Apocalypse Now Redux Page #9

SOLDIER:

Like a mean motherf***er, sir!

KILGORE:

(to bugler)

All right, son, let 're rip.

The bugler begins to play as Kilgore climbs into the

helicopter.

EXTREME FULL SHOT

THE HELICOPTER takes off, rotors spinning, gas turbines

belching fire from their jet pipes, sand and dust as twenty

helicopters RISE.

NOISE ROAR OVER CAMERA. The helicopters deploy into a

formation.

NEW VIEWS - HELICOPTERS

They move THROUGH THE FAME, almost a dance of dragonflies.

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

DAY:

Willard looks ahead, Kilgore sits near the door. Below,

they see the jungle whisk by and are suddenly over the

ocean, low and fast.

MONTAGE - CLOSE SHOTS OF ROCKET PODS WITH MINI-GUNS

In their bizarre-looking mounts as well as the men-young,

anticipating, holding their rifles, looking down.

CLOSE ON WILLARD - HIS POV

Looking out from the side door. The various troop ships

moving by. The men waiting, sitting on the floor, sitting

on their helmets, looking back at him.

FULL VIEW OF THE HELICOPTERS

They are magnificent in the sky as they split into two

columns.

INSIDE HELICOPTER

Kilgore cranes his neck and leans out to watch the waves,

then turns back to Lance.

KILGORE:

I never have got used to a light

board. I can't get used to one.

I'm used to a heavy board.

LANCE:

I know, it's a real drag.

KILGORE:

You prefer a heavy or light board?

LANCE:

Heavier.

KILGORE:

Really?

LANCE:

Yeah.

KILGORE:

I thought young guys like lighter

boards.

LANCE:

Can't ride the nose on those things.

The pilot alerts the colonel.

PILOT:

(to Kilgore)

Duke Six, this is Eagle Thrust

Seven. We've got it spotted.

KILGORE:

Eagle Thrust, put on heading two-

seven-zero, assume attack formation.

PILOT:

That's a Roger, Big Duke. We're

going in hot. Here we go.

KILGORE:

(to Lance)

We'll come in low out of the rising

sun, and about a mile out, we'll

put on the music.

LANCE:

Music?

KILGORE:

Yeah, I use Wagner. Scares the

hell ot of the slopes. My boys

love it.

LANCE:

(to Willard)

Hey, they're gonna play music!

INT. PBR CREW'S COPTER - DAY

As they near the destination, several of the soldiers take

off their helmets and sit on them. The PBR crew reacts

with surprise.

CHEF:

How come all you guys sit on your

helmet?

SOLDIER:

So we don't get our balls blown

off.

Chef laughs, looks around. Then he takes off his own helmet

and sits on it.

INT. COMMAND COPTER - DAY

VIEW ON KILGORE:

KILGORE:

(to Pilot)

Eagle Thrust, put on psy war op.

Make it loud. This is a Romeo Fox

Trot. Shall we dance?

A HAND switches on the tape deck. MUSIC COMES UP, Wagner's

"Ride of the Valkyrie", blaring through the external

speakers of the choppers, as they make their decent into

enemy territory.

EXT. THE COMMAND HELICOPTER - DAY

With enormous twelve-driver loudspeakers BLASTING out the

music.

INT. PBR CREW'S COPTER - DAY

Out crew is silent, nervous.

EXT. COPTERS - DAY

We SEE the bombs and surfboard attached to the bottom of

the helicopters.

EXT. VIETCONG VILLAGE - FULL-SHOT - DAY

Typical quiet Vietnamese coastal village, rather large,

built along the beach and trees with rice paddies behind.

Sampans are pulled into a cove where the are being unloaded.

We SEE different aspects of the life of the village, the

people working there.

MEDIUM SHOT - SCHOOLYARD

A teacher and little girl come out into the courtyard,

quickly followed by other students pouring from the

schoolhouse in the background. A North Vietnamese soldier

runs in to the teacher, who then turns back to the children.

The soldier waves to the children to get out of the area.

CLOSER ON THE TEACHER

gathering children together. Peasants run through as the

teacher starts the children running out. One small boy

remains, an older girl runs back to get him and run after

the others .

Soon the village is buzzing with activity. Trenches are

used to pass weapons and ammunitions, young V.C. - both

men and women. N.V.A. regulars rush along the trenches to

take their positions.

NEW VIEW - N.V.A. AND V.C.

rushing along the trenches and taking the camouflage

covering off a large automatic antiaircraft weapon.

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