The Deer Hunter Page #15

NICK:

Guess who.

LINDA stares at him. NICK gives a little laugh and steps in.

LINDA:

(throws herself in his

arms)

Nick! Oh, Nick, you're back!

She hugs him for a moment, as hard as she can, then they pull

apart.

LINDA (CONT'D)

I thought... Oh, Nick, I thought

you were hurt, some accident. Maybe

you fell or maybe some car...

(back in his arms)

I thought someone stole you away!

NICK:

No.

LINDA:

Oh, Nick! Oh I missed you so!

They pull apart.

LINDA (CONT'D)

How are you?

NICK:

Fine. I'm fine. How are you?

LINDA:

Fine. I just go along, you know.

Down at the market. Back here. I

mean it just seems there's a

million things to do!... Are you

sure you're all right? I mean, what

about the wound?

NICK:

(anger)

That was nothing. That wasn't

anything.

LINDA:

But --

NICK:

It was just the complications. I

mean, you take a little thing over

there and then you get

complications. I mean all the guys

had it.

LINDA:

I made you a sweater.

(she gets it)

Here... You have to take that off.

NICK removes his coat. LINDA pulls the sweater over him

LINDA (CONT'D)

I couldn't remember your exact

size.

The sweater is huge, a great rumpled thing reaching almost to

NICK's knees.

LINDA (CONT'D)

(smoothly)

Oh, that's fine. Perfect... It is a

little too big...

(she pulls the sweater

back off)

... but I can easily fix that.

Easily. One thing about wool

sweaters, they are such a cinch to

fix.

She crosses to a garbage pail out of NICK's line of sight and

stuffs the sweater in it.

NICK:

How's the trailer?

LINDA:

Great. Fine... Once or twice it did

fall off the blocks. I don't know

what that's from.

NICK:

Frost.

LINDA:

Is that what it is? I couldn't

figure out.

NICK:

Did you get hurt? You didn't get

hurt?

LINDA:

Oh, no. It just kind of goes thump.

Would you like a Coke? You don't

drink Coke. Or maybe you do. What

about champagne? Let's have

champagne! I don't think we have

champagne. Let's have this. See?

Sparkling. I'll get you an opener.

Oh, that's right. No opener. Let's

just have beer. Do you want some

cheese? Or maybe eggs? Maybe we

should have coffee.

She begins to sob. CAMERA CLOSES ON HER FACE:

LINDA (CONT'D)

Nick? I'm so glad you're alive! I'm

so happy! I... I just don't know

what to do!

EXT. COLUMBINE STREET - DAY

NICK and LINDA are some distance away. NICK is shaking hands

with an ENTHUSIASTIC MAN while LINDA stands to one side,

watching his face, and so full of love that she seems about

to burst. ANOTHER MAN comes over. LINDA takes the MAN's arm

and presents him to NICK.

WE CANNOT HEAR WHAT IS BEING SAID. THE ONLY SOUND COMES FROM

THE MILL WHICH LOOMS UP BEHIND THEM OUT THE FROZEN VALLEY

BELOW.

INT. PIZZA PARLOR - TABLE BY WINDOW - DAY

NICK and LINDA sit opposite one another. Across the street a

coal train is rumbling slowly by and NICK is watching it. The

cars are black, interchangable, and they roll on and on.

Suddenly the last car appears. The car passes and there is

silence.

LINDA gives NICK a smile.

NICK:

It was all for nothing. Do you know

that? It was all for nothing.

LINDA stares at him. She doesn't know what to say, how to

respond. NICK forces a grin, gestures with his hand and

shrugs. He picks up the check, stands.

LINDA:

Nick?... I just want to say how

sorry I am about Sal and about

Merle. How... I know you loved them

and I know it's not the same. I

mean now.

NICK:

Naw, it's... I mean...

LINDA:

Maybe... I don't know, if you want

to talk --

NICK:

Naw, it's... This guy wants his

money.

INT. SUPERMARKET - BACK ROOM - DAY

The place is full of crates and boxes. ONE CREW is unloading

a tractor-trailer. ANOTHER CREW is stacking and unpacking.

NICK stands with LINDA and a red-faced, cigar-chewing MANAGER

who is pumping NICK's hand, slapping him on the back and

shouting orders all at the same time.

MANAGER:

You did a good job, kid. Pettrucio,

here! You did a good job. Gimme a

count on these pears! I think we

got 'em now, know what I mean? The

pears, the pears! Ask me, we got

'em right by the balls, know what I

mean? Have a cigar. The pears,

Pettrucio, the pears!!!

He goes off.

NICK:

(to Linda)

Does this... I mean, how does this

job work out?

LINDA:

Oh, it's great. Fine.

NICK nods. A STOCK BOY comes by and whistles.

STOCK BOY:

Hi you, hot lips.

NICK:

What do they... bother you!?

LINDA:

(takes his arm, laughs)

No-o-o!

NICK:

I'll kill 'em. Anybody bothers you,

I'll kill 'em!

LINDA:

(gently)

Nick. It's okay... It's okay.

(gives him a squeeze,

kisses him)

I have to go now.

NICK nods.

LINDA (CONT'D)

Pick me up at eight.

NICK nods again. LINDA hurries off. The MANAGER comes in from

behind, clapping NICK on the shoulder and going for his ear

MANAGER:

That's one sweet little piece of

ass. I'm telling you, that's one

sweet little piece of ass. Who's

got these pears, God damn it! Who's

got the count on these goddamn

pears!

EXT. STEEL MILL PARKING LOT - DAY

NICK stands by the entrance to the mill. It is cold and he

looks as if he had been waiting for some time. Suddenly

STEELWORKERS begin streaming out the doors, heading for their

cars. NICK cranes his neck and then he catches sight of

ALBERT and VINCE.

NICK:

Hey, Albert!

ALBERT turns. He grabs VINCE and pulls him through the

departing STEELWORKERS.

VINCE:

What the --!

ALBERT:

It's Nick!

VINCE:

Nick...?

(sees him)

Jesus, Nick!

VINCE grabs NICK's hand, shakes it. Then ALBERT does the

same.

VINCE (CONT'D)

Where the hell were you? We were

all set -- beer, broads. Right? Am

I right?

ALBERT:

Yeah.

NICK:

I got delayed. I --

ALBERT:

(hugs him)

Hey, Nick! God damn!... What've you

been doin', I mean...

VINCE:

F***in' guy's been shooting slants,

Albert! I mean, what do you think?

ALBERT:

I know, but...

VINCE:

What do you think? You think he's

been picking flowers? F***in' guy's

been saving your ass, Albert.

Everybody's ass! Even in Europe!

ALBERT:

Yeah. Oh, boy, yeah... Jes', you

must be tired.

NICK:

I'm fine. Hey, I'm fine.

THEY start for the cars.

NICK (CONT'D)

How're you guys... I mean, how've

you guys been?

VINCE:

Same old thing. Hey, same like

always. Nothing's changed. Albert

is getting fat.

ALBERT:

Look who's talkin'! Jes'! He got

married! Vince got married!

NICK:

Married?

ALBERT:

Tell him, Vince.

VINCE:

Yeah. I did. Yeah...What the hell.

VINCE makes a gesture, shrugs.

NICK:

(after a beat)

Well, who'd you get married to?

VINCE:

Aw, it's a long story!

ALBERT:

Tell him, Vince!

VINCE:

Well... you remember Cynthia?

NICK:

Cynthia! Sure.

VINCE:

(nods)

That's who.

NICK:

(fast recovery)

Cynthia! Hey, that's terrific. I

mean... Great! That's really great!

ALBERT:

Show him the gun. Hey, show him the

gun, Vince.

VINCE looks around. Cars are streaming out of the lot, horns

blaring. VINCE pulls back his coat and shows a .38 Smith and

Weston in a holster on his hip.

NICK:

What the hell's that for?

VINCE:

What's it for??

ALBERT:

He's serious. Vince is f***in'

serious!

NICK:

You mean...?

VINCE:

Hey, Nick, I mean... This here is

for the guy that gets caught!

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