NAM (Boo-Coo Dinky-dow)

NAM (BOO-COO DINKY-DOW)

FADE IN

EXT. TRAIL IN JUNGLE - DAY

The rain begins to pick up again as AIRBORNE takes off down the trail. He comes upon the deadly incident. He sees SLIM lying face down in the muddy trail next to a large hole.
The back of Slims head is gone. Airborne sees the Lieutenant looking down into the hole on the side of the trail. Airborne slowly walks over. Once there, he sees
PONCHO in the bottom of the hole, blown apart.

AIRBORNE (ANGRY)
They didn’t have to die, Sir. If you would have
listened to me and stayed off this trail, they would
still be alive.

The Lieutenant turns around, facing Airborne.

LIEUTENANT REED (YELLS)
My Fault! This mess is all yours. You disobeyed
my orders. You fucked up soldier...and I’ll see
you in the stockade...

Before another word left the Lieutenant’s mouth, Airborne slings his M-16 towards Reed and puts two rounds into his chest area.
A look of shock, terror, and pain are all wrapped together on the Lieutenants face as he falls backwards into the hole.

Airborne looks down in the hole and can see Reed dragging himself around at the bottom. Airborne pulls off a grenade from his belt. He pulls out the pin and holds the grenade and handle over the hole.

AIRBORNE
This is what we call fragging. The bullets were
just for general purposes and all.

Airborne drops the hand grenade, the handle flies off. He runs to the far side of the trail and dives in the mud. A muffle explosion is heard and dust filters up through the hole.

SMASH CUT:

INT. BUNKER ON FIRE BASE - DAY

AIRBORNE (V.O.)
Olga, I don’t think I’ll make it out here.
I’m not the same person you knew.
This world is changing me. Don’t hate me babe,
but I just killed one of our own. I felt it needed
to be done, before he killed anymore of our people.
And he would of. He didn’t listen to me and
because of him, two new guys are dead and
one man was injured. I think I’m gone insane out here!

SIX MONTHS EARLIER.


BLACK SCREEN:

The sound of a chopper is heard. The screen opens to us looking down into
the jungles of Vietnam. The CAMERA pans down at the green vegetation from
the inside view of the chopper.

As the TITLE and CREDITS run, the Bob Dylan song,"HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED" is
playing.

The two soldiers sitting in the Huey, are clean cut with new green
fatigues, backpacks and M-16's. They are looking out over the landscape
with frighten faces. They turn to look at each other. Kids just out of
high school, now in a different world. A new world. A world of war, with
all it's baggage that comes with it. Baggage that will be with them for
the rest of their lives.

CUT TO:


INT. CHOPPER - DAY

WALT MULLEN
Names Mullen, Walt Mullen, where you from?

RANDY JENKINS
Seattle Washington, Randy Jenkins.

They shake hands.

WALT
Torrance California...I wonder why I volunteered
for this?

Walt looks uncomfortable staring out of the Huey.

RANDY (SOUNDING UNCERTAIN)
To kick some VC"s ass!

The chopper circles a fire-base camp. The Huey comes down in the middle
of the camp, on the chopper pad. One of the door gunners, taps Walt on
his shoulder and points to a soldier, standing at the far west end of the
landing pad.

CUT TO:

SUBTITLE READS: AUGUST 1969: 1230 HRS. - DAY

The whining sound from the chopper ceases, as the rotor blades come to a
halt. With their rucksacks and M-16's in hands, Walt and Randy make their
way over to the soldier.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE HILL - DAY

SERGEANT BAKER
Go ahead and put down your weapons and gear.
Welcome to the hill. I'm Sergeant Baker, but you
can call me, Shakey Legs.

They lay down their gear, looking a little confused. The Sergeant
chuckles.

SHAKEY LEGS
You two will soon find out, nobody uses their real
names here. We all have our own nicknames, as you
two will. Lets get you guys some chow, down at the
mess tent.

Shakey knows that look on the men's faces.

SHAKEY LEGS
I know the first day of joining your Battalion is
somewhat intense...

RANDY JENKINS
I think just being over here in Nam is intense.

SHAKEY LEGS
Well, I just want you to know that you are on a
very safe Fire Base here. Can't say the same about
the bush, unfortunately. After we eat, I'll take
you around.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. THE HILL - DAY

CAMERA pans the Hill.

A mountain top Fire Base, Located 10 miles West of Duc Pho. This F.B. is
on two hill tops with a short saddle between them. In the saddle is the
Artillery Fire Support Base. The mess tent is just opposite of ARTY.
Around both hill tops are bunkers and trenches being secured by the
Company that is occupying the HILL at that duration, while the rest of the
Battalion is out in the bush on patrol or some type of mission.

The Helipad is located East on the South hill. There is a dirt road that
runs in a figure eight shape, from one hill to the other.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAINS OF VIETNAM - DAY

The beauty of the bluish-green moutnain tops could almost make you forget
where you were at.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. THE HILL - DAY

.

The three soldiers leave the Helipad and make their way towards the
saddle, heading in the direction of the mess tent. Walt and Randy are
sweating profusely. Shakey Legs notices.

SHAKEY LEGS
You never get use to the heat, but enjoy it, once
the monsoon season starts, you'll want it back.

WALT
Sergeant, why do they call you Shakey Legs?

SHAKEY LEGS
Simple, my legs shake when I sleep.

Two men are approaching them from the opposite direction. You hear them
laughing and conversing as they approach. This makes Walt and Randy feel
a little more relaxed.

SOLDIER ON THE LEFT
Hey Shakey, you take care of these FNG's.

SHAKEY LEGS
They are in the best of hands, Charlie Company, 2nd
Platoon.

The three continued walking towards the mess tent.

WALT
What did he mean by FNG?

SHAKEY LEGS
You're going to learn many terms and acronyms while
you are here. You learned your first one. FNG
stands for: Fuckin New Guy.

Walt and Randy laugh.

FADE OUT.

EXT. BUNKER ON THE HILL - DAY

Walt and Randy are sitting on the rocks next to a bunker, on the outer rim
of the North hill top. A sound of a jeep is heard. It comes into view
around the dirt road and stops at their bunker. Shakey Legs gets out.
The jeep continues on around the figure eight road.

SHAKEY LEGS
You guys get some rest in the bunker? I know it's
not the most comfortable place to sleep, but after
a couple of months in the bush...these bunkers are
like hotel rooms.

RANDY
We laid on the bunks, but neither of us slept any.

WALT
Too much anxiety and fear I guess.

To the right of the bunker is a foxhole with sandbag protection. This
foxhole has an elevated roof of sheet metal, reinforced with sandbags
also.

SHAKEY (POINTING TO FOXHOLE)
This is your fighting hole. If the VC try to over
run this Base...this is where we fight from. Our
own ARTY will bomb the hill side. Hasn't happen
since I've been here. I think they know to stay
away from this Hill...too much fire power here.
Well our Company is due back on the Hill in two
weeks. I just got back from R&R a couple of days
ago.

RANDY
What's R&R?

SHAKEY
Another acronym for you two. Stands for rest and
recreation. Like your leaves back in the States.
I was sure hoping the Commander would keep us on
the Hill since our Company is due back next, but I
just got the word, that we are going out tomorrow
with the C-rations and ammo supplies around ten
hundred hours.

Shakey looks at Walt's cap, with the jump wings pinned in front.

SHAKEY LEGS
Now for the important things. Your new names.
Walt I see jump wings on your cap. You went to
jump school?

WALT
Fort Benning Georgia.

SHAKEY
Why did they send a paratrooper to a leg unit?

WALT
When I was waiting for my orders in Cam Ron, they
had two foot soldiers going off to an Airborne
Unit. Never jumped out of a plane, never went to
Jump School. I guess the old saying is true.
There's the right way, the wrong way and then there
is the Army way.

SHAKEY
Walt, your new name now is Airborne.

WALT
Okay, I like that.

Shakey looks hard at Randy.

SHAKEY
We have a Sergeant in charge of the 3rd squad, who
looks like Captain Kangaroo. We call him Cap. for
short. Your smaller in size, but your faces are
similar. Randy, you are now known as Cap. Jr.

RANDY
Cap. Jr. Can't wait to meet the original Cap.

SHAKEY
This is our bunker tonight. We'll get our ammo and
c-rations tomorrow before we leave. It's your
first time out, I would pack light...not on the
ammo though. We're lucky. We are in a good
platoon. Our Lieutenant is a good soldier and a
good man. He listens to the old timers. He won't
bark out orders to endanger his men. We call him
LT. Bravo Company is securing the Hill this week.
We'll pull guard duty in 3hr. shifts. The first
man usually ends up pulling two shifts, so I'll
start first. Airborne I'll get you up for second
shift...you wake Cap. Jr. for third, and Cap. Jr.
you wake me up for the last.

AIRBORNE
If we hear or see something, do we just start
shooting, or should we wake you up?

SHAKEY (GRINS)
If you start shooting, I'll be up. Let me tell you
guys what we have out there. A little ways down
the hill are trip flares. They cover the whole
perimeter of both hills. Also covering the
perimeter are claymores mines. Some are rigged up
as booby-traps...others are command detonated with
the clackers. Charlie is going to have a hard time
coming up this Hill. Come on in the bunker, I'll
show you where we keep the clackers for the
claymores.

The three head down into the bunker.

FADE OUT.

EXT. JUNGLE IN NAM: THICK BRUSH: TRIPLE CANOPY - DAY

SCREEN opens to us looking across the jungles of Vietnam. The song "LAST
TIME" by the Rolling Stones is playing. In the sky from a far distance
are three black spots, moving in the CAMERA'S direction.

Soon the humming of rotor blades are heard. It becomes louder as the
three choppers are noticeable from view. As the first two Hueys pass by
the screen, you can see crates of ammo and C-rations inside the choppers.
The third Huey passes by, carrying Airborne, Cap. Jr. and Shakey Legs.
They sit on the floor, with their legs hanging out of the chopper.

The CAMERA stays behind the three Huey's as they fly between mountains and
through the valleys. Then, far up ahead, in a flat field is green smoke
raising out of the grass at the far end of the field. There are soldiers
in the tree line on both sides of the smoke grenade. CAMERA'S view is now
at the tree line, looking out at the three Hueys coming in for landing.

Canned Heat's song, "GOING UP THE COUNTRY" is now playing during this
scene. The choppers land. Some of the soldiers come running out to off
load the crates from the Hueys.

AIRBORNE (V.O.)
Well Olga, I am out in the bush. Just jumped off
the chopper. We look out of place, with our clean
fatigues and camouflage helmets. Most soldiers are
without helmets and shirts. Some wear bush hats.
All looked tired and dirty. You can't tell between
the enlisted men and the officers...but I guess
that's the way it needs to be out here.

The three (Shakey Legs, Airborne, Cap. Jr.) pass by four men sitting in a
circle playing cards. Airborne and Cap.Jr. look shock.

SHAKEY
We have squads on both our flanks. The whole
Company is out here. Those men have been in
country over six mouths, they know what to do.

They come to a man shaving out of his helmet. His back is covered with
freckles.

SHAKEY
Freckle Back, have you seen LT?

FRECKLE BACK (CONTINUES SHAVING)
He's talking to the Kid and Castleman further up
ahead.

SHAKEY
Freckle, meet Airborne, and Cap. Jr.

Without turning around, Freckle Back continues to shave.

FRECKLE BACK
Welcome to your new nightmare FNG's. Enjoy the
boiling heat...the razor sharp elephant grass...the
exhaustion...the monsoon rains...the blood sucking
leeches...the bamboo vipers...booby traps...and
lets not forget Charlie...don't forget him, cause
he won't forget you.

CAP.JR.
Sounds like we have been missing all the fun.

Freckle Back drops his razor in his helmet and turns around to face the
two new soldiers. He stares at them both.

FRECKLE BACK (LOOKING PISSED)
Fuckin FNG's!

The three continue down the trail.

CAP.JR.
I didn't mean to upset him.

SHAKEY
He knows that. He's the first Platoons point man,
his slack man, which is the man behind him...was
killed last time out. Freckle Back blames
himself. He'll be okay. He's a good man and a
good soldier.

CAP.JR.
I should go back and apologize to him. I had no
idea.

SHAKEY
And he knows that. Hell in a couple of months you
two will be coming down on the FNG's. Now our
point man and slack man for second Platoon are both
from California and are anxious to meet another
Californian.

AIRBORNE (V.O.)
Well Olga, we didn't make a very good impression on
one soldier. But we are going to meet two men from
our Platoon who are also from California.

CUT TO:



EXT. JUNGLE IN NAM: THICK BRUSH: TRIPLE CANOPY - DAY

A soldier comes up to them and shakes their hands. He introduces himself
as the Platoons Medic. He looks very young, more so than the others. He
is short with thick glasses.

DOC
Call me doc. I'm the one you come to when you run
out of your malaria pills. Very important, please
don't forget.

They keep walking, till they come up to three men sitting on a log,
huddling over a map. The tallest man stands up and approaches the three
with a big smile across his face.

CASTLEMAN (EXCITED)
Okay, which one of you FNG's is from sunny
California, man?

AIRBORNE
That would be me.

Castleman runs up to Airborne, giving him a big hug.

CASTLEMAN (BIG SMILE)
Home town?

AIRBORNE
Torrance.

CASTLEMAN (LOUD)
Holy shit...we're neighbors...Redondo Beach.

One of the two men on the log, gives Castleman a sign by lowering his
hand, to keep it down.

CASTLEMAN (MUCH LOWER)
Do you surf?

AIRBORNE
Did...but I think those days are gone. Hermosa
Beach was my favorite spot.

CASTLEMAN
The babes. Hermosa had the best looking babes.
Hey, didn't mean to be rude. My name is
Castleman. It was the name of the car club I was
in.

Castleman shakes the hands of both men.

CASTLEMAN
I'm sure ole Shakey Legs has tagged a name upon you
two already.

SHAKEY
In deed I have. Walt here went to jump school, so
you can call him Airborne Now take a closer look
at Randy here.

CASTLEMAN
I'll be damned! The Captain is going to trip on
this when he gets back.

SHAKEY
Where did he go?

CASTLEMAN
R & R. Last week. He'll be back when we are on the
Hill.

SHAKEY
I forgot all about that. We'll Cap. Jr...

Castleman laughs.

SHAKEY
You'll get to see him when we get back up on the
Hill.

They all walk over to the two sitting on the log. The skinny man, without
a shirt on, and bright red hair speaks first.

LT
Welcome to my Platoon soldiers. It's my pleasure
to meet you two.

LT reaches out to shake the hands of both men.

LT
We don't salute out here...might get me killed.
And please no sir shit. Call me LT.

The other man, who looked more like a Clark Gable type, stands up and
speaks softy.

CALIFORNIA KID
Welcome to our world. We will do everything in our
power to get you two back home safety. Second
Platoon is the best.

The Kid also shakes their hands. The Kid sits back down on the log.

CALIFORNIA KID
Have your Nam names yet?

CAP.JR.
Cap. Jr. of course.

CALIFORNIA KID
Fuckin-A. That is a little scary. Cap. is going
to flip over this.

AIRBORNE
Airborne, from Torrance California.

THE KID
Hometown buddy. San Diego, Airborne. Airborne? In
a leg unit. What's happening back in the real
World?

AIRBORNE
They are building these things called Malls.

CASTLEMAN
What the hell is a Mall?

AIRBORNE
Not exactly sure. They are talking about
connecting all the stores together at one place.

THE KID
In a few months, Castleman, we'll find out what
those Malls are. Your talking to two short timers.

CASTLEMAN
Two digit midgets. I have 65 days left. The Kid
has 57.

CAP.JR.
Must feel great.

AIRBORNE
Since I will be here for awhile, send me a picture
of one of those Malls.

CASTLEMAN
You got it, Airborne.

A muscular black man, with a radio strapped to his back, heads towards the
group.

SNAKE
Higher & Higher says there is movement 20 kliks
North of here...we have a way to go, to meet up
with the 3rd Platoon by tomorrow. Better get
humping.

LT
Okay. Let 1st Platoon know we'll be walking point.

LT looks over and speaks to Airborne and Cap. Jr.

LT
We're doing things a little different than we
normally do. Usually when we go out in the bush,
we stay together as a whole Company. But our new
Battalion Commander wanted use to try something
different. He wanted the 3 Platoons in different
areas. We were to meet up during our last week
out. We just meant up with 1st Platoon last
night. When we meet up with 3rd Platoon tomorrow,
we'll stay together as a Company till we get back
up on the Hill. Eventually he wants us going out
in squads. Don't know if I agree with that shit.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. TRAIL - DAY

The two Platoons are moving down a trail. Second Platoon in the lead.
The California Kid walks point with Castleman in the slack man position.
(second)

AIRBORNE (V.O. WHILE WALKING)
Well Olga, I'm in the 2nd Platoon of Charlie
Compamy. Humping down my first trail. They have
Me and Cap. Jr. in the middle. A good place for
FNG's...

A loud explosion is heard coming from up the trail. A lot of screaming,
Doc passes everyone with his medical bag in hand. Shakey Legs comes back
to see Airborne and Cap.Jr.

AIRBORNE
What was that? Is anyone hurt?

SHAKEY (LOOKING SICK)
The Kid just tripped a booby-trap. The Castleman
and the Kid got hit bad. Keep your eyes open to
your flank. Shoot anything you hear. I'll be
back.

AIRBORNE (V.O.)
Olga, we just hit a booby-trap. The two
Californians were hit. I feel like I'm going to
throw up. I was just talking to them. I saw our
first two casualties drop.

Shakey Legs and LT are carrying Castleman to the back. Airborne and Cap.
Jr. see a grayness in Castleman's face. Blood is streaming out of his
neck, between the medical patch and LT's hand, which is applying direct
pressure to the wound.

Freckle Back is running to the front, while Snake runs back and stops near
Airborne and Cap. Jr.

SNAKE
We need a medi-vac, Have two wia's.

Snake starts moving towards the back, still talking on the box. A small
black man just ahead of Airborne, looks towards Airborne.

MAC
You never get use to this shit.

AIRBORNE (POINTING TO CAP. JR.)
It's our first time out. I don't mind telling you
I'm scared shitless right now.

MAC
We all are. I hope they make it. They only had a
month or more left out here. It just wouldn't be
right if they didn't make it.

Freckle Back is walking back, when he stops in front of Cap. Jr.

FRECKLE BACK
Your not missing all the fun now, are you?

Cap. Jr. tries to get out a word, but Freckle Back moves on.

CAP.JR. (LOOKING AT AIRBORNE)
Damn, I wish I would of never said that.

AIRBORNE
It's not your fault...like this is not your fault.
This is war. This is hell. Freckle Back was right
about one thing...this is a nightmare.

All the soldiers watch as Shakey and LT carry Castleman back up front.
You can tell the body of the Castleman is very heavy now. The medical
patch around Castleman's neck is completely red, and no longer are they
applying direct pressure. Smoke is coming out from around the patch. The
Castleman is pale gray. They all know, he is dead.

MAC
Mother Fuckin Gooks! Mother Fuckers! Chicken shit
gooks. They set their booby-traps and are gone.
You don't even get a chance to fight back.

Snake is heading back towards the front, still on the radio. Mac is
kneeling at the edge of the trail and tells Snake to stop.

MAC
What is happening Snake?

Airborne moves closer to Mac.

SNAKE
Castleman didn't make it. The shrapnel hit his
jugular.

AIRBORNE
How's The Kid?

SNAKE
The Kid died instantly. Blew the back of his head
off. I gotta get up front and call in our
coordinates.

There are tears in Snakes eyes, as he continues moving to the front. Mac
turns around and stares out into the bush. Airborne moves over to
Cap.Jr.

CAP.JR. (STUNNED)
What he say?

AIRBORNE
Both are dead. We were just talking about
California a few minutes ago and now they're dead.

CAP.JR.
I want to get back up on the Hill. This sucks. I
don't know if I can handle this Airborne.

AIRBORNE
If we are going to get out of here alive, we have
to handle this.

CAP.JR.(PANICKING)
No...they were experience soldiers, and they died.
What fuckin chance do we have?

A sound of rapid fire from Mac's M-16 goes off. Airborne and Cap. Jr. hit
the ground fast, looking out into the jungle. Mac's M-16 is on rock and
roll. The bullets can be heard hitting the trees throughout the jungle.

MAC (SCREAMING)
Come on you fucks...we're coming to get ya!

LT comes running back from the front to Mac. LT has seen this behavior
before. He grabs Mac.

LT
Don't waste your ammo Mac. Wait till the real
thing. Then I promise...you can mow the bastards
down...and I'll be right there to help. They
killed two great men. People will pay.

Mac stops shooting. He drops his weapon and breaks down. The LT hugs
him, till Mac gains back his composure.

LT (TALKING TO ALL)
Everyone stay put. We're waiting for the Medi-
vac. Don't waste your ammo, unless your sure you
see something...so keep an eyes open to your
flanks.

The man on the other side of Cap. Jr. comes walking up. He's a big man.
Six foot five and about 290 lbs. He's carrying a M-60 machine gun. He
looks like Poncho Viva with all the ammo wrapped around his waist and over
his shoulders in a bandoleer pattern. He carries the machine gun on his
shoulder. He removes the M-60 and crouches down between Airborne and Cap.
Jr. They move closer to him.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Sorry you two had to experience this on your first
day out.

Reed looks over to Mac.

BIG FOOT DODDS
You okay Mac?

Mac shakes his head yes.

AIRBORNE
I'm Airborne, this is Cap. Jr.

He nods his head to both.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Call me Big Foot. Our last time out, Kansas was
killed by a booby-trap also. He was Freckle Back's
slackman man from the 1st Platoon. Bad shit out
here. I know you may have fear in you right now,
that's normal. No matter how much training we had
back in the States, the fear will get you...but
don't let the fear kill you. You keep pushing on.
And if you ever come face to face with the
enemy...remember if fear gets in your way, you will
die. Because if you don't kill them, they will
kill you. Something more to remember...everything
you learned in the States, forget it now. It will
get ya killed. It's a whole different battle out
here.

AIRBORNE
Man, thanks for the advice.

CAP.JR.
Yeah, much appreciated.

BIG FOOT DODDS
See you guys around, gotta get back to my position
and find my, shit head loader, Puppet.

Big Foot picks up the M-60 and throws it over his shoulder as if it were a
M-16. Heads back down the trail. The sound of the Medi-vac chopper is
heard. They can see it landing just over the ridge. It seems just as fast
as it landed, it was up and on it's way.

LT and Snake are together. LT is on the radio communicating to the other
Platoons. Shakey Legs passes by them and stops at Mac's position. He
talks to Mac, Airborne can not hear what is being said, till Mac begins
to yell out.

MAC (TALKING LOUD)
Are you fuckin crazy? Three months and
counting...and you want me up there. Fuck no! Get
someone who has more time left.

Shakey Legs takes off, hesitates when he gets to Airborne, but then starts
to leave.

AIRBORNE
Shakey, what are you looking for?

SHAKEY
A slackman. LT wants me walking point. I've done
it a few times, but I need a second man.

AIRBORNE
I'll do it.

SHAKEY
I appreciate that, but this is your first day and
you just saw two men die.

AIRBORNE
Look, if it's because I have no experience, then I
understand. But if that is not the reason, then I
want to learn. We lost two men of California. I
feel I owe it to them...Charlie is going to have to
deal with another Californian man. We don't give
up. I really think the Kid & Castleman's spirit
will protect us, Shakey.

SHAKEY
Okay, God I hope your right. Thank you.

LT and Snake come up to Shakey. LT still on the radio.

LT
Shakey, Freckle Back said he would walk point if
you want to take position of slackman.

Shakey looks at Airborne.

SHAKEY
Tell Freckle Back thanks, but Airborne and I will
take the lead.

LT (LOOKING AT AIRBORNE)
You just saw what happened. You do not have to do
this...it's your first day out.

AIRBORNE
I do have to do this...for the Kid and Castleman.

LT
I know they were from your State, and they were two
great soldiers, but...

SHAKEY
I think our minds are made up, LT.

LT
Okay, I'll let this go by. Airborne, listen to
Shakey. Be very careful.

SHAKEY
Tell Freckle, I will need his machete.

LT gets back on the radio to tell the 1st Platoon to have Freckle Back
come up with his machete. LT and Snake move up ahead.

CAP.JR.
You really going to do this?

AIRBORNE
Crazy huh? But it feels like the right thing to
do.

CAP.JR.
We came in country together. Your like a brother
to me. I would lose it if something happened to
you.

AIRBORNE
Nothing will happen...I pray. But like Reed said,
to survive, you gotta push on.

SHAKEY
Airborne, we're going to cut through the jungle for
a little, possibility of more booby-traps on the
trail ahead.

This news, did help relieve some tension that has been stirring around in
Airborne's stomach. Freckle Back comes up with the machete. Hands it to
Shakey.

FRECKLE BACK (TO AIRBORNE)
You have a lot of balls or your just fuckin
crazy...maybe both. I just lost my slack man. Now
we lost two more good men. I respect you for what
your trying to do, but Shakey and I should do
this...you have no experience out here.

SHAKEY
Freckle, this is where his experience starts.

FRECKLE BACK
Then the best of luck to you both.

Freckle Back looks at Cap. Jr.

FRECKLE BACK
Just like to apologize about my rude comments. I
lost a good friend, and you guys didn't know about
that. I welcome you two, to Charlie Company. I'm
Freckle Back, 1st Platoon's point man

Cap. Jr. and Freckle Back shake hands. Airborne sees that and smiles.

CAP.JR.
Thank you...I wanted to apologize to you also. I
was scared and didn't say the right thing.

Freckle Back stares hard at Cap. Jr. Cap. Jr. knows why.

CAP.JR.
They call me Cap. Jr.

Freckle smiles.

FRECKLE BACK
Cap is going to freak out.

Freckle Back looks to Airborne.

FRECKLE BACK
Don't believe I had the pleasure...

AIRBORNE
Airborne.

FRECKLE BACK
I guess I was right...you do have big balls and you
are crazy. I'll be praying for you two. Take care
up there.

Freckle heads back to his Platoon.

CAP.JR.
Shakey, you are right. Freckle Back is a-okay.

SHAKEY
I'm always right.

Shakey smiles.

FADE OUT.

THREE MONTHS LATER: 1100 hrs.

EXT. THE JUNGLES IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIRE FIGHT - DAY

Noise and confusion is all around. The constant gun fire and explosions
from grenades are heard, along with men screaming. Airborne is without
shirt and wearing a bush hat and Cap. Jr. wears a head band, they are
laying flat, behind a bed of rocks. There are men on both sides of them.
More men run up, but hit the dirt fast when the hacking sounds from the
AK's go off. One man is hit in the throat. The blood jets out in a long
stream. Another is hit in his shoulder. Airborne screams for the Medic.
Without looking up, Cap.Jr lifts his weapon over his head and begins
firing again.

Doc, in a hunched over position, stops at the man who was hit in the
throat. It is too late for him, he is already dead. Doc scoots over to
the man who is hit in the shoulder, and begins applying a dressing.

Shakey Legs, low crawls up to Airborne and Cap. Jr.

SHAKEY
LT and Snake are calling in for artillery help from
our Hill. After that the 1st Platoon will move
pass us on our left flank. They're going to attack
them from the side. This is dangerous...their
bullets could stray our way, and ours, theirs.

AIRBORNE
I hate these fuckin fire fights.

Airborne and Cap. Jr. no more FNG's, now looking like real soldiers.
Clothing and gear, ripped and torn. Their bodies dirty and dusty.
Airborne is now the second Platoon's point man and Cap. Jr. took the spot
of the slack man.

Even with all the noise, you can still hear the overhead artillery
whistling by.

SHAKEY (YELLS)
Take cover!

It is a continuous blast of exploding shells, bounding the ground out in
front of them. Flying shrapnel is heard hitting the ground all around
them with loud thuds. A soldier screams just right of Cap.Jr.

SHAKEY
Arty is coming in too close...gotta tell LT.

Shakey crawls back. Doc runs to help the screaming soldier, who is hit in
the collar bone by the flying shrapnel. Then Airborne swore he heard
someone singing the Mighty Mouse song. He taps Cap. Jr. on his shoulder,
who is still firing out in front.

AIRBORNE
You hear the Mighty Mouse song.

CAP.JR.
Airborne, you gotta slow down on the joints dipped
in Opium, man.

It is a sight to see and hear. With all the explosions and gun fire going
off, comes Big Foot, wearing a black cowboy hat, with his M-60 machine
gun, down next to his side, and Puppet, his loader, carrying four cases of
ammo. Big Foot is singing the Mighty Mouse song as he heads towards
Airborne and Cap. Jr. Puppet is right behind. Puppet is a skinny man and
pounces around, which makes him look like someone is pulling him with
strings.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Are these your shit head friends out there?

Big Foot sets the M-60 on the rocks, as Puppet loads the ammo to the
existing rounds.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Rock and Roll mother fuckers! Light up!

Big Foot lets loose. The M-60 sounds like a Company of soldiers in
itself. Airborne and Cap.Jr. return fire also, with all the rest of the
soldiers up front. It is a "MAD MINUTE." You can still hear the Artillery
coming down, but no shrapnel landing close by. They are right on target
now.

AIRBORNE
Lovely parrrty.

Big Foot bellows out with laughter, which makes Puppet, Cap.Jr. and
Airborne all laugh in the middle of this fire fight.

FADE OUT.

EXT. THE HILL (AT BUNKER SITE) - DAY

The Beatle song, "LET IT BE," plays as Airborne sits on top of the bunker,
takes a hit off a joint cured in Opium. He looks around, but not for VC's
this time, it's Higher & Higher he's watching for. He passes the joint,
to Cap.Jr. who is sitting on the rock beside the bunker. Shakey Legs,
Snake, and Doc are all down in the trench.

AIRBORNE
Someone coming around the bend.

Cap.Jr. hurries and hands the joint over to Shakey. He takes a hit before
asking if he needs to put it out.

AIRBORNE
No, it's Big Foot and Puppet.

Shakey passes the smoke to Doc, who slowly inhales his hit, holding it in,
with a big closed lip smile across his face, before letting it out.

DOC
Nothing but a thing.

Doc hands the joint to Snake.

SNAKE
What the hell does that mean?

AIRBORNE
It's nothing but a thing.

SNAKE
I got to catch up with your heads, you guys are
out there.

Snake takes a big hit into his lungs, cough's a little out, but holds the
rest in. Then they all start laughing at the sight in front of them,
coming their way. Puppet is only few steps ahead of Big Foot, bouncing
around as normal. Big Foot holds his arm up over Puppets head, moving his
hands back and forth as if he was the Puppet Master, controlling Puppet on
strings. Puppet finally sees what Big Foot is doing, he moves ahead of
Dodds.

Airborne likes how they get along, and when the time is needed, they are
there, like that last fire fight, they worked as one. An amazing sight to
see.

PUPPET (YELLS)
I think I have some problems!

BIG FOOT DODDS
Oh, the shit head has some problems...but he needs
a second and third opinion. I gave him mine.

Even though Dodds gives Puppet a hard time, he wouldn't change loaders for
anyone. They work good when the pressure is on.

AIRBORNE
Lets give our Sergeant first crack, Shakey you do
have more seniority.

SHAKEY
I'll do my best under these circumstances, Puppet.

PUPPET
What circum....oh I smell your circumstances.

Dodds leans up against the bunker and gives Airborne the "Vietnam Dap"

SHAKEY
What seems to be the problem?

Puppet pulls out a letter.

PUPPET
Just read it, and tell me your spin on it.

Shakey opens the letter. It reads:

Dear Stephen: I miss you more everyday. Are you safe? I pray for you to
be safe. I started night school to improve my typing and secretarial
skills. I meant a man named Dave. I told him about you. He says I
should be proud to have a boyfriend who is fighting against those Commie-
Pinkos. I hope I get a letter from you soon. Tell me what you are doing
now. Are you still Reeds loader? Write me. Love you baby. Will love you
more than ever, when you get home. I'm horny for you! Dave says hi.

Love Dee Dee.

Shakey passes it down the trench.

SHAKEY
Just a friend helping her get through these hard
times. Nothing to worry about.

PUPPET
How can she say she's horny, then says Dave says
hi.

DOC (HOLDING THE LETTER)
It sounds bad because of the way the letter is
drafted.

Doc takes off his glasses, trying to look intelligent, but he is shit
faced. Gives Snake the Letter.

DOC
She shouldn't have placed horny right next to
Dave's name. That's all.

Doc turns his head and looks at Snake.

SNAKE
Nothing but a thing!

PUPPET
Huh?

Snake hands Puppet back his letter.

AIRBORNE
Puppet...she is honest. She didn't have to tell
you about him, but she did...cause it's innocent.

CAP.JR.
What did you think, Reed?

BIG FOOT DODDS
I think it sucks. She's a shit head, doesn't need
to be around men if she is horny. Trouble is what
I think.

Big Foot pauses.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Anyway, just found out that we are going to be
going out in Platoon groups again for the last
time. Our next missions will be squad size. Not
looking forward to that. Cap.Jr. I also heard your
Cap. isn't going out. Their keeping him back. You
might want to say good-bye...he'll be heading back
to the real World, while we are pounding the bush.
He's in the juicer's bunker.

CAP.JR.
Yeah, I think I can make it two bunkers down. Let
me go see ole Cap.

Snake hands him the roach. Cap.Jr. suck in so hard, it shoots down his
throat.

CAP.JR.
Whoo! A cold beer will cool that down.

Cap. Jr. heads his way toward the juicers bunker. When he gets just
outside he hears T-Bone Walker's guitar on the tape deck, playing IT'S A
MEAN OLD WORLD. He walks down into the bunker that is twice the size of
theirs. Cap. immediately staggers over to his little buddy. Bottle of
Jim Beam in hand. A drunken Captain Kangaroo, funny sight Cap.Jr. thinks

CAP.
Brothers...it's my little brother, Cap.Jr.

All the men in the bunker are black and drunk. This makes Cap.Jr.
somewhat nervous. Cap. likes drinking with the blacks, and they like
drinking with Cap.

MEN IN BUNKER (LAUGHING AND YELLING)
Hurrah! It's Cap. Jr.

CAP.(HANDING THE BOTTLE TO JR.)
I know your with the "BETTER HEADS" group, but you
know I'm leaving and won't be going back out in the
bush. Have a drink with me.

CAP.JR.
I would be honored.

All the blacks scream and applaud. Mac pops up behind Cap. Me and Caaap.
came in to...gether...and we be lea...ving together. Mac starts to spin
and collapses at Cap's feet. Another loud applause and screams of
laughter is heard. The Stones, HONKY TONK WOMAN, plays next.

Cap. Jr. takes the bottle and takes a swig.

CAP.JR.
We will miss you Cap.

MAC (YELLS FROM THE FLOOR)
And me?

CAP.JR.
We will miss you both.

More clapping and whistling comes from the other blacks.

Cap gives Cap.Jr. a big hug. A black man jumps down off the bunk, walking
up to Cap.Jr. He has a more serious look about him.

T-BONE
You tell your radio man, is it Snake, to come down
here and drink with the blacks. See he's been
smoking too much of that wacky weed and he don't
know he's black.

MAC (LAYING ON THE FLOOR)
He's black...your black...I'm black.

CAP.
Back off T-Bone. Bartender, cut this man off!
Who's the bartender?

More laughter is heard inside the bunker.

CAP. (SPEAKING SOFTY TO T-BONE)
You been here about a mouth, trying to bring
prejudice feelings amongst us. We work as a team
here. That's how we survive. You might want to
remember that when I'm gone and when you're out in
the bush. Plus it wouldn't seem right for a black
man to be thrown out of this bunker by his own
kind...don't you think.

T-Bone smiles, and walks out on his own.

CAP.(YELLS)
Our you can walk out on your own.

MAC
I...throw that...blaack baastard out Caaap, when I
caan git up.

Laughter is heard throughout the bunker and outside. HONKY TONK WOMAN
plays on.

FADE OUT.

EXT. JUNGLE IN NAM - DAY

Second Platoon is at the base of a mountain, they just came off of.

AIRBORNE
Pass the word back, to have everyone check for
leeches.

Cap. Jr. watches the front, while Airborne strips. He's clean except near
his boot, he feels a leech, the size of a golf ball. Airborne removes his
boot, removes his sock. He wrings out his sock which is full of blood.

AIRBORNE
Look at this monster leech. Why won't it just fall
off. It's got to have enough blood.

CAP. JR. backs up, still looking ahead, he bends his head down to take a
look.

CAP.JR.
Fuckin-A. That's the biggest one yet.

Cap. Jr. reaches into his fatigue pocket and pulls out insect repellent .
Airborne gets his also. They both soak the leech, emptying their bottles,
but the leech still hangs on.

AIRBORNE
You got your Zippo lighter?

CAP.JR.
Always.

Cap. Jr. reaches into his top shirt pocket. Cap. Jr. runs the flame all
around the leech, it finally drops off.

AIRBORNE
Fuck, that leech is an addict...that's why he
wasn't coming off.

Airborne starts to get dress.

AIRBORNE
You better check yourself next.

Airborne takes watch, while Cap.Jr. checks himself. He is clean. Back in
the ranks someone is screaming for Doc.

CAP.JR.
I wonder what that's all about? Airborne, look at
this.

Cap. Jr. is pointing to a rock, just across the trail. The two leeches on
the rock are standing up on one end, sniffing and are making their way
over to the other side of the trail, where Cap. Jr. is standing.

AIRBORNE
Those blood sucking fuckers!

Airborne steps on them with his boots. They hear movement coming from the
back. It's LT. with a smile.

LT
Have you both checked yourselves out?

AIRBORNE
Had one the size of a golf ball in my boot.

CAP.JR.
Who the hell is screaming back there?

LT (STILL SMILING)
Puppet has a leech on his prick, half of it, is in
his pee hole.

AIRBORNE
Holy shit!

Cap.Jr. makes a movement as if it is on him.

LT (CHUCKLING)
Doc's getting it out with fire...repellent is
moving it in the wrong direction.

CAP. JR. (LOOKING SICK)
Stop it!

AIRBORNE
We had to use fire to get mine off, but I'm not
complaining now.

LT
There should be a small hill, east of us...about 10
kliks, according to the map. That is where we will
pick up our supplies. 1st and 3rd Platoon will
meet us there also. Weather is changing. Monsoons
will be here soon.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. WALKING ON TRAIL - DAY

Airborne is glad it is now daylight. They came down the hill during the
early morning while it was still dark. There was a lot of slipping and
sliding. He used the machete to create a pathway. Cutting a trail is
tedious and slow but Airborne didn't mind that. He feels safer making his
own path, rather than walking on a pre-made trail where the VC's are known
for making boo-coo booby-traps. But now he's back on the trail.

Airborne can smell a decaying body close-by. Cap. Jr. is right up close on
Airborne, looking for booby-traps. he gets a good whiff also.

AIRBORNE
Pass it back...there is something dead up ahead.

Cap. Jr. passes the word back to a soldier.

AIRBORNE
Let's move slow.

Second Platoon moves ahead slowly. The smell is now overwhelming.
Airborne spots a dead body just to the right of the trail. It is a dead
VC. He is bloated. Skin very tight. Flies are everywhere, and maggots
are crawling out of his mouth. They all keep walking pass, not touching
the dead man. One of Charlie's tricks is to have a dead body booby-
trapped.

Airborne is thinking about The Kid and The Castleman, when he comes around
a bend, just to be facing three VC's coming from the opposite direction.
The three VietCong stop. Airborne stops. The quick action and
responsibility gives Airborne no time to be afraid. Respond immediately or
die is filling Airborne's head.

He let's loose with his M-16, putting two, to the ground. The other tries
to take off, when Cap. Jr. shoots him full of holes in his back. Shakey
sees what is happening.

SHAKEY (TO THE REST OF THE PLATOON)
Take cover! VC up ahead.

Everyone gets off the trail, including Airborne and Cap.Jr. LT and his
radio man, Snake, are coming up along the edge of the trail.

LT (TO AIRBORNE)
You need Reed's M-60 up here?

AIRBORNE
Not sure...They weren't expecting us. I think they
were on their own.

LT
They are like ants...where there is one, there is
more. Hold your position. I'm getting Reed and
Puppet up here.

LT heads back, Shakey, cuts across to the other side of the trail, giving
Airborne and Cap.Jr. a thumbs up. It finally hits home for Airborne and
Cap.Jr. Even in a fire fight, your never sure if you hit someone, or if
it was from someone else's weapon. But this is certain. Cap.Jr. looks at
Airborne, who stares at the bodies he just killed.

CAP.JR.
It would be us laying on this trail, if you
hesitated.

He pats Airborne on his back.

CAP.JR.
You kept us from dying today, my friend.

AIRBORNE
Just doing my job, right. I mean that's what we
were trained for...to kill...we were trained to be
killers. Right? We passed our exam Cap.Jr. Your a
killer...I'm a killer...take us to the head of the
class...oh fuck...we are already at the head of the
class...we're fuckin point men.

Cap. Jr. can see that Airborne is beginning to lose it.

CAP.JR.
None of us wants to die. We all want to get back
to the Real World. Damn think about The Castleman
and...

Airborne breaks in.

AIRBORNE
I think of them everyday I'm out here. Don't need
you to tell me what to think about.

CAP.JR.
I'm sorry Airborne. I just killed someone to...
but it's them or us. I didn't want to die
today...so I'm thanking you for keeping us alive.

AIRBORNE
Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry to. You know when I
saw them, my first emotion was anger. I'm thinking
those son-of-a-bitches are here to kill us, but I
didn't feel the same way when I saw them drop. I
hate this fuckin war.

Dodds and Puppet are moving their way up the trail. When they get up to
Airborne and Cap.Jr. they see the three bodies out front. Dodds turns to
Puppet.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Second Platoon takes care of their own. That's why
we are the best.

Big Foot looks over to Airborne and Cap.Jr.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Thank you, guys. We'll set up right here, in the
middle of the trail...anymore Charlie's decide to
come marching down this way...bye bye gooks.

Big Foot sets his M-60 right on the trail. Puppet is next to the gun with
his ammo cases. Big Foot lays himself down in the middle of the trail
waiting for any kind of movement up ahead.

AIRBORNE
Hey, Puppet, are your leech problems taken care of?

PUPPET
You better believe it. Using a boot dressing, to
hold a sock in place.

AIRBORNE
Great thinking there.

Puppet connects the rounds from the ammo can to Big Foot's M-60. Dodds
lays still. He is ready.

AIRBORNE (V.O. WHILE AWAITS IN HIDING)
Well Olga, just ran into 3 VietCong's today. I
killed two and Cap.Jr. got the other one. Have
mixed emotions right now. Anger was my first...now
I just feel shocked. It was like it happened in
slow motion. I think my Higher-Power is sticking
with me. Just hope He sticks with me through the
rest of my tour of hell.

Fifteen minutes has passed. LT comes up to Airborne.

LT
Ready to move on?

AIRBORNE
Oh yeah...this waiting is killing me.

LT
Just keep your eyes peeled. Big Foot, Puppet, we
are going to move out.

Puppet breaks off the clip of ammo. Big Foot places his machine gun on
his shoulder.

BIG FOOT DODDS (TO AIRBORNE & CAP. JR.)
Careful out there. Remember we're just a scream a
way.

AIRBORNE
Thanks guys.

The "Better Heads Dap" is executed between Dodds and Airborne. Shakey
walks across the trail and wishes them good luck.

SHAKEY
You did good you guys, real good.

Airborne opens his ruck sack and pulls out a brown bottle with a picture
of a fat lady on the label.

CAP.JR.
Obesital? We are only humping about seven more
miles.

Airborne takes a big swig of the liquid speed, and holds the bottle out
for Cap. Jr. He takes the bottle from Airborne and swallows the sweet
tasting liquid.

AIRBORNE
Now it's time to move out.

Airborne replaces the bottle back, then sits up against his pack, placing
his arms through the straps and gets up with his pack on his back. He
makes adjustments, keeping the rucksack sitting up high on his back.
Grabs his weapon, tells Shakey his moving out. Shakey passes his word
down.

Airborne is worried that the three VC's may have been coming back from
setting up a booby-trap. The speed keeps them alert.

FADE OUT.

EXT. A SMALL HILL TOP - DAY

Second Platoon makes it to the base of the hill where re-supplies are to
be dropped off. LT passes the word to the front to hold their position.
LT and Snake come up to Shakey Legs.

LT
Shakey, third Platoon has already occupied the hill
top. Says it would be a cluster fuck to have all
the Platoons up there. They say that they passed
an open field just South of us. It might even be
better to have the supplies dropped there. The
hill top is very small.

SHAKEY
Where is 1st Platoon now?

LT
Still about five Kliks away.

Airborne walks up to Shakey and LT. Cap. Jr. is watching the front.

AIRBORNE
Are we moving up the hill to break for lunch?

LT
We'll eat down here...not enough room...

KA-BOOM! A very loud explosion rocks the land. Smoke bellows out from the
top of the hill. Horrible screams are heard coming from the hill top.

LT
Oh dear Jesus! That hill top was booby-trap with
something big. Snake try to contact 3rd Platoon.

Snake keeps trying, but only static sounds are coming from the receiver.
The 1st Platoon calls Snake. They heard the explosion from where they are
located, and can see the smoke up on the hill. Snake tells them 3rd
Platoon went up there to eat lunch. LT gets on the phone.

LT (TO FIRST PLATOONS LT)
Big Al, you need to call in med-a-vac's. I think
all of third Platoon was hit hard. We hear
screaming, so someone is still alive, but from that
blast...I just don't know. We are going up to see
the situation. Get here quick, we'll need your
medic also.

Doc comes running up with his bag, looking very much afraid.

DOC
That wasn't just a grenade...that was a bomb.

LT
I need all of second Platoon here now.

Airborne gathers the troops. All the soldiers huddle around LT.

LT
Shakey Legs, Airborne, Snake, Doc and I are going
up. Big Foot and Puppet, set your M-60 right
here. Cap. Jr. post yourself on the opposite side
of the trail. Rest of you...no more than a couple
of yards apart. Make sure the back of the trail is
well covered. Eyes wide open guys. Lets roll.

Airborne takes the lead, then Shakey, followed by Doc, LT and Snake. As
they approach up the hill, on a well traveled trail, the acrid smell of
gunpowder from the explosion fills the air, along with burning flesh. The
scream is becoming louder. You can hear some of the soldier crying out
for his Mother. Airborne hears movement in the bush, just left of the
trail. Airborne points his weapon to shoot, till he sees his first
sickening sight. It's a soldier blown in half. Only his upper torso is
there in the bushes. He's trying to walk as if he still had his legs. His
face and chest are smoking from the shrapnel. His eyes bug out in shock.
The rest of the rescue party come up around Airborne.

LT (TO AIRBORNE)
Put him out of his misery. He doesn't even know
his dead yet.

Airborne shoots a few rounds into his blown apart chest. The body stops
moving.

AIRBORNE
I don't want to go up there.

LT
There's still someone screaming up there. We may
be able to save a life.

They all look at each other, knowing the horror they are about to see.
They continue up, the dust makes it hard to see. When they reach the top,
nothing could have prepared them for what they were going to see. The
whole hill top is one big crater. Scatter body parts everywhere. Pieces
of bodies beyond recognition

Around the outer tree line, sounds are heard falling through the trees,
ending in a thud, when hitting the ground. The men look to see what it
is, only to find in horror, that it is body parts falling out of the
trees, and onto the ground. Doc runs over to a soldier, screaming from
across the crater, in the bushes.

DOC
Airborne, help me.

They run across the crater, jumping over legs, arms, torsos and heads.
There are no survivors, except maybe the one screaming. As Airborne runs
across the crater, he is hoping there are no more bombs left. He is
definitely afraid. LT is on the radio with the 1st Platoon, asking how
close they are?

SHAKEY
LT...look at your right boot...then look to the
right of your boot, about one yard.

Sticking halfway out of the crater, is an 81mm morter, still intact.

LT
A dud, I surely hope. Those fuckin Congs, must of
covered this whole hill top with these morters. It
had to be command detonated. They would not want
to waste a trip wire for this much explosives.
They know with a trip wire, the first one will trip
it, but the rest of the Platoon would still be down
on the trail, walking up. No, these mother fuckers
were watching them.

LT looks around, points to a smaller hill to their North.

LT
There...I bet you anything and everything...they
were watching from that hill. Once they saw the
whole Platoon up here, they blew them up. Those
bastards blew them up!

Snake falls to his knees and begins to upchuck. Doc and Airborne are
standing in the bushes, the screaming has stopped.

DOC (YELLS)
Medic here!

(V.O.)
Over here Doc...heeelp meeee!

Airborne and Doc head in the direction of the voice.

AIRBORNE
He seems to be pretty far in here.

DOC
That's probably what saved his life.

Doc and Airborne comes to a soldier laying on his stomach, face down. He
has multiple wounds on his back, and one on the back of his head. Doc
see's he is bleeding from his left ear, possible blown ear drum from the
concussion, even out here.

DOC
Going to give you some morphine to stop your
pain...then we are going to patch you up.

Airborne grabs the soldiers hand, as Doc shoots him full of morphine.
Airborne see's his face. It is T-Bone. He remembers what Cap. Jr. told
him about the bunker incident with Cap. But now that didn't mean a thing.
The only thing important now, was to get him patched up and med-a-vac'd
out. T-Bone looks to Airborne and understands what Cap. meant. There are
no colors out in the bush, just soldiers. T-Bone smiles at Airborne.

AIRBORNE (SMILING BACK)
Your going home my friend...you hang in there.

T-BONE (WEAK)
I was going to take a dump...next thing I
knew...I'm eating dirt. How are the rest doing?

DOC (WHILE DRESSING UP THE WOUNDS)
You worry about yourself getting better...we'll
take care of the rest.

T-BONE
Loud explosion...can't hear too good still.

Snake is still on his knees. LT takes the hand receiver to call in a air
strike on the hill, he thinks the VC's were and maybe still are. After LT
gives the coordinates and tells them they lost all of 3rd Platoon, it
isn't long before you hear the two jets dropping their 500lb drag bombs,
on the hill next to them. They also dropped some Napalm. (a gasoline,
jelly mixture).

The Med-a-vac was also hovering over their hill top. It is too tight to
land, so they drop down the jungle penetrator.

DOC
Your rides here. Look there is a lot of particles
flying around, we don't know what is safe...use
this to cover your eyes, we'll guide you to the
chopper.

T-BONE (FEELING NO PAIN FROM THE MORPHINE)
Okay fellows...lets do it.

Doc. gives him a gauze dressing, tying it around his eyes. Airborne knows
exactly why he did that. To see your Platoon blown in pieces is not what
he needs to see. Airborne and Doc are on both sides of T-Bone, guiding
him to the chopper.

They get him hooked up to the jungle penetrator, and he is hoist up to the
chopper. The med-vac takes off. LT gets off the radio.

LT
They can not use a jungle penetrator on dead
bodies...which means we have to carry the body
pieces down to that field, South of the hill.
We'll wait for 1st Platoon to get here. We'll all
have to help.

Movement can be heard coming up the trail. LT gets on the radio to 1st
Platoon. Big Al (1st Platoon's Lieutenant).

LT
Is that you guys coming up the trail?

BIG AL
Roger. Freckle Back should be getting pretty close
to you guys.

It wasn't long before Freckle Back came up to the top, with his new
slackman, Tracker. They both begin to slow down, the closer they got to
the hill top. Both had sickening looks, as they survey the area.

FRECKLE BACK
From the blast, as far as we were...I knew it was
going to be bad. But not like this.

Big Al tells his Platoon to hold their position on the trail, and he meets
up with LT.

BIG AL
I see you called in a fire strike on that hill.
You think they are there?

LT
If they are...their not now.

In the background, the song "FRIENDS LOST" by Eric Kaisinger is playing
while everyone stands in shock, frozen in place, as the CAMERA spins
around on them, and on the devastation from the explosion. Body parts
still falling from the tree tops.

FADE TO BLACK

EXT. BACK ON THE BASE CAMP - DAY

Airborne sits on top of his bunker, looking out over the Hill. He just
came back from the mess hall, where they gave a Mass for the third
Platoon. Everyone is walking around in a daze, dumbfounded. Shakey comes
walking up.

SHAKEY
I hear Higher and Higher
(Battalion Commander)
is going to come by every bodies bunker to talk to
us all. Keep the drugs in.

AIRBORNE
What's he going to say, "do you want to go home?" I
do want that. I've seen enough death...I killed
enough...but somehow I know it's not over yet.
There will be more.

SHAKEY
I know one thing he's going to talk about. LT says
a lot of FNG's are coming to our Battalion. You
know they aren't going to put them together to make
the third Platoon...we are all going to get moved
around. I don't like it much...but what choice do
we have.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. THE HILL - DAY

Airborne, Cap.Jr., Shakey Legs, Doc, and Dodds are standing around the
bunker, when a jeep pulls up. A soldier gets out, carrying a package.

SOLDIER WITH PACKAGE
Airborne, you got a package from home.

Airborne walks up to the soldier, takes the package. A Coors case was
used. Airborne places it on top of the bunker. Usually there would be
yells of happiness and excitement, but the slaughter of third Platoon has
hindered the mood.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Aren't ya going to open it?

AIRBORNE
Not really in the mood, but your welcome.

Big Foot doesn't hesitate. He jumps up on the bunker, sits down and
starts to rip open the package. That did get a smile from Airborne, as he
shakes his head.

BIG FOOT DODDS
You got a love letter on top, but I'll leave that
for you to read.

AIRBORNE
I didn't think fuckin M-60 gunners had that much
respect and consideration.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Oh but we do my fellow comrade...but those shit
head VC's...well they may have a different's of
opinion.

They all chuckle.

CAP.JR.
Well, what's in the box?

BIG FOOT DODDS
Well for one thing...we have a smart lady here. The
cookies and looks like brownies are in plastic
containers. My wife sent me a box of homemade
crumbs.

There is more laughter, which feels good to the men right now.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Pears?

Dodds holds up two cans.

AIRBORNE
I love pears...pears from the Real World...yeah
buddy.

SHAKEY
Oh shit! Puppet has a letter in his hand and he's
moving fast.

BIG FOOT DODDS
It's his bitch girlfriend again, I bet.

Dodds yells out.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Is it from Dee Dee?

Puppet hands the letter to Dodds, as he looks at the others.

PUPPET
It's getting worst. Go ahead and read it out loud.

DOC
Yes, read it Big Foot.

BIG FOOT DODDS (READING LETTER)

Dear Stephen: Hope you are out of danger. You don't have to worry about
me either. If someone tries to flirt with me in school or is trying to
pick up on me, Dave tells them, I have a soldier fighting a war in
Vietnam, so back off. You will like Dave. He likes you and he hasn't
even meant you yet. But you two will meet. I feel safe when he is around
protecting me, till you get home. Stephen, I was thinking, since we have
that extra room, maybe we should have him move in here while your gone. I
get afraid alone here at night. It would be a comfort knowing there is a
man in the house, plus it's closer to his job. That would help him. Will
wait to hear how you feel about it. I know it's something we must both
agree on. Gotta get ready for class. Hurry up and write back, if your
not killing gooks. Ha! Ha!

Love Dee Dee

Dodds folds the letter, handing it back to Puppet.

BIG FOOT DODDS
I told you from the beginning this is not good. He
is getting closer and closer to getting into her
panties, Puppet.

DOC
Like Airborne said before...she is being honest
with you. Maybe it would be good for her to have a
roommate.

AIRBORNE
Sorry Doc, it's starting to get a little too weird
now. I have to agree with Big Foot now.

CAP.JR.
Just tell her you don't want a stranger living in
your Apartment.

SHAKEY
Tell her to find a woman roommate, if she feels too
alone at night.

PUPPET
I'm going to tell her about what happened to 3rd
Platoon, then I'm going to tell her no way with
having that man moving in. Going to do it now.

Puppet takes off, bouncing around.

BIG FOOT DODDS
I think I better help him write this letter.

Dodds removes a few cookies from the package.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Thank your wife, Airborne.

Dodds jumps off the bunker and follows Puppet to their bunker.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. THE HILL - DAY

The Battalion's jeep sits up ahead, three bunkers up. Shakey, Doc,
Airborne, and Cap.Jr. are waiting outside of their bunker.

The jeep pulls up to their bunker. The Battalion Commander walks out with
LT by his side. The Commander is tall and husky. To Airborne, he reminds
him of John Wayne. They all come to attention.

COMMANDER
Relax men...smoke them if you got them.

SHAKEY
This squad is all non smokers, Sir.

COMMANDER
Good to hear. This is a good Platoon, 2nd
Platoon. I will do my best to try and keep most of
you together. But you know we are going to have to
move some men around to filter in between some of
the new arrivals, to make another 3rd platoon. I'm
sick over what happened. This won't happen
immediately. We'll be working with just two
Platoons for C-Company for awhile. I'm sure you
have heard rumors about us breaking into squads
while out in the bush. I would like your feelings
on that. LT here does not like it much. He's
getting the pucker-factor just thinking about it.

LT smiles.

SHAKEY
I have it to, Sir Seems very risky to be out there
with just five to seven men with you.

COMMANDER
How about you Doc?

DOC
Is each squad going to have their own Medic?

COMMANDER
Not at first, but they will have a medical pack and
each squad will have a radio for communication.
Plus we are going to keep you all close by...only a
few kliks apart.

AIRBORNE
Sir, I'm the pointman for 2nd Platoon. I don't
mind going out in squads, but please let me keep my
slackman here...

Airborne pats Cap. Jr. on the back.

AIRBORNE
Cap. Jr.

COMMANDER
That can be done...you two are good soldiers. You
all are. Now, we will have to split some people to
cover 3rd Platoons bunkers. There will only be two
to a bunker. You can work out your guard duty
between yourselves. Airborne and Cap. Jr. you two
will be getting a bronze star for taking out those
three VC's. Congratulations, on a job done well.

The Commander salutes them.

AIRBORNE
Thank you Sir.

CAP.JR.
We did what anyone would do.

COMMANDER
You would be surprise what other soldiers might do.
Except it with pride.

FADE TO BLACK

EXT. IN THE JUNGLE DURING THE MONSOON RAINS - DAY

The song by B.J. Thomas plays in the background,"RAIN DROPS KEEP FALLIN ON
MY HEAD." The monsoon season is here. Rain is coming down hard. This is
the first mission out in the bush, where the Charlie Company has gone out
into squad units. 2nd Platoon's second squad is up on a knoll, waiting out
the rain. It has been raining two weeks straight. They are out of
rations. Doc, pops into Airborne's and Cap. Jr's. homemade hootch with
ponchos. He crawls in.

AIRBORNE
You have any extra malaria pills, we're hungry.

DOC
Something better.

Doc pulls out roots from his pocket.

DOC
These are safe to eat. Just boil some water.
Going to give some to the others. Found them in
the bush line.

Cap. Jr. pulls out his canteen cup, and sticks it outside, at the same
time Airborne gets into his rucksack and pulls out a bar of C4. (plastic
explosive). He breaks off a small piece, replacing the rest back in his
pack.

AIRBORNE
Hey, there is something I still have left.

He takes out a bottle of Heinz 57 sauce. A quarter bottle left

CAP.JR.
Oh yeah!

Airborne gets out his heating cup, which is just an empty C-Ration can
with holes poked around it. Cap. Jr. brings in the canteen cup, which is
now filled with rain water. Pours some out. Airborne places the C4 at
the opening of the hootch. Cap. Jr. uses his Zippo and lights the C4.
Airborne covers it with the Ration can. Cap. Jr. places the canteen cup
on top of the can to boil the water.

AIRBORNE
Barbecue roots coming up!

Both men excited.

The second squad consist of, Airborne, Cap. Jr., Doc, Tracker (who was
1st Platoon's slackman.) Three FNG's. One is a new Lieutenant, who is
not like their LT. This Lieutenant came right out of OCS. He won't take a
nick name. He wants to be called by his rank and name: Lieutenant
Goodroad. He has untrusting eyes. The other two FNG's are called Poncho
and Slim.

LT. is moved to the 1st Platoon, with his radio man, Snake, along with
Shakey Legs. Freckle Back is still walking point on the 1st squad.

The next day the hard rains have turn into sprinkles. Airborne is pissing
in the bushes. The Lieutenant is standing in the middle of the knoll.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD
Airborne, get your men together for assembly.

Airborne knows this guy is trouble.

AIRBORNE
Sir, they are not my men...their your men.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD
Don't argue with me private first class, I can
demote you to just a private.

AIRBORNE
You want to do that...you can also start walking
point today.

The discussion has Cap.Jr crawling out of his pup-tent.

CAP.JR.(STILL CRAWLING)
Sir, this is your first time out in the bush...

Cap. Jr. stands up.

CAP.JR.
instead of threatening someone who has been out in
the bush for six months now...you may want to
listen to the old timers here...including me.
Airborne and I came in together. Doc's been here
longer than both of us. I am going to tell you
what I was told the first time I came out
here...and that is, forget everything you learned
back in the States. It doesn't work out here.

The others came out of their hootches.

Airborne feels sorry for the FNG grunts. It's hard enough to be out here
in the jungles. Airborne remembers his first time, but to be out here in
squads with a green Lieutenant, who thinks he is still back in the States,
is a problem they don't need.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD
Okay, we are all out here now. That path we came
up on, had some 79 grenade shells sticking out of
the ground. I want to check them, to make sure
they are not booby-trapped. Then we'll take them
with us, so Charlie won't use them against our
fighting men. I might just keep them, souvenirs
from Nam.

Lieutenant Goodroad looks around.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD
Airborne, Tracker, Slim and I will go check it out.

AIRBORNE
Sorry Sir, can't let you do that.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD
You disobeying my order?

AIRBORNE
That one I am. Let me tell you something about
Charlie. If they saw us on that trail...that trail
is now booby-trapped.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD
Soldier, you just got yourself an Article 15.
Anyone else want to disobey his Superior.

CAP.JR.
Yeah, put me down for one of those Article 15's.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD
Be glad to. You two need to be confined in the
Stockade. And I'll do my best to get you there.

DOC
Lieutenant, they are good men, both receiving the
Bronze Star, from taking out the enemy, saving the
2nd Platoon.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD
Well, that may go to their credit. Maybe they will
only get a fine and a demotion.

Tracker walks over to Airborne.

TRACKER
I'll do this Airborne. Should be safe. I doubt if
Charlie has been out in this wet weather.

AIRBORNE
Don't under estimate Charlie. You don't have to do
this. I know where we stand. We're in the right.

TRACKER
I'll humor the guy. Maybe I can talk him out of
giving you guys the Article 15.

AIRBORNE
I'm not worried about that...that's not going to
fly. I am worried about you going back on that
trail.

TRACKER
We'll be fine.

Tracker looks over to the Lieutenant.

TRACKER
Okay Sir, I'll take you out there. Poncho and Slim
can come with us.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD (LOOKING AT AIRBORNE)
Good, have some good soldiers here after all. Get
your weapons and lets get ready.

Tracker go's back into his hootch, Airborne follows.

AIRBORNE
Why do they call you Tracker?

TRACKER
I use to be in a Tracking Unit with the Canines.
Lost my dog to a booby-trap. It hurt too much. I
couldn't...I wouldn't get attached to another dog.
Got transferred here.

AIRBORNE
Well, welcome to second Platoon, second squad. I'm
glad to have you with us.

TRACKER
Thank you. I was in your first Platoon for a
little while. Was Freckle back's slack man.

AIRBORNE
There's another good soldier.

Airborne, Cap. Jr. and Doc, watch as Tracker leads the group down the
trail. Slim and Poncho behind Tracker. Slim is tall. 6' 10" Poncho is
fat. They look like Laurel and Hardy. Airborne is wondering how Poncho
made it through basic. The Lieutenant brings up the rear.

CUT TO:

EXT. ON THE KNOLL - DAY

Doc is lying in his tent. Airborne and Cap. Jr. are surveying the area
around the knoll, when a small explosion is heard out somewhere in the
bush. Airborne and Cap. Jr. look at each other, familiar with that
sound.

AIRBORNE
God, don't let that be them.

Doc gets out of his tent with his bag.

DOC
That sounded like a grenade.

CAP.JR.
Lets get on the radio, and see if the other squads
are okay.

But before they started their transmission, Snake is on the radio, calling
squad by squad, starting with the 1st Platoon. Everyone is clear, Snake
calls them.

AIRBORNE
Our new Lieutenant took out the FNG's and Tracker
to check out rounds we found coming up to this
knoll. I hope it wasn't them.

LT. gets on the radio.

LT (V.O.)
Airborne, let us know if they get back ok.

AIRBORNE
LT. you need to talk to this new Lieutenant. I
refused to go out on that trail. Now he wants to
give Cap.Jr. and I an Article 15. he's a dangerous
man, LT.

LT (V.O.)
Okay, I'll have a talk with him. And don't worry,
you and Cap. Jr. are not getting any Article 15's.

AIRBORNE
He's boo-coo dinky-dow. A sorry mother fucker.

The three soldiers all hear rustling coming up the trail. Airborne and
Cap.Jr. have their M-16's at the ready. Doc stands behind them. Tracker
comes running up, out of breath, and looks like he is going into shock.
He falls to his knees.

TRACKER (PANIC IN VOICE)
We hit a booby-trap...I think Poncho and Slim are
dead...I have some shrapnel in my ass and back
legs. Poncho fell in this large hole, just to the
left of the trail. I think that's where the booby-
trap was set. He got the worse. Him and Slim.

Doc runs over to Tracker and has him lay down on his side.

DOC
You're going to be okay. I'm going to patch you
up, and you are going to get out of this nightmare
and are going home.

TRACKER
A little morphine would help.

AIRBORNE
Where's that fuckin Lieutenant?

TRACKER
He wasn't hit at all. He was too far back. I told
him to stay there.

Airborne calls LT. on the radio.

AIRBORNE
Our recon hit a booby-trap. Tracker thinks maybe
two KIA's. That Lieutenant went out after I told
him not to.

LT
Your third squad is closes to you. Will give them
your coordinates.

AIRBORNE
Okay, I'm going to check out our men.

LT
Careful.

AIRBORNE
Everyone stay here, I will go to check it out.

CAP.JR.
You sure you don't want me to come along?

AIRBORNE
Stay with Doc. I'll be back.

Airborne ducks into the hootch, pulls out a grenade and clips it on his
belt.

AIRBORNE
Cap. Jr. keep your eyes open for the second squad,
not sure which way they are coming.

CAP.JR.
Will do.

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIL IN JUNGLE - DAY

Airborne takes off down the trail. The rain begins to pick up again. It
wasn't long before Airborne came to the deadly incident. Slim is lying
face down on the trail, next to the hole. The back of his head is blown
off. Airborne remembers his first day out. He remembered when Snake told
them about "The Kid" The same thing happened. He sees the Lieutenant
looking down into the large hole on the side of the trail. Airborne has a
sick feeling about two FNG's dying.

AIRBORNE (ANGRY)
They didn't have to die, Sir. If you would of
listened to me...and stayed off this trail, they
would be alive right now.

The Lieutenant turns his head, his pupils are black. Stress and anger
covers his face.

LIEUTENANT GOODROAD (YELLS)
My fault! This is all your fault soldier. By
disobeying my order...

Before another word left the Lieutenant's mouth, Airborne slings his M-16
towards the Lieutenant and puts two rounds into his chest. A look of
shock, terror and pain are all wrap together on the Lieutenant's face as
he falls backwards into the large hole. Airborne walks calmly over to the
hole. He sees the two bodies lying at the bottom, dead. He removes the
grenade from his belt and pulls the pin. Holds the frag with the handle
over the hole.

AIRBORNE
This is what we call, fragging Sir. The bullets
were just for general purposes and all.

Airborne lets go, the handle flies off. Airborne runs to the other side
of the trail and dives into the mud. A muffle explosion go's off.
Airborne's still on the ground, when he calls LT. on the radio.

AIRBORNE
LT, we have three KIA's and one WIA.

LT
Who are they?

AIRBORNE
Tracker is the WIA. The two FNG's along with the
Lieutenant are the KIA's.

Lightning strikes off in the distance, a loud roar of thunder follows.
The rain is coming down hard as it did in the last weeks. Airborne hears
movement from down the trail, along with laughter and talking. He knew it
was the 3rd squad, coming to help.

AIRBORNE (VO)
Stupid idiots. No wonder Charlie can find us. Just
listen to the noisy Americans. After what happened
to 3rd Platoon, you think they would learn
something.

Airborne gets on the radio to call 3rd squad, telling them he can hear
them coming up the trail and that they are close to him. It isn't more
then a few minutes, when their point man sees Airborne.

WOODY (3RD SQUAD'S POINT MAN,WHO LOOKS LIKE WOODY
ALLEN)
Airborne...I thought I heard another explosion?

AIRBORNE
You did Woody. The Lieutenant, I guess he was
trying to find a way to get Poncho out of the hole,
over here.

They walk over to the large hole. Both looking down into it.

AIRBORNE
There must of been another booby-trap there, and he
found it.
The squad is bunching up around the hole.

AIRBORNE
One frag will kill us all. We need to spread out
this cluster fuck.

WOODY
Your right. Spread out down the trail, just keep
your eyes peeled. The Med-a-vac will have to use a
jungle penetrator to get them out of that hole.

AIRBORNE
Then we'll have to carry them to where we are
located. We're on a knoll, easy landing for the
chopper.

FADE OUT.

The three bodies have been lifted out. Third squad is positioning
themselves around the edge of the knoll. Airborne is lying in his tent,
tired from carry a dead body to their camp. Cap. Jr. crawls in, looking
at him.

AIRBORNE
What?

CAP.JR.
Where is your Grenade? I notice you weren't
wearing it, when you came back.

AIRBORNE
We got a problem with that?

CAP.JR.(GRINNING)
Fuck no...I would of gave you mine if needed. It
takes whatever it takes to keep us alive.

AIRBORNE
God, I hate this fuckin war.

FADE TO BLACK

EXT. BACK ON THE BASE CAMP - DAY

Airborne and Cap.Jr. sit on the sand bags around the trenches, smoking a
"J" The song from the Beatles:NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE MY WORLD, is
playing. Passing it back and forth as the SONG plays.

Shakey Legs is on a bike, heading to Airborne's and Cap. Jr.'s bunker.
Shakey gets off the bike. He sees them both and walks over to them. SONG
fades out.

SHAKEY
Big news boys.

Airborne hands Shakey the roach. He takes the last hit and throws the
burning piece into the trench.

AIRBORNE
We're getting an early out?

SHAKEY
Don't we all wish.

CAP.JR.
Is this good news or bad?

SHAKEY
Both, you could say...I guess.

AIRBORNE
Fuck the bad news...just being here is bad news.
Tell us the good news.

SHAKEY
Freckle Back, Doc, and I have one more mission and
then we are out of here. Back to the Real World.

Airborne and Cap.Jr. hug Shakey and yell out hooray's

AIRBORNE
It's not going to be the same here without you. I
still remember our first day here on the hill. You
made it bearably for us to get through this
nightmare.

CAP.JR.
Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm glad your
getting out of here...cause with you gone, that
means I'm getting that much closer of getting out
of here myself.

AIRBORNE
Yeah, we are going to be hitting our two digit-
midget mark here in a couple of weeks. Sure you
don't want to re-up and leave with us?

Shakey laughs.

SHAKEY
Well you got someone who is going to extent his
tour, so he'll get a six month drop and won't have
to do state side duty.

AIRBORNE
Who?

SHAKEY
LT.

CAP.JR.
He's nuts, but I'm glad to have a experience
Lieutenant still with us.

AIRBORNE
Amen to that. What's the bad news?

LT
Your getting a new man into your squad. Not new to
Nam. He was transferred from another Battalion.
They call him Sunny, cause he is always
smiling...but I hear he is trouble. This is
suppose to be his final chance, next will be a
court marshal.

Shakey walks pass the trenches and bunker, looks out over the hill to the
giant mountain next to them.

SHAKEY
This is the real bad news. They call it Iron
Mountain.

Airborne and Cap. Jr. walk up around Shakey.

SHAKEY
Higher and Higher intelligence says there is a
Sapper
(North Vietnamese Army Commandos)
unit, somewhere in that mountain...on the far
side. Our Commander is picking out a special recon
squad, to go in and take them out.

AIRBORNE
Sappers? Aren't they equivalent to our Special
Forces Unit.

SHAKEY
Yeah...these guys are tough. They don't care if
they die. We do, that's what makes them so
dangerous.

CAP.JR.
Who's on the list, as if I didn't know.

AIRBORNE
I think I need another joint.

SHAKEY
The list can always change, but what I heard from
LT was...him, me, you two, Freckle Back, Big Foot
and Puppet, Doc, Sunny, Woody. Sunny took the
place of Tracker. Tracker won't be joining us on
this suicide mission.

AIRBORNE (TO SHAKEY)
Why we calling it a suicide mission?

SHAKEY
Our intelligence doesn't know the size of the NVA
base camp and they want to take ten or twelve men
out to wipe them out...more like we will be wiped
out. My last mission and it has to be this one. I
haven't told anybody but you two, so far.

AIRBORNE
Anyone as short as you, Doc and Freckle Back should
not be sent out on this mission. As much as I
would like all of you with me, I would definitely
try and get out of this one.

SHAKEY
It may not be as bad as I'm thinking. They are
going to have some jets make passes, where they
think the camp is located, dropping 500lb drag
bombs on them. Sharks will fly by, using their
rockets. If any one survives that, they will be dee-
dee-mauing the fuck out of there.

Small arms fire is heard coming from the North side of the hill.

AIRBORNE
That's not AK fire, that's a M-16.

Cap. Jr. runs into the bunker. Comes out with Airborne's and his M-16.
Shakey gets on the bike, and they all head to the North side. Couple of
yards down the hill is Puppet, shooting away at nothing.

BIG FOOT DODDS (YELLING)
Puppet, you shit head, go any further down this
hill, your going to hit booby-traps.

PUPPET
Fuckin-a!

Puppet continues shooting out into the jungle as he screams out something
about sickly green. More soldiers are coming out to see what is
happening.

BIG FOOT DODDS
You don't want Higher & Higher coming out here.

LT comes running around the bend and continues to run over the trenches
and out to where puppet stands.

LT (YELLS)
What the hell's the matter with you, Puppet.

"I'LL CRY INSTEAD" by the Beatles plays on, as Puppet runs up and down the
Hill side. LT yells as he is walking up to him. Puppet turns around to
say something, but before he could get a word out, LT grabs his M-16 out
of his hands, at the same time, slams his elbow into Puppet's face. It
knocks him to his knees. LT drags Puppet up the hill. Once up on top, LT
hands the M-16 to Dodds, and holds on to Puppet's fatigues and guides him
up the road. Airborne sees the Commander standing at the very top of the
hill with two other high brass Officers. Soldiers begin to go leave, going
back to what they were doing before Puppet flipped out.

Airborne, Cap. Jr. and Shakey all walk over to see Big Foot

SHAKEY
What happened?

Dodds pulls out a letter from his pocket.

AIRBORNE
Oh shit...from Dee Dee?

BIG FOOT DODDS
This letter is the worse of all.

Big Foot hands it to Airborne. He opens it up and starts reading it out
loud.

AIRBORNE (READING LETTER)
Dear Stephen: I'm sorry you don't want Dave to move
in. I was hoping you would say yes, as he is
already moved in. I really thought you would want
someone to watch over me and protect me from other
guys. I can't tell him to move out now, but I'll
make sure he is out before you get home, unless you
change your mind, I hope. One more thing I need to
tell you. Dave's car broke down, so I'm letting
him use your GTO. Now don't panic, I have good
news. He'll take good care of your GTO. He says
he'll change the oil and filters. And because he
appreciates you for everything, cause I told him
you didn't mind him staying here, he is going to
have your car re-painted. He doesn't like the blue
paint job on the car. He thinks he'll have it
painted lime-green. Hope you are safe. I am.
Don't worry about that.

LOVE DEE DEE.

Airborne folds the letter up.

AIRBORNE
Jesus Christ, what a bitch. No wonder Puppet went
berserk. Maybe we should show Higher & Higher this
letter before they give him an article 15.

Airborne hands the letter to back to Dodds.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Yeah, I don't want to break in a new loader.
Puppets good.

AIRBORNE
You're going to need him too, for our next mission.

BIG FOOT DODDS
What mission is that?

SHAKEY
A special re-con squad, which is us, will be
landing on Iron Mountain.

BIG FOOT DODDS
What can be there...they target practice with quad-
fifties.
(four, fifty caliber machine guns)

SHAKEY
Yes, on our side, but this is over on the far side.

BIG FOOT DODDS
What do they expect over there?

AIRBORNE
Sapper base camp.

BIG FOOT DODDS
A sap...why don't they just Napalm the whole side
of that fuckin hill and be done with it.

SHAKEY
I don't know if Napalm will be used, but they are
going to bomb the fuck out of that side, before we
go in. I don't like it anymore than you do...hell
this is our last mission for Freckleback, Doc, and
I. You think we want to go out on this one? I
don't like the idea of only 12 men going out on
this combat mission.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Aren't there more cherries
(new troop replacement)
coming to our Company?

SHAKEY
Sure we'll get a few, but you know they want
experience out there.

BIG FOOT DODDS
I'm going up to see the Commander, and show him
this letter. If they want me on this suicide
mission, I want a loader I can depend on, and not
some cherry, who is going to freeze up and get us
both killed.

Dodds takes off up the road.

AIRBORNE
Does everyone have to call this a suicide mission?

CAP.JR.
We'll make it, Airborne.

AIRBORNE
Like Castleman and the Kid. Poncho and Slim. The
whole 3rd Platoon and all the rest.

CAP.JR.
Well, keep close in touch with your Higher Power.

AIRBORNE
God I hate the fuckin Army!

Freckle back, Doc and Sunny come over to meet, Shakey, Airborne, Cap.Jr.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE HILL - DAY

CAMERA is panning down on the soldiers, Shakey is breaking the news to the
other three, as the Beatle's song "GET BACK" plays on.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. IRON MOUNTAIN - DAY

A very loud EXPLOSION is heard as the CAMERA focuses in, on a triple-
canopy jungle, on the side of a large mountain. The Doors song,"TOUCH ME,"
plays on. Smoke bellows out from the vegetation, just as the sound of
another jet passes over and drops his load on the target. The two jets
are alternating passes. After the jets leave, two sharks fire their
rockets into the damaged area.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE HILL (AT HELIPAD) - DAY

Four choppers sit on the pad, whining up their engines. Airborne and Cap.
Jr. are walking away from their bunker. Even their Artillery Unit from
the Hill are firing their 105's. The impact, BOOMS, from out in the
distance. As they come up around the bend, they see one chopper being
loaded with ammo and C-rations. In one chopper, sits Freckle Back, Doc,
Shakey Legs, and a FNG they named Chihuahua, because he is a very small
Mexican. Chopper three is carrying, Snake, LT, Sunny and Woody. Sunny
and Woody were on the side facing Airborne and Cap Jr. Airborne
chuckles. With Sunny's blonde hair and large smile and Woody Allen next
to him, they look like they were going to a movie audition. The last
chopper has Dodds and Puppet in it.

AIRBORNE (YELLING OVER THE SOUND OF THE CHOPPERS)
I guess that's our.

Dodds waving for them to hop aboard. Airborne and Cap.Jr. bend forward to
miss the chopper blades, as they run to the Huey.

The Choppers build up speed, creating wind and dust everywhere. Airborne
and Big Foot gives each other the Vietnam Dap. The door gunners give the
thumbs up and the choppers lift off the helipad. All soldiers are sitting
on the floor with their legs dangling out of the copter. Everyone giving
each other the piece sign as the choppers head toward Iron Mountain.

CUT TO:

EXT. IRON MOUNTAIN - DAY

The song "KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR" by Dylan plays as they get over to
the far side of the mountain, the door gunners let loose with their M-60s
into the mountain. Then the choppers hover at the base of the mountain,
blowing the elephant grass (which is very high) in all directions.

The chopper with the ammo and C-rations, throw them down into the elephant
grass, then takes off. The other choppers lower themselves to the top of
the grass. The door gunners point to the soldiers to jump. They jump
with weapons and rucksacks down into the grass and disappear. The height
of the grass is way over their heads. All remain motionless for awhile.

After the Hueys leave, Arty (from back on the Hill) starts back up with
their assault attack, up in the middle of Iron Mountain. The soldiers
hear the 105's MM fly over them and EXPLODE up on the side of the
mountain.

CUT TO:

EXT. BASE OF IRON MOUNTAIN - DAY

AIRBORNE
Hit them good Arty.

Dodds and Puppet move over to Airborne and Cap. Jr. Airborne unties his
machete from his rucksack, then starts chopping down the tall elephant
grass around them. They hear footsteps coming toward them.

CAP.JR.
Speak or be shot!

Big Foot places his M-60 on his hip. Puppet opens the ammo can.

SHAKEY
Shakey here.

Big Foot places his machine gun back on the ground.

AIRBORNE
Over here boys.

Shakey comes through the grass first.

SHAKEY
This shit is crazy.

Freckle Back is behind Shakey, cussing up a storm. He walks in the
circle. He is shirtless and the elephant grass is cutting him up.

FRECKLE BACK
Wish they would of told us they were dropping us in
elephant grass over ten feet high.

Freckle Back throws his rucksack down and digs in, to get out a shirt.
Doc, and Chihuahua follow next.

CHIHUAHUA
How we suppose to see anything, hombres?

AIRBORNE
Hopefully if we can't see anything, then maybe
Charlie won't see anything.

CAP.JR.(TO AIRBORNE)
Here, let me take over.

Shakey, Doc and Chihuahua, start stomping down on the grass. Freckle Back
pulls out his machete and starts chopping down the grass.

AIRBORNE
We got company.

More movement is heard, coming down the same pathway as Shakey's group.
Airborne as his weapon at the ready. Pulls up his M-16 when he sees LT
carrying a box of rations on one shoulder and a case of ammo on his other.

AIRBORNE
Let me help you there,LT.

Airborne grabs the C-rations.

LT (CHUCKLES)
Forget the ammo right, as long as you have food.

AIRBORNE
I was thinking about giving the enemy our food. We
could attack when they get the shits.

Snake(the radio man) also comes in with rations. He's followed by Sunny
and Woody, who brought ammo cans with them. Airborne and Cap. Jr. go back
to get the rest.

They've cleared out a good large diameter circle, in-closed by the tall
elephant grass all around.

LT
Listen up guys. We will pass out ammo and rations
here. We are also going to stay here tonight.

SUNNY
I say lets keep going. Surprise them with a
midnight attack.

LT
We are staying here tonight.

CHIHUAHUA
Bueno!

LT
Snake, contact the Hill.

Snake removes the radio off his back, placing it on the ground. Kneeling
in front of it, he tries to make contact with the Hill.

SNAKE
Charlie Delta two, this is Charlie Delta one.

FADE OUT.

EXT. INSIDE PERIMETER - DUST

LT
Gather round people.

Everyone just finished eating out of their green cans.

LT
I don't think we'll need to set out our booby-traps
tonight. I think with all this elephant grass
around us, they would go off too easily. I want us
sleeping in two's. We have enough people here, so
our guard shift will only be one hour per person.
Starting with me of course.

Small chuckles within the men.

LT
So, here's how it will go. I'll take first watch at
6:00pm, which is thirty minutes from now. Snake
you'll be next. next group, will be Doc and
Chihuahua. I don't care who goes first or second
in your group. You can discuss that between
yourselves. Third group, Airborne and Cap. Jr.
Fourth group is Freckle Back and Woody. Fifth is
Shakey and Sunny. Big Foot and Puppet, you two
will take the last two watches.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Will do.

AIRBORNE
How do you feel about this mission LT?

LT
I gave up on trying to figure how these missions
are going to turn out. The time we went out when
third Platoon was blown up. That was suppose to be
a cake walk. Last Battalion in that area said it
was free from NVA's. Then look what happens.

SHAKEY
What does Higher & Higher say about this mission?

LT
Commander says Army Intelligence thinks the base
camp is not in operation. Still in the beginning
stages.

SUNNY (SMILING AS HE TALKS)
I feel Higher and Higher can't afford to lose
another Platoon...so send out a few men. If we get
wiped out. Then they know intelligence was wrong
and they don't lose a whole Platoon over it.

Agreement is heard throughout the men.

DOC
Amen!

LT
That could be exactly what they are doing...we are
the lucky ones.

CHIHUAHUA
Unlucky ones Sir.

LT shakes his head in agreement.

FADE OUT.

EXT. IN PERIMETER - NIGHT

Scene opens with Simon & Garfunkel's song, "HOMEWARD BOUND."

Very dark in the perimeter. All are lying down, some sleeping, except for
Cap. Jr. who is three-quarters through his watch. He sits with his M-16
across his lap. CAMERA pans around all the soldiers, some sleeping, some
lay there with eyes wide open. Further out in the elephant grass, a
ruffling sound is heard. Cap.Jr. gets on his knees, tries focusing in on
the sound. It sounds like something running through the grass, and it is
running straight in the direction of Cap.Jr's. and Airborne's spot.

CAP.JR. (SPEAKING SOFTLY)
Airborne, get up. there's something out
there...coming our way.

Airborne does not respond. This time Cap. Jr. kicks him. Airborne pops up
his head.

AIRBORNE
What happened?

CAP.JR.
I hear noises coming up this way.

Airborne sits up to listen. The ruffling sounds get louder.

AIRBORNE
It sounds like it's heading right to us.

Panic hits Airborne. He grabs his M-16 with his left hand, and as he lifts
it off the ground, he starts shooting. Of course Cap. Jr. follows suit.
This wakes the rest. A lot of confusion in the perimeter now.

Because of the position of Airborne's M-16 when he begins shooting, the
spent cartridges ejects out from his weapon, and he gets pounded in the
neck with them. Because of the heat and speed of the cartridges, Airborne
throws down his weapon, thinking he's been shot.

AIRBORNE
I've been hit!

CAP.JR.
Airborne's hit! Shit Doc, get over here!

Cap.Jr. keeps shooting. More soldiers are up now, also shooting in the
direction where Cap. Jr. is laying down lead. Chihuahua puts on his vest
of grenade for his 79 grenade launcher. He quickly shoves a grenade down
the barrel, points the shot gun over the elephant grass and pulls the
trigger. "POOF" A few seconds later an EXPLOSION is heard out in the
night. Chihuahua pops open the launcher, pulls out the large empty casing
and places another grenade in the shot gun. Fires again.

By this time you can also hear the sound of Big Foot's M- 60 going off.
Doc gets over to Airborne, who is laying on his back.

DOC
Where you hit?

AIRBORNE
In the neck.

Doc throws his shirt over Airborne's head, turns his flashlight on,
beneath the shirt. He looks around the neck area. No blood.

DOC (NOT AS WORRIED)
Where in the neck, Airborne?

Airborne points to a spot, that is red, put not punctured. Doc shines the
light around and sees the cartridges laying next to Airborne, and starts
laughing.

AIRBORNE
What did you do Doc, shoot yourself with morphine,
instead of me?

More laughter from Doc. The firing stops.

AIRBORNE
Doc, what's wrong?

DOC
What hit you in your neck were the casings from the
bullets of your M-16. You just have a small welt.

Airborne pops up fast, embarrass all to hell.

LT (LAUGHTER)
We are just happy to have you back.

AIRBORNE
I did start firing before I had my weapon in front
of me...but there was something out there getting
close to us.

CAP.JR.(RELIEVED)
Yeah...something was headed right at us.

LT
With all that fire power out we shot out
there...it's either gone or dead. Lets get back in
our positions.

Snake comes over and rubs Airborne's head.

SNAKE
Glad you are Okay.

AIRBORNE
Thanks, big guy. I guess I will never hear the end
of this.

CHIHUAHUA
It will be something for me tell my FNG's my
hermano.

Chihuahua removes his grenade vest.

CHIHUAHUA
Coming back home Doc?

DOC
Be right there.

Chihuahua walks back.

DOC
Here's some cream for the burn.

AIRBORNE
Thank you Doc, but save it for somebody who really
needs it.

Doc packs up his bag, Dodds and Puppet come by.

BIG FOOT DODDS
Don't feel foolish shit head...just look around
you. We're in hell.

Dodds and Airborne do the Vietnam Dap. Big Foot and Puppet leave.

CAP.JR. (CHUCKLING)
Airborne, it's time for your watch.

AIRBORNE
Great...at least I'm wide awake now.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. BASE OF IRON MOUNTAIN - DAY

"RAINY DAY BLUES" by Eric Kaisinger is playing as the recon squad is at
the base of the Mountain range, moving up, beside a creek. The CAMERA
moves to each men as they walk up the mountain. Airborne is walking point,
Cap. Jr. the slackman. Next is Chihuahua carrying his vest of grenades for
his M-79 launcher. Big Foot with his M-60 machine gun, on his shoulder,
follows next. Puppet close behind with the ammo. Doc following next. Snake
(the radioman) and LT behind him. Sunny (smiling) and Woody at the back,
with Freckle Back bringing up the rear.

The trail next to the creek, has not been used for quite some time, as
Airborne has to bring out the machete at times. Airborne doesn't mind
that, an unused trail is less chance of running into a booby- trap.

Transmission comes over Snake's radio.

LT
Pass it on to hold up.

Snake tells Doc. Doc relays the message to Puppet. Dodds also hears, and
tells Chihuahua, who tells Cap.Jr.

CAP.JR.
Airborne, hold up.

AIRBORNE
Glad to.

He sticks his machete into the ground. Moves closer to the stream and sits
on a flat squared rock.

CAP.JR.
I hear LT on the radio.

AIRBORNE
Abort mission is all I want to hear.

Airborne and Cap. Jr. both drink from their canteens and can barely hear
LT talking to the men in the rear. LT and Snake finally make their way to
Cap.Jr. and Airborne.

LT
We have a mission within a mission now. We have to
change coordinates. A LOH
(light observation helicopter)
has spotted some NVA's coming down the mountain.
We are going to move South...try and get a fix on
them from the LOH. We will set up an ambush, then
continue on with our main mission

SHAKEY
It just keeps getting better and better.

LT
I'll get back with you Airborne on the coordinates.

Sunny walks up to Cap. Jr. and Airborne.

SUNNY (SMILING)
More NVA to kill. Sappers, toughest Army they
got. We'll show them tough, right men. Kill all
them ass-hole mothers, then rotate back on course
and finish off the rest of those Sap bastards.

Sunny heads back down the trail.

AIRBORNE
Would you say a loose cannon?

CAP.JR.
Would say yeah.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. AMBUSH SITE - DA

There is a flat clearing, with a well used trail, running through it. A
wall of rock is covered by thick brush and trees.

LT
We'll hide behind the trees, up against the rock
wall.

Snake is on the radio, giving their location.

SNAKE
Observers say they are only a few clicks away.

LT
Lets get ready men.

SUNNY (SCREAMS)
Rock and Roll!!

LT gives Sunny a look of disapproval.

LT
Once we get behind there, no movement, no talking.
Do not fire until they are all in the clearing and
wait for my command to fire. Lets get in our
places.

The soldiers head towards the tree area.

LT
Chihuahua...not a good idea to use your grenade
launcher...too close quarters...use your 45
instead.

CHIHUAHUA
Will do LT.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. BEHIND COVER OF THE JUNGLE - DAY

It has been over an hour before the soldiers hear the voices of Vietnamese
coming down the trail. All are walking right pass the soldiers.

Most are shocked, that the group are only women, children and a few very
old men. The soldiers are looking to LT, for a decision. LT holds back,
but Sunny doesn't wait for the command. He lets loose with automatic fire.
The rest have to follow suit. All hell breaks loose. The screaming of
women and children, made Airborne sick, but like the rest, they all kept
firing till all were down and dead.

The men all come walking out from behind the trees.

LT (ANGRY)
Did you hear my command to fire, Sunny?

All the men are standing around the massacre.

LT
I need look outs at both ends of the trail.

AIRBORNE
We'll take the end they came down on.

Airborne gives Cap. Jr. a nod. Shakey and Freckle Back takes the other
end.

LT
I'm waiting for your answer Sunny.

Sunny walks back and forth, looking down at the dead. The other soldiers
move, watching their flanks.

SUNNY (ARGUMENTATIVE)
You were going to let them pass.

LT
And if so, it's my decision.

SUNNY
Look it

Sunny points to all the dead bodies.

SUNNY
All women and kids...and a few old geezers.
Doesn't that strike you funny. Where are all the
young and adult men?

Sunny gets more animated, walking over to the different groups.

SUNNY
Where are they? Where are the adults and
teenagers?

LT
Calm down Sunny.

SUNNY
The adult men are up at that base camp. These are
the mother fuckin families of those mother fuckin
Sappers.

Sunny gives LT a far away smile.

SUNNY
Maybe our LT shouldn't have extended his tour.
Maybe he's getting too soft.

SNAKE (YELLING)
Fuck you Private, your a sorry ass.

LT
It's okay Snake, relax.

SUNNY (SCREAMS)
Maybe it's time to take you out ole timer!

BIG FOOT DODDS
Turn around slowly, shit for brains.

Sunny faces Dodds.

SUNNY
Fuck you big guy. I belong in the bush to kill
all! What are you here for? To jack-off your
little Puppet friend.

Big Foot braces his M-60 on his hip. The SCENE now is in SLOW MOTION, as
Dodds lets loose and Sunny is hit several times in his chest. The rounds
enter slowly as his back slowly explodes open, with blood flying
everywhere. Sunny falls back and bounces on the ground a couple of times,
before coming to a stop. The SCENE is now back to NORMAL speed.

Doc rushes over to see if he is still alive. He's not.

BIG FOOT DODDS
LT, you can court marshal me, when we get
back...but please let me finish the mission.

AIRBORNE
LT, your going to have to court marshal me also.

LT looks confused.

AIRBORNE
I took out Lt. Goodroad. He was a danger to our
Squad, just as Sunny was.

LT looks to all the others.

LT
Does anyone here want Airborne or Big Foot
reported?

The men shake their heads no.

CHIHUAHUA
No baby...I with you all.

LT
Snake, call in a Medivac. Sunny died a
hero...that's what his family will hear.

A verse from Bob Dylan's song, "WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE" plays on.

FADE TO BLACK

EXT. BOMBING AREA - AFTERNOON

Airborne rounds a bend and comes to a stop. Out in front of him is an
area of devastation. Trees blown to pieces, some are bent to the ground.
All the foliage has been blown away from the air strikes. It surely
didn't look like a jungle, but more like the desert. Wide open spaces.

AIRBORNE (TO CAP. JR.)
Tell LT we are here.

Airborne moves off to the side of the trail, looking for any kind of
movement. Dead silence. Lt makes his way up, kneels down next to
Airborne.

LT
Anything?

AIRBORNE
No sound, no movement.

LT
We will wait here for awhile, if all looks good,
we'll walk across the area in a police action, ten
feet apart, but close enough to see each other.

LT heads back to radio Higher & Higher. Cap. Jr. comes back, looking at
the destruction and damage.

CAP.JR.
If anyone was here, no way they can survive this.

AIRBORNE
What worries me, is those women and children
survived this. I just hope who ever were
here...moved on. Army Intelligence could be off on
the coordinates. And my main concern is,
underground bunkers and booby-traps if they did
leave.

CAP.JR.
If they were in underground bunkers, I bet they
took off and would you stick around setting up
traps, when another strike could be on it's way.

AIRBORNE
I hope you right. I just don't like the feeling in
my gut.

CAP.JR.
That's from your home pears...your not use to good
and healthy food.

CUT TO:

EXT. ON THE TRAIL - DAY

The men made a perimeter with LT in the middle.

LT
I can't tell you what to expect out there. This
could be one of our easiest missions or could end
up like Third Platoons. I don't know anymore. Just
stay alert and focus. They may have left booby-
traps. They may all be hiding in underground
bunkers. Expect the worse, and pray for the best.
We'll move out around the edge, staying five to ten
feet apart. Then we'll do a police action, walking
through devastated path. If you have any favors you
would like to ask your Higher Power...this would be
a good time.

All the men bow their heads in a minute of silence.

Chihuahua makes the sign of the cross and kisses his dog tags.

CUT TO:

EXT. BOMBED AREA - DAY

Airborne moves to the edge of the tree line and begins walking down to the
far end. Cap. Jr. follows. Dodds go's next, with Puppet behind him.
Then Shakey moves out. Snake and LT is next. Chihuahua and Doc follows.
Woody and Freckle Back bring up the rear. Once Airborne reaches the far
end, they all stop, looking at each other, they proceed ahead, across the
bombed out area. Airborne remembers back in basic training, when the
whole Company would spread out at one end of their barracks and proceed
ahead, just like now, only back then, they were picking up cigarette
butts, paper, trash, etc. He hated policing up the area, but sure wish he
was back there now.

Cap. Jr. spots what could have been a bunker. Cap. raises his hand.

CAP.JR.
I have something out in front of me...could be an
exposed bunker.

LT
Chihuahua, put a M-79 grenade in there.

CHIHUAHUA
Roger that LT.

Chihuahua's launcher is already loaded, he comes over to Cap. Jr.

CUT TO:

INT. INSIDE BUNKER - DAY

Two Sappers inside. The place is a total wreck. Papers, maps,
everywhere. A desk that is broken in half. The Sappers look dirty and
tired. There are a lot of weapons in one corner. Sapper one, reaches for
a RPG (rocket propelled grenade). Sapper two, grabs an AK-47, and heads
down the tunnel.

CUT TO:

EXT. OUTSIDE IN FRONT OF BUNKER - DAY

Cap Jr. points to the broken boards and the hole below them. Chihuahua
moves quickly, gets on his knees and aims into the hole. But not quick
enough. Sapper one, already shot the RPG out the hole.

It's a sight, none of the men will ever forget. Out from the bunker, the
rocket propelled grenade jets out, and hits Chihuahua right through his
chest, then exploding. Also all the grenades in his vest went off, leaving
the top part of Chihuahua in pieces.

Everyone turns their fire power into the bunker. Firing wildly all around
and in the bunker. Sapper one is riddled with the men's rapid firing, and
hits the back wall and collapses on the dirt floor.

Airborne and Cap. Jr. both, roll in grenades.

AIRBORNE
Fire in the hole!

All take cover. Two muffled explosions go off. Airborne sees Chihuahua's
body blown apart, and the Third Platoon massacre begins running through
his mind.

LT
Let's get out from the open. Back into the tree
lines. Could be more Sappers around.

Sapper two is already out, laying on a bent tree. The men start moving
fast toward cover.

In SLOW MOTION the Sapper fires his AK-47, hitting Doc in the head. Scalp
and brain matter flies everywhere. Doc drops on his back.

LT
Where's it coming from?

SHAKEY
Straight ahead.

They heard the breaking of branches. Again another "MAD MINUTE"
(concentrated fire of all weapons at maximum rate) takes place.

SHAKEY (EYES WIDEN IN HORROR)
No, not Doc!

Shakey and Freckle Back run back to see if he could be helped. Doc died
instantly. It was Doc's last mission. All were now in the tree line,
except for Shakey and Freckle. They knelt beside Doc, praying.

LT
Please guys, get in here before one of you get hit.

They slowly came to the cover.

LT
Snake, let the Medivac know, possible hot LZ. May
have sniper still at large. I think there is only
one left. We would of been over ran by now. After
we get Doc and Chihuahua on the Medivac...someone
will have to go down into the bunker to check it
out. Who ever it will be, please watch out for
booby-traps. Don't pick anything up...just tell us
what is down there.

AIRBORNE
LT, let an air strike destroy that bunker. We
can't afford to lose any more men.

PUPPET
I'm skinny enough to go down in there, if you think
we need to.

LT
Airborne, may be right. If we destroy it...it
really doesn't matter what was in there. But then
again I think...what if they are planning to over
take our Hill. We would have information on
that,,,maybe even the day and time.

SHAKEY (STILL UPSET ABOUT DOC'S DEATH)
They knew the minute we bombed this place, that we
were on to them. If we find documents on over
taking our Hill...they know we have them, it would
be postpone to a later date. I don't see any good
going in there.

FRECKLE BACK
As much as I hate to say this...I think we need to
know what they were doing here and what they were
planning.

LT
That's how I feel.

SNAKE
Medivac is on their way, and have been warned about
the sniper.

All the men sat nervously, keeping watch from behind and on their flanks.
The chopper is heard. LT pops the canister of smoke, and throws it out in
the clearing.

SMASH CUT:

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

LT hands Puppet a hand radio, as Airborne and Woody watch out for the VC.

LT
We have you on Snake's frequency. I want to know
what's going on at all times down there. Don't
spend too much time down there.

PUPPET
Don't plan to.

Puppet slips himself into the bunker.

LT
Ok, lets get back under cover.

As they enter the tree line, Shakey sits holding on to Doc's bloody
medical bag. A little static comes over Snake's box, which is up against
a tree. Snake and LT are at the radio, while the rest of the men have made
a perimeter around them, looking outwards, on watch.

PUPPET (V.O. COMING OUT FROM BASE RADIO)
There's a lot of dust in here. Probably from the
grenades.

CUT TO:

INT. INSIDE BUNKER - DAY

Puppet focuses towards the back wall and sees the dead VC.

PUPPET
There's one dead Sapper in here. Good job men.
There are papers everywhere, all in gook writing.

Puppet walks over to the corner where the weapons are.

PUPPET
Boo-coo weapons in here!

LT (V.O.)
Don't touch them...they could be booby-trapped...we
don't need them.

PUPPET
A-Okay.

Puppet moves over to the broken up desk. Half of the desk is tilted to
the floor, along with maps and papers. The other half is still standing
up. It is also covered with documents and maps. Puppet bends forward and
sees a photo of their Hill.

PUPPET (EXCITED)
Those bastards have a picture of our Hill.

LT (V.O.)
They were planning to over run us.

Puppet picks up the photo, and hears a click. beneath the photo is a
claymore mine. Puppet never had time to think. The claymore explodes,
hitting Puppet with hundreds of propelled bee-bees into his face and upper
chest.

The loud explosion is heard outside, and the men can see the dust and
debris, bellowing out of the bunkers hole. The recurring sick feeling of
another death of a soldier and close friend, fill the men's stomach.
Especially for LT, who gave the order to go in.

BIG FOOT DODDS
I have to get him out of there. We're not leaving
him behind.

LT
No, we will never leave a man behind. I'll call
Higher and Higher. Our mission is completed here.
We need to recover back on the Hill. Snake call in
another medivac.

FADE TO BLACK

EXT. THE HILL - DAY

It's Airborne's and Cap. Jr.'s last day on the Hill. They are heading
back to the real World. All their friends have left during the proceeding
months. Shakey Legs, Freckle Back, Snake, and Dodds. All made it back
home. LT, Airborne, Cap. Jr. and Woody are the old timers now, but two
are ready to leave.

Airborne, Cap. Jr. and Woody sit on top of their bunker, smoking a "J"
Cap. Jr. wears an eye patch, from a chopper crash, just a couple of weeks
ago. They are talking about how the NVA tried to take their hill a month
ago and were defeated. As they pass the joint around, LT walks up on
them.

LT
I'm going to have to court marshal you guys for
smoking pot.

AIRBORNE
Or you can join us in a farewell toast to Cap. and
I.

LT
I have to see the Commander next, better not be
high. I think he is going to keep me on the hill,
since my second tour is almost up.

AIRBORNE
Great! You spent more time out in the bush than
anyone of us. Your odds of staying alive are
against you. You deserve to stay up here.

LT
I want to tell you two, exactly what I told you
when I first meant you guys. It is a pleasure to
meet you two, and it was. You are good soldiers
and I am proud to serve with you.

Airborne and Cap. both get up and hug LT.

AIRBORNE
We are the ones who are proud to have served under
you.

CAP.JR.
Proud and lucky.

AIRBORNE
And you still have some good soldiers under your
command.

Airborne points to Woody, who waves.

LT
Yes. second Platoon is blessed with good men. You
get home and forget this war.

Cap. Jr. takes a hit of the smoke.

CAP.JR.
It's already forgotten.

LT
Your chopper will be here in a hour to take you to
Cam Ron Bay. Make sure to stop by the Commander's
office for your orders. He would like to say
something before you two leave. I think promotions
and medals are waiting you two.

AIRBORNE
Thank you Sir.

Both men salute their Lieutenant. LT salutes back.

Airborne and Cap. Jr. went from bunker to bunker to say their good-byes.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE HILL - DAY

With duffle bags on their shoulders, they look out into the jungles, and
remember their fallen Comrades.

AIRBORNE
I feel like giving Dee-Dee and Dave a visit. Set
up a claymore booby-trap, steal Puppet's car and
paint it blue again.

CAP.JR.
Let it go Airborne...we're going home.

AIRBORNE
I hate Vietnam.

As they walk toward the chopper pad, Eric Kaisinger's song, "A FATHERS
SORROW" plays on.

Across the screen reads:

COMBAT SOLDIERS WILL SUFFER LATER ON IN LIFE WITH A DISORDER, NOW KNOWN AS
PTSD (POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER). IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE
SYMPTOMS. THE VETERAN THEMSELVES WILL NOT KNOW THEY HAVE IT. PTSD IS
CAUSED FROM ALL THE TRAUMA THEY WENT THROUGH IN WAR. (ALL WARS, BEFORE
VIETNAM AND AFTER) SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: ALCOHOL/SUBSTANCE ABUSE; DEPRESSION;
ISOLATION FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY; PANIC DISORDERS; RAGE; SUICIDAL
INTENTIONS; DISORGANIZED THINKING. A SMELL OR SOUND CAN TRIGGER A
FLASHBACK. IF YOU ARE A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER OF A COMBAT VETERAN,
WHO SHOWS SYMPTOMS OF PTSD, HELP THEM. GET THEM INTO THE VA FOR
TREATMENT. IT IS THEIR RIGHT! EDUCATION, COPING SKILLS TRAINING, GROUP,
AND ONE ON ONE THERAPY, COGNITIVE THERAPY, MEDICATION WHEN NEEDED, AND
FINANCIAL BENEFITS WILL BE GIVEN. HELP THE ONES WHO PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE
LINE FOR OUR FREEDOM. REMEMBER FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

THE END