, e& SECOND DRAFT: Revision: May FAREWELL TO THE KING From a novel by Pierre Shoenécertfer Screenplay by John Milius April 2ist, 1986 9, 1986 aWw PART ONE: THE NORTEEASTERLY MONSOON “The homeland of a man who is free to choose is where the biggest clouds accumulate.” ~ Andre Malraux (The Walnut Trees of Altenberg) we . ayPROLOGUE May 12th, 1942 -- Six days following the surrender of Corregidor. The Philippines have fallen. Singapore is got ‘The power of Imperial Japan reigns triumphant in the Pacific... TITLE - BORNEO SRY - DAWN leaden, turbulent. LIGHTNING CRACKLES blue, THUNDER detonates, wind gusts bring the smell of rain. TSE SEA - DAWN mountainous, black, streaked with foam. Great plateaus Lift and roll, the WIND HOWLING off their tops. A gigantic wave forms, ominous in its silence. it dravs Up what seens the vhole sea in its inevitable onrush as it begins to turn concave across its endless wall. Suddenly a vhale boat is drawn up its face, filled vith MEN SCREAMING but barely heard over the ROAR OF TEE WIND and the CRACK of the BREAKING CREST. The boat is helpless in its path. It towers, blotting horizons, draving up like a great mountain with snow at its crest, then turns concave top to bottom. The boat and everything in it vanish in an endless white fury. CUT TO: BEACH -DAWN in the darkness, ‘The foam and water tear at a distant headland. A body rolls over on the sand in the f.g. Another pulls itself from the malestren. ‘A GROUP - DAWN of broken yn huddling at the edge of the sea that still tears at them. Their voices are indistinct, lost in tne storm. VOICE To have come so far -- to this. 2 QTHER VOICE Forget the dead ~~ there's nothing you ‘can do. ANOTHER VOICE Lights -- I see lights. [t's a village. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: OTHER VOICE Japanese! vOICs There is no choice. OTHER VOICE I've had enough. We're free now, free to go cur own ways. A figure removes itself from the others. There is an argument lost on the wind. VOICE Deserter! You're a deserter! FOOTPRINTS - DAWN leading avay from the to a great dead tree, advance ed of a mighty forest behind. Aman leans against tr Ee is young, gaunt, muscular, yet ravaged. lars the torn and battered uniform of the U.S. Army is Learoyd -- SZAGEANT , even in the night. ze SHOT! ANOTHER! He dashes of the jungle. LEAROYD. His listens to the into the darkn cur To: A COASTAL VILLAGE Malay -- several pirogues are drawn up on the beach. Lights come from a few huts. The sky rages abo the dawn breaks -- WIND AND SPARSE RAIN WHISTLE ove head. On the beach in the £.g. is a body, curled up in the sand like a sleeping child. A Japanese soldier stands over it, slinging his rifle after removing the bayonet. Behind him the others from the boat are lined up: facing angry sea. They are made to kneel. in front of their captors. ‘There is a short argument -- words are lost on the wind -- Geneva convention -- barbarous treatment consequences! Lost. cur TO: PALM FOREST ”” A leaf is pulled aside, Learoyd locks out at the village eral hundred yards away. There is SHOUTING wy “in Japanese. A man emerges from a hut wearing cer 4 Monial Japanese rob He is followed by several officers.DIFFERENT ANGLE - GROUP More soldiers gather about. One of the prisoners is bent forward. ‘An officer hands his sword to the man in robes vho draws it, raises it and neatly cuts the prisoner's head off. cur To: LEAROYD gasps, his eyes see the svord rise again, again. the SOUND OF WEEPING is carried on the wind but lost in the wailing ROAR OF THE SEA. Suddenly Learoyd pulls back = locks up -- sees man on horseback close to his right partially obscured by the palms. An office Colonel -- sits on a white horse staring ser the sea. He is magnificent. His sword at h: His boots, his bearing impart the majesty of an ai warlord = perhaps a Shogun. He seems lost in a rev- eon irtorial grace watching the sea in its tumult. close Learoyd looks closer -- back at the execution which is over now <= back at the splendid horseman. furbles for his automatic pistol <- cocks it, brings it up aking and points it raggedly at the Colonel. ke can't pull the trisge returns it to himself and slinks away into the night, retreating into the dark- ness of the jungle. The wind rages. FADE IN: TITLE: APRIL 1945 ctoups - pay Clouds pass by to the CRONE OF POWERFUL ENGINES. They are dark and angry, building bank upon bank into a fovering barrier = the monsoon. Below, the sea glean in the light of dusk; beyond 1 gged coastline. As it draws closer, dark Passes by below, an imp dark. A rain squall breaks al NARRATOR (V.O.) + Borneo. For most of you Borneo doesn't exist -- an imaginary name or Tierra del Fuego. The ends of the earth. But I know the island exists. (CONTINUED) aeContinuzD: 2 Great mountain ranges loom up; plateaus of tangled growth pass by below. Rain, dark and thick spatters on the plexiglass. NARRATOR (V.0.) (continuing) I was there = in my youth during my war. I was a botanist before. I've been a botanist ever since. That's why they chose me T suppose. Special Forces knew I'd been there before. I discovered a new variety of Nepenthes, Sometimes erroneously called a Carnivorous orchid. so much for that. What I really want to tell you of is the last king of Borneo. It's all right now -- the wind has svept away the stench of the corpses and all that we remember is the flare of our youth. cur TO: DARKNESS: A door opens and the jungle rushes by. pushed out, then a man jumps, then motion hurtling towards the ground. ‘Twe parachutes blossom below. ling == rushing headlong into the chutes but stopped short by a snap, then gliding lazily towards the de green canopy below. The NOISE OF ENGINES is quickly GONE. JUNGLE The jungle is dense with ferns on the ground, a triple canopy above surrounded by darkness and gray. Rain drips through in a million little rivulets. Suddenly the canister, heavy and foreign, crashes th rough in the distance quickly followed by two men. One ricochecs off the trees and SPLATS unceremoniously into a muddy stream. The other crashes through in the f.g., his shroud lines catching him by the feet and hanging him upside down. ‘This is our narrator, the BOTANIST, now a temporary captain attached to Force 316 Combined Operations Pacific. swings quietly back and forth surveying his surroundings. BOTANIST Andersen! Anderson -- you all right? (CONTINUED)on is a small Australian sergeant who now locks like a Borneo mudman with a Thompson sub-machine gun. ANDERSON Yes, siz, don't appear to have broken anything, sir. Yourself, sir? jon is trying to get the mud off his face so he BOTANIST I'm upside down. ANDERSON Siz? Ee tion. He fumbles with sand stumbles over, kicking mud in every direc- e@ shrouds. BOTANIST Use your knife, man! ANDERSON Ye Ee cuts quickly, releasing the Botanist who falls face first into the ferns and rolls downhill, CLATTERING equipment and weapons. siz. ANDERSON (continuing) Sorry about that. ‘The Botanist looks up. BOTANIST Never mind. Look. Anderson follows his gaze. A LITTLE MAN almost naked, stands cn a mound leaning nonchalantly on his spear like a Greek warrior. BOTANIST. watches for a-moment. The little Man has a liche muscular Body id the rain accentuates the bronze cf his skin, polished smocth as a pebbie. On his side he wears a headhunter's sword. (CONTINUED) lyai CONTINUED: The two white men stumble towards him CLANKING with equipment. He doesn't move, just gazes, seemingly through them. BOTANIST Japanese? Nippons? Nippons? MAN Baht Anderson lights a cigarette and hands it to him, which he gratefully accepts, shielding it from the rain. . BOTANIST Murut? He points at him. BOTANIST (continuing) Muruts? Muruts? MAN aaht draws on the cigarette. (contin Comanche! g ‘The Botanist and Anderson lock at one another. MAN (continuing; laughing) Comanches -= Comanches -- ANDERSON Be's a Comanche, sir, He says he's a Comanche. Suddenly al1 around them more small men, wa: Raterialize silently as if ouc of rain. is obvicusly the HEADMAN. lets the c: from his lips. On his belt are long black fringes resembling scalps. He runs these through his fingers like worry bi OFS, first one ete dang: READMAN Youvcome with me now. ANDERSON He speaks English, sir. By god he Speaks English! 2 (CONTINUED) tnal EADMAN I am Comanche. ANDERSON See, sir -- I told you. ‘HEADMAN I take you now. You come with me now. He smiles and indicates the way. FEET - DAY barefoot, moving easily up a steep incline followed by boots tripping clumsily. Anderson and the Botanist struggle through the ferns and creepers as the Comanches seemingly glide along. The rain is in- cessant. Anderson checks his compass. ANDERSON South -- Southeast, sir. BOTANIST Towards the center and up, To the middle of Borneo! No man's be: middle of Borneo, Ande: cur to: JUNGLE = NIGHT ALL around tremendous trees. Everything drips. Anderson is slinging a regulation hammock between two trees. idman shrugs and walks avay. All the Murut eyes watch, wait. BOTANIST I'll take the first watch. ANDERSON Yes, sir. CLOSE - BOTANIST - DAWN Sleeping like a lcg, snug and warm, the Sotanist is trussed up in kis hammock unable to move a muscle. ae 4CONTINUED: Anderson gives a out _a string of fine Australian sheep! + Re too is immobil- ized. The Botanist comes awake instantly, struggling as he is ra slung under a bambeo pole, carried by two Muruts. The procession starts off again carry- ing the two white men. The Headman carries the Thompson. He points it at Anderson. READMAN Tamagan, very geod Tamagan. He smiles and sets off. DISSOLVE TO: MONTAGE - BOTANIST - DAY AND NIGHT being carried endlessly upward over rock precipices, through rivers, but always under the canopy of gray- green endless forest. It begins to rain =~ a deluge ensue: Night -- no lee up. - THE FOREST - DAWN suddenly the sky is visible. ‘The the first pink softness of daun revealing stormy clouds. The Hotanis: ches trying to get a better view and sees THE LONGHOUSE majestic in the distance, set against the craggy peaks of rock beyond.’ Mists cling to the ground. The rain has stopped. The longhouse is enormous, the largest he has ever seen. dundreds of Muruts come forward as the two white men are brought forth. Children run along- side poking at them and laughing. Women prod them with figures and sticks; young girls, bare-breasted and beautiful, giggle and smile. They are carried to the great longhouse itself and stop before a huge log and @arth proscenium. They are dropped in the aud at its be + The Botanist's nose and mouth are forced into the filth. He jerks onto his back to avoid suffocation. He coughs and sneezes mud from his nostrils, then lcoks up in rage. A GREAT THRONE ~ DAY covered with bird feathers and rich animal skins. on the throne sits the King, a white man with long, red hair and grey eyes. Learoyd!CLOSE - THE KING - DAY His hair hangs bout his shoulders matted from the rain. His’ frame is muscular and athletic but gaunt. He wears nothing but a loincloth. On his chest is a great tattoo of an eagle sweeping down upon a dragon. : CLOSE - THE BOTANIST - DAY ees at the King, furious at having been frigh: and made a fool of, covered with mud, scaking, weak. BOTANIST whisper, rising) I’m -- a British serving officer! ——_— Why have you done this? LEAROYD Learoyd. 1 am Learoyd. He picks up the Botanist's carbine, locks it over, admiring how small it is comparing it to his men. He pulls back the bole ejecting a shiny golden round into the mud. A warrior gracefully fetches it. The Muruts draw closer into a massive semicircle surrounding the royd doesn't look at the Botanist or gun, throne. Li Anderson. He is totally preoccupied with ¢: removing and reinserting the clip. He FIRES into the air. Comanches howl and cheer. twists his head around to the Sotanist. erson ANDERSON He's off his rock, sir -~ He's ‘round the bend. They quiet down. LEAROYD ‘This is my home ground. I am master here. He retires with the carbine. JUNGLE -.DAY dark, swirling ‘in the wind of an oncoming storm. Botanist ‘and Anderson sit under a veranda of ti longhouse. ‘They face the jungle. A guard sita with a blowpipe and sword. children scamper by. amRev. 5/7/86 10. CLOSE - BOTANIST - DAY He stares into the jungle, his head in his hands. ANDERSON Thinking, sixr'-- How the devil we got into this -- times like this you realize you haven't got a Prayer. BOTANIST tually see it grow -- Anderson everything around us is screwing, lying or bursting forth -- So mich power in life. JUNGLE - THE BOTANIST - NIGHT Night has fallen but with it rain. A sheet of water igs in front of the two men. A figure approaches. The figure steps through the screen of water, drenched. It is Learoyd. He stands before then. LEAROYD (stumbling) I was in your war once -- not in your army, I'm -- I'm an American eant Learoyd. Some of us made a break for it when Corregidor fell. I ended up here -- I knew you'd come. . BOTANIST As I said, I'm a British serving officer. ‘This is Sergeant Anderson, my radio man. I'm with Force 316, Combined Operations. LEAROYD BOTANIST The Japanese are ell as the Germans. . LEAROYD The Japanese -- lost -- . BOTANIST Our side is winning. General MacArthur is back {a the Philippines. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: LEAROYD MacArshur -- he came back? Ee left us -- He came back? BOTANIST We'll be here scon. Australians will be landing snertly to recapture, I mean liberate this country. I have the task of organizing resistance among the tribes. Learoyd seems to ponder all this very deeply, squatting down on his haunches in the manner of his Muruts. Be ponders. The Botanist leans clos BOTANIST (continuing) ‘The wind has veered to the west again. The British will be back and everything will revert to normal, Learoyd looks up at him. LEAROYD The wind will never come from the west again. You lie... Tomorrow, T cannot == talk == yet. He goes back into the rain. cur To: DAY (MORNING) Anderson sits up and looks out at the early light. Children play and scamper about before th ‘The Botanist lies in the f.g. thinking. A multitude of dark eyes peer through gaps in the bamboo. ANDERSON (to children) Good morning, sir. Good morning, sir. The children laugh. cur To: STREAM - SUNLIGET - DAY ‘The two white men wash. (CONTINUED)= 12. CONTINUED: They lock very pale compared to the young Murut girls who wash nearby. Some of them are quite attractive. Children sit on rocks or dash about them. ANDERSON (locking at girls) You know, sir, this place is not half bad when the sun's out. Old Learoyd might know what he's up to, sir. Not half bad. BOTANIST Watch it, Sergeant -~ Don't let this life seduce you. You're British. ANDERSON No, sir -- I'm an Aussie, sir Tim a barbarian. You are Britian, sir. Children run by. CEILDREN Gud --.mahling == san. CLOSE - LEAROYD - DAY He sits at what seems to be a throne inside a gr longhouse. Sunlight filters through. Learoyd's eyes are closed as in a trance. Richly adorned Muruts sit around him at what is revealed to be the h enormous low table. ‘The table is round men are instructed to sit next to hia. Lei with difficulty at first, tasting the word: oyd speaks CLOSER - LEAROYD LEAROYD When I arrived at this hou: wanted to but I didn't know about Thad to learn their language child. They know a little + English -- they learned it originally from the Rajah Brocke wo at's sacred -- religious -- like ve would use Latin -- only the brightest, the learned know it w= and they won't speak to you. (CONTINUED)13, CONTINUED: He breathes, gathering himsel!, LEAROYD (continuing) I ought to explain we are in the spirit country. My people are the sons of the First Man, living by the law of the Ancients. There's a saying that applies to the whole territory. He recites it in Murut, then looks up at Anderson. LEAROYD (continuing) Forest of the Spirits -- man beware of the law. Forest for ig =~ man beware of the law. it of Growing Rice -- man is free. I have a special relationship vith the spiri because when I ¢: I used to howl at night. They bel: my twin souls were fighting the demons. I wasn't fighting demons Baht Bel 8 over, almost grabs the Botanist. LEAROYD (continuing) Not I was fighting the jungle. Have you ever been in the jung. at night? All alone? I have. He seems at a loss for words. LEAROYD (continuing) It's too late now. If you'd come for me then it would have been different. I died once, you know. He looks up. LEAROYD (continuing) Dying is nothing. No, I'm act + frightened of death anymore -- nor of pain. z'm frightened of nyse His gaze seems far away. (CONTINUED) “wk14. CONTINUED: LEAROYD (continuing) Tjhadn't meant to tell you -- but I'm going to -- I'm a deserter -- more than you can == know. DISSOLVE To: FLASEBACK - BEACH - 1942 = NIGHT Learoyd standing in the surf yelling at us. LEAROYD I've had enough ~~ Bataan = Corregidor -- I listened to you and you were wrong. My friends are all dead. I've seen enough of your orders! He turns. VOICE You can't! LEAROYD back) (turnin free. I'm free now Be leaves walking up towards the distant dark forest. vorce Deserter! DISSOLVE TO: PRESENT - THE LONGHOUSE kaaroye strains as if forcing up some deep nightmare leng forgotten. A hideous guilt. LEAROYD Free -~ hah -- what is freedom? Freedom from others but never from yourself. DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK - BEACH 1942 Learoyd stares at the horrible scene of execution in the shadowy distance of the village (CONTINUED)1s. CONTINUED: LEAROYD (V.0.) I thought they were was wrong. I couldn't leave them wo I went back -- but it was too late. The men I had hated became the closest friends I'd @ loved. And =~ I watched them die. cur To: FLASHBACK ~ THE COLONEL a Magnificent -- surreal in a slowed reality. The white horse's tail waving gracefully in the maelstrom. The Colonel's hand reaching up to steady his hat. Eis : sword scabbard glinting in the biue dawn. 5 LEAROYD (V.0.) And I deserted them -- again. ELASEBACK - CLOSE - LEAROYD Eis hand shaking as he holds the .45 out -- unable to shoot. LEAROYD (V.0.) Tt was just the beginning. He fades back into the darkness and runs. cur To: FLASHBACK - JUNGLE - DAY Dark and thick, a tangle of shapes, BUZZING AND CRACK- LING with noises of growth, death and beasts. LEAROYD (V.0.) Then I came to where the real jungle begins. cor To: FLASEBAC JUNGLE - NIGHT Learoyd sits and listens. Suddenly a huge beetle jumps onto his face.,. He gasps, flicks it away almost screan- ing, panting. Something CRASEES through the under- growth. He whirls about. ‘The beetle jumps back onto his hand. (CONTZNUED) 703“of ferns and tangled growth. Be scagg al 1s. CONTINUED: He swats it off again screaming, draws his heavy pistol and shoves the barrel at it. He FIRES, blowing the insect and dirt into the night. Beasts SCREECE with the SHOT. He gasps. cur To: FLASHBACK - JUNGLE - NIGHT Learoyd staggering through the vines, meeting more and more resistance, finally trying to fall and just-being- held there crying. LEAROYD (V.0.) I was suffocated by the ¢: FLASHBACK - A MOUNTAINTOP - NIGET Above the clouds, the forest. More mountains lie beyond. Learoyd crouches, shivering on the rock peak. cur To: FLASHBACK - JUNGLE - NIGHT Learcyd is digging frantically with his nails. Ee digs a hole and curls up inside it like an animal. cur TO: TLASHBACK - JUNGLE - DAWN He lies like a dead beast, his back in the f.g. He stirs, senses something is wrong. He shakes and whirls is covered with leeches and claws at his e: Sy Fi cur To: FLASHBACK - JUNGLE - LEAROYD - DAY Staggering through the ferns, his face swollen and bleeding, his eyes mad. He stops, pulls out his pistol, holds it to his head and tries to pull the teigg He can't. He throws the weapon into a sea on. é (CONTINUED) ieui uy. CONTINUED: oe LEAROYD (V.0.) I threw my pistol away. FLASHBACK - LEAROYD - DAY on hands’and knees in the ferns, laughing maniacaily and whimpering. His clothes are now reduced to rags. He is searching the ground below the ferns. - i LEAROYD (V.0.) Then I spent days trying to find it. I would have shot aysel LEAROYD Please -- ple God. ELASEBACK - LEAROYD - NIGET sitting against a banyan tree, howling. Later, losing his energy, he screams less loudly. CUT TO: FLASBBAC! = LEAROYD = NIGET He crawls, his face covered with mud. He rolls over on his back starting to gasp. LEAROYD God, oh God, I've done more than my share. Now it's up to you! ses 6 ps and rolls over crying pitifully and howling. f.g. a face looms up, bronze, tattoced. It is cur TO: PRESENT - THE LONGHOUSE - LEAROYD, BOTANIST & ANDERSON It is late in the day. Learoyd nas been speaking for some time. The verandas of the longhouse are thrown open and a soft misting rain falls outside. (CONTINUED) t ony. 1a. contiwcED: ‘They brought same place where I had you two brought Of. cours: when they first saw me, it was quite different. Only the old ones had ever white men. They 7 = thems have only legends of _ ‘itish, and the language passed down in the epic poems of the days of high adventure. But nothing since. Here -- He motions and young women bring Chinese jars and dragons on their sides. The dragon jars are quickly taken and gracefully drunk by all. LEAROYD (continuing) Ayak = it's good, but drink it slowly. Anderson drinks, seems to like it. Li 7 LEAROYD (continuing) I screamed and howled every night. They thought I was possessed of a demon, so they didn't kill me. royd drinks. DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK ~ CLOSE SHOT - LEAROYD - DAY Learoyd screams’ his lungs cut. He looks horrible. His ayes are completely mad, his face battered an¢ dread- fully thin. We is tied by the neck to an upright Piling. Around him gather the Muruts -- men, women and children. They keep their distance. LEAROYD (V.0.) They thought I was fighting this dragon tattoced on my chest. Ferhaps it saved me. A lean dangercus-locking man stands befcre the cthers speaking Murut, waving his sword and almost dancing before Learoyd. LEAROYD (V.0.) (continuing) Lian the Magnificent, vas all for handing my head over to the Japanese. (CONTINUED)Rev. 5/7/86 1g. CONTINUED: hi Learoyd, but behind him are the dark liquid of the women, several of whom lash at him with tongues and sticks. LEAROYD (V.0.) (continuing) the women who stopp: They were fascinated by By © FLASHBACK - CLOSE - LEAROYD LEAROYD (V.0.) They said my eyes were like the sea. They have never seen the sea, but the alt. And here -- salt Be decks straight ahead, mad or trying to be. Before tiful girl slides up to him... She is taller oes and her black, shiny hair falls across her perfect breast and the tender curve of her stomach. She carries herself with a confidence and grace that idence s nobility. She kneels before him and looks into s eyes. FLASHBACK - CLOSE - HER EYES Dark pools of hidden dreams, passions, ambitions. CUT TO: FLASHBACK - VILLAGE - DAY Children cry and run. A woman screams as she is held kicking by a burly Murut thug. Other thugs enter a hut while Lian stands outside, hands across his chest. A girl is dragged out -- her father rushes after her, randishing a machete-like sword. He swings at Lian who parries the blow with a CLANG and chops off his arm. The old man falls, his life ebbing from him in the dust. Then the thugs start Barching out, bashing and pushing villagers around, and grabbing sacks of rice. LEAROYD (V.0.) ‘Then -- came the day -- It was + like yesterday. The day of the rice tax imposed by the Japane: Lian and his followers were galled the Man-Shield -- they vied for power with the headman -- they were thugs -- but they were strong. ~20. CLOSE ~ A LITTLE GIRL crying as her older sister is dragged away. LEAROYD (V.0.) ‘They took women and rice and gave them to the Jape je. In their foolishness they thought thi Japanese would five chen power -- Women are lined up crying to be marched off while their husbands, fathers, brothers are beaten or thr CHILDREN can ‘be heard CRYING, old WOMEN WAILT everywhere, the downward deg-gaze of beaten men. LEAROYD (V.0.) (continuing) I still find it amazing what people will tolerate -- will accept -- how w- how they will let themselves fall dvance to the outside of the long- Learoyd is tied to a pole. Sud= al bunter-warriors stand in his Lian and his thugs hou: towards ay. them the tall beautiful girl with the strong eyes. Lian stops. LEAROYD (V.0.) (continuing) Her name was Yoo =~ she is Gwai's sister but more -- She steps forward ahead of Gwai and his men, facing Lian who mutter a few words in Murut and finally steps back. An uneasy tension prevails. LEAROYD (V.0.) (continuing) She descended from Paang, the hero who tamed fire in ancient tii Te was said from when she wa: child -- CLOSE - YOO Those eyes! LEAROYD (V.0.) w> that she was born to cule. FLASHBACK - CLOSE - LIAN - DAY After taking a few steps backwards, suddenly Lian turns towards the gathered villagers and hurls a challenge to . everyone in Murut. (CONTINUED) a21. CONTINUED: LIAN (subtitled) Tf you will not let me kill him, who will take him and his dragon and bring whatever comes by it? Bah! None will do this! Yoo takes a few more steps forward. All eyes fall on ker. = oo (subtitled) T will take him, There is much chatter and hushed whispers. LEAROYD (V.O. One of them would have to di Lian turns and stalks away with his followers. DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK - CLOSE - LEAROYD - NIGET He sits in a closed off area of ‘the longhouse. The walls covered with tapas prevent him from seeing anyone. But he hears every noise from the other side v7 the BUZZING OF THE JUNGLE -- the heavy breathing of lovers -- the WHISPERS OF MOTHERS to children -- a distant CRY -- a COUGH -- Suddenly he hears FOOTST=?s heavy and distant at the far side of the house. The feet are trying to be stealthy but the BAMBOO CREAKS underneath. Learoyd's eyes flash with the terror of a deer in the grip of a tiger. Suddenly @ tapa is thrown back. Gwai and Yoo grab Learoyd and pull him away -~ the steps get close Another man and woman haul in the carcass of a bear and cover it with a cloth, then disappear. DIFFERENT ANGLE The outside bamboo mat is thrown open and dark figures hack at the carcass with heavy swords, grunting and snarling. Thick blood splatters the figures crouched and avkward. ‘They retreat as quickly as they came. > cor To: yt22. FLASHBACK - A EUT - pay The hut is made of straw and bamboo, built in the jungle. tearoyd is tied to a tree growing inthe enter of the structure. LEAROYD (V.0.) She took me back into the forest where no one knew. Yoo brings him rice and pork. she feeds him te: Sively while her girlfriends lock on. ‘These women are graceful and. strong, their breasts firm and upright, their thighs smooth like polished stone. cur To: FLASHBACK - DARKNESS - DUSK The last rays of light filter through the trees. Learoyd is alo He begins to howl and cry. A hide- mournful wail, made more so by a new note of total de peer: Bis sobbing and screaming reaches a hyst. ical pitcs like that of a child, an abandoned child. He wails into the coming night -- a cry of need, pain and lonely fear.- Suddenly he stops and gasps for breath. FLASEBACK ~ THE JUNGLE In the distance a fisure emerges frcm the fores is Yoo, She glides silently towards him and kne: his side. His head falls forward sobbing. sh @ shell of food at his side and strokes his head neck. He sobs and moans like a dog. plac and cur To: s with his head in her lap like a child. she sleeps fitfully, her eyes open, looking around. cur TO: LEAROYD @ating like a wolf, shoving food into his mouth as fast ashe can. Yoo and several othe: women laugh and pass more foed. (CONTINUED)Rev. 5/7/86 23. CONTINUED: LEAROYD (V.0.) It was the women who saved me. They taught me to eat and walk again, like a child. He walks about his compound feeling good. LEAROYD AND YOO speaking slowly in Murut. FLASHBACK - JUNGLE - DAY Learoyd stalks through the Jungle with a blowpipe accompanied by Yoo. He is healthy again, his body beginning to fill out, his skin bronze. FLASHBACK - MONTAGE Learoyd with birds and animals dead from his hand learns to use the blowpipe, spear, traps and axe. He drinks from raging torrents, feels away his sw . His hair grows long 3 body . hardens and grows muscular. Everything he does is with ferocious intensity -- fuli speed, brutal movements of strength and will. LEAROYD (V.0.) I began to live as an animal. For the first time in my life I felt freedom. FLASHBACK - CLOSE - LEAROYD He runs headlong through the jungle leaping over rocks under branches. Nothing stops h: animal will and ferocity. lis ayes glint bestially Like those of a wolf. LEAROYD (V.0.) Freedom -- to be -- what -- I -- was meant to be. NIGHT Learoyd howling again and Yoo comforting him, the two sleeping in each other's arms. Finally the two make love by the lfght of a small fire. Yoo gasps and comes - to orgasm, then only their breathing is heard above the C jungle. aitRev. 5/7/86 24. CLOSE - LEAROYD closed in passion and thing. : gazing at Yoo's face, her e Pleasure, her mouth open, br LEAROYD (V.0.) I've learned from women -- theirs is grace and flow like a river. FLASHBACK - CLOSE LEAROYD - NIGHT He arts some.leaves and peers out at the village. He FLASHBACK - THE LONGHOUSE - MEN sitting around the fires of the longhouse, drinking ayak from the dragon jars. They listen to tales as Learoyd watches them from afar, LEAROYD (V.0.) The men here dream of gods and strike noble attitudes. They want to rival the heroes of the past. The time of Rajah Brooke, and the days of high adventure. ‘There was nothing to be had from them. CUT TO: FLASHBACK - LEAROYD AND YOO - DAY + sit and eat. Learoyd practices speaking. She corrects him again and again. He tries to speak English -- she shakes her head and corrects him in ic. LEAROYD (V.0.) We prepared a speech -- it had to bert fect. She would not speak English to me even though she could. I had to become Murut first -- It had to be perfect. He tries to kiss her. She makes him She smil continue. - CUT TO: FLASHBACK - NIGHT Lian stands up before the men. He begins haranguing LEAROYD (V.0.) For them, it is a man that counts embled warriors and head- em, waving his sword.25. TLASMBACK - LONGHOUSE the old nobles -- sit about in heroic act ning to some storytel: 4 songs of their hist Women b the shadows. LEAROYD (V.0.) ee ‘Then one night, it was time. Inte this council stride Learoyd and Gwai followed by ¥oo and Gvai's henchmen. “They are all dressed in sarongs and colorful turbans. The storytelling stops; all the men turn to face the delegation. The hands of some fondle their swords. There is silence as most t. Ayak is passed, everyone drinks. Then Learoyd starts, staring into the fire and concentrating. LEAROYD (in Murut) If Lian the Magnificent wants ay head, he must come and get it. Lian's eyes flash, nostrils flare. He sits up, the hilt of his weapon. “LEAROYD (continuing) If he wants to slice it off -- hand at He runs his finger across his neck. LEAROYD (continuing) oo with a headhuni sword, then myself witha headhunter's svord. This is only fair. His eyes turn slowly to Lian, gray eyes with no emotion. LEAROYD (continuing) If he is a warrior, I tco ama warrior. If he is noble, how dces he know that I too am not noble? Lian the Magnificent and I drink the same water, live off the same fo: it. We have the same rights. He bows his head, silence. The HEADMAN, an old war- lord, looks around slowly. Lian‘s eyes flash with hatred. Yoo's flash too, with love or ambition? HEADMAN This is only fair.26. PRESENT - LONGHOUSE - LEAROYD, BOTANIST & ANDERSON The three men still sitting around the fire. Fire gleams in Learoyd's eyes as the other two lean close. He seens wonderfully mad. : LEAROYD I'm an American -- but I'm I you know what that means -- fa! «I'ma rebel twice over to you. But you the British gave me two great things -- first, the legend of Arthur the King and the Round Table and how he rallied the dukes and knights to the crown, to a nation =- a quest. And second -- Ha! In advanced Infantry school, they taught us English bayonet fighting! CUT TO: FLASHBACK = LIAN - NIGHT Lian swings his sword screaming in a mad charge. It clangs off the steel of Learoyd's with a spark. Learoyd parries the blow holding his blade with two hands, one on the back to shorten the stroke Be ducks under Lian's charge and brutally slashes h. as he goes by. FLASEBACK - LEAROYD es cold. Both men hack at Learoyd tin the side and back but he stabs Lian in the lower abdomen. They pull apart screaming. Lian chops into Learoyd's thigh whili oyd butt stroke: a with the handle. ll. They r: in drenched in each other's blood. ~ parks. blades meet, then more thrusting and ashing. Neither can make a killing blow but each attack severs flesh! and charge Y LEAROYD (V.0.) Lian the Magnificent wounded me seven tines -- vnen suddenly ne fell. Lian falls, his face ashen. He tries to regain his feet, but his legs are wobbly and he goes down again. i. kicks and spi Blood pours from his river, LIAN (subtitles; crying out) I am dying. The red man with the gray eyes has killed ae.