You don't like flying, do you?
What gives you that idea?
You want to know the secret...
to surviving air travel?
After you get where you're going,
take off your shoes and socks.
Then walk around,
making fists with your toes.
Fists with your toes?
[ Laughs ]
It sounds crazy,
but I've been doing it for nine years.
Better than a shower and a cup of coffee.
[ Laughs ]
Okay.
It's okay. I'm a cop.
Trust me.
I've been doing this for 1 1 years.
On behalf of the captain and crew,
we'd like to welcome you to Los Angeles.
Have a very Merry Christmas.
Flight 22 7 to Tucson now boarding at gate 1 4.
Ah.
[Speaking Japanese]
How do you do?
Ladies and gentlemen.
Ladies and gentlemen!
I want to congratulate each and every one of you...
for making this one of the greatest years...
in the history of the Nakatomi Corporation.
[Applause]
On behalf of the chief executive officer,
Mr. Ozu, and the board of directors,
we wish you a Merry Christmas...
and a Happy New Year!
[Crowd] Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
Hey, Holly,
what about dinner tonight, huh?
Harry, it's Christmas Eve.
Families, stockings...
chestnuts...
Rudolph and Frosty.
Any of these things ring a bell?
Actually, I was thinking more...
of mulled wine, a nice aged brie,
and a roaring fireplace.
You know what I'm saying?
Ginny, it's 5:40.
Go join the party. Have some champagne.
You're making me feel like Ebenezer Scrooge.
Can the baby handle a little sip?
That baby's ready to tend bar.
Last chance.
Bye.
McClane residence. Lucy McClane speaking.
Hello, Lucy McClane.
This is your mother speaking.
Mommy!
When are you coming home?
Pretty soon. Pretty soon.
You'll be in bed when I get there, though.
Let me talk to Paulina.
And no snooping around the house,
looking for presents.
Is Daddy coming home with you?
Well, we'll see what...
Santa and Mommy can do, okay?
Put Paulina on. Bye, honey.
Paulina!
Hola, Mrs. Holly.
Um, did Mr. McClane call?
No, Mrs. Holly. No telefono.
Well, he probably just didn't have time...
before his flight.
Um, make up the spare bedroom...
just in case.
Si, Mrs. Holly. I do that already.
What would I do without you, Paulina?
Oh!
California.
Hey, I'm John McClane.
Argyle.
I'm your limo driver.
Nice bear.
Okay... Argyle.
What do we do now?
You tell me.
It's my first time driving a limo.
This is my first time riding in one.
Relax. We got everything in this mug, man.
Look at this-- CD, CB, TV,
telephone, full bar, VHS.
[ Laughs ]
If your friend's hot to trot,
I know a few mama bears.
Or is he married?
He's married.
Okay.
Oh, sorry about that.
It's the girl's day off.
I didn't know you were gonna sit up front.
So, uh, your lady live out here?
About the past six months.
Meaning you still live in New York?
You always ask this many questions, Argyle?
Sorry, man. I used to drive a cab.
People would expect a little chitchat.
So you divorced?
Just drive the car, man.
Come on. You divorced?
You separated? She beat you up?
[ Laughing ]
She had a good job.
It turned into a great career.
That meant she had to move here.
You're very fast, Argyle.
So why didn't you come?
Well?
What's up?
Because I'm a New York cop.
I got a six-month backlog of New York scumbags.
I can't just pick up and go that easy.
You thought she wouldn't make it out here,
so why bother to pack, right?
Like I said, you're very fast, Argyle.
You mind if we hear some tunes?
## [ Funky R&B Intro ]
Hey, that will work.
Don't you got any Christmas music?
This is Christmas music.
# It was December 2 4th on Hollis Ave. after dark #
# When I seen a man chillin' with his dog in the park #
# I approached them very slowly #
# With my heart full of fear looked at his dog #
# Oh, my God, a ill reindeer#
# But then I was illin' 'cause the man had a beard #
# And a bag full of goodies 1 2:00 hit, man #
# So I turned my head a second #
# And the man was gone #
# But he must have dropped his wallet #
# Smack dead on the lawn #
# I picked the wallet up, and then I took a pause #
# Took out the license and it cold said ''Santa Claus''#
# A million dollars in it cold hundreds of G's ##
So your lady sees you, the music comes up,
and you live happily ever after, right?
I can live with that.
If it doesn't work out, you got a place to stay?
I'll find a place.
Tell you what.
I'll wait in the parking garage.
You score, you call on the car phone.
You strike out, I'll get you a hotel.
You're all right, Argyle.
Just remember that when you sign for the tip.
Hi.
Good evening.
I'm here to see Holly McClane.
Just type it in there.
Cute toy.
If you have to take a leak,
it finds your zipper.
Christ.
30th floor.
The party.
They're the only ones left in the building.
Take the express elevator...
until you hear the noise.
Thanks.
[ Whistles ''Jingle Bells'' ]
[Crowd Noise]
Champagne, sir?
Yeah, thanks.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Hey, Merry Christmas!
Jesus.
Fuckin' California.
Why don't I talk to him right now?
Hi.
I'm looking for--
Holly Gennero.
Yeah.
You must be John McClane.
Joe Takagi.
How was your ride in?
I have you to thank?
Seemed the least we could do.
Quite a place you have here.
It will be.
Several floors are under construction.
Holly went to fax some documents.
In the meanwhile,
her office is right back here.
- [Sniff] - Ellis.
[Sniff] I was just making a call.
I want you to meet John McClane,
Holly's husband--
Holly's policeman.
Ellis is in charge of international development.
Heard a heck of a lot about you.
Missed some.
[Sniff]
Can I get you anything?
Food? Cake?
Some watered-down champagne?
No, thank you. I'm fine.
You throw quite a party.
I didn't realize...
they celebrated Christmas in Japan.
Pearl Harbor didn't work out,
so we got you with tape decks.
Actually, it's sort of a double celebration.
Holly helped us close a big deal today.
I'll be out in a couple of minutes.
John.
Have you met everyone?
We've been sticking him with spears.
Of course, he has.
She was made for the business.
Tough as nails.
I was hoping...
you made that flight.
Show him the watch.
Later.
Go on. Show him.
What, are you embarrassed?
A token of appreciation for her hard work.
It's a Rolex.
I'm sure I'll see it later.
Is there a place where I could wash up?
Sure.
Ellis gets very depressed...
this time of year.
He thought he was God's greatest gift.
Yeah. I know the type.
Think he's got his eye on you.
That's okay...
I have my eye...
on his private bathroom.
Where you staying?
Things happened so fast,
I didn't get a chance to ask you.
Cappy Roberts retired out here.
He told me I could bunk with him.
Cappy retired, huh? Where's he live?
Ramona.
[ Laughs ] Pomona.
Huh?
Pomona.
Yeah. [ Laughs ]
You'll be in the car half the time.
Why don't we make it easy?
I have a spare bedroom.
It's not huge or anything, but...
the kids would love to have you at the house.
They would, huh?
I would, too.
[ Laughing ]
Ooh!
Sorry.
I missed you.
I guess you didn't miss my name, though, huh?
Except maybe when you're signing checks?
Since when are you '' Ms. Gennero''?
This is a Japanese company.
- They figure a married woman's got-- - You are a married woman.
- You're married to me. - Are we going to have this conversation again?
- We never finished this conversation in July. - I had an opportunity--
- I had to take it. - Right, no matter what the consequences.
- No matter what it did to our marriage. - It didn't do anything...
except change your idea of what our marriage should be.
- You don't have a clue what my idea of our marriage should be. - I know exactly...
what your idea of our marriage should be.
Ms. Gennero, I--
Excuse me.
Hi.
Um, Mr. Takagi is looking for you.
He wants you to say something to the troops.
Speech time.
Be back in a few minutes.
That was great,John.
Good job.
Very mature.
So Kareem rebounds, right?
Feeds Worthy on the break,
over to A.C., to Magic, then back to Worthy, right?
Boom!
Two points!
We're in.
## [Humming]
# La da da da da da daaa! #
# Da da daaa! ##
Ha ha ha!
[Buzz]
Links...
rechts...
und wieder links.
Son of a bitch.
[ Laughs ]
Fists with your toes.
Yeah, Argyle?
How's it going up there?
All right. Where are you?
What's the word with you and your lady?
Uh, the vote's not in yet.
[Speaking German]
Nein! Nein! Nein!
[Speaking German]
Argyle?
Mac, you there?
Hello?
# Somebody...##
You know the number. Use it.
[Automatic Gunfire]
[ Screaming ]
[Gunshots]
[ Screaming ]
[Gunshots]
[ Woman Screaming ]
[ Screaming, Crying ]
[Speaking German]
[ Gunfire Continues ]
[Speaking German]
- [ Women Screaming ] - [ Gunfire Continues ]
Stay calm. Everything's going to be fine.
Shit!
Think. Think.
[ Screaming Continues ]
Ladies and gentlemen.
Due to the Nakatomi Corporation's...
legacy of greed around the globe,
they're about to be taught a lesson...
in the real use of power.
You will be witnesses.
Now--
Where is Mr. Takagi?
Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi,
- Born Kyoto, 1 93 7. - [ Whispers ] Don't move.
Family emigrated to San Pedro, California, 1 939.
Interned at Manzanar, 1 942 to 1 943.
Scholarship student, University of California,
1 95 5.
Law degree, Stanford, 1 962.
MBA, Harvard, 1 97 0.
President, Nakatomi Trading.
Vice chairman, Nakatomi Investment Group.
Enough.
And father of five.
I am Takagi.
How do you do?
It's a pleasure to meet you.
[ Groans, Cries ]
Okay, 3 2, construction, 33, computers.
## [ Humming Beethoven's ''Ode toJoy'']
# Do de do do do #
# Do do do do do do do de do do ##
Nice suit.
John Phillips, London.
I have two myself.
Rumor has it Arafat buys his there.
[Speaking German]
On the left. On the left.
[Speaking Italian]
# Ba da da da #
# Ba da da ##
''And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain,
he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.''
[ Chuckling ]
Benefits of a classical education.
Oh,
that's beautiful.
I always enjoyed to make models...
when I was a boy.
The exactness,
the attention to every conceivable detail.
It's beautiful.
Is this what this is all about? Our project in Indonesia?
Contrary to what you people may think,
we're going to develop that region,
not exploit it.
I believe you.
I read the article in Forbes.
Mr. Takagi,
I could talk about industrialization and men's fashions all day,
but I'm afraid work must intrude,
and my associate here has some questions for you.
Sort of fill-in-the-blanks questions, actually.
[Beeping]
I don't have that code!
You broke in here to access our computer?
Any information you could get, when they wake up in Tokyo, they'll change it.
You won't be able to blackmail our executives, threaten our pro--
Sit... down!
Mr. Takagi, I'm really not interested...
in your computer.
But I need the code key...
because I am interested in the $640 million...
in negotiable bearer bonds...
that you have locked in your vault.
And the computer controls the vault.
You want money?
What kind of terrorists are you?
[ Chuckling ]
Who said we were terrorists?
The bonds represent at most ten days'...
operating capital for your parent organization.
The code, please.
It's useless to you.
There are seven vault safeguards, and the code key's only one of them.
You'll never get it open.
Then there's no reason not to tell us.
I told you.
It's not over yet.
It's a very nice suit...
Mr. Takagi.
It would be a shame to ruin it.
I'm going to count to three.
There will not be a four.
Give me...
the code.
One...
Two...
- Three. - I don't know it. I'm telling you!
Get on the jet to Tokyo and ask the chairman.
I'm telling you. You're just gonna have to kill me.
Okay.
We'll do it the hard way.
Tony, see if you can dispose of that.
Karl, better check on Heinrich's work.
[ Grunting ]
Nothing.
See to Heinrich.
Now...
you can break the code?
You didn't bring me along...
for my charming personality.
Argyle, tell me you heard the shots.
You're callin' the police right now.
## [ Loud Music ]
Of course I'm coming by later.
Have I ever lied to you?
My boss? Thinks I'm on my way to Vegas.
Uli, get up on the pipes.
Marco, you go through here.
I'll throw you the cord.
Hans, we're on the roof.
Here.
Thirty minutes to break the code,
Two hours, two and a half hours for the five mechanicals...
at the minimum.
The seventh lock, however, is out of my hands.
I'm sorry--
The seventh lock-- the electromagnetic seal.
You do understand...
the circuits cannot be cut locally.
Trust me.
Why the fuck didn't you stop him,John?
'Cause then you'd be dead, too, asshole!
Think, goddamn it! Think!
[Beeping]
We've got a fire alarm.
Call 91 1 .
Give them the guard's name and the building code number,
and cancel the alarm.
Then disable the system.
On what floor did the alarm go off?
Now, shall we go?
Nein.
[Sirens]
Oh, baby, come to Papa.
Come on.
[ Laughing ]
Come on, baby. Come to Papa.
I'll kiss your fuckin'dalmatian.
You stupid motherfuckers! No!
Turn the fuckin' truck around!
The fire has been called off, my friend.
No one is coming to help you.
You might as well come out and join the others.
I promise I won't hurt you.
[Whirring]
Drop it, dickhead. It's the police.
You won't hurt me.
Yeah? Why not?
Because you're a policeman.
There are rules for policemen.
Yeah. That's what my captain keeps telling me.
Aah!
You bet your ass I wish to proceed.
Nine million terrorists in the world,
and I got to kill one with feet smaller than my sister.
I wanted this to be professional,
efficient, and cooperative.
Not a lot to ask.
Alas, Mr. Takagi did not see it that way,
so he won't be joining us for the rest of his life.
We can go any way you want it.
You can walk out or be carried out,
but have no illusions-- we are in charge.
- So... decide now, each of you, - [ Elevator Bell Dings ]
And please remember...
we have left nothing to chance.
- [Speaking German] - [ Screaming Continues ]
Get them back!
[Speaking German]
'' Now I have a machine gun.
Ho-ho-ho. ''
A security guard we missed?
They're usually just growing fat on a pension.
This is something else.
[Speaking German]
We have to do something, Hans.
Yes, we do.
Tell Karl his brother is dead.
Tell him to come down.
Karl... komm sofort.
Franco,you and Fritz take the body upstairs and out of sight.
I don't want the hostages to think too much.
[Speaking German]
Aah!
I want blood!
But let Heinrich plant the detonators.
The police will waste hours trying to negotiate.
Then you can tear the building apart.
But until then, do not alter the plan.
And if he alters it?
[Ellis] What do you think?
Something's wrong.
Cops?
John.
John--Aw, Christ! He can fuck this whole thing up!
What does he think he's doing?
His job.
Bullshit. His job's 3,000 miles away.
Without him, we might be able to get out of here.
Tell that to Takagi.
Mayday. Mayday, Anyone copying channel nine.
Terrorists have seized the Nakatomi Building...
and are holding 30 hostages.
Unknown number of terrorists--
Six or more armed with automatic weapons.
Where's the best place to transmit?
- Somebody answer me, goddamn it! - The roof!
Go! Go!
[Woman] It's the same address as that fire signal.
I'll handle it.
Attention, whoever you are,
this channel is reserved for emergencies.
[John] No shit, lady!
I'm not ordering a pizza!
No one kills him but me.
They have killed one hostage.
They are fortifying their positions...
while you're jerking me off on the radio!
Sir, I've already told you.
This is a reserved channel.
If this is an emergency call, dial 91 1 .
Otherwise, I'll report this as an FCC violation.
Fine! Come and arrest me, just send the police now!
Ow!
[ Yells ]
See if there's a black-and-white to do a drive-by.
## [Humming]
Thought you guys just ate doughnuts.
They're for my wife.
Yeah.
She's pregnant.
Yeah.
Bag it.
Big time.
[Chuckling]
Thanks.
[Woman] Dispatch to 8-Lincoln-30. Over.
This is 8-Lincoln-30. Come on in. Over.
Investigate a Code 2...
at Nakatomi Plaza, Century City.
8-Lincoln-30 to dispatch. I'm on my way.
Girls.
[Speaking German]
Shit! Where the fuck?
[ Crash ]
Oh, my God.
[Speaking German]
He's in the elevator shaft.
[Speaking German]
Perfect. The elevators are locked off.
Just shut him in and come back down.
Oh, fuck.
Karl, the police are probably...
on their way already.
Christ.
I can stall them but not if they hear gunshots.
If you lock him in, he'll be neutralized--
Come out to the coast!
We'll get together, have a few laughs.
Now I know what a TV dinner feels like.
Such!
[Rattling]
Karl, komm! Die polizei!
Well, it's about time.
No signs of disturbance, dispatch.
Possible crank call.
Check the area and confirm.
Who's driving this car? Stevie Wonder?
I see a guard inside.
I'm going in for a closer look.
Use caution.
Eddie?
I had a feelin' you'd be callin'.
Evenin', Officer. What can I do for you?
[Speaking German]
Heh heh heh!
We had that false alarm, you know.
That computer sent you out...
on another wild-goose chase.
They been chasing bugs...
since they installed this system.
Notre Dame on top of USC--
Ah, shit!
I got 50 bucks bet on them assholes.
Come on, come on. Where's the fucking cavalry?
Ah!
[Speaking German]
Bah!
...was good for 52 yards.
Mind if I look around?
Help yourself.
Seven seconds left in this period.
Seven to nothing, Notre Dame.
Freeze, Motherfucker!
Don't shoot!
Drop it!
Okay! Don't shoot!
Drop it!
Ah!
Ah, the hell with this!
Ah!
You are dog now!
No more table! Where are you going, pal?
Next time you have a chance...
to kill someone,
don't hesitate.
Thanks for the advice.
Sorry to waste your time.
No problem.
Merry Christmas.
# Oh, the weather outside is frightful #
# Dum de dum delightful #
For the love--
8-Lincoln-30 to dispatch.
[Woman] Go ahead.
That's a wild-goose chase...
here at Nakatomi Plaza.
Everything here's okay. Over.
# But nobody has no place to go #
# Let it snow, let it snow ##
Goddamn it! Jesus H. Christ!
Welcome to the party, pal!
Goddamn it!
# Turn up the heat #
# It's getting ready to pop ##
Police under automatic rifle fire at Nakatomi!
I need back-up assistance now!
Now, Goddamn it! Now!
Monica, I can get us a table.
Wolfgang and I are very close friends.
I interviewed him, for God's sake.
...Nakatomi.
Repeat. Officer needs assistance at--
I'm at Nakatomi Plaza. They're turning my car into Swiss cheese!
I need back-up assistance now!
Now, Goddamn it! Now!
Never thought I'd love to hear that sound.
All of you relax.
This is a matter of inconvenient timing.
Police action was inevitable...
and, as it happens, necessary.
Let them fumble about outside, and stay calm.
This is simply the beginning.
[Static]
I thought I told all of you I want radio silence.
I didn't get that message, Hans.
You should have put it on the bulletin board.
Since I waxed Tony and Marco and his friend,
I figured you and Karl and Franco might be lonely.
How does he know so much--
That's very kind of you.
I assume you are our mysterious party crasher.
You are most troublesome for a security guard.
Eeeh! Sorry, Hans. Wrong guess.
Want to go for DoubleJeopardy,
where the scores can really change?
Mm, these are very bad for you.
Who are you, then?
The fly in the ointment, Hans.
The monkey in the wrench,
the pain in the ass.
Whoa!
Don't use the radio.
See if he's lying about Marco. Find out who's missing.
Mr. Mystery Guest,
are you still there?
Yeah, I'm still here,
unless you want to open the front door for me.
I'm afraid not,
but you have me at a loss.
You know my name, but who are you?
Just another American...
who saw too many movies as a child?
Another orphan of a bankrupt culture...
who thinks he's John Wayne, Rambo,
Marshal Dillon?
I was always partial to Roy Rogers, actually.
I liked those sequined shirts.
Do you think you have a chance, Mr. Cowboy?
Yippee-kai-yay, motherfucker.
I can get the jump on everybody...
with a remote.
Harvey, keep your pants on.
Sam, I'm begging you.
Simon's already out with the remote.
I'm not sitting on this! I am going out there!
You don't give me a truck,
I'll steal a truck.
Give us a break, Thornburg.
Eat it, Harvey!
Four, three, two...
one.
Harvey, we're on the air.
Good evening. This is HarveyJohnson.
And I'm Gail Wallens,
and this is Nightline News at 1 0:00.
Our top stories on this Christmas eve--
Take truck number five. Get out of here.
He wasn't lying about Marco.
He's down on the street.
The other man was Heinrich,
and his bag is missing.
He had the detonator.
Theo.
Yo!
We may have some problems.
How's your schedule?
Three down. Four to go.
Then don't waste time talking to me.
This is sergeant Al Powell of the L.A.P.D.
If the person who radioed can hear me,
acknowledge this transmission.
I say again--
If the person who radioed can hear me,
acknowledge this transmission!
I read you. You the guy in the car?
What's left of him.
Can you identify yourself?
Not now. Maybe later.
This is a party line.
The neighbor's got itchy trigger fingers.
You got 30 hostages on the 30th floor.
- The leader's name is Hans. - We have to find him and shut him up.
- He's telling them everything! - Let him. I'm waiting for the FBI.
Until then, he can waste as much time as he likes,
but we must find the bag, Fritz.
We must have the detonators.
[John] They got missiles, automatic weapons,
and enough explosives to orbit Arnold Schwarzenegger.
They're down to nine now.
These guys are mostly European,
judging by their clothing labels and...
cigarettes.
They're well-financed and very slick.
How do you know that?
I've seen enough phony I.D.s...
to recognize that the ones they got must have cost a fortune.
Add all that up,
I don't know what the fuck it means,
but you got some bad-ass perpetrators here to stay.
I hear you, partner.
L.A.'s finest are on it.
Light 'em if you got 'em.
Way ahead of you, partner.
So, what do I call you?
Call me...
Roy.
If you think of anything else,
don't you be shy, okay?
In the meantime, let us do our job.
They're all yours, Al.
All right, who's talking to him?
I am, sir. Sergeant Powell. Al Powell.
Dwayne Robinson, Powell. What's the deal here?
What do these pricks want?
Well, we don't exactly know.
We haven't heard from them.
Who have you been talking to?
We don't know. He won't give us his name.
He appears to be the one who phoned.
He's killed one terrorist,
and he claims two others.
Claims? Powell, has it occurred to you...
he could be one of the terrorists...
or some nutcase in there?
No. In fact, I think he's a cop--
Maybe not L.A.P.D., but he's a badge.
Why?
A hunch, things he said,
like being able to spot a phony I.D.
Jesus Christ, Powell. He could be a fucking bartender for all we know!
TV's here.
Oh, shit.
[Horn Honks]
[Music Playing]
I have a request.
What idiot put you in charge?
You did...
when you murdered my boss.
Now everybody's looking to me.
Personally, I'd pass on the job.
I don't enjoy being this close to you.
Go on.
We have a pregnant woman.
Relax. She's not due for a couple weeks,
but sitting on that rock isn't doing her back any good.
So, I would like permission to move her to one of the offices where there's a sofa.
I'll have a sofa brought out. Good enough?
Good enough.
Unless you like it messy,
start bringing us in groups to the bathroom.
Yes. You're right.
It will be done.
Was there something else?
No, thank you.
Mr. Takagi chose his people well, Mrs...
Gennero.
Miss Gennero.
[Television] We interrupt this program for a special bulletin.
This is Richard Thornburg live from Century City.
Tonight, Los Angeles has joined...
the sad and worldwide fraternity of cities...
whose only membership requirement...
is to suffer the anguish of international terrorism.
Approximately two hours ago,
an unidentified group of men...
seized control of the Nakatomi Building,
sealing off all entrances and exits.
All telephone lines have been cut,
and the only communication now possible...
has been through the use of CB communicators,
the group apparently brought with them.
According to official sources,
the perpetrators of this building siege...
[ Man On Radio ] Unit Five, hold your position.
We got Charlie Unit in position...
by the parking structure.
Let me ask you something.
Does this stairway go up to the escalator?
Yeah.
Tell them to go ahead.
What's going on?
What's it look like? We're going in.
Going in? Man, that's crazy!
There could be over 30 hostages!
We don't know shit, Powell.
How come there were no ransom demands?
Where's their list of demands?
All we know is somebody shot your car.
It's probably the same son of a bitch...
you've been talking to on that radio.
Excuse me, sir.
What about the body that fell out the window?
Probably some stockbroker-- Got depressed.
Let's go.
Hit your lights.
Let's go.
[ Man Shouts ] Lights on!
Powell?
You still with me, babe? What's going on?
Yo, Al.
I'm kind of busy. I'll talk to you later.
Al, what's wrong?
We'll talk later.
If you are what I think you are,
you'll know when to listen, shut up,
and when to pray.
Jesus Christ! You're coming in.
I told you what kind of people they are.
Let's load them up. Blue go.
They'll be coming. Everyone get ready.
Theo, you are the eyes now.
Rivers, begin your reconnoiter.
Shit!
Hey, come on, man. Let's go.
Ow!Jesus!
[Tires Squealing]
All right, spread out.
## [Humming]
Shut up.
Let's go.
You macho assholes. No! No!
Ahem... all right. Listen up, guys.
'Twas the night before Christmas,
and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring, except...
the four assholes coming in the rear...
in standard cover formation.
We're all set.
We're ready.
Kick ass.
Go.
Right. Let's do it.
They're shooting at them.
It's panic fire. They can't see.
They're shooting at the lights.
They're going after the lights.
Pull them back.
It's not happening.
Mike, burn it.
Don't be impatient.
Just wound them.
They're sitting ducks without lights.
They're almost in.
Send in the car.
Jesus Christ!
Rivers, Rodriguez, report.
Whoa! Wait a minute. What have we here, gentlemen?
The police have themselves an RV.
Southeast corner.
[Speaking German]
Oh,Jesus Christ.
[Elevator Whirrs]
Get back! Get the fuck back!
Get over there!
Schnell! Schnell!
Mach schnell!
Weiter! Weiter! Weiter!
Mach schnell! Mach schnell!
Weiter!
Mach los! Mach los!
I see him!
[Speaking German]
Oh, my God! The quarterback is toast!
Hang on, Rivers. That's an order.
Hit it again.
Hans, you motherfucker! You made your point! Let them pull back!
Thank you, Mr. Cowboy. I'll take it under advisement. Hit it again!
Fire.
Fuck me.
Get them out of the car.
- Aah! - Aah!
Fuck it.
[Speaking German]
Mach schnell! Mach los!
Let's see you take this under advisement,jerkweed.
Geronimo, motherfucker.
Shit!
They're using artillery on us!
You idiot, it's not the police.
It's him.
Holy shit.
My God.
Tell me you got that.
I got it. I got it.
Eat your heart out, Channel Five.
We've had an update on the takeover of the Nakatomi Building--
Sources say the terrorist leader, '' Hans,''
may be this man-- Hans Gruber,
a member of the radical West German Volksfrei movement.
Strangely, the Volksfrei leadership...
issued a communique an hour ago...
stating Gruber had been expelled from that organization--
[John] Al? Al? Do you copy?
Are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
[Coughing]
What was that?
Remember that plastic explosive I told you about?
There you go. Is the building on fire?
No, but it's going to need a paint job.
Our spotter said you got two that time.
Is that him?
Yes, sir.
I don't know who you think you are,
but you just destroyed a building.
We do not want your help. Is that clear?
I've got 1 00 people down here,
and they're covered with glass.
Who gives a shit about glass?
Who the fuck is this?
This is deputy chief of police, Dwayne T. Robinson,
and I am in charge of this situation.
Oh, you're in charge?
I got bad news for you, Dwayne.
It doesn't look like you're in charge of jack shit.
- Listen to me, you little asshole-- - Asshole?
I'm not the one who just got buttfucked on national TV, Dwayne!
Listen to me,jerkoff,
quit being part of the fucking problem...
and put the other guy back on!
Hey, Roy, how are you feeling?
Pretty fucking unappreciated, Al.
Hey, look. I love you.
So do a lot of the other guys.
You hang in there. You hear me?
You hang in there.
Yeah, thanks, partner.
What are you doing?
I'm tired of waiting to see...
who gets us killed first-- them or your husband.
What are you going to do?
Hey, babe, I negotiate million-dollar deals for breakfast.
I think I can handle this '' Euro-trash.''
Hey, sprechen sie, talk?
If you'd listened to me, he'd be neutralized.
- I don't want neutral. I want dead. - [ Knocking ]
Hope I'm not interrupting.
What does he want?
It's not what I want.
It's what I can give you.
Oy, let's be straight, okay?
It's obvious you're not some dumb schmuck up here...
to snatch a few purses, am I right?
Very perceptive.
I watch 60 Minutes.
I say to myself, ''these guys are professional,
''they're motivated, they're happening,
i.e., they want something,'' huh?
I couldn't care less about your politics.
Maybe you're pissed off at the camel jockeys,
maybe it's the Hebes, Northern Ireland--
It's none of my business.
I figure you're here to negotiate. Am I right?
You're amazing.
You figured this all out already?
Hey, business is business.
You use a gun. I use a fountain pen. What's the difference?
Let's put it in my terms.
You're here on a hostile takeover. You grab us for some greenmail,
but you didn't expect some poison pill running around.
Am I right?
Hans, bubby, I'm your white knight.
I must have missed 60 Minutes.
What are you saying?
The guy upstairs is fucking things up, huh?
I can give him to you.
[John] Oh, God...
Uhh...
Roy?
Roy, you all right?
Just trying to fire down a 1 ,000-year-old Twinkie.
What do they put in these things anyway?
Sugar, enriched flour,
partially hydrogenated vegetable oil,
polysorbate 60...
and yellow dye number five--
Just everything a growing boy needs.
How many kids you got, Al?
My wife is working on our first.
How about you, cowboy?
You got any kids?
Yeah... two.
Hope I can see 'em swingin' on a jungle gym with AlJr. someday.
[ Chuckling ]
Well, now, that's a date,
but you bring the ice cream.
[Hans] Touching, cowboy. Touching.
Or should I call you...
Mr. McClane.?
Mr. OfficerJohn McClane...
of the New York Police Department?
- Get on the phone to Harry in New York. Come on, baby. Move.! - Got it.
Better get a hold of somebody at dispatch.
Sister Theresa called me Mr. McClane in the third grade,
my friends call meJohn,
and you're neither, shithead.
I have someone who wants to talk to you--
A very special friend...
who was with you at the party tonight.
Hey,John boy.
Ellis?
Yeah. Now, listen,John.
They're giving me a few minutes...
to try to talk some sense into you.
I know you think you're doin' your job,
but you're just draggin' this thing out.
No one gets out of here until these guys can talk...
to the L.A. police, and that just ain't gonna happen...
till you stop messing up the works, capisci?
Ellis, what have you told them?
I told them we were old friends,
and you were my guest.
You shouldn't be doing this.
Tell me about it.
All right,John, listen.
They want you to tell them where the detonators are.
They know people are listening.
They want the detonators,
or they're going to kill me.
John, didn't you hear me?
Yeah, I hear you.
John, get with the program.
Tell these guys...
where the detonators are...
so no one else gets hurt!
I'm putting my life on the line, pal!
[John] Ellis, listen to me carefully.
John--
Shut up, Ellis! Just shut your mouth!
Put Hans back on!
Hans, this shithead doesn't know you, but I do--
Good. Then you'll give us what we want.
You're not part of this equation.
What am I, a method actor?
[Ellis] Put away the gun.
This is radio, not television.
Hans, he's not my friend! I don't know him!
Jesus, Ellis! They'll kill you!
Tell them you don't know me!
How can you say that after all these years?
John? John?
[ Laughs ]
[Gunshot]
[Screaming]
Do you hear that?
Talk to me! Where are my detonators?
Where are they,
or shall I shoot another one?
Sooner or later,
I'll get to someone you care about.
Go fuck yourself, Hans.
Did you hear that?
He just let the guy die, man.
Man, can't you see what's happening?
Can't you read between the lines?
He did everything he could...
to save him.
If he gave up, they'd both be dead!
No. They'd be talking to us.
You tell your partner to stay out of this.
If he doesn't,
I'm going to nail his ass.
The man is hurting.
He is alone, tired,
and he hasn't seen diddly-squat...
from anybody here!
You think he'll give a damn...
about what you do if he makes it?
Wake up and smell what you shoveling.
Anytime you want to go home,
you consider yourself dismissed.
No, sir. You couldn't drag me away.
[Hans] Attention, police.
This is Sergeant Al Powell--
This is deputy chief Dwayne Robinson.
Who is this?
This is Hans Gruber.
I assume you realize the futility of direct action.
We have no wish for further loss of life.
Well, what is it you do wish for?
I have comrades around the world...
languishing in prison.
The American State Department...
enjoys rattling its saber for itself.
Now it can rattle it for me.
The following are to be released from their captors--
The seven members of the New Provo Front,
in Canada, the five imprisoned leaders of Liberté du Quebec,
in Sri Lanka, the nine members of the Asian Dawn.
What the fuck?
I read about them in Time magazine.
When these revolutionary brothers and sisters are free,
the hostages will be taken to the roof...
and will accompany us in helicopters...
to the Los Angeles International Airport...
where they'll be given further instructions.
You have two hours to comply.
Wait a minute, Mr. Gruber.
This is crazy.
I don't have the authority.
Two hours is not enough.
Hello? Hello!
Did you get all that?
We got to make some calls.
Do you think they'll try?
Who cares?
Theo, are we on schedule?
One more. Then it's up to you.
This one will take a miracle.
It's Christmas, Theo.
It's the time of miracles, so be of good cheer.
Call me when you hit the last lock.
Hunt that little shit down and get those detonators.
Fritz is checking the explosives.
I'll check the explosives.
Hey, Powell, you out there?
I'm here,John. I'm here.
Believe me, there was nothing I could do.
It's gonna be both our asses...
if you're wrong.
I hear you.
Did you catch that bullshit Hans was running?
It doesn't make sense, man.
I'm just a desk jockey...
who was on my way home when you rang.
The way you drove,
I figured you for the street.
In my youth. In my youth.
...Author of Hostage Terrorist, Terrorist Hostage--
A Study in Duality.
What can we expect in the next few hours?
The hostages are probably experiencing...
the early stages of the Helsinki Syndrome.
As in Helsinki, Sweden.
Finland.
Basically, it's when the hostages...
and the terrorists...
go through a sort of psychological transference...
and a projection of dependency.
A strange sort of trust and bond develops.
We've had situations where the hostages...
embraced their captors after release...
and even corresponded with them in prison.
No, no, darling. Asian Dawn. Dawn.
D-A-W-N.
Sir?
Yeah?
The FBI is here.
The FBI is here now?
Yes, sir. Right over there.
Hold this.
Want a breath mint?
Hey, how you doing, man?
I'm AgentJohnson.
This is Special AgentJohnson.
Oh, how you doing?
No relation.
I'm, uh...
I'm Dwayne Robinson, L.A.P.D.
I'm in charge here.
Not anymore.
Hi there. How you doing?
Ooh...
Please, God. You're one of them, aren't you?
You're one of them.
No! Don't kill me! No, please.
Don't kill me, please! No!
Relax. I'm not going to hurt you.
I won't hurt you!
Oh, God.
What the fuck are you doing up here?
What were you looking for?
I managed to get out of there.
I was trying to get up on the roof...
and see if I could signal for help.
Why don't you come and help?
Hold it. Hold it. Forget the roof.
They got people all over it.
You want to stay alive, you stay with me.
The best we can figure it,
we've got maybe 30 or 3 5 hostages up there,
probably on the 30th floor,
and maybe seven or eight terrorists up there.
Sounds like an A-7 scenario.
We'll handle it from here.
When we commandeer your men,
we'll let you know.
Aren't you...
forgetting something?
Such as?
What about John McClane?
He's the reason...
we have any information.
He's also the reason...
you're only facing seven terrorists.
He's inside? Who is he?
He might be a cop. We're checking.
One of yours?
No way.
You smoke?
Yeah. [ Chuckles ]
Thanks.
You don't work for Nakatomi.
And if you're not one of them--
I'm a cop from New York.
New York?
Yeah. Got invited to the Christmas party by mistake.
Who knew?
[ Chuckles ]
[ Chuckling Continues ]
Well, it's better than being caught with your pants down, huh?
I'm John McClane.
You're, uh...
Clay.
Bill Clay.
Know how to use a handgun, Bill?
I spent a weekend at a combat ranch--
The guns that shoot red paint.
Probably seems kind of stupid to you.
Nope.
Time for the real thing, Bill.
All you got to do is pull the trigger.
[Speaking German]
[Click]
Put down the gun...
and give me my detonators.
Well, well, well...
Hans.
Put it down now.
That's pretty tricky with that accent.
You ought to be on fucking TV.
What do you want with the detonators, Hans?
I already used all the explosives...
or did I?
I'm going to count to three.
Yeah.
Like you did with Takagi?
[Click]
Oops.
[Click Click]
No bullets.
- What do you think-- I'm fucking stupid, Hans? - [Elevator Bell Dings]
You we're saying?
[ Yells ]
[Speaking German]
Karl.
[Speaking German]
Shoot the glass!
Jesus Christ!
Smile, Karl. We're back in business.
...is the last resort of diplomacy,
couldn't we just as well say...
that terrorism has an equal claim...
on being that, too?
You got something. Tell me you got something.
Just McClane's name, badge number, employment record,
vital statistics, and his family's home address,
right here in L.A.
Woo!
Go to work.
You got it.
God! That man looks...
really pissed.
He's still alive.
What?
OnlyJohn can drive somebody that crazy.
Hans, you better heat up that miracle.
We broke through on number six.
The electromagnetic came down like a fucking anvil.
See what our friends outside are doing,
and I'll be right up.
Hey,John. John McClane,
you still with us?
Yeah.
All things being equal,
I'd rather be in Philadelphia.
Chalk up two more bad guys.
Well, the boys down here...
will be glad to hear that.
We got a pool going on you.
What kind of odds am I getting?
- You don't want to know. - Put me down for 20.
I'm good for it.
[John] Hey, pal,you got flat feet?
What the hell are you talking about?
Something had to get you off the street.
You don't think jockeying papers...
is a noble effort?
No.
I had an accident.
The way you drive, I can see why.
You run over your captain's foot?
I shot a kid.
He was 1 3 years old.
Oh, it was dark. I couldn't see him.
Oh, it was dark. He had a ray gun that looked real enough.
When you're a rookie, they can teach you...
everything about being a cop,
except how to live with a mistake.
Anyway, I just couldn't bring myself...
to draw my gun on anybody again.
Sorry, man.
Hey, man, how could you know?
I feel like shit anyway.
Well, then, this won't matter.
The L.A.P.D. is not...
calling the shots down here anymore.
The feds?
You got it.
All right. Those are the city engineers.
They're going into the street circuits.
Those guys in the suits, I don't know who they are.
That's the FBI.
They're ordering the others...
to cut the building's power.
Regular as clockwork.
Or a time lock.
Precisely.
The circuits that cannot be cut...
are cut automatically...
in response to a terrorist incident.
You asked for miracles.
I give you the FBI.
It's going to go!
[Lock Releases]
Yes!
[Buzzing]
Merry Christmas.
Those bastards are probably pissing in their pants.
The mayor will have my ass.
Woo!
What will we do now?
Arrest them for not paying their electric bill?
We've shut them down.
We let them sweat,
then give them helicopters.
Right up the ass.
This is AgentJohnson. No, the other one.
I want air support ready in five minutes.
Damn right. Fully armed.
We're on the way.
Yeah!
I wish to talk to the FBI.
This is Special AgentJohnson.
The State Department has arranged...
for the return of your comrades.
Helicopters are en route as you requested.
We'll be ready.
When he realizes what hit him,
he'll be dead.
When they touch down, we'll blow the roof.
By the time they figure out...
what went wrong,
we'll be sitting on a beach...
earning 20%.
Ah!Jeez!
Powell? Yo, Powell, you got a minute?
I'm here,John.
I'm starting to get a bad feeling up here.
I want you to do something for me.
Um...
I want you to find my wife.
Don't ask me how.
I want you to tell her something.
I want you to tell her that...
Um...
Mmm...
Tell her it took me a while to figure out...
what a jerk I'd been,
but, um...that...
that when things started to pan out for her,
I should have been more supportive,
and, uh...
I just should have been behind her more.
Oh, shit.
Tell her that, um...
that she's the best thing that ever happened...
to a bum like me.
She's heard me say ''I love you''
a thousand times.
She never heard me say ''I'm sorry.''
I want you to tell her that, Al.
I want you to tell her...
thatJohn said that he was sorry.
Okay? You got that, man?
Yeah, I got it,John,
but you can tell her that yourself.
Just watch your ass and make it out.
You hear me?
I guess that's up to the man upstairs.
[Al] John? John?
What the fuck...
were you doing upstairs, Hans?
John?
Al, listen.
Just lay off for a while.
I got to go check on something.
One minute, that's all I'm asking--
One minute to speak to them.
All right. Get back. Get back.
All right, look, look, look.
- Let me in right now, or I call the I.N.S. ¿Comprende?
This is the last time these kids will have...
to speak to their parents.
- All right? - Mm.
All right. Come on.
What were you doing, Hans?
What were you doing?
[Beeping]
Jesus, Mary, Mother of God.
It's a double-cross!
The roof is wired to--
[Al] John?
John!
John, come in!
Did you get that?
Something about a double-cross.
Tell me about it.
We are both professionals.
This is personal.
Ah...
Aagh!
Aah!
They're coming!
The choppers are coming.
Okay,
Time to gather your flock, Miss Gennero.
[Man On Television] Your mom and dad are very important people.
They're very brave people.
Is there something you'd like to say to them?
Come home.
Mrs. McClane.
How nice to make your acquaintance.
[ Screaming ]
Everyone to the roof!
Lock them there. Come right back.
Ah!
You should have heard your brother squeal...
when I broke his fucking neck!
What do you figure the breakage?
We take out the terrorists,
lose 20, 25% of the hostages... tops.
I can live with that.
Get this thing on the deck.
They're expecting transports, not gun ships.
Move it!
Come on! Move!
Move it!
Go! Move!
Theo.
A little bonus for us.
Please, sit down.
Sit down!
A policeman's wife might come in handy.
McClane, I have some news for you.
McClane.
Ah!
Aah!
Come on! Move!
Come on!
Yaah!
Motherfucker! I'll kill you!
Armed.
The truck?
The truck.
After all your posturing,
all your little speeches,
you're nothing but a common thief.
I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane,
and since I'm moving up to kidnapping,
you should be more polite.
Yaah!
Oh!
Going to kill you!
I'm going to fucking cook you!
Going to fucking eat you!
I don't like this, Sarge.
Yaa-hah!
Just like fucking Saigon,
Hey, slick?
I was in junior high, dickhead.
Where's Holly?
Where's Holly Gennero?
Holly Gennero? Where's Holly?
Where is she?
They took her! Where?
The vault! Where is the vault?
The 30th floor!
They took her!
Get downstairs!
The whole fucking roof is wired to blow!
Get down! Get the fuck downstairs!
They made us, Bureau. You got a terrorist shooting at hostages.
Break left!
Nail that sucker!
I'm on your side, you assholes!
Swing around again!
I'll bag this little bastard.
What the fuck...
Oh,John, what the fuck are you doing?
How the fuck did you get into this shit?
Aah! Aah!
Aah!
There's something wrong! They're coming back down!
Blow the roof.
Karl's up there!
Blow the roof!
I promise I will never even think...
about going up in a tall building again.
Oh, God, please don't let me die!
Yaah!
Oh!
Aah!
[Speaking German]
Holy Christ!
We're going to need...
some more FBI guys, I guess.
Aah! Aah!
[Ding]
Jesus fucking Christ!
Fuck!
[Bang]
[Engine Starts]
What the fuck is going on?
[Holly] What are you going to do?
Sit here while the building falls?
[Hans Speaking German]
[Slap]
Shit!
Oh! All right!
Uli.
Hey! Hey!
Hang on, baby.
Hang on, honey.
Oh, God.
[Tires Squeal]
Oh!
Allez! Allez vite!
J'y vais! J'y vais!
Hans!
Jesus.
Hi, honey.
So that's what this is all about?
A fucking robbery?
Put down the gun.
Why'd you have to nuke the whole building, Hans?
Well, when you steal $600,
you can disappear.
When you steal 600 million,
they'll find you...
unless they think you're already dead.
Put down the gun.
Uh.
[Hans] Nein. This is mine.
You got me.
Still the cowboy, Mr. McClane.
Americans, all alike.
This time,John Wayne doesn't walk off into the sunset...
with Grace Kelly.
That was Gary Cooper, asshole.
Enough jokes.
You'd have made...
a good cowboy yourself, Hans.
Oh, yeah.
What was it you said to me before?
Yippee-kai-yay, motherfucker.
[ Laughing ]
Holly!
Happy trails, Hans.
Aah!
Holly.
Aah!
I hope that's not a hostage.
[Siren]
[ Man On Radio ] Water hook-up companies 93, 96--
Must have burned down the whole building.
Over here. It's a better angle.
Let's give them...
[Horn Honks]
Keep it going, now. Keep it going.
Come on. We're going to miss it!
Okay. Hand me my notes!
Come on, folks.
What was it like in there?
How did they treat you?
[ Chuckles, Laughs ]
Al, this is my wife Holly.
Holly Gennero.
Holly McClane.
Hello, Holly.
You got yourself a good man.
You take good care of him.
McClane!
McClane, I want a debriefing!
You got some things...
to answer for, mister--
Ellis' murder, for one thing,
property damage,
interfering with police business.
[ Man Screaming ]
All right! Two of you go inside...
- and see if there's anybody else! - Yes, sir--
This one's with me.
[Horn Honks]
Mr. McClane. Mr. McClane!
After this incredible ordeal,
what are your feelings?
[Laughter]
Well, well, well.
Merry Christmas, Argyle.
Merry Christmas.
Did you get that?
Let me through.
If this is their idea of Christmas,
I got to be here for New Year's.
# Oh, the weather outside is frightful #
# But the fire is so delightful #
# And since we've no place to go #
# Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow #
# It doesn't show signs of stopping #
# And I brought some corn for popping #
# The lights are turned way down low #
# Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow #
# When we finally kiss good night #
# How I hate goin'out in the storm #
# But if you really hold me tight #
# All the way home, I'll be warm #
# The fire is slowly dying #
# And, my dear, we're still good-byeing #
# But as long as you love me so #
# Let it snow #
# Let it snow ##
## [ Singing Beethoven's ''Ode ToJoy''In German]