Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade

FADE IN:

EXT. DESERT OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST - DAY

A mountain peak dominates the landscape.

TITLES BEGIN:

Riders on horseback cross the desert. From this distance

they appear to be a company of Army Cavalry Soldiers.

CLOSER ANGLES ON THE RIDERS

Reveal only details of saddles, hooves and uniforms. The

riders are silhouetted against the rising sun as they ride

into an ancient CLIFF PUEBLO.

The OFFICER IN COMMAND raises his hand halting his troops.

OFFICER:

Dis-mount!

RIDERS climb down from their mounts... and only now do we

realize that this is a TROOP OF BOY SCOUTS, all of them about

thirteen years of age. The "Commanding Officer" is only their

SCOUTMASTER, Mr. Havelock.

One of the Scouts, a pudgy kid named HERMAN, steps away from

his horse, bends over and pukes. The other Scouts rag on

him.

FIRST SCOUT:

Herman's horsesick!

A BLOND SCOUT, however, befriends Herman. He has a thatch of

straw-colored hair and the no-nonsense expression common to

kids whose curiosity and appetite for knowledge exceed what

they teach in school. Additionally, he has adorned his uniform

with an authentic HOPI INDIAN WOVEN BELT.

SCOUTMASTER:

Chaps, don't anybody wander off.

Some of the passageways in here can

run for miles.

Two Boy Scouts climb up the rocky base of the cliff.

INT. THE PASSAGEWAY - DAY

The two boys head down the passageway. It's dark, and the

temperature drops several degrees. Spiders have built huge

webs that get caught in the boys' hair.

Herman appears very uncertain as to the wisdom of this

enterprise, but he's drawn on by his companion's adventurous

curiosity.

HERMAN:

I don't think this is such a good

idea.

LAUGHTER is HEARD; the Blond Scout pulls Herman forward toward

its source.

The VOICES GROW LOUDER now as the boys get closer to their

source. The light of kerosene lanterns dances on the tunnel

walls ahead. The boys approach cautiously, careful to stay

hidden.

HERMAN:

What is it?

This is what they see:

FOUR MEN digging with shovels and pick-axes. They have broken

into one of the pueblo's SECRET CHAMBERS... called "Kivas."

The men are ROUGH RIDER (his name describes his dress), ROSCOE

(a Bowery Boy bully of 14) and HALFBREED (with straight black

hair that cascades over his shoulders).

And the fourth man wears a LEATHER WAIST JACKET and BROWN

FELT FEDORA HAT. He has his back turned to us, but we would

be willing to bet anything that this is INDIANA JONES.

However, when the man turns, and his face is illuminated by

the lantern's glow, we are shocked to discover that it is

someone else.

We'll call him FEDORA.

TITLES END:

The TWO BOYS are mesmerized by what they see.

Now we realize that the Blond Scout is actually young INDIANA

JONES.

FEDORA:

Alfred, did you get anything yet?

MAN:

Nothing. Dig in.

Two of the men stand and look at Roscoe who steps forward

holding a box in his hands.

ROSCOE:

Hey, I've got something!

Whoops from the other men.

ROSCOE:

I got something, Garth!

Roscoe rushes forward and gives Fedora the box. Fedora steps

toward a lantern resting on a rock.

ROSCOE:

I got something... I got something

right here.

More whoops from the other men.

Fedora puts the box on the rock next to the lantern. Halfbreed

pushes Roscoe as he jumps with excitement. Rough Rider steps

forward to look at the box as Fedora opens it.

ROSCOE:

(more whoops; then)

Oh, look at that!

(more whoops)

We're rich! We're rich!

HALFBREED:

Shut up. Shut up.

Fedora takes a BEJEWELED CROSS from the box and holds it

aloft. Fedora's comrades practically salivate at the sight

of it.

ROSCOE (O.S.)

Well, we're rich, ain't we?!

Indy takes off his hat and looks down at the off screen

action.

HERMAN:

Indy? Indy? What are they doing?

Indiana? Indiana?

INDY:

Shhh!

Fedora blows dust from the Cross, turning it in his hand,

silently appraising its beauty... and its value. He seems

aloof from the others; somehow superior to them.

HALFBREED:

Hey, we got to find more stuff to

bring back.

Indy stays hidden, but is astounded by what he sees.

INDY:

(hushed; urgent)

It's the Cross of Coronado! Cortes

gave it to him in 1521.

Fedora continues to admire the Cross, then places it on the

rock next to its box and the lantern.

Indy turns back to observe the men.

INDY:

That Cross is an important artifact.

It belongs in a museum.

A look of resolve comes into Indy's expression, and he turns

back toward Herman

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