The Deer Hunter Page #3

VET 1

Down.

VET 2

(signals)

Down ribbon!

Suddenly there is a commotion. The WOMEN who are setting up

the tables all rush to the door as the OLDER WOMEN come in

with the wedding cake. The OLDER WOMEN look half-frozen and

as they move toward a table the cake receives a great chorus

of Uhh's and Ahh's. Suddenly one of the OLDER WOMEN

collapses. Friends rush to her aid, seat her in a chair and

give her wine. The WOMAN takes the glass, tosses it off in

one swallow and grins. EVERYONE laughs.

EXT. COLUMBINE STREET - BOTTOM OF HILL - DAY

A big, battered old shark-finned black Cadillac approaches,

coming fast.

INT. CADILLAC - DAY

NICK, SAL, MERLE, VINCE and ALBERT are all laughing. NICK is

at the wheel.

VINCE:

Hit it, Nick!

OTHERS:

Go Nick! Hit it, baby!!!

EXT. COLUMBINE STREET - DAY

The car bangs over potholes and slams into the grade. We

watch as it reaches the half-way point, then the three

quarter mark...

INT. CADILLAC - DAY

NICK bends forward over the wheel, peering out through the

slapping wipers.

GUYS IN THE CAR:

(chanting)

Do it, Nick! Do it! Go Nick, Go! Do

it! Do it, Nick! Go!

The car fishtails, loses speed... to a creep.

NICK:

Back! All hands to the rear!

ALBERT and MERLE, who are sitting in front, immediately throw

themselves into the back seat on top of SAL and VINCE.

GUYS IN BACK SEAT

Easy... 'At's it, easy! Easy,

Nick... Easy!

EXT. COLUMBINE STREET - TOP OF HILL - DAY

The Cadillac inches up the last ten feet, gains level ground

and skids to a stop. From inside comes a MUTED CHEER.

INT. BRIDE'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

ANGELA is dressed in her white bridal gown and veil. She is

plump, pretty, with a solemn, round face and big brown eyes.

ANGELA leans forward into a mirror.

ANGELA:

(sincerely)

I do.

A pause. ANGELA scowls and tries it again.

ANGELA (CONT'D)

(heartfelt)

I do.

ANGELA tries it a few more times. It sounds worse and worse.

ANGELA (CONT'D)

I do, I do, I do!!!

ANGELA stares at herself. Now she looks desperate and

unrelievedly forlorn. Bursting into tears she throws herself

on the bed. Someone has slipped a photograph under the

pillow. The photograph is face down and as ANGELA pulls it

out she sees that something is written on the back:

ANGELA (CONT'D)

(reading, slow)

"This is it -- more or less...

Love, Mom."

ANGELA frowns, turns the photograph over. It is a picture of

Michaelangelo's "David". ANGELA stares at the figure for a

long, long moment...

ANGELA (CONT'D)

Oh, wow.

INT. JOHN'S BAR - DAY

The place is packed with boisterous STEELWORKERS drinking

boilermakers. Deerheads are mounted in a long row over the

bar, and hand-painted murals decorate the walls. The murals

depict hunting scenes and display an eerie tone -- at once

comical and frightening -- as if the animals held some secret

from the hunters, some power beyond their own.

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