IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
Screenplay by Paul Haggis, Story by Mark Boal & Paul HaggisSynopsis by Brian Aldrich
Mason City, Iowa. Retired military policeman HANK DEERFIELD and his wife JOAN anxiously await the return of their beloved soldier son MIKE from Iraq. They learn Mike has returned to the States when a CORPORAL VASQUEZ calls to inform them that Mike has gone AWOL. Feeling this is uncharacteristic of their Christian, straight-arrow, pro-military, pro-Iraq son, Hank begins to investigate Mike’s disappearance.
Hank learns from Mike’s friend LARRY, a discharged Iraqi vet, that Mike’s unit had endured intense combat. Hank drives to Ft. Hood military base and talks to Sgt. CARNELLI who suggests Mike is off whoring and drinking, but will return shortly. Hank meets Mike’s Iraq buddies STEVE PENNING, ROBERT LONG, JIM BONNER, and JOSEPH ORTIEZ who offer little information. Hank searches Mike’s quarters and finds a hash pipe and a broken cell phone. A PHONE TECHNICIAN rescues Mike’s address book and photos from the phone as well as some corrupted video files he promises to fix and email to Hank. Hank tries to find Mike’s “girlfriend” JENNIFER LOPEZ, but finds the name ubiquitous. When Hank meets with his old army buddy ARNOLD BICKMAN, Hank’s pride won’t allow him to reveal his dilemma. Hank keeps Joan informed, but their relationship becomes estranged. The first of Mike’s uncorrupted videos arrive, showing Mike and his unit in Iraq. Blocked from getting Mike’s bank information, Hank asks civilian police Detective and single mother EMILY SANDERS to help him, but she can only refer him to the military police. When body parts are found near the military base, the civilian and military police debate jurisdiction, but the military becomes responsible for the investigation. When Hank is informed that Mike’s remains have been found, he demands to see the body and learns from the MEDICAL EXAMINER that the body had been repeatedly stabbed, chopped up, doused with gasoline, and set on fire. Hank informs Joan, but can’t listen to his wife’s crying.
Military investigator LT. KIRKLANDER offers little help, but Hank finds answers while investigating with Sanders. Thanks to Hank’s skill, he proves Mike’s body was moved and the jurisdiction changes to the civilian police. Kirklander continues to impede Sanders’ investigation, but she interviews Mike’s three buddies (Penning, Long, Bonner) who claim to have left Mike in town and returned to the base. Meanwhile, Hank’s investigations and the videos begin to portray Mike’s character in a dark manner quite different from his father’s expectations. Sanders enjoys the fatherly way Hank treats her young son DAVID. Under further questioning, the three buddies confess they were whoring, drinking and fighting the night Mike disappeared. Jennifer Lopez shows up, turning out to be a vet crippled by a bomb in Iraq who believes war had changed Mike severely. Suspecting Mike might have been looking for drugs, Hank learns Ortiez has a drug record and tries to beat the truth out of him. However, Ortiez has an alibi and Hank apologizes. The final videos portray Mike as a cruel bully. After Bonner commits suicide, Sanders breaks the trio’s alibi. Before Sanders can arrest the trio, Kirklander informs her that Penning confessed, implicating Long and Bonner. The military now has jurisdiction over the trials and punishment. Penning says the killing was a reaction to Mike’s constant bullying. While Hank is disappointed about Mike’s behavior, Sanders points out that he loved Hank enough to leave the evidence behind. Hank blames himself. Apparently, Mike called him for help from Iraq, but Hank scolded him for crying and offered no further assistance. Joan tries to comfort him. Hank’s only solace is Mike’s battered battle flag he sent home to his father.
Summary Criticism: An excellently-crafted script, the three-dimensional main characters are skillfully balanced and the compelling mystery is slowly revealed.
In the Valley of Elah - imdb
Paul Haggis - imdb
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