National Treasure Page #2

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that he transcribed,

a resolution that 55 men signed.

The Declaration of Independence.

Oh!

Come on, there's no invisible map on the

back of the Declaration of Independence.

That's clever, really.

A document of that importance

would ensure the map's survival.

And you said there were several Masons

signed it, yeah?

Yeah. Nine, for sure.

We'll have to arrange a way to examine it.

This is one of the most important

documents in history.

They're not just gonna let us waltz in there

and run chemical tests on it.

- Then what do you propose we do?

- I don't know!

We could borrow it.

Steal it?

- I don't think so.

- Ben...

the treasure of the Knights Templar

is the treasure of all treasures.

Oh, I didn't know that.

Really?

Look, Ben... I understand your bitterness.

I really do.

You've spent your entire life

searching for this treasure,

only to have

the respected historical community

treat you and your family

with mockery and contempt.

You should be able to rub this treasure

in their arrogant faces,

and I want you to have

the chance to do that.

How?

We all have our areas of expertise.

You don't think mine are limited

to writing checks, do you?

In another life...

I arranged a number of operations of...

questionable legality.

I'd take his word for it, if I were you.

So don't worry.

I'll make all the arrangements.

No.

I'd really need your help here.

Ian... I'm not gonna let you steal

the Declaration of Independence.

OK.

From this point on

all you're going to be is a hindrance.

Hey!

What are you gonna do?

Are you gonna shoot me, Shaw?

Well, you can't shoot me.

There's more to the riddle.

Information you don't have. I do.

I'm the only one who can figure it out,

and you know that.

He's bluffing.

We played poker together, Ian.

You know I can't bluff.

Tell me what I need to know, Ben,

or I'll shoot your friend.

Hey!

Quiet, Riley!

Your job's finished here.

Look where you're standing.

All that gunpowder.

You shoot me,

I drop this, we all go up.

Ben...

What happens when the flare burns down?

Tell me what I need to know, Ben.

You need to know...

if Shaw can catch.

Nice try, though.

Get out, Shaw!

Fool!

Riley, get over here!

- What is this?

- Smuggler's hold. Get in!

Move! Get out of here!

- What?

- Move! Get out!

Follow me.

Let's go, let's go!

She's gonna blow!

Get down.

OK, let's go.

Before someone sees the smoke.

(Riley coughing and spluttering)

There's an Inuit village

about nine miles east of here.

- It's popular with bush pilots.

- All right.

(Riley pants exhaustedly)

- Then what are we gonna do?

- Start making our way back home.

No, I meant about Ian. He's gonna steal

the Declaration of Independence, Ben.

We stop him.

(Riley) Is it really so hard to believe

that someone's gonna try to steal

the Declaration of Independence?

(Ben) The FBI gets 10,000 tips a week.

They're not gonna worry about

something they're sure is safe.

But anyone that can do anything

is gonna think we're crazy.

Anyone crazy enough to believe us

isn't gonna want to help.

We don't need someone crazy. But one

step short of crazy, what do you get?

Obsessed.

Passionate.

Excuse me.

- Dr. Chase can see you now, Mr. Brown.

- Thank you.

(softly) Mr. Brown?

The family name doesn't get a lot

of respect in the academic community.

Huh. Being kept down by the man.

A very cute man.

Thank you.

- Good afternoon, gentlemen.

- Hi.

- Abigail Chase.

- Paul Brown.

- Nice to meet you.

- Bill.

Nice to meet you, Bill.

- How may I help you?

- Your accent. Pennsylvania Dutch?

- Saxony German.

- Oh!

- You're not American?

- Oh, I am an American.

I just wasn't born here.

Please don't touch that!

Sorry. A neat collection.

George Washington's campaign buttons.

You're missing the 1789 inaugural, though.

- I found one once.

- That's very fortunate for you.

Now, you told my assistant

that this was an urgent matter.

Ah. Yes, ma'am.

Well, I'm gonna get straight to the point.

Someone's gonna steal

the Declaration of Independence.

It's true.

I think I'd better put you gentlemen

in touch with the FBI.

- We've been to the FBI.

- And?

They assured us that the Declaration

cannot possibly be stolen.

- They're right.

- My friend and I are less certain.

However, if we were given the privilege

of examining the document...

we would be able to tell you for certain

if it were actually in any danger.

What do you think you're gonna find?

We believe that there's an...

encryption on the back.

- An encryption, like a code?

- Yes, ma'am.

Of what?

Uh... a cartograph.

- A map.

- Yes, ma'am.

A map of what?

The location of... (nervously clears throat)

...of hidden items

of historic and intrinsic value.

- A treasure map?

- That's where we lost the FBI.

You're treasure-hunters, aren't you?

We're more like treasure-protectors.

Mr. Brown, I have personally seen the back

of the Declaration of Independence,

and I promise you, the only thing there

is a notation that reads,

"Original Declaration of Independence,

dated...

"Four of July, 1776." Yes, ma'am.

But no map.

(exasperated sigh)

It's invisible.

Oh! Right.

And that's where we lost

the Department of Homeland Security.

What led you to assume

there's this invisible map?

We found an engraving

on the stem of a 200-year-old pipe.

Owned by Freemasons.

- May I see the pipe?

- Uh, we don't have it.

- Did Big Foot take it?

- It was nice meeting you.

Nice to meet you, too.

And, you know,

that really is a nice collection.

Must have taken you a long time

to hunt down all that history.

If it's any consolation,

you had me convinced.

It's not.

I was thinking, what if we go public,

plaster the story all over the Internet?

It's not like

we have our reputations to worry about.

Although I don't think

that's exactly gonna scare Ian away.

and I'm three feet away.

Of all the ideas

that became the United States,

there's a line here

that's at the heart of all the others.

"But when a long train of abuses

and usurpations,

pursuing invariably the same object,

evinces a design to reduce them

under absolute despotism,

it is their right, it is their duty

to throw off such government

and provide new guards

for their future security."

People don't talk that way anymore.

Beautiful, huh?

- No idea what you said.

- It means, if there's something wrong,

those who have the ability to take action

have the responsibility to take action.

I'm gonna steal it.

(scoffs) What?

I'm gonna steal

the Declaration of Independence.

Uh... Ben?

(Riley) This is... huge.

It's prison huge.

You are gonna go to prison,

you know that?

Yeah, probably.

So that would bother most people.

Ian's gonna try and steal it. And if he

succeeds, he'll destroy the Declaration.

The fact is, the only way to protect

the Declaration is to steal it.

It's upside down.

I don't think there's a choice.

Ben, for God's sakes,

it's like stealing a national monument. OK?

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