Tomb of the Ruby Heart

London, 1971. Insecure Egyptology student Kazz Bannister is emotionally distant at the best of times, but doesn't understand why he keeps his distance from the people he loves. He's feeling the stress at the moment with university finals and chasing the deadline for his third year essay, and of course his mother, Margaret, asks him to collect Dad from the airport, as if he hasn't got enough on his plate, and he cancels a date with girlfriend, Jen.

Dad isn't at the airport. He missed the flight and the hotel in Luxor hasn't seen them for a week. Dad went to Egypt to chase down a mysterious lost tomb of Pharaoh Senuswret 111. Legend has it that the tomb contains a priceless heart-shaped ruby, and the dead king is protected by the spirit of Anubis, guardian of the dead. Though it's referenced in texts, nobody has actually found it.

Kazz is persuaded to go find his dad, and Jen goes with him. Once there, they find dad is definitely missing and get the local police chief on the case. He introduces them to Professor Gamal, an antiquities expert, who takes Kazz and Jen to the Mountain of Anubis, where they find a tomb. Is it the right one? Did his dad go in it? What will they find there, and will they come out alive?

Two strong roles for male and female leads.

The locations are mostly contained (residence, hotel lobby, and the tomb). Also requires some shooting in a minibus and the desert, so can be planned to be Covid-friendly. The airport scene (Arrivals terminal) could be rewritten to happen at the house.