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 ball up and moves it back and forth. Forrest

keeps his eyes on the ball.

SOLDIER

All right...

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

table. Forrest begins to hit the ball 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 balls.

FORREST (V.O.)

I played ping-pong even when I didn't

have anyone to play ping-pong with.

The balls 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 balls 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 pulls 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 rolls.

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 ball 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.