. www.able.co.nz Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Able 2017 GENTLE CLASSICAL MUSIC STIRS MUSIC GROWS STRONGER MUSIC BUILDS (EAGERLY) Hello. My name's Forrest, Forrest Gump. Do you want a chocolate? I could eat about a million and a half of these. My momma always said, life was like a box of chocolates. (MOUTH FULL) You never know what you're gonna get. Those must be comfortable shoes. I bet you could walk all day in those shoes and not feel a thing. I wish I had shoes like that. My feet hurt. Momma always said there's an awful lot you can tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going. Where they been. I've worn lots of shoes. I bet if I think about it real hard, I could remember my first pair of shoes. Momma said they'd take me anywhere. She said they was my magic shoes. MAN: Alright, Forrest. You can open your eyes now. Let's take a little walk around. How do they feel? His legs are strong, Mrs Gump. As strong as I've ever seen. But his back's as crooked as a politician. But we're gonna straighten him right up now, aren't we Forrest? FORREST'S LEGS CRASH Forrest! Now, when I was a baby, Momma named me after the great Civil War hero, General Nathan Bedford Forrest. She said we was related to him somehow. What he did was, he started up this club called the Ku Klux Klan. They'd all dress up in their robes and their bed sheets and act like a bunch of ghosts or spooks or something. They'd even put bed sheets on their horses and ride around. And anyway, that's how I got my name, Forrest Gump. Momma said that the Forrest part was to remind me that sometimes we all do things that, well, just don't make no sense. WIRELESS SONG: # I got a feeling of the blues. # Let me, let me get your hand. Right, here. (GROANS) Get it! Wait, is it this way? Hold on. (GROANS) Alright. What are you all staring at? Haven't you ever seen a little boy with braces on his legs before? Don't ever let anybody tell you they're better than you, Forrest. If God intended everybody to be the same, he'd have given all of us braces on our legs. Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them. We lived about a quarter-mile off 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 grandfather's grandpa's grandpa had come across the ocean about a thousand years ago or something like that. It was just me and Momma and all these empty rooms. Momma decided to let those rooms out, mostly to people passing through, like from, oh, Mobile, Montgomery, places like that. That's how me and Momma got money. Momma was a real smart lady. Remember what I told you, Forrest. You're no different than anybody else is. Did you hear what I said, Forrest? You're the same as everybody else. You are NO different. Your boy is DIFFERENT, Mrs Gump. His IQ is 75. Well, we're all different, Mr Hancock. (SIGHS) She wanted me to have the finest education, so she took me to the Greenbow County Central school. I met the principal and all. I want to show you something, Mrs Gump. Now, this is 'normal'. Forrest is right here. The state requires a minimum IQ of 80 to attend public school, Mrs Gump. He's gonna have to go to a special school. Now, he'll be just fine. What does 'normal' mean anyway? He might be a bit on the slow side. But my boy Forrest is gonna get the same opportunities as everyone else. He's not going to some special school to learn how to retread tyres. We're talking about five little points here. There must be something that can be done. We're a progressive school system. We don't want to see anybody left behind. Is there a Mr Gump, Mrs Gump? He's on vacation. (MR HANCOCK GRUNTS) BED SQUEAKS RHYTHMICALLY (REACHES SEXUAL CLIMAX) (EXHALES) Your momma sure does care about your schooling, son. Mmm-hm-hm! You don't say much, do you? (Mimics Mr Hancock's grunts) (Reads) "Finally, he had to try. "It looked easy, but... "..oh, what happened! "First, they..." Momma, what's vacation mean? Vacation? Where Daddy went? Vacation's when you go somewhere... ..and you don't ever come back. MELANCHOLIC MUSIC Anyway, you could say me and Momma was on our own. But we didn't mind. Our house was never empty. There was always folks coming and going. Supper! It's supper, everyone. Forrest? MAN: That sure looks special. Sometimes we had so many people staying with us that every room was filled with travellers, you know? Folks living out of their suitcases and hatcases. Forrest? And sample cases. Forrest, come down. It's suppertime. Forrest? One time, a young man was staying with us. Forrest? And he had him a guitar case. GUITAR PLAYS (Sings) # Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit # And you ain't no friend of mine. # (Strums guitar quickly) LEG BRACES RATTLE Forrest. I told you not to bother this nice, young man. Oh, no. That's alright, ma'am. Just showing him a few things on the guitar. Alright. Your supper's ready if you're all hungry. Yeah, that sounds good. Thank you, ma'am. Say, man. Show me that crazy little walk you just did there. Slow it down some. (Sings) # You ain't nothing but a hound...# I liked that guitar. It sounded good. # ..crying all the time. # I started... # You ain't nothing but... # ..moving around with the music, swinging my hips. # Crying all the time. # This one night, me and Momma was out shopping. And we walked right by Vincey's furniture and appliance store. And guess what? 'HOUND DOG' INTRODUCTION PLAYS (Sings) # You ain't nothing but a hound dog. # (Audience laughs and cheers) # Crying all the time. # # You ain't nothing but a hound dog. # This is not for children's eyes. # Crying all the time. # Some years later, that handsome young man they called The King... # You ain't never caught a rabbit. # well, he'd sung too many songs. Had himself a heart attack or something. Must be hard being a king. You know, it's funny how you remember some things but some things you can't. You do your very best now, Forrest. I sure will, Momma. I remember the bus ride on the first day of school...very well. Are you coming along? Momma said not to be taking rides from strangers. This is the bus to the school. I'm Forrest, Forrest Gump. I'm Dorothy Harris. Well, now we ain't strangers anymore. This seat's taken. It's taken. You can't sit here. You know, it's funny what a young man recollects, cos I don't remember being born. I don't recall what I got for my first Christmas. I don't know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But... I do remember the first time I heard the sweetest voice in the wide world. GIRL: You can sit here if you want. ROMANTIC VIOLINS PLAY I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life. She was like an angel. Well, are you gonna sit down or aren't you? What's wrong with your legs? Um, nothing at all, thank you. My legs are just fine and dandy. I just sat with her on that bus and had a conversation all the way to school. My momma says my back's crooked like a question mark. And next to Momma, no one ever talked to me or asked me questions. Are you stupid or something? Momma says, "Stupid is as stupid does." I'm Jenny. I'm Forrest, Forrest Gump. From that day on, we was always together. Jenny and me was like peas and carrots. JUBILANT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC She taught me how to climb. Come on, Forrest. You can do it! I showed her how to dangle. (Reads) "Good little monkey and..." She helped me learn how to read. And I showed her how to swing. Sometimes, we'd just sit out and wait for the stars. Momma's gonna worry about me. Just stay a little longer. For some reason, Jenny didn't ever want to go home. OK, Jenny. I'll stay. She was my most special friend. My only friend. Now, my momma always told me that miracles happen every day. Some people don't think so but they do. Hey, dummy! Are you retarded or just plain stupid? No, I'm Forrest Gump. Just run away, Forrest. Run, Forrest! Run away. Hurry! Get the bikes. Hurry up. Let's get him. Come on. Look out, dummy. Here we come! We're gonna get you. Run, Forrest. Run! Run, Forrest! Come on back here, you! (Laughs maliciously) (Slowed down) Run, Forrest. Run! MUSIC BUILDS TRIUMPHANT MUSIC Now, you wouldn't believe it if I told you. But I can run like the wind blows. And from that day on, if I was going somewhere, I was RUNNING. Wait! He's getting away. MUSIC CLIMAXES That boy sure is a running fool. Remember how I told you Jenny never seemed to want to go home? Well, she lived in a house that was always Alabama. Her momma had gone to heaven when she was five, and her daddy was some kind of a farmer. KNOCK ON DOOR Jenny? He was a very loving man. He was always kissing and touching her and her sisters. Then this one time, Jenny wasn't on the bus to go to school. Jenny, why didn't you come to school today? Shh. Daddy's taking a nap. Jenny! Come on! Jenny! Where did you run to? You better get back here, girl. Where you at? Jenny? Jenny! Where you at? Jenny! Pray with me, Forrest. Pray with me. Jenny! Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far away from here. Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far away from here. Momma always said that God is mysterious. He didn't turn Jenny into a bird that day. Instead, he had the police say Jenny didn't have to stay in that house no more. She went to live with her grandma, which made me happy because she was so close. DOG BARKS Some nights Jenny would sneak out and come on over to my house just cos she said she was scared. Scared of what, I don't know. I think it was her grandma's dog. He was a mean dog. Anyway, Jenny and me was best friends all the way up through high school. MAN: Hey, stupid. Quit it! (Man yahoos) Run, Forrest. Run! Hey! Didn't you hear me, stupid? Run, Forrest! Come on, in the truck. Let's move it! Come on, he's getting away. Move it! Run, Forrest. Run! UPBEAT ROCKABILLY MUSIC Move it. Come on, baby! (Laughs) Whoa! Move it! Yeah, you better keep running. (All scream and jeer) Yeah, come on, you jack rabbit! (All laugh) Yeah! Whoo-hoo!! (All scream and holler) Run, Forrest! RACY BRASS INSTRUMENTS JOIN IN Now, it used to be I ran to get where I was going. I never thought it would take me anywhere. 1 (Yahoos) (Holler and bang on roof) Whoo! Hey! Argh! Who in the hell is that? That there is Forrest Gump, Coach. Just a local idiot. And can you believe it? I got to go to college too. WHISTLE BLOWS, CROWD ROARS EPIC ORCHESTRAL MUSIC Forrest, run! Run! OK. Run! Run, you stupid son of a bitch! Run! (PLAYER GRUNTS) TRIUMPHANT MUSIC You son of a bitch, run! Go! Run! Forrest, run! Go! WHISTLE BLOWS, CYMBAL CRASHES He must be the stupidest son of a bitch alive. But he sure is fast. Now, maybe it's just me, but college was very confusing times. Federal troops enforcing a court order integrated the University of Alabama today. Two negroes were admitted but only after Governor George Wallace had fulfilled his symbolic threat to stand in the schoolhouse door. MAN: Governor Wallace, I take it from that statement that, uh... (Students chant in protest) Earl, what's going on? Coons trying to get in the school. Coons! When raccoons try to get on our back porch, Momma chases them with a broom. Not raccoons, you idiot. Niggers. They want to go to school with us. With us?! They do? Shortly after Governor Wallace had carried out his promise to block the doorway, President Kennedy ordered the Secretary of Defence then to use military force. Here, by videotape, is the encounter by General Graham, Commander of the National Guard, and Governor Wallace. Because these national guardsmen who are here today as federal soldiers, are Alabamans. And they live within our borders. They are 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 which are so evident today - the trend toward military dictatorship in this country. (Crowd cheers) And so, at day's end, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa had been desegregated, and students, Jimmy Hood and Vivien Malone, had been signed up for summer classes. WOMAN: Get on back where you come from! Ma'am, you dropped your book. Ma'am. Governor Wallace kept his promise by being on the campus and kept the mob from gathering... Say, wasn't that Gump? No, that couldn't be. It sure as hell was. FORREST: A few years later, that angry little man thought it'd be a good idea and ran for President. GUNSHOTS FIRE But somebody thought that it wasn't. But he didn't die. My bus is here. Is it the number nine? No, it's the number four. It was nice talking to you. I remember when that happened. When Wallace got shot. I was in college. Did you go to a girls and boys together college? It was co-ed. I couldn't go to Jenny's college. It was a college just for girls. But I'd go and visit her every chance I got. SONG PLAYS ON CAR RADIO SONG: # I don't know why I love you but I do # I don't know why I cry so but I do # I only know I'm lonely and that I love you only... # JENNY: Ow! It hurts! # I don't know why I love you but I do. # JENNY: Forrest! Forrest! Forrest, stop it! Stop it! What are you doing?! He's hurting you. No he wasn't. Who is that? Get over there! Who is that? I'm sorry. Just get away from me. Wait a second. Just get! Don't go. Billy, wait a second! He doesn't know any better! Forrest! Why did you do that? I brought you some chocolates. THUNDER RUMBLES I'm sorry. I'll go back to my college now. Forrest. Look at you! Come on! Come on! THUNDER Is this your room? Shh! Do you have a dream, Forrest? About who you're gonna be? Who I'm gonna be? Yeah. Aren't I going to be me? You'll always be you, just another kind of you. You know, I want to be famous. I want to be a singer like Joan Baez. I just want to be on an empty stage with my guitar and my voice. Just me. I want to reach people on a personal level. I want to say things. Just one to one. Have you ever been with a girl, Forrest? I sit next to them in my Home Economics class all the time. Oh! Oh! Oh, I'm sorry. It's OK. I'm sorry. Oh! Oh! (Whispers) It's alright. It's OK. Oh, I'm dizzy. I bet that never happened in Home Ec. (CHUCKLES) No. I think I ruined your room-mate's bathrobe. I don't care. I don't like her anyway. (Crowd chant) Go, Forrest. Run, Forrest. Run, Forrest, Run! Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. (Crowd cheers) College ran by real fast 'cause I played so much football. They even put me on a thing called the All-America Team, where you get to meet the President of the United States. President Kennedy met with the collegiate All-American Football Team at the Oval Office today. Now the really good thing about meeting the President of the United States is the food. 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, and number two, they was free, I must have drank me about 15 Dr Peppers. (Burps) KENNEDY: Congratulations. How does it feel to be an All-American? It's an honour, sir. Congratulations. How does it feel to be an All-American? Very good, sir. Congratulations. How does it feel to be an All-American? Very good, sir. Congratulations. How do you feel? I got to pee. I believe he said he had to go pee. Sometime later, for no particular reason, somebody shot that nice young President when he was riding in his car. And a few years after that, somebody shot his little brother too, only he was in the hotel kitchen. Must be hard being brothers. I wouldn't know. Forrest Gump. Now, can you believe it? After only five years of playing football, I got a college degree. Congratulations, son. Momma was so proud. Forrest, I'm so proud of you. Here, I'll hold this for you. Congratulations, son. Have you given any thought to your future? Thought? Hello, I'm Forrest. Forrest Gump. Nobody gives a hunk of shit who you are, fuzz-ball! You're not even a low-life, scum-sucking MAGGOT! Get your bony ass on the bus. You're in the army now! This seat's taken. Taken. At first it seemed like I made a mistake, seeing how it was only my induction day and I was already getting yelled at. Sit down if you want to. I didn't know who I might meet or what they might ask. Have you been on a real shrimp boat? No. But I've been on a real big boat. I'm talking about a shrimp-catching boat. I've worked on shrimp boats all my life. I started on my uncle's boat ` that's my momma's brother ` when I was about maybe nine. I was just looking into buying a boat of my own and got drafted. My given name is Benjamin Buford Blue. People call me Bubba. Just like one of them old redneck boys. Can you believe that? My name's Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump. So Bubba was from Bayou La Batre, Alabama and his momma cooked shrimp. And her momma before her cooked shrimp. And her momma before her momma cooked shrimp too. Bubba's family knew everything there was to know about the shrimping business. I know everything there is to know about the shrimping business. I'm going into the shrimping business for myself, after I get out of the army. OK. Gump! What's your sole purpose in this army? To do whatever you tell me, Drill Sergeant? Goddammit, Gump! You're a goddamned genius! That's the most outstanding answer I've ever heard. You must have a goddamned I.Q. of 160. You are goddamned gifted, Private Gump. Listen up, people. 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. And always answer every question with "Yes, Drill Sergeant". Is that clear? ALL: Yes, Drill Sergeant! You just drag your nets along the bottom. On a good day, you can catch over a 100 pounds of shrimp. If everything goes alright, two men shrimping 10 hours, less what you spends on gas, you can make... Done, Drill Sergeant! DRILL SERGEANT: Gump! Why did you put that weapon together so quickly, Gump? You told me to, Drill Sergeant. Jesus H. Christ! This is a new company record. If it wouldn't be a waste of such a fine enlisted man, I'd recommend you for O.C.S., Private Gump! You'll be a general someday, Gump! Now, disassemble your weapon and continue! Anyway, like I was saying, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. There's shrimp kebabs, shrimp creole. Shrimp gumbo. Pan fry it, deep fry it, stir fry it. There's pineapple shrimp and lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp. Shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad. Shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That's, that's about it. Night-time in the army is a lonely time. We'd lie there in our bunks and I'd miss my momma. And I'd miss Jenny. Hey, Gump! Get a load of the tits on her! It 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... # But that wasn't a bad thing because a man who owns a theatre in Memphis, Tennessee saw those photos and offered Jenny a job, singing in a show. And first chance I got, I took the bus up to Memphis to see her perform in that show. That was Ember Flame - give her a big hand. Good job, Ember. 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. LIGHT APPLAUSE (Sings) # How many roads must a man walk down # Before you can call him a man? # Yes, and how many seas must the white dove sail... # Her dream had come true. # Before she sleeps in the sand? # She was a folk singer. # Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly # Before they're forever banned? # LAUGHTER AND CATCALLS # The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind # The answer is blowin' in the wind. # Goddammit! Hey! Hey! You stupid jerk! I'm singing a song here. Harley, get out here! Oh, shut up! Forrest! What are you doing here? What are you doing? Come on. What are you doing, Forrest? Let me down! ALL: Ooh! LAUGHTER You can't keep doing this, Forrest. You can't keep trying to rescue me. They was trying to grab you. Lots of people try to grab me. You can't keep doing this all the time. I can't help it. I love you. Forrest, you don't know what love is. SAD MUSIC You remember that time we prayed, Forrest? We prayed for God to turn me into a bird so I could fly away. Yes, I do. You think I can fly off this bridge? What do you mean, Jenny? Nothin'. I gotta get out of here. Wait, Jenny. Forrest, you stay away from me, OK? Stay away from me, please. Can I have a ride? Where are you going? I don't care. Get in. So, bye-bye, Jenny. They're sending me to Vietnam. It's this whole other country. Just hang on a minute. Listen, you promise me something, OK? If you're ever in trouble, don't try to be brave. Just run, OK? Just run away. OK. Jenny! I'll write you all the time. And just like that, she was gone. GENTLE MUSIC Oh! You come back safe to me - do you hear? 1 'FORTUNATE SON' BY CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 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' # Ooh, they point the cannon at you, now # It ain't me, it ain't me # I ain't no senator's son, son # It ain't me... # Now they told us that Vietnam was going to be very different to the United States of America. Except for all the beer cans and the barbecues...it was! Oh, I bet there's shrimp in these waters. They tell me this Vietnam has good shrimp. After we win this war and take over everything we'll get American shrimpers to come and shrimp these waters. Just shrimp them all the time. 'RESPECT' BY ARETHA FRANKLIN SONG: # What you want... # You must be my F.N.G.s. Morning, sir! Get your hands down. Do not salute me. There are goddamned snipers all around this area who'd love to grease an officer. I'm Lieutenant Dan Taylor. Welcome to Fort Platoon. What's wrong with your lip? I was born with big gums, sir. You'd better tuck that in. You'll get that caught in a trip-wire. Where you boys from? FORREST AND BUBBA: Alabama, sir. You twins? No. We are not relations, sir. # Just a little bit just a little bit... # It's pretty basic here. Stick with me and learn from the guys who've been here a while, you'll be alright. There's one item of G.I. gear that can be the difference between life and death. Socks - cushioned sole, O.D. green. Try and keep your feet dry. When we're out humping, change your socks whenever we stop. The Mekongs will eat a grunt's feet right off his legs. Goddammit, Sergeant Sims! Where's that swing rope I told you to order? I put in the requisitions at battalion... You call those sons of bitches... Lieutenant 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. Kick some ass! I'm on it, Lieutenant. Get on it! I guess you could say he had lots to live up to. So you boys are from Arkansas, huh? Well, I've been through there. Little Rock's a fine town. Shake down your gear, see the platoon sergeant and draw what you need for the field. If you boys are hungry, we got steaks burning right over here. Two standing orders in this platoon. One, take good care of your feet. Two, try not to do anything stupid like getting yourself killed. SONG: # This is the worst trip I've ever been on. # I sure hope I don't let him down. JIMI HENDRIX'S 'ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER' I got to see a lot of the countryside. We would take these real long walks. (Jimi Hendrix sings) # There must be some kind of way out of here # Said the joker to the thief... # And we were always looking for this guy named Charlie. # There's too much confusion # I can't get no relief... # Hold it up. Hold on point. It wasn't always fun. Lieutenant Dan was always getting these funny feelings about a rock or a trail or the road. So he'd tell us to "Get down, shut up!" Get down! Shut up! (Whispers) So we did. Now, I don't know much about anything, but I think some of America's best young men served in this war. There was Dallas, from Phoenix. Cleveland, he was from Detroit. Hey, Tex! Hey, Tex! Man, what the hell's going on? And Tex. Well, I don't remember where Tex come from. Ah, nothin'! Fort Platoon, on your feet. We've still got 10 clicks to go to that river. Move out! THE DOORS PLAY The good thing about Vietnam is there was always some place to go. Fire in the hole! Gump, check out that hole. And there was always something to do. One day it started raining and it didn't quit for four months. We'd been through every kind of rain there is. A little bit of stinging rain and big old fat rain, rain that flew in sideways, and sometimes, rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. Shoot! It even rained at night. Hey, Forrest. Hey, Bubba. I'll lean against you, you just lean back against me. Then we don't have to sleep with our heads in the mud. You know why we are a good partnership, Forrest? 'Cause we be watching out for one another. Like brothers and stuff. Hey, Forrest. There's something I've been thinking about. I got a very important question to ask you. Would you go into the shrimping business with me? OK. 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 rent. I'll be the captain, we can just work it together - split everything right down the middle. Man, I'm telling you, 50/50. And hey, Forrest, all the shrimp you can eat! That's a fine idea. Bubba did have a fine idea. THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS' 'CALIFORNIA DREAMING' 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 doing and asked her what she was doing. And told her how I thought about her always. # On a winter's day... # 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 OK. Then I'd sign each letter, "Love, Forrest Gump." BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD'S 'FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH' SONG: # There's something happening here... # This one day, we were out walking, like always, and then...just like that... ..somebody turned off the rain and the sun come out. EXPLOSION Landmine! TAKE COVER! MACHINE-GUN FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS (Lieutenant Dan yells instructions) GUNFIRE CONTINUES Get that thing, goddammit! Forrest, are you OK? Strongarm! Strongarm! GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE RELENTLESSLY We've got a wounded man! Strongarm, this is Red Lima Six. Over. Roger, Strongarm! Be advised we have incoming into the free line. HUGE EXPLOSION Misfire! Misfire! (Yells into communicator) We're under fire. Moving back to the blue line. Red Lima out. PULL BACK! PULL BACK! Run! Run, Forrest! PULL BACK! RUN! Run, Forrest! RUN! MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS Run! Goddammit! Run! GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE GUNFIRE AND SHOUTING EXPLOSION I ran and ran, just like Jenny told me to. I ran so far and so fast, that pretty soon I was all by myself, which was a bad thing. Bubba! Bubba was my best good friend. I had to make sure he was OK. EXPLOSION SOLDIER: Keep running, soldier! There's three over here. Where the hell are you?! Bubba! On my way back to find Bubba, well, there was this boy laying on the ground. Tex! OK. I couldn't just let him lie there alone, scared the way he was. So I grabbed him up and run him out of there. EXPLOSIONS IN DISTANCE Every time I went back looking for Bubba, somebody else was saying, "Help me, Forrest. Help me!" Shhh...! Here. Here. No sweat, man - just lay back. You'll be OK. I started to get scared that I might never find Bubba. TALKING ON COMMUNICATOR Strongarm, I know my position. There's danger close. We got Charlie all over this area. I need those fast movers now. Over. Strongarm... Lieutenant Dan, Combe is dead! I know he's dead. My whole goddamn platoon is wiped out. Copy this transmission... Goddammit! What are you doing? Leave me here. Get away! Just leave me here. Get out! TALKING ON COMMUNICATOR I said, leave me here, goddammit! Red Lima Six, this is Strongarm. Be advised your fast movers are inbound at this time. Over. Then it felt like something jumped up and bit me. CLOSE GUNFIRE Argh! Something bit me! (Screams) You chink son-of-a-bitch! DAN: 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! Put me down! Get your ass outta here. Ugh! I didn't ask you to pull me out of there, goddamn you. Where are you going? To get Bubba. An airstrike's inbound now. They'll nape the whole area! Gump, you stay here, goddammit! That's an order! I GOTTA FIND BUBBA! EXPLOSIONS RUMBLE Forrest. Bubba. I'm OK, Forrest. I'm OK. Oh, Bubba, no. No. I'm gonna be alright. (Enemy soldiers talk close by) Come on. Come on. Come on. PLANES ROAR OVERHEAD Ugh! I'm OK. PLANES ROAR OMINOUSLY (Soldiers talk in background) If I'd known this was the last time me and Bubba would talk, I'd have thought of something better to say. Hey, Bubba. Hey, Forrest. Forrest... ..why did this happen? You got shot. Then...Bubba said something I won't ever forget. I want to go home. Bubba was my best good friend. And even I know that ain't somethin' you can find just around the corner. Bubba was gonna be a shrimping boat captain, but... ..instead, he died right there by that river in Vietnam. CHOPPERS WHIRR That's all I have to say about that. It was a bullet, wasn't it? A bullet? That jumped up and bit you. 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... ..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 next bed. Lieutenant Dan, I got you some ice-cream. Lieutenant Dan, ice-cream! CHOPPERS FLY OVERHEAD It's time for your bath, Lieutenant. Ugh! Harper? Cooper. Larson. Webster. Gump. Gump. I'm Forrest Gump. Hoile. Nicholls. (Continues to call out names) TV: Ha ha ha! CHEERFUL MUSIC ON TV Gump, how can you watch that stupid shit? Turn it off! TV: You are tuned to the American Forces Vietnam Network. This is Channel 6, Saigon. Good catch, Gump. PING-PONG BALL BOUNCES ON FLOOR You know how to play this? Come on, let me show you. The secret to this game is... no matter what happens, never, ever take your eye off the ball. Alright. THE DOORS' 'HELLO, I LOVE YOU' For some reason, ping-pong came very natural to me. See? Any idiot can play. So I started playing it all the time. I played ping-pong even when I didn't have anyone to play ping-pong with. 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. SONG: # Break on through to the other side # Break on through to the other side... # I played ping-pong so much, I even played it in my sleep. 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 goddamn cripple! A legless freak. Look! Look! Look at me. You see that? Do you know what it's like not to be able to use your legs? Well...yes, sir, I do. Did you hear what I said? You cheated me! I had a destiny - I was supposed to die in the field, with honour! (Choking tearfully) That was my destiny. And you cheated me out of it. (Cries) Do you understand what I'm saying, Gump? This wasn't supposed to happen. Not to me. I had a destiny. I was... ..Lieutenant Dan Taylor. Y-you...you're STILL Lieutenant Dan. (SIGHS) Look at me. What am I gonna do now? MELANCHOLY MUSIC What am I gonna do now? P.F.C. Gump? Yes, sir! As you were. Son... ..you've been awarded the Medal of Honour. Guess what, Lieutenant Dan. They want to give me a med... Ma'am... What did they do with Lieutenant Dan? They sent him home. SIMON AND GARFUNKEL PLAYS Two weeks later, I left Vietnam. 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 Honour to men from each of the armed services. America owes you a debt of gratitude, son. I understand you were wounded. Where were you hit? In the buttocks, sir. That must be a sight. I'd like to see that. SONG: # And here's to you, Mrs Robinson # Jesus loves you more than you will know... # PEOPLE EXCLAIM (Laughs) Goddamn, son! After that, Momma went to the hotel to lie down so I went out for a walk to see our nation's capital. WOMAN: Hilary, I've got the vets. What will I do with them? It's a good thing Momma was resting because the streets was awful crowded with people looking at all the statues and monuments. And some of them people were loud and pushing. FOLLOW ME. LET'S MOVE IT OUT! Everywhere I went I had to stand in line. JEFFERSON AIRPLANE'S 'VOLUNTEERS' Come on. Hey, you're a good man for doing this - good! OK. There was this man giving a little talk. And for some reason, he was wearing an American flag for a shirt. Bring up some soldiers... And he liked to say the 'F' word a lot. 'F' this and 'F' that. Every time he said the 'F' word, people, for some reason, well, they cheered! (Shouts about the war) MASSIVE CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Come on, man. Come up here, man! Come on. Yeah, you. Come on. WILD CHEERING Do it. Just get up there. CHEERING ESCALATES CROWD QUIETENS DOWN Tell us a little bit about the war, man. The one in Vietnam? The war in Viet-NAM! CHEERING EXPLODES CROWD QUIETENS DOWN (Clears throat) MAN: Peace! Come on! Well... 'There was only one thing I could say about the war in Vietnam.' There's only one thing I could say about...the war in Vietnam. In Vietnam... SPEAKERS WHINE SPEAKER HUMS AND FORREST CANNOT BE HEARD I'll beat your head in, you goddamn voider! Jesus Christ! What did they do with this? (Man yells) We can't hear you! We can't HEAR anything! This one! Give me that! WOMAN: Speak up! That's it. That's all I have to say about that. That's so right on, man. You said it all. What's your name, man? My name is Forrest - Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump! (All yell) GUMP! WOMAN IN DISTANCE: Forrest! Forrest! STIRRING MUSIC JENNY! FORREST! Hey! WILD CHEERING It was the happiest moment of my life. Jenny and me were just like peas and carrots again. She showed me around and even introduced me to some of her new friends. Shut that blind, man. Get your white ass away from that window. Don't you know we in a war here? He's cool. He's one of us. I'll tell you about us. Our purpose is to protect our black leaders from the racial onslaught of the pig who wishes to brutalise our black leaders, rape our women and destroy our black community. Who's the baby killer? This is my good friend, Forrest Gump. Forrest, this is Wesley. Wesley and I lived together in Berkeley. He's the president of the Berkeley chapter of SDS. We are here to offer protection and help for all 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 die for a country that hates them. Yes, we are against ANY WAR where black soldiers go to fight and return to be brutalised and killed in their own communities as they sleep in their beds at night. Yes, we are against all these racist and imperial dog acts... JIMI HENDRIX'S 'HEY JOE' (Jenny screams and shouts) Forrest! Stop it. Stop it! Ugh! I shouldn't have brought you here. I should've known it'd just be some bullshit hassle! He should not be hitting you, Jenny. Come on, Forrest. Sorry I had to fight in the middle of your Black Panther party. He doesn't mean it when he does things like this. I would never hurt you, Jenny. I know you wouldn't, Forrest. I wanted to be your boyfriend. THE YOUNGBLOODS' 'LET'S GET TOGETHER' That uniform is a trip, Forrest. You look handsome in it. You do. (Laughs gently) You know what? What? I'm glad we were here together in our nation's capital. Me too, Forrest. We walked around all night, Jenny and me, just talking. She told me about all the travelling she'd done and how she discovered ways to expand her mind and learn how to live in harmony. Which must be out west somewhere, because she made it all the way to California. (Sings) # Love one another right now... # GUY: Hey! Anybody wanna go to San Francisco? I'll go. Far out! SONG: # If you're going to San Francisco... # It was a very special night for the two of us. I didn't want it to end. I wish you wouldn't go, Jenny. I have to, Forrest. Jenny? Things got a little out of hand. It's just this war and that lying son-of-a-bitch Johnson! I would never hurt you. You know that. You know what I think? I think... you should go home to Greenbow, ALABAMA. Forrest... ..we have very different lives, you know. SENTIMENTAL MUSIC I want you to have this. Forrest, I can't keep this. I got it just by doing what you told me to do. Why are you so good to me? You're my girl! I'll always be your girl. THE BYRDS'S 'TURN, TURN, TURN' # To everything Turn, turn, turn # There is a season Turn, turn, turn # And a time to every purpose under heaven # A time to be born... # And just like that, she was gone. Out of my life again. That's one small step for man... ..one giant leap for mankind. RAPID RATTLING NOISE TV TRANSMISSION CONTINUES I thought I was going back to Vietnam. Instead, they decided my best way to fight the Communists was to play ping-pong. So I was in the Special Services, travelling round the country, cheering up and showing them wounded veterans how to play ping-pong. I was so good that some years later, the army decided that I should be on the All-America ping-pong team. We were the first Americans to visit the land of China in a million years. Somebody said world peace was in our hands. But all I did was play ping-pong! When I got home, I was a national celebrity, famous-er even than Captain Kangaroo. Here he is - Forrest Gump, right here. COMICAL CHINESE-STYLE MUSIC AND APPLAUSE Yep. So, Forrest Gump, John Lennon. Welcome home. You had quite a trip. Can you tell us, what was China like? Ah...in the land of China... ..people hardly got nothing at all. No possessions? QUIET AUDIENCE LAUGHTER And in China, they never go to church. No religion too? Oh. Hard to imagine. Well, it's easy if you try, Dick. 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. 1 They gave YOU the Congressional Medal of Honour? Now THAT'S Lieutenant Dan. Lieutenant Dan! They gave YOU the Congressional Medal of Honour? Yes, sir. They surely did. They gave YOU - an imbecile, a moron who goes on television and makes a fool out of himself in front of the whole damn country - the Congressional Medal of Honour? Yes, sir. Well...then, that's just perfect. Yeah, well, I just got one thing to say to that. Goddamn bless America. Oh! Hey! Whoa! WHOA! Ah! Aaaaaaah! Lieutenant Dan! 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. SONG: # Everybody's talking at me... # HORNS HONK # I don't hear a word they're saying # Only the echoes of my mind... # What are you doing here in New York, Lieutenant Dan? I'm living off the government tip. # People stop and stare... # HORN BLASTS Hey, hey, hey! Are you blind? I'm walking here! Get out of my way. Ah, get out! Come on, go, go, go. (All sing) # Sleep in heavenly peace... # I stayed with Lieutenant Dan and celebrated the holidays. # ..heavenly peace. # Have a great year and hurry home. God bless you. ALL CHEER Have you found Jesus yet, Gump? I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir. (Laughs) That's all that these cripples down at the V.A. - that's all they ever talk about. "Jesus this and Jesus that." "Have I found Jeeeeesus?" 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. 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! (Dan rummages violently) I'm going to heaven, Lieutenant Dan. Oh? Ha. Well... ..before you go, go to the corner and get us another bottle of Ripple. Yes, sir. We're at approximately 45th Street in New York City, at 1 Astra Plaza, site of the old Astra Hotel. What the hell is in Bayou La Batre? Shrimping boats. Shrimping boats? Who gives a shit about shrimping boats? I'm gonna buy me a shrimping boat, soon as I have money. I promised Bubba in Vietnam that as soon as the war was over, we'd go in partners. He'd be captain and I'd be first mate. But now that he's dead, I gotta be captain. A shrimp boat captain. Yes, sir! A promise is a promise, Lieutenant Dan. (Laughs) Now hear this! Private Gump here is gonna be a shrimp boat captain. I'll tell you what, Gilligan - the day that you're a shrimp boat captain, I will come and be your first mate. Ha, ha! OK. If you're ever a shrimp boat captain, that's the day I'm an astronaut. What are you complaining about? Hi, hon! Mr Hot Wheels. Who's your friend? My name is Forrest - Forrest Gump. (Laughs) This is the Cunning Carla and Long-Limbs Leonore. (Laughs) So where you been, baby-cakes, huh? Haven't seen you around lately. You should have been here for Christmas. Everybody got a turkey sandwich. Well, I had...company. Hey, hey! We was, we was just there - that's Times Square. Don't you just love New Year's? You get to start all over. Everybody gets a second chance. It's funny, but in the middle of all that fun, I began to think about Jenny, wondering how she was spending her New Year's night out in California. # Don't you love her madly? # Don't you love her ways? # Tell me what you say # Don't you love her madly? # Want to be her daddy? # Don't you love her face? # Don't you love her as she's walking out the door? # (Crowd on TV chants) ..nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year! PEOPLE CHEER AND BLOW WHISTLES 'AULD LANG SYNE' PLAYS # Should old acquaintance be forgot # And never come to mind HAPPY NEW YEAR, LIEUTENANT DAN!! # Should old acquaintance be forgot in days of auld lang syne... # (Gump blows whistle) CANNED HEAT'S 'LET'S WORK TOGETHER' # Together we stand, divided we fall # Come on now, people, let's get on the ball # And work together # Come on, come on, Let's work together... # Mmm! Mmm! Ah! What are you, stupid or something? What's your problem? (Cunning Carla giggles) What's his problem? Did you lose your pecker in the war? Is your friend stupid? What did you say?! I said, is your friend stupid? Don't call him stupid! Don't push her! You shut up! Don't EVER call him stupid! Baby, why you being so upset? Get your goddamn clothes and get the hell out of here. You should be in a sideshow. Get out! NEEDLE SCRATCHES, MUSIC STOPS You're so pathetic. Get out! (Dan Grunts) (Laughs) You retard. Loser! You freak! (Carla and Leonore laugh in distance) (SIGHS) No, no! No, no. (Sighs and grunts) (Dan gasps) I'm sorry I ruined your New Year's Eve party, Lieutenant Dan. She tasted like cigarettes. (Sighs raggedly) SORROWFUL MUSIC 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. Happy New Year, Gump. The US ping-pong team met with President Nixon today... And wouldn't you know it, 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. Only this time, they didn't get us fancy hotel rooms. Are you enjoying our nation's capital, young man? Yes, sir. Where are you staying? It's called the Hotel Abbott. Oh, no, no, no. I know a much nicer, new hotel. Brand new, very modern. I'll have my people take care of it for you. Security. Frank Wills. Yeah, sir, you may want to send a maintenance man over to that office across the way. The lights are off. They must be looking for a fuse box. Them flashlights are keeping me awake. I'll check it out. Thank you. No problem. Goodnight. Goodnight. 'STAR SPANGLED BANNER' PLAYS ON TV Therefore, I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow. Vice-President Ford will be sworn in as president at that hour in this office. # I'm coming home, I've done my time... # As I recall my high hopes for America... PING-PONG BALL BOUNCES # ..if you receive my letter... # Sergeant Gump. YES, SIR!! As you were. I have your discharge papers. Service is up, son. Does this mean I can't play ping-pong no more? For the army, it does. DOOR CLOSES And just like that, my service in the United States Army was over. # ..still want me # If I don't see a ribbon... # So I went home. I'm home, Momma. I know, I know... Louise! He's here! Now, I had no idea, but Momma had had all sorts of visitors. We've had ALL sorts of visitors, Forrest. Everybody wants you to use their ping-pong stuff. One man even left a cheque for $25,000 if you'd be agreeable to saying you like using their paddle. Oh, Momma, I only like using my own paddle. Hi, Miss Louise. Hey, Forrest. I know that, I know that. But it's...$25,000. I thought maybe you could hold it for a while, see if it grows on you. That Momma - she sure was right. It's funny how things work out. I didn't stay home long because I'd made a promise to Bubba. I try to keep promises, so I went to Bayou La Batre to meet Bubba's family and make their introduction. Are you crazy? Or just plain stupid? Stupid is as stupid does, Mrs Blue. I guess. And of course, I paid my respects to Bubba himself. SOFT CHORAL SINGING Hi, Bubba, it's me, Forrest Gump. I remember everything you said and I got it all figured out. I'm taking the $24,562 and 47 cents that I got - or what's left after a new haircut, and a new suit and took Momma to a fancy dinner and I bought a bus ticket, then three Doctor Peppers. Tell me something. Are you stupid or something? Stupid is as stupid does, sir. 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-Lite ping-pong paddle." Which everybody knows isn't true, but Momma says it's just a little white lie so wasn't hurtin' nobody. So, anyway, I'm putting all that on gas, ropes, new nets, and a brand-new shrimping boat. MAJESTIC MUSIC Now, Bubba had told me everything he knew about shrimping, but you know what I found out? Shrimping is TOUGH. I only caught five. Couple more, you could have yourself a cocktail! (Chuckles) You better name this old boat. It's bad luck to have a boat without a name. I'd never named a boat before. But there was only one I could think of. The most beautiful name in the wide world. KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND'S 'GET DOWN TONIGHT' # Do a little dance # Make a little love # Get down tonight # Get down tonight # Do a little dance # Make a little love # Get down tonight Get down tonight... # Now, I hadn't heard from Jenny in a long while, but I thought about her a lot and I hoped that whatever she was doing made her happy. SONG: # Oh, and the bird you cannot change # And this bird you cannot change # Lord knows I can't change # Lord, help me, I can't cha-a-a-a-a-a-a-nge... # INTENSE ELECTRIC-GUITAR SOLO MUSIC REACHES CRESCENDO MUSIC SOFTENS (Sobs) BOAT CREAKS WATER LAPS I thought about Jenny all the time. MOTOR CHUGS SMOOTHLY TRANQUIL MUSIC MUSIC SWELLS (Laughs) Hey! POIGNANT CRESCENDO Lieutenant Dan! What are you doing here? Well, thought I'd try out my sea legs. But you ain't got no legs, Lieutenant Dan. Yes, I know that. You wrote me a letter, you idiot. Well, well - Captain Forrest Gump. I had to see this for myself. (Chuckles) And...I told you if you were ever a shrimp-boat captain, that I'd be your first mate. Well, here I am. I'm a man of my word. OK! But don't you be thinking that I'll be calling you sir. No, sir. WOOD SPLINTERS That's my boat. 1 I have a feeling if we head due east, we'll find some shrimp! So take a left! Take a left! Which way? Over there. They're over there! Get on the wheel and take a left! OK! Gump! What are you doing? Take a left! Left! THAT'S where we're gonna find those shrimp, my boy! Ha-ha! That's where we'll find 'em. METAL CLATTERS SORROWFULLY COMICAL MUSIC Still no shrimp, Lieutenant Dan. OK, so I was wrong. Well, how are we gonna find them? Well, maybe you should just pray for shrimp. (All sing lively gospel music) So, I went to church every Sunday. Sometimes, Lieutenant Dan came too. Though, I think he left the praying up to me. CHAINS RATTLE No shrimp. Where the hell's this god of yours? It's funny Lieutenant Dan said that, because right then, God showed up. DAN: You'll never sink this boat! FORREST: Now, me, I was scared. (Dan laughs maniacally) But Lieutenant Dan - he was mad! Come on! You call this a storm?! Blow, you son of a bitch! BLOW! It's time for a showdown! You and me! I'm right here! Come and get me! (Laughs maniacally) You'll never sink this boat! (Laughs crazily) Hurricane Carmen came through here yesterday, destroying nearly everything in its path. And as in other towns up and down the coast, Bayou La Batre's entire shrimping industry 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. Louise! Louise, there's Forrest. FORREST: After that, shrimping was easy. GOSPEL SONG: # Heaven will be by me # Oh, my God... # FORREST: And since people still needed them shrimps for shrimp cocktails and barbecues and all, and we were the only boat left standing, Bubba Gump Shrimp's what they got. We got a whole bunch of boats. 12 'Jennys'. Big old warehouse. We even have hats that say 'Bubba Gump' on 'em. 'Bubba Gump Shrimp'. It's a household name. Hold on there, boy. Are you telling me you're the owner of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Corporation? Yes, sir. We got more money than Davy Crockett. (Laughs heartily) Boy, I heard some whoppers in my time, but that tops 'em all. (Laughs) We were sitting next to a millionaire! Well... I thought it was a very lovely story and you tell it so well, with such enthusiasm. Would you like to see what Lieutenant Dan looks like? Well, yes, I would. That's him right there. Mmm. Let me tell you something about Lieutenant Dan... Forrest. I never thanked you for saving my life. (SIGHS) FORREST: He never actually said so, but I think he made his peace with God. GUNFIRE, SPECTATORS SCREAM For the second time in 17 days, President Ford escaped possible assassination today... RADIO: Base to 'Jenny 1'. Base to 'Jenny 1'. 'Jenny 1'. Go, Margaret. Forrest has a phone call. You'll have to tell them to call him back. He is indisposed at the moment. His momma's sick. ..Alice Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, better known as 'Squeaky', attempted to assassinate the President... Where's Momma? She's upstairs. Hi, Forrest! I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, alright. We sure got you straightened out, didn't we, boy? What's the matter, Momma? I'm dyin', Forrest. Come on in. Sit down over here. Why are you dyin', Momma? It's my time. It's just my time. Oh, now. Don't you be afraid, sweetheart. Death is just a part of life. Somethin' 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. You did good, Momma. Well...I happen to believe you make your own destiny. You have to do the best with what God gave you. What's MY destiny, Momma? You're gonna have to figure that out for yourself. SENTIMENTAL MUSIC Life is a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get. Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them. I WILL miss you, Forrest. She had got the cancer and died on a Tuesday. I bought her a new hat, with little flowers on it. And that's all I have to say about that. Didn't you say you were waitin' for the number 7 bus? There'll be another one along shortly. Now, because I'd been a football star and a war hero and a national celebrity and a shrimpin' boat captain and a college graduate, the city fathers of Greenbow, Alabama, decided to get together and offered me a FINE job. So, I never went back to work for Lieutenant Dan, though he did take care of my Bubba Gump money. He got me invested in some kind of fruit company. So, then I got a call from him sayin' we don't have to worry about money no more and I said, "That's good. One less thing." (All sing) # I got a new home... # Now, Momma said there's only so much fortune a man really needs and the rest is just for showin' off. Praise the Lord! So, I gave a whole bunch of it to the Foursquare Gospel Church. And I gave a whole bunch to the Bayou La Batre Fishing Hospital. (All cheer and applaud) And even though Bubba was dead and Lieutenant Dan said I was nuts, I gave Bubba's momma Bubba's share. # I've got Jesus... # You know what? She didn't have to work in nobody's kitchen no more. Smells wonderful! And 'cause I was a gazillionaire and I liked doin' it so much, I cut that grass for free. But at night-time, when there was nothin' to do and the house was all empty, I'd always think of Jenny. GENTLE ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC MELANCHOLY MUSIC LUSH MELANCHOLY MUSIC And then...she was there. (Turns mower off) MUSIC BUILDS MUSIC FADES Hello, Forrest. Hello, Jenny. SENTIMENTAL MUSIC Jenny came back and stayed with me. Maybe it was because she had nowhere else to go. Or maybe it was because she was so tired, 'cause she went to bed and slept and slept, like she hadn't slept in years. It was wonderful having her home. Every day, we'd take a walk and I'd jabber on like a monkey in a tree and she'd listen about ping-pongin' and shrimpin' and Momma makin' a trip up to heaven. I did all the talkin'. Jenny, most of the times, was...was real quiet. ..rain... WIND WHISTLES (Grunts angrily) Uhhh! Uhhhh! Uhhhh! (Sobs) Sometimes I guess there just aren't enough rocks. LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S 'SWEET HOME ALABAMA' 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. Every day I'd pick pretty flowers and put 'em in her room for her. And she gave me the best gift anyone could ever get in the wide world. Shoes. They make 'em just for running. # Carry me home to see my kin She even showed me how to dance. # I miss my family once again And I think it's a sin # Sweet home Alabama... # And well, we was like family, Jenny and me. # Where the skies are so blue... # And it was the happiest time of my life. FIREWORKS WHISTLE AND POP FIREWORKS CRACKLE 'GOD BLESS AMERICA' INSTRUMENTAL PLAYS And this Fourth is witnessing one of the largest fireworks displays in the nation's history... You done watchin' it? ..here in New York Harbour. Mm-hm. I'm goin' to bed. ..spectacular display of tall ships, the Statue of Liberty... (Turns television off) Will you marry me? I'd make a good husband, Jenny. You would, Forrest. But you won't marry me? You don't want to marry me. Why don't you love me, Jenny? I'm not a smart man. But I know what love is. THUNDER CRACKLES (RAIN PATTERS) Jenny... Forrest, I do love you. BIRDSONG Where are YOU runnin' off to? I'm not running. POIGNANT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC INTREPID MUSIC SWELLS That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road, and when I got there, I thought I'd run through the town. T.V.: President Carter, suffering from heat exhaustion... And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured since I'd run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great State of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear cross Alabama. For no particular reason, I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around and just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured since I'd gone this far... ..I might as well just turn back, keep right on going. When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. And when I had to go, you know? I went. And so you just ran? Yeah. SONG: # Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels # Looking back at the years going by like so many summer fields # In '65 I was 17 and running up 101 # I don't know where I'm running now # I'm just running on # Running on Running on empty # Running on Running blind... # 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. For over two years now, a man named Forrest Gump, a gardener from Greenbow, Alabama, stopping only to sleep, has been running across America. Charles Cooper brings you this report. CHARLES: For the fourth time on his journey across America Forrest Gump, the gardener from Greenbow, Alabama, is about to cross the Mississippi River again today. I'll be damned, Forrest! Why are you running? WOMAN: Are you doing this for world peace? For the homeless? For women's rights? For the environment? For animals? They just couldn't believe that somebody would run for no particular reason. Why are you doing this? I just felt like running. I just felt like running. It's you! I can't believe it's really you! Now, for some reason what I was doing seemed to make sense to people. It was like an alarm went off in my head, you know? I said, "Here's a guy with his act together, all figured out. "Somebody who has the answer!" I'll follow you anywhere, Mr Gump. So...I got company. And after that, I got more company. And then even more people joined in. Somebody later told me it gave people hope. Nah. Nah, I don't know anything about that, but some of those people asked if I'd help them out. Hey, man! I was wondering if you might help me? I'm in the bumper sticker business and I'm after a good slogan. Since you're such an inspiration to the people around you, I thought you might help jump into` Whoa! You ran through a big pile of dog shit! It happens. What? Shit? Sometimes. Some years later, I heard that fellow did come up with a bumper sticker slogan and he made a lot of money off of it. 1 Another time, I was running along and somebody who had lost all his money in the T-shirt business wanted to put my face on a T-shirt, but he couldn't draw well. And he didn't have a camera. Use this one. Nobody likes that colour anyway. (TRUCK HORN TOOTS) Have a nice day. Some years later, I found out that that man did come up with an idea for a T-shirt. He made a lot of money off of it. Anyway, like I was saying, I had a lot of company. My momma always said, "You've 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, 14 days and 16 hours. Quiet. Quiet, he's going to say something. I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. Now what are we supposed to do? And just like that... ..my running days was over. So I went home to Alabama. REPORTER: Moments ago, at 2:25pm, as President Reagan was leaving... GUNSHOTS ..six gunshots were fired by an unknown would-be assassin. The President was shot in the chest... I picked up the mail. And one day, out of the blue clear sky, I got a letter from Jenny, wondering if I could come down to Savannah and 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 1947 Henry Street. Apartment four. Why, you don't need to take a bus. Henry Street is just five or six blocks down that way. Down that way? Down that way. It was nice talking to you. HORN BEEPS I hope everything works out for you! (Pants) Hey! Forrest! How are you doing? Come in. Come in. I got your letter. Oh, I was wondering about that. Is this your house? Yeah. It's messy right now. I just got off work. It's nice. You got air-conditioning. Uh... Thank you. I ate some. I, ah...I kept a scrapbook of your...of your clippings and...everything. There you are. This, I got you running. I ran a long way... ..for a long time. There. Listen, Forrest, I don't know how to say this. Um... I just...I want to apologise for anything that I ever did to you, because...I was messed up for a long time and... KNOCK AT DOOR WOMAN: Yoo hoo! Hey! Hi! Hey, you! This is an old friend from Alabama. (SIGHS) How do you do? Listen, next week my schedule changes, so I'll... It's no problem. I've got to go, Jen, I'm double-parked. OK. 'Bye. Thanks. This is my very good friend, Mr Gump. Can you say hi to him? Hello, Mr Gump. Hello. Can I watch TV now? Yes, you can. You're a momma, Jenny! I'm a momma. His name's Forrest. Like me. I named him after his daddy. He got a daddy named Forrest too? You're his daddy, Forrest. POIGNANT MUSIC Hey... ..Forrest, look at me. Look at me, Forrest. There's nothing you need to do, OK? You didn't do anything wrong. OK? Isn't he beautiful? He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. But... ..is...is he smart, or du... He's very smart. He's one of the smartest in his class. (SIGHS) EMOTIONAL MUSIC Yeah, it's OK. Go talk to him. TV PLAYS INDISTINCTLY What are you watching? Bert and Ernie. 1 Forrest. I'm sick. What? Do you have a cough or a cold? I have some kind of virus and the doctors don't...they don't know what it is and there isn't anything they can do about it. You could come home with me... ..Jenny. You and little Forrest. You could come stay at my house in Greenbow. I'll take care of you if you're sick. Would you marry me, Forrest? OK. MAN: Please take your seats. Forrest, it's time to start. Hi. Your tie. Lieutenant Dan. Lieutenant Dan. Hello, Forrest. You've got new legs. New legs! Yeah, I got new legs. Custom-made. Titanium alloy. It's what they use on the space shuttle. Magic legs. This...is my fiancee, Susan. Lieutenant Dan! Hi, Forrest. Lieutenant Dan...this is my Jenny. Hi. It's nice to meet you finally. PRIEST: Do you, Forrest, take Jenny to be your wife? ROMANTIC ORCHESTRAL MUSIC Hey. Hey. Hey, Forrest... ..were you scared in Vietnam? Yes. Well, I... ..I don't know. Sometimes it would stop raining long enough for the stars to come out, and... ..and then, it was nice. It was like just before the sun goes to bed down on the bayou. There was a... a million sparkles on the water. Like that mountain lake that was so clear, Jenny, it looked like there were two skies, one on top of the other. And then in the desert, when the sun comes up... ..I couldn't tell where heaven stopped and the earth began. It was so beautiful. I wish I could've been there with you. You were. I love you. FORREST: You died on a Saturday morning. And I had you placed here under our tree. And I had that house of your father's bulldozed to the ground. Momma... ..always said, dyin' was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn't. Little Forrest is... He's doing just fine. He's about to start at school again soon, and... ..and I make his breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. I make sure he combs his hair, brushes his teeth every day. I'm teaching him how to play ping-pong. I'll get it. He's really good. Forrest, your go. Ah! We fish a lot. And every night we read a book - he's just so smart, Jenny. (Sobs) You'd be so proud of him. I am. He wrote you a letter. He says I can't read it, not supposed to, so I'll just... I'll just leave it here for you. Jenny... ..I don't know if Momma was right or 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. WISTFUL MUSIC I miss you, Jenny. (Sniffles) If there's anything you need... ..I won't be far away. BIRDS SCREECH Here's your bus. OK. Hey! I know this. I'm going to show that for show-and-tell because Grandma used to read it to you. It's my favourite book. Well...OK. Here you go. Hey, Forrest! Don't... I want to tell you I love you. I love you too, Daddy. I'll be right here when you get back. You understand this is the bus to the school, now, don't you? Of course. And you're Dorothy Harris and I'm Forrest Gump. WIND WHOOSHES GENTLE, UPLIFTING MUSIC