REX LOGAN AND THE ISLAND OF SMURGOON
NARRATOR:
It was the light of the sun filtering through the trees that woke Rex Logan. He remembered getting to the island of Smurgoon but then all went blank.
How long had he been out? What had caused his black-out and how was the sun filtering through trees when he was lying in an open field with no trees in it?
PAN OUT TO SHOW REX IN A BIG FIELD. HE LOOKS UP AT THE SUN AND WE CUT TO P.O.V. WITH THE SUN STREAMING THROUGH TREES. HE WALKS ALONG LOOKING UP INTERMITTANTLY, SLIGHTLY CONFUSED.
His head was pounding as a million thoughts raced through his mind.
CLOSE UP OF REX WITH A VACANT LOOK ON HIS FACE.
The disappearance of his detective partner Mick Nash had brought him here. Five days had passed since the last message had been received from Mick. Five long days, but strangely only two nights.
His final message had mentioned lemons and dust, shadow men and barley. Was this the ramblings of a madman or some sort of coded message. Rex had to find out and fast.
He ran into a dense forest weaving expertly around the trees. He had navigated through such terrain countless times and was now something of an expert so it was all the more surprising when he fell helplessly over a steep ravine landing directly on his toenails, smashing them to bits.
FX OF GLASS SHATTERING.
The pain seared up through his legs circling around his knees twice, danced through his crotch and lodged in his nose. Seizing his chance he quickly sneezed, ridding himself of the pain.
Rex now found himself at the mouth of a cave. He cautiously entered. He knew that many possible dangers lay ahead as well as many impossible ones but he had gone too far now, there was no turning back.
AS THIS IS BEING SAID WE SEE REX SECOND-GUESSING HIMSELF AND IS ABOUT TO TURN BACK BUT FEELS OBLIGATED TO GO ON WHEN THE NARRATOR SAYS THAT HE CANNOT TURN BACK.
As he stepped forward a faint voice could be heard deep from within the cave.
VOICE:
...And the bringer of barley comes when the sun smirks upon all his nephews but beware for the claw of a once promising young crow can smear what awaits for kings from all the seas of the ocean....
NARRATOR:
The word 'barley'. Just like in Mick's final message, thought Rex. I am definitely on the right trail.
He could now see the source of the voice. A man with a strange mask dressed in a long robe with a strong light shining directly on him, casting a huge shadow on the wall behind him.
He seemed to be preaching to all manner of strange creatures such as a man with antlers, several people wearing masks and a black swan.
Rex settled behind a large rock struggling to make sense of the situation.
VOICE:
When you feel your mind turn yellow and when a large rock answers the question you never asked remember that all beings are one, I mean are two, sometimes three or nine... All beings are nine. When the time comes take the aforementioned lemons that I now mention for the first time and plan..
NARRATOR:
Rex shuffled in his position but slipped off the rock landing heavily with a large crash.
FX OF POTS AND PANS LANDING ON A TILED FLOOR.
NARRATOR:
The preacher looked in Rex's direction.
PREACHER:
Who falls there?
NARRATOR:
Rex gingerly stood up rubbing his backside which had been skinned badly on a rock.
REX LOOKS AT CAMERA.
REX:
(PUT OUT BY NARRATORS COMMENTS) It's actually not skinned. It's just am...just hurt a bit.
PREACHER:
Who talks there? What are you?
REX:
I am a human man. My name is Rex Logan and I am looking for my friend Mick Nash.
PREACHER:
We do not know this Micknash you speak of.
REX:
Michael Nash?
PREACHER:
Oooh Micksey Dixey. The mountain sprout, the timeout, the urban whirl, twineboy, roaster rock..
REX:
A-are...do you...Are you referring to Mick Nash or are you just...just naming things at random?
PREACHER:
You must come with me Rex Logan.
THE PREACHER STEPS OUT OF THE GLARE OF THE LIGHT BUT THE LONG SHADOW REMAINS ATTACHED TO HIM LIKE A TALL BLACK HAT.
HE TAKES REX TO A PRIVATE AREA.
REX:
I'm looking for Mick Nash. Where is he?
PREACHER:
Perhaps Mick Nash is a lot closer than you think.
THE PREACHER TAKES OFF HIS MASK.
He's just behind you.
MICK APPEARS FROM BEHIND REX.
REX:
Mick! Thank God! (he turns back to the preacher) Who are you?
PREACHER:
I can't believe you don't know who I am. I'm hurt, physically hurt that you don't know me. I'm actually hurt.
MICK:
We don't have time for this. They're going to know something is up. We've got to get out of here now!
NARRATOR:
The trio ran back out the dark cave. Rex stumbled over a rock and landed in a heap on the ground.
FX OF MARBLES HITTING THE GROUND.
This time Rex was in pain and was going have to be helped out of the cave, and fast as there were now all manner of creatures in hot pursuit.
The pain was in Rex's wrists, causing him to limp heavily and this time the pain wasn't moving to any part of his body where he could expel it.
The preacher and Nash deliberated as to what was the best way to carry Rex. The preacher put Rex's arms around him, leaving Mick free, then Mick put one arm around the preachers waist and left Rex in a crumpled heap. This didn't work either.
Mick then held Rex's arm and the preachers foot but they were getting nowhere fast. Finally they hit upon it. They put Rex's arms over each of their shoulders and ran with the strange creatures now just 20 yards behind.
PREACHER:
I still can't believe you don't know me Rex!
NARRATOR:
They raced to the boat, piled in and sped away just as the creatures of Smurgoon reached the shore.
CLOSE UP OF THE PREACHER IN THE BACK OF THE BOAT.
PREACHER:
So Logan and Nash had escaped the clutches of Smurgoon but it would not be long before their next adventure would land them in even more hot water.... but you have to wonder how far they would have got if it wasn't for me....their narrator. Farewell.
SLIGHT SMIRK ON NARRATORS FACE AS THE BOAT SPEEDS OFF INTO THE DISTANCE.
END.
