Hotel Rwanda Page #24

The Tutsi refugees camped on the lawn flee in panic as the Militia

truck speeds around the driveway.

The Militia taunt and yell at the Tutsi refugees.

The truck does a screeching turn and heads back down the driveway,

leaving a trail of splintered wood.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Get down there and stop them, please.

Now the Ghanians are really frightened.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Get down and stop them.

UN SOLDIER:

You know we cannot shoot.

PAUL:

What do you mean you cannot shoot?

UN SOLDIER:

We are peacekeepers, it is not in our

mandate to shoot.

PAUL:

Then go and pretend you are soldiers.

EXT. HOTEL GARDENS. NIGHT

Paul and Tatiana pass the clusters of families around their cooking

fires. They pass the pool, now just a third full. He sits her on the

bench in the grove.

TATIANA:

We are almost out of water.

PAUL:

We are almost out of everything.

He takes her hand.

PAUL (CONT'D)

We had a good life, you and I. I want to

make our peace. To thank God for the time

we had.

He kisses her, total love.

PAUL (CONT'D)

We have to have a plan.

TATIANA:

What sort of plan?

PAUL:

Our children cannot see us die first. If

the Militia comes, you must hurry up to

the roof. I will meet you there.

TATIANA:

Please do not talk like this.

PAUL:

We have to. If I do not come, you must

take them all by the hands and jump.

She puts her hands to her ears. He pulls them down.

PAUL (CONT'D)

The machete is no way to die. Promise me

you will do it.

She cries harder and squeezes his hand in fear.

Suddenly, A BANG, from behind them and then above their heads a trail

of fire - an RPG rocket - zigzags toward the hotel.

A HUGE EXPLOSION on the wall, one-story beneath the roof.

Paul throws Tatiana to the ground, covers her.

Smoke and concrete dust fall around them.

INT. HOTEL STORE ROOM. NIGHT

Paul, Zozo stand amongst the debris: a gaping hole in a wall. The room

is covered in burned note papers, menus brochures for Sabena's two

hotels, the Mille Collines and the Diplomat.

Odette appears carrying her medical bag.

ODETTE:

Was anyone hurt?

PAUL:

No. It was only a storeroom.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. NIGHT

Colonel Oliver arrives in his armored truck. Paul, Odette, Benedict and

others gather around him.

PAUL:

They fired a rocket at us.

COLONEL OLIVER:

Yes. Where are the Rwandan police?

PAUL:

I ran out of bribes. Bizimungu took them

away.

COLONEL OLIVER:

That explains it. I'm sorry to tell you

this but we've heard rumors the Militia

are getting ready to storm the hotel.

PAUL:

Will you protect us.

COLONEL OLIVER:

I can't, I don't have the men.

VARIOUS VOICES:

We have no one...We will be killed.

COLONEL OLIVER:

There's one option.

PAUL:

What is it?

COLONEL OLIVER:

The rebels have fought their way into the

city. They have many Hutu prisoners.

They're willing to exchange them for you

all.

ODETTE:

Will the Hutu army agree?

COLONEL OLIVER:

I think so. They are in disarray now. The

rebels are winning, and the Hutu high

command are anxious to get some of their

men back.

TUTSI WOMAN:

How would we escape?

COLONEL OLIVER:

By convoy.

XAVIER:

This time the Militia will kill us.

PAUL:

They will surely kill us here. It's over

here. We have to take the chance.

TUTSI WOMAN:

No, we'll be chopped on the street.

PAUL:

We'll be chopped here.

The crowd disperses. Colonel Oliver takes Paul aside.

COLONEL OLIVER:

A man came to my headquarters, asked that

I give you this.

Colonel Oliver hands a letter.

COLONEL OLIVER (CONT'D)

Paul, I need you to buy me a day or two.

I don't have the fuel for this convoy. I

will have to scrounge it.

PAUL:

I can't. I have nothing left to bribe

with. Can your men at the gate hold out

for another day?

COLONEL OLIVER:

No, Paul, they're afraid. They've

demanded to be moved back to headquarters

now.

PAUL:

Give me their uniforms. I will put people

at the gate, in disguise.

COLONEL OLIVER:

I wish I could, Paul. Try to hold out.

One more day.

Colonel Oliver leaves. Their is nothing more Paul can do.

INT. HOTEL PAUL'S ROOM. NIGHT

Tatiana is beside him. He opens the envelope, finds his makeshift house

deed and a note.

PAUL:

It's from Garandi.

(reads)

I am sorry. There is no hope for the

twins. The old lady's house has been

destroyed.

INT. HOTEL PAUL'S ROOM. NIGHT

Paul sleeps fitfully. It is almost dawn, then he sits up.

PAUL:

The Diplomat!

Tatiana wakens, startled.

TATIANA:

What's wrong?

PAUL:

I have to go to the Diplomat.

INT. OFFICE. DAWN

Paul is on the one working phone.

PAUL:

General, sir. I am glad to find you. I

have found you some supplies.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU (O.S.)

Whiskey?

PAUL:

The finest, and cognac, champagne. Come

and I will get them for you.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU (O.S.)

I'll be over.

PAUL:

Bring back your policemen...

...But the line is already dead.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. DAY

Bizimungu's jeeps arrives at the hotel. Paul greets him.

PAUL:

We must go to the Diplomat.

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