Graceland Gambit is the third episode of the Disney+ American Adventure, action and mystery National Treasure: Edge of History series based on the film series. It aired on December 21, 2022.
Premise[]
After Jess discovers her late mother’s involvement in the treasure hunt, Jess becomes even more determined to unravel the secrets her mother never told her about their past. She enlists the help of her friends and Liam. This newly formed team of treasure hunters bonds as they decipher a clue handed down by the Masons and embark on a risky mission that sends them to a mansion once owned by an American icon.[1]
Plot summary[]
Jess has had her world turned upside down. After Liam inadvertently revealed a secret academic paper that was written by her mother, he also has a video showing her mother discussing the treasure with a group of academics.
Later, when Oren and Tasha are present, Jess and Liam play the video, and are amazed to see Jess’ mother relate the story of the Mesoamerican treasure. Then Jess’ father comes in at the end of the video to defend her mother, and Jess’ perception of her dad changes. The video concludes with a home movie of her mother and father dancing together. Jess is shocked by the video, especially since she had never heard her father’s voice before.
The group then comes to a decision about what to do. They know Billie Pearce is a dangerous person who will stop at nothing to acquire the treasure. Liam assures Jess that he is committed to the treasure now, and with Tasha and Oren on her side, Jess has decided to pursue the treasure too. Surprisingly, Ethan shows up, and he agrees to help too upon seeing the video of Jess' parents.
Back at FBI Agent Ross still feels like something isn’t right about Peter Sadusky’s death. Despite being encouraged to drop her investigation, Ross proceeded with the toxicology reports on Sadusky and after speaking with the doctor at the morgue, the results are in.
Meanwhile, clues are needed on where to go next, so the group returns to Liam’s house to search through Peter Sadusky’s clue room. As Oren sees the room for the first time, he is blown away by the incredible artifacts on display. Just before Oren touches one of the items, Tasha reminds him to keep his hands to himself.
As the team searches through the room, multiple clues are seen, but none seem to have any importance except for a note about the sun king. With some detective work, the group learns that the note points to Elvis Presley, and a possible guitar in the hidden room at his Graceland home.
Whereas, Billie continues to ponder Jess and her refusal of money. To Billie this should have been a no brainer for the young girl. She needs money, Billie could have solved her problems and gave her cash, so why did she refuse, and how did Jess open the clue box on her own?
At the morgue, the doctor questions Ross about her toxicology order. She comes clean and admits that she disregarded an order to cancel the request. The doctor thanks her for her honesty and then tells her that the tests were inconclusive but there were a lot of unknown substances in Sadusky’s body, and a bright orange stain on his hands. Ross looks to track down the medication Peter was taking in hopes of determining foul play.
On the way to Graceland the group devises a plan that is audacious and will need a large amount of luck to help them succeed. Using moths to trick the staff at Graceland, Liam and Ethan will pose as exterminators to gain access to the secret room and photograph the prized hidden guitar. The plan works, Oren releases the moths, and while they gain access to the secret room, with photos of the guitar and then escape, it’s not enough. It turns out the guitar doesn’t hold the clue; instead a gold record in the secret room is what they should have been looking for along.
Undeterred, Jess won’t quit, and with Liam beside her they re-enter Graceland. Liam takes the opportunity to distract the guests and employees by grabbing a guitar and singing an Elvis song. While this is happening, Jess craftily sneaks into the hidden room, and finds the gold record. She plays a very distorted message which she records for later analysis. Despite close calls with security, and the arrival of the real pest control Jess and Liam escape with the clue.
In Mexico, Billie is leading her team into a cave in hopes of finding the next artifact. There are ancient Mesoamerican clues all throughout the cave which makes Billie think they are on the right track. When she realizes that what they are walking into is a trap, it’s too late as one of her security personnel, Nate, is lost to a hidden trap.
Meanwhile, Ethan can spot the chemistry between Liam and Jess. Protective of his friend, and also a bit jealous, he goes to see Liam and tells him to be careful with putting Jess in danger. Liam argues that he is not going to tell a woman what to do, which unintentionally leads Ethan to blurt out Jess’ DACA status. Feeling guilty about what he did, Ethan tells Jess, and while she is upset, she forgives him.
Not wanting to let a big issue like Jess’ DACA status to stop things, she meets with Liam, and tells him that she knows that he knows about her DACA status. She explains to Liam that she didn’t tell him because when people find out, it changes their perception of her. Liam is fine with everything and informs Jess that he has decoded the scrambled message on the record. It’s a recording of Elvis giving a clue to the next piece of the puzzle.
Elsewhere, Billie is mourning the loss of Nate and drinking to his memory as she and Kacey fly back from Mexico. When she is at the lowest of her moments, Billie gets a helping hand in the treasure hunt, as a recording of the Elvis message is sent to her.
Cast and characters[]
Starring[]
- Lisette Alexis as Jess Valenzuela
- Lyndon Smith as FBI Agent Ross
- Zuri Reed as Tasha Rivers
- Jake Austin Walker as Liam Sadusky
- Antonio Cipriano as Oren Bradley
- Jordan Rodrigues as Ethan
- Catherine Zeta-Jones as Billie Pearce
Guest-starring:[]
- Armando Riesco as Agent Hendricks
- Breeda Wool as Kacey
- Patrick Brennan as Nate
- Vannessa Vasquez as Manuela Valenzuela
- Alejandro Edda as Rafael Rios
- Tommy Savas as Dr. Zeke Hudson
- Monnae Michaell as June
- Mike Pniewski as Mark
- Joseph D. Reitman as The Bearded Man
Co-starring:[]
- Robert Bryan Davis as Tim
- Carlos Harrison as Academic
Trivia[]
- The three clues from the National Treasure films can be seen amongst other relics in Peter Sadusky's secret study:
- The panel from the Resolute Desk (National Treasure: Book of Secrets).
- The Ocular Device (National Treasure).
- The Meerschaum Pipe (National Treasure).
- The theft of the Declaration of Independence (from the first film) is mentioned in this episode.
- The Mayan Relic is said to have been found by Peter Sadusky in Cíbola.
- Peter Sadusky is mistakenly called 87 years old in both "I'm a Ghost" and "Bad Romance . But that conflicts with his revealed birth-date of August 11, 1938 from the episode "Charlotte", as the events of the series take place in 2022 as revealed on Sadusky's autopsy result in this episode, which would make him 84 at the time of his death instead.
- Riley Poole is mentioned in this episode, foreshadowing his appearance in the next episode.
- Tasha Rivers mentions The Lion King.
Gallery[]
Promotional stills[]
External Links[]
Graceland Gambit on the Internet Movie Database- National Treasure: Edge of History on Wikipedia
- Watch National Treasure: Edge of History on Disney+
