This region south of Saqqara
may appear just barren desert,
but once we combine
the satellite's high-resolution cameras
with infra-red technology,
the city's true boundaries are finally revealed.
Note the significant structure at the end of this avenue,
which my research indicates is the fabled Al-As shrine,
which contains the key to the location
of the long lost tomb of Alexander the Great.
Time is of the essence.
Please, permit me to excavate and I can prove it.
You must be so frustrated.
I can't believe they said no. The evidence is overwhelming.
Apparently, computer graphics can be easily faked.
Faked? We're the British Museum!
This technology costs a fortune. Is Mr Hooten any help?
Not for this. He's back at the hotel.
Target Gohar. He's Head of Antiquities there.
I went to Cambridge with him. Tell him GG sent you.
- Gee-gee? As in a horse? - Erm, no.
No, as in Ganja Girl.
I'm not suggesting you take him hash cakes,
but he'll definitely remember me,
and it might get you an audience with him.
You are my secret weapon. Thank you, Ella.
You learn something new every day.
The shrine is here, I'm sure of it.
All the evidence suggests it was buried in the earthquake of 956.
I do not doubt your research, Lady Alex,
but my hands are tied.
Dr Yannaras and his team are already excavating this area.
They're digging in the wrong place.
We need to protect this site immediately,
before some criminal lowlife comes along and desecrates it
for their own squalid, mercenary ends.
It's OK, I'm an archaeologist.
Captain!
What's happening?
Is it militants?
Please, Doctor, remain inside. Let us deal with this.
Ripped & Corrected By mstoll
Sorry.
- Alex! - I know you're bored,
but I'm trying to get clearance to excavate the site.
No need. I skipped that stage.
You did what?
- Why can I hear gunfire? - Cos I'm being shot at.
I said stay in the hotel. What have you done?
Funny story. Know that shrine entrance you said was here?
It isn't where you frigging said it was.
Never mind. I never doubted you for a second.
Take cover!
Professor Gohar.
Assalamu alaikum.
Lady Alexandra.
Dr Yannaras.
On behalf of the Greek Government,
I trust you will be extending our site
to include this exciting new discovery.
Unfortunately, I have already applied to excavate this site
on behalf of the British Museum.
To display its many treasures
alongside Lord Elgin's stolen Marbles, no doubt.
She knows you too well, Doctor.
Thank you.
Lady Alex is here as my guest only.
No permits have been issued yet.
But we'll find an equitable solution, I'm sure.
No sign of the intruder, and no other exits.
Body must be in the rubble.
A fitting end for one so worthless.
Thank you, Captain.
Erm, shall we?
Alexander the Great.
His final resting place.
Until 641 AD, yes.
When the Arabs occupied this country,
the Persians moved his body to another secret temple.
Bah!
Careful! This is not your grandmother's couch.
Worthless. A soldier, manservant.
- No-one of rank. - What did you expect?
I told you, Alexander was moved.
I'd, erm...
I'd prefer to confirm that for myself.
There is a second coffin in the antechamber.
Come.
Mummified corpses weren't laid on kaftans.
I'd get out now before Yannaras remembers that.
What are you doing?
Besides finding your shrine?
You mean, nearly destroying it.
What kind of person uses explosives
to excavate a sacred site?
A pretty damn successful one, and we've got to be first
to find the key to the treasure in Alexander's tomb.
I knew employing you was a mistake.
You can always just give me a finder's fee
and we can call it quits.
I thought so.
Go get me one of those guards and distract the others.
Nothing, not even a body.
Perhaps the looter did manage to survive after all.
Notify your captain.
I want this temple searched again, thoroughly.
Erm, hi!
I think I left my sunglasses in the main chamber.
Would you mind looking for them for me? Thank you so much.
This is an intriguing anomaly,
possibly a clue to understanding the secrets of the shrine.
The elephant in the battle scene signifies that
Alexander's opponent was King Porus of the Punjabi region.
Er, but if we look more closely
at the soldiers that Alexander is fighting,
it's clear that their uniforms are...
Persian, not Punjabi.
Yes. Darius of Persia fought only with horses.
That must mean something.
We should examine the symbols left by the Persian artisans.
Every frieze, every fresco could hold a clue,
possibly a clue to understanding the secrets of...
Stay alert.
Over here!
Bah!
You snooze, you lose.
Let's hope the only thing he stole was that uniform.
Indeed.
Your hopes are misplaced. Look.
The medallion from the shield.
I'm telling you, Semir,
this woman is seriously hazardous to my health.
Every time we're together, some nut job tries to kill me,
but does she give a rat's ass?
- I am thinking, no. - Damn straight.
- And thanks. - Once she's got what she wants,
I'm totally dispensable. That's cold, right?
But also, a little hot.
I think maybe this is really your problem.
You need to put that money away
unless you are looking for trouble.
What kind of trouble did you have in mind?
I am not a hooker.
Me neither, except for this one time in Caracas.
Oh, yeah?
There was another time in Amsterdam.
- Name's Hooten. - Melina.
- You won't get me drunk. - Yes, I will.
Let's just roll the dice and see what happens, huh?
Did you rob a bank or something?
I stole a jeep, then I sold it.
Come on, come on!
Well, maybe you'll get lucky another way, huh?
Maybe I will.
Where did you get that?
Same place as the jeep.
We're not finished yet!
All the money, yeah?
For this.
Highest number, winner takes all. Yeah?
Are you sure? The medallion looks priceless.
If I win, things could get ugly.
So you might want to get some wheels
and keep the engine running, just in case.
Crazy man. Good luck.
You're first, Slim.
Come on, baby, don't let me down now.
- Yes! - Woo!
Tough break, brother, but you know, we've all had bad beats.
You've just...
persuaded me to leave the money and the medallion
and walk away.
I don't want any trouble, just...
Can't blame a guy for trying.
Go!
You call this a getaway vehicle?
Like I can afford a car.
If this thing doesn't go any faster, we're in big trouble.
Sorry to interrupt, but you and I need to talk alone,
so if you can ask your new friend to go?
Nice tattoo, by the way. Is that a phoenix?
- Who the hell is this? - I'm his wife.
OK!
Didn't you tell her that, darling? Funny.
Melina, she is not my wife. Give me a minute.
Take as long as you like. I am out of here.
You are not my wife.
I was about to get laid, so this better be good.
Where's the medallion? I know you took it.
Just please, God, say you haven't sold it yet.
I borrowed it so a friend could make
some cheap knock-offs.
The treasure in Alexander's tomb is worth over a billion dollars.
What do you think I'm doing here?
Jeopardising our discovery for the sake of a petty scam.
I owed him. He's got kids, he needs the money.
But now we have a problem in the form of that stolen medallion.
What we have is a crucial piece of the puzzle,
which our opponents don't,
which means we can find the tomb first.
You're welcome.
Technically speaking, they're our partners,
so I'm morally obliged to share any new information.
Technically speaking, they're not my partners, you are.
Don't you want to be the one to find it?
Oh, don't pretend like we're not doing this.
Did that woman see this, did you show it to her?
Yeah, but she was into me long before then.
Did you ask yourself why?
I mean, would I really have to?
There's an ancient Greek society called the Philiki Etaireia.
Its members have been searching
for Alexander's tomb for centuries.
Yeah, still not seeing the connection.
Its symbol is a phoenix.
Oh, come on! You can't even give me that?
It bugged you, didn't it,
seeing me and her about to touch belly buttons.
Er, it was fairly nauseating, actually.
No, there's a definite subtext.
Is it saying, "Don't blow your own trumpet"?
You should just be careful, OK?
There's some kind of hieratic text on its rim
but it's very unusual.
It's a fusion of early to middle Demotic, I think.
I'll get you a translation ASAP.
Thank you, Ella. The medallion is the key, I'm sure of it.
Just possessing it puts you at risk,
so make sure that lump of a hunk keeps close guard, OK?
Trust me, we're safer apart.
Always carry an insect repellent.
Just one squirt in the eye - never fails.
It's an important find, Alex,
but we can't have our employees blowing up sites
and looting the content.
I know. He's a bit of a loose cannon.
Do you want me to cancel his contract?
On the contrary.
His unorthodox methods are proving to be rather successful.
But just make certain that
our association with him remains discreet.
Can't risk being compromised or held accountable.
Hooten. Hey.
I thought I would come back and give you a second chance,
make sure you're OK.
And to get the medallion, of course.
You want to tell me where you've hidden it?
It's going to hurt like hell if you don't.
Hey.
So, progress?
"The grave in starlight shields the sire."
Mm. Let's hope Alex can make sense of it.
It's not here.
He must have given it to the girl.
Try next door. Go.
No, she checked out. We had a fight. She's at the Hilton.
He's lying. Quickly, go.
- Alex! - Agh!
I expected better.
- Watch out, Alex! - Keep your mouth shut.
What's happening?
- Talk to me! - Please, just shut up!
Incoming!
- Oh, my God! - Bit handicapped here.
- One of them has the key. - But where?
I do. Come and get it.
FYI, she's a good fighter. Might want to bring your A-game.
Yes. Thank you!
That's your A-game?
- God! - Nice pyjamas.
Oh, my God!
- Alex? - What?
Alex, the... You dropped something.
Yes.
She should have let me seduce it from you.
- It's your loss. - Yeah.
I'm not all bad.
Why did you hide it in your pyjamas? Of all the places...
I had to put it somewhere. You didn't give me time.
If we don't get it back, you owe me a billion dollars.
It's only worth that in the shrine,
and if Ella can translate the text on its rim,
we might not need it at all.
- That's hotel property! - Put it on expenses.
This guy's telling me where Melina is,
then I'm taking her down.
Nobody handcuffs me to a bed without an agreed safe word.
Disturbing as that is, I'm saying, it's just not necessary.
If we can get to the shrine...
What if you're wrong?
Just entertain the possibility for once in your life.
What if you can't crack it,
and you need the medallion, then what?
Fine. Just remember that you work for the Museum,
not the Mafia.
I'll check in with Ella on my way to the shrine.
I'll be your dance partner this evening.
How you doing?
You ready to spill yet?
See, the thing is, I need to get to Melina fast,
so to speed things up,
I thought I'd just set these sheets on fire.
You won't kill me.
No, but the ground probably will.
No, wait!
Wait!
I'll tell you, all right?
Put it out. Wait!
I'm listening.
So Melina was working for you.
Your employee stole it first.
No, Hooten was acting for himself.
I would never sanction theft, nor sneaked in here at night
so I could claim the location for myself.
The Philiki's a more noble cause than that, surely.
You don't understand.
My country is drowning in a sea of debt we can't possibly repay.
Even Alexander's billions can't cover that amount.
But finding his body would save our soul,
restore our people's pride and self-respect,
remind us of who we once were -
a nation with dignity and honour.
I think you can help me return that much to us at least.
You know this is the key.
We ought to wait for Professor...
No, no, no. You can't wait, nor can I.
It's what we live for.
And you are so close now.
Solve it now, tonight, and present him with your triumph -
the tomb of Alexander.
And reap the accolades for yourself and your museum.
Ah!
You need to walk away while you still can.
Last chance.
Let's roll the dice, see what happens.
I'm sorry, but I can't have you screwing everything up
or getting killed.
It's for your own good, OK?
Why do you think I didn't load it?
Let's go somewhere quiet and have a little chat,
starting with, where's my medallion?
No, wait. You don't understand!
You're stalling until your mob gets here?
No, you idiot!
I'm not part of the Philiki. I'm a cop, OK?
I am Sergeant Cahconas, Athens Police.
We've been tracking Yannaras and the Brotherhood for years.
They are fanatics who believe that the body of Alexander
will help them incite our nation into war.
Whoa, wait a minute - you didn't give back the medallion?
It's OK. We are monitoring his movements
with the Egyptian authorities.
We have men in place, waiting.
You mean those soldiers at the site?
No, no, they are not ours, they are Greek mercenaries,
part of the Philiki.
They answer only to Yannaras.
According to Ella, this means,
"The grave in starlight shields the sire."
As you requested, Lady Alex, the site is now sealed.
Thank you, Captain.
Look at the grave - a star!
Something's moving inside.
Gentlemen, the lid, please.
This is it!
There's another chamber.
Oh. Look here...
..."shah mat".
"The King is finished."
It's a puzzle, like an ancient chessboard.
No answer.
There is no reception in the shrine. Stay down.
Don't worry, Yannaras won't kill her
until he discovers the location of the tomb.
It might be difficult to solve, even with the medallion.
She'll solve it.
The ancient city of Alexandria was built on a grid system,
a bit like a chessboard.
The lighthouse signifies the beginning of that original grid.
Ingenious.
These paintings represent different chess figures,
hence the anomalies in the frescos upstairs.
Those aren't depictions of battle scenes,
they're the final moves of a Persian chess game,
or the equivalent.
So these holes must be for the spears.
Gold would be king.
And if the elephant represents the bishop...
...the chariot would be the rook.
So then we just have to...
Move the pieces, finish the game,
and where the king falls...
That's where the tomb of Alexander lies.
Bingo.
You take me in as your hostage,
we'll take these guards out together.
How are you still alive, huh?
These people have been instructed
to shoot you on sight.
Just give me your watch and wait here.
You want to save her or not? Give me your watch.
Dr Yannaras is inside?
It's hot, huh?
Alexander has retreated to behind this soldier.
Castle takes bishop.
And then... the castle protects his king.
Bishop advances.
Checkmate.
So we have it - the Attarine Mosque.
Hooten came looking for me,
but he won't be getting in the way any more.
I killed him.
It looks a lot better on me, don't you think?
Don't worry, Princess. You'll be reunited very soon.
No!
What if she has tricked you and the tomb is somewhere else?
Don't kill her until we find out.
Why not?
Yannaras, come back! Wait!
Yannaras, don't close the door, please! You need me.
Yannaras, please come back!
Please! I can help you at the temple.
Help me!
Hey! Can I take this?
I deserve something for Hooten, surely.
Parakalô.
Efcharistô.
Love what you've done with the place. It's very cosy.
She told me you were dead.
I knew there was a bit of subtext.
A perfectly natural, genuine moment is ruined.
We've got to go. They've got a hell of a head start.
Yeah, but in the wrong location.
What do you mean?
I switched the grid around.
This is the real location of Alexander's tomb,
in an old part of Alexandria
that was destroyed in the earthquake.
- That's a good thing, right? - Yes, a very good thing.
You do know how to dive, don't you?
Lady Alex. I've been trying to contact you.
Dr Yannaras said you had relinquished all claims
and were returning to England.
I'm heading west towards Alexander's tomb.
I need authorisation to dive there,
but we can fill out the forms later.
Bureaucratic bullshit.
No, no, no, his tomb is under the Attarine Mosque.
Dr Yannaras told me he cracked the code.
No, he only thinks he has.
I gave him the wrong co-ordinates
just before he tried to kill me in the shrine.
He did what?
I'm sending you the real site reference now,
but you need to get police there quickly. It'll need protecting,
as will one Sergeant Melina Cahconas.
She's a Greek police officer. She's working undercover.
Once he realises he's been tricked,
she'll be in danger too.
Thank you, Lady Alex.
It's fine. Just call the police.
You can rely on me, of course.
I'm glad at least one of us knows
where our true loyalties lie.
I think my percentage just went up.
I've found a tunnel. It's narrow as hell
and pitch-black but it goes right into the rock face.
Am I speaking out loud?
Yeah, I'm listening. I'm just looking for the police.
We'll go without them. They have the co-ordinates.
You want to be the first to find it, right?
Show them no quarter. They are enemies of Greece.
They don't look like the police.
No, it's Yannaras!
- God! They're shooting at us. - No shit!
Get your tank and dive.
- How the hell did they know? - Just dive!
Was the gunfire really necessary?
Hey, don't kill her unless you have to.
That's my privilege.
This is it.
I think we've found it! This has to be Alexander's tomb.
It's going to be our tomb too if we don't hurry up.
This is my favourite bit.
One billion, here we come.
Transporting the treasure out won't be easy.
Oh, that is the least of your problems.
More worthless bodies.
There's another room, right, one with all the riches?
Possibly not, but does it matter? This is the real prize.
It'd better be.
That's him - no nose.
Emperor Augustus knocked it off when he visited the tomb.
No, no, no. Wait a minute.
You said he was gold and studded with gems.
He was, until Pharaoh Ptolemy IX turned him into coinage.
The fortune aspect has been wildly overstated.
Yes, by you, constantly.
"Wealth beyond my imagination." That was the phrase you used.
Did you ever imagine a scenario like this?
But that's lying!
I prefer "motivating". Incentives are very important.
No, you promised me wealth - one billion dollars.
The body alone is worth that. In fact, it's priceless.
And think of the cultural and historical value.
That's a sort of wealth.
Oh, no. There is no way - no way - you're getting away with this.
Sadly, no. Once Yannaras's men get here, they'll kill us both.
Not if I don't kill you first, and I'm thinking about it.
Well, make up your mind fast, because they're here.
We cannot let him take the body. It's too powerful a symbol.
All right, go out there and stall him.
What are you going to do?
I don't know! That's why I need you to stall him.
Dr Yannaras! Wait. It's here. The body's here.
Alexander is here. You can take that and everything else.
Don't tell him there's no treasure.
He's already pissed off as it is.
You can take it. If you let us go, you can have everything.
But I can do that anyway.
What are you doing?
What's it going to be, Yannaras?
You kill us or save your boy here.
- Your choice. - Snuff it out!
Quickly! Alexander must be preserved.
Bàstardos!
Finally, Greece can rise again
and reclaim the legacy you gave us.
Come on!
We've got to get out of here!
I'm calling that the Hooten Solution,
sort of an homage thing.
Alexander would be very proud.
If he wasn't in a million pieces, you mean.
Do I?
The body you blew up had a nose.
Yeah. I switched the bodies before I came out.
He's still in there, somewhere under all that rubble.
Safest place for him.
Maybe best not to tell the Greeks -
world peace and all that. Bigger picture.
Probably best staying ignorant.
You're living proof that works.
That's your way of saying thanks
for saving your life, again?
I think you'll find that I've saved yours
just as often, if not more, probably.
Why is everything a competition with you?
Why can't you just say "Thanks"
or "Here's a cheque for a billion"?
- Yeah. - You still owe me, by the way.
Yannaras said you destroyed the body.
Yes. It was him or us, unfortunately.
Well, I got what I wanted, so thank you.
And no hard feelings?
Oh, don't give him such an opening, please.
Nothing a couple of drinks wouldn't smooth over.
OK, as long as Alex can join us too.
Is she... Is she seeing anybody at the moment?
She's getting married, but don't you worry -
it's a total sham, a beard thing for her parents,
you know, society folks.
You are so in there.
- Really? - Oh, yeah.
You just stick with me.
Ripped & Corrected By mstoll