The Fifth Element

 

 

 

Screenplay by                     Luc Besson

                                     Robert Mark Kamen

 

Produced by                       Patrice Ledoux

 

Directed by                        Luc Besson

 

 

 

Cast List:

 

Bruce Willis                     Korben Dallas

Gary Oldman                   Zorg

Ian Holm                         Cornelius

Milla Jovovich                  Leeloo

Chris Tucker                    Ruby Rhod

Luke Perry                      Billy

Brion James                    General Munro

 

 

 

FADE IN:

 

 

EXT. DESERT NILE RIVER VALLEY – DAY

 

Somewhere in the Nile at the edge of the desert.

 

CREDITS ROLL

 

WRITTEN: "EGYPT 1913"

 

OMAR and his mule zigzag along the bottom of sun scorched dunes.

 

 

EXT. TEMPLE EXCAVATION – DAY

 

The mule and the boy finally reach a camp. A few tents dwarfed by a huge temple door jutting out of the sand. The camp is deserted except for some kids by the temple entrance holding large mirrors, reflecting light into the temple.

 

Omar leaves his mule in the shade, seizes two goatskins and slips inside the temple.

 

 

INT. TEMPLE – DAY

 

Omar makes his way uneasily down a pillared corridor that opens into a vast room where an old scientist stands on a small wooden ladder in front of the wall across the room. PROFESSOR MASSIMO PACOLI. A young man is beside him, BILLY MASTERSON, age 25, an American student. He has a large sketchpad in his hands. Behind them AZIZ, age 10, whose job is to hold the last mirror which shines light into the expansive room.

 

PROFESSOR

(deciphering)

"... when the three planets are in eclipse..."

 

His fingers trace across the wall which is covered with symbols and strange hieroglyphs as he deciphers.

 

PROFESSOR

"... the black hole like a door is open... Evil comes... sowing terror and chaos..." See? The snake, Billy. The Ultimate Evil... make sure you get the snake!

 

The Professor points emphatically to the snake, the symbol of Evil, coming through the door between the three planets in eclipse.

 

CLOSEUP – Billy's hand sketches the snake quickly. He is a natural artist.

 

BILLY

And when is this door opening snake act supposed to occur?

 

The Professor's fingers touch the signs.

 

PROFESSOR

... if this is the five... and this the thousand...

 

He calculates.

 

PROFESSOR

Every five thousand years...

 

BILLY

(kidding)

So I have some time...

 

He reaches for the pad.

 

 

ANGLE ON OMAR

 

Standing at the entrance to the chamber with the water bag, entranced by the sight. A skeletal hand falls on his shoulder. Omar turns to an ancient PRIEST in a rough milled black cannock.

 

PRIEST

I will take it to them my son.

 

Startled but obedient, Omar gives the water bag to the Priest.

 

PRIEST

Go with God... be safe from Evil...

 

The Priest makes the sign of the Cross on the boy's forehead, dismissing him.

As soon as he is gone, the Priest turns a worried eye to the Professor.

 

 

ANGLE ON

 

The Professor is back to translating, Billy to sketching.

 

PROFESSOR

"... then arrange the elements of life against the Terror just so..."

 

His fingers run on.

 

PROFESSOR

"... Water... fire... earth... air... four elements around the fifth..."

 

His fingers fall on the one element that has a human shape, surrounded by all the others.

 

The Priest opens the water skin and begins to pour a vial of powder into the skin.

 

 

ANGLE ON

 

Aziz falling asleep. The mirror falls, the light fails.

 

PROFESSOR

Aziz! Light!

 

The boy struggles to stay awake. The mirror comes up.

 

PRIEST

Lord forgive me... they already know too, much...

 

PROFESSOR

"... in which all the history of the Universe resides... all the strength... all the hope... Protect us from Evil..."

 

PRIEST (V.O.)

Amen...

 

The Professor turns to the Priest who is pouring water into a tin cup from the skin.

 

PROFESSOR

Father... it in the most extraordinary thing... the greatest find in history... can you imagine the implications.

 

PRIEST

Only too well... here you must be parched...

 

He hands the cup to the Professor. The Professor takes it, has it almost to his lips when...

 

PROFESSOR

I mean look... it is like a battle plan...

 

In his excitement he does not drink, much to the Priest's chagrin.

 

PROFESSOR

Here the Good... Here the Evil...

 

As the Priest looks up, Aziz the mirror boy, tips his mouth under the water skin, drinking the leakage.

 

PROFESSOR

Here...

 

He points to the Five Elements.

 

PROFESSOR

A weapon against evil. Amazing! I am going to be famous.

 

PRIEST

Then let us toast to your fame! Here Billy...

 

The Priest hands Billy a cup.

 

PRIEST

Drink!

 

PROFESSOR

To fame... salud...

 

The Professor raises the cup to drink, and then...

 

PROFESSOR

We cannot toast with water... Billy! In my sack... the Grappa!

 

The Priest watches, disconsolate, as the Professor tosses away his water. Billy finishes his cup before running off into the tunnel.

 

 

EXT. COLONNADE – DAY

 

A muffled SOUND grows steadily louder. Outside, a monstrous linear shadow disturbs the kid's game and gradually darkens the temple entrance.

 

 

INT. TUNNEL – DAY

 

Billy is looking for the grappa in the Professor's bag. He comes upon a machine pistol. When the muffled SOUND suddenly grabs his attention. He leans toward the corridor and sees part of a spaceship appear. Billy is paralyzed.

 

 

INT. TEMPLE ROOM – DAY

 

The Professor keeps reading over the inscription.

 

PROFESSOR

"... this perfect person... this perfect being..." I do not understand this... perfect?

 

PROFESSOR

Where is that boy? Billy!

 

 

INT. TUNNEL – DAY

 

Billy presses himself against the wall, in the shadows, terrified, but sketching away like mad, as large shadowed figures lumber past him. He begins to blink, feeling the effects of the Priest's potion...

 

 

INT. TEMPLE ROOM – DAY

 

The Professor reads the wall.

 

PROFESSOR

And this divine Light they talk about... what is Divine light?

 

At that moment, the reflection from Aziz's mirror drops again. The light fails.

 

PROFESSOR

(without turning)

Aziz light!

 

The room is flooded with light all of the sudden.

 

PROFESSOR

Better... this is the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen...

 

The Professor turns around, and is stunned speechless to find himself face to face with two MONDOSHAWANS. A dozen others fill the hall manning the source of the light, large luminous globes. Aziz is fast asleep.

 

PROFESSOR

(uncomprehending)

... Uh, yes?

 

The Professor is lifted up and carried off to the side by the aliens. The KOMMANDER stops in front of the Priest who is still on his knees, face to the ground.

 

PRIEST

Master... He was about to discover everything, but I had the situation under control.

 

The two MONDOSHAWAN GUARDS hold the professor three feet off the ground.

 

PROFESSOR

(in a panic)

Who are you? Are you Germans? Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

 

 

INT. TUNNEL

 

Billy staggers forward, a machine pistol in his hand.

 

 

INT. TEMPLE ROOM

 

The Kommander holds out his hand to the Priest.

 

PRIEST

What did I do wrong?

 

The Priest jumps to his feet excitedly.

 

KOMMANDER

Servant, you and the thousand guards before you... You have done your work well, but we have to recover the elements. War will soon engulf your planet. We must keep them safe.

 

The Kommander goes over to the wall and seems to be looking for a lock. He finds it and slides in his metallic finger which is more intricate than a key to a safe. He turns his hand, activating a mechanism that opens the wall.

 

PROFESSOR

Unbelievable!!!

 

The Kommander turns around and crooks a finger. One of the MONDOSHAWANS waves his hand, puts the professor to sleep and heads down the hallway revealed by the opening. He is followed by his men. The Priest slips in behind them.

 

 

INT. ROOM 2 TEMPLE – DAY

 

The Kommander steps into a vast room. The ceiling is very high, pyramid-shaped. In each corner of the room, four vessels contain four rectangular twelve-inch stones-, the four elements. In the middle, an opaque sarcophagus rests on an altar. The Kommander stops and contemplates it a moment.

 

PRIEST

(to himself)

The Fifth Element...

 

KOMMANDER

Take them and put them in a safe place.

 

His men carry out his order.

 

 

INT. ROOM 1 TEMPLE – DAY

 

Billy staggers across the floor, struggling to stay awake.

 

 

INT. ROOM 2 TEMPLE – DAY

 

The Kommander opens a case. His men come and put the four, precious stones in it, one by one.

 

PRIEST

(moved)

Will the elements be gone now forever from this place?

 

KOMMANDER

When mankind comes to its senses. We will return.

 

PRIEST

Knowing mankind as I do, that could take centuries!

 

KOMMANDER

Time is of no importance, only life is important.

 

The Priest nods and lowers his eyes.

 

 

ANGLE ON

 

Billy staggering forward, raising his pistol, blinking his eyes to focus...

 

A MONDOSHAWAN puts the fourth element in the case The Kommander shuts the case and looks at the Priest.

 

KOMMANDER

When EVIL returns so shall we.

 

PRIEST

(head lowered)

We will be ready, Lord.

 

Billy suddenly staggers into the room, brandishing his gun.

 

BILLY

Stop.

 

Billy trips, the gun goes off. He empties the clip. The Mondoshawan carrying the case crumples to the ground. The wall immediately begins to close. Billy fires wildly, unable to control the powerful kicking gun.

 

PRIEST

No!!! Don't!!!

 

The Priest rushes Billy. The weapon has such a kick to it that Billy starts shooting into the air, backs up, then stumbles and knocks himself out. The Priest is on the ground, seriously wounded. So is the Kommander. The WARRIORS are in a panic.

 

CLERK

Hurry, Kommander! The wall's closing!!!

 

The wall continues to close. Sand pours in from everywhere. The vast room fills up like an hourglass.

 

KOMMANDER

A mission is a mission, Savoia. You'll learn that.

 

The Kommander picks up the case and reaches the wall but can't get through it. His

armor is too bulky, the opening too small. He manages to get his arm and the case through.

 

KOMMANDER

My apologies to General Kroi – and my wife...

 

The wall closes, crushing his arm. The CLERK scoops up the case and runs through the huge piles of sand.

 

 

EXT. COLONNADE – DAY

 

The CLERK boards the ship carrying the case. Omar hides in a corner, frightened to death, hugging Billy's bag of drawings.

 

 

INT. TEMPLE ROOM – DAY

 

The room fills with sand. The Priest's body is soon buried.

 

 

EXT. DESERT – DAY

 

The huge ship's main hatch closes.

 

 

EXT. TEMPLE – DAY

 

The ship lifts off and speeds away. Omar emerges from the temple gaping at the ship as it vanishes in the sky.

 

 

EXT. PYRAMIDS

 

A gigantic shooting star flashes above the pyramids.

 

 

EXT. EARTH ORBIT

 

The ship passes in front of us and heads for the stars disappearing at unbelievable speed. The background is a star-spattered cosmos.

 

WRITTEN: "500 YEARS LATER"

 

Another, more modern, spaceship, fills the screen. A warship belonging to the Federal Army.

 

 

INT. SPACESHIP CONTROL ROOM

 

CLOSEUP of a digital control screen. Three planets projecting three straight lines that crisscross at one point. Identical to the one observed by the professor on the temple wall. GENERAL STAEDERT looks out through the ship's window at one of the three huge planets in eclipse.

 

STAEDERT

Don't you have anything? Not even a temperature?

 

CAPTAIN

The thermo-analyzers have jammed. One of them reads over a million degrees, the other's at minus 5000... Never seen anything like it.

 

TECHNICIAN

It's taking shape.

 

 

EXT. SPACE

 

In the middle of the shadows, a door to the nightmare has just opened. Evil is back. A round, moving mass, continually changing color.

 

CAPTAIN

(in awe)

What the hell can it be?

 

TECHNICIAN

Hook-up with the president in one minute, General.

 

General Staedert remains calm.

 

STAEDERT

... Send out a probe.

 

 

INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE MANHATTAN

 

LINDBERG, 50, the president of the United Federations, his features lined and worn by various delegations, mainly military, enters his office. There's a crisis in the air. The President's AIDE leans down to his ear.

 

AIDE

On air in 30 seconds.

 

In the middle of the group is a Priest whose appearance reminds us of Egypt. A younger man DAVID, 18, shy, a priest-in-training attends the old man.

 

 

INT. CONTROL ROOM / PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

 

CAPTAIN

President on line sir...

 

General Staedert leans over his screen and seems surprised to see the room but not the president.

 

PRESIDENT (O.S.)

Staedert, do you read me?

 

STAEDERT

I can hear you, Mr. President, but I can't see you .

 

The President grabs the mini-camera on his desk and yanks it around to face him. His face fills the screen.

 

PRESIDENT

(exasperated)

Is that better?

 

STAEDERT

Perfect, Mr. President.

 

PRESIDENT

I have to address the Supreme Council in 10 minutes. Just the facts, General.

 

STAEDERT

There are no results from the chemical and molecular analysis as of yet, all the calibers are overshot... we're hoping a thermo nucleatic imaging...

 

PRESIDENT

(exasperated)

What you are saying is you don't know what this... thing... is.

 

Consternation reigns in the President's office.

 

STAEDERT

Not yet Sir... The only thing we know is it just keeps getting bigger!

 

PRESIDENT

Options.

 

STAEDERT

Wait or act.

 

PRESIDENT

Recommendations.

 

STAEDERT

My philosophy Mr. President is shoot first ask questions later. I don't like uninvited guests.

 

PRESIDENT

Gentlemen?

 

HEAD CHEMISTS

I think it would be foolish to shoot at an organism that seems alive, without first taking the time to study it more! Besides, it has shown no signs of hostility.

 

PRESIDENT

(worried)

No... it's just getting bigger.

 

HEAD CHEMISTS

So do people, but that's no reason to shoot them.

 

PRESIDENT

(exasperated)

The security of the Federated Territories is and remains number one priority.

(to the military)

I suppose General Staedert's "philosophy" is acceptable to you?

 

All the Generals nod "yes"

 

PRESIDENT

All right, then! Staedert?

 

PRIEST (O.S.)

Mr. President?

 

The President scans the room. Staedert remote controls the camera toward the room.

 

PRESIDENT

... Yes?

 

The camera moves up the Priest and we finally discover his face. He is in his sixties, a shrewd look in his eyes.

 

Around his neck hangs the Kommander's finger, the key to the temple.

 

PRIEST

Cornelius, Vito Cornelius. 50th level parish. I have a different theory to offer you, Mr. President.

 

PRESIDENT

I'm listening.

 

CORNELIUS

Imagine for a moment that this. thing is not anything that can be identified because it prefers not to be, because it is the antithesis of all we are. Because it is evil... TOTAL EVIL.

 

PRESIDENT

(a little sarcastically)

One more reason to shoot first eh?

 

All the Generals nod in agreement.

 

CORNELIUS

Evil begets evil, Mr. President. Shooting would only make it stronger.

 

 

INT. SPACESHIP

 

TECHNICIAN

The probe will attain its objective in five seconds.

 

Staedert moves closer to the ship's window.

 

 

EXT. SPACE

 

Evil swallows the probe and immediately bubbles over with activity like a furious volcano.

 

 

INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

 

STAEDERT

Mr. President, we're at crisis point.

 

The President looks puzzled.

 

PRESIDENT

Your theory is interesting Father but I don't think we have time to go into it right now!

 

CORNELIUS

Time is of no importance, Mr. President. Only life is important.

 

PRESIDENT

(exasperated)

That's exactly what we are going to try and do: Protect the lives of some 200 billion of our fellow citizens! General? You may fire when ready.

 

 

INT. SPACESHIP

 

STAEDERT

(cold; to the Captain)

... Up front loading of a 120 ZZR missile. Marker lights on the objective.

 

 

EXT. OUTSIDE SPACESHIP

 

All of a sudden, outside the ship, the strange planet's activity ceases. A black crust immediately covers it.

 

 

INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

 

SCIENTIST

(consulting new data)

Its structure has just solidified on the surface, as if the object felt something. If that's the case, we are undoubtedly dealing with an intelligence.

 

CORNELIUS

The most terrible intelligence imaginable, Mr. President.

 

The President hesitates.

 

CAPTAIN

... The ship is in combat formation. The missile is loaded, General.

 

PRESIDENT

(uneasy)

Staedert? Give me a minute... I have a doubt.

 

STAEDERT

(cold)

I don't, Mr. President.

 

 

EXT. OUTSIDE SPACESHIP

 

T