Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of MarsThe Chronicles of Jonn Carter Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A PRINCESS OF MARS screenplay by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott 3RD REVISED DRAFT March 12, 1990EXT, TRAIN STATION CIRCA LATE 19TH CENTURY ~ PLATFORM ~ DAY Through steam and disembarking passengers EDGAR RICE BURROUGi‘ steps onto the sunlit platform, carrying a carpet bag. He is mid-twenties, tall, handsome, well-dressed for the period. ABNER (0.S.) Mr. Burroughs? Mr. Burroughs! ABNER, a round, drawling attorney, approaches, hand extended. ABNER I'm Mr. Abner. Your uncle's attorney? I wired you... BURROUGES Yes, of course. They shake hands. Abner leads him from the platform. ABNER My carriage is this way. I'm sorry we couldn't meet under happier conditions. My condolences. John Carter was a fine man. EXT. VIRGINIA COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Abner drives the open carriage through rolling green landscape, Burroughs beside him. ABNER I imagine you were very close... BURROUGHS (smiles, thinking back) I used to love visits from Uncle John. He was always on his way to some exotic place--Tierra del Fuego or Persia or Fiji...the last letter he sent me was from Ceylon. (shrugs) I never knew he considered me anything more than a pesky nephew. ABNER Well, his will deeds the entire estate to you. Including the house and grounds, of course. BURROUGHS When will we reach it?