National Treasure (3 min)

INT. NATIONAL ARCHIVES. ABIGAIL CHASE’S OFFICE - DAY

Abigail is sitting at her desk. She is talking on the phone. ABIGAIL CHASE Thank you.

She hangs up the phone. Good afternoon gentlemen.

Abigail stands up and walks towards Riley and Benjamin. Riley smiles. Hi.

RILEY

ABIGAIL CHASE Abigail Chase. BENJAMIN GATES Paul Brown.

Abigail shakes Benjamin’s hand. ABIGAIL CHASE Nice to meet you.

Abigail looks at Riley. Bill.

RILEY

ABIGAIL CHASE Nice to meet you, Bill.

Abigail wonders why Riley doesn’t give his last name, then turns to Benjamin. ABIGAIL CHASE How may I help you? BENJAMIN GATES Your accent. Pennsylvania Dutch? ABIGAIL CHASE Saxony German. RILEY You’re not American? ABIGAIL CHASE Oh, I am an American. I just wasn’t born here.

Abigail goes back to her desk when she realizes Benjamin is about to touch George Washington’s campaign buttons.

National Treasure (3 min)

ABIGAIL CHASE Please don’t touch that! BENJAMIN GATES Sorry. A neat collection. George Washington’s campaign buttons. You’re missing the 1789 inaugural, though. I found one once. ABIGAIL CHASE That’s very fortunate for you. Now, you told my assistant that this was an urgent matter. BENJAMIN GATES Yes, ma'am.

Benjamin goes to the desk. BENJAMIN GATES Well, I'm gonna get straight to the point.

Benjamin and Riley sit down. BENJAMIN GATES Someone's gonna steal Independence.

the

Declaration

of

Abigail looks at Benjamin then turns to Riley to see if this is not a joke. RILEY It's true. ABIGAIL CHASE I think I'd better put you gentlemen in touch with the FBI. BENJAMIN GATES We've been to the FBI. And?

ABIGAIL CHASE

RILEY They assured us that possibly be stolen.

the

Declaration

cannot

ABIGAIL CHASE They're right. BENJAMIN GATES My friend and I are less certain. However, if we were given the privilege of examining the document...

Abigail is amused by the suggestion. Benjamin pauses but calmly tries to make his point.

National Treasure (3 min)

BENJAMIN GATES ... we would be able to tell you for certain if it were actually in any danger. ABIGAIL CHASE What do you think you're gonna find?

Benjamin chooses his words in order to avoid the words “treasure map”. BENJAMIN GATES We believe that there's an... encryption on the back. ABIGAIL CHASE An encryption, like a code? BENJAMIN GATES Yes, ma'am. ABIGAIL CHASE Of what? BENJAMIN GATES A... cartograph. ABIGAIL CHASE A map. BENJAMIN GATES Yes, ma'am.

Riley feels uneasy. ABIGAIL CHASE A map of what? BENJAMIN GATES The location of...

Benjamin clears his throat.

BENJAMIN GATES ... of hidden items of historic and intrinsic value. ABIGAIL CHASE A treasure map? RILEY That's where we lost the FBI. ABIGAIL CHASE You're treasure-hunters, aren't you? BENJAMIN GATES We're more like treasure-protectors.

National Treasure (3 min)

ABIGAIL CHASE 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... BENJAMIN GATES "Four of July, 1776." Yes, ma'am. ABIGAIL CHASE But no map.

Benjamin and Riley look at each other. Riley closes his eyes. BENJAMIN GATES It's invisible. ABIGAIL CHASE Oh! Right. RILEY And that's where we Homeland Security.

lost

the

Department

of

ABIGAIL CHASE What led you to assume there's this invisible map? BENJAMIN GATES We found an engraving on the stem of a 200-yearold pipe. RILEY Owned by Freemasons. ABIGAIL CHASE May I see the pipe? RILEY We don't have it. ABIGAIL CHASE Did Big Foot take it? BENJAMIN GATES It was nice meeting you.

Benjamin and Riley stand up and leave. ABIGAIL CHASE Nice to meet you, too.