Top Gun Page #16

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CHARLIE:

It's strip reality, actually, like

what the pilots always want to

play.

MAVERICK:

(this gets a small laugh)

Strip reality! How do you play

that?

CHARLIE:

It's like strip poker, only,

without the bluffing. (he laughs

again) One person says something

and if the other one accepts that

it's true, the one who says it,

gets to take one item of clothing

off.

MAVERICK:

You're crazy. (She stops, he goes

on, softer) That's a pretty silly

game.

CHARLIE:

Not as silly as some. You know the

silliest one? ...that we are gods.

That we control events on the

beach... that we can turn back

time...

She moves in close.

CHARLIE:

Want to play the game?

MAVERICK:

How does it go?

CHARLIE:

You say the truth. (a beat...)

Go ahead. Don't be afraid. You want

to win the game, don'tcha?

MAVERICK:

What truth?

CHARLIE:

The big one. The one that's most on

your mind.

A long pause...it comes hard.

MAVERICK:

Goose is dead.

CHARLIE:

(she nods)

True.

MAVERICK:

Now?

CHARLIE:

Take something off.

MAVERICK:

Off me or off you?

CHARLIE:

That's up to you.

He takes the ribbon from her hair. It falls down over her

face and shoulders. Now it's her turn.

CHARLIE:

It's dangerous...what you do.

He nods. She slowly loosens his tie and pulls it from around

his neck.

MAVERICK:

It was my fault.

She says nothing, stands looking into his eyes. He slowly,

as if in a trance, takes her blouse off.

CHARLIE:

You can't bring him back.

She takes off his shirt.

MAVERICK:

It was my fault.

He starts to reach for her. She pulls back.

CHARLIE:

Nope. Already used that.

She turns and thinks for a moment, looking at the moon.

CHARLIE:

Your life goes on.

Rather than struggle his T shirt over his head, she grabs it

with both hands. She leans in close and bites it. She grabs

both sides of the tear and slowly rips it off his body.

MAVERICK:

What does it mean?

CHARLIE:

(shakes her head no)

That wasn't fair. It was a

question. Penalty round!

She drops her skirt.

CHARLIE:

You didn't mean it. You didn't

think. You'd do anything to take it

back.

MAVERICK:

That's three.

CHARLIE:

And that's one!

She unbuckles his belt, slowly slides it off. She unzips his

pants, they fall.

MAVERICK:

One more.

CHARLIE:

Your watch.

She unbuckles it.

MAVERICK:

You owe me one.

He rests his head on her shoulder, unhooks her bra. She

shrugs it off.

They stand on the beach in shorts and bikini bottom, looking

into each other's eyes.

CHARLIE:

Looks like a tie.

MAVERICK:

Who's gonna win?

CHARLIE:

We'll say it together. On the count

of three...One...two...

Leaning in, softer and harder...they both jump the gun.

BOTHTOGETHER:

I love.ove y.you.

They embrace madly and sink to the sand. From the distance

it looks like a strange slithering creature crawling back to

the sea.

89. INT. GOOSE'S ROOM - NIGHT

The lights are out in Goose's room at the Bachelor Officers'

Quarters. The door opens, and Maverick enters. He sets a

cardboard box on the bed.

Silently, Maverick gathers together Goose's few personal

possessions. He fills the box with clothes, books, a clock, a

radio, a walkman, and articles from the bathroom. He examines

each closely, like an artifact...as if he might find some

message or meaning in them. He fumbles them into the box. He

can't see too well, his eyes are full of tears.

Maverick closes the box and carries it to the door. He takes

one last glance around, then leaves and closes the door

behind him.

89A. INT. BOQ RECEPTION AREA *

Carol and the kid, stand, staring at a silent TV. Carol

looks dazed, lost. Maverick walks in, finds her. An awkward

silence while they both try to think of something to say.

Maverick hands the box to Carol.

90. OMITTED

89B. CLOSE UP - MAVERICK.

He sits staring right through us...the thousand-yard stare.

A strange white unreal light washes over him. The only color,

the Navy and gold of the stripes on his shoulderboards. A low

rumbling mumbling filters through the HISS of surf or fans or

something...Snatches of low whispered

conversation....disregard of...basic air-safety

principles...too aggressive...incident.... 29 July...within

performance parameters... disciplinary action...tactical

doctrine.... even reckless at times...

conjecture...unsupported ...benefit of the doubt...

Maverick's

eyes slowly focus. The light attenuates. The surrounding

image becomes denser. Things become real.

89C. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY - MAVERICK'S POV

A BOARD OF INQUIRY, a COMMANDER and other NAVY OFFICERS

seated behind tables at the front of the room. Maverick faces

them, wearing dress whites. Viper is also present. The

Commander looks at each of the Officers. They each nod, in

turn, indicating readiness. The Commander turns to Maverick,

and states for the record:

CDR.

The Board of Inquiry finds that Lt.

Evan Mitchell was not at fault in

the accident of twenty-nine July.

No response from Maverick, one way or the other. Viper

studies his face with concern.

CDR.

Lt. Mitchell's record will be

cleared of this incident.

Still no response from Maverick.

CDR.

Lt. Mitchell is restored to flight

status without further delay. These

proceedings are closed.

Maverick doesn't respond.

91. INT. MAVERICK'S ROOM - NIGHT

Maverick lies on his bunk and stares at the ceiling. The

phone next to his bed is RINGING. It RINGS EIGHT OR NINE

TIMES, then stops. He makes no move to reach for it.

92. through 95. OMITTED

94A. INT. COCKPIT - F-14 ON FLIGHT LINE

Maverick sits in the cockpit staring at the controls while

the ground crew preps the aircraft for flight. Coogan helps

him strap in. He speaks solicitously to Maverick. It is

unheard over the JET NOISE and RADIO BABBLE. Maverick looks

at the cockpit as if it's a strange territory, suddenly

foreign to him. He grabs the stick like it's some peculiar

talisman. He turns and looks aft. He seems surprised that it

moves the control surfaces in the tails.

96. INT. F-14 - DAY

FUNGUS:

BOGEY AT TEN O'CLOCK LOW. YOU'VE

GOT THE ANGLE -- PIECE OF CAKE.

Maverick checks ten o'clock low. He is disturbed. He tries

to make the move, but he is a man with no secret: he is

afraid.

FUNGUS:

ENGAGE, MAVERICK - ANYTIME.

The bogey abruptly turns into him. Maverick hesitates. Then

suddenly, he jerks the stick hard right and takes the F-14

away from the bogey at great speed. Fungus is startled.

FUNGUS:

WHAT? WHERE'RE YOU--HEY, WHERE IN

THE HELL ARE YOU GOING?

MAVERICK:

DIDN'T ... AHHH...LOOK GOOD.

FUNGUS:

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? IT DOESN'T GET TO

LOOK MUCH BETTER THAN THAT?

MAVERICK:

NO. NO GOOD.

96A. INT. FLIGHT LINE - DAY

Jester walks up to Viper who waits near an F-5.

JESTER:

He just won't engage. He can't do

it, Skipper. He can't get back on

the horse.

VIPER:

It's only been a week. Keep sending

him up.

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