Top Gun Page #21

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The AIR BOSS burns, but has no choice.

AIR BOSS:

(really pissed off)

ROGER, GHOST RIDER, YOU'RE CLEAR.

131. EXT.

KITTY HAWK DAY:

Sailors line the deck and search the sky. They crane their

necks from their battle stations, sweating into the sun,

watching for the approach of F-14's. Someone sees it--he

points and SHOUTS. The F-14 appears, and every man stands and

CHEERS.

132. POV -

WE COME SCREAMING IN, 5 FEET OVER THE WATER, throwing up

rooster tails behind. WE SPLIT OFF and ZOOM along each side

of the carrier, at 100 feet and ROLL IT.

133. INT. PRI-FLY BRIDGE--VVVAAAAABBOOOOM!

It lifts the Air Boss right off his feet. The walls warp,

dust sifts from the overhead. The whole tower just goes BOOM!

AIR BOSS:

Goddamn that guy!"

134. EXT. FLIGHT DECK

They break at 500 knots. Ice is first down over the ramp,

waved in. The F-14 comes in a little rocky. It bounces hard

but grabs the wire, then jerks to a sudden halt. The sailors

CHEER AND APPLAUD, throwing fists of victory into the air,

straining to get a look at Ice as the crew directs his plane

off to the side. Opening the canopy, Ice and Slider unstrap.

Stinger and the others are there. Guys are climbing up,

climbing all over the airplane. They're already painting a

MiG on the side, and they're looking at Ice in awe.

135. POV - MAVERICK - THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD - AS HE LANDS

He catches the wire, the view slams down toward the deck as

the plane arrests, then comes up...He releases the cockpit

and can hear the ROAR OF THE CROWD...

136. EXT. FLIGHT DECK

He swings the nose around past Ice's. Ice's plane is covered

in colored jerseys as the ground crew pulls him out.

Maverick's plane swings towards the PRI-FLY BRIDGE. Pilots in

flightsuits pour from the deck hatch APPLAUDING...

137. HE CUTS HIS ENGINES AS THE GROUND CREW SWARMS

As Maverick and Fungus climb down, they see their wingmen on

the deck. Ice is looking in Maverick's direction. His face is

inscrutable. Maverick gets mobbed, but pushes over to Ice.

They stare at each other for a moment, eye to eye even as

they are buffeted by the crowd. Finally, Ice breaks...a grin.

ICE:

I guess I owe you one.

MAVERICK:

You don't owe me anything.

We're on the same team.

ICE:

You saved our lives. You did it!

MAVERICK:

We did it.

ICE:

You're a hell of a flyer.

(he can't resist)

You can be my wingman any time.

MAVERICK:

(laughs)

No. You can be mine!

Now Ice laughs. Nobody's ever gonna win on this one. But Ice

smiles at him...It's now a running joke between them.

ICE:

Whatever you say, Commander.

He and Slider snap to and proudly salute. Maverick

hesitates, then returns it. As Ice and Slider snap it off, it

turns into the pilot's salute, they give them the bird.

Maverick and Fungus laugh and return the compliment.

As they are mobbed by sailors, Maverick is elated to see two

familiar figures: Hollywood and Wolfman turn from their

battle damaged TOMCAT on the forward elevator as it sinks out

of sight below decks.

138. EXT. FLIGHT DECK

FUNGUS:

What happened to you?

WOLFMAN:

He got our radio, and an engine. We

were lucky to make it back.

HOLLYWOOD:

Not luck. Skill.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Stinger rushes up, grabs Ice and Maverick in a bear hug.

STINGER:

MiG killers! You name it, boy.

Sky's the limit. You name it. A

medal. Anything you want. Anything.

ICE:

MiG killers! What else is there?

Maverick grins, turns away from them. He he looks out, at

the dying sun glinting over the sea. He thinks how beautiful

it is out here! Fungus grabs him from behind.

FUNGUS:

You hear that? Anything we want.

Anything...Well???

MAVERICK:

Well what?

FUNGUS:

What do you want?

MAVERICK:

What do I want?

FUNGUS:

What do you want?

MAVERICK:

(he thinks.)

Any more MiGs?

Stinger shakes his head no.

STINGER:

They don't seem to want to come up

anymore. There's nothing on the

scopes. In fact, everybody's

denying the incident ever happened.

So...what is it? What do you want?

Maverick turns away, considering the options.

139. EXT. FLIGHT DECK - ANOTHER ANGLE

Another Tomcat rolls up to park nearby. He looks

at the plane. Over the deck LOUDSPEAKER, comes the

final call to the F-14:

LSO (V.O. filtered)

(a touch of sarcasm)

OKAY, GENTLEMEN. YOU CAN CUT YOUR

ENGINES...YOU HAVE ARRIVED....

WWHHHEEEEZZZZEEERRRRRUUUUUMMMMMMMMM...

AS THE ENGINES FADE, SO DOES THE PICTURE.

FADE IN - WEEKS LATER

140. EXT. DAY - FLIGHT LINE MIRAMAR - TOPGUN

Viper, Jester and others walk out of hangar to watch a wing

return.

141A. EXT. MIRAMAR RUNWAY - DAY

THEIR POV. Suddenly an F-14 breaks, ROARS in over the field

inverted, a hundred feet off the ground.

142. FLIGHT LINE MIRAMAR - DAY

JESTER:

Who's the hell is that?

VIPER:

Three guesses.

JESTER:

Well, he's in trouble and he didn't

even get here yet.

Jester looks over at an admiral, who steps out of a staff

car, squints up at the swooping plane, turns, barks an order

to his driver, jumps in the car and SLAMS the door, the car

takes off.

143. EXT. MIRAMAR RUNWAY - DAY - FURTHER DOWN THE RUNWAY

MP jeeps - lights flashing, pull out and head for the flight

line.

VIPER:

Come on.

They head for the hangar

144. OVER THE END OF THE RUNWAY

The jet breaks at 500 knots and sets down neatly on the

tarmac. The rest of his flight follows in perfect formation.

145. EXT. MIRAMAR RUNWAY - DAY - MAVERICK'S JET -PULLING UP

He unbuckles his straps, takes his helmet off. He looks over

at the approaching caravan.

FUNGUS:

I think they know we're here.

MAVERICK:

Let me do the talking.

FUNGUS:

Oh, no. You did the flying, I'll do

the talking!

He stands up in the cockpit, gives a snappy salute.

FUNGUS:

Why Admiral....How really good it

is to see you!

Maverick turns away. As he backs down the steps, a jeep

screeches up, doors slam open, footsteps.

A VOICE:

Who's in charge here?

MAVERICK:

I am.

He's answered automatically, but now it hits him. He knows

the voice. He turns.

HIS POV - CHARLIE, HANDS ON HIPS

CHARLIE:

Not for long, you keep that up.

He hops down, stands there speechless, grinning happily at

her.

CHARLIE:

Well?

MAVERICK:

Well what?

CHARLIE:

You got your F-14, you got Top Gun,

you got your MiGs....You're our new

Top Gun instructor...Now what?

MAVERICK:

Oh...I'll think of something...

What are you doing here?

CHARLIE:

I live here, remember?

MAVERICK:

Right on the flight line?

He's got her on that one. She laughs.

CHARLIE:

Everybody's got to be somewhere.

MAVERICK:

Maybe your somewhere's with me...

He puts his arms around her. Self-conscious, she pulls away,

a little embarrassed to show this on the flight line. He

laughs.

MAVERICK:

That's okay. I always look forward

to a challenge.

Now she laughs back and puts her arms around him. She kisses

him and now she doesn't give a damn who sees it.

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