"DIE HARD 2" (1990)

1989 16, November SCRIPT SHOOTING

Souza de Steven E.

Revisions by

Doug Richardson

Screenplay by

2 HARD DIE

Hated it. once. IA was in I COP

some team spirit? How about LAPD. I'm a cop. See, (showing·badge)

me because I'm not a hates already She car. ·s1law my mother in This is MCCLANE

we give it back. 40 bucks, you pay to four, B Tomorrow sure. COP

this car back. me give you gotta - my wife's·plane I'm just meeting You don't understand, MCCLANE

read the sign. Next time, (pointing) impound lot. At the sure. COP

just let her down nice and easy - false alarm, let's I'm here, I'm here, MCCLANE

sign on the rear window.

BOARD" ON "GRANDMOTHER sedate sedan with Virginia plates and a

turn is manhandling a in DRIVER who TRUCK TOW supervising a covered uniform who is ~lastic COP in an AIRPORT terminal towards comes running out of the FLAPPING, long topcoat MCCLANE, JOHN

IN: FADE

- whoa whoa, Holy shit, VOICE MCCLANE'S

and then "KA-CHUNK" PNEUMATIC HEAR a BLACK we IN WE'RE WHILE

2 HARD DIE

(X)

I

serves across the slick linoleum. Mcclane nods,

afternoon as predicted.

this area to the Metro Right over there.

that new storm front moves (pointing) a while, if may be here for INFORMATION GIRL ••• and that White Christmas TV) (on Telephones? 1ST NEWSCASTER MCCLANE

from the public. of sight TV on the shelf out LITTLE there is watching a girl the BOOTH - INFORMATION quickly APPLAUDS the kids, pulls up at an :he ·him

GLARE at when they Mcclane shoves his way through some people -

voices. PAUSE in their hectic rush to applaud the angelic travelers

Blase front of a massive, three-story window. perched.in CHOIR SCHOOL a from MUSIC wafting through the building CHRISTMAS

the terminal. then runs into on the read out in puzzlement; number unfamilar He looks at the obviously finds.the beeper on his belt. sweeps aside his coat, McCla·ne BEEP drowns out his last word.

- a You son of (sotto) MCCLANE

car. Santa to bring you another ask So COP

- c'mon, it's Christmas Hey, MCCLANE

Mcclane votes for the cop - going off the other way - one way while the cop is AWAY DRIVING He realizes the truck is

one hand washes the other Democracy, we're in Washington, heartbeat of maybe we can settle this right here, look, my wife got promoted - 'cause ID somewhere -I only moved my got New York cop still used to be a I See, (back to cop) Jesus- a plastic fender, Hey, that's (turning to tow guy) Hate it myself- can relate to that. I flow) (going with the MCCLANE

1 CONTINUED -1

(X)

a souvenir. pen just used on the document -

COLONEL the He hands a documents with American military officers. sign and then moving to a table under a tarp to the field troops in reviewin9 here resplendent in a Latin American uniform, IMAGE, "FILE TAPE" blink under Esperanza's the words On the TV,

knives and bullets.

from SCARS with His body is hard, (Ret.) U.S.A. WILLIAM STUART, COLONEL This is is doing Tai Ch'i EXERCISES. MAN A half naked

6 WIDER 6

curling oddly. FINGERS clenching and CAMERA - A HAND thrusts in front of the

trial for narcotics trafficking. him to the United States to stand transport that will bring military Ramon Esperanza to the General where government authorities escorted airport in the Republic of Val Verde, Security was tight today at Escalon NEWSCASTER 2ND

chains is hustled aboard a plane.0 in handcuffs and leg 60 of MAN a stiff-backed handsome cordon as

a form SOLDIERS Khaki-clad heavily armed TROPICAL AIRFIELD.

CHANGE to a PICTURE TV TV is on and we SEE the The ROOM.

MOTEL BACK and realize we're in a PULL We OFF. TAKES A plane

TO: CUT

thru OMITTED thru

ho ••• ho - - Ho (despondent) MCCLANE

BEEPER goes off again. McClane's

and gifts. LINE of people with their armfuls of luggage long each booth a

and outside - BOOTHS PHONE line of a at SKIDS to a halt he fairly

2A MCCLANE WITH2A

grows hotter by the minute. with a story that warmer clime, a Correspondent Leonard Adkins is in 1ST NEWSCASTER(cont'd)

2 CONTINUED -02

(X)

I

9 TV 9

snatched from the nightstand. his hand is the remote control, But all he's got in GUNFIGHTER. like a WHIRLS Suddenly Stuart

now; this is the same man.

it we realize· If we haven't realized it yet, TV. we just saw on ~en PEN - the same In the pocket is a Stewart puts on the shirt.

one suit there, shirt and tie laid out like a One topcoat,.

smuggling • the·lucrative business of cocaine is accused of replacing by going into withhold-funds-funds which Esperanza neighboring countries made Congress forces violated the neutrality of But mounting evidence that Esperanza's NEWSCASTER(cont'd)

Goes to the closet. Composes himself. The man uncoils.

8 SCENE TO BACK 8 ~h

BEEPS an alarm -

7 CHRONOMETER HOER HIS7

FREEZES in an eerie pose, until Stuart The exercises finished, ,

congressional ban. ', him with weapons despite the officials were charged with supplying •• ,when high ranking Pentagonl NEWSCASTER(cont'd} l avoids reporters. - and attorneys we just.saw exits a Federal building with some JUNIOR OFFICERS

COLONEL AMERICAN The WASHINGTON STEPS. CHANGES to some PICTUREr

as well ••• • but closer to home recent election, ripples not only in his country '.st from power caused Esperanza's fall American money and advisors. campaign fought with a - insurgents its campaign against Communists General lead his country's Army in ago the controversial Only two years NEWSCASTER

(X)

peaked with the frozen pizza. As far as I'm concerned, progress MCCLANE

airphones. faxes and microwaves, Microchips, It's the nineties. wake up. John, HOLLY

Did you land? Holly! MCCLANE

I'd like to think I'm somebody. HOLLY

Somebody there beep me? - This is Lieutenant Mcclane Hello. MCCLANE

it, Holly's seat back table looks like a traveling office. -on filofax and calculator piled With the Compaq portable computer, SUNSET over the plane's wing visible through the nearby window. AirPhone at her ear and a beautiful MCCLANE is here, HOLLY

TO: CUT

CJ

thru OMITTED :1ru f.

his quarter, dials.

he drops Catching his breath, she is.as PRESENT as big with a phone booth WOMAN exiting a enormous SQUEEZES past an Mcclane

,

TO: CUT

CLOSE we As the doors beam up. Aliens ready to and their unmoving expressions making them look like heads their get into two adjoining elevators, the stark LIGHTS above The¥

PACKAGES. WRAPPED GIFT SIMILAR other, all carrying r from their adjoining rooms within seconds of each the hallway

coming into HARD men, all ten more TALL, THEM - SEE now we And

he moves down the corridor. TRUCK with him as WIDEN, We the Huer ticking away. his hand, the package in OUT, COMES on the hallway door as Stuart CLOSE

OFF - It clicks

9 CONTINUED -9

(X)

_JI_

Coming out of the phone booth and almost COLLIDING with -

15 MCCLANE15

we As Holly tries to smile politely,

week. a limped for poor thing, my little dog, I tried it on me. zap any bastard who screws with Now I (showing it) OLDER WOMAN(cont'd)

a Taser stun gun. She opens her purse and displays

- those awful mace things used to carry around I do. I Well, WOMAN OLDER

My husband doesn't think so. HOLLY

Isn't technology wonderful? WOMAN OLDER

her. WOMAN beside Holly smiles at OLDER The They both hang up.0

' Lieutenant. You're on, HOLLY

Airport motel? ) but check into the Grandma's house, and through the woods·to river the ) we don't drive over land, rou when Uh ••• how 'bout if not yet. No ••• (carefully) MCCLANE ,I borrowing her new car? any trouble about you Mom give HOLLY

the Munsters. a weekend with I like better than Nothing honey. coming a day late, you I really appreciate your parents. thanks to Just speeding on sugar, MCCLANE

okay? Kids wanted you to know. I minutes late, We're going to land about thirty HOLLY

14 CONTINUED -14

(X)

answers it. The custodian DOORBELL RINGS. The some instant soup. he eats CUSTODIAN is watching while which an elderly from the set, WIDEN

The plane doors close and it taxis down the runway. not a felon en route to prison. press like a triumphant hero - waving to the Esperanza is at the top of the steps, airport. now back to the tropical CONTINUES, TV here, the newscast On a

18 CHURCH THE INSIDE 18

which one of these guys carries. - those gift wrapped packages, and we remember trimmer hair ••• remember the trim bodies, But we

DWP wardrobe. THOMPSON) get out in official (BAKER and MEN Two CRUNCHING on the driveway here. snow tires VAN pulls up, A DWP

VIRGINIA." ROAD,· ALEXANDRIA, I<ENSINGTON 52 CHURCH, NEW OUR AT US WITH WORSHIP CENTER. CARE DAY OF PARISH SI.TE "FUTURE

suspicions: SIGN confirms our and a neat sidewalk cracked - paint,

trim needing a little run down - Now we notice that the church is

church's backyard. littl~ in the pract;cally

by, SCREAMS ROAR of a big jet WOOFER SUB - until the CharmingC

17 THE AIRPORT NEAR CHURCH - SEMI-RURAL A LITTLE17 r.

TO: CUT

) heads for the bar.

shrugs ••• trying to place him ••• Mcclane looks after him, off.

)

then he moves Now it's Stuart's turn to look at Mcclane oddly;

) it. The hell with me both, pal. You and MCCLANE J on TV. been I've ••• I •.. get that a lot. (tightly) t STUART

know you? I --do MCCLANE

- Then from each other. away Pause as they dance

me - Excuse STUART

Colonel Stuart.

16 ANGLE NEW 16 0

(X)

(~_)

(

BULLETS RIP through the end of the Christmas BLAM. BLAM BLAM

Well, you're right about that. BAKER

dying along with this church. is me part of a kinda feel I Yep. CUSTODIAN

who nods. Baker, Thompson looks questioningly at FOCUS back through the glass.

BOX on the the church's rear lawn, half covered in snow. CONDUIT CHANGE to a green FOCUS They've arrived at a rear window.

it. been right here with I and rears; Been here a lot of be the same. but it won't is gonna keep using it, know the parish I Oh, a church down. closing somehow, seem right, Don't CUSTODIAN

dance in the colored light.

Dust motes The three men walk down the main aisle of the church.

18A WIDER 18A

Help yourself. CUSTODIAN

look? a Would you mind if we take THOMPSON

Baker and Thompson glance at each other.

angry American President. about that. from an phone call a I don't know anything Gee, call that made it happen -CUSTODIAN

phone a was insiders say it

and Washington - yesterday your backyard? in box him was not reached untilwith the conduit ~roblems Any the agreement to extradite We're checking our equipment. Chief earlier this year, Sorry to bother you, sir. Commander in removed as BAKER Although Esperanza was TV) (on Yes? NEWSCASTER. CUSTODIAN

18 CONTINUED -18

(X)

,) ___ , '1 I (

In position. Team Two. drive) tney as (into radio, 0-!Rll.__LLY ---

CODE into a transceiver- NUMBER O'Reilly enters a

INTO the airport garage. BACK IT and the van ••• Quickly, the two men toss their bodies into the rear, get into .

Both painters are SHOT. BAM! BAM!

Yeah. O'REILLY

Need something? PAINTER - are there. ~LOON) {,O'REILLY and MEN Suddenly two

we finish ~ they're gonna land extra planes if0 like week Busting our asses Christmas~ PAINTER FIRST --__ , ?

and cans. pull out ladders Move around the back and start to up in a van. PAINTERS pull Two~

OFF the newscast. CLICKS Til9mpsQJ'l With an annoyed expression,

prisoner. taken its first on drugs has finallywhere the war - Verde in Val Adkins, This is Leonard ' NEWSCASTER(cont'd) I

We're here. This is team one. I THOMPSON

transmission. , QUALITY to the There's an EERIE GREEN LIGHT. a keypad and gets

CODE on the NUMBER RED light; enters a ON; getting a He turns it

takes out a very futuristic transceiver. meanwhile, Thompspn,

make a larger open area. SHOVE the pews aside to it over his shoulder and begins to sTings from his weapon, Baker rips the rest of the smoking package away

19 ANGLE NEW 19

(X)

It's damn impressive. on against the grey of the snow. LIGHTS already PLANES outside, the airport SEE We big room.

PANS the CAMERA CONTROL as the HEAR snatches of AIR TRAFFIC We

soul, brain of Dulles. The top of the Tower, it's the heart,

- EXPLODES

24 TRANSMITTER THE24

lands on target - over the fence,

arcs neatly ~rail The missile FIRE. towards the transmitter.

BURNS, the two men turn, pivot the weapon back As the cop car

23B SCENE TO BACK 23B

23A CAR POLICE THE 23A

MISSILE at the police car! LAUNCH a the two men !£!,.FIRING, and., LOAJ?ING ~ With tube around!

the-long l)U--BWIVELS then« and A quick look between them •••

23 (::; I

23 MEN THE ON

, telling us what you're doing? Mind .This is a restricted area! SHOTGUN) (cocking a POLICEMAN(cont'd)

Both OFFICERS get out. Has pulled over across the road.

22 CAR A POLICE22

you! Hey, VOICE POLICEMAN'S

installation -- when the AROUND towards

SWINGS IT it, TOP of ON SNAPS the tube lJ3+k.ia UP as TILT - it to anchor ~round KICKS spikes on the tripod into the frozen Kahn

21A CLOSER 21A

~- 6'.1.c"- ~~ ·,.:.,c-~:-- tJ\.,1~ li,..kcr'I- ~ J._f,,rl""' TRIPOD. and a DRAB TUBE OLIVE long ou~_,a_ sl~de. - the trunk OPEN they Quickly,

n:ow-parking and going to the rear of their rented station wagon. MEN are here, just CUT CLEAN two more of those - KAHN and _BURKE

NO TRESPASSING." AGENCY. FEDERAL AVIATION THE OF "PROPERTY DOME fenced in with a sign: MICROWAVE FENCE and a CYCLONE a

(X)

topcoats. neat--;-1:>orlng in there, trim young men-are MORE of those neat, TWO COCHRANE and MILLER -

TABLE. HIM to a

FOLLOWS CAMERA efficiency and chilly courage are second to none. but his MAJOR GARBER, Stuart's second-in-command; This is

the phone but one of the transceivers we saw before. but we REALIZE that while in there he wasn't using very quick,

It's BOOTH. PHONE a OPENS as he MAN a CAMERA ADJUSTS to show

News. for NightTime WNTW Copeland ••• Samantha doubt. in is still war but the may be almost won ••• This battle •••. fight against.cocaine to symbolize the enemy in America's handcuffs on the man who has come the Justice Department wait to put from --here at Dulles, the quiet men TV) (on SAM

- She is clearly somewhere inside this airport a reporter with "live" super'd over her body. COPELAND, ("SAM")

SAMANTHA SEE we BAR TV, On the on his second scotch. He's

from Mcclane at the bar, his coat on a stool beside him. WIDEN

TO: CUT

Everyone relaxes. ALARM STOPS. The a switch. Barnes hits

a check. run Switch over to our own back up and screwed up the line. have Weather may TRUDEAU

FAA approach control. We just lost BARNES

BARNES. he hovers over lighting a cigarette,

26 TRUDEAU26

RINGS. ALARM An

anyway. right ventricle, a as good as is BARNES engineer

Chief (heart bypass notwithstanding.) ~oing -and he's still

Reagan's mass firings lived through hijackings, the Olympics, Chief Air Traffic controller, he's TRUDEAU. on CAMERA SETTLES0

25 CONTINUED -25

(X}

,

Mcclane goes over to the Airport cops. Quickly,

sees them SPLIT up outside the bar. turns to watch them exit,

31 MCCLANE31

Is it a holster? jacket. his something dangles inside and as he moves, Cochrane bends to pick up his wrapped package •••

But as Both rise. who looks at his watch, signals Cochrane.

30 COCHRANE & GARBER30

Now he watches fidgety·. got wonders why they ordinary looking men towards the Airport cops,

from the two He looks His eyes narrow. This gets his attention.

the two long Christmas package at his feet under the table. foot to slide his er"IIses6 Gar Equally casually, from his ear. Cochrane_pulls the earplug ,casua11 very and also see the cops -

28 COCHRANE AND GARBER28

But- already pouring coffee for them. them, the bartender is Seeing, come into the bar. JACKETS COPS in snow-flecked two AIRPORT A beat after Miller's exit,

notice him.

who doesn't right past Mcclane, walks He HIM out. PANS CAMERA the bar. ~ille.r._leaves and then They syncronize their watches,

Mark. Three fifty one ••• (setting his watch) HQ. field at regroup We'll Carry out your assignment. (smile gone) God loves the Infantry. (sharing the smile) ' GARBER

the Northeast. from in new storm moving Coast ••• alo~iriinia Flurries all t -~,v

then GRINS. He listens intently, ~her. ,

EARPLUG. RADIO a SEE that he has we one ear and ·cochrane covers

Weather? {to Cochrane) teams are in place. All perimeter That was the Colonel: GARBER

27 - CONTINUED27

(X)

//

/ status of the security here? What's the Last minute replacement. slight problem with personnel: a Got Tapping airport phones right now. GARBER

Everything on schedule? (sotto) STUART

from the pack. Sam and the cameraman do their best to slip away Very quietly,

Better than these loxes. SAM

Old news. CAMERAMAN

Colonel Stuart. Hey. (nudging her cameraman) SAM

34 SCENE TO BACK 34

Garber joins him - as she watches,

33 POV -HER THROUGH AIRPORT MOVING STUART -33

- NOTICES Sam - But one reporter - without success. LAWYERS to talk to them - DEPARTMENT JUSTICE MARSHALS or the three UNIFORMED us trying to get the half dozen

bar. throws money near his glass and quickly exits the Mcclane turns,

Elvis. MCCLANE

Saw what? COP AIRPORT

away the car. towed asshole who The cop he's talking to is the CAMERA ADJUSTS. He STOPS.

I just saw - think I but a total wild goose chase, This may be officers. Excuse me, MCCLANE

31 CONTINUED -

(X)

- SEES and then he from one to another - discharging luggage

tracks intersect and pass each other like freeway off-ramps he stoops to go under another conveyor belt - the different Now,

CASE on a conveyor belt. but it's a big nearby, SHADOW moves a large He JUMPS as moves cautiously along.

Mcclane more bumps. machine sounds ••• Clatters and bumps, Dark.

'em. Get (scowls; then;) MCCLANE

- Airport police GUY LUGGAGE

Got a cop on duty around here? (as the guy obeys) Open this. MCCLANE

WORKER, .flashes his badge. LUGGAqE a sees He looks around, the door is shut again. too late; Mcclane runs up, gone.

then he's - ADMITTANCE" "NO GLIMPSE of him at a door marked a

38 c~ 38

quarry- TOURIST JUNKET gets between Mcclane and his where a

37 AREA LUGGAGE37

into - FOLLOWS Cochrane downwards he Quickly, SEEING Cochrane. then McClane's head panning the holiday crowd -

TO: CUT

And the interview is over and he's out the door. t and "you". "Fuck" You can have two: STUART t words with you? few Can we have a Colonel Stuart! t SAM

GLARE of a portable light. But suddenly both men are in the

- A joke Like we figured. Justice people) (nodding towards the STUART

35 CONTINUED -35

(X)

obscured by moving luggage. then moves away,

- FIRES DROPS onto a conveyor belt, The gun down on his wrist!

POLE smacks A SKI WHAP! gun ready. forward expertly, Moving

46 MILLER 46

Skis. a bicycle ••• camera cases, Suitcases, luggage going past:

Then he notices all the anything. weapon, looks around for a

he Desperate, crouches near big gears. from the belt, Drops

45 MCCLANE45

- split up. glance Seeing it, the two men exchange a CLATTERS on the floor. The gun

44 BELOW 44

from another belt and knocks his gun away! SUITCASE falling and then a He aims.back - UP at him - They FIRE OVER thegunmen. UP and CARRIES him which conveyor belt, on a

LANDS MIO AIR as he BULLET HITS in COAT takes the -McClane's PAST WHIZZ SHOTS Mcclane JUMPS aside as Dropping his·wallet,

43 SCENE TO BACK 43

somewhere. skids ••• Falls,

42 TRANSCEIVER THE42

drawing guns. DIVE to the outside, Instantly both men

some IO - Let's see Yeah? MCCLANE

airline. the work for We ••• MILLER

too impatient to wait for the skycaps? You boys a restricted area. This is MCCLANE(cont'd)

shoulder like Clint Eastwood's serape in a Spaghetti Western. is draped over his which right hidden under the long coat

- his in his left hand bad~e see Mcclane with his They turn,

41 ANGLE NEW 41

Excuse me. VOICE MCCLANE'S

one of those transceivers. The other one has

job. a man finishing a and just now dusts off his hands like One has his jacket off,0

39A AND MILLER COCHRANE39A ··

(X)

/ )

smoking- and the machinery JAMS, JERKS AND TWITCHES his body SNAPS and SCREAMS and then his neck away the guy -and three feet

but doesn't drop from its molly bolts, FREE BREAKS The conduit

53 HATCH HEADFIRST. INTO THE53

JAMMED and then Cochrane gets a thick conduit - JUMPS to

finally his grip loosens - at the last minute Mcclane - again

again, KICKS him, Mcclane them both one way or the other - kill

again - but the guy's gonna again, Cochrane - PUNCHES Mcclane

52 SCENE TO BACK 52

clearance.

l2 hatchway with virtually a The belt goes through a hatchway -

51 AHEAD UP 51

and SEES- man he fends off the other Half on the belt, half off,

50 MCCLANE50

- too damn high to get off! and they're both hanging -suddenly they're both belt and clothes}O UP and grabs McClane's LEAPS ~ochrane now guys are touqh and ; I

these but Jesus, he loses the gun, - his head ort talces nearly KICK who FIRES once more before McClane's Cochrane, towards

the momentum swings him right empty "return" belt - higher, the

BOTTOM of LEAPS like Tarzan to the Mcclane Cochrane is there!

49 ANGLE NEW 49

the can in McClane's hand!

EXPLODES A BULLET BLAM! but then - blinded - HOWLS, Miller

HAIRSPRAY right in the guy's eyes! view with fucking tnto rolls and then Mcclane - as his hand gropes for the pistol Miller

FOLLOWS CAMERA - gets in a powerful punch, gets free Miller

Miller starts pressing the ski pole Fighting hand to hand.

48 AND~ MCCIANE48

- it's hard. all the echoes

but with - he tries to pinpoint the location SHOT, ----Hearing the

47 COCHRANE47

OVER onto the new belt. ROLL punches Miller - gets HIT hard himself -both Mcclane steps in,

46 ' CONTINUED -46

(X)

(

(X) Holly's working away on her laptop computer when:

Cleveland? MCCLANE

around the huge room and its clanking conveyor belts.

He looks remembers. Mcclane .starts to reach into his jacket -

Where's your I.D.? Yeah? (unimpressed)

(X) POLICEMAN 2ND AIRPORT

·ex) was the bad guy!

I'm a cop -that asshole. Brilliant, fsighing) MCCLANE

(X) ~CAPES. (you guessed it): And in that instant

FREEZE!

(X) POLICEMAN 2ND AIRPORT

face gun in his a finds Mcclane gets to his feet first and OVER, As the bicycle FLIPS

59 FLOOR THE ON 59

(X) takes Miller down. like the Lone Ranger,

Mcclane dives out of the saddle with John Mcclane on the back. -

58 A BICYCLE58

OF - CHING CHING him turn -it's the makes

SOUND CHING CHING suddenly a gonna make it -he's gonna make it -

freight ••• starts to smile - there's a door just ahead - he's He races down a long aisle past cartons of starts to run. he sees their approach, rubbing his eyes, panting for breath,

57 ~~ .. ,57

COPS run in - AIRPORT two luggage guy, ~the led

DOWN- IT RIDES BENDS-TOPPLES- he CREAKS, conduit pipe

20 foot tall REACTS as the and then - SPLATTERS WINCES as blood

55 MCCLANE55

__j

Stewardess! THORNBERG

CHANGE. FOCUS HOLLY. SEES and then he Thornberg simmers -

62 ANGLE NEW 62

so park it, pall And I've got yours -

(X) seat) (pushing him in

Connie? was it, "Bimbos of the Sky", It wasn't nearly.as edifying as STEWARDESS 2ND

a very objective look at air safety. was Your episode "Flying Junkyards" program. ¥our We've all seen Yes. STEWARDESS d am? Do :you know who I THORNBERG

? - If you'll just sit down - I can't do that now I'm sorry, sir, STEWARDESS

this swill? paid for instead of MealmyNetwork the hell can't I get the First Class But why accept it. I Done, Fine. THORNBERG

friendly hands. fending off the Stewardess'

and here waving. his ticket 20 months ago, from Her nemesis

REACTS as she sees - and then Holly looks up idlely -

- we were overbooked that you were told when you boarded - Sir, VOICE STEWARDESS'

in this cattle car - me back here was shove did you - all not explain anything d~d you no, - VOICE THORNBERG'$ 60 0

60 CONTINUED -

..J

_.,/ \ I I

CROWD milling about the luggage area. he notes the As he pockets it, One of the cops hands Mcclane his wallet.

64 MCCLANE64

- Sam NOTICES ROLL,

CAMERAS POP and FLASHBULBS As dropped right into their laps.

now drooling over this new story and the MEDIA, off with it ••• WIDEN and see Airport police and coroner's people about to make

We The body is set on a gurney. shoulders mercifully brief.

our view of the mangled head and body bag, a ZIPPED into as it is

63 BODY GUNMAN'S THE63

TO: CUT

Would you like some champagne? (pause) STEWARDESS

knocked out two of his teeth. I HOLLY

do? What'd you I sotto)7 (kneelinq, \,,-✓ STEWARDESS .....-...2. ' reputation - my me and besmirched has assaulted ' woman - this sue you and this airline could I violating a court order - And by seating me here you're o Stewardess) ( - £ards Fifty t THORNBERG I within fifty feet of him - I'm not allowed order against me. i a restraining He means he has filed HOLLY I fascination with her.

growing and the Stewardess' ADJUSTS to feature Holly - CAMERAJ

t Excuse me? STEWARDESS

You cannot put me near that woman. THORNBERG

- my monopolize you cannot Mister Thornberg - STEWARDESS

62 - CONTINUED

CLICK. Miller's temple. the pistol is at In a blur of motion, Stuart is on his feet,

But the penalty could be severe. PISTOL) (drawing a Then the damage is minor. STUART

But - Yessir. MILLER

Did you finish your assignment? STUART

away. barely got I He killed Cochrane; a policeman. We ran into trouble; MILLER

You're late. STUART

the table top.

shoulder to }:!i~'s from SNOW that falls away w.ip.es nonplussed;

He looks up, of the airport. over.MAPS Stuart's poring

66 INSIDE 66

(£r'/efJ\f<1.1-~- 6"0 Qj'S\JG,~ him. at to5'Jc' with pickaxes and hardly y~r~. DIGGING in the are ~IDU5! and KAHN

him in. Baker waves Mcclane.

from the man who escaped It's~- behind the church.

snowy expanse from the running up FIGURE appears, a as eense

REACTS, He ASSAULT RIFLE. BAKER guards the rear door with an

TO: CUT

too. the Captain, Take!!!.! up to Up to the Captain? MCCLANE

That's up to the Captain. COP 2ND AIRPORT

this area? Aren't you going to seal off scene. a crime This is wait a second. Whoa, MCCLANE

64 CONTINUED -

(X)

Charlie Chan? for all the airplanes while we play And what do we do with all the luggage LORENZO

it- shoot dust it, . forensics team in, you need to seal it off, get a - from a crime scene away Just walked Your boys the professional? ~ust How about Forget the courtesy. Okay. MCCLANE

gotta be kidding. You In an airport Christmas week? LORENZO

courtesy. Just a little professional No. MCCLANE

or something down here?

(X) get you a free lunch ionna badge is : (X) LA think that You know. I Yeah,

Captain Lorenzo. LORENZO

Lorenzo? MCCLANE

(X) Mcclane? (X) FAX) (a glance at a (X) - You

POLICE. AIRPORT OF CAPTAIN LORENZO, CARMINE Mcclane comes in, first double taking the name on the door:

67 POLICE OFFICE--DAY AIRPORT INT.67

Dismissed. chamber. empty and it won't be an again me Fail SHUDDERS) (as Miller STUART(cont'd)

66 66 0

- CONTINUED

j

the doorway. COPS appear in Immediately two burly AIRPORT •. BUZZER He hits a

commendation.

(X) fucking a Captain in L.A.

I'll send your fucking fine. lowlife,

(X) Now you capped some that runs it. (X) and I'm the big fish little pond,

time you're in my This make it so. were hot shit don't fOU TV thought the Just 'cause Nakatomi thing in LA. know who you are, that I Yeah,

(X) FAX) waving the

(on McClane's look, · own press. Mcclane, don't start believing your (sharp) LORENZO

(X) yeah - nine, (X) If it's more than a dollar eighty

you earn in a month. and it costs more than machines ••• doesn't show up on airport x-ray It from Germany. A porcelain gun Know what that is? Seven on me. "punk" pulled a Glock That Luggage? MCCLANE

stealing luggage - away some punk investigation to file Because I don't need a forensics LORENZO

Why don't you try it and find out? MCCLANE

them that? I tell say upstairs when fucking airport? Whaddya think they'll we shut down the whole why don't Hell, ?11 "somewhere luggage in some other them and their so we store airplanes, on want to put their luggage come and they more thousand people few And meanwhile every hour a Oh. LORENZO

them somewhere - store You MCCLANE

67 CONTINUED - 67

__J __

) CONTINUED (

guy's right hand. yanked out the Before they can react, he's UNZIPPED the bag,

Gotta check something. nisbadge) quickly showing (~ guys. Whoa, MCCLANE

Mcclane catches up to the morgue guys as they reach their wagon.

70 GARAGE PARKING70

Hey! (too late) GIRL

stamp pad. gently takes typing paper and a He reaches over,

Excuse me. MCCLANE

romance novel- the girl here lost in a

69 DESX CAR A RENT A 69

TO: CUT

getting an idea.

thinking ••• watches them, Mcclane moves aside, on their gurney. BODY the PASSAGE of the morgue guys, CLATTER announces the Then a

wall. away Mcclane punches the when the guy turns - a smile -fakes looks back at one of the stocky Airport cops the corridor - He walks down steaming. comes out of Lorenzo's office, Mcclane

your ass? shit in your brains,·or the lead in The off the metal detectors first: Which sets Carmine: one question, (turning at the door) MCCLANE

bouncers. Mcclane moves towards the door, his hands waving off the would be

airport! my have you thrown out of before I my office Now get the hell out of LORENZO

67 (2) CONTINUED -

positions on. complete with radar screens and a big glass board to mark tower, it looks very much like a mini-version of an airport control

In fact, SEE that the church is full of ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT: Now we showing the exact same time. from Stuart's Huer, WIDEN

73 CHURCH VIRGINIA INT.73

(X) PUSH IN on it. We wrist. (X) and casually examines the military chronometer on his handcuffed (X) puffs on a cigar ••• CORPORAL guarding him, he smiles at the roung (X) Looking astonishingly carefree, By now we are on Esperanza.

Tres horas y media. (checking watch) CO-PILOT

cuanto tiempo? Unidos. Estados las Estamos segur hasta Es bueno: el peligro es pasado. PILOT

Ay, Alleva nos escorto. CO-PILOT

from the cockpit back through the rest of the plane. MOVES CAMERA,_./ ~ (

AWAY. PEELS and WINGS ITS WAGS fighter

Now, the few wingtips away. ESCORT a FIGHTER its along, cruising

puzzled. And he's gone as they look after him,

Thanks. Yup, he's dead, all right. MCCLANE

he's released remains straight up.)

(The hand checks them. against the paper, fin~ers He presses the

What're you doing? WORKER MORGUE

70 CONTINUED -

they? don't policemen son-in-laws, They love their the in-laws. Ah, POWELL

DC with the in-laws. I'm alone in last minute meeting. a Holly stood me up for Vacation? MCCLANE

vacaction treating you? How's the how you doing? .John, (laughing) POWELL

of your mouth and grab a pencil. Get that twinkf out partner. Hey, MCCLANE

- Powell Sgt. Records. phone) answering (swallowing, POWELL

and Twinkies have move up along with him. world - POWELL has moved up in the AL The office he's in shows us that

phone. Before she can answer, he's over the counter and reaching for her

a minute? office for borrow your I can honey - Excuse me, MCCLANE

CABLES. now open conduit box and underground to the CONNECTIONS s·omeone is making TOOLS; WELDING SPARKLE of the SEE the yard behind the church and we CLAMPS it in place he As

PRERIGGED TRIPOD WAITS for the dish. where a BELFRY he's in the

UP, until UP, UP, CLIMBS into the STEEPLE ••• UP as the man CRANE

WIRE behind him. CRONY unrolling a room, the DISH as he crosses RADAR MAN with a Pizza sized a CAMERA follows

73 - CONTINUED

(X)

_J

-on the top edge of your transmission. (authoratively) MCCLANE

he just got - transmission the -on the top edge of GIRL

FAX number is uh - The MCCLANE

bankrupt. insurance companies start to go You get those feelings Ouch. POWELL

Just a feeling. know. don't I MCCLANE

What's this about? Will do. (watching it) POWELL

got it. throw in Interpol if you - me for you run that through State and Federal can ca.se the ·transmission's fuzzy. marked the whorls with a pen in I From a stiff down here at Dulles. MCCLANE

Fingerprints? (as it arrives) POWELL

Powell's office. FAX starts to leave Mcclane - voila, it's already arriving at The

This way. (ah) way? This to girl) (aside ~regnant. of them figure it's time to get one I 'em, company makes my wife's well Yeah, MCCLANE

This is a first. 550-3212. POWELL

er in the station there? nu FAX Al, what's our Listen, Rifmt· MCCLANE

76 - CONTINUED 76 ·b

(X)

me? What can you tell MCCLANE

dossier is coming through right now. Your stiff's Right here, partner. POWELL

Al? MCCLANE

Mcclane beats her to it. :up. telephone light FAX machine and the Both the RRING. smoking. Mcclane paces,

Another. Yes. HOLLY

Holly holds out her glass. COMPLAINTS. GROANS.

for a little while longer ••• We may be up here in ahead of us. that a .new weather front is moving. informed by Dulles traffic control Ladies and Gentlemen, I've just been PA) (over VOICE CAPTAIN'S

fifteen more minutes. to look at his face for have only I (indicating Thornberg) I don't think so. HOLLY

Need another? STEWARDESS

takes her glass. The nice stewardess comes over to Holly,

77 PLANE HOLLY'S INT.77

Break out the chlorine. (grinning) MCCLANE

are you? in somebody's little pool, You're not pissing huh? Airport, POWELL 76 b

76 (2) CONTINUED -

(X)

Depends who you are. MCCLANE

right? You're John Mcclane, LA? Nakatomi? The Ghost of Christmas Past. SAM

trying to keep up with him. Sam Coleman is trotting down the linoleum next to the walkway,

HEELS makes him turn. CLICK of Suddenly the deep in thought - gets on an walkway. Mcclane comes out,

80 AREA RENT A CAR EXT.80

FAX. Just the ma'am. FAX, Just the (showing his wedding ring} MCCLANE

could ••• maybe we close in an hour ••• I Say, GIRL

The girl gives him the eye. He hangs up.

owe you. I Al. a lot, Thanks see it. I Yeah, MCCLANE

black bag stuff. a lot of record and it looks like of his military lines Read between the ~age) (reading the in helicopter accident 5/11/88. American advisor in Honduras, killed Oswald Cochrane. S/Sgt. Yup. POWELL

What? MCCLANE

2 years. been dead for Department of Defense, he's to the According you don't follow me. No, POWELL

a computer for that? You needed MCCLANE

He's dead. POWELL

79 CONTINUED -

(X)

Who the hell is this? TRUDEAU

they turn to see Mcclane step out of the elevator. Surprised,

82 ANGLE NEW 82

training at Fort Bragg. Yeah ••• if your gangs get their VOICE MCCLANE'S

gangs? was it, What guess. I Couldn't be helped, TRUDEAU

bloodstains and all ••• they got it right on the fucking news, so all over the Esperanza story ••• crawling -well, the press was here, LORENZO

- Lorenzo has joined the regulars here to cover his ass

b breath. - I' and out of puzzled ••• leaving Sam pissed, into the crowd, And he's at the end of the walkway and he quickly disappears

do needlepoint. I Nah. MCCLANE

handiwork. Word is that was your the stiff. saw I some slack. me you can't cut Doesn't mean like Walter Chronkite. The guy makes Geraldo look Okay. SAM

and laughing all the way to the bank. Gum Surgeons interviewing Transsexual on the Network Now he's Yeah. MCCLANE

80 CONTINUED -

(X)

~ We're hot!

flips up his face shield.acetylin7:::::7, Burke turns off his

from Mcclane. Long look

we've got backup - But One way we manage the planes. TRUDEAU

What's that? MCCLANE

FAA approach control- We did lose BARNES

shooting? Anything weird going on besides the look) his (on and fix the deck tonight? tr¥ Anybody MCCLANE

on the ground. card monte with the planes 3 playing 'cause the other hand's it one handed only we do those planes up there, doing with we're That's what saws? chain juggling knives and on TV, 9UfS Ever see those newspapers. only it doesn't make the night, Something serious happens every Hey. TRUDEAU

to happen here tonight - I think something serious is going MCCLANE

Lieutenant Mcclane? (reading badge) What's your problem- cholesterol test. my last said about I That's what TRUDEAU

Lorenzo-don't mean shit- Mr. L.A., LORENZO

Trudeau- Mr. I'm a police officer, Lorenzo) (pushing past MCCIANE

82 - CONTINUED

(X)

What is it? TRUDEAU

Everyone turns at the chill in Barne's voice.

God ••• my Oh, BARNES

got it. I but obeying) (annoyed, LORENZO

You got that? trivial. no matter how of the ordinary - want them to report anything out I TRUDEAU

- You're buying into this What? LORENZO

now. Commanders.report in ••• Have all your shift Lorenzo. (after a moment) TRUDEAU

want to look for answers? lot of questions! · Doesn't anyone a'- one body and dealer on the way, You've got the world's biggest drug Damned straight the human element. MCCLANE

element •• ? human The bit dryly) (a TRUDEAU

weather - not Not accidents, anticipated? What about something nobody can go wrong. think for everything you back-up - back-u~ ~ot You Okay. MCCLANE

by. Sta~d 5 minutes to zero hour. STUART

it up. Light (to Garber) STUART

84 CHURCH VIRGINIA INT.

(X)

to you-? . I'm in approach - -what the hell happened 23 Dulles, what's going on?

TWA Dulles Tower, this is (panicked) VOICE 2ND PILOT'S VOICE PILOT'S

CHATTER - BOXES are beginning to SPEAKER Already the

we're hot! We're on the same Goddamn grid and TRUDEAU

••• ? company Maybe we should call the power LORENZO

boss - ain't software, This TECHNICIAN

Shunt to another terminal! TRUDEAU

Back up systems won't come up-! TECHNICIAN

GOING OUT. KEEP LIGHTS the

watch as TURN, 180 FOLLOWING in a CAMERA the around the tower, MOVE Trudeau and the others meanwhile, action ••• in~o People leap0

Yellow!

(X) Code Controllers, Emergencies!

DARK. runways go and more and more -

88 CAB THE 88

- SWITCHES TECH throws more and more As Stuart's

Jesus ••• MCCLANE

OUT. GOING ARE LIGHTS RUNWAY

THE ALL slowly, impact wasn't so frightening ••• be pretty if the

and with a pattern of sorts that would without any fuss, Slowly,

(X) Everyone turns. the window. - to point out and fails But Barnes doesn't reply ••• just tries -

85 CONTINUED -85 b

expecting? what you were This Mcclane. (turnin9) them. beep no, better, Page the terminal - technician here in five minutes. want every off duty controller and I man-Y--- (to another Move. and rack 'em. 'em, pack Stack 'em, the outer marker. holds at pattern already inside our Everyone yet gets turned away·now. our Vortacs that's not in our pattern every plane approaching on the horn - Get your controllers Strauss. Jacoby, commanding) (quick, TRUDEAU

Goddamn system is dead! every - ILS is dead Confirmed! BARNES

down! is Instrument landing system Jesus! 2ND ENGINEER

- LIGHT DIES The SPARKS. BLADE swoops down - -AXE

BLOCK sacrifice on a a CABLE stretched like FIBER OPTIC GLOWING

It's gone! Approach control backup! (panicked) ENGINEER

ENGINEER - PAN to an WHIP

90 CAB THE 90

SPARKING - CUT, from the ground gets A CABLE yanked

89 CHURCH THE VIRGINIA IN89

ANOTHER ALARM. REACT to God help us, all And now,

happening. It ain't Checked all systems. (coming over) BARNES

Stand by for instructions ..•holding altitude.

23. You're not in approach,Return to u~. 604, pull

CONTROLLER 2ND CONTROLLER

88 CONTINUED -88

(X)

·- i;;.:.......:.

CONTINUED \.

Mcclane as much as anyone. REACT - All·(

important. Y,!ll want is what I fuel ••• when they run out of like flies planes overhead to start dropping want ••• well, if you don't want those What I am is unimportant. Who I STUART

is this? Who did you get on this line? How. TRUDEAU

you want. all you can play me back later be quick - so I'll hours around the clock, 24 go know your recorders I attention. I think by now I've got your (dryly) STUART

from the earth -

Dulles Tower - Attention, Dulles Tower. Attention, VOICE STUART'S

Put it on speaker. then;) (a look at Mcclane, TRUDEAU

Maybe ••• it's them. (to Trudeau) Maybe they .don't. MCCLANE

How could they know already-? LORENZO

FAA hotline-! (hOJ?eful) BARNES

PHONE. RED a prominent It's CAMERA ADJUSTS. A PHONE RINGS.

just the beginning. This is This ain't it, pal. This? MCCLANE

92 CONTINUED -92

(X)

light a fire under your ass. to light a fire under your ass to Guess you have Carmine. About time, MCCLANE

apart - tear this airport men my - I'll have They gotta be close Goddamn system! They're talking to us on our own LORENZO

no extradition treaties. plane and take him anywhere there's Meaning they pull Esperanza off his MCCLANE

- hell the whole Goddamn world.· Asia could go to Australia, Africa, tanks and it win~ add the weight, Take out the seats and save some got here. we've capacity of anything A 747 has the furthest flight BARNES

What's all that about? MCCLANE

to Barnes. Mcclane leans over As Trudeau tries to make headway with Stuart,

95 MCCLANE FAVORING95

cargo conversion fully fueled. 747 want a I same time, At the it. and your responsibility for ~lane my interest in that will conclude That where it will not be molested. my designation runway of land on a It will will not be met by anyone. This plane a change of plans. will be But now there Justice ·department. from the U.S. by a continigent This plane is scheduled to be met STUART

- Trudeau nods

Esperanza? MCCLANE

Foreign Military 1. FM 1 - It is Airport in 58 minutes. this is going to be landing at ~lane A STUART(cont'd) ) \

94 CONTINUED -94 h

(X)

no way - no, Oh, LORENZO

the - flying around there's a lot of rumors Trudeau, Mr. WNTW news. Sam Coleman, (to Trudeau) SAM

holding up her ID. comes out of the elevator, Sam

guys - these with You can't fuck pros? with Trudeau, can't you see you're dealing (as he's muscled in) MCCLANE

them yet. inside_, but we don't feature Someone's It opens.

96 ELEVATOR THE AT96

Mcclane out. See Mr. (to guards) TRUDEAU

tower? unauthori.zed personnel in the control FAA regulations regarding about have to remind you Do I Trudeau. Mr. LORENZO

unsure - REACTS,

As Trudeau And already two big Airport cops are trotting over.

You're out of here! (back to Mcclane) Security! shouting) {turning, LORENZO

right now! shit knee deep in we wouldn't be mafbe told you to, if you got off your fat ass when I And you putz! on the fucking field, me a player That makes fucking with! of those planes these bastards are My wife's on one Monday morning? moving in) (pissed, MCCLANE

need any Monday morning quarterbacks. and we don't SWAT team and all, here, I got a first class unit Mcclane, LORENZO ()

95 CONTINUED -95

(X)

- few words-? -Just a Mcclane come on, A connection? boat. and you rocking the and hauling ass, in the coffee shop getting beeped Every controller Gunfight in airport. Big drug dealer on the way to prison. SAM

Shit! MCCLANE

But it's on override. Mcclane punches buttons.

fuck with what guys? Can't Anything who can think of? SAM

97 ELEVATOR THE IN97

comrade, hustles to obey. the guard signals a Rattled,

Christmas stocking! you're gonna have a pink slip in your Get them out and post a guard or and get over to the elevator. ass Get your thumb out of your tower! fucking t~e unauthorized personnel in with two And Lorenzo here, LORENZO

· _ - on here ins Toml RADIO)- into ( COP LOBBY

come in. Lobby Security, LORENZO

talkie. walkie SPEAKS into his then on the control panel, KEY now Lorenzo turns a CLOSE on him and DOORS But the elevator

too! 1o, think you can think of, they'llAn~thin MCCLANE

Together with Mcclane she's shoved into the elevator.

that! you know Coleman, This is off limits, TRUDEAU

96 CONTINUED -

(X)

-~~--- _ ________...,...,,.,,..

( (MORE) done? Twenty airlines when it's building? The new terminal wing they're (pointing outside) We have one. BARNES

Radio Shack and get a transmitter- Somebody run down to Yeah, right. (sarcastic) 1ST ENGINEER

(X) to transmit - way a f.ind

guys, all we have to do is --guys, BARNES

but confidence- nothi~g hesitant voice cuts through with some how one reedy some of it breaking through - BRAINSTORMING, Lots of AD-LIB from a big map of the airport. UP TILT

TO: CUT

guess. I Claustrophobic, SAM

shrugs. Salt\

(X) open ceiling. REACT to the GUARDS there The The door opens.

98 ANGLE NEW 98

(X) disappears through the roof!

KICKS out the ceiling hatch and move gymnast's a now in and jumped up and grabbed the light fixture, But Mcclane has already

Who he who? Huh? SAM

- that's who he was- Congress The guy who got canned by Stuart! (realizing) MCCIANE

zapped by a Taser. STOPS as if Mcclane

Stuart, thanks-! from Colonel already got that I SAM

"you"? How about "fuck" and panel) (opening the control MCCIANE

97 - CONTINUED97

-----~-·-__J

{ r I!!! doing this. STUART

you can't do this-! Damn it, (to Stuart) TRUDEAU

so sure. ain't Trudeau Lorenzo leaves.

He's bluffing - LORENZO

stage WHISPERS - Lorenzo pauses - At the elevator,

severe penalties. by to restore your systems will be met Any attempt be able .to receive only. After that you will radio marker. inbound pattern over your outside minutes to stack the planes in your more have two You Tower. Attention, VOICE STUART'S

Then - He says it like he thought of it himself.

too. think of, they can Whatever we can think of - tough) (firm, as cover. my Swat team to go with him want I (heading for the elevator) LORENZO

kill. Borrow, steal, Get what you need. TRUDEAU

difference. The planes wouldn't even know the wire in a crossover and we're hot. 30 minutes ••• our frequency in - r.ig could I to reach are right overhead. The planes we want Doesn't matter; BARNES

VHF - it'll scatter - That's ENGINEER 2ND

waiting to go on line - offices- it's just sitting there array so they can talk to their home all tied into a nice big antenna All with their reservation computers, (Cont'd) BARNES

99 CONTINUED -99

(X)

Pause. I. \

CAMERA. from the AWAY move They they search the basement.

We SEE the two lobby guards as LENS. THE PANS BEAM FLASHLIGHT

A a place only 25 years old. Pretty dark and creepy for

102 BASEMENT DULLES INT. 102

concern. REACTING with frustration and PEOPLE CAMERA ADJUSTS to show

DELAYED. DATA changes to FLIGHT PATTERN, all the remaining domino like in a but now, DELAYED by weather: planes are

of the ~arter Already a of ARRIVAL MONITORS. ba•nk ON a ANGLE

Change the boards. Okay. TRUDEAU

face ashen. He turns to a tech,

God bless. (pause) Good luck ••• emergency basis. fuel landings on a back on line we'll expedite your as soon as we're As - instructions. as directed and wait for further continue holding at the outer marker We want you to another minute. down and we expect to lose voice in NAV and Approach systems are Our TRUDEAU(cont'd)

listen to: each CREWS in CONCERNED As

Severe technical problems here. (pause) We are experiencing ••• aircraft holding at Potomic Vortac. This is Dulles approach to all TRUDEAU

from the ear/phone he wears and jacks it into a panel. and then takes the jack Trudeau waits as switches are thrown,

me on all bands ••• Put to Barnes) (pause: TRUDEAU

99 (2) CONTINUED -

(X)

I \

CONTINUED ,. (

s.1 45 new fangled switching like everybody else to these me Won't find like those old 78's. I Me, you know. They're valuble, MARVIN(cont'd)

possessively. He moves to them,

all. my records, that's tryin' to steal Thought you was I'm Marvin. Marvin, (MARVIN) MAN

NAMETAG on his coveralls. the man points to the In response,

Who the fuck are you? MCCLANE

for trouble. now raises his hands to show he ain't looking in his 60's who

MAN It's a wizened would be attacker is pinned against a wall. and his WHIRLS he in a flash, McClane's instincts take over;

105 ANGLE NEW 105

A HAND reaches for McClane's shoulder.

curiously. WIDEN as he looks at it HAND picks it up and we McClane's on the old machine. SPINNING 78 a SOURCE of the music, The

104 ON A PHONOGRAPH104

plumbling valve on the wall.

purple big a tiny kitchen precariously propped up on a and PIN UPS, ta~ed) (but lovingly scotch some S0's vintage covers,

a cot made up with faded but neat 3-legged card table, a chairs, space with some battered groundhog in his ancestry, is a with a

my somebody in an area reached only Here, Or something like it:

103 APARTMENT •• AN •103

And arrives in - Moves towards it.

MUSIC. REACTS to and then He moves through the cavernous maze,

happen to me? why does this always basement ••• another fucking fucking elevator ••• another believe this ••• don~t I to himself) (sotto, · MCCLANE

from his little escape. little greasy and dirty

now a clothes CAMERA, APPEARS in the gloom close to Mcclane

102 CONTINUED -102

(X)

What do you say? tower. this panel,·let me eavesdrop on the provided you patch me into soul ••• I won't tell a set up of yours? This I gotta find out. upstairs. may be in some trouble wife My MCCLANE

Six times. MARVIN

You married? a married one. And Marvin. I'm a veteran myself, MCCLANE

Examines it as he speaks. Mcclane moves over to a big panel with telephone lines and jacks.

if you tell. fired -I could get bucks few a I'm just tryinc, to.save be eatin' sushi today. you kids' If it wasn't for guys like me, 2? WW I'm a vet, You know, pension. my even with can barely get by, I c-come on, officer, L-Lorenzo? MARVIN

out? don't go home after you punch Carmine Lorenzo know vou yesterday. I wasn't born Marvin. Come on, MCCLANE

shows his badge. Mcclane

was li.ving here? w-who said I MARVIN

to be living here. Just like you're not supposed Yeah. (looking around) MCCLANE

to be down here. you're not supposed know, You talk. my job and screw the fancy Just do fangled custodial engineer crap. new of this an¥ need Don't of it. and proud Janitor, Damn straight. MARVIN

the janitor? You're what, MCCLANE

peers at him. Mcclane reacts to that,

105 CONTINUED -

(X)

complexes. connecting the two WALKWAY Marvin points to an ELEVATED

- connects to the new terminal must be this ••• yeah, Lemme see ••• MARVIN(cont'd)

smoothes it out. a big wrinkled MAP, finds rummages around, He

pissant World's Fair ••• sounds like the ? Annex skywalk ••• MARVIN

cute ••• where's this annex skywalk? They're gonna try something Christ. (aside to Marvin) MCCLANE

that antenna array. Barnes has five minutes to check out And we don't want any disasters. VOICE TRUDEAU'S

we don't have any panic. C terminal ••• that way nobody sees them, new Through the annex skywalk to the( VOICE LORENZO'S

no ••• yes! No ••• · Mcclane shakes his head. another.

then WIDEN as Marvin connects them to one set of bolts, We

long way around ••• flipping out so they'll take him the and Christmas tourists seeing guns we don't need the Goddamn Barnes now - SWAT team over for I'm sending the (into phone) LORENZO

- Lorenzo's signal leave the office at OFFICERS check gear, SWAT FIVE in. There hasn't been this much activity here since Gorbachov dropped

lawyer? cop or a You a MARVIN

105 (2) CONTINUED -

(X)

(MORE) shebang. Whole cooling. Heating, terminals. These are air ducts for all the (pointing to the map) once and for all. put those little twerps in their place But we I got wounded. That's where Like the Japs had all over Iwo Jima. · (nodding) MARVIN

Tunnels. MCCLANE

out ••• this check Now, (pointinc,) skywalk. the And here's Here's you. see? Now, MARVIN

multi-color jotes and notes. cribbed by Marvin and now festooned with his various netherworld, PLANS of the entire Dulles see it is an architect's WIDEN, We FLATTENED against the card table. PAPERS is CRINKLED A MOUND of

109 BASEMENT109 I

-Barnes. all of it useless, all of the operators watching their only hope

- MAP DULLES AN L.E.D. C)

- MAPS WEATHER COMPUTERIZED B)

- COMPUTERS OF BANKS A)

FOLLOWS the four men past - CAMERA SWAT COPS.

FIVE EXITS with the as he curious, His fellow engineers watch,

throws things into a metal case. nervous, Barnes,

ambush ••• a perfect place for an this ••• it's the airport is smart enough to figure Anybody smart enough to shut down fucking bottleneck. Shit, it's a (looking at map) MCCLANE

107 CONTINUED -

(X)

,....

at -

WINDOWS here OUT the Barnes looks Barnes and the cops come in.

OTHERS on the floor still hammering and fiddling. THREE and on the scaffold WORKER A OPEN: PARTIALLY FINISHED, ceilings

HALF MURAL high on the wall here A big "history of flight"

tasteless. but I ain't may be homeless, I Hey, (on McClane's look) How 'bout a case of Johnny Walker? MARVIN

a sixpack of malt liquor? How about Marvin. owe you one, I MCCLANE(cont'd)

takes Marvin's map. He turns, he sees. He aims Marvin's flashlight down there, isn't enchanted with what

Summer down here. Winter up there ••• MARVIN

Whoa. MCCLANE

we realize it's hot air. breaks out on his forehead, as _perspiration and, BLAST of AIR hits him - a WINCES as McCla.ne

SLAM. falls with a sheet-metal it bolt,

Last Marvin unhinges the access door. With a cordless drill,

110 ACCESS DUCT BASEMENT -- INT.110

you gotta be an acrobat. first And that's the easy part; a pisser of a crawl. It's Uh-uh. (amused) MARVIN

jog. Easy maybe a mile. Looks like ••• MCCLANE

there. and you come out where they start, put you in the boiler room I So (Cont'd) . MARVIN \·-,.-'

109 CONTINUED -109 n

(X)

forward. runs The cop No reaction.

Put that back on! Hey! COP AIRPORT

again. hi~hem the worker turns

Oblivious, TUMBLING. it almost -th~n JERKS to a halt

117 SLIDEWALK THE 117

SWITCH. CONTROL PANEL-hits a open slidewalk reaches into the

116 SLIDEWALK OF END FAR AT A WORKER -116

they run even while on it. impatient, SWAT cops run forward, get on the SLIDEWALK; Barnes and the

pushes on. Mcclane checks his map, With a scowl,

CLAPPING behind him. HEARS Marvin As he pulls himself up he

JUMPS to safety. to the far end,

runs arr-but he starts to lose his balance and - confident midway

a bit too moment at first but he gets quickly confident - There's a scary a breath, starts across the beam. Mcclane takes

114B SCENE TO BACK 114B

a narrow beam.

on The only way across is huge boiler room. the ABOVE HIGH He's

114A DOWNWARD POV MCCLANE'S114A

who GRINS. Looks up at Marvin, stops immediately. - Mcclane moves forward

a protocol test. as it's hot for soon you as I'll call see the dish! can I We're in the annex skywalk. (into his cellular phone) BARNES

113 SCENE TO BACK 113

TAPE. FACTORY PLASTIC and still covered with

112 GALLERY OF END FAR - GLASS THROUGH - ARRAY SATELLITE112 ()

(X)

JUM~FIRING! Mcclane the guy sprawling.

sending OUT, KICKS by~~head GRATE VENTILATION Suddenly a

123 WIDE 123

ht above him - He looks up. FOOTSTEPS approach him. 's all alone. suddenl~-= Barnes

Sudden SILENCE.

DOWN. CUT SWAT cop breaks cover and gets The last himself. KILLED and then he's who took out his friend, (Spockley)

His partner KILLS the gunman a third airport cop DIES.

122 GALLERY ANNEX THE 122

- STEAM a wall of -LUNGES through He gets his bearings HEARS the gunfire - it's close! And then he

· sweat-stained. alr~ady Underneath, his shirt is

he tosses off his sweater into the darkness. TUNNELS, in the

121 MCCLANE 121

rescues it! deep breath -b

a He takes BULLETS hit near his metal case. .four soldiers. the with FIRE EXCHANGE dumpster while the three remaining cops

CRINGES behind a he - GLASS flfing arm by CUT badly on the is

120 BARNES 120

COP KILLED on the move. take cover-another & over the railing

JUMP they PING off its walls, RAKE the slidewalk and As bullets

119 COPS OTHER AND BARNES 119

- Stuart's soldiers all. MULKEY &!{OCKLEY and SHELDON, SEE that they are now we and "workers" turn, The other three

118 WIDER 118

SHOOTS him. He

du~ A sitting 0' Rf;.I-1:itY /,,,--

ha~~ He real painters. who killed the of the ones ~one It's TURNS. The man

to you? l'ook like I What do ASSHOLE! HEY! COP(cont'd) SWAT

117 CONTINUED -117 ()

(X)

) (

he rolls over and SEES towards the far end of the slidewalk - - his gun SKITTERS across the linoleum SWEEPING him off his feet from the top of the scaffold the plywood boards HARD, lands,

131 MCCLANE 131

witn"'It! down

coming grid towards him, paint and glue and half the mural's tile

SIDEWAYS as the rest of the scaffoldinc, falls DIVES RUNS and He

130 MO SLO WIDER - 130

- fuck Oh, MCCLANE

then moment of satisfaction - has a

129 MCCLANE 129

CRUNCH beside Barnes- LANDS with a SCREAMING - FALLS, He WAY. SCAFFOLDING beneath him GIVES but then the half of the - AIMS

128 ~_1PON 6128

----~~) .. - linebackers in combat - SMACK of his body into them sounding like the another,

one after SMASHES into the cross bars he passes, deliberately

127 MCCLANE 127

(X) UNDER. DOWN and tries to SHOOT ~

126 ABOVE UP 126

(X) -- meanwhile - from ground level hi~ tries to nail ~Re~ off the metal behind him as PING BULLETS - SCAFFOLDING

125 SCENE TO BACK 125

DOWN - FIRING

124 SCAFFOLD ON HIM ABOVE ------------~-124

SEES he BULLETS hit all around Mcclane; Then COVER.

(X) who takes the gallery, a~across FIRES Mcclane ROLLS,

· through him.

SPARKING off the grate before they drill the bullets bac wards,

TWITCHES now he and has caught the damn thing on reflex, MJ:1-l~!Y

(MORE) and make you waste time. make Lorenzo sacrifice his best men, Something to Jerk you off, Bait. standini) (slowly MCCLANE

damanged. but they're too far away to be DUCK, Mcclane and Barnes window. SHATTERING the glass pieces BLOWS UP, The antenna array outside

137 WIDE 137

and then - it at look Both

The antenna array - (shakily) BARNES

okay? You MCCLANE

and. goes over to Barnes. checks the bodies to make sure there's no surprises, pistol, Then he picks up his long overdue breath. a Mcclane takes

136 SCENE TO BACK 136

SMEAR of blood on the slick wall. a and slides to the floor,

TWITCHES and then he goes CRACK as his neck There's a sickening

HEADFIRST. walkway SLAMS into the wall at the end of the He

135 ANGLE NEW 135

HEAD. McClane's FLUNG right.over O'Reilly is the slldewalk in OVERDRIVE,

134 SCENE TO BACK 134

SHREDDING - TREAD HIGH GEAR, WHIRRS into It I

133A SLIDEWALK OF END FAR133A

- THEN SPECTACULARLY and OUT SHORTS It

SLIDEWALK ELECTRONICS. OPEN metal scaffold into the the nearest piece of the SI.AMS and on the floor Mcclane SPINS

133 SCENE TO BACK 133

AIMING - - bringing it up slidewalk -

the iofrom MAC already bending to grab his dropped feet,

but he's already on his has ducked the falling scaffold, too, he,

132 AWAY FEET SIX ~-

(X)

f.

( (MORE) and me. husband •• my You endangered my children ••• HOLLY

You got in the way of that. Mcclane. Mrs. The people have a right to know, THORNBERG

Don't you mean nauseous? HOLLY

· curious. make people I Mcclane. Mrs. gift, That's my see you're intrigued. I (turning) nothing regular about it. There's.· THORNBERG

jam. we're in a regular traffic there: out few a There's quite Yeah. HOLLY

she looks out. Despite herself,

So is that plane ••• practically. THORNBERG

yards. I think you're closer than fifty (dryly) HOLLY

practically in her lap.

he's him: She can't help not looking at Holly looks at him.

140 WIDER 140

Other airplanes. LIGHTS in the sky:

139 ;·· POV HIS 139

i candy store. nose against it like a kid in a pressin~.his And goes over to the glass, Releases his seat belt. something.

Sees glances out the window. on an inside aisle seat, Thornberg,

(X) Time they don't have.

(looking skyward) Time you don't have ••• {Cont'd) MCCLANE

137 CONTINUED -

CONTINUED 1.

.. l Break the code - So are you. MCCLANE

These guys are pros. (almost admiringly) activate on this code panel. Descramble mode must listen in. we scan their frequency we can't Some kind of scrambler so even if BARNES

••• ? What MCCLANE

Garber no longer sounds human. Here,

144 ANNEX INT. 144

concerned. He looks at Stuart,

report in. Annex team, in. report Annex team ••• say again, I GARBER

143 CHURCH VIRGINIA INT.143

GARBLED, spine-chilling NOISE. to the LISTENS with Mcclane picks it up. Barnes slides over, Curious, TRANSCEIVER beside one of the dead men. from a coming It's

142 ANGLE NEW 142 I.

I GUN. his Mcclane raises jump; VOICE makes them both TYPE ALIEN AN EERIE I I ! new miracle. a

(X) start looking for array is toast.

and the antenna SWAT team is dead ••• ·, !

(X) But Lorenzo's I'll live. --me?

(into his cellular phone) BARNES .

DRESSING on Barnes. FIELD damn decent Mcclane is doing a

climbing over their backs. see the people is when you're rou time The only as noble as "the people". And you didn't do it for anything

~,'· ..·.,

140 CONTINUED -140 !\

enough? Colonel Stuart - Isn't that penalty There's five dead officers here, MCCLANE

Mcclane grabs it. over Barne's cellular tie in to the tower. HEAR this too, They

have to pay the penalty. Now you futile and obvious target. You've wasted lives and time on a STUART'S VOICE

- fearful They listen,

146 CAB INT. 146

not to try and restore your systems. You were warned Dulles. Attention, STUART

improvised screens and terminals. his men hover over the him, Around and above stern. firm, flat,

Voice Speaks. ~hone. Picks up the a decision. comes to He

d part of the plan. Except losing our own team wasn't STUART

schedule. We're right on antenna array. they went for the You were right ••• GARBER

completely. took out their swat team ••• Our people engineer. chief their from monitored a call 1ust we Sir, (to Stuart) KAHN ~ from the choir loft and joins Stuart and Grant. Kahn descends

get them to enter the code first. - one of these guys Next time you kill (weakly) 40,320 possible combinations. (thinking) um - - times 6 X 8 X 7 - that's Eight numbers BARNES

144 CONTINUED -

(X)

do you copy? ••• is Dulles Approach Windsor flight one-four-teen, this STUART

(or frequency). another mike

switches to He reads it, Another man hands him a slip of paper.

on fuel. one low number - flight a Give me (aside, off mike) between. I think we can find something in · STUART

bomb? Neutron What's lesson two - the policemen? one starts with killing les~on And MCCLANE

agression. with the guts to stand up to Soviet -men off men like General Esperanza learn it can't keep cutting the legs And this country has to of dates. Treason is merely a matter best: I think Cardinal Richlieu said it (;'.':'.> STUART . I to turn traitor? drug money is Esperanza paying you How much canned by Congress on TV. Saw you get shit for five minutes. famous We were both Colonel. Yeah, MCCLANE

though ••• Nightline,league on You seemed out of yourmagazine. read about you in People Ihosta~es? hero who saved the Nakatomipoliceman The ••• John Mcclane?Mcclane? STUART

yes. Ah, His brow furrows. has reacted to both the mention of his name and of McClane's.

149 STUART 149

seeing the chilling look Trudeau is giving him. He stops,

You- out of this! Keep Mcclane! LORENZO

phone- SHOUTS into the Lorenzo BROADCAST here - This interchange is

(X)

What are you doing? ( BARNES

pieces of scaffolding. rags, grabs turpentine, Mcclane runs to the spilled paint, Desperate,

do it •• 1 you bastards, don't Don't do it ••• BARNES

IN on him as he turns and looks out the window. PUSHES CAMERA

153 MCCLANE 153

all of.us watch it. he wants to make the new terminal ••• and bere That's the runway between TRUDEAU

!2!!. ••• Tower you over to What? Turning two-nine-nine-two.VOICE MCCLANE'S

your altimeter at settin9 Okay, calibrate I'll bet. Goddamn son-of-a-bitch- (replying to pilot) The son-of-a-bitch ••• the

VOICE STUART'S TRUDEAU

fumes. shouldn't they? on petrol up here flyingWhy It's our frequency. I've got 230 people time: (heartsick)

and about Approach, Roger, BARNES

- both ashen faced

until just this second. our systems didn't come back on line But old man. We been right here, STUART'S VOICE

have you been? Where the devil Approach, this is one-fourteen. BRITISH PILOT

different than anything we've heard. boy tone that's totally good ol' he's just told in an affable, and the chilling lie - REACTS to Stuart's voice Everyone here

(X)

(X) him... played by course, (X) of both, to the tower operator - o~erator from the approach (X) mike button to create static as he "switches" the incoming plane (X) with his plafS UP - Stuart LIGHTS SCREEN a DIALS - He puncnes

with an unhealthy GRIN. OBEYS, TECH here - the main - ftQWR~on

feet. 200 Minus Recalibrate sea level.

(X) But ILS landing system. Activate (X) (off mike to Thompson)

STUART

him from Barnes. SNOW quickly hiding wind whipped across·the unlit airport •••

RUNS He turns, SHADOW on the white field. There he's a tiny

below. DROPS out the broken window to the snow wearing Barne's coat -

now Mcclane - Barnes holds one end of .a painter's dropcloth;

156 ANNEX MCCLANE-FROM OUTSIDE156

\~)

May luv. Just like British rail, STEWARDESS

STEWARDESS pauses to pat her shoulder reassuringly.

A TENSE. looks not an experienced air traveler - still -clearly GRANN,r ENGLISH But one NICE "HIP HIP." CHEERS of and APPLAUSE Some break into and exhausted people REACT. The spent

few minutes. a be on the ground in but we'll all inconvenience, We're sorry about the VOICE PILOT'S

155 CABIN INT. 155

descent. we've started our probably noticed, as you've Ladies and Gentlemen, (into cabin mike) PILOT

154 BRITISH COCKPIT THE IN154

can. I fuck whatever the Barnes .•• can, I fuck Whatever the (ripping fabric) MCCLANE

153 CONTINUED -

_j

path and looking good. ( You are in the glide show you on ILS. We have radar contact and Tower. This is Dulles Windsor. Roger, than before) (doing a different voice VOICE STUART'S

Inside the outer marker. Dulles, this is Windsor one fourteen. VOICE PILOT'S

and listens to - Everyone watches the dancing lights

161 TOWER THE IN 161

torch- see the see the torch, Come on, watching) (at the window, BARNES

160A SKYWALK ANNEX THE IN 160A

plane- HEAR the approaching We FLARES in a crazy pattern - impromtu

WAVES the He LIGHTER to ignite them. now he uses his - ~ieces

from wads of fabric wound on the scaffold TORCHES two He's made i;_~)

160 FIELD THE ON MCCLANE -160 (.

himself killed - He'll get It's Mcclane. Christ. TRUDEAU

- Looks of binoculars.

up a pair fumbles Trudeau dances. LIGHT SIZZLES in the distance,

- somebody out there There's (pointing) LORENZO

Everything's dead. TRUDEAU

jam them - we cut in, Can't A TECHNICIAN

God •.• no .•• Oh, TRUDEAU

ENGINES. SOUND of The

159 TOWER THE IN 159

High fives all around. ILS lights up. REACTS as their The crew

158 COCKPIT BRITISH 158

(X)

JESUS! PILOT

THEM - UNDER

RIGHT RUNWAY, THE from out of the darkness the crew sees Suddenly

165 COCKPIT THE IN 165

two hund- - Four hundred feet NAVIGATOR

boy - -atta boy· atta the runway's icy - 30 knot cross wind and - there's a watch it Windsor ••• Looking good, STUART

600 feet ••• NAVIGATOR

rapping -dropping - growing closer - too, visible here, lights intermittently alane's the· watching - listening, Helpless,

164 TOWER THE IN 164

up ••• up ••• pull !12···· pull Mother of God, Mary, Jesus, no, No ••• MCCLANE

LIGHTS between gusts of snow- SEES its he -

MOMENT a fleeting for and - ENGINES HEAR the plane's Now he can

163 FIELD THE -ON MCCLANE 163

Ref plus 20 ••• feet ••• aoo .•• RVR 1/4 mile •••• altitude 1000 NAVIGATOR

70 ••• so ••• knots ••• Airspeed 100 Flaps down. Roger. PILOT

coming in on instruments. Don't worry about it you're back up. Probably our runway systems coming but covering) (puzzled, STUART

162 CHURCH IN VIRGINIA STUART -162

light ••• looked like a snow ••• through the something down there Wait a minute ••• VOICE PILOT'S ()

161 CONTINUED -161

(X)

I ""'"'1 .....·

lessons can be avoided. further Esperanza lands unmolested,1,, { and General on time ready is requested If the 747 we this evening. That concludes our object lesson for (into mike) STUART

Maybe.

Maybe they're admiring Stuart's incredible coolness. blank. faces are their who clearly enjoyed his part in the above,

TAQJDpson, for Exce~t His men look at him. too. Silence here,

170 STUART 170

Somewhere SIRENS wail.

we hope is only grease. smearing it with what GLASS here, starring it and Something HITS the the sky. throu~h PLASTIC boil METAL and OF CHUNKS RED with reflected light.

BLOOD room which turns this RECOILS at the explosion, Everyone

, 169 TOWER THE IN 169

knees. He gives the scream of an animal in a trap and falls to his

him. from away watching the fireball roll Behind the plane,

I 168 MCCLANE168

SCATTERS. As the plane breaks up and flaming debris

SEE - is an EXPLOSION. and HEAR - we and then all

children, women, SCREAMS of men, HEAR the we for a split second

SCREAM - PEOPLE CABIN - LUGGAGE tumbles in the

166A PLANE TUMBLING THE INSIDE 166A

- ROLLS OVER,

FLIPS PLANE The and that's all it takes: - catches the tarmac DIPS, - the nose comes up but a wingtip not enough enough, but it's not crew brilliant and skilled, the SCREAMING, Engines

166 OUTSIDE 166

- the plane TILTS - CONTROLS SLAMS He .. · '·

165 CONTINUED -; .'(:165

(X)

(X) el permiso. (X) No tengo mi General. Desculpe me,

(

(X) GUARD YOUNG

(X) The young guard shakes his head.

yo caminar, si? De donde a (with a grin) removar eses? Muchacho, si possible a (to his guard) Dios, los calambres! ESPERANZA

cuffed hands.

(X) lower legs with his his.chained he begins to massage and moan, grimace ·slight with a Then, watch. Esperanza glances at his

173 VAL VERDE MILITARY TRANSPORT--NIGHT INT.173

172.. VAL VERDE MILITARY TRANSPORT--NIGHT EXT.172

TO: CUT

ever have. fucking victim he'll ••• the last MCCLANE(cont'd)

He grabs the rescue worker by the collar.

just another victim. I'm I'm not a survivor. Relax, pal, MCCLANE

Laughs bizzarely. Mcclane.sees the look.

bloody. who is torn, looking puzzled at Mcclane, He stops,

, no surviv- Repeat, survivors. I

(X) No Three. Rescue Tower, this is

WORKER RESCUE I I t plane. glazed eyes looking at the Mcclane weaves through the workers,

woman's bloody shoe. a books,

purses, Toys, fragments of people's lives: Pieces of luggage,~

EXPLOSION. around from the hundred yardsI

a for melted snow WATER everywhere: used to be an airplane.l

and fabric that chaos of metal Firemen and medics scramble over aI

DISCONNECTS. He

170 CONTINUED -/170

(\

(MORE) normal landing procedures here. the accident has interfered with Rumors abound that somehow the field. endlessly circling stand, from where I several dozen airliners are visible been closed due to the tragedf, the fact that only one runway has Meanwhile - despite authorities. from there has been no official word but still heard or saw the crash, --hundreds of people in the terminal SAM

CRASH SITE. the distance behind barricades we see the

In HELICOPTER beside her. NEWS her OUTSIDE on the airfield, She's supered over her face. "live" CAMERA, on is COLEMAN SAM

175 SCREEN THE ON 175

TELEVISION. PUSHES to the CAMERA the clear glass board.

number from he wipes the flight almost in afterthought - And -

the other team's locker room. on our man in Well, we'll just call shru9) (a b into .extra innings ••• If this goes Captain. Don't worry, / STUART

Stuart smiles tightly at the unvoiced question.

so far- anticpated ••• They've done everything we've Sir. GARBER

Garber breaks the silence. TV. of a. I

AUDIO MONITORING of the Tower and aircraft chatter and the muted

except the faint SOUNDS here, no In the silence since the crash,

the kid lights him up. Flattered,

dame un fosforo? - del libertad en vez Ahora, soldado excelente! Tu eres un bueno! joven, Bueno, ESPERANZA

a cigar out of his breast pocket. fumbles paternally, and then he smiles - a moment Esperanza's eyes flash for

17:3 CONTINUED -

(X)

never felt so useless. I (voice tight) everything I tried ••• did, everything I 6Tonig t, tonight. eople ••• until taking care of care of business ••• taking was ..• it but ••• all of ••• hostaies kids to lost from ••• Everything 13 years ••• cop I've been a Do you? Do you? MCCLANE

know how you feel. We all Mcclane. You don't have to say anything, TRUDEAU

I ••• I ••• Trudeau ••• MCCLANE

Trudeau.

Sees coming around to reality. McClane blinks, Barnes leaves.

With your Goddamn brain! TRUDEAU

Wibh what? on the air? BARNES

to the cab and get us on the air. Get up to pretend he's the tower. we got a lunatic down here who likes We have to warn those planes Barnes. TRUDEAU

Trudeau.appears. coffee someone gave him ignored.

the - eyes looking at nothing bench, on a Mcclane sits dazed

a proper bandage on his cut. Barnes gives A DOCTOR pitiful attempts at damage control. off the wall: riniing PHONESJ'

Dulles International Airport.

(X) This is Samantha Coleman at grow.

the sky above us will continue to the problem here and in worsening, With weather conditions certain: One thing is contributed to it. and that they may have even crash, difficulties in the tower before the Other reports say there were (Cont'd) SAM

175 CONTINUED -

j

what? yeah, Uh - r· VICTOR .

Victor! Victor. THORNBERG

a sleeping ASSISTANT awake. He shakes CREW.

NEWS row with his moves to the he goes into the coach section,

178 WITH HIM178

moves down the aisle. He glares at her,

stronger mouthwash would be nice. A HOLLY

Anything else? (dryly) THORNBERG

aftershaves? you think you could change keep getting this close, going~o Dick, if you're That is your name? ("innocently") Dick - Listen, HOLLY

Face suspicious. Thornberg at the window again.

TO: CUT

IN on Mcclane. PUSHES CAMERA

90 minutes. run out of fuel in they'll They ••• we can't answer. I ' even though They keep broadcasting, (as Mcclane tenses) ? Your wife's plane ••• TRUDEAU

? And ••• I • MCCLANE

there in his eyes. else Mcclane sees something

••• Tactical Terrorist Team unit. Army a special sending in the Government for help. Ther're called We SWAT team's gone. Our own (feeling his pain) TRUDEAU

176 CONTINUED -

(X)

(X) STORM. Yukon like creating a BACKWASH ROAR, their (X) DOWN with a and SET HELICOPTERS dance through the air towards us, (X) ARMY Two SNOW. SWIRLIN~ cut through the SKY LIGHTS in the

TO: CUT

changes. me if anything Tell Stay on it. THORNBERG

he pats Victor's shoulder.

Leaving, Wheels start spinning. on Thornberg. CAMERA TIGHTENS

like the tower isn't there. It's like ••• The weather recording. again) -(listening I get is ••• But all workin~. It is VICTOR

You just said it would work - THORNBERG

Nothing. (puzzled) VICTOR

Should be on our band ••• VICTOR

on. going want to hear what's I frequency? cock~it Can you tune in the THORNBERG

Puzzled, the man pulls his bag from under the seat, gets one out.

(X) receivers. (X) Get one of the love you. I

on? or put them in your carry the shoot, from Did you pack the radio mikes THORNBERG

178 CONTINUED -

CONTINUED (

- of your boys Colonel Stuart is one other side. Unfortunately the pros are on the MCCLANE

let the pros handle things. Now show some sense and Mcclane. You showed some balls out there, (stepping closer) who tried to save that plane tonight. you're the one yeah, Oh, Mcclane ••• GRANT

John Mcclane. MCCLANE

you? Who are one dozen. One crisis •••

looks at him • Grant stops, Pause.

A dozen men? This is it? (unimpressed) MCCLANE

you got it. something ••• · You want Terminal Police. Lorenzo. (ass kissing) LORENZO

Chief of Air Operations. Trudeau. (polite) · I TRUDEAU

Department of Justice. Rollins. (formal) MAN JUSTICE

Grant. I'm Major We're the Triple T's. GRANT

SHOUTS over the NOISE. Everyone someone in a receiving line. forward past the waiting men like in his late 40's walks MAJOR A powerfully built equipment. hustle out of the choppers, the wind blowing over them and their

CREWS CHOPPER and the SOLDIERS TURNING, ROTORS keep As the

worried.

plain and Mcclane, worried about his status - Lorenzo, earlier; saw MEN we DEPARTMENT The JUSTICE Trudeau~ Waiting here are

\ ( :,.,..--...... (X)

That gets my vote- Semaphore! 1ST ENGINEER t / Batman? from Borrow them "big portable lights"? And where do we get those them out? And wait for those lunatics to shoot BARNES

set up on the field and - We Big portable lights! Lights! 2ND ENGINEER

now. Desperate huddled with the engineers. Barnes,

/ CUT TO:

worse? Did things just get better ••• or as he turns) ( Trudeau. MCCIANE

Move it! troop! heard the man, You SERGEANT

in fifteen minutes! everr sysytem that's still working want to be tied into the Tower and I be in the Airport Police office. will ~ost Command hustle! right, All I (to his men) GRANT

recovers. REACTS, Grant

courses? But what if he took some night Yeah. (quietly) MCCIANE

knows. he I taught him everything And him. servec:Iwith I see, You him down. and we will take Colonel Stuart ••• down we are here to take Gentlemen, (to the group) Not any more, he's not. (tightly) GRANT

179 (2) CONTINUED -)179 __ X.

(X) •· ..

we And as faces brighten for the first time in hours,

know! never will is did,t those bastards who and ~lanes -and we can talk to the BARNES

to the one for the beacon - We switch the tower freqency over fgetting it) ENGINEER 2ND

?11 to be just "boop-boop boop who says that radio signal has So, BARNES

So? ENGINEER 1ST

right? so they know they're over it, "boop-boop-boop" this that sends out A radio beacon, ri9ht? It's a beacon, (on their looks) The outer Marker! Damn! BARNES

Suddenly Barnes' expression changes.

- Atlanta already shunted to were enough fuel The planes with the outer marker. slamming right into everybody over Headwinds Just checked the weather. ENGINEER 1ST

up most of their fuel. That's eating bucking headwinds? Are they still ha~pen. waiting to Great, that leaves thirteen accidents BARNES

the others. ) with to three of them, still trying We got throu9h have those phones. I only five Eighteen planes up there: l ENGINEER 3RD I

about the airphone idea?What man) to another (exasperated, Dukakis! You voted for vote? BARNES

180 - CONTINUED 1so CJ

(X)

TO: CUT

and then the door SHUTS. sympathetic - Trudeau looks at Mcclane, ( No civilians. GUY DEPT. JUSTICE

- up his hand to block Mcclane

puts GUY then the JUSTICE little group moves in that direction - but the Lorenzo glowers at that, "My office" meaning Lorenzo's.

Now. In my office. my orders. you in on on that plane he asked for, I'll fill You brief me Lorenzo. Trudeau. (as he moves) GRANT

Justice Department in tow.

from the MAN the Then Grant appears, The kid can't answer.

Except Colonel Stuart? MCCLANE

than Major Grant. But word is nobody's better at this comm man got appendicitis. regular - only got transferred in yesterday I (sympathetic) TELFORD

My wife has less than two.. ,, {checking his watch) MCCLANE

few hours ••• had a I If {shaking his head) CORPORAL TELFORD

it? with you do anything can hearing. kee~ we That's all MCCLANE

GARBLE. TUNES in that he Now, receptionist's area. CORPORAL has set up his radio gear in the The young

embarassed. away, who looks and Trudeau look at Lorenzo, Mcclane

into the tower all night. been tapped 'fhey·'ve luggage area. found it in the Traced the signal, SERGEANT 2ND

it to the men here.

shows from his hands, The second Triple T SERGEANT wipes grease

down on a table. CLUNKS both ends as it DEVICE with torn out wires at ELECTRONIC a tubular from WIDEN

(X)

Jesus! THORNBERG

our tower- { caused one crash by impersonating These people have already broadcast. own frequencies to this on your Do not repeat do not attempt to reply but your own transmissions are not. We believe this channel is secure VOICE BARNES'

Thornberg all but cackles.

TURNING. THE RECEIVER and INTO JACKED ALREADY It is pocket.

RECORDER from his shirt MICROCASSETTE And pulls a Victor GRINS.

- on tape we gotta get this we - Holy shit - THORNBERG

everything except this channel. systems and now have control of -the terrorists have cut all our (tinny) VOICE BARNES'

TIGHTEN on him. We ear. an earplug into Thornberg's pokes Thornberg through the curtain, Victor pulls Grinning, Between business class and coach. ,.,,....-•G

hours ago - 2 Approximately is the situation. Here only channel available to us. At this time this is the in full. have been authorized to brief you IJ is Chief Engineer Leslie Barnes. This Attention. landing pattern. --tention, all aircraft in Dulles (from speaker) VOICE BARNES'

DIAL - a And saying this he turns up

It's talking. beeping. It's not The outer marker beeper? 2ND OFFICER

What is it? PILOT

- fuck What the 2ND OFFICER

'phones. The Navigator suddenly sits upright at his

(X)

i private. me down to buck They kind of busted MCCLANE

the top brass. hanging out with now, upstairs by Thought you'd be Hey, officer. MARVIN

CAMERA ADJUSTS as Mcclane comes in.

(not to mention the bullet holes.) with grease and grime unfortunately recently been covered which has long topcoat ··nice, Marvin is checking himself out in a ON A CRACKED MIRROR. TIGHT

TO: CUT

Orgasm. on Thornberg: CAMERA TIGHTENS

to take out the terrorists. unit is already here and preparing Army US A special instrument one. an for ILS manual landing and the a The field lights for to land: two systems that can allow you the./..C the terrorists have cut off Repeat:, I (tinny) VOICE BARNES

sex. having man where Thornberg's expression is like a

186 PLANE HOLLY'S INT. 186

and use it for confirmation. from your respective airlines this We will get recorder access code. you hear your own flight tower unless from our to be instructions"craiming do not accept any -repeat, TELEPHONE) (into a BARNES(cont'd)

electronic lines.

some RIGGED with JURY TELEPHONE which is is using a Barries

visible. two men still looking suspiciously at the little piece of the

184 HOLLY

(X)

remain upri- ramparts will no more and the dominos will fall The the pattern ends. tonight, Well, sweet though they may seem. and we do not believe in fairy tales we are soldiers Gentlemen, nice? so now the Commies are gold teeth, without wife and a nice English suits, some ~ot stain head Gorbachev, he's now that And friend. a as America that can happen to you is to have The worst thing around the globe? You know what they think overboard. throw Noriega fuck Marcos, Shah, - We drop the ov.er and over again. We've pussied out around the world, STUART

his men attentive. Stuart is in the pulpit,

GREEN L.E.D.! one with a - scrambled transceivers and one of the STARES at the table ••• Mcclane CHANGE. FOCUS

188 ANGLE NEW

son? okay, You MARVIN

funny expression. a Marvin realizes that Mcclane has

'em - of I'm on top These transistor things, Still read Popular Mechanics. up. kept I But on the B-29's. radios working those was just a kid, I MARVIN

All electronic stuff there. a table and pulls aside a cloth. moves over to Marvin chuckles,

again? line upstairsme on Think you can get it. Keep some invisible mending. it needs The lining's ripped and (recognizing it) MCCLANE

a nice coat? Interested in know that feeling. I MARVIN

187 - CONTINUED

(X)

TO: CUT

(X) he frees himself... from the body, Taking the handcuff key sound. nice and soft so it doesn't make a drop, body He lets the

· with the chain from his handcuffs. STRANGLE the nice young corporal Just in time to SEE Esperanza

REAR CABIN. CAMERA is in the By now the

runway fifteen. repeat,

(X) You are to come in on runway fifteen,

FM-1 .•. to Dulles Tower Tower to FM-1. Dulles STUART'S VOICE

Obey. I '-,,/~ i TRUDEAU , we do? What do BARNES I PLEADING. DEMANDS. I I QUESTIONS. CHATTER from the sky picks up: immediately the ~

Almost RUNWAY twinkles on. DISTANT one - like magic now, AndI

~ monitoring you. I am I Remember, planes. an¥ land l attempt to do not - repeat, - not Do runway now. a am lighting up I VOICE STUART'S

190 CAB INT. 190

) Dulles Tower ••• Attention, STUART

takes up the phone.

He CAMERA ADJUSTING. Stuart hurries up into the choir loft,

on the scope.came General Esperanza's plane justSir! (calling-.out.)------

(X) - .-- ___ THOMPSON (

----~~

189 - CONTINUED 1J1a9

WALL. INSIDE like a SNOW thunder WIND and and

194 PANELS WINDOW THE SIDE OF ONE194

SHATTERS him - but one KILLS one shot TWICE - SHOOTS Esperanza WHIRLS, LEAPS for Esperanza! CO-PILOT Suddenly the

- fifteen Proceeding to runway Dulles. Roger, then) (pauses: PILOT

will proceed as ordered. Capitain, please tell the tower you ESPERANZA

corporal's pistol. who has come into the cockpit holding the He's seen Esperanza,

STOPS. He

Department - representitives of your Justice Runway one and be met by on We are to land instructions. Dulles, this is contrary to our PILOT VAL VERDE

193 PLANE ESPERANZA'S INT.193

how to bargain ••• Man knows (handing it over) MARVIN

I let you live? How about MCCLANE

twenty dollars? How about huh? You like it, me ••• a candle to a nice Zenith if you ask can't hold them Japanese radios ••• Looks like one of luggage belts. over near the coat: Came with the MARVIN

where did you get this? punched ••• The code ••• the code's still MCCLANE

Mcclane is examining the Scrambler, excited.

192 BASEMENT INT.

(X)

~--~ ......................................~~~

Shit! (off mike) STUART

a liner for that coat. runway fifteen and you got yourself a shortcut to me show you Marvin ••• MCCLANE

hands it the Marvin. from his pocket, He takes the airport map grinning. Mcclane listens, PULLBACK.

around to runway fifteen. cannot circle I Repeat, runway. on the first outgoing must land now, I can land but I out of the storm. must drop I Near zero visibility.

(X) have lost cabin pressure. I Repeat,

VOICE ESPERANZA'S

199 BASEMENT INT.199

Falcon - Go ahead, STUART

- but grabs his transceiver Stuart is startled to hear this,

198 CHURCH VIRGINIA INT.198

SOUND - GARBLED ALIEN HEAR the They

197 CAB INT. 197

Mayday! Eagle Nest, this is Falcon ••• Mayday. Eagle Nest, this is Falcon ••• (into it) ESPERANZA

SWIRLING Esperanza is at the controls, trying to SEE through the

196 PLANE -NIGHT ESPERANZA'S INT.196

down,~- I'm coming do you copy? Eagle Nest, VOICE ESPERANZA'S

"ACCESS GRID." ARROW indicates An

"llWJ". numbers here: wall whit~ PUSHES to the CAMERA He turns.

204 SCENE TO BACK 204

Bingo. - WS Eleven W4, VOICE MCCLANE'S

runway to the code numbers. FINGER moves along the His

203 THE MAP INSERT -203

Goddamn horoscope ••• my I gotta start reading again. fucking terrorists ,in -up to my ass (fumbling with the map) · to fifteen? What the fuck happened Eleven West? (hearing this) MCCLANE

202 TUNNEL RUNWAY INT. 202

Amigos. Gracias, ESPERANZA

FRONT of the plane.

IN DIRECTLY up RUNWAY lights NEW OFF and a RUNWAY goes The FIRST

THROWN. A switch is Thompson. signals cool.J In the church, Stuart grins at Esperanza's

would be grateful. I well me as But if you could show it to Eagle Nest. Thank you for telling me, ESPERANZA

PERPENDICULAR to the plane. RUNWAY which is

ILLUMINATED and the - SEE the airfield Now we can a bit. ABATES

SNOW in the cockpit from the eye of the storm the DESCENDS as he

- from the ocean It's a straight run Eleven West-3: That would be ••• Falcon. Roger, transceiver) into (nodding, STUART

points out - map, Someone produces a He snaps his fingers. (J

200 CONTINUED -200

(X)

( MCCLANE

locked grid. BRUISES his shoulder against the and up the ladder - He flies

you son-of-a-bitch- Come to poppa, MCCLANE

Mcclane checks his pistol clip with a snap.

ETA. seconds 5 down. Wheels see your lights. I VOICE RADIO

(X) made of heavy industrial steel. bigger than a doorway,

The grid above him is reaches the ladder. Mcclane, breathless,

207 TUNNEL ACCESS INT. 207

But one hell of a pilot. He's the scum of the earth.

to himself. humms but he plane begins to VIBRATE,

The on his cigar. down sweeps the dead man to the floor, bites and a co-pilot's control reaches for He descent. his trims

Wincing against the blowing snow and wind, the General expertly

206 CAB INT. 206

out the rear door.

(X) Kahn in a rush Thompson and over his shoulder and leads Garber, a weapon throws one of his men, he tosses the command mike to

205 CHURCH IN VIRGINIA STUART -205

TO: CUT

and begins running down the tunnel. He turns

asshole. can help it, I Not if (to himself) MCCLANE

five minutes. We'll have you in Falcon. cop¥, We VOICE STUART'S

204 CONTINUED -

coming right towards him- 1/4 mile away, PLANE - THE B)(

- SEES he looks up and trapped, dazed, - MCCLANE A)

down on the runway! SCREECHES

216 PLANE THE 216

stunned.

GROANS, He THUDS down on McClane's back. 300 pound grid the

215 ABOVE 215

fluid. the damaged hydraulic hinge suddenly SNAPS with a squish of thick

214 BELOW 214

- rifle out, starts to follow he pushes his with a grimace, - on the cold metal SKIN RIPS when he shifts his grip his - - grunts Mcclane pushes upwards

213 SCENE TO BACK 213

- runway about to hit the d

Looks at - shoulders up and out. Mcclane gets his head and - thing must weight over 300 pounds SNOW falling through it - the damn TUNNEL GRID, it - it's the

from EMERGES RECTANGLE BLACK But now a ICE. SNOW and A FIELD of

211 ABOVE UP 211

muscle the heavy grid upwards. Then he begins to as metal splinters sail by. winces Mcclane PINGS off one of the grids hydraulic hinges and A RICOCHET Mcclane shoots off the lock apparatus of the grid! BLAM! BLAM!

210 TUNNEL THE 210

ROARS overhead! The miltary plane

"EIGHT WEST." sign: number snow-covered runway illuminates a

snow, FLASHLIGHT into the falling a Garber shines along. BOUNCES BREATH clouding inside the still cold JEEP as it Their

- Dropping

208 PLANE THE

(X)

(X) DOWN. DROP HISS and the steps It opens with a the Wheelock.

moves to the doorway and spins Esperanza secures the controls,

222 PLANE INT. 222

There-! (pointing) STUART

- STOPS Close enough to SEE the plane as it

and heads for the plane. sucks in air - feet, :his McCl.ane gets to

Skids roughly to a stop a hundred yards away.

220 PLANE THE 220

feet over his head. SCORCH of jet exhaust five WINCES at the Mcclane kisses asphalt,

bug - CRUNCHING like a scrambler SNAPPING like a toothpick, the the rifle plane hardly dented,

the FLYING, which goes the half-open grid, into SMACKS PLANE The

miss him by inches. which from the wheels, awa¥ Mcclane rolls

219 ANGLE NEW d219

HOLE. THE OF OUT DIVES Mcclane

THERE. FUCKING RIGHT IS PLANE THE AND

of the stock perches precariously on the lip of the hole. into the grid while the cheek notch rin~ JAM the rifle's bayonet finally, it's high enough for him to - an inch at a time .upward, the rifle in turn levering the grid rifle higher and higher,

he levers the sweat breaking out on his forehead, slowly, Slowly,

into levering the rifle against the steel. he puts all his energy Now, grid. half under the is of the rifle Mcclane sees that part Des~erate, COMING. coming, coming, It's

away at AIR - Now they kick for leverage on the steps -and SLIP!

GROPE they tunnei, FEET - still in the MCCLANE'S E)

1/8 mile away - - PLANE THE D)

- ENGINES ROAR of the jet's HEAR the Now we the Natural History Museum. in bug runway like a PINNED to the - still stru~gling - MCCLANE C)

217 CONTINUED -C)211

_ ... - .. -

j

(

around him from Garber and Esperanza - BULLETS smacking all IVES into the cockpit, Mcclane come closer, Garber's slugs

(X) and as THROAT, h m so' blowing a hole in FIRES, Mcclane

224 HATCHWAY THE224

but hangs on to the gun. - falls backwards

Esperanza HOWL, With a SHOULDER. SHOT hits him in the McClane's (X) from the dead corporal but Esperanza's snatched up the rifle

and then almost on instinct whirls - TWICE out the door FIRES and rolls into the cabin - :DIVES Mcclane

No. ESPERANZA

from McClane's head. PING on the hatch inches BULLETS Suddenly

record? my look good on this will Think Looks like it's business as usual. scumbag lowlife dope dealers. busting cop who's spent half his career Just a MCCLANE

w-who !!!:! you? ESPERANZA

- me being here. on count I didn't Actually, me being here. guess you didn't count on I you? Thought you'd pull this off, didn't MCCLANE

gun leveled at the startled fugitive. Mcclane comes up the steps,

223 ANGLE NEW 223

from the door. knocking Esperanza back FIST smacks in, McClane's

Not yet. VOICE MCCLANE'S

Freedom.

(X) (breathing deeply)

ESPERANZA

222 - CONTINUED

the cabin. delayed by locking Mcclane· in comes up, the last man - Garber -

weapons out. plane, and two of the others ring the nose of the Esperanza Stuart,

(X) Mcclane. assume it's you, I Mcclane!

(shouting) STUART

and then Mcclane looks worried -

229 COCKPIT THE IN 229

AXE is across the door like a barricade. A RESCUE

228 DOOR OF SIDE OTHER 228

He tries harder. MOVE. WON'T IT

gingerly tries it. crawls to the door,

and then he GLASS everywhere •.• SNOW and space with him ••• the

REACTS to the.two dead men sharing the tiny Mcclane Silence.(~) (

227 COCKPIT 227

He's going to hell. STUART

He went in the cockpit - GARBER

He knows which policeman ••• PUSH to Stuart.

ceman -! A pol amazed) policeman ••• he said he was a - I'm all right (indicating the wound) ESPERANZA

General! STUART

Stuart runs to him. GARBER helps Esperanza down the steps.

226 PLANE THE OUTSIDE 226

from the hits which don't penetrate it. INDENTS which the door,

PING into BULLETS IT. LOCKS SLAMS the door behind him, Mcclane

- 225 COCKPIT THE

"EJECT." PUSHES to it: CAMERA

236 SEAT PILOT'S LEVER BESIDE236

- SEES suddenly Mcclane rolls over and They SIZZLE. from hell. hailstones BOUNCE here like GRENADES land and TEN Clunk-clunk-clunkCLUNK.

235 COCKPIT THE IN 235

(X) carrying the body of their comrade- run for their jeep, Then they - THROWS - PINS TWO PULLS man 'Each Pop pop pop. Pop.

'em. Use STUART

- each 2 GARBER

How many grenades we have? STUART

234 OUTSIDE 234

HIT in the left hand. he's

233 MCCLANE

- he shoots

SMILES as Esperanza alone Fourth of July show - a FIRE like their

What's left of the window glass reflects flank the sides. the¥

now· Having decimated the front of the plane, Stuart signals and

232 OUTSIDE 232

- nothing weight against it - his throws - to the door He crawls - his vision blood misting forehead, Glass rakes his

GOD - OF MOTHER HOLY MCCLANE

searching him out - bullets criss cross the cockpit, the snaking lines of but Mcclane eats floor, - room around the

SLAMMING and ricochets begin IMPLODES, What's left of the glass PLACE APART. THE TO RIP BEGIN GUNS MACHINE FIVE DUCKS as Mcclane

231 COCKPIT THE INSIDE 231

The others instantly join in. FIRE. OPENS And he

a military funeral. - consier this So a little soldier. ~ite You're STUART

230 - CONTINUED

TO: CUT

Helping the wounded Esperanza, .they vanish into the darkness.

(X) Now! Fall back to the Church!

STUART

243 SCENE TO BACK 243

and it's not his. coming ••• The calvary is

242 ANGLE NEW 242

SOUND of SIRENS. But Stuart turns at the

There - GARBER

the 'chute, half a mile away -

image of POINTS to the ghostly Garber runs past their feet. (X) SNOW MELTING WATER from REACT as At the jeep, Stuart and his men

241 PLANE BURNING THE 241

from frame. DROPS He

-Christ! (weaker) MCCLANE

YANK. OPENS with violent The 'chute WHOMP!

- Jesus (weak) i ' MCCLANE I t TUMBLING - ejection seat is

the WHOOSH of the air going past - just the now, No sound,I

240 MID AIR IN MCCLANE -240

SEE but then we sure if Mcclane is clear - SEARING we're not EYE FAST and It's all so EXPLODES! the cockpit

239 OUTSIDE 239

of the canopy. THROUGH what's left PUNCHING steel vanguard above McClane's head

the UPWARDS, ROCKETS the ejection seat ROAR, a WOOSH and with a

238 WIDER 238

lever -

grabs the on the belt, snaps in one move vaults into the seat,

237 MCCLANE

the video sleaze awards? Writing your acceptance speech for HOLLY

(X) I good... am Boy, {X) (sotto, to himself) X) ( THORNBERG

(X) looks at it proudly. a word - adds He crosses out a line,

own document. and then drafting his RECORDING with an earplug TAPE LISTENING to the He's Thornberg. CAMERA ADJUSTS as she looks at SOUND of .crumpled -paper.

(X} REACTS to the Then she line on her computer. a Holly types

248 CLASS BUSINESS INT.248

out.

goes She composes herself ••• No one says anything. She REACTS.

247 SCENE TO BACK 247

- EMPTY on Almost

SEEN She's STOPS. She

- I'll Works for me. STEWARDESS

'em·down. That'll settle TV. if you can get any see We're right over Washington ••• PILOT

am I. so in fact, there ••• They're getting pretty sguirrely back STEWARDESS

t. c.ockpi The stewardess sticks her head into the

TO: CUT

runs off. - from his flight -fights the vertigo

SNOW COVERED IN from under the rards of silk, He staggers out

door? - the fucking - Where's (muffled) VOICE MCCLANE'S

BILLOWING as something struggles under it. ) (

..

/, r,; / ( for your little stunt? to crash another plane in retaliation What if they decide on this deck. loose cannon we don't need a Mcclane, GRANT

champagne.

(X) little early to break out the

a But if they got fifty guys, it's we could get excited. to start with, knew how many they had we Maybe if (unimpressed) LORENZO

they've lost all together.

(X) that's six I killed one more man •••

but he's hurt. down ••• Esperanza's MCCLANE

a cigarette. gives Mcclane one of the soldiers DOCTOR patches McClane's right hand: The

249 AIR POLICE OFFICE INT.249

resume! Now get him or start typing your him! want I broadcast, that's why know he's getting ready for the I (listening) Director. News through to the me Put .. Thornberg This is Richard then: ) (dials, THORNBERG

stumbles into the lavatory. He makes a croaking noise to sell it,

I- I'm going to be sick - THORNBERG

any moment -the seat belt light is- we may be landing at Sir, please STEWARDESS

inside his jacket.

phone down the aisle, moves Then he card in one of a1rphones.

he slips his credit a blanket overhead, 9etting pretending he's Thornberg decides this is perfect cover. DARKEN, As the lights

TV PROJECTOR. on the now that stewardess reaches up and turns But

Mcclane. Mrs. Try Pulitzer, (in odd good humor) THORNBERG

248 - CONTINUED

neighborhood. this past ( and go right - ~roperty air~ort the of it would run along the edge of If I'm right, all handle drainage. underground stuff -so they could - all the ILS phone, moved Tracon, some modifications on site ••• they did And it looks like twelve years ago. longer runways went in ••• that's These are the old plans when the BARNES

Barnes unfolds some plot plans.

251 ALONE WHEN THEY'RE251

McClane·follows Barnes around the corner. Interested,

know where. I think I BARNES

- on the field or close they're That means Yeah. Stuart's guys? MCCLANE

away? there right showed up You said they McClane. C BARNES

now pulls Mcclane aside. Who

250 BARNES 250

does And so seem sympathetic. But the enlisted men

my life. The story of MCCLANE

pissed. away, walks cigarette,

away the He flips Mcclane stands, glares at the two officers.

place at the wrong time! you're the wrong guy in the wrong This time period! - to take off off that cocksucker until he tries we're here to jerk Mcclane, think! they're more creative than you Mafbe GRANT

the situation would be over. grabbed Esperanza, I And if again. do that they can't heard, I Last (indicating Barnes) MCCLANE

249 CONTINUED -

(X}

{

weather - It's hard to blame anyone for the HOLLY

for this mess, that's for sure. Somebody ought to get their ass kicked WOMAN OLDER

beside Holly is no exception. The Older Woman The passengers' patience has begun to frazzle.

TO: CUT

volunteer? about a Then how would you feel (after a moment) MCCLANE

orders that could get them killed. 9et I don't want anyone else to If ••• if I'm wrong again ••• Not lives. and blood. Not flesh and steel. iron to be wires and circuits ••• It's supposed Mcclane. an engineer, I'm neither do those soldiers now. and those cops didn't have a choice, But made it. I had a choice and I BARNES

job - you did your do that - didn't You MCCLANE

five officers killed. got I and And ••• antenna array. was sure about tying into the I BARNES

Are you sure or not? MCCLANE

five percent either way- per cent, seventy eighty Well, Yeah. Maybe. BARNES

in one of these houses? fucking stockings their and hanging around the fireplace sittin9 could be they - So - if they know this too MCCLANE

251 - CONTINUED

{X)

and these people aren't. -{ MCCLANE

windowsill. MENORAH burning on the a dinner. People having No tree:

255 HOUSE SECOND 255

at

Look CRUNCH to the next fence. snow, DROP down into the They

Goddamn stockings. hanging their .!!:§!. ~eople These Hell. MCCLANE

It could be Norman Rockwell. TREE. People TRIM a DC suburban tract job. It's a modest Both peer·over the fence. HOUSE that backs up to the Airport. He and Barnes are outside a

WIDEN. we CLIMBS something - SHOWS as he BEEPER HIS

254 WAIST MCCLANE'S ON TIGHT254

(X) looks at the AirPhone. TURNS ••• she Worried,

She's chilled by the lie. TIGHTEN on Holly. We away. She moves

little problems like this. They anticipate of course we do. Oh, STEWARDESS

face eases into an official smile. The Stewardess' Pause. I endless circling? Do we have enough fuel for all this~ (almost sheepish)

(X) 5 1/2 hours- was only supposed to be

I our flight was just wondering. I ..• HOLLY

Yes? STEWARDESS

RISES halfway to meet her. - signals her

Holly PASSES, As the Stewardess REACTS to what the woman's said.

253 HOLLY 253

and gas. food they can pull over for At least shoulda taken the bus. I (to herself) Scott? What about that porker Willard Yeah? WOMAN OLDER ()

252 CONTINUED -252

{ Who the fuck cares, just be ready. (whisper) MCCLANE

thought they were Army. I (whisper) BARNES

marines. Get ready to call the here. Sta¥ (whisper) MCCLANE

260 SCENE TO BACK 260

images. makes double

now PRINT of his galoshes and the distinctive church property,

a trench around the has made pro9ress .R:&¾:er's steady Indeed,

footprints? own Then why is he going over his MCCLANE

a walk- And he could just be out for BARNES

sentry - a Could be MCCLANE

whisper. Mcclane and Barnes huddle,

258 SCENE TO BACK 258

-=,,,.c_ around the rear of the house. almost casually, Baker is walking,

- both look at - Mcclane puts up his hand -Barnes stops Suddenly more prosperous yard. further to the next place; It's lawn. over a walk They cross the intersection on foot,

church. a and Three houses ••• Four more possibles. BARNES

He checks the map, a little flashlight. pocket thingie for

plastic jammed fumbles in his Barnes reaches inside his jacket,

the dark blot that should be brightly active runways.

centered in TOWER, SEE the illuminated airport we behind them, Far CAR. humming on the hood of Barne's still Barne's map out spread now they go back to the street, a corner; come to They've

255A ANGLE NEW

(X)

- unches from the weapon -They trade bru

(X) taking Mcclane away ~, DROPS the gun - -blood wells

fence~-again.f the~-~· SLAMS it down on hand and

(X) gun. ha~~ Mcclane CRACK. CRASH into the fence with a

268 BAKER AND MCCLANE 268

street.. the·

runs towards He raises the antenna, realizes he's got to move -

SHIT! BARNES

267 SCENE TO BACK 267

NO SVC. The dial reads

REACTS to begins to dial the phone. REACTS, \'-/

265 BARNES ~265

(X) Mcclane.DIVES on him. the winter outerwear slows him.,. but coming up, 10 MAC the hidden Instantly whips his head around,

264 BAKER 264

(X) and then -BEEP! Closer - closer - Baker is only a yard away.

263 MCCLANE 263

TO: CUT

Starts to DIAL. Holly drops her credit card in the airphone.

stalking a settler ••• closer ••• closer ••• from shadow to shadow and tree to tree like an Indian moves

261 MCCLANE261

lurks under a tree. Barnes takes out a cellular phone,

then moves off. it in the back of his trousers ••• from his holster and puts own gun Mcclane takes his saying this,

260 - CONTINUED

(X) · together with blue tape.

two banana clips taped like combat hardened troops do it,

PIGGYBACKED AMMO CLIPS are broken out - all CLICK CLICK SNAP.

here ••• a situation We have ••• Gentlemen. GRANT

- MONITORING the radio only one unarmed, still Telford, - commuter rocking like a Grant standing, Soldiers on the benches -

274 TRUCK ARMY INT. 274

AROUND A CORNER- TRUCK SKID ARMY CARS and the POLICE AIRPORT

head butts him! GRINS,

Mcclane As his hand comes up empty, GRABS for the holster!

~ RIPS McClane's coat open and - in,

(X) him---Bafer)jumps dazing KICKS Mcclane back into a tree, KARATE (X) __ the~-,, snow bloody between the halfway to their feet,6

272 BAKE~ AND MCCLANE 272 ..

COPS hustle out - SOLDIERS and some

ALL the as D-Day Grant signals his Sergeant and then it's like

fat ass will ya-? move your Just get here,.this is it, BARNES

snow covered car - STANDING on a He's down the block,

didn't you - why· you crazy idiot, You're where - LORENZO

- REACTS WRITES as Grant Lorenzo

GLASS. WIND and the SOUND is muffled by the but the AGAIN, (X) and bend GIVE, SEE the fence Through the rear window here we

You can't talk to me like that - LORENZO

Seal off the street. useful. up and do something fuck shut the (pause) Lorenzo - GRANT

- the night in a cell to spend the rest of like How'd you playing John Wayne? doin9, you're do you think what the hell Mcclane, LORENZO

Grant and Lorenzo come over.

279 SCENE TO BACK 279

shadows starting to surround the church. expertly, they move forward silently and their truck far down the street,

I 278 : ~ 278

Barnes points to

him. Mcclane heads towards crouch, Moving in a is in the street.

277 BARNES

WHISTLE. a REACTS to

and then BREATH ••• his Catches CRIMSON all around. snow turns

the garage as the a9ainst Mcclane falls DIES. TWITCHES, The body

son-of-a-bitch's brain. INCHES right into the MORE HOME SIX ICICLE PRESSES the both hands ROLLS with him and with Mcclane SCREAMS and falls back - ~r

I 276 ANGLE REVERSE 276

EYE! STABS it RIGHT in Baker's -and

grabs the icicle- BREAKS out of Baker's grip, Mcclane ICICLE -with his last strength - it's a big CHANGE FOCUS We

look at something nearby - fucked -and then his desperate eyes Mcclane is McClane's throat! The knife creeps towards heij)- RIGHT so-it can't McClane's jumps out and pins now his left STRONG and The bastard is

the KNIFE.

hand and awa~)RIGHT LEFT hand can't force McClane's

- it but both men ignore from the roof, ICE fall

-SNOW and 9arage the wall of the church's detached -botnHIT on Mcclane from his boot and.DIVES combat knife a yanks Bak.er

275 BAKER AND MCCLANE

(X)

(X) you know what to do- Gentlemen,

283 HOUSE THE INSIDE __283

snow! the

on REFLECTS GUNFIRE lights up the street, POKES out. a rifle (X) BROKEN and WINDOW is STAINED GLASS a COVER as DIVES for Everyone

SHIT! MCCLANE

282 OUTSIDE282

a pistol! grabs throws a coat on, bandaged,

Esperanza, HERE! EQUIPMENT others.SMASH the Some grab weapons -

ASSIGNED JOBS! instantly go to ... ALARM and to. REACT Stuart's men

281 CHURCH THE IN 281

SNOW! WIRE in the TRIP a MUZZLE hits GUN his

and then POSITION - PRONE FIRING lawn into a on the forward moves

280 A SOLDIER280

Mcclane and Barnes watch as the soldiers start to close the net.

my order. Fire only on then we go in. Close up the back, GRANT

(X) Flanking the church now, sir.

(coming up) SERGEANT 2ND

kind of asshole. I'm just your· you were right. No, (lighting him up) GRANT

You're not an asshole. was wrong. I MCCLANE

Mcclane takes out a cigarette. HUSTLED away. Lorenzo is And

With pleasure, sir! SERGEANT

McClane's face. out of Mr. bureaucrat Get this ••• Sergeant! (turning) Carmine? no, Oh, GRANT

279 CONTINUED -

planes - It could land our That equipment! (seeing it) BARNES

smoking ruins. looks at the

Barnes The Airport police crash in behind the tailing soldiers.

290 CHURCH VIRGINIA THE INSIDE 290

OVER. ROLLS OUT, falls off it SPINS

CHEST -as he BULLETS rip through his McClane's Garber is on it -

289 REAR .SNOWMOBILE289

Mcclane FIRES twice at the SNOWMOBILES! ESCAPE on hidden as Stuart and Esperanza and the remaining men

288 ANGLE HIGH 288

- MOTORS GASOLINE SOUND of to the

REACTS then - BLASTS in the darkness MUZZLE FIRES at the -then he

GUNFIRE erupts ahead of him DUCKS as Mcclane is first here -

287 CHURCH REAR OF 287

CAMOUFLAGED TARPULIN. SNOW FABRIC we REALIZE it is a and grab at

reach them ~zrkfi and ~ but as - behind it .yar:ds o 3 about BUSHES LOOKS like men and Esperanza towards what Stuart leads his

others run alongside the church - through the doors,

SMASH some of the men from the.front - FIRE MORE NO -there is

RUSH the church FOLLOW Mcclane, they Grant signals his men -

285 WIDER 285

- assault rifles here outclassed by the FIRING his pistol, on his feet, And he's

They're pulling out! (turnin<1) ••• Fuck MCCLANE

284 MCCLANE284

THROUGH. SMASH which they FENCE behind the church - REAR and to the PAN them out the We from the front windows.

RETREAT and then they - weapons their into ta~e blue adhesive

putting ones with ammo clips, their chan9e - all around Looks all

283 CONTINUED -

(X)

the snowmobile. IT alongside the WINDSHIELD of He STEADIES rifle forward. th~ Mcclane pulls 'mobile settles, As the BOUNCE over a mogul. Big

293 SCENE TO BACK 293

vehicles! other up on the rear of the coming He's

292 SHOT WIDE 292

like the Duke on a horse! -rifle man's assault carrying the dead He's riding the snowmobile that cracked up,

Where the fuck is Mcclane? Hey. LORENZO

looks around. spits out snow,

Lore·nzo everyone struggles to their feet. DOWN, RAINS As debris

2·90C SCENE TO BACK (:'~~90C

SHATTER - as they BEAUTY an eerie { stained glass windows giving the destruction EXPLODES, The church

290B WIDER 290B

snow - As all dive into the he's heading in. bowling over Lorenzo just as the soldiers and Barnes rush out,

Now! Evacuate! GRANT

and the mother fucker is primed- looks like C-4 - too Got one here, A SOLDIER

hidden under a panel.

TRAP BOOBY BLINKING who is by a RAKES to the sergeant, CAMERA

They did. SERGEANT

- they could have - outside There were trip wires Don't touch it! (blocking him) GRANT

290 CONTINUED -

(X)

DWINDLE in the landscape of the empty airfield. All He looks back at the mini-FIREBALL, signals his men to regroup.

302 STUART WITH 302

WIND REGISTER. runway EXPLODES against a

'mobile and the - from the seat TUMBLES Mcclane AIRBORNE - goes - CONTROL OUT of CAREENS McClane's snowmobile BULLETS, RIDDLED with

301 ANGLE NEW 301

--= AUTO - FULL on

(X) Burke FIRES -and there's the other snowmobile that turned. SWERVES He WINDSHIELD. OUT his BLOW DUCKS as bullets Mcclane

300 SCENE TO BACK 300

pistol

FIRES his SWEEPS past Esperanza Now as he UNTOUCHED! Aiain,

~

- -FIRES SNOWMOBILES APPROACHING AIMS at the He

Shit! MCCLANE

298 MCCLANE 298

clip. red taped AMMO CLIPS to a Swr:L"CHES purke riding alone. (X) ~a, ESPERANZA; riding double with Ka!ln., PEEL OFF; Two of them

297 WIDER 297

SIGNALS his flanking riders.

HAND SHOTS. SOUND of LOOKS back at the But he UNTOUCHED.

296 STUART 296

FIRES. He

- mother fucker one fourteen, This is for flight MCCLANE

295 SCENE BACK TO295

HEAD. We see STUART'S

294 - SIGHTS THROUGH HIS()294

(X) to confirm the plane's condition.

Please have a ground crew there Good. STUART

Quite clear. TRUDEAU

make myself clear? Do I missiles into your terminal. I will fire several Stinger just made, attempt to stop us like the one you If there's another We're on our way. STUART

not far. then the hanger mentioned; Stuart looks at his map,

got. That's the most remote building we've

(X) It's in hanger eleven. It is.

LIGHT on foot near the halted snowmobiles. Stuart and his men,

Is our plane prepared? Stuart. This is Colonel tower. Attention, (from radio) VOICE STUART'S

RUNS. He gets to his feet and

my God ••• Oh, MCCLANE

the red/blue tape and -makes the connection. PUSHES in on Mcclane until he looks at CAMERA - blanks clip -

Second First clip has live ammo. More clips inside. backpacks.

one of the soldier's finds rummages in the snow, he Paleing.,

Blanks ••• blanks? MCCLANE

(X) WADS where brass should meet lead. PAPER There's

then another. round into his hand, He peels off a clip. Mcclane pulls off the the stock broken. And finds it, rifle. looking for the assault snow - Instead, he's pawing through the

a doctor.

(X) he should be looking for body bruised, jacket ragged, glass,

Face bloodied by HAND comes into view. McClane's MOVES. which

303 SNOW 303 ·

\

down- whisper of this shit you're running and none of them has heard even a town has people out at the airport every station in and second, news; not hard Siamese Twin drag queens, you do - first, Dick, this is nuts PRODUCER

quiet, .hovers over a speaker phone. PRODUCER waves for the - A chaotic meeting of news staffers

got it. You (moving) LORENZO

to break out on the ground. off every exit in case anyone tries your men back to the airport and seal take Lorenzo, out of the sky. .plane hanger or we will shoot that fucking take them in the will We jackets. full metal - everyone armor for Body We move out in five minutes. (disconnecting) plane. own fucking Check out your as you do. as well .the drill know I remember Colonel, you'll If you remember me, '' GRANT

Major Grant, isn't it? STUART

for you. potential hostages gift wrap to ask us Please don't Colonel. it yourself, You're quite capable of confirming (into radio) GRANT

truck. Grant uses the field radio Telford has set up in the back of the

everywhere. and sparkling

FORMING ice smoking RUIN; FIGHTERS spray down the FIRE B.G. the In GARAGE. trucks are parked by the still intact church Ariny The

306 CHURCH VIRGINIA EXT.

(X)

was with you guys for that. I wish I wistful) (oblivious to this, TELFORD

DUPLICATED by the others. look a a bit as Grant looks at his watch ••• which SUBSIDES LAUGHTER,

five weeks of surfing! - five minutes of firefight - Grenada GRANT

the bitter laughter of the battlefield. - LAUGH·· All

s_ays ! he --"I was in Grenada", SOLDIER

SOLDIERS get ready at the trucks. NEIGHBORS behind barricades while POLICE keep curious Local

TO: CUT

Network, here we come ••• THORNBERG

they got three minutes to shout! Tell the affiliates if they want in We're cuttin9 in in five minutes! (giving orders) - we're on it We're on it, PRODUCER

from weather- map, steal one And a Connie's got one. whatever, a publicity shot, from the files, in me Key now. want you to go live, I THORNBERG

- Jesus PRODUCER

STUNNED reaction. TV station, In the

- Try this proof? You want none of them is me. Well, THORNBERG

thumbs up. them a gives in his car,

(X) Lorenzo, getting AWAY. DRIVE they close the back of the truck -

way. rest of the

(X) FALLS the He a ladder. battered, trying to come down shivering,

313 MCCLANE 313

(X) - TURNS SOUND he a At sea he's scav.enged.

from the Airport more flotsom shoes, stacking dolls, whistling,

312 MARVIN 312

light. green Repeat, You have a green light. We are secure here. Hatchling. Roger, (into transceiver) STUART

up sign.

thumbs gives him the men comes out, of his One prepared for him.

transceiver while he looks up at the plane h.is Stuart holds

schedule and in place. On Eagle Nest, this is Hatchling. (into transceiver) GRANT

Stuart's men! same distinctive scrambled transceiver used by the - transceiver comes out with a and he pocket of his trousers car~o the

(X) Grant is already digging into BACK off the bench. FLOPS Telford

throat! f DRAWS his combat knife and SLITS the kid's Grant And in a flash,

this. Then we wouldn't have to do Yeah. GRANT

Really, sir? (touched) TELFORD

kid. So do we, GRANT

310 CONTINUED -110 (J

Thornberg plays the tape again. smug smile, With a

aircraft overhead. between Dulles tower and the captive recording of a conversation a is This phone) finto THORNBERG

318 LAVATORY -IN THORNBERG318

from his ordeal. to normal slowly coming back or elderly, is Mcclane, sick reserved for the

(X) in the seat usually beside him, as hell: haPJ?Y MARVIN drives,

(X) jumping out of the way of- and then People walking along -

TO: CUT

is terrifying. the truth - truth is far from normal But the below me was a normal one. whatever problem was going on far under the assumption that capitol, who has been circling our Nation's J?eople I'm one of the thousand Tom, (filtered) VOICE THORNBERG'S

comes up in the corner of the newsroom. FACE Thornberg's SUPER of Now a That gets all the sports fan's attention.

Washington. from the skies over reporting Dick Thornberg, here is report, KLA with an exclusive Now, officials. FAA from Airport or ex~lanation no with aircraft continue to circle, where other this evening at Dulles, plane crash earlier a There was News.

(X) WZDC from special bulletin a This is

(coming on screen) NEWSCASTER

CARD. SUPERCEDED by a SPECIAL BULLETIN EVENT is A SPORTS

315 SET TV ON A TIGHT 315

(X) returns it. grinning, Grant,

314 CONTINUED -

FIRES. Mcclane steps back - raises the assault rifle -

- under arrest You're (reaching for handcuffs) else? And you know what Mcclane. bend, completely around the fucking You're LORENZO

- time buy them A side show to jerk us off - MCCLANE

But - that firefight at the house- LORENZO

own guys that unit with his Stuart must have loaded canned him, Before the Army and leave with him! gonna get on the same Goddamn plane They're not gonna do that -they're MCCLANE

out of the sky - They left to shoot those bastards LORENZO

are they? the Terrorist Team -where Grant - (grabbing Lorenzo) MCCLANE

custodial enginner crap - Don't need that Marvin, the Janitor. nameta~) (pointing to his MARVIN

Who the fuck are you? LORENZO

give him a break- serious shit, througμ This man's been MARVIN

mind-? fucking your Are you out ofMcclane! LORENZO

Lorenzo comes thundering out of his office. a halt at the receptionist's desk. to SKIDS The golf cart

PLAYS. LISTEN as the tape of Barne's earlier broadcast The people

319 BAR AIRPORT THE IN

(X)

( CABS. FIGHT for People EXODUS. A mass

324 TERMINAL FRONT OF324

PEOPLE. SCREAMING Suddenly full of

is dangerously close - of a full scale and deadly battle the liklihood arrived at the airport, Army Commandoes have now that special and unless their demands are met; The terrorists promise more bloodshed fact the authorities have suppressed. a control of the entire airport - that the terrorists have virtual Since then this reporter has learned ENDS) (as tape VOICE THORNBERG'S

CRYSTAL VASE. DROPS a A CUSTOMER hearing this THING.

SAME BROADCASTING the DISPLAY are ON PORTABLE TV's There, all the SHOP. GIFT a from the terminal bar towards AWAY PANS CAMERA

OUT. RUN Already several begin to

SHOCK. the patrons are in CONCLUDES, TAPE RECORDING As the

Mcclane beside him! appreciative~ and a startled - - the door and rushes out ammo ~istol checks his - He slams the phone down

time to kick ass! It's the motor pool in five minutes! weaponry in in body armor with full officer recalled now and assembled want every I This is Chief Lorenzo. (into phone) - Holy shit LORENZO

there tonight. These are the bullets they used out (showing the clip) MCCLANE

how - - Wha LORENZO

321 ANGLE NEW

(X)

(

him back. STEWARD forces A MAN tries to get out of his seat and a SCREAMS. A WOMAN

too! Thornberg's broadcast is here, TV SCREEN. from the WIDEN

330 AIRPLANE HOLLY'S INT.330

TO: CUT

watching the scene, trying to get it on video.

thru OMITTED thru

- SEES looks around and jumps out of the car - Mcclane

clear the area-! Goddamn it, get some crowd control! Henderson, Move that piece of shit! barking orders) (shouting, LORENZO

front of the airport. PANIC in the smack into the SEE that the police .cars have run

UP and we CRANES CAMERA TAXI. SMASHES into a And Lorenzo's car

326A ANGLE NEW 326A

WAILING - SIRENS FORWARD, ROARS the caravan REACTS, Mcclane As who towed the car. asshole The other guy in the car is the

my nephew? you meet Mcclane, (aside to Mcclane) OUT1 MOVE the pieces! they can pick up with their backup, When the city blues get here sides! four 11 on all Converge on Hanger (shouting) t LORENZO

Bond on Wagon Train. window like Ward) Lorenzo leans out the of officers behind, lights SPINNING. full DOZEN other police cars a Mcclane is in Lorenzo's police car;

- Christ - that fucking asshole TRUDEAU

too. They're watching this here,

325 CAB INT.

(X)

POINTS to - And he

different kind of ride. but I'm looking for a Thanks; MCCLANE

have your baby. You give me this story, I'll Jesus. SAM

Sam ABSORBING what McClane's told her. crowd; forcing their way through the Sam and the cameraman, Mcclane,

We now resume our regular programming. experiencing electrical problems. Thornberg is but Mr. We're sorry, sweetly) (into phone, asshole. to that, Amen HOLLY

(X) She picks up the phone. DROPS! - TWITCHES He ZAPS him with the old lady's TASER. She WHAM.

broadcast - my final ••• and if this should bed THORNBERG(cont'd) { Holly silently opens the lavatory door. Behind him,

(X) for humanity and country. line on the (X) put his life and his talent Thornber9 (X) the hostages because Richard

among the truth, at least, is not in this place, But at least this time, with the lives of thousands at stake. and authorities between terrorists A standoff And so it continues: (into phone) THORNBERG

one of the special keys for the lavatories. And finds

goes to the kitchen area. some panicked people, she sidesteps Then, PURSE. takes her seatmate's - STOPS she

mid-stride in - - gets quickly out of her seat on the wall cradle airphone empt¥ she looks at the Then something else sinks in;

My God •••

(X) (as it sinks in)

HOLLY

.. 331 HOLLY

eh? handed salute, a left and excuse we are all safe - Save them until Major. Thank you, ESPERANZA

Congratulations on your escape, sir. GRANT

Esperanza. then pivots to salute Grant salutes him, in the headlight beams.

from Stuart greetin9 warm a from the cab, gets Grant jumps down

ILLUMINATING the waiting plane. now There's the truck, headlights UPWARDS. RUMBLES The big door

336D WIDER 3360

signals for the hanger door to be opened. Stuart GRINS,

late. on the planet 'cause I'm two minutes reamed out by the best Goddamn soldier my ass My position is I'm gonna get VOICE GRANT'S

position? I What is your report in. Hatchling, (into scrambled radio) \:~~ STUART , I - COCKED - soldier's muscles coil Weapons are I

336C HANGER THE INSIDE 336C '

- ..1... f:c-:-~"---~-~i Truck lights! l J cockin~~:~apo\(

into his radio - SPEAlcS

He GLEAMS in the distance. Something watch. ~,hereon

336B HANGER EXT.

Stuart looks at his watch. snow. scaffolds to look out at the landing field hidden in the driving on high d, at doors, '-',U,,''-'a.!...n"d.,,, a h' Stuart and

336A I 336A

thru thru

- across the tarmac

334 HELICOPTER NEWS HER

(X)

They're leaving! Shit! MCCLANE

Hanger Eleven - (pointing) PILOT

PANICKY. which is growing - TOWER TRAFFIC APIRPLANE.AND

CONTINUING LISTENING to the Mcclane and the others fly along,

- cocky smiles on their faces the soldiers take seats,

runway. TAXIS out of the hanger, rolls towards the 747 The

338A ANGLE LOW WIDER - 338A

THEM - SHADOWS then something

CAMERA -and GLARE into the The abandoned truck's lights still

That way. (pointing) I like losing worse. MCCLANE

Then what are you doing here? SAM

- don't like flying. I i MCCLANE

cowboy? Too rough for you, PILOT

REACTS. Mcclane GROUND like an elevator. THE UP and OFF WHOOSH!

337 CHOPPER NEWS INT. 337

the plane. 'to they run up the stairs CHEER, a With

· Get on board! ass vacation! a kick and pride and admiration ••• my won a victory for democracy ••• You've gentlemen. My congratulations, gather) men (as the STUART

336D CONTINUED -

(X)

CONTINUED \

it? on top of then how about - Okay (finally) MCCLANE

but the pilot equally tough. - Mcclane furious - Pause

it! I'm still not getting in front of PILOT

Goddamnit-! my wife's plane, That's (to the pilot) MCCLANE

coming in one way or another! And in five minutes we're land! fumes and we have to We're down to Goddamn it! mine just changed, Well, RADIO .

is unchanged • our .situation one fourteen, Negative, TRUDEAU'S VOICE

clearance - request emergency Repeat, runway. Request clearance on first available RADIO

Holly - (chilled) MCCLANE

Dulles, this is Western one-forty- RADIO

but not that crazy- I'm crazy, Hey, 200 ton plane? Play chicken with a PILOT

their path! block low, Hover to stop! 'em Get MCCLANE

Now what? PILOT

who's already on the case. Cameraman, Sam taps the

341 SCENE TO BACK 341

snow - into the the hanger empty, light spilling slow wide turn, a The plane. in

(X)

of death - walk through the valley I though -yea, (barely audible) HOLLY

diving - Diving,

(X) SKID! MOVES to the and a deep breath - -takes (X) Mcclane SLIPS out OPEN - the door SLIDES DROPPING - TURNING,

399A CHOPPER THE 399A

(X) snow - GLOWING through the engines

399 PLANE THE 399

thru OMITTED --'thru 392 c392

attendants. positions as instucted by the cabin your safety belts and assume crash Please put on emergency landing. We have no choice but to attempt an VOICE PILOT'S.

- chilled to listen, They strap him in as Holly and the others down the aisle. The cabin attendants are lugging Thornberg's unconscious body

391 CABIN INT. 391

is critical. our situation Ladies and Gentlemen. (into intercom) PILOT

YELLOW. FLASHES and BEEPS

gauge pilot and co-pilot look at each other as their fuel The

TO: CUT

(X) we smile, and start to And as both men realize they've cut a dangerous deal

341 CONTINUED -0141

) ___ \ \ ( Mierde - ( ESPERANZA

FROWNS. and then Esperanza lights a cigar -

408 COCKPIT INT. 408

take off his jacket!

and starts to - he wedges himself against an engine pod panting,

407 MCCLANE 407

vanishes in the snowstorm. AWAY, PEELS it

406 'CHOPPER THE406

IT!

-MAKES AGAIN Mcclane TRIES Pause. APART. MOVE earthbound - one still - two aircraft - but the grope for the wing surface FEET McClane's WING. PLANE skids come treacherously close to the

HANDHOLD as the DROPS to a now Mcclane - sitting on the skid -

TO: CUT

· tropics. get much of it in the They do.n' t STUART

lifetime. a snow for I've had enough fucking off) (knocking some GRANT

Heroes. they are: Starting to feel like what they think Grant. Esperanza, Stuart,

404 COCKPIT INT. 404

with the plane!

SPEED MATCHES LOWER, DROPS as it on its skid, Mcclane CHOPPER,

DISCOVERS the BACK and PANS CAMERA 747 taxis along the

sweeps week - was it it had to do I wanted ratings - just I I-I didn't mean any harm - TRUDEAU

half-conscious. It's Thornburg,

tearfull_y. mumbling HEARS another voice she To her amazement,

,JO

402 CONTINUED -402 .··

(X)

- -pushes -pushes PUSHES Grant he just GRINS like a maniac - - BACK doesn't HIT but Mcclane AWAY on McClane's face - POUNDS Grant other - FIGHTING with the with one hand - WING THE TO ON HOLDING Each

415 GRANT AND MCCLANE 415

INDISTINGUISHABLE in the driving snow. are

but the doorway, tries to AIM - in

413 STUART 413

ground rushing past below! falls to the BOUNCES off the wing, Grant's gun TRIPS him! from behind the door, Mcclane APPEARS WHAM! Grant starts out -

FLAPPING in the groaning aerilon. jacket,

just the - MCCLANE NO WIND whipping him. .Grant stands there,

412 WING EXT. 412

opens it.

Grant move to the door. Stuart and Grant cock their weapons,

do him. I'll (already moving) GRANT

Then - They ·can't fucking believe this.

410 SCENE TO BACK 410

the groove where it hinges! JACKET into JAMMING his GROANING because Mcclane is Hydraulics

REACTS to - and He looks out the window -

- can't take off -we Something's wrong The aerilons! ESPERANZA

What? STUART

408 CONTINUED -

(X)

over and down at

Looks moves hand over hand to a trailing section of the wing.

421 MCCLANE 421

he steps out. in hand, knife bulky coat - discards the - Stuart takes off his rifle irin, savage a -with GLIMPSE of what has to be Mcclane a - finally - SEE to trfing

420 STUART 420

increases power to the other engines. handles it - "EXTINGUISHER", Esperanza hits "FIRE" indicator goes on. a

419 COCKPIT THE IN 419

I like you better dead. MCCLANE

wipes red snow from his arm. \_~)

BLOWS! the engine pod it,

on but before we can dwell it could be hamburger pouring out -

418 ENGINE OF REAR 418

HIM - SNOW SPLATTERS RED Mcclane winces as SCREAM -

SOUND -A GRINDING There's an awful INTAKE! ENGINE THE INTO RIGHT

417 ANGLE NEW 417

- FALLS and screams

He he realizes he's over the front edge of the wing! too late,

416 GRANT 416

I really liked you - (raising knife) GRANT(cont'd)

APPEARS in Grant's hand- KNIFE a SLIDING - SOUND of metal The

- Mcclane - bad - Too they struggle) as (through his teeth, GRANT CJ415

- 415 CONTINUED -

{X)

£-:..,....._...:fr::::S::::=+-=

431 STUART 431

almost rolls over him -

REAR TIRE the big moving car - a from bounces like litter thrown runway, snow at the edge of the SLAMS into the FEET, 20 DROPS

430 MCCLANE 430

WING! THE OFF HIM - -and then Stuart KICKS Mcclane SMILES - again -STOMPS CRUNCH - on the wing HANDS STOMPS on McClane's Stuart

429 SCENE TO BACK 429

reflecting - FUEL twists behind the moving plane, slick and light RIBBON of a

428 RUNWAY THE 428

Mcclane feels the wetness on his hand - - DOWN SPIGOTS

Fuel - it OPENS! turn - turn, Mcclane feels for the fuel port

427 WING THE UNDER 427

because - BLOWS, Stuart's

IGNORES now he - CATCHES at the last moment He of the wing!

Mcclane is being worked over the edge - -blood on Stuart's shoe

AGAIN SHOULDER -KICKS INJURED KICKS McClane's held clawlike,

mangled hand and, RECOVERS, But he's hardly at it when Stuart

on the fuel port! goes back to work him away, PUNCHES who his grip on Mcclane, SCREAMS and loosens Stuart CRUNCHES both hand and knife! metal WIGGLE of the The next Stuart's knife hand the aerilon crack!

JAMS McClane With.all his strength, FIGHTING for the knife.

426 STUART AND MCCLANE 426

PROPER. RUNWAY THE ON Now he's PLANE. TURNS the he

425 ESPERANZA425

from Stuart. CHARGE another another 1/4 turn -and then he has to abandon it to deal with

TURNS -it_ Mcclane goes back to work on the fuel port - wing the over 9oes almost FALLS, Stuart - KNEE KICK Stuart's to manan~es he In pain, SHOULDER. CATCHES his but the knife ROLLS, Mcclane

424 NEW ANGLE424

- DOWN knife whizzing STUART, SEE to LOOKS up just in TIME then it a bit - TURNS he Wincing, TIGHT.·

fucker is Gets it - Stretches. Too far. He reaches for it.

423 SCENE TO BACK

(X}

(X) the wheels go into the AIR - STARTS TO·RISE -

442A PLANE THE 442A

(X) IT - GUNS cry, RESPONDS to the

442 COCKPIT IN ESPERANZA -442

(X) NOW! OFF TAKE OFF! TAKE NO! NO!

STUART

- SHOUT to Esperanza turns to HIM - TOWARDS RACING flame SEES the

441 STUART 441

FUEL. THE INTO CIGARETTE THE THROWS And he

New Year. Happy Fucking Colonel: Hey, MCCLANE

440 MCCLANE 440

runway - winding endlessly down the

l

SEES and for the first time back he looks to close it, about

\__/ ,---\

438 DOORWAY PLANE O.PEN THE IN STUART -<138·

437 SCENE TO BACK 437

careening down in a desperate fight. against gravity -

- SEES Then he ENGINES. OF JET SOUND sky trying to find the

now he looks up into the dark battered like a car wreck victim,

435 MCCLANE 435

now - runway for 1/4 mile running along the

434 FUEL OF JET LINE THE 434

(X) looks off at - cigarette, he lights a - incongrous as it seems - and away ••• the jet move he watches Face impassive, painful sitting position. a crawls to

433 RUNWAY OF EDGE MCCLANE -AT433

- smiles sees this,

432 ESPERANZA

trims the plane - The pilot grabs controls desperately,

Look - CO-PILOT

A line right along the runway.

- STRAIGHT for almost a mile

AND CLEAN RUNNING OF FIRE LINE the more importantly - -and, WRECKAGE BURNING SEE the through the glass we - FADE cinematic

in an almost and then - SNOW outside - and driven Blackness

Honey ••• there's your landing lights. (towards the sky) MCCLANE

LOOKS at the huge conflagration. and Gets to his knees,

448 MCCLANE 448

- FIREBALL in the distance they watch the

446 MCCLANE 446

directions! BODY going nine different and TAIL and WINGS ITSELF, EXPLODES It

taking all the remaining soldiers with it and then

DOOR., THE OUT RIGHT BLOWS FIREBALL a TO LITTLE PIECES as BLOWN is

443 STUART 443

and then

ON FIRE and then he's FLOOR, WING and through the cockpit THE UP SHOOTS OF FIRE that WALL a EXPLOSION in time for TURNS at the

442C ESPERANZA442C

EXPLODES! ENGINE which NEAREST THE TO SKY and THE INTO RIGHT ribbon climbing the fuel FLAME, so does the But as the craft rises, ,/ _____ \

442B PLANE OF REAR n42B

(X)

- tears Stewardess controlling their own

ushed by CHUTE, RESCUE HEARS this just as she goes down the

-HOLLY! HOLLY Holly - MCCLANE

SEES what he's then he war - from coming home B-29's line, like an assembly it's PLANE SKIDS down behind him - another giant His concentration is totally on Hollf'S plane -now that - FLAMES beyond ignoring the BESIDE HIM, LANDING PLANE the giant

IGNORING maybe thinking he's dead or dreaming ••• along, Stumbles

454 RUNWAY ON THE MCCLANE -454

· the size of stars. the others dwindling down to the closest.filling the screen, row,

and patient in a neat from the sky, come down now the lights And

- ENGINES SOUND of - the there it is And sure enough,

Listen. They already know. TRUDEAU

'em - do that - let's tell They can all ENGINEER AN

-they.used the fucking fire to see! (laughing) fire to see - They used the one forty is down! (listening to headset) BARNES

452 CAB THE IN 452

RESCUE SIRENS. HEAR Already we

the grassy field.

(X) turning onto TO A HALT, SKIDS and finally SWERVES HOLD IT as it (X) BLOWS but the pilots and then a tire twice, once, BOUNCE, wheels

and then the runway, from the wrong end of the coming in fire, ALONGSIDE the line of it's now but a bit erratic, It descends,

451 PLANE HER EXT, 451

- a bit REACT as they level The passengers (Ji5o

450 - CABIN THE IN

Damned if I'm cleaning up this mess. MARVIN

He looks at the chaos. Marvin is there in an airport cart.

HONK. TURN at a then both kisses her - Sets Holly down,

461A MCCLANE 461A

loved ones. families, pour down the steps into arms of friends,

up to the planes and the passengers as rolling stairs are put

watches it dreamily. And she yanks out his power cord,

It sure is. Yeah. SAM

- God, that's beautiful CAMERAMAN

The cameraman brings up his lens.

460 SCENE TO BACK 460

hearing his story- and then she's nursing his wounds, - embracing

459 HOLLY AND MCCLANE 459

- SEE her cameraman hit the ground running.

Sam and runway. DOWN on the frozen earth near the CRUNCHES It

458 'CHOPPER NEWS THE458

off. walks puts her high heels back on - She steps over him,

he raises his hands in supplication to the stewardess. groggy,

AWAY. HER CARRIES - a child CATCHES her at the bottom like

456 MCCLANE

(X)