Hotel Rwanda Page #6

They join the BBC team.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Madame, this is Benedict Nangori, one of

our best journalists. He covers all the

big stories. I thought you should meet.

Gloria, a consummate news producer, turns on the charm.

GLORIA:

Benedict, beautiful name. I'm Gloria

Fleming. BBC.

Paul moves off to the desk, Gregoire can barely disguise his pleasure.

GREGOIRE:

There are no more rooms.

PAUL:

Give me the phone.

Gregoire hands it over. Paul dials.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Madame Denver. I have very good news. I

have a present for you, in return for the

cancellation of your gorilla expedition I

have arranged a safari at Lake Kivu

lodge. A wonderful experience. No, no

extra charge. A luxury coach will leave

in one hour. I'll send maids up to help

you all pack. You're welcome.

Paul hangs up, turns to Gregoire.

PAUL (CONT'D)

Call Kivu Lodge, ask for George, tell him

I need three rooms. And send a team of

maids up to the Americans. I want those

rooms turned around in twenty minutes.

Paul heads for the glass doors and sees:

EXT. HOTEL FORECOURT. DAY

General Bizimungu, briefcase in hand, gives the tv interview, He’s

confident, controlled Benedict stands close by as Gloria interviews.

GLORIA:

There are rumors, General, that your

army, the Hutu army, consider these peace

accords a sellout to the Tutsi rebels.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

(laughs)

Nonsense. At this moment we are making

plans to rehabilitate the dissidents into

our armed forces.

GLORIA:

Then the army fully supports the

president as he signs the peace

agreement.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Of course, the president is a clever man,

he knows what he is doing. Thank you for

coming to Rwanda. (on the move). You will

see what a beautiful country this is.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. DAY

Paul turns, walks past porters ferrying the BBC luggage. He puts his

hand out. Gregoire hands him keys.

Paul does his rounds. He double checks the banquet room where

technicians install several TV monitors and test the signal.

He looks in the kitchen, frenzied activity.

He wanders behind the bar. Everything is 'under control'.

He returns to the lobby, greets Connie, her flustered husband and their

friends, followed by a team of porters and luggage.

PAUL:

Forgive the hurry but I do not want you

to miss the lunch buffet on the paddle

steamer across the lake. It is the most

spectacular sight in all Africa.

BOB:

Lunch? All we do is eat. I thought there

was famine in Africa.

PAUL:

Exactly, we can't have our guests

starving. What would they think of the

Mille Collines back in the United States?

Gen. Bizimungu, takes Paul's arm, pulls him aside, hands him his empty

briefcase.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Keep that cockroach Benedict away from

me.

As the General disappears into the bar, Paul waves over the coat check,

hands her the briefcase.

PAUL:

Same as last time.

She nods, hurries off just as the BBC crew appears. Paul hands out

keys, greets each.

PAUL (CONT'D)

The fifth room is your broadcast room.

GLORIA:

Good. I'd like to book a massage.

PAUL:

Of course.

Jock, the Scottish cameraman, hangs behind as the others leave, takes

his key.

JOCK:

Did you bring any of those wee girls who

used to sit at the bar in the Diplomat

with you? You know?

PAUL:

I'm sorry, Mr. Daglish, this is the Mille

Collines. No working girls here.

JOCK:

Can we phone them in, Paul?

PAUL:

I'm afraid I can't do that, Mr. Daglish.

Ah, Zozo.

Paul calls Zozo over.

PAUL (CONT'D)

You remember Zozo, from the Diplomat?

Jock gets the code instantly, as Zozo smiles.

JOCK:

Zozo! The very man!

The Scot and Zozo greet, then hurry off.

INT. HOTEL BANQUET ROOM. DAY

Paul supervises waiters hanging a banner. It reads "Peace, Love, and

Brotherhood! UNAMIR 1994".

INT. HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM. DAY

Reporters watch rows of TVs. All broadcast the signing of the Arusha

Accords. (Reporters have political chatter.)

CLOSE ON:
the TVs as President Habyarimana signs.

COMMENTATOR:

As president Habyarimana signs a peace

accord between the Tutsi rebels and his

Hutu army there remains strong doubts

that the extremist Hutu Power will abide

by the accords. But for now hope has

returned to Rwanda for the first time in

many years.

All the African reporters in the room CHEER.

Fireworks go off outside the hotel.

Colonel Oliver raises a glass of champagne and leads the room in a

toast.

COLONEL OLIVER:

To Peace.

The room as one raise their glasses.

CLOSE ON:
Paul as he nods to a member of the tribal band on the small

stage. Then, African drummers hammer out a fast uplifting beat as the

full troupe of ceremonial dancers skip into the room in celebration.

INT. HOTEL BAR. DAY

Paul checks out the banques. They appear empty, then a voice.

General BIZIMUNGU

Paul, join us.

It's General Bizimungu, he is sitting with George Rutagunda now in a

shiny blue suit. A bottle of whiskey on the table is almost gone.

Bizimungu and Rutagunda watch the peace celebration across the lobby.

GENERAL BIZIMUNGU

Have a drink.

He pours. George points his glass toward the Europeans.

GEORGE:

Look at them, they want to see the tribes

dance to their tune. Here is our dance.

Rutagunda staggers to his feet, launches into a drunken version of the

Hutu Militia War Dance.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

Come on, Paul. Show them our dance.

Paul takes George's arm, does two steps of the dance, then appears to

stumble and shoulder bumps the big man.

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