The Deer Hunter Page #23

ARMAND (V.O.)

If you are brave and lucky I can

make you rich.

NICK turns and finds ARMAND behind him. ARMAND studies him

for a fraction of a second and then smiles.

ARMAND (CONT'D)

C'est tres amusant... You have been

promoted. And to a Jew... I am

joking of course. Naturellement.

Seriously, Nick, may I hope that

you have come to play?

NICK:

I came to see Merle.

ARMAND:

Ah. Merle. And you know Merle?

NICK:

Yeah.

ARMAND:

(studies him)

You are his friend.

NICK:

Where is he???

ARMAND:

(faint smile)

Merle is under his tree... Beside

the terrace. You can't miss him.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - TREES BY TERRACE - NIGHT

GUESTS are still coming in from the cars, strolling down

through the trees in bright coveys and flocks, chattering

like birds.

Laughter comes from the terrace. Glass tinkles and the tiny

lanterns bob and sway.

NICK appears, hurrying down the steps. Suddenly he stops.

MERLE is sitting at a table under a nearby tree. He is alone,

dressed in a tuxedo, watching the arriving GUESTS with an

expression of dreamy detachment, as if they were rain drops,

or snow flakes, or falling stones.

NICK:

(shouts)

Merle!

MERLE turns, watching NICK as he crosses toward him. When

NICK reaches the table, he stands.

NICK (CONT'D)

Merle...! Jesus! Hey, how are you?

MERLE:

Nick!... I thought you went home.

NICK:

I did. I... This is stolen. I came

back.

MERLE:

Sit down.

NICK sits. MERLE's self-possession has thrown him. He doesn't

know where to start.

MERLE (CONT'D)

(breaking the silence)

How's Linda?

NICK:

Fine. She's fine... Merle, what the

hell are you doing?

MERLE:

(eyes him)

I like it, Nick.

NICK:

Merle... Hey, Merle, listen...

(stares at him)

Why?

For a moment MERLE doesn't answer. His eyes are pale, like

faded robin's eggs, and they seem to look through NICK, as if

to some landscape far beyond.

MERLE:

I like it because it's simple.

A BEAUTIFUL VIETNAMESE GIRL steps up and whispers something

in MERLE's ear.

MERLE (CONT'D)

(stands)

I have to go, Nick. We'll have a

drink.

MERLE and the VIETNAMESE GIRL move into the CROWD.

NICK:

Merle...! Merle, wait!

NICK starts after them. He can see them ahead, moving rapidly

through a GROUP OF ARVN OFFICERS and WHORES.

NICK (CONT'D)

Merle!!!

NICK sees he can never overtake them directly. He cuts around

to the terrace.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - TERRACE - NIGHT

NICK maneuvers his way down to the end of the terrace.

NICK:

Excuse me... Sorry... Sorry...

Pardon.

NICK reaches the end of the terrace. MERLE and the BEAUTIFUL

VIETNAMESE GIRL have disappeared.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - TERRACE - NIGHT

NICK sits at one of the tables. The terrace is deserted.

REFEREE (V.O.)

Gentleman on the right will now

commence play.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - HOUSE - NIGHT

The gaming tables are utterly deserted. AS NICK WANDERS

THROUGH THE EMPTY ROOMS THE SOUND OF THE GAME CONTINUES OVER

THE P.A. SYSTEM -- THE SOUND OF THE CYLINDER SPINNING, THE

SOUND OF THE HAMMER BEING COCKED... AND CLICK AFTER CLICK

INTO EMPTY CHAMBERS.

Suddenly NICK can stand it no more. He turns and starts

toward the entrance to the bleachers.

A SHOT EXPLODES OVER THE P.A. SYSTEM. NICK freezes, then he

runs.

EXT. RUBBER PLANTATION - ROULETTE THEATRE - NIGHT

NICK appears at the back of the aisle between the bleachers.

The CROWD is going wild, yelling and screaming. NICK pushes

through a group of BETTORS and then stops. A look of stunned

relief spreads over his features.

On the stage a tall figure stands alone in the spotlight,

head bowed in acknowledgement of the OVATION.

NICK grins. He begins yelling and screaming along with

everyone else.

On the stage the tall figure raises his head, pumps his fists

in the air and begins hooting maniacally.

... WE NOW SEE, AS DOES NICK, THAT THE TALL FIGURE IN THE

SPOTLIGHT IS NOT MERLE AT ALL. IT IS MERLE'S OPPONENT.

INT. V.F.W. POST - BASEMENT - DAY

Pipes crisscross the ceiling and there is the faint hiss of

leaking steam. Seated on a bench and all dressed-up in their

uniforms are FIVE OLD VETS. TWO VETS are on the nod. THE

OTHER THREE -- rheumy-eyed and ancient -- give patient

attention to the SIXTH VET who stands beside the boiler with

a bugle, trying to play TAPS.

VET 1

Up a little there... What would you

say?

VET 2

Up.

The VET WITH THE BUGLE tries it again, flubs it, starts

over...

INT. V.F.W. POST - MAIN HALL - DAY

Three tables have been set up in the middle of the floor. The

tables have been laid with white cloth and the OLDER WOMEN

are setting out fresh flowers and laying the places for a

funeral breakfast. They work in silence, fussing over the

placement of each knife and fork.

AS THE WOMEN WORK WE HEAR THE SOUND OF THE CHOIR SINGING AS

THE SERVICE PROGRESSES IN THE CHURCH. AT FIRST THE SOUND IS

BARELY AUDIBLE, EASILY MATCHED BY THE FAINT NOTES OF THE VET

WITH THE BUGLE IN THE BASEMENT BELOW.

BUT NOW THE SOUND OF THE CHOIR GROWS -- A SOUND AS DEEP AS

WATER, AS DARK AS NIGHT; A SOUND LIKE STONE.

Gradually, one by one, the OLDER WOMEN stop fussing with the

table. They stand motionless, listening.

EXT. GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH - FRONT STEPS - DAY

A HEARSE waits at the curb. The day is windless, cold and

grey Snow is drifting down and the gleaming vehicle emits a

ghostly cloud of white exhaust.

THE SOUND OF THE CHOIR IS MUCH LOUDER, ASCENDING IN DARK

TRIUMPH TO A SUDDEN, FINAL NOTE.

In the ringing silence of the MUSIC'S END the doors to the

church swing open. NICK, VINCE, ALBERT and JOHN appear with

MERLE's flag-draped COFFIN. Followed by MOURNERS, they bear

the COFFIN slowly down the steps.

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

Snow drifts down from a leaden sky as the MOURNERS stand

together on a steep hillside of tilted, weather-worn

headstones. The mill looms behind them, breathing roiling

clouds of steam and uttering a dull concordia of clanks and

groans.

EXT. CEMETERY - GRAVE SITE - DAY

The PRIEST completes his reading of the 23rd PSALM. The

MOURNERS join in the LORD'S PRAYER.

CAMERA CLOSES ON NICK, VINCE, ALBERT, JOHN and SAL. They help

SAL to the side of the grave. It is awkward. The chair gets

stuck and they have to carry it. THEY ALL pick up a handful

of dirt and then, following NICK's lead, they throw it in.

NICK steps back from the grave, nods to the VETS. The VETS

come to attention. The VET WITH THE BUGLE steps forward and

tremblingly, but perfectly, PLAYS TAPS.

INT. V.F.W. POST - MAIN HALL - DAY

The meal is over. The WOMEN are drinking coffee, the MEN are

smoking and putting down the beer. There is muted laughter

and conversation.

NICK sits at the head of one of the tables, flanked by LINDA

and SAL. He looks stunned. His food is untouched, there are

tears in his eyes and he hardly seems to know where he is.

LINDA:

Eat something, Nick. Eat a piece of

toast.

NICK nods, picks up a piece of toast and then, forgetting all

about it, lays it absently on his plate.

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