Top Gun Page #4

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MAVERICK:

Sir?

STINGER:

That is all. Tell me about the MiG

some other time...

MAVERICK:

Yes sir!

He snaps off a salute and does an about face.

STINGER:

Maverick..

He turns back.

MAVERICK:

Yes sir..

STINGER:

The wings..

He looks down at the wings in his hands, slowing walks over

places them gently on the Skipper's desk.

STINGER:

Gentlemen!

MAVERICK/GOOSE

Sir?

His facade cracks just slightly.

STINGER:

Good luck.

37. INT. PASSAGEWAY

Maverick and Goose push through a gauntlet of aircrews. They

have become notorious. Guys grab at them...questions...the

MiGs?..What happened up there? How close did they get? What did

the MiGs do? One word is heard over and over..."TopGun". Goose is

left behind in the crowd. Maverick pushes through. He walks

fast...faster. Up ladders, around turns, down ladders, through

passageways. Faster. He breaks into a trot, then a canter,

squeezing past enlisted men, parts lockers, then he breaks into a

run...

38. EXT - CARRIER - NIGHT AND STORM

A hatch slams open on the side of the Carrier. He's out on a

catwalk, instantly soaked, running on rain slicked stairs

cantilevered high over the breaking seas. He plunges forward to

the bow of the ship, stands on the very peak. He is yelling

something. He stands there as the bow plunges terrifyingly into

the trough. The water rises like a green mountain, up, up to

break just a few feet below him, showering him with spray. The

noise is incredible.

Come around on his face. It is maddened. He raises his fist and

punches the night.

The foaming slope of the wave rushes up, changing color as it

DISSOLVES TO:

Desert Sand whipping by...

39. MOJAVE DESERT - 1 WEEK LATER

A big bike, a real big bike, a turbo...rockets across the

desert. Fast. Real fast. Aviator shades low above the handlebars

--Maverick. Goose hangs on in back. It cranks faster, pulls

closer...ENGINE SCREAMING. It cranks up a notch, it's going to

explode. It can't go faster, but it does. It SCREAMS HIGHER. It

ROARS under, by and away, leaving dust...

39A. THE BIKE - STILL

Silence. Just the HISS AND POP OF METAL COOLING. Maverick sits

on it, staring out past us. Goose looks over Maverick's shoulder.

We see why. Feet come into the frame. Then the uniform:

California Highway Patrol.

40. COUNTRY ROAD - NEAR SAN DIEGO

40A. ANGLE ON MAVERICK. CHP enters the frame, the usual

hypercivil arrogance tinged with awed disbelief. The usual

questions are spaced for effect as if he might be talking to some

other form of life. Maverick is off the bike, standing at

attention. Goose follows more slowly.

CHP:

Son. Do you know why

I stopped you?

Maverick has some good idea how to deal with authority.

MAVERICK:

Yes sir. I do sir

The CHP adjusts his own aviator shades.

CHP:

Well... What is it?

MAVERICK:

(more than sincere)

Sir. You are going to give me a

warning, Sir!

CHP - A touch of a smile, quickly surpressed.

CHP:

License and registration.

Maverick hands them over with his Navy ID. CHP scans them,

hesitates a moment over the last, looks up with a touch more

respect.

CHP:

Lieutenant, do you know how fast

you were going?

MAVERICK:

Yes sir. I do, Sir.

CHP:

Well?

MAVERICK:

Sir. I was going Mach point one

five.

CHP nods sagely.

CHP:

One SIXTH the speed of sound!

MAVERICK:

Yes sir.

CHP:

(a guess)

Lieutenant... What do you...

usually fly?

MAVERICK:

F-14's sir.

CHP:

(new respect)

Tomcats?

MAVERICK:

Yes sir!

A long pause. Respect in the cop's eyes. He taps the Navy ID on

the handlebars...staring at this sincere young man.

CHP:

Lieutenant... Is there...

a Russian attack?

MAVERICK:

No sir! But you have to be ready.

The cop nods and stares at him.

41. EXT. MIRAMAR NAVAL AIR STATION - LATER

41A. OMIT

The bike is BLURPING... barely going fast enough to stay

upright. Maverick cool in shades and campaign cap dorks past the

hanger with the sign: FIGHTERTOWN, USA. He pulls ahead. In back

of him, escorting with flashers...the CHP. They pull up at the

gate. Maverick and Goose salute the guard, hands over their ID.

The CHP gets out of his car, leans against the door.

CHP:

Lieutenant.

Maverick turns to him.

MAVERICK:

Yes, Sergeant?

CHP:

Remember one thing.

MAVERICK:

Sir?

CHP:

Outside of this gate...

I...am Top Gun.

MAVERICK:

Yes sir!

He salutes. The CHP returns a snappy one. He gets back in his

car and turns away. Maverick receives his ID and clearance. As he

passes through, a couple of pilots in flight suits (ICE AND

HOLLYWOOD) stare at him. The taller, dark, cool one speaks in a

dry voice, meant to be overheard.

ICE:

Uh oh, police escort. This one must

be a real killer.

The second pilot grins big at them. Maverick turns slightly

stares over his shades at them as he passes. Goose grins back the

challenge.

42. AERIAL COMBAT - VIETNAM ERA - F4'S, MIG 17'S - STOCK

The Doors on the soundtrack. Jets swoop, missiles fire, a plane

explodes. Gun camera views of MiGs, SAMS, flak, bombing runs...

VIPER (V.O.)

During the Korean War, the Navy kill

ratio was twelve-to-one. We shot down

twelve of their jets for every one of

ours. In Vietnam, this ratio fell to

three-to-one. Our pilots depended on

missles. They lost their dogfighting

skills.

F-14's fighting with F-5's. Music becomes current.

VIPER (V.O.)

Top Gun was created to teach ACM. Air

Combat Maneuvering...Dogfighting.

Richthofen, Guynemer, Rickenbacker,

Galland, Rudel, Bong would envy us. We

do just what they did, but we do it

beyond the speed of sound.

43. INT. DAY - TOP GUN ORIENTATION ROOM.

VIPER - A tough-looking, confident leader in a blue flight suit,

stands before a video-tape monitor. Behind him, on the monitor,

the dogfighting continues.

VIPER:

By the end of Vietnam we upped our

kill ratio to thirteen to one.

He turns on the lights. We see his audience in F.G.

VIPER:

You're here 'cause you're the top

one per cent of all naval aviators.

THE CLASS:

Sixteen young men - eight flight crews - sit at attention. They

are trim, fit and confident - high school heroes, college jocks.

VIPER (V.O.)

You're the elite, the best of the

best. We're gonna make you better,

because you're job is damned

important.

ANOTHER ANGLE - THE MEN

The camera moves among them. Hold on one of the men; the one who

greeted Maverick at the gate, Ice.

VIPER (V.O.)

With the tensions in the world today, the potential for confron-

tation is greater than ever, and

carrier pilots will be the first

ones there. Air combat excellence

is vital.

Ice is not looking at the speaker, but, rather, in our

direction. HOLLYWOOD, a blond, good-looking pilot, whispers

something to him, and gestures. Ice is getting the lowdown on

someone. The camera moves and we see who that someone is, as

Maverick enters the frame.

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