Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Where did this come from?

DONOVAN

My engineers unearthed it in the mountain region north of Ankara while excavating for copper.

(beat)

Can you translate the inscription?

Translating the inscription is no easy matter, even for someone as knowledgeable as Indy.

INDY

(stumbling through it)

"... who drinks the water I shall give him, says the Lord, will have a spring inside him welling up for eternal life. Let them bring me to your holy mountain in the place where you dwell.

Donovan pours champagne into several fluted glasses as Indy reads.

INDY

Across the desert and through the mountain to the Canyon of the Crescent Moon, to the Temple where the cup that –"

Suddenly Indy stops and looks up at Donovan with a startled expression.

INDY

"Where the cup that holds the blood of Jesus Christ resides forever."

DONOVAN

(reverently)

The Holy Grail, Doctor Jones. The chalice used by Christ during the Last Supper. The cup that caught His blood at the Crucifixion and was entrusted to Joseph of Arimathaea.

Indy rubs his chin with a dubious expression as he takes the glass of champagne Donovan now offers him.

INDY

The Arthur Legend. I've heard this bedtime story before.

DONOVAN

Eternal life, Doctor Jones! The gift of youth to whoever drinks from the Grail.

(beat)

Oh, now that's a bedtime story I'd like to wake up to!

INDY

An old man's dream.

DONOVAN

Every man's dream.

(beat)

Including your father's, I believe.

Indy stiffens slightly at the mention of his father, nods.

INDY

Grail lore is his hobby. He's a teacher of Medieval Literature. The one the students hope they don't get.

The door opens and MRS. DONOVAN steps into the room. She's a matronly woman in an expensive evening gown.
 

MRS. DONOVAN

Walter, you're neglecting our guests.

DONOVAN

Be along in a moment, dear.

He leans over and kisses her cheek. Mrs. Donovan sighs to herself and returns to the party. Indy, meanwhile, has turned his attention back to the Grail Tablet, obviously hooked by its archaeological promise. He moistens his finger with champagne and rubs it over the tablet. Donovan steps up next to Indy.

DONOVAN

Hard to resist, isn't it? The Holy Grail's final resting place described in detail!

INDY

What good is it? This Grail Tablet speaks of deserts and mountains and canyons. Pretty vague. Where do you start looking? Maybe if the Tablet were intact, you'd have something to go on. But the entire top portion is missing.

DONOVAN

Just the same, an attempt to recover the Grail is currently underway.

Indy has to shake his head at Donovan's apparent lack of judgment.

DONOVAN

Let me tell you another "bedtime story, " Doctor Jones. After the Grail was entrusted to Joseph of Arimathaea, it disappeared and was lost for a thousand years before it was found again by three Knights of the First Crusade. Three brothers, to be exact.

INDY

I've heard this one as well. Two of these brothers walked out of the desert one hundred and fifty years after having found the Grail and began the long journey back to France. But only one of them made it. And before dying of extreme old age, he supposedly imparted his tale to a – to a Franciscan friar, I think.

DONOVAN

Not "supposedly," Doctor Jones.

Donovan produces an ANCIENT LEATHER-BOUND VOLUME with very brittle pages. Indy views the manuscript with considerable interest.

DONOVAN

This is the manuscript in which the friar chronicled the Knight's story... it doesn't reveal on location of the Grail, I'm afraid... but the Knight promised that two "markers" that had been left behind would.

(indicates the Tablet)

This Tablet is one of those "markers." It proves the Knight's story is true. But as you pointed out – it's incomplete.

(beat)

Now, the second "marker" is entombed with the Knight's dead brother. Our project leader believes that tomb to be located within the city of Venice, Italy.

(beat)

As you can now see, Doctor Jones, we're about to complete a great quest that began almost two thousand years ago. We're only one step away.

INDY

That's usually when the ground falls out from underneath your feet.

DONOVAN

You could be more right than you know.

INDY

Yes?

DONOVAN

We've hit a snag. our project leader has vanished. Along with all his research. Uh, we received a cable from his colleague, Doctor Schneider, who has no idea of his whereabouts or what's become of him.

(beat)

I want you to pick up the trail where he left off. Find the man and you will find the Grail.

INDY

You've got the wrong Jones, Mister Donovan. Why don't you try my father?

DONOVAN

(after a pause)

We already have. Your father is the man who's disappeared.

EXT. A RESIDENTIAL STREET – DAY

A FORD COUPE speeds down the tree-lined street.

EXT. PROFESSOR Henry JONES' HOUSE – DAY

The Ford coupe pulls up in front of the house. Indy climbs from the car and hurries up the walkway. Brody is a step behind.

BRODY

Your father and I have been friends since time began. I've watched you grow up, Indy. And I've watched the two of you grow apart.

(beat)

I've never seen you this concerned about him before.

They climb the porch and notice that the front door is ajar. They exchange a quick look of concern as they enter.

INT. THE HOUSE – LATE AFTERNOON

Indy approaches the half-open front door.

INDY

Dad?

(to Brody)

He's an academic A bookworm. He's not a field mans.

He pushes open the door. He enters the house and calls out.

INDY

Dad? Dad?

Indy opens one half of the curtains dividing the hall from the sitting room.

We see the place has been ransacked.

Brody sees Indy's face and opens the other half.

BRODY
Dear God.

They walk into the room.

BRODY

What has the old fool got himself into now?

INDY

I don't know. But whatever it is, he's in over his head!

Brody picks up some mail from Henry's cluttered desk.

INDY

Dad?

BRODY

It's today's mail. And it's been opened.

Indy turns and sees the pile of torn papers and envelopes. Then something hits him.

INDY

Mail! That's it, Marcus!

He immediately empties his pockets of his own mail taken earlier in the day from his college office and finds the envelope with the Venice postmark.

INDY

(as he tears it open)

Venice, Italy!

BRODY

What is it?

Indy uncovers a small book. It looks like a JOURNAL or DIARY. Indy flips through it: Page after page of

handwritten notes and drawings. Brody glances at it with great curiosity.

INDY

It's Dad's Grail Diary. Every clue he ever followed. Every discovery he made. A complete record of his search for the Holy Grail. This is his whole life. Why would he have sent this to me?

BRODY

I don't know. But someone must want it pretty badly.

INDY

Do you believe, Marcus?

As Indy asks the question, he turns to a PAINTING on the wall: A depiction of Christ on the Cross, his blood being captured in a golden chalice.

A SECOND PAINTING on the wall shows Eleventh Century Crusaders plummeting to their deaths over a high cliff. One Crusader, however, floats safely in midair because he holds the Grail in his hands.

INDY

Do you believe the Grail actually exists?

BRODY

The search for the Cup of Christ is the search for the divine in all of us.

Brody sees that Indy is unsatisfied by this response.

BRODY

But if you want facts, Indy, I have none to give you. At my age, I'm prepared to take a few things on faith.

INDY

Call Donovan, Marcus. Tell him I'll take that ticket to Venice now.

BRODY

I'll tell him we'll take two.

EXT. AIRFIELD – DAY

A LIMO is parked beside a PRIVATE AIRLINER that bears the Donovan CORPORATE LOGO. Brody peers inside to Donovan and Indy.

BRODY

Tell me, what's going to happen when we get to Venice?

DONOVAN

(overlapping)

Don't worry. Doctor Schneider will be there to meet you.

BRODY

(overlapping)

Schneider?

DONOVAN

(overlapping)

I maintain an apartment in Venice, at your disposal.

BRODY

Oh, well. That's good. Thank you.

Brody and Donovan shake hands. Indy steps from the back seat of the limo. He turns back to Donovan and shakes his hand.

DONOVAN

Doctor Jones. Good luck. Be very careful. Don't trust anybody.

INT. AIRLINER – FLYING – DAY

Indy opens the Grail Diary and thoughtfully turns through the pages. He stops at one page and glances at a PENCIL SKETCH of what might be a stained-glass window. Below the sketch is a SERIES OF NUMBERS.

EXT. THE PRIVATE AIRLINER – FLYING – DAY

SUPERIMPOSED over a MAP that traces a course from New York City to Venice, Italy.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. VENICE – BOAT LANDING – DAY

Indy and Brody disembark from the Water Bus onto the Boat Landing as other Gondoliers steer their boats in the water.

INDY
Ah, Venice...

BRODY

Yes. Uh, how will we recognize this Doctor Schneider when we see him?

INDY

I don't know. Maybe he'll know us.

Suddenly a WOMAN comes up to him. Attractive features. Blonde hair. Eyes that are bright and intelligent.

ELSA

Doctor Jones?

INDY

Yes?

ELSA

I knew it was you –

She looks at him with an appraising expression that is brazenly flirtatious.

ELSA

– you have your father's eyes.

Indy is instantly attracted to her.

INDY

And my mother's ears. But the rest belongs to you.

ELSA

Looks like the best parts have already been spoken for.

Indy grins, enjoying the repartee. The Woman turns to Brody, who tips his hat.

ELSA

Marcus Brody?

BRODY

That's right.

The Woman, DR. ELSA SCHNEIDER, extends her hand to Brody.

ELSA

(introducing herself)

Doctor Elsa Schneider.

Indy's grin fades. Brody registers a look of surprise.

BRODY

Uh... how do you do?

CUT TO:

EXT. VENICE CANAL – DAY

Indy, Brody and Elsa walk along the narrow canal, lined with buildings on either side.

ELSA

The last time I saw your father we were in the library. He was very close to tracking down the Knight's Tomb. I've never seen him so excited. He was as giddy as a schoolboy.

INDY

Who? Attila the Professor? He was never giddy, even when he was a schoolboy!

Indy can't take his eyes off Elsa. Perhaps he's feeling a bit like a schoolboy himself right now. As they cross over a bridge to the opposite side of the canal, Indy steals a flower from a street vendor. He holds it out to Elsa.

INDY

Fraulein – will you permit me?

ELSA

I usually don't.

INDY

I usually don't either.

ELSA

In that case, I permit you.

Indy gives her the flower.

INDY

It would make me very happy.

ELSA

But I'm already sad – by tomorrow it will have faded.

INDY

Tomorrow I'll steal you another.

BRODY

(cutting in)

I hate to interrupt you – but the reason we're here –

ELSA

(interrupting)

Yes. I have something to show you.

She hands a slip of paper to Indy.

ELSA

I left your father working in the library. He sent me to the map section to fetch an ancient plan of the city. When I got back to his table – he'd gone – with all his papers – except for that scrap which I found near his chair.

Indy extends the scrap of paper to Brody.

INDY

Roman numerals.

EXT. VENICE PIAZZA – DAY

Elsa leads Indy and Brody into the large piazza. People walk about and sit at tables in front of a large building.

ELSA

Here is the library.

They have arrived at the front steps of the library.

INDY

That doesn't look much like a library.

BRODY

It looks like a converted church.

Elsa leads the way inside.

INT. THE LIBRARY – DAY

Indy, Brody and Elsa enter, their heels CLICKING across the marble floor.

We notice, along with Indy and Brody, that the library contains many stained-glass windows.