Starship Troopers Page #5

grimaces as a TECHNICIAN installs an INTERFACE PLATE on

his side, drawing fluids.

DON:

Oh, this is the part that hurts !

A PSYCH OFFICER sits down across from each candidate.

PSYCH OFFICER:

No talking please. I'm going to ask you some

questions. Please answer all questions truthfully.

We'll know if you don't.

Birthplace ?

JOHNNY:

Here in Buenos Aires.

The Psych Officer checks Johnny's response on a meter.

38INTVARIOUS TESTING STATIONS - DAY - JOHNNY

is poked and prodded, subjected to aural, visual and pharmacological

stimuli, and scanned from head to toe.

PSYCH OFFICER (V.O.)

Are your parents currently citizens ?

JOHNNY (V.O.)

No, sir.

PSYCH OFFICER (V.O.)

Which do you think is more important,

courage or confidence ?

JOHNNY (V.O.)

Courage, I guess.

PSYCH OFFICER (V.O.)

Please complete this sentence.

I want to be citizen because...

JOHNNY (V.O.)

I want to be a citizen because...

well, because of my girl, sir.

39INTDEBRIEF - DAY - JOHNNY

sits across from a MAJOR who views a list on a monitor Johnny can't see.

MAJOR:

I'm happy to tell you that you've been

accepted for Federal Service.

JOHNNY:

Wow, that's great.

MAJOR:

Looks like you're quite an athlete.

Boy, look at those reaction stats.

The Major clucks his tongue as he highlights the last category on his list:

MOBILE INFANTERY.

MAJOR:

My job is to dertermine what you're

best suited for.

JOHNNY:

I want to be a pilot, sir.

MAJOR:

Sorry, son, no way. Your school records

say you don't have the math skills.

Johnny swallows this. He knew it was coming. The Major deletes

"Pilot" from the list, then several other items.

MAJOR:

That rules out the scientific and engineering

applications, and I'm afraid we reserve

non-military options for candidates who are

frankly less able-bodied than you are, son...

He turns the monitor around and shows Johnny the list.

The only thing left is MOBILE INFANTERY.

MAJOR:

It looks like the only thing you're good

for is cannon fodder.

I'm putting you down for the

Mobile Infantery.

40INTAUDITORIUM - DAY - CARMEN

proudly takes the Federal Service oath with about twenty-five other people,

a gleaming silver FLEET PIN on her chest. She looks around for Johnny,

sees him grinning at her.

JOHNNY ET AL:

...of my own free will, without promise, coercion,

or inducement, after having been duly advised

and warned of the meaning and consequence of

this oath, do now enroll in the Federal Service

of the Terran Federation for not less than two

years and as much longer as may be required

by the needs of the Service...

41INTFEDERAL BUILDING - LOBBY - DAY - JOHNNY AND CARMEN

walk out together happily, hand in hand.

CARMEN:

I wonder where Carl is. You don't suppose...?

JOHNNY:

Naw, I made it, Carl made it.

Just then, Don rushes past, shamefaced, crying.

JOHNNY:

He was in the group with me.

I guess he didn't...

CARMEN:

Shhh ! Don't make him feel worse.

The Recruiting Sergeant is getting ready to go home. He's got legs now,

and he takes a prosthetic arm from its case and snaps it on.

He grins when he sees them staring.

RECRUITING SERGEANT

They put me out front to discourage the weak-hearted,

but at the end of the day I go home.

How'd you kids do ?

CARMEN:

I'm gonna go for pilot.

RECRUITING SERGEANT

Good for you. We need every pilot we can get.

Johnny holds the door for Carmen and the Recruiting Sergeant.

Suddenly Carl appears looking a little paler than usual.

CARMEN:

Hey, Carl, what's wrong ?

JOHNNY:

Did you get Starside R&D ?

CARL:

No.

42EXTFEDERAL BUILDING - DAY - JOHNNY AND CARMEN

are stunned.

JOHNNY:

I don't believe it !

CARL:

I got Games & Theory.

Well, everyone's a little impressed by this.

CARMEN:

Games & Theory ? That's Military

Intelligence... Oh, Carl !

JOHNNY:

Whoa ! Way to go, boy-yo !

RECRUITING SERGEANT

Next time we meet, I'll probably have to salute

you. What about you, son ?

JOHNNY:

Infantery, sir.

The Recruiting Sergeant beams, offers a prosthetic hand.

RECRUITING SERGEANT

Well, good for you. The Mobile Infantery made me

the man I am today.

Just what Johnny wanted to hear. They watch the old Sergeant walk

away.MUSIC:
"The Mobile Infantery Theme".

Carmen takes Johnny and Carl by the arm as they walk.

CARMEN:

Let's all make a vow. Let's swear we'll always

be friends no matter what.

JOHNNY:

I'll go for that.

CARL:

Well, we're gonna be millions of light years away

from each other, and chances are we'll never see

each other again, but sure...

CARMEN:

I can't wait to tell my Dad I'm in.

He's gonna be so happy !

JOHNNY:

My father's probably gonna kill me.

43INTJOHNNY'S HOUSE - STUDY - NIGHT - JOHNNY

stands sullenly as his Father rages at him.

FATHER:

You'll resign, and that's all there is to it.

It might look bad, but if that's the worst

you suffer...

JOHNNY:

I won't quit !

FATHER:

I'm telling you, you will !

You're not going back. You're going

to go on vacation !

JOHNNY:

I'm not going on vacation ! I want to

be acitizen ! It's my decision.

I made it.

Johnny turns for the door. His father throws his last shot.

FATHER:

You walk out that door, you're cut off,

young man... You understand me ?

Alright, THAT'S IT, YOU'RE...

44INTJOHNNY'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - NIGHT--JOHNNY

walks out, grim, sees his mother, tears in her eyes.

FATHER (O.S.)

...CUT OFF !

MOTHER:

Johnny, why won't you change your mind ?

Does citizenship mean so much to you ?

JOHNNY:

Well, yeah, sure...

MOTHER:

I hope so. I hope you don't ruin your life

over some silly little girl who wants to look

handsome in a uniform.

Johnny's face reddens.

JOHNNY:

Don't talk about my girl that way.

Johnny turns on his heel, heads for the transporter.ZAPPP !

45EXTFEDERAL TRANSPORTATION HUB - DAY - JOHNNY

looks for Carmen among hundreds of young people bound for

Federal Service destinations. Recruits wear civilian clothes.

Everyone else is in uniform.

P.A. (O.S.)

Outbound group 1380, Ursa Minor

and Tyko, now transporting at

bank 17...

Now he sees her entering struggling with luggage. Johnny rushes to

help her and soon he is carrying all her bags.

JOHNNY:

You're late.

CARMEN:

My Dad had to help me pack. Suddenly

he's afraid he's never gonna see me

again or something. It was sweet, but it

took forever. Anyway, I guess I'm ready

to go.

At the freight station, Carmen enters her Federal I.D. card and gets

numbered tags for her bags.

JOHNNY:

Me, too. I'm wearing everything I own.

Johnny loads them onto a conveyor belt.

CARMEN:

Poor boy. I'm sorry your parents were so mad.

JOHNNY:

Who cares ! The Federation'll give me everything

I need for the next two years, right ?

Carmen's already moved to the next line. Johnny follows.

CARMEN:

You talk to Carl ?

JOHNNY:

He left this morning. He couldn't say where.

Carmen logs in, enters her destination:LUNA - TERESHKOVA

FLEET ACADEMY.The tickets station spits out a pass.

CARMEN:

It's exciting, but it's scary, too isn't it.

Going someplace new where you don't

know anyone.

Carmen heads toward a bank of transporters. Johnny stops her,

takes her by the arms.

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