Liberty Boat Night

FADE IN:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT

After a day of work ashore and a light dinner and drinks, DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL board the 2200 liberty boat with a dozen other sailors to return to Mother.

FADE TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT, LATER

Senior Chief announces a boat ops delay due to rough seas at Mother's anchorage. All but DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL disembark the liberty boat.

FADE TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT, STILL LATER

As curfew approaches, more Sailors and Marines arrive at Fleet Landing and head to the bar. DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL stay in the liberty boat.

CUT TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT, LATER

Senior Chief announces indefinite hold on boat ops. Some Sailors and Marines head back into town. DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL remain on liberty boat.

FADE TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT, EVEN LATER

Still no boat ops. DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL stretch out on liberty boat benches to catch some sleep.

CUT TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT, LATER.

Sudden rainstorm abruptly awakens DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL on board liberty boat. They get very wet. DOC goes to head.

FADE TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT, LATER

Rain stops. DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL stretch out again. Sleep.

CUT TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT, LATER

Rain starts again. They get wetter. DOC goes to head.

FADE TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - MIDNIGHT

Rain has stopped. Senior Chief announces suspension of boat ops until 0600. Sailors and Marines are free to go back into town to get hotel rooms. Muster again at 0600. DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL remain in liberty boat. Stretch out to sleep.

FADE TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - NIGHT, 0230

DOC, LOGGIE, and SEAL asleep on liberty boat benches. Awning above suddenly dumps a few gallons of water onto the deck. They get very wet. DOC goes to head.

FADE TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - DAWN

DOC and LOGGIE sit in liberty boat, heads in hands. SEAL nowhere to be seen. Other sailors board boat. Pilot starts engine.

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. AT SEA - DAWN

Liberty boat races through ever increasing swells, bouncing like a skipping rock. Driving rain peppers riders like pellets of hail. Cresting each swell the boat goes momentarily airborne then smashes into the next swell causing torrents of sea water to crash over the sides, drenching the occupants. Suddenly Mother comes into view. She is only 300 yards ahead, rapidly getting closer when...Pilot suddenly turns boat around and heads back to Fleet Landing. Just not safe to continue.

FADE TO:

EXT. PALAU FLEET LANDING - JUST AFTER DAWN

Liberty boat returns and ties up to pier. Twenty dripping sailors disembark, DOC and LOGGIE with them.

DOC

It wasn't even single malt scotch.

DOC goes to head.

FADE OUT