Anthony W.
05-05-11, 11:23 AM
One of the threads here inspiring me to beging writing a fictional screen play for a movie about the US subs in the pacific
Not sure if I'll ever get a chance to film it - but I sure will have fun writing.
Here's what I have so far
*Enter* - show Gato docked at sunrise, few men on deck untying mooring lines
[Tympony quiet roll to base drum crash w/ gong/crash symbol. Go to black - gold lettering "Sea Dogs"]
[Fade letters to "The Fleet Boats"]
[Slide show of combat camera footage (still and video)]
Narrator: It was a long war - and not one we wanted to be in - but we were there.
Every day - every night, only the muffled sound of our engines - and the crashing sea
We knew where we were - and that if anybody else were to as well - it could be the end.
Three watches - morning, noon, and night.
Nobody like the day watch. Wasn't much better than the night - but it had that extra element of fear.
In daylight, you could be spotted. No cloak of darkness to hide behind.
Not exactly ships we were worried about. It was the aircraft - that scorpion of the skies - that we were afraid of.
And when you saw one - all hell broke loose.
Sometimes it'd be a lone patrol plane - maybe a passing fighter. Not too much to worry about.
We'd just stay up and fight it out with the guns.
But more often than not - it was one of those flying boats. Armed to the teeth with only one goal - kill you.
When you saw one of those - time slowed down. Instinct kicked in - the same every time.
Alarm call, down the hatch, diving stations. Alarm, down the hatch, diving stations...
Sometimes we got lucky - they didn't see us.
But others - we got caught with our pants down - in the middle of the dive.
Then we had a real problem - depth charges.
Sealed in a drum - sometimes 125 degrees - sounded like somebody pounding away on the outside.
Sometimes one got close - we'd pitch and roll - fighting for control - and our lives.
It was that feeling you really remembered - the helplessness - the fear.
Thats what got to you.
[End slide show]
*To scene* - in a bar - oldies music playing - decorated like an old sea shack
Men dressed in their khakies - some talking - some sitting there with their heads down
[Close up of a clean shaven man with his hat on, standing up with minor decorations displayed]
*Freeze frame*
Narrator: Thats captain Myers - bravest man I ever met. Never knew much about him - but its a safe bet he's saved my ass on more that one occasion.
*Unfreeze* Show young, country boy looking guy taking a shot *Refreeze*
Narrator: Thats Neil Johnson - my best friend - and one hell of a mean drunk. Met him back in basic - him and I have been in and out of more trouble than anyone else on the boat.
*Unfreeze* To focus on a red headed nerdy looking guy sitting on a stool depressed *Refreeze*
Narrator: And thats me - Warrant Officer Johnathan Davis.
*Unfreeze* [Female bar tender enters scene]
Bar tender: What's got you down, sailor?
Narrator: I don't know - just missing my folks back in Maine. Leaving on patrol again tomorrow. Rumor has it some of us are goin home after this one...
Bar tender: Well-
*Focus on Cpt. Myers, sound of tapping on a beer bottle is heard*
Myers: As some of you may have heard, tomorrow morning we set forth on our final patrol as a unit. We're being rotated.
[Cheering]
Myers: Now, as it does seem fit, I propose a toast. To the Gato, to the United States, and on to Japan!
[Loud cheering]
Myers: Now don't have too much fun tonight - we shove off at 0800 with you, or without
*Fade to black*
Narrator: We had to carry Neil back to base that night - kicking and screaming all the way - drunk - as usual.
Didn't bother me much - not like I was going to get any sleep either.
*Fade into barracks, men asleep, two women standing at the door looking in*
Woman one: (Solemnly) Such a shame they don't even know...
Woman two: Know what?
Woman one: You haven't heard? Tomorrow they're going to Tokyo...
*Fade back to black*
*Fade into scene of narrator and Neil walking towards the submarine at sunrise*
Narrator: You know - Neil - I really have a bad feeling about this one. I don't know what it is - but it isn't good.
Neil: Na, man, we've done it all now. There ain't nothin' can touch us. Them Japs-
[Switch to view of sailor on conning tower]
Sailor: You cowards comin or what? Come on, we leave in 20 minutes!
Narrator: Looks like we better get on it. Don't want to be last in line for steak dinner tonight!
Neil: Last one up the gangway bunks in the engine room! Haha, alright lets go.
I figure if I ever get this finished and find a sub to use as a set, I could get er' done and filmed.
I even figured a way to recreate the sound of depth charges inside a sub - and it wouldn't be that hard
I'd just need a volunteer crew of reenactors
Not sure if I'll ever get a chance to film it - but I sure will have fun writing.
Here's what I have so far
*Enter* - show Gato docked at sunrise, few men on deck untying mooring lines
[Tympony quiet roll to base drum crash w/ gong/crash symbol. Go to black - gold lettering "Sea Dogs"]
[Fade letters to "The Fleet Boats"]
[Slide show of combat camera footage (still and video)]
Narrator: It was a long war - and not one we wanted to be in - but we were there.
Every day - every night, only the muffled sound of our engines - and the crashing sea
We knew where we were - and that if anybody else were to as well - it could be the end.
Three watches - morning, noon, and night.
Nobody like the day watch. Wasn't much better than the night - but it had that extra element of fear.
In daylight, you could be spotted. No cloak of darkness to hide behind.
Not exactly ships we were worried about. It was the aircraft - that scorpion of the skies - that we were afraid of.
And when you saw one - all hell broke loose.
Sometimes it'd be a lone patrol plane - maybe a passing fighter. Not too much to worry about.
We'd just stay up and fight it out with the guns.
But more often than not - it was one of those flying boats. Armed to the teeth with only one goal - kill you.
When you saw one of those - time slowed down. Instinct kicked in - the same every time.
Alarm call, down the hatch, diving stations. Alarm, down the hatch, diving stations...
Sometimes we got lucky - they didn't see us.
But others - we got caught with our pants down - in the middle of the dive.
Then we had a real problem - depth charges.
Sealed in a drum - sometimes 125 degrees - sounded like somebody pounding away on the outside.
Sometimes one got close - we'd pitch and roll - fighting for control - and our lives.
It was that feeling you really remembered - the helplessness - the fear.
Thats what got to you.
[End slide show]
*To scene* - in a bar - oldies music playing - decorated like an old sea shack
Men dressed in their khakies - some talking - some sitting there with their heads down
[Close up of a clean shaven man with his hat on, standing up with minor decorations displayed]
*Freeze frame*
Narrator: Thats captain Myers - bravest man I ever met. Never knew much about him - but its a safe bet he's saved my ass on more that one occasion.
*Unfreeze* Show young, country boy looking guy taking a shot *Refreeze*
Narrator: Thats Neil Johnson - my best friend - and one hell of a mean drunk. Met him back in basic - him and I have been in and out of more trouble than anyone else on the boat.
*Unfreeze* To focus on a red headed nerdy looking guy sitting on a stool depressed *Refreeze*
Narrator: And thats me - Warrant Officer Johnathan Davis.
*Unfreeze* [Female bar tender enters scene]
Bar tender: What's got you down, sailor?
Narrator: I don't know - just missing my folks back in Maine. Leaving on patrol again tomorrow. Rumor has it some of us are goin home after this one...
Bar tender: Well-
*Focus on Cpt. Myers, sound of tapping on a beer bottle is heard*
Myers: As some of you may have heard, tomorrow morning we set forth on our final patrol as a unit. We're being rotated.
[Cheering]
Myers: Now, as it does seem fit, I propose a toast. To the Gato, to the United States, and on to Japan!
[Loud cheering]
Myers: Now don't have too much fun tonight - we shove off at 0800 with you, or without
*Fade to black*
Narrator: We had to carry Neil back to base that night - kicking and screaming all the way - drunk - as usual.
Didn't bother me much - not like I was going to get any sleep either.
*Fade into barracks, men asleep, two women standing at the door looking in*
Woman one: (Solemnly) Such a shame they don't even know...
Woman two: Know what?
Woman one: You haven't heard? Tomorrow they're going to Tokyo...
*Fade back to black*
*Fade into scene of narrator and Neil walking towards the submarine at sunrise*
Narrator: You know - Neil - I really have a bad feeling about this one. I don't know what it is - but it isn't good.
Neil: Na, man, we've done it all now. There ain't nothin' can touch us. Them Japs-
[Switch to view of sailor on conning tower]
Sailor: You cowards comin or what? Come on, we leave in 20 minutes!
Narrator: Looks like we better get on it. Don't want to be last in line for steak dinner tonight!
Neil: Last one up the gangway bunks in the engine room! Haha, alright lets go.
I figure if I ever get this finished and find a sub to use as a set, I could get er' done and filmed.
I even figured a way to recreate the sound of depth charges inside a sub - and it wouldn't be that hard
I'd just need a volunteer crew of reenactors