Today’s segment is actually from the first draft and was removed from the third that I am currently posting. It does not flow from last week’s, as you will see. Last week’s and next were changed to fit together. This post has the protagonists visiting the NSA museum to review the archaeological artifacts buried on their property by Lon and his cohorts mentioned elsewhere in the script.
Hopefully you will find this alternate scene of some interest.
LATER
Ben takes his eyes off of the road ahead to check the vehicles following theirs.
ABIGAIL
Something to do with your “minor glitch?”
BEN
Just cautious, Hon. There are some forces at work that we’re just not sure about.
ABIGAIL
Hence, your visit to the FBI?
BEN
Yeah. I talked to Agent Sadusky. He had some intel that tends to confirm my suspicions.
ABIGAIL
So, you going to keep me in suspense?
BEN
Sorry, dear. It seems that the KGC is still around and it looks like it has morphed into some type of neo-nazi outfit.
ABIGAIL
And they’re after you?
BEN
Let’s just say, at this point, our paths have crossed.
INT NSA MUSEUM OF CRYPTOLOGY – NIGHT
An UNIFORMED GUARD leads Abby, Ben and Riley to the front glassed-in entrance, unlocks the door and lets them in. CONRAD TOOMBS, the curator, steps forward to greet them.
ABIGAIL
Dr. Toombs, may I thank you again for this courtesy.
CONRAD
Not at all, Dr. Gates. From what you told me your husband may be able to clear up some mysteries attached to our little find.
He turns to Ben and has a moment of recognition.
CONRAD
Have I met you before?
(before Ben can respond)
I have it! Jeopardy. You missed that question on Confederate submarines.
BEN
Guilty. But I live in hopes of vindication.
(he holds up the journal)
This may have the answers we both seek.
THE CALIFORNIA GOLD EXHIBIT
In a display case, upon a bed of deep red crushed velvet, several gold ingots of various sizes rest glittering under the yellow lights.
RILEY
What are those markings?
BEN
(before Conrad can answer)
Those are the assay marks, noting the weight and purity of that particular ingot.
(turns to Conrad)
Right?
CONRAD
Exactly.
BEN
But is this all there is?
CONRAD
Oh, no. Forgive me.
He steps to the wall and opens a hidden cover and flips a switch underneath. The wall behind the exhibit changes from opaque to transparent giving us a view into a room beyond. There, stacks of boxes fill the room, some of which are open, revealing their contents.
ABIGAIL
Impressive!
RILEY
(pointing)
Are those the remains of the wagon that were buried with the gold?
CONRAD
Yes, we’ve arranged it in the configuration that we found it.
BEN
Can we go in and examine it up close?
For answer, Conrad pushes a button within the same control box and there is a HISS of air and panel slides to the side.
THE DISPLAY ROOM
As Abby, Riley and Conrad look on, Ben hops all over prodding into every nook and cranny. He points to some coins.
BEN
May I?
CONRAD
Sure, Go ahead. We believe most everything here is from the California gold shipment that disappeared along the rail line here in May of 1861.
BEN
Most?
CONRAD
Yes. There are a few odds and ends that date from later.
BEN
Like these coins.
RILEY
How odd!
BEN
Not really. It just means that the KGC kept it in use as an active repository.
CONRAD
A repository? Interesting! That may explain this.
Conrad stoops to pick up one of the box lids and turns it over.
RILEY
(excited)
There’s our friend, “J J” again.
BEN
So it is.
(Abby shoots him a look)
I’ll explain later.
(to Conrad)
How is your security here?
CONRAD
State of the art. That box outside controls more than you can see.
RILEY
(to Abby)
Pressure sensitive plates. Light beam alarm system. Heat sensors. A fly would have a difficult time in here.
BEN
Is this the only board with any writing on it?
CONRAD
(nodding)
That’s all we’ve found, and we’ve been over it very carefully.
BEN
(to Riley)
It looks like Lon never returned to this site.
(to Conrad)
Why don’t you give me your e-mail and I’ll send you a copy of what I’ve decoded so far from this journal. It’ll tell you how this all came to be here.
INT ABBY’S CAR
ABIGAIL
So, the outlaw Jesse James is tied up in this affair somehow?
BEN
Impressed?
ABIGAIL
Not really. I’ve got ancestors that knew Blackbeard the pirate.
RILEY
I once met Ted Bundy.
BEN
Blackbeard the pirate, really?
ABIGAIL
(in a sudden revelation)
You’re still after that submarine, aren’t you?
BEN
Hot on the trail.
EXT – THE FREEWAY – FROM ABOVE
As Abby’s car heads towards the lights of Baltimore, a van comes onto the freeway in the opposite direction.
Horatio and Morgan are dressed as maintenance workers.
BEN (O.S.)
I’m getting real close to that part of the story in Lon’s journal.
MORGAN
You sure about this?
HORATIO
Nothing to it. Piece of cake. And it’s going to pay dividends in spades.
Watch This Space 