Full Metal Jacket

HARTMAN

Tell my mom I've done my best.

RECRUITS

Tell my mom I've done my best.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. FOREST – DAY

Woods. For the first time the platoon marches in full combat gear carrying rifles.

JOKER

(narration)

Graduation is only a few days away and the recruits of platoon thirty-ninety-two are salty. They are ready to eat their own guts and ask for seconds.

EXT. FIELD – DAY

In full combat gear and with fixed bayonets, the recruits charge through green smoke.

JOKER

(narration)

The drill instructors are proud to see that we are growing beyond their control. The Marine Corps does not want robots. The Marine Corps wants killers. The Marine Corps wants to build indestructible men, men without fear.

INT. BARRACKS – DAY

Hartman talks to the recruits formed up in a school-circle.

HARTMAN
Today you people are no longer maggots. Today you are marines. You're part of a brotherhood.

EXT. PARADE GROUND – DAY

Graduation. A MARCHING BAND. SPECTATORS. HUNDREDS OF MARINES parade by in dress uniform.

HARTMAN

(voice over)

From now on, until the day you die, wherever you are, every marine is your brother. Most of you will go to Vietnam. Some of you will not come back. But always remember this: marines die, that's what we're here for! But the Marine Corps lives forever. And that means you live forever!

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BARRACKS – DAY

Hartman talks to the platoon, again in a school-circle.

HARTMAN
Pickett!

PICKETT

Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN

O-three-hundred, Infantry. Toejam!

TOEJAM

Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN

O-three-hundred, Infantry. Adams!

ADAMS

Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN

Eighteen-hundred, Engineers. You go out and find mines. Cowboy!

COWBOY

Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN

O-three-hundred, Infantry! Taylor!

TAYLOR

Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN

O-three-hundred, Infantry. Joker!

JOKER

Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN

Forty-two-twelve, Basic Military Journalism. You gotta be shitting me, Joker! You think you're Mickey Spillane? Do you think you're some kind of fucking writer?

JOKER

Sir, I wrote for my high school newspaper, sir!

HARTMAN

Jesus H. Christ, you're not a writer, you're a killer!

JOKER

A killer, yes, sir!

HARTMAN

Gomer Pyle!

Pyle doesn't answer.

HARTMAN
Gomer Pyle!

We see Pyle in close-up, now completely withdrawn, barely able to answer Hartman.

PYLE

Sir, yes, sir!

HARTMAN
You forget your fucking name? O-three-hundred, Infantry. You made it. Perkins!

PERKINS

Sir, yes, sir!

INT. BARRACKS – NIGHT

The platoon sleeps. Joker walks slowly down the squad bay with a flashlight.

JOKER

(narration)

Our last night on the island. I draw fire watch.

Joker hears a muffled sound. He isn't sure where it comes from. He slowly enters the latrine.

INT. LATRINE – NIGHT

Running his flashlight across the room Joker Sees Pyle sitting on a toilet, loading a magazine for his M-14 rifle.

Pyle looks up at Joker and smiles. It is a frightening smile.

PYLE
(strange voice)

Hi, Joker.

Joker stares at Pyle for a few seconds.

Pyle has suite clearly snapped.

JOKER
Are those... live rounds?

PYLE
Seven-six-two millimeter, full metal jacket.

Pyle smiles grotesquely.

JOKER
Leonard... if Hartman comes in here and catches us, we'll both be in a world of shit.

PYLE

I am... in a world... of shit!

Pyle gets to his feet, snaps his rifle to port arms, and starts executing the Manual of Arms.

PYLE

(shouting)

Left shoulder... hut! Right shoulder... hut! Lock and load! Order... hut!

Pyle picks up the loaded magazine, inserts it into the rifle and smartly brings the rifle down to the order arms position.

PYLE
(shouting)

This is my rifle! There are many like it, but this one is mine.

INT. BARRACKS HALLWAY – NIGHT

By now the platoon is awake.

Hartman bursts from his room, wearing his skivvies and D.I. hat.

PYLE
(offscreen)

My rifle is my best friend! It is my life!

HARTMAN

Get back in your bunks!

PYLE (O.S.)

I must master it as I must master my life! Without me...

INT. LATRINES – NIGHT

Hartman storms into the latrine.

HARTMAN
What is this Mickey Mouse shit? What in the name of Jesus H. Christ are you animals doing in my head?

(to Joker)

Why is Private Pyle out of his bunk after lights out?! Why is Private Pyle holding that weapon? Why aren't you stomping Private Pyle's guts out?

JOKER

Sir, it is the private's duty to inform the Senior Drill Instructor that Private Pyle has a full magazine and has locked and loaded, sir!

Hartman and Pyle look at each other. Pyle smiles from the depths of his own hell.

Hartman focuses all of his considerable powers of intimidation, into his best John-Wayne-on-Suribachi voice.

HARTMAN
Now you listen to me, Private Pyle, and, you listen good. I want that weapon, and I want it now! You will place that rifle on the deck at your feet and step back away from it.

With a twisted smile on his face Pyle points his rifle at Hartman.

Hartman look suddenly calm. His eyes, his manner are those of a wanderer who has found his home.

HARTMAN
What is your major malfunction, numbnuts?!! Didn't Mommy and Daddy show you enough attention when you were a child?!!!

BANG!

The round hits Hartman in the chest.

He falls back dead.

Joker and Pyle stand looking at the body.

Then Pyle looks at Joker and slowly raises his rifle.

JOKER
(trembling)

Easy, Leonard. Go easy, man.

Pyle breathes heavily, and keeps the rifle aimed at Joker.

Joker is scared shitless.

Pyle looks at Joker for several seconds and slowly lowers the rifle. Then he stumbles back a few steps and sits down, heavily on the toilet.

Pyle turns away from Joker and stares into space, a strangely peaceful look transforming his face.

He places the muzzle of the rifle in his mouth.

JOKER

No!!!

BANG!

Pyle pulls the trigger and blows the back of his head over the white tiled wall behind him.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN: