Hotel Rwanda Page #25

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Get in.

PAUL:

Your police are at the gate?

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

After the Diplomat!

Paul clambers in the back.

INT. JEEP TRAVELLING. DAY

The jeep turns away from the Mille Collines front gate.

They travel at high speed along the road. Then the driver sounds his

horn, because...

Paul sees:
A large crowd of Militia marching along the road toward the

hotel, waving machetes and sticks.

PAUL:

Where are they going?

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

They can go where they want. They are in

charge now.

PAUL:

What do you mean, General?

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

We have decided to move the government to

Gitarama.

PAUL:

When?

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Today.

EXT./INT. DIPLOMAT HOTEL. DAY

Paul arrives into the lobby of the Diplomat. Looters have stripped the

place bare. The convoy pulls up. General Bizimungu stands with his

pistol out. The looters see him and disperse.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Maggots!

INT. DIPLOMAT HOTEL OFFICE. DAY

Paul enters the manager's office, followed by the General. It has been

stripped clean, except for the safe, which is pock-marked with bullet

strikes.

CLOSE ON:
Paul: he sees a big problem. The dial is damaged.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Do your work.

Paul goes to the safe and turns the dials, tries the handle - nothing.

It is incredibly hot, and Paul is soaked with nervous perspiration, he

takes off his jacket.

PAUL:

It might be damaged, General.

Bizimungu's look says: it better not be for your sake.

Paul starts again, turns the dials more carefully, tries and opens the

safe door. CLICK.

He pulls it open, sees six bottles of Glenfiddich, four bottles of VSOP

brandy.

Bizimungu is joyous as Paul hands him a bottle

Bizimungu sits on a window ledge, takes a swig.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Here. (offers) To celebrate.

Paul takes a swig.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU (CONT'D)

You know what the Scottish call it?

PAUL:

No.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Ishca Baha - the water of life. I went on

a tour once of the finest single malt

distillery in the world. Have you ever

been to Scotland?

PAUL:

No, sir.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Wonderful country, wonderful golf. I

wonder - will I ever go back? What do you

think?

PAUL:

I hope we all get to do many things. Can

we go now?

The soldier arrives with a box. He whispers to Bizimungu.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

(to the soldier) Pack those carefully,

put them in my jeep, and guard them.

PAUL:

(looses his cool)

Please, General, call and put your

policemen back at the gate.

The soldier packs the bottles. Bizimungu pours into Paul's cup.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

I am going to do you a great favor.

(studies glass) I am going to take you

with us to Gitarama.

PAUL:

I do not want to go to Gitarama, General.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

You cannot go back to the hotel. The

crazy men are going there now. Better to

come with me.

Paul is now terrified.

PAUL:

The Militia are at the hotel?! We must go

back now, General, please, for my family.

Bizimungu, now tipsy, drinks more.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

We are better here.

PAUL:

(desperate, forceful)

Listen, you need me.

Bizimungu laughs.

PAUL (CONT'D)

You are a marked man.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

How so.

PAUL:

The Americans, and the UN they have you

as a war criminal. You are on a list.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

I am on a list! What list?

PAUL:

When the Europeans left, their soldiers

gathered lists.

Bizimungu grabs Paul.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

You lie.

PAUL:

If you do not help me, you will stay on

that list.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

I committed no war crimes.

PAUL:

Who will tell them? You need me to tell

how you helped the hotel. The others who

have gone, they blame you for all their

misfortune. They say you led the

massacres.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

(nervous now) I led no massacres.

PAUL:

You think they will believe you?

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

You will tell them the truth.

PAUL:

(defiant)

I will do nothing unless you help me now.

Bizimungu reaches for his pistol.

PAUL (CONT'D)

What are you going to do, shoot me? It

will be a blessing. Go ahead shoot. I

will pay you to shoot my family. You can

do nothing to me!

Bizimungu jumps up, grabs Paul, pulls him.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

You will tell them I did nothing.

EXT. DIPLOMAT HOTEL. DAY

Paul and Bizimungu rush out to the jeeps.

INT. JEEP TRAVELLING. DAY

Paul almost overcome with anxiety. Bizimungu worried.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. DAY

Militia swarm around the front of the hotel.

The jeeps race through, scattering them. They screech to a halt.

Several refugees sit, huddled and battered. Bizimungu jumps out,

snatches an A.K. from a soldier, fires in the air.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Get back! (to his soldiers) Get them out

of here.

Paul does not wait.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

Paul races into the hotel, past frightened refugees who flee.

Then Paul sees a face he recognizes.

It's Gregoire with the Militia! Paul ducks into the stairway.

IN THE STAIRWELL

He leaps the stairs four at a time.

He makes it to the third floor, pushing past frightened refugees who

race down the stairs.

ON THE THIRD FLOOR

He runs straight into a bunch of young Militia.

MILITIAMEN:

Rusesabagina. Show us Rusesabagina.

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