Hotel Rwanda Page #10

CAPTAIN (CONT'D)

Shoot them now or you die first.

The Captain aims his pistol at Paul's head. C*cks the hammer.

PAUL:

Captain, what could I pay you not to do

this?

The Captain laughs.

CAPTAIN:

You want to pay me?

PAUL:

Why not? These are not rebels, look at

them. Soon they will be worthless to you.

Why not take some money, for your work?

CAPTAIN:

How much?

PAUL:

Name a price.

CAPTAIN:

Ten thousand francs for each one.

PAUL:

I don't have that much.

The Captain laughs, snatches the gun from Paul, marches toward them.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Wait! Wait!

Paul reaches into his pocket, pulls out the bunch of dollars.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Here, here, a thousand US dollars - fifty

thousand francs for my family. To let us

drive off to the Mille Collines.

CAPTAIN:

How many in your family?

PAUL:

Six.

The Captain looks at his soldiers, at the wad of notes.

CAPTAIN:

Pull your family out.

Paul runs over, grabs Tatiana, Roger, the three girls. Odette kneels

beside Tatiana. Paul whispers.

PAUL:

Have you any money?

ODETTE:

Nothing.

Paul pushes his family toward the van, looks back, sees the Captain

pocket the dollars, move toward the line.

TATIANA:

Paul, don't let them die.

PAUL:

(urgent)

Get in.

Paul pushes them into the van, shuts the door, digs into his soul for

all the courage he can muster, then turns back.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Captain, let these people give you some

money, whatever they have.

The Captain hesitates. Paul sees this, runs over to the line of

neighbors.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Give me everything, everything you have.

A pathetic rain of Rwandan francs, useless coins, watches, jewelry

falls onto the ground. Paul scoops it all up.

The Captain looks at it, takes it, then:

CAPTAIN:

There is only enough for one cockroach.

The Captain raises his pistol.

CAPTAIN (CONT'D)

Pick one to take with you.

Now each terrified neighbor looks to Paul, begging.

PAUL:

Wait, wait.

Paul counts the kneeling figures: ten adults, four kids.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Ten.

CAPTAIN:

And four children?

PAUL:

I'll give you a hundred thousand francs

for all of them.

The Captain points the gun.

CAPTAIN:

Give me it.

PAUL:

I don't have it here. At the Mille

Collines. I can get it for you.

CAPTAIN:

You will run into the hotel and hide

behind the U.N.

PAUL:

I swear, Captain, one hundred thousand

francs, enough for a house. I will get

the money, you keep them outside.

The Captain smiles.

CAPTAIN:

I will keep your family outside. Let's

go.

EXT. HOTEL FRONT GATE. DAY

The convoy pulls up at the outer gates of the Mille Collines. It's

manned by ARMED UN PEACEKEEPERS.

The Captain walks to Paul in the van.

CAPTAIN:

Go with my soldiers. And hurry back if

you want to keep these cockroaches.

The Captain nods to Paul's children.

Paul jumps into the Rwandan army jeep.

PAUL:

(to UN Peacekeepers)

I am the manager. Open the gate.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. DAY

Chaos - UN jeeps, hotel vans, dismayed tourists, frightened Tutsi

refugees.

CLOSE ON:
Bik, the Dutch manager, bag packed, anxious, sees Paul.

YELLS.

BIK:

Paul, I have to talk to you ...

But Paul ignores Bik, barrels his way through the din and crush of the

parking lot.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

Paul rushes in:
The lobby is filled with Tutsi refugees, and scared

white tourists.

A solitary receptionist, besieged by anxious guests, is relieved to see

Paul.

RECEPTIONIST:

Oh, sir, please can you...

Paul rushes to the accounting room behind the reception desk, closes

the door.

INT. HOTEL OFFICE. DAY

Paul pulls bundles of dollars from the hotel safe.

EXT. HOTEL. DAY

Paul pushes through the mob at the door. Bik comes up.

BIK:

Paul...

(grabs Paul)

...I have to talk to you.

PAUL:

I'll be back.

Paul breaks free and hurries over to the Army jeep.

PAUL (CONT'D)

(hops in)

Let's go.

EXT. HOTEL FRONT GATE. DAY

Paul jumps from the jeep. Waves to Tatiana in the van, then gives the

money to the Captain.

PAUL:

Now let them go.

No response. Money in hand, the Captain eyes Paul with malice.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Don't be foolish. There's more money to

be made here.

CAPTAIN:

You want to buy anymore cockroaches ask

for Captain Naramunju.

The Captain smiles, then jumps in his jeep and speeds off. Paul runs to

the van and jumps in.

INSIDE THE VAN:

Jubilation, in the rear of the van. Odette is in tears.

ODETTE:

Thank you, thank you, Paul.

Paul doesn't reply. Tatiana hugs him. He gives her a look - a mix of

relief and anger - the crowd in the back almost cost him his family.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. DAY

Paul's van arrives. Bik hangs from a minibus.

BIK:

(shouts)

Paul, I have to go. The staff have fled

Kivu Lodge. I have to close it.

He flings office keys to Paul.

BIK (CONT'D)

While I'm away, you're in charge.

Bik's van takes off. A group of tourists hears Bik's words.

TOURISTS:

Hey, hey, we need our passports, we want

to get a flight.

Paul looks at them.

TOURIST:

They're in your safety boxes. We need

them right away.

PAUL:

Come inside.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

At the desk, the same receptionist is overwhelmed.

TOURIST (O.C.)

He's in charge, that's him.

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