Starship Troopers Page #3

CARL:

Only 1 in 14 male applicants make it through

stellar navigation.

So what do you think your chances are ?

JOHNNY:

Eight point... no, uh, seven...

CARL:

If you can't do those numbers, you haven't

got a chance.

JOHNNY:

All I know is Carmen's going to be a citizen,

and I don't think it'll work out for us if I'm not.

CARL:

Love... how excruciatingly pathetic.

Now try and pay attention.

Carl puts a card up.

JOHNNY:

Queen of hearts.

The computer indicates a match. Johnny peers around at the monitor.

It is the Queen of hearts.

CARL:

Well, what do you know about that !

13EXTATHLETIC FIELD - STANDS - DAY - CARMEN

and other students wearing orange and black sing the "Uni High Song".

The SCOREBOARD says:REGIONAL FINAL.

Across the field, fans wear red and gold and sing another song.

14INTLOCKER ROOM - DAY - JOHNNY

and other UNI HIGH TIGERS, all exceptionally robust young man and women,

suit up in their orange and black uniforms.

DIZZY:

Tesla's tough. They tumble good and they

hit HARD.

Dizzy bounces a JUMP SHOE to Johnny. The spring fires and vaults it high into

the air. Johnny catches it, puts it on, smiles cocky at the TESLA GIANTS who

suit up in red and gold.

JOHNNY:

We tumble good, too.

15EXTATHLETIC FIELD - DAY - WHAM ! -- TIGERS AND GIANTS

collide. Powered by jump shoes, the play is gymnastic. Johnny moves the ball ,

flips high in the air over the Giant defensive line, makes ten meters before he is

brought down.

16EXTSTANDS - DAY - THE CROWD

cheers as Johnny runs back to join his team. He sees Carmen waving, glad that

Johnny has seen her among all the people.

17EXTHUDDLE - DAY - JOHNNY

and other Tigers listen as quarterback Dizzy calls the plays.

DIZZY:

Kick three, fade left. On two.

They make fists, then breal for thevline of scrimmage.

18EXTSCRIMMAGE LINE - DAY - THE TIGERS

have the ball. The Giant's QUARTERBACKassigns ZANDER BARCALOW, 18,

handsome, super-confident, to guard Johnny.

ZANDER:

Time's running out.

Zander points. The SCOREBOARD showsTIGERS 19,GIANTS 20,

three minutes and counting on the clock. Johnny grins.

JOHNNY:

A lot can happen in three minutes.

DIZZY:

Hut... hut !

Johnny takes the handoff, flips over a gauntlet of Giant guards. Zander

hurls himself at Johnny, misses. Johnny scores.

Zander tumbles into the crowd, loses a jump shoe.

19EXTSIDELINES - DAY-ZANDER

looks up and sees Carmen, smiling as she offers him a hand. She helps

him up. He holds her hand longer than necessary.

CARMEN:

Are you alright ?

ZANDER:

I'm getting better.

20EXTATHLETIC FIELD - DAY - JOHNNY

runs back to join his team as the crowd cheers. The Tigers lead

21-20. Johnny frowns when he sees Carmen talking to Zander on

the sidelines, shaking his head, smiling.

21EXTSIDELINE - DAY - ZANDER

finds his shoe, straps it on.

ZANDER:

So what are you doing later ?

CARMEN:

Everyone is going to the dance. Aren't you ?

ZANDER:

I don't know. It's my last night as acivilian.

I ship out for Tereshkova tomorrow.

Zander heads for the field. Carmen follows, interested.

CARMEN:

You're going to the Academy ?

That's where I want to go. I'd love

to talk to you abou that.

A REFEREE blows his whistle at Zander, signalling impatiently.

ZANDER:

I'm all ears.

CARMEN:

Don't you have to finish the game ?

22EXTSCRIMMAGE LINE - DAY-THE GIANTS

are in possession. Zander lands hard in front of Johnny.

JOHNNY:

Don't get any ideas. She's my girl.

ZANDER:

You can never be sure.

Johnny scowls at Zander, turns his head to look back at Carmen.

She waves, smiling. The Giants pull ablitz.

DIZZY:

WATCH THE BLITZ...!

Zander knocks Johnny on his ass, and the Giants score. It's

TIGERS 21, GIANTS 22 and less than a minute to go.

23EXTHUDDLE -- DAY -- DIZZY

orders up the next play. Johnny keeps looking over his shoulder

because Zander's back talking to Carmen again.

DIZZY:

Flip six, three hole. Rico ?

Hey !

Dizzy slams Johnny upside his helmet with her forearm.

JOHNNY:

What ?

DIZZY:

You were drifting. Flip six, three hole.

On one, got it ?

JOHNNY:

Just throw me the ball, Diz.

They make fists and break.

24EXTSCRIMMAGE LINE -- DAY -- JOHNNY

takes position again across the line from Zander who now grins at

Johnny broadly. Johnny doesn't grin back.

DIZZY:

Hut !

At the snap, Johnny breaks for open field. Dizzy throws, Johnny catches

it, trips Zander up painfully, and hurls himself into the end zone as a

horn sounds the game's finish.

25EXTATHLETIC FIELD - DAY - CHEERING UNI FANS

rush onto the field as the school band strikes up a victory march.

Tigers do flips in the air. Giants look dejected.

Zander picks himself up, watches Johnny leave with Carmen.

26INTJOHNNY'S HOUSE - NIGHT - JOHNNY

walks throuh rooms filled with elegant furniture. He's all spiffed up

for the big dance. His MOTHER catches him preening in front of a

mirror by the TRANSPORTER in the hall.

MOTHER:

Who said you could grow up so fast ? Last time

I checked you were only five years old. You had

such a bright little face...

JOHNNY:

Aw, don't get mushy.

Johnny's FATHER enters carrying a FEDERAL SERVICE CATALOGUE.

FATHER:

This came for you today. I presume on your

request.

JOHNNY:

A lot of my friends are doing Federal Service...

MOTHER:

You aren't thinking of applying...?

Johnny shrugs.

FATHER:

Have you lost you lost your mind ? I'd rather

take ten lashes in Public Square than see you

ruin your life.

JOHNNY:

It's aterm of service, not a career. I just want to

get out on my own and see the Galaxy for a

couple of years.

MOTHER:

Johnny, people get hurt... people get killed in

the Federal Service. If something happened

to you I don't know what I would do...

FATHER:

Who gave you this idea ? It's that teacher.

What's his name ? You know the one I

mean.

JOHNNY:

Mr. Rasczak.

FATHER:

Rasczak... Silly name. There ought to be

a law against using a school as a

recruiting station !

JOHNNY:

No, Mr. Rasczak doesn't do that at all.

He sorta discourages you really.

FATHER:

Good, because you're going to Harvard,

and that's the end of it.

JOHNNY:

I'm eighteen. It's my decision.

FATHER:

Oh, is that how it is ?

MOTHER:

Wait you two. Dad and I have a surprise

for you that will settle this.

Can you guess what it is ?

JOHNNY:

Uh, no.

FATHER:

A trip to the Outer Rings.

Whad'ya think of that ?

JOHNNY:

Wow ! Santori and Zegema Beach, I've

always wanted to go there.

MOTHER:

Good good, then it's all settled.

FATHER:

A year at Harvard and you'll see this

"Federal Service" is just menial training

for inferior people so they can call

themselves "citizens" and take airs for

the rest of their lives.

JOHNNY:

Wait a minute ! Carl is doing his Federal

and he isn't inferior. He's the smartest

kid at school !

FATHER:

Sorry. Carl's a fine boy...

Johnny puts on his jacket.

JOHNNY:

I don't know what they teach at Harvard,

but I think I'm pretty good enough the

way I am !

MOTHER:

Johnny, please. Calm yourself.

JOHNNY:

Well, that's what you're saying ! You're

saying that I'm not good enough the way

I am now !

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