Hotel Rwanda Page #12

He moves over to Zozo.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Get the key to suite twelve, take these

people there right away.

There's a commotion by the door. Paul goes over.

A valet stops a group of Tutsi refugees from entering.

PAUL (CONT'D)

What's going on?

VALET:

Sir, they have no reservations.

Paul studies the group, - a ragged bunch, no way are they Mille

Collines guest material.

REFUGEE #2

Please, sir, we have nowhere else to go.

They're hunting us.

PAUL:

Wait over there.

REFUGEE #3

We need a room.

PAUL:

I said everyone go over there.

Paul sees:
UN Colonel Oliver giving an interview to the BBC in front of

the hotel.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. DAY

Paul approaches the BBC reporter Gloria and Colonel Oliver as their

interview concludes.

GLORIA:

Do we know who fired the missile that

killed the president?

COLONEL OLIVER:

No. But I fear it's intention may have

been to kill the peace accords and spark

a civil war between the Hutu Militia and

the Tutsi rebels.

GLORIA:

We've heard reports of reprisal killings.

Will the UN intervene to stop the

bloodshed.?

COLONEL OLIVER:

Unfortunately we're here as peace-keepers

not peace makers, we can't take an

aggressive role.

GLORIA:

If the UN changes your mandate could you

stop the bloodshed?

COLONEL OLIVER:

Yes. With some re-inforcements I'm

confident we could impose order.

GLORIA:

Have you requested re-enforcements?

COLONEL OLIVER:

Yes we have.

GLORIA:

What was the response?

COLONEL OLIVER:

We're awaiting a decision, excuse me.

Colonel Oliver shakes Gloria's hand then moves off toward Paul.

COLONEL OLIVER (CONT'D)

Paul, I've sent my soldiers to rescue the

Lady Prime Minister, she'll need a room.

PAUL:

Yes sir, but these people (points) they

cannot stay here. I've heard you have a

refugee center at the airport Stadium?

COLONEL OLIVER:

I'm sorry, I can't possibly take them

Paul. I'm overrun with refugees. As soon

as we can stabilize the situation we'll

take them.

Paul moves to the door, where Jock and Gloria argue beside a saloon car

with the word ‘press’ spelt out in tape on the wind sreen

JOCK:

For f***'s sake, Gloria There's a big

news story out there! We need to get out

and cover it.

GLORIA:

We’re not going outside the hotel grounds

unless we have an armored car. That's the

ground rules.

JOCK:

Ground rules! Where the f*** do you think

you are, Wimbledon?

GLORIA:

We cover the story from here until we

can get proper protection.

She walks off.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

Paul works his way through the crowds in the lobby, sees a trolley of

dishes by an elevator, looks around, can't see any staff. Disgusted, he

pushes the trolley himself.

INT. HOTEL KITCHEN. DAY

Paul pushes the trolley into the deserted kitchen. At the back door,

several cooks listen to the radio.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:

'Good Hutus, we must destroy an

infestation of cockroaches at the

technical college.'

PAUL:

Turn that off. We have a hotel to run.

The cooks halfheartedly slouch back to the sinks.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. NIGHT

The lobby is overflowing with refugees. Paul stands with phone to ear.

Zozo walks up.

PAUL:

(to Zozo)

Where's housekeeping? They won't pick up.

ZOZO:

Sir, no one wants to work. They say the

boss has left.

Paul heads for the back office.

INT. HOTEL MANAGER’S OFFICE. NIGHT

A neat corporate office.

Paul picks up the phone.

INT. SABENA PRESIDENT'S OFFICE. BRUSSELS. NIGHT

Several executive officers sit across from Sabena President GODEFROID

around a speaker phone.

SABENA PRESIDENT

Can I have your name again?

PAUL (O.S.)

Paul Rusesabagina, Mr. Godefroid. The

house manager. I met you on your last

visit.

SABENA PRESIDENT

Yes, Paul, I remember. The Mille Collines

is a very important property for Sabena.

Our directors believe we should close

down, shutter the place until this unrest

is over?

This is really bad news. Paul can't allow them to close.

PAUL:

Sir, that would be very bad for our

reputation. We are an oasis of calm for

all our loyal customers. What would they

think if Sabena deserted them now? (lies)

I assure you the United Nations has

everything under control.

ON THE SABENA PRESIDENT

He looks at the others.

SABENA PRESIDENT

Very well. But if this thing gets worse,

we must close. If there's anything you

need, call anytime.

PAUL:

There is one thing I need right away.

INT. HOTEL MANAGER’S OFFICE. NIGHT

Paul waits by the fax, then it spits out a single page.

INT. HOTEL BANQUET ROOM. NIGHT

Every member of the hotel staff is gathered together. Paul addresses

them as Zozo hands out copies of a fax.

PAUL:

This is my letter of appointment, signed

by Mr. Godefroid, the president of

Sabena. The Mille Collines is a five star

establishment, we will run it that way.

If you don't want to work for me, then

leave now.

No one moves.

PAUL (CONT'D)

I want the hallways cleaned now, a menu

prepared for the dining room. Where's the

pianist?

A hand goes up.

PAUL (CONT'D)

I want you on the piano in the Kigali

Room tonight. Back to work.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. MORNING

Paul emerges to find more refugees, some settled on the lawn, others

gathered in clumps by the doorway.

Paul calls over to the valet.

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