ThePenguin 9 Posted April 2, 2014 1 Forest reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matsi 35 Posted April 2, 2014 Once upon a twine there was a forest named twee...or a tree named fourrest.... it was on fire... along came a simulated goat that peed on the tree/forest to put the fire out. THE END! 1 Forest reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrono 372 Posted April 3, 2014 you have til sat 4/13. pictures are not stories. 1 Stence reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThePenguin 9 Posted April 3, 2014 you have til sat. pictures are not stories. but a picture is worth a thousand words :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rhododendron 994 Posted April 3, 2014 EXT. A SAVANNAH STREET - DAY (1981) A feather floats through the air. The falling feather. A city, Savannah, is revealed in the background. The feather floats down toward the city below. The feather drops down toward the street below, as people walk past and cars drive by, and nearly lands on a man's shoulder. He walks across the street, causing the feather to be whisked back on its journey. The feather floats above a stopped car. The car drives off right as the feather floats down toward the street. The feather floats under a passing car, then is sent flying back up in the air. A MAN sits on a bus bench. The feather floats above the ground and finally lands on the man's mudsoaked shoe. The man reached down and picks up the feather. His name is FOREST GUMP. He looks at the feather oddly, moves aside a box of chocolates from an old suitcase, then opens the case. Inside the old suitcase are an assortment of clothes, a pingpong paddle, toothpaste and other personal items. Forest pulls out a book titled "Curious George," then places the feather inside the book. Forest closes the suitcase. Something in his eyes reveals that Forest may not be all there. Forest looks right as the sound of an arriving bus is heard. A bus pulls up. Forest remains on the bus bench as the bus continues on. A BLACK WOMAN in a nurse's outfit steps up and sits down at the bus bench next to Forest. The nurse begins to read a magazine as Forest looks at her. FOREST Hello. My name's Forest Gump. He opens a box of chocolates and holds it out for the nurse. FOREST You want a chocolate? The nurse shakes her head, a bit apprehensive about this strange man next to her. FOREST I could eat about a million and a half of these. My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Forest eats a chocolate as he looks down at the nurse's shoes. FOREST Those must be comfortable shoes. I'll bet you could walk all day in shoes like that and not feel a thing. I wish I had shoes like that. BLACK WOMAN My feet hurt. FOREST Momma always says there's an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going. Where they've been. The black woman stares at Forest as he looks down at his own shoes. FOREST I've worn lots of shoes. I bet if I think about it real hard I could remember my first pair of shoes. Forest closes his eyes tightly. FOREST Momma said they'd take my anywhere. INT. COUNTRY DOCTOR'S OFFICE - GREENBOW, ALABAMA - DAY (1951) A little boy closes his eyes tightly. It is young Forest as he sits in a doctor's office. FOREST (V.O.) She said they was my magic shoes. Forest has been fitted with orthopedic shoes and metal leg braces. DOCTOR All right, Forest, you can open your eyes now. Let's take a little walk around. The doctor sets Forest down on its feet. Forest walks around stiffly. Forest's mother, MRS. GUMP, watches him as he clanks around the room awkwardly. DOCTOR How do those feel? His legs are strong, Mrs. Gump. As strong as I've ever seen. But his back is as crooked as a politician. Forest walks foreground past the doctor and Mrs. Gump. DOCTOR But we're gonna straighten him right up now, won't we, Forest? A loud thud is heard as, outside, Forest falls. MRS. GUMP Forest! EXT. GREENBOW, ALABAMA Mrs. Gump and young Forest walk across the street. Forest walks stiffly next to his mother. FOREST (V.O.) Now, when I was a baby, Momma named me after the great Civil War hero, General Nathan Bedford Forest... EXT. RURAL ALABAMA A black and white photo of General Nathan Bedford Forest. The photo turns into live action as the General dons a hooded sheet over his head. The General is in full Ku Klux Klan garb, including his horse. The General rides off, followed by a large group of Klan members dressed in full uniform. FOREST (V.O.) She said we was related to him in some way. And, what he did was, he started up this club called the Ku Klux Klan. They'd all dress up in their robes and their bedsheets and act like a bunch of ghosts or spooks or something. They'd even put bedsheets on their horses and ride around. And anyway, that's how I got my name. Forest Gump. EXT. GREENBOW Mrs. Gump and Forest walk across the street. FOREST (V.O.) Momma said that the Forest part was to remind me that sometimes we all do things that, well, just don't make no sense. Forest stops suddenly as his brace gets stuck. Forest's brace is caught in a gutter grate. Mrs. Gump bends down and tries to free Forest. Two old cronies sit in front of a barber shop and watch. MRS. GUMP Just wait, let me get it. Mrs. Gump struggles to pull the stuck brace from the grate. MRS. GUMP Let me get it. Wait, get it this way. Hold on. Forest pulls his foot out of the grate. MRS. GUMP All right. Mrs. Gump helps Forest up onto the sidewalk. She looks up and notices the two old man. MRS. GUMP Oooh. All right. What are you all staring at? Haven't you ever seen a little boy with braces on his legs before? Mrs. Gump and Forest walk along the sidewalk past the two old men. Mrs. Gump holds tightly onto Forest's hand. MRS. GUMP Don't ever let anybody tell you they're better than you, Forest. If God intended everybody to be the same, he'd have given us all braces on our legs. FOREST (V.O.) Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them. EXT. OAK ALLEY/THE GUMP BOARDING HOUSE Mrs. Gump and Forest walk along a dirt road. A row of mailboxes stands left. FOREST (V.O.) We lived about a quarter mile of Route 17, about a half mile from the town of Greenbow, Alabama. That's in the county of Greenbow. Our house had been in Momma's family since her grandpa's grandpa's grandpa had come across the ocean about a thousand years ago. Something like that. Mrs. Gump and Forest walk along the Gump Boarding House driveway. FOREST (V.O.) Since it was just me and Momma and we had all these empty rooms, Momma decided to let those rooms out. Mostly to people passing through. Like from, oh, Mobile, Montgomery, place like that. That's how me and Mommy got money. Mommy was a real smart lady. MRS. GUMP Remember what I told you, Forest. You're no different than anybody else is. Mrs. Gump heads Forest to the porch. She bends down to look Forest in the eye. MRS. GUMP Did you hear what I said, Forest? You're the same as everybody else. You are no different. INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL / PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY PRINCIPAL Your boy's... different, Mrs. Gump. Now, his I.Q. is seventy-five. MRS. GUMP Well, we're all different, Mr. Hancock. The principal sighs, then stands up. INT. HALLWAY Forest sits outside the principal's office and waits. FOREST (V.O.) She wanted me to have the finest education, so she took me to the Greenbow County Central School. I met the principal and all. The principal stands in front of Mrs. Gump. Forest, sitting left, listens. PRINCIPAL I want to show you something, Mrs. Gump. Now, this is normal. The principal holds up a chart with a designations according to I.Q. and points to the center of the graph, labeled "Normal." A red line below the normal area is labeled "State Acceptance." The principal points to the section below the acceptance line labeled "Below." PRINCIPAL Forest is right here. The state requires a minimum I.Q. of eighty to attend public school, Mrs. Gump. He's gonna have to go to a special school. Now, he'll be just fine. MRS. GUMP What does normal mean, anyway? He might be a bit on the slow side, but my boy Forest is going to get the same opportunities as everyone else. He's not going to some special school to learn to how to re-tread tires. We're talking about five little points here. There must be something can be done. INT. HALLWAY Forest sits outside the principal's office. PRINCIPAL We're a progressive school system. We don't want to see anybody left behind. INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE PRINCIPAL Is there a Mr. Gump, Mrs. Gump? MRS. GUMP He's on vacation. EXT. GUMP BOARDING HOUSE - NIGHT Forest sits on a swing outside the house. Loud organic male grunts are heard coming from inside the house. Forest sits on the swing as the grunts continue. The principal steps out of the Gump House and wipes the sweat from his face. Forest is sitting on the porch. PRINCIPAL Well, your momma sure does care about your schooling, son. Mm-mm-mm. The principal wipes the sweat from his neck, then looks back at Forest. PRINCIPAL You don't say much, do you? Forest grunts, imitating him. The principal, embarrassed, turns and walks away. INT. GUMP BOARDING HOUSE/FOREST'S BEDROOM Mrs. Gump reads from the book "Curious George" as Forest sits on the bed and listens. MRS. GUMP Finally, he had to try it. It looked easy, but, oh, what happened. First there... FOREST Momma, what's vacation mean? MRS. GUMP Vacation? FOREST Where Daddy went? MRS. GUMP Vacation's when you go somewhere, and you don't ever come back. Forest lies down on his bed and looks up. FOREST (V.O.) Anyway, I guess you could say me and Momma was on our own. EXT. GUMP BOARDING HOUSE - DAY A cab driver closes the trunk of the car as two women walk toward the house. A milkman steps down from the porch. FOREST (V.O.) But we didn't mind. Our house was never empty. There was always folks comin' and goin'. MRS. GUMP (V.O.) Suppa. INT. GUMP BOARDING HOUSE Mrs. Gump steps forward and speaks to all the boarders. MRS. GUMP It's suppa, everyone. Forest... A MAN WITH A CANE steps left across the hall. MAN WITH CANE My, my. That sure looks special. Mrs. Gump looks into a sitting room and informs the boarders about dinner. MRS. GUMP Gentlemen, would you care to join us for supper? Hurry up and get it before the flies do. I prefer you don't smoke that cigar so close to mealtime. FOREST (V.O.) Sometimes we had so many people stayin' with us that every room was filled with travelers. You know, folks livin' out of their suitcases, and hat cases, and sample cases. MRS. GUMP Well, you go ahead and start. I can't find Forest. Mrs. Gump walks up the stairs. MRS. GUMP Forest... Forest... FOREST (V.O.) One time a young man was staying with us, and he had him a guitar case. Mrs. Gump looks into Forest's room. She hears singing coming from another room and walks over to a closed door. Mrs. Gump opens the door, revealing a young man with long sideburns as he plays the guitar and sings. Forest holds onto a broom and dances oddly. The young man is ELVIS PRESLEY. ELVIS PRESLEY (sings) "Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine." Forest's legs rock back and forth to the guitar. MRS. GUMP Forest! I told you not to bother this nice young man. ELVIS Oh, no, that's all right, ma'am. I was just showin' him a thing or two on the guitar here. MRS. GUMP All right, but your supper's ready if y'all want to eat. ELVIS Yeah, that sounds good. Thank you, ma'am. Mrs. Gump leaves and closes the door. Elvis sits back down. Forest stands left, and looks himself in a mirror. ELVIS Say, man, show me that crazy little walk you just did there. Slow it down some. Forest begins to dance again as Elvis plays the guitar and sings. ELVIS (sings) "You ain't nothin' but a hound, hound dog..." FOREST (V.O.) I liked that guitar. Forest dances as he watches himself in the mirror. FOREST (V.O.) It sounded good. ELVIS (sings) "...cryin' all the time" Forest rocks up and down on his braced legs, then begins to step. ELVIS (sings) "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog..." FOREST (V.O.) I started moving around to the music, swinging my hips. This one night me and Momma... EXT. GREENBOW - NIGHT Mrs. Gump and Forest walk along a sidewalk. A television inside a store window reveals Elvis Presley as he performs "Houng Dog" on a stage. FOREST (V.O.) ...was out shoppin', and we walked right by Benson's Furniture and Appliance store, and guess what. The television reveals Elvis as he thrusts his hips and sings. ELVIS (sings) You ain't nothin' but a hound dog... Mrs. Gump and Forest watch the television. Elvis dances around in the same manner Forest did. A woman in the audience screaming and applauding. ELVIS (sings) You ain't nothin' but a hound dog... MRS. GUMP This is not children's eyes. Mrs. Gump walks away, pulling Forest with her. Forest stops and takes one last look. Elvis continues to perform over the television. ELVIS (sings) "Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine." FOREST (V.O.) Some years later, that handsome young man who they called "The King," well, he sung too many songs, had himself a heart attack or something. EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY Forest is still sitting on the bus bench. The black nurse looks at him. FOREST Must be hard being a king. You know, it's funny how you remember some things, but some things you can't. EXT. COUNTRY ROAD/ALABAMA - MORNING (1954) Mrs. Gump and Forest wait for the school bus. The bus pulls up as Mrs. Gump prepares Forest for his first day of school. MRS. GUMP You do your very best now, Forest. FOREST I sure will, Momma. FOREST (V.O.) I remember the bus ride on the first day of school very well. The bus driver opens the door and looks down. Forest walks to the steps of the bus and looks at the bus driver. She is smoking a cigarette. BUS DRIVER Are you comin' along? FOREST Momma said not to be taking rides from strangers. BUS DRIVER This is the bus to school. FOREST I'm Forest Gump. BUS DRIVER I'm Dorothy Harris. FOREST Well, now we ain't strangers anymore. The bus driver smiles as Forest steps up into the bus. INT. BUS Forest steps up onto the bus. Mrs. Gump waves to Forest as the bus drives away. Forest begins to walk down the aisle. TWO YOUNG BOYS look up from the seat. BOY #1 This seat's taken. BOY #2 It's taken! Forest looks around. A larger girl slides over so Forest can't sit next to her. She shakes her head. Forest looks to the other side where a boy sits alone on a larger seat. They boy glares up at Forest. BOY #3 You can't sit here. FOREST (V.O.) You know, it's funny what a young man recollects. 'Cause I don't remember being born. EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY Forest continues talking as he sits on the bus bench. FOREST (V.O.) I, I... don't recall what I got for my first Christmas and I don't know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But, I do remember the first time I heard the sweetiest voice... INT. BUS - MORNING (1954) Young Forest is still standing in the aisle on the bus. FOREST (V.O.) ...in the wide world. GIRL You can sit here if you want. Forest looks back at JENNY CURRAN, a young girl about Forest's age. FOREST (V.O.) I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life. She was like an angel. JENNY Well, are you gonna sit down, or aren't ya? Forest sits down next to Jenny. JENNY What's wrong with your legs? FOREST Um, nothing at all, thank you. My legs are just fine and dandy. FOREST (V.O.) I just sat next to her on that bus and had conversation all the way to school. JENNY Then why do you have those shoes on? FOREST My momma said my back's crooked like a question mark. These are going to make me as straight as an arrow. They're my magic shoes. FOREST (V.O.) And next to Momma, no one ever talked to me or asked me questions. JENNY Are you stupid or something. FOREST Mommy says stupid is as stupid does. Jenny puts her hand out toward Forest. Forest reaches over and shakes her hand. JENNY I'm Jenny. FOREST I'm Forest Gump. Forest Gump. FOREST (V.O.) From that day on, we was always together. Jenny and me was like peas and carrots. EXT. OAK TREE - DAY Young Jenny and Forest run toward a large oak tree. FOREST (V.O.) She taught me how to climb... Jenny sits on a large branch and calls down to Forest. JENNY Come on, Forest, you can do it. Forest dangles from the branch. FOREST (V.O.) ...I showed her how to dangle. Jenny and Forest sit on a tree branch and read. FOREST "...a good little monkey and..." FOREST (V.O.) She helped me to learn how to read. Forest hangs upside down from a branch and swings back and forth. Forest's braces are wedged in the tree. FOREST (V.O.) And I showed her to swing. EXT. OAK TREE - NIGHT The silhouete of the oak tree, Jenny and Forest as they sit on a branch. FOREST (V.O.) Sometimes we'd just sit out and wait for the stars. FOREST Momma's gonna worry about me. Jenny puts her hand on Forest's hand. JENNY Just stay a little longer. FOREST (V.O.) For some reason, Jenny didn't never want to go home. FOREST Okay, Jenny. I'll stay. FOREST (V.O.) She was my most special friend. INT. SAVANNAH/BUS STOP - DAY Forest nods as he remembers. FOREST My only friend. Forest continues talking to the black woman. She doesn't seem to be listening as she reads her magazine. She looks up from her magazine. FOREST Now, my Momma always told me that miracles happen every day. Some people don't think so, but they do. EXT. OAK ALLEY - ANOTHER DAY (1954) Jenny and Forest walk. A dirt clod hits Forest in the back of the head. Jenny looks as Forest rubs his head. THREE YOUNG BOYS get off their bikes and pick up more rocks. BOY #1 Hey... dummy! Forest is hit in the eye with another dirt clod. Forest falls backward onto the ground as the boys glare at him. BOY #2 Are you retarded, or just plain stupid? BOY #3 Look, I'm Forest Gump. Jenny helps Forest back up. Boy #1 and Boy #2 throw more dirt clods at Forest. JENNY Just run away, Forest. Another dirt clod hits Forest in the arm. JENNY Run, Forest! Forest tries to run along the road, but his braces makes it impossible. He hobbles along as Jenny yells after him. JENNY Run away! Hurry! Boy #1 and Boy #2 turn back toward the bikes. BOY #2 Get the bikes! BOY #3 Hurry up! The boys pick up their bikes and ride after Forest. BOY #3 Let's get him! Come on! BOY #2 Look out, dummy, here we come! The boys ride after Forest. Jenny stands and watches. BOY #2 We're gonna get you! JENNY Run, Forest! Run! Forest hobbles along the dirt road. JENNY Run, Forest! Forest looks over his shoulder. The three boys race on their bikes. BOY #1 Come back here, you! Forest begins to run faster with his braces on. Forest continues running as the boys chase him. Blood drips down from a cut on his head. The boys on the bikes are gaining on Forest. Forest hobbles along. He begins to gain speed. JENNY Run, Forest! Run! SLOW MOTION -- Forest runs from the chasing room. He looks over his shoulder in fear. The boys on the bikes peddle faster as they gain on Forest, running. Forest tries to run even faster to get away. Suddenly his braces shatter, sending steel and plastic flying into the air. Forest runs and look down at his legs in surprise. Forest continues to run faster as the metal braces and straps fly off his legs. Forest runs free of his braces and begins to pick up speed. The chasing boys ride over the remains of Forest's braces. FOREST (V.O.) Now, you wouldn't believe it if I told you. EXT. SAVANNAH/ BUS BENCH - DAY FOREST But I can run like the wind blows. The black woman continues to read her magazine. Forest smiles as he remembers. FOREST From that day on, if I was going somewhere, I was running! EXT. OAK ALLEY - DAY (1954) Forest sprints away from the boys. The boys stop the chase and watch in disbelief. Forest is already at the far end of the road, clear of the chasing boys. BOY #2 He's gettin' away! Stop him! Boy #1 throws his bike down in frustration. Forest runs across a field. EXT. COUNTRY ROAD Forest runs past a chain gang in their prison uniforms. They are cutting at the weeds on the side of the road. EXT. GREENBOW Forest runs across the street. THE TWO OLD MEN sit in front of the barber shop. OLD CRONY That boy sure is a running fool. EXT. JENNY'S HOUSE Forest runs down a driveway toward Jenny's small house. FOREST (V.O.) Now remember how I told you that Jenny never seemed to want to go home? Well, she lived in a house that was as old as Alabama. Her Momma had gone up to heaven when she was five and her daddy was some kind of a farmer. Forest knocks on Jenny's door. FOREST Jenny? Jenny? Forest look around the field at the left. He notices Jenny and runs toward her. FOREST (V.O.) He was a very lovin' man. He was always kissing and touchin' her and her sisters. And then this one time, Jenny wasn't on the bus to go to school. Forest runs to Jenny. FOREST Jenny, why didn't you come to school today? JENNY Hsh! Daddy's takin' a nap. Jenny grabs Forest's hand and runs into the field. Jenny's DAD drunk, steps out onto the porch and shouts. JENNY'S DAD Jenny! JENNY Come on! JENNY'S DAD Jenny, where'd you run to? You'd better come back here, girl! Jenny's dad steps out toward the field. Jenny leads Forest into the thick tobacco field. Jenny's dad runs through the field searching for Jenny with a liquor bottle in his hand. JENNY'S DAD Where you at? Jenny and Forest run into a corn field as Jenny's dad tries to chase her. JENNY'S DAD Jenny! Jenny! Where you at? Jenny! Jenny drops to her knees and pulls Forest down with her. JENNY Pray with me, Forest. Pray with me. JENNY'S DAD Jenny! JENNY Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far, far away from here. Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far, far away from here. FOREST (V.O.) Momma always said that God is mysterious. JENNY'S DAD Jenny! Get back here! FOREST (V.O.) He didn't turn Jenny into a bird that day. Instead... EXT. TRAILER PARK/ALABAMA - DAY (1955) A police officer escorts Jenny to her grandmother's trailer. Jenny's grandmother meets Jenny outside and leads her toward the trailer. FOREST (V.O.) ...he had the police say Jenny didn't have to stay in that house no more. She went to live with her grandma just over on Creekmore Avenue, which made me happy 'cause she was so close. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT (1955) Jenny climbs over a second-floor railing and enters the house. FOREST (V.O.) Some nights, Jenny'd sneak out and come over to my house, just 'cause she said she was scared. Scared of what, I don't know... INT. GUMP HOUSE/FOREST'S BEDROOM Jenny lies in bed next to young Forest. She hugs him. FOREST (V.O.) ...but I think it was her grandma's dog. He was a mean dog. Anyway, Jenny and me was best friends... EXT. GREENBOW/OAK ALLEY - DAY (1961) Forest and Jenny are teenagers now. They walk along an oaklined road. FOREST (V.O.) ...all the way to high school. Suddenly Forest is hit in the back with a rock. Forest and Jenny turn around. OLDER BOY #1 Hey, stupid! JENNY Quit it! A teenage boy throws another rock as a pickup truck pulls up behind him. Jenny turns and looks at Forest. JENNY Run, Forest, run! OLDER BOY #1 Hey. Did you hear me, stupid? JENNY Run, Forest! Forest drops his books and runs down the road. The teenage boy jumps into the back of the pickup truck with another boy as the truck speeds after Forest. Jenny steps left and gets out of the way. OLDER BOY #2 Come on, he's getting away! Move it! JENNY Run, Forest! Run! OLDER BOY #1 You better be runnin', stupid. Forest runs along the road. The truck speeds after him. OLDER BOY #2 Come on, dummy! OLDER BOY #1 Haul ass, dummy! Older Boy throws rocks at Forest. OLDER BOY #1 Yeah, you better be runnin'! INT. TRUCK BOY Ya-hoo! EXT. OAK ALLEY The boys in the back of the truck throw rocks at Forest as they drive up to him. OLDER BOY #1 Move it, jack rabbit! The truck follows right on Forest's heels. A rebel flag license plate adorns the truck's grill. OLDER BOY #1 Come on! Forest runs along the road as the truck chases him. The boys in the back of the truck pound on the roof as the truck turns right, after Forest. The truck drives into a field. Forest runs toward a fence. BOY Run! Faster! Yeah! Go! Go! Come on, Forest! Yeah! JENNY Run, Forest! Forest leaps over a five-foot fence as the boys try to catch him. EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY (1981) Forest looks left as he continues telling his life story. FOREST Now, it used to be, I ran to get where I was goin'. I never thought it would take me anywhere. EXT. HIGH SCHOOL/ROAD - DAY (1961) Forest runs along the road in front of the high school. The truck continues to chase him as the boys pound on the roof. OLDER BOY Come on. Whoo-hoo! The truck speeds past Forest as he turns from the road and runs onto the high school football field. Forest runs across the field during a football scrimmage. In the stands watching the scrimmage is the legendary University of Alabama football coach BEAR BRYANT, wearing his trademark plaid hat. A group of assistant coaches sit around him, as well as the high school football coach. The quarterback throws the ball into the air. Forest runs past the quarterback. The receiver catches the ball. Forest runs past the receiver as an opposing player tackles the stunned receiver. The football coach stands, followed by the assistant coaches. FOOTBALL COACH Who in the hell is that? HIGH SCHOOL COACH That there is Forest Gump. Coach. Just a local idiot. Forest runs under the field goal post and through the end zone. FOREST (V.O.) And can you believe it? I got to go to college, too. EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA STADIUM - DAY (1962) The crowd roars with excitement as a football is kicked off. The football players run around on the field. The crowd of cheering fans create a huge sign that reads: "GO." Forest is in a University of Alabama football uniform. He looks up into the cheering crowd as his teammate fields the kickoff. The teammate runs over to Forest and hands him the ball. FOOTBALL COACH Okay! Run! The football coach, the assistants, and Alabama players cheer for Forest. FOOTBALL COACH Run, you stupid son-of-a-bitch! Run! Forest runs across the field. He speeds past the defending players. Forest runs past the opposite players. The crowd cheers wildly, holding up cards, making a large sign that reads: "Go." They turn the cards over, creating the word: "ALABAMA." The football coach runs along the sidelines as he yells. FOOTBALL COACH You stupid son-of-a-bitch! Run! Go! Run! Forest cuts and runs toward the sidelines. Two opposing players collide. The football coach, the assistants and the players all motion for Forest to run toward the end zone. FOOTBALL COACH Run! Turn! Go! Forest turns up the sidelines and runs toward the end zone. Some opposing players fall down. Forest runs along the sidelines. The opposing players try to catch him. Forest runs into the end zone as an opposing player dives at his feet. The referee holds up his arm, signaling a touch down. The crowd cheers wildly. Forest continues to run, smashing through the band members, then all the way toward the team tunnel. The football coach looks at an assistant coach. FOOTBALL COACH He must be the stupidest son-of-a- bitch alive. But he sure is fast! FOREST (V.O.) Now, maybe it was just me but college was very confusing times. INT. GREENBOW/BARBER SHOT - BLACK & WHITE TELEVISION (JUNE 11, 1963) An anchorman named CHET HUNTLEY appears over the television. CHET HUNTLEY (on TV) Federal troops enforcing a court order integrated the University of Alabama today. EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA - DAY Forest walks through a crowd of people. CHET HUNTLEY Governor George Wallace had carried out his symbolic threat to stand in the schoolhouse door. GOVERNOR WALLACE We hereby denounce and forbid this illegal and unwarranted action by the central government. INT. GREENBOW/BARBER SHOP A black & white television reveals George Wallace as he stands in the doorway of the schoolhouse. KATZENBACH (on TV) Governor Wallace, I take it from that, uh... EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Forest steps over to a young man as the crowd looks at the demonstration. KATZENBACH ...statement that you are going to stand in that door, and that you are not going to carry out the orders of this court, and that you are going to resist us from doing so. I would ask you once again to responsibility step aside and if you do not, I'm going to assure you... FOREST Earl, what's going on? EARL Coons are tryin' to get into school. FOREST Coons? When raccoons try to get on our back porch, Momma just chase 'em off with a broom. EARL Not raccoons, you idiot, niggas. And they want to go to school with us. FOREST With us? They do? Forest walks toward the schoolhouse. INT. COACHES' OFFICE A football coach looks at a black and white television as a newsman outside the schoolhouse speaks to the camera. NEWSMAN (on TV) ...block the doorway, President Kennedy ordered the Secretary of Defense then to use the military force. BLACK AND WHITE FOOTAGE The footage cuts to Governor Wallace as he speaks to General Graham. NEWSMAN Here by videotape is the encounter by General Graham, Commander of the National Guard, and Governor Wallace. Forest stands next to George Wallace and listens. GOVERNOR WALLACE We must have no violence today, or any other day, because these National Guardsmen are here today as Federal Soldiers for Alabamans. And they live within our borders and they are all our brothers. We are winning in this fight because we are awakening the American people to the dangers that we have spoken about so many times, just so evident today, the trend toward military dictatorship in this country. EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Some of the Alabama policeman and citizens clap their hands as the National Guardsmen stand at attention with their weapons in front of them. Forest walks through the crowd. Two black students were being led toward the schoolhouse. NEWSMAN And so at day's end the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa had been desegregated and students Jimmy Hood and Vivian Malone had been signed up for summer classes. The young black girl drops one of her books. Forest notices and steps past the policeman toward the book on the ground. Forest steps out from the crowd and picks up the book. He brings it up to the girl. FOREST Ma'am, you dropped your book. Ma'am. INT. COACHES' OFFICE - NIGHT (1963) A coach looks at the television. The television reveals Forest as he stands at the schoolhouse door. He looks around, then waves. CHET HUNTLEY (on TV) Governor Wallace did what he promised to do. By being on the Tuscaloosa campus, he kept the mob from gathering and prevented violence. An assistant coach looks at the television, then at the other coaches. ASSISTANT COACH Say, wasn't that Gump? The football coach and two assistant coaches look. Forest dries himself off with a towel as he steps from the showers. CHET HUNTLEY (on TV) NBC News will present a special program on the Alabama integration story at 7:30 p.m. tonight... ASSISTANT COACH Naw, that couldn't be. FOOTBALL COACH It sure as hell was. CHET HUNTLEY ...standard Eastern Daylight Time. Now a word from Anacin. Forest steps up to the coaches' area and grabs a clean towel. The coaches turn and stare at Forest. Forest gives them one of his silly waves, then walks away. COLOR FOOTAGE - Governor Wallace waves to the crowd as he stands behind a podium with his wife. FOREST (V.O.) A few years later, that angry little man at the schoolhouse door thought it would be a good idea, and ran for President. COLOR FOOTAGE - Governor Wallace mingles in a crowd. Gunshots are fired, wounding him. Some men wrestle the shooter. Wallace lies wounded on the ground. FOREST (V.O.) But, somebody thought that it wasn't. EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY (1981) Forest sits on the bench as the black woman looks at him. A WHITE WOMAN with a bay sits left. FOREST But he didn't die. A bus pulls up to the bus stop. The BLACK WOMAN looks down at her watch. BLACK WOMAN My bus is here. FOREST Is it the number 9? BLACK WOMAN No, it's the number 4. The Black Woman gets up and steps over to the bus. FOREST It was nice talkin' to you. The white woman sits closer to Forest. WHITE WOMAN I remember when that happened, when Wallace got shot. I was in college. FOREST Did you go to a girls' college, or to a girls' and boys' together college? WHITE WOMAN It was co-ed. FOREST 'Cause Jenny went to a college I couldn't go to. It was a college just for girls. EXT, GIRLS' COLLEGE/JENNY'S DORM - NIGHT (1963) Forest sits outside Jenny's dorm in the rain. FOREST (V.O.) But, I'd go and visit her every chance I got. A car pulls up. A song is heard from the radio. Forest, holding a box of chocolates, looks at the car. The two people inside the car begins to kiss and embrace each other. Jenny is inside the car with a boy. She leans back against the passenger side door as they struggle to get comfortable. JENNY Ouch! That hurts. Forest gets up and runs toward the car. He tries to look in the window as he steps over to the driver's side door. He opens the door and begins to punch the boy inside. Jenny jump out of the car and runs over to Forest. JENNY Forest! Forest! Forest, stop it! Stop it! BILLY Jesus! JENNY What are you doing? FOREST He was hurtin' you. Jenny's date, named BILLY, gets out of the car angrily. BILLY What the hell is going on here? JENNY No, he's not! BILLY Who is that? Who is that? JENNY Get over there! Jenny turns and looks at Billy. He shoves Jenny's hands away from him. JENNY Billy, I'm sorry. BILLY What in the hell, git, would you git away from me! JENNY Don't... Wait a second! BILLY Git, just git away from me! JENNY Don't go! Billy, wait a second! Billy gets back into the car. JENNY He doesn't know any better! Billy pulls away as Jenny steps toward Forest. JENNY Forest, why'd you do that? Forest holds out the box of chocolates. FOREST I brought you some chocolates. I'm sorry. I'll go back to my college now. JENNY Forest, look at you! Come on. Come on. Jenny grabs Forest hand and leads him toward the dorm. INT. JENNY'S DORM/HALLWAY Jenny and Forest sneak to Jenny's door. FOREST Is this your room? JENNY Shh! Jenny unlocks the door and they step inside. INT. JENNY'S DORM ROOM Jenny pulls a robe off of her sleeping roommate's bed. Jenny hands the robe to Forest, sitting on Jenny's bed. JENNY Do you ever dream, Forest, about who you're gonna be? FOREST Who I'm gonna be? JENNY Yeah. FOREST Aren't I going to be me? JENNY Well, you'll always be you, just another kind of you. You know? I want to be famous. Jenny picks up a towel, then walks back toward Forest. Jenny dries the water from her hair. JENNY I want to be a singer like Joan Baez. I just want to be an empty stage with my guitar, my voice... just me. Jenny takes off her slip and sits on the bed next to him. She is only wearing her bra and panties. Forest looks at Jenny like he's never seen a woman in her underwear before. JENNY And I want to reach people on a personal level. I want to be able to say things, just one-to-one. Forest looks down at Jenny's breasts. Jenny realizes that he is looking at her. JENNY Have you ever been with a girl, Forest? FOREST I sit next to them in my home economics class all the time. DJ (over radio) You're listening to WHHY in Birmingham, the clear A.M. voice of Northern Alabama. I'm Joel Dorn... Forest looks at Jenny as she removes her bra. Forest looks away, a bit shamed. Jenny takes his hand and guides it up to her breast. DJ (over radio) ...coming to you on a night that is anything but clear. The weatherman says that rain's gonna fall all night long so stay with us, get warm, get cozy, get under the covers to the cool sounds of WHHY. Forest looks over at Jenny's breasts, the shudder as he has an orgasm. FOREST Ohh... Oh... I'm sorry. Sorry. JENNY It's okay. DJ (over radio) ...444-6789, with ya till sunrise, playing the music you want to hear when you want to hear it. If you have a request or dedication, give us a call. We guarantee you'll hear your requests within one hour. Forest breathes heavily. Jenny puts her bra back on. JENNY It's all right. Jenny leans over and puts her head on Forest's shoulder. DJ (over radio) Candy is on the line tonight. Candy's answering the phones, give Candy your request, your dedication, and ask her why she won't go out with me, would you? Here's more music. JENNY It's okay. FOREST Oh, I'm dizzy. A song is coming over the radio. Jenny hugs Forest. JENNY I bet that never happened in home ec. FOREST No. Jenny laughs and kisses Forest on the cheek. Forest and Jenny hug on the bed as Jenny's roommate pretends to be asleep, but is listening, horrified, with her eyes open. FOREST I think I ruined your roommate's bathrobe. JENNY I don't care. I don't like her, anyway. EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA/FOOTBALL STADIUM - DAY (1963) Forest runs across the field as the defending team chases him. The crowd yells for Forest. They flip a sign that reads: "Go Forest." CROWD Run! Run! Run! Forest runs along the field. The crowd cheers. CROWD Run! Run! Run! Forest runs into the end zone. The band members rush toward Forest with their hands up, signaling him to stop. The crowd flips over cards, creating a sign that reads "STOP." CROWD Stop! Forest stops in the end zone as he hears the crowd yells. The band motions for Forest to stop and stay in the end zone. A group of defending players fall over each other in the end zone. Forest looks as the crowd cheers wildly. FOREST (V.O.) College ran by real fast 'cause I played so much football. BLACK AND WHITE PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL - DAY (1963) The White House with the words "The eyes and ears of the world Paramount News" superimposed. FOREST (V.O.) They even put me on a thing called the All-America Team where you get to meet the President of the United States. BLACK AND WHITE NEWSREEL PRESIDENT KENNEDY holds an autographed football as the All- American Team stands behind him. Forest is among the players in suits. ANNOUNCER (over newsreel) President Kennedy met with the Collegiate All-American Football Team at the Oval Office today. INT. WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION AREA - DAY (1963) The All-American players mingle around the food table. Forest steps up to the table. A large spread of food and soda is on the table. FOREST (V.O.) Now, the real good thing about meeting the President of the United States is the food. Forest takes a bottle of Dr. Pepper from the buffet table. Numerous bottle of Dr. Pepper are displayed on the table. A servant opens the bottle for him. FOREST (V.O.) They put you in this little room with just about anything you'd want to eat or drink. And since number one, I wasn't hungry, but thirsty... Forest begins to guzzle the Dr. Pepper. FOREST (V.O.) ...and number two, they was free, I musta drank me about fifteen Dr. Peppers. Forest sets down an empty Dr. Pepper bottle next to a large number of other empty bottles. Forest holds his stomach and burps. BLACK AND WHITE FOOTAGE - President Kennedy shakes hands with the All-American football players. PRESIDENT KENNEDY Congratulations. How does it feel to be an All-American? 1ST PLAYER It's an honor, Sir. Another player steps up to the President and shakes the President's hand. PRESIDENT KENNEDY Congratulations. How does it feel to be an All-American? 2ND PLAYER Very good, Sir. PRESIDENT KENNEDY Congratulations. How does it feel to be an All-American? 3RD PLAYER Very good, Sir. The player walks away. Forest steps up to the President. The President shakes his hand. PRESIDENT KENNEDY Congratulations. How do you feel? FOREST I gotta pee. President Kennedy turns and smiles. PRESIDENT KENNEDY I believe he said he had to go pee. INT. WHITE HOUSE/BATHROOM Forest urinates in the bathroom, then lowers the lid and flashes. Forest washes his hands, then notices an autographed photo from Marilyn Monroe and a photo of John with his brother Bobby. FOREST (V.O.) Sometime later, for no particular reason, somebody shot that nice young President when he was ridin' in his car. ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE - DAY SLOW MOTION - President Kennedy rises in a convertible and smiles. FOREST And a few years after that... ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE - Robert Kennedy stands at a podium as people around him applaud. FOREST (V.O.) ...somebody shot his little brother, too, only he was in a hotel kitchen. EXT. SAVANNHA/BUS BENCH - DAY (1981) Forest sits on the bench and shakes his head. FOREST It must be hard being brothers. I wouldn't know. EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA - DAY - GRADUATION DAY (1966) Students in their caps and gowns step forward the podium to receive their diplomas. Forest's name is called. He steps up and accepts his diploma. DEAN Forest Gump. FOREST (V.O.) Now can you believe it? After only five years of playing football, I got a college degree. The dean shakes Forest's hand vigorously. Forest looks out into the crowd. DEAN Congratulations, son. Mrs. Gump, sitting in the audience, cries. FOREST (V.O.) Momma was proud. Forest and Mrs. Gump have their picure taken in front of a large statue. A military recruiter spots Forest and steps up to him. MRS. GUMP Forest, I'm so proud of you. Here, I'll hold this for you. Mrs. Gump takes the diploma from Forest. The recruiter slaps Forest on the shoulder and hands him some military literature. MILITARY RECRUITER Congratulations, son. Have you given any thought to your future? FOREST Thought? Forest looks at a pamphlet with a photo of "Uncle Sam" and the caption "EXCELLENT CAREERS FOR EXCELLENT YOUNG MAN. Apply now at your local U.S. Army Recruiting Center." FOREST (V.O.) Hello, I'm Forest... INT. ARMY BUS - DAY (1966) Forest steps onto the army bus. Rain pours outside as the army bus driver yells at Forest. FOREST ...Forest Gump. ARMY BUS DRIVER Nobody gives a hunk of shit who you are, fuzzball! You're not even a lowlife scum sucking maggot! Get your faggoty ass on the bus. You're in the Army now! Forest is about to sit on the first available seat, but the recruit sitting there refuses Forest. RECRUIT #1 This seat's taken. Forest tries to sit on the next seat, but the 2nd recruit slides over, blocking him. RECRUIT #2 It's taken. Forest steps forward, looking much like he did on his first bus ride to school years ago. FOREST (V.O.) At first, it seemed like I made a mistake. A large black recruit with a strange look on his face, much like Forest's, looks up from his seat. His name is BUBBA. FOREST (V.O.) ...seeing how it was my induction day and I was already gettin' yelled at. Bubba moves his case over, making room for Forest to sit down. BUBBA You can sit down... if you want to. FOREST (V.O.) I didn't know who I might meet or what they might ask. Bubba hands Forest a handkerchief. BUBBA You ever been on a real shrimp boat? FOREST No, but I been on a real big boat. BUBBA I'm talkin' about a shrimp catchin' boat. I've been workin' on shrimp boats all my life. I started out my uncle's boat, that's my mother's brother, when I was about maybe nine. I was just lookin' into buyin' a boat of my own and got drafted. My given name is Benjamin Buford Blue. Bubba and Forest shake hands. BUBBA People call me Bubba. Just like one of them redneck boys. Can you believe that? FOREST My name's Forest Gump. People call me Forest Gump. FOREST (V.O.) So Bubba was from Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and his momma cooked shrimp. INT. LOUISIANA/KITCHEN - DAY (1966) Bubba's mother, a robust woman in a cook's uniform, carries a bowl of shrimp into a dining room. She sets it down on a table in front of a wealthy white man. FOREST (V.O.) And her momma before her cooked shrimp. INT. SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH/KITCHEN - DAY (EARLY DAYS OF SLAVERY) Bubba's grandmother carries a bowl of shrimp into a dining room. She sets it down on a table in front of a wealthy white man. FOREST (V.O.) And her momma before her momma cooked shrimp, too. Bubba's family knew everything... INT. ARMY BUS - DAY (1966) FOREST (V.O.) ...there was to know about the shrimpin' business. BUBBA I know everything there is to know about the shrimpin' business. Matter of fact, I'm goin' into the shrimpin' business for myself after I get out the Army. FOREST Okay. INT. BARRACKS - DAY A DRILL SERGEANT is in Forest's face as Forest stands in line with the other recruits. DRILL SERGEANT Gump! What's your sole purpose in this Army? FOREST To do whatever you tell me, Drill Sergeant! DRILL SERGEANT Godamnit, Gump! You're a goddamned genius! That's the most outstanding answer I've ever heard. You must have a godamned I.Q. of a hundred and sixty! You are godamned gifted, Private Gump! The Drill Sergeant moves down the line to the next man. DRILL SERGEANT Listen up, people... FOREST (V.O.) Now, for some reason, I fit in the Army like one of them round pegs. It's not really hard. You just make your bed real neat and remember to stand up straight. DRILL SERGEANT That is one very intelligent individual! You lock your scuzzy bodies up behind that private and do exactly what he does and you will go far in this man's army! FOREST (V.O.) And always answer every question with "Yes, Drill Sergeant!" DRILL SERGEANT Is that clear? FOREST & RECRUITS Yes, Drill Sergeant! ANOTHER DAY The recruits are sitting at the base of their bunks assembling their rifles. Bubba speaks to Forest. BUBBA What you do is you just drag your nets across the bottom. On a good day, you can catch over a hundred pounds of shrimp. If everything goes all right, two men shrimpin' ten hours, less what you spends on gas, you can... Forest finishes assembling his rifle as the other recruits are still working on theirs. FOREST Done, Drill Sergeant! DRILL SERGEANT Gump! The Drill Sergeant rushes up to Forest. DRILL SERGEANT Why did you put that weapon together so quickly, Gump? FOREST You told me to, Drill Sergeant. The Drill Sergeant looks at his stop watch. DRILL SERGEANT Jesus Christ! This is a new company record. If it wouldn't be a waste of such a damn fine enlisted man, I'd recommended you for O.C.S., Private Gump. You are gonna be a General some day, Gump! Now, disassemble your weapon and continue! The Drill Sergeant walks away as Forest begins to disassemble his rifle. After the Drill Sergeant walks past Bubba, Bubba looks up at Forest. Bubba continues talking about shrimp in his slow southern drawl. BUBBA Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. There, uh, shrimp kabobs, shrimp creole... ANOTHER DAY Bubba and Forest shine their boots. BUBBA ...shrimp gumbo, panfried, deep fried, stir fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp... ANOTHER DAY Bubba and Forest are on their hands and knees as they scrub the floor with toothbrushes. BUBBA ...shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich... that's, that's about it. NIGHT Bubba lies in his bunk and looks up quietly. FOREST (V.O.) Nighttime in the Army is a lovely time. Forest lies in his bunk and looks up. FOREST (V.O.) We'd lay there in our bunks, and I'd miss my momma. And I'd miss Jenny. A young private tosses a Playboy magazine onto Forest. YOUNG PRIVATE Hey, Gump. Get a load of the tits on her! Forest pick up the magazine and turns the page, revealing Jenny as she poses with a school sweater on, and that's all. The pictorial is titled: "Girls of the South." Forest looks up with shock. He cranes his head up for a closer look. FOREST (V.O.) Turns out, Jenny had gotten into some trouble over... some photos of her in her college sweater. And she was thrown out of school. SONG "My baby does the hanky-panky..." INT. NASHVILLE/NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT (1966) Forest, in his army uniform, steps into the foyer of the club. FOREST (V.O.) But that wasn't a bad thing. Because a man who owns a theater in Memphis, Tennessee, saw those photo and offered Jenny a job singing in a show. The first chance I got, I took the bus up to Memphis to see her perform in that show. EMCEE steps out onto the stage. EMCEE That was Amber, Amber Flame. Give her a big hand, guys. Good job, Amber. And now, for your listening and viewing pleasure, direct from Hollywood, California, our very own beatnik beauty, let's give a big round of applause to the luscious Bobbie Dylan. CROWD Bobbie... Bobbie... The emcee walks back off the stage and the curtain opens, revealing Jenny as she sits on a stool on the stage. She holds a guitar up and begins to play. She is topless. JENNY (sings) "Yes, and how many seas must the white dove said, before she sleeps in the sand." FOREST (V.O.) Her dream had come true. She was a folk singer. JENNY (sings) "Yes, how many times must the cannonballs fly before they're forever banned." MAN #1 You gotta lose the guitar, darling. MAN #2 Hey, come on, baby. Shake it up. Shake it up now. MAN #3 Hey, somebody ought to get her a harmonica. The men laugh. JENNY (sings) "The answer, my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in... MAN # ...skin, honey. This isn't Captain Kangaroo. MEN Yeah! Come on! Man #5 reaches up and tries to stick some money in Jenny's shoe. MAN #5 : Hey, honey, I got something here for you. Jenny kicks his hand. He yells angrily as he sits back down, then tosses his drink on her. MAN #5 Goddamnit! JENNY Hey! Hey! Stupid jerk! I'm singing a song here. Polly, get out here! MAN # Hey, show us some stuff, honey! JENNY Shut up! Oh, shut up! Forest walks up to Man #5 and grabs him and tosses him down on the ground. Man #4 tries to grab Forest, but Forest shoves him down too. JENNY Forest, what are you doing here? What are you doing? Forest climbs up onto the stage and picks Jenny up, guitar and all, and carries her. FOREST Come on. JENNY What are you doing? Forest, let me down! Jenny struggles and frees herself from Forest. Forest steps back in surprise. Jenny shoves the guitar at Forest. Jenny walks off as Forest holds the guitar. He follows after her. EXT. MEMPHIS BRIDGE - NIGHT Forest follows Jenny over a bridge outside the night club. JENNY You can't keep doing this, Forest. You can't keep tryin' to rescue me all the time. FOREST They was tryin' to grab you. JENNY A lot of people try to grab me. Just -- you can't keep doing this all the time! FOREST I can't help it. I love you. JENNY Forest, you don't know what love is. Jenny turns and looks over the bridge. JENNY You remember that time we prayed, Forest? We prayed for God to turn me into a bird so I could fly far, far away? FOREST Yes, I do. JENNY You think I can fly off this bridge? FOREST What do you mean, Jenny? JENNY Nothing. Jenny turns and looks at the light of an approaching vehicle. She steps into the street. JENNY I gotta get outta here. Jenny runs and flags down the approaching vehicle. FOREST But wait. Jenny! JENNY Forest, you stay away from me, okay? You just stay away from me, please. A pickup truck pulls over as Jenny looks at the driver. JENNY Can I have a ride? DRIVER Where you going? JENNY I don't care. DRIVER Get in the truck. FOREST So bye-bye, Jenny. They sendin' me to Vietnam. It's this whole other country. Jenny walks toward Forest. She looks at the driver. JENNY Just hang on a minute. Jenny walks up to Forest. JENNY Listen, you promise me something, okay? Just if you're ever in trouble, don't try to be brave, you just run, okay? Just run away. FOREST Okay. Jenny, I'll write you all the time. Jenny takes a last look at Forest, then climbs into the truck. Forest watches Jenny in the pickup as it drives away. FOREST (V.O.) And just like that. EXT. GREENBOW/GUMP BOARDING HOUSE/RIVER - DAY Forest, dressed in his uniform, sits on a log and looks out at a river. FOREST (V.O.) ...she was gone. Mrs. Gump walks toward Forest and sits down next to him on the log. Forest leans down, placing his head on his mother's shoulder. MRS. GUMP You come back safe to me, do ya hear? EXT. VIETNAM/MEKONG DELTA - MORNING (1967) The shadow of a helicopter over the rice field below. A soldier is manning a gun from inside the helicopter. The solider looks left, Forest and Bubba ride in the helicopter. EXT. FIREBASE/4TH PLATOON The helicopter circles overhead, then lands at the firebase. SONG "Some folks are born made to wave the flag. Ooh, they're red, white and blue. And when the band plays "Hail to the Chief," ohh, they point the cannon at you all. It ain't me. It ain't me. I ain't no Senator's son, no. It ain't me. It ain't me..." Bubba and Forest jump out of the helicopter with their gear/ They walk and look around oddly. FOREST (V.O.) Now, they told us that Vietnam was gonna be very different from the United Sates of America. The soldier places a case of beer on a large stack of cases. He takes two beers out and walks away. In the background, soldiers are barbecuing steaks and drinking beer. FOREST (V.O.) Except for all the beer cans and the barbecue, it was. BUBBA Y'know, I bet there's shrimp all in these waters. They tell me these Vietnams is good shrimp. You know, after we win this war, and we take over everything we can get American shrimpers to come on here and shrimp these waters. We'll just shrimp all the time, man. So much shrimp, why, you wouldn't believe it. Lieutenant DAN TAYLOR steps out of a tent. Shirtless, he holds a roll of toilet paper in his hand. LT. DAN You must be my F.N.G.'s. BUBBA AND FOREST Morning', sir! LT. DAN Ho! Get your hands down. Do not salute me. There are goddamned snipers all around this area who would love to grease an officer. I'm Lieutenant Dan Taylor. Welcome to Fourth Platoon. Lt. Dan looks at Bubba. LT. DAN What's wrong with your lips? BUBBA I was born with big gums, sir. LT. DAN Yeah, well, you better tuck that in. Gonna get that caught on a trip wire. Where you boys from in the world? BUBBA & FOREST Alabama, sir! LT. DAN You twins? Forest and Bubba look at each other oddly, they don't get the joke. FOREST No, we are not relations, sir. LT. DAN Look, it's pretty basic here. Lt. Dan starts to walk. Bubba and Forest grab their gear and follow him. LT. DAN You stick with me, you learn from the guys who been in country awhile, you'll be right. There is one item of G.I. gear that can be the difference between a live grunt and a dead grunt. Lt. Dan stops and looks at the boys. LT. DAN Socks, cushion, sole, O.D. green. Try and keep your feet dry when we're out humpin'. I want you boys to remember to change your socks wherever we stop. The Mekong will eat a grunt's feet right off his legs. Lt. Dan steps over to a large black soldier named SERGEANT SIMS. LT. DAN Sergeant Sims! Goddamnit, where is that sling-rope I told you to order. SGT. SIMS I put in requisitions at Battalion. LT. DAN Yeah, yeah, yeah, well you call those sonabitches again, call them again and again and again. I don't care how much it takes... FOREST (V.O.) Lt. Dan sure knew his stuff. I felt real lucky he was my lieutenant. He was from a long, great military tradition. Somebody in his family had fought and died in every single American war. EXT. VALLEY FORGE/THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR - DAY (1778) A distant relative of Lt. Dan's, wearing a revolutionary war uniform, falls dead in the snow. EXT. GETTYSBURG/THE CIVIL WAR - DAY (1863) Another relative, wearing a civil war uniform and bearing a striking resemblance to Lt. Dan, falls down dead. EXT. NORMANDY/WORLD WAR II - DAY (1944) Another relative, wearing a World War II, falls down dead on the beach at Normandy. EXT. VETNAM/MEKONG DELTA/FIREBASE - DAY (1967) LT. DAN Goddamnit, kick some ass! SGT. SIMS I'm on it, Lieutenant. LT. DAN Get on it! Lt. Dan steps back up to Bubba and Forest. FOREST (V.O.) I guess you could say he had a lot to live up to. Lt. Dan walks along the walkway and Bubba and Forest follow. LT. DAN So, you boys are from Arkansas, huh? Well, I've been through there. Little Rock's a fine town. Now, go shake down your gear, see the platoon sergeant, draw what you need for the field. Lt. Dan steps inside the latrine, still holding the roll of toilet paper. LT. DAN If you boys are hungry, we got steaks burnin' right here. Lt. Dan sits down out of sight in the latrine, then stands up, looking at the boys. LT. DAN Two standing orders in this platoon. One, take good care of your feet. Two, try not to do anything stupid, like gettin' yourself killed. Lt. Dan sits back down out of sight in the latrine. Bubba and Forest look at each other. FOREST I sure hope I don't let him down. EXT. RICE FIELD - ANOTHER DAY Forest, Bubba, and other soldiers in the Fourth Platoon walk across the rice field. Some Vietnamese rice farmers are working as the soldiers walk past. FOREST (V.O.) I got to see a lot of countryside. We would take these real long walks. EXT. JUNGLE/DIRT ROAD - ANOTHER DAY Forest's unit walks along a dirt road. SONG And we were always lookin' for this guy named Charlie. I can't get no relief. Suddenly Lt. Dan holds up his fist, a signal for the unit to stop. He motions for them to get down. LT. DAN Hold it up! SGT. SIMS Hold up, boys! Forest gets down and looks around. FOREST (V.O.) It wasn't always fun. Lt. Dan always gettin' these funny feelings about a rock or a trail, or the road, so he'd tell you to get down, shut up! LT. DAN Get down! Shut up! FOREST (V.O.) So we did. Lt. Dan motions for the lead soldier to get down. Lt. Dan crouches down. Lt. Dan looks at the soldiers and points to his eyes. He lies down on the dirt road and crawls. FOREST (V.O.) Now, I don't know much about anything, but I think some of American's best young men served in this war. There was Dallas, from Phoenix. Cleveland, he was from Detroit. CLEVELAND Hey, Tex. Hey, Tex. Man, what the hell's going on? Tex holds up his hand, motioning that he doesn't know. FOREST (V.O.) And Tex was, well, I don't remember where Tex come from. LT. DAN Ah, nothin'. Fourth Platoon, on your feet! Still got ten clicks to go to that river. Forest stands up and begins to walk with the platoon. LT. DAN All right, move out! Comin' out. Look alive out there. FOREST (V.O.) The good thing about Vietnam is there was always someplace to go. LT. DAN (V.O.) Fire in the hole! EXT. VIETNAM/VIET CONG FOXHOLE - ANOTHER DAY Lt. Dan walks away as Forest rushes over, aims two pistols in the hole, then climbs inside. FOREST (V.O.) And there was always something to do. LT. DAN Mount 'em up. SGT. SIMS Spread out! Cover his back. ANOTHER DAY - The platoon walks through a rice paddy, waits deep in water. It begins to rain. FOREST (V.O.) One day it started raining, and it didn't quit for four months. EXT. JUNGLE The rain pours down on Forest and Bubba as they sit in a foxhole. FOREST (V.O.) We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin' rain... ANOTHER DAY - The platoon walks through the jungle as rain pours down on them. FOREST (V.O.) ...and big ol' fat rain. ANOTHER DAY - The platoon shelters themselves as they walk through the wind and rain. FOREST (V.O.) Rain that flew in sideways. ANOTHER DAY - Forest and other soldiers walk chest-deep through a river. The rain splatters back up from the river, hitting the soldiers. Forest holds his hand up to protect his face. FOREST (V.O.) And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. EXT. ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT The rain pours down on the men of the platoon as they sit in a camp. Bubba sits down next to Forest. FOREST (V.O.) Shoot, it even rained at night. Bubba leans his back up against Forest's back. BUBBA Hey Forest... FOREST Hey Bubba... BUBBA I'm gonna lean up against you, you just lean right back against me. BUBBA This way, we don't have to sleep with our heads in the mud. You know why we a good partnership, Forest? 'Cause we be watchin' out for one another. Like brothers and stuff. Hey, Forest, there's somethin' I've been thinkin' about. I got a very important question to ask you. How would you like to go into the shrimpin' business with me? FOREST Okay. BUBBA Man, I tell you what, I got it all figured out, too. So many pounds of shrimp to pay off the boat, so many pounds for gas, we can just live right on the boat. We ain't got to pay no rent. I'll be the captain; we can just work it together. Split everything right down the middle. Man, I'm tellin' you, fifty-fifty. And, hey, Forest, all the shrimp you can get. FOREST That's a fine idea. FOREST (V.O.) Bubba did have a fine idea. ANOTHER NIGHT - Some soldiers patrol the area. Forest lies in a pup tent and writes a litter as the rain pours down. He uses his flashlight to see. FOREST (V.O.) I even wrote Jenny and told her all about it. I sent her letters. Not every day, but almost. I told her what I was doin' and asked her what she was doing, and I told her how I thought about her always. EXT. JENNY'S GRANDMOTHER'S TRAILER - DAY Jenny steps out of the trailer with a backpack and a guitar. She hugs a hippie guy, then jumps into the back of a Volkswagen bus with another guy. FOREST (V.O.) And how I was looking forward to getting a letter from her just as soon as she had the time I'd always let her know that I was okay. EXT. VIETNAM - NIGHT Forest writes a letter in his tent. FOREST (V.O.) Then I'd sign each letter, "Love, Forest Gump." EXT. JUNGLE - DAY The Fourth Platoon makes their way through the jungle and rain. SONG "There's something happenin' here. What it is ain't exactly clear. There's a man with a gun over there, telling' me I got to beware." FOREST (V.O.) This one day, we was out walking, like always, and then, just like that, somebody turned off the rain and the sun come out. Forest looks up as the sun suddenly appears. Forest's platoon is attacked. A bullet kills the soldier standing next to Forest. Bombs explode all around as the soldiers scramble to the ground. LT. DAN Take cover! Forest crawls over a berm as bullets fly overhead and explode all around him. Forest rolls over and pulls his pack off Lt. Dan lies next to Forest. LT. DAN Get that pig up here, goddammit! BUBBA Forest, you okay? Two soldiers with a machine gun fire into the jungle. Lt. Dan shouts into the radio. Forest begins firing his weapon into the jungle. LT. DAN ...Strongarm, please be advised... Two soldiers pull a wounded soldier into the jungle. BUBBA Medic, we got a man down! LT. DAN Strongarm, this is Leg Lima 6, over! LT. DAN Roger, Strongarm, be advised we have incoming from the treeline at point blue plus two. A.K's and rockets... The machine gunner fires into the treeline. Another soldier helps him with the ammunition. The machine gun jams. SOLDIER WITH BIG MACHINE GUN Misfire! Misfire! LT. DAN Goddammit, Mac! Get that pig unfucked and get it in the treeline! A rocket explodes on the machine gunner and the other soldier, killing them. Forest looks down and covers his head as rockets explodes all around him. LT. DAN (into radio) Ah, Jesus! My unit is down hard and hurting! 6 pulling back to the blue line, Leg Lima 6 out! Pull back! Pull back! BUBBA Forest! Run! Run, Forest! LT. DAN Pull back! BUBBA Forest! Run! Run, Forest! Run! Run! SGT. SIMS Pull back! Let's go! Lt. Dan gets up and grabs Forest by the collar. LT. DAN Run, goddammit, run! The platoon gets up and runs toward the cover of the jungle. Rockets explode all around the field. Forest runs into the jungle. The soldiers run through the jungle as bullets explode all around. A soldier is blown up by a rocket. A soldier runs through the jungle. Forest runs past the soldier. SOLDIER Medic! Medic! Jesus, can I get a medic? FOREST (V.O.) I ran and ran, just like Jenny told me to. Rockets explode in the jungle as Forest runs out toward a clearing. FOREST (V.O.) I ran so far and so fast that pretty soon I was all by myself, which was a bad thing. FOREST Bubba! Forest turns around, then runs back into the jungle. FOREST (V.O.) Bubba was my best good friend. I had to make sure he was okay. Rockets explode in the jungle. Forest runs back into the jungle to look for Bubba. 1ST SOLDIER Any friendlies out there? 2ND SOLDIER Yeah, I've got three over there. 1ST SOLDIER Where the hell are you? Forest stops and aims his weapon. He looks around, scared. FOREST Bubba? Something moves. Forest turns and looks, then rushes over. FOREST (V.O.) And on my way back to find Bubba, well, there was this boy laying on the ground. FOREST Tex! Tex lies on the ground, his face distorted with pain. FOREST Okay. Forest reaches down and picks up Tex from the ground. Forest pulls Tex up over his shoulder, then runs. FOREST (V.O.) I couldn't just let him lay there all alone, scared the way he was, so I grabbed him up and run him out of there. Forest carries Tex out of the jungle and into the clearing. He sets Tex down on the bank of a river, and runs back into the jungle. FOREST (V.O.) And every time I went back looking for Bubba, somebody else was saying, "Help me, Forest. Help me." Forest drops another wounded soldier down at the bank of the river next to Tex, and then runs back toward the jungle. Forest grabs the third wounded soldier up from the ground and turns him over. It is DALLAS. DALLAS Can't hear... Can't hear... Dallas is dropped off at the bank next to the other wounded soldiers. Forest turns to go back to the jungle. 2ND WOUNDED SOLDIER No sweat, man. Just lay back. You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay. FOREST (V.O.) I started to get scared that I might never find Bubba. STRONGARM (over radio) You're danger close for crack air, over. Forest trips over something and falls to the ground. He looks up to find two bloody legs. It is Lt. Dan, who is wounded. He speaks into the radio. LT. DAN (into radio) Roger, Strongarm, I know my position is danger close! We got Charlie all over this area! I gotta have those fast movers in here now! Over! STRONGARM (over radio) Six, Strongarm, we want... FOREST Lieutenant Dan, Coleman's dead! LT. DAN I know he's dead! My whole goddamned platoon is wiped out! STRONGARM (over radio) Leg Lima 6, Leg Lima 6, how copy you this transmission? Over. Forest tries to pick up Lt. Dan, who tries to push Forest away. LT. DAN Goddammit! What are you doing? Leave me here! Get away. Just leave me here! Get out! Forest pulls Lt. Dan over his shoulder and runs through the jungle. STRONGARM Leg Lima 6, Leg Lima 6. This is Strongarm, be advised, your fast movers are inbound at this time, over. FOREST (V.O.) Then it felt like something just jumped up and bit me. Forest falls down. FOREST Ah, something bit me! Forest gets up as Lt. Dan yells. Lt. Dan fires his pistol at the unseen enemy as Forest pulls him away. LT. DAN You dink son-of-a-bitch! I can't leave the platoon! I told you to leave me there, Gump. Forget about me. Get yourself out! Did you hear what I said! Goddammit, pull me down! Get your ass out of here! Forest drops Lt. Dan down at the bank, next to the other wounded soldiers. Lt. Dan grabs Forest by the shirt, angry. LT. DAN I didn't ask you to pull me out of there, goddamn you! What the hell do you think you're going? FOREST To get Bubba. LT. DAN I got an air strike inbound right now. They're gonna nape the whole area. Forest gets up and runs as Lt. Dan yells after him. LT. DAN Gump, you stay here, goddammit! That's an order! FOREST I gotta find Bubba! Forest runs through the jungle searching for Bubba. Forest slows down and looks around carefully. BUBBA Forest... FOREST Bubba... Bubba looks up as he lies on the ground. BUBBA I'm okay. Bubba holds a palm frond over his wound. Forest removes the frond to look at the wound. Bubba's chest has been blown open. FOREST Oh, Bubba, no... BUBBA Naw, I'm gonna be all right. Forest looks around as he hear the voices of the enemy. FOREST Come on. Come on. Come here... Forest carries Bubba through the jungle. The sound of approaching planes fills the air. BUBBA I'm okay, Forest. I'm all right. The roar of approaching planes is deafening. Forest looks up in fear. Three planes dive down toward the jungle. They fire napalm as the jungle explodes with massive fireballs. Forest runs, carrying Bubba. The fireballs explode behind him. The entire jungle area is in flames as Forest runs. Forest carries Bubba to the bank of the river. Lt. Dan and the other wounded soldiers wait for a rescue helicopter. LT. DAN Helo's inbound. Pop smoke, get it up there! FOREST (V.O.) If I'd a known this was gonna be the last time me and Bubba was gonna talk, I'd a thought of something better to say. Forest looks down at Bubba. A soldier releases a smoke canister. FOREST Hey, Bubba... BUBBA Hey, Forest. Forest, why'd this happen? FOREST You got shot. FOREST (V.O.) Then Bubba said something I won't even forget. BUBBA I wanna go home. FOREST (V.O.) Bubba was my best good friend. And even I know that ain't something you can find just around the corner. Bubba was gonna be a shrimpin' boat captain, but instead he died right there by that river in Vietnam. The helicopter fly overhead. BUS STATION - DAY Forest continues with his life story. A MAN is sitting next to Forest on the bus bench. FOREST That's all I have to say about that. MAN It was a bullet, wasn't it? FOREST A bullet? MAN That jumped up and bit you. FOREST Oh, yes sir. Bit me directly in the buttocks. They said it was a million dollar wound, but the Army must keep that money, 'cause I still ain't seen a nickel of that million dollars. The only good thing about being wounded in the buttocks... FLASHBACK - INT. US. ARMY HOSPITAL/VIETNAM - DAY Forest holds two ice cream cones in his hands as he is wheeled on a rolling stretcher. FOREST (V.O.) ...is the ice cream. They gave me all the ice cream I could eat. And guess what. A good friend of mine was in the bed right next door. Forest, lying on his stomach, is wheeled to his bed. Forest's butt sticks up and is bandaged. Forest looks at Lt. Dan lying on the bed. Forest holds out an ice cream cone for Lt. Dan. FOREST Lieutenant Dan, I got you some ice cream. Lieutenant Dan, ice cream. Lt. Dan, annoyed, takes the ice cream cone and drops it into his bed pan. Forest slides himself onto his bed. A NURSE reaches toward Lt. Dan. MALE NURSE It's time for your bath, Lieutenant. The male nurse places Lt. Dan's hands on a pull-up bar, then picks up Lt. Dan, whose legs have been amputated. MALE NURSE Harper... Another nurse wheels the rolling bed under Lt. Dan. The male nurse sets Lt. Dan down on the rolling bed. Forest looks up at Lt. Dan as he is wheeled away. A soldier reads the names from a pile of letters. SOLDIER Cooper, Larson, Webster, Gump, Gump... FOREST I'm Forest Gump. The soldier hands Forest a large pile of letters. "Undeliverable as addressed. No forwarding order on file." Jenny Curran Rural Route 2 Greenbow, Ala. 39902 Forest looks down at the pile of letters. INT. ARMY HOSPITAL/VIETNAM - DAY A group of wounded soldiers hang out in the hospital, recuperating. Forest sits and watches "Gomer Pyle" on the television. SOLDIER Gump, how can you watch that stupid shit? Turn it off! ANNOUNCER From the D.M.Z. to the Delta, you are tuned to the American Forces Vietnam Network. This is Channel 6, Saigon. Forest turns the TV off and he is hit on the back of the head by a ping-pong ball. SOLDIER Good catch, Gump. You know how to play this? Forest shakes his head. SOLDIER Come on, let me show you. Here. The wounded ping-pong player hands Forest a paddle. Forest and the wounded ping-pong player step toward the ping-pong table. SOLDIER Now the secret to this game is, no matter what happens, never, never take your eye off the ball. He holds the ball up and moves it back and forth. Forest keeps his eyes on the ball. SOLDIER All right... The wounded ping-pong player tosses the ball down onto the table. Forest begins to hit the ball back to the other player. FOREST (V.O.) For some reason, ping pong came very natural to me. SOLDIER See, any idiot can play. FOREST (V.O.) So I started playing it all the time. Forest hits ping-pong balls. FOREST (V.O.) I played ping-pong even when I didn't have anyone to play ping-pong with. The balls at land in a bed pan positioned on a chair. A group of wounded soldier sit and watch Forest play with himself. Forest hits two balls at a time against the opposite side of the table. FOREST (V.O.) The hospital's people said it made me look like a duck in water, whatever that means. Even Lieutenant Dan would come and watch me play. Lt. Dan stares out the window. Forest lies in his bed asleep. A hand reaches and grabs him. FOREST (V.O.) I played ping-pong so much, I even played it in my sleep. Lt. Dan pulls Forest to the floor, and holds Forest down. LT. DAN Now, you listen to me. We all have a destiny. Nothing just happens, it's all part of a plan. I should have died out there with my men! But now, I'm nothing but a goddamned cripple! A legless freak. Look! Look! Look at me! Do you see that? Do you know what it's like not to be able to use your legs? FOREST Well... Yes, sir, I do. LT. DAN Did you hear what I said? You cheated me. I had a destiny. I was supposed to die in the field! With honor! That was my destiny! And you cheated me out of it! You understand what I'm saying, Gump? This wasn't supposed to happen. Not to me. I had a destiny. I was Lieutenant Dan Tyler. FOREST Yo-You're still Lieutenant Dan. Lt. Dan looks at Forest, lets go of Forest and rolls. Lt. Dan sits up as Forest looks at him. LT. DAN Look at me. What am I gonna do now? What am I gonna do now? INT. REC ROOM/VIETNAM HOSPITAL - ANOTHER DAY Forest plays ping-pong by himself. An OFFICER walks up to him. OFFICER P.F.C. Gump? Forest immediately grabs the ball and places it down on the table under its paddle. Stands at attention. FOREST Yes, sir! OFFICER As you were. The officer holds up an envelope. OFFICER Son, you've been awarded the Medal of Honor. INT. VIETNAM HOSPITAL WARD Forest steps up to Lt. Dan's bed. FOREST Guess what, Lieutenant Dan, they want to give me a me... Forest stops in mid-sentence as he looks down at the bed. A heavily bandaged soldier with bloodstains lies there. Forest turns and look at the NURSE. FOREST Ma'am, what'd they do with Lieutenant Dan? NURSE They sent him home. FOREST (V.O.) Two weeks later, I left Vietnam. INT. BARBER SHOP/GREENBOW - DAY ANCHORMAN (on T.V.) The ceremony was kicked off with a candid speech by the President regarding the need for further escalation of the war in Vietnam. President Johnson awarded four Medals of Honor to men from each of the Armed Services. The television reveals Forest as he is awarded the Medal of Honor by President Johnson. PRESIDENT JOHNSON America owes you a debt of gratitude, son. Color footage revealing President Johnson as he places the award around Forest's neck and shakes hands. PRESIDENT JOHNSON I understand you were wounded. Where were you hit? FOREST In the buttocks, sir. PRESIDENT JOHNSON Oh, that must be a sight. President Johnson leans and whispers into Forest's ear. PRESIDENT JOHNSON I'd kinda like to see that. INT. BARBER SHOP The television revealing Forest as he drops his pants, bends over and shows the bullet wound on his bare buttocks. President Johnson looks down and smiles. The three men in the barber shop look up in disbelief. Mrs. Gump looks up in shock. PRESIDENT JOHNSON Goddamn, son. EXT. LINCOLN MEMORIAL - DAY Forest walks by the Lincoln Memorial. A fence surrounds the Memorial, as well as armed military guards. FOREST (V.O.) After that, Momma went to the hotel to lay down, so I went out for a walk to see our national capital. ISABEL Hilary, all right, I've got the vets, what do you want me to do with them? HILARY What are you doing here so late? Forest takes a photo of the memorial as a woman named Hilary gathers together some veterans against the Vietnam War. HILARY We've been waiting for you for half an hour, so just get them in a line, will you. Hey, hey, come on, pictures later. You look great. Oh come on, get in this line, come on, come on right in line. Come on, let him here, let him in here. Hilary grabs Forest and puts him in the line with the other vets against the war. FOREST (V.O.) It's a good thing Momma was resting, 'cause the street was awful crowded with people looking at all the statues and monuments. And some of them people were loud and pushy. Hilary leads the line of vets toward the large anti-Vietnam War rally. HILARY Okay, follow me! Come on. The group of vets walk as Forest tries to take another picture. A vet behind him pushes him along. HILARY Let's move it out. VET Hey, buddy, come on. We could use your help. Forest walks in the line. A banner reads "Veterans against the War in Vietnam." FOREST (V.O.) Everywhere I went, I had to stand in line. HILARY Follow me, let's go! Hilary leads the vets through a crowd of people outside the rally. Another woman, named Isabel, leads the vets toward the back of a stage. ISABEL All right, come on, guys. HILARY Stand here. VET Hey, you're a good man for doin' this. Good! FOREST Okay. A man, wearing an American flag shirt, stands on the stage. He is anti-war activist ABBIE HOFFMAN. ABBIE HOFFMAN We must declare to that fucking impostor in the White House -- Johnson. We ain't going to work on your farm no more! Yeah! FOREST (V.O.) There was this man, giving a little talk. And for some reason, he was wearing an American flag for a shirt... ABBIE HOFFMAN Now, I'm going to bring up some soldiers that are going to talk about the war, man... FOREST (V.O.) ...and he liked to say the "F" word. A lot. "F" this and "F" that. And every time... ABBIE HOFFMAN ...that war has come home, and we have to stop these politicians... FOREST (V.O.) ...he said "F" word, people, for some reason, well, they'd cheer. ABBIE HOFFMAN ...these guys just told Lyndon Johnson where to stick this fucking war! Yeah! Forest looks up at the cheering crowd. Abbie turns and motions for Forest to come up on the stage. ABBIE HOFFMAN Come on, man. Come up here, man. HILARY Come on. Come on. Yeah, you! Hilary pulls Forest up onto the stage. HILARY Come on, get up there. Come on. Move, move. Let's go! Let's go. The other vets follow Forest pushes onto the stage and push him toward the microphones. VET Come on, go. You can do it. Just get up there. Go on. That's it. Thousands of cheering protesters stand around the Washington Monument. Forest looks at the crowd. Abbie Hoffmann steps up to Forest. ABBIE HOFFMAN Tell us a little bit about the war, man. FOREST The war in Vietnam? ABBIE HOFFMAN The war in Viet-fucking-nam! Abbie raises his fist as the crowd cheers wildly. FOREST Well... FOREST (V.O.) There was only one thing I could say about the war in Vietnam. FOREST ...there was only one thing I could say about the war in Vietnam. Forest looks at the crowd as he speaks. A policeman looks around as he sneaks over to the audio circuit board. FOREST In Vietnam war... The policeman pulls the patch cords out of the audio board. Forest's amplified voice becomes inaudible. Forest continues to speak into the microphone, even though no one can hear what he is saying. Hilary looks over and notices the policeman. Hilary rushes over toward the audio board, pushes the policeman away and grabs his night stick. Another protester grabs the policeman and pulls him away. POLICEMAN Hey, what the hell are you doing? HILARY I'll beat your head in, you goddamned oinker! Isabel, Hilary and another protester try to plug the tangled mess of wires back into the audio board. ISABEL Christ, what'd they do with this? Forest continues to speak into the microphone. The crowd grows restless. CROWD We can't hear you! We can't hear anything! HILARY This one! This one! Give me that! Hilary plugs in the right patch cord. HILARY That's it. FOREST ...and that's all I have to say about that. Forest looks at the massive crowd. They are silent. Abbie Hoffman steps over to Forest and pats him on the shoulder. ABBIE HOFFMAN That's so right on, man. You said it all. What's your name, man? FOREST My name is Forest Gump. Forest Gump. ABBIE HOFFMAN Forest Gump! Abbie raises his fist into the air. Abbie steps away from Forest. The crowd cheers. CROWD Forest Gump! JENNY (screaming) Forest! Forest! Jenny wades out into the reflection pool and waves her hand into the air. Forest recognizes her. FOREST Jenny! Forest rushes off the stage as Jenny makes her way out into the pool. JENNY Forest! Forest jumps down into the crowd and runs. Jenny smiles as she tries to run through the water. The crowd parts as Forest runs into the pool. Jenny rushes toward him. JENNY Hey! Hey! The massive crowd cheers for the embracing couple in the pool. FOREST (V.O.) It was the happiest moment of my life. EXT. WASHINGTON MONUMENT/PROTESTER'S ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT Forest and Jenny walk past the protesters who are camping out on the lawn. FOREST (V.O.) Jenny and me were just peas and carrots again. She showed me around, and even introduced me... INT. BLACK PANTHER HEADQUARTERS/STOREFRONT, D.C. - NIGHT Forest stands at an open window and looks at the White House. FOREST (V.O.) ...to some of her new friends. A Black Panther, named RUBEN, steps over and pulls the shades down. RUBEN Shut that blind, man. And get your white ass away from that window. Don't you know we in war here? Another Black Panther named MASAI grabs Forest and pats him down. JENNY Hey man, he's cool. He's cool. He's one of us. He's one of us. MASAI Let me tell you about us. WESLEY Where the hell have you been? JENNY I ran into a friend. MASAI Our purpose here is to protect our black leaders from the racial onslaught of the pig who wishes to brutalize our black leaders, rape our women, and destroy our black communists. BLACK PANTHER Masai, phone. Talk to these guys. WESLEY Who's the baby killer? JENNY This is my good friend I told you about. This is Forest Gump. Forest, this is Wesley. Wesley and I live together in Berkeley, and he's the president of the Berkeley chapter of S.D.S. MASAI Let me tell you something else. WESLEY I want to talk to you. JENNY Okay, but... WESLEY No. Now! Goddammit! MASAI We are here to offer protection and help for all of those who need our help, because we, the Black Panthers, are against the war in Vietnam. Yes, we are against any war where black soldiers are sent to the front line to die for a country that hates them. Yes, we are against any war where black soldiers go to fight and come to be brutalized and killed in their own communities as they sleep in their beds at night. Yes, we are against all these racists and imperial dog acts. JENNY You are a fucking asshole! Wesley hits Jenny across the face. Slow motion -- Jenny falls back. Slow motion -- Forest steps forward with rage. Slow motion -- Wesley turns and looks at Forest. Forest tackles Wesley and slams him onto a table. Jenny turns and looks as Masai pulls out a gun. JENNY Forest! Quit it! Quit it! Forest! Stop it! Jenny rushes over to Forest and pulls Forest off Wesley. JENNY Stop it! Jenny tries to help Wesley as he moans on the floor. Wesley knocks Jenny's hand away. He gets up, holding his bloody lip. WESLEY Oh, God. I shouldn't have brought you here. I should have known it was just gonna be some bullshit hassle. FOREST He should not be hitting you, Jenny. JENNY Come on, Forest. Jenny steps out the door as Forest picks up his hat. FOREST Sorry I had a fight in the middle of your Black Panther party. The group of Black Panthers glare at Forest. Forest turns and walks out the room. EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - NIGHT Forest and Jenny walk past the White House. Protesters hold a candlelight vigil behind them. JENNY He doesn't mean it when he does things like this. He doesn't. FOREST I would never hurt you, Jenny. JENNY I know you wouldn't, Forest. FOREST I wanted to be your boyfriend. They walk in silence. Jenny touches Forest's uniform. JENNY That uniform is a trip, Forest. You look handsome in it. You do. FOREST You know what? JENNY What? FOREST I'm glad we were here together in our national capitol. JENNY Me too, Forest. I have so much to tell you, you won't believe what's been going on... FOREST (V.O.) We walked around all night, Jenny and me, just talkin'. EXT. ROUTE 66 - FLASHBACK - DAY Jenny stands in the rain, hitchhiking. A car pulls over to pick her up. Jenny and other other girls get into the car. FOREST (V.O.) She told me about all the travellin' she's done. EXT. COMMUNE IN NEW MEXICO - NIGHT A hippie gives Jenny a sugar cube of acid as they sit in front of a roaring fire. FOREST (V.O.) And how she'd discovered ways to expand her mind and learn how to live in harmony... EXT. HOLLYWOOD/WALK OF FAME - DAY A star with the name "Jean Harlow" on the sidewalk. Jenny and two other girls sing on the sidewalk and collect change from the passersby. Jenny plays the guitar. FOREST (V.O.) ...which must be out west somewhere, 'cause she made it all the way to California. JENNY (sings) "Smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love on another right now" A young hippie looks over his faded Volkswagen at the girls. YOUNG HIPPIE Hey, anybody want to go to San Francisco? JENNY I'll go. YOUNG HIPPIE Far out! EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - DAWN Forest and Jenny walk through the park. FOREST (V.O.) I was a very special night for the two of us. I didn't want it to end. EXT. PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING Jenny carries a backpack as she prepares to board a bus back to Berkeley. FOREST I wish you wouldn't go, Jenny. JENNY I have to, Forest. WESLEY Jenny? Things got a little out of hand. It's just this war and that, that lyin' son-of-a-bitch Johnson. I would never hurt you. You know that. FOREST You know what I think? I think you should go home to Greenbow. Alabama! JENNY Forest, we have very different lives, you know. Forest looks down at Jenny. He pulls his Medal of Honor from around his neck. FOREST I want you to have this. Forest places the Medal of Honor in Jenny's hand. Jenny looks up at him. JENNY Forest, I can't keep this. FOREST I got it just by doing what you told me to do. JENNY Why're you so good to me? FOREST You're my girl. JENNY I'll always be your girl. Jenny and Forest hug each other. Wesley waits for Jenny. Jenny turns and walks up to Wesley. They walk toward the entrance of the bus. Forest smiles as Jenny looks at her. Jenny climbs up into the bus. Wesley glares at Forest. Forest gives Wesley the "evil eye." Jenny through the near window of the bus, knocks on the window. Forest turns and looks. Jenny waves to Forest. Forest looks up and smiles sadly. Jenny gives Forest the peace sign as the bus pulls away. The sign on the back of the bus reads "Berkeley to D.C." Forest gives Jenny the peace sign. FOREST (V.O.) And just like that, she was gone out of my life again. INT. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL/REC ROOM - DAY A footage of Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon on television. NEIL ARMSTRONG That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. The, uh, the surface is fine and powdery. I can, I can pick it up loosely. Forest demonstrates a ping-pong to some wounded vets. FOREST (V.O.) I thought I was going back to Vietnam, but instead, they decided the best way for me to fight communists was to play ping-pong. So I was in the Special Services, traveling around the country cheering up all them wounded veterans and showing them how to play... BUS STOP - PRESENT - DAY Forest looks at a man. FOREST ...ping-pong. I was so good that some years later... EXT. CHINA/PING-PONG TOURNAMENT - FLASHBACK - DAY Forest plays ping-pong against a Chinese player. A large mural of Mao Tse-tung hangs on the wall. A crowd of communist leaders sit and watch. FOREST (V.O.) ...the Army decided I should be on the All-American Ping-Pong Team. We were the first Americans to visit the land of China in like a million years or something like that, and somebody said that world peace was in our hands. But all I did was play ping-pong. When I got home... BUS STOP - PRESENT - DAY FOREST ...I was national celebrity. Famouser even than Captain Kangaroo. Color footage of the DICK CAVETT Show. Dick Cavett stands up as he introduces Forest. DICK CAVETT Here he is, Forest Gump, right here. Forest makes his way onto the stage, shakes hands with Dick Cavett. DICK CAVETT Mr. Gump, have a seat. Forest sits down between JOHN LENNON and Dick Cavett. DICK CAVETT Forest Gump, John Lennon. JOHN LENNON Welcome home. DICK CAVETT You had quite a trip. Can you, uh, tell us, uh, what was China like? John Lennon lights a cigarette. FOREST Well, in the land of China, people hardly got nothing at all. JOHN LENNON No possessions? FOREST And in China, they never go to church. JOHN LENNON No religion, too? DICK CAVETT Oh. Hard to imagine. JOHN LENNON Well, it's easy if you try, Dick. Forest looks oddly at John Lennon. FOREST (V.O.) Some years later, that nice young man from England was on his way home to see his little boy and was signing some autographs. For no particular reason at all, somebody shot him. EXT. STUDIO - LATER A guard lets Forest out a side entrance door. Forest steps, an then stops as he hears s man sitting in a wheelchair speak to him. LT. DAN They gave you the Congressional Medal of Honor. FOREST Now that's Lieutenant Dan. Lieutenant Dan! Forest looks at Lt. Dan. He is a dirty with long hair. LT. DAN They gave you the Congressional Medal of Honor! FOREST Yes sir, they sure did. LT. DAN They gave you an imbecile, a moron who goes on television and makes a fool out himself in front of the whole damn country, the Congressional Medal of Honor. FOREST Yes, sir. LT. DAN Well, then, that's just perfect! Yeah, well I just got one thing to say to that. Goddamn bless America. Lt. Dan's wheelchair begins to slide down the ramp and spins around on the icy ground. Forest looks down at Lt. Dan crashes at the bottom of the ramp. FOREST Lieutenant Dan! EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS - NIGHT Taxi cabs crowd the street as Forest pushes Lt. Dan along the sidewalk. FOREST (V.O.) Lieutenant Dan said he was living in a hotel. And because he didn't have no legs, he spent most of his time exercising his arms. LT. DAN Take a right, take a right. A taxi driver honks his horn as Forest wheels Lt. Dan out in front of the taxi. TAXI DRIVER #1 Hey! Come on already! LT. DAN Ah! FOREST What are you doing here in New York, Lieutenant Dan? LT. DAN I'm living off the government tit. Sucking it dry. A taxi skids to a stop, almost hitting them as they cross the street. The taxi honks at Lt. Dan. Lt. Dan slaps the bumper of the taxi. LT. DAN Hey! Hey! Hey! Are you blind? I'm walking here! Ah, get out... TAXI DRIVER #2 Why don't you go home before you kill yourself? Get out of the way! LT. DAN Come on, go! Go! Go! EXT. LT. DAN'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER A Bob Hope Christmas special in Vietnam on television. Lt. Dan and Forest watch the television. FOREST (V.O.) I stayed with Lieutenant Dan and celebrated the holidays. BOB HOPE You have a great year and hurry home. God bless you. LT. DAN Have you found Jesus yet, Gump? FOREST I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir. Lt. Dan chuckles, drinks the rest of a bottle of wine and tosses it down. He looks at Forest. He wheels himself over to television and turns it off. LT. DAN That's all these cripples, down at the V.A., that's all they ever talk about. Lt. Dan picks up another bottle of port wine, but it is empty. He tosses it onto the floor. LT. DAN Jesus this and Jesus that. Have I found Jesus? They even had a priest come and talk to me. He said God is listening, but I have to help myself. Now, if I accept Jesus into my heart, I'll get to walk beside him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Lt. Dan tosses the empty liquor bottle down and picks another bottle. He becomes enraged as he throws the bottle and looks at Forest. LT. DAN Did you hear what I said? Walk beside him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Well, kiss my crippled ass. God is listening. What a crock of shit. FOREST I'm going to heaven, Lieutenant Dan. LT. DAN Huh? Ah, well, before you go, why don't you get your ass down to the corner and get us another bottle of wine. FOREST Yes, sir. INT. TIMES SQUARE BAR - NIGHT A television shows DICK CLARK as he emcees the Times Square New York Eve celebration. DICK CLARK We are at approximately 45th Street in New York City at One Astor Plaza. This is the site of the old Astor Hotel. Down below us, well over a hundred thousand people are milling about, cheering with horns and whistles and hats... LT. DAN What the hell's in Bayou La Batre? FOREST Shrimpin' boats. LT. DAN Shrimpin' boats? Who gives a shit about shrimpin' boats? FOREST I gotta buy me one of them shrimpin' boats as soon as I have some money. I made me a promise to Bubba in Vietnam, that as soon as the war was over, we'd go in partners. He'd be the captain of the shrimpin' boat and I'd be his first mate. But now that he's dead, that means that I gotta be the captain. LT. DAN A shrimp boat captain. FOREST Yes, sir. A promise is a promise, Lieutenant Dan. LT. DAN Now hear this! Private Gump here is gonna be a shrimp boat captain. Well, I tell you what, Gilligan, the day that you are a shrimp boat captain, I will come and be your first mate. FOREST Okay. LT. DAN If you're ever a shrimp boat captain, that's the day I'm an astronaut. Two sleazy women, named LENORE and CARLA, walk up to Lt. Dan. LENORE Danny, what are you complaining about? CARLA What are you doing, huh? LENORE Mr. Hot Wheels. Who's your friend? FOREST My name is Forest, Forest Gump. LT. DAN This is Cunning Carla, and Long-Limbs Lenore. Carla puts a "Happy New Year" crown on Lt. Dan's head. Lenore fixes her makeup. CARLA So where you been, baby-cakes, huh? Haven't seen you around lately. You know, you should have been here for Christmas 'cause Tommy bought a round on the house and gave everybody a turkey sandwich. LT. DAN Well, well, I had, uh, company. LENORE Hey, hey! We was, we was just there. That's at Times Square. Lenore leans and speaks into Forest's ear. LENORE Don't you just love New Year's? You get to start all over. CARLA Hey, Lenore. LENORE Everybody gets a second chance. FOREST (V.O.) It's funny, but in the middle of all that fun, I began to think about Jenny. DICK CLARK (on television) ...getting wild out there. It's beginning to... INT. APARTMENT/L.A. - NIGHT The New Year's Eve celebration over the T.V. DICK CLARK (over television) ...pour here in Times Square. It's been off-and-on all night, but these people hang in there. Jenny fills her bag with her belongings. FOREST (V.O.) Wondering how she was spending her New Year's night out in California. A man lies passed out on the bed. Jenny looks at her black eye in a mirror, then leaves the apartment. The TV shows the ball in Times Square. CROWD (over television) INT. TIMES SQUARE BAR - NIGHT The ball is lowered, lighting up a sign that reads "1972." CROWD (over television) ...1! Happy New Year! The people in the bar cheer and kiss each other. They blow horns and toss confetti into the air. Forest looks around as Carla and Lenore lean over and kiss him. PATRONS (sing) "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind... FOREST Happy New Year, Lieutenant Dan! PATRONS (sing) Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne." INT. LT. DAN'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER Carla removes her top and sits on top of Dan in his wheelchair. They kiss and play around. Forest sits in a chair. Lenore leaps on him and begins to kiss Forest. She reaches down to Forest's crotch. Forest stands up nervously, causing Lenore to fall down on the floor. Lenore stands up, angry. LENORE What are you, stupid or something? What's your problem? What's his problem? Did you lose your pecker in the war or something? CARLA What, is your friend stupid or something? LT. DAN What did you say? CARLA I said, is your friend stupid or something? LT. DAN Hey! Don't call him stupid! Lt. Dan throws Carla back onto the bed. CARLA Don't push me like that! LENORE Hey, don't you push her! LT. DAN You shut up! Don't you ever call him stupid! CARLA What's the matter, baby? Why you treating me like shit? LT. DAN Get the hell out of here! LENORE You stupid gimp. You belong in "Ripley's Believe It Or Not." LT. DAN Get the hell out of here! Go on! LENORE You should be in a side show! LT. DAN Go on! Get out of here! Get out of here! LENORE You big loser! CARLA Come on, Lenore. We don't need this shit! LENORE You're so pathetic. LT. DAN Get out of here! Lt. Dan falls out of his wheelchair and lands down on the floor. Carla and Lenore laugh as they leave the apartment. CARLA You retard! LENORE You loser! You freak! Forest tries to help Lt. Dan. Lt. Dan pushes Forest away. LT. DAN No! Forest steps back as Lt. Dan flips back over, then pulls himself back up onto his wheelchair. He breathes heavily. FOREST I'm sorry I ruined your New Year's Eve party, Lieutenant Dan. She tastes like cigarettes. FOREST (V.O.) I guess Lieutenant Dan figured there's some things you just can't change. He didn't want to be called crippled, just like I didn't want to be called stupid. LT. DAN Happy New Year. EXT. WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT An ANCHORMAN reports in front of the White House. ANCHORMAN The U.S. Ping-Pong Team met with President Nixon today at an Oval Office ceremony... FOREST (V.O.) And wouldn't you know it... PRESENT - BUS STOP Forest looks at the fat man on the bus bench. FOREST ...a few months later they invited me and the ping-pong team to visit the White House. So I went again. And I met the President of the United States again. INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY A plaque, presented to Forest, reads "Presented to Forest Gump, member of the United States table tennis team as player of the year for 1971. President NIXON holds the plaque. FOREST (V.O.) Only this time they didn't get us rooms in a real fancy hotel. PRESIDENT NIXON So are you enjoying yourself in our national capital, young man? FOREST Yes, sir. PRESIDENT NIXON Well, where are you staying? FOREST It's called the Hotel Ebbott. PRESIDENT NIXON Oh, no, no, no, no. I know of a much nicer hotel. It's brand-new. Very modern. I'll have my people take care of it for you. INT. WATERGATE HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT Forest speaks on the phone. SECURITY GUARD Security, Frank Wills. Forest steps over to a window. Flashlights are moving around in an office across from Forest's room. FOREST Yeah, sir, you might want to send a maintenance man over to that office across the way. The lights are off, and they must be looking for the fuse box or something, 'cause them flashlights they're, they're keeping me awake. SECURITY GUARD Okay, sir. I'll check it out. FOREST Thank you. SECURITY GUARD No problem. FOREST Good night. SECURITY GUARD Good night. Forest hangs up the phone. The camera tilts down, revealing the hotel stationary, which reads "The Watergate Hotel." INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY President Nixon makes a resignation speech on TV. PRESIDENT NIXON (over television) Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow. The television cuts to a shot of President Nixon standing outside Air Force One with his hands in the peace sign. PRESIDENT NIXON (over television) Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office. As I recall the high hopes for America with which we began this second term, I feel a great sadness that I will not be here in this office... Forest is playing ping-pong by himself at the gymnasium. An officer steps up to him. OFFICER Sergeant Gump! FOREST Yes, sir! OFFICER As you were. I have your discharge papers. Your service is up, son. The officer hands Forest an envelope, then walks away. FOREST Does this mean I can't play ping pong no more? OFFICER For the Army it does. FOREST (V.O.) And just like that, my service in the United States Army was over. So I went home. Forest takes his paddle and runs out of the gymnasium. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY Mrs. Gump walks out of the house and smiles. Forest walks up to the house, wearing his uniform. FOREST I'm home, Momma. MRS. GUMP I know, I know. INT. GUMP HOUSE Mrs. Gump and Forest walk into the house. MRS. GUMP Louise, he's here. He's here, everybody. FOREST (V.O.) Now, when I got home, I had no idea that Momma had had all sorts of visitors. In the house are stacks of ping-pong paddles and life-sized cardboard cutouts of Forest playing ping-pong. The name on the ping-pong paddles boxes reads: "Gump-Mao table tennis." MRS. GUMP We've had all sorts of visitors, Forest. Everybody wants you to use their ping-pong stuff. One man even left a check for twenty-five thousand dollars if you'd be agreeable to saying you like using their paddle. FOREST Oh, Momma. I only like using my own paddle. Hi, Miss Louise. LOUISE Hey, Forest. MRS. GUMP I know that. I know that. But it's twenty-five thousand dollars, Forest. I thought maybe you could hold it for a while, see if it grows on you. Oh, you look good, Forest. You look real good. FOREST (V.O.) That Momma, she sure was right. It's funny how things work out. EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE/BUBBA'S MOM'S HOUSE - DAY Forest walks up to a shack on the edge of the Bayou. A group of black kids play in the front yard. FOREST (V.O.) I didn't stay home for long, because I'd made a promise to Bubba. And I always try to keep my promise. So I went on down to Bayou La Batre to meet Bubba's family and make their introduction. Bubba's mother named MRS. BLUE and her other children look at Forest. MRS. BLUE Are you crazy, or just plain stupid? FOREST Stupid is as stupid does, Mrs. Blue. MRS. BLUE I guess. EXT. BUBBA'S GRAVE - DAY Forest steps over to Bubba's tombstone. FOREST (V.O.) And of course, I paid my respect to Bubba himself. FOREST Hey, Bubba, it's me, Forest Gump. I remember everything you said, and I got it all figured out. Forest pulls out notes from his pocket. FOREST I'm taking the twenty-four thousand, five hundred and six-two dollars and forty-seven cents that I got... EXT. BAYOU - DAY Forest walks across a yard where men are cleaning shrimp. FOREST (V.O.) ...well, that's left after a new hair cut and a new suit and I took Momma out to real fancy dinner and I bought a bus ticket and three Doctor Peppers. Forest walks along a wooden pier. Forest pays an old black shrimper a large wad of cash. OLD SHRIMPER Tell me something. Are you stupid or something? FOREST Stupid is as stupid does, sir. EXT. BUBBA'S GRAVE Forest stands at the grave. FOREST Well, that's what's left after me saying, "When I was in China on the All-America Ping-Pong Team, I just loved playing ping-pong with my Flex- O-Ping-Pong Paddle." Which everybody knows it isn't true, but Momma says it's just a little white lie so it wouldn't hurt nobody. So, anyway, I'm putting all that on gas, ropes and new nets and a brand-new shrimpin' boat. EXT. BAYOU - DAY Forest steers his shrimping boat. The boat is old and rusty. Forest unleashes his nets as his catch of the day drops to the deck. It is a bunch of garbage and shells. Forest picks up one shrimp. FOREST (V.O.) Now, Bubba had told me everything he knows about shrimpin', but you know what I found out? Shrimpin' is tough. EXT. DOCKS Forest pulls a couple of shrimp out of a bucket. FOREST I only caught five. OLD SHRIMPER A couple of more, you can have yourself a cocktail. The old shrimper begins to walk away, then stops and looks at Forest. OLD SHRIMPER Hey, you ever think about namin' this old boat? FOREST (V.O.) I'd never named a boat before, but there was only one I could think of. Forest paints a name on the side of his boat. The name is "Jenny." FOREST (V.O.) The most beautiful name in the wide world. INT. DISCO Disco lights flash and people dance. A guy asks a girl to dance. GIRL Okay. Jenny sits at a table with some other people. She is snorting cocaine. FOREST (V.O.) Now, I hadn't heard from Jenny in a long while. But... EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE - DAY Forest stands at the helm as the boat glides across the water. FOREST (V.O.) But I thought about her a lot. And I hoped that whatever she was doing made her happy. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT Drug paraphernalia and a large wad of cash are spread out on a table. A man drops a syringe on the table. He reaches over and touches Jenny. She is pale with dark lines under her eyes. INT. BATHROOM Jenny smears some lines of cocaine on a mirror. She looks at herself in the mirror. EXT. BALCONY Jenny steps out onto the high-rise balcony. She steps up on a table and stands on the edge of the balcony. A busy street lies many stories below. Jenny looks down to the intersection below. She slips over the edge, regains her balance, turns and looks back at the intersection below, and begins to get down from the edge. Jenny grabs a hold of the ledge and carefully climbs down. She sits down on a chair. Jenny rocks back and forth as she cries. She looks up at the sky. EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE/FOREST'S BOAT - NIGHT The moon shines above in the sky. Forest lies in a hammock on his boat. FOREST (V.O.) I thought about Jenny all the time. EXT. FOREST'S BOAT/BAYOU DOCK - DAY Forest stands at the helm of his boat and slowly glides by the docks. Forest looks around and notices something and bends down to get a clear view. Lt. Dan sits in his wheelchair on the deck. Forest looks at Lt. Dan. He smiles, surprised. FOREST Hi! Forest leaps off of his moving boat and into the water. The boat continues as Forest clumsily swims. Lt. Dan sits in his wheelchair at the edge of the dock. Forest flails his arms as he swims up to the dock. Lt. Dan waits for Forest, smoking a cigar. Forest climbs up a ladder onto the dock. FOREST Lieutenant Dan, what are you doing here? LT. DAN Well, I thought I'd try out my sea legs. FOREST Well, you ain't got no legs, Lieutenant Dan. LT. DAN Well, well, Captain Forest Gump. I had to see this for myself. And I told you if you were ever a shrimp boat captain, that I'd be your first mate. Well, here I am. I am a man of my word. FOREST Okay. Forest shakes Lt. Dan's hand. LT. DAN Yeah, but don't you be thinking that I'm gonna be calling you sir. FOREST No, sir. Forest's boat glides, crushing a dock. Forest and Lt. Dan look at it. FOREST That's my boat. EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE WATERS - DAY Forest's shrimping boat is alone on the gulf waters. LT. DAN I have a feeling if we head the east, we'll find some shrimp. So, take a left. Take a left. Forest looks up. Lt. Dan is sitting in the rigging. FOREST Which way? LT. DAN Over there! They're over there! Get, get on the wheel and take a left! FOREST Okay. LT. DAN Gump, what are you doing? Take a left! Left! That's where we're gonna find those shrimp, my boy! That's where we'll find 'em. Forest empties the net. Their "catch" is debris that falls to the deck. FOREST Still no shrimp, Lieutenant Dan. LT. DAN Okay, so I was wrong. FOREST Well, how we gonna find them? LT. DAN Well, maybe you should just pray for shrimp. INT. SMALL CHURCH - DAY The all-black gospel choir sings and claps their hands. FOREST (V.O.) So I went to church every Sunday... Lt. Dan is sitting in his chair at the back of the church. He takes swigs from a liquor bottle. FOREST (V.O.) Sometimes Lieutenant Dan came, too. Though I think he left the praying up to me. EXT. BOAT - ANOTHER DAY A catch of junk is dumped onto the deck. Lt. Dan lowers himself from the rigging. FOREST No shrimp. LT. DAN Where the hell's this God of yours? The wind begins to blow strong. FOREST (V.O.) It's funny Lieutenant Dan said that, 'cause right then, God showed up. EXT. BOAT - NIGHT Water sprays on deck during a hurricane. Lt. Dan on the rigging, shouts and shakes his fist as he is pelted by wind and rain. LT. DAN You'll never sink this boat! FOREST (V.O.) Now me, I was scared. But Lieutenant Dan, he was mad. LT. DAN Come on! You call this a storm? Forest slides back and forth as he attempts to steer the boat. LT. DAN Blow, you son-of-a-bitch! Blow! It's time for a showdown! You and me. I'm right here. Come and get me! You'll never sink this boat! INT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY An ANCHORMAN over TV, is standing in front of a pier. ANCHORMAN (over television) Hurricane Carmen came through here yesterday... EXT. BAYOU DOCKS - DAY The anchorman is standing in front of the ruined pier and boats. ANCHORMAN ...destroying nearly everything in its path. And as in other towns up and down the coast, Bayou La Batre's entire shrimping industry... INT. GUMP HOUSE ANCHORMAN ...has fallen victim to Carmen and has been left in utter ruin. Speaking with local officials, this reporter has learned, in fact, only one shrimping boat actually survived the storm. Forest's boat comes down the river. MRS. GUMP Louise. Louise, there's Forest! FOREST (V.O.) After that, shrimpin' was easy. FOREST'S BOAT - DAY Lt. Dan and Forest empty their net. A huge catch of shrimp falls onto the deck. Lt. Dan opens another big catch. Another catch drops open on top of yet another huge catch. Forest and Lt. Dan smile. FOREST (V.O.) And since people still needed them shrimps for shrimp cocktails and barbecues and all... EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT The man sitting on the bench listens to Forest. An ELDERLY WOMAN sits next to the man. FOREST ...and we were the only boat left standing "Bubba-Gump" shrimp's what they got. We got a whole bunch of boats. Twelve Jenny's, a big ol' warehouse, we even have hats that says "Bubba-Gump" on 'em. "Bubba- Gump Shrimp." It's a household name. MAN Hold on there, boy. Are you telling me you're the owner of the Bubba- Gump Shrimp Corporation? FOREST Yes, sir. We've got more money than Davy Crocket. MAN Boy, I've heard some whoppers in my time, but that tops them all. We was sitting next to a millionaire! The man laughs as he walks away. ELDERLY WOMAN Well, I thought it was a very lovely story. And you tell it so well. With such enthusiasm. FOREST Would you like to see what Lieutenant Dan looks like? ELDERLY WOMAN Well, yes, I would! Forest shows her the cover of a "Fortune" magazine with Forest and Lt. Dan on the cover. FOREST That's him right there. The elderly woman looks at the magazine and at Forest with surprise. FOREST And let me tell you something about Lieutenant Dan. EXT. BOAT/DECK - DAY Forest and Lt. Dan are working on the boat. LT. DAN Forest, I never thanked you for saving my life. Forest looks a little surprised. Lt. Dan smiles, then looks away. Lt. Dan pulls himself out of his chair to the railing and jumps into the water. FOREST (V.O.) He never actually said so, but I think he made his peace with God. EXT. BOAT Forest and Lt. Dan have dinner on the deck. The television shows an assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford. ANCHORMAN (over television) For the second time in seventeen days, President Ford escaped possible assassination today when a woman, Sarah Jane Moore, fired on him as he stepped out of a hotel in San Francisco. MARGO (over radio) Base to Jenny One. Base to Jenny One. LT. DAN Jenny One, go Margo. MARGO (over radio) Forest has a phone call. LT. DAN Yeah, well you'll have to tell them to call him back. He is indisposed at the moment. MARGO (over radio) His momma's sick. ANCHORMAN (over television) Lynett Alice Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson better known as "Squeaky," attempted to assassinate the President as he was... Forest dives into the water as he reacts. EXT. ROAD/GUMP HOUSE - DAY Forest carries a suitcase as he runs down the road. Forest runs past the row of mailboxes and turns into the drive. Louise and others are on the front porch. FOREST Where's Momma? LOUISE She's upstairs. INT. GUMP HOUSE - WOMAN'S BED ROOM Forest opens the door, the doctor stands next to Mrs. Gump in bed. MRS. GUMP Hi, Forest. DOCTOR I'll see you tomorrow. MRS. GUMP Oh, all right. The doctor looks down at Forest's legs. DOCTOR We sure got you straightened out, didn't we, boy? The doctor leaves and closes the door. Forest takes off his hat and steps over to her. FOREST What's the matter, Momma? MRS. GUMP I'm dyin', Forest. Come on in, sit down over here. FOREST Why are you dyin', Momma? MRS. GUMP It's my time. It's just my time. Oh, now, don't you be afraid, sweetheart. Death is just a part of life. It's something we're all destined to do. I didn't know it, but I was destined to be your momma. I did the best I could. FOREST You did good, Momma. MRS. GUMP Well, I happened to believe you make your own destiny. You have to do the best with what God gave you. FOREST What's my destiny, Momma? MRS. GUMP You're gonna have to figure that out for yourself. Life is a box of chocolates, Forest. You never know what you're gonna get. FOREST (V.O.) Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them. MRS. GUMP I will miss you, Forest. FOREST (V.O.) She had got the cancer and died on a Tuesday. I bought her a new hat with little flowers on it. EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT The elderly woman and Forest sit. The woman is crying and wipes her eyes with a hankie. FOREST And that's all I have to say about that. A bus stops. Forest looks at the elderly woman. FOREST Didn't you say you were waiting for the Number Seven bus? ELDERLY WOMAN There'll be another one along shortly. FOREST Now, because I had been a football star, and a war hero, and a national celebrity, and a shrimpin' boat captain, and a college graduate, the city of fathers of Greenbow, Alabama, decided to get together and offered me a fine job. EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD - DAY Forest rides a lawn tractor as he moves the football field lawn. FOREST (V.O.) So, I never went back to work for Lieutenant Dan. EXT. GUMP HOUSE MAILBOXES Forest takes out a letter and opens it. FOREST (V.O.) Though he did take care of my Bubba- Gump money. He got me invested in some kind of fruit company. And so then I got a call from him saying we don't have to worry about money no more. EXT. BUS STOP FOREST And I said, "That's good. One less thing." INT. CHURCH - DAY The choir and members are singing. FOREST (V.O.) Now, Momma said there's only so much fortune a man really needs... EXT. CHURCH The sign reads: "Four Square Baptist Church." A new cross is placed on the steeple. New furniture is taken inside. REVEREND Praise the Lord. FOREST (V.O.) ...and the rest is just for showing off. So, I gave a whole bunch of it to the Four Square Gospel Church. EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY The sign reads: "Gump Medical Center Bayou La Batre, Alabama." The ribbon-cutting ceremony. FOREST (V.O.) And I gave a whole bunch to the Bayou La Batre Fishing Hospital. EXT. BUBBA'S MOM'S HOUSE A postman delivers a letter to Bubba's mom. She opens the letter. FOREST (V.O.) And even though Bubba was dead, and Lieutenant Dan said I was nuts. I gave Bubba's mommy Bubba's share. She is surrounded by her many children. She looks at the check and faints. EXT. BUS STOP FOREST And you know what... INT. FLORIDA CONDO A door opens as a white woman serves Bubba's mom some shrimp. FOREST (V.O.) She didn't have to work in nobody's kitchen no more. MRS. BLUE Smells wonderful! EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD Forest rides the mower. FOREST (V.O.) And 'cause I was godzillionaire and I liked doing it so much. I cut that grass for free. EXT. GUMP HOUSE BALCONY - NIGHT Forest looks down the road as he steps onto the porch. FOREST (V.O.) But at nighttime, when there was nothing to do and the house was all empty, I'd always think of Jenny. Jenny's image walks, then vanishes. Forest looks away. He turns and walks into the house. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY Jenny walks across the lawn to Forest. FOREST (V.O.) And then, she was there. JENNY Hello, Forest. FOREST Hello, Jenny. FOREST (V.O.) Jenny came back and stayed with me. INT. GUMP HOUSE Jenny lies asleep in bed. FOREST (V.O.) Maybe it was because she had nowhere else to go. Or maybe it was because she was so tired, because she went to bed and slept and slept like she hadn't slept in years. It was wonderful having her home. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Forest and Jenny walking. FOREST (V.O.) Every day we'd take a walk, and I'd jabber on like a monkey in a tree. And she'd listen about ping-pong and shrimpin' boats and Momma makin' a trip to heaven. I did all the talkin'. Jenny most of the time was real quiet. FOREST ...big ol' gobs of rain and little bitty stinging rain and rain... Jenny's old house stands at the end of the dirt road. It appears to be deserted. Jenny walks toward the house and stops. She stares at the house. Forest walks toward Jenny. Jenny suddenly heaves a rock angrily at the house. She throws other things at the house. JENNY How could you do this? She breaks a window. Jenny collapses to the ground and sobs. Forest knees down next to her. FOREST (V.O.) Sometimes I guess there just aren't enough rocks. EXT. OLD OAK TREE - DAY Jenny and Forest sit on a limb together. FOREST (V.O.) I never really knew why she came back, but I didn't care. It was like olden times. We was like peas and carrots again. INT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY Jenny sits by the vase of flowers and look out the window. FOREST (V.O.) Every day I'd pick pretty flowers and put them in her room for her. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY Forest closes his eyes as he sits on the porch. Jenny places a box of Nike running shoes in his lap. FOREST (V.O.) And she gave me the best gift anyone could ever get in the wide world. JENNY Okay, you can open your eyes. FOREST New shoes. JENNY They make them just for running. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT Through the windows, Forest and Jenny are dancing as it rains outside. FOREST (V.O.) And she even showed me how to dance. And, well, we was like family... Jenny and me. EXT. RIVER - NIGHT Jenny and Forest sit on a log together and look at the river. Jenny places her arms around Forest. FOREST (V.O.) And it was the happiest time of my life. The fireworks explode in the sky. INT. GUMP'S HOUSE - NIGHT The Statue of Liberty is shown on the TV. Fireworks go off. Forest and Jenny are watching the 4th of July celebration on TV. ANNOUNCER (over television) And this Fourth is witnessing one of the largest fireworks displays in the nation's two-hundred year history... JENNY You done watching it? FOREST Mm-hmm. ANNOUNCER (over television) ...here in New York Harbor. After the spectacular display of tall ships earlier, the Statue of Liberty... Jenny stands up and kisses Forest on the cheek. JENNY I'm going to bed. Jenny turns off the TV and walks outside. Forest stands as he puts down his Dr. Pepper. Jenny walks toward the stairs. FOREST Will you marry me? I'd make a good husband, Jenny. JENNY You would, Forest. FOREST But you won't marry me. JENNY You don't want to marry me. FOREST Why don't you love me, Jenny? I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is. Forest turns and walks toward the door. Jenny turns and walks up the stairs. Forest stands outside. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT The house stands in the rain. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT Forest lies in his bed as the door opens. Jenny gets into bed next to Forest. FOREST Jenny? JENNY Forest, I do love you. Jenny and Forest kiss. Jenny takes off her nightgown as they make love. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - MORNING Jenny carries her purse and walks toward a waiting cab. CAB DRIVER Where are you running off to? JENNY I'm not running. INT. GUMP HOUSE The cab drives away as Forest is asleep in his bed. The Congressional Medal lies on a table by a ping-pong paddle. Forest holds a glass of milk and wears his bathrobe. He looks at the medal he had give to Jenny. Jenny's bed is made. Forest stands in the doorway looking at the room and bed where Jenny had been. EXT. FRONT PORCH - DAY Forest sit on a rocking chair with his running shoes on. He is still, as if in a trance. He slowly puts on his Bubba- Gump cap. Forest stands. He walks off the porch. He begins to jog across the lawn. His speed increases as he runs farther away. Forest runs down the drive away from his house. FOREST (V.O.) That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. Forest runs to the end of the drive, then turns right and runs down the highway. FOREST (V.O.) So I ran to the end of the road, and when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. INT. BARBER SHOP - DAY The three men sit as they watch the television. Forest runs through the main street of town. NEWSCASTER President Carter, suffering from heat exhaustion fell into the arms of security agents. FOREST (V.O.) And when I got there... EXT. ALABAMA ROAD The sign reads "Entering Greenbow County." FOREST (V.O.) ...I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great... Forest runs by a sign that reads "Mississippi welcomes you. The Magnolia State." FOREST (V.O.) ...state of Alabama. And that's what I did I ran clear across Alabama. EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT FOREST For no particular reason, I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. EXT. SANTA MONICA - DAY The sign reads "Santa Monica yacht harbor sports fishing - boating - cafes." Forest runs under the sign and onto the pier. FOREST (V.O.) And when I got there, I figured since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN Forest runs to a pier at the Atlantic Ocean. FOREST (V.O.) When I got to another ocean, I figured since I've gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going. Forest runs across the pier. A lighthouse stands at the end of the pier. FOREST (V.O.) When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT FOREST When I had to go, you know, I went. ELDERLY WOMAN And so, you just ran? FOREST Yeah. EXT. HIGHWAY Forest is running along the highway. Forest runs down a road between field of wheat. A Mountain river. Forest runs across a cobble-stone bridge. The Rocky Mountains are behind him in distance. Forest runs through some meadowland. Split rail fences line the road. FOREST (V.O.) I'd think a lot about Momma and Bubba, and Lieutenant Dan, but most of all, I thought about Jenny. I thought about her a lot. EXT. BARBER SHOP The three men in the barber shop watch the news on television. NEWSCASTER For more than two years now, a man named Forest Gump, a gardener from Greenbow, Alabama, stopping only to sleep, has been running across America. INT. COFFEE SHOP Jenny fills customer's coffee cups. NEWSCASTER Charles Cooper brings us this report. NEWSMAN For the fourth time on his journey across America, Forest Gump, a gardener from Greenbow, Alabama, is about to cross the Mississippi River again today. The TV shows Forest runs across a bridge that reads "Mississippi River." JENNY I'll be damned. Forest... EXT. MISSISSIPPI BRIDGE NEWSMAN Sir, why are you running? 1ST REPORTER Why are you running? 2ND REPORTER Are you doing this for world peace? 3RD REPORTER Are you doing this for women's right? NEWSMAN Or for the environment? REPORTER Or for animals? 3RD REPORTER Or for nuclear arms? FOREST (V.O.) They just couldn't believe that somebody would do all that running for no particular reason. 2ND REPORTER Why are you doing this? FOREST I just felt like running. EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT FOREST I just left like running. EXT. SMALL EASTERN TOWN Forest runs as a YOUNG MAN runs up to him. YOUNG MAN It's you. I can't believe it's really you. EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT FOREST Now, for some reason what I was doing seemed to make sense to people. EXT. SMALL EASTERN TOWN The young man jobs behind Forest. YOUNG MAN I mean, it was like an alarm went off in my head, you know. I said, here's a guy that's got his act together. Here's somebody who's got it, all figured out. Here's somebody who has the answer. I'll follow you anywhere, Mr. Gump. FOREST (V.O.) So, I got company. Forest runs up a slope on a high mountain road. A group of people are jogging behind him. FOREST (V.O.) And after that I got more company. And then... A large group jogs behind Forest across the desert road. FOREST (V.O.) ...even more people joined in. Somebody later told me... EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT FOREST ...it gave people hope. Now... Now, I don't know anything about that, but... Forest and his followers job through a small town. A man runs up and talks to Forest. FOREST (V.O.) Some of those people asked me if I could help them out. AGING HIPPIE Hey, man, hey, listen. I was wondering if you might help me, huh? Listen, I'm in the bumper sticker business and I've been trying to think up a good slogan. And since you have been such a big inspiration to the people around here, I thought you might be able to help me jump into... Whoa! Man, you just ran through a big pile of dogshit! The hippie jumps over the "dogshit" as he runs along Forest. FOREST It happens. AGING HIPPIE What, shit? FOREST Sometimes. The hippie stops to ponder this profound thought. FOREST (V.O.) And some years later I heard that fella did come up with a bumper sticker slogan... A bumper sticker reads "Shit Happens." FOREST (V.O.) ...and he make a lot of money off of it. The truck with the bumper sticker drives into an intersection. It collides with a car. EXT. TRUCK STOP Forest runs, followed by his group, as a man runs up to him. FOREST (V.O.) Another time I was running along, somebody who had lost all his money in the T-shirt business, and he wanted to put my face on a T-shirt, but he couldn't draw that well and he didn't have a camera. WILD-EYED MAN I think it would be really fortunate for me if I could get your name on these, oh, your face and name on these T-shirts. It would be wonderful. A truck splashes mud onto Forest as it goes by. The man hands Forest a yellow T-shirt to use as a rag to wipe the mud off. WILD-EYED MAN Here, use this one. Nobody likes that color anyway. Forest wipes his face on the towel and hands it back to the man. FOREST Have a nice day. The man looks at the T-shirt. He holds it up displaying the "Happy Face." FOREST (V.O.) And some years later I found out that that man did come up with a idea for a T-shirt and he made a lot of money off of it. EXT. MONUMENT VALLEY Forest runs with a group that follows behind him. FOREST (V.O.) Anyway, like I was saying, I had a lot of company. My Momma always said you got to put the past behind you before you can move on. And I think that's what my running was all about. I had run for three years, two months, fourteen days, and sixteen hours. Forest stops running. The group stops behind him. Forest stands and looks as the group waits expectantly. Forest turns and look. YOUNG MAN Quiet. Quiet, he's gonna say something. FOREST I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. Forest walks toward the group. The group parts for Forest as he walks down the middle of the road. YOUNG MAN Now what are we supposed to do? FOREST (V.O.) And just like that, my running days was over. So, I went home to Alabama. A television shows President Reagan and his staff as they react to gunshots in front of a limo. NEWSCASTER (over television) Moments ago, at two twenty-five p.m., as President Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel... INT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY Forest sits eating a sandwich, watching the news of the assassination attempt. NEWSCASTER ...five or six gunshots were fired by an unknown would-be assassin. The President was shot in the chest and the assailant was immediately tackled by a half a dozen lawmen. As the Presidential... LOUISE I picked up the mail. FOREST Oh, thank you, Miss, Miss Louise. FOREST (V.O.) One day, out of the blue clear sky, I got a letter from Jenny... EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT Forest takes the letter out of his pocket. FOREST ...wondering if I could come down to Savannah to see her, and that's what I'm doing here. She saw me on TV, running, I'm supposed to go on the Number Nine bus to Richmond Street and get off and go one block left to 1-9-4-7 Henry Street, Apartment 4. The elderly woman looks at the letter. ELDERLY WOMAN Why, you don't need to take a bus. Henry Street is just five or six blocks down that way. FOREST Down that way? ELDERLY WOMAN Down that way. Forest hastily grabs his suitcase and letter as he stands. FOREST It was nice talking' to you. Forest runs, the elderly woman shouts from the bus stop bench. A truck honks its horn as Forest runs across the street past the truck. ELDERLY WOMAN I hope everything works out for you. INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - DAY Jenny opens the door. JENNY Hey! Forest! How you doing? FOREST Hi. JENNY Come in. Come in. FOREST I got your letter. JENNY Oh, I was wondering about that. Jenny shuts the door. Forest looks around. FOREST Is this your house? JENNY Yeah, it's messy right now. I just got off work. FOREST It's nice. You got air conditioning. Forest hands Jenny the box of chocolates. FOREST Ah... JENNY Thank you. FOREST I ate some. Jenny picks up a scrapbook and turns the pages. JENNY Hey, I kept, I kept a scrapbook of your, of your clippings and everything. There you are. This, I got your running. FOREST I ran a long way. For a long time. JENNY There. Listen, Forest. I don't know how to say this. Um, I just... I want to apologize for anything that I ever did to you, 'cause I was messed up for a long time, and... There is a knock at the door. LYNN MARIE enters as she opens the door. LYNN MARIE Yoo-hoo. JENNY Hey. LYNN MARIE Hi. Jenny grabs a young boy. JENNY Hey, you. This is an old friend from Alabama. LYNN MARIE Oh, how do you do? JENNY Ah, listen, next week my schedule changes, so I'll be able to... but thanks for picking up. LYNN MARIE No problem. Got to go, Jen. I'm double parked. JENNY Okay. Lynn Marie closes the door and waves bye to Forest. LYNN MARIE Bye. JENNY Thanks. This is very good friend, Mr. Gump. Can you say hi to him? LITTLE BOY Hello, Mr. Gump. FOREST Hello. LITTLE BOY Now, can I go watch TV now? JENNY Yes, you can. Just keep it low. The little boy runs into other room and picks up TV remote control. FOREST You're a momma, Jenny. JENNY I'm a momma. His name is Forest. FOREST Like me. JENNY I named him after his Daddy. FOREST He got a daddy named Forest, too? JENNY You're his daddy, Forest. Forest continues to stare at Forest Jr. Forest then looks frightened and starts to back away. JENNY Hey, Forest, look at me. Look at me, Forest. There's nothing you need to do, okay? You didn't do anything wrong. Okay? Jenny turns and looks at Forest Jr. in the other room. JENNY Isn't he beautiful? FOREST He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. But... is, is he smart, or is he... JENNY He's very smart. He's one of the smartest in his class. Forest breathes deep. He looks at Jenny, then at Forest Jr. JENNY Yeah, it's okay. Go talk to him. Forest walks into the room and sits down next to Forest Jr. "Sesame Street" is on the TV. BERT Oh, great. ERNIE Hey, Bert, can you give me a hand? BERT A hand? Well, yeah, what do you want, Ernie? FOREST What are you watching. FOREST JR. Bert and Ernie. ERNIE Well, it's the first stage. Bert. It's planning to write a story, Bert. I have pencils right here to write with, Bert. Now, we got, uh, paper. I'll take that paper, Bert. See, we have the paper to write on. EXT. PARK - DAY Forest and Jenny sit on a bench. Forest Jr. swings behind them. JENNY Forest, I'm sick. FOREST What, do you have a cough due to cold? JENNY I have some kind virus. And the doctors don't, they don't know what it is. And there isn't anything they can do about it. FOREST You could come home with me. Jenny, you and little Forest could come stay at my house in Greenbow. I'll take care of you if you're sick. JENNY Would you marry me, Forest? FOREST Okay. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY A group has gathered on the lawn for the wedding. Louise walks up to Forest. MINISTER Please take your seats. LOUISE Forest, it's time to start. Jenny walks out of the house. Forest walks over to greet her. She wears a white dress. She walks up to Forest and adjusts his necktie. JENNY Hi. Your tie. Lt. Dan is walking across the lawn. He uses a cane. A WOMAN is walking next to him. FOREST Lieutenant Dan? Lieutenant Dan! LT. DAN Hello, Forest. Jenny walks over to Forest and Lt. Dan. FOREST You got new legs. New legs! LT. DAN Yeah, I got new legs. Lt. Dan lifts his pant leg to display his metal leg. LT. DAN Custom-made titanium alloy. It's what they use on the space shuttle. FOREST Magic legs. LT. DAN This is my fiancee, Susan. FOREST Lieutenant Dan! Susan shakes Forest's hand. SUSAN Hi, Forest. FOREST Lieutenant Dan, this is my Jenny. JENNY Hey, it's nice to meet you, finally. Jenny steps forward and kisses Lt. Dan's cheek. The group is seated as they watch Forest and Jenny take vows on the front lawn. Forest Jr. stands next to Jenny. MINISTER Do you, Forest, take Jenny to be your wife? Do you, Jenny, take Forest to be your husband? If so, I pronounce you man and wife. The wind blows fallen leaves across the ground. Jenny, Forest, and Forest Jr. walk toward the house. They all hold hands as they walk. INT. GUMP HOUSE - MORNING Forest steps into Jenny's bedroom. He carries a tray with breakfast on it. Forest looks at Jenny as she sleeps. Slowly she wakes up and looks at Forest. FOREST Hey. JENNY Hey. Forest sets the tray down next to Jenny as she sits up in bed. Forest opens a window, then sits down next to the bed. JENNY Hey, Forest, were you scared in Vietnam? FOREST Yes. Well, I, I don't know. EXT. VIETNAM - FLASHBACK - NIGHT Forest looks up into the sky as the rain stops. Forest removes his helmet. The stars emerge from behind the clouds. FOREST (V.O.) Sometimes it would stop raining long enough for the stars to come out. And then it was nice. It was like just before the sun goes to bed down on the bayou... EXT. BAYOU - FLASHBACK - SUNSET Forest stands on his boat and looks at a deep orange and red sunset. FOREST (V.O.) There was over a million sparkles on the water. Like that mountain lake. EXT. MOUNTAIN LAKE - FLASHBACK - DAY Forest runs along a highway. A lake reflects the mountains and the sky. FOREST (V.O.) It was so clear, Jenny. It looks like there were two skies, one on top of the other. And then in the desert, when the sun comes up... EXT. DESERT - FLASHBACK - SUNRISE Forest runs along a desert highway. The morning light casts an orange glow over the desert. FOREST (V.O.) I couldn't tell where heavens stopped and the earth began. It was so beautiful. INT. GUMP HOUSE - MORNING Forest looks at Jenny. Jenny looks out the window. JENNY I wish I could have been there with you. FOREST You were. Jenny reaches over and takes Forest's hand. JENNY I love you. FOREST (V.O.) You died on a Saturday morning. EXT. JENNY'S GRAVE AT OLD OAK TREE - DAY Forest stands under the old oak tree where Jenny has been buried. FOREST And I had you placed here under our tree. Jenny's grave marker. Forest tries to hold back his tears. FOREST And I had that house of your father's bulldozed to the ground. EXT. JENNY'S OLD HOUSE - DAY Forest watches as Jenny's dad's house is knocked down by a bulldozer. FOREST (V.O.) Momma... EXT. JENNY'S GRAVE FOREST ...always said dyin' was a part of life. Jenny's grave marker reads: JENNY GUMP July 16, 1945 -- March 22, 1982 Beloved Mother, Wife and Friend FOREST I sure wish it wasn't. Little Forest, he's doing just fine. INT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT Forest Jr. reads a book to Forest sitting next to him. FOREST JR. (reading) "But he wasn't quite sure. Everywhere they went, the new guests... FOREST (V.O.) About to start school again soon. I make his breakfast, lunch, and dinner... EXT. JENNY'S GRAVE Forest looks down as he sobs. FOREST ...every day. I make sure he combs his hair and brushes his teeth every day. Teaching him how to play ping pong. EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT Forest tries to teach Forest Jr. how to play ping-pong. FOREST Okay... FOREST (V.O.) He's really good. FOREST Forest, you go. Forest Jr. serves the ball, causing Forest dive and miss it. EXT. GUMP HOUSE/RIVER - DAY Forest and Forest Jr. sit on a log by the river and fish. FOREST (V.O.) We fish a lot. EXT. JENNY'S GRAVE Forest looks down at the grave marker. FOREST And every night, we read a book. He's so smart, Jenny. You'd be so proud of him. I am. He, uh, wrote a letter, and he says I can't read it. I'm not supposed to, so I'll just leave it here for you. Forest places the letter down at the grave marker, next to fresh flowers. The name on the envelope reads: "Mom." Forest steps back and looks down at the grave. FOREST Jenny, I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny. If there's anything you need, I won't be far away. As Forest walks away, a flock of birds flies overhead and lands in the tree. Forest turns and watches. EXT. ROAD - MORNING Forest walks with Forest Jr. for the bus. The bus drives toward them. FOREST Here's your bus. Okay. Forest pulls "Curious George" out of Forest Jr.'s backpack. FOREST Hey, I know this. FOREST JR. I'm gonna show that for show-and- tell because grandma used to read it to you. Forest looks at the book. The feather from the beginning of the movie drops out of the book, unnoticed. FOREST My favorite book. The bus comes to a stop. The door opens. FOREST Well... Forest puts the book back into Forest Jr.'s backpack and hands it to him. FOREST ...okay. Hey, there you go. Forest Jr. walks toward the bus. Forest stands up. FOREST Hey, Forest. Don't... I wanted to tell you I love you. FOREST JR. I love you too, Daddy. FOREST I'll be right here when you get back. Forest Jr. looks into the bus and at the bus driver. It is the same bus driver, only older now, who drove Forest to school when he was a young boy. SCHOOLD BUS DRIVER You understand this is the bus to school now, don't you? FOREST JR. Of course, and you're Dorothy Harris and I'm Forest Gump. Forest Jr. looks over and waves to his father. Forest nods approvingly. Forest Jr. gets on the bus. The bus pulls away. Forest stands next to the mailbox. Forest sits down. The camera cranes down, revealing the feather as it lies at Forest's feet. A gust of wind picks the feather up. The feather floats up into the air. Forest sits at the side of the road. The feather floats higher into the air. The feather soars up into the sky and travels up and down, then covers the camera lens. THE END 1 Forest reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrJeeblez 0 Posted April 3, 2014 WHAT THE FUCK SILENCE. 2 kbraszzz and DrLee reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrLee 15 Posted April 3, 2014 Was going to do this, but then I saw Silence's post. RIP 1 MrJeeblez reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Warriorsfury 12 Posted April 3, 2014 The wonders of Find and Replace have treated Silence greatly it seems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrono 372 Posted April 3, 2014 Silence is DQ for blatantly stealing the script of forrest gump 1 1 2 Stence, Rhododendron, Warriorsfury and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kittylicious 5 Posted April 4, 2014 once upon a time there was a forest. a red neck was bored and decided to set fire to the forest it burned and burned and nobody cared nobody ran nobody scared the forest did burn, ashes it became oh dear oh dear such a horrible shame. The end! 1 Forest reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeToucan 136 Posted April 4, 2014 On the first day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: A swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the second day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the third day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the fourth day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the fifth day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 5 Golden Rings 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the sixth day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 6 firemen a Running 5 Golden Rings 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the seventh day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 7 deer burning 6 firemen a Running 5 Golden Rings 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the eighth day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 8 Families Crying 7 deer burning 6 firemen a Running 5 Golden Rings 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the ninth day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 9 swagsters laughing 8 Families Crying 7 deer burning 6 firemen a Running 5 Golden Rings 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the tenth day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 10 matches burning 9 swagsters laughing 8 Families Crying 7 deer burning 6 firemen a Running 5 Golden Rings 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the eleventh day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 11 Forests Crackling 10 matches burning 9 swagsters laughing 8 Families Crying 7 deer burning 6 firemen a Running 5 Golden Rings 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree On the twelfth day of Forest Burning my true love sent to me: 12 Forests Falling 11 Forests Crackling 10 matches burning 9 swagsters laughing 8 Families Crying 7 deer burning 6 firemen a Running 5 Golden Rings 4 Fleeing Birds 3 Gas Cans 2 Lighters Lighting and a swagsickle in a Burning Tree 1 1 1 Forest, Temptedguy and DeathGod reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marceline 3 Posted April 7, 2014 Once there was a tree named forest. He live a lonely life like any other tree. One day a couple of campers came along and chopped him down and set him on fire the end. 1 1 MrJeeblez and Forest reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diabeetus 20 Posted April 7, 2014 Goat Simulator is shit. 1 1 2 MrJeeblez, DrLee, LeToucan and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrono 372 Posted April 10, 2014 bump til sat 2x given away now too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThePenguin 9 Posted April 11, 2014 There once was a Maokai. One day, Maokai returned to the forest, but brand had set it ablaze. Maokai quickly tried to replant the forest by throwing around saplings, but they caught on fire and exploded. The disappointed Maokai embraced the forest fire. The end Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
