Apocalypse Now Redux Page #17

CHEF:

Can I get some Panama Red?

SERGEANT:

Panama Red? Yeah, I'll get you

Panama Red.

CLEAN:

Sergeant.

SERGEANT:

Destination?

CLEAN:

I don't have a destination.

SERGEANT:

You can't get a goddamn thing

without a destination.

Willard steps in.

WILLARD:

Sergeant.

SERGEANT:

I need a destination. I can't do

a goddamn thing about it.

WILLARD:

Hey, Sarge, these guys are with

me. Destination classified. I

carry priority papers from Com-Sec

Intelligence, II Corps.

SERGEANT:

Listen, sir, it's a real big night-

(to another soldier)

Eight dollars for that camera-

With unexpected rage, Willard suddenly reaches up and grabs

the Sergeant by the collar, pulling him down across a table,

really frightening him. Everybody is quite surprised.

WILLARD:

Just give them some fuel.

SERGEANT:

You got it.

Willard lets go of the sergeant, almost embarrassed for

the show of temper. The sergeant goes back behind his

desk and starts signing papers.

SERGEANT:

Listen, Captain...I'm really sorry

about tonight. It's really bad

around here. Just take this over

to the man at the supply desk and

you got it.

He tears off a requisition and hands it to one of the trio.

SERGEANT:

(to crew)

Listen, would you guys like some

press box seats for the show? You

want those? The show, man, out

here. The bunnies.

LANCE:

The Playboy bunnies?

The sergeant finally leaves the trio, grabs a bottle of

cognac, and moves to Willard. Hands him the bottle.

SERGEANT:

Hey, listen, Captain...on the house.

No hard feelings.

Willard looks down at the bottle in his hand and then up

at the stage.

DISSOLVE TO:

The SOUND of ENGINES is heard. A HUEY and TWO LOCHES

descend from the clouds. The Loches hover and circle,

while the Huey descends onto the platform stage. There is

a large black-and-white PLAYBOY INSIGNIA painted on the

nose.

EXT. STAGE - FULL SHOT - NIGHT

The entire area around the stage and right up to the barbed

wire is mobbed with hundreds of seething American men.

Some of these boys have just gotten here, others have been

in the jungle for months. It's the Vietnam military version

of a happening. Guys from all walks of life, from the

cities, guys with flowers in their hair and peace signs

around their necks, other guys with their short-time sticks

and war medallions around their necks. Black G.I.s

congregate together with their clenched-fist black power

medallions. There are signs and posters and graffiti

everywhere. Some guys have guitars, everyone seems to

have a camera. Rummaging, sitting, waiting expectantly,

before the enormous stage, which is protected by rings of

concertina wire, a moat, and M.P.s every three feet at

riot control positions. Many joints and pipes are being

passed around. Snapshots are being taken. It has a strong

resemblance to a love-in or even Woodstock. Except that

they're all in various degrees of combat fatigues, and

they're all men.

CHEF, CLEAN, LANCE, WILLARD AND THE CHIEF move down an

aisle to their seats. It is through WILLARD'S EYES that

we see this spectacle, bad every so often we will see an

enthusiastic Lance, Chef, and Clean. The Chief remains

noncommittal, and somewhat bored. To the others, it's a

wonder of wonders.

Over by the dock, behind the chain-link fence, there is a

group of VIETNAMESE who have gathered to watch the show.

They have brought rice, food, etc. They will watch and

react throughout, along with the American soldiers who are

standing guard in front of them.

VIEW ON THE STAGE

The Playboy copter descends onto the stage. The door of

the Huey slides open and TWO YOUNG GREEN BERETS step out

with their M16s to varied CATCALLS. When this abates, a

young and extremely well-dressed man emerges. He is the

epitome of the Hollywood agent. He's informal, high-strung,

and good at what he does. His presence causes some stirring

and occasional shouts of "ripoff" from the men. He gets a

microphone from the stage, then walks to the front and

addresses the men.

AGENT:

How you doing out there?

(beat and reaction)

I said how you doing out there?

(beat and reaction)

Wanna say hello to you from all of

us up here, to all of you out there,

who work so goddamn hard on

Operation Brute Force. Hello, all

you Paratroopers out there! And

the Marines! And the Sailors! We

wanna let you know that we're proud

of you, 'cause we know how tough

and how hard it's been! Yeah!

And to prove it, we're gonna give

you some entertainment we know

you're gonna like!

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