FADE IN:
INT. AIRPORT BAR - AFTERNOON
JACK DOLLARD, mid-twenties and clean shaven with a military-style haircut, sits at bar near his gate.
He checks the messages on his iPhone. Nothing.
An empty glass in front of him. A boarding pass next to it reads KILLEEN, TX. A tattooed bartender walks up to him.
BARTENDER
One more?
Jack pushes the empty glass towards her.
BARTENDER
Whiskey?
JACK
Whiskey.
The Bartender splashes Jack Daniels into the glass and slides it back to him.
Jack downs half of it immediately, then returns his focus to the iPhone.
A YOUNG COUPLE in their early 20s, bubbly and smiley and not afraid of public displays of affection, bounce down the bar and take seats directly to Jack's left.
BARTENDER
What can I get you two?
YOUNG HUSBAND
(To his wife)
Mimosa?
YOUNG WIFE
Yes! But you don't need to get me drunk to get into my pants, you can totally do that anyway.
YOUNG HUSBAND
(Motioning to the bartender)
Honey...
YOUNG WIFE
She doesn't care.
BARTENDER
She's right. I don't care. What can I get you?
YOUNG WIFE
I'm sorry. We just got married yesterday.
YOUNG HUSBAND
We don't know how to act in public yet.
YOUNG WIFE
I just can't keep my hands off him.
BARTENDER
Tell you what, I'll pick something.
The Young Wife gives her husband a peck on the cheek, shifting on her seat as she does so and bumping into Jack, who picks up his drink and his ticket and moves two stools down.
GATE AGENT
(LOUDSPEAKER)
Ladies and gentlemen, Flight 1250 with service from Kansas City to Killeen, Texas will begin boarding in just a few minutes. Those passengers needing extra time to board the aircraft please see a Gate Agent at this time.
Jack looks at the gate area and sees the PASSENGERS gathering their things and preparing to board.
Jack composes a new text message.
TO: Rebecca
The cursor blinks in the message area. Jack doesn't type.
Setting the phone back down, he pays the check and leaves the bar while the Young Couple share another kiss.
INT. AIRPLANE JETWAY - AFTERNOON
Crowded flight. DOZENS OF PEOPLE line the jetway, shuffling toward the aircraft in irregular intervals.
Jack looks down at his phone. Nothing.
The line moves two feet forward.
Jack opens the text message app again. Cursor blinks. He can't type.
The people in front of him shuffle forward. Jack doesn't move.
The MAN behind him taps Jack on the shoulder.
Jack tries to move his legs but nothing happens. He stumbles, bounces off the wall and tumbles to the floor.
For a long moment the passengers around him simply stare, and a couple people shuffle forward with the line.
The Man behind Jack kneels down next to him and tries to help him up.
Airline personnel rush down the hallway to Jack, calling for assistance into portable radios.
CUT TO:
EXT. IRAQ - AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)
SUPERIMPOSED TEXT: IRAQ, 5 YEARS EARLIER
Jack sits on the back ramp of an MRAP wearing ACUs and sporting a 9mm pistol on his hip. He's very tan, almost burnt.
A 6 year old IRAQI GIRL stands in front of him, laughing. The two are playing a version of the patty-cake game that Jack is basically making up on the spot just to amuse her.
A large black NCO smoking a cigarette near the next vehicle over suddenly perks up and twirls his index finger in a circle over his head.
NCO
Mount up!
Jack stands up and waves goodbye to the little girl. She starts to leave when Jack reaches into the cooler sitting next to him and pulls out a Gatorade and hands it to her.
The Iraqi Girl grabs it, holds it tight, and runs to the other side of the road.
Jack hits a switch and raises the back ramp of the MRAP.
EXT. GUNNER'S HATCH - AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)
Jack, wearing full battle rattle and a CVC helmet, raises himself up into the gunner's hatch of the MRAP.
With a quick, practiced hand he performs a functions check on the .50 cal mounted on the turret and does the same with the shotgun laying next to him.
He lays his M4 rifle next to the shotgun, then checks his M9 pistol.
Jack sees an entourage of US and IRAQI OFFICERS walk out of a Headquarters building, stop just short of the MRAPs and shake hands with each other.
Jack hears the vehicle commander talking to him through the intercom.
VEHICLE COMMANDER
(Intercom)
Gunner up?
JACK
Roger. Ready to roll.
VEHICLE COMMANDER
(Intercom)
Two minutes.
JACK
Roger.
The US Officers climb into the MRAPs in front of Jack and raise the ramps.
VEHICLE COMMANDER
(Intercom)
Jack, you strapped in?
JACK
Nope.
VEHICLE COMMANDER
(Intercom)
Good. We're going through RKG Alley on the way back. Get the shotgun up and keep them away from our ass.
JACK
Don't worry about your ass, I'll save it again.
VEHICLE COMMANDER
(Intercom)
Fuck you.
Other SOLDIERS laugh through the intercom as the convoy pulls out of the Iraqi compound and starts to build up speed heading into the city.
EXT. GUNNER'S HATCH - CONTINUOUS (FLASHBACK)
The convoy of 4 MRAPs weave through the city traffic in a borderline reckless manner.
VEHICLE COMMANDER
(Intercom)
Coming up on RKG-3 Alley. Focus on the right. Report anything suspicious.
JACK
Roger.
VEHICLE COMMANDER
(Intercom)
Keep your head on a swivel Jack.
Jack lifts himself halfway out of the gunner's hatch, shotgun at the ready, and focuses his attention on the pedestrians on the sidewalk to their right as the MRAP speeds past.
EXT. IRAQI STREET - AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)
The fourth and final MRAP in the convoy speeds down the street. Just as it passes an intersection there is a terrible EXPLOSION as an IED detonates.
The MRAP fishtails wildly left, then right. It looks like it will roll over, but corrects itself. Jack's body is thrown from the gunner's hatch and he lands awkwardly on the asphalt with a sickening crunch.
Instead of rolling over, the MRAP lays down on it's passenger side, scraping the asphalt as it slides forward toward Jack, who is splayed out in the middle of the street, alone.
Slowing sickly to a halt, the MRAP barely avoids crushing Jack and the frantic sounds of the city begin to fade away as Jack's eyes close.
EXT. IRAQI STREET - CONTINUOUS (FLASHBACK)
Jack is in shock. Fading in and out of consciousness.
A medic hovers over him. She mouthes words Jack can't hear.
He sees four people hoist him unto a stretcher.
He looks down to see an Iraqi officer holding his hand as he's being loaded into a helicopter.