The Necklace
By Claire R.












































Leah Conway- 19 year old girl who just graduated high school. She's a dreamer and has always wanted to travel the world. She's shy but wants to break out of her shell. She misses her old life in California but had to move to Connecticut with her mother after her parents divorce. Physical: long brown wavy hair, tan skin, bright green eyes,

Nathan Saunders- 20 years old who's been traveling central and South America for two years. He dreams of going to Europe next but something is holding him back. He is a adventurous thrill seeker who loves art and drawing but doesn't talk about it. He's bold and courageous but has a dark past. Physical: tall blonde wavy longish hair, tan skin, bright blue eyes, tattoos and scars,

Isabelle- Leah's friend who is smart and loyal. She gives good advice and knows Leah more than anyone. She always encourages Leah to do the right thing. Physical: Spanish, long hair, brown eyes,

Heather- Leah's other friend who is wild and reckless. She is boy crazy and a partier. Although she can be foolish sometimes, she and Leah have been best friends for their whole lives. She's very wealthy and her father will buy her anything. Physical: long blonde hair, big brown eyes, really short

Professor William Coe- archaeologist who studied the tikal ruins. British and a total genius.

























INT. BEACH IN GUATEMALA - MORNING

Leah approaches Heather and Isabelle tanning on the beach of the resort they are staying at.

LEAH
(While sitting down on the foot of Isabelle's beach chair)

Well good morning. You two got up
early.

HEATHER
(Looking up from her magazine)

It's our first day. I want to take
advantage of every minute we are here.
Not wasting it on sleeping.
Why are you dressed?

LEAH
(Tossing Heather a brochure)

I know it's not your thing, but
I've been dying to see these ruins.
The hotel has recommended a
great tour so I will be with a group
and not all by myself.

HEATHER
(Squinting at the brochure)

Boring. It's our first day Leah!
Let's just chill for today and you
can go on that tour later.

LEAH
(Looking to Isabelle for help)

I just want to get it over with
so I can be with you guys for
the rest of the week. It's not the
whole day! Please.



ISABELLE
(Sipping a piña colada)

Just let her go. I don't care.
We will be out here all day
anyway. Let Leah be adventurous.

LEAH
(Jumping up)

Yes! Thank you! I
promise I will be good and not
talk to strangers or anything!

HEATHER
(Chuckling)

Oh we're not worried about
that.

LEAH
(Playfully nudging Heather)

Shut up! This trip will be
a good chance for me
to try and be more out going.

HEATHER
(Still laughing)

Yeah we know. You've told us
about a hundred times! Little
shy Leah is finally breaking
out if her shell.

LEAH

I better go get my backpack
and get to the lobby
before the tour leaves me.

ISABELLE
(Flipping to her back to tan)

Be safe! What time will you
be back?

LEAH
(Scratching her head)

Umm I'm not sure. It'll
probably be a couple
hours. I'll call the hotel
if anything happens. Bye!

HEATHER
(Looking back to her magazine)

Bye!

ISABELLE

Have fun!

Leah walks back to the room to grab her backpack and heads to the lobby

EXT. TOUR BUS - DAY

A crowded tour bus drives through winding roads and passes lush jungle vegetation as Leah sits staring out the window happily.

INT. TIKAL RUINS - DAY

Leah follows her tour on a path leading to the ruins. She lingers towards the back of the group, embarrassed after seeing all the travelers by themselves while she is with a dorky tourist group.

TOUR GUIDE
(Yelling with a thick Spanish accent)

Stick together people!

Leah reluctantly catches up with the group.

NATHAN
(Whispering behind Leah's ear)

Tough luck.



LEAH
(Turning around)

What?

Leah stops walking when she sees Nathan. He gestures to the group.

NATHAN
(Almost running into her)

I said tough luck. Getting a bad
tour group.

LEAH
(Looking back at her progressing group)

Oh right.

She was about to continue walking but instead she smiled.

LEAH

Hopefully they won't
notice if I ditch.

NATHAN
(Putting his hands on his hip like
he's impressed)

Wow a first timer ditching
her tour group. Takes guts kid.

LEAH
(Adjusting her backpack and turning around)

I'll be fine. I've wanted to go
here my whole life. I already
know so much about it. And wait how do
you know I'm a first timer?




NATHAN
(Jogging to catch up with her)

Woah I don't think you
realize how big
this place is. It's real
easy to get lost. And please
those sandals and a leather
backpack? Anyone who's been here
knows tennis shoes are essential.

LEAH

I think I can handle it. And hey you're
wearing sandals!

NATHAN
(Shaking his head)

Because I'm more experienced.
Stick with me. I'll show you around.
I've been here so many times and
can give a way better tour
than that lousy group.

LEAH
(Sighing)

Alright well I'm expecting highly
of you.

NATHAN
(Winking)

Trust me you won't regret it.

LEAH
(Readjusting her backpack tiredly)

How long is this path anyway?

NATHAN
(Smiling and looking down at her)

Pretty long. The ruins are in the
middle of the jungle so it takes a
while to get there. Why?
Tired already?

LEAH
(Smirking)

Ha no. Just didn't expect it
to be so far.

NATHAN
(Chuckling)

Oh sure. Well in the
meantime give me the basics.

LEAH
(Looking up at him)

The basics?

NATHAN

Yeah you know. Name,
where your from, how you
ended up in a jungle in Guatemala.

LEAH

Oh I'm Leah and I'm from
California-

NATHAN
(Interrupting)

Ooo a California girl.

LEAH

Well technically I'm a
Connecticut girl now.
I just moved there this year.

NATHAN
(Raising his eyebrows)

Connecticut? Wow that's one
place I haven't been. That
must have been a huge adjustment.

LEAH
(Sighing again)

Yeah it was but anyways
what's your story?

NATHAN

Typical runaway teen story. Trust
me its boring and cliché. You don't
want to here it.

LEAH
(With a shocked expression)

You're a runaway?

NATHAN
(Sighing)

It's complicated. After high
school I decided I want
to travel so instead of
applying for scholarships
I looked volunteer and lodging
jobs and been traveling ever since.

LEAH
(In awe)

By yourself?

NATHAN

Yeah but I meet pretty interesting
people along the way. Like you
for example.

LEAH
(Snorted)

Ha yeah because I'm so
interesting. You have been traveling
the world and I'm just a Californ- or
well Connecticut girl that caught
on a bad tour.

NATHAN
(Laughing)

No I think you're interesting.
I'm wondering exactly how you went
from living in exciting
California to boring Connecticut.
Let me guess either
Daddy's Job took a sudden
move or you're a criminal
hiding from the law. Or
possibly you're in the
witness protection program.

LEAH
(Also laughing)

All wrong. Parents got divorced. Mom
got custody and wanted to start
over somewhere new. We have
family in Connecticut so it was ideal.
But the fact I left my whole life
behind in California wasn't.

NATHAN

Still a more interesting story
than mine but hey you haven't
finished it yet. Why are you
here? In Guatemala?

LEAH

My friends decided since we are all
going separate ways for college
we should go on one last
adventure. We used my friend Heather's
dad's Delta air miles to take a trip

NATHAN

That's awesome. I haven't seen my
friends back home in years. What resort
are you staying at?

LEAH

I can't pronounce the name but
it's the one with all the bungalows
and the dolphin fountain.

NATHAN

The five star one? Jeez you must
be loaded.

LEAH

Heather's dad booked it for us. I would
have been happy anywhere.

NATHAN

So why didn't your friends
join you today?

LEAH

This really isn't their type of
thing. They would be
bored the whole time and
complaining.

NATHAN

I see. What made you
want to come here?

LEAH

Like I said before, I've always
wanted to come here. It looks
so beautiful and interesting.
I've kind of been craving
adventure lately.

NATHAN

Well you're about to be blown
away because we are almost there.

EXT. PATH TO RUINS - DAY

Nathan and Leah continue walking down the path towards the end of the jungle.

INT. TIKAL RUINS - DAY

Leah and Nathan are standing in the center of the ruins and Leah is in total awe of how beautiful they are.

LEAH
(Looking around)

It's so beautiful.

NATHAN
(Looking at Leah)

Pretty amazing huh.

LEAH
(Starting to head toward the main temple)

It's even more amazing than
I imagined.

NATHAN
(Jogging after her)

Woah now. Wait up! You have to
save the best for last!

LEAH
(Turning around)

I've never been so happy
in my entire life! I love
this place.

NATHAN
(Laughing)

I've only known you an
hour and have already seen
you have the happiest moment
of your life.

LEAH
(laughing)

Sorry I've just been
waiting for this moment my
whole life!

NATHAN
(Loudly singing)

Oh lord!

Leah rushes over to him embarrassed but still laughing as people stare.


LEAH
(Laughing still)

Shhh people are staring at us
like we are crazy.

NATHAN
(Throwing his hands up)

Who cares! We are in the
most beautiful place in
the world! You said
the lyrics and I just
couldn't resist.

LEAH
(Pausing and looking at him still
giggling a little)

Hey wait you know what I just
realized?

NATHAN
(Smirking)

That I'm the most amazing
person you've ever met.



LEAH
(Laughing)

Well yes that and I
don't even know your name

NATHAN
(Stopping)

You're right. Guess.

LEAH
(Puzzled)

Guess?

NATHAN

Yes guess my name.

LEAH
(Thinking and staring at him)

Hmmm you look like a...
Carl!

NATHAN
(Sarcastically)

Wow Carl. That's just
great.

LEAH
(Laughing)

I'm just kidding. I give up.
What is it?

NATHAN
(Smiling proudly)

Nathan, now let me guess
yours. Is it Leah?

LEAH
(Staring at him in awe)

How did you know that?

NATHAN

Says it on your bracelet.
Now come on we better get going.

EXT. TIKAL RUINS - DAY

Leah and Nathan walk out of the main square of the ruins and towards a less crowded trail that lead to more smaller ruins.

INT. TIKAL RUINS - DAY

Nathan is showing Leah around the less popular ruins towards the edge of the park alongside the jungle.

LEAH
(Admire carvings and hieroglyphics)

This is all so interesting.

NATHAN
(Standing over her)

Yeah pretty neat huh. Can
you read any of them?

LEAH

Actually I can. They just
say things about the Mayan
gods and their myths.

NATHAN
(Impressed)

Wow so you know about the
necklace?




LEAH
(Turning around puzzled)

The necklace?

NATHAN

Oh come on! You gotta know
about the necklace.

LEAH

Nope.

NATHAN
(Continuing to walk)

Well locals say there's a
legend of a necklace that the
Mayans had. They said it
could bring you back in time. Some
people think its hidden deep in
secret temples in the jungle.
Others say that a poor group of
archeologists discovered it but
were sent back in thousands of years
to the time of the Mayans.

LEAH
(Laughing)

Ha ha very funny.

NATHAN

It's just a legend but sometimes
I wonder if it was true. If
you really had the power to
time travel.

LEAH

Yeah well you never know. I
think it'd be wrong though, to
go back and change the past.
Even if it was a mistake.
It happened for a reason.

NATHAN
(Staring at Leah)

Even if you just wanted to prevent
something from hurting someone?

LEAH
(Looking back at him)

Yes. Who knows how much it
would affect the future? If I went
back and changed things who knows
if I'd be standing here this second
in this beautiful place.

NATHAN
(Looking forward again)

Hmm you do have a point. Our paths
might have never crossed and
we may have never met.

LEAH

Exactly. Okay where too next?

NATHAN
(Smiling)

How about I show you my
favorite temple? I personally
think it's got the best view.


EXT. NATHAN'S TEMPLE - DAY

Leah and Nathan walk over to a more secluded temple and start climbing its stairs

INT. TOP OF THE TEMPLE - DAY

Leah and Nathan are standing at the top of the temple admiring the amazing view.
LEAH
(Breathlessly)

This is amazing.

NATHAN
(Smiling)

You see why it's my favorite.

LEAH

Hands down the greatest view
I've ever seen in my life.

NATHAN

Nothing beats it.

The continue staring at the view for a few more moments until something catches Leah's eye. A small light is be reflected off something at the edge of the jungle.

LEAH
(Squinting)

What is that?

NATHAN
(Looking down at her)

What?

LEAH
(Pointing)

That! Come see.

NATHAN
(Bending down to her height)

The light? Hmm I don't know.
Probably nothing.



LEAH
(Starting back down the stairs)

Come on let's just go
check it out!

NATHAN
(Reluctantly following her)

Leah wait its probably just
a wrapper from some candy bar
or something!

LEAH

In the jungle? I just want
to see!

The walk over to the other side of the park and approach the edge of the jungle.

LEAH
(Looking into the jungle)

I still see it!

NATHAN
(Looking around nervously making sure
no one is watching them)

Come on Leah. We could get
kicked out of here or something.

LEAH
(Smirking)

Well then I'll go check it out
by myself.

Leah looked quickly around to make sure no one saw her and then headed into the jungle towards the light. Nathan waited anxiously for a few moments then darted after her.




NATHAN
(Shaking his head as he approached her)

I swear if we get in trouble...

LEAH
(Laughing)

Oh hush we will be fine! Funny
I'm usually the cautious one
when it comes to stuff like this.

NATHAN
(Under his breath)

And usually I'm the one
who lives for this danger but if I get
arrested one more time in this country.

LEAH
(Stopping and turning around)

You've been arrested?

NATHAN
(Sighing)

You weren't supposed to hear that.
Look don't freak out. It was never
for serious stuff. I just used
like breaking the rules.


LEAH
(Giving him a cautious glance
before turning back around)

It's alright I get it.

NATHAN
(Catching up with her)

Thanks for understanding.



LEAH
(Pointing)

Look it's right up there!

NATHAN
(Looking up and sighing)

Up there?

They are looking up a steep hill already tried from the long trek in the jungle.

LEAH
(Starting up the hill)

Yeah come on!

As Leah starts walking up the steep hill she trips and Nathan's grabs her arm and keeps her from falling.

NATHAN
(Winking)

Bet you're really wishing
you wore tennis shoes now.

LEAH
(Laughing and finding her bearings)

Maybe just a little.

NATHAN
(Grabbing her hand to help her up the hill)

Here just follow me.

They make their way up the hill. Nathan leading while grabbing on to the trunk of small trees. They tiredly make it to the top

NATHAN
(Gasping)

Finally.


LEAH
(Tiredly)

Look!

She runs over a huge tree covered in moss and other vegetation.

NATHAN

We came all this way for a tree.
You're kidding me.

LEAH
(Studying the tree)

Oh hush just come see.

NATHAN
(Walking over and looking up
at the tree)

Wow that is one big tree.

LEAH
(Shaking her head and pointing to
the trunk)

Look at these carvings they are
like a map or something.

NATHAN
(Bending down and squinting
a the carvings)

Can you read them?

He runs his finger over the outline of one and then scrapes away at the moss to reveal even more carvings.

LEAH

I think but look they must
run all they way around the tree.

Nathan walks around to the other side and immediately stops.

NATHAN
(Looking up in awe)

Well now I see where that light was
coming from.

On the other side of the tree, Nathan sees a huge carving of a Jaguar holding a red gem in its paws.

LEAH
(rushing over to him and gasping)

Do you think that's the-

NATHAN
(Shaking his)

Of course it's not the necklace.
That's just some urban legend.

LEAH

Do you think anyone knows about
this?

NATHAN

I'm not sure. I don't think so
because if they did it probably
still wouldn't be here.

Leah walks closer to the tree reaching up to touch the stone but Nathan grabs her arm just as her fingers brush over it.

NATHAN

Don't! It could be thousands of
years old!

In that moment everything freezes. They stand there looking up. Leah's arm still in Nathan's hand. Everything's silent then it all slowly starts to blur. The trees and plants begin to smear together. The jungle changes all around them then suddenly comes to a halt. They both fall down from the force.


NATHAN
(Painfully trying to sit up)

Ouch what just happened?

LEAH
(Rolling over a few feet away
covered in leaves)


Ughh I don't know was it
an earthquake?

NATHAN
(Sitting up abruptly and holding
a hand up gesturing to stop)

Wait shhh

They sat in silence for a few moments and heard distant drumming coming for the direction of the temples.

LEAH
(Whipping her head around to
look at the tree)

Nathan look.

There wasn't any moss on the tree revealing more horrifying carvings. Ones of fires and men being killed they all surrounded the jaguar holding the gem.

NATHAN
(Getting up)

Come on we have to go back.

LEAH
(Struggling to stand)

You don't think...





NATHAN
(Shaking his head)

No don't even say it.
That's impossible.

At that moment they both heard footsteps and voices speaking in a different language. Nathan grabbed Leah's arm and dragged her back behind a large leafy plant hiding from whatever the source of the sounds were.

NATHAN
(Mouthing)

Don't move.

Leah nodded shaking in fear so Nathan wrapped his arm around her to comfort her. They peaked through a split in the leaves and saw three men walking down a path towards the temples. They were dressed in strange aboriginal clothing.

NATHAN
(Emerging from the brush once
they were a good distance away)

No.

LEAH
(Still sitting horrified)

Nathan I'm scared.

NATHAN
(Running his hands through
his hair anxiously)

Come on we have to go see.

LEAH
(Standing abruptly)

See? See what! Do you know anything
about Mayan culture? They could
sacrifice us or something! They
could torture us!

NATHAN
(Loudly with a hint of
condescending sarcasm)

Well what are we supposed to
do then Leah? You got us here.
Now we are stuck! We are stuck
in the- ugh I can't even say it.

LEAH
(Sighing)

Just say it Nathan. So we can
move on and figure a way back.

NATHAN
(Turning and looking at
Leah horrified)

We went back in time Leah! Is this
registering in your brain? Does this
have any affect on you at all? Because
to me this is absolutely mental! It's
not even possible.

LEAH
(Aggravated)

Of course I realize its crazy!
But what are we supposed to do?
I'm trying to remain calm here.
Freaking out isn't going to
help us.

NATHAN
(Exasperated)

Leah nothing is going to help us!
No one knows we are here! Look I
gotta know if we aren't just loosing
our minds. I have to see.

Nathan started off towards the temples and Leah darted after him.

LEAH
(Tripping over sticks trying to
keep up with him)

Nathan you need to calm
down.

NATHAN
(Laughing)

Ha calm down? Calm down!
We just traveled back
in time over 1000 years
and you want me to calm down?

LEAH
(Sighing still racing after him)

Look I'm sorry okay. This is
all my fault but I know more
about the Mayans than you and
trust me this won't end well
if they see us.

NATHAN

Hate to break it to you
but it's already not ending
well for us.

LEAH
(Yelling now)

Nathan seriously just
listen to me! You have to stop
they could kill us!




PROFESSOR COE
(Calling from behind them in
a thick British accent)

I'd listen to the girl if I were
you.

Leah and Nathan both stopped in their tracks and turned around to see an older man dressed in a ragged khaki outfit.

NATHAN
(Staring in awe)

What?

PROFESSOR COE
(Walking towards them)

I said listen to the girl.
She's knows what she is
talking about.

LEAH
(Taking a defensive step back)

Who are you?

PROFESSOR COE
(Say matter of factly)

I am Professor William Coe and
just like you two I made the
mistake of touching that
stone.


TO BE CONTINUED...