Apocalypse Now

KILGORE

(continuing)

That's good, boy, because it's either surf or fight.

They turn and hurry off – Kilgore grabs an M-1 from one of the guards. They all think he's going to shoot the surfers or someone. They move back uneasy.

KILGORE

(continuing)

I'm gonna cover for 'em – that's all.

He cocks the weapon. Lance looks around uneasily. The Colonel walks over.

KILGORE

(continuing)

You think that section on the point is ridable, Lance?

LANCE

I think we ought to wait for the tide to come in.

A SHELL SCREAMS OVER – they all hit the dirt except for Kilgore. It EXPLODES throwing sand through the air. Kilgore leans down yelling over the NOISE.

KILGORE

Doesn't happen for six hours.

Lance looks up at him terrified, holding onto his helmet.

KILGORE

(continuing)

The tide – doesn't come in for six hours.

DISSOLVE TO:

FULL SHOT – SURF – MIKE AND JOHNNY

They walk through shallows carrying brightly colored boards. They look very scared. JETS SCREAM overhead, FIRING CANNONS. Helicopters wheel by carrying out wounded.

They wear olive drab surfing trunks with the Cav's shield on the left leg. The same shield is emblazoned on the boards along the word "Airmobile". They edge into the water and paddle through the mild shorebreak.

FULL SHOT – THE POINT – SURFERS

They paddle up the point in the calm channel – the beautiful waves breaking beyond them.

CLOSE SHOT ON JOHNNY, MIKE

They paddle on their stomachs, keeping low – breathing hard and constantly looking around scared out of their minds.

MEDIUM SHOT – KILGORE AND LANCE

Kilgore looks at them with his field glasses. Lance kind of sits below taking cover in a shell hole.

KILGORE

They far enough?

LANCE

Sure – fine –

Kilgore turns and takes a giant electric megaphone from a waiting lackey.

KILGORE

(through megaphone)

That's far enough – pick one up and come on in –

FULL SHOT – THE POINT, SURFERS

They line themselves up on the point. A good set is building. Mike turns strokes into it – takes off – drops to the bottom and turns – trims up into a tight section – everything right except he keeps looking around frantically.

CLOSE SHOT ON LANCE AND KILGORE

Another SHELL SCREAMS over and EXPLODES down the beach. Lance looks over at Willard.

LANCE

(to himself)

Maybe he'll get tubed.

WILLARD

What?

LANCE

Maybe he'll get inside the tube – where – where they can't see him.

A SERIES of SHELLS ROAR in.

WILLARD

Incoming!

Lance ducks – puts his hands over his head. The SHELLS SCREAM over Kilgore and out towards the point. Kilgore looks through his glasses – two EXPLOSIONS in the water are HEARD.

KILGORE

Son of a bitch.

Lance looks up and out toward the point in horror.

FULL SHOT – THE POINT

Two surfboards float in the channel bobbing up and down on the waves.

MEDIUM SHOT – LANCE AND KILGORE

LANCE

(to himself)

The tragedy of this war is a dead surfer.

Willard looks over, beginning to think Lance is crazy, too.

WILLARD

What's that?

LANCE

Just something I read in the Free Press.

KILGORE

They just missed a good set – the chicken shits!

Lance looks up.

FULL SHOT – THE POINT, SURFERS

They come up near their boards and climb on – smoke hangs over the water.

KILGORE (O.S.)

(megaphone)

Try it again, you little bastards.

BACK TO SCENE

He turns to Willard.

KILGORE

(continuing)

I'm not afraid to surf this place. I'll surf this place.

CLOSE SHOT ON KILGORE

He turns, glowering to his lackeys.

KILGORE

Bring that R.T., soldier.

He grabs it.

KILGORE

(continuing)

Big Duke Six to Hell's Angels – goddamit, I want that treeline bombed – yeah – napalm – gimme some napalm – son-of-a-bitch – yeah, I'll take H.Z. or C.B.U.'s if you got any of them – just bomb 'em into the Stone Age, boy.

He throws the R.T. back to a soldier – another SALVO WHISTLES over – everyone drops.

KILGORE

(continuing; to himself)

Son-of-a-bitch.

As the SHELLS EXPLODES on the beach behind him, Kilgore raises his M-16 and EMPTIES it full automatic in the general direction of the trees. He mumbles a few unintelligible swear words and jams a new clip into his rifle turning to Lance –

KILGORE

(continuing)

We'll have this place cleaned up and ready for us in a jiffy, boy. Don't you worry.

He FIRES another clip as the JETS SCREAM overhead.

FULL SHOT – RIVER – COPTERS

A sky-crane without pod descends slowly toward us – the P.B.R. hangs below it.

The Chief, Mr. Clean and Chef stand watching this sight along with other soldiers. A man guides the descending copter till the boat settles carefully in the shallows. The Chief and others leap aboard; unshackle the hoists – load on ammunition and fuel. The battle is still going on around them. They all look up as a wadge of PHANTOMS streak over low and peel off one by one to begin their bombing run.

FULL SHOT – PHANTOMS – MONTAGE

Phantoms RAKE the trees with 20 mm CANNONS – FIRE five inch ROCKETS in salvo – "Bull Pup" MISSILES – drop H.E. (high explosives) and C.B.U's (Cluster Bomb Units) and finally an immense amount of NAPALM.

FULL SHOT ON THE P.B.R.

The Chief is at the helm –the engine starts; Clean and Chef work feverishly, ducking for cover every-so-often when an EXPLOSION hits nearby. The boat begins to back out of the shallows. The EXPLOSIONS of NAPALM are reflected on their faces; the ROAR of the FIRE drowns out almost everything.

CHIEF

Forget that extra drum – it's too damn hot.

CLEAN

Clear on starboard – Where's Lance an' the Captain?

CHIEF

I saw that Colonel's Huey on the point –

Two HELICOPTERS SCREAM over FIRING ROCKETS.

CHIEF

(continuing)

Let's just get outta here.

FULL SHOT – THE POINT – KILGORE, WILLARD , LANCE, OTHERS

Kilgore watches the waves with his field glasses – smoke drifts over.

Lance crouches below. Willard is up looking off in another direction. SHELLS SCREAM over, but even their noise is drowned out by the fierce SHRIEK of the PHANTOMS and the deafening BLAST of HIGH EXPLOSIVES. Willard stares at the tree line where it comes down to the river. The JETS are making a hell of the tree line; a hell of fire and bustling steam that nothing could live in. Willard's glance goes further downriver through the black smoke and there merging in the river – small and vulnerable, is his boat.

WILLARD

(to Lance)

Look. There it is; the boat.

Lance looks over –  a tremendous relief on his face. But still there remains the threat of Kilgore, standing stark against the sky. Willard silently motions Lance toward the boat.

LANCE

(whispers)

He'll kill us.

WILLARD

He can't kill us.

(realizing as he says it)

We're on his side.

Kilgore FIRES another clip at the tree line, and then strides back without looking at them.

KILGORE

(almost to himself)

You smell that.

(louder)

You smell that?

LANCE

What?

KILGORE

Napalm, boy – nothing else in the world smells like that –

They reflect the glow from the burning trees.

KILGORE

(continuing; nostalgically)

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. One time we had a hill bombed for 12 hours. I walked up it when it was all over; we didn't find one of 'em... not one stinking gook body. They slipped out in the night – but the smell – that gasoline smell – the whole hill – it smelled like...

(pause)

... victory...

He looks off nostalgically.

WILLARD

You know, some day this war's gonna end..

KILGORE

(sadly)

Yes, I know.

Suddenly he senses something – he stops – lifts his hand – then frantically licks his fingers and puts them up in the air.

KILGORE

(continuing)

The wind –

LANCE

What?

Sure enough there is a rushing breeze that increases.

KILGORE

(rising maniacally)

Feel it – it's the wind – it's blowing on shore – It's on shore!

He leans down and practically grabs Lance.

KILGORE

(continuing; screaming)

It's gonna blow this place out. It's gonna ruin it...

WILLARD

The kid can't ride sloppy waves.

They turn and stare out to sea.

FULL SHOT – THE POINT – SURFERS

The wind has changed. Instead of blowing spray back over the waves and hollowing them out, this strange wind is causing white caps and cross chop.. reducing the swell to slop. Mike and Johnny lay low on their boards, overjoyed.

WILLARD (O.S.)

The kid can't stand sloppy waves.

MEDIUM SHOT – THE BEACH – LANCE, KILGORE, WILLARD

WILLARD

You don't expect this kid to ride that crap, do you? He's a goddamn artist, he needs something to work with...

Slapping Lance on the shoulder.

LANCE

Yeah, I'm an artist, goddamit!

KILGORE

(apologetically)

Yeah – yeah, I can understand how you feel.

He turns toward the trees.

KILGORE

(continuing)

It's the napalm – it's causing the wind – ruining my perfect left.

He staggers off toward the trees followed by his guards and other lackeys.

KILGORE

(continuing; mumbling)

The napalm – ruin – napalm my perfect left – my perfect left point break – napalm –

Lance motions with his eyes to Willard.

FULL SHOT ON THE P.B.R.

The P.B.R. along the river shallows – The Chief and crew waiting and yelling.

MEDIUM VIEW ON WILLARD AND LANCE

WILLARD

Are you finished surfing?

LANCE

Yeah... thanks.

WILLARD

Want to say goodbye to the Colonel?

LANCE

Nah.

WILLARD

Then let's get the hell out of here.

They break and run like hell toward the boat in the distance. OUR VIEW TRACKS with them. They are cheered by the crew – suddenly, Willard sees something and stops... Lance continuing. In a pile of equipment that the Hueys have left are two surfboards – Willard looks at them.

LANCE

No – no, Captain.

WILLARD

Which one's the Colonel's?

LANCE

The Yater – the clear one with the thin stringer.

Willard glances over to it with determination. There is still MORTAR FIRE coming in between him and the board. Suddenly, Willard makes a run for it.

CHIEF (O.S.)

Incoming! Incoming – son-of-a-bitch.

The ROUNDS bracket the P.B.R. and line up the beach toward Willard. He stands there and doesn't move, the surfboard under his arm. The shells kick up sand. Lance has dropped. Fragments whistle by, one rips a chunk of foam and fibreglass from the rain of the board.

WILLARD

(calm)

This one , Lance?

LANCE

Yeah, Jesus Christ!

Once again, Willard takes off fast as hell with the board under his arm. Lance follows toward the boat, through the water. Willard hands the board up to Mr. Clean, and they both scamper abroad, exhausted and relieved.

CLEAN

What'd you that for?

WILLARD

When I was a kid I, never had a Yater spoon.

Mr. Clean stuffs the board in the stern 50 Cal. mount. The boat turns – ENGINES RUNNING HARD and ROARS OFF toward the deeper water of the river – the board clearly visible on the stern.

DISSOLVE TO:

FULL SHOT ON THE RIVER – P.B.R

The P.B.R. ROARS BY going down the river at full speed. It is swerving and zig-zagging to avoid potential enemy fire.

MEDIUM SHOT ON THE CREW

They all are in full battle positions – their twin fifty Cal. guns turning; warily covering the jungled banks. The Chief is at helm – Willard crouches against some armor plate, huddled with his M-16 ready. Chef is behind him at the radio. Lance leans back from his forward turret.

LANCE

(yelling)

Maybe we better stay in under the trees till dark – we got his Yater.

WILLARD

He didn't look like he'd take that sitting down.

They all look up into the sky – expecting the worst.

WILLARD

(continuing)

Let's put some distance between us and Charlie.

The Chief nods.

CHIEF

Lance –

LANCE

Yeah.

CHIEF

Why don't you roll us a big joint? I think the Captain'd like that.

They all look at Willard uneasily. After a suspenseful pause, Willard smiles:

WILLARD

Take one a mine –

He fishes into his breast pocket – pulls out a huge cigar-sized joint. They all smile – Willard lights up.

DISSOLVE TO:

FULL SHOT – THE P.B.R.

It zig-zags away from us down the river at high speed.

DISSOLVE TO:

FULL SHOT – THE TREES, BOAT, CREW – NIGHT

The boat is hidden under some trees along the river bank. The men wait tensely listening –
 

LANCE

You hear it again?

WILLARD

No – I don't think so. But it'll be back. They were circling. It'll be back.

LANCE

You think he'd of shot us?

WILLARD

When?

LANCE

Any time – us – Americans.

Lance looks over at Willard.

WILLARD

I don't think he'd of shot us on the beach but – he'd of shot us if he saw me taking the board –

LANCE

A Yater spoon is hard to get – especially here.

WILLARD

He's a man who knows what he wants – he does know what he wants.

CHEF

Can I go get those mangos now?

CHIEF

I'll go with you in a while – just hold tight awhile –

LANCE

Captain – that was all true about the rats and chocolate and stuff?

WILLARD

Sure.

LANCE

And you could just tell when the supplies were booby trapped?

WILLARD

It's a feeling you get in the jungle. When you get good, you can find a track and tell not only how many they are, but their morale, how far they're going, whether they're near their camp, the weapons they're carrying.

CLEAN

How can you tell their weapons... an' how far they're going?

Willard smiles.

WILLARD

Mostly from the imprints when they put them down to rest. their morale from the way they drag their feet, or the joints that may be lying around. If they're near a base camp, they wouldn't be conserving food; they'll be throwing it away half-eaten. If the branches aren't broken, their weapons are slung. But all this is just technique. There's a feeling you get after a while, that's what's important. I was going through a village once. I was looking for a certain party. I took off my boots, and walked into each hut. It was midnight. I went into three like that and suddenly I realized I'd gone into each hut the same way – standing up – so the next one I went in on my belly. An RPD burst took out the door a bit above my head.

(he shrugs)

Things like that.

A pause, and then suddenly his attention is diverted – they all are silent – it is pitch dark – we HEAR the distant SOUND of ROTOR-BLADES and indistinguishable language on a loudspeaker – The talk stops – the ROTORS grow LOUDER until almost overhead.

KILGORE (V.O.)

(over a loudspeaker)

I'm not gonna hurt or harm you, boy – I just want the board back – You can understand – It was one of my best – You know how hard it is to get a board you like, boy. I'm not gonna hurt or harm you – Just leave it where I can find it –

The HELICOPTER DRONES on into the night – the same speech starts again further off – Finally the noise ceases.

CLEAN

Jesus – that guy's too damn much.

CHIEF

I wonder if that was the same copter.

WILLARD

He's probably got 'em all over the river with that recording. We better move now while it's dark.

Chef steps forward with a plastic basket.

CHIEF

Yeah, Chef – go ahead – take Lance with you –

WILLARD

I'll go with him –

They all look at him.

WILLARD

(continuing)

I wanta get my feet on solid land once in awhile –

He grabs an M-16 and follows Chef over the side.

MEDIUM SHOT – THE JUNGLE – CHEF, WILLARD – NIGHT

They cautiously walk through the underbrush.