For Craven, Jasper Temple

Rating: Null/10 (20 December 2011)

Mike and Nick are the best of friends. They work in the same steel factory, drink at the same bar, and even share a trailer. Both know they are headed for Vietnam, along with one of their other close friends, Steve. Its obvious all three are nervous about the war. Steve wastes no time and marries, and after the wedding Mike chases the wedding car away streaking. When Nick finally catches up to him the two of them sit down on the basketball court they have reached and catch their breath. As they sit there Nick admits he's scared and that he doesn't want to leave Pennsylvania and he makes Mike promise him not to leave him over seas. In Vietnam, the three are united in a P.O.W. camp but are separated soon after their escape. Mike arrives back in the states to find Steve in a nursing home for vets and Nick no where to be found. When he visits Steve, Steve shows Mike a drawer full of money thats been coming in the mail from overseas. When Mike sees this he knows that Nick is still alive and knows just where to find him. When Mike arrives in Vietnam and goes to the Russian Roulette den where he last saw Nick, he is turned away. Using all the money he has with him Mike buys his way into the club and into a game with Nick. What he finds in place of his best friend is barley a shadow of the man he knew. Nick is addicted to heroin, under weight, and as no memory of ever knowing Mike. Despite many pleas from Mike, Nick forces the game onward. Finally, when it seems Mike might actually be getting through to the real Nick, Nick declares "One more shot" and pulls the trigger. The reason Mike went back for Nick was not only because he made a promise to. When Mike saw the money and realized Nick was alive and trying to help them financially, he knew he couldn't leave him.