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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