White House Down

Synopsis: Capitol Policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer. Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation's government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
Director(s): Roland Emmerich
Production: Sony Pictures
  3 wins & 9 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.4
Metacritic:
52
Rotten Tomatoes:
50%
PG-13
Year:
2013
131 min
$73,103,784
Website
3,849 Views


The vice president is scheduled

to preside over a Senate vote today...

...on President Sawyer's

controversial Middle East peace plan.

Then tomorrow,

the vote will go to Congress.

Republicans and Democrats...

...have indicated they will vote

along party lines...

...but some members have indicated

that they may cross over.

Castle, this is Hummingbird.

We are inbound from Andy.

We're three minutes out.

Carol. He wants to do the thing.

- Really?

- Really.

Mr. President, it isn't a good idea

to deviate from the flight plan.

Pretty please, Carol?

Leader of the free world

saying "pretty please"?

That ought to count for something.

Captain Johns, we are going to deviate

from Route Omaha.

The president would like

to do the thing.

Copy that.

Let's give him the special tour.

Dropping to 30 feet.

Do you know that Abraham Lincoln

was the first U.S. president...

...who was in favour of women

having the vote?

He wrote a paper on suffrage while

he was still in the Illinois legislature.

Yes, I did know that...

...because you tell me

every time we do this.

Castle, this is Hummingbird.

We are short Foxtrot, one minute out.

- I need a go-no go.

- Sky Sector 1, Castle Ground...

...all clear, three inbound.

Castle Ground, Sky Sector 1, report.

Hummingbird, this is Castle Ground.

You are clear.

Scanning sky south.

Clear.

Clear.

Hummingbird, this is Castle Sky.

You are clear.

Hummingbird, this is Castle Keep.

You are-- Wait. Hold.

- Castle Ground, we are holding.

- Air Command...

- ...switch to thermal.

- Roger that.

Switching to thermal.

Confirm Sector 5,

southeast quadrant clear.

Hummingbird, this is Castle Keep.

You're clear.

Copy that.

Breaking off for security sweep.

Stand by.

Hummingbird approaching.

Castle Ground, all clear.

Be it ever so humble.

Atten-hut! Escort!

Not a bad way to travel, is it?

Beats Dupont Circle, sir.

What time does my wife get in?

- Eighteen forty-five.

- Wake me if civilisation ends.

- Welcome home, sir.

- Thank you.

Hummingbird, you are released.

Tell me we don't have the best job

in the world.

I believe the number-one source

of violence in our world is poverty.

Now, we were poor in my neighbourhood.

Sometimes we couldn't even eat.

And my best friend Ricky,

he had it worse than us.

One day things got

so desperate for Ricky...

...he made a plan

to rob the corner store.

And I told my mother about it.

You know what she did?

She had him over,

cooked him a full meal...

...and told him that he could stay with us

as long as he wanted.

And it was then that I realised

that if you feed a man...

you take away his propensity

for violence.

Come on, we're gonna be late.

Hey, hey, hey-

No, no, no. That's-- No, that's not--

That's not--

This is not happening right now.

Clyde, we've had this conversation.

My boss does not like squirrels.

It's a bird feeder.

Will you at least look at me

when I'm talking to you?

Look, man, I like squirrels personally,

but you're getting me in trouble.

Do you see this?

You know what this is?

Hey. We gonna need backup?

We're working. Come on.

- We have any more Robitussin?

- Yes, sir. In the car.

No, I'll get it, it's all right. Quiet night?

We're under attack by squirrels.

They're organised

and they have the numbers.

Little stinkers trying to get

into the feeder?

- Morning.

- Hey, Roy.

This isn't the most glamorous job

in the world.

Look, I appreciate it very much.

- Yeah, we'll be there in 10 minutes.

- As leaders, we have a choice.

We can sit back

and let the same cycle of war...

...continue in the Middle East

or we can do something about it.

You know how much money

we've spent on the war since 2001?

Over a trillion dollars.

Could you imagine if you had...

It's gonna be a busy morning, boys.

--Education, food, health care

and infrastructure in the Middle East.

Now, we've begun historic talks

with the republic of Iran's...

...newly elected president, Al-Sharif...

...to build peace throughout his region.

America can't do this alone.

We need the full financial support

of all of our allies.

But what we can do

is take the first step.

Therefore, I'm announcing today...

...that all U. S. troops will be removed

from the Middle East.

Let's not repeat the same mistakes

that we made in the past.

And Lord knows,

I've made some mistakes myself.

Instead, I ask you

to stand with me today.

Sign this treaty. Let's end

this debilitating pattern of violence...

...and let's show the world that the pen

is truly mightier than the sword.

Thank you.

President Sawyer delivered what can

only be described as a historic speech...

-...earlier today in Geneva.

- Here.

- Let's go live...

- You changed your hair.

Last week.

I'm gonna be late tonight.

I love you very much.

Good morning, sir.

John, what do you think

of the president's proposal?

I don't know. It's good

to have less enemies, I guess.

You're a military man.

You don't think he's putting us at risk?

That's a little above my pay grade.

If you feel that way...

...why didn't you run against him?

- No, no, no.

That's one job I never wanted.

I like my office.

I like my constituents.

I like being a thorn in the side

of the administration.

But I think voters today

want somebody cool.

Oh, come on, Mr. Speaker,

I think you're pretty cool.

He went to bed at 8 and watched...

The president has a call scheduled

with the speaker at 9:30.

- I should be there for that, shouldn't I?

- No.

You have to be here

in case of a deadlock...

Hey, I'm gonna see you later.

- -With the red tie for that.

- Jenna?

- Absolutely, Mr. Vice President.

Red tie's the way to go.

Jenna. Jenna. Did you get me in?

- What do I get if I did?

- What do you want?

Dinner. Candlelight.

And a promise that you will try

to get to second base.

Done.

You're meeting with Carol Finnerty,

deputy special agent...

...in charge of the president's

Secret Service.

- I need a favour.

- This is a favour.

I need another favour.

I need a pass for my daughter.

- John--

- You don't understand.

She's a freak for this kind of stuff,

so if I get her in, I'm Dad of the Year.

I will owe you so much more

than just candlelight dinner.

- I'll make a call.

- Perfect. Thank you. You're the best.

--A truly historic handshake.

What President Sawyer is proposing

to Iranian president Al-Sharif...

...is withdrawing all American troops

across the entire Middle East...

...and for that he'll ask

his G8 partners for help.

It's all about money,

and who won't like this deal...

...are American companies who do

business with the American military.

Wanna grab the door? Em.

I'll get it.

- Hey.

- You're late.

- She thought you weren't coming.

- Why wouldn't I be coming?

Hey, you, little face.

Come on, get your stuff. Let's go, baby.

- Bye, Mommy. I love you.

- I love you too, sweetie.

What's up...?

I literally just walked in the door.

What did I do?

You missed her talent show.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote

James Vanderbilt

James Platten Vanderbilt (born November 1975) is an American screenwriter. He is best known for the films Zodiac, White House Down, The Amazing Spider-Man, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. more…

All James Vanderbilt scripts | James Vanderbilt Scripts

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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    "White House Down" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 12 Oct. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/white_house_down_23384>.

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