The Fifth Element

Korben literally melts.

KORBEN

(to himself)

Help...

Luckily, a stewardess smiles at him through the box window.

STEWARDESS

Sweet dreams, Mr. Dallas!

The stewardess sets the timing sleeper. Korben and Leeloo immediately fall asleep.

A STEWARDESS at the other end of the shuttle has a problem.

STEWARDESS #2
Mr. Loc Rhod you have to assume your individual position.

LOC RHOD

(hugging her)

I don't want an individual position, I want all positions!

STEWARDESS 2

(resisting somewhat)

We're going to take off soon, Mr. Rhod!

LOC RHOD

Now you're talking!

INT. COCKPIT FHLOSTON SPACE SHUTTLE

Three CREW MEMBERS prepare for liftoff.

COPILOT

(on the radio)

Molecular axis authorization. Vector 130. Destination Fhloston.

Stewardess #1 enters the cockpit.

STEWARDESS #1

Zone 1. 217 locked. The sleep regulator is OK.

PILOT

(checking her out)

Thanks, Miss.

The Stewardess leaves with a smile. A red light flashes on the vast control panel.

MECHANIC

Tell the ground crew we've got parasites in the landing gear.

INT. AIRPORT LANDING STRIP – DAY

A GROUND CREW MEMBER goes over to the truck parked under one of the plane's wings and bangs on the side of it with a shout.

GROUND CREW MEMBER

Disinfecting!

Two DISINFECTORS in hermetically sealed suits exit the truck. They go over to the front landing gear and send up a whooshing beam. The flame burns everything it touches. A pack of repugnant creatures falls squealing from the landing gear. A small trapdoor is opened under the shuttle and a huge slightly phosphorescent tube falls out.

INT. AIRPORT HALL / ZORG'S OFFICE

Zorg's Right Arm is in a phone booth in the middle of the hall.

RIGHT ARM

Yeah, it's me... Put Zorg on.

He is already sweating.

ZORG

(cold)

I'm listening.

RIGHT ARM

The real Korben Dallas is on the plane! He took my place.

ZORG

This is a joke, right?

INT. SHUTTLE

Loc Rhod is wrapped around a stewardess like a snake.

LOC RHOD

No!! I swear to God! I've never been this sincere with a human before!

EXT. LANDING STRIP

TWO GROUND CREW MEMBERS stick an enormous, highly phosphorescant tube into the opening.

GROUND CREW MEMBER

You're fueled and ready to go. Have a nice flight.

INT. SHUTTLE

PILOT

(to copilot)

Everything ready for liftoff?

INT. CABIN

STEWARDESS

(weakly, to Loc Rhod)

No, no... I'm not ready! I'd like to talk first...

INT. ZORG'S OFFICE / AIRPORT HALL

ZORG

I cannot hear you. We have a bad connection here. What's your number?

Right Arm reads off the phone number.

RIGHT ARM

278-500-645-321

ZORG

I'll call you back.

EXT. LANDING STRIP

The runway is now empty. A man slips out of the shadows. It's Cornelius. He scurries over to the front landing gear. He pauses for an instant, the climbs up the wheel well and disappears inside the shuttle.

INT. SHUTTLE

The pilots are going through the pre-flight check list.

COPILOT

Anti static pressure?

MECHANIC

Primed.

The mechanic presses a series of buttons.

INT. CABIN

Loc Rhod undoes a series of buttons on the stewardess' blouse, behind a curtain. He whispers a poem. Impossible to resist him. Outside the curtain the stewardess' legs rise slowly.

EXT. LANDING STRIP

On the ground, protective fire curtains rise slowly to contain the engine exhaust on liftoff.

INT. ZORG'S OFFICE

A keyboard slowly appears in front of Zorg.

ZORG

(typing the number)

278... 500...

SERIES OF QUICK CUTS:

The pilot gradually turns the engines up.

COPILOT

10 seconds...

PILOT

Power increase.

– The stewardess undergoes a power surge from Loc Rhod that's about to lift her of.

– Zorg finishes gleefully typing in the number.

ZORG

3... 2... 1...

– The engines at full blast.

– The stewardess in close to screaming.

PILOT

Liftoff.

– The copilot pushes a button.

– So does Zorg.

– The engines release their full power.

– The stewardess screams in ecstasy.

– In the hall, Right Arm literally explodes along with the phone and everything else within 60 feet.

INT. FHLOSTON SPACE SHUTTLE

The stewardess' legs slowly descend and disappear behind the curtain.

INT. COCKPIT

In the cockpit, the atmosphere loosens up.

COPILOT

(relaxing)

Landing gear secure. Let's light one up.

INT. CABIN

Korben and Leeloo sleep soundly in their box. Leeloo has a smile on her face and her hand in Korben's.

EXT. OUTERSPACE – NIGHT

The spaceship rockets past us, then suddenly vanishes with amazing speed. Space is now empty and calm. Billions of stars glow in perfect silence.

EXT. SPACE

The nefarious planet in still there, immobile, even larger now, writhing like a serpent. Then, suddenly, for no apparent reason, all activity stops and it becomes gray and cold.

INT. SPACESHIP

In the Admiral's starship, scientists watch the measuring device. One of the devices suddenly starts working.

TECHNICIAN

All right! We're finally getting something!

INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

The Head Scientist stands facing the President, who is looking more tired than ever.

HEAD SCIENTIST

The thing is sending out radio wavelengths!

PRESIDENT

What the hell does it want with radio waves?

HEAD SCIENTIST

... Probably wants to make a call!

The President and his Generals look at him in astonishment.

INT. ZORG'S OFFICE

Picasso purrs contentedly on Zorg's lap. The phone rings.

SECRETARY (O.S.)

Mr. Shadow on the line.

Zorg shoots to his feet. Picasso tumbles to the floor. Zorg picks up the phone, both excited and uneasy. He stands there, almost coming to attention.

ZORG

Yes... Zorg here.

The voice is feeble. It comes from the far reaches of time, from the bowels of the universe.

SHADOW

Am I disturbing you?

ZORG

No... not at all. Where are you?

SHADOW'S breathing is awesome.

SHADOW
... Not far, now.

ZORG

Really? Maybe I can get you on my screen and see you at last!

Zorg brings up a huge screen and pushes a few buttons.

In the middle of an electronic snowstorm, a blackish, vaguely human, quiverinq form appears. Two eyes, like lava, give an idea where the head is. Zorg feels sick.

SHADOW

Do you have the picture now Mr. Zorg?

ZORG

Got it.

SHADOW

How's our deal coming along?

ZORG

(ill at ease)

Fine, just fine! I'll have the 4 pieces you asked for any time now. But it wasn't easy. My costs have tripled.

Shadow pauses an instant. A black slimy liquid starts to ooze from the top of the screen. Zorg is feeling worse all the time.

SHADOW

Money is of no importance... I want the Stones!

The black liquid oozes all over the screen which starts to melt. Zorg sweats profusely, his legs tremble.

ZORG

The Stones will be here. I'll see to it personally!

SHADOW

... I can't wait to be among you.