Rebel Treasure forty fourth post

INT THE UNLOADING AREA
Ensconced in the shadows far from their tent prison, Mrs. Slidell and Abigail check out two parked Humvees.

MRS. SLIDELL
Must be some kind of alert.

ABIGAIL
I think it might be about my husband.

MRS. SLIDELL
He had better brought an army with him. And we better find that place you were talking about.

ABIGAIL
We’ll need both of those Hummers.

They emerge from their dark hiding place and run down to the vehicles in a low crouch. Abigail reaches hers first, enters and holds up keys in triumph.

MRS. SLIDELL
Hot damn. Mine too!

ABIGAIL
Follow me then, and stop when I do.

EXT GREENSPOT IN A ROCKY AREA
Haze already rises from the rocks baking in the morning sun. The stream bed runs straight ahead and disappears in a cleft in the rocky hillside, a cleft surrounded with green vegetation. Parked on the stream bed is a van – its back doors open and a Confederate flag decal decorating the back window.

Ben and Riley converge on it stealthily. Ben signals that the coast is clear; and Riley returns the same signal for his side. Ben eyes widen when he sees the contents.

He pulls out a miner’s helmet complete with a light. He grabs another for Riley.

RILEY
Any bat repellent? There’s sure to be bats.

BEN
(packing a satchel of goodies)
I’d settle for rebel repellent.

IN THE CLEFT
A KGC SCOUT emerges from a pit at the base of the cleft and turns to help his COMPANION.

SCOUT ONE
Another dead end.

SCOUT TWO
Still, mark it down for the scuba team to check out.

They pass from sight and the boys drop down into the pit.

INT GROTTO LIKE DEPRESSION
One hand on the wall, Ben comes to the end of his circuit of the chamber, where an entrance has been blocked by rubble.

BEN
No passage anywhere at this level.

And Riley looks up from a pool of water that continually fills but does not rise. Riley stands and peers down into the depths of the pool.

RILEY
Do you think they tried it?

BEN
They didn’t appear wet.
(giving him a fierce grin)
So, how do you want to do this?

RILEY
By remote control.

BEN
Here!

He passes him the satchel, removing first a coil of rope, pays it out and ties one end around his waist and then gives Riley the other.

BEN (CONT’D)
Current looks strong. A quick trip outbound, but I’ll need your help coming back. Wait for a double tug.

Ben steps down into the water and with his second step drops out of sight.

RILEY
Ben!!!

Ben bobs to the surface, sputtering water.

BEN
It’s deep, but that’s good.

He takes a deep breath and dives.

UNDERWATER TUNNEL
As he travels from the grotto the light dims. He surfaces and discovers an air pocket at the top of the tunnel. And soon reaches the end of the rope. Ahead he can see a ledge. He also hears the sound of wind whistling and water falling.

He tugs the line twice, takes a gulp of air, and kicks off for his trip back.

THE GROTTO
Ben parts the water and crawls up and out with Riley’s help.

BEN
Tricky, but doable. You up for a challenge?

RILEY
Is there a way without getting wet?

BEN
Getting wet is the least of our worries. The passage continues, but there’s also a water fall.

RILEY
You’re dragging me down that tunnel, and then over a cliff?

BEN
In a pinch, it may be the quickest way. And I’m feeling in a pinch.

RILEY
Understood.

With the rope tied between them, first Ben then Riley enter the cold water.

[next pt 45]

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Rebel Treasure forty second post

INT THE AIRLINER – ELECTRONICS BAY

PILOT (O.S.)
Coming up on New Mexico.

Agent Sadusky ushers the boys into the plane’s nerve center.

BEN
Communications or intelligence?

SADUSKY
Both. Actually it’s on loan from the Dept. Of Homeland Security.

BEN
You mean we’re dealing with some terrorist organization?

SADUSKY
A home grown one. Thanks to you, you’ve alerted us to a clear and present danger.

BEN
The new KGC isn’t stopping with a little gold or the state of New Mexico.

SADUSKY
No. They’ve got bigger plans.

Riley hovers behind the TECHNICIAN seated in a cockpit of monitors, keyboards, joysticks, etc.

RILEY
Can I play?

The technician looks up in confusion, and over to Sadusky. Sadusky gives him the nod of approval. The technician slides out of his seat and cedes it to Riley. Riley seizes a joystick and commences rotating the column, and soon the image on the display overhead begins to spiral.

TECHNICIAN
Do you even know what you’re doing?

RILEY
Sure. I’m redirecting this spy satellite.

BEN
Look for signs of an old railroad roadbed crossing this desert up from Mexico.

Riley scrolls the satellite image slowly across the viewer.

RILEY
Here’s a likely candidate.

He enlarges the image and a short north/south dash appears.

BEN
It’s headed in the right direction at least. Zoom back out.

The image expands to show more area.

RILEY
These series of smudges seem to line up.

BEN
And the top one lines up on a creek. Let’s follow this canyon.

Riley focuses in on the narrow valley and scrolls slowly upward. A Hummer emerges from a rock wall, its headlights switch from high to low beam.

RILEY
Eureka!

Riley dials up an infra-red image of the area and superimposes the results.

BEN
(his finger on a glowing blotch)
That’s got to be a generator.

Behind the duo, Sandusky signals to his squad who silently slip out of the communications center.

RILEY
All these other sources add up to a ring around what just may well be the vault we’re looking for.

BEN
Which means they haven’t gotten in yet.

Ben enters data from the readout into his GPS.

SADUSKY
Excellent work boys. And now it’s time we parted.

BEN
What do you mean?

SADUSKY
Simply. It’s time for the professionals to step in and do what they do.

Sadusky turns to go, and the boys are quick to follow down the

SPIRAL STAIRCASE

SADUSKY
Listen, if you promise to behave, I’ll let you see us off.

BEN
No, you listen. I have every reason to believe that my wife is down there. I’m going!

They sweep through:

FIRST CLASS

SADUSKY
I’m sorry, Ben. You’re a civilian.

BEN
So, deputize me!

RILEY
Yeah! Deputize us!

SADUSKY
Not possible!

He parts the curtain and enters into

COACH

Now a pre-jump area, bathed in an eerie red light. Two GUARDS seize Ben and Riley as they walk through.

SADUSKY
Remember, best behavior.

PILOT (O.S.)
We’re at altitude.

Sadusky’s team of agents are all suited up for a parachute drop. Sadusky strips off his three piece suit, revealing his jump uniform and straps on his chute.

A section of the tail cracks open and a straight corridor defined by the aisle yaws open to the night time sky.

A green light flashes and one by one they troop down the ramp and out into space. Before joining them Sadusky tosses Ben and Riley a salute.

BEN
(to the guards)
Can we at least watch the show upstairs?

As the ramp closes, the guards step aside and allow them to pass back into first class.

[next pt 43]

Rebel Treasure twentyninth post

INT WAITING AREA – DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Abigail peers through the glass at the climbing plane.

SADUSKY (O.S.) (a shout)
Mrs. Gates!

Agent Sadusky and his assisting agents swarm to where she is.

SADUSKY (CONT’D)
Was your husband on that plane?

She steps away without a word, Sadusky follows her.

SADUSKY (CONT’D)
He never notified my office that he was leaving the country. He’s broken the condition of our little agreement.

ABIGAIL
It was an emergency, I assure you.

Agent Dawes joins the group.

AGENT DAWES
(to Sadusky)
Flight 22 to Paris.

SADUSKY
(to Abigail)
You know I could have that plane turned back.

ABIGAIL
Somehow I don’t think you really want to do that.

SADUSKY
That’s right. No sense inconveniencing upstanding citizens. But your husband is going to find a warm reception for him and he’s going to wish we caught him here.

INT COACH OF AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
Riley’s laptop BEEPS once and Ben opens one eye. Since his friend doesn’t stir, he reaches over and lifts the lid.

In a corner of the screen a box flashes the text: “Plan B working. Abigail.”
And below that another message:
“Key found. Show results? Y/N”

STEWARDESS
(whispering over Riley)
Care for a beverage?

BEN
No thanks. I’m settling in for a good read.

Across the aisle Rance watches the laptop with interest. He sports a high turtle neck, the better to hide his tatoos.

INT THE CSS GRAY WHALE – DAY

LON (V.O.)
Her exterior, magnificent as it was, did not prepare me for what she contained inside.

Lon follows Ross from station to station on the operations deck of the vessel. There is an air of quiet efficiency, maintained by the crew, hand picked by Ross.

ROSS
We’ll confer later and assign your men to suitable positions.

Jimmy enters from aft.

JIMMY
Lon, this ship has two engines, one forward and one aft, each drives a propeller.

ROSS
They make her quite fast.

LON
How fast?

ROSS
Say 25 knots.

Mr. Clay descends the ladder onto the operations deck. Ross notices him and goes immediately to him.

ROSS (CONT’D)
Mr. Clay! Glad to see you. Have you any news about my payment?

CLAY
We’re very close, Mr. Keenan. I should think by tomorrow.
(He pulls Lon aside)
Well, Captain Turner. How do you like her?

LON
She’s a wonder, but frankly I’m concerned. I am not fully convinced that she’s seaworthy.

CLAY
Count on it Ross knows his business. But for now, I have another project.

LON
I knew it! We’re errand boys again!

CLAY
And a very important errand. I don’t think you’d be surprised to hear that we are losing the war.

Lon registers shock.

CLAY (CONT’D)
Come now, you’ve heard the news. It’s all bad. We need to take measures for the future of the cause.

LON
You mean – a guerilla war?

CLAY
Yes. Not immediately, but eventually, and we’ll need to be prepared.

LON
More gold.

Clay nods.

CLAY
We are going to take everything we have here in France out.

LON
How much?

CLAY
Three and a half million, minus what we owe for this vessel.

LON
I mean, how much does it weigh?

CLAY
I’d say a couple of tons.

LON
We can easily swap it in for ballast then.

[next pt 30]

Rebel Treasure twentyeighth post

INT BEN’S STUDY – NIGHT

BEN
(very frustrated)
For crying out loud!

Abigail comes in on the run.

ABIGAIL
What happened?
(not seeing a cause for his outburst)
What’s the matter, Babe?

BEN
(holds up the journal)
Lon was just about to describe his new command. And he switched ciphers.

ABIGAIL No key?

BEN
None. Zip. Nada! I got to go over there.

ABIGAIL
What?

BEN
I’ve got to go to France. She’s there. I know she is.

She gives him “a look.”

BEN (CONT’D)
I’m serious, Abigail!

ABIGAIL
I see. Is there any thing I can do to help?

BEN
An extra pair of eyes would be handy.

She picks up the journal.

ABIGAIL
I’ll scan these pages and convert it to a text file and between us we should be able to crack it. Meanwhile, you get some sleep, we’ve got that meeting in the morning.

BEN
Hon, I’m not a two year old.

ABIGAIL
No, you’re not, you just sound like one.

THE GATE’S KITCHEN – EARLY MORNING

Ben picks up his coffee cup and drains the last drop, sets it down and strikes out five words from a column on a paper full of keyword combinations. Abigail sits across from him, also in her bathrobe, hard at work on her laptop. A news program drones on from a TV set installed under the cabinet.

BEN
(refilling his cup)
What about you? Anything?

ABIGAIL
Making progress. I’m just rechecking the text file now for scanning errors. Maybe Riley can program something to hack it.

TV ANNOUNCER
A report just in this morning – a gold heist–
(both look to the screen)
occurred overnight at a local museum. Details when we return.

Riley enters.

RILEY
What’s this? A pajama party? Why didn’t you tell me?

As the program is resuming, Ben holds up a hand to hush him.

TV ANNOUNCER
The curator of the museum Mr. Conrad Toombs —

ABIGAIL
Hey, that’s–

TV ANNOUNCER
–tells us that an exhibit had been broken into last night and burglarized. Stolen were 16 crates of gold ingots. The gold had been found —

BEN
Oh, crap! I’m going now!
(shuts the TV off)
I’m not going to get caught up here in any investigation.

ABIGAIL
Do you think that’s wise? You’ll end up a suspect for sure.

BEN
As if I’m not one already. You know I didn’t take it and I know I didn’t take it.

RILEY
Actually I don’t know if that’s true or not, so you better take me with you.

ABIGAIL
If you’re going to France, I’m going to Mexico.

BEN
What?

ABIGAIL
You heard me.

BEN
What are you talking about?

ABIGAIL
Lon was there after the war. He says so in your first journal. I did some checking and the KGC was headquartered there then.

BEN
(realization sets in)
And the perfect spot to look for a paper trail, perhaps their archive.

RILEY
I’ll go with her if you like.

BEN
No, I need you along with me.

ABIGAIL
Don’t worry, I won’t be alone. I owe a visit to a colleague at the Mexican archives.

RILEY
I’ve always wanted to see Paris. When do we leave?

[next pt 29]

Rebel Treasure twentyfourth post cut scene

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.

[next pt 25]

Rebel Treasure twentythird post

INT HQ OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE – HORATIO’S OFFICE
A single desklamp sheds its cone of light on Horatio and his desk full of work, when Morgan enters.

MORGAN
I’m back.

HORATIO
I see. Where’ve you been?

MORGAN
I dropped the boys off at the FBI building.

This brings Horatio to his feet.

HORATIO
Did you follow them in?

MORGAN
No, I couldn’t think of a good enough excuse. I tried to stake out the lobby, but Riley was there so I just left.

HORATIO
Just wonderful. More bad news.
(Morgan reacts)
Someone found the body of your trespasser.

MORGAN
Bound to happen, I was all for dumping him out in the boonies, but Ma figured what better place than his own property.

HORATIO
Well, just maybe it’s not so bad news now. Sooner than we planned, but–
She left the items you told her to?

MORGAN
I’m sure. You know Ma, she’s thorough.

HORATIO
Good. We’re going to call in the tip.

MORGAN
What, now? We haven’t found the central deposit yet!

HORATIO
Oh, but we have. We have a positive ID on an artifact.

MORGAN
You’re going to burn Ben and his friend?

HORATIO
Yup, right after we get back from taking back what belongs to the KGC.

INT ABBY’S CAR – NIGHT
Abby watches the boys load the trunk and then pile in.

RILEY
Dibs on the back seat!
(to Abby with a yawn)
Mind if I sack out?

ABIGAIL
(laughing)
No, go right ahead, just no snoring.

BEN
Watch it chum. She has this thing about snoring.

Ben slides in beside her. She looks longingly at him, but he just leans over and kisses her rather perfunctorily.

ABIGAIL
Such enthusiasm.

BEN
Sorry, Babe. I’m on autopilot.

ABIGAIL
And pure adrenaline. I think I’ll call the museum curator and postpone our meeting.

BEN
You called the curator?

ABIGAIL
You betcha. He’s coming in early tomorrow just for us.

BEN
I could kiss you.

ABIGAIL
You had better, that other was one lousy kiss.

[next pt 24] You may skip this one as it was cut, and the script before and after was changed. Just because it may be interesting.

[next pt 25] The flow goes this way.

Rebel Treasure twentysecond post

PARKING GARAGE RAMP
Ben and Riley slow to a trot, and Morgan finally catches up to them.

BEN
Good! With three of us, we should corner him. I’ll slip behind him from the exit here. On my signal, you two charge him from the front.

They split up to their designated positions.

RILEY AND MORGAN
stop at the entrance and look back. Morgan motions for Riley to stay and goes out to peer around the corner.

MORGAN’S POV
The black pickup rests by the curb. Rance is just entering the vehicle and fires up the engine.

Morgan sees Ben burst out of the exit and make for the tailgate of the truck. Morgan steps out to break into a run, but trips and falls, entangling Riley’s legs and bringing him down too.

EXT. BEN AND THE TRUCK

The truck revs and slams into gear. Ben pours it on and just manages to hook his hands onto the tailgate.

The truck fishtails out into traffic with Ben clinging on. He manages to get his feet on the bumper, and with a heave, catapults himself over the tailgate and into the truck-bed.

Traffic, stopped at a light, forces Rance to slam on the brakes, which slams Ben feet first into the cab. As Ben looks up he catches a glimpse of the close-cropped Rance. A tatoo of twin SS lightning bolts graces the back of his neck.

Ben casts about the truck-bed and comes up with a sharp sliver of metal. He hangs over the side and punctures first one rear tire, then the other. As the tires flatten and settle on their rims, Ben hops down and runs forward, just as the light changes and Rance begins to move.

Ben hears a low HISS, and is shocked to see the tires re-inflate, and the door handle he was about to grab, slips from his grasp, as the pickup roars away.

Riley and Morgan join Ben.

RILEY
Did you see that?

MORGAN
Who was that guy?

RILEY
You’re beginning to sound like me.

BEN
I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.

INT. FBI HEADQUARTERS – AGENT SADUSKY’S OFFICE – DAY
AGENT SADUSKY reclines in his chair with his feet elevated on his desk, a wet paper towel draped over his eyes. Ben arrives at the open door and knocks politely. Sadusky swings his feet to the floor and removes the towel.

BEN
Rough day on the job?

SADUSKY
Just doing my impression of blind justice. What to you want, Gates? You here to confess?

BEN
Confess to what?

SADUSKY
What you did with all that treasure, of course.

BEN
I told you all I know. And you know I didn’t take anything.

SADUSKY
Well, come in and take a load off.
(Ben seats himself)
Just so you know, I’ve run out of suspects so I’m going back through my list and checking it twice, and you’re pretty close to the top in the naughty department.

BEN
Bring it on, I’ve nothing to hide.

SADUSKY
So what are you here for?

BEN
I want to report some strange goings-on.

SADUSKY
If this is some UFO sighting, you’ve got the wrong department.

BEN
No, this is a KGC sighting. Have you ever heard of the Knights of the Golden Circle?

SADUSKY
Okay, I’ve heard of them. Aren’t they some defunct Southern group?

BEN
Yes. But I’m beginning to wonder if it might have resurrected itself. Some friends and I were checking out leads to a buried treasure in the Smoky Mountains and were assaulted by men in helicopters. And one of them followed us here to D.C.

SADUSKY
In a helicopter?

BEN
No, a pickup. And one that was decked out with re-inflatable tires.

SADUSKY
Impressive. What connects these incidents to the KGC.

BEN
The treasures are purported to have been buried by them. And if it were still around they would understandably be interested in protecting their caches.

Sadusky turns around to his computer terminal and starts a query.

SADUSKY
It says here that some of our agents out west are tasked with keeping a watch on some neo-Nazi types going by that acronym.(he types some more)
I’ll report your sighting to them.

BEN
Neo-Nazi fits. I got a look at one of our assailants. He had an SS tattoo on his neck.

SADUSKY
I’ll keep an eye out. In any event I’ll be calling.

[next pt 23]

Rebel Treasure sixteenth post

EXT. MAIL STEAMER, OFF GULF COAST OF PANAMA – DAY
Title: April 1861
Early morning haze rises from the water along the shore, giving the appearance that the land is floating on a low cloud.
Lon paces the foredeck in his U. S. uniform, deep in thought. At Romeo’s approach, he stops his pacing and goes to meet him.

ROMEO
The captain’s steward told me that the mail steamer that passed us yesterday is the one that’ll be taking the gold North.

LON
Good. We’re in time.

INT. SHIPPING OFFICE – CRISTOBAL, PANAMA – DAY
A more than puzzled look greets Lon in the face of the balding, fortyish MR. HARVEY, seated behind a desk piled high with shipping manifests. He looks away from Lon to his SECRETARY who had ushered him in.

MR. HARVEY
(to the Secretary)
What’s the meaning of this interruption? Can’t you see I am busy?

SECRETARY
I believe, your standing order requires me to present immediately anyone sent by Mr. Clay.

MR. HARVEY
(flustered but unrepentent)
Quite right! So you have, now begone!

As the secretary retreats behind the door, Harvey thrusts an open palm out to Lon.

MR. HARVEY (CONT’D)
Your bona fides?

Lon removes a strip of paper from his wallet and passes it to him. Mr. Harvey holds it up to the lamp on his desk, the heat of which causes a message to appear. He grunts in satisfaction.

MR. HARVEY (CONT’D)
And what can I do for you, Mr. Turner?

LON
Some information. Mr. Clay informed me that you would be able to put a ship at my disposal.

MR. HARVEY
You’ll have to make other arrangements, I am afraid.

LON
Sir?

MR. HARVEY
Haven’t you heard the news?
(Lon shakes his head)
Here!

He shoves a newspaper headline at him, it reads:
“The War Begun”

LON
It finally happened! When?

MR. HARVEY
Two weeks ago. Baltimore is in flames. Norfolk is ours. Old Abe is quaking in his boots.

Mr. Harvey’s jubilation sobers as he notices Lon’s downcast demeanor.

MR. HARVEY (CONT’D)
That upsets your plans?

LON
Mine. And those of our fellow Knights. I was charged with scouting out the possibility of seizing a certain shipment before it was delivered to New York.

Mr. Harvey’s gaze wanders to his window and the ship moored to the dock.

MR. HARVEY
Ah! But she is not going to New York! Washington has ordered that the gold be taken to the capital via Annapolis.

LON
Interesting!
(he walks to the window)
I think I’ll ask her captain the favor of transporting me and my servant back to the Academy.
Can you get a message right away to Mr. Clay for me?

[next pt 17]

Rebel Treasure fifteenth post

EXT. THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS – DAY
Morgan’s SUV bounces along a rough logging road, hugging the side of a mountain. An helicopter passes them, heading away from the mountain with a log suspended from wires beneath her fuselage.

BEN
Well, I’m glad to see we won’t be running into any logging trucks up here.

MOUNTAIN CLEARING
The trio descends into the clearing dotted with wild flowers via a pathway that parallels a stream that pours over a low falls into a pool.

MORGAN
It’s gotta be somewhere in this clearing.

Ben, map in hand, scans the area and nods.

BEN
Morgan, you check that side of the clearing for a “JJ” mark. Riley, you go down the other and look for this horseshoe reference.

RILEY
Horseshoe?

BEN
(points to the map)
Fer a cheval. French for horseshoe. Like the bowie knife. I’ll take the other and we’ll all meet in the middle.

CENTER OF THE MOUNTAIN CLEARING
Riley arrives first, humming “Rocky Mountain High” to himself over the low CRACKLE of the detector. Ben joins him.

RILEY
Anything?

BEN
No. You?

Riley shakes his head. Morgan catches up with them.

BEN (CONT’D)
Anything?

MORGAN
No.

Ben takes up his binoculars, plants himself and makes a slow 360 degree turn.

BEN
Hold on! I see something!

BEN’S P.O.V.
Farther on in the meadow lies a good size depression in the earth.

THE DEPRESSION
While Ben and Morgan stand on the rim, Riley walks down into it, scanning with his detector.

RILEY
(over his shoulder)
I’m getting a phenomenal amount of beer can pull-tabs here!
(turns around)
Definitely the mother of all keggers!

BEN
I’m beginning to feel we’ve missed out on this one.

MORGAN
But don’t they come in pairs?

BEN
That’s been the KGC M.O. I think this was a chance find, and unfortunately whoever found it may have destroyed the leading clues.

Morgan charges down into the depression and turns over a clod of earth, then another and another.

BEN (CONT’D)
(to Riley)
You continue to sweep this area, I’m going to head down the hill.

Ben strides up and away from the depression, while Morgan and Riley comb through the rubble.

BEN ALONE
In the quiet of the downward side of the hill, Ben has disappeared from the sight of his friends. A stiff breeze at his back almost blows him along.
Ahead a large boulder in front of a stand of trees is the focus of his advance. Then he hears it, the WOP WOP of a helicopter, as it pops up from behind the stand of trees. Slung beneath its fuselage is a log suspended by two wires that hold it parallel and crossways to the ground, and like a grim reaper it is coming straight for him.
Ben runs to the left, away from the path of the log. But the intelligence directing it corrects the vector as it closes in. However, this sudden movement of the copter carries the log away from Ben, and he clears it easily.
The helicopter accelerates away continuing on a course that will take it to where Riley and Morgan are at work. Seeing this, Ben strikes back up the hill to try to warn them.
He surmounts the rise in time to see the pair running toward the trees away from the helicopter.

MOUNTAIN CLEARING
Ben arrives at the rim of the depression and there tries to attract the attention of the pilot of the helicopter.
The helicopter reacts, turning towards him. Ben, seeing his success, lights out for the woods in the opposite direction. The CHOP of the blades crescendoes as it bores in on him.
But instead of fleeing into the woods, Ben stops and faces the incoming log. And at the critical moment jumps up to it and gains a hold, from which he is able to clamber up on top of the log.
In answer, the copter begins to rise and accelerate for the trees. But before it can ram Ben into them, Ben finds and activates the quick release for one of the wires, and rides that end to the ground where he slips off. When the log falls, it pulls the copter off balance and into a spin. The other end of the log releases, dropping it the ground with a crash, and Ben flips out of the way in a nimble tuck and roll. Before the pilot can regain control of the copter, Ben disappears into the woods.

MOUNTAIN ROAD
Riley and Morgan tumble out of the woods onto the road where they left the SUV.
As they throw open the doors to the SUV and pile in, Ben emerges from the woods on the other side of the trail. He enters on the driver’s side, pushing Morgan to the middle.

INT. MORGAN’S SUV
All are breathless, and panting, and listening, as Ben cranks up the engine.

RILEY
Did you hear something?

MORGAN
Besides the engine?

BEN
(reacting to a TWANG)
That!

Ben slams the vehicle into reverse, and the SUV scoots backwards just as a log end crashes down onto the place they’d just been. He brakes at the edge of the cliff. Then as the other end of the log topples in their direction, Ben guns the engine and cranks the wheel in a hard left turn, sending up a rooster tail of dirt and rock. In its descent the log clips the rear corner of the SUV, bouncing the occupants off of the ceiling.
With the way now clear ahead, Ben floors it.
The scenery flips past at a furious clip, their minds whirling as fast as the wheels of their vehicle.

RILEY
Who were those guys?

MORGAN
What about the treasure?

RILEY
Who were those guys?

BEN
Better yet, who guards an empty hole?

[next pt 16]

Rebel Treasure fourteenth post

INT. HEMSLEY’S TAVERN KITCHEN – NIGHT
The kitchen bustles with activity. Romeo is seated at a crowded servants’ table. Lon talks with his childhood friend and family slave.

ROMEO
Bless me, but haven’t you grown. And such a gentleman.

LON
I’m not the only one. Look at you, you’re taller than me.

A SERVING GIRL delivers a steaming platter to Romeo. She smiles at him coyly and drops a curtsy before dashing away.

LON (CONT’D)
How are things to home?

ROMEO
Mostly the same. Though Sissy done had her twins.

LON
Twins?

ROMEO
Yes sir. A boy and a girl. And there’s gonna be a powerful cane crop this year.

Romeo takes a bite of food.

LON
I can’t wait to see home again. It’s been a long time since we sat around the sugar house together.

ROMEO
Oh, we’re not a-headed home.

LON
What?

Romeo puts his fork down, realizing that he’s said more than he should.

ROMEO
Now, I shouldn’t have said anything about that. It isn’t my place. Massa Clay–

Before Romeo finishes talking, Lon is on his feet and out of the kitchen.

HEMSLEY’S TAVERN
The CLATTER of silverware and the BUZZ of voices lend a cheery tone to the busy tavern. Mr. Clay occupies a cozy table in the corner by a roaring fire.

LON
What’s going on? Romeo tells me that we are not going home.

Clay eats a spoonful of the chowder while waving to Lon to take his seat. Without ceremony, Lon plops down and tries to wait for his answer, but loses patience.

LON (CONT’D)
Did my father send you to encourage me to resign?

Clay looks around for eavesdroppers.

CLAY
Please, Mr. Turner, a little discretion.

LON
Are you going to answer my question?

CLAY
First, let us eat. I am famished.

LON
And I, sir, am famished for the truth!

Clay drops his spoon into the bowl and pushes it away.

CLAY
All right then. No. Your father did not send me to influence you. But he did send me–

LON
For what?

CLAY
I see another uniform in your future, Mr. Turner.
(pauses as his words sink in)
I am authorized to offer you a commission, when the time is right, in the Navy of our new Southern nation.

LON
And why would I not be going home, then?

CLAY
Quite simply, we have a mission for you.

The interest and excitement on Lon’s face glows almost as bright as the fire behind him.

LON
Where?

CLAY
We think you should take a tour of the Caribbean. There are some sons of the South serving in the U. S. Army down in Panama, and we want you to contact them and make a similar offer.

Lon grows thoughtful, dropping his eyes to stare at his bowl of chowder.

LON
Would this new nation have an interest in acquiring a shipment of gold?

Clay’s eyebrows rise in surprise, and he leans forward.

LON (CONT’D)
I have heard that every spring a shipment crosses Panama on the way to New York from California. I could keep my eyes open.

CLAY
Do that! A nation runs on the yellow metal. I shall contact my fellow “knights” and we’ll see what they can do to help. I have a feeling that you are going to go far in your profession.

The blaze from the fireplace illuminates the pin on Clay’s lapel – a golden circle.

[next pt 15]