The Deer Hunter Page #22

Out beyond the proscenium, huddled together in a litter of

broken cafe tables, a FAMILY OF REFUGEES stare at him in

terror from the other side of a small fire.

NICK:

(waves pistol)

It's okay.

The REFUGEES cower back even further.

NICK (CONT'D)

(screaming)

It's okay, God damn it! It's all

right!

POUNDING and BANGING come from the direction of the front

door. NICK crosses...

INT. SHUTTERED BUILDING - FRONT DOOR - NIGHT

NICK readies his pistol, cautiously unbolts the door and

jerks it open. The COLONEL FROM THE AIRPLANE tumbles in and

falls flat on his back. Standing in the doorway, lit by the

headlights of two cars, is a party of U.S. OFFICERS, ARVN

OFFICERS and WHORES.

COLONEL:

(no attempt to get up)

Hey, good buddy, how you doin'?

(gestures)

This is Biederman, you guys.

Biederman, this is Son Loc, Tu Fon,

Huckerbelly and Potts. What's the

story here, Biederman? We're

looking for... Wait a minute.

He fishes a piece of paper out of his breast pocket.

COLONEL (CONT'D)

Here it is. Chez Armand.

WHORE:

Chez Armand not here! Chez Armand

has gone to other spot!

COLONEL:

(gets up)

Honey, c'mere. Come right here.

The COLONEL opens a brown paper bag he is carrying and

presents her with a large red, white and blue dildo.

COLONEL (CONT'D)

This is for bein' so smart.

The WHORE shrieks with pleasure. EVERYONE laughs.

COLONEL (CONT'D)

(arm around WHORE)

Let's go! Mount up! C'mon

Biederman!

The COLONEL throws an arm around NICK and they all start for

the cars.

COLONEL (CONT'D)

(to NICK)

Boy, do I love this conflict.

Huh?... What the hell were you

doin' in there?

NICK:

You know a guy named Merle?

COLONEL:

Merle? That's who we're looking

for. Merle.

NICK:

Yeah?

COLONEL:

Sure! I got eight hundred potatoes

says he goes one more... He

retired, you know.

NICK:

Yeah?

COLONEL:

Now he's back.

Pulls NICK close so he can whisper in his ear.

COLONEL (CONT'D)

He eats 'em... Sure... He eats 'em

raw!

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - SAIGON OUTSKIRTS NIGHT

An elegant house of French design is ablaze with lights. The

house is encircled by a stone terrace on which tables have

been set up. Over the terrace and strung out for a hundred

yards into the surrounding trees are countless paper lanterns

which bob and sway in the wind. GUESTS are everywhere --

wandering in and out of the house, sitting at the tables and

strolling under the trees. For the most part the GUESTS are

AMERICANS and SOUTH VIETNAMESE. The majority of these are

OFFICERS IN UNIFORM, but there are numerous CIVILIANS mixed

among them and the CIVILIANS are attired in everything from

sports shirts to white linen suits and tuxedos. As to

nationality there are no limits. There are FRENCH, GERMANS,

BELGIANS, SWISS, CHINESE, BRITISH and AUSTRALIANS. WHORES and

MISTRESSES abound. WIVES are not greatly in evidence, except

to dog the heels of heavily armed ARVN GUARDS who wander

about, glass-eyed, drinking champagne.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - PARKING AREA - NIGHT

Jeeps, personnel carriers, trucks and light tanks are parked

side by side with gleaming Mercedes limousines, staff cars

from various government agencies and a blitz of civilian

vehicles running from sedans to motor scooters.

More vehicles arrive by the minute and exotic couples, like

plumed birds, debark in the swirling dust.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - CLEARING IN TREES - NIGHT

A dozen ARVN helicopters have put down between the trees. One

has crashed and lies on its side with a broken rotor.

There is a mounting clatter in the distance and another

helicopter comes out of the sky. As it sets down a dashingly

handsome AIR FORCE OFFICER hops out and extends a hand to his

WIFE. When his WIFE has descended the OFFICER opens a back

compartment in the fusilage and carefully takes out their

BABY. He hands the BABY to his WIFE and they stroll off

toward the house.

INT. RUBBER PLANTATION - HOUSE - NIGHT

Gambling tables are set up in all the rooms. The betting is

heavy, champagne flows like water and the atmosphere is one

of reckless abandon, as if money, like love, were good for an

hour.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - ROULETTE STAGE - NIGHT

Low bleachers covered in red velvet are set in a semi-circle

facing a small stage. The stage is lit with a single,

blindingly bright spotlight and is furnished with a table and

two velvet-covered chairs. Two CONTESTANTS, both of them

VIETNAMESE, sit opposite one another. Between them, lying on

the table, is a revolver. Both CONTESTANTS are dressed in

tuxedos. Both wear red numbers on their downstage arm.

Although the bleachers are not yet full, eager BETTORS jam

the first three rows. Here CLERKS with change trays take the

bets, signalling each transaction to a MARKER who chalks the

shifting odds on a large board.

CAMERA CLOSES ON NICK, standing in the aisle, staring in

disbelief at the evolution of the game he once played.

Now a REFEREE enters the stage carrying two strips of scarlet

cloth.

REFEREE:

(amplified)

Game number seven. Gentlemen will

please wrap.

The CONTESTANTS wrap their heads with the scarlet cloth.

REFEREE (CONT'D)

(as he loads revolver)

One cartridge. Game to be played to

completion. Forfeit automatic after

delay of one minute.

The REFEREE places the pistol back in the center of the table

and spins a wheel whose -intervals are alternately marked L

and R. The wheel clatters to a stop with the marker on L.

REFEREE:

Gentleman on the left will now

commence play.

The REFEREE steps out of the light. A gong sounds. The

CONTESTANT on the left picks up the pistol, spins the

cylinder, c*cks it and

places it to his temple. He hesitates, pulls the trigger...

and clicks out.

NICK is unable to bear it. He turns, starts around toward the

back of the stage. AS NICK MOVES THROUGH THE GUESTS WE HEAR

THE SOUND OF THE CYLINDER CLICKING, AMPLIFIED OVER A P.A.

SYSTEM. WE HEAR THE CLICK OF THE HAMMER BEING COCKED...

NICK turns. The SECOND CONTESTANT has the pistol to his

temple. He pulls the trigger... THE GUN GOES OFF WITH A

DEAFENING ROAR and he topples on the floor.

The FIRST CONTESTANT STEPS FORWARD AS THE SPOTLIGHT NARROWS

TO CONTAIN HIM ALONE. HE BOWS, CLASPS HIS HANDS ABOVE HIS

HEAD AND DANCES AROUND.

NICK stares at the FIRST CONTESTANT celebrating his victory.

He looks around him. BETTORS are screaming and yelling in

five languages.

NICK starts off again, hurrying.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - BACKSTAGE AREA NIGHT

NICK comes upon a pile of six naked CORPSES with their heads

blown off. Opposite the CORPSES -- sitting, standing, pacing,

squatting in the dirt -- are a GROUP OF WAITING CONTESTANTS.

Some of these are AMERICAN. Most are SOUTH VIETNAMESE,

several of whom have come with WIVES and FAMILIES. A few of

the contestants are well dressed, most are in rags. THREE. OF

THE WAITING CONTESTANTS ARE WEARING TUXEDOS.

Suddenly a WOMAN WITH A BABY lets out a shriek. NICK spins.

TWO BURLY MEN appear, bringing the CORPSE OF THE SECOND

CONTESTANT. As the WOMAN WITH THE BABY begins sobbing and

screaming with grief the BURLY MEN strip the tuxedo off the

SECOND CONTESTANT and then, as each article is summarily

removed, they begin dressing one of the WAITING CONTESTANTS

in it.

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