Let's bring our two story lines closer together (tree version and forest person) and say here, as in the other version, the President refuses the initial demand for ransom (to make a resolution in the U.N. supporting Basque independence). The kidnappers make a second demand in the form of a videotape of the First Lady, which they'll release to the networks if their demands are not met.
This time the President agrees to meet the conditions. The resolution is released in the U.N., and the kidnappers prepare to set the First Lady free, moving toward our midpoint plot point.
We pick up the story from here (we'll change the names to Carlo [formerly Juan] and Andres, a name from each script):
INT. FARMHOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY The First Lady is reading when Andres enters. ANDRES Get your things. Time to go. FIRST LADY What do you mean? ANDRES You don't understand me? I mean it's time to go. EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY Carlo and Andres escort the First Lady to the car. She gets into the back seat. Andres gets behind the wheel, Carlo in the passenger seat. The car heads out. EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY The car is speeding down a country road. INT. CAR - DAY In the back seat, the First Lady looks upset. Finally she speaks up. FIRST LADY You are quitting too soon. There's no reply from the front seat. Andres looks at her in the rearview mirror, then at Carlo. FIRST LADY You should have asked for more support. You are turning me loose too easily. Carlo turns to the back seat. CARLO What kind of support? FIRST LADY Humanitarian support, for one. Food and clothing for your people. And something tougher. An embargo against Spain and France. CARLO You think your husband would agree to this? FIRST LADY Not if he could find a way out. If you go right to the media, the people won't let him find a way out. No one in this country knows your story. CARLO It's too late now. FIRST LADY Why? Turn around and take me back. Demand new conditions for my release. Carlo smiles at her and turns back around. EXT. SMALL TOWN - DAY The car enters a small town. INT. CAR - DAY Carlo turns to Andres. CARLO Park in front of the cafe. ANDRES We don't have time. CARLO We'll make time. Andres looks at Carlo. Then he turns the wheel to park. INT. SMALL TOWN - CAFE - DAY They sit in a booth, the men across from the First Lady. Carlo leans forward to speak quietly. CARLO Why do you want to help us? ANDRES Carlo, it's a trick. CARLO (to First Lady) You tell me. Is it a trick? FIRST LADY No. ANDRES She's lying. A WAITRESS appears. WAITRESS You having lunch? CARLO Just coffee. EXT. CAFE - DAY Carlo and Andres stand in front of the cafe, arguing. We don't hear what they're saying. INT. CAFE - BOOTH - DAY The First Lady sips her coffee, watching the argument through the window. She looks around. There is an EXIT in back, and the realization crosses her face that she could get away easily now. The realization changes to indecision. Should she or shouldn't she? She looks through the window. Carlo is doing all of the talking. EXT. CAFE - DAY Carlo moves quickly back inside the cafe. Through the window, we see him say something to the First Lady. Then both come outside and get into the car. Carlo gets behind the wheel. The car does a U-turn and heads back in the direction from which it came. INT. FARMHOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT Carlo, Andres and the First Lady are eating dinner. Silence hangs over the table like a storm cloud. Finally Andres slams down his fork, gets up and leaves. FIRST LADY I'm sorry. I didn't think my idea would be so controversial. CARLO Andres has been disappointed so often he doesn't trust much any more. FIRST LADY What are you going to do? CARLO What you said. Go to the media. FIRST LADY I can help. Carlo just looks at her. FIRST LADY Those things you gave me to read were very moving. Your people deserve their freedom, and that's why I'm doing this. I think my government, my husband, can do more. But he's a very cautious and selfish man. He'll only take a stand when it's a popular one. CARLO The day we took you, you followed him to a hotel. FIRST LADY You were following me then? Of course, you must have been. My husband is having an affair. I needed to be sure. CARLO Does helping us have something to do with that? FIRST LADY I wondered myself. I don't think so. This will make him look like a champion of liberty. CARLO It must be difficult for you - being so important and yet so unhappy. FIRST LADY Just before you took me, I'd called my lawyer. I'm filing for divorce. CARLO He will accept that? FIRST LADY He has no choice. But actually it's another bargaining chip. He wouldn't want publicity like that. CARLO I'm surprised you have gotten so involved. FIRST LADY I am myself. I like the feeling. They exchange smiles.In this sequence, then, is the midpoint plot point, where the First Lady makes a decision to join their cause. It's a new ballgame.
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