Argo Page #19

296 INT. MEHRABAD AIRPORT - MORNING 296

Young Komiteh RUNNING through the terminal, pushing

through a crowd, making a woman drop her suitcase,

contents scattering. An automatic weapon at his side.

297 EXT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - MORNING 297

The Houseguests head up the stairs to the plane.

298 INT. MEHRABAD AIRPORT - FLIGHT GATE - MORNING 298

Azizi and the three Komiteh from the third checkpoint

stand up from the table with the Argo storyboards. Young

Komiteh shouts at them and they take up their weapons and

join him, running --

Azizi and the three Komiteh arrive at Flight 363.’s gate.

The door is CLOSED.

299 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - MORNING 299

The Houseguests put their carry-on luggage into the

overhead bins. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT is already holding a

detached seatbelt preparing to do her safety mime.

PILOT (V.O.)

(German-accented

English)

Ladies and gentlemen, from the

flight-deck. We.’re looking at a

brief delay -- *

Passengers groan a bit as they read paperbacks or

International Herald Tribunes. Mark Lijek.’s arm is

around Cora. Lee Schatz is moving his mouth in what

looks like a prayer. Kathy Stafford.’s fingers shake as

she holds an arm rest. Joe Stafford tries to stay her

hand.

Mendez is sitting looking out the window toward the

terminal.

300 INT. MEHRABAD AIRPORT - FLIGHT GATE - MORNING 300

Azizi yells to the Swissair Rep, dragging her back toward

the gate. We can.’t hear what she says back, but she.’s

shaking her head.

ARGO - Final 110.

301 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 COCKPIT - MORNING 301

From the window, we can see a GROUND CREWMAN give a

thumbs-up. The scrubbed Swiss PILOT, 50s, gives a thumbsup

back.

He gently releases the throttle lever.

302 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - MORNING 302

Mendez and the Houseguests feel the plane start to move.

303 INT. MEHRABAD AIRPORT - MORNING 303

Azizi goes to the WINDOW. He can see the Swissair plane

slowly backing onto the runway.

He picks up a walkie and pushes through the flight gate

door, setting off an alarm, followed by the three other

Komiteh.

He reaches the METAL BARS outside and can.’t get past.

He CALLS INTO THE WALKIE.

304 INT. MEHRABAD FLIGHT TOWER - MORNING 304

An Iranian FLIGHT TRAFFIC CONTROLLER calmly speaks into

his radio in British-accented English.

FLIGHT TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

SwissAir 363, you are Number 2 for

departure.

305 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - MORNING 305

Out the window of the plane. Two IRANIAN POLICE CARS and

a CANVAS-TOPPED TRUCK are headed down the runway toward

the plane.

306 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - MENDEZ.’S POV - MORNING 306

looking out from his window seat.

307 EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - MORNING 307

An IRAN AIRLINES 747 takes off, revealing the Swissair

jet behind it. Only empty runway ahead of Swissair 363

now and --

ARGO - Final 111.

308 INT. MEHRABAD FLIGHT TOWER - MORNING 308

ANGLE ON BOOTS:

taking stairs two at a time.

Three KOMITEH WITH AUTOMATICS rush up the tower stairs --

309 EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - MORNING 309

We.’re SPEEDING BEHIND two Iranian police cars and a

canvas-topped TRUCK as they speed toward the Swissair

plane. In the back of the truck we can see half a dozen

Komiteh, weapons drawn and --

310 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - COCKPIT - MORNING 310

FLIGHT TRAFFIC CONTROLLER (V.O.)

Swissair 363 --

The Pilot puts his hand on the throttle control.

311 INT. MEHRABAD FLIGHT TOWER - MORNING 311

FLIGHT TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

-- you are cleared for take-off.

The Flight Traffic Controller moves his head-set mic away

from his mouth to take a drink of very strong Iranian

tea, and -- the door to the Control Room BURSTS OPEN.

Three Komiteh with automatics, shouting instructions to

the Traffic Controller, who spills his tea --

312 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - MORNING 312

Mendez looking out the window --

313 EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - MORNING 313

ANGLE ON THE THREE IRANIAN VEHICLES

speeding ahead -- they.’re GAINING ON us --

313A INT. COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS ACTION 313A

The CO-PILOT looks out the window. Sees they are being

pursued by militia and police. He looks to the Pilot.

ARGO - Final 112.

(CONTINUED)

A beat. The Pilot reaches down and pushes all four

engines to go FULL THROTTLE.

313B EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - CONTINUOUS ACTION 313B

ANGLE ON THE JEEPS

We start to PULL AWAY FROM them -- leaving them behind --

beginning to RISE UP --

314 INT. MEHRABAD FLIGHT TOWER - MORNING 314

The Flight Controller has his arms up... THROUGH the

floor-to-ceiling windows of the tower, as three Komiteh

watch a Swissair DC-10 angle upward and leave the

ground...

315 EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - MORNING 315

The Komiteh from the Jeep are now standing on the runway

watching the plane disappear.

316 EXT. TEHRAN STREET NEAR AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS ACTION 316

We are looking at a street corner in Tehran when the

PLANE CRESTS THE STOREFRONT, heading upward and away.

317 INT. CIA (LANGLEY) - NIGHT 317

O.’Donnell and the Kids gathered around some phones and

monitors in the Pit.

LAMONT:

(taking off

headphones)

We have wheels up. *

He starts to punch the air. O.’Donnell stays his arm.

O.’DONNELL

Wait.

318 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - MORNING 318

The Houseguests -- holding their breath --

Mendez -- looking out the window -- scanning the air

around the plane -- behind every cloud --

ARGO - Final 113.

313A CONTINUED:
313A

(CONTINUED)

FLIGHT ATTENDANT (V.O.)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is our

pleasure to announce that

alcoholic beverages are now

available, as we have cleared

Iranian airspace.

The Houseguests shout and embrace and celebrate. Bob

Anders high-fives Lee Schatz, then the other Houseguests.

Mark Lijek, crying, embraces Cora.

Kathy Stafford is laughing. She kisses her husband.’s

hand.

Some of the other passengers look up from their

newspapers, annoyed at this Canadian fuss.

319 INT. CIA (LANGLEY) - THE PIT - NIGHT 319

All eyes watch Malinov, listening, headphone to one

ear...

MALINOV:

They.’re CLEAR!

Cheers in the Pit. O.’Donnell embraces Malinov.

320 INT./EXT. ARGO PRODUCTION OFFICE - NIGHT 320

Siegel throws down a phone and rushes outside... to where

Chambers smokes.

SIEGEL:

OUUUT! THEY.’RE OUT!

Chambers and Lester scream like kids who.’ve just scored

the game-winning touchdown. The P.A. tries to shush

them.

321 INT. SWISSAIR DC-10 - MORNING 321

A mini-champagne bottle pops. The Houseguests are

celebrating:
New Year.’s Eve and a Super Bowl victory

party in a DC-10 aisle.

FIND Mendez, sitting alone, apart from the celebration.

Looking out the window. Mendez turns to see that someone

is standing in the aisle next to him. Joe Stafford.

Tony looks up at Joe.

ARGO - Final 114.

318 CONTINUED:
318

(CONTINUED)

FLIGHT ATTENDANT (O.S.)

I.’m sorry, sir. You need to sit

down.

But Joe doesn.’t pay attention to the Flight Attendant.

He extends his hand to Mendez. Who takes it. A moment

between them.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Sir?

Joe goes back to his seat.

HOLD ON Tony Mendez.

322 INT. ARGO PRODUCTION OFFICE - NIGHT 322

Drinking straight from a bottle of Beefeater.

SIEGEL:

It.’s history, is what it is.

.‘History plays out first as farce,

then as tragedy..’

CHAMBERS:

The quote.’s the other way around.

SIEGEL:

Who said it? *

CHAMBERS:

Marx.

SIEGEL:

Groucho?

CHAMBERS:

Karl.

322A EXT. BORDER CROSSING - ABADAN, IRAQ - MORNING 322A *

An IRAQI BORDER GUARD, checking passports at a chain- *

link, barbed-wire fence, speaks to a WOMAN IN HIJAB who *

is turned away from us. The Guard stamps the Woman.’s *

passport. *

BORDER GUARD (ARABIC) *

You are admitted to the Republic *

of Iraq. *

He closes the passport and the Woman turns around: it is *

SAHAR. *

ARGO - Final 115.

321 CONTINUED:
321

(CONTINUED)

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