Lesson 22

[Kenneth Johnson]

KENNETH JOHNSON – Act 4 Climax

I learned that my characters have a lot of issues to work out and I just need to keep their conflicts interesting as they tie up the loose ends.

Beginning: As they prepare to board the coaches Michael discusses how to get Lee to tell his story with Naomi and Pastor Chun.

Middle: The group of veterans travel to various military bases and receive full military honors. They review the troops, tour a warship, and witness tactical arms demonstrations.

End: Back in their hotel room, Michael and Lee are surprised by a full documentary crew. Under duress, Lee tells an innocuous story of “Bed Check Charlie” flying in at night to drop hand grenades on their camp and disrupt their sleep.

INT. RESTAURANT A – DINING ROOM – DAY

The other veterans and their families are quietly introducing themselves to each other and tentatively striking up conversations. Lee settles back into his seat, trying not to be notice, and pulls out another packet of crackers and cheese.

Lee notices Pastor Chun and Naomi chatting away from the group. Michael joins them.

PASTOR CHUN
Ah, Mr. Jones! What do you think so far?

MICHAEL
Of course this is all amazing, but give me a minute to take it all in.

PASTOR CHUN
There is much to see of great land. We are very pleased to be able to share it with you and your father.

MICHAEL
Yes, about that… I’m trying to chronicle my dad’s experience in combat during the Korean War.

NAOMI
Right. Your father’s story. What you told me was fascinating. I would like to know more.

MICHAEL
So would I. But Dad doesn’t want to tell the story. He’s saying that no one will benefit from knowing what went on while he and his Company were under fire. I thought by coming here maybe it would help him open up about it.

Pastor Chun has been carefully considering what Michael and Naomi are saying.

PASTOR CHUN
Mr. Jones, years have we spent recording the stories of war veterans from your country and veterans from many other countries who fought to save our nation from the communists. It is a project near and dear to my heart.

NAOMI
Pastor, that is a fantastic idea. We can interview your father for our veteran archive project. We can learn his story together.

The three of them look over at Lee, who is quietly munching his crackers, oblivious to their attention.

MICHAEL
I like it.

________________________

EXT. SEOUL – DAY

The coach moves through the center of the bustling city.

INT. LUXURY COACH – DAY

Michael and Lee as the coach makes its way out of town.

MONTAGE

EXT. ROK MARINE CORPS BASE – PARADE GROUND – DAY

Michael, Lee, and the other veterans sit in a reviewing area and watch as a large precision drill team performs intricate maneuvers while spinning, throwing and catching rifles with fixed bayonets.

Lee and two Korean military official stand in the back of a slow moving limousine to review hundreds of assembled troops.

Then a team of Marines all dressed in black and attached to ropes walk down the face of a 70 foot wall while firing bursts from their weapons

Next, the veterans are given a tour of a pair of Apache attack helicopters.

EXT. ROK NAVAL BASE – DAY

As the veterans exit the coach and walk onto the dock, dozens of uniformed KOREAN SAILORS applaud and cheer.

The Korean Admiral in command of all ROK naval forces guides the veterans on a tour of their latest guided missile destroyer.

In a solemn moment, Lee and Michael are brought to the remains of the Cheonan, a ROK destroyer that was sunk by a North Korean submarine, recovered by South Korean and turned into a full-sized monument at the naval headquarters.

The Admiral and the Korean Minister of Defense proudly pose with Lee for pictures in front of the destroyer. After the pictures, with tears in his eyes, the Minister of Defense gives Lee a hug. Lee is surprised and uncomfortable.

EXT. KOREAN MEGA CHURCH – DAY

The veterans begin exiting the coach and dozens of school children dressed in white wave American and Korean flags while exuberantly singing a song with the words, “we thank god for you!”

As Lee steps off the coach and walks through this spectacle he is clearly touched. The veteran behind him is wiping away tears. Lee stoically refuses to tear up with his son so close by.

END MONTAGE

EXT. HAN RIVER – TOUR BOAT – DAY

Lee and Michael takes pictures with some of their hosts along with other veterans with everyone laughing and in great spirits, including Lee. As the group breaks up, one of the hosts puts a hand Lee’s shoulder and beams proudly at him. They both nod as Lee moves away. Still smiling the Lee and Michael walk out on deck, Michael with a cocktail in his hand and Lee with a steaming cup of tea. They watch the Seoul city skyline go by.

MICHAEL
Are you done being mad at me?

LEE
For what?

MICHAEL
For making you go on this trip.

LEE
I had no idea these folks felt this way.

MICHAEL
I never knew that South Korea is such a big player on the world stage. TVs and Cellphones, cars, ships. Ships! Can you believe these guys are the biggest shipbuilders in the world. And they’re saying it’s all because of you.

LEE
Me…

MICHAEL
Well, you and folks like you who fought and died right here.

LEE
This was all ruble the last time I was here. 70 years ago.

MICHAEL
A lot has changed.

LEE
A lot has changed.

INT. LOTTE WORLD HOTEL – LEE & MICHAEL’S SUITE – NIGHT

Lee and Michael take off their jackets. Lee sits in a chair and takes in the view of Seoul from their window. Michael stretches out on the bed and starts scrolling through his phone.

MICHAEL
That was some dinner.

LEE
Yeah, that was OK.

MICHAEL
OK? Dad almost every lunch has been a feast and every dinner a banquet. And I have never experienced a better breakfast buffet, anywhere. They have literally rolled out the red carpet for you guys.

LEE
Yeah… but what’s the catch?

MICHAEL
Why would there be a catch? They just want to say thank you.

LEE
There’s always a catch.

There is a KNOCK at the door. Michael opens the door to find Pastor Chun, Naomi and two members of a FILM CREW.

Lee is wary.

MICHAEL
Yes please, come in. Naomi, Who are these guys?

NAOMI
Oh this is our cinematographer and this is his audio engineer.

The two men bring in lights with stands, camera and audio equipment.

LEE
What’s all this?

PASTOR CHUN
We are collecting the stories of surviving veterans of the war here in Korea. Your son tells us that you have a powerful story to tell.

Lee gives Michael a cold look.

LEE
Well I don’t know about all that.

The crew has quickly set up the camera and positioned the lights right around where Lee is sitting. Turning the spot into their set. Pastor Chun sits down on the bed opposite Lee and right next to the camera.

NAOMI
Mr. Jones, when Pastor Chun asks a question look at him when you answer. Don’t look into the camera. OK.

The light panels are switched on and are quickly adjusted. Behind the camera the cinematographer gives Pastor Chun a “thumbs up.”

Lee looks confused and a little unsettled.

PASTOR CHUN
Would you please say your name and spell it for us?

LEE
Lee Jones. L-E-E, J-O-N-E-S.

Now Lee simply takes a long time to answer each question. The room begins to get tense.

PASTOR CHUN
Can you tell me with what unit you served?

LEE
The 24th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Division, United States Army.

PASTOR CHUN
What years were you here?

LEE
I arrived in April of 1951.

PASTOR CHUN
Is there a story that you can share with us?

LEE
No.

Everyone is stunned and look to each other helplessly. Lee simply turns and looks out of the window.

The Pastor and Naomi both look to Michael.

MICHAEL
What about “Bed check Charlie”? Can you tell them about Bed Check Charlie?

PASTOR CHUN
Who was Bed Check Charlie?

Lee stares them all down, then decides to let Michael off the hook.

LEE
The North Koreans had these of biplanes called Polikarpovs. They would come down in the middle of the night so we couldn’t get the sleep we needed. The engines were out of tune so they made a hell of a racket. These jokers would fly real low over the camp and drop hand grenades on us. Now remember it was pitch black out there so we couldn’t really see ‘em. With everybody waking up and trying to shoot in the air, I don’t think we ever hit one of ‘em.

Lee looks around, nods and then looks out the window again.

PASTOR CHUN
Is there anything else that you would like tell us?

LEE
No.

PASTOR CHUN
Is there anything you would like to say to the Korean people?

Lee looks into the camera.

LEE
You’ve got a very nice country here. I’m glad I could help. I’m having a good time here and I thank you for having me over.

Naomi seeks to break the tension.

NAOMI
Well I guess that wraps that up.

She motions for the crew to wrap out. She throws a sidelong unhappy look at Michael.

PASTOR CHUN
Thank you, Mr. Jones, for sharing your time with us.

Lee does not get up. He nods at the Pastor and gives a perfunctory smile, then turns to look of the window some more.

The crew breaks down their lighting and camera set up then move everything out of the room.

There is a strained silence until the crew is finished wrapping the gear.

As if wholly undaunted, Naomi smiles warmly to Lee.

NAOMI
I’m sure you have other thoughts. If you decide on anything else that might be worth sharing, we will be happy to come back.

MICHAEL
Good, that sounds good. Thanks for coming up.

Naomi give gentle bows and leave. Michael closes the door.

Michael turns around to find Lee standing directly in front of him.

LEE
This was your doing, wasn’t it?

MICHAEL
Are you going to let me explain.

LEE
You set an ambush for me.

MICHAEL
Dad, I wanted to hear your story. They they wanted to interview you. I never thought they’d show up with a full documentary crew.

LEE
I thought you understood. I thought you had my back.

MICHAEL
I’m sorry, Dad.

LEE
There are times when “sorry” just isn’t enough. I guess I should have expected you to be the same old Mikey, just out for yourself.

Lee steps back and collapses into the chair, diminished.

Michael is crushed all he’s worked for to build a relationship with his father is wrecked.

MICHAEL
I get it. You understand, I want your story so I can sell it to the studio for a movie. I haven’t had a project in nearly a year. Our savings are gone. Bills are late. Cheryl is really pissed at me cause she’s worried we’ll lose the house.

LEE
So, you’re pimping out my pain for cash.

MICHAEL
It’s not like that Dad! This is real history and you lived it. This is an important chapter in our nation’s history and I see myself as being uniquely positioned to tell that story from your point of view. Look, I’m a hack writer, I know. Nothing great has come out of me except a couple of commercials that won Clios. But Dad, your experience with the 24th in Korea will give me the raw material for something great truly great. And I can make some money… for both of us. Can you trust me on this one?

LEE
Trust. That’s a tough commodity. Especially when somebody’s abused it. During the war, I put my trust in the mechanized units, white units, up on the ridges on either side of us…

FLASH BACK

EXT. KOREAN VALLEY – DAY

Black soldiers walk along the valley floor spread out in squads of four. This is Company K. Lee’s unit.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
We were winning. We pushed the North Korean forces all the way up around the Yalu river bordering China. Well China didn’t like that. They quietly infiltrated the area with more than a million soldiers disguised as refugees. They struck in three waves. Our unit, Company K with 200 men of the 24th Regiment, was moving up a valley floor. And we had no idea they coming.

EXT. KOREAN RIDGE TOP – DAY

Sherman tanks and half tracks with towed artillery move along the ridge with soldiers on foot. They all suddenly begin turning around and heading back in the direction they came

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
The mechanized units up on the ridges were covering our flanks. They got word of the waves of Chinese soldiers coming our way and they made a retreat. They never mentioned anything to us Black soldiers down in the valley. We were left with no support.

EXT. KOREAN VALLEY – NIGHT

Explosions, heavy and close shake the area. Tracer sounds fill the air. Lee and his buddies dig fox holes while other return fire.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
We were encircled pretty quickly. We hunkered down and dug our foxholes. We held our ground and fought to a stalemate. But there were too many of them.

A mortar round kills their lieutenant and their radio operator.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
Our officers were killed and we ran out of ammunition.

The Chinese charge their position. Lee and those around him hurl grenades, wait for the explosions and then charge at the Chinese with fixed bayonets. The fighting is intense. Those who survive are driven back to their foxholes. The Chinese come at them. Lee fights with his knife in hand, grappling with the enemy. He uses his .45 to dispatch his attacker.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
We made some grenade and bayonet attacks, but our guys were cut down or driven back until it was just hand to hand fighting where the man you killed breathed his last breath in your face.

EXT. KOREAN VALLEY – MORNING

The Chinese soldiers walk calmly through the battlefield, proving bodies with a foot. If there is movement, they shoot them.

LEE
(V.O. Narration)
When the sun came up I was back in my foxhole with my buddy’s body torn apart next to me. I saw the Chinese soldiers walking through our casualties, checking to see if anyone was alive. When they found a live one, they shot him where he lay. They weren’t taking any prisoners. I played dead. I lay there in my foxhole in the mud and played dead.

END FLASH BACK

INT. LOTTE WORLD HOTEL – LEE & MICHAEL’S SUITE – NIGHT

MICHAEL
But you survived, right?

Lee looks at Michael like he just asked the world’s stupidest question.

LEE
Well, you’re here aren’t you. I’m going to bed.