Starship Troopers
Screenplay by Edward Neumeier
Based on the novel by Robert Heinlein
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1 FROM THE
FEDERAL NET -- NOTICE -- JOIN UP NOW !
Proud YOUNG
PEOPLE in uniform, the bloom of human evolution.
YOUNG
PEOPLE
I'm
doing my part... Me, too...
Are you
?
The mobile
infantery logo: LIGHTNING BOLTS ON A
BLACK SHIELD.
OFFICIAL
VOICE
Join the
mobile infantery and save the world !
Service
guarantees citizen-ship.
Would
you like to know more ?
2 BUG METEOR:
Behold actual
pictures of a METEOR, this one a mile across, as it hurtles
past an
observation ship.
OFFICIAL
VOICE
The Bugs
send another meteor our way !
A BRIGHT
EXPLOSION in space out beyond the moon.
OFFICIAL
VOICE
But this
time we are ready !
Planetary
defenses are better than ever !
Would
you like to know more ?
3 KLENDATHU ---
WHY WE HAVE TO FIGHT !
Klendathu, a
fierce orange planet ringed by an asteroid belt,
orbits a
double star.
OFFICIAL
VOICE
Klendathu,
source of the bug meteor attacks,
orbits a
twin star system whose brutal gravitational
forces
produce an unlimited supply of meteorites...
A "You
are here" map of the KNOWN GALAXY shows the Earth in
relationship
to the BUG PLANETARY SYSTEM and Klendathu.
OFFICIAL
VOICE
To
ensure the safety of our solar system,
Klendathu
must be eliminated !
Would
you like to know more ?
4 LIVE BROADCAST
-- FROM ORBIT - THE INVASION OF KLENDATHU !
For BATTLE
GROUPS, sixty STARSHPS strong, orbit the orange planet.
Graphics: KLENDATHU: THE
INVASION
OFFICIAL
VOICE
We break
net now and take you live to Klendathu
where the invasion has begun !
5 EXT KLENDATHU -- NIGHT -- THE CAMERA
takes the
Mobile Infantery CAP TROOPERS wearing fully armed Marauder
POWER SUITS as
they move up the line, the pans to the
NET
CORRESPONDENT
NET
CORRESPONDENT
We 've
just landes here on whar cap troopres are calling
"Big
K" with the 6th Mobile Infantery division...
It 's an
ugly planet, a bug planet, a planet hostile to
life as
we iGKKKKKK !
Blood hits the
lens as the Correspondent is cut in half.
The CAMERA
catches a glimpse of HUGE CLAWS as Cap Trooper
JOHNNY RICO ,
18, blows away SOMETHING BIG big with his pulse cannon.
JOHNNY
Com'on,
let's go ! ON THE BOUNCE
The cap
troopers move out, among them DIZZY FLORES, 18, ACE
LEVY, 19, and
KITTEN SMITH, 18. The CAMERA pauses, unsure.
FED
NET CENTRAL (O.S.)
FOLLOW
THEM...! GO ! GO !
The CAMERA
follows. The PULSE of BUG BATTERIES is blinding.
Cap Troopers
scream as they are torn apart right and left by an enemy
seen only in
disorientating glimpses.
JOHNNY
THIS WAY
!
The group
splits into two, and the CAMERA follows Johnny.
Something
slices Kitten Smith, and he goes down screaming.
JOHNNY
KITTEN !
Johnny stops
to help his comrade. A CLAW slashes into him.
JOHNNY
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
!
Now something
grabs the CAMERA, spinning it around.
We glimpse the
hideous jaws of an ARACHNID WARRIOR.
CAMERAMAN
(O.S.)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
!
The CAMERA
hits the ground. Johnny, badly wounded, bleeding
from the
mouth, crawls into CAMERA, trying to get away from the
dark INSECT
SHAPES that close in on him.
JOHNNY
Oh,
God... Oh, God, help me...
please
help me...
His eyes glaze
over as he remembers
FLASHBACK:
6 INT NEW UNI HIGH - CLASSROOM - DAY - CARMEN
IBANEZ
is beautiful,
just 18, and quite pleased with herself
because
Johnny Rico is
clearly infatuated with her.
RASCZAK
(O.S.)
The end
of another school year, and for
me no
doubt another failure...
Rico,
pay attention !
The teacher
JEAN RASCZAK, 38, a rugged veteran who proudly
displays his
missing hand, scowls at Johnny, bemused.
JOHNNY
Sorry,
Mr. Rasczak.
But as soon as
Rasczak turns back to the class, Johnny begins to sketch
a cartoon on
his desk's touch screen.
RASCZAK
Here in
History and Moral Philosophy
we've
explored the decline of
Democracy
when social scientists brought
the
world to the brink of chaos, and how the
veterans
took control and imposed a stability
that has
lasted for generations since...
You know
these facts but have I taught you
anything
of value ? You.
Why are
only citizens allowed to vote ?
Rasczak points
at LANNY, 17, with his stump
.
LANNY
It's a
reward... what the Federation gives you
for
doing Federal Service.
Rasczak is
crestfallen, makes a big show of patience.
RASCZAK
No.
Something given has no value !
Haven't
I taught you dimwits anything ?
I guess
they ought to revoke my
teaching
credential...
Laughter.
Johnny's cartoon, meanwhile, is taking shape:
Johnny and
Carmen flying round planet Venus in a space ship.
RASCZAK
When you
vote, you're exercising political
authority.
You're using force. And force, my
friends,
is violence, the supreme authority
from
which all other authority derives.
CARL JENKINS,
18, a superintelligent geek, jumps in.
CARL
Gee, we
always thought you were the
supreme
authority, Mr. Rasczak.
Laughter.
Rasczak grins.
RASCZAK
In my
classroom, you bet. Whether it's
exerted
by ten or ten billion, political
authority
is violence by degree. The
people
we call citizens have earned
the
right to wield it.
DIZZY FLORES,
18, athletic, pretty, no nonsense, chimes in.
DIZZY
My
mother always says that violence
never
solves anything.
RASCZAK
Really ?
I wonder what the city fathers of
Hiroshima
would have to say about that.
You.
Rasczak points
at Carmen.
CARMEN
They
probably wouldn't say anything.
Hiroshima
was destroyed.
Johnny presses
´"SEND" on his desk, and the cartoon appears
across the way
on Carmen's screen.
RASCZAK
Correct.
Naked force has settled more
issues
in history than any other factor.
The
contrary opinion 'violence never
solves
anything' is wishful thinking
at its
worst.
While Rasczak
looks away, Carmen throws Johnny her wonderful
smile, and
Johnny's gone, checked out, flying round Venus.
RASCZAK
People
who forget that always pay...
They pay
with their lives and their
freedom.
Dizzy notices
the dreamy look on Johnny's face.
So does
Rasczak. He points at him with his stump,
snaps Johnny
to.
RASCZAK
You.
Tell me the moral difference,
if any,
between the citizen and the civilian ?
JOHNNY
The
difference lies in the field of civic
virtue.
A citizen accepts personal
responsibility
for the safety of the body politic,
of which
he is a member, defending it,
if need
be, with his life.
The
civilian does not.
RASCZAK
The
exact words of the text. But do
you
understand it ?
Do you
believe it ?
JOHNNY
Uh, I
don't know.
RASCZAK
Of
course you don't. I doubt if any
of you
here would recognize 'civic virtue'
if it
bit you in the ass.
A bell rings.
Rasczak shrugs, indifferent.
RASCZAK
Well,
that's it. Have a nice life.
7 EXT NEW UNI HIGH - HALLWAY - DAY - JOHNNY AND
CARMEN
walk with
their friends. Several COUPLES hold hands. Johnny
tries to take
Carmen's hand, but she demurs. Johnny broods.
CARMEN
C'mon,
let's see if they've posted the
math
final test yet.
STUDENT
Hey,
Rico, we gonna take Tesla ?
JOHNNY
How
should I know ?
STUDENT
You're
captain of the team !
8 EXT QUAD - DAY - JOHNNY AND CARMEN
join other
students around a MULTI-SCREEN KIOSK.
CARMEN
First
thing Fleet Academy looks at
is your
math scores.
Wish me
luck !
Carmen enters
her name, receives her score: 97% ! She beams.
JOHNNY
Good for
you.
CARMEN
Your
turn...
Then she spots
Carl across the way talking with MARCO, 17.
CARMEN
Hold
on... I wanna talk to Marco.
His
sister's at Fleet !
Carmen rushes
off. Johnny checks his score: 35% !
Crushed, he
makes sure no
none else has seen. Carl walks up to him.
CARL
You
still haven't kissed her yet ? Don't lie.
JOHNNY
What's
the hurry ?
CARL
Others
are waiting.
Carl points
out Dizzy, talking with friends.
JOHNNY
Did you
read her mind ?
CARL
Don't
have to... Some mating semaphore
is
pretty hard to miss.
It's true. You
can tell by the way she looks at Johnny.
JOHNNY
Yeah,
but I want Carmen.
CARL
You got
it bad.
Carmen returns
to Johnny as Carls heads off.
CARL
Don't
forget about this afternoon.
(to
Carmen)
He's
always late when he walks you home
to fish
for a kiss.
Carmen
blushes, covers.
CARMEN
She's
flying starships !
JOHNNY
Who ?
CARMEN
Marco's
sister. Can you imagine
maneuvering
half a million tons through
crwoded
space lanes...
You
gotta have nerves of steel !
Reflexes
are critical
JOHNNY
I have
good reflexes.
Carmen notices
the way Dizzy's looking at Johnny, doesn't
like it one
bit, takes Johnny's arm.
CARMEN
C'mon
Johnny, we'll be late for Biology.
9 INT BIOLOGY LAB
-- DAY - THE BIOLOGY TEACHER
is an older
woman, very spry, also blind. Johnny, Carmen and
other students
gather around covered lab tables.
BIOLOGY
TEACHER
For our
final today, please identify the mouthparts,
the
abdominal organs, and for extra credit, locate the
nerve
cord and count the ganglia.
You may
begin.
The students
remove the cover to reveal large alien bugs, 60
centimeter
ARKELLIAN SAND BEETLES laid out for dissection.
CARMEN
Eeuch !
JOHNNY
Aw,
c'mon, it's just a bug.
BIOLOGY
TEACHER
Just a
bug, eh ? We humans like to think we are
Nature's
finest achievement. I'm afraid it isn't
true.
This Arkellian Sand Beetle is superior in many
ways. It
has fewer moving parts, can reproduce itself
in vast
numbers, and unboud by concerns of ego and
mortality,
makes the perfect selfless member of
society.
JOHNNY
Better
put your goggles on.
Johnny slices
the abdomen open with asurgical laser. Green
fluid sprays
from the slit. Carmen turns away looking ill.
BIOLOGY
TEACHER
Our
galaxy is teaming with insect life. We have
identified
over two billion species so far.
Human,
life, it would seem, is the anomaly.
CARMEN
But we
're intelligent. Human minds have invented
art,
mathematics and interstellar travel.
BIOLOGY
TEACHER
True, we
know of no insect society that has
produced
a Shakespeare, an Einstein or a
Cherynkov,
but before you let that go to your
head,
take the example of the Arachnids, a
highly
organized, highly evolved insect society.
She points to
an insect evolution chart that starts with a
common ant and
ends with a two meter tall ARACHNID WARRIOR.
BIOLOGY
TEACHER
They are
relatively stupid by human standards. Workers
have an
IQ of 12, warriors around 35 , and yet the
Arachnids
have colonized planets. Over a million years
of
evolution, Nature has provided the Arachnids with the
biological
means to hurl their spore into space.
Johnny applies
a spreader and jacks the insects abdominal cavity
open with
aresounding crack. Bug guts gush out.
JOHNNY
Well, if
that's the crop, that must be the gastric
caecal...
CARMEN
Excuse
me...!
She heads for
the door, hand over her mouth.
10 EXT CIVIC PARK - DAY - JOHNNY AND CARMEN
walk home from
school together.
JOHNNY
35% on
the math final ! No one could be
that
dumb with numbers.
CARMEN
Well, at
least you didn't lose your lunch
over a
bug. How embarassing.
JOHNNY
Who
cares about bugs ? You can't go anywhere
if you
don't know math.
CARMEN
Don't be
so sure. I like you even if you are
dumb
with numbers.
JOHNNY
Then how
come you won't hold hands with me
at
school ?
CARMEN
I don't
want everyone to see.
JOHNNY
Why
won't you kiss me when we're all alone ?
CARMEN
How come
that's all you talk about anymore ?
JOHNNY
It's all
I think about anymore.
Indeed, they
are all alone now. The look in Johnny's eye says how
about it.
Carmen grins, reaches for Johnny's hand.
11 EXT PUPLIC TRANSPORTATION - DAY - CARMEN
and Johnny
stand together near a bank of TRANSPORTERS.
CARMEN
You can't
walk me home.
JOHNNY
Why not
?
CARMEN
I
thought you were going to help Carl.
JOHNNY
Carl can
wait.
CARMEN
Johnny,
my Dad's home today.
Johnny's face
darkens with frustration.
JOHNNY
What's
he got against me... I mean, I 'm
a
teenager. You can't be a citizen when
you're
only a teenager !
CARMEN
It's not
you, Johnny. Your parents are rich
they
don't need to be citizens, and that stuff
means a
lot to my dad. He's a veteran.
JOHNNY
Well, if
your dad doesn't like me, how come
we're
such good friends ?
CARMEN
Sometimes
I do what I want, eh ?
Carmen steps
into the flux. ZAPPP! She's gone.
Johnny grins,
happy to be in love.
12 INT CARL'S HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY - JOHNNY
is hard-wired
to the stacks of processing units that comprise Carl's
basement
workshop. Carl concentrates on the image of a playing card,
the six of
diamonds, displayed on a monitor.
CARL
Don't
think about it... go on instinct.
JOHNNY
Ace of
spades.
The ace of
spades appears, and the computer indicates "no match".
Carl puts
another card up, the jack of diamonds.
CARL
Statistically
speaking you should've accidentally
guessed right by know.
JOHNNY
In
addition to "psychic dolt" this test also proves
I'm
unlucky ? Two of hearts.
Wrong again.
CARL
Luck is
not a factor. No one really knows why
some
people are sensitive and some aren't.
Federal
studies like this might provide a clue.
The next card
up is the nine of clubs.
JOHNNY
I
wouldn't want to know what everyone was
thinking.
Four of spades.
Suddenly, A
GIANT YELLOW FROG jumps onto the keyboard, fritzing
the monitor.
Johnny removes the blindfold.
CARL
Cyrano,
you big yellow turd !
Johnny knows
this frog, scratches him on the neck.
JOHNNY
He just
wants attention. You don't play with
him like
you used to.
Carl
concentrates for a moment.
CARL
Go bug
Mom, Cyrano.
Cyrano's eyes
widen. He hops off the table and up the stairs two at
a time. Carl
clears the screen.
JOHNNY
How do
you make him do that ?
CARL
I gave
him the impression that there was a fly crawling
up my
mom's leg. He is going to go eat it.
From upstairs,
CARL'S MOM shrieks.
MOM
(O.S.)
Get out
! Get out ! CARL...!
JOHNNY
Carl,
promise me you won't ever do anything like that
to me.
CARL
Don't be
afraid. Can't do humans... yet.
C'mon
let's go.
Carl, puts up
more cards, Johnny misses them all.
JOHNNY
Ten of
clubs. You still gonna sign up for
Starside
R&D ?
CARL
Passport
to the Universe.
Who
wouldn't want that ?
JOHNNY
I've
been thinking about applying for
Federal
Service, too. Fleet, maybe.
CARL
Your
father will never let you.
JOHNNY
I'm
eighteen. It's my decision, I think I'd
make a
pretty good pilot. I've good great
reflexes.
You need that for maneuvering,
you
know.
CARL
Only 1
in 14 male applicants make it through
stellar
navigation.
So what
do you think your chances are ?
JOHNNY
Eight
point... no, uh, seven...
CARL
If you
can't do those numbers, you haven't
got a
chance.
JOHNNY
All I
know is Carmen's going to be a citizen,
and I
don't think it'll work out for us if I'm not.
CARL
Love...
how excruciatingly pathetic.
Now try
and pay attention.
Carl puts a
card up.
JOHNNY
Queen of
hearts.
The computer
indicates a match. Johnny peers around at the monitor.
It is the
Queen of hearts.
CARL
Well,
what do you know about that !
13 EXT ATHLETIC FIELD - STANDS - DAY - CARMEN
and other
students wearing orange and black sing the "Uni High Song".
The SCOREBOARD
says: REGIONAL FINAL.
Across the
field, fans wear red and gold and sing another song.
14 INT LOCKER ROOM - DAY - JOHNNY
and other UNI
HIGH TIGERS, all exceptionally robust young man and women,
suit up in
their orange and black uniforms.
DIZZY
Tesla's
tough. They tumble good and they
hit
HARD.
Dizzy bounces
a JUMP SHOE to Johnny. The spring fires and vaults it high into
the air.
Johnny catches it, puts it on, smiles cocky at the TESLA GIANTS who
suit up in red
and gold.
JOHNNY
We
tumble good, too.
15 EXT ATHLETIC FIELD - DAY - WHAM ! -- TIGERS AND
GIANTS
collide. Powered by jump shoes, the play is gymnastic.
Johnny moves the ball ,
flips high in the air over the Giant defensive line,
makes ten meters before he is
brought down.
16 EXT STANDS - DAY - THE CROWD
cheers as
Johnny runs back to join his team. He sees Carmen waving, glad that
Johnny has
seen her among all the people.
17 EXT HUDDLE - DAY - JOHNNY
and other
Tigers listen as quarterback Dizzy calls the plays.
DIZZY
Kick
three, fade left. On two.
They make
fists, then breal for thevline of scrimmage.
18 EXT SCRIMMAGE LINE - DAY - THE TIGERS
have the ball.
The Giant's QUARTERBACKassigns ZANDER BARCALOW, 18,
handsome,
super-confident, to guard Johnny.
ZANDER
Time's
running out.
Zander points.
The SCOREBOARD shows TIGERS 19, GIANTS 20,
three minutes
and counting on the clock. Johnny grins.
JOHNNY
A lot
can happen in three minutes.
DIZZY
Hut...
hut !
Johnny takes
the handoff, flips over a gauntlet of Giant guards. Zander
hurls himself
at Johnny, misses. Johnny scores.
Zander tumbles
into the crowd, loses a jump shoe.
19 EXT SIDELINES - DAY-ZANDER
looks up and
sees Carmen, smiling as she offers him a hand. She helps
him up. He
holds her hand longer than necessary.
CARMEN
Are you
alright ?
ZANDER
I'm
getting better.
20 EXT ATHLETIC FIELD - DAY - JOHNNY
runs back to
join his team as the crowd cheers. The Tigers lead
21-20. Johnny
frowns when he sees Carmen talking to Zander on
the sidelines,
shaking his head, smiling.
21 EXT SIDELINE - DAY - ZANDER
finds his
shoe, straps it on.
ZANDER
So what
are you doing later ?
CARMEN
Everyone
is going to the dance. Aren't you ?
ZANDER
I don't
know. It's my last night as acivilian.
I ship
out for Tereshkova tomorrow.
Zander heads
for the field. Carmen follows, interested.
CARMEN
You're
going to the Academy ?
That's
where I want to go. I'd love
to talk
to you abou that.
A REFEREE
blows his whistle at Zander, signalling impatiently.
ZANDER
I'm all
ears.
CARMEN
Don't
you have to finish the game ?
22 EXT SCRIMMAGE LINE - DAY-THE GIANTS
are in
possession. Zander lands hard in front of Johnny.
JOHNNY
Don't
get any ideas. She's my girl.
ZANDER
You can
never be sure.
Johnny scowls
at Zander, turns his head to look back at Carmen.
She waves,
smiling. The Giants pull ablitz.
DIZZY
WATCH
THE BLITZ...!
Zander knocks
Johnny on his ass, and the Giants score. It's
TIGERS 21,
GIANTS 22 and less than a minute to go.
23 EXT HUDDLE -- DAY -- DIZZY
orders up the
next play. Johnny keeps looking over his shoulder
because
Zander's back talking to Carmen again.
DIZZY
Flip
six, three hole. Rico ?
Hey !
Dizzy slams
Johnny upside his helmet with her forearm.
JOHNNY
What ?
DIZZY
You were
drifting. Flip six, three hole.
On one,
got it ?
JOHNNY
Just
throw me the ball, Diz.
They make
fists and break.
24 EXT SCRIMMAGE LINE -- DAY -- JOHNNY
takes position
again across the line from Zander who now grins at
Johnny
broadly. Johnny doesn't grin back.
DIZZY
Hut !
At the snap,
Johnny breaks for open field. Dizzy throws, Johnny catches
it, trips
Zander up painfully, and hurls himself into the end zone as a
horn sounds
the game's finish.
25 EXT ATHLETIC FIELD - DAY - CHEERING UNI FANS
rush onto the
field as the school band strikes up a victory march.
Tigers do
flips in the air. Giants look dejected.
Zander picks
himself up, watches Johnny leave with Carmen.
26 INT JOHNNY'S HOUSE - NIGHT - JOHNNY
walks throuh
rooms filled with elegant furniture. He's all spiffed up
for the big
dance. His MOTHER catches him preening in front of a
mirror by the
TRANSPORTER in the hall.
MOTHER
Who said
you could grow up so fast ? Last time
I
checked you were only five years old. You had
such a
bright little face...
JOHNNY
Aw,
don't get mushy.
Johnny's
FATHER enters carrying a FEDERAL SERVICE CATALOGUE.
FATHER
This
came for you today. I presume on your
request.
JOHNNY
A lot of
my friends are doing Federal Service...
MOTHER
You
aren't thinking of applying...?
Johnny shrugs.
FATHER
Have you
lost you lost your mind ? I'd rather
take ten
lashes in Public Square than see you
ruin
your life.
JOHNNY
It's
aterm of service, not a career. I just want to
get out
on my own and see the Galaxy for a
couple
of years.
MOTHER
Johnny,
people get hurt... people get killed in
the
Federal Service. If something happened
to you I
don't know what I would do...
FATHER
Who gave
you this idea ? It's that teacher.
What's
his name ? You know the one I
mean.
JOHNNY
Mr.
Rasczak.
FATHER
Rasczak...
Silly name. There ought to be
a law
against using a school as a
recruiting
station !
JOHNNY
No, Mr.
Rasczak doesn't do that at all.
He sorta
discourages you really.
FATHER
Good,
because you're going to Harvard,
and
that's the end of it.
JOHNNY
I'm eighteen.
It's my decision.
FATHER
Oh, is that how it is ?
MOTHER
Wait you
two. Dad and I have a surprise
for you
that will settle this.
Can you
guess what it is ?
JOHNNY
Uh, no.
FATHER
A trip
to the Outer Rings.
Whad'ya
think of that ?
JOHNNY
Wow !
Santori and Zegema Beach, I've
always
wanted to go there.
MOTHER
Good
good, then it's all settled.
FATHER
A year
at Harvard and you'll see this
"Federal
Service" is just menial training
for
inferior people so they can call
themselves
"citizens" and take airs for
the rest
of their lives.
JOHNNY
Wait a
minute ! Carl is doing his Federal
and he
isn't inferior. He's the smartest
kid at
school !
FATHER
Sorry.
Carl's a fine boy...
Johnny puts on
his jacket.
JOHNNY
I don't
know what they teach at Harvard,
but I
think I'm pretty good enough the
way I am
!
MOTHER
Johnny,
please. Calm yourself.
JOHNNY
Well,
that's what you're saying ! You're
saying
that I'm not good enough the way
I am now
!
Johnny stomps
out, the transporter goes ZAPPP !
MOTHER
Why did
you go and do that ? He was all
ready to
go Zegema Beach !
FATHER
Teenagers
!
27 INT UNI HIGH GYMNASIUM - NIGHT - EVERYONE
at the
"Farewell Dance" is dressed up. Rasczak and other TEACHERS
chaperon. A
spotlight finds the BAND LEADER.
BAND
LEADER
Alright,
everybody, this is the last dance, so
let's
turn down the lights and make it a
slow
one.
The lights go
down. Dizzy, dressed pretty, brightens when she sees Johnny
standing alone
near the dance floor.
DIZZY
Hey,
Rico, wanna dance ?
JOHNNY
Actually,
Diz, I promised Carmen...
DIZZY
Too bad
for her if she's not around.
Dizzy pulls
him onto the floor, holds him close.
DIZZY
You
know, it's sad... Most of us probably
won't
see each other again after tonight.
There is an
invitation here. Johnny doesn't take it.
JOHNNY
You
still gonna play for Brazil ?
DIZZY
Looks
like, unless Tokyo lets me start.
JOHNNY
Well,
anyone who gets you is lucky.
DIZZY
How come
we never got together ?
Dizzy looks at
Johnny meaningfully. He's distracted. Carmen crosses
the room,
stunning in her formal.
JOHNNY
Can't we
just be friends, Diz ?
DIZZY
Sure.
JOHNNY
Uh,
look, Diz...
DIZZY
Guess
you gotta go.
JOHNNY
You're
the best.
Johnny heads
for Carmen. Dizzy watches jealously as Carmen takes
his hand. She
looks around for someone to dance with.
Carl, a nerd
in a tux, waves shyly.
28 INT GYMNASIUM - DANCE FLOOR - NIGHT - CARMEN AND
JOHNNY
dance. Johnny
wants to kiss her, Carmen playfully avoids.
JOHNNY
Isn't it
great to be in love ?
CARMEN
How do I
know if this is love ?
JOHNNY
It
wouldn't be so romantic if we weren't...
CARL
Outa the
way you two !
Carl and Dizzy
dance by, Dizzy smiling bravely because Carl is a terrible dancer.
Johnny goes in
for the kiss again.
CARMEN
Romance
is just a vestigial biological
response
to procreation...
JOHNNY
Aw,
you're in love with me...
You just
dont know it yet.
Johnny's confidence
makes her smile. Johnny moves in to kiss her,
but the music
ends. Everyone applauds. The lights come up and
people head
for the doors. Johnny sees Rasczak.
JOHNNY
Wait, I
want to talk to Mr. Rasczak.
CARMEN
I'll
meet you outside.
Johnny heads
over to Rasczak.
JOHNNY
Mister
Rasczak ?
RASCZAK
What is
it, Rico ?
JOHNNY
I just
wanted to say thanks 'cause History
and
Moral Philosophy was the best class
I had
this year.
RASCZAK
(smiling)
Well,
it's not really my job to please.
Hope you
learned something.
JOHNNY
I wanna
join up, Mr. Rasczak. I think I
have
what it take to be a citizen.
RASCZAK
Good for
you. Go find out.
JOHNNY
Well, my
parents are against it, and I
know
it's my choice, but I was
wondering...
What
would you do if you were me ?
RASCZAK
Figuring
things out for yourself is the
only
freedom anyone really has.
Use that
freedom.
Make
your own choice, Rico.
29 EXT UNI HIGH GYMNASIUM - NIGHT - JOHNNY
walks out and
finds Carmen talking with Zander. He wears the blue
uniform of a
Fleet pilot trainee. Carmen examines his FLEET PIN,
a pair of
silver wings.
CARMEN
Johnny,
this is Zander.
ZANDER
Yeah, we
know each other from the game.
No hard
feeling, eh, chum ?
JOHNNY
None at
all... We won.
CARMEN
Good
luck at the academy.
Zander takes
back the wings and pins the to his tunic.
ZANDER
Always.
30 EXT PROMENADE - NIGHT - JOHNNY AND CARMEN
walk together
along the river holding hands.
CARMEN
He just
got accepted to the Fleet Academy.
Isn't
that great ?
JOHNNY
Yeah,
sure, I guess.
CARMEN
No, I
mean if he can get in, maybe I have a
chance.
JOHNNY
What are
you talking about ? We both know
you're
gonna be a pilot.
CARMEN
Zander
is going for pilot, too.
JOHNNY
You two
have so much in common.
Carmen pulls
Johnny to a stop, looks him in the eye.
CARMEN
Johnny
Rico, you're jealous !
JOHNNY
I can't
help it.
CARMEN
He's
nothing like you.
JOHNNY
I don't
even know if you're my girl.
Carmen smiles,
leans in close to Johnny.
CARMEN
Are you
the boy for me ?
JOHNNY
I'm
gonna do it, Carmen. I'm gonna sign
up for
Federal Service.
They kiss,
tentatively, but the passion grows and they break apart,
breathless.
CARMEN
Oh,
Johnny...
31 EXT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - NIGHT - JOHNNY AND
CARMEN
making out as
they wait their turn. There are a few other people around
including a
POLICEMAN.
CARMEN
Everyone's
looking... we shouldn't...
JOHNNY
Who
cares ?
CARMEN
You're
right. Let's never stop...
POLICEMAN
Hey,
you, there's a place for that !
Without
stopping, Johnny pulls Carmen into the flux. ZAPPP
!
32 INT FEDERAL HOUSING - NIGHT - JOHNNY AND CARMEN
kissing at her
front door. Johnny moves his hand tenatively to Carmen 's breast.
She takes his
hand, smiling, puts it under her shirt.
JOHNNY
I love
you, Carmen.
CARMEN
Shhh...
She puts her
mouth on his and they melt together. The door flies open,
and CARMEN'S
DAD stands there.
CARMEN'S
DAD
Carmen,
it's late. Get inside.
CARMEN
Sorry,
Dad. See you, Johnny.
Carmen ducks
inside. Her father looks Johnny over. He carries a terrible
battle scar
oon his face.
CARMEN'S
DAD
I don't
want you around Carmen anymore. Get me ?
JOHNNY
Maybe
Carmen's gonna make her own decisions from
now on,
Mr. Ibanez.
Carmen's Dad
reddens. He'd like to punch Johnny out.
CARMEN'S
DAD
Carmen's
gonna be a citizen. She don't need you
and your
rich family. The Federation'll give her
everything
she needs.
CARMEN
(O.S.)