KEN COLLINS (male, 30’s) digs frantically against the harsh sun quickly rising.
EDEL (fire spirit) (chants)
Not for you…
MONA DE VILLIERS, a PhD candidate of Palaeontology walks from her college dorm room to /
A glass cabinet of fossils runs along faculty building. She scans them before /
Richard ushers her into his narrow office.
RICHARD
I trust you had a good break.
MONA
Last semester almost killed me but, I am ready…
Mona pulls out her PHD PROPOSAL and hands it to Richard.
RICHARD
Already?
Richard peruses.
MONA
I will be unmotivated if I take a semester off.
He looks at her with concern.
RICHARD
It will do you some good to take a break.
MONA
(beat) What do you think?
Richard reads over the proposal more carefully.
RICHARD
Marine reptiles that lived alongside the dinosaurs. Mightn’t be possible…
MONA
I am aware that the skull is usually the most difficult to find.
He continues to read.
RICHARD
Where do you expect to find them?
MONA
In Winton.
Richard reads the rest of the proposal.
RICHARD
This is brilliant, but it will all depend on funding…
MONA
Is there a funding body I can go through?
RICHARD
Not quite. Have you thought about an assistant?
Mona is already out the door.