fade in: ext. indiana farmhouse - day chickens move … · why did i do it? because i felt like i...
TRANSCRIPT
FADE IN:
EXT. INDIANA FARMHOUSE - DAY
Chickens move around in an area next to a beat-up farmhouse.
A CBS van, a truck, two new 1969 automobiles and severalolder ones park on a dirt area in front of the farmhouse.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
PAUL MEADLO (21), glasses, sits on a worn out sofa betweenhis WIFE (20) and his MOTHER.
MIKE WALLACE (50) sits across from them.
WALLACEHow many people did you killthat day?
MEADLOWell, I might have killed about10 or 15 of them.
WALLACEWomen and children?
MEADLO` Yes, there were women, children,
and even babies.
Wallace scrutinizes Meadlo.
WALLACEThey weren’t begging or saying,“No, no”?
MEADLORight. They didn’t put up anyfight. The women huddled againsttheir children and took it. Some put their bodies over them trying to save them.
WALLACEObviously, the question comes tomind, how do you shoot babies?
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MEADLOI don’t know. It’s just one ofthose things.
WALLACEWhy did you do such a thing?
MEADLOWhy did I do it? Because I feltlike I was ordered to do it. Andit seemed like I realized...atthe time, I felt like I was doingthe right thing. I really did. LikeI said, I lost buddies.
WALLACEYou’re not suggesting that justifiesthe slaughter of innocent babies?
MEADLOWell, they were the enemy.
MOTHERI gave the army a good boy andthey sent back a murderer.
INT. DRUGSTORE - DAY
Meadlo’s mother strolls up to a magazine rack.
INSERT: Bodies of dead Vietnamese on the cover of Life.
She picks up the magazine and examines it.
MOTHEROh, my God.
She puts the magazine back and wipes the tears from underher eyes.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
REPORTERS, holding pens and notebooks, stand against thewalls while most of them sit on folding chairs.
President NIXON stands at a podium.
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NIXON What appears was certainly a massacre, and under no circumstanceswas it justified. One of our goalsis to keep the people of SouthVietnam from having a governmentwhich has atrocity against civiliansas one of its policies. We cannotever condone or use atrocities againstcivilians to accomplish that goal.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
A uniformed CAPTAIN AUBREY DANIEL (28), handsome and boyishlooking, sits across from Meadlo.
MEADLOI refuse to testify.
DANIELMore arrests are forthcoming. Ifyou testify, you’ll be given fullimmunity. On the other hand, if you are convicted of a crime related to that incident, you will lose your disability pension.
MEADLOOkay, I’ll think about. I gotyour phone number.
Captain Daniel stands.
DANIELMy full immunity offer is good for forty eight hours.
MEADLOYeah, yeah. I’ll call you.
Daniel leaves.
EXT. NARRAGANSETT BAY - RHODE ISLAND - DAY
Low tide. Dead horseshoe crabs, jellyfish and rocks coverthe beach.
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Daniel strolls down the rocky beach with COON (21), a prettyboy with pearl white teeth.
COONI’ll never forget that day. Ihave nightmares several nightsa week. Maybe after I testify I’ll sleep better.
DANIELAre you ready to head back?
COONNah. I’m going to take a long walk.Get some fresh air.
DANIELThanks again for your cooperation.
They shake hands.
DANIELI’ll keep in contact until thetrial.
COONLater.
Coon gives Daniel a little hand jester as Daniel walks away.
Coon picks up a good size stone and throws it in the airtowards the bay.
EXT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT
S. I. DECEMBER 2, 1967
The plane flies above the China Sea towards the coast ofVietnam. The sky is black. Bright flashes from explosionsand lightning light up various areas of Vietnam.
INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT
Coon peers out the window of the plane.
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EXT. AIRFIELD - NIGHT
SOLDIERS wearing jungle fatigues and carrying green dufflebags across their shoulders run down the ramp leaving theplane. A SOLDIER wearing a helmet and flak jacket leads themto a bus that’s parked about thirty feet away from theplane.
The sound of firecrackers exploding fills the air.
Coon follows several soldiers into the bus.
INT. BUS - NIGHT
Coon sits down next to the window. He looks out.
EXT. AIRFIELD - NIGHT
TWO MPs stand by three black rubber body bags. Both of themlight up packages of firecrackers and toss them at the bus.
The bus drives away.
EXT. REPLACEMENT CENTER - BARRACKS - DAY
A SERGEANT stands in front of two rows of Soldiers, six menin each row. Coon stands behind Paul Meadlo.
SERGEANTUntil your orders arrive, whichtakes about two weeks, you willbe busy. The first row will befilling sandbags. The rest of youwill be burning shit. Someone will be here shortly to escort you to your assigned work areas.
The sergeant struts away.
Coon taps Meadlo on the shoulder.
COONWanna swap assignments?
MEADLOWhy?
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COONI like manual labor. And I havea very weak stomach. Swap and the beers will be on me.
MEADLOAll right. I was brought up ona farm. Shit doesn’t bother me.
Coon and Meadlo swap places.
INT. ENLISTED MEN’S CLUB - NIGHT
Coon and Meadlo stand at the bar.
Coon takes a sip from a can of Budweiser.
COONNot bad for a dime.
MEADLOIt’s only three point two.
COONI can’t tell the difference.I never had any stateside.
MEADLONeither have I.
COONOld enough for combat, but notold enough to buy a beer. Doesn’tmake any sense to me.
Coon eyes two soldiers playing chess at a small table.
COONDo ya play chess?
MEADLONope. Do you?
COONYup. I’ll be right back.
Coon walks over to the soldiers.
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COONCan I challenge the winner?
PFC OVERMAN (20) glances up at Coon, then goes back tostaring at the chess pieces.
OVERMANAre you any good?
COONOver a 1500 rating when I playedon the high school chess team.
OVERMANGo to Captain Dion’s hootch. Tellhim Overman sent you.
INT. CAPTAIN DION’S ROOM - NIGHT
CAPTAIN DION (26) stares at the chessmen.
DIONI should have seen that coming.
He tips over his king.
DIONGood game.
Coon sits across from him.
COONThanks.
DIONI don’t know why you were sent uphere. We don’t need any searchlightrepairmen. You’ll be assigned toinfantry, I’m sure of it.
COONI guess there’s nothing I can do about that.
DIONI can if they have an opening inyour MOS somewhere in country.
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COONI would appreciate that, very much.
DIONI know some people in Long Bihn.I’ll see what I can do for you.
EXT. ARTILLERY COMPOUND OUTSIDE OF LONG BIHN - DAY
Rows of long wooden and screened barracks surrounded by sixfeet high rows of dirt filled sandbags stand in one area ofa very large compound.
Wooden decking runs between and to the entrance of eachbarrack.
Coon follows SPEC. 5 DRINKHOUSE (23) into a barrack.
INT. BARRACKS - DAY
Coon and Drinkhouse stand in the center of a two bunk room.There’s a large stereo system and a small refrigeratoragainst the wall. At the foot of both bunks are black footlockers.
DRINKHOUSEA Vietnamese girl will wash and iron your clothes, shin your boots, makeyour bed and clean the room for twobucks a week in funny money. If asearchlight brakes down, they’ll flyyou out to the field to fix it. Youstay there until you can get a rideback. When there’s no searchlightwork, you work in the motor pool.Any questions.
COONNo. Everything sounds good to me.
DRINKHOUSE
Good. Sergeant Margarita wants youto ride shotgun for him. Be out front at 1100.
COONI’ll be there.
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EXT. BARRACK - DAY
Coon, wearing a helmet and flak jacket and carrying a M—16rifle, stands in front of his barrack.
SGT. TILO MARGARITA, mid thirties, wearing combat gear andsmoking on a fat cigar, approaches Coon.
TILOYou’re driving, Pard. Let’smove it out.
Coon follows Tilo to an army jeep. They get in.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The jeep moves along on a two-lane paved road.
INT/EXT. JEEP
TILOWe’re gonna stop in Binh Hoa. I justheard about a classy new whorehouse.
COONIt’s off limits.
TILOSo what? Every whorehouse in theworld is off limits.
Tilo shows Coon a pint of blackberry brandy.
TILOThis is for my cold.
He removes the cap and takes a big swig.
TILOAhh! There! Cold all gone now. Yawanna sip?
COONNo thanks.
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Tilo takes another big swig. He puts the cap back on andlays the bottle under his seat.
TILOTake your next right.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The jeep travels on the asphalt road. It makes a right turnonto a dirt road.
INT./EXT. JEEP
Tilo pulls out another cigar and lights it with a lightershaped like a hand grenade.
TILOHave ya been laid since ya been incountry, Pard?
COONNo.
TILOYa know, one in the bush is bettathan two by the hand.
COONI guess.
TILO(pointing)
There it is. Pull up to the gate.
A tall metal fence encircles two large brick buildings.
Coon stops the jeep in front of a large gate.
He scans the area.
COONThere’s no one here. I got a gutfeeling something isn’t right here.
TILOYou worry too much.
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Coon picks up his M—16 rifle.
Tilo steps out of the jeep and strolls up to the gate.
A door to one of the brick building opens. TWO WOMEN dressedin black appear.
Tilo turns to Coon.
TILOLook at that. The whores are dressedlike nuns. Whatta front!
COONThey are nuns! It’s a nunnery.
The two nuns march towards Tilo.
TILOI’ll ask and find out for sure.
COONCome on, Sergeant. Don’t ask a nunif she’s a boom boom girl.
Tilo waves goodbye to the nuns.
The nuns look at each other, confused.
Tilo returns to the jeep and gets in.
TILOThat ball buster will payfor this. I know anotha place.
EXT. DESOLATE DIRT ROAD - DAY
A VIETNAMESE FARMER, a small elderly man wearing a largefunnel shaped straw hat, squats next to the dirt road.
The jeep moves towards the farmer.
The farmer stares at the jeep.
The jeep moves closer and closer.
The farmer watches the jeep as it passes by.
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Tilo tosses a grenade. It lands in front of the farmer.
The farmer eyes the hand grenade on the road in front ofhim.
He stands.
The grenade explodes.
INT./EXT. JEEP
Tilo turns to Coon.
TILODid ya see his eyes, Pard? I thoughtthey were gonna pop out of his fuckin’head.
Coon stares ahead. His hands firmly clutch the steeringwheel.
EXT. AIRBASE - DAY
The jeep moves into the airbase. It travels a short ways andstops by an outside dining area.
SOLDIERS and VIETNAMESE CIVILIANS sit around small roundtables.
EXT. OUTSIDE DINING AREA - DAY
Tilo and Coon sit at a small table. Tilo takes a swig out ofa can of Budweiser beer.
COONI want to go back. I don’t feel well.
Tilo ignores him. He takes a swig of beer.
A VIETNAMESE GIRL, 7, wearing a long white gown, approachesTilo. She shows him a small notebook.
GIRLPlay tic-tac-toe?
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TILOGo play in the barbed wire.
GIRLNo bitt.
Tilo grabs the girls hair and pulls her head back.
TILOYa bitt this, ya little gook?
Coon stands.
Tilo lets the girl go.
She backs away from Tilo.
GIRL(pointing)
G I number ten thousand.
Tilo squints at Coon.
TILOYa think ya can take me, Pard?
COONI’m going to go PX.
Coon saunters towards the PX.
INT./EXT. JEEP - DAY
Tilo sits on the passenger side puffing on a cigar.
EXT. OUTSIDE DINING AREA - DAY
The little Vietnamese girl takes the grenade shaped lighteroff the table.
She rushes towards Tilo.
INT./EXT. JEEP - DAY
Tilo observes the little girl. He picks up his M—16 rifleand takes aim. The tip of the cigar in his mouth turns abright red. He squeezes the trigger.
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Flames shoot out of the flash arrester.
A bullet passes through the girl’s arm. The lighter falls tothe ground.
The stunned girl gawks at the hole through her bloody arm.
Tilo takes aim. The tip of the cigar turns red. He squeezesthe trigger.
The girl stares at Tilo as a bullet enters her forehead.
INT. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE - DAY
The CAPTAIN, sitting behind a desk, shrugs his shoulders andmakes a frown.
CAPTAINShooting a civilian accidentally isn’t a war crime. He thought it was a real grenade.
Coon stands in front of the desk.
COONIt was his lighter. I saw him use it.
CAPTAINHe says it wasn’t his.
The Captain sits back in his chair and rubs his crotch.
COONWhat about the farmer?
CAPTAINI’ll have lieutenant Rice look intothat. In the meantime, I want you toget a haircut. And shave that peachfuzz off your face.
INT. INSPECTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE - DAY
The MAJOR sits behind his desk reading a complaint.
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Coon enters the room and salutes the Major.
The Major returns a salute without taking his eyes off thecomplaint.
Coon stands at attention in front of the desk.
The Major scrutinizes Coon.
MAJORDo you have anything to substantiate your allegations?
COONNo sir, I don’t.
MAJORThese are serious charges. Do you realize you can go to jail for signing this?
COONFor reporting war crimes?
The Major almost comes out of his chair.
MAJORWait a damn minute, soldier. I willnot tolerate any insubordination from you. You better think things over before you get into big trouble.
COONI thought it over.
MAJORYou’re accusing a non-commission officer of committing two hideous war crimes and you don’t have any proof.
COONI saw him murder the farmer.
The Major pulls out a green handkerchief and blows his nose.
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MAJORYour captain told you he was orderingan investigation. Don’t come back tothis office until his investigationis completed and you have some proof.
INT. COONS HOOTCH - NIGHT
Coon tosses and turns on his bunk.
EXT. COMPOUND - NIGHT
Illumination flares light up the compound.
The THUMPING of mortars and the BURSTING of automaticweapons.
A loud siren WAILS. Soldiers, wearing helmets and flakvests, scramble for the bunkers that surround the compound.
Coon comes out of his hootch and sprints towards a bunker.
Tilo, aiming his rifle at Coon, stands next to Coon’shootch. He notices SEVERAL SOLDIERS running close by. Helowers his rifle and moves towards Coon.
Two VIET CONG, firing their AK- 47's, dash out from besidesa hootch.
TWO SOLDIERS fall to the ground.
Coon eyes the Viet Cong. He jumps to the ground, chestfirst. Dirt kicks up around him as he fires. The two VietCong fall to the ground.
Tilo prowls towards Coon. He brings his weapon to hisshoulder and takes aim.
Coon rolls on his side and fires.
Tilo falls to the ground.
INT. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE - DAY
The Captain reviews some paperwork as Coon stands in frontof his desk.
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CAPTAINIt appears there’s a problem withyour orders. You were assigned toinfantry duty up north. Be packedand ready to leave by 1300.
EXT. LZ DOTTIE - DAY
Paul Meadlo and SGT. BOONE, (28), large, black, slightlyoverweight, wearing a Santa Claus hat, pose for a picture.Both men are smiling and wearing green tee shirts.
PHOTON, (22), blond hair, takes the picture.
SGT. BOONENow, Photon, I expect to seethat in Stars and Stripes. My four-year-old will love it.
PHOTONI can only promise both of youa copy of the photo. That’s it.
Meadlo peers over Photon’s shoulder and squints.
Three shirtless BLACK SOLDIERS fill sand bags.
Beyond the black men, Coon, wearing full combat gear andcarrying a rifle with a duffle back over his shoulder, movestowards them.
MEADLO(Yells)
Hey, Coon.
The three black MEN look up and glare at Meadlo.
Boone pushes Meadlo’s arm.
BOONEWhat’s wrong with you, Meadlo?
MEADLOHuh? What I do, Sarge?
Coon stomps by the three black soldiers.
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Meadlo smiles broadly as he watches Coon advance towardshim.
Upon reaching Meadlo, Coon lays his duffel bag and rifledown.
Meadlo and Coon shake hands.
MEADLODidn’t think you were coming.
COONPaperwork problems.
MEADLOOkay if he stays in my bunker,Sarge? We have an empty bunk.
SGT. BOONESure, that’ll be fine.
Sgt. Boone extends his hand towards Coon.
SGT. BOONEI’m Sgt. Boone. If you needanything, I’m the man to see.Do you have a first name?
COONYeah, but even torture won’t getit out of me.
Boone laughs out loud.
SGT. BOONEIt’s that bad?
COONYup, I’m afraid so.
MEADLOThere was a rumor he had a clerkat the replacement center killedfor revealing it.
SGT. BOONEWe’ll have no killing around here.
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COONWhat about Charlie?
SGT. BOONEI’ve been here three weeks. Nosign of Charlie, yet.
COONI think I’m gonna like it here.
Photon offers his hand.
Coon shakes it.
PHOTONThey call me Photon. I’m aphotographer. Therefore thatstupid nickname.
COONThat’s what I need, a goodnickname.
BOONEI’ll say.
Boone laughs.
INT. BUNKER - NIGHT
Coon, Meadlo, R A(22), tall, pale and thin, and ALPHABET(20), muscular, sit around a small round table playingcards. Each man has a pile of paper military currency(commonly referred to as funny money) on the table.
MEADLOR A is the only volunteer grunthere. Everybody else is U S.Drafted.
R AAnd I’m proud of it. Shoes on my feet. Food in my belly. And when I re-up, a six thousand dollar bonus. What more can a man ask for.
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COONA night with Ann-Margret or TuesdayWeld would be nice. Actually threeminutes would be great.
Alphabet stretches his arms, showing off his muscles.
ALPHABETI’d settle for anything witha little public hair.
COONPubic hair.
MEADLOHe means public. He likes hiswomen easy.
ALPHABETThey’re easy around here. Thegoing rate’s two hundred piastersor a cartoon of cigarettes.
Coon pulls out a marijuana cigarette and lights it.
MEADLOIs that pot?
COONYeah. I bought a bag of it forfifty cents. It relaxes me. It’sbeen a tough week. Want some?
MEADLONo thanks. I hear that leads tothe hard stuff.
ALPHABETI’ll take a drag.
Coon passes the joint to Alphabet. He puts it to his lipsand inhales deeply.
R AI’ll stick with my booze.
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ALPHABETTomorrow, shithead is gonna take us on patrol again. Talk about awaste of time. Stomping throughrice paddies, for what?
COONWho’s Shithead?
ALPHABETOur lieutenant. The Captain callshim shithead. He doesn’t care who’saround, either.
MEADLONobody likes the guy. Everybodywonders how did he ever make lieutenant.
COONYou guys been here only two andthree weeks, right?
ALPHABETYou’ll see. Only Meadlo and R Alisten to the runt.
MEADLOI don’t want an article 15.
R AHe’s an officer and I respecthim for that. Even if he isn’tallowed to ride all the ridesat Disneyland.
Alphabet laughs.
Coon looks confused.
EXT. LZ DOTTIE - DAY
A sign made out of a large cardboard box rests against thegate. On it is a drawing of a man holding a ruler out with63" written above a line by the end of the ruler. Just abovethe 63" reads, “You have to be at least this tall to exitthe compound.”
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LT. CALLEY (24), 5' 3" tall, and Sgt. Boone march up to thegate. Boone laughs out loud. Calley gives him a dirty look.
Calley turns to his patrol, all wearing full combat gear. Hepoints at the sign.
CALLEYWho’s responsible for that?
SOLDIER (O.S.)Charlie did it.
Calley eyes his men.
CALLEYWho said that?
SGT. BOONESir, the boys are just havinga little fun. I’ll see thatit doesn’t happen again.
CALLEYIt better stop. I want discipline.No, I demand it.
SGT. BOONEI’ll see to it, sir.
Calley and Sgt. Boone lead the men out the gate.
Alphabet marches next to R A.
ALPHABETMidgets. No sense of humor.
R AI look up to the guy.
ALPHABETYeah, you worship the groundhe slithers on.
EXT. SMALL VILLAGE - DAY
The patrol strolls through the village.
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Some of the villagers pay no attention to the soldiers. Some give them the evil eye while others just observe.
A pretty GIRL (16), holding a BOY (2), admires Coon.
Coon returns a smile and a wink.
Alphabet hands the boy a piece of candy.
Calley notices him and marches over to him.
CALLEYYou know I don’t allow that.
ALPHABETSorry sir, I forgot.
Calley moves away from Alphabet as Coon approaches them.
COONI’m falling in lust again. Ijust saw the pettiest girl.
ALPHABETIt would never work out. Herfather is Viet Cong. He wouldnever approve the relationship.
COONI’ll convert him.
ALPHABETOr die trying.
They stroll by a Vietnamese WOMAN breast feeding a baby.
The patrol moves out of the village and along the dirt roadbetween the rice paddles. Several farmers stand and watchthem.
The point man steps just to the side of the road. A LOUDEXPLOSION and a ball of flame hurls the man into the air.
The man lands on his back. His helmet flies off his head.
What’s left of his leg and foot hang from skin just belowhis knee.
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A SOLDIER runs over to the wounded man.
SOLDIER(Yells)
Medic.
A bullet goes through the soldier’s neck. He falls to theground.
The rest of the troops get into firing positions.
One of the farmers points towards some bushes.
A half a dozen soldiers fire towards the bushes.
One soldier fires several rounds from his M—79 grenadelauncher.
CALLEYThose villagers should have warnedus.
INT. CAPTAIN MEDINA’S BUNKER - NIGHT
CAPT. MEDINA, (30) meets with Lt. Calley.
MEDINAIn the future, time permitting, I want you to use the mine detector whenever possible.
CALLEYYes, sir. But most of the timewe’re going to be walking throughrice paddies.
MEDINAI realize that. I said whenpossible. Don’t you listen?
CALLEYSorry sir.
MEDINAWhat’s with the R & R request?You’ve only been in country a month.
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CALLEYIt’s not until the February, sir.
MEDINAI’ll approve it for now, subjectto change.
CALLEYThank you, sir.
INT. BUNKER - DUSK
Coon stands in the middle of the bunker.
COONThis is my impression of a Polishmine detector.
He sticks his fingers into his ears and closes his eyes. Hestomps his foot several times in front of him.
Meadlo sits on his bunk and laughs.
MEADLOThat’s funny.
Alphabet, sitting on the bunk across from Meadlo, flexes hisarm as he rubs the back of his head.
ALPHABETWatch yourself, I’m Polish. Nexttime make it Vietnamese.
COONMore censorship.
ALPHABETLook at it as advice on how tostay healthy.
COONReally, there’s too much censorshiphere. I saw, “Bonnie and Clyde” and“The Graduate” at the replacementcenter. No graphic violence and noteat scene.
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MEADLOWhat teat scene?
COONAnn Bancroft flashed her teats.I saw both of them state side.
ALPHABETHer teats?
COONNo, the movies. At the end ofBonnie and Clyde you can see bullets enter his head and onegoes through the lens of hisglasses. All in slow motion.Great scene. Here, they cut itout completely.
R A, reading “Catch-22", sits by an opening in the bunker.
A 6 inch long snake with stripes along its side slithersacross the sandbag.
The snake stops inches away from R A. Half its body goes upin the air as it examines R A.
R A turns his head towards the snake.
They look each other in the eye.
The snake turns and slithers away as R A jumps off hischair. He quickly moves away from the opening and stops nextto Coon.
COONWhat’s with you?
R AI just saw a snake with stripesalong its sides.
ALPHABETSounds like a two stepper.
R AWhat’s a two stepper?
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ALPHABETIt bites you. Then two stepslater your dead.
R A looks at the opening.
Sgt. Boone enters the bunker.
BOONESorry to break up the party,but I got some bad news.
COONCharlie surrendered?
Boone laughs and shows his big toothy grin.
BOONENo, and that would be good news.I’m sorry boys, but I need twovolunteers for L P.
ALPHABETDamn, Sarge, I was out therelast week.
COONL P?
MEADLOListening Post. It’s guard dutyoutside the barbed wire.
BOONEPvt. Meadlo and Pvt. Coon, thankyou for volunteering. As a reward,you two will accompany me tomorrowat 1200.
MEADLOA supply run, Sarge?
BOONEAmong other things. We may evenget in a little skeet shooting.
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MEADLOHow about some miniature golf?
BOONEWhy not?
Boone smiles.
EXT. OUTSIDE OF COMPOUND - NIGHT
Coon and Meadlo lean against a tree about fifty feet awayfrom the barbed wire.
COONSee those barrels over there?
Coon points at three fifty gallon drums about 75 feet away.
MEADLOYeah.
Coon picks up a M—79 grenade launcher.
COONLet’s see who can get the mostinside one for a buck.
MEADLOYou’re on.
Coon puts a round into the short, almost looks like ashotgun, grenade launcher.
He takes aim and squeezes the trigger.
EXT. BASE CAMP - MINIATURE GOLF COURSE - DAY
A white golf ball drops into a hole.
Boon, holding a putter, shows a toothy smile.
BOONEAnother par. Who said this was awhite man’s sport?
Meadlo and Coon stand just outside the putting area.
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MEADLONot me.
BOONEMaybe I’ll get my son into golf.Sidney Boone, Master’s Champion.
The three men walk towards the next hole.
COONI think you’ll see a woman presidentbefore a black man wins The Masters.
Boone laughs.
BOONEA woman president and a blackMaster’s Champion. Wouldn’tthat be something?
They get to the next hole and stop as four young soldiers infront of them walk towards the hole.
COONDid you know that the blacks gotthe right to vote fifty years before women did?
MEADLORightfully so.
BOONEJokes like that aren’t funny,Meadlo. I’ve heard quite a fewin my day, believe me, they hurt.
Boone places his hand on Meadlo’s shoulder.
BOONEPut down women and you’ll neverget laid. Bigotry and hate bringstrouble.
MEADLOWhat about Charlie?
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BOONECharlie’s just like you andme. Soldiers fighting for whatthey believe in.
The four soldiers ahead of them finish the hole.
COONYou’re still up, Sarge.
BOONEThose boys are slow. We’renot going to finish the round.
MEADLOWe going to have time to eat herebefore going back?
BOONEOf course.
COONGreat! It’s been a while sincewe had a real meal.
INT. MESS HALL - DAY
The mess hall is crowded with SOLDIERS. Most of them sit atcafeteria type tables eating. Some stand in the food line.
Several VIETNAMESE WOMEN remove trays and cups from thetables.
Coon and Meadlo, carrying trays filled with food, followBoone to a table. They lay their trays on the table and walkaway.
Coon hurries up to a milk dispenser. He takes a plastic cupfrom a rack and gets some milk from the dispenser.
A VIETNAMES WOMAN takes Coon’s tray away from the table.
Coon carries his milk back to the table. He stops and looksaround. He lays the cup down on the table and goes back tothe food line.
Coon lifts his tray in front of one of a SHORT CORPORAL.
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SHORT CORPORALI recognize you. What are youtrying to pull?
COONNothing. I just want something toeat. Someone took my tray.
SHORT CORPORALThat’s your problem. Put thetray back and get out of line.
A TALL STAFF SERGEANT comes up behind the short corporal.
STAFF SERGEANTWhat’s the problem, here?
SHORT CORPORALHe’s trying to get seconds.
COONI didn’t eat anything. Someonetook my tray of food.
STAFF SERGEANTWrite your congressman. Put thetray back. You’re holding up myline.
An empty tray lies in front of Boone as he pats his mouthwith a napkin.
BOONENow that was mighty good. Don’tworry, Coon. I’ll get you someextra C-rations when we get back.A nice can of franks and beans willfill you up in no time at all.
Boone smiles.
Coon frowns.
EXT. RICE PADDIES - DAY
The patrol mucks through the rice paddies.
32
Alphabet’s about eight feet away from Coon.
ALPHABETMarch, march, march. One stinkingpointless patrol after another.
COONHow do I get out of this outfit?
ALPHABETOn a stretcher or wait to youryear’s up.
COONI’m starting to get dishpan feet.
ALPHABETThat’s what I smell at night.
COONI’d love to be a base camp warrior.You know for two bucks a week agirl washes and irons your clothes,makes your bunk and shines yourboots.
ALPHABETDid you ever notice that thoseprima donnas get all the promotions.
COONOf course. The grunts go homeE-3 and all the boys in the motor pool and all the clerks get E-4 or E-5.
ALPHABETHeard you almost got busted.
COONYeah, Lt. Shithead bagged mefor wasting a box of ammo fora M—79.
ALPHABETHow’d he find out?
33
COONHe must have seen me and Meadlotarget practicing a couple ofnights ago.
A FARMER, waving, stands in his rice paddy.
R A shows him a middle finger.
R AI’d like to pop that gook.
Meadlo, across from R A, stomps through the paddy.
MEADLOWhy?
R ADon’t let the wave fool you. He’sCharlie.
MEADLOLooks like a farmer to me.
EXT. LZ DOTTIE - TWILIGHT
One end of a garden hose hangs from a 7 ‘ pole. Water flowsfrom the hose.
A nude SOLDIER washes himself under the hose as a half dozenSOLDIERS, wearing towels around their waist, wait in line.
Meadlo and Coon sit on folding chairs in front of a bunker.
Sgt. Boone approaches them.
BOONECumhail, you’re riding shotgunfor me tomorrow.
Coon, embarrassed, surveys the area.
COONDamn, Sarge, not so loud.
BOONEWhat kind of a name is Cumhail?
34
COONIrish. I was named after an Irishpoet. We’re we going?
BOONEThe replacement center. Lt. Calley’sgoing on R & R.
MEADLOAre we going on patrol tomorrow?
BOONEAfraid so. Capt. Medina will bein charge.
MEADLOI can’t believe the Captain’staking us. You can’t drive a jeepthrough a rice paddy.
EXT. RICE PADDY - DAY
Capt. Medina stomps through a rice paddy.
An EXPLOSION, followed by a ball of flame, hurls a soldierinto the air.
Two more EXPLOSIONS
Three soldiers lie in the rice paddy, out of sight, andscreaming out loud.
MEDINA(Yells)
Freeze!
One SOLDIER moves a little to his right. A loud EXPLOSIONand a FIREBALL tosses him into the air.
MEDINAI said nobody move.
Another loud EXPLOSION.
The men, frightened and some are crying, stand still.
35
MEDINA(To his radioman)
Don’t move. I want you to callin for some mine sweepers. We’regoing to need some marked pathsto get out of here.
Another loud EXPLOSION.
INT. MEDINA’S BUNKER - TWILIGHT
Medina sits at his desk writing a report.
INSERT REPORT: 3 DEAD 12 WOUNDED
Sgt. Boone enters the bunker and salutes Medina.
Medina returns the salute.
MEDINAIs he ready for questioning?
BOONEYes, sir.
Medina stands and grabs an M—16 rifle.
Boone follows Medina out of the bunker.
EXT. LZ DOTTIE - TWILIGHT
Soldiers stand around and watch Boone follow Medina outsidethe gate of the compound. They march a short distance andstop in front of a Vietnamese INTERPRETER.
INTERPRETERHe’s ready, Captain.
A VIETNAMESE MAN is tied to a tree just off the dirt road.His face is covered with dry blood and an eye is completelyclosed.
Medina, carrying his rifle, marches towards the man andstops about ten feet away. He takes aim and fires his rifle.
A bullet hits the tree a couple of inches from the man’shead.
36
BANG. Another bullet hits even closer to the man’s head.
Medina smiles and takes aim again. He fires.
The bullet hits next to the man’s head.
MEDINASee if he’s willing to talk now.
EXT. DIRT ROAD AND RICE PADDIES - DAY
Sgt. Boone walks with PVT. LOPEZ, (19), along the dirt road.
The rest of the platoon are scattered in the rice paddiesand behind them.
SGT. BOONENext week I’ll be in Hawaii with the love of my life.
LOPEZI thought the Army was the loveof your life, Sarge.
Boone laughs out loud.
SGT. BOONEThe Army is just a job. Aftertwenty years I can retire withfull medical benefits. Open upa little convenience store andlive the American dream.
A little cat lies next to the road. It has a broken leg.
Boone and Lopez notice the cat.
SGT. BOONEWhat have we got here?
Boone approaches the cat, with caution. He bends down overthe cat and examines the area.
SGT. BOONEWhat’s the problem, little fella?
The cat meows.
37
LOPEZCareful, Sarge.
Boone looks up at Lopez with a big smile.
SGT. BOONEIt looks like the little guy hasa broken leg.
Boone reaches for the cat.
A loud EXPLOSION.
Lopez, stunned, stares.
Boone lies on the ground. His hands and half his head aregone.
INT. BUNKER - NIGHT
R A, Coon, Meadlo and Alphabet sit at the table playingcards.
R AHe should of known better.
COONWe all make mistakes.
ALPHABETHe was a pretty good guy. I likedhim. I usually don’t like lifers.Most of them are assholes.
R AWhat about me?
ALPHABETSee my point.
R A scratches his nose with his middle finger.
MEADLOCalley said in a couple of daysit’ll be payback time.
38
R AI heard there’s going to be a fewthousand of those little fuckers.
COONNo way.
R ATomorrow after Boone’s funeral,Mad Dog Medina is going to tellus all about it.
COONWho tells you these things?
R AI’ve got connections.
MEADLOIf the Captain finds out youcall him Mad Dog, you’ll beone sorry lifer.
EXT. LZ DOTTIE - DAY
In a large area in the center of the compound, Medina,surrounded by his officers, talks to his men.
MEDINATomorrow we’ll have two objectives.Avenge the lives of the men we lostover the last few months and tokill the enemy. Kill everything.
SOLDIER (O.S.)Does that mean women and children?
MEDINAThere won’t be any women andchildren there. Just the enemy.It’s payback time. Pollute theirwater system, kill their livestockand burn their homes. And remember,I want a high body count.
39
EXT. BUNKER - NIGHT
Coon and Alphabet sit just outside their bunker.
ALPHABETFinally, we’ll get to fight theenemy. Four months and we haven’tseen one yet. Just snipers andmine fields.
COONHe never really answered the question.
ALPHABETWhich one?
COONDo we kill the women and children?
ALPHABETHe said there won’t be any there.
COONHow could he know that?
ALPHABETIntelligence reports.
COONRight. Maybe he means don’t look at them as women and children. Killthem anyway. He wants a big body count. He was very clear on that.
ALPHABETNo way. You have to use a littlecommon sense. We don’t shoot kids.
COONI know someone who did. And hegot away with it. I shot thebastard.
ALPHABETDid you kill him?
40
COONNo. He didn’t rat on me either.
ALPHABETRatting on someone here can getyou killed. I hope you learnedyour lesson.
COONI did. It’s not worth it.
EXT. LZ DOTTIE - DUSK
Capt. Medina, holding a shovel, stands over a map of My Lai4 drawn on the ground. He’s surrounded by Lt. Calley, twoother lieutenants and six sergeants.
MEDINAWe’re going to be outnumbered by more than two to one. Expect ahell of a good fight.
CALLEYWe’re ready for them, sir.
MEDINADon’t interrupt, shithead. Ourhelicopter gun ships will be supporting us. Enabling us to settle the score. And I don’t expect any prisoners. Any questions?
BLACK SERGEANTWhat about civilians?
MEDINALike I said earlier today, therewon’t be any innocent civiliansthere. Just the enemy. Viet Cong and Viet Cong sympathizers.
Medina turns to Lt. Calley.
MEDINALt. Shithead, what do we do to VC and their sympathizers?
41
CALLEYKill them, sir.
MEDINAThat’s right, sweetheart. Thisis a search and destroy mission.Completely neutralize My Lai. Don’tlet anyone or anything get behindus as we move on to Pinkville.
Medina sticks the shovel into an area on the groundidentified as Pinkville.
EXT. HELICOPTER LANDING AREA - DAY
SUPERIMPOSE: MARCH 16, 1968 0700
Approximately 28 Soldiers board nine helicopters.
One by one the helicopters take off while another 50soldiers tend to their gear on the ground below.
EXT. LANDING AREA NEAR MY LAI HAMLET - DAY
Three helicopter gun ships fire rockets and rounds aroundthe landing area.
The helicopters carrying the troops land.
The soldiers jump from the helicopters and run forirrigation ditches.
The gun ships continue to fire machine gun rounds on theoutskirts of the village.
A farmer, wearing a funnel shaped straw-hat, stands in arice paddy by the village waving his hands above his head.
A gun ship fires a burst of rounds into the farmer.
EXT. IRRIGATION DITCH
Meadlo, holding his M—16, lies against a side of the ditch.
Coon jumps next him.
42
COONIt’s cold, man. Charlie isn’there.
MEADLOHe’s there. They’re all VietCong.
COONRight. If they’re all V C, whoare we fighting for? Why arewe here?
MEADLOTo stop the spread of communism.
COONBy killing them?
EXT. SOUTHERN PORTION MY LAI 4 - DAY
SUPERIMPOSE: 0800
Lt. Calley, followed closely by his radio operator, leadshis platoon into the village.
Some soldiers fire their M-16s from their hips. A few takeaim at livestock: pigs, ducks, chickens and cows.
A woman, carrying a baby, steps out of a bamboo hut.
A soldier turns and fires his weapon on full automatic.
CALLEYI want everybody gathered up.
The soldiers move towards the huts, some killing livestockon the way.
An old farmer, with his arms in the air, stands in front ofa hut. A soldier stabs him with his bayonet.
Calley, his RADIOMAN, Meadlo, and a Vietnamese INTERPRETER approach the entrance to a hut.
Calley and Meadlo aim their rifles as the interpreter yellsinto the hut.
43
INTERPRETERHoan toan. Ngay bay gio! Hoan toan.
The pretty girl Coon saw earlier, holding the same boy, anda WOMAN (40), come out of the hut.
CALLEYDi di.
Calley nods towards an area in front of the hut.
The interpreter peeks inside the hut.
An old toothless WOMAN and two YOUNG GIRLS (7 & 8) followedclosely by Coon approach Calley. Behind Coon, R A tosses ahand grenade into a hut. Seconds later it explodes.
CALLEYTake ‘em all over there by thattree and take care of them.
Coon and Meadlo lead the prisoners away as Calley goes overto the interpreter.
INTERPRETERThere’s a Buddhist priest and an old woman in there.
INT. HUT
A PRIEST, wearing all white, prays over an OLD WOMAN lyingon a bed.
A bullet hits the woman in the forehead.
Stunned, the priest turns. Calley grabs his arm and pullshim towards the open doorway.
EXT. HUT
The priest comes flying out of the doorway, landing on theground. He gets on his knees and begs.
PRIESTNo VC. No VC.
44
Calley smashes the priest’s face with his rifle butt.
The priest falls on the ground. Then he gets on his knees,blood pours from his mouth as he begs.
PRIESTNo VC. Dong tu. Danh tu.
Calley shoots the priest in the head.
Several soldiers gather small groups of women and children.
CALLEY(Pointing)
Take ‘em over to the ditchand take care of them.
Calley grabs a handset from his radioman.
A hundred feet behind him R A and a SOLDIER drop an old mandown a well. R A tosses a grenade into the well.
It EXPLODES.
CALLEYWe gathered up a large group, sir.They’re going to slow us down.
VOICEGet rid of them.
Coon and Meadlo guard their prisoners. The young girl, stillholding the boy, has her blouse open. One breast is exposed.
Calley marches over to Coon.
CALLEYWhat are you doing, soldier?
COONMaking sure she doesn’t have aconcealed weapon, sir.
CALLEYDidn’t I order you two to take care of them?
45
COONWe are. We’re watching ‘em.
CALLEYI mean kill them.
Surprised, Meadlo glares at Calley.
Coon examines the group.
The young girl buttons-up her blouse. The boy smiles at him.One older woman and the eight-year-old girl cry.
Photon takes a picture of the prisoners, then strolls away.
COONNo, I’m not going to do that.
CALLEYThat’s an order, soldier.
Calley points his rifle towards Coon.
Coon turns his rifle on Calley.
COONPoint it in another direction,sir.
CALLEYI can have you shot.
COONMove your weapon. I won’t say itagain.
Calley turns his rifle towards the prisoners and focuses onMeadlo.
CALLEYWhat about you? Are you goingto follow orders?
MEADLOYes, sir.
46
CALLEYThen do it. Waste them.
Meadlo raises his rifle. The rifle shakes in his hand.
Some of the prisoners, in Vietnamese, beg for their lives.
MEADLOSir, I...
CALLEYDo it. That’s an order.
Meadlo closes his eyes and fires his rifle.
Calley, on full automatic, squeezes the trigger. He displaysno emotion.
Coon takes several steps behind Calley. He turns with hisrifle pointing at Calley’s back. His finger goes on thetrigger. His head turns towards the bodies on the ground.
The girl’s lifeless eyes appear to be staring at him. As ifthey were begging for help. Her son now looks like aporcelain doll covered in blood.
Coon mopes away.
Soldiers gather prisoners, mostly women and children.
Large groups of prisoners are escorted out of the villagetowards a ditch. Dead livestock and dead Vietnamese areeverywhere. Several huts burn.
EXT. A LONG AND WIDE IRRIGATION DITCH - DAY
More than forty Vietnamese, mostly women, children andbabies, squat in the ditch.
Coon, Alphabet, and Meadlo, holding M—16 rifles, stand alongthe top of the ditch looking down.
Calley struts up to them and stops next to Meadlo.
CALLEYHow come they’re not dead?
47
MEADLOI didn’t know we were suppose tokill them, sir.
CALLEYI want them dead. Fire when I say fire.
Coon stands on the other side of Meadlo. He steps away fromthe ditch.
COONDo your own killing, Calley.
Some of the Vietnamese cry and hold their children close tothem.
Alphabet steps away from the ditch and moves after Coon.
CALLEYWe’re you going, soldier?
ALPHABETThat’s right. I’m a soldier.Not a baby killer.
CALLEYDo you want a court-martial,private?
ALPHABETI’m only a private, but I know anunlawful order when I hear one.
Alphabet and Coon move towards the village.
Calley glances at Meadlo. Then he looks down into the ditch.
CALLEYWe got another job to do, Meadlo.Start firing.
On full automatic, they fire into the ditch.
Tears flow down Meadlo’s cheeks as he reloads. After heempties his rifle and reloads four times, he turns and mopesaway from the ditch.
48
MEADLO(Crying out loud)
I can’t do it anymore.
Calley takes aim and fires. He does it several times.
EXT. AREAS AWAY FROM DITCH - SHORTLY LATER - DAY
Some soldiers, smoking cigarettes, stand in small groups,and some sit on the ground eating C-rations out of greencans.
Calley walks up to his radioman.
A CHILD (2), covered in blood, crawls out of the ditch. Hestands and scampers down the dirt road, towards the village.
Calley notices the baby.
CALLEYSomebody, shoot him.
The soldiers glance at Calley, then return to what they weredoing.
A little frustrated, Calley, holding his rifle, dashes afterthe child.
Calley grabs him by the arm and yanks him up. Swinging byhis arm, the boy is carried back to the edge of the ditchand hurled in.
Calley takes aim and squeezes the trigger, twice.
He turns and strolls back to his radioman as if nothing hadhappened.
Coon turns to Alphabet.
COONI’ll give you a months pay ifyou frag that bastard.
ALPHABETFirst chance I get, I’ll doit for nothing. With pleasure.
49
R A struts up to them.
R AYou pussies ready to do some work?
COONFuck you, lifer.
R A smiles.
R AYup, and proud of it. Sgt. Gleytold me to tell you’ll to starttorching some of them bamboo shacks. Pronto.
Coon stands.
COONSure thing, kimma suck up. Myhandy government issued Zippois ready for action.
Coon pulls a cigarette lighter out of his pocket and lightsit.
A flame comes out of the lighter.
Coon pulls out a joint and lights it. He inhales.
R ADon’t let Calley see you.
Coon exhales.
COONWhy? Is smoking a little grassworst than what’s going on here?
R AThey’re just following orders.
EXT. VILLAGE - DAY
Every hut in the village is engulfed in flames or almostburnt to the ground.
50
The soldiers, scattered, move away from the burning village.
R A, Alphabet and Photon move along a dirt road.
TWO BOYS (5 & 8) walk towards them.
R A takes aim and fires.
The five-year-old boy falls to the ground. Blood flows froma small hole in his shoulder.
The other boy gets on top of him, as if to protect him. Helooks up and stares at R A.
Photon takes a picture.
R A takes aim and fires four shots.
ALPHABETI don’t know if I can take anymore of this. How do you do it?
R ABecause they’re already half-dead.We’re doing them a favor.
R A winks at Alphabet.
ALPHABETYou’re a cold bastard.
EXT. RICE PADDY - DAY
Capt. Medina, holding a .45 caliber handgun, and a group ofSOLDIERS move across the rice paddy towards the burningvillage. He sees a woman carrying a small wicker basket.
Medina takes aim and fires two shots.
The woman falls into the rice paddy.
Medina goes up to the woman and examines the contents of herbasket.
INSERT: BASKET FILLED WITH SYRINGES AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES
The woman, bleeding from a chest wound, lies on the ground.
51
Medina shoots her in the head.
A helicopter orbits above Medina.
INT./EXT. H-23 BUBBLE HELICOPTER - DAY
Warrant Officer HUGH THOMPSON, (25) maneuvers the helicoptercloser to Medina.
THOMPSONThat captain just murdered that woman.
Thompson’s gunner, LARRY COLBURN, points towards the ditch.
COLBURNThere’s a ditch full with dead bodies over there. Everywhere I look I see dead bodies.
Thompson maneuvers his helicopter over the ditch andvillage.
THOMPSONInfants, women and very old men.No draft-age people whatsoever.
COLBURNSir, there’s people in that bunker.
Calley and his troops move towards the bunker.
Thompson’s helicopter flies towards the bunker. It lands onan area about twenty feet away from it.
Thompson turns to Colburn.
THOMPSONIf they start firing, open upon them.
Colburn nods.
EXT. BUNKER - DAY
Calley and several of his men approach the entrance.
52
Thompson runs over to him.
THOMPSONHey, there’s some civilians in thebunker. Can you get them out.
CALLEYWell, we’re gonna get them outwith a hand grenade.
THOMPSONNo, you’re not. Hold your peopleback, please. I think I can dobetter.
CALLEYI’m the boss here.
THOMPSONI don’t like the way your handlingthings, quite frankly.
CALLEYI’m following orders.
THOMPSONYou’re not killing those civilians. I’m flying them behind the line.
Calley glances at the helicopter.
CALLEYNot in that thing.
THOMPSONThe gun ships are going to takethem.
CALLEYThat’ll be a first.
THOMPSONYou’re probably right aboutthat.
Thompson goes over to the entrance of the bunker and leansin. He motions for the people to come out.
53
THOMPSONCome out. No one will harm you.
One by one, women and children, all looking very frightened,come out of the bunker. Nine of them.
Calley and his troops move out.
INT. HELICOPTER - DAY
Thompson talks into a microphone.
THOMPSONThe gun ships evacuated the civilians. How about putting an end to this madness? They’re slaughtering women and children.
EXT. RICE PADDIES AND A DIRT ROAD - DAY
Calley and his troops, to his right and left, in line,spaced about eight feet apart, move towards a burningvillage.
Approximately twenty dead bodies lie on the road.
Photon takes a few pictures of the bodies.
R A yells to Alphabet.
R ALooks like the 3 Platoon didn’trd
get the word.
ALPHABETNah, they’ve been dead for over anhour.
R AI see one of them has her pantsdown below her knees.
ALPHABETYeah, there’s a few animals in that outfit, too.
54
R APhoton shouldn’t be taking apicture of her ass. Now thatain’t right.
MEADLONo conscience.
ALPHABETLike Calley.
COONNo, he doesn’t have a brain.
ALPHABETAt least he has a first name.
COONSo do I.
ALPHABETYeah, what is it?
COONIf I told you, I’ll have tokill you.
ALPHABETA human life means that littleto you?
INT. BUNKER - NIGHT
Alphabet does push-ups on the floor.
Coon sits on a bunk watching him.
COONYou kill anybody?
ALPHABETNope.
COONI almost killed somebody, but I chickened-out. I almost shothim. I really did.
55
ALPHABETWho?
COONCalley. After I saw him kill thatgirl and her baby, I almost lostit.
ALPHABETYou’re not going to do anythingstupid, are you?
COONI don’t know. I’m thinking aboutit.
Alphabet gets off the floor.
ALPHABETDon’t. And don’t mention whatyour thinking to anyone.
Capt. Medina enters the bunker.
Alphabet and Coon immediately stand at attention and saluteMedina.
Medina returns a salute.
MEDINAAt ease.
Medina looks around the bunker.
MEDINAWhere are the other two?
ALPHABETI don’t know, sir.
MEDINALt. Calley told me he had aproblem with you two. You bothrefused to follow his orders.
Medina walks up to Coon and glares into his eyes.
56
MEDINAI know about you. Don’t doanything stupid like writingyour congressman about what happened today.
COONI have eight months left in Vietnam,sir. It’s dangerous enough worryingabout the acknowledged enemy.
MEDINAThat’s wise. You’re smarter thanI thought.
Medina steps away from Coon and looks around the bunker ashe talks.
MEDINAWhat happened today was a grossmisunderstanding. Nothing we cando will bring those people back.
Medina moves towards the entrance. He stops and turns toCoon and Alphabet.
MEDINAIn the future, If either of youbelieve that Lt. Calley is unjustly harassing you inanyway, I want to know. Doyou both understand?
COON/ALPHABET(In unison)
Yes, sir.
Medina turns and exits the bunker.
Coon pulls out a joint and lights it. He takes a puff andpasses it to Alphabet.
ALPHABETWe better watch our backs.
R A and Meadlo stagger into the bunker.
57
R A(Slurring his words)
Was that Mad Dog Medina I justsaw?
COONYeah, he just stopped by to sayhello.
R ANo shit?
Meadlo staggers over to his bunk and lies down.
ALPHABETOut celebrating your war kills?
R ANo, just having a few drinks withsome friends.
R A goes over to his bunk and gets in. He lies on his back,fully dressed, and closes his eye. He starts to snore.
COONThey’re both out like a light. Canyou believe that.
ALPHABETI doubt if I can sleep at all tonight.
COONMe too. Let’s give the bastard ablanket party.
ALPHABETWho?
COONCalley.
ALPHABETYou’re crazy. They’ll put us inLBJ for life.
COONMaybe, but it’ll be worth it.
58
Wait, I got a better idea. Let’s kill him.
Meadlo’s eyes open wide. He stares at the wall.
INT. CALLEY’S BUNKER - NIGHT
Calley sleeps on his back.
Two strong hands pin Calley to his bunker.
Another set of hands places two inch wide green tape acrosshis eyes.
COON(Whispers into Calley’s ear)
Make a sound and I’ll cut your throat.
Coon places the sharp edge of a bayonet against Calley’sthroat.
COON(Whispers)
See how easy it is to frag you.You fuck with us again and your head will be floating in a latrine. Report this, and one of us will get you. That’s a promise.
Coon and Alphabet hurry out of the bunker.
Calley sits up and removes the tape. He appears petrified ashe stares at the entrance to his bunker.
EXT. BUNKER - NIGHT
Coon and Alphabet dash into their bunker.
INT. BUNKER - NIGHT
A beam of light from a flashlight shines into the bunker.Coon holding the flashlight enters the bunker. Alphabet is acouple of feet behind him.
COONI couldn’t do it.
59
ALPHABETMaybe he didn’t recognize yourvoice.
COONI hope not. Let’s hit the sheets.
EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY
Paul Meadlo moves a hand held minesweeper slowly across theroad as he approaches the base of a hill.
A short distance back, Calley stops and raises his arm. Heturns to the patrol behind him.
CALLEYTake a break.
Calley marches up to Meadlo. He gets very close to him.
CALLEYIf you don’t give me their names,you’ll be walking point for the nexteight months.
MEADLOI don’t know anything, sir.
CALLEYI know you do. Just tell me yousaw them leave the bunker aftermidnight. That’s all I want.
MEADLOSir, I was a sleep by 2300.
CALLEYPrivate, see what’s on the other side of that hill and report backto me.
Meadlo turns and moves the minesweeper across the road.
CALLEYWe don’t have time for that.Move out. That’s an order.
60
Meadlo places the minesweeper and starts towards the hill.
Coon and Alphabet stand about twenty feet away.
COONThat prick’s up to something.
ALPHABETIf he thinks Meadlo knows something,why take a chance of losing him?
COOMI told you before, he’s an idiot.
Meadlo is near the top of the hill when he steps on a landmine. The loud explosion throws him to the ground. A pant’sleg is covered with blood and a foot is gone. He screams.
A medic rushes over to him and gives him a shot of morphine.
Meadlo looks up at the medic.
MEADLO(Crying)
God punished me for what I done.(Yells at Calley)
You’ll get yours! God will punishyou too, Calley.
INT. BUNKER - DAY
Alphabet sits on his bunk watching Coon and R A pack theirduffle bags.
ALPHABETThat was quick. So you don’t know where you’re going?
COONNope. Medina just told us topack my gear and be ready togo by 1300.
R AMy buddies Troy and Silver Teethare going too. They say the place hasshowers and a big enlisted men’s club.
61
INT. ENLISTED MEN’S CLUB - NIGHT
The club is filled with soldiers wearing jungle fatigues.
Coon, R A, TROY(22) shaved head, SILVER TEETH (19), silvercaps over his two front teeth, and RON RIDENHOUR (20) sit attable.
TROYHey, man, did you hear what wedid in Pinkville?
RONNo.
TROY(Slurring)
We went in there and lined up all thepeople and massacred them. Massacreda whole fucking village. Women, kids,babies. Anything that moved.
RONI don’t believe it.
R AWe wasted them. Every fuckingone of them.
COONIt’s true. Troy, tell him thestories you told me.
TROYThis one gook stunk so bad, wegave him a bath.
EXT. MY LAI - DAY - FLASHBACK
R A and Troy drag a man up to a well.
R AYou smell of V C.
MANNo V C.
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TROYLet’s give the mother fuckera bath.
Calley stands with his radioman a short distance away.
R A and Troy drop the man into the well.
R ADon’t forget to wash behind theears.
R A pulls out a hand grenade and removes the safety pin. Hishand remains on the safety clip.
R ALet’s help him out of there.
R A tosses the grenade into the well.
They move away from the well.
The grenade explodes. Smoke comes out of the well.
Troy and R A move towards another bamboo hutch. They passsoldiers escorted Vietnamese civilians towards the ditchoutside the village.
Silver Teeth comes out of a hootch, buttoning up the frontof his pants.
R A and Troy walk up to him.
Silver Teeth nods his head towards the entrance to thehootch.
SILVER TEETHYa wanna get some before we puther to sleep? She’s pretty good.Great teats.
R AWho’s in there now?
SILVER TEETHJust Colwell.
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TROYI wouldn’t touch anything thathad your dick in it.
SILVER TEETHDon’t. What about you, R A?
A loud shot comes from inside the hootch.
SILVER TEETHOops! Too late.
TWO SOLDIERS lead a group of WOMEN and YOUNG GIRLS towardsthem.
R A examines the prisoners.
R A(To Troy)
How about some skull action?
Troy scans the group of prisoners.
TROYMind as well give one of thema treat before dying.
EXT. IRRIGATION DITCH - DAY
Calley tosses the boy into the ditch.
About 100 feet away, R A, Troy, and Silver Tooth, sit on theground eating C-rations.
SILVER TEETHI saw a couple of them move.
TROYWe ought to put them out oftheir misery. Whatta ya say,R A?
R A tosses an empty can of C-rations and stands.
R AI got orders to burn down what’sleft of the this village.
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SILVER TEETHWhat are they going to do withthe prisoners on the other sideof the village.
R AWhat do think? Mad Dog said noprisoners.
Troy stands and puts a magazine into his M—16.
TROYCome on, Sil, let’s do those poorbastards a favor.
Troy and Silver Teeth stroll over to the edge of the ditchand look around.
Blood flows out of a WOMAN’S mouth. She moves her head.
A bullet hits her forehead.
Silver Tooth aims his rifle and fires three shots.
Troy scans the area. He takes aim and fires two shots.
SILVER TOOTHI think they’re all dead.
TROYYeah, let’s go.
EXT. NORTHERN PART OF MY LAI 4 - DAY
PFC LOPEZ lies on the ground looking down the sight of hisM—60 machine gun mounted on a tripod.
A GROUP of 40 prisoners, women and children, huddletogether.
Calley walks over to Lopez.
CALLEYFire.
Lopez squeezes the trigger.
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Troy and Silver Teeth walk towards Lopez as the loud shotsring out.
END FLASHBACK
BACK TO:
INT. ENLISTED MEN’S CLUB - NIGHT
Ron stares at Troy in amazement.
Troy takes a sip of beer.
TROYWe saw Lt. Calley execute three groups of prisoners with that M—60. There must have been 50 in the last group. Calley got on the M—60 and killed all of them himself.
RONI can’t believe you guys. You allact like it was nothing.
SILVER TEETHWhat’s that supposed to mean?
COONDon’t say all of you. I didn’t kill anybody and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
RONDid you report it?
COONTo who?
RONCalley’s superior officer.
COONHe gave the orders.
TROYDamn right. No prisoners. Iheard him say it.
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Ron stands.
TROYRon, you weren’t there. Whathappened, happened. The othertwo platoons did the same thing.
R AOver four hundred villages werekilled that day. That sent amessage to Charlie.
RONWhat message? We murder defenselesswomen and children? I’m writingWestmoreland and my congressman.
COONIf they need a witness, tell themto contact me.
CUT TO:
EXT. BEACH - NARRAGANSETT BAY - DAY
Coon strolls along the beach. A pretty GIRL (20) approacheshim.
GIRLWhat did he want?
COONHe wants me to testify againstCalley.
GIRLDon’t. People will label you a traitor.
COONI want to. I only wish I couldbe his executioner.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
A COLONEL, FOUR MAJORS, and A CAPTAIN, sit in the jury box.To their left stands a large American flag. To the right ofthe flag Meadlo sits on the stand.
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MEADLOThey were sitting down.
Capt. Aubrey Daniel stands in front of Meadlo.
DANIELThe women, the children and babieswere sitting down?
MEADLOYes.
DANIELDid they attack you?
MEADLOI assumed at every minute that theywould counterbalance. I thought theyhad some sort of chain or a littlestring they had to give a littlepull and they blow us up, thingslike that.
DANIELYou said you were under emotionalstrain. Can you describe the strain?
MEADLOJust that I was scared and frightened.
DANIELWhat were the children in the ditch doing?
MEADLOI don’t know.
DANIELWere the babies in their mother’sarms?
MEADLOI guess so.
DANIELAnd the babies moved to attack?
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MEADLOI expected at any moment they wereabout to make a counterbalance.
DANIELHad they made any move to attack?
MEADLONo.
DANIELWhen you left the ditch, were any ofthe people standing?
MEADLONot that I remember.
DANIELDid you see anyone who was not shot?
MEADLOThere might have been a few. I didn’tcheck ‘em out.
DANIELNow, Mr. Meadlo, one last question. DidLieutenant Calley or did Captain Medinaorder you to kill?
MEADLOI took orders from Lieutenant Calley, but...
DANIELThat’s all.
CUT TO:
Coon sits on the witness stand.
GEORGE LATIMER (70), wearing a suit and a hearing aid,marches up to Coon.
LATIMERDid you see any dead bodies atMy Lai?
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COONOf course. Quite a few.
LATIMERWere they sleeping or did theyappear dead?
COONWell, they had holes in ‘em, soI assume they were dead.
LATIMERWeren’t you under the influence ofmarijuana that day?
COONYeah, I smoked a little grass thatday.
LATIMERAnd the night before?
COONProbably.
LATIMERWeren’t you a constant marijuanasmoker?
COONI wouldn’t say that, but I didsmoke it quite a bit.
LATIMERDid you open your pants in frontof a woman in the village of MyLai?
COONAbsolutely not.
LATIMERIsn’t a fact that you were goingthrough My Lai that day lookingfor women to rape?
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COONNo.
LATIMERDidn’t you cuss Lieutenant Calleyout because he stopped you fromraping a woman at My Lai?
COONNo.
LATIMERDidn’t you go around and tellmembers of your platoon aboutthe number of times you’d rapedVietnamese women?
COONNo.
LATIMERAs a matter of fact, aren’t youhere testifying against Lt. Calleybecause you hate him?
COONI don’t like the guy, but I don’thate him. He was just there.
LATIMERDo you remember one night, youwere on guard duty and had a M—79and shot all your ammunition?
COONYes, I remember that.
LATIMERWeren’t you mad at LieutenantCalley for reporting you?
COONI don’t think so.
LATIMERYou deny that?
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COONYes, I do.
LATIMERDid you ever threaten to killLt. Calley?
COONNo.
LATIMERDid you ever put a knife againsthis throat?
COONAbsolutely not.
CUT TO:
Alphabet sits on the witness stand.
ALPHABETYes, I refused.
Latimer stands in front of him
LATIMERWere Lieutenant Calley and Meadlofiring single shots or automatic?
ALPHABETI haven’t any idea. They were bothfiring into the ditch. I saw peoplego into the ditch and no one cameout. That’s all I know.
LATIMERYou testified earlier that yousaw tears in Meadlo’s eyes,correct?
ALPHABETYes, I saw tears in Meadlo’s eyes.
LATIMERHe had on his helmet and his gear andyou saw tears in his eyes?
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ALPHABETYes.
LATIMERHe was pointing his weapon away from you and you saw tears in hiseyes?
ALPHABETYes, he was firing and crying.
LATIMERDid you ever threaten to kill Lt.Calley?
ALPHABETNo.
LATIMERDid you ever hear Cumhail Coonthreaten to kill him?
ALPHABETNo.
CUT TO:
Photon sits on the witness stand.
LATIMERFrom the time you took the picturesyou sold to Life Magazine until afteryou got back to the United States,no one had been told of the film,is that right?
PHOTONI can’t specifically recall.
LATIMERYou never told anyone in the chainof command about the atrocity andmassacre?
PHOTONNo, sir.
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LATIMERWeren’t you shocked at what you’dseen?
PHOTONYes, sir, I was.
LATIMERWhy didn’t you report it?
PHOTONI decided to keep quiet untilsomeone came to me. I didn’twant to start the ball rolling.
LATIMERHave you never heard of a MAC-V order of 1967 that requires allmilitary personnel to report warcrimes and preserve the physicalevidence?
PHOTONI never heard of that regulationbefore.
LATIMERDid you ever consider the impactof your failure to disclose thatyou had these pictures to yourcommander?
PHOTONNo, sir, I did not.
LATIMERYou had no feeling that failure todisclose those pictures was adereliction of duty?
PHOTONI’ve heard that.
LATIMERAnd the best excuse you can giveis that you didn’t want to startthe ball rolling?
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PHOTONThat’s the truth.
CUT TO:
William Calley sits on the witness stand.
Daniel stands in front of him.
DANIELDid you tell Captain Medina which ofyour men had been involved?
CALLEYInvolved in what, sir?
DANIELShooting into the ditch.
CALLEYThat wasn’t any big deal, nosir.
DANIELYou told Captain Medina that youhad rounded these people up, putthem in the ditch and shot them?
CALLEYNo, sir. Why should I? He knew what...the circumstances they were shot under, sir.
DANIELHow did he know?
CALLEYBecause he had told me to shoot them,sir. I was ordered to go in there anddestroy the enemy. That was the job ofthe day.
DANIELYou construed that the enemywere unarmed women and childrenof all ages?
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CALLEYI did not sit down and think interms of men, women, and children.They were all the same and that was the classification that wedealt with, just enemy soldiers.
DANIELLt. Calley, you did graduate fromOfficer’s Candidate School, correct?
CALLEYYes, sir.
DANIELWeren’t you told that it isunlawful to kill an unarmed enemy even if you were orderedto do so?
CALLEYNot that I recall.
DANIELDo you recall hearing the terman unlawful order during yourOCS training?
CALLEYYes, sir.
DANIELDo you recall be given someexamples of unlawful orders?
CALLEYYes, sir.
DANIELCan you tell us some of thoseexamples?
CALLEYNo, sir. I can’t recall at thistime.
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DANIELYou do agree that you were trainedthat there are orders that you donot have to obey, correct?
CALLEYYes, sir.
CUT TO:
DR.ALBERT LA VERNE (61) sits on the witness stand.
DANIELWas Lieutenant Calley’s judgmentimpaired beyond normal limits?
LA VERNEWhat do you mean by “normallimits”?
DANIELWas his judgment impaired?
LA VERNEYes, sir.
DANIELHow?
LA VERNEHe could not challenge the legalityof the orders given by Captain Medina.Captain Medina had become a fatherfigure to him.
DANIELDid he suffer from an irresistibleimpulse?
LA VERNEHe was compelled to carry out thatorder without challenging that order.
DANIELCould he disobey that order?
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LA VERNENo, he could not disobey that order. He was like an automation,a robot. When the order came to stopshooting, the party’s over, he stopped.
DANIELWas he conscious of his actions?
LA VERNEYes, absolutely.
DANIELDid Lieutenant Calley know rightfrom wrong?
LA VERNEYes.
DANIELCould Lieutenant Calley adhere to the right?
LA VERNEHe had a compulsion to carry outhis orders, to do his duty as anofficer.
DANIELIt’s not you contention thatit’s the duty of an officerto slaughter innocent peoplewhen they’re ordered to do so?
LA VERNEOf course not. He proceeded tocarry out his orders.
DANIELDid Lieutenant Calley tell youthe facts about March sixteenth?
LA VERNEWell, I think I got more from thenewspapers, radio, and television.
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DANIELYou mean, you knew about whathappened before you talked tolieutenant Calley?
LA VERNEI’d have to be pretty stupid notto know.
DANIELDo you remember what he told you?
LA VERNENo, all I can remember is what’s inthe hypothetical statement.
DANIELDidn’t you ask him a lot of questions?
LA VERNEYes.
DANIELWhat were some of those questions?
LA VERNEI don’t remember.
DANIELWhy not? It doesn’t take much energyto remember what you asked.
LA VERNEI spent my energy preparing foryour cross-examination.
CUT TO:
Capt. Medina sits on the witness stand.
Daniel stands in front of him.
MEDINAMy reply to that question was:No, you do not kill women andchildren. You must use common
79
sense.
DANIELDid you ever give an order inMy Lai four to anyone that theyshould move the civilians out ofthe way, or get rid of them, oranything in substance like that?
MEDINANo, sir.
DANIELDid you make a radio transmissionto Lt. Calley?
MEDINAYes, after I received a call fromtask force S-3 stating that therewas a helicopter report that therewas indiscriminate killing of innocentcivilians. I called Lt. Calley andasked, “Damn it, what is going on?”
DANIELDid you see any Vietnamese beingshot?
MEDINAYes, sir. A small boy was movingfrom the edge of the wood line infront of the command group. I startedto raise my rifle and saw that it wasa child. I either uttered the words,“Get him! Stop him!” or “Don’t shoot!”Somebody fired, the child fell.
DANIELDid Lt. Calley ever indicate that hehad gathered detainees?
MEDINANo, sir.
DANIELDid you make any such inquiry?
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MEDINANo, sir.
DANIELDid you at any time order Lt.Calley to kill unarmed civilians?
MEDINANo, sir.
EXT. COURTHOUSE - DAY
Captain Daniel and TWO UNIFORMED OFFICERS walk down thesteps in front of the courthouse.
A large group of PROTESTERS stand by the bottom of thestairs. Several hold signs. One reads, “WE ARE WITH YOU,WILLIAM.” another “YOU SHOULD GET A MEDAL.”
Daniel steps off the last step. A FAT WOMAN (30) goes up tohim and spits on him.
FAT WOMANYou’re a disgrace to that uniform.
Several OTHERS chant, “Traitor, traitor.”
The three officers hurry away from the crowd.
DANIELThey can’t be aware of the evidence.Perhaps even the laws regulating theconduct of war.
OFFICERMaybe they’re just plain stupid.It could be as simple as that.
INT. COURTHOUSE - DAY
Capt. Daniel stands in front of the six male jurors.
DANIELAnd so, gentlemen, the acts areunjustifiable as a matter of law,the accused did not receive anyorder of any kind which directed
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him to summarily execute the peoplein the ditch, the man in white orthat child. Let’s assume for thesake of argument he had.
He glances over the jury.
DANIELThe judge will instruct you thateven that is not a justificationfor his acts, if the accused knewthat order was unlawful. Wouldthe average man know that the order was illegal?
He strolls in front of the jury
DANIELA reasonable man would know that toput people in that irrigation ditch,like a bunch of cattle...men, women,children, and babies...that to do thatis unlawful. A reasonable man not onlywould know it, he should know it, andhe could not rely upon any order tocommit that, to absolve himself ofcriminal responsibility for thatconduct.
He stops in front of the jurors and looks each of them inthe eye.
DANIELThere can be no justification, gentlemen, and there is none under the law, or under the facts of this case.
INT. JURY ROOM - DAY
The Jury sits around a table.
COLONELI’ve labored long and hard to findsome way, some evidence, or flaw inthe testimony. I can’t.
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CAPTAINNeither can I.
COLONELWe been back here for thirteendays. I don’t think we have any other choice but to find him guilty.
CAPTAINHow many?
COLONELAt least twenty-two civilians,the little boy he threw in theditch, and the man in white.
MAJORThe sentence?
COLONELLife. Hard labor. I don’t seean alternative.
EXT. GOLF COURSE - DAY
Daniel and three GOLFERS stroll away from the 18 green. th
EXT. VERANDA - DAY
Daniel and the golfers sit around a round table on a VERANDAoverlooking the golf course.
DAWN (27), a waitress, attractive, approaches their table.
She gives Daniel a big smile.
DAWNHi, sexy.
DANIELHello, Dawn.
DAWNDid ya hear the latest aboutCalley?
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DANIEL How recent?
DAWNLike an hour ago.
DANIELNo, tell me.
DAWNPresident Nixon promises toreview his case. In the meantimehe’ll be under house arrest.
DANIELI can’t believe it. He spent lessthan three days in Fort Leavenworth.
GOLFERWrite the President.
DANIELI intend to.
DAWNWhat are you’ll drinking?
INT. TV STUDIO - DAY
SUPERIMPOSE: MAY 23,1989
JUDY WOODRUFF, 30'S, attractive sits under a microphonehanging about a foot above her head.
JUDYIn 1968 at a Vietnamese village called My Lai, American soldiersmassacred hundreds of unarmed civilians.
TRUONG THI LE (52), Vietnamese, speaks to the camera.
TRUONG THI LEI think of them lying there dead and my heart is cut to pieces.
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JUDY WOODRUFF Good evening. Since the Vietnam war ended fourteen years ago this spring, many of its scars have begun to heal.But there are some things time does not heal -- My Lai is one.
TRUONG THI LEThey blasted away and people were dying. Oh, it's so horrible. I pushed my son into the paddy field and lay on top of him. I told him, "Don't cry, the Americans have shot everyone”.I miss my mother, my children. I think of them lying there dead and my heart is cut to pieces. The more I think about it the more I want to cry.
PHOTONI was an Army Photographer. I noticed one girl was buttoning her blouse and holding a small boy. She was in themiddle of a group of prisoners. Okay, I took the photograph with my personalcamera, I thought the soldiers werejust going to question these people, but just as soon as I turned and walked away, I heard firing, I looked around and over the corner of my shoulder I saw the people drop.
HUGH THOMPSON We started seeing a lot of bodies. It, it didn't add up, you know, how all these people were getting killed and wounded and we weren't receiving any fire. Just, you know, it didn't make sense.
LARRY COLBURN I was Hugh’s door gunner. He landed the aircraft in between theAmerican forces and the Vietnamese people in the bunker. He was furious.He told me he was going over to the bunker himself to see if he could get them out. He told me if the Americans
85
were to open fire on these Vietnamese as he was getting them out of the bunker, that we should return fire on the Americans.
HUGH THOMPSON I did instruct my crew to open up on them if they opened up on any more civilians.
SA THI QUI (60'S), Vietnamese, sits on his chair.
SA THI QUIMy people were chased into the ditch like ducks. They fell headfirst. They were crying, "Oh God, have pity. Please let me up. We're innocent, have pity!" They shot all the people dead. Then silence.
HUGH THOMPSON During flying around we came across a ditch. It had bodies in it, a lot of them. I remember a thought goingthrough my mind, "How did these people get in a ditch?" And I finally thought about the Nazis, I guess, and marching everybody down into a ditch and blowing 'em away.
PHAM THI TRINH (27), Vienamese, talks to Judy.
PHAM THI TRINHI looked out of the house and saw mysister, Mui. She was fourteen that year. An American was pressing on topof her, she had no clothing on her. At the time I didn't understand whatthat meant. My sister was trying toresist him. Afterwards the American got up, he put his clothes on, and then he shot her. I decided to leave my hiding place. I saw my house had burned completely and in the yard my loved ones were burned to death. My mother and my little brother still in my mother's arms. I stood by my mother's
86
body and cried.
R A As a professional soldier, I was, I had been taught to carry out orders.
JUDYIf one of your men had refused to shoot,what would have happened to him?
R A If, if one of my men had refused toshoot, I shudder to think what have been the repercussions. He would have been in serious trouble.
JUDYWhat kind of trouble?
R A He could have faced court-martial. He could have been shot on the spot for refusing an order in the face of the enemy, in face of hostile fire.
JUDYBut there was no hostile fire.
R A At the time, we didn't realize that there was no hostile fire.
JUDYDo you think that that order was morally right and that the actions of the troops that followed that were behaving in a moral fashion?
R A I feel that we carried out the orders in a moral fashion and the orders of, of destroying the village, of killing the people in the village. I feel that we carried out our orders, and I feel that we did not violate any moral standards.
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JUDYNews of the massacre finally broke in 1969. William Calley was charged with 109 murders. His defense that he was "just following orders" evoked disturbing comparisons with the Nazi defense at Nuremberg.
Judy holds up a picture of the Nazis that were hung afterthe Nuremberg trial.
JUDYBut America was still deeply divided by the war itself, and William Calleysoon found public opinion swinging to his defense.
CALLEYAll I can say is thank you all very much, each and every one of you that have supported me.
JUDYWhen Calley's conviction and sentence was announced, there was an outcry.In the end the army decided not to prosecute most of the 46 soldiers seriously investigated for crimes at My Lai. William Calley was the only man ever convicted. After being underhouse arrest for three years, PresidentNixon pardoned him. Today, Calley runs a jewelry store in Columbus, Georgia. He once told his judges, “If I have committed a crime, the only crime that I have committed is in judgment of my values”.
INT. JEWELRY STORE - DAY
Calley, top of his head bald, 60 pounds overweight andwearing glasses, places a diamond ring on the glass counter.
A young COUPLE admire the ring.
WOMANIt’s beautiful.
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The man examines Calley.
MANAren’t you Audrey Murphy, thewar hero.
Calley laughs.
CALLEYNo, I’m not that old. AudieMurphy was a hero during WorldWar 11.
MANMy dad says you’re the biggesthero in the state of Georgia.Says you should run for office.
CALLEYNah, I’m not into politics.
WOMANWhat did you do in the war?
CALLEYThat was long ago. I really don’tlike talking about it.
MANWhy not? It’s guys like you thatmake this a great country. Oneto be proud of.
CALLEYI was just doing my job.
EXT. JEWELRY STORE - DAY
Coon, gray hair, large bags under his eyes, peers throughthe window. He puts a hand in his pants pocket and stares.His image, over Calley standing behind the counter, reflectsoff the glass of the window.
He turns and walks away.
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EXT. MOTEL 6 - DAY
A 1995 Nissan Sentra pulls up in front of a room and parks.Coon gets out of the car.
INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY
Coon enters the room and closes the door behind him. Hepulls a handgun out of his pants pocket and tosses it on thebed.
He turns the television on.
TELEVISION SCREEN
TWO REPORTERS stand.
REPORTER 1The U.S. military told CNN it isinvestigating an incident in Marchnear Balad in which Iraqi civilianswear killed. The probe comes amidconcern over U.S. conduct in Iraq,stroked by claims of a massacre byMarines of 24 civilians in Hadithalast November.
REPORTER 2Iraqi police said 11 people werekilled in a raid against a suspectedal Qaeda, including five children,four women and two men were killed.
REPORTER 1The youngest child was six monthsold. A Balad police official toldCNN that U.S. soldiers kept an entire family in a room beforespraying them with bullets.
REPORTER 2U.S. official will conduct athorough investigation. If crimeswere committed, the wrongdoerswill be prosecuted. Like thosewho took part in the massacre atMy Lai almost forty years ago.
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REPORTER 1Soldiers from all countries ofthe world commit war crimes. Theonly difference is the U.S.prosecutes and punishes theircriminals.
FADE OUT:
THE END