The Deer Hunter Page #2

ALBERT:

How you feelin', Sal?

SAL:

I feel okay.

ALBERT:

Feeling hot?

NICK:

(arm around SAL)

Humper's ready. Old humper's

hotter'n damn hell!

MERLE:

There's Vince!

OTHERS:

(calling)

Vince!... Over here! Vince!

MERLE:

Get him, Albert. Get Vince!

ALBERT:

I'll get him.

ALBERT wades back into the stream of STEELWORKERS, grabs

VINCE and they all push out together.

EXT. STEEL MILL - PARKING LOT - DAY

The snow is still falling. It covers the ground. It covers

the acres of parked cars. It swirls and tosses and blows. As

the five friends come bursting out of a side exit they all

stop dead in their tracks.

VINCE:

Snow... Holy sh*t, snow!

SAL gives a look at the others. Something is going on. VINCE

is so excited he begins hopping around.

VINCE (CONT'D)

... Do you know what this means?

Do you guys realize exactly what

this means?

They all know. They all know damn well. MERLE and NICK

exchange looks. ALBERT chortles.

SAL:

What are you guys...? Are you guys

going hunting?

The others nod, shrug, shuffle their feet. They are all a

little embarrassed.

SAL (CONT'D)

Not tonight?... You're not driving

up tonight?

NICK:

As soon as you're hitched, Sal.

First we get you hitched.

SAL:

(envious)

You guys are crazy. You know that?

I mean you guys are really nuts.

VINCE:

He's getting married... and we're

nuts!

NICK:

(puts his arm around SAL)

It's all right. Hey, it's all

right. We'll be right here, right

with you.

A look at the others...

NICK (CONT'D)

Won't we? Right? Am I right?

MERLE:

Right.

ALBERT:

Damn right!

VINCE:

What do you think, Sal? Jesus, you

think we'd miss this?

Now SAL is embarrassed. He makes a gesture with his hand.

NICK:

(with a laugh)

C'mon. C'mon you guys!

They all start into the swirling snow. NICK with an arm

around SAL.

VINCE:

And we want you to know, Sal, that

any help you might need--

ALBERT:

Yeah, Sal--

MERLE:

Willing fingers--

ALBERT:

Extra feet!

INT. V.F.W. POST - DAY

The place is large and drafty and rundown. A huge American

flag hangs from the middle of the ceiling. Under it WOMEN are

laying white table cloths on trestle tables. Off to one side

a half dozen OLD MEN wearing VFW hats are Scotch-taping paper

ribbons to the brick wall. Two OLD MEN are on stepladders,

two more are bracing the ladders and the operation is under

the direction of a pair of World War I VETS standing side by

side. Their hands tremble. Their four eyes loom huge behind

corrective lenses.

VET 1

Up I would say... What would you

say?

VET 2

Up.

VET 1

(signals)

Up ribbon!

One end of the ribbon is moved up. The two VETS study it.

VET 2

Down I would say... What would you

say?

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