_ACT ONE_ FADE IN EXTERIOR - SKY - DAY - STOCK A beautiful spring sky over China in the year 1937. Super: YUON LOU HIGHLAND-CHINA-1937. We see a glint of metal in the distance. Two Zeros in the burnished aluminum of the Imperial Navy flying side by side swoop up from the mountain terrain. EXTERIOR TWO ZEROS - DAY - INTERCUT CANOPIES Inside one Zero is Kenji Miura, several years older than his brother, Kisuro, flying the other Zero. They speak in Japanese which is subtitled in English. Kenji spots something. KENJI (in Japanese) Kisuro-san...Two o'clock, low, a Tiger! KISURO (in Japanese) Buddha is generous. THEIR POINT OF VIEW - A P-40 - STOCK In the distance, a lone Curtiss P-40 is maintaining a solitary patrol, its nose sporting the distinctive tiger's teeth of the American Volunteer Group. Kenji laughs quietly at his brother's naive enthusiasm. KENJI (in Japanese) Use care -- Kisuro-san. Kisuro produces a scarlet "hachimachi" headband, kisses it, and ceremoniously puts it over his leather flying helmet. Then he kicks his rudder and peels off. EXTERIOR - SKY - ZEROS - STOCK as they bank away toward their enemy, one behind the other. EXTERIOR - SKY - DAY - P-40 - STOCK straight and level. EXTERIOR P-40 CANOPY - DAY - JAKE An unlit cigar clamped in his teeth, Jake is flying the Curtiss, eyeing the surrounding sky like a hawk. This is war. Suddenly Jake's attention is caught by the approaching Zeros. EXTERIOR KISURO'S CANOPY - DAY He is eager; he hauls on the stick and goes into a screaming dive. INSERT - ZERO'S WING GUN as Kisuro rips off a burst of machine gun fire. ON JAKE He sends his plane into a violent maneuver. WIDE - STOCK The P-40 spins away from the attacking Zero, getting altitude and position on the less experienced Japanese pilot. ON JAKE He finds a moment to report the situation, speaking into the radio mike. JAKE (into radio) Break, break, Mother Hen, this is Chicken Little. I've got two bandits on my tail in sector eleven. RADIO VOICE Like to lend you a hand, Chicken Little, but you've got this party all to yourself. JAKE Thanks, Mother. WIDE - STOCK Jake shoots the P-40 through a neat snap roll and reverse loop which puts him in position behind the Zero. EXTERIOR KISURO'S COCKPIT - DAY He looks anxiously behind, unable to shake Jake off his rear. EXTERIOR KENJI'S COCKPIT - DAY Kenji looks worriedly ahead. KENJI (in Japanese) Kisuro-san. Behind you.... JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - THE ZERO - STOCK The enemy plane is an easy target. INSERT - P-40 - STOCK Jake's thumb depresses the gun trigger. WIDE Shells from the P-40's wing guns stitch the Zero which erupts in flames and a thick trail of black smoke. The plane pitches down into a spin. EXTERIOR KISURO'S CANOPY - DAY The cockpit is filled with smoke, flames licking into view as Kisuro looks over the controls of his plane, unable to stop the mounting forces of the deadly spin. EXTERIOR MOUNTAIN - DAY - STOCK The Zero plows into the mountainside. EXTERIOR JAKE'S CANOPY - DAY He scans the skies for the other Zero. In a burst of static, Kenji's grim voice surprises Jake, thickly accented, but understandable. KENJI'S VOICE (from radio) My brother was prepared for death, Tiger. Are you? Before Jake can reply, Kenji's Zero screams up and past, blotting the sun. Bullets shatter Jake's canopy. He lets the P-40 into a stall, brushing glass out of his face, wind tearing through the ruined canopy. WIDE - VARIOUS ANGLE - STOCK Jake and Kenji whirl their planes through a dogfight. The pilots are evenly matched, equally motivated, but the revenge in Kenji's heart forces him to take one risk too many. ON ZERO - DAY - STOCK Shells from Jake's gun riddle the control surfaces on Kenji's Zero. The plane lurches, unable to hang in the sky. We follow it down until we lose sight of it. ANOTHER ANGLE - ZERO - STOCK attempting a belly landing on the rough terrain. There is no fire, but the plane is finished. ON JAKE'S CANOPY - DAY Jake is nursing his own plane, the engine sounding unsteady. He wings over to take a final look at the downed Zeros. JAKE (into radio) Scratch two, Mother Hen. But, I hope you've got a nice soft spot left in that nest. CUT TO EXTERIOR RURAL AIRFIELD - DAY - STOCK as Jake's P-40 makes a hard landing at the Tiger's home field, engine sputtering. CUT TO INTERIOR READY ROOM - DAY A dark clapboard room decorated with memorabilia of the long campaign. Several pilots are there, lounging, reading, ignoring him as Jake enters, weary, flight gear under his arm. Jake doesn't know exactly what to expect, but this isn't it. ANGLE TO GANDY DANCER Jake's friend, Gandy, strolls casually by, looking as if nothing unusual has happened. Gandy plucks the darts out of a dart board next to the bar and begins to toss them as he absently talks to Jake. GANDY I know...I know. I owe you fifty cents, but you'll just have to be patient for it. JAKE You don't owe me fifty cents. GANDY Sure I do. You bought me a beer, remember? JAKE No...I think we're even. GANDY We will be in a second...Boys.... WIDER Several of the reading Tigers stand and have suddenly pinned Jake's arms to his side. Gandy picks up a bottle of beer waiting opened on the bar and holds it poised over Jake's head, as Jake squirms, knowing what's coming. JAKE Gandy! I'm warning you.... GANDY No, you got this comin', pardner. This is for making Ace before I did. Gandy lets the beer flow onto Jake's head while the other pilots clap and give him playful Bronx cheers. Jake ducks away. JAKE Come on...I didn't have much choice. GANDY You hear that mouthwash? He didn't have much choice? Put it any way you like, Ace. All I'm doin' is counting the rising suns. ANGLE TO WALL Another pilot is just finishing painting a new Japanese flag under the name "Cutter." He has a total of five kills. ON JAKE The noise quiets down and Jake looks from face to face, beer dripping down his forehead. He's dead serious. JAKE Thanks guys...Gandy. It's a...hard thing to celebrate. A couple of damn fine pilots went down this morning. GANDY (sober) I'm just glad one of 'em wasn't you, hoss. Another moment of quiet and a Chinese photographer pushes his way through the crowd carrying a vintage Speed Graphic newspaper camera. He licks his flashbulb and inserts it in the reflector. PHOTOGRAPHER One picture for the _China Mail_. Jake shrinks back. JAKE I don't think so --- Gandy and the others push him forward, bunching in, arms around him. GANDY You got to, Jake...You gotta expect this kinda thing if you're gonna be a legend in your own time. (to photographer) That's spelled C-U-T-T.... The old tungsten bulb goes off in Jake's face, blinding him. CUT TO EXTERIOR - SKY - DAY - THE GOOSE Super: "One Year Later." INTERIOR THE GOOSE'S COCKPIT - DAY Jake, in a good mood, is flying the Goose back to Boragora. Jack is sleeping in the seat next to him. JAKE'S VOICE OVER When you've spent as many hours in the cockpit as I have, one sky starts to look pretty much like another. Your mind wanders back to other skies and other times. That's why I always like to have somebody in the copilot's seat to make sure I'm not seeing things that aren't there. Jake suddenly sees something ahead that startles him. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - JAPANESE BOMBER - DAY - STOCK A "Betty"-type bomber some distance away, flirting with the clouds. BACK ON JAKE JAKE There you are.... Jake changes course to chase the other plane. JAKE (continuing) Jack. Wake up. It's that Betty, again. Wake up! ON JACK He's curled into the copilot's chair, and looks up at Jake with displeasure at being awakened. JAKE (continuing) Dead ahead, Jack. Near the horizon. Look! Would you. Jack reluctantly sits up and puts his feet on the yoke to look ahead. BACK WIDE JAKE (continuing) See it? Jack barks once for "no." THEIR POINT OF VIEW - SKY It's clear, no sign of the Betty. JAKE Well, it's in the clouds. Just watch for a second and it'll.... Jack! Jack has resumed his sleeping position, unwilling to continue his vigil. JAKE (continuing; disgusted) You think I'm seeing things, don't you? Two barks. JAKE I'm not! There's a Japanese G-Four-M light bomber out there if you'd only.... ON JACK He emits an unmistakable snore. ON JAKE He sighs, peering ahead, not seeing anything. JAKE'S VOICE OVER When you've spent as many hours in the cockpit as I have, you finally learn not to count on anybody else. EXTERIOR - SKY - DAY - THE GOOSE flying away from us. DISSOLVE TO EXTERIOR BORAGORA - DAY - TO ESTABLISH INTERIOR MONKEY BAR - DAY The place is standing room only with isolated clusters of German and French sailors, each keeping to their own sides of the bar. A beautiful, shy Polynesian girl is the object of all the sailors' attention. She appears simultaneously terrified of them and trying to flirt. The music is alternately German then French. Camera trucks across the room, moving in on Corky at a table huddled in deep conversation with Mapuhe, a puckish native of fifty. They've hoisted a few. Corky keeps looking around at the girl with the German sailor. MAPUHE You're a plenty nice fellow, Corky. Let Mapuhe buy the next beer. Last franc for a friend. CORKY Wait a second, Mapuhe. You can't afford any more beer. What're you going to do about your net? MAPUHE One franc won't fix a torn net. Liana will have to come up with the money for that. He indicates the girl. Corky is more nervous. The German sailors laugh roguishly and the girl barely averts a pair of meaty hands grabbing at her. CORKY What about the net maker? Tell him you'll pay in fish. I'll bet he's a reasonable guy. Corky downs the remains of his beer. But before the glass is on the table, Mapuhe has signalled to Gushie with two fingers. MAPUHE Reasonable? He's a shark! He says, a hundred francs, he means a hundred francs. CORKY Can't you go without the net for a while? MAPUHE No net, no fish, no food. Liana would rather do this than starve. More laughter as a German sailor pulls Liana onto his lap. CORKY Those German sailors are rough guys, Mapuhe, you ought to be borrowin' that money, not her. MAPUHE (wincing) Borrowing isn't exactly the right word. Corky catches on and is astonished and alarmed. CORKY No! You don't mean.... The German sailor has his arm around her and is making for their table. Corky fumbles some wadded franc bills out of his overalls. CORKY (continuing) Here...here's a hundred francs. You can pay me back sometime. The German sailor arrives as Mapuhe takes the money. SAILOR (to Mapuhe) She says I barter price with you, jah? CORKY (all his courage) You're too late... (beat) I...just paid for her. There is a strained moment, then the German laughs and releases the girl who immediately slides up to Corky and tousles his hair. SAILOR I wouldn't thought you had it in you. The sailor turns for approving laughter to the others, as he does Corky notices that the sailor is wearing a thong around his neck. Liana is cooing to Corky. LIANA (to Corky) He is all talk. Not like you --- INSERT - SAILOR'S PENDANT It's an opal set with a sapphire setting...Jack's eye. ON CORKY He swallows, shrugging away from Liana. He's about to say something but the sailor turns and rejoins the others. Just then Jake bangs through the batwings with Jack following. ANGLE TO JAKE Jake surveys the crowded bar, whistling. Gushie rolls by, panting. GUSHIE Two ships in...one French...one German. JAKE Oh-oh. Gushie nods. NEW ANGLE Jake smiles, then catches Corky's eye. They meet at the bar. During the next exchange, the bartender sets Jake up with a beer which he absently pours into a saucer for Jack. CORKY (excited) Jake...something...I gotta.... JAKE (cuts in) I saw it again, Corky. Big as life. There's a Betty flying the Marivellas. CORKY No kidding, Jake! That's great, but.... JAKE (cuts him off) What do you mean, great? What are the Japanese doing basing a bomber in these islands? Only one thing you can do with a bomber...bomb somebody. CORKY I know, Jake, if you say so, but --- JAKE Nobody believes me. I've seen it three times on this mail run, up near Kenaru. Tell him, Jack. ON JACK He looks up from lapping his beer to bark once. Something he sees makes him look off, suddenly alert. PAST CORKY AND JAKE TO SAILORS JAKE All you had to do was open your one good eye for a second and you --- CORKY Jack's eye! That's what I'm tryin' to tell you, Jake. That German sailor over there is wearin' it around his neck. Jack has already spotted the eye and hurries to confront the sailor, now back with his shipmates. AT GERMAN TABLE - EMPHASIZING JACK looking at his eye and growling. SAILOR (in German) Ship out, before I take a bottle to the side of your head. Jake crosses, kneeling to put a quieting hand on Jack. He offers his hand to the sailor. JAKE Name's Cutter. How'd you come by that eye? SAILOR None of your business, Englander. JAKE I'm not English, I'm American and that eye is Jack's. The sailors laugh raucously. The one with the eye stands. SAILOR It's mine, unless you want to try and take it from me. JAKE We're getting off on the wrong foot here -- let me explain. I lost that eye in a poker game six months ago on Tagataya. SAILOR And I won it in a poker game six weeks ago in Hong Kong. JAKE I'll give you a fair price...Two hundred American. SAILOR I said it's not for sale. Jack growls. JAKE Back off, Jack. Let me do this. (to sailor) Let's sit down, have a drink, talk about it --- SAILOR I don't drink with Americans. Jack's heard enough. He hurls himself at the sailor's leg, growling and biting at his trousers. JAKE Jack! Before Jake can intercede, the sailor shakes Jack from his trousers, hurling him across the floor. JAKE Now wait a minute! --- The sailor decks Jake, sending him crashing into another table of sailors. ANGLE TO LOUIE ON STAIRS just coming from his office and reacting to the crash. LOUIE Sacre bleu! ON THE TABLE The French sailors, whose table has been crunched, are than willing to mix it up. They toss Jake back at the huge German sailor, then follow it up with an attack of their own. The fight pits the French sailors against the German sailors from the two ships in port, with Jake acting as the punching bag in the middle, trying to get out of the way but not too successfully as he catches errant fists from both sides. Finally, getting a lick or two of his own in. Corky, Mapuhe and his daughter move clear of the fracas. Gushie clobbers the huge sailor over the head with a beer pitcher as he bends to bash Jake. JACK making a beeline for the downed sailor with bodies flying all around him. Jack pulls at the pendant. It breaks and Jack hightails it, with the pendant between his teeth, sidestepping his way to the entrance. EXTERIOR MONKEY BAR - DAY the fight having moved outside. The sailors merrily continue their rough housing. Sarah, wearing a sun hat, steps around them. Mapuhe and his daughter emerge from the bar. He nods at Sarah. She hurries in. INTERIOR MONKEY BAR - DAY Sarah stops in her tracks as she enters and surveys the damage. Bodies are draped here and there, Louie standing in the middle of the ruin, silently shaking his head. SARAH Who started it? ANGLE - TWO MEN They stagger to their feet, in the last stages of collapse, energy left for one more blow. We realize they are Jake and the German sailor. Jake lightly pushes him in the chest and the man goes down like a sack of flour. Louie points to Jake. SARAH (continuing) I should have known. Corky stands up from his hiding place behind the bar. CORKY It wasn't his fault, Sarah. That German sailor there kicked Jack. SARAH Why? GUSHIE He had Jack's eye. Sarah, not understanding, looks to Louie. LOUIE For the want of an eye the temper was lost...for the want of a temper the peace was lost...for the want of a peace the bar was --- Jake daubs at his lips gingerly, feels his swollen eye. JAKE It's not lost, Louie. I'll help you clean up. You know, you're just asking for trouble when you let French and German sailors in here together. LOUIE Ah...It all comes clear to me now. This is my fault. Thank you, Jake. Jake nods and Sarah helps him limp up the stairs as Louie continues to mumble. Gushie and Corky help him pry inert bodies out of the rubble. DISSOLVE TO INTERIOR SARAH'S ROOM - NIGHT She is tending to Jake's bruises and cuts, poking at a split eyebrow with a swab of iodine. Jake takes in a sharp breath at the sting. SARAH If it didn't sting, you wouldn't know it was working. JAKE I've only got myself to blame. I should've been able to handle that guy. SARAH If should've were wishes, beggars would ride...or something like that. I've given up wondering if you'll get killed in a fight...now I only think in terms of when. There. That's all I can do. Jake squints and yawns to test his face. Winces and begins to button his shirt. JAKE The worst part is...I lost Jack's eye again. Off screen, there is a muffled bark as Jack says "no." ON JACK AT SARAH'S OPEN DOOR Jack is clutching the pendant between his teeth. BACK TO JAKE despite his pain, a smile breaks through. JAKE You got it back! Jake reaches for the eye but Jack backs away, growling. SARAH I don't blame you, Jack. Every time he gets his hands on it, he loses it. Jake gives her a look, then smiles at Jack. JAKE See this face, Jack? Does this look like a guy who ever wants to see that eye lost again? Jack considers, then offers the eye to Jake. Jake looks it over, taking it off the thong. SARAH Put it on, Jake. I've never seen Jack without his patch. Jack barks twice. JAKE Well...We don't have any idea where this has been. It's got to be sterilized first. Jack is shocked. He growls in protest. SARAH Don't tease him. JAKE I'm not teasing him. I'm using common sense. I'll get Gushie to boil it in the morning. Jack gives him a long, dirty look, then turns and exits. JAKE (continuing) I'm gonna get some shut eye. SARAH You've already got that. NEW ANGLE Jake shakes his head and opens the door. Sarah puts a soft hand on Jake's battered cheek. SARAH Sorry. (beat) Don't let the bedbugs bite. Jake winks, then winces from the stab of pain. JAKE Don't let Louie hear you say that. EXTERIOR COLONNADE - NIGHT Jake backs out of Sarah's room, and she pokes her head around the door jamb. Past them we can see Mapuhe react a bit startled when he sees Jake. Mapuhe gives Jake and Sarah a big smile and passes them. They smile casually back. Jake takes a limping step toward his room, Sarah looking lovingly after him. SARAH Sleep tight. JAKE If I do, I'll probably dream about Bettys. Sarah's loving look turns to one of furious scorn. SARAH Jake Cutter, you have all the sensitivity of a...a...glass eye. JAKE It isn't glass, and what did I say? Oh...the Bettys. I wasn't talking about women, Sarah. Betty's a nickname the Tigers have for a type of Japanese bomber...I saw one today. SARAH (instantly interested) Where? JAKE Near Kenaru. I've spotted 'em three times flying the mail up there. SARAH The Japanese claim they've only got fighters in the Marivellas. If they've got bombers...Washington will be interested. (smiles) Thanks, Jake. JAKE You're welcome. She closes the door, obviously in a hurry to get on the radio. INTERIOR JAKE'S ROOM - NIGHT He enters, shaking his head at Sarah's reaction as he flips on the light. ANGLE TO FLOOR Jack slips in just as Jake is shutting the door. ON JAKE - IN MIRROR Jake wearily touches his bruises, grimacing, and places Jack's eye on the bureau. JAKE (over shoulder) Oh, you're not mad enough to spend the night outside. Jack, sniffing the room, picking up a scent, it seems. He barks twice. FULL SHOT as Jake flops on the bed, too battered and bruised to remove his clothing. Jack's growling begins just as Jake closes his eyes. JAKE Put a lid on it, Jack. You're going to wear out your indignation. ON JACK backing away from the bed, his attention fixed under the bed. His growls continue. A cobra is slithering its way out from under the bed. Jack retreats to the door, still growling. JAKE I'll take it down first thing in the morning to Louie's kitchen...you don't sleep with it anyway.... The words freeze in Jake's throat as he leans over the bed and comes face to face with: CLOSER POINT OF VIEW - THE COBRA his head menacingly inflated, a few feet away from Jake. FADE OUT _END OF ACT ONE_ _ACT TWO_ FADE IN INTERIOR JAKE'S ROOM - NIGHT - THE COBRA It's not a dream or hallucination. The inflated head swells some more. ON JAKE JAKE (speaks but lips don't move) Jack -- _do_ something. ON JACK Jack is frozen in his tracks. JAKE (lips still riveted) Just a move, Jack -- anything! ON JACK swallows his fear, inches forward. THE COBRA turning to the movement, his head swooshing out of camera. ON JAKE quickly now, picks up the lamp on his night table and crashes it against the cobra. ON THE COBRA Not yet done in. Its head darting out in attack, making contact. Jack jumps back. ON JAKE He picks up a chair and slams it down against the cobra, a second and third time. The cobra goes slack. JAKE AND JACK Jake quickly grabs a knife, kneels next to Jack with a caressing hand to the paw Jack is holding up. JAKE Jeez, Jack.... Jake examines the paw. JAKE (relieved) I could've sworn it bit you, but there's no fang marks. Jake turns his attention to the dead cobra, examines him, looks up, further puzzled. CUT TO EXTERIOR HOTEL - NIGHT This is the back of the hotel where a few smaller rooms are located on the ground floor. Corky rounds the corner, and stops outside his door. Light is spilling out of the door which is partially opened. CORKY (softly) Who's there? TEFARA'S VOICE Mapuhe's daughter. CORKY (swallowing) You're kidding. Corky opens the door. His most astonished expression breaks out all over his face. CORKY'S POINT OF VIEW - THROUGH THE DOOR sitting on a chair next to the hammock is Tefara, the widest, if not the fattest, girl in the world. Her smile is as broad as the doorway. She takes a huge bite out of a cantaloupe. INTERIOR CORKY'S ROOM - NIGHT Corky enters. CORKY But Ma...Ma...Mapuhe's daughter is...is --- What can he say? TEFARA Mapuhe has four daughters. I'm the biggest... (proudly) ...and the oldest. And the hungriest. She smiles, finishes ravishing the cantaloupe. Corky stands limp, his mouth open to the floor. Tefara tosses the cantaloupe over her shoulder, moves closer to Corky, placing the flesh of his upper arm between her fingers and rubbing. TEFARA (continuing) Corky will make a good husband. I can tell. Corky might faint. CORKY (unintended squeak) Hus...husband? TEFARA (being cute) Hubby. She puts her massive arms around Corky. CORKY There's a mistake here somewhere. TEFARA No mistake. You have bought a daughter of Mapuhe. I'm first in line. We are married. CORKY Oh...oh, my...Jake! Corky might cry. Tefara squeezes him affectionately. Corky emits a chorus of feeble yelps. TEFARA I like those sounds. And very definitely in Tefara's vise-like grip. DISSOLVE TO EXTERIOR BORAGORA - DAY - TO ESTABLISH It's early morning and only a few eager fishermen are to be seen. CUT TO INTERIOR MONKEY BAR - DAY Jake enters, looking better than last night. Jack follows. Jake sits at a table as Gushie wheels up with a mug of coffee. Jake has the burlap from the dock held like a sack. GUSHIE That was a barn burner last night, Jake. JAKE Better not let Louie know you enjoyed it. How about breakfast? Jack growls a reminder. Jake reaches into his pocket. JAKE Okay, okay...and boil this for me, would ya? GUSHIE Good for you, Jack, you got it back. (takes eye) One three-minute eye, coming up. Gushie wheels for the kitchen with an eager Jack following him. More precisely, following the eye. ANGLE TO LOUIE looking stonily from a corner of the bar where he is putting broken chairs up on top of broken tables. LOUIE Lucky for you the captains of both those ships cancelled shore leave or that eye might be evidence in your trial. JAKE Jack took it. Throw the book at him. (beat) Come here and look at this, Louie. ON THE TABLE Louie joins Jake who holds open the mouth of the burlap sack. LOUIE (startled) Mon dieu! An ugly creature. Please do not allow it to get lost in here. Jake reaches in the sack and pulls out the cobra's head. JAKE It's dead, Louie. I killed it in my room last night. LOUIE Oh, now, Jake...I admit to the occasional cockroach...but I do not think cobras are even indigenous to the Marivellas. JAKE They aren't...especially fangless ones. LOUIE Fangless? Jake is prying open the cobra's jaws with a knife. Louie frowns at what he sees. LOUIE Cut out. Did you remove them? JAKE Uh-uh. That's how I found it. Except it was a little more lively than this. LOUIE To scare you only. Why? JAKE You got me, but I'm not complaining. If this snake had come with all its teeth in its head, we'd have an extra eye on our hands this morning. LOUIE Ah, Jacques performed an act of bravery, eh? JAKE Yeah. (bags snake) Look, I don't know what's going on, but until I figure it out, don't tell anybody, okay? CORKY'S VOICE Tell 'em what? ANGLE TO INCLUDE CORKY He's standing a few feet from the table, knitting his cap in his hands, the soul of worry. Jake quickly closes the sack, thinking fast. JAKE Jack got his eye back. Little reaction. JAKE Well, when you see him with it in, act surprised, okay? CORKY I...I got kind of surprised, Jake. JAKE Umm? (beat) Oh, I get it. You've got a surprise but you forgot what it is. CORKY No, not this time. I wish I could. JAKE Well, what is it? CORKY I...uh...got me a wife. JAKE/LOUIE What? CORKY It's...it's true, Jake. I'm sorry. JAKE Corky, how many beers did you have last night? CORKY It wasn't the beer, Jake. It's just that...well, Mapuhe was going to let his daughter...I mean, he needed a hundred francs to fix his net...so I loaned him the money and...and...he gave me his daughter for a wife. JAKE (unbelieving) Where is she? CORKY Right there. He indicates. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - FAVORING TEFARA She is standing by the door eating a leg of lamb! Smiling back at Jake. With her is Willie dressed as Reverend Tenboom. Tefara waddles over to Corky, still clutching the leg of lamb. She grabs Corky up in her arms, her tremendous girth smothering him. TEFARA Morning, hubby. LOUIE Hubby? CORKY She started callin' me that last night. JAKE (catching on) Ohh.... CORKY (embarrassed) It's not like that! She spent the night in the church, isn't that right, Reverend? WILLIE (tipping hat) That is true. Corky came to me with his...'wife' in the wee hours. She spent the remainder of the night in the house of God... (beat) Quite alone.... LOUIE Was there a ceremony? TEFARA Don't need a ceremony. My father give me to him. That's that. (to Corky with affection) I'll make you happy. You'll see -- plenty of babies. JAKE (suppressing a laugh) I'll bet. (off Corky's look) Sorry. (beat) Maybe you should tell your friend Mapuhe you don't need a wife. CORKY He's already gone back to his island. (beat) Jake, how am I gonna get rid of her? TEFARA Rid of me?!? Tefara sets up a terrible wailing. Nobody knows how to comfort her. LOUIE Corky! Do something. I cannot have this woman carrying on like this. JAKE (to Tefara) Tefara, Corky can hardly support himself, much less...uh...a wife. Tell her, Corky. CORKY I tried. She just starts bawlin' like that and I can't even think. WILLIE Silence, my child. Perhaps you will find solace in prayer. CORKY Food. She likes that best. Gushie rolls out of the kitchen with a basket of breakfast buns for Jake. Corky intercepts them and Tefara accepts the basket, munching the buns in teary silence. NEW ANGLE Jake crooks a finger at the men and they take a few steps away from Tefara, huddling for a conference. JAKE Is this kind of marriage binding? LOUIE Not under French law. WILLIE It is prevalent in some Polynesian cultures. But, getting unmarried is as easy as getting married. You just say auf wiedersehen. JAKE Then, we'll just take her back to her father. Where's he live? CORKY Kenaru. Jake is thoughtful for a beat. ANGLE PAST THEM TO TEFARA They break the huddle. Jake adopts a big smile and crosses back to Tefara. JAKE We're going to take you home, Tefara, back to Kenaru. Tefara smiles hugely and favors Jake with one of her all-encompassing hugs. TEFARA Wonderful. We'll have a big feast. And I can show my hubby to the village. JAKE Well...sure, but then we'll have to leave. Corky can't stay. CORKY Jake! Tefara turns red again and drops Jake. She lets out a banshee wail even louder than before. CORKY (continuing) Now you've done it. (to Tefara) There, there... (forces it) Darling. It's going to be fine. Tefara continues to wail. DISSOLVE TO EXTERIOR MONKEY BAR - DAY Jake, Corky and Jack emerge. We can't hear Tefara. Jake is bouncing Jake's eye in his hand. It's obviously still hot. Jack follows it up and down, unable to take his good eye off it. CORKY Once she eats up all of Louie's bar snacks, she'll just start wailin' again. JAKE By then we'll be ready to take off. She's probably never been in an airplane before. And, we'll have her back with her dad before she knows it. Jack barks once for 'no.' JAKE (continuing) It's still hot, Jack. Just a minute. ANGLE TO NATIVE BOY running up. He hands Jake a note and runs off. Jake shakes the note open with his free hand, still bouncing the eye. CORKY What's that? JAKE Some guy wants to see me at the old fishing wharf near Koji's warehouse about a charter. I'll go see. You pre-flight the Goose. CORKY Okay, Jake...and...thanks. JAKE For what? You just loaned some guy a hundred francs. Corky thinks this over as Jake heads toward the warehouse, still tossing the eye, Jack following. EXTERIOR WAREHOUSE AREA - DAY - ON THE OLD FISHING WHARF Jake approaches with Jack following. JAKE Hello? Jack stops and growls. JAKE (continuing) You want the eye hot? Ok-a-ay.... As Jake steps forward a noose snaps tight around his foot yanking him into the air. Jack's eye sails away. ON EYE it hits and rolls, Jack watching it closely. JAKE Get help, Jack! Jack doesn't move. JAKE This is no time to be stubborn, Jack! Get somebody to cut me down! Jack still doesn't move. JAKE (continuing) All right, Jack, I promise to put it in as soon as I'm cut down, okay? No waiting. As is. Jack now moves off toward the Monkey Bar. EXTERIOR WAREHOUSE AREA - DAY Picking up Louie, following Jack as they arrive at the tree. LOUIE How did you get in such a position, mon ami? JAKE We can discuss it later, Louie. Would you please cut me down before my head pops! LOUIE Mais oui. He looks around, spots a machete leaning against the warehouse. He goes to get it. Jack stands at the edge of the soft turf, growling. Louie returns to Jake and is about to cut the vine. EXTERIOR BRUSH - DAY Below Jake and where he will fall when cut loose. From this angle the slightest shimmer of glinting bayonet can be seen just under the brush, right where Jake will fall on it. FADE OUT _END OF ACT TWO_ _ACT THREE_ FADE IN EXTERIOR TREE - DAY - AS BEFORE Louie climbs up on a rock so he can reach the vine to cut it. Jack's growls are more persistent. LOUIE Break the fall with your hands, Jake. CLOSE - ON JAKE upside down in shot. JAKE Any time, Louie. Now, Jake looks down at the ground area where he will land and where Jack is sniffing and growling. HIS POINT OF VIEW - THE BRUSH softer in appearance than the adjacent ground, with Jake looking down at it. Perhaps the glint of metal. ON LOUIE raises the machete. JAKE'S VOICE Louie! Don't! LOUIE J'en comprende pas. The fall is not that severe, Jake. He places the machete against the vine. JAKE Louie! For God's sake, put that machete down! FULL SHOT TO INCLUDE LOUIE AND JAKE LOUIE As you wish, but how do you plan on coming down? JAKE A rope. Get me a rope and... (indicates) Toss it over that branch up there. Louie discards the machete, spots some rope on the old dock. FAVORING JACK AND JAKE with Jack still growling. Louie returns with the rope, sizes up the problem. JAKE You know how to make a slip knot? LOUIE But of course. It's the first thing you learn in the French Navy. JAKE You were in the French Navy? No answer as Louie tosses one end of the rope over the branch, expertly makes a slip knot and hands the loose end of the rope to Jake. Louie and Jack watch as Jake pulls himself right side up. He is now able to reach the vine secured around his foot, removes it. Holding on to the rope provided by Louie, he swings free of the soft brush and jumps to the ground. Louie starts forward to Jake, who motions him not to move. CLOSER - JAKE cautiously approaches the soft brush, on his knees the last foot or so. He pats the brush carefully and then pulls it away from the ground it was covering. Several blades are pointed up, but all are leaning outward from a central point. LOUIE Le diable! You saw this hanging upside down? JAKE Thanks to Jack. LOUIE It would appear the assassin thought otherwise. Louie brushes in the dirt. INSERT - KNIFE AND CARD Louie's hand brushes away some loose dirt to reveal a playing card, the ace of hearts impaled on a blade, the point of the knife piercing the heart in the center of the card. Louie gingerly pulls the card off the blade. JAKE AND LOUIE LOUIE (continuing) Through the heart, n'est ce pas? Jake takes the card, studying it closely. JAKE Not through the heart, Louie. Through the ace. LOUIE Comment? JAKE When I know, I'll tell you. LOUIE Who would do such a thing. JAKE I don't know, but I intend to find out as soon as I get back from Kenaru. LOUIE In the meantime, I will start my own investigation, mon ami. JAKE Thanks, Louie. Jake reaches down and pets Jack. Louie continues looking at the bayonets with horror. JAKE No teeth this time, either. Jake touches one of the blades. JAKE Only a half inch or so is above the surface -- I'd have cut my hands up, but it wouldn't have killed me. NEW ANGLE as Louie watches. Jake kneels beside him and picks up the eye, blowing grains of sand off it. JAKE Here you go, Jack. I hope I can stand it. With both eyes you might just be too good looking. Jack barks twice in agreement. Jake reaches for his patch, lifting it, and blocking the rest of the action with his body. CLOSE ON LOUIE as he watches. He suddenly beams. LOUIE Ah, Jack...you are magnificent! CLOSE ON JACK without his patch...proud as hell. CUT TO EXTERIOR BORAGORA DOCK - DAY Corky humming as he works on the Goose. Jake comes down the dock, Jack trotting happily behind him. Corky whoops and offers Jack his arms. CORKY Jack! Boy are you handsome! Jack trots along, nonchalant. CORKY (continuing) Ain't that so, Jake? With two eyes ain't Jack the best lookin' dog you ever saw. JAKE (sotto) Don't spread it on too thick. We've got to live with him. CORKY (nods) Okay. (beat) It's true, though. Good lookin' is the word. JAKE We ready to go? CORKY I'm just toppin' off the tanks. Be a minute. Jake nods and goes inside the Goose. INTERIOR GOOSE - DAY Jake enters the cockpit, starts checking his controls when he sees a scrap of paper tucked into the space between the wind screen and the control panel. He picks it up and examines it. INSERT - CLIPPING It's a yellowed clipping from the _China Mail_ featuring the photo taken the day Jake became an Ace. EXTERIOR GOOSE - DAY as Jake climbs out with the clipping. JAKE (shows Corky) Did you see this? CORKY Uh-uh. (looks) Hey, Jake, that's you. Where'd you find it? JAKE In the cockpit. Didn't you put it there? CORKY Not me. I'd have had to save it from China and you know...I can't save anything. JAKE (thinking) Yeah. CORKY What? A loud wailing is heard at the end of the dock. ANGLE - TEFARA AND SARAH as they make their way down the dock. Tefara is carrying two huge jute bags full of groceries, and wearing a huge brimmed straw hat. Sarah is doing her best to keep her from crying. ANGLE - JAKE AND CORKY They exchange looks and go to greet the ladies, Jake stuffing the clipping into his pocket. SARAH We had a woman to woman talk and I think she'll be okay for the flight. JAKE (relieved) Thanks, Sarah. Corky, help Tefara aboard. (sotto) Don't sit her in the rear, okay? CORKY Gotcha, Jake. (to Tefara) Come on, sweetie. I'll get you into the Goose. NEW ANGLE PAST JAKE AND SARAH TO THE GOOSE As Jake and Sarah talk, Corky helps Tefara to the plane and eventually succeeds in maneuvering her bulk through the hatch. JAKE We won't be more than two, three hours. If I see another Betty up by Kenaru, I'll let you know. SARAH Not Kenaru...Tori Hado. Across that channel in the Japanese mandate -- Washington thinks it's big enough for a bomber base. REVERSE Jake walks Sarah a few steps away from the Goose, growing confidential. JAKE You've been on the radio? SARAH Almost all night. Washington is very excited. They believe you. Isn't that nice? JAKE You mentioned my name? SARAH Not exactly. I told them I had a theory. They told me our ships have been reporting a lot of activity on Tori Hado. It fits. All we have to do now is confirm it. JAKE You have an absolute knack for making things like that sound like a game of...jacks or something. If the Japanese have a secret bomber base on Tori Hado, they'll want anything but us to confirm it. SARAH You're going to Kenaru anyway. JAKE That's partly what has me worried. Something funny's going on. SARAH Something funny's always going on. Listen, I'll go with you, and we'll just innocently see what we can see when we take off from Kenaru. JAKE When we take off, all we'll see is Kenaru. SARAH Not if you...accidentally take a wide turn over the channel. (beat) Don't you want to know for sure? JAKE (decides) Yeah, you're right, it's something that's got to be done. But, one look is all we're gonna get. And, we probably won't see anything because those guys know a little about camouflage. SARAH Okay...so then we can report we saw some camouflage. It's something. JAKE Sarah, you don't see...I mean, that's the idea...skip it. ANOTHER ANGLE They head for the Goose, Corky and Tefara already inside. SARAH (sees something) Jack! ANGLE TO INCLUDE JACK He is in the hatch, looking aloof with both eyes. Sarah rushes to him. SARAH Aren't you the handsome dog! Jack barks twice with no hesitation. Jake just looks to the heavens for help. JAKE Oh, boy. DISSOLVE TO EXTERIOR SKY - THE GOOSE - DAY flying through the tropic sky. JAKE'S VOICE OVER Nobody likes a riddle better than I do, but my hunch was I'd be a lot happier without this one to solve. INTERIOR GOOSE'S CABIN - DAY Tefara is wedged in back, no longer eating, but looking nervously around at the strange phenomenon of flying. Sarah is looking below, absently picking at the groceries in Tefara's forgotten baskets. JAKE'S VOICE OVER (continuing) There were so many strings pulling me that way, it wasn't hard to guess the answer to this riddle was waiting on Kenaru. I hoped it was patient. I wasn't in any hurry. INTERIOR THE GOOSE'S COCKPIT - DAY Jake looks back and silently signals "five minutes" to Sarah. Then he pulls the clipping out of his jacket and looks at it again as he flies. JAKE Remember the day this was taken? CORKY It was...ah...I know that. It was --- JAKE June 14th. Last year. CORKY That's right. You'd...ah, you'd.... JAKE Just shot down two Zekes and made Ace. CORKY I'll never forget that. JAKE Apparently, neither will somebody else. CORKY Huh? JAKE Remember honto ni? CORKY Whew, Jake? You're givin' me a workout. Honto ni...is that a place? JAKE It's a code, remember, among Japanese pilots. The code of vengeance. CORKY That honto ni...sure, shoot down a guy's buddy and he's honor bound to come after you, even --- JAKE Even if it takes the rest of his life. CORKY What made you think of that, Jake? JAKE Memories. CORKY You gotta watch those. Jake puts the clipping away, looking ahead. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - ISLANDS Two of them, separated by a narrow channel. One is practically underneath, the other on the horizon. BACK WIDE JAKE Kenaru. See if they're set for landing back there. CORKY Sure, Jake. INTERIOR THE GOOSE'S CABIN - DAY Corky steps back from the cockpit. CORKY We're comin' up on Kenaru, Sarah. Put on your belt. SARAH Is that Tori Hado beyond? CORKY Yeah, but we won't be goin' there. Jack barks twice for "yes." CORKY (continuing) Yeah, you look great, Jack. (to Sarah) Jake's right, you-know-who is really stuck on himself. ANOTHER ANGLE Corky steps back to Tefara who is holding on for dear life. Corky gives her a game smile. CORKY (continuing) Almost there. You'll be home soon. She breaks into a wail and Corky retreats to the cockpit. EXTERIOR - SKY - DAY - THE GOOSE flying away from us toward the distant islands. CUT TO EXTERIOR DECKED SHELTER - DAY - CLOSEUP - SHRINE Slow pull back from a yellowed and tattered black and white photo of Kisuro Miura in his Japanese Navy dress uniform. The photo is mounted is a simple, small Buddhist shrine with incense burning beside it. In front of the picture is the red hachimachi headband we saw Kisuro put on the day he was killed. The headband shows signs of scorching from the fire which killed Kisuro. Pulling back farther we realize we are on a small, decked platform shelter on an island beach. Several Japanese items can be seen: a tea service, a rolled bed and head block, a small trunk on which the shrine is set. Kneeling in front of the shrine is a man in a Japanese flyer's suit, back to us so we don't see his face. He picks up the headband and slowly knots it behind around his flying helmet. In the distance we hear the growing drone of the Goose. CUT TO EXTERIOR KENARU - LAGOON - DAY The Goose comes in low, swooping into a small lagoon with a derelict wharf on one side. The place is deserted. The plane lands and comes around facing the wharf. Junk is everywhere, a graveyard of flotsam. ANGLE - THE GOOSE as the hatch opens and Jake, Corky, Sarah and Jack climb out. The men help Tefara, who is a tight squeeze. They push and pull her. CORKY Let go of the bags, Tefara, it'll make it a lot easier. TEFARA I don't want to forget anything. She rummages in her bags, taking inventory. She straightens her sarong, and fixes her hat. Sarah approaches Jake, carrying a 35mm camera. SARAH (to Jake) How long is this going to take? JAKE Let's see, ten minutes to the village. Thirty seconds of 'see you later.' Maybe an hour of 'sobbing.' SARAH An hour? JAKE We've got to be polite. SARAH (indicating camera) We need good daylight for a proper look at the island over there. JAKE There's plenty left. Camouflage shows up best at twilight. Sarah, wanting to speed things up, helps Tefara. They head off down the beach. Jake and Corky join Sarah and Tefara. EXTERIOR KENARU VILLAGE - DAY as Jake, Corky, Sarah, Jack and Tefara enter. Kenaru is truly the cesspool of the Marivellas. There's an incredible array of junkyard stuff here. Rusted typewriters, old refrigerators, radios, car parts laying around, huts made of tin and old ship parts. A melting pot of sorts as evidenced by the brigands, rogues and pirates mixed in with the native population, observing Jake and party as they walk through. CORKY Where'd you get all this stuff, anyway? TEFARA Here and there. If you stick around, you can have whatever you want. CORKY Swell. Just then a whoop is heard and the village is now teaming with natives, all shouting and yelling joyously. Tefara is home with her husband. Every time Corky goes to say something, a lei is placed around his neck, and he is kissed on both cheeks. Even Jack is having flowers poured on him. He isn't happy about it. Mapuhe steps forward. MAPUHE Welcome, son-in-law. Hello, daughter. TEFARA Papa! Mapuhe and Tefara embrace. MAPUHE (to Jake) Corky is a great man. JAKE Yeah, he's a great man, all right. But I've got real bad news for you, Mapuhe. MAPUHE Bad news? JAKE (sternly) Corky won't be staying married to Tefara. MAPUHE (after a beat) That's okay. JAKE (surprised) It is? KENJI'S VOICE Hai. Cutter-san. Corky, Jake and Sarah spin to see --- THEIR POINT OF VIEW - KENJI MIURA The second pilot to dogfight Jake over China has apparently survived. He is dressed in a Japanese aviator's flight suit, a red hachimachi headband around his helmet. Kenji takes a step forward, revealing that he has a game leg. KENJI I arranged their marriage to bring you here. CLOSE ON KENJI He bows, and when he stands we see that his headband shows the scorch marks of the fire that killed his brother while he was wearing it. ON SARAH AND JAKE SARAH Jake, what's he want? JAKE To kill me. WIDE Kenji nods and Mapuhe and his men draw a collection of knives and krises, tightening a ring around Jake, Sarah, Corky and Jack, leaving no doubt they have the upper hand. FADE OUT _END OF ACT THREE_ _ACT FOUR_ FADE IN EXTERIOR VILLAGE - NIGHT - KENJI AND JAKE Kenji is seated at a traditional lacquered Japanese tea table on a grass mat under a Japanese lantern. Jake is pacing. A few steps takes him to the perimeter of the light cast by the lantern, and to the human fence of Mapuhe's men who ring them. KENJI (pouring) Tea, Cutter-san. It is part of the ceremony. JAKE I'm not interested in your ceremony. How many times do I have to tell you? KENJI Your words...my words...They are the butterflies of but one spring. The ceremony...it is timeless. ON JAKE He kneels next to Kenji, face to face with the other man, in order to stress his point. Kenji remains placid. JAKE I do not believe in honto ni! Your brother died in battle...a soldier. I didn't want to kill him. But, he was trying to kill me. KENJI Of course. And, had you succeeded in also taking my life that day, there would be no shame on you. But, you did not. (bows head) I almost wish you had, then I would be free of this debt. But, it is the ceremony. JAKE Then why are we drinking tea?! Get it over with. Kenji puts down his cup and peers a long beat into Jake's eyes. He has no evil in his manner, even regret. KENJI Honto ni is a code of honor. The warriors must be equal, they must be equally willing. They must each have debts to repay. JAKE What do I owe you? KENJI I have taken your honor. I have attacked you shamelessly...twice. JAKE The cobra and the knives. KENJI One cannot excuse such attacks. One must repay them in kind. You must repay them. JAKE If I've got a score to settle with anybody, it's Mapuhe. ON KENJI He is growing frustrated. KENJI If you do not choose to fight me for your honor, then I may settle my own debt without shame. JAKE You mean, kill me. You sure take the long way around. KENJI Not you. This is honto ni. A fellow warrior for a fellow warrior. The full impact of Kenji's plan hits Jake. JAKE Corky. Kenji bows. JAKE That's crazy! He never did anything to you. Anger flooding into Jake, he goes for Kenji across the tea table, sending the porcelain cups flying. But, Mapuhe's men are quick to pull him off Kenji and hold him, their knives ready to strike. Kenji is only slightly ruffled. KENJI Nor did Kisuro do anything to you. Yet you killed him. JAKE In war! And we're both out of that, now. KENJI Not yet. (to men) Release him. KENJI AND JAKE They stand, squared off at each other, one fierce with pride, the other with outrage. JAKE So you want me to fight you. KENJI If that is your wish. JAKE That's the ceremony, isn't it? Kenji nods. JAKE And, I get to choose the weapons. Another bow. JAKE How about...fighter planes. I don't suppose you've got a couple of those lying around this sinkhole. Jake can't resist a small smile of victory. To his surprise, Kenji smiles in return. KENJI The ceremony shall be observed. DISSOLVE TO EXTERIOR BEACH - NIGHT Jake and Kenji are putting ashore from a canoe being paddled by Mapuhe's men. They have blackened their faces like commandos. Kenji still wears the red headband. JAKE'S VOICE OVER No matter what code of honor he was using as an excuse, Kenji Miura was a killer...about the most cold blooded I ever wanted to meet. He'd planned this trap for me down to the last stitch on his brother's headband...Japanese mothers make headbands for their sons with a thousand stitches from strangers...a thousand good wishes, and not one for me. ANOTHER ANGLE Jake and Kenji wade ashore, the men in the canoe disappearing. Kenji leads Jake up the beach and into some trees at a crouch. JAKE'S VOICE OVER (continuing) He knew I'd pick planes to fight him with, and guess what...a little more than a mile from Kenaru was the secret Tori Hado airstrip. A thousand lucky stitches is a lot of stitches. THEIR POINT OF VIEW - JAPANESE SENTRY He passes by Jake and Kenji at a slow gait, rifle loosely across his shoulder. Beyond him is a darkened mass of camouflage netting. ON JAKE He studies the back of Kenji's neck, slowly putting his hands up and around it. At the first touch, Kenji starts, turning to Jake, not resisting the hands around his throat. JAKE (whispering) What's to stop me from killing you here? KENJI You may. (beat) But, you know the answer or you would not have asked...you would have acted. Jake takes his hands away from Kenji. They tremble. KENJI (continuing) Unless they see us fighting in the sky, Mapuhe's men will kill your two friends. JAKE He's got to know, if he does that I'll get him...I'll find him...I'll --- KENJI You see...you also believe in honto ni. As if this dismisses the topic, Kenji turns to the dark camouflage. KENJI (continuing) I have been here many nights. The guards are believers in their own secrecy. They are few...they accept what they see as long as it is familiar. Kenji produces Japanese pilots' headgear from under his jacket and hands it to Jake. Jake slips it on. They creep to the edge of the camouflage. AT THE CAMOUFLAGE Jake helps Kenji peel the camouflage netting off what is clearly an aircraft wing. JAKE I haven't brought this up before, but this is a bomber base, you know. KENJI Indeed. But bombers are very expensive. They need protection. The netting falls away revealing a Japanese Zero fighter. Jake gives it a long look, swallowing hard. KENJI (continuing) Zero-sens. Very good protection. I believe it is time two of them were bound on a dawn patrol. CUT TO EXTERIOR SKY - DAY - SUNRISE - STOCK The growl of a single-engine fighter approaches. EXTERIOR SKY - DAY - ZERO - STOCK It is alone in the dawn sky. EXTERIOR JAKE'S CANOPY - DAY Wearing the Japanese flying cap, Jake is carefully looking at his controls, flying gingerly, getting the feel of the craft. JAKE'S VOICE OVER It's stretching the point to say fighter planes are like bicycles. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - THE CONTROL PANEL Japanese markings make the controls a confusing maze. JAKE'S VOICE OVER (continuing) But, if you can ride one, you're supposed to be able to ride them all. A ride is one thing, a dogfight's another. EXTERIOR SKY - DAY - SECOND ZERO - STOCK Diving out of the sky at Jake's plane, guns ratcheting. EXTERIOR KENJI'S CANOPY - DAY He hauls on the stick, forcing his plane out of it, diving and turning. VARIOUS SHOTS - STOCK The fight is on for real, both Zeros twisting through the sky. EXTERIOR MAPUHE'S VILLAGE - DAY Outside in the village street everyone has stopped to watch the planes. Sarah, Corky and Jack look skyward. SARAH How're we supposed to know which one is Jake? CORKY He's the one that's gonna win! Jack barks twice. EXTERIOR JAKE'S CANOPY - DAY He feels the sharp rap of machine gun bullets as Kenji stitches Jake's plane. He banks sharply. ANGLE - JAKE'S ZERO - STOCK as it goes into an ungainly barrel roll, narrowly avoiding the tracers. After a beat, Kenji's plane races by and goes into a turn for another pass. EXTERIOR KENJI'S CANOPY - DAY as he homes in on his target. He checks his sights and presses the trigger button. ANGLE - JAKE'S PLANE - STOCK as the machine gun bullets stitch its side. Again, Jake violently yanks the stick, putting his plane on its side. ANGLE - KENJI'S PLANE - STOCK Kenji guns his sputtering engine and dives for the kill. EXTERIOR JAKE'S CANOPY - DAY He's watching Kenji, waiting for the right moment. Kenji is getting closer by the second. Just as its guns open up, Jake yanks the stick and stakes his plane into a sharp climb. CLOSE ON KENJI He's missed. Panics as he sees: KENJI'S POINT OF VIEW - JAKE'S PLANE On top of Kenji's plane now. Jake opens fire. KENJI'S PLANE - STOCK Taking a deadly hit, flaming, and exploding. ON JAKE Looking down, an instant until he reacts to the sound of his engine sputtering. He opens up the hatch, enveloped in smoke as he struggles to get out. EXTERIOR SKY - DAY - JAKE Parachuting down to the water. EXTERIOR BEACH - DAY Near the Goose. Corky, Sarah and Jack race to the beach ahead of Mapuhe and the villagers. SARAH Is it Jake? Jack barks twice. CORKY But, he doesn't have a life jacket. EXTERIOR WATER - DAY Jake plunges into the water, fighting to release his chute. The sound of the crashing surf is loud. JAKE'S POINT OF VIEW - REEF Very close, deadly surf pounding it. SARAH (panic) He's going to drown! MAPUHE If reef doesn't cut him up first. And, of course, there are the sharks. SARAH Do something! Send your men out in a boat. MAPUHE We could do that. (a smile) But, there's the risk to consider. Lose a boat, very expensive. Lose men...ah, don't want to think about it...Many Tefaras wailing all day and all night. I'd need something of real value. CORKY We don't have anything, Mapuhe. MAPUHE (looks to Jack) That's not so...is it, Jack? CLOSE ON JACK Jack barks twice. He backs away from Mapuhe. ON CORKY AND SARAH as they turn and look at Jack...then each other. EXTERIOR WATER - DAY Jake floundering around in the water, the tide pushing him toward the reef. ON THE NATIVE'S BOAT paddling furiously toward Jake. ON JAKE Losing strength, going under. THE BOAT Guided by the parachute on the water's surface, two natives dive in, disappear, resurface with Jake, unconscious now as he's pulled into the boat. FADE OUT _END OF ACT FOUR_ _TAG_ FADE IN INTERIOR MONKEY BAR - NIGHT The place is moderately busy. Jake, Corky and Sarah are sitting at a table trying to console Jack who has his patch back on. The atmosphere at the table is icy thanks to Jack, who is pissed at all three of them. JAKE (finally) Don't you think you're taking this just a little too far, Jack? Jack barks once that he doesn't. JAKE (continuing) I just don't see...pardon the expression...how you can be mad at me this time. I didn't lose your eye. I was in the water. Jack isn't giving in. He looks from one to the other. CORKY Don't look at me...I mean, ah...skip it. (to Jake) He'll cool off, give him time. Jack barks once he won't. SARAH (to Jack) You're really out of line, you know that. It was either Jake's life or your eye. We didn't have any choice. Jack barks twice that they did. JAKE Thanks, Jack. (to Sarah) Never, ever give him a set up like that. He'll take it every time. CORKY I think I know what's gettin' his goat, Jake. You let Mapuhe get away with it...the eye, I mean. JAKE I..._let_ him? By the time I woke up, Mapuhe and his buddies were half way to the Sulu Sea. But, you have my word, Jack, if I ever run into that guy --- ON JACK He hops off the chair in the middle of Jake's pledge. BACK WIDE Jake throws his hands up in the air. Corky looks at his empty beer bottle and stands. CORKY I'll buy him a beer, Jake...help him forget. Corky walks away toward the bar. Sarah suddenly remembers something. She leans in conspiratorially. SARAH Maybe Jack is ticked off, but I happen to know that certain people in certain high places are very grateful for what you did. JAKE You've been on the radio again. She nods. JAKE This time you mentioned my name. SARAH Not exactly. But, now I don't think anyone doubts that the Japanese definitely have a secret airbase on Tori Hado. JAKE You mean a bomber base. SARAH Well...that's not confirmed. JAKE I was there. I saw it. What more do they want? SARAH (beat) Pictures. She smiles prettily. Before Jake can say no, we: FREEZE FRAME FADE OUT _THE END_
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