Blow
INT. AIRPORT – MIAMI – DAY
Immaculate in his white turtleneck and sunglasses, George walks with two aluminum cases. He is greeted by Alessandro and his thugs.
ALESSANDRO Greetings, Mr. George.
GEORGE Where do you guys want to count?
ALESSANDRO On the plane.
GEORGE What plane? We going someplace? Where we headed? You have your money. It’s all there. What the fuck is going on?
They usher him away.
EXT. OLAYA HERRERA AIRPORT – MEDELLIN – DAY
SUPERIMPOSE: MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA
The lear jet lands.
EXT. DESERTED SUGAR FACTORY – LOS RIOS, COLOMBIA – DAY
The blazer pulls into a long driveway. They approach a gate where SHIRTLESS TEENAGERS with MAC-10’s stand guard. The gate opens. YOUNG SOLDIERS open the door for George and roughly usher him over to a Jeep within the confine. They frisk him top to bottom. Diego is leaning against another Jeep and waits for George to be released.
DIEGO George, good to see you, my brother.
GEORGE What the fuck is going on? When did you get out of jail?
DIEGO Pablo used his influence. Now, George, watch what you say. Everybody hears everything. A lot of things get said and done that, well, let’s just say this isn’t America. Life is cheap here, you know? No offense, but you know what I’m saying?
GEORGE Yeah. Keep my mouth shut and let you do the talking.
DIEGO Right. Now who is the person in California? The connection?
GEORGE Just a friend.
DIEGO Who? I need to know. Ah, never mind. We’ll talk about it later.
GEORGE Yeah. You do the talking.
The sound of a young man, a MALETON, struggling can be heard in the distance. From another area, PABLO ESCOBAR emerges. He is singular in purpose. He is handed a pistol and moves quickly over to the man and quietly speaks a few words. And then, without emotion, he shoots the maleton in the head. George and Diego, who is visibly shaken, watch. Escobar is handed a towel, and he wipes the splattered blood off his hands, as he moves back.
LARGE COLOMBIAN MAN He will see you now. (to Diego) Not you.
DIEGO There must be some kind of mistake.
LARGE COLOMBIAN MAN No mistake. Mr. Escobar will see Mr. Jung alone. You are to wait here.
George hesitates.
DIEGO It’s alright, George. You go.
LARGE COLOMBIAN MAN This way, please.
The large Colombian man escorts George towards the area where the maleton was just shot. George looks back at Diego as he is led away.
ESCOBAR So, this is the man who takes fifty kilos and makes them disappear in one day?
GEORGE Actually, it was three.
ESCOBAR The man who gives us the airplanes. The man from America. The mafia. Chicago. Boom boom. Hollywood. You are going to open for us the gates of Hollywood, George?
GEORGE It would be my pleasure.
ESCOBAR Good. Very good. Welcome, my friend. Welcome to my country.
Escobar moves over to embrace George. George returns it, and their hands come together. George can’t help it. He reflexively looks at his hands. Escobar understands.
ESCOBAR (CONT’D) The man in the garden. He was full of courage.
GEORGE Un sapo?
ESCOBAR Un rata – no good. But he could have run, fled the country. Gone to the policia. But then his wife, his children, his parents, his friends, many people would die.
GEORGE Yes.
ESCOBAR But, never mind. I am thinking we can do much together. This problem with Diego, the stolen car, the jail, is very silly business. To release him from the carcel, it causes me much inconvenience. The fifty kilos could have been a big problem. And I don’t like problems.
GEORGE With all respect, Padrino. Diego is my partner. I do not do business without him.
Escobar looks at him with a cold stare. But George doesn’t flinch. His face reveals nothing. Finally, a smile breaks across Pablo’s lips.
ESCOBAR I like you, George. You are loyal. That is good. That is rare. Maybe crazy. Yes. I can tell already. You are like me. I look at you and I see myself. It’s in the eyes, no, George?
GEORGE Yes, it is.
ESCOBAR So, you are wanting to sell the cocaine for me in your country, George?
GEORGE Yes, sir. As much as you can give me.
ESCOBAR As much as I can give you? Ha ha. Very good. I like that. Come, George. Let us drive. We have much to talk about.
Diego watches the two men walk outside. Escobar throws an arm around George’s shoulder. Pablo hops into a Jeep and motions for George. The bodyguards come running. But Pablo waves them away.
EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE – COLOMBIA – DAY
Escobar pulls the Jeep off the road and parks it. Before them is a stunning panorama.
ESCOBAR I like to come up here. To make the decisions. To be one with nature.
GEORGE It’s beautiful.
ESCOBAR People tell me that I am crazy. That my business will never work in your country. What do you think, George?
Escobar looks out over the vista, allowing George the time to respond in full.
GEORGE What do I think? I don’t want my answer to be influenced by what I want, so I’m going to have to say I don’t know.
ESCOBAR Yes. I do not know, either. What do you want, George?
GEORGE I want money.
ESCOBAR Yes. Money. Which is what, George?
GEORGE Freedom.
ESCOBAR Power?
GEORGE Yeah, maybe.
ESCOBAR Family.
GEORGE Sure.
ESCOBAR Beautiful girls?
GEORGE Keep them coming.
ESCOBAR Keep them coming? Ah, yes. Ha ha. You are right. But money.
GEORGE Money.
ESCOBAR And Diego?
GEORGE Diego is my brother.
Escobar looks at George a long time. He’s inscrutable.
ESCOBAR Good. Take care of him, George. I’m fond of him, but he is sometimes like a baby. Keep an eye on him, okay?
EXT. DESERTED SUGAR FACTORY – ENTRANCE – DAY
Diego is a little pissed off for being left for so long. He taps his foot and picks at his fingernails. Escobar and George pull up in the Jeep. Diego leaps to his feet.
DIEGO Padrino.
Escobar wraps his arms around Diego in an embrace.
ESCOBAR Diego, mijo. I’ve made a decision. We are going into business and I would like to start right away.
MONTAGE – GEORGE AND DIEGO TAKING OVER THE WORLD
The following images are overlaid with snow falling and money dropping through frame. CLOSE SHOTS of George and Diego on the phone, wheeling and dealing, hands counting cash, and lines being drawn off mirrors. The effect is surreal and dreamy.
INT. WAREHOUSE – DAY
A duffel bag is unzipped, revealing bricks and bricks of cocaine. Each marked with a “P.” A knife punctures one of the bricks. A mound of white powder is brought up to a man’s nose. It’s George who samples, and then it is sampled by the man he is doing business with. The shot widens TO REVEAL all the participants and dozens and dozens of duffel bags. A handshake seals the deal.
STILL PHOTOS
Handshake after handshake after handshake.
INT. MIAMI HOUSE – NIGHT
George and Diego counting cash. It’s everywhere. All over the floor, in two-foot stacks.
MORE STILL PHOTOS
Various transactions completed.
INT. MIAMI HOUSE – NIGHT
George and Diego count. It’s ridiculous how much money there is. The stacks are now waist high and spill into other rooms. Inez is there, pacing the floor and rapid-fire talking on the phone.
MORE STILL PHOTOS
George and Diego, the Banditos. Cigars. Champagne. Arms around each other in camaraderie. In Diego’s yellow Ferrari. With Inez, sunning on a yacht. More coke and more transactions. When the deals are with Derek Foreal, Diego is always notably absent.
INT. MIAMI HOUSE – NIGHT
