Rush Hour

Carson climbs into the back of the ambulance.

INT. AMBULANCE – DAY

Carson rummages through the supplies, finds what he's looking for, and (BELOW FRAME) starts stuffing them into a canvas bag.

EXT. SANTA MONICA FREEWAY – DAY

Carson climbs onto the roof of the ambulance.

CARSON

(into radio)

This is Carson. I need a copter.

EXT. HELICOPTERS – (VARIOUS ANGLES) – DAY

Everyone in the grounded helicopters – LAPD, National Guard, Marines, media – react to Carson's request as if he's crazy.

CARSON (V.O.)

(thru radio)

Something small and nimble. Anybody... come in low, from the south... I'm on an ambulance by the 9th Street exit.

MIRANDA (V.O.)

(thru radio)

Are you out of your mind?

INT. NEWS COPTER – DAY

Bobbi is standing next to her copter in the back of the minimart, listening to this exchange on a POLICE SCANNER. Her Cameraman is eating a microwave burrito. Bobbi jumps in, grabs the ENG camera, and yells at her Pilot:

BOBBI
Get this fuckin' thing in the air!

(to Cameraman)

Out! Not enough room for four.

CAMERAMAN

(as they TAKE OFF)

What am I supposed to do when the plague comes, hold my breath?

INT. POLICE CRUISER – (MOVING SHOT) – DAY

They rapidly cut through the traffic.

MIRANDA

(into radio)

Switch to a secure channel.

(flips a switch)

What on earth are you thinking?
 

CARSON (V.O.)

(thru radio)

I'll make him open the sunroof. Someone can shoot tear gas or a percussion grenade inside.

MIRANDA

(into radio)

Pete, you haven't gone... suicidal or anything on me, have you?

CARSON (V.O.)

(thru radio)

No way. I couldn't stand making so many people happy.

EXT. HARBOR FREEWAY – DAY

Carson waves his arms as he sees a helicopter approaching.

The glare from the sun masks the copter's markings. It HOVERS above him. With the canvas bag slung over his shoulder, Carson jumps up onto the runner, then climbs up inside the cockpit.

INT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Carson closes the door, then sees Bobbi.

CARSON

You?! I wanted a police copter!

PILOT

Just tell me what to do. I flew two tours in 'Nam.

BOBBI

And he doesn't go unless I go!

CARSON

Wrong-o...

CUT TO:

EXT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

The door opens and Bobbi comes TUMBLING out of it!

WIDER

They're hovering above the roof of a high-rise hotel downtown. Bobbi lands with a huge SPLASH in the rooftop swimming pool.

BOBBI

Surfaces, sputtering and screaming:

BOBBI

I'm a respected electronic journalist, you fuckin' prick!!

Carson replies by tossing her industrial-sized bottle of Mylanta out after her.

EXT. SKY ABOVE OCEAN – FOLLOW CRUISE MISSILE – DAY

In the distance, there is smog on the horizon.

INT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

They follow the 110 north. Ahead, Carson sees the Mercedes cutting across lanes.

CARSON

(into radio)

Got 'im – looks like he's headed for the 101.

INT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Carson has the Pilot hover just above and behind the Mercedes. It comes to a stop and the sunroof opens up.

Carson lashes himself to the copter's center post with a piece of the seat harness, then slides the door open.

He reaches into the canvas bag and takes out a road flare. He breaks the flare open, IGNITING it.

CARSON
(to Pilot)

Pull hard to the left, on my signal...

He braces himself on door jamb...

Below, Colonel Lee's head pokes up from the sunroof.

EXT. COLONEL LEE'S MERCEDES – DAY

Colonel Lee calmly aims the rocket launcher and FIRES.

INT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Carson tosses the lit flare, hard, away from the helicopter.

CARSON

Now!

The Pilot swings the helicopter in the other direction, and the rocket FOLLOWS the flare, streaking past the helicopter.

A few seconds later, the rocket EXPLODES in midair behind them.

INT. POLICE CRUISER – (MOVING SHOT) – DAY

Miranda sees what Carson is doing.

MIRANDA

You fucking lunatic!!

INT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

The News Pilot looks over at Carson.

PILOT

Hope you got more flares than he's got rockets.

EXT. HARBOR FREEWAY – DAY

Miranda and the L.A. Cop, both holding small tear gas pistols, split up. Crouching behind the cars on the freeway, they sneak up on the stopped Mercedes.

INT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Carson takes another flare out of the canvas bag. He breaks the top off... and it doesn't ignite.

Below, Colonel Lee loads another rocket into the launcher...

EXT. HARBOR FREEWAY – DAY

Miranda is climbing the metal stairs leading to a graffiti-covered freeway sign.

INT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Carson fumbles to pull another flare out of the canvas bag.

EXT. HARBOR FREEWAY – DAY

Avoiding coils of razor-sharp concertina wire around the sign, Miranda FIRES a tear gas canister at the Mercedes' sunroof.

It misses, bouncing off the windshield, filling the area with white smoke. Colonel Lee keeps his eye on the copter...

INT. NEWS COPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Carson gets the new flare lit and throws it away from the copter just as Colonel Lee FIRES another rocket.

The rocket EXPLODES a few dozen yards away. Shrapnel PEPPERS the copter, DAMAGING the rear rotor.

Struggling to maintain control, the Pilot heads for the Sixth Street on-ramp, below the freeway, out of the line of fire.

EXT. HARBOR FREEWAY – DAY

Colonel Lee spots Miranda, up on the freeway sign, loading another tear gas canister. He STRAFES the sign.

She flattens; the BULLETS tear through the sign above her.

The L.A. Cop rushes the Mercedes. Colonel Lee FIRES at him, hitting him across the legs.

Colonel Lee ducks back into the Mercedes and drives away.

VARIOUS ANGLES

As Miranda comes down from the sign...

Carson climbs up the embankment from Sixth Street to the 101...

The downed L.A. Cop waves as a pair of ambulances drive up, lights flashing and sirens WAILING.

Carson runs alongside one of the ambulances, pulling the driver's door open before it's stopped.

The Paramedic is the one who helped him and Ambassador Han out of the Volvo. Carson yanks him out of his ambulance.

MIRANDA

Sorry...

INT. AMBULANCE – (MOVING SHOT) – DAY

Carson jumps in. Miranda climbs in the passenger's side. As he peels away, Miranda smacks Carson on the head.

MIRANDA

You're completely deranged! Playing chicken with rockets!

CARSON

Well, what the hell were you doing out there?

AMBASSADOR HAN (O.S.)

What are both of you doing?

Carson turns, surprised and annoyed to see Ambassador Han, his arm bandaged, lying in the cot in the back.

CARSON

Oh, for Christ's sake... Hold on!

Lights and SIRENS going, they rush into the 110/101 interchange.