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Blood Diamond - July - 27 - 2005 - Draft) PDF
Blood Diamond - July - 27 - 2005 - Draft) PDF
'BLOODDIAMOND''
oy
Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz
Draft
JuIy 27, 2005
THESE WORDSAPPEAR:
. ' S I E R R AL E O N E , 1 9 9 9 "
SOLOMON
VANDY smiles down at his son.
SOLOMON
(in Mende; subtitled)
Don't want to be 1aEe.
The boy sits up, harf asleep. sleepily pu11s a shirt over
his head. His English is more schooled than his faEher's.
h Y l
SOLOMON
(in Mende; subtiCled)
yes, Ehev do.
n7l
(in Mendli'"uu.iL1ed)
Not every day.
SOLOMON
(in Mende; subtitled)
Every day. Just like you. So you
can become a doctor. Not walk behind
an ox like your father.
T h e b o y c a t c h e s h i s M O T H E R ' se y e a s s h e b r e a s t - f e e d s his
TNFANT BROTHER. His twelve-year o1d sister, N,YANDA, snuggles
with them. she sticks her congue ouE at her brother.
soLoMoN (coNT'D)
Don,t worry. She will be joining
you next. year.
JASSIE
(in Mende, subuitled)
Be carefuJ on the road.
Solomon and Dia emerge into the early lighc. Their huE is
in a hamlet amidsc cassava paEches eeked out of the jungle.
DIA
Don't want Eo be a doctor.
(of.f. Solomon's look)
f want. Eo be President.
Solomon puts his arm around him. They head into the fields.
CREDTTS OVER
3 S O L O M O NA S H E W O R K S I N T H E F I E L D S . IT IS A TIMELESS 3
PICTURE. ONE OF PASTORAL BEAUTY AND SIMPLICTTY.
o
a d
T.HE STIN IS ALREADY LOW AS THEY RETURNTO THE VILLAGE 6
CREDITS END
SOLOMON
Go back insi-de... NOWI
.lassie exics cheir huc, infant in her arms, mad with fear --
JASSIE
Solomon !
SOLOMON
Drrn I
She doesn't. She just stands Ehere screaming his name. Now
Solomon's son and daughter come out of the hut.
DIA
PAPA!
SOLOMON
RUN!
T U P A CT - S H I R T
Long sleeve or short sleeve?
R.U.F. COLONEL
Not bim. He can work.
R . U . F . C O L O N E L( C O N T ' D )
You are the messenger. Spread the
word. Guv'menE say da future is in
your hands? We say R.U.F. is da
fut.ure. Revolution is at hand.
R.U. F. COLONEL
You will need your hands.
ARCHER
Say one for me, ny friend.
Archer closes his eyes for a moment, then checks the clip on
his 9mmsig-sauer before rucking it. into his belt and pulring
his shirE-taiLs over it. Takes a deep breath
5.
11 EXT. ON SHORE 11
ARCHER
You are Colonef Zero?
COMMANDER RA],IBO
I am Commander Rambo.
ARCHER
i{hat happened Eo CoLonel Zero?
COMI"LANDERRAIVIBO
He was noE comrniEted Eo Ehe
revoluEion. You are here to help us
in our struggle againsE the oppressor.
ARCHER
I'm here Eo do business.
ARCHER (CONT'D)
You have someEhing for me.
CO}OIANDER RAMBO
FirsE you will show me what you have
brought.
ARCHER
No. First @. will pay for chem.
Rambo looks aE him with dead eyes. Archer looks back with
eyes equally dead. A nasty stand-off. Until Rambo hands
him a smal-l, filEhy cloth SACK. Archer tips a few rough
diamonds inco his hand.
ARCHER (CO}M'D)
(in xrio; subtiEled)
Ihis i-s noE what was aqreed.
COI-,IANDERRAMBO
(in Krio; subElcled)
Eheweapons
and
;iY:'u:"'lll.iile
Archer closes his eyes again, looks back at Ehe seaplane.
The cargo door SLIDES OPEN, revealing the muzzle of a M-130
AssaufE Weapon. Fawaz racks its slide.
ARCHER
(in Krio; subtitled)
Maybe I'11 just do my business with
Ehe governnent. At least E.he
oppressor pays his bi11s.
COMMANDERRAI{BO
Wait... Wait...
COI'S{ANDERRAI{BO (CONT' D)
This is what you wanE? tlere... So
many, I don't know whaE to do h/iEh
them all.
He gestures for Archer to hold ouE his hands and pours him a
handful .
COMMANDER
You bring a satellite dish nexL time,
yah? I want to watch NYPD BIue.
11A MOMEDTIS
LATER IIfI
12 INT. PLANE L2
Fawaz gleefully examines t.heir haul .
FAWAZ
I'm buying an elecEronics store.
SiL on my ass all day, drink sweet
Lea and watch dvd's. How abouE it.,
Danny?
ARCHER
Fly che p1ane.
CAPTAIN POISON
The Freetown guv-a-ment and Eheir
white masters have raped your land
Eo feed their greed! We have freed
you! No more slave and masEer here!
We are all broEhers I
DIGGER
Kunaa !
A11 work stops. A rebel comes over. The digger hand.s him
the Einy, milky crysEal. A diamond. WithouE. a word, Che
Commander wraps t.he st.one in a piece of paper.
CAPTAIN POISON
You. Bring hirn ouE.
solomon puEs down his sieve. Looks at the BoDy floatinq
nex! to him, turning Ehe muddy waEer red
soLoMoN (V. O. )
Dear Jassie. I cannot. wriee well
enough to put in a letter aII the
Ehouqhts in my head.
8.
so LoMoN( v.o. )
Even if I could, my quards would not'
let me send it.
so LoMoN( v.o. )
I do not know where you are. I do
not even know where I am.
so LoMoN( v. o. )
I only know that my thought.s f Iy
over the mount.ains to you.
so LoMoN( v.o. )
I will find you. Jassie. ff it takes
my whole lif e. We will be t.ogether.
ARCHER
We're two clicks from Ehe strip.
WhaE've you got?
FAWAZ
20 Exr.raom,r-rarrv:"1"il, 20
sure enough, over the hirr, comes an armed patrol
SOLDIERS. The TROOPLEADER approaches Archer. of ECoMoG
TROOP LEADER
papers.
TROOP LEADER
you are crossing into
t iberia.
ARCHER
I have a letEer from Ehe MinisEer
of
InE,erior and a Liberian visa as-we]f
(as the Captain sEudies .
che papers)
Doing a sEory on the Hausa who,
y o u k n o w , a r e a l l o w e d t o c r o s s ' t h las
border to get Eo grazins
Si"u"A".'
Up above, the tiny plane drones pasE.
glances up, Ehen ar. Archer, The Eroop l_eader
,l? ;;;;;"";=iu'orr"rs an unopened
pack of cigaret.t,es from his
snrrt pockeE.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Ever read NaEional Geographic?
The Eroop leader. ignores him,. waLks
his hands down Ehe goaE,s UicL, over t,o a goaE. and runs
parE a rufr of hair __ reveali"s undei il=-Jfrir,. His hands
;-"ur;i;"iiy sEraishr line
o f S T T T G H E Si n E h e s o a E ; ; k i " .
Af(LHts.r(
Now you listen here, my man. I am a
good friend of ltinister
Somora. He
will noc be pleased you f."ru--
lnEertered wich his business.
10.
Clearly Ehe name of Minister Sornora carries some weiqhE.
''
ARCHER (coNT'D)
You know who I am, don't you? WhaE
I am. . . ? I don't think you want Eo
mess wiEh me, Or my friends, eh?
(changes his t.ack)
How about I jusE look Ehe ot.her way
and you pocket one or Ewo of Ehose
sEones. Buy someLhing nice for E.he
wife. Or maybe Ehe mistress, eh?
(re the shepherds)
Who's going Lo te11? Thern?
T R O O PL E A D E R ( C O N T ' D )
We will go back to Freetown and ask
Minister Somora how he wishes Eo
thank his business associaEe.
ARCHER
Mr. MinisEer, there seens to have
been a Eerrible misundersE-_
SOMORABACKHANDS
him. Archer's head rocks backwards.
MINISTER SOMORA
I thought. we were friends.
ARCHER
you ,re righE, you're righE..
.. I
Eook a 1itt.1e init.iauive buL__
Another SLAP.
MINISTER SOMORA
Have I noE been good t.o you?
ARCHER
(Iicks his sp1it. 1ip)
absolutely. And I was planning to
cuE you in. Haven,L f always been__
This SLAP knocks Archer's chair backwards Eo the cemenE. He
lies there for a moment. Somora fooms over him.
ARCHER (COMI'D)
Look. .. if you wanted to ki11 me,
you would've done it already. So
what is it you want me to do?
SECRETARY GENERAL
We propose Ehen to prohibit the direct
or indirect import of all rough
diamonds from conflict zones to the
territory of Member States
He looks at the front row where TWO MEN fN SAVILLE ROw SUITS
sit among the Representatives. One is sandy-haired, 4Q, his
name is SIMMONS. He serves a distinguished-looking older
man, 60, with a shock of white hair. His name is DE WEltTE.
:,i:l:li"i:
:i$fi
support
;::rli:;5,
of
:3x"n:,
such
. a ban.
AMBASSADOR WALKER
lilister De Wente. . . Judd Walker--
DE WENTE
Ambassador. Good to finally meet
you.
AMBASSADOR WAIKER
You don't. spend much tj.me this side
of the Atl.an: rc .
DE WENTE
f'm hoping to change that. Perhaps
wich your help.
la
La.
AMBASSADORWALKER
Mr. De Wente, f'm afraid I don't
have much faith in any indusEry's
ability to police ieself.
DE WENTE
I assure you, sir, we both want the
same thing. These 'conf lict' st.ones
puE the legitimacy of our entire
business ac risk.
D E W E N T E( C O N T ' D )
Dar1ing... This is Ambassador Walker.
D E W E N T E ' SW I F E
How nice to meet vou.
oe weNre
(his arm around her)
f C's my belief , Arnbassador, Ehat
diamonds should be associated with
romance and beauty. Not warfare.
Don't you agree?
so L oMoN( v.o. )
Dear Jassie. How can it be that one
sEone is worth more than another?
REBEL GUARD
You daydreaming? Get back t.o work!
SOLOMON
I musE go badly.
(pleading)
Can'E hold iE in, boss.
The guard motions him out. solomon climbs ouE, sliding his
second foot carefully. He shuffles to the edge of the jungre.
CAPTAIN POISON
SEop.
Solomon rifts his righE foot. They check between his Eoes.
CAPTAINPOISON (CONT'D)
The ot,her.
Quickly, his toes release the rnuddy gob under his fooL. He
rubs the mud off it. rt's raw beauty is almost unnatural,
CAPTAIN POISON
Give it Lo me.
He falls. ECOMOG S O L D I E R Sa r e s h o u t i n g a t . h i m i n M e n d e .
S o l - o m o nr e a l i z e s h e s t i 1 1 h o l d s t h e m a c h e t e , l e t . s L t . d r o p .
SOLOMON
Don't shoot! I am not R.U.F!
28 - DAY
ExT. FREETOI^IN 28
A c o n v o y o f M I L I T A R Y T R U C K Sr o l l s through teeming streets.
W o m e nw a l k w i t h b a s k e t s o n t h e i r h e a d s , t r i b a l bel1s jingling
around their ankl-es. "Businessmen,' in white suiCs sip Coca-
Colas outside a hote1. A UN helicopter circles overhead.
29 ExT. BACK oF A MILITARY TRUCK - SAME 29
REBEL #1
R.U.F. is eoming! OperaUion Chop
Hands I GeE ready, my brothers !
Archer curns his actention back co his game as Ehe ce11 door
nexE Eo his is opened and Solomon is E.hrown in.
SOLOMON
f arn noE R.U.F. My name is Solomon
Vandy! famafarmer!
CAPTAIN POISON
What. did you do wirh it?
SOLOMON
you are mad. I do not. know you.
CAPTAIN POISON
I saw iu wiEh my own eyes | !
B U ? A R C H E R ' SE Y E S . . . a r e o n c h e i v o r y c h a r m , e v e n a s h e k e e p s
playing solitaire. Poison ca11s to the guards.
C A P T A T NP O I S O N ( C O N T ' D i
I will give a t.housand dollars Eo
the man who cuEs it out of him!
SOLOMON
Where is a diamond? Do you see a
diamond!? You devils have taken my
farnily. My home. Everything! Here!
Look! What is lefrt? What. is left.!?
If Ehere is a dianond, then you are
the one who has taken it ! !
CAPTAIN POISON
Liar! He's a LIAR!
The army guards have had enough. They silence Poison with a
rifle butt to the face. As they drag him away, Ehey give
Solomon a "goE my eye on you, Eoo" g1are.
Solomon begins putting his clouhes back on. The fury sti11
in his eyes. Through Ehe bars, he gives Archer a final g1are.
Archer turns away, just keeps playing cards.
ARCHER
Excuse me, brother. Think you could
get a message Eo Minister Somora?
The prison guard sees the PACK oF CTGARETTES- and the folded
card - that. Archer holds through the bars.
FAWAZ
How on earth dld you get Ehem to 1et
you go?
f|llLN.gK
FAWAZ
you'd geE
rold Somora
iliur|?.1.r"o.
fII1L11.E.r(
FAWAZ
I thought we were working for Somora.
ARCHER
0lho needs Somora if the pink is real?
ARCHER (CONT'D)
- -What ?
FAWAZ
London wanEs nothinq more to do with
vou.
Al(Ln.gK
( reads )
"The arrest in Sierra Leone on June
One of Daniel Archer, former mercenary
and smuggler with Eies Eo the De
u:::;,:iil;"S,:;lH'ollflnii:l';,:l:,,
(crumples it)
Fucki.nq hel1 .
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
His name is Solomon something.. ,
MorEgage the plane i.f you have co --
just gec him ouc.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
(on the phone)
What time did he say he'd be back?
ARCHER (CONT'D)
Yes, he definitely knows what this
is in regard to. . . yes. . . .
Yes.. ..f've been ho1ding....
ARCHER
piss off.
PEACEKEEPER
this place is noEhing but husElers
and dopers. I will t.ake you back to
Nigeria. Show You Ehe real Africa.
RED CROSSWORKER
Is Ehat, so?
SUIT #1
Fif t.y Ehousand in cash. And EhaL's
jusE Eo get a meecing with him.
SUIT #2
The only difference beEween the crooks
who run the country and t.he R.U.F.--
A F R I C A N B A R T E N D E R( M ' E D ) ( C O M T ' D )
Time to reconfirm dose fliqhc
reservations, maybe.
ARCHER
Every day above ground, M'ed...
(Iooks Eo the hills)
Your rebel friends planning co visic
us one of Ehese davs?
WOMAN
Are you listening to this? The
worl-d's fal-Iing apart and aLl we
hear about is Blowjobgace...
ARCHER
When's the last time the world wasn't.
fallrnq apart?
MADDY
Oh. A realist, Been Ehere, done
that, goE the t*shirt. Is that. it"
ARCHER
Danny Archer.
MADDY
Maddy Bowen.
ARCHER
(appraising her)
American.
MADDY
Guiltv.
ARCHER
Americans usually are.
MADDY
Ouch.
ARCHER
Don't. t.eII me, you're here t.o make a
di f ference .
MADDY
And you're here to make a buck.
ARCHER
See that guy? Government miniscer
caught pockeuing disaster relief
money. Bad move, know why? Wasn't
giving a big enough cut uo his boss. . .
(poincs nearby)
Thac one. . . ? Se1ls AK-47's Eo che
rebels and waiEs for a cease-fire co
buy 'em at a discount, then afcer
the f ight.ing starts again, se11s
them back at a profit.
MADDY
And your point is?
ARCHER
The point is, it's Africa. There is
no point. You want. anocher?
MADDY
Vodka. Rocks.
ARCHER
M'ed. Same aqai.n.
MADDY
You were born here?
ARCHER
Rhodesia.
MADDY
You were there during the war? Musu
have been rouqh.
ARCHER
(o:iering nothing)
Loved ic.
MADDY
And you're a smuggler.
ARCHER
Arn I?
MADDY
Somehow I don'E take you as che UNICEF
c)&e.
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D )
T was going to say 'sol.dier-of -
fortune' buu it's such a cliche.
ARCHER
How about hired grun. People seem to
like thaE one.
MADDY
Diamonds?
ARCHER
What if I told you I was a missionary.
MADDY
( laughs )
For De Wente?
ltt{'LrlE.t{
It's not just rude to ask those kind
of questions, Ms. Bowen, it's also
dangrerous.
MADDY
1'11 take my chances.
(1eans closer)
So... te11 me about blood diamonds.
And then, suddenly, Archer gets it. His face turns to stone.
ARCHER
. . .You're a journalist.
MADDY
That's right.
AJ1LrlEt(
Piss off.
He Ehrows some money onto the bar. Maddy follows him out.
MADDY
De Wente Diamonds closed its buying
offices here to avoid U.N. sanctions.
But they're using cut-outs to buy
sEones from Ehe rebels on the cheap.
That way nobody accuses them of
profiEing from Ehe war --which they
clearly are.
ARCHER
I'm shocked.
23.
MADDY
- I::.::'=:"if;:$
:il';3"'i":3.'::5-r..
you roE in jai1.
(grabs him)
Don't you want a chance Eo get even?
He keeps walking.
MADDY (CONT'D)
Hey, waic a second.
MADDY (CONT'D)
(the slightesc sexual
promi se )
Help me out here...
ARCHER
Maddy, righC?
(she nods)
...Usua11y I liked to be kissed before
I get fucked.
40 FLASH CUT - -
A.TVOTHER GRA]NY BLACK & WH]TE 40
A'1
BACK TO THE BATHROOM {l-L
A\II'U T! E T1
Joost,.
JOOST
Long t.ime, mate.
ARCHER
How's AIice?
JOOST
We11, Ehanks.
ARCHER
Tirn must be in co11ege.
JOOST
Big kids, big problems... you know.
ARCHER
Company's doing well?
JOOST
Can'E complain. Eleven wars on the
continent., business is brisk.
(looks ar him)
Heard you had a bit. of E.rouble in
the bush.
ARCHER
Somora cal1ed you.
JOOST
Minist,er Somora and the Colonel are
old friends.
25.
ARCHER
coe a light?
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
NexE Eime the Colonel has a quest.ion.
A11 he has co do is ask.
A FLAT-SCREENMONITOR
DTC CLERK
MisEer Simmons will see you now.
49 INT. DTC EXECUTIVEOFFICES *- DAY 49
R O L A N DS I M M O N ' So f f i c e is tasEeful and inoffensive. So is
Rol and Simrnons. We lasr saw him at. Ehe UN.
zo.
S]MMONS
Come in. Come in. Tea?
ARCHER
No Ehanks.
SIMMONS
So. Whac brings you Eo London?
ARCHER
Reg... Spare me.
S i m m o n sa d j u s t s t h e E r o u s e r s o f h i s b e s p o k e s u i t . He'd raEher
talk about anything but business, but if Archer insisEs:
SIMMONS
A month ago, officers of this company
sat in front of the Uniced Nations
and pledged co uphold a ban on
"confIict" diamonds.
(looks out the window)
We are no longer accept.ing the stones
you supply. I'm truly sorry you've
come all this way, but our
relationship is officially over.
ARCHER
You're recording this.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
You're losing your hold on the global
market. BiS finds in Russia, Canada.
You need me more than ever.
S i r n m o n sg l a n c e s a t h i s watch.
SIMMONS
You don'c plan t.o lecEure me on the
trade, do vou?
AT(UtsItsK
The trade? Oh, that has such a nicer
ring to it than "cartel," "CarteL"
is for Columbian drug dealers and
oil sheiks. ft's so... unbecoming.
ARCHER (CONT'D)
But since it's just the two of us,
Reg, let's cut the bullshit.
(MORE)
zt.
ARCHER (COMr' D)
You've got eight-billion-dollars-
worth of stones gathering dust. in
those vaults downstairs.
(leans forward)
If you didn't keep 'em off the market,
that rock on your finger would cost
less t,han your shoes.
SIMMONS
Fine. Wrire a book. Tell the BBC.
ARCHER
(continuing over hirn)
--Which Ls why it would be a shame
if, stsy, anoEher company got all the
press, noL t,he mentiOn the prof its
from Ehe largesE pink ever Co find
its way to market*-
SIMMONS
you're bluffinq.
ARCHER
Probably. But if I'm not, /ou're
going to be the one having Eo explaLn
Eo Mr. De Wente how it happened.
ARCHER (CONT'D)
Nice talking to you, Reg. Love Ehe
new hairline.
SI!&{ONS
What are you asking?
ARCHER
Ten percent of markeE as a finder's
fee.
SIMMONS
Fi_ve.
AR.HER
seven.
SI}O{ONS
Agreed.
ARCHER
ALways a pleasure doing business.
28.
He t,urns and walks out. Simmons picks up t.he phone.
SIMMONS
Get me De Wente.
50 PRISON --
EXT. FREETOWN DAY
FAWAZ
Solomon Vandy?
SOLOMON
What, do you want?
FAWAZ
Some friends of mine Ehought you
look like an honest. man.
SOLOMON
He11o my broEher. How's de bodv?
REFUGEE#1
Do I know you?
SOLOMON
Sure, sure. We meE at your cousin's
wedding. Don,t, you remember?
REFUGEE#2
Back in line!
Ot.her ref ugees join in calling ,'end of the 1ine, ,' eEc.
solomon ignores t.hern, focusing on the man beside him.
SOLOMON
--and how is che happy couple?
The angry refugee GRABS Solomon by Che arm.
REFUGEE#2
Hey, mon, who you think you are?
,a
SOLOMON
If you don't let go, I will break
your arm. Then I will break your
head.
soLoMoN (v. o. )
Dear Jassie. Can it be Ehat no one
in our country has a horne?
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
(in Mende, subticled)
Please, f must tajk to someone- My
faniTy 's nane is not on the List.
MENDESOLDIER
Go to Kambe, there is another fist.
SOLOMON
I have been to Kambe, and Mombolo,
and Tibili. and--
MENDESOLDIER
Talk to che whites.
He poinrs t o a h a r r i e d R E D C R O S SO F F I C I A L w h o f i e l d s an
onslaught of questions. Solomon pushes his way to hj-m.
SQLOMON
Excuse me, sir, my name is--
SOLOMON
I have checkeq the lisrs.
SOLOMON
I have fiied papers!
RED CROSSOFFICIAI
Then God help you, man. Because I
can' t.
53 E X T . O U T S I D ET H E F I E L D O F F I C E 53
Solomon sit.s in t.he rniddle of the crowded street. Beref t.
soLoMoN (v.o. )
They told us freedom would rnake our
country into a paradise. But it has
turned it int.o a sewer instead.
R.U.F. SOLDIER
Maybe you are my new wifel
f|t(Ln.Lt(
I'm going back to Sierra Leone,
actual 1y.
A R C H E R( C O M I ' D )
I don'E suppose, 'I'm sorry,' would
suffice?
,loosT
Af E.er you.
C O L O N E LT H E O C O E T S E E ,6 0 ,
THE COLONEL
HeIIo, Danny.
ARCHER
Sir.
THE COLONEL
You look beEt,er Ehan JoosE here.
ARCHER
rheco,o"",
:il:::""".':::,:'ff"" 1",",1";arrini.
JZ.
THE COLONEL
(raising his glass)
Here's to us and Ehose like us--
ARCHER
(f inishing t.he toast )
--Damn few.
They sip.
THE COLONEL
I want you to come back.
ARCHER
Thanks buE I orefer noE Eo.
THE COLONEL
We'11 be coming your way soon. Our
lawyers are in conversation with Ehe
governmenE of Sierra Leone, such as
iL is.
T H E C O L O N E L( C O N T ' D )
They wanE us Eo take back Ehe di.amond
mines and f need someone who knows
his way around up Ehere.
ARCHER
(disrnissive)
The fanE,asy of some Mende f armer. . .
THE COLONEL
There is the small maEter of paymenE,
on some RPG's. You haven't forgotten
who arranged that shipmenE from our
Ukranian friends...?
ARCHER
But who is iu, I wonder, who tipped
off Ehe ECOMOG to the goat routine?
THE COLONEL
Pay your debt. in cash or come back
Eo work. Your choice.
33.
ARCHER
' i fu'=tii'"ol"3i'if,'3'3li'I::*:?'"*
THE COLONEL
( laughs )
Oh, Danny... You']L never leave.
You're African to the bone.
(disnrissing him)
.loost will" see you back to Cape Town.
ARCHER
I appreciaEe thaE. Thank you.
THE COLONEL
We'11 meet again soon?
ARCHER
No disrespect, sj.r, but I hope not.
THE COLONEL
You think selling weapons is beEter
chan using uhem? At least when it's
you pulling t.he trigger, lou know
you're not the Earget.
ARCHER
Okay, just get it over with.
60 - DAY
IIVT. THE "EXECUTIVE HOTEL'' - FREETOWN 60
I{alf of its SIGN has been blown away. A filthy red carpet
leads to a colonial facade.
soLoMoN (v. o. )
Dear .Tassie. It has been so many
weeks and I still cannot find you.
Sofomon waiEs until Lhe cab pu11s away. Then he kneels and
pockets Ehe cigarectes.
34.
61 IN1" THE "EXECUTIVE" HOTEL - LATER 51
soLoMoN(v. o. )
The city is loud and crowded and
dirty. I miss the farm and cannot
help wondering what. has happened to
the cassava crop.
64 E X T . S Q U A T T E R ' SC A M P - - NIGHT 54
soLoMoN(v. o. )
MosE of all I miss our family all
Eogether in Che hut. at ni.ghE, Ehe
sound of ehe childrens' breaEhing,
and your warmEh beside me.
R.U.F. TRAINER
Your moEhers and fathers are dead.
Your broEhers and sisEers are dead.
You are dead t.oo. BuE. you will be
reborn wit.h us. We are your farnily
now.
35.
66 ANOTHERDAY 55
b U IrA J. trll 68
69 LATER 59
HOOKER
You l-onely tonight, Archer?
{pul-1s down her top)
I'm safe. No HIV. You use condom.
.]I '7)
ExT. BEACH BAR -- NIGHT
ARCHER
Mj - n d l o o k i n g af cer chis f or me?
(M' ed nods )
...Like what you've done to the pIace.
BARTENDER (M'ED)
F o k k i n g F . . U .F . r r y r o h i t the guv'ment
building 'cross da street.
ShiE,
mahn, half da people heah be R.U.F.
( M O R E)
?(
ARCHER
Mighc be time to get Your familY
ouL, my friend-
BARTENDER
And go where, mahn? .Jus' f ire uP de
chopper and f1y away like you people?
No, mahn, dis my counCry. We here
long 'fore you came and long after
you gone.
FAWAZ
Oh, my God, are you all right.?
ARCHER
Where's the farmer?
FAWAZ
He found a job at a hotel. Spends
all his time at Lhe refugee offices.
Not exactly the behavior of a man in
possession of a priceless stone.
FAWAZ (CONT'D)
The main road to Masiaka is cut in
three places. The governmenE's gonna
fa11 any second, and I'm following
some delusional farmer.
FAWAZ (CONT'D)
The man was a digger. The odds of
him getting away with even a sma1l
stone is zero. They s1it. you open
alive just for sweating.
ARCHER
I think Somora is lookinq for me.
??
FAWAZ
(rea11y worried now)
Allah forfend...
ARCHER
(moving away)
Just. stay on the farmer.
FAWA'
But--
Archer has already begun heading toward Maddy. she sees him
coming and watches him walk t.oward her. They meet in the
niddle of a crowded dance floor. All around then, sweaty
bodies are swaying to the African beat.
MADDY
Am f supposed to kiss you or fuck
you? I can,t remember.
ARCHER
How about you dance with me.
MADDY
Should I ask what happened to your
face?
He takes her hand and leads her into the surging crowd..
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D )
f guess not-
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D )
This is insane. I,m drunk in an
African bar dancing with a mercenary.
ARCHER
Whar would they say in Ohio?
}4ADDY
Chicago.
ARCHER
...you can tell a loc about someone
by the way t.hey dance.
MADDY
Then you can probably te11 right
away t.haE f can' t dance.
ARCHER
Is this on the record?
}4ADDY
But you blew it all getting greedy
and trying to go ic a1one. Why:
I4ADDY (CONT'D)
So you're, what, a Nihilist.?
OpporEunist? Scumbag?
ARCHER
Maybe I just wasn,t breast-fed in
chi ldhood.
MADDY
You think I,ve never met people like
you?
ARCHER
I rhink you gec off on people like
mp
MADDY
Fuck you.
ARCHER
That, too.
MADDY
What T'11. . .never understand. . . is
how. . . you can. . . compartmental i ze. . ,
human suffering.
ARCHER
Thanks for the dance.
He walks away.
39.
72 OUTSIDE THE BAR 72
He lights a cigareEte. she appears and sEands guietly beside
him. Together they watch the dist.ant explosionJ.
MANN\/
I didn'a -"..tIIV r,ura your f eetings?
He cakes a long drag. Exhales.
ARCHER
How long you been in Africa?
MADDY
Four rnonEhs. Before Ehat. Kosovo.
ARCHER
Okay. How many BJacks do you know
back in the States -- besides the
girl who cleans your house and the
rnan who picks up your garbage?
MADDY
What's that. got to do with it?
ARCHER
f know Blacks. Grew up with ,€Jn,
fought wiEh ,en. Behind the calm
MADDY
?hat doesn't make it riqhL.
ARCHER
No it doesn't,. But apart from a few
do-gooders who show up for a week
with their flak jackels, their
faptops, and their little bottles of
hand sanit.izer Ehe White world doesn,r
give a fuck about the Black world.--
Look at Sudan. Look aE Rwanda.
Your country loses thirty_four marines
in Somalia and then does noehing as
a nillion people die. except p it
-on
picEures of starving childrln rv
to flagellate their guilty conscience.
(MORE)
40.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
(shakes his head)
So someone's got to do Ehe dirEy
work-- you Ehink America doesn't
seI1 arms or hire professionals?
You call Ehern'contracCors'. I sell
guns. If I don't, somebodyelse will.
IIADDY
The 1aw of she jungle.
(sighs )
If only I had a nickel for every
piece-of-shiE. who uses ic to juseify
his existence.
ARCHER
I like your smell.
MADDY
Wel1, that makes me weak at the knees.
ARCHER
It's all gonna blow any minut.e. You
should get out.
MADDY
An ECOMOG relief colurnn leaves in
the morning. What about you?
A!(UtlEt(
Business to f inj-sh up.
MADDY
What could possibly be worth staying
and geccing yourself ki11ed over?
MADDY (CONT'D)
Oh. Right.
ARCHER
TelI me you never dreamt of having a
sparkly dianond of your very own.
(as he walks away)
. . . Peace.
ARCHER
Mrat did you do, bury it?
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
r would have buried ic.
SOLOMON
(heart racing)
What are you calking abouc?
At(\-tlEt(
WhaE a:n I galking abouE?
SOLOMON
I musE. go Eo work
ARCHER
t"Iy friend Fawaz paid an awfully large
bribe Eo gee you ouE of jail.
SOLOMON
I will pay Mister Fawaz back. He
has my word. And now you have my
word. And we have f i.nished speaking.
ARCHER
W h y w o u l d E . h a E .R . U . F . c a p E a i n wi t.h
che bandaged eye make up such a sEory.
SOLOMON
f know who you are. And what You
are. Men like You have Eurned mY
counEry into a land of Ehieves and
kj-11ers. I do nor need Your he1P.
Al(Lrllitl
SOLOMON
Whag do you know of my farnilY?
ARCHER
The relief agenci.es are useless, the
hospiEals are overwhelmed. There
are oEher ways.
SOLOMON
Li.ar !
ARCHER
f know people. t^IhiEe people.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
The. . .right.. . . sEone--
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
--can buy anyching. fnformaEion.
Safety. Even freedom. BuE a big
stone doesn't sEay secret.. The minuEe
you show iE, your l-ife j.s worthless.
I'rn guessing the onLy reason you're
sEi11 alive is because you haven't
Eold anyone where it is. Right?
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
The lasE pink Eo come ouE of Africa
fetched Een million dol1ars. I know
because I carried it ouc. You know
whac I goc for ic?
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
I was luckY. f learned that a man
will do anYthing for a diamond.
SOLOMON
fou would say anything. How can f
Erust you--?
ARCHER
Hear that? IE's started. TheY
nust've snuck into the city overnight.
(1ooks at Solomon)
What's it gonna be, fri.end?
A BLOCK AWAY
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Yes or no.
SOLOMON
Yes.
ARCHER
Go. GO!
Archer and Solomon double back and sprint pase the Executive
hotel where a gang of Rebels are entering. From inside comes
the sound of SCREAMTNG and more GUNFIRE.
People are being taken -- black and white alike -- and forced
into trucks. M I N I S T E R S O M O R Ai s 1 e d a w a y a t g u n p o i n t .
44.
SOLOMON
How. . .much. - . . farther?
ARCHER
Sooner, . .or. . .1ater. . .we, 11 be in
the bush.
/6 AN HALF-HOUR LATER t6
ARCHER
COMEON!
The two men look at one anot,her. They could never arciculace
it, bur borh inruirively know rhis will be rhe defining
journey of their lives.
SOLOMON
Where are we going?
ARCHER
There's a relief camp in Port. Loki.
,-lournalisLs will have access co a
SAT-phone. I'11 have Fawaz meeE us
wich che p1ane.
SOLOMON
I have agreed to nothing.
ARCHER
You wiLL.
flrlLtlt r(
--I work for E.he Cape Town Herald.
My wa11eE, my credentials,
everything's sti1l in Freetown. We
barely goE out wit.h our lives...
GUAR.D
Back away from t.he fence--
SOLOMON
You are not a journalisc.
AI(LltEr(
f 'm crying Eo get us out of here.
SOLOMON
IE. is as I said. You will say
anything.
AJ1LNE.t1.
AUSSIE CAMEFAMAN
f know her.
ft-K\-nf. 11-
AUSSIE CA}4ERAI'IAN
I'm out of here in an hour. If I
see her before Ehen, f'11 tell her.
ARCHER
Thanks. Cheers.
84 LATER -_ 84
}IADDY (O. S. )
V^li ^^F rrf
f vs :rvL vqe.
ARCHER
He110, I"laddy. This is Sol0mon Vandy.
I{ADDY
How do you do?
(to Archer; all
business )
I'm on deadline and I've been waiting
four hours to use a SAT-phone- What
do you want Eo tefl me.
ARCHER
An outfit named Scar Mines is buvino
blood diamonds.
MADDY
Ano. /
ARCHER
De Wente has no visible ties Lo Star --
but through a maze of crossholdings
;H,::p lfe:1":;
dged
:;:ni;.ln:I"3l-"if;,n:"
they uo uphold.
MADDY
You have proof of chis.
(he nods )
And ou'J-1 go on record?
y
He looks at her.
48.
Al:(u.rl.trt(
ff you help me out.
!4ADDY
f knew it.
trJLLIl.Cll,
MADDY
How do you even know t.his man?
l+I.Lrl.LK
I know him.
MADDY
You're using me.
AIILTtEI(
And you're using me. Isn,E ehac how
i- t works ?
(leaning in)
You r.,rant.Eo make a dj_f ference, Maddy?
Starc wich this man. you,ve got
access Eo U.N. databases, you know
all che N.G.O.'s.
MADDY
Look around, Archer. What difference
does helping one man make?
He looks aE her.
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D )
Jesus. Did I rea11y say EhaE?
Maddy's eyes remain on his, conflicted, as we HEAR t.he BEATTNG
O F H E L I C O P T E RB L A D E S . ..
M A D D Y( V . O . )
There it is.
49.
MADDY
At the moment, the second largest
refugee camp in Africa.
SOLOMON
My wife is here? In Guinea?
MADDY
Jassie Vandy, Kono District. Crossed
j.nto Guinea six weeks ago.
SOLOMON
Six weeks. And rny children?
SOLOMON
f do not know how to thank you.
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D )
f L says they're in Sector T\,vo.
Archer stares through the fence at two KfDS, each with one
1eg, yet nanaging to kick a plastic jug back and forth.
FRENCH GUARD
Stay at the fence. Quarantine.
Solomon grips the fence, waLching the WFPmonitor as he
disappears into che teeming mass.
SOLOMON
Jassie . . .?
(and then he's sure)
J a s s i e ! J A S S I EI
f,],
JASSIE
Solo! SOLO!
SOLOMON
. ] A S S I E! !
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
Dia?
(to .lassie, in Mende)
V'lhere is Dia?
(CONT'D)
SOLOMON
Where is my son?
ARCHER
He has a son who goes to school,
reads English.
MADDY
There were only two children list,ed
on t.he manifesE..
ARCHER
--Whar.?
A T T H E F E N C E . S o l - o m o nr e a d s . l a s s i e ' s eves.
soLoIlON
Where is he ! ?
She rubs her cheek against his hand, her body trernbling.
JASSIE
They...took him.
ARCHER
Fuck this
SOLOMON
Let thern ouc.
LJAJJT r
Solo Sol-o
SOLOMON
Let thern out !
The guards begin Eo beat his hands with their rifle butts.
But Solomon keeps shaking the fence as if to uproot the steel-
posCs.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
LET THEI{ OUT!
ARCHER
Get of f hin!
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Fj.ne! ,Just get of f him!
MADDY
They're afraid some of the refugees
might be rebel s . They won ' t. be
rel-eased until Chere's a cease-f ire.
I'm sorry.
.f{J(L.FtE,F(
Maddy, waic...
ARCHER (CONT'D)
I didn't take his son! Don't Din
EhaE on me !
MADDY
I pin ic on all of us. Especially
you.
ARCHER
Yah, we fucked the black man. My
father did and my grandfather before
him. Now the black man fucks himself.
Tell me something I don'E know.
Al1Ln.CK
You say che mine j.s near t.he Moa
River. Where exaccly on this map?
SOLOMON
I do noE need a mac.
ft.I1'\- n.L K
ttre11, I do.
a line upone
currrNG
:il';:l; :il:',::i.i3i"ui3iiJ"ii3:n.is
ARCHER (CONT'D)
You understand, when we get to
Kailahun, w€'re gonna have to go
overland. You better damn well be
able to find it.
SOLOMON
(almost to himself)
My son is a very good studenE. He
walks f ive miles Eo the Sist.ers'
school every rnorning to study English.
He is going to be a doctor one day.
92 NEARBY - AN ASANDONEDBUTLD]NG 92
houses the palcry assortmenc of journalists. Archer waLks
past the guards wit.h a wave of Ehe finger. They assume --
because he is white -- that he belongs there.
ARCHER
"...in the ninety degree heat, farmer
Solomon Vandy drops Eo his knees
against the chain-link fence--',
Maddy whi.rls around. Archer finishes the senr.ence.
ARCHER (CONT'D)
"--rattl_ing Che wire with his powerful
hands... "
MADDY
(d e f e n s i v e )
. . .What?
ARCHER
Nothing.
MADDY
You think I'm exploiting his grief.
55.
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D )
You think f like being here? Do you
have any idea what I cou1d make back
in the sLates writing garbage about
movie stars--?
(righteous fury)
All anybody sees here are victims.
Noc people. With faces. And lives.
They deserve a voice.
(shaking her head)
And the world deserves to know where
the things they buy come from. And
how much they rea11y cost.
(Lurns away)
So get out of my face and let. me
work.
ARCHER
. . . Solomon thinks his son is going
to be a docEor one day.
(she looks up)
What's Ehe life expectancy for infants
in a camp like this? WhaU's going
to happen to a twelve year-old girl?
Thac diamond is the only chance he's
got of geEting his family out.
MADDY
You expecE me t.o believe you give a
rat's ass abouc his familv.
ARCHER
No. I'm just exploiting his grief.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
f need co get to Kailahun. The only
way now is with a UN convoy. I'm a
TV journalist and he's our cameranan.
MADDY
No.
ARCHER
f sewed R.U.F. diamonds into the
skins of goats. I was smugrgling
them across the border into t,iberia.
ARCHER (V.O. )
...who pays off a cuscoms official
who cerEifies the dianonds were rnined
in Liberia...so they can be
Legi timacely exported.
ARCHER (V. O. )
Once they reach London or the Antwerp
cuEting houses -- no guestions asked.
ARCHER (V. O. )
They become like any other diamond.
MADDY (V. O. )
And De WenEe knows about all this?
ARCHER (V. O. )
Supply and demand, Maddy. Control
the supply and you keep demand higrh.
A_t(uttEf(
When African rebels flood the markeE
with a bj.l1ion dollars worth of rough,
De Wente can't afford to ignore it.
Technically speaking he's noc
promoting the war. He's just giving
Ehem the means to do it.
/-
.)
98 BUILDING -.
BACK IN THE ABAI\TDONED NIGHT 98
AlLLrtE l.(
And if f come ouc with this stone...
Danny Archer -- such as he is
disappears from the face of Lhe earth-
SOLOMON
r cannot do chis--
ARCHER
Why noE?
SOLOMON
I am not a journalist.
tI]aL.NEf(
Of course you're noE.
SOLOMON
Then how can I say I am?
ARCHER
Because you do, because that's how
you get on the bus-..,fust do it!
Archer and Solomon make their way down the aisle, Archer
smiling co all like he belongs there, Solomon massively
uncomfortable. They nod to Maddy. Solomon takes a seac
beside a Spanish reporter.
SOLOMON
(utterly wooden)
I am...Ehe caneraman.
The UNICEF convoy winds its way through Che Kanagari hilIs.
Solomon stares out aE Lhe passing landscape.
58.
(v.o. )
soLoMoN
Dia. Yesterday I rode in a
helicopter. Oh, my God. You would
noL believe how big and beautiful is
this land of ours.
so L oM oN( v.o. )
f have been living in the white
people' s wor1d. Comput.ers, video-
caneras and satellite phones. you
wouLd like it verv much.
so L oMoN( v.o. )
I hope you are able to keep up wich
your schoolwork. you must sEudy
hard if you truly hope to be a doctor.
so L oMoN( v. o. )
Your mot.her and sisters are alive,
Dia. You must keep yourself alive,
too. Unt.i1 I can find you. And
bring you home.
IRTSH JOURNALIST
What's going on?
59.
A RED CROSSTRUCK lies overturned on the road. Charred. A
hole in its si.de from the RPG thac hit ir.
I R I S H J O U R N A L I S T( C O M I ' D )
Chrisc. Must have been an RpG.
ARCHER
Wait. No...
ARCHER (COI{II'D)
The R.U.F. is out there, just waiting
for another target.., It's danqerous.
MADDY
(gives him a look)
Duh.
ARCHER
Hurry ir up, folks ! Unless you wanc
to end up the same way!
solomon picks up r.he boy and begins carrying him co the bus.
50.
ARSHER (CO}IT'D)
No. . . What are you doing! ?
FRENCH JOURNALIST
You can't do this -- there's no room!
AUSSIE JOURNALIST
Let 'sm on, you bloody
frog!
M O R EJ o u R N A L r s r s j o i n i n : " f e r c h r i s s a k e " "might as werl
do something!" "Make room" "who the hell needs this?
TV CAI'TERAMAIV
Lay him across che seat. Easy--
The boy's mot.her chatEers her thanks in Mende.
AUSS]E JOURNALIST
Where you blokes gonna sit?
ARCHER
Bo11ocks.. .
COCKNEY\TOURNALIST
They can ride wit.h me. Come on.
COCKNEY.JOURNALIST
--Like the fookin' M-4. Just what
this place needs, bit of environmenfaL
blight on cop of the resE of iE.
Fr9m. Ehe passenger seat, Archer looks back and sees Maddy
nodding off in the back, her head resting. against the wihdow.
COCKNEYJOURNAIIST (CONI' D)
--Diesel fumes, toxic chemicals,
pesticides, maybe a nuclear reaccor
cr two to melt down...
A TREMENDOUS
EXPLOSION AI{EAD
JUST AHEAD
ARCHER
GET OFF THE ROAD!
But the Cockney falls against. Archer, SHOT in the head. The
car KEEPS MOVING as Archer t.ries Eo reach past. Ehe dead man
and grab Ehe wheel. Before he can gain conErol:
R . U . F . F I G H T E R S* - w h o h a v e b e e n r u n n i n g t o w a r d t . h e c a r - -
are forced Eo scaEEer or else be run over.
Swerves away, taking off the front. bumper of the lead Eruck.
A rebel raises an RPG Eo his shoulder, takes aim. Fires.
The Land Cruiser emerges from the bush. IE.,s a wreck. The
wheels grind against the wells, two E.ires are f Iat, srnashed
windshield. bu1leE holes along its length.
Archer stops and has to force the door open to get ouC. He
peers under Ehe bonnet. Bullet ho1es. It's hopeless.
62.
ARCHER
Grab your things.
ARCHER
The SouUhern Cross. Long as we head
North, we'11 hit the main road.
MADDY
What do you Ehink happened Eo Lhe
people on the bus.
ARCHER
You rea11y want to think about i.t?
SOLOMON
Kya kwayera taariq.
MADDY
We call it Venus.
SOLOMON
We say the moon's wife.
(pointing)
She follows him through the sky.
Two days before t.he new moon, she
comes out alone, looking for him.
The moon and his wife are never
separated for very 1ong.
SOLOMON
Be very sti11.
(MORE)
oJ.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
Do not :.ook thejn in the eye.
(to Archer)
They are Kamajor.
AKL.lttrK
Local militia. Protecting their
homes.
A GROUPOF CHILDREN
MENDECHILDREN
Where are you frorn? Have you come
from America? Do you have CD's?
GENTLE VOICE
Don't be bochering the people now.
Let them come in.
BENJAI{IN
(in Mende; subtitles)
Thank you, Ubani. you can leave
thern here. I take responsibility.
KAMAJOR HEADMAN
(in I'lende; subtitles)
Good. Now they are your problem.
BEN.JAI{IN
If you're looking for money, weapons
or fueI, f don't have anv.
54.
ARCHER
f{ow about food?
BENJAI,IIN
If you ask politely. My name is
genjamin Kapanay.
ARCHER
Danny Archer. And this is--
MADDY
--Maddy Bowen. How do you do?
BENJA}IIN
Very weI1, Lhank you. Chicago?
MADDY
How--
BENJAI'{]N
--I recognize the accent-
(Eo Solomon; in Mende)
Welcome, Brother.
SOLOMON
(in Mende; subtitles)
I am Solomon Vandy, from Bo.
BENJAI'{IN
(in Mende; subLitles)
Whac. should I make of your companions?
SOLOMON
(in Mende; subtitles)
Ihey are. . . journalist.s.
BENJAI.IIN
(in Mende; subtitles)
\h. And I suppose you are, too.
BENJAMIN (CONT'D)
Might f incerest you in a glass of
lemonade?
BENJAI'{IN
I don't undersLand why anyone
would willingly live in t.hat cold.
(MORE)
55.
BENJAI{IN (COMT'D)
The wind off the lake. I cried every
night. rny f irsE winter.
MADDY
How did you end up ac NorEhwestern?
BENJAI,IIN
Because of PresidenL Kennedy, who
e] se?
MADDY
Excuse rne?
BENJA}IIN
By way of ,Jarnes McGrat.h, a young
Peace Corps vol-unE.eer frorn Winnecka --
who found a semi-Jicerace Mende boy
and was foolish enough Eo believe he
couJd benefit from higher educaEion.
ARCHER
How long were you in Ehe St.aces?
BENJAMIN
Whj.ch Eime? I ended up getEing my
MasCers aC Stanford -- betCer cJimaEe.
MADDY
Buc you came back?
BENJAI{IN
To show my people Che way. Hah.
BENJAI{IN (CONT'D)
Thank you, Uchenna.
SOLOMON
You builc this school?
BENJAI,IIN
Scarcing in 1967. Children from all
over the district find Cheir way
here. Over five hundred graduates
since we beqan.
Y,ADDY
That's remarkabJe. r,alouldyou mind
if I Eurned on my cape recorder.
BENJA}4IN
I'll make you a deal, Miss Bowen --
I gi_ve you an interview and you teach
at my school for a monEh.
MADDY
( l-aughs )
I'd like that.
BEN.JA}TIN
But you won't do it.
I'IADDy
No.
BENJAIqIN
An honest journalist., how refeshing.
The Eruth is, f have done well_ Eo
k e e p a J - o wp r o f i I e . This is a very
dangerous parE of Ehe country with
Ehe diamond mj-nes so close by.
SOLOMON
My son wanEs to be a docEor.
BENJA}I]N
Very good. Where is he now?
A sifence.
AJ(LNtsK
We don'E know.
BENJAMIN
I undersE.and. . .
BENJAI.{IN
Many of these children were taken by
the R.U.F. We have taken them back.
(Jooks at Solomon)
Some of them have been made to do
horribl-e things. We are t,rying Eo
b r i n g t , h e mb a c k E o 1 i f e .
MADDY
But Look what you've accomplished.
BEN,IAI'{IN
And Look what good it has done my
countrY. . .
MADDY
"There is no easy wa1k to freedom. "
We can only do Ehe best we can.
BENJA-I'{IN
Mandela. His best is a biE better
Ehan mine...
ARCHER
Had manv attacks in the area?
BENJA}IIN
I've known mosC of the young people
in this district since they were
born. The local commander is still
afraid I'11 come af ter him wiLh nry
ruler -
ARCHER
You Ehink because your inEentions
are good Ehey'11 spare you?
BENJAI'IIN
My heart always told me Ehat people
are inherenEly good. My e)q)erience
suggests otherwise. Which to believe?
BEN.]A}IIN (COMT'D)
What about you, I{r. Archer? In your
long career as a. . . journalist. ..
Would you say people are mostly good?
hx
ARCHER
Palm wine. Sap comes right out of
the tree,
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
You geL used Eo ic.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Drank chis as a boy.
MADDY
Rhodesia.
(off his look)
I Eake noces.
ARCHER
I got sent Eo South Africa when the
muntz overran Lhe farm in '16-
MADDY
--After you lost your parenLs.
ARCHER
(dark laugh)
ThaE's a polit,e way of puct.ing ic.
Mum was raped. Dad was decapitated
and hung from a hook in che barn.
MADDY
You were, whaE, ten years oLd?
ARCHER
Nine. Boo-hoo.
MADDY
Then at eighteen you joined the
:.m\t
ARCHER (COIIT'D)
Yah, yah. First they had us doing
dirry 1itr1e jobs in Lhe rownships-
MADDY
With Ehe Security services.
ARCI{ER
You think you know about the SecuriEy
servi ces ?
(another dark laugh)
You don'E know shiEe. That was a
picnic compared Eo what we did on
Ehe Moz border. Sometimes I think.
'God will forgive us for what we
did-' Then r look around and f
wonder...what would God want with a
place Like this?
ARCHER (CO}TT'D)
They Lold us we were fighEing
Communism. protecting our 'way of
Iife.'
(a rueful laugh)
Tt's about who gets what. Oi].
Coltan. Diamonds- So one dav I
decided, fuck it, now I want tnine.
MADDY
Are you going to steal his diamond?
ARCHER
We have no chance rn heLl of getting
Che dia-nrond.
MADDY
Doesn'E answer the quesEion.
ARCHER
That diamond -- wheEher I steal iE
or just Eake the commissj-on -- is my
ticket out of here.
I4ADDY
To go where?
I2O EXT. HILL COUNTRY- NEXT MORNING (SEEN FROM ABOVE) 120
Benjamin drives them down roads chaE. are 1itt1e more than
animal tracks. Bush pigs scamper. Chimpanzees chatcer above.
soLoMoN(v. o. )
Dear Dia. I have found a place for
your studies once you return home.
BENJAM]N
Do not be fooled by the movie where
Ehey wear pink skirEs and dance on
Eheir toes. They are exEremely
dangerous, easily angered, and very
fast.
so L oM oN( v.o. )
There is a man I want. you to meet.
He is a teacher. You will like hin.
BENJAHIN
1^3:";';:il
H'i"Yiln3i,'fiIl'ii3n:l;"
ARCHER
Thank you for your he1p, Mr. Kapanay.
I won't forgeE it.
BENJA-I,IIN
I hope Ehe sEory will end the way
you want it to.
'7r.
ARCHER
Keep going.
BENJAI{IN
What.- - ?
ARCHER
Drive righE at them. They'11 panic.
BENITAI{IN
Do you know where the word, 'infanEry'
comes from? IE means child soldier.
They are just children
BENJAI{IN (CONT'D)
He11o, litE1e broEhers. WhaE are
your names?
CHILD SOLDIER #1
I arn Dead Body. Who dis mothafuckah?
BENJAI{IN
We are Eeachers on our vray Eo
Kai lahun.
CHiLD SOLDIER #2
Only R.U.F on da road!
BENJAJVIIN
I undersEand but we have Eo--
CHILD SOLDIER #2
ONLY R.U.F I
BENJAMIN
Now listen herel I am--
ARCHER
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!
'72.
HC 1CANS OVCT ANd STOMPS ON THE GAS PEDAL. ThC CAT LURCHES
FORWARD,knocking aside the other boy. Archer has Lo
pracEically straddle the wounded man Eo speed away'
*lj(uflEt(
Do NOT Ery Eo Ea1k. If You're not
dead, it's only because you're hiE
in the lung noL the heart.
ARCHER (COMT'D)
(to Solomon)
Don'E worry abouE Ehe enEry wound.
Lean him forward, there's going to
be a big hole in his back. Press
your hand againsc it.. Keep it there-
(to MaddY)
If there's any wine lefE in chat
jug, pour iE al1 over everyLhing.
(co Benjamin)
How far Eo Kailahun?
BEIV.]AI{IN
(weakly)
You. . .said. . .noE Eo EaIk.
ARCHER
A fucking comedian.
ARCHER
How's his pulse?
MADDY
IL's a pulse.
BENJA}ITN
(looks hin in rhe eye)
Will you?
'TKLr T,r(
Good to see you, too, Joost.
Maddy is furiously scribbling notes of all she sees.
JOOST
l V e 'r e e v a c u a t i n g a l l n o n - m i l i r a r y
personnel. Relief workers,
journalisEs.
(to Archer)
Shi te-bags .
ARCHER
How far's the tront line?
JOOST
There is no fronr line. Littie
buggers are everll^rhere.
(starts off)
Colonel's this way.
125 THE COLONEL'SHQ
I25
A large tent. The colonel pores over a map while tarking on
a SAT-phone. Archer and Joost enter.
THE COLONEL
(on the phone)
--but if we block their escape
by
cutting the bridge--
(sees Archer)
Wait One...
(covers the rnout.hpiece)
'r wanEro say r told
ilir:l
ARCHER
BuE you wil1.
THE COLONEL
li:":l'"u
T:".:'::::ri;::'.fl:";l#:l5
ARCHER
In reEurn for a mining concession or
Ewo, no doubt.
/trlltr .\nT.n\]trT.
(a modest nod)
I've got a C-130 Eouching down aE
1400. Everybody noE prepared Eo get
dirty is on it.
(checks his waEch)
You've got thirty minutes to make up
your mind. You're either with us or
ouE of here.
ARCHER
How is he?
MADDY
They say he'11 1ive.
ARCHER
You're on a plane for Ghana in half
an hour.
(looks aE her)
Do me one last favor.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Go te11 that guard you wanL t,o put
of soldier of
F::,:i:'*:;":l:.:"ver
MADDY
You're going in.
(Archer nods)
You and Solomon-
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D )
Now?
(anorher nod)
You're an idiot.
15.
ARCHER
Help me or noE?
Haddy shakes her head sadly. She turns away, pushing t.he
hair out of her face as she approaches the YOUNGMERCENARY.
MADDY
Hi, there. I'laddy Bowen, VaniEy Fair.
You mind if I ask you a few questions?
YOUNGMERCENARY
Depends what they are--
I'IADDY
Oh, so you're faniliar with our
devious ways, are you?
SOLOMON
Thi.s way.
l'lADDY
Good luck E,o you, Solomon Bo.
Solomon t.akes her hand in both of his.
soLol'10N
Thank you for all you've done.
MADDY
I h o p e y o u f i n d w h a E ,y o u , r e looking
for.
ARCHER
Yeah. Thanks.
I'{ADDY
-*Just keeping my end of the deal.
ARCHER
Li s ten- -
t"lADDY
No, you listen--
ARCHER
In another life, maybe.
MADDY
Sure... Okav...
ARCHER
Find yourself a good man, Maddy.
You deserve to be happy.
I'IADDY
f have three sisters. A11 married
to "good men. " Long as their
prescript.ions are fi-11ed t.hey're
happy. No rhanks. I prefer my 1ife.
(hands him her card)
Office phone, home phone, ce11 phone.
I'm used to being pursued. but what
rhe he1l.
He smiles.
I'IADDY (CON?'D)
It's a world phone, by the way.
ARCHER
You should get on the plane.
MADDY
So should you.
I'IADDY (CONT'D)
Are you going to call me?
ARCHER
Soon as I'm near a phone...
77-
MADDY
Yeah, right.
She Eurns Eoward Ehe plane. They head Ehe opposiEe way.
,JOOST
Where is he?
MADDY
Where is who?
ARCHER
(on Ehe phone)
...Fawaz? . -.1 know. No gime now....
That 's right. . . .Two days to geE in,
one Eo get ouE.. I'11 cal 1 when we're
headed for che sErip- Righe... 'Bye.
soLoMoN (v. o. )
Dear Dia. I am coming. WiEh every
sLep I am closer. I can feel you
are nearby. I am coming soon.
SOLOMON
Dia! !
fulLnEl{.
What the fuck are you doingl !
SOLOMON
GET OFF ME!
They scramble to their feet and race brindly back into the
bush. Behind them, the SOTINDof eheir pursuers.
soon the brush grows more dense. rn the pitch darkness they
are 1iLera1ly fighring their way forward, flailing with both
arms to rip holes chrough rhe thick foliage. thelr hands
and faces are soon cut and bleedino.
13 8 THEY RUN
].3 B
unt.i1 they can run no further. Archer st,urnbles and falrs.
solomon crump-1_esto the ground beside him. As they 1ie there,
winded, rhey HEAR VOICES:
ftl(LrlEx,
( furious )
NexE t.ime you pu1l somet,hing like
EhaE I will shoot you rnyself .
SOLOMON
(equally furious)
Shoot me nor^r. IE is what you are
planning anyway.
ARCHER
what are you taLking about,?
SOLOMON
You Ehink I do not know che kind of
man you are? you buy diamonds from
Ehe same people who took my son.
ARCHER
--Maddy rold you.
SOLOMON
Is Ehis true?
ARCHER
Yes. It is true.
SOLOMON
And all you have said... How the
diamond will free my family. ?his,
Eoo, is a lie. fs it not?
ARCHER
I don't know. Maybe.
(looks at. him)
BUE I'm not, Che only one who tells
1ies, am I?
SOLOMON
I do noc lie.
ARCHER
No? you don'E give a fuck abouc
finding rhe diarnond.
(MORE)
.JU.
ARCHER(CONT'D)
You're ouE here looking for your
son. And you'd cut my hearE out in
a second if it means a chance to get
him back.
SOLOMON
Yes. It is true.
AKLI1Et(
Long as we understand each oEher.
SOLOMON
You are hurt.
ARCHER
(without looking back)
I'm f ine.
SOLOMON
You ehink I'm going to steal it?
Archer turns and walks away. Solomon looks down to see BRIGHT
D R O P SO F B L O O Df r o m A r c h e r ' s b o o E s t a i n i n g Ehe grround.
]41 LATER THAT DAY - THE SUN HAS REACHEDITS ZENTTH T4T
,+t1LT!L11
So you're a farmer...
SOLOMON
. Casava.
ARCHER
I grew up on a farm.
(rernernbering. . . )
Hated every minute of it.
SOLOMON
It is like they are eating the earth.
ARCHER
How much farcher--?
SOLOMON
One day more.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
Let me see your leg,
AP'1JtrP
tt's f ine
ARCHER (COMil D)
It's infected. From lying there all
fucking night.
SOLO}TON
Give me your knife.
A H ( H F K
SOLOMON
I will be back.
ARCHER
No--
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
You think I won't shoot you.
SOLOMON
Shoot me, then. And try to find the
diamond yourself.
(keeps walking)
f wilL be back.
SOLOMON
I thoughE about not coming back.
(1ooks at hinr)
f Ealked to my son abouE it.
SOLOMON(CONT'D)
f talk to him all the cime.
(works on the 1eg)
He says f must forgive what you have
done in the past. And trust that
you will help gec my fanily back.
Archer doesn't. know how Eo respond to this simple absolution.
Af(\-n.trK
You're fuckingr crazy.
SOLOMON
f will go and find us water.
SOLOMON
I Ehink you are feeling beEter.
And then Solomon realizes thac he, too, is infested. He
reaches into his pant.s and begins to hop around. Now iE's
Archer's turn to laugh.
SOLOMON
...You are how o1d?
ARCHER
Me? ThirEy. One.
SOLOMON
And you have no wife?
ARCHER
No.
SOLOMON
No children?
ARCHER
r,^
l\u.
ARCHER (COIUT'D)
.-whaE?
SOLOHON
Truly, I do not. undersEand whice
people.
ARCHER
That makes two of us.
A I4ASS GRAVE
ARCHER (CONT'D)
Animals.
SOLOMON
No animal would ever do such a thinq.
IE makes no sense.
SOLOMON(CONT'D)
(numblY)
Why is Ehere so much evil here?
What is wrong with us?
1 5 1 - H O U R SL A T E R 151
ARCHER
(feeling his forehead)
I've stopped sweaEing. We've got Eo
find water.
SOLOMON
Then we must move faster.
Archer nods and pushes himself pasE Ehe pain in his Ieg.
L52 HOURSLATER - THE ST'N IS SCORCHINGAT }{ID-DAY ]-52
A BULL ELEPHA}TT
ARCHER
Back away. And watch where you step.
Solomon freezes.
SOLOMON
Is iE--
ARCHER
A ninefieLd. Yes.
SOLOMON
....Why? The cows will do fine in
the upper past.ure. ..
ARCHER
Hey. . .
SOLOMON
(in a kind of trance)
-- Yes. And next year we will plant
coffee- -
ARCHER
HEY !
(Solomon is startled)
You're hallucinatinq.
SOLOMON
No. I am not.
.
I54 HOURS LATER - ARCHER 154
ARCHER
Do you see that?
SOLOMON
What?
ARCHER
The...snake.
SOLOMON
No.
ARCHER
Good.
SOLOMON
Wait. . .
(listening)
Can you hear it?
ARCHER
Froqs ! !
SOLOMON
Y E S!
A S]'IALL STREAJVIBED
ARCHER
What if...this water...is bad?
SOLOMON
You can wait for beer.
ARCHER
Thrs rnusc be the Meli. f t runs from
the North. The Moa runs from the
Easc. Where the rivers meet is where
the mine is, righc?
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Righe ?
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
You get that diamond, you can hire a
Eeam of people to find him. You can
buy the whole damn governrnent!
(Ieaning in)
What are you gonna do, spend the
resE of your life searching the bush?
ARCHER
That's it, isn't iE?
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Christ..
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Okay...
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
The E.O. would want. to know about a
force this size. If I call Joost,
he'11 send in an air strike...
(the plan unfolds)
We use it as a diversion.
SOLOMON
No air sE.rike.
ARCHER
How do we get. in Ehere withouE some
kind of diversion?
SOLOMON
No...air...sErike.
ARCHER
He isn'! down there.
89.
SOLOMON
How do you know?
AJILI TK
(c o l d l y )
ilm calling iE in.
(turns on SAT-phone)
They'11 come in at firsu light..
Lor,r. Over Ehat ridge. That's how
rnueh Eime you've got..
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
HoId up Ehere, boy-- !
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
(on che SAT-phone)
G e E ,m e J o o s t Archer. . . .He'11
know-- Ask if he's interesEed in the
location of a major R.U.F. canp.
ARCHERAND SOLOMON
ARCHER
I can'c walk in L.here. you scay in
TIl:T:::."ifl::":"*"';:i"':::LI""
jl"oEBIl*erer. rhe air sErike happens
(racks the sli-de of
his Sig-Sauer)
You do exacaly as I say. And don't
miscake me for your friend. you
fuck with me and I,ll surely kiII
YOu.
90.
A SENTRY
15 9 SOLOMON t_5 9
AT(L11Er(
1 60 IN THE CA}IP 15 O
D i a ' s w i r h T W O O L D E RR E B E L S , w h o a r e w a t c h i n g h i m r . a k e a h i t
from a big spliff, laughing as he chokes on the smoke.
Dia and the other soldiers separat.e. Solomon moves out from
the shadows -
SOLOMON
(whispering)
Dia- -
DIA
(suddenly fearful)
NO!
SOLOMON
Dia. iE's m e!
lJI1{
Solomon's arms have been TIED behind his back -- the rope
looped over a tree branch and re-Eied. He looks up Eo see--
DIA. standing with several guards. His face is hard and
withdrawn. He turns away from Solomon,s gaze,
VOICE
I knew you would come back.
POISON
See how I have dug. I have found
nothing.
(co solomon)
You will digr again for me. you will
dig up what you have come back for.
SOLOMON
No.
POISON
No? Do you think the white man will
rescue you?
Has been made to kneeL, arms ti.ed behind his back, head to
the ground, wich a gun held to the back of his sku11.
POISON (COIJT'D)
This white man is the cause of your
suffering. This white man, his
masters abroad -- and his black
puppets in t.he government.
POISON (CON"'D)
Maybe some more digging will help
you learn this lesson.
SOLOMON
Why? you are going to ki11 me any*ay.
With a sigh, poison whispers in Solomon's ear:
93.
POTSON
I do not need to ki1l you, Solomon
Vandy. Because now you have a natne.
And a family. If you do not give me
rhi c d'i =nanA I will f ind this fanily --
il;; ;; ;";;;" round your son.
He goes t,o Dia and puts his arm around him.
P O T S O N( C O N T ' D )
f will rape your wife in front of
you, then slit her t,hroat.
(smiles )
And I will keep your daughters for
mysel f.
P O T S O N( C O N T ' D )
You think I am a devil. BuE only
because I have lived in hell. I
want to geE out. You will help me.
Curiously enough, Ehese words could have been Archer,s when
first we met him. He watehes as:
Solomon takes the shovel. Ar1 his hopes and dreams end here.
He is musr dig the earth one 1ast, timL uo save his family.
SOLOMON
f don't remernber...
! l r rnA .i F r ^-o91to*
"'i u ! s , vr y\.,ur family will die!
168 T H E F I R S T R O C K E TE X P L O D E S 158
in t.he middle of the carnp *- sending a corrugated hut sky
high. Everyone is knocked to the giound.
ARCHER'S GUARD
The sides are high and sli-ck. The closer Solomon gets, the
more frant.ically Poison Eries Co claw his way out. BuE Ehe
wa1ls are just too slippery.. .
A11 we can see is the 1ip of che pit, buE we can HEAR Poison's
SCREAI{Sas Solomon's powerful arm RISES and FALLS.
appear wiEh .50 caliber machine guns FIRING from Eheir mount.s.
Behind them, MERCENARIESwearing Ehe red beret of Ehe E.O.
THE COLONEL
Thank you for calling in the location.
A}(Utttrt(
You're welcome.
THE COLONEL
fhen again, you had an ult.erior
noEive.
AKL]:TEt(
Ihi.s is Colonel Coetsee. He wants
the diamond.
THE COLONEL
No more than rzou.
JOOST
How much fart,her?
?HE COLONEL
(on che SAT-phone)
....No ...No transport, for
ffi:i'ffi:i';;;
i;'?ff:ifi: .:T:::
He hands E,he phone back t,o Ehe bodyguard.
SOLOMON
(looking around)
An elephant. graveyard.
JOOST
What? Keep digging.
SOLOMON
Ic is noc here it is not here!
THE COLONEL
What do you mean?
SOLOMON
This is where I buri.ed ehe st.one.
In this pIace. But it is not here!
(beside himself)
Someone has taken ic ! Come see for
yoursel f 3
T H E E X P L O S I O Nb l o w s h i m E o b i E s .
ARCHER
STAY DOWN!
SOLOMON
remains flat,tened behind the Eree sEump, head down.
Archer sprays GUNFIRE aE the mercenaries -- hiEting the
Colonel and the guards. He e>cpends the entire c1ip.
And no one is lefE standinq
98.
He looks back aE the rebel canp -- knowing that other
mercenaries have heard che GUNFIRE.
ARCHER (CO}M'D)
Let's go !
S o l - o m o ng e t s u p , o r i e n t s h i m s e l f a n d b e g i n s to count steps.
Spears the shoveL into the earEh. Digs.
ARCHER (COIVI'D)
(admiringly)
You lying bastard...
ULA
SOLOMON
Dia__
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
Dia, look ac me.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
(in Mende)
You are Dia Vandy. Of the proud Mende.
Your mother loves you -- and she
waits by the fire making plaintains
and red palm scew with your sister,
N'yanda, and the new baby.
(moves closer)
The cows wait for you. And Babu Ehe
wild dog who minds no one but you.
(moves cl_oser sEill)
And f am your faEher who loves you.
And you will go home with me, and be
my son.
ARCHER
MOVE, MOVE. MOVE!! !
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
When I sCart firing. You g!
(scands up)
....NOW!
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Fuck !
SOLOMON
How far?
ARCHER
(Ehrough gritted teech)
Ihere's...a strip...on a ridge...
fifteen kilomeEers, . .souch. Fawaz
, . r i 1 1m e e t u s . . . . . G O !
Archer leads them -- paying for every step. The entry wound
in his back is sma11, a]mosc unnoticeable.
ARCHER
(on Lhe SAT-phone)
..Where are you? We're tweLve
clicks out...... Two hours at most...
F A W A Z( O . S . )
--You have it?
ARCHER
(on che SAT-phone)
...Roger that.
F A W A Z( O .S . )
Carrying a lot of fuel. Don't know
if I can handle three more onboard.
ARCHER
(on the SAT-phone)
f'11 get it sorted.
SOLOMON
You must s i. t .
f|J(LrlE|(
Yeah, let's just have tea.
AJILn-trt(
Missed. . . the lung. . .but it 's
sLi11....colLapsed. Could...
be. . . .worse. . . .f guess.
J.UJ..
SOLOMON
ResE now. They will not find us.
ARCHER
They're good.
(scruggles to his
feeE )
LeE's go...
SOLOMON
We will carry you.
ARCHER
No.
SOLOMON
Yes.
T W O E . O . A R I " I O R E DV E H I C L E S c h u r n u p d u s t a s E h e y a p p r o a c h .
Behind them come a squad of inf anE.ry on f ooE.
ARCHER
1n)
SOLOMON
No--
ARCHER
STOPI DAI'TN.T!.
Archer's shirt-fronE i s S O A K E Di n B L O O D . H e i s p a l e a n d
gasping for breath. Solomon goes to pick him up again.
ARCHER (COI,IT'D)
No. LeE me...see it...
SOLOMON
Mr. Archer*-
ARCHER
You. . . .want it a1l. . . for yourself _
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
ft's real. . .
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Take it.
1 0 3.
SOLOMON
I thougrht you would steal it from
me,
ARCHER
It occurred Lo me.
Solomon smiles.
SOLOMON
To me, as well.
181 D O W NB E L O W 181
The boy looks like the same innocent child he once was.
ARCHER
Take. . . . .your. . . .boy. . . .home.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Help ne...
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Put the strap...over my shoulder.
ARCHER
. co Now.
SOLOMON
Goodbye. . . . Danny.
ARCHER
Te11 Fawaz if he tries t.o cheat. you,
I'11 be waiting for him in He11.
Dia meeLs Archer's eyes for Ehe firsE time, Ehen looks away.
Solomon leads his son up the ridge.
]-84 ARCHER 18 4
settles himself -- as cornfortably as he is able -- among the
rocks. He FIRES another burst -- to distracE them from
Solomon and Dia as they climb the ridge.
MADDY
uaddy Bowen...
ARCHER
Told you f woul-d ca1l.
MADDY
And I'm so glad you did. When am I
going to see you?
F\ ARCHER
LiEtle problem there.
| {tl
MADDY
Whau do you mean--?
ARCHER
Listen...Maddy.. .I want you.. .to do
me anocher favor.
By now Maddy can hear t.he weakness in his voice, the labored
breaching. Then, the SOUND of gunfire from below.
MADDY
Archer, are you all rigthc?
ARCHER
Listen, f need you to go to Guinea.
MADDY
Archer, what's going on--?
ARCHER
Will you just shuc up and listen--
Got to...meet Solomon aE the UN camp.
Found. . .his son. . .but they,re. . .going
to need. . .he1p.
MADDY
You're hurt. Oh, my God-- where are
you?
ARCHER
f 'm in a rea11y. . .beautiful place. . .
And...I wish you were here..,
MADDY
Archer, oh, shit. Let me get you
help- -
ftlLLl-t.gJ.(.
MADDY
Archer---
ARCHER
Goodbye, Maddy...
MADDY
Archer-- !
pushes away the phone and siUs back against a mossy rock,
his face in repose. He looks up aE che shafts of sunlight
made visible bv the dust and haze.
190 A R M E DE . O . M E R C E N A R I E S 190
MADDY
Come on. We' re almost. t,here.
MADDY
Just. walk t.o t,he middle.
SOLOMON
You're not comino?
MADDY
f 'm noE here.
SIMMONS
r am Lhe end of your journey.
(coN'D)
rr,s ar,
Solomon looks
"o,rljYott
from the money, to Simmons.
rr is nor .":3;f;To*
r- assu5e is pounds
*::: E h a n".rltHStir,rion
anyone wilt offei you for
chat sEone, under the circurn"iarr""".
r.w?nr,^,nr.i3!o|?l*r""u ro meby
Mister Archer.
SII"DIONS
__ ( s w a l l o w i n g i r r i t a c i o n )
..What was promised to you?
SOLOMON
M y f a m . il v .
SOLOMON
They are in a refugee calnp. When
they are here, you will get the stone.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
f wil.l take the money, too.
SIMMONS
I"lay t see what I'm buying?
SOLOMON
You will get Ehe stone once my family
is here.
SIMMONS
How do I even know you have it?
SOLOMON
You have my word.
soLoMoN (co\It,D)
Mister Archer told me this business
is based on a person's word. And a
deal- is made with a handshake.
BLACK WOMAN
. . .You're African.
(off his took...)
I'm good with accents.
SOLOMON
I arn Solomon Vandy.
BLACK WOMAN(ELTZABETH)
--Ehen after unj-versiEy I went to
straight to work for Ehe bank. I've
always regreEted not having taken
more time off to Lravel. Africa
especially.
SOLOMON
It is verv beauciful.
BLACK WOMAN
I can only imagine. Te1l me about
Sierra Leone...
SOLOMON
How do you know where I come from?
BLACK WOMAN
You said--
SOLOMON
No. I did not say.
(steps toward her)
WHO ARE YOU? W}IAT DO YOU WAIVT?
BLACK WOT"IAN
(backpedaling)
Look--
SOLOMON
cEr AWAy FR9M UE!
BLACK WOMAN
Ihey only want t,o make sure you have
:ts
SOLOMON
H e l 1o ?
JASSIE
Sola !
SIMMONS
You are saEisfied?
S I M M O N S( C O N T ' D )
Nol here.
SIMMONS
Extraordinary.
S I M M O N S( C O } I I ' D )
May I drop you somewhere. Mr. Vandy?
SOLOMON
No. Thank you.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D )
Always a pleasure doing business.
The thick STEEL DOORof the VAULT hisses open. The DIAMOND,
now locked in a glass box, is wheeled in on a cart, Security
calneras foLlow it.. The box is placed in its own STEEL DRAWER,
amid a wall of sEeel drawers
205 EXT. FRONT OF DTC BUILDING - LONDON- DAY (MUSIC CONT) 205
REPORTER
Mister De Wente! Cary Wright, CNN.
Could you comment on allegations
that your company buys blood diamonds
from Sierra Leone?
BODYGUAF-DS
insist the reporters keep their distance.
DE WENTE
f 'm not going !o comrnenL on some
sensationalisU magazine art,icle. De
Went,e fnternational is as concerned
as anyone about diamonds from t,hese
regions reaching Ehe marketplace.
AIVIBASSADORWALKER
--this situation is accountable for
unspeakable Cragedy. . .
(scans the room)
...The natural. resources of a nat.ion
are the sovereign property of its
people...
UN PAGE
They're ready for you, sir.
WALKER (V.O. )
A-},IBASSADOR
Let us hear the voice of that world,
J.et us J.earn from that voice, and
let us ignore it no more.