Rob says:
Suggestion for a scene
Rear Gunnery Station dinner scene
Jack is explaining some background as he and Sara are eating dinner
Jack has just been explaining about his father becoming a flight instructor, and leaving to join the service
All the dialogue would be the same up until Jack says he “couldn't understand,” then:
Jack
“But I couldn't. I couldn't understand at all. Until one day, another man in uniform showed up at our door. He was a pilot attached to a fighter wing that had trained under my father. He told me what really happened, why my dad really died. Six of them were practicing air combat maneuvers one day out over the ocean when out of nowhere, they were engaged by a flight of German ME-109's. My father ordered the trainees to make a break for base, while he stayed alone and kept the enemy planes occupied to keep them from following.”
Jack, seeing he has Sara's attention, sits back down and folds his hands, calmly continuing the story. Sara remains standing, but listens intently.
Jack
“This officer, the one that showed up at our door, was the only one who stayed in the fight, along with my dad. Even though he was still in training, he refused to let my father fight alone. He described the battle to us. My father flew like a madman, like a demon possessed he told us. Five German fighters against his P-51 Mustang. Every time a German fell in behind him, he'd pull a fancy maneuver and evade his pursuer, he made it look effortless. Only any time he fell in behind one of the Germans, he wouldn't fire. He refused to shoot back at them.”
Jack stares into Sara's eyes with a look of intensity, judging her reaction.
Jack
“My father was an instructor, not a killer. Even though he was the best pilot up there, and had chance after chance to down the enemy, he didn't. Do you know why?”
Sara, now engrossed in the story, appraises Jack curiously.
“Why?”
“Because above all, he valued human life. He couldn't bring himself to kill another man, even if that man was trying to kill him. That's why he was an instructor, he didn't want combat. He hated the thought of war, he couldn't stand the killing. But every day, the German war machine was pushing closer and closer toward an invasion of American soil. One day time would run out. He had to do something. He only agreed to join the service because he wanted to help protect his family. And he knew that each man flying those enemy planes had a family at home that they cared about just as much as he cared about his own.”
Sara's eyes are wide, as Jack continues.
He kept maneuvering with the enemy, buying his students enough time to make it safely back to base, before finally his luck ran out. The Germans pulled a trick, came in from his blind side. A burst from their guns caught his fuel lines, and down he went. When they pulled him out of the water, he was still alive, but near delirious with pain from the injuries he sustained when the plane crashed. Before he died, he kept asking whether his trainees had made it back, whether they were ok. Over and over again, it was all he would say. Finally, he asked one of the officers to tell his family he loved them, then he...”
Jacks words choke off to silence. He lowers his head.
Sara stares, incredulous, mouth hanging open, not quite sure what to say. Memories of the slaughter of her own father re-surface fresh in her mind. She knows the pain of losing a parent to the war, she understands what he's going through.
Sara
“Jack, I'm... so sorry...”
Jack cuts her off -
“Yea, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry a good man had to die because of a stupid war. I'm sorry a little boy lost his father because of bunch of lunatic warmongers decided to kill a man they didn't even know, just because he was there. I'm sorry for the day those men in uniform first showed up at our door talking about duty and patriotism. They took my father from me. That, Sara, is why I feel no sense of obligation to fight in this mindless war. So whaddya think about that?”
Sara
“I think maybe I haven't figured you out after all.”
A tear gathers in the corner of her eye as she relives the pain of losing her own father.
Jack
This whole war, it's just a bunch of senseless killing. My father always taught me it was wrong to kill others. He wanted nothing to do with war, he only joined because his hand was forced. It was his way, and mine too. So instead of enlisting, I joined the circus, so I could use my talents to entertain people instead of killing them.”
Sara
“Then why did you agree to come on this mission?”
Jack
“Well, I need the money, but if you want the real reason, because of you.”
Sara
“Me?”
Jack
“Don't sound so surprised. There's more to me than just money.”
Sara
“I can see that... now. But why me?”
Jack
“Every time I look into your eyes, I can see part of him in you... my father. You are a lot like he was. You care about people, I can see it in your eyes when I look at you. You didn't come on this mission to kill people. You want to save people, end this war. I don't know how, but I can tell.”
Sara
“You don't know anything about me.”
Jack stands up and walks over to Sara, standing close, face to face.
Jack
“You're right, I don't. But I'll tell you what I do know. There are people out there -
-Jack points out the bubble window-
-who if they find us, are going to try to do anything they can to kill us. I may not know you but I know enough to see the good in you and the person you are. A day from now, we could all be dead. And I know I don't want to leave this world without knowing what it feels like to kiss someone like you.”
Sara stares into the intensity in his eyes, unsure and somewhat hesitant, but she's obviously considering it.
Sara
“Jack... there's a war going on. We have responsibilities to the people. I need to focus. I can't afford a distraction like this right now. It would only get in the way.”
Jack
“Sara, we might not be here tomorrow. We could be breathing our last breaths. It could be none of us come back from this crazy mission. I know this must be dangerous for you, you're unsure and I don't blame you. But I can't go out there and risk my life, and maybe even take the life of another without knowing I was right about you. I see something in you... something I haven't seen in anyone since my father died. I know you feel something for me too. Please Sara... Just one kiss?”
Finally, Sara lets down her guard momentarily, and slowly they lean in and kiss.
Immediately after, Sara's inhibitions return and she turns and storms toward the door.
Sara
“What am I thinking... we're at war. This was a mistake.”
Sara isn't angry at Jack, she's angry at herself for letting her guard down.
Jack
“Wait!”
Sara exits through the door and slams it behind her. Jack is left standing alone at the makeshift dinner table.
-end scene-
I think presenting it like this depicts Jack in a more heroic light, as well as bringing out some of his past, and deep set morals and beliefs. It explains a bit more why he joined the circus and is hesitant to participate in the war.
This also taps into a bond that can be developed later between Jack and Sara – both being children who lost a parent to the war. There is a certain understanding between them because they've gone through the same terrible thing, and that can be used to draw them together.
Just some thoughts, this is all original. Thanks for allowing others to contribute.
rob
Rear Gunnery Station dinner scene
Jack is explaining some background as he and Sara are eating dinner
Jack has just been explaining about his father becoming a flight instructor, and leaving to join the service
All the dialogue would be the same up until Jack says he “couldn't understand,” then:
Jack
“But I couldn't. I couldn't understand at all. Until one day, another man in uniform showed up at our door. He was a pilot attached to a fighter wing that had trained under my father. He told me what really happened, why my dad really died. Six of them were practicing air combat maneuvers one day out over the ocean when out of nowhere, they were engaged by a flight of German ME-109's. My father ordered the trainees to make a break for base, while he stayed alone and kept the enemy planes occupied to keep them from following.”
Jack, seeing he has Sara's attention, sits back down and folds his hands, calmly continuing the story. Sara remains standing, but listens intently.
Jack
“This officer, the one that showed up at our door, was the only one who stayed in the fight, along with my dad. Even though he was still in training, he refused to let my father fight alone. He described the battle to us. My father flew like a madman, like a demon possessed he told us. Five German fighters against his P-51 Mustang. Every time a German fell in behind him, he'd pull a fancy maneuver and evade his pursuer, he made it look effortless. Only any time he fell in behind one of the Germans, he wouldn't fire. He refused to shoot back at them.”
Jack stares into Sara's eyes with a look of intensity, judging her reaction.
Jack
“My father was an instructor, not a killer. Even though he was the best pilot up there, and had chance after chance to down the enemy, he didn't. Do you know why?”
Sara, now engrossed in the story, appraises Jack curiously.
“Why?”
“Because above all, he valued human life. He couldn't bring himself to kill another man, even if that man was trying to kill him. That's why he was an instructor, he didn't want combat. He hated the thought of war, he couldn't stand the killing. But every day, the German war machine was pushing closer and closer toward an invasion of American soil. One day time would run out. He had to do something. He only agreed to join the service because he wanted to help protect his family. And he knew that each man flying those enemy planes had a family at home that they cared about just as much as he cared about his own.”
Sara's eyes are wide, as Jack continues.
He kept maneuvering with the enemy, buying his students enough time to make it safely back to base, before finally his luck ran out. The Germans pulled a trick, came in from his blind side. A burst from their guns caught his fuel lines, and down he went. When they pulled him out of the water, he was still alive, but near delirious with pain from the injuries he sustained when the plane crashed. Before he died, he kept asking whether his trainees had made it back, whether they were ok. Over and over again, it was all he would say. Finally, he asked one of the officers to tell his family he loved them, then he...”
Jacks words choke off to silence. He lowers his head.
Sara stares, incredulous, mouth hanging open, not quite sure what to say. Memories of the slaughter of her own father re-surface fresh in her mind. She knows the pain of losing a parent to the war, she understands what he's going through.
Sara
“Jack, I'm... so sorry...”
Jack cuts her off -
“Yea, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry a good man had to die because of a stupid war. I'm sorry a little boy lost his father because of bunch of lunatic warmongers decided to kill a man they didn't even know, just because he was there. I'm sorry for the day those men in uniform first showed up at our door talking about duty and patriotism. They took my father from me. That, Sara, is why I feel no sense of obligation to fight in this mindless war. So whaddya think about that?”
Sara
“I think maybe I haven't figured you out after all.”
A tear gathers in the corner of her eye as she relives the pain of losing her own father.
Jack
This whole war, it's just a bunch of senseless killing. My father always taught me it was wrong to kill others. He wanted nothing to do with war, he only joined because his hand was forced. It was his way, and mine too. So instead of enlisting, I joined the circus, so I could use my talents to entertain people instead of killing them.”
Sara
“Then why did you agree to come on this mission?”
Jack
“Well, I need the money, but if you want the real reason, because of you.”
Sara
“Me?”
Jack
“Don't sound so surprised. There's more to me than just money.”
Sara
“I can see that... now. But why me?”
Jack
“Every time I look into your eyes, I can see part of him in you... my father. You are a lot like he was. You care about people, I can see it in your eyes when I look at you. You didn't come on this mission to kill people. You want to save people, end this war. I don't know how, but I can tell.”
Sara
“You don't know anything about me.”
Jack stands up and walks over to Sara, standing close, face to face.
Jack
“You're right, I don't. But I'll tell you what I do know. There are people out there -
-Jack points out the bubble window-
-who if they find us, are going to try to do anything they can to kill us. I may not know you but I know enough to see the good in you and the person you are. A day from now, we could all be dead. And I know I don't want to leave this world without knowing what it feels like to kiss someone like you.”
Sara stares into the intensity in his eyes, unsure and somewhat hesitant, but she's obviously considering it.
Sara
“Jack... there's a war going on. We have responsibilities to the people. I need to focus. I can't afford a distraction like this right now. It would only get in the way.”
Jack
“Sara, we might not be here tomorrow. We could be breathing our last breaths. It could be none of us come back from this crazy mission. I know this must be dangerous for you, you're unsure and I don't blame you. But I can't go out there and risk my life, and maybe even take the life of another without knowing I was right about you. I see something in you... something I haven't seen in anyone since my father died. I know you feel something for me too. Please Sara... Just one kiss?”
Finally, Sara lets down her guard momentarily, and slowly they lean in and kiss.
Immediately after, Sara's inhibitions return and she turns and storms toward the door.
Sara
“What am I thinking... we're at war. This was a mistake.”
Sara isn't angry at Jack, she's angry at herself for letting her guard down.
Jack
“Wait!”
Sara exits through the door and slams it behind her. Jack is left standing alone at the makeshift dinner table.
-end scene-
I think presenting it like this depicts Jack in a more heroic light, as well as bringing out some of his past, and deep set morals and beliefs. It explains a bit more why he joined the circus and is hesitant to participate in the war.
This also taps into a bond that can be developed later between Jack and Sara – both being children who lost a parent to the war. There is a certain understanding between them because they've gone through the same terrible thing, and that can be used to draw them together.
Just some thoughts, this is all original. Thanks for allowing others to contribute.
rob
