[Boggs leads Katniss into the boardroom with Beetee in a wheelchair with Plutarch and Alma walking in]
There she is. Our Girl on Fire. Madam President, may I present you with The Mockingjay.
President Coin What an honour it is to meet you. You're a courageous young woman. I know how disorienting this must be. And I can't imagine what it's like to live through the atrocities of those Games.
Katniss, President Alma Coin.
President Coin Please know how welcome you are. I hope you'll find some comfort with us. We've known loss in 13, too.
This is history. Right here at this table.
President Coin I apologize. I wish you had more time to recover, but unfortunately, we don't have that luxury. Please, have a seat. Are you aware of what's happened? When you fired your arrow at the force field you electrified the nation. There have been riots and uprisings and strikes in seven districts. We believe that if we keep this energy going we can unify the districts against the Capitol. But if we don't, if we let it dissipate, we could be waiting another 75 years for this opportunity. Everyone in 13 is ready for this.
What about Peeta? Is he alive?
I don't know. And I wish that I did. But there's no way for me to contact my operatives inside the Capitol.
The Capitol has always suppressed communication between the districts. But I know their system very well. I managed to break through. All we need now is the perfect message.
Katniss, here's what we need to do. We need to show them that The Mockingjay's alive and well and willing to stand up and join this fight. 'Cause we need every district to stand up to this Capitol. The way you did. So we're gonna shoot a series of propaganda clips, propos, I like to call them, on The Mockingjay. Spreads the word that we're gonna stoke the fire of this rebellion. The fire that The Mockingjay started.
[getting angry]
You left him there. You left Peeta in that arena to die.
Katniss, there are so many...
[Hysterically outbursts and slams the table]
Peeta was the one who was supposed to live!
President Coin Miss Everdeen. This revolution is about everyone. It's about all of us. And we need a voice.
Then you should've saved Peeta. [Katniss walks out of room angrily]
President Coin [To Plutarch]
Maybe you should've rescued the boy instead.
No. No, no, listen to me. No one else who can do this but her.
President Coin This is not the girl you described.
Obviously, we need to make it personal. Remind her who the real enemy is.
President Coin She knows who the enemy is. That's not the issue.
Unless she's forgotten. There's explaining and there's showing. Let her see what the Capitol did to Twelve.
President Coin She can't handle it. The Games destroyed her.
This is the only choice you have. People don't always show up the way you want them to, Madame President. But that anger, that anger-driven defiance, that's what we want. And we can redirect it. We need to unite these people out there that have been doing nothing but killing each other in an Arena for years. We have to have a lightning rod. They'll follow her. She's the face of the revolution. Let her see it. Let her go home.
I've decided I will be your Mockingjay, but I have... some conditions. Peeta and the other Tributes, Johanna Mason and Annie Cresta, will be rescued at the earliest opportunity. If and when Peeta is liberated, he will receive a full and unconditional pardon, no punishment will be inflicted. And the same goes for the other Tributes.
President Coin No.
It's not their fault. You left them in the Arena. They're doing and saying whatever they can to survive.
President Coin Individuals don't make demands in Thirteen. There will be a tribunal, and a fair judgment. Thank you.
[Sternly]
The victors will be granted immunity, and you will announce that in front of the entire population of 13. You will hold yourself and your government responsible, or you will find another Mockingjay.
[Pleased]
That's it! That's her! Right there! Isn't that what I promised you? Now if she wears the costume, gunfire in the background, a hint of smoke... Our Mockingjay. Madam President, we're losing ground because people are losing heart, this is worth the risk, she's worth the risk. Pardons, tribunals, power to the people, that can all be the bedrock for the new Panem, but with more time I think even the normal sub-causes can be bent a little bit, right?
President Coin [Swayed]
Do you have any other conditions?
[Consults her note]
My sister gets to keep her cat.
President Alma [Making a speech to District 12 workers]
Good afternoon. Thank you for interrupting your schedules. They have already been adjusted to compensate...
[To Primrose]
I hardly ever see any children around here.
President Alma ...please check in with your unit...
A lot of them were lost in an epidemic a few years ago. Coin lost her family too. Daughter and her husband. [Katniss spots Finnick and walks over to him]
President Alma ...and our welcome guests from 12. Katniss Everdeen has consented to be the face of our cause, to help unite the Districts against the Capitol. In exchange, I have promised several concessions. First, we'll assess all opportunities for the extraction of the Victors held in the Capitol. Peeta Mellark, Johanna Mason,
[To Finnick]
Finnick, I made the deal for Annie, too.
President Alma ...and Annie Cresta. Once freed, they will be granted a full pardon for any and all crimes committed against the rebel cause. [There's an uproar amidst the workers]
[To Katniss]
Good. That's good, Katniss.
President Alma If Katniss fails to fulfill her duties the deal will be off. Thank you for your attention. Please, resume your schedules. [Walks over to Plutarch and Effie]
President Alma Effie Trinket. [To Plutarch] Welcome to 13.
Madame President, may I say you are so very... concise.
President Alma You believe that there are more to be said?
President Alma You don't appear to do anything else?
I'm only talking about salesmanship. The thing with revolutions, they're a tender flame. They need to be nurtured with a little kindling and warmth. Bit of oxygen.
One sure way to put it out is to smother it.
President Alma Or to use up all the air in the room. Excuse me. [Walks past them]
[To Plutarch]
You know what could use a revolution? That hair. [Pats his shoulder]
[In response to Haymitch after the rebel leaders watch a propaganda clip of Katniss]
When she volunteered her sister at the Reaping.
Excellent example. [Wiping off information of a electronic touch screen] Okay. I hope that wasn't important. Okay. "Volunteer for sister". [Writing a note] Good. What else?
When she sang that song for little Rue.
Oh, yeah. Who didn't get choked up at that? You know, I like you better, Effie, without all that makeup.
Well, I like you better sober.
When she chose Rue as an ally as well.
Now, what do all of these have in common?
Unscripted, yes. So maybe we should just leave her alone.
And wash her face. She's still a girl. You made her look 35.
The opportunities for spontaneity are obviously lacking underground. So what you're suggesting is we toss her into combat?
President Alma I can't sanction putting an untrained civilian in battle just for effect. This is not the Capitol.
That is exactly what I'm suggesting. Put her in the field.
President Alma No, we can't protect her.
It has to come from her. That's what people respond to. You want a symbol for the revolution? She cannot be coached into it. Trust me, I know. Maybe there's someplace less dangerous.
District 8. They reported heavy bombing last month. There are no military targets left.
President Alma We can't guarantee her safety.
You'll never be able to guarantee my safety. I wanna go.
President Alma And if you're killed?
Make sure you get it on camera. [Plutarch scoffs]
[To Katniss in the cafeteria]
Katniss, you're wanted in Command.
...
Tonight, we've received reports of derailed trains, of granaries on fire, and of a savage attack on the hydroelectric dam in District 5.
What have they done to you?
I'm begging for restraint and decency.
[Working in his space]
We interrupt your regularly scheduled horse manure to bring you... [Intercepts broadcast signal to divert to rebel footage of Katniss singing on view of hometown destruction]
President Coin That's it. That's our footage.
President Coin He sees it. He sees our propo.
Peeta, please continue. You were telling us about these savage attacks.
Yeah. The attack on the dam was a callous and inhuman act of destruction... Think about it. How will this end? What will be left? No one can survive this. No one is safe now. Not here in the Capitol. Not in any of the districts. They're coming, Katniss. They're gonna kill everyone. And in District 13 you'll be dead by morning. [Peeta is grabbed and signal cuts out]
He's warning us. That was a warning.
We have to get him out before they kill him.
President Coin Is there anything in the air?
S Subordinate
Nothing on Doppler, ma'am.
President Coin He was in the mansion. He could have overheard something.
President Coin It's time for an air raid drill.
...
PA PA announcer
This is a code red alert. Please, remain calm and begin evacuation protocol.
[Running in empty cafeteria]
Prim! Prim!
PA PA announcer
Proceed to your nearest stairwell and descend to level 40. Blast doors will be sealed in six minutes. This is a code red alert... Proceed in an orderly fashion to your nearest stairwell and descend to level 40.
S Subordinate
Madam President, three Capitol squadrons just entered our airspace.
President Coin How much time do we have?
S Subordinate
They're a few seconds from range.
President Coin Prepare to scramble the fleet.
President Coin Open up short-range air defense. Arm long-range missiles for counter-attack.
PA PA announcer
Continue to the Supply Station and claim one pack for each member of your compartment. Please keep all personal items within your assigned area. Be courteous to your fellow citizens. This is a code red alert. All citizens should be inside the bunker. Blast doors will close in two minutes.
Mom! Where's Prim?
Katniss' mother: I thought she went to find you. She must still be on the stairs.
There's no one on the stairs. [Realizes] She went back for the cat.
...
S1 Subordinate 1
They hit the far edge of the Northwest quadrant. Penetrated 40 feet. Missed the living quarters. Only minor damage to corridors 2 and 3.
President Coin Is there any radiation?
S1 Subordinate 1
None detected.
S2 Subordinate 2
Doppler shows a fourth wave approaching.
...
You went back for the cat? What were you thinking?
I wasn't gonna leave him behind. I couldn't live with myself.
S3 Subordinate 3
Damage to the aquifer in the Northwest quadrant. We lost a transport corridor.
President Coin There's nothing else in the Northwest.
S2 Subordinate 2
Our surface-to-air launchers just took a direct hit in sector 3.
President Coin Because we revealed ourselves.
S2 Subordinate 2
They saw us firing there. Stand down. Don't launch the fleet.
S1 Subordinate 1
Another 12 Capitol bombers approaching sector 3 in attack formation.
President Coin Hold fire on their approach. What'd they hit?
S1 Subordinate 1
Bedrock. But there's debris in the ventilation shaft.
President Coin They're not targeting our fleet.
They don't know what we have or where we have it.
President Coin Can you confirm that everyone's safely in the bunker?
President Coin Conceal all remaining anti-aircraft guns. Seal launching pads and ventilation corridors. We are gonna wait this out. This is what we're built for.
They'll seal us in here like a tomb.
President Coin The Capitol's working off some outdated information. I'd rather not update it for them.
Madam President, I know it's not my place... It's not.
President Coin You're a welcome guest, but you're out of your depth down here. Reduce oxygen to 14% to conserve it.
President Coin Take a deep breath, Mr. Heavensbee. It's gonna be a long night.
Prim, talk about something. Anything.
They promoted me at the hospital. I forgot to tell you. They're training me to be a doctor.
They'd be stupid not to. Hey. [Walks to Finnick after using flashlight to play with the cat] Can I sit?
Snow's using Annie to punish you. He's taunting us with them. I didn't understand until just now watching that stupid cat.
After your first Games, I thought the whole romance was an act. We all expected you to continue that strategy. But it wasn't until Peeta's heart stopped and he nearly died that... I knew I'd misjudged you. You love him. I'm not saying in what way. Maybe you don't even know yourself. But anyone paying attention can see it.
I drag myself outta nightmares and there's no relief in waking up. But... it's better not to give in to it. Takes 10 times longer to put yourself back together than it does to fall apart.
...
[Waking her up]
Katniss? Katniss? Come with me.
President Coin We took their best shot. Didn't we?
President Coin Your mother and sister okay?
President Coin I need you to do something for us. I need you to tell Panem that we survived an attack by the Capitol with no casualties. And we remain fully operational.
President Coin You should know something. We had eight extra minutes of civilian evacuation because of Peeta's warning. I won't forget that. Thank you.
[Leading film crew of bomb crater]
Okay, Finnick?
Go in the centre there. Those rocks. Castor, to the left. Pollux, you're with me. So we'll go straight to camera. Okay?
Okay. Take your time. Just remember to keep talking and don't stop.
This is Finnick Odair. Winner of the 65th Hunger Games. And I'm coming to you from District 13, alive and well. We've survived an assault from the Capitol. But I'm not here to give you recent news.
[In command centre]
Why is Finnick doing a propo?
It's a lot more than that.
President Coin Beetee's commandeered the system.
Now that they're down to generator power there's a more limited range of frequencies available to them. And I'm filling them all up with Finnick.
Not many will see it, but whoever does will think it's another propo.
What they don't know is this broadcast is jamming their entire system with noise. Early defense warning, internal communications, everything. As long as the broadcast goes through, our team should be able to get in and out undetected.
The truth. Not the myths about a life of luxury. Not the lie about glory for your homeland. You can survive the arena. The moment you leave, you're a slave. President Snow used to sell me. Or my body, at least. I wasn't the only one. If a Victor is considered desirable, the President gives them as a reward or allows people to buy them. If you refuse, he kills someone you love. To make themselves feel better, my patrons would make presents of money or jewelry. But I found a much more valuable form of payment. Secrets. See, I know all the depravity, the deceit and the cruelty of the Capitol's pampered elite. But the biggest secrets are about our good President, Coriolanus Snow. Such a young man when he rose to power. Such a clever one to keep it. How, you may ask, did he do it? One word. He stopped every mutiny before it even started. There are so many mysterious deaths to adversaries. Even to allies who were threats. Snow would drink from the same cup, to deflect suspicion. But antidotes don't always work, which is why he wears roses that reek of perfume. Help cover the scent of blood from sores in his mouth that will never heal. But he can't hide the scent of who he really is. He kills without mercy. He rules with deception and fear. His weapon of choice is the only thing suited to such a man. Poison. The perfect weapon for a snake.
S Subordinate
I'm losing them. Powering back up. Ma'am, the Capitol air defense system is rebooting. It's coming back online.
Must be diverting power from another source. And filtering transmissions.
S Subordinate
Another 60 seconds and we'll be cut off. Madam President, should we call back the hovercraft?
Broadcast me. If Snow’s watching this, maybe he’ll let the signal in if he sees me. Put me on the air so he can see me.
President Coin Put her on.
Can we do this? Can we still get in?
Yes, for the moment he line’s open. He will only see you.
President Snow? President Snow, it’s Katniss.
President Coin There’s no guarantee he’s even watching.
President Snow, I need to speak with you. Are you there? President Snow, it’s Katniss. Can you hear me? I need to speak with you. President Snow, it’s Katniss. *President Snow, are you there? Can you hear me? President Snow.
[The display flashes to static, then Snow appears on-screen]
Miss Everdeen. What an honor. I don’t imagine you’re calling to thank me for the roses.
I never asked for this. I never asked to be in the Games. I never asked to be the Mockingjay. I just wanted to save my sister and keep Peeta alive. Please, just let him go and I will stop being The Mockingjay, I will disappear. You will never have to see me ever again.
Miss Everdeen. You couldn’t run from this, any more than you could have run from the Games.
Please. You’ve won. You’ve already beaten me. Release Peeta and take me instead.
We’re long past the opportunity for noble sacrifice.
Then tell me what to do. I’ve always kept my promises, haven’t I?
You said you didn’t want a war, and that’s just what’s happened. I told you what a fragile thing peace was. And still, like a child, you took pleasure in breaking it. I know what you are. I know you can’t see past your narrowest concerns. But please, Miss Everdeen, I doubt you know what honesty is anymore.
You asked me to convince you that I was in love with Peeta. Haven’t I at least done that?
Miss Everdeen, it is the things we love most that destroy us. I want you to remember that I said that. Don’t you think I know your friends are in the Tribute Center? [To someone off-screen] Cut them off.
Boggs, come in. Do you read me?
He knows that they're in there. It's a trap.
We have to get a hold of them. We have to tell them to get out. He knows.
There's no signal. We can't contact them.
No. Haymitch, he knew the whole time. He was taunting me. No, Haymitch. They're in there.
[Repeatedly]
Did I lose them both tonight?! [Haymitch hugs and shushes her] No! No! [Sobs]
