Hotel Rwanda Page #3

Paul fixes a floral arrangement as he passes then arrives at the clock

room hatch.

PAUL:

(to the coat check)

Did General Bizimungu bring a briefcase?

COAT CHECK:

Yes, sir.

PAUL:

Take it to the bar storeroom. Put three

bottles of Glenmorangie...

(he writes it down on a pad)

...GLEN-MOR-AN-GIE, into it.

Paul moves off as the coat check scurries away.

CONNIE DENVER (O.S.)

Oh, Paul, Paul.

An American woman, CONNIE DENVER, rich, blonde, surgically enhanced,

stands by the door of the tourism office.

INT. HOTEL TOURISM OFFICE. DAY

Paul walks into the tourism office. It is decorated with posters and

photos of Rwanda's single most important economic asset - the rare

silver back mountain Gorillas. There's a picture of the real-life Diane

Fossey next to the movie poster for "Gorillas in the Mist". Numerous

books and video cassettes. CONNIE DENVER's older husband, BOB, and four

American friends wait.

CONNIE DENVER:

Paul, Paul. Our trip has been cancelled.

PAUL:

Yes, I'm sorry Madame Denver, it is

because of the rebels.

CONNIE DENVER:

Rebels? What rebels?

BOB:

Don't be stupid for Christ sake. The

Watusis are invading the country. I told

you not to come here.

PAUL:

The Tutsi rebels are far away on the

border. And soon there will be peace.

BOB:

Tutsis, Watutsis they'll still shoot you.

CONNIE DENVER:

But I came here to see the gorillas?

PAUL:

I will try to arrange something.

INT. HOTEL BANQUET ROOM. DAY

The luncheon is in full swing. Paul glides in the background.

Close on:
The Ambassador in deep conversation with Oliver.

US AMBASSADOR:

Things will calm down when the president

signs the peace agreement with the

rebels.

COLONEL OLIVER:

Our intelligence, Mr. Ambassador, is that

the Hutu government has been stockpiling

weapons and are preparing a massacre.

US AMBASSADOR:

That's not what I hear. Excuse me. Paul.

(Paul comes over)

Colonel, you know the house manager, Paul

Rusesabagina.

PAUL:

How was your meal, sir?

US AMBASSADOR:

Magnificent.

(reads)

Scottish lobster, in Rwanda. You see

General what a genius this man is. You

want anything, this man can get it?

COLONEL OLIVER:

How about a battalion of U.S. Marines.

US AMBASSADOR:

Now, General, don't ask for the

impossible.

Paul smiles.

PAUL:

I have heard, Mr. Ambassador, that they

have discovered oil here, under Lake

Kivu.

Oliver bursts out laughing.

COLONEL OLIVER:

You're right, Mr. Ambassador, Paul knows

how to get anything, even U.S. troops.

The ambassador takes Paul's hand, shakes it warmly.

US AMBASSADOR:

Thank you for a wonderful meal, Paul.

Paul moves away graciously, and in one smooth move checks out, then

pockets, the hundred dollar bill the ambassador palmed him.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

General Bizimungu gazes through glass into the reception room, SEES

Paul shake hands and joke with the Ambassador. (He’s impressed.)

Paul notices the General.

The General raises his briefcase and waves.

Paul waves back. Another favor rendered.

EXT. HOTEL GROUNDS. NIGHT

It is night now. Floodlights bathe the hotel in a warm glow. Tiki oil

lamps illuminate the walkways and spread scented citronella smoke among

the trees. Wild birds CALL OUT.

EXT. HOTEL REAR CAR PARK. NIGHT

Paul walks to the employee car park at the rear.

He sees Gregoire and another male reception clerk tossing Zozo's

pillbox porter's hat between them with Zozo trapped in the middle

trying to jump and catch it. Gregoire thinks this tease is great fun.

GREGOIRE:

Come on, Zozo, cockroaches can jump, some

of them can fly.

The clerk sees Paul just as he's about to throw, miscalculates, the hat

sails over Gregoire's head and lands at Paul's feet. Zozo scampers to

pick it up.

PAUL:

No.

(points to Gregoire)

You pick it up.

Gregoire doesn't move.

PAUL (CONT'D)

How are your dish-washing skills,

Gregoire?

Gregoire bends, picks up the hat, hands it to Zozo, who walks away

quickly. Gregoire and his friend turn to head back into the hotel.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Gregoire, there are no cockroaches in

this hotel, do you understand?

BIK (O.S.)

Cockroaches?

Bik has walked out of the rear door and overheard.

BIK (CONT'D)

Don't tell me we have cockroaches, Paul?

A sly smile breaks on Gregoire's face as he uses Bik's arrival to

disappear inside.

PAUL:

No, Bik, it's a code word for Tutsis.

BIK:

That's what I came to talk to you about.

PAUL:

Excuse me?

BIK:

The Hutu-Tutsi thing. The BBC faxed to

say they would be here on the sixth for

the peace accords. And the U.N. wants the

banquet room for that day, a reception to

broadcast the signing ceremony. Can you

organize monitors and check the satellite

dish?

PAUL:

Leave it to me.

Bik leans slightly closer.

BIK:

Also, could you remember to use the

service entrance at all times?

PAUL:

Of course.

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. NIGHT

Paul hops in his car and tosses a box of Belgium chocolates on the seat

next to him.

EXT. KIGALI STREETS. NIGHT

Paul speeds through the streets of Kigali HUMMING along to music on the

radio and eating chocolates from the box. He passes bicycles laden

with produce. The song on the radio ends and local news comes on.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

Good Hutus of Rwanda, beware. The

dictatorship of the Tutsi cockroach is

near. Watch your neighbor. Identify these

cockroaches. Then rise up and stamp out

this murderous infestation...

Rate this script:2.0 / 2 votes