Gran Torino Page #17

The 30-06 M1 GARAND RIFLE and the COLT .45 PISTOL.

Tao picks up the heavy RIFLE.

TAO:

Which one do I get?

WALT:

You ever fire a weapon?

(CONTINUED)

107.

101 CONTINUED:
101

TAO:

No.

Tao aims the rifle at an imaginary target.

WALT:

Put that down. I got something

for you.

TAO:

What?

WALT:

In Korea, October, 1952. We were

sent up to sweep a Chink machine

gun nest that had carved us up

pretty bad. I was the only one

who came back... I received the

Silver Star. I want you to have

it.

TAO:

Why?

WALT:

When we went up that hill, we knew

it was ten to one against us, but

we went anyway. This trouble now,

it’s similar. We’re walking right

into it. We might not be coming

home tonight.

TAO:

The hell we won’t. We’re going to

roll in there and tear ass.

WALT:

Don’t be a fool, these guys are

waiting for that exact reaction.

Tao is quiet for a minute.

TAO:

How many?

WALT:

How many what?

TAO:

How many men did you kill in

Korea?

WALT:

Thirteen for sure. Probably more.

(CONTINUED)

108.

101 CONTINUED:
(2) 101

TAO:

What was it like to kill a man?

WALT:

You don’t want to know.

TAO:

Why not?

WALT:

Go get the Silver Star. It’s in a

blue wooden box in the cellar.

Tao goes downstairs. He turns on the light and goes into

the cellar. Tao locates a BLUE WOODEN BOX and opens it.

Tao holds up the MEDAL. He looks at it closely.

AND WHAM --Walt slams the heavy cellar DOOR shut behind

him. Walt slides the BOLT LOCK into place with a loud

CLICK.

Tao couldn’t kick his way out of there in ten years. Of

course he tries anyway. Tao is furious. He throws

things.

TAO:

What the hell are you doing?! Let

me out of here, you goddamned son-

of-a-b*tch!!

WALT:

Quit smashing everything. You’ll

never get out of there, so just

relax.

TAO:

You let me out, you crazy old

f***, or I will kill you when I

get out of here.

Tao pounds on the door. Walt pounds back with a strength

and authority which startles Tao.

WALT:

You want to know how it feels to

kill a man? It feels goddamned

lousy. And it feels even worse

when you get a medal for bravery

right after you mowed down some

scared kid when he tries to give

up. A dumb, scared, little gook,

just about your age. I shot him

with the same rifle you just held

upstairs.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

109.

101 CONTINUED:
(3) 101

WALT (CONT'D)

I’ve thought about that kid for

fifty years. And I promise you,

boy, you want no part of it. Me,

I’ve got blood on my hands. I’m

soiled. Forgive me for tricking

you like a dope. I’ll call

someone and have them let you out

later.

TAO:

No! Let me out!!

Tao pounds on the door.

WALT:

You’ve come a long way. I’m proud

to call you a friend. You have

your whole life ahead of you,

whereas this iswhatIdo. I

finish things. You’d just get in

the way. Sorry.

Walt goes back upstairs, leaving Tao locked up in his

cellar.

Tao howls to be let out.

102 EXT. WALT’S HOUSE 102

Walt walks out his front door with Daisy on her leash.

He walks over to Tao’s house.

Phong sits in a lawnchair and glares at Walt. She yells

in Hmong as Walt walks straight up to her.

WALT:

Aw, pipe down, you hag.

PHONG:

(subtitled)

You're an evil man. I’ve seen

your kind before. Back home,

white soldiers came to our

villages and filled our young

men’s minds with ideas of glory.

Then you’d lead them away to their

deaths.

Walt, of course, has no idea what she said.

WALT:

Fine, I hate you too.

(CONTINUED)

110.

102 CONTINUED:
102

Walt holds out the DOG LEASH to Phong. She looks down at

Daisy and back at Walt. She lashes out again in Hmong.

WALT:

I need you to watch my dog.

Walt holds the leash closer. Phong folds her arms in

defiance. Walt exhales loudly.

Walt lifts up one of the LEGS OF HER LAWNCHAIR and slips

the loop of the leash underneath it so Daisy can’t follow

him.

WALT:

Her name is Daisy.

Walt bends down on one knee and lovingly pets Daisy. He

scratches her belly.

WALT:

You take it easy, old gal. You

good old girl.

Walt gets up and walks away without looking back.

Phong is stunned; she is silent for once.

103 INT. VFW 103

Walt walks in and sits down. He nods to the regulars.

WALT:

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

DARREL:

Walter, how are you doing?

WALTER:

Never been better.

BARTENDER:

Beer and a shot, Walt?

WALT:

I think I’ll have something

different.

Walt looks at the liquor display. At the pinnacle of

bottles sits a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue.

WALT:

Think I’ll try that Johnnie Walker

Blue Label.

(CONTINUED)

111.

103 CONTINUED:
103

The regulars all “Oooooo” and “Ahhhhhhh” at Walt’s order.

MEL:

Whatta ya win the lottery, Wally?

WALT:

Naw, just having something

special.

Walt sips his Scotch and nods. It’s good.

WALT:

Why don’t you get all the guys the

same.

BARTENDER:

You sure?

WALT:

I’m sure. This is too good not to

be shared.

Walt finishes his Scotch and points for one more.

Several regulars hold up their drinks towards Walt.

104 INT. VFW PHONE BOOTH 104

Walt slips into the phone booth. He puts in change and

dials.

CUT TO:

105 INT. TAO’S HOUSE -SAME TIME 105

Sue weakly answers the phone next to her bed.

SUE:

Hello?

WALT (V.O.)

It’s Walt. The key to my front

door is under the ceramic turtle.

Open the door and go let your

brother out of the cellar. I have

to go.

The line goes dead as Walt hangs up. Sue jumps up out of

bed, pulls on some clothes and runs downstairs.

Phong blocks her path. Phong grabs Sue by the arms.

(CONTINUED)

112.

105 CONTINUED:
105

PHONG:

(subtitled)

Who was that? Where are you

going? You tell me what’s going

on?!

Sue squirms away from Phong and runs outside. On her way

over to Walt’s house, she sees Daisy leashed to Phong’s

chair. It scares Sue even more.

106 EXT. SMOKIE’S DUPLEX -AFTERNOON 106

Father Janovich paces back and forth. The SQUAD CAR

pulls up to him, which is exactly what he’s been afraid

of all day.

OFFICER:

Sorry, Father, we have to go.

FATHER JANOVICH:

I’m telling you. If we’re not

here, there will be bloodshed.

OFFICER:

We’ve been here for hours. We

can’t afford to anchor a unit to

one location.

FATHER JANOVICH:

I’m begging you to stay.

OFFICER:

I just got word from my Sergeant,

we’re pulling the plug.

FATHER JANOVICH:

I’m staying.

OFFICER:

No you aren’t. My orders are

specific. You came with us,

you’re leaving with us.

Father Janovich looks hard at the duplex before getting

into the SQUAD CAR. The SQUAD CAR drives off.

Walt pulls up in front, gets out of his pickup and slams

the door. He looks at the duplex. It’s a total eyesore.

WALT:

(mutters)

What a goddamned mess. You slopes

should be ashamed of yourselves.

(CONTINUED)

113.

106 CONTINUED:
106

Walt walks up the sidewalk and stops twenty feet from the

duplex.

Rate this script:5.0 / 6 votes