Top Gun Page #8

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Viper turns away...

VIPER:

Now to continue. In this class we

will be dealing with F-5's and

A4's, as our MiG simulators.

Technically the F-5 does not have

the thrust to weight ratio of the

MiG-21--it also does not bleed

energy below 300 knots like the

MiG-21 does. The A4 does not turn

as well as the MiG-17 but has

significantly better visibility.

Maverick looks back to his notes. SFX footsteps...door

opening. Viper looks up to back of room door.

VIPER:

Hi, Charlie. Good, our TAGREF's

here. Charlie's the most qualified

to get into P subs and curves, and

VN diagrams.

Maverick turns to see the TAGREF walk forward. Maverick

stares at her as she passes without acknowledging him. He is

surprised, embarrassed.

VIPER:

Charlotte Blackwood--code name Charlie--

not your ordinary TAGREF. Charlie has

her Ph.D. in astrophysics--she's a

civilian contractor so you don't salute

her...or anything else. Is that clear?

She walks to the front and starts her presentation. She

talks about something very technical, arcane. MiG tactics,

technology. As the briefing rattles on, Maverick reacts to

her. Goose glances over at him. He, too, recognizes the girl.

He looks at his partner. Maverick feels his stare.

CHARLIE:

Hello, I think I have some new data for

you...Now a MiG 21 has a problem with

the inverted flight tanks. It won't do a

Negative G push over. Even below one G,

they risk a flame out. Operationally,

they will do a zero to one G only.

A snicker from the audience. She hesitates momentarily, goes

on.

CHARLIE:

The latest intelligence shows that

the most they will do in operation

is one....is there something wrong,

Lieutenant.

MAVERICK:

I don't think you're altogether

right...about the MiG, that is.

She stops--some of the pilots look at him. Viper glares.

CHARLIE:

I beg your pardon.

MAVERICK:

No, I beg yours. But I don't think

you're right on that.

CHARLIE:

Why not?

MAVERICK:

I saw one.

CHARLIE:

You saw a MiG 21?

MAVERICK:

I saw a MiG do a 4 G negative dive.

CHARLIE:

(She doesn't believe him)

Where did you see that?

MAVERICK:

It's classified.

Nervous buzz in the room. Viper goes rigid. Charlie can't

believe it.

CHARLIE:

It's what?

MAVERICK:

It's classified. Like Hollywood

says, I could tell you, but then

I'd have to kill you.

Pork stifles a laugh, the others chuckle. Viper is

embarrassed.

VIPER:

Maverick!!!

She stops Viper with a glance.

CHARLIE:

It's all right.

She can handle it. She is very cool, not overbearing. She

says it calmly. She doesn't want to embarrass him any more

than he is, but she has to get the facts straight.

CHARLIE:

Lieutenant, I have a top secret

clearance. The Pentagon sees to it

that I know more than you.

MAVERICK:

Not in this case.

CHARLIE:

(Flatly.)

You saw a MiG push negative 4G?

MAVERICK:

Yes, ma'am.

CHARLIE:

Where were you?

MAVERICK:

On his six.

Little stifled laughs.

CHARLIE:

He was in a 4G Negative dive and

you were on his six?

MAVERICK:

Yes, ma'am, At first. Then I was

directly above him.

She stares at him for a moment, then she has him. She goes

for the kill.

CHARLIE:

If you were directly above him, how

did you see him?

MAVERICK:

I was inverted.

A real buzz in the room. Ice laughs audibly.

CHARLIE:

You were in a 4G inverted dive with

a MiG 21? (She can't believe it.)

At what range ?

MAVERICK:

Two.

CHARLIE:

Two miles.

MAVERICK:

Two meters.

Chuckles, barely suppressed. Goose pipes up to deflect

attention.

GOOSE:

One and a half, actually. I got a

polaroid.

CHARLIE:

(Flatly.)

Lieutenant...

MAVERICK:

Ma'am?

CHARLIE:

What were you doing there?

MAVERICK:

Giving him the bird.

Open laughter. She thinks it's at her. She grows red.

CHARLIE:

The what?

MAVERICK:

You know. The finger.

He shows her, but she can handle this.

CHARLIE:

So you're the reason those

SALT talks failed.

The room breaks into laughter. At him. Now he grows red.

Goose puts his hand on Maverick's arm, shakes his head as if

to say:
"Let it go, pal, she got you".

She looks at Viper. He doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He knows there's something here he doesn't control.

VIPER:

Lieutenant!

GOOSE:

It's just like he says, sir.

VIPER:

(He snaps)

I don't care!

51A. CORRIDOR - OUTSIDE LECTURE HALL

She walks away. He runs up and stops her.

MAVERICK:

Why didn't you tell me you were a

TAGREF?

She studies him coolly for a moment, like a specimen.

CHARLIE:

It never came up.

MAVERICK:

You let me make a fool of myself.

CHARLIE:

You seemed determined to do that

anyway.. Why didn't you tell me you

were a famous MiG insulter?

MAVERICK:

Would it have made a difference?

CHARLIE:

No.

MAVERICK:

What would?

CHARLIE:

You know, I'm assigned to this

school. I see sixteen new hotshots

every eight weeks. Your attention

is flattering, but not really

productive. Why don't you keep your

mind on flying.

She reaches over and aligns his collar insignia.

CHARLIE:

Why can't you keep this straight?

She smiles at him and walks away. Maverick turns, sees the

others sizing him up. Most of them grin. Maverick moves down

the corridor past the CO's Office. Viper leans against the

doorsill. He lights a pipe, laconically eyes Maverick. His

tone gives away nothing, like an ELINT probe eliciting a

response.

VIPER:

Maverick... Where'd you get that

call sign?

MAVERICK:

Ahhh... Runs in the family, sir.

VIPER:

You're father was Marvin Mitchell..

MAVERICK:

Yes sir.

VIPER:

A good man. Good flyer.

Viper turns away.

MAVERICK:

Yes sir. Thank you sir.

Maverick watches him for a beat, he's been tested, but he's

not sure how or why. He turns to catch up with Goose and the

others.

EXT. SKY - LATER

At twenty-eight thousand feet, the two planes circle each

other, going in opposite directions. As they jockey for

position, they snap past each other like ends of bullwhips.

The earth spins, the horizon appears and disappears. With

each hard turn, Maverick and Goose can be heard "grunting" to

keep blood in their brains, to keep from passing out.

The fight is hard, physical, and exhausting. The extreme G

forces--6.5--flatten them against their seats, causing their

heads to weigh over one hundred pounds. Maverick strains to

turn his head and track the other jet as it streaks past at

Mach One.

MAVERICK:

I've lost him -- where is he?

GOOSE:

On your six -- coming hard. Four

hundred. Losing airspeed! He's on

your six and closing fast!

Hard left! HARD LEFT!

Maverick jerks the stick left, and the F-14 takes an

astonishing turn. Jester ROARS past into a wide arc.

GOOSE:

Great move. Great

MAVERICK:

He should've had me.

GOOSE:

Take it down. Let's bug out of

here. Call for a draw.

MAVERICK:

No way. I'll nail him this time.

Going vertical.

THE PLANE EXPLODES INTO AFTERBURNER - rocketing toward

space. Jester is left in direct line with the sun, and his

canopy is sprayed with a blinding glare. Going ballistic is

dangerous. The plane flys like a bullet, obeying the laws of

physics, not the pilot's touch on control surfaces. The

ballistic call warns other aircraft that he is, for the

moment, out of control.

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