Rush Hour

Ahead, Colonel Lee's Mercedes is driving through the cars that are parting like the Red Sea for him.

MIRANDA

Even if we can pry him out with...

(looks at her watch)

Twelve minutes to go, I doubt he'll be very cooperative.

CARSON

I'll just use my outstanding people skills.

Carson glances up at the sign showing the upcoming exit: Glendale Blvd – Echo Park. A thought is forming...

CARSON

(continuing; to Ambassador Han)

That car's like a rock, right?

EXT. HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY – DAY

Carson suddenly cuts to the left. When they reach the Glendale Blvd exit, he SLAMS the ambulance into the side of the Mercedes, forcing it onto the freeway off-ramp.

INT. COLONEL LEE'S MERCEDES – (MOVING SHOT) – DAY

Carson pushes the Mercedes across Bellevue Avenue, toward the park surrounding Echo Lake. Colonel Lee STRAFES the ambulance.

EXT. GLENDALE BLVD – DAY

Carson keeps BUMPING the Mercedes as they reach Glendale Blvd, running right alongside the lake.

With a hard shove, Carson sends the Mercedes SKIDDING off the road, through the small guardrail, and INTO the lake.

Carson slams on the brakes, fishtailing the ambulance into the grass surrounding the lake. Sig 9mm in hand, he hops out.

The Mercedes is so heavy that it's already half-submerged.

INT. / EXT. COLONEL LEE'S MERCEDES – DAY

WATER pours in from the floorboards, the air vents...

Colonel Lee climbs out through the sunroof and FIRES at Carson with his AMD-74.

EXT. ECHO LAKE – DAY

Carson ducks behind the ambulance, takes careful aim...

And SHOOTS Colonel Lee, WINGING him in the shoulder. Colonel Lee's machine gun goes flying, and he tumbles into the water.

Meanwhile, Cops, Army, Marines, etc. arrive via helicopter and car. Major Vreeland is among them. The news media, ENG cameras bouncing on their shoulders, run alongside them.

CLOSER

Carson races over to grab Colonel Lee, who is slogging out of the lake. There is a glint of bright steel... and Colonel Lee SLASHES at Carson with a knife.

Carson moves aside... but the knife SLICES across his upper arm. Carson falls backwards.

Colonel Lee, on hands and knees, tries to crawl away. Suddenly, someone KICKS him in face, flipping him over.

It's Miranda. Colonel Lee's knife goes flying.

Carson, bleeding, piles onto Colonel Lee. Vreeland assists. Colonel Lee fights like mad to break free...

Until Miranda JAMS her heel into his groin. He cries out.

MIRANDA
Ever hear of "fuck-me" pumps? Well, these are fuck you pumps!

(pushes harder)

Where's the family?

Surprised at his wife's new negotiating technique, Carson shoots a look at Vreeland. Vreeland grimaces.

INT. NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – SURVEILLANCE ROOM – DAY

Dave sits in front of his computer, phone receiver resting on his shoulder, riveted by the ACTION on the TV.

DAVE
Holy shit – Knoll-It-All's turned into Dirty Harriet!

He turns as his MODEM squawks and another download comes in.

DAVE
(continuing; into phone)

You're sure there were no accounts in the other names I gave you?

EXT. ECHO LAKE – DAY

While Miranda continues to apply encouragement to Colonel Lee's gonads, Ambassador Han limps over. He yells some ORDERS at Colonel Lee. After a moment, Colonel Lee sags.

AMBASSADOR HAN
Let him up.

Carson's not so sure, but they're completely surrounded by military and law enforcement personnel. He releases his grasp. Miranda removes her heel.

Then, with lightning reflexes, Colonel Lee grabs Vreeland's Rock Island Arsenal Colt .45 Auto from its snap-holster.

COLONEL LEE

Victory!

Carson dives back onto him. But he twists his arm around and PULLS the trigger – with the muzzle underneath his own chin.

Carson, Miranda and Ambassador Han are SPRAYED with his blood.

WIDER

Dumbfounded everybody looks at each other...

Carson, dogged, kneels next to Colonel Lee's body and searches through his pockets, looking for something, anything.

EXT. SKY ABOVE OCEAN – FOLLOW CRUISE MISSILE – DAY

Ahead, in the distance, the coastline comes into view.

INT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – DAY

The family stares at the TV. Mrs. Han purses her lips... fighting it... a tear rolls down her face. The time: 4:51.

EXT. ECHO LAKE – DAY

Carson reaches for his two-way radio.

CARSON

(into radio)

Dave...

INT. NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – SURVEILLANCE ROOM – DAY

Dave is looking at the TV, paying no attention to his computer.

INCLUDE COMPUTER

As some bank records are being downloaded: faxed IMAGES of processed checks SCROLL down the screen.

CARSON (V.O.)

(thru radio)

Anything else come through?

DAVE

(numb; into radio)

Take a hint. We're screwed.

CARSON (V.O.)

(thru radio)

Not yet...

Shaking his head, Dave glances at his computer...

CLOSER

Just in time to glimpse the words "First & Last + Deposit" on one of the checks as it scrolls off the screen.

DAVE

Fumbles to scroll back to the check.

DAVE

(into radio)

Wait! One of Javal's alias accounts: check for an apartment rental!

CARSON (V.O.)

(thru radio)

You're shittin'... Where?!

CUT TO:

EXT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – ANGLE ON WINDOW – DAY

Through the sheer curtains over the window we can SEE the Han family sitting in their booby-trapped chairs.

DAVE (V.O.)

Park La Brea!

We PULL BACK... they're way up in a high-rise building... The CAMERA continues to PULL BACK, farther and farther...

... REVEALING 4,222 apartment units, on 168 acres. The building in which the apartment is located is one of 18 identical, 13-story towers standing side-by-side in a series of hexagons.

EXT. ECHO LAKE – DAY

Vreeland's Apache helicopter LIFTS OFF.

INT. APACHE HELICOPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Miranda looks at Carson, then checks her watch. 4:52.

CARSON

(into radio)

... Have the Manager evacuate the complex. Find out which unit the family's in, but don't let anyone go in 'til we get there.

INT. NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – SURVEILLANCE ROOM – DAY

Dave, re-energized, is juggling the phone and the radio.

DAVE

(into radio)

Private security's going around with PA's, and they set off the fire alarm.

(into phone)

Well, try callin' him again!

(into radio)

Manager's gone, and the Assistant can't find the key to get to the rental manifest.

(into phone)

Then kick the fuckin' door down!

INT. PARK LA BREA OFFICE – DAY

The dense Assistant Manager, MILTON, stands in the outer office, staring at the inner office's closed door.

MILTON
(into phone)

I'll try him in his car again...

During this, outside:

WESTEC GUARDS (O.S.)

(thru car-mounted PA)

Tenants – leave your apartments at once... Take the stairs...

INT. APACHE HELICOPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Carson sticks the radio in his pocket and looks at Miranda.

CARSON

"Fuck-you" pumps??

INT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – DAY

The hostages can hear the WHOOPING fire alarms and the (OFF SCREEN) ANNOUNCEMENT. Joy looks at Mrs. Han, hopeful.

JOY

They must know we're here...

ALL

Help!

No answer.

EXT. PARK LA BREA – DAY

Police cars, military vehicles, fire trucks, etc. converge on the complex from all directions.

Several helicopters circle the complex. One has a PA in it:

VOICE THRU PA

Han family. Show us your location...

INT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – DAY

The family listens, frustrated, as the HELICOPTERS circle (OFF SCREEN).

Joy carefully slides her arm along the arm rest, then tries to coax something out of her pocket – her Zippo lighter.

JOY

Mother... Sam...

They look over at her as she lights it. After a beat, Mrs. Han understands... She hesitates, then:

MRS. HAN

Do it.

Joy drops the lighter to the floor, then swats it with her foot to Mrs. Han. She does the same, passing it to Sam, who's sitting closest to the window.

With one eye on the VU movement meter, Sam kicks the lighter, sliding it across the carpet toward the curtains.

INT. PARK LA BREA OFFICE – DAY