Top Gun Page #17

---

JESTER:

I've seen this before.

VIPER:

So have I.

JESTER:

Some guys never get it back.

He walks off.

97. through 102. OMITTED

103. INT. LOCKER ROOM - IMMEDIATELY AFTER

Maverick grabs his stuff out of the locker, throws them in a

bag. He glances up as Fungus enters, continues to pack.

FUNGUS:

What are you doing?

MAVERICK:

Saving them some paperwork.

FUNGUS:

Since when did you care about

paperwork?

Maverick walks away. Fungus hesitates, then follows him.

FUNGUS:

If I could fly like you I'd have

everything I want. If I could fly

at all. I can't fly. I can't fly

like that. Nobody can. Whatever it

is, you've got it!

MAVERICK:

Not anymore.

FUNGUS:

So, you're scared--so what? You

ever get a good look at me in the

back seat, I'm goddamn terrified.

Grabbing the suitcase, Maverick brushes past Jester and

walks up the corridor. Jester and Fungus watch him go. Fungus

goes to the phone.

104. EXT. SAN DIEGO AIRPORT - NIGHT

Charlie parks her car, jumps out, and runs toward the main

entrance to the terminal.

105. INT. TERMINAL

Charlie hurries through the crowd, bumping past people,

searching frantically for Maverick in the huge terminal. She

moves past bench after bench, and her eyes flick in all

directions. A quick glance at the souvenir shop, the coffee

shop, and then she heads for the bar.

Maverick is there, sitting alone in a booth with his

suitcase beside him, staring into a drink. Charlie composes

herself, then walks to the booth and sits down across the

table from him. Maverick does not look pleased.

CHARLIE:

Never liked fighter pilots anyway.

He looks up trying to be angry, but he can't help it, she

makes him laugh.

MAVERICK:

You came to the right place.

The waitress comes up.

MAVERICKWhat are you having?

Turns to the waitress.

CHARLIE:

I'll have what he's having...

Hemlock, is it?

The waitress departs. He tries not to smile, but can't help

it.

CHARLIE:

You weren't gonna say goodbye?

MAVERICK:

I was, later.

CHARLIE:

Long distance? I wouldn't do that

to you. I'd at least talk to you.

MAVERICK:

I didn't want to see you. I mean, I

did...but I didn't..

CHARLIE:

I know exactly what you mean.

MAVERICK:

How could you?

CHARLIE:

I've got a gift just like you do.

My gift is I just know what people

mean, even if they can't say it. It

helps when you're trying to

communicate with fighter pilots.

Like what you just said was "I'm

embarrassed, I feel I've done

something wrong, that I've failed,

and I don't think I can live up to

the expectations of a wonderful

interesting, intelligent woman like

yourself." That about it?

MAVERICK:

(laughs)

...Something like that.

CHARLIE:

And I'm gonna sneak off, and be by

myself for awhile, like until I can

think of a new career...hotel

management or something...

MAVERICK:

Big talk for someone who's never

been shot off her computer.

CHARLIE:

Hey, I never said I was a fighter

pilot...I never claimed to think it

was fun to be shot off the end of a

ship in a storm. I can find

contentment in a good book. I don't

have to roar by someone at Mach two

with my hair on fire. Sometimes...I

just get happy being with the right

man.

MAVERICK:

I hope you find him.

CHARLIE:

I think I have... I could be wrong.

I have been before. Just remember

one thing. If you're not Top Gun,

if you're not fighting jets, you're

not gonna be able to act like a

fighter pilot... You're gonna have

to act like the rest of us. You're

gonna have to master humility. For

you guys, that's the toughest

maneuver of all.

She gets up...lays a bill out for the drinks...

CHARLIE:

So long, Sailor. See you on the

beach sometime.

She swings away. Her wake sucks in the stares of every man

in the place. Then they look over to Maverick, quick flicks

of envy in their eyes. He stares them back and can't quite

meet their eyes.

106. EXT. BEACH AT VIPER'S HOUSE - LATER

Viper is tugged down the beach by a three year old kid. They

come across one creature who's had a bad night...Viper spots

him, he spots Viper, and Viper moves toward him. Tim, Viper's

kid, wants to head for the sea and pulls his father in that

direction. He stops, puts his hand on his hips like he's seen

the pilots do.

TIM:

Dad...Of all the aminals in the

ocean, which one's the baddest?

VIPER:

I don't know, Tim. You'll have to

ask them.

Viper turns to the creature, Maverick, and shrugs.

VIPER:

Runs in the family...

Maverick stands up.

MAVERICK:

Skipper, sorry to bother you.

VIPER:

No bother.

MAVERICK:

I called your house.

VIPER:

My wife's house.

MAVERICK:

She said you took your kid to the

each. Every second Sunday. Zoo or

beach or the ballgame. Y'have the

option...(Maverick thinks for a

beat. Segues to the question...)

What about me?

Viper turns, they stroll together.

VIPER:

We can send you back to your

squadron with nothing noted on your

record except "CNC" --course not

completed, no explanation required.

Theoretically, it doesn't hurt your

career, but people always wonder

about things like that.

MAVERICK:

Or....

VIPER:

Or you can quit.

MAVERICK:

I don't know...

VIPER:

I didn't know either. That's why I

told Jester to prepare your papers.

Maverick looks irritated. Viper stops at an icecream vendor

and orders three with a gesture.

MAVERICK:

You've already made up your mind.

VIPER:

It's no disgrace, kid. That spin

was hell. It would wreck anyone's

confidence. You could be a good

pilot again someday...

MAVERICK:

(starts to get his back up)

You think I should quit?!

VIPER:

I didn't say that. That's up to

you. But I have responsibility for

the other guys up there, not just

you. They need to know you're all

right...that they can depend on

you.

The vendor hands them icecream, they take it.

MAVERICK:

Here, let me get this. We'll be

even.

He reaches into his pocket for change, comes out with a

handful. Slams it on the counter, stars picking the proper

change out. Viper spots something and reaches for

it...Maverick sees and tries to block it, but Viper comes up

with the Navy Cross.

MAVERICK:

Lucky charm.

But Viper recognizes it for what it is.

VIPER:

Sometimes it's luck, but in this

case, he earned it... I served with

your old man.

MAVERICK:

I know.

VIPER:

VF 51, the Oriskany. You remind me

of him. You're just like he was,

only better...and worse.

MAVERICK:

I'm nothing like him.

VIPER:

You may not think so, but you are.

MAVERICK:

He was by the book, all the way.

VIPER:

They waved him off. He thought he

knew better. He hit the

ramp.

MAVERICK:

I never heard that.

VIPER:

Not something they tell dependents.

MAVERICK:

It's not true.

Viper looks at him, for a long beat, throws his icecream

away.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes