CREATED BY JAK BURKE

449 WEST 56 STREET

APARTMENT 7A
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
10019

JACALYNSBURKE@AOL.COM
1-212 246 6467
1-917 497 9906
COPYRIGHT 2009

10/12/2011

PROJECT CAMELOT
Gathering
by JAK BURKE
SET LIST
INTERIORS
ANU NARKI CORPORATE HEADQUATERS/OFFICE
MUSEUM OF ANTIQUITES
A BRONX HOMELESS SHELTER
THE HOTEL CHELSEA
ASSORTED NYC STREETS, ETC

CAST LIST
DR. SOPHIA KAFKA
MILTON LEE
TARA SALIQ
MYSTERY MAN
ASSORTED MINOR CHARACTERS

ACT ONE

TITLES
Gathering
Titles show Manhattan NYC present day, zoom in to Downtown towards corporate
headquarters of Japanese military technology giant ANU NARKI. Enter through large
luxurious lobby up central escalator to 2nd floor. Mass hive of cubicles.

TEASER
FADE IN:
1. INT. A 2nd FLOOR OPEN PLAN OFFICE EARLY EVENING
Office clock reads 6pm. People rush about packing up for weekend. Zoom in on
LEE Cubicle.
YOUNG GUY
(Approaches LEE cubicle. A beautiful young woman passes)
Man what I wouldnt do to get a piece of that.
MILTON LEE
(Looks up) Huh?
YOUNG GUY
You didnt even notice did you Lee. (Smirks)
MILTON LEE
(Nervously moving papers around) Whats that?

YOUNG GUY
Forget it Borg. Here.
MILTON LEE
Whats this?
YOUNG GUY
No idea it just
(Beautiful young woman returns with her coat and bag)
arrived. Hey Lucia wait up!
MILTON LEE
(Looks down at envelope, courier delivery, marked URGENT begins to
open it.)
A man approaches. Its STEVE THE TEAM LEADER
STEVE THE TEAM LEADER
Milton!
MILTON LEE
(Jumps back in seat, stuffs envelope to side of computer)
Steve.
STEVE THE TEAM LEADER
Still working? (Leans towards monitor, squints)
Screen reads:
NATO LOG IN

MILTON LEE
(Clicks off monitor)
Just leaving.
STEVE THE TEAM LEADER
Okay (Backs off) so my office Monday first thing.
MILTON LEE
Monday? Why?
STEVE THE TEAM LEADER
An anomaly nothing big, well talk Monday
MILTON LEE
(Looks over to reception where a couple of men in black suits are talking to
the CEO. One man glances over at MILTON)
Anomaly?
STEVE THE TEAM LEADER
(Walks away) Have a great weekend kid.
MILTON LEE
(Turns monitor back on. Closes NATO window. Email alert opens in new
window.)
One new email
>>from: A@projectcamelot.com>today/22/09/10/18:05>>
NO SUBJECT
WELCOME TO PROJECT CAMELOT. TAKE ENVELOPE TO
BOILER/MAINTENANCE WASHROOM IN BASEMENT NOW, DO
NOT GO TO STAFF WASHROOMS, TAKE EXIT STAIRS TO YOUR

RIGHT, OPEN ENVELOPE, PHOTOGRAPH CONTENTS, FLUSH

CONTENTS AND ENVELOPE IMMEDIATELY.
Men in black suits begin to slowly file through cubicle maze. MILTON clutches
envelope and his bag and runs for exit stairs.

2. INT. A BRONX HOMELESS SHELTER, LOBBY EARLY EVENING.

People mill about, noisy interactions, music blares, kids scream, babies cry. In a side
room, door ajar, a young woman, TARA SALIQ attempts to process a crying
HOMELESS WOMAN with two screaming infants in tow.
TARA
Mam, mam?
HOMELESS WOMAN
Im telling you if he finds out Im here, shits going down Tiger stop
that, come back here
TARA
Mam! I need to take down your particulars ?
A WOMAN enters and gestures for TARA to come.
Excuse me look fill this in (pushes form across table) itll help us place
you (to child) oh and he cant be touching that
HOMELESS WOMAN
Na-ah I aint filling no form out no god-damned way last time I filled
out one of these forms they took my welfare away no way

TARA exits to noisy hallway. A well-dressed MYSTERY MAN is seen exiting shelter
doorway. A WOMAN hands TARA a package.
WOMAN
He said it was important.
TARA
Him? (Indicates to exit door. MYSTERY MAN is gone)
WOMAN nods, walks off to quell a heated argument between two young men.
TARA (CONT.D)
TARA rips open package. Inside is a very old book. TARA reads aloud:
SECRET ORIGINS OF THE DOGON PEOPLE
TARA opens the first page. Inside written in elegant handwriting is:
Welcome to Project Camelot. Do not go home tonight your apartment has
been compromised. A reservation has been made for you under the name
LYDIA GARDENER at THE HOTEL CHELSEA 77 West 20th Street, paid in
full for one night, room 144. An overnight bag, a cell phone and further
instructions to be found in your room. Very soon they will call you, do not
answer your cell phone. They are seeking to situate you. Switch off and
discard your cell phone now and exit in exactly 6 minutes via back door.
Leave all electrical equipment behind. A. Friend
TARA turns over package, no postage, no markings, and no return address. She frowns.
TARA (CONT.D)

What the
HOMELESS WOMAN and her children spill out of side room.
HOMELESS WOMAN
Yo you just gonna leave us in there? my kids is hungry we need
somewhere to stay hey Im talking to you.
TARA
(Cell rings. UNKNOWN CALLER. Answers)
UNKNOWN CALLER
Ms Saliq are you at work?
TARA
(Slams phone shut) Oh my god.
HOMELESS WOMAN
I said Im talking to you. (Pulls on TARAS sweater)
TARA lurches back.
TARA CONTD
Im sorry I er excuse me. Ive got to leave.
HOMELESS WOMAN
What you mean you gotta leave! You cant leave. (Follows TARA as she
gathers her stuff up) I got to fill this god damned form out.
TARA
Shell do it (Indicates to the WOMAN in the hallway who stands between
two arguing young men.

TARA runs out into a dimly lit alley via the back door. She switches her cell to vibrate.
3.INT. MUSEUM OF ANTIQUITIES BUREAU (MOAB) MANHATTAN,
BASEMENT RESEARCH FACILITY. ROOM 101 - EVENING
A bespectacled woman DR SOPHIA KAFKA sits in a dark room at her laptop. She is
focusing intensely on the screen. Suddenly the landline rings.
DR SOPHIA
(Startled)
Jesus!
(Looks down at caller id. SECURITY. Ignores call)
Ach its always something with those bozos.
(Phone continues to ring. Rattled DR SOPHIA pulls it off the hook.)
Now shut up.
(Goes back to screen. Her cell phone rings. Ignores but it continues to
ring.)
Some people cant take a hint.
(Checks caller id SECURITY MOAB. Answers call)
Can I possibly get 5 minutes of peace? I mean is that too much to ask
MOAB SECURITY
(Disgruntled)
You got a visitor.
DR SOPHIA
A visitor? (Checks time on screen) Its after 6 arent we were closed
to the public
MOAB SECURITY
You got a visitor.

10

DR SOPHIA
I heard you but how can I possibly have a visitor
MOAB SECURITY
Hold on. (Muffles phone) He says hes with Project Camelot (pause)
he says its important.
DR SOPHIA
I dont care if hes with King Arthur he can wait til Monday like everyone
else! (Clicks shut phone) Like I dont work enough hours. (Goes back to
the screen)
Camera swings around to show DR SOPHIA looking at screen, her eyes widen. She is
reading something captivating. We view screen.
US GOVERNMENT IMPLICATED IN LOOTING OF BAGHDAD MUSEUMS

Article by Dr Ahmed Ibrahim.

19 April 2003
As the full extent of the looting of Iraqs National Museum in Baghdad emerges, it
becomes clear that there was nothing accidental about it. Rather it was the result of a long
planned project to plunder the artistic and historical treasures that are held in the
museums of Iraq
DR SOPHIA (CONTD)
(Under her breath) Bastards.
Camera swings to face her with office door in view. Behind DR SOPHIA a shadow
moves under the office door. The door handle silently turns. It slowly creaks open. Light
from the hallway floods into the basement room.

11

DR SOPHIA (CONTD)
(Swings around) I said you can (Squints in bright light)
A MYSTERY MAN stands silhouetted in the doorway.
MYSTERY MAN
Now thats no way to treat a messenger of the King.
4.INT. BOILER/MAINTENANCE ROOM, BASEMENT, ANU NARKI
HEADQUARTERS - 6:10PM.
MILTON LEE crouches down nervously in one of the old boiler room toilets. A TV
blares from the boiler office down the hall. A MAINTENANCE MAN shuffles in
hallway, yells back to his companion.
MAINTENANCE MAN
You want diet or regular? (Someone shouts back diet) Okay back in 10.
Taking a leak first.
MAINTENANCE MAN mumbles to himself as he enters toilet. MILTON LEE sinks
back into the corner of toilet cubicle 1, closes eyes as MAINTENANCE MAN hovers by
door.
MAINTENANCE MANS cell rings. He answers and decides to venture into toilet
cubicle 2. MAINTENANCE MAN sits down and yaps while taking a dump. Its a trivial
conversation with his wife but as the cell signal is patchy he has to yell and repeat
himself.

12

MILTON LEE
(Seizes the opportunity to open the envelope. Inside is one piece of paper
with a mathematical formula etched on it. Written underneath in elegant
handwriting is:

Welcome to Project Camelot. This is the Cipher you have been searching for.

A. Friend
With shaking hands MILTON LEE photographs the paper using his iphone, then checks
to see if it has recorded. Then he agonizingly waits 3o seconds until MAINTENANCE
MAN stands up, zips up and flushes toilet. MILTON LEE does the same. Miraculously
the envelope and paper completely disappears upon impact with toilet bowl water.
MAINTENANCE MAN stands at toilet sink moaning about his co-workers and his wife
when his radio goes off. It is SECURITY from the building.
SECURITY
One Two, One Two, come in One Two, over.
MAINTENANCE MAN
This is One Two, over.
SECURITY
One Two whats your location, over.
MAINTENANCE MAN
(Curses) Im in the boiler room john, over.
SECURITY
One Two sweep your area, over.

13

MAINTENANCE MAN
Sweep my area? Over.
SECURITY
Yes - One Two (Sarcastically) Check the handbook, over.
MAINTENANCE MAN
(Mumbles jerk off) I know what a sweep is, want to know what am I
sweeping for, over
SECURITY
Looking for a Milton Lee, young Asian male works here in tech, 2nd floor,
over.
MAINTENANCE MAN
(Groans. Lights cigarette) And if I find him? Over.
SECURITY
(Audibly) Duh detain One Two, over
MAINTENANCE MAN gives radio the finger and shuffles out of toilet and back to the
boiler/maintenance room moaning to his colleague.
Once out of earshot MILTON LEE opens the toilet door and RUNS out through boiler
basement exit door. At GROUND FLOOR lobby MILTON LEE jumps security ramps
and speeds out of building.

5. EXT. APARTMENT BLOCK, BRONX - EVENING.

TARA SALIQ stands in the shadows watching her own apartment building. Checks
phone, puts on vibrate, reads time: 6:17pm. Looks over to her apartment block.
Residents in her building come and go.

14

TARA
(Under her breath) This is ridiculous.
TARA tentatively crosses the street and enters her building. She passes the elevator and
climbs the stairs instead. Her apartment is five flights up. TARA makes it to 5th floor.
She gingerly opens the fire door. TARA peers towards her front door.
Somebody from behind covers TARAS mouth and drags her back into the stairwell.
6. MOAB, RESEARCH FACILITY, BASEMENT, ROOM 101 - EVENING.
DR. SOPHIA KAFKA paces wildly about the room, her hand over her mouth, eyes
wide. She talks aloud.
DR SOPHIA
I am a scientist. I am a rational, accredited archeologist with an
impeccable reputation. I I I study, I mean I use scientific methods to
determine data and everything I know tells me that this cant possibly
be true!
DR SOPHIA goes back to her desk. On the computer screen is the image of a tall
obsidian stone tablet. Ancient cuneiform hieroglyphics are etched into the stone. She
approaches the screen with awe.
DR SOPHIA (CONTD)
And yet there you are you beauty you do exist but why would
he let me know
A COLLEAGUE whistles as he walks along the hall, he taps on DR SOPHIAS door.
DR SOPHIA almost jumps out of her skin.

15

COLLEAGUE JOHN
(Pops head in) Still here I see?
DR SOPHIA
(Quickly ejects a USB key and closes the file) Yeah I should pay rent.
COLLEAGUE JOHN
I (Pause) heard someone looking like Indiana Jones showed up?
DR SOPHIA
Oh yeah (Chuckles)
COLLEAGUE JOHN
Anyone we know?
DR SOPHIA
(Pretends to be tidying up papers) no.
COLLEAGUE JOHN
(Long pause) Come on Sophia youre killing me! Who was it? FBI?
CIA? NSA?
DR SOPHIA
You know what I cant answer that and dont take it the wrong way.
COLLEAGUE JOHN
Is it something to do with the stolen Tablet?
DR SOPHIA
Its classified John please.

16

COLLEAGUE JOHN
(Laughs incredulously) What? Weve been colleagues for over twenty and
now you hold out on me?
DR SOPHIA
Its a military thing I cant .
COLLEAGUE JOHN
Thats it! (Punches hand, excited) You found the dealer didnt you was
it that guy in Prague? Look if its classified you can trust me Im in on
this!
DR SOPHIA
I cant talk about it. Excuse me. (Throws USB key into her bag, packs up
small brief case and makes for door.)
COLLEAGUE JOHN
(Blocks doorway)
Ever since the looting of the Baghdad Museum weve made it our mission
to find the lost
DR SOPHIA
John please
COLLEAGUE JOHN
tablets of Babylon and decode them for humanity if you know
something you got to tell me!
A SECURITY GUARD approaches.

17

SECURITY GUARD
Everything okay in here?
DR SOPHIA
Yes thank you. (To COLLEAGUE JOHN) Go ahead I can lock up.
COLLEAGUE JOHN
Just remember Sophia (To DR SOPHIA) they belong to humanity
and nobody else. (Walks away despondently. To SECURITY GUARD)
Have a good weekend.
SECURITY GUARD
You too sir.
(Walks on slowly, turns back once to catch DR SOPHIAS eye)
Goodnight Doctor Kafka.
DR SOPHIA smiles and waits for SECURITY GUARD to turn corner, then slowly she
pulls out a piece of paper. On it is written, in elegant handwriting:
Welcome to Project Camelot. The Lost Tablet of Gilgamesh can be found
at this address: 3 West 33rd street Buzzer 3A @ 12 noon tomorrow. Come
alone or it will disappear forever.
A. Friend
7. INT. HOTEL CHELSEA, NYC 9PM
TARA SALIQ wakes up on a bed in a luxurious hotel suite. Jumping up she checks to see
if anyone is in the room. She discovers that she is alone. A tray of refreshments and clean
clothes are laid out on a dresser. TARA rubs her forehead and approaches the dresser.
She picks up a bottle of water and drinks deeply.
On the bed a cell phone buzzes. The message reads:

18

WELCOME TO PROJECT CAMELOT. YOU ARE STUBBORN BUT YOU WILL

LEARN TO WORK WITH US. SLEEP, EAT, AND PLEASE TRY TO RELAX. READ
THE BOOK WE HAVE LEFT FOR YOU. IT WILL ILLUMINATE. PLEASE DO NOT
LEAVE THIS HOTEL UNTIL WE HAVE CONTACTED YOU. WE WILL BE IN
TOUCH.
TARA looks to side of bed where a book THE SECRET ORIGIN OF THE DOGON
PEOPLE lies. She walks to the hotel door and tries to open it.
TARA
Locked. . (smiles to herself) of course.
TARA checks the hotel phone line. Its dead. She looks about the room. Sighs deeply and
closes the window blinds. TARA sits down on bed and opens the book and begins to
read. As she reads her eyes widen.
TARA (CONTD)
Oh wow
8. EXT. BROOKLYN HIGH STREET. 10PM
MILTON LEE stands at a cash machine. He nervously watches street as multiple $100
bills churn out into his outstretched hands. No one is around.
MILTON LEE
BINGO! (Out loud) Empty street just like you said. (Grins) Whatever this
is, (Counts money), I like it. Oh my god eight hundred dollars - yo.
(Stuffs cash into his bag. Checks cell. New message)

19

WELCOME TO PROJECT CAMELOT. YOU HAVE RECEIVED

EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS. GO TO MOTEL. 9 EAST 11TH
STREET. YOUR ROOM IS PREBOOKED AND PAID FOR UNDER
THE NAME OF SUNG MIN. IN THE ROOM YOU WILL FIND YOUR
PERSONAL LAPTOP AND EVERY FILE YOU HAVE EVER
DOWNLOADED. THE LAPTOP WILL NOT OPERATE UNTIL
TOMORROW. TONIGHT YOU MUST REST, EAT THE FOOD
PROVIDED AND SLEEP. TOMORROW WE BEGIN.
9. INT. MANHATTAN APARTMENT. 10:10 PM
DR SOPHIA KAFKA eats Chinese food in front of a computer monitor. She is trying to
get the USB key she was given to download. It doesnt. She gets frustrated. A message
appears on the screen.
DR KAFKA. WELCOME TO PROJECT CAMELOT. THE DEVICE YOU ARE
SEEKING TO LOAD WILL NOT OPERATE. THIS IS BECAUSE WE WISH FOR
YOU TO RELAX AND REJUVINATE. OUR JOURNEY BEGINS TOMORROW.
PACK A SMALL CASE AND INCLUDE ONLY ITEMS THAT HAVE
SENTIMENTAL VALUE TO YOU.
PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE CLOTHING, MONEY OR YOUR PASSPORT.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED WILL BE PROVIDED. DO NOT SET YOUR
ALARM FOR TOMORROW YOU WILL NOT BE GOING TO WORK.
THE MUSEUM WILL RECEIVE A MESSAGE FROM YOU BY US. ALL IS TAKEN
CARE OF. FOR NOW WE ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO SLEEP.

20

DR SOPHIA
(Laughs) Sleep? You kidding me? Im on the verge of finding the single
most significant artifact from antiquity and you want me to sleep?
Her cell phone buzzes, new message. It reads:
YES WE MEAN IT SLEEP
DR SOPHIA drops her cell and jumps up. Goes to window. Closes curtains. Looks down
at cell phone. Looks about the room.
DR SOPHIA (CONTD)
Who the hell are you and what do you want from me?
Close up on DR SOPHIAS face. Anxiety.

- END OF ACT ONE -

21