Page 1 .'BLOOD DIAMOND'' oy. Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz. Draft. JuIy
27, 2005. Page 2. THESE WORDS APPEAR: .'SIERRA LEONE, 1999". ]. INT.
.'BLOODDIAMOND'' oy Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz
Draft JuIy 27,
2005
THESE WORDSAPPEAR: . ' S I E R R AL E O N E , 1 9 9 9 " ].
INT.
- A HUT - BEFORE DAWN
A MAN's HAND, hardworking,
1
rough,
light.s
twigs
under a kettle.
Predawn light trickles Ehrough Lhe tin walls onto well worn pick, axe, a yoke for an ox. farming tools,..hoe, AnimisU Lotems and charms hang. we are in a typical Mende FARMER'S HUT. Excepu for Che ENGLISH SCHOOLBOOKS on a she1f. The HAND EhaE lit. Lhe ketrre t,akes Ehe books off the shelf and gently nudges a 14-year-o1d BOy awake wiEh them. The boy, Ota is his name, groans in sleepy protesE. SOLOMON VANDY smiles
down at his
son.
SOLOMON (in Mende; subtitled) Don't want to be 1aEe. The boy sits up, harf asleep. sleepily pu11s a shirt over his head. His English is more schooled than his faEher's. h Y l
(in ltendli"suUti rted) English boys go Eo school
every
day?
solomon fills a tin cup of powdered milk. lle is a rnan marked by quiet pat.ience, in Lhe worn trousers and whiLe cotEon shirt of a Mende farmer. He hands Ehe cup to the boy. SOLOMON (in Mende; subtiCled) yes, Ehev do. n7l
(in Mendli'"uu.iL1ed)
Not every
day.
SOLOMON (in Mende; subtitled) Every day. Just like you. So you can become a doctor. Not walk behind an ox like your father. T h e b o y c a t c h e s h i s M O T H E R ' se y e a s s h e b r e a s t - f e e d s his TNFANT BROTHER. His twelve-year o1d sister, N,YANDA, snuggles with them. she sticks her congue ouE at her brother. soLoMoN (coNT'D) Don,t worry. She will be joining you next. year. JASSfE sends both her men a kiss
as Ehey head out.
L.
JASSIE (in Mende, subuitled) Be carefuJ on the road. Solomon gives 2
EXT.
wife
his
VTLLAGE -
HUT -
an
"r
look.
know"
2
CONTINUOUS
lighc. the early Solomon and Dia emerge into in a hamlet amidsc cassava paEches eeked out
Their of the
huE is jungle.
DIA want Eo be a doctor. (of.f. Solomon's look) want. Eo be President.
Don't f Solomon puts
his
arm around
him.
They
head
into
the
fields.
CREDTTS OVER 3
IT IS A TIMELESS S O L O M O NA S H E W O R K S I N T H E F I E L D S . ONE OF PASTORAL BEAUTY AND SIMPLICTTY. PICTURE.
3
4
AT NOONTIME, ,JASSIE AND N'YA}TDA GRING LUNCH. THE STADE OF A HUGE BEOBOB TREE.
THEY STT IN
4
5
DIA RETURNS HOME, CARRYTNG HIS BESIDE HIS FATHER.
NOW HE WORKS
5
o
T.HE STIN IS ALREADY LOW AS THEY RETURNTO THE VILLAGE
a d
SCHOOLBOOKS.
6
CREDITS END Solomon stands sEock seill, sensing someEhing A few away wiEhouE crowing. chickens flit The oxen are skiccish. SOLOMON Go back insi-de... NOWI Dia is confused. Solomon pushes him inco the huE as grinning TEENAGEREBELS appear. One wears a Tupac t-shirt. He rakes people. everything wich AX-47 FIRE. Huts. Animals. Sofomon dives eo Lhe ground. VILLAGERS run screamj.ng. Chickens sguawk, oxen bray. A rumble. Two mud-splat.Eered PICK-UP TRUCKSwith sawed-off roofs crash through Ehe brush, f u l 1 o f R . U . P . R E B E L S ,w h o g u i c k l y j u m p o f f - - s h o u t i n g , wielding machetes and automatic rj.f les, BAI{DOLIERSOF AIvIMo criss-crossed on their bare chests, GRENADES on Eheir be1Es. Solomon cowers amidst the gunfire, looks around francically. Men and boys are being rounded up. Huts seE on fire. Suddenly he is yanked up as t.wo REBELS pu1l him away-.lassie
exics
cheir
huc,
infant
in her arms, mad with
fear
--
JASSIE Solomon ! Only one word'
He shouEs back.
SOLOMON Drrn
I
She just stands Ehere screaming his She doesn't. Solomon's son and daughter come out of the hut.
name.
Now
DIA PAPA! choking him,
Solomon, the rifle
as he's
dragged away.
SOLOMON RUN! Jassie grabs her son's arm, He resisEs, staring in anquish And with the ewo younger BuE she tugs at hin. at his father. Running. in tow, they join others. children Solomon wacches them disappear
inco
che bush.
rN THE NEXT MOME}IT he's rounded up with the oTHER I'IALES. only a few able-bodied boys. among thern. Most are old, skinny men and terrified R E B E L Sp r o d t h e m w i t h r i f l e s , makingr them form a line. under the watchful sunglasses of an R.U.F. COLONEL.
Al.1
The PIRST VILLAGER is shoved to his knees in front of a tree stu:np. A muscle-bound, SHIRTLESS REBEL wich a gleaminS AxE struLs over, his eyes qlazed from palm wine and marijuana. A second rebel grabs Ehe village man's HAND and places iE on puEs The man pu11s his hand away. Tupac E-shirt Ehe stump. Ehe Ak-47 to his head. The choice
is
clear.
The vj.11ager tries through his head. The next
man in
Your head or your hands. Eo scramble away. RAT-A-TAT! The choice is made for him.
line
is
made to kneel
at
the
Bul1et
sEump.
T U P A CT - S H I R T Long sleeve or short sleeve? The other
sEoned rebels
find
this
hilarious.
O N S O L O M O Nw, i t n e s s i n g h i s m u t i l a t i o n rise around him. The discarded limb The next
in
1ine,
WAILS as terrified is thrown into a bag.
A STRONGYOUNGMAN, is
pushed to
the
stump.
4. R.U.F. COLONEL He can work.
Not bim.
The STRONGYOUNGI,IAN is herded into a waiEing Cruck. NexE comes ADI OLD MAN. Shaking, he offers his withered hand. ON SOLOMON. The "crunch"
of
the axe bores
into
The o1d man is lifEed to his feet in clinicaL his forearms end in bloody sEunps.
his
soul.
shock.
BoEb
R . U . F . C O L O N E L( C O N T ' D ) You are the messenger. Spread the word. Guv'menE say da future is in your hands? We say R.U.F. is da fut.ure. Revolution is at hand. Solomon is nexE. He cl,oses his eyes as his hand is placed on Ehe tree st.ump slick with blood. The Colonel looks him Motions Ehe henchmen to stop. over. You will Solomon is 8
R.U. F. COLONEL need your hands.
herded into
the cruck.
EXT. STERRALEONE -- (SEEN FROU ABOVE) A seaplane soars above the bush. AE the scick, DANNYARCHER. He has seen more in his thirty years than mos0 people have seen in a lifetime of watching bad teLevision. He scans Ehe landscape Ehen dips Eoward the esEuary of broad river, eventual-ly splashing Co a sLop.
9
a
NEARBY, ON THE SANDY BANK sitcing in a lawn chair is COMI'IANDER RAMBO, a twenty yearoId R.U.F. fighEer with a goaEee, wrap-around sunglasses, and a Bob MarLey E-shirE. Arrayed behind him, several B O D Y G U A R DcSr a d l e a u t o m a t i c w e a p o n s w h i l e e a t . i n g m & m , s . A h u g e B O O MB O X t . h r o b s o u t T u p a c ' s " I f I D i e 2 N i t e . "
1O
TNT. COCKPIT
1_0
FAWAZ, a Ehin Lebanese man, siEs rebels waiting on Ehe riverbank. Say one for
beside Archer and eyes che Murmurs a prayer in Rrabic.
ARCHER me, ny friend.
Archer closes his eyes for a moment, then checks the clip on his 9mmsig-sauer before rucking it. into his belt and pulring his shirE-taiLs over it. Takes a deep breath
5. 11
EXT.
11
ON SHORE
Eeenagers Imagine Ehe group. wades in and approaches Archer Their menace is in Bed-SEy carrying AK-47's. on a corner palpable even as they laugh and pass around a big spliff-
You are
I
ARCHER Zero? Colonef
COMMANDER RA],IBO am Commander Rambo.
i{hat No response.
ARCHER happened Eo CoLonel A few of
the
rebels
Zero? gi-ggle.
COMI"LANDERRAIVIBO He was noE comrniEted Eo Ehe You are here to help us revoluEion. againsE the oppressor. in our struggle
I'm They
eye
each
ARCHER Eo do business.
here other
in
silence.
ARCHER (CONT'D) someEhing for me.
You have
CO}OIANDER RAMBO FirsE you will show me what you brought.
No.
First
ARCHER will @.
pay
for
have
chem.
Archer Rambo looks aE him with dead eyes. looks back with A nasty stand-off. eyes equally dead. Rambo hands Until him a smal-l, filEhy cloth SACK. Archer tips a few rough diamonds inco his hand.
Ihis
ARCHER (CO}M'D) (in xrio; subtiEled) i-s noE what was aqreed. (in
Krio;
COI-,IANDERRAMBO subElcled)
Eheweapons and
;iY:'u:"'lll.iile
Archer closes his eyes again, looks back at Ehe seaplane. The cargo door SLIDES OPEN, revealing the muzzle of a M-130 AssaufE Weapon. Fawaz racks its slide. In
response,
che Rebeis
slide
the
bolEs
on their
weapons.
b.
ARCHER (in Krio; subtitled) Maybe I'11 just do my business with At least E.he Ehe governnent. oppressor pays his bi11s. He turns
and stargs
back Eoward the plane. COMMANDERRAI{BO Wait...
Wait...
Rambo smiles as if it has aff been a joke. He reaches into a rusEy coffee can and pul1s out a huge handful of diamonds. COI'S{ANDERRAI{BO (CONT' D) This is what you wanE? tlere... So many, I don't know whaE to do h/iEh them all. He gestures handful .
for
Archer
to hold
ouE his
hands and pours
him a
COMMANDER You bring a satellite dish nexL time, yah? I want to watch NYPD BIue. 11A
MOMEDTIS LATER
IIfI
As the seaplane takes off, we see the rebels of RPGs with Ukranian markings. 12
INT.
unloading
craLes
PLANE
Fawaz gleefully
L2 examines t.heir
haul .
FAWAZ I'm buying an elecEronics store. SiL on my ass all day, drink sweet Lea and watch dvd's. How abouE it., Danny? Archer
closes
his
eyes for
a moment.
He is
free-
ARCHER Fly che p1ane. 13
EXT. DIAMONDFIELD - SIERRA LEONE _ DAY An open pit a1luvial mine and boys toil knee deep in hands, shoveling silt. into waLchful eyes and guns of banks passing a fat joint
13
carved beside a jungle river. Men rnuddy water. They dig with their wooden troughs. A1I under Lhe R . U . F . R E B E L Sw h o s t a n d o n t h e rolled in newspaper.
MeanwhiLe, Eheir feader -- cAprArN porsoN -revolut.ionary dogrma to the diggers:
spouts
twisted
t_
CAPTAIN POISON The Freetown guv-a-ment and Eheir white masters have raped your land Eo feed their greed! We have freed you! No more slave and masEer here! We are all broEhers I Solomon. his back straining under Ehe weight of a circuLar si.eve, pauses to wipe sweat f rorn his eyes. He,s prodded wiEh a rif1e, looks up into Lhe fierce FACE of CapEain poison. CAPTAIN POISON (COIVT'D) Back to work ! Your work is your liberat.ion! Work harder! Diq harder! Solomon turns back !o his sieve. his sieve, plucks someEhing out,
AMTHER DIGGER, peers inco hol_ds ic up in his hand.
DIGGER Kunaa ! A11 work stops. A rebel comes over. The digger hand.s him the Einy, milky crysEal. A diamond. WithouE. a word, Che Commander wraps t.he st.one in a piece of paper. As work resumes, solomon watches the piece of paper handed off to a RUNNER, who runs it over to the SAI'{ECoMMANDER,who sits under Lhe shade of a palrn frond umbrel1a read.ing a Hustler magazine. He stuffs the diamond int.o his shirt pocket without even looking at it. Across from solomon, a 3RD DTGGERglances picks a sLone from the sieve and slips ic
around. inco his
Furt.ively mouEh.
He meeEs solomon's eyes. solomon looks away, keeps working. When he becomes aware of CapEain poison's eyes on him solomon cries to shake off Ehe eyes by shaking Ehe sieve. capEain Poison remains staring aE him, intently. Then, calmly walks over co the 3rd digger wicn che diamond in his mouth. AND SHOOTSHIM, ac poinE blank rangre. Everyt,hing sEops. You.
poison
Bring
turns
back co Solomon.
CAPTAIN POISON hirn ouE.
solomon puEs down his sieve. Looks at the BoDy floatinq nex! to him, turning Ehe muddy waEer red soLoMoN (V. O. ) Dear Jassie. I cannot. wriee well enough to put in a letter aII the Ehouqhts in my head.
8. 14
EXT. R.U.F.
DIzu'IONDCA],IP- SUNSET
1A
Solomon devours a meager porcion of rice gruel in a Lin cup. fetid clothes on Ehe ground. Others sleep in their
so LoMoN( v.o. )
Even if I could, let me send it. 15
my quards would not'
EXT. DIA}4ONDCA],IP - NIGHT
I5
looking out at the guards on watch. Solomon sits shivering, Beyond, a 1it TENT where rebels drink and shout back aL a TV playing, saLellite "Whs WanEs To Be a MiTTionaire. "
so LoMoN( v.o. )
I do not know where you are. not even know where I am. 16
I do
IN THE BINTUMANI FOOTHILLS EXT. SOMEWHERE
15
Jassie and the children are among a group of homeless Mende. Dia carries the infant. Hearing trucks cominq, they scatter into the bush. An R.U.F convoy roars past. After a momenc, they return to tne road.
so LoMoN( v. o. ) I only know that my thought.s over the mount.ains to you. 71
EXT.
BED OF GRASS -
Solomon lays
f Iy
NIGHT
there.
Eyes open
l7 in
a living
nightmare.
so LoMoN( v.o. )
find I will my whole lif 18
EXT.
I"IOUNTAINS -
you. Jassie. ff it takes e. We will be t.ogether.
DAY
18
A high pass. Misty peaks in the distance. A BRrLLrAIllf RED SHAPE comes into view - the bright headdress of a HAUSA SHEPHERD. He carries a spear as he leads a herd of GOATS, be11s clinking around their necks. Picking up Ehe rear is Archer. SATELLITE PHONEbuzzes. . . ARCHER We're two clicks from WhaE've you got? 19
EXT/INT. Piloted looking
checking
Gps.
His
Ehe strip.
TWIN ENGINE TURBO PROP by Fawaz. He speaks into down on the dense jungle
a handheld
FLYING -
SAI,{E
his SAT phone, canopy.
19 worriedly
q
FAWAZ
20
Exr.raom,r-rarrv:"1"il,
20
sure enough, over the hirr, comes an armed patrol SOLDIERS. The TROOPLEADER approaches Archer. papers. Archer
fishes
ECoMoG
TROOP LEADER
ouc idencificacion.
pllioc
of
Hands it
over.
ARCHER Snirh, NaEional Geographic.
TROOP LEADER you are crossing into t iberia. ARCHER I have a letEer from Ehe MinisEer of InE,erior and a Liberian visa as-we]f . (as the Captain sEudies che papers) Doing a sEory on the Hausa who, y o u k n o w , a r e a l l o w e d t o c r o s s ' t h las border to get Eo grazins Si"u"A".' Up above, the tiny plane drones pasE. The Eroop l_eader glances up, Ehen ar. Archer, ,l? ;;;;;"";=iu'orr"rs an unopened pack of cigaret.t,es from his snrrt pockeE. A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) Ever read NaEional Geographic? The Eroop leader. ignores him,. waLks over t,o a goaE. and runs his hands down Ehe goaE,s UicL, His hands parE a rufr of hair __ reveali"s undei il=-Jfrir,. ;-"ur;i;"iiy sEraishr line o f S T T T G H E Si n E h e s o a E ; ; k i " . Archer feer-s che shape of the gmm under his around at the rifles. Too many ot Ehem.
shirt.,
100ks
The Eroop reader takes ouc a KNrFE and cuts into Ehe sEicches. The goat squears a rit.re-rttak i c k s angrily. From under Ehe goat,'s skin, he t,akes a dozen smal_l, ,iuqh,DfAI{ONDS. The t,roop leader
draws his
.45 on Archer.
TROOP LEADER You are under arresE for smuggling. Af(LHts.r(
Now you listen here, my man. I am a good friend of ltinister Somora. He will noc be pleased you f."ru-lnEertered wich his business.
10. Clearly ''
Ehe name of Minister
Sornora carries
some weiqhE.
ARCHER (coNT'D) You know who I am, don't you? WhaE I am. . . ? I don't think you want Eo mess wiEh me, Or my friends, eh? (changes his t.ack) How about I jusE look Ehe ot.her way and you pocket one or Ewo of Ehose sEones. Buy someLhing nice for E.he wife. Or maybe Ehe mistress, eh? (re the shepherds) Who's going Lo te11? Thern? The shepherds l-ook, uncertain,
fron
Archer
to
the soldier.
TROOP LEADER No. The Eroop leader FIRES. One of the shepherds fal1s dead. rhe ot.her i-s cut down as he tries t.o flee, The leader frowns aE Archer, whose worLd has suddenly t.urned upside down. T R O O PL E A D E R ( C O N T ' D ) We will go back to Freetown and ask Minister Somora how he wishes Eo thank his business associaEe. 2I
INI.
AN AIVOIIn.IOUSROOM-_ DAY
2L
Archer is handcuffed Eo a chair. A largre, rotund enEers, silhoueLEed against t.he bright windows.
FIGURE
ARCHER Mr. MinisEer, there seens to have been a Eerrible misundersE-_ SOMORABACKHANDS him. I
Archer's
head rocks
backwards.
MINISTER SOMORA thought. we were friends.
ARCHER you ,re righE, you're righE.. .. I Eook a 1itt.1e init.iauive buL__ Another SLAP. MINISTER SOMORA Have I noE been good t.o you? ARCHER (Iicks his sp1it. 1ip) absolutely. And I was planning to cuE you in. Haven,L f always been__
This lies
backwards Eo the chair Somora fooms over him.
SLAP knocks Archer's for a moment. there
cemenE.
He
ARCHER (COMI'D) Look. .. if you wanted to ki11 me, you would've done it already. So what is it you want me to do? Somora smiles. 22
INT.
One of
his
THE TINITED NATIONS -
The SECRETARY GENERAL of
Eeeth
has
NEW YORK -
a tiny
diamond.
DAY
Lhe UN Addresses
SECRETARY GENERAL We propose Ehen to prohibit the of all import or indirect rough diamonds from conflict zones to of Member States territory
ZZ
a a fu11
ASSEI,IBLY.
direct the
at the front He looks row where TWO MEN fN SAVILLE ROw SUITS One is sandy-haired, 4Q, his sit among the Representatives. name is SIMMONS. He serves a distinguished-looking older man, 60, with a shock of white hair. His name is DE WEltTE. SECRETARY GENERAL (COI\lll' D) As we know, these stones are only a smal1 percentage of the legitimate
;::rli:;5, :i$fi :,i:l:li"i: :3x"n:, . support
The well-dressed 23
LATER -
of
such
diamond
CHAMPAGNE I5
a ban.
indusEry
reps
smile
back.
SERVED
ZJ
REPS and WIVES in a reception ha11. The Diamond industry with IJN MEMBERSand other US AMBASSADOR mingle DIGNITARIES. De Wente, holds WALKER approaches out his hand.
lilister
AMBASSADOR WALKER De Wente. . . Judd Walker--
Ambassador. you.
DE WENTE Good to finally
meet
AMBASSADOR WAIKER You don't. spend much tj.me this of the Atl.an: rc . DE WENTE f'm hoping to change that. wich your help.
side
Perhaps
la La.
AMBASSADORWALKER Mr. De Wente, f'm afraid I don't in any indusEry's have much faith to police ieself. ability DE WENTE I assure you, sir, we both want the same thing. These 'conf lict' st.ones puE the legitimacy of our entire business ac risk. De WenEe's young blonde WIFE appears aL his side. It's hard to decide which is more beauEiful, Ehe woman or the twomillion-doIlar D I A M O N DN E C K L A C Es h e ' s w e a r i n g . D E W E N T E( C O N T ' D ) This is Ambassador Walker.
Dar1ing... How nice
D E W E N T E ' SW I F E to meet vou.
oe weNre
(his arm around her) f C's my belief , Arnbassador, Ehat diamonds should be associated with romance and beauty. Not warfare. Don't you agree? How can the Anbassador not be d.azzled? diamonds, we cut toi 24
EXT. DIAI{ONDFIELD -
From the glicCering
PIT - DAY
24
Solomon works in the muddy water, his eyes transfixed by the sparkling reflections of the river and Lhe swaying trees that seejn so unaffected by the brutality beneath.
so L oMoN( v.o. )
Dear Jassie. How can it be that one sEone is worth more than another? Solomon wi11s himself
back to the soul-ki11ing
work.
Suddenly, a WATERPUMP BREAKS-- gushing like a fire hose -knocking over Solomon and several diggers. Solomon,s sieve is swept down river. He swims after the SfEVE. Grabs it. sloshing his way back, when he stops... There, underwater, by the riverbank, is something SHINY ENOUGH to reflect. the sun. As the silt washes away, the objecE remaj.ns underwater, A ROCK of a st.artling pink color. Solomon blinks
down at
it..
The DIAI'IONDsparkles
up at
him.
13. so LoM oN( v. o. ) ( coNT' D)
And how can a Ehing E.hat comes from our moc.her t,he eart.h be so beauEifuL a s E , om a k e p e o p l e w a n t t o k i I I ? Solomon looks around. Rebel guards are fixing shout,ing at. digrgers E.o geE back to work.
Ehe pump,
solomon scoops the diamond inEo his sieve, covers it with silu. His heart is pounding as he wades back t.o Ehe bank. REBEL GUARD You daydreaming? Get back t.o work! solomon nods. 25
silt-heaped
sieve.
EXT. I'IIDERNEATH THE MUDDY WATER - COMIINUOUS solomon overt.urns diamond.
26
submerges his
Quickly
t,he sieve.
t)
His BARE Foor catches
E,he
EXT. ABOVE THE WATER - SAI'{E
26
solomon raises his hand Eo get. t,he guards, cluEches his abdomen, painfully.
attent,ion-
He
SOLOMON I musE go badly. (pleading) Can'E hold iE in, boss. The guard motions him out. solomon climbs ouE, sliding his second foot carefully. He shuffles to the edge of the jungre. CAPTAIN POISON SEop. poison searches solomon. solomon freezes. sEarting with his hair, his ears, nose. squeezing his cheeks to 6ee inuo his mouEh. Frisking his panEs, unrolling his cuffs. Lift Solomon rifts
CAPTAIN POISON (CONT'D) your fooE. his
righE
foot.
They check between his
Eoes.
CAPTAINPOISON (CONT'D) The ot,her. solomon, looking inEo poison,s eyes, lifts Poison checks between Ehe Eoes. Sacisfied. Make it
his
left
fooE,.
CAPTAIN POISON (COMrD) guick.
cl,osE oN soloMoN's Foor, as he lowers it. The Eoes curl lnto Ehe soft muddy earth, obviously ret.rieving someEhing.
1A
2'7
EXT. EDGE OF JLTNGLE- MOMENTSLATER As Sofomon sguats behind a falLen through the broad leaves.
tree,
21 he eyes the guards
He Quickly, his toes release the rnuddy gob under his fooL. rt's raw beauty is almost unnatural, rubs the mud off it. He glances back to make sure he is the cuff off his pants. A CLICK at his
head,
SoLonon sIowly
looks
Give it
up
into
unobserved
and then rips
t h e B A R R E LO F A C O L T . 4 5 .
CAPTAIN POISON Lo me.
Solomon doesn't move. What difference awaits the crack of the gun, when:
does it
make?
He
A MORTARROUNDCOMES SCREAMINGOUT OF THE JUNGLE. THE EXPLOSIONknocks
Solomon to
the ground.
government troops appear, fi.ring MOREMORTARS. ECOMOG auLomatic weapons. Solomon scrarnbles over to Poison's bleeding body, removes the MACHETEfrom the belt. As shrapnel shreds the greenery, he furiously digs with the machete. Wraps the DIAI{OND in his ToRIv GREENCUFF and plants it in the hoIe. When he is
STRUCKIN THE HEAD BY A RIFLE BUTT.
He falls. ECOMOG S O L D I E R Sa r e s h o u t i n g a t . h i m i n M e n d e . S o l - o m o nr e a l i z e s h e s t i 1 1 h o l d s t h e m a c h e t e , l e t . s L t . d r o p . Don't
shoot!
SOLOMON I am not R.U.F!
Around him ECOMOG soldiers sti.cks in the distance, 28
beat the rebel prisoners with o t h e r s a r e E X E C U T E Da L r a n d o r n .
- DAY ExT. FREETOI^IN
28
A c o n v o y o f M I L I T A R Y T R U C K Sr o l l s through teeming streets. W o m e nw a l k w i t h b a s k e t s o n t h e i r h e a d s , t r i b a l bel1s jingling around their ankl-es. "Businessmen,' in white suiCs sip CocaColas outside a hote1. A UN helicopter circles overhead. 29
ExT. BACK oF A MILITARY TRUCK - SAME Solomon sits chained to other rebel prisoners. He's never been to a city, never seen so many people. It's overwhelming.
29
1:.
He sEares aE the BEGGARSwho run alongside. War orphans, the same age as his own son. He searches every face 30
TNT. FREETOWNPRISON (PADEMBAROAD) -_ DAY Archer looks up from a game of soliEaire are marched past. his dank ce1l.
30
as REBEL pRrsoNERS
REBEL #1 R.U.F. is eoming! OperaUion Chop Hands I GeE ready, my brothers ! Archer curns his actention back co his game as Ehe ce11 door nexE Eo his is opened and Solomon is E.hrown in. SOLOMON f arn noE R.U.F. My name is Vandy! famafarmer! Archer assesses him.
Solomon
Solomon grives him a hard stare.
MOREPRTSONERS are broughc in, one carried on a streccher. A bandage covers half his face. But when he turns his head, we see that it's capE.ain poison. Solomon turns away. Poison lifcs
his
head, sguinting
Ehrough Ehe CELL BARS.
CAPTAIN POISON What. did you do wirh it? Solomon doesn, E acknowledge poison. CAPTAIN POISON (CONT'D) you hear mel? I'rn t.alking to youl Where is uhe diamond! ? Archer pricks
up his
A pink
ears,
buE, goes on playing
soliEaire.
CAPTAINPOISON (CONT'D) diamond. f saw you uake it! I
Archer's hand-, flipping over a card, stops. int.enCly now buE careful not to show iU. you are mad.
Lisuening
SOLOMON I do not. know you.
CAPTAIN POISON I saw iu wiEh my own eyes | ! Poison reaches int.o his sweaE sEained shirt., an rVoRy CHARM from around his neck. Holds it up for all to see. Thj_s big! Solomon just
CAPTAIN POISON (CONT'D) Biggest I have ever seen!!
shakes his
head, absurdlv.
r9. B U ? A R C H E R ' SE Y E S . . . a r e o n c h e i v o r y c h a r m , e v e n a s h e k e e p s playing solitaire. Poison ca11s to the guards. C A P T A T NP O I S O N ( C O N T ' D i give a t.housand dollars I will Eo the man who cuEs it out of him! These words do somet.hing to Solomon. He stands and rips off Until he st.ands Then his torn pants. Everyching. his shirt. completely naked, facing Captain Poison Ehrough the bars. SOLOMON Where is a diamond? Do you see a diamond!? You devils have taken my farnily. My home. Everything! Here! Look! What is lefrt? What. is left.!? If Ehere is a dianond, then you are the one who has taken it ! ! Poison lifts
his
Liar!
upper body from Ehe stretcher. CAPTAIN POISON He's a LIAR!
The army guards have had enough. They silence Poison with rifle butt to the face. As they drag him away, Ehey give Solomon a "goE my eye on you, Eoo" g1are.
a
Archer lays out a new hand of solitaire. His eyes move to SoLomon, then away. He's heard all he has Eo. Solomon begins putting his clouhes back on. The fury sti11 in his eyes. Through Ehe bars, he gives Archer a final g1are. Archer turns away, just keeps playing cards. But then ever so carefully he picks out the ACE OF DIAMONDS. Folds iE in ha1f. He gets up and goes ro his ce1l door. W a i t s u n t . i 1 a p R I S O N G U A R Dp a s s e s b v . ARCHER Excuse me, brother. Think you could get a message Eo Minister Somora? The prison guard sees the PACK oF CTGARETTES- and the card - that. Archer holds through the bars. 3].
folded
EXT. PRISON GATE _- NEXT DAY Archer walks out into
3J.
the street,
blinks
in
the sunliqht.
ACROSSTHE STREET - THE SA}TESCENE is observed in wit.h a reddish FAWAZ appears
uhe REARVIEWMIRROR of a parked crewcut. His name is ,JOOSTand hands Archer
his
hat.
car
by a man
'1 1
How on earth you go?
FAWAZ dld you get
Ehem to
1et
f|llLN.gK
Ihere's a farmer in there. might've found a Plnk.
.
He
FAWAZ
iliur|?.1.r"o.
you'd geE rold Somora
fII1L11.E.r(
I need to London.
I
thought
0lho needs Archer
t.el1
can
thac
- -What ?
contact
our
FAWAZ we were working ARCHER Somora if Fawaz is
him
the
in
for pink
holdi.ng
Somora.
is
real?
sornething
back.
ARCHER (CONT'D)
FAWAZ London wanEs nothinq vou. Fawaz hands
friends
a newspaper
more
to
do with
clipping.
Al(Ln.gK
( reads ) "The arrest in Sierra Leone on June One of Daniel Archer, former mercenary and smuggler with Eies Eo the De
u:::;,:iil;"S,:;lH'ollflnii:l';,:l:,, (crumples it) Fucki.nq hel1 . He starts
off
down the sEreeL, calling
over his
shoulder.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) His name is Solomon something.. , MorEgage the plane i.f you have co -just gec him ouc. 32
INT.
A SHABBY ROO}TIN AN APARTMENTHOTEL --
Drippi.ng wer from a shower, Archer
is
DAY
working
the phone.
32
ARCHER (on the phone) We1l, can you t.eIl Danny Archer called? A...R... JUMP CUT -_ LATER -Archer
smokes his
Mr. De Went,e Archer.
ANOTHERCALL
tenth
cigarette_
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) (on the phone) What time did he say he'd be back? JIIMP CUT --
LATER --
Archer pounds his
ANOTHERCALL
fist
inco a wafJ.
ARCHER (CONT'D) Yes, he definitely knows what this yes. . . . is in regard to. . . Yes.. ..f've been ho1ding.... In frustracion, 33
he throws the phone across
EXT. FREETOV,IN STREET --
the room.
DAY
??
Archer leaves the shabby hotel, having changed clothes. He is mobbed by che inevitable swarm of beggari who carr him by name. . . . "Arrr-cherrr, Arrr-cherr. " ARCHER
piss off. He pushes his )A
MEANWHILE--
way pasE, without
a t.race of
compassion.
THE DOORTO ARCHER'S HOTEL ROOMIS KTCKED OPEN
34
.roosr, the man we saw surveilring Archer, ent.ers and begins t o S E A R C Ht h e r o o m . . . H e i s p r o f e s s i o n a r - a n d . b r u t a l -- rlpping apart bedding, smashing the phone machine, even sricting-[r-r" . carpee into chin strips with a razor blade. It
35
is
clear
he is
EXT. BEACH BAR --
looking
for
something quite
small.
DAY
Every ra/arzone-has a place like this. Soldiers, smugglers, opporcuniscs of,every stripe stand shoulder to shoulder at a bamboo bar. Bad guys and do-gooders, uN workers and ecobackpackers drink overpriced, watered-down liquor, irade gossip, and hook up for desperate expatriate ,,Sierra sex. Afrigue" blends African drums and el6ctric bass. Every now and !hen, in ghe distant hills, the muted souND oF AN EXPLOSIONand a rising COLUMNoP SMOKE. No one pays any at.tent.ion. There is serious drinking Eo be done.
35
19. snippets brief As Archer shoulders his way pasc, we OVERFIEAR A Nigerian peacekeeper hiEs on a tipsy of conversaEion. blond Red Cross Worker. PEACEKEEPER this place is noEhing but husElers I will t.ake you back to and dopers. Nigeria. Show You Ehe real Africa. RED CROSSWORKER Is
Ehat, so?
He whispers in her ear and she giggles. SUITS from Ehe Chemical Bank:
NexL to
Uhem, Ewo
SUIT #1 And EhaL's Fif t.y Ehousand in cash. jusE Eo get a meecing with him. SUIT #2 beEween the crooks The only difference who run the country and t.he R.U.F.-The AFRICAN BARTENDER(M'ED) serves
Cheir
drinKs.
AFRICAN BARTENDER(M' ED) --is fifty mi1es. Word on de screeE dey took Marampa yesEerday, He poinEs up into
t.he hil1s
where anoEher explosion
rises.
A F R I C A N B A R T E N D E R( M ' E D ) ( C O M T ' D ) Time to reconfirm dose fliqhc reservations, maybe. Archer approaches the bar. His arrival is cause for whispered remarks among those in Ehe know. How de body,
several
AFRICAN BARTENDER(U' EO1 (CO}flI'D) 1"1r. Archer?
ARCHER Every day above ground, M'ed... (Iooks Eo the hills) Your rebel friends planning co visic us one of Ehese davs? AFRICAN BARTENDER(M' ED) Oh, I 'magine dey come do some shopping verrry soon. He laughs darkly. Archer salutes him wiEh his drink. an ATTRACTfVE WOMANEaps her sw:-zzle seick on Ehe bar '99" ends: Oasis' "ParCy Like It's
Nearby, as
AA
zv. RADTO AI{NOUNCER (V.O. ) AnoEher This is Ehe Voice of America. good day on WaI1 SEreeE,, Ehe Dow ive point.s, t.he lTones up twenty-f In the Whit.e House, Nasdag up forty... again defended his President Clinton with Monica Lewinsky-reLaEionship The woman near
Archer
speaks
up:
WOMAN Are you listening to this? The and aLl we apart worl-d's fal-Iing hear about is Blowjobgace... turns to MADDY BOWEN. Maddy's a 'handful' Archer intelligence the kind of fierce that sends belies for Ehe door. Archer running likes what he sees.
When's fallrnq
ARCHER the last time apart?
the
world
whose beauty most men
wasn't.
MADDY A realist, Been Ehere, done Oh. goE the t*shirt. that, Is that. it" ARCHER Danny Archer. MADDY Maddy
Bowen.
ARCHER (appraising her) American. MADDY Guiltv.
Americans Maddy raises
ARCHER usually are.
an eyebrow.
He plays
rough.
She likes
it.
MADDY Ouch. ARCHER Don't. t.eII me, you're di f ference . And you're Archer
smil-es.
It's
MADDY here to
here
t.o make a
make a buck.
been a long
time
since
he was interested.
2I ARCHER guy? See that Government miniscer disaster caught pockeuing relief money. Bad move, know why? Wasn't giving a big enough cut uo his boss. . . (poincs nearby) Thac one. . . ? Se1ls AK-47's Eo che rebels and waiEs for a cease-fire co buy 'em at a discount, then afcer starts the f ight.ing se11s again, them back at a profit. MADDY point is?
And your
ARCHER it's There is, Africa. You want. anocher?
The point no point.
MADDY Rocks.
Vodka.
Archer
catches
M'ed.
is
Med's
eye
--
who nods
approvingly
ARCHER Same aqai.n.
You were
MADDY born here? ARCHER
Rhodesia. MADDY You were there during have been rouqh.
(o:iering Loved ic.
And you're
the
war?
Musu
ARCHER nothing)
MADDY a smuggler. ARCHER
Arn I?
Somehow I
MADDY don'E take
you
as
che
c)&e. Archer
jusu smiles. M A D D Y( C O N T ' D ) T was going to say 'sol.dier-of fortune' buu it's such a cliche.
UNICEF
at
Maddy.
How about like thaE
ARCHER grun. hired one.
People
seem to
MADDY Diamonds?
I
What if
For
ARCHER you I told
was a missionary.
MADDY ( laughs ) De Wente? ltt{'LrlE.t{
It's not just of questions, dangrerous.
rude to ask those kind Ms. Bowen, it's also
MADDY 1'11 take my chances. (1eans closer) So... te11 me about blood diamonds. And then,
suddenly,
gets
Archer
it.
His
face turns
to stone.
ARCHER . . .You're a journalist. MADDY That's Archer
right.
sEands up from his
stool.
AJ1LrlEt(
Piss off. He Ehrows some money onto 36
the bar.
Maddy follows
EXT. BEACH BAR __ COITTINUOUS MADDY De Wente Diamonds closed its buying offices here to avoid U.N. sanctions. But they're using cut-outs to buy sEones from Ehe rebels on the cheap. That way nobody accuses them of profiEing from Ehe war --which they clearly are. ARCHER I'm shocked.
him out. ?6
23. MADDY
-
I::.::'=:"if;:$ :il';3"'i":3.'::5-r..
you roE in jai1. (grabs him) Don't you want a chance He keeps
even?
walking.
Hey, She qrabs
Eo get
his
MADDY (CONT'D) a second.
waic arm.
Moves closer.
MADDY (CONT'D) (the slightesc sexual promi se ) Help me out here... He can't
help
but
give
a bitter
ARCHER Maddy, righC? (she nods) ...Usua11y I liked to I get fucked. He wal-ks off, JI
INT.
walks
in
and
THE BATHROOM _-
sees
A FLASH CUT --
the
be kissed
before
inevitable
swarm of
beggars.
AFTERNOON (MUSIC OVER)
che wreckage
MOMENTS LATER
Archer stares ac himself opens a boeEle of vodka 38
to
A R C H E R ' S H O T E L R O O I ' {- -
Archer ]N
her
leaving
laugh.
of
his
5t
life.
(MUSIC O\rER)
i.n che remains and chugs ic.
of
his
mirror.
He
3B
GRAINY BLACK & WHITE
Souch African Forces BREAK DOWN a door and roust Security a middle-aged sleeping ANC supporter from his bed. His wife puts a bag over the man's head. S C R E A I " I Sa s A r c h e r 39
Archer takes With a pliers 40
39
BACK TO THE BATHROOM a long pu1l of vodka and Losses the boEcle. he grips a fal-se crown atop A BACK TOOTH.
A.TVOTHER FLASH CUT - The Bl-ack prisoner what is being done as he watches.
40
GRA]NY BLACK & WH]TE
is naked, tied to co him. Instead,
a chair. we sLudy
we do noE see Archer's face
z4 A'1
BACK TO THE BATHROOM
{l-L
BrighE drops of blood drip into the sink. Ignoring pain, Archer rips ouE Lhe crorrrn. incredible Int,o his A'>
pa1m, he Eaps a bloody
the
ROUGHDfAMOND.
EXT. RAWDONSTREET (FREETOWN)-_ ST'NSET (MUSIC OVER)
+z
A crowded street of lit.cle STOREFROI{TS wit.h hand-painEed signs of diamonds. StreeE merchants lick t.heir palms and hiss as Archer passes. 43
INT. FAST EDDTE'S --
LATER (MUSICOVER)
43
LiECle more than a corrugated shack. We and rel.uctantly accepting less cash Ehan his QAA
INT. Joost
Archer haggling, st.one is worEh.
FREETOWN- STREETS _ LATER THAT DAY is waiting
in
Ehe road, A\II'U
44
making no aEEempt Eo hide.
T! E T1
Joost,.
Long
t.ime,
JOOST mate. ARCHER
How's AIice? JOOST We11, Ehanks.
Tirn must
Big
kids,
Company's
ARCHER be in co11ege. JOOST big problems...
you
know.
ARCHER doing well?
JOOST Can'E complain. Eleven wars on the continent., business is brisk. (looks ar him) Heard you had a bit. of E.rouble in the bush. ARCHER Somora cal1ed you. JOOST Minist,er Somora and old friends.
the
Colonel
are
25. JoosE smiles. Archer Eakes out a pack of cigarettes, offers one. JoosE demurs. Archer pats his pocket.s for a maEch. ARCHER coe a light? Joost reaches into his pocket., t.akes out a lighEer. leans in co lighE Archer's cigareEEe--
As he
ARCHERGRAES HIS HEAD AND SMASHESIT DOWNONTO HIS UP-THRUST KNEE, LOW-PUNCHES HIM IN THE GROIN, SWEEPSHIS LEGS OUT FROM L'NDERHTM, AND THEN STOMPSHIM IN THE KIDNEYS. A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) NexE Eime the Colonel has a quest.ion. A11 he has co do is ask. He walks 45
Joost. wriChing
EXT. CAPE TOWNAIRPORT -Archer
45
away, leaving
pays cash for
in
che st.reeE.
DAY (MUSIC OVER)
a round-trip
ticket
45
Eo London.
EXT. LONDON (CHARTERHOUSE STREET) -_ DAY (MUSIC OVER) The global nexus of the diamond Erade. Archer gets ouE, wearingr a suiE.
46
A cab pu11s up and
ACROSSTHE STREET, a small group of PROTESTERS wirh signs thaE read, "No Blood Diamonds, " and 'DTC Funds Torture.', One sign has a drawing of a diamond ring on a severed finger. 4'7
TNT. DIAITIOND TRADING COMPANY(DTC) --
DAY (MUSIC OVER)
4'7
Archer passes Ehrough securit.y: fingerprint. reader, scanner, the works. He is buzzed rhrough an ANTI-BAILISTIC DOOR. 48
INT,IN A WAITING ROOM
48
He glances at Ehe well-lj-E display cases -- one of which feaEures a replica of ehe 530-carac "SEar of Africa". A FLAT-SCREENMONITOR plays a Ridley ScoEt commercial for De WenEe diamonds. RomanEic. Flashy. A young man proposes Co a beauEiful blushing gir1. An older couple celebrate their anniversary. Rappers wearing 'b1ing' on t.he Grammy Awards. DTC CLERK MisEer Simmons will see you now. 49
INT.
DTC EXECUTIVEOFFICES *-
DAY
R O L A N DS I M M O N ' So f f i c e is tasEeful and inoffensive. Rol and Simrnons. We lasr saw him at. Ehe UN.
49 So is
zo. Come in.
S]MMONS Tea? Come in. ARCHER
No Ehanks. SIMMONS Whac brings you Eo London?
So.
Reg...
ARCHER Spare me.
He'd raEher S i m m o n sa d j u s t s t h e E r o u s e r s o f h i s b e s p o k e s u i t . talk about anything but business, but if Archer insisEs: SIMMONS of this company A month ago, officers sat in front of the Uniced Nations and pledged co uphold a ban on diamonds. "confIict" (looks out the window) We are no longer accept.ing the stones you supply. I'm truly sorry you've come all this way, but our relationship is officially over. Archer
Looks around.
Realizes-
ARCHER You're recording this. S i m m o n ss m i l e s .
Archer doesn't
give a shit.
Record this.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) You're losing your hold on the global market. BiS finds in Russia, Canada. You need me more than ever. S i r n m o n sg l a n c e s a t h i s
watch.
SIMMONS You don'c plan t.o lecEure me on the trade, do vou? AT(UtsItsK
The trade? Oh, that has such a nicer ring to it than "cartel," "CarteL" is for Columbian drug dealers and oil sheiks. ft's so... unbecoming. Archer stands distinguished
and walks to a FRAI4ED WALL PHOTO of the older MAN whom we last saw at t.he tJN.
But since Reg, let's
ARCHER (CONT'D) just it's the two of cut the bullshit. (MORE)
us,
zt. ARCHER (COMr' D) You've got eight-billion-dollarsgathering worth of stones dust. in those vaults downstairs. (leans forward) If you didn't keep 'em off the market, that rock on your finger would cost less t,han your shoes.
Fine.
Wrire
SIMMONS a book.
Tell
the
BBC.
ARCHER (continuing over hirn) --Which Ls why it would be a shame if, stsy, anoEher company got all the press, noL t,he mentiOn the prof its from Ehe largesE pink ever Co find its way to market*This
pu1ls
Simmons up short. you're
SIMMONS bluffinq.
ARCHER Probably. But if I'm not, /ou're going to be the one having Eo explaLn Eo Mr. De Wente how it happened. He sEands and st.arEs
ouE.
Nice talking new hairline.
ARCHER (CONT'D) to you, Reg. Love
Simmons holds up a hand., as if flips a switch and MUSIC fills
What are
you
Ten percent fee.
Ehe
'waiE Lo say, the room.
SI!&{ONS asking? ARCHER of markeE as a finder's
SIMMONS Fi_ve. AR.HER seven. SI}O{ONS Agreed. ARCHER ALways a pleasure doing
business.
a second.'
He
28. He t,urns and walks
out.
Simmons picks
up t.he phone.
SIMMONS Get me De Wente. 50
EXT. FREETOWN PRISON -Solomon walks out
DAY
of prison
to
find
Fawaz waicing.
FAWAZ Solomon Vandy? SOLOMON What, do you want? FAWAZ Some friends of mine Ehought you look like an honest. man. Fawaz hands him a wad of 51
cash and walks
away.
EXT. HIGH COMMISSIONFOR REFUGEESOFFICE - DAY An abandoned schooll,Ien, women with babies t,ribal cloth. They are impatient, unruly_
swaddled
51 in
solomon sees the line snaking around the block. He walks casually Eoward t.he front., acting as if he knows someone. SOLOMON He11o my broEher. How's de bodv? Do I
REFUGEE#1 know you?
Solomon insinuaEes himself
beside him in
1ine.
SOLOMON Sure, sure. We meE at your cousin's wedding. Don,t, you remember? Another refugee,
farther
back in
1ine,
calls
out angrily.
REFUGEE#2 Back in line! Ot.her ref ugees join in calling solomon ignores t.hern, focusing --and how is The angry
refugee
,'end of the 1ine, ,' eEc. on the man beside him.
SOLOMON che happy couple?
GRABS Solomon by Che arm.
REFUGEE#2 Hey, mon, who you think
you are?
,a Solomon Eurns on him wich quiet
menaee.
SOLOMON If you don't let go, I will break break your your arm. Then I will head. The man Solomon's eye is Eruly terrifying. The oEher refugees stop their grumbling.
The wild look in recoils in fear. 52
INSIDE THE OFFICE Hundreds of NAMES, posted
on reErms of paper
cover
Ehe waI1s.
methodically. Even as he's shoved Solomon searches the list The names he seeks are noE and pushed, he holds his ground. there. soLoMoN (v. o. ) Can it be Ehat no one Dear Jassie. in our country has a horne? He looks around for someone in authority. S O L D I E Rs p e a k i n g M e n d e .
Hears an African
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) (in Mende, subticled) Please, f must tajk to someone- My faniTy 's nane is not on the List. The soldier, who is being ye1led at by five other people simultaneously, replies angrily in subtiEled Mende: MENDESOLDIER Go to Kambe, there is another
fist.
SOLOMON I have been to Kambe, and Mombolo, and Tibili. and-MENDESOLDIER Talk to che whites. He poinrs onslaught
t o a h a r r i e d R E D C R O S SO F F I C I A L w h o f i e l d s an of questions. Solomon pushes his way to hj-m. SQLOMON Excuse me, sir, my name is-- -Check
I The Brit.
the
RED CROSS OFFICIAL 1is[.
SOLOMON have checkeq the lisrs.
shoucs
Eo be heard
over
Ehe tumult.
RED CROSSOFFICIAI You have to f i1e papers with t.he Office of Refugees! I have fiied
SOLOMON papers!
RED CROSSOFFICIAI Then God help you, man. Because I can' t. Solomon wants to scream at him, but 53
the Brit
is
right.
E X T . O U T S I D ET H E F I E L D O F F I C E Solomon sit.s
in
t.he rniddle of
53 the crowded street.
Beref t.
soLoMoN (v.o. ) They told us freedom would rnake our country into a paradise. But it has turned it int.o a sewer instead. 54
IN THE SIERFA LEONE HILLS -EXT. SOMEWHERE
CONTINUOUS
54
Dia, Jassie and his sister wait for food at an R.u.F. outpost. e rebel wearing a DOO-RAGeyes then. Dia glares as the man offers his twelve year-o1d sister a Milky Way bar. Jassie pu11s her daughrer away bur ANOTHERsoLDrER puts his arm around her waist -- pinning her arms behind her back. R.U.F. SOLDIER Maybe you are my new wifel Doo Rag starts ro lead N'yanda away. Dia flings himself at the rebel, bur OTHERSjump him and begin to bear him with thei.r rif 1e butLs. Jassie's screans are drowned ouL bv t.he laughter of their tormentors. Dia, meanwhile, is truck with several 55
lifted other
u p a n d T H R O W Ni n t o TEENAGEBOYS.
EXT. CAPE TOWNAIRPORT --
the back of a
DAY
Archer walks to the curbJoost His eyes are still black-and-blue
55 is waiting beside a Mercedes. behind sunslasses.
,JOOST He want.s to see you. f|t(Ln.Lt(
I'm going back to Sierra actual 1y.
Leone,
Two square-jawed MERCENARTES emerge from the Mercedes, oucline of handgruns obvious beneath Ehe tails of their
the shirEs.
31. A R C H E R( C O M I ' D ) I don'E suppose, 'I'm sorry,' suffice?
would
hem in The mercenaries unobtrusively JoosE smiles Ehinly. Archer on both sides. He expects Eo be pummeled at any moment. Inst,ead they politely open Ehe car door. ,loosT Af E.er you. 55
EXT. CAPE TOVIIJCOU}i"IRYSIDE--
55
DAY
The Mercedes winds iE way into che South African Veldt, passing elegant stables, grape orchards and crickec pieches. 57
INSTDE THE CAR
57
Archer expecLs to be beaten aE any momenE. It, doesn'E happen. 57A
DRIVING DEEPERINTO THE VELDT
5?A
The landscape has grown barren. AL a gaEe lined wit.h barbed wire, a sign -- "ExecuE,ive Outcomes" is flanked by armed wearing crimson berets, soldiers who wave them on. They fol1ow a deserted dirt road, unEil-58
A RUSSIA}I ATTACK HELICOPTER maEerializes out of nowhere. pass, ic flies away.
58 After
making a perilously
close
BESIDE A}J OLD VTCTORIAI{ FARMHOUSE The Mercedes glides
co a sEop beside
a spreading
acacia.
C O L O N E LT H E O C O E T S E E ,6 0 , Looks like he could still lead a platoon on a fifty mile forced-march in hostile condit,ions. In facE, he stilI does. HeIIo,
THE COLONEL Danny. ARCHER
Sir. THE COLONEL You look beEt,er Ehan JoosE here. ARCHER
rheco,o"", :il:::""".':::,:'ff""
1",",1";arrini.
JZ.
THE COLONEL (raising his glass) Here's to us and Ehose like
us--
ARCHER (f inishing t.he toast ) --Damn few. They sip. THE COLONEL I want you to come back. ARCHER Thanks buE I orefer noE Eo. THE COLONEL We'11 be coming your way soon. Our with Ehe lawyers are in conversation governmenE of Sierra Leone, such as iL is. Archer
smiles
darkly.
T H E C O L O N E L( C O N T ' D ) They wanE us Eo take back Ehe di.amond mines and f need someone who knows his way around up Ehere. Archer
just
takes another
sip.
The Colonel
studies
THE COLONEL ( COI\]II'D) According to our Minister Somora, you've got someEhing in Ehe works. Someching...pink. ARCHER (disrnissive) The fanE,asy of some Mende f armer. . . THE COLONEL There is the small maEter of paymenE, on some RPG's. You haven't forgotten who arranged that shipmenE from our Ukranian friends...? ARCHER But who is iu, I wonder, who tipped off Ehe ECOMOG to the goat routine? The Colonel's
t.one loses
Pay your Eo work.
some of
its
warmEh.
THE COLONEL debt. in cash or come back Your choice.
him.
33. ARCHER
'
i fu'=tii'"ol"3i'if,'3'3li'I::*:?'"* THE COLONEL ( laughs ) Oh, Danny... You']L never leave. You're African to the bone. (disnrissing him) .loost will" see you back to Cape Town. I appreciaEe
ARCHER thaE. Thank you.
THE COLONEL We'11 meet again soon? ARCHER sj.r, but I hope not. No disrespect, THE COLONEL weapons is beEter You think selling chan using uhem? At least when it's you pulling t.he trigger, lou know you're not the Earget. The Colonel 59
and gives
chuckles,
JoosE a subt]e
nod.
BEHIND THE FARMHOUSE They approach
Ehe parked Mercedes.
Okay, just
59 Archer
turns
to JoosE.
ARCHER get it over with.
The Ewo mercenaries grab Archer's arms. .Ioost smif es s)rmpathetically and then begins to beaE Ehe shit ouL of him. 60
- DAY IIVT. THE "EXECUTIVE HOTEL'' - FREETOWN I{alf of its SIGN has been blown away. leads to a colonial facade.
A filthy
60 red carpet
Soiomon, in a red vesE chaE serves as a uniform, carries a businessman's bags. As the businessman geEs into a cab, a pack of I'larlboro 100's falls out of Ehe man's pocket. soLoMoN (v. o. ) It has been so many Dear .Tassie. weeks and I still cannot find you. Sofomon waiEs until Lhe cab pu11s away. pockets Ehe cigarectes.
Then he kneels
and
34. 61
IN1" THE "EXECUTIVE" HOTEL - LATER
51
Solomon carries bags up a back stairs. He checks to see if anyone is watching then rifles the bags for anything of value. 62
EXT. FREETOWNSTREET -At an open-air market, other stolen items for
DAY Solomon exchanges the cigrarettes hard eurrency.
and
soLoMoN(v. o. ) The city is loud and crowded and dirty. I miss the farm and cannot help wondering what. has happened to the cassava crop. 63
INT. HOSPITAL -Sol-ornonbribes
DAY
53
a LNICEF OFFICIAL with
the curreney.
He walks pasE rows of civilian casualties, many of them He forces hirnself to smile aE each face he casses. children. 64
E X T . S Q U A T T E R ' SC A M P - -
NIGHT
54
Places like this define every ciUy in the third wor1d. Sol-ornonhas Eaken residence in E.he rusted hulI of an old fE is bare excepE for an extra shirt ear. folded neaEly.
soLoMoN(v. o. ) MosE of all I miss our family all Eogether in Che hut. at ni.ghE, Ehe sound of ehe childrens' breaEhing, and your warmEh beside me. He lighEs
a candle before
a wooden animist
st.aEue.
soLoMoN (v.o. ) (coNT,D) Whenever I feel myself losing hope, I think of Ehese chj-ngs and I know i E wi 11 be aI I right. . 55
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE BUSH -.- CONTINUOUS Dia sit.s in a dark hut. along wit.h several TEENAGECAPTIVES. The door is flung open and GUARDSbrucally drive E.hernout Eo form a line. Dia sEands, Eerrified, in a driving rain. R.U.F. TRAINER Your moEhers and fathers are dead. Your broEhers and sisEers are dead. You are dead t.oo. BuE. you will be reborn wit.h us. We are your farnily now.
55
35. 66
55
ANOTHERDAY Dia and ochers are being
5'1
caughc eo fire
an AK-47. 6'7
ANOTHERDAY jug of paln wine through the rebelDia carries a plastic he inadvercenEly SPfLLS camp. Handing it an older guerilla, The man begins to BEAT him. some on Ehe man's t*shirc.
b U
68
IrA J. trll
as a cut. is Dia is held down by two rebels powdery drug is poured and an unidenEified 69
opened in hls ineo the cut.
59
LATER the wal1s of the hut -Dia is bouncing off teenage boys are similarly Several his nind.
.]O
E X T . F R E E T O W NS T R E E T ( A R C H E R ' S H O T E L ) - -
sEoned out wasted.
A MILITAR.Y ,JEEP is parked in f ront of perhaps waiting E C O M O Gt r o o p s loiter, Not
taking
any chances,
Archer
Curns
his for
HOOKER You l-onely tonight, {pul-1s down her I'm safe. No HIV. ExT.
BEACH BAR --
big
1n
His
face
is
hote1. Several him, perhaps noE.
away.
E X P L O S I O N S L I K E D f S T A N T T H T I N D E Rr u n b l _ e nighc as he walks. A car is on fire. grrowing out of control . A Y O U N GA F R I C A N W O M A N , m i n i s k i r t . ,
of
NIGHT
Archer gees oul of a cab, carrying his bag. and sunglasses cover a black swollen eye.
.]I
arm
Ehrough the stif ling A sense of things
earrings
beckons
him.
Archer? top) You use condom.
'7)
NIGHT
is burnE. People crowd the remaining Half of it haff, drinking as heavily The African as ever. Techno-BeaE Archer gets Med's attention at Ehe bar, sets down his ARCHER Mj - n d l o o k i n g af cer chis f or (M' ed nods ) ...Like what you've done to
me? the
pIace.
BARTENDER (M'ED) F o k k i n g F . . U .F . r r y r o h i t the guv'ment 'cross da street. building ShiE, mahn, half da people heah be R.U.F. ( M O R E)
throbs. bag.
?( BARTENDER (M'ED) (CONT'D) (halds hin the usual) Ever'body doh. Good for business much as dey can 'fore de rebels drink uP de rest. come an drink ARCHER Mighc be time to get ouL, my friendThe facade
of
Your
prof essional
Med's
familY
jovialit.y
disappears.
BARTENDER .Jus' f ire uP de And go where, mahn? you people? chopper and f1y away like We here No, mahn, dis my counCry. you came and long after long 'fore you gone. He stares despair.
at Archer, his He turns away.
Fawaz approaches.
He is
eyes
a nervous
Oh, my God,
FAWAZ are you
Where's
ARCHER farmer?
the
a tragic
mask of
defiance
and
wreck.
all
right.?
FAWAZ He found a job at a hotel. Spends his time at Lhe refugee offices. all the behavior Not exactly of a man in possession of a priceless stone. Another
EXPLOSION in
the
distant.
hi1Is.
Fawaz flinches.
FAWAZ (CONT'D) The main road to Masiaka is cut in gonna The governmenE's three places. fa11 any second, and I'm following farmer. some delusional Archer looking
sees Maddy through somewhat dazed as
apart, t.he crowd. She's standing to Ehe music. she moves sIowly
FAWAZ (CONT'D) The man was a digger. The odds of him getting away with even a sma1l They s1it. you open stone is zero. just alive for sweating.
I
think
ARCHER Somora is lookinq
for
me.
?? FAWAZ (rea11y worried Allah forfend...
now)
ARCHER (moving away) Just. stay on the farmer. FAWA' But-Archer coming niddle bodies
has already begun heading toward Maddy. she sees him and watches him walk t.oward her. They meet in the of a crowded dance floor. All around then, sweaty are swaying to the African beat. MADDY Am f supposed to kiss you or you? I can,t remember. ARCHER How about you dance with
fuck
me.
MADDY Should I ask what happened to your face? He takes
her hand and leads
her
into
the surging
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D ) f guess notThey dance as best. they
can in
the crush.
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D ) This is insane. I,m drunk in an African bar dancing with a mercenary. ARCHER Whar would they say in
Ohio?
}4ADDY Chicago. ARCHER ...you can tell a loc about someone by the way t.hey dance. MADDY Then you can probably te11 right away t.haE f can' t dance. They look at
each ocher.
crowd..
38. M A D D Y( C O M T ' D ) In Mozambigue, you were parE of a search-and-destroy unit EargeEi.ng ANC leaders. Then in Angola, you hooked up with De Wente and started guns for diamonds. trading Is
ARCHER on the record?
this
}4ADDY But you blew it all and trying to go ic
getting greedy a1one. Why:
He doesn'E answer. They are looki.ng at each other. The music is pounding. SweaE is pouring off boEh of then but neither boE,hers to wipe it away. I4ADDY (CONT'D) So you're, what, a Nihilist.? OpporEunist? Scumbag? Maybe I just chi ldhood.
rhink
in
MADDY I,ve never met people
You think you? I
ARCHER wasn,t breast-fed
ARCHER you gec off on people
like
like
mp
MADDY Fuck you. ARCHER That, They
keep
too.
dancing,
Ehei.r
faces
verv
close.
MADDY What T'11. . .never understand. . . is how. . . you can. . . compartmental i ze. . , human suffering. He stops dancing.
Looks at her.
Thanks for He walks
away.
ARCHER the dance.
39. 72
OUTSIDE THE BAR
72
He lights a cigareEte. she appears and sEands guietly him. Together they watch the dist.ant explosionJ. MANN\/
I didn'a -"..tIIV He cakes
a long
drag.
r,ura your f eetings?
Exhales.
ARCHER How long you been in Africa? MADDY Four rnonEhs. Before
Ehat. Kosovo.
ARCHER Okay. How many BJacks do you know back in the States -- besides the girl who cleans your house and the rnan who picks up your garbage? MADDY What's that. got to do with
it?
ARCHER f know Blacks. Grew up with ,€Jn, fought wiEh ,en. Behind the calm burning with hate for what we,ire done to ,€:rn.They haee you, hate me, haEe each other and hace thernselves. And your bleeding heart isn,t sonna scop 'ern butchering each otherl Half t.he continent is starvinq and the rest is dying of eros while rheir Ieaders selJ medicine ro build pali-es and drive Mercedes. ?hat doesn't
MADDY make it
riqhL.
ARCHER No it doesn't,. But apart from a few do-gooders who show up for a week with their flak jackels, their faptops, and their little bottles of hand sanit.izer Ehe White world doesn,r give a fuck about the Black world.-Look at Sudan. Look aE Rwanda. Your country loses thirty_four marines in Somalia and then does noehing as a nillion people die. it except p -on picEures of starving childrln rv to flagellate their guilty conscience. (MORE)
beside
40. A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) (shakes his head) So someone's got to do Ehe dirEy you Ehink America doesn't work-seI1 arms or hire professionals? You call Ehern'contracCors'. I sell guns. If I don't, somebodyelse will. IIADDY The 1aw of she jungle. (sighs ) If only I had a nickel for every piece-of-shiE. who uses ic to juseify his existence. He Eurns to I
look at her, like
her face radiant. wiEh sweaE.
ARCHER your smell.
Wel1, that
MADDY makes me weak at
the knees.
ARCHER It's all gonna blow any minut.e. should get out. MADDY An ECOMOG relief colurnn leaves the morning. What about you?
You
in
A!(UtlEt(
Business
to
f inj-sh
up.
MADDY What could possibly and geccing yourself He looks
at
her,
offers
a grim
be worth staying ki11ed over? smiIe.
MADDY (CONT'D) Oh. He indicates
Right. the
bare
"wedding
ring"
finger
ARCHER TelI me you never dreamt of having sparkly dianond of your very own. (as he walks away) . . . Peace. 73
EXT.
SQUATTER CAIIP --
of
her
left.
hand.
a
NEXT DAy
solomon emerges from his rusted hulk to find Archer waiting. Archer looks as if he's been up all nighc avoidingr the -- which in fact. he has. Minister's troops
73
4t. ARCHER Mrat did you do, bury
anyone is
liscening.
Solomon in
Ehe eye.
to see if
looks
sofomon insEinctively
it?
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) r would have buried ic. SOLOMON (heart racing) What are you calking abouc? Archer removes his
looks
sunglasses, At(\-tlEt(
WhaE a:n I
abouE?
SOLOMON musE. go Eo work
I Archer
galking
follows
as
SoLomon walks
through
ARCHER t"Iy friend Fawaz paid an awfully bribe Eo gee you ouE of jail.
Ehe shanEyEown.
large
SOLOMON pay Mister I will Fawaz back. He And now you have my has my word. word. And we have f i.nished speaking. SoJomon runs 14
INT.
for
a crowded
EXECUTIVE HOTEL --
Solomon is gteE ouE of
bus.
Archer
waE.ches him
LATER THAT DAY
14
carrying bags for WesEern businessmen FreeE,own before it's Eoo late.
Deposicing t.heir bags Eo f ind Archer leaning
in a t.axi, he walks back againsE a post., smoking
ARCHER W h y w o u l d E . h a E .R . U . F . c a p E a i n che bandaged eye make up such Solomon again
t,ries
disappear-
co ignore
franEic
t.o
inEo ghe lobby a cigaret,E,e.
wi t.h a sEory.
him.
whara'e u""T:T:; I:"5:;Dl"rr iE
yourself? To who? For how much? You need he1p, friend, wheE,her you w a n E ,i E . o r n o c . AnoE.herporter is eavesdropping. Solomon escapes inEo E,he aI ley beside t.he hot.el , aurns on Archer.
42. 15
'15
EXT. AILEY - COTITINUOUS SOLOMON And what You f know who you are. Men like You have Eurned mY are. counEry into a land of Ehieves and I do nor need Your he1P. kj-11ers. Al(Lrllitl
I could help
Whau if At. Ehese words,
find
something feral
your
family?
appears in Solomon's eyes'
SOLOMON Whag do you know of my farnilY? ARCHER agenci.es are useless, the The relief There hospiEals are overwhelmed. are oEher ways. SOLOMON Li.ar ! ARCHER t^IhiEe people. f know people. Solomon LTINGES-- pinning Archer He doesn'E. could fight.
againsE
the wall.
Archer
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) The. . .right.. . . sEone-Solomon want,s noEhing more chan Eo sErangJ-e him, but, he also He relaxes his grip. Archer nrighE be his only hope. intuits A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) --can buy anyching. fnformaEion. Even freedom. BuE a big Safety. The minuEe stone doesn't sEay secret.. you show iE, your l-ife j.s worthless. I'rn guessing the onLy reason you're sEi11 alive is because you haven't Right? Eold anyone where it is. Archer's
piEch --
fueled by desperation
-*
is mesmerizing.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) The lasE pink Eo come ouE of Africa dol1ars. fetched Een million I know You know because I carried it ouc. whac I goc for ic? He opens his
shirt.
A H U G ES C A R c r o s s e s h i s
chesE.
+5.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) f learned that a man I was luckY. do anYthing for a diamond. will SOLOMON fou would say anything. Erust you--?
How can f
OF AN EXPLOSION, FOLLOWEDBY THE CHATTER NEARBY, THE CRUIVIP WEAPONS...FROMA BLOCK OR TWO AWAY. OF AUTOMATTC ARCHER TheY IE's started. Hear that? nust've snuck into the city overnight. (1ooks at Solomon) What's it gonna be, fri.end? A BLOCK AWAY Three cut-down trucks of Rebels SQUEAL into view with automatic weapons. spraying everything
and begin
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) Yes or no. can change with
A whole life
a single
sy11able.
SOLOMON Yes. A TRUCK COMESCAREENINGAROUNDTHE CORNER. Archer pushes Solornon as Lhe wa11 behind them is stitched with bul1ets. ARCHER Go. They begin 76
GO!
t'o run. 76
THEY RUN THROUGHTHE CITY Their
fates
suddeniy
And death lurks
joined
by the need to scay a1ive.
ac every corner.
Bands of teenagers roam the sEreels, FIRING AUTOMATICWEAPONS at anything that moves. Signs, store windows, cars. Urban Rap dopplers past as trueks wj.th boorn boxes speed by. At an intersection, an impromptu ROADBLOCK. People are pu11ed out of cars and beaten while their cars are set on fire. Archer and Solomon double back and sprint hotel where a gang of Rebels are entering. the sound of SCREAMTNG and more GUNFIRE.
pase the Executive From inside comes
People are being taken -- black and white alike -- and forced into trucks. M I N I S T E R S O M O R Ai s 1 e d a w a y a t g u n p o i n t .
44. Women are dragged by the hair into out of a fourEh-sE.ory window. In
fact,
it
alle)ruays.
was much worse t.han anything
Archer, and Solo4on conlinue
to run for
A man is
we can ever their
Ehrown
show.
1ives.
Storefronts are looced. ft's impossible to tel1 Ehe rebels from the civilians. edults carry Lelevisions. T \ ^ / om e n c a r r y a barca-lounqer. Teenage boys wear womens' wigs and Ehrow molot.ov cockt.ails rnade from Swedish vodka. Rebel ceenagers are sacking The Beach Bar -- drinking everything in sight. Me'd lies dead, splayed across the bar. Archer and Solomon run through rockets light up the sky.
t.he darkening
streets
as
They dive into a resLaurant doorway, taking refuge with others huddled, terrified, on the floor. Windows are shot out. as rounds rip in and plaster rains down on their heads, After a deafeni.ng moment -- quiet. crack in the door as ECOMOGtroops wal1 and executed. '7'7
Archer watches t.hrough a are lined up against a
HOURS LATER - DARK AT LAST Archer
and Solomon set
off
aqain
They do their best to stay in shadows, hugging the wal1s of pock-marked buildings, as Lhey try to sneak past the roving patrols and trucks f i11ed wit.h men, and out of t.he citv. SOLOMON How. . .much. - . . farther? ARCHER Sooner, . .or. . .1ater. the bush. /6
. .we, 11 be in
AN HALF-HOUR LATER
Thev are stili
t6
rLrnninq.
Both men are exhausted, filthy wich soot and shreat, their chests heaving. But neither even considers stopping. Around t.hern, the houses are becoming fewer-
'79
'79
UP AHEAD _ AN OPEN FTELD And then anocher. Nothing beyond except a t.angle of Erees, ruined cassava groves, and the densely-covered
banana hi11s.
ARCHER There-- ! they pick
With renewed energy,
up and run:
themselves
THE SOTINDOF VOICES --
CLOSE AT HA}ID
Sends chem DIVING into
a ditch.
Solomon Three R.U.F. soldiers are seEEing up a machine gun. If they are There is nowhere to go. looks around wi1d1y. If Ehey be discovered. there by daybreak, Ehey will scill be shot. try Eo run, they will A look of resolve sEeaLs over Archer's face as he reaches Without a backward glance, he into his boot for his knife. out of Lhe ditch. slithers 80
THE KTLLTNG OF THE THREE SOLp{ERS
80
one's chroat is s1it, Is a deadly baI1et. the second is gutted. But his weapon FIRES -- alercing Ehe third soldier, just in time for his body to be scirched by who whirls rounds from the dead man's M-47 -- which Archer now holds. It has all happened in a matter of seconds. has alerted more soldiers from nearby.
But the gunfire
ARCHER COMEON! Archer and Solomon take off soon begin co streak past. 81
into
--
the field
as TRACERS
AT LAST THEY BREAK INTO THE BRUSH
81
Vines whipping againsE their faces, rhorns ripping Eheir hands and clothes -- until long after the gunfire has stopped. aE last
chev stop.
Bent over double.
Gaspj.ng for
breath
in
the humid night.
A 1i v e . The two men look at one anot,her. They could never arciculace it, bur borh inruirively know rhis will be rhe defining journey of their lives. 82
EXT. MAKENI ROAD --
DAWN (FROM HIGH ABOVE)
In Carnbodia, in E1 Salvador, in Sudan as in Sierra Leone, the image of a downErodden, dispossessed multitude traveling on foot coward an uncert,ain end has become Ehe signature image of our cime. It is the Age of the Refugee.
82
46. Ox-drawn carts Archer and Solomon Erudge amidsg the Ehrong. feeE churn up a sea of dusc. and thousands of shuffling SOLOMON Where are we going? ARCHER camp in Port. Loki. There's a relief ,-lournalisLs will have access co a SAT-phone. I'11 have Fawaz meeE us wich che p1ane. SOLOMON I have agreed to nothing. Archer
looks
straighE.
ahead as he walks. ARCHER
You wiLL. 83
EXT. ECOMOGSTAGING AREA - MASIAKA * DAY
83
In a soccer sEadium, ECOMOG soldiers distribute stacks of BOXES of MEDICAI, SUPPLIES. GRAIN bearing rhe UNICEF srencil, Archer is ouEside the fence, talking He is to a guard. buffeted by hordes of refugees crying to get Eo the food. flrlLtlt
r(
--I work for E.he Cape Town Herald. My wa11eE, my credentials, everything's sti1l in Freetown. We barely goE out wit.h our lives... GUAR.D Back away from t.he fence-Archer
gives
up.
Solomon has been watching.
SOLOMON You are not a journalisc. f 'm crying
AI(LltEr(
Eo get us out of here.
SOLOMON IE. is as I said. You will anything. Archer
sees 'JOURNAI,ISTS- He waylays
say an Austral-ian
AJ1LNE.t1.
Hey, mate. I'm l"ooking for somone you might know. Nane's Maddy Bowen. American. If you've met her you wouldn't forget it.
CAIVIERAMAN.
4 " 7. AUSSIE
ft-K\-nf.
11-
her Could you te1l got the story I've
I'm out see her
Archer's here she want.s.
and
AUSSIE CA}4ERAI'IAN If I of here in an hour. her. before Ehen, f'11 tell ARCHER Cheers.
Thanks. 84
CAMEFAMAN
know her.
f
LATER -_
84
Archer and Solomon are Solomon searches every
broiling passing
under face.
a relenEless sun. Archer dozes.
}IADDY (O. S. ) V^li f vs
^^F :rvL
rrf vqe.
ARCHER This I"laddy.
He110,
is
Sol0mon Vandy.
I{ADDY How do you do? (to Archer; all business ) I'm on deadline and I've been waiting four hours to use a SAT-phoneWhat do you want Eo tefl me. Archer
moves her
out
of
So]omon' s earshot.
ARCHER An outfit named Scar blood diamonds.
Mines
is
buvino
MADDY Ano.
/
ARCHER De Wente has no visible ties Lo Star but through a maze of crossholdings
--
;H,::p lfe:1":; :;:ni;.ln:I"3l-"if;,n:" dged they
uo uphold.
MADDY You have proof of chis. (he nods ) y And ou'J-1 go on record? He looks
at
her.
48. Al:(u.rl.trt(
ff
you help me out. !4ADDY
f knew it. trJLLIl.Cll,
Before you say anyEhing -- Ehe man is a Mende farmer. His village was burned to the ground. He was forced Eo work the mines, buE his fanily fled -- wife and three children. He's been crying Eo find Chembue he's drowning in red Eape. Maddy looks
again
at
Solomon.
MADDY How do you even know t.his
man?
l+I.Lrl.LK
I Maddy looks
know him. back
You're
at
Archer.
using
MADDY me. AIILTtEI(
And you're using me. Isn,E ehac how i- t works ? (leaning in) You r.,rant.Eo make a dj_f ference, Maddy? Starc wich this man. you,ve got access Eo U.N. databases, you know all che N.G.O.'s. Look around, does helping
MADDY Archer. What difference one man make?
He looks aE her. Jesus.
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D ) Did I rea11y say EhaE?
Maddy's eyes remain on his, O F H E L I C O P T E RB L A D E S . .. 85
conflicted,
as we HEAR t.he BEATTNG
EXT/INT. UNHCRHELICOPTER- DAY LooKrNG DowN on a su/eep of grassland on which a sea of flapping white Eents suddenly appears...thousands of them... There it
is.
M A D D Y( V . O . )
85
49. 85
INT. HELICOPTER- SAME
85
Solomon, Archer and Maddy have hitched a ride on a U.N. chopper. Solomon's never been up in one. He sEares down at the sprawling tenE ciuy below. MADDY At the moment, the second largest refugee camp in Africa. My wife Maddy reads
SOLOMON here? In Guinea?
is
from Ehe computer manifest
in
MADDY Jassie Vandy, Kono District. j.nto Guinea six weeks ago.
Crossed
SOLOMON And rny children?
Six weeks. Maddy hesitates.
her hand.
folds
the manifest,
then just
nods.
MADDY You would have found them. Somecines it takes a year before new manifests reach che field offices. (glances at Archer) I was lucky t.o gec access Eo the UNHCRdatabase. SOLOMON know how to thank you.
f do not What can Maddy say? B'7
She nods.
EXT. REFUGEECAr'{p - DAy
g7
Archer, soromon and Maddy step off the chopper SEA OF HUMA}JITYbehind a CHAIN FENCE SLret;hing
to find-A for miles.
WORXERSwith worrd Food program armbands unload supplies REFUGEESrush the fence, pressing forward, shoucin!-. Ihis is like. Solomon stares.
I'{ADDy what a million These are his
c l o s E o N A R C H E Rt . a k i n g i c a l l everything there is to see in
people
as
look
people. in. He,s seen preccy much 1ife. But no one is-unaffected.
M A D D Y( C O M I ' D ) You might catch a minute of this on CNN somewhere between weather and sport.s. As they approach the fence, Solomon sees that many of che refugees are A]'IPUTEES. Some reaching through the chain link with stumps of arms. Solomon's heart is pounding. M A D D Y( C O N T ' D ) f L says they're in Sector T\,vo. as Maddy shows her Solomon follows reads her slip of paper and points
BADGE to a UN GUARD, who out the right direction-
Archer stares through the fence at 1eg, yet nanaging to kick a plastic
two KfDS, each with one jug back and forth.
OEher amputees stare su11en1y. JOURNAIISTS WITHOUTSSS'
a sign
reads,
" N O P H O T O SF O R
A WRINKLEDOLD MAN blows his lips at Archer through the fence. Archer walks on. The old man shadows him. Until ercher realizes the fe11ow is gesturing to the cigarettes in his shi-rt pocket. Archer takes out a cigarette, is about to slip one through the fence -When he sees the man has no hands. Grimly, Archer sticks Then moves on. 88
j.n the man's mouth.
the cigarette
EXT. REFUGEECAMP - SECTORTWO GATE - LATER A FRENCHUN GUARDrelays Stay at
Ihe paper
88
Io an AFRICAN WFP MONITOR.
FRENCH GUARD the fence. Quarantine.
Solomon grips the fence, waLching the WFPmonitor disappears into che teeming mass. Archer
has rejoined
thenr.
He notices
as he
Maddy,s expression.
ARCHER
What'" *rorrgi^'Maddy shakes her head. something from him.
But Archer
can tell
she's
keeDinq
Solomon catches sight of the WFp monj.tor. He has a woman with him. A woman carrying a litt1e boy and a young girl. SOLOMON Jassie . . .? (and then he's sure) J a s s i e ! J A S S I EI
f,],
.lassie
her name, looks
hears
up through
t,he hordes
of people.
JASSIE SOLO!
Solo!
SOLOMON . ] A S S I E! ! t.o joy
Solomon's face morphs frorn disbelief Ehrough a crush of bodies t,o him -Their their
as ,Jassie runs
They run fingers GRASPeach oEhers Lhrough Ehe fence. hands over each ot,hers faces, unable to speak.
in her arms, an infant Solomon l-ooks at the one-year-old He t.ouches hirn Ehrougrh the fence, when last he saw himThe girl , silent., of fers a weak smil-e, She's seen t,oo much. Then Solomon looks
puzzled.
around,
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) Dia? (to .lassie, V'lhere is Dia? The boy is
nowhere in
in Mende)
sight.
(CONT'D) SOLOMON Where is my son? Wagching this,
Archer
Eurns Eo Maddy.
ARCHER He has a son who goes to reads English.
school,
MADDY There were only two children on t.he manifesE.. --Whar.? Maddy turns
list,ed
ARCHER
away, her eyes brinnring.
A T T H E F E N C E . S o l - o m o nr e a d s . l a s s i e ' s
eves.
soLoIlON Where is he ! ? She rubs her cheek against They...took
his
hand,
her body trernbling.
JASSIE him.
Solomon looks at her, incomprehensibly. And Ehe words come out in a flood of Mende - Ehat breaks into a WAIL of grief.
Solomon d,rops Eo Ehe ground as if every muscfe He struggles for breat.h. had been cut. Archer
cannot
grief
waEch their
yet
cannot
in his turn
body
away.
ARCHER Fuck this to pry Solomon's hands from the fence, buE he A GUARDtries the guard cal-l-s ANOTHERGUARD Sensing trouble, won't let go. Both of then cry to pu]l Sol-omon from che fence. over. Let
SOLOMON thern ouc.
,Jassie doesn't
fet
go of her husband's hands. LJAJJT
shaking
S o l - o m o ns t a r t s Let
r
Sol-o
Solo
the fence.
SOLOMON thern out !
The guards begin Eo beat his hands with their rifle But Solomon keeps shaking the fence as if to uproot posCs.
butts. the steel-
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) LET THEI{ OUT! Archer
puts
himself
between Solomon and Ehe guards. ARCHER
Get of f hin! A guard points Fj.ne! 89
INT.
his
rifle
and shout.s in an unknown dialecc.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) ,Just get of f him!
HELICoPTER - LATER
B9
Archer and Maddy ride in sil-ence. SoLomon sLares out Ehe chopper window. His knuckl_es bandaged. Devoid of emotion. MADDY They're afraid some of the refugees might be rebel s . They won ' t. be rel-eased until Chere's a cease-f ire. I'm sorry. Solomon sEares out. aC the distant
fog-shrouded
mountains.
SOLOMON What you wanE, Mist.er Archer, is That is where I beyond those hills. buried iL. heart
Archer's rea1.
skips
a beat.
spoken of
Whac was only
is
now
And then Maddy looks ac Solomon, his face knotted in grief. the pieces together. back at Archer. She is putting 90
EXT. ECOMOGSTAGING AREA - MASIAJ{A - EVENING
90
Maddy marches away from the helicopter. .f{J(L.FtE,F(
Maddy, waic... He grabs
her
arm.
She wrenches
free
of
his
ARCHER (CONT'D) take his son! I didn't Don't EhaE on me !
Din
I pin you.
MADDY on all of
ic
us.
grip.
Especially
ARCHER Yah, we fucked the black man. My father did and my grandfather before him. Now the black man fucks himself. Tell me something I don'E know. Tired, 91
EXT.
f urious,
done wich
sparri.ng,
E C O M O GS T A G I N G A R E A - -
solomon and Archer hundreds of fi.res,
she walks
MASIAXA --
o f a M A C H E T Ew i t h a flashlight.
Al1Ln.CK
You say che mine j.s near t.he Moa River. Where exaccly on this map? Solomon's eyes remain on t,he machete blade. SOLOMON I do noE need a mac. ft.I1'\-
We fo11ow his
91
NIGHT
huddle beside a fire. Around them are each wiEh huddled figures silhouetted.
solomon's sharpens che blade Archer pores over a MAp wich
ttre11, I
of f .
n.L
K
do.
finger
ON THE MAp as he La1ks.
a whecstone.
ARCHER (CONT'D) We're here.... The press convoy is going to Kaifahun. Diamond mines are here. Where did you bury it?
/
:il';:l;
a line upone currrNG
:il:',::i.i3i"ui3iiJ"ii3:n.is
ARCHER (CONT'D) You understand, when we get to Kailahun, w€'re gonna have to go overland. You better damn well be able to find it. Solomon is
lost
in
a worl-d of ritual.
SOLOMON (almost to himself) My son is a very good studenE. He walks f ive miles Eo the Sist.ers' school every rnorning to study English. He is going to be a doctor one day. The pain of self-injury is an attempt to inure himself to the pain of Loss. He turns away to scare inEo the fire. Archer 92
has to walk away.
NEARBY - AN ASANDONEDBUTLD]NG
92
houses the palcry assortmenc of journalists. Archer waLks past the guards wit.h a wave of Ehe finger. They assume -because he is white -- that he belongs there. MADDYis f ingers.
hunched over a portable tlpewriter, tlping Archer l_eans over her shoulder t.o read. ARCHER "...in the ninety degree heat, farmer Solomon Vandy drops Eo his knees against the chain-link fence--',
Maddy whi.rls
around.
"--rattl_ing hands... "
Archer
finishes
the senr.ence.
ARCHER (CONT'D) Che wire with his
powerful
MADDY (d e f e n s i v e ) . . .What? ARCHER Nothing. You think
MADDY I'm exploiting
his
grief.
with
Lwo
55. Archer just
looks at her.
She loses
it.
M A D D Y( C O N T ' D ) Do you You think f like being here? have any idea what I cou1d make back garbage about in the sLates writing movie stars--? (righteous fury) All anybody sees here are victims. And lives. Noc people. With faces. They deserve a voice. (shaking her head) And the world deserves to know where And the things they buy come from. how much they rea11y cost. (Lurns away) So get out of my face and let. me work. Archer
watches her work
for
a moment.
Rubs his
eyes.
ARCHER . . . Solomon thinks his son is going to be a docEor one day. (she looks up) What's Ehe life expectancy for infants in a camp like this? WhaU's going girl? to happen to a twelve year-old Thac diamond is the only chance he's got of geEting his family out. MADDY You expecE me t.o believe you give rat's ass abouc his familv. No.
ARCHER I'm just exploiting
his
a
grief.
She glares at him, then looks away. There are cont.radictions in both Uheir intentions.
inherent
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) f need co get to Kailahun. The only way now is with a UN convoy. I'm a TV journalist and he's our cameranan. Maddy's shaking her head.
She won't
do ic.
MADDY No. ARCHER f sewed R.U.F. diamonds into the skins of goats. I was smugrgling them across the border into t,iberia. Maddy is
taken by surprise.
She's wary but
ready to listen.
ARCHER (COI\rI'D) The stones go to a middleman Monrovia. . . 93
FLASH CUT -* Fawaz spills
in
93
THE BACK ROOI4 OF A SEEDY SHOP a bag of
rough
diamonds
onto
the
counEer.
ARCHER (V.O. ) ...who pays off a cuscoms official who cerEifies were rnined the dianonds in Liberia...so they can be Legi timacely exported. 94
FLASH CUT --
A CUSTOMS DESK
94
where a CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN bearing is a Liberian seal signed, stamped and affixed t o a W O O D E NB O X N A f L E D S H U T . ARCHER (V. O. ) Once they reach London or the cuEting houses -- no guestions 95
FLASH CUTS --
IN THE BOWELS OF THE DTC -
A SOR?ER discards che cerEificaEe of DIAI'IONDS onTo a SORTING TABIJE, mixes
They 95
FLASH CUT -There are Electronic
Antwerp asked.
become
ARCHER (V. O. ) like any other
LONDON
-orig,in Them wilh
spil1s the OTHER DIA.MONDS.
diamond.
WIDER
many sorting surveillance
95
95 tabl-es, each wiEh PILES cameras observe it all.
MADDY (V. O. ) And De WenEe knows about all
OF DIAMONDS.
this?
ARCHER (V. O. ) Supply and demand, Maddy. Control the supply and you keep demand higrh. 91
FLASH CUT --
THE UN
91
Dewente and Simmons sit before accepting the congratulations
Ehe General Assembly piously for their righteous stand.
A_t(uttEf(
When African rebels flood the markeE with a bj.l1ion dollars worth of rough, De Wente can't afford to ignore it. Technically speaking he's noc promoting the war. He's just giving Ehem the means to do it.
/.) 98
BUILDING -. BACK IN THE ABAI\TDONED Maddy's staring of her career.
98
NIGHT
He's gi.ving her
at Archer.
Ehe biggest
story
MADDY You'11 go on the record? Archer gives
her a long Iook. AlLLrtE
Nods yes.
l.(
And if f come ouc with this stone... Danny Archer -- such as he is disappears from the face of Lhe earth99
INf.
PRESSBUS - MORNING
99
on the side of Someoneis using sgrips of tape to write speaks into a ltboard Lhe bus, a Spanish reporter the bus. chats with a French radio A CNN reporter recorder. digiCal A BBC crew plays cards across Lhe seats. type. Solomon stands outside the bus awkwardly holding canera, a laminated PRESS rD around his neck. r cannot
a video-
SOLOMON do chis-ARCHER
Why noE? SOLOMON I am not a journalist. tI]aL.NEf(
Of course you're
noE.
SOLOMON Then how can I say I am? ARCHER how Because you do, because that's you get on the bus-..,fust do it! Archer Archer and Solomon make their way down the aisle, smiling co all like he belongs there, Solomon massively Solomon takes a seac uncomfortable. They nod to Maddy. beside a Spanish reporter. SOLOMON (utterly wooden) I am...Ehe caneraman. lOO
EXT/IMI.
J o U R N A L I S T ' S B U S ( T R A V E L I N G )- -
1OO
DAY
The UNICEF convoy winds its way through Che Kanagari Solomon stares out aE Lhe passing landscape.
hilIs.
58.
(v.o. ) soLoMoN Dia. Yesterday I rode in a helicopter. Oh, my God. You would is noL believe how big and beautiful this land of ours. 101
101
A MUDDYJUNGLE TRATL A platoon of child soldiers trudges along, singing a revolutionary song: "The peopJe wiTl benefiE from Ehe rjches of Eheir land; R.U.F, js Ehe savior we need. " A ninet.een year-o1d leader prods Dia to sing louder.
102
BACKTO THE BUS where Solomon is
IO2 talking
quietly
to Maddy.
so L oM oN( v.o. )
f have been living in the white people' s wor1d. Comput.ers, videoyou phones. caneras and satellite wouLd like it verv much. 103
AN R.U.F.
ENCAMPMENT
TO3
The child soldiers prepare for battle. Under Ehe wacchful eye of their older commanders, some fietd-strip weapons and paint their faces, while oEhers sniff amphet.amines. Tvro strong men hold Dia's arm and inject hinr.
so L oMoN( v.o. )
I hope you are able to keep up wich you must sEudy your schoolwork. hard if you truly hope to be a doctor. 104
A FIREFTGHT IN THE JUNGLE a p l a c o o n o f R . U . F . i s A T T A C K I N Ga s m a l l fighters walk behind the child soldiers, them unless they advance.
104 hamlec. Older threaEening to shoot
D i a f i r e s h i s A I < - 4 ' 7i n d j , s c r i m i n a r e J . y . He kills an ox and then a man who tries to f1ee. Tears strean down his face.
so L oMoN( v. o. )
Your mot.her and sisters are alive, Dia. You must keep yourself alive, too. Unt.i1 I can find you. And bring you home. 105
THE BUS COMESTO A SUDDEN,CREAKING STOP. Everyone looks out the window. Up ahead, the road is blocked by shouting VILLAGERS. ECOMOGsoldiers try to keep order. IRTSH JOURNALIST What's going on?
105
59. A RED CROSSTRUCK lies overturned on the road. hole in its si.de from the RPG thac hit ir. Chrisc.
Charred.
A
I R I S H J O U R N A L I S T( C O M I ' D ) Must have been an RpG.
The word, "RPG" has a special resonance for Archer. rush to grab Eheir gear. Time to go to work.
Cameramen
ARCHER Wait. The journalists
No... push past him.
ARCHER (COI{II'D) The R.U.F. is out there, just waiting for another target.., It's danqerous. (gives
MADDY him a look)
Duh. She pushes past him down the aisle. ]-06
OUTSIDE THE BUS
]-05
Maddy and solomon navigaEe the confusion of solders and ,,. . . ,,these villagers. Journalises speak into recorders peop)e, having come onJy to heLp, have now become targets.,, A soLDrER eyes solomon suspiciously. camera? Archer lifcs ic to sol0mon's
why isn'E he using the eye and Eurns it on.
THROUGHTHE VIEWFINDER (VIDEO IMAGE) solomon PAIIS rhe tragic scene -- coming to resr begging for someone to help her wounded son.
on a MoTHER
The sound of gunfire. ECoMoGtroops have seen somethinq .he tree-line and have begun exchanging fire.
in
ARCHER Hurry ir up, folks ! Unless you wanc to end up the same way! solomon can'r
move, just
scares at
uhe boy and mother.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) Solomon--- let's goSolomon put.s down t.he canera and approaches
the boy.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) What. are you doing? solomon picks
up r.he boy and begins
carrying
him co the bus.
50. No. . . 107
ARSHER (CO}IT'D) What are you doing! ?
AT THE BUS Maddy helps
TA]
. the
injured
You can't Let
boy
aboard.
A JoURNAlrsr
seops
him.
FRENCH JOURNALIST do this -- there's no room!
AUSSIE JOURNALIST 'sm on, you bloody frog!
M O R EJ o u R N A L r s r s j o i n i n : " f e r c h r i s s a k e " "might as werl do something!" "Make room" "who the hell needs this? TV CAI'TERAMAIV Lay him across che seat. Easy-The boy's
mot.her chatEers her thanks in Mende. AUSS]E JOURNALIST Where you blokes gonna sit?
Good guestion.
Archer
looks around.
No seats
1eft.
ARCHER Bo11ocks.. . COCKNEY\TOURNALIST They can ride wit.h me. Come on. 1OB LATER _- ARCHER, SOLOMONA.IVDMADDY now ride in is driving.
1nR
the Land Cruiser. A loquacious COCKNEYJOURNALIST Ahead, the bus belches black diesel.
COCKNEY.JOURNALIST --Like the fookin' M-4. Just what this place needs, bit of environmenfaL blight on cop of the resE of iE. Fr9m. Ehe passenger seat, Archer looks back and sees Maddy nodding off in the back, her head resting. against the wihdow. COCKNEYJOURNAIIST (CONI' D) --Diesel fumes, toxic chemicals, pesticides, maybe a nuclear reaccor cr two to melt down... A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION AI{EAD The lead mini*bus has Hrr A iJAIID M]NE. inLo a chirnney of black smoke. AUTOMATICWEAPONSFTRE PROM THE BUSH
A f ireball
rises
51. R.U.F.
fighters
are emerging from Ehe Ereeline.
JUST AHEAD T h e b u s i s R A K E Dw i t . h f i r e . IT SKIDS TO A STOP, blocking their way. Rebels, armed wit.h Ak-47' s, close in. ARCHER GET OFF THE ROAD! But the Cockney falls The against. Archer, SHOT in the head. car KEEPS MOVING as Archer t.ries Eo reach past. Ehe dead man Before he can gain conErol: and grab Ehe wheel. THE LAND CRUISER CAREENSoff SMASHINGinE.o a Eree.
the shoulder
of
Ehe road,
GUNFIRE shaEEers Eheir windows as Solomon THROWSHIMSELF on of the vehicle. Eop of Maddy, pushing her down Eo the floor ARCHERmanages Eo push the dead journalist Ehrow t.he Land Cruiser int.o reverse.
out
Ehe door and
R . U . F . F I G H T E R S* - w h o h a v e b e e n r u n n i n g t o w a r d t . h e c a r - are forced Eo scaEEer or else be run over. As Archer rarns Ehe shifEer inE.o firsE, a REBELruns up to Ehe car from behind, his weapon held above his head, preparing to shooE down inEo Ehe back seat. JusE as he FIRES, Ehe car lurches forward and his bullets sEitch the carqo hatch. THE LAND CRUISER Swerves away, taking off the front. bumper of the lead Eruck. A rebel raises an RPG Eo his shoulder, takes aim. Fires. ARCHERswerves aE Ehe last moment. The RPG passes by, exhaust trail the only evidence of the near-miss.
its
They crashe headlong into Ehe brush. It's a bone-jarring jagged branches loom and penet.rate Ehe windows, Ehe ride: chassis groans as tires pound over roots and hidden boulders. BACK ON THE ROAD JournalisEs 109
are rousted
EXT. DIRT ROAD --
aE gunpoint. toward an uncertain
AN HOUR LATER -*
faE.e.
AT DUSK
The Land Cruiser emerges from the bush. IE.,s a wreck. The wheels grind against the wells, two E.ires are f Iat, srnashed windshield. bu1leE holes along its length. Archer stops and has to peers under Ehe bonnet.
force the door open to get ouC. He Bullet ho1es. It's hopeless.
1no
62. Grab your
ARCHER things.
They have no choice but 110
Eo seL off
on foot.
LATER - THE NIGHT SKY ]S SPECTACULAR
110
One canopy of sEars. As they Erudge along under a bright Archer uses dead reckoning. mighE even think of diamonds. ARCHER Long as we head The SouUhern Cross. North, we'11 hit the main road. They walk in
silence
for
a moment.
MADDY What do you Ehink happened Eo Lhe people on the bus. ARCHER You rea11y want to think
about
i.t?
Up ahead, Solomon sEares up at a part.icularly Kya kwayera We call
it
bright
st.ar,
SOLOMON taariq. MADDY Venus.
SOLOMON We say the moon's wife. (pointing) She follows him through the sky. Two days before t.he new moon, she comes out alone, looking for him. The moon and his wife are never separated for very 1ong. He is 111
thinking
of .Iassie.
Maddy is
moved.
AT F]RST L]GHT - A BURNT-OUTCHURCH
111
Looms out of the jungle as they walk a narrow Lrack. Pornographic GRAFFITf has been spray-painted on the church, and "West Side Wiggaz." H E A D L E S SB O D I E S h a n g f r o m t h e t r e e s . II2
SUDDENLY- OUT OF THE .]T]NGLE natives adorned Come a scary-looking band of semi-primiUive wi.th colorful They carry a amulets, she11s and talismans. miscellany of handguns, macheces and spears. SOLOMON Be very sti11. (MORE)
II2
oJ.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) not Do :.ook thejn in the eye. (to Archer) They are Kamajor. gestures angrily The HEADSMAN at eyes and responds deferentially.
Archer. Archer
Sofomon lowers his whispers to Maddy:
AKL.lttrK
Protecting
Local militia. homes.
their
The Headsman qestures with his machece. Several prod Archer forward with an old double-barreled 1]3
LATER . THEY WALK A JI]NGLE PATH Archer
114
of his men shoEgun.
looks
around
for
EXT. MENDEVILLAGE --
113
any means of escape.
There is
none.
DAY
LIA
They emerge from the bush to discover a cluster of buildings untouched by the ravages of war. Flowering gardens and neatlyraked paths. After all chey have seen, it seems dreamlike. A GROUPOF CHILDREN Emerge from the buildinq
and race
toward
them.
MENDECHILDREN Where are you frorn? Have you come from America? Do you have CD's? A GENILE VOICE cal]s
ouI.
GENTLE VOICE Don't be bochering the people now. Let them come in. The children inscancly obey. BEN,JAIIINKAPANAYappears in doorway. year-01d distinguishedHe is a EaII, sixty-five looking Mende with a trim whire beard. BENJAI{IN (in Mende; subtitles) you can leave Thank you, Ubani. thern here. I take responsibility. KAMAJOR HEADMAN (in I'lende; subtitles) Good. Now they are your problem. The Kamajors back away, vanishing
into
the foresE.
BEN.JAI{IN If you're looking for money, weapons or fueI, f don't have anv.
54. ARCHER food?
f{ow about
BENJAI,IIN If you ask politely. genjamin Kapanay.
Danny Archer. --Maddy
My name is
ARCHER And this
is--
MADDY How do you Bowen. BENJA}IIN Lhank you.
Very weI1,
do?
Chicago?
MADDY How-BENJAI'{]N the accentrecognize (Eo Solomon; in Mende) Welcome, Brother. --I
I
SOLOMON (in Mende; subtitles) from am Solomon Vandy,
Bo.
BENJAI'{IN (in Mende; subLitles) I make of your Whac. should Solomon doesn't
know how Co answer.
companions? He lies
badlrr.
SOLOMON (in Mende; subtitles) Ihey are. . . journalist.s.
\h. Solomon
looks
BENJAI.IIN (in Mende; subtitles) And I suppose you are, away,
ashamed.
too.
Benjamin
turns
BENJAMIN (CONT'D) you in a glass Might f incerest lemonade? ]-15
EXT. MENDE VILLAGE Under young
--
Lo Maddy.
of
LUNCH
].15
porch, a covered they eat l-unch -Mende wife and his three children. BENJAI'{IN I don't undersLand would willingly live (MORE)
served
why anyone in t.hat cold.
by
Benjamin's
55. BENJAI{IN (COMT'D) The wind off the lake. I cried night. rny f irsE winter.
How did
you
Because e] se?
of
every
MADDY end up ac NorEhwestern? BENJAI,IIN PresidenL Kennedy,
who
MADDY Excuse
rne?
BENJA}IIN By way of ,Jarnes McGrat.h, a young Peace Corps vol-unE.eer frorn Winnecka -who found a semi-Jicerace Mende boy and was foolish enough Eo believe he couJd benefit from higher educaEion.
How long
ARCHER were you in
Ehe St.aces?
BENJAMIN Whj.ch Eime? I ended up getEing my -- betCer cJimaEe. MasCers aC Stanford Buc you
MADDY came back?
BENJAI{IN To show my people Che way. They are served a pLat'Cer of ten year-old boy. Benjamin's
Thank you,
You builc
Hah.
vegeLables by a well-mannered son, UCHENNA.
BENJAI{IN (CONT'D) Uchenna. SOLOMON this school?
BENJAI,IIN Scarcing in 1967. Children from all over the district find Cheir way here. Over five hundred graduates since we beqan. Y,ADDY r,alouldyou mind That's remarkabJe. if I Eurned on my cape recorder. BENJA}4IN I'll make you a deal, Miss Bowen -I gi_ve you an interview and you teach at my school for a monEh.
MADDY ( l-aughs ) like that.
I'd
BEN.JA}TIN But you won't do it. I'IADDy No. BENJAIqIN An honest journalist., how refeshing. The Eruth is, f have done well_ Eo k e e p a J - o wp r o f i I e . This is a very dangerous parE of Ehe country with Ehe diamond mj-nes so close by. Solomon, meanwhile, hasn't. been able to take his eyes off Benjamin's young son. The boy smil_es back at him.
of
SOLOMON My son wanEs to be a docEor. Very good.
BENJA}I]N Where is he now?
A sifence. AJ(LNtsK
We don'E know. BENJAMIN I undersE.and. . . ]-15
A SERIES OF ]MAGES
115
Benjamin gives them a Eour: a group of eight year-o1ds crowd around a single compuEer; a ten year-old girr is being taught to use an arEificial linb; Ewelve year-old boys play cricket. BENJAI.{IN Many of these children were taken by the R.U.F. We have taken them back. (Jooks at Solomon) Some of them have been made to do horribl-e things. We are t,rying Eo b r i n g t , h e mb a c k E o 1 i f e . Solomon turns 1.I'I
LATER --
away to hide
Ehe surge of
emotion,
AT STINSET
They siE drinking
wine.
II7 The African
BENJA},ITN iE was al-1 very clear (MORE)
sunseE is in
1954.
inimitable.
BEN'JAI"IIN (Collll' D) freedom plus economic Political development equals happiness. But leads to chaos sometimes revolut,ion doesn't and economic opportunity necessarily bring out t.he besc in people. Certain personality tlpes realized freedom could be another name for greed. (raises his glass) And here we are. MADDY But Look what you've
accomplished.
BEN,IAI'{IN And Look what good it has done my countrY. . . MADDY "There is no easy wa1k to freedom. " We can only do Ehe best we can. BENJA-I'{IN Mandela. His best is a biE better Ehan mine... He Eakes a long look at his
children.
ARCHER Had manv attacks in the area? BENJA}IIN I've known mosC of the young people in this district since they were born. The local commander is still afraid I'11 come af ter him wiLh nry ruler ARCHER You Ehink because your inEentions are good Ehey'11 spare you? Benjamin takes
the question
in stride.
BENJAI'IIN My heart always told me Ehat people are inherenEly good. My e)q)erience suggests otherwise. Which to believe? Benjamin t.urns his
penetrating
gaze on Archer.
BEN.]A}IIN (COMT'D) What about you, I{r. Archer? In your long career as a. . . journalist. .. Would you say people are mostly good?
hx
T h e s o u N D o f A G H I L D R E N ' sc H o t R ' . .
Archer scares back. '
118
rN THE cElrrER oF THE vTLLAGE --
118
THAT NrcHT
The children are singing "High We Exult Thee, Realm of the Solomon and Free, " the nat.ional anthem of Sierra Leone. Maddy sie wich Benjamin and his family. Maddy sees Archer 119
geE up and walk
away. 119
AT THE EDGE OF THE COMPOUND Archer sEands alone. jug. Maddy steps out Palm wine. the tree, He offers
He t,akes a lonq puII from Ehe shadows. ARCHER Sap comes right
from a plastic
out of
t.o her and she takes a swig.
Makes a face.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) You geL used Eo ic. He takes another
long drink.
Drank chis
He's pretty
drunk.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) as a boy.
MADDY Rhodesia. (off his look) I Eake noces. Indeed, her Iitt.le spiral notebook is already in hand. looks at her -- considering -- then, what the hell, . , ARCHER I got sent Eo South Africa muntz overran Lhe farm in --After
when the '16-
MADDY you lost your parenLs.
ARCHER (dark laugh) ThaE's a polit,e way of puct.ing ic. Mum was raped. Dad was decapitated and hung from a hook in che barn. You were,
Nine.
MADDY whaE, ten
ARCHER Boo-hoo.
years
oLd?
He
Then
at
MADDY you eighteen
joined
the
:.m\t
Archer peers -a n"r. ARCHER Want to hear about the banged a journalist? She just
looks
first
time
at him. He takes another
I
long drink.
Re1ents.
ARCHER (COIIT'D) Yah, yah. First they had us doing dirry 1itr1e jobs in Lhe rownshipsMADDY With Ehe Security services. ARCI{ER You think you know about the SecuriEy servi ces ? (another dark laugh) You don'E know shiEe. That was a picnic compared Eo what we did on Ehe Moz border. Sometimes I think. 'God will forgive us for what we did-' Then r look around and f wonder...what would God want with a place Like this? He takes another
drink
but
the
jug is
empty-
He tosses
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) By '94 I 'm a ten years vet. Then poof. No more apartheid, no more army. Thanks very much, see ya later. Truth and reconciliation. Kumbaya. He raises
his middle
finger
in a universal
gesture.
ARCHER (CO}TT'D) They Lold us we were fighEing Communism. protecting our 'way of Iife.' (a rueful laugh) Tt's about who gets what. Oi]. Coltan. Diamonds- So one dav I decided, fuck it, now I want tnine. MADDY Are you going to steal
his
ARCHER We have no chance rn heLl Che dia-nrond.
diamond? of
getting
it.
MADDY Doesn'E answer the quesEion. ARCHER That diamond -- wheEher I steal iE or just Eake the commissj-on -- is my ticket out of here. I4ADDY To go where? Archer hasn'c I2O
gotten
that
far
in his
Ehinking.
EXT. HILL COUNTRY- NEXT MORNING (SEEN FROM ABOVE) Benjamin drives animal tracks.
them down roads chaE. are 1itt1e more than Bush pigs scamper. Chimpanzees chatcer above.
Solomon looks up into in and out of view.
the canopy of
forest
as the
sun darts
soLoMoN(v. o. )
Dear Dia. I have found a place for your studies once you return home. Benjamin shows Maddy the hippos
splashing
in
Ehe river.
BENJAM]N Do not be fooled by the movie where Ehey wear pink skirEs and dance on Eheir toes. They are exEremely dangerous, easily angered, and very fast. Benjamin's love of all Chac he sees is infectious. As he plays tour quide, Ehey forget for a moment their dire circumsEances and surrender to the joys of the natural wor1d.
so L oM oN( v.o. )
There is a man I want. you to meet. He is a teacher. You will like hin. nenjamin
turns
a wry eye to Archer. BENJAHIN
1^3:";';:il H'i"Yiln3i,'fiIl'ii3n:l;" ARCHER Thank you for your he1p, I won't forgeE it. BENJA-I,IIN I hope Ehe sEory will you want it to.
end
Mr.
the
Kapanay.
way
120
'7r. I2I
UP A}IEAD .
A TEMPORARY ROADBLOCK
guATded
TWO TWELVE YEAR-OLD CHILD
by
I2I SOLDIERS.
ARCHER Keep going. BENJAI{IN
What.- - ?
Drive InsEead
ARCHER at them.
righE
Benjamin
slows
Ehe car.
BENITAI{IN Do you know where the word, comes from? IE means child They are just children THE TWO R.U.F.
panic.
They'11
'infanEry' soldier.
SOLDIERS
are indeed children. One wears a Michael tTordan jersey, Ehe other has skateboard stickers gun. on his Ingram submachine BUE Eheir eyes are glazed and deadened.
He11o, litE1e your names?
I
BENJAI{IN (CONT'D) broEhers. WhaE are
CHILD SOLDIER #1 arn Dead Body. Who dis mothafuckah?
BENJAI{IN We are Eeachers on our Kai lahun.
Only
R.U.F
I undersEand
vray Eo
CHiLD SOLDIER #2 on da road! BENJAJVIIN but we have
Eo--
CHILD SOLDIER #2 ONLY R.U.F I
Now listen The boy FrRES Hrs in the chest..
BENJAMIN herel I am--
wEApoN withouE
ARCHER JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!
warning.
Benjamin
is
hic
'72. HC 1CANS
OVCT ANd
STOMPS ON THE
GAS
ThC
PEDAL.
CAT
LURCHES
FORWARD,knocking aside the other boy. Archer has Lo pracEically the wounded man Eo speed away' straddle L22
L22
IN THE CAR (TRAVELING) Benjamin Eries
from his
Bl'ood bubbles
Lo speak.
lips'
*lj(uflEt(
not hiE
If You're Do NOT Ery Eo Ea1k. only because you're dead, it's in the lung noL the heart. Solomon is
over
leaning
Ehe seat,
Benjanin's
opening
shirE.
ARCHER (COMT'D) (to Solomon) abouE Ehe enEry wound. Don'E worry going to Lean him forward, there's Press be a big hole in his back. your hand againsc thereit.. Keep it (to MaddY) any wine lefE in chat If there's jug, pour iE al1 over everyLhing. (co Benjamin) How far Eo Kailahun? BEIV.]AI{IN (weakly) You. . .said. . .noE Eo EaIk. ARCHER comedian.
A fucking He pushes I23
IN
Ehe old
car's
acceleraEor --
THE CAR (TRAVELING)
Benjamin
is
slumped,
How's his
to
its
limit. T23
DUSK
unconscious,
againsE
the
passenger
door.
ARCHER pulse? MADDY
IL's I24
a pulse. L24
ROUNDING A BEND They are suddenly confronEed by ewo ARI'IORED CARS and a platoon wear all The soldiers of whiEe mercenaries carrying Uzi's. E.o. maroon bereEs wich che initials
725
MOMEIITS LATER _ TWO MEDICS ATTACH AN IV Archer and Solomon help again. conscious
place
him
?O BEN.]AMIN
on a litt,er.
He is
L25
You'11 be all
right.
BENJA}ITN (looks hin in rhe eye) Will you? He is
hurried
away as--
A}T ATTACK HELTCOPTER?AKES OFF NEARBY Raising
a cloud of dust. Archer...what
'TKLr
furiously
appears out of
the confusion.
JOOST the fuck--
Good to see you, Maddy is
Joost
T,r(
too,
scribbling
Joost.
notes
of all
she sees.
JOOST l V e 'r e e v a c u a t i n g a l l n o n - m i l i r a r y personnel. Relief workers, journalisEs. (to Archer) Shi te-bags . How far's
ARCHER the tront line?
JOOST There is no fronr line. buggers are everll^rhere. (starts off) Colonel's this way. 125
Littie
THE COLONEL'SHQ A large tent. a SAT-phone.
I25
The colonel pores over a map while Archer and Joost enter.
THE COLONEL (on the phone) --but if we block their escape by cutting the bridge-(sees Archer) Wait One... (covers the rnout.hpiece)
ilir:l
'r wanEro say r told
ARCHER BuE you wil1.
tarking
on
THE COLONEL
li:":l'"u T:".:'::::ri;::'.fl:";l#:l5 ARCHER In reEurn for a mining Ewo, no doubt. /trlltr
or
concession
.\nT.n\]trT.
(a modest nod) I've got a C-130 Eouching down aE 1400. Everybody noE prepared Eo get dirty is on it. (checks his waEch) minutes to make up You've got thirty your mind. You're either with us or ouE of here. He turns 727
back Eo his
conversation-
EXT. A}IOTHERPART OF THE CAMP -l4addy is
waiting
as Archer
walks
Archer
is
dismissed. I21
N]GHT back.
ARCHER How is
he?
MADDY They say he'11 1ive. ARCHER You're on a plane for an hour. (looks aE her) Do me one last favor.
Ghana in half
I.laddy just looks aE him. Archer indicates sEanding guard in front of a large supply Go te11
that
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) guard you wanL t,o put
F::,:i:'*:;":l:.:"ver
of soldier of
MADDY You're going in. (Archer nods) You and SolomonArcher
nods agaj.n.
a young IiIERCENARY tent.
She shakes her head. M A D D Y( C O N T ' D )
Now? (anorher nod) You're an idiot.
15. ARCHER Help me or noE? Haddy shakes her head sadly. She turns away, pushing t.he hair out of her face as she approaches the YOUNGMERCENARY. Hi, there. You mind if
MADDY I'laddy Bowen, VaniEy Fair. I ask you a few questions?
YOUNGMERCENARY Depends what they are-I'IADDY Oh, so you're faniliar with devious ways, are you?
our
She flashes a devastating smiIe. And while his back is t.urned, we SEE Archer edge pasE toward the back of Ehe cenE. T2B
INSIDE THE SUPPLYTEMI Archer forages for his pack he stuffs
I2B
whatever he can 1ay his hands on. K-rations, a GpS, first-aid kiL-
lnEo
He desperaEely looks for one more thing. And there ie is. A SAT-phone. He sEuffs ic in. outside, t h e S O U N Do f a p l a n e . T29
EXT. AIRSTRIP --
MOMENTSLATER
A giant. C-130 Hercules
I2g
Eouches down.
THE SWARMOF JOURNAJ,ISTS Aid workers, and refugees surge onEo the t,armac. carrying her bag, Maddy moves against. t.he tide, looking around Solomon appears beside her, subEly caking her arm. SOLOMON Thi.s way. ARCHERis wait.ing behind a Eent, t.he pack already shoulders. She turns E.o Solomon. Good luck
l'lADDY E,o you, Solomon Bo.
Solomon t.akes her hand in both of his. soLol'10N Thank you for all you've
done.
MADDY I h o p e y o u f i n d w h a E ,y o u , r e for. She Eurns co Archer.
They look
looking
aE each ot.her.
on his
-7 6.
Yeah.
ARCHER Thanks.
-*Just
I'{ADDY keeping my end of
A moment of
the
She can be as
silence.
deal.
touqh
as he can.
ARCHER Li s ten- -
No, And they
t"lADDY listen--
you
just
stare
In
another
at
each
other.
ARCHER life, maybe.
MADDY Okav...
Sure...
ARCHER Find yourself a good man, Maddy. You deserve to be happy. She considers
--
him
wishing
she were
less
affected
I'IADDY f have three sisters. A11 married to "good men. " Long as their prescript.ions are fi-11ed t.hey're happy. No rhanks. I prefer my 1ife. (hands him her card) phone, home phone, ce11 phone. Office I'm used to being pursued. but what rhe he1l. He smiles.
It's
a world
ARCHER get on the
You should
He smiles
I'IADDY (CON?'D) phone, by the
So should
MADDY you.
and Eurns
away.
Are
you
Soon as
plane.
I'IADDY (CONT'D) going to call me?
I'm
ARCHER near a phone...
way.
by him.
77MADDY Yeah, right. She Eurns Eoward Ehe plane. 130
130
rN THE BUSH Archer
13]-
They head Ehe opposiEe way.
and Solornon begin
co jog' ].31
BACK AT THE AIRSTRIP Maddy is
Ehe plane
abouE Eo board
when JoosE waylays
her.
,JOOST Where is
he?
MADDY Where is who? ' J o o s E .l o o k s a r o u n d . She cont.inues up Ehe sEeps Eo Ehe p1ane, The wheels begin Eo Eurn in his head. No sign of Archer. L32
I32
ARCHER A}]D SOLOMONTREK puEEing disEance beEween They move guickly, inEo the bush. E h e m s e l v e s a n d E h e E . O . c a m p . A s t h e y r u n , T H E C A M E R Ar i s e s up, higher and higher, unEil their ciny figures have disappeaTed and Ehe PRAMEIS FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT GREEN. We sense of
133
the immensity of
E X T . T H E B U S H- -
Ehe challenge
chag lies
ahead.
LATER
133
Archer and Solomon have stopped Eo catch Eheir breaEh. Archer digs out the SAT-phone, fires iE up and punches in a number. ARCHER (on Ehe phone) ...Fawaz? . -.1 know. No gime now.... That 's right. . . .Two days to geE in, one Eo get ouE.. I'11 cal 1 when we're 'Bye. headed for che sEripRighe... He looks up to see if Solomon has been lisrening. is scaring off inco che jungle.
BUE Solomon
soLoMoN (v. o. ) I am coming. Dear Dia. WiEh every I can feel you sLep I am closer. are nearby. I am coming soon. 134
EXT. A ruNGLE TRAIL
ELSEWHERE
A column of R.U.F. guerrillas walk a jungle SEE by t.he gouges of earth EhaE Ehey are in Dia, looking much older, carries an AK-47.
134 We can Erai1. diamond counEry.
t6.
135
BACK TO ARCHERAND SOLOMON
135
as he stuffs the SAT-phone into his a word, knowing Solomon will follow. 136
He sets
off
without
THEY TRAVEL BY NIGHT On narrow dirt
137
back.
135
roads,
1it
only
by the moon.
HEADLIGHTSAPPROACH Archer R.U.F.
137
and solornon take cover as TRUCKSpass fi11ed wich teenagers, laughing, smoking ganja, music blasting.
Solomon studies each passing face. Almost invoruntarily he rises to his feet -- trying ro get a better 1ook. suddinly he thinks he sees a familiar face -- could it be Dia? He moves closer -- but the truck is moving away. SOLOMON Dia! ! Heads turn suddenly ground.
in
the passing truck.
solomon is grabbed fron Archer looms over him.
It,s behind
not Dia. and thrown
to
che
fulLnEl{.
What the
fuck
are you doingl !
SOLOMON GET OFF ME! Meanwhile,
on the road,
the trucks
have slowed.
Suddenlv__
THE BRUSH EXPLODESWITH GUNFIRE Red and Green TRACERSshred the dense foliage around them. BulleEs WHrZ by their heads, RrcocHET off ancient trees. They scramble to their feet and race brindly back into bush. Behind them, the SOTINDof eheir pursuers.
the
soon the brush grows more dense. rn the pitch darkness they are 1iLera1ly fighring their way forward, flailing with both arms to rip holes chrough rhe thick foliage. thelr hands and faces are soon cut and bleedino. 13 8
THEY RUN
].3 B
unt.i1 they can run no further. Archer st,urnbles and falrs. solomon crump-1_esto the ground beside him. As they 1ie there, winded, rhey HEAR VOICES: They can see the GLOWOF CIGARETTESthrough rhe foliage a few yards away as R.U.F. soldiers approach.
only
ON SOLOMONAIVD ARCHER as the soldiers' boots pass wiEhin inches of gheir p1ace. They bury t.heir faces deeper in the mud. 139
hiding
DAYBREAK
139
finds them sti11 hiding. Cautiously, Ehey energe -- sEiff, weE, and miserabfe from a night spenE on the jungle floor. ftl(LrlEx,
( furious ) NexE t.ime you pu1l somet,hing like EhaE I will shoot you rnyself . SOLOMON (equally furious) Shoot me nor^r. IE is what planning anyway.
what
you
are
ARCHER taLking
you
are
about,?
SOLOMON You Ehink I do not know che kind of you buy diamonds man you are? from Ehe same people who took my son.
Archer
ARCHER you.
--Maddy
rold
Is
SOLOMON true?
looks
Ehis at
Yes.
him.
It
And all diamond Eoo, is
is
ARCHER true.
SOLOMON you have said... How the will free my family. ?his, a lie. fs it not?
ARCHER don't know. Maybe. (looks at. him) BUE I'm not, Che only one who tells 1ies, am I? I
SOLOMON I
do noc lie.
ARCHER No? you don'E give a fuck finding rhe diarnond. (MORE)
abouc
.JU.
ARCHER(CONT'D) You're ouE here looking for your And you'd cut my hearE out in son. a second if it means a chance to get him back. shocked into
Solomon is
Yes. The cwo men stare
It
silence.
Archer
is
right.
SOLOMON true.
is
ac each other. AKLI1Et(
Long as we understand He sets off
into
the brush,
each oEher.
limping
heavily.
SOLOMON You are hurt. (without I'm f ine.
ARCHER looking
back)
Solomon reaches to take Ehe heavy pack from Archer's shoulder. Archer grabs his hand. They lock eyes for a moment.. SOLOMON You ehink I'm going to steal
it?
Archer turns and walks away. Solomon looks down to see BRIGHT D R O P SO F B L O O Df r o m A r c h e r ' s b o o E s t a i n i n g Ehe grround. 140
LATER - THE UNMISTAKABLESOUNDOF APPROACHINGHELICOPTERS
140
forces them Co take cover. Two E.O. gunships streak past. Are the choppers looking for them, or is it a coincidence? ]41
LATER THAT DAY - THE SUN HAS REACHEDITS ZENTTH
T4T
as they trudge onward. Archer's limp is more pronounced. He tips back his canteen and finds it empEy. Solomon notices. He passes his canteen to Archer, who hesit.ates for a moment, then laughs and puts his mouch to a black man,s canteen. ).42
LATER - THEY TRAVERSEA HIGH RTDGE In t.he distance, we see Ehe receding peaks. Archer begins conversation, as much ouE of boredom as anyUhing else. ,+t1LT!L11
So you're Solomon looks
a farmer...
aE him warily.
Nods.
I42 a
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) What do you grow? SOLOMON . Casava. ARCHER I grew up on a farm. (rernernbering. . . ) Hated every minute of End of conversation. 143
it.
They walk on in
silence.
STILL LATER - DEEP PITS IN THE EARTH
143
Begin to appear as Archer and Solomon climb through landscape. Solomon stares at Ehe diamond mines. It He walks on. 144
is
like
Archer
SOLOMON they are eating labors
a hi11y
the earth. Solomon's pace.
to keep up with
ABANDONEDHOUSES
:-44
caved-in and 1ist.ing, line a street where deep piLs have been dug beneath Eheir foundations. rmpoverished SQUATTERS fo11ow them with listless, hungry eyes as they pass. Archer is jiccery Lo be observed. everlruuhere. Blood squishes in his 145
people But in Africa, boot as he walks-
are
BY SUNSET
145
They have been walking
for
twelve
hours.
Archer
ARCHER How much farcher--? SOLOMON One day more. He kneels before
Archer.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) Let me see your leg, AP'1JtrP
tt's
f ine
Solomon touches
it
and Archer
GRUNTSin pain.
ARCHER (COMil D) It's infected. From lying there fucking night. Solomon lifEs
Archer's
pant leg.
all
Exarnines ic.
has to sit.
oz.
Give
me your
SOLO}TON knife. A H (
In the other
H F
K
boot.
Archer grics his teeth. We cannot Solomon takes the K-Bar. see what Solomon does -- but from tbe expression on Archer's face, we can only imagine. Solomon sEands.
Archer
to buE the pain
is
overwhelming.
SOLOMON be back.
I will Archer pulls
tries
his
Sig-Sauer
9mmfrom his
beLt.
ARCHER No-Solomon sEarts
walking
You think
away.
COCKSthe weapon-
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) I won't shoot you.
SOLOMON Shoot me, then. And try diamond yourself. (keeps walking) f wilL be back. L46
to
find
the
LATER THAT NIGHT - A SMALL VILLAGE
146
has been Eaken over by CHILD SOLDIERS. They sit, throwing bullets i n t o a b a r r e l f i r e a n d L A U G H I N Ga s E h e y e x p l o d e . Solomon creeps to the edge of a huE --
peering
aE the faces.
No Dia. Six more teenagers are loading Ehe spoils onto a truck. One of them could be Dia, I47
of Ehe village He isn'E.
HOURSLATER - THE MOONHAS RISEN Archer bush.
I47
awakens to see solomon walking Eoward hirn ouE of He carrj.es a poultice made of leaves and mud.
He kneels
and begi.ns Eo apply
it
Eo Archer's
Ehe
wound.
SOLOMON I thoughE about not coming back. (1ooks at hinr) f Ealked to my son abouE it. Archer
looks
aE him.
WhaE rhe hell
is
he ualking
abouE?
R? SOLOMON(CONT'D) f talk to him all the cime. (works on the 1eg) He says f must forgive what you have done in the past. And trust that you will help gec my fanily back. Archer doesn't. know how Eo respond to this
simple
absolution.
Af(\-n.trK
You're Solornon finishes f will He stands
fuckingr crazy. wrapping
the poultice.
SOLOMON go and find us water.
agrain and walks
away.
Archer can't bear feeling powerless. FighEing the pain, he stands and tri-es Eo walk. rt.' s excruciat.ing. sti tr rre continues hobbling -- unEil finarly he sics on the ground. 148
CAPE TOI^JNAIRPORT TERMINAL --
NIGHT
14g
Maddy de-planes with a conEingent of journalists. Like everyone else who geEs off a plane chese days, she t.urns on her ceLl phone to check for messages. There are none. Archer hasn't I49
cal1ed.
DAWNIN THE JUNGLE
L4g
is soft and ful1 of promise. Low crouds hang jusE above the treetops as f i-rsE. light touches the moist greenery. Archer's
face is
at peace as he wakes.
solomon sleeps
nearby.
Archer reaches to scratch his nose and realizes he is covered wich BLACKANTS. scrambling co his knees, he frantica:.ty brushes them off. They are in his ears, inside his shirc. solomon awakens and begins Eo laugh at Archer,s frenzv. ARCHER r HATE FUCKING ANTS! I
SOLOMON Ehink you are feeling
beEter.
And then Solomon realizes thac he, too, is infested. He reaches into his pant.s and begins to hop around. Now iE's Archer's turn to laugh. soon Ehey are bot.h sic:ing on the ground, reason -* except.. of course, as a release befallen them.
L A U G H T N Gf o r n o from arl thaE has
QA
150
THE ENDLESS HILLS glow from
150
pink in the dawn as t.hey wa1k. Ehe brush and bound majestically
...You
Me?
of
anterope
burst,
SOLOMON how o1d?
are
ARCHER One.
ThirEy.
And you
A herd away.
have
SOLOMON no wife? ARCHER
No. SOLOMON No children? ARCHER
r,^ l\u. Solomon
shakes
his
head.
That
a momenc, Archer
can,t
resisE.
ARCHER (COIUT'D)
.-whaE?
Truly, I people.
After
SOLOHON do not. undersEand
makes
whice
ARCHER two of us.
AS THEY CREST A HILL Solomon suddenly sLops. He looks around. Then he fa11s Eo his knees. Archer climbs Eo where he is and looks around-A I4ASS GRAVE has been fashioned piled high -- men,
from an abandoned women, children.
diamond None of
piE. BODTES Lnem soldiers.
ARCHER (CONT'D) Animals. SOLOMON No animal would ever do such IE makes no sense. Solomon forces himself to t.hac his son is not. anong
a thinq.
walk among Ehe corpses, praying then. teirs stream down his cheeks.
SOLOMON(CONT'D) My people value life. The t'tende find ic hard even to Eake the life of a chicken. God gives l j.fe; only he rnay Lake it back. (a strangled cry) How can they do Ehis? Archer
has no answer.
Just
looks
at him.
SOLOMON(CONT'D) (numblY) Why is Ehere so much evil here? What is wrong with us? 1 5 1 - H O U R SL A T E R Archer
151
uses a tree
branch as a cane.
ARCHER (feeling his forehead) I've stopped sweaEing. We've got Eo find water. SOLOMON Then we must move faster. Archer nods and pushes himself L52
pasE Ehe pain
in his
Ieg.
HOURSLATER - THE ST'N IS SCORCHINGAT }{ID-DAY
]-52
Archer stumbles. Solomon offers a hand to lift him to his feet. Archer ignores it. Ahead is a CLEARING,and in it: A BULL ELEPHA}TT stands tal1 and menacing. Beside him, on the ground, male -- grievously wounded and BELLOWINGpiteously. For a moment, Archer Back away.
and Solomon are
too stunned
to
is
his
speak.
ARCHER And watch where you step.
Solomon freezes. SOLOMON Is
iE--
A ninefieLd.
ARCHER Yes.
They scare at Ehe MAGNTFICENTCREATUREwho refuses to his fa11en mate. 51ow1y they retrace their st.eps.
leave
No sooner have they turned Eheir backs Chan AII EXPLOSION shakes the ground and A FLOCK OF BIRDS rises over the field.
ac
They '
153
know what
it
means.
Grimly,
t.hey keep
moving.
THE JUNGLE AT NrcHT
153
place at the bese of times with is a freaky strange shapes, shadows, and noises everpvhere. fn their it. feels state, a bad acid trip. like Solomon hears the WHISPEREDVOICE of his son. He carries on an imagined conversat.ion.
....Why? the upper
SOLOMON The cows will past.ure. ..
do fine
in
ARCHER Hey. . . SOLOMON (in a kind of trance) -- Yes. And next year we will coffee- -
plant
ARCHER HEY ! (Solomon is startled) You're hallucinatinq.
No. .
I54
HOURS LATER -
I
SOLOMON am not.
ARCHER
154
Archer is half-asleep as Ehey trudge chrough deep jungle. He stops suddenly. A SNAKE hangs menacingly from a t.ree. Do you
see
ARCHER that? SOLOMON
What? ARCHER The...snake. SOLOMON No.
ARCHER Good. Archer
now sees ehat it
is
only
a t.ree branch.
THEY WALK ON FOR A MOMENT This
Cime it
is
Sol,omon who sEops short..
87. SOLOMON Wait. . . (listening) Can you hear it? Archer
listens
hard.
croaking
A weird
sound.
Frogs?
ARCHER Froqs ! ! SOLOMON Y E S! Frogs mean water.
They stumble
forward
themselves onto their
bellies
to discover--
A S]'IALL STREAJVIBED They fling
What if...this
ARCHER water...is
You can wait
SOLOMON for beer.
Good point. 155
Archer drinks
his
and begin
to drink.
bad?
fil1.
THE NEXT MORNING Finds them siEting
155 by the stream.
Archer
studies
his
map.
ARCHER Thrs rnusc be the Meli. f t runs from the North. The Moa runs from the Where the rivers meet is where Easc. the mine is, righc? Solomon says nothing. A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) Righe ? Solomon just
glares
at him.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) You get that diamond, you can hire a Eeam of people to find him. You can buy the whole damn governrnent! (Ieaning in) What are you gonna do, spend the resE of your life searching the bush? Solomon looks I55
aE him.
Yes.
If
necessary.
HOURSLATER _ THEY FOLLOWTHE STREA}I now grown inEo a broad river.
155
PR
T5'7 HOURSLATER - THEY CLIMB A STEEP RAVINE
T5'7
Archer is sEruggling. a hand to Once again, Sol.omon offers accepts This time, Archer grudgingly help him over a boulder. the hand. The moment is underplayed buE deeply significant. CresEing a hi1l, Solomon looks gorge. A familiar two rivers.
down on Ehe confluence
of
the
SOLOUON' S POV - THE DIAMONDMINTNG CAI"IP is spread ouE be1ow. HOLES and PITS pock the landscape. Archer joins him at Ehe overlook. That's
it,
ARCHER iE? isn't
Solomon's face is clouded wit.h memory. IE's a place A place he hoped never to see again. nighEmares. A LARGE CONTINGENTOF R.U.F,
from his
TROOPS
Archer can see dozens of is encamped near t.he mines. f ires with trooDs huddled beside t.hem.
tiny
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) Christ.. He kneels
--
trying
to
figure
ouE Eheir
next move.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) Okay... He digs
inco his
pack for
Ehe SAT*phone.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) The E.O. would want. to know about a If I call Joost, force this size. he'11 send in an air strike... (the plan unfolds) We use it as a diversion. Below Ehen, TEENAGEREBELS play soccer in a ragged Is Dia arnong them? It is too far away to know. No air
SOLOMON sE.rike.
ARCHER How do we get. in Ehere withouE kind of diversion? SOLOMON No...air...sErike. He isn'!
ARCHER down there.
some
fie1d.
89. SOLOMON How do you know? AJILI
TK
(c o l d l y ) ilm calling iE in. (turns on SAT-phone) They'11 come in at firsu light.. Lor,r. Over Ehat ridge. That's how rnueh Eime you've got.. Solomon turns
and starcs
down the hill.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) HoId up Ehere, boy-- ! Solomon reacEs Eo Archer's
inst.inct.ive
use of
"boy."
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) you get yourself I'm noE letting killed unEiI I have Ehar fuckino sEone. We wait. for dark. A LIST OF CALL NUMBERSis Eaped Eo rhe inside phone's case. Archer punches in a nurnber.
Lhe SAT-
of
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) (on che SAT-phone) G e E ,m e J o o s t Archer. . . .He'11 know-- Ask if he's interesEed in the location of a major R.U.F. canp. 158
LATER --
THE DIA}4ONDCAUP --
NIGHT
158
is jusE as we remember iE. Muddy and exhaust.ed SLAVE WoRKERS try t.o keep ouE of A DRTVTNGRArN, sguaEt.ing under corrugraged :in roofs while eaEing Eheir tiny poruion of rice gruei. Rebel sordiers -- adults and teenagers alike raEions while Erying to keep warm and dry.
--
eat. Red cross
ARCHERAND SOLOMON have crawled
forward
t.o the edge of
the camp.
ARCHER I can'c walk in L.here. you scay in
TIl:T:::."ifl::":"*"';:i"':::LI"" jl"oEBIl*erer.
rhe air sErike happens
(racks the sli-de of his Sig-Sauer) You do exacaly as I say. And don't you miscake me for your friend. fuck with me and I,ll surely kiII YOu.
90. A SENTRY huddles miserably
in the rain.
Archer SPRINGS out of the shadows and choke-holds him -then drags him back into the bushes where Solomon is hiding. Archer t.akes his weapon - an H&K assault rifle, Solomon stands up and walks into Che camp as inconspicuously as possible. Archer watches under cover of the brush as: 15 9
SOLOMON
t_5 9
insinuaEes himself among the miserable workers, moving hut to hut -- trying !o see if Dia is among them. He isn't.
Solomon moves deeper into
from
the vi11age.
AT(L11Er(
curses as Solomon walks out of his 1 60
line
of
sight..
IN THE CA}IP Solomon is
15 O
about, to give
H E . S E E SD I 4 .
up hope, when--
Solomon blinks
back his
disbelief.
D i a ' s w i r h T W O O L D E RR E B E L S , w h o a r e w a t c h i n g h i m r . a k e a h i t from a big spliff, laughing as he chokes on the smoke. Solomon Eries 1 61
Dia to Eurn in his
direction.
ARCHER Scuttles
I52
to will
1 51 Ehrough the bush --
trying
Eo get
a line
of
sight.
EXT. TWO SENTRIES
162
appear nearby -- carrying food for the sentry Archer has killed. Unable t,o f ind him, rhey begin to CALL out for him. 163
IN THE CAI{P
153
Dia and the other the shadows -
soldiers
separat.e.
SOLOMON (whispering) Dia- Dia turns
--
Solomon takes
uncomprehending. his
arm.
Solomon moves out
from
91. DIA (suddenly fearful) NO! Dia.
iE's
SOLOMON m e!
Three months of horror, of depravaEion, of lrauma, of unspeakable acts have Eaken rooE in Ehe soul of Ehis young boy. His face conEorts in struggle. Then-lJI1{
GET AWAY FROM ME! ( screaming ) FARMER! TRAITOR! He tries soldiers 164
Lo break free of Solomon's grasp. A few oEher H E A Rh i m c r y o u t . They E,urn Eo look.
ARCHER
164
hears iE as we11. He steps to see what is happening. 165
GET AWAY!
fron
his
hiding
place
--
tryi.ng
AN R.U.F. SOLDIER
155
sees Solomon holding Dia by Ehe arm. He HITS HIM IN THE B A C Kw i E h h i s r i f l e buEE. Sofomon crumples Eo the ground. 165
ARCHER
155
aims Ehe assault rif1e, buc the GUARDShave picked up Solomon and -- at sixty yards, aE night, in the driving rain -there's no way Archer can get off a clean shotThen-The SOUNDof a SLIDE being is placed against Archer's I5'7
EXT. THE REBEL CAMP --
racked. head.
The barrel
of
NEXT MORNING
167
Solomon's arms have been TIED behind his back -looped over a tree branch and re-Eied. He looks DIA. standing with several guards. His face is withdrawn. He turns away from Solomon,s gaze, A S H O V E Li s
thrown at
an AK-A7
the rope up Eo see-hard and
Solomon,s feet.
VOICE I knew you would come back. Solomon looks up into the disfigured face of A bruEal scar only adds Eo Ehe malice in his
CAPTAIN POISON. eyes.
Poison motions to the dozens of HoLES Ehat pock the landscape gianE scars of diamond fields thaE have been mined out.
--
AA
POISON See how I have dug. I have found nothing. (co solomon) You will digr again for me. you will dig up what you have come back for. SOLOMON No. POISON No? Do you think the white rescue you? He turns Solomon's head violently
man will
to the left,
where:
r|I{L.'IE}{
Has been made to kneeL, arms ti.ed behind his back, head to the ground, wich a gun held to the back of his sku11. POISON (COIJT'D) This white man is the cause of your suffering. This white man, his masters abroad -- and his black puppets in t.he government. Poison whips out a dog-eared manifesto
from his
army jacket.
POISON (COM| D) Foday Sankoh say -- resisE and overthrow t.hose who would exploit. you! Shed their blood. He slaps
Solomon's head with
Ehe book.
POISON (CON"'D) Maybe some more digging will you learn this lesson. The rope holding solomon is cuL. is prodded to his feec by several
help
He fa1ls to the ground and soLDrERs holding Ak-47's.
Solomon looks down at the shovel. But doesn,t move. surrepEitious]y Archer glances at his watch. rc is 5:59. pick
Why? With a sigh,
PO]SON (CONT'D) it
uD.
SOLOMON you are going to ki11
poison whispers in
me any*ay.
Solomon's ear:
93. POTSON I do not need to ki1l you, Solomon Vandy. Because now you have a natne. And a family. If you do not give me rhi
il;;
c
d'i =nanA
;;
;";;;"
He goes t,o Dia and puts
I
will
f ind
this
round your son. his
--
fanily
arm around him.
P O T S O N( C O N T ' D ) f will rape your wife in front you, then slit her t,hroat. (smiles ) And I will keep your daughters mysel f.
of for
It is Ehe first t.ime we bave seen the liqht go out of SoLomon's eyes in part because of poiion,i words, buc mostly because of Dia's look of indifference. P O T S O N( C O N T ' D ) You think I am a devil. BuE only because I have lived in hell. I want to geE out. You will help me. Curiously enough, first we met him.
Ehese words could He watehes as:
have been Archer,s
when
Solomon takes the shovel. Ar1 his hopes and dreams end here. He is musr dig the earth one 1ast, timL uo save his family. He looks out at the jungle. Nothing trees SWIRLING. .making him dizzy. f don't
familiar
--
the
SOLOMON remernber...
Archer, head to the ground, another peek at his watch. .i F r ! l r rnA "'i u ! s ,
looks
^-o91to* vr y\.,ur
watches solomon crosely. Sneaks 0500 hours. No air st.iike. family
will
die!
As if sleep-walking; Solomon begins to walk toward Lhe pits. Poison and severar armed rebels folrow close behind. 168
T H E F I R S T R O C K E TE X P L O D E S
158
in t.he middle of the carnp *- sending a corrugated high. Everyone is knocked to the giound. An E.O. HELICOPTERGUNSHIP sTreaks by overhead, RocKET hits a Eruck -- inst.antry turning iu into
hut
sky
THE SEcoND a firebalr.
THE GTINSHIP'S GATLING GUNS fire.
800 ROUNDSpER sEcoND chew up everything
in
iE.s path.
94. ARCHER'S GUARD is almosE cut in half by the devastaEing firepower. r o 1 l s b e h i n d a t r e e - - C H U N K SF L Y f r o m i L s b a s e . SOLOMON,CAPTATNPOTSONAND AN R.U.F.
Archer
GUARD
Solomon hugs have been knocked into a muddy DIAUOND PIT. the ground. the ground as the jet SCREAI{Sover -- st.itching toward Dia -- ignoring ARCHERgets eo his feet and sprints Since his hands are sti1l E h e E X P L O S I O N Sa l l a r o u n d h i m . ineo che back Eied behind his back --he hurEles a BODYCHECK of the SOLDIER guarding the boy. He THROWSHIMSELF on top of uhe boy -- as the gunships make anoEher pass -* KILLING R.U.F. soldiers who Lry Lo escape. 159
EXT. AT THE BOTTOMOF THE DIA},IONDPIT
169
Solomon Eurns over Ehe body of a dead guard and finds A MACHETEin his be1E. CapCain Poison looks up from Lhe muck in his holst.er. and reaches for his 9run -- only it isn't Frantically, he digs in ghe mud. It.'s nowhere to be found. Solornon, meanwhile, geEs Eo his feet, and moves Eoward Poison who francically t.ries to climb out of t.he piE --
--
The sides are high and sli-ck. The closer Solomon gets, the more frant.ically Poison Eries Co claw his way out. BuE Ehe wa1ls are just too slippery.. . He FALLS back -- sliding down -- aE. lasE finding his gun. He raises ic, but. it's Eoo lace -* Solomon RAfSES THE MACHETE. A11 we can see is the 1ip of che pit, buE we can HEAR Poison's SCREAI{Sas Solomon's powerful arm RISES and FALLS. Solomon's face is cont,orEed -- as E.he rage Ehat has been buried for so long finds iEs expression, He brings the machete down again -- and again witn all his night. Blood spauEering him. Unt,i.1 he st.ops. WiEh disbelief 170
and horror
aE whaE he's
done.
TWO ARMORED VEHICLES appear wiEh .50 caliber machine guns FIRING from Eheir mount.s. Behind them, MERCENARIESwearing Ehe red beret of Ehe E.O. Joost organizes blocking posiCions around the perimeEer of -- cut,Eing down anyone who tries Ehe village E,oescape. It, is
all
over
in a mat,Eer of minuEes.
170
95. 171
171
A SILENCE THE As the SMOKEand DUST clears, hardly a soul is moving, COLONELstrides inEo camp followed by TWO BODYGUARDS. ARCHERsquints
int,o the
sun as Ehe Colonel
looms above him.
THE COLONEL in the location. Thank you for calling A}(Utttrt(
You're
welcome. THE COLONEL you had an ult.erior
fhen again, noEive.
from the S O L O M O Ne n e r g e s -- this terrifying sight kind of monster.
pit, covered in blood. gentle man transformed
He is a into some
THE COLONEL (CONT'D) must be the famous Mr. Vandv. (to Archer) us. Introduce fhis
AKL]:TEt(
Ihi.s is Colonel the diamond.
No more Archer
than
True
nods.
(calls JooSE. '' tJ^ .o. o s t a p p e a r s , D y Ln. :l s^ tr^ar l c n e r ' s
Lt. A mercenar"y
Coetsee.
He wants
THE COLONEL rzou.
enouqh. THE COLONEL (CONT'D) ouc)
holding a 9mm to appearance.
Dia's
head.
THE COLONEL (CONT'D) (ca11s out.) Gans.
LIEUTENANT appears.
THE COLONEL (COMT'D) You will organize the wirhdrawal. We move out in thirty minutes. (turns to SoLomon) LeE's take a walk, shall we? The Colonel's
two bodyguards
follow.
Dia
is
shocked
96. L72
MOMEMIS LATER - ARCHER AND SOLOMON
T12
by the Colonel's are led at gunpoinE inEo the diamond fields BODYGUARDS.The Colonel and Joost follow behind with Dia. JOOST How much fart,her? Solomon doesn'c
answer.
They pass one pie
afEer
another.
by one of t,he Colonef's A SAT-phone RINGS in the pack carried The guard answers it and hands i.t to The Colonel. bodyguards. ?HE COLONEL (on che SAT-phone) ....No ...No transport, for
ffi:i'ffi:i';;; i;'?ff:ifi: .:T::: He hands E,he phone back t,o Ehe bodyguard. I73
HAI,F A MILE ON _ IN A GROVEBY THE RIVERSIDE Solomon sEops.
The oEhers react,,
T73
expectant.
Looming out of the thick growt.h is THE RUBBERTREE. Vines definitely have covered iEs base, but it's Ehe same tree. Solomon measures Ehe distance.
Takes another
few steps.
He is about Eo raise Ehe shovel. Then sEops dead, Ehe rnuscles Tnches from his fooE, unmist.akable -of his arm tensing. i s t h e T R I G G E Ro f a l a n d m i n e - - p a r E i a l l y covered by vines. Solomon glances back to Joost, He doesn't see it,
who stands
Solomon looks back at Ehe urigger curns in Archer's direcEion...
--
yards
several
an idea
forming-
away. He
SOLOMON (looking around) An elephant. graveyard. What?
JOOST Keep digging.
Archer knows Solomon is Solomon carefully into the earE,h. He sinks
Erying
him someEhing --
in code.
Eakes a st.ep sideways. Sinks Ehe shovel in one piece. Swa11ows. He's sti1l
Ehe shovel
in again.
The Col oneL watches , intent.ly.
And again.
Digging.
91Solomon throws uhe shovel aside. Gecs down on his knees, digging with his hands now. Faster. Scooping out dirc and Uncil there is nothing left rocks and sand. to scrape oue. He stares
int.o Che empty hole,
confounded...
He looks to Joost, then Archer, then back into the ho1e. Grabs the shovel again, starts digging Ehe hole larger, wider. Ic
SOLOMON is noc here it
is
not here!
THE COLONEL What do you mean? SOLOMON This is where I buri.ed ehe st.one. In this pIace. But it is not here! (beside himself) Someone has taken ic ! Come see for yoursel f 3 The Colonel motions Joosc over co Sofomon. by che Colonel's side. As the mercenary ventures SoLomon glances reads the look.
leaves
Dia
--
over
at Archer, his eyes convey someching. Archer Out of the corner of his eye, he sees:
The TRIGGER- IE lies Solomon Eries comes closer.
Joost
between Solomon's hole and Joost.
desperaEely not Closer.
to look
at
Che Erigger
as JoosE
JOOSE'S bOOEHITS ThE TRIC.GER. CLICK. A MiIIiSCCONd Of realizaE.ion on t.he stunned mercenary's face before-T H E E X P L O S I O Nb l o w s h i m E o b i E s . Solomon is Dia is
already
thrown
to
DIVING behind
a Eree scump as--
t.he ground.
Archer seizes the momenE -- sending an OPEN-HANDSTRIKE Eo Ehe throat of his would-be executioner, Ehen grabbing Ehe AK4J , and shooting him before ripping the gun out of his hands. ARCHER STAY DOWN! SOLOMON remains
flat,tened
behind
the
Eree sEump, head down.
Archer sprays GUNFIRE aE the mercenaries -- hiEting the Colonel and the guards. He e>cpends the entire c1ip. And no one is
lefE
standinq
98. He looks back aE the rebel canp -- knowing mercenaries have heard che GUNFIRE. go !
Let's
that
other
ARCHER (CO}M'D)
S o l - o m o ng e t s u p , o r i e n t s h i m s e l f a n d b e g i n s Spears the shoveL into the earEh. Digs.
to count
steps.
ARCHER (COIVI'D) (admiringly) You lying bastard... Solomon throws
Ehe shovel
down.
THEREfN THE HOLE -- peeking out of the dirc is green cuff of a pantleg. Sol0mon digs it out with
rhe rorn his hands.
FAR OFF VOICES can be heard --
coming their
way.
Armed E.O. mercenaries.
Archer rams a fresh clip into che nrachine gun, and reaches i-nto the dead bodyguard's pack for his SAT-phone. But as he looks up, he sees ULA
holdingr The Colonel's
9mn.
Aimed ac him.
SOLOMON Dia__ Dia's
eyes flicker Dia,
Dia looks into
from Archer
to solomon and t.hen back.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) look ac me. Solomon,s eyes.
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) (in Mende) You are Dia Vandy. Of the proud Mende. Your mother loves you -- and she waits by the fire making plaintains and red palm scew with your sister, N'yanda, and the new baby. (moves closer) The cows wait for you. And Babu Ehe wild dog who minds no one but you. (moves cl_oser sEill) And f am your faEher who loves you. go home with me, and be And you will my son. He walks right up to him, arms around him-
ignoring
the gun,
and wraps his
99. Dia goes limp, allows himself
the gun hangs loosely to be he1d.
aE his
side
--
as he
BEHIND THEM, THE JUNGLE ERUPTSWITI] .GUNFIRE Solomon Ehrows Dia to Lhe ground.
Archer
eakes cover,
FOUR MERCENARIESARE ADVANCING --
across
the river
firing
Archer
R E T U R N SF I R E , h i t c i n g
as Ehey come. two,
The others
the ground.
hit
ARCHER MOVE, MOVE. MOVE!! ! He SHOVESSolomon and Dia t.o their ANOTHERSPRAY OP GUNFIRE pins
f eeE.
Chem down.
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) When I sCart firing. You g! (scands up) ....NOW! He lays down COVERINGFIRE -- as Solornon and Dia head for the brush. Archer wait.s unEil they are safe, then-IE's
his
Ic's
only
turn
to make a run.
Ehirty
He takes off.
yards or so, buE they seern an ecernity.
He is
almost
inEo the brush when--
He is
HIT in
Ehe baqk.
He grunEs and doubLes over. A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Fuck ! He fights the shock and Ehe pain -and stumbles into the dense cover. I'I4
adrenaline
kicking
in
--
UP AHEAD - IN THE BUSH He finds Solomon waiEing. has been wounded.
I'7 4 Solornon has no notion
SOLOMON How far? ARCHER (Ehrough gritted teech) Ihere's...a strip...on a ridge... fifteen kilomeEers, . .souch. Fawaz , . r i 1 1m e e t u s . . . . . G O ! They Cake off
in
chat direcEion.
EhaC Archer
1n n
175
IN THE JTINGLE-An eerie Archer in his
175
MTNUTESLATER
guLet., broken only
by the calls
of
leads them -- paying for every step. back is sma11, a]mosc unnoticeable.
He stops and pulLs
birds.
The entry
wound
Dials.
the SAT-phone.
out
exotic
ARCHER (on Lhe SAT-phone) ..Where are you? We're tweLve Two hours at most... clicks out...... F A W A Z( O . S . ) --You have it? ARCHER (on che SAT-phone) ...Roger that. F A W A Z( O .S . ) Don't know Carrying a lot of fuel. if I can handle three more onboard. Archer
looks
up ahead to where Solomon and Dia are waiEing.
ARCHER (on the SAT-phone) f'11 get it sorted. He punches the button L76
and starts
off
again.
THREE KILOMETERSLATER SoLomon is arm pit -Archer
I15
STARING at the bloody the stain spreading.
sees him see it.
exit
wound below Archer's
Looks at him.
SOLOMON You must s i. t . f|J(LrlE|(
just
Yeah, let's He starts L11
have tea.
moving again.
THREE KILOMETERS LATER Archer has to stop. rnouth. Looks at his
His breathi.ng is hand. No blood. AJILn-trt(
Missed. . . the lung. . .but it 's sLi11....colLapsed. Could... be. . . .worse. . . .f guess.
L11 Labored.
He wipes his
J.UJ..
SOLOMON not They will
ResE now. looks
Archer
As if
around.
find
sensing
us.
Eheir
pursuiE'
ARCHER good. They're (scruggles to his feeE ) LeE's go... iJe wills 1?8
himself
onward. 178
THREE MORE KILOMETERS have says
t.oIl. taken their Eo Dia something
in
carry
We will
Archer is Mende.
scunrlcling
now.
Solomon
SOLOMON you. ARCHER
No. SOLOMON Yes. They each take Yoked Eogether, I'79
one of Archer's they st.ruggle
arms on.
over
their
shoulders.
I19
TWO KILOMETERS MORE And Ehey have E.akes ouE the
reached the base of a rocky and sees-binoculars
BINOCULAR POV --
ridge.
Archer
OFF IN THE DISTANCE
T W O E . O . A R I " I O R E DV E H I C L E S c h u r n u p d u s t a s E h e y a p p r o a c h . Behind them come a squad of inf anE.ry on f ooE. IN
THE SKY ABOVE
The Cessna appears,
circling.
THE RIDGE ABOVE THEM IS
VERY STEEP
way. with dense brush blocking their In order sE.rip, they will have Co climb iU. the landing It. would be difficult carry anot.her man --h i s shoufder over
Eo make ic
enough Eo climb on one's own, but Eo as Solomon Eries as he hoisEs Archer is beyond imagining. ARCHER
t.o
1n) SOLOMON No-One step.
Another
sLep. And then another.
Solomon's st.rengLh is tremendous. over hand. Rock by rock.
They make progress.
Hand
solornon's face conEorts with the ef fort. His legs trernble but still he keeps going. The top of the ravine appears, far away, but t.antalizingly in sight. For a moment we might even believe they will make it Lhen Solornon loses his footing. He st.umbles. Archer is slammed to the ground, reaehes to pick him up again.
grunting
in
pain.
--
but
Solomon
ARCHER STOPI DAI'TN.T!. Archer's shirt-fronE gasping for breath. No.
i s S O A K E Di n B L O O D . H e i s p a l e a n d Solomon goes to pick him up again.
ARCHER (COI,IT'D) LeE me...see it... SOLOMON
Mr. Archer*ARCHER You. . . .want it a1l. . . for solomon shakes his he realizes Archer He hands Archer
head, smiles is noE going
yourself _
ruefu11y. This to make it.
the wrapped st.one.
Even wrapped in-a dirty cloth, like sonething from the Gods.
it
Archer takes
peels
is it
the breath
the momenc open. away --
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) ft's He holds
it
real. . .
up to bhe warm afternoon
light..
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) So. . . .beautifu1. Archer looks up to see solomon sbaring back in the c1oEh. A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) Take it.
at hirn.
He wraps it
1 0 3. SOLOMON I thougrht you would steal me, It
from
it
ARCHER Lo me.
occurred
Solomon smiles. SOLOMON To me, as well. 180
1BO UP ABOVE The plane 181
touches
down. 181
D O W NB E L O W The Armored Cars are getting
182
closer.
ARCHER
TB2
Looks over Dia.
at
Solomon --
who has his
arm protectively
around
IN THE BEAUTIFUL AFTERNOONLIGHT The boy looks
like
the same innocent
he once was.
child
ARCHER Take. . . . .your. . . .boy. . . .home. Solomon looks back at him, He nods. Archer
tears
In deep and simple
nods back.
in his
eyes.
gratitude.
Then-A R C H E R( C O N T ' D )
Help ne... He struggles to pick into his hands.
up the machine gun.
Solomon puts
it
A R C H E R( C O N T ' D ) Put the strap...over my shoulder. Solomon helps
secure
it
in p1ace.
.50 CALIBER ROUNDSFROM THE ARMOREDCAR Begin to land -183
short
--
but getting
closer.
ARCHERFIRES A BURST PROMHIS MACHINE GUN Momentarj.ly stopping
their
progress.
183
J-U{.
ARCHER
co Now.
.
SOLOMON Goodbye. . . . Danny. Archer's
eyes flicker
for
a moment.. Smiles,
ARCHER Te11 Fawaz if he tries t.o cheat. you, I'11 be waiting for him in He11. Solomon nods once more. Dia meeLs Archer's Solomon leads his ]-84
eyes for
Ehe firsE
time,
Ehen looks
away.
son up the ridge.
ARCHER
18 4
settles himself -- as cornfortably as he is able -- among the He FIRES another burst -rocks. to distracE them from Solomon and Dia as they climb the ridge. 185
DoWNBELoW The attacking
195 mercenaries
scramble for
cover.
We SEE Solomon and Dia run for the plane. whau is said above rhe ROAR OF THE pROp. 187
BACK TO ARCHER
I87
He has taken the sAT-phone from Ehe pack. Maddy's card. He dia1s. 188
We CAI.{NOTHEAR
EXT. CAPE TOI,VN- AN oUTDooR CAFE -Maddy sits
with
a group of
rn his
hand is
INTERCUT
journalists.
188
Her ce11 phone RINGS.
MADDY uaddy Bowen... ARCHER Told you f woul-d ca1l. Maddy is shocked co hear his voice. and walks away from the Lable. MADDY And I'm so glad you did. going to see you? F\
ARCHER
LiEtle
problem there.
She immediately
When am I
gets
up
| {tl
Whau do you Above
on the
ridge,
MADDY mean--?
Archer
HEARS the
ARCHER Listen...Maddy.. .I want favor. me anocher By now Maddy can hear breaching. Then, the
you..
t.he weakness in SOUND of gunfire MADDY you all
Archer,
are
Listen,
f
Archer,
MADDY what's going
plane
.to
taking
do
the his voice, from below.
rigthc?
ARCHER need you to
go to
Guinea.
on--?
ARCHER you just Will shuc up and listen-Got to...meet Solomon aE the UN camp. Found. . .his son. . .but they,re. . .going to need. . .he1p.
You're you? f 'm in And...I
hurt.
MADDY Oh, my God--
where
are
ARCHER a rea11y. . .beautiful place. wish you were here..,
Archer, help- -
oh,
MADDY shit.
Let
me get
. .
you
ftlLLl-t.gJ.(.
Tell
..you take care of Solomon.... his scory f gotta go...
Maddy's eyes are welling
up.
MADDY Archer--ARCHER Goodbye, Maddy... MADDY Archer-The connection
!
has been 1ost.
Archer
off.
has hung up.
labored
105. 189
ARCHER
189
pushes away the phone and siUs back against a mossy rock, his face in repose. He looks up aE che shafts of sunlight made visible bv the dust and haze. In che quieu, birds flit, insect,s buzz, the leafy branches of trees hundreds of years o1d sway in che breeze. Ic reminds us of how Solornon experienced he found t.he diamond. when first
E,he nat.ural
world
He looks down -- a half-smile o n h i s f a c e a s D R O P SO F H I S B L O O Dm i x w i E h E h e r e d d i r t of Africa. He looks up inEo Che sky -- where THE CESSNAgrows srnaller and smaller as i! flies out of view. 190
A R M E DE . O . M E R C E N A R I E S swarm up Ehe hillside FIRE, buE he doesn't-
190
toward Archer.
We expecE him t,o reEurn
As Ehe firsE soldier reaches his posiuion, we SEE Ehat Archer is dead. He siEs with hj.s back against. t.he mossy rock -eyes closed. At peace aE lasE. 191
E X T . L O N D O N( T O E S T A B L T S H )- -
DAy
191
From pasEoral tranquilicy to t,he chaos of urban 1ife. Solomon sEands Eransfixed by Ehe noise, Ehe Craffic, Ehe crowded sidewalks of t.he City of London. He stands aE a st,reeE. corner, uncomforEable in a suit sizes E.oosrnall and sEif f new leather shoes. Maddy is
Ehere by his Come on.
I92
side.
She gently
touches his
two arm.
MADDY We' re almost. t,here.
THEY REACH THE EMBAI..IKMENT Maddy stops
beside
Just. walk
che Hungerford
I92 fooEbridge.
MADDY t.o t,he middle.
SOLOMON You're not comino? MADDY f 'm noE here. S o 1 o m o nc o l l e c r s h i m s e l f . He has survived hosrile jungle, yet t.his seems as daunEinq. mercenaries and the R.U.F..
1 . 0 1. 193
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE Solomon waits.
It,s
Simmons.
SIMMONS Solomon Vandyl
You are solomon nods.
193
A man approaches.
several
paces behind
And you are?
Simmons are
two B.D'GUARD..
SOLOMON
SIMMONS r am Lhe end of your journey. simmons motions for a briefcase. one of the men brinqs forward, unlocks rhe combir.,.tior,, oJJ"J ia. 194
THE IMAGE FREEZES. CLICX Maddy is behind a wa1l,
195
Tg4
taking
pictures
wirh
a telephoco.
EXT. THE BRIDGE - COMIINUOUS
195
SIMMONS You must understand, MisLer Vandy, Ehac your diamond coufd nive enOed up no place else but wlth usSolomon stares
ac the neat
rows of
pOUNDNOTES.
(coN'D)
rr,s ar, Solomon looks
"o,rljYott
from the money, to
Simmons.
rr is nor .":3;f;To* r- assu5e
pounds
is *::: E h a n".rltHStir,rion anyone wilt offei you for chat sEone, under the circurn"iarr""".
r.w?nr,^,nr.i3!o|?l*r""u ro meby Archer.
Mister
SII"DIONS __ ( s w a l l o w i n g i r r i t a c i o n ) ..What was promised to you? SOLOMON M y f a m . il v . your
f ami r"att*ot'
it
108. SOLOMON They are in a refugee calnp. When get the stone. they are here, you will Simrnons takes
a moment t,o diqest
f wil.l
S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) take the money, too.
Sirnmons sees t.hat Solomon is I"lay t
t.his.
serious.
SIMMONS see what I'm buying?
You will is here.
SOLOMON get Ehe stone once my family
SIMMONS How do I even know you have it? SOLOMON You have my word. He Looks from Simmons, to t.he ot,her men, back Lo Simmons. soLoMoN (co\It,D) Mister Archer told me this business is based on a person's word. And a deal- is made with a handshake. With a cordial 196
INT.
smiLe, he ext,ends his
hand to
SMALL LONDONHOTEL ROOM- EVENING (MUSTC OVER)
Solomon sits on the edge of the BED, waiting. roorn is lit.t.ered with empty boxes of take-out,. I9'7
Simmons.
LATER - TIFPA}IY'S ON BOND ST.
195
The little
(MUSTCOVER)
Igl
solomon st.ares at a DrAI'IONDNECKLACE t.he window. He's never seen a polished stone, let alone forEy in a dazzling set.ting. Now that's He looks
up to
find
I beg your
WOMA}J'SVOICE (ENGLISH ACCENT) what I call bling. an atEractive
E N G L T S Hw o M A N , b l a c k ,
SOLOIV1ON pardon?
BLACK WOMAN . . .You're African. (off his took...) I'm good with accents. She offers
her hand.
30,s.
1nq
Elizabeth
I 198
LATER -
BLACK WOMAN (CO}CT'D) Sweet.
arn Solomon
SOLOMON Vandy. 198
AS THEY WALK ALONG REGENT STREET
BLACK WOMAN(ELTZABETH) --Ehen after unj-versiEy I went to I've to work for Ehe bank. straight always regreEted not having taken Africa more time off to Lravel. especially. It
SOLOMON verv beauciful.
is
BLACK WOMAN I can only imagine. Te1l me about Sierra Leone... Solomon stops walking.
Suddenly very
SOLOMON How do you know where I
afraid.
come from?
BLACK WOMAN You said-SOLOMON I did not say. (steps toward her) WHO ARE YOU? W}IAT DO YOU WAIVT? No.
BLACK WOT"IAN (backpedaling) Look-cEr Ihey
SOLOMON AWAy FR9M UE! only
BLACK WOMAN want t,o make sure
you have
:ts
Solomon looks around, suddenly frightened, are being observedHe turns and runs off 199
certain now they down the street.
LATER - BACK rN SOLOMON'SHOTEL ROOM (MUSTCOVER) He sics
alone on the bed.
The phone RINGS.
SOLOMON H e l 1o ? His eyes begin
Eo we1l.
He picks
199 it
up.
11n 2OO
INT.
HEATHROWIIITERNATIONAL TERMINAL - DAY
2OO the cusEoms
corning through Solomon watches the travelers gaEe, his eyes rnoving over every face. Maddy is
nearby,
Then..,Ehere
waE.ching from a respectful
Only real-.
Like a vision'
Ehev are'. '
remove'
JASSIE Sola ! Solomon's daughter approaches more She runs to him. Solomon kneels down, scoops her in his arms. tenCaEively. Nearby, Dia sEands awkwardly, something damaged in his S1owly he allows himself Co be drawn int,o his father's Maddy is
crying
as weJl.
The family remains in an embrace as the world Ehem, unaware of the moment's significance. 201
eyes. arms.
moves around
BRIDGE -_ DAY EXT. WATER],OO
2AI
Solomon and Simrnons meet again.
A Bentley
idles
nearby.
SIMMONS You are saEisfied? Solomon nods, starEs
to reach into
pocket.
his
S I M M O N S( C O N T ' D ) Nol here. He climbs 202
inEo the waiting
car.
Solomon warily
foflows. 202
IN THE CAR Simmons Eakes S i m m o n ' s A S S O C I A T Eh a n d s o v e r t h e b r i e f c a s e . panEleg with some distaste, but when he torn-off the dirty, opens ic, his expression changes Eo wonder. SIMMONS Extraordinary. The two associates
stare
at
the stone in disbelief.
S I M M O N S( C O } I I ' D ) May I drop you somewhere. Mr. Vandy? No.
SOLOMON Thank you.
Solomon opens the door,
uses a phrase
we have heard before.
111. S O L O M O N( C O N T ' D ) Always a pleasure doing business. 203
T- LATER (MUSIC OVER) FOUR STORIES UNDERGROUND
203
The thick STEEL DOORof the VAULT hisses open. The DIAMOND, now locked in a glass box, is wheeled in on a cart, Security calneras foLlow it.. The box is placed in its own STEEL DRAWER, amid a wall of sEeel drawers 2A4
INT. A S}4ALL OFFICE -. Maddy tl4)es
205
SAIUE (MUSIC CONT)
204
away on a laptop.
EXT. FRONT OF DTC BUILDING - LONDON- DAY (MUSIC CONT) As De Wente steps out of a shiny TV CAMERASand REPORTERS.
LIMO, he is
205
met by several
REPORTER Mister De Wente! Cary Wright, CNN. Could you comment on allegations that your company buys blood diamonds from Sierra Leone? BODYGUAF-DS insist
the reporters
keep their
distance.
DE WENTE f 'm not going !o comrnenL on some sensationalisU magazine art,icle. De Went,e fnternational is as concerned as anyone about diamonds from t,hese regions reaching Ehe marketplace. 206
I}ilT. TIN HEARING ROOM Superimpose:
205
UN Sl:bcom4rittee. on Intefnat.ional
Trade,
2002
AIVIBASSADOR WALKER --this situation is accountable for unspeakable Cragedy. . . (scans the room) ...The natural. resources of a nat.ion are the sovereign property of its people... THE FACES OF REPRESENTATIVES,Ehoughtful
and skeptical
TO MADDY'S FACE as she siE,s among the reporters. wash over her. AI"IBASSADOR WALKER (V. O. ) ...They are not ours to sEeal, or take by force, or exploit in the name of our comfort., our corporations, or our consumerism.
alike
The words (CONT'D)
--
J.72. 2O'I '
INT.
OUTSIDE THE UN CHAMBERS- SAME
sits SOLOMON
207
on a marble bench wearing
his
new suit.
AMBASSADOR WAIKER (V.O. ) The Third World is not a world apart and the witness you will hear today speaks on its behalf. In Solomon's fap is a copy of Vanity l4addy's story on the diamond trade.
Fair.
It. is
open to
workers in a diamond mine; On a facing page are PHOTOGRAPHS: Solomon at the refugee camp; child soldiers cluuching weapons,. An4.g p_icture pf Arc4er. A LIN PAGE opens the They're Solomon closes
Vibrant,
inEense,
haunted.
DOOR.
UN PAGE ready for you, sir.
the magazine.
Stands.
And heads in.
A-},IBASSADOR WALKER (V.O. ) Let us hear the voice of that world, J.et us J.earn from that voice, and let us ignore it no more.
