1986
Idealistic volunteer Chris Taylor arrives in Vietnam and quickly experiences the brutal realities of jungle warfare, including a harrowing ambush that leaves him wounded. He becomes caught between two sergeants: the compassionate Elias, who leads the 'heads' in their underground bunker, and the ruthless Barnes, who commits atrocities during a village raid. The conflict escalates when Barnes murders Elias in cold blood during an NVA ambush, leaving Chris to witness the act and struggle with his conscience. During a final, devastating NVA assault that overruns their position, Chris confronts Barnes, ultimately executing him in the aftermath, before being evacuated as one of the few survivors, forever changed by the war.
Save the Cat beat sheet
New recruit Chris Taylor arrives in Vietnam and faces the brutal realities of war.
Open full beat sheetChris Taylor is listed as Protagonist / Recruit. 21-year-old idealistic volunteer, urban transplant, slightly neurotic. In the parsed data, Chris Taylor is connected to 21 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
21 scenes / 12 dialogue linesBarnes is listed as Platoon Sergeant. Powerful, scarred face, ruthless, cold, experienced soldier. In the parsed data, Barnes is connected to 14 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
14 scenes / 9 dialogue linesElias is listed as Squad Sergeant. Graceful, Indian heritage, charismatic, moral compass. In the parsed data, Elias is connected to 12 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
12 scenes / 2 dialogue linesO'Neill is listed as Sergeant. Lifer, red-headed, paranoid, self-serving. In the parsed data, O'Neill is connected to 12 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 23.
12 scenes / 1 dialogue linesWolfe is listed as Lieutenant. New to the field, nervous, insecure leader. In the parsed data, Wolfe is connected to 11 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
11 scenes / 3 dialogue linesJunior is listed as Soldier. Pockmarked, whining, cynical. In the parsed data, Junior is connected to 11 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 22.
11 scenes / 1 dialogue linesKing is listed as Soldier. Black soldier, sleepy, gentle, experienced. In the parsed data, King is connected to 10 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.
10 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDoc is listed as Medic. Gentle, compassionate, aspiring medical student. In the parsed data, Doc is connected to 9 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
9 scenes / 2 dialogue linesBunny is listed as Soldier. 18-year-old, angel-faced, sociopathic tendencies. In the parsed data, Bunny is connected to 8 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
8 scenes / 4 dialogue linesFrancis is listed as Soldier. Baby-faced, soft-eyed. In the parsed data, Francis is connected to 8 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
8 scenes / 3 dialogue linesRhah is listed as Soldier. Resident 'head', eccentric, philosophical, tattooed. In the parsed data, Rhah is connected to 8 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
8 scenes / 3 dialogue linesLerner is listed as Soldier. 19-year-old from Florida. In the parsed data, Lerner is connected to 8 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 11.
8 scenes / 1 dialogue linesBig Harold is listed as Soldier. Large, 250-pound soldier, friendly. In the parsed data, Big Harold is connected to 7 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.
7 scenes / 0 dialogue linesCaptain Harris is listed as Company Commander. Broad-shouldered, Southern accent, football coach mannerisms. In the parsed data, Captain Harris is connected to 6 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
6 scenes / 3 dialogue linesGardner is listed as Recruit. New recruit, jovial, killed in action. In the parsed data, Gardner is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 1.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesTex is listed as Soldier. Sour Texas Ranger type. In the parsed data, Tex is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesNew recruits arrive at the base camp and witness the grim reality of the war as body bags are loaded onto a plane.
Chris Taylor, GardnerThe platoon moves through the jungle; Chris struggles with the physical demands and encounters a decomposing body.
Chris Taylor, Barnes, Elias, Doc, Junior, GardnerThe company sets up a perimeter for the night; soldiers perform chores and prepare for an ambush.
Chris Taylor, Elias, King, O'Neill, Wolfe, Big HaroldThe ambush patrol is attacked by NVA forces; Chris is wounded and Gardner is killed.
Chris Taylor, Barnes, Elias, King, Bunny, O'NeillChris returns to base camp and is assigned to clean latrines with King and Crawford.
Chris Taylor, King, O'NeillKing, Crawford, and Chris burn waste in barrels while discussing Chris's decision to volunteer for the war.
Chris Taylor, King, O'NeillKing introduces Chris to the 'heads' in their underground bunker, where they smoke and share stories.
Chris Taylor, Elias, King, Bunny, Rhah, O'NeillBunny and Junior argue while Barnes and others play poker.
Barnes, Bunny, O'Neill, Wolfe, JuniorThe platoon discovers an NVA bunker complex, leading to a deadly trap.
Chris Taylor, Barnes, Elias, King, Bunny, RhahThe platoon raids a village, leading to atrocities committed by Bunny.
Chris Taylor, Barnes, Bunny, O'Neill, Wolfe, JuniorBarnes interrogates the Village Chief and his wife, eventually killing the wife to force a confession.
Barnes, Chris Taylor, Lerner, Junior, Captain Harris, WolfeThe soldiers burn the village and round up suspects.
Bunny, O'Neill, Big Harold, Rhah, Wolfe, Chris TaylorThe platoon sets up a perimeter and discusses the day's events.
Elias, Captain Harris, Barnes, Wolfe, Chris Taylor, RhahChris and Elias share a conversation about the war and life.
Chris Taylor, EliasThe platoon is ambushed while moving through the jungle.
Chris Taylor, Rhah, Francis, Big Harold, King, LernerChris and Rhah engage NVA soldiers in the jungle; Crawford is wounded.
Chris Taylor, Rhah, GardnerElias stalks and kills NVA soldiers.
EliasBarnes confronts and shoots Elias.
Barnes, EliasThe platoon evacuates via helicopter; Elias is left behind.
Chris Taylor, Barnes, Elias, King, Wolfe, DocThe soldiers discuss fragging Barnes; Barnes confronts them.
Chris Taylor, Barnes, King, Bunny, Rhah, DocChris and Francis are under attack in their foxhole; Chris forces Francis to flee, then charges the NVA himself.
Chris Taylor, FrancisBunny and Junior are in a foxhole; Junior flees, Bunny is killed by an NVA soldier, and Barnes arrives to fight.
Bunny, Junior, BarnesWolfe and Ace attempt to coordinate as the perimeter is overrun.
Wolfe, O'Neill, Doc, Captain HarrisCaptain Harris orders an air strike on his own position.
Captain HarrisThe NVA overrun the CP; Wolfe is killed.
Wolfe, O'Neill, DocBarnes and Chris fight the remaining NVA; Barnes attacks Chris before being hit by an air strike.
Barnes, Chris TaylorChris wakes up, finds Barnes, and executes him.
Chris Taylor, BarnesThe survivors are evacuated; Chris leaves on a chopper.
Chris Taylor, Francis, O'Neill, Rhah, Captain HarrisSnakebite leader, Bravo Six, for the record, it's my call. Dump everything you got left ON MY POS. I say again, I want all you're holding INSIDE the perimeter. It's a lovely war. Bravo Six Actual and Out.
Jes' fine man, jes fine! Ain't never felt better! Both of us two timers man, we're out. See you at the hospital man, we gonna get high-high yessir ...
Yeah. I love this place at night. The stars ... there's no right or wrong in them, they're just there.
Goddamit! Are you fucking kids ever gonna learn! Don't you understand how easy it is to die!
He swears he doesn't know anything! He hates the NVA but they come when they want and ...
That's for Sandy! And this is for Sal! And this is for fucking Manny! This is for me!
Yeah sure it was. What about all that fucking rice and the weapons ... who they for?
Fuck this shit! I ain't dyin' in no white man's war! Ise didi-ing this motherfuckah!
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