Apocalypse Now

WILLARD

No. Walked.

KILGORE

What'd you do for supplies?

WILLARD

(he shrugs)

Mercenaries – agents, traitors – they put out caches.

KILGORE

Can you trust them?

WILLARD

No. They put out two or three for every one I needed. When you get to the one you'll use, you just stake it out. If something feels wrong, you just pass it up. On one mission, I had to pass up three and ended up living on rats and chocolate bars.

KILGORE

Nu Mung Ba. Last I heard, Walter Kurtz commanded a Green Beret detachment at Nu Mung Ba.

WILLARD

When did you hear?

KILGORE

'Bout a year ago? Is Kurtz still alive?

WILLARD

Who knows.

KILGORE

Seems to me he got himself fragged. i heard some grunt rolled a grenade in his tent. Maybe a rumor. Helluva man – remarkable officer. Walter Kurtz woulda been a General some day. General of the Army. Shit, Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Did you knew Kurtz?

WILLARD

I met him.

KILGORE

Don't you agree?

WILLARD

He musta changed!

(pointing to the map)

I got to get into the Nung River, here or here.

KILGORE

That village you're pointing at is kinda hairy.

WILLARD

Hairy?

KILGORE

I mean it's hairy – they got some pretty heavy ordnance, boy – I've lost a few recon ships in there now and again.

WILLARD

So? I heard you had a good bunch of killers here.

KILGORE

And I don't intend to get some of them chewed up just to get your tub put in the mouth of the goddman Nung River. You say you don't know Kurtz?

WILLARD

I met him.

KILGORE

You talk like him. I don't mind taking casualties, Captain, but I like to keep my ratio ten to one in this unit – ten Cong to one.

WILLARD

You'll find enough Cong up there.

KILGORE

What about this point here?

He puts his finger on the map.

KILGORE

(continuing)

What's the name of that goddamn village – Vin Drin Dop or Lop; damn gook names all sound the same.

He motions to one of his surfers.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Mike, you know anything about the point at Vin Drip Drop?

MIKE

Boss left.

KILGORE

What do you mean?

MIKE

It's really long left slide, breaks on the short side of the point – catches a south swell.

LANCE

Nice.

Willard looks at Lance – then at Kilgore.

KILGORE

Why the hell didn't you tell me about that place – a good left.

(to Willard)

There aren't any good left slides in this whole, shitty country. It's all goddamn beach break.

MIKE

It's hairy, though. That's where we lost McDonnel – they shot the hell out of us. It's Charlie's point.

KILGORE

How big it is?

MIKE

Six to eight feet.

Kilgore gazes out across the parked helicopters.

KILGORE

(to himself)

A six-foot left.

Willard nudges Lance – who gets the idea.

LANCE

Boss. What's the wind like.

MIKE

Light off shore – really hollow.

WILLARD

We could go in tomorrow at dawn – there's always off-shore wind in the morning.

CHIEF

The draft of that river might be too shallow on the point.

KILGORE

Hell, we'll pick your boat up and lay it down like a baby, right where you want it. This is the Cav boy – airmobile. I can take that point and hold it as long as I like – and you can get anywhere you want up that river that suits you, Captain. Hell, a six foot left.

(he turns to an advisor)

You take a gunship back to division – Mike, take Lance with you – let him pick out a board, and bring me my Yater Spoon – the eight six.

TOM

I don't know, sir – it's – it's –

KILGORE

(hard)

What is it?

TOM

Well, I mean it's hairy in there – it's Charlie's point.

Kilgore turns and looks to Willard, exasperated.

WILLARD

Charlie don't surf.

FULL SHOT – HELICOPTERS – DAWN

What seems like hundreds of Hueys standing, their rotors churning a great wind – Inside, the men of the 1st Cavalry Airmobile – toughest unit in Vietnam.

Kilgore's helicopter is being loaded with ammunition and has surfboards strapped underneath.

MEDIUM VIEW

Kilgore strides up to the side door, dressed for battle. He looks out, around. He turns to his door GUNNER.

KILGORE

How do you feel, boy?

GUNNER

Like a mean motherfucker, sir.

He turns to his R.T. man.

KILGORE

Let's go.

FULL VIEW

Helicopter rotors build up speed – gas turbines belching fire from their jet pipes – dust flying as fifty helicopters rise; ROAR OVER CAMERA and deploy into attack formation.

NEW VIEW

Helicopters moving THROUGH the FRAME: almost a dance of dragonflies.

INT. COMMAND COPTER – MEDIUM SHOT – KILGORE, WILLARD, OTHERS

Willard looks ahead – Kilgore sits near the door. Below they see the jungle whisk by and they are suddenly over the ocean, low and fast.

MONTAGE

CLOSE SHOTS of rocket pods – mini-guns in bizarre looking mounts.

CLOSE SHOTS of the three surfboards strapped below the command helicopter, next to the fearsome weaponry.

And finally, CLOSE SHOTS of the men – nervous, excited very few of them really scared – they fondle their rifles, grenade launchers, anti-personnel grenades, claymore mines; plastic explosives cord; flame-throwers; M-60 machine guns; expandable rocket launchers; mortars and bayonets.

INT. COMMAND COPTER
 

Kilgore cranes his neck and almost leans out to watch the waves – then he sits back relaxed.

KILGORE

(to Willard)

We'll come in low out of the rising sun – We'll put on the music about a mile out.

WILLARD

Music?

KILGORE

Yeah. Classical stuff – scares the hell out of the slopes – the boys love it.

MEDIUM SHOT

POV behind the PILOT and CO-PILOT – the ocean rushes below.

PILOT

Big Duke six to Eagle Thrust – turn on coordinates 1-0 – niner, assume attack formation.

The helicopter banks into a tight turn and bears toward the coast.

RADIO (V.O.)

Eagle Thrust formation target 2800 yards – begin psch-war operations.

CLOSE SHOT – LOUDSPEAKERS

The ocean rushes below as suddenly the LOUDSPEAKERS BLARE out Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries."

FULL SHOT – HELICOPTERS

From the water we SEE the massive grouping of Hueys – gun-ships – troop carriers – medevac and recon – ROAR over low in battle formation BLARING out "Ride of the Valkyries."

INT. HELICOPTER – MEDIUM SHOT -CREW

POV behind pilot –

PILOT

700 – 600 yards – 500 – Commence firing.

The whole copter shakes.

EXT. VIET CONG FISHING VILLAGE – FULL SHOT

A Vietnamese coastal fishing village built along the beach and palm trees – with rice paddies behind. This village commands a delta where ocean and river merge.

Sampans are pulled into a cover where they are being unloaded. We SEE bunkers with N.V.A. regulars ambling about.

Suddenly we HEAR the distant MUSIC – Everyone stops; they stare out to see. Men scream orders – women run from huts bearing ammunition and rifles – Everywhere there is activity to prepare for the defense of the village.

Camouflage is removed from anti-aircraft emplacements. People feverishly unlimber weapons of all types and run to tunnels and trenches.

The MUSIC GROWS LOUDER with the FAINT SOUND of ROTORS

EXT. THE HELICOPTER FORMATION – AERIAL VIEW

Coming directly at us; WAGNER BLARING.

HIGH ANGLE

Looking down through the helicopters as they approach the village.

INT. HELICOPTER – MEDIUM SHOT – CREW
 

POV behind pilot

PILOT

700 yards – 600 – 500 – commence firing.

The whole copter shakes.

EXT. HELICOPTERS – MONTAGE

We SEE rockets ROAR from pods – MACHINE GUNS RATTLE – grenade launchers POUND away – and MINI-GUNS pour streams of lead and tracers with the SOUND of a DIESEL HORN.

FULL SHOT – HELICOPTERS

POV behind lead gunship.

They ROAR in over the beach streaming FIRE from doors, pods and nose – The ground is alive with smoke and fire – a hut EXPLODES. The leads ship banks sharply up over the trees – men run below SHOOTING back.

MEDIUM SHOT – ANTI-AIRCRAFT EMPLACEMENT

EXPLOSIONS crash around – the MUSIC and SOUND of the COPTERS almost drown them out. The gunner FIRES frantically – COPTERS are ROARING over – GUNFIRE rips around. The gunner is blown away.

MEDIUM CLOSE ON WILLARD

As the ship he is in swoops down, its MACHINE GUNS FIRING into the village.

MEDIUM SHOT – SWOOPING COPTER

The Pilot leans out and SHOOTS a charging V.C. in the head with his .38, then ducks back in.

CO-PILOT

We're down, Eagle Thrust – we're hit. We got a hot L.Z. here.

BULLETS RIP through the plexiglass. The Pilot FIRES back.

CO-PILOT

(continuing)

Hell of a hot L.Z. Need immediate air strike on the tree line, Eagle Thrust.

INT. COMMAND COPTER – MEDIUM SHOT – WILLARD, KILGORE, OTHERS

Kilgore has R.T. equipment – he leans out near the door gunner.

KILGORE

Big Duke Six to Hell's Angels Four – bring it in on along tree line and huts.

RADIO (V.O.)

Hell's Angels Four to Big Duke Six – we'll need green smoke – suggest you have the FAC mark it.

KILGORE

Haven't got time, Hell's Angels – lay it right up the tree line.

FULL SHOT – JET SQUADRON

Four F-4H Phantoms peel off and streak toward the coast.

INT. COMMAND COPTER – VIEW ON WILLARD AND KILGORE

KILGORE

Fucking savages.

WILLARD

Who?

KILGORE

The enemy. Who else?

HELICOPTER'S POV – THE JETS

The jets streak by below laying in huge gobs of orange napalm along the trees.

KILGORE (O.S.)

(on radio)

Very good, Hell's Angels – suggest you follow with cannon fire.

INT. COMMAND COPTER – MEDIUM SHOT

They circle the battle.

RADIO (V.O.)

This is Baker Delta Four – Captain hit bad – need dust-off. Receiving heavy automatic weapons fire from huts about thirty yards to our left.

KILGORE

Big Duke Six to Baker Delta Four – hold – we're right over you.

He turns to door gunner.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Right along the doors, boy.

The gunner FIRES leaning out –

KILGORE

(continuing)

Fine... fine... little higher. Through the roof; yeah, that's good.

He leans back in.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Didn't anybody bring me any bombs, grenades, claymores or anything?

LIEUTENANT

You didn't tell me to, sir.

KILGORE

(grumbling)

You shoulda known.

Suddenly, BULLETS SMASH through the copter – Plexiglass SHATTERS; the copter vibrates and turns sharply. Kilgore is thrown down where he hangs on.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Sonuvabitch – anybody hurt?

WILLARD

Automatic weapons flashes along those trees – probably eleven millimeter guns and AK-47's.

KILGORE

The trees, eh...

He grabs the R.T.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Eagle Thrust Four – Big Duke Six. Join me in spraying some trees.

RADIO (V.O.)

Affirmative, Big Duke Six – We're even got some rockets left.

KILGORE

Take her in low, Lieutenant.

FULL SHOT – THE TREES, HELICOPTERS

The two helicopters swoop up out of the smoke and blast the trees with ROCKETS, MACHINE GUNS and GRENADE LAUNCHERS.

Other copters join – The V.C. break and run through the rice paddies in the f.g. – BULLETS EXPLODING around them – they scream and fall FIRING back.

INT. COMMAND COPTER – MEDIUM SHOT – KILGORE, WILLARD

Kilgore looks out as three V.C. break and run through the rice paddies – the helicopter turns and follows them – the door gunner swings out and BLASTS two of them into the mud. He takes a bead on the third.

KILGORE

Hold it, boy.

He puts his arms across the sights – the gunner swings back inside.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Take her up to 300 feet, Lieutenant.

They rise above the paddy – the man below runs for all he's worth. Kilgore motions to the door gunner who steps aside. Kilgore buckles himself into the gunner's harness.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Rifle.

A hand passes him a M-16.

KILGORE

(continuing; hard)

My rifle, soldier.

There is some fumbling and then a hand passes him a 300 Weatherby Magnum with a zebra wood stock – mother of pearl inlays and a variable power scope. Kilgore takes it and opens the bolt.

VIEW ON WILLARD

Amazed at these proceedings.

VIEW ON KILGORE

As he loads the rifle with huge cartridges. He gets into the sling and slams the bolt shut.

MOVING POV ON THE V.C.

He is running hard, but starting to sink into the mud. The Huey DRONES overhead, its huge shadow behind him on the mud. He turns and FIRES with a pistol.

INT. COPTER – MEDIUM SHOT – KILGORE, WILLARD

Kilgore leans out; pulls the gun in tight – takes careful aim and the Cong is BLASTED flat into the paddy.

Kilgore leans back, opens the bolt, ejecting the spent cartridge out the door. He hands Weatherby back into the copter.

VIEW ON WILLARD

The gaudy rifle passed by him.

SOLDIER (O.S.)

That's 27, sir.

WILLARD

Anyone got a card?

Somebody hands Willard the deck. He takes a card and flips it out of the copter, never lifting his gaze from Kilgore.

DISSOLVE TO:

FULL SHOT – BATTLEFIELD – THE CAV, V.C.

Americans run through the hooches FIRING and throwing GRENADES. Helicopters swoop overhead – JETS ROAR by – Uniformed N.V.A. regulars burst from a tunnel entrance and charge the Americans. The SHOOTING is at point blank range – automatic, as the V.C. are cut down.

INT. COMMAND COPTER – KILGORE, WILLARD, LANCE, ETC.

Kilgore leans out carefully, looking over the battlefield. He has the R.T.

He leans back, deliberately avoiding Willard to speak to Lance.

KILGORE
The L.Z.'s cooling off fast – we'll move in another company an' then we'll own it.

(he laughs to himself)

Charlie's point.

He looks out toward the ocean.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Good swell.

LANCE

What, sir?

KILGORE

I said it's a good swell – hell of a good swell 'bout six feet. Let's get a look at it.

Lance looks at Willard and then agrees.

FULL SHOT – COPTER, SURF

The pilots are used to this – they bank sharply and swoop in on the lineup of waves, coming in low over the point and streaking down a long, lined-up green wall as if surfing it. They tip up over and up at the last minute as the wave breaks.

DISSOLVE TO:

FULL SHOT – BEACH HUTS, SOLDIERS

Americans line up blindfolded Viet Cong and N.V.A. regular troops outside a burning hut. GUNFIRE is DISTANT and sporadic – an occasional MORTAR round SCREAMS in. A soldier yells in Vietnamese in a southern accent and the prisoners are marched away. Other soldiers are already setting up heavy weapons emplacements – 50 cal machine guns etc. Three Hueys ROAR in, fanning the smoke with their wind. The center one, the command ship, lands. JETS SCREAM over and the two gunships pull up at 200 feet. Another Huey zooms in low and lands behind the Colonel's. The doors open, guards jump out, check the situation, and out steps Kilgore and Lance. From the other copter are more guards, Kilgore's surfers and others of the P.B.R. crew. Willard follows.

FULL SHOT – THE POINT

They stride out across the debris-strewn beach. Kilgore stands majestically on the point watching the waves. A SHELL SCREAMS overhead.

SOLDIER

Incoming!

They all dive, except Kilgore. He is watching a big set – the SHELL EXPLODES in the water about a hundred yards away, sending up a huge geyser of spray. Kilgore is unmoved.

KILGORE

Look at that.

They look.

LANCE

This L.Z. is still pretty hot, sir, maybe we oughta stand somewhere else.

Kilgore pays him no mention.

WILLARD

I'm waiting for the fucking boat, Colonel.

KILGORE

(without looking)

It'll get here, soldier.

He turns to Mike and Johnny who have their faces in the sand.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Change.

MIKE

Wh-what?

KILGORE

Change – get out there – I wanta see if it's ridable – change.

MIKE

It's still pretty hairy, sir.

KILGORE

(bellowing)

You want'a surf, soldier?

He nods yes weakly.