What Wouldn't You Give . . .
For a story of what happened when Willard and Johnson returned to base?
I admit to being curious.
"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"
What would I give?
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MovieChat Forums > Apocalypse Now (1979) Discussion > What Wouldn't You Give . . .
I don't think there is a story. Willard completed his non-existent mission, and as far as the General is concerned Willard should get a medal and a pat on the back. The only other person who understood what Willard went through was Kurtz, and he's dead.
Lance was dropping acid while on mission, so I don't know if that would get him in any trouble. It all depends on whether Willard would tell on him, and I don't think Willard would since Lance never did anything to endanger or hinder the mission.
Willard says he never wanted another mission after Kurtz, so unlike someone such as Rambo who goes back to the states and can't handle it, I can see Willard as someone who would manage to lead at least a semi-normal life afterwards. Especially since he went as far as someone could go psychologically, and pulled himself back.
There was an ending that was cut and never filmed (I'm pretty sure) where we would have seen Willard go to Kurtz's house to tell his widow and son what Kurtz had done, as Kurtz requested. I guess that's as close to a follow up story as any.
Can't be too careful with all those weirdos running around.
That was how "The Heart of Darkness", the original novel by Conrad, ended. Marlowe (Willard) visits Kurtz's widow to tell her what happened.
We got a job.
What kind?
...The Forever Kind.
If you look at the question as one arising in the context of Conrad's book, I can add I get the notion that much of his work leaves the protagonists transformed by the events in the book that it is hard to see them going back to their previous lives without need for any adjustment. Of course that is true when the lead character is killed off, as in SPOILERS!! Lord Jim, which is pretty much a novel length treatise on how transformative events prevent a return to one's former life and self. Another example is the novel Chance, again showing how transformative events make a return to one's previous life impossible (there the protagonist did not die, but the pattern remained the same). In fact I can't think of a single work by Conrad where such a return occurs or makes sense.
In Heart of Darkness Marlow returns to the "civilized" world, but quite transformed and bitter. Although he physically returns, he is a changed man. How could Willard be any different? He recounts how he had previously gone home and was so alienated he did not even speak to his wife until she asked for a divorce and he said yes. What would Willard be returning to?
Willard might very well have visited Kurtz's widow, but then what? My best guess is he embarks for some isolated location, not necessarily away from all people, as a hermit would, but certainly not in what passes for an everyday life in society. (My own take is that he goes back to the French plantation and gets the widow to come with him - after all she largely shared his view of the world, and they got along fine. Heh.)
Conrad after all if not a nihilist (I would not say he is) had a profoundly pessimistic general world view. I think that would lead us to question how he would see Willard's future with any rosy outlook.
On the other hand unlike many of Conrad's characters Marlow survived, as does Willard, and there is that to be said for him.
M
I can see Willard as someone who would manage to lead at least a semi-normal life afterwards. Especially since he went as far as someone could go psychologically, and pulled himself back.
I think he went too far and never came back. Just because he didn't want to play Army anymore doesn't mean he was automatically sane.
No, Captain Willard commits suicide 18 months after the close of film. He became an Officer in the Unite States Army elite Special Forces full of idealism and wanting to make a difference.
He settled for becoming a cold-blooded killer instead. Helluva contribution, there Willard.
I've lived upon the edge of chance for 20 years or more...
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