My Marine

By

Kristen West

EXT. FOREST - SUNSET (DREAM)

Unknown CHILD(10) and WOMAN (30) light heart idly jog about

the woods, dodging and ducting hazardous branches in their

way. The woman catches up with the child and swoops her up

into a bear hug,both laughing. Child wiggles free, runs off,

and realizes the woman is no longer there.

CHILD

Mom?

Faint alarm in the background

Mom where are you?

Beeping taking over scene words become faint

Please, don’t leave me yet!

END DREAM SEQUENCE

INT. MARINE BARRACKS - 4:00 A.M.

CHARLOTTE rapidly breathing and sweaty, smacks the alarm

clock. Quietly she puts on her uniform, tip toes past her

fellow Marines sleeping in the barracks, and heads out the

door.

EXT. TRACK FIELD - 4:15

Charlotte, in uniform, runs on isolated track. Everyone

else is still in bed.

SERIES OF SHOTS

Charlotte doing pull ups, push ups, and jumping jacks

EXT. BOOT CAMP OBSTACLE COURSE 5:30 A.M.

Marines complete the barbwire under crawl, high ropes, and

agility assessments. Charlotte is significantly ahead of the

pack and keeps a steady pace.

EXT. MESS HALL - NOON

Winded Marines enter mess hall for food. GINA spots

Charlotte running.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

GINA

(shouting)

Hey, Charlotte! You coming to

lunch?

CHARLOTTE

(runs in place)

Thanks, but I’m going to get a few

for laps in.

Charlotte steadily doing push ups, DUNCAN approaches in the

distance.

DUNCAN

Damn, I didn’t know they let women

in the marines.

CHARLOTTE

Listen ass...Duncan?

EXT. HOUSE WINDOW - NIGHT [FLASH BACK]

Young Charlotte(10) knocking on Young Duncan’s (10) bedroom

window. He smiles, fiddles with lock, helps her in.

EXT. LAKE

Teenage Duncan (16) Teenage Charlotte (16) kayaking and

splashing each other with paddle swings into the lake

INT. FUNERAL HOME

Duncan (18) cradling sobbing Charlotte (18) during a small

funeral for her mother.

END FLASHBACK

EXT. MESS HALL - NOON

Duncan helps Charlotte of the ground, she pounds the dust

from her pants and hands.

CHARLOTTE

(trying to hide her

excitement)

What are you doing here?

DUNCAN

Same thing as you I suppose, boot

camp.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

CHARLOTTE

What has it been? Five, six---

DUNCAN

(not breaking eye contact)

Seven years.

CHARLOTTE

(in exhaling breath)

Seven years...

After a beat

DUNCAN

Listen lets put the past aside for

a bit. What in the hell are you

doing here?

CHARLOTTE

(in mimicking tone)

Same thing as you I suppose, boot

camp.

DUNCAN

(laughing)

OK, OK.Well, you look...(glancing

over)you look great.

CHARLOTTE

(embarrassed)

Thanks, you..um... don’t look half

bad either.

A familiar silence passes as the analyze seeing each other

again.A horn blows.

CHARLOTTE

Guess we better get back.

DUNCAN

Guess so. Listen, Charlie---

CHARLOTTE

(Snappy)

It’s Charlotte. Just Charlotte now.

DUNCAN

(slightly taken back)

Okay... Just Charlotte. Will you

meet me tomorrow? Same time and

place? There are things to be said

Final horn call.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

Duncan begins jogging away

DUNCAN

(wide grin)

I won’t take no for an answer!

Charlotte, with big smile, watches Duncan leave.

INT.- MARINE BARRACKS NIGHT

Charlotte preparing her clothes for tomorrow. Gina enters

room in background chats to a few marines, and heads towards

Charlotte.

GINA

(conniving look)

So...

CHARLOTTE

So, what?

GINA

I saw you talking to that guy

earlier... And you Charlotte Recker

never talk to guys.

GINA

(satirical tone)

You know, something about them

being a distraction or something.

CHARLOTTE

Yeah, well...this is different. I

use to know him.

With a wide grin and jokingly elbowing her

GINA

You use to know him know him, or

you knew him.

Charlotte tries to hide a smile as she acts confused

CHARLOTTE

(jokingly)

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure

what you just said.

Gina hops on to Charlotte’s bed, sitting on her knees,

bouncing.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

GINA

Oh come on Charlotte we never have

girl talk! Was he a friend,

boyfriend, frenemy, random

creeper---

CHARLOTTE

(laughing)

OK,OK! Your incredibly annoying.

Has anyone ever told you that?

GINA

Yep. Now spill.

CHARLOTTE

Well there’s not much to tell

really. We were best friends from

birth practically. He lived next

door and since I don’t have any

brothers or sisters he was

basically my brother. I mean we

dated for two whole weeks in the

7th grade, but you know grade

school romances are hard to keep.

Charlotte winks at Gina and Gina rolls her eyes.

CHARLOTTE

We were best friends through high

school. Then when I left New

Hampshire, I just didn’t keep in

touch.

GINA

That’s it?

CHARLOTTE

That’s it.

Gina glances over Charlotte and after a beat

GINA

I don’t believe you... but any who!

he wasn’t mad you just left? It

sounds like you were really close.

Charlotte gives a shoulder shrug from answer and stares of

in contemplation.

6.

EXT. MESS HALL - 12:00

Duncan sitting on top of picnic table, slightly hunched with

his feet on the bench and forearms resting on knees.

Charlotte approaching in the distance.Extra Marines are

running drills in the background.

CHARLOTTE

Hey.

Charlotte sits next to Duncan on the bench looking out.

DUNCAN

Hey yourself. Didn’t think you were

comin’ there for a sec. Us marines

are usually on time you know.

CHARLOTTE

(grinning)

Shut up.

She lightly bumps him with her shoulder.

DUNCAN

Oh! I have something for you

Duncan opens his pants side pocket and pulls out a hand made

faded string bracelet. He hands it to Charlotte and watches

her as she reads the words "Charlie & Duncan" the words were

slightly crooked, not professional.

CHARLOTTE

(grinning )

Duncan... I..I can’t believe you

kept this.

DUNCAN

Well I know how uncrafty you truly

are. And how much effort it took

you to make it back in the day.

Charlotte lightly laughing, stops abruptly with a serious

face

CHARLOTTE

(kidding in a serious tone)

Wait...you don’t think I’m crafty

Duncan gives her a look then raises his right hand and point

towards a scar on the heel of his palm.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 7.

CHARLOTTE

Oh come on. That was twelve years

ago!

DUNCAN

But there’s still a scar. Might I

reminded you it was from your

horrible sewing effort.

CHARLOTTE

You baby.You know I healed it the

first time.

Duncan giving a pouting look and moves his palm towards her

face. Charlotte gently kiss the scar. The both smile

CHARLOTTE

Better?

DUNCAN

Much.

CHARLOTTE

And just for the old wound...you

can call me Charlie.

DUNCAN

Wanna know a secret?

Charlotte raises her eyebrows.

DUNCAN

(smiling)

I was going to anyways.

INT.- MARINE BARRACKS NIGHT

Marine women, sitting around talking.

RITA

Are you guys nervous about

graduating in a couple days?

GINA

Eh, not really. I’m more than ready

to be done with boot camp. I mean

seriously would it kill them to say

please?

Women laugh and joke about, then silence occurs

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 8.

GINA

But seriously. Im nervous about our

stationing assignments. We can hop

fences and shoot cardboard

terrorist all day long. But out

there in real situations, its going

to be a hell of a lot different.

Women settle down and grow silent, all seeming to think the

same thought. Charlotte is seperate, but paying attention.

CHARLOTTE

But that’s what we signed up for

right? I mean... we all knew that

eventually we’d have to go to our

stations. That is what we do.

RITA

OORA to that.

Marine women shout OORA and laugh easing their mind.

MARINE- BOOT CAMP GRADUATION - MONTAGE

MARINES say good bye to all their fellow marines

Hugs, handshakes, all around.

Friends and family are there picking them up.

Charlotte say bye to Gina and Gina pushes her towards

Charlotte.

EXT. TRACK FIELD - AFTERNOON

Duncan and Charlotte in uniform with bags in hand ready to

leave.

DUNCAN

So where are you headed to for

the week?

CHARLOTTE

I’ll probably just stay around

here. San Diego is beautiful and I

haven’t gotten the chance to get to

know the city yet, you know.

DUNCAN

Are you sure? Why don’t you come

back home with me? I know Caleb and

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 9.

DUNCAN (cont’d)

my mom would really like to see

you...they’ve missed you hangin’

around.

CHARLOTTE

Duncan...I can’t. I haven’t been

home since the funeral. And besides

I did not exactly leave on the best

terms.

DUNCAN

Oh come on Charlie, you were

practically family once.

CHARLOTTE

Yea I was.

DUNCAN

Come on!

CHARLOTTE

Maybe...

DUNCAN

(grinning)

Good because they’re here.

CHARLOTTE

(horrified look)

Wha---

REGINA and CALEB waving enthusiastically, pulling up in a

truck.

REGINA

(grinning widly)

Charlotte Recker!

Regina gives Charlotte a tight hug, still in shock she

doesn’t hug back at first, then relaxes and hugs back.

DUNCAN

Gee mom, love you too.

Regina Breaking apart her hug from Charlotte.

REGINA

Oh hush, I saw you every day for 20

years, your not going anywhere.

10.

Regina and Duncan hug and catch up in the back ground. Caleb

approaches Charlotte, after a beat he hugs her tightly and

she breaks out in a grin, he takes her bags and throws them

in the bed of the truck.

INT. TRUCK - AFTERNOON

Regina and Caleb in front seats, Regina is driving. Duncan

and Charlotte closely squished in back seat.

REGINA

SOo Charlotte, what have you been

up tothese past few years?

CHARLOTTE

Not much really. When I first left

I moved to Indiana working odd jobs

here and there, and eventually I

found my way to the marines.

REGINA

Well, we were so excited when

Duncan wrote us last week saying he

saw you at boot camp and you’d be

coming back home us before you guys

are stationed.

Duncan slightly embarassed,but grinning as Charlotte gives

his a look.

CHARLOTTE

Oh, really?

Caleb mistakenly thinking Charlotte is talking to Regina.

CALEB

(jokingly)

Well, not so excited.

Charlotte and Duncan still having a moment as Duncan happily

mouths "what" and Charlotte tries to hide a smile as she

shakes her head.