Hotel Rwanda Page #17

Synopsis: Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a Hutu, manages the Hôtel des Mille Collines and lives a happy life with his Tutsi wife (Sophie Okonedo) and their three children. But when Hutu military forces initiate a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Tutsi minority, Paul is compelled to allow refugees to take shelter in his hotel. As the U.N. pulls out, Paul must struggle alone to protect the Tutsi refugees in the face of the escalating violence later known as the Rwandan genocide.
Production: MGM
  Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 45 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.1
Metacritic:
79
Rotten Tomatoes:
91%
PG-13
Year:
2004
121 min
$23,472,900
Website
1,017 Views


LIEUTENANT:

I will remember that name. (turns to his

soldiers) Let's go.

The soldiers roar off down the driveway.

Zozo looks to Paul, a thank you Jesus look.

EXT. HOTEL ROOF. DAY

Paul emerges onto the roof, sees Tatiana, his children, and many of the

neighbors sitting huddled together. (They do not know the soldiers have

left.)

Tatiana is frozen to the spot.

PAUL:

They have gone.

Tatiana grabs him. Tears of joy. Paul's neighbors swarm him, touch him,

thank him like a messiah. This effects him. He seems genuinely moved as

he shakes hands and hugs them.

ZOZO:

Sir. The president of Sabena is on the

phone for you.

INT. HOTEL MANAGER'S OFFICE. DAY

Paul arrives behind the front desk.

Paul hits the button.

PAUL:

They are gone. Thank you, sir. What did

you do?

INT. SABENA PRESIDENT'S OFFICE. BRUSSELS. DAY

Gotfroid is at his desk.

SABENA PRESIDENT

I managed to get the President of France

on the phone.

PAUL (O.S.)

Thank you, sir, you saved our lives.

SABENA PRESIDENT

Paul, I pleaded with the president to go

in and get you all. He told me it will

not happen.

PAUL:

Why?

SABENA PRESIDENT

I can give you many political answers

Paul but the truth is that Africa is not

worth a single vote to all of them:

French, British, Americans.

Silence.

SABENA PRESIDENT (CONT'D)

You have to get out of there, Paul. I

will do whatever I can.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL MANAGER’S OFFICE. DAY

The elite of the Tutsi refugees, those with contacts or friends abroad,

are gathered in the office.

PAUL:

There will be no rescue, no intervention

force. We can only save ourselves. Call

any foreigner you know, tell them what

will happen to us. Say goodbye but when

you say goodbye, say it as though you're

reaching through and shaking their hand.

Let them know if they let go of that

hand, you will die. (silence) We must

shame them into sending help.

The others look stunned.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Get on the phones while we still can. At

least we can say they heard our cries.

Zozo come with me.

Paul leaves.

CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

Paul looks around the lobby. It resembles a refugee center more than a

five star hotel.

He turns to a computer, calls up the register, then hits DELETE and

erases the register.

He picks up the phone, calls.

PAUL:

Send two of the housekeeping carpenters

to the lobby.

Paul strides across the lobby, calls to Zozo.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Everyone gather together now. Zozo get

them all together.

They herd together quickly.

PAUL (CONT'D)

No one can remain in this lobby any

longer. I have rooms available. Who can

pay? The rental is six hundred francs per

day.

About fifty percent of the hands go up.

TUTSI WOMAN:

I cannot pay?

PAUL:

Go with Zozo to the ballroom. We will

find you bedding. This is a hotel. No one

will be allowed to stay in the lobby.

The carpenters arrive beside Paul.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Good. I want you to go around and take

all the numbers off the doors.

CARPENTER:

What shall we put in their place.

PAUL:

Nothing. I want no numbers on the doors.

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR. DAY

Paul going door to door, knocking. The rooms are all packed with Tutsi

refugees. A door opens.

PAUL:

Good day. Here is your bill for the last

week. If you cannot pay, or think you

will not be able to pay, go to the

ballroom. Zozo will take care of you.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR. DAY.

Paul knocks on a door. The Tutsi politician Xavier opens the door, sees

that it is Paul.

XAVIER:

Come in Paul.

INT. HOTEL LUXURY SUITE. DAY

A beautiful two-bedroom suite. Xavier lives in comfort compared to the

other refugees.

PAUL:

I'm afraid you will have to move room.

XAVIER:

Move? Where to?

PAUL:

I'm going to put you on the third floor.

XAVIER:

The third floor are low class rooms.

PAUL:

Yes they are. However if the army return

they will expect important people such as

yourself to be in these grand rooms.

XAVIER:

(to his wife)

Pack the bags, we have to move.

PAUL:

Also, this is your bill for the last

week.

Paul leaves, Xavier looks shocked.

FADE TO:

MONTAGE:

Paul and influential refugees, Odette, Benedict (with a bandage over

his missing ear), Xavier and others call, plead, write and send faxes

all around the world. We see this NIGHT and DAY; DAY and NIGHT --

Then Odette on the phone.

ODETTE:

Yes, that's right. I helped set up the

treatment center in Nairobi. I'm in the

Mille Collines Hotel right now with my

husband, Peter, and my two boys. If you

do not help us we will be murdered.

Zozo arrives.

ZOZO:

Sir, General Bizimungu is here.

EXT. HOTEL POOL TERRACE. DAY

The pool patio is deserted except for General Bizimungu and three

soldiers who lounge at a table. Gregoire and his girlfriend sun on

reclining deck chairs like movie stars. Paul and a waiter with a tray

of drinks join the General.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

I am glad you are well.

Paul hands the scotch to Bizimungu.

PAUL:

I'm sorry it is not Glenmorangie.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

As long as it is scotch.

(drinks)

Your white friends have abandoned you,

Paul.

PAUL:

The United Nations are still here.

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Keir Pearson

Keir Pearson, (born December 15, 1966) is an American Academy Award nominated screenwriter notable for the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. more…

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