Die Hard Minute Podcast

Been sitting on this for *weeks* now. The logistics were nearly impossible.

You want miracles? I give you Mister and Mrs. John and Holly McClane, together again!

Happy Easter!

The lyrics of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy continue, as the credits roll.

Wem der große Wurf gelungen

Vaughn Monroe sings “Let It Snow!” as the credits continue.

Next, the lyrics of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy ring out.

Freude, Freude,

 Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,

Tochter aus Elysium,

Wir betreten feuertrunken,

Himmlische, dein Heiligtum.

Deine Zauber binden wieder

Was der Mode Schwert geteilt

Bettler werden Fuerstenbrueder

Wo dein sanfter Fluegel weilt.

Seid umschlungen, Millionen!

Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!

Brueder – ueber’m Sternenzelt

Muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.

John and Holly face each other in the back of the limo.  They  kiss.

Argyle closes the limo door and drives away, under an LAFD ladder truck. The rubble of the attack on Nakatomi plaza is smoking all around the roadway as they drive off.

Vaughn Monroe sings “Let It Snow!” as the credits appear.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful

IN THIS MINUTE:

Argyle: De’voreaux White

John McClane: Bruce Willis

Holly Gennaro McClane: Bonnie Bedelia

Behind the gun is Sgt. Al Powell, surprised that he’s overcome his fear of armed conflict. John looks at Karl’s body, then at Al.

Holly and John get up off the ground.

“All right, the two of you, go up and see if there’s anyone else,” says a police officer to other law enforcement staff.

Just then, Argyle busts through a garage  gate with his limo.  Al turns, ready with his pistol to stop further violence.

McClane puts his hand on Al’s arm. “This one’s with me,” says John, moving Al’s gun toward the ground.  John wraps his arm around Holly and walk toward Argyle’s limo.

Argyle waves at them from the limo.

“Mister McClane! Mister McClane!” interrupts Richard Thornburg, who thrusts a microphone in John’s face. “Now that it’s all over, after this incredible ordeal, what are your feelings?” The scene switches to a video view of the confrontation.

Holly punches Thornburg in the jaw. Thornburg staggers for a moment and grabs his nose.

“Well, well, well,” says McClane to Argyle. “Merry Christmas, Argyle.” Argyle holds the limo door open for the McClane couple. They climb inside.

“Merry Christmas,” says Argyle.

On-camera, Thornburg asks his producer, “Did you get that?”

Argyle closes the door and shakes his head. “If this is their idea of Christmas,” he says, “I’ve got to be there for New Years!”

John and Holly face each other in the back of the limo.  They’re about to kiss.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Richard Thornburg: William Atherton

Argyle: De’voreaux White

John McClane: Bruce Willis

Holly Gennaro McClane: Bonnie Bedelia

Sgt. Al Powell: Reginald VelJohnson

John McClane is introducing his wife to Sgt. Al Powell outside Nakatomi Tower.

“Holly,” he laughs, “Holly Gennaro.”

“Holly McClane,” Holly corrects, shaking hands with Al.

“Hello, Holly,” says Al, “You’ve got yourself a good man. You take good care of him.” Holly looks at John.

“McClane!” shouts Dwayne T. Robinson, from across the crowd of police and hostages. “McClane, I want a debrief! I want a debriefing – – you’ve got some things to answer for, Mister! Ellis’s murder, for one thing. Property damage, interfering with police business…”

Suddenly, there’s a loud scream. Karl, still alive, shoves a police officer out of the way and pulls out his Steyr AUG, aiming at Holly and John. McClane throws his wife to the ground as Karl levels his weapon at them.

A shot rings out from a Smith & Wesson Model 15, then four more shots follow. Karl is shredded by the impact of the bullets.

McClane is shocked by the turn of events.

Another shot from the Smith & Wesson, and Karl falls to the ground.

Behind the gun is Sgt. Al Powell, surprised that he’s overcome his fear of armed conflict. John looks at Karl’s body, then at Al.

Karl: Alexander Godunov

Dwayne T. Robinson: Paul Gleason

John McClane: Bruce Willis

Holly Gennaro McClane: Bonnie Bedelia

Sgt. Al Powell: Reginald VelJohnson

Now in firemen’s coats, John and Holly descend from the wrecked stairway of the lobby, aided by first responders. Papers continue to fall from the sky.

John looks out at the crowd of emergency personnel.  He sees an LAPD sergeant smiling at him. It’s Al Powell.

McClane mouths the word, “Pal,” and Al smiles wider and nods.  John and Holly make their way toward him. They pause in front of each other, then Al breaks into laughter and hugs John. McClane laughs and cries at the same time.

“Al, this is my wife,” says John.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane

Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell

John pulls Holly back into the 30th floor. They embrace, and kiss each other.

Smoke, fire, and explosions continue on the rooftop of Nakatomi Tower, as a  blizzard of office papers float down from the broken windows of the building. Firemen and EMS personnel cover the plaza, dealing with burning cars and debris.

The KFLW-TV 14 NEWS van winds its way through the rubble, coming to a halt in the plaza.

“Come on – come on, we’re going to miss it!” shouts Thornburg.

“Hand me my notes!” says his producer.

Now in firemen’s coats, John and Holly descend from the wrecked stairway of the lobby, aided by first responders. Papers continue to fall from the sky.

“Thank God it’s over!” says a passerby.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane

William Atherton as Richard Thornburg

McClane turns and shoots Eddie in the head.

“Happy trails, Hans,” says John, as Hans falls against the broken window of the 30th floor.  As the window breaks, Hans grabs Holly’s arm, dragging her toward the window ledge. Holly screams as Hans wraps his hand around the trophy Rolex watch she received from the Nakatomi Corporation.  John rushes toward her to help.

From the LAPD command post, Robinson and Al Powell watch the scene unfold, thirty stories up.

McClane struggles to unclasp Holly’s Rolex.

In slow motion, Hans fixes his gaze on John McClane.

John continues to try and loosen the watch band.

Holly cries.

Hans brings his gun up to bear on John McClane.

John finally unclasps the Rolex, and Hans loses his grip on Holly.

In slow motion, Hans falls toward Nakatomi Plaza, his face one of surprise, shock, and defeat.

Al and Dwayne see Hans fall.

“Oh, I hope that’s not a hostage,” says Dwayne.

Hans falls to his death in the plaza.

Al winces as he hears the body hit the cement.

John pulls Holly back into the 30th floor.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Dennis Hayden as Eddie

Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Paul Gleason as Dwayne T. Robinson

Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell

McClane lowers his gun.

Holly sighs, in shock that John is giving up. McClane drops his gun on the ground.

Eddie grabs a machine gun off the freight dolly, but Hans stops him.

“Nein, this is mine!” yells Hans.

“You got me,” says John, lacing his hands behind his head.

“Still the cowboy, Mister McClane,” says Hans, “Americans, all alike. However, this time John Wayne does not walk off into the sunset with Grace Kelly.”

“That was Gary Cooper, a–hole,” replies McClane.

“Enough jokes,” says Hans.

“You would have made a pretty good cowboy yourself, Hans,” says McClane.  Hans raises his pistol away from Holly’s head.

“Oh yes, what was it you said to me before?” asks Hans, “Yippee-kai-yay, mother-f—er.”

Hans starts to point his pistol at John.  John laughs. Hans starts to laugh, too. So does Eddie.

Taped to John’s back is the pistol he had.

Holly realizes John has something planned.

John yells “Holly!” and grabs the pistol off his back, shooting at Hans. He fires a shot and misses, then turns and shoots Eddie in the head.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Dennis Hayden as Eddie

Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber