THE GORGE screenplay by Scott Nicholson

slows, sensing Raintree swinging on the rope, trying to secure his grip.
    The first soars up and disappears into the mist. The second swings in a loop, almost lazily, coming within 10 feet of Raintree, who shuts his eyes and holds his breath. The fingers of his free hand squeeze the medicine pouch.
    When the creature passes, Raintree exhales in relief and—
    SKEEEEEEE . The first goregoyle divebombs from above, Raintree pulls a piton from his belt and spins so his back is against the cliff face. Braced, he thrusts the piton out and jabs the goregoyle under the chin.
    The momentum carries the creature into Raintree and for a moment they are face to face, the creature’s teeth inches from Raintree, slobber and gray blood mixing with the rain.
    Below, Dove runs to the rope and cries out.

    DOVE
    Watch out for the other one!

    Raintree shoves the first creature away and it falls limply, slamming into the ledge a few feet from Farrengalli, who reels away from the goregoyle. The wounded creature tries to rise from its belly.
    Dove throws a loop of rope around its neck and yanks its head back, planting one boot in its back like a crazed cowgirl. After a moment, Farrengalli joins the attack, lost in his blood lust as he kicks the creature’s head. His stomps punctuate his words.

    FARRENGALLI
    It’s—
    (stomp)
    Only—
    (stomp)
    Fucking—
    (stomp)
    Natural!

    Above, Raintree is scrambling up the rope. He’s almost to the ledge—there’s a cave—he’s about to swing his leg over—
    SPLAT . The second creature plows into him from behind, smacking him against the rocks, dazing him. The teeth nuzzle his neck, claws rake his flesh. Raintree jabs the pick-hammer into its skull.
    The thing takes the damage and still wants to feed, the jaws working, claws digging into Raintree, who slips a few feet down the rope, hanging on with one hand.
    The creature’s added weight strains the rope, and it backs away momentarily, trying to lift Raintree into the air. Up a couple of feet, then Raintree delivers another pick-hammer blow. They slam back against the stone.
    The goregoyle grabs the front of Raintree’s shirt but the fabric gives way and the claws rack down, snagging on the belt. For a moment, the creature’s weight is on the straining belt—the medicine bag and cell phone are attached to the belt.
    Raintree grabs the medicine bag first, tucks it inside his shirt. He grabs the cell phone just as the belt breaks free—the creature hurtles into space, fluttering, trying to fly but ruined.
    Below, Dove is yanked off-balance as the desperate goregoyle struggles free of the rope. Farrengalli draws his buck knife and slashes at the creature, opening its face to a spout of gray blood.

    DOVE
    Fuck with its head!

    The creature rakes out, one dirty fingernail penetrating Farrengalli’s thigh. Enraged, Farrengalli thrusts the tip of the Buck knife into one milky eyeball, then twists it deeper. The creature lets out a hiss of pain.

    FARRENGALLI
    Can’t get no satisfaction, huh?

    A snake drops onto Farrengalli’s shoulder. He jerks away and swings the dripping knife—
    It’s a rope.
    From above:

    RAINTREE
    Come on up. It’s a cave.

    CUT TO:

    INT.BABELTOWERCAVE. NIGHT.
    The group—Raintree, Farrengalli, and Dove—are sweaty, barely visible in the cave. They sit apart from one another, Farrengalli holding his knife. His flashlight is in his lap, switched on and making a circle of light between them. Raintree flips open the cell phone. The green screen lights up his face.

    RAINTREE
    No bars.

    FARRENGALLI
    What if we can’t get a signal up there?

    DOVE
    We can defend this cave.

    Farrengalli points his flashlight into the bowels of the cave.

    FARRENGALLI
    The Fed said those things live in caves. Might be some back there right now, just waiting to come out and turn us into sausage.

    DOVE
    I wish the reality show audience could see you now...you’d be voted off the island.

    FARRENGALLI
    Hey, honey, bet your sweet ass on