Riley Poole is a sarcastic computer expert, resident genius, and best friend of Ben Franklin Gates who helped him find the Templar Treasure. He figured out the clue involving the one hundred dollar bill and Independence Hall. When he realizes that Abigail and Ben do not know what he knows, he takes his time, asking them if this is what they always feel like (much to their anger). Before that Riley tried to convince Ben that stealing the Declaration of Independence was impossible due to the security at the National Archives.
Riley later wrote a book called The Templar Treasure about treasure hunting and myths. He is shocked when it is not a best seller and people keep confusing him for Ben. The IRS repossessed his Ferrari because of back taxes at the beginning of National Treasure: Book of Secrets. He is brought into the search for Cíbola. To prove Thomas Gates was not part of the plot to kill Abraham Lincoln, he and Ben first have to break into Abigail Chase's residence since she kicked Ben out. When found out by Abigail she allows them access to the files they need. The clue leads to a Cipher of Edward Laboylee and Riley and Ben are off to Paris France and the French Statue of Liberty. The clue there leads to the Resolute Desk of both the Queen of England and the President of the United States. It is Riley who figures out that the symbol of the two pieces of wood are the Book of Secrets and that leads to the kidnapping by Ben of the President of the United States. The 3 of them go the the Library of Congress where the book is found. It leads to Mount Rushmore (which to Riley's surprise was built as a cover up.) After narrowingly being killed by several complex traps, they are awed when they reach Cibola, with Reily comically taking several solid gold bricks, making him one of the richest people in North America. Mitchell Wilkinson is is there and he forces the five of them including Ben parents to help him find The Lost City of Gold. Originally left to die by Wilkinson and only able to escape because of him, Riley is pleasantly surprised at the return his Ferrari to him tax free by the President. He is also hinted at getting a girlfriend at the end of the second film, as he meets a girl who is fasinated by his book, shocking him (comically causing a large pile of books he is carrying to fall).
Appearances
- National Treasure
- National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
Quotes & Conversations
- [talking about The Declaration of Independence] It's surrounded by guards...and video monitors... and little families from Iowa... and little kids on their eighth grade field trip. And underneath an inch of bulletproof glass is an army of sensors and heat monitors if someone gets too close with a high fever. Now, when it's not on display, it is lowered into a 4 foot thick concrete, steel-plated vault that happens to be equipped with electronic combination lock and biometric access-denial systems.
- [hearing Abigail over Ben's wire connection] Is that that hot girl? How does she look?
- When are we gonna get there? I'm hungry. This car smells weird.
- Okay... who wants to go down the creepy tunnel inside the tomb first?
- It's a big blue-ish green man... with a strange-looking goatee... I'm guessing that's significant. [hugs the statue]
- (starts to cry) Look... stairs.
- (about Ian Howe) I hate that guy.
- Will someone please explain to me what these magic numbers are?
- Our evil plan is working.
- Okay, Ben, pay attention. I've brought you to the Library of Congress. Why? Because it's the biggest library in the world. Over 20 million books. And they're all saying the same exact thing: Listen to Riley.
- Ben, the, uh, the mean D-Declaration lady is behind you.
- [to Ben] What do you care? You got the girl.
- (About the pipe) Is it a billion dollar pipe? (a few seconds later) Is it a... million dollar pipe?
- Either way we're still gonna die.
- (after being told to shut up at gunpoint) Okay....
- (Responding to one of Ian's henchmen on the Charlotte.) Albuquerque. See I can do it too. Snorkel.
- (after everyone begins to get optimistic) Uh, I hate to be Mr. Johnney Raincloud here, but as far as I can see, we're still stuck down here.
- Ben: We're too late..
- Riley: No we're not.... Wait.. you don't know this? I know something that you don't know?
- Ben: I'd be very excited to learn about it Riley.
- Riley: Let me just.. Let me just take in this moment... This is.. cool. I mean, is this how you feel all the time? Well, not now-
- Abigail: Riley!
- Riley: Okay! What I know is, day-light saving wasn't established until WWI.If it's 3 p.m. now that means that in 1776 it would be 2 p.m.
- Ben: You're a genius, Riley.
- Abigail: Let's go.
- Riley: Yeah, well do you know who first came up with the idea for day-light savings?
- Ben and Abigail: Benjamin Franklin!
- Riley: [stomps feet]
- 3:22, My idea.
- (referring to the underground staircase at Trinity church)Yeah... the aliens helped them.
- I would've dropped you both! Freaks.
- Well, I'm no expert but... it could be that the hydrothermic properties of this region produce hurricane-force ice storms that cause the ocean to freeze and then melt and then refreeze, resulting in a semisolid migrating land mass that would land a ship right around here.
- (About Ben's House)Yeah, someone that did something in history and had fun. Great. Wonderful.
- Why can't they just say, 'go to this place, and here is the treasure; spend it wisely'?
- Can I marry your brain?
- Death and despair! Mostly death. Uh, I mean a little despair, the last few seconds. But then a hard, sudden death.
- That's why I tell people to get a dog.
- Patrick Gates: The Statue of Liberty! But which one?
- Riley Poole: Exactly. Wait is there more than one?
- Ben, if it were you trying to convince me, you'd have less evidence and I'd already believe you by now.
- Women. Can't live with 'em, especially if they change the alarm codes.
- The president's a tattle-tale!
- (sees police cars pulling up to the building) Oh, look, my tax dollars coming to arrest me.
- Control Room Guard: The fire alarm's gone off.
- Riley Poole: Uh-oh. God save the Queen.
- Riley Poole: I have to settle with 1%. One stinkin' percent. Half of one percent, actually. [he jumps into a Ferrari 360 Spider]
- Ben Gates: I'm sorry for your suffering, Riley.
- "I'd love to go shopping but we have no money.."