"TOP GUN" (1986)

A DON SIMPSON- JERRY BRUCKHEIMER PRODUCTION

TOP GUN

SCREENPLAY BY

WARREN SKAAREN

CHARACTER NAMES

PAGE l

l, EXT. TWILIGHT- THE PACIFIC IS ANYTHING BUT.

SUPER ·u.s.s KITTYHAWK" •OFF THE COAST OF NORWAY-AUGUST 1985"

WINDS HOWLS- RAIN DRIVES HORIZONTALLY-The sea surges nea.rly to the flight deck of the CARRIER USS KITTY HAWK. The 93,000 ton behemoth plunges its bow into a wall of grey water.The deck pitches forward and back, rolls left to rightand yaws in a corkscrew motion into A TYPHOON-DRIVEN SWELL.

Something drops down out of the night. A ROAR. Silver wings flash by, a cockpit, fiery jet exhausts. A forty ton monster drops at 120 knots into an area the size of a tennis court in a CONTROLLED CRASH.

3. EXT, FLIGHT DECK-CLOSE.

A SHOWER OF SPARKS, A SCREECH OF RUBBER AND METAL as the gear hits the deck. The hook catches the three wire and the F-14 TOMCAT is slammed to a halt. It's the scariest thing you've ever seen, the most dangerous maneuver in aviation and just another day at the office for a Naval Aviator.

TITLES OVER

HARD DRIVING ROCK N ROLL-THE CARS-RIDE ME HIGH

4. FLIGHT DECK. THE LANDING SIGNAL OFFICER (LSO). TWILIGHT

He leans almost horizontally into the winds. He holds the pickle, controlling the landing lights and speaks into a mike. His calm professional commands belie the extreme conditions.

S.EXT. ANOTHER TOMCAT FLIES OVER THE RAMP. TWILIGHT

ItSLAMS in.The pilot hits full power, catches the wire, slams toa stop, throttles back his engines.

Lots of scopesand e.lectronic gear.The CARRIER CONTROL A.PROACH OFFICER (CCA)watches a BLIP on radar. Reaches for hismike key. 5$.liW, the Squadron Commander ENTERS.

PAGE 2

r- We float like gods, above the storm, above the cloud cover. ' From overhead, a probe slides into frame, then a graceful nose. The cockpit slides by, PILOT, then RADAR INTERCEPT -,OFFICER(RIO lbarely illuminatedby the orange glow of their instruments. The fuselage gracefully swells to two enormous air intakes, then va.riable angle wings,swept back for high speed flight. Twin tailbooms cant outward, horizontal stabilizers make constant adjustments. Enormous twin jet exhaust ports glow red in the moonlight.

7a. INT-BRIDGE-TWILIGHT.~

Someone hands Stinger a piece of paper, Be reads it, frowns. Reaches for a roster,

-'l:t/Jil:F.l:trnaR Cougar and Merlin, Maverick and Goose,

8. INT, COUGAR'SCOCKPIT, (AERIAL),TWILIGHT

We become aware ofWIND WHISTLE, JET ENGINE SOUNDS, RADIO STATIC. The pilot,COUGAR is calm. MERLIN, his RIO in the backseat.A UHF transmissionbreaks in •••

STRIKE CV.O.filtered) GHOST RIDER, THIS IS STRIKE,,. WE HAVE UNKNOWN CONTACT INBOUND, MUSTANG. YOUR VECTOR ZERO NINE ZERO FOR BOGEY,

Almost immediately the RIO picksup a target and responds.

WINGMAN,

PAGE 3

ON THE COCKPIT-with "LT. PETE MITCHELL - MAVERICK" stenciled on side. In flight suit and oxygen mask, we can only see his eyes, They are confident. He is lean, hard, athletic. The archetype fighter pilot. His RIO- GOOSE, .. (Lt.JG. Josh Bradshaw> always an edge of humor in his voice, rides backseat.

ll. EXT. ANGLE, THE TWO F-l4'S. TWILIGHT

Maverick peels off right, to high cover position: 5 o'clock.

12. INT, GHOST RIDER 117. COOGAR'S POV, TWILIGHT

13, INT. MAVERICK'S F-14, TWILIGHT

Flying in combat spread, l mile abeam, higher.

14. INT, 117 COUGAR'S COCKPIT. TWILIGHT

PAGE 4

lS. EXT SKY. TWILIGHT

Closing at 900 knots, the MiG is a speck, then a flash and a ROAR, a knife-edge pass at 300 feet. It rockets past his left wing tip and disappears.

l6. INT. COUGAR'S COCKPIT. TWILIGHT

Cougar kicks rudder, whips the stick, screams into a tight turning roll and dives after him. He slams the throttle forward to ZONE 5 AFTERBURNER.

l7. EXT. SKY. TWILIGHT

As Cougar screams after MiG One.

l8. EXT. MAVERICK'S POV. TWILIGHT

Maverick sees a SECOND MIG drop from above onto Cougar's tail.

l9. INT, MAVERICK'S COCKPIT. TWILIGHT

Maverick swings after him, lights it.

20 •EXT. SKY. ALL FOUR JETS SCREAM DOWN IN A POWER D.!VE. TWILIGHT

They punch through cloud cover into the soup.

2l. INT, COUGAR'S F-l4. TWILIGHT

He is closing on the first MiG when a shocking BLIPBLIPBLIPBLIP tone breaks into their headsets.

PAGE 5

Cougar swings mad gyrations, cutting back and forth across the front MiG's tailpipe, trying to break the lock-on. The TONE grows more insistent.

The tone grows steady, BLIPBLIPBLIPBLIP.

i MERLIN

He better be kidding!

Up front,Cougar checks his.gunsight •••Hegets I.R. lock ••.

26.EXT, COUGAR'S POV. TWILIGHT

Finally,MiG One turns away.

INTERCUT:

But Cougar presses forward, andMiG TWO stays on his tail.

i Anger gives way to discipline. Cougar's Tomcat breaks left, dives into dense cloud. MiG TWO still follows.

INTERCUT:

32, INT, MAVERICK'S COCKPIT MiG breaks out of cloud, looks around, startled. There is nothing, no F-14. He scans the sky frantically, while rolling the aircraft •••• Suddenly, he feels a presence. He looks straight up and behind him. A few feet away, an F-14 slides into position canopy to canopy, (inverted) an incredible feat of flying. Maverick and Goose stare at him. Maverick slides even closer, canopies nearly touching. The MiG pi.lotacknowledges them with a weak wave. Maverick stares for a moment, then flips him the bird;

The MiG pushes negative G, hard down and away. He heads for the deck.

Stands on the plunging deck, peering into the ROARING night.

ON COUGAR- He is transfixed.

CCA CV.O. filtered) CONCUR, FLY YOUR NEEDLES.

35a. INT. COCKPIT ll7. COUGAR. TWILIGHT

COUGAR ~ Call the ball? I can't see the ship!

PAGE 8

WIND BLASTS slam the airframe. Rain tattoos the canopy. A gust shakes the F-14, he straightens it, a gust shakes it again.

The Carrier lights appear and disappear through the storm.

Me;lin is thrown about hard, as the wing dips, straightens, dips.

TWILIGHT

i LSO

A LITTLE POWER•••FLY THE BALL. LOOKING GOOD.. •HOLD WHAT YOO GOT.

Maverick's F-14 on final approach.

41, INT. COCKPIT. MAVERICK. TWILIGHT

ON MAVERICK-TIGHT-He hears Cougar's chatter over the air.

41a. INT. COUGARCOCKPIT-TWILIGHT

PAGE 9

ON COUGAR-He shakes hishead.

Maverick's plane settles in over theramp, suddenly, BLASTS FROM IT'S AFTERBURNERS ••• itROARSover the deck without touching and off into the night. The LSO is shocked into comment.

INTERCUT:

Maverick's plane pulls up off the wing of the Cougar's aircraft. His voice is calmness itself.

HEY, ANY OF YOU GUYS SEEN AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AROUND HERE?

Cougar looks over, surprised.

PAGE l0 COUGAR WHAT ARE!QY.DOING HERE?

Nothing happens.

Cougar's plane straightens.

( MY WING. I'LLDROP YOU OFF.

Maveric:kpulls upwing tip towing tip, inc:hes apart.

46a. INT. COUGAR'S COCKPIT

ON COUGAR-He isproc:essing all of this.

46b. EXT.MAVERICK'S F-14.

NO RESPONSE.

PAGE ll COUGAR IF I BASH THISLANDING, AND I LIVE. I'LL HAVE YOUR filIT.!l

47, EXT, FLIGHT DECK, 'lWILIGBT

All eyes are on the approach of the two planes. Maverick drops Cougar off at the pattern and circles, The LSO watches the approach. The Tomcat drops a wing, straightens, drops the wing, straightens •••the approach of a shaken pilot as Cougar tries to satisfy his inner ear.

A wind shear 1ust off the ramp drives the plane suddenly down.

AFTERBURNERS BLAST, but the F-14 horrifyingly settles tail r low toward the deck. The deck crew pulls up a thick \ emergency net to prepare for flying debris, as the plane wallows in toward them. The LSO'S turn, take a few steps and throw themselves into the night, off the flight deck.They are caught by safety nets hung off the sides.

48, EXT. FL.IGHTDECK. THE PLANE. 'lWILIGHT

Settles, settles, standing on its engines, trying to arrest its downward momentum, The hook raises sparks as it skids across the deck, ••The plane hangs for a moment, about to blast back up, when the hook catches the last wire ... plucking 45,000 pounds of fuel, metal and men out of the air and SLAMMING it all to the deck, Right wheel flies up the deck and over the side. The gear SCREECHES and collapses. Crew scatters as the plane s.lamsinto the net in cloud of fuel vapor and steam,

The SILVER SUIT runs up.

LSO Cover mike ) COUGAR, MERLIN.• •COME IN COUGAR! SHUT YOUR ENGINES DOWN, YOU'VE ARRIVED.

,t

PAGE 12

Crash and fire crews leap into action. The man in the aluminized-cloth suit springs up to the cockpit. No one moves inside. He hits the canopy release. The canopy pops open. He grabs at the rear seat harness release.

Nothing for a moment. Then the RIO'S helmet moves. He tears the mask away from his face, looks up at Silver Suit. His head clears.

Silver Suit grabs him under the armpits, drags him out of the plane. Merlin shakes his head to clear it.

Other crew members help cougar out. He seems stunned.

Merlin spots Cougar being helped out. He pulls away, reaches back into the cockpit and grabs Cougar's snapshot of wife and kid. Crew leads Merlin away as firemen blast the aircraft's hot spots with foam. SO and 51 OMITTED

A TILLIE, a four wheel mobile crane, slams up to Cougar's plane and slings its lifting harness.

FLIGHT SURGEON arrives and helps Cougar off.

54. OMITTED

?AGE13

Maverick's Tomcat approaches-

Tc:mcatslams onto the deck, clearing the wreckage by inches.

56. OMITTED

57. OMITTED

The usual CLANGS, WHISTLES, ENGINES of Navy life sound FORLORN ECHO.INGthrough the dim, deserted passage. From the distance, a single figure passes in and out of the glow of the overhead .lights. cougar comes closer, hobbling I unsteadily. He reaches a door, pulls himself erect and knocks on the sign:

Commander Tom Otawoczek co VF 114 STINGER

The skipperworks at his desk, responds without looking up.

PAGE 14

He looks up. Cougar stands in the doorway, a strange,dazed . look on his face.

He walks over to the skipper's desk. His eyes are glazed, but his jaw is firm.

A determined movement. Hand to chest.

s0111ething metal hitsthe desk,skids across the polished surface and clangs up against the coffee mug: gold wings.

cougar comes out of Stinger's room, bumps into Goose, and Maverick. He turns the other way.

He stops, turns to them.

Looks at them, walks away.

Maverick appears,followed by Goose. They stand at attention.

1'1AVERICK Sir?

The Skipper is looking away, says nothing. Maverick sees the wingson the desk. He cuts his eyes to the wings to direct Goose's attention to them. Goose sees them and is puzzled.

PAGE 15 ,if- STINGER You just did an incredibly brave thing. (turning to them) What you shouldhave done. wasland your plane. You don't own that plane, the taxpayersdo. Maverick lets not bullshit.You had some shit on your shoeswhen you came in theNavy. Youneed to bedoin' it BETTER and CLEANER, than the otherguy. (exasperated) What is it with you?

Maverick tenses u~, shifts a biton his feet.

Maverick's not sure what's next. Stinger stares at Goose. Then at Maverick.

Maverick and Goose are surprised.

Goose and Maverick exchange looks. Stinger moves slightly, to stand now, directly in front of Maverick and speak eye to eye at four inches.

Maverick and Goose turn to leave.

MAVERICK/GOOSE Sir?

Bis facade cracks just slightly.

A gaunt.let ofYOUNG OFFICERS. Maverick, Goose, are the center of attention. They are notorious. Guys grab at them ••• questions ••• theMiGs?•••Whathappenedupthere? How ( close did they get? What did the MiGs do? One word is heard over and over •••"TopGun•.

CULVER, a lieutenant, raises a toast.

Some raucous CHEERS and LAUGHTER. Maverick and Goose push throughand down the passageway. They move faster and faster. Like kids stealing watermelons.

Maverick grins and smashes open a hatch door.

A hatch slams open on the side of the carrier. Maverick and Goose pop out onto the stormy catwalk cantilevered high over the breaking sea. They plunge forward to the bow of the ship and stand on the very peak. The NOISE of the green mountains of water is incredible. They YELL into the showering winds.

TIGHT ON MAVERICK-He raises his fist in celebration to the night.

The foaming slope of the wave rushes up, changing color as it DISSOLVES TO:

64.DESERT SAND WHIPPING BY •••••••

SUPER "MIRAMAR CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 1985"

A big bike, a REAL big bike, a turbo, rockets acros.sthe desert. REAL fast. Aviator shades low across the handlebars--Maverick. It cranks faster •• pulls closer. ENGINE SCREAMING. HIGHER-its going to explode. It can't go faster,but it does. IT SCREAMS HIGHER. It ROARS under, by and away, leaving dust •••

SILENCE. Just theHISS AND POP OF METAL COOKING. Maverick sitson it, staring out past us.

CAMERAWIDENS-WE SEE the gate of the MIRAMAR NAVAL STATION. A GUARD watches from his guardhouse under a sign: FIGHTERTOWN, USA.

SOUNDOF ORDNANCE AND EXPLOSIONS ON A SOUNDTRACK-

PAGE l8

PAGE 18 omitted

,

PAGE 19

67. omitted

PAGE 20

STOCK. DAY.

THE DOORS on the soundtrack. Jets swoop, missiles fire, a plane explodes. Gun camera views ofMiGs, SAMS, flak, bombing runs •••

JESTER CV .O. l During the Korean War, the Navy kill ratio was twelve-to-one. We shot down twelve of their jets for every one of ours. In Vietnam, this ratio fell to three-to-one. Our pilots depended on missles. When theywent into the war, they had lost some of their dogfighting skills.

F-l4's fighting with F-S's. Music becomes current.

JESTER, A tough-looking, confident leader in a blue flight suit, stands before a video-game monitor. Behind him, on the monitor, the dogfighting continues.

He turns on the lights. As everyone's eyes adjust, WE SEE VIPER-the Commanding Officer of Top Gun, He is a tough, quiet man. He commands, just standing there.

Viper walks slowly to the front. Audience in F.G. He speaks carefully and quietly.

THE CLASS-- Sixteen young men-- eight flight crews-- sit at attention. They are trim, fit, and confident-- high ·school heroes, college jocks.

ANOTHER ANGLE--THE MEN

The CAMERA MOVES among them, hold on one of themen; cool, steady, sizing up his competition. TOMKAZANSKY-The ICEMAN.~

Ice is not looking at the speaker,but in our direction. Hollywood, a blond, good-looking pilot,WHISPERS something to him, and gestures. Ice is getting thelowdown on someone. He nods and smiles.The CAMERA MOVES and we see who that someone is,as Maverick enters the frame.

Maverick feels the stare ofthe other man and glances in his direction. Their eyes meet. Ice smiles coldly.

PAGE 22

ANGLE- VIPER

Maverick has turned to look at Ice. Ice glances back in his direction. Maverick looks around the room. Goose is looking up front ••• Where Viperhasstopped. Goose nudges Maverick.

He's shocked to find Viper staring right at him. He's caught a naughty schoolboy.

Maverick knows he's in trouble, considers the social alternatives, then tells him the truth.

A couple of ooh's and aahh's from the guys.

ON ICEMAN- stares at him with amused interest.

The instructors stare a challenge at him. He's a bit uncomfortable.

PAGE 23

Others LAUGH lightly.

Viper gathers his notes, the lecture is over. Viper turns back for one more thought. Everyone freezes.

Viper WALKS OUT. Maverick and Goose join a few pilots milling around the Top Gun plaque.

(

stars. The winner can get asked to be an instructor. Get to FLY EVERY DAY.

Iceman smiles.

Maverick winks confidently at Goose as they move closer to examine the names on the plaque.

(

PAGE 24

70, EXT. •o•CLUB. NIGHT.:::,<"

Fast cars in the driveway, fast music BLARES into the night. It's Wednesday; Animal Night.

- ""'o,.

HARDROCK MUSIC. Low ceiling, plaques of the squadrons the walls. It'sa •steam releaser• forpeople under pressure, Nevertheless, there is a control to it all, there are none of the usual bartypes, just pilots and Naval Officers.

Maverick and Goose ENTER,Pilots talk flying and hustling girls.

PAGE 25

Hol.lywoodand Wolfman are at the bar as Goose and Maverick approach. INTROS-Goose shakes hands and so does Maverick.

iOLLYWOOO You do this every time wo.lfman.You askme about m:yweekend-I tell you-then you get pissed off because I had a better time than you did.

iOLLYWOOO Yeah-You and both your hands.

Goose glares at him like a mosquito.Exchanges friendly punches with another passing pilot. Maverick is a bit reserved. Elescans the room for ladies. Goose orders beer. ae nods toward KELLER a lanky dark-haired pi.lot.

PAGE 26 -f- GOOSE You forget I am aBona Fide RINGKNOCKER. (knocking hisANNAPOLIS ring on bar) Iknew a lot of these geniuses at Annapolis. Besides, I'm theRIO- I gotta keep track of thecompetition.

Goose suddenly reaches out and grabsa guy moving past.

( SL.I.DER

Tom Kazansky.

He indicates the end of the bar. Iceman looks up and walks toward them.

ON MAVERICK-He watches. Goose reads his mind~

PAGE 27 --/.-, GOOSE It's the way he flies--ice cold. No mistakes. Wears you down. After enough time, you just get bored and frustrated, you do something stupid, and he's got you.

Ice arrives-orders a beer.

Maverick is craning to see a girl through the dancers.

PAGE 28 -f--. MJl<VERICK I've heard about you, too. You like to mess with people's minds.

Icesmiles.

Maverick sips hisbeer.

Slider and Ice leave.Goose shakes his head. Maverick smiles confidently. Be checks outa pretty lady. Then sees someone across the dance floor, partially obscuredby dancers. He cranes.

ON GIRL-sitting at a table, reading something, she is a beauty.

ON MAVERICK-he moves to look again.

Maverick shrugs, "no problem•,

Goose nods his head emphatically,

Two beauties walk in the door.

Maverick starts walking toward girl.

ON GIRL-an officer comes up to her MOS asks her to dance-she smiles and shakes her head.

Maverick puzzles a bit, gulps his beer, then crosses to Goose. MUSIC TAKES A BREAK.

Maverick points to the girl at the table. Goose frowns.

Maverick nods,

Goose follows Maverick over to the girl.

ON GIRL-reading something. She looks up.

Maverick is staring. Goose walks up behind him.

ON GIRL-she is surprised.

ON MAVERICK-He stares at her dramatically. Then he points at her.

PAGE 29A, -,J.... GOOSE (apparently trying to stop Maverick) No, No, No ••• (suddenly turns, singing to the shocked girl) There's nooo tenderness like before in your finger tiips.

OTHERS NEARBY STOP AND LISTEN to the new Righteous Brothers.

GOOSE• Believe me he KNOOOWZ it.

PAUSE. Goose turns to the gaping tipsy flyers. Leads them. (No drunk in the world can resist finishing this song)

l?AGE30 MAVERICK (nowa drunken chorus behind him) You've lost that lovin' feelin' now its gone, gone, gone woohohohhhh.

ALL OTHERS CLAP.Other guys appreciate the risk Maverick has taken. Will it pay off?

ON GIRL-no hint, she looks around,

OTHERS WATCH FOR HER REACTION-

ON GIRL- She looksup at Maverick and spontaneously explodes ina big sunshine LAUGH. She pushes back a chair. Everybody CLAPS. Maverick sits down with a relieved sigh. She LAUGHS HARD. Goose leaves in pursuit of a girl.

I

She smiles and nods. She returns to her writing.

Charlotte nods and LAOGHS;

Looking at him directly.

CharlotteLAOGHS heartily.

ON ICEMAN-hewatches.

PAGE 32 .,C..

BACKTO MAVERICK AND CHARLIE

Maverick looksup. PERRY SIEBENTHAL is approaching. He is quitea bit older than Charlotte. Dressed in a suit.

MOS Perry ARRIVES. Maverick stands,handshakes. Charlie smiles. Maverick reluctantlywalks to tqe bar. Orders another beer. Charlie and Perry talk intently lookover some papers.

ON MAVERICK-TIGHT

Drinking his beer. He glances back at Charlie. Smitten.

l?AGE33;,I--

Maverick's l?OV.He sees l?erry gathersome papers and prepare to leave. Goose goes back to Mary Anne. , \ Maverick's l?OV- Charlotte isgathering her things. Glances in his direction for a fraction of a micro-second. She heads· across the floor alone.

Maverick downs his beer in a massive gulp and strides after Charlotte.

I

PAGE 34

Goose spots Charlotte.

ON CHARLOTTE- Walking- she is even more beautiful.

Maverick walks by Goose. .lf$C_

Maverick breaks out, looks around, sees Perry EXIT alone, doesn't see Charlotte. Someone disappears around a corner. ae follows.

CORNER-- A door slams shut. Impulsively, before he realizes what he is doing, he's through it.

Charlotte is standing by the mirror, with her arms folded. Waiting for him.

He has no idea what to say. She looks at him with an amused smile.

She leans over the sink, puts on lipstick, sees his eyes cover her. She laughs. But she's instinctively attracted. (

(

PAGE 35

She hands him a compact.Rummages foranother lipstick, hands him an old one. Finds rightone and beginsredoing her lipstick. He stares at her ••• Shelooksup,amused.

She takes the compact out of his hands, snaps it closed.

TOILET FLUSHES- A hefty black girl SLAMS OPEN THE DOOR from a toilet enclosure, steps out. Looks at Maverick angrily. She straightens her skirt, shakes her ample bosoms at him.

Charlotte tries to keep a straight face as she WALKS OUT of the bathroom. Black Girl look at him expectantly. A beat. He just stands there, then realizes he's holding her lipstick.

He sprints out with the lipstick.

Charlotte strides past the gaping Goose.

Goose is wide-eyed.

Charlie EXITS bar.

Maverick strides by Goose.

Maverick runs up. Watches as she leaves.

75,76,77,78 OMITTED I

CAMERA TRACES the relaxed, poised, mean faces of the guys in blue flight suits. An occasional TOPGUN cap.

Maverick turns back to his notes.

SFX footsteps •••door opening. Jester looks up to back of room door.

Goose turns to see the TAGREP walk forward. Be stares and then fixes on Maverick. Maverick looks at Goose's stare and then turns to see the TAGREP. Be freezes as she passes without acknowledging him. Be is flattened with embarrassment.

(

YOUR proficiency, Is that clear?

She walks to the front and starts her dazzingly technical tal.kon MiG tactics and technology. Maverick tries to hide by looking straight ahead. Goose chuckles.

A SNICKER from the audience. She hesitates-then goes on.

MAVERICK ~ I don'tthink you're dat'V"tscurrent • •••about the MiG, that is.

PAGE 38 ~

She stops-- some of the pilots look at him. Viper ENTERS at the back of the room. Jester glares. Time's wasting.

\ CHARLIE

How's that Lieutenant?

Charlie smiles, walks over.

Maverick looks past her.

Nervousbuzz in theroom. Jester goes rigid. Charlie can't believe it.

I

MAVERICK

" It's classified.

(long pause) I could tellyou, but then I'd have to killyou.

PAGE 39*

The others CHUCKLE.

She stops Jester with a glance. She can handle herself. She is not overbearing. Doesn't want to embarrass him, but she is fascinated by the information.

Lieutenant, I have a top secret clearance. The Pentagon sees to it that I know more than you.

Stifled LAUGHS. She stares at him for a moment, then she has him. She goes for the kill.

ON ICEMAN-he shakes his head in dismay.

A real buzz in the room. Ice LAUGHS in disbelief.

PAGE 40 * CHARLIE TWo miles.

TWo meters.

Chuckles, barely suppressed. Goose pipes up.

Charlie waits.

Open LAUGHTER. Charlie stares questioningly.

Goose prepares to show her,but she turns to him. (FLIPS/NO FLIPS)

The room breaks into laughter.She stares at Maverick.

Jester looks at his watch.Taps it at Charlie.

Charlie is near the exit. Maverick has to walk by her.She stops him.

He is conflicted as hell. They speak low, and manage a private conversation.

PAGE 41 ~ CHARLIE Lieutenant why didn't you tell med.._ you were a famous MiG insulter? T'\

ON MAVERICK-walking away. He is smiling.

ON CHARLIE- she smiles too, shakes her head.

Maveric~ moves down the corridor. Ice comes into the corridor, and walks just in front of him.

Ice smiles and shakes his head. Walks on ahead. r

Maverick looks after him, smolders a bit.

INTERCUT

PAGE 42

At twenty-eight thousand feet, thetwo planes circle each other, going inopposite directions. As they jockeyfor position, theysnap past each other like ends of bullwhips. The earth spins, thehorizon appears and disappears. With each hard turn,Maverick and Goose can be heard "grunting• to keep blood in their brains,to keep from passing out.

The fight is hard, physical,and exhausting. The extreme G forces--6.5--flattenthem against their seats, causing their heads toweigh over one hundred pounds, Maverick strains to turn his headand track the other jet as it streaks past at Mach One,

Maverick jerks the stick left,and the F-14 takes an astonishing turn. Jester ROARS past into a wide arc.

GOOSE

Great move. Great.

THE PLANE EXPLODES INTO AFTERBURNER rocketing toward space.

Jester is left in direct line with the sun, and his canopy is sprayed with a blinding glare.

The F-14 peels over the egg, in a backward d.ive. It rockets down the outside, gaining energy. Over the ROAR of jets, the SCREAM of the wind, Goose SHOUTS DATA, but it is muffled, a distant voice in a typhoon. Through the canopy, WE SEE Jester, and he hangs in the air like a sparrow in the path of a falcon.

PILOT'S POV- HUD in windscreen-- a diamond in a box. Maverick lines up the diamond with Jester, and we hear the high pitched tone BEEPING.

Jester maneuvers, but Maverick keeps him in the gunsight. The BEEPING is louder, faster.

There is an edge of anger in Jester's voice.

They are brought up short for a moment, then the thrill of victory gets the best of them. Goose lets out a WAR WHOOP. The F-14 sweeps up, rolls into an Immelman •••

PAGE 44

Maverick's Tomcat breaks hard and high, rolls over on its side,wings perpendicular to the ground. Goose sees the world go sideways.

Heaileron rolls another quarter turn. Inverted, they pass rightdown therunway. Goose looks out and insouciantly watches theworld go by at 300 knots, upside down.

Controllerswork. Officers watch the landing activity. One old sa.lt,REDNECKJohnson, turns from the coffee machine, a cup of steaming java micronsfrom his lips. A ROAR. VABOOM! The Tomcat roars over. He yelps as hot coffee flies all over his shirt.

They complete the roll,bank left, zoom right by the tower, levelwith the observationwindow.

BB.EXT. CONTROL TOWER. F-14'S POV. DAY.

Controllers look out at theF-14, mouths drop open.

Bewaves jauntily.

89a. INT. CONTROLTOWER-DAY

Commander Johnson is beingwiped off by two underlings.

They roll out,break over the runway.

Maverick and Goosewalk by parking Tomcats •••Ice is unstrapping, Slider isclimbing down. Ice looks at Maverick.

Jester, glares at them from hisA4.

Wolfman and Bollywoodwalk up. Goose suddenly flashes a thumb's up sign witha grin. The guys react with clenched fists, ad libs,high fives, victory punches.

•oooo• -- they allgo •ooo•and laugh.

Iceand Slider walk by, Slider gives a brief dramatic pause, then flashes thumbs up and smiles. The students celebrate Ice'swin. Ice handles the attention with the easy composure of one who is used to it. Maverick ignores him. Icemoves toward hangar.

Ice,over his shoulder.

Slider turns back.

Maverick moves to Iceman.

Maverick grins. Jester walks by.

I 92 Omitted

SCREAMING ANO YELLING- muffled by the door.

94, INT. ANTEROOM. DAY. I ENLISTED YEOMEN and CHIEFS go about their clerical duties in acute embarrassment mixed with curiosity. Behind the CO's door, someone is screaming his head off.

PAGE 47

BOOM! The door bursts open. A big, brawling Officer. Redneck Johnson, the new Air Boss-- blasts out, nearly smashing into a FEMALE PETTY OFFICER. She almost spills her coffee. Johnson looks right and left in fury too stong for words. Be looks like he wants to smash something. They move out of his way, but he just blasts through the doorand disappears down the hall. The enlisted men turn to Viper's office.

Jester stands inside stonefaced. Maverick and Goose are rigid. Viper ••• with excesscalm deliberation, softly walks over, grasps the doornob. Be glances in their direction. The glance is totally without expression, and even scarier for that.

In a flash, each man finds something totally engrossing in his work, or something terribly important to do elsewhere. Slowly, steadily, Viper swings his door closed. Q_-- __

Be moves over to face Maverick. There is a SILENCE like after a train wreck; nothing but the POPPING of sprung metal and the low GASP of escaping steam. Viper speaks quietly, like a funeral.director consoling the living. Makes you want to scream.

Maverick is exhausted. It's been a long, rough day. His voice is a hoarse whisper.

Viper looks at Jester very briefly.

PAGE 48 r

V!PER Right, you took it- and ••• you brokea major rule of engagement. Then you broke another one with that 360 degree circus stunt roll.Lt. Mitchell, the Top Gun rules of engagement exist to protect you and your team. They are not flexible and neither am I, You either obey them or you are history. Is that clear?

PAGE 49*

Viper measures him for a moment.

Maverick and Goose leave the room.

97a. INT. HALLWAY. DAY

Maverick is not happy. He walks along the hallway and past a room where Charlie is evaluating a pilot's performance. He glances in. Charlie looks out at him for a second.

Viper looks at Jester, who picks up Maverick's fitness report. Looks at Viper.

( Jester nods.

Jester walks slowly around the room. The walls are linedwith pictures; planes,pilots the glorious history of jet fighters.

PAGE 50* JESTER I don't know Skipper. I just don't know.

~~~.

He is studying hard. MUSIC. Slide rulers and graph papers. He leans back in the chair. Chews his lip a bit. Goose sticks his head in.

Goose nods.

( but almost all he's done is classified.

No one knows much about anything except he is ••• Mr. Death.

Goose EXITS. Maverick takes out his wallet. Lies down on bed.

ON WALLET TIGHT-he takes out a tattered picture. On back WE SEE "JULY 15,1965"

ON TABLE-Maverick sets up the photograph next to one of his mother.

TIGHT ON PHOTO-A smiling youngMaverick on his father's shoulders next toan F-4. CAMERA HINGES right to see A NAVY CROSS on a chain.

TIGHT ON MAVERICK-liesback, thinking hard.

100. OMITTED

l?AGE51

101 omitted ~

Maverick is studying hard. Graphs and maps spread out on the table. One guy is across the room studying.

Hands him a paper. He is surprised.

He looks up surprised.

Other guy EXITS in BG. Maverick is gathering himself to get back in the chess game. He nods and smiles.

Mimicking an arrow wound Maverick scrambles for position. She prepares to leave. -Ji/::"

Charlie leans over, puts her hand on an open book.

She starts to move away. He gently traps her hand in the book.

PAGE 53

She slips her hand out of the book, takes his evaluation sheet and writes something on it before she gives it to him.

He looks at it. She has written.

"503 Laurel Beach Road-7:00-casual and Classified!"

On MAVERICK-smiling-once again-a happy man.

10 3 .OMITTED-/:=,

Jt)'l.~--!:.

PAGE 54

105. VICIOUS VOLLEY BALL GAME. MIRAMAR BASE. *

Goose and Maverick against Slider and Ice. It is a tough match which has degenerated intomore than agame.

Slider sets it up for Ice,he spikes it into Goose. Goose sets it up and Maverick spikes it back, drills Sliderand wins the point.

Goose jumps around happily.Maverick goes to sideand checks watch and puts on shirt. {

Maverick runs to his bike and speedsaway. Goose watches.

Light is beginning to fade.Maverick has beenRAPPING on the door. No answer. He goes around to awindow. Table is set. Dishes wrapped in aluminum foil on the counter top.

He looks ou.ton back deck over the beach-no one.

107. ON BEACH-with his bike he explores along the beach in one direction. No Charlie. Zooms past house toward other direction.

108. ON DECK-Charlie, dressed in a sweater, just sitting down in a lounge chair. Motionless, she watches him zoom by.

109. ON MAVERICK - TIGHT

He returns to the beach in back of the house and turns off engine. He sniffs the air. Steaks are broiling. MUSIC eases out from the deck. He parks the bike.

She is re-fixing dinner. It is a good one. He appears in the open doorway. She doesn't look up but she's relaxed and not angry.

He smiles.

Instead, Maverick wanders a bit. Down a hallway. Looks into her study. It has two computers in it. Charts of aircraft on the walls. High tech. But flowers everywhere too.

She Isshocked. She looks at him. He looks ok. She LAUGHS.

lll. INT, DINING ROOM-LATER

She has served a simple but finely detailed meal. carved carrots, good bread. It's food art. He is overwhelmed. But she loves it even more than he does.

I've probably got twenty .IQpoints on you and yet- you are the first student pilot I've ever let NEAR this place. -¥,

Maverick smiles and chews his thoughts slowly, he thinks she's falling for him.

He stops eatingand looks at her.

Maverick is shotdown. Mouthful of food.

Maverick slowly nods his head and smiles. Tne chess game is beginning.

She looks away and nods.

I

PAGE ~7~

She gets a chilled bottle and fills his glass. He's b;:&.in the game.

He nods at the records. She gets up to put it on.

Maverick gets up and stretches out on the couch with his wine.

ON CHARLIE-puts music on. She's a little apprehensive. She sits cautiously in a chair.

MUSIC PLAYS-he gets lost in it.

ON MAVERICK-smiling.

She smiles lightly. He leans back and closes his eyes, listens to the music. She watches him a little nervously.

r \

?AGE58 CHARLIE Didn't get that far.

He throws her the Navy Cross. She catches it, looks at it. \

A direct hit. Maverick looks at her.

Maverick rolls his wine around the glass. Thinks a long time.

He looks straight at her.

Mml!rick leans over and takes back the Navy Cross.

Be puts his finger on her lips. Staightens a falling lock of hair.

He eases away. An understanding smile. He stands.

'(

Cover his shoulder> I'm going to take a shower.

She watches him, where is he going to take the shower? He doesn't go down the hallway and to her shower. He goes instead tothe outside door. He sets the lipstick she forgot in the"O" club- on a shelf.

HeEXITS. Charlie lays back on the couch. SOUND OF BIKE LEAVING.

An F-14 SWOOSHES over the desert, ROARS over an antenna complex.In its missile rack, it carries a TACTS transponder. The TACTS Range is an area of the desert completely enveloped by computerized radar.

PAGE 60

The computers calculatea number of aircraft's positions and velocities by means of transpondersin the ships and ground stations that talkto each other thousands of times a second. Using thissystem, it is possible to track aerial combat instantaneously and give pilots directions and also to play back thecombats for analysis.

The double viewing screens are five feet high; high technology, state of the art. On the screens are computer animated figuresshowing jets from various angles. Flight data is displayed. The operators punch buttons to show various points-of-view of the battle: a pilot's POV; God's POV from overhead,a long range POV, showing topography of the landscape and height of the mountains.

Students and instructors sit on chairs in the peanut gallery, facing Viper at the front of the room.

Charlie ENTERS.

She studies the screen. She doesn't know who they're evaluating.

The computerized rendering resumes on the screen. WE SEE THE •s•CURVE OF THE MANEUVER. Viper motions for Charlie to continue.

(

PAGE 61

Looking around the room for the pilot.

(long pause) I wasn't thinking. You think and you're ~/ dead. "I\ Cl:lARLIE (chagrined,off-guard,~ but full speed ahead) ~{I Big gamble with a thirty million dollar plane Lieutenant.

Some of the studentsLAUGH and mockingly whistle at the cockiness of it. They give Maverick the high sign. Charlie notes his sarc~sm.

Maverick slumpsdown in his chair. The computer rendering rolls forward again. He glances at Charlie. She shoots him a micro-glance- like "I told you it was going to be complicated!•

Another computerized rendering comes up on the screen. Hollywood leans close to Maverick and speaks quietly.

Maverick gives him a small nod of appreciation.

l?AGE62

ON CHARLIE-uncomfortable with their interaction, she pointedly avoids looking at Maverick.

ON MAVERICK- he chews thoughtfully on a pencil.

ll4. EXT. MIRAMAR RUNWAY. DAY.

In full flight gear, carrying their helmets and trying to stuff food down their gullets, the students stand neara lunch wagon. By teams they are hustled off in the b.g.No rest, even for lunch.

Looks for reaction. Maverick gets his hot dog. Stony.

( instructors. Caro.leand Brad could get a

house and I could see him fall outa trees and be Spiderman and all that stuff.

Jester yells from the distance.

They scurry ahead, overtakingHollywood and Wolfman.~

WOLFMAN :,1f' What'd you do?

HOLLYWOOD

Shoot,I was so tired when I met her, I justwent to sleep 'til she found the right zipper.

LAUGHTER.

Hollywood walks along with a preoccupied Maverick.

HOLLYWOOD

( Hear about Ice?

Maverick shakes his head.

Maverick nods. They arrive at their planes and scramble in.

..A l?AGE64

ll4a.EXT. PARKING LOT-MIRAMAR-TWILIGHT (,,/'£~~ ~

Maverick finishes wiping down his bike with a chamois cloth. He gets on it, fires it up. GUNS IT. Adjusts the choke. GUNS IT.

MEDIUM CLOSE Ul?-l?ROFILE-Maverickastridebike.He has seen something out of the corner of his eye, but looks straight ahead. CHARLIE WAI.XSINTO THE FRAME.

Maverick GUNS THE ENGINE.

CHAl"tLIE (patiently) Maverick •••

He GUNS THE ENGINE.

He GUNS AND SPEEDS away on the bike.

114. b EXT. MAVERICK ON BIKE-IN TRAFFIC-TWILIGHT 114 c. EXT. CHARLIE'S CAR- IN TRAFFIC-TWILIGHT

He zoomsdown the block in front of Miramar Gate. He looks in rearview mirror.

HIS POV-Charlie's Rabbit rushes around corner after him.

ONCHARLIE-hair streaming in the wind. She looks determined.

ON MAVERICK-he speeds up and weaves past a car. Turns right. Looks in mirror.

ON CHARLIE-she is right behind him.

WIDER-ON MAVERICK-he approaches a light. It turns yellow. He wheels hisway through.

ONMAVERICK-TIGHTER-he watches the mirror.

ON CHARLIE-she ZOOMS throughthe red light and narrowly misses getting hitby twocars crossing from opposite directions.

f'

' ~ PAGE 65 -f-:~.

Maverick shakes hishead and pulls over as she skids up behind him.

114 d. ON MAVERICK- he swings off the bike.

Charlie marches up. (Cars drive by throughout.)

Maverick is off center.

ON MAVERICK-he looks at her shocked.

r A beat. Another. The electricity crackles.She puts her arms around his neck and kisses him forever.A long, deep prelude. He moves into it too. MUSIC UP.

CAMERA MOVES AROUND THEM-the lights of the passing traffic flare in white and red.

114 e. INT. CHARLIE'S HOOSE-NIGHT

TIGHT -Charlie is lighting white candles on her dresser. She lights the last one with a red candle. She drips the wax on her finger and she thinks. She is full, she reaches for a blouse button and stops, closes her eyes. Leans back, CAMERA EASES BACK •••

••• into Maverick'sarms. He is dripping wet from a shower. He encircles her and kisses her shoulder. Her blouse gets wet from his hair. She rolls the candle in her hand foran instant and then drops .itand turns to be engulfed byhim.

llS EXT-SKY ANGLES ON PLANES

116 INT, MAVERICK'S COCKPIT. DAY,

118 INT, JESTER'S COCKPIT. DAY,

Hollywood leads, Maverick follows. They point their noses down and dive. Two bogies fly side by side at five thousand, out.lined against theblue Pacific. Smaller, slower, they seem helpless for a moment. We hear the instructors in the F-S's.

I

?AGE67 GOOSE Holy shit, that'sViper. Viper's up here.

The bogeys split. Bogey One hard left. Bogey Two hard right. Hollywood sweeps left, pursuing Bogey One. Maverick hangsback to coverhim.

BogeyOne makes a strong vertical move. Hollywood stays on him.

Bogey One loops and comes down, and Hollywood almost loses him for a moment before regaining the angle.

Maverick looks quickly at three o'clock high and see Bogey Two returning to the fight. He jerks the stick right, and the two planes make a quick pass.

I

PAGE 68

Maverick goes suddenly vertical, taking the plane straight up.

Maverick loops the F-14 down to get the quick angle on Viper . inBogey TWo. Viper takes off, running from the fight again. Maverick looks over his shoulder and sees that Hollywood still has a good position on Bogey One. He takes a hard right and streaks off after Viper.

Goose looks back at Hollywood and Bogey One.

Viper streaks across the sky with Maverick close behind. He pushes the throttle forward to ZONE-5 - full afterburner. Viper shows all his tricks •••hard left, hard right, rolling into vertical,flipping into a dive. Maverick stays with him.

( Maverick turns to get Viper in the diamond. He hears a SIDEWINDER GROWL in his headset.

Viper jinks but Maverick stayswith him. Viper is in the diamond, and the TONE GOES CRAZY. But suddenly •••

They come out ofnowhere, flashing down toward Maverick-- a crossfireambush. Maverick's eyes are startled.

Maverick is stunned. He had been tricked, humiliated. There'sa little salt for the wound as Viper and Jester celebrate.

PAGE 69

Slaps his helmet like a dolt •••

Silence. Several pilots in various forms of undress. Maverick dresses. Goose sits with a hangdog expression on his face. Jester and Viper walk past them.

Viper smiles lightly and walks away. Jester stops.

Jester walks away. Goose is conflicted. He knows Jester may have a point. But he is loyal to Maverick.

Maverick walks off the other way. Goose watch.eshim.

(

PAGE 70

121 omitted

Maverick andGoose move through the t!'inal, Goose is excited.

Maverick smiles.

Maverick smiles.

They rush on.

ON CAROLE ANO BRADLEY-she runs towardsGoose. He grabs her ( and spins her around.Bradley is sleeping on her shoulder. He wakes up and staresdizzil.Yat Maverick. He grins. Maverick winks at him asGoose takesBrad up on his shoulders. Carole is a pretty country woman.Direct and earthy. She hugsMaverick and they all walk along aways.

Maverick stares at Goose-who breaks into a runWHOOPING. Maverick LAUGHS.

(

~

PAGE 7l

llZZl3.INT-BEACHBAR-NIGHT

:3D!!.MUSICROLLING- In civilian clothes.Goose is behind the ,CXJIIIIL=rserving beersand enchanting the fatlady bartender. 'Ma:'!l'l!rickandGooseARENOTORt1NK.Goose isjustbeing Goose. J:ltarl.ieand Maverick dance close.Ata table,Carole stares at ;:cosefor a beat-lost in love/thought.Charlie and :.Mavl!ricksitdown withher.

Maverick grimaces and leaves. CharlieLAUGHS.

Charlie LAUGHS. Maverick and Goose head this way.

ONMAVERICK-clowning with Goose. A very happy guy.

ON CHARLIE-she likes that.Guys arrive.

Charlie LAUGHS hard. Carolehugs her.

Goose pulls Carole up. She hugsMaverick and SMACKS hima kiss on the mouth.

( CAROLE

Oh boy, feel the heat.

Carole pulls Goose out the door by the belt. The fat lady waves. Maverick leans back and smiles.He closes his eyes. Charlie starts to LAUGH. He looks at her.

PAGE 73

l23a. SMASH CUT: MONTAGE-MUSIC ROLLING

The two of them on his bike. The coast highway. Bright lights and arms tightly wrapped around his waist. A scarf is torn away. Her hair flying in the wind. Her heart open.

l23b. ON HER DECK-ABOVE THE BEACH-They are embracing lovers under the moon.

l24. MONTAGE. PREFLIGHT ACTIVITY. DAY.

INTERCUT:

l25. EXT. CLOUD COVER. 20,000 FT. DAY.

l26. INT. MAVERICK'S COCKPIT. DAY.

l27. INT. ICE'S COCKPIT. DAY.

Four F-l4's fly in formation over the Pacific, searching for MiGs. They spot them, engage. The combatants fly scissor patterns, slashing past each other, angling for position.

We hear a BARRAGE of information exchanges between pilots and RIO'S. Maverick and Ice swoop close together oneach other's wing-- moving on each other, testing, they glance at each other and nod. The Challenge... the fight ison. Suddenly an F-5 rises up out of the clouds in from of them-- Ice has the advantage and rolls in on him.

The F-5 sees his pursuers.Goes intoa hard left.

PAGE 74

Ice strugg.les againstthe G's to bring his nose to bear. They go around into a Lufbery-- a tight circle, Ice has the advantage. He is closer to the F-S's tail than the F-5 is to his. But he can't close, can't line up the shot. He Ii' grunts and strains as the G force pushes him down.

in right now. He is edging us out Mav! "-~

Ice still isn't in a good position on the F-5.

Maverick is pulling a lot of G's, but can't target his weapons, he continues to turn in a hard circle, going round and round without gaining. Be can't bring his nose to bear.

Ice stays.

Maverick dives down between the two planes pulling 6.5 G's, exposing hisunderside to Ice. All Ice sees is belly. Obviously, in this attitude Maverick can't seehim.

127a. INT.MAVERICK'S PLANE

Another plane ZOOMSthrough Maverick's path.

(

Maverick sees him flash into his view. He has toslam the stick forward to avoid collision. He swings by real close. Too close.

They pass through Ice's turbulence. The blast distorts the airflow to Maverick's left engine.BOOMBOOMBOOM. The engine flames out. Full thrust on the right,engine swings the tail around in a yaw. Maverick slams the stick rightto correct but too late.

The plane couples one yaw to the next-- the tailswings around-- which becomesan ever increasing flat spin, like an out-of-control frisbee.

Maverick is pinned to the instrument panel by centrifugal force,desperately tries to reach back for the ejection lever-- but is falling shortby about a foot.

The plane is spinning ever faster, out of control. Re drops the gear. Still spins. Goose is closer to center of spin-- G forces are less. Re reaches behind him for the eject handle, starts the eject sequence.

INTERCUT:

PAGE 76

BOOM--A hurricane of wind and noise. I \ The canopyBLASTS away-- but is held spinning above the cockpit by the vortex of the sinking jet. Goose glances up at it.

Goose yanks the ejectionhandle. Things happen in a split second. Goose is fired up and out by the rocket under his seat. Almost instantlyhe impactsthe spinning canopy. A sickening CRUNCH. The canopy is knocked away. Maverick is slammed back in his seat asthe ejection seat straps wind up. He is BLASTED out of the plane just before it spinsin.

MOTION. DAY.

He's in shock ••• theloudTHUM.l?INGof his heart,labored breathing, a SCREAM that stays in hismind.

All instinct-he gropes for straps. He releases the pilot seat, it tumbles away. His chute streams,balloons open, snapping his body likea bullwhip. He drifts momentarily, ( then plunges in tothe sea. ·

His face, distorted in the water:wild eyes, disoriented, choking for air. He reaches out, finds nothing to grab. Suddenly, he is yanked hard to the side.

132, EXT. OCEAN SURFACE. TWILIGHT.

The parachute is caught by the wind, and dragged,pulling Maverick along beneath the surface. He is twisting in the water, turning over and over, trying desperately to slip out of the tangled straps. He finally hits the surface of the water and sucks air into his lungs. With the end of his strength, he hits the release snaps and breaks free from the parachute. It whips away like a kite in a typhoon.

The sea is choppy and rough. He struggles as his equipment drags him under. He twists, finds the inflatable raft attached to his harness. Maverick pulls the cord, and the raft hisses open. He pulls his body into the six-by-two foot raft and col.lapses,completely exhausted. The survival has been almost without thinking: an instinctual physical struggle,

PAGE 77

Maverick begins to focus on the situation. He stains the water with dye, then sees another parachute floating nearby. ( Paddling to the parachute, he reaches over the side and begins to pull FRANTICALLY on the heavy cords that are submerged in the water.

A great struggle. The weight is extremely heavy. Finally, he pulls something to the surface. Goose's body. Maverick releasesthe parachute and pulls Goose into the raft on top of him. He holds Goose in his arms. Goose's face. Goose is dead. Maverick's mind shuts down.

From highabove the ocean, we see the debris on the water. An oil slick,pieces of honeycomb titanium, and the small, helpless figuresin the raft.

Searchlights skim over the black ocean.

A brilliant light flashesas Maverick POPS A PENCIL FLARE. Helicopterblades flick powerfully. The lights of the choppers descend toward the wreckage area, scanning the debris, searching for life. The spotlights find Maverick and Goose in the raft.

The draft from the chopper churns the water. A FROGMAN drops from the chopper and hits with a heavy splash. He surfaces and swims to the raft as a rescue harness is lowered.

Maverick watches curiously as he starts to examine Goose. He hugsGoose closer and looks threatened.

He tries to pryGoose free, but Maverick has a death grip on the body.

Maverick glares at theman as hebobs inthe water.

Another longmoment, thenMaverick releases Goose. The frogman quickly strapsMaverick intothe harness.

PAGE 78

HIS POV.-- Be watches the lifeless body in the water as he is pulled up and away. Be shivers from the cold.

Extreme CLOSE on Maverick's face. He is emotionless. His eyes are flat and absolutely without expression.

OUTSIDE THE OPEN DOOR- Jester speaks quietly to Viper.

SOUND OF JESTER WALKING AWAY.

There is complete silence in the room.Then we hear the quiet, calm, probing voice of Viper.

Not one sign of emotion from Maverick. Not one tone of expression. We see Vipernow, and his face is strainedfrom a very long day.

Maverick looks at Viper, and his eyes are verydisturbed.

No reaction from Maverick. Be can't quite face up to that reality right now.

(

Maverick is watching Viper, but he doesn't have anything to say.

Charlie is bringing him back to the barracks. She stops in the parking lot. Turns off ignition.

l36a. INT. SPORTSCAR-NIGHT

The RADIO plays John Lennoni •stand BY Me•. They sit for a long moment. Mave~ick's eyes closed.

Maverick opens his eyes.

Maverick is silent.

(

r When I breathe out-I don.'tknow.

She holds his hand lightly.

She nods.

The door opens, and Maverick enters the dim room. He sets a cardboard box on the bed. It is very quiet.

Maverick gathers together Goose's few personal possessions. He fills the box with clothes, books, a clock, a radio, a walkman, and articles from the bathroom. He examines each closely, like an artifact ••as if he might find some message or meaning in them. He fumbles them into the box. He has the thousand-yard-stare in his eyes.

Maverick closes the box and carries it to the door. He takes one last glance around.

138, INT. BOQ ENTRANCE/RECEPTION AREA, NIGHT.

Carole stares at a silent TV. Looks lost. Maverick WALKS IN, finds her. An awkward silence while they both try to think of something to say. Maverick hands the box to Carol.

Maverick hugs her. She pulls back and eyes him directly.

Maverick walks away.

PAGE 81

ON BABY BOY BRAD- alone at the end of the room. His tiny arms out like wings- he plays silently- swooping, flying high above it all.

He sits staring right through us ••• thethousand yard stare. A strange white unreal light washes over him. The only color, the Navy and gold of the stripes on his shoulderboards. A low rumbling mumbling filters through the HISS fans. Snatches of whispered conversation ••• "disregard of,,,basic air-safety principles- too aggressive- incident- 29 July -within ~erformance parameters -disciplinary action -tact1cal doctrine -even reckless at times -only conjecture -unsupported -benefit of the doubt•, ••

VOICE COS) Lt. Mitchell!

Maverick's eyes slowly focus. The light attenuates. The surrounding image becomes denser. Things become real •

A BOARD OF INQUIRY, a COMMANDER and other NAVY OFFICERS seated behind tables at the front of the room. Maverick faces them, wearing dress whites. Viper is also present. The Commander looks at each of the Officers, They each nod, in turn, indicating readiness. The Commander turns to Maverick, and states for the record.

No response from Maverick. Viper studies his face.

Still no response from Maverick.

Maverick doesn't respond.

ON VIPER-tight.

Jester leans into frame.

SOUNDS OF VAGUE RADIO BABBLE OVER.

MOS Charlie is working alone. Perry Siebenthal comes in. Bands her a piece of paper. Be shakesher hand. She smiles and hugs him. Perry leaves. She looksdown at thepaper, her smile softening into thoughtfulness.

l4la. INT. COCKPIT. F-14 ON FLIGHT LINE. DAY.

Maverick sits in the cockpit staring at the controls while the ground crew preps the aircraft for flight. Ground crewman helps him strap in.

Maverick looks at the cockpit as if it's strange territory, suddenly foreign to him. Be grabs the stick like it's some peculiar talisman. Be turns and looks aft. Be seems surprised that it moves the control surfaces in the tails.

Maverick checks ten o'clock low. Re is disturbed. He tries to make the move, but he is a man with !12secret: he is afraid.

The bogey abruptly turns into him. Maverick hesitates. Then suddenly, he jerks the stick hard right and takes the F-14 away from the bogey at great speed. Sundown is startled.

143a. EXT. FLIGHT LINE. DAY.

Maverick walks away from plane. Sundown looks at him.

ON MAVERICK- he walks back.

He walks away.

•

ACROSS THE FLIGHT LINE

Jester turns to Viper, who waits near an F-5. Watches Maverick walking away from his plane.

(

Skipper. He just won't engage.

He walks off.

Maverick grabs his stuff out of thelocker, throwsthem in a duffel bag. Iceman is fixing his immaculate hair.ae stares at Maverick.A can of shoe polish dropsout of Maverick's J, duffel and rolls a coup.le of feet.Icesteps over to get it.-,.... He holds it in his hand and puts it carefully in Maverick's ( duffel.

PAGE 84

Maverick grabs the duffel, brushes past Jester and Wolfman and walks up the corridor. Jester and Wolfman watch him go. Wolfman goes to the phone.

Charlie hurries throughthe crowd, bumping past people, searching forMaverick in the huge terminal. She moves past bench afterbench, and her eyes flick in all directions. A quickglance at the souvenirshop, the coffee shop, then she heads for the bar.

Maverick is there, sitting alonein a booth with his duffel beside him,staring into a drink.

Charlie stops, breathes deeply,composes herself, then breezes over to the boothand sits across the table from him.

ee looks uncomfortable.The waitress comes up.

The waitress departs. Long pause.

(

(. "

PAGE 85 ,'<' CHARLIE (sighs> Yes I was. And I sure wasn't gonna LEAVE without seeing you.

She looks sceptical. A beat.

Long pause.

Charlie waits.

I; friends?

OK to be a mediocre pilot?

Maverick is levelled.

She tossesa handfull of one dollar bills on the table.

She swings away.Her wake sucks in the stares of every man in the place. Then they look over to Maverick, quick flicks of envy in their eyes. He stares them back and can't quite meet their eyes.

146 EXT, VIPER'SHOUSE. LATER. * ~ ~,

A nice suburban home.A weathervane creaks inthe breeze. Maverick walks up to the door.KNOCKS.

l46a INT. VIPER'S HOUSE. NIGHT

MRS. METCALF opens the door.Maverick nodsand ENTERS, TIM, his ten year old sonwatches warily as Maverick awkwardly follows Mrs. Metcalfdown the halland opens a study door.

l46b INT. VIPER'S STUDY-NIGHT

Viper is wearing a Walkman headset and working on his income tax. He looks up and motions Maverick to come in. Takes off headset. He is dressed in jeans and a cowboy shirt.

Maverick shakes his head. She leaves.

(

Maverick smiles. He walks around the room and looks at the photgraphs of airplanes and memorabilia.He stops at one picture.

ON PICTURE-TIGHT Viper and other men. one ofwhom is Maverick's father.

f

PAGE 88fa MAVERICK And you were there?

Or,,,You can quit. It's no disgrace, Lieutenant. That spin was hell. It would shake me up.

VIPER

( I didn't sai that. But I have a

responsibility to the other guys up there, not just you. They need to know you're all right ••• that theycan depend on you.

Maverick reaches into his pocket, comes out with the Navy Cross. He looks at it.

Technically, the board of inquiry absolved you. I'm not gonna stand here and blow sunshine up your ass, You and I know what really happened. You pushed it- but you've got to push it.

Now the question is, is there is~ value in it. Start with what you know. It is the FIRST THING I've ever seen that's really made you stop and question yourself.

(

PAGE 90

147,148,149 omitted fllJ>-

LOUDROCK AND ROLL. The post-graduation ceremonies are in fullswing •••they consist of informal ribbing, laughing, and a lot of talking with the hands. Every now and then, thename Goose comes up and a shadow passes across a face. For the most part, they press on, having a good time. Sundown shrugs at someone's question and looks around.

l?AGE91 SUNDOWN Don't know where he is •••

Ice stands proudly holding theTop Gun plaque, l?HOTOFLASH. Guys congratulate him •••Hollywoodlooks up as the door opens, Maverick is there. He looksuncomfortable, unsure. He sees Ice with the plaque. Sundownmoves over to him, brings him in. One by one, severalguys come over, shake his hand. Viper watcnes.

Maverick steps away from crowd, looksaround for Charlie. He thinks he sees her, but its not her.

ON l?ERRYSEIBENTHAL-He is standing alone.Maverick walks over to him. Shakes hishand. MOS they chat.

TIGHT ON MAVERICK-MOS Maverick asks about Charlie. l?erry shakes his head.Maverick nods.

The guys notice. The group's attention gradually swings onto them. They quiet down instinctively. Maverick stands alone.

Viper finally turns to them.

VIl?ER Gentlemen, you know how I hate to break up this party before it has a chance to get really out of hand ••• (more serious) ••• but there'sworkto do.

Jester quickly goes down the list of the teams, in pairs. Until Maverick who is clearly without a RIO.

PAGE 92

Jester begins handing out orders.

Viper sees Maverick standing alone.

Everyone inroom stops to listen.

ONMAVERICK-

ON MAVERICK-he smiles gratefully.

ON ICEMAN-he's not impressed.

WIDEN OUT. To include his helmet.He sits in hisTomcat on Ready 5 Alert. In the backseat,Merlin plays a computer game. Jet attack.

WIDE SHOT-KITTY HAWK-DAY

SUPER: KITTY HAWK OCT 16, 1985

(NOTE: RADIO BABBLE of real time UHF, should be played like music. There is a battle above this ship.We should hear it through his headset, It increases in intensity throughout until his take off.)

ON MAVERICK- his mind goes back to the briefing room.

STINGER CV.O. l •••Navy oceanographic ship ••• international waters •••fired upon •••unknown forces •••

(

PAGE 93

152,153 omitted

BEFORE. DAY.

In full flight' gear,sixteenteams of fighter pilots and RIO'S pay close attention to the Squadron CO, Stinger.

Stinger circles an area on the map.

He studies his copy of the same map, headings and vectors pencilled in.

STINGER CV .O. l This is •au.llseye•. A rescue operation is to begin within the hour. Your mission is to give air support to that rescue. There are MiGs in the area, and tensions are high. If you witness a hostile act you will return fire. We will be covering 360 degrees of the compass by section. Get ready for anything.

Stinger is speaking to individual pilots.

He turns to Maverick who stands nearby.

A fleeting moment's disappointment.

ON ICEMAN- he's not pleased.

ICE ~ Nothing personal Sir, but is that ~ the best backupyou've got?

Maverick hears it. Stinger waves Ice out firmly. =jttl

PAGE 94

INTERCUT:

Ice and Hollywood fly together at ten thousand feet.

Their eyes search the horizon, while Slider and Wolfman watch their instruments.

The two jets streak across the sky.

Suddenly, there are BLIPS on the radar scope.

TWO MiGs flying low to the deck.

THE MIGS SUDDENLY PULL VERTICAL AND STREAK STRAIGHT UP.

ICEAND HOLLYWOOD WATCH CAREFULLY.

THE FOUR MIGS

Join together in a box formation and begin to circle the area.

PAGE 95

Maverick on the Catapult on ready alert, listening to the HOTTER MESSAGE TRAFFIC. Be gets a LAUNCHORDER, turns to the CATAPULT OFFICER. The CATAPULTOFFICER salutes, Maverick salutes. The CATAPULT OFFICER drops to the deck. Maverick is slammed back as the F-14 is fired off thedeck and rockets into the sky.

INTERCUT:

The twoMiGs cross in a scissor pattern in their path ••.a provocation •••they join together againand fly level at ten thousand feet. One of the MiGs does a sudden canopy roll.

BOOM! A FLASH! Suddenly, out of nowhere, Hollywood's hit. WHAM! Just that fast, he's hit and goes down. Bis F-14 disappears into the clouds.

Iceputs his nose down and follows him.

Be comes out of the clouds at 15001, nothing but empty water below.

INTERCUT:

THE SKY -- MIGS AND TOMCATS CIRCLE.

PAGE 97

Maverick hesitates.

Maverick hesitates again. He sees the hornet's nestbelow: planes all over the sky.

Maverick draws a breath, then forceshimself to pull the stick over. The ,-14rolls inhard toward the battle. Suddenly, the cluster breaks apart. The MiGs break in every direction asMaverick BLASTS through theirformation. Something comes up through the clouds. A MiG BLASTS by. Another rolls in and locksonto them.

TheMiGs swarmtoward theTOMCATS, coming from every direction. CANNON FIRE erupts from one of the MiGs.

The F-l4's execute a left oblique turn in unison. They come down in a section attack with their cannons blazing. From Maverick's cockpit, everything looks choppy: MiGs slide past at incredible speed. Cannons BLAST, as the planes scramble for position.

Out-numbered four to two, Maverick and Ice fight defensively. Maverick has the angle on a MiG, when Fungus spots a missle launch.

Maverick relaeses a flare as he takes the F-14 into a hard

out of the area, missing the Tomcat and falling toward the sea.

Maverick jerks his stick right and streaks toward Ice. He cuts off one of the MiGs with CANNON FIRE, driving it down ( toward the deck. Ice goes into vertical and comes around to gain an angle on the other MiG. His RIO is in position to check Mav's rear.

?AGE98

Maverick turns to look and jerks a hard left. The MiG is on him, CANNON BLAZING. Ice Yo Yos inside and cuts the MiG off.

He fires a sidewinder. The MiG turns hard, the missle sails away.

Ice'sF-14 is suddenly caught in a HAIL OF CANNON FIRE as a MiG sweeps down from three o'clock. He breaks, dives. The jets streak acrossthe sky, low to the deck, skimming the surface.

Maverick's F-14 Rollaways in and intercepts the bogey on Ice's tail.

Ice turns right, theMiG bugsand jerks into vertical. Maverick swoops after him.

Maverick closes, jerking left, right,twisting and turning, staying on his tail.

BULLETS fly by Maverick's F-14 from theMiG on his six. He pulls a hard left, then takes the plane straight up. We hear instructions shouted by Fungus, but it is all obscured in the SOUNDS AND FURY OF THE BATTLE. Maverick peels over the top and comes down like a comet. A series of passes at the MiGs. As they come by, one of theMiGs pulls up.

They look up. A MiG 21 is coming down, belly to them, close to a mid-air collision.

He pushes down. The MiG ROARS BY. The whole airplane goes I I •soooMMMMnit's that close.

The shock, the air pressure SLAMS them as it goes by, missing by 4-5 feet. Maverick pulls back in, sees a MiG 21 below. It takes off, bugging out. Ice goes after him. The MiG maneuvers, jerking hard left, hard right, twisting up, down.

Ice is rightin his shadow. They come in hard and low over the sea. He has the MiG in the diamond.

The MiG starts turning.

The missile goes by the tail.

Then his tail comes off, the airplane goes over, a chute comes out. The MiG EXPLODES into a thousand small pieces. They roar by the MiG pilot hanging in his straps.

Rolling down on him, good SIDEWINDER TONE. The MiGs sense him, they break, one guy down low.

He squeezes the trigger.

INTERCUT:

PAGE lOO

The missle starts to go. The vapor trail comes off, the MiG 21 turns like he's been bounced off a rubber wall, comes around on the missle, beats it. The missle flies by him.

MiG comes back turning into him.

ae looks back. 30 millimeter tracers go by; they just kind of float. ae breaks, hits airbrakes, the trailing MiG dives through.

Suddenly another MiG appears, rocketing straight for him. They close at 900 knots--VABOOOMI--They pass nose to nose, canopy to canopy. Both planes pitch straight up, trying for ( the altitude advantage.

The F-14 outclimbs the MiG sitting on its tail, full thruster, it rockets straight up, away from the planet. Maverick has the advantage. Suddenly, his F-14 runs out of energy. Merlin is the first to call it.

The plane backs down on itself, backs into its own smoke as it flips over, falls away •••Hecatches it, just regains control, when ••• A ROAR. He looks up.

SECOND MIG coming down. Right on him. It fills the canopy! Instinctive-- A push to miss him, Maverick breaks fast down into him, a .1st ditchmaneuver, and the airplane DEPARTS .•• the roll rates and the pitch rates combine an4 it tumbles over the top; the airplane just goes end-over-end. They are being slammed and rattled all over the cockpits ••• bone-jarring, neck-snapping whips. SHRIEKS and SCREAMS from the airframe. Terrifyingly!

(

{ MAVERICK

Cstrangely calm) Don't worry, Merlin, I've got it.

Merlin is getting his teeth rattled. He's helpless, he has no controls, there's nothing he can do but hold on.

The plane's gyrations are rattling Merlin's helmet off the canopy.

It yaws and rolls, starts into a spin.

PAGE 102

They're in a progressive spiral, nose low. The altimeter unwinds, speed picks up. The G forces are forcing them away from the axis of spin, jamming Maverick against the instrument panel at the front of the cockpit.

Merlin, also, is jammed to his panel.

He is closer to the center of the spin and less strongly held. But, the only thing he can reach is the yellow and black loop: the ejection handle. He reaches for it.

Merlin's eyes are wide. The earth grows larger as it rises towards them. G forces flatten them. They've long since lost the MiG. Nobody but an idiot would try to follow them in this maneuver.

MAVERICK

( Okay.

The earth grows larger.

Merlin grabs the ejection handle with both hands.

The jet is standingon its nose, gaining speed, plunging towards theocean.

Then, just as suddenly, as he's about to pull •••Maverick catches it. The plane responds. They're out of the spin. E!egets control. Merlin sits there dumbly, hands on handle. Still not believing •••

INTERCOT:

l7l. INT. MAVERICK'S COCKPIT. DAY.

Maverick stops the tumble, pulls the nose up quickly and the F-l4 sweeps into level flight no more than a hundred feet above the deck. He comes up and looks right at Ice. Ice is down low. E!ecomes around, a MiG-2l all over him like a cheap suit. A flick, a whip, and Maverick in perfect position, rolls right in on the MiG. Merlin looks like he just saw Jesus.

E!elooks at the MiG target set-up in front of him in awe.

Maverick's acquired the target and is all business.

Merlin is still frazzled.

l?AGE104 MERLIN Because ••• if thatwas.•• Nexttime you fill me first.

Maverick breaks down, Ice zooms up, breaks in and takes the MiG the other way. Maverick Yo Yos in, comes right up behind the MiG, as the MiG starts acceleration.

Maverick rolls in on Ice and the MiG.

The MiG fires.

Ice breaks left,drops flares. The MiG's missile follows the flares. Maverick FIRES. Maverick's missile flies right up the tailpipe of theMiG, the canopy flies off, the pilot comes out of it,and then the MiG blows up, .WEFLY right through the fireball. VWARRRUOOMMMI

TheMiG rolls into the ground •••KABOOM!They swoopby the pilot, hanging in his straps •••Hewatches them, dumbly. Merlin waves.

PAGE 105

Maverick and Ice join up, light it, stand on their burners and blast straight for the sun.

MAVERICK'S P-14

Without warning, a triple roll, as the elation hits him.

Merlin nervously looks around at his circuit breakers.

(

He looks over at Ice.

(

Iceconsiders fora moment, then responds.

HAWK. DAY.

The REDNECK Johnson, the new Air Boss speaks to Maverick over the UHF. The Admiral, the XO and other officerswatch and listen.

Airboss Johnson looks at Admiral.

( BOTH of them.

PAGE 107

He glances over at Ice, who gives him the thumbs up.

( MAVERICK

BOSS, YOU BETTER CLEAR IT OUT, WE'RE FIVE MINUTES OUT AND WE'RE DOING IT!

178, INT. PRI-FLY BRIDGE. DAY.

Airboss looks at Admiral.The-Admiral looks out over the water and smiles.

The Air Boss is livid. He clenches the mike.

Just then the Admiral pipes up.

The Admiral looks at the others, tries to supress his own grin. He slides into his (borrowed) command chair, looks into the wind. On the back of the chair, a clue; his name and rank: RADM. Buford Clancy, "BOOMER"

The Air Boss burns, but has no choice.

Sailors line the deck and search the sky. They crane their necks from their battle stations, sweating into the sun, watching for the approach of F-l4's. Someone.sees it-- he points and SHOUTS. The F-14 appears, and every man stands and CHEERS.

(

PAGE 108

180, EXT. MAVERICK'S POV-- DAY.

WE COME SCREAMING IN, 5 FEET OVER THE WATER, throwing up rooster tails behind. WE SPLIT OFF and ZOOM along each side of the carrier, at 100 feet and ROLL IT.

It lifts the Air Boss right off his feet. The walls warp, dust sifts from the overhead. The whole tower just goes BOOM!

His words are drowned out by ICEMAN taking his flyby, VVAAAAABBOOOM!

182, EXT. PLIGHT DECK, DAY.

They break at 500 knots.Ice is first down over the ramp, waved in. The F-14 comes in a little rocky. It bounces hard but grabs the wire, then jerks to a sudden halt. The sailors CHEER ANO APPLAUD, throwing fists of victory into the air, straining to get a look at Ice as the crew directs his plane off to the side, Opening the canopy, Ice and Slider unstrap. Stinger and the others are there. Guys are climbing up, climbing all over the airplane. They're already painting a MiG on the side, and they're looking at Ice in awe,

183. EXT, KITTY HAWK. POV--MAVERICK--THROOGH THE WINOSHIELO--AS HE LANDS. DAY,

He catches the wire,the view slams down toward the deck as the place arrests,then comes up •••He releases the cockpit and can hear the ROAR OF THE CROWD •••

184, EXT, FLIGHT DECK. DAY.

He swings the nose around past Ice's. Ice's plane is covered incolored jerseys asthe ground crew pulls him out. Maverick's plane swings towards the PRI-FLY BRIDGE. Pilots in flightsuitspour from the deck hatch APPLAUDING •••

l?AGE109

He cuts his engines as the Ground Crew swarms.

As Maverick and Merlin climb down, Maverick is elated to see two familiar figures: Hollywood and Wolfman walk from their battle damaged TOMCAT on the forward elevator as it sinks out of sight be.low decks.

Ice is looking in Maverick's direction. His face is inscrutable. He pushes over to Maverick. They stare at each other for a moment, eye to eye even as they are buffeted by the crowd. Finally, Ice breaks•••a grin.

(

They embrace.

Now Ice LAUGHS. Nobody's ever gonnawin on this one. But Ice smiles at him •••• It'snow a running joke between them.

He and Slider snap to and proudly salute. Maverick hesitates, then returns it. As Ice and Slider snap it off, it turns into the pilot's salute, they give them the bird. I Maverick and Merlin laugh and return the compliment.

PAGE ll0

Maverick is alone. He is staring at a locker

TIGHT ON LOCKER- with Lt. Josh Bradshaw •GOOSE" written on tape. He reaches up and pulls it off slowly.

WIDER- Stinger comes in.

TIGHT-Maverick grins, turns away.

He looks out, at the dying sun shimmering over the sea. He takes Goose's name tape and stretches it out on the ship's railing. Then he starts out at one end and rolls it in a neat roll- throws it out to sea.

187. FADE IN -WEEKS LATER- SUNRISE

SILENCE- WE ARE FLOATING INTO AN APPROACH ABOVE MIRAMAR RUNWAY.

188. ON FLIGHTLINE-MIRAMAR

ZZZZOOOOOMM! The F-14 lands.

189. ON F-14- as it taxis into place.

ON PLANE- ENGINE WHINES DOWN. No one is around.

190. ON CANOPY- it slides back and Maverick"steps out. He crawls down to ground. Takes off helmet. Plane Captain runs up.

They walk around the plane and MOS inspect it.

A jeep speeds across the tarmac and pulls up on the other side of the plane. Maverick walks slowly under the wing for ( post flight inspection and over to jeep.

PAGE lll

A "TOP GUN INSTRUCTOR" cap is sitting on the jeep top.He puts it on.

Bends down, looks inside to see driver. No one there.

VOICE Taxi sailor?

He turns to see Charlie. He smiles at her. Looks at Plane Captain who comes around wing, is surprised to see Charlie.

He looks at her for an explanation.

Plane Captain looks at them, while trying to do his work. Maverick walks by her and throws his bag into the jeep. Char.lie watchesthe Plane Captain.

She turns to him.

She reaches out and kisses him hard for a very long time. Plane Captain stops and stares and scurries away.

TWO F-14s ZOOOM into take off in BG.

MUSIC UP.

CREDITS UP