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SCENE 1 "UNIVERSITY OFFICE"

Open on a map of the world covered in pins. Slowly pan right to to show busy college professor Henry’s boots perched on the corner of his desk. Continue until we see Henry reviewing a stack of reports and thumbing through a large book in the dim lamp light. His desk in inhabited by a laptop, lamp, chessboard and a globe. To the left of his desk, under the pin-riddled map, is a record player which is playing "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin. It is quite late for a Saturday. Henry is wearing a tweed jacket with worn elbow patches and a loose necktie. His spectacles are perched on his nose and we can see he is quite tired

although visibly determined to complete his work.

Henry is interrupted by Caroline, his secretary, who walks into the shot. She is a young attractive woman who cares for Henry and wishes he had more of a social life. Currently,

she is clearly upset and has her arms on her hips holding a memo, letter and plane ticket.

Henry finally looks up and furrows his brow at Caroline. After a long sigh he looks back to his report and prompts her.

HENRY

What is it this time? A lecture

request? Did I miss another

meeting? Let me guess - the Dean’s

office -

CAROLINE

I’m afraid not Dr. J-

Caroline is abruptly cut off by Henry.

HENRY

For the thousandth time, please

just call me Henry.

CAROLINE

Fine, Henry... This is far more

important than any old lecture

anyways.

HENRY

And what makes you say that?

Caroline tosses the papers onto the desk. Henry looks up to her surprised then down to the documents.

HENRY

A plane ticket to Japan? What’s

this?

The ticket surprise causes Henry to remove his feet from the corner of the desk and sit up in his chair.

CAROLINE

Well, believe it or not, they are

finally executing your

grandfather’s will, in Kyoto, Japan

of all places! You are the only

named beneficiary and need to be

there in person to claim anything.

I’ve taken the liberty of clearing

your schedule next week.

HENRY

Caroline... My grandfather passed

away over fifteen years ago. And...

And... I can’t just up and take off

to Japan! I’ve got papers to

grade, lectures to prepare...

Caroline cuts him off, leans in and places her hand over his that was holding the documents.

CAROLINE

You need to do this okay? This is

important! You haven’t taken off in

years and the Dean has already

approved your leave of absence, and

Colin will be so excited to see

you!

HENRY

Colin? Colin McCraw? That kid who

was here two semesters ago? The one

who was determined to pass my and

every other class with one hundred

percent credit? What’s he got to do

with this?

CAROLINE

He’s studying in Kyoto! He is so

excited that you wanna get coffee

with him!

HENRY (Sighs)

Oh Caroline, how is it that I can always count on you to do exactly what I don’t want you to?

CAROLINE

Hmmm... I dunno Henry, it’s a gift!

Caroline leans up and turns to leave before she has an after thought. Leaning on the door frame she queries Henry.

CAROLINE Oh and Dr. J-

Henry!

 

HENRY

CAROLINE

Sorry... Anyways, Henry, they made a very specific request that you bring your grandfather’s diary, apparently it is mentioned in the will. Other than that, it’s late, I’m going home and so should you!

HENRY

If I am going to be gone for a week

the last thing I should be doing is

leaving early!

CAROLINE

Leaving at four is early, five is

expected, six is acceptable, seven

is late and since it is eight

fifteen, on a Saturday, I can say

with great confidence you are

certifiably insane.

HENRY

Good night Caroline.

CAROLINE Good night Henry...

Caroline departs and Henry looks down to the ticket for a moment and then walks over to a bookcase adjacent to his desk and pulls out an old cigar box. Lifting a piece of cloth out of the box he reveals the contents: the

diary. Plopping back down in his chair Henry leans back and ponders aloud.

HENRY

Now what would they want with this?

The camera pans to the map again and slowly zooms in on Japan. The scene fades to a flier with outline of Japan in the background, it then pans left to reveal Henry standing outside a humble Japanese coffee shop. Henry is awaiting the arrival of his old student: Colin McCraw.

SCENE 2 "JAPANESE CAFE"

Open on fade from previous scene and pan to Henry standing outside the Japanese coffee shop. Henry is in Kyoto, Japan awaiting Colin McCraw, an former student of his obsessed with perfection. Henry is now wearing dark khaki pants and the same boots from before. He is sporting a worn leather jacket and casual shirt with a skinny tie loosely hanging from his neck. His hair shows signs of travel. Henry checks his watch and sighs, he begins to walk away. The camera shifts left to Colin Mcraw, a young, bumbling, college-aged student. He is the very definition of the word eager. He is wearing a pair of worn jeans and a hoodie, under the jacket is a messenger bag worn to the side. He cautiously tries to draw Henry’s attention.

COLIN

Sumimasen? Sumima- Excuse me?

Doctor? Dr. J-

Henry turns and cuts off Colin.

HENRY

Henry is just fine Mr. McCraw. You

haven’t been a student of mine in

years.

Henry walks up and extends his hand. Colin eagerly reaches out to make contact and shakes Henry’s hand using both of his.

COLIN

Oh, okay, um... Henry it is then!

It is great to see you again sir!

This is the cafe I was telling you

about in my email. Let’s get a

seat!

The two men enter the cafe and take a seat. As soon as they settle in a waitress rushes over with water and towels. Colin quickly and impressively orders for the two in Japanese.

COLIN

Doc, is coffee okay?

HENRY Black please.

COLIN

Sumimasen, Koohii o futatsu

kudasai.

Henry is clearly impressed by his former student’s comfort level of the Japanese language.

HENRY

Not too bad Colin, how long have

you been here in Kyoto?

COLIN

Only about six months now sir, I

pick up on the language easily.

HENRY

How many hours do you study it a

day?

COLIN

Oh, I don’t know, three? Four?

HENRY

Well it is certainly paying off. I

know it helps. What brings you here

anyways? You never showed even the

slightest interest in Japanese

culture during any of my

cartography lessons.

COLIN

Well, it’s not the love of country

that brought me here Doc. It’s

well, I hope I can trust you with

this Doc. I can trust you right?

HENRY

Yes, of course Colin, is everything

all right?

COLIN

Oh of course. It’s just that I am

working on a fairly confidential

project.

HENRY (Laughs)

I’m sorry I didn’t realize you had put on double-o status since college.

COLIN Doc! I’m serious!

Colin leans in close to Henry and lowers his voice.

COLIN

Look this is pretty exciting stuff

I’m working on! Surely you’ve heard

of the Imperial Regalia of Japan?

HENRY

If you thought that laughing at you

was insulting, how are you gonna

feel when I call you insane?

COLIN

Listen! You know the tale, the

Imperial Regalia of Japan, also

known as the three sacred treasures

of Japan consist of the...

COLIN & HENRY

The sword of valor, the mirror or

wisdom and the jewel of

benevolence.

HENRY

Yes, and I also know the story of

the three little pigs.

COLIN

Look, I know as much as the next

guy that this is the stuff of

legends, but there is ample

evidence that the Japanese

government has all three items, the

sword, mirror and jewel, in

safekeeping.

HENRY

And it is also believed that

Ninigi-no-Mikoto brought these

items to Earth when he was sent to

pacify Japan by his grandmother,

the legendary sun goddess

Amaterasu. What’s your point? A

legend is legendary for a reason.

What’s this got to do with you?

COLIN

Well, it is commonly believed that

the sword is said to be at the

Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, the mirror

in the Grand Shrine of Ise in Mie

Prefecture and the stone...

HENRY

Is in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo!

Yes, I’ve heard this bedtime story.

COLIN

Haha, well I can tell you that’s

where the stone was in 1940!

HENRY

What exactly are you implying

Colin?

COLIN

Recent evidence has surfaced that

the jewel was moved during the

second world war to a safe location

far from Tokyo and someplace that

would be relatively safe from a

nuclear attack!

HENRY

You mean... here... in Kyoto.

COLIN

Yes! And my employer has three

quarters of a map leading to the

supposed hiding place. He obtained

the map from the estate of Koichi

Kido who was Lord Keeper of the

Privy Seal of Japan during the war.

He was responsible for the

treasures!

HENRY

Well, I’ve got to tell you Colin,

that’s one hell of a story, but

what about that last quarter of the

map? I presume it is the one

showing the jewel’s final hiding

place.

COLIN

Um... Yeah, that has been kind of a

downer lately, but our expedition

leader has shown great confidence

that we could be on the verge of a

great breakthrough!

HENRY

I can’t say I’m not impressed by

you and your employer’s ambitions

on what seems to be a wild goose

chase. I wish you the best of luck

in finding the missing map quarter.

COLIN

Thanks, Doc... Um... I mean Henry.

I hope so too. We don’t have much

to do until we find it.

HENRY

Then Godspeed kid. I’ve got to be

off, I’ve got business later today.

It was nice catching up.

COLIN

No problem. I understand sir! It

was good seeing you again.

HENRY Likewise Colin.

The waitress comes to pick up their empty cups but before Colin has a chance to speak Henry pipes up in impressive Japanese to cover the ticket.

HENRY

Domo arigato. Ikura deska?

The waitress responds and Henry pays.

COLIN

Wow Doc, I didn’t know you studied

Japanese.

HENRY

I didn’t - looks like you aren’t

the only quick learner. Say kid,

did you ever get that perfect one

hundred percent you were going for

in college?

COLIN

Well, funny you mention that. You

once gave me a 95% on an

assignment, I hate to tell you

those were to only points keeping

me from my goal.

HENRY

Oh Colin, I don’t recall that.

Terribly sorry. I hope you don’t

hold that against me.

COLIN

Oh no sir, just a silly goal.

HENRY

Well you take care kid. Sayanara.

COLIN

Sayanara.

Henry exits the restaurant and reaches into his jacket pocket and removes his grandfather’s diary. After thumbing through it for a moment he comes across a quarter page of a map taped to a diary page. It depicts several rectangles with an "X" over what seems to be a grave. Additionally, there is a sketch of a magatama, a comma shaped jewel that matches the description of the jewel of benevolence. On the

opposite page it is written: Be careful! Use your head! Hats off to the one who finds it! Henry looks up from the diary with a grim look on his face and mutters a single question.

HENRY

What in God’s name have I gotten

myself into?

SCENE 3 "SHARED SENTIMENTS"

From the cafe, Henry hails a cab and heads to the specific location annotated in the letter about the will. The letter is shown on camera while Henry is in the cab. Henry’s thumb covers the greeting. The letter instructs Henry to meet with a representative of the lawyer at Matsura park on that date at precisely three in the afternoon.

Henry gets out at the park and checks his watch. The time reads half past two. He analyzes the situation and sits on a bench in the corner of the dirt park. Henry picks up a newspaper that was lying in the bench and begins to peruse it. Seconds later, a figure wearing a black suit and dark sunglasses appears behind the paper with his arms clasped in front of him. His name is Carl Fisk.

FISK

You’re early Doctor.

Henry lowers the paper and glances at the man in black.

HENRY

I have a great respect for

punctuality.

Henry stands and offers his hand.

HENRY

How do you do? Henry -

FISK

(Shaking Henry’s hand)

Carl Fisk. My employer shares the

same sentiments for keeping a tight

schedule. Shall we?

HENRY

Let’s...

Feeling cautiously on edge, Henry reluctantly follows Fisk. The shot zooms out as the pair walk away.

HENRY

So, is it far? Where exactly are we

going?

FISK

No, now please Doctor, no more

questions.

Henry looks taken aback by Fisk’s curt manner. Nevertheless he hesitantly follows the black-clad man in silence for the duration of the trip. Fisk leads him across a busy highway and up the side of a mountain. The camera follows their

backs and fades several times in a montage documenting their journey up the mountain until they come out onto a clearing.

SCENE 4 "PERIL ON THE MOUNTAIN"

Henry, led by Fisk enters a clearing with a Japanese canopy above a stone citadel. Atop the citadel stands Dr. Jonas Cogsworth. He is a tall, dark-skinned bearded man who is a year senior to Henry. He is sharply dressed and has his long hair tied in a tight ponytail. He wears a vest over his

shirt and tie and is casually swinging a silver pocket watch. Below, on Henry’s level is an additional body guard in a black suit named Cage. The two men take positions on either side of Henry when he looks up to see who is perched atop the citadel.

HENRY Cogsworth?!

COGSWORTH

Henry, Henry, Henry. My dear Henry.

How are you my boy? It has been far

too long.

HENRY

Not long enough by my count

Cogsworth! What’s the meaning of

all this? What’s going on here and

what do you have to do with my

grandfather’s will?

COGSWORTH

So many questions Henry. Always the

quizzical one. Rest assured all of

your queries will all be answered

in due time. But of course I didn’t

bring you here to see the sights

now did I? I need something from

you first.

The diary.

 

HENRY

COGSWORTH

A quick learner Doctor. And as soon as you give me the diary I can

begin the life of fame and riches that I deserve. I will not let my self succumb to your defeat again. As you know, it was because of you my career in academia is nothing but a dream now.

HENRY

It’s not my fault you were late

Cogsworth! I got that job on my

merit. Stop blaming me for your

downfall.

COGSWORTH

I see you remember all too well. I

should be teaching, sitting at your

desk! It doesn’t really matter now

though does it? You will help me

secure my spot in the pages of

history books.

HENRY

After all these years, you still

hold the grudge. And you want me to

just hand over the diary?

COGSWORTH

Oh certainly not. Why do you think

these two gentlemen have joined us?

Fisk, Cage, you know what to do.

Fisk and Cage quickly lunge out and grab Henry by the arms. He struggles for a moment then stops before confronting Cogsworth again.

HENRY

Seriously? You want the jewel this

bad?

Cogsworth is taken aback by Henry’s knowledge of the expedition and his confident smile turns into a vicious scowl.

COGSWORTH

Someone’s done their homework! Give

me the diary and you can walk away

unharmed.

At this point, Colin approaches from behind Cogsworth and addresses him, unaware of the situation unfolding on the citadel below.

COLIN

Dr. Cogsworth! I got your text! You

said we are ready to move on with

the expedition.

Upon Colin’s arrival to the top of the citadel, Fisk and Cage release Henry but make it clear with a glance that Henry shouldn’t try anything funny. Henry sensing a moment of opportunity, calls out to Colin with a message in Japanese.

HENRY

(In Japanese)

<They aim to harm me. Play along

until the time is right.>

COGSWORTH Colin! What did he say?

Colin, understanding fully what Henry had just told him and the sensitivity of the situation, does as instructed by his former professor.

COLIN I, I don’t know.

COGSWORTH

What do you mean you don’t know?

You are the only one on this

expedition who can speak Japanese.

COLIN

You’re right Doctor, it’s too bad

he was speaking in Chinese,

Mandarin I believe. Didn’t catch

any of it really.

COGSWORTH

Very well. Head to the cemetery,

I’ll meet you there shortly, go on

now.

COLIN

Yes sir, see you there soon.

Colin leaves the top of the citadel the way he came in but not before giving Henry one more glance.

COGSWORTH

Nice try Henry! Maybe next time you

will get someone with a bit more

dialect diversity. Ha!

Fisk and Cage move in to grab Henry again but Cogsworth prompts them not to.

COGSWORTH Gentlemen, that shouldn’t be necessary. Henry is a big boy. He can cooperate, isn’t that right my dear friend?

HENRY

This is the part where I hand over

the diary right?

COGSWORTH

Be a good lad now, let’s see it.

Henry reaches into his jacket and pulls out a very small weathered diary. He glances at it and then turns and tosses it to Fisk, throwing it directly at his feet. Fisk instinctively bends over to catch it and Henry spins and grabs Fisk by his shoulders and knees him solidly in the forehead. Henry turns and is immediately met with a punch from Cage. Stumbling over the unconscious Fisk, Cage tries to lunge at Henry but Henry manages to trip him and regain his footing while Cage stands. Henry with a split second

advantage gets a solid punch into Cage’s gut and is met with another punch to the jaw from Cage. Henry stumbles back and ducks when another punch comes flying from Cage. Henry then knees Cage in the groin and uppercuts him unconscious. Panting and exhausted, Henry leans down to retrieve the

diary when a gunshot is heard and the bullet lands inches in

front of the diary. The shot startles Henry and he falls on his rear and look up to see Cogsworth holding a pistol directly at Henry from atop the citadel. Cogsworth is seething and ready to fire another shot is necessary.

ENOUGH!

 

COGSWORTH

Cogsworth slowly begins to close the distance between him and Henry all while pointing the gun at his rival.

COGSWORTH

Too long... It has been far too

long for a man like myself to wait.

Do you know what the difference

between a time-fearing man like

myself and a born-into-society type

like yourself is? I understand that

with every passing second, my

chances of getting ahead in this

world are diminishing. Each tick of

the second hand, each creeping

millimeter of the hour hand leads

me closer and closer to a life

forgotten. You have done little to

help me build a legacy past the

length past the short and precious

time we have on this earth. But

that, like all things given enough

time... will soon change. Once I

have the jewel of benevolence,

arguably the most significant

archaeological find of this

century, I will be forever

remembered, rich beyond my wildest

expectations, and you - you Henry

will be no one - forever.

Cogsworth stands directly above Henry and leans over to retrieve the diary. After tucking the diary in his belt he crosses to Cage’s knocked out body and gets a pair of handcuffs. He tosses them to Henry.

COGSWORTH

I’m not going to kill you. I want

you to see my rise to glory,

that’ll be a fate worse than death

for you. Death is instantaneous.

Life is long, and filled with time.

Time for you to marvel at my

success. Now handcuff yourself to

that bench.

Gesturing to a nearby bench that is quite securely fastened to the ground, Cogsworth smiles as Henry begins to crawl over and tighten the handcuffs, locking him in place. Cogsworth is rather pleased watching his nemesis helplessly chained in cuffs.

COGSWORTH

I’ll save you the trouble of coming

up with a clever and righteous

remark. I am going to get away with

it!

Cogsworth takes out his pocket watch and checks the time.

COGSWORTH

Ah, yes. Precisely on time! I must

be off now Henry, you stay put. Oh

and it those two dolts awake,

please tell them they are late.

Let’s just hope they don’t take

advantage of your sincerely poor

predicament.

Cogsworth leaves Henry cuffed to the bench near the two knocked out body guards. The entire time he ascends the citadel he is excitedly thumbing through the diary. Once Cogsworth is gone, Henry slumps down against the bench and looks unenthusiastically at the cuffs which bind him.

HENRY

Well, this is just great. Damn

Cogsworth. Jonas Cogsworth you son

of a bitch!

Henry rattles the cuffs in frustration to no avail. He uses his free hand to search his own pockets for something that could help him escape until he notices that Fisk has a cell phone clipped to his belt. Henry leans over and completely stretched out is just able to grab onto the corner of Fisk’s coat. Using considerable effort, he pulls Fisk close enough to grab the phone off his belt. Looking through the contacts he finds Colin’s name and sends the following text: Colin, this is Henry. Cogsworth handcuffed me to a bench and stole my grandfather’s diary to find the jewel. Get back to the citadel ASAP - don’t arouse suspicion. Stay safe.

The camera cuts to a treeline and quickly pans down to Colin checking his phone in a cemetery. He is at the base camp for the expedition. There is a few chairs, a small table with some notes, a large trunk and a smattering of other items laid about. As Colin reads his text, his eyes widen in suspense. He quickly responds and shoves his phone away because he sees Cogsworth approaching from a distance.

COGSWORTH

Colin! Colin! Where are you my boy?

Colin quickly darted behind a grave and begins to sneak away from the camp and back to the citadel. The camera cuts back to Henry trying to call the Japanese authorities when the phone gives him an error message in Japanese.

HENRY

Damn! I only learned to speak some

Japanese, never bothered with the

kanji.

The scene flashes to Colin, now making good speed through a canopied forest towards Henry. Cuts again to Cogsworth looking for Colin at the base camp.

COGSWORTH

Where is that little punk when I

need him?

Cogsworth pulls out his cell and calls Colin. Cut again to Colin arriving to the Citadel where Henry is cuffed to the bench.

COLIN

Jeez! Doc are you okay?!

HENRY

Yes, Colin get over here, we’ve got

to get to Cogsworth before he gets

the jewel. We have to get these

cuffs off.

Before Colin can respond his phone rings, he pulls it out to see it is Cogsworth.

COLIN

It’s him! What do I do?

HENRY

Put it on silent and ignore him, we

need to find the keys. Maybe

they’re on one of the thugs.

COLIN Right! Let me check.

Colin starts to search the pockets of the two men until he finds some keys in Cage’s jacket pocket.

COLIN

Here! Keys! Let’s get you free.

Colin proceeds to unlock Henry and... success! The cuffs slide off his wrist and the bench. Henry begins to massage is previously cuffed wrist.

HENRY

Great work Colin, now help me with

these two, I’ve got an idea.

Henry and Colin proceed to drag the two body guards to the bench and handcuff their hands together beneath the bench rendering them prisoners of their own cuffs.

HENRY

Ah, now that should keep those two

goons busy for a while. Now

Cogsworth. Do you know where he is?

COLIN

Yes! He is at the excavation sight

right now Doc! He was approaching

camp when I got your message. I was

just able to slip away before he

got there.

HENRY

Good, now how far is it? We can’t

let him get the jewel. If it falls

into his hands, it could be lost

forever.

COLIN

Then follow me, I’ll take you to

the graveyard. But we should

probably have a plan right?

Colin begins trotting towards the graveyard and Henry follows.

HENRY

A plan? Yeah, that’d be nice.

The camera follows the two hero’s backs until they run into the forest determined to stop Cogsworth.

SCENE 5 "THE LOST TREASURE OF THE ORIENT"

The camera fades from the forest to a plant in a university office. It pans right to Caroline chewing gum and talking on Henry’s phone.

CAROLINE

Yeah! It’s great isn’t it? I can

call anywhere in the world from my

boss’ desk and the university pays

for it! So to answer your question,

yes I’ve got time! Tell me all the

details... What was his name? Oh

my, Francisco?! He sounds dreamy!

Oh what? My boss? That lucky SOB is

on vacation on Japan. Yeah probably

relaxing on the side of a mountain

as we speak. Now tell me more girl,

spare no details!

Cut back to Colin and Henry running through the mountainside forest headed towards Cogsworth and the cemetery. The two have a good vantage point on Cogsworth, who is facing away from them at the camp looking over the connected map pieces.

COLIN (Whispering)

There he is Doc! Looks like he is reading the map. What do we do now?

HENRY (Whispering)

Remember that plan you mentioned earlier?

COLIN (Whispering)

You mean the one we don’t have right?

HENRY (Whispering)

Yeah, let’s do that. Follow me.

COLIN

But, but, ahhh, fine.

Henry and Colin proceed to slowly make their way to Cogsworth’s position while trying not to be seen. The two are able to make it to a stone wall behind the camp before they see Cogsworth approaching the large grave site at the

end of the main path of the graveyard. Knowing he has a gun, Henry waits to confront him in closer quarters. Henry

prompts Colin to call Cogsworth on his cell which was left at camp. After dialing, Cogsworth’s cell begins to ring causing Cogsworth to sigh and make his way back to the camp.

COGSWORTH Ah, Colin. Finally.

As he leans over to get the phone, Henry attacks from behind the wall and is able to tackle the unsuspecting Cogsworth. The two struggle for a few seconds before Colin is able to pull the gun out of Cogsworth’s belt. Once in hand, Colin points it at Cogsworth and orders him to stop.

COLIN

COGSWORTH! STOP RIGHT NOW! DON’T

MOVE!

Henry releases Cogsworth and stands leaving his enemy on the ground on his haunches. Henry then turns and addresses

Colin.

HENRY

Okay Colin, Just give me the gun.

COLIN

No! I can handle this! Stand up

Cogsworth!

Cogsworth stands as instructed. He is frowning at Colin until a smirk begins to creep across his face. He begins to chuckle menacingly.

COGSWORTH

Do it boy, shoot me! End my

suffering now. With every tick of

the clock I come closer and closer

to my inevitable defeat. Why waste

precious time? Do it. DO IT NOW!

Cogsworth then lunges and grabs the weapon out of the surprised Colin’s hands before Henry an intervene. Colin tries to pull the trigger in the struggle but the gun doesn’t discharge. Once Cogsworth has the gun he points in directly between Henry’s eyes and dramatically switches off the safety, smiling as Colin realizes his error.

COGSWORTH

You see dear boy, there are

safeties on these weapons for a

reason. Keeps me safe. Now you two

are going to do exactly as I say

with no more tomfoolery or both of

you will be clocking out - for

good.

Satisfied with regaining his composure and control of the situation, Cogsworth decides that he will use Colin and Henry to his advantage.

COGSWORTH

Now Colin, I’ve already translated

this so don’t you try and lie to

me. Read it so I know I’m right.

Cogsworth holds up the parchment with one hand to Colin and points the gun at Henry with the other. Colin stares at the parchment and slowly translates.

COLIN

Follow the rising bath to the grave

of benevolence. It is there you

will find the treasure that you

seek.

COGSWORTH

Good, that’s roughly what I got. It

seems to be indicating this grave,

no?

Cogsworth gestures to a large column shaped grave at the end of a long central path in the cemetery. Colin nods nervously confirming Cogsworth’s suspicions.

COGSWORTH

Well let’s go boys. After you.

Cogsworth leads the two to the grave at gunpoint.

COGSWORTH

Now I have translated the kanji on

the grave here twice. Anything

significant to you Colin? Anything

out of the ordinary?

Colin looks around the grave, inspecting it in its entirety. After a pass he frowns and looks to Cogsworth.

COLIN

Um... I agree. There is nothing

special. I don’t even see a place

for the jewel to be hidden...

unless.

COGSWORTH

Unless... It is here. In plain

sight. You don’t think?

Cogsworth approaches the grave and looks into the basin of murky water found on most traditional Japanese graves. He pulls up his right sleeve and slowly dips his hand into the water until his fingers clasp around an object. He smiles and turns to Colin and Henry triumphantly.

COGSWORTH

Finally! The jewel is mine!

Cogsworth lifts up his hand and turns to his two prisoners to revel the jewel when he sees what the water has done to his hand. It is smoking slightly and mottled with scarring pustules. Horribly disfigured, his hand begins to shake and opens to reveal what he thought to be the jewel was nothing more than a common stone.

HENRY Jonas! Oh my God!

Cogsworth drops the gun and clutches his wrist beginning to scream.

COGSWORTH

No! Noooo! Nooooooo! NO! Ahhhh!

As Cogsworth begins to stumble forward he slips on a mossy stone and tumbles down a few feet until he comes to a rest and remains motionless. During his fall Henry retrieves the gun and approaches Cogsworth with the weapon drawn.

COLIN Is... Is he?

Henry uses his free hand to check the pulse of his fallen rival.

HENRY

He’s alive, he’s just knocked out.

COLIN

What happened up there? What was

that?!

Henry smiles at Colin.

HENRY

Isn’t it obvious? It was a

diversion, a booby trap! That map

corner wasn’t authentic.

COLIN

But... But... Where did he even get

the missing map quarter from?

HENRY

My grandfather’s diary. But if my

hunch is right. Cogsworth could

have been long gone with the jewel

without ever even contacting me.

COLIN

Care to the explain Doc?

HENRY

During his travels, Cogsworth must

have come across my grandfather’s

long lost belongings. That’s them

there, I’d recognize that chest

anywhere.

Henry gestures to the large storage trunk that is at the base camp. While explaining this to Colin the two walk over to it.

HENRY

He knew, like many others, that my

grandfather was searching for the

jewel a few years before he passed

away. It was one of his last great

adventures. His health declined

toward the end of his life and

wasn’t ever able to make it out to

Japan. Cogsworth must of been

pretty upset when he couldn’t find

the map among my grandfather’s lost

belongings. He made a half-right

guess that the map was in the

diary.

COLIN

Half-right? And how did he even

know your grandfather had a diary?

HENRY

Because he saw him write in it when

we were boys. And when it wasn’t in

my grandfather’s lost belongings,

he knew it had to be with me. He

pretended to have the will to lure

me here and steal the diary. but

now I can finally have my

grandfather’s belongings and maybe

even the jewel.

COLIN

Seriously?

HENRY Just watch.

Henry, standing in front of the old trunk, pops its lid open and looks at the contents with a smile. He then reaches over and grabs the open diary.

HENRY

You see Colin, Cogsworth was so

focused on the map, he didn’t

really read the clues that were

right in front of him the whole

time.

Handing Colin the open diary Henry smiles as Colin reads the content aloud.

COLIN

Be careful. use your head. Hats off

to the one who finds it. What’s

this supposed to mean? Is the clue

in the trunk?

HENRY Hats off huh?

Henry lifts and old weathered fedora from the trunk and places it on his head. He stands and in his left hand is an old leather whip. He clips it to his belt then takes off the hat and looks inside. Digging around the lining, he finds a piece of folded parchment and pulls out the actual missing map corner.

HENRY

Hats off to you Gramps! Colin we

have the map!

COLIN

The clue! He was referring to his

hat! It was right there all along

Dr. Jones!

HENRY

I guess it was Colin, wasn’t it?

Haha, and Henry will still suffice.

COLIN

Look here’s the other part of the

map. Let’s see where the jewel is.

Colin hands the map to Henry and Henry begins to make his way back up to the tall center grave before he heads up and to the right. The map leads him to a meek and aged grave

with a water basin similar to to the one on the grave of Cogsworth’s demise. Glancing at the map to be sure. Henry finally passes the map to Colin and rolls his sleeve.

COLIN

But Doc! Cogsworth’s hand! Aren’t

you worried?

HENRY

If I can’t trust my grandfather,

who’s left to trust Colin?

COLIN

If you insist Dr. Jones.

Henry slowly dips his hand into the basin and his eyes widen with the excitement when his fingers clutch an object

beneath the water. He slowly raises his had to reveal a small clear glass case encased in a larger identically shaped hexagonal glass case with golden framework. Henry’s

wet hand held the case which was bizarrely dry. He opens the first case, removes the smaller one and opens it to remove the small cloth wrapped item in the center. Unwrapping the cloth, he reveals a beautiful polished amber matagama with a thin string through the jewel’s hole. He lifts if to his eye level and it shines brilliantly in the sun.

COLIN

Is... Is it really the jewel? The

jewel of benevolence? How, how can

you be sure?

HENRY

Well for starters Colin. See that

box it was in?

COLIN

Yeah Doc.

HENRY

Does it look remotely waterproof to

you?

Colin lifts up the glass box to see it is indeed, not water proof.

COLIN Not even close...

HENRY

And the jewel remains dry.

Henry smiles as Colin cheers in excitement.

COLIN

We did it! We are going to be rich!

HENRY

Not exactly. It belongs in a

museum!

COLIN

Of course Doc. I’m sorry. A museum!

As the two continue to converse over their victory, the camera pans to where Cogsworth had fallen earlier. He is gone but where he once was is a silver pocket watch ticking on slowly. Cut to black.

THE END