by Saeha Gervas à

Based on a story
by Andrew Ni:col

2/22/2001

FADE UP
ON A BLUR OF FACES
They gradually come into focus along with the noisy :hatter of a hundred different
languages - from
Swahili to Waray- Waray and Tajik zo Cantonese.
The PASSsNGmRs pour into the bright fluorescent light of the Arrivala Hall of a
vast, anonymous
International Teminal, expressions grim from seemingly endless journeys across
seemingly endless
Time 3ones.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - OBSERVATIOM DECK. DAY.
A log jam of people ir. the immigration hall. A plastic-looking Christmas tree in
the comer,
incongruous in the stark
sur roundings .
At the far end of the vast hall, Senior Immigration Officer, MERCER, and his
younger assistant
TNURMAN, stand on an observation platform, gazing out at the multi-colored sea of
humanity.
The older man leans across to his subordnate, offering him
:he benefit of all his eighteen years of experience in the Immigration and Naturali
tion Service -

When the toil s e third world flush, Thurman, all th comes pouring
throuoh those COO .O
Thurman nods .

INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - I TION LINE. DAY.

Close on POLISHED HEATHER SHOES s:epping calmly through the doorway into the
Arrivals Hall.
We move up an inexpenaive but exquisitely maintained brown suit, a crisp white
shirt and a plain
silk tie to find VIKTOR NAVORSKI, 40s, bioodshot eyes filled with excitement.
Though pushed and shoved like everyone else Viktor remains somehow unruffled, at
peace aluost, his
eyes finding -
THE STATUE OP L Z BERTY

seen through a windo up ahead, sunlight glistening

beautifully off the Hudson.

standa proudly behind, framed perfectly, her incandescent grandeur set against an
immaculate azure
sky.
Viktor is exuberant. He moves toward it...
But his smile starts to fade as he realizes there's no water. no gigantic monument,
no city...it's
just an elaborate model of New York.
GUARD
Please step back into the line, sir.
Viktor turns to see a pair of unifomed Immigration GUARDS
supervising the line.
He smiles again, s)*king the first Guard's hand. Viktor's
accent is of an indeterminable, though clearly European origin -
VIKTOR
Thank you for having me.
- The bemused Guard shakes Viktor'a hand, glancing at his colleague

G
I said step b ’nto the line, sir.
Viktor steps back, a li le lated.

As the line moves past rows fo’ ntical counters Viktor catches a glimpse of the
dist eting
area through several sets of swinging double doors.
For a brief moment he makes out xcited FAMILY holding up a makeshift sign -
"WELCOME HOME".
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - LATER
VIKTOR reaches the front of the long line and hands his passport to an OFFICER.
OFFICEB
Welcome to the United States, Mr.
Navorski. Business or pleasure?
The Officer runs Viktor's new passport through a scamning machine, glaoces up again
to see Viktor
still smiling back at him.

Viktor carefully considers the question for several beats. Then several more -
OFFICER
(impatient) Business or pleasure?
Viktor's just about to answer when the scanning machine makes a strange BEEP.
Checking his computer screen the Officer picks up his phone, regarding Viktor
suspiciously all :he
while -
OFFICER
Mr. Mercer? I have a UV-I on nine.
Viktor turns to the African WOMAN waiting behind him in line with her two young
SONS. He smiles.
When he turns back, several OPPICEALS, including TMURMAN are
standing in front of him.

(reading from the passport, butchering the name)

Mr...Navorski? Would you step this way?

Which7

follow us.
To the Offi:er behind the boot the purpose of it
VIKTOR

ng finally decided on
Pleasure.
As Viktor follows Thurmam, the other officials fall in behind

INT. IMMIGRATION HOLDING AREA - DAY

Busy, Õark and loud in here. The sound of dogs BARKING.
Flanked by the Officials, a bewildered Viktor is led down a hallway past several
doors, some of
them open -
A young Chinese MAN shakes with fear. He holds his right
hand up in the air and swears an oath to an INTERVIEW OPFICER
while an INTERPRETER translates.

4.
DOGS rip into the casing of an ARAB COUPLE's luggage while
orrlCFRS look on, ignoring the couple's desperate pleas.
Viktor looks back down the corridos again, briefly making eye :on:act with a
terrified VIETNAMESE
REF Em whose baby is taken away from her by a female OFFICER before she's
ur.ceremoniously forced
into a holding cell.
At the far end, Thurüan holds open the door for his UV-I. Viktor enters, looking
back concerned at
the wailing cbild.
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY
Vik:or sits in silence for several long beats. The door opens. Mercer appears.
Viktor stands to attention, knocking his chair back.
MERCER
Please. Sit down, Sir.
Viktor sits down again, nervous. Mercer sizes him up. An uncomfortable silence.

MERCER
What are you doing in the United States, Mr. Navorski?

Viktor smiles awkwardl

VI
antly -
I am on vacation. o
Mercer, expression impenetrabl es at Viktor.
MERCER
What do you plan on doing during your vacation?

A beat.

Vacation.
VIKTOR

MERCER
You said vacation. Yes...I did. VIKTOR
Mercer glances at Thurman.

MERCER
Where are you staying? Do you have relatives here?
Viktor rea:hes into his breast pocket and pulls out an envelope. He opens it, hanÓE
the paper
inside to Mercer who reads it.
MERCER
The Happy Traveler Motel.
A second glance to Thurman.
MERC!ER
Hot much money do you have?
Viktor nods.
MERCER
I need to see your money, Mr. Navorski.
Viktor quickly produces three more envelopes, each with something hand-written on
the outside. He
offers them to Mercer.
’ MERCER
Open Chem , ple e .

Viktor opens the first e inside. Mercer doean't : Viktor take it out.
e, offers Mercer the bills touch the money, gestores for

MERCER
Please count the mon amount on the piece o

mark down the r nextto

Mercer and Thurman watch as Viktor slowly counts out the bills, marking down :he
amount on the
piece of paper as instructed.
Nercer notices the handwriting on :he outside of the first envelope -

PtERCER
(re : the waiting)
What doen that mear?
Viktor translates -

Hotel.
VIKTOR

Mercer gesture6 for Viktor to take out the money in the second envelope. Viktor
does, marks the
amount down.
MEACER
What about that money? What's that for?

Food. For food.

Viktor opens the final envelope, retrieves a single bill. Mercer looks at him -

VIKTOR
Entertainment.
MERCER
(looking at the bill, then at Thurmzn)
Entertainment?
Viktor nods, writes the denomination down, the third number on his piece of paper.
Mercer gestores
for the paper. Viktor slides it across :he table.
Thurman enters the numbers into a calculator and makes the conversion into dollars.
He shows Mercer
the amount. Mercer rods.

(gesturin fo )
Now your return et please.

Viktor hands it over. Mercer casually slips Viktor's ticket seals it.
thorougk examination, n official file and

That's mine
VIKTOR

MERCER
It's just procedure, Nr. Navorski. (indicating the'door Thurman holds open behind
him)
If you wouldn't mind waiting in the
waiting room.
Viktor stares back at him.
MERCER
This really won't take long.
Viktor reluctantly walks through.

INT. WAITING ROOM - DAY

Sterile in here, a single row of seats, a water Õispenser,
no windows. A second door indicates a restroom beyond.
Viktor takes off his coat, folds it neatly across one of the chairs and sits down.
He looks around,
taking in his óland surroundings. His fingers tap nervously on the table.
II. WAITING ROOM - LATER
Viktor's expression is grim. His tie is off and his shirt is unóuctoned. It's clear
some hours have
passed.
Viktor approaches the door, hesitatea...knocks. No answer.
He knocks again.
entually, Thurman appears tnrough a window on the door.

(s smile)
Be patient, Nr. Navorski. The window slams shut. - Viktor juli stands
there for a
moment. INT. WAITING ROOM - LAT

The door suddenly oPENS. ’glass óf WATER'on a tray

VIKTOR
(still getting u
Thank you very much.
thrusts a SANDWICH and a
iktor's hands.

Viktor sits down, rips the Saran and bites in:o his tuna
salad sandwich. he relishes every single mouthful.
INT. WAITING ROOM - LATER

Yavuing, Viktor cleans stains off kis :oocoat with the Saran from the sandwich.
He's so exhausted
he nearly falls asleep Õoing it.

He shakes himself awake, returns to the door, knocking on it more insistently this
time. Mothing.
He kmocks again.
Silence.

8.
Resigned to hia situation at least for the moment, Viktor returns to his seat and
fashions his coat
into a pillow. However the chair back izn't higb enough and the 'pillow' slips down
causing
Viktor's head to tilt forward awkwardly to accommodate it.
Laying the pillow on the armrest now, Viktor attempts to squeeze his whole body
sideways into the
chair. It's an impossible contortion.
Exasperated, he sits back in the chair again and tries every other imaginable
position, each less
successful than the last.
A SHOE

prods at the sleeping Viktor. He is or. the floor, hiB top coat crer him.
The shoe belongs to -
MERCER
He looks down on the extremely haggard Viktor, Thurman beside him.

ME
You'd better 't
Viktor gets up to sit d
a wreck and that Mercer i
R
own.
he chair. He notices his suit's ing rather grave -
MERCER
Eighteen hours ago t e Department suspended all travelli ivileges on
passports issued by
you country.
VIKTOR
I don't underscand -
MERCER
While you were in the air, your country was invaded.
A beat. Viktor, in shock.
VIKTOR
xhatz
MERCER
Fortunately, no zesistance was offered.
There were no casualties.

ViktOr' s
shock turna to bewilderment.
VIKTÕR
Invaded? Who?
MERCER
I 'm sorm/.
(getting up to go!
As soon as we have any information, Mr. Navorski, you'll be the first to know.

Rising out
of his chair -
VIKTOR
I am going back.
1{ERCER
Well, that's the problem I'm afraid, Mr. Navoraki. I can't send you back just
yet. The new Government has sealed the borders for the time-being.
VIKTOR
So I must wait in New York --
MERCER
-- unfortunate I can't allow you to enter the Uni tates at this time either.

VI
(thoughts tu i<a er
themselves) ,
I don't understand.
(pointing)
I have !
MERCER

a visa.
Not a valid one, Mr. Navorski. Technically at least, the country :hat issued this
passport...
(taking it out if its file,
brandishing it)
.no longer exists.
VIKTOR
- So, what you are telling me is...I cannot
go...

No.
MRRCER

VIKTOR
.and I cannot stay.
MERCER

No.
(beat}
Not for the moment.
A beat. Viktor's brain struggles to put all of this together.
MERCER
I'm going to allow you to get your luggage and authorize you to enter the
International Transit
Lounge. Please
wait there until the situation is resolved.
Mercer indicates to Thurman to please take Viktor away.
MERCER
I assure you, everything will be cleared up very soon, Mr. Navorski.
Viktor is numb. —
INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA - LATER’

Viktor, escorted by Th single BLACK SUITCASE between carousels six

Longingly, Viktor watches
and another OFFICIAL, picks his
few unclaimed cases sitting

s at the far end opening

and closing, offering momenta Terminal beyond and sions indi into the :ity.
pses of the bustling
,ground transportation

On the other side of the hall, MULROY - ]0s, bíack, wearing dirty overalls and
ripped gloves -
loads his cart with lost bags .

He notices Viktor being es:orted DaCk mp the steps to the secured waiting area.
INT. WAITI)tG ROOM - MINUTES LATER
HAhDS roughly go through the few simple items in Viktor's
- bao...so:ks...a pais of shoes...plain shirts and ties...a toiletries case...
An ALS.ãTIAN DOG sniffs every inch of the bag. The HANDLER pulls the dog off.

The Dog licks Viktor's hand, which just for an instant, causes the handler pause
before he pulls
his dog back out the door.
Thurman zips up Viktor's bag, hands it ba:k to him.
VI1CI'OR
Thank you.
Viktor, smilino, pulls out the envelope with hia hotel details inside.
VIKTOR
Now, can you please tell me where to get the bus for Manhattan?
A beat. Thurmar kalf-smiles, glancing to his colleague.
THURMAN
I don't think you fully comprehended what Mr. Mercer said, Mr. Navorski. You
to wait.
INT. IMMIGRATION AREA, CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
VIKTOR, flanked by Officials led by Thum›an, is led down yet another corridor
towards a door marked
'International Transit lounge, Res:ricted Acces
INT. INTERNATIONAL T GE - CONTINUOUS
Emerging into the brittle of the Terminal, Viktor's immediately and
completely v‹rr lmed
at the scale and

grandeur of it all. To him, t s ever he's seen before.

ce is like nothing he's

He stands there frozeN, mouth aga as Thurman outlines the

specific parameters of his confinement -
THURMAN
This is she International Transit Lounge. You are free to wait in here.
(harding him some food vouchers)
These can be redeemed at any of tne concession outlets.
(pointing)
- Beyond those doors - look a: them, Mr.
Navorski -
(he looks)
.is American soil.

12.
VIKTOR
American soil?

Yes. Restricted.
GLASS SECURITY DOORS
open a6 Passengers wheel luggage-laden trolleys out into the main Terminal.
As Thurman points up to the cameras everywhere -
THURMAN
Any attempt to pass through those doors or to enter she united States through any
other means will
result in your immediate arrest and confinement in the Detention Center.
Viktor's hand is trembling with fear.
THURMAN
(noticingi
Don't world, Mr. Navorski.
lomimous) ’
We know where u are.

viktor watches Thurma d' Hs finally turns - VIKTOR'S POV

ar through the door again.
Me is faced with the sprawling, -modern multi-cultural Metropolis of gleaming
steel and ss
that is the Irternarional Transit lounge.
INT. OBSERVATION DECK - LATER
Mercer and Thurman observe Viktor from :he mezzanine floor
above.
VIKTOR
sits on a seat very rear the door. his single case on his knees, his hands resting
on the case. He
watches the ienortant doors in the diatance and the cameras everywhere.
13 .
ra . oBsxRVATZON DECK - COWINUOUS

Mercer and Thurman notice Viktor as they finish up coffees on their break.
A beat.

He's been sittlng there for three hours.

MERCER
Do you know now big it is, this country of his. You can walk from one end to the
other in fifteen
minutes. There are longer trips to the batbroom in some hotel lobbies.

A beat.
What's he supposed to do?

MERCER
(a shrug)

_ Let him shop.

They toss their cups
INT. INTERNATIONAL T

eave.

GE, LOWER LEVEL - LATER

hesitantly gets

PASSENGERS
move AT him, kno:king into him, expressions fierce and rushed. Petrified, Viktor
has to consciously
calm his breathing and
slow down, the whole place blurrino now as he attempts to
make it through here --
PASSENGER
Watch iz!
The Passenger nearly knocks Viktor over into a fake oalm
t ree . -

14.
ARRIVALS/DEPARTDRES BOARD

Pligh: information flickers... Bahrain...Lima...Brussels...Tangier

stands amidst a group of late-night TRAVELLERS staring up at the

Arrivals/Departures board, looking
very lost and alone.
As flights are cancelled, delayed or given the go-ahead to board, groups of
passengers arrive and
depart. The only constant is Viktor.
He turns around again, confused, unsure of which direction to take.
INT . NTERNATI ONAL TERMT' iAI•, IJPPER SHOPP ING CONCOURSE - LATER

Muzak version of Bach'q 'Goldberg Variations' echoes through the hi-tech concourse
as Viktor walks
past every department store imaginable
W. H. Smith...Bloomingdale's...Brookstone...Williams Sonoma...
Baztana Rejzubl c ...

Ke slows in front of one takes a moment before saying the words -

The Gap .
V TO

('
An Indian cleaner, GUPTA, mop arby, registers Viktor, watching as he
continues past ty
of Duty Free stores advertising remarkable deals on c sounding perfumes anó
cutting-edge
palm-held electronic oods.
Viktor stops at one of the windows, intrigued óy a giant six- foot high pack of
MERIT CIGARETTES,
trying to imagine how they would be smoked.

As a puzzled Viktor turns :o continue ahead, Gupta looks away.

Now Viktor notices Gupta, watching as passengers trample over his freshly-mopped
floor, seemingly
oblivious or indifíerent to the fact that in a few seconds it will be dirty again.

INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - DAY

Having finally exhausted his exploration of the upper levels, Viktor is faced with
a stained
plastic curtain at the end of a long concourse.
A sim apo2nyh res - “Pl esse Excuse Our Appearanee Dum:ing
construct í on of Our Ne ffí nir"
Viktor sneaks a look behind the curtain - WOR MEN, overseen by their foreman KARL
IVERSON, are
constructing a new concourse including dozens of additional gates.
Viktor atudies the workmen, fascinated, gazing towards central area between the
distant cluster of
gates - a large cavity
in the ground indicating where foundationa have yec to be laid.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TRANSF* 5O'VGE, FOOD COUNT AREA - DAY
The food vouchers in his hand, Viktor moves excitedly past a dizzying array of fooó
concession
stands. This is the United Nations of :uisine.
His attention is suddenly drawn to a frailYOUNG WOM7m sitting
on an over-stuffed suitcase, struggling to shut it.
Viktor watches for a mo puts down his vouchers on a nearby tableand goes t
er.

He lenÓs his weight to th

the unusual act of kindness
e and the gin, startled by es to snap the locks shut.
YOUNG WO
Thank you. '
VIKTOR
Don't mention it.
Viktor smiles, watches her wheel the jumbo-sized American Tourister away. He turns
back to the
table -
The food vouchers are gone. he checks the floor nearby. No:hing.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA - NIGHT
Tired and hungry, Viktor obseczes passengers taking their bags off the carousels
for a minute.

He makes sure the coast is clear before dropping his own bag
ONTO THE CAROUSEL.
INT. FIRST CLASS LOUNGE AREA - NEXT DAY
Viktor ralks the plush-carpeteá corridor that links all the
first clasa lounges.
outside the Alitalia lounge Viktor hears the POP of a champagne cork. He jumps,
slightly unnerved.
Viktor moves through the glass doors but a6 they slide open for him a frosty-
looking HOSTESS -
smoking her Muratti Ambassadori with surprising aggression - stops him.
HOSTESS
(Italian accent) Ticket please.
Viktor shakes his head, no, and moves on.
FLASH OF FLAME
A distinctively gallic-looking CHEF flambes an elaborate
desser: ir. front of some well-heeled TRAVELLERS.
INT. AIR FRANCE FIRST C S - LOUNGE

Viktor watches rather v the smell that wafts ou wh

Although at the mom

invasion are unclea
y from the hallway, soaking up e lounge DOORS slide open.

aíls of the

Pricking up, Viktor moves closer watch the CNN report

olaying on the TV in the comer -
THE SCEEEN
A female AN POR speaks to camera.
Pictures of a sleepy town square with SOLDIERS marching through it.

VIKTOR
(to himself) -
My country.

only managing to herr the television as the glass doors open for people coming in
or out, Viktor
hears the report in maddeningly short bursts:
ANCHOR (V.O.)
.according to bota official communigues and
(door closes and opensl
.a bloodless coup. Troops simply walked across the border early this morning...
A TANK
drives past an ancient CHURCH, a single white flag hanging
out of an upper window. 1
VIKTOR
face pressed to the glass, strains to hear as the doors close.
He steps on the mat to open them again -
ANCHOR (V . O . )
.And tonight what was once the tiuiest Republic in the Balkans is now but an
annexed province...
(door closes and opens)
.noat feared ations in the region... (door clo s nd opens)
.expansio a ercies show precious
little signs g.
As the door closes quickly, ida finally sticks his foot or. the mat to keep it
owen.
The SMILING ANCHOR appears on s -
VOICE (O.S.)
(French accent)
Pardon me, sir.
Lounge STEWARD kicks Viktor's foot out of the way -
STEWARD
(aristocratic disdainl
I'm afraid this is a private club.
Viktor leaves. The Door opens again -- -
CNN ANCFOR fO.S.j
Next this ’ ur - check ou: the latest pulse-pounding rhythms on the Latin American
dance floor.
Coming up on World Beat -

INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

ENRIQUE, a diminutive Latiú Food Manager carrying some trays of food into the Air
France lounge,
notes the curious and distraught figure of Viktor wandering past, the Steward
following behind :o
ensure he clears the area.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT LOUNGE, IMMIGRATION AREA - NIGHT
Viktor stands at the LOCKED DOORS to the Immigration area. He sighs.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT LOUNGE, UPPER CONCOURSE - NIGHT
All the stores are locked up too. There'a hardly anyone around except a few
CLEANERS buffing the
floors or hauling huge
trash containers behind tiny transportation trucks.
Viktor takes the escalat down to the baggage claim area. INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA
- NIGHT
At the far end, Mulroy loads heavy musicians flight cases onto his motorized
trolley. Someone tugs
at Mulroy's sleeve.
VOICE (O.S.)
Sir? Did you s a white Samaonite with a big scuff n it that kind of looks
like France?

Mulroy turns. A t:ny WO

MULROY
Ma'am, I'm busy righ
urs stands behind him.

If you've

lost your bag, you ne fgesturing over)

Counter B.
go to
OLD WOMAN
It's not really a scuff mark, it's more of a big scratch. I guess it looks more
like Italy --
MULROY
lnearing herl
I really don't want to have to repeat
myself, Ma-am. _

The Woman backs away, Bcared. Viktor walks towards his bag, the only piece of
luggage revolving on
the carousel.
Mulroy, loading a cart with heavy flight cases, sees Viktor coming. He watches as
Viktor pulls his
bag off the carousel, retrieves his toothbrueh and puts the bag back on.
Straightening, Viktor notices Mulroy staring at him.
As Viktor's bag revolves around towards Mulroy, Nulroy lifts it off the carousel
and drops it by
his feet.
A bizarre kind of Mexican stand-off as Viktor and Mulroy stare at each other.
Viktor finally walks to Mulroy, picks up his bag and olaces it ba:k on the
carousel. Mulroy walks
around Viktor and
casually takes it off. Viktor walks around Nulroy anó casually puts it back oo.
Mulroy waves his hand, 'enoqgh'. He stomps over to a nearby panel, flicks a switch
and the carousel
STOPS...Viktor's bag is just sitting there...
MULROY
You take the bags off. You don't put

Mulroy app

VIKTOR
I just arrived.
Mulroy indicates Viktor's bag -
MULROY
It doesn't matter to me whether you're coming or going. I just want this bag off my
carousel.

Viktor looks a: him, finally picks up

his trolley in tow
his bag. Mulroy exits, _

Sorry.
VIKTOR

INT. TERMINAL, NBW WING - NIGHT

Viktor, carrying his bag and looking tired, walks past the gates unóer construction
that seem to
stretch off into infinity.. .38.. .39...40...41

The higher the gate number, the greater the evídence of construction work -
scaffolding, painting
equipment, electrical drills, heavy tools.
Vik:or stops at the last one.
GATE 5 G

He smiles and walks inside. It is virtually a shell apart from random pieces of
old equipment -
seats, gate deska etc. - about to be taken away. Paint cans and ladders everywhere.
Tucked away in the dar comer there's a little row of plastic
and metal seats with armrests.
Viktor walks over, sits down, fashions his coat into a pillow again to get some
rest...He tries the
'pillow' in every imagin le position, each less successful than the last.
INT. IMMIGRATION WAITING ROOM - MORNING
Viktor walks up to the ’n w, holding his badly cricked neck. An Immigration ’
OFFICER
TORRES, is already shuffling papers behind e dow.
Viktor smiles, offering his as rt.
VIK’I'OR
Good morning.
Staring at him all the time, Officer Torres casually places a small placard between
them which
reads 'Back in half an hour' and sharply pulls down the window shade.
VIKTOR
Hello? Hello?
Silence.
INT. IMMIGRATION AREA - LATER
Viktor stands in a long line waiting. After a while he aches the front.

VIKTOR
I should Speak to Mr. Mercer.
The female Officer, buay with paperwork, doesn't íook at him -
OFFICER
Mr. Nercer is busy right now, sir.
VIKTOR
I am Viktor Navorski. I muat talk to --
OFFICER
-- Any questions you have can be taken care of at Window Nineteen.
She points to a huge line across the hall.
OFFICER
Next!
Viktor sighs.
VIKTOP
Waits patientlyin the long line. Finally he reaches the front. Officer Torres looks
at him.

I am Viktor av
The name means nothing to es.
VIKTOR
I was told you coul e.
OFFICER TO
Let's see your paperwork.
Viktor hands over his passport.
OFFICER TORRES
No, sir. Your green ente’ form.
Viktor shrugs, he doesn't have one.
OFFICER TORRES
I can't do anything without the green
Term.

VIKTOR
Where do I ge: the green form?
He looks Viktor over.

OFFICER TORRES
Not here. Next!
BACK IN LINE
Viktor ffnal1y'reaches tLe front of the line.
Just as he approaches the window with his passport and filled- out Green form,
Officer Torres
CLOSES the window.
VIKTOR
No . bea se !

IN7. NAIS INMIGRA7ION WAI7ING ROON - NZZI DAY

Viktor waita witk his case on his knees, his hands over his case, waiting in the
waiting room. The
clock on the wall reads 6.15.
A door opens, MERCER, appears. Viktor chases after him.
VIKTOR
When can I leave?
Mercer keeps walking.

Not ye:.
ME R

Viktor defiantly blocks er s path.

VIKT O

An airport is a pla
a place you go to st
Mercer finally stops, glares at something when --
A COMMOTION

%
for
go to go, not

is about to say

up ahead in the distance distracts them -

TWO YOUNG CHINESE MEN
make a run for it through Passport control. The Men manage to make it through the
doors and RUSH
the Baggage Claim area, DtOCKING PASSENGERS over as they struggle to find a way
out.
VIKTOR

watches, rapt, as
dozen
the Men near him and Mercer, pursued by a

IMMIGRATION OFFICERS
Led by DANIELS, female, 30s -
DANIELS
(ahouting)
Stop where you are!
The Nen turn, stopping only when they see
MORE OFPI CERS

waiting for them at the other end.

Cornered, they jump on:o a carousel, scrambling desperately over bags to get to the
opening above
where they're coming from.
Yiktoz's with their every move.
The Officers jump on the carousels now too, grabbing the men by their legs, pullíng
off their
shoes...
SHOUTS as the fierce struggl ontinues, the men kicking out at the Officers,
clinging desperately
onto bags, onto anytfiíng
:hey’can find that míght stop them getting caughz --
But the escapees are q ’ overwhelmed, the Officers pulling them violently off
th c ls and
THROWING them to the concrete not far from V’ to p
3oriehow, one c›f the !'1en mau es BREAK FREE
Mulroy DECKS him with a Delse Shell.
MULROY
!whispering to his shell- shocked victim!
Please don't stand on the carousels.
The two Prisoners plead to their captors in Chinese. His Prisoner screaming at him
-
SECOND OFFICER
(turning him round)
'Happy New Year' to you too, Chop Suey.
As the Officers hustle the illegals towards the Security doors at the far end, one
of the prisoners
starts to cry.
VIKTOR

watches, frightened.
Nercer gestures to Thurman wbo's nearby. He whispers something into Thurman'a ear,
walks out paat
Viktor.

Come with me, Nr. Navorski.

Viktor, panicked, watches Mercer go, worried be may finally have pushed Mercer too
far.
INT. IMMIGRATION AREA - A FEW NINUTES LATER
Thurman leads Viktor down another corridor. Viktor is clearly terrified something
awful is about to
happen. Thurman opens a door onto a huge hall which looks down onto the baggage
claim area below.

Since you don't have any U.S. .currency, Mr. Mercer says you can call home. Tell
your family what's
going on.
After a moment - —
VIKTOR
Call my family. Of course.
Thurman gestures to t red telephone on a stand, a chair next to it, at th
fa d of the
room.

Thank you.
VIKT o
Viktor walks toward the far end, s down through the glass at the crush of
passengers trying
find their bags.
At the phone, Viktor looks back and sees Thurman still
watching him. He forces a smile.
He picks up the receiver and dials the numiber.
INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA - CONTINUOUS
Mulroy takes off his aloves and wipes his sweaty forehead. Looking up he notices
Viktor in profile
through the glasE, standing by the phone.
Daniela, the female Immigration Officer who arrested the Chinese men and still a
little sweaty from
all the ac:íon, passes by with a couple of coffees. Mulroy stops her.

MULROY
(gesturing up at Viktor)
What's his deal?
DANIELS
(she looks)
Oh him. No papers. He's calling his
family.
( leaving)
Happy New Year, Mulroy.
PfULROY
Oh , yeah . You c oo .
VIKTOR
munibles into the phone, a single tear runs down his cheek.
Mulroy watches.

Shaking his head again at ”these kind of people', Mulroy puts his gloves back on
and resumes
working, grabbing bags off the packed carousel and lining them up.on the floor.
After a whiie Mulroy looks up again but Viktor's gone...the receiver dangles off
the ook.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TE MMIGRATION AREA - HOURS LATER
Immigration OFFICERS have eerless New Years eve party - a quick drink and
perfuncto <[ t
before they toss their plastic cups and put their co s
There's a TV on in there too - LARK speaks excitedly
into his mic, overlooking the CRO in Times Square.
THE MAIN CONCOURSE
Completely empty and abandoned. An eerie silence...
INT. GATE FIFTY - NIGHT
Viktor sits on the seats and starea out at the runways. An AIR INDIA 747 is taking
off. Viktor
watches the plane arc up into the starry winter sky.
Ke looks at hia watch. It's just after eleven-thirty.
VIKTOR
Late again, Delhi.

He aighs deeply, waiting...and waiting.. .He looks around the gate. Nothing. Not a
sound.
Viktor can't escape it, he knows he could be here literally forever.
Viktor reaches into his pocket, pulls out
THE FEW COINS
from his homeland still in his pocket.
A sad look on his face. He takes one of them, examines it...ar. idea hits him. He
ducks underneath
the seats and uses the
edge of the coin to remove a screw
MOMENTS LATER
A pile of screws on che floor. all of the ARMRESTS on the row of seats a .
Kow he uses the coin to make TWO GROOVES in the wall, one for each day he's been
here.
Viktor lies down on his new 'bed'. A sigh of'deep satisfaction a6 he reaches down
to makesure his
BAG is still right beside him on the floor.
Despite the bright li ve, Viktor begins to drift, HAND still gripping tig
y o his
bag...
THE TIMES SQUARE BALL

drops as the New Year :himes i confetti over the thousands pac
INT . ZMJtIGRATZ ON ROOI'4 - CON3'ZNUOLtS
a NIGHTY ROAR. It rains to Times Square.

As the crowd's CHEERING continues we pull back off :he image

playing on the .I in the comer to see :he room is vacant...
THE ARRTVALS/DEPARTURES BOARD
It flickers to life with fresh information for multiple flights to
Rome...Amsterdam...Brussels...London
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, ARRIVALS GATE - NIGHT
Viktor watches throuoh the glass as FAMILIES are re-united with their loved ones
arriving off
long-haul flights -

An elderly UOMAN (60s) hugs her slightly younger S:STER. They cry tears of joy.
It's been a long
time since they saw each other.
A smãll BLACK kid, perhaps nine or ten, jumps into his
rATHER's arms as he runs out the gate with his beaming MOTKER.
A blonde GIRL runs into her boyfriend's arms. He lifts her up, her legs wrapping
around his waist
as they kiss passionately without even saying bello.
A CRASHIlfO sc›und -

Shit.
VOICE (O.S.)
Vikto- turns to see a young FLIGHT ATTENDANT - Hispanic. 30s, no-make-up - arms and
legs akimbo,
lying on the floor not far from him, the contents of her bag apread out all over
the place.
She realizes her heel's broken, curses to herself in Spanish and starts to ga:her
up her scattered
schedules -
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Shit. Shi
’ e he p some of her things including seke roache e
VI
(giving them ‹A Where are you going?
FLIGHT A
Buenos Aires.
(struggling to finó the right
schedule)
I just can't remember where from.
'/iktor notes her United uniform, looks at her watch.
VIKTOR
Flight two-fifteen. Gate twenty four.
AMELIL
Thanks.
Hanôing back her broken feel -

VIKTOR
This area in par:icular, from the gift shop to the courtesy phones, is the most
slippery. They mop
twice.
She regards him briefly.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Oh really...Why?
Viktor notices her nametag now -'Amelia Sanchez'.
VIKTOR
l don't know. I can find out.
He helps her up.
VIKTOR
May I suggest sensible heels? Payless Shoe Center Level three.
She half-smiles, nods, takes off her shoes and starts runninc towards her gate -
AMELIA
(shouting backl
Thazü

fafter he Don't run.

He wat.ches her di sappea
+*Ü
.. 4

rner, to ree

the cleaner he first saw at the food court, mopping nearby while listening to loud
Hindi NUSIC
through badly taped-up headphones .
Viktor approaches, noticing the 'WET FLOOR - CAUTION' signs
still on his car:.
VIKTOR
lthe signs)
You should put those out so people dor.'t

Gupta can't hear what Viktor's saying. He takes off his headphoxes -

VIKTOR
I said you should put those out so people
don't slip.
Gupta just stares at him...then offers Viktor the mop.
VIKTOR
No, thank you.
Gup:a's accent is Pukkah-British -
GUPTA
Mind your own business then.
Intrigued by the friendliness of his contempt, Viktor stays where he is, watches
Gupta mopping.
VIKTOR
How long have you worked here?
Gupta looke Viktor over once again.

A «'hi1e .
” VIJCI'OR
Really? That's urprising.
P
I used to wor at throw, Terminal
three, before b
glancing of
.I needeó a chang

What's it like there7

GUPTA
It smells :he same.
A loud CRASH from behind them. A BUSINESSMAQ's slipped on the wet floor by the
restrooms. He oets
up, angrily mops down his 9rooks brothers suit -
BUSINESSMAN
(to apathetic passem-by!
It's like a goddam swimming pool out
here!
Gupta quietly wheels his trolley past Viktor.
GUPTA
It's the only fun I have.

Off Viktor's appailed expression.

INT. Um TIONAL TRANSIT LODNGE, GATE THIRTY - NIGHT
En route to 'bed', Viktor slows at Gate Thirty, noting the stacked cans of PAINT
under plastic. He
looks around to check the coast is clear.
Viktor peels the plastic back to get a better look at the cans. Unused BRUSHES too.
Viktor considers the peeling far wall. He takes off hia :ie, shirt, jacket and
trousers and folds
them neatly in a pile.
Without so much as a second thought, Viktor lifts a nearhy LADDER off the ground,
flipa it up and
leans it against the wall. Using the edge of a large coin, Viktor pops the lid on
the paint, dips
one of the brushes in and climbs up the ladder.
Viktor starts painting. He works carefully and exactly.
INT. GATE THIRTY - LATER
On Viktor's FEET. The ladder is further along now, half the wall already painted.

Viktor climbs down to wrapped in paint-splat e underclothes. He resemb s Fashion

experiment (faile
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL,
fresh can of paint. He's now astic, to protect his
kind of French Avant Garde

IRTY - DAWN
Looking tired but happy, Viktor ’ up his ladder to go. At the door, he turns
back to aóm e his
perfectly painted wall. He smiles to himself.
IN THE CORRIDOR
Viktor looks out across the runways. The first fingers of early morning light are
stretching out
across the horizon.
Viktor continues 'home', whistling.
EXT. RUNWAY - DAY
A Cathay Pacific jumbo ec takes off with a giant ROAR.

INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, BATHROOM - MORNING

A well-dressed BUSINESSMAN washes bis hands at the sink, checking out his
refleotion in the mirror.
Viktor emerges from one of the stalls behind him, wearing white jo:key shorts and a
T-shirt and
brushing his teeth.
The man watches as Viktor approaches one of the basins and spits into it. The
Businessman looks at
Viktor, disgusted.
Viktor offers a toothpaste-lathered smile as an apology.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - MORNING
A stray luggage cart parked at an angle in the middle of she concourse. Passing by,
Viktor politely
returns it to a nearby machine. The machine's refund mechanism unexpectedly spits A
Qt.ATER back
out.
Viktor looks around, pockets it.
ANOTHER GATE
Viktor pushes two more carte and re:urns bhem to the machine.
Two more quarters pop out.
ANOTHER GATE
Viktor rounds up anothe ei carts. More quarters.

*NT - TPMS IT LOUNGE , P•OOD

Viktor's HAND, full of quarte the multi-colored storefronts di flags, smelling the
air, pleased of
aromatic options.
EA - DAY
again he walks past ing various National
confused at the multitude

INT . TRAFS IT LOUNGE , FOOD COURT - LATER

TWO BOWLS of hot minestrone on a moving tray, Viktor loadino on dozens of :rackers
on the way to
the register, where he hanÕs over his coins.
The CASHIER glances a: the crackers, ther. witheringly up at
Viktor, slides the next tray up.
FOOD COURO TAELES

32.
Viktor, napkin care[ully tucked into his shirt, slurps at

Enrique, the Pirst Class lounge Pood Manager, driving his motorized food trolley -
whose engine
makes sn odd whiatling sound - notices Viktor, the curious man he saw ejected from
the lounges
earlier, eating on the other side of the Pood Court.

He studies him for a moment, approaches Gupta, who's mopping nearby.

SNRIO
What's up with him?

Who?
ipointing)
Brown suit. Two o'clock.
GUPTA
Oh, his . SCuck here .

Like everyon se.

Worse. Some Serious acco over at 50.

Gate 50?

ENRIQUE
aperwork problem. Mulroy He's livin
Gupta moves away with his mop-cart.
GUPTA
Not such a bad part of the world.
A black Female CUSTOMS OFFICER passes Enrique. They exchanoe a flirtatious little
look.
’
CUSTOMS OFFICER
!his cart)
Anything good to eat. -
ENRIQUE
A little left-over Bratwurst. Tyrolean
Air.
She smiles, movea on.

VI ICI'OR

drinks the last of his soup, oblivious to the fact that he's being watched. He puts
down the bowl,
tries to smile but he's still famiahed.
Viktor looks up - A FAMILY OF FOUR finishes a dinner of Chinese food at a nearby
table. The
YOUNGEST, who's crying, hasn't even touched hia burger and Fries. Viktor stares at
the untouched
meal longingly. Finally, the family gets up to leave.
Viktor rises, instinctively MOVING TOWARD the table when a BUSBOY appears out of
nowhere and scoops
up the all the trays - including the untouched burger - aOd throws it away. Viktor
can't believe
it.
ENRIQUE

watches from the other side.

ENRIQUE
He'll get tapeworm from tbose burgers.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, NEW WING, GATES - DAY

Karl, the.foreman and hi CREW MANAGER make an examination, with plans, of work to
ne.

c This section he March 30.

GER
ould take ua till
if we want to make thi dline ail the crews have to be syncop ed, Brian. Like a
ballet.

CREW MANAG8R
(rolling his eyes) I got it, Karl.
As they pass Gate Thirty, Karl notices the painted back wall.

Hold on.
Karl and the Crew Manager enter the gate. VIKTOR

appears, quietly follows them inside, excitedly anticipating

the positive reaction to his work.

Who's been workiog here?

CREW MANAGER
(checking his plans)
No-one.
Karl holds up a paint-flecked finger.

It doesn't look like no-one to me.

The Crew Manager shrugs, checking his schedules again.
CREW MANAGER
We don't s art here for another week.
Karl examines the precision work more closely.

Look at this cornicing. Must be Harry's crew.

(shaking his head in dismay)
Any chance to e us look bad. They're trying to ca ouble again, Brian.
VIKTOR
crestfallen, disappears out ’ w.
INT. BAGGAGE HANDLING AREA -
His bag by his side and looking r er forlorn, Viktor stares at the empty
carouaels spinning for
quite a long time.
Mulroy, emerges from behind a door marked "restricted', tossing'bags carelessly
onto a cart. He
sees Viktor at the far end. Mulroy just watches, noting Viktor glancing at his
watch every once and
a while.
Mulroy makes his way over. Viktor sees Mulroy coming, goes
back to watching his carousel.
VIKTOR -
I was noticing this carousel here.
MULROY
Carousel seven.

VIKTOR
Yes. She takes fifty-eight seconds to go in one circle.
MULROY
Really?
Viktor indicates the next carousel.
VIKTOR
And this one here.

Eleven. Carousel Eleven.

VIKTOR
Eleven, yes. She takes longer. Seventy seconds. And they're the same size.
Mulroy stares at him, unimpressed.
VIKTOR
I think there's a problem with the ball
— bearings.
A beat.

speak
Mulroy hurls a bag carelê
VIKT
Why do you throw to the passengez
MULROY

his cart, missing it.

They belong

A beat.
When exactly are you leasing?
VIKTOR
Any time. I'm on vacation.

MULROY
One hell of a vacation.
The two men regard one another now and as they do some kind of understanding is
reached between
them, in the silence.
Mulroy subtly gestures to Viktor'e bag, then nods to the carousel.

MULROY
Just for the moment.
Viktor drops his bag on the carousel.
VIKTOR
(after him)
Thank you.
Walking away and without looking back, Mulroy raises his arm to Viktor and
disappears through the
doors into the secured Baggage Claim Area.
INT. BOOKSTORE - DAY
Viktor is in the 'Home Computing and Electronics' section. He refers to a simple
guide to home
electronics, copying a diagram from an open page onto a food court napkin.
Viktor puts the book back on the shelf, turns -
AMELIA
tbe.flight Attendant he helped earlier, browses in Historical biographies nearby.
She's in her own world, st in a book, o:casionally
translating words to he e in Spanish.
Viktor finds himself fr en the spot, unable to blink even, entranced by her un
ed beauty,
her calm, her complete lack of self-consc’ us s...
AMELIA
(turning)
You're creeping me out, ay buddy --
Then she recognizes h:m. Viktor almost jumps.
AMELIA
Ok...it's you.
A beat. Viktor's eyes are drawn down to her flat shoes.
VIKTOR
Bet:er. Sensible heels.
AMELIA
(still a little thrown)
I didn't expect to see you again.
She smiles at him. He smiles back, awkwardly.

AMEIIA
Anyway...thanks again for the other day.
She looks at her watch.

I'm going to be late again.

She starts walking. Viktor follows her, searching for something, anyt5ing to say.
He notices the
biography of Napoleon in her hand -

VIETOR
So...you like history?
AMELIA
Only when I fly. You get a lot of perspective up there.
VIKTOR
Why Napoleon?
AMELIA
-Any story about a man with an ego bigger than his own country has got to be good
for a few laughs.
(she looks t the price)
Six hundred p e for nine, ninety nine. Can't beat t a
VI
I think maybe it eo ' ego that saved
him.
She looks at him, puzzled. Vikt tinues --
VIKTOR
After defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba. He felt the
only noble thing
to do was commit suicide.
(beat)
But because he considered himself to be superhuman he took six times the lethal
dose of poison.
He looks up. She's listening -
VIKTOR
The amount was so huge his body rejected it immediately. He diõn't die. In the end,
you see, it was
his ego that saved him...

A long beat.
AMELIA
I didn't know that.
A beat. She takes a closer look at him.
AMELIA
You come through here a lot?
VIKTOR
I'm here all the time.
She smiles, moving a little closer.
Nervous, Viktor begins taking random travel books off a nearby shelf.
AMELIA
flooking around)
Seems like that sometimes, doesn't it? I don't know how you frequent flyers do it.
He manages to put back 'Gay Beaches of the Caribbean' before she noti:es.

At least we to today?
ere are you off
She sees the assorted guid Üm e Philippines in his hands.
AMEL A
Oh, Manila? Where come

Viktor doesn't get it.

It's a joke.

AMELIA
They walk towards the registers.

VI KTOR
{clutching an armful of booka) I...just can' t decide.
She takes them out of his hands one by one, sorts through them.

AMELIA
Not this one. Forget this. A total rip
off...
(she chooses one)
This seriea is pretty reliable.
She drops it in Viktor's hand.
VZX'ZOR
Thank you.
He looks down at -
THE BOOK
Lonely Planet.
Amelia picks up a second book of poetry from the counter display, examines it.
AMELIA
Frankly poems are much better for the air. You stand a chance of finishing one
before tbe
paseengers want something.
’It's Viktor's turn in line.

Yes,
The cashier stares at

(moving nervous
She's got a _
AMELIA

king for his book.

O
(checking her watch again)
Shit. You're right.
She quickly hands her book to the cashier and pays.
At the door she turns back, waves at Viktor and runs away down the concourse.

CASHIER
That'll be twelve, thirty four. Cash or credit?
Viktor turns to see the cashier's already rung up Viktor'a
book.

VIKTOR
I've...changed my plans. (taking th8 book back)
I'm thinking more about...Osaka.
The Cashier looks at him.
CASHIER
The Pacific Rim. Aisle three.
VIKTOR
Right.
He leaves.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, GATE FIFTY - NIGHT
Viktor returns to see a foil-covered white plastic TRAY waiting by his 'bed'. He
pulls back the
foil -
THE MEAL
A roll. A miniature salad. A tasty-looking miniature crumb cake. Under a second
layer of foil, some
kind of undeterminable frozen chicken. The name embossed onto the sealedLapkin
pouch --
KLM.economy.

Next tO it is a Britis Viktor looks around the

travel kit. completely empty.

Hello?
THE KIT
Open and laid out. Viktor, eating his salad, excitedly tries out or Rlays with each
of the
following items: Silver razor...mini shave foam...perfumed towelettes...ear
plugs...eye-shades...lip ba1m...mini-cologne soft- spray...pencil and
paper...toothbrush and
toothpaste...nail file...scissors...needle and thread.
Viktor stuffs another plastic forkful of food into his mouth, admiring his cache of
personal
grooming aids.
INT. GATE FIFTY - LATER
Viktor, now in his pajamas, and munching on the crumb cake,
stands by the cir:uit box on the wall.

We notice there are several more scratches on it, indicating

the passing of the days.
He pries opens the box and referring to the diagram he made on the napkin in the
bookstore,
fiddlea with the wires inside.
After a few aborted attempts - lights turning on and off over various parts of the
gate - the
overhead light directly above Viktor's 'bed' goea out.
Moments later, Viktor is lying down in his bed, his coat over him, smiling.
A long shot of the abandoned gate, well-lit except for the area around Viktor's
'bed', shrouded in
darkness.
ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES BOARD
The first arrivals of the morning flash on the board... Madrid... Madras... Bern...
Addis Ababa...
INT. FOOD COURT - DAY
Viktor waits patiently by a microwave at the Heat-your-own Burrito stand. A well-
dressed WOMAN,
40s, waits behind him in line with her burrito.
When the oven pings Vi r ens the door and pulls out a pair of SOCKS. They'r
’te dry yet.
He smiles at the woman, pops them in for o few seconds. He takes them out,
leaves.
After Viktor's gone, the woma c iders her burrito, thinks better of it, decides
to opt
thing a little more healthy instead.
INT. IMMIGRATION OFFICE - DAY LATER
Viktor reaches the head of the line. He slides his filled out immigration form
across the counter.
Officer Torres doesn't even bother to look at it, matter-of-
factly stamps ENTRY DENIED across it.
OFFICER
Next.
Viktor 'borrows' some blank Immigration forms with him as he goes.

&
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, WEW WING CONCODRSE - DAY
In a comer no: far from the stained plastic curtain, several long lines of WORKERS
waiting to get
their assignments for the day.
Vikto: casually joins one of the lines. After a while, he reaches the front. The
Crew Manager
doesn't bother looking at him-

Natue?
CREW MANAGZR

VIKTOP
Navorski, Viktor.
He checks his list.
CREW MANAGER
I don't have you down here.
VIKTOR
I'm new.
CREW MANAGER ”
What do you ’do2

Builder.

Could you try an c> ittl more specific?

VIKT
Painter. Nason. ^.
He looks Viktor over again.
CREW MANAGER
(to himself)
Great. A jerk of all trades.
VIKTOR
(straining to hear) Excuse me?

.CRRW MANAGER
Never mind. Who sent you anyway?

VIKTOR
(hesitant)
I heard Harry --
CREW MANAGER
(to his Junior)
-- one of Harry's infamous recommenóations. A very bad omen, my friend. He talk to
you about pay
and termo?
VIKTOR
(hesitant)

CREW MANAGER
He never does.
(warily harding him a slip) Get a uniform from the shell.
He gestures over to the workers HUT nearby.
VIKTOR
Thank you. Thank you very much. -
INT. WORKERS HUT - A iFW MINUTES LATER

Viktor emerges carryin

a hat.
INT. GATE TEN - DAY
in of pressed white overalls and
Viktor, now sporting his nem e 1s, walks in. The other WORKERS, many of whom
are Puer n,
watch him arrive. He waves politely a: them

Hello.
VIKTOR
They ignore him, turning back to their work. Viktor spots
the órushes and paint in the comer. Helping himself he makes his way over to the
far side of the
gate where no-one else
is working.
lNT. GATE THIRTY - LATER
Viktor's wall is only half-painted. Viktor turns to see the other workers packing
up for the day.
Their walls are already finished.

44.
Viktor turns back to his work. He continuem slowly, carefully, exactly.
II7I’. FOOD *OURT AREA - NZGIf'I'

Exhausted a€ter his first day at work, Viktor - now changed back into his suit -
walks through the
concourse.
mnrique's food trolley, its engine still making the strange whistling noise, drives
straight past
him. Viktor turns, sniffs the air.
He follows Enrique's trolley.
INT. CATERING RETURNS AREA - LATER
Enrique takes a hot tray of aspetizers from a compartment on his [ood trolley and
hands it to a
waiting BA catering WORKFR. He sees Viktor standino there.
VIKTOR
Thank you for dinner And toothpaste.
A very long beat. Enrique scrutinizes .sim. --
ENRIQUE ”
How did you km it was me?
Viktor leans forward e aseorted aromas. He cap on opens it.
food trolley, smelling the the compartments. Enrique

It's the one

VIKTOR

ENRIQUE
(pretending to be unimpressed)
KU? Those clog-wearing amãteurs can't
cook to save their asses.
VIKTOR
I liked it. Thank you.
ENRIQUE
(like it was nothing) Returns. They get tossed anyhow. Now Cachay fmperia2 Class...
He opens another drawer, allows Viktor a brief, tantalizing glimpse of an
exquisite-looking MEAL
before SLAMMING it shut again -

ENRIQUE
Not too many miles on it, either. It's only come from Santiago.

Enrique kisses his fingers, jumps back onto his train and turns on the engine. It
makea the strange
whistling sound again.
Viktor approaches, flips up the hood and makes a quick and precise adjustment. The
whistling stops.
A beaC .

ENRIQUE
I could aend a few more your way if you'd like.
Viktor nods, graciously accepting the kind offer. Enrique turns his cart arouni.

ENRIQUE
I hear you're going to be with us for a
while.
VIKTOR
No. I leave an day now. -
Enrique takes off in t o er direction.
E IQ
Really? I don't a boardinq pass
sticking out of y zo pocket.
Off Viktor's expression.
INT. TERMINAL - MORNING
Viktor walks past a row of PAY TV's. As he passes a WOMAN
ieaves her booth, TV still on.
TV (O.S.)
The situation in Eastern European situaticn looks unlikely to be settled in the
immediate future --
Viktor stops in his tracks, turns, sits down in the vacart
booth to watch the news.
We hold on Viktor's face as we hear -

TV NRWSCASTER
The United Nations delegation last night could not even cõüvince the Leaders of the
Principalities
to agree on a meeting place to begin talks aimed at resolving the historical border
--
The TV switches OFF. Viktor slaps it. Nothing. He fiddles with all the buttons.
Still nothing. Now
Viktor hits the TV, calls it a name.
Frustrated, he looks over to the next booth where a young KID wearing Death Metal
clothes watches
cartoons. The Kid turns to Viktor, a look of casual contempt.
Viktor smiles and leaves. INT. GATE FIFTY - NIGHT
Viktor, in his pajamas now and ready for bed is at the circuit box by the wall. He
makes another
groove in the wall with
his coin. There are dozens.
Viktor's expression, realizing it's not going to be "any day

INT. TERMINAL, UNITED AI INES LONG HAUL DESK - NIGHT

A TICKET GIRL, sits b i the empty Terminal, ya

abandoned desk, looks out at checks her watch, leaves.

Viktor appears, casually wa so t the desk before ducking behind it.

HANDS ruffle through a drawer - book of ticket stubs, slam it shu .

ge stickers, forms, a

A SECOND DRAWER - a list of employees. Viktor's hands nervously flick through it.
The title at the
top ”Ground Staff'.
A THIRD DRAWER - Viktor finds another list of employees -
'JFK Flight staff schedules'.
He hurriedly pores down the list.
VIKTOR
Sanchez Ãmelia...Sanchez Amelia... Sanchez Amelia...

His fingers track down each name on the list, finally finding

VIKTOR
(reading her full name aloud from the card)
Amelia Luisa Sanchez.
Across from it...her exact schedule. INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - NIGHT
Viktor waits for the fligh: crews emerging from a tunnel.
From the tunnel opposite, Viktor practices timing his walk
to coincide with the arriving crews.
He sees Amelia appear. Refolding his monogrammed handkerchief in his top pocket and
quickly
cdjusting his tie, Viktor gives his best impersonation of a ”fraquent-flyer” as he
moves towards
her.
But it's not her...just a flight attendant who looks very similar.

VIKTOR
Sorry. Pardc
Viktor returns
he see s

waits till she gets closer to He begins his walk

Amelia begins to smile when she sees
He waits. Finally

re it's her.

her boyfriend, a well-dressed Businessman wearing generous amounts of gold jewelry.

He opens hi=
arms, kisses her passionately. They go off arm in arm.
VIKTOR
crushed, watches them leave.

Amelia and Max laugh and joke, kissing again, unable tc keep their hands off each
other.

Viktor, dejected, starta walking back home across the concourse.

f4ULROY

watches from around a nearby comer, he's witnessed the whole scene.
VIKTOR
continues ahead.
MDLROY (0. S. )
We're flying tonight.
Viktor turns to see where the whisper is coming from, sees
Mulroy standing there.
MULROY
At eleven.
VIZ'I‘OR
(approaching)
Flying?
LEROY
Air Jamaica.
Viktor, puzzled

Just meet me He disappears.

A POT
Carousel Six.
boils angrily on a rickety hot plate.
INT. TERMINAL - MULROY'S HIDEAWAY
Deep in the bowels of the Baggage handling area, conveyors
and carousels groaning somewhere in the distance.
Mulroy stirs the pot, intermittently singing along to the Loretta Lynn song coming
out of :he
yellow Binatone 6tereo and smoking a matching yellow com-paper joint as he talks -
MIILROY
I've banged them all, man. Every trolley-
dolly from -aroflot to Zimbabwe Air.
There was one girl--
*,MORE)

MULROY
fa brief faraway look) Aer Lingus.
Vik:or sits uncomfortably at a makeshift table in the comer - a rusted DC 9 wing
panel, staring
down at enough roach clips to hang a shower curtain.
MULROY
They're not like normal women, Viktor. They're some kind of separate breed.
Flying back and forth across all those
:ime zones screws with their hormones.
Girls just shouldn't be up that high
:hat long. It's unnatural. Trust me, unless you're just in the market for a little
fun, stay away,
man.
Mulroy turns round with a taste on the end of a large cooking
spoon Sor Viktor -
MULROY
Try this. My mother's recipe.
Viktor tastes it -

(grimaci
VI OR
It's very g d. you.
Mulroy reaches above hÀP e of the old overhead 747 containers - complete with
de an Am
logo - opens it, pulls out a huge BONG made of piping, drops it in front of
Viktor.
Viktor examines it, worried.
MULROY
Just the tonic for a man in your
predicamen:.
A bang at the door. Enrique aDpears, wheeling a labrador iuóer a blanket (SCOUT) on
a make-shift
trolleyDehind him.
He hugs Mulroy, looks at Viktor.
ENRIQUE
The man with no country.
Enrique reaches down, pulls out a couple of bottles of DOM
PERIGNON from under S: ut's blanket.
NULROY
The Air France lounge?

(French Accent)
Nais bien sur. Nerci!
MULROY
(taking the bottles, to Viktor)
Free to those that can't afford it.
VIKTOR
You stole them?
Enrique feigns shock.

My Cod.
ENRIQUE
(mockingly, to Mulroy)
I stole them.
Enrique cackles as he pope the cork. Viktor's in no mood to celebrate. He reaches
down to Scout who
licks his hand.
INT. MULROY' S HIDEAWAY - LATER
The room is filled with thick Marijuana smoke from the superbong. The champagne
bottles are empty
too. Viktor looks uncomfortable, almost like he wemts to leave but is frightened to
excuse himself.
He reaches down to pe
both his hind legs this im p
ENRI c›
You like him, huh?
They were about to '
again, noting the braces on

old DEA dog.

him, if you

know what I mean, but

to let me have him.
MULROY
vinced them
He's got a golden nose, this one.
SCONT - IN FLASHBACK
Sniffing vigorously, his crippled legs dangling uselessly from a luggage cart is
wheeled slowly
past a mountain of BAGS by Nulroy. A furtive Enrique trails, making sure the coast
is clear...

MULROY (V.o.)
We wheel him past the bags before the
first team dogs go in.

Scout starts to aniff and grab at a back pack. Mulroy opens it, pulls out a small
CUOINA DOLL
inside, puts it in front of Scout's nose. He barks. Mulroy twists off the doll's
head, looks
inside, then up at Enç}gqç...gjpgg.
INT. MULROY'S HIDRAUAY - CONTINUOUS
Viktor watches as Enrique reaches down to the barrel hanging off Scout's collar and
pulls out two
large bags of weed.

(handing them to Mulroy) Kingston Press. Presh off the plane.

(Scout) Good boy.
L lit joint already in his mouth, Mulroy shoves the bags of weed indo a little
flight bag.
MULROY
A little take-out.
VIKTOR
(watching Mulroy pack the
weed away)
What if they catch you?
He exhales right ihto V t 's face. Viktor is beginning to look rather pale. He
iE eyes
are begimuing to change.

No-one checks the ag e handlers' baggage. It's an uns rule.

ENRIQUE
They got more important iugs to worry about. Like you, Vik. When they going to
let you outta
here, anyway?
Any day now.VIKTOR
Viktor begins eating Mulroy's 'stew'. For some reason, it doesn't eeem to taste
that bad anymore
ENRIQUE
ia stoned laugh)
Someone's lying to you, man. ’
MULROY
Leave him alone.

Fuck them. You should just leave.

MDLROY
They'll send him to the Detention Center.

Not if they don't catch him.

(tokes, boldly)
I can get you out of here.
Viktor stops eating.
MULROY
(to Viktor)
He :an't get you out of here.
ENRIQUE
Damn Skippy I can get him out of here!
Viktor chokes on the emoke again. His eyes are looking very glazed over by now.

VI KTOR

You could jus right out.

I can't.
ENRIQUE

Hav
a
y
3,:
7er been i lhe wheel well

ENRIQUE
It's the size of a one bedroom apartment.
MULROY
He'd freeze to death.
ENRIQUE
(like he's an imbecile)
I don't know whether you've noticed, ’
Mulroy, but there have been some breathtaking aivances ir. Western technology in
the last few
years.
A withering look from Mulroy aa he hands Enrique :he joint.

ENRIQUE
Industrial grade Aluminum foi].
_ Viktor stares at Enrique, his drug-addled brain taking hold
of the idea -
EXT. SKY - VIKTOR'S FANTASY
A gleaming 7ã7 makes its final approach to the runway.
INT. WHEEL WELL - CONTINUOUS
A pair of eyes, icicles dripping off the brows, stare terrified out of a small hole
beneath thick
layers of Aluminum foil.
INT. COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
The CAPTAIN activates his landing gear. A button flashes a
MALFUNCTION. He looks to his CO-PILOT, aghast.
THE TARMAC
Minutes later. FIRE MARSHALS pick over the charred, smoking
WRECKAGE of the downed Jet.
FI T MARSHALL
Take a look a t 's, sir.
The SENIOR MARSHALL com ov and watches as carbon-streaked
layers of tin foil are pe ack. Steam and smoke pour
from the center.
The last layer is peeled away.
FIRST MARS
Mother of God.
SENIOR MARSIIALL
Baked like a potato.
INT. MULROY'S HIDEAWAY - CONTINUOUS
Mulroy laughing. Viktor's expression, horrified.
ENRIQUE
Maybe that one's not for you.

Enrique waves in front of Viktor's eyes. Viktor seems to be catatonic. Mulroy still
laughing.
ENRIQUE
Viktor, are you alright?

I think he's having a heart attack.

ENRIQUE
(eureka)
That's it! Cardiac arrest. They'll have to take him to emergency at St. Joseph's.
VIKTOR'S MIND
Viktor, on a gurney and clutching his chest is rushed out of
the Terminal to a waiting AMBULANCE.

Strapped down on the gurney, Viktor has electrodes attached to every part of his
body.
PARAMEDIC ONE’reaÕs off the monitors.
P DIC ONE
Not just his a . Lungs, kidúbys, corneae. Ev 's in perfect health.
P TWO
(consulting ’ tm chart) Since he has no leg t to be in this country, I
see on why
his organs shou1dn't be h ed...
PARAMED]C ONE
(getting the idea)
.for legitimate U.S. citizens.
Viktor RIPS ali the electrodes off his body.
INT. MULROY'S HIDEAWAY - LATER
Viktor looks whiter than a sheet. Mulroy is laughing so much
now no sound is coming out.
VIKTOR
(calmly crawling off, hoarse) Thank you for a lovely evening.

Enrique and Mulroy high five.

ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES BOARD
The first morning arrivals flicker to life
Durban...Vienna...Monte Carlo...Kinchassa...
EXT. RUNWAY - DAY
A Mexicana 747 takes off with a ROAR.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, NEW WING - MORNING
Viktor, looking worse for wear, and the other workers emerge from the hut in their
overalls, ready
to begin on the next gate.
KARL
poking his head out of Gata Ten, shouts over to his men -

You. All of you. Here. wow.

MINUTES LATER
Viktor and the'other wor and in front of Viktor's

Smiling, Karl runs work at the base.

this.
his finger the intricate moulding

See this, Gentlemen. Old world craftsmanship. Detailed. Precise. Beautiful.

Viktor's thrilled.

KARL
So, who did it?
T’iktor's simply too embarraseed to take the credit.

Come on, I'm sure we'd all love to know who's responsible for such beautiful work.
Viktor, finally overcoming his humility, steps forward.

What's you're name?

VIKTOR
Viktor.
Karl approaches, his smile suddenly dropping -

(gesturing to the walls) It'a gob to stop, Fikror.

Viktor, confused.

This is an airport. People want to get through here as fast they can. No-one
notices the goddamn
walls in an airport. work like this takes too long. We miss our deadline, don't
get my target
bonus. And if I don' g mine, then you -
(gesturi g ly)
- aZ1 of you, on' et yours.
Viktor wisheE the earth wou m low him up. The Workers look at each other.

KARL
People like you are sto ng everyone else from making money.
The Workers glare at Viktor. Karl nears him. Hesitantly -
VIKTOR
l can do the best job...quicker.
A long beat.

I don't think so.

INT. GATE FIFTEEN - MOMEWTS LATER ”’

Karl leads Viktor into the abandoned gate, trailed by the
other workers.
Okay, you've got until lunchtime.

Viktor looks around the huge gate. After a moment -

VIKTOR
The whole gate?

Any one of these men could paint this whole gate before lunch...
(turning to them)
.right?
They all shake their heads, delighting in Viktor's tormant.
Viktor nods his head, alright.
Karl leaves the gate, trailed by the workers, a couple of
them high-fiving.
VIKTOR

looks arounô at the e

INT. NEW WING, OFFICE -
panse of WALL. He gulss.

Karl is arguing lou3ly the ph e .an, the Crew Manager appears. He looks
worried.
CREW MANAOE
Karl.

What?
CREW MANAGER
You'd better come here.
INT. GATE FIFTEEN - MINUTES LATER

The clock on the wall reads ten minutes to one. Viktor sits calmly in the middle of
the room
f^nishing a TWA children's fish supper.

Karl and Brian arrive. Karl can hardly believe his eyes. Viktor's not only painted
everything
perfectly, he's finished the moulding on the base as well.
A beat.

I don't like you, Navorski.

He leaves. Viktor savors the last of his Jello cup.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, MAIN CONCOURSE - DAY
Returning from work, Viktor walks across the’ main concourse. People are starting
to recognize him.
DUSTY, A sandy-haired airlines purser approaches, handing Viktor a Continental Club
Class travel
kit.
DUSTY
Enrioue told me about your... (looking around) 'situation’.
Viktor takes it, slightly surprised. -

(leaving, ink) I'm Dusty.

I'm
DUSTY
No, that's my name.
VIKTOR
I'm Sorry. Aham you.
EXT. RUNWAY - NIGHT
An Air Canada 767 taxis into the deserted gate area, landing
lights flickering through the falling rain.
INT. TERMINAL, UPPER CONCOURSE - INDIVIDUAL PAYPHONE AREA

Viktor nears a bank of public phones, each topped with a Plexiglas bubble for
privacy.

He slows, hearing an agitated WOMAN'S VOICE. As Viktor gets closer he realizes

she's screaming in
rapid-fire Spanish.
_ The argument crescendoes, insults coming fast and furious. The Woman
finally SLAMS down
the phone. We hear a mu€fled sob.
The womam steps out of the bubble. It'a Amelia. Tears in her
eyes.

Asshole.
She kicks the phone.
AMELIA

AMELIA
Asshole hee!
She collapses into her seat, rifles through her bag for a Kleenex, tips the entire
thing up.
Suddenly -
A MONOGRAMMED HANDMRCKIEF
appears in front of her face. The one that's been poking out of Viktor's suit
pocket since the day
he arrivedl
She looks up, sees Vikto

to go.

AMELIA
A ief next to her and starts

Viktor pauses where he is, a deer in the headlights. She grabs the handkerchief,
tries to wipe away
her tears, the maacara running down her face. She blinks. It hurts.
AMELIA
Goddamn things.
She looks for her contacts case amidst the contents of her
bag, spread out everywhere.
’ She gets down on the floor, hunting for them, looking under the seat.
Viktor joins in.

AMELIA
Men. You're all the same. You should all come with a little warning sticker from
the World Health
Authority - 'Anything that comes ou: oI tbis mouth is horseshit'.
Viktor finds the case, hands it to her -
AMELIA
It's a simple 'yes or no' question? 'Are you le aving Ter? ' "Res or No?
How complicated is
that?
She opens it, begins peeling the contacts out of her eyes.
AMELIA
Tell me the truth so I can get on with my life. Is that really so much to ask?
(her eye)
Ow.
She starts sobbing again. Viktor is unsure what to do. He considers putting his
hand on her
shoulder, thinks better of it. sits down quietly next to her instead. -
After a moment, she tu to Viktor, a little calmei now. love him
wanted to
already marr
VlKIOR
Three of you. Crowded.
She laughs, looks at him -
AMELIA
(as it occurs to her)
What are you doing here at this hour
anyway?

VIKTOR
.I'm delayed.
AMELIA
Again? You need to find a new travel
agent.
She notices the flecks of paint on his hands.

AMELIA
What business are you in?
VIKTOR
Building.
AMELIA
Building2
VIKTOR
I travel between one building and another building...building. International
building. Yes.
(glancino nervoualy at his wat:h)
I'd better get to my gate.
As he gets up to leave, she watches him.
Viktor turns back. He wants to say something...but he can't.
He continues on his way.
ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES BOARD
Flight information for endless destinations fli:kers to-
s life...Dar Es Salaam...Maórid...Dublin,..Bonn...
INT. IMMIGRATION OFFI

Viktor reaches the head f •

out immigration form acro
line. He slides hia filled
e counter.
Officer Torres looks at Viktor Ds ENTRY DENIED across
the green form. Viktor leaves.
OFFICER TO
Viktor.
Viktor turns, approaches the window again.
OFFICER TORRES
(a discreet whisper)
Listen, Viktor. Just between us. You don't have to fill the form out every time.
Why don't you
fill out a pile and I'll just stamp them with differezt dates? Might save you some
time.
VIKTOR
I don't want to get you into any trouble.

A beat.
OFFZCER ’I'ORRES
You may be illegal Viktor, but you're a gentleman.

Viktor helps himself to some blank IMMIGRATION FORMS as he leaves.

INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - DAY
Viktor and the other WORKERS are on a lunch break. The Crew Manager comes round
with paychecks. He
hands an envelope to everyone except Viktor.
CREW MANAGER
You dicLu’t fill ou: the paperwork properly.
Viktor looks up at him.
CREW MANAGER
I car't pay you without a social security nnmõer, Viktor.
* VIKTOR
It's okay.
Viktor doesn't seem

ght?
Viktor smiles.

Well, as soon as you get it.

Viktor goes back to his tuna salad sandwich.
Karl caught the exchange.

He approaches, reaches into his pocket, stuffs a couple of bille into Viktor's top
overall pocket.

An advance. Till i: gets straightened A long beat -

(reluctantly}
.You're a good worker, Viktor.
Karl leaves. Viktor pulls out the two twenty dollar bills, looks at them, smiles,
takes another
bite of his sandwich and sanders over to the
UNFILLED HOLE
In the middle of tLe New Wing walkway that he saw when he first arrived. It's
become a make-shift
garbage dump...old paint cans, drink containers, discarded building materials...
An idea is forming in his mind. INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA - LATER
Vik.or, taking some things out of his bag on the carousel, spots Mulroy as he
emerges from che
Baggage claim security doors at the far end, wearing plain clothes. He looks like
he's on his way
home.
As Viktor looks up he notices a couple of POLICE OFFICERS
casually milling around. Viktor senses something is wrong.
He stands up, sees SCO , ulroy's lame Labrador, be ng put into a cage by two HAND
R on the
other side of a nearby partition.
He turns around, his eyes ing one of the Policemen mouthiwg something surrepti
ox into a
radio as he discreetly tracks Mulroy maki way across the hall...

Viktor hurries towards Mulroy.

VIKTOR
spots him, smiles.
(ang )
You lost my bag again.
NITLROY
What the hell are you talking about?
Viktor starts to throw a fit.
VIKTOR
I've had it with you, Mulroy.
(a whisper)
They're waiting for you.
MULROY
what?

VIKTOR
Fight with me.
Viktor pushee him.
MULROY
(pushing back)
Damn right, I'm going to fight with you.
The policemen watch the exchange, confused.

VIKTOR
Don't &smt me.
(whisper) They know.
Nulroy begins to sense the policeman now too.
VIRTOR
(whisper)
Give it to me. They won't stop me.
He pushes Mulroy again.
VIKTOR
(angrily)
Everything I h e in the world is in that bag!
The Policemen are begi ' g stir, starting to move casually towards them now...

TROY
I never touched you
(whisper, subtly The phones.

bag!
ing)
They begin to move as they push and shove each other --
MULROY
If you've got a complaint, go to Window

Viktor pushes him against the phones.

VIKTOR
Why should I go to window C? You lost my bag. ’

THE PHONES
In a flash TWO TAPED PACKAGES are suddenly lodged in the booth alcove.

Mulroy pusbes Viktor back against the booth now. Vik:or

clumsily scoops the packages under his coat.
MULROY
That's right. Find it yourêelf.
Several policeman, including their bald Sergeant, suddenly
surrounó Mulroy.

What?
MULROY
They start to hustle him away.
MULAOY
What's your problem, Kojak?
Moving away from the phones, Viktor sighs with relief. A DOG stares at Viktor,
looking over its
shoulder as it'z led away by the Handler.
Viktor suddenly sees Mercer and Thurman walking TOWARDS HIM.
He freezes, looks like he wants to die.
THURMAN
What's going on, Navorski? We haven't
seen you at th counter in days.

(sweating’ p
Busy.

(noticing the s What's wrong? Too hot Cause we can certainly

A beat. They walk away. INT. RESTROOM - LATER THE TWO PACKAGES

re for you7 the heat up.

Of drugs, taped up. Viktor stares down at them in hia hands.
He rips oDen the packages, pours the marijuana into the toilet
bowl, flushes.
Viktor emerges from the stall. A Hippie BACK PACKER is at the sink. He watches
Viktor in the
mirror, notices his hands are covered with buds. viktor washes them.

The Back Packer looks at Viktor longingly as he leaves.

INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - DAY
Viktor, still shaken, walks across the teeming main con:ouree. opposite him on the
other side is
the Airport Police Station. Just as Viktor passes, he sees
MULROY
emerging from a door across the way, two angry-looking Airport Cops closing the
door after him.
Mulroy sees Viktor. They stand and stare at each other for a
moment, xulroy finally mouthing the words 'thank you'.
Viktor nods back.
From above, the two men, or opposite sides of the busy concourse, walk off in
opposite directions.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, GATE FIFTY - NIGHT
Viktor, yawning, arrives back at the end of a very long day.
He peels off his overalls amd folds them up.
He turns to his 'bed' .
There, on the end of it h' onogrammed handkerchief, folded and laundered. On
top of ,
elia'a biography of Napoleon.

Viktor opens it, inside AN IN

sxile Amelia."
ON - 'For Viktor, in
Down at the bottom in smaller let ing - 'P.S. see page
524'

Viktor looks around. The entire gate is empty. Not a single noise apart from :he
distant whir of
the cleaning machines.
He traces his finger over her signature, opens :he book to the first page...
LATER
The light above his bed out, Viktor sleeps, his arms clutching the open book on his
chest.
’

ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES BOARD
More destinations flicker to
life...Edinburgh...Rio...Ploren:e...Lima...
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - NEW WING, GATES - DAY
Perching on metal scaffolding with a mouth full of nails,
Viktor hammers in d •-wall.
Amelia enters the gate. She looks up, watches Viktor for a moment.

Viktor.
AMELIL
He turns, manages what passes for a smile. She approaches.
AMELIA
They said I'd find you here.
Me mumbles something, nails in his mouth. takes them out.
A beat. Ke puts down his tools.

I guess you ê agent

have a bad travel

IKT '
-- I ',ust didn't km

You lied to me, Viktor.

VIKTGR
(looking away)

t tell you.

AMELIA
-- It's okay. In fact. I like that you lied to me.
He ' s confi used .

AMELIA
You're not very good at it, ’Viktor.
(beat)
(NORE)

AMELIA
It's the ones that are, that are the
problem.
VIKTOR
I didn't think...
(gesturing around the airport, hunting for the words)
.because of...this.

well, what's...wrong with this?

She nears him. A beat.
AMELIA
There's nothing to be ashamed of.
It's difficult for him tr accept that.
VIKTOR
Who told you?
AMELIA
Come on, Viktor. Everyone in the Terminal
knows about you.
Viktor looks away. Shê a s to climb the scaffolding.
V O
(nervously ing, helping
her up the p) Careful, fresh pain

She doesn't care.

A beat.
O

AMELIA
(looking down again)
You get a lot of perspective.
She smiles. Viktor's starting to feel a little more relaxed. For a moment they just
watch PEOPLE
walking back and forth below them.
A very long beat.

AMELIA
I guess they don't deliver pizza or
anything up here.
He smiles, taking off his paint-spattered smock.

Allow me.
VIKTOR

INT. TERMINAL, UPPER CONCOURSE - LATER

Munching on slices of pizza, Viktor and Amelia atroll through the upper concourse.
People greet and
wave at Viktor as he passes.
She seems to enjoy being with his.

VIKTOR
mverything you could ever want is right
here in the Terminal.
(pointing with his slice below them)
Five thousand people work on these three levels alone. There are 324 retail
outlets, 245
restaurants, a police station, a chu ch, a fire department, a Post Office. Even the
FBI and the CIA
have offices in the basement.
AMELIA
I had no idea.
VI OR
Every nationa ’t ’every color, every language. T world under one roof.
He etops.

VIKTOR
You see it doesn't m ho you are on the outside, everyone o go through
Customs and
Immigration. n here, everyone's equal.
AMELIA
I've really never thought about it like that.

Beat. She's about to toss her pizza crust.

No , ‹don ' c .

What?
VI KTOR

AMELIA -

VIKTOR
(taking her hand) We're going to the zoo.

They have a zoo?

INT. QUARANTINR - MOMENTS LATER
Amelia and Viktor enter the large room filled with ANIMALS
in cages. The noise is intense.
AMELIA
l don't think I've ever smelled anything like this before.
Viktor leads her down to a vast cage at the end of the room. Inaide, are about
three hundred bright
yellow and green CANARIES.

AMELIA
They're beautiful.
VIKTOR
Tomorrow they go to the
Oslo.
They push their pizza o

in

bâra. The birds flock to

them, pecking away at ts.

You wish you gm th them?

A beat.
VIKTOR
I thought I told you.
He looks at her, smiles --
VIKTOR
I have everything I need right here.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, MAIN PARTITION DOORS - DAY
Amelia stands at the door, Viktor beside her. She glances
almost guiltily to the exit.
AMELIA
I'd better get going.

VIKTOR
I wish I could walk you to the cab.
AMELIA
Listen, in the morning I fly to San Jose,
then to Sao Paulo, but when I get back --
VIKTOR
-- how longo
AMELIA
(checks her watch) About eighty six hours.
VIKTOP
Girls just shouldn't be up that high
that long.
Amelia smiles.
VIKTOR
So maybe we could --
AMELIA

Dinúer.

Ptaybe we

OR
er, yes.
LI
I'1l meet you J
Arrivals/Depart do d
She kisses him on the che 1
VIKTOR
(after her)
Eighty-six hours!
On the Board clock, :he minute CLICKS over.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL GATE FIFTY - NIGHT
A paint brush paints over the grooves in the wall indicating
:he months oS Viktor's "incarceration” in the airport.
Viktor smiles and settles back in Ded. He idly constructs a beautiful paper
airplane - a McDozmel
Douglas DC 10, jets and all - made from 'Lorrowed' folded forms from Immigration.

ARRIVALS/DEPARTORES BOARD

A slew of new destinations

appears...Madrid...Bogota...Nice...Seoul...
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, MAIN CONCOURSE - ANOTHER DAY
We follow VIKTOP as he walks through the main concourse. By now almost everyone who
works.in the
Terminal knows him, acknowledging him with a wave or a 'Hello, Viktor.'
As he crosees the floor smiling back at people, it is as if the town Mayor is
greeting hiB
constituents on the way to City Hall.
INT. INTERMATIOXi mlINAL, iToUs CMS - DAY
VIKTOR wanders through the Terminal passing beneath the information point sign.
Mistaking Viktor's
meticulous suit and tie for the uniform of some member of airport personnel -

I ' m sorry . Do you work here?

VIKTOR
(glancing her ticket!
Gate tw

She leaves. Anoth , approaches.

With her YOUMG CHILD,

VIMOR
'glancing to he Sixteen.
A young MAN sees Viktor's giving out information. He approaches, doesn't even say a
word before -
VIKTOR
Eighty-four.

I haven't shown you mv ticket yet.

VIKTOR
You're visiting friends or relatives in Ho Chi Minh Ci:y.
The Nan is thrown.

How the hell did you know that?

Viktor points to the large cannisters of coffee the man ia carrying in plastic
bags.
VIKTOR
Coffee shortage. Gate Eighty-four.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - LATER
As overwhelmed airport Attendant beckons to Viktor and hands off a curmudgeonly
wheelchair-bound
MRN. The man cusses at the appalling service.

In thirty-five years of air travel I've never experienced anything remotely like
this.

VIKTOR
Thank you very much.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL -_DAY
A MOTHER struggles with the coin-slot on the broken motorized HORSE her CHILD sits
on ing
because it won't move.
As Viktor passes on hi ck towards the new wing he kicks the horse in just
e ht place.
It begins to rock back and forth...
The Mother smiles at him.
EXT/ INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMIN TENANCE ROOM - LATER
In a good mood, Viktor walks past one of the maintenance rooms, hears the noise of
a FIGHT, enters.
A pair of CLEANERS, their mops raised, spar viciously with each other while o:her
CLEANERS surround
them, egging them

As Viktor gets closer he realizes one of the cleaners is

Gupta.

VIKTOR
What is happening here?

CLRANAR
An old grudge. Ancient rivals from neighboring villages -- back in their homeland.
The two men fight viciously.
CLEANER
The wound was re-opened because Gupta went to the moviea with Sanjay's girlfriend,
Pria.
Viktor steps forward, moving very close to them. He clears his throat. The cleaners
don't even
notice him.
Viktor clears his throat again, LOUDLY this time.
Still, the cleaners go at it with their mops like crazed cocks, oblivious.
Finally, and very loudly -
VI KTOR
GEKTLE2'ti N . STOP ! ... Pl e as e .

Everyone, including the fighting cleaners, freezes, stunned

by Viktor's uncharacteri ic outburst.

softly)
This is the int ional Transit lounge. This is a neutra om Whatever
differences you may a
’n the outside worlddo not matter o
Viktor gently takes their mops, d s them into their buckets and leaves.
Everyone stands there, speechless, watching him go...
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, NEW WING - DAY
Viktor sits in front of the
UNFILLED HOLE
excitedly sketching something out on a food court napkin. EXT. RUNWAI- - DAWN
An EL-AL AIRBUS THREE THIRTY takes off with a roar.

INT. INTBRMATIONAL TERMINAL - EARLY MORNING

A red-faced Viktor, now wearing only his underclothes, jogs alongside the people
mover.
After several strides he reaches across for the bo:tle of
water that keepa pace with him on the moving hand-rail.

A bemused maintenance wORK8R watches Viktor go by. viktor waves at him, gasping for
breath.
The Worker just stares at Viktor.
INT. IMMIGRATION WAITING ROOM - MORNING
Without breaking atride Viktor jogs up to the window, drops his filled-out
immigration card on the
coun:er and keeps running in a little circle until Officer Torres has stamped EUTRY
DENIED on the
card.
He grabs it again and jogs away, picking up some blank
immigration forms as he goes.
Officer Torres watches him leave.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, REFURBISHED GATE - LATER

Viktor lifts heavy.piec left in the comer of food trolley.

broken stone from the old walls
for pick-up onto Enrique's

INT . INTERNATIONAL TERNIN W CONC'OURSE — DAY

Viktor unloads bhe pieces of s LATER

the gaping hole.
Viktor excavates the mess and garbage inside with a shovel. LATER Liquid concrete
pours into the
cleared base from a mixer. Viktor stops the mixer when the ba9e is covered.
LATER
The stone pieces are laid out in a rough crescent around the half-filled hole.
INT. FIRST CLASS LOUNGE AREA - NIGHT
Viktor and the surly Steward, who prevented Viktor's entry into the Air France
Lounge earlier, have
a hushed conversation.
STKi'IARD
Th;í s 1 s hi ghl y i rreyul ar, Viktor .
VIKTOR
I promise. Not a word to anyone.
A beat. The Steward sighs dramatically.
STEWARD
I'm only doing this because it's you.
VIKTOR
Thank you, Pierre.
A beat before the S:eward drops some KEYS into Viktor's hand.
STEWARD
iafter him)
Don't make a mess. You know what they'rá like.

INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM

Viktor, taking some thi s sees Mulroy approaching.
GHT

bag on the carousel,

VIK
Mulroy, need a ne
whether -
o WOndered
LEROY
What am I, a tailor? You need Hector.
VIKTOR

Basement.
MULROY

INT. LOST LUGGAGE - NIGHT

’ Strange and dark in here. Cases piled upon cases. Skis, instrument cases,
trunks.

The farthor Viktor moves inside the place the more it starts to resemble some kind
of bizarre Souk
- African drums, musty fur coats in plastic, half an accordion...
VOICE lO.S.)
Can I help you?
Viktor spins to aee tbe plump, red-haired HECTOR sitting behind the dusty counter.
He speaks with
the aid of a tracheal vocal device.
It takes a while for Viktor to say anything.
VIKTOR
I am Viktor Navorski. Bulroy sent me --
HECTOR
I know who you are. Uhat do you expect me to do, roll out the red cazpet?
VIKTOR
That 's okay.
HECTOR
What do you want?
Viktor pauses.

To borrow som i mart to wear.

Hector looks a: him, thinks

HECTOR
Come here, then. Let'
at you.
it.

a proper look
Viktor approaches. 'ector turns him around.

(grumpily)
What are you, a forty twc short?
Viktor shrugs.
UT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, MAIN CONCOURSE - NIGHT
Karl and his crew Nzuager stand by the hole, looking down at
THE FOUNDATI ON
Viktor's laid.

What the hell's going on° This is just meant to be filled and tiled over.
The Crew Manager checks his plans/records.
CREW MANA‹3ER
Maybe someone got the wrong instructions?
Karl examines the stone creacent.

I just dor't understand it.

RFW MANAGER
(nothing about it on his
plans)
It's weird, Karl. Like...Druids or
something.
Karl looks up at him like he's a complete imbecile.
EXT . GATES - NZ GHT
A United Airlines 747 Sits at one of the gates.
ARRI'JALS /DEPARTURES BO
h ... e

ks his watch.

The plane is entirely empty apart from a single PASSENGER

sitting in First Class who's intensely focussed on his book.
AMELIA
Excuae me. We landed twenty minutes ago, Sir. Could you disembark, please2
He ignores her.

AMELIA
Economy is already being groomed, Sir.
PASSENGER
I'l1 be finished with my book in a few
minutes. This is First Class.
Amelia looks at the boot he ' e reading, sees he ' e got about thirty
pages do go .

AMELIA
Normally I wouldn't mind staying, Sir, but I have to leave.
PASSENGER
(aharpl
Is this plane leaving right now?
The Nan noisily flips the page. Ghe just stands there for a moment, considering
what to do. Finally
-
9J9RLIA
Rebecca doesn't have cancer. It was a misdiagnosis. Danny comes back. But he
decides to marry Jane
=fter all.
Off the Passenger 's look.
INT. TERMINAL, ARRIVALS/DEPARTDRES BOARD - NIGHT
Viktor paces, wearing the blue pinstripe suit and hat Mector 2ent him. It's been a
long time now.
Should he leave?
IA (O.S.)

Sorry. I had
Amelia's changed beautiful.
st class problem.
re dress. She looka startlingly

AMELIA
And we were an hour
VIKTOR
-- eighty seven hours, twenty four minutes
!his watch) Forty two seconds.
A beat. He looks at her properly.
You look... VIKTOR There isn' t a word good enough.

EXT. OBSERVATION DECK - WIGHT

An exguisitely-dressed TABLB for two is Bet up in front of the railings overlooking
runway six.
Cbina plates alongside Lufthansa linen Napkins, Japan Airlines cutlery and Stemware
from British
Caledonian.
AMRLIA
You really didn't have to go to all this trouble.
Viktor eacorts Amelia to her seat, makes sure she's comfortable.
VZ KTOR
Thank Enri que .
AMELIA
Enrique?
Viktor smiles, goes over to :he two heated containers warmed by candles.
VIKTOR
Chicken or beef?
A beat.

No Kosher?
Viktor checks, confused.
AMELIA
Chicken's fine.
Viktor offers Amelia an Air France basket filled with a light selection of warmed
breads.
AMELIA
(picking a :roissant) I love French food.
VIKTOR
(her :roissant)
They were invented in Romania. In 1742, the Turks invaded Bucharest, making a
surpzise attâck under
the cover of night. But the town bakers, working in the early hours, BpOtt-9 the
invaders by she
light of the moon. They alerted the garrison and the Turks were defeated.
(MORE)

VIKTOR
To commemorate the victory and honor his army's courage, Prince Leopold
commissioned a pastry
shaped like the
WOOD.
He takes a huge bite ou: of it.
VIKTOR
(mouth full, a shrug) Tbe Croissant.
EXT. OBSERVATION DECK - TmR
The remains of the meal in front of them, Viktor gets up. He leads her to the edge
oi the
Observation deck, overlooking the runways.

L beat.

You can see

VIKTOR
better from here.

VIKTOR
Twelve hundred planes a day.
IA
And not one w’ ou on it.
V
One day .
She looks at him.

I admire you, Viktor. F making a life here, being in the situation you're in. But
how could you
not be angry being stuck in the Terminal?
VIKTOR
No time.
AMZLIA
You don't miss home?
He doesn't react. He points to the old Maintenance Terminal on the other side of
the runways.
Just outside the entran-°, discarded pieces of old airport equipment, decrepit
motorized boarding
ramps, baggage trains etc, are clearly visible.

VICTOR
That'a where the planes go to die.
A beat. He takes some blauik immigration forma, starts to fold them together.
AMELIA
What's it like there?
Viktor pauses...tears one of the forma in two and adds the last piece to -
THE PAPER PLANE
in Viktor's hand.
It's meticulously constructed. She watches Viktor expertly
adjust the wings, balarcing them to exactly the right angle.
VIKTOR
Airbus 330.
Viktor takes a sen from his pocket, turns away from her to write something on the
side.
LIA
that are you w 'ting?

It's just a 1’ tl me I play.

(he shrugs)
You can write ano í0a Something you want. Someone you mi s wish.
Viktor hurls the plane off the owards the runway. They watch it fly for a
moment before s
swallowed by the darkness.
AMELIA
Was it...something about going home?
VIKTOR
- you're not meant to say.
Viktor pulls a second plane out of his pocket, drops it in
her palm.

Your turn.
She examines it.
VIKTOR

VIKTOR
Boeing 747, XA4. Cargo capable.
He adjusts wings and rudders, checking it's ready to fly.
Viktor watches her gaze again. This time his eyes don't skate away so fast. She
gestures for the
pen now, turning away
from him to write something on its side.
She hurls it off the edge...

soars. After a few momento it apirals crazily and disappears down towards the
runway.
A beat. Hesitantly -
VIKTOR
What did you write?
A beat. She puts her hand on his...
AMELIA
You're not meant to aay.

INT. LUFTHANSA FIRST LOUNGE - NIGRT

The sound of a key tu i

and Amelia enter

the plush lounge. Vik tu
AMEL c
(taking Lufthansa?
VIKTOR
It was the only key I could get.
She absently kicks off her shoes, turns to Viktor and kisses
him. She starts moving him towards the executive sofas -
VIKTOR
Hold on.
Rushing to the cupboard above the Media console, he pulls down some BLANKETS
VIK'I'OR “
(throwing one around her)
Silk and Cashmere.

AMELIA
(feeling it)
They think of everything, the Germano.
She kissea him again. Deeply this time. Beautifully... INT. LUFTHANSA LOUNGE - DAWN
Through the lounge windows, the first imprint of morning. cobalt-blue against the
horizon.
VIKTOR AND AMELIA
wrapped in blankets on the floor.
In the half-light, Viktor wakes, is able to make out Amelia doing something,
tracing the contours
of his palm, fingertips running over microscopic lines, carefully alowly,
exactly...
After a moment -
VIKTOR
(a whisper!
What are you doing?
She looks back at him, smiles.

Memorizino
She stops, tura

Nile High

A beat.
VIKTOR
Only lower.
She laughs, kisses him again.
She reaches over to the complimentary Duty Free cigarettes, lights one for each of
them.
She looks at him for a long beat.
JULIA
Viktor, there's a family friend of mine, a lawyer.
(NORE)

A beat.
AMELIA (cont' d)
I told him about you, about your situation. He has friends in Immigration.

AMELIA
He says there may be a way for you to get out of the airport.
VIX3’OR
AMELIA
He might be able to persuade tbem to issue you with a weekend pass.
Viktor absorbs this -
VIKiOR
I don't know.
AMELIA
You could get out of here, Viktor. At
least talk to him?
Viktor looks at his watc gets up.

The first pas

:wenty minutes. Bonn.
will be here in orning flight to
She watches as he starts to d rip
EXT. RUNWAY - LATER
A Sabena Air DC 9 takes off.
INT. IMMIGRATION ARRIVALS HALL - DAY
A Maintenance WORKBR erects a plastic-looking CHRISTMAS TREE in the far comer. It
is incongruous in
the stark surroundings.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT LOUNGE, MAIN CONCOURSE - DAY
Christmas carols pipe out of the Airport PA.
A crush of harried PASSENGERS, flight CREWS and Terminal STAFF. The place is
aósolutely teeming...

A drunken SANTA, rings his bell, sipping indiscreetly at a

flask.
INT. TERMINAL, MAIN FLOOR - DAY
Gupta, listening to his taped-up headphones at maximum volume, mops with his uaual
focus and
intensity outside the restrooms.
After he's completed the area in front of the doors, he puts 'Caution, Wet Floor -
Slippery' aigns
around it.
INT. FIRST CLASS LOUNGE AREA - DAY
Enri e delivers trays of festive hot appetizers to the Air
France lounge.
As he drops them on a counter in the kitchen area he sees a case of Dom Perignon
just sítting
there. He stares at the bottles for a moment then up at Pierre, the lounge steward,
through the
hatch, chatting away with a eVsAomR.
Enrique looks back at the bottles, hesitates.. .then leaves.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, MAIN CONCOURSE - NIGHT
Sweating, Viktor works at a piece of stone with a hammer and

carryin a

There's nothing à blueprints.

fountain on the

VIKTOR
(studying them)
You're right.

I talked to payroll. Why aren't you on their lists.

(a beat) Who are you7

VIKTOR
Viktor Navorski.

Well, whoever you are, you're fired.

VIKTOR
I'm not hired.
CREW MANAGER
He' B right. To be fired, you have to be hired first. It stands to reas--

-- Shut up, Brian.

VIKTOR
You don't have to pay me.
Karl tries to’ make sense of it -
KARL
Why are you doing this?
A beat. Viktor looks at hir -
VIKTOR
It's what I do.
Karl looks at the akilled cornicing work that's already been completed”õn the base,
considers
Viktor once more.
He walks away.
INT. BYE-BYE BAR- NIG

\’*ktoz ,“ Zune1ia azzü MR

in clashing Gucci, si
Kebakian slides an en
, rprisingly tan lawyer
booths having a drink.
e table to Viktor.

There it is. A weekend pass. You'll be a free man by next Friday.

As if suddenly overwhelmed by the spirit of his own largesse, Kebakian looks over
at Amelia,
smiling -
MR. KEBAKIAN
Don't ask me hoo I did it.
Viktor opens the envelope, looks at the pass inside with HIS
NAME on it.
MR. KEBAKIAN
It's all in there. All you do is present it with your passport at the Immigration
desk no later
than 6pm next Friday.

Amelia is clearly excited.

AMELIA
You can leave the Terminal, Viktor.
MR. KEBAKIAN
lleaning in, conspiratorial)
And when you don't come back after the weekend...
He lets the implication sink in, starts to chuckle. He taps the uncomfortable
Viktor on the
shoulder -

God Bless America, eh?

As Kebakian heaves out of the booth, Viktor's half-blinded by hiB
gererously.bejeweled Cartier.
AMELIA
(getting up, kissing him) Thank you, Gogan.
VIKTOR
- Thariks .
As he shakes Viktor's ha he slips him his :ard.

He leaves.
When you need
me.
papers, you call

A beat.
VIKTOR
How do you know him?
AMELIA
He got a Green Card for my :ousin Chilita.

AMELIA
Don't worry...it's going to be great.
But Viktor does seem worried. She moles closer, taking his hand.

AMELIA
It's just like the Terminal out there, Viktor. Only better. There's more of it. You
can walk
around. Breathe real air.
, (MoR&)

JULIA (CONT'D)
You don't have to eat a hot pretzel under a plastic tree in the food court, you
can eat one under
a plastic tree on the comer of Fifth Avenue! Think about it.
(she nears him, fingers touching his)
We could visit the Statue of Liberty every day if we wanted to.
VIKTOR
Where would I stay?
AMELIA
With me, of course.
She pauses.
AMELIA
I'm not trying to put you under pressure, Viktor, because there isn't any. I'm
just...really
looking forward to spending time with you.
She looks up at him -

And who knows

Her meaning
A very long beat.
IA
could happen?
VIKT
In here, they kr there..
She searches his expression, the pained look in his eyes...
AMELIA
Look at what you've done in here. Imagine
what you could do outside.
She kisses him on the cheek, gets up to go. He watches her leave. At the door she
turns back -
She disappears into the swarm of PASSENGERS in the main
concourse:
UKRANIAMS. IRANIANS, MACEDONIANS, KENYANS, KIWIS...
His gaze returns to
THE ENVELOPE

on the table. He slips it into his pocket.

INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, MAIN CONCOURSE - DAY

Viktor continuem working. We see now it's a beautiful three- tier FOUNTAIN. In the
background and
just out of earshot of Viktor, Karl argues with his boss, LARABEE.
The Mountain under construction is now the only sign of work still going on in the
Terminal.
LARABEE
We're meant to be out of here by now.

He's nearly finished.

LARABEE
I don't care.
KARL
He's the best worker we've got.
LARABEE
He's not a worker. He's a vagrant.
L --
He's still the best. Let him finish his work. oo it It
piece t.

It's a godda

I t ' s a godüa untain.

So what if it's beautiful.

He glances at Viktor, :hen back at Karl. A beat
I ARABEE
Okay . One week .
Larabee leaves. Karl, beaming, calls after him -
KARL
You're a patron of the arts now.
LARABEE
A what?

Karl waves him on, laughs, turns back to watch Viktor working a moment before
taking off in another
direction.
ARRIVALS/DRPARTURES BOARD
Dares Salaam...Rio...Leningrad...Dublin...We see the DATE
FRIDAY the 6th - 4.48 PM
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, GATE FIFTY - NIGHT
Viktor lays out his twenty or so different TRAVEL KITS belonging to every airline
from KLM to JAL
to SAA...
Viktor stops his organizing a moment, looks out through the glass at the deaolate
runways.
TNT. LOST LUGGAGE AREA - DAY
Hector slides some FRESH CLOTHES across the counter to Vixtor.
HECTOR
All the rage these days.
Viktor looks down at the Bright red rave PANTS and matching
SHOES (circa L988), takes them with a smile.

INTERNATIONAL TE
Viktor stares at hlmsel in Supercuts STYLIST cuts, s : all at the same time.
AT THE STAINED CURTAIN
UPPER LEVEL, SUPERCUTS - DAY
mirror as a super-fast
ds Viktor's hair

o
that divides the New Wing from th est of the Transit Viktor gazes at his
UNFINISHED FOUNTAIN
A look of regret on his face - a feeling of unfinished business.
INT. IMMIGRATION DESK - DAY
Viktor watches other passengers making their way through the immigration channels.
He looks down at
the pass in his hand.

It's trembling...finally he joins the line. He's never gotten near the front of a
line in here so
quickly.
Viktor's closer to the doors than he's ever been. VikDor hands OFFICER TORRES his
weekend pass.
Torres looks over the paperwork, seems surprised that it's bona fide, STAMPS it.
OFFIcmR ToRR8s Welcome to the United States. See you on Monday.
(leaning closer, a beat) Good-luck, Viktor.
Freedom iE only a few feet away if he'll take it. But
VIKTOR
freezes, for the first time staring properly out into THE MAIN TERMINAL Friday
rush-hour. A
deafening noise of crazed, angry TRAVELLERS puEhing in and out of the front doors
out onto the
sidewalk...CABS honking, POLICEMEN whistling, PAM- HANDLERS fighting, NEW YORKARS
jostling and
shoving like mad - JFK at her most fierce and frenzied, beyond..i
MANHATTAN

looms like some stran

the falling darkness.

pushes through the cr flowers above her hea

VIKTOR
lights piercing

or, waving a bunch of

sees her. A large Pakistani FAMILY suddenly obscuring his
view. The Passenger behind, bumps into him
PASSENGER
Keep moving, asshole!

watches, concerned. She gestures, 'come on'...

Viktor tries to move but he can't. He íooks back over his shoulder into the calm
sanctuary of the
Transit lounge.

He turns back to her...a tense beat...before he spins around and heads back
inside...
TORRES
(watching him) Viktor!
INT. MAIN TERMINAL - DAY
From behind, we watch Amelia walk away, dropping the flowers into an overflowing
trash can as she
leaves...
VARIOUS SHOTS
Of the Airport - BAGS spinning on :arousels...LUGGAGE CARTS lined up waiting for
passengers...individual por:ions of airline FOOD splurged onto trays on a moving
production line.
ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES BOARD
Lima...Cancun...Mani1la...Tahiti...
INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA - LATER
Viktor walks in, it's pandemonium. A fuss-ly-dressed-ROMAN PASSENGER, holding a box
marAed
'FRAGILE', is tearing into Mulroy's new Deputy, SPI - 3Os, bandana, enough
gold-teeth to be
declared an offic' sset.
Viktor wa:ches as -

PASS BR
Can't you read, stu
thousand dollar Lali
SPINKS

t's a two

MULROY-
(taking over, .seeing her look of horror!
-- It's his firat day on the job. ma'am. I'm still training him -
PASSENGER
-- You have tc train him to read the word 'Fragile’? I demand to speak to
’ your supervisor.
A bea t .

MULROY
I the supervisor.
As she starts hurling outraged abuse, Viktor slinks away...
INT. NONDENOMINTIONAL AIRPORT CHAPEL - DAY
Like some sort of science fiction dental waiting room. The high walls are bright
white. The floor
is shiny and spotless. The simple elegant decor is designed not to offend any
parochial
sensibility.
Viktor kneels on his individual prayer pod - also white - with his eyes closed and
hands clasped
together.
A man (40s) approaches and kneels down on the prayer pod next to Viktor.
After a minute, he glances nervously at Viktor.

Do you mind if I talk to you?

Viktor doesn't answer.

Sometimes it
you're never

Viktor finally turns to h

to talk to someone to

The mam moves almost uncomfortabi lose to Viktor.

Jsually with my wife.

(a long beat)
Turns out she doesn't love me. The :ruth
is I knew she didn': love me.
(a beat)
I knew it when we were walking down the aisle. I knew she didn't and that she was
probably marrying
me for...different reasons and I just thought...
The man bows hia head.

I thought over time she'd learn to love me the way I love her. Now she's leaving. I
wanted to make
it work, somehow...bu:
’ I couldn't. I don't know...
The Man stares into Viktor's eyes.

You can't make someone love you, can

you7
After a few reflective beats, the man gets up :o go.

Thank you.
Viktrr watches the man walk away before looking up through
the skylight -
THE PERFECT 9LUE SKY
The peace is shattered as a JET loudly crosses into view.
INT. TERMINAL, UNITED DESK - DAY
Viktor approaches the ne ly abandoned desk where a female SUPERVISOR's inputting
m data into
her computer.

v O
Z wondered i f

ld tell me what

A beat.
flight Amelia San ex ' coming in on?
O
SUPERVISOR
Amelia Sanchez...
(checking a list)
I think she...transferred to Newark.
She starts back on her computer again.
Viktor leaves.

SUPERVISOR
(uncertainly) Are you, Viktor?

SUPERVISOR
(rummaging in a drawer)
She left something for you.

She hands him a LETTmR.

INT. GATE FIFTY - NIGHT
Viktor sits back to read the hand-written note. He opens it -
AMELIA (O.S.l
Dear Viktor, I guess when the homeless guy won't come home with you, you start to
take a look at
your life. I don't mean to joke. I realize now how selfish it was of me to thirflk
you'd give up
the chance of seeing your family again. Even tnough you never saió it, I know how
much you've
always longed to be with them.
Viktor stcps readinc, looks out across the runwaya again.
AMELIA (O.s.T
I suppose I just wish you and I had the chance to come hOme to each other...Amelia.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, MAIN CONCOURSE - DAY
Viktor trudges past the w of PAY TV's. de looks ’awful, vaguelv catatonic, not
e hearing the
voice of the CNN reporter on one of th s, playing to an empty seat...
TER {O.S.›
The success of t Pa accords in settling the border s ’ between the Eastern
European pri
'ties caused much jubilation here ' t the Diplomatic ranks this m ing.
Viktor's IMAGE slowly blurs as we find
THE SCREEN
A bundled-up REPORTER speaks to camera as he waits outside the Ministry of Affairs
in ?aris,
DIPLOMATS bustling into the building behind him.

CNN REPORTER fO.S.)

But for many thousands across the troubled region the opening of the bordera
tonight means a chance
to once again taste the freedom that has been so unceremoniously denied them for
twelve long
months...
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - DAY
VIKTOR
Sleeps next to his Mountain, a piece of painter's canvas as his blanket, a :hisel
still in his
hand...
Mulroy appears.

Hey !
NIILROY (O. S . )
Mulroy shakes him awake, smiling.
MULROY
Get up, Man. Looka like your prayers
have been answe red '
Bleary-eyed, Viktor looks up at him, puzzled. -
INT. THE BYE BYE BAR -

Mulroy pulls a deliriou i inside. The Barman watches the TV, laughing at the
p estling on
a Morning Talk show.
MULROY
(to the barman) Put it on CNN.

Who the hell are you? Change it. MULROY

The Barman is frightened enough to do so.
ON THE .I JUBILANT LOCALS
celebrate in the town square we saw earlier, waving into the camera.

SOLDIERS
CNN REPORTER
Throughout the Principalities, people are taking to the streets tonight to
celebrate.

A convoy of tanka, leave town, waving good-bye.

CNN REPORTER
And already talk of reparations for the harm done to indigenous local industries
hal caused many in
the region to believe that a renewed period of economic prosperity may be just
around the comer.

MULROY

shakes Viktor.
ML OY
Look at them.
He sees Viktor's anibivalence -
MDLROY
What the fuck wrong with you, man?
Viktor looks up at th
EXCITED FACES
on the screen. Finally, he sm' e .

(hitting him)
Get out of my Terminal, you Balkan
bastard!
The jubilant CHEERS of the locals on TV become the cheers of -
VIKTOR'S FRIENDS
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL. LUFTHANSA LOLVGE - NIGHT
Gathered around to say good-bye - Mulroy, Enrique, Hector, Karl, Daniels, Gupta,
Larabee, Pierre.
Assorted other airport WORKERS, ticketing PEOPLE and Immigration SECRETARIES
milling about too.
Viktor stands under some balloons and a banner aaying 'Bom Voyage'.

People come up and congratulate Viktor. He shakes hands and smiles...but there's
something about
his expression that's off.
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - MORNING
Mercer kreaks the seal on Viktor's file, hands back his ticket.

MERCER
This only permite you to return home. Your visa to enter the United States expired
nine months ago.
Viktor looks at his ticket.
VIKTOR
I understand.
As Viktor walks out the open door -
MERCER
(not looking at him!
Good-bye, Viktor.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, DEPARTURE GATE - DAY
Mulróy waits at the gat Viktor to appear.
P CEMENT
This is the fin arding call for Lot Air Flight 245 tos . Will all
passengers please m e
ir way to gate forty-four immeôiate
THE ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES BOARD
More flights are announced
.Bombay...Venice...Amsterdam...Nairobi...
.The last column 'GOOD LUCK VIKTOR'.
EXT. RUNWAY SIX - DAY
The Lot DC-10 accelerates with a migh:y roar as it lifts into the sky.

INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM ARRA - LATER

Mulroy arrives witb an empty luggage cart. He looks across
_ to carousel seven, sees - VIKTOR'S BLACK SUITCASE
still spinning on it.
INT. IMMIGRATION AREA, TERMINAL - DAY
Nercer arrives for work.
Viktor sees him coming, hides...
IMT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, CONCOURSE/WING - LATE AT NIGMT
Mulroy ducks behind the curtain to the new wing. He stops at
the sight of -
VIKTOR
in his work overalls, carefully applying finishing touches
to the second tier of his fountain.
Mulroy just studies Viktor from-a distance for a moment. Sensing aomeone's :here,
iktor turns,
spots Mulroy making his way over to him, re r to his work.
A beats

I got to hand it to o , an. A year

early for your fligh sou still manage
t

Viktor doesn't answer, gestures for Mulroy to please hand

him a fresh can of sealant. He does.
MULROY
I don't understand you, Viktor.
A beat. Mulroy closes in, trying to make Viktor face him.
MULROY
What about your family? Have you thought
about them?

Viktor calmly continues with his underside of a tricky comer.

work, expertly coating the

MULROY
Maybe they miss you, Viktor.
Viktor still won't respond or look at him.
MULROY
Because I know you miss them.
VI ETOR

MULROY
Look, man, I sBw you when you first arrived. You called them. I saw you crying.
Finally, Viktor's eyes meet his.
VIKTOR
lmatter-ofiact)
I was crying because I had no-one to
call.
MULROY
I don't understand...
{the memo replaying inlis
.but I'saw u

V O
There was no-on

he other end of the

line. o
(looks at Mulroy a ’ )

No one's waiting fo This is my home.

MULROY
This is an airport.
VIKTOR
k home.
I came to this country to make a new life.
(a beat)
I didn't expect to find it here.
MULROY
No, Viktor. Wobody starts a new life in _ a transit lounge. Everyone hates it
here.
Because one way or another they know they're stuck. People only work here because
they have to. As
soon as they've got the chance to get out, they do...because this is an aírport,
Viktor.
(MORE)

MULROY
(gesturing)
Look around, I mean look at the goddam carpet for Cbriat'a sakes, this whole place
ia a nightmare.
VIKTOR
Not to me.
MULROY
It doesn't make sense, Viktor.
Viktor steps down from the tier, screws the cap back on the sealant.
When Viktor speaks wow, it is from another place -
vzicror
I was a builder in my hometown. I was commissioned to build a new school. People
tru6ted me. The
whole town trusted me.
Everyone felt I was the only man for the job. I was honored. We started work but
there were many
delay6. I told them we could not complete the building in time but they insisted -
the school had
bm be ready...so we ked day and night until it was done. ’me. The whole
town, everyone, c g
ted me on my magnificent j . d never felt more proud.
Viktor stops, his voice droppi g barely a whisper.
VI '2'OR
A month later the rains me, and the wall facing the hill...
(his words spill out in a panic)
---in our hurra we didn't make the foundations strong enough. The rains weakened
it. The wall
collapsed. A child was killed. Tatiana.
Viktor's expression, haunted by the memory.
VIKTOR
I went to her family's house and saw her ’ body. She stared at me...and
stared at
me. I tried to explain...but nothing was the aame after that.
Viktor bows his head. A long beat.

VIKTOR
then I arrived here, I knew I was never
going back.
Mulroy looks at Viktor, at the Mountain he's building...it's all starting to make
sense.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, NEW WING - DAWN
The morning begins to glow over the runways.
Viktor, alone, looks out across them, his eyes heavy. He turns to his fountain.
There's no more he
can do. He just hopes it's good enough...
He walks back over to it, and taking his chisel, very discreetly entraves a name
into the scrolí
work...
'Tatiana'
ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES BOARD
A slew of new destinations...Marrakech...Addis Ababa...Sydney...Vienna...
EXT. RUNWAY - DAY

An Aer Lingus Jumbo lif

ROAR -
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMI
f the”tarmac with an almighty

SIT LOUNGE - DAY

Viktor, shaved and dressed now

concourse, nodding acknowledge
s across the main
o people he recognizes.
Some appear surprised, though ple ntly so, that Viktor is still in the Terminal.
Gupta spots Viktor and takes off his headphones -
GUPTA
You did the right thing, Viktor.
Viktor stops.

GUPTA
You'd miss it here.
(a shrug)
Certain people might have missed you.

Be starts on his way again, slipping his headphones back on.

Not me, of course.

Viktor continues on.
Gupta turns to watch as a beautiful Asian STNWARDESS approaches Viktor amÕ hands
him a Thai Air
Club Class Travel Kit on the way to her ga:e.
INT. GATE FIFTY - DAY
Viktor inspects his newly refurbished gate -
ENRIQUE (O. S. )
Danair pork dumplings.
Viktor turns. Enrique is holding out a tray.
ENRIQUE
They've only come froc Orly.
Viktor gratefully accepts it, examines his meal...
A bea:; *

A beat
(not lo him)
You spoke to r

ENRIQUE
The first time I saw , knew you
were a lifer like the r of us. (turning to go)
Oh, I nearly forgot. They need you over at the fountain. Some kind of thing with, I
don't know, the
plumbing...
Viktor hastily puts down the tray.
VIKTOR
Why didn't you tell me?
Enrique shrugs as Viktor grabs his jacket and leaves.

INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, MAIN CONCOURSE - DAY

An agitated Viktor rushea around the comer. We see the completed
FOUNTAIN
it's stunning, even against the modern surroundings. Karl comes into view.
VIKTOR
(reaching the Mountain) Karl, what is it?

Nothing. You'd better take a look at this.

Karl signals to one of the Puerto Rican workers around the
comer --
THE FOU fTAIN

turns on Amazed

The plumbin
water SHOOT prettily into the air. VIKTOR

(O
ike I said.

He turns to see Enrique his co-workers behind him,

pushes to the front, offering i
A nod of acknowledgement to Vi
LARABEE
Mulroy and dozen or so of surrounding him. Larabee d to Viktor.
Every airport should have a Viktor Navorski.
From behind his back, he produces A BOX with a bow around it. Viktor opens it.
Inside there's a pair of new white work overalls with 'VIKTOR' embroidered over the
breast pocket.
LARABEE
We're starting work on the vast concourse
next week .
(MORE '

LARABER
(like it's no big deal)
It would mean a raise of course.
Looking up from his gift, Viktor finally smiles.
VIKTOR
You don't have to pay me.

A beat.

You're badly fucked-up, Viktor.

VIKTOR
Thank you.
VIKTOR
surrounded by the smiling faces of bis friends. He looks up at the fountain again.
It's almost too
much for him to take

PeoDle pat Viktor on the back.

WORKER #1
like the oor baby'a gonna cry!

Need a Kleene V' .

Nore laughter as Viktor a ao f-consciously, wipes a tiny tear [rom his eye.
INT. OBSERVATIOK DECK - SAME TI
Two NEW OFrICERS drink coffees on their break.
FIRST OFFICER
{the happy little grouo in the distance}
Who's that guy they're having the party

SECOND O-FICER
I don't know.
(looking more closely)
But I like what thev've done with that
fountain.
They toss their cups and leave.
HUNDREDS OF COINS

dot the bottom of the fountain now.

EXT. RUNWAY - NIGHT
An Air Mozambique 727 brakes hard as ahe touches down on the
runway...
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - NIGHT
Viktor, wearing his new overalls, walks back home through the main concourse. As
various airport
personnel pass him in quick succession, he greets each of them with a short wave or
nod -

Hey, Vik.
WOMRN CLEANER
Good-night, Viktor.
CUSTOMS OFFICER
Manana, Navorski.
Viktor stops to atare out the windows at Runway Seven. A moment of reflection, a
hint in Viktor's
expression that something somewhere inside him is not right...
A CLEANING VEHICLE

Emerges through a secur’

runways.
that leads to the outside

The driver Rtops his cart just a in his own world, watches the paat the window
towards its gat
of Viktor, who, still ambique 727 taxiing

The driver of the cleaning vehicle jumps out, ducks into a restroom.nearby.
The loud PA announcement of the flight's arrival breaks
Viktor's reverie.
He starts on his way again.
Passing the cleaning vehicle, he pauses, half-glimpsing something in one of the
open bags of
rubbish collected from the runways. He moves closer, uncertain...
As he nears it, its form becomes more distinct -- A MANGLED PAPER AIRPLANE

It's the plane he made for Amelia, the one she threw off the Observation Deck.
Viktor pulls it out, wipea off the dirt, examines it.
A beat.
Viktor's eyes are dark, his expression broken.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, EAST CONCOURSE - DAY
A BRUSH mechanically paints a Bection of wall.
Viktor works without Peeling, and by the absent look on his face, seemingly without
consciousness
either.
On Viktor's BRUSH again as it slowly crosses the border over onto the adjoiníng
wall and absently
paints a messy CROOKED LINE across it.
Viktor puts his brush back into the paint, moves the can over to start work on the
next section.
One of the Puerto Ricans working nearby notices the crooked line on the wall -
PUERTO RICAR WOÉKÉR
Viktor you seen what you did?

Viktor sto e

,- --.--
Good enough.
He continuem working. The glances.
INT. GATE FIFTY - NIGHT
ke he's just made.
exchange worried
Enrique drives his food trolley towards Viktor's seats. He takes a couple of extra
trays of food
from it, turning to set them down in the usual place.
ENRIQUE
You're gonna love this, Vik. One word. Alital--
He Stops, sees the THREE TRAYS of untouched food.

INT. INTRRNATIONAL TERMINAL, BATHROOM - DAY

A razor against a neck as it moves slowly up a lathered chin.
The razor leaves a couple of bloody nick6 in its trail. Tiny pieces of toilet paper
are used to
blot them. The sound of running WATER as the razor is cleared.
INT. BATHROOM - LATER
FINGERS fasten the top button of a crisp white shirt...pull a plain black belt with
a polished
buckle through the waist loops of a pair of pressed trousers...fold a plain brown
tie over and
guide it up to the neck...s1ip the sleeves of a
fraying jacket over a white shirt...shine the tips of polished black heather shoes
with a Kiwi
travel kit pad...
VIKTOR
stares at himself in the mirror for quite a long time. He is dressed exactly the
same as when he
arrived.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, IMMIGRATION COUNTER - DAY
Viktor walks past the deserted counter, discreety pushes a small brown PACKAGE
through the open
hatch.
It's addressed - 'Merc '
INT. BAGGAGE AREA - LAT

CLOSE ON Viktor's black 'sui Nearby, we hear Mulroy arguin

MULROY (0. .
evolving on the carousel. one of his co-workers -
Just take a little more re, Spinks. How would you like it if I did that to your
suitcaseJ
GPINKS (O.S.)
Are you shitting me, Mulroy?
MULROY (O.S.)
That could be my mother's case.
SPINKS (O.S.)
Your mother's never left Naesau County.

NULROY (O. S. )
Looky here, Spinks --
A HAND is reaching for Viktor Navorski's suitcaae, seemingly
in slow mOtiOn --
MULROY
lspinning instinctively) Don't touch that, it belongs --
Be aeea VI ICI'OR
all dressed up, grabbing his bag OFF the carousel for the first time.
MULROY
Viktor, are you okay?
Without replying Viktor turns and walka out of the baggage claim area, holding his
bag.
MULROY
Did you see that? He just took his bag off the carousel!
NKS
(slowly e he's an idiot) Isn t that w ey're meant to do?

Shut up!

e ves)

Mulroy chase6 Viktor who's alre

escalator.
'ming rapidly up the
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, TRANSIT LOUNGE - DAY
Viktor marches down the middle of the incredibly long concourse.
Hesitating at the top of the eecalator a moment, Mulroy watches Viktor pass the
Main PARTITION
DOORS to his left, heading for the far end where we can just about make out signs
for the New
Wing's RESTRICTED SECURITY AREA guarded by two IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.
Tcàa$Xovs\y's Emperor's SuiDe begins to play over the PA, softly echoing throughout
the concrete
concourse --

is cleaning a patch of floor just in front of Williams Sonoma.

GUPTA
Hey, Viktor.

Viktor continues past him. flÇyAAgA. Gupta looks up, sees Viktor's heading straight
towards the
Security Area at the far end. Mulroy passes Gupta now too, following Viktor,
gesturing towards
THE BAG
Viktor’s holding in his hand -
Gupta spots it, shrugs to Mulroy as if to ask 'What the hell's
going on?' Mulroy shrugs back, he haam't a clue, gesturing
for Gupta to follo him...
VIKTOR
strides ahead, glancing passengers in his path, a look of unflinching resolve in
his eye.

• Gupta scoots up ahead, passing Mulroy„ pulls alongside Viktor.

mop-car:

What's wrong t ?
Viktor sta1l doesx't react up a response. ..

’cles him, trying to get

(noticing th , a whisper)
What are you doing, you Balkan nutbag?
Viktor picks up the pace, making a b-line for the TWO SECURITY GUARDS now sharing a
Danish and a
joke in front of the Security Area uo ahead.

Gupta gestures Da:k to Culroy, pointing to his head -Viktor's gone mental. Trying
as best he can
not to draw attention, Mulroy catches up to Viktor now...
MULROY
la harsh whisper)
Viktor. They'll take you to the Detention Center. Viktor.

Viktor ignores him.

MULROY
You think you're just going to walk out of here7

Yes.

( aerene)
VIKTOR
He pulls ahead of Mulroy, getting louder all the time, punctuating
the ballet of
escape -

appears at the top of another escalator.

You're late, Navorski. Where the hell -- Viktor shoots straight past him too.
Karl looks back to see Gupta quietly shaking his head, Nulroy 'casually' trailing
too, trying to
figure out what to do next.
Karl regards Mulroy, the Viktor, then the Guards up ahead.
He understands.

Quietly, into his radio -

I need a partition i Level three. Pronto

t of the Gap.

Gupta, covering Viktor's flank, s s TWO CUSTOMS GUARDS, coming in from a side
angle, on a
collision course with Viktor.
He expertly scatters a trio of CAUTION - NET FLOOR signs across the con:rete like a
spread of
mines, blocking their sath...

OFFICER
(his foot touching one)
Wha:'s the problem?
Gupta furiously mops the floor right in front of them.
?óPTA
Vomit. Infected. (beat)
Heroin addict.

^=. -.
The Guards step back, sickened.
GDPTA
You'd better take level two.
The Guarda turn back towards the escalators.
VIEI'OR

is only fifty feet away from the secure area now, knuckles white as they clench the
bag.
As the Tchaikovsky deepens and intensifiea, some airport staff - SANITATION PEOPLE,
FLIGHT CREWS,
STORE WORKERS -
stop where they are or emerge from doorwaya, sensing the surge of activity in the
Terminal, their
eyes somehow drawn to --

trailed almost comedically by Mulroy, Gupta and Karl who continues whispering
surreptitious
instructions into his radio.
Two STORE WORKERS shut::lder when t hey see -
The female CUSTOMS OFFI
Enrique flirted with emerging from an Offi e door acroas the concourse di
ct cross
from Viktor.
She sees Viktor, the look o õe ination on his face, senses
something strange may be goin o , ut just as the thought
is forming --
A FOOD CART
BRAKES loudly in front of her, blocking her view of Viktor. A smiling Enrique
springs out,
presenting the Agent with a china plate of Petita Fours from his top compartment -
ENRIQUE
Warmed Zambuca truffles. Air Maroc. (sexily)
I thought you might...

(their pungent aroma enticing her)

I shou1dn't. i'm working.

la wink, gently nibbling one

himself)
Me too.
THE STORE WORKERS
sigh with relief as Enrique's tactic works.
VIKTOR
is only feet from the door now --
FROM ABOVE
We observe the final movement of the ballet as Karl peels off to the left and
Mulroy to the right,
Gupta mopping with Olympic ferocity direc.ly behind Viktor, providing close cover.
Karl whistles over to :he Danish-munching guards, drawing their attention
momentarily away while
the PARTITION, carried by Karl's WORKERS, sweeps in behind, elegantly disguising
Viktor's entry
into the restricted area.
THE ALARM G8ES OFF
MULROY

grabs a large TUMI off a it INTO THE AIR. It smash WINDOW causing axother
Japaneae Man's trolley heaves aight through the CONCOURSE
, x ring the first, to sound.

The confused guards, clutchin racket, rush over to the emashe

THE SAG
on the runway below them.
ears at the deafening
ow, looking down at

Mulroy appears, holding his hands out in 'shock'.

MULROY
Just slipped right out of my hands.
VIKTOR
has reached the last door ãt the end of the long corridor now. The Alarm continuem
to blare as
Viktor smashes open a circuit kox, deftly rewiring it...
THE EXIT DOOR

springs open. Viktor walks through it and steps outside -- EXT. THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE DOOR -
CONTINUOUS
Viktor inhales deeply, choking on all the fre6h air.
He looks up into the sky, squinting, sunlight brilliant against his pale face.
He starts off towards the runways, gradually picking up
speed . . ,
INT. ELECTRONICS ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The alarm is blaring in here too. Daniels, supervising a bank of screens, sees

running towards the runway on security camera six. She freezes.

MERCER
Rushes into the control room.

ME
Where's that
R
m g from?

Almost without even kno ’ g 's doing it, Daniels quickly pushes a button and the
i on the
screen showing Viktor changes to a different came <s V shoving -
AN EMP.I STRETCH OF RUNWAY
DANIELS
False alarm. I'1l have engineering check it out.
Nercer looks at her, leaves. . . INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - DAY
€upta and Enrique help Mulroy clean up the glass. Looks
exchanged .

Behind them the Security Guards try and figure out what just happened. They know
something
did,’they jus: can't quite put their finger on it.

A beat. Mulroy addressed hia friends -

MDLROY
He was the only one who ever had a chance
of getting out of here.
The thought reBonates. They all stop what they're doing...
EXT. RUNWAY - CONTINUOUS
Viktor, running now, makes his way across a bank of thick, traah-covered grass
towards THE RUNWAYS,
wind blowing his coat up around his ears.
From a distance we watch as Viktor, a speck against thia vast open vista, makes his
across the
runway.
A 747
is about to land. At the last minute THE JUMBO sees him, banks hard back up with a
deafening ROAR.
The gale force wind from the jets nearly knocks Viktor over.
Looking back over his shoulder as the plane lifts back into
lhe sky -

On time, Del
VI OR

Viktor heads across run

TERMINAL up ahead.
Arriving desperately out of br seat of an old motorized BO
of the hangar.
e towards THE OLD MAINTENANCE

he jumps into the Driver's

ICLE parked in the mouth
No keys. He reaches under the dash, fiddles, the ancient engine splutters to life.
VIKTOR
slams the dilapidated vehicle into revezse, turns with a SCREECH and drives
STRAIGHT ACROSS the
remaining runways towards
THE FAR PERIMETER WALL
careening madly up and down the grassy verges between the runways...on the final
runway an Airbus
LANDS only a few feet ahead of him...
it's not far now...Viktor floors it...

..
AT THR WALL
Viktor maneuvers the ramp into exactly the right position,
jumps out of the cab and CLANKS noisily up the steps.
Pausing at the top, he looks back --
THE TERMINAL
The place he lived in for so long. The place that was his
home.
Viktor smilea. It is just an airport.
He jumps down an overgrown knoll to freedom...
VIKTOR
Welcome to the United States, Mr.
Navorski.
INT. TRANSPORTATION STATION - LATER
Viktor buys a ticket at a window.
EXT. TRANSPORTATION TERMINAL, BAY SIXTEEN - NIGHT
A BUS pulls into the sta 'on. Viktor is the last in line.
As the other PASSENGE Viktor checks his reflection in the silver siding oE
e . He
straightens his tie, adjUStE his coat and walk couple of stairs up into the
bus. The door
closes behin ãm
The Bus reverses out. We see t ination on the front -

The Transfer Bus drives away. We follow it as the Terminal begins to fade into the
background.
INT. BUS - DUSK
It's getting dark outside. Viktor sits in the last row. He stares out the window at
the distant
city whose lights seem to stretch out across the horizon into infinity. Rain
smashing against the
windows now...
In the far distance, the Statue of Liberty. Viktor presses his face against the
glass. The Statue's
LIGHTS - beautiful, distorted through the heavy rain.

Viktor pulls back, wipes his face with the handkerchief from his top pocket.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL, OBSERVATION DECK - DAY
A log jam of peopíe in the immigration hall. The noisy chatter of a hundred
different languages -
from Swahili to Waray- Waray and Tajik to Cantonese.
At the far end Mercer and Thurman stand on an observation platform, looking down on
the
multi-colored sea of humanity.
Daniels appears.
DANIELS
This came for you, Sir.
She hands him the BROWN PACKAGE Viktor left at the front. Mercer opens it -
THZ BIOGRAPHY OF NAPOLEON
He reads the inscription - 'To Viktor, In exile... Amelia.'
Baffled, he stares at Thurman, then back at the book again. It doesn't make any
sense. He notices
thmsmaller lettering down at the bottom 'P.5 .... see page 524.'

He flips the Dook ope

The boõkmark - Viktor's the chapter heading
ES CAP E PRON ELBA
.the realizatior. hits him.
524.
Entry Denied' form - blocks
He calmly looks down onto the Immigration hall again, at the HUNDREDS pouring
through the doors...
EXT. NEWARK AIRPORT - NIGHT
Viktor exits the bus and gazes up at the terminal sign -
"NEWARK - Departures."
INT. DEPARTURE TERMINAL
DOORS part to find POLISHED LEATHER SHOES standing at the doorway :o the main
Terminal concourse.

The NOISE of the packed Terminal hits as paasengers, in their burry to make it
through here as
quickly as poasible, stream and swirl around him but somehow
’II ICI'OR

remains unruffled, at pea:e.

At last, he stepa across the threshold into the Terminal and starts to walk... the
camera drifting
down to the paper AIRPLANE gripped tigh:ly in his hand...written on it in badly
smudged ink...
'Viktor'.
We pull up and watch him go...the crowd swallowing him, un:il finally and far
away...a tiny speck
in the distance...Viktor disappears...