Thirteen Lives 2022

THIRTEEN LIVES
Screenplay by
William Nicholson
Story by
Don Macpherson
and
William Nicholson
THIRTEEN LIVES | FULL PINK REVISIONS | 19.3.21 Pg 1.
Dialogue in bold italics to be spoken in Thai and sub-titled.
1 EXT. FOOTBALL PITCH - BAN CHONG, THAILAND - DAY 1
DAY 1 - Saturday June 23
A thick mist hangs over Nang Non mountain, a curtain of dark

green tropical vegetation. DOWN TO FIND a football pitch,
where the under-15 team of local club the Wild Boars are
having a kick-around for practice, under the eye of their
young COACH, 25.
The tallest boy in the team, gangling LEK, has the ball at
his feet and is racing for the goal. The smallest boy in the
team, his friend little CHAI, is on his heels, trying to
tackle him, weaving in and out, constantly out-played.
ARM, the team captain, urges Chai on.
ARM
Go Chai! Go Chai!
PREM, the team clown, can’t stop laughing at the sight of

little Chai trying to tackle big Lek. Lek slams the ball
between the goal posts. He does a victory dance like his
hero, football star Ronaldo.
Coach blows his whistle. The boys race to the side of the
pitch, where there’s a cart selling grilled pork skewers.
They’re hungry, and they jostle to get the food.
CHAI
Here comes Messi, greatest player
in the world!
He clenches his fists and does the Messi shoulder shake. Prem
finds this hilarious.
PREM
Messi! My hero! Let me touch your
golden boots!
Arm comes up to Prem, holding a bag -
ARM
Hey, birthday boy! Today’s your
day!
PREM
You’re all invited to my party!
ARM
But first -
He takes a flashlight from his bag and shines it in Prem’s

face.
ARM
Guess where we’re going?
He shines the flashlight round the other boys. They let out a
cheer and race for their bikes. Lek stays back with Coach.
LEK
My dad’s cooking for the party. I
promised I’d help.
COACH
I’d better go with them. See you at
the party.
Coach goes after the boys, as they jump on their bikes and
cycle away up the track.
Lek mounts his bike and pedals off in the opposite direction,
back into town.
2 EXT. MAIN ROAD - DAY 2
Twelve boys and their coach, a column of bicycles, pedal up

the dirt track, shouting to each other as they go. The track
runs through rice fields where FARMERS are out tending their
crops.
3 EXT. THAM LUANG - CAVE ENTRANCE - DAY 3
The mountain is close now, looming overhead.
The boys dismount just before the mouth of the cave, and push
their bikes. They pass a small shrine where candles burn
before a statue of a reclining woman, a goddess, decorated
with garlands of flowers. They put their hands together and
make a quick token bow as they go by, and push their bikes on
to the cave. Prem forgets to pay his respects and turns back
for a hurried bow.
Coach, bringing up the rear, also bows to the goddess, but he

does so more intently than the boys.
4 INT. THAM LUANG - CAVE ENTRANCE - DAY 4
The boys wheel their bikes into the wide entrance to the dark
cave, and lean them against the long railing.
5 INT. CHAMBER 1 - DAY 5
The boys head off in a laughing chattering band across the

immense cave entrance and into the wide tunnel on the far
side that leads to the inner chambers. They race through it,
their flashlight beams dancing on the rock walls.
The boys come out of the tunnel into a broad chamber, where a
little water has pooled onto its floor. They splash each
other as they race across, their flashlight beams reaching
ahead to the next tunnel. Some of the boys kick off their
shoes. Those still carrying rucksacks drop them off on the
wide rock shelf.
7 INT. STALACTITE TUNNEL - DAY 7
In the juddering flashlights we see Chai clambering down a

narrow sloping tunnel into a tight squeeze. He stops, looking
round, not sure if the boys are going further.
Arm shines his flashlight on Chai’s face.
ARM
You scared?
CHAI
No way! Let’s go!
He pushes on into the tunnel. The others give a whoop and

follow.
THE CAMERA STAYS as the tunnel empties, and the sounds of the
boys fade to silence. Then all we hear is the trickle of the
water flowing in from the right-hand tunnel, and the water
seeping steadily down the walls to pool on the chamber floor.
8 SCENE DELETED 8
9 EXT. MAE SAI, THAILAND - NIGHT 9
Rain. Rain soaking down on the tropical forest round the

town. Rain making puddles on the paths between the houses.
Rain on the roofs and streaming down the narrow streets.
A small motorbike comes put-putting through the rain. Its

rider is Chai’s 35-year-old mother BUAHOM, well-wrapped
against the rain. She weaves her way through the town,
splashing in and out of puddles.
10 INT. FAMILY HOUSE - MAE SAI - NIGHT 10
Rain falling outside the windows. Buahom comes in, shaking

off the rain. She looks nervous, she’s not a regular part of
this group.
BUAHOM
Am I late? The shop got really
busy.
The table is laid for a birthday party. MANOP, father of

birthday boy Prem, is on his phone. His wife WANNA, another
father, SOMBOON, and YOD and KAMPANG, father and mother of
Arm, are helping get the party ready. Wanna is putting
candles onto a birthday cake decorated with a frosting
version of SpongeBob SquarePants. For a moment no one’s
paying any attention to Buahom.
MANOP
(to phone)
Are they with you? Where are
they?...
BUAHOM
What a great cake!
Wanna now registers Buahom.
WANNA
You’re Chai’s mum, right?
Buahom nods.
BUAHOM
I keep trying to get to watch the
games. There never seems to be
time.
Lek comes in from the kitchen carrying a plate of food.

Buahom looks round.
BUAHOM
Where are the boys?
LEK
They went to the cave.
SOMBOON
In this rain?
LEK
It wasn’t raining earlier.
THIRTEEN LIVES | GOLDENROD REVISIONS | 25.9.21 Pg 5.
MANOP
(to phone)
Looks like they went to the cave...
Me too.
He ends his phone call. Buahom looks at the rain streaming

down outside and starts to worry.
BUAHOM
Shouldn’t we drive over there and
get them? They’ll get soaked biking
back.
SOMBOON
Serves them right! They’ve as much
sense as chickens.
10A EXT. MAE SAI - NIGHT 10A *
Rain streams down on the market area of town. In the cars, *

Buahom, Lek, Somboon, and the other parents. The car radio is *
running a news bulletin. *
CAR RADIO *
Heavy rain in Northern Thailand is *
forecast to continue as the *
moonsoon season starts - *
The people in the car react to the radio, speaking on top of *

the newsreader - *
BUAHOM *
Monsoon? *
CAR RADIO *
Six weeks earlier than expected - *
SOMBOON *
It can’t be the moonsoon. *
LEK *
That comes in July. *
BUAHOM *
But that cave floods every year! *
SOMBOON *
I’m sure they’re fine. *
THIRTEEN LIVES | GOLDENROD REVISIONS | 25.9.21 Pg 5A.
11 EXT. THAM LUANG TRACK - NIGHT 11
Rain streaming down as the day ends. Two cars jolt their way
up the track where the boys cycled. In the cars, Manop,
Wanna, Somboon, Yod, Kampang, Buahom and Lek.
12 EXT. THAM LUANG - CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT 12
Rain is already turning the track to mud as the cars pull up

by the Parks Building. Lights are on, and PARK RANGERS are
moving between the building and the entrance to the cave.
The six parents and Lek get out of the cars, pulling hoods
over their head against the rain, and go to the cave.
13 INT. THAM LUANG - CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT 13
The parents see the line of bikes leaning against the

railings. Buahom identifies Chai’s bike with a cry.
BUAHOM
That’s Chai’s bike!
Deeper inside the dark cave she sees men training the beams
of their flashlights on rising water. The sound of rushing
water everywhere.
KITTIPONG SAISOR, a veteran park ranger, comes over to them.

He’s carrying a powerful flashlight.
MANOP
Where are the boys?
SAISOR
We’ve been in as far as we could
go. The cave’s flooding. We’ve put
out an emergency call.
SOMBOON
(to Manop)
Let’s go in and get them.
He and Manop head for the tunnel but Saisor blocks their way.
SAISOR
The cave’s closed! Look! It’s
flooding!
BUAHOM
How can the cave be closed? How are
they to come out?
She starts to shout for her son -
BUAHOM
Chai! Chai! Can you hear me?
14 EXT. GOVERNOR’S HOUSE - CHIANG RAI - NIGHT 14
Rain falling. A car and driver stands waiting, engine

running, as GOVERNOR NARONGSAK comes out of his house,
pulling up his coat’s hood against the rain. His female
assistant PREEYA is by the car.
NARONGSAK
I’d just started my dinner.
PREEYA
Sorry, Governor.
The Governor gets into the back of the car. Preeya gets in
the front by the driver. The car pulls away.
15 INT/EXT. CAR - DRIVING - NIGHT 15
NARONGSAK
Strictly speaking, none of this is
my responsibility now. You know
what my next job is?
PREEYA
No, sir.
NARONGSAK
Nor do I. The Minister hasn’t been
kind enough to tell me yet. So what
is this? Some kids stuck in a cave?
PREEYA
Yes, sir. A youth football team.
NARONGSAK
Football team! They play football
in caves? Look at this rain! How
far is this cave?
PREEYA
About an hour and a half, sir.
The Governor sighs.
NARONGSAK
And no dinner.
16 EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT 16
The mountain looms in the darkness beneath the night sky.

DOWN to see the headlights of cars and trucks sweeping
towards the cave. People hurrying back and forth in the rain-
drenched night.
Two buses drive in. Out of the buses streams a platoon of

NAVY SEALS, led by their commander CAPTAIN ARNONT SUREEWONG,
40, slight in build, close-cropped hair, glasses: an
intellectual-looking military man. As his men unpack their
diving gear the Governor’s car arrives. Narongsak and Preeya
get out. They see the Navy Seals getting ready to enter the
cave.
NARONGSAK
Who called in the Navy?
He goes over to the Seals and speaks to Captain Arnont.
NARONGSAK
I’m the Governor of the province.
You are?
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Captain Arnont Sureewong, sir. Navy
Seals.
His attention is on his men, and he barely glances at the

Governor.
NARONGSAK
Brief me, please.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
The cave is flooded. My men will
enter with breathing apparatus.
It’s all under control.
Preeya joins the Governor with a lean Englishman who’s just

arrived, VERN UNSWORTH, 60.
PREEYA
This man lives near by, sir. He
knows the cave.
VERN UNSWORTH
I’ve mapped it. All of it.
He’s pulling out a hand-drawn map. The Governor studies it by

the light of his phone.
VERN UNSWORTH
I’ve never been in when it’s
flooded - that’s a whole different
game. You have to be a bit -
He makes a gesture meaning ‘crazy’.
VERN UNSWORTH
There’s some pretty tight corners
in there, real squeeze. But there’s
some big chambers too. The boys
should be okay, so long as we get
them out soon.
Captain Arnont is now also looking at Vern’s map.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Let me show this to my men.
Narongsak nods. Vern and Captain Arnont go into a huddle over

the map with the Navy Seals. The Governor finds himself
effectively left out as the professionals get into the
details.
PREEYA
Maybe I could find you something to
eat, sir.
NARONGSAK
That would be kind. This could be a
long night.
17 INT. CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT 17
Buahom and the other parents look on as a powerful light is

dragged into the cave. It comes on, dazzling everyone. Its
light illuminates the great space so that we see it clearly
for the first time. From the railing where the parents stand
and the bikes are parked a rock face slopes steeply down to
an immense void, bigger than a football arena, with
stalactites stabbing down from the high rock roof like
monster’s teeth. At the far end a lake has formed, into which
water is flowing from a wide rock tunnel. The light gleams on
the water, bouncing patterns onto the tunnel roof.
The team of Navy Seals now enter the cave, ready to dive,
wearing head-torches. Their leader, LIEUTENANT KIET, a super-
fit 25-year-old, leads them across the wide entrance. As they
reach the tunnel he pulls out a phone, holds it up for a
group selfie. His group includes a medic, DR KARN, and two
young eager Seals, JAY and PICHAI.
KIET
Navy Seals! We don’t go home till
we’ve got the kids! Hooyah!
His comrades punch the air and echo their trademark cry.
NAVY SEALS
Hooyah!
18 INT. CHAMBER 1 - NIGHT 18
DAY 2 - Sunday June 24 (midnight)
The Seals splash through shallow water down the wide tunnel.
The terrain rises and falls, and is strewn with boulders.
Their head-torches throw beams of light onto the craggy roof
and walls. The sound of gushing water fills the air.
18A INT. U-BEND - NIGHT 18A
The Navy Seals stride across U-Bend to the point where the
next tunnel is almost completely filled with water. Here the
diving begins.
Kiet looks round his men, fixes his mask. They all follow
suit. He gives them a thumbs-up, and submerges himself under
the murky water. One by one his men follow him, and they’re
gone.
19 EXT. MOUNTAIN - NIGHT 19
The rain falls ceaselessly. Lightning lights up the long low

mountain.
20 EXT. THAM LUANG - BASECAMP - NIGHT 20
More and more cars arriving. A local TV news crew is setting

up camera and lights.
The huddle of parents stands by the cave entrance, patiently

waiting for the Navy Seals to return with their boys. They’re
anxious, but still able to exchange chatter and even some
nervy laughter. Captain Arnont waits, staring towards the
cave.
21 EXT. THAM LUANG - BASECAMP - LATER - NIGHT 21
Governor Narongsak speaking to a TV news crew in the rain.

He’s keen to communicate his confidence that everything’s
under control.
NARONGSAK
It’s a deep cave, several
kilometers long. It’s got some
tricky narrow passages. If the boys
have gone a long way in, it could
be a few more hours. I have every
confidence in the Navy Seals. They
know what they’re doing.
Flickers of light from deep in the tunnel. The lights grow

brighter.
Then they appear, moving slowly, exhausted and in pain: Kiet

and his team of Navy Seals wading their way through the water
back towards the cave mouth. One of the Seals is being
supported by comrades. Another has a cut on his brow that’s
bleeding.
Captain Arnont, Governor Narongsak and Preeya - a huddle of

parents, Buahom a little apart, by the railing - all staring
in shock.
The Navy Seals come to a stop and pull off their masks, and
meet the stunned gaze of all the people waiting in the cave.
Kiet shakes his head.
Buahom gives a gasping sob. Governor Narongsak and Captain

Arnont share a look: what now?
23 INT. RICK STANTON’S HOUSE - COVENTRY, ENGLAND - DAY 23
DAY 3 - Monday June 25
Lean, crop-headed RICK STANTON, 57, is bent over a worktop

covered in tools, constructing a home-made re-breather, part
of his diving kit. All round him the clutter of a man who
lives alone, his life given over to his hobbies, which are
cave diving and kayaking. Bottles of oxygen, diving
apparatus, kayaks under repair, compete for space with a
couch, a TV, and the remains of takeaway meals.
The phone buzzes. Without stopping what he’s doing Rick taps
the call onto speaker.
RICK STANTON
Yeah. John.
JOHN VOLANTHEN’S PHONE VOICE

You following what’s happening in
Thailand?
RICK STANTON
Why would I?

Some kids stuck in a cave.
RICK STANTON
How’d they get themselves in there?

How do I know?
RICK STANTON
If they walked in, they can walk
out.
24 INT. JOHN VOLANTHEN’S HOUSE - LONG ASHTON, ENGLAND - DAY 24
COMPUTER SCREEN - BBC News Asia: Tham Luang - Twelve members

of a youth soccer team and their coach reported missing in a
cave in northern Thailand.
The laptop screen is being searched by JOHN VOLANTHEN, 47,

skinny, spectacled, intense-looking. He’s on the phone to
Rick.
THIRTEEN LIVES | YELLOW REVISIONS | 29.3.21 Pg 12.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Thai government’s been given a list
of names. We’re on the list.
RICK STANTON’S PHONE VOICE
What cave is this?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Tham Luang.
Across the table from John, his son MATTHEW, 11, is on his X-
Box playing Fortnite. The front door bell rings.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Hey, Matthew. That’ll be your mum.
Matthew’s attention is on his game.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Matthew!
MATTHEW
Okay. Okay.
Matthew leaves his video game to go to the front door. John
continues with his phone call.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Vern mapped it a couple of years
ago.
25 INT. RICK STANTON'S HOUSE - COVENTRY, ENGLAND - DAY 25

Rick has moved over to his laptop and is googling ‘Tham
Luang’. He’s got a page on the cave, still on the phone to
John.
RICK STANTON
Okay. I’ve got it. It’s a show
cave. Shouldn’t be that difficult.
Vern says when it floods it’s
impassable.
RICK STANTON
Impassable for Vern.
Anyway, seems there’s some kids
trapped there. They’ve got teams
climbing all over the mountain,
drilling holes -
RICK STANTON
Drilling holes... ?
26 INT. JOHN VOLANTHEN'S HOUSE - LONG ASHTON, ENGLAND - DAY 26
Still on the phone, John has gone through to the hall, where
his ex-wife ANNABEL is sorting out Matthew’s backpack.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Hi. Everything okay?
ANNABEL
Sure.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to Annabel)
Do I have him this weekend?
ANNABEL
You know you do.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to Matthew)
I may have to be away.
ANNABEL
Well, it’d be helpful if you’d just
let me know.
MATTHEW
Where is it this time, Dad?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Thailand, maybe.

They don’t need us, John.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to phone)
Hold on, Rick.
(to Annabel)
It’s like an emergency. Maybe.
Annabel’s heard this before.
ANNABEL
An emergency. Maybe.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to Matthew)
Got everything?
MATTHEW
Yeah.

It’s just a tourist cave. It’s not
even the longest one in Thailand.
It’s like number five.
ANNABEL
Come along, Matthew.
She’s already heading out of the door. Matthew follows.
MATTHEW
Bye, Dad.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Bye. I’ll tell you if I have to go.
Matthew turns back and gives John a wistful wave. Then he’s
out of the door.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to phone)
Rick, if you don’t want to do this,
I’ll call Jason.
Rick still staring at the cave on his laptop screen.
RICK STANTON
(to phone)
So call Jason if you’d rather go
with Jason.

I didn’t say I’d rather go with
Jason. I’d rather go with you.
RICK STANTON
Just to confirm. No one’s actually
asked for us yet.

No. I’m just saying, Vern gave them
our names, be ready in case they do
ask for us. Start packing if you’re
coming.
RICK STANTON
How many kids involved?

I don’t know. A football team.
RICK STANTON
I don’t even like kids.
28 EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP - DAY 28
DAY 4 - Tuesday June 26
The rain streams down.
A shelter has been erected across from the cave entrance, and
here the PARENTS of the boys are huddled on plastic chairs,
trying to sleep as the rain streams down. Lek lies curled up
asleep on the ground. Buahom can’t sleep. She sits apart from
the others, gazing towards the bright light spilling from the
cave.
Park Ranger Saisor comes to the families camp carrying half a

dozen clear plastic bags. He lays them out on a table. The
parents gather round.
SAISOR
We found these when we went in on
the first night.
The parents look more closely. Then they start to recognize

items, and to retrieve them: a pair of black sneakers, many
pairs of slip-on sandals, half a dozen backpacks. Buahom
finds her son’s sandals.
Great trucks are now pulling into the muddy space by the
cave. Teams of WATER ENGINEERS move GIANT PUMPS into
position, and lay lines of giant hose. Among them a big
cheerful water engineer called UDOM.
Engines start to rumble, and the water starts to flow through

the hoses in torrents, and gush out into open ground. More
news crews are arriving and setting up their cameras.
A convoy of official cars pulls in to the muddy rain-drenched

site. Buahom follows the cars’ arrival as if they might be
bringing a savior. Governor Narongsak and Preeya head for the
cars to greet the VIP. As they go, the Governor’s attention
is caught by a slight boyish ginger-haired figure: THANET
NATISRI, an Americanised Thai. He’s photographing the pumps
in action with his iPad.
NARONGSAK
Who’s that?
PREEYA
I don’t know, sir.
GENERAL ANUPONG, the Minister of the Interior, gets out of

his car.
NARONGSAK
Minister.
GENERAL ANUPONG
Governor. Bring me up to speed.
NARONGSAK
Pumping has begun, Minister.
GENERAL ANUPONG
I know that. I ordered the largest
pumps in the region. Have divers
gone in?
NARONGSAK
So far, the divers have been unable
to get through. The water levels
are too high. The flooded sections
are very narrow and difficult to
negotiate, and the current is too
strong.
GENERAL ANUPONG
You’re telling me you haven’t found
the boys? You don’t know where they
are? Or how they are? Or even if
they’re alive?
One of his aides comes up to him.
MINISTER’S AIDE
Would you speak to the news team,
sir?
The Minister nods. Low, to Narongsak -
GENERAL ANUPONG
You’ll remain as Governor until
this is done.
The Minister heads off to the news team. Governor Narongsak

meets Preeya’s eyes and gives a wry shrug.
29 SCENE DELETED 29
30 SCENE DELETED 30
THIRTEEN LIVES | GOLDENROD REVISIONS | 25.9.21 Pg 17.
31 EXT. MOUNTAIN VILLAGE - DAY 31
DAY 6 - Thursday June 28
Rain streams down over the roofs of this little cluster of

houses at the foot of the mountain. In the shelter of a
doorway Thanet Natisri is deep in talk with the VILLAGE
HEADMAN, a wiry old man. Thanet is gesturing towards the
mountain above.
THANET NATISRI *
They tell me you’re the guy who *
knows this mountain best? *
VILLAGE HEADMAN *
Sure. I know the mountain. *
THANET NATISRI *
You know the cave is flooded? There *
are boys trapped in there. Even the *
Navy divers can’t get to them. *
VILLAGE HEADMAN *
Who are you? *
THANET NATISRI *
Thanet Natisri. I’m a water *
engineer from Bangkok. I can really *
help here. *
VILLAGE HEADMAN *
The government sent for you? *
THANET NATISRI *
No, I just came, like everyone else *
here. There’s no time for all that *
official permission stuff. *
He gestures up at the rain streaming down on the mountain. *
THANET NATISRI *
The rain water is flooding the *
cave. It’s coming from above, not *
below. We have to stop it getting *
in. I need to find all the *
sinkholes, block them, and get the *
water off the mountain. *
VILLAGE HEADMAN *
Holes in the mountain? *
THANET NATISRI *
Right. *
THIRTEEN LIVES | GOLDENROD REVISIONS | 25.9.21 Pg 17A.
VILLAGE HEADMAN *
I can show you holes in the *
mountain. *
32 EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE - DAY 32
The village Headman makes his way up the mountain at such

speed, despite his age, that Thanet finds it hard to keep up.
Thanet stops to catch his breath and look down. Far below
there are rice fields. The Headman hasn’t paused for breath.
Thanet pushes on after him through the undergrowth, following
a mountain stream. And suddenly - the stream is gone.
Thanet stands back, taking out his iPad to photograph the

cleft in the rocks where the stream is draining away, as if
down a giant plug hole.
33 EXT. CHIANG RAI AIRPORT - DAY 33
Out of the blur of falling rain a shape forms: a plane

landing.
34 INT. CHIANG RAI AIRPORT TERMINAL - BAGGAGE CLAIM - DAY 34
Luggage rolling round on the luggage carousels. A TV is

running a report on the boys trapped in the cave. An airport
security guard is watching the TV: SAMAN GUNAN, 37, a
powerfully-built man with a cheery face. On the TV he sees
General Anupong, flanked by Captain Arnont.
GENERAL ANUPONG
A team of Navy Seals is standing by
as soon as conditions permit to go
into the cave and bring out the
boys. That means waiting for the
rain to ease off...
John Volanthen comes into the luggage area, talking on his

phone as he waits for his luggage. He’s wearing a
‘Spartathlon’ T-shirt. Saman notes him.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to phone)
Forget the wifi link, run a cable.
(more)
JOHN VOLANTHEN (con't)

We don’t have time to trace the
fault. Hook them up directly... I
know, I know. Every time their
system goes down, they think
they’ve been zapped by the Death
Star.
He sees one of his bags appear.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to phone)
Here’s my bags. Have to go, Barry.
Good luck.
Saman, watching, sees that John’s luggage includes diving

gear, and he becomes interested.
Rick Stanton comes shambling into the luggage area, looking

like a tourist on a day trip. He’s checking something on his
phone. John offers him a custard cream from his packet.
RICK STANTON
Long way to come for nothing. That
cave’s been hit by a flash flood.
Those kids aren’t coming out.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Did you bring your inner tube?
RICK STANTON
Of course. Why wouldn’t I?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Because it makes you look like a
cock womble.
RICK STANTON
You’re the one with the Fartathlon
t-shirt.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Spartathlon.
Rick and John now have their gear on a trolley. As they pass
Saman on their way out, he looks curiously at their diving
gear. An officer from the Tourist Police, POLICE CAPTAIN BAS,
greets them, and leads them out. Saman turns his gaze back to
the TV.
GENERAL ANUPONG
The twelve boys and their young
coach have now been in the cave for
five days.
(more)
THIRTEEN LIVES | SALMON REVISIONS | 15.5.21 Pg 19.
GENERAL ANUPONG (con't)

We have no communication with them,
and no way of knowing how they’re
doing, but we’re hopeful that if
they have fresh water they can
survive long enough for us to get
to them...
35 EXT. THAM LUANG - NIGHT 35

The Tourist Police minibus drives into Tham Luang. Rain
falling steadily, as the day ends. Bas gets out and opens the
door of the minibus, where Rick and John are sitting. As they
prepare to get out -
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Love this rain.
RICK STANTON
Got any custard creams left?
John hands over the packet.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Just one, okay?
They get out of the minibus and go to the back of the vehicle
to take out their gear. John checks his packet of biscuits.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Did you take two custard creams?
RICK STANTON
No.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
You did. You took two at once.
You’re like a child.
RICK STANTON
I’m like a child? Listen to you.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Seriously, I don’t care about
custard creams. I care about trust.
I’m disappointed. But that’s okay.
They shoulder their gear and prepare to follow Bas. As they
cross the site they take in for the first time the huge
crowded tent-town that’s grown up round the cave.
RICK STANTON
Bloody hell!
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Who are all these people?
BAS
Volunteers. Everyone wants to help.
Rick and John haul their gear through the mud and the rain.
Nobody is paying them any attention, or seems to be expecting
them. Police Captain Bas leads them to the Parks Building.
36 INT. UK RESCUE DIVERS ROOM - BASECAMP - NIGHT 36
Rick and John enter this bleak bare room in the Parks
Building, and dump their gear. They look round.
RICK STANTON
Loved the welcome committee.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
So what do we do?
RICK STANTON
What we came here to do. Go in that
cave.
CUT TO - Rick and John suiting up. They festoon themselves

with hand-made gear, the fruit of their long experience.
Every item has its purpose, but the effect is odd-looking -
particularly the inner tube Rick wears across his back as a
variable buoyancy device.
37 EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP - NIGHT 37
Rick and John cross through the crowds in their diving gear
to the cave entrance. People stare as they go by.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
See? They think you look like a
cock womble.
RICK STANTON
So I’m a cock womble. You have a
problem with that?
In the Navy Seals area, Kiet is tracking them.
Rick and John enter the cave. Jay, on duty, intercepts them.
JAY
The cave is closed.
RICK STANTON
We just flew all the way from
England.
JAY
The cave is closed.
Kiet comes in to the cave.
KIET
Can I help?
RICK STANTON
I’m Rick Stanton. This is John
Volanthen. We’ve been flown out by
the Thai government to help.
KIET
You’re British Army?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
British Cave Rescue Council. We’re
volunteers.
KIET
The cave is flooded. It’s closed.
Captain Arnont and Vern Unsworth arrive.
VERN UNSWORTH
Rick! John!
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Hi, Vern. There seems to be a
problem here.
RICK STANTON
They’re telling us the cave’s
closed.
VERN UNSWORTH
It’s bad in there. They’re pulling
everyone out.
(to Arnont)
These are the guys you want. I gave
the Governor their names.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
The Governor sent for them?
KIET
They’re amateurs. Look at them!
They’ll never survive the currents
in the cave.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
(to Vern)
Why did the Governor send for them?
VERN UNSWORTH
They’ve done cave rescues all over
the world.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We have to be on some list
somewhere.
VERN UNSWORTH
(to Arnont)
I told the Governor these are the
guys you need.
Captain Arnont stares at Rick and John, unconvinced.
VERN UNSWORTH
(to Rick and John)
Sorry about this, guys. It’s just
that nobody wants foreigners dying
in the cave. Doesn’t look good.
RICK STANTON
We won’t die. I have zero interest
in dying. How about you, John?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Same.
Captain Arnont gives a shrug.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
The Governor sent for them. It’s
his responsibility.
(to Rick and John)
Very well. Dive.
Rick and John give a nod, and head to the water. Kiet watches
them go, shaking his head.
Rick and John stride into the tunnel, through the gushing
water. Lights have been fixed in this tunnel.
RICK STANTON
Jesus! Looks like a bloody circus.
Rick wades into a partially flooded chamber, the water racing

all round him. John emerges by his side. They turn their
heads, taking in where they’ve arrived. There are three
PUMPING ENGINEERS scrambling to get out before it’s too late.
Rick and John carry on, now wading in neck deep water.
41 INT. U-BEND CHAMBER - NIGHT 41
Rick and John, water still up to their necks, passing yet

another worker, Udom, who is struggling to right a faulty
pump before he leaves, shivering in the cold. Rick and John
working round the U-bend against the surging water. Until
they reach a point where they have to dive.
42 INT. UNDERWATER - STALACTITE TUNNEL - NIGHT 42
DIVERS POV - The blur of rock walls as they loom out of the
murk. Rapid turns to avoid contact. Bare hands feeling their
way. The light of a head-torch revealing high crags and
sudden drops into nothing. Glimpses of hosepipes clustered on
the rock floor. Short stretches of rope fixed to the side,
then ending. All seen through a constantly surging churn of
tea-colored water that carries debris along with it.
They skillfully negotiate a pinch-point. The sound of the

divers’ steady breathing. The trail of bubbles from their
masks.
43 INT. T-JUNCTION - NIGHT 43
DIVER POV - Rick’s glimpse of John following behind - back

and round to see a water surface above - and up, to break the
surface, the head-torch beaming up into open space -
Rick and John surface, and struggle to keep from being swept
back. They look round to get their bearings, fighting all the
time against the current. The water pours in torrents out of
the channel. A sign pointing left, saying PATTAYA BEACH, is
half covered.
They submerge again, thrash against the water, attempting to

enter the next tunnel. Then they’re above water again,
looking round, to find they’ve got nowhere.
Suddenly a massive surge of water roars into the chamber,

slamming them both back against the rock walls.
Rick makes a throat-cutting gesture to John, and John nods.

They turn back the way they came, and submerge.
Rick and John re-surface in U-Bend chamber, racing the rising

water. There’s Udom, frantically waving to them.
UDOM
I can’t get out!
RICK STANTON
What’s he doing here?
They wade over to Udom.
UDOM
The water came too fast. I was
working, fixing the pump -
RICK STANTON
You speak English?
He mimes swimming.
RICK STANTON
You can swim?
Udom nods eagerly.
RICK STANTON
John. Give me your mask. I’ll take
him out, and come back.
John takes off his mask and oxygen cylinder. Rick fits it on
Udom. He puts his arm round him.
RICK STANTON
When we’re in the water, I guide
you, okay? Do not try to swim ahead
of me, or away from me. Stay very
close.
John fits the regulator of the breathing apparatus into

Udom’s mouth. Rick and Udom plunge into the swirling, rising
water.
45 INT. UNDERWATER - NIGHT 45
RICK’S POV - Rick holds Udom close, watching to see that his
breathing is working, as they push through the murky water.
The powerful current drives them along rapidly, and Rick has
to keep reaching out to fend off rock promontories. He sees
Udom’s eyes through the mask, and he looks panicked.
They dive down, are swept along. For a few moments they
hurtle down the flooded tunnel, turning and turning. All the
way Rick keeps close hold of Udom, as they swoop over the
sudden drops, and evade the projecting rocks. Then they’re
heading up again, and there’s light above.
Udom realizes the surface is above him, and suddenly panics,

desperate to get to air. He kicks and claws the water. Rick
struggles to hold him back, but he thrashes away from him,
almost knocking Rick’s mask from his face. His own mask comes
loose, he starts gulping water. Rick drags him upwards -
Udom surfaces, choking, disoriented, terrified. Rick surfaces

beside him, pulling him in the right direction. As soon as
they’re standing waist deep, Rick strips the mask from him.
Three other PUMPING ENGINEERS see them. Rick waits just long
enough to see that Udom is being helped on his way, then he
dives back down into the water.
Aided now by his companions, Udom sets off walking unsteadily

through the waist-deep water to the bright lights of the cave
entrance.
Rick is back in U-Bend chamber. John is re-fitting his

returned cylinder and mask. Rick shaking his head at the
craziness.
RICK STANTON
That was exciting.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We better get out of here. You
ready?
RICK STANTON
Yeah, I’m ready.
(looking round)
You know what? This cave has my
attention.
The scene in the cave entrance is chaotic, as the water level

rises and men and equipment are being pulled out.
Governor Narongsak, Preeya, Captain Arnont, Kiet, and Vern

stand waiting.
NARONGSAK
Who let them dive?
CAPTAIN ARNONT
You sent for them, sir.
NARONGSAK
I’ve sent for a lot of people.
Now they see Rick and John come wading out of the cave,
pulling off their masks. Not what the Governor expected.
NARONGSAK
These are the elite divers?
KIET
They haven’t found the boys.
Rick and John reach the waiting group, visibly exhausted.
NARONGSAK
I am the Governor of this province.
We’re grateful for your help.
RICK STANTON
We went as far as we could. Didn’t
find the boys.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to Vern)
You were right. It’s bad in there.
RICK STANTON
We got your guy out.
NARONGSAK
What guy?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
He was handling pumps. He got
trapped.
He looks round to see if he can see him. The Governor turns

to Captain Arnont.
NARONGSAK
You know about this?
CAPTAIN ARNONT
No, sir.
(to Rick and John)
How far did you get?
RICK STANTON
The T-junction. We’ll go further
next time.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
(to the Governor)
They’ve not done any better than my
men.
NARONGSAK
(to Arnont)
I sent for them on good advice. I’m
pursuing every avenue open to me.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Yes, Governor.
(beat)
I’ll let you know when the rescue
operation can be resumed.
He and Kiet walk away.
NARONGSAK
(to Rick and John)
I must ask you to wait to dive
again until conditions improve.
Turning to his entourage -
NARONGSAK
Have they been allocated hotel
accommodation? Who’s looking after
our guests?
Preeya gives Police Captain Bas a nod, and he steps forward.
NARONGSAK
I’m sure you would like to rest
now. This officer will look after
everything. Please do not attempt
to enter the cave again without my
permission.
Rick and John and Vern Unsworth have just come out of the
cave with Police Captain Bas. A pick-up is waiting near the
shrine.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
What was all that about?
VERN UNSWORTH
In theory the Governor’s in charge,
but Captain Arnont’s the Navy chief
on the ground, and he doesn’t take
orders from civilians. Plus the
rumor is the Governor’s been
sacked. This was supposed to be his
last week here. Now he’s been
ordered to stay on.
Rick gives a nod at the statue of the goddess. Buahom is

there, placing an offering before the shrine.
RICK STANTON
What’s that?
VERN UNSWORTH
It’s a shrine to Princess Nang Non.
The Sleeping Princess.
Police Captain Bas points to the mountain above.
BAS
This is her mountain. Nang Non
mountain.
VERN UNSWORTH
When you see it from a distance,
it’s supposed to look like a
Sleeping Princess.
BAS
They say her tears trap the boys,
that the Sleeping Princess is
angry.
RICK STANTON
Angry. What’s she angry about?
BAS
I don’t know. It’s just what the
local people say.
Rick stares at the mountain. It’s like he’s checking out an

opponent in a contest.
Bas starts to load their gear into the back of the pick-up.
John checks out the new form of transport.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Looks like we’ve been downgraded.
BAS
Sorry about that. The minibus is
only used for airport pick ups.
50 EXT. RESORT HOTEL - NIGHT 50
Rick and John, drenched, in the back of the pick-up as it

pulls off the road into this modest chalet resort. The rain
still pouring down. Rick and John get out, humping their
backpacks. Bas jumps out to guide them to their quarters.
51 INT. CHALET - RESORT HOTEL - NIGHT 51
Bas opens the door into a chalet bedroom, and Rick and John
enter. The rain is loud on the corrugated iron roof. They
pull off their wet outer coats as they check out their
accommodation. There’s just the one double bed.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
One bed?
BAS
Big bed.
RICK STANTON
Yeah. Okay. Thanks.
BAS
I’ll come for you in the morning.
He leaves them. Rick goes to the room’s patio windows and

opens them. Outside there’s a small veranda. Rick looks out
at the streaming rain.
John’s studying a map of the cave. He takes out his packet of

custard creams and eats one, not offering any to Rick. He
replaces the packet in his rucksack. Rick comes in. His eyes
on John’s rucksack.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
No.
RICK STANTON
Just one?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
No. And I’ve counted them.
He pulls back the covers on the bed.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We better top and tail.
RICK STANTON
Your feet smell.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
You snore.
RICK STANTON
This is not going to end well.
52 EXT. MOUNTAIN - DAY 52
DAY 7 - Friday June 29
Rain falls steadily. A hazy white sun rises over the

mountain. Farmers are at work in the rice fields; among them
female farmer MAE NOI.
Rain falls over the growing encampment by the cave mouth.

Field kitchens have been set up, where motherly cook MALAI is
stirring her vat of curry. A mobile coffee stall is operated
by DUSIT, a hip-looking coffee guy. An eager youngster,
PANIT, is sweeping the water away from the paths. As fast as
he sweeps, the paths flood again.
A cluster of AUSTRALIANS are getting coffee. A recently-

arrived team of CHINESE from the Beijing Peaceland Foundation
are settling in.
A car arrives, and out gets Saman, the airport security

guard, carrying a hold-all. He stands looking round. Captain
Arnont, in the Navy Seals area, sees him, and calls out.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Saman!
Saman waves back and gives the Seal cry, punching the air.
SAMAN
Hooyah!
He walks over to join them, looking to Captain Arnont with a

hopeful smile.
THIRTEEN LIVES | GREEN REVISIONS | 29.4.21 Pg 31.
SAMAN
I got tired of watching you on TV.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Good to see you, brother.
He introduces Saman to Kiet and the other Seals.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Saman served under me for ten
years. We chased pirates together.
He was one of our best.
SAMAN
I’m only in Chiang Rai. It’s so
near, I couldn’t just sit there
doing nothing. I’ll help any way I
can. Hey, I’ll make the coffee.
Somboon comes up to them, and makes a ‘wai’.
SOMBOON
Please, sirs. My boy is in the
cave. I know this cave. Too much
rain. It may be that he is dead.
All I ask you, sirs. Bring me his
body.
He bows again, and withdraws. A moment of silence. Saman

meets Arnont’s eyes.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Yeah. It’s tough.
54 INT. WAR ROOM - PARKS BUILDING - BASECAMP - DAY 54
The main room in the Parks Building has been taken over as
the centre of operations, and is crowded with tables and
chairs, laptops and wall charts. Right now all the key
players in the rescue are assembling: the Governor and
Preeya, Captain Arnont and his Seals, among them Kiet and
Saman, the Brits, Rick, John and Vern, some Australians, some
Chinese - and new arrivals, two Americans, MAJOR CHARLIE
HODGES and CAPTAIN OLIVIA TAFT, who are introducing
themselves.
HODGES
Charlie Hodges, US Airforce,
Okinawa. This is Captain Olivia
Taft.
NARONGSAK
US Airforce?
A chuckle from the others.
HODGES
Yeah, I know. We were the nearest
Special Operations Squad. We’ve got
medics, comms, logistics experts.
We’ll do what we can to help.
NARONGSAK
Welcome to the war room. Let’s get
started.
He claps his hands to call the meeting to order.
NARONGSAK
Thank you, everyone. Okay.
He refers to a map of the cave, explaining partly to the

newly arrived Americans.
NARONGSAK
We think the boys were heading for
here. They call it Pattaya Beach.
Seven days ago now. So far, with
the high water levels, the low
visibility, and just the difficulty
of the cave itself, none of our
divers have been able to reach
them. So - when do we go back in?
And who goes back in?
RICK STANTON
Send us in again. We’ll make it.
NARONGSAK
You think you can go further into
the cave than trained Navy divers?
RICK STANTON
Yes.
Kiet meets Captain Arnont’s eyes with a shrug of irritation.

John sees this.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
No offense, but your divers aren’t
trained for this. No one is. Rick
and me have been doing this for
twenty years.
VERN UNSWORTH
You have to have a certain kind of
mindset for deep cave diving.
(more)
VERN UNSWORTH (con't)

Very focussed. Very methodical.
Like a machine.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
You’re machines?
RICK STANTON
You got anything against machines?
KIET
(low)
Only old machines.
The other Seals laugh. Rick can see that they’re laughing at
him, and he doesn’t like it.
Captain Arnont speaks, effectively taking charge.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
So here’s the situation. We need
the rain to stop. Let the pumps do
their work. Then we go in.
RICK STANTON
We can go in now.
A direct challenge. Arnont meets Rick’s stare.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
I’m responsible for my men. We will
wait for the conditions to improve.
As for anyone else, that’s for the
Governor to decide.
He turns to the Governor. The Governor makes a holding

decision.
NARONGSAK
For now, nobody goes in. We wait
for the rain to stop.
55 EXT. BASECAMP - DAY 55
Rain falling. Rick and John cross the encampment after the
meeting to their waiting pick-up.
RICK STANTON
What are we doing here? They don’t
want us.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Things change.
RICK STANTON
Give me one reason why we should
stay.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
How about thirteen reasons?
RICK STANTON
That’s not our kids in the cave.
It’s their kids. We don’t belong
here.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
So how come the whole world’s
watching? It’s different with kids.
It’s like kids belong to everyone.
RICK STANTON
Speak for yourself.
They’ve reached the pick-up. Rick looks up at the mountain

outlined against the sky.
RICK STANTON
Do you see a Sleeping Princess?
John’s getting into the pick-up.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
So that’s agreed, then. We stay.
DAY 8 - Saturday June 30
Rain pouring down over the trees. In the distance, on a high

ridge, a HEAVY-DUTY DRILL is grinding its way into the rock.
A convoy of SUVs bumps up the mountain track. Governor

Narongsak and his entourage are on a tour of inspection of
the teams at work. The convoy reaches a clearing where Thanet
Natisri is directing a team of men diverting a stream. The
village Headman is with him.
Governor Narongsak gets out of his car to join them. He looks

round at the unexpected scale of the activity, and at Thanet.
PREEYA
Seems like he just showed up on his
own initiative, sir. I’ve checked
him out. He’s on the Bangkok
Aquifer Recovery Project.
(more)
PREEYA (con't)
The men working with him are local
villagers.
The Governor goes over to Thanet.
NARONGSAK
I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m the
Governor here.
Thanet responds in Americanized English.
THANET NATISRI
I’m the water guy.
NARONGSAK
You’re American?
Thanet reverts to speaking Thai.
THANET NATISRI
I live in Illinois, but I’m from
Bangkok. I was in Bangkok when I
heard the news. I came on over, and
rounded up some volunteers, and
here we are.
NARONGSAK
Doing what, exactly?
THANET NATISRI
There’s a network of mountain
feeder streams that carries water
through all the fissures and cracks
in the rock, into the cave. That’s
what’s creating the strong
currents. If we can find enough of
the streams and divert them, the
water level in the cave will drop.
NARONGSAK
I thought that’s why we’re pumping
the water out of the cave below.
THANET NATISRI
No, sir. All those big pumps in the
cave are useless. All the time
you’re sucking the water out from
the bottom, it’s going in at the
top.
NARONGSAK
And you can stop that?
THANET NATISRI
We can try. But there is a price to
pay.
57 EXT. HUT, PADDY FIELDS - DAY 57
A group of local FARMERS have gathered in the shelter of an

open-fronted hut to listen to the village Headman. Thanet
Natisri and Governor Narongsak stand back, watching.
VILLAGE HEADMAN
You’ve all been in the cave. You
know how the water comes in from
the mountain above. Now they want
to send the water a different way,
down the side of the mountain. That
way the water doesn’t go into the
cave. It comes here. Onto your
fields.
The farmers hear this in silence. The female farmer, Mae Noi,
speaks up.
MAE NOI
The water will damage our crop.
VILLAGE HEADMAN
Yes.
MAE NOI
We will lose our crop.
VILLAGE HEADMAN
Yes.
MAE NOI
How long have the boys been in the
cave?
THANET NATISRI
Eight days so far.
Mae Noi speaks in a low murmur to the other farmers. Then

back to Thanet -
MAE NOI
This will save their lives?
THANET NATISRI
I can’t promise that. But it gives
them a chance.
The farmers go into a huddle and speak low among themselves.

Thanet and the Governor wait in silence. Then the farmers are
all giving nods of acceptance.
MAE NOI
It’s agreed. For the boys.
Thanet turns to the Governor. Both men are moved.
THANET NATISRI
May we proceed, Governor?
58 EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE - DAY 58
Rain falling. The water-diverting operation has begun. Water

streams down the mountainside to the rice fields below.
59 EXT. HUT, PADDY FIELDS - END OF DAY 59
The farmers stand in the hut, looking out through the open
front where they can see the water flowing onto their fields.
They have their palms pressed together and they murmur a soft
prayer.
BEYOND THE PADDY FIELDS is the mountain, and above it, the
clouds are breaking up. Clear sky appearing, red with sunset.
60 SCENE DELETED 60
60A EXT. FAMILIES AREA - BASECAMP - MORNING 60A
DAY 9 - Sunday July 1
Buahom eases herself off her cot bed and gets up, after a
disturbed night’s sleep. She looks out at the camp. The rain
has stopped.
All round the encampment people are shaking out the canopies
and starting to pour gravel onto the mud.
61 EXT. TERRACE - CHALET HOTEL - MORNING 61
Rick and John come out of their room to see the early morning
sunshine. John’s looking at Nang Non mountain.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Suppose they’re alive in there.
What’s it like for them?
Rick gives a shake of his head. He doesn’t want any emotional

engagement with the trapped boys.
RICK STANTON
Why say that?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Just wondering.
Rick’s looking at the outline of the distant mountain.
RICK STANTON
I can just about see it. There’s
her head. Her nose. Her chin. Then
you get like a breast, and a belly.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
That make you feel better?
RICK STANTON
It’s interesting. That’s all.
Buahom, carrying breakfast from the food stalls to the

families camp, hears the sound of gongs and chanting, and
turns to look: a procession of maroon-robed monks escorting
their revered elder KRUBA BOONCHUM is winding its way up the
road into the camp. Others parents are staring too - Wanna,
Somboon, Manop.
Buahom runs into the families camp, puts down the tray of
food, and searches among her belongings. She pulls out a
bunch of bead bracelets.
The holy man and his entourage of monks are at the water’s
edge, chanting prayers, burning incense. The workers in the
cave, Udom and the pumping engineers, the Navy Seals, Kiet
and Saman among them, are on their knees. Buahom approaches
the holy man and lays a cloth on the ground. On the cloth she
spreads her pile of bracelets. Krooba Boonchum blesses the
bracelets.
As the monks emerge from the cave, Governor Narongsak, Preeya

by his side, is conferring with Captain Arnont.
NARONGSAK
Rain’s stopped. When can your men
go in?
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Another twenty-four hours. At
least.
Beyond the crowd round the monks, a car arrives. Rick and
John get out.
NARONGSAK
The British divers say they’re
ready to go in now.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
They’d be in as much danger as my
men.
NARONGSAK
They call themselves machines.
Narongsak is looking across the site at Rick and John.
NARONGSAK
We have machines pumping water.
Machines drilling holes. Why not
machines scouting the cave?
A ping from Preeya’s phone: a message.
PREEYA
The Minister requests an update.
The Governor looks from Preeya to Captain Arnont.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
It’s your decision, Governor.
65 INT. CAVE ENTRANCE - DAY 65
DAY 10 - Monday July 2
Kiet stands gazing at the water in the cave. The level has
dropped. He turns - and stares.
Rick and John appear, geared up for diving in their

unconventional hand-made gear. The rest of the group by Kiet,
Governor Narongsak, Captain Arnont, Major Hodges, Captain
Taft, stare at them.
Rick examines the water level. Then he looks round and sees
everyone watching him.
NARONGSAK
Please take care.
Rick nods. He and John head for the water. Kiet shakes his
head, unconvinced.
66 INT. UNDERWATER - STALACTITE TUNNEL - DAY 66
John swims ahead, barely visible in the murky water, feeling

the rock walls with his bare hands. He carries a bag of rope,
and unwinds it as he goes, stopping to tie it to projecting
rocks. Rick swims behind, checking the rope as he goes.
67 INT. STALACTITE CAVE - DAY 67
Rick and John surface for a moment, get their bearings. They
pause to rest before continuing their work.
They work their way down and up, tying line, dodging sharp
rocks, twisting their bodies round the tight bends.
68 INT. T-JUNCTION TUNNEL - DAY 68
UNDERWATER - The tunnel takes a sharp turn to the right. Rick

checks the compass on his wrist.
A shape floating above: a dead body? Up to feel it. Surface

to find - a white rice sack floating in the shallow air gap.
Rick and John exchange looks, and dive again.
69 INT. T-JUNCTION - DAY 69
John and Rick emerge into the T-junction. From the right hand
side clear fresh water comes pouring in to the cave complex.
The sign, PATTAYA BEACH, with its arrow pointing left, is now
visible again.
They check their air supplies, exchange a thumbs-up - this is

where they go further than they went before. Fighting the
current, they dive, down the tunnel to the left.
70 INT. PATTAYA BEACH - DAY 70
Rick and John surface into a small cavern. On one side a

‘beach’ rises up. They clamber out of the water and remove
their masks. Both of them are exhausted by the physical toll
of the dives so far.
Their flashlights scan the cave. The beam comes to rest on a

home-made sign: PATTAYA BEACH.
RICK STANTON
Pattaya Beach.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
They’re not here.
Rick checks his air reserves.
RICK STANTON
Turnaround time.
John looks round. There’s the way they’ve come. And there’s
the way on, into yet another flooded tunnel.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Next chamber’s three hundred and
fifty meters away. If you say we
turn back, we turn back.
Rick silently assesses the risks. He won’t be beaten by this

cave.
RICK STANTON
We can make it.
They reach for their masks and prepare to dive once more.
RICK STANTON
I’ll stay left. Feel out for
bodies.
71 INT. UNDERWATER - CHAMBER 9 TUNNEL - DAY 71
The toughest dive yet: churning waters pummel them as they

wriggle round tight bends, extremely compressed, pushing on
into zero visibility. Both Rick and John are starting to feel
the strain, when they literally swim into a wall. Assessing
the situation, they inch their way to the left.
Underwater with Rick and John as they emerge at last into the
next cave. They lift their heads above water. Rick raises his
mask and wrinkles his nose. A bad smell.
RICK STANTON
Smell that?
John nods. They lower their masks and dive. Their lights
track through the dark water until they feel ground beneath
their feet. Their heads emerge once more.
The beams of their head-torches sweep over the water’s

surface - over dripping rock walls - to land on -
GAUNT FACES - staring back in shock, high up on a slope.
RICK STANTON
They’re alive!
JOHN VOLANTHEN
How many?
RICK STANTON
How’ve they done that?
John pulls his mask off. He calls across the water.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Hello?
Back comes the eerie reply -
BOYS
Hello!
The light from the divers’ torches plays across the faces of
the boys in the surrounding darkness. Team captain Arm, Prem
the joker, little Chai, Coach - all thin-faced from hunger,
but very much alive.
John is transformed, almost elated. Rick hangs back. He

doesn’t want to get too close to the boys.
John sets off wading slowly through the water towards the
boys. He pulls out a GoPro camera. One of the boys, Arm, is
slithering down the muddy slope towards him. He comes to a
stop, staring into the flashlight.
ARM
Thank you.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
English.
ARM
English?
Rick is now slowly following John, as the rest of the boys

crawl nearer. They’re horribly thin, they move with
difficulty, weakened by their ordeal, but their faces shine.
BOYS
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
John tracks his flashlight over each face as he films.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
How many of you?
ARM
Thirteen.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Brilliant!
Rick joins John. He’s avoiding making eye contact with the
boys.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
All thirteen!
Prem tugs at Arm’s shirt. The flashlight beam flickers from
face to face in the darkness.
PREM
Ask them if we can go soon.
ARM
Can we go outside?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
No, not today. There are just two
of us. But many people are coming.
It’s okay. We are the first.
ARM
What day today?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
It’s Monday. You’ve been here ten
days. You are very strong. Very
strong.
Some of the kids are lifting up their t-shirts to show how
thin they are, to indicate their hunger.
PREM
Tell them we’re hungry.
ARM
We hungry.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I know. I know. We understand. Go
back, we’ll come to you.
The boys scramble back up the muddy slope.
ARM
What day you come and help me?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We hope tomorrow. The Thai Navy
will come tomorrow with food, and
doctor, and everything.
RICK STANTON
(to John, low)
Don’t do this. We don’t know that.
John climbs up the slippery slope onto the ledge. Rick

follows. He loses his grip and slithers back down into the
water. The boys reach out their hands to help him.
ARM
I am very happy.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We are happy too.
ARM
Thank you.
All the boys join in. They’re turning on their own

flashlights.
BOYS
Thank you. Thank you. So much.
Thank you.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
You’re very brave. How have you
stayed so strong?
ARM
We are a team. We help each other.
And our coach, he helps us.
John turns to Coach. Coach presses his hands together and

bows his head, trembling.
COACH
I offer my most sincere apologies
for leading the boys into danger.
The boys protest -
BOYS
Coach helped us! We love our coach!
He’s the best!
John, of course, has no idea what any of them are saying.

ARM
Because of our coach, we stay
strong. He teaches us to meditate.
CHAI
He tells us to pray.
ARM
We pray.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I bet you do.
ARM
And now - you come.
Rick is climbing up the back of the slope, investigating the

space. Prem goes with him, pointing to what they’ve been
doing. Rick shines his flashlight on a hole that the boys
have been digging.
PREM
We dig. Dig.
RICK STANTON
This is to get out?
Prem nods. Rick shines his light into the hole, as Prem looks
on with pride. It’s a couple of meters long, its dead end
visible. Rick stares into it, moved in spite of himself by
its noble futility.
RICK STANTON
Good work.
Rick rejoins John.
RICK STANTON
John. We should get back.
John turns to the boys.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We have to go now. But we will come
back.
ARM
They’re going now. They say they’ll
come back.
As Rick and John gear up to leave, John takes one of the

flashlights off his helmet and hands it to Coach.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Here. The batteries are fresh.
Rick does the same, handing over one of his helmet lights.
Coach speaks to the boys.
COACH
Let’s give thanks.
The boys all put their hands together and bow. Rick and John
slide back into the water. The boys all wave their hands as
they go.
COACH
Save batteries, boys.
One by one the boy’s flashlights are turned off, and the cave
returns to darkness.
In the families area, the parents of the boys wait. Buahom is

staring towards the cave entrance. Lek by her side.
The news crews are hovering, hoping for a development.
Kiet, Dr Karn and Pichai are waiting in Chamber 3. The water

continues to enter the chamber. They see flashlights rising
in the water. They run to the water’s edge as Rick and John
surface. John holds up the GoPro -
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We’ve found the boys! They’re
alive!
NAVY SEALS
Hooyah!
They hurry to help Rick and John out. Kiet takes the GoPro
and plugs it into the cable link.
RICK STANTON
Careful who sees that!
Captain Arnont picks up on a sudden flurry of activity round

the cable hub. The men there send up a cheer.
NAVY SEALS
They found them!
Arnont, Saman, Hodges and Taft hurry to the group of Seals,

and find the video is playing. Over their shoulders, on the
screen, we see the blurry images of the boys in the cave.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
They’re alive!
Captain Arnont’s four-wheel drive vehicle screeches to a halt

in front of the Parks Building. Governor Narongsak has just
come out onto the terrace.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
They found the boys! All alive!
NARONGSAK
All alive!
He closes his eyes as a wave of relief pours through him.
Shouts and cries as word spreads across the crowded

encampment. News teams scramble. A cheer breaks out in the
families’ camp. Everyone’s crying. Somboon kisses Kanda, his
wife. Then they turn to Buahom, who is crying and laughing.
Lek is jumping up and down, doing Ronaldo’s victory dance.
77 SCENE DELETED 77
Rick and John come out of the cave, heads down. Onlookers
cheer. News crews - Thai and international - surge forward.
RICK STANTON
(low)
Shit! Everybody knows.
He sounds like he’s angry about it.
NEWS CREWS
Where did you find the boys? What
did they say to you?
Rick and John push on, keeping their eyes down, physically
shouldering their way through the media scrum.
NEWS CREWS
What state are they in? When will
they be coming out?
PULL BACK AND BACK to see how as the news spreads more and
more people in the camp are cheering and rejoicing from
basecamp to the front of the cave. By the end we see just how
vast this encampment has become.
79 INT. UK RESCUE DIVERS ROOM - BASECAMP - DUSK 79

Rick and John enter the room set aside for them, and collapse
onto chairs, shattered by their long dives. Rick pulls off
his inner tube.
Kiet appears in the doorway, with Saman behind him. John
gives a wave of invitation. Kiet comes in. He doesn’t speak.
Instead he looks more closely at their diving gear. He
touches the inner tube. He looks at Rick, but Rick’s keeping
his head down.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Variable buoyancy device. Rick made
it himself.
KIET
So where were they?
John shows him on the map.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Here. Two and a half kilometers in.
KIET
How many cylinders did you use?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Two cylinders, one third in, one
third out, and a third for
emergencies.
Kiet gives a slow nod: a mark of respect.
KIET
I’m Kiet.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I’m John.
KIET
You found the boys. Good.
He leaves. Saman lingers.
SAMAN
Personal question. How old are you?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I’m forty-seven. Rick’s fifty-seven.
Saman responds with a big grin.
SAMAN
I’m thirty-seven. But I’m good as I
ever was. Older is better, right?
The old men found the boys.
Saman leaves. John turns to Rick. Rick still has his head
down, struggling with confused anger. Everyone’s celebrating,
and he knows how it’s going to end. Vern comes in.
VERN UNSWORTH
Proud of you guys.
RICK STANTON
Not you too, Vern.
John knows just what Rick is feeling, but he also knows he

needs Rick on board for the task ahead.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Rick, we just have to deal with
this, okay?
80 EXT. BASECAMP - NIGHT 80
The families are all watching a screening of the video of the

boys in the cave. They weep and laugh and reach out their
hands as they watch. Buahom has found her son Chai.
KANDA
There he is! My little boy! Hallo,
darling! Mummy’s here, waiting for
you.
Lek waves at the screen.
LEK
Hi, Chai! Hi, little guy!
Kampang and Yod have found their son, Arm.
KAMPANG
Hi, Arm!
At the same time, Rick and John have come out of the Parks
Building. The waiting camera crews pounce on them, shining
their dazzling lights.
REPORTERS
Are you going back for the boys?
What did the boys say to you? How
are you going to get them out?
Rick and John are keeping their heads down as they push
through the throng, heading for their pick-up. Police Captain
Bas hurries over to try to protect them from the press. He
offers his own quiet heartfelt thanks.
BAS
Thank you. You found the boys.
Thank you.
Captain Olivia Taft strides over to the media scrum,
beckoning her men as she approaches.
OLIVIA TAFT
Help me here, boys.
She wades into the scrum, pulling back the newsmen.
OLIVIA TAFT
Sorry, guys. Can we do this later?
They’ve had a hard day, okay? Let’s
give them a break.
Her men herd the news crews back, assisted by Police Captain
Bas. Taft walks with Rick and John towards their pick-up.
OLIVIA TAFT
The news guys can be a pain in the
butt. You just have to handle them
right. We need them, they need us.
RICK STANTON
What do they want me to tell them?
We found the boys, now let’s all
watch them die?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Okay, Rick. Take it easy.
RICK STANTON
I’m just telling it like it is. All
this water pumping, flooding
fields, praying to shrines, it’s
all bullshit! I’m not having it!
John sees someone nearby with their iPhone out recording.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Are you recording? Please don’t,
thank you.
OLIVIA TAFT
The Seals are going in tomorrow.
You think they won’t get the boys
out?
The Governor has followed, and hears Rick’s answer.
RICK STANTON
Those boys are never coming out.
He sees the Governor staring at him in shock.

NARONGSAK
Tomorrow our most experienced
divers are going...
RICK STANTON
It’s not about your divers, we
brought one of your guys out and he
panicked. He almost died, and that
was just a short run! You try to
dive those boys the whole way, the
only thing you’ll be bringing out
is dead bodies!
He heads on to the pick-up. The Governor stands frozen,
Olivia Taft by his side, watching the divers go. Police
Captain Bas follows Rick and John.
BAS
What you told the Governor. Is it
true?
RICK STANTON
Just don’t get your hopes up.
(to John)
This is exactly what I didn’t want.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
You knew we’d find them.
RICK STANTON
I didn’t expect to find them alive.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Well, it’s done now.
RICK STANTON
And there’s you telling the poor
bastards everything’s going to be
fine.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
What else could I say?
They’re in the back of the pick-up now. Police Captain Bas
looks round to make sure they’re in, and Rick sees his face.
He’s blinking back tears. As he climbs into the cab, Rick
sees Bas brush the tears from his eyes with one fist.
Back with Governor Narongsak and Captain Olivia Taft,
watching the Brit divers drive off.
OLIVIA TAFT
He doesn’t mean to be
disrespectful. He just wants us to
know the risks we’re taking.
NARONGSAK
I’m the Governor. I have to tell
the parents they’ll get their boys
back. I have to tell the newsmen
the rescue’s going according to
plan. I have to tell the Minister
everything’s under control. I have
to send the Navy Seals into the
cave. You think I don’t know the
risk I’m taking?
81 EXT. MOUNTAIN - DAWN 81
DAY 11 - Tuesday July 3
Dawn of a new day. The rain still holding off. Trucks

carrying pipes are grinding up the muddy hill track. Thanet
Natisri is overseeing the laying of pipes to divert a
mountain stream. The village men are working hard, hauling
the heavy pipes, but they’re straining with the effort.
The village Headman is watching the sky, following the

movement of the clouds.
82 SCENE DELETED 82
In the Navy Seals area, Kiet and three other Seals - Jay,
Pichai, and the medic Dr Karn - are suiting up for the dive,
watched over by Captain Arnont. Saman is making himself
useful, handing equipment to the Seals as they need it. Dr
Karn shows Kiet a device.
DR KARN
Oxygen meter. We monitor the oxygen
in the cave. Needle in the green
zone, it’s good. In the red zone,
not good. Down to 20 is okay. Below
that, we start to worry.
Kiet looks up. There’s Rick and John. Kiet’s not sure what
they’re about to say.
RICK STANTON
On your first dive you made it to
the T-junction?
KIET
Yes.
RICK STANTON
Want a briefing on the rest of the way?
Kiet holds Rick’s gaze, and gives a nod. CUT TO - Rick, John,
Arnont, Kiet and Dr Karn hunkered over a cave map.
RICK STANTON
You have a 250-meter dive here with a
narrow rift. Barely shoulder width to
Chamber 7. Then you de-kit and lug your
gear over a rock shelf to get to
Pattaya Beach. Then comes the tough
dive. It’s a low shallow tunnel, 350
meters, no visibility, pulling against
very strong current.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Yeah and no headroom... and it’s
got undercuts on the bends. Very
dangerous.
RICK STANTON
Make sure you’re on the wider side of
the line or you’ll get trapped. At the
end of that you’ll reach the boys.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
This is the hardest section?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
This and the squeeze between
Chambers 3 and 4.
KIET
Yes. That’s tight.
RICK STANTON
We tied the line into the roof
there so you’ll have to be at full
stretch between the stalactites to
keep hold of the line.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
And try to save two thirds of your
air going in so you know you can
get back.
KIET
We’re ready. We’ll get there.
Rick and John rise.
DR KARN
You do this as a sport?
RICK STANTON
Not exactly sport. It’s just what I
do. We like going place others
can’t. Or won’t.
The Seals complete their preparations for the dive.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Best of luck.
As the Navy Seals leave, Captain Arnont turns to Rick.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
They’ll do a good job. They have
to. Those are our boys in there.
RICK STANTON
I know they’re tough, but... not
going to be easy.

News crews film the Navy divers led by Kiet as they head for
the cave entrance. The families applaud them as they go by.

Almost total blackness in the cave where the boys wait to be
rescued. Then we hear a low sound of one of the boys, a
whimper of fear. A small light comes on - Coach’s flashlight.
Its glow shows Chai, biting his lip.
CHAI
Sorry.
PREM
When will they come back?
Coach plays the beam of his flashlight over the other boys.
Some of the boys’ flashlights come on. They all look back at
him trying to be brave.
COACH
They will come when they are ready.
When they come, we must be ready.
He arranges himself in the meditation position. The boys all
follow suit.
COACH
Clear your mind. Breathe slowly.
He draws in a long breath, and exhales slowly. The boys do
likewise. The sounds of their steady breathing fills the
cave. One by one the flashlights are turned off, and the cave
is dark.
86 INT. CAVE - U-BEND TUNNEL - DAY 86

UNDERWATER - The sound of a different kind of breathing, fast
and jerky. Kiet, Dr Karn, Jay and Pichai are battling with
the current. Time and again they’re spun round and struggle
back, straining to make headway.
Kiet feels in the dark water for the line as he goes. He sees
Pichai has got stuck. He swims to him and pulls him out of
his jam in the rocks. Panicked eyes meet his through the
masks.
Kiet checks his air. The team switch to their back-up bottles.
87 EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP - EVENING 87

The news crews get coffees from the coffee stall, and trays
of food, and eat, drink and wait. Buahom and Lek are gazing
towards the cave entrance. Buahom fingers the bracelet on her
wrist.
Captain Arnont, Saman and the other Navy Seals wait, talking
quietly among themselves. Panit is nearby, watching an iPad
running the World Cup - England playing Colombia.
Rick and John unfold army cots and stretch out. Could be a
long night.

The starved boys and their coach are huddled up in darkness,
asleep on the bank. Ripples appear on the surface of the
flooded section. Flashes of light underwater.
Kiet and the other three Seals burst up out of the depths.
They climb out of the water. The boys start to wake and sit
up. For a few moments the Seals rest, not speaking,
exhausted. Kiet checks all their air supplies: too low. He
meets the eyes of the other Seals: they know they have a
problem.
A flashlight clicks on. Coach is awake.
KIET
Navy Seals.
COACH
Have you come to take us out?
KIET
Soon. Not yet.
The boys’ flashlights are all coming on. Kiet and the Seals
look in amazement at the boys.
DR KARN
(low)
Not bad, for eleven days without
food.
KIET
The boys in the North, they’re
tough.
This makes the boys all laugh.
Kiet takes energy bars from his bag.
KIET
We have a little food. And some
flashlight batteries.
Coach hands out energy bars.
COACH
Two bites each. We must save them.
Dr Karn unpacks his medical gear.
DR KARN
(to Coach)
I’m going to check the boys. I’m a
doctor.
The energy bars are distributed hand to hand, as Dr Karn

begins his gentle examination of the boys. Kiet quietly
collects oxygen bottles from his men: all of them very low.
Little Chai tracks the progress of one of the bars towards

him with anguished eyes. The famished boys start to suck at
the energy bars.
Dr Karn comes to Coach to run checks on his condition. As he

does so, Coach speaks quietly to him.
COACH
When the flood came, I tried to get
the boys out. I dived into the
water. It was hard.
Arm, close by, nods eagerly.
ARM
He was under water so long. We were
scared.
COACH
I couldn’t see. I couldn’t find a
way. But I did try. Please tell
their parents. I did try.
DR KARN
You’ve done everything you could,
Coach. Nobody’s blaming you.
Kiet reaches an energy bar to Coach. He passes it on to the

boys.
COACH
I’ll wait.
Dr Karn takes out the oxygen meter to check the reading. He

sees Coach staring at what he’s doing.
DR KARN
Just a routine check.
As the boys suck slowly and gratefully on the energy bars,

Kiet is handing the air bottles to Jay, speaking low.
KIET
We only have enough air left for
one of us to get back. Take it, and
return to base.
Jay gets himself ready to dive. Dr Karn now has his reading.
DR KARN
Report the meter reading: ‘Close to
red zone.’
JAY
Close to red zone.
KIET
(to Jay)
Take it slowly. Report our
situation.
Jay gives a nod, and re-enters the water. Kiet raises a

clenched fist, which Jay returns. Then he’s gone.
Kiet turns to Pichai, speaks low.
KIET
You understand the situation?
Pichai nods, exhausted.
KIET
We’re staying.
DAY 12 - Wednesday July 4
Morning. Sunlight filtering through the trees.
Rick and John wait. Captain Arnont returns from the cave
entrance. They look up, hoping for news.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
No word of them yet.
Rick and John exchange glances. Arnont nods at an empty

chair.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
May I?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Sure.
Arnont sits down with them. He nods at John’s ‘Spartathlon’ t-

shirt.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
What’s this Spartathlon?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
It’s an ultra-marathon. Hundred and
fifty miles.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
You run for a hundred and fifty
miles without stopping?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Yes.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
How do you do that?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
It’s like anything. You don’t think
you’re running a hundred and fifty
miles. You think, one more mile. I
can do that. And then one more. I
can do that.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
You stay in the present moment.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Something like that.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Don’t regret the past. Don’t fear
the future.
Rick and John share a look. This is getting strange.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
What is it you want from us,
Captain?
CAPTAIN ARNONT
I don’t know yet. All I know is,
we’re all here, each of us has a
part to play. I have to find my
way. You have to find your way.
RICK STANTON
There is no way.
Arnont looks at him. Holds the look.
RICK STANTON
What?
CAPTAIN ARNONT
There’s always a way.
RICK STANTON
The only way we could bring those
boys out is if they were already
dead.
As he says this we see a new idea enter his head.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I’ve done that. More than once. But
never kids.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Have you ever got anyone out of a
cave alive?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Rick has.
They both look at Rick. He’s not listening. Arnont turns back
to John.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Maybe it’s your turn now.
A light at the far end of the cave. Out comes Navy Seal Jay.
He collapses onto dry land.
His team mates rush to him and help him up and out. They get
his mask off. A brief glimpse of Jay’s traumatized face.
Captain Arnont reports back to Governor Narongsak. Hodges,

Taft, Rick, John, Vern and others are round the table.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
The team ran out of air. Three are
staying with the boys. One has
returned. We have an oxygen reading
for the cave. It’s going down fast.
This is the worst possible news, as the Governor knows.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We can dive extra bottles in to
them. That way at least the Seals
can come out.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
No. They’ll want to stay with the
boys.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
But surely -
Arnont raises one hand to cut him off.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
It’s better they stay with the
boys.
The Governor gives a nod of approval.
92 EXT. TERRACE - PARKS BUILDING - BASECAMP - DAY 92
Parents and volunteer workers are gathering round the Parks

Building to be told what’s going on. The Governor and Captain
Arnont come out onto the terrace. The Governor lights up a
cigarette, his hand shaking. He speaks low to Arnont.
NARONGSAK
Now you see why the Minister left
me in post.
He turns to the waiting crowd, Buahom and the parents among

them, and summons up an air of confidence as he addresses
them.
NARONGSAK
Navy Seals have reached the boys.
They’re with them now, supporting
them, as we prepare the next stage
of the rescue. I make you this
promise. The boys are coming out!
Applause from the crowd. Buahom doesn’t applaud: she’s not

convinced.
93 SCENE DELETED 93
93A INT. WAR ROOM - PARKS BUILDING - BASECAMP - NIGHT 93A
Governor Narongsak, Captain Arnont, Thanet Natisri, Hodges,

Taft, Rick, John and Vern are round the table. Narongsak is
talking them through the options for a rescue, referring to a
whiteboard list.
NARONGSAK
Option one. Wait for the end of
monsoon season.
THANET NATISRI
The monsoon proper hasn’t begun
yet. When it comes, the cave will
flood. All of it. They won’t
survive that.
The Governor nods, looking round the room. A grim reminder.
NARONGSAK
Option two. Find alternative
entrances to the cave. We believe
there are none.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
If there were, we’d feel wind
through the cave.
NARONGSAK
Three. Drill an escape shaft.
HODGES
Ask the engineers. They’ll tell
you, nine hundred meters of rock,
nine months.
NARONGSAK
Four. Teach the boys to dive. But
they panic coming out, and they
die.
A glance at Rick and John. They nod.
NARONGSAK
Five. Escape pod. This is the mini-
submarine.
The Brits and the Americans all nod their heads.
RICK STANTON
It’s a rigid pod. No way we could
get it round the tunnel bends.
NARONGSAK
Six. Escape tunnel. The big plastic
tube idea.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
You’ll never drag a big plastic
tube all that way underwater.
NARONGSAK
And even if you could, I understand
they’d suffocate inside it. Which
brings us to seven. Sponges.
They all stare at him.
NARONGSAK
Just giving you everything that’s
been suggested. Giant sponges, to
soak up the flood water.
Captain Arnont is the first to laugh. Then they’re all

laughing. Then the laughter dies. The Governor looks at
Captain Arnont: they’re both in this together now.
NARONGSAK
Our first priority is to keep them
alive. We can take them food, can’t
we?
Arnont turns to Rick and John. John nods.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We can do that.
Rick and John are by the camp kitchens, Malai serving them
sticky rice and pork.
RICK STANTON
Take them food. Then what?
His eyes are on Governor Narongsak, who’s with Captain Olivia

Taft and Preeya, also getting food. Then he sees Buahom
making for the Governor. Preeya heads her off.
BUAHOM
Governor, Governor.
PREEYA
Can I help?
BUAHOM
Please. Some of the boys are Shan.
My boy is Shan. Will they bring
them out of the cave too?
Olivia Taft has joined them. Preeya explains to her.
PREEYA
She’s afraid her boy won’t be
rescued. They’re Shan, from
Myanmar, just over the border.
Stateless.
(to Buahom)
Your son will be rescued with all
the others. You mustn’t worry. Your
son is very brave.
Buahom’s eyes fill with tears.
BUAHOM
My son has been twelve days in cold
and darkness, with no food. How can
he be brave?
The Governor now comes over. Buahom turns to him, unable to
hold herself back.
NARONGSAK
What’s going on?
BUAHOM
Everyone drinking tea - eating rice
- my boy starving - and nothing
happening!
NARONGSAK
I understand -
BUAHOM
How can you understand? Is your son
going to die?
John is watching Buahom’s tearful face, and though he doesn’t
know what she’s saying, he can see and share what she’s
feeling.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Somebody’s going to have to come up
with something.
Rick says nothing. He’s preoccupied with his own thoughts.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
And if that’s us, we could use a
couple more divers who can handle
rescue work. I was thinking Jason,
if he’s not too pissed that he
hasn’t been asked already. And
maybe Chris Jewell. You think Chris
is up to it?
Still Rick says nothing.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
And anyway, what’s the plan? We run
food in to them for a few days,
then the monsoon comes.
He focusses on Rick’s silence.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Rick?
Rick turns to look at him.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I know that face.
RICK STANTON
Just a crazy idea.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
So tell me.
Rick gives a shrug.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We have nothing, Rick. Crazy’s
better than nothing.
Rick draws a long breath. He looks away as he speaks.
RICK STANTON
It’s what I said to Captain Arnont.
How the only way we can bring those
boys out is if they’re dead.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
That’s your idea? We wait for them
to die?
RICK STANTON
Not exactly. We bring in Harry.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Harry!
He gets it. Stares at Rick.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
That is brilliant!
RICK STANTON
Or insane.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Or both.
RICK STANTON
You think he’d do it?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
No. But he’d come out if he thought
it was just to lend a hand.
RICK STANTON
He would. Harry’s a good diver.
He and John share a look. Are they really going to do this?
RICK STANTON
No one’s ever done it before. What
if it doesn’t work?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
It’s not working now. What have we
got to lose?
95 SCENE DELETED 95
96 INT. CHIANG RAI AIRPORT ARRIVALS TERMINAL - DAY 96
DAY 13 - Thursday July 5
JASON MALLINSON, 50, and CHRIS JEWELL, 35, are greeted in the
terminal by Rick and John. All unemotional men, who meet as
if it’s no big deal.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Hey, Jason.
JASON MALLINSON
John. Rick. Been too long.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Chris.
CHRIS JEWELL
John. How’s it going?
As they head on out, Jason walks beside Rick.
JASON MALLINSON
I knew you’d need me. What took you
so long?
RICK STANTON
Didn’t like to bother you, Jason.
Not now you’re a stay-at-home dad.
JASON MALLINSON
I’m always on the end of a phone,
Rick. Oh, I forgot.
(to Chris)
Rick doesn’t make calls.
Rick turns to Chris.
RICK STANTON
I heard you did a great job in
Mexico.
CHRIS JEWELL
Sistema Huautla. Deepest cave in
the Americas.
RICK STANTON
Cheve’s tougher.
JASON MALLINSON
I’m the only one’s ever been all
the way down Cheve.
CHRIS JEWELL
How’s this one?
RICK STANTON
You’ll see.
JASON MALLINSON
So how long have you been out here,
Rick?
RICK STANTON
Seven days.
JASON MALLINSON
And you still haven’t got the boys
out of the cave?
RICK STANTON
Waiting for you, Jason.
Rick and Jason emerge from the airport building to where the
minibus is waiting for them right outside. Chris and John,
still in the airport building, are following behind.
CHRIS JEWELL
Rick and Jason always like this?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Goes back years. They’re both
prickly bastards.
CHRIS JEWELL
So what’s the plan? How soon do we
dive?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We’re thinking you and Jason do a
food run to the boys, first thing
in the morning. Get you familiar
with the terrain. You up for that?
CHRIS JEWELL
Me? Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?
They emerge to join the others loading gear into the minibus.
Jason is by the back of the bus, loading. Rick by the front.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Chris is good for the food run.
RICK STANTON
Great.
Chris picks up the hint of uncertainty.
CHRIS JEWELL
What is this? You’re not sure I can
do it?
RICK STANTON
You’ve not done this sort of rescue
before, that’s all.
CHRIS JEWELL
I can handle it.
RICK STANTON
So long as you know - when it’s
time to quit, we head for home.
That’s how we’re still alive.
Jason has rejoined them.
JASON MALLINSON
Rick giving you his no hero shit
speech?
CHRIS JEWELL
It’s okay, I get it. No hero shit.
They all climb into the bus.
97 EXT. MOUNTAIN - EVENING 97
Thanet’s team is hard at work building walls for the water

diversion system. The village Headman is watching the low
clouds forming far off in the sky. Thanet comes over to him.
He’s been checking the forecast on his phone.
THANET NATISRI
Six days.
VILLAGE HEADMAN
Sooner.
97A SCENE DELETED 97A
98 SCENE DELETED 98
99 SCENE DELETED 99
DAY 14 - Friday July 6
Morning. The parents are all writing letters to be taken in

to the boys. Buahom is now a close member of the group.
Chris is running checks on his dive suit, nervous, not

wanting to show it. John and Jason, by his side, ready to
dive, are taking on MRE rations in aluminum tubes delivered
by Saman. The cave is busy with the coming and going of
international teams. The sound of drills and hammering from
within the tunnel. A Chinese team is fixing a high wire to
speed the evacuation.
SAMAN
You’re carrying one meal a day for
one week for everyone in the cave.
Rick, who isn’t diving, helps attach the tubes to the divers.
Captain Arnont arrives with a plastic wallet to give John.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Letters from the parents. The
sealed one is from me, for
Lieutenant Kiet’s eyes only.
John nods to show he understands, takes the wallet and tucks

it into his pack. Turns to Chris and Jason.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
You ready?
CHRIS JEWELL
Ready.
Jason gives a nod. As they head for the water, Rick speaks
low to Jason.
RICK STANTON
You think Chris’ll be okay?
JASON MALLINSON
Sure. He’s young.
(a grin at Rick)
Remember young, Rick?
102 INT. UNDERWATER - U-BEND - DAY 102
CHRIS’S POV - Following John and Jason through the brown

water, holding the line with one hand, dragging his load.
Chris surfaces and follows John and Jason over rocks and back
into waist deep water. He sees the big stacks of oxygen
canisters stored on the side of the chamber. And back
underwater.
104 INT. UNDERWATER - T-JUNCTION - DAY 104
CHRIS’S POV as he negotiates the twists and turns of the

flooded tunnels.
John checks back with Chris. Chris gives him a thumbs-up.

They feel their way round the T-junction, bare-handed.
Brown water swirling, giving way to wider space, and up -

into the final chamber.
Chris rises slowly out of the water. There in the tiny pools
of light from flashlights are the trapped group: the boys and
the Navy Seals. They’re waving.
Chris looks. It’s almost too much. Those skinny figures in

the darkness. John, Jason and Chris take off their masks and
wade towards the boys. The Seals help them up out onto the
shelf. Kiet grasps John’s hand and meets his eyes as he pulls
him out of the water.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We have food.
He and Jason start to open up the tubes that contains the

packs of rations. The boys are spreading the news.
BOYS
Food! They have food!
COACH
Slowly, boys. Stay calm.
Chris is looking from boy to boy in awe. They’re pinched with

starvation, but so well behaved. Chris himself is exhausted,
but he’s trying not to show it.
The Seals and Coach carefully share out the rations.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
There’s meals for one week.
COACH
We will eat half, each day.
(to the boys)
Slowly, boys. Very slowly. And
drink as you eat.
The boys start to eat. Chai eats carefully, reverently,

relishing each small bite. Then he moves to a place where
water is dripping from the rocks above, cups his hands, and
drinks. Chris watches, feeling the boy’s slow return to life.
John reaches into his pack.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to Coach)
We have letters for you and the
boys.
He hands a pack of letters to Coach.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(to Kiet)
And one for you, from your chief.
He hands over the sealed letter to Kiet.
The boys take their letters and settle down to read them as
they eat. Coach reads his letter, blinking back tears.
COACH
They thank me for taking care of
their children. I thought they
would blame me.
DR KARN
No one blames you, Coach.
Jason is taking out a pack of pad and pencils. He hands them

to Dr Karn.
JASON MALLINSON
The kids might like to write back
to their parents.
DR KARN
Yes. Good.
John is surprised and touched that Jason’s thought of this.

JOHN VOLANTHEN
Nice idea, Jason.
Kiet has now read his letter. He hands it to his comrades.
KIET
(to John)
Please say, the order is received.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
(low)
Let me guess. You stay with the
boys, whatever happens.
For a moment, Kiet doesn’t answer. Then -
KIET
We will be the last out.
Chris realizes that little Chai is gazing at him, having just

read his letter.
CHRIS JEWELL
From your mum?
Chai nods. He’s trying not to weep.
John, Jason and Chris emerge from the tunnel. Rick, Saman,
other Seals are waiting to help them out and off with their
gear. Jason pulls out the notepad.
JASON MALLINSON
Somebody get these to the parents.
Notes from the boys.
SAMAN
I can do that.
He takes the notepad and leaves.
As John, Jason and Chris shed their gear -
CHRIS JEWELL
Did I pass?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
You did great.
RICK STANTON
So how was it?
JASON MALLINSON
That’s one hell of a dive. One
question. How exactly do you think
we’re going to get those kids out?
RICK STANTON
We’re working on that.
107 SCENE DELETED 107
Rick and John are waiting as Police Captain Bas’s car pulls
in. Out gets HARRY HARRIS, an Australian doctor.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Harry! You made it!
HARRY
Would have been here sooner. Takes
for bloody ever getting all the
permits.
He looks round at the crowded and busy site in amazement.
HARRY
I see you got yourselves some back-
up.
RICK STANTON
Want to see the cave?
HARRY
That’s what I’m here for.
As they head for the cave they pass the group of parents, all
huddled together reading the letters received from their
boys, laughing and crying.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
That’s the families, been here
since day one, we were able to
bring them letters from the kids.
Harry looks on, moved.
HARRY
Can you imagine what they’re going
through?
Rick and John take Harry into the cave. Harry stands there,
gazing in awe at the huge brilliantly lit space. Rick points.
RICK STANTON
In there. Keep on for two and a
half kilometers. There they are.
HARRY
So who’ve you got here?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
There’s divers coming in from all
over. And Jason Mallinson’s with
us. And Chris Jewell.
HARRY
The Awesome Foursome. I’m not in
the same league as you guys.
RICK STANTON
But you do have a skill none of the
rest of us have, Harry.
HARRY
I do?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We’re talking about your
professional skill.
HARRY
I’m an anesthetist.
He comes to a stop. Looks at their faces.
HARRY
No. Oh, no. No, no, no.
RICK STANTON
It’s their only chance.
HARRY
I’m out of here! You’re insane.
It’s unethical, it’s illegal, and
it won’t work.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
You don’t know that. No one’s ever
done it before.
HARRY
You’ll kill them.
RICK STANTON
They’re going to die anyway.
HARRY
I didn’t come here to kill kids. I
came here to help you save them.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Okay. You’re right. It’s a stupid
idea.
RICK STANTON
It’s the only idea.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Leave it, Rick. Harry’s the expert.
If he says it can’t be done, then
it can’t be done.
They continue walking.
HARRY
Anything else I can do, I’ll do.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Sure. We keep exploring. Good to
have you on board, Harry.
DAY 15 - Saturday July 7
Workmen in orange overalls form a human chain to unspool

coils of air hose from the truck that has delivered the hose,
all the way into the cave. News teams film the process.
In the Navy Seals area Saman is pulling on a dive suit, among

other divers also getting ready. Volunteer helpers are
lugging oxygen canisters from a truck. Another helper is
packing wetsuits into a bag. Saman takes hold of the bag,
testing its weight.
He looks up and sees Captain Arnont watching him.
SAMAN
Good to be back in harness.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Not chasing pirates any more.
Saman grins.
SAMAN
Malacca Straits. Andaman Islands.
Those were the days. Now here I am,
just grateful to be humping gear.
Navy Seals drag the hose to the water’s edge, where others
are already set to dive, pulling the hose with them. Three
more Navy Seals are getting into the water laden with oxygen
cylinders. Saman hauls his bag of wet suits. He’s determined
to show he can keep up with the younger guys.
112 INT. UNDERWATER - U-BEND - DAY 112
Through the brown water, glimpses of the Navy Seals as they

struggle to tug the hose through the flooded cave. The hose
snags on rocks, stretches and resists. The sheer friction
against the rough rock sides makes it impossible to pull the
hose through.
Saman swims underwater with the bag of wet suits. It’s

buoyant and resists, forcing him to put constant extra effort
into dragging it after him.
113 INT. U-BEND CHAMBER - DAY 113
Two Navy Seals surface and stack the extra oxygen cylinders
they carry on the shelf of rock above the water line.
Saman surfaces and looks round, breathing hard. He still has

his bag of wet suits. The third Seal surfaces and gestures to
his companions that he’ll go on to the next chamber. Saman
sees him go, and follows.
Dark water. Saman is swimming around stalactites against the

current, dragging his load of wet suits. It’s tough work and
now he’s breathing rapidly. As he feels his way round the
twists and turns of the tunnel his regulator tube hooks on a
stalactite, air comes bubbling out. He reaches for it, and
finds himself trapped in the narrow space.
A glimpse of his face, contorted with lack of air, struggling

with his air feed. Panic on his face. He lets go of the heavy
bag, and turns to swim back.
The Seal who has gone ahead looks back and sees Saman
swimming erratically, crashing into the jagged sides. He
turns back to help, but Saman has already lost control. ON
SAMAN - Through his dive mask: he’s blacking out...

The three Navy Seals appear from deep in the cave, striding
through the thigh deep water, carrying Saman’s body between
them. Colleagues at the cave mouth see, and run in to help.
One of them gets on his radio.
114A EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE/SEALS TENT - DAY 114A

Captain Arnont sitting at his desk when he gets a radio call.
SEAL (OVER RADIO)
Captain, Saman is unconscious in Chamber One.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Ok, I’m going now.
He rushes off toward the Cave Entrance.
115 Saman’s body is carried onto dry land and laid down. Medics
115
move in at once. Captain Arnont appears, running in from
outside. He comes to a stop and stands, looking on in shock.

Governor Narongsak has just been given the news by Captain Arnont.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
We don’t know how it happened. It
looks like he ran out of air.
Narongsak absorbs the tragedy.
NARONGSAK
His family must be told, before
they hear it on the news.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
He was my friend.
NARONGSAK
Be proud of him, Captain. He came
to help. He gave all he had to
give. That makes him a hero.

Rick, Jason, Chris, Vern and Harry are with the Americans,
processing the shock news.
John has moved away to the trees on the edge of the camp,
talking on his phone.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Matthew? It’s Dad.
MATTHEW’S PHONE VOICE

Dad! You coming home?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Not for a few days yet.

We heard someone died out there.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Yeah. One of the Thai divers. It’s
bad. But I’m okay. You’re not to
worry.

Are you going to get the boys out?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We will if we can. It may not work
out. How are things your end? You
okay?

Same as always.
A pause. Neither of them knows what to say.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Look after yourself, won’t you?

You too, Dad.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
And look after your Mum.

Okay, Dad. Mum’s fine.
John ends the call. He stands gazing across the camp towards
the cave entrance. Could be his own boy trapped in there.
Governor Narongsak and Captain Arnont, side by side

addressing the mission leaders. Rick, John and Harry stand at
the back.
NARONGSAK
There will be no more Navy divers
going beyond Chamber 3 until
further notice.
Captain Arnont joins Rick, John and Harry as the meeting

breaks up. They stand there, saying nothing. It’s like
they’ve reached the end of the road.
Across the site a group of parents are gathered round the

shrine, Buahom with them. They’ve placed a photograph of
Saman by the shrine, and kneel to lay flowers round it.
Buahom remains standing. She turns, to look back towards the
Divers Camp.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
What now?
CAPTAIN ARNONT
We must not allow this tragedy to
make us afraid.
RICK STANTON
I’m not afraid.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
I am. I’m afraid my friend died for
nothing.
RICK STANTON
It happens.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
If you have any suggestions, now’s
the time.
Rick sees Buahom’s haunted face staring at them. He turns to

look at Harry. Harry too sees Buahom.
Then Harry’s phone rings. He moves away, answering it.
HARRY
Yeah?
Rick and Harry stand at the mouth, looking into the water-
filled cave. The great space is bustling with the coming and
going of pumping engineers, wire-laying teams, and support
workers.
After a few moments -
HARRY
I just heard my dad’s been taken
into hospital. Some kind of check-
up. His heart’s never been great.
RICK STANTON
I’m sorry.
HARRY
He’s tough. He’s made it to eighty-
eight.
A moment of silence. Rick says nothing, guessing at the

process going on in Harry. Then -
HARRY
If we had enough back-up - maybe -
just maybe - one, or two, or three
of those kids - just might make it
through. You’re talking five hours.
They’d have to have top-up shots
along the way. And you’ve got the
saliva problem. Don’t want them
choking. Christ, mate, I don’t even
know why I’m saying this. It’s
insanity.
RICK STANTON
Because a man’s already died.
Because those kids don’t have much
time left.
HARRY
You want to have a kid die in your
arms?
RICK STANTON
I don’t want any of this. I get
asked to do rescue work, I do it.
Silence again.
RICK STANTON
Come on, Harry. What choice do we
have? We do nothing, we’ll be
bringing them out dead for sure.
This way, if they die while we’re
bringing them out - at least we’ll
have tried.
He waits. And Harry gets there.

HARRY
Okay. But they’ll never buy it.
Governor Narongsak, Captain Arnont, Major Hodges, Captain

Taft, all looking across the table at Rick, John, Jason,
Chris, Vern - and Harry. The Governor waits for his staff to
draw down the window blinds. Then -
NARONGSAK
Sedated. How sedated?
HARRY
Fully unconscious.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
It’s the only way we can dive them
out.
RICK STANTON
They have to be motionless. Totally
inert. We take them like parcels.
NARONGSAK
(to Harry)
You’re an anesthetist?
HARRY
Yes.
NARONGSAK
How safe is this procedure?
HARRY
I can’t answer that. I’ve never
done it before. Nobody has. We’re
talking about administering
anesthetics under conditions where
we can’t monitor the effects. Too
much and respiration shuts down.
Too little and they wake under
water and - and they drown.
NARONGSAK
So you expect casualties?
HARRY
Yes. I expect casualties.

Governor Narongsak crosses the encampment, moving slowly,
seeing little as he goes, deep in his own thoughts. Preeya,
accompanying him, picks up a coffee from Dusit at the coffee
stall. She gives the coffee to the Governor. He takes it,
hardly aware that he’s doing so.
PREEYA
The Minister’s on his way, sir.
124 EXT. BASECAMP - EVENING 124

A small convoy sweeps into the encampment: the Minister has
arrived. General Anupong strides from his car to the Parks
Building as Governor Narongsak steps out to greet him.
Over in the families area, Buahom and the parents watch the
two men enter the building.
125 EXT. BASECAMP - EVENING 125

Rick, John, Harry, Jason and Chris, as well as Hodges and
Taft, are with Arnont in the Navy Seals area, waiting.
General Anupong comes out of the Parks Building, accompanied
by Governor Narongsak. The Minister strides over to the
divers. Governor Narongsak follows more slowly.
BAS
The Minister’s coming.
(in English)
The Minister’s coming.
Captain Arnont stands, ready to receive the coming order.
GENERAL ANUPONG
You will proceed.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Yes, Minister.
The Minister turns his gaze on the British divers.
GENERAL ANUPONG
You carry the hopes of our nation.
May you be successful.
He returns to his car.
A moment of silence. Now it’s real.
Governor Narongsak speaks low to the divers.
NARONGSAK
No one is to know about the - the
method you propose.
(more)
NARONGSAK (con't)
Not even the parents. Do your best.
If we fail, the failure is mine
alone.
DAY 16 - Sunday July 8
Early morning. Up the mountain track through the mist come

two buses, to pull up by the water diversion operation.
Thanet Natisri is there to greet them, with the village
Headman by his side.
Out stream fifty rumpled-looking STUDENTS, both male and

female. The village Headman is unimpressed.
Thanet greets the newcomers.
THANET NATISRI
Welcome to Nang Non mountain! We
need you! We need every one of you.
The more water we can divert before
the monsoon comes, the more time we
can buy for the boys in the cave.
Early morning. The big camp waking up. Malai stirring her vat
of curry. Panit sweeping his favorite path past the kitchens.
An announcement sounds over loudspeakers in Thai, then in

English.
ANNOUNCER
For those in the media and anyone
not involved in the operation, we
politely ask that you leave this
area.
129 EXT/INT. MINIBUS - BASECAMP TRACK - DAY 129
The minibus carrying the Brit divers, driven by Police

Captain Bas, makes its way back to Tham Luang. Past it, in
the opposite direction, comes a long procession of TV news
trucks and cars.
The divers see the passing vehicles.

CHRIS JEWELL
What’s going on?
BAS
The TV guys - the news guys - all
sent away.
CHRIS JEWELL
Why?
JASON MALLINSON
So they don’t see the bodies come
out.
The once-bustling area is quiet. Buahom and Lek are waiting

for the divers’ minibus as it drives in. Buahom approaches
the divers as they climb out, holding a basket containing the
bracelets blessed by the holy man.
BUAHOM
Please take these with you into the
cave. For the boys. And for you.
LEK
For you. For the boys. From Chai’s
mom, Buahom. Blessed by the holy
man.
John takes the basket. The other divers are heading towards
their base. As he catches up with the others, John gives Rick
a bracelet.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
For protection.
Rick stuffs the bracelet in a pocket.
RICK STANTON
Unnecessary weight.
Oxygen bottles are being transported via cables where divers

are stacking them. Chamber 3 is being transformed into the
‘basecamp’ of the operation.
133 INT. UK RESCUE DIVERS ROOM - BASECAMP - DAY 133
The Brit divers, now in their diving gear, are clustered

round Harry as he demonstrates the procedure for assembling
the syringe and needle, and injecting the sedative into the
boys, using a plastic water bottle.
HARRY
You’ll be having to give repeat
hits of ketamine.
JASON MALLINSON
We’re giving them ket?
HARRY
It goes through the wet suit, into
the muscle. Don’t let the needle go
right through the muscle.
The divers practice injecting needles into water bottles.

Jason’s syringe and needle come apart.
JASON MALLINSON
Damn it!
RICK STANTON
Nice one, Jason.
The cave entrance is brightly lit as always, and is now set

up for the rescue: a Chinese team stands by the high wire
that disappears into the cave, and Thai and American medics
are in place with stretchers.
The four Brits and Harry enter the cave, heavily laden with
five oxygen cylinders each, wet suits for the boys, masks,
hoods, cable ties and bungee ropes.
Captain Arnont is here to see them off.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Good luck.
Rick just nods. A shared moment, one professional to another.
The divers make their final checks, give each other thumbs-up
signs, and head into the water. As they go, one by one,
they’re followed at intervals by support divers CONNOR ROE
and JOSH BRATCHLEY, as well as the Thai support divers who
are to man the chambers along the way.

In the families area, the parents are praying. Buahom prays
with her eyes closed.
135A INT. CHAMBER 3 - DAY 135A

The divers make their final checks, give each other thumbs-up
signs, and head into the water. As they go, one by one,
they’re followed at intervals by support divers JAY, CONNOR
ROE and JOSH BRATCHLEY, as well as the Thai support divers
who are to man the chambers along the way.

In the cave, the trapped boys, their coach, and Kiet and his
Navy Seals are sitting, eyes closed, meditating.

The lead divers haul their gear over jagged rocks into
Chamber 5. Behind them Connor and Josh arrive, and take up
their positions in the chamber. The lead divers put on their
fins, check their regulators and submerge again.

The lead divers - Rick, John, Jason, Chris, and Harry -
surface one by one at Pattaya Beach. There are no support
divers this deep in, and no stashed cylinders.
They unhook the spare cylinders they’re carrying, and park
them by the side.
RICK STANTON
I’ll stop here. Once the first
boy’s through the long dive, I’ll
swim back to you and report. If
it’s not working, we need to know
before we bring any more out.
The others look back at him as they prepare to dive. He can
feel the tension.
CHRIS JEWELL
What then?
RICK STANTON
We do what we’ve come to do.
They’re packages. We’re just the
delivery guys.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Delivery guys. Right.
They drop into the water. Rick watches them go.

DIVER POV UNDERWATER - Round the sharp twists of the flooded
tunnel, keeping hold of the line all the way -
- and up into the chamber where the boys and the three Navy
Seals are waiting.
The boys give a cheer.
The divers clamber out onto the shelf. They haul up their
loads, and start to unpack them.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Today’s the day. We’re taking you
out. We can take four.
KIET
(translating)
They are taking us out today. But
they can only take four.
The boys cheer again. John pulls out the bundle of bracelets -
he’s brought them after all - and hands them to Coach.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I was asked to give you these.
As Coach hands out the bracelets to the boys, Harry sits down
to brief Dr Karn.
HARRY
Dr Karn? I’m a medic. You need to
know what we’re proposing here...
The boys are putting on their bracelets. Chai catches John’s
eyes. John holds up his wrist. There’s his bracelet.
We see Dr Karn’s eyebrows shoot up as he learns the plan from
Harry.
JASON MALLINSON
So who’s going first?
KIET
(translating)
Who’s going first?
The boys look at each other. No one wants to be first.
KIET
Coach, you must choose.
Coach thinks for a moment.
COACH
Chai, Arm, Aat, Poom. Chai, you go
first.
Chai hurries joyfully forward. John studies him.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Not sure we’ve got a mask that’ll
fit you.
He tries on the smallest mask they have. Harry checks it with

him.
HARRY
No way.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
We’ll get you a better mask.
DR KARN
They have to find a mask to fit
you.
CHAI
Today?
DR KARN
I think they have to bring it
tomorrow.
Chai’s face falls. He moves back up the slope to allow others

to come forward.
COACH
Decha. You go.
Decha comes forward. Jason picks him out a wet suit and hands
it to him.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Jason.
Jason nods.
JASON MALLINSON
Yeah I’ll go first.
Harry prepares the drugs. Chris picks out a mask to fit

Decha. When Decha has his wet suit on, Dr Karn gives him a
tablet, and the boy swallows it. Everything proceeds in a
careful silence, each person focussed on their task. Jason
gets fully geared up to go.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Everyone else, up to the top of the
slope.
(whispers to Kiet)
Don’t let them watch.
Kiet relays the instruction, and the boys and the Seals all
shuffle up the slope to the back. John speaks low to the
others -
JOHN VOLANTHEN
No need to scare them with the needles.
Chris guides Decha, now getting woozy, onto Harry’s lap.

Harry, his syringe ready, finds a spot on his leg. He speaks
soothingly to the boy as he works.
HARRY
You’ve got Jason taking you out.
He’s a star. Just look up there, at
the roof. Are you a fan of the
World Cup? Brazil’s out. That was a
surprise...
He injects him with ketamine. Very quickly, Decha is

unconscious. Working with speed, the others then assist in
fitting the hood, packing it with foam, placing the mask on
his face and checking the seal, attaching the gas bottle with
bungee ropes to his body, and tying his wrists and ankles.
Then Harry and Chris lower the unconscious boy into the
water, dip his head under, to test that the mask is working.
For a long moment, nothing happens. Then they see bubbles
coming out. They look into his face. They exchange nods: it’s
good.
Jason completes his own checks. Then the others help him take
the unconscious boy in his arms. He holds him close to his
chest, with his face towards him so he can check his
breathing, and swims out into the deep water. Then as the
others look on, he dives.
Jason keeps one arm round Decha, the other on the line, as he
swims and pulls his way down the twisting tunnel. He keeps
checking to see that the boy is breathing. He uses his own
body as a buffer to make sure the boy never hits the rock
sides. This cradling method of carrying the boys looks
tender, almost paternal.
We hear Jason’s steady even breathing, and the quieter

breaths of the boy, both leaving a trail of bubbles.
Rick is waiting, watching the tunnel through which the first

boy will come. Then there he is - Jason pushing through the
water, the boy in his grasp, and coming to the surface.
Rick hurries to help. He takes the boy and carries him to the
side.
JASON MALLINSON
He’s been breathing okay.
Rick hears this with intense relief. Up to this moment he had

no idea if the whole plan was going to work.
RICK STANTON
Fucking brilliant.
He changes the boy’s oxygen bottle.
JASON MALLINSON
You didn’t think it would work?
Rick gives a shake of his head.
JASON MALLINSON
Me neither.
They exchange a quick grin.
RICK STANTON
Not there yet. Just getting
started.
Jason prepares to receive the unconscious boy back in the

water. He takes him carefully into his grasp, and they both
submerge.
Back with the boys, Arm is now on Harry’s lap, in a wet suit.
He whispers to Harry.
ARM
Please take our Coach soon.
Harry glances across at Coach. Coach is sitting very still,

eyes closed, conserving his strength. Harry gives Arm a nod
of understanding.
John prepares himself for his dive.
Harry speaks soothingly to Arm as he sedates him.
HARRY
There we go. Looks like you’ve got
John. You’re lucky. He’s the best.
Did you hear about the World Cup?
Belgium knocked out Brazil. That
was a shocker...
The rest of the boys, high up the slope, are now openly
watching, but they make no sound. Little Chai stares wide-
eyed as Arm drops unconscious. He sees how his wrists and
ankles are tied.
John and Arm are ready to go.
CHRIS JEWELL
Aren’t we supposed to wait for
Rick?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I don’t want my boy waking up.
He takes Arm a little way out into the water, and looks into
his face to reassure himself that he’s breathing.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Anyone know my boy’s name?
KIET
Arm. He’s the team captain.
On the slope, Dr Karn is helping to prepare the next boy.
Rick now enters the chamber and surfaces, and gives a thumbs-
up.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Okay, Arm. Here goes.
He pulls his own mask into place. He dives, carrying his boy
with him. Rick comes out of the water.
RICK STANTON
It’s working.
HARRY
Thank Christ for that.
Rick meets Kiet’s eyes. They exchange a brief nod.

145 INT. T-JUNCTION - DAY 145
UNDERWATER - Jason swims with his boy under his arm, his
other hand on the guide line. He checks Decha’s sedated face
in the mask, listens for his breathing. Feels his way round a
tight bend in the tunnel.
He comes up in a stretch where there’s air space, and he can

walk, carrying the boy. He feels Decha start to move, then a
sudden jerk.
Jason reaches for a syringe from the pack, holding the boy
still against the rock wall with his knee. He fumbles with
the syringe kit and drops it.
JASON MALLINSON
Shit!
He has to submerge and feel in the dark water for the kit.
Decha’s eyes and hands are twitching. Jason feels round more
urgently. At last his fingers close on the kit. He pulls it
out of the water.
Decha is coming round. Jason takes out a syringe, fits the

needle, reaches down to the boy’s leg. He can’t see
underwater, so he turns the boy round to get the leg out of
the water.
In goes the needle. Decha subsides into sedated stillness.

Jason bows his head, breathing hard, feeling the strain.
A few moments to recover, then he reorganizes his load with

the boy, drops back into the water, and heads on down the
tunnel.
Underwater again, Jason stares into Decha’s face to hear the

breathing. There’s the trail of bubbles.
He swims on.
Now there’s light above water again. Jason emerges in Chamber

5, where Connor and Josh are waiting. They hurry to help
Jason with Decha, to check the boy’s mask and vital signs,
and to replace his air cylinders.
CONNOR
You good?
Jason nods. He’s exhausted.

JOSH
The boy’s good.
Together they begin to now carry the boy over a stretch of

jagged rocks before they reach water again.
Chris is preparing to take Poom, who Harry has just sedated.

Chai looks on wistfully as Chris receives Poom in his arms,
and dips him underwater. Chris sees the bubbles rising and
draws a breath to calm himself. He’s very nervous, but he’s
controlling it.
John surfaces in Chamber 5 with Arm, and Connor and Josh

bring him and the boy out for checks.
John takes off his mask.
CONNOR
Jason’s through. You’re good.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
New cylinder.
They get Arm’s mask off, and change the cylinder.
JOSH
We give him another dose?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Sure.
Josh injects Arm. They fit his mask back on. John’s back in
the water, ready to receive him. He ducks Arm underwater,
checking the mask. No bubbles.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
He’s not breathing.
They pull the boy out of the water, and take his mask off.
John gets him in the recovery position, tilts his head back
to clear his airways. Holds his cheek close to Arm’s mouth,
listening.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
He’s breathing.
Relief on their faces. Once again the mask goes back on. Arm
is lowered into the water. John receives him, dips him under.
No bubbles.
Suddenly John’s scared.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Fuck!
Out with the boy again. Mask off, back in the recovery
position, this time in Josh’s arms, John by his side.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Breathe, you fucker! Breathe!
He hears breathing.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
He’s breathing. But as soon as I
get him under water, he stops.
JOSH
Try again.
They get the mask back on to Arm.
John is sitting head bowed, shattered.
JOSH
You okay?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I’m okay. Just give me a moment.
He wipes his eyes.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Is he still breathing?
CONNOR
Yes.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Okay. Let’s do this.
He gets into the water. The others lower Arm into the water.
John takes him and lowers him beneath the water.
A long moment. Then bubbles appear.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Arm. You’re going to make it, okay?
John looks back to the others.

JOHN VOLANTHEN
Here goes.
Off he goes, the boy in his arms.
Jason’s holding his boy close as he surfaces into Chamber 3,

the well-manned and well-lit base, where the big water pumps
are still booming away. The waiting Thai Navy Seals help him
out and take the boy from him. Decha is fitted into a
stretcher even as medics are checking his condition.
Everyone’s moving fast. They clap Jason on the back, as he
regains his breath after the long dive.
The stretcher carrying Decha is slung from the overhead wire

and pulleyed down the long rocky cave, guided by Navy Seals.
Rick is now taking the sedated Aat in his arms, into the
water. Harry is packing up his gear.
HARRY
If this works, we’ll take five
tomorrow, the rest the day after.
Kiet relays this to the waiting boys. They nod in silence.

Harry speaks low to Dr Karn.
HARRY
Keep an eye on the Coach.
DR KARN
He won’t eat. He gives it to the
boys.
HARRY
Try to get him to eat something.
And look after yourselves, okay?
Rick is checking that his boy is breathing well. Then he

gives a wave, and dives.
KIET
Two more days.
HARRY
That’s the plan.
KIET
When all the boys are out, we go.
Navy Seals appear out of the tunnel into the great entrance
cave, carrying the stretcher holding Decha. The news ripples
through the many rescue workers in the cave and cheers go up.
Governor Narongsak comes hurrying into the cave, followed by

Preeya. He’s just heard the news, and looks on, trying not to
hope too much. Across the great space he sees Captain Arnont.
The two men’s eyes meet. They share a brief moment of relief.
Buahom and the other parents are waiting, torn between hope
and dread. Out of the cave comes Decha’s stretcher, but it’s
concealed under three big umbrellas as it’s rushed to a
waiting ambulance.
They have no way of knowing which boy has been saved. Their
eyes follow the ambulance as it roars away.
John swims with Arm through the twisting tunnels, holding him
tight, watching his masked face, seeing the trail of bubbles,
feeling his way along the line.
He surfaces in Chamber 3 and hands over Arm to the Seals.

Within moments the boy is on a stretcher and swinging down
the high wire.
John collapses, drained by the tension.
154 EXT. THAM LUANG - HELIPAD - DAY 154
A stretch of jungle has been cleared to make a helipad.
The ambulance pulls up and the stretchered Decha is

transferred to the chopper at speed. The chopper takes off
into the sky.
Jason comes out of the tunnel into the big cave entrance, to
be greeted with cheers and claps on the back. He’s shattered,
and can hardly respond. He walks through the cave and out.
Behind him John’s boy, Arm, is appearing, carried by Seals on

the stretcher from the high wire. The medics move in and take
over.
155A INT. STALACTITE TUNNEL - DAY 155A
Rick is swimming Aat through the murky water. The boy’s leg
snags on a rock, jerking them to a stop. Rick turns and tugs
the boy’s trailing leg out of the cleft in the rocks, and
swims on.
156 EXT. BASECAMP TRACK - DAY 156
The news teams have been relocated in a line of tents by the

roadside. Cameras are set up, watching as an ambulance passes
on its way to the helipad.
Chris swims steadily underwater, watching his boy’s face as

he goes.
He emerges into Chamber 3 and hands Poom over. As the boy is

checked before being hoisted into a stretcher one of the Thai
medics checks Chris.
THAI MEDIC
You did well.
CHRIS JEWELL
Is the boy okay?
THAI MEDIC
He’s good.
159 EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP - LATE DAY 159
Once again the stretcher (holding Arm) comes out concealed

beneath open umbrellas. The waiting parents look on,
desperate to know the fate of their boys.
As the ambulance pulls away, Governor Narongsak comes out of

the cave, accompanied by Preeya. He sees the parents, and
murmurs instructions to Preeya. Preeya goes over to them.
PREEYA
The Governor asks me to tell you
the rescue is going well so far.
Buahom is now the accepted spokesman for the parents.

BUAHOM
Why can’t we have names? At least
tell us how many have come out.
PREEYA
I’m afraid we can’t release any
details of the operation at
present. I know how hard it must be
for you. As soon as the operation
is complete, you’ll be the first to
know.
Across the encampment, the helicopter roars up into the air.
159A EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP - DUSK 159A
The third stretcher comes out of the tunnel. The boy - Poom -
is hurried to an ambulance.
159B EXT. BASECAMP - NIGHT 159B
John and Chris, just out of the cave, are ferried by vehicle
in exhausted silence across the camp site to the Divers Room.
As they climb out, Captain Olivia Taft is there to greet
them.
OLIVIA TAFT
Awesome work! Three out, and in
good shape. We’re winning!
John just nods, and heads in.
OLIVIA TAFT
You all right?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Ask me in two days time.
John and Chris enter the divers room, where Jason is sitting,
recovering from the dive. From the cave entrance they hear a
cheer go up. Jason can see that Chris looks shattered.
JASON MALLINSON
You okay?
CHRIS JEWELL
Yeah. Tough.
John sits himself down, and shuts his eyes.

CHRIS JEWELL
You okay, John?
John opens his eyes, tries to smile, the strain showing.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
My boy was called Arm. I thought
he’d died. But he made it.
From outside, the sounds of another cheer.
Rick comes out of the water. The fourth boy, Aat, is swung
down the overhead line on a stretcher. A cheer as he’s
carried away.
Rick stands motionless, eyes closed, recovering after the

punishing dive. When he opens his eyes, there’s Captain
Arnont.
RICK STANTON
Somebody tell them it’s too soon to
cheer.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
One more life saved. Let them
cheer.
A helicopter with Aat aboard roars through the night sky. It

passes over Thanet, and the village Headman, and their team
of students. They’re all covered in mud, Thanet most of all.
Thanet watches the helicopter pass, then turns back to his
team. They carry on hauling sections of pipe into place.
Rick is in the bathroom, putting antiseptic cream on the cuts

on his hands. John already in his cot bed. The room TV is on.
REPORTER ON TV
The rescue operation is shrouded in
secrecy, but we understand that a
team of elite divers is attempting
to guide the boys in their toughest
test yet -
Rick comes in to the bedroom.
REPORTER ON TV
- a three kilometer underwater swim
to safety.
Rick turns off the TV.
RICK STANTON
Swim to safety. I like that.
He gets into bed.
RICK STANTON
Got any custard creams?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
I ate them all.
RICK STANTON
Why do I even ask?
Rick turns out the light, speaks out of the darkness.
RICK STANTON
Yesterday they told us if we got
one boy out alive we’d be heroes.
Now if we bring one boy out dead,
we’ll be villains.
165 EXT. MOUNTAINS - DAWN 165
DAY 17 - Monday July 9
Clouds sweep over the mountains, dropping flurries of rain.

Light is breaking to the east.
166 EXT. BASECAMP/DIVERS CAMP - DAY 166
The site is strangely quiet as the second day of rescue

begins. A brief flurry of rain, then it passes. Suda by her
lines of washing looks up nervously at the sky. Then down to
see the line of Brit divers passing, in their diving gear,
heading for the cave. They move steadily, purposefully, but
they’re tired, and it shows.
Harry accepts a suited up Wit on his knee.

Coach selects which boys are to go.
COACH
Nop, Tul, Chai. You go.
Chai hurries joyfully forward.
RICK STANTON
Sorry we don’t have a mask for you yet.
Chai’s face falls. Kiet puts an arm round him, speaks low.
KIET
We don’t have a mask for you. You’re
like me. The brave ones go last. Like
Ronaldo was last on the pitch.
Chai raises his head at this. Feels proud.
CHAI
We go last.
COACH
Rit, you go.
HARRY
No need to be scared because you’ve
got the best rescue diver.
Dew, pulling on a wet suit to go next, talks in his limited

English with Rick. Rick avoids eye contact. Jason helps.
RICK STANTON
Hey Jason we can bungee these to
their feet to keep them from
dragging.
JASON MALLINSON
Bouyancy, good idea.
DEW
I am Dew.
RICK STANTON
I’m Rick.
DEW
Will I sleep for long time?
RICK STANTON
Just long enough to get you out.
DEW
You are a good man, Rick.
RICK STANTON
If you say so.
169 INT. UNDERWATER/INT. CHAMBER 9 - DAY 169

Rick swims into view, holding Dew. This time we see that
between Dew’s tied ankles there’s the plastic water bottle,
floating his legs and stopping them dragging.
Jason swimming through the murky water with Tul. Jason passes
off Tul to one of the support divers and heads back in the
direction he came. Chris following with Rit, anxiously
checking his face to see if he’s breathing.
Jason arrives back into Chamber Nine to collect Nop.
JASON MALLINSON
I’m ready for number five.
HARRY
Jason’s back, ready for Nop.

The village Headman looking up at the sky, feeling the
beginning of rain. Thanet Natisri’s team of students are
laying a section of pipe, with a long way still to go. He
looks round, and sees only one pipe left.
THANET NATISRI
Is that the last of the pipe?
STUDENT
They’ve sent to Bangkok. More
coming tomorrow.
THANET NATISRI
Tomorrow!
VILLAGE HEADMAN
You want pipe?

Tul is stretchered out by the high line. Rit follows.

Wit is carried out. The operation has become slick. Dew is
carried out.
Under dark massing clouds, the village Headman swings his

machete and cuts down a big bamboo stalk. He splits it down
the middle, forming two natural gutters.
VILLAGE HEADMAN
Pipe.
The waiting parents look up as the helicopter roars into the

sky, carrying Nop. Nearby a NEWSMAN is filing a report.
NEWSMAN
We’re hearing that five boys have
been brought out of the cave
today...
Buahom is standing beside Somboon as the chopper disappears

from view.
SOMBOON
Could be your boy.
(beat)
Could be mine.
Suddenly Somboon can’t take any more. He bows his head and
sobs. His wife Kanda takes him in her arms.
175A EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP - NIGHT 175A
The Brit divers are sitting eating food, silent, exhausted by

their dives.
Police Captain Bas comes to them with the carton of masks.
BAS
Masks. Flown in from Bangkok.
HARRY
At last.
He takes the carton and pulls out the smallest mask.
RICK STANTON
You think it’ll fit?
HARRY
Better do.
BAS
Only four boys left in the cave.
Tomorrow they all come out.
A flurry of rain drops. Rick looks up at the sky, then at

Bas. He’s tired, and it’s starting to rain.
RICK STANTON
Yeah, Bas. Hope so.
176 EXT. MOUNTAINS - NIGHT 176
Cloudburst over the mountains. Heavy rain starts falling.

Thanet’s pipe system is suddenly frothing with water. Thanet
looks on anxiously as the bamboo gutters overflow, but most
of the water is being successfully channelled to the fields
below.
He looks round, meets the eyes of the watching students and

the village Headman. The monsoon has started.
Beyond the glass doors to the terrace the rain is hammering

down on the tin roof, making watery shadows in the night-dark
room.
Rick and John in bed. Rick lies on his back, eyes open.
RICK STANTON
You asleep?
JOHN VOLANTHEN
No.
RICK STANTON
That’s a lot of water.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Yeah.
Captain Arnont sits alone in the silent camp, unable to

sleep, watching the rain.
181 EXT. TERRACE - PARKS BUILDING - BASECAMP - NIGHT 181
Governor Narongsak, also alone, gazing out at the rain,

unable to sleep.
182 EXT. FAMILIES AREA - BASECAMP - NIGHT 182
Buahom lying on a cot bed as the rain streams over the canopy
above. She’s looking at pictures of Chai on her phone.
Lek lies open-eyed nearby.
183 EXT. PADDY FIELDS - DAY 183
DAY 18 - Tuesday July 10
A white sun rising through the pouring rain. Water from the
mountain cascading through the system of pipes down onto the
fields. They’re now fully flooded.
184 EXT. BASECAMP TRACK - DAY 184
Rain still falling hard. The news teams are on the roadside
snatching the little they can get - shots of vehicles coming
and going, the odd ambulance.
185 INT. UK RESCUE DIVERS ROOM - BASECAMP - DAY 185
Rick, John, Jason, Chris, Harry putting on their gear,

running all the usual checks. The rain falls outside.
John’s ready first. He goes and stands in the doorway,

watching the rain. Chris comes to John’s side.
CHRIS JEWELL
Water level’ll be rising.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
For sure.
CHRIS JEWELL
But we’ll still be able to get
through, right?
John hesitates. Jason answers for him.
JASON MALLINSON
We dive and we find out.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Depends. Me and Rick have been in
there when it’s flooded.
JASON MALLINSON
Come on. We’re not stopping now.
RICK STANTON
You die in the cave if you want to,
Jason. Me, if I’m not sure of
coming out, I’m not going in.
Rain falling. The lead divers cross towards the cave

entrance. The parents stand and bow as they pass, Buahom
among them. The divers make no eye contact.
Rick examines the water level with slow care, watched in

silence by the other divers. Everyone knows this is crunch
time. The pumps roar and gush. The sound of flowing water
everywhere.
Hodges and Taft are standing there, with Governor Narongsak

and Captain Arnont.
Rick looks at John. John’s look says: whatever you say.
RICK STANTON
Okay. We can do it. But we better
move fast.
John gives a nod. He trusts Rick’s instincts.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
That’s it. Let’s go.
The divers stride into the water, on foot.
The boys and the Navy Seals in Chamber 9 are waiting

patiently, watching the water. The level has risen. Dr Karn
is keeping their spirits up.
DR KARN
What do you want to eat when you
get home?
DON
Crispy pork with dipping sauce.
CHAI
Me too.
Kiet has been watching the water.
PICHAI
They’re coming.
The water ripples, and out comes Rick. Chai turns to Kiet,
his partner in courage.
CHAI
Do we go today?
KIET
Yes. We all go today.
Rick is carrying extra oxygen bottles, which he hoists up

onto the ledge.
Harry is now coming out of the water after him. Then Jason,
and Chris, and John.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Everyone leaves today, boys. We do
this fast as we can, okay?
KIET
You have a small enough mask?
HARRY
Yup. Let’s check it.
Kiet nudges Chai forward. Harry takes out the mask, and tries
it on Chai’s face. Rick and Jason work with him. They don’t
say it aloud, but it’s clear from their looks that they’re
not happy with it.
RICK STANTON
Okay, let’s get the others out.
Then we’ll deal with this.
John meets Harry’s eyes, worried about the mask for Chai.
Jason takes over.
JASON MALLINSON
Okay. I’ve got this.
Dr Karn speaks low to Rick.

DR KARN
Please take the coach. He’s very
weak.
KIET
He won’t go till all the boys have
gone.
Rick looks over to the Coach. He’d do the same in his

position. He gives a nod.
RICK STANTON
So who’s next?
Coach is beckoning Don forward.
RICK STANTON
We have to do this as fast as we
can.
John takes Don in his arms. As Harry injects Don, and fits
his mask, Chai looks on, struggling to hide his
disappointment.
Rain pours down on Thanet and his student team as they race
to complete a run of pipe. Thanet releases a new barrier and
the water surges into the pipes, and on down the mountain
side to the rice fields below. The students cheer.
Under their makeshift canopies the volunteers are all

waiting, as the rain falls. Dusit waits by his coffee
machine. Malai and the other cooks wait by their pots. Buahom
and Somboon and Lek and all the parents are waiting.
The stretcher carrying Don comes rattling down the high line
out of the tunnel into the main cave entrance, accompanied by
Thai Navy Seals.
The stretcher is rushed through the cave to the ambulance

waiting in the rain.
Now it’s the turn of Prem to be readied for the dive. Chris
stands ready to receive him. Chai moves closer to Coach and
speaks low.
CHAI
We’re the ones who go last.
COACH
That’s right.
HARRY
(to Prem)
So who are you?
KIET
He’s called Prem.
HARRY
Okay, Prem. You’re going with
Chris. Chris is the Number One
rescue diver in the world.
Prem grins.
CHRIS JEWELL
That’s me!
Rick meets Chris’s eyes. Chris shoots him a grin.
RICK STANTON
You good?
CHRIS JEWELL
I’m good.
CLOSE ON Chris in the water, receiving the sedated boy in his

arms. He dips him under the water to check his breathing, and
gives a thumbs-up. Then he dives.
Now at last it’s Chai’s turn. He scampers down the slope to

Harry and Jason. Harry takes him on his lap. Chai’s seen it
all before, and he snuggles down happily. He accepts the
tranquilizer, and swallows it at once. Then he offers his leg
for the injection.
HARRY
You’re an old pro, I can see that.
We’ll have no problems with you.
ON CHAI’S FACE as he’s injected - he wants to see - wants to

be brave - then the ketamine hits, and he slips rapidly into
unconsciousness.
Jason begins the process of fitting the mask. He speaks low

to Rick and Harry.
JASON MALLINSON
It’s the best we can do. If I pull
it too tight I’ll collapse the
seal.
RICK STANTON
We can’t pack it out.
HARRY
I still think it’s a little loose.
JASON MALLINSON
We don’t have time. The water’s
rising. If he doesn’t come out now,
he doesn’t come out. I’ll keep it
from bumping, I can hold it when I
have to.
HARRY
It’s your call.
Jason gets the mask as tight as he can.
JASON MALLINSON
I’ll be going slow, so give me
space before you follow.
RICK STANTON
Sure take your time.
They turn Chai over and Jason ducks under to check that the
seal is holding and he’s breathing.
JASON MALLINSON
It’s holding.
RICK STANTON
He’s a lucky boy. He’s got the
best.
Then Jason gives one look back, and dives.

Jason goes through a stretch that is so compressed that he

has to flatten out and move Chai to his left, swimming
parallel with him, while holding the boy’s small mask in
place. Jason’s head scrapes along the rock ceiling.
The rain is creating streams and pools all over the camp. One
of the giant pumps is stuttering, unable to take the strain.
Udom is struggling to keep it going.
CHRIS’S POV - Diving through the murky churning water, Prem

tight under one arm, his other hand following the line. This
is a tricky section, where the tunnel closes in and twists
round. Chris navigates it carefully, protecting his boy’s
head and mask from collisions as he goes. We can hear Chris’s
breathing speeding up. Then at last he’s through the worst of
it, and can calm his breathing. He can just make out a
straight section ahead.
He turns his boy’s face towards him to check him through his
mask. All looks good. He turns back to continue - and the
line slips out of his hand.
A look of panic. He slows himself down, calms himself, and

starts to feel in the brown water for the lost line.
We follow his hand as it circles the rocks and at last comes

to grips with the line - except it’s not the line, it’s an
electric cable. Chris doesn’t realize this. He swims along,
following this new line -
And surfaces somewhere he’s never seen before. He’s in the

stalactite cave, Chamber 4, but he’s entered by a different
route, and he’s disoriented. He looks at the line he’s been
following, and sees it’s not the line, it’s a power cable.
He pulls himself out of the water onto rocks, the sedated

Prem in his arms, and looks round. He realizes he’s lost. He
takes off his mask. Doesn’t recognize anything.
CHRIS JEWELL
Where am I?
Coach is pulling on a wet suit.
COACH
The boys have all come out of the
cave safely?
KIET
We hope so. Your turn now, Coach.
Coach settles into Rick’s arms.
RICK STANTON
(low)
He’s no heavier than the kids.
Harry sedates the Coach. Kiet helps to fit his mask.
RICK STANTON
Last one.
He lifts him into the water.
HARRY
We’ll be right behind you.
RICK STANTON
Not too close.
He dives.
With Jason as he swims little Chai down the long tunnel. He’s
going very slowly, holding the boy’s mask to his face,
constantly ducking and diving to make sure the mask isn’t hit
by any protruding rocks. The roar of the water as the cave
fills up.
Harry turns to Kiet, Dr Karn and Pichai.
HARRY
I guess it’s our turn now.
KIET
You go. We’ll follow.
The Navy Seals are preparing for the dive, readying the full
bottles of oxygen.
HARRY
Current’s stronger than it was.
Kiet nods. He knows.
HARRY
Okay. I’ll see you on the outside.
He prepares himself for his dive.
Chris has wrapped his sedated boy in a space blanket, and

he’s folded himself round him to keep him warm. He feels Prem
starting to move, and he cuddles him tight, murmuring to him.
CHRIS JEWELL
We’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.
He’s deeply panicked, and is trying to reassure himself.

Watching the water rise.
Then he sees movement in the water from deeper into the cave,
and Jason appears, carrying Chai. Chris is bewildered. He
thought he was in a totally new chamber.
CHRIS JEWELL
Jason?
Jason comes to a stop in the water, holding tight to Chai. He

lifts his mask.
JASON MALLINSON
Chris? You okay?
CHRIS JEWELL
I lost the line. I don’t know where
I am.
Jason can see that Chris is scared.
JASON MALLINSON
Okay. You’re in Chamber Four. It’ll
be fine. Rick’s right behind me,
and Harry. I’ve got a dodgy mask on
my boy. I have to keep moving.
CHRIS JEWELL
Sure. You go on. I’m good.
Jason dives out of sight. Chris holds the sedated Prem close
and presses his body against him.
CHRIS JEWELL
Chamber Four. We’re in Chamber
Four.
201 INT. UNDERWATER - U-BEND TUNNEL - DAY 201
With Jason as he dives Chai down the flooded U-bend. Jason

proceeds slowly, but even so he hits rocks. The jolt shakes
the mask on Chai’s face. Jason clamps the mask tight with his
hand, and looks into the boy’s doped face. For a moment it
looks like he’s not breathing. Then the bubbles come.
Jason swims up, and at last sees the light from Chamber 3.
He surfaces with Chai, and hands him over to the waiting

team. Shattered, he sits down and takes deep steady breaths.
UNDERWATER, moving with Rick, as he carries Coach through the

flooded tunnel. Then he’s rising up in Chamber Four, and
there’s Chris with Prem in his arms.
RICK STANTON
Chris? Is he alive?
Chris nods his head, shivering. Rick realizes at once that

Chris is having a panic attack.
RICK STANTON
Okay. Good to take a rest. Smart
move. Keep the kid topped up.
Chris nods.
RICK STANTON
I’ve got the Coach here. I have to
keep going. But Harry’s right
behind me. Get him to check your
boy before you go on, okay?
CHRIS JEWELL
Okay.
Coach twitches and groans.
RICK STANTON
Oh, no, you don’t.
He pulls out his needle and re-injects the Coach with

ketamine. Once he’s sure he’s still again, he turns back to
Chris.
RICK STANTON
Chris. Your only duty is to that
boy. You do whatever Harry says is
best. Got that?
CHRIS JEWELL
Got it.
RICK STANTON
Okay. See you on the other side.
He dives, with the Coach in his arms.
Pichai enters the water, then Dr Karn. Kiet is now alone in

the cave. He stares at the water. He draws a long breath.
With no one to see, he allows his fear to show. Then he
nerves himself to dive - and the chamber is empty. All that
remains on the mud shelf is some litter from the packed meals
and abandoned space blankets.
Harry surfaces in the stalactite cave and sees Chris lying on

the rocks by his sedated boy.
HARRY
Chris!
Chris unwraps himself from Prem. His voice is unsteady.
CHRIS JEWELL
Yeah. Hi.
HARRY
What happened?
CHRIS JEWELL
I lost the line.
HARRY
Is your boy okay?
CHRIS JEWELL
Yes. I think so.
Harry gets out and checks the boy.

HARRY
Let’s give him another hit.
He injects the sleeping Prem. Then he gets a proper look at

Chris.
HARRY
You want me to take him from here?
CHRIS JEWELL
I should do it.
HARRY
It’s the U-bend.
Chris nods. He hesitates.
CHRIS JEWELL
Rick said to do what you say.
Harry gets it. Rick knew Chris would need help.
HARRY
Sure. You’ve done the hardest part.
How about I do the last bit? That
way, I can say I was a rescuer too.
CHRIS JEWELL
Rick said to do what’s best for my
boy.
HARRY
This is what’s best.
CHRIS JEWELL
Okay.
Harry moves up to take Prem.
HARRY
You follow me. If I get into
trouble, I want you right behind
me.
Together they pick Prem up and Harry arranges himself to

carry him.
CHRIS JEWELL
Sure you’re okay with this?
HARRY
It’s the shortest section. I’ll be
fine.
He dives, holding Prem. Chris waits a few moments, then

follows.
Rick surfaces with Coach. Coach is whisked away by the

waiting team. Rick joins John and Jason.
JASON MALLINSON
Where’s Chris?
RICK STANTON
He’s coming.
Pump engineers behind them are having trouble with one of the
pumps.
The stretcher team brings little Chai out of the tunnel and
into the big cave. He’s carried across the cave under
umbrella cover to the ambulance.
All the volunteers are straining to see the ambulance as it

roars past (with Chai). A laptop playing the World Cup match -
France beating Belgium in the semi-finals - goes unwatched.
Jason, Rick and John are waiting in Chamber 3, looking

towards the tunnel where the next to arrive will emerge. The
rest of the rescue team are also waiting and watching. The
water’s rising fast, becoming more turbulent all the time.
RICK STANTON
(to himself)
Come on, Chris. Come on.
Then he sees the water moving. The Thai team all come
forward. Out of the water comes Harry, with Prem. Harry’s
found the short dive carrying a sedated boy very tough.
RICK STANTON
Harry! Is the boy good?
HARRY
He’s good.
RICK STANTON
How about Chris?
HARRY
Right behind me.
Now Chris surfaces. Rick goes to him. The waiting team takes
Prem and stretchers him out of the cave.
RICK STANTON
You’re good. You’re good.
He puts an arm round Chris in his relief. Chris can’t speak.
JASON MALLINSON
We bloody did it!
RICK STANTON
Not all out yet.
210 INT. T-JUNCTION - NIGHT 210
Dr Karn and Pichai emerge into the maelstrom of churning

water that is the T-Junction. Then Kiet bursts out, flailing,
out of control. The water pouring from the right-hand side is
now overwhelming. Within seconds they’re under water again
and being hurled through the tunnels in the rush of water -
Captain Arnont and the remaining Navy Seal support divers are
anxiously waiting for Kiet, Pichai and Dr Karn. Rick, John,
Jason, Chris and Harry are there behind them, also watching
and waiting.
BANG! The malfunctioning pump explodes, gushing water into

the air - the support workers make a rush for the way out as
the water level rises terrifyingly fast -
Dr Karn and Pichai pop up out of the tunnel, and are swirled
away with the sudden torrent over the rocks and into the
cave.
At last - Kiet is thrown up, the very last out, as the water
is rising to critical levels. All five Brit divers are there
to help him struggle to his feet.
Captain Arnont wades towards his colleagues to help pull them

out.
Kiet is on land: last of the last. Shaken - almost broken -

but alive.
Captain Arnont closes his eyes in silent thanks.
214 INT. CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP - NIGHT 214
The team of divers - Rick, John, Jason, Chris, Harry, Kiet,

Dr Karn and Pichai - come out of the cave together.
THEIR POV - NO SOUND - SLO-MO - The HUGE CROWD of the rescue

team starts a wave of applause, faces beaming, fists pumping,
Hodges and Taft, Governor Narongsak, Navy Seals, Vern, Bas -
Thanet Natisri, almost unrecognizable under his coating of

mud, has just had a text with the news.
THANET NATISRI
All the boys are out!
The students round him, all mud-coated, leap for joy and hug
each other. The village Headman grins through the rain.
As the divers descend the steps the applause builds and

builds - the crowds of volunteers hold up their phones -
Malai, Dusit, Panit, Suda and a beaming Police Captain Bas -
lights shining, like candles of celebration and thanks. The
divers give a nod to the goddess as they pass the shrine.
Newsmen press forward, shouting questions -
REPORTERS
All the boys out safe! How does it
feel? How does it feel to be
heroes?
Rick hears this last shout and turns his weary gaze onto the
reporter. It looks like he’s going to say something, but then
he just shakes his head and keeps moving.
PULL BACK WIDER AND WIDER to see the thousands upon thousands
of glowing lights filling the vast encampment.
Jason, Chris, Harry, Rick, John: for a long silent moment

they just stare at each other. Then they all start to laugh
with nervous release. As Chris laughs, he starts to shake, on
the edge of tears.
CHRIS JEWELL
I couldn’t do it. I lost it.
John reaches out his arms. Chris starts to cry.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
So what? So did I. But we got them
out. Alive.
He embraces Chris in a long hug.
Then there’s Captain Arnont, standing gazing at them.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Good.
Rick looks up, meets his eyes. Professional to professional.
RICK STANTON
All good.
The parents have formed a waiting crowd in the rain by the

divers area. Buahom is between Kampang and Yod, their arms
linked. The divers come out, looking awkward, and the parents
push forward, calling out their thanks.
Rick and John and Jason and Chris nod and smile and don’t
understand anything and don’t know what to say. Harry has his
phone out, and has moved aside to make a call.
Buahom steps forward to speak for all the parents.
BUAHOM
Thank you for giving us back our
sons. We will never forget.
Somboon has red eyes from weeping.
BUAHOM
My son Chai, all I ever wanted was
for him to have a new life, grow up
and be strong and happy.
Lek is weeping as he translates.

LEK
Her son is alive, and she is happy.
He is my friend. I am happy.
RICK STANTON
(to John)
Say something.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Me?
RICK STANTON
You’re the daddy here.
John speaks to the parents.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
The boys were very brave. They were
a team. They helped each other.
They never lost hope. You should be
very proud of them.
Lek translates. The parents nod and smile.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
As for us -
He looks round at the other divers. Here’s where he should

come up with something that lives up to the moment. Instead -
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Like Rick says, we’re just the
delivery guys.
The parents all make the ‘wai’ gesture. Then Buahom leads a
move forward to hug the divers. Rick and Jason find this
awkward. Chris and John hug more fully.
Rick and Jason escape. Jason joins Harry as he comes off his
call. Harry’s saying something to Jason as Rick comes up.
RICK STANTON
Hey, Harry. I knew you could do it.
HARRY
Bullshit. We got lucky.
He gives Rick a tired smile, and walks away.
JASON MALLINSON
He just got word his dad died.
Rick looks after Harry, shaking his head. Win a life, lose a
life.
Governor Narongsak is speaking to TV cameras in front of the

cave entrance to the crowd of jubilant rain-drenched support
workers. By his side stand Captain Arnont and Preeya. Nearby,
Thanet Natisri, now in spotlessly clean clothes; and the
farmers.
NARONGSAK
You have come from all over our
country. You have come from
countries all over the world. You
have given your time - your
expertise - even your rice crops -
and asked for nothing in return.
But you have not done this for
nothing. You have done it for love.
This is a victory of love!
Applause. As the gathering disperses -
CAPTAIN ARNONT
Good words.
NARONGSAK
For once in my whole political
life, it might even be the truth.
220 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY 220
DAY 19 - Wednesday July 20
The twelve boys and the Coach rescued from the cave are in
hospital beds in an isolation ward, with white hospital masks
over their mouths and noses, behind a glass screen. They’re
all waving and smiling.
On the other side of the glass screen stand their parents,

also waving and smiling.
Buahom presses her face to the glass, waving and smiling at

little Chai, tears streaming down her face and smearing the
glass. Lek is by her side, also waving.
Chai beckons to a NURSE in the ward.
CHAI
Please tell my Mum to stop crying.
221 EXT/INT. MINIBUS - ROAD TO AIRPORT - DAY 221
Police Captain Bas drives the minibus down the road to Chiang
Mai. The mountain looms behind in the rain.
IN MINIBUS - Rick and John, Jason and Chris. Rick is twisted

round, looking back at the mountain. He pulls out his phone
and takes a picture.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
‘Thank you, John. Thank you for
making me come even though I’m such
a miserable bugger I didn’t want
to.’
Rick settles back in his seat.
RICK STANTON
Nine times out of ten you bring out
dead bodies, you hand them over to
the families, they cry, and nobody
else in the whole world gives a
monkey’s fart. What happened
here’ll never happen again.
He’s looking at the picture of the mountain on his phone.

He’s not going to say it, but what’s happened here has
changed him.
223 EXT. BASECAMP/CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP - DAY 223
Tents and stalls are being dismantled in the rain. Trucks are
rolling out of the site. Dusit loads his coffee machine into
the back of a pick-up. Panit helps Malai carry her big pans
to a truck.
The platoon of Navy Seals has packed up, their buses ready to
go. Captain Arnont stands by the bus door, looking round at
the site where he’s lived through so much.
As Kiet climbs aboard -
KIET
That’s everyone, sir.
Captain Arnont gazes towards the cave entrance.
CAPTAIN ARNONT
All but one...
He pauses, thinking of his friend Saman. Then he follows Kiet

onto the bus. The buses pull out.
Governor Narongsak and Preeya gather up their belongings - a

laptop, some notebooks. The Governor stands looking round. He
unpins a map of the cave from the wall to take as a souvenir.
Then turns to Preeya.
NARONGSAK
I’m relieved of my duties as of
today. My new posting is to be
Phayao Province. Very remote. Very
quiet.
PREEYA
They say the lakes are very
beautiful.
Narongsak meets her look with a smile.
NARONGSAK
I shall miss you.
225 EXT. HUT, PADDY FIELDS - ROAD - DAY 225
Rain falling. The village Headman, Mae Noi, and the farmers
are sheltering in the hut by the flooded rice fields as a
steady stream of vehicles leaving Tham Luang passes them down
the road. They wave as the vehicles go by.
From inside his car, Thanet Natisri looks out and gives a
returning wave.
The main room still in its chaos of kayaks and dive

equipment. The sound of a taxi pulling away outside. The
street door opens and Rick enters, lugging his bags. He dumps
them in a corner, and looks round. Heads over to the kitchen,
puts on a kettle, washes out a dirty mug, spoons in some
instant coffee.
He stands sipping his coffee, looking round the cluttered

room. Takes something out of his pocket, looks at it, puts it
down on the table by his laptop. The holy bracelet.
227 INT. JOHN VOLANTHEN'S HOUSE - LONG ASHTON, ENGLAND - DAY 227
John is dragging his gear into the house, also just returned
home. There’s his son Matthew, standing waiting for him. He
drops his bags. Looks at his son.
JOHN VOLANTHEN
Come here.
Matthew comes into John’s arms. John holds him tight.
228 INT. FAMILY HOUSE - MAE SAI - DAY 228
The birthday cake is bright with sixteen candles shining on

the frosting picture of SpongeBob SquarePants. Prem blows out
the candles. All round him his fellow team members of the
Wild Boars cheer - Lek, Arm, little Chai, Coach, and the
others. Behind them stand their beaming parents - Buahom,
Manop, Wanna, Somboon, Kanda, and the rest.
Prem cuts the cake. Another cheer. Buahom puts her arms round
Chai from behind and hugs him, her face beaming.
229 EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE/DIVERS CAMP/BASECAMP - DAY 229
Rain falling. Park Ranger Saisor stands by his pick-up

looking round, making final checks. Then he gets in and
starts the engine.
TRACK BACK AND BACK as the pick-up makes its way down the
track and out of sight. The wide trampled clearing round the
cave entrance is now empty. The pumps, the tents, the trucks,
all gone, leaving only the mud and the forest and the endless
rain.
AND UP TO SEE the mountain looming overhead, and the cloud-

filled sky.
END CREDITS

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THIRTEEN LIVES

Dialogue in bold italics to be spoken in Thai and sub-titled.

1 EXT. FOOTBALL PITCH - BAN CHONG, THAILAND - DAY 1

DAY 1 - Saturday June 23

A thick mist hangs over Nang Non mountain, a curtain of dark

ARM, the team captain, urges Chai on.

PREM, the team clown, can’t stop laughing at the sight of

Arm comes up to Prem, holding a bag -

He takes a flashlight from his bag and shines it in Prem’s

2 EXT. MAIN ROAD - DAY 2

Twelve boys and their coach, a column of bicycles, pedal up

3 EXT. THAM LUANG - CAVE ENTRANCE - DAY 3

The mountain is close now, looming overhead.

Coach, bringing up the rear, also bows to the goddess, but he

4 INT. THAM LUANG - CAVE ENTRANCE - DAY 4

5 INT. CHAMBER 1 - DAY 5

The boys head off in a laughing chattering band across the

6 INT. CHAMBER 3 - DAY 6

7 INT. STALACTITE TUNNEL - DAY 7

In the juddering flashlights we see Chai clambering down a

Arm shines his flashlight on Chai’s face.

He pushes on into the tunnel. The others give a whoop and

9 EXT. MAE SAI, THAILAND - NIGHT 9

Rain. Rain soaking down on the tropical forest round the

A small motorbike comes put-putting through the rain. Its

10 INT. FAMILY HOUSE - MAE SAI - NIGHT 10

Rain falling outside the windows. Buahom comes in, shaking

The table is laid for a birthday party. MANOP, father of

Wanna now registers Buahom.

Lek comes in from the kitchen carrying a plate of food.

He ends his phone call. Buahom looks at the rain streaming

10A EXT. MAE SAI - NIGHT 10A *

Rain streams down on the market area of town. In the cars, *

The people in the car react to the radio, speaking on top of *

11 EXT. THAM LUANG TRACK - NIGHT 11

12 EXT. THAM LUANG - CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT 12

Rain is already turning the track to mud as the cars pull up

13 INT. THAM LUANG - CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT 13

The parents see the line of bikes leaning against the

KITTIPONG SAISOR, a veteran park ranger, comes over to them.

She starts to shout for her son -

14 EXT. GOVERNOR’S HOUSE - CHIANG RAI - NIGHT 14

Rain falling. A car and driver stands waiting, engine

15 INT/EXT. CAR - DRIVING - NIGHT 15

The Governor sighs.

16 EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT 16

The mountain looms in the darkness beneath the night sky.

Two buses drive in. Out of the buses streams a platoon of

He goes over to the Seals and speaks to Captain Arnont.

His attention is on his men, and he barely glances at the

Preeya joins the Governor with a lean Englishman who’s just

He’s pulling out a hand-drawn map. The Governor studies it by

He makes a gesture meaning ‘crazy’.

Captain Arnont is now also looking at Vern’s map.

Narongsak nods. Vern and Captain Arnont go into a huddle over

17 INT. CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT 17

Buahom and the other parents look on as a powerful light is

18 INT. CHAMBER 1 - NIGHT 18