Down the hall across from the Honeymoon Suite... someone is
watching. An eye peers through the mysteriously cracked open
door of another guest. Indy eyes the onlooker curiously, moments
before the door shuts.
Indy mentally shrugs it off and pays the bellhop. Smiling
widely, the bellhop promptly leaves. Indy shuts the door reading
the card. Marion approaches.
MARION
What's this?
INDY
It's from Monsieur Pierre Gedde. The archeologist
behind tonight's conference. Welcomes us to Paris.
Marion grabs a banana and starts to peel it.
MARION
Well how very elegant of him! You could learn a thing
or two from these french archaeologists. Have you met
Gedde?
INDY
No, but I've read his work. Archaeology is only a
hobby for his kind. Gedde is primarily one of those
snobby, french socialite types. Likes to throw his
old-money around by hosting these things. His
"conventions" are really just dinner parties...
MARION
(excited; cutting in)
Ooh, dinner parties!
INDY
...a chance to rub elbows and give his annual
presentation on some new and amazing discovery he's
supposedly made.
MARION
Don't be so uncouth, Jones, these are your peers. I
think...
(looks off)
No! Bad Dog! No!
Indy looks over to see the dog whimpering next to a wet spot on
the expensive hotel carpet. Marion continues to reprimand the
dog, as it scampers.
INDY
(quietly; to himself)
Can't teach a new dog, old tricks.
EXT. HOTEL -- NIGHT
Night has fallen around the luxurious hotel. A spotlight pans
across a large banner that hangs from the buildings side that
reads among other things 'Conférence d'Archéologie."
INT. HOTEL HALLWAY -- ON DOORS
Two large doors that read "Conférence d'Archéologie" open to...
INT. CONVENTION HALL
The hall is smokey, sophisticated, luxurious. Right away it
looks incredibly highclass and unprofessional. More like a
Hollywood Premiere than an Archaeology conference. A piano is
played softly in the room's center. The room is darkly lit like
a nightclub. Circular dining tables crowd the room. Glass cases
featuring archaeological exhibits litter the perimter of the hall-
-rocks--mummified corpses---etc. Men wear tuxes. Women wear
fur.
Indy shakes his head.
INDY
(quiet disgust)
Archaeology conference...
At the front of the room is a stage and podium. Behind the
podium is a large screen for slides. And hanging above that is a
banner reading "Gedde Archeological Conference - 1946." Below
that the same thing written in different languages.
Indy, in a black penguin tux, and Marion, in a formal gown and
fur coat, enter through the large double-doors. Men of all
cultures sit and discuss history with one another.
An older distinguished man with a thick french accent leaves a
conversation upon noticing Indy. He is the white-haired PIERRE
GEDDE.
GEDDE
Professor Jones, I presume. I've been waiting for
you. Allow me to introduce myself at last. I am
Pierre Gedde.
INDY
Bonjour, Monsieur Gedde. this is my fiance, Marion
Ravenwood.
MARION
(offers hand)
A pleasure, Monsieur Gedde.
GEDDE
(kisses her hand)
For me, Madam.
INDY
So have I missed much?
GEDDE
Not at all. Please. Come join the party. I'll
introduce you.
Indy rolls his eyes and Marion and follows Gedde over to a table.
Geddge motions to a dark-haired, pointy-faced gentlemen who
leaves the others and approaches. He si the the young RUDGER
BISHOP. A youthful man, Rudger can't be over twenty-four. He is
thin, lean and speaks with a prudish, English accent that fits
the stereo-type of "snob" to a tee.
GEDDE
Dr. Jones, I would like to introduce you to the
british sensation. The up-and-coming prodigy in the
world of archeology, who I've had the pleasure of
taking under my wing. Dr. Rudger Bishop.
Indy extends his hand. Strangely, Rudger doesn't accept.
BISHOP
Indiana Jones. I've heard a great deal about you.
I'm surprised to see you here. Well... by surprised
I... quite frankly I thought you were dead.
Bishop breaks into the most snobbishly annoying laugh ever.
Every word he speaks to Indy seems condescending. Indy forces a
smile.
INDY
No, just... wearing a tux.
BISHOP
("playfully")
And rightly out of place in it I might add.
Another chuckle. Indy forces a smile.
GEDDE
Actually, it just so happens Professor Jones is in
town to be wed to this charming specimen.
Marion blushes.
BISHOP
Exciting.
GEDDE
You know Dr. Jones. You'd better watch your spot in
the trophy case. Young Rudger here is making some big
waves in annals of archaeology. Recently he's
discovered some astounding facts related to the
ancient Incas. My presentation tonight concerns this.
In fact, me and him have planned an expedition to
follow up. Can you believe all this from a recent
graduate?
BISHOP
(false modesty)
Oxford. The uh... top of my class.
Bishop swishes his champagne, and takes a proud sip.
INDY
I did some work at Oxford a few years ago. I teach...
out of Barnett in New York.
BISHOP
Yes, I've heard you're retiring?
INDY
(confused beat)
I thought you'd heard I was dead?
BISHOP
Ahhh yes... retirement... The "living death" right?
Bishop gives Indy a buddy-buddy slap on the back, accompanied by
more of that laugh. Simply put... Indy hates him.
CUT TO:
INT. CONVENTION HALL -- LATER
Champagne is poured into a grouping glasses. The Piano player
sings a showtune in french.
Marion, Indy, and Rudger all sit together.
BISHOP
--Yes, I've read up on you, some of your past finds
and such, right. Quite I'd say...
(beat)
...imaginative.
INDY
(a chuckle)
Many in the field quetion the... validity of some of
my papers, but I assure you...
MARION
(cutting in)
Shhh! Hey Jones, time to play nice.
Marion points to the stage. They turn as the room darkens.
ON THE STAGE
Gedde steps to the podium, bathed in spotlight. All heads turn
to see him.
GEDDE
Ladies and Gentlemen. I would like to welcome you all
to the 1946 Gedde Conférence d'Archéologie.
APPLAUSE round the large hall.
GEDDE
So that we not forget the importance of our beloved
passion, our profession, our lives... in archaeology.
Lest we not forget that somewhere. Out there. Over
seven seas and across seven continents lies the
remnants of thousands upon thousands of years of human
civilization.
Indy look on with great sentimentality.
GEDDE
...From tombs long forgotten to cities long in ruin,
somewhere... out there... buried under a ton of
rock... we will find the truth about who we are... and
what we are. History and archaeology are the eternal
adventure... to find ourselves.
Indy gazes on intently. The crowd erupts with more APPLAUSE.
Gedde motions for everyone to quiet.
GEDDE
Merci. Merci, thank you so much.
Gedde coughs loudly. A sign of age. He clears his throat.
GEDDE
And now... I would like to share with you, some recent
work of mine.
Gedde motions to someone in the back. The SPOTLIGHT goes out and
suddenly Gedde is dowsed in light from a SLIDE projected on the
screen behind him. The image is a drawing of a long javelin
shown being thrust into the ground by an Incan Warrior. Light is
drawn coming from the pierced earth.
GEDDE
The Spear of Life. Many of you have peharps heard of
it. Perhaps not. It was the javelin used by the
ancient Incans to revive their fallen warriors back to
the world of the living. After a battle, the village
shaman would use the spear along with a set of scared
scrolls to resurrect the dead.
The slide switches to an Incan structure in the Amazon.
GEDDE
Nobody knows exactly where the Incans acquired the
Spear. The focus of their religion was worship of the
sun. Ancient tales talk of the sun spraying life
life, coming down and touching the earth through the
spear. In order to properly use the spear however,
one had to use the Scrolls of the Dead.
A new slide of the scrolls. Gedde's VOICE TRAILS OFF as we FOCUS
IN on one of the dining tables. At the table sits a grou pof
shady looking characters, including a CHUBBY MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR,
whose face we cannot SEE. The men exchange a few
incomprehensible words. Gedde's VOICE TRAILS BACK IN.
GEDDE
...So the scrolls of the dead were lists.
Instructions, incantations, magical spells if you
will. Used by the tribe to summon the dead back to
life. There were... a variety of spells however.
Some brining a corpse back to life. Some brought the
dead back in a transcendental or "ghost-like" state.
And other spells. Other spells created hideous freaks
of nature, only partly resurrecting corpses. These
pour souls were the "living dead"... or "undead."
Light flickering across his face, Indy is intensely interested.
INDY
(quiety to himself)
Undead...
GEDDE
It was my team, recently on expedition, that uncovered
evidence. Evidence that the Spear of Life is real.
Legend has it the Spear reamins in the amazon, but the
real find would be the scrolls of the dead, the
instructions... which were cast out of the amazon by
the Spanish conquistador, Pizarro, in the mid-
sixteenth century.
(beat)
My dear colleagues. If the Spear remains in South
America, as the legend has it, then upon it's
discovery... life and death... will be a trivial
matter. No longer will you mourn the passing of loved
ones. We could use the spear to bring them back. The
greatest minds in history. You could discuss
philosophy with Socrates. Plan military attacks with
Napolean!
ARCHAEOLOGIST
How about King Solomon!?
A smattering of laugher. Gedde chuckles.
GEDDE
Be it for good or evil, the Spear of Life is exactly
that... Life.
CUT TO:
INT. CONVENTION HALL -- LATER
Archaeologists debate history with one another over dinner.
MUMURS of "the kartuch couldn't possibly be that old," and "that
find was a complete hoax" etc...
Indy, Marion, Bishop and Gedde all sit at one table sipping
champagne. They laugh, having a good time.
GEDDE
(laughing; coughing)
I may be a funny-duddy, but I haven't forgotten how to
live.
MARION
(beat; thoughtfully)
So why do you do it?
Gedde's laughing turns into more coughing. He clears his throat.
GEDDE
Excuse me. Why--why, my dear? The same reason they
all do it. I love it. They call me an eccentric
frenchmen with nothing better to do with his money
than play adventure. They say I'm "too old." But
age... is what gives archaeology it's power. While
archaeology isn't my profession... it is my passion.
And when I'm long gone, I'll have Rudger here to carry
on my life's greatest achievment.
INDY
The Spear of Life?
BISHOP
Aye, with that thing's powers, Pierre, your spirit may
very well live on literally.
Chuckles. Gedde laughs in a jolly way.
GEDDE
I'm not interested in it's immortal powers. I'm
interested in it's grandeur. It will prove I'm not
all talk. That I'm a man of action
INDY
Prove to who?
GEDDE
People like yourself, Dr. Jones.
INDY
Please. My friends call me Indy.
GEDDE
(smiles; a pause)
Come with me. With me and Rudger to Brazil. We could
use a man like you. It will be quite dangerous.
Marion looks to Indy.
INDY
(a twitch; beat)
I'm sorry, but my days in the field are done.
GEDDE
I'll never believe that, Dr. Jones. If I didn't know
you better I'd say your planning on beating me to the
spear. You're notorious for that kind of thing you
know.
MARION
He's notorious for a lot of things.
Gedde pulls a spearhead from his pocket, holding it up for all to
see with a smile on his face.
INDY
An Incan Spearhead...
GEDDE
(a smirk)
It was found on expedition to Brazil. I believe it to
be important but these markings on top... my team
can't tranlate thm. I've heard tranlation is one of
your many specialites. Could you give it look for me?
INDY
(takes it)
Absolutely. Not a problem.
Just then, another archaeologist approaches the table. He is
young, pale and speaks with a RUSSIAN accent.
RUSSIAN
Pardon me. Dr. Rudger Bishop?
BISHOP
Yes?
RUSSIAN
I only wanted to come over and greet that man I've
heard so much about. Very impressive work for a man
your age. Very impressive.
BISHOP
Oh, why... thank you.
(a look to Indy)
Thank you very much.
The young Russian then notices Indy.
RUSSIAN
(beat; in awe)
Dr. Jones, is that... I... I hadn't realized you would
be here.
(shakes hands)
Oh, how I admire your papers, sir. You are renowned
where I come from sir!
INDY
Oh. Well thank you.
The young Russian is so awe-struck he continues to nervously praise Indy, stumbling over his words. He talks on... and as he does... everything drowns out as we FOCUS IN on Dr. Rudger Bishop, who lowers his head, looking at Indy with a vindictive glare. The envy in he eyes is cold, venemous... and sinister.
watching. An eye peers through the mysteriously cracked open
door of another guest. Indy eyes the onlooker curiously, moments
before the door shuts.
Indy mentally shrugs it off and pays the bellhop. Smiling
widely, the bellhop promptly leaves. Indy shuts the door reading
the card. Marion approaches.
MARION
What's this?
INDY
It's from Monsieur Pierre Gedde. The archeologist
behind tonight's conference. Welcomes us to Paris.
Marion grabs a banana and starts to peel it.
MARION
Well how very elegant of him! You could learn a thing
or two from these french archaeologists. Have you met
Gedde?
INDY
No, but I've read his work. Archaeology is only a
hobby for his kind. Gedde is primarily one of those
snobby, french socialite types. Likes to throw his
old-money around by hosting these things. His
"conventions" are really just dinner parties...
MARION
(excited; cutting in)
Ooh, dinner parties!
INDY
...a chance to rub elbows and give his annual
presentation on some new and amazing discovery he's
supposedly made.
MARION
Don't be so uncouth, Jones, these are your peers. I
think...
(looks off)
No! Bad Dog! No!
Indy looks over to see the dog whimpering next to a wet spot on
the expensive hotel carpet. Marion continues to reprimand the
dog, as it scampers.
INDY
(quietly; to himself)
Can't teach a new dog, old tricks.
EXT. HOTEL -- NIGHT
Night has fallen around the luxurious hotel. A spotlight pans
across a large banner that hangs from the buildings side that
reads among other things 'Conférence d'Archéologie."
INT. HOTEL HALLWAY -- ON DOORS
Two large doors that read "Conférence d'Archéologie" open to...
INT. CONVENTION HALL
The hall is smokey, sophisticated, luxurious. Right away it
looks incredibly highclass and unprofessional. More like a
Hollywood Premiere than an Archaeology conference. A piano is
played softly in the room's center. The room is darkly lit like
a nightclub. Circular dining tables crowd the room. Glass cases
featuring archaeological exhibits litter the perimter of the hall-
-rocks--mummified corpses---etc. Men wear tuxes. Women wear
fur.
Indy shakes his head.
INDY
(quiet disgust)
Archaeology conference...
At the front of the room is a stage and podium. Behind the
podium is a large screen for slides. And hanging above that is a
banner reading "Gedde Archeological Conference - 1946." Below
that the same thing written in different languages.
Indy, in a black penguin tux, and Marion, in a formal gown and
fur coat, enter through the large double-doors. Men of all
cultures sit and discuss history with one another.
An older distinguished man with a thick french accent leaves a
conversation upon noticing Indy. He is the white-haired PIERRE
GEDDE.
GEDDE
Professor Jones, I presume. I've been waiting for
you. Allow me to introduce myself at last. I am
Pierre Gedde.
INDY
Bonjour, Monsieur Gedde. this is my fiance, Marion
Ravenwood.
MARION
(offers hand)
A pleasure, Monsieur Gedde.
GEDDE
(kisses her hand)
For me, Madam.
INDY
So have I missed much?
GEDDE
Not at all. Please. Come join the party. I'll
introduce you.
Indy rolls his eyes and Marion and follows Gedde over to a table.
Geddge motions to a dark-haired, pointy-faced gentlemen who
leaves the others and approaches. He si the the young RUDGER
BISHOP. A youthful man, Rudger can't be over twenty-four. He is
thin, lean and speaks with a prudish, English accent that fits
the stereo-type of "snob" to a tee.
GEDDE
Dr. Jones, I would like to introduce you to the
british sensation. The up-and-coming prodigy in the
world of archeology, who I've had the pleasure of
taking under my wing. Dr. Rudger Bishop.
Indy extends his hand. Strangely, Rudger doesn't accept.
BISHOP
Indiana Jones. I've heard a great deal about you.
I'm surprised to see you here. Well... by surprised
I... quite frankly I thought you were dead.
Bishop breaks into the most snobbishly annoying laugh ever.
Every word he speaks to Indy seems condescending. Indy forces a
smile.
INDY
No, just... wearing a tux.
BISHOP
("playfully")
And rightly out of place in it I might add.
Another chuckle. Indy forces a smile.
GEDDE
Actually, it just so happens Professor Jones is in
town to be wed to this charming specimen.
Marion blushes.
BISHOP
Exciting.
GEDDE
You know Dr. Jones. You'd better watch your spot in
the trophy case. Young Rudger here is making some big
waves in annals of archaeology. Recently he's
discovered some astounding facts related to the
ancient Incas. My presentation tonight concerns this.
In fact, me and him have planned an expedition to
follow up. Can you believe all this from a recent
graduate?
BISHOP
(false modesty)
Oxford. The uh... top of my class.
Bishop swishes his champagne, and takes a proud sip.
INDY
I did some work at Oxford a few years ago. I teach...
out of Barnett in New York.
BISHOP
Yes, I've heard you're retiring?
INDY
(confused beat)
I thought you'd heard I was dead?
BISHOP
Ahhh yes... retirement... The "living death" right?
Bishop gives Indy a buddy-buddy slap on the back, accompanied by
more of that laugh. Simply put... Indy hates him.
CUT TO:
INT. CONVENTION HALL -- LATER
Champagne is poured into a grouping glasses. The Piano player
sings a showtune in french.
Marion, Indy, and Rudger all sit together.
BISHOP
--Yes, I've read up on you, some of your past finds
and such, right. Quite I'd say...
(beat)
...imaginative.
INDY
(a chuckle)
Many in the field quetion the... validity of some of
my papers, but I assure you...
MARION
(cutting in)
Shhh! Hey Jones, time to play nice.
Marion points to the stage. They turn as the room darkens.
ON THE STAGE
Gedde steps to the podium, bathed in spotlight. All heads turn
to see him.
GEDDE
Ladies and Gentlemen. I would like to welcome you all
to the 1946 Gedde Conférence d'Archéologie.
APPLAUSE round the large hall.
GEDDE
So that we not forget the importance of our beloved
passion, our profession, our lives... in archaeology.
Lest we not forget that somewhere. Out there. Over
seven seas and across seven continents lies the
remnants of thousands upon thousands of years of human
civilization.
Indy look on with great sentimentality.
GEDDE
...From tombs long forgotten to cities long in ruin,
somewhere... out there... buried under a ton of
rock... we will find the truth about who we are... and
what we are. History and archaeology are the eternal
adventure... to find ourselves.
Indy gazes on intently. The crowd erupts with more APPLAUSE.
Gedde motions for everyone to quiet.
GEDDE
Merci. Merci, thank you so much.
Gedde coughs loudly. A sign of age. He clears his throat.
GEDDE
And now... I would like to share with you, some recent
work of mine.
Gedde motions to someone in the back. The SPOTLIGHT goes out and
suddenly Gedde is dowsed in light from a SLIDE projected on the
screen behind him. The image is a drawing of a long javelin
shown being thrust into the ground by an Incan Warrior. Light is
drawn coming from the pierced earth.
GEDDE
The Spear of Life. Many of you have peharps heard of
it. Perhaps not. It was the javelin used by the
ancient Incans to revive their fallen warriors back to
the world of the living. After a battle, the village
shaman would use the spear along with a set of scared
scrolls to resurrect the dead.
The slide switches to an Incan structure in the Amazon.
GEDDE
Nobody knows exactly where the Incans acquired the
Spear. The focus of their religion was worship of the
sun. Ancient tales talk of the sun spraying life
life, coming down and touching the earth through the
spear. In order to properly use the spear however,
one had to use the Scrolls of the Dead.
A new slide of the scrolls. Gedde's VOICE TRAILS OFF as we FOCUS
IN on one of the dining tables. At the table sits a grou pof
shady looking characters, including a CHUBBY MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR,
whose face we cannot SEE. The men exchange a few
incomprehensible words. Gedde's VOICE TRAILS BACK IN.
GEDDE
...So the scrolls of the dead were lists.
Instructions, incantations, magical spells if you
will. Used by the tribe to summon the dead back to
life. There were... a variety of spells however.
Some brining a corpse back to life. Some brought the
dead back in a transcendental or "ghost-like" state.
And other spells. Other spells created hideous freaks
of nature, only partly resurrecting corpses. These
pour souls were the "living dead"... or "undead."
Light flickering across his face, Indy is intensely interested.
INDY
(quiety to himself)
Undead...
GEDDE
It was my team, recently on expedition, that uncovered
evidence. Evidence that the Spear of Life is real.
Legend has it the Spear reamins in the amazon, but the
real find would be the scrolls of the dead, the
instructions... which were cast out of the amazon by
the Spanish conquistador, Pizarro, in the mid-
sixteenth century.
(beat)
My dear colleagues. If the Spear remains in South
America, as the legend has it, then upon it's
discovery... life and death... will be a trivial
matter. No longer will you mourn the passing of loved
ones. We could use the spear to bring them back. The
greatest minds in history. You could discuss
philosophy with Socrates. Plan military attacks with
Napolean!
ARCHAEOLOGIST
How about King Solomon!?
A smattering of laugher. Gedde chuckles.
GEDDE
Be it for good or evil, the Spear of Life is exactly
that... Life.
CUT TO:
INT. CONVENTION HALL -- LATER
Archaeologists debate history with one another over dinner.
MUMURS of "the kartuch couldn't possibly be that old," and "that
find was a complete hoax" etc...
Indy, Marion, Bishop and Gedde all sit at one table sipping
champagne. They laugh, having a good time.
GEDDE
(laughing; coughing)
I may be a funny-duddy, but I haven't forgotten how to
live.
MARION
(beat; thoughtfully)
So why do you do it?
Gedde's laughing turns into more coughing. He clears his throat.
GEDDE
Excuse me. Why--why, my dear? The same reason they
all do it. I love it. They call me an eccentric
frenchmen with nothing better to do with his money
than play adventure. They say I'm "too old." But
age... is what gives archaeology it's power. While
archaeology isn't my profession... it is my passion.
And when I'm long gone, I'll have Rudger here to carry
on my life's greatest achievment.
INDY
The Spear of Life?
BISHOP
Aye, with that thing's powers, Pierre, your spirit may
very well live on literally.
Chuckles. Gedde laughs in a jolly way.
GEDDE
I'm not interested in it's immortal powers. I'm
interested in it's grandeur. It will prove I'm not
all talk. That I'm a man of action
INDY
Prove to who?
GEDDE
People like yourself, Dr. Jones.
INDY
Please. My friends call me Indy.
GEDDE
(smiles; a pause)
Come with me. With me and Rudger to Brazil. We could
use a man like you. It will be quite dangerous.
Marion looks to Indy.
INDY
(a twitch; beat)
I'm sorry, but my days in the field are done.
GEDDE
I'll never believe that, Dr. Jones. If I didn't know
you better I'd say your planning on beating me to the
spear. You're notorious for that kind of thing you
know.
MARION
He's notorious for a lot of things.
Gedde pulls a spearhead from his pocket, holding it up for all to
see with a smile on his face.
INDY
An Incan Spearhead...
GEDDE
(a smirk)
It was found on expedition to Brazil. I believe it to
be important but these markings on top... my team
can't tranlate thm. I've heard tranlation is one of
your many specialites. Could you give it look for me?
INDY
(takes it)
Absolutely. Not a problem.
Just then, another archaeologist approaches the table. He is
young, pale and speaks with a RUSSIAN accent.
RUSSIAN
Pardon me. Dr. Rudger Bishop?
BISHOP
Yes?
RUSSIAN
I only wanted to come over and greet that man I've
heard so much about. Very impressive work for a man
your age. Very impressive.
BISHOP
Oh, why... thank you.
(a look to Indy)
Thank you very much.
The young Russian then notices Indy.
RUSSIAN
(beat; in awe)
Dr. Jones, is that... I... I hadn't realized you would
be here.
(shakes hands)
Oh, how I admire your papers, sir. You are renowned
where I come from sir!
INDY
Oh. Well thank you.
The young Russian is so awe-struck he continues to nervously praise Indy, stumbling over his words. He talks on... and as he does... everything drowns out as we FOCUS IN on Dr. Rudger Bishop, who lowers his head, looking at Indy with a vindictive glare. The envy in he eyes is cold, venemous... and sinister.