The Fifth Element Page #4

CAPTAIN:

(in awe)

What the hell can it be?

TECHNICIAN:

Hook-up with the president in one

minute, General.

General Staedert remains calm.

STAEDERT:

...Send out a probe.

22INT. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE MANHATTAN

LINDBERG, 50, the president of the United Federations, his features lined

and worn by various delegations, mainly military, enters his office.

There's a crisis in the air. The President's AIDE leans down to his ear.

AIDE:

On air in 30 seconds.

In the middle of the group is a Priest whose appearance reminds us of

Egypt. A younger man DAVID, 18, shy, a priest-in-training attends the old

man.

23INT. CONTROL ROOM / PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

CAPTAIN:

President on line sir..

General Staedert leans over his screen and seems surprised to see the

room but not the president.

PRESIDENT (O.S.)

Staedert, do you read me?

STAEDERT:

I can hear you, Mr. President, but I

can't see you .

The President grabs the mini-camera on his desk and yanks it around to

face him.

His face fills the screen.

PRESIDENT:

(exasperated)

Is that better?

STAEDERT:

Perfect, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT:

I have to address the Supreme Council

in 10 minutes.

Just the facts, General.

STAEDERT:

There are no results from the chemical

and molecular analysis as of yet, all the

calibers are overshot..we're hoping a

thermo nucleatic imaging..

PRESIDENT:

(exasperated)

What you are saying is you don't know

what this..thing..is.

Consternation reigns in the President's office.

STAEDERT:

Not yet Sir..The only thing we know is

it just keeps getting bigger!

PRESIDENT:

Options.

STAEDERT:

Wait or act.

PRESIDENT:

Recommendations.

STAEDERT:

My philosophy Mr. President is shoot first

ask questions later.

I don't like uninvited guests.

PRESIDENT:

Gentlemen?

HEAD CHEMISTS:

I think it would be foolish to shoot at an

organism that seems alive, without first

taking the time to study it more!

Besides, it has shown no signs of hostility.

PRESIDENT:

(worried)

No... it's just getting bigger.

HEAD CHEMISTS:

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

them.

PRESIDENT:

(exasperated)

The security of the Federated Territories is

and remains number one priority.

(to the military)

I suppose General Staedert's "philosophy" is

acceptable to you?

All the Generals nod "yes"

PRESIDENT:

All right, then! Staedert?

PRIEST (O.S.)

Mr. President?

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

the room.

PRESIDENT:

...Yes?

The camera moves up the Priest and we finally discover his face. He is

in his sixties, a shrewd look in his eyes.

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

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