The lyrics of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy continue, as the credits roll.
Wem der große Wurf gelungen
Eines Freundes Freund zu sein;
Wer ein holdes Weib errungen
Mische seinen Jubel ein!
Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
Und wer’s nie gekonnt, der stehle
Weinend sich aus diesem Bund!
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
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
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
John appears at the top of the ramp, his machine gun leveled at waist height.
Hans has a gun trained on Holly.
Sparks fall from an overhead electric cable.
Holly looks at John’s blood-covered appearance. “Jesus,” she says.
John staggers toward them. “Hi, honey,” he says to Holly.
Hans backs up with Holly, keeping the gun trained on her head.
Eddie glances down at the machine gun that’s hanging off his freight dolly.
John continues to stagger down the ramp. “So that’s what this was all about?” he says, “a f—in’ robbery?”
“Put down the gun,” says Hans.
“Why did you have to nuke the whole building, Hans?” asks John.
“Well, when you steal six hundred dollars, you can just disappear,” explains Hans. “When you steal 600 million, they will find you — unless they think you’re already dead. Put down the gun.”
John glances at Eddie, then looks back to Holly. Holly tries to read his expression.
McClane lowers his gun.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Dennis Hayden as Eddie
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
McClane takes inventory of his ammunition. “Hang on, baby! Hang on, Honey!” he whispers.
He has two bullets left. “Oh God,” he says to himself. John tries to think of what to do next, then notices rolls of packing tape on a nearby cart. He gets an idea.
Meanwhile, Argyle quietly tails the ambulance driven by Theo. He sees it’s parked near the loading ramp, backing up to the doorway. Theo doesn’t notice the limo at first, then starts to open the door of the ambulance, only to close it suddenly in horror as he sees Argyle accelerating toward him.
Argyle T-bones the ambulance, then gets out of the limo and punches Theo in the head. Theo is knocked out, his broken glasses landing on the floor of the ambulance.
Argyle grins.
Back on the 31st Floor, Hans shoves Kristoff. “Allez – – allez vite!” he orders. Kristoff runs up a ramp as Eddie and Hans gather the bearer bonds luggage.
At the top of the ramp, Kristoff gets flattened by a punch from McClane, scattering a stack of bearer bonds across the floor.
“Hans!” yells McClane. John appears at the top of the ramp, his machine gun leveled at waist height.
Gruber responds by pulling a gun out of his waistband and pointing it at Holly.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Dennis Hayden as Eddie
Clarence Gilyard, Jr. as Theo
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane
De’voreaux White as Argyle
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
Gerald Bonn as Kristoff
McClane yells in pain. The fire sprinklers turn on.
The elevator door dings, then an explosion blows the doors off the elevator.
“I hate – – this f—ing place!” shouts McClane, continuing to wade through the indoor pond with his pistol drawn. As he climbs the stairs to the 31st floor, the company Christmas tree falls over.
In the parking garage, Argyle notices motion from the Pacific Courier box truck. Theo is standing next to two ramps that are sticking out of the back of the truck. Theo climbs up the ramp and disappears inside the truck. Argyle leans forward.
Theo drives an ambulance out of the back of the Pacific Courier truck.
“The f— is going on?” says Argyle to himself.
On the 31st Floor, McClane makes his way down a smoky corridor. He hears his wife in the distance.
“What are you going to do?” asks Holly, “Sit here while the building falls down around your ears?”
Hans, in the distance, shouts orders in German.
McClane pulls the clip out of his machine gun. He has one bullet left. “S—,” says McClane.
Holly , in the vault room, pushes Eddie’s hand away from her. “All right!” she says.
“Allez!” orders Hans, tossing another backpack at Eddie.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Dennis Hayden as Eddie
Clarence Gilyard, Jr. as Theo
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane
De’voreaux White as Argyle
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
The reel falls off the roof of the building.
McClane. landing on a bamboo tantani, realizes he’s still tied to the falling fire hose reel.
The tatani slides toward the gaping hole in the window as McClane struggles to free himself from the fire hose. Just as the tatani slides out the window, McClane manages to untie the hose. He exhales, surprised to still be alive.
Explosions on the roof continue to rock the building. The hostages race down the stairwells.
“Allez!” says Hans to Theo, tossing a bag full of bearer bonds to him. Holly raises her hand over her head to shield herself from the falling debris of the damaged building.
On the 30th Floor, McClane wades through the smoked-filled indoor lagoon where the Christmas party was held. Flames light the outer walls of the office. Another explosion knocks fixtures from the ceiling.
Through a gout of flame above the roof, the FBI helicopter falls toward the plaza below. The helicopter explodes in midair, blowing out the windows of the 30th Floor and knocking McClane prone in the pond. The indoor planters shatter and the indoor garden catches fire.
At the LAPD command post, Dwayne Robinson and Al Powell watch the explosion of the helicopter.
“Holy Christ,” says Robinson, “We’re gonna need some more FBI guys, I guess.” Al looks at him, shocked.
Back on the 30th Floor, McClane moans in pain.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Dennis Hayden as Eddie
Clarence Gilyard, Jr. as Theo
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane
Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell
Paul Gleason as Dwayne T. Robinson
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
“Blow the roof,” says Hans.
“But Karl’s up there!” says Eddie.
“Blow the roof!” says Hans, grabbing the detonator.
The helicopter continues to circle.
McClane climbs onto the ledge of the building. “I promise — I will never even think of going into a tall building again!” He looks down at the circle of police cars, far below.
“Oh God,” he says, “Please don’t let me die.”
The FBI helicopter rises behind him.
Hans presses the detonator buttons.
Agent Big Johnson takes aim on McClane.
McClane jumps off the ledge. The roof explodes behind him.
A brilliant flash illuminates the west side of Los Angeles. A huge fireball rises into the sky. The FBI agents in the helicopter are blinded by the fireball.
Screaming, McClane falls down the side of the building, the fire hose unreeling above him. As the hose reel empties, the fire blows the reel off its hinge, and it skitters across the floor of the roof. The reel catches on the side of the ledge, and McClane slams into the side of the building.
Explosions continue on the roof.
McClane kicks the window with his bloody feet, but the window doesn’t break. He pushes outward from the building aiming a pistol at the window and firing seven shots into it, breaking the window into pieces. As he swings back, he falls through the broken window into the building.
The reel falls off the roof of the building.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Dennis Hayden as Eddie
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
Robert Davi as Special Agent Johnson
Grand L. Bush as Agent Johnson
The pilot yaws left. Below them they see a man shooting a machine gun, but don’t know it’s John McClane.
“Nail that sucker!” yells Big Johnson.
As McClane continues firing to scare the hostages back down the stairs, a stream of bullets rain down from the helicopter. He’s chased off the landing pad, and falls next to a fence surrounding the HVAC equipment.
“I’m on your side, you a–holes!” shouts McClane.
“Aw s—,” says Big Johnson in the helicopter. “Swing around again. I’ll bag this little bastard!” The helicopter circles the building.
Meanwhile, the hostages run down the stairway, under the body of Karl, suspended from a chain.
On the roof, McClane opens a cabinet labeled, “CAUTION: FOR FIRE FIGHTING BY TRAINED PERSONNEL ONLY” and pulls out a reel of canvas fire hose. He rapidly unspools the hose as the helicopter circles overhead. As he ties the end of the hose around his waist, McClane asks himself, “Oh John, what the f— are you doing? How the f— did you get into this s—?”
On the 30th Floor, Eddie hears the hostages racing down the stairs. He doubles back to the vault. “There’s something wrong!” he yells at Hans. “They’re coming back down!”
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Dennis Hayden as Eddie
Alexander Godunov as Karl
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
Robert Davi as Special Agent Johnson
Grand L. Bush as Agent Johnson
The two helicopters continue down the Avenue of the Stars at very low altitude, then ascend rapidly towards the heliport atop Nakatomi Tower.
Uli finishes getting all the hostages up to the heliport, then hurries down the stairway. As he opens the door, McClane ventilates Uli with a half-dozen rounds from a machine gun. John climbs over Uli’s body and runs up the stairs to the heliport.
“Where’s Holly?” he shouts at the hostages. “Where’s Holly Gennaro? Holly Gennaro? Where’s Holly?” The hostages are confused by his appearance and continue screaming.
He finds Holly’s secretary, Ginny, and asks, “Where’s Holly? Where is she?”
“They took her!” replies Ginny, in tears.
“Where?” asks John.
“The vault!” says Ginny.
“Where is the vault?” asks John.
“The thirtieth floor,” says Ginny, “On the stairs – they just took her!” Suddenly one of the helicopters appears next to the roof level.
“Get downstairs! All of you!” yells McClane. “The whole f—ing roof is wired to blow! Get down! Get down! Get the f— downstairs!” The hostages don’t respond quickly enough to his liking. McClane fires into the air, getting the attention of the hostages, who run for the stairway.
“They made us, Bureau!” says the co-pilot of the lead helicopter. “You’ve got a terrorist shooting at the hostages.”
“Yeah, I see him!” says Big Johnson. “Bank left!”
The pilot yaws left. Below them they see a man shooting a machine gun, but don’t know it’s John McClane.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Ken Leong as Uli
Dustyn Taylor as Ginny
Robert Davi as Special Agent Johnson
Grand L. Bush as Agent Johnson
Hans just corrected Holly, saying he is an exceptional thief.
“And since I’m moving up to kidnapping,” he continues, “you should be more polite!” Holly doesn’t react.
Meanwhile, Karl is kicking John McClane in the face, up the metal stairway. Karl tries to karate chop John’s shoulder, but John blocks the chop and head-butts Karl.
“You – mother!” yells John, putting Karl in a headlock and dragging him up the stairs. “I’m going to f—ing kill you, cook you, and f—ing eat you!” McClane continues to slam Karl in the face with the base of his palm. Karl grabs McClane by the head and tries to twist John’s head off. John responds by grabbing a hanging chain and wrapping it around Karl’s neck. He shoves Karl off the stairway, and Karl is left swinging by the neck from the chain, many feet in the air.
McClane picks up the pistol from the floor, and checks the clip. Then, he exits the stairwell, leaving Karl dangling.
Back at the LAPD command center, Al and Robinson watch the helicopters flying overhead.
“I don’t like this, Sarge,” says Dwayne.
The two helicopters wheel 30 feet over the Avenue of the Stars, barely clearing the fountains. Big Johnson lets out a war whoop.
“Just like f—ing Saigon, eh Slick?” yells Big Johnson.
“I was in junior high, dickhead,” replies Little Johnson.
The two helicopters continue down the Avenue of the Stars at very low altitude.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Alexander Godunov as Karl
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane
Paul Gleason as Dwayne T. Robinson
Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell
Robert Davi as Special Agent Johnson
Grand L. Bush as Agent Johnson
Hans is ecstatic that he has Mrs. McClane as a hostage. He picks up his walkie-talkie.
“McClane, I have some news for you,” he says. “McClane!” he repeats.
Meanwhile, Karl and John are fighting for the dropped pistol. Karl grabs the weapon and fires at McClane. He wings McClane but John falls into the stairway. Bullet holes puncture the stairway door but miss McClane.
Uli continues to force the hostages to the roof of the building and the heliport.
Karl marches into the stairway, looking for McClane, but John surprises him from an elevated hiding place with a kick to the face. McClane leaps on top of the prone Karl and shoves him against a dolly, screaming “Mother f—er, I’ll kill you!”
Back in the vault, Theo is adjusting controls on a radio device. “Armed!” he says to Hans, then asks, “The truck?”
“The truck,” replies Hans, loading more bearer bonds into a backpack. Holly watches while seated against a wall.
“After all your posturing,” says Holly, “all your little speeches – you’re nothing but a common thief.”
Hans wheels about and faces Holly, “I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane!” he replies.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Alexander Godunov as Karl
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane
Ken Leong as Uli
Clarence Gilyard Jr. as Theo
McClane is knocked into a stack of loose pipes. He rolls off the pipes and gets the upper hand with Karl. McClane begins punching Karl in the back of the head.
“You should have heard your brother squeal,” says John, “when I broke his f—ing neck!”
Meanwhile, the two FBI military helicopters fly in low over Olympic Blvd. Agents Johnson and Johnson are aboard one of the helicopters.
“What do you figure, the breakage?” asks Little Johnson.
“I figure we take out the terrorists,” says Big Johnson, putting on a baseball cap, swiveling it 180° on his head so the brim is reversed, and replacing his headset over the cap, “lose twenty to twenty-five percent of the hostages. Tops!”
“I can live with that!” replies Little Johnson. He leans toward the pilot. “Get this thing on the deck!” orders Little Johnson. “They’re expecting transports, not gunships.” The helicopters nose forward and skim over the streetlights of The Avenue of the Stars.
Meanshile, Ulie is ordering the hostages up the stairs to the roof. “Move it!” he shouts. “Come on! Move it! Go! Move it! Go!” He chases them all the way up the stairs.
In the safe room, Theo is stacking bearer bonds into backpacks. Hans enters, holding Holly roughly by the arm.
“Theo,” he says, “a little bonus for us!” Then, to Holly, he says, “Sit down.” She refuses. “Sit down!” he repeats, and pushes her to the floor.
“Hey!” says Holly.
“A policeman’s wife might come in handy,” says Hans. He picks up his walkie-talkie.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Alexander Godunov as Karl
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane
Ken Leong as Uli
Clarence Gilyard Jr. as Theo
Robert Davi as Big Johnson
Grand L. Bush as Little Johnson
Hans pauses, listening to the news program on the portable TV. He notices Holly’s stricken face.
“They’re very important people,” says Thornburg to Lucy McClane, “so is there anything you’d like to say to them, if they’re watching?”
“Come. Home.” says Lucy into the microphone.
Holly has a look of horror on her face. Hans notices the reaction, then quickly turns around to the family photos. He flips up the portrait of the McClanes, and spots John in the center of the picture.
“Mrs. McClane,” says Hans, reaching into his jacket for a pistol, “how nice to make your acquaintance.”
Hans fires the pistol into the ceiling. The Nakatomi employees scream. He fires another shot in the air. “On your feet, everyone! To the roof!” shouts Hans. “Lock them up there, and come right back!” says Hans to Uli. Holly tries to blend into the crowd but Hans grabs her by the arm and spins her around.
Meanwhile, Karl continues beating on McClane. He kicks John to the floor. John spots the pistol that’s just out of his reach. Karl kicks him in the face, then kicks John twice again. McClane is knocked into a stack of loose pipes.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Bruce Willis as John McClane
Alexander Godunov as Karl
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro McClane
Ken Leong as Uli
William Atherton as Richard Thornburg
Taylor Fry as Lucy McClane
Dennis Hayden as Eddie