THE BITTER END . . .

Even the most patriotic of us might have trouble persevering through 14 1/2 hours to the very end of the controversial ABC miniseries “Amerika,” which begins next Sunday. But Pocket Books came to the rescue last week by sending us its handy 412-page novelization (for $4.50) about how Kris Kristofferson and his fellows rebel against the Commie conquerors after 10 years of national spinelessness.

So, in case you’re busy next week, we’re going to cut to the ending--or at least the ending of this book version.

(Warning: If you intend to watch the whole show, then get out of this Outtake ... now!)

Rebellious Devin Milford (Kristofferson) is the ex-presidential candidate who doesn’t want 1990s America to be Balkanized; Peter Bradford (Robert Urich) is a regional puppet-governor who wants everybody to remain orderly and cooperate with the Soviets. Devin decides to tap into the Natnet TV communications satellite and deliver a rousing keep-America-united message to the whole nation.

To get to the communications center, Devin’s troops take on the hated occupation forces at the barracks outside their Nebraska town. Devin fights his way to the communications center. The madman barracks commander gets drilled just in the nick of time by his former lover, Althea (Christine Lahti). But, just as Devin is ready to deliver his speech, Peter shows up with his troops. When Devin won’t be put off, Peter’s right-hand general shoots him dead.

Cut to Devin’s well-attended funeral. Cut to the conveniently unguarded barracks, where Devin’s son Billy is talking to America via Natnet: “My father died because he believed that what he stood for was more important than life. . . . He lived for himself. He lived for his ideals, for the America he loved. He lived for me--and for you.”

Ends the book: “Devin Milford . . . left a legacy that his son and his son’s children would inherit. A legacy of American spirit that was priceless.”

Does anyone smell a sequel?