04x06 - The Egyptian Decryption Caper

[bunniefuu]

[ominous music]

♪ Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? ♪

♪ Sandiego ♪

♪ Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? ♪

[dreamy music]

[buzzes]

[Saira] It took a while for my algorithm

to translate the Sanskrit text
on the nd Relic.

And, for my Code-Breaker to solve
the riddle contained within that text.

And, for me to solve what my Code-Breaker
was attempting to communicate.

But if I correctly deciphered
Mime b*mb's charades,

my highly-advanced drone
should be on the verge

of locating the third and final Relic
right here in India...

within the mouth of the crocodile.

Behold, the Relic that we seek.

In Carmen Sandiego's hands.

What? How?

Does she have eyes everywhere?

We are the ones
who procured the nd Relic in Norway.

How could she possibly know
what was written upon it?

Not to mention, figure out its...

[sneezes]

[sighs, sniffles]

- ...riddles.
- Ugh.

What? Not contagious.

Quickly, Saira.
Send your Operative after her.

So he can do what,
tie her up with invisible rope?

Well, do something.

We need that Relic in order
to find our lost VILE treasure.

[Carmen]
Jules, you were spot-on about India.

Thank you. Sending new images your way.

[Chief] Hm, the text is Egyptian,
but in two different alphabets.

Coptic, used during the medieval era,

and hieroglyphs,
dating far earlier to Ancient Egypt.

So, we know the text on the Relic
was inscribed during the later period,

by someone familiar with both.

Aren't you a quick study?

Shall I assume
you are catching the next flight to Egypt,

and that I will inform you
of further particulars once I decode them?

Oh, now who's the quick study?

Carmen Sandiego
is not the only one with eyes everywhere.

And it seems
that she has been relying upon

her very own "codebreaker."

[Player] Zack and Ivy assured me
Shadowsan's doing fine, Red.

They're keeping him warm
and cozy back at HQ.

Good to hear.
He's the closest thing I have to family,

I'd like to keep him around.

You sure you're gonna be okay on your own?

I have all the backup I need on this one.

Right. I'll ping our "secret w*apon."

- [keyboard clacking]
- [beeps]

Uh, perfect timing.

I've managed to translate
the medieval portion of the text.

It mentions a "plateau,"

where something lies beneath
"the tallest of three."

I believe the riddle refers to the Giza.

The site of the pyramids?

Giza's located in Egypt,
on the west bank of the Nile River.

[Julia] And it's home to arguably
the world's most famous pyramids,

the Great Pyramid being
the tallest of the three.

[Player] It says here the pyramids
were quite a feat of engineering.

We still don't know exactly
how they were built, but we know why.

As tombs for Egyptian kings,
called Pharaohs.

[Julia] That's correct, Player.

Ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs
in tombs like these,

along with valuable items they believed
the pharaohs would need in the afterlife.

It's the reason the pyramids at Giza
became targets for thieves.

Any treasures within were looted long ago.

That said, archaeologists continue
to make discoveries within the pyramids.

So, it isn't outside
the realm of possibility

that hidden chambers
could be newly discovered.

Now, you know who to call for help
with your history homework, Player.

Wait, I thought you two
went to school together?

[both] It's... complicated.

So, were you able to decode
the ancient portion of the text?

[Julia] That will take some doing.

Hieroglyphs are an extremely complex
writing system,

involving thousands of symbols.

Okay then.

Sounds like we better
let you get to work, Jules.

[knock on door]

One moment, please.

Can I help you?

[ominous music]

[ancient Egyptian music]

Oh! The desert climate here in my homeland

is far more agreeable
than that drafty Scottish castle.

Oh! Pretty kitty.

A trinket? For a cat burglar,
you have absolutely zero pedigree.

I thought Egyptians
were supposed to respect cats?

That would be ancient Egyptians.
I am not a day over thirty-five.

[scoffs]

[beeping]

We found this in her office.

Gunnar will be ecstatic. Thank you, Boris.

I am Vlad.

- [Julia grunts]
- You look familiar.

I cannot say the same.

Yet, you know my affiliation.

I can venture a guess.

We require your insight
regarding your current "research project."

I have no idea what you are referring to.

But it seems like you do.

And I will not ask you again.

I don't like it.

Jules isn't answering pings or her cell.

[Player] Maybe her phone d*ed?
Or the school's network is down?

Get me the campus directory.
She must have a landline.

[grunts]

Should you not be studying?

Ms. Argent?

It is me, Agent Devineaux.

Julia?

She stood me up?

[phone rings]

Agent, uh...
I mean, Instructor Argent's office.

[Carmen] Devineaux?

Carmen Sandiego?
Why are you calling Ms. Argent?

Why are you answering her phone?

Because she is not here.

I did not realize
that you two kept in touch.

She missed your lunch?

How did you know about...
She is in trouble.

[Carmen] I'll handle it.

Ms. Sandiego? Carmen?

If VILE grabbed Jules,
it's safe to assume they'll force her

to tell them what she knows
about the rd Relic.

Julia can handle herself, right?
I mean, she was with ACME.

I can't have Devineaux calling this in.

Chief would just make it her business
to get in my way.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

[Carmen] It's me again. If you want in,
you play by my rules.

No Chief, no ACME.

Your ex-partners' safety depends on it.

Where shall we rendezvous?

The Great Pyramid at Giza,

it's where we'll find Jules.

- Wait, is that not in... Egypt?
- [line beeps]

[beeping]

Chief?

This sounds terribly serious, Devineaux.

Ugh! I feel as though a porcupine
is lodged in my throat,

and an army of termites
in my sinus cavity.

Too much information. Just feel better.

[thrilling music]

Devineaux did sound awful.

Locate a deli near him
that delivers chicken soup.

To a Bed and Breakfast,
just outside Oxford, England?

What? He's supposed to be home in bed.

Chief, I have an update on the analytics

you asked me to run
on Carmen's "downtime."

I can't yet speak
to her current quiet stretch.

But we were able to pinpoint
where she was laying low

for those few weeks last fall.
Buenos Aires, Argentina.

If we follow stone-lengths,
past the breach,

perhaps we will find a scarab?

A what?

The depiction on the final hieroglyph.

Looks like a bug to me.

A "scarab" is a type of beetle.

Correct. This image may represent Khepri,

an ancient Egyptian "scarab"- headed god

who was often depicted
pushing the sun across the sky,

like a beetle pushes a ball of dung.

[gloomy music]

So, tell me.

What kind of thief
steals things only to return them,

and makes it her business
to rescue innocent people?

You want the whole story?

We don't have time for that.

At least tell me.
Is "Carmen Sandiego" your real name?

Is "Chase" yours?

Of course. "Chasser."
In French, it means "to hunt."

Admittedly, it is my real nickname.
That I once gave to myself.

Aha! It is Ms. Argent.

[gasps]
And her.

And them.

I, at one time, stood in the presence
of VILE without realizing it.

At a sinister dinner party,
high in the Swiss Alps.

If only I had arrested them at the time,

Ms. Argent
would not be in this predicament.

Trust me, they won't harm Jules.
Not until they get what they want.

[slow music]

Why would Carmen Sandiego
break into a bank, but not steal anything?

We ran a cross-check
with all the accounts.

There's one name matching ACME records.

Vera Cruz. The name on the house deed.

The account's been inactive for years.

But it is linked to a safety deposit box.

[ethnic music]

The pyramids are not historically known
to contain hieroglyphs.

So, our scarab
is likely to be hidden from view.

What now, brainiac?

What else?
Look for any sign of the beetle.

Nothing over here.

And by "nothing," do you mean
that is what this Hieroglyph represents?

It is the symbol for the Sun.
Not the scarab we are seeking.

I'm good with that.

What?

Bugs are gross.

Do you not recall
what our little bookworm said?

The scarab-headed god
pushes the sun across the sky.

Like so, perhaps?

[rumbling]

No one follows. Is that clear?

Crystal.

Dexter Wolfe.

[ominous music]

It can't be a coincidence.

That's it?

This is the treasure?

[rumbling]

[shrieks]

Thank you, Vlad.

Boris.

You knew that would happen,
you smug little beetle dropping.

No, but it does make sense.

The statue was a decoy,

intended to thwart common thieves
from finding the true treasure.

Do not ever suggest that I am common.

But this must mean we are close.

We may not know for certain
until we decipher these hieroglyphs.

[sighs]

[rumbles]

So, ancient Egyptians do like cats.

You distract the cat lady
while I sneak past them and rescue Julia.

You do realize that "sneaking"
requires stealth and dexterity.

Okay, you rescue Julia.

[grunting]

What could you be hiding in there?

[Chase] Excusez moi.

Would that be the toilette?

A shame you didn't wear your coat.

I could've tailored it for you
all over again.

- Huh?
- Hello? San Francisco?

That was you? I loved that coat!

- [growls]
- Ha!

Ugh.

Please, do not tell me we are gazing
upon history's longest riddle.

There.

[Vlad] Here.

Yes, of course.

The Relics are not merely riddles
and maps,

but keys.

Ugh!

We cannot enter
without Relic number three.

[Carmen] This could be your lucky day.

It's all yours, Countess.
If you let Jules go.

Of course, once we no longer have use
for her unique skills.

Which we cannot know with certainty
until you hand over that Relic.

You and I both know VILE protocol.

Once you no longer need her,
into the pit she goes.

The Relic, please.
Or into the pit she goes this very moment.

[gasps]

Sure would be a shame
if no one gets to see the lost treasure.

You wouldn't.

Wouldn't I?

Get the Relic.

[suspenseful music]

[crackles]

[grunting]

[both grunt]

[groaning]

[grunts]

[grunting]

Show me the money.

[shrieks]
Scarabs.

[screams]

They look like bugs to me.

[Tigress] Gross!

Let me out!
[screams]

[suspenseful music]

[rumbling]

[gasps]

At last.

It is as if we have traveled back in time.

There must be artifacts here
from dozens of ancient cultures.

Our founders were likely out
to plunder this very pyramid

when they stumbled
upon this ready-made vault.

The perfect solution
to their storage problems.

A historic find like this
belongs to the world.

Our forebears worked far too hard
to steal this loot.

It rightfully belongs to VILE.

[Chase] Uh, excusez moi.

Am I interrupting another party?

Agent Devineaux?

Fashionably late, as always.

But I am still in time
to serve your just desserts.

Oh, boy.

[Carmen] Devineaux, listen closely.

You have what you need
to send these cockroaches scurrying.

I do?

The sole claim VILE has on this treasure,

is that no one else in the world
knows its location.

You can change that right now.

But your rules. You said no...

Do it.

[suspenseful music]

Devineaux, shouldn't you be sick in bed?

It is a long story.

But I am feeling much better, thank you.

Dispatching local law enforcement
to your position now.

No. No! No, no, no!

Our treasure.

We must leave quickly.

Protocol, Countess.

Ms. Argent, are you okay?

However did you find us?

I did not do it alone.

Oh.

[juddering]

This is rather devastating news, Countess.

She has gone way too far, this time.
Carmen Sandiego must pay.

[woman ] And who is responsible
for this incredible historic discovery?

All credit belongs to this wise woman.

Expert in fascinating facts
and interesting things.

[woman ] What first led you
to the undiscovered chamber?

That information is...

classified.

[Countess]
You sound more ACME than academic.

The greatest historic find of the century
happens to be a crime scene.

I see some crossover potential here,
Argent.

Yes. Well,
that irony is not lost on me either.

But I suppose you are here
for an explanation.

I'd prefer to hear it from Sandiego.

She has only ever made contact with me
through encrypted channels,

I don't have any means of reaching her.

Though, I do have a thought.

Check it out, Red.

Julia just posted a new entry on her blog,
about a recent find in Colombia.

But it totally digresses into fun facts
about fair trade coffee

including a "Red Blend."

Could be another riddle to solve?

Good thing I learned a thing or two
about code-breaking from Julia.

Every paragraph ends with a number.

If you line 'em up
like they're a date and time,

it's tomorrow at am.

Seems Chief wants an opportunity
to thank me over coffee.

[Player]
How can you be sure it's not a trap?

If it were,
Jules would have worded it differently.

[door chimes clink]

Punctual.

Wouldn't want to keep a busy lady waiting.

You've been busy yourself, lately.

Egypt?

Just helping out a friend.

Argentina?

Strange that you didn't take anything
from the bank.

[Carmen] That's where you're wrong.

I took something that belongs to me.

You're the baby.

Dexter Wolfe was your father.

Relax.

If I wanted revenge,
we wouldn't be sitting here.

Who raised you?

Not my mother.

Find her for me,

and I'll tell you everything
you ever wanted to know about VILE.

The whole story.

It seems I have a knack
for solving ancient mysteries.

Just not my own.

[Player] Well, good call getting Chief
to do her part.

It helps
that she may finally be on my side.

How could she not be, after Egypt?

- [Carmen grunts]
- Red?

Carmen?

She belongs to VILE, now.

[ominous music]