Apocalypse Now Page #8

KILGORE:

(continuing)

Eagle Thrust Four -- Big Duke

Six. Join me in sparaying some

trees.

RADIO (V.O.)

Affirmative, Big Duke Six -- We're

even got some rockets left.

KILGORE:

Take her in low, Lieutenant.

69 FULL SHOT - THE TREES, HELICOPTERS

The two helicopters swoop up out of the smoke and blast

the trees with ROCKETS, MACHINE GUNS and GRENADE LAUNCHERS.

Other copters join -- The V.C. break and run through

the rice paddies in the f.g. -- BULLETS EXPLODING around

them -- they scream and fall FIRING back.

70 INT. COMMAND COPTER - MED. SHOT - KILGORE, WILLARD

Kilgore looks out as three V.C. break and run through

the rice paddies -- the helicopter turns and follows

them -- the door gunner swings out and BLASTS two of

them into the mud. He takes a bead on the third.

KILGORE:

Hold it, boy.

He puts his arms across the sights -- the gunner swings

back inside.

KILGORE:

(continuing)

Take her up to 300 feet,

Lieutenant.

They rise above the paddy -- the man below runs for

all he's worth. Kilgore motions to the door gunner who

steps aside. Kilgore buckles himself into the gunner's

harness.

KILGORE:

(continuing)

Rifle.

A hand passes him a M-16.

KILGORE:

(continuing; hard)

My rifle, soldier.

There is some fumbling and then a hand passes him a 300

Weatherby Magnum with a zebra wood stock -- mother of pearl

inlays and a variable power scope. Kilgore takes it and

opens the bolt.

71 VIEW ON WILLARD

Amazed at these proceedings.

72 VIEW ON KILGORE

as he loads the rifle with huge cartridges. He gets

into the sling and slams the bolt shut.

73 MOVING POV. ON THE V.C.

He is running hard, but starting to sink into the mud.

The Huey DRONES overhead, its huge shadow behind him

on the mud. He turns and FIRES with a pistol.

74 INT. COPTER - MED. SHOT - KILGORE, WILLARD

Kilgore leans out; pulls the gun in tight -- takes

careful aim and the Cong is BLASTED flat into the paddy.

Kilgore leans back, opens the bolt, ejecting the spent

cartridge out the door. He hands Weatherby back

into the copter.

75 VIEW ON WILLARD

The gaudy rifle passed by him.

SOLDIER (O.S.)

That's 27, sir.

WILLARD:

Anyone got a card?

Somebody hands Willard the deck. He takes a card and

flips it out of the copter, never lifting his gaze from

Kilgore.

DISSOLVE TO :

76 FULL SHOT - BATTLEFIELD - THE CAV, V.C.

Americans run through the hooches FIRING and throwing

GRENADES. Helicopters swoop overhead -- JETS ROAR by

-- Uniformed N.V.A. regulars burst from a tunnel en-

trance and charge the Americans. The SHOOTING is at

point blank range -- automatic, as the V.C. are cut

down.

77 INT. COMMAND COPTER - KILGORE, WILLARD, LANCE, ETC.

Kilgore leans out carefully, looking over the battle-

field. He has the R.T.

He leans back, deliberately avoiding Willard to speak

to Lance.

KILGORE:

The L.Z.'s cooling off fast --

we'll move in another company

an' then we'll own it.

(he laughs to himself)

Charlie's point.

He looks out toward the ocean.

KILGORE:

(continuing)

Good swell.

LANCE:

What, sir?

KILGORE:

I said it's a good swell -- hell

of a good swell 'bout six feet.

Let's get a look at it.

Lance looks at Willard and then agrees.

78 FULL SHOT - COPTER, SURF

The pilots are used to this -- they bank sharply

and swoop in on the lineup of waves, coming in low

over the point and streaking down a long, lined-up

green wall as if surfing it. They tip up over and up

at the last minute as the wave breaks.

DISSOLVE TO :

79 FULL SHOT - BEACH HUTS, SOLDIERS

Americans line up blindfolded Viet Cong and N.V.A.

regular troops outside a burning hut. GUNFIRE is

DISTANT and sporadic -- an occasional MORTAR round

SCREAMS in. A soldier yells in Vietnamese in a

southern accent and the prisoners are marched away.

Other soldiers are already setting up heavy weapons

emplacements -- 50 cal machine guns etc. Three

Hueys ROAR in, fanning the smoke with their wind.

The center one, the command ship, lands. JETS SCREAM

over and the two gunships pull up at 200 feet. Another

Huey zooms in low and lands behind the Colonel's. The

doors open, guards jump out, check the situation, and

out steps Kilgore and Lance. From the other copter

are more guards, Kilgore's surfers and others of the

P.B.R. crew. Willard follows.

80 FULL SHOT - THE POINT

They stride out across the debris-strewn beach. Kilgore

stands majestically on the point watching the waves. A

SHELL SCREAMS overhead.

SOLDIER:

Incoming !

They all dive, except Kilgore. He is watching a big set

-- the SHELL EXPLODES in the water about a hundred yards

away, sending up a huge geyser of spray. Kilgore is

unmoved.

KILGORE:

Look at that.

They look.

LANCE:

This L.Z. is still pretty hot,

sir, maybe we oughta stand

somewhere else.

Kilgore pays him no mention.

WILLARD:

I'm waiting for the f***ing boat,

Colonel.

KILGORE:

(without looking)

It'll get here, soldier.

He turns to Mike and Johnny who have their faces in the

sand.

KILGORE:

(continuing)

Change.

MIKE:

Wh -- what?

KILGORE:

Change -- get out there -- I

want'a see if it's ridable --

change.

MIKE:

It's still pretty hairy, sir.

KILGORE:

(bellowing)

You want'a surf, soldier?

He nods yes meakly.

KILGORE:

(continuing)

That's good, boy, because it's

either surf or fight.

They turn and hurry off -- Kilgore grabs an M-1 from

one of the guards. They all think he's going to

shoot the surfers or someone. They move back uneasy.

KILGORE:

(continuing)

I'm gonna cover for 'em -- that's

all.

He c*cks thye weapon. Lance looks around uneasily. The

Colonel walks over.

KILGORE:

(continuing)

You think that section on the

point is ridable, Lance?

LANCE:

I think we ought to wait for

the tide to come in.

A SHELL SCREAMS OVER -- they all hit the dirt except

for Kilgore. It EXPLODES throwing sand through the

air. Kilgore leans down yelling over the NOISE.

KILGORE:

Doesn't happen for six hours.

Lance looks up at him terrified, holding onto

his helmet.

KILGORE:

(continuing)

The tide -- doesn't come in for

six hours.

DISSOLVE TO :

81 FULL SHOT - SURF - MIKE AND JOHNNY

They walk through shallows carrying brightly

colored boards. They look very scared. JETS SCREAM

overhead, FIRING CANNONS. Helicopters wheel by

carrying out wounded.

They wear olive drab surfing trunks with the Cav's

shield on the left leg. The same shield is emblazoned

on the boards along the word "Airmobile". They edge

into the water and paddle through the mild shorebreak.

82 FULL SHOT - THE POINT - SURFERS

They paddle up the point in the calm channel -- the

beautiful waves breaking beyond them.

83 CLOSE SHOT ON JOHNNY, MIKE

They paddle on their stomachs, keeping low -- breathing

hard and constantly looking around scared out of their

minds.

84 MED. SHOT - KILGORE AND LANCE

Kilgore looks at them with his field glasses. Lance

kind of sits below taking cover in a shell hole.

KILGORE:

They far enough?

LANCE:

Sure -- fine --

Kilgore turns and takes a giant electric megaphone from

a waiting lackey.

KILGORE:

(through megaphone)

That's far enough -- pick one

up and come on in --

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