The Deer Hunter Page #21

NICK moves in close enough to read the SECOND LIEUTENANT's

name tag.

NICK:

(bawling)

Biederman! Where's Biederman!

LIEUTENANT:

Here.

NICK:

You Biederman?

LIEUTENANT:

Biederman, yes.

NICK:

I got you on this flight,

Biederman. Is that right?

BIEDERMAN:

Correct.

NICK:

Follow me, please.

INT. TERMINAL BUILDING - WAREHOUSE AREA - DAY

NICK walks along briskly with the LIEUTENANT at his side.

NICK:

Right this way.

INT. TERMINAL BUILDING - WAREHOUSE AREA - DAY

NICK comes to a door, opens it.

NICK:

Through here.

INT. TERMINAL BUILDING - UTILITY CLOSET - DAY

The LIEUTENANT walks into the closet and comes to a stop,

looking puzzled. NICK comes in behind him, closes the door

and picks up a length of pipe.

NICK:

Take off the uniform.

The LIEUTENANT stares at NICK, dumbfounded.

NICK (CONT'D)

Take off the uniform, Lieutenant!

The LIEUTENANT nods, begins taking off his uniform.

INT. TERMINAL BUILDING - UTILITY CLOSET - DAY

NICK has changed into the LIEUTENANT's uniform and tied him

to a chair. The LIEUTENANT is in tears. NICK is going through

his orders.

LIEUTENANT:

Please! Please mister, please! This

is vital I go to Saigon. This is

very important. Most important.

NICK:

(exasperated)

Listen, Biederman, I'm going to

club you into the floor unless you

tell me what the f*** is so

important.

LIEUTENANT:

That I must not tell you. Top

secret. You see there. Topmost

secret.

NICK:

Biederman!

LIEUTENANT:

(stiffly)

I will not betray my country. No.

Ne-ver!

NICK throws down the pipe in disgust, whips a gag around the

LIEUTENANT's mouth and ties it.

NICK:

When I get to Saigon I'll tell 'em

where you are.

Slams the door.

EXT. SAIGON AIRPORT - TERMINAL BUILDING - NIGHT

Viet Cong SAPPERS have just attacked. A number of jet

fighters are burning, bodies are strewn over the tarmac and

jeeps with SOLDIERS are racing back and forth.

Out beyond, the jet transport taxis into view, lumbering like

a great silver monster out of the night.

INT. JET TRANSPORT - NIGHT

NICK stands in the aisle next to a COLONEL who is peering out

the window.

COLONEL:

Jesus Christ, they hit the airport!

NICK nods.

COLONEL (CONT'D)

Those f***in' n*ggers. This time

I'm going to eat balls!... You ever

try 'em?

NICK:

Naw.

COLONEL:

(leans close)

Not bad fresh, but they don't keep

worth a pig's fart.

NICK nods. EVERYONE starts out.

COLONEL (CONT'D)

Lotta guys don't know that.

(winks)

A**holes!

EXT. JET TRANSPORT - DEBARKATION RAMP - NIGHT

A SIREN is screaming in the distance. NICK looks around

nervously. The COLONEL is still right in beside him.

COLONEL:

Tell you something else. Don't eat

'em in the damn Delta. Unless you

like 'em fishy... Some do. I don't.

I never did.

The scream of the SIREN grows louder. Suddenly a Jeep careens

around the corner followed by a huge black Cadillac flying

American flags on the fenders. Both vehicles screech to a

stop and an MP jumps out of the jeep with a loud hailer.

MP:

(amplified)

Lieutenant Biederman! Lieutenant

Biederman report to the ramp!

COLONEL:

That's you.

(grabs NICK's arm and

waves)

Right here, Sergeant! He's right

here!

MP:

Right this way, Lieutenant.

NICK is hurried to the limousine where a SECOND MP holds the

door.

SECOND MP:

Quick as you can, sir. We're in a

rush.

NICK gets in the limousine. The SECOND MP slams the door,

jumps in the front and they take off with sirens wailing.

INT. LIMOUSINE - SAIGON - NIGHT

There are jeeps with MP's ahead; there are jeeps with MP's

behind. Seated beside NICK is a gigantic MARINE CORPORAL who

stares rigidly ahead.

EXT. CAVALCADE - SAIGON - NIGHT

Pedestrians and bicyclists flee as the cavalcade comes

screaming down a wide boulevard.

EXT. AMERICAN EMBASSY - SAIGON - NIGHT

The jeeps peel off to the side. The gate swings open and the

limousine enters the compound.

INT. AMERICAN EMBASSY - RECEPTION AREA - NIGHT

A STRING QUARTET is playing. GUESTS in evening clothes are

drinking champagne.

NICK enters with the MARINE CORPORAL and is whisked rapidly

down a hallway.

INT. AMERICAN EMBASSY - KITCHEN - NIGHT

NICK stands in front of a huge range staring down at a table.

On the table there is a basket of eggs, an omelette pan and a

pile of mushrooms. Across from the table six SERVANTS with

napkins on their arms stand waiting with plates.

MARINE (V.O.)

Sir?

NICK turns. The MARINE CORPORAL is holding a chef's hat. NICK

takes off his cap, puts on the chef's hat. Suddenly a door

comes open and the AMERICAN AMBASSADOR and his WIFE come in.

AMBASSADOR:

Henri! So good to see you. How are

you? How are you? Darling, this is

Henri. Henri, my wife Elizabeth.

WIFE:

My pleasure.

AMBASSADOR:

Henri, we are starved. Six

omelettes, s'il vous plait.

WIFE:

(hissing)

Avec champignons.

AMBASSADOR:

Avec champignons.

(back to his WIFE)

Fines herbes?

The WIFE shakes her head. The AMBASSADOR winks.

AMBASSADOR (CONT'D)

Avec champignons.

The AMBASSADOR and his WIFE hurry out. There is dead silence.

NICK pulls the MARINE CORPORAL to one side, points to his

crotch.

NICK:

Pee-pee.

INT. AMERICAN EMBASSY - CORRIDOR OFF KITCHEN - NIGHT

NICK comes down the corridor behind the MARINE CORPORAL. As

he passes a straight-back chair standing against the wall he

picks it up and swings it down on the MARINE CORPORAL'S head.

The blow is ferocious. The chair splinters into pieces and

the MARINE CORPORAL goes down with a dull thud.

NICK stands for a moment, looking at him. Then he kneels,

removes his pistol and jams it in his belt.

EXT. AMERICAN EMBASSY - WALKWAY TO PEDESTRIAN EXIT - NIGHT

Three MARINE GUARDS are standing at parade rest by an open

iron gate.

As NICK appears in his white chef's hat the GUARDS snap to

attention and he walks into the CROWD OF ASIANS streaming by

outside.

EXT. TELEPHONE BOOTH - BUSY INTERSECTION - NIGHT

NICK takes out his wallet, extracts the tattered calling card

that he found with SAL'S money and dials the number. He lets

it ring a long time but there is no answer.

EXT. DESERTED STREET WITH SHUTTERED BUILDING - NIGHT

NICK is not sure where he is. Suddenly he stops, recognizing

the yard with the little grape arbor where he met ARMAND.

EXT. YARD BEHIND SHUTTERED BUILDING - NIGHT

The yard is grown over. As NICK goes in there comes a low

buzz of flies. He trips over something, draws back. Seeing a

candle on the little table under the grape arbor, he crosses

and lights it.

The yard is full of discarded champagne bottles, red velvet

cushions and rotting CORPSES. NICK leans over one of the

CORPSES. The skin is falling away and the eye sockets writhe

with maggots.

NICK straightens, looks around.

NICK:

Merle!!!

The back door to the building is open. NICK draws his pistol

and goes in.

INT. SHUTTERED BUILDING - NIGHT

NICK finds his way blocked by a door. He steps back, hurls

himself against it. The door gives way with a crash and he

staggers into the middle of a small stage hung with red

velvet curtains and furnished with a table and two chairs.

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