Born American (1986) Movie Script

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[SCREAMING]

[HORN BLOWING]

Ladies, your prayers have been

answered.

Helsinki, gateway to the north.

Well, it is.

A toast to us.

This might be our last trip

together,

guys, let's make it a good one.

I'll drink to that.

You'll drink anything, Sav.

That's true.

Listen to this, you guys.

It says here that this square

was built by the Russians

over 100 years ago.

Well, Russia's not far from

Finland, you know?

Just across the border.

Yeah, it's already starting to

feel like Siberia.

Just wait until we get the lab

lamp out.

You're gonna be pissing icicles.

This is great. This is it.

This is it.

What do you think?

I like it.

Man, I really like it.

You know, it's like a cross

between the Blues

mobile and the Batmobile.

Yeehaw.

Right on,

Let's go.

You know, we should be at the

Arctic Circle in about an hour.

After that, we'll really be up

north.

Listen, you know, it says here

that the trees and animals

in the Arctic Circle are

different than anywhere

else in the world.

You don't say?

It also says that it can snow

during the summer.

Give me that book.

What is this stuff, KC?

Hey, come on.

MITCH: What's this red line on

the map?

KC: That's' the border between

Russia and Lapland.

There's everything you need to

know about Lapland in there.

MITCH: Lapland?

How about you, Savoy?

You want to know about Lapland?

Of course, I do.

Tell me, how about the bars?

They topless?

It's a fucking tour book, man.

I tell you, you ain't gonna

find out in this book.

You know what, KC?

You really got to get rid of

this cheap literature.

Just-- the Arctic Circle.

Polar circle, whatever.

What is this?

What are you guys doing?

Just take a picture. Come on,

man.

Get in here. - Just take a

little picture.

OK.

Come on, now smile.

Give me that famous Mitch

Shepard look,

explorer extraordinaire in the

Arctic Circle.

Just take the picture.

Hey, Hey, KC.

Come on, let's go.

Out of the car. I'm driving.

Get out.

Come on, you guys, you never

let me drive.

Oh, shit.

Get in.

Man, get the camera.

Just get in the car.

KC: Only about 150 kilometers

left.

MITCH: Still?

What are you trying to do?

Set up camp at the North Pole?

SAVOY: You bet.

I want to hand deliver my

Christmas list.

I can see why the Uncle wanted

you, Savoy.

Thank god you didn't join the

army.

All right.

You know, maybe we shouldn't be

using

the gun so close to the border.

Yeah?

Well, if you're worried about

it,

why don't you go wait in the

car?

What?

Walk for three miles back

through the snow?

Don't be a crazy person.

All righty, Shep, this is for a

beer.

Put her on ice, pal.

Good shot, Mitch.

Come on, KC.

Your turn.

No way.

Come on, KC, give it a try.

Once a Boy Scout, always a Boy

Scout.

No more your cop outs.

Come on, you've got to at least

give it a try.

SAVOY: Give it a try, KC.

Prove your manhood.

Well, all right, Mitch, if it

makes you happy.

Shoot the bow.

Oh, shit.

Ah, I've been hit.

What'd I tell you?

I can't do this.

You know, you could do it if

you really wanted to, KC.

Well, maybe I don't really want

to.

[YELLING]

All right, wait, wait, wait.

Hold it.

Hold it. Hold it.

Super.

OK, all right, just go with the

moment.

Go with the moment. - Am I

getting heavy?

That's beautiful.

I love it.

Hold it.

Hold it right there.

Oh, that's perfect.

Let's get these bags.

You guys are super.

Limbo and plant your feet.

Limbo all day.

Limbo all night.

Rum and Coca-Cola, you make it

feel all right.

You limbo all day.

All right.

You limbo all night.

Hey, what you say?

Rum and Coca-Cola, you make it

feel good.

Hey, what you say?

I say this isn't a very good

idea.

Whoever said it was?

You know, you pay us your

money,

and you take your chances.

See Russia and die.

This is ridiculous.

You bet it is.

I mean, imagine this.

Every day, thousands of people

cross the border to get out.

We're crossing it to get in.

See ya.

You want to tell everyone that

you're the first asshole ever

to do it?

No, no, no.

I want to take pictures with

your camera.

This is the Iron Curtain?

This is really something.

You know, KC, I bet your

pictures

make the cover of "Time."

Make the cover of "The Moscow

Tribune"

if you guys don't shut up.

Just think about it.

Only a couple hundred feet away,

one of our fellow men

there has never even tasted a

Coca-Cola.

They drink Pepsi here.

Listen, I think we ought to get

back.

You go back if you want, KC.

I'm going to check it out.

Come on, Savoy, you can't be

serious.

Why not?

I mean, who could object to a

friendly little visit?

Yeah.

Remember crawling back from Baja

last year?

This place is a jogging path,

man.

No kidding.

You guys suck.

Let's move out.

What if the clearing is mined?

Then the whole area would be

full of dead animals.

Come on, move it.

Hey, get down.

[RADIO CHATTER]

Bet you Brezhnev would love

this.

MITCH: He died three years ago.

Four, Gumby.

Just take it easy.

Just get up and hand me the bag.

Your tour book didn't say shit

about this, KC.

- Cut it out. - Ease up, Savoy.

God damn it.

Shit.

It's gotta be automatic lights.

Let's go.

- Leave it. - I can't.

He'll find it when it gets

light.

That'll be something new for

him.

Come on.

Let's go. Let's go.

Hurry up, KC.

All right.

Oh, shit.

It's like guerrillas behind

enemy lines.

Hey, I wouldn't be such a hero,

KC.

Hell, we could have smuggled

pregnant elephants

across the border and nobody

would

have known the difference.

- Come on. - Yeah.

We're gonna have to hole up

here

and head back tomorrow though.

That search light was a bit too

close.

Yeah, it cost me half my stuff

and my camera's thrashed.

Hey, just wait till those

Russians get

a smell of your dirty shorts.

Oof, they're going to hate you.

They're gonna hate your guts,

KC.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Holy shit.

Maybe we should just tell them

we're sorry,

and we didn't mean it.

It was just a big mistake.

Yeah, big mistake.

We've got to find another point

on the border to get across.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Let's go anywhere.

We've got to get out of the

area.

Move.

I'd sure like to know where in

the hell

this old truck is taking us.

I think we're in deep shit.

I mean, I know we're going

south,

but the map doesn't show any

road.

What do you expect, the fucking

AAA?

At least we threw the soldiers

off the track.

Great.

We're gonna freeze to death in

the back of this stupid truck

and no one will know.

If this is your idea of camping

Scandinavia--

Look, you're the one that left

your shit at the border.

Shut up.

You're the one that got us into

this whole mess.

Look, no one forced you to come

along, little man.

When are you going to learn to

stand

on your own two feet, huh?

Look, if--

I said shut up, both of you.

If you two don't start using

your heads

instead of your mouths, we're

never getting out of here.

We don't even know where the

hell we are.

I really think we had to find

some local villager,

a civilian or something, and get

them to help us.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

The bow.

Shit.

Where the hell's KC?

MITCH: Take it easy.

He's probably all right.

He must have gone to the other

barn.

We'll look for him in the

morning.

Right now, we need some rest.

Savoy.

There's something going on

outside.

My gun.

MITCH: Any sign of KC?

Well, the people are gone.

It's just one girl out there.

We've got to try to talk to her.

Please?

Don't scream, please?

We need your help.

Mitch. Mitch.

[SCREAM]

Get her.

[SCREAM]

Please.

Please, we won't hurt you.

We won't hurt you.

We need help.

We didn't do anything wrong.

But do you speak English?

English?

Of course, she does. Everybody

does.

How come she's not saying

anything?

- Oh. - Oh, shit.

Got a Soviet citizen as a

prisoner,

she doesn't understand a god

damn word I'm saying.

What are we-- Mitch.

Shit. [SCREAM]

[SINGING IN RUSSIAN]

Where are they?

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

These young Americans must know

that they who took up the sword

will die by the sword.

Mitch, they think we killed the

girl.

[SINGING IN RUSSIAN]

Savoy.

[SHOUTING] Come on.

Where's Savoy?

Come on.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

[CHAINSAW]

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Savoy?

Savoy.

Come here.

Savoy, what the hell's going

on?

Just give me that stuff.

What the hell is she doing

here?

She saved our goddamn lives.

That priest killed her sister.

Go.

MITCH: She's going to help us

out of here.

We got to stop that bleeding.

I gotcha.

You're gonna need some stitches

though.

Holy shit.

Mitch, I think I found

something.

What?

What is it?

Dynamite.

Dynamite?

What the hell's dynamite doing

in a country store?

There's a mine close by.

No, no. Get down.

Get down.

Stop, you'll kill the girl.

Go, and I'll follow you.

Hurry up.

Let's go.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Well, put him in the back.

Just get going.

[SCREAMING]

Oh, shit.

We gotta go back.

We got to get off this damn

island.

Look out.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Wait!

We can't leave her here.

We go back for her now, we're

all dead.

Come on. - Go.

Come on.

No, we can't leave her.

No. - We have to.

Let's go.

SAVOY: For a little guy, you

sure pump a lot of blood.

There's a map in my left hand

pocket.

Irina gave it to me.

What the hell this is.

That's Russia, and the black

line there's the river.

MITCH: That's the Finnish

border.

SAVOY: Can't be more than 10

miles or so.

MITCH: Going to be slow going

with you out of commission, KC.

Let's go.

Almost there.

What the hell is this?

Wait a minute.

[ALARM]

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

You were right, KC.

Pepsi-Cola.

I hope you choke on it, pal.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

No.

You fucking thug!

No.

No, you can't do that.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Oh, god.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Does it hurt?

Could you just stop for a

minute

and tell us what's happening?

No.

Ah!

Does it hurt?

Yes.

It hurts.

Now, who volunteers to

cooperate?

Look, look, I'll speak for all

of us.

We've got nothing to hide.

This whole business, it's just a

big mistake.

What about you?

I'll cooperate.

And you?

No way, Jose.

Excuse me?

I said no way, comrade.

You'll never get me to

cooperate.

Mitch, Mitch.

Never.

For god's sakes, will you shut

up?

We're American citizens.

You can't kill us.

I can't, huh?

So you were just having a good

time, no?

We were.

And then you just happened to

infiltrate Soviet Union,

dynamite a peaceful village,

kill more than 10

of our soldiers.

It wasn't our fault.

Why are you in Russia?

We were drunk.

We just wanted to see what it

was like.

Where is the rest of your

terrorist group?

Terrorists?

Where are the others?

There are no others.

We did get separated.

We lost the others.

You're attack on Vladimir

village, you planned it,

did you not?

Yes.

Yes, I planned it.

As a part of Western campaign

of terrorist attacks?

Yes.

That is better.

Now, who are your contacts?

The contacts were the border

guards.

No. - Wrong.

Your contact was the girl in

Vladimir village

whom you left behind.

Yes.

You can't believe that shit.

We really do have all the time

in the world.

No!

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Does anybody speaking English?

English?

Please, my friend needs help.

He needs a doctor, fast.

Please, he can't even eat.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Better carry him with us.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

KC?

KC.

Mitch, we've got to do

something.

He's much too weak to work.

My friend's very sick, and it's

cold on the floor.

He needs a bed.

Don't you have any human

feelings left?

Do you hear me?

Mitch.

Stop it.

Mitch, let him go.

Let him go.

Please, leave him alone.

I asked him for the bed.

For once--

Please?

SAVOY: Why'd you do that, Mitch?

Why'd you do that?

No, he doesn't know.

[SHOUTING]

Ow.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Where are you taking him?

Somebody answer me.

Your friend is very ill.

He needs help.

We need a doctor.

You must go to Sergey.

He's making business with

anyone.

His business is selling people.

People like you.

People like me.

Here, he is a composer.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,

boom, boom, boom.

See, he wrote wrong notes.

I play chess.

They say I'm practicing.

What the hell are you talking

about?

The chess game.

Your other friend is already

there, you know?

See, deep below this prison,

there

is a secret place where the

guards

throw all the insane and violent

prisoners.

The guards don't care what

happens there.

They only want to get rid of

these inmates who

they no longer have control.

They become wild, like animals.

SAVOY: You can't be serious.

PRISONER: In this place, they

play a chess game where

humans act as chess pieces.

When you lose, you die.

It's madness.

A nightmare.

A world where death is the sole

source of amusement.

Sooner or later, we all find up

there.

They throw us in here and don't

tell us a goddamn thing,

and the one person who speaks my

language, he's a lunatic,

and he can't stop talking about

a game of chess.

PRISONER: It only seems like we

all have different sentences,

but they are really all the

same.

Very few ever get out of here.

Maybe you're the lucky one, my

friend.

Perhaps you will find yourself

home again.

Maybe tomorrow, just like that.

SAVOY: Just leave me alone.

You're out of your mind.

PRISONER: Yes.

I know you think I'm crazy, but

there is one very

special prisoner living here.

Hardly anyone knows him, but I

know him very well.

He was a, what you call it, a

soldier of fortune.

He has fought many wars for

causes he believes in.

He is not like us.

He has lots of dollars and in

here, that's the only power.

You might be the prisoner he's

been waiting for.

He needs a messenger, and if you

prove your strength,

he might send for you.

We call this man the Admiral.

The Admiral also speak your

language.

What?

I must go now.

My friend needs a doctor.

Doctor is impossible.

They said you could sell

anything in here.

For a doctor, one must pay

dollars.

Who the hell has dollars in

here?

No one.

Only the Admiral.

The Admiral?

Yeah, one who has dollars.

So all I get with this is

cabbage soup?

You are a young man and

healthy, you can

buy with this something else.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Get away.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Irina?

Irina!

Let her go.

Irina!

How much more of this time can

we take?

I know it isn't easy for you

Mr. Brown,

but these things take time.

The embassy only just discovered

that you were here.

You don't know what it's like.

They took Mitch down to some

basement,

and KC's not going to make it.

Calm down.

The embassy has asked me to try

to get you out of here,

but it isn't going to be an easy

task.

The Soviets are convinced that

you and your two companions

are part of some gigantic

Western plot.

I swear to God, we did what we

had to do.

The village people, they accused

us of killing a girl.

They were going to kill us.

And those confessions, those

confessions are crap.

That freak from the KGB, he

would have burned Mitch

alive if we didn't sign them.

And no one here believes you

when you're telling the truth.

Well, you must admit that the

truth in this case

is a bit hard to swallow.

But it's still the truth.

We're not terrorists.

If we were, you would have been

here six months ago.

You must understand, Mr. Brown,

that I have no official

connection with the United

States government.

They simply asked me to see what

I could do.

Please, if KC doesn't get to a

doctor, he's going to die.

You trust me.

I'm doing the best I can under

the circumstances.

How you feeling?

Savoy, do you really think that

he can?

Of course, he can.

I mean, the American government

sent him, didn't they?

I just can't believe it.

I just knew we'd never see our

families again.

Well, at least they know we're

alive.

What about Mitch?

Don't worry about it.

We'll find him.

Just hang in there, kid.

He'll get us out.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Think of us when we're gone,

skinhead.

We're going to be out enjoying

the sunshine.

You'll be in here rotting away

till you die.

The caviar, as usual, is

excellent,

but the trade that you propose

is out of the question.

Do you really expect us to

believe that it

was just a childish escapade?

But that's precisely what it

wants.

Believe me, Anatoly, our

intelligence community has

never heard their names before.

The most that you can get for

them

would be the writer that

defected to Sweden.

I don't even remember his name.

And we should like to talk

about our chemist

friend, Tarkoff.

Yes.

I'm sure you would, but, you

see, the boys

aren't worth that much to us.

We are delighted that you people

in Moscow

aren't going to make a fuss

about this case,

and well, as for us, our

government

would be just delighted if those

boys simply vanished

from the face of the earth.

Russia is a big country.

Now, would you care for a little

of our special dessert?

That's a splendid idea.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Come here, my dears.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Do they speak English?

Oh, yes, the little one does.

She studied at the Institute in

Leningrad

until her Western activities.

I did not want you to feel that

your trip here

was a complete waste of time.

Waste of time, never.

My superiors just simply wanted

me to assess the situation.

We can't let these little

incidents upset

relations between us, can we?

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Don't be afraid.

What's your name?

Nadja Kirakova.

Nadja.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Get her out of here.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

I've found her, but it will not

be easy.

Where is she?

Very difficult.

Listen to me, slime, I gave you

everything I had.

But not enough.

Too dangerous.

Wait.

KC?

KC, wake up.

We've got to talk.

Your friend is dying, and you

want only to see girls.

I want only to help.

I'll be right back.

Quickly, we had only a short

time.

Irina?

I have to tell you something.

No, please, it's just so wrong

that you ended up here too.

Please, listen to me.

Wait for the Admiral to contact

you.

Don't trust anybody else.

Nobody.

No, Irina, you're wrong.

There's an American.

He's a liar.

He treats people like animals.

You're not Irina.

Irina's dead.

You're lying.

She was to weak to take it

anymore.

She took her own life to find

peace.

Don't let them get to you.

Only Admiral can help you.

But who's the Admiral?

Who are you?

I'm Nadja.

I'm a friend.

I was also her friend.

Shut up, you two.

You'll wake up whole prison.

We must go.

No, please, don't go.

Come closer.

Let me touch you.

Be brave, Savoy.

Please, hold me.

Don't give up.

Please, just for a minute?

Please, I need somebody.

Just forgive me that I can't

help you more.

I have to go.

[HUMMING]

You deserve a better world,

little American.

Sh.

Sleep well, my little friend.

KC?

KC, I've met a girl.

Why don't you have a shirt on?

You're gonna catch a cold.

KC?

Oh, god.

Follow me, quickly.

Oh, no.

No kill him.

American.

Quickly.

Tunnel.

My latest treasure.

Do you believe I found it here

in this pigsty?

I'm the Admiral.

It's time you learned a few

things.

My name is Savoy Brown.

I know.

Sit down.

I heard about your friends, the

Russian girl, KC.

You know about KC?

Only those strong enough to

believe survive.

KC would not have made it.

I've been here for six months.

I've heard all about you.

So what are you doing here?

My activities in the past have

infuriated many.

You may not know this, but like

you, various government

agencies, including the CIA,

find me

something of an embarrassment.

They prefer me dead.

But as you can see, my American

countryman,

I'm very much alive and well,

considering the circumstances.

Most of my life, I spent

fighting other people's wars.

Those conflicts no one wants to

talk about, which take place

all over the world every day.

I thought I was fighting for

America, for freedom.

Now I know better.

No one would think of looking

for me here.

I'm writing a book exposing the

dirty work

governments do, supposedly in

the name of peace.

The CIA, KGB, they're all the

same.

They start these stupid little

wars to prove their own power.

The American people have the

right to know the truth,

and for that to happen, Savoy,

you must help me.

But I just killed a man.

I know.

If the guards find you, we'll

never be free.

So in exchange for helping me,

I'll get you, the girl,

and Mitch out of here.

Where is Mitch?

What have they done with him?

He's in the game now.

It's a world of its own.

And there are no guards, there

are just the rules of the game.

You can only stay alive as long

as your winning.

Kapsky, my eyes and ears in this

prison, is the chess master.

He feels he's ready to play the

game.

He's just crazy enough to think

he can win.

It's like a living hell there.

It's the death sentence, and

they play for keeps.

Don't be surprised.

You won't know your friend

Mitch.

He's cracked right down the

middle.

He has forgotten what was

before.

Like everybody else now, he

wants to be the king.

The king gives the commands.

The king has to keep winning.

It's survival of the fittest.

Savoy, to save Mitch before he

loses the game,

you'll need more strength than

ever before.

To prepare for the escape, I'll

give you a place to stay.

No one must know you're there

before the time has come.

We'll need a lot of preparation,

maps,

weapons, even duplicate keys.

Freedom has its price, and you

must pay it.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

I've drawn you a map of the

prison.

I want you to study it.

Here is the armory, the motor

pool.

Follow this sewer and you and

Mitch will find your way out.

Did you make the keys according

to my instructions?

Good.

Are you sure that Mitch and the

Russian girl

are still alive? - Uh-huh.

I have a Russian uniform for you

to wear.

We're all set.

I'm ready.

We don't have much time.

Now do as I say, and we'd all be

out of here tomorrow.

Nadja.

What are you doing here?

Sh.

Let me help you.

Let's go.

This is unreal.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

That's Mitch.

Mitch!

Savoy.

Savoy, don't be a fool.

Wait.

Savoy, stop.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Mitch.

Mitch, we're going home.

Mitch, he'll kill you.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

Check mate.

What have they done to, Mitch?

Mitch, listen to me, we're going

home.

Mitch.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

We're never going to make it.

Do you have the map and the

flashlight?

I'll mean you at stable.

What about you?

I'll make it.

[SHOUTING]

Take the sewer.

You'll never get out of here

alive.

Come on, Mitch.

Savoy?

Wait.

Wait, I lost the flashlight.

Mitch.

Come on, Mitch.

Savoy.

Sh, Mitch.

Be quiet.

Come on, Mitch.

The Admiral and Nadja are

waiting for us.

Hurry up.

[INDISTINCT SPEECH]

What have they done to you,

buddy?

What have they done?

Mitch?

Buddy.

No.

Mitch!

Get back, Savoy.

No, Mitch, we're going home.

Go.

Mitch.

No!

Nadja?

Quick.

The Admiral has been shot.

We're running out of time.

You can drop the Admiral

bullshit now.

They shot Mitch. He's dead.

I did-- - Watch it.

I wondered when they would get

around to that.

Come on.

Let's move out.

Grab anything.

ARs, bazookas.

Anything.

Let's go.

Come on.

You OK?

Get down.

Don't make me kill you.

Run.

Now is when I jump ship.

What do you mean?

You're not coming with us?

I never said I was.

But they'll kill you.

I wouldn't be so sure.

There are still a few scores for

me to settle.

Look, take the truck.

Down the road about 10 miles

you'll come to a river.

Leave the truck there.

Now, take the left fork of the

river.

You should be in Finland by

tomorrow.

What is this?

It's my insurance.

Tells a few secrets.

It's my book about the CIA and

the KGB.

You get this to my friends.

Their names are inside.

It's my ticket back to the

states.

And you want me to deliver it?

That's right.

That's my price.

I'm a dead man if I escape and

the CIA finds

this book in my possession.

Where is home for you?

Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Well, it'll be dawn soon.

You two better get going.

Take care of her, Savoy Brown.

I will.

Remember everything I told you

about the KGB.

You're never really out of

danger.

I'll cover your back because

that book is my life.

Don't worry.

I'll see you back home. Thanks a

lot.

SAVOY: Come on, baby, just a

little further.

We're out of gas.

Savoy, forget it.

This doesn't matter.

We're in Finland now.

Somebody is coming.

Maybe we can get a ride.

Remember what the Admiral said

about the KGB.

It's all over.

We did it.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Born American (1986) - full transcript