An Analysis of the Key Beginning Scene in National Treasure

So I've been going through the movie some more and watching and rewatching that opening scene, and I still can't figure out any way to see how the rest of the movie can shape Nicholas Cage as the hero of the movie. Let's re-examine the dialogue in this scene.



Fast forward to 7 minutes in and lets listen to them speak to each other. Here's what they say:

Bean: "We could borrow it."

Cage: "Steal it? I don't think so."

...

Bean: "Look Ben, I understand your bitterness, I really do. You spent your entire life searching for this treasure only to have the respected historical community treat you and your family with mockery and contempt. You should be able to rub this treasure in their arrogant faces and I want you to have the chance to do that."

[Bean then goes on to say how he'll make the arrangements and get them the document.]

Cage: "No..."

Bean: "I really need your help here." (remember, these two are partners!)

Cage: "I'm not going to let you steal the Declaration of Independence!"


So when you watch this scene again, does Bean really seem like the one doing the betraying? There's two things I see here. First, Bean wants to, not only get the treasure for his own good, but also for Cage's good. He wants Cage to be able to be redeemed for all the years he spent hunting for this treasure. Second, when Bean says, "I really need your help here," Cage responds with "I'm not going to let you steal the Declaration of Independence." I would be shocked if I were Bean. Two friends, working together to get the treasure, and now one of them says that he won't let the other get the treasure. So is Bean really the bad guy here? What do you think?

And don't forget, just moments later, Nicholas Cage concocts his own plan to STEAL THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE! Why didn't he just work with Bean in the first place!?