A TREASURE CAN’T BE SHARED!

A TREASURE CAN’T BE SHARED!

Selected Scene

EXT. PYRAMID RUINS – NIGHT – EARLY 19TH CENTURY

A clearing in front of the ruins of an ancient PYRAMID.

A BONFIRE burns in the middle of the clearing.

The BARON and the TRIBAL CHIEF sit beside the fire. Around them, TRIBESPEOPLE dance and leap to the beat of drums.

BARON
Tell me, do you have any gold you’d be willing to trade for glass beads?

TRIBAL CHIEF
What do you need gold for, Baron?

He nods toward the ruined pyramid.

TRIBAL CHIEF (CONT'D)
That was once golden too.

BARON
We don’t have any gold back home in Yablunivka...

(beat)

And I want some so badly!

TRIBAL CHIEF
You have something worth more than gold.

BARON
What could possibly be better than gold?!

TRIBAL CHIEF
Wonderful people.

BARON
But they don’t have any gold!

The Tribespeople leap around the fire, chanting.

TRIBESPEOPLE
Yablu-yablu! Niu-niu! Kaaa!
Yablu-niu-kaaa!

The Chief watches them.

TRIBAL CHIEF
If only we had some water. Just a little...

He sighs.

TRIBAL CHIEF (CONT'D)
We’ve been beating those drums for three months.

TRIBESPEOPLE
Yablu-yablu! Niu-niu! Kaaa!
Yablu-niu-kaaa!

The Baron listens closely.

BARON
Am I imagining things, or are they actually chanting “Yablunivka”?

TRIBAL CHIEF
Wonderful place.

A few drops of RAIN begin to fall.

The Chief holds out his hands.

Tiny drops of water glisten in his palms.

The Baron watches them.

BARON
Well...

(beat)

All that glitters is not gold.

He stretches his hands toward the warmth of the bonfire.

BARON (CONT'D)
Then again, gold is a lot like fire.

(beat)

It keeps you warm.

TRIBAL CHIEF
And silence is golden.

The Baron smiles and narrows his eyes slyly.

BARON
So... we have a deal?

He leans closer.

BARON (CONT'D)
And not a word to anyone about it?

The Chief casually gestures toward a PILE OF GOLD.

TRIBAL CHIEF
Take as much as you want.

The chanting rises again.

TRIBESPEOPLE (O.S.)
Yablu-yablu! Niu-niu! Kaaa!

The Baron pauses.

That sound again.

BARON
I really must be getting homesick.

He stares at the enormous pile of gold.

His eyes widen.

BARON (CONT'D)
I never dreamed I’d find this much gold!

He eagerly begins STUFFING GOLD INTO SACKS.

The drums continue.

The fire crackles.

The rain falls harder.

SUPER: 200 YEARS LATER...