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* RedHerring: The viewer is led to believe the mummy trashed the house and is trying to force open the door when Josh and Cleo are in their dad's office. It turns out, the mummy is not the villain...
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Changed line(s) 38,39 (click to see context) from:
As he drops the torch, Josh nimbly stops it from igniting a nearby crate.
to:
As he drops the torch, Josh nimbly stops it from igniting a nearby crate.
crate. Cleo explains the meaning of the inscriptions that the "ring" brings eternity, while the "elixir" brings life. So that using the ring without using the Elixir first will bring the wearer eternity....by turning them to stone.
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Shortening my recaps.
Changed line(s) 4,5 (click to see context) from:
With an impudent laugh, Tucker runs into the clearing, closely followed by Gary, who calls on Frank to seize him. With Tucker held aloft, Gary lays a charge of ankh theft. Tucker offers an explanation on the condition of release. Back on the ground, he pulls from inside his shirt the ceremonial adornment. Gary grudgingly gives Tucker permission to use the ankh as a story prop. The ankh, says Tucker, is a widely recognised ancient symbol. His story is full of ancient symbols, whose meaning isn’t immediately obvious. While the ankh means life, the implications thereof aren’t necessarily benevolent...Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, he calls this story “The Tale of the Guardian’s Curse.”
to:
----
Changed line(s) 8,15 (click to see context) from:
Widower archaeologist Professor James Dugan, with teenage children Josh and Cleo, in preamble to a skiing holiday, visit the museum. No last minute emergencies, he promises, just a five minute check.
In the bustling basement, Dr Capel-Smith accosts the Professor with news of a momentous find: an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, entombed for years in the museum basement. He concurs the artefact to be from the Egyptian Temple of Life, and urges its immediate transference to his lab. Josh and Cleo wearily anticipate another holiday to be cancelled.
In the lab, Dr Capel-Smith gleefully ponders the unprecedented boon. In a scrapbook, Cleo reads a newspaper cutting of the 1921 ransacking of the Egyptian Temple of Light, in which the Mina the Guardian vanished without trace. A purported goddess said to have brought, with her Ring of Eternity, life from the earth every spring, her sarcophagus has just been found in this very museum. Beneficent yet vindictive, she’s said to have had the power to turn her enemies to stone.
Professor Dugan finally dislodges the lid of the sarcophagus, and they behold the mummified corpse.
In the bustling basement, Dr Capel-Smith accosts the Professor with news of a momentous find: an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, entombed for years in the museum basement. He concurs the artefact to be from the Egyptian Temple of Life, and urges its immediate transference to his lab. Josh and Cleo wearily anticipate another holiday to be cancelled.
In the lab, Dr Capel-Smith gleefully ponders the unprecedented boon. In a scrapbook, Cleo reads a newspaper cutting of the 1921 ransacking of the Egyptian Temple of Light, in which the Mina the Guardian vanished without trace. A purported goddess said to have brought, with her Ring of Eternity, life from the earth every spring, her sarcophagus has just been found in this very museum. Beneficent yet vindictive, she’s said to have had the power to turn her enemies to stone.
Professor Dugan finally dislodges the lid of the sarcophagus, and they behold the mummified corpse.
to:
Widower archaeologist Professor James Dugan, with teenage children Josh and Cleo, in preamble to a skiing holiday, visit the museum. No last minute emergencies, he promises, just a five minute check.
In the bustling basement,Dr Capel-Smith accosts the Professor with news of a momentous find: an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, entombed for years in the museum basement. He concurs the artefact to be from the Egyptian Temple of Life, and urges its immediate transference to his lab.basement. Josh and Cleo wearily anticipate another holiday to be cancelled.
Inthe lab, Dr Capel-Smith gleefully ponders the unprecedented boon. In a scrapbook, Cleo reads a newspaper cutting of the 1921 ransacking of the Egyptian Temple of Light, in which the Mina the Guardian vanished without trace. A purported goddess said to have brought, with her Ring of Eternity, life from the earth every spring, her sarcophagus has just been found in this very museum. Beneficent yet vindictive, she’s said to have had the power to turn her enemies to stone.\n\n
Professor Duganfinally dislodges the lid of the sarcophagus, and they behold the mummified corpse.
In the bustling basement,
In
Professor Dugan
Changed line(s) 18,43 (click to see context) from:
The busy Professor requests his children to take his spare key to the museum for the extra photos of the sarcophagus. Cleo asks if this means the skiing trip to be off. He replies with a distracted “hm.” As they dejectedly near the door, he offers a helpless apology.
In the museum lab, Cleo defends their dad’s devotion to his work. Josh laments its absorption of all else. He irritably kicks the side of the sarcophagus, and unexpectedly dislodges the lid of a small compartment. Among the bed of string inside, Cleo unearths a silver vial and a golden ring.
On the bottle, she sees an ankh, symbol of life. As they argue who will take the discovery to their dad, the vial is knocked into the open sarcophagus, and spills a trace of clear fluid onto the mummified hand. They compromise: Josh will take the ring; Cleo the vial.
Alone in the dark lab, the left hand of the long-dead mummy twitches, and, in stilted, deliberate motion, lifts…
In the deserted corridor, Josh, having found the compartment, stakes a claim to the imminent fame. Cleo then realises them to have forgotten the photos.
As Cleo searches the lab’s desk, Josh glances at the sarcophagus - and sees the mummy to have vanished. They stare in astonishment, and run. Through the lab’s side door, a strip of ancient bandage trails across the floor.
Back home, Josh and Cleo find the hallway to have been roughly searched, with furniture overturned. The study had been ransacked, with papers all over the floor. A note from their dad announces his unexpected visit to the museum.
From the hallway outside, they hear footsteps. Panicked, they lock the door, and head for the window.
They bike back to the museum. In the lab, their dad is nowhere to be seen. Josh fears mystical vengeance. Cleo tries to rationalise the bizarre affair, but is distracted by a low, laboured breathing. In the far wall, the double doors part. Through the crack peeks a stiff, skeletal hand. Josh and Cleo run.
In the darkened hallway, distant footsteps echo. The siblings flee to the basement, in search of the fire exit. Josh notices a nasty smell. They get quite a fright when they back into a standing mummy, but quickly realise it to be a display.
The fire exit is locked. From across the basement, footsteps near. They throw down a few wooden crates, and run back to the basement door - which is locked.
By Cleo’s head, a limp hand falls. She screams - but it’s their dad, lying atop a stack of crates. He groggily wakes, and climbs down. Just then, the distant footsteps approach. Dr Capel-Smith strides into view.
He explains his pursuit of something in the possession of Josh and Cleo: the Ring of Eternity. Having searched their house, he followed the Professor to the museum, chloroformed him, and followed his children down here. The crates are soaked in kerosene - which will ignite from one touch of the doctor’s torch. He demands the Ring.
In the museum lab, Cleo defends their dad’s devotion to his work. Josh laments its absorption of all else. He irritably kicks the side of the sarcophagus, and unexpectedly dislodges the lid of a small compartment. Among the bed of string inside, Cleo unearths a silver vial and a golden ring.
On the bottle, she sees an ankh, symbol of life. As they argue who will take the discovery to their dad, the vial is knocked into the open sarcophagus, and spills a trace of clear fluid onto the mummified hand. They compromise: Josh will take the ring; Cleo the vial.
Alone in the dark lab, the left hand of the long-dead mummy twitches, and, in stilted, deliberate motion, lifts…
In the deserted corridor, Josh, having found the compartment, stakes a claim to the imminent fame. Cleo then realises them to have forgotten the photos.
As Cleo searches the lab’s desk, Josh glances at the sarcophagus - and sees the mummy to have vanished. They stare in astonishment, and run. Through the lab’s side door, a strip of ancient bandage trails across the floor.
Back home, Josh and Cleo find the hallway to have been roughly searched, with furniture overturned. The study had been ransacked, with papers all over the floor. A note from their dad announces his unexpected visit to the museum.
From the hallway outside, they hear footsteps. Panicked, they lock the door, and head for the window.
They bike back to the museum. In the lab, their dad is nowhere to be seen. Josh fears mystical vengeance. Cleo tries to rationalise the bizarre affair, but is distracted by a low, laboured breathing. In the far wall, the double doors part. Through the crack peeks a stiff, skeletal hand. Josh and Cleo run.
In the darkened hallway, distant footsteps echo. The siblings flee to the basement, in search of the fire exit. Josh notices a nasty smell. They get quite a fright when they back into a standing mummy, but quickly realise it to be a display.
The fire exit is locked. From across the basement, footsteps near. They throw down a few wooden crates, and run back to the basement door - which is locked.
By Cleo’s head, a limp hand falls. She screams - but it’s their dad, lying atop a stack of crates. He groggily wakes, and climbs down. Just then, the distant footsteps approach. Dr Capel-Smith strides into view.
He explains his pursuit of something in the possession of Josh and Cleo: the Ring of Eternity. Having searched their house, he followed the Professor to the museum, chloroformed him, and followed his children down here. The crates are soaked in kerosene - which will ignite from one touch of the doctor’s torch. He demands the Ring.
to:
The busy Professor requests his children to take his spare key to the museum for the extra photos of the sarcophagus. Cleo asks if this means the skiing trip to be off. He replies with a distracted “hm.” As they dejectedly near the door, he offers a helpless apology.
In the museum lab,Cleo defends their dad’s devotion to his work. Josh laments its absorption of all else. He irritably kicks the side of the sarcophagus, and unexpectedly dislodges the lid of a small compartment. Among the bed of string inside, Cleo unearths a silver vial and a golden ring.
On thebottle, she sees bottle is an ankh, symbol of life. As they argue who will take the discovery to their dad, the vial is knocked into the open sarcophagus, and spills a trace of clear fluid onto the mummified hand. They compromise: Josh will take the ring; Cleo the vial.
Alone in the dark lab, the left hand of the long-dead mummy twitches, and, in stilted, deliberate motion, and slowly lifts…
In the deserted corridor,Josh, having found the compartment, stakes a claim to the imminent fame. Cleo then realises them to have forgotten the photos.
As Cleo searches the lab’s desk, Joshglances at the sarcophagus - and sees the mummy to have vanished. They stare in astonishment, and run. Through the lab’s side door, a strip of ancient bandage trails across the floor.
Back home, Josh and Cleo find the hallway to have been roughlysearched, with furniture overturned.searched. The study had been ransacked, with papers all over the floor. A note from their dad announces his unexpected visit to the museum.
From the hallway outside, they hear footsteps. Panicked, they lock the door, and head for the window.
They bike back to the museum.In the museum lab, their dad is nowhere to be seen. Josh fears mystical vengeance. Cleo tries to rationalise the bizarre affair, but is distracted by a low, laboured breathing. In the far wall, the double doors part. Through the crack peeks a stiff, skeletal hand. Josh and Cleo run.
In the darkened hallway, distant footsteps echo. The siblings They flee to the basement, in search of the fire exit. Josh notices a nasty smell. They get quite a fright when they back into a standing mummy, but quickly realise it to be a display.
The fire exit is locked. From across the basement, footsteps near. They throw down a few wooden crates, and run back to the basement door - which is locked.
By Cleo’s head, a limp hand falls. She screams - but it’s their dad, lying atopAtop a stack of crates.crates lies their dad. He groggily wakes, and climbs down. Just then, the distant footsteps approach. Dr Capel-Smith strides into view.
He explains his pursuit of something in the possession of Josh and Cleo: the Ring of Eternity.view. Having searched their house, house for the Ring of Eternity, he followed the Professor to the museum, chloroformed him, and followed his children down here. The crates are soaked in kerosene - which will ignite from one touch of the doctor’s torch. He demands the Ring.
In the museum lab,
On the
In the deserted corridor,
As Cleo searches the lab’s desk, Josh
Back home, Josh and Cleo find the hallway to have been roughly
They bike back to the museum.
The fire exit is locked. From across the basement, footsteps near. They throw down a few wooden crates, and run back to the basement door - which is locked.
By Cleo’s head, a limp hand falls. She screams - but it’s their dad, lying atop
He explains his pursuit of something in the possession of Josh and Cleo: the Ring of Eternity.
Changed line(s) 46,47 (click to see context) from:
Entranced by the idea, Dr Capel-Smith slips the Ring onto his finger. A deep blue glow blooms around him. His voice echoes in a thunderous laugh. As the glow turns sickly green, he realises his sudden immobilisation. Within the glow, his clothes and body fade to succession by stone, until, with a despairing groan, his head transforms into a stone, helmeted sculpture of itself.
to:
Changed line(s) 50,55 (click to see context) from:
Cleo explains the inscription to have distinguished immortality from life - offered instead by the Elixir. Just then, faint footsteps shuffle through the distant darkness.
Josh belatedly mentions the disappearance of the mummy. Just then, the ancient, animate corpse slowly emerges from behind a stack of crates. Its hoarse, weary voice gasps a prompt.
Having been revived by the Elixir, the mummy, Josh realises, requires the restorative effects of the Ring. He approaches, and slips the ring onto her finger.
Josh belatedly mentions the disappearance of the mummy. Just then, the ancient, animate corpse slowly emerges from behind a stack of crates. Its hoarse, weary voice gasps a prompt.
Having been revived by the Elixir, the mummy, Josh realises, requires the restorative effects of the Ring. He approaches, and slips the ring onto her finger.
to:
Changed line(s) 58,61 (click to see context) from:
As Egyptologist and Egyptian gently acquaint, Josh wonders if Mina might enjoy skiing.
The true Guardian’s Curse, closes Tucker, was immortality, and Dr Capel-Smith was the final victim. As Sam and Gary appraise the story, Tucker slips away through the trees. As Gary runs in pursuit of his ankh, Sam douses the flames.
The true Guardian’s Curse, closes Tucker, was immortality, and Dr Capel-Smith was the final victim. As Sam and Gary appraise the story, Tucker slips away through the trees. As Gary runs in pursuit of his ankh, Sam douses the flames.
to:
As Egyptologist and Egyptian gently acquaint, get acquainted, Josh wonders if Mina might enjoy skiing.
The true Guardian’s Curse, closes Tucker, was immortality, and Dr Capel-Smith was the final victim. ----
As Sam and Gary appraise the story, Tucker slips away through the trees. As Gary runs in pursuit of his ankh, Sam douses the flames.
As Sam and Gary appraise the story, Tucker slips away through the trees. As Gary runs in pursuit of his ankh, Sam douses the flames.
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Changed line(s) 63 (click to see context) from:
* ArtefactOfDoom: The Ring of Eternity, to the living, grants immortality by turning them to stone.
to:
* ArtefactOfDoom: ArtifactOfDoom: The Ring of Eternity, to the living, grants immortality by turning them to stone.
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Recap/ pages are Spoilers Off.
Changed line(s) 63,65 (click to see context) from:
* ArtefactOfDoom: The Ring of Eternity, to the living, [[spoiler: grants immortality by turning them to stone]].
* DoomAsTestPrize: Acquisition of the Ring of Eternity grants immortality - but by [[spoiler: turning the wearer to stone]].
to:
* DoomAsTestPrize: Acquisition of the Ring of Eternity grants immortality - but by
Changed line(s) 67,69 (click to see context) from:
* ImmortalitySeeker: Dr Capel-Smith sincerely believes in the supernatural power of the Ring of Eternity, and [[spoiler: ruthlessly seeks to claim it]].
* LiteralGenie: The Ring of Eternity grants immortality by [[spoiler: turning the wearer to stone]].
* {{Mummy}}: Mina, purported goddess of life, is discovered to have been hidden in the basement of the museum. Stored in her sarcophagus are a vial of the Elixir of Life and the Ring of Eternity. While a spilled drop of Elixir animates her corpse, [[spoiler: the Ring of Eternity restores her to youth]].
* LiteralGenie: The Ring of Eternity grants immortality by [[spoiler: turning the wearer to stone]].
* {{Mummy}}: Mina, purported goddess of life, is discovered to have been hidden in the basement of the museum. Stored in her sarcophagus are a vial of the Elixir of Life and the Ring of Eternity. While a spilled drop of Elixir animates her corpse, [[spoiler: the Ring of Eternity restores her to youth]].
to:
* ImmortalitySeeker: Dr Capel-Smith sincerely believes in the supernatural power of the Ring of Eternity, and [[spoiler: ruthlessly seeks to claim it]].
it.
* LiteralGenie: The Ring of Eternity grants immortality by[[spoiler: turning the wearer to stone]].
stone.
* {{Mummy}}: Mina, purported goddess of life, is discovered to have been hidden in the basement of the museum. Stored in her sarcophagus are a vial of the Elixir of Life and the Ring of Eternity. While a spilled drop of Elixir animates her corpse,[[spoiler: the Ring of Eternity restores her to youth]]. youth.
* LiteralGenie: The Ring of Eternity grants immortality by
* {{Mummy}}: Mina, purported goddess of life, is discovered to have been hidden in the basement of the museum. Stored in her sarcophagus are a vial of the Elixir of Life and the Ring of Eternity. While a spilled drop of Elixir animates her corpse,
Changed line(s) 71,73 (click to see context) from:
* ParentsInDistress: Professor Dugan, shortly after the house is raided, goes missing. He’s found chloroformed in the museum basement, in a ruthless bid for the Ring by [[spoiler: Dr Capel-Smith]].
* SecondLove: [[spoiler: Implied. Mina and Professor Dugan seem to fall for eachother at first sight.]]
* SeductiveMummy: [[spoiler: On her restoration to full life by the Ring of Eternity, Mina and Professor Dugan take an evident liking to each other]].
* SecondLove: [[spoiler: Implied. Mina and Professor Dugan seem to fall for eachother at first sight.]]
* SeductiveMummy: [[spoiler: On her restoration to full life by the Ring of Eternity, Mina and Professor Dugan take an evident liking to each other]].
to:
* ParentsInDistress: Professor Dugan, shortly after the house is raided, goes missing. He’s found chloroformed in the museum basement, in a ruthless bid for the Ring by [[spoiler: Dr Capel-Smith]].
Capel-Smith.
* SecondLove:[[spoiler: Implied. Mina and Professor Dugan seem to fall for eachother each other at first sight.]]
sight.
* SeductiveMummy:[[spoiler: On her restoration to full life by the Ring of Eternity, Mina and Professor Dugan take an evident liking to each other]]. other.
* SecondLove:
* SeductiveMummy:
Changed line(s) 77,78 (click to see context) from:
* TakenForGranite: [[spoiler: The fate of those who steal the Ring]].
* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Josh and Cleo are sometimes despondent and frustrated by their dad’s absorption in his demanding work
* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Josh and Cleo are sometimes despondent and frustrated by their dad’s absorption in his demanding work
to:
* TakenForGranite: [[spoiler: The fate of those who steal the Ring]].
Ring.
* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Josh and Cleo are sometimes despondent and frustrated by their dad’s absorption in his demandingworkwork.
* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Josh and Cleo are sometimes despondent and frustrated by their dad’s absorption in his demanding
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* SecondLove: [[spoiler: Implied. Mina and Professor Dugan seem to fall for eachother at first sight.]]
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Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* ShoutOut: Tucker addresses Frank as Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.
to:
* ShoutOut: ShoutOut:
** Tucker addresses Frank as Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.
** Tucker addresses Frank as Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.
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Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* ShoutOut: Tucker addresses Frank as [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.
to:
* ShoutOut: Tucker addresses Frank as [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.
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Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2020_06_11_at_025720.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"The Elixir brings life, the Ring brings eternity."]]
With an impudent laugh, Tucker runs into the clearing, closely followed by Gary, who calls on Frank to seize him. With Tucker held aloft, Gary lays a charge of ankh theft. Tucker offers an explanation on the condition of release. Back on the ground, he pulls from inside his shirt the ceremonial adornment. Gary grudgingly gives Tucker permission to use the ankh as a story prop. The ankh, says Tucker, is a widely recognised ancient symbol. His story is full of ancient symbols, whose meaning isn’t immediately obvious. While the ankh means life, the implications thereof aren’t necessarily benevolent...Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, he calls this story “The Tale of the Guardian’s Curse.”
In a museum basement, builders excavate a walled up chamber, in which they find a huge wooden crate, marked with hieroglyphs.
Widower archaeologist Professor James Dugan, with teenage children Josh and Cleo, in preamble to a skiing holiday, visit the museum. No last minute emergencies, he promises, just a five minute check.
In the bustling basement, Dr Capel-Smith accosts the Professor with news of a momentous find: an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, entombed for years in the museum basement. He concurs the artefact to be from the Egyptian Temple of Life, and urges its immediate transference to his lab. Josh and Cleo wearily anticipate another holiday to be cancelled.
In the lab, Dr Capel-Smith gleefully ponders the unprecedented boon. In a scrapbook, Cleo reads a newspaper cutting of the 1921 ransacking of the Egyptian Temple of Light, in which the Mina the Guardian vanished without trace. A purported goddess said to have brought, with her Ring of Eternity, life from the earth every spring, her sarcophagus has just been found in this very museum. Beneficent yet vindictive, she’s said to have had the power to turn her enemies to stone.
Professor Dugan finally dislodges the lid of the sarcophagus, and they behold the mummified corpse.
That evening, hard at work in his study, the Professor excitedly tells Cleo and Josh of his recent translations: apparently, in aid of fruitful harvest, blood sacrifice was made to Mina. As well as the Ring of Eternity, the inscriptions mention an elixir of life. Finally, a curse of death and torture is offered all who disturb the peace of the tomb.
The busy Professor requests his children to take his spare key to the museum for the extra photos of the sarcophagus. Cleo asks if this means the skiing trip to be off. He replies with a distracted “hm.” As they dejectedly near the door, he offers a helpless apology.
In the museum lab, Cleo defends their dad’s devotion to his work. Josh laments its absorption of all else. He irritably kicks the side of the sarcophagus, and unexpectedly dislodges the lid of a small compartment. Among the bed of string inside, Cleo unearths a silver vial and a golden ring.
On the bottle, she sees an ankh, symbol of life. As they argue who will take the discovery to their dad, the vial is knocked into the open sarcophagus, and spills a trace of clear fluid onto the mummified hand. They compromise: Josh will take the ring; Cleo the vial.
Alone in the dark lab, the left hand of the long-dead mummy twitches, and, in stilted, deliberate motion, lifts…
In the deserted corridor, Josh, having found the compartment, stakes a claim to the imminent fame. Cleo then realises them to have forgotten the photos.
As Cleo searches the lab’s desk, Josh glances at the sarcophagus - and sees the mummy to have vanished. They stare in astonishment, and run. Through the lab’s side door, a strip of ancient bandage trails across the floor.
Back home, Josh and Cleo find the hallway to have been roughly searched, with furniture overturned. The study had been ransacked, with papers all over the floor. A note from their dad announces his unexpected visit to the museum.
From the hallway outside, they hear footsteps. Panicked, they lock the door, and head for the window.
They bike back to the museum. In the lab, their dad is nowhere to be seen. Josh fears mystical vengeance. Cleo tries to rationalise the bizarre affair, but is distracted by a low, laboured breathing. In the far wall, the double doors part. Through the crack peeks a stiff, skeletal hand. Josh and Cleo run.
In the darkened hallway, distant footsteps echo. The siblings flee to the basement, in search of the fire exit. Josh notices a nasty smell. They get quite a fright when they back into a standing mummy, but quickly realise it to be a display.
The fire exit is locked. From across the basement, footsteps near. They throw down a few wooden crates, and run back to the basement door - which is locked.
By Cleo’s head, a limp hand falls. She screams - but it’s their dad, lying atop a stack of crates. He groggily wakes, and climbs down. Just then, the distant footsteps approach. Dr Capel-Smith strides into view.
He explains his pursuit of something in the possession of Josh and Cleo: the Ring of Eternity. Having searched their house, he followed the Professor to the museum, chloroformed him, and followed his children down here. The crates are soaked in kerosene - which will ignite from one touch of the doctor’s torch. He demands the Ring.
Cleo hesitantly urges them to surrender the ring. Josh cautiously slides it across the floor to Dr Capel-Smith. Wary of their report to the Egyptian authorities, he decides to torch the place after all. Cleo makes a last request: let them see if the Ring works.
Entranced by the idea, Dr Capel-Smith slips the Ring onto his finger. A deep blue glow blooms around him. His voice echoes in a thunderous laugh. As the glow turns sickly green, he realises his sudden immobilisation. Within the glow, his clothes and body fade to succession by stone, until, with a despairing groan, his head transforms into a stone, helmeted sculpture of itself.
As he drops the torch, Josh nimbly stops it from igniting a nearby crate.
Cleo explains the inscription to have distinguished immortality from life - offered instead by the Elixir. Just then, faint footsteps shuffle through the distant darkness.
Josh belatedly mentions the disappearance of the mummy. Just then, the ancient, animate corpse slowly emerges from behind a stack of crates. Its hoarse, weary voice gasps a prompt.
Having been revived by the Elixir, the mummy, Josh realises, requires the restorative effects of the Ring. He approaches, and slips the ring onto her finger.
A blue glow blooms around the mummy, who reverts to her living, exotically garbed form of Mina the Guardian. Professor Dugan slowly approaches the restored Ancient Egyptian, softly echoes her name, and is met with a smile.
As Egyptologist and Egyptian gently acquaint, Josh wonders if Mina might enjoy skiing.
The true Guardian’s Curse, closes Tucker, was immortality, and Dr Capel-Smith was the final victim. As Sam and Gary appraise the story, Tucker slips away through the trees. As Gary runs in pursuit of his ankh, Sam douses the flames.
!!This episode provides examples of:
*ArtefactOfDoom: The Ring of Eternity, to the living, [[spoiler: grants immortality by turning them to stone]].
*DoomAsTestPrize: Acquisition of the Ring of Eternity grants immortality - but by [[spoiler: turning the wearer to stone]].
*GraveRobbing: In 1921, the sarcophagus of the Egyptian Temple of Light was stolen, and is eventually discovered hidden in the basement of a museum.
*ImmortalitySeeker: Dr Capel-Smith sincerely believes in the supernatural power of the Ring of Eternity, and [[spoiler: ruthlessly seeks to claim it]].
*LiteralGenie: The Ring of Eternity grants immortality by [[spoiler: turning the wearer to stone]].
*{{Mummy}}: Mina, purported goddess of life, is discovered to have been hidden in the basement of the museum. Stored in her sarcophagus are a vial of the Elixir of Life and the Ring of Eternity. While a spilled drop of Elixir animates her corpse, [[spoiler: the Ring of Eternity restores her to youth]].
*ParentalAbandonment: Josh and Cleo’s mother died when they were little.
*ParentsInDistress: Professor Dugan, shortly after the house is raided, goes missing. He’s found chloroformed in the museum basement, in a ruthless bid for the Ring by [[spoiler: Dr Capel-Smith]].
*SeductiveMummy: [[spoiler: On her restoration to full life by the Ring of Eternity, Mina and Professor Dugan take an evident liking to each other]].
*ShoutOut: Tucker addresses Frank as [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.
** A ring which, on promise of immortality, transforms its unscrupulous claimant into a statue, somewhat recalls ''[[Recap/DoctorWho20thASTheFiveDoctors The Five Doctors]]''.
*TakenForGranite: [[spoiler: The fate of those who steal the Ring]].
*WhenYouComingHomeDad: Josh and Cleo are sometimes despondent and frustrated by their dad’s absorption in his demanding work
[[caption-width-right:350:"The Elixir brings life, the Ring brings eternity."]]
With an impudent laugh, Tucker runs into the clearing, closely followed by Gary, who calls on Frank to seize him. With Tucker held aloft, Gary lays a charge of ankh theft. Tucker offers an explanation on the condition of release. Back on the ground, he pulls from inside his shirt the ceremonial adornment. Gary grudgingly gives Tucker permission to use the ankh as a story prop. The ankh, says Tucker, is a widely recognised ancient symbol. His story is full of ancient symbols, whose meaning isn’t immediately obvious. While the ankh means life, the implications thereof aren’t necessarily benevolent...Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, he calls this story “The Tale of the Guardian’s Curse.”
In a museum basement, builders excavate a walled up chamber, in which they find a huge wooden crate, marked with hieroglyphs.
Widower archaeologist Professor James Dugan, with teenage children Josh and Cleo, in preamble to a skiing holiday, visit the museum. No last minute emergencies, he promises, just a five minute check.
In the bustling basement, Dr Capel-Smith accosts the Professor with news of a momentous find: an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, entombed for years in the museum basement. He concurs the artefact to be from the Egyptian Temple of Life, and urges its immediate transference to his lab. Josh and Cleo wearily anticipate another holiday to be cancelled.
In the lab, Dr Capel-Smith gleefully ponders the unprecedented boon. In a scrapbook, Cleo reads a newspaper cutting of the 1921 ransacking of the Egyptian Temple of Light, in which the Mina the Guardian vanished without trace. A purported goddess said to have brought, with her Ring of Eternity, life from the earth every spring, her sarcophagus has just been found in this very museum. Beneficent yet vindictive, she’s said to have had the power to turn her enemies to stone.
Professor Dugan finally dislodges the lid of the sarcophagus, and they behold the mummified corpse.
That evening, hard at work in his study, the Professor excitedly tells Cleo and Josh of his recent translations: apparently, in aid of fruitful harvest, blood sacrifice was made to Mina. As well as the Ring of Eternity, the inscriptions mention an elixir of life. Finally, a curse of death and torture is offered all who disturb the peace of the tomb.
The busy Professor requests his children to take his spare key to the museum for the extra photos of the sarcophagus. Cleo asks if this means the skiing trip to be off. He replies with a distracted “hm.” As they dejectedly near the door, he offers a helpless apology.
In the museum lab, Cleo defends their dad’s devotion to his work. Josh laments its absorption of all else. He irritably kicks the side of the sarcophagus, and unexpectedly dislodges the lid of a small compartment. Among the bed of string inside, Cleo unearths a silver vial and a golden ring.
On the bottle, she sees an ankh, symbol of life. As they argue who will take the discovery to their dad, the vial is knocked into the open sarcophagus, and spills a trace of clear fluid onto the mummified hand. They compromise: Josh will take the ring; Cleo the vial.
Alone in the dark lab, the left hand of the long-dead mummy twitches, and, in stilted, deliberate motion, lifts…
In the deserted corridor, Josh, having found the compartment, stakes a claim to the imminent fame. Cleo then realises them to have forgotten the photos.
As Cleo searches the lab’s desk, Josh glances at the sarcophagus - and sees the mummy to have vanished. They stare in astonishment, and run. Through the lab’s side door, a strip of ancient bandage trails across the floor.
Back home, Josh and Cleo find the hallway to have been roughly searched, with furniture overturned. The study had been ransacked, with papers all over the floor. A note from their dad announces his unexpected visit to the museum.
From the hallway outside, they hear footsteps. Panicked, they lock the door, and head for the window.
They bike back to the museum. In the lab, their dad is nowhere to be seen. Josh fears mystical vengeance. Cleo tries to rationalise the bizarre affair, but is distracted by a low, laboured breathing. In the far wall, the double doors part. Through the crack peeks a stiff, skeletal hand. Josh and Cleo run.
In the darkened hallway, distant footsteps echo. The siblings flee to the basement, in search of the fire exit. Josh notices a nasty smell. They get quite a fright when they back into a standing mummy, but quickly realise it to be a display.
The fire exit is locked. From across the basement, footsteps near. They throw down a few wooden crates, and run back to the basement door - which is locked.
By Cleo’s head, a limp hand falls. She screams - but it’s their dad, lying atop a stack of crates. He groggily wakes, and climbs down. Just then, the distant footsteps approach. Dr Capel-Smith strides into view.
He explains his pursuit of something in the possession of Josh and Cleo: the Ring of Eternity. Having searched their house, he followed the Professor to the museum, chloroformed him, and followed his children down here. The crates are soaked in kerosene - which will ignite from one touch of the doctor’s torch. He demands the Ring.
Cleo hesitantly urges them to surrender the ring. Josh cautiously slides it across the floor to Dr Capel-Smith. Wary of their report to the Egyptian authorities, he decides to torch the place after all. Cleo makes a last request: let them see if the Ring works.
Entranced by the idea, Dr Capel-Smith slips the Ring onto his finger. A deep blue glow blooms around him. His voice echoes in a thunderous laugh. As the glow turns sickly green, he realises his sudden immobilisation. Within the glow, his clothes and body fade to succession by stone, until, with a despairing groan, his head transforms into a stone, helmeted sculpture of itself.
As he drops the torch, Josh nimbly stops it from igniting a nearby crate.
Cleo explains the inscription to have distinguished immortality from life - offered instead by the Elixir. Just then, faint footsteps shuffle through the distant darkness.
Josh belatedly mentions the disappearance of the mummy. Just then, the ancient, animate corpse slowly emerges from behind a stack of crates. Its hoarse, weary voice gasps a prompt.
Having been revived by the Elixir, the mummy, Josh realises, requires the restorative effects of the Ring. He approaches, and slips the ring onto her finger.
A blue glow blooms around the mummy, who reverts to her living, exotically garbed form of Mina the Guardian. Professor Dugan slowly approaches the restored Ancient Egyptian, softly echoes her name, and is met with a smile.
As Egyptologist and Egyptian gently acquaint, Josh wonders if Mina might enjoy skiing.
The true Guardian’s Curse, closes Tucker, was immortality, and Dr Capel-Smith was the final victim. As Sam and Gary appraise the story, Tucker slips away through the trees. As Gary runs in pursuit of his ankh, Sam douses the flames.
!!This episode provides examples of:
*ArtefactOfDoom: The Ring of Eternity, to the living, [[spoiler: grants immortality by turning them to stone]].
*DoomAsTestPrize: Acquisition of the Ring of Eternity grants immortality - but by [[spoiler: turning the wearer to stone]].
*GraveRobbing: In 1921, the sarcophagus of the Egyptian Temple of Light was stolen, and is eventually discovered hidden in the basement of a museum.
*ImmortalitySeeker: Dr Capel-Smith sincerely believes in the supernatural power of the Ring of Eternity, and [[spoiler: ruthlessly seeks to claim it]].
*LiteralGenie: The Ring of Eternity grants immortality by [[spoiler: turning the wearer to stone]].
*{{Mummy}}: Mina, purported goddess of life, is discovered to have been hidden in the basement of the museum. Stored in her sarcophagus are a vial of the Elixir of Life and the Ring of Eternity. While a spilled drop of Elixir animates her corpse, [[spoiler: the Ring of Eternity restores her to youth]].
*ParentalAbandonment: Josh and Cleo’s mother died when they were little.
*ParentsInDistress: Professor Dugan, shortly after the house is raided, goes missing. He’s found chloroformed in the museum basement, in a ruthless bid for the Ring by [[spoiler: Dr Capel-Smith]].
*SeductiveMummy: [[spoiler: On her restoration to full life by the Ring of Eternity, Mina and Professor Dugan take an evident liking to each other]].
*ShoutOut: Tucker addresses Frank as [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}}.
** A ring which, on promise of immortality, transforms its unscrupulous claimant into a statue, somewhat recalls ''[[Recap/DoctorWho20thASTheFiveDoctors The Five Doctors]]''.
*TakenForGranite: [[spoiler: The fate of those who steal the Ring]].
*WhenYouComingHomeDad: Josh and Cleo are sometimes despondent and frustrated by their dad’s absorption in his demanding work
