Die Hard back Yippee ki yay, motherf*er.

page
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slugline
405 FREEWAY - LOS ANGELES - EARLY EVENING
INT. 747 - PASSENGERS - SAME
INT. THE NAKATOMI BUILDING (LOS ANGELES) - EVENING
HER OFFICE
INTERCUT:

1. HER OFFICE
2. INT. NICE HOUSE IN SANTA MONICA
INT. LAX - EVENING
WITH THE LIMO - DUSK
THE LIMO - CENTURY CITY
EXT. NAKATOMI BUILDING - NIGHT
INT. NAKATOMI LOBBY - NIGHT
INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT
30TH FLOOR - SAME
HOLLY'S OFFICE
EXT. NAKATOMI - NIGHT
INT. PARKING GARAGE
INT. ELLIS' OFFICE - NIGHT
INT. BUILDING LOBBY - SAME TIME
INT. ELLIS' OFFICE - NIGHT
INT. BUILDING OPERATIONS CONTROL ROOM
INT. LOBBY - SAME
INT. ELLIS' BATHROOM - 30th FLOOR - SAME
INT. BUILDING BASEMENT - PHONE ROOM
INT. ELLIS' BATHROOM - RESUME
INT. LIMO
INT. PHONE ROOM - SAME
INT. ELLIS' BATHROOM - SAME
INT. LIMO
ELLIS' OFFICE
INT. SERVICE ELEVATOR
INT. ELLIS' OFFICE
INT. STAIRWELL - SAME
31th FLOOR
UNFINISHED FLOOR
INT. 30th FLOOR (HOSTAGE FLOOR) - SAME
INT. STAIRWELL - 33rd FLOOR - SAME
INT. SERVICE ELEVATOR - NIGHT
INT. STAIRWELL
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - BOARD ROOM FLOOR - NIGHT
INSIDE THE SUPPLY CLOSET - MCCLANE
INT. LIMO - PARKING GARAGE
MACHINE LEVEL - TIGHT ON CEILING
VAULT ROOM - 31ST FLOOR
32ND FLOOR
INT. MAIN FLOOR - L.A. FIRE STATION - NIGHT
INT. NAKATOMI - GROUND FLOOR OPERATIONS ROOM - SAME
32ND FLOOR - SAME
INT. SERVICE ELEVATOR - ON HANS - SAME
MACHINE FLOOR
UNFINISHED FLOOR - SAME
STAIRWELL LANDING
INT. 32ND FLOOR - NIGHT
HOSTAGE FLOOR
ROOF OF ELEVATOR - SAME TIME
PUMP ROOM
30TH FLOOR (HOSTAGE FLOOR) - HOLLY'S OFFICE - SAME
HOSTAGES - AROUND THE CORNER
EXT. ROOF - NIGHT
INT. HANS' OFFICE - SAME
INT. LOS ANGLES EMERGENCY DISPATCH CENTER - SAME
INT. SERVICE ELEVATOR - ON KARL - SAME
EXT. UPPER ROOF
INT. DISPATCHER OFFICE - SAME
EXT. ROOF - ON MCCLANE - SAME
INT. EMERGENCY DISPATCH - SAME
INT. 7-11 - AT THE COUNTER - NIGHT
EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE
EXT. ROOF - ON MCCLANE - NIGHT
ELEVATOR SHAFT NEAR PUMP ROOM
INT. PUMP ROOM - OTHER END
INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT - ON MCCLANE
AIR SHAFT
INT. AIR CONDITIONING DUCT - ON MCCLANE - SAME
INT. MACHINE FLOOR
INT. AIR DUCT - SAME
MACHINE ROOM
INT. 33RD FLOOR - SAFE ROOM
EXT. CENTURY CITY - AVENUE OF THE STARS - NIGHT
INT. MACHINE ROOM - SAME
EXT. ROOF - SAME
INT. 3RD FLOOR - SAME
30TH FLOOR (HANS' OFFICE) - SAME
INT. LOBBY - SAME
ALEXANDER
EXT. FRONT DOOR OF NAKATOMI - SAME
INT. 34TH FLOOR - BOARD ROOM - SAME
INT. LOBBY - SAME TIME
WITH MCCLANE
EXT. ROOF
INT. MACHINE FLOOR
INT. LOBBY
BOARD ROOM - 34th FLOOR
HOSTAGE FLOOR
THE LOBBY
THE BOARD ROOM
INT. LOBBY - SAME
INT. 34TH FLOOR BOARD ROOM - SAME
INT. POWELL'S POLICE CAR - SAME
INT. 34TH FLOOR - BOARD ROOM
INT. OFFICE - TV STATION - SAME TIME
EXT. CENTURY CITY - NIGHT
INT. HOSTAGE WING - ON ELLIS - SAME
HANS' OFFICE
MCCLANE - 34th FLOOR - BOARD ROOM
INT. 30TH FLOOR - SAME
THEO - IN SAFE ROOM
(INTERCUT)
Intercut:

1) INT. 33RD FLOOR - ON MCCLANE - NIGHT

2) EXT. POLICE OPERATIONS TRAILER

3) HANS AND KARL
EXT. POLICE OPERATIONS - NIGHT
HOSTAGE FLOOR
ANOTHER TV SCREEN - NIGHT
OUTSIDE THE BUILDING - SAME TIME
Intercut:

1) MCCLANE

2) OUTSIDE
IN HOLLY'S OFFICE - HANS
EDDIE
VARIOUS SHOTS - TERRORISTS - ON OTHER FLOORS
AT THE LOBBY DOOR
EXT. CENTURY CITY - ON MITCHELL AND ROBINSON - POLICE BARRICADES
QUICK SHOTS - INSIDE THE LOBBY
THE VAULT DOOR
INT. LOBBY - NIGHT
ANGLE ON TWO SWAT OFFICERS
INT. 33RD FLOOR - MCCLANE
EXT. POLICE BARRICADES - ON MITCHELL AND ROBINSON
IN HOLLY'S OFFICE - HANS
INT. LOBBY
EXT. POLICE BARRICADES - ON MITCHELL AND ROBINSON
INT. ROOF-MACHINE ROOM/SERVICE ELEVATOR - SAME
WITH THEO - WATCHING SCREENS
INT. 3RD FLOOR - SAME
EXT. THE ARMORED CAR
30TH FLOOR - HANS
MCCLANE
3RD FLOOR
EXT. POLICE BARRICADE - ON ROBINSON AND MITCHELL
INT. ELEVATOR CAR - 3RD FLOOR - SAME
INT. 33RD FLOOR - CLOSE ON A SHAPE ON PLASTIC 208 EXPLOSIVE - SAME
INT. 3RD FLOOR
INT. 38TH FLOOR
ON THE 3RD FLOOR
EXT. AVENUE OF THE STARS
INT. UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE - ON WILLIAM - SAME
EXT. DOWN ON THE STREET - SAME
ON HOSTAGE FLOOR
ANGLE ON HOLLY
INTERCUT

1) INT. 32ND FLOOR - MCCLANE - SAME

2) EXT. POWELL
INT. LIMO - ARGYLE - SAME
INTERCUT

1) INT. 33RD FLOOR - ON MCCLANE
TV - CLOSE
THE OFFICE
INTERCUT

1) POWELL

2) INSIDE - MCCLANE
THORNBURG - IN TRAILER
POWELL
INTERCUT

MCCLANE AND HANS

1) MCCLANE
2) HANS
3) INT. POLICE TRAILER - ON POWELL, ROBINSON - SAME
INT. 33RD FLOOR - MCCLANE
30TH FLOOR - HOLLY AND HOSTAGES
INT. HANS' OFFICE - ON HANS
EXT. BUILDING
INTERCUT

1) HANS' OFFICE
2) MCCLANE
3) Police (un-slugged)
INTERCUT

1) VAULT ROOM
2) HANS' OFFICE
MCCLANE - 32ND FLOOR
INT. TV STUDIO - NIGHT
INT. NAKATOMI - HOSTAGE FLOOR
INT. BUILDING - MACHINE FLOOR
OUTSIDE THE BUILDING
THE MECHANICAL FLOOR - TIGHT ON HANS
OUTSIDE BUILDING
THE COMPUTER FLOOR
BANK OF COMPUTERS
INT. TV TRAILER
HOSTAGE FLOOR
UPSTAIRS - WASHROOM
VAULT ROOM - SAME TIME
HANS' OFFICE
INTERCUT

1) INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
2) POWELL - OUTSIDE
INT. VAULT ROOM - NIGHT
EXT. BUILDING
MCCLANE
OUTSIDE
THE HOSTAGES
THE VAULT ROOM
EXT BUILDING
IN THE VAULT ROOM
OUTSIDE
IN THE VAULT ROOM
THORNBURG'S TV TRUCK
OUTSIDE THE NAKATOMI BUILDING
INTERCUT

1) VAULT ROOM
2) OUTSIDE THE NAKATOMI BUILDING
INTERCUT

1) INT. BATHROOM
2) OUTSIDE THE NAKATOMI BUILDING
HOLLY'S FRONT DOOR
THE MECHANICAL FLOOR
EXT. BUILDING - POLICE LINES
MACHINE FLOOR
HOSTAGE FLOOR - NIGHT
THE MACHINE FLOOR
INSIDE AN FBI CHOPPER - IN FLIGHT
VAULT FLOOR
THE MACHINE FLOOR
THE VAULT ROOM
THE ROOF
POWELL AND ROBINSON
HOSTAGES ON THE ROOF
VAULT ROOM
MACHINE FLOOR
CHOPPERS - IN THE AIR
THE ROOF
IN THE WING CHOPPER - MID-AIR
INSIDE THE OTHER CHOPPER
INT. VAULT ROOM
THE ROOF
HOSTAGES - ON LOWER FLOORS (OR IN STAIRWELL)
IN THE CHOPPER
THE VAULT ROOM
THE ROOF
THE VAULT ROOM
LONG SHOT - THE ROOF
THE HOSTAGES
JOHNSON AND JOHNSON'S CHOPPER
MCCLANE
INSIDE THE BUILDING
THE ROOF
THE HOSTAGES
IN THE VAULT ROOM
MCCLANE
THE VAULT FLOOR BALCONY
EXT. BUILDING
IN THE BASEMENT
MCCLANE - ON THE VAULT FLOOR
IN THE BASEMENT
THE VAULT ROOM
EXT. BUILDING - DAWN
END
Scenes
Plane containing JM lands.
JM is told to take off shoes. We learn he's cop and attractive.
We meet Takagi, HE, and the Nakatomi company.
Meet HGM. She's a workaholic but fun.
Phone call between HGM and her children.
JM meets Argyle.
Argyle drives JM.
Establishing shot of Nakatomi Building.
Argyle drops off JM. He'll be hanging out for a while.
JM signs in.
Elevator ride to the top.
JM goes to the party, meets Takagi.
JM sees HGM, meets HE. It's all awkward.
The terrorist truck arrives, enters the parking lot - establishing shot.
The terrorist truck goes into the parking garage. Argyle doesn't notice - he's having too much fun with the limo goodies.
JM takes off his shoes and jacket. A nice moment with HGM turns into a fight.
Terrorists take over the guard station.
JM reaches for the phone.
Terrorists take full control of the building.
HG and the terrorists are in the building!
JM dials for Argyle.
Tony and Karl go to cut off the telephone service.
JM connects to Argyle
Argyle responds, JM is unsure of state with HGM.
Karl cuts the phone lines.
More talk.
Phone is cut off.
Phone is cut off.
HG and the terrorists come to the party.
JM escapes the office with a gun.
JM has escaped with no shoes.
JM on the run.
JM tries to call for help, phone is dead.
The Nakatomi workers are now hostages. HG takes Takagi.
JM checks out the lay of the land.
HG takes Takagi to another part of the building.
JM sees the terrorists prepping their gear.
HG tries to get Takagi to give him password, kills Takagi when that fails. JM sees how bad the terrorists are, but doesn't see HG. HG hears JM, sends Tony after him.
JM hides.
Argyle is preoccupied and hears nothing.
Heinrich is doing something.
Theo starts work on the vault.
JM decides to pull fire alarm.
911 system sends firemen.
Eddie sees the fire alarm on the building's control center.
JM sees fire trucks coming.
HG tells Eddie what to do to stop the fire trucks and finds out where the alarm is.
Heinrich, Marco, and Uli are working on something.
JM sees the fire trucks turning back. Tony shows up and JM hides, but Tony comes for him. Tony and JM start fighting.
JM inadvertently kills Tony, takes his stuff.
Tony's shoes don't fit JM. JM sends the body to the hostages as a gift, but rides the elevator down himself.
HG speaks to hostages, but Tony's body crashes the party.
JM studies terrorists from top of elevator. Terrorists take elevator up, JM doesn't get squashed (but it's close).
JM gets to the roof via the Pump Room.
HG tells Karl that Tony is dead.
HGM and HE see that the terrorists have problems, connect the dots and realize it's JM causing problems.
JM uses the CB to call for help.
HG hears the call, realizes JM is on the roof.
Emergency dispatchers try to blow off JM.
Terrorists go hunting for JM.
JM tries to convince dispatcher as Terrorists start shooting at him.
Dispatcher and Supervisor hear gunshots.
JM runs from terrorists.
Supervisor decides to send cop out to check on things.
We meet AP buying Twinkies. He gets called to check out Nakatomi Plaza.
AP gets in car to go to Nakatomi.
JM flees from terrorists.
JM still fleeing from terrorists.
Karl pursues JM.
As Karl pursues, JM flees into the airshaft.
JM lowers himself into airshaft, gets to duct.
JM gets into duct.
Karl pursues, fires into duct from below.
JM cowers in duct.
Karl tries to identify where in duct JM is as JM cowers, finally Karl leaves.
Theo is making progress opening the safe.
AP comes to the tower, sees the guard inside.
JM comes out of the duct.
James (tall terrorist) looks over the roof at AP's car.
Some terrorists set up a firing position on AP's car.
Hans checks in with Eddie.
HG tells Eddie to let AP in.
Alexander is disappointed to not be shooting.
Eddie and AP talk.
JM sees that AP's car is here, is disappointed at lack of action.
Eddie tries to make AP think nothing is going on.
JM starts smashing a window to get AP's attention.
James sees that JM is breaking the window and reports it on the radio.
Other terrorists rush to confront JM.
AP looks around, misses seeing a terrorist with a gun.
JM gets in gunfight with two terrorists.
On hearing gunshots, HGM is worried.
AP doesn't hear gunshots, starts to leave.
JM and Marco in a shoot-out with JM under a table, Marco on top. JM wins.
AP leaves the building.
JM sees AP leaving, is unhappy, gets an idea.
AP calls in the false-alarm when Marco's body comes crashing down. AP flees from gunshots and calls for backup.
JM is satisfied with the result of his actions.
RT, a newsman, enters the movie on hearing AP's call on the police scanner. He calls for a remote truck to go to the building.
Police arrive in force.
HE is happy to hear police.
HG confers with his guys, gets contacted on CB.
JM talks to HG on the CB . JM finds plastique and the detonators.
Karl reports on deaths to HG.
Theo gives status report to HG.
JM talks to AP on the CB while HG and Karl listen.
DR, the police chief present, arrives and gets briefed by AP. He's a jerk. RT and the news truck arrives.
HGM asks for stuff from HG. HG sees RT on TV.
Argyle watches TV report, realizes something's going down.
DR orders in the SWAT team.
JM realizes somethings getting ready to happen. He and AP talk on CB.
HG warns his guys to get ready on CB.
Eddie prepares for action.
Terrorists get ready for action.
SWAT team approaches door.
DR orders the raid.
Establishing shot of security cameras.
Theo reports on the oncoming raid.
Eddie and Uli prepare for action.
SWAT officers start cutting their way into the lobby.
JM tries to see what's going on, can't.
Terrorists shoot out police lights.
HG orders the officers be wounded.
Eddie and Uli fire on SWAT team.
Police order in armored car.
James and Alexander prepare an anti-tank gun.
Theo watches the screens and reports on the armored car.
James and Alexander prepare the anti-tank gun.
Ka-boom! The armored car is hit!
HG orders another shot.
JM pleads with HG to not fire again. HG refuses.
James goes to fetch another shot from the crate.
The cops are horrified by the explosion, try to get them back.
James comes back with the shell.
JM prepares to drop a makeshift bomb down the elevator where they're firing the anti-tank gun.
James and Alexander get ready to fire again.
JM drops the bomb. It explodes real good.
Explosion!
The police cower from the explosion.
William in the garage feels the explosion.
RT has the explosion on film!
HG realizes what's happening.
HGM reacts.
JM and AP confer about the explosion. DR is none too happy but JM tells him off.
Argyle hears JM telling him off, cheers.
JM recovers from his tantrum, AP comforts him.
TV identifies HG. Hostages are watching. HE decides to negotiate with terrorists.
HE comes in to negotiate.
AP and JM talk about Twinkies. HG breaks into the conversation with JM's name.
RT gets JM's name, is gleeful.
AP notes JM's name.
JM, HE, and HG talk while cops listen. The talk goes nowhere, but HG shoots HE.
JM reacts to HE getting killed.
HGM and hostages react to HE getting killed.
HG threatens JM.
DR is angry with JM, but AP defends him. HG starts talking to the police.
HG makes his demands while JM skeptically listens.
Theo is down to his last lock. HG assures him other locks will be handled. HE sends Karl after detonators.
JM talks to AP. He's skeptical about the explosion.
A comic scene that shows that the newscasters are stupid.
Fritz drags out HE's body, undercutting the TV show.
HG checks the plastique on the machine floor. He puts down his gun.
The FBI arrive.
HG and JM meet! HG convinces JM he is harmless hostage.
DR briefs the Johnsons.
JM and HG talk. HG tries to shoot JM, but JM gave him an unloaded gun. Karl, Franco, and Fritz interrupt with gunfire.
JM cowers, kills Franco. HG and Karl shoot the glass, causing big problems for the barefoot JM. JM escapes, though with cut feet. HG gets back his detonators.
RT finds out where the McClane's live.
HGM realizes that JM is still alive because of how mad the terrorists are.
JM's feet are bad off.
The last lock but one is opened.
HG responds to news of the lock.
JM tends to foot. AP tells why he isn't a street cop any more.
HG reveals plan: FBI will cut power which will open the last lock.
FBI get city engineers to cut power.
JM notes power going down, talks with AP.
AP says FBI turns off power as part of terrorist playbook.
React to power going off.
HG and Theo need more power outage!
Power goes back on, Johnsons order the whole grid taken down.
The safe opens!
FBI guys gloat at power being down.
The terrorists celebrate!
RT is driving along.
AP is snarky to the FBI. The Johnsons reveal that they will attack with helicopters.
HG negotiates with the Johnsons, notes he will blow the roof.
JM asks AP to give apology to HGM. He decides to check out upstairs.
RT bullies his way into the McClane house.
JM discovers the explosives on the roof. Karl appears and smashes JM's CB.
AP is cut off from JM. Choppers are on the way.
Karl and JM fight.
Terrorists herd hostages to roof, except for HGM. HG discovers HGM is Mrs McClane.
Karl and JM fight some more.
The choppers are flying towards the building, are willing to see lots of hostages die.
HG tries to reach JM, but cannot because JM'
JM and Karl fight even more! But the CB is definitely smashed.
HG can't reach JM on the CB.
Uli herds the hostages to the roof. Helicopters are coming.
AP and DR watch the choppers coming in.
Hostages cheer for the choppers. Uli abandons them to their fate.
HGM taunts HG, who is proud of being a thief.
JM wins the fight! Karl is hung up on chains.
Choppers coming in!
JM appears, kills Uli, starts herding hostages back off roof. JM finds out HGM is being held by HG.
FBI agents think JM is a terrorist!
Johnsons get ready to shoot JM.
Hostages are coming back down!
JM gets hostages off roof, but FBI fires on him.
Hostages flee
Johnsons fire on JM.
HG orders that the roof be blown.
JM flees from the choppers, rappels off the roof with the firehose.
HG blows the roof
Kaboom! The roof explodes!
They're okay.
But the choppers are caught in the explosion!
JM rappels off roof as everything explodes. There's some business with the hose coming loose. But JM swings and shoots his way back into the building.
JM gets in the building, but he has to scramble to free himself from the firehose.
More explosion!
More reaction!
Men load the bonds.
The elevator is destroyed by the explosion!
JM avoids being killed in the explosion.
The police see the explosion.
Argyle sees Theo get in the ambulance and get ready to escape.
JM sees HGM being taken away, but he only has two more bullets!
Argyle takes down Theo.
JM confronts HG over HGM. JM knocks out Kristoff, kills Eddie and HG.
JM and HGM stumble out of building. JM meets AP. Karl appears full of vengeance, but AP kills him. Argyle drives JM and HGM off in the dented limo. HGM decks RT.
Joe's Acts
Act One: Setting the stage.

JM arrives to reconcile with HGM.
HGM resists and JM has first clash.
HG and the terrorists arrive.
JM escapes into the building.
End of Act One: the terrorists have the building and JM is on the loose.

The terrorists are now an obstacle to JM reconciling with HGM.
Act Two: Getting police attention.

JM works hard to get the attention of the police.
But HG's cleverness and 911 dispatcher dickishness provide obstacles.
JM perseveres and overcomes and finally gets police attention.
End of Act Two: The Police are now here in force.
Act Three: Getting rid of the Police.

The arriving police turn out to be obstacles largely because they are dicks.
When they arrive, the FBI are even worse.
JM has to remove the official dicks from the board before he can deal with HG.
End of Act Three: The official dicks are off the board.

The FBI are dead.
The Police, faced with the magnitude of what's going on, are neutralized.
JM is now on his own.
Act Four: The final confrontation.

With all extraneous factors off the playing field, JM is finally free to confront HG.
End of Act Four: JM has won.

JM won his confrontation with HG.
Karl is finally neutralized for good.
JM is reconciled with HGM, who is now HM.
Super-scenes
Die Hard takes what in most movies would be individual scenes and spreads the action across many different locations with different sets of characters. But these are tied together by unity of time and action. I call these super-scenes and list them here.
A phone conversation between JM and Argyle is interrupted when terrorists cut the building's telephone lines.
JM tries to alert authorities to the terrorists by setting off the fire alarm. When Tony comes to investigate, JM accidentally kills him.
JM uses Tony's body to taunt the terrorists and gather information about them.
JM calls for help with the CB, but is rudely interrupted by terrorist gunfire.
JM fleeing from Karl and the other terrorists.
AP at the Tower.
The police arrive to the party.
Various CB communications.
Various responses to things happening.
The SWAT team goes in.
Explosion aftermath.
Word of JM's identity spreads and HE is killed.
T
Climactic scenes that are largely joined by unity of time.
Sequences
JM lands.
Meet HGM and Nakatomi.
JM comes to the party.
Things escalate as the terrorists arrive and JM and HGM fight.
JM on the loose, initial attempts to get help as the hostage situation develops.
Takagi is killed, escalating stakes.
Terrorists settle into their plan as JM starts causing minor issues.
JM tries to get help as the terrorists come after him.
AP is introduced as JM finally gets the police's attention.
Police and news gather and join the action.
The police launch a raid.
HE talks himself into getting killed while JM's identity is revealed.
Short sequence about stupid news guys.
HG and JM meet.
The low point: HG has the vault open, JM is at a low point.
Helicopter sequence, along with JM and Karl fight.
Final confrontation with HG.
Wrap-up.
Scene transitions
Fire alarm is set off.
Fire alarm is registered on the building.
Appearance of fire trucks in response to alarm.
Fire trucks turn back in response to Eddie's talking to 911 dispatchers.
Continuous action as Tony and JM burst through door to stairwell.
Body appears down elevator as sent by JM.
Terrorist speech is continuous as JM hears it from top of elevator.
HGM and HE notice terrorist reaction to Tony's death.
Mention of JM leads us to look for what he's up to.
JM's CB call is heard by HG on CB.
Dispatchers receive JM's CB call.
Sound of gunshots over CB.
Intercut to previous location.
Intercut to previous location.
Continuous action.
Having seen the chased, we see the chasers.
Intercut back to JM.
Continuous action.
Continuous action.
Having seen the inside of the duct, now we see the outside.
Intercut on inside/outside of duct.
Intercut on inside/outside of duct.
AP's car ties this to the previous AP scene.
Visual on AP's car.
Thematic cut all about AP's appearance.
Intercut on CB call.
Intercut on CB call.
Intercut back to Eddie.
Bird's eye view of AP's car.
Intercut back to Eddie and AP.
Intercut back to JM's POV.
Sight of breaking window from a different floor.
Continuity of action from CB call.
Intercut back to AP.
Intercut back to JM.
Sound of gunshots.
I
Intercut with JM.
Intercut with AP.
Bird's eye view of AP.
Intercut with AP.
Bird's eye view of AP.
AP's police radio call picked up by RT.
S
Action following news of police arrival.
CB call initiated in previous scene.
HG calls Theo on the CB.
AP CB conversation continues, started in previous scene.
TV show seen by HG is now seen by Argyle.
JM senses that something's about to happen.
HG realizes something is about to happen.
Eddie acts in response to HG commands.
All terrorists respond to HG by getting ready.
Warning of action, action begins.
Receives notice that the team is ready.
Theo sees what cameras in the previous shot are seeing.
Responding to Theo's warning.
Action at same time as previous.
Same time, inside view.
Responding to McClane's noticing the lights.
Response to HG's command.
Implied response to notice of armored car.
Response to shot from previous.
Sight of explosion from shot.
Hears HG on CB.
Response to HG's order.
Sight of explosion.
Intercut from previous.
Explosion seen from different places.
Explosion.
Explosion.
Explosion.
Sound of explosion.
Sound of explosion.
CB call.
Intercut.
CB call.
CB call.
CB call.
CB call.
Present at HE's killing.
CB call.
In response to HG's speech.
Power outage.
CB call.
Power outage.
The building's power is resilient.
Power goes on.
P
Sight of smashed CB.
Smashed CB.
Sight of helicopters.
Helicopters.
Helicopters.
Seeing JM from chopper windows.
Other nearby chopper window.
Hostages running after previous scenes.
Explosion ordered in previous.
Sound of explosion.
Explosion.
Explosion.
Continuity.
Explosion!
Explosion!
Explosion!
Explosion!
Explosion!
Three act structure
Inciting Incident
Act Two starts
Poss
Possible midpoint
Act three begins
Save the Cat Beats
There is no Debate.
Opening Image (p1)
Theme Stated (p5)

"You mean you thought she wouldn't make it out here and she'd come crawling on back, so why bother to pack?"
Catalyst (p12)
Break into Two (p25)
B
Midpoint (p55)
All is Lost (75)
Break into Three (p85)
Final Image (p110) - JM and HGM ride off into the sunrise in the limo.
Save the Cat zones
Set-Up (p1-10)
Fun and Games (p30-55)
Bad Guys Close In (p55-75)
Dark Night of the Soul (p75-85)
Finale (p85-110)
Hero's Journey
There is no Refusal of the Call, Meeting the Mentor, Approach to the Inmost Cave, or Reward.
The ordinary world.

Establishment of the hero's status quo.
The call to adventure.

The hero is called on to do something.
Crossing the First Threshold.

The Hero goes on the adventure.
Tests, Allies, Enemies.

The Hero faces challenges, meets allies.
Ordeal.

The Hero faces his biggest test of all.

This is the fight with Karl.
The Road Back.

The Hero sees that there's a big challenge ahead.

Begin the Return.

Specifically, JM learns that HG has HGM.
Resurrection.

The Hero meets the final test.
The Return.

The Hero returns with the prize.
Hans's Hero's Journey
Crossing the First Threshold.

The Hero goes on the adventure.
Tests, Allies, Enemies.

The Hero faces challenges, meets allies.
Approach to the Inmost Cave.

The Hero gets closer to his goal.
Ordeal.

The Hero faces his biggest test of all.
Reward.

The Hero sees the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Road Back.

The Hero sees that there's a big challenge ahead.
Resurrection.

The Hero meets the final test.

Or, in this case, HG fails the final test.
Robert McKee acts
End of Act One: JM is now on the loose with terrorists in the building.

Value: Security.

Change: Negative. (Terrorists threaten the security of all involved, though JM is loose in the building.)
End of Act Two: JM has killed his first terrorist and declared his presence to the others.

Value: Justice.

Change: Positive. JM is now counter-balancing the terrorists.
End of Act Three: JM has now gotten police attention to what is going on.

Value: Justice.

Change: Positive.
End of Act Four: the police are ineffectual.

Value: Justice

Change: Negative - the police will not solve this problem as they are ineffectual.
End of Act Five: JM at low point.

Value: Justice

Change: Negative. JM has wounded feet and is hurt, but HG has got the vault open.
E
End of act seven: JM has won, terrorists are defeated.

Values: Justice and family.

Changes: All positive.
Hans is smart!
All the clear, clean action in establishing control over the building help establish the quality of HG's plan and thus his intelligence.
By identifying Takagi's suit, HG identifies himself as a cultured fellow.
HG effortlessly sends away the firemen. Meanwhile, he realizes that the floor where the alarm went off is a key clue to finding JM.
HG knows that JM getting out a clear CB call means JM is on the roof.
HG is cool and calm when AP arrives.
HG clearly has a plan for the police.
HG has provided for the armored car as well.
HG knows the police are not bombing them. Instead, JM caused the explosion.
HG has no problems delaying the cops with fake demands.
HG pulls of a terrific impersonation of a scared hostage on meeting JM.
HG realizes that shooting the glass around a barefoot JM is a good tactic.
Even the FBI are part of HG's plan.
HG's moment of brilliant triumph.
HG acknowledges his own brilliance by calling himself an exceptional thief.
SP: HGM and JM
JM lays out the problem: he and HGM are having difficulties.
JM sees that HGM is using her maiden name.
HGM's watch is established as a symbol of her job.
JM and HGM fight. Things are not good.
JM reports things are not well with HGM.
HGM defends JM in argument with HE.
HGM is happy JM is alive.
HGM's identity is revealed to HG. The stakes in this relationship go up.
HG tries to tell JM he has HGM.
JM realizes HGM is not with the other hostages, HG has her.
JM is going to try to save HGM.
JM saves HGM. She only avoids being pulled down by HG by removing her watch, the symbol of her work.
HGM declares herself as Holly McClane. JM and HGM are reconciled.
SP: Karl's Revenge
W
JM kills Tony, which motivates Karl's revenge. Essentially, this is the inciting incident of this subplot.
Karl swears revenge. He rages at JM.
Karl insists that only he gets to kill JM.
Karl turns off the CB. He is more motivated to kill JM than to follow HG's orders.
Karl starts shooting up duct to get JM.
Karl leaves without killing JM.
Karl's anger shows HGM that JM's still alive.
Karl gets the drop on JM, decides to cut off all communications so that he can deal with JM appropriately.
Epic fight between Karl and JM.
The fight continues. JM taunts Karl about his brother's death.
The fight continues.
JM wins the epic fight! Karl appears to be dead.
Karl makes one last attempt to kill JM, but is gunned down by AP.
SP: AP as a cop
We meet AP.
AP arrives at the plaza.
AP misses seeing stuff. Not super-bright, but a good guy.
AP thinks this is all a false alarm.
AP is aware of what's going on now.
JM welcomes AP to the game without yet knowing him.
More AP character stuff and bonding with JM.
AP comforts JM after explosion.
Twinkie callback.
AP stands up for JM, thus establishing him as a good cop by association.
Bonding between JM and AP.
AP reveals the sad story of why he's no longer a street cop.
AP knows how the FBI operates.
AP doesn't think much of the FBI.
AP proves himself a true cop by gunning down Karl, thus saving JM.
SP: HG steals some bonds
HG's terrorists arrive.
HG is now in control of the building.
First appearance of HG.
HG has full control of building and hostages now.
HG reveals his motive: this is a theft!

HG tries to get password from Takagi, fails, kills Takagi.
Theo starts work on opening vault.
Progress report: Theo is getting closer to opening the safe.
HG tells his men that the police getting involved are part of the plan.
Status report: Theo is making progress.
HG is identified on TV. His fellow terrorists disavow him.
HG distracts police with bogus demands meant to buy him time.
Progress report: only one lock to go!
All the locks except the magic final lock are now opened.
HG's plan for the final lock: when the FBI cuts power, the lock will open.
That power cut was not enough.
The safe opens! HG rejoices! Now he has the bonds!
Yay, bonds in hand!
HG gloats about being a thief.
HG orders explosion on roof: it's part of his escape plan.
The men will leave with the bonds.
HG explains the explosion plan, JM finds out this was all a big theft. HG is killed, ending this plot.
SP: Argyle's big night
We meet Argyle.
We meet Argyle's limo.
Argyle says he'll hang out.
Argyle is in the parking lot, partying by himself.
Argyle talks with JM, will wait around longer.
Argyle is too deep in his party to notice anything.
Argyle realizes things are happening.
Argyle is listening to the action on the CB.
Argyle sees Theo getting ready to escape.
Argyle proves his manhood by taking down Theo and stopping his escape.
Argyle drives JM and HGM away.
Characters present
JM - John McClane
HGM - Holly Gennero McClane
HG - Hans Gruber
AP - Al Powell
HE - Harry Ellis
DR - Dwane Robertson
RT - Richard Thornberg
JM, Salesman, Stewardess.
Takagi, HGM, HE
HGM, HE, Ginny
1. HGM, HE
2. Lucy McClane, John McClane Jr, Paulina
JM, Argyle.
JM, Argyle.
JM, Argyle
JM, Guard
JM
JM, Takagi
JM, HGM, HE, Takagi.
Argyle.
JM, HGM, Ginny
Theo, Karl, Guard.
JM
Theo
Theo, HG, the rest of the terrorists.
JM
Tony, Karl
JM
Argyle, JM (voice only)
Tony, Karl
JM, Argyle (voice only)
Argyle
JM
HG, terrorists.
JM, Franco, Fritz.
JM, Theo, Kristoff.
JM
HGM, HE, HG, terrorists, hostages, Takagi
JM
HG, Takagi, Karl, Tony
JM, James, Uli, Heinrich
HG, Takagi, JM, Karl, Tony, Theo
JM
Argyle
Heinrich, some terrorists.
HG, Theo
JM
911 Dispatcher
Eddie
JM
HG
Heinrich
JM, Tony
JM, Tony
JM, dead Tony
HG, hostages, Fritz, Franco, dead Tony
JM, HG, Fritz, Franco
JM
HG, Karl
HGM, HE
JM
HG, Karl, Fritz, Franco
Dispatcher, Supervisor, JM (voice)
Karl, Franco, Fritz
JM, Supervisor (voice)
Dispatcher, Supervisor
JM, Karl
Dispatcher, Supervisor
AP, Clerk, Dispatcher (voice)
AP
JM, Karl, Fritz, Franco
JM
Karl, Franco, Fritz, HG (voice only)
JM, Karl
JM, Karl
JM
Karl, Franco, Fritz
JM
JM, Karl, Franco, Fritz
Theo, Krisoff
AP, Eddie
JM
James
Karl, Franco, Fritz, Alexander
HG
Eddie, HG (voice)
Alexander
AP, Eddie
JM
AP, Eddie
JM
James
Heinrich, Marco
AP, Eddie, Uli.
JM, Heinrich, Marco.
HGM
AP, Eddie
JM, Marco
AP, Eddie
JM, dead Marco
AP, dead Marco
JM
RT, AP (voice), woman
AP, police.
HE, HGM
HG, Karl, Fritz, Franco
JM, HG, Karl, Fritz, Franco, dead Heinrich.
Karl, HG
Theo, Kristoff, HG, AP (voice)
1) JM
2) AP
3) HG, Karl, Franco, Fritz
DR, AP, RT
HGM, HG, Fritz, RT (on TV)
Argyle, RT (on TV)
AP, DR, cops
1) JM
2) AP, DR
HG
Eddie, Uli
Terror
S
DR, Mitchell (another cop)
Theo, Kristoff
Eddie, Uli
SWAT team, Mitchell, DR
JM
DR, Mitchell, AP
HG
Eddie. Uli, SWAT team
Mitchell
James, Alexander
Theo
James, Alexander, HG (voice)
Alexander, James
HG
JM, HG (voice)
James
Mitchell, DR, cop (voice)
James
JM
James
JM
James, Alexander
AP, DR, Mitchell
William
RT and crew
HG, terrorists, hostages
HGM, Ginny
1) JM

2) AP, DR
Argyle
1) JM
2) AP, DR, other cops
HGM, HE, hostages, HG
HG, HE, Karl, Fritz
1) AP
2) JM, HG (voice)
RT
AP
1) JM
2) HG, HE
3) AP, DR
JM
HGM
HG, JM (voice)
DR, AP, HG (voice)
1) HG, Karl
2) JM
3) DR
1) Theo, Kristoff
2) HG, Karl
JM, AP (voice)
News folk.
Fritz, dead HE
HG
DR, AP, cop, the Johnsons.
HG, JM
DR, AP, the Johnsons
JM, HG, Karl, Franco, Fritz
JM, HG, Karl, Franco
RT, news folk.
HG, Karl, Eddie, Uli, HGM, Ginny, hostages.
JM
Theo, Kristoff
HG
1) JM
2) AP
HG, Theo
Johnsons, DR
JM
AP
Hostages
HG, Theo, Kristoff
Johnsons, DR
HG, Theo, Kristoff
Johnsons, DR
HG, Theo, Kristoff
RT
AP, Johnsons
1) HG, Theo
2) DR, AP, Johnsons
1) JM
2) AP
RT, Paulina
JM, Karl
AP, cop
JM, Karl
Eddie, Uli, HGM, RT (on TV), McClane kids (on TV), HG
JM, Karl
Johnsons
HG, HGM, Theo, Kristoff
JM, Karl
HG, Theo
Uli, hostages
DR, AP
Uli, hostages
HG, HGM, Theo
JM, Karl
Johnsons
JM, Uli, hostages, Ginny
FBI agents
Johnsons
HG
JM
Hostages
Johnsons
HG, Kristoff
JM
HG
Hostages
Johnsons
JM
JM
Hostages
HGM, terrorists
JM
JM
AP, DR
Argyle, Theo
JM, HGM
Argyle, Theo
JM, HG, HGM, Eddie, Kristoff
JM, HGM, AP, Karl, Argyle, DR, RT.
POV character
None.
JM, one shot Salesman.
Takagi
HGM
1. HGM
2. Lucy and Paulina
JM
JM
None
JM
JM
JM
JM
JM
None
Argyle
JM
Guard, then Theo.
JM
Theo
HG
JM
Tony
JM
Argyle
Tony
JM
Argyle
JM
HG
JM
JM
JM
HGM, HG
JM
HG
JM
HG, JM alternate.
JM
Argyle
Heinrich.
Theo
JM
911 Dispatcher
Eddie
JM
HG
Heinrich
JM, then Tony
JM
JM
HG, HGM
JM
JM
HG
HGM
JM
HG
Dispatcher
Karl
JM
Dispatcher
JM
Dispatcher
AP
AP
JM
JM
Karl
JM, Karl alternating
JM, Karl alternating
JM
Karl
JM
JM and Karl alternating
Theo
AP
JM
James
Karl
HG
Eddie
Alexander
AP
JM
AP
JM
James
Heinrich
AP
JM
HGM
AP
JM
AP
JM
AP
JM
RT
AP
HE
HG
JM, then HG
HG
Theo
1) JM
2) AP
3) HG
AP
HG
Argyle
AP
1) JM
2) AP
HG
Eddie
Terrorists.
SWAT team.
Mitchell
None
Theo
Eddie
SWAT team
JM
AP
HG
Eddie
Mitchell
James
Theo
James
James
HG
JM
James
M
James
JM
James
JM
None
AP
William
RT
HG
HGM
1) JM

2) AP
Argyle
1) JM
2) AP
HGM
HG
1) AP
2) JM
RT
AP
1) JM
2) HG
3) AP
JM
HGM
HG
AP
1) HG
2) JM
3) DR
1) Theo
2) HG
JM
News folk.
Fritz
HG
AP
HG
AP
JM
JM, HG
HGM
JM
Theo
HG
1) JM
2) AP
HG
DR
JM
AP
None
HG
Johnsons
HG
Johnsons
HG
RT
AP
1) HG
2) AP
1) JM
2) AP
RT
JM
AP
JM
HGM
JM
Johnsons
HG
JM
HG
Uli
AP
Uli
HGM
JM
Johnsons
JM
FBI agents
Johnsons
HG
JM
Hostages
Johnsons
HG
JM
HG
None
Hostages
None
JM
JM
None
Hostages
HGM, terrorists
JM
JM
AP
Argyle
JM
Argyle
JM
JM
Exposition
JM and HGM are separated by distance if not formally.
The Nakatomi building is quite high tech.
And the elevators are fast.
Takagi is a nice guy.
JM and HGM were happy once.
Navigation around the building.
Navigation around the building.
Navigation around the building.
Navigation around the building.
HG's pretty cool for a bad dude.
Navigation around the building. Terrorists have some cool toys.
HG is not a terrorist - he's a thief out for a big payoff.
JM didn't stop HG from killing Takagi because he would have been killed himself.
The terrorists have CB radios. HG is smart, with a cool head in a crisis.
Security cameras are watching everything.
Setup
Argyle will hang out in the parking garage.
HGM now goes by Holly Gennero.
Holly's Rolex watch, a symbol of her job.
JM takes off his shoes.
JM is still barefoot.
JM has no shoes.
JM kills Tony, which motivates Karl's anger.
HG puts down his gun.
Deaders
Desk guard.
Takagi.
Tony
Heinrich
Marco
James, Alexander
HE
Fritz
Franco
Karl - or is he?
Uli
Johnsons, a bunch of FBI agents
Theo is taken out, but not killed. Lucky Theo!
HG, Eddie.
Kristoff is knocked out (lucky Kristoff!)
Karl - for real this time.