The Fifth Element

SHOT O.S. EXPLOSION. Scuffle.

INT. HALL

The riot police hustle down the hall dragging the neighbor behind them in a canvas bag. A cop is on the wall phone.

COP

OK, we got the guy under wraps.

INT. ZORG'S OFFICE

Right Arm is on the phone, facing Zorg.

COP (O.S.)

It was not easy, but we bagged him!. Thanks for the tip!

RIGHT ARM

(smiling)

Glad to help.

He hangs up.

RIGHT ARM

They just arrested the guy for Uranium smuggling. Everything's going as planned.

He shows him a plane ticket, and a passport with his picture and Korben's name.

RIGHT ARM

All I have to do now is to go to the airport and take his place. I should be in Fhloston in less than four hours.

Zorg sits there quietly for a moment.

ZORG

Don't come back without the Stones.

INT. KORBEN'S APARTMENT

Korben opens the shower door. Leeloo is soaking wet, her teeth chattering from the cold.

KORBEN

I'm really sorry... there wasn't time.

His eyes fall on an old blanket.

KORBEN

Here let me wrap you up.

Korben wraps her in an blanket and vigoroualy rubs her back. Leeloo warms gradually and snuggles closer to that warm comfortable shoulder. Korben's rubbing slows, looking more like caresses.

KORBEN

... It's funny. I've met you twice today and you've ended up in my arms both times.

Leeloo suddenly realizes that she has maybe gone a bit too far. She recovers, looking embarrassed too.

LEELOO

(nicely)

Valo massa... Chacha hamas.

KORBEN

Uh... you're welcome.

The intimacy makes him nervous. He looks for a diversion.

KORBEN

Coffee! That's what you need! A nice, hot cup of coffee!

He pushes a button on the coffee machine.

KORBEN

With some honey! You'll see, honey's great!...

Korben rummages through the drawer. Leeloo, innocent, doesn't seem to quite understand everything that is going on.

KORBEN

A hot cup of coffee... with honey...

He rummages through the cupboard, exceedingly nervous. Leeloo smiles and begins to look around. She opens a drawer and comes upon...

KORBEN

(nervously)

I've got this great honey somewhere. You know about honey? There used to be these little animals who made it with antenna...

... pictures of Major Korben Dallas War Hero.

KORBEN

... and these other animals who ate it... one were bees the other were bears...

She looks back to the man fumbling for honey.

KORBEN

I forget which ate it and which made it but...

And she smiles.

KORBEN

Here it is!

Korben holds up the jar of honey.

KORBEN

Taste this...

Leeloo innocently sticks his finger in the jar then puts it in her mouth.

KORBEN

It... melts in your mouth, doesn't it?

She savors the honey, slowly; sensually. Her lips shine with honey. Her eyes narrow with pleasure. Korben is hypnotized by her lips, like a moth attracted to a flame. He begins to lose control, which makes him nervous.

An indistinct sound comes from the wall. But Korben is so entranced with the sight of Leeloo licking her honied fingers, he doesn't hear it until it becomes quite a racket.

KORBEN

You hear that?

LEELOO

(licking)

Cornelius...

KORBEN

Oh god!

Korben pushes the button on the wall. The bed pops out, fully made, with Cornelius tucked in it, struggling to get out.

KORBEN

I'm really sorry... let me help you...

Korben begins to pull at the covers when...

LEELOO

Achta ge lumitai de matala...

Korben turns...

KORBEN

What?

He turns to Leeloo struggling out of her wet clothes. His breath is taken away by the sight of her perfect body.

Cornelius whacks him heavily on the head with a lamp. Korben drops to the floor.

LEELOO

(displeased)

Vano da, mechteba?! Soun domo kala chon hammas!

CORNELIUS

No, I'm not proud of myself... But we don't have the luxury of choice.

INT. ENTRANCE KORBEN'S BUILDING – DAY

The POLICE exit the elevator and head for the front door. A cop suddenly takes a hit from a silencer, then a second. Others are bashed on the head by MANGALORE warriors. One of them picks up the prisoner bag, takes it into a small shed.

INT. SHED
 

Aknot, the Mangalore leader, is seriously wounded and can't walk.

AKANIT

Korben Dallas! We got him.

AKNOT

Perfect... Take command, Akanit. Go to Fhloston and get the Stones... If Zorg really wants them... He'll have to negotiate. Revenge is at hand.

INT. KORBEN'S APARTMENT KORBEN'S BUILDING – DAY

Korben gets unsteadily to his feet, some blood drips down his face. He daubs at it.

KORBEN

Jesus!... Some priest!

The phone rings, he manages to answer.

KORBEN

Yeah?

MOTHER (V.O)

Have you pulled yourself together?

KORBEN

... Not yet.

He hangs up.

Korben opens the fridge door. The three officers are frozen solid. Korben grabs some ice, presses it to his forehead.

KORBEN

I'll take the mission.

He closes the door.

INT. AIRPORT HALL – DAY

Cornelius and Leeloo (still damp) arrive at the Manhattan Intergalactic Airport. A huge hall three quarters filled with trash piled up to the ceiling.

There are groups of extra-terrestrials on strike standing in trash holding picket signs. A SECURITY GUARD picks up a phone off the wall.

SECURITY GUARD

Illegal gathering in Zone 4.

A hand taps Leeloo from behind. She whips around catching David in the face.

CORNELIUS

Leeloo, be careful.

He turns to David who in holding his bloody nose.

CORNELIUS

Did you get them?

David hands Cornelius two passports.

CORNELIUS

Excellent... Leeloo Dallas.

He hands it to her. The name makes her smile.

CORNELIUS

And Korben David Dallas.

She frowns.

LEELOO

Akta dedero ansila do mektet.

CORNELIUS

I can't pretend to be your husband... David's in great shape.

She looks at David holding his bloody nose.

CORNELIUS

He'll protect you. Go on... See the Diva... get the Stones... See you at the temple... God be with you.

ANGLE ON

Korben comes rushing into the airport. Walking quickly, he scopes the hall looking for Leeloo. A POLICE PATROL bearing down on the STRIKERS jostles him. The cops open fire. The strikers dive into the garbage and disappear.

INT. BOARDING GATE

David nervously puts tickets and IDs on the check-in counter. Leeloo tosses her suitcase on the conveyor belt.

CHECK-IN ATTENDANT

Congratulations on winning the contest.

David gives her a bleak smile. Leeloo rolls her eyes.

Back a ways, Korben has spotted Leeloo and... David. He heads right for them. Leeloo's seen him. She is both delighted and panicked. David's seen nothing. Korben presses one of his fingers like a gun to David's back.

KORBEN

(friendly)

Hey! I really thought I was going to miss my flight!

(to David)

Thanks, kid! You put the luggage on the conveyor belt?

DAVID

(freaking)

Uh... yeah.

KORBEN

(smiling)

Great! Now beat it!

Paralyzed, David leaves. Korben turns to the attendant.

KORBEN

Excuse me. I was so afraid I'd miss the flight that I sent the kid here to pick up my boarding card.

He looks at David's fake ID.

KORBEN

... My cousin David...

Leeloo is unable to hold back a smile.

CHECK-IN ATTENDANT

(looking at Leeloo's ID)

Your wife?

Korben grabs the ID and reads it.

KORBEN

Uh, yes... Newlyweds.

(aside)

You know how it is... Love at first sight. You meet, something goes tilt,. you get married, you hardly know each other. Right, darling?

Leeloo rips her boarding card out of the attendant's hand.

LEELOO

(sharply)

Dinoine chagantakat!

KORBEN

Took the words right out of my mouth. Go on... I'll be right with you.

(to Check-in Attendant)

It's our honeymoon. We're going to use the trip to get to know each other better.

He winks at the stewardess.

ANGLE ON

The neighbor and a tawdry young girl cross the airport. The couple in almost knocked over by a police patrol holding a 500 pound PIG on a stainless steel leash. The couple panics a moment, the realize the patrol isn't for them. The pig heads for the pile where the strikers disappeared.

COP

(to pig)

Come on, snyffer, go root!

The pig piles into the garbage. The Cop cuts it some slack. Cornelius sits at a bar.

CORNELIUS

(to the bartender)

I feel so guilty sending her to do the dirty work. I know she was made to be strong but she's also so fragile... So human. You know what I mean?

The bartender, a robot, nods his head as he pours Cornelius a drink.

ANGLE ON

The nasty neighbor and his wife hand their tickets to the check-in attendant.

CHECK-IN ATTENDANT

(surprised)

Dallas... Korben...