mom! SAM Keep going!Sam and Ashley flee down another tunnel.INT. MINES - TARANTULA DEN - NIGHTChris finishes preparing the booby trap. He gets up toleave. Only to find Consuela coming toward him. CHRIS I hate spiders.Chris runs out of the cavern.INT. MINE TUNNEL - NIGHTChris bails out of the cavern and starts running.INT. MINE TUNNELS - NIGHTSam and Ashley flee the male tarantula. Sam stumblesover something on the ground. It's Bret Hale's lostmotorcycle. Ashley looks back and sees the tarantulacoming after them. ASHLEY Hurry!Sam lifts the MOTORCYCLE upright and climbs on. SheSTARTS it and REVS the ENGINE. Ashley leaps aboard. Samaccelerates along the shaft, away from the spider. Thebike's headlight illuminates their path.The male tarantula scurries after the bike.Sam rides the motorcycle along the shaft. Ashley hangson tight. They've put some distance between themselvesand the male tarantula. A dead-end looms before them.Ashley screams as her mom stops on a dime and does a 180.Sam rides back the way they came, heading straight towardthe male tarantula. Ashley looks over her mother'sshoulder at the giant spider coming in the oppositedirection. ASHLEY Oh shit. (CONTINUED) 91.CONTINUED:Sam lifts the bike into a wheelie as the tarantula nears. SAM Banzai!With perfect timing, she brings the front wheel down hardonto the tarantula's back. Crunch! The spider isroadkill. Sam steers them down another tunnel.EXT. MINE TUNNEL EXIT - NEAR WADE'S RANCH - DAWNMike and Gladys gather at a generator just shy of thetunnel exit. Mike tries to start the generator. Itwon't catch. MIKE It needs gas! GLADYS There's a ranch!Gladys heads over toward Wade's ranch.INT. MINE TUNNEL - DAWNChris runs along the tunnel. Consuela charges after him,Chris reaches up, smashing more light bulbs as he runs.EXT. MINE TUNNEL EXIT - NEAR WADE'S RANCH - DAWNMike is at the generator as Sam and Ashley ride up on themotorcycle. MIKE It needs gas!Sam tips over the motorcycle, trying to get gas out ofthe tank. It's clear this is not going to work. ASHLEY Hurry!INT. MINE TUNNEL - DAWNChris runs. Smashing light bulbs. Consuela closebehind. CHRIS Start the generator! 92.EXT. MINE TUNNEL EXIT - NEAR WADE'S RANCH - DAWN MIKE He's coming! ASHLEY Hurry, Mom!Sam has dumped some fuel into the generator. She triesto start it. It won't turn over.INT. MINE TUNNEL - DAWNChris ducks as Consuela fires quills at him. He keepsgoing.INT. MINE TUNNEL EXIT - DAWNSam sees Chris at the bottom of the tunnel. She tries tostart the generator again but it refuses to cooperate. CHRIS Throw the switch! SAM I don't have any power! ASHLEY Yo, Mom!Sam turns as Ashley throws her the STUN GUN. Sam catchesit and brings it down to the light bulb cable... ZAPPINGit.INT. MINE TUNNEL - DAWNAs Chris runs, the light bulbs illuminate sequentially,traveling past him into the cavern.INT. MINE TUNNEL - DAWNA broken light bulb sparks. The filament ignites thegas-filled tunnel. A ball of flame spreads throughoutthe mines.INT. MINES - TARANTULA DEN - DAWNA huge column of flame blasts into the chamber. All thegold is illuminated. Consuela's babies are burned likepopcorn. 93.EXT. MINE TUNNEL EXIT - NEAR WADE'S RANCH - DAYSam looks back to see Chris running toward her. Consuelais on his heels. The glow of a fireball is right behindthem. SAM Come on!Chris looks over his shoulder at Consuela and the flames. SAM Chris!Chris makes it to Sam just ahead of the conflagration.EXT. DESERT - NEAR WADE'S RANCH - DAYSam and Chris dive out of the mine opening. A pillar offlame shoots out behind them. Ashley and Mike arenearby. The town is visible just a mile away.EXT. TOWN - DAYThe spiders retreat from daylight. Scuttling back intothe buildings. Heading down into the mine shafts.INT. VARIOUS MINE TUNNELS - DAYThe chain reaction spreads through the mines. Jets offlame blast up tunnels.Torching any unlucky spiders looking for a home.Rupturing the very earth around them.EXT. DESERT - NEAR WADE'S RANCH - DAYThe EARTH BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. ASHLEY Earthquake! CHRIS No! It's a chain reaction! The whole valley is going to blow! MIKE We'll never get out in time!Gladys drives up in Wade's humvee. Cigar in mouth. (CONTINUED) 94.CONTINUED: GLADYS Let's get the fuck out of here!The survivors pile into the truck as the town begins toBLOW UP in the distance.Chris is just about to climb aboard when... A weblineshoots out of the nearby mine shaft. Consuela lives!The spider is charred and bloody. But she's primed forrevenge.Chris is yanked off his feet and hauled toward her. Hefumbles for his machete and hacks at the webline.Cutting himself free just before getting impaled onConsuela's fangs.Consuela knocks away Chris's machete and lunges down athim. Chris kicks her belly with both his feet. Consuelabegins to shudder. Jagged cracks appear in her charredcarapace. Chris kicks and tears at the failing armor.He thinks he's harming the tarantula, but he's actuallyhelping it!Mike and the others watch from the humvee. MIKE Oh no... she's molting!Consuela's blistered shell cracks as she shrugs thedamaged skin away from her body. Chris is amazed to seethe spider has grown a full size larger and becometotally rejuvenated!Consuela comes after Chris. He defends himself with themachete.Shining steel makes contact with the dripping fangs.Once again Consuela punts away the machete. She preparesthe death blow. It looks like curtains for Chris. MIKE Consuela! No! Bad! Bad Consuela!The massive spider stops in shock. Chris looks back tosee Mike has returned.TARANTULA POVThe familiar multi-perspective spider vision. Thetarantula seems to recognize Mike. 95.BACK TO MIKEHe throws his Cassiopeia PDA at the spider's face...Chris uses this moment of confusion to grab his macheteand drive it deep into the spider's unprotectedabdomen...The tarantula screams.Chris leaps up and runs, scooping up Mike. They diveinto the back of the humvee.Consuela tries to follow but is mortally wounded. Shecollapses in the dust. The TOWN EXPLODES in the b.g.The earth itself begins to collapse.INT. HUMVEE - DRIVING ACROSS DESERT - DAYGladys accelerates as the town sinks in the distance.BUILDINGS EXPLODE. Jets of flame burst upward. The mallis sucked into the widening pit of collapsing earth. Thehumvee is just a cart length ahead of a wave of crumblingdesert.EXT. HIGHWAY - DAYThe humvee reaches open road. The survivors watch outthe back as Prosperity disappears into a massivesinkhole.EXT. HIGHWAY/INT. HUMVEE - MOVING - DAYThe group sits in a long beat of abject shock. And thenChris looks down to see his tight pants have finallyripped. CHRIS I really need some pants that fit.The group smiles. Happy to be alive. MIKE Look out!Everyone looks to the road ahead. A familiar bunnyrabbit hops across the highway. Gladys HONKS and swervesto avoid it.EXT. HIGHWAY - DAYThe bunny gets clear as the humvee drives away towardsafety. (CONTINUED) 96.CONTINUED:The rabbit continues its trek for a moment, and then isgrabbed by a large trap-door spider. FADE OUT. THE END? \ No newline at end of file