The following is a RECONSTRUCTED script for the quicksand sequence in the movie Ursus in the Valley of Lions (that's roughly the title anyway). It was produced by repeatedly viewing the movie scene by scene and writing down the action, dialogue, and camera angles observed. It likely looks very different from the original script, which would have been written before the movie was made.
Scene 1
Framing shot looking across a wet-looking marsh or stream as a column of soldiers and horses slowly trudge across its edge. The soldiers are armed with relatively primitive weapons such as bows, swords, and whips. The camera dollies to the left and pans to the right, following the column of soldiers - which proceeds across the screen to the right. There is no dialogue but background music is slow, tedious, and somewhat ominous.
Cut to
Scene 2
A slightly closer shot of one soldier leading a horse. The horse balks and whinnies. The man starts to struggle with the horse. The man faces the horse and walks backward to try to pull it forward. The horse resists and tries to pull way.
Soldier: "Come on....Come on....What are you afraid of?....Look out there...."
The horse and soldier both stumble into the marsh mud - both to above the knee.
Soldier: "Get out of there."
Cut to
Scene 3
Half to whole body shot of the Commander of the soldiers suddenly looking back at the sudden commotion.
Voices off screen are heard: "Come on....Get this horse out"
Commander: (Gestures for action) "Get away from there....Look out."
Cut to
Scene 4
Shot of the soldier and the horse in the quicksand. The horse is up to its belly. The man is up to his chest, and is closer to the camera. Hands from soldiers off screen reach the horse's bridle.
Commander: (from off screen): "Get that bridle....Get them out of there....Pull them out."
Cut to
Scene 5
Head shot of a girl. She raises her hands to her mouth to stifle a scream. The half screams, half gasps in horror. She leans forward to look down, apparantly at the man in the quicksand.
Voices of soldiers off screen: "Come on pull."
Cut to
Scene 6
Full body shot of the commander, watching the scene in alarm but still holding his own horse. He signals to another soldier with his sword.to come.
Commander: "You there, come here. Hold my horse."
The second soldier enters the scene and takes the horse's bridle. The commander starts toward the action in the quicksand behind him.
Voices off screen: "Hey, this is quicksand."
Soldier in quicksand: "Hey there, help me, get me out:
Soldiers off screen: Shouting.
Cut to
Scene 7
Panning shot of the commander running down a small embankment and arriving at the edge of the quicksand. The man in the quicksand is now up to his shoulders.
Various voices: General confusion and shouting.
Soldier in Quicksand: "No!... Somebody help me"
Voice: "He's going down."
Soldier in Quicksand: "Don't leave me alone."
Voices: More shouting.
Cut to
Scene 8
Head and shoulder shot, looking down from behind the soldier in quicksand. He is now past his shoulders. He extends his arms upward for help but no one can reach him. He sinks deeper and deeper and goes under.
Soldier in quicksand: "Help me....Somebody help me....Don't leave me to die." (He grasps at the horse's blanket) "No!....No!....No!....Noooooo!"
Cut to
Scene 9
Shot showing the horse still in the quicksand and the drowned soldier's hand still sticking up. Several soldiers watch in horror. No one is trying to pull the horse out anymore - it is halfway up its belly. The commander looks back for a moment, then signals for everyone to move on.
Commander: "Let's move on....
Voice of a lookout soldier off screen: "Lotar!"
The commander looks up toward the voice.
Cut to
Scene 10
A full body shot of the commander's horse and the lookout holding it. The lookout shouts and gestures with alarm toward Ursus (off screen)
Lookout: "Its Ursus....He's down in the valley....He's coming now." The lookout turns to look back at Ursus.
Cut to
Scene 11
Full body shot of the girl and several surrounding soldiers. She starts
forward to look for Ursus but is stopped by soldiers. Several soldiers
start to mount their horses in panic. The commander steps forward into
the scene again.
Commander: "Cowards....Get off your horses." (The soldiers dismount) "He can't escape....Don't any of you move!" (The commander gestures toward a soldier) "You there....Bring the girl here....(to another soldier off screen) "And you....Bring that rope."
Cut to
Scene 12
A different view of the commander - a full body shot as he shifts direction and starts toward where the girl (who is off screen) is apparently located. The girl, held by a soldier, now passes across the screen and in front of the commander. She is turned by the soldier so as to face the cammander. The soldier holds her from behind. She looks around in fear.
Commander: "Now...Tie her up."
Another soldier crosses in front of the camera carrying a rope. The girl looks at the commander as if to appeal to him for mercy, but she says nothing. The commander looks at her as the second soldier passes the rope around her waist from behind.
Commander: (Looking her up and down) "And now we'll see how much your Ursus....Really loves you."
The girl looks up toward trhe approaching Ursus. The commander does the same.
Cut to
Scene 13
A distant shot of the hills and intervening open ground. Ursus rides across the sceen from left to right. There is the sound of the horses hooves, but no dialogue.
Cut to
Scene 14
Shot from across the quicksand pit. Two soldiers hold opposite ends of a rope with the girl in between. Each is eight to ten feet from her. The pull and lift of the ropes to maneuver her backwards into the quicksand.
Anya: "Oh!"
Commander: "Put her in there quickly.
Anya:: "No....Not in the quicksand!"
She is lowered to her knees in the quicksand.
Commander: "Everyone on guard now"
Anya: "Nooooo.....Pleeeease!"
Commander: "All right....Hold her up by the ropes."
Lookout: (off camera) "Lotar!"
Cut to
Scene 15
Shot of a soldier on lookout duty turning to shout
Lookout: "He's coming up the hill...Run for your lives."
The lookout runs toward his horse, tied nearby.
Anya: (off camera) "Help me!"
Cut to
Scene 16
A full body shot of Anya still up to her knees in the quickssand.
Anya: "No!....Take me out, please!" (She struggles against the ropes) "Oooooohhhh!"
Cut to
Scene 17
Anya is heard screaming for help off screen. A full body shot of Ursus riding into view at the top of a hill. He looks down and sees what is happening. There is no dialogue except her cries.
Cut to
Scene 18
Shot of a soldier looking up the hill at Ursus.
Cut to
Scene 19
Shot of Ursus. He dismounts his horse and starts down the hill on foot.
Anya: (off camera) "Ursus....Help me."
Ursus: "Anya"
Girl: "No!"
Ursus runs off screen.
Cut to
Scene 20
High angle shot of several soldiers scattered about. Ursus runs into the middle of them ready to fight hand to hand. He pushes one soldier aside, then stops as he is challenged by a soldier brandishing a whip.
Commander: "Stop! Ursus." (Ursus stops but stays in a posture ready to fight) "You take one more step.... And my men will cut the ropes.... Then you can watch your girl be swallowed by the quicksand."
Anya: (from off screen) "Its no use....Save yourself at least."
Commander: "She needn't die....Its you we want...And we want you alive."
Ursus: "What do you want of me?"
Commander: "You'll see....Let us take you prisoner Ursus....And you pretty young friend will go free."
Anya: "Don't listen to him."
Cut to
Scene 21
Shot of Anya in the quicksand - still only thigh deep.
Anya: "He'll betray us....He'll kill us both."
Cut to
Scene 22
Head and shoulder shot of Ursus. He looks at Anya.
Commander: "You're trapped" (Ursus looks suddenly at the commander) "You can't escape" (Ursus looks around at the surrounding soldiers as though thinking of fighting them all.) "Now what do you decide?"
Ursus: "Go on....Tell me what it is I must do you miserable cowards."
Commander: "Surrender."
Anya: (off screen) "No Ursus....That wouldn't save me...."
Cut to
Scene 23
Shot of Anya in the quicksand (same shot as scene 21)
Anya: "No...Don't"
Cut to
Scene 24
Shot of Ursus (Same shot as scene 22)
Commander: (off screen) "Very well....If that's what you want."
Cut to
Shot of Anya (as in scene 21 and 23)
Commander:(off screen) "Lower the ropes.". (The soldiers lossen the ropes and Anya starts to sink) "Watch this Ursus"
Anya: "No!....Oh! (this last more of a whimper. She looks around as she sinks to her waist)
Commander: "Keep lowering those ropes." (She sinks to her chest.) "Watch, Ursus"
Anya: "Oooooohh!" (a scream)
Cut to
Scene 26
Shot of Ursus and the commander. Ursus is enraged but helpless to do anything.
Ursus: "I'll kill all of you!"
Commander: "I warn you....The girl will die if you don't surrender.
Cut to
Scene 27
Shot of Anya - Slightly closer view than in scenes 21,23, and 25. She is up to her shoulders in the quicksand.
Anya: No dialogue but several whimpers.
Commander: "She has but a few seconds left."
Anya: More whimpers.
Cut to
Scene 28
Same shot of Ursus as scenes 22,24,and 26
Commander: "Let go the ropes." (he looks at Ursus. Ursus stares helplessly at Anya.)
Anya: A scream.
Cut to
Scene 29
Same shot of Anya as scene 27
No dialogue except some whimpers. She sinks slowly to her chin.
Cut to
Scene 30
Same shot as scenes 22,24,26,and 28.
Ursus: "Stop!" (He backs up in defeat) "Pull her out of there."