We see the sand blowing very gently in the breeze. 

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          EXT. ENTRANCE - DAY 

          In between several sand dunes, an entrance to a tomb can be seen. 
          there are about a dozen camels and a young arab boy tending to 
          them. pan down into the darkness. 

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          INT. TOMB 

          Several bedoiuns stand with flashlights. an american with his back 
          to us is reading the heiroglyphics on the wall. 

          He is moving quickly. we pan around to reveal john roth, late 
          twenties american, running his finger along the ancient text on 
          the wall. 

                                          JOHN
                         The fall of Osiris, when the aknatten told the 
                         priest of his fathers secret....he fell before 
                         his king and god and said it was... true....

          One of the men walked closer to john. 

                                          JOHN
                         <in arabic> more light, please...

          The flashlight glows with the dust. john follows the text around 
          the corner. the twelve men follow silently. 

                                          JOHN
                         Beyond this is the secret of our father's 
                         father, and his before him. it holds the ... 
                         blood of the nile.... (in arabic> let's move 
                         this stone....

          All of the men gather around a large stone that is over eight feet 
          tall. together, they pull on it. a tunnel leading at a downward 
          angle is revealed. 

          One of the mean tries to enter but john grabs him. 

                                          JOHN
                         No, no no ! there could be poison. they used to 
                         call it a curse. it was really poison on te 
                         walls that make you sick and day days later. 
                         here.....

          John hands him a gas mask. 

                                          JOHN
                         Let's go. 

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          INT. TUNNEL TO TOMB 

          John leads the men down, four of which are holding flashlights. on 
          the walls we see ancient heiroglyphics. john slowly takes it all 
          in. he's trying to harness his own excitement. the rest of the men 
          look brave, but have a horrible fear of what is they are doing. 

          They come to the lowest part of the tunnel. they can see into the 
          tomb. 

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          INT. TOMB OF AMENHOTEP V 

          John stairs at the tomb, which stands about eight feet high, 
          ornamted with gols trimming. the men all stand back. john looks at 
          the inscriptions. he smiles wildly. he cannot control his 
          excitement now. he starts to move faster and faster as he runs 
          around the tomb.  

           
                                       john
                         Kamel, i need the camera, please. 

          Kamel, one of the younger of the men hand him a 35mm camera and 
          john begins taking pictures of the writings on the tomb, the 
          walls, and the cieling. the flashes from the camera are eerie in 
          this dark setting. 

          John sits on the sandy ground and starts the slow translation 
          process of one particular inscription. the other men begin to 
          loosen up and speak umongst themselves. 

                                          KAMEL
                         <in arabic> there is no treasure here. 

                                          SADDAM
                         <in arabic> he is not looking for treasure. 

                                          KAMEL
                         <in arabic> then why does he do it ?

                                          SADDAM
                         <in arabic> he wants to know. he has no interest 
                         in money. that is why we follow him. he is.... 
                         odd. 
 

          JOHN CONTINUES TO WRITE IN HIS LITTLE BOOK AND HE STARES AT THE 
          SMALL WRITING ON THE SIDE OF THE TOMB. 
 

          CUT TO: 

          Ext. entrance - dusk 

          The sun is going down, the camels look bored

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          INT. TOMB OF AMENHOTEP V 

          Several of the men are sleeping on the dusty floor. john has only 
          moved about five feet and it's been several hours. he is drenched 
          in sweat. 

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          EXT. ENTRANCE TO TOMB - NIGHT 

          The wind has picked up a lotand continues to blow harder.
 

          INT. TOMB OF AMENHOTEP V 

                                                             CUT TO:

          All of the men are now asleep as john plows on reading and writing 
          of the heiroglyphics. 

                                          JOHN
                         <to himself> "in my room at the temple, i carved 
                         my fathers words in the wall. i was but a priest 
                         to my pharoah. i pray that no one find what it 
                         is i know...." 

          With this john stands up. he takes a deep breath. he looks around 
          him at the men all sleeping.
                          

                                          JOHN
                         <in arabic> everybody up ! it's time to go. 

          The men stir awake. john is packing up his things. 

                                          SADDAM
                         <in english> did you find what you were seeking 
                         ?

                                          JOHN
                         I did. but i have merely found the beginning, my 
                         friend. it's only the beginning. 

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          EXT. ENTRANCE TO TOMB - NIGHT

          They have all gotten onto their camels. john is the last to leave 
          the tomb. he gets on his camel and starts to ride off. he stops 
          and looks back. 

          C.u. of john's face as he smiles, then turns to ride off into the 
          desert with his comrades. 

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          EXT. SAHARA DESERT - DAY 
 

           OPENING CREDITS TO BE PLAYED OVER THE ROLLING SAND DUNES 

                                                             CUT TO:
 

          EXT. COLUMBUS CITY STREETS - DAY 

          We see people walking about from place to place. there are rows 
          and rows of cars parked at meters. 

          Enter jack nivens, a beat cop, in uniform in his mid thirties. he 
          has an impeccably clean manner about him and a look of being 
          bored. he is looking at meters checking them for expired. he sees 
          one and starts to open his ticket book.

          On his radio we here. 

                                          DISPATCHER
                         Come in mary adam 12. 

                                          JACK
                         Go ahead dispatch.

                                          DISPATCHER
                         We have a request for you to return.

                                          JACK
                         I'm on my way. out. 

          Jack folds up his ticket book and starts to walk back. 
 

          EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY 

          Police cars park out front and talk to themselves. jack walks 
          around the corner and goes in the side entrance. 
 

          INT. POLICE STATION - DAY 

          There is always a hussle and bussle here. phones ring off the hook 
          and people are always on their way to somewhere. 

          Jack goes to a desk where a woman in her twenties, but very large 
          has the look on her face of frustration. 

                                          JACK
                         Who called me back ? 

                                          WOMAN AT DESK
                         Cindy did. hold on, she's with some people.... 

          Woman starts to dial and gets on the phone 

                                          WOMAN AT DESK
                         Yes.... i'll tell him. 

          She hangs up the phone and looks to jack. 

                                          WOMAN AT DESK
                         
 

          
                         They will see you in the conference room 
                         upstairs. 

                                          JACK
                         "they ?" 

          The woman ignores him as he walks to the stairs outside the door. 
 

          INT. POLICE STATION STAIRS 

          Jack is walking up the staircase when he sees cindy heuter, a 
          detective in her late twenties and sexier than most women ever 
          hope to be. It pains Jack to see her. 

                                          JACK
                         Hey, Cindy... 

          Cindy is talking to two other Detectives. 

                                          CINDY
                         Excuse me, gentlemen. Jack, I said to meet me at 
                         the conference room. 

                                          JACK
                         I know, but what's this about ? I'm not giong to 
                         get fired am I ?

                                          CINDY
                         Jesus, you're paranoid ! No you're not getting 
                         fired. There are some people here that want to 
                         ask you some questions that's all. 

                                          JACK
                         What people ?

                                          CINDY
                         Just come on. 

          They continue up the stairs together.

                                          JACK
                         So are you busy later ?

                                          CINDY
                         The ink is on the divorce papers yet Jack, 
                         besides, you know we can't see each other any 
                         more.  

                                          JACK
                         I.. miss you.

                                          CINDY
                         I'm sure you do. Whenever you get a heart on. 
                         Grow up Jack. You'll make some one a real nice 
                         man some day. 

          They pass into a door. 
 

          INT. HALLWAY 

          They get to the door to the conference room and it's like a light 
          switch how they both go from being coy to serious. They enter the 
          room. 
 

          INT. CONFERENCE ROOM 

          Already seated is Jeffery Colbert, mid forties in a dark suit. 
          Standing and staring at a folder is MARK KNIGHT, in his early 
          thirties. 

                                          CINDY
                         Jack, this is area director Jeff Colbert with 
                         the F.B.I. and special agent Knight. 

                                          COLBERT
                         How do you do ? 

                                          KNIGHT
                         Hello. 

          They all shake hands. 

                                          JACK
                         What can I do for you ? 

          Jack is uncomfortable with this. 

                                          COLBERT
                         Well, Mr. Nivens, we have a situation that you 
                         might be the only person that can help us. DO 
                         you know JOHN ROTH ? 

          Jack's face almost sinks.
                          

                                          JACK
                         Yes. He assisted me on a case a few years ago.

                                          COLBERT
                         Yes, the F.B.I. were brought in to finish the 
                         investigation when a body was found on the state 
                         line. Then you were suspended for....

                                          JACK
                         I remember, thank you. 

                                          COLBERT
                         Are you willing to be more co-operative ?

                                          JACK
                         What do you want ? I mean what is this about ? 

                                          KNIGHT
                         Jack, do you know where Mr. Roth is ?

                                          JACK
                         Last I heard he was heading back to Egypt.

                                          KNIGHT
                         That's right. Well, he's in Egypt and he's 
                         stirring up a lot of problems.

                                          JACK
                         Is he selling narcotics ? 

                                          COLBERT
                         So you knew he sold drugs ? Actually he has 
                         stepped up in the world. He is moving arms from 
                         Saudi to Egypt to Libya.

                                          JACK
                         Jesus... He doesn't know how to stop does he ? 
                         How do you know it's him ?

                                          COLBERT
                         We have some spy photos here. We have most of 
                         the buyers of arms under surveillance. He goes 
                         by the name of Abduhl Ben Hassan. He is widely 
                         known in underground circles. He has a loyal 
                         following.   

          The put a slide on where we see JOHN in his desert dress holding 
          the harness to a camel. The slide is very hazy and you can barely 
          tell it's him. 

                                          KNIGHT
                         He is apparently acting like a sort of Robin 
                         Hood. He gets the money for his arms deals then 
                         gives themoney to the poor. No one will help the 
                         Egyptian government find him. 

                                          COLBERT
                         He's been publishing articles with Archeoligical 
                         magazines all over the world and the internet. 

          They change the slide to show an srticle of John's work. It's 
          credit

                                          COLBERT
                         Mr. Nivens, this is not something to be taken 
                         lightly. The Egyptian government is taking this 
                         VERY seriously. They want him and his band of 
                         smugglers caught. They have formally requested 
                         our help. 

                                          JACK
                         So what I can I do ? 

                                          KNIGHT
                         We want you to go to Egypt with me to find him.

                                          JACK
                         Why would I do that ?

                                          KNIGHT
                         We'll get him out of there. 

                                          COLBERT
                         If an American is convicted for selling arms in 
                         the Middle East it will cause a backlash you 
                         wouldn't believe. 

                                          KNIGHT
                         If you go, he'll know we can be trusted. He'll 
                         be more likely believe us. 

                                          COLBERT
                         John Roth has no surviing family members, no 
                         known affiliates stateside. You are the only 
                         person we could find that knows him at all.

                                          JACK
                         No way. I do NOT want to go to Egypt. They area 
                         a bunch of fucking towelheads that'll just as 
                         soon shoot me than help me. 

                                          CINDY
                         Jack...

                                          JACK
                         No... listen to me. John Roth and I are not 
                         really friends anyway. I mean sure, he helped me 
                         out, but he's not gonna trust me ? 

                                          COLBERT
                         Mr. Nivens, please....

                                          JACK
                         Listen to me... Egypt is a million miles from 
                         here. I can't just up and go. I don't speak 
                         egyptian or whatever the fuck it is they speak 
                         over there. How am I supposed to get around ? 

                                          KNIGHT
                         You would be with me the whole time. I speak 
                         Arabic fluently and have been to Egypt several 
                         times. You'll be safe. 

          They're getting to him now.

                                          JACK
                         I'm gogin through a divorce right now. I can't 
                         just.... 

                                          COLBERT
                         Ms. Heuter.... 

                                          CINDY
                         Jack, I've been authorixed to promote you to 
                         full detective if you give them full 
                         cooperation. 

                                          JACK
                         Now that's not fair.....

                                          COLBERT
                         Mr. Nivens look, you will have an all expense 
                         paid trip to Egypt and all it will take is a 
                         week of your life and you can have that which 
                         you want. To be a full detective again. 

          Jack stares at the slide of John in Egypt. He stares long and 
          hard. 

                                          JACK
                         Okay, I'll do it. 

                                          COLBERT
                         You are doing your country a great service. 
                         Thank you.

                                          KNIGHT
                         I will pick you up here at 10:30 for a flight 
                         out. Be packed and ready to go. 

          Knight and Colbert exit and shake hands with Cindy on their way 
          out. Jack is still sitting with his thumbs against his temples. 
          Cindy comes over to him. 

                                          CINDY
                         I don't like it either. This came from the top. 

                                          JACK
                         I never liked this guy. Why am I so anxious to 
                         defend him ? Do you know I've never left the 
                         U.S. ?

                                          CINDY
                         You'll be okay. A lot of people have gone to 
                         foriegn countries and lived. 

                                          JACK
                         What the hell am I doing ? 

                                          CINDY
                         You better get packed. Don't forget to pack baby 
                         powder. I here it helps keep the sweat from 
                         getting to bad. 

          Cindy leaves the room and Jack just sits, contemplating.

                                                             CUT TO:                                                                                     
 

          EXT. CITY STREET PHONE BOOTH - DUSK 

          Jack puts a quarter and a dime in the phone. He's now dressed in 
          civilian clothes.

                                          JACK
                         Hey, it's me.... Listen I'm going to be gone for 
                         a week. I can't really tell you wwhat it's 
                         about. ...... No, it's not a weekned getaway 
                         with some bimbo.... I won't be available to call 
                         either...... God damnit don't hang up ! 

          Jack slams the phone down and turns to walk. 
 

          INT. CAIRO AIRPORT 

          This is not an American Airport. The people don't even flinch when 
          the army men walk by with a loaded AK47. Jack walks around looking 
          at everything. Knight is with him not paying much attention to 
          anything. 

                                          KNIGHT
                         We'll get over to the hotel first, then I'll do 
                         my thing and find out where our boy is. 

          They wait in line at the VISA line. 

                                          JACK
                         What are they gonna ask me ?

                                          KNIGHT
                         What color your underwear is.

                                          JACK
                         What ?

                                          KNIGHT
                         Just relax. 

          Jack gets out a cigarette & lights it up. His hands are shaking. 
          Everything looks so different to him. He is almost paranoid. 

                                                             CUT TO: 
 

          INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY 

          Jack is in a generic looking hotel of some major American chain. 
          The room looks right, but the images he's watching on TV are not. 
          It's all Middle Eastern soap operas. 

          Knight comes in. 

                                          KNIGHT
                         Hey, I got a guy who'll talk to us about a 
                         meeting with Roth. 

          Jack slowly gets up. 

                                          KNIGHT
                         Do you wanna do some site seeing or anything ? 
                         Maybe go to the Pyramids ? 

                                          JACK
                         No. I just wanna do this and go home please.

                                          KNIGHT
                         I don't see what's wrong with you. This is a 
                         walk in the park. 
 

          EXT. CAIRO CITY STREETS - DAY 

          The cars are piled up and running 100 kilometers an hour. Everyone 
          is yelling at everyone on the road in Arabic. 
 

          INT. MINI VAN - DAY 

          Knight is lettin an Egyptian driver take them around. Jack is 
          sitting shotgun and his eyes a bugging out. Just as a car almost 
          slams into them.. 

                                          JACK
                         Jesus Christ ! Are the lines on the road just a 
                         reference they miss or what ? 

                                          KNIGHT
                         Dont worry, these guys make L.A. look like a 
                         country highway.