23rd century The flame fills the screen with a horrendous NOISE that.... 33 INT. APARTMENT ... wakes up a man trying to escape from a nightmare. KORBEN DALLAS rubs his head. Thirty five years old, short hair, powerfully built, unquestionable charm, good looking in spite of the scars here and there. The alarm clock is still ringing, it shows the date as March 18, 2359. It in two in the morning. He grabs a cigarette, and stops to look for a light. He shuts off the alarm. He hears a cat mewing in the hall. But it still rings. Korben takes a moment and then realizes it in the phone that is ringing. He grabs the phone and crosses his tiny apartment (27 feet long by 6 feet wide) heading for the door, patting himself for a light. Behind him, the bed makes itself automatically. Out come a handful of war decorations, a hero's collection. Oh, yeah, I forgot.You still prefer your cat to the real thing. A picture of Korben and his ex-wife on their wedding day. KORBEN At least, the cat comes back. - space fighter pilot - reckless taxi driver - a mugger attempts to rob him, - added a Z140 to my gun collection - Alleviated titanium neuro charged assault model - 9 points left to his driver's license - an angel fell from the sky... and recked my cab - I was going to give her over to the cops, but she was so helpless... and beautiful. She was crying, bleeding, she looked scared... - "please help" she said. that's all she said. I couldn't resist her eyes. - "I hate it when people cry, I have no defense" - I was driving like a mad man to escape the cops, but they kept sending new cars after me GIRL Daya deo dono Dato. Dalutan! KORBEN It there's one thing I don't need advice on, it's how to drive. Korben turns his cab sideways and scrapes through a narrow passageway, ripping his taxi light from the roof. The police car smashes into the wall. The other one brakes just in time. The police car roars up, sirens screaming then slows down and checks out a dead-end flanked by a large vertical neon billboard. The dead-end is empty . Korben's cab is hidden vertically behind the billboard. Seeing nothing, the police drive away. The girl grabs his shirt collar and pulls him close, whispers in his ear. The girl nods, then faints. Korben is somewhat lost faced with so much mystery. Then I met a weird guy with some ancient name - Vito Cornelius. I tell him of the girl. Next thing I know he faints. Why is everyone fainting around me? "This woman is mankind's most precious possession" he says. Korben looks at the girl, goes to slap her, then changes his mind. Her beauty troubles him. He hesitates, then, gently caresses her cheek. Her skin seems so soft, so fragile. Korben gently kisses the girl's cheeks, but she doesn't respond. He looks around then kisses her on the lips. The girl's eyes snap open. When Korben straightens up he discovers his own gun jammed under his chin. GIRL (angry) Eto Akta Gamat! KORBEN (embarrassed) I'm sorry, it's just that... I was told to wake you up gently, so I figured... The girl pauses a moment. She stares at him, looks puzzled. GIRL ...Leeloo. Korben is falling in love. KORBEN That's... really cute... Cornelius bursts into the room. She turns the gun on him. He bows before her. CORNELIUS Appipulai Leeloo Minai.. LEELOO Corn-i-Lius? CORNELIUS (bowing) At your service. LEELOO lowers her guard starts to laugh. An irresistible childish laugh. Korben smiles. The priest keeps talking about a supreme being and he's anxious to get rid of me. KORBEN Excuse me! Just one thing! She said something to me a while ago and... I don't really get it... Akta Gamat? CORNELIUS It means, "Never without my permission". KORBEN Finger..man..I'm sorry..listen..I was on the way over but I had a fare fall into my lap.. y'know one of those big fares you just can't resist.. FINGER (V.O.) (suspicious) So, just how big was this fare? KORBEN 5'7", green eyes... long legs... great skin... perfect.. - smoker - then a thai cook gives me philosophical advice while I receive a message about being fired MOTHER (V.O.) You're the nastiest dirtbag I know in this stinking City! KORBEN (resigned) Hi Ma... MOTHER (V.O.) I've been playing twice a week for 20 years, 20 years I've been eating those shitty croquettes. Korben goes to light his cigarette. There are only two matches left in the match box. Korben strikes one and it fizzles. MOTHER (V.O.) You wouldn't even eat one to help your poor mother, and you win the big prize? Know something? The whole thing makes me sick! KORBEN All I want is an explanation! I just got in, I lost my job. I smashed my cab. I got mugged, but other than that everything's peachy, Ma, thanks for asking!! Now settle down and explain to me calmly.. You just won a trip, you dolt! Ten days in Fhloston Paradise for two! MUNRO (clipped) Major Dallas, if our calculations are correct you still have 57 hours owed to the Federal Army on your enlistment which is more than you will need for a mission of the utmost importance. KORBEN What mission? MUNRO To save the world. KORBEN Where have I heard this song before? MUNRO You're to leave immediately for Fhloston Paradise. Retrieve four Stones from the Diva Plavalaguna. And bring them back with the utmost discretion as possible. Any questions'? MUNRO (by rote) You have won the annual Gemini contest and a trip to Fhloston Paradise. For two. Congratulations. Here are your tickets. He hands Korben the tickets. Korben gets it. KORBEN You rigged the contest? Munro nods. MUNRO Major Iceborg will accompany you... as your wife... The idea of taking a trip with Iceborg makes him sick. KORBEN (sarcastic) You couldn't come up with something a little more discreet? ------------ He brushes his hair back and opens the door with a big smile only to discover a gun stuck between his eyes held by Cornelius. LEELOO Apipoulai! KORBEN I suppose that means "Hi" ? CORNELIUS I'm sorry to have to resort to such methods, but we heard about your good luck on he radio and we need the tickets to Fhloston. KORBEN Is that the usual way priests go on vacation? CORNELIUS We're not going on vacation..we're on a mission.. KORBEN What kind of mission? CORNELIUS (sincere) We have to save the world. VOICE This is a police control action.. Everyone freezes as the whole building resounds with the electronic voice. 111 INT. LANDING KORBEN'S BUILDING A group of POLICEMEN bursts into the hallway. One of the cops enters a code on the police wall box. A device descends from the ceiling, a flashing light-siren, a VOICE fills the air. VOICE This is not an exercise. This is a police control. Cornelius starts to panic. Korben takes charge. He hangs up. RIGHT ARM They just arrested the guy for Uranium smuggling. Everything's going as planned. Korben opens the shower door. Leeloo is soaking wet, her teeth chattering from the cold. KORBEN I'm really sorry.. there wasn't time. His eyes fall on an old blanket. KORBEN Here let me wrap you up. Korben wraps her in an blanket and vigoroualy rubs her back. Leeloo warms gradually and snuggles closer to that warm comfortable shoulder. Korben's rubbing slows, looking more like caresses. KORBEN ..It's funny. I've met you twice today and you've ended up in my arms both times. Leeloo suddenly realizes that she has maybe gone a bit too far. She recovers, looking embarrassed too. LEELOO (nicely) Valo massa... Chacha hamas. KORBEN Uh..you're welcome. The intimacy makes him nervous. He looks for a diversion. Prepares her coffee She savors the honey, slowly; sensually. Her lips shine with honey. Her eyes narrow with pleasure. Korben is hypnotized by her lips, like a moth attracted to a flame. He begins to lose control, which makes him nervous. An indistinct sound comes from the wall. But Korben is so entranced with the sight of Leeloo licking her honied fingers, he doesn't hear it until it becomes quite a racket. Cornelius whacks him heavily on the head with a lamp. Korben drops to the floor. Jesus!... Some priest! The priest's son attempts to take the trip with Leeloo, using a fake ID. STEWARDESS You are so lucky... Loc Rhod is the coolest DJ in the universe. KORBEN Listen... I don't want to be interviewed. I'd prefer to remain anonymous. The stewardess stops in the corridor. STEWARDESS Forget anonymous. You'll be doing Loc Rhod's live show every day from 5 to 7! In walks LOC RHOD amidst a tornado of music and security guards. He is young, good-looking, eccentric, charming as an elf or sly as a fox. A bundle of energy. He is the 24th century's most popular DJ. The scene in the space shuttle The space shuttle fills the screen. It banks left and begins its descent toward Fhloston, the turquoise planet. Crystal blue water, perfect white sand beaches. A true paradise. The BAGGAGE BOY enters bringing Leeloo's two suitcases. Korben grabs the notice announcing Diva Plavalaguna's concert at 5:30 in that evening. Dress: Formal attire. KORBEN For the concert it says formal attire... I didn't bring... The hostess pulls back the closet door. Twenty tuxedos in a row. HOSTESS (looking him over) Here's some champagne. I'll drop by after the concert to open it. She gives him a blinding smile and closes the door. Korben pushes a button. The curtains open to reveal a most spectacular view of the turquoise planet. Stars shoot out into infinity. Breathtaking. Korben stands gaping. The phone rings, snapping him out of his reverie. Mom nagging LEELOO OK, you can turn around! Korben turns around. Leeloo has put on a very simple dress which is sexy to the max. He is smitten. So much so that Leeloo wonders if something isn't quite right. KORBEN Where you going? LEELOO I'm going to see the Diva sing. What's the matter?... Do I look bad? KORBEN No, not at all! I mean, just the opposite, you're... you're beautiful! Leeloo smiles at him, his compliment pleases her. She turns, revealing her unzippered back. Korben cannot help but stare at her bare flesh. Her perfect bottom. But instead of pulling on the zipper he slips a bracelet on her wrist. A flourescent beam bursts out of the bracelet and forms a vertical bar going from the floor to the ceiling. Stunned, Leeloo is held captive. 180 INT. KORBEN'S SUITE Leeloo, still a prisoner, listens to the concert. 181 INT. CONCERT HALL Korben is tense. The curtain rises. The Diva, in a stunning gown, stands in the center of the stage, head bowed. Behind her, a star filled window. The MUSIC begins. The Diva looks up, a rare beauty, but an alien. And then she begins to sing. Her voice is divine, unmatched. Korben is swept up in the TEARS. 182 INT. KORBEN'S SUITE Leeloo has tears in her eyes DIVA (weak) You're a good man... She was right to have chosen you... KORBEN Who? DIVA The Fifth Element... The Supreme Being... Your wife... Korben is floored. KORBEN Leeloo... is... she's... DIVA Yes, and more than that... You must give her the Stones, she's the only one who knows how to use them. KORBEN (to himself, suddenly realizing) ...So Cornelius was telling the truth! -------- DIVA She needs you. She needs your help and your love. She's more fragile than she seems... Korben looks around, ready for another attack. KORBEN ...Yeah, so am I. The Diva takes his hand. DIVA She was taught to love the life of others... but not her own. You have to teach her to love if you want her to truly live! KORBEN (uncomfortable) I'll help her, I promise, but I think you should tell me where the Stones are! DIVA Do you love her? KORBEN I... I don't know! We hardly know each other... it takes time! DIVA I don't have time... I need to know. KORBEN Listen, the last time I admitted to a woman I loved her ... I never saw her again. DIVA I would like to have died in peace... He touches the Diva's stomach and senses something hard. Girding himself, he sticks his hand in the wound and pulls out a Sacred Stone. Then another. And another. Korben pulls out all four Stones, covered in blue blood. Everyone has left the theater. The Mangalores check the aisles one by one. A Mangalore spots Korben kneeling alongside the Diva. He grabs Korben by the shoulder and pokes him with his gun. MANGALORE Hey, you! With the others! Korben spins and, in one swift motion, breaks his arm. Just for starters. Another WARRIOR rushes over. Korben punches him into oblivion and snatches the gun. The EMPEROR rolls the balls over to Korben. The Mangalore loads more missiles and shatters another part of the bar. Korben hides behind the last bit left. KORBEN How far is he from here? The EMPEROR glances at the Mangalore, who in reloading. EMPEROR I'd say about thirty yards to the left. Korben hefts the ball, jumps up and hurls it with blinding speed. The Mangalore catches it right in the head. He drops, firing in the air. The missile strikes the ceiling which collapses on him. The emperor gives Korben a thumb's up. We got to find the leader. Mangalores don't fight without a leader. Korben walks quickly into the room, heads straight for Akanit, raises his gun and puts a bullet through his head. KORBEN Anyone else want to negotiate? LOC RHOD Korben man... what the hell is this? Korben gives the bomb a prefunctory glance. KORBEN A molecular bomb. Three minutes left on the timer. Korben breathes out, bothered. He turns his attention to the bomb. KORBEN It's the latest model.. I've never seen one before... it works off a magnetic coded card... Let's see if I can rig it up. 235 INT. AIRSHAFT Leeloo sticks her fingers out one of the bullet holes and lets some of her blood drip down. The blood splats on Korben's hand. He snaps his head up and knows immediately who is up there. He forgets about the bomb. LOC RHOD Hey! What are you doing? The bomb! Korben drags the desk over, jumps on it and pokes his head in the torn up airshaft He spots Leeloo who gives him a weak smile. KORBEN Don't worry, I'm here now! He pulls her toward him, helps her out of the shaft and stretches her out on the desk. KORBEN Just relax. I've got the Stones. Everything's going to be fine. 30 seconds left on the timer. LOC RHOD (falling to pieces) Like Korben, can I have 30 seconds of your time here? KORBEN (to Leeloo) I'll be right back. Korben dashes over to the bomb. He is stopped by the barrel of the ZF1. Zorg, in person, holding a magnetic card. ZORG (smiling) Allow me... Zorg slips a small magnetic card in the bomb, it starts to count down from 5 minutes. ZORG Just for the fun of it. Loc Rhod faints. ZORG Well, what do we have here? Is this Korben Dallas? The famous winner of the Gemini Croquette contest? Or is this Korben Dallas from Special Section sent by old Lindberg himself. Korben doesn't reply. ZORG ...In any event, whoever you are, I was glad to meet you. Zorg fires at Korben who figures he is dead. Nothing. Zorg tries again. Nada. The clip is empty. Zorg starts to panic. The counter goes 1... 0 -The suite disintegrates - The corridor is consumed. -The main hall is no more. 246 EXT. FHLOSTON PARADISE The ZFX200 jets away as the enormous oceanliner explodes behind it. 247 INT. ZFX200 The ship stops shaking. That was a close one. Everyone's relieved. Korben gently wipes Leeloo's forehead with a cloth. She opens her eyes a little. KORBEN (gentle, loving) Apipoulai.. Leeloo smiles, weakly, feverish. LEELOO I'm so very sad. KORBEN Why? We did pretty well, wouldn't you say? LEELOO Five hundred wars... Arms... Drugs... Money... Everything you create is used to destroy... KORBEN I told you not to read all that crap! LEELOO Protect life... Until death.