Hotel Rwanda Page #21

PAUL:

A car.

TATIANA:

What sort of car?

PAUL:

What does it matter.

TATIANA:

I want to know.

PAUL:

A Volkswagen.

TATIANA:

A Volkswagen!

She slaps him playfully.

TATIANA (CONT'D)

I hope it was a new Volkswagen.

She kisses him, they lie back on the roof, kiss passionately.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. DAY

Paul instructs the porters to clean around the entrance.

The UN armored car comes up the driveway. Colonel Oliver gets out,

strides across the tarmac, he shakes Paul's hand.

COLONEL OLIVER:

Great news, Paul, we're going to get you

out of here.

The sweetest words Paul has ever heard.

INT. HOTEL BANQUET ROOM. DAY

Oliver is on the stage, all the refugee guests are crowded into the

room he has a list in his hand.

COLONEL OLIVER:

The UN has been notified that the

following families have received travel

visas from the following countries.

He reads.

COLONEL OLIVER (CONT'D)

Abukesu - Tanzania, Arumangu -Zambia,

Bawroanga - Kenya,

CLOSE ON:
Elation among the chosen families.

COLONEL OLIVER (CONT'D)

Gituaranga - Zambi, Horangora - Belguim

CLOSE ON - Fear on the faces of families who realize they have missed

this alphabetical list, anxiety among the others.

COLONEL OLIVER (CONT'D)

Paramisambi - Zambia, Rusesabagina -

Belgium.

Tatiana kisses Paul.

COLONEL OLIVER (CONT'D)

Zamacanga - Ghana. A plane will land at

the airport tomorrow and the named

families will be flown to Kenya. Two UN

trucks will be here at 7 a.m. The named

families must be ready to leave then.

A voice calls out.

TUTSI WOMAN:

Colonel, sir. Why not take us all to the

airport? We can wait there to obtain

visas.

COLONEL OLIVER:

I can't do that. Our camp at the airport

is overwhelmed already. We could not

defend you there. You are better to stay

here and work to get an exit visa.

Oliver jumps from the stage, pushes through the crowd.

Paul's POV:
Odette and Jean Baptiste are silently devastated. He pushes

through to the Colonel now surrounded by those who didn't make the

list.

PAUL:

Colonel, Odette Camundu ... she must be

on the list.

Oliver shakes his head no.

COLONEL OLIVER:

Paul, only those I called can get on the

trucks. I do not want to have to pull

people off, you understand?

Paul nods yes. Tatiana arrives beside him, pulls him aside.

TATIANA:

I will not leave without the twins.

PAUL:

We have to get out of here Tatiana.

TATIANA:

Please, please try one more time.

PAUL:

I'll try but we have to leave, with or

without them. I want you to promise.

She reluctantly nods yes.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

Mr. Garindi waits nervously in the lobby.

Paul arrives.

MR. GARINDI

It is dangerous to be here. The radio

says this is a nest of cockroaches.

PAUL:

I need one last favor. Go back and get

the twins.

MR. GARINDI

(emphatic) No, it is impossible. That

side of town has been destroyed in the

fighting. The children are dead.

PAUL:

How do you know?

MR. GARINDI

Everyone is dead there. The dogs eat the

bodies in the street. I have to go.

PAUL:

I will give you my house.

The businessman turns back.

PAUL (CONT'D)

It's a fine house. Here is a paper.

Paul spots an elegant woman carrying laundry toward the elevator. He

runs to her.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Madame Kawunda, please.

Paul leads her over.

PAUL (CONT'D)

I need you to witness this signature.

(to the businessman)

Madame Kawunda is the Minister for

Agriculture. She is a very reliable

witness.

Paul signs, then hands the pen to the puzzled woman.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Please witness this deed.

She signs. Paul pushes the deed into the man's hand.

PAUL (CONT'D)

There, now go and find them. They have no

papers. No one knows they are Tutsi. They

will be alive.

The businessman heads for the door.

PAUL (CONT'D)

You must be back by 7:00a.m. tomorrow.

Paul watches him go.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Seven, remember.

The Mr. Garindi leaves.

EXT. HOTEL GARDENS. NIGHT

Paul skirts the little groups of poor families bivouacked on the lawn.

The smoke of cooking fires has replaced the Tiki lanterns. The grounds

are a mini refugee camp.

Paul joins Tatiana, Odette and Jean Baptiste who sit at a table by the

pool.

ODETTE:

Don't worry, Paul, we will make the next

list.

Zozo arrives, with beers, serves them, is about to leave. Tatiana grabs

him by the arm.

TATIANA:

Sit with us Zozo.

ZOZO:

No ma,am, I am too busy.

PAUL:

Zozo you are family, join us.

Zozo is shocked by this breach of protocol but sits.

PAUL (CONT'D)

You are my dearest friends. I promise you

before God that I will not sleep until I

have you out of here. All of you.

He embraces Jean Baptiste

JEAN BAPTISTE:

It is good that you are going, Paul,

because now we know we have one person

who will save us.

Odette hugs and kisses him.

ODETTE:

We owe you our lives.

Paul takes Zozo in his arms.

PAUL:

You are my family now, Zozo, my brother.

I will get you out of here.

ZOZO:

Thank you, sir.

PAUL:

Let us remember this night and tell the

world that even in hell there are good

people.

A unbreakable bond of faith with each other.

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