Rediscovery EP: The Missing Signature of George Washington

[The Ancient Warrior]

Author's Note: This is one of the episodes in my independent project.  If you have any complaints, first thing to do is to go see the episode directory here:
Legends: The Rediscovery

Episode 37px]

The camera maneuvers through a thick rainforest to stop in front of an ancient temple.  A giant stone head next to the gate of the temple begins to speak:
"LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE! With your guide, Kirk Fogg! And here he is NOW!"

On this final word, Kirk appears from behind the Temple Guard door in the Dungeon and runs straight out into the foreground of the stage to greet the crowd. "Thank you! Thank you very much! Nice to see you! Nice to see you, Olmec! Welcome to Legends of the Hidden Temple.  The rooms are filled with lost treasures that are protected by mysterious Mayan Temple Guards.  Only Olmec knows the legend behind each of the treasures in his temple.  Which legend are we gonna hear about today?"

Olmec replies:
"The Legend of the Missing Signature of George Washington."

"The Missing Signature of George Washington," Kirk says in response. "Well, the adventure is set, and now one of these six teams will have the chance to retrieve that Missing Signature of George Washington.  Will it be:
"Andrew and Carlisle of the Red Jaguars?" the camera pans to each team in order?
"Richie and Mandy of the Blue Barracudas,
"Chris and Jennifer of the Green Monkeys,
"Evan and Tara of the Orange Iguanas,
"Justin and Tammy of the Purple Parrots,
"Or Jonathan and Emily of the Silver Snakes?"

"Of course, they'll have to pass some physical and mental tests," Kirk says, "and in the end, one team will earn the right to enter Olmec's Temple.  But first, they have to cross the Moat, and here's how they'll have to do it today:
"In front of each team there's a bridge of Arctic rings that stretches across the Moat.  When I say go, one player from each team will start crawling across the floating rings until he reaches the other side of the Moat.  Then his partner'll go scrambling across the floating bridge til he gets to the other side."
"As soon as the second player steps onto the deck, it's his job to run over here and hit the gong." He slams down on the Red Jaguars' gong to demonstrate. "The first four teams to hit their gongs will go on to the next round.  Teams? ARE YA READY!"
The players all cheer and shout in response.
"Olmec, are you ready?" asks Kirk.
"Ready to rock," Olmec replies.
"Okay then teams," Kirk replies. "On your marks, get set, GO!"

The first players from each team scramble across the bridges of rings at a ridiculously slow pace.  The boys on the Red Jaguars, Orange Iguanas and Purple Parrots all make it to the end of the bridge around the same time, but it takes each of them nearly forty seconds to do so.  The male players from the Green Monkeys and Silver Snakes step onto the deck a few seconds later, followed by the girl on the Blue Barracudas.
?It looks like a tight match, we?re lookin? for four teams!? Kirk comments, the audience rooting the teams? second players on in the background.  Twenty-five seconds later, the girls on the Red Jaguars and the Purple Parrots run over and hit their respective gongs.  The girl on the Green Monkeys manages to lock in for the third position.  In a close finish, the girl on the Orange Iguanas just beats out the second player on the Silver Snakes.
?And that?s it!? Kirk announces, and the camera shows him standing with the Red Jaguars around their gong. ?Red Jaguars blazed across the Moat.  They?re going on to the Steps of Knowledge, along with the Green Monkeys?? the camera shows each qualifying team? ?and the Orange Iguanas? and the Purple Parrots! The Blue Barracudas and the Silver Snakes gave it a great effort too.  We got a great gift for them for playing and here?s what it is.?
Dee reads the consolation prize:
"Look at the entertaining fun you?ll have when you strap on Moon Shoes.  Super excitement is yours when you bounce higher than ever! Don?t leave Earth without Moon Shoes, from Big Time Toys!"

[The Ancient Warrior]

The four teams are now at the top of the Steps of Knowledge accompanied by Kirk. "The quest continues, and now it?s time for Olmec to tell us about that Missing Signature of George Washington.  But pay attention guys, cause it?s your knowledge of the Legend that can bring you one step closer to the Temple."
Olmec begins to tell the legend:
"One of the most important documents in the history of the United States was the Declaration of Independence.  The thirteen colonies had been at war with their mother country for a year before Thomas Jefferson was assigned to write the document.  People hoped that, if the colonies were independent from Britain, they?d last against the Redcoat armies.
"The Declaration?s final draft was written on July 4th, 1776, but before it could be made official, it had to be signed by the people who helped write it.  Copies of the document were sent, along with secret messages, to the delegates all over America, including the general of the colonial armies, George Washington.
"'Meet us at Philadelphia for the official signing on August 2nd,' he read the message. 'I hope I don?t have an appointment that night?'
"General Washington did make it for the signing of the Declaration, along with fifty-six other men.  He signed it at the very bottom of the roll of parchment, below everyone else.
"But it had to be displayed in another building.  When Jefferson brought it outside, the scroll unraveled and the wind tore a small section with Washington?s signature off from the rest of the document.  Washington did not sign it again, and his signature vanished? until now.  You must find the Missing Signature of George Washington and bring it back here."

"Thank you Olmec," Kirk says after Olmec finishes telling the legend. "So, where is the Missing Signature?"
Olmec repliespx]Chris[/color] hits the marking first: ?The American Revolution.?
?Correct,? Olmec answers.
?Nice job, Green Monkeys, step down,? Kirk says, and the Green Monkeys walk down one step. ?Teams, you?ll have to hit hard on the marking if you want to buzz in.  Olmec, next question.?
Olmec asks:
?What was George Washington?s military rank: Admiral, General, or???
Andrew interrupts Olmec this time: ?General???
?You are correct,? answers Olmec, and the Red Jaguars move down to the second step.
?Still early in the game, we need two teams,? Kirk says. ?Olmec, next question.?
Olmec asks:
?In what year was the Declaration???
Tara gongs in: ?1776!?
?That is correct,? Olmec replies, and the Orange Iguanas move down a step.
?It?s a stompin? match!? Kirk comments. ?Next question.?
Olmec now asks:
?On what day was it finished???
Tammy stomps in: ?The Fourth of July.?
?Correct,? Olmec replies, and the Purple Parrots move down a step.
?I get the feeling it?s gonna be anyone?s game,? says Kirk. ?Next question Olmec.?
Given the command, Olmec asks:
?On what day of 1776 did the delegates sign the Declaration: July 5th, August 2nd, or September 1st??
After a moment of hesitation, Jennifer rings in: ?August 2nd???
?That is correct,? Olmec says in response, allowing the Green Monkeys to walk onto the third step.
?Next correct response and the Green Monkeys are headed into the Temple Games,? Kirk explains. ?Olmec, continue.?
Olmec does so by askingpx]Andrew[/color] stomps down first: ?It was torn off by the wind???
?That is correct,? Olmec replies, allowing the Red Jaguars to move down to the third step.
?Red Jaguars are now just one step away from the Temple Games,? Kirk explains. ?We need two teams.  Next question.?
Olmec then asks:
?Was the king of England during the Revolution: George the I, George II, or???
Justin buzzes in: ?George III.?
?That is correct,? replies Olmec.
?Now the Purple Parrots need only one more answer to go to the Temple Games,? Kirk explains as Justin and Tammy move down one step. ?But the Orange Iguanas can catch up.  Let?s keep going.?
Olmec asks:
?Which of these men was infamous for betraying the country during the Revolutionary???
Evan rings in early: ?Benedict Arnold.?
?That is correct,? replies Olmec, and the Orange Iguanas move down to the third step.
?Next two correct responses,? Kirk announces, ?move to the Temple Games! Olmec, next question.?
Olmec continues:
?According to our legend, was George Washington?s signature on the Declaration: At the very top, At the far bottom???
Chris hits the marking first: ?At the way bottom???
?That is way correct,? Olmec says in response, and the Green Monkeys excitedly jump onto the bottom level.
?We still need one more team,? Kirk explains, ?is it gonna be the Red Jaguars, the Orange Iguanas or the Purple Parrots? Next correct response goes to the Temple Games.  Next question.?
?George Washington led troops in a famous trip across what river???
Tara buzzes in: ?The Delaware???
?That is correct!? Olmec shouts, and the Orange Iguanas move down to join the Green Monkeys on the bottom step.
?All right, we got our two teams!? Kirk announces, running up the side of the bottom step to stand behind the two qualifying teams. ?The Green Monkeys and the Orange Iguanas! The rest of you come on down.? The Red Jaguars and the Purple Parrots move in closer to Kirk. ?These guys gave it a great effort.  We got a great gift for them, here?s what they get.? Andrew, Justin, Tammy and Carlisle will each be receiving a $50 U.S. Savings Bond provided by Skechers footwear.
Kirk is now standing between the Green Monkeys and the Orange Iguanas at the bottom of the Steps of Knowledge. ?These guys will be playing for the right to enter Olmec?s Temple,? he says, ?and they?re gonna do it right after this!? The camera pans zooms in on the audience and fades to commercial.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Kirk is now standing in front of the Mine Shaft between the last two teams. ?Welcome back to Legends,? he says. ?Now the glory goes to the fastest and the strongest, but before we get started, I wanna talk to our team players.? He turns camera-left to talk to a short, long-brown-haired boy. ?On the Orange Iguanas, we have Evan.  How old are you??
?Twelve,? he replies.
?And I understand you collect comic books and you like to snowboard,? Kirk says. ?Tell me about that.?
?Well,? Evan explains, ?I?m from Vermont, I?ve been snowboarding for about two years, and I can finally pull off a Stale Fish.?
?And the comic books,? Kirk asks. ?What?s your most expensive one??
?Probably Fantastic Four #209,? Evan replies, ?my uncle gave me it, it was from 1979.  And he said it?s the first one they got a new penciler, so the ones before that were real different, I guess.?
?It sounds expensive,? comments Kirk.  He goes to talk to the girl with a light brown ponytail tied back by a crimson-red scrunchie, who is standing on the far left of the screen. ?Also on the Orange Iguanas, Tara, how old are you??
?Twelve,? she answers.
?And I heard you like skiing,? Kirk says. ?Tell me about that.?
?Umm,? Tara explains, ?I?m from Santa Fe, it?s high in the mountains, I?ve been skiing for two, three years, alpine skiing.?
?These guys like winter sports,? Kirk comments. ?It must be something in the water? snow water.  Let?s hear it for the Orange Iguanas!? The audience applauds as Kirk turns to the right side of the screen to talk to the tall boy with short black hair and almond eyes. ?And on the Green Monkeys, we have Chris.  How old are you??
?Fourteen,? he answers.
?And I understand you?re a summertime surfer, you like to write and play video games,? Kirk says. ?Tell me, what?s your favorite game??
?That?s a tough call,? Chris says. ?My top three right now are Xiaolin Showdown, the original Final Fantasy VII, and Kingdom Hearts II, they?re all for the PS2.  But if I had to choose, I think I?d say Kingdom Hearts II.?
?Okay,? Kirk says, going to talk to the brown-haired girl on the far right of the screen. ?And Jennifer, how old are you??
?Thirteen,? she says.
?Now, you like windsurfing, you play the guitar,? Kirk says, ?but tell me about this cruise ship incident.?
?Umm,? Jennifer begins, ?I was eight, my parents got four tickets for a Mexican cruise for them, me and my older brother, and, umm, I was on the lower deck near the side, I leaned a little too far over the edge and fell into the water.?
?But they saved you,? Kirk says, ?you didn?t? swim all the way home, did you??
?Nope,? she replies. ?My mom told the captain to stop the ship, they sent a lifeboat out to get me and I made it back alive.?
?That sounds like a real adventure,? Kirk comments, ?and now you?re in another one right now.  Let?s hear it for the Green Monkeys!? The audience applauds again.

?So, are you guys ready to play?? asks Kirk.
?YEAH!? The players shout in unison.
?Hey, that was pretty good! All right then, go get ready for the Temple Games,? Kirk says, and the players walk offscreen. ?Let me just pull out the ol? Pendant of Life.? He opens a pouch and pulls out a small gold medallion to show to the camera. ?Yep, the winning team?s gonna need these Pendants to protect them from the dreaded Temple Guards as they make their way through Olmec?s Temple.  There are three Temple Games.  Olmec, tell us about the first one.?

Olmec begins:
?According to our legend, George Washington?s signature was torn from the Declaration of Independence when the wind unfurled the document.  In this game, you will have to unroll some smaller documents.  When Kirk gives the signal, jump up, unfurl one of the scrolls on the ceiling, then come back down.  Then, jump up and do it again.
?The first player to unfurl all the scrolls? or the player that?s unfurled the most scrolls after 60 seconds? wins.?
The camera fades to Kirk. ?So I guess the players have to make like the wind,? he says. ?Let?s put 60 seconds on the clock.? The clock appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen. ?On your mark, get set, GO!?
Early on in the game, Tara and Jennifer are neck-and-neck. ?It?s like a mirror image so far!? Kirk comments when the girls each unravel their sixth scroll with 36 seconds remaining.  Neither player is exceptionally good, but their scores continue to change around the same time.  However, at the :13 mark, Tara doesn?t jump quite high enough, so Jennifer manages to sneak ahead and unfurl the twelfth and final scroll with 10 seconds left.
?All right, that?s it!? Kirk announces, running over to declare the winner. ?The Green Monkeys got all their scrolls open, just edged out the Orange Iguanas.  Green Monkeys win a half Pendant of Life!? The audience applauds for a moment. ?But the Orange Iguanas can catch up in the next game, it?s worth a half Pendant.  Olmec, tell us about it.?

Olmec continues:
?George Washington led the Continental Army against the British forces.  Thankfully for you, in this game, you will face a much smaller army.  When Kirk gives the signal, lob a cannonball at one of the soldiers on the wall.  Then, load another cannonball in the slingshot and shoot again.
?The first player to knock down all four soldiers ? or the player that?s knocked over the most soldiers in 60 seconds? wins.?
?This? means? war,? Kirk comments. ?Set the clock for 60 seconds.? The clock then appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen. ?On your mark, get set, GO!?
Chris and Evan both have a tough time getting the cannonballs to hit the soldiers.  Many cannonballs simply fall out of the slingshots before the shots are released, but some hit, and each player manages to knock down two soldiers before a pattern of ceiling spotlights flashes, indicating that the game is over.
?Okay,? Kirk says, running over. ?So each team got two soldiers down, so each team gets a half Pendant of Life!? The audience applauds again. ?So it?s Green Monkeys have a full Pendant, Orange Iguanas have a half, we go to the third and final game, it?s worth a full Pendant.  Olmec, tell us about it.?

Olmec narrates:
?The United States couldn?t survive by themselves in the first few years after the Revolutionary War was over, so they continued to trade with Great Britain.  In this game, you and your partner will have to do some overseas trading.  When Kirk gives the signal, grab a gold artifact and run out to meet your partner at the middle of the path.  Then pass the gold treasure to your partner, who will slide back and place it in your team?s treasure box.  Then go back and try it again.
?The team with the most pieces of gold in their treasure box after 60 seconds wins.?
?This is for the Temple Run,? Kirk reminds the audience. ?Let?s put 60 seconds on the clock.? The clock appears on the screen. ?On your mark, get set, GO!?
The players work their way to the middle of the tracks to meet their partners, but the bungee cords make it a little tricky for the teams.  A few times throughout the round, one partner reaches the middle before the other, and when the second player gets to the middle of the track the first player is pulled back.  When the ceiling spotlights flash to indicate the end of the third Temple Game, Kirk runs back onscreen to count the scores and declare the winner.
?All right,? he says as spotters unfasten the players? equipment and bring him the team bins.  The players run over as soon as they are freed from the equipment. ?Green Monkeys got one, two, three? four pieces of gold, the Orange Iguanas got one, two, three? four pieces of gold! It?s another tie, but that gives the Orange Iguanas a Pendant and a half, but the Green Monkeys have two Pendants? they?re goin? to the Temple!? Chris and Jennifer high-five several times as Kirk goes to talk to the Orange Iguanas. ?The Orange Iguanas gave it a gallant effort, it was neck-and-neck.  They?re not going away empty-handed, here?s what we?ve got for them.? Evan and Tara will each be receiving a copy of the Teen Titans Game Boy Advance game.
Kirk is now standing in front of the equipment for the third Temple Game between Chris and Jennifer. ?Now we?re gonna see if the Green Monkeys can retrieve the Missing Signature of George Washington,? he says, ?right after this!? The camera goes across the stage and zooms in on the Missing Signature before fading to commercial.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Kirk stands in front of the Temple's stairs with his hands on Chris and Jennifer's shoulders. "Welcome back to Legends," he says. "The Green Monkeys have proven themselves worthy and now?ve earned the right to enter Olmec?s Temple.  But before they go, Olmec?s gonna give you some information to help you retrieve the Missing Signature of George Washington."
Olmec begins to give the rundown:
?You could start by climbing through the Crevasse and climbing down into the Mine Shaft.  Throw enough rocks into the bucket to lift the slab, then race into the Crystal Cave.  Pull down the correct icicle, and you could choose to go up into the Dragon?s Lair, or into the Junction of the Secret Shafts.  If you escape, you might have a chance to enter the Switch Inferno.  Hit the right actuator to go upstairs, or plow through the wall and into the Dungeon, where you can grab the Missing Signature.
?There, climb up the Pharaoh?s Secret Passage into the Dark Overlook, and correctly place all three torches to open the door to the SHRIIIIIiine? of the Silver Monkey.  Assemble the statue, and you may be headed for the Knights? Barracks.  Place the sword in the correct sheath, but be careful? one of the suits of armor could be possessed by the spirit of a Temple Guard! If they grab you, you'll have to give up a Pendant of Life! Next, race up to the Laser Light Room, find the right combination to unleash the power of the laser, and run across the Bridge.  Then, pass through the Room of Temple Gongs, race down the stairs and back through the Temple Gate.  The choices are yours and yours alone.? Olmec pauses for a second here. "You won 2 Pendants in the Temple Games.  Who's going first??
"I am," Jennifer says in response.
"Very well Jennifer," replies Olmec as Kirk hands out the Pendants of Life. "When Kirk gives the signal, you'll race through the gates into the Temple and make your way toward the Missing Signature.  Hidden inside the Temple are three shafts which let out in the Junction of the Secret Shafts, and three Temple Guards, assigned to protect three specific rooms.  You can trade your Pendant for an extra life and go on, but if you're caught without a Pendant, you'll be taken out of the Temple? and then it'll be Chris's turn to enter and try his luck.  If you can reach the Missing Signature, all the doors of the Temple will instantly unlock, and the Temple Guards will vanish.  Return through the gates with the Missing Signature in three minutes, and you will both be handsomely rewarded? and here's how:"

?   For just making it into the Temple, they?re both going to get a Schwinn Mesa mountain bike.
?   If they can grab the Missing Signature in three minutes, they?ll also receive Compton?s Interactive Encyclopedia on CD-ROM, from Compton?s New Media.
?   And if they can get the Missing Signature out of the Temple before three minutes is up, they?ll both be going to Krystal Cancun! The resort for beach lovers, with excursions to Mayan ruins.  It?s rich in history and rich in pleasure.  Krystal Cancun, for a prize package totaling $13,098!

?All right, let?s get ?em to Cancun!? Kirk says. ?And, don?t worry, Jennifer, it?s a flight to Mexico, not a cruise.? Jennifer can be seen laughing and tightly closing her eyes. ?So let?s get her out into position, put your mouthpieces in.  Set the clock for three minutes.? The clock appears onscreen. ?Lower the gate, Olmec!?
Olmec lets out a low moan as he lowers the gate.
?On your mark, get set, GO!?

?There she goes!? An overdub exclaims as Jennifer runs up the stairs and heads into the Room of Temple Gongs. ?Into the Temple Gong Room! They?ve got two Pendants, in great shape!? Jennifer begins to hit the gongs in the front of the room, starting with the one furthest left on camera and moving stage-right.  The first three light up red, white and orange respectively, but the fourth one lights up green, opening the door leading into the Bridge. (2:35) She jogs across and goes up into the Laser Light Room, but just as she begins to align the segments of the metallic column, out jumps the first TEMPLE GUARD!
?Woah!? The overdub shouts as Jennifer screams. ?She?s gotta give ?em her Pendant! She?s now without a Pendant!? Jennifer hesitantly hands the Temple Guard her Pendant of Life, then continues to align the segments of the stone column.  Once the column is perfectly aligned, the dome on top of it lights up, and the door leading down into the Dragon?s Lair opens.  Jennifer slowly climbs down into the next room.
?Okay, she?s going on, she?s gotta pick up the pace,? Kirk remarks in a live commentary as Jennifer appears in the Dragon?s Lair. (2:04) She grabs the horns in the front of the room two at a time and begins to place them in the dragon head hanging around the door leading upward. ?They call her ?Cruiser,?? Kirk comments, ?but I think she?s gotta cruise on a little faster!? When all the horns are in place, a dragon roar is heard and the door leading into the Knights? Barracks opens. ?Next time a Temple Guard grabs her, it?ll be turn for Chris to go in.? Jennifer crawls through, grabs the sword on the railing, stares at the stage-right suit of armor, and then places the sword in the sheath stuck into the middle armor?s helmet.  She then goes to the camera-left sheath and sticks the sword in it, but the door leading into the Shrine of the Silver Monkey still doesn?t open.
?Oh, she?s going back!? Kirk says as Jennifer drops the fake sword and crawls back into the Dragon?s Lair.  After a few seconds, she turns back to reenter the Knights? Barracks, grabs the sword and places it in the camera-right sheath.  However, the suit of armor?s gauntlets grab her and a voice bellows ?GOT YOU!?? the armor is possessed by a TEMPLE SPIRIT!
?Oh! Temple Guard! Go Chris!? Kirk shouts, and Chris heads on up the Temple stairs with 1:10 remaining.  He makes his way to the Knights? Barracks, continues through the open door into the Shrine of the Silver Monkey and begins to put the monkey together with 36 seconds remaining.
?There, he?s getting the pieces of the monkey!? Kirk comments as Chris grabs the base of the statue.  He puts it into position on the platform, then goes back to grab only the torso. ?He?s putting together one piece at a time,? Kirk says. ?That?s how they got here, one step at a time.? Chris hesitantly jams the head down into the monkey with twelve seconds remaining, and runs into the Dark Overlook.  After a couple seconds, however, he heads back.
?Wait, where?s he going?? Kirk asks as Chris reenters the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. ?Oh, the door opened, good memory! It?s gonna be close!? Chris crawls through into the Dungeon and begins climbing down the ladder in the room? but we?re out of time!
?Oh!? Kirk shouts. ?He was so close! He made it into the room? Well, they still get the mountain bikes, and we gotta get outta here.  Check us again next time for another great Legend of the Hidden Temple! Buh-bye!? The camera pans across the Moat, through the Dungeon and across the stage as Chris meets Kirk and Jennifer and the credits roll.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Temple Run Summary
Episode 37px]

Name of Artifact: The Missing Signature of George Washington
Season: 2
Layout: 2 (6 overall)
Result: Failed acquisition
Time Remaining: N/A
Team: Green Monkeys
Pendants Won: 2
Location of Artifact: The Dungeon



Though the names would suggest Chris and Jennifer made for an average team, the truth is that both players moved much too slowly through the Temple.  Jennifer was a hesitant frontrunner who got easily distracted by Temple Guards.  The Guard in the Laser Light Room slowed her down, but things were worse in the Knights' Barracks.  She could tell the stage-right suit of armor housed a Temple Spirit, so she tried the other two sheaths, then turned back to looks for an alternate path.  When she was finally caught by the Temple Spirit, only 1:11 was left on the clock.

Chris was a little quicker than his partner, but that isn't saying much.  Nevertheless, he finished putting the monkey together with twelve seconds remaining.  He went into the Dark Overlook, but then corrected his mistake by going back and crawling down into the Dungeon.  However, time ran out a few seconds before Chris could grab the Signature.  Overall, this Temple Run shows that you can't afford to waste time, even if you're not faced with a hard layout.

Trivia and Records:
This is only the second episode whose Steps of Knowledge round featured a four-way tie on the second-to-last step; the only preceding episode with this trait was Season 1's "The Holy Ankh of the Egyptian Deity."