Hotel Rwanda Page #11

Paul goes behind the desk. Rumors fly among the crowd of tourists.

TOURISTS:

(staccato) to the airport...my embassy

...tried to call... the airport is closed

... refund... this is outrageous ...

Behind the tourists, Tatiana and the neighbors look lost.

Paul addresses the frightened Western tourists.

PAUL:

Please, I am the house manager. Return in

thirty minutes and we will deal with all

your requests, thank you.

Paul turns to the room key boxes, nearly all are empty.

PAUL (CONT'D)

What happened to all the rooms?

Finally he finds a key, pushes through to Tatiana, hands a key to

Odette and Jean Baptiste.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Take this room. Tatiana, bring the

children.

Paul starts to lead his family away.

TATIANA:

(re:
neighbors) What about them?

Paul looses it.

PAUL:

Them. They almost got us all killed. I

have done enough for them! We cannot look

after them anymore.

TATIANA:

What are you going to do? You cannot

drive them out onto the road. They can

stay with me.

PAUL:

What!

TATIANA:

I will not have them on my conscience.

They will stay in my room.

PAUL:

(to Zozo)

Zozo, get a key for two staff bedrooms.

Put these people in them.

ZOZO:

Yes, sir.

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR. DAY

Paul hurries his family along the corridor. Rwandan refugees wander

aimlessly pulling their meagre possessions.

REFUGEE:

(calls out)

Moses, Moses Seradungu.

PAUL:

Can I help you?

REFUGEE:

I'm looking for Moses Seradungu's room.

PAUL:

What is his room number?

REFUGEE:

I don't know.

PAUL:

Go downstairs, I will help you.

Paul finds his room and opens the door.

INT. HOTEL ROOM. DAY

Paul leads his family into a one-bedroom suite. The kids drop to the

beds exhausted. Tatiana picks up the phone and dials.

PAUL:

What are you doing?

TATIANA:

Trying Thomas and Fedens. We've got to

get them here.

Paul paces the room. The maids clearly haven't cleaned it since it's

last occupants:
the beds are unmade; towels are on the floor; and a

newspaper is scattered across the desk.

PAUL:

(re:
room) This won't do.

TATIANA:

It will do just fine.

So Paul tidies the place. As he does,

PAUL:

Any luck?

TATIANA:

No answer. Please send someone to get

them, please.

PAUL:

I'll try.

Paul leaves.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. DAY

Paul waits, then a car pulls up, an Indian businessman, Mr. Garindi,

gets out, shakes hands, he's shaken.

MR. GARINDI

Terrible times, Paul. There are bodies

everywhere. I cannot stay here.

PAUL:

I need a great favor.

He hands Mr. Garindi an address.

PAUL (CONT'D)

I need you to go to this address and

bring my brother-in-law and his family.

MR. GARINDI

No, no. This is a very dangerous part of

town. I cannot do this.

PAUL:

This would be an enormous favor to me. I

am a man of means, Mr. Garandi. When this

nonsense is over I will be most grateful.

MR. GARINDI

I will see what I can do.

Mr. Garindi climbs back into his car.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

Paul stops just shy of the lobby. Around the corner is a mob of angry

guests. Paul takes a moment to gather himself: straightens his tie;

button his jacket; flick a piece of lint from his shoulder. Then he

takes a breath and steps around the corner.

PAUL:

Thank you for your patience, ladies and

gentlemen. Now, how can I help you.

The mob rushes him.

CUT TO:

Paul works the front desk as angry guests surge all around him. Zozo

emerges from the office with two tourists.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Where are the receptionists? Where's

Gregoire?

ZOZO:

He has taken the presidential suite.

PAUL:

What!

Paul storms off.

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR - DAY

CLOSE ON:
A door with a placard reading "Presidential Suite". Paul

knocks. The door opens. Gregoire answers, half-naked.

GREGOIRE:

(surprised)

Mr. Manager.

PAUL:

Gregoire, what are you doing here?

A WOMAN'S VOICE INSIDE (O.S.)

Who is it?

GREGOIRE:

What do you want?

PAUL:

Get out of this room and get back to

work.

GREGOIRE:

I don't have to listen to you anymore.

PAUL:

I am in charge now. Get back to work or

I'll fire you.

GREGOIRE:

Let me ask you Mr. Manager, do you notice

a smell of cockroaches? If I were to

leave this room, I'm sure I could find

this smell. I know people who could

cleanse it.(stares) But maybe it doesn't

bother you? Why is that? Are used to this

smell? Not me, I need a clean room to

escape it.

Gregoire closes the door. Paul's eyes burn with anger, but this battle

will have to wait.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

Paul comes into the lobby and discovers Colonel Oliver, he is escorting

a tall, well-dressed man, the Tutsi Minister of Finance XAVIER and his

family.

COLONEL OLIVER:

Paul, you know who this is?

PAUL:

Yes, Colonel Monsieur Xavier, the

Minister of Finance.

COLONEL OLIVER:

Get him a room, but tell no one he is

here.

(to Xavier)

Paul will look after you.

XAVIER:

I will need a suite.

PAUL:

Of course.

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