Die Hard

FADE IN:

1 405 FREEWAY - LOS ANGELES - EARLY EVENING 1

Christmas tinsel on the light poles. We ARE LOOKING east past

Inglewood INTO the orange grid of L.A. at night when suddenly

we TILT UP TO CATCH the huge belly of a landing 747 -- the

noise is deafening.

2 INT. 747 - PASSENGERS - SAME 2

The usual moment just after landing when you let out that sigh

of relief that you've made it in one piece. As the plane TAXIS

to its gate, they stir, gather personal belongings.

3 ON JOHN MCCLANE 3

mid-thirties, good-looking, athletic and tired from his trip.

He sits by the window. His relief on landing is subtle, but

we NOTICE. Suddenly, he hears --

SALESMAN'S VOICE

You don't like flying, do you?

McClane turns, looks at the Babbit clone next to him. Caught,

he tenses, holds his armrests in exaggerated fear.

MCCLANE:

No, no, where'd you get that idea?

SALESMAN:

(smiling)

Ya wanna know the secret of successful

air travel? After you get where you're

going, ya take off your shoes and socks.

Then ya walk around on the rug barefoot

and make fists with your toes.

MCCLANE:

Fists with your toes.

SALESMAN:

Maybe it's not a fist when it's your

toes...I mean like this...work out

that time zone tension.

(demonstrating)

Better'n a cup of coffee and a hot

shower for the old jet lag. I know

it sounds crazy. Trust me. I've

been doing it for nine years.

The plane stops. Passengers rise, start to take down overhead

luggage. McClane does this, but as he opens the door above,

the businessman BLANCHES seeing:

3-A HIS P.O.V. - MCCLANE'S BARETTA PISTOL 3-A

Peeking out from his jacket.

3-B BACK TO SCENE 3-B

Recognizing the look, McClane smiles reassuringly.

MCCLANE:

It's okay.

(showing badge)

I'm a cop.

(pause)

Trust me. I've been doing it for

eleven.

The businessman relaxes, moves off. McClane now wrestles down

the biggest Teddy Bear FAO Schwartz had to offer. Balancing

this, he moves down to another overhead, takes out a topcoat

and an overnighter. Barely managing all this, he turns,

COLLIDING WITH:

3-C A PRETTY STEWARDESS 3-C

She bumps noses with the bear, gives a look.

STEWARDESS:

(smiling, about the bear)

Maybe you should have bought her a

ticket.

MCCLANE:

Her?

He scrutinizes the nether regions of the bear, shrugs.

MCCLANE:

She doesn't complain.

STEWARDESS:

(eying him)

Neither would I.

McClane smiles, with just enough of a sigh to know he's as

wistful about things-that-might-have-been as she is...moves

down the aisle.

CUT TO:

4 INT. THE NAKATOMI BUILDING (LOS ANGELES) - EVENING 4

CLOSE ON A bottle of Dom Perignon as the cork explodes across

a large office floor decorated for Christmas. A Japanese man,

mid-fifties standing on a desk holds up the bottle triumphantly

and looks out at an adoring audience of junior executives and

office personnel. He is JOSEPH TAKAGI, Sr V.P. of Sales for

Nakatomi, a multinational corporation.

TAKAGI:

Ladies and gentlemen...I congratulate

each and every one of you for making

this one of the greatest days in the

history of the Nakatomi corporation...

In the b.g., obviously still at work, an attractive BUSINESSWOMAN

in her mid-thirties, studying a computer printout, heads toward

her office. Falling into step with her is HARRY ELLIS,

thirty-seven, V.P. of Sales. Well-dressed, with stylish,

slicked-back hair, he looks and acts very smooth.

ELLIS:

What about dinner?

WOMAN (HOLLY)

Harry, it's Christmas Eve. Families...

Stockings...chestnuts...Rudolph and

Frosty...those things ring a bell?

She turns into:

5 HER OFFICE 5

Her name is HOLLY GENNARO MCCLANE, though the nameplate on her

door stops after the first two. She puts the printout down

on her secretary's desk.

ELLIS:

(in reply)

I was thinking more of roaring

fireplaces...mulled wine and a nice

brie...

Holly ignores the come-on, turns to her secretary.

HOLLY:

Ginny, it's 6:40, you're making me

feel like Ebeneezer Scrooge. Go on,

join the party, have some champagne.

Ginny slowly manipulates herself out of her seat. She is

enormously pregnant.

GINNY:

(grateful)

Thanks Ms. Gennaro.

(worried)

Do you think the baby can handle

a little sip?

HOLLY:

(eyeing her)

Ginny, that baby's ready to tend bar.

ELLIS:

(not giving up)

How about tomorrow night?

Holly just points to the door. He follows Ginny out, clearly

not giving up. Just then the party on Holly's phone picks up

and we:

INTERCUT:

6 INT. NICE HOUSE IN SANTA MONICA 6

where a five-year old LUCY MCCLANE races her YOUNGER BROTHER

to the phone, winsthe wrestling match, and answers with a sense

of importance. An Xmas tree is in the b.g.

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