April 29.
It felt as though he wore a permanent tan. Everything was ready to be celebrated from an uncomfortable position, and the action scenes were now nothing more than fragmented movements; what mattered was carrying the story forward, and the strong character of each of the figures lent it a certain briskness. Billy had been trying for quite some time not to get caught up in the harsh climates of Morocco, where the dust always managed to leave him completely drained.
-—I think I'll have a bit of alcohol.— John Hannad replied calmly, seeming to dance with his character despite being a naturally composed man. He always carried that intellectual air, which he now set aside to become the comic relief of the tale, and everyone seemed genuinely cheerful watching how the shoot was coming together, in a production unit that roamed freely through the streets of the African city. As vibrant as a jewel, it permeated everyone's senses.
-—Bring me some too.— Rachel Wisz replied, longing to taste a drop of ice-cold beer to ease the headache caused by the sun beating down on her; being scorched by it was simply bad luck for her. She seemed utterly caught up in life as it was then.
-—Make it a round for everyone.— shouted Erick Avary, who was still deep in the studio shoots. He had far more films than anyone initially believed, perhaps between ten and fifteen scenes, one of them commenting on the entire secret plot.
What mattered was that, because of his words, everyone ended up drinking a beer at midday, and that was enough for them all to relax and take a breather, a pause sufficiently satisfying to let them truly rest.
-—Looks like this will be our little tradition from now on.— John Hannah replied.
-Scene 18, take 3.-
-Jonathan: I just want four! Four! I just want four, not a whole damn herd!
He was arguing a few meters away from Rick and Evelyn while trying to buy the camels, clearly desperate over the prices, as his body language made plain. That was why, when he arrived with the camels to offer a brief greeting, his face was furious.
-Jonathan: O'Connell! Can you believe the nerve?
-Rick: Just pay the man.
Billy/Rick O'Connell shouted from afar; a bit of calm was needed for situations like this.
-Jonathan: For God's sake. Can you believe the price of these mounts?
-Rick: Happy?
-Arab: Very good.
-Rick: You probably could've gotten them for free. All we had to do was give him your sister.
-Jonathan: Yeah. Very tempting, isn't it?
-Rick: Very.
-Jonathan: I've never liked camels. Damn things. They stink, they bite, they spit. Disgusting.
Jonathan proclaimed this as Evelyn/Rachel Weiz entered. The woman now wore a black fabric, a beautiful tunic that revealed the full shape of her body. The heat was such that she couldn't help noticing how stunning she looked in it. She set aside other garments to expose her figure; the gesture was a bit bold, a bit daring.
-Evelyn: I think they're adorable.
-Alcaide: Well, darling.
-Cut.-
At last, they finished the scene. The camels were, in short, people in every sense.
Billy rose up on his camel with a leap, extending a hand to Rachel as she took her place on the other camel. She seemed more cheerful now, watching the camel up close; it was gentle and surprisingly manageable.
-—You're going to use a double for this kind of run?— Billy asked, knowing the next scene involved a fast race.
-—As much as I can.— Rachel replied calmly.— Two takes: one at a trot, and another I'll do if I feel confident, but I'll be tied in, just in case.
And it was true: a camel could run up to 65 kilometers per hour. In the dunes of Morocco, they were trained to run at a maximum of 30 kilometers per hour, and even then, with the help of guides and the weight restraining them, they usually stayed around 20.
-—Want to bet on a race to the mound back there?— Rachel asked.
-—What are the stakes?—
-—Dinner tonight.— Rachel said, as the take began and she launched into the race.
-—Copying straight from the movie.— Billy replied, keeping pace in the race.
-Scene 19, take 2.-
-Ardeth Bay: This one is strong.
-Evelyn: Good morning, my friend.
-Mr. Daniels: What the hell are we doing?
-Beni: Patience, my good barat'm. Patience.
-Mr. Henderson: Remember our bet, O'Connell? First one to reach the city, five hundred dollars cash.
A hundred of those dollars are yours if you help us win that bet.
-Beni: Oh, my pleasure. Hello, O'Connell. Nice camel. Rick, get ready for it.
-Evelyn: For what?
-Rick: We're about to be shown the way. Did you see that? Can you believe it? Hamunaptra.
-Rick: Here we go again. Goodbye, Beni!
-Evelyn: You deserve it.
-Jonathan: Come on, Evy! Come on!
-Mr. Henderson: Do they know something we don't?
-Allan: They're being led by a woman. What could a woman know?
-Evelyn: That is a statue of Anubis. Its legs are driven deep into the ground. According to the scholars of Bembridge, we'll find a secret chamber there containing the Golden Book of Amun-Ra.
-Evelyn: Jonathan, you're supposed to be getting a tan with that.
-Cut.-
Each day the scenes grow longer, and although it seems like an immense amount of preparation, that time is usually spent readying things for more extensive work, and that is taken into account.
Billy tries to breathe and laugh with the crew, who, while on standby, spend their time writing in their notebooks or sketching, every moment possible, whether with care or design.
-Scene 20, take 2.-
-Location: Morocco, facing the lost city.-
-Rick: So, what are these ancient mirrors for?
-Evelyn: Ancient mirrors. It's an old Egyptian trick. You'll see.
-Rick, here, this is for you. Go ahead. It's something I borrowed from our American brothers. I thought you might like it, that you might need it when you're…
-Rick: Yeah? What are you looking at?
-Alcaide: Hey, watch for insects. I hate bugs.
-Evelyn: Do you realize we're inside a room no one has entered in over three thousand years?
-Jonathan: What is that horrible stench?
-Evelyn: And then there was light?
-Rick: Hey, that's a neat trick.
-Evelyn: My God. It's a sah-netjer.
-Rick: A what?
-Evelyn: A preparation chamber.
-Rick: Preparation for what?
-Evelyn: For entering the afterlife.
-Jonathan: Mummies, my dear boy. This is where they made the mummies.
-What…
-Alcaide: What was that? Sounds like beetles.
-Jonathan: Did he say bugs?
-Alcaide: What do you mean, bugs? I hate bugs!
-Evelyn: The legs of Anubis. The secret compartment should be hidden somewhere in here.
-Mr. Henderson: You scared us half to death, O'Connell.
-Rick: Likewise.
-Mr. Burns: Hey, that's my tool kit.
-Rick: No, I don't think so.
-Mr. Burns: Well? Maybe I was mistaken. Have a good day, gentlemen. We've got a lot of work to do.
-Cut.-
-—Billy, you owe the whole crew a dinner!— Rachel shouted as she approached from afar.
-—Why do you say that?— Billy asked.
-—Because of the camel bet.— Rachel said.
They were somewhat worn out, but they all shared something in common: the pause. And although Rachel seemed like a woman with an allegorical soul, utterly rebellious, she was simply a woman with certain insecurities she masked through her performance. She gave him a tender smile.
...