JOE PULLS OUT A KNIFE, digs the point into a festering wound on his arm and flicks out a maggot, studies his men who are loading the make do supplies and ammunition.
JOE
(good natured bite)
Doesn't anybody in Washington give
a damn? Can't we get some decent
men and equipment? I'm worn out
fighting with one hand tied behind my back.
David smiles sadly as Joe's men move wearily in the b.g.
JOE (cont'd)
The bad guys are bringing in new weapons
by the boatload and we're just suckin' air.
DAVID
How they getting the stuff in? We're
watching all the ports from satellites.
JOE
You watching those little islands off
the coast?. One of my boys saw 'em
unloading a submarine out there.
DAVID
Impossible. There's too many reefs.
JOE
Shit, what do I know? That's your job.
They've probably blasted out a
submarine pen for all I know.
Take care of the grass on your side of
the road, Bubba, and I'll take care of mine.
A SOFT CLOSE UP OF SHERRY WRITING A LETTER IN HER GARDEN.
SHERRY'S NARRATIVE V.O.
My dearest David, I hope this letter finds
you safe and well. Believe it nor not,
I'm in the garden where I'm spending more
and more time. Things at the agency are so
slow. maybe I can't accept the fact that
I'm getting older. You would really be
proud of me, I haven't gone to one party,
had a drink or a cigarette since you were here.
I miss you darling. Have you quit. The hell
with it.
SHERRY CRUMPLES THE LETTER –
and tosses it, then in deep thought moves through the garden.
A HONDURANIAN DC-3 IN THE FLUFFY SKIES ABOVE THE CARIBBEAN.
DAVID, -
even more scruffy is sprawled across several seats.
OUTSIDE HIS WINDOW the engine spews black oil and SPUTTERS in an intermittent drone. The plane bucks and bounces through the hot air pockets, but David sleeps on as -
THE ATTENDANT announces their descent into Coxen Hole.
TWO WOMEN TOURISTS -
in the seat behind David nonchalantly GIBBER about their adventures.
TOURIST
Mildred isn't this exciting?
Did you know that five thousand pirates
once lived here.
TOURIST #2
I'll bet some still do.
TOURIST
I hope so.
A SEQUENCE OF SHOTS, COVERING SEVERAL MONTHS.
DAVID'S ENDING POSITION MATCH DISSOLVES INTO THE NEXT SCENE.
DAVID, - standing in fatigues in the doorway of a Huey helicopter above the island watching the local shipping.
MATCH DISSLOVES TO:
DAVID, - standing in shoddy work clothes on the deck of a coastal freighter.
In the b.g. shipmates handle small packages.
MATCH DISSLOVES TO:
DAVID, - standing on a hill top, pulling out a TELESCOPE, -
in which he sees a small coastal tanker anchored offshore with an array of lines and hoses running to the something that looks like conning tower of a submarine. Men load the same packages on the submarine. David collapses the telescope and stands on the hill.
MATCH DISSLOVES TO:
A ROADSIDE STAND IN COXEN HOLE, ROATAN, HONDURAS -
where David stands in casual clothes, then bends and examines a voodoo effigy amidst the vials and bags labeled "health," "wealth," "love" and packets of green pills with a hand scrib bled "for a long life." MOMMA JAMES, an ancient relic, partially hidden under a large fedora steps away from the fetishes in the rear. David notices the wrapping paper from one of the packages, then shakes his head with a "just looking motion,"
turns and walks past the colorful locals to -
A RUSTIC BAR.
Manny sits near the entrance, watching a football game on the TV over the bar.
DAVID
How's it going Manny?
MANNY
The Rams just scored. Hijo!
I'm gonna loose my ass.
DAVID
You should be so lucky.
ON THE TELEVISION - The Niner quarterback completes a long pass for a touchdown. Manny jumps up and yells, drawing a lot of cold stares from the unenthusiastic clientele. In the b.g. Catmon walks by, unaware of David's presence.