by John Milius, Francis

Coppola. Transcript.
opening scene :

THE END BY THE DOORS

This is the end

Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes...aga
Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need...of some...stra
In a...desperate land
Lost in a romance...wilderness of pa
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain, yeah

l room in Saigon :

WILLARD (v.o.)

gon, shit. I'm still only in Saigon. Eve

up back in the jungle. When I was home
as worse. I'd wake up and there'd be n
rdly said a word to my wife until I said
I was here I wanted to be there. When I
d think of was getting back into the jun
been here a week now. Waiting for a mis
er. Every minute I stay in this room I g
lie squats in the bush he gets stronger.
time I look around the walls move in a

yone gets everything he wants. I wanted

gave me one. Brought it up to me like

soldiers approach the hotel room :

SOLDIER
tain Willard ? Are you in there ?"

WILLARD
h."

WILLARD (v.o.)
was a real choice mission, and when it w
r, I'd never want another."

WILLARD
ddya want ?"

SOLDIER
you all right Captain ?"

WILLARD
does it look like ?"

SOLDIER
tain Willard of 505 battalion, 173rd Air
gned SOG ?"

WILLARD
buddy, are you gonna shut the door ?"

SOLDIER
have orders to escort you to the airfiel

WILLARD
t are the charges ?"

SOLDIER
?"

WILLARD
t I did ?"

SOLDIER
re's no charges, Captain. You have order
omSec intelligence in Nha Trang."

WILLARD
Trang ?"

SOLDIER
t's right. Come on captain, you still ha
hours to get cleaned up.
ain ?
, give me a hand.
on captain, let's take a shower. We'll
a take a shower, in we go ..."

ha Trang :

WILLARD (v.o.)
as going to the worst place in the world
et. Weeks away and hundreds of miles up
ugh the war like a main circuit cable an
z. It was no accident that I got to be t
er E. Kurtz's memory, any more than bein
an accident. There is no way to tell his
wn. And if his story is really a confess

he briefing room :

COLONEL LUCAS
e on in.. At ease. Want a cigarette ?"

WILLARD
thank you sir."

LUCAS
tain, have you ever seen this gentleman
ral or myself ?"

WILLARD
sir. Not personally."

LUCAS
have worked a lot on your own, haven't

WILLARD
, sir. I have."

LUCAS
r report specify intelligence, counter-i
ComSec I Corps."

WILLARD
not presently disposed to discuss these

LUCAS
you not work for the CIA in I Corps ?"

WILLARD
sir."

LUCAS
you not assasinate a government tax col
g Tri province, June 19th, 1968 ? Captai

WILLARD
, I am unaware of any such activity or o
disposed to discuss such an operation i
exist, sir."

GENERAL CORMAN
hought we'd have a bite of lunch while w
brought a good appetite with you.
have a bad hand there, are you wounded ?

WILLARD
ittle fishing accident on R&R, sir."

CORMAN
hing on R&R... But you're feeling fit, r
duty ?"

WILLARD
, general. Very much so sir."

CORMAN
's see what we have here... roast beef a
lly is not bad. Try some Jerry, pass it
a little time when we'll pass both ways
n't know how you feel about this shrimp,
it, you never have to prove your courage
r way... I'll take a piece here ..."

LUCAS
tain, you heard of Colonel Walter E. Kur

WILLARD
, sir, I've heard the name."

LUCAS
rations officer, 5th Special forces."

CORMAN
e, would you play that tape for captain,
en carefully."

ON TAPE
ober 9th, 0430 hours, sector PBK."

LUCAS
s was monitored out of Cambodia. This ha
olonel Kurtz's voice."

COLONEL KURTZ (on tape)

watched a snail crawl along the edge of
m. That's my nightmare. Crawling, slithe
ight razor, and surviving. "

ON TAPE
h transmission, December 30th, 0500 hour

KURTZ (on tape)

must kill them. We must incinerate them
village after village, army after army.
sin. What do you call it when the assasi
assasin ? They lie.. they lie and we hav
those who lie. Those nabobs. I hate them

CORMAN
t Kurtz was one of the most outstanding
ever produced. He was a brilliant and ou
he was a good man too. Humanitarian man,
oined the Special forces. After that his
me unsound... Unsound."

LUCAS
he's crossed to Cambodia with his Monta
hip the man, like a god, and follow ever

CORMAN
l, I have some other shocking news to te
z was about to be arrested for murder."

WILLARD
on't follow sir. Murdered who ?"

LUCAS
tz had ordered executions of some Vietna
ts. Men he believed were double agents.
ers into his own hands."

CORMAN
l, you see Willard... In this war, thing
there, power, ideals, the old morality,
tary necessity. Out there with these nat
mptation to be god. Because there's a co
y human heart between the rational and t
een good and evil. The good does not
times the dark side overcomes what Linco
better angels of our nature. Every man h
king point. You and I have. Walter Kurtz
very obviously, he has gone insane."

WILLARD
sir, very much so sir. Obviously insane

LUCAS
r mission is to proceed up to Nung river
ol boat. Pick up colonel Kurtz' path at
ow it, learn what you can along the way.
nel infiltrate his team by whatever mean
inate the colonel's command."

WILLARD
minate ? The colonel ?"

CORMAN
s out there operating without any decent
lly beyond the pale of any acceptable hu
he is still in the field commanding his

CIVILIAN
minate with extreme prejudice."

LUCAS
understand captain... , that this opera
exist, nor will it ever exist."

elicopter :

WILLARD (v.o.)
many people had I already killed? There
t for sure. Close enough to blow their l
. But this time it was an American and a
osed to make any difference to me, but i
with murder in this place was like handi
ets in the Indy 500. I took the mission.
I gonna do? But I didn't know what I'd

oat :

WILLARD (v.o.)
as being ferried down the coast in a Nav
tic patrol boat, pretty common sight on
it was a good way to pick up informatio
ttention. That was OK, I needed the air
problem was I wouldn't be alone."

CLEAN
ning captain."

WILLARD (v.o.)
crew was mostly just kids, rock and ro
r graves"

WILLARD
old are you ?"

CLEAN
enteen."

WILLARD (v.o.)
machinist, the one they called Chef, wa
as rapped too tight for Vietnam, probabl
New Orleans. Lance on the forward 50's w
er from the beaches south of LA. You loo
you wouldn't believe he ever fired a wea
. Clean, Mr. Clean, was from some South
t and space of Vietnam really put the za
there was Phillips, the Chief. It might
ion, but it sure as shit was Chief's boa

CHIEF
re are about two points where we can dra
r to get into the Nung river. They're bo
harlie."

WILLARD
't worry about it."

ard offers Chief a cigarette :

CHIEF
't smoke. You know, I've pulled a few sp
. About six months ago, I took a man who
the bridge at Do Lung. ... He was regul
d he shot himself in the head."

RADIO DJ
d morning Vietnam. This is Zack Johnson
about 82 degrees in downtown Saigon and
humid. And we have a important message
ng off-base from the mayor of Saigon. He
your laundry indoors, instead of on the
mayor wants you to keep Saigon beautiful
now here's another blast from the past c
Cind, all alone in the mantle room out t
alion Thirty-fifth Infantry, and dedicat
n Khe to their groupie CO Fred the Head:
es' Satisfaction."

ee Lance waterskiing behind the boat :

CHEF
g on Lance !"

LANCE
onara !"

ard starts reading Kurtz' dossier :

JC - 177TS007

TO: WILLARD, BENJAMIN L., Cpt. U

0-1305301
U.S. Armed Forces Intelligen
Nha Trang

SUBJECT: Special Warfare Information,

1946 Graduates West Point; second

Completes Basic Training, Ad

47-48 Assigned, West Berlin, U.S.

Promoted 1st Lt.

49-50 Masters Degree, Harvard Univ

Insurrection: American Forei

50-51 Assigned General Staff, U.S.

Division-Evaluation Team. R
for special training, Ft. Ho
(Marries, Janet Anderson, 14
Returns to active duty, C-2,
from American agents returni
Promoted Captain.

WILLARD (v.o.)
first, I thought they handed me the wron
eve they wanted this man dead. Third gen
t, top of his class. Korea, Airborne. Ab
etc... I'd heard his voice on the tape
e. But I couldn't connect up that voice
he had an impressive career. Maybe too
ect. He was being groomed for one of the
oration. General, Chief of Staff, anythi
a tour of advisory command in Vietnam a
. The report to the Joint Chiefs of Staf
restricted. Seems they didn't dig what h
next few months he made three requests f
ning in Fort Benning, Georgia. And he wa
orne ? He was 38 years old. Why the fuck
he joined the Special forces, returns t

e are sounds of explosions in the distan

CHEF
, what'_s that ?"

WILLARD
h light. B-52 strike."

CHEF
ry time I hear that something terrible h

CLEAN
rlie don't never see 'em or hear 'em. C
lungs.."

CHEF
ething terrible is going to happen."

CLEAN
ke !

CHEF
ondaries burning."

CHIEF
ys over there ! A lots of Hueys."

WILLARD
's have a look Chief."

illage :

WILLARD (v.o.)
was the AirCav, First of the Ninth, our
h of the Nung river. But they were suppo
us another 30 kilometers ahead. Well, Ai
dn't stay put. First of the Ninth was an
had cashed in its horses for choppers,
nd 'Nam, looking for the shit. They've g
rises in their time here. What they were
't even happened an hour ago."

crew is filming the attack :

DIRECTOR
't look at the cameras, don't look at th
n through... Don't look at the cameras..
re fighting..."

WILLARD
re can I find the CO ?"

SOLDIER
s over there ."

WILLARD
tain Willard. I carry priority papers fr
derstand that Nha Trang has briefed you
ion."

LIEUTENANT COLONEL KILGORE

t mission ? I haven't heard from Nha Tra

WILLARD
, your unit is supposed to escort us int

KILGORE
l, we'll see what we can do about that.
y way."

ore walks to a group of dead VC :

KILGORE
t we have here... Two of spades, three o
of diamonds, six of clubs, ace of spade
h a Jack in the whole bunch..."

LANCE
Captain, what's that ?"

WILLARD
th cards."

LANCE
t ?"

WILLARD
th cards. Lets Charlie know who did this

pressed looking soldier sits in the grou

KILGORE
er up son."

namese cicilians are being evacuated :

MEGAPHONE
are hear to extend a welcome hand for th
to return to arms of South-Vietnamese g
area is controlled by Vietcong and Nort

ore walks to a wounded VC :

KILGORE
what's this ? What is this ?"

SOLDIER
s man is hurt pretty bad, sir. About the
olding his guts in, sir, is that pot lid

KILGORE
t you gotta say ?"

SOUTH-VIETNAMESE SOLDIER
s man is dirty VC. He wants water ? He c
y water."

KILGORE
out of here ! Gimme that canteen.
outta here or I kick your fucking ass !
man brave enough to fight with his guts
an drink from my canteen any day."

SOLDIER
colonel, I think one of those sailors i
son, the surfer."

KILGORE
you sure ?"

ore walks to Lance, completely forgettin

KILGORE
t's your name sailor ?"

LANCE
ner's mate 3rd class L. Johnson, sir."

CLEAN
ner's mate 3rd class ..."

KILGORE
ce Johnson the surfer ?"

LANCE
, sir."

KILGORE
s an honor to meet you Lance. I've admir
s. I like your cutback too. I think you
e is."

LANCE
nk you, sir."

KILGORE
can cut out that sir crap, Lance, I'm B
e guys with you ?"

ore introduces Lance to some of his men

KILGORE
e from San Diego, Johnny from Malibu. Pr
of us aren't anywhere near your class t
lot of surfing here. I like to finish o
ung Dao for evening. Have you been ridin
here ?"

LANCE
way."

he battlefield, a priest is holding a Ho

PRIEST
us pray..."

ing, a BBQ party :

WILLARD (v.o.)
gore had a pretty good day for himself.
-bones and beer and turned the LZ into a
more they tried to make it just like ho
everybody miss it."

KILGORE
ant my meat rare, rare but not cold."

WILLARD (v.o.)
wasn't a bad officer, I guess. He loved
safe with him. He was one of those guys
d light around him. You just knew he was
uch as a scratch here."

KILGORE
t happened to your mission, captain ? Di
g forget all about you ?"

WILLARD
, two places we can get into the river.
ty wide delta but these are the only two
of."

KILGORE
t village your pointing at is kinda hair

WILLARD
t do you mean hairy, sir ?"

KILGORE
s hairy. Got some pretty heavy ordnance
s there now and again. Is that goddamn v
op ? Damn gook names all sound the same.
, do you know anything about that point

MIKE
t's a fantastic peak. "