American Sniper Page #10

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A SNIPER ROUND clips his helmet. He’s knocked flat-back.

Clouds strobe overhead. The dog barks viciously inches

from his face. Saliva flying off incisors as--

THE SHEIKH:

Watches the drill enter his son’s face. The Sheikh breaks

free of the Butcher’s men, running towards his son. TWO

AKs shred his back and he pitches forward, reaching--

SNIPER POV:

As the Butcher and his men drive away, CROSS-HAIRS track

across the rooftop, where--

ROOFTOP / CHRIS POV (UPSIDE DOWN)

His helmet, ruptured like a plum, wobbles to a stop.

CHRIS:

Rage animates him. He staggers to his feet, FIRING HIS M4

on the minaret until the clip expires. Then--

A FLUTTER of cloth sweeps across an alley a block north.

MUSTAFA slows, rounding the corner, and glances back--

Chris draws his .45, but Mustafa slips into the shadows.

Women sob over dead bodies in the street below.

71 EXT. STREET - LATER 71

TEAM THREE SEALs hold perimeter. The sheet draped over

Omar is marked by a dozen blood spots. Chris is buzzing

with remorse, looking to the minaret.

CHRIS KYLE:

He had line-of-sight 500 meters out.

BIGGLES:

Colonel Gronski is all over Marc, bro.

(03.18.14) 55.

In the distance, COLONEL GRONSKI barks at MARC LEE then

climbs in a Bradley. As MARC approaches-

CHRIS:

We need to work up a squad to pursue him.

MARC LEE:

They’re shutting us down.

CHRIS:

What do you mean?

MARC LEE:

We’re confined to base pending an

incident review.

CHRIS:

Can he do that? Just shelf us like that?

I ship home in three weeks.

Wind blows the sheet off Omar.

BIGGLES:

It’s gonna be a long three weeks.

72 EXT. WEIGHT LIFTING CAGE, CAMP FALLUJAH, FOB - SUNSET 72

Chris stalks the cage, shirtless and sweating. His eyes

track the horizon as darkness falls on Fallujah.

73 EXT. NORTH AIRFIELD, CORONADO, CALIFORNIA - NIGHT 73

Halogen spotlights illuminate tarmac. SOLDIERS emerge

from darkness, pushing toward their waiting families.

FIND TAYA in heels, 9 months pregnant. Chris limps toward

her. She walks into his arms and STARTS SWINGING fists.

TAYA:

I thought you were dead. I thought-

He holds her close until her rage gives way to tears.

CHRIS:

Shh. I’m know. I’m so sorry.

They stand there long after everyone has gone.

(03.18.14) 56.

74 INT. BEDROOM 74

Taya lowers the lights, steps out of her dress and looks

at herself in the mirror, 9 months pregnant, and not sure

she’s sexy. Chris exits the shower, stops, staring--

CHRIS:

You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever

seen.

TAYA:

I have an alien growing inside me--

She deflates and sits on the bed. He kneels before her.

TAYA:

And there’s a strange man in my bedroom.

CHRIS:

Our bedroom.

TAYA:

(pulls his ring off necklace)

Why isn’t it on your finger?

CHRIS:

If it catches the light...

He doesn’t spell it out. She slips it on his finger.

TAYA:

Your hands feel different.

CHRIS:

They’re mine. I swear...

TAYA:

Why am I so f***ing nervous?

CHRIS:

(kissing her belly)

I’m nervous too.

TAYA:

No you’re not. Don’t lie.

CHRIS:

I am... What if that little alien reaches

out and grabs me?

She laughs and squishes his cheeks, making faces with his

face.

(03.18.14) 57.

TAYA:

Why are you so good with me.

Her face opens in ecstasy.

75 INT. BREAKFAST TABLE, CHRIS’ HOUSE - MORNING 75

CHRIS, showered, shaven and ill-at-ease, picking at the

calloused “shooter’s strawberries” on his elbows.

TAYA (OC)

--it might be nice to get out-

His coffee steams like smoke off a barrel.

TAYA (OC)

--are you listening to me? Chris-

CHRIS:

(knee pumping)

Huh?-

A lawn-mower starts. His eyes track windows. Taya sees

what’s happening and-- she extends a naked leg into his

sight line. His eyes follow her leg, to welcoming eyes.

TAYA:

What do you want to do today, hon’?

CHRIS:

Maybe we just relax here?

TAYA:

Okay, we do that. Let’s relax.

She eases into his lap, changing his chemistry.

76 INT. OBGYN OFFICE, SAN DIEGO - DAY 76

A room doused in sunshine. TAYA lays on the table. DOCTOR

HOFFSTADER works the ultra-sound wand over her belly.

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

How you feeling?

TAYA:

I’m done being pregnant. I want to meet

him.

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

It’ll be any day now.

(03.18.14) 58.

Chris pets his wife’s hair but he’s sweaty and flushed.

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

How about you Mr. Kyle? How’re you

feeling?

CHRIS KYLE:

Good. Doing good.

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

I imagine you’re still decompressing.

CHRIS:

Not really.

TAYA:

Well, this is the first time we left the

house.

CHRIS:

I’m just happy to be home.

Hoffstader studies him, reaches for a b.p. cuff.

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

Here, slip this on for me.

He awkwardly consents. The cuff tightens.

CHRIS:

If you wanna help, you should be looking

at my knees. I don’t know what I did but-

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

Are you a smoker?

CHRIS:

No, ma’am.

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

Do you drink?

CHRIS:

(charming)

Only when I’m thirsty.

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

170 over 110.

TAYA:

(concerned)

Jesus Christ Chris...

(03.18.14) 59.

CHRIS:

Is that high?

DOCTOR HOFFSTADER

Not if you just had 14 cups of coffee.

But for someone who is sitting down-CHRIS

I’ll look into it. Thanks doc.

He’s smiling but his tone quiets her. She overstepped.

77 INT. TRUCK, SOUTHBOUND FREEWAY - DAY 77

CHRIS is weaving through rush-hour traffic.

CHRIS:

You sabotaged me back there.

TAYA:

What am I supposed to do. You’re not

talking. You act like it’s all okay-CHRIS

It is okay. I’m fine.

TAYA:

You’re not fine. Your blood pressure-CHRIS

Babe, I’m driving down the freeway, it’s

sunny and 72 degrees. I’m fine. But there

are people dying over there and I lookaround and it’s like it’s not even

happening. It’s barely on the news, no

one talks about it. No one cares. And if

I stay too long I’ll forget about it too.

Chris-TAYA

CHRIS:

We’re at war and I’m headed to the mall.

She looks pained, ready to cry-CHRIS

I don’t belong here. I can’t help anybodyShe’s

arching in the seat, MOANING as her water breaks.

TAYA:

--it’s happening--

(03.18.14) 60.

CHRIS:

Oh sh*t-Chris

swerves from the SOUTHBOUND FAST-LANE across the

dirt median and into the NORTHBOUND FAST-LANE.

TAYA:

What’re you doing!

CHRIS:

I’m going back.

Dust kicks up. Horns blare. He’s speeding north.

TAYA:

(laughing and crying)

--oh my god, you’re crazy! You’re f***ing

crazy you know that?

A look between them like spilled sunlight. He reaches and-

TRANSITION TO:

Taya grips his hand. Her WAILING SCREAMS fall silent and-

78 INT. DELIVERY ROOM 78

Taya stares blankly at Chris. He thinks he lost her.

Then-- A SMALL CRY breaks the tension. Taya gasps.

THE BOY lands in Chris’ arms covered in vernix and blood.

CHRIS:

My little man...

He holds him to the light and relief pours over him.

CHRIS:

Look at our boy. Look what we did.

(nuzzles close to her)

I love you, baby. We made it--

He holds his family close as BEDOUIN MUSIC SWELLS-

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