Rush Hour

CARSON

(to FBI agents)

Start a trace!

Carson is elated. Robbins, Sabatini and Dave rush out. Walther pulls out a cell phone and hits a speed-dial key.

WALTHER

(into phone)

Mr. Secretary... they're alive!

COLONEL LEE

(to Carson; incensed)

You are tapping our phones?!

CARSON

(while crossing to Ambassador Han)

Yeah, you didn't know. And I'm Meryl Streep.

INT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – DAY

Javal is holding his cell phone next to Mrs. Han's face.

MRS. HAN

(into phone)

We are not hurt. But this man is very serious –
 

He pulls the phone from her, takes a breath to compose himself.

JAVAL

(into phone)

I want you to remember the feeling you had when you thought your family was dead, and use it to inform the choices you're about to make.

INT. NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – HALLWAY – DAY

CARSON

Say you want to talk to the kids...

AMBASSADOR HAN

(into phone)

I need to know my children are all right.

JAVAL (V.O.)

(thru phone)

Be in front of a television in two minutes. Tune it to channel four. You'll get the picture.

Javal hangs up. Stunned, Ambassador Han stands up.

AMBASSADOR HAN

There is a television in my office.

As Carson, Ambassador Han, Colonel Lee and Walther hurry to the office in the back of the house, Carson's radio crackles:

ROBBINS (V.O.)

(thru radio)

We're screwed on the trace – he's on a cell phone.

INT. FBI GUARDHOUSE – NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – DAY

Dave and Robbins watch Sabatini work the comm console.

DAVE

Play the tape back. I might be able to pull the electronic serial number out of the subcarrier.

CARSON (V.O.)

(thru radio)

Ask Dave if he knows how to find the phone's serial number.

ROBBINS

(smiles; into radio)

Hey, great idea...

INT. NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – AMBASSADOR HAN'S OFFICE – DAY

Ambassador Han turns on the TV to channel 4.

ANGLE ON TV

It's the same medical SOAP that's on at the apartment – a DOCTOR and NURSE are screwing in a deserted operating room.

INT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – DAY

Javal is standing in the kitchenette, pointing a DIGITAL STILL CAMERA at the family. It FLASHES as he takes a picture.

CLOSER

There is a cable running from Javal's computer to his cell phone. He hooks another cable to the digital camera, and an IMAGE appears on the screen of his laptop. He clicks on "SEND."

INT. NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – AMBASSADOR HAN'S OFFICE – DAY

Everyone stares expectantly at the TV. They turn as the fax machine on the credenza RINGS. An IMAGE begins to emerge from the machine: the picture from Javal's digital camera.

CLOSE ON FAXED PICTURE

It shows the Han family sitting in their booby-trapped chairs in front of the TV. The explosives and the electronics are clearly visible atop the set, as is the program on the TV.

CARSON (O.S.)

Oh, Jesus, those're explosives!

(beat)

Look at the TV – this was just taken.

BACK TO SCENE

A second page on the fax begins to come through. As it does, the telephone RINGS. Carson and Colonel Lee both go for the extension near the sofa; Carson grabs it first. Ambassador Han picks up the phone on his desk.

JAVAL (V.O.)

(thru phone)

There must surely be several people in the room; you may put me on the speakerbox if you wish.

Ambassador Han clicks on the SPEAKERBOX. Carson and the others look at the second faxed page: a list of instructions.

JAVAL (V.O.)

(continuing; thru speakerbox)

I am not a terrorist. Your countries' political posturing means nothing to me. So do not waste time trying to negotiate.

(beat)

The Federal Reserve Bank of Los Angeles can furnish ten million dollars U.S. by 2:00 PM. The required denominations are in the instructions, as is the method of packaging. Be in your car at 3:00 PM, and drive north on Highland Avenue. I will call with where to leave the money, which you will do at 3:30. If I am unmolested, I will call again at 4:00 with the family's location and the method for removing them from their... predicament. Could you please refer to page one?

(they look at the photo)

Any deviation from these instructions and my device will fulfill its function at exactly 5:00 PM.

CLICK. Ambassador Han looks around, feeling totally helpless. Carson says nothing, trying not to show how uneasy he feels.

AMBASSADOR HAN
(to Walther)

P'yòngyang must approve the ransom...

WALTHER

Of course. The FBI's top Hostage Negotiator is on the way –

CARSON

– Goddamn Negotiator's the last thing we need! This asshole sound like he was interested in bargaining?

Walther glares at Carson, then continues to Ambassador Han:

WALTHER

We have people who are experts in these situations. We really feel it would be best if you let them coordinate everything...

Numb, Ambassador Han nods.

WALTHER

(continuing; to Carson)

Let's get on it...

INT. FBI GUARDHOUSE – NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – DAY

Robbins, Sabatini and Dave look up as Carson and Walther enter.

CARSON

... You're gonna just pay up, count on his good nature to return the family?!

WALTHER

It's the President's intention to keep this quiet, move forward with the Summit, and work with the North Koreans. Jesus, you've already embarrassed the shit out of us over the phone surveillance –

CARSON

– They know their phones are tapped! They tap our fucking phones!

WALTHER

That's not the point! The point is not acknowledging it!

(beat)

We got an international incident brewing, with a country we were practically at war with last year! Our best Negotiator is gonna run point. If you got a problem, you can take the goddamn rest of the day off.

CARSON

This Consulate is my responsibility.

WALTHER

Not any more.

Carson is stunned. OFF SCREEN, we hear a CHOPPER approaching.

WALTHER
(continuing)

That's the Negotiator. You do the briefing.

Carson shoots a disgusted look at the others, then leaves.

CUT TO:

INT. NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – AMBASSADOR HAN'S OFFICE – DAY

Carson turns off the Beach Boys SONG on the TV behind him.

Holding Javal's faxes, he's facing Ambassador Han, Colonel Lee and the Hostage Negotiator (whom we don't yet see.)

CARSON

... Our worst enemy'll be the city. There are events gearing up all around town, and a dozen world leaders arriving. Add the Friday rush hour and usual L.A. bad behavior and it'll be a nightmare out there by 3 PM. It all works to the advantage of the kidnapper, hinders our pursuit efforts...

(frowns)

You don't agree?

WIDER

The Negotiator stands and takes the faxes from Carson.

It's Miranda, his wife. Her FBI shield-holder is folded over the breast pocket of her jacket.

MIRANDA

I'm wondering whether to believe him when he says he's strictly motivated by money.

CARSON

(grabs faxes back)

You see one word of Peoples'-Liberation, Holy-Jihad, Revolutionary whatever-it-is-we're-pissed-off-about-this-week bullshit in this entire letter?

MIRANDA

I still want to check the MO against known politicals, terrorists –

CARSON

– Already doing it. We're coordinating with the Secret Service, the NSA and the CIA.

MIRANDA

Have someone talk to the LAPD, give them a cover story for the media about the crash on La Cienega.

Walther comes in and looks at Carson.

WALTHER

Why didn't you tell me Doctor Knoll is your wife?!

This surprises Ambassador Han and Colonel Lee.

CARSON

(while looking at Miranda)

If she'd changed her name when we got married, I wouldn't have to.

MIRANDA
(to Carson)

I'm so enjoying this opportunity to finally work together...

WALTHER

Jesus, forget I asked.

(beat)

The cash will be here in an hour.

(to Miranda)

Any thoughts on the kidnapper's thoughts?

MIRANDA

Everything indicates he's working alone. And his concerns do seem to be solely about the money... so I agree that he's only using the Summit and the tension with North Korea to create extreme motivation to pay the ransom.

COLONEL LEE

I will bring the money to him.

CARSON

My ass.

COLONEL LEE

The hostages are citizens of the People's Republic of Korea –

CARSON

– Hey, do I go to the torture chambers in your prisons, tell you how to do your job?

WALTHER

All right, you're outta here! Is this the same insubordinate crap you pulled at Beverly Thrift?

Carson glares coldly at Walther.

CARSON

I'll coordinate the drop.

AMBASSADOR HAN

Perhaps that is better. Inspector Carson knows the terrain –

COLONEL LEE

– Then he can come with me.

Walther looks at Miranda. She nods her assent.

WALTHER

(firm; to Carson)

It's settled.

CARSON

It sucks.

MIRANDA

But it means we can get on with it.

The Americans leave the room.

INT. NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – HALLWAY – DAY

Still fuming, Carson walks ahead. Miranda pulls Walther aside.

MIRANDA

(sotto)

Get one thing straight, Mr. Walther. If the Bureau had listened to Pete, Beverly Thrift never would've happened.

INT. BACHELOR APARTMENT – DAY

Hands shaking with nerve- and speed-induced jitters, Javal turns two switches on the unit atop the TV. Two LED readouts light up: one shows the current time – 2:30 PM – the other is fixed at 5:00 PM. Below, the TV is still on.

Javal flips the channels, stopping at a rerun of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." He suppresses a gleeful giggle.

JAVAL

That's more like it...

He checks the contents of his prescription bottle. Two pills. He takes one, stuffs the bottle in his pocket, and leaves.

EXT. P’YÒNGYANG, NORTH KOREA – DAY

SUPER: "P’yòngyang. Capitol of North Korea."

Poster city for the charms of Communism: dreary, crumbling, gray, stifling, hopeless.

INT. WORKERS' PARADISE HALL – CONFERENCE CHAMBER – DAY

In the main government offices, a meeting of ten overly-decorated MILITARY MEN and their SUPPORT STAFFS.

Sour GENERAL KAI (50's) is ARGUING heatedly in KOREAN with an aged MODERATE GENERAL. The weak-willed PREMIER OF NORTH KOREA sits up front and listens passively.

An ARMY MAJOR sitting behind General Kai stands and slips out the door.

EXT. WORKERS' PARADISE HALL – ROOFTOP – DAY

Crouched behind an air-conditioning unit, the Major, an American Operative, speaks in UNACCENTED ENGLISH into a small UPLINK DEVICE, disguised to look like a palmtop computer.

OPERATIVE
(into uplink device)

... They've got the Premier agreeing to the hard-line position –

He hears footsteps approaching (OFF SCREEN).

OPERATIVE
(continuing; sotto)

More to follow...

He angles skyward a tiny dish-shaped antenna on the Device. On its screen it says COMPRESSING... SCRAMBLING... UPLINKING...

After it's finished, the Operative snaps it closed and puts it into a false bottom in his attaché case. He disappears just before a GUARD rounds the corner.

EXT. STREETS OF LOS ANGELES – VARIOUS ANGLES – DAY

"Welcome Pacific Partners" banners hang everywhere.

WORKERS and CATERERS prepare for the various parties and events around town. COPS and PRIVATE SECURITY do their best to keep traffic moving, but it's already getting congested.

INT. FBI GUARDHOUSE – NORTH KOREAN CONSULATE – DAY

Dave stares at his computer, looking through a DATABASE of kidnappers and their modus operandi. He rubs his eyes.

DAVE

I wanted to be home by now, take the kids to the rally in Boyle Heights.

SABATINI

We got a cabin in Big Bear. By now, L.A. was supposed to be a brown blotch in the rear-view mirror.

She's helping Walther stack packs of THOUSAND-DOLLAR-BILLS into a series of small plastic bags, tying each one off when it's the size of a brick. They then put the individual bags into two larger bags.

Robbins rubber-bands a matchbook-sized HOMING TRANSMITTER in between two packs of cash. He then hollows out a dime-sized space inside a different pack of money with a razor knife.

He puts a tiny, SECOND homing transmitter in the space. Carson checks some hand-held receivers. Miranda crosses to him.

MIRANDA
He'll expect a homing device –

CARSON

– I expect him to expect it. He'll check the cash with an RF detector...

(re larger transmitter)

Meaning he'll find this one.

(re smaller transmitter)

This only has a quarter-mile range, but on a frequency too low to detect.

(turns off receiver)

And I doubt the asshole will have an X-ray machine or a metal detector.

MIRANDA

Why must you always refer generically to criminals as "assholes?"

CARSON

Gosh, you're right. It could undermine their self-esteem and spoil their chances for rehabilitation.

MIRANDA

You been reading my magazines in the bathroom again?

She returns to listening to an AUDIO TAPE:

JAVAL (V.O.)

(thru recorder)

"And my device will fulfill its function at exactly 5:00 PM..."