Caltiki, the Immortal Monster

This is a sacred pyramid in the dead City of Tikal,

300 miles south of Mexico City.

Here, for thousands of years,

the Maya once lived,

a civilized and peaceful people

with a deep-rooted knowledge of mathematics and astronomy.

But one day, in the year 607 A.D.,

this people emigrated en masse

towards the distant, wild north,

abandoning the sturdy dwellings,

the pyramids and the temples they had built.

None of the Maya came back.

The cities remained deserted

and the jungle slowly swallowed the streets and buildings,

erasing every trace of their civilization.

The scientific expeditions that tried to shed light on these events

were never able to provide a satisfactory explanation.

Some believed there was an enemy invasion,

but what power at that time could have defeated the Mayan people?

There are no signs of natural disasters,

and what catastrophe could have forced a people to build a new kingdom,

abandoning the lands where they had always lived?

The mystery still remains today

and the nomadic Indians who travel across the region

speak of how their ancestors fled the land to escape the wrath of a terrible Goddess,

a bloodthirsty Goddess...

Caltiki.

Caltiki The Immortal Monster

Screenplay by Philip Just

from a popular ancient Mexican legend

Look. Senior Nieto.

What's happening?

Nieto!

My God!

And Ulmer, what's happened to him?

Who knows?

What happened? Were they attacked?

Only Nieto can tell us but he's in shock at the moment.

He won't be able to speak for several hours.

It's empty. He fired all his shots.

- Who could have attacked them? - They went to the cave near the volcano.

That area's completely deserted.

What could have happened?

Maybe Nieto hit Ulmer.

That's ridiculous. Ulmer and Nieto are like brothers.

I can already see the headlines.

"Two archaeologists fight a duel in the Tikal Caves in Mexico."

Stop it, Bob.

We need to go to the cave. Ulmer could be wounded and waiting for help.

Ulmer... The mummy... the mummy...

Caltiki... Caltiki...

Caltiki! Caltiki!

Caltiki...

Caltiki? Caltiki is a Mayan divinity.

- Let's go, John. - Yes, let's go.

I'll tell Ellen to look after him.

Come on. The lorry will meet us at the cave.

Good bye.

Do you think they'll find him?

I don't know. I fear something horrible's happened.

That's how the Indians feel too. They're terrified.

You know what they say?

We shouldn't have come here and we've provoked evil spirits.

I'm worried they'll end up abandoning us if we don't leave soon.

I'll tell John when he gets back but I know it's pointless.

And Nieto... How is he?

He's still delirious.

He keeps on repeating the same name.

Caltiki.

Yes, Caltiki.

Then he calls out for Ulmer. It's very distressing.

Ulmer...

Can you hear him? It's best if we stay close to him.

Ulmer!

Ulmer!

We've already looked everywhere.

Where could he have got to?

Ulmer!

It's an inscription in Mayan characters.

The ground's given way here. There's an opening.

The eruption the other day must have opened it.

Come here.

Look.

There are steps. They must have come this way.

Give me the geiger counter. They're ruins of ancient buildings.

- Do you think there's radiation? - No, but it's best to be sure.

Come on, hurry up with that contraption.

That's the Goddess Caltiki. We're in an underground Mayan temple.

- That's an amazing discovery. - Caltiki?

That's the name Nieto kept saying. They've definitely been here.

Wait a minute.

Look at the dial.

It's showing high radioactivity.

It must be coming from something in the water.

This must be a sacred lake

where priests drowned the victims they sacrificed to the Goddess.

If only I had my underwater gear.

Maybe Ulmer fell in there.

This is his camera.

- Show me. - No doubt.

- It's definitely his. - He must have dropped it.

Yes, the lens is cracked.

We need to explore the bottom of the lake.

We must go back to the camp and get our diving gear.

Before you give up on a search you have to try everything.

Let's go.

How's Nieto?

Worse. His temperature's rising. It's very worrying.

We must do everything we can to save him.

Bob's developed the film Ulmer shot. Maybe we can work out what happened.

Yes, maybe. Go and set up the projector.

All right.

- Can we begin? - Yes, of course. Go ahead.

Who filmed them?

The Indian who went with them to the cave entrance.

- Did you question him? - Yes, but he doesn't know anything.

He left them there and came back.

Poor Ulmer. Who knows where he's got to?

Look. The eruption was still going on.

There are the stairs we found this morning.

Ulmer filmed this part.

Look, that's the Goddess Caltiki down there.

What's he found?

It looks like a bracelet.

- What's happening? - Who knows?

Something must have hit Ulmer. They're in danger. They've been attacked.

Isn't there any more?

This is all there is.

These people are driving me crazy. I should never have come here.

It was supposed to be a second honeymoon.

How could I have known?

I've been asking you to take me away for a while now.

But work always comes first for you.

I can't stand it any more. I'm going back to Mexico City tomorrow.

Go on. I won't make you stay with me even though you're my wife.

- I'd have hoped you'd understand. - You don't even remember I exist.

I've got responsibilities. Duties.

Not to mention the very important discovery we made today.

An important discovery?

One man's dead and another one's dying.

That's exactly why we've got to carry on. At least they won't have died for nothing.

What the devil are the natives up to this evening?

It's a spell to placate the anger of evil spirits.

A sacred dance? Let's go and see.

I'm not interested.

- No, hold on. - Why? What is it?

A white person can't join in the ritual. It would bring bad luck.

Not to me.

Ellen, I'm very sorry for what you're going through.

What does that mean?

Sorry, but I heard everything John said to you.

I think he's behaving very badly.

- I thought you were John's friend. - Yes, I am.

But I'm fond of you too and I'd like to see you happy.

A woman can't live like this.

You're a very sensitive creature.

You need warmth and affection.

I think you've taken our discussion too seriously.

Maybe.

But I hope one day you'll seek refuge in my arms.

Don't kid yourself, Max. Good night.

You didn't have much success.

Stop spying on me.

Is this how you hope to conquer that little millionairess doll?

Poor Max, you're aiming too high.

So are you.

I haven't managed to get rid of you since i pulled you out of that third-rate joint.

You've no right to treat me like this.

You promised me...

Men promise all sorts of things to someone like you.

And anyway, I'm sure I wasn't the first.

That's true. I've never hidden my past from you.

But you won't get rid of me that easily.

I don't want to lose you, Max.

If you're trying to tell me you're looking for a husband,

take me off the list.

Find yourself a half-breed, someone like you.

John. John?

Yes, darling?

Will you forgive me?

Forgive me.

Both of our nerves are in shreds, unfortunately.

But they say a good argument every now and then is the key to a happy marriage.

I'm sorry, darling, it was all my fault.

I'm moody, it's true, but you knew that before you married me.

And I spend more time on biology than with my wife.

But I'll change, you'll see.

Tomorrow we have to get back to our research.

But I'll make sure you and Linda can go back to Mexico City straightaway.

Do you really want that, John?

Yes, darling, I'd prefer that.

- Pass me the tank. - Have you checked it?

Yes, all ready.

I don't like that lady.

Luckily I've taken precautions.

Be careful.

Up.

There's treasure at the bottom of the lake.

We're rich. We're billionaires.

They're Pre-Columbian-style necklaces.