National Treasure (2004) is a Jerry Bruckheimer produced, Disney film. It was very successful and got a sequel three years later, National Treasure 2: Book of Secretes (2007).
Nic Cage plays Benjamin Gates, an historian who is obsessed (or passionate) about finding a treasure his family is well known for believing exists when no one else does. Along with his assistant, Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), Dr. Abigale Chase (Diane Kruger), and his father Patrick Gates (John Voight) he is racing to save the Declaration of Independence and the treasure from treasure hunter and his former employer Ian Howe (Sean Bean) in this Indiana Jones/Dan Brown-esque action adventure.
National Treasure Notes:
Flashback - It was 1832.
Charles Caroll was the last Signer of the Declaration and a Mason, a secret society. IRL he was not a Mason as he was Catholic. He was dying and needed to see President Andrew Jackson. His stable boy, Thomas Gates, was told a secret - A Treasure.
A treasure beyond all imagining that had been fought over for centuries by tyrants, pharaohs, emperors, and warlords. Everytime it changed hands it grew larger. Then suddenly it vanished.
It didn’t reappear for over a thousand years when knights from the First Crusade (apx 1095) discovered secret vaults beneath the Temple of Solomon (Jerusalem).
The knights who found the vaults believed the treasure was too great for any one man to possess. They brought the treasure back to Europe (literally how?) and took the name Knights of the Templar.
was a military order of the Catholic faith, and one of the wealthiest and most popular military orders in Western Christianity. They were founded circa 1119, headquartered on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and existed for nearly two centuries during the Middle Ages.
Over the next century they smuggled it out of Europe (when?) and formed a new brotherhood called the Freemasons.
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organizations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. ? they help people? Idk…
Opens in Washington DC 1974: with a kid [Benjamin Gates] going into an attic.
Gate’s grandfather's granfather = Thomas Gates.
Benjamin - Patrick - John Adams - ? - ? - Charles - Thomas
6 gen of Gates wasting their family fortune looks for a treasure. Animosity between dad (Jon Voight - Patrick Gates) and grandpa (Christopher Plumber - John Adam Gates).
The secret is a treasure - guarded by the Knights of the Templar - then Masons.
Clue 1: the secret lies with Charlotte.
North Atlantic: present day.
Ben is on an expedition to find Charlotte - a ship. And he just happens to find the name of the ship on a boat…
It’s been two years - Ian Howe [Sean Bean] has funded the expedition.
Ben’s assistant is Riley Poole [Justin Bartha].
In the cargo hold with barrels full of gunpowder, things get tense!
Gates finds another clue, a riddle. Clue 2: Meerschaum pipe: The legend writ. The stain effected. The key in Silence undetected. Fifty-five in iron pen Mr. Matlack can’t offend.
Clue 3: Gates surmises there is an invisible map on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Nine Masons signed it for sure… Fifty-five men in total.
Ian suggests they borrow the Declaration. He has some influence - ‘in another life I arranged a number of operations of questionable legality.’
Ben does not agree with Ian’s proposal. They are going to shoot Gates, Gates kinda bluffs then he lights a flare in a room full of gunpowder. Ian catches on fire! Drops the flare and the gunpowder ignites. Ben and Riley get out of the Charlotte through a smuggler's hole… and somehow survive a pretty massive explosion.
They have to walk two miles in the arctic to the next town. And somehow miss Ian? And hitch a ride to DC.
CUT TO DC:
One step short of crazy isn’t obsessed, it’s passionate.
National Archives. Gates sees a flier for the ‘National Archives (70 years) Anniversary Gala’.
Gates goes by Mr. Paul Brown and sees Dr. Abigail Chase. They warn her someone is going to try and steal the Declaration of Independence. Gates notes her collection of George Washington campaign buttons - of which her collection is missing one - the 1978 inaugural. He points this out as if she wouldn’t know.
Anyway his name is known amongst Historians… in a bad way. Gates already tried to contact the FBI (and department of Homeland Security). They also ask for the privilege of examining the document… bruh. All while Riley is sinking in his seat.
What do you think you’re going to find: - We believe that there’s an encryption on the back. - An encryption like a code? - Yes. Ma’am. - Of what? - Uh… a cartograph. - A map. - Yes, Ma’am. - A map of what? - Thee location of… of hidden items… of historic and intrinsic value. - A treasure map?
Blah blah blah ‘I’ve seen the back of the Declaration of Independence, only thing there is a notation that reads “Original Declaration of Independence”’ (Gates finishes) ‘dated four of July 1776.’ She concludes, ‘no map.’
Gates is awkwardly shifting. ‘It’s invisible’.
Gates just tells Dr. Chase everything! Well at least he’s honest.
Gates and Riley go to view the Declaration. ‘If there’s something wrong those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action.’... THE LINE: ‘I’m gonna steal it. I’m gunna steal the Declaration of Independence.’
Then it cuts to them on the Lincoln Memorial [1.5mi] steps talking about going to prison. Gates is convinced that Ian will destroy the Declaration… for reasons? So he feels the only way to protect it is to steal it. Makes total sense.
Riley tries to prove that they can’t steal the Declaration - not shouldn’t, can’t. While in the Library of Congress [2.5mi]. Best time to steal the Declaration is during the Gala while the Declaration is in the Preservation Room. Riley realizes that it might be possible. What is Riley’s specialty? Like what does he do?
HEIST TIME!
Gates (Brown) sends Dr. Chase the Washington button she’s missing.
They somehow set up all the heist stuff and a sterile room in how much time? What is time in this movie? Either way their evil plan is working!
Cut to an exterior shot of the Watergate Complex - Ian is doing evil Ian stuff with his team of baddies.
The Archive Gala!
Gates poses as a janitor, hits the bathroom and changes into a tux (as Mr. Brown). Meanwhile Ian and crew are coming in through the sewers like adolescent, martial arts, shelled reptiles.
Gates runs into Dr. Chase (and her boo Stanley). A toast to high treason - he tells people things they clearly already know… but it’s not condescending it’s more awkward. ‘Here’s to the men who did what was considered wrong but they knew was right.’. Baby boy you’re not a good liar just run away. Oddly enough Dr. Chase becomes very suspicious of Gates. Don’t know why he wasn’t super weird.
Gates runs into Ian and his men with the Declaration in hand [password is valley forge]. They shoot at him. He gets away.
Back out in the Gala he has a credit card slip - he buys a replica of the Declaration. He switches them. Smart.
Dr. Chase, chases after Gates. He gives her the replica Declaration as the alarms start going off. Gates and Riley leave but Dr Chase is taken by Ian’s team of bad guys. So Riley and Gates follow after. In DC yeah you’re not chasing after, I do like that they had road work…. But where are all the pedestrians? Ian only gets the replica. ‘Well done Gates, well done.’
Gates tells Chase to calm down, be more civilized, stop yelling it’s annoying. Like SIR! ‘I leveled with you 100%’ - ‘Give me that document Mr. Brown.’ - ‘I leveled with you 98%’ - she learns he’s Ben Gates, that family with the conspiracy theory about the Founding Fathers. Like, how public is this family that like they are famous for this theory?
Sadusky (Harvey Keitel) of the FBI shows up to save the Declaration! There are bullet casings and no guards were shot at or fired ‘SO! Who was shooting? Who were they shooting at? Why weren’t they getting along?’
Because of the credit card slip they can’t go back to their clean room. They need the original Silence Dogood [Ben Franklin] letters so they go to Gates’ dad house… poor dad. Dr. Chase goes with them. ‘If you wanted to leave me behind you shouldn’t have told me where you were going.’
The FBI and Ian are slowly figuring out who Silence Dogood is…
Gates has a degree in American History from Georgetown. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. Navy ROTC and Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center. How old is he?
Gates asks his Dad [Patrick Gates - John Voight] for the Silence Dogood letters. Dad is bitter.
They take out the Declaration and try not to let Dad in on what it is. But he’s poking around, he’s curious. Luckily dad has a fridge full of lemons. Dr. Chase takes the lead… and there is a code. An Ottendorf cipher [page. Line. word.]
Dad donated the Dogood letters to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Are they not…. Online….?
Dad realizes it’s the Declaration. OMG! His reaction is perfection! They tie up Dad so he won’t get into trouble. Also they stole his car.
DC to Philadelphia [140mi - 3hr drive].
Riley pays a student to go into Franklin Institute and get the letters for him.
Clue 4 Silence Dogood - Ottendorf Cipher : The Vision to see the treasured past comes as the timely shadow crosses in front of the house of pass and stow.
Ian is there…. Because he knows about Silence Dogood and I assume he found out where the letters are. But, are they seriously not online. He notices the kid doing the decipher and gets the last 4 letters - Stow.
That kid got like $105 today. Way to go kid. Asking if the $100 is real! lol!
Pass and Stow references the Liberty Bell.
Gates and Dr. Chase change clothes. Romance!
Gates knows about - and excitedly tells them about - the back of the $100 bill is an etching of Independence Hall based on a painting done in 1780 by a friend of Benjamin Franklin… . Clue 4.5: the time shown on the bill is 2:22.
why do peripheral characters never care about or understand the MCs?
Poor Riley doesn’t get a chance to prove how knowledgeable he is next to them. Until he knows about time change. Specifically Daylight Savings was est in WWI. Guess we’re pretending seasons don’t exist - analemma…
Franklin Institute - Independence Hall (house of the liberty bell) [apx 1.5mi].
Gates, Dr Chase, and Riley get up to the chepal on Independence Hall. At 3:22 (aka 2:22) they see there the cross lands on a wall of bricks. Ian sees them too!
Clue 5: Some kind of ocular device invented by Benjamin Franklin: Glasses! [Dr Jacoby in twin peaks lol].
They look at the back of the Declaration and see a map.
Clue 6: Here at the Wall.
Ian and his guys show up. They split up and each take glasses or Declaration as they don’t want them to have either but especially not both.
Dr Chase hides behind a food counter. If you’re not a steak you don’t belong back here. - I’m just trying to hide from my ex husband. - who baldie? Honey stay as long as you like. HEH! REAL.
OMG they are shooting at Gates in an old cemetery. Dude don’t die in a cemetery.
Ian lets them all go - he has the Declaration.
Sadusky in on the chase. He finds Gates and arrests him.
Dr. Chase has an idea! Riley gets in touch with Ian.
Gates tells them the truth. Oh honey.
Sadusky gives him options 1) you go to prison for a very long time. 2) we are going to get the Declaration of Independence back, you help us find it, and you still go to prison for a very long time… but you feel better inside.
Someone’s got to go to prison, Ben. - do they though?
Ian calls Gates - meet on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid in NY. [97mi - 2hr]
New York
Hey the scuba thing comes in handy! Gates gets away.
Ok Gates hooks back up with Ian and they get Dr. Chase and Riley from Wall st. and Broadway to continue the treasure hunt. Easy.
Ian keeps his word. He gives Gates the Declaration and the classes. He just needs th clue. Gates kinda lies. But sucks. Ian doesn’t believe him. He has his Dad as a threat. Dr. Chase and Riley join them in Trinity Church [at Wall + Broad st].
Ian holds all the cards.
They look at the map with the glasses.
Clue 6 cont: Beneath Parkington Lane. A grave. It’s behind a grave beneath the church. Very The Keep.
Thus the underground portion of the movie beings, with a torch.
Elaborate system… stairs and elevators built under the graveyard in NY?
One of Ian’s guys falls to his death. The stairs start falling. They get on the elevator thingy after some nerve wracking Mines of Moria nonsense. Gates and Dr. Chase risk their lives to save the Declaration and they trust each other. Awe romance!
There is a dead end!
Ian leaves them, points a gun at them. Dad tells Ian that the lantern is a clue - gives a whole backstory. They tell him the clue is in Boston. Ian leaves.
There is another way out, through the treasure room. But they find a small empty room. Gates is disappointed.
“You did it Ben for all of us. And I’ve never been so happy to be proved wrong.”
There should be another way out… but they’re in a little room? It doesn’t make sense. The pipe they found on the Charlotte is the key to opening the Treasure Room, the real treasure room. ‘The secret lies with Charlotte’.
The scope! Dude this is an impressive set.
GIRL do not get that torch near those scrolls - from the Library of Alexandria! I’d faint.
Very Egyptian…
He lit a fire. With all that dust. In a room with little ventilation. DUMB!
Hey they found stairs.
Back in Trinity Church
A janitor finds the wildly disturbed remains of Parkington Lane. And another grave is being busted open from the inside (it’s Gates, Dad, Riley, and Dr. Chase). WTF is this poor guy thinking? He’s going to need therapy forever.
Gates calls Sadusky. He gives him the Declaration.
The Declaration is not a bargaining chip, not to Gates. He makes it known he found the treasure.
Sadusky, who is wearing a ring (Freemason): you know, the Templars and the Freemasons believed that the treasure was too great for any one man to have, not even a king. That’s why they went to such lengths to keep it hidden.
Gates wants to give the treasure to the people - the museums. There is thousands of years of history down there and it belongs to the world and everyone in it.
Sadusky likes Gates. But yeah he really doesn’t understand the concept of a bargaining chip.
Dr. Chase gets off scott free.
The credit of the find goes to the entire Gates family with the assistance of Mr. Riley Poole.
He doesn’t want to go to prison.
Someone’s got to go to prison. Heya Ian [in Boston] [NY to Boston 225mi 4.5hr].
End they got a finders fee of .05 to Riley and .05 to Gates - though they were offered 10%. Next time they find a treasure that redefines history for all mankind, Riley gets to decide the finders fee.
Riley got a nice red car - Ferrari 360 Spyder. [Not to be confused with the 1961 250 GT California Syder, red].
Gates bought the estate (fancy word for house) of Charles Carroll (old dude from the beginning who gave his 4x grandfather the 1st clue)… something about 1812…
Basically this is The USA’s founding fathers hid a massive treasure from the British. Now nearly 250 years later Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) and associates are trying to prevent a greedy British man [Ian Howe - Sean Bean] from finding it.
Distance: 469.5 miles + however far the North Atlantic is to DC.
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets Notes:
DC April 14th 1865: 5 days after the end of the Civil War.
Two men meet Thomas Gates (he was a teen in 1832 - 33 years ago) who is with his son, Charles. They want him to look at a coded message; a Playfair cipher. He needs a key to decode it. Clue 1?.
A play is going on. Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by one of the men who then screams ‘sic semper tyrannis!’ (thus always to tyrants).
The other man has a pin with KGC on it - Thomas recognizes it as ‘Knights of the Golden Circle’, a traitor. The man shoots Thomas who throws the code in the fire, it burns partially… the man grabs the book (The Booth Diary).
a secret society founded in 1854 by American George W. L. Bickley, the objective of which was to create a new country, known as the Golden Circle, where slavery would be legal.
As he lay dying Thomas tells Charles, ‘the debt that all men pay… ____’ he doesn’t finish the sentence before dying. OH the kid is so sad but great acting.
NOW: Classroom
Gates (Ben and Patrick) is giving a lecture about the KGC.
Thomas burned the legendary missing pages from the Booth Diary - had he not the killers may have found a vast treasure of gold which could have meant that the Union would have lost the war… that they had already won five days prior.
Thomas Gates is being added to a Hero exhibit… somewhere?
Enter Mitch Wilkinson [Ed Harris] - why do this here? Very cringy + dramatic. Very Foghorn Leghorn. I don’t trust him.
His great the x grand-daddy was Silas Wilkinson. OK so he asserts that the KGC didn’t seek out Thomas to decipher the code but rather he called the meeting to plan the assassination of Lincoln (an hour before Abe was killed? Feel like that would have happened earlier but ok.)
He has a missing page of the Booth Diary. This is messy! (also incriminating).
Gates, Dad, and Foghorn Leghorn (that’s his name now) discuss the page that FL has. The implication is that Thomas Gates helped orchestrate Lincoln’s assassination and Dad Gates takes this very personally.
Cut to Riley at a book signing:
He wrote ‘The Templar Treasure’ (myths that are true). His red Ferrari was toed, impounded by the IRS because his ‘accountant’ effed him…
No one has heard of Riley. Poor dude.
Also WHAT DID HE DO? What is his profession? His education?
He goes to see Gates. They catch up. Dr. Chase broke up with him so he’s living with his father. I’m sorry how did she get the house, they weren’t married? I have so many follow up questions and why would he be living with his father he should be very fucking wealthy.
They break into Gate’s hold house - which is currently occupied by Dr. Chase. Heist #1. Lol she changed the alarm codes… and was saying “so” a lot.
She is on a date with the White House curator Conner [Ty Burrell]. Awkward reunion! He questions her about the page from the Booth Diary -Dr Chase is the director of document conversation.
Come on one look under infrared, you can have the Boston Tea Tables (both). Gates’ really knows how to get into a woman’s lab.
So they find the cipher on the page, but not the key.
J Edgar Hoover FBI Building (in DC):
Sadusky is alerted that Gates is in the news - he asks what do we know about Foghorn Leghorn. Why did he suddenly come forward with the page.
Dad is still upset, watching the news - he’s just a depressed old man wondering about in his road - shoulda been a smoking jacket.
Would this be news? I mean really? Would it.
WAIT! Is Charles supposed to be Dad’s grandfather? That doesn’t math?
Riley and Gates try to come up with a 5 letter keyword for the cipher (Clue 1) The debt that all men pay is death = laboulaye.
Edouard Laboulaye (clue 2) = Laboulaye Lady… the Statue of Liberty. He was a Mason, they built clues into everything.
Dr. Chase meets with Foghorn Leghorn… gasp! The betrayal!
Why would she show him the latent letter fragments. That’s what this messy evil mastermind wants? She answers the call from Gates while at dinner with Foghorn Leghorn who hears everything. She is the weak link in this.
Foghorn Leghorn is descended from Confederate General Albert Pike - He was a remarkable man. Ok listen I don’t want to be an ass but no… no he was not. ‘What is history, but a marker for the deeds of great men.”
Which Statue of Liberty - there are three. New York, Luxembourg Garden,...
He only referred to one as his lady, Paris, France. [DC to Paris 3,830mi].
Riley is using a mini helicopter with a camera. The police interrupt but are helpful. Choquante.
Clue 3: Across the sea, these twins stand resolute, to preserve what we are looking for. Laboulaye 1876. Resolute desks - one in London, Buckingham Palace.
Paris to London [apx 300mi].
Sadusky got background on Foghorn Leghorn - he studied history at Virginia Military Institute, graduated 1978. He ran a private security company - had contracts in Iraq during the invasion and in the Congo in the late ‘90s. He’s a mercenary… a black market antiquity dealer.
Dad is hit over the head by a home invader, who clones his phone? He calls Gates so Foghorn Leghorn knows where he is…
London: Buckingham Palace. Heist #2!
“Of course someone else is after the treasure. That’s the axiom of treasure hunting.” - Riley Poole.
Riley is a tech genius and doesn’t get enough credit.
Gates pretends to be a drunk ‘Merican. And omg holy convenience Dr. Chase is here too, ok Dad called her. She found him easily. They get into a loud fight. CAGE IS IN A RAGE! Whoohoo!
Gates and Dr. Chase and detained. She literally had an appointment with the curator, was this necessary. Riley gets them out so they can get to the desk.
The Desk: Malcolm Gilvary made chinese puzzle boxes. The drawers work like tumblers on a safe - 4 numbers. 1876.Through some twisty knobs a secret drawer is opened. It’s a wooden plaque that is centuries older than the Civil War - looks like it’s Aztec. (Clue 4).
Gates spots Foghorn Leghorn watching them… he’s shooting at them!
Gates drives backwards in England using a camera… impressive. CAR CHASE!
Foghorn Leghorn calls Dr. Chase - talks to Gates. He’s not giving up the wood.
Gates runs a red light with the wood held up for the camera and has Riley hack in and get the photo of it. Then he throws the wood into the ocean. The bad guys stop chasing them to get the wood.
Back to DC [London to DC 3,675 mi apx 8hr flight.]
Gates, Dr. Chase, and Riley go to Dad’s. Dad is happy to see Dr. Chase.
The markings are Pre-Colonial Native American, easily 500 years old (clue 4). The only symbol Dad recognizes is Cibola - the city of gold.
Story time - in 1527 a Spanish ship wrecked on the Florida coast. There were only four survivors. One was a slave named Esteban, who saved a local tribe’s dying chief. As a reward he was taken to their sacred city, a city built from solid gold. Later when Estaban tried to find the city again he never could.
Narváez expedition? - Tampa Bay… really skewing the facts.
The myth of the Seven Cities of Gold, aka Seven Cities of Cíbola, was popular in the 16th century. They include Cibola, El Dorado, Paititi, City of the Caesars, Lake Parime at Manoa, Antilia, and Quivira.
Something about General Custer’s search for gold ended with his last stand in Little Bighorn - it became clear no one would ever find it.
“I’m going to go talk to her, you’re coming with me.” - “NO! Someone else can translate.” - “For ancient Native American? There’s no one better.”
[DC to UM - apx 9 mi]
ENTER Emily Appleton [Helen Mirren] aka Gates’ mom - Professor at the University of Maryland.
Dad is nervous about seeing his ex. They immediately argue.
Mom looks at the photo of the wood plaque.
Clue 4: Find the noble bird, let him take you by the hand and give you passage to the sacred temple.
Lolz you think this is a treasure map to Cibola don’t you.
Sadly this is only half the message.
We do know where the other half of the message is… the other Resolute desk… which sits in the Oval Office. (Clue 4.5).
White House [Maryland Uni. to DC - apx 9mi]
Why is Riley going along with this?
They decide to break in during the annual easter egg roll on the White House lawn. There is general admission, with tickets.
Dr. Chase is going to use her new boyfriend, Conner. MEAN!
Eisenschimmel’s book - and an annoying child.
Why was Lincoln Murdered? Otto Eisenchimmel. 1937.
Ok Gates and Dr. Chase straight up manipulate Conner into getting into the Oval Office and I hate it. He’s such a sweet kid.
Gates checks the resolute desk… but the wood plaque is not there. Bwaaam. The Not-Presidential Seal is stamped into the wood. Gates, Dad, and Dr Chase don’t know what the seal actually is. Riley does! Clearly none of them read his book. The Seal is The President’s Secret Book.
[White House of FBI apx 1mi]
Gates take the photo to Sadusky = the photo that is evidence he broke into the Oval Office!?! That’s a choice. They talk outside at the Capital (apx 1.3). Sadusky confirms that there is a book.
Gates needs a few minutes with the President. THE LINE: “I’m gunna kidnap him. I’m gunna kidnap the president of the United States.”
White House Press Office
They need to move the President’s Party… due to some tom foolery.
DC to Mount Vernon, Virginia [apx 15mi].
Gates scubas into the party. This is just too easy. And has a conversation with the President [Bruce Greenwood]. They go on a mini hunt and Gates gets him alone.
DUDE on the way to proving Thomas Gates’ innocence you abducted the President. THINK about your priorities! Omfg.
He tells him where to find the book - Library of Congress. Also take a look at page 47… but what is it?
Gates tells Riley to meet him at the Library of Congress in 20 min. BITCH Mount Vernon to DC in 20min no… not happening. [15mi]
Library of Congress:
Sadusky is on the Presidential Abduction case… but he’s FBI would he be? Is that his jurisdiction?
Library heist! They get the book. Not sure how the FBI knows they are there but ok. They ignore Kennedy’s assassination and Area 51. Stay on target Riley.
(Clue 4.5) April 1865 Queen Victoria sends Pike two coded missives. The first is received. Contains information regarding new world treasure. The City of Gold. The second message was thought to contain a Playfair cipher, suggesting contact with Laboulaye, who will hide clues before his death.
1880 resolute desk arrives in Washington, sent by queen to president Hayes.
Picture of the missing plaque (Clue 4.5).
President Coolidge photographed the plaque then had it destroyed.
Borghlum commissioned to destroy landmarks in sacred Black Hills mountains.
Mount Rushmore! (Clue 5). Mount Rushmore was a coverup. Huh.
FBI + Secret Service shows up. How did they know? I missed it.
Dad gets image of plaque to take to Mom to translate. Bad guys hear convo.
Dr. Chase and Riley get away. Gates does too with a little help from Sadusky. BUT they run a cop over on their way out so their vehicle and identities are now all known.
Foghorn Leghorn goes to the University of Maryland - that was fast - to talk to Mom. Ok I hate him. He just waltzes him, closes the door, no fuck him. He also has the image of the plaque. He threatens Dad who shows up moments later.
“Find where the moon touches the earth and release the hummingbird” (not clue 5) is what Mom tells Dad to get him out.
Foghorn Leghorn reveals he has a letter from Queen Victoria to the Confederate General Albert Pike. He burns the letter and abducts Mom.
DC to Mount Rushmore, SD [apx 1,640+ mi - 5hr flight? - 24hr drive].
Foghorn Leghorn with Mom and bad guys arrive to find Gates, Dad, Dr. Chase, and Riley are already there and waiting.
Clue 5: The entrance shall only be revealed under a cloudless rain.
Dr. Chase finds an eagle in the rocks.
Clue 6: Surrender your hand to the heart of the warrior.
Gates puts his hand in the hole and finds a latch. They find a door into the rocks or well into the mountain. It’s a room that’s intricately carved.
The door is closed and they’re locked in. Fucking Riley. One way out. Fooward.
Riley, Dr. Chase, Gates, and Foghorn Leghorn fall onto a balance thingy… more Mines of Moria shit. Foghorn Leghorn goes first, then Dr. Chase, then Gates was going to go but Riley goes instead due to falling debris. Gates is able to get up to the stairs by help of gravity?
Mom and Dad are separated. Mom and Dad argue on their solo adventure.
The team gets to a giant mostly flooded room. They get the water to go down and find Cibola, the city of gold.
Foghorn Leghorn apologizes for smearing Gates’ family name but he needed him for this treasure hunt. He needed to make a mark on history, to be remembered. Eh. The Anglo-Saxon Privilege. Guess it’s a good thing his name isn’t Pike.
Mom is nerding out over the history. Riley grabs a brick of gold.
The room begins to flood. The follow a current to find a way out.
Moral of the story. Spelunking is dangerous, don’t do it.
Random thought: Wait did Esteban go from Florida to South Carolina?
Foghorn Leghorn wants out through the water tunnel first. Gates has to stay to keep the door open. Why wouldn’t Dad stay? Eh whatever….
There is a problem after Riley, Dr. Chase, and Dad get through. Gates has to help Mom but then he’s at the door at Foghorn Leghorn is holding it open… meaning both their compartment and the tunnel are flooding. that’s some clean water O.O
Ok this part. Fuck this part. Foghorn Leghorn realizes he can’t go he needs to hold the door open and let Gates go. In doing so he’ll die but he’ll get credit for finding Cibola - the city of gold.
Sorry there is no way to spin this where he’s the good guy. He’s simply not.
Gates lives. Foghorn Leghorn dies.
How did no one see that tunnel?
HOW is Sadusky at Mount Rushmore. Am I missing scenes?!?!
Gates is arrested. The President is there. The President and Gates talk.
“Sir for your information this is the man who kidnapped you.” Dude… The President covers for Gates. He’s kool.
The President has ‘tomorrow’s’ headline - newspaper - revealing that Thomas Gate’s name has been exonerated.
No really why are we giving Foghorn Leghorn credit in a positive way. He should be written in history as the bad guy because he fucking is and that can serve as a lesson to the future. Isn’t THAT what history is recorded for? Fuck hell.
President is curious about page 47. Gates believes he can help with that.
Mom is part of the excavation of Cibola.
Gates and Dr. Chase are getting back together.
People are finally recognizing Riley. Yay! A cute chick read his book. Riley got his Spyder back. From the President! :D and immediately gets into an accident. That sums it up.
Distance: 9,495.3 mile
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