Object

Colonel Musgrove's Briefcase

Colonel Musgrove snaps open his leather briefcase on Indy's lecture hall desk and withdraws a single sheet—the intercepted Nazi communique detailing Tanis and the Staff of Ra headpiece. Major Eaton leans in as Brody and Indy examine it, the case's hinged lid propped wide to reveal classified contents.

1 appearances

Purpose

Container for intercepted Nazi communique

Significance

Delivers military intelligence that reveals Nazi Ark pursuit, prompts Indy's Staff sketch, and launches the quest with personal Ravenwood tie-in.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

1 moments

S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Lecture Hall Briefing — The Staff of Ra and the Ark

Musgrove's briefcase functions as the container and visual signal of formality and secrecy: its opening precedes the delivery of the classified communique and frames the conversation's shift in register.

Before: Closed and carried by Musgrove at his seat.

After: Open briefly to allow extraction of the sheet, then effectively resealed after the briefing; remains Army property.

View full event