"FORREST GUMP"

Screenplay by

Eric Roth

Based on a novel by

Winston Groom

EXT. A SAVANNAH STREET - DAY (1981)

A feather floats through the air. The fal ing feather.

A city, Savannah, is revealed in the background. The feather

floats down toward the city below. The feather drops down

toward the street below, as people walk past and cars drive

by, and nearly lands on a man's shoulder.

He walks across the street, causing the feather to be whisked

back on its journey. The feather floats above a stopped car.

The car drives off right as the feather floats down toward

the street.

The feather floats under a passing car, then is sent flying

back up in the air. A MAN sits on a bus bench. The feather

floats above the ground and final y lands on the man's

mudsoaked shoe.

The man reached down and picks up the feather. His name is

FORREST GUMP. He looks at the feather oddly, moves aside a

box of chocolates from an old suitcase, then opens the case.

Inside the old suitcase are an assortment of clothes, a

pingpong paddle, toothpaste and other personal items.

Forrest pul s out a book titled "Curious George," then places

the feather inside the book. Forrest closes the suitcase.

Something in his eyes reveals that Forrest may not be al

there.

Forrest looks right as the sound of an arriving bus is heard.

A bus pul s up. Forrest remains on the bus bench as the bus

continues on.

A BLACK WOMAN in a nurse's outfit steps up and sits down at

the bus bench next to Forrest. The nurse begins to read a

magazine as Forrest looks at her.

FORREST

Hel o. My name's Forrest Gump.

He opens a box of chocolates and holds it out for the nurse.

FORREST

You want a chocolate?

The nurse shakes her head, a bit apprehensive about this

strange man next to her.

FORREST

I could eat about a million and a

half of these. My momma always said,

"Life was like a box of chocolates.

You never know what you're gonna

get."

Forrest eats a chocolate as he looks down at the nurse's

shoes.

FORREST

Those must be comfortable shoes.

I'll bet you could walk all day in

shoes like that and not feel a thing.

I wish I had shoes like that.

BLACK WOMAN

My feet hurt.

FORREST

Momma always says there's an awful

lot you could tel about a person by

their shoes. Where they're going.

Where they've been.

The black woman stares at Forrest as he looks down at his

own shoes.

FORREST

I've worn lots of shoes. I bet if I

think about it real hard I could

remember my first pair of shoes.

Forrest closes his eyes tightly.

FORREST

Momma said they'd take my anywhere.

INT. COUNTRY DOCTOR'S OFFICE - GREENBOW, ALABAMA - DAY

(1951)

A little boy closes his eyes tightly. It is young Forrest as

he sits in a doctor's office.

FORREST (V.O.)

She said they was my magic shoes.

Forrest has been fitted with orthopedic shoes and metal leg

braces.

DOCTOR

Al right, Forrest, you can open

your eyes now. Let's take a little

walk around.

The doctor sets Forrest down on its feet. Forrest walks around

stiffly. Forrest's mother, MRS. GUMP, watches him as he clanks

around the room awkwardly.

DOCTOR

How do those feel? His legs are

strong, Mrs. Gump. As strong as I've

ever seen. But his back is as crooked

as a politician.

Forrest walks foreground past the doctor and Mrs. Gump.

DOCTOR

But we're gonna straighten him right

up now, won't we, Forrest?

A loud thud is heard as, outside, Forrest fal s.

MRS. GUMP

Forrest!

EXT. GREENBOW, ALABAMA

Mrs. Gump and young Forrest walk across the street. Forrest

walks stiffly next to his mother.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, when I was a baby, Momma named

me after the great Civil War hero,

General Nathan Bedford Forrest. .

EXT. RURAL ALABAMA

A black and white photo of General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

The photo turns into live action as the General dons a hooded

sheet over his head.

The General is in full Ku Klux Klan garb, including his horse.

The General rides off, followed by a large group of Klan

members dressed in ful uniform.

FORREST (V.O.)

She said we was related to him in

some way. And, what he did was, he

started up this club cal ed the Ku

Klux Klan. They'd all dress up in

their robes and their bedsheets and

act like a bunch of ghosts or spooks

or something. They'd even put

bedsheets on their horses and ride

around. And anyway, that's how I got

my name. Forrest Gump.

EXT. GREENBOW

Mrs. Gump and Forrest walk across the street.

FORREST (V.O.)

Momma said that the Forrest part was

to remind me that sometimes we al

do things that, wel , just don't

make no sense.

Forrest stops suddenly as his brace gets stuck. Forrest's

brace is caught in a gutter grate. Mrs. Gump bends down and

tries to free Forrest. Two old cronies sit in front of a

barber shop and watch.

MRS. GUMP

Just wait, let me get it.

Mrs. Gump struggles to pul the stuck brace from the grate.

MRS. GUMP

Let me get it. Wait, get it this

way. Hold on.

Forrest pul s his foot out of the grate.

MRS. GUMP

All right.

Mrs. Gump helps Forrest up onto the sidewalk. She looks up

and notices the two old man.

MRS. GUMP

Oooh. All right. What are you all

staring at? Haven't you ever seen a

little boy with braces on his legs

before?

Mrs. Gump and Forrest walk along the sidewalk past the two

old men. Mrs. Gump holds tightly onto Forrest's hand.

MRS. GUMP

Don't ever let anybody tel you

they're better than you, Forrest. If

God intended everybody to be the

same, he'd have given us all braces

on our legs.

FORREST (V.O.)

Momma always had a way of explaining

things so I could understand them.

EXT. OAK ALLEY/THE GUMP BOARDING HOUSE

Mrs. Gump and Forrest walk along a dirt road. A row of

mailboxes stands left.

FORREST (V.O.)

We lived about a quarter mile of

Route 17, about a half mile from the

town of Greenbow, Alabama. That's in

the county of Greenbow. Our house

had been in Momma's family since her

grandpa's grandpa's grandpa had come

across the ocean about a thousand

years ago. Something like that.

Mrs. Gump and Forrest walk along the Gump Boarding House

driveway.

FORREST (V.O.)

Since it was just me and Momma and

we had al these empty rooms, Momma

decided to let those rooms out. Mostly

to people passing through. Like from,

oh, Mobile, Montgomery, place like

that. That's how me and Mommy got

money. Mommy was a real smart lady.

MRS. GUMP

Remember what I told you, Forrest.

You're no different than anybody

else is.

Mrs. Gump heads Forrest to the porch. She bends down to look

Forrest in the eye.

MRS. GUMP

Did you hear what I said, Forrest?

You're the same as everybody else.

You are no different.

INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL / PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY

PRINCIPAL

Your boy's. . different, Mrs. Gump.

Now, his I.Q. is seventy-five.

MRS. GUMP

Well, we're all different, Mr.

Hancock.

The principal sighs, then stands up.

INT. HALLWAY

Forrest sits outside the principal's office and waits.

FORREST (V.O.)

She wanted me to have the finest

education, so she took me to the

Greenbow County Central School. I

met the principal and all.

The principal stands in front of Mrs. Gump. Forrest, sitting

left, listens.

PRINCIPAL

I want to show you something, Mrs.

Gump. Now, this is normal.

The principal holds up a chart with a designations according

to I.Q. and points to the center of the graph, labeled

"Normal." A red line below the normal area is labeled "State

Acceptance." The principal points to the section below the

acceptance line labeled "Below."

PRINCIPAL

Forrest is right here. The state

requires a minimum I.Q. of eighty to

attend public school, Mrs. Gump.

He's gonna have to go to a special

school. Now, he'll be just fine.

MRS. GUMP

What does normal mean, anyway? He

might be a bit on the slow side, but

my boy Forrest is going to get the

same opportunities as everyone else.

He's not going to some special school

to learn to how to re-tread tires.

We're talking about five little points

here. There must be something can be

done.

INT. HALLWAY

Forrest sits outside the principal's office.

PRINCIPAL

We're a progressive school system.

We don't want to see anybody left

behind.

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE

PRINCIPAL

Is there a Mr. Gump, Mrs. Gump?

MRS. GUMP

He's on vacation.

EXT. GUMP BOARDING HOUSE - NIGHT

Forrest sits on a swing outside the house. Loud organic male

grunts are heard coming from inside the house. Forrest sits

on the swing as the grunts continue. The principal steps out

of the Gump House and wipes the sweat from his face.

Forrest is sitting on the porch.

PRINCIPAL

Wel , your momma sure does care about

your schooling, son. Mm-mm-mm.

The principal wipes the sweat from his neck, then looks back

at Forrest.

PRINCIPAL

You don't say much, do you?

Forrest grunts, imitating him. The principal, embarrassed,

turns and walks away.

INT. GUMP BOARDING HOUSE/FORREST'S BEDROOM

Mrs. Gump reads from the book "Curious George" as Forrest

sits on the bed and listens.

MRS. GUMP

Finally, he had to try it. It looked

easy, but, oh, what happened. First

there...

FORREST

Momma, what's vacation mean?

MRS. GUMP

Vacation?

FORREST

Where Daddy went?

MRS. GUMP

Vacation's when you go somewhere,

and you don't ever come back.

Forrest lies down on his bed and looks up.

FORREST (V.O.)

Anyway, I guess you could say me and

Momma was on our own.

EXT. GUMP BOARDING HOUSE - DAY

A cab driver closes the trunk of the car as two women walk

toward the house. A milkman steps down from the porch.

FORREST (V.O.)

But we didn't mind. Our house was

never empty. There was always folks

comin' and goin'.

MRS. GUMP (V.O.)

Suppa.

INT. GUMP BOARDING HOUSE

Mrs. Gump steps forward and speaks to al the boarders.

MRS. GUMP

It's suppa, everyone. Forrest..

A MAN WITH A CANE steps left across the hal .

MAN WITH CANE

My, my. That sure looks special.

Mrs. Gump looks into a sitting room and informs the boarders

about dinner.

MRS. GUMP

Gentlemen, would you care to join us

for supper? Hurry up and get it before

the flies do. I prefer you don't

smoke that cigar so close to mealtime.

FORREST (V.O.)

Sometimes we had so many people

stayin' with us that every room was

filled with travelers. You know,

folks livin' out of their suitcases,

and hat cases, and sample cases.

MRS. GUMP

Well, you go ahead and start. I can't

find Forrest.

Mrs. Gump walks up the stairs.

MRS. GUMP

Forrest... Forrest...

FORREST (V.O.)

One time a young man was staying

with us, and he had him a guitar

case.

Mrs. Gump looks into Forrest's room. She hears singing coming

from another room and walks over to a closed door. Mrs. Gump

opens the door, revealing a young man with long sideburns as

he plays the guitar and sings. Forrest holds onto a broom

and dances oddly. The young man is ELVIS PRESLEY.

ELVIS PRESLEY

(sings)

"Well, you ain't never caught a

rabbit, and you ain't no friend of

mine."

Forrest's legs rock back and forth to the guitar.

MRS. GUMP

Forrest! I told you not to bother

this nice young man.

ELVIS

Oh, no, that's all right, ma'am. I

was just showin' him a thing or two

on the guitar here.

MRS. GUMP

Al right, but your supper's ready

if y'all want to eat.

ELVIS

Yeah, that sounds good. Thank you,

ma'am.

Mrs. Gump leaves and closes the door. Elvis sits back down.

Forrest stands left, and looks himself in a mirror.

ELVIS

Say, man, show me that crazy little

walk you just did there. Slow it

down some.

Forrest begins to dance again as Elvis plays the guitar and

sings.

ELVIS

(sings)

"You ain't nothin' but a hound, hound

dog..."

FORREST (V.O.)

I liked that guitar.

Forrest dances as he watches himself in the mirror.

FORREST (V.O.)

It sounded good.

ELVIS

(sings)

"...cryin' all the time"

Forrest rocks up and down on his braced legs, then begins to

step.

ELVIS

(sings)

"You ain't nothin' but a hound dog. ."

FORREST (V.O.)

I started moving around to the music,

swinging my hips. This one night me

and Momma. .

EXT. GREENBOW - NIGHT

Mrs. Gump and Forrest walk along a sidewalk. A television

inside a store window reveals Elvis Presley as he performs

"Houng Dog" on a stage.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .was out shoppin', and we walked

right by Benson's Furniture and

Appliance store, and guess what.

The television reveals Elvis as he thrusts his hips and sings.

ELVIS

(sings)

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog. .

Mrs. Gump and Forrest watch the television. Elvis dances

around in the same manner Forrest did. A woman in the audience

screaming and applauding.

ELVIS

(sings)

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog. .

MRS. GUMP

This is not children's eyes.

Mrs. Gump walks away, pul ing Forrest with her. Forrest stops

and takes one last look. Elvis continues to perform over the

television.

ELVIS

(sings)

"Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit

and you ain't no friend of mine."

FORREST (V.O.)

Some years later, that handsome young

man who they cal ed "The King," wel ,

he sung too many songs, had himself

a heart attack or something.

EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY

Forrest is stil sitting on the bus bench. The black nurse

looks at him.

FORREST

Must be hard being a king. You know,

it's funny how you remember some

things, but some things you can't.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD/ALABAMA - MORNING (1954)

Mrs. Gump and Forrest wait for the school bus. The bus pul s

up as Mrs. Gump prepares Forrest for his first day of school.

MRS. GUMP

You do your very best now, Forrest.

FORREST

I sure will, Momma.

FORREST (V.O.)

I remember the bus ride on the first

day of school very well.

The bus driver opens the door and looks down. Forrest walks

to the steps of the bus and looks at the bus driver. She is

smoking a cigarette.

BUS DRIVER

Are you comin' along?

FORREST

Momma said not to be taking rides

from strangers.

BUS DRIVER

This is the bus to school.

FORREST

I'm Forrest Gump.

BUS DRIVER

I'm Dorothy Harris.

FORREST

Wel , now we ain't strangers anymore.

The bus driver smiles as Forrest steps up into the bus.

INT. BUS

Forrest steps up onto the bus. Mrs. Gump waves to Forrest as

the bus drives away. Forrest begins to walk down the aisle.

TWO YOUNG BOYS look up from the seat.

BOY #1

This seat's taken.

BOY #2

It's taken!

Forrest looks around. A larger girl slides over so Forrest

can't sit next to her. She shakes her head. Forrest looks to

the other side where a boy sits alone on a larger seat. They

boy glares up at Forrest.

BOY #3

You can't sit here.

FORREST (V.O.)

You know, it's funny what a young

man recol ects. 'Cause I don't

remember being born.

EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY

Forrest continues talking as he sits on the bus bench.

FORREST (V.O.)

I, I... don't recall what I got for

my first Christmas and I don't know

when I went on my first outdoor

picnic. But, I do remember the first

time I heard the sweetiest voice...

INT. BUS - MORNING (1954)

Young Forrest is stil standing in the aisle on the bus.

FORREST (V.O.)

...in the wide world.

GIRL

You can sit here if you want.

Forrest looks back at JENNY CURRAN, a young girl about

Forrest's age.

FORREST (V.O.)

I had never seen anything so beautiful

in my life. She was like an angel.

JENNY

Wel , are you gonna sit down, or

aren't ya?

Forrest sits down next to Jenny.

JENNY

What's wrong with your legs?

FORREST

Um, nothing at al , thank you. My

legs are just fine and dandy.

FORREST (V.O.)

I just sat next to her on that bus

and had conversation al the way to

school.

JENNY

Then why do you have those shoes on?

FORREST

My momma said my back's crooked like

a question mark. These are going to

make me as straight as an arrow.

They're my magic shoes.

FORREST (V.O.)

And next to Momma, no one ever talked

to me or asked me questions.

JENNY

Are you stupid or something.

FORREST

Mommy says stupid is as stupid does.

Jenny puts her hand out toward Forrest. Forrest reaches over

and shakes her hand.

JENNY

I'm Jenny.

FORREST

I'm Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump.

FORREST (V.O.)

From that day on, we was always

together. Jenny and me was like peas

and carrots.

EXT. OAK TREE - DAY

Young Jenny and Forrest run toward a large oak tree.

FORREST (V.O.)

She taught me how to climb. .

Jenny sits on a large branch and calls down to Forrest.

JENNY

Come on, Forrest, you can do it.

Forrest dangles from the branch.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .I showed her how to dangle.

Jenny and Forrest sit on a tree branch and read.

FORREST

"...a good little monkey and..."

FORREST (V.O.)

She helped me to learn how to read.

Forrest hangs upside down from a branch and swings back and

forth. Forrest's braces are wedged in the tree.

FORREST (V.O.)

And I showed her to swing.

EXT. OAK TREE - NIGHT

The silhouete of the oak tree, Jenny and Forrest as they sit

on a branch.

FORREST (V.O.)

Sometimes we'd just sit out and wait

for the stars.

FORREST

Momma's gonna worry about me.

Jenny puts her hand on Forrest's hand.

JENNY

Just stay a little longer.

FORREST (V.O.)

For some reason, Jenny didn't never

want to go home.

FORREST

Okay, Jenny. I'll stay.

FORREST (V.O.)

She was my most special friend.

INT. SAVANNAH/BUS STOP - DAY

Forrest nods as he remembers.

FORREST

My only friend.

Forrest continues talking to the black woman. She doesn't

seem to be listening as she reads her magazine. She looks up

from her magazine.

FORREST

Now, my Momma always told me that

miracles happen every day. Some people

don't think so, but they do.

EXT. OAK ALLEY - ANOTHER DAY (1954)

Jenny and Forrest walk. A dirt clod hits Forrest in the back

of the head. Jenny looks as Forrest rubs his head. THREE

YOUNG BOYS get off their bikes and pick up more rocks.

BOY #1

Hey. . dummy!

Forrest is hit in the eye with another dirt clod. Forrest

falls backward onto the ground as the boys glare at him.

BOY #2

Are you retarded, or just plain

stupid?

BOY #3

Look, I'm Forrest Gump.

Jenny helps Forrest back up. Boy #1 and Boy #2 throw more

dirt clods at Forrest.

JENNY

Just run away, Forrest.

Another dirt clod hits Forrest in the arm.

JENNY

Run, Forrest!

Forrest tries to run along the road, but his braces makes it

impossible. He hobbles along as Jenny yells after him.

JENNY

Run away! Hurry!

Boy #1 and Boy #2 turn back toward the bikes.

BOY #2

Get the bikes!

BOY #3

Hurry up!

The boys pick up their bikes and ride after Forrest.

BOY #3

Let's get him! Come on!

BOY #2

Look out, dummy, here we come!

The boys ride after Forrest. Jenny stands and watches.

BOY #2

We're gonna get you!

JENNY

Run, Forrest! Run!

Forrest hobbles along the dirt road.

JENNY

Run, Forrest!

Forrest looks over his shoulder. The three boys race on their

bikes.

BOY #1

Come back here, you!

Forrest begins to run faster with his braces on. Forrest

continues running as the boys chase him. Blood drips down

from a cut on his head. The boys on the bikes are gaining on

Forrest. Forrest hobbles along. He begins to gain speed.

JENNY

Run, Forrest! Run!

SLOW MOTION --

Forrest runs from the chasing room. He looks over his shoulder

in fear.

The boys on the bikes peddle faster as they gain on Forrest,

running.

Forrest tries to run even faster to get away. Suddenly his

braces shatter, sending steel and plastic flying into the

air.

Forrest runs and look down at his legs in surprise.

Forrest continues to run faster as the metal braces and straps

fly off his legs.

Forrest runs free of his braces and begins to pick up speed.

The chasing boys ride over the remains of Forrest's braces.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, you wouldn't believe it if I

told you.

EXT. SAVANNAH/ BUS BENCH - DAY

FORREST

But I can run like the wind blows.

The black woman continues to read her magazine. Forrest smiles

as he remembers.

FORREST

From that day on, if I was going

somewhere, I was running!

EXT. OAK ALLEY - DAY (1954)

Forrest sprints away from the boys. The boys stop the chase

and watch in disbelief. Forrest is already at the far end of

the road, clear of the chasing boys.

BOY #2

He's gettin' away! Stop him!

Boy #1 throws his bike down in frustration. Forrest runs

across a field.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD

Forrest runs past a chain gang in their prison uniforms.

They are cutting at the weeds on the side of the road.

EXT. GREENBOW

Forrest runs across the street. THE TWO OLD MEN sit in front

of the barber shop.

OLD CRONY

That boy sure is a running fool.

EXT. JENNY'S HOUSE

Forrest runs down a driveway toward Jenny's smal house.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now remember how I told you that

Jenny never seemed to want to go

home? Wel , she lived in a house

that was as old as Alabama. Her Momma

had gone up to heaven when she was

five and her daddy was some kind of

a farmer.

Forrest knocks on Jenny's door.

FORREST

Jenny? Jenny?

Forrest look around the field at the left. He notices Jenny

and runs toward her.

FORREST (V.O.)

He was a very lovin' man. He was

always kissing and touchin' her and

her sisters. And then this one time,

Jenny wasn't on the bus to go to

school.

Forrest runs to Jenny.

FORREST

Jenny, why didn't you come to school

today?

JENNY

Hsh! Daddy's takin' a nap.

Jenny grabs Forrest's hand and runs into the field. Jenny's

DAD drunk, steps out onto the porch and shouts.

JENNY'S DAD

Jenny!

JENNY

Come on!

JENNY'S DAD

Jenny, where'd you run to? You'd

better come back here, girl!

Jenny's dad steps out toward the field. Jenny leads Forrest

into the thick tobacco field. Jenny's dad runs through the

field searching for Jenny with a liquor bottle in his hand.

JENNY'S DAD

Where you at?

Jenny and Forrest run into a corn field as Jenny's dad tries

to chase her.

JENNY'S DAD

Jenny! Jenny! Where you at? Jenny!

Jenny drops to her knees and pul s Forrest down with her.

JENNY

Pray with me, Forrest. Pray with me.

JENNY'S DAD

Jenny!

JENNY

Dear God, make me a bird so I can

fly far, far, far away from here.

Dear God, make me a bird so I can

fly far, far, far away from here.

FORREST (V.O.)

Momma always said that God is

mysterious.

JENNY'S DAD

Jenny! Get back here!

FORREST (V.O.)

He didn't turn Jenny into a bird

that day. Instead...

EXT. TRAILER PARK/ALABAMA - DAY (1955)

A police officer escorts Jenny to her grandmother's trailer.

Jenny's grandmother meets Jenny outside and leads her toward

the trailer.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .he had the police say Jenny didn't

have to stay in that house no more.

She went to live with her grandma

just over on Creekmore Avenue, which

made me happy 'cause she was so close.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT (1955)

Jenny climbs over a second-floor railing and enters the house.

FORREST (V.O.)

Some nights, Jenny'd sneak out and

come over to my house, just 'cause

she said she was scared. Scared of

what, I don't know. .

INT. GUMP HOUSE/FORREST'S BEDROOM

Jenny lies in bed next to young Forrest. She hugs him.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .but I think it was her grandma's

dog. He was a mean dog. Anyway, Jenny

and me was best friends. .

EXT. GREENBOW/OAK ALLEY - DAY (1961)

Forrest and Jenny are teenagers now. They walk along an

oaklined road.

FORREST (V.O.)

...all the way to high school.

Suddenly Forrest is hit in the back with a rock. Forrest and

Jenny turn around.

OLDER BOY #1

Hey, stupid!

JENNY

Quit it!

A teenage boy throws another rock as a pickup truck pul s up

behind him. Jenny turns and looks at Forrest.

JENNY

Run, Forrest, run!

OLDER BOY #1

Hey. Did you hear me, stupid?

JENNY

Run, Forrest!

Forrest drops his books and runs down the road. The teenage

boy jumps into the back of the pickup truck with another boy

as the truck speeds after Forrest. Jenny steps left and gets

out of the way.

OLDER BOY #2

Come on, he's getting away! Move it!

JENNY

Run, Forrest! Run!

OLDER BOY #1

You better be runnin', stupid.

Forrest runs along the road. The truck speeds after him.

OLDER BOY #2

Come on, dummy!

OLDER BOY #1

Haul ass, dummy!

Older Boy throws rocks at Forrest.

OLDER BOY #1

Yeah, you better be runnin'!

INT. TRUCK

BOY

Ya-hoo!

EXT. OAK ALLEY

The boys in the back of the truck throw rocks at Forrest as

they drive up to him.

OLDER BOY #1

Move it, jack rabbit!

The truck fol ows right on Forrest's heels. A rebel flag

license plate adorns the truck's gril .

OLDER BOY #1

Come on!

Forrest runs along the road as the truck chases him. The

boys in the back of the truck pound on the roof as the truck

turns right, after Forrest. The truck drives into a field.

Forrest runs toward a fence.

BOY

Run! Faster! Yeah! Go! Go! Come on,

Forrest! Yeah!

JENNY

Run, Forrest!

Forrest leaps over a five-foot fence as the boys try to catch

him.

EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY (1981)

Forrest looks left as he continues tel ing his life story.

FORREST

Now, it used to be, I ran to get

where I was goin'. I never thought

it would take me anywhere.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL/ROAD - DAY (1961)

Forrest runs along the road in front of the high school. The

truck continues to chase him as the boys pound on the roof.

OLDER BOY

Come on. Whoo-hoo!

The truck speeds past Forrest as he turns from the road and

runs onto the high school footbal field. Forrest runs across

the field during a football scrimmage.

In the stands watching the scrimmage is the legendary

University of Alabama football coach BEAR BRYANT, wearing

his trademark plaid hat.

A group of assistant coaches sit around him, as well as the

high school football coach. The quarterback throws the ball

into the air.

Forrest runs past the quarterback. The receiver catches the

bal . Forrest runs past the receiver as an opposing player

tackles the stunned receiver.

The footbal coach stands, fol owed by the assistant coaches.

FOOTBALL COACH

Who in the hel is that?

HIGH SCHOOL COACH

That there is Forrest Gump. Coach.

Just a local idiot.

Forrest runs under the field goal post and through the end

zone.

FORREST (V.O.)

And can you believe it? I got to go

to col ege, too.

EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA STADIUM - DAY (1962)

The crowd roars with excitement as a footbal is kicked off.

The footbal players run around on the field. The crowd of

cheering fans create a huge sign that reads: "GO."

Forrest is in a University of Alabama football uniform. He

looks up into the cheering crowd as his teammate fields the

kickoff. The teammate runs over to Forrest and hands him the

ball.

FOOTBALL COACH

Okay! Run!

The football coach, the assistants, and Alabama players cheer

for Forrest.

FOOTBALL COACH

Run, you stupid son-of-a-bitch! Run!

Forrest runs across the field. He speeds past the defending

players. Forrest runs past the opposite players. The crowd

cheers wildly, holding up cards, making a large sign that

reads: "Go."

They turn the cards over, creating the word: "ALABAMA." The

football coach runs along the sidelines as he yells.

FOOTBALL COACH

You stupid son-of-a-bitch! Run! Go!

Run!

Forrest cuts and runs toward the sidelines. Two opposing

players collide. The football coach, the assistants and the

players al motion for Forrest to run toward the end zone.

FOOTBALL COACH

Run! Turn! Go!

Forrest turns up the sidelines and runs toward the end zone.

Some opposing players fal down. Forrest runs along the

sidelines. The opposing players try to catch him.

Forrest runs into the end zone as an opposing player dives

at his feet. The referee holds up his arm, signaling a touch

down. The crowd cheers wildly.

Forrest continues to run, smashing through the band members,

then all the way toward the team tunnel. The football coach

looks at an assistant coach.

FOOTBALL COACH

He must be the stupidest son-of-a-

bitch alive. But he sure is fast!

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, maybe it was just me but col ege

was very confusing times.

INT. GREENBOW/BARBER SHOT - BLACK & WHITE TELEVISION (JUNE

11, 1963)

An anchorman named CHET HUNTLEY appears over the television.

CHET HUNTLEY

(on TV)

Federal troops enforcing a court

order integrated the University of

Alabama today.

EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA - DAY

Forrest walks through a crowd of people.

CHET HUNTLEY

Governor George Wallace had carried

out his symbolic threat to stand in

the schoolhouse door.

GOVERNOR WALLACE

We hereby denounce and forbid this

illegal and unwarranted action by

the central government.

INT. GREENBOW/BARBER SHOP

A black & white television reveals George Wallace as he stands

in the doorway of the schoolhouse.

KATZENBACH

(on TV)

Governor Wallace, I take it from

that, uh. .

EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Forrest steps over to a young man as the crowd looks at the

demonstration.

KATZENBACH

. .statement that you are going to

stand in that door, and that you are

not going to carry out the orders of

this court, and that you are going

to resist us from doing so. I would

ask you once again to responsibility

step aside and if you do not, I'm

going to assure you. .

FORREST

Earl, what's going on?

EARL

Coons are tryin' to get into school.

FORREST

Coons? When raccoons try to get on

our back porch, Momma just chase 'em

off with a broom.

EARL

Not raccoons, you idiot, niggas. And

they want to go to school with us.

FORREST

With us? They do?

Forrest walks toward the schoolhouse.

INT. COACHES' OFFICE

A football coach looks at a black and white television as a

newsman outside the schoolhouse speaks to the camera.

NEWSMAN

(on TV)

. .block the doorway, President

Kennedy ordered the Secretary of

Defense then to use the military

force.

BLACK AND WHITE FOOTAGE

The footage cuts to Governor Wal ace as he speaks to General

Graham.

NEWSMAN

Here by videotape is the encounter

by General Graham, Commander of the

National Guard, and Governor Wallace.

Forrest stands next to George Wallace and listens.

GOVERNOR WALLACE

We must have no violence today, or

any other day, because these National

Guardsmen are here today as Federal

Soldiers for Alabamans. And they

live within our borders and they are

all our brothers. We are winning in

this fight because we are awakening

the American people to the dangers

that we have spoken about so many

times, just so evident today, the

trend toward military dictatorship

in this country.

EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Some of the Alabama policeman and citizens clap their hands

as the National Guardsmen stand at attention with their

weapons in front of them. Forrest walks through the crowd.

Two black students were being led toward the schoolhouse.

NEWSMAN

And so at day's end the University

of Alabama in Tuscaloosa had been

desegregated and students Jimmy Hood

and Vivian Malone had been signed up

for summer classes.

The young black girl drops one of her books. Forrest notices

and steps past the policeman toward the book on the ground.

Forrest steps out from the crowd and picks up the book. He

brings it up to the girl.

FORREST

Ma'am, you dropped your book. Ma'am.

INT. COACHES' OFFICE - NIGHT (1963)

A coach looks at the television. The television reveals

Forrest as he stands at the schoolhouse door. He looks around,

then waves.

CHET HUNTLEY

(on TV)

Governor Wal ace did what he promised

to do. By being on the Tuscaloosa

campus, he kept the mob from gathering

and prevented violence.

An assistant coach looks at the television, then at the other

coaches.

ASSISTANT COACH

Say, wasn't that Gump?

The footbal coach and two assistant coaches look. Forrest

dries himself off with a towel as he steps from the showers.

CHET HUNTLEY

(on TV)

NBC News will present a special

program on the Alabama integration

story at 7:30 p.m. tonight..

ASSISTANT COACH

Naw, that couldn't be.

FOOTBALL COACH

It sure as hell was.

CHET HUNTLEY

...standard Eastern Daylight Time.

Now a word from Anacin.

Forrest steps up to the coaches' area and grabs a clean towel.

The coaches turn and stare at Forrest. Forrest gives them

one of his sil y waves, then walks away.

COLOR FOOTAGE - Governor Wal ace waves to the crowd as he

stands behind a podium with his wife.

FORREST (V.O.)

A few years later, that angry little

man at the schoolhouse door thought

it would be a good idea, and ran for

President.

COLOR FOOTAGE - Governor Wallace mingles in a crowd. Gunshots

are fired, wounding him. Some men wrestle the shooter. Wallace

lies wounded on the ground.

FORREST (V.O.)

But, somebody thought that it wasn't.

EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY (1981)

Forrest sits on the bench as the black woman looks at him. A

WHITE WOMAN with a bay sits left.

FORREST

But he didn't die.

A bus pul s up to the bus stop. The BLACK WOMAN looks down

at her watch.

BLACK WOMAN

My bus is here.

FORREST

Is it the number 9?

BLACK WOMAN

No, it's the number 4.

The Black Woman gets up and steps over to the bus.

FORREST

It was nice talkin' to you.

The white woman sits closer to Forrest.

WHITE WOMAN

I remember when that happened, when

Wallace got shot. I was in college.

FORREST

Did you go to a girls' col ege, or

to a girls' and boys' together

college?

WHITE WOMAN

It was co-ed.

FORREST

'Cause Jenny went to a col ege I

couldn't go to. It was a col ege

just for girls.

EXT, GIRLS' COLLEGE/JENNY'S DORM - NIGHT (1963)

Forrest sits outside Jenny's dorm in the rain.

FORREST (V.O.)

But, I'd go and visit her every chance

I got.

A car pul s up. A song is heard from the radio. Forrest,

holding a box of chocolates, looks at the car. The two people

inside the car begins to kiss and embrace each other. Jenny

is inside the car with a boy. She leans back against the

passenger side door as they struggle to get comfortable.

JENNY

Ouch! That hurts.

Forrest gets up and runs toward the car. He tries to look in

the window as he steps over to the driver's side door. He

opens the door and begins to punch the boy inside. Jenny

jump out of the car and runs over to Forrest.

JENNY

Forrest! Forrest! Forrest, stop it!

Stop it!

BILLY

Jesus!

JENNY

What are you doing?

FORREST

He was hurtin' you.

Jenny's date, named BILLY, gets out of the car angrily.

BILLY

What the hel is going on here?

JENNY

No, he's not!

BILLY

Who is that? Who is that?

JENNY

Get over there!

Jenny turns and looks at Bil y. He shoves Jenny's hands away

from him.

JENNY

Billy, I'm sorry.

BILLY

What in the hel , git, would you git

away from me!

JENNY

Don't... Wait a second!

BILLY

Git, just git away from me!

JENNY

Don't go! Billy, wait a second!

Billy gets back into the car.

JENNY

He doesn't know any better!

Billy pulls away as Jenny steps toward Forrest.

JENNY

Forrest, why'd you do that?

Forrest holds out the box of chocolates.

FORREST

I brought you some chocolates. I'm

sorry. I'll go back to my college

now.

JENNY

Forrest, look at you! Come on. Come

on.

Jenny grabs Forrest hand and leads him toward the dorm.

INT. JENNY'S DORM/HALLWAY

Jenny and Forrest sneak to Jenny's door.

FORREST

Is this your room?

JENNY

Shh!

Jenny unlocks the door and they step inside.

INT. JENNY'S DORM ROOM

Jenny pul s a robe off of her sleeping roommate's bed. Jenny

hands the robe to Forrest, sitting on Jenny's bed.

JENNY

Do you ever dream, Forrest, about

who you're gonna be?

FORREST

Who I'm gonna be?

JENNY

Yeah.

FORREST

Aren't I going to be me?

JENNY

Well, you'll always be you, just

another kind of you. You know? I

want to be famous.

Jenny picks up a towel, then walks back toward Forrest. Jenny

dries the water from her hair.

JENNY

I want to be a singer like Joan Baez.

I just want to be an empty stage

with my guitar, my voice... just me.

Jenny takes off her slip and sits on the bed next to him.

She is only wearing her bra and panties. Forrest looks at

Jenny like he's never seen a woman in her underwear before.

JENNY

And I want to reach people on a

personal level. I want to be able to

say things, just one-to-one.

Forrest looks down at Jenny's breasts. Jenny realizes that

he is looking at her.

JENNY

Have you ever been with a girl,

Forrest?

FORREST

I sit next to them in my home

economics class all the time.

DJ

(over radio)

You're listening to WHHY in

Birmingham, the clear A.M. voice of

Northern Alabama. I'm Joel Dorn...

Forrest looks at Jenny as she removes her bra. Forrest looks

away, a bit shamed. Jenny takes his hand and guides it up to

her breast.

DJ

(over radio)

. .coming to you on a night that is

anything but clear. The weatherman

says that rain's gonna fall all night

long so stay with us, get warm, get

cozy, get under the covers to the

cool sounds of WHHY.

Forrest looks over at Jenny's breasts, the shudder as he has

an orgasm.

FORREST

Ohh... Oh... I'm sorry. Sorry.

JENNY

It's okay.

DJ

(over radio)

...444-6789, with ya till sunrise,

playing the music you want to hear

when you want to hear it. If you

have a request or dedication, give

us a call. We guarantee you'll hear

your requests within one hour.

Forrest breathes heavily. Jenny puts her bra back on.

JENNY

It's al right.

Jenny leans over and puts her head on Forrest's shoulder.

DJ

(over radio)

Candy is on the line tonight. Candy's

answering the phones, give Candy

your request, your dedication, and

ask her why she won't go out with

me, would you? Here's more music.

JENNY

It's okay.

FORREST

Oh, I'm dizzy.

A song is coming over the radio. Jenny hugs Forrest.

JENNY

I bet that never happened in home

ec.

FORREST

No.

Jenny laughs and kisses Forrest on the cheek. Forrest and

Jenny hug on the bed as Jenny's roommate pretends to be

asleep, but is listening, horrified, with her eyes open.

FORREST

I think I ruined your roommate's

bathrobe.

JENNY

I don't care. I don't like her,

anyway.

EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA/FOOTBALL STADIUM - DAY (1963)

Forrest runs across the field as the defending team chases

him. The crowd yells for Forrest. They flip a sign that reads:

"Go Forrest."

CROWD

Run! Run! Run!

Forrest runs along the field. The crowd cheers.

CROWD

Run! Run! Run!

Forrest runs into the end zone. The band members rush toward

Forrest with their hands up, signaling him to stop. The crowd

flips over cards, creating a sign that reads "STOP."

CROWD

Stop!

Forrest stops in the end zone as he hears the crowd yel s.

The band motions for Forrest to stop and stay in the end

zone. A group of defending players fal over each other in

the end zone. Forrest looks as the crowd cheers wildly.

FORREST (V.O.)

College ran by real fast 'cause I

played so much footbal .

BLACK AND WHITE PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL - DAY (1963)

The White House with the words "The eyes and ears of the

world Paramount News" superimposed.

FORREST (V.O.)

They even put me on a thing cal ed

the Al -America Team where you get

to meet the President of the United

States.

BLACK AND WHITE NEWSREEL

PRESIDENT KENNEDY holds an autographed footbal as the Al -

American Team stands behind him. Forrest is among the players

in suits.

ANNOUNCER

(over newsreel)

President Kennedy met with the

Collegiate All-American Football

Team at the Oval Office today.

INT. WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION AREA - DAY (1963)

The All-American players mingle around the food table. Forrest

steps up to the table. A large spread of food and soda is on

the table.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, the real good thing about meeting

the President of the United States

is the food.

Forrest takes a bottle of Dr. Pepper from the buffet table.

Numerous bottle of Dr. Pepper are displayed on the table. A

servant opens the bottle for him.

FORREST (V.O.)

They put you in this little room

with just about anything you'd want

to eat or drink. And since number

one, I wasn't hungry, but thirsty. .

Forrest begins to guzzle the Dr. Pepper.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .and number two, they was free, I

musta drank me about fifteen Dr.

Peppers.

Forrest sets down an empty Dr. Pepper bottle next to a large

number of other empty bottles. Forrest holds his stomach and

burps.

BLACK AND WHITE FOOTAGE - President Kennedy shakes hands

with the Al -American football players.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY

Congratulations. How does it feel to

be an All-American?

1ST PLAYER

It's an honor, Sir.

Another player steps up to the President and shakes the

President's hand.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY

Congratulations. How does it feel to

be an All-American?

2ND PLAYER

Very good, Sir.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY

Congratulations. How does it feel to

be an All-American?

3RD PLAYER

Very good, Sir.

The player walks away. Forrest steps up to the President.

The President shakes his hand.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY

Congratulations. How do you feel?

FORREST

I gotta pee.

President Kennedy turns and smiles.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY

I believe he said he had to go pee.

INT. WHITE HOUSE/BATHROOM

Forrest urinates in the bathroom, then lowers the lid and

flashes. Forrest washes his hands, then notices an autographed

photo from Marilyn Monroe and a photo of John with his brother

Bobby.

FORREST (V.O.)

Sometime later, for no particular

reason, somebody shot that nice young

President when he was ridin' in his

car.

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE - DAY SLOW MOTION - President Kennedy rises

in a convertible and smiles.

FORREST

And a few years after that. .

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE - Robert Kennedy stands at a podium as people

around him applaud.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .somebody shot his little brother,

too, only he was in a hotel kitchen.

EXT. SAVANNHA/BUS BENCH - DAY (1981)

Forrest sits on the bench and shakes his head.

FORREST

It must be hard being brothers. I

wouldn't know.

EXT. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA - DAY - GRADUATION DAY (1966)

Students in their caps and gowns step forward the podium to

receive their diplomas. Forrest's name is called. He steps

up and accepts his diploma.

DEAN

Forrest Gump.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now can you believe it? After only

five years of playing football, I

got a col ege degree.

The dean shakes Forrest's hand vigorously. Forrest looks out

into the crowd.

DEAN

Congratulations, son.

Mrs. Gump, sitting in the audience, cries.

FORREST (V.O.)

Momma was proud.

Forrest and Mrs. Gump have their picure taken in front of a

large statue. A military recruiter spots Forrest and steps

up to him.

MRS. GUMP

Forrest, I'm so proud of you. Here,

I'll hold this for you.

Mrs. Gump takes the diploma from Forrest. The recruiter slaps

Forrest on the shoulder and hands him some military

literature.

MILITARY RECRUITER

Congratulations, son. Have you given

any thought to your future?

FORREST

Thought?

Forrest looks at a pamphlet with a photo of "Uncle Sam" and

the caption "EXCELLENT CAREERS FOR EXCELLENT YOUNG MAN. Apply

now at your local U.S. Army Recruiting Center."

FORREST (V.O.)

Hello, I'm Forrest...

INT. ARMY BUS - DAY (1966)

Forrest steps onto the army bus. Rain pours outside as the

army bus driver yel s at Forrest.

FORREST

. .Forrest Gump.

ARMY BUS DRIVER

Nobody gives a hunk of shit who you

are, fuzzbal ! You're not even a

lowlife scum sucking maggot! Get

your faggoty ass on the bus. You're

in the Army now!

Forrest is about to sit on the first available seat, but the

recruit sitting there refuses Forrest.

RECRUIT #1

This seat's taken.

Forrest tries to sit on the next seat, but the 2nd recruit

slides over, blocking him.

RECRUIT #2

It's taken.

Forrest steps forward, looking much like he did on his first

bus ride to school years ago.

FORREST (V.O.)

At first, it seemed like I made a

mistake.

A large black recruit with a strange look on his face, much

like Forrest's, looks up from his seat. His name is BUBBA.

FORREST (V.O.)

...seeing how it was my induction

day and I was already gettin' yelled

at.

Bubba moves his case over, making room for Forrest to sit

down.

BUBBA

You can sit down. . if you want to.

FORREST (V.O.)

I didn't know who I might meet or

what they might ask.

Bubba hands Forrest a handkerchief.

BUBBA

You ever been on a real shrimp boat?

FORREST

No, but I been on a real big boat.

BUBBA

I'm talkin' about a shrimp catchin'

boat. I've been workin' on shrimp

boats all my life. I started out my

uncle's boat, that's my mother's

brother, when I was about maybe nine.

I was just lookin' into buyin' a

boat of my own and got drafted. My

given name is Benjamin Buford Blue.

Bubba and Forrest shake hands.

BUBBA

People call me Bubba. Just like one

of them redneck boys. Can you believe

that?

FORREST

My name's Forrest Gump. People call

me Forrest Gump.

FORREST (V.O.)

So Bubba was from Bayou La Batre,

Alabama, and his momma cooked shrimp.

INT. LOUISIANA/KITCHEN - DAY (1966)

Bubba's mother, a robust woman in a cook's uniform, carries

a bowl of shrimp into a dining room. She sets it down on a

table in front of a wealthy white man.

FORREST (V.O.)

And her momma before her cooked

shrimp.

INT. SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH/KITCHEN - DAY (EARLY DAYS OF

SLAVERY)

Bubba's grandmother carries a bowl of shrimp into a dining

room. She sets it down on a table in front of a wealthy white

man.

FORREST (V.O.)

And her momma before her momma cooked

shrimp, too. Bubba's family knew

everything...

INT. ARMY BUS - DAY (1966)

FORREST (V.O.)

...there was to know about the

shrimpin' business.

BUBBA

I know everything there is to know

about the shrimpin' business. Matter

of fact, I'm goin' into the shrimpin'

business for myself after I get out

the Army.

FORREST

Okay.

INT. BARRACKS - DAY

A DRILL SERGEANT is in Forrest's face as Forrest stands in

line with the other recruits.

DRILL SERGEANT

Gump! What's your sole purpose in

this Army?

FORREST

To do whatever you tell me, Drill

Sergeant!

DRILL SERGEANT

Godamnit, Gump! You're a goddamned

genius! That's the most outstanding

answer I've ever heard. You must

have a godamned I.Q. of a hundred

and sixty! You are godamned gifted,

Private Gump!

The Dril Sergeant moves down the line to the next man.

DRILL SERGEANT

Listen up, people. .

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, for some reason, I fit in the

Army like one of them round pegs.

It's not real y hard. You just make

your bed real neat and remember to

stand up straight.

DRILL SERGEANT

That is one very intelligent

individual! You lock your scuzzy

bodies up behind that private and do

exactly what he does and you will go

far in this man's army!

FORREST (V.O.)

And always answer every question

with "Yes, Drill Sergeant!"

DRILL SERGEANT

Is that clear?

FORREST & RECRUITS

Yes, Drill Sergeant!

ANOTHER DAY

The recruits are sitting at the base of their bunks assembling

their rifles. Bubba speaks to Forrest.

BUBBA

What you do is you just drag your

nets across the bottom. On a good

day, you can catch over a hundred

pounds of shrimp. If everything goes

al right, two men shrimpin' ten

hours, less what you spends on gas,

you can...

Forrest finishes assembling his rifle as the other recruits

are stil working on theirs.

FORREST

Done, Drill Sergeant!

DRILL SERGEANT

Gump!

The Dril Sergeant rushes up to Forrest.

DRILL SERGEANT

Why did you put that weapon together

so quickly, Gump?

FORREST

You told me to, Drill Sergeant.

The Drill Sergeant looks at his stop watch.

DRILL SERGEANT

Jesus Christ! This is a new company

record. If it wouldn't be a waste of

such a damn fine enlisted man, I'd

recommended you for O.C.S., Private

Gump. You are gonna be a General

some day, Gump! Now, disassemble

your weapon and continue!

The Drill Sergeant walks away as Forrest begins to disassemble

his rifle. After the Drill Sergeant walks past Bubba, Bubba

looks up at Forrest. Bubba continues talking about shrimp in

his slow southern drawl.

BUBBA

Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is

the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue

it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute

it. There, uh, shrimp kabobs, shrimp

creole...

ANOTHER DAY

Bubba and Forrest shine their boots.

BUBBA

. .shrimp gumbo, panfried, deep fried,

stir fried. There's pineapple shrimp,

lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper

shrimp. .

ANOTHER DAY

Bubba and Forrest are on their hands and knees as they scrub

the floor with toothbrushes.

BUBBA

. .shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp

salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp

burger, shrimp sandwich. . that's,

that's about it.

NIGHT

Bubba lies in his bunk and looks up quietly.

FORREST (V.O.)

Nighttime in the Army is a lovely

time.

Forrest lies in his bunk and looks up.

FORREST (V.O.)

We'd lay there in our bunks, and I'd

miss my momma. And I'd miss Jenny.

A young private tosses a Playboy magazine onto Forrest.

YOUNG PRIVATE

Hey, Gump. Get a load of the tits on

her!

Forrest pick up the magazine and turns the page, revealing

Jenny as she poses with a school sweater on, and that's al .

The pictorial is titled: "Girls of the South." Forrest looks

up with shock. He cranes his head up for a closer look.

FORREST (V.O.)

Turns out, Jenny had gotten into

some trouble over. . some photos of

her in her col ege sweater. And she

was thrown out of school.

SONG

"My baby does the hanky-panky..."

INT. NASHVILLE/NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT (1966)

Forrest, in his army uniform, steps into the foyer of the

club.

FORREST (V.O.)

But that wasn't a bad thing. Because

a man who owns a theater in Memphis,

Tennessee, saw those photo and offered

Jenny a job singing in a show. The

first chance I got, I took the bus

up to Memphis to see her perform in

that show.

EMCEE steps out onto the stage.

EMCEE

That was Amber, Amber Flame. Give

her a big hand, guys. Good job, Amber.

And now, for your listening and

viewing pleasure, direct from

Hollywood, California, our very own

beatnik beauty, let's give a big

round of applause to the luscious

Bobbie Dylan.

CROWD

Bobbie... Bobbie...

The emcee walks back off the stage and the curtain opens,

revealing Jenny as she sits on a stool on the stage. She

holds a guitar up and begins to play. She is topless.

JENNY

(sings)

"Yes, and how many seas must the

white dove said, before she sleeps

in the sand."

FORREST (V.O.)

Her dream had come true. She was a

folk singer.

JENNY

(sings)

"Yes, how many times must the

cannonbal s fly before they're forever

banned."

MAN #1

You gotta lose the guitar, darling.

MAN #2

Hey, come on, baby. Shake it up.

Shake it up now.

MAN #3

Hey, somebody ought to get her a

harmonica.

The men laugh.

JENNY

(sings)

"The answer, my friend is blowing in

the wind. The answer is blowing in...

MAN #

...skin, honey. This isn't Captain

Kangaroo.

MEN

Yeah! Come on!

Man #5 reaches up and tries to stick some money in Jenny's

shoe.

MAN #5 :

Hey, honey, I got something here for

you.

Jenny kicks his hand. He yells angrily as he sits back down,

then tosses his drink on her.

MAN #5

Goddamnit!

JENNY

Hey! Hey! Stupid jerk! I'm singing a

song here. Pol y, get out here!

MAN #

Hey, show us some stuff, honey!

JENNY

Shut up! Oh, shut up!

Forrest walks up to Man #5 and grabs him and tosses him down

on the ground. Man #4 tries to grab Forrest, but Forrest

shoves him down too.

JENNY

Forrest, what are you doing here?

What are you doing?

Forrest climbs up onto the stage and picks Jenny up, guitar

and all, and carries her.

FORREST

Come on.

JENNY

What are you doing? Forrest, let me

down!

Jenny struggles and frees herself from Forrest. Forrest steps

back in surprise. Jenny shoves the guitar at Forrest. Jenny

walks off as Forrest holds the guitar. He fol ows after her.

EXT. MEMPHIS BRIDGE - NIGHT

Forrest fol ows Jenny over a bridge outside the night club.

JENNY

You can't keep doing this, Forrest.

You can't keep tryin' to rescue me

all the time.

FORREST

They was tryin' to grab you.

JENNY

A lot of people try to grab me. Just --

you can't keep doing this al the

time!

FORREST

I can't help it. I love you.

JENNY

Forrest, you don't know what love

is.

Jenny turns and looks over the bridge.

JENNY

You remember that time we prayed,

Forrest? We prayed for God to turn

me into a bird so I could fly far,

far away?

FORREST

Yes, I do.

JENNY

You think I can fly off this bridge?

FORREST

What do you mean, Jenny?

JENNY

Nothing.

Jenny turns and looks at the light of an approaching vehicle.

She steps into the street.

JENNY

I gotta get outta here.

Jenny runs and flags down the approaching vehicle.

FORREST

But wait. Jenny!

JENNY

Forrest, you stay away from me, okay?

You just stay away from me, please.

A pickup truck pul s over as Jenny looks at the driver.

JENNY

Can I have a ride?

DRIVER

Where you going?

JENNY

I don't care.

DRIVER

Get in the truck.

FORREST

So bye-bye, Jenny. They sendin' me

to Vietnam. It's this whole other

country.

Jenny walks toward Forrest. She looks at the driver.

JENNY

Just hang on a minute.

Jenny walks up to Forrest.

JENNY

Listen, you promise me something,

okay? Just if you're ever in trouble,

don't try to be brave, you just run,

okay? Just run away.

FORREST

Okay. Jenny, I'll write you all the

time.

Jenny takes a last look at Forrest, then climbs into the

truck. Forrest watches Jenny in the pickup as it drives away.

FORREST (V.O.)

And just like that.

EXT. GREENBOW/GUMP BOARDING HOUSE/RIVER - DAY

Forrest, dressed in his uniform, sits on a log and looks out

at a river.

FORREST (V.O.)

...she was gone.

Mrs. Gump walks toward Forrest and sits down next to him on

the log. Forrest leans down, placing his head on his mother's

shoulder.

MRS. GUMP

You come back safe to me, do ya hear?

EXT. VIETNAM/MEKONG DELTA - MORNING (1967)

The shadow of a helicopter over the rice field below. A

soldier is manning a gun from inside the helicopter. The

solider looks left, Forrest and Bubba ride in the helicopter.

EXT. FIREBASE/4TH PLATOON

The helicopter circles overhead, then lands at the firebase.

SONG

"Some folks are born made to wave

the flag. Ooh, they're red, white

and blue. And when the band plays

"Hail to the Chief," ohh, they point

the cannon at you al . It ain't me.

It ain't me. I ain't no Senator's

son, no. It ain't me. It ain't me..."

Bubba and Forrest jump out of the helicopter with their gear/

They walk and look around oddly.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, they told us that Vietnam was

gonna be very different from the

United Sates of America.

The soldier places a case of beer on a large stack of cases.

He takes two beers out and walks away. In the background,

soldiers are barbecuing steaks and drinking beer.

FORREST (V.O.)

Except for all the beer cans and the

barbecue, it was.

BUBBA

Y'know, I bet there's shrimp al in

these waters. They tell me these

Vietnams is good shrimp. You know,

after we win this war, and we take

over everything we can get American

shrimpers to come on here and shrimp

these waters. We'll just shrimp all

the time, man. So much shrimp, why,

you wouldn't believe it.

Lieutenant DAN TAYLOR steps out of a tent. Shirtless, he

holds a roll of toilet paper in his hand.

LT. DAN

You must be my F.N.G.'s.

BUBBA AND FORREST

Morning', sir!

LT. DAN

Ho! Get your hands down. Do not salute

me. There are goddamned snipers al

around this area who would love to

grease an officer. I'm Lieutenant

Dan Taylor. Welcome to Fourth Platoon.

Lt. Dan looks at Bubba.

LT. DAN

What's wrong with your lips?

BUBBA

I was born with big gums, sir.

LT. DAN

Yeah, wel , you better tuck that in.

Gonna get that caught on a trip wire.

Where you boys from in the world?

BUBBA & FORREST

Alabama, sir!

LT. DAN

You twins?

Forrest and Bubba look at each other oddly, they don't get

the joke.

FORREST

No, we are not relations, sir.

LT. DAN

Look, it's pretty basic here.

Lt. Dan starts to walk. Bubba and Forrest grab their gear

and fol ow him.

LT. DAN

You stick with me, you learn from

the guys who been in country awhile,

you'll be right. There is one item

of G.I. gear that can be the

difference between a live grunt and

a dead grunt.

Lt. Dan stops and looks at the boys.

LT. DAN

Socks, cushion, sole, O.D. green.

Try and keep your feet dry when we're

out humpin'. I want you boys to

remember to change your socks wherever

we stop. The Mekong wil eat a grunt's

feet right off his legs.

Lt. Dan steps over to a large black soldier named SERGEANT

SIMS.

LT. DAN

Sergeant Sims! Goddamnit, where is

that sling-rope I told you to order.

SGT. SIMS

I put in requisitions at Battalion.

LT. DAN

Yeah, yeah, yeah, well you call those

sonabitches again, call them again

and again and again. I don't care

how much it takes. .

FORREST (V.O.)

Lt. Dan sure knew his stuff. I felt

real lucky he was my lieutenant. He

was from a long, great military

tradition. Somebody in his family

had fought and died in every single

American war.

EXT. VALLEY FORGE/THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR - DAY (1778)

A distant relative of Lt. Dan's, wearing a revolutionary war

uniform, fal s dead in the snow.

EXT. GETTYSBURG/THE CIVIL WAR - DAY (1863)

Another relative, wearing a civil war uniform and bearing a

striking resemblance to Lt. Dan, falls down dead.

EXT. NORMANDY/WORLD WAR II - DAY (1944)

Another relative, wearing a World War II, falls down dead on

the beach at Normandy.

EXT. VETNAM/MEKONG DELTA/FIREBASE - DAY (1967)

LT. DAN

Goddamnit, kick some ass!

SGT. SIMS

I'm on it, Lieutenant.

LT. DAN

Get on it!

Lt. Dan steps back up to Bubba and Forrest.

FORREST (V.O.)

I guess you could say he had a lot

to live up to.

Lt. Dan walks along the walkway and Bubba and Forrest fol ow.

LT. DAN

So, you boys are from Arkansas, huh?

Well, I've been through there. Little

Rock's a fine town. Now, go shake

down your gear, see the platoon

sergeant, draw what you need for the

field.

Lt. Dan steps inside the latrine, still holding the roll of

toilet paper.

LT. DAN

If you boys are hungry, we got steaks

burnin' right here.

Lt. Dan sits down out of sight in the latrine, then stands

up, looking at the boys.

LT. DAN

Two standing orders in this platoon.

One, take good care of your feet.

Two, try not to do anything stupid,

like gettin' yourself killed.

Lt. Dan sits back down out of sight in the latrine. Bubba

and Forrest look at each other.

FORREST

I sure hope I don't let him down.

EXT. RICE FIELD - ANOTHER DAY

Forrest, Bubba, and other soldiers in the Fourth Platoon

walk across the rice field. Some Vietnamese rice farmers are

working as the soldiers walk past.

FORREST (V.O.)

I got to see a lot of countryside.

We would take these real long walks.

EXT. JUNGLE/DIRT ROAD - ANOTHER DAY

Forrest's unit walks along a dirt road.

SONG

And we were always lookin' for this

guy named Charlie. I can't get no

relief.

Suddenly Lt. Dan holds up his fist, a signal for the unit to

stop. He motions for them to get down.

LT. DAN

Hold it up!

SGT. SIMS

Hold up, boys!

Forrest gets down and looks around.

FORREST (V.O.)

It wasn't always fun. Lt. Dan always

gettin' these funny feelings about a

rock or a trail, or the road, so

he'd tel you to get down, shut up!

LT. DAN

Get down! Shut up!

FORREST (V.O.)

So we did.

Lt. Dan motions for the lead soldier to get down. Lt. Dan

crouches down. Lt. Dan looks at the soldiers and points to

his eyes. He lies down on the dirt road and crawls.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, I don't know much about anything,

but I think some of American's best

young men served in this war. There

was Dallas, from Phoenix. Cleveland,

he was from Detroit.

CLEVELAND

Hey, Tex. Hey, Tex. Man, what the

hel 's going on?

Tex holds up his hand, motioning that he doesn't know.

FORREST (V.O.)

And Tex was, wel , I don't remember

where Tex come from.

LT. DAN

Ah, nothin'. Fourth Platoon, on your

feet! Stil got ten clicks to go to

that river.

Forrest stands up and begins to walk with the platoon.

LT. DAN

Al right, move out! Comin' out.

Look alive out there.

FORREST (V.O.)

The good thing about Vietnam is there

was always someplace to go.

LT. DAN (V.O.)

Fire in the hole!

EXT. VIETNAM/VIET CONG FOXHOLE - ANOTHER DAY

Lt. Dan walks away as Forrest rushes over, aims two pistols

in the hole, then climbs inside.

FORREST (V.O.)

And there was always something to

do.

LT. DAN

Mount 'em up.

SGT. SIMS

Spread out! Cover his back.

ANOTHER DAY - The platoon walks through a rice paddy, waits

deep in water. It begins to rain.

FORREST (V.O.)

One day it started raining, and it

didn't quit for four months.

EXT. JUNGLE

The rain pours down on Forrest and Bubba as they sit in a

foxhole.

FORREST (V.O.)

We been through every kind of rain

there is. Little bitty stingin'

rain...

ANOTHER DAY - The platoon walks through the jungle as rain

pours down on them.

FORREST (V.O.)

...and big ol' fat rain.

ANOTHER DAY - The platoon shelters themselves as they walk

through the wind and rain.

FORREST (V.O.)

Rain that flew in sideways.

ANOTHER DAY - Forrest and other soldiers walk chest-deep

through a river. The rain splatters back up from the river,

hitting the soldiers. Forrest holds his hand up to protect

his face.

FORREST (V.O.)

And sometimes rain even seemed to

come straight up from underneath.

EXT. ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT

The rain pours down on the men of the platoon as they sit in

a camp. Bubba sits down next to Forrest.

FORREST (V.O.)

Shoot, it even rained at night.

Bubba leans his back up against Forrest's back.

BUBBA

Hey Forrest. .

FORREST

Hey Bubba...

BUBBA

I'm gonna lean up against you, you

just lean right back against me.

BUBBA

This way, we don't have to sleep

with our heads in the mud. You know

why we a good partnership, Forrest?

'Cause we be watchin' out for one

another. Like brothers and stuff.

Hey, Forrest, there's somethin' I've

been thinkin' about. I got a very

important question to ask you. How

would you like to go into the

shrimpin' business with me?

FORREST

Okay.

BUBBA

Man, I tell you what, I got it all

figured out, too. So many pounds of

shrimp to pay off the boat, so many

pounds for gas, we can just live

right on the boat. We ain't got to

pay no rent. I'll be the captain; we

can just work it together. Split

everything right down the middle.

Man, I'm tellin' you, fifty-fifty.

And, hey, Forrest, al the shrimp

you can get.

FORREST

That's a fine idea.

FORREST (V.O.)

Bubba did have a fine idea.

ANOTHER NIGHT - Some soldiers patrol the area. Forrest lies

in a pup tent and writes a litter as the rain pours down. He

uses his flashlight to see.

FORREST (V.O.)

I even wrote Jenny and told her al

about it. I sent her letters. Not

every day, but almost. I told her

what I was doin' and asked her what

she was doing, and I told her how I

thought about her always.

EXT. JENNY'S GRANDMOTHER'S TRAILER - DAY

Jenny steps out of the trailer with a backpack and a guitar.

She hugs a hippie guy, then jumps into the back of a

Volkswagen bus with another guy.

FORREST (V.O.)

And how I was looking forward to

getting a letter from her just as

soon as she had the time I'd always

let her know that I was okay.

EXT. VIETNAM - NIGHT

Forrest writes a letter in his tent.

FORREST (V.O.)

Then I'd sign each letter, "Love,

Forrest Gump."

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The Fourth Platoon makes their way through the jungle and

rain.

SONG

"There's something happenin' here.

What it is ain't exactly clear.

There's a man with a gun over there,

tel ing' me I got to beware."

FORREST (V.O.)

This one day, we was out walking,

like always, and then, just like

that, somebody turned off the rain

and the sun come out.

Forrest looks up as the sun suddenly appears. Forrest's

platoon is attacked. A bullet kills the soldier standing

next to Forrest. Bombs explode all around as the soldiers

scramble to the ground.

LT. DAN

Take cover!

Forrest crawls over a berm as bul ets fly overhead and explode

all around him. Forrest rolls over and pulls his pack off

Lt. Dan lies next to Forrest.

LT. DAN

Get that pig up here, goddammit!

BUBBA

Forrest, you okay?

Two soldiers with a machine gun fire into the jungle. Lt.

Dan shouts into the radio. Forrest begins firing his weapon

into the jungle.

LT. DAN

...Strongarm, please be advised...

Two soldiers pul a wounded soldier into the jungle.

BUBBA

Medic, we got a man down!

LT. DAN

Strongarm, this is Leg Lima 6, over!

LT. DAN

Roger, Strongarm, be advised we have

incoming from the treeline at point

blue plus two. A.K's and rockets..

The machine gunner fires into the treeline. Another soldier

helps him with the ammunition. The machine gun jams.

SOLDIER WITH BIG MACHINE GUN

Misfire! Misfire!

LT. DAN

Goddammit, Mac! Get that pig unfucked

and get it in the treeline!

A rocket explodes on the machine gunner and the other soldier,

kil ing them. Forrest looks down and covers his head as

rockets explodes all around him.

LT. DAN

(into radio)

Ah, Jesus! My unit is down hard and

hurting! 6 pul ing back to the blue

line, Leg Lima 6 out! Pull back!

Pull back!

BUBBA

Forrest! Run! Run, Forrest!

LT. DAN

Pull back!

BUBBA

Forrest! Run! Run, Forrest! Run!

Run!

SGT. SIMS

Pul back! Let's go!

Lt. Dan gets up and grabs Forrest by the col ar.

LT. DAN

Run, goddammit, run!

The platoon gets up and runs toward the cover of the jungle.

Rockets explode al around the field. Forrest runs into the

jungle. The soldiers run through the jungle as bul ets explode

all around. A soldier is blown up by a rocket. A soldier

runs through the jungle. Forrest runs past the soldier.

SOLDIER

Medic! Medic! Jesus, can I get a

medic?

FORREST (V.O.)

I ran and ran, just like Jenny told

me to.

Rockets explode in the jungle as Forrest runs out toward a

clearing.

FORREST (V.O.)

I ran so far and so fast that pretty

soon I was all by myself, which was

a bad thing.

FORREST

Bubba!

Forrest turns around, then runs back into the jungle.

FORREST (V.O.)

Bubba was my best good friend. I had

to make sure he was okay.

Rockets explode in the jungle. Forrest runs back into the

jungle to look for Bubba.

1ST SOLDIER

Any friendlies out there?

2ND SOLDIER

Yeah, I've got three over there.

1ST SOLDIER

Where the hel are you?

Forrest stops and aims his weapon. He looks around, scared.

FORREST

Bubba?

Something moves. Forrest turns and looks, then rushes over.

FORREST (V.O.)

And on my way back to find Bubba,

wel , there was this boy laying on

the ground.

FORREST

Tex!

Tex lies on the ground, his face distorted with pain.

FORREST

Okay.

Forrest reaches down and picks up Tex from the ground. Forrest

pul s Tex up over his shoulder, then runs.

FORREST (V.O.)

I couldn't just let him lay there

al alone, scared the way he was, so

I grabbed him up and run him out of

there.

Forrest carries Tex out of the jungle and into the clearing.

He sets Tex down on the bank of a river, and runs back into

the jungle.

FORREST (V.O.)

And every time I went back looking

for Bubba, somebody else was saying,

"Help me, Forrest. Help me."

Forrest drops another wounded soldier down at the bank of

the river next to Tex, and then runs back toward the jungle.

Forrest grabs the third wounded soldier up from the ground

and turns him over. It is DALLAS.

DALLAS

Can't hear... Can't hear...

Dal as is dropped off at the bank next to the other wounded

soldiers. Forrest turns to go back to the jungle.

2ND WOUNDED SOLDIER

No sweat, man. Just lay back. You're

gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay.

FORREST (V.O.)

I started to get scared that I might

never find Bubba.

STRONGARM

(over radio)

You're danger close for crack air,

over.

Forrest trips over something and fal s to the ground. He

looks up to find two bloody legs. It is Lt. Dan, who is

wounded. He speaks into the radio.

LT. DAN

(into radio)

Roger, Strongarm, I know my position

is danger close! We got Charlie all

over this area! I gotta have those

fast movers in here now! Over!

STRONGARM

(over radio)

Six, Strongarm, we want. .

FORREST

Lieutenant Dan, Coleman's dead!

LT. DAN

I know he's dead! My whole goddamned

platoon is wiped out!

STRONGARM

(over radio)

Leg Lima 6, Leg Lima 6, how copy you

this transmission? Over.

Forrest tries to pick up Lt. Dan, who tries to push Forrest

away.

LT. DAN

Goddammit! What are you doing? Leave

me here! Get away. Just leave me

here! Get out!

Forrest pul s Lt. Dan over his shoulder and runs through the

jungle.

STRONGARM

Leg Lima 6, Leg Lima 6. This is

Strongarm, be advised, your fast

movers are inbound at this time,

over.

FORREST (V.O.)

Then it felt like something just

jumped up and bit me.

Forrest fal s down.

FORREST

Ah, something bit me!

Forrest gets up as Lt. Dan yells. Lt. Dan fires his pistol

at the unseen enemy as Forrest pul s him away.

LT. DAN

You dink son-of-a-bitch! I can't

leave the platoon! I told you to

leave me there, Gump. Forget about

me. Get yourself out! Did you hear

what I said! Goddammit, pul me down!

Get your ass out of here!

Forrest drops Lt. Dan down at the bank, next to the other

wounded soldiers. Lt. Dan grabs Forrest by the shirt, angry.

LT. DAN

I didn't ask you to pul me out of

there, goddamn you! What the hel do

you think you're going?

FORREST

To get Bubba.

LT. DAN

I got an air strike inbound right

now. They're gonna nape the whole

area.

Forrest gets up and runs as Lt. Dan yel s after him.

LT. DAN

Gump, you stay here, goddammit! That's

an order!

FORREST

I gotta find Bubba!

Forrest runs through the jungle searching for Bubba. Forrest

slows down and looks around careful y.

BUBBA

Forrest. .

FORREST

Bubba. .

Bubba looks up as he lies on the ground.

BUBBA

I'm okay.

Bubba holds a palm frond over his wound. Forrest removes the

frond to look at the wound. Bubba's chest has been blown

open.

FORREST

Oh, Bubba, no. .

BUBBA

Naw, I'm gonna be all right.

Forrest looks around as he hear the voices of the enemy.

FORREST

Come on. Come on. Come here. .

Forrest carries Bubba through the jungle. The sound of

approaching planes fills the air.

BUBBA

I'm okay, Forrest. I'm al right.

The roar of approaching planes is deafening. Forrest looks

up in fear. Three planes dive down toward the jungle. They

fire napalm as the jungle explodes with massive firebal s.

Forrest runs, carrying Bubba. The firebal s explode behind

him. The entire jungle area is in flames as Forrest runs.

Forrest carries Bubba to the bank of the river. Lt. Dan and

the other wounded soldiers wait for a rescue helicopter.

LT. DAN

Helo's inbound. Pop smoke, get it up

there!

FORREST (V.O.)

If I'd a known this was gonna be the

last time me and Bubba was gonna

talk, I'd a thought of something

better to say.

Forrest looks down at Bubba. A soldier releases a smoke

canister.

FORREST

Hey, Bubba...

BUBBA

Hey, Forrest. Forrest, why'd this

happen?

FORREST

You got shot.

FORREST (V.O.)

Then Bubba said something I won't

even forget.

BUBBA

I wanna go home.

FORREST (V.O.)

Bubba was my best good friend. And

even I know that ain't something you

can find just around the corner.

Bubba was gonna be a shrimpin' boat

captain, but instead he died right

there by that river in Vietnam.

The helicopter fly overhead.

BUS STATION - DAY

Forrest continues with his life story. A MAN is sitting next

to Forrest on the bus bench.

FORREST

That's al I have to say about that.

MAN

It was a bul et, wasn't it?

FORREST

A bul et?

MAN

That jumped up and bit you.

FORREST

Oh, yes sir. Bit me directly in the

buttocks. They said it was a million

dol ar wound, but the Army must keep

that money, 'cause I stil ain't

seen a nickel of that million dollars.

The only good thing about being

wounded in the buttocks. .

FLASHBACK - INT. US. ARMY HOSPITAL/VIETNAM - DAY

Forrest holds two ice cream cones in his hands as he is

wheeled on a rolling stretcher.

FORREST (V.O.)

...is the ice cream. They gave me

all the ice cream I could eat. And

guess what. A good friend of mine

was in the bed right next door.

Forrest, lying on his stomach, is wheeled to his bed.

Forrest's butt sticks up and is bandaged. Forrest looks at

Lt. Dan lying on the bed. Forrest holds out an ice cream

cone for Lt. Dan.

FORREST

Lieutenant Dan, I got you some ice

cream. Lieutenant Dan, ice cream.

Lt. Dan, annoyed, takes the ice cream cone and drops it into

his bed pan. Forrest slides himself onto his bed. A NURSE

reaches toward Lt. Dan.

MALE NURSE

It's time for your bath, Lieutenant.

The male nurse places Lt. Dan's hands on a pul -up bar, then

picks up Lt. Dan, whose legs have been amputated.

MALE NURSE

Harper...

Another nurse wheels the rol ing bed under Lt. Dan. The male

nurse sets Lt. Dan down on the rol ing bed. Forrest looks up

at Lt. Dan as he is wheeled away. A soldier reads the names

from a pile of letters.

SOLDIER

Cooper, Larson, Webster, Gump, Gump. .

FORREST

I'm Forrest Gump.

The soldier hands Forrest a large pile of letters.

"Undeliverable as addressed. No forwarding order on file."

Jenny Curran Rural Route 2 Greenbow, Ala. 39902 Forrest looks

down at the pile of letters.

INT. ARMY HOSPITAL/VIETNAM - DAY

A group of wounded soldiers hang out in the hospital,

recuperating. Forrest sits and watches "Gomer Pyle" on the

television.

SOLDIER

Gump, how can you watch that stupid

shit? Turn it off!

ANNOUNCER

From the D.M.Z. to the Delta, you

are tuned to the American Forces

Vietnam Network. This is Channel 6,

Saigon.

Forrest turns the TV off and he is hit on the back of the

head by a ping-pong bal .

SOLDIER

Good catch, Gump. You know how to

play this?

Forrest shakes his head.

SOLDIER

Come on, let me show you. Here.

The wounded ping-pong player hands Forrest a paddle. Forrest

and the wounded ping-pong player step toward the ping-pong

table.

SOLDIER

Now the secret to this game is, no

matter what happens, never, never

take your eye off the ball.

He holds the bal up and moves it back and forth. Forrest

keeps his eyes on the bal .

SOLDIER

All right...

The wounded ping-pong player tosses the bal down onto the

table. Forrest begins to hit the bal back to the other

player.

FORREST (V.O.)

For some reason, ping pong came very

natural to me.

SOLDIER

See, any idiot can play.

FORREST (V.O.)

So I started playing it all the time.

Forrest hits ping-pong bal s.

FORREST (V.O.)

I played ping-pong even when I didn't

have anyone to play ping-pong with.

The bal s at land in a bed pan positioned on a chair. A group

of wounded soldier sit and watch Forrest play with himself.

Forrest hits two bal s at a time against the opposite side

of the table.

FORREST (V.O.)

The hospital's people said it made

me look like a duck in water, whatever

that means. Even Lieutenant Dan would

come and watch me play.

Lt. Dan stares out the window. Forrest lies in his bed asleep.

A hand reaches and grabs him.

FORREST (V.O.)

I played ping-pong so much, I even

played it in my sleep.

Lt. Dan pul s Forrest to the floor, and holds Forrest down.

LT. DAN

Now, you listen to me. We all have a

destiny. Nothing just happens, it's

all part of a plan. I should have

died out there with my men! But now,

I'm nothing but a goddamned cripple!

A legless freak. Look! Look! Look at

me! Do you see that? Do you know

what it's like not to be able to use

your legs?

FORREST

Well... Yes, sir, I do.

LT. DAN

Did you hear what I said? You cheated

me. I had a destiny. I was supposed

to die in the field! With honor!

That was my destiny! And you cheated

me out of it! You understand what

I'm saying, Gump? This wasn't supposed

to happen. Not to me. I had a destiny.

I was Lieutenant Dan Tyler.

FORREST

Yo-You're still Lieutenant Dan.

Lt. Dan looks at Forrest, lets go of Forrest and rol s.

Lt. Dan sits up as Forrest looks at him.

LT. DAN

Look at me. What am I gonna do now?

What am I gonna do now?

INT. REC ROOM/VIETNAM HOSPITAL - ANOTHER DAY

Forrest plays ping-pong by himself. An OFFICER walks up to

him.

OFFICER

P.F.C. Gump?

Forrest immediately grabs the bal and places it down on the

table under its paddle. Stands at attention.

FORREST

Yes, sir!

OFFICER

As you were.

The officer holds up an envelope.

OFFICER

Son, you've been awarded the Medal

of Honor.

INT. VIETNAM HOSPITAL WARD

Forrest steps up to Lt. Dan's bed.

FORREST

Guess what, Lieutenant Dan, they

want to give me a me...

Forrest stops in mid-sentence as he looks down at the bed. A

heavily bandaged soldier with bloodstains lies there. Forrest

turns and look at the NURSE.

FORREST

Ma'am, what'd they do with Lieutenant

Dan?

NURSE

They sent him home.

FORREST (V.O.)

Two weeks later, I left Vietnam.

INT. BARBER SHOP/GREENBOW - DAY

ANCHORMAN

(on T.V.)

The ceremony was kicked off with a

candid speech by the President

regarding the need for further

escalation of the war in Vietnam.

President Johnson awarded four Medals

of Honor to men from each of the

Armed Services.

The television reveals Forrest as he is awarded the Medal of

Honor by President Johnson.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON

America owes you a debt of gratitude,

son.

Color footage revealing President Johnson as he places the

award around Forrest's neck and shakes hands.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON

I understand you were wounded. Where

were you hit?

FORREST

In the buttocks, sir.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON

Oh, that must be a sight.

President Johnson leans and whispers into Forrest's ear.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON

I'd kinda like to see that.

INT. BARBER SHOP

The television revealing Forrest as he drops his pants, bends

over and shows the bul et wound on his bare buttocks.

President Johnson looks down and smiles. The three men in

the barber shop look up in disbelief. Mrs. Gump looks up in

shock.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON

Goddamn, son.

EXT. LINCOLN MEMORIAL - DAY

Forrest walks by the Lincoln Memorial. A fence surrounds the

Memorial, as well as armed military guards.

FORREST (V.O.)

After that, Momma went to the hotel

to lay down, so I went out for a

walk to see our national capital.

ISABEL

Hilary, all right, I've got the vets,

what do you want me to do with them?

HILARY

What are you doing here so late?

Forrest takes a photo of the memorial as a woman named Hilary

gathers together some veterans against the Vietnam War.

HILARY

We've been waiting for you for half

an hour, so just get them in a line,

wil you. Hey, hey, come on, pictures

later. You look great. Oh come on,

get in this line, come on, come on

right in line. Come on, let him here,

let him in here.

Hilary grabs Forrest and puts him in the line with the other

vets against the war.

FORREST (V.O.)

It's a good thing Momma was resting,

'cause the street was awful crowded

with people looking at al the statues

and monuments. And some of them people

were loud and pushy.

Hilary leads the line of vets toward the large anti-Vietnam

War rally.

HILARY

Okay, fol ow me! Come on.

The group of vets walk as Forrest tries to take another

picture. A vet behind him pushes him along.

HILARY

Let's move it out.

VET

Hey, buddy, come on. We could use

your help.

Forrest walks in the line. A banner reads "Veterans against

the War in Vietnam."

FORREST (V.O.)

Everywhere I went, I had to stand in

line.

HILARY

Fol ow me, let's go!

Hilary leads the vets through a crowd of people outside the

ral y. Another woman, named Isabel, leads the vets toward

the back of a stage.

ISABEL

Al right, come on, guys.

HILARY

Stand here.

VET

Hey, you're a good man for doin'

this. Good!

FORREST

Okay.

A man, wearing an American flag shirt, stands on the stage.

He is anti-war activist ABBIE HOFFMAN.

ABBIE HOFFMAN

We must declare to that fucking

impostor in the White House --

Johnson. We ain't going to work on

your farm no more! Yeah!

FORREST (V.O.)

There was this man, giving a little

talk. And for some reason, he was

wearing an American flag for a

shirt...

ABBIE HOFFMAN

Now, I'm going to bring up some

soldiers that are going to talk about

the war, man...

FORREST (V.O.)

. .and he liked to say the "F" word.

A lot. "F" this and "F" that. And

every time...

ABBIE HOFFMAN

. .that war has come home, and we

have to stop these politicians...

FORREST (V.O.)

. .he said "F" word, people, for

some reason, wel , they'd cheer.

ABBIE HOFFMAN

. .these guys just told Lyndon Johnson

where to stick this fucking war!

Yeah!

Forrest looks up at the cheering crowd. Abbie turns and

motions for Forrest to come up on the stage.

ABBIE HOFFMAN

Come on, man. Come up here, man.

HILARY

Come on. Come on. Yeah, you!

Hilary pul s Forrest up onto the stage.

HILARY

Come on, get up there. Come on. Move,

move. Let's go! Let's go.

The other vets fol ow Forrest pushes onto the stage and push

him toward the microphones.

VET

Come on, go. You can do it. Just get

up there. Go on. That's it.

Thousands of cheering protesters stand around the Washington

Monument. Forrest looks at the crowd. Abbie Hoffmann steps

up to Forrest.

ABBIE HOFFMAN

Tell us a little bit about the war,

man.

FORREST

The war in Vietnam?

ABBIE HOFFMAN

The war in Viet-fucking-nam!

Abbie raises his fist as the crowd cheers wildly.

FORREST

Well...

FORREST (V.O.)

There was only one thing I could say

about the war in Vietnam.

FORREST

. .there was only one thing I could

say about the war in Vietnam.

Forrest looks at the crowd as he speaks. A policeman looks

around as he sneaks over to the audio circuit board.

FORREST

In Vietnam war...

The policeman pul s the patch cords out of the audio board.

Forrest's amplified voice becomes inaudible. Forrest continues

to speak into the microphone, even though no one can hear

what he is saying. Hilary looks over and notices the

policeman. Hilary rushes over toward the audio board, pushes

the policeman away and grabs his night stick. Another

protester grabs the policeman and pul s him away.

POLICEMAN

Hey, what the hel are you doing?

HILARY

I'l beat your head in, you goddamned

oinker!

Isabel, Hilary and another protester try to plug the tangled

mess of wires back into the audio board.

ISABEL

Christ, what'd they do with this?

Forrest continues to speak into the microphone. The crowd

grows restless.

CROWD

We can't hear you! We can't hear

anything!

HILARY

This one! This one! Give me that!

Hilary plugs in the right patch cord.

HILARY

That's it.

FORREST

...and that's all I have to say about

that.

Forrest looks at the massive crowd. They are silent. Abbie

Hoffman steps over to Forrest and pats him on the shoulder.

ABBIE HOFFMAN

That's so right on, man. You said it

al . What's your name, man?

FORREST

My name is Forrest Gump. Forrest

Gump.

ABBIE HOFFMAN

Forrest Gump!

Abbie raises his fist into the air. Abbie steps away from

Forrest. The crowd cheers.

CROWD

Forrest Gump!

JENNY

(screaming)

Forrest! Forrest!

Jenny wades out into the reflection pool and waves her hand

into the air. Forrest recognizes her.

FORREST

Jenny!

Forrest rushes off the stage as Jenny makes her way out into

the pool.

JENNY

Forrest!

Forrest jumps down into the crowd and runs. Jenny smiles as

she tries to run through the water. The crowd parts as Forrest

runs into the pool. Jenny rushes toward him.

JENNY

Hey! Hey!

The massive crowd cheers for the embracing couple in the

pool.

FORREST (V.O.)

It was the happiest moment of my

life.

EXT. WASHINGTON MONUMENT/PROTESTER'S ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT

Forrest and Jenny walk past the protesters who are camping

out on the lawn.

FORREST (V.O.)

Jenny and me were just peas and

carrots again. She showed me around,

and even introduced me. .

INT. BLACK PANTHER HEADQUARTERS/STOREFRONT, D.C. - NIGHT

Forrest stands at an open window and looks at the White House.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .to some of her new friends.

A Black Panther, named RUBEN, steps over and pul s the shades

down.

RUBEN

Shut that blind, man. And get your

white ass away from that window.

Don't you know we in war here?

Another Black Panther named MASAI grabs Forrest and pats him

down.

JENNY

Hey man, he's cool. He's cool. He's

one of us. He's one of us.

MASAI

Let me tell you about us.

WESLEY

Where the hell have you been?

JENNY

I ran into a friend.

MASAI

Our purpose here is to protect our

black leaders from the racial

onslaught of the pig who wishes to

brutalize our black leaders, rape

our women, and destroy our black

communists.

BLACK PANTHER

Masai, phone. Talk to these guys.

WESLEY

Who's the baby kil er?

JENNY

This is my good friend I told you

about. This is Forrest Gump. Forrest,

this is Wesley. Wesley and I live

together in Berkeley, and he's the

president of the Berkeley chapter of

S.D.S.

MASAI

Let me tell you something else.

WESLEY

I want to talk to you.

JENNY

Okay, but. .

WESLEY

No. Now! Goddammit!

MASAI

We are here to offer protection and

help for al of those who need our

help, because we, the Black Panthers,

are against the war in Vietnam. Yes,

we are against any war where black

soldiers are sent to the front line

to die for a country that hates them.

Yes, we are against any war where

black soldiers go to fight and come

to be brutalized and killed in their

own communities as they sleep in

their beds at night. Yes, we are

against all these racists and imperial

dog acts.

JENNY

You are a fucking asshole!

Wesley hits Jenny across the face. Slow motion -- Jenny falls

back. Slow motion -- Forrest steps forward with rage.

Slow motion -- Wesley turns and looks at Forrest. Forrest

tackles Wesley and slams him onto a table. Jenny turns and

looks as Masai pul s out a gun.

JENNY

Forrest! Quit it! Quit it! Forrest!

Stop it!

Jenny rushes over to Forrest and pul s Forrest off Wesley.

JENNY

Stop it!

Jenny tries to help Wesley as he moans on the floor. Wesley

knocks Jenny's hand away. He gets up, holding his bloody

lip.

WESLEY

Oh, God. I shouldn't have brought

you here. I should have known it was

just gonna be some bul shit hassle.

FORREST

He should not be hitting you, Jenny.

JENNY

Come on, Forrest.

Jenny steps out the door as Forrest picks up his hat.

FORREST

Sorry I had a fight in the middle of

your Black Panther party.

The group of Black Panthers glare at Forrest. Forrest turns

and walks out the room.

EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - NIGHT

Forrest and Jenny walk past the White House. Protesters hold

a candlelight vigil behind them.

JENNY

He doesn't mean it when he does things

like this. He doesn't.

FORREST

I would never hurt you, Jenny.

JENNY

I know you wouldn't, Forrest.

FORREST

I wanted to be your boyfriend.

They walk in silence. Jenny touches Forrest's uniform.

JENNY

That uniform is a trip, Forrest. You

look handsome in it. You do.

FORREST

You know what?

JENNY

What?

FORREST

I'm glad we were here together in

our national capitol.

JENNY

Me too, Forrest. I have so much to

tel you, you won't believe what's

been going on. .

FORREST (V.O.)

We walked around all night, Jenny

and me, just talkin'.

EXT. ROUTE 66 - FLASHBACK - DAY

Jenny stands in the rain, hitchhiking. A car pulls over to

pick her up. Jenny and other other girls get into the car.

FORREST (V.O.)

She told me about all the travellin'

she's done.

EXT. COMMUNE IN NEW MEXICO - NIGHT

A hippie gives Jenny a sugar cube of acid as they sit in

front of a roaring fire.

FORREST (V.O.)

And how she'd discovered ways to

expand her mind and learn how to

live in harmony...

EXT. HOLLYWOOD/WALK OF FAME - DAY

A star with the name "Jean Harlow" on the sidewalk. Jenny

and two other girls sing on the sidewalk and col ect change

from the passersby. Jenny plays the guitar.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .which must be out west somewhere,

'cause she made it al the way to

California.

JENNY

(sings)

"Smile on your brother, everybody

get together, try to love on another

right now"

A young hippie looks over his faded Volkswagen at the girls.

YOUNG HIPPIE

Hey, anybody want to go to San

Francisco?

JENNY

I'll go.

YOUNG HIPPIE

Far out!

EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - DAWN

Forrest and Jenny walk through the park.

FORREST (V.O.)

I was a very special night for the

two of us. I didn't want it to end.

EXT. PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING

Jenny carries a backpack as she prepares to board a bus back

to Berkeley.

FORREST

I wish you wouldn't go, Jenny.

JENNY

I have to, Forrest.

WESLEY

Jenny? Things got a little out of

hand. It's just this war and that,

that lyin' son-of-a-bitch Johnson. I

would never hurt you. You know that.

FORREST

You know what I think? I think you

should go home to Greenbow. Alabama!

JENNY

Forrest, we have very different lives,

you know.

Forrest looks down at Jenny. He pul s his Medal of Honor

from around his neck.

FORREST

I want you to have this.

Forrest places the Medal of Honor in Jenny's hand. Jenny

looks up at him.

JENNY

Forrest, I can't keep this.

FORREST

I got it just by doing what you told

me to do.

JENNY

Why're you so good to me?

FORREST

You're my girl.

JENNY

I'll always be your girl.

Jenny and Forrest hug each other. Wesley waits for Jenny.

Jenny turns and walks up to Wesley. They walk toward the

entrance of the bus. Forrest smiles as Jenny looks at her.

Jenny climbs up into the bus. Wesley glares at Forrest.

Forrest gives Wesley the "evil eye." Jenny through the near

window of the bus, knocks on the window. Forrest turns and

looks. Jenny waves to Forrest. Forrest looks up and smiles

sadly. Jenny gives Forrest the peace sign as the bus pul s

away. The sign on the back of the bus reads "Berkeley to

D.C." Forrest gives Jenny the peace sign.

FORREST (V.O.)

And just like that, she was gone out

of my life again.

INT. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL/REC ROOM - DAY

A footage of Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon on

television.

NEIL ARMSTRONG

That's one smal step for man, one

giant leap for mankind. The, uh, the

surface is fine and powdery. I can,

I can pick it up loosely.

Forrest demonstrates a ping-pong to some wounded vets.

FORREST (V.O.)

I thought I was going back to Vietnam,

but instead, they decided the best

way for me to fight communists was

to play ping-pong. So I was in the

Special Services, traveling around

the country cheering up al them

wounded veterans and showing them

how to play...

BUS STOP - PRESENT - DAY

Forrest looks at a man.

FORREST

...ping-pong. I was so good that

some years later. .

EXT. CHINA/PING-PONG TOURNAMENT - FLASHBACK - DAY

Forrest plays ping-pong against a Chinese player. A large

mural of Mao Tse-tung hangs on the wal . A crowd of communist

leaders sit and watch.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .the Army decided I should be on

the Al -American Ping-Pong Team. We

were the first Americans to visit

the land of China in like a million

years or something like that, and

somebody said that world peace was

in our hands. But all I did was play

ping-pong. When I got home. .

BUS STOP - PRESENT - DAY

FORREST

...I was national celebrity. Famouser

even than Captain Kangaroo.

Color footage of the DICK CAVETT Show. Dick Cavett stands up

as he introduces Forrest.

DICK CAVETT

Here he is, Forrest Gump, right here.

Forrest makes his way onto the stage, shakes hands with Dick

Cavett.

DICK CAVETT

Mr. Gump, have a seat.

Forrest sits down between JOHN LENNON and Dick Cavett.

DICK CAVETT

Forrest Gump, John Lennon.

JOHN LENNON

Welcome home.

DICK CAVETT

You had quite a trip. Can you, uh,

tell us, uh, what was China like?

John Lennon lights a cigarette.

FORREST

Wel , in the land of China, people

hardly got nothing at all.

JOHN LENNON

No possessions?

FORREST

And in China, they never go to church.

JOHN LENNON

No religion, too?

DICK CAVETT

Oh. Hard to imagine.

JOHN LENNON

Well, it's easy if you try, Dick.

Forrest looks oddly at John Lennon.

FORREST (V.O.)

Some years later, that nice young

man from England was on his way home

to see his little boy and was signing

some autographs. For no particular

reason at al , somebody shot him.

EXT. STUDIO - LATER

A guard lets Forrest out a side entrance door. Forrest steps,

an then stops as he hears s man sitting in a wheelchair speak

to him.

LT. DAN

They gave you the Congressional Medal

of Honor.

FORREST

Now that's Lieutenant Dan. Lieutenant

Dan!

Forrest looks at Lt. Dan. He is a dirty with long hair.

LT. DAN

They gave you the Congressional Medal

of Honor!

FORREST

Yes sir, they sure did.

LT. DAN

They gave you an imbecile, a moron

who goes on television and makes a

fool out himself in front of the

whole damn country, the Congressional

Medal of Honor.

FORREST

Yes, sir.

LT. DAN

Wel , then, that's just perfect!

Yeah, well I just got one thing to

say to that. Goddamn bless America.

Lt. Dan's wheelchair begins to slide down the ramp and spins

around on the icy ground. Forrest looks down at Lt. Dan

crashes at the bottom of the ramp.

FORREST

Lieutenant Dan!

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS - NIGHT

Taxi cabs crowd the street as Forrest pushes Lt. Dan along

the sidewalk.

FORREST (V.O.)

Lieutenant Dan said he was living in

a hotel. And because he didn't have

no legs, he spent most of his time

exercising his arms.

LT. DAN

Take a right, take a right.

A taxi driver honks his horn as Forrest wheels Lt. Dan out

in front of the taxi.

TAXI DRIVER #1

Hey! Come on already!

LT. DAN

Ah!

FORREST

What are you doing here in New York,

Lieutenant Dan?

LT. DAN

I'm living off the government tit.

Sucking it dry.

A taxi skids to a stop, almost hitting them as they cross

the street. The taxi honks at Lt. Dan. Lt. Dan slaps the

bumper of the taxi.

LT. DAN

Hey! Hey! Hey! Are you blind? I'm

walking here! Ah, get out...

TAXI DRIVER #2

Why don't you go home before you

kil yourself? Get out of the way!

LT. DAN

Come on, go! Go! Go!

EXT. LT. DAN'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER

A Bob Hope Christmas special in Vietnam on television. Lt.

Dan and Forrest watch the television.

FORREST (V.O.)

I stayed with Lieutenant Dan and

celebrated the holidays.

BOB HOPE

You have a great year and hurry home.

God bless you.

LT. DAN

Have you found Jesus yet, Gump?

FORREST

I didn't know I was supposed to be

looking for him, sir.

Lt. Dan chuckles, drinks the rest of a bottle of wine and

tosses it down. He looks at Forrest. He wheels himself over

to television and turns it off.

LT. DAN

That's al these cripples, down at

the V.A., that's all they ever talk

about.

Lt. Dan picks up another bottle of port wine, but it is empty.

He tosses it onto the floor.

LT. DAN

Jesus this and Jesus that. Have I

found Jesus? They even had a priest

come and talk to me. He said God is

listening, but I have to help myself.

Now, if I accept Jesus into my heart,

I'll get to walk beside him in the

Kingdom of Heaven.

Lt. Dan tosses the empty liquor bottle down and picks another

bottle. He becomes enraged as he throws the bottle and looks

at Forrest.

LT. DAN

Did you hear what I said? Walk beside

him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Wel ,

kiss my crippled ass. God is

listening. What a crock of shit.

FORREST

I'm going to heaven, Lieutenant Dan.

LT. DAN

Huh? Ah, wel , before you go, why

don't you get your ass down to the

corner and get us another bottle of

wine.

FORREST

Yes, sir.

INT. TIMES SQUARE BAR - NIGHT

A television shows DICK CLARK as he emcees the Times Square

New York Eve celebration.

DICK CLARK

We are at approximately 45th Street

in New York City at One Astor Plaza.

This is the site of the old Astor

Hotel. Down below us, well over a

hundred thousand people are mil ing

about, cheering with horns and

whistles and hats...

LT. DAN

What the hel 's in Bayou La Batre?

FORREST

Shrimpin' boats.

LT. DAN

Shrimpin' boats? Who gives a shit

about shrimpin' boats?

FORREST

I gotta buy me one of them shrimpin'

boats as soon as I have some money.

I made me a promise to Bubba in

Vietnam, that as soon as the war was

over, we'd go in partners. He'd be

the captain of the shrimpin' boat

and I'd be his first mate. But now

that he's dead, that means that I

gotta be the captain.

LT. DAN

A shrimp boat captain.

FORREST

Yes, sir. A promise is a promise,

Lieutenant Dan.

LT. DAN

Now hear this! Private Gump here is

gonna be a shrimp boat captain. Well,

I tell you what, Gilligan, the day

that you are a shrimp boat captain,

I wil come and be your first mate.

FORREST

Okay.

LT. DAN

If you're ever a shrimp boat captain,

that's the day I'm an astronaut.

Two sleazy women, named LENORE and CARLA, walk up to Lt.

Dan.

LENORE

Danny, what are you complaining about?

CARLA

What are you doing, huh?

LENORE

Mr. Hot Wheels. Who's your friend?

FORREST

My name is Forrest, Forrest Gump.

LT. DAN

This is Cunning Carla, and Long-Limbs

Lenore.

Carla puts a "Happy New Year" crown on Lt. Dan's head. Lenore

fixes her makeup.

CARLA

So where you been, baby-cakes, huh?

Haven't seen you around lately. You

know, you should have been here for

Christmas 'cause Tommy bought a round

on the house and gave everybody a

turkey sandwich.

LT. DAN

Wel , wel , I had, uh, company.

LENORE

Hey, hey! We was, we was just there.

That's at Times Square.

Lenore leans and speaks into Forrest's ear.

LENORE

Don't you just love New Year's? You

get to start al over.

CARLA

Hey, Lenore.

LENORE

Everybody gets a second chance.

FORREST (V.O.)

It's funny, but in the middle of al

that fun, I began to think about

Jenny.

DICK CLARK

(on television)

. .getting wild out there. It's

beginning to. .

INT. APARTMENT/L.A. - NIGHT

The New Year's Eve celebration over the T.V.

DICK CLARK

(over television)

...pour here in Times Square. It's

been off-and-on al night, but these

people hang in there.

Jenny fil s her bag with her belongings.

FORREST (V.O.)

Wondering how she was spending her

New Year's night out in California.

A man lies passed out on the bed. Jenny looks at her black

eye in a mirror, then leaves the apartment. The TV shows the

ball in Times Square.

CROWD

(over television)

INT. TIMES SQUARE BAR - NIGHT

The ball is lowered, lighting up a sign that reads "1972."

CROWD

(over television)

...1! Happy New Year!

The people in the bar cheer and kiss each other. They blow

horns and toss confetti into the air. Forrest looks around

as Carla and Lenore lean over and kiss him.

PATRONS

(sing)

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and never brought to mind. .

FORREST

Happy New Year, Lieutenant Dan!

PATRONS

(sing)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and days of auld lang syne."

INT. LT. DAN'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER

Carla removes her top and sits on top of Dan in his

wheelchair. They kiss and play around. Forrest sits in a

chair. Lenore leaps on him and begins to kiss Forrest. She

reaches down to Forrest's crotch. Forrest stands up nervously,

causing Lenore to fal down on the floor. Lenore stands up,

angry.

LENORE

What are you, stupid or something?

What's your problem? What's his

problem? Did you lose your pecker in

the war or something?

CARLA

What, is your friend stupid or

something?

LT. DAN

What did you say?

CARLA

I said, is your friend stupid or

something?

LT. DAN

Hey! Don't cal him stupid!

Lt. Dan throws Carla back onto the bed.

CARLA

Don't push me like that!

LENORE

Hey, don't you push her!

LT. DAN

You shut up! Don't you ever cal him

stupid!

CARLA

What's the matter, baby? Why you

treating me like shit?

LT. DAN

Get the hel out of here!

LENORE

You stupid gimp. You belong in

"Ripley's Believe It Or Not."

LT. DAN

Get the hel out of here! Go on!

LENORE

You should be in a side show!

LT. DAN

Go on! Get out of here! Get out of

here!

LENORE

You big loser!

CARLA

Come on, Lenore. We don't need this

shit!

LENORE

You're so pathetic.

LT. DAN

Get out of here!

Lt. Dan fal s out of his wheelchair and lands down on the

floor. Carla and Lenore laugh as they leave the apartment.

CARLA

You retard!

LENORE

You loser! You freak!

Forrest tries to help Lt. Dan. Lt. Dan pushes Forrest away.

LT. DAN

No!

Forrest steps back as Lt. Dan flips back over, then pulls

himself back up onto his wheelchair. He breathes heavily.

FORREST

I'm sorry I ruined your New Year's

Eve party, Lieutenant Dan. She tastes

like cigarettes.

FORREST (V.O.)

I guess Lieutenant Dan figured there's

some things you just can't change.

He didn't want to be cal ed crippled,

just like I didn't want to be called

stupid.

LT. DAN

Happy New Year.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

An ANCHORMAN reports in front of the White House.

ANCHORMAN

The U.S. Ping-Pong Team met with

President Nixon today at an Oval

Office ceremony...

FORREST (V.O.)

And wouldn't you know it. .

PRESENT - BUS STOP

Forrest looks at the fat man on the bus bench.

FORREST

...a few months later they invited

me and the ping-pong team to visit

the White House. So I went again.

And I met the President of the United

States again.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

A plaque, presented to Forrest, reads "Presented to Forrest

Gump, member of the United States table tennis team as player

of the year for 1971. President NIXON holds the plaque.

FORREST (V.O.)

Only this time they didn't get us

rooms in a real fancy hotel.

PRESIDENT NIXON

So are you enjoying yourself in our

national capital, young man?

FORREST

Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT NIXON

Well, where are you staying?

FORREST

It's cal ed the Hotel Ebbott.

PRESIDENT NIXON

Oh, no, no, no, no. I know of a much

nicer hotel. It's brand-new. Very

modern. I'l have my people take

care of it for you.

INT. WATERGATE HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Forrest speaks on the phone.

SECURITY GUARD

Security, Frank Wills.

Forrest steps over to a window. Flashlights are moving around

in an office across from Forrest's room.

FORREST

Yeah, sir, you might want to send a

maintenance man over to that office

across the way. The lights are off,

and they must be looking for the

fuse box or something, 'cause them

flashlights they're, they're keeping

me awake.

SECURITY GUARD

Okay, sir. I'll check it out.

FORREST

Thank you.

SECURITY GUARD

No problem.

FORREST

Good night.

SECURITY GUARD

Good night.

Forrest hangs up the phone. The camera tilts down, revealing

the hotel stationary, which reads "The Watergate Hotel."

INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY

President Nixon makes a resignation speech on TV.

PRESIDENT NIXON

(over television)

Therefore, I shall resign the

Presidency effective at noon tomorrow.

The television cuts to a shot of President Nixon standing

outside Air Force One with his hands in the peace sign.

PRESIDENT NIXON

(over television)

Vice President Ford will be sworn in

as President at that hour in this

office. As I recall the high hopes

for America with which we began this

second term, I feel a great sadness

that I will not be here in this

office...

Forrest is playing ping-pong by himself at the gymnasium. An

officer steps up to him.

OFFICER

Sergeant Gump!

FORREST

Yes, sir!

OFFICER

As you were. I have your discharge

papers. Your service is up, son.

The officer hands Forrest an envelope, then walks away.

FORREST

Does this mean I can't play ping

pong no more?

OFFICER

For the Army it does.

FORREST (V.O.)

And just like that, my service in

the United States Army was over. So

I went home.

Forrest takes his paddle and runs out of the gymnasium.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY

Mrs. Gump walks out of the house and smiles. Forrest walks

up to the house, wearing his uniform.

FORREST

I'm home, Momma.

MRS. GUMP

I know, I know.

INT. GUMP HOUSE

Mrs. Gump and Forrest walk into the house.

MRS. GUMP

Louise, he's here. He's here,

everybody.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, when I got home, I had no idea

that Momma had had al sorts of

visitors.

In the house are stacks of ping-pong paddles and life-sized

cardboard cutouts of Forrest playing ping-pong. The name on

the ping-pong paddles boxes reads: "Gump-Mao table tennis."

MRS. GUMP

We've had al sorts of visitors,

Forrest. Everybody wants you to use

their ping-pong stuff. One man even

left a check for twenty-five thousand

dol ars if you'd be agreeable to

saying you like using their paddle.

FORREST

Oh, Momma. I only like using my own

paddle. Hi, Miss Louise.

LOUISE

Hey, Forrest.

MRS. GUMP

I know that. I know that. But it's

twenty-five thousand dol ars, Forrest.

I thought maybe you could hold it

for a while, see if it grows on you.

Oh, you look good, Forrest. You look

real good.

FORREST (V.O.)

That Momma, she sure was right. It's

funny how things work out.

EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE/BUBBA'S MOM'S HOUSE - DAY

Forrest walks up to a shack on the edge of the Bayou. A group

of black kids play in the front yard.

FORREST (V.O.)

I didn't stay home for long, because

I'd made a promise to Bubba. And I

always try to keep my promise. So I

went on down to Bayou La Batre to

meet Bubba's family and make their

introduction.

Bubba's mother named MRS. BLUE and her other children look

at Forrest.

MRS. BLUE

Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?

FORREST

Stupid is as stupid does, Mrs. Blue.

MRS. BLUE

I guess.

EXT. BUBBA'S GRAVE - DAY

Forrest steps over to Bubba's tombstone.

FORREST (V.O.)

And of course, I paid my respect to

Bubba himself.

FORREST

Hey, Bubba, it's me, Forrest Gump. I

remember everything you said, and I

got it al figured out.

Forrest pul s out notes from his pocket.

FORREST

I'm taking the twenty-four thousand,

five hundred and six-two dol ars and

forty-seven cents that I got. .

EXT. BAYOU - DAY

Forrest walks across a yard where men are cleaning shrimp.

FORREST (V.O.)

...well, that's left after a new

hair cut and a new suit and I took

Momma out to real fancy dinner and I

bought a bus ticket and three Doctor

Peppers.

Forrest walks along a wooden pier. Forrest pays an old black

shrimper a large wad of cash.

OLD SHRIMPER

Tell me something. Are you stupid or

something?

FORREST

Stupid is as stupid does, sir.

EXT. BUBBA'S GRAVE

Forrest stands at the grave.

FORREST

Wel , that's what's left after me

saying, "When I was in China on the

All-America Ping-Pong Team, I just

loved playing ping-pong with my Flex-

O-Ping-Pong Paddle." Which everybody

knows it isn't true, but Momma says

it's just a little white lie so it

wouldn't hurt nobody. So, anyway,

I'm putting al that on gas, ropes

and new nets and a brand-new shrimpin'

boat.

EXT. BAYOU - DAY

Forrest steers his shrimping boat. The boat is old and rusty.

Forrest unleashes his nets as his catch of the day drops to

the deck. It is a bunch of garbage and shells. Forrest picks

up one shrimp.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, Bubba had told me everything he

knows about shrimpin', but you know

what I found out? Shrimpin' is tough.

EXT. DOCKS

Forrest pul s a couple of shrimp out of a bucket.

FORREST

I only caught five.

OLD SHRIMPER

A couple of more, you can have

yourself a cocktail.

The old shrimper begins to walk away, then stops and looks

at Forrest.

OLD SHRIMPER

Hey, you ever think about namin'

this old boat?

FORREST (V.O.)

I'd never named a boat before, but

there was only one I could think of.

Forrest paints a name on the side of his boat. The name is

"Jenny."

FORREST (V.O.)

The most beautiful name in the wide

world.

INT. DISCO

Disco lights flash and people dance. A guy asks a girl to

dance.

GIRL

Okay.

Jenny sits at a table with some other people. She is snorting

cocaine.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, I hadn't heard from Jenny in a

long while. But...

EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE - DAY

Forrest stands at the helm as the boat glides across the

water.

FORREST (V.O.)

But I thought about her a lot. And I

hoped that whatever she was doing

made her happy.

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Drug paraphernalia and a large wad of cash are spread out on

a table. A man drops a syringe on the table. He reaches over

and touches Jenny. She is pale with dark lines under her

eyes.

INT. BATHROOM

Jenny smears some lines of cocaine on a mirror. She looks at

herself in the mirror.

EXT. BALCONY

Jenny steps out onto the high-rise balcony. She steps up on

a table and stands on the edge of the balcony. A busy street

lies many stories below. Jenny looks down to the intersection

below.

She slips over the edge, regains her balance, turns and looks

back at the intersection below, and begins to get down from

the edge.

Jenny grabs a hold of the ledge and carefully climbs down.

She sits down on a chair. Jenny rocks back and forth as she

cries. She looks up at the sky.

EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE/FORREST'S BOAT - NIGHT

The moon shines above in the sky. Forrest lies in a hammock

on his boat.

FORREST (V.O.)

I thought about Jenny al the time.

EXT. FORREST'S BOAT/BAYOU DOCK - DAY

Forrest stands at the helm of his boat and slowly glides by

the docks. Forrest looks around and notices something and

bends down to get a clear view. Lt. Dan sits in his wheelchair

on the deck. Forrest looks at Lt. Dan. He smiles, surprised.

FORREST

Hi!

Forrest leaps off of his moving boat and into the water. The

boat continues as Forrest clumsily swims. Lt. Dan sits in

his wheelchair at the edge of the dock. Forrest flails his

arms as he swims up to the dock. Lt. Dan waits for Forrest,

smoking a cigar. Forrest climbs up a ladder onto the dock.

FORREST

Lieutenant Dan, what are you doing

here?

LT. DAN

Wel , I thought I'd try out my sea

legs.

FORREST

Wel , you ain't got no legs,

Lieutenant Dan.

LT. DAN

Well, well, Captain Forrest Gump. I

had to see this for myself. And I

told you if you were ever a shrimp

boat captain, that I'd be your first

mate. Well, here I am. I am a man of

my word.

FORREST

Okay.

Forrest shakes Lt. Dan's hand.

LT. DAN

Yeah, but don't you be thinking that

I'm gonna be cal ing you sir.

FORREST

No, sir.

Forrest's boat glides, crushing a dock. Forrest and Lt. Dan

look at it.

FORREST

That's my boat.

EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE WATERS - DAY

Forrest's shrimping boat is alone on the gulf waters.

LT. DAN

I have a feeling if we head the east,

we'll find some shrimp. So, take a

left. Take a left.

Forrest looks up. Lt. Dan is sitting in the rigging.

FORREST

Which way?

LT. DAN

Over there! They're over there! Get,

get on the wheel and take a left!

FORREST

Okay.

LT. DAN

Gump, what are you doing? Take a

left! Left! That's where we're gonna

find those shrimp, my boy! That's

where we'l find 'em.

Forrest empties the net. Their "catch" is debris that fal s

to the deck.

FORREST

Still no shrimp, Lieutenant Dan.

LT. DAN

Okay, so I was wrong.

FORREST

Wel , how we gonna find them?

LT. DAN

Wel , maybe you should just pray for

shrimp.

INT. SMALL CHURCH - DAY

The all-black gospel choir sings and claps their hands.

FORREST (V.O.)

So I went to church every Sunday. .

Lt. Dan is sitting in his chair at the back of the church.

He takes swigs from a liquor bottle.

FORREST (V.O.)

Sometimes Lieutenant Dan came, too.

Though I think he left the praying

up to me.

EXT. BOAT - ANOTHER DAY

A catch of junk is dumped onto the deck. Lt. Dan lowers

himself from the rigging.

FORREST

No shrimp.

LT. DAN

Where the hel 's this God of yours?

The wind begins to blow strong.

FORREST (V.O.)

It's funny Lieutenant Dan said that,

'cause right then, God showed up.

EXT. BOAT - NIGHT

Water sprays on deck during a hurricane. Lt. Dan on the

rigging, shouts and shakes his fist as he is pelted by wind

and rain.

LT. DAN

You'll never sink this boat!

FORREST (V.O.)

Now me, I was scared. But Lieutenant

Dan, he was mad.

LT. DAN

Come on! You cal this a storm?

Forrest slides back and forth as he attempts to steer the

boat.

LT. DAN

Blow, you son-of-a-bitch! Blow! It's

time for a showdown! You and me. I'm

right here. Come and get me! You'll

never sink this boat!

INT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY

An ANCHORMAN over TV, is standing in front of a pier.

ANCHORMAN

(over television)

Hurricane Carmen came through here

yesterday. .

EXT. BAYOU DOCKS - DAY

The anchorman is standing in front of the ruined pier and

boats.

ANCHORMAN

...destroying nearly everything in

its path. And as in other towns up

and down the coast, Bayou La Batre's

entire shrimping industry. .

INT. GUMP HOUSE

ANCHORMAN

...has fallen victim to Carmen and

has been left in utter ruin. Speaking

with local officials, this reporter

has learned, in fact, only one

shrimping boat actual y survived the

storm.

Forrest's boat comes down the river.

MRS. GUMP

Louise. Louise, there's Forrest!

FORREST (V.O.)

After that, shrimpin' was easy.

FORREST'S BOAT - DAY

Lt. Dan and Forrest empty their net. A huge catch of shrimp

falls onto the deck. Lt. Dan opens another big catch.

Another catch drops open on top of yet another huge catch.

Forrest and Lt. Dan smile.

FORREST (V.O.)

And since people stil needed them

shrimps for shrimp cocktails and

barbecues and all...

EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT

The man sitting on the bench listens to Forrest. An ELDERLY

WOMAN sits next to the man.

FORREST

...and we were the only boat left

standing "Bubba-Gump" shrimp's what

they got. We got a whole bunch of

boats. Twelve Jenny's, a big ol'

warehouse, we even have hats that

says "Bubba-Gump" on 'em. "Bubba-

Gump Shrimp." It's a household name.

MAN

Hold on there, boy. Are you tel ing

me you're the owner of the Bubba-

Gump Shrimp Corporation?

FORREST

Yes, sir. We've got more money than

Davy Crocket.

MAN

Boy, I've heard some whoppers in my

time, but that tops them al . We was

sitting next to a millionaire!

The man laughs as he walks away.

ELDERLY WOMAN

Well, I thought it was a very lovely

story. And you tell it so well. With

such enthusiasm.

FORREST

Would you like to see what Lieutenant

Dan looks like?

ELDERLY WOMAN

Well, yes, I would!

Forrest shows her the cover of a "Fortune" magazine with

Forrest and Lt. Dan on the cover.

FORREST

That's him right there.

The elderly woman looks at the magazine and at Forrest with

surprise.

FORREST

And let me tel you something about

Lieutenant Dan.

EXT. BOAT/DECK - DAY

Forrest and Lt. Dan are working on the boat.

LT. DAN

Forrest, I never thanked you for

saving my life.

Forrest looks a little surprised. Lt. Dan smiles, then looks

away. Lt. Dan pulls himself out of his chair to the railing

and jumps into the water.

FORREST (V.O.)

He never actually said so, but I

think he made his peace with God.

EXT. BOAT

Forrest and Lt. Dan have dinner on the deck. The television

shows an assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford.

ANCHORMAN

(over television)

For the second time in seventeen

days, President Ford escaped possible

assassination today when a woman,

Sarah Jane Moore, fired on him as he

stepped out of a hotel in San

Francisco.

MARGO

(over radio)

Base to Jenny One. Base to Jenny

One.

LT. DAN

Jenny One, go Margo.

MARGO

(over radio)

Forrest has a phone call.

LT. DAN

Yeah, well you'll have to tell them

to call him back. He is indisposed

at the moment.

MARGO

(over radio)

His momma's sick.

ANCHORMAN

(over television)

Lynett Alice Fromme, a follower of

Charles Manson better known as

"Squeaky," attempted to assassinate

the President as he was..

Forrest dives into the water as he reacts.

EXT. ROAD/GUMP HOUSE - DAY

Forrest carries a suitcase as he runs down the road. Forrest

runs past the row of mailboxes and turns into the drive.

Louise and others are on the front porch.

FORREST

Where's Momma?

LOUISE

She's upstairs.

INT. GUMP HOUSE - WOMAN'S BED ROOM

Forrest opens the door, the doctor stands next to Mrs. Gump

in bed.

MRS. GUMP

Hi, Forrest.

DOCTOR

I'll see you tomorrow.

MRS. GUMP

Oh, all right.

The doctor looks down at Forrest's legs.

DOCTOR

We sure got you straightened out,

didn't we, boy?

The doctor leaves and closes the door. Forrest takes off his

hat and steps over to her.

FORREST

What's the matter, Momma?

MRS. GUMP

I'm dyin', Forrest. Come on in, sit

down over here.

FORREST

Why are you dyin', Momma?

MRS. GUMP

It's my time. It's just my time. Oh,

now, don't you be afraid, sweetheart.

Death is just a part of life. It's

something we're all destined to do.

I didn't know it, but I was destined

to be your momma. I did the best I

could.

FORREST

You did good, Momma.

MRS. GUMP

Wel , I happened to believe you make

your own destiny. You have to do the

best with what God gave you.

FORREST

What's my destiny, Momma?

MRS. GUMP

You're gonna have to figure that out

for yourself. Life is a box of

chocolates, Forrest. You never know

what you're gonna get.

FORREST (V.O.)

Momma always had a way of explaining

things so I could understand them.

MRS. GUMP

I wil miss you, Forrest.

FORREST (V.O.)

She had got the cancer and died on a

Tuesday. I bought her a new hat with

little flowers on it.

EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT

The elderly woman and Forrest sit. The woman is crying and

wipes her eyes with a hankie.

FORREST

And that's al I have to say about

that.

A bus stops. Forrest looks at the elderly woman.

FORREST

Didn't you say you were waiting for

the Number Seven bus?

ELDERLY WOMAN

There'll be another one along shortly.

FORREST

Now, because I had been a footbal

star, and a war hero, and a national

celebrity, and a shrimpin' boat

captain, and a col ege graduate, the

city of fathers of Greenbow, Alabama,

decided to get together and offered

me a fine job.

EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD - DAY

Forrest rides a lawn tractor as he moves the footbal field

lawn.

FORREST (V.O.)

So, I never went back to work for

Lieutenant Dan.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE MAILBOXES

Forrest takes out a letter and opens it.

FORREST (V.O.)

Though he did take care of my Bubba-

Gump money. He got me invested in

some kind of fruit company. And so

then I got a call from him saying we

don't have to worry about money no

more.

EXT. BUS STOP

FORREST

And I said, "That's good. One less

thing."

INT. CHURCH - DAY The choir and members are singing.

FORREST (V.O.)

Now, Momma said there's only so much

fortune a man real y needs. .

EXT. CHURCH

The sign reads: "Four Square Baptist Church." A new cross is

placed on the steeple. New furniture is taken inside.

REVEREND

Praise the Lord.

FORREST (V.O.)

. .and the rest is just for showing

off. So, I gave a whole bunch of it

to the Four Square Gospel Church.

EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY

The sign reads: "Gump Medical Center Bayou La Batre, Alabama."

The ribbon-cutting ceremony.

FORREST (V.O.)

And I gave a whole bunch to the Bayou

La Batre Fishing Hospital.

EXT. BUBBA'S MOM'S HOUSE

A postman delivers a letter to Bubba's mom. She opens the

letter.

FORREST (V.O.)

And even though Bubba was dead, and

Lieutenant Dan said I was nuts. I

gave Bubba's mommy Bubba's share.

She is surrounded by her many children. She looks at the

check and faints.

EXT. BUS STOP

FORREST

And you know what. .

INT. FLORIDA CONDO

A door opens as a white woman serves Bubba's mom some shrimp.

FORREST (V.O.)

She didn't have to work in nobody's

kitchen no more.

MRS. BLUE

Smel s wonderful!

EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD

Forrest rides the mower.

FORREST (V.O.)

And 'cause I was godzillionaire and

I liked doing it so much. I cut that

grass for free.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE BALCONY - NIGHT

Forrest looks down the road as he steps onto the porch.

FORREST (V.O.)

But at nighttime, when there was

nothing to do and the house was al

empty, I'd always think of Jenny.

Jenny's image walks, then vanishes. Forrest looks away. He

turns and walks into the house.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY

Jenny walks across the lawn to Forrest.

FORREST (V.O.)

And then, she was there.

JENNY

Hello, Forrest.

FORREST

Hello, Jenny.

FORREST (V.O.)

Jenny came back and stayed with me.

INT. GUMP HOUSE

Jenny lies asleep in bed.

FORREST (V.O.)

Maybe it was because she had nowhere

else to go. Or maybe it was because

she was so tired, because she went

to bed and slept and slept like she

hadn't slept in years. It was

wonderful having her home.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

Forrest and Jenny walking.

FORREST (V.O.)

Every day we'd take a walk, and I'd

jabber on like a monkey in a tree.

And she'd listen about ping-pong and

shrimpin' boats and Momma makin' a

trip to heaven. I did all the talkin'.

Jenny most of the time was real quiet.

FORREST

...big ol' gobs of rain and little

bitty stinging rain and rain...

Jenny's old house stands at the end of the dirt road. It

appears to be deserted. Jenny walks toward the house and

stops. She stares at the house. Forrest walks toward Jenny.

Jenny suddenly heaves a rock angrily at the house. She throws

other things at the house.

JENNY

How could you do this?

She breaks a window. Jenny col apses to the ground and sobs.

Forrest knees down next to her.

FORREST (V.O.)

Sometimes I guess there just aren't

enough rocks.

EXT. OLD OAK TREE - DAY

Jenny and Forrest sit on a limb together.

FORREST (V.O.)

I never real y knew why she came

back, but I didn't care. It was like

olden times. We was like peas and

carrots again.

INT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY

Jenny sits by the vase of flowers and look out the window.

FORREST (V.O.)

Every day I'd pick pretty flowers

and put them in her room for her.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY

Forrest closes his eyes as he sits on the porch. Jenny places

a box of Nike running shoes in his lap.

FORREST (V.O.)

And she gave me the best gift anyone

could ever get in the wide world.

JENNY

Okay, you can open your eyes.

FORREST

New shoes.

JENNY

They make them just for running.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT

Through the windows, Forrest and Jenny are dancing as it

rains outside.

FORREST (V.O.)

And she even showed me how to dance.

And, well, we was like family...

Jenny and me.

EXT. RIVER - NIGHT

Jenny and Forrest sit on a log together and look at the river.

Jenny places her arms around Forrest.

FORREST (V.O.)

And it was the happiest time of my

life.

The fireworks explode in the sky.

INT. GUMP'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The Statue of Liberty is shown on the TV. Fireworks go off.

Forrest and Jenny are watching the 4th of July celebration

on TV.

ANNOUNCER

(over television)

And this Fourth is witnessing one of

the largest fireworks displays in

the nation's two-hundred year

history...

JENNY

You done watching it?

FORREST

Mm-hmm.

ANNOUNCER

(over television)

. .here in New York Harbor. After

the spectacular display of tall ships

earlier, the Statue of Liberty. .

Jenny stands up and kisses Forrest on the cheek.

JENNY

I'm going to bed.

Jenny turns off the TV and walks outside. Forrest stands as

he puts down his Dr. Pepper. Jenny walks toward the stairs.

FORREST

Wil you marry me? I'd make a good

husband, Jenny.

JENNY

You would, Forrest.

FORREST

But you won't marry me.

JENNY

You don't want to marry me.

FORREST

Why don't you love me, Jenny? I'm

not a smart man, but I know what

love is.

Forrest turns and walks toward the door. Jenny turns and

walks up the stairs. Forrest stands outside.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT

The house stands in the rain.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT

Forrest lies in his bed as the door opens. Jenny gets into

bed next to Forrest.

FORREST

Jenny?

JENNY

Forrest, I do love you.

Jenny and Forrest kiss. Jenny takes off her nightgown as

they make love.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - MORNING

Jenny carries her purse and walks toward a waiting cab.

CAB DRIVER

Where are you running off to?

JENNY

I'm not running.

INT. GUMP HOUSE

The cab drives away as Forrest is asleep in his bed. The

Congressional Medal lies on a table by a ping-pong paddle.

Forrest holds a glass of milk and wears his bathrobe. He

looks at the medal he had give to Jenny. Jenny's bed is made.

Forrest stands in the doorway looking at the room and bed

where Jenny had been.

EXT. FRONT PORCH - DAY

Forrest sit on a rocking chair with his running shoes on. He

is still, as if in a trance. He slowly puts on his Bubba-

Gump cap. Forrest stands. He walks off the porch. He begins

to jog across the lawn. His speed increases as he runs farther

away. Forrest runs down the drive away from his house.

FORREST (V.O.)

That day, for no particular reason,

I decided to go for a little run.

Forrest runs to the end of the drive, then turns right and

runs down the highway.

FORREST (V.O.)

So I ran to the end of the road, and

when I got there, I thought maybe

I'd run to the end of town.

INT. BARBER SHOP - DAY

The three men sit as they watch the television. Forrest runs

through the main street of town.

NEWSCASTER

President Carter, suffering from

heat exhaustion fel into the arms

of security agents.

FORREST (V.O.)

And when I got there. .

EXT. ALABAMA ROAD

The sign reads "Entering Greenbow County."

FORREST (V.O.)

. .I thought maybe I'd just run across

Greenbow County. And I figured since

I run this far, maybe I'd just run

across the great..

Forrest runs by a sign that reads "Mississippi welcomes you.

The Magnolia State."

FORREST (V.O.)

...state of Alabama. And that's what

I did I ran clear across Alabama.

EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT

FORREST

For no particular reason, I just

kept on going. I ran clear to the

ocean.

EXT. SANTA MONICA - DAY

The sign reads "Santa Monica yacht harbor sports fishing -

boating - cafes." Forrest runs under the sign and onto the

pier.

FORREST (V.O.)

And when I got there, I figured since

I'd gone this far, I might as well

turn around, just keep on going.

EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN

Forrest runs to a pier at the Atlantic Ocean.

FORREST (V.O.)

When I got to another ocean, I figured

since I've gone this far, I might as

wel just turn back, keep right on

going.

Forrest runs across the pier. A lighthouse stands at the end

of the pier.

FORREST (V.O.)

When I got tired, I slept. When I

got hungry, I ate.

EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT

FORREST

When I had to go, you know, I went.

ELDERLY WOMAN

And so, you just ran?

FORREST

Yeah.

EXT. HIGHWAY

Forrest is running along the highway. Forrest runs down a

road between field of wheat. A Mountain river. Forrest runs

across a cobble-stone bridge. The Rocky Mountains are behind

him in distance. Forrest runs through some meadowland.

Split rail fences line the road.

FORREST (V.O.)

I'd think a lot about Momma and Bubba,

and Lieutenant Dan, but most of al ,

I thought about Jenny. I thought

about her a lot.

EXT. BARBER SHOP

The three men in the barber shop watch the news on television.

NEWSCASTER

For more than two years now, a man

named Forrest Gump, a gardener from

Greenbow, Alabama, stopping only to

sleep, has been running across

America.

INT. COFFEE SHOP

Jenny fil s customer's coffee cups.

NEWSCASTER

Charles Cooper brings us this report.

NEWSMAN

For the fourth time on his journey

across America, Forrest Gump, a

gardener from Greenbow, Alabama, is

about to cross the Mississippi River

again today.

The TV shows Forrest runs across a bridge that reads

"Mississippi River."

JENNY

I'll be damned. Forrest...

EXT. MISSISSIPPI BRIDGE

NEWSMAN

Sir, why are you running?

1ST REPORTER

Why are you running?

2ND REPORTER

Are you doing this for world peace?

3RD REPORTER

Are you doing this for women's right?

NEWSMAN

Or for the environment?

REPORTER

Or for animals?

3RD REPORTER

Or for nuclear arms?

FORREST (V.O.)

They just couldn't believe that

somebody would do al that running

for no particular reason.

2ND REPORTER

Why are you doing this?

FORREST

I just felt like running.

EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT

FORREST

I just left like running.

EXT. SMALL EASTERN TOWN

Forrest runs as a YOUNG MAN runs up to him.

YOUNG MAN

It's you. I can't believe it's really

you.

EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT

FORREST

Now, for some reason what I was doing

seemed to make sense to people.

EXT. SMALL EASTERN TOWN

The young man jobs behind Forrest.

YOUNG MAN

I mean, it was like an alarm went

off in my head, you know. I said,

here's a guy that's got his act

together. Here's somebody who's got

it, al figured out. Here's somebody

who has the answer. I'll follow you

anywhere, Mr. Gump.

FORREST (V.O.)

So, I got company.

Forrest runs up a slope on a high mountain road. A group of

people are jogging behind him.

FORREST (V.O.)

And after that I got more company.

And then. .

A large group jogs behind Forrest across the desert road.

FORREST (V.O.)

...even more people joined in.

Somebody later told me. .

EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT

FORREST

...it gave people hope. Now... Now,

I don't know anything about that,

but. .

Forrest and his fol owers job through a smal town. A man

runs up and talks to Forrest.

FORREST (V.O.)

Some of those people asked me if I

could help them out.

AGING HIPPIE

Hey, man, hey, listen. I was wondering

if you might help me, huh? Listen,

I'm in the bumper sticker business

and I've been trying to think up a

good slogan. And since you have been

such a big inspiration to the people

around here, I thought you might be

able to help me jump into. . Whoa!

Man, you just ran through a big pile

of dogshit!

The hippie jumps over the "dogshit" as he runs along Forrest.

FORREST

It happens.

AGING HIPPIE

What, shit?

FORREST

Sometimes.

The hippie stops to ponder this profound thought.

FORREST (V.O.)

And some years later I heard that

fel a did come up with a bumper

sticker slogan...

A bumper sticker reads "Shit Happens."

FORREST (V.O.)

...and he make a lot of money off of

it.

The truck with the bumper sticker drives into an intersection.

It collides with a car.

EXT. TRUCK STOP

Forrest runs, fol owed by his group, as a man runs up to

him.

FORREST (V.O.)

Another time I was running along,

somebody who had lost al his money

in the T-shirt business, and he wanted

to put my face on a T-shirt, but he

couldn't draw that wel and he didn't

have a camera.

WILD-EYED MAN

I think it would be real y fortunate

for me if I could get your name on

these, oh, your face and name on

these T-shirts. It would be wonderful.

A truck splashes mud onto Forrest as it goes by. The man

hands Forrest a yel ow T-shirt to use as a rag to wipe the

mud off.

WILD-EYED MAN

Here, use this one. Nobody likes

that color anyway.

Forrest wipes his face on the towel and hands it back to the

man.

FORREST

Have a nice day.

The man looks at the T-shirt. He holds it up displaying the

"Happy Face."

FORREST (V.O.)

And some years later I found out

that that man did come up with a

idea for a T-shirt and he made a lot

of money off of it.

EXT. MONUMENT VALLEY

Forrest runs with a group that fol ows behind him.

FORREST (V.O.)

Anyway, like I was saying, I had a

lot of company. My Momma always said

you got to put the past behind you

before you can move on. And I think

that's what my running was al about.

I had run for three years, two months,

fourteen days, and sixteen hours.

Forrest stops running. The group stops behind him. Forrest

stands and looks as the group waits expectantly. Forrest

turns and look.

YOUNG MAN

Quiet. Quiet, he's gonna say

something.

FORREST

I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go

home now.

Forrest walks toward the group. The group parts for Forrest

as he walks down the middle of the road.

YOUNG MAN

Now what are we supposed to do?

FORREST (V.O.)

And just like that, my running days

was over. So, I went home to Alabama.

A television shows President Reagan and his staff as they

react to gunshots in front of a limo.

NEWSCASTER

(over television)

Moments ago, at two twenty-five p.m.,

as President Reagan was leaving the

Washington Hilton Hotel...

INT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY

Forrest sits eating a sandwich, watching the news of the

assassination attempt.

NEWSCASTER

...five or six gunshots were fired

by an unknown would-be assassin. The

President was shot in the chest and

the assailant was immediately tackled

by a half a dozen lawmen. As the

Presidential...

LOUISE

I picked up the mail.

FORREST

Oh, thank you, Miss, Miss Louise.

FORREST (V.O.)

One day, out of the blue clear sky,

I got a letter from Jenny...

EXT. BUS STOP - PRESENT

Forrest takes the letter out of his pocket.

FORREST

. .wondering if I could come down to

Savannah to see her, and that's what

I'm doing here. She saw me on TV,

running, I'm supposed to go on the

Number Nine bus to Richmond Street

and get off and go one block left to

1-9-4-7 Henry Street, Apartment 4.

The elderly woman looks at the letter.

ELDERLY WOMAN

Why, you don't need to take a bus.

Henry Street is just five or six

blocks down that way.

FORREST

Down that way?

ELDERLY WOMAN

Down that way.

Forrest hastily grabs his suitcase and letter as he stands.

FORREST

It was nice talking' to you.

Forrest runs, the elderly woman shouts from the bus stop

bench. A truck honks its horn as Forrest runs across the

street past the truck.

ELDERLY WOMAN

I hope everything works out for you.

INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - DAY

Jenny opens the door.

JENNY

Hey! Forrest! How you doing?

FORREST

Hi.

JENNY

Come in. Come in.

FORREST

I got your letter.

JENNY

Oh, I was wondering about that.

Jenny shuts the door. Forrest looks around.

FORREST

Is this your house?

JENNY

Yeah, it's messy right now. I just

got off work.

FORREST

It's nice. You got air conditioning.

Forrest hands Jenny the box of chocolates.

FORREST

Ah...

JENNY

Thank you.

FORREST

I ate some.

Jenny picks up a scrapbook and turns the pages.

JENNY

Hey, I kept, I kept a scrapbook of

your, of your clippings and

everything. There you are. This, I

got your running.

FORREST

I ran a long way. For a long time.

JENNY

There. Listen, Forrest. I don't know

how to say this. Um, I just. . I

want to apologize for anything that

I ever did to you, 'cause I was messed

up for a long time, and. .

There is a knock at the door. LYNN MARIE enters as she opens

the door.

LYNN MARIE

Yoo-hoo.

JENNY

Hey.

LYNN MARIE

Hi.

Jenny grabs a young boy.

JENNY

Hey, you. This is an old friend from

Alabama.

LYNN MARIE

Oh, how do you do?

JENNY

Ah, listen, next week my schedule

changes, so I'll be able to... but

thanks for picking up.

LYNN MARIE

No problem. Got to go, Jen. I'm double

parked.

JENNY

Okay.

Lynn Marie closes the door and waves bye to Forrest.

LYNN MARIE

Bye.

JENNY

Thanks. This is very good friend,

Mr. Gump. Can you say hi to him?

LITTLE BOY

Hel o, Mr. Gump.

FORREST

Hello.

LITTLE BOY

Now, can I go watch TV now?

JENNY

Yes, you can. Just keep it low.

The little boy runs into other room and picks up TV remote

control.

FORREST

You're a momma, Jenny.

JENNY

I'm a momma. His name is Forrest.

FORREST

Like me.

JENNY

I named him after his Daddy.

FORREST

He got a daddy named Forrest, too?

JENNY

You're his daddy, Forrest.

Forrest continues to stare at Forrest Jr. Forrest then looks

frightened and starts to back away.

JENNY

Hey, Forrest, look at me. Look at

me, Forrest. There's nothing you

need to do, okay? You didn't do

anything wrong. Okay?

Jenny turns and looks at Forrest Jr. in the other room.

JENNY

Isn't he beautiful?

FORREST

He's the most beautiful thing I've

ever seen. But... is, is he smart,

or is he...

JENNY

He's very smart. He's one of the

smartest in his class.

Forrest breathes deep. He looks at Jenny, then at Forrest

Jr.

JENNY

Yeah, it's okay. Go talk to him.

Forrest walks into the room and sits down next to Forrest

Jr. "Sesame Street" is on the TV.

BERT

Oh, great.

ERNIE

Hey, Bert, can you give me a hand?

BERT

A hand? Wel , yeah, what do you want,

Ernie?

FORREST

What are you watching.

FORREST JR.

Bert and Ernie.

ERNIE

Well, it's the first stage. Bert.

It's planning to write a story, Bert.

I have pencils right here to write

with, Bert. Now, we got, uh, paper.

I'll take that paper, Bert. See, we

have the paper to write on.

EXT. PARK - DAY

Forrest and Jenny sit on a bench. Forrest Jr. swings behind

them.

JENNY

Forrest, I'm sick.

FORREST

What, do you have a cough due to

cold?

JENNY

I have some kind virus. And the

doctors don't, they don't know what

it is. And there isn't anything they

can do about it.

FORREST

You could come home with me. Jenny,

you and little Forrest could come

stay at my house in Greenbow. I'll

take care of you if you're sick.

JENNY

Would you marry me, Forrest?

FORREST

Okay.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY

A group has gathered on the lawn for the wedding. Louise

walks up to Forrest.

MINISTER

Please take your seats.

LOUISE

Forrest, it's time to start.

Jenny walks out of the house. Forrest walks over to greet

her. She wears a white dress. She walks up to Forrest and

adjusts his necktie.

JENNY

Hi. Your tie.

Lt. Dan is walking across the lawn. He uses a cane. A WOMAN

is walking next to him.

FORREST

Lieutenant Dan? Lieutenant Dan!

LT. DAN

Hello, Forrest.

Jenny walks over to Forrest and Lt. Dan.

FORREST

You got new legs. New legs!

LT. DAN

Yeah, I got new legs.

Lt. Dan lifts his pant leg to display his metal leg.

LT. DAN

Custom-made titanium alloy. It's

what they use on the space shuttle.

FORREST

Magic legs.

LT. DAN

This is my fiancee, Susan.

FORREST

Lieutenant Dan!

Susan shakes Forrest's hand.

SUSAN

Hi, Forrest.

FORREST

Lieutenant Dan, this is my Jenny.

JENNY

Hey, it's nice to meet you, finally.

Jenny steps forward and kisses Lt. Dan's cheek. The group is

seated as they watch Forrest and Jenny take vows on the front

lawn. Forrest Jr. stands next to Jenny.

MINISTER

Do you, Forrest, take Jenny to be

your wife? Do you, Jenny, take Forrest

to be your husband? If so, I pronounce

you man and wife.

The wind blows fal en leaves across the ground. Jenny,

Forrest, and Forrest Jr. walk toward the house. They al

hold hands as they walk.

INT. GUMP HOUSE - MORNING

Forrest steps into Jenny's bedroom. He carries a tray with

breakfast on it. Forrest looks at Jenny as she sleeps.

Slowly she wakes up and looks at Forrest.

FORREST

Hey.

JENNY

Hey.

Forrest sets the tray down next to Jenny as she sits up in

bed. Forrest opens a window, then sits down next to the bed.

JENNY

Hey, Forrest, were you scared in

Vietnam?

FORREST

Yes. Well, I, I don't know.

EXT. VIETNAM - FLASHBACK - NIGHT

Forrest looks up into the sky as the rain stops. Forrest

removes his helmet. The stars emerge from behind the clouds.

FORREST (V.O.)

Sometimes it would stop raining long

enough for the stars to come out.

And then it was nice. It was like

just before the sun goes to bed down

on the bayou. .

EXT. BAYOU - FLASHBACK - SUNSET

Forrest stands on his boat and looks at a deep orange and

red sunset.

FORREST (V.O.)

There was over a million sparkles on

the water. Like that mountain lake.

EXT. MOUNTAIN LAKE - FLASHBACK - DAY

Forrest runs along a highway. A lake reflects the mountains

and the sky.

FORREST (V.O.)

It was so clear, Jenny. It looks

like there were two skies, one on

top of the other. And then in the

desert, when the sun comes up. .

EXT. DESERT - FLASHBACK - SUNRISE

Forrest runs along a desert highway. The morning light casts

an orange glow over the desert.

FORREST (V.O.)

I couldn't tel where heavens stopped

and the earth began. It was so

beautiful.

INT. GUMP HOUSE - MORNING

Forrest looks at Jenny. Jenny looks out the window.

JENNY

I wish I could have been there with

you.

FORREST

You were.

Jenny reaches over and takes Forrest's hand.

JENNY

I love you.

FORREST (V.O.)

You died on a Saturday morning.

EXT. JENNY'S GRAVE AT OLD OAK TREE - DAY

Forrest stands under the old oak tree where Jenny has been

buried.

FORREST

And I had you placed here under our

tree.

Jenny's grave marker. Forrest tries to hold back his tears.

FORREST

And I had that house of your father's

bul dozed to the ground.

EXT. JENNY'S OLD HOUSE - DAY

Forrest watches as Jenny's dad's house is knocked down by a

bul dozer.

FORREST (V.O.)

Momma. .

EXT. JENNY'S GRAVE

FORREST

...always said dyin' was a part of

life.

Jenny's grave marker reads: JENNY GUMP July 16, 1945 -- March

22, 1982 Beloved Mother, Wife and Friend

FORREST

I sure wish it wasn't. Little Forrest,

he's doing just fine.

INT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT

Forrest Jr. reads a book to Forrest sitting next to him.

FORREST JR.

(reading)

"But he wasn't quite sure. Everywhere

they went, the new guests..

FORREST (V.O.)

About to start school again soon. I

make his breakfast, lunch, and

dinner. .

EXT. JENNY'S GRAVE

Forrest looks down as he sobs.

FORREST

...every day. I make sure he combs

his hair and brushes his teeth every

day. Teaching him how to play ping

pong.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - NIGHT

Forrest tries to teach Forrest Jr. how to play ping-pong.

FORREST

Okay...

FORREST (V.O.)

He's real y good.

FORREST

Forrest, you go.

Forrest Jr. serves the bal , causing Forrest dive and miss

it.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE/RIVER - DAY

Forrest and Forrest Jr. sit on a log by the river and fish.

FORREST (V.O.)

We fish a lot.

EXT. JENNY'S GRAVE

Forrest looks down at the grave marker.

FORREST

And every night, we read a book.

He's so smart, Jenny. You'd be so

proud of him. I am. He, uh, wrote a

letter, and he says I can't read it.

I'm not supposed to, so I'll just

leave it here for you.

Forrest places the letter down at the grave marker, next to

fresh flowers. The name on the envelope reads: "Mom." Forrest

steps back and looks down at the grave.

FORREST

Jenny, I don't know if Momma was

right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan.

I don't know if we each have a

destiny, or if we're al just floating

around accidental-like on a breeze,

but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe

both is happening at the same time.

I miss you, Jenny. If there's anything

you need, I won't be far away.

As Forrest walks away, a flock of birds flies overhead and

lands in the tree. Forrest turns and watches.

EXT. ROAD - MORNING

Forrest walks with Forrest Jr. for the bus. The bus drives

toward them.

FORREST

Here's your bus. Okay.

Forrest pul s "Curious George" out of Forrest Jr.'s backpack.

FORREST

Hey, I know this.

FORREST JR.

I'm gonna show that for show-and-

tel because grandma used to read it

to you.

Forrest looks at the book. The feather from the beginning of

the movie drops out of the book, unnoticed.

FORREST

My favorite book.

The bus comes to a stop. The door opens.

FORREST

Well...

Forrest puts the book back into Forrest Jr.'s backpack and

hands it to him.

FORREST

. .okay. Hey, there you go.

Forrest Jr. walks toward the bus. Forrest stands up.

FORREST

Hey, Forrest. Don't.. I wanted to

tell you I love you.

FORREST JR.

I love you too, Daddy.

FORREST

I'll be right here when you get back.

Forrest Jr. looks into the bus and at the bus driver. It is

the same bus driver, only older now, who drove Forrest to

school when he was a young boy.

SCHOOLD BUS DRIVER

You understand this is the bus to

school now, don't you?

FORREST JR.

Of course, and you're Dorothy Harris

and I'm Forrest Gump.

Forrest Jr. looks over and waves to his father. Forrest nods

approvingly.

Forrest Jr. gets on the bus. The bus pul s away. Forrest

stands next to the mailbox.

Forrest sits down. The camera cranes down, revealing the

feather as it lies at Forrest's feet.

A gust of wind picks the feather up. The feather floats up

into the air.

Forrest sits at the side of the road. The feather floats

higher into the air.

The feather soars up into the sky and travels up and down,

then covers the camera lens.

THE END

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