The Fifth Element

Zorg sighs and sits down totally freaked.

EXT. ORBIT FHLOSTON PARADISE

The space shuttle fills the screen. It banks left and begins its descent toward Fhloston, the turquoise planet. Crystal blue water, perfect white sand beaches. A true paradise.

INT. SPACE SHUTTLE

The stewardess picks up a microphone to make an announcement.

STEWARDESS

Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent toward Fhloston Paradise...

Stewardesses walk down the aisles waking the passengers one by one. They press a button on the door of each box.

In the corner, Loc Rhod and the stewardess awake with a start and straighten their clothes quickly. The stewardess is embarrassed.

STEWARDESS

(timidly)

I wanted to tell you that...

Loc Rhod puts on his sunglasses and presses a finger to her lips. He disappears behind the curtain leaving the sighing stewardess on her own.

EXT. FHLOSTON PARADISE

The spaceship descends through some clouds and glides over a vast turquoise sea. Fhloston Paradise looms into view. An enormous oceanliner floating a dozen yards above the water. On closer inspection it is more modern than a traditional oceanliner. The shuttle draws near, looking ridiculously small next to the monster. Like a sardine next to a whale.

INT. COCKPIT

A blinking light goes on.

PILOT

Shit! Parasites in Zone 1. Take a look.

The 1st Mate heads off.

INT. CABIN

A stewardess opens Korben's box door. He is still heavy with sleep. He looks over at Leeloo. She's not there.

EXT. FHLOSTON

The tiny space shuttle clings to the huge oceanliner.

INT. COCKPIT

The Pilot maneuvers the ship into it's docking area.

PILOT

Docking activated. You can let the passengers out.

INT. REAR OF COCKPIT

The 1st mate pries open the door to an overhead panel. Cornelius falls out, hanging in a jumble of wires.

INT. ENTRANCE HALL FHLOSTON PARADISE – DAY

The enormous door opens and the passengers exit. Leeloo is among them. She appears quite impressed by the beauty and luxury of the 19th century decoration.

INT. CABIN

Korben attempts to make his way up the shuttle's aisle.

KORBEN

(jostling everybody)

Pardon me. Excuse me. I'm trying to reach my wife... Sorry!

INT. ENTRANCE HALL

A dozen policemen wait patiently at the end of the hall. Leeloo stops and presses against the wall. She spots Korben leaving the shuttle. A gorgeous HOSTESS comes up to him, drapes a lei around his neck and plants a kiss on his lips in welcome.

HOSTESS

(smiling)

Welcome to Paradise.

Korben's face is covered in lipstick. Leeloo sees he did nothing to stop the girl and she doesn't like it.

A HEFTY MAN wearing a sarong drapes some flowers around her neck. Then, obviously relishing it, he leans down to kiss her. Leeloo bashes him on the forehead. The hefty man straightens up. He's still smiling, but his nose is bleeding. He falls slowly to the floor.

Korben pushes forward trying to spot Leeloo. He also tries to wipe the lipstick off. Leeloo tries to escape through a door marked "PERSONNEL ONLY", but it's locked. A HOST looks at her with a grin.

HOST

(playful)

If you don't have the code you can't open it!

Leeloo smiles and punches in an old code and twists the doorknob. The door opens with the sound of a braking lock. Leeloo smiles sweetly and enters as if nothing were amiss.

A shriek of joy fills the room. Korben turns around. The HOSTESSES cluster around Loc Rhod as he comes out of the plane. Loc Rhod spots Korben and latches onto his arm. It's not going to be easy to remain discrete.

LOC RHOD

(relieved)

My main man! Please don't leave me here alone. My head's killing me and my adoring fans are gonna tear me apart! Get me outta here!

KORBEN

I'll take you to the bar, after that, you're on your own.

LOC RHOD

(hanging on to Korben)

Oh, yes! Do that! You treat me right, man. Tell me all about yourself, your roots, your personal life, your childhood dreams...

KORBEN

I don't think this is a good time...

LOC RHOD

... You got brothers and sisters? What about your dad? Tell me about your dad! What was he like? Physically? Big, I suppose?

KORBEN

(evasive)

Yeah, very big, a giant.

LOC RHOD

I didn't have a dad... never saw him... never even heard him. 50 billion people listen to me every day... and he doesn't hear me...

INT. SMALL ROOM FHLOSTON PARADISE – DAY

Leeloo is in a small room, ear at the door, listening. Everything seems normal. She turns and discovers the room for what it is:a rest room for... three cops who look up from their books and stare blankly at her. Leeloo doesn't know what to do. So she smiles.

INT. KORBEN'S STATEROOM

The door opens. The HOSTESS turns on the light and enters. Korben follows her, gaping at all the luxury.

The BAGGAGE BOY enters bringing Leeloo's two suitcases.

Korben grabs the notice announcing Diva Plavalaguna's concert at 5:30 in that evening. Dress: Formal attire.

KORBEN

For the concert it says formal attire... I didn't bring...

The hostess pulls back the closet door. Twenty tuxedos in a row.

HOSTESS

(looking him over)

Here's some champagne. I'll drop by after the concert to open it.

She gives him a blinding smile and closes the door.

Korben pushes a button. The curtains open to reveal a most spectacular view of the turquoise planet. Stars shoot out into infinity. Breathtaking. Korben stands gaping. The phone rings, snapping him out of his reverie.

KORBEN

Hello?

MOTHER (O.S.)

You little sleaze bag!

KORBEN

... Ma???

MOTHER (O.S.)

Don't you ever ask me for another thing in my life again, you've killed your poor mother with your own hands!

Korben drops into an armchair and sighs. His eyes go to the ceiling.

KORBEN

... Ma!!!

INT. FHLOSTON PARADISE POLICE OFFICE – DAY

The Chief of Police has Cornelius in front of him, handcuffed.

FOG

The Diva's ship is coming in.

CHIEF OF POLICE

I want maximum security.

FOG

Yes. Sir!

CHIEF OF POLICE

(to Cornelius)

OK, let's hear it.

CORNELIUS

Where was I?

CHIEF OF POLICE

(bored)

... You open the door. There's a cabby with a girl in his arms.

FOG opens the door. Two COPS come hobbling in all bloody and bandaged. They hold up a THIRD COP.

CHIEF OF POLICE

What happened? A bomb go off in your face?

BEAT-UP COP

Yeah... A 5 foot 7 inch bomb... with green eyes.

Cornelius perks up.

CORNELIUS

And the smile of an angel?

They all turn to look at him.

CORNELIUS

(to Chief)

May I speak to you alone.

INT. CORRIDOR FHLOSTON PARADISE – DAY

Leeloo watches the Diva's arrival. A door opens and two POLICEMAN clear the way for DIVA PLAVALAGUNA, her MANAGER, her BODYGUARDS and a gaggle of PORTERS carrying trunks.

Not wanting to draw attention to herself, Leeloo feigns interest in a painting that is obviously upside down. A white chiffon veil covers the face of the Diva, she stops in front of Leeloo. The Diva reaches out and strokes Leeloo's face, without touching her. The Diva removes her hand making a sound of crackling electricity, then passes on. Leeloo is groggy. The Diva's ASSISTANT comes up to her.

DIVA'S ASSISTANT

Please forgive this little incident. She wants you to know that she senses great powers in you... in the service of a noble cause... She will give you what you have come to get, but she wants to sing first... One last time...

The Diva's assistant turns the painting right side up.

DIVA'S ASSISTANT

(nodding)

Miss.

Leeloo looks at the painting, seems to understand it better.

EXT. DIVA'S SUITE

Policemen stand at attention in front of the Diva's suite.

FOG

Hello, I'm head of security. Everything is in order. You can...

The Diva enters her suite without letting him finish.

FOG

... make yourselves at home safely. If you need anything... give it a knock!

INT. POLICE OFFICE HALLWAY – NIGHT

A door opens near the police officer's main entrance. Cornelius looks both ways. Then crosses the hall, dragging the Chief of Police by the feet.

INT. KORBEN'S STATEROOM

Korben finishes putting on his tux, still on the phone.

KORBEN

Listen, Ma! I've only got a few days vacation and I'll be damned if I'm gonna spend them on the phone.

The door RINGS.

KORBEN

... Hang on, it's the door. No! I told you I didn't bring anybody! I'm all alone... as usual!

Korben opens the door. It's not the champagne. Even better. It's Leeloo.

KORBEN

(to his mother)

... I'll call you back.

Leeloo heads right for her suitcase and starts to undress. Korben has to turn away once more.

KORBEN

Here we go again...

LEELOO

(by rote)

You know women normally change five times more than men.

KORBEN

You get that off the screen?

LEELOO

Yes... you know there's a lot of differences between men women.

KORBEN

You noticed...

LEELOO

OK, you can turn around!

Korben turns around. Leeloo has put on a very simple dress which is sexy to the max. He is smitten. So much so that Leeloo wonders if something isn't quite right.

KORBEN

Where you going?

LEELOO

I'm going to see the Diva sing. What's the matter?... Do I look bad?

KORBEN

No, not at all! I mean, just the opposite, you're... you're beautiful!

Leeloo smiles at him, his compliment pleases her. She turns, revealing her unzippered back. Korben cannot help but stare at her bare flesh. Her perfect bottom.

LEELOO

Do you know how this works?

Korben's blood boils. She wriggles, pressing her hands together close to the zipper.

KORBEN

I have an idea.

But instead of pulling on the zipper he slips a bracelet on her wrist. A flourescent beam bursts out of the bracelet and forms a vertical bar going from the floor to the ceiling. Stunned, Leeloo is held captive.

KORBEN

I told you I need to work in peace. Remember? I need to concentrate.

LEELOO

And you can't concentrate with me around?.

KORBEN

It's difficult.

She tries to breakout.

KORBEN

Army issue. I'm sorry.

Leeloo tries desperately to get out of the handcuffs. Impossible.

Korben sets the radio down in front of her and turns it on. Leeloo looks like she'd like to break his head.

LEELOO

(seething)

You're nothing but a... a...

KORBEN

The words you're looking for weren't in the dictionary you studied. I won't be long.

The door flies open. Loc Rhod barges in.

LOC RHOD

Hey Stud we gotta...

Then he sees the scene, Leeloo cuffed, in a low cut dress. His mind goes to the obvious.

LOC RHOD

Korben my man what's happening here? Who's the chick? What's the gig? We free forming here? Getting funky with the monkey? Can I get in on this?

Korben grabs him by the collar...

KORBEN

No... to all of the above.

And yanks Loc Rhod out of the room. Leaving Leeloo looking extremely unhappy.

INT. FHLOSTON PARADISE OPERA – NIGHT

Loc Rhod and Korben enter what turns out to be a replica of the Garnier Opera in Paris. A hostess escorts them to their seats.

LOC RHOD

(broadcasting)

We have just walked into what is probably the most beautiful concert hall in the universe. Totally awesome! Magnificent paintings on the ceiling. I don't know who painted them, but he must have busted his balls! I see a row of former ministers, more sinister than minister! A few generals practicing how to sleep. And there's Baby Ray, star of stage and screen, drowning in a sea of nymphets. He's not gonna get much out of this concert, he's stone-deaf!

ANGLE ON

Baby Ray bending his ear to a girl asking for an autograph.

BABY RAY

... to who?