The Deer Hunter Page #14

NICK's battered old shark-finned Cadillac is in the yard.

Alongside it are a bunch of newer cars and PEOPLE are coming

from all directions, spilling in and out of the trailer and

congregating in excited, foot-stomping, half-frozen groups.

EXT. SERIES OF SHOTS - COLUMBINE AREA - DUSK

We see the OLD PRIEST on his way from the church. We see the

OLDER WOMEN, wrapped in shawls and carrying cakes and

cookies, trudging up the hill. We see ALBERT, JOHN and a

bunch of STEELWORKERS, all of them half-bombed, dragging two

cases of beer on a child's sled. We see LINDA peering out the

trailer window, pale and anxious-looking. We see VINCE, who

is unofficial lookout, jumping up and down at the approach of

every car and screaming, "This is it! This is Nick!" and

then, when it isn't, saying, "Not yet! Just hold your water,

I'll tell you when!"

And we see an empty street into which SIX VETS from the VFW

Post come tottering. The VETS are all in their old uniforms.

While three of them attempt to make MUSIC on a BASS DRUM, a

FIFE and an old Army BUGLE, the other three attempt to sing.

VETS:

Three cheers for the red, white and

blue...!

VET #1

This is hard.

VET # 2

Christ Almighty, it's fifty years!

VETS:

Three cheers for the red, white and

blue...

INT. TAXICAB - DUSK

NICK sits hunched forward in the back seat surrounded by

unwrapped cartons containing electric appliances he has

bought for LINDA. NICK looks nervous, VERY NERVOUS.

Suddenly, as the cab comes over the crest of a hill, the

trailer looms into sight, straight ahead, with VINCE hopping

up and down in the snow and the OLD VETS all marking time

under the flapping banner.

CAB DRIVER:

Whadda welcome! Will you lookit...

Whadda welcome!

NICK stares at the approaching trailer.

NICK:

That's not it.

CAB DRIVER:

What're you, crazy? That's not

it??? You said a trailer. You said--

NICK:

That's not it. Keep going. Go

straight.

CAB DRIVER:

Hey, now listen. Now you said --

NICK:

I'm telling you that's not it! Now

keep going!

NICK throws himself down on the floor.

NICK (CONT'D)

Just keep going! Just keep going

straight!

EXT. NICK'S TRAILER - DUSK

LINDA is outside, standing with VINCE and ALBERT.

VINCE:

This is him. I'm telling you, this

is Nick!

The TAXICAB comes thudding by. LINDA, VINCE and ALBERT all

watch as it disappears over a rise.

ALBERT:

(to VINCE)

I thought that was it.

VINCE:

So he's in the next one, Albert. I

mean take it easy. I mean you're

driving everybody nuts!

VETS (V.O.)

(singing raggedly)

Three cheers for the red, white and

blue...!

VINCE:

(to LINDA)

You okay?

LINDA gives a thin smile.

VINCE (CONT'D)

It's gonna be the next one. Okay?

LINDA nods.

VINCE (CONT'D)

It's gotta be the next one. I mean

it's gotta be! Right, Albert?

ALBERT:

F***in' A. It's gotta!

VINCE:

It's gotta!

EXT. MOTEL - DUSK

A huge neon sign stands against the grey sky, buzzing

angrily, as if it were full of bees.

The TAXI DRIVER comes out of one of the units, gets back in

his cab and pulls away.

INT. MOTEL - NICK'S UNIT - DUSK

NICK stands in the doorway where the driver has left him. His

duffle bag and the cartons of electric appliances are piled

along the wall by his feet. His head is thrown back and he is

draining a bottle of whiskey, gulping it down in great raw

swallows. .

NICK lowers the bottle, catches his breath and goes at it

again. This time, as he lowers the bottle, the stark panic is

gone, but there is still fear -- blind, nameless fear, like

that of an animal run to the ground.

NICK crosses to the window, grips the frame with both hands

and looks out.

EXT. THE STEEL MILL FROM THE MOTEL (NICK'S POV) - DUSK

The five great stacks trail ribbons of black smoke across the

pale winter sky, Steam billows upward in huge, silver-edged

clouds and there is the flash and gleam of fire.

INT. MOTEL - NICK'S UNIT - DUSK

NICK turns back to the room. He stares at it blankly --

stares at the bed, stares at the bureau, stares at the chair,

then he picks up the bottle, closes his eyes and begins

gulping down whiskey -- gulping it hard, fast, as hard and

fast as he can.

EXT. NICK'S TRAILER - NEW ANGLE - DAWN

The banner stretching to the house across the street has been

whipped to shreds by the wind. In the yard, parked beside

NICK's black Cadillac, is another car of about the same

vintage. There is a case of beer on its roof, the windows are

entirely frosted over and the engine is running. After a

moment TWO STEELWORKERS come down the street and knock on the

trailer door. TWO OLDER WOMEN emerge, putting on their coats,

and then LINDA comes to the door and tells the STEELWORKERS

she has no news. The STEELWORKERS and the OLDER WOMEN start

off, but now one of the WOMEN points to the frosted up car.

The STEELWORKERS go back, pound on the roof of the frosted up

car, pull open a few doors and go on their way. First thing

out is a GIRL. Next thing out is a SECOND GIRL. Their dresses

are rumpled and half-undone. Neither one has a coat and the

SECOND GIRL is missing a shoe. The GIRLS both plunge back

inside the car, where howling and cursing can now be heard.

The GIRLS both retrieve their coats. The SECOND GIRL gets her

missing shoe, plus a bra and a pair of panties.

She returns the panties to the FIRST GIRL, puts on her shoe

and they both take off at a fast trot. As the two GIRLS leave

there is a cascade of empty beer cans and ALBERT, VINCE and

JOHN all stagger out -- bleary-eyed, hung-over, half

undressed and freezing. LINDA comes out of the trailer with

coffee, but just as she emerges the whistle at the mill goes

off. ALBERT and VINCE begin yelling at each other, yelling at

JOHN and yelling at LINDA. Then they throw themselves back in

the car and start off. The case of beer on the roof crashes

to the street. They stop, pile out, pick up the cans, heave

them in the back seat and take off again.

JOHN says something to LINDA and goes on his way.

LINDA stands in the yard, alone, with the three cups of

coffee.

EXT. ADJOINING OVERLOOK - DAWN

NICK stands half-way down a rickety wooden stairway,

watching.

EXT. NICK'S TRAILER - ORIGINAL ANGLE - DAWN

LINDA turns and goes back inside the trailer.

EXT. ADJOINING OVERLOOK - DAWN

NICK swallows and starts down the stairway toward the

trailer. He hesitates, pulls the bottle from his pocket,

drains the last of it and tucks it under the stairs.

Straightening up, he claws at his hair, trying to comb it

with his fingers. Then he starts down again.

INT. NICK'S TRAILER - DAWN

Cakes, cookies, six-packs of beer and bottles of wine cover

almost every inch of available space. LINDA sits on the

little settee, wedged between two cases of Coca-Cola and

hunched over a white sweater which she is attempting, with

painful slowness, to knit. LINDA is trying not to cry. She is

trying her God-damnedest.

There is a knock at the door. LINDA freezes. Then, trying to

be totally matter-of-fact, she puts down the sweater, crosses

to the door and opens it.

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