nov 25, 1957 - Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

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Nevada: Indiana and George "Mac" McHale are kidnapped by a group of Soviets led by Dr. Irina Spalko. They are taken to Area 51 (Hangar 51 in-universe) and ordered to find the body of a mummified alien Irina wants to investigate. Mac reveals he's a double agent and Indiana unsuccessfully attempts to take the alien body from Spalko. After escaping from Area 51, Indiana Jones survives a nuclear blast by hiding inside a lead-lined refrigerator, but is later apprehended by FBI agents. The agents suspect him of working for the Soviets but Indiana denies this.

Connecticut: Indiana is forced on an indefinite leave of absence because of the FBI's allegations. Shortly afterward, Indiana is approached by Mutt Williams, who asks for Indiana's help in finding Harold Oxley. Oxley was a friend of the Williams family, including Mutt's mother (later revealed to be Marion Ravenwood); Oxley was also a classmate of Indiana's at Oxford. Mutt says Oxley sent his mother a letter written in an ancient South American language. Indiana cracks it and figures out the pair must go to Peru. This is just one of the many convoluted plot points that have led many to call Crystal Skull the worst Indiana Jones movie.

Peru: Indiana and Mutt investigate the psychiatric hospital where they believe Oxley was held after his search for Akator went awry. After decoding scribbles on the walls of Oxley's cell, they theorize he was attempting to find the same ancient city - Akator - that Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana sought after in the 16th century. Indiana and Mutt are captured by Soviets after successfully locating Orellana's grave and discovering a crystal skull buried in his tomb. They deduce Oxley found the skull but ultimately tried to put it back before his disappearance.

The Peruvian jungle: The Soviets take Indiana and Mutt to their campsite, where Spalko waits with Mac, Oxley, and, much to Indiana's surprise, Marion. Oxley is shown to have gone mad, which Spalko reasons was from researching the crystal skull for too long before putting it in Orellana's grave. Unfortunately, this compelling plot point ultimately leads to Crystal Skull's sci-fi/alien problem - even though it hinted that the 2008 sequel would be going back to the franchise's archeology/history-inspired roots, as Oxley's riddles are revealed to be the code to Akator's coordinates. Indiana, Spalko, Mutt, Marion, Mac, and Oxley all set off for Akator. During their travels, a fight ensues as Indiana, Marion, Mutt, and Mac try to break away from Spalko. The teams separate, with Indiana and his group getting a head start to Akator.

Akator: Indiana and the group successfully make it past all the booby traps leading down into the belly of Akator's largest building. In one room, they discover vast amounts of treasure. In another room, they find ancient alien skeletons, which is when Crystal Skull breaks from Indiana Jones tradition by injecting sci-fi into the narrative. Spalko arrives on the scene, having been left a trail of transceivers thanks to Mac, who is still working with the Soviets. Spalko takes the skull from Indy, but then the extraterrestrial cranium gets teleported via telekinesis back to the skeletal system it was removed from centuries prior. Spalko steps forward, hoping receive the alien's accumulated knowledge for the Soviet Union. She's overwhelmed by the alien's power though, and dies. Akator begins to self-destruct as it was built on top of the aliens now-reactivated spaceship. Indiana, Marion, Mutt, and Oxley make it out alive, but Mac sacrifices himself.

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