Air Force One Page #23

MITCHEL*L

Because... because I don't want to

die.

INT. MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM.

The hostages, listening.

KORSHUNOV:

And what am I doing at this very

moment.

INT. AVIONICS COMPARTMENT - NIGHT

Marshall listens, helpless to do anything.

MITCHELL:

You're pointing a gun at me.

INT. MISSION COMMUNICATIONS CENTER -

KORSHUNOV:

Very good. Thank you, Ms. Mitchell.

Did you hear her? She said I'm pointing a gun at her.

INT. AVIONICS COMPARTMENT -

KORSHUNOV:

Now, to the secret service agent in

the baggage deck. I'm giving you ten

seconds to surrender, or this women

will die.

Marshall's eyes widen.

KORSHUNOV:

One...

Oh sh*t. Marshall tries to decide what to do.

KORSHUNOV:

Two...

He climbs out of the avionics compartment and hurries to the

front baggage compartment.

KORSHUNOV:

Three...

INT. MAIN CABIN.

Zedeck and Serge wait by the stairway hatch.

KORSHUNOV:

Four...

INT. MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM.

Hostages wait, expectantly.

KORSHUNOV:

Five...

INT. FRONT BAGGAGE HOLD.

Marshall frozen near the bottom of the steps. To go up would

be to betray everything he believes in, and lose any chance

to save the others. But if he stays...

KORSHUNOV:

Six...

INT. MISSION COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.

Tears stream down Maria Mitchell's face. She's trying so

hard to be brave in front of Rose and Alice.

KORSHUNOV:

Seven...

INT. FRONT BAGGAGE HOLD.

For Marshall, this is the hardest decision of his life. His

face a mask of anguish as he wrestles with his conscience.

KORSHUNOV:

Eight...

He starts toward the stairs.

INT. MISSION COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.

Korshunov looking down the barrel of the gun.

KORSHUNOV:

Nine...

INT. FRONT BAGGAGE HOLD.

It takes every bit of training and will to stop Marshall

from going up those stairs. He knows what's going to happen.

He closes his eyes tight as if that will stop it from

happening.

KORSHUNOV:

Ten...

A long silent beat. Then... BAAAAM!

MARSHALL:

NO!

Marshall sinks to to his knees.

MARSHALL:

Aw, Jesus.

INT. MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM.

Hostages hold each other tight for comfort. A mournful silence

fills the room.

INT. FRONT BAGGAGE HOLD.

Marshall, silhouetted in the half light, craddles his head

head in his hands. The shaft of light disappears as the main

cabin hatch closes, sealing him off once again.

KORSFL3NOV (V.0.)

I'll give you a few minutes to think

about that one and then we'll try

again. Perhaps soon I will choose

somebody important.

MARSHALL:

(to himself)

She was important.

INT. MISSION COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.

zedeck and Serge drag the dead woman out of the compartment.

Alice sobs quietly.

ROSE:

Do you have to be so brutal?

KORSHUNOV:

Yes

ROSE:

Why? Do you enjoy it?

KORSHUNOV:

I neither enjoy nor dislike. I do

what is necessary.

ROSE:

How can you? I mean they're people.

*

76.

KORSHUNOV:

But they are not ny people. You look

at me as if I am a monster, but answer

me this -- when your planes bombed

the oil fields of Iraq, did You cry

for those dark skinned men whose

names you do not know and who's faces

You will never see? Did You cry for

their wives and children. They were

people too, yes... but they were not

your people.

ROSE:

That was war.

KORSHUNOV:

So is this.

(beat)

Come now, you're upsetting the little

one.

ALICE:

The woman you shot. She was my friend.

KORSHUNOV:

That's the way of the world, little

one. Didn't they teach you that in

school?

INT. FORWARD BAGGAGE HOLD.

Marshall crosses back to the avionics compartment, talking

on the phone.

VOICE:

(through static)

Chief Mechanic, 87th Air. How can I

help you?

MARSHALL:

You can talk me through an emergency

fuel dump.

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