Forrest Gump Page #12

Bubba hands Forrest a handkerchief.

BUBBA:

You ever been on a real shrimp boat?

FORREST:

No, but I been on a real big boat.

BUBBA:

I'm talkin' about a shrimp catchin'

boat. I've been workin' on shrimp

boats all my life. I started out my

uncle's boat, that's my mother's

brother, when I was about maybe nine.

I was just lookin' into buyin' a

boat of my own and got drafted. My

given name is Benjamin Buford Blue.

Bubba and Forrest shake hands.

BUBBA:

People call me Bubba. Just like one

of them redneck boys. Can you believe

that?

FORREST:

My name's Forrest Gump. People call

me Forrest Gump.

FORREST (V.O.)

So Bubba was from Bayou La Batre,

Alabama, and his momma cooked shrimp.

INT. LOUISIANA/KITCHEN - DAY (1966)

Bubba's mother, a robust woman in a cook's uniform, carries

a bowl of shrimp into a dining room. She sets it down on a

table in front of a wealthy white man.

FORREST (V.O.)

And her momma before her cooked

shrimp.

INT. SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH/KITCHEN - DAY (EARLY DAYS OF

SLAVERY)

Bubba's grandmother carries a bowl of shrimp into a dining

room. She sets it down on a table in front of a wealthy white

man.

FORREST (V.O.)

And her momma before her momma cooked

shrimp, too. Bubba's family knew

everything...

INT. ARMY BUS - DAY (1966)

FORREST (V.O.)

...there was to know about the

shrimpin' business.

BUBBA:

I know everything there is to know

about the shrimpin' business. Matter

of fact, I'm goin' into the shrimpin'

business for myself after I get out

the Army.

FORREST:

Okay.

INT. BARRACKS - DAY

A DRILL SERGEANT is in Forrest's face as Forrest stands in

line with the other recruits.

DRILL SERGEANT:

Gump! What's your sole purpose in

this Army?

FORREST:

To do whatever you tell me, Drill

Sergeant!

DRILL SERGEANT:

Godamnit, Gump! You're a goddamned

genius! That's the most outstanding

answer I've ever heard. You must

have a godamned I.Q. of a hundred

and sixty! You are godamned gifted,

Private Gump!

The Drill Sergeant moves down the line to the next man.

DRILL SERGEANT:

Listen up, people...

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, for some reason, I fit in the

Army like one of them round pegs.

It's not really hard. You just make

your bed real neat and remember to

stand up straight.

DRILL SERGEANT:

That is one very intelligent

individual! You lock your scuzzy

bodies up behind that private and do

exactly what he does and you will go

far in this man's army!

FORREST (V.O.)

And always answer every question

with "Yes, Drill Sergeant!"

DRILL SERGEANT:

Is that clear?

FORREST & RECRUITS

Yes, Drill Sergeant!

ANOTHER DAY:

The recruits are sitting at the base of their bunks assembling

their rifles. Bubba speaks to Forrest.

BUBBA:

What you do is you just drag your

nets across the bottom. On a good

day, you can catch over a hundred

pounds of shrimp. If everything goes

all right, two men shrimpin' ten

hours, less what you spends on gas,

you can...

Forrest finishes assembling his rifle as the other recruits

are still working on theirs.

FORREST:

Done, Drill Sergeant!

DRILL SERGEANT:

Gump!

The Drill Sergeant rushes up to Forrest.

DRILL SERGEANT:

Why did you put that weapon together

so quickly, Gump?

FORREST:

You told me to, Drill Sergeant.

The Drill Sergeant looks at his stop watch.

DRILL SERGEANT:

Jesus Christ! This is a new company

record. If it wouldn't be a waste of

such a damn fine enlisted man, I'd

recommended you for O.C.S., Private

Gump. You are gonna be a General

some day, Gump! Now, disassemble

your weapon and continue!

The Drill Sergeant walks away as Forrest begins to disassemble

his rifle. After the Drill Sergeant walks past Bubba, Bubba

looks up at Forrest. Bubba continues talking about shrimp in

his slow southern drawl.

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