Rush Hour

INT. / EXT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – INCLUDE APACHE HELICOPTER – DAY

Time: 4:58. The Apache helicopter HOVERING outside is making an incredible racket.

Carson is helping Joy get free of her chair. As she stands, the pieces of her hair stuck to the gum over the microphone head begin to PULL the gum away!

Mrs. Han sees the meter heading for the red, and the yellow warning light flashing... She grabs Carson's arm.

Carson quickly covers the mic... The meter drops to zero.

WIDER

The FIRE is spreading across the carpet and walls. Carson is hurrying everyone out onto the small balcony. He helps Lisa into the rescue harness. She's terrified.

CARSON
You'll be over in five seconds...

She nods. Miranda pulls her across the cable and send the harness back. Carson turns next to Sam, but he stands back so his sister can go.

ANGLE ON BOMB

One minute... fifty-nine seconds...

CARSON

Sends Sam across... the harness comes back... he straps Mrs. Han into it...

CARSON

Tell 'em I'm gonna release the hook and ride down on the line.

He pushes her across. As soon as she's there, he gestures to the Apache Pilot to move closer so he can release the hook.

ANGLE ON BOMB

Thirty seconds... twenty-nine...

THE HARNESS

Slides back across to him; Carson grabs it with one hand and tries to undo the hook buckle with the other...

But the cable is crooked, and the buckle is JAMMED – if he can't release it, he's stuck there! Carson tries to free the hook, but it's dug in between the concrete and the railing.

Fifteen seconds to go...

Carson looks over at the helicopter and waves them away.

CARSON

(shouts)

Release the cable from your side! Get out of here!

MIRANDA

(shouts back)

Come over the railing! Grab onto the harness!

INT. APACHE HELICOPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

Miranda turns to the Pilot.

MIRANDA

Tear the hook loose!

PILOT

It'll pop the winch buckle!

MIRANDA

Try it anyway!

INT. / EXT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – INCLUDE APACHE HELICOPTER – DAY

Five seconds to go...

The Apache helicopter backs away from the high-rise...

The cable pulls taut...

Carson wraps the webbing of the harness around his wrist...

The Apache STRAINS against the resistance of the cable...

The entire railing around the balcony BREAKS away, with Carson HANGING on the harness next to it...

The helicopter turns and flies away...

EXT. PARK LA BREA – DAY

The bomb EXPLODES, blasting a huge hole in the tower.

All the windows in the nearby towers and apartments IMPLODE.

CARSON

Is engulfed in the FIREBALL... We can't tell if he's alive.

INT. / EXT. APACHE HELICOPTER – (AERIAL SHOT) – DAY

The force of the blast HITS them like a tidal wave. The Pilot fights to keep control while looking for a place to set down.

BELOW

Huge chunks of debris, glass, furniture, etc. rain down.

Carson and the section of railing underneath the helicopter swing like a pendulum from the force of the blast.

Groggy, he loosens his grasp on the harness, and jumps clear as the helicopter lands.

Miranda leaps out of the Apache and runs to him...

WIDER

Dust and debris from the explosion hang in the air; helicopters crisscross the scene.

Everyone turns their eyes skyward, looking for the missile...

INT. WORKERS' PARADISE HALL – P'YòNGYANG – (INCLUDE TV) – DAY

The Premier and the High Command are watching the action at Park LaBrea on CNN Live...

... As Ambassador Han embraces his family.

Furious, General Kai gets up and leaves the conference room.

The others look at the Premier. After a beat, he crosses to a PANEL OF ELECTRONICS and SLAPS a large red button on it...

EXT. SKY ABOVE SANTA MONICA – DAY

The cruise missile EXPLODES, completely obliterating it.

EXT. U.S. FIGHTER BOMBERS – SKY OVER SEA OF JAPAN – DAY

The lead jet cuts away, turning around. The others follow.

EXT. PARK LA BREA – DAY

The Han family crosses to Carson, blackened and bloody, sitting on the curb next to Miranda. Ambassador Han shakes his hand. Mrs. Han and Miranda cry. Joy and Sam grin at him. After a beat, Carson gathers the kids up in his arms. It is a profound catharsis for him...

EXT. WORKERS' PARADISE HALL – P'YòNGYANG – DAY