Hall of Records
Mystery in the Hall of Records
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FADE IN:
BEGIN TITLES
INT. ANCIENT UNDERGROUND TUNNEL
Music plays while shadowed archaeological team members walk
down ancient tunnel, flashlights light up walls, show
inscriptions, glyphs, titles in glyphs morph to center
screen.
END TITLES
Music ends, flashlights lighting tunnel, glyphs like some
ancient curse, foreboding, unnerving, images of torture,
sacrifice and disease covered the walls on both sides.
They are wearing the uniforms of ARI (Anomalous Retrieval and
Investigations). A little known branch of the government, with
crests on their shoulder which contain an insignia which has
Orion's belt over the Great Pyramid.
The team consists of, two men, and two women.
George, age 45, the team leader, is a pensive man. Cultured,
good looking leading man type with some grey hair.
George stops to examine a large grotesque figure carved into
the floor of the tunnel as his flashlight strikes it. It
looks like a gargoyle with bulging eyes, fangs, and tongue
sticking out.
GEORGE
How ugly is that?
Nicole, another member of the team, an African American woman
about 37, shines her flashlight on it as well.
Nicole
Looks like something from an alien
movie.
Scott, age 38, slim, funny, expressive, history major, quick
witted but easily distracted. Laura is his girlfriend.
SCOTT
(somewhat scared, nervous)
Not the 'A' word, please not the 'A'
word. Not right now.
Laura, young 37, girl next door, American sweetheart,
innocent, lovable, has a thing for Scott.
LAURA
Relax Scott. It looks Incan, Mayan
maybe?
Something small moved in the shadows ahead, and they stop.
Startled, sweating, flashlights scanning the tunnel. A small
crack in the wall.
LAURA
What was that?
SCOTT
Probably just a mouse.
LAURA
Please, not the 'M' word... not right
now.
A tail moves back into crack under spotlight. They move on.
The tunnel is over 5 miles long with almost perfectly square
sides. The entire length, a cool breeze flows through against
their faces. Like a sea breeze.
Close up George, slight breeze blowing in face.
GEORGE
Looks like a chamber up ahead.
The tunnel opens up into the large hall.
CUT TO:
INT. LARGE HALL 100 FEET ACROSS AND 100 FEET LONG
Team members enter hall from tunnel.
They scan the hall revealing large Egyptian-like statues
beside columns, large table in center.
Look of wonder on faces, leaning forward slightly, looking up
and around, shining flashlights.
SCOTT
(smiling with wonder)
Awesome.
GEORGE
(To Nicole)
What's our position?
Nicole checks GPS.
Nicole
(a little surprised)
Four miles off the coast of
Bermuda.
GEORGE
Remember Tut, touch nothing.
SCOTT
Hey don't worry about me. I learned
my lesson about curses on our last
trip. I'm still itchy.
In this great hall the inscriptions appeared to be of a
different civilization entirely. More roundish. Larger.
GEORGE
What do you think, Egyptian?
It was as if this hall which was in Bermuda, had somehow been
transported from ancient Egypt.
The Winged Disk, the Eye of Ra, the symbolism was almost the
same as any you might find in old Egypt.
Nicole
Looks Egyptian... in a weird sort
of way.
Their flashlights scan the hall. Something glistens on the
back wall, reflecting towards them and their flashlights
center on it.
A large, gold disk. Perhaps 8 feet in diameter.
They walk towards it, keeping their lights on it.
GEORGE
(normal voice)
Eureka
The group stands there in front of the disk, mesmerized by
its beauty and wonder. George runs his hand along the edge.
GEORGE
It's an inch thick. It must weigh
several tons.
LAURA
Similar to the Sun Disk isn't it,
with those wings on either side?
Flashlights scan the walls beside the disk showing wings
engraved in the wall on either side. Then above disk, man
with long woven beard on top of disk, carved into rock.
SCOTT
Yes. Look at the character sitting
on the disk. I've seen this
before... near Babylon.
LAURA
(puzzled)
What is this place?
Nicole
Well I hate to say it, but it looks
like Edgar Cayce was right.
GEORGE
(turning quickly to
Nicole)
The Hall of Records?
Nicole
The Hall of Records.
All of a sudden they weren't quite so tired from that 5 mile
hike through the tunnel. All of a sudden the possibility of
the greatest find known to man lay right around them.
GEORGE
Fan out.
Flashlights comb the walls. Showing gargoyles, native scenes,
large flying birds, star map, strange animals, tricerotops as
well.
SCOTT
Can you believe this stuff?
Nicole
Here!
They all rush to her side, and there in front of her, a door.
A smooth granite door, with gold metal pins for hinges, and
round ring handle mechanism recessed in rock, looking far too
modern or technologically advanced for any ancient
civilization. Sealed with a large wax seal which went across
the door to the door frame and to the wall beside it.
Stamped into the wax, was the Eye of Ra.
Zoom in on the wax seal.
LAURA
Is there a bathroom around here?
SCOTT
Looks like improv 101
LAURA
I...I will be just over there. If
you hear me scream...
GEORGE
Don't worry, there's no one here
but us chickens.
George runs his fingers over the wax nervously.
The air suddenly seems so thick you could cut it with a
knife. Sweat beads on their foreheads.
Nicole
Well?
George rubs his chin.
GEORGE
(reaching hand towards
Nicole)
Knife.
SCOTT
Wait for Laura.
Scott shines the flashlight beside the door onto the walls.
SCOTT (CONT'D)
(nervously)
See anything about any curses on
these walls?
They shine their flashlights along the walls beside the door
and aside from these images which appeared to be Egyptian, of
life along the Nile, there was no hint of anything sinister.
Laura bounds back up to them.
LAURA
Well?
Nicole hands George her knife, George pauses, looks into her
eyes, then turns and carves into the wax seal, along the edge
of the door.
This door was not a locked mystery requiring some clever
device or knowledge to open. This door was meant to be easily
opened.
George turns the round golden ring handle within the recessed
enclosure on the door and 'click', it pops ajar slightly.
George looks at Scott. Scott looks at George anxiously.
GEORGE
(To Scott)
No stale air smell.
The door moves effortlessly on its hinges as if it were brand
new. The room inside illuminates slowly as the ceiling begins
to glow with a natural light.
LAURA
(amazed expression)
Spooky cool.
They pause until the room is fully lit by the glow of the
ceiling.
CUT TO:
INT. MEDIUM SIZED ROOM 20 FEET SQUARE SMOOTH GRANITE WALLS
The room is empty except for two polished granite thrones at
the far end, and a shelf-like panel on the left against the
wall.
Zoom in on and pan thrones.
On each throne a golden ball on the outside armrest, and on
these golden balls, the imprint of a hand.
Zoom in on hand imprint on golden ball.
They approach the thrones with wonder, eyes wide open,
staring like children at a Christmas Tree.
Scott gazes at one of the golden balls on the arm rest.
SCOTT
Five fingers. That's a good sign.
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