'outside the wire'

a little snippet from the feature i wrote @ usc last semester. i like it for the most part, although i doubt i'll re-write it. my practice script, if you will...


[scrippet]
EXT. BLUE SKY
A lollipop sun burns a hole through an expanse of blue.
We’re GLIDING HIGH above a grid-like patchwork of rooftops peppered with debris, DESCENDING SLOWLY.
SINKING LOWER, individual buildings come into focus.

ROOFTOP LEVEL, a CHILD points skyward as a PREDATOR DRONE silently cuts through the air.

PREDATOR POV: Ghostly images of a SPRAWLING CROWD on the move.
We FOLLOW them as they reach a LARGE INTERSECTION.

CUT TO:
A TATTOOED FOREARM. It holds a CHAIN secured about a BRONZE PYLON.

CUT TO:
A HAND. It traces the chain, as it’s owner marches past CANDY WRAPPERS; CIGARETTE BUTTS; BULLET CASINGS; a CAN OF PEPSI WITH ARABIC LETTERING.

With every step, dust EXPLODES around MUD-ENCRUSTED DESERT BOOTS. The hand SMACKS the rear of a TAN VEHICLE.

VOICE (O.S.)
Hit it Jonesy!

The vehicle ROARS to life, revealing - a grizzled US MARINE in DESERT CAMMI’S, tattooed forearms and mud-encrusted boots.
Tattooed Marine turns to see the sprawling crowd halted in place - staring at him.

A sound. METAL TEARING. EEE-EEE!

CUT TO:
EXT. CROWDED INTERSECTION - DAY
A SQUAD OF MOBILIZED INFANTRY MARINES atop a HUMVEE - stare at Tattooed Marine.
Except for one. He dry shaves with a STRAIGHT RAZOR in the Humvee’s rearview mirror. This is SGT MIKE “HUFF” HUFFMAN (25). A hard eyed, hard edged MARINE CORPS GRUNT. It’s difficult to tell if Huffman’s pissed off at you or just being himself.

FREEZE FRAME: Huffman and his glinting steel.
SUPER: SGT MIKE HUFFMAN. SQUAD LEADER.

A SHADOW falls over Huffman. Strain in his eyes as he looks over his shoulder.

HUFFMAN
(Sotto voce)
Cradle of civilization, my ass.

And we see it: the BRONZE STATUE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN being torn down in WALABI SQUARE - Tattooed Marine mans the chain attached to the metal despot.
It falters for a moment, then tomahawks towards the pavement.
THUD! Saddam smacks the ground HARD - reverberating throughout the teeming intersection.

IRAQI’S rush the effigy - Tattooed Marine darts away to safety.
They pelt Saddam with shoes, rocks, whatever they can get their hands on - the barrage of noise surges up towards the sky.

CUT TO:
PREDATOR DRONE as it disappears into the troposphere.
EXT. IRAQ - WALABI SQUARE - VEHICLE STAGING AREA - DAY
The Mobilized Infantry Squad aka REAPER ONE watch the Iraqi’s defile Saddam with a smile, sans Huffman.
He splashes aftershave on his face.
MARINE # 1, (20). A nerdy boy in oversized cammi’s and black-framed glasses, gives Huff a dirty look as he walks towards the sprawling crowd.

SUPER: CPL. MANNY “ROD” RODRIGUES. GUNNER.

ROD sneaks a drink from a FLASK as he disappears into the mass of bodies.

CLOSE ON - SADDAM. As shoes pummel his bronze bust.

HUFFMAN (O.S.)
Don’t know about you gents...

An IRAQI arrives with a CHAIN-SAW.

HUFFMAN (CONT’D)
...but I think it’s about time...

BRRRR! The chain-saw ROARS to life.

HUFFMAN (O.S.) (CONT’D)
...we ricky tick the fuck outa here.

The chain-saw RIPS into metal, showering the crowd with SPARKS.

IRAQIS shriek.

DOGS howl.

HELICOPTERS WHOOP, WHOOP, WHOOP overhead.

Gunfire rips the air.

RADIOS chatter.

It. Is. A. Madhouse.

SUPER: Baghdad, 2003.

FADE OUT.
[/scrippet]