Apocalypse Now Page #4

DISSOLVE TO :

17 VIEW ON THE BOAT - PROCEEDING UP THE COAST

The Chief is at the helm -- Willard approaches him.

CHIEF:

The Delta closes off to us about

ten miles out of Hau Fat. We'll

be able to pick up some supplies --

bit I think there are only two

points we can draw enough water

to get into the Nung River. It's

all Charlie's turf from there on

out.

WILLARD:

We're gonna have some help to

get in the river. You know

these waters, Chief ?

CHIEF:

'Bout six months ago I took a man

up to Lo Mung Bridge. He was

regular Army too. Shot himself

in the head. I brought his body

back down.

WILLARD:

Shot himself. What for ?

CHIEF:

Beats me -- the sun was too much

for him, or the mud. Who knows ?

Pause, looking at Willard.

18 CLOSE SHOT - ON WILLARD

Suddenly, his attention is diverted -- there is a slow

buffeting, as if the air around them is being sucked out

and replaced quickly. The boat shakes slightly. There

is a distant ROLLING NOISE like interrupted thunder. All

the men have stopped whatever they're doing -- stand up

and look out toward the shore and the green jungle hills

beyond. The buffeting and NOISE CONTINUES -- they all

stand silently -- suddenly it stops.

WILLARD:

Arch light.

CHEF:

I hate that -- Every time I hear

that noise something terrible

happens.

CHIEF:

Anybody see some smoke ?

CLEAN:

Too far inland.

LANCE:

There they are.

He points up to the sky.

19 FULL SHOT - ON THE SKY

Way up -- past any clouds and barely discernible, we SEE

the black silhouttes of four B-52 bombers, their vapor

trails streaming white against the dark blue sky.

CLEAN:

Charlie don't ever hear 'em. Not

till it's too late -- don't have

to hit you neither, concussion'll

do it for a quarter mile or better.

Burst your ears -- suck the air

outta your lungs.

20 FULL SHOT - BOAT - CREW

They are looking up. Willard sits down, unconcerned.

He takes out the dossier given him by ComSec. He

flips through the letters and other documents.

WILLARD (V.O.)

The dossier on A detachment had

letters from Kurtz' wife and the

wives and families of his men.

All asking where to send future

mail, understanding the necessery

silence due to the nature of

their work -- None of the men had

written home in half a year.

Occasionally, in the b.g., we FEEL the terrifying buffeting

of the distant B-52 BOMBING.

21 CLOSE - ON WILLARD

studying, examining a report.

22 MONTAGE - PICTURES OF KURTZ

Kurtz' face evolves through the various stages of his

career as represented in the pictures in the dossier,

as Willard reads :

WILLARD (V.O.)

Lieutenant Kurtz has shown a

dedicated and well-disciplined

spirit. He is a fine officer,

combining military efficiency --

with a broad background in the

Humanities, the Arts and Sciences ...

Another picture of Kurtz in Germany, standing next to the

161st Petroleum Supply Group sign.

WILLARD (V.O.)

(continuing)

... He views his military career

as the dedication of his talents

to bringing our values and way of

life to those darker, less

fortunate areas in the world.

A SHOT of Kurtz at jump school.

WILLARD (V.O.)

(continuing)

... I feel Captain Kurtz' request

for Special Forces training is

highly unusual in regard to his

past humanitarian concerns, and

his somewhat liberal politics,

though I can see no reason to

deny it.

A CLOSE SHOT of Kurtz with Green Beret on in the Vietnam

jungle. His face is blank and vacant.

WILLARD (V.O.)

(continuing)

... We feel Major Kurtz' need to

bring a sense of Western culture

to the backward peoples of these

areas will be of use in

accordance with our 'Vietnamization'

programs ...

MOVE IN TO Kurtz' empty eyes until the photograph is just

a BLURRED MASS OF DOTS.

DISSOLVE TO :

23 EXT. HAU FAT - AN ADVANCE STAGING AREA

WILLARD (V.O.)

One day later we came to an

advanced staging area along the

coast. This was our last chance

to pick up supplies before

approaching the mouth of the

Nung River.

The VIEW OF THE COASTLINE leading up along the long load-

ing docks at Hau Fat, an advance staging area for opera-

tions "Brute Force" and "Mailed Fist."

Everywhere are tents -- oil drums -- sandbagged bunkers --

helicopters -- tanks -- guns -- men. Nobody builds

advanced staging areas like the Americans.

As the P.B.R. approaches the docking area, Lance notices

something.

LANCE:

Hey.

They look as a Chris-craft speeds by pulling a fancy water-

skier who waves as he slaloms by. The men just look at

one another.

24 VIEW ON THE DOCK

The P.B.R. pulls in -- the men scan the busy surroundings.

CHIEF:

Lance -- I want you to go with the

Captain an' get three extra drums

of fuel and maybe scrounge some

more 50 caliber.

LANCE:

Yeah -- look at those uniforms.

25 FULL SHOT - PARADE GROUNDS - TROOPS

A platoon drills in the hot, lazy sun; they are clean and

pale, in contrast to Lance and the others, just off the

airplane.

CHIEF:

Poor bastards, have a long year

to go.

The troops turn and march TOWARD US with six weeks of

Advanced Infantry Training to back them up.

26 FULL SHOT - DOCK - P.B.R. - CREW

They are tying up at the dock -- a young SERGEANT is fill-

ing cut papers concerning them and talking with Willard.

SERGEANT:

I don't know anything about these

papers, sir.

WILLARD:

They're in order -- it's perfectly

clean -- just check with ComSec-

Intel like I said.

SERGEANT:

Well, you know I don't have the

priority to do that, sir. It

says here not to contact Com-Sec-

Int. Who's your commanding

officer ?

WILLARD:

Right now -- I am.

SERGEANT:

Well who the hell verifies that ?

WILLARD:

I do.

He signs it quickly, leaving the Sergeant totally confused.

CHIEF:

No sh*t -- what's all the activity

for around here ?

SERGEANT:

The show --

WILLARD:

What show ?

SERGEANT:

Big show in the parade grounds

this noon -- some boss stuff --

WILLARD:

This -- Bob Hope or the like --

SERGEANT:

No sir, I think -- this'll be a

little bit different --

CHIEF:

Where's it gonna be ?

He points --

27 FULL SHOT - PARADE GROUNDS - PEDESTAL

A large, well-built pedestal has been erected -- this is

surrounded by a deep moat filled with punji stakes and

garnished with concertina wire. It is empty --

DISSOLVE TO :

28 FULL SHOT - PARADE GROUNDS - TROOPS

The entire area around the pedestal and right up to the

wire is mobbed with seething American fighting men. Some

of these boys have just gotten here -- others have been in

the jungle for months. All have one thing in common, to

see and if possible grab an American girl. Their need far

surpasses that of the run-of-the-mill rapist, pervert,

or child-molester. To counter their need of course are

the moat, punji stakes and barbed wire -- but implementing

this are seven "riot control positions" equipped with the

lastest in teargas launchers, attack-trained German shep-

herds and assorted psychological warfare aides. Even so

armed, the great mass of wild men are right up to the wire.

29 FORWARD AREA

jammed in the crowd

CHEF:

It's really too much -- I mean

I've collected every picture of

her since she was Miss December.

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