Platoon Page #19

Rodriguez is praying, his mouth moving without audible words,

getting ready for the drop.

King is making last minute adjustments in his pack.

Bunny now nudges Chris, points. The Church in the Jungle where

Elias was killed is visible. An outline of the Cemetery.

Uncomfortable memories play over Chris' face.

CHRIS (V.O.)

They sent us back into the valley the next day -

about 2,000 metres from Cambodia - into a battalion

perimeter. Alpha Company had been hit hard the day

before by a sizeable force and Charlie Company had

been probed that night. There were other battalions

in the valley, we weren't the only ones but we knew

we were going to be the bait to lure them out. And

somewhere out there was the entire 141st NVA

Regiment.

The BATTALION PERIMETER now breaks in the clear ahead. Smoke

grenades of various colors are being popped on the cleared LZ.

It's not big, its radius 200 yards, heavily sandbagged, deeply

dug, rolls of barbed wire protecting it, radio antennas sprouting

from the CP - and surrounded on all four sides by jungle.

The First Chopper rocking down, whipping up dust clouds. Chris

jumps out, moving out fast as the Second Chopper starts in.

EXT. BATTALION CP - PERIMETER #3 - DUSK

At the Battalion CP, the Major confers with Captain Harris and

two other Captains. Two NVA PRISONERS are sitting on their

knees, interrogated by Vietnamese Kit Carson scouts and a U.S.

Sergeant, their hands tied.

The Scout slaps the sh*t out of the NVA.

EXT. PLATOON CP - PERIMETER #3 - DUSK

All this is watched from a distance by Ace and Doc and Lt.Wolfe

at the Platoon CP. Ace and Doc are digging the foxhole, the ace

of spades in Ace's helmet band, sharing the information with Tony

and Francis.

ACE:

... they caught 'em last night pulling some sh*t on

Charlie Company. They found maps on 'em, man - got a

friend at Battalion says they had every f***in'

foxhole here fixed on it. Distances, treelines, our

claymores, trip wires, everything? I sh*t you not.

DOC:

Sh*t, so what the f*** are we doing here? Why don't

we move ...

(no answer)

Bad vibes, man, I got bad vibes here. Where are the

new guys they provided us anyway.

TONY:

I heard we's in Cambodia right f***in' NOW.

FRANCIS:

You kidding man ...

Rhah comes up, a walking stick in hand, huge pirate kerchief on

his head, semi-naked.

RHAH:

You wanted to see me sir?

WOLFE:

Jackson, looks like you got Elias' squad now.

RHAH:

Squad? I didn't know we was still referring to this

platoon in terms of squads sir.

(with a snicker for Ace and Doc)

WOLFE:

(indicating a rough drawing in the dirt)

These two holes are yours ...

RHAH:

Begging your pardon Lieutenant but my holes are far

enuff apart you could run a regiment through there

and nobody'd see them - I got five live bodies left

...

WOLFE:

I don't want to hear your problems, Jackson. You'll

get new men any day. Time being you make do like

everybody else.

RHAH:

Hey Lieutenant I didn't ask for this job, I ...

WOLFE:

(leaves)

I don't want to hear about it Jackson.

RHAH:

(amazed, looking off at him)

You don't want to hear about it?

WOLFE:

(turns)

That's right. I don't want to hear about it 'cause

to tell you the truth, I don't give a sh*t okay ... I

just don't give a sh*t anymore.

RHAH:

(shrugs, to himself)

Right ...

WOLFE:

(passing Ace digging the CP hole)

This is one time we could sure use Elias.

ACE:

(to Doc)

'Some people say I'm wishy washy. Maybe I am. Maybe

I ain't.'

EXT. PERIMETER #3 - CHRIS' FOXHOLE - DUSK

On the edge of the perimeter, King puts out his claymore,

unraveling it back towards his FOXHOLE, intersecting MEN form the

Third Platoon, who file out on a night ambush, skirting the trip

wires, demoralized, silent. Eye exchanges, but no words.

Chris sits on the foxhole watching the ambush go out, smoking a

joint by himself, depressed. King comes in with the claymore

wires, attaching them to their detonators. Their foxhole - as

are all of the Platoon's - is positioned just inside the treeline

bordering the LZ, so that they are quite isolated from the center

of the perimeter where they first landed.

KING:

Glad I ain't going with 'em. Somewhere out dere man

is de Beast and he hungry tonight ... Man, what a

bummer. Ten days and a wakeup and I'm still dealing

wid this sh*t - f***in' etcetera and ad infinitum man

...

The LAST SOLDIER in the file recedes into the foliage.

KING (CONT'D)

(noticiing Chris' silence)

What's the matter wid you? ... How come you ain't

writing no more? You was always writing something

home. Looks like youse half a bubble off, Taylor.

He doesn't answer, makes a futile gesture.

KING (CONT'D)

What about your folks? That grandma you was telling

me about? ...

Chris shakes his head.

KING (CONT'D)

Girl?

Chris' eyes answer negatively.

KING (CONT'D)

Must be somebody?

CHRIS:

... there's nobody.

KING:

(shifts, uncomfortable)

You been smoking too much sh*t babe. Gotta control

that. Takes a man down ... I remember when you first

come out to the bush, you was straight as a ...

CHRIS:

Who gives a sh*t!

He shifts, annoyed, prepares his grenades along the sand bags.

King shrugs, preparing his meal, sings himself a snatch of song,

a good natured man.

KING:

(soft)

'People say I'm the life of the party cause I tell a

joke or two although I may be laughing loud and hardy

deep inside I'm blue ...'

CHRIS:

Y'ever get caught in a mistake King and you just

can't get out of it?

KING:

Way out of anything, man. Just keep your pecker up,

your powder dry, the worm WILL turn. How many days

you short?

CHRIS:

Not just me ... it's the way the whole thing works.

People like Elias get wasted and people like Barnes

just go on making up rules any way they want and what

do we do, we just sit around in the middle and suck

on it! We just don't add up to dry sh*t.

KING:

Does a chicken have lips? Whoever said we did, babe.

Make it outta here, it's all gravy, every day of the

rest of your life man - gravy. Oh sh*t, superlifer!

O'Neill comes up, jerks his thumb at King.

O'NEILL

Get your gear together, King, your orders just come

through.

KING:

(speechless)

You jokin' me man? ... sh*t, you ain't kidding!

Cocksucker. Oh wowww ... the lifers made a mistake,

they cuttin' me some slack, they cutting me some

slack Taylor!

(dances)

O'NEILL

Collect your sh*t and move out King. You got 10

minutes make the last chopper. Cee ess em oh or your

ass is mine.

(to Taylor)

Francis is coming over.

(hurries off)

King packing up, double time. Chris comes over, helps him,

trying to share his happiness but not succeeding.

CHRIS:

Hey that's great King, that's great ... you take it

on home for me, you tell 'em King ... got your

address right? You know where you can reach men,

man. Anytime!

KING:

I gotta didi man. Don't wanna miss that chopper.

I'll send you a postcard. After I get me some. I'll

send you some tapes too man. This new guy Jimi

Hendrix man, whew ... you okay Taylor? Just 'member

take it easy now, don't think too much, don't be a

fool, no such thing as a coward cause it don't mean

nuthin. Jes keep on keepin' on. Okay my man ...

Rate this script:4.3 / 3 votes