A Few Good Men Page #6

JO:

You're dismissed.

KAFFEE:

Sorry, I always forget that.

KAFFEE's gone. SAM's standing in the doorway.

SAM:

He's a little preoccupied.

(beat)

The team's playing Bethesda Medical

next week.

JO:

Tell your friend not to get cute

down there. The marines in Guantanimo

are fanatical.

SAM:

About what?

And in VOICE OVER we HEAR --

SANTIAGO (V.O.)

Dear Sir,

JO:

About being marines.

CUT TO:

EXT. CUBAN FIELD - DAY

SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY

And while we HEAR the letter read in V.O., what we're seeing

is this:
SANTIAGO's life in Guantanimo Bay over the last 8

months. He had a rough time of it.

THE SHOTS SHOULD INCLUDE:

-- SANTIAGO running along at the rear of a group of MARINES.

It's been over seven miles and he's matted with sweat. A

SERGEANT runs up along side, grabs his back, and pushes him

to keep up with the group. SANTIAGO falls, struggles to get

back up and keep running, and

CUT TO:

EXT. MARINE BARRACKS - DAY

-- SANTIAGO doing push-ups alone in the rain. He's being

supervised by a SERGEANT who sees to it that his face hits

the mud every time down and

CUT TO:

INT. MESS HALL - DAY

-- SANTIAGO sitting alone in the mess hall, not a friend

within four seats of him and

CUT TO:

EXT. MARINE BARRACKS - DAY

-- SANTIAGO being chewed out by a Lieutenant in front of his

squad and

CUT TO:

EXT. ROCKY HILL - DAY

-- SANTIAGO running with the squad of MARINES again, this

time down a rocky hill. It's hot as hell and it looks like

he's gonna pass out.

He stumbles, and the SERGEANT picks him up and pushes him

down the hill. He rolls about 30 feet before he stops. Over

this, we HEAR

SANTIAGO (V.O.)

"...My name is PFC William T.

Santiago. I am a marine stationed at

Marine Barracks, Rifle Security

Company Windward, Second Platoon

Delta. I am writing to inform you of

my problems with my unit here in

Cuba and to ask for your help. I've

fallen out on runs before for several

reasons such as feeling dizzy or

nauseated, but on May 18th, I'd fallen

back about 20 or 30 yards going down

a rocky, unstable hill. My sergeant

grabbed me and pushed me down the

hill. Then I saw all black and the

last thing I remember is hitting the

deck. I was brought to the hospital

where I was told I just had heat

exhaustion and was explained to by

the doctor that my body has trouble

with the hot sun and I hyperventilate.

I ask you to help me. Please sir. I

just need to be transferred out of

RSC. Sincerely. PFC William T.

Santiago. U.S. Marine Corps."

At this point, with SANTIAGO's letter still in V.O., we

CUT TO:

INT. JESSEP'S OFFICE - DAY

THE LETTER - DAY

It's the last paragraph of the letter we've been hearing,

and at the moment, we can't see the hands that are holding

it.

SANTIAGO (V.O.)

"P.S. In exchange for my transfer

off the base, I'm willing to provide

you with information about an illegal

fenceline shooting that occurred the

night of August 2nd."

And as these last words are spoken, we PULL BACK TO REVEAL

COLONEL NATHAN R. JESSEP, who drops the letter he's been

reading on his desk, where it joins a stack of other letters

just like it.

JESSEP's a born leader, considered in many circles to be one

of the real fair-haired boys of the Corps. He's smart as a

whip with a sense of humor to match. As soon as he drops the

letter, he says

JESSEP:

Who the f*** is PFC William T.

Santiago.

He's talking to his two senior officers. CAPTAIN MARKINSON

is in his late 40's. He's a career marine and a nice guy in

a world where nice guys may not finish last, but they sure

as sh*t don't finish first. Lt. JONATHAN JAMES KENDRICK is

26, from Georgia, and an Academy graduate.

If you asked him he'd tell you that the gates to heaven are

guarded by the U.S. Marine Corps.

KENDRICK:

Sir, Santiago is a member of Second

Platoon, Delta.

JESSEP:

Yeah, well, apparently he's not very

happy down here at Shangri-La, cause

he's written letters to everyone but

Santa Claus asking for a transfer.

And now he's telling tales about a

fenceline shooting.

He tosses the letter over to MARKINSON. MARKINSON is looking

it over. JESSEP is waiting for a response.

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