G.I. Jane Page #15

WICKWIRE:

Okay. Well... thought I'd ask.

Jordan and Blondell head for the parking lot. HOLD on

Wickwire, looking after them. Thinking it through.

INT. CLASSROOM - CORONADO NAVAL BASE - DAY

Charts are being passed around the room. Every trainee

takes one, including Jordan.

INSTRUCTOR JOHNS

... underwater detonation devices

employ mechanical timers, and as

such, they are subject to variances

due to water temperature. That's

why when clearing mines, we always

use two timers. The charts now

being passed out contain

calculations you must memorize

before...

A MILITARY COP fills the classroom doorway. Frowning,

Johns joins the cop for a private discussion.

INSTRUCTOR JOHNS

O'Neil?

JORDAN:

Sir?

INSTRUCTOR JOHNS

You're wanted at the C.O.'s.

INT. C.O.'S OUTER OFFICE - CORONADO NAVAL BASE - DAY

Jordan enters. The yeoman's desk is unattended. Noticing

the X.O.'s door open, Jordan peers inside to find...

Blondell. She looks scared out of her mind. Before she

and Jordan can speak, the yeoman materializes.

YEOMAN:

This way, lieutenant. They're

expecting you.

INT. C.O.'S OFFICE - CORONADO NAVAL BASE - DAY

JORDAN:

See me, sir?

The C.O. and X.O. are both here.

C.O.

(uncomfortable)

I don't know of any delicate way to

say this, lieutenant, so I won't

try. Claims have been made that you

have engaged in fraternization -- of

the same-sex variety. Specifically,

that you were...

(reading)

"... seen leaving the apartment of

another female officer at such a

time and in such a manner as to

suggest conduct unbecoming."

JORDAN:

(a beat,laughing in

relief)

Sir, if someone is suggesting that

I'm a lesbian, they're wrong.

The C.O.'s face remains grim. He isn't relieved.

JORDAN:

They're very wrong. And I'd like to

know where you got this information.

On the C.O.'s nod, the X.O. opens an adjoining office.

Wickwire enters. He's stiff as a groom on a wedding cake.

WICKWIRE:

I'm sorry, O'Neil. But as class

officer, it's my obligation to

report all violations.

JORDAN:

This is insane. You've got no

proof.

X.O.

(from report)

You were seen leaving Ensign

Blondell's apartment at

approximately 0-200, whereupon

physical affections were exchanged

in public.

JORDAN:

We hugged.

X.O.

In addition, you have been seen

frequenting the base exchange, the

mess hall, the --

JORDAN:

Because the men didn't want me

eating with them. Jesus Christ,

let's get this right.

C.O.

That's enough. Everybody.

(to Wickwire)

Rejoin your class, lieutenant.

WICKWIRE:

(only to Jordan)

I wish I didn't have to do this,

Jordan.

C.O.

Dismissed, lieutenant.

Wickwire exits.

JORDAN:

Sir, I just want you to know that

this is either a gross mistake --

or someone's vindictive bullshit.

In no way did anything happen

between Ensign Blondell and myself.

We're just friends.

X.O.

So you're saying the charges have no

validity whatsoever?

Jordan opens her mouth to confirm -- and hesitates,

realizing where this might be headed. What the collateral

damage might be.

JORDAN:

I'm saying, we're just friends.

C.O.

I find this as distasteful as you,

lieutenant. But if it's on my desk,

it's on my shoulders. There's going

to be an inquiry -- it will not be

quick and it will definitely not be

pretty. You should prepare

yourself.

JORDAN:

Sir, please... if there's any way to

do this without dragging everyone

through the mud...

C.O.

I don't see how, O'Neil. Dismissed.

Jordan moves to the door. Again she makes eye-contact

with Blondell. Now we understand why she's so scared:

There's a witch-hunt brewing.

JORDAN:

(turning back)

Sir. If tomorrow... I was not under

your command... would the inquiry

still go forward?

C.O.

I'm not sure what --

JORDAN:

Would you have the discretion to end

it right then and there?

She's offering her own head on a silver platter -- and the

C.O. actually hesitates before answering.

C.O.

I believe so.

EXT. GRINDER - CORONADO NAVAL BASE - DAY

McCool and Flea exit a classroom with other trainees.

They spot Jordan approaching.

MCCOOL:

So what'd he want? O'Neil?

She passes them robotically. Flea realizes where she's

going.

FLEA:

Oh, no... no, no, no, no...

They lurch after her, grabbing her, stepping in her way.

THE CHIEF:

Stand fast!

McCool and Flea jerk to a stop: The Chief has emerged

from the instructor's office. Helpless, they watch as...

Jordan mounts the stairs to the bell... takes up the

baton... and HITS THE BELL like a tyko drummer.

RING ONE:
On the pained faces of her crewmates.

RING TWO:
On the Chief. Taking no joy in it. Just

accepting it as inevitable.

EXT. THE QUARTERDECK - CORONADO NAVAL BASE - DAY

RING THREE:
On Wickwire as he walks across the base. His

regrets are obvious.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

EXT. UPRIVER - THE POTOMAC - DAY

The ice floes are gone. The river banks are budding

green. Soon CAMERA FINDS a power boat making its way

upriver. A lone figure sits on the prow.

EXT. POWER BOAT - DAY

It's Jordan. Dressed in civvies, gunnysack between her

legs, she's back in Virginia with nothing more than what

she left with. Around a river bend appears...

The gunkhole harbor. Home.

EXT. GUNKHOLE HARBOR - POTOMAC - DAY

The boat docks. Jordan springs clear, waves a worn-out

thanks, starts up the dock. But now she comes to a stop,

seeing...

Royce. Stepping out of the house.

EXTREMELY WIDE:
River shimmering behind them, they meet

on the dock. A charged stand-off: Where do they pick up?

Can they pick up? Then Jordan drops her gunnysack and

steps into his wide-spread arms. Royce wraps her up as if

to never let go.

For the first time in this whole ordeal, Jordan begins

crying, sobbing uncontrollably.

ROYCE:

(in her ear)

I want to kill them... I want to

kill the guys who made you cry like

this...

INT. COVERED PORCH - JORDAN'S HOUSE - SUNSET

An hour later. Sharing a quiet moment, Jordan and Royce

cradle tea mugs while sitting on the rear porch that

overlooks the Potomac and a fiery sunset.

JORDAN:

All I wanted was an honest chance.

And If I couldn't get it, I couldn't

stay.

ROYCE:

And this class officer...

"Wickwire." You think he was just

trying to get even? Striking back

for...

JORDAN:

Maybe. Though it didn't seem like

he was getting any satisfaction out

of it. Almost like...

(a beat)

Did I say he was class officer?

ROYCE:

Almost like someone put him up to

it. Okay, who?

JORDAN:

No shortage of suspects.

ROYCE:

The Chief? Or maybe even

Turrentine? Your C.O.?

She looks at him sidelong.

JORDAN:

Royce. Tell me you didn't keep a

file on me.

INT. LIVING ROOM - JORDAN'S HOUSE - DAY

CLOSE on multiple files being pulled out of a briefcase.

One contains clippings -- "G.I. Jane" photos, editorials,

political cartoons. Another holds records of Coronado

personnel -- Jordan's crewmates, instructors, the base

brass.

ROYCE:

Somebody was yankin' your stings,

Jordan -- maybe from 3,000 miles

away. I wanted to know who. I still

do.

She shakes her head, resisting.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes