Cool Hand Luke Page #2

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CAPTAIN:

What did they bring us today? Gibson.

A 507, Manslaughter. Good for a two

spot.

ALIBI:

It was an accident. I've never been

in any trouble.

BOSS PAUL:

You'all call the Captain, Captain.

CAPTAIN:

(to next man)

Edgar Potter. A 302 and resisting

arrest. One year.

TRAMP:

I was tryin' to keep outa the rain.

BOSS PAUL:

Git the wax out'n yore ears. You

call the Captain, Captain.

TRAMP:

Yes, sir.

BOSS PAUL:

And you call the rest of us Boss,

you hear?

TRAMP:

Yes, Boss.

CAPTAIN:

This man is gonna make us proud of

him, Mr. Hunnicutt.

(moving on)

Raymond Pratt.

TATTOO:

Yes, Captain.

CAPTAIN:

Breakin', enterin' and assault. Five

spot. Hmmm. Able-bodied seaman.

TATTOO:

That oughta come in handy here,

Captain.

CAPTAIN:

Maybe.

(turning to Luke)

Lucas Jackson.

LUKE:

Here, Captain.

CAPTAIN:

Maliciously destroyin' municipal

property while under the influence.

What was that?

LUKE:

Cuttin' the heads off parkin' meters,

Captain.

CAPTAIN:

Well, we ain't never had one of them.

Where'd you think that was gonna get

you?

LUKE:

I guess you could say I wasn't

thinkin', Captain.

CAPTAIN:

(looking at record)

Says here you done real good in the

war:
Silver Star, Bronze Star, couple

Purple Hearts. Sergeant! Little time

in stockades. Come out the same way

you went in:
Buck Private.

LUKE:

That's right, Captain. Just passin'

the time.

CAPTAIN:

(staring at him)

Well, you got yourself some time

now. Two years. Hell, that ain't

much, we got coupla men here doin'

twenty spots. We got one who's got

all of it. We got all kinds and you

gonna fit in real good. Course in

case you git rabbit in your blood

and decide to take off fer home, you

git a bonus a some time and couple

leg chains to keep you slowed down a

little -- fer your own good. You'll

learn the rules. It's all up to you.

I can be a good guy or I can be one

mean son-of-a-b*tch, it's up to you.

He turns and walks away.

CLOSE SHOT LUKE:

His eyes have been wandering during this speech. He sees a

doleful, lovable bloodhound, nose at the mesh and winks at

him.

CLOSE SHOT BLOODHOUND

He simply stares dolefully.

INT. BARRACKS (DAY)

Bare, unpainted wood. The windows are barred and covered

with chain link. The door from the barracks up to the compound

passes a small area enclosed by a woven metal strap cage. In

this usually sits the WICKER MAN, whom we generally see as a

heavy, short shape moving about his own business which is

making an endless series of rings or jewelry by hammering

coins with the back of a heavy spoon.

The door to the barracks locks by the tongue of a strap iron

bar that is thrust through a hole in the wicker where the

Wicker Man locks it by padlock. Thus he can always see them,

but they can't reach him. The single big room is filled with

two and even three-tiered bunks. Bare bulbs hang from the

ceiling.

CARR, the floorwalker, a 240 pound behemoth, is indoctrinating

the Newmeat while they change into camp clothing: gray twill

trousers, shirt and jacket, all numbered, which has been

piled on the table. Carr squeegees up and down, a restless

man, and CAMERA in following him SHOWS us the room. At the

same time, the Wicker Man is moving about the barracks,

tapping the floors and bunk posts with a broom handle for

signs of tampering. Carr pays no attention to him, addressing

the Newmeat.

CARR:

Them clothes has got laundry numbers

on 'em. You remember your number and

always wear the ones that has your

number. Any man forgets his number

spends a night in the box.

(passing out spoons)

This yere spoon you keep with you

and any man loses his spoon spends a

night in the box. There is no playing

grabass or fighting in the building.

You got a grudge against another man

you can fight him Saturday afternoon.

Any man playing grabass or fighting

in the building spends a night in

the box. First bell is at five minutes

of eight when you will get in your

bunk and last bell is at eight...

O.S. now are heard the SOUNDS of trucks arriving and the

Wicker Man goes back to the wicker.

CARR:

(continuing)

Any man not in his bunk at eight

will spend a night in the box. There

is no smoking in prone position in

bed. To smoke you must have both

legs over the side of your bunk.

Anyone caught smoking in prone

position will spend a night in the

box. You get two sheets. Every

Saturday you put the clean sheet on

the top, the top sheet on the bottom

and the bottom sheet you turn in to

the Laundry Boy. Any man who turns

in the wrong sheet spends a night in

the box. No one will sit on the bunks

with dirty pants on. Any man sitting

on a bunk with dirty pants will spend

a night in the box. Any man who don't

bring back his empty pop bottles

spends a night in the box.

O.S. now are the SOUNDS of men counting off, filling the air

with the apprehension of impending arrival.

CARR:

(continuing)

Any man loudtalking spends a night

in the box. You got questions you

come to me.

(attentive now)

I'm Carr, the floorwalker. I'm

responsible for order in here and

any man that don't keep order...

Luke mouths the next line with him. At the same time, we

HEAR the clanking of the Wicker Man's doors opening and the

thudding of many steps.

CARR:

...spends a night in the box.

(to Luke, sincerely)

I hope you ain't gonna be a hardcase.

NEW ANGLE:

As Luke shrugs the chute bursts open and the Bull Gang rushes

in, men trying to get hands clean, urinate and get back out

into the chowline. Sudden LOUD CHAOS. The Newmeat are seated

on the bench, bewildered, except Luke who grins. Koko spies

the Newmeat and is unhappy that there are only four.

GAMBLER:

(to Koko)

Four. You owe me a drink.

DRAGLINE:

(pushing both aside)

Get outa mah way you don't want a

wet pocket!

SOCIETY RED:

(passing the Newmeat)

Gentlemen, welcome to the Family.

LOUDMOUTH STEVE:

Any of you guys from Connecticut?

CARR:

Awright, let's move it along!

NEW ANGLE:

as the flow of bodies reverses and the men stampede for the

chute, going out, adjusting clothing, etc. Dragline shoves

Loudmouth Steve along.

DRAGLINE:

Fill your loudmouth with some beans!

And they are in the chute. The Newmeat still sit there. .in

the empty barracks, the SOUND of men disappearing across the

yard.

CARR:

Well, what are you doin' here? You

supposed to be eatin' them beans!

The Newmeat stampede out the chute.

INT. MESS HALL (DUSK)

Most of the other men already have their food and are sitting

down with no jockeying for places: everybody knows. They are

shoveling it down as fast as they can, getting back up for

seconds. Luke and the other Newmeat get their plates and

while the others stand there, confused, Luke sits at the

first vacant spot and begins to eat industriously.

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