Apocalypse Now Page #12

He folds the letter up, files through some others quickly

and gets to a peculiar envelope stamped Top Secret with

a stenciled date on it. It is also noted that this was

the last correspondence to leave Nu Mung Ba. It is

addressed to Kurtz' wife. He opens the letter -- it is

written in a scrawled savage hand to no one in partic-

ular. It reads:

Sell the house

Sell the car

Sell the kids

Find someone else

Forget it

I'm never coming back

Forget it --

He folds up the letter.

118 CLOSE SHOT - WILLARD

He looks out at the ominous jungled mountains.

DISSOLVE TO :

119 FULL SHOT - P.B.R. - RIVER OUTPOST - RAIN

The P.B.R. pulls in towards an American outpost that is

being used as a forward medical evacuation center.

Various helicopters pads are SEEN, but only one heli-

copter -- the H-34 painted with Playboy rabbits that

brought the girls to Hau Fat. Several soldiers in rain-

coats come out the dock as the P.B.R. pulls up.

120 MED. SHOT - WILLARD, SOLDIERS

Willard looks into some empty tents -- looks around the

dreary muddy camp. Two soldiers pass.

WILLARD:

Soldier -- where'´s your C.O.?

SOLDIER:

Stepped on a booby trap, sir --

got blown all to hell --

WILLARD:

Well , who's in command here?

SOLDIER:

I don't know -- don't have any

idea -- I'm just the night man --

He turns and walks off babbling incoherently --

WILLARD:

What about you, soldier?

The soldier he was talking to turns around smiling

idiotically and making animal noises. He stumbles off

after his friend.

121 MED. SHOT - DIFFERENT ANGLE - WILLARD

He looks around disgustedly

VOICE (O.S.)

(whispering)

Captain --

Willard turns around looking for where the voice came

from.

VOICE (O.S.)

(continuing)

Over here, Captain --

He turns to see the Hollywood Agent under the flap of a

large tent so that he won't get wet. He wears the same

clothes as before, but is much dirtier. He motions

Willard into the tent.

122 INT. TENT - MED. SHOT - WILLARD, AGENT

They duck inside -- it is dark and damp.

On cots around astove sit the three playmates and the

pilot. The nearest one, CATHY, a blonde, picks leeches

out of her feet. The other two, TERRI and LYNDA, play

cards with the helicopter pilot. Willard looks over

the situation.

AGENT:

You came in on that boat, didn't

you?

WILLARD:

Yeah --

AGENT:

Where are you headed?

WILLARD:

What's it matter? Get to the

point.

AGENT:

Look -- you know the girls --

Thta's Terri -- she was playmate

of --

WILLARD:

Yeah, I caught your show at Hau

Fat.

They all look over.

AGENT:

Oh -- I see -- Well, girls, this

is Captain -- eh --

WILLARD:

Captain Willard -- go ahead.

AGENT:

Look -- we got in a little trouble

-- they rudely took our helicopter

for MedEvac work on this -- uh

Operation Brute Force -- They just

brought it back this morning.

WILLARD:

Yeah.

AGENT:

Well I mean like they also took

our fuel -- We've been here two

days.

WILLARD:

Dreadful.

AGENT:

Look -- the girls could get

killed -- we're not supposed to

be this close combat, I mean

real combat.

WILLARD:

Well --

AGENT:

We could use some fuel -- just a

half drum -- just enough to get

us out a here.

WILLARD:

We need all our fuel.

He turns and starts to leave.

AGENT:

But, Captain, think what these

girls have done for the boys --

think of how they've risked --

Willard is almost out of the tent.

TERRI:

Captain --

He turns around.

TERRI:

(continuing)

It's really rough here -- Captain

-- we're just not built for it --

The Pilot laughs.

PILOT:

That's rich --

TERRI:

Do us a favor -- I'd do one for

you -- if I could --

Willard just stares at her -- even though she's in jeans

and field jacket she is something to see -- The Agent

takes Willard aside -- Terri goes back to the others.

AGENT:

Look -- you know who that is,

Captain -- you know what she's

saying -- you'll never see stuff

that good outside of a magazine

for the rest of your life.

WILLARD:

I'm not that fond of blondes --

maybe I like brunettes --

AGENT:

Take your pick -- they all like

you -- I can tell --

WILLARD:

I like all of them --

AGENT:

Good -- like I said, take your

pick.

WILLARD:

I said I like all of them.

AGENT:

Now just a second -- I'm doing

you a favor, buddy -- what're you

trying to pull?

Willard turns to leave again.

WILLARD:

We need all our fuel anyway.

AGENT:

Wait -- wait -- don't get up tight

-- what I meant was we'd need a

whole drum for that --

WILLARD:

Sit down -- we'll talk about it.

Willard sits down on a metal chair -- motions the Agent

to do likewise.

AGENT:

What's there to talk about -- this

whole thing disgusts me.

WILLARD:

My men --

AGENT:

What !

WILLARD:

That's what there is to talk

about -- my man -- I take a good

care of my men --

The girls are trying to pretend they're not listening --

the helicopter Pilot is cackling to himself.

AGENT:

You're out of your skull --

WILLARD:

We have a lot of pride in our

unit --

AGENT:

How far do you think you can

push -- what kind of people do

you think --

WILLARD:

Esprit de corps --

AGENT:

No -- absolutely not --

WILLARD:

One for all -- all for one --

AGENT:

You can keep your f***ing fuel --

Willard gets up.

WILLARD:

You make some of your closest

friends in the army -- war has a

way of bringing men together.

AGENT:

Get out --

WILLARD:

Men of all races -- nationalities --

He gets up and starts out.

AGENT:

Two drums --

Willard turns around slowly.

AGENT:

(continuing)

Two whole drums --

WILLARD:

We can use some fifty caliber and

a 16 too --

AGENT:

I don't know what you're talking

about -- Get f***ed --

WILLARD:

I will -- I assure you that --

You got a fifty on that H-34 --

leave the ammo in boxes -- I'll

get my men to bring the first drum

with 'em --

He turns to go under the tent flap.

WILLARD:

(continuing)

Have the girls freshen up a bit --

comb their hair -- put on

something -- you know what I mean --

He leaves.

123 FULL SHOT - P.B.R. - CREW

They are all working on patching the boat and cleaning

it up in general. Mr. Clean sits in f.g., cleaning an M-16.

CLEAN:

You keep this thing in this

condition an' it's gonna jam,

Lance -- mark my words.

LANCE:

Why don't you go pet the water

buffaloes -- get off my back.

Behins them on the beach stand several water buffaloes

eating mud or whatever they do. They are painted jungle

brown and green camouflage with grey bottoms -- on their

sides the words have been stenciled in black:

1 Each --

Buffalo, Water B-1A

U.S. Army No. 15239

Willard walks through them down to the boat.

CHIEF:

Careful, Captain, they've been

known to charge.

WILLARD:

All right I got a little surprise

for you --

They all look up.

WILLARD:

(continuing)

I've arranged with those people

we saw at Hau Fat to give us some

50 caliber in trade for a couple

a drums of fuel --

CHEF:

No sh*t.

WILLARD:

Chef -- since you're such a fan

of Miss December's I think you

should be detailed with Lance and

Clean to take the first drum up

there.

CHEF:

I don't believe you --

CHIEF:

What're you trying to say, Captain --

WILLARD:

You'll see soon enough -- get going,

sailor --

CHIEF:

No sh*t -- hot damn --

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