The Fifth Element

KORBEN

Don't tell me you don't know how all this works?

CORNELIUS

Theoretically, yes! The four Stones form the beam and the Fifth Element is supposed to stand in the middle there, but... I don't have the reference book. I've never seen the Stones work!

Korben can't believe his ears. He tears the Stone out of Cornelius' hand and studies the inscriptions. He goes over to one of the four bases the stones rest on and tries to figure it out. The symbol of air is on the Stone, the same as on the base.

KORBEN

Match the symbols!

Korben places the first Stone and picks up another one. Cornelius has found the symbol for water. Loc Rhod sits down. He is very tired.

LOC RHOD

What is this some kinda game? Like chess?

Korben pulls him to his feet and sticks a Stone in his hands.

KORBEN

No. It's much simpler. If we don't figure out where these Stones go in five minutes, we're all dead! Think you got it?

Loc Rhod's got it and runs over to put in his Stone. The four Stones are all in place but nothing happens.

KORBEN

There's no light! You told me there were supposed to be four beams of light.

CORNELIUS

(lost)

Yes, of course, but... The Stones are shut! They have to be open for it to work.

KORBEN

And you don't know how they open, is that what you are saying?

CORNELIUS

That's what I'm saying.

EXT. SPACE

The Dark Planet closes in on Earth rapidly.

INT. CHAPEL

Korben leans over Leeloo.

KORBEN

Leeloo? The Stones! We have to open them! How does it work?

LEELOO

(feeble)

The wind blows... the fire burns...

KORBEN

I know all that, Leeloo! I'm talking about the Stones.

LEELOO

... The rain falls...

Korben is desperate. Leeloo's too weak, he won't get anything more out of her. He darts over to a Stone and turns it over and over.

KORBEN

The rain falls... the wind blows?

Loc Rhod stands in front of his Stone looking at Korben.

KORBEN

Try and figure out how this fucking thing opens, instead of staring at me like that!

Loc Rhod starts feeling the Stone all around.

LOC RHOD

(afraid)

I'm looking, I'm looking.

INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

The tension is palpable in the President's office.

SCIENTIST

... Three minutes.

MUNRO

We've lost contact with them.

INT. CHAPEL

Korben and Cornelius turn the Stones every which way. All to no avai1. Loc Rhod is discouraged.

LOC RHOD

... we'll never make it.

He sighs. Three hooks pop off the Stone. Loc Rhod can't believe his eyes.

LOC RHOD

It... it moved! Korben! Korben!

Korben rushes over, looks at the Stone. Hooks are undone.

KORBEN

What did you say? What did you do?

LOC RHOD

Nothing! Swear to God, I didn't do nothing!

KORBEN

Look, you did something that set it off. Try to remember. Concentrate. Tell me exactly what you did!!

Loc Rhod tries to duplicate the same movement.

LOC RHOD

I was like this... With my hands here and... I said, "We'll never make it!" That's all!

Nothing happens.

KORBEN

Is that all?

LOC RHOD

Yeah... then I sighed... like this.

Loc Rhod sighs, really depressed this time. The Stone opens even more. Korben's got it.

KORBEN

The wind! The wind blows...

Korben blows on the Stone which immediately opens revealing a patch of blue sky with some miniature clouds floating around inside. A yellow beam pops up like a ray of sunlight, like Korben's smile.

KORBEN

Quickly, everyone on a Stone! Water for water! Fire for fire! Earth for earth!

The two men move fast. Korben on the 4th Stone: Earth. He grabs a fistful of earth and throws it on the Stone. A miniature patch of green appears and immediately forms a green beam. Cornelius wipes his forehead with a scarf and wrings it out over the Stone. It opens revealing a patch of miniature raging sea. A blue beam appears.

Loc Rhod has a problem.

LOC RHOD

(shaking)

I don't have a light. I stopped smoking last week! If we'd come a bit sooner...

Korben pats his pockets, he comes up with a box of matches. There's only one left.

KORBEN

Don't breathe.

Loc Rhod and Cornelius hold their breath. Korben strikes the match. A small flame appears on the tip. A breeze goes through the room. Korben feels like he's got TNT in his hands. He approaches the flame to the Stone. The flame twists, dims, flickers... but holds on. The Stone opens. A patch of miniature fire appears. Korben sighs, snuffs out the match. The fourth beam, a red one, immediately forms.

EXT. SPACE

A mass of fire fills the screen. The Earth is only a thousand miles away.