McClane’s just asked Al if he has flat feet.  Al picks up his police radio mic.

“What the hell you talking about, man?” asks Al.

“Something had to get you off the street,” replies McClane, digging a large piece of glass out of his foot.

“What’s the matter?” asks Al, “You don’t think jockeying papers across a desk is a noble effort for a cop?”

McClane drops the glass into the rest room sink.

“N-no,” replies McClane, grimacing from the pain.

Al picks up the mic again. “I had an accident,” he says.

“The way you drive, I can see why,” says John. “What did you do? Run over your captain’s foot with the car?” McClane tries to dig another piece of glass out of his foot.

Al pauses, swallows, then lifts the microphone again. “I shot a kid,” he says. “He was thirteen years old.  Oh – – it was dark, I couldn’t see him. He had a ray gun that looked real enough. You know, when you’re a rookie, they can teach you everything about being a cop except how to learn to live with making a mistake. Anyway, I just couldn’t bring myself to draw my gun on anybody again.”

John stares at the rest room ceiling.

Al looks at the ground.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell

McClane, flat on his back, pulls himself into a rest room, trailing a stream of blood from his shards of glass imbedded in his bare feet.

In the vault control room, Theo is having problems. A monitor displays “ELECTROMAGNETIC SEAL ENGAGED – NO LOCAL ACCESS” on its screen.

“Hans,” says Theo on his radio, “You’d better heat up that miracle, because we just broke through on Number Six, and the electromagnetic came down like a f—ing anvil.”

Gruber, back in Holly’s office, picks up his walkie talkie. “Really? Have a look at what our friends outside are doing and I’ll be right up.”

Back in the rest room, John is leaning against a mirror while sitting on a sink counter.

“Hey John,” says Al on the walkie talkie. “John McClane, you still with us?”

“Yeah,” says John, “but all things being equal, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.” He sits up straighter, but keeps his eyes closed.  “Chalk up two more bad guys,” he says.

“Well, the boys down here will be glad to hear that,” replies Al. “You know, we got a pool going on you…”

“What kind of odd am I getting?” asks McClane, pulling glass shards out of his bloodied feet.

“You don’t want to know,” says Al.

“Put me down for twenty,” replies McClane, “I’m good for it.”

Al laughs.

“Hey pal,” says McClane, “You got flat feet?”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell

Clarence Gilyard, Jr. as Theo

Gail Wallens is still interviewing Dr. Hasseldorf on KFLW.

“War is the last resort of diplomacy, then couldn’t we just as well say that terrorism has an equal claim on being that, too?” says Dr. Hasseldorf on the TV monitors in the news van. The screens are eclipsed by a piece of paper held by Mary.

“You got something,” says Thornburg. “Tell me you got something.”

“Just McClane’s name, badge number, employment record, vital statistics and his family’s home address.” replies Mary, “Right here in L.A.!”

Thornburg lets out a breath.

On the thirtieth floor, Eddie looks at the Nakatomi employees.  The elevator door chimes. Eddie spins around, only to see Hans and Karl exit the elevator. Hans tosses the knapsack full of detonators to Uli.

“Go to work,” says Hans to Uli.

Holly watches the exchange.

“You got it!’ says Uli.  An agitated Karl walks past Uli. Holly continues to watch Karl.

Karl walks up to a drinks cart and smashes the bottles with the butt of his rifle.

“God, that man looks really pissed,” says  Ginny to Holly.

Holly realizes something. “He’s still alive,” says Holly.

“What?” asks Ginny.

“Only John can drive somebody that crazy,” replies Holly.

Upstairs, McClane falls backwards into a restroom.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Alexander Godunov as Karl

Al Leong as Uli

George Christy as Dr. Hasseldorf

Tracy Reiner as Mary

William Atherton as Richard Thornburg

Dustyn Taylor as Ginny

Hans and Karl are spraying the computer room walls with bullets. The glass shatters into thousands of sharp pieces, that rain down on McClane.

In the middle of the firefight, McClane runs out of bullets. He tosses his gun and heads for the exit, through mounds of broken glass. Karl and Hans continue to fire. The hail of bullets is nearly continuous.

Hunkered down behind a computer desk, John is trapped by the gunfire. “Jesus Christ!” he yells. He looks at the EXIT sign, then at all the broken glass on the floor, then at his bare feet. He closes his eyes.

Karl slides one of the hockey puck grenades at McClane’s last location. It explodes, showering more debris and smoke across the room. Suddenly, there’s no noise.

Karl tips over a computer case to look for McClane. McClane is nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, Hans spots the knapsack with the detonators. He unzips the bag and finds what he’s been looking for.

“Smile, Karl,” says Hans, “we’re back in business.”  Karl spins around at looks at Hans. Karl is not satisfied that McClane’s escaped.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Alexander Godunov as Karl

Karl and Franco continue to fire at McClane, and McClane fires back in the bullet-riddled computer room.

John takes aim at Franco’s knees, blowing them apart with his machine gun. Franco falls through the glass wall of the computer room, dead.

Karl crawls back behind one of the computer operation desks, while John lays down a withering machine gun fire, pinning Karl against the far end of the computer room.

Hans, hidden behind another computer cabinet, watches the gunplay.  Karl pops his head up from behind a computer desk, only to duck as McClane fires another burst, breaking yet another glass wall.

Gruber notices all the blood on the floor under Franco’s body. He gets an idea.

“Karl,” he says, “Schieße  den Fenster.” Karl looks at him, not knowing what Gruber is talking about.

McClane shoots again, causing Karl to duck. McClane pulls a shirt off his head.

Hans, frustrated at Karl’s incomprehension, switches to English, “Shoot. The. Glass!” he says.

Both Hans and Karl start spraying the computer room walls with bullets. The glass shatters into thousands of sharp pieces, that rain down on McClane.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Alexander Godunov as Karl

Bruno Doyon as Franco

McClane realizes the man in front of him isn’t “Bill Clay.”

“Hans,” says John.

“Put it down, now,” says Hans, speaking of McClane’s gun.

“That’s pretty tricky with that accent,” says McClane, walking toward Hans. “You oughta be on f—ing TV with that accent.” He continues walking toward Gruber. “What do you want with the detonators, Hans? I’ve already used all the explosives. Or did I?”

“I’m going to count to three,” says Hans.

“Yeah,” says McClane, “Like you did with Takagi?”

Hans pulls the trigger. The gun doesn’t fire.

“Oops,” says John.

Hans tries firing agin. Still nothing.

“No bullets!” says McClane, taking the gun away from Hans. “Do you think I’m f—ing stupid, Hans?”

Suddenly, the elevator door chimes.

“You were saying?” says Hans. Karal and Fritz appear as the elevator doors open.

McClane yells and opens fire on the two. Fritz fires back, but McClane kills him. Karl fires back at a running McClane, breaking windows in the computer room.

McClane continues to run as Karl sprays the computer room with bullets, breaking windows everywhere.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Alexander Godunov as Karl

Hans Bohringer as Fritz

“Ever use a handgun, Bill?” asks McClane.

“I spent a weekend at a combat ranch,” says Hans, “You know that game with the guns that shoot red paint? Probably seems kinda stupid to you.” McClane checks the barrel and makes sure the action on the pistol is operating.

“Well,” says McClane, holding out the pistol to Hans, “time for the real thing, Bill.”

Hans looks at the gun, then looks back at McClane as he takes it in his hand.

“All you gotta do is pull the trigger,” explains McClane. “Come on,” he says, leading them off the floor.

Hans drops his cigarette on the floor and steps on it with his shoe. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a walkie talkie.

” Auf dreiunddreißig Stock. Komm [33rd floor – Come]” says Hans, aiming the gun at McClane’s head.  “Put down the gun,” he says to McClane, “and give me my detonators.”

McClane turns around, and takes a drag on his cigarette.  “Well, well, well,” says John.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Hans looks at the cigarette McClane’s given him.

“You don’t work for Nakatomi,” says Hans, as McClane lights the cigarette for him. “and if you’re not one of them…”

McClane takes a drag off his own cigarette. “I’m a cop from New York.”

Hans looks at him. “New York?”

“Yeah,” says McClane. “Got invited to the Christmas party by mistake. Who knew?” He takes another drag on his cigarette.

Hans laughs, and looks at the ground. He sees McClane’s bare, dirty feet. McClane looks down at his feet and laughs.

“Yeah,” says McClane, “It’s better than being caught with your pants down, huh?”

Hans laughs. McClane glances at a floor directory, listing all the Nakatomi employees on the wall behind Hans.

“I’m John McClane,” says John.  “You’re — uh –?”

Hans stops smiling. He pauses for a moment.

“Clay,” says Hans. “Bill. Clay.”

John looks up and the wall and zeroes in on the name “CLAY, WM” listed on the 29th floor.

McClane nods his head and puffs on his cigarette. Reaching into his waistband, he puts his hand on a pistol.

“Now,” says John,  “Do you –”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Gruber looks back at McClane.

Meanwhile, Dwayne T. Robinson is explaining the situation to FBI Agents Little Johnson and Big Johnson as they walk to get a better look at Nakatomi Tower.

“Well, as best we can figure it is,” says Robinson, “they’ve got maybe thirty, thirty-five hostages up there, probably on the thirtieth floor, and I dunno, maybe seven or eight terrorists up there.”

“Sounds like an A-7 scenario,” says Little Johnson. Big Johnson looks through binoculars.

Little Johnson turns briefly toward Robinson. “Thank you,” he says, “we’ll handle it from here. When we commandeer your men, we’ll try and let you know.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” asks Al Powell.

“Such as?” says Big Johnson.

“What about John McClane?” asks Al. “He’s the reason why we have the information that we have up until now. He’s also the reason why you’re facing seven terrorists instead of twelve.”

“He’s inside?” asks Little Johnson. “Who is he?”

“Well,” says Robinson, “He might be a cop, I don’t know. We’re checking on that.”

“One of yours?” asks Big Johnson.

“No, no way,” says Robinson.

Back on the 35th Floor, McClane offers Gruber one of the cigarettes he took off Tony’s body.

“Do you smoke?” asks McClane.

Gruber smiles. “Yeah.” McClane takes a cigarette and hands the remaining one in the pack to Gruber. McClane pulls out the Zippo lighter.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Paul Gleason as Dwayne T. Robinson

Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell

Robert Davi as FBI Special Agent Big Johnson

Grand L. Bush as FBI Agent Little Johnson

Hans Gruber is on his knees, facing John McClane and his machine gun.

“Hi there!” says McClane. “How are you doing?”

“Ohh!” says Gruber, “Please, God! No, you’re one of them, aren’t you?  You’re one of them! Don’t – don’t kill me, please! No, please! Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me, please! Please, please please!”

“Whoa, relax,” says McClane. “Relax, I’m not gonna hurt you. I’m not gonna hurt you!”

“Oh, God,” says Gruber, wincing and closing his eyes.

“The f— are you doing up here?” says McClane. “Who were you looking for?”

“I managed to get out of there, and –” begins Gruber, “and, well, I was trying to just get up on the roof and see if I could signal for help. You know.”  Gruber points between the HVAC equipment, “It’s just through here! Why don’t you come and help…”  Gruber heads back toward his gun and flashlight.

“Whoa whoa whoa,” says McClane.

“No, if we go-” explains Gruber.

“Forget the roof,” says McClane.

“No, come on, we can,” says Gruber.

“I said forget the roof,” repeats McClane,” They’ve got people all over. Come on – you want to stay alive? You stay with me.”

Gruber looks back at McClane.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber

Bruce Willis as John McClane