Air Force One Page #17

I've got a satellite passing overhead in twenty minutes. We

can narrow down the landing site choices based on runway

length and any unusual activity. With luck we'll only have

to capture three or four sites.

V.P. CHANDLER

But they start executing hostages in

FORTY FIVE MINUTES. -

GENERAL NORTHWOOD

I hate to be pragmatic, but they'll

sacrifice pawns before kings. It may

take them some time to kill their

way up to senior staff.

V.P. CHANDLER

Okay. Also, I want you to put our

bases in Turkey on alert, and have

the Kitty Hawk prepare a retaliatory

air strike.

* DEAN

Madame Vice-President...

V.P. CHANDLER

I've not discounted your theory Hr.

Dean...

DEAN:

No... I got the new numbers from our

gamers. They believe that there's

only an eight percent chance that

the President is still alive.

V.P. CHANDLER

Eight percent is better than zero.

Oh sh*t... what is that?

Chandler refers to a monitor in the rear of the room.

CNN, the omnipresent player on the world political stage,

broadcasts video from Ramstein Air Base.

GENERAL GREELY:

That's trouble.

CNN REPORTER (V.0. T.V.)

*.. the Presidential Aircraft was enroute from Moscow when

it began its mayday hail. But in a startling turn of events,

the seemingly out of control plane aborted its landing and

took off again. We haven't been able to confirm its status

or whether or not the first family was onboard at the time.

V.P. CHANDLER

Would someone get the Press Secretary!

AIDE:

He's been holding on line four.

EXT. SKY - NIGHT

Air Force One, lit up by moonlight.

INT. CORRIDOR.

The fire is extinguished. Zedeck squats over Nevsky's body.

Gibbs and Serge maintain a defensive position, guns ready.

Bazylev emerges from the Senior staff Conference room. He

shakes his head "no". Korshunov nods and furrows his brow.

KORSHUNOV:

Who did this?

GIBBS:

We checked the manifest. Everyone

was accounted for.

KORSHUNOV:

A secret service agent. It must be.

Wounded but alive. Serge, Bazylev...

Find him.

Serge and Bazylev lock and load, head off in separate

directions.

KORSHUNOV:

The conference room is no longer

secure. We'll take the First Lady

and the girl up top where we can

keep a closer eye on them.

INT. MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM -

The hostages have torn up a section of carpeting. Caidwell

and Shepherd examine the floor. Smooth sheets of steel riveted

together. Pointless.

MAJOR CAL DWELL:

We're not getting out that way.

The door swings open and Gibbs and Korshunov enter. They

spots the ripped up carpeting.

KORSHUNOV:

Admirable, but you're wasting your

time.

(beat)

Mrs. Marshall, would you and your

daughter please come here.

They don't move. Korshunov raises his gun, points it a

Shepherd's head.

KORSHUNOV:

Now, or he dies, please.

ROSE:

Come on, Alice.

ALICE:

I'm scared.

Doherty steps forward. Shepherd tries to pull him back, to

no

* avail.

DOHERTY:

You've got the better part of the

White House locked in this room, you

know. If you want to negotiate, we're

the ones to do it with.

Korshunov SHOOTS Doherty through the head. Screams from some

of the hostages. Korshunov squeezes off a few shots to quiet

everyone.

KORSHUNOV:

Mrs. Marshall. Alice. If you please.

Rose turns to the other hostages.

ROSE:

It's okay. Do what you're told. It's

okay. We'll be okay.

She locks eyes with Caldwell. HKeep working.N He nods.

INT. REAR BAGGAGE HOLD -

The President hunts through luggage. Overturned garment bags

and suitcases around him, belongings littered all over the

bulkhead. He sifts through heaps of clothing and finally

recovers what he's been looking for...

A CELLULAR PHONE...

He flips it open, starts to dial... but freezes.

MARSHALL:

Goddamnit.

He can't remember the number. He dials...

CLOSE.ON PHONE -555-1212... Information.

The phone rings...

INT. FORWARD BAGGAGE HOLD.

Bazylev, moving like a commando, slowly and methodically

works his way into the lower galley.

INT. REAR BAGGAGE HOLD -

Marshall. Finally, the phone picks up.

VOICE (O.S. PHONE)

Information. How can I assist you?

MARSHALL:

Washington D.C.?

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