O.B.X.

E V E R E S T
By
Ryan Allison

Ryan Allison
clownsunavailable@[Link]
EXT. KATHMANDU, NEPAL - DAY
Wearing khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt Xack stands in a
bustling market set in the hills of majestic Kathmandu.
OUTBACK XACK
G’day mates! My name’s Outback Xack
with an X because X can make the Z
sound too! Today I’m exploring some
of the highest mountains on Earth,
the Himalayas! Do you want to go
exploring with me?...
Xack slumps in dissappointment.

OUTBACK XACK
That didn’t sound very excited. Do
you want to go exploring with
me?...Bonzer! Mount Everest, the
highest place in the world is
located in the Himalayan Mountain
Range. But we won’t go up there,
its far too dangerous for beginning
explorers!
He gestures to the city.

OUTBACK XACK
We begin our journey in Kathmandu
the capital city of the country
Nepal. In order to reach the
Himalayan Mountains, we need to
hike one hundred miles up through
thick forest, beyond the tree line,
through the grassland, and into the
snow line.
He yawns.

OUTBACK XACK
The hike will take us about three
weeks-
A BEARDED SHERPA wearing a BLAZE ORANGE PARKA runs up to
Xack.
OUTBACK XACK
(cont.)
-so remember to be patie--

SHERPA
-Burp! I’m Burpa the Sherpa, I need
help right away! My good friend is
stuck at the top of Mount Everest!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

OUTBACK XACK
Crikey! That’s not good at all.
Does he have enough--
BURPA THE SHERPA
-He only has enough Oxygen tanks to
last three days! We have to go now!
OUTBACK XACK
Well I’m always up for helping a
friend in need, but we aren’t ready
to climb Mount--
BURPA THE SHERPA
-Burp! It’s o.k. We’ll train on the
way!

OUTBACK XACK
Did you hear that mates? Do you
want to help Burpa the Sherpa with
me?!...Bonzer! Mount Everest is the
highest place on planet Earth!
Climbing Mount Everest will be the
most dangerous adventure we’ve gone
on yet, even more dangerous than
outer space. You need to be fully
prepared for the bitter cold, lack
of air to breathe, slipping and
falling, avalanches, and winds up
to two hundred and fifty miles per
hour, that’s faster as a race car!
Fast enough to blow us clear off
the mountain! Are, you,
ready!?...Bonzer! Let’s start our
hike! One! Two! Three! Follow m-
BURPA THE SHERPA
Burp! No time! We’ll take my plane!
Let’s go!

INT. CESSNA - DAY

Sitting, Xack clenches his hands between his knees. He
glances out a cabin window, jerks back into tense position,
and takes a bite of a doughnut.

Carrying a STACK OF PARACHUTES through the cabin, Burpa

slaps one into Xack’s gut, launching the fresh bite from
Xack’s mouth into Burpa’s face.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

BURPA THE SHERPA

Burp! Sorry.
Xack looks at the chute.

OUTBACK XACK
What’s this?
Burpa smiles.
BURPA THE SHERPA
That’s a parachute!
Xack cringes.
OUTBACK XACK
Para- Para- Para- what! You never
said anythi-
BURPA THE SHERPA
-There’s no runway at Mount Everest
Base camp. We have to jump. It’s
o.k. Burp! It’ll be fun!
Burpa smiles.
OUTBACK XACK
Did you all hear that? We’re going
to have to skydive and land at
seventeen thousand feet, Everest
Base Camp. Let’s all practice our
skidivi-
BURPA THE SHERPA
-No time. We have to jump now!
Burpa smiles.
OUTBACK XACK
But my friends need parachutes too!

BURPA THE SHERPA

Burp! Oh sorry. I keep thinking
about my friend stuck at the peak!
Here!

He throws a parachute at camera.

BURPA THE SHERPA
O.k. I’ll see you at base camp.

Burpa pops the cabin door open. Roaring wind and snow ravage
the cabin.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

OUTBACK XACK
But!
Looking back from the open door, Burpa smiles.
BURPA THE SHERPA
Thankyou! Good luck to you as well!
He turns and hops out.
OUTBACK XACK
No wait!
Xack drops his head for a moment. Then pops back up.
OUTBACK XACK
Mates! I’ve never admitted it
before, but I’m afraid of heights.
Have you ever been afraid of
something before?... And that’s
o.k. as long as you face that fear
and understand it. So I’m going to
face my fear and jump out of this
airplane, using this para-
He glances at the parachute.
OUTBACK XACK
I don’t know how to use a
parachute! When you don’t know how
to use something, what should you
look at?... That’s right, the
instructions!
Xack locates the instructions and tears them off. Holding
the instructions to his face he begins, with actions.
INSERT MUSIC:
OUTBACK XACK
Skydiving instructions go like
this! One! Two! Three! Follow me!
Xack opens the cabin door and jumps out.
OUTBACK XACK
(Shout-singing)
Jumping out of a plane is
completely insane. Unless you strap
this pack tightly to your back.
Inside is a giant piece of fabric
that’ll stop you from falling like
a brick. When you’re up high, in
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

OUTBACK XACK (cont’d)

the sky, it will feel like you can
fly. But at the speed you’re
falling, if you hit the ground
you’ll die. So when the ground is
getting near, have no fear! Grab
ahold of the red rip cord located
right here. Give it a really firm
pull. Your parachute will release
up into the sky. You’ll feel and
see your fall instantly slow. When
you’re parachute’s above, you’ll
feel like you’re floating. But here
comes the ground, stop gloating.
It’s time to get ready to land.
Stay square and upright, keep your
feet infront so you don’t break a
hand. The ground has arrived, plant
your feet. Lean back like you’re
sitting in a seat! This will
prevent you from falling forward.
Now stand up tall! You made it!
Onward and upward!

EXT. EVEREST BASE CAMP - DUSK

A small city of colorful tents cuts the gleaming white of
the Khumbu Glacier set against the Himalayas, with the
ominous peak at the center. The jet stream sheds a trail of
white from the summit into the vibrant blue sky.
Landing in front of the tents, Xack quickly removes his
parachute.

OUTBACK XACK
Get your chutes off right away! Or
the strong mountain wind will grab
your parachute and send you flying
far awa-

He freezes, takes a deep breath, and screams.

OUTBACK XACK
Ahhh!

He tries to cover his bare legs and arms.

OUTBACK XACK
C-c-c-c-ri-k-k-y it’s cold up here
at Mount Everest Base camp. I
forgot, we just went two and one
half miles up, from Kathmandu to
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

OUTBACK XACK (cont’d)

Everest Base camp. Right now we are
half as high as the big passenger
jet airplanes you see in the sky!
Burpa runs up to Xack.
BURPA THE SHERPA
Burp! There you are! Let’s get you
geared up!
He grabs Xack by the shoulders and shoves him into a tent.

INT. TENT - DUSK

The snow covered ground has a stockpile of MOUNTAINEERING

GEAR to one side.
Xack trips into the tent, landing on the snow and ice. He
snaps up.

OUTBACK XACK
Wow! Wow! Wowzer! That’s even
colder! Don’t touch your bare skin
to the snow and ice! Its so cold,
it can really hurt you! Alright
mates! Let’s get our gear and get
out of here! Are you
ready?...Bonzer! One! Two! Three!
Follow me!

INSERT MUSIC:
With actions.
OUTBACK XACK
First things first, let’s dress
ourselves. Be ready for anything,
even ice shelves! Put on your thick
thermal clothes, to keep your body
warm when the wind blows! Second
get on your strong climbing suit,
then put on your left and right
mountaineering boot! This gears
getting heavy but we’re almost
there! Put your thick wool hat on,
over your hair! Next comes durable
mittens to keep your fingers at
tens! At last its time to fill our
backpacks, with all sorts of
climbing knick knacks!
He opens his pack and throws gear in.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

OUTBACK XACK
When sleeping, the cold can be a
real nag, so be sure to have a
thermal sleeping bag! When climbing
the ice can cause a slip, which can
lead to breaking a hip. So make
sure you have metal spiked
crampons. They attach to your boots
to make ice your pawn. If you need
to dig in for the night, bring a
shovel to prevent a fall at a
horrible height. As we climb higher
the air will get thinner, so bring
an Oxygen tank to make it back for
dinner. We’ll need a radio in case
of emergency, or to find our way
back to camp after a pee. This is
serious business we’re in, we’ll
need all of this to win! Throw in
plenty of ropes, so we don’t run
out and feel like dopes. On the
mountain there’s no landlord to pay
rent, so bring a strong and durable
tent. You won’t find any hidden
springs in a grove, so to boil
water to drink you’ll need a stove!
The sun will reflect off the snow
and be real bright, you’ll need
glacier glasses when it isn’t
night! You’ll need just a couple
more things, and a whole lot of
might to be at the top like kings.
Bring a jumar for easy climbing. It
slides up a rope but not down to
prevent sliding. The last two items
go on the outside of your packs. At
easy access should be trekking
poles and your ice ax! That’s it,
we’re packed, congrats!
END MUSIC:
OUTBACK XACK
Is everyone ready to-

Burpa burst into the tent.

BURPA THE SHERPA
-Burp! Good you’re ready to go!
Come on! We’ve only got a small
window!
Motioning to follow, he pops right back out. Xack shrugs his
shoulders and smiles.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

OUTBACK XACK
Well you heard him! Let’s start our
climb!

EXT. EVEREST BASE CAMP - NIGHT

Xack meets Burpa who is staring at the summit while talking
on a RADIO.
BURPA THE SHERPA
No, that storm isn’t suppose to
arrive for five days.
Cringing, Xack looks at the camera and mouths "uh
oh." Burpa notices Xack, he drops his radio into a pocket,
and smiles.

BURPA THE SHERPA

My friends are you ready to climb!?
OUTBACK XACK
Are you sure its safe, I thought I
heard--
BURPA THE SHERPA
-Of course its safe. I’ve climbed
this mountain over one hundred
times! We’ve got to cross the
Khumbu Glacier! Let’s go!
Burpa darts off, leaving Xack in a cloud of snow.
OUTBACK XACK
Wow! He sure is in a hurry! I hope
he remembers the first rule of any
rescue mission is the rescuer’s
safety comes first. The person that
is in harms way is already in
trouble. There’s no sense in
rushing and getting more people in
trouble! Is there anything we might
need to help us hike in the
dark?...Did you say headlamp,
because you’re right!

He puts his headlamp on and turns it on.

OUTBACK XACK
Let’s get after him! Do you all
remember how to march?... O.k.
great! One. Two. Three! Follow me!
 9.

EXT. KHUMBU GLACIER - NIGHT

The reflective nature of the snow grabs the night light and
illuminates smoke like streams of snow flowing over the
river of white that leads to a menacing wall of jagged ice
in the distance. The ominous peak remains in the background.
OUTBACK XACK
This is the Khumbu Glacier! Let’s
all say Khumbu Glacier on the count
of three. One, two, three! Khumbu
Glacier! Does anyone see Burpa?
Let’s all look way to the left.
Let’s all look way to the right.
Humph! Burpa’s not in sight! Maybe
he got way ahead of us toward the
Khumbu Ice Fall. Let’s move forward
slowly.
He marches forward along a path of snow.

INSERT MUSIC w/ HIKING:

OUTBACK XACK
Glaciers are massive rivers of ice.
To rocks and mountains they aren’t
very nice. They carve and shape
anything in their sight. Their size
and weight carry tremendous might.
They may look like they’re sitting
still, but gravity pulls them with
tremendous will. They can move two
to three feet a day. Plowing
through anything in their way. Many
of the hills, valleys, and lakes
you see, were once shaped by a
giant Icee. Flowing over the land.
Moving, cutting, carving like a
craftsman’s hand. Glacier’s like
this one, are far from done.
They’re still on the run. Changing
and shaping the globe we’re on. So
when you tuck and roll down a hill.
Remember that it was a glacier’s
powerful will, that brought about
such a wonderful thrill!
Stopping dead on a plane of snow, Xack snaps his index
finger over his closed lips.

OUTBACK XACK
(Whispering)
Does anyone hear that? I think its
Burpa.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.

He looks around.
OUTBACK XACK
Does anyone see any tracks in the
snow?

INSERT: Tracks in the snow.

OUTBACK XACK
You’re right! Tracks in the snow!
Let’s go! But take it slow. We
don’t want to fall in a hidden
crevasse covered by snow.
He marches.
OUTBACK XACK
I know we’ll form a search party
mates! Like a fish in a stream,
Burpa will be our bait! Fan out
now, we can’t be late! If Burpa has
fallen in a hole, we need to make
saving him our goal!

Xack freezes mid-sentance.

OUTBACK XACK
There!

Xack points to Burpa who has himself propped halfway out of

a crevasse near the Khumbu Ice Fall. Xack bolts towards
Burpa.
OUTBACK XACK
Hang on Burpa! Help is on the way!

Burpa pulls himself from the gaping divide and nervously

chews a CANDY BAR just as Xack arrives.
BURPA THE SHERPA
Burp! Ha! Ha! I don’t need any
help. I was just uh, pretending, to
have fallen in the hole, to uh,
warm up your reflexes in case of an
emergency.

Burpa takes another bite, Xack furrows his brow.

OUTBACK XACK
Uh, that’s a different way of
training than what I was taught
back in the Outback as a Joey, but
spot on mate!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

He smacks Burpa on the back, the bite launches from Burpa’s

mouth.
OUTBACK XACK
Explorers! Always remember to be
open to new experiences when you
visit places you haven’t b-
A gust of wind slaps Burpa and Xack, startling them.
INSERT SFX: An eery howl of wind.

Burpa and Xack look around.

INSERT SFX: The howl turns to a low rumble.
The explorer and the Sherpa look at each other.

INSERT SFX: The rumble turns to a roar.

Xack looks up the mountain and freezes. Burpa looks up,
freezes, and BURPS.

OUTBACK XACK
Avalanche!
He points up.
BURPA THE SHERPA
Burp! Avalanche!
Burpa points up.
OUTBACK XACK
Get to the ice wall!

BURPA THE SHERPA

Burp! Get to the ice wall!
Xack sprints to the wall of ice, Burpa shortly behind. Xack
plants his body firmly against the wall, Burpa follows suit.

The ground shakes.

INSERT SFX: The roar turns violent.
In one fluid motion Xack swings his hands to retrieve his
ice axes from his pack, and slams them into the ice wall.
Burpa mimics Xack.
OUTBACK XACK
Hold on tight! With all your might!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

Collasal chunks of ice break free from the wall, falling and
exploding to the left and the right of Xack and Burpa.
OUTBACK XACK
Shine your headlamps up and watch
mates! Very few people get to see
this and live to tell the story!
BURPA THE SHERPA
Burp! Yep!

A raging plume of snow and ice shoots over the top of the
ice wall at two hundred and fifty miles per hour. Like a
waterfall it rains down just beyond the explorers and roars
down the mountain.
The roar softens to silence as the ground ceases to shake.

Xack busts his ice axes from the wall.

OUTBACK XACK
Ha! Ha! Ha! Spot on explorers! That
was incredible!

Xack dances around and slaps Burpa on the back, who remains
paralized in fear. Xack grabs and jolts each of Burpa’s arms
to free his still clenched hands from his ice axes planted
in the wall. Statuesque Burpa’s arms fall to his sides.

OUTBACK XACK
We made it! Ha! Ha! Relax!
Xack chumily punches Burpa a couple times on the chest,
he snaps out of it, and shakes it off.

BURPA THE SHERPA

Burp! We can’t relax now! We’ve got
to cross the Khumbu Ice Fall!
OUTBACK XACK
Crikey!
He turns to camera.
OUTBACK XACK
He’s right! We’ve got to cross the
Khumbu Ice Fall by dawn! Otherwise
it will start to melt and move
around while we’re crossing it!
Let’s all say Khumbu Ice Fall on
the count of three! One! Two!
Three! Khumbu Ice Fall! Bonzer! The
Kumbu Ice fall is just over this
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

OUTBACK XACK (cont’d)

ice wall. Now lets all stretch with
Burpa before we climb this ice
wall!

He turns back towards Burpa.

OUTBACK XACK
Right Burp- Burpa? Burpa?
From above, a coiled rope hits Xack on top of the head.

BURPA THE SHERPA O.S.

Burp.
Xack looks up to see Burpa’s feet scramble over the top edge
of the ice wall and out of sight.

OUTBACK XACK
Humph. Well I guess we’ll just
climb this ice wall, without
stretching at all. Fasten your
crampons to your mountaineering
boots mates!
He puts his crampons on.
OUTBACK XACK
These spikes will pierce the ice
and help us climb. Now pull out
your ice axes!
Xack pulls ice axes free from his pack.

OUTBACK XACK
Put the straps around your wrists.
Now grab the handles with your
fists. O.k. lets climb mate. We
can’t be late! One. Two. Three.
Follow me!

INSERT MUSIC W/ ACTIONS:

OUTBACK XACK
Lift your right leg up high and
kick it in the ice wall, Step up on
the ice and stab your ax above
before you fall. Pull up and kick
your other toe in the wall. Stab
your other ax in before you fall.
Pull yourself up nice and tall.
When you’re free climbing a wall
you can’t stop, Keep the climbing
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

OUTBACK XACK (cont’d)

going till we reach the top. The
lip is almost within in reach, a
couple more repetitions I beseech.
Let’s beat this wall and the Khumbu
Ice Fall! We’re at the top -the
lip, pull yourself over with a
swing of the hip. That’s it -we
beat the ice wall, get up mates we
didn’t fall, stand tall!

EXT. KHUMBU ICE FALL - DAWN

BURPA THE SHERPA O.S.
Burp!

Huffing, Xack puts his crampons in his pack.

OUTBACK XACK
There you are!
He turns to Burpa.

OUTBACK XACK
I know you want to help your friend
Burpa. But at this pace, you
yourself may not finish the race.

BURPA THE SHERPA

I’m sorry, I know I should slow
down, but I can’t stop thinking
about my friend stuck up there
without much air.

Burpa looks to the peak.

OUTBACK XACK
It’s o.k. We’re on our way!

Xack addresses the camera.

OUTBACK XACK
Mates, this is the Khumbu Ice Fall.
Let’s all say Khumbu Ice Fall on
the count of three. One. Two.
Three! Khumbu Ice Fall! The Khumbu
Ice fall is a massive area made up
of giant chunks of ice that have
broken off the Khumbu Glacier as it
fall off a steep slope on Mount
Everest. Crossing this will be one
of the most dangerous portions of
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.

OUTBACK XACK (cont’d)

our climb. Are-you-ready!...
Bonzer! We need to hurry to beat
the sunrise, otherwise these chunks
of ice will start to melt and move
around with us on them, making our
adventure even more
dangerous! Burpa which way do you
think we should cross the-
Xack looks around for Burpa.

OUTBACK XACK
-Not again. Humph. Does anyone see
Burpa? Let’s look way to the left.
He covers his brow and looks left.

OUTBACK XACK
Let’s look to the right. Hm.
He looks right.

OUTBACK XACK
Hm. No Burpa in sight? Wait a
minute, didn’t we find Burpa
earlier by spotting something in
the snow?... Did you say tracks?
Bonzer! Does anyone see any tracks
in the snow?
Xack sweeps the ground with his eyes.
INSERT: Sweeping view of the broken icy ground, passing
footprints in the snow, then coming back to focus on the
tracks.
OUTBACK XACK
Spot on! Get out your trekking
poles!

He points at tracks in the snow.

OUTBACK XACK
Tracks in the snow! Let’s go! One!
Two! Three! Follow me!

INSERT MUSIC W/ ACTIONS:

OUTBACK XACK
Its time to cross the Khumbu Ice
Fall, Move quick to make camp one
by sunrise. Move slow when the
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.

OUTBACK XACK (cont’d)

terrain is rough. Here comes a
ladder crossing, get tough.

Xack steps out onto the ladder, over a deep crevasse.

OUTBACK XACK
You’ll need balance too, courage
isn’t enough.

He extends each arm out to keep his balance.

OUTBACK XACK
The ladder creates a bridge between
two Seracs. Seracs are like giant
towering rocks, only they’re really
giant ice blocks.
He points down.
OUTBACK XACK
Falling into the crevasse below
wouldn’t be nice, so move across
the ladder smooth and slow.
Xack takes the final steps to the other side.

OUTBACK XACK
Hold the ropes at your side to keep
from falling below. We made it
across, take a bow. Let’s get
moving we’ve got to go now! Keep on
trekking mate, we can’t be late! I
see camp one ahead, Oh just think a
warm bed! Whoa look out, quick
stop! My trekking pole just hit a
hole, It’s a hidden crevasse
covered by snow! We’re already on
top of a gaping hole below. We
could fall at any moment let’s go!
Nice and easy and slow! Tip toe
across this snow, so we don’t break
the surface and fall in the hole.

Xack pokes firm ground.

OUTBACK XACK
Phew we made it to solid ground!
Stay on guard though! The Khumbu
Ice Fall is unsafe all around! Camp
one is just another pace.
He takes a few more steps.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.

OUTBACK XACK
Hooray a tent, we’re done with this
part of the race! This is camp one,
let’s rest and have some fun!

EXT. CAMP I - DAYBREAK

Golden lantern light sporadically illuminates a small city
of tents set on a snow covered mountain ridge. Steaming
coffee cups, and smiling mountaineers are seen relaxing
around the occasional bonfire.
Xack extends his hand towards to the background.

OUTBACK XACK
Mountaineers! This is Camp one!
This is where we will spend the
rest of the day eating and resting
in order to be ready for the hike
through The Valley of Silence and
up to Camp II. I hope Burpa made it
here.
BURPA THE SHERPA O.S.
Burp! Snore. Snore. Snore.

OUTBACK XACK
I’ve got a feeling we found Burpa.
Bonzer job today mountaineers! Now
get inside a tent, its late! Get
some rest so you’re ready for
tommorrow mate!
BURPA THE SHERPA O.S.
Burp! Ehem! There you are Xack! No
time to rest!

Off kilter and sporting bed head, Burpa bursts out of his
tent holding a lantern and a stocking hat.
OUTBACK XACK
But--

BURPA THE SHERPA

-We’ve got to keep moving!
Slapping his hat on and lighting a lantern he stumbles out
of camp.

OUTBACK XACK
But we’ve climbed through the
entire night and my mountaineer
friends need--

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.

He stops talking as Burpa hikes out of ears’ reach.

OUTBACK XACK
Crikey! He sure is driven. I can’t
believe he’s going to climb with so
little rest, I don’t think he’s
being very safe. Remember mates,
the thin air up here can make
people go crazy! So if you feel
dizzy or weak, let your guide know.
Do you want to help me make sure
Burpa stays safe?...Bonzer! If we
are at camp one...
He unfolds a map after pulling it from his pack.
INSERT: View of Xack’s hand gesturing at the map.

OUTBACK XACK
...what camp do we need to get to
next?...Spot on, camp two! In order
to get to camp two we will have to
hike through The Valley of Silence.
Are you ready!...Bonzer! One. Two.
Three! Follow me!
Xack hikes out of camp one.

EXT. VALLEY OF SILENCE - DAY

The sun shines on a stark white plane resting between to
high mountain ridges. Xack follows small neon flags marking
the winding trail through the valley.

Only the crunching of snow from Xack’s footsteps is heard.

OUTBACK XACK
Mates this is the Valley of
Silence! Let’s all say Valley of
Silence on the count of three! One.
Two. Three. Valley of Silence.
Mountaineers call it that because
the mountains on each side of us
act like giant walls and block the
wind, making this the quietest
place on our journey to the top of
planet Earth!
While hiking he wipes sweat from his brow.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 19.

OUTBACK XACK
Phew! It is hot in the Valley of
Silence! That’s because we are up
high with mountains to each side so
the wind can’t blow here to cool us
off.
He takes his jacket off.
OUTBACK XACK
Mountaineers take your jackets off
so you don’t sweat too much and get
dehydrated! Does anyone see Burpa
the Sherpa?
Xack looks around while hiking. Burpa is seen as a speck in
the distance.

OUTBACK XACK
Spot on! I see him too. Crikey he
is moving fast! He is almost to
camp two! Does everyone see camp
two?

Xack points up at a group of tents located at the base of

the Lhotse face, a steep yet smooth wall of white. Burpa
disappears into the camp.
OUTBACK XACK
Let’s hurry up and get to camp II
and catch Burpa!
His pace quickens.

OUTBACK XACK
Just a few more steps and we’ll be
able to rest!
He hikes into camp two.

EXT. CAMP II - DAY

Xack shuffles between tents and past other mountaineers as
he looks for Burpa.

OUTBACK XACK
Mountaineers this is camp two on
our way to the peak! Does anyone
see Burpa?
He looks around.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.

OUTBACK XACK
Me neither!
A JAPANESE MOUNTAINEER wearing a WHITE ARM BAND WITH A RED
CROSS on it passes Xack.

OUTBACK XACK
Pardon me doctor. Have you seen a
bearded Sherpa?
JAPANESE MOUNTAINEER
Lie.
OUTBACK XACK
That means no in Japanese mates!
JAPANESE MOUNTAINEER
Oh, ha! A thousand apologies. I
forget you speak English! Ha! It
can get hard to keep track of all
the languages up here, because
people from all over the world try
to climb Mount Everest.

OUTBACK XACK
No worries mate! We’ve got to get
moving! We’ve got a bearded Sherpa
to find!

JAPANESE MOUNTAINEER
Ha! Good luck! I’ve never seen a
bearded Sherpa guide before!
The Japanese mountaineer hikes away.

OUTBACK XACK
Burpa!
He listens for a response.

OUTBACK XACK
Humph. I wonder if Burpa kept
climbing. But which way did he go?
Xack pulls the map out.

INSERT: View of Xack’s finger gesturing at points on the

map.
OUTBACK XACK
We started at the Khumbu Glacier,
then traversed the Khumbu Icefall
to make it to camp one. Then we
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.

OUTBACK XACK (cont’d)

hiked through the Valley of Silence
to camp two, so what comes
next?...Bonzer! Camp three! Do you
want to keep climbing?...Great!
One, two, three! Follow me!
Xack hikes out of camp two.

EXT. LHOTSE FACE - DAY

Foothold holes and a couple of ropes extend up the smooth
icy gradient and out of sight. Xack bends down to pick one
up.

OUTBACK XACK
Mountaineers this is the Lhotse
face! We will use these fixed ropes
to climb up the--

BURPA THE SHERPA O.S.

(From above)
-Ice! Burp!
OUTBACK XACK
Look up mates!

He points at a LARGE CHUNK OF ICE tumbling down the Lhotse

Face out of Xack’s path.
OUTBACK XACK
There it is! Phew! It isn’t falling
at us.
The chunk of ice shatters against a rock.
OUTBACK XACK
Climbers above us stabbing their
ice axes into the mountain will
cause rocks and ice to fall down in
our direction! Wait a minute! Did
that sound like someone we know?...
You’re right! Burpa the Sherpa!

He shouts upward.
OUTBACK XACK
Burpa!...Burpa wait!...Quick mates!
Pull out your jumar, remember it
slides up the rope but not down for
easy climbing! Fasten it to your
climbing harness and put the rope
through it!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.

He finishes putting the rope through his jumar.

OUTBACK XACK
Climbing the Lhotse Face will be
just like climbing the ice wall we
faced earlier, only this time it
will be a bit more dangerous
because we may have to dodge
falling ice and rocks. Do you
remember how we climbed the ice
wall?...Bonzer! One, two, three!
Follow me! Fasten your crampons to
your mountaineering boots mates!
He puts his crampons on.
OUTBACK XACK
These spikes will pierce the ice
and help us climb. Now pull out
your ice axes!
Xack pulls ice axes free from his pack.

OUTBACK XACK
Put the straps around your wrists.
Now grab the handles with your
fists. O.k. lets climb mate. We
can’t be late! One. Two. Three.
Follow me!

INSERT MUSIC W/ ACTIONS:

OUTBACK XACK
Lift your right leg up high and
kick it in the ice wall, Step up on
the ice and stab your ax above
before you fall. Pull up and kick
your other toe in the wall. Stab
your other ax in before you fall.
Pull yourself up nice and tall.
When there’s people behind you
can’t stop, Keep climbing till you
reach the top. The lip is almost
within in reach, a couple more
repetitions I beseech. Let’s beat
this wall just like the Khumbu Ice
Fall! We’re climbing the biggest
mountain on earth! There’s no need
to be first!
The wind races, filling the air with blowing ice and snow.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.

OUTBACK XACK
Stay tight together friends! That
way we’ll all make it to the end.
Camp 1 is down below, Camp 2 we
left in a trail of snow. The
avalanche tried to tell us no, but
we said sorry gotta go! Camp three
is closing in. Hopefully we don’t
fly away with the wind! Remember as
we go higher the air gets thinner,
You have to wear your oxygen tank
to be a winner! But not until camp
four. That’s when we’re at
twenty-six thousand feet and
looking for more. Camp three is at
twenty-four thousand feet, that’s
hopefully where it’s Burpa we’ll
meet. Then its onto camp four in
the death zone. When you get there
you don’t want to be alone. You’ll
need your guide and your air tank,
or you could get dizzy and fall off
a snow bank.
Through blowing snow CAMP THREE comes into sight.

OUTBACK XACK
Here comes camp three! Slow down
and follow me!

EXT. CAMP III - DAY

Camp three is set on a fully-exposed small and steep snow

covered ledge that overlooks the world. Each tent is set
inside its own horseshoe shaped nook carved out of the
snow.

The wind whips up snow, Xack leans into it. He struggles

into the small isolated camp.
OUTBACK XACK
(Shouting over the wind)
Does anyone see Burpa?...Let’s look
right! Let’s look left! No blaze
orange in sight!
A MOUNTAINEER WEARING A CHEF HAT struggles past Xack.
OUTBACK XACK
Excuse me Chef! Have you seen a
bearded Sherpa wearing a blaze
orange jacket?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 24.

CHEF
(French accent)
My name is Chef Pierre!
OUTBACK XACK
So sorry! Chef Pierre, have you
seen a--
CHEF PIERRE
-I heard you the first time! A
bearded Sherpa, never in my life! I
did see a very young looking Sherpa
wearing blaze orange march right
through camp about ten minutes ago.
No beard though! He looked stark
raving mad!

The chef ducks into a tent.

OUTBACK XACK
Oh no! I think Burpa is suffering
from altitude sickness! That
happens when you go high up, and
your body doesn’t get enough air!
He must have shaved his beard
because it was collecting too much
ice! Altitude sickness could
explain why he keeps climbing
without resting! Do you want to
keep climbing and try to help
Burpa?...Bonzer! One, two, three,
follow me!
INSERT MUSIC:

Xack does actions.

OUTBACK XACK
We’re climbing to the top, not
gonna stop until we make it pop!
Let’s move our feet to the beat
can’t get anywhere sittin on our
seat. Keep your eyes on the peak,
To keep your mind from becoming
weak. Sometimes you have to take a
slow pace, in order to finish the
great race. Like the tortoise not
the hare, We must remain aware,
That we’re trying to get from here
to there, And there are no winners
or losers when you’re trying to be
rare! So lets get to camp 1,2,3,4.
In order to be ready for more! With
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 25.

OUTBACK XACK (cont’d)

the peak always in sight, and a
little bit of might, We’ll make it
to the top and win this fight! Then
turn around and head back down.
Don’t worry mates, don’t frown.
Sometimes you have to get low, and
let the snow and wind blow, in
preparation for more to come, and
to prepare your mind and body to
run. Then when the storm has
passed, over and done. You can race
to the top, and win! win! win! It’s
fun! When you’re climbing a
mountain, you’ve got to eat a big
dinner. And take it slow like the
tortoise, the winner. Don’t go
crazy, as you go higher the air
gets thinner. Always remember that
your mind and body need air. So
heed these words and stay aware.
When you’re headed into a great big
battle, You have to practice, work,
and focus so you don’t rattle. When
the going gets tough, and terrain
seems impenitrably rough. You’ve
got to look to the summit, take a
deep breath and shout bring it!
Then when you finally make it.
You’ll look down on the clouds and
say it was worth it!