American Sniper Page #12

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TEAM THREE push to a door. Biggles has a cat-claw, ready

to breach-- A BABY CRIES behind the door. Chris waves

them off. Another door.

CHRIS:

(whisper-mic)

Breacher-up.

BIGGLES is ready to wedge the cat-claw when he sees keys

hanging from the door. He grins and simply opens it-

89 INT. CORNER APARTMENT, SIXTH FLOOR 89

A modest apartment. TEAM THREE have seated the family;

A PROTECTIVE FATHER hugs his BOY(6) as his WIFE frets.

CHRIS:

Tell em they won’t be leaving till we do--

(hands Terp a photo)

Ask if they seen him.

TERP TRANSLATES, showing a PHOTO OF THE BUTCHER.

LOOKING OUT WINDOW

The RESTAURANT BELOW is boarded up with painted metal.

BIGGLES:

(Hall & Oates song)

--Private eyes, we’re watching you,

watching your every move...

“D”

Why a restaurant?

MARC LEE:

Big freezers.

Marc turns away, leaving them to wonder.

CHRIS:

Let’s keep eyes on it get pictures of

anyone coming and going.

Biggles watches Chris collapse onto his ruck-sack.

(03.18.14) 68.

BIGGLES:

F***ing Chief Nappy-nap.

A challenging smile. Chris flips him off.

“D”

Got some nice rugs up in here.

(thumbs up to Father)

This sh*t is hand-knotted. Beautiful.

Surveillance rolling, Chris closes his eyes.

90 OMITTED 90

91 OMITTED 91

92 TIME CUT - LATER 92

In darkness, CHRIS bolts upright then sees his guys by

the window. He joins them. Despite rolling blackouts,

light is visible around plywood on Fahima Halal windows.

CHRIS:

What do we got?

MARC LEE:

16 military aged males have gone in.

CHRIS:

Sixteen?

BIGGLES:

They serve more customers than McDonalds.

MARC LEE:

And check this.

ON DIGI-CAMERA, ZOOMS ON PHOTO of The Butcher entering--

CHRIS:

He still inside?

MARC LEE:

I’m only clocking one point of entry.

He’s in there, but it’s no easy breach.

BIGGLES:

When they see it’s The Legend they’ll

probably just invite him in--

(03.18.14) 69.

CHRIS:

You got a problem? I didn’t promote

myself.

BIGGLES:

No, I did it for you. You’d never have

made Chief if I nicknamed you “The Myth”.

Chris snaps Biggles down, wrestles him into a choke.

“D”

Myth becomes Legend when we occupy a

house, get 23 kills, and 21 are his.

TONY:

Enough. It’s everybody’s Navy.

Chris releases him. Biggles is coughing.

BIGGLES:

--naw, it’s Legend’s Navy now. Just hope

he leaves some for the rest of us.

CHRIS:

Hash out tactics. We go at zero-dark. And

Big Giggles is making the coffee.

Biggles is flipping him off when the FATHER SPEAKS:

TERP:

(translates)

He invites you to join him for Eid al-

Adha supper. He says -on this day

everyone has a seat at my table-.

Chris nods dubious gratitude, meeting the Father’s eyes.

CHRIS:

Tell him that’s very generous of him.

DINING ROOM - LATER

A braised head of lamb eaten clean. TEAM 3 are chowing

down, in good spirits, as Chris watches THE FATHER teach

his SON to read. He is moved by their connection and

acutely aware of what this war is costing him.

That’s when he sees-- (ECU) “SHOOTERS STRAWBERRIES” on

father’s elbows. They’re red and calloused, like his own.

Chris darkens, stands and slips down the hall-

BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

(03.18.14) 70.

CHRIS searches the closet, ripping through clothes,

pressing wall panels. He’s crossing to the bed when--

FLOORBOARDS CREAK beneath the rug underfoot. He stands

there, shifting his weight, floor creaking.

DINING ROOM/HALLWAY

BIGGLES is shoveling food in his mouth when a hand stops

him. Chris signals, no more. FATHER’S eyes flick up as--

CHRIS RIPS THE FATHER out of his chair, dragging him down

the hall by his hair. WIFE and KIDS screaming. “D” holds

them off as-- Chris dumps the father at a STASH HOLE in

the floor. Inside, a CACHE OF AKs, RPGs, IED components.

CHRIS:

Tell him he’s gonna be shipped off for

detention and the Iraqi courts can decide

what to do with him-- or he can help us

get inside that restaurant down there.

MARC LEE:

That’s a bad move--

BIGGLES:

He’s our breech. He’s a f***ing way in--

MARC LEE:

If something happens-

BIGGLES:

He’s AQI man, look what he’s holding.

CHRIS:

It’s his choice. Tell him.

The Terp translates. Father reacts, pale with defiance.

93 EXT. FAHIM HALAL - NIGHT 93

THE FATHER shuffles up the dusty street toward us-“

D” (VO)

Approaching the door...

IN ADJACENT ALLEY

CHRIS, MARC LEE and “D” waiting...

“D”

10 meters...

(03.18.14) 71.

BACK ALLEY:

TONY and BIGGLES watching...

“D” (VO)

5 meters...

SNIPERS NEST:

DAUBER watches with cross-hairs.

“D” (VO)

He’s knocking...

AT THE DOOR:

A sliding grate opens and--

“D” (VO)

They’re vetting him.

GUARD’S POV

FATHER attempts to alert the Guard, nodding to the TWO

MEN in robes at the oil drum. Guard doesn’t see it-

“D”

Hold. Hold-

CHRIS POV (N/V)

As the door opens, the GUARD comes into view-“

D” (OS)

Now.

Chris fires and the GUARD’S HEAD explodes. FATHER dives

for Guard’s weapon, FIRING BACK at Chris when-GUNFIRE

FROM INSIDE shreds him. He folds forward, dead.

TWO MEN in robes (TONY & BIGGLES) rush the door tossing

grenades, pulling the father out as the GRENADES EXPLODE.

CHRIS, MARC LEE and “D” push inside-

94 INT. FAHIM HALAL - NIGHT 94

A smoky banquet hall. GUNFIRE lights from far wall. A man

we recognize as THE BUTCHER is ushered through a doorway.

(03.18.14) 72.

CHRIS:

(keys mike)

We have eyes on the target. Flushing them

out the back-

IN THE ALLEY:

TONY and BIGGLES are posted in the alley, waiting.

BIGGLES:

(keys mike)

Negative. Nothing yet.

BANQUET HALL:

CHRIS and COMPANY push through the doorway the Butcher

passed through, but it’s not an exit. It is-

KITCHEN:

An IRAQI MAN is hung up by a chain, the majority of his

skin carved off, still alive. A walk-in freezer ahead.

CHRIS:

(to “D”)

Help him-

MARC LEE (OC)

Down here.

Stairs lead down into darkness. Chris follows him into-

AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL

A naked bulb illuminates a tunnel stretching to darkness.

CHRIS:

(realizes; keys mike)

They’re coming back up! Watch your six-

THE TUNNEL DETONATES. Dirt and debris explode at them.

BACK ALLEY:

BIGGLES and TONY are posted up. The RADIO STATIC--

BIGGLES:

--I can’t hear you. Say again.

BEHIND THEM:

TEN INSURGENTS pour out of another building, circling

back toward Biggles and Tony.

(03.18.14) 73.

KITCHEN:

CHRIS and MARC LEE bowl in, panicked, covered in dirt.

CHRIS KYLE:

Move.

“D” turns from a WALK-IN FREEZER full of bloody parts.

“D”

Big freezers.

(sickened, following)

F***-

SNIPER NEST:

DAUBER SEES INSURGENTS approaching Biggles--

DAUBER:

Biggles! Watch your six. Roadies on you-He

starts downing them but more seep out downrange.

BACK ALLEY:

BIGGLES and TONY are banging away but outgunned when

CHRIS, MARC LEE and “D” steps out, laying down fire.

CHRIS:

Pull back! Loading-

BIGGLES:

Got you.

Biggles is slaying combatants. Precise and deadly.

BIGGLES:

RPG!

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