Secrets of the Pharoah By Timothy Sheridan info@theubie.com 215-242-8340 (c) 2010 126 pages Fixed typos & polish 9/15/19 Barrage of opening typos fixed again 9/15/2020 OPEN Music: mystery/tension INT/EXT EGYPT 2600BC -DARK DAWN Men walk in the desert with torches and wait for the sunrise. They scribe in the ground and instruct others. The sun rises.. people walk past the glowing circle. They plant posts and make marks in the ground.. INT. PHARAOHS' CHAMBERS -MORNING People enter amid the palms and give updates on large unfurled papyrus showing distances with a caliper and gesturing to the sky. EXT. WORK SITE -DAY A scribe with a papyrus is overseeing the thousands of pits of stones being dug. EXT. DIG SITE -AFTERNOON Another scribe overseeing thousands of men pulling stones over wooden rails at jogging speed as others wet the rails with jugs of water and palm branches. EXT. HOUSING AREA ANCIENT GIZA -DAY A small boy runs through the streets, past fires, thrashers, cattle, lumber being hauled, food being prepared, past some carpenters, through the wood rails and stones being hauled. He delivers several chisels to stone cutters and picks up several worn rods. He is given a dried date. He runs back. The camera rises above the trees to reveal the great pyramid 10% finished. Every 40 ft are 6 men lifting stones. Every course of stones above them there are another 6 men. Bucket brigades shuttle food and waste up and down between the working crews. EXT PYRAMID - DIFFERENT DAY We see the more completed pyramid. CLOSE, A scribe sights the high rocks. POV the camera can barley discern the distant man. But the camera lowers and the image is slightly clearer through the iny aperture of the angle measurement rod. EXT. PYRAMID EDGE -AFTERNOON Two scribes gathered looking at the edge of the the much greater Pyramid. as men polish the massive granite base and compare this to a string line with sticks. The floor around the pyramid is being polished. WIDE we see the shape is complete. (Ariel view) We drift by with time. EXT. PYRAMID PARTIAL VIEW -LATE AFTERNOON CLOUDS The burial of the pharaoh. The mourners. The procession. A child looks on to a grand ramp of wood created to carry the paroah to the high doorway. Mourners leave. The door is closed, the ramp is collapsed. The Sun wains beyond the pyramid. INT. THRONE ROOM -DAY The new Pharaoh oversees the handing of a red and white box with its white eagle wings and gold trim to a new priest. It is opened only for the him. Then closed. Fade from red and white box (amid palm shadows) to stripes of the waiving U.S. flag. (Crane down) INT/EXT WHITEHOUSE WASHINGTON D.C. 1801 - DAY Horses clop through the streets.. birds chirp. INT. A man reads letters. It is Thomas Jefferson, easily recognizable. A small bowl of iced cream is brought, he approves. SECRETARY With regard to the purchase of the Louisiana territories sir? Jefferson reviews several papers on his desk. JEFFERSON (distractedly) Despite the concern of the Indian population, I am at a loss for a more proper option. There would be no end of troubles without a treaty. SECRETARY And no end of support for a payment. JEFFERSON And You sound like Franklin. A beat. Jefferson cedes the point. (cont..) But correct. And still I find it difficult to justify the purchase of another man's land, save for the inclusion to our own nation and it's protections. SECRETARY Our constitution is adequate for all. JEFFERSON If it be rightly used. Still, I believe it is for the betterment. The Louisiana Territories are the heartland of the continent. SECRETARY Yes and better in our hands. JEFFERSON (he seals it) Send this and let's have our reply. The seal is placed on the table Pyramid up. INT. CONGRESS -DAY Chatter and echoes of Congress, (gavel), Letters are signed. INT. VERSAILLES -DAY The reaction in France, (subtitles) FRENCH PARLIAMENT AID It is completed then? FRENCH PARLIAMENT OTHER AID Yes. FRENCH PARLEMENT AID Good.. it was practically indefensible anyway. We have lost a swamp and gained a great deal of gold. (polite laughter) INT. COURT OF VERSIALLES -CLOWDY FRENCH COURT (subtitles) {for disposition to the French treasury, the sum of 15 million dollars, 60 Million francs, for the purchase of the territories of Louisiana.} INT. WHITEHOUSE -DRY SUN A man brings news to Jefferson. The President signing the great news. (Man through the door. Men standing. Signing.) EXT. NEW ORLEANS TOWN SQUARE -WET SUN A ceremony of the Louisiana purchase in new Orleans. Cheering, music, flags. A ribbon cutting, cheers. A ribbon cutting. (track and lower on town square and grandstand. kids running, people gathered, a mule and hay cart several horses. To the outer part of the crowds someone climbs for a better view on the wheel of a large wagon with barrels covered with in a tarp.) EXT. U.S. TREASURY -LIGHT OVERCAST Gold is packed to wagons, stacked and dispatched. FADE INT. PANELED ROOM/BOOKS/ THICK DRAPES -AFTERNOON Two men talk in a dark paneled room. SUITED FIGURE So it is agreed.. the item will be moved? SUITED FIGURE2 Yes.. The Colonies have become, stable. EXT/INT SAILING SHIP -AFTERNOON The (burlap)box is handed to someone and taken aboard a ship. INT. Captain's quarters. The box now safe. (in a loose panel) The bearer looks out a window toward the future.. EXT. The ship sets sail 'Starboard, Ho!' The great sails fill. A Sail comes to E.C.U INTRO --SEQUENCE, CREDITS Passing images etc.. Geometry intro: Intersecting lines rotating (with acrid action mystery music) A stylus on a string traces its way through imaginary mist of sand. Close on: Lines crossing other lines. We follow those lines. The another arc intersects and we follow that. Another intersection and a line appears from there, we follow that. The lines draw the title logo. (Pull back..Fill and gleam as it becomes metallic gold.) FADE EXT. THE BEACH -DAY We see the ocean. Camera descends and three friends walk to through dunes to the beach carying chairs. (Finish Credits) HERO wears a wetsuit. FRIEND mmmm.. How's this. GIRLFRIEND Good. HERO Now.. Just one more thing. There. Hero reveals his metal detector from a bag, puts on goggles. FRIEND What's all this? Hunting for spare change? HERO I'll just be a couple minutes. There's something I want to check out. The girlfriend is annoyed. GIRLFRIEND Yea, I thought we're on vacation. HERO What? FRIEND Nothing. It just seems a bit small time. HERO Huh.. I hadn't thought of that. INT. SURF The careless hero in flippers takes to the surf and wanders down the beach. While the others wait and read. The hero searches in the waves with the device. The others take in the day, try the water, share drinks, play Frisbee and sun. FRIEND (sunning again) Don't be too hard on him. He can't help it. The hero pulls up something, a large iron wheel rim. He pulls up a pair of sunglasses, a key ring, a wedding band, which he puts in his pocket.. Then he stumbles over something. He throws the metal detector to the shore and dives under the surf. INT. SURF - SUN LIT Hero pulls away the sand we see a rusted handle, a lock, bits of decayed wood scatter like dust.. then shiny gold reflections gleaming in the murky water. EXT. BEACH CHAIRS Back at the chairs, the others are sunning. Hero returns carrying somthing in a towel and some fries for the misses. She is miffed. He is Exhausted and collapses in his chair. GIRLFRIEND That doesn't make up for you working on vacation. FRIEND So what was all that about? GIRLFRIEND Yea, what did you find? A beat. FRIEND Do you want to tell us what's in the towel? HERO Maybe. Over dinner. FRIEND Yea, I hear that. INT. HOTEL ROOM -DAY The three heroes stand staring at the gold in a hotel room. FRIEND Just laying on the beach. HERO Pretty standard stuff for a ship of that period. Some older stuff. Like these bullion and this, which looks roman. But there's something odd about it. It's all gold. It's like a grab bag of history. You have bullion, all this pirate scrap and these little pieces. I think I got them all. GIRLFRIEND Maybe it was a collector. FRIEND Looks more like someone robbed a museum. HERO I want to get this to a safe place. FRIEND Awesome find. GIRLFRIEND Yea.. INT. BANK -DAY Hero gets a safety deposit box, places box back in, returns from the room with a key. INT. BEACH RESTAURANT -DAY At the Restaurant, Noisy chatter, dishes and music from all sides. FRIEND So why didn't you tell us you were hunting treasure? HERO Would I drive all the way down here on a hunch? FRIEND Oh no.. of course not. You'd wait and bring all of us along with you. HERO I wasn't sure it was there. GIRLFRIEND Wait a minute how did you know this was just sitting there? HERO (shows newspaper article) Because of this.... A few years ago... This lady found an ancient Mexican ceramic piece on the beach. GIRLFRIEND Hmm FRIEND I don't see how that leads you to think there's treasure. HERO Oh, a really important shipwreck happened off the coast here. FRIEND Yea.. so you were dreaming? I don't get it. HERO Well the ship was The Viskaya, Spanish, did runs to Mexico. It was carrying a Cuban millionaire But it sank off the coast, when it collided with the Hargraves an older wooden frigate coming out of Philadelphia. Reenactment -night: ships crunching, men yelling, running. There were reports of a ship without running lights, men jumping to the other ship and a ship going down quickly. Then, A few years ago this tiny ancient ceramic figure turned up on the beach. But a little piece of ceramic isn't going to just wash up from a half mile out. Well according to the papers.. Reenactment again -leaving, rowing, yelling ..the captain and five crewman were the only ones to leave the wooden Hargraves before it sank. So the little ceramic piece had to be there because of them. FRIEND Ok so somebody dropped a little clay thing. Why is that a treasure? HERO Well the figure was carried all the way from Mexico. FRIEND Yea? HERO And it was carried off the ship. FRIEND Yea I suppose. GIRLFRIEND Maybe it fell out of someone's pocket. FRIEND Yea or it broke off something or fell out of the overturned boat. HERO I was wondering about that. But I think the captain would not have wanted to risk a journey carrying a million dollars in gold with 5 guys who had just been shipwrecked and might have been involved in the collision in the first place. So he buried it, on the beach. And left this to mark the spot. Shows newspaper clipping. FRIEND So it was left on the beach on purpose. To mark the treasure. Girlfriend likes him again. They celebrate with drinks. Then she gets suspicious. GIRLFRIEND Wait a minute. How did you know where it was? Friend raises eyebrows as if a fight has just reversed. FRIEND Yea how did you find the spot? HERO Oh. The other ship was under sail headed north east from the point when it collided with the south bound steamer just after dark. So it couldn't have been more than a couple miles out. FRIEND Yea but it's a long beach.. I mean, that doesn't put it on the map? HERO (he blurts) The rowers rowed toward the lighthouse... GROUP Awww come one. Ohh. Fine ok... GIRLFRIEND No. Hold on. The light house is all the way up the beach at the point. HERO Yea it was a long shot.. But lighthouse "street" is only two blocks from here.. so in 1890 it was here, at "lighthouse street". GROUP (groans) Ohhh.. ok I guess that... Alright HERO ...that that puts it within a quarter mile of the light house... (louder--birthday hurrah somewhere) ...which is not a long walk with a metal detector.. FRIEND So that explains why we were picnicking in jersey. GIRLFRIEND But how did you know where to look. It's a wide beach? FRIEND Yea that's a lot of area to cover it could be buried anywhere. A beat. HERO Oh.. you know. hmm. Beach erosion. GIRLFRIEND huh? FRIEND Beach erosion? HERO Yea.. The little figure wasn't seen again until a few years ago.. So obviously the tides had uncovered the marker.. which meant it was in the surf-line. Left there on a moonless night. And the tides had returned cover it, all this time. GROUP Ohhh GIRLFRIEND So you planned this entire trip to check out a hunch. HERO Hunch? No! I, wanted to try out my new scuba suit. GIRLFRIEND But you brought us here so you could find treasure. HERO No. Because I thought we should take advantage of the nice weather.. Waiter, can I have the brisket please and another one of these. GIRLFRIEND mmm.. FRIEND Well happy ending. HERO Sort of. GIRLFRIEND What? FRIEND Yea what? Now you have a, gigantic, towel full of treasure. HERO Well There's one piece I don't understand. FRIEND What's that? HERO This.. He pulls the gleaming gold artifact, a foot long and the width of a finger. (OHHH! Shock..) FRIEND Oh hey. GIRLFRIEND Wow. FRIEND You better just covert that. HERO What.. this! (he waves it around.) Oh waitress? Desert please? GIRLFRIEND Very funny.. FRIEND Ok. You found a piece of gold the size of a crowbar. What's the problem? HERO Well nothing... but, I can't tell where it's from. I don't know what it is. There's no mark, no inscription, nothing. It's just odd. But I like it. I think I'll keep it. Hey, Can I stir that for ya! Ooh!, Kazam! HAHAHAHA. EXT. BOARDWALK -DAY Friend Just acquired some lemon aid. Hero throws dart at balloon, laugh walk away. INT. PAINTING SHOP -DAY Hero holds a painting.. of a sailing ship.. HERO What do you think? GIRLFRIEND Pretty ship. HERO Yea I like it. A souvenir. Friend returns with a smaller picture of a light house. FRIEND Huh? Oh sure. Get the big picture of the ship. It's nice. Girlfriend shows her confident choice of a sand dune. Reactions. The clerk helps them. EXT. PAINTING SHOP -DAY Carrying the wrapped paintings. Walking, Girlfriend picks up a paper. GIRLFRIEND Hey look. Puts Painting in Car. The paper has a story of the find. FRIEND You called the papers? HERO Yea.. Makes a nice story for the local flavor. EXT. HEROE'S HOUSE -AFTERNOON Arriving home. Friends take to their cars and leave.. FRIEND Thanks, good time. GIRLFRIEND Yea.. FRIEND Remind me to bring a metal detector next time. HERO I will! INT. HEROE'S HOUSE Unpacking INT. HERO'S STUDY -SUNSET Hero looks at his treasure. Checks a book. Puts down a coin. Then he takes the last piece. The gold rod. Puts the books aside.. and looks at it. Feels it's weight. Swings it. Rotates it like a lever. Twists it in place. Unsure what it is, he puts it in front of him. Moves a book. The unsolved clue. He ponders. The grey felt mat is covered with gold. The ship hanging on the wall behind him. The sun waning over the desk lamp and a brass globe. EXT. HERO'S HOUSE -NEXT DAY Hero trims roses. Moves an urn on the veranda. Jumps in pool. Jumps off diving board. Sits in hot tub. Walks to the carriage house. Asks Henley. HERO Hey Henley. Can you show me how to start this? Rides the lawn mower around. Stops suddenly. Then looks down slowly at tulips. Then continues on. Parks mower. Prunes tree. Jumps out of the way when a branch falls. EXT. HERO'S VERANDA -LATE MORNING / BRIGHT OVERCAST Hero has lunch on the veranda...with girlfriend. Thanks the maid. HERO Thank you Nina. HERO I'm board. I need a project. GIRLFRIEND Do you want to search for Franklin's paintings?.. HERO Nah.. I ran out of clues. Besides I know they're buried under the archives. GIRLFRIEND Aww! HERO We never do anything. GIRLFRIEND But you found the treasure on the beach. HERO That was last week. GIRLFRIEND Why don't you take a walk down to the stables and play with your horses? HERO I played with the horses last week. GIRLFRIEND We could take a ride in the Bentley. HERO We did that the week before. Aww, we never go anywhere. GIRLFRIEND You just got back from India HERO Yea but that ruby belonged to the royal family. That doesn't count. GIRLFRIEND Oh, I know.. HERO What? INT. LARGE CLOSET -READY FOR EVENT She straightens his tie. GIRLFRIEND There. INT. SEASIDE MUSEUM -CHARITY EVENT The millionaire treasure hunter and friends attend a black tie. HERO You know your right. I am having a good time. This was a great idea. GIRLFRIEND I knew you just needed to get out and have fun. HERO Yea. Thanks. FRIEND Hey, nice party. Try the little crispy things next to the pate'. HERO Well I couldn't have done it without you. FRIEND That's right we did hold the towels down. While he swam around. CURATOR Mr HERO, Thank you for such a lovely gift. I know the children will enjoy seeing a real buried treasure. HERO Aw a museum without treasure is like a library without books. But you should thank (Girlfriend) It was her idea. Reaction. We see the gold arrayed in a glass case. Fade through a dedication and clapping. EXT. GIRLFRIEND'S APARTMENT/VILLA -EVENING Hero and girlfriend at his car. Hero get's an unexpected G rated kiss. HERO Thanks. I had a nice time. So.. GIRLFRIEND Mmmmmm..wah HERO Uh? Ohh... GIRLFRIEND You were good. HERO I was good?. Mm.. Good night. INT. HERO'S HOUSE -EVENING Hero home from fund raiser relaxes and finds burglar. Puts his Jacket on a chair.. parlor, a book he was reading.. loosens tie. to study.. it's a mess. HERO Stop. Hey! No. Stop! huh? Grey? What are you doing? A beat. GREY Hi. Still looking for the knights of the round table? HERO No. I've moved on. What about you? Still jacking cars? GREY Nah. I'm more respectable now. HERO Who hired you? GREY Someone who wants to keep the past buried. HERO Which past? A collector? GREY Listen.. You don't know what's out there! Got to go. Hero lurches for him. They knock over some stuff.. And the thief jumps out the window. HERO Wait, you, Damn. Don't let me catch you again! EXT. HEROE'S" HOUSE -EVENING -AFTER THE ROBERY Lights flashing, cars everywhere. Police take report. HERO No nothing was taken. COP Well you're lucky. We'll set some patrols. Try to get some rest. HERO Thank you. INT. HEROE'S STUDY -DISCOVERING THE KEY Light of day Disheveled office.. Friends come and help.. GIRLFRIEND Wow. Are you ok? HERO Yea. FRIEND Why did this happen? GIRLFRIEND Who would do this? HERO It was Grey. GIRLFRIEND Grey? FRIEND An old buddy. HERO We used to surf together. He's working for someone. Come on. FRIEND What did he take? HERO Nothing. FRIEND Why was he here? HERO I think he wanted the find from the shipwreck. FRIEND But you gave that to the museum. HERO Well not all of it. The girlfriend is crawling on the floor, straightening the table and papers, cleaning up when her forearm lands on the photo copy of the gold rod. Hero sees this and is shocked. HERO Don't move! GIRLFRIEND What? HERO That's it! I knew it was simple. It had to be something like that. I just didn't think it would be so easy. He helps her up grabbing the photocopy which he holds to her arm then takes the gold rod from the secret compartment in his early American writing desk next to a window and a civil war bugle. He starts overturning half the study himself looking for sometinig. HERO Here Hold this. FRIEND Woa, kept uh, some treasure for yourself. HERO I should have said something. But I don't think this was intended to be part of the treasure. Why didn't I think of it before? Of course. No this.. where is it? He finds several interesting but unconnected images which he hastily shows them.. HERO Ha! See? Look! Oh Where is it? Still looking for the other thing. HERO There.. Ha! There!.. FRIEND What? He finds a large piece of paper and places it on her arm. HERO Ha! Grabbing tape from the desk and ripping it with his teeth... he tapes up the large page.. and slowly traces down the page until the length matches. (reaction shot) FRIEND What is it? HERO The Egyptian Royal foot. I calculated this. It's here somewhere. The dimensions of the pyramid. Herodotus in ancient Greece mentions the pyramid is 800 feet. But if you measure it today, it's a little different. So I calculated. This was the royal foot used by the builders of the great pyramid. Look. Hero holds the rod up against the paper on the wall. The others draw near. They are entranced.. The antiquity has revealed a secret. Pause. Girlfriend raises an eyebrow. FRIEND You are a busy man. GIRLFRIEND What does it mean? HERO It means, this has something to do with the great pyramids. FRIEND But what? A length? It's obviously valuable. GIRLFRIEND Yea but what is it for? FRIEND Is there some way to test that? GIRLFRIEND uh I think I can help with that. INT. SCIENTIFIC SUPPLY HOUSE -MORNING Girlfriend Brings them into work and borrows a scanner. HERO I don't know why I never thought of it. I guess the coins all have obvious provenance. Girlfriend talks to a uniformed person, returns to the group with a small suitcase. GIRLFRIEND Ok you have 5 minutes. I have to get this back to them pronto. We shouldn't even be doing this. HERO But it is historic in nature. GIRLFRIEND Yes. HERO And aids in preservation. GIRLFRIEND Yea.. here plug this in. Ok every metal has a complex array of trace elements.. So we match the source and we discover the origin of the piece. They do the spectral analysis of the artifact. He hurriedly writes down the numbers. She rips the little paper printout and she politely returns the scanner. HERO OK we have a lot of numbers.. but we need to compare them with known sources. GIRLFRIEND We can log in and check them online. But the processing is a little complex. FRIEND I can help with that. EXT / INT HEROE'S" HOUSE -LATE MORNING Back at Hero's mansion, they disembark and carry in some stuff. HERO Oh.. here I'll get that. HERO Listen thanks, do you want to come in? GIRLFRIEND What.. I think so! You're going to go in there and discover something. FRIEND Hey. Wait a minute. Are we treasure hunting? HERO I don't know. GIRLFRIEND Yea we want in. HERO Fine this would take me all day. FRIEND Exactly. GIRLFRIEND So.. HERO How about 25 25.. FRIEND It is his find. GIRLFRIEND Yea.. We want 25 25.. And I'm going with you if you find anything. INT. HEROE'S LIVING ROOM -LATE MORNING At the living room writing desk, they research the spectral analysis. FRIEND Ok Just give me a minute to log in. Do you have another screen? It just helps to have a second view. I think.. here.. there.. This is a list of known gold deposits.. Ok but we need to input these numbers here. Girlfriend is holding a page scanner. HERO Oh that's handy. Friend scans and it appears in a little file.. FRIEND Ok just give me a minute. FADE The others walk off.. someone brings coffee FRIEND Ok I'm ready.. here are the numbers from the scan. GIRLFRIEND So what now? FRIEND Alright we input that here. [Error] ok.. oh wait it omits atmospheric gasses so just open this and let me enter those.. just zeros.. Who would have thought four extra zeros would be so useful? GIRLFRIEND Ok so what will this tell? FRIEND It will give us the mine where it came from. There. But it doesn't match. I can factor using existing signatures. Just give me a minute. I'll graph it. It might be an alloy of several mines... or.. HERO Or what? FRIEND Or maybe an older mine not in the database. GIRLFRIEND But it doesn't match, So dead end. FRIEND Oh. Alright. It's Egyptian" HERO Right. FRIEND No. I mean ancient Egyptian. That's the closest match. But this is an unknown mine. Which would be sometime before the 25th century BC!. One red dot in a series of tight clusters. GIRLFRIEND Oh, that is old. HERO (excited ) Oh this is it.. This Is it. Yes.. Yes! Solid gold and... connected with the great pyramid, the age is right..the length matches that used by the builders of the great pyramid. Do you know what this is? FRIEND No.. uhh.. GIRLFRIEND not really.. HERO Oh This is huge. The big one. The, Great, Pyramid. Don't you see? No treasure has ever been recovered from any of the great pyramids! FRIEND He's right. HERO This is possibly the most important discovery in Egyptology in a thousand years. Oh. I'm right. It's. The big one. The big mamba. The casa-grande. Well a clue anyway.. Oh! Give me a minute. FRIEND He is good with clues. HERO ok.. a singular artifact relating to the period.. gold. Length matching the Ancient Egyptian foot. High value suggests a ritual item. But for what? It's not a known item or it would appear in hieroglyphs. So, a secret item. It's made of gold. So, in a sense part of a treasure. But a symbolic item. So, not part of the treasure. Part of the treasure but not part of the treasure. What is that? It's, a key. A cipher of some kind. A ritual implement, that admits one, --that admits the prime emmesary into the sanctuary. FRIEND Uh How do we know this? HERO Know, intuit, guess, let's not mince words. Look at it! It's obviously a hand implement of some kind. These scratches are all in one direction. These incursions on the surface. But it isn't a tool because, Gold is too soft. And it's not a known ceremonial piece. It's a puzzle. Puzzles are impassible, preventive, admitting only a few. That's a lock. And this, is some kind of key. FRIEND Puzzles are kind of hard to solve. GIRLFRIEND Yea, but how do we know this connects with some treasure? Holding the object. HERO If this is the key. FRIEND Then I want to see what it unlocks. HERO Exactly. Ok we need to be organized. GIRLFRIEND How are we going to find what this connects to? HERO I think we already have. Hero begins pulling books with marks in them.. opening them for the camera. And grouping around a table. HERO There was a Mitinean ruler, king Thurstra is quoted that, 'In Egypt, gold was as plentiful as dust'. But is that enough? No. (Pause) (Picture in book) Reenactment HERO (V.O.) Khufu, the builder of the Great pyramid, came to power after a notable period of stability and justice. The golden child of a golden age. Some say he was disliked. Maybe just a petty folk rumor because he forced the people to work on his pyramid. But I think he was powerful and took everything to extremes. Bigger, better, safer, and, if my guess is right, richer. And he created the great pyramid. I don't think it was just him. He had the best advisers. Just look how he went at tomb building. The biggest ever. But, according to historians, that was only in the rainy season three months a year! The other 9 months were almost certainly dedicated to Gold, Palaces, Sculptures. Yet the only statue ever discovered of Khufu was a tiny devotional found miles to the north. Only 2 inches high. Probably just a keepsake of a royal visit. -a stray souvenir. And only one survived. Now, We know The Great pyramid was built in the 4th dynasty. Within a hundred years we begin to see tombs with false doors and false floors. FRIEND Ok but what does that tell us? GIRLFRIEND Yea, we have a piece of gold. Which is very old, but no real clue. FRIEND So we don't know any more. We're stuck. HERO Not yet. I have a idea. FRIEND Oh here we go. GIRLFRIEND Yea unless we have something to go on it's just bar stock. HERO Oh You don't know jack... FRIEND What? I read. I had a course on ancient cultures. HERO No, I mean Jack. Jack Hawyer, Rescue jack. GIRLFRIEND Rescue Jack? HERO yea.. Jack. GIRLFRIEND Not 'crazy jack' who jumped off your house that time. HERO That was to prove a point. But Yes. Him. I'd like to check with Jack. FRIEND I don't think we're going to learn anything from a guy with an eye tattooed to his throat. HERO uh that is kind of different. But come on. EXT. CRAZY JACK'S PLACE -DAY Visit to a conspiracy theory expert who has lots of information about pyramids.. A country house next to a quary There is junk and some military surplus in the yard. GIRLFRIEND So, what are we doing? FRIEND Are we forming an A team? HERO Very funny. Jack has a proclivity for the paranormal. FRIEND The para everything. INTERCOM Come on in. HERO Jack you know. (Friend) This is (Girlfriend) JACK Hi, Hi, GIRLFRIEND Hi FRIEND Hi HERO Thanks for helping us out. I have a little project and I need to know anything you can tell me about the great pyramid. JACK You said. But what is this about? Are you going on a vacation? You're not thinking of.. HERO We are planning to.. enquirer as to.. FRIEND ..to rob the tomb. HERO We are on a treasure finding expedition. JACK A treasure hunt. FRIEND We want to.. HERO We want to find the treasure. FRIEND And rob the tomb. HERO Yea. GIRLFRIEND mm. JACK Ok. Let's see this artifact.. HERO Here be careful it's very old. JACK Woa. Jack puts it to his ear. FRIEND Uh..What is he? JACK Just checking. HERO We think it's related to a pyramid. JACK What is it? HERO We don't know. JACK Then we start with the obvious. Something you find in a pyramid. GIRLFRIEND Why in a pyramid. Couldn't it have been some kind of ceremonial object. JACK Not likely. If it was I would have seen it. It would be recorded on something. So if it's not ceremonial then. Then it's a secret. GIRLFRIEND A secret? JACK A secret. HERO About a pyramid. GIRLFRIEND Well how are we supposed to identify it? JACK Oh step into my office! But first, have any of you recently had a cold? FRIEND Uh.. no.. JACK Good.. cause I don't want to get sick.. This way. INT. JACK'S SMALLER CLUTTER ROOM JACK Alright Let's see.. vampires.. crop circles.. dousing.. Stonehenge.. zombies.. Ah.. here.. Clip: pyramids by day fade between images. JACK Pyramids.. Hmm.. Ok. The first thing you need to know is that pyramids are not just tombs. They're fortresses.(guards) Weapons of refuge. (ext) A fortified interior,(int) a hidden entrance,(ext) remote chambers surrounded (3d) by stone and with a polished graite casing (pan up) over 480 feet into the sky. (reactions) Too steep to climb. Too deep to tunnel without being detected. It was enormous. (ext track-pan up) The tallest structure in the world --for 37 centuries. (track mummy) The paramount priority was not to be disturbed in the after-life. And that includes your worldly riches. (pan riches --end clip) So it's a vault. (reactions) Anyone defacing the tomb would be killed. (guard with sward) If you tunnel in, passages of inner stones would collapse onto you.(falling rock) If you find the entrance then the tunnel would be blocked by a large stone (sliding rock)that slides into place. Even the stone ways inside are so steep that you could slip (sliding man)into the lower chamber and be trapped. (reactions) HERO But people got in anyway. JACK Yes But the builders knew this was a possibility so they also built in other safeguards. GIRLFRIEND Like what? JACK We don't know. None of the contents of great pyramids have ever been found. That's why we know. They're puzzles, enigmas. But there's a lot to go on. They did things in the design. Jack ruffles through Charts.. photos.. little models.. JACK You're not going in are you? HERO We may. GIRLFRIEND Yea. FRIEND Mmm. Jack pulls the cork out of a little clear model a brick begins to lower.. JACK Oh..look.. here see how the sand runs out.. You don't want to be there when that happens.. Now all of this would have been guarded by three separate groups. They had to insure the future so there were a lot of precautions. First were the dangers I already mentioned. Then a whole system of (CLIP-->) guards, priests, and spies. Each would be unable to rob the tomb. (guard) Guards who might not know the interior. (spy) Spies who might only watch the grounds. (priest) And priests who could not enter without permission. (Jack) Together this system guarded the secrets and maintained holdings. But it probably broke down without leaving a clue. (Someone dies dropping a piece of paper.) HERO Not until now. But what do you think it is? JACK Maybe an decoy. Maybe a sacred talisman. Might be a key. HERO See I told you. GIRLFRIEND He said "might". JACK Come out to my rock garden and I'll show you something. EXT. JACKS ROCK GARDEN HERO Jack works a quarry. JACK Go ahead push it.. The giant rock spins slowly.. JACK See that. Just a piece of copper and ivory. Spins like an ice cube. You may be looking for a door like this. Or you might need a jackhammer. HERO Yea I understand all that but what is this for? It matches the pyramid foot. JACK So a measuring rod. FRIEND A pertica! That's Latin. Which, was later.. JACK It may be a key. It has three attributes. Length, Width and Weight. All three together may open the passage. It is impossible to know. There's one place you might find out -Karnack. HERO The grand temple. JACK There may be something there. HERO Is there anything else you can think of. JACK You might want to look for a book by Thera... Thera something. HERO All right, Well thanks. The Friend plays with a tiny 1/24th scale stone pyramid door which slides out and up (turns on an axis), a small fist sized triangle of stone filling a square opening in a larger stone. JACK Oh here take these.. some digging equipment you might want to use and here, Thera Livingston.. maybe you can find out something from her. (her book) INT. HEROE'S CAR - TREE SHADE They get in the car and sit in the sun dappled tree shade. FRIEND So? What do we do now? HERO I don't know. I have to think. GIRLFRIEND I think we need an expert. Someone who knows hieroglyphics. HERO Maybe but I have a funny feeling they are going to tell us the same thing. I'm going to need your help. FRIEND I'm not sure what you need me to do. GIRLFRIEND Yea it looks like a mystery that no one ever solved. HERO I'll figure that out when I see you. FRIEND See me? HERO Yea tonight.. you're coming right. FRIEND Uh Right.. GIRLFRIEND Yea half the treasure. HERO Which you split! FRIEND Why do I feel like I am going to need a shovel? HERO I'll figure that out later. When I see you. Come over. About 6. We're a team right?. We'll need everything you can find. Astrology, farming, festivals, architecture.. You do Physical, the pyramids themselves, pictures, plans, maps relation to other monuments. You do the metaphysical. Religion, mythology, traditions.. I'll focus on the history. GIRLFRIEND You know I have work. A beat. GIRLFRIEND Ok I'll call in. FRIEND And I'll look for a visual translation program. HERO That would help. GIRLFRIEND Good idea.. HERO Alright. INT. HOUSE -AFTERNOON Passage of time: sketching.. drawing, reading.. feeding the dog.. outlining. Friends arrive. HERO Ok Everybody ready. FRIEND Ready GIRLFRIEND Yea INT. VILLAIN LOCATION Villains take note: VILLAIN Looks like we're going on a little vacation. Tell Kitch. VILLAIN2 (ON PHONE) It's Egyptian.. very old. Looks like they are going to try and dig up the rest. KITCH (PHONE) Ok stay with them. I'll be there when you arrive. See the villains' digging operation here. EXT. LAND ROVER -DAD'S HOUSE Hero visits his Dad who once speculated that Franklin had visited the pyramids but hates to bring up his failure to prove it. HERO I need to stop in for a minute. Someone's got to take care of the place while I'm away. INT. DAD'S HOUSE -DOOR -LATE AFTERNOON DAD Hi, Come in. This is a surprise. HERO You remember..(Girlfriend) DAD Hi, HERO And.. (Friend waives) DAD So what brings you out this way? HERO Oh I needed to pick up a couple things. DAD Oh Sure. Hi. HERO You know dad had a theory that Ben Franklin may have visited the pyramids. Didn't you dad? Tell them. DAD Oh that was a long time ago. I don't think they want to hear about that. HERO He had found a letter to treasury secretary Morris from a Mr. Deane indicating that Franklin had a meeting with a British merchant Williams who was building alliances with a sugar company. Sugar which was in production along the Nile since the 700s. DAD Oh now I don't think they would be interested... HERO The assumption was that Franklin may have actually visited the Great Pyramids. But nothing was mentioned in any of Williams or Franklin's papers.. DAD ...suggesting a meeting rather than correspondence in order to keep the secrecy. Yes, it was all speculation and innuendo there was never any proof. Williams was forging ties to the sugar industry but his visit to Franklin in France doesn't mean a thing. Just a chance meeting. HERO Yes but letters were insecure at the time. Even Franklin complained of broken seals and chard edges in correspondences he received. DAD But there was no proof. I don't want to draw up that old saw. I almost lost my tenure over that kind of horse fodder. I have better things to do now. Let someone else dream over those scraps. I want no part of it. It's a just a.. well it's a.. HERO Conspiracy theory. I know. FRIEND I read it in a book. DAD You did? Oh well That's very astute of you. But no. It was just a young man's dream of finding something important... Nothing more.. Just hints and shadows... HERO You know the great seal was proposed by a friend of Franklin. DAD yes I know which is.. A beat. ALL No, Of course not, there's no proof.. GIRLFRIEND Well we were actually planning a trip.. A beat. DAD uhh.. um.. you.. HERO To the uh pyramids. DAD huh? I'm sorry, I though you said the pyramids. HERO Uh.. that's actually correct. We're doing a sightseeing excursion for.. DAD Awww, tell me you're not going to dig up the great pyramids. Oh.. that's just dandy. FRIEND Oh he uh.. HERO Uh no... there may be artifacts, of some interest. DAD Oh No. No-No I don't want to know. I've seen enough of these fact finding missions. You go hopping around looking for ghosts and goblins.. and what do you have to show for it? Where's the security? You have a nice girl there. You should be planning for the future. HERO Yea, Well can you just take care of Chaucer while I'm gone? DAD I'm. Yes. HERO Everything's in the den. Thanks Dad. DAD Oh, That's what I'm for. HERO Thanks, I've got a couple flashlights around here. DAD Just take some sun-block! EXT. PLANE IN HANGER -AFTERNOON Airport. He has his own plane. We see it. Driving into hanger FRIEND So are we riding in coach? HERO No I called ahead. Wave to friend at airport. Out of car in hanger. INT PLANE HANGER HERO What do you think? FRIEND Nice. HERO The in-flight meal is burgers and potato (shows bag) FRIEND Baked? HERO Of course baked. FRIEND Oh. You've been playing the market haven't you. HERO A little. GIRLFRIEND Who's the pilot? They board. INT. PLANE COCKPIT Flying lesson. FRIEND Ok he flies. GIRLFRIEND Oh no. You're not flying us to Egypt. HERO What? I've had lessons. Besides I need the hours. And come on. I'll show you. It's all done with computers. It practically flies it's self! GIRLFRIEND I don't know. HERO Come on. GIRLFRIEND You're a student. HERO Not technically. Look. (hat) See? Pilot. GIRLFRIEND Yea on weekends! HERO This is a weekend. Uhhh.. Just have a look at the cock pit. GIRLFRIEND Oh. Yea. Sure. She comes to the cock pit and sits on his lap. HERO See this is the engine. This is the stick. Feel that. Here, this tells how high we are. And this. Push here. Tower, this is North star 3626 ready for takeoff. TOWER Roger North star you are clear for runway. Just hurry it up my boss will be back in a minute. HERO Thank you tower. I owe you one. GIRLFRIEND Who was? HERO My flight instructor. Taxy scene. Cut to ready. FRIEND Let me know if you need any help up there! Yea I've been on your boat. HERO Now you just push this forward. And squeeze that. There. Now we are ready for take off. The plane accelerates. He holds her close as she is thrust into him. They leave the ground. EXT. PLANE -NIGHT The sun sets. The plane flies through the night as dream like clouds pass in the night like great pillars of stone. Day Break The shoreline below and behind it, the Sahara. INT. PLANE CABIN -DAY The Hero leaves the cockpit. The others have been studying. FRIEND Shouldn't you be driving? HERO Oh It makes a lot of noise if it needs me. FRIEND Oh great. So tell me how exactly were going to rob the tomb of the pharaoh? HERO What do we have so far? FRIEND Ok The pyramid complexes are usually in sets of three configured in the pattern of constellation Orion. GIRLFRIEND Orion or Seir, The Prince, or Soul of Osiris, the ruler of the two worlds. FRIEND Two worlds? GIRLFRIEND Life and Death. FRIEND Oh. FRIEND uh too steep to climb and too high for a ladder. There was one known entrance is about 100 feet up. And there was a door hidden perfectly in the masonry. Later the smooth outer casing was looted for material leaving the distinctive exterior block. And there are three chambers, a rough underground camber, The queen's chamber with a statue niche... And the king's chamber with a sarcophagus. HERO Ok The three chambers. There's something. All that is a clever deception. FRIEND Ok several chambers, why is that a deception? HERO The direction points upward for the status of the king's burial. It all draws attention away from the unfinished chambers. So why would anyone ever look there? It points to the vault being under the pyramid. The king may have liked his riches. But he didn't have to sleep with his gold. HERO Ok What else? FRIEND The alignment of the pyramid is north and south. GIRLFRIEND Probably respect for Osiris god of upper and lower worlds. HERO Good.. Anything else? GIRLFRIEND Just the zodiac, a star chart. HERO Star chart. Ah that connects with this. He pulls out the dollar bill. GIRLFRIEND The pyramid on the back of the dollar bill? FRIEND Oh Here we go. Grabs ipad. HERO Yes. We know this was added in the 30s part of a redesign of the great seal of the United States. The symbol is based on a 17th century drawing of the great pyramid (here) but includes the all seeing eye. FRIEND Masonic imagery of the grand design. GIRLFRIEND Ok.. HERO But look. He puts the bill under a camera. The seal pyramid appears. He dots the star pattern (from clumps of grass). The little dipper in red. HERO The little dipper. The north star. See how the handle bends inward? GIRLFRIEND What about these? He circles three more in yellow. HERO Orion the hunter. Think of it. Myths about the stars would have existed since the beginning of language.. even before writing. They persisted generation after generation. No one had to write them down. This represents a primal language, probably based on legends that would have been fresh in ancient times. GIRLFRIEND But that one wasn't a star. HERO True but look where it is.. Over the letter C. See, the divot is moved because they didn't want to be obvious. So they signed it. FRIEND Letter C? I don't understand.. GIRLFRIEND RC. Look the other one is over the R. He thinks this is a secret message from the Rosacrutians. FRIEND Ok.. The order of the rose cross. How does a medieval secret society hide treasure from the great pyramid? HERO Rosacrutions formed to perpetuate the work the knights Templar or another order to foster true knowledge, spiritual and earthly. They used secret symbols to preserve their traditions. GIRLFRIEND How does this relate to the great pyramid? HERO Only a small number of people could ever know of the treasure or it would be plundered. So, they had only one key. But that poses a problem. FRIEND If only one person knows the secret. GIRLFRIEND Then what if they are lost? HERO Exactly. So the secret would need to be hidden, hidden in scared symbols, Traditions of preservation, encrypting it in popular culture. FRIEND Only the wise shall pass. Reactions. HERO Exactly And that brings us to The Louisiana Purchase. FRIEND Huh? GIRLFRIEND The Louisiana Purchase? FRIEND Ok Now I'm lost. HERO I found this on a calculator. FRIEND Ok this one I haven't heard.. HERO The Louisiana purchase was set at 15 million dollars. White board, long division on calculator.. FRIEND Yea? HERO The cost to build the great pyramid was said to be 1600 talents. FRIEND 1600 bars of gold. GIRLFRIEND Each talent weighing 100lbs HERO Well yes. And if you divide 15million by the 1600 gold bars, and 2 PI ... FRIEND Yea HERO you get.. 14 92. GIRLFRIEND fourteen ninetytwo. FRIEND Oh come on. GIRLFRIEND fourteen ninetytwo. HERO Yes.. fourteen ninetytwo and change.. GIRLFRIEND And that's a treasure map? HERO Uh, Yes. GIRLFRIEND How is that a map? HERO The pyramid had a gold capstone. And it's circumference is 2 PI times its height. GIRLFRIEND So? HERO Gold and 2 PI. That's pyramid. FRIEND And fourteen ninetytwo? HERO ..a signature, the number of the age, Early America was still aglow with the discovery of the new world. 1492 was their defining moment. Oh and let's not forget the first payment was made on the Louisiana purchase was 3 million in gold.. About 116 talents. FRIEND And the number 116 is related how? HERO 12 thousand lbs... That's a lot of gold. FRIEND That is a lot of gold. I think were on the trail of an ancient secret society with a lot of gold! Recap GIRLFRIEND Ok but how are we going to find it? HERO Easy. It's inside the great pyramid. The pharaoh would not want to be chased away from his pyramid. He's in there with his treasure. GIRLFRIEND So we just look for a secret door. HERO Well.. yes. GIRLFRIEND And how are we supposed to do that? HERO With this. Hero shows a small map of the sky. GIRLFRIEND A star map? HERO Yes. If the entrance exists then it would need a map. And here's a map. GIRLFRIEND So the little dipper and Orion.. That's our map. Reaction dollar bill image still on ipad.. HERO Yes. FRIEND But the stars are in different parts of the sky. HERO Yes. Well that's a bit of a puzzle. The little dipper would signify the north star. Which should mean that the seeker stands on the south side of the pyramid. Herodotus of ancient Greece reported a door on the south which has always been assumed to be mistranslated. FRIEND And Orion? HERO Orion rises to the east forming a right triangle. The return of the soul of Osiris. GIRLFRIEND So the entrance is to the south. FRIEND And your golden crowbar? HERO It's ancient and connected with the pyramid. FRIEND But people have been all over the pyramids looking for openings or irregularities in the stones.. And found no treasure to speak of. HERO I know but they don't have what we have. FRIEND Which is what? HERO Which is you. You have to find the entrance. FRIEND Oh great, And all these clues? HERO They just point the way. The great expanse of sand passes slowly below. Egypt near, the Cock pit starts beeping. The hero gets manic. HERO Egypt? You know I was just saying how we should get away more often! You guys get buckled up. Landing: Readying. Friend is a little nervous. GIRLFRIEND What's wrong? HERO Don't worry! Landing isn't that much harder than takeoff! FRIEND Oh great. EXT. PLANE The three deplane and sign something and are inspected (as famous treasure people). They make their way in and take a car. HERO Uh sightseeing and uh fine dining. FRIEND Um museums.. and monuments.. GIRLFRIEND Shopping.. and antique stores. INT. CAR Revealing the hiding place of the artifact. By sawing open a camera stand. EXT. DRIVING The three chat and drive then stop at the monuments. Hero closes cell phone. HERO Ok there's no way were getting a permit to dig. So, the Problem is that antiquities people won't let you do anything. And the security people won't let you anyplace in case you thought you were going to do something. FRIEND You're right this is going to be difficult. GIRLFRIEND Difficult? Are you kidding? I don't see how we are going to do this. HERO Easy, we'll take a lesson from the builder himself. We'll do everything wrong. FRIEND Everything wrong? HERO Sure. Look at the pyramid it's self. The largest building in the known world. It's not like he was hiding. Here. Hero turns and takes out his wallet then turns back. HERO Grab the money. The friend takes the wallet from his hand. FRIEND Ok.. It's empty. Hero shows the cash in his cupped hand. FRIEND True. HERO The doorway to the pyramid was marked by a seal right below it. The only piece of writing on the exterior. FRIEND Your right. It looks more like he was throwing a tomb robbing party. HERO Exactly. FRIEND So we just tell the authorities we're tomb robbing? HERO Actually, I was thinking we could be a little more subtle. FRIEND Right. INT. KARNACK -NOON Visiting Karnack. Questioning the meanings, commenting on the alignments, mentioning the symbolism. Then, they must head on. GIRLFRIEND This is Karnack. It was a kind of repository of history. Rulers were remembered and various rituals and tributes were offered. The complex is aligned with the sun. I don't know how we are going to find anything. HERO Give me a minute. Aligned with the sun. Ok let's see.. So.. This way.. Now it's almost noon.. the sun comes in this way. Over here. HERO Here. What does that say? FRIEND Wait a minute. The device he carries reads out something. DEVICE Priest of the great queen Hatshepsut. HERO How about there? DEVICE Seventh year of her reign. Granaries are full. HERO No, it's not in the text. It's in the subtext. Look. See how the sun shines on her hands. We need to figure out what the north star has to do with the entrance. Let's spread out and see if we can find anything. They wander through the columns. GIRLFRIEND Here's something. The device reads it. DEVICE ..of the sun carried by the two lions. FRIEND What do you think? HERO I'm not sure. These may not be old enough to tell us anything or they are too specific. Ok the sun's getting low. We should head on. A guard turns his head. FRIEND hmm.. Museums. Friend translates another thing just for his amusement) DEVICE Akenaten King of Egypt. They drink some water and buy a map and leave. Back on the road. INT. DRIVING Driving. Driving. Someone reads from the following reference. GIRLFRIEND Ok.. This is interesting. This is from Masoudi in about 1000 AD. -The builder of the pyramids.. ordered the priests to deposit within them written accounts of their wisdom, acquirements in the different arts and sciences, writings of the priests containing all manner of knowledge, the names and properties of medical plants, the sciences of arithmetic and geometry, for the benefit of those who could afterwards comprehend them. In the eastern pyramid were inscribed the heavenly spheres, and figures representing the stars and planets. The king, also, deposited the positions of the stars and their cycles; together with the history and chronicle of time past and every future event which would take place. Passing through the Country side near sunset. EXT. DRIVING - GIZA Get in town, HERO Alright here we are.. truck of locals wave, drive through traffic.. (then they pass some stuff and more stuff. The young girl, the old lady. The guys trying to hook up a cart.. foreshadow the vegetable cart - later we narrowly avoid destroying it. Then through the new city.. Cars, glass buildings, bridge, round the circle, sites, shops, see some soldiers here and there. Approaching the plateau. EXT. THE GREAT PYRAMD -AFTERNOON The heroes get out of car--see Pyramid (late afternoon) Wide /low Pan up. Gaping expressions. Look around with field glasses. Snap a few pictures.. HERO Ok there's still a few hours. We better keep moving. FRIEND Right. INT/EXT TOWN AND MUSEUMS -DUSK Streets again, Walking Museums, Driving streets again, Walking in museums, Taking notes. They come to look at the ivory statue of Kufu (take close-up picture) GIRLFRIEND All these statues and this is the only image of him. FRIEND Yea. Do you think there's anything we can learn from it? HERO Yea. The Biggest tomb ever and all he leaves behind is this. He had a sense of humor. INT. DRIVING -EVENING Driving through town again.. EXT. HOTEL -CHECK IN HERO ...Hello I have reservations.. ah thank you.. HOTEL CLERK Here you are. And will you need to keep anything in the vault? HERO Uh no that won't be necessary.... Thank you breakfast is at eight. INT. HOTEL ROOM -NIGHT The Busy team does the phone calls. FRIEND Yes I need a permit for excavation in the plateau area.. oh.. nothing? HERO ..oh there is.. Yes about 4000 horse power oh 2500 yes and six foot by 8 foot.. and... . FRIEND Let's see, hardware stores.. Computer shops.. and antiques dealers.. GIRLFRIEND ... a Truck with lights and equipment.. um.. this weekend.. HERO Yes 2000 square feet.. that would be fine.. INT. LOBBY -NIGHT The hero waits quietly for friends who are in the gift shop. A mysterious guy in the lobby confronts the hero.. HOTEL DETECTIVE Ah Mr Hero, famed treasure explorer. Welcome to Egypt. What brings you to Giza? I hope you are not going to disturb any of our treasures on your visit. HERO Oh I have a great respect for antiquity. This is an amazing place. Were looking forward to an enriching experience. A well dressed man with a hat also watches from behind a newspaper. HERO Ready? GIRLFRIEND Ready. Friend nods. HERO Ok let's have a look around INT/EXT STREETS AND TOMBS -NIGHT The Heroes get into their rented car and drive through streets, walk tombs, drive streets, walk tombs (explain images) tombs, streets, tombs INT. NIGHT CLUBS -NIGHT Night Clubs crowded with dancers and people and sound. EXT. SPHINX -NIGHT Sphinx (w/lights) The three stand and in amazement. HERO Tomorrow's the big day. We'll need our rest. FRIEND Yea.. GIRLFRIEND Yea I want to see how you get us in there. Night passes INT. BREAKFAST ROOM -MORNING The heroes finish breakfast in the dining area. GIRLFRIEND Ok so what I want to know is why the queen would want to have a room under the kings. FRIEND Maybe she didn't want to take the stairs. HERO You know what I think. FRIEND Right. A deception. Wairess. HERO Thank you. No I'm financing this. I know how hard it was for you to get your car running. FRIEND Thanks. EXT. STREET -MORNING Hustle and bustle.. car horns, passing things, people and animals.. (as much as possible) A Street wise kid is standing in the street. STREET KID Cary your bag mister? Strong. Very reliable. HERO ok we can walk from here . We split up and get the needed items and meet back here. INT. SHOPING MONTAGE -MORNING Getting stuff: Friend at Hardware store, Girlfriend at bikini shop(tassels optional), Hero sunglasses/rental place, they meet up... EXT. HOTEL -DAY Hero arrives in noisy Dune buggy with radio. The three drive to a warehouse. He lifts open the door. HERO We have the place till Sunday.. INT. WEARHOUSE Soldering, measuring length of wire, programming, putting things in little box with a cord for the cigarette lighter. Friend throws a nail under the length of wire and the computer screen shows a red indication.. FRIEND Ok.. I'm ready. EXT. THE DESERT (ANCIENT SINGING) A mysterious siren sound. EXT. GIZA DUNES The Dune Buggy flies over a dune. (music: magic carpet ride.."I like to dream") Curves.. left right left right.. GIRLFRIEND woa-hooooa! FRIEND Seatbelts roll-cage, seatbelts roll-cage... HERO Isn't this fun? You just need to love what you do. Be a part of it. FRIEND Oh No Ohhhh! HERO Yea! Ok Let it out. (friend screams) No I mean the wire. Wire streams from the back.. unraveling. ALL Woaaahh. Woaaahh. Ohhhh! HERO Hee hoo! GIRLFRIEND (Shouting) What are we looking for? FRIEND (shouting) Anything. Metal scraps, maybe workers dropped coins, bits of tools. Something that would tell us we are near a tunnel that was dug with tools. Buggy goes over another hill. FRIEND The signal in the wire should detect anything larger than a bottle cap.. metal objects differences in the density of the rock.. GIRLFRIEND And then! FRIEND I'm afraid to ask! ALL Woahhhh! The security people notice all the dust. ALL Woo hooo.. Cresting a hill, the heroes see a large truck. Dust everywhere as they slide to a stop in front of it. EXT. PATROL CAR -DAY Waiting for the ticket. Getting back in the Buggy. HERO Oh.. GIRLFRIEND Don't be so upset. At least they didn't arrest us. FRIEND Yea and didn't notice this. He pulls in the long wire. HERO What does that say? GIRLFRIEND Uhh.. Ostentatious.. behavior.. of public.. something.. INT. COURT -DAY GIRLFRIEND ok go ahead there's your translator. HERO Hi.. Hello. Uh. Your honor.. I am American. We just like to, drive, around, in the sand. It's a pastime. For us. Tell em. Tell him. We, were just, having fun. You know, Fun. Having fun. Ha ha. Uhh and.. We, are respectful, of, your laws. Say that. JUDGE I speak English. HERO Well yes yes. Thank you. So you can see this was not serious. I'm sorry of course. Please forgive us. We enjoy your country. Someone whispers to the judge who nods. The judge says something. Gavel. LAWYER It is the court opinion that you pay the money. HERO Thank you. Thank you! Come on. INT. HOTEL ROOM -AFTERNOON Back at the hotel, Checking the data, Out of Hotel. FRIEND Ok now I just need to graph this and we should have something.. and ok, your driving leaves something to be desired but we got a pretty good sweep. Wow the place is littered with stuff. Or maybe that's noise. HERO Yea most likely ordinance from one war or another over thousands of years. We looking at just about all recorded history next to virtually the largest and oldest monument in the world. ...wow there's so much of it. FRIEND Wait, let me cluster signals into regions.. and ...remove the largest signals. Hmm.. Ok let me remove the smallest signals not close to larger signals. Nothing. Ok wait.. let me think. Ok. Sort by distance from other signals. Then remove highest and lowest. There. That's your tunnel. People standing around in one spot are going to leave a lot of junk but it's closer to the other junk they leave.. and this whole spot is advanced slightly. About 30 micro seconds. Which is. Um you know.. more technical. We see the pattern. A spot just where you would expect. HERO This is great. Can you get a gps? FRIEND Well yea. I have the two gps readings we took.. those were ..and.. So..we want right about.. there. And.. here.. Writes and hands it to HERO. HERO Ok, then we are ready.. EXT. HOTEL -AFTERNOON Street-wise kid cont..now he walks on the sidewalk a couple steps higher to be at eye level. KID Hey mister, You want photo? How bout post cards? I can get you great deal. How about I am your guide? Find you camel! Know all the pyramids. (around large cart) You look hungry. Nice restaurant. Yes? Take the pretty lady. (running in front of them) I am reasonable! 50 dollars! (Stopping) HERO 50 dollars? KID Yea all day mister. HERO How about 5 dollars and you follow us two blocks behind. Ok? INT. HARDWARE STORE / CELL PHONE SHOP Hardware trip, Buying gear, Hardware, plumbing store, drills, snakes, Friend buys a cell phone. Hero and Girlfriend pause at check out. HERO Ever see one of these? GIRLFRIEND I know how to use it. EXT. BIZZAR -AFTERNOON Shopping in bazaar, Hero and Girlfriend try scarf on girl.. little bells..hats etc.. The Hero stops and buys 'the' watch -wind, listen, slip on, pay. Snake charmer scene.. they stop at the edge of the crowd and glimpse) He stops with Girlfriend gets postcard for dad. Evening.. walking the shops.. INT. RESTAURANT WITH MUSIC IN NEXT ROOM -AFTERNOON Then metro clubbing, bar snacks (postcard), Friend has a hookah Girlfriend has a phone book. Hero hands friend the cell phone from a bag, Friend takes a picture and then tares off part of the phone and picks out a tiny black object with wires hanging off it and puts it in his pocket. Girlfriend looks through the phone book. HERO Ok we have good data. I'm convinced the map is right in the pyramid design. The chambers are a mirror image of the three pyramids. It's as if the whole complex were turned on its side and laid flat on the ground. Even if you knew the interior was a fake. You would be less likely to use it as a map. Now we need to be ready for tomorrow. Do you have everything? FRIEND Yea .. not a problem He shows the broken phone camera. HERO Ok We'll hook that up tonight. What about the author? Livingston? GIRLFRIEND Nothing in here. She closes the phone book. FRIEND Nothing on line either. Dead end? HERO Just give me a minute. Hero walks to an alcove between rooms and finds a wall of fliers.. He takes one.. and returns to the table. Friend is coughing with a hookah. HERO Here it is.. She's giving a lecture. Primal religion, The Ancient culture. (checks watch) This is tonight! Come on, Come on. (pulls friend) GIRLFRIEND Huh? FRIEND What? oh.. my hookah..! Hero gives money to the man at the register as they exit. EXT. RESTAURANT -LATE AFTERNOON They hail a taxi.. HERO Can you take us here.. Please. Thank you. TAXI DRIVER Yea No problem. FADE EXT./INT LECTURE HALL (Hotel w/ small theater space) The group enters through crowds and finds a lecture in progress. A screen shows cave paintings, star charts.. The heroes enter and find seats. Light/Slide show images. THERA ...therefore we must imagine we possess the natural gift to stem the tide of what has become a multitude of influences ranging from agriculture to machines, the products of our industrial age, leaving us separated from the intuition we once possessed. Every living thing. Is filled with an essence. The root of all being. A force that permeates all understanding. Of course we are only partly aware of it in our busy lives. Since ancient times. Cultures have worshiped this force in one form or another. The fates, acts of nature, have all been symbols of one kind or another. To help us to live in harmony, to understand. Before there was writing there were the elements. Each with its own voice giving understanding to the meaning of our existence. Each revealing a part of the great oneness. It was this essence which the ancients sought in burial rituals as far back as recorded time, mummification, ritual sacrifice, the burning of incense, and the ancient histories recorded in song, later written. All seeking this oneness. The order which guides all things. The rulers of the ancient temples gathered the knowledge of their day to advance their understanding. To seek the perfection of the journey into the after-life. Elaborate ceremony, exacting placement of the parts of the body, all in preparation for the mystery that follows, when it was believed their heart would be weighed against a feather. Those found in balance would be accepted and those found wanting would be cast off. We see today, the great monuments to their effort. The Pyramids, the sphinx to guard them. The many tombs and pageantry of inscriptions adorning them. From cleansing ritual to communal feast the cultures of history have sought to bring themselves closer to the infinite and personal existence of this all-pervading essence. Thera does a brief incense, water, cloth flower peddles ritual act with background imagery.. I have cataloged these insights in my book. I hope you will enjoy it. Thank you. Lights on. The crowd shuffles out and forward for signings. The hero pulls out his copy of her book. HERO I'll go talk to her. She is an explorer. Like him. They meet. It is never said. But this could happen he thinks. It would be so easy to leave his world and go with her. He continues with his plan. HERO Hello. Mrs. Livingston, Hi,... NAME.. Thank you for an amazing and spirited talk. I wondered If I might have a word with you. THERA I have a dinner engagement. What is this about? HERO My friends and I have uncovered an artifact. We believe it is related to the great Pyramid, to an undiscovered tomb there. We would like your help. THERA I don't know what I can do. HERO We are looking for any insights or myths you might know that could help us to decipher it's meaning. THERA Oh.. then. Well yes. (her card) Meet me after this and I'll be happy to speak with you. HERO Thank you. HERO Ok We're to meet her outside. GIRLFRIEND Oh.. what did you talk about? HERO Oh.. Ha ha. Come on she'll be out there.. INT. LECTURE HALL LOUNGE/LOBBY -LATE AFTENOON THERA Ah.. Mr.. HERO NAME.. THERA How can I help you? HERO Is there somewhere we can speak privately? THERA What is this about? HERO What can you tell me about this object. We believe it is related to the great pyramid. THERA Oh.. What is it. HERO We believe it's a key of some kind. THERA Is that gold. HERO Yes. It dates to the time of the pyramid. THERA Please come. They follow. To her home. A well appointed suite, colorful with many artifacts and noior lighting. They sit. THERA This way. HERO Thank you for speaking with us. THERA I am intrigued. Can I get you anything? ALL no.. She sets a tray and water pitcher on the low bronze coffee table.. they take some water. THERA This thing is very important. My grandfather told me stories when I was very young about a key of the pharaoh, held by the high priest. No one has ever seen it. It was through this they administered the temple. HERO The pyramid? THERA Yes. But no one is to know. The cult has been disbanded for more than a century. After an accident, some kind of tragedy. He never said. But the Holder of the key went missing. I was very young. I thought he was just entertaining a young girl. HERO Did he describe the key? Could this be it? THERA I don't know. HERO Do you have any idea how this would connect with the Pyramid? THERA No The Pyramid was a holder of wisdom. It embodies many things. I do not know how this is used. But I believe a rebirth is coming. Many signs point to this. There are things that can be seen in the Ka. HERO Do you mean visions? THERA This is a western concept. But the legend is what concerns me. HERO What is that? THERA That his riches will bring light into the world. But only the wise may see it. I do have one request. HERO Yes, what is it? THERA If you are successful, I would like to perform a devotional ritual. Please let me know. HERO Alright. EXT. STREET -DUSK THEY WALK THE SWANK OLDER STREETS. GIRLFRIEND What does it mean? Light into the world? HERO Maybe "nobles oblige" The honor of nobility. FRIEND And only the wise may see it. HERO Let me think. Light..light into the world.. the sun and riches, bring riches into the world. The sun brings growth.. and riches.. riches, typically gold. There was a gold "ben ben" on top of the pyramid. GIRLFRIEND Like Ben Franklin? HERO I hadn't thought of that. FRIEND A 'ben ben' where did you read that? HERO The Cap stone of the great pyramid was polished gold. So it would reflect light. The Sun. Light into the world. FRIEND Sounds like a lightening rod. HERO Yea. Ben Franklin.. ben ben.. I see that.. Hmm.. GIRLFRIEND Ok You're kind of giving me the creeps. HERO Well I'm sure Franklin would have known of the Pyramids. We need to find the light. I mean, see the light. We have to put a mirror on top of the Great pyramid. FRIEND Actually that's easier than it sounds. INT. HOTEL ROOM -NIGHT FRIEND Ok.. I simulated the site from satellite maps. This is the sun as an angle from the capstone. Or benben. And tracing a 12 hour arc. GIRLFRIEND It scans the horizon. HERO Yea. But what time of day is important? Wait go slower. FRIEND Ok.. HERO There! Stop right there. FRIEND The shadow crests the side of the building. HERO Yes. That's it. The light which only the wise can see. With geometry! And the clue is right there in the design of the building. How does this compare with the data we collected today? FRIEND Let me see. We were about south and east 51 degrees. It's the same. Reactions. ALL allright! haa ha! Yea! yes! INT. BEAUTIFUL PRIESTESS APARTMENT Thera kneels before a small table, lights incense and pours water from one vessel into another. She lays flowers nearby and sprinkles more water into the bowl. She drinks. Then throws flower petals into the bowl. Then covers the incense. INT. HOTEL LOBBY -MORNING The explorers meet and go. GIRLFRIEND Ready? HERO Ready FRIEND Ready EXT. HOTEL -MORNING The group walks for the car with a large bag. They see the Streetwise boy again.. HERO Ok we have the data and the gps. KID Mister, having good trip! HERO You again. KID I am here. Be your guide. I am strong. Carry your bag. Only 50 Dollars! HERO I thought you were going to follow us a block behind. KID I was. But those men are following you too. HERO How do you know that? KID Because they're following me. HERO Here here's 20 you run to the market and let them follow you. Then come back here and wait for me. KID I prefer 50 sir. HERO Yea and I like rainy days. But we can't have everything. Go on and I'll give you ten when you get back. The heroes duck around a corner and hail a cab. They stop at the market and pick up the boy. EXT. CAMEL RENTAL PLACE -DAY The heroes and kid exit the cab at the camel place. HERO Alright you're a guide. We need a guide. Get us three camels. Kid returns KID I am back. Three camels. See. Very good. Just like you say. Camel snort. KID Come come come come ha. The camels to lower for him. Reactions. The group mounts as the hero gives him ten dollars more but leaving the kid below. HERO Good work. KID Wait Mister. Where do I ride? I am your guide. Reactions Girlfriend's camels rises with her and kid on board. Kids is now very happy. CAMEL GUY (Subtitles) {Hey what's going on?} HERO Tell him we already have a guide. KID (Subtitles) {I am in charge.} CAMEL GUY (Subtitles) {Sure you are. Little kid} KID He says ok. I will lead you. HERO Ok.. you know how to use a gps? KID I can do anything. HERO Here read this number and follow this arrow. KID I am ready. Let's go! Ha! He and girlfriend take off others follow. EXT. GIZA PLEATEAU -DAY/AFTERNOON Under the hot sun the camels walk slowly. HERO So what is your name? KID I am Jamoo. The greatest guide in all of Egypt. HERO Oh you are? GIRLFRIEND Well you did bring us the camels. HERO How come you aren't in school? KID I'm a business person. HERO Well you should be learning about things. KID Jamoo is wise. HERO Oh. FRIEND Well where are we? KID 200 meters away sir. GIRLFRIEND So tell me about your family. KID Mama is professor. And father is pilot. GIRLFRIEND He is? KID Yes. Makes good money. HERO So how come you're out hustling tourists then? KID I like people. Very interesting. Are you married to pretty lady? HERO Uh.. No not at the moment. You're a very curious little guide. KID Ok.. We are here. FRIEND Let me see that. Yea. Ok. How do you get down? KID Sudia-ushfan! FRIEND Sudy a Fan! Down Come on! KID Sudia-ushfan!, Sudia-ushfan! FRIEND Thanks. HERO Ok You have the gear. FRIEND Yea. HERO Here take this. FRIEND Just give me a few minutes. Friend prepares to drill as the girlfriend spreads a picnic blanket and a sheet with a pole for shade. She and the kid wait under there as Hero and friend drill amid the resting camels. Hero blocks the view of distant guards. He waves to people far away. HERO Ok this is the spot. Let's go. Under the shade. GIRLFRIEND So do you have any brothers and sisters. KID No Jamoo is the only one. There is no one for him to play with. Here. GIRLFRIEND What's that. KID A game. You throw and match the pairs. See. He throws three small square sticks with numbers on them and grabs a few pebbles from the ground. GIRLFRIEND Show me. KID Ok..place these in your hand and throw like this. Here. GIRLFRIEND Like this? KID Yes.. Oh very lucky Lady. Here put a stone here. Now it is my turn. See skillful. The Guys are still drilling. HERO Anything. FRIEND Nothing yet. Add more water. HERO How long do you think it will take. FRIEND There's no way to know. I would guess a couple meters. Maybe ten minutes if we're lucky. A couple hours if we hit anything. We can go 30 feet so. We should find it. Girlfriend and Kid still playing. Hero sees someone glance their way. KID oh, my game. See there and there. GIRLFRIEND Ok. And now I try. And there. KID Yea Very good. Hero sees someone on the horizon. HERO Hold on. FRIEND What is it? HERO Maybe Nothing. Go on. KID What do they look for? GIRLFRIEND You ask silly questions. KID I think you are looking for the treasure of the Pyramids! GIRLFRIEND Oh, You're funny. KID Yes lady. But the treasure is vast! Everyone knows this. I win! GIRLFRIEND I think you played this before. KID Many times! Drill spins free.. whhheeeeeee... Guys use the camera They are happy. They mark the gps and leave. A guard takes notice. The kid goes and talks to them. FRIEND Ok. I think were there. Hook this up. HERO Yes! Alright! I mean good work. I think that's some very nice sand there. FRIEND Yea good sand. I'll mark the spot. KID Mister find something? HERO Oh you're a funny guy. What are you doing? KID Teaching lady to play. She needs practice. GIRLFRIEND I need practice. They see the guard. HERO Wait. What does he want? FRIEND I don't know. I think he wants to talk to us. KID Don't worry Jamoo is your guide. I'll talk to him. Kid and distant guard have words. Guard ruffs up his hair and sends him along. (Reactions) KID Ok. You are safe. I hope you find the treasure. Kid flops back down near Girlfriend. HERO You do come in handy. Threading the camera into the hole. FRIEND Ok Were in. HERO What do you see? The Camera twists around near the ceiling. FRIEND Looks good. A few writings. It's hard to make out. Fade The three are ready to go. KID Bitishel! (up) The camels rise. HERO Oh.. Jamoo Here. Hero hands Jamoo another ten dollar bill. KID Very good Ha ha! Fasidon!(onward) EXT. PARK -AFTRNOON Bad guys watch with binoculars. VILLAIN2 I think they found something. It looks like they have a location. VILLAIN3 Let me see. Let the boss know. The Boss at the villains' indoor digging operation uses the phone. KITCH Well stay with them. INT. CROWDED DINNER CLUB -DUSK Enter belly dancing and music. HOST Hello welcome right this way. HERO Hi thank you. INT. THERA'S APARETMENT -DUSK Thera performs her meditation. there is a knock at the door. She answers and it is a man. The other detective from the hotel lobby. MAN WITH HAT The Americans were here. What did you tell them? THERA Nothing. MAN WITH HAT What did they want? THERA They were looking for the tomb of the pharaoh. MAN WITH HAT We know they have an artifact. It is important. You, tell me everything. THERA I have. MAN WITH HAT This will be dealt with. INT. CROWDED DINNER CLUB -EVENING GIRLFRIEND RETURNS TO TABLE. GIRLFRIEND You sailors want another drink? FRIEND Yes. HERO I'm ok. GIRLFRIEND You like this kind of thing? HERO AND FRIEND Oh.. Uh.. you know.. it's ok.. Dancers continue. GIRLFRIEND That boy was sweet. FRIEND Yea I think he saved us out there. HERO He did. We'll need to be careful. FRIEND So tell me this again. You think the inside of the pyramid is a model of the outside entrance. HERO Yes, It all fits together. The angle of the sun when the shadow crests the side. The viewing of the north star from the south. And the direction of Orion all point to the area we found. It all matches the pyramid if you lay the plan down horizontally. Which is what we found out there. We'll know tomorrow. FRIEND Ok I'll see you guys in the morning. I have to read up. EXT. CITY -NIGHT City monuments, fountains, gatherings, parks bridges, Walking. GIRLFRIEND It's beautiful. HERO It's very old. GIRLFRIEND Isn't it funny how every city seems to have a glow all its own? I had a nice time today. HERO So did I. GIRLFRIEND But something bothers me about the treasure. If it survived all this time, then maybe there is still someone who knows about it. HERO I don't think so. I think they would be as interested as we are to dig it up. GIRLFRIEND Maybe so. HERO Look there it is. (pyramid) Come on let's get away from the lights.. There.. Orion.. it must have risen just after dark. GIRLFRIEND mmm.. So is this what you do? Bring girls on exotic adventures and seduce them with astronomy? HERO Why? Is that the kind of thing you'd fall for? GIRLFRIEND Maybe. They draw close. HERO We have a long day tomorrow. GIRLFRIEND Yea. INT. HOTEL -MORNING Morning Breakfast (before the dig) Friend sitting at nice breakfast everything in place and the newspaper is joined by Hero and Girlfriend. FRIEND You look radiant this morning. GIRLFRIEND Thank you. HERO And Good morning to you. FRIEND Have you? Breakfast in the room? Ohh.. HERO Come on let's get to the warehouse. EXT. WEARHOUSE GARAGE DOOR -NOON The friend opens the garage door to reveal a large crate. FRIEND I got this at the dock last night. It's not much to look at but it should do the job. HERO and you have all the specs. FRIEND Right here. Shows phone.. HERO OK let's get this in the truck. Backing in the truck. GIRLFRIEND Come on.. little more. Welding, cutting, welding inside the truck. HERO Hand me that set of bits. FRIEND Whoa center it. She hands Hero a wrench. GIRLFRIEND That should help. FRIEND OK. Lowering something heavy from a cable. FRIEND Easy.. A little more. Fastening something to the sides of the truck. The three stand looking at the truck. HERO It looks like.. FRIEND A truck. They smile. HERO Ok let's get ready. You called ahead? FRIEND Doing it. (logs in) INT. TRUCK DRIVING -DAY They stop for guards and give them a writ. FRIEND I logged a record for today so there should be no problem. And here. Hand them this. GUARD Can I see some identification. HERO Here. It reads, Jackson Washington Entertainment Co. GUARD {Hey do we have this on the books?} They wait. GUARD Ok go on.. They begin changing clothes.. EXT. GIZA -DAY The villains see the heroes driving in from a distance. VILLAIN2 Take a look at this. VILLAIN3 What is it? VILLAIN2 I don't know. Something. EXT. TRUCK -DAY The truck stops. They jump out and are dressed like a 30's film company. (low camera) (normal camera) Girlfriend has a riding crop, megaphone and puffy pink ball gown, friend dressed as a cowboy sets up an old camera, hero wears a jacket, checkered vest and white scarf, his hair slicked. HERO (INTO MEGAPHONE) Ok.. everyone Action, lots of action. Places everyone places.. More places.. Do we have enough places? GIRLFRIEND Right! FRIEND Got ya.. They pull a bunch of equipment out of the truck. And a couple bare mannequins and three director chairs. Then the girlfriend walks around with a bull whip cracking it. A patrol car passes. They wave. Hero hands Girlfriend the megaphone. Then the guys get into the truck. HERO Camera FRIEND Check HERO Megaphone FRIEND Check HERO Riding crop GIRLFRIEND uh check. HERO Very good, Very good, action, action! The guys move the truck watching the gps. FRIEND Okayyyyy Stop. EXT. TRUCK The girlfriend pulls a rope on the side of the truck. Flaps lower around the sides of the truck to hide the undercarriage. She gives thumbs-up. INT. TRUCK Hero gives thumbs up. They craw into the back. FRIEND This looks good. Right over it. HERO Ok.. Let's go. They jump into the 2 man mole. (digging machiene) Wheeeezzzz Klangtatatatatatatatat Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Music blares from mounted loud speakers. 'Stars and stripes forever' FRIEND Here wear these! HERO Thanks. Let's go. Get down FRIEND Closing hatch. Wheeeeeeeeebzzzzzz The rig lowers with many spinning teeth in both directions. HERO Ok Keep it steady! FRIEND Right! EXT. TRUCK Girlfriend walks around cracking the whip and yelling into the megaphone at the two mannequins. GIRLFRIEND (megaphone) Ok.. Places and Action! It's a beautiful day! You're in love. She looks at you. You look back. She says. Oh Dear, It is so hot today. Cut! Lights! Girlfriend moves a reflector. GIRLFRIEND (megaphone) Ok Action! Oh Darling this is so romantic. I'm so glad we did this. Yes! Me too. Come here my sweet! Oh you handsome man! She kicks the chairs over and the mannequins fall onto one another. GIRLFRIEND (megaphone) Oh..oh.. Yes Yes.. Oh You are so strong.. Cut! The digging noise decreases as they are now under ground.. dirt piles into the truck through a conveyor. GIRLFRIEND (megaphone) Oh Here let me help you. She gives one of the naked mannequins the megaphone and turns down the music. Then moves the lighting a little more. Then sits and drinks a soda. The digging noise stops. INT. MOLE The guys open the door and look around with a pen light. HERO Can you see anything? FRIEND Not really HERO Come on climb down. FRIEND Wow, it worked. HERO Yea look at this. But we'll need to make out the date. Let's get the rig up. Whrrrrrr. EXT. TRUCK A large pile of dirt extends from the back of the truck. Girlfriend waits. As the Guards arrive. INT. JAIL CELL -NIGHT The heroes wait. FRIEND What do we do now? HERO I don't know. FRIEND Well you usually get us out of a jam. I though you said we were safe. HERO We were, but I didn't count on us both ending up in jail. A tray of food is shoved in. EXT. GIZA -NIGHT -AERIAL VIEW The ancient city sleeps. INT. DAD'S HOUSE Dad bails them out. A bookshelf in the background, the symbol of their indelible kinship in learning. Phone call: DAD Hi, Good.. Oh. It's my son is doing this.. thing.. It's really more of a hobby..he studies artifacts.. And right now they're tourists, good kids, yes, studied literature and he needs a.. thing straightened out.. I need you to call the number I sent you. DAD No, No international waters. DAD No. Nothing defaced. DAD No nothing, nothing missing. DAD Yes everyone's ok. Uh.. Thanks. I .. yes, I will. Thank, thank you. INT. COURT -MORNING The guys are brought in to court. The girl is brought into court. They sit together. They are tired and their disguises are worn and less noticeable. Something is called out and the judge asks the attorney to explain the case. He does. There is some confusion. And talking and the judge looks flustered but gavels. LAWYER Uh.. the court finds that you pay the money. HERO What? LAWYER ..for operating a digging machine, without a permit. HERO Oh! Thank you! Thank you your honor! Thank you! LAWYER But you are asked to stay away from the Pyramid. HERO Thank you! Thank You! FRIEND huh..yea. Right. INT. CAFE' -DAY HERO (on phone ) Thanks Dad.. Dad, thanks, it was, they have, we were, exploring. And I.. DAD I Know darn well what you were up to. HERO Well I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. And anyway Thanks. DAD (on phone) Oh Don't thank me! Thank my friend at the consulate and his friends downtown. They got you off. You know they're very funny about people digging things up around there! HERO Well thanks.. I mean that. DAD Oh I know, thanks Dad I didn't have the money for bail, Thanks Dad We were just investigating in a restricted area.. Oh we were just flying around doing crazy things.. HERO Dad DAD We were just climbing into a high security.. HERO Dad.. DAD What? HERO Thanks. DAD Yes. Your welcome. I just hope you learned your lesson. You have your whole life ahead of you. You're smart. You should be working at a good company with benefits! And settle down with that nice girl friend of yours! HERO Dad DAD That's what I'd do if I were in your place. I'd.. HERO Dad DAD I'd be looking at my future. And not playing around in the dirt on some.. HERO Dad. DAD on some hunch..that was never going to .. HERO DAD! DAD What? HERO I love you. DAD I love you to son. But please.. try, try and use your head..please. HERO I will dad. DAD Alright well.. if you don't mind.. I'm going to try and get some sleep. EXT. CAFE' -DAY Back at the sundrenched table. FRIEND What did your dad say? HERO He thinks I should find another line of work. FRIEND Yea.. HERO All Right that was a setback. But we got in. FRIEND Yea but now they'll be all over the place. HERO We must have missed something. We have to search that tomb. FRIEND Woa, we're, already in trouble. HERO The lawyer said they would return the machine. I gave them the address. FRIEND But how are we going to get in if they're all over the place? HERO I don't know. Um.. Listen I'm sorry I got you guys into that. GIRLFRIEND mmm. FRIEND Yea. GIRLFRIEND mm.. HERO What? GIRLFRIEND I liked it. FRIEND Huh! GIRLFRIEND Ha ha .. ha ha.. HERO Ha ha ha ha.. Ok. Listen we came all this way to find the greatest treasure in history. We can't just give up. We have to be smart. Were not the only ones to be thwarted by a few setbacks. When Napoleon visited the Pyramids he didn't even go in.. FRIEND Wait. Napoleon visited the great pyramids? Intermittent reenactment. HERO Yea in..1800s after he rose to power (reenactment) he took an expedition of men to explore the Pyramid but it was said he waited outside. FRIEND Why would he do that? HERO Exactly. Why wouldn't he tour the inside? GIRLFRIEND Maybe he was claustrophobic. FRIEND Maybe he just didn't want to risk an attack. HERO Yes all good choices. FRIEND ok.. what do you think? HERO I think he knew that the treasure would not be there unless there was a cult to protect it and that they would never show him the door. So he had others go in his place, hoping later to catch wind of the conspiracy from his spies and then find the entrance. FRIEND So the expedition was a sham? HERO Yea. GIRLFRIEND But no word came and nothing was found. HERO Maybe.. or maybe that's how the key got out.. FRIEND Oh the key! What happened to it? Did they take it? HERO No.. I hid it in the sand when we were arrested. FRIEND In the.. ohhhhh.. GIRLFRIEND ohh.. HERO What.. FRIEND So, we have to go back. HERO Yes.. But I have another idea. GIRLFRIEND ohh FRIEND Oh great. EXT. GIZA PLATEAU - HERO BINOCULARS -DAY Men pull the truck away from the hole. And put cones around the whole site, then leave. Hero and friends share binoculars. Hero sketches on a small pad.. FRIEND There it is.. they took it away. So the site is open. I don't think they're going in right away. HERO No.. they would call an archeological team. But that will take time. There is some work on going on nearby. FRIEND Oh.. GIRLFRIEND Aww.. I don't know.. HERO Maybe you're right. But we need to get in there. GIRLFRIEND Yea but look what happened last time. HERO You know maybe we should cover all bases. Why don't you contact Livingston and see if there's anything more you can find out about her grandfather's stories. GIRLFRIEND Stories.. HERO Yes.. Remember we have a key.. we need to find the lock.. legends, myths.. stories handed down from parent to child, grandparent to grandchild. GIRLFRIEND But that's fallible.. yes legends can alter over time but nobody forgets that Noah built a boat! Ok maybe he had elephants, maybe he didn't. But people remember enough to make the story durable. So we might need to track down a legend. You go. See if there's anything we missed. FRIEND And us? HERO We'll look around.. INT. GIZA PLATEAU - DAY - VOLENTER ARCHIOLOGY The Guys walk on to a group that is forming to instruct people on archeology. They are covered in floppy hats and sunglasses. Hero carries a tiny drafting brush. The Friend carries a child's pale and shovel. They keep an eye on the target site as the archeologist talks. ARCHEOLOGIST Good after noon everyone. We are all hear? Today we will be looking at a tomb from 22nd century BC. We will be unearthing that site and clearing some of the top layers... FRIEND look HERO yea.. ARCHEOLOGIST You will need some tools.. You can each take some tools.. and some screens to sift with. We'll walk down to the site and I will get you started. EXT. GIZA PLATEAU -DAY -VILLAINS LOOK ON VILLAIN They're up there. Look, there. Any chance they can get in? KITCH No.. Not with all that security. They're safe for now. We'll wait. EXT. GIZA PLATEAU -DAY -LAZY DIG The hero and friend are lounging on an outcrop of dirt lazily brushing the sand and sifting.. and watching. ARCHEOLOGIST Come on. Stay focused. There's history right there. Right under your fingers! Oh..I ask for helpers and this is what I get. Very good everyone. She how she does it. INT. CITY -DAY The Girlfriend exits a cab at the hotel of the Thera Livingston on the historic side of town. She enters and climbs the stairs. The door is ajar. She enters. The place is ransacked, some fruit trampled, things overturned, her silks scattered on the floor. Girlferiend walks round the corner to look in the bathroom, Thera is sobbing. GIRLFRIEND Are you all right? THERA Who is it? GIRLFRIEND It's (Girlfriend), we met the other day. What happened? THERA Oh.. I thought you were with them. They came. They would not listen. GIRLFRIEND Let me help you. Who are they? THERA People who do not respect the old ways. They are only in it for their own enrichment. GIRLFRIEND What happened? THERA They were looking for you. GIRLFRIEND For me. THERA For your friend. Your find has generated some interest. But they will not win. Why are you here? GIRLFRIEND I came to ask you if there were anything else you could tell us. The stories you mentioned. Any legends. THERA I have told you what I know. GIRLFRIEND Here I'll get something for that. The girlfriend goes into the other room and is captured and taken away. Thera screams and yells after them then uses the phone. EXT. GIZA PLATEAU -DAY The Guys are still digging and decide to make a break for it. But are seen and diverted. FRIEND Alright the coast is clear HERO Ok Stay Close. Just Keep walking. They see someone and pause pretending to be pointing to things. And talking. Nonsense talk. HERO Ya Ya.. this uh that.. FRIEND eh over there and uh you HERO and that and this and that.. FRIEND And uh there and uh.. Yea. HERO And uh very nice. FRIEND uh huh . The person looks away. They continue walking. HERO Ok we got lucky. I don't want them finding us up here. FRIEND Right. They see another guard in the distance. And divert another way HERO Come on.. INT. THE HOLE -DAY The hero and friend run into the dig site. And down in to the hole where they take pictures of the walls. Then out of the hole and down the hill and away. HERO You go ahead give me a minute.. Ok.. We have a problem. It's gone. The pertica is gone. The guards must have picked it up. Quick let's get the pictures and go. EXT. CAR -DAY Back at the car. Hero and Friend jump in then stop somewhere in a park with swaying palms and birds. FRIEND Ok let's see what we have. The toumb of.. hatakatanashepa.. something.. this is .. 11th century BC.. We're fifteen hundred years off.. HERO Are you sure? FRIEND Yes.. this is definitely a bird.. and yes.. that's this one here. HERO So there's no way. FRIEND There's no way this was built as part of the original pyramid complex. I don't know what to say. HERO I know. I don't understand. We had everything right. It all fits. Something's wrong. Ok (girlfriend) should be back by now.. Let's get back to the warehouse. I need to think. FADE INT. PANTRY / VILIAN HOUSE / GIZA PATEAU Girlfriend is captive. A man hangs up her cell phone. EXT. CAR -DAY Hero calling girlfriend but no answer. HERO She hung up. FRIEND She was going to talk to Livingston. HERO Let's go see her. Two begin to leave as federal agents arrive and want to talk to their parties of interest. INT. EMBASY -AFTERNOON The Hero and friend await questioning. FRIEND How do you want to uh.. HERO We have nothing. Let's just tell them everything. They're going to find out anyway. The guys are interviewed by an agent. AGENT1 I understand you've been on a little safari over here. You've been in some interesting places. What's going on? HERO Um well we had entertained some possibility FRIEND A hope. HERO A hope, of finding some missing artifacts.. that is some.. FRIEND uh.. dreams really. HERO or dreams of finding a.. FRIEND A treasure. HERO Hopes. FRIEND Dreams. HERO Hopes and dreams. FRIEND He was hoping, I was dreaming. HERO But nothing more. We had an artifact. HERO But it's missing. AGENT1 That's it? FRIEND Yea. HERO There was a clue.. FRIEND Yea. AGENT1 And what was that? Hero Uh well the Louisiana purchase was 15 Million dollars and if you divide that by 1600 talents FRIEND and the number Pi.. HERO ..you get number. Uh 1492. FRIEND A theory. AGENT1 I see. And that's it? HERO Well we had an artifact.. AGENT An artifact? HERO Yes, with a certain length. FRIEND If you measured. HERO ..between two points. we think it was important. AGENT1 Length. A beat. AGENT2 Do you want me to do a psych on them? HERO Woa, Let's not get crazy here! Were On vacation! Just seeing the sights! AGENT1 No I don't think that will be necessary. I think I know what they're looking for. Word gets around. I just have one question.. HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MINDS? If you were digging up Washington we might be able to protect you but there are international jurisdictions here. They're asking that you not leave town. You're already suspected of defacing a world heritage site. Misleading authorities, impersonating a digging crew. Listen, whatever's going on, you guys don't need this. You're rich.. you're getting yourselves into a dangerous game. Why would you want to do that? FRIEND Were very.. HERO Curious? FRIEND Historically inclined? HERO Artful? EXT. EMBASY -AFTERNOON Hero and friend regroup and go to find Girlfriend. FRIEND So, that went well. HERO I don't know. FRIEND Were not in jail. HERO That had occurred to me. But I don't think they're telling us everything. We have to find (Girlfriend) INT. THERA LINVINGSTON'S BUILDING / ROOM -AFTERNOON Arrive at apartment. Down the hall. The door is ajar and the Hero rushes in to find Thera straightening up. She is startled and grabs a heavy candelabra. THERA hha? HERO Wait.. We came to help. THERA Oh. I'm sorry your friend, she has been taken. HERO Taken? What happened? THERA They were here. Men, looking for you, the object. HERO The key. THERA Key? HERO Yes we believe it is a key to the Great Pyramid. THERA I see. Your friend was asking about legends. HERO Yes if there is anything else you can remember about the stories from your grandfather. THERA I told you all I know. HERO I understand. I'm sorry We didn't want to put you in any danger. THERA No of course not. But your friend. These Men they are not like the others. They are very persistent. HERO Others? Don't worry we'll take care of that. Please let us know if you think of anything else. We'll be at the hotel. EXT. THERA LIVINGSTON APARTMENT -AFTERNOON The guys exit the apartment finding a business card. Someone runs.. they chase him but he shoots and the Heroes hide then the villain gets away on a motor cycle. HERO Hey! Wait! Come on. HERO What did you do with her!!! (pow, pow) FRIEND Watch it! FRIEND He's gone. Did you see the license plate. HERO No. FRIEND How do we find them? HERO This card. This was not left by accident. FRIEND What do we do? HERO Let's get back and figure this out. INT. HOTEL / ROOM -AFTERNOON Through the lobby, down the hall, The hotel room is trashed. HERO I should have expected. FRIEND This is not going well. HERO The computer's still here. FRIEND They were looking for the pertica. HERO Alright this is what we do. They have (Girlfriend) We go and get her back. FRIEND Let me see that card. On the computer which was not taken. FRIEND This is a house just down river from here. There's a dock and a pool.. nice house. Should we call the police? HERO No let's go see what he wants. FRIEND See what he wants? EXT. VILIAN HOUSE -AFTERNOON The Guys show up at the villains house. Through the gate. They are shown to him. HERO Were here to see GILEDER. INT. ROOM WITH MANY STATUES AND ARTIFACTS -AFTERNOON GILEDER Ahh famed fortune hunter has followed the cheese. Squeek.. squeek.. HERO Does the council of antiquities know you have these? GILEDER Not everyone can know everything. I'm measured in my dealings. HERO Where is she? GILEDER Gentlemen. Why aren't we happy? HERO I guess were not fond of kidnapping. Where is she? Gilder gestures and she is brought out. HERO Are you all right!? GIRLFRIEND Yes. GILEDER Alright indeed. HERO Just tell us, what do you want? GILEDER What I want? Aren't you wondering why I set up shop a few minutes from the most ancient and magnificent monument the world has ever known? HERO We're not interested in your megalomaniac fantasies. GILEDER Aww.. You should give me more credit than that. Look around you. My fantasies come true. HERO Through theft and deception. Just let her go. GILEDER Oh.. I will. But first I thought you might want to haggle, for this. GILEDER reveals the gold rod. FRIEND Oh.. not good. GILEDER Yes it's always important to bring a bargaining chip. You've been very busy lately. HERO Ok you got what you want, just let her go? GILEDER Aw now look.. that's what I'm talking about.. What kind of deal is that? You come away with nothing. See this is exactly what I'm talking about. Nobody knows how to do business anymore! What is it that I want? This? Her? Now I'm confused. Yea. That's confusing. What do I want? I want something from you. Sign this. HERO What is it? GILEDER Just a contract. HERO For what? GILEDER For publishing rights on whatever you find out there. I know how clever you are. But we all want something. Don't we? FRIEND Don't do it. GILEDER Don't do it? He throws Hero the gold rod.) GILEDER (cont) Not much of a negotiator. So hard to get good help. Isn't that right Kitch? KITCH Yea. HERO He's got us where he wants us. I sign this and you give us the girl and this? GILEDER Yea. Doesn't sound so bad. Does it? HERO And you get publishing rights? GILEDER Yea all those books, postcards, exhibitions.. or maybe you want to see how far I'll go to get what I want. HERO We already know that. Fine, let her go and I'll sign it. GILEDER So smart. Kitch.. That pen was used by Roosevelt.. anti-trust legislation I think. He signs. GILEDER I'll need that back. There. You got what you want. I got what I want. See. Everybody's happy. Kitch..give them a head start. HERO Head start? Come on. INT. VILLAIN HOUSE The hero and friends move quickly toward to door and through the house. INT. VILLAIN HOUSE GILEDER nods and Kitch takes off after them. INT. VILLAIN HOUSE Kitch shoots and hero discovers a hole in his jacket. HERO Oh not cool.. That is really not cool! Come on! Another villain, they fight and knock over a statue. GIRLFRIEND Watch out! HERO Huh? Urgghhh. Oooph....this way! EXT. VILLAIN HOUSE -DAY Villain has boats. They run and are blocked from the car. There are jet skis, a speed boat and a larger yacht. The heroes run for the speed boat. A couple more villains join in the chase. FRIEND Ohhh this is not good. GIRLFRIEND Where are you going? INT SPEED BOAT -DAY HERO I don't know. Hop in. Stay down. The engine doesn't start.. Friend hooks up the battery. FRIEND Oh.. hey! It starts, they speed away. FRIEND (cont) Wooaa! Speed boat waahhhhhhhhh. Followed by jetskis. Weeeeeeehhh Boat Fight. GIRLFRIEND There, on the left! FRIEND Oh! GIRLFRIEND On the right! FRIEND Oh! HERO Ok stay down I have a plan. shooting Chase, A Jet Ski crashes over boat in a turn while heroes duck... Alligators abound... fish swim amid river plants... Friend hits one of the jet skis with a lifejacket. FRIEND Water safety. Sorry! Second jet ski... The Heroes boat through the tributary.. hide in the reeds... engine stalls. The second jet ski hits the boat.. guy can't find his gun.. climbs to the boat girlfriend is about to hit him with an oar. An alligator takes him first. VILLAIN Ahhhhghhh! GIRLFRIEND Watch out! Ohh! (clings to Hero, looks away) Restart.. Engine trouble! We hear other jet skis. HERO oh oh.. FRIEND Ok that's bad. Restart engine and runs badly.. back to house. GIRLFRIEND What are you going? HERO We need a change.. FRIEND Oh were back to the dangerous place. Uh, you know, they were shooting at us 'before' we stole their boat. EXT/INT. LARGE YACHT -DAY The boat is almost out of gas.. engine failing... they heroes board the large yacht... down the river... more jet skis... return from tributary. GIRLFRIEND They're gaining. Ducking, ducking, fighting, ducking.. Kicking... Now near the bridges of the city.. HERO Watch out! GIRLFRIEND Oh!.. FRIEND Here. GIRLFRIEND Ha! She klunks the guy on the jet ski.. he falls but then recovers and peruses.. Friend hits another. FRIEND Not bad. GIRLFRIEND Thanks. FRIEND Watch it! GIRLFRIEND Ha! EXT. LARGE YACHT -PARTY DECK -AFTERNOON The heroes are thrilled to escape and realize they have the boat to themselves. ALL Yeaaa Ha Ha. Mmm. A conspiratorial look and the Heros burst into the boat lounge (music) so they put some shrimp on the grill, light cigars and raid the wet bar sauntering about with drinks and implements, grabbing lobster bibs, grass fedoras sunglasses, towels etc.. cooking and tasting brandies, Smoking cigars. They lounge on the main deck and cease the vacation. ALL Ohh, hey.. ahh.. mmmm.. Villains follow in the distance. FRIEND Uh I don't want to be the barer of bad news but look. HERO Oh they're regaining. GIRLFRIEND Were out of life preservers! HERO I have a plan...Come on. Come up here. Hurry! FRIEND Uh they are going to get on! HERO Just hurry! FRIEND They will be on the boat in a minute! HERO Ok just stay where you are! GIRLFRIEND They're climbing in! HERO Don't move! FRIEND Oh no. INT RIVER AND CITY -DAY SMASHHHHHHH!!!! They crash boat into a dock. The heroes are thrown over dock, into water... Bad guys injured climbing into the yacht. Ladies washing clothes see the Heros fly through the air... there is smoke and a slight fire. The heroes climb out of the water past people who are washing clothes and fishing. They run through town. The villains follow! Across busy street, through busy bizarre, past the hookah bar, they split up. HERO OK.. you trust me right? FRIEND Uh no boat... sure.. GIRLFRIEND Wait, the artifact. HERO I have it. Go that way and meet me in the rail yard. Hero distracts the villains. They follow him, but he pulls himself up into a market awning over drygood bins. The villains stop nearby -slow motion- the golden bar slips out of hero's belt and tumbles down (wince) hidden in a trough of grain.-- The bad guys pass. But an old woman scoops a cup of flower. Hero jumps down and grabs the bar from the flower bin and apologizes to the old woman. HERO I, Sorry. (peck on the head) He confronts shop owner, Pause sees villians, RUNS! HERO Uh.. ha ha.. Hero scatters some chickens (or pigeons) through hookah bar down alley.. through industrial area... He finds the others. Villains are not far behind. HERO Ok I bought us a little time. GIRLFRIEND Look! FRIEND Oh gosh. The Heroes run and hop a train at the last minute. EXT. RAIL YARD -AFTERNOON Villains are not going to jump a damn train. They are already hurt and wet. A pistol is thrown to the ground. It goes off, startling, but not injuring anyone. EXT. TRAIN TRACK IN TOWN The heroes jump to a sand dune (roll down)...walk back into town. INT. HOTEL ROOM -AFTERNOON Exhausted travelers regroup at the hotel. Bursting into their room. GIRLFRIEND I'm done. This is crazy. Look at this.(the tossed room) FRIEND She has a point. GIRLFRIEND They were shooting at us! FRIEND Shooting Hero. HERO I know. That wasn't supposed to happen. GIRLFRIEND ..well I'm not staying around to do it again. HERO Wait. Were safe. GIRLFRIEND Safe?! HERO Yes Safe. They got what they wanted. GIRLFRIEND Publishing rights? He's crazy! And you're crazy and I'm leaving. HERO Yes but we got away. And I don't think they're going to bother us. FRIEND Ok Why? Why are they now going to leave us alone after we wrecked their boat and we got one of them eaten? A beat. HERO Because they are going to wait till we discover the treasure. GIRLFRIEND They are? HERO Yes. That's all GILEDER wants. And his cronies just want to get paid. FRIEND I hate it when you make sense. GIRLFRIEND So were safe. HERO Yes. FRIEND He's right. HERO Until we find the treasure. GIRLFRIEND I knew it! FRIEND Well that's reasonable, I guess. GIRLFRIEND And you expect me to go along with you on this ..this lunacy! HERO .. well.. yea.. I .. basically. FRIEND I'm... gona, go get dressed.. HERO Listen this went a little farther than I planned. But we're almost there. We just need to get into the site and have a look around. You can wait as look out. GIRLFRIEND So now I'm just an accomplice? HERO .. Well you make a nice accomplice. GIRLFRIEND I do? HERO Yea. And you got the guy on the jet ski. GIRLFRIEND I did. HERO Yea. So, let's get dressed and we'll have a look around. Just, see how it goes. GIRLFRIEND Just see how it goes.. HERO Yes. That's all. GIRLFRIEND Alright. But one more problem and I'm out. HERO That's all I can ask. GIRLFRIEND All right. They embrace. Just then the maid looks in and sees the mess and covers her mouth and makes a morally judgmental look. FADE Now dressed. The heroes try to leave but find the villains are watching them from down the hall. They are trapped in the hotel room. HERO Alright. Now let's just.. (open door) Hold it. Down the hall. That's one of them. FRIEND Were trapped. HERO Let me think. (looks out window) Hmm there too. They go to the window and see a motor cycle in the street. Another villain. EXT. HOTEL WINDOW -OUT THE WINDOW -AFTERNOON The Heroes look outside the window. GIRLFRIEND Oh.. look there!.. Hereo Opens the window. HERO Come on.. I don't want them to know where we are going. FRIEND Oh I feel safe now. GIRLFRIEND What. Are you serious? HERO Come on.. What? afraid? GIRLFRIEND I was all state in gymnastics.. FRIEND You were? GIRLFRIEND Yea in high school. FRIEND Oh.. GIRLFRIEND what? FRIEND nothing. So they go out the window. But it's a tiny ledge.. They have to hold the electrical conduit above.. they get to out of view but it's exposed wires and no more ledge. HERO Ok.. Just hold this and don't let go. And were walking. walking. easy, Come on, A little more. A beat. FRIEND What is it? HERO Dead end. FRIEND Oh HERO Sarry. GIRLFRIEND You should be.. HERO No your Sarry, give it to me. FRIEND Well actually yes. A little. I am a little circumspect about the whole thing. HERO Not you. Your sarry. GIRLFRIEND What me? I'm not apologizing. I've been very understanding here. HERO No, just give it to me. The sarry your wearing Take it off. I need it so we can climb down. GIRLFRIEND Oh, that's just so convenient. FRIEND She's right.. but we are two stories up and it is a great time not to argue. EXT HOTEL GROUND AND STREETS The Heroes climb down Girlfriend is now in a sport bra and mini skirt.. They continue on with the plan but they are spotted and chased! FRIEND Oh no.. HERO Come on, RUN! The Heroes are shot at. They take an unoccupied taxi and speed away. The driver returns with a falafel and cup of yogurt and wonders why this happened to him. GIRLFRIEND Here they come. INT/EXT. TAXI -CHASE Neck and neck. One cycle crashes away smashing some apparel stands the rider's limbs twirling through the air as he becomes covered in beads, scarfs and a large rug before scattering a thousand bronze carafes and woven baskets. The other cycle shoots the gas tank and the taxi leaks profusely, then again, and it bursts into flames. The burning taxi is now causing people to pray in the streets and creating billows of black smoke which a cyclist tries to avoid. The Taxi begins to sputter. The taxi stops, drifts. They run again. Running down steps, through bizarre, a residential ally, turning left and right, twice, nearly run over by the remaining motorcycle which now dices back and forth. Down a narrow ally. The motorcycle stops then grins as he spots the Heros running from view. They slide an open dumpster in front of the passing motorcycle and it crashes over spilling the contents. They take the bike and flee before he wakes. INT/EXT. MOTORCYCLE The Heroes escape the pursuit and pass the taxi driver who shakes his fist. They continue and are halted by an unexpected crossing guard. EXT. VILLAIN HOUSE -LATE AFTERNOON The Heroes cautiously go back to the car. The bad guys see them driving off. One waves to the other who runs into the low ultramodern river mansion. The heroes drive off to the warehouse. The heroes enter the warehouse. EXT. WEARHOUSE -DUSK Angry look from the girlfriend and they enter and blithely repaint the car and head out. FRIEND It's GIRLFRIEND Fresh. EXT. GIZA PLATEAU --BINOCULARS --NIGHT (EVENING?) Men stake off the area with red tape. Various guards pass the dig site. The truck is gone. FRIEND Well they got the truck. HERO Don't worry they'll return it to the rental company. FRIEND I hope so. It's on my card. Well, a card I made up on the computer, but still. HERO Look the hole is close to the road. If there's anything to find they could stumble across it soon. So we have to get in there. We just need to get on to that road. GIRLFRIEND Oh Alright. You want me to pretend to be a dumb tourist. And drive you to it.. then you just roll out and jump in.. Come on, say it.. FRIEND What? HERO Huh? I don't want you to getting caught. I have another plan. EXT. NEAR GIZA PLATEAU --IN CAR -NIGHT Jamoo drives as the heroes are ducking in the back seat. Friend has a remote control car. They drive into the area. HERO Ok you ready? Now this is really important. Just go slowly and stop where I told you. Then you take the car back to the hotel. KID ah..Haa.. Yes! Jamoo good driver! No problem. I'll take you there. Find the treasure, and you can pay Jamoo! HERO Ok Let's go. The four drive slowly in and pause to release the toy car.. then drive on.. slowly they roll past the landmark.. then near the dig site. FRIEND Oh Here. HERO Ok slow down. The toy car races off.. 'wheeeeeee' It stops. It looks left and right. vzzz vzzz. (we see the image from the car) (Reaction Friend who steers it, the heroes look on.) The car races off again. It stops in front of the guard station and looks left and right vzzz vzzz then races in a tight circle. Then stops. A guard notices. NIGHT GUARD Hey what's this? The toy car races in a tight circle then stops and looks vzzz The guard is looking at it. The toy car races off. (Reaction guard) A second guard comes to see. The first guard runs after the toy car. (Reaction second guard) The second guard runs after the car. The toy car rolls on the bumpy terrain. (Toy car view of rolling on bumpy terrain) FRIEND It's working. (reaction kid) Toy Car view of the rocky terrain and the guard fast approaching as we veer away. HERO Good. Keep your head down. Let's go. The heroes roll on, driven by kid. (reaction heroes) The guards run past each other as the toy car skirts away. HERO Ok we're at the dig site. The first guard nearly catches the toy car. (Reaction friend in goggles steering hard left) HERO Alright here. Come on. Out .. out.. Now you know what to do. go to the hotel. KID Ok! Friend leaves the remote control pinned with tape. (The two guards run across the expanse after the toy car.) The KID drives away and leaves a large rock. The heroes hide under a large expandable screen (or rolling camouflage). The heroes quickly move under the red tape and over to the hole. EXT. GUARD STATION -NIGHT Kid drives (from other direction) and leaves unseen. INT. HOLE -NIGHT The Heroes enter the tomb and marvel at the work. Then find there is no door. HERO Ok Flashlights. GIRLFRIEND Got it. FRIEND Check. HERO Now let's get down there and have a look around. The heroes walk down the incline into the opened tomb. HERO Oh.. GIRLFRIEND Ahh FRIEND Wow. HERO Ok let's scan.. FRIEND Scanning. Step back... I don't see anything. HERO Are you sure? FRIEND Nothing.. a sarcophagus sized hole under the false door. But no passage way. HERO Check the rest of the floor. FRIEND Checking. Look out. Nothing. HERO Darn it! I was certain this was it. HERO Ok.. let me think.. We must have missed something. We were out from the main structure.. the north star. Then east to the rising Orion. Found this dig site. Ok stars align correctly The map of the pyramid aligns correctly.. except it's to recent and no entrance. FRIEND I don't know.. It's a dead end. HERO Yes but we missed. I got it! The owl. GIRLFRIEND Owl? HERO Yes. We used the back of the dollar bill. But there's a little owl on the front of the dollar bill. FRIEND There is? HERO Yea. Wait. Look. Here. Give me the light. FRIEND Oh.. GIRLFRIEND Aww.. HERO That's the other half of the clue!. Ok We're very close. Let me think. The Owl is in the upper right perched to the left of the number One. Number one is the first or a symbol of a pinnacle. Pinnacle of the pyramid. If we align the pinnacle ...of the owl.. GIRLFRIEND The owl, which is Ursa Major! HERO Yes! That should align.. Do you still have the star chart? FRIEND Yea it's in here with the flashlights. Here. HERO Ok. Here's Ursa Major which is also to the left of the north star this time of year. FRIEND Ok So little dipper and Big Dipper. HERO Align this with our position which is roughly the equinox. GIRLFRIEND Planting season. HERO The spring equinox was the start of the growing season. Growing season, the Origin of all life.. planting, like planting in the ground.. like going in the ground.. But which part of the owl? I'll need to see it. Come on. GUARD Stop right there. HERO Oh.. Huh Hi were really lost.. Can you help us? We were just looking for the uh copa cabana. It's a little stake and ale place near here. GUARD2 Don't move. Search them. GUARD What is this? FRIEND What this? This is a simple geo scanner. It looks a few feet into the ground. See. We're looking, for the rest room. GUARD Just flashlights and radios. GUARD2 Alright Get them out of here. Come on! EXT. HOLE -NIGHT The heroes emerge. To GILEDER, Kitch and villains 1 and 2 Sullen Hero is forced to carry all the gear. GILEDER Well. Look at that, Kitch. My new security company has found a mouse. What will we tell the authorities? FRIEND You bought the security company? GILEDER We will need to inspect. Tell me what did you find? FRIEND Nothing. HERO We found an empty hole. There's nothing. You're wasting your time. GILEDER Then you won't mind if I have a look around. Keep them for me. He takes the scanner from Friend. GUARD Over There. The heroes are walked to a large rock. On the way the Hero checks the sky and sees the big dipper. Then looks at his star chart, then again as the handle of the big dipper comes into alignment with the pyramid top. Surprised hero looks again at his chart. The heroes are made to sit with their junk. GUARD {Don't move.} FRIEND We are really done. GIRLFRIEND I'm sorry. HERO Just wait. By the hole. GILEDER Ok Let's Go! Keep an eye on them. GUARD Yes Sir. GILEDER Get a reading on all surfaces. The entrance should be around here somewhere. By the rock. HERO Listen it matches. The... Guard reaction. HERO It matches. FRIEND Huh? HERO It matches. The owl matches the overlay matches. To right here. Right there. Look. That's the tip of the big dipper. FRIEND I don't know. GIRLFRIEND Yea, Come on they've got us. FRIEND Yea, where's the grand staircase? Solve that riddle. HERO Yes, Riddle. The riddle of the sphinx. FRIEND Oh here we go. HERO What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon and three legs in the evening. FRIEND We know this. Man. Man has 4 legs when crawling then 2 legs when walking then 3 legs using a cane in old age. Guard reaction. HERO Yea something to lean on. FRIEND No, I'm sorry. I didn't bring a cane. We're spent. Let's just enjoy the stars. HERO It's got to be here. The entrance would have to be hidden. We know they could tunnel. They dug deep trenches to cut millions of stone blocks. But how to prevent people from using the tunnel? Easy. No one but would ever know the location. Only the true shall pass. And the single overriding principle of truth. Everything fits. FRIEND Except that were under guard in a restricted area. Guard reaction. HERO There must be an entrance. Easily accessible. How else how would they come and go? FRIEND I don't know. What happens when an immovable object is hit by an irresistible force? HERO I don't know. Wait. That's it! Checks the stars then pyramid. FRIEND Oh.. good cause I was just thinking about all the sushi I'll miss in Jail. HERO No this is it. FRIEND Yea this is it. Guard goes to the car to use the radio. HERO Come on. Help me. Hero begins pushing on the rock. FRIEND Huh? Oh that's just desperation. I understand. HERO Don't you see? The world is the irresistible force this is the immovable object. Just do it. FRIEND Right last ditch effort. GIRLFRIEND Fine, in for a penny. The Guard turns to see the Heroes all standing prostrate against the large rock, he laughs, and looks away again. Just then the rock begins to budge. But it's stuck. FRIEND Oh no way. HERO Something's in the way. Hold on. Hero runs around to the other side. He moves a smaller rock. The whole bolder moves. GIRLFRIEND My God HERO Come on. They grab the bag and descend the staircase and pull the giant rock over themselves. The guard looks over and does not see them. Walks over and does not find them. Runs around the rock then back. He goes to the dig hole. Pauses, then marches in. INT. TUNNEL A The Heroes turn on the flashlights then Hero sees scorpions on the ground and offers glow sticks with reflectors to conserve flashlights. GIRLFRIEND Ohh.. yuck (cob webs) HERO Shhh Shh.. Ok they will take a while to figure out we're gone.. Here. We'll want to conserve flashlights. They proceed down the narrow shaft into the ground. EXT. HOTEL -NIGHT In town the boy parks the car. And the hotel detective sees him. But the boy runs. INT. HOLE -NIGHT The Guard explains the heroes are missing. GUARD They're gone. GILEDER What? GUARD They escaped. GILEDER I ask you to do one thing. GUARD I'm sorry. They must have run. GILEDER Search the area. Run a wide sweep. You take the truck. The rest of you come with me. INT. TUNNEL A The Heroes continue down the tunnel. HERO Careful. GIRLFRIEND Cobweb.. FRIEND Yea so uh.. just look for a sign saying big riches enter at your risk. (looks at compass) Wait aren't we going the wrong direction? The tunnel leads away from the pyramid. GIRLFRIEND Oh, That was another squishy thing. HERO I know. Just watch your step. Were headed toward the sphinx. I have a feeling this is a larger than we thought. There's something a ahead. EXT. GIZA PLATEAU -NIGHT The bad guys stop the truck. GUARD Nothing. They must be really fast. GILEDER Wait a minute. What did you see? Head back. GUARD2 Heading back. INT. TUNNEL A The heroes discover the library of the sphinx. HERO Ok were still heading south east. FRIEND And we have the sandwiches. HERO That's good. We might need them. GIRLFRIEND You're hungry? FRIEND No.. But I am in a hole in the ground. I'm trying to think positive. HERO Watch it. It drops here. FRIEND Ok.. Descending the creepy tunnel. HERO Ok.. Here it is.. I can't see anything. Flashlights. INT. LIBRARY OF THE SPHINX The heroes enter the library of the Sphinx. A number of shelves with scrolls and some wall paintings of scribes. A table and low bench. A large devotional panel in the wall shows a bird head with his hand extended upright. HERO Here it is! GIRLFRIEND Ok.. FRIEND This is why I'm in this. HERO We should be right under the Sphinx. Look at these scrolls. It's a library. This must have been an information center. A forerunner to the library of The Sphinx. Don't.. they'll crumble. FRIEND Right. HERO Look at this.. Greek, Latin, Cyrillic, Aramaic.. This was an active library.. This is a huge find. FRIEND Good at least we have something to show. But now were trapped until they clear out up there. HERO Think of it. The scrolls of antiquity. We have no idea what these will contain. FRIEND (privately) Oh yes. GIRLFRIEND What does this mean? HERO I don't know. The Eagle Horus. GIRLFRIEND Horus the falcon, man god.. risen into spiritual form. Also the god of the sky. FRIEND ..so many lovely museum pieces. HERO I wonder what this expression means. Hero mimics the wall statue's raised hand, then steps forward and places his hand on the statue's hand. HERO Excuse me while I kiss the sky. FRIEND You ok? HERO Yea. The wall opens. K-k-scrape.. FRIEND Woa! You don't think Hendrix.. Nah.. GIRLFRIEND Come on. EXT. ROCK -NIGHT The Guard explains the last location of the Heroes. GUARD Yea here.. they were sitting right here. GILEDER Ok.. Now tell me exactly what you were doing. GUARD Well I was sitting over here. GILEDER Ok which way were you looking? GUARD uhh. There..they were standing next to the rock. GILEDER Next to the rock. Which way were they facing when you last saw them? GUARD .. Uh huh huh.. they were facing the rock.. GILEDER Show me. INT. TUNNEL B Glow sticks again.. they travel through the narrow tunnel. Slightly out of breath.. moving. HERO Wait. FRIEND What? HERO I heard something. Come on. Looks like we're headed toward the smaller pyramid. Not much farther. INT. VILLAIN DIGGING OPERATION The villain digging operation shutting down. VILLAIN3 That was the big boss. We're shutting down here. He says they have a new site. VILLAIN4 Close it up! Get everybody out! INT. YOUNGEST TOMB -DJEDEFRE FRIEND Ok Now this is a tomb. GIRLFRIEND Look at this. Everything needed in life. HERO The boat's in here. (other room) FRIEND Wow. ALL Ha ha.. Yea.. GIRLFRIEND He liked his garden. HERO Yea. Ok look around. FRIEND For.. right.. HERO Ok where would you put a hidden door? FRIEND You don't think.. you know.. some kind of.. HERO Come here. Give me a hand. Oh never mind. The Sarcophagus moves opening a ramp. FRIEND Ok That's two. GIRLFRIEND Come on. FRIEND Ok.. here we go. GIRLFRIEND What? you're not afraid are you. FRIEND No. Absolutely, No.. It's just that I am already in a hole in the ground. GIRLFRIEND Come on. FRIEND Ohhhh ok.. Going into the creepy hole under the ancient dead guy. The sarcophagus swings closed on its own. INT. SPHINX LIBRARY GILEDER searches the dust for clues to the Heroes. GILEDER Don't worry about that. We'll come back for it. Stand back. There. Now what did they do. INT. TUNNEL C The heroes continue down a tunnel.. better cut. With little candle nooks. HERO Ok If I'm right we should be near the tomb of Khafre. GIRLFRIEND But that's supposed to be up there.. Right.. Interesting. FRIEND .. looks like a better neighborhood.. Yea the walls are smoother. Maybe a different economy. HERO They must have put in more effort.. Bigger pyramid.. Better tunnels. They see the tomb of Khafre FRIEND Huhhh GIRLFRIEND Yea.. FRIEND Ok bigger pyramid bigger tomb. I get it. HERO Khafre, air to the great pyramid. I think we over did it. FRIEND Yea. Look at this. GIRLFRIEND A Little different style. HERO He was a hunter. From here we would see the constellation Orion rising over the Sphinx. FRIEND hey.. right.. hmm.. HERO Wow.. Let's see.. But the sarcophagus doesn't budge.. give me a hand. FRIEND coming.. HERO No.. look around what do you see. What's different? FRIEND Columns, adjoined rooms.. statue. HERO Statue. Come on give me a hand.. uhh woa.. Ha ha!! Go on. The heroes open the statue and enter. Hero uses his jacket to cover their tracks then enters and closes the door. The statue swings closed. The three emerge in a small round room and stairs go down further. INT. YOUNGEST TOMB -DJEDEFREY The bad guys follow through the youngest tomb. GILEDER Ok find the door. Let's move. GUARD2 Check the boxes. Check the walls. GILEDER Where is it? There. Over here! INT. TUNNEL D The heroes proceed down a tunnel with statue nooks. Alternating dog head, eagle head. FRIEND Wow.. HERO Yea Anubis. Represented the afterlife. FRIEND Kind of strange though. HERO Think of it. What's the friendliest creature anyone has contact with. Their dog. What better symbol of the love and warmth of being received into the afterlife. GIRLFRIEND Yea but dog headed man? HERO A mask. Come on. Looks like there's plenty more. FRIEND Maybe this isn't the best time to ask. But how are we going to sell our stake in this? It's going to be hard to get this stuff out of here. HERO Yea I know. I haven't figured all that out yet. I keep thinking how no one would ever believe it. 9 Steps going up. INT. FAMILY ANNEX The Heroes come upon the First door of Khufu. A room with many family drawings and a tiny trough of water flowing through the middle of the floor from the opposing wall. GIRLFRIEND Ok what is it? HERO I don't know. A empty room. An unused tomb? Careful. Don't step in the water. FRIEND I don't see a door. HERO I know. That's the symbol for Cheops the builder of the Great pyramid. And this all looks like his family. This is a chronicle. FRIEND But were stuck. HERO Maybe. There's only one thing that's different. GIRLFRIEND This trough. Must be a spring nearby. FRIEND Why do I think that's a symbol. HERO It's fresh. FRIEND A king with his own private fresh water in the desert. Nice. HERO Watch out. GIRLFRIEND What are you doing. HERO Just a hunch. The Hero places two bottled waters in the water channel running down the center of the room. It chips off some of the calcification as it enters. We start to hear water fall somewhere then sliding stone. Then more water. HERO Ok. Give it a minute. Listen. klink.. klunk.. thud.. wall opens. FRIEND I hear it. HERO Look out. FRIEND Oh no.. Look. Lights. They got in! The villains are coming down the long tunnel. Hero takes the water bottles and runs into the narrow tunnel. HERO Come on. INT. TUNNEL E -NARROW SMOOTH LOW FRIEND You first. Hey the door closed. HERO Good. That'll buy us time. Be careful the ceiling is a little low. FRIEND You think they'll .. you know, Figure it out? GIRLFRIEND I hope not. INT. FAMILY ANNEX The bad guys enter the Family Annex GILEDER What is this? GUARD Where did they go? GILEDER Through there. Look see? Open it! They begin to pry the doors. INT. HALLWAY E /MEMORIAL CHAMBER The Heroes wend the narrow tunnel and find the Memorial Chamber. (55' by 55') with 4 columns. An island (40' by 40') surrounded by a 5 foot trench of water with a thin walkway around the outside. Flat bridges on each side. The far bridge leads to a wall with another set of reliefs In the center is a small dog head statue with outstretches hands. The heroes look at the statue in the center. It is 25' high. The ceiling is 30'. The walls are dark with low reliefs of lotus in panels between the bare nooks. ALL Ahhh.. FRIEND So this is.. HERO Kufu But it's not the tomb. It's like the other room. FRIEND So.. not going to move this statue are we.. Maybe pull it out with a crane. HERO No.. were already under the edge of the Great pyramid. FRIEND Oh.. Theft proof. GIRLFRIEND So what now? HERO The door could be anywhere. But this wall is obviously the only thing here that stands out. And this... These outstretched hands. HERO In the last chamber the door was directly center. Here we have the same configuration. Hold on. Hero crouches in front of the little statue with outstretched arms. He pulls a flashlight out of the bag and opens it. And removes the golden pertica. FRIEND oh that one's broken. Ohh. HERO I didn't want anyone to know where it was in case we ran into problems. FRIEND Oh. Hero lays the rod in the hands of the statue. It rocks downward into a small wide bowl. Water begins to run out of a crack in the wall. Click klunk thud.. Then the other wall. HERO It's working! GIRLFRIEND Yea. FRIEND Yea, You know, I swim. I swim. Giant hole filling up with water. Ok. GIRLFRIEND The water's getting higher. INT. FAMILY ANNEX The bad guys open the Family Annex door. GILEDER See.. That's all it takes.. Come on. GILEDER lifts the gunstock blocking the stream and throws it to the Guard. The bad guys run down the narrow hall. INT. MEMORIAL CHAMBER Water pours from large holes in the outer walls... someone almost falls through the drain.. and is held. HERO Oh I don't know about this. FRIEND Should it be so wet? Wow it really comes in fast. GIRLFRIEND Oh.. HERO Hold on! FRIEND The current is strong. GIRLFRIEND Ahhhh! HERO I got you! Try to stay out of the current. FRIEND Out of the current.. I think we need another clue! GIRLFRIEND What's wrong? HERO I don't know. It's not opening. GIRLFRIEND It's getting worse! He takes the pertica out and the water begins to rush from the ceiling. So he puts it back. Then scoops some water in the cup below the hands so the pertica is now covered in water -it rocks upward slightly and a small click, klunk is heard. The water begins to subside and flow from two amphora on either side. The doors start to open. HERO Alright just think.. Oh.. Of course! FRIEND Ha Ha! Yes. GIRLFRIEND It's opening! HERO Wait.. hold on! INT. TUNNEL F The Doors open to a wide (somewhat bright) tunnel with golden animal statues on the sides and two narrow water channels to the sides. The heroes fall through the opening doors and the lantern is washed in to the center. Hero takes the pertica from the door. The doors don't close right away. But two large stones lean that way as they slowly fill. HERO Wait.. something's different. Stay to the center! FRIEND Why the center? HERO I don't know.. The statues are still there. FRIEND Staying to the center. HERO Let's close these doors ALL Uhhhh.. HERO Nothing. FRIEND How about this? Friend touches the outstretched arms on the left door and the water begins flowing on the other side but the doors close very slowly as two large stones fill slowly with water and push into them. GIRLFRIEND It's closing! Hero is able to push the doors more closed. But they continue to move slowly as the rocking cisterns refill and lean toward the door. FRIEND Do you think they made it? HERO I hope not. Hero increases the lantern. The wet floor reflects light onto the ceiling. GIRLFRIEND Wow.. How would they dig this from stone? HERO The same way the carved the sphinx out of the existing rock. FRIEND And polished these statues.. HERO Were directly under the great pyramid. FRIEND After you. INT. STEP PYRAMID ROOM At the end of the long hallway is a low opening into a room. The room has a step pyramid in it. It is in a pyramidal room. There is an opening at the top. GIRLFRIEND It's a pyramid. HERO A step pyramid. FRIEND A pyramid inside a pyramid? GIRLFRIEND In a pyramidal room. HERO 13 Steps. FRIEND Is that lucky? HERO The number of lunar months in the year. GIRLFRIEND Looks like the exit is at the top. FRIEND Kind of over sized steps if you ask me. Well? HERO Looks safe. FRIEND Ok.. fear of water, fear of heights.. I guess enclosed spaces didn't bother them. As the three climb the steps brief flashes of the ancient workers standing on each step lifting statues and things upward. INT. THE DOME The Heroes reach the top and climb out onto the great dome. All around it sparkles with the stars and planet paths above and the arts and farming below. The floor is a circular space with circular tiles patterns.. They will push the wall and the floor spins.. revealing a ramp into a tunnel. (light/music) HERO Aww You've gota see this! Here. Jump. GIRLFRIEND Thanks FRIEND Wow. What is it? HERO A dome. FRIEND A dome with no obvious doors of any kind. GIRLFRIEND It's just like the writings described. Stars, agriculture. These must be botanical references. Maps of the ancient world. FRIEND Mathematics. Like the scrolls in the library. HERO This is a crop cycle. FRIEND Birds fish animals, insects.. This is all good but again we are stuck. What now? HERO Ok.. We're batting a thousand so far. (looking up) Well what got us in here was Ursa minor.. then to Orion then by Ursa Major.. (scanning the wall) Nothing obvious. Let's see we aligned the first then walked to the second then aligned with the third then. Funny. Look the Plough handle is worn off. He pushes it. The floor slides as rocks roll under his feet. FRIEND What's happening? HERO It's opening! FRIEND Right either that or were going to be drowned and crushed and then something else. A sizable hole appears as the floor section under Hero spins in place. They take the stairs back down. GIRLFRIEND There! FRIEND Oh look.. that adjusts the lunar cycle. See that's the moon.. hmm. Then just align the wheat shafts with the little circles. HERO I'm starting to like this. FRIEND Huh.. Oh..Yea but down, into another dark stairway, right with ya! INT. TUNNEL F /MEMORIUM CHAMBER The Villains begin down the 9 steps to the Memoriam Chamber, some slipping and falling back Then climbing up as the water ripples over the steps. They charge closing doors. The water flows from the ceiling. One villain is lost down the drain hole. VILLAIN Help! VILLAIN2 Here.. GILEDER Come on. GUARD1 Ahhhh! GILEDER Stay together. Watch the current. Steady. Get the door! As the door is closing one villain gets stuck in it then another tries to help him and also gets stuck. They block the doors as the GILEDER, Kitch and another villain climb over them. One Villain goes for the golden statue and falls through the false tipping-stones on either side in the floor which close after them. VILLAIN1 Ahhhggg! VILLAIN2 Come on. Ahhhggg GILEDER Sorry boys. Come on.. He steps over them. GUARD Hey look at this. I got to have one of these. GILEDER Watch it don't! No! GUARD Ahhhhh! KITCH Heh .. I guess he didn't make it. GILEDER Stay in the middle. GILEDER pulls his gun and continues on. Across the Hall of statues. To the opening into the pyramidal room and ducks in. (The bodies flow through the underground channels and pile up on the bank of the river.) INT. TUNNEL G - UNDER THE PYRAMID The Heroes wind through many turns slowly upward. FRIEND We aren't missing any doors? HERO I don't think so. The walls are too rough. Not unless we have to break through and we don't have the scanner. Watch your step. INT. STEP PYRAMID GILEDER and Kitch climb and step out into the open dome area and take the now exposed ramp down into the floor. GILEDER Look.. Come on. INT. TUNNEL G - UNDER THE PYRAMID The Heroes wind through many turns slowly upward. FRIEND So all this time. We just assumed it was three rooms. And the subterranean chamber.. unfinished.. Boy was I fooled. GIRLFRIEND All deception. A big ruse. HERO Yea, that's the great part. It was a duel. A match of wits. The king wouldn't be chased away from his pyramid. He would defend it. With deception and traps and elements. Think of it! He's in here! FRIEND He's not the one I'm worried about. INT. TUNNEL G - UNDER THE PYRAMID GILEDER pants and sees the lights ahead.. He shoots. INT. TUNNEL G - UNDER THE PYRAMID The Heroes run from gunfire. Upward, left, left again. Then left and level into a large turning rock. EXT/INT. MAZE -UNDER PYRAMID Then more and more turning rocks. A moving maze. They are in the maze of twists. The stones slowly klunk against one another. Some spinning free, others immovable upon one another. Others only a little bit. Klunk klunk klunk.. (whispers) HERO Woa.. Faster.. GIRLFRIEND Hey what is this? FRIEND I don't know Look. (lights behind) HERO It's some kind of door. Push.. Wait there's another door. FRIEND And another. HERO Ok don't move. This is some kind of trap. But it's a maze so just go right. It should Lead us out of here. EXT. THE MAZE - UNDER THE PYRAMID The bad guys reach the maze. GILEDER Listen.. Go right. Stay with me. INT. THE MAZE - UNDER THE PYRAMID Friend finds a drop off. Loses his balance and almost falls. FRIEND Woa! Be careful where you step. GIRLFRIEND I'm Stuck. HERO If you get stuck, turn left then continue right. FRIEND Glad to hear that. Hero emerges out of the maze. HERO Guys.. Hurry. GIRLFRIEND huuuuh.. Where's FRIEND HERO In there. FRIEND Oops..Left And Right. And Hey! Am I glad to see you. HERO Shh.. They're still in there. Here. Maybe this will block him. GIRLFRIEND good thinking. HERO Through here. INT. TREASURE ROOM The Heroes travel under a strong low lintel into a large multi-story room of Chris-crossing stone lintels. It is the treasure room. Endless small storage areas with riches. Statues Gold and more. They go across a few of the rail-less bridges.. looming down a story and up two more. Then upward by various large stone steps. Helping one another. HERO This is, is. Yea! FRIEND Yea! Ha Ha.. GIRLFRIEND Yea.. HERO Alright let's get some distance and find some way to defend ourselves. We'll wait for him. Up here. INT. MAZE GILEDER finds the stuck door and reaches around and loosens it enough to push through. He is out of the maze. And runs into the treasure room. INT. TREASURE ROOM The Heroes survey the treasure armed with various junk. They listen. Then climb a stair of large blocks to the next level. GILEDER Stalks quietly. EXT. MAZE/INT TREASURE ROOM Kitch escapes the maze and enters the treasure room. INT. TREASURE ROOM The heroes move quietly. Hero signals quiet. He throws a coin retrieved from a pile. GILEDER hears this and Shoots! The Heroes motions the others to go one way then runs across the stone lintel into another room. Kitch signals -I don't know- to GILEDER.. GILEDER signals -that way-. And goes the other way himself. The Hero comes upon a desk with many artifacts on it. A stone stool, a monocle, a fleur-de-lis, an old cane with a snake handle, He puts it back in the same spot, a head band with cobra, a carved cameo amulet, a large gold ring with a ruby... a claw of a bear on a leather cord with 4 gold beads... there is a pair of Franklin spectacles on the table. Hero is amazed. He takes the spectacles.. then hesitates.. and leaves his wristwatch. Noises are heard.. He throws a coin down the clear space..(a villain shoots!) GILEDER hears him and shoots! Hero Returns to the others. FRIEND Are you all right? HERO I'm fine. GIRLFRIEND Which way? Hero motions them to be quiet and points. He throws another coin. And they run. We see the flashlights below waving through the lattes of columns and lintels. The heroes see a channel in the corner and take it. Through many right angles then a long corridor.. they hear tourists. GIRLFRIEND Wait FRIEND We must be near the tour tunnel HERO Let's keep going. INT. HALLWAY G -AFTER TREASURE ROOM They find a long corridor. It turns several times. Upward through the large corridor. They see a box. And friend goes near and is cautioned. They do not set off the box. Then, the heroes see a nook with a small statue. Hero sets it off.. HERO No! Don't touch it. (a large ornate box) FRIEND Huh? HERO It probably a trap. FRIEND uhh.. right. GIRLFRIEND It's pretty though. FRIEND How about this? HERO Probably the same thing. Stay back. Here. He throws the broken flashlight which contained the pertica to the foot of the statue. A large stone block drops from the ceiling. INT. TREASURE ROOM The villains hear the noise. GILEDER They're out of here. Find the door. INT. HALLWAY G -AFTER THE TREASURE ROOM Friend grabs the small statue. Then Girlfriend reveals a necklace.. FRIEND Nice. HERO I guess we need some souvenirs. What about you. So, all jewel thieves. We better keep moving. The ramp takes a turn and goes straight.. and they see the pediment of the known kings chamber. FRIEND Look at this. HERO This must he the upper part of the kings chamber. FRIEND At least we know where we are. INT. RAMP AFTER TREASURE ROOM AND TURNS The bad guys set of the box trap. KITCH Hey look at this. GILEDER Be careful. I don't like the look of it. KITCH Ahhhhh!!!!! Heroes hear the scream. FRIEND Do I want to know what that was? GILEDER pulls the spike out of Kitch's neck and tares of a piece of Kitche's shirt and ties it around his neck. GILEDER Damn! Here. Put this on it. INT. UPPER HALLWAY The heroes find a smaller version of the upward ramp with statues. Upward turn upward turn.. The hallway ends. There is a single doorway. Up another ramp into a vaulted room. GIRLFRIEND Whoh, I didn't think it would be this hot. FRIEND The stone picks a lot of heat in the day which rises even at night. HERO And were pretty high up. It turns again. Stay with me. The Corridor turns again. They climb the last section and reach the top. GIRLFRIEND Oh. FRIEND End of the line. HERO In here. INT. KINGS ANNEX With various pilasters and statues of Eagle headed figures. The room has another door with large horizontal stones slightly off level on either side. They survey the ornate room and find only the complex door before them with an Eye of Osiris. They hear noises. GIRLFRIEND Hurry they're coming. FRIEND What do you think. HERO It's some kind of combination lock. Like a puzzle. FRIEND Ok.. GIRLFRIEND Hurry. Hero surveys the area and sees a small pebble. He picks it up, Looks at the door. He feels around and above the door. Then drops the pebble in the top of one of the off level horizontal stones. It tumbles in. FRIEND What are you doing? HERO I'm either about to jam this door hopelessly or solve the combination. He slides the stones back and forth as the pebble clinks.. then again, then again, then the pebble falls out on the floor. They stare at it then Hero pushes all three stone sliders together and opens the door. HERO This is what we came for. Come on. The Heroes round a narrow ramp up to the right to an upper level and turn into a round room. The door slowly closes behind them but does not lock. Just then the Villains arrive. INT. KINGS ANNEX GILEDER stands in the doorway. He walks in. Kitch follows. But the door locks when Kitch touches it. GILEDER Through there. KITCH (grunting) hhhw! Thud. GILEDER What are you doing? Kitch tries to open the door. He moves the diagonal stones left and right then bangs on it with a statue and the other door closes. They are trapped. He bangs again. Kitch is swallowed up by the floor. KITCH (FALLING) Ahhhhhhhhhhh! GILEDER is trapped. GILEDER Clever. GILEDER steps slowly forward nearer the door and falls. GILEDER Huhhhhhhaaaaa! A tourist in a tunnel stops and takes note of the noise. Their son is shocked. INT. KINGS GRAND CHAMBER The Heroes retreat from the locked door. The room is decorated with large stepped pilasters and statues of Anubis the dog head figure. Between the buttresses are statues of the king and family. In the center is a sarcophagus. They try to find an exit. They check the walls and find no door. They rest. HERO It's locked! FRIEND Were trapped. HERO Nothing. The Heroes closes his phone and tries the door and tries to move the sarcophagus then tries the walls, the floor. They the door again.. They slump down. Fade EXT. PYRAMID Sun high in the sky. INT. KINGS GRAND CHAMBER The jacket comes off. The time lingers on and on... flashlights lower. fade change position, flashlights lower. fade change position, flashlights lower. FRIEND I didn't think it would be so hot. HERO The heat rising. At this height, it must be constant. The air won't last much longer either. FRIEND The waters gone. (shot through) FRIEND We did it. HERO Yes, we did it. We might not get out of this. GIRLFRIEND I guess this is it. FRIEND I know. HERO Listen, you guys. I just want you to know.. FRIEND I know. GIRLFRIEND Me to. HERO Thanks. HERO Ha Ha Ha.. FRIEND What? HERO This is an awesome burial. FRIEND Yea. You're right. Nearly passed out. Breathing Deeply, slowly, The glow sticks fading.. A blurry something.. far away.. comes into focus.. It's a ray of light. The hero climbs across the room to the image on the buttress. The Illuminated eye of Osiris.. HERO Wake up. Wake up. Come on.. FRIEND What. HERO I don't know.. just follow me. They climb.. the buttress.. HERO come on.. climb. Climb up here. FRIEND Oh, sure. One last push. Hope against hope. As the third person climbs on, the buttress begins to move.. they climb and it sinks into the floor.. as the light begins to blind them from above! EXT. TOP OF GREAT PYRAMID -ECLIPSE The Heroes exit a few stones from the top of the pyramid and climb up and stand. The sun bares down coolly as the eclipse is underway. They notice it is not as bright as they expected. FRIEND Hey what? HERO Look GIRLFRIEND An eclipse? FRIEND (checks phone) I had forgotten. It's today. GIRLFRIEND You don't think? HERO A coincidence? FRIEND The all seeing eye. Just then a Helicopter rises above the pyramid and hovers. CHOPPER (speaker) Stay where you are. FRIEND (looking over the edge) I'm not going anywhere. GIRLFRIEND Look She points down into a crowd of people. Reaction large crowd. INT. CROWD A crowd of people is gathered for the eclipse. Trucks, throngs. Also in the crowd is the Boy. KID Ha ha!! Mister! Ha ha!. EXT. TOP OF GREAT PYRAMID The heroes get in to the chopper. INT. CROWD The Boy runs through the crowd to find the chopper. EXT. PYRAMID The chopper decends. A couple cars and a small truck await near the larger crowd beyond. Several well dressed people stand near. Including the detective from the hotel. And some antiquities people. The boy runs to the fence and stops. The chopper lands. The heroes emerge from the chopper. And confront the men with cars. HOTEL DETECTIVE Mr. (HERO) I believe you have something of interest to the council. HERO Yes, I think I do. HOTEL DETERCIVE If you will. HOTEL DETECTIVE Due to the unusual nature of your find. The Council is prepared to make you a very generous offer. (He hands him a piece of paper.) In exchange for a certain article and information. If you will come with me. They notice the beautiful priestess, Livingston in one of the departing cars with the other guy from the hotel lobby. They leave. The KID, Jamoo, runs off through the crowd. INT. BANK A woman brings Hero a piece of paper. He examines it and signs it and gives the pertica to them. HOTEL DETECTIVE And the object. Thank you. The media rights are secure? POLICE CHIEF Yes. HOTEL DETECTIVE Then our business is concluded. You have revealed a very important artifact. HERO What will happen now? HOTEL DETECTIVE Happen? I am sure the site will be under investigation for the foreseeable future. Have a nice Vacation Mr. (HERO) BANK CLERK This way. EXT. BANK The Heroes exit the bank into the glare of the day. As several cars leave. GIRLFRIEND Let me see that again. Oh my.. it's got extra space to write in the amount. FRIEND Yea. 50%. HERO Which you split! GIRLFRIEND We better get a cab. HREO Yea They hear yelling from one of the cars in the street. Its Jamoo in the car from last night. Looks of surprise. They get in. Girlfriend drives. JAMOO Mister!, Hey Mister! Jamoo is here! They go to him. EXT. HOTEL The travelers exit the hotel with their bags and walk to the street. KID Mister! Carry your bags! HERO Sorry were on our way back. KID You're not leaving so quick. Plenty more digging...great tombs to find. HERO Thanks, we found what we came for. Hero gives KID (Jamoo) a 100 dollar bill. FADE INT. HERO'S BOAT -STERN WHEEL -TWILIGHT The three heroes and dad perform a pleasant bar-b-q on the Potomac. Dad has been nagging hero to varnish boat, comes along on 4th of July and does it himself with Friend. Dad takes a break and is eyeing the wheel. Hero gives him the Franklin glasses from the pyramid. DAD No no.. Like this.. see long strokes. Smooth. FRIEND Smooth. DAD Get some on the brush. FRIEND Long strokes. DAD There. You got it. FRIEND I got it! HERO Hey not too much. I don't want it to sink! DAD Carry on. HERO Dad, There's something I wanted to show you. I wanted you to have these. They're from the find. Hero hands dad the 'Franklin' glasses.. DAD These are bifocal.. You know Franklin is credited with inventing the bifocal. Brief Reenactment of franklin at pyramid with other conspirators HERO I know. I can't be sure but it looks like you were right all along. DAD And you found these, inside? HERO Uh huh and a lot of other things too. DAD Well That's.. That's proof! HERO Uh huh. HERO I though you could just hold on to them for me. DAD Goodness. I will. HERO Don't let him stop. DAD Right. Underneath.. get those corners.. EXT. FRONT OF BOAT -EVENING SUNSET Hero strolls up to the bow and sweet talks girlfriend. HERO You know I think we've earned a vacation. GIRLFRIEND Oh? HERO I'm taking you to Fiji.. there's a beautiful mountain.. and a little hut.. and an amazing chef.. and I thought we could go scuba diving.. GIRLFRIEND Scuba diving? HERO Yea they have a couple sunken ships.. and I thought you would enjoy the warm water and.. GIRLFRIEND Thought I would enjoy. HERO Yea, You would enjoy. There's tropical fish and beautiful sun sets.. GIRLFRIEND Uh huh.. and gold bullion is more like it. HERO There could be bullion. GIRLFRIEND Yea and leg irons HERO and leg irons. GIRLFRIEND and cannons. HERO Oh, Definitely cannons.. GIRLFRIEND Oh. FIRE WORKS PAN Reverse, as sunset becomes evening fireworks) EXT. BOAT -EVENING - WASHINGTON/JEFFERSON MONUMENT. The light of the shells reflects on the people and boats gathered. Crane back/Pan up TO BLACK PLATE: In 1916, the German archeologist Eckhard Unger found a copper-alloy bar one cubit in length dating from c. 2650 BC during an excavation at Nippur (Egypt). Its precise use remains unknown. CREDITS MUSIC(Theme, Egyption theme, Classical adventure theme, mystery theme, Mr. Sandman..) END