The best thing ever.
In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones (or Indy for short, usually by his friends), braves an ancient temple in an unnamed South American location. The temple is filled with booby traps and Indy is trying to retrieve a golden idol. Upon fleeing the temple, Indy is confronted by rival archaeologist René Belloq and the indigenous Hovitos. Surrounded and outnumbered, Indy is forced to surrender the idol to Belloq and subsequently escapes aboard a waiting Waco seaplane after being pursued.
Shortly after returning to the college in the United States where he teaches archaeology, Indy is interviewed by two Army intelligence agents. They inform him that the Nazis, in their quest for occult power, are searching for his old mentor, Abner Ravenwood, who is the leading expert on the ancient Egyptian city of Tanis and possesses the headpiece of an artifact called the Staff of Ra. Indy deduces that the Nazis are searching for Tanis because it is believed to be the location of the Ark of the Covenant; the Nazis believe that if they acquire it, their armies will become invincible. The Staff of Ra, meanwhile, is the key to finding the Well of Souls, a secret chamber in which the Ark is buried. The agents subsequently authorize Indy to recover the Ark before the Nazis. Indy travels to Nepal, only to find that Ravenwood has died and that the headpiece is in the possession of his daughter, Marion, who is also Indy's embittered former lover. Indy offers to buy the headpiece for three thousand dollars, plus two thousand more when they return to the United States. Marion's tavern is suddenly raided by a group of thugs commanded by Nazi agent Toht. The tavern is burned down in the ensuing fight, during which Toht burns his hand on the searing hot headpiece as he tries to grab it. Indy and Marion escape with the headpiece, with Marion declaring she will accompany Indy in his search for the Ark so he can repay his debt.
They travel to Cairo where they learn from Indy's friend Sallah, a
Shortly after returning to the college in the United States where he teaches archaeology, Indy is interviewed by two Army intelligence agents. They inform him that the Nazis, in their quest for occult power, are searching for his old mentor, Abner Ravenwood, who is the leading expert on the ancient Egyptian city of Tanis and possesses the headpiece of an artifact called the Staff of Ra. Indy deduces that the Nazis are searching for Tanis because it is believed to be the location of the Ark of the Covenant; the Nazis believe that if they acquire it, their armies will become invincible. The Staff of Ra, meanwhile, is the key to finding the Well of Souls, a secret chamber in which the Ark is buried. The agents subsequently authorize Indy to recover the Ark before the Nazis. Indy travels to Nepal, only to find that Ravenwood has died and that the headpiece is in the possession of his daughter, Marion, who is also Indy's embittered former lover. Indy offers to buy the headpiece for three thousand dollars, plus two thousand more when they return to the United States. Marion's tavern is suddenly raided by a group of thugs commanded by Nazi agent Toht. The tavern is burned down in the ensuing fight, during which Toht burns his hand on the searing hot headpiece as he tries to grab it. Indy and Marion escape with the headpiece, with Marion declaring she will accompany Indy in his search for the Ark so he can repay his debt.
They travel to Cairo where they learn from Indy's friend Sallah, a