THE GERMAN LIEUTENANT A Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick & Richard Adams NOTE: All German parts spoken with a German accent. FADE IN: DOCUMENTARY SEQUENCE - EXCERPTS FROM NAZI PROPAGANDA FILMS AND NEWSREELS Music background of Nazi marches and songs. Narrator traces blameless and invincible history of the Third Reich. a. MASS RALLIES - THE FUEHRER GESTICULATES b. CHAMBERLAIN AND HITLER - MUNICH c. ANNEXATION OF AUSTRIA d. GERMAN TROOPS IN VIENNA e. INVASION OF POLAND f. INVASION OF FRANCE As the film nears the end, the CAMERA PULLS BACK. A dozen German officers are scattered in groups around a large day room. Their faces reflect a mixture of emotions. Some seem lost in a kind of dream-like reverie, as if to say, "Ah, yes, those were the days." Others appear mildly resentful. A few are plainly bored. One dozes. CLOSE - LT. KRAUS A faint smile of mocking cynicism. CLOSE - LT. DIETRICH Deeply concentrated on film, troubled. A meticulous corporal nurses the flickering 16mm projector, as the film ends. The lights snap on. FAVORING LT. DIETRICH AND LT. KRAUS We see a mask of non-committal indifference cover the emotions seen in the dark. They stretch and light cigarettes. As the projectionist changes the reel, there is a low murmur of conversation around the room. LT. KRAUS (turns around to projectionist) What are we going to see tonight, Willy? PROJECTIONIST "Romance on the Danube," sir. LT. KRAUS (mock seriousness) But we've seen that seven times. Why don't you get us a Betty Grable picture? ANOTHER OFFICER Don't be so impatient, Oskar. That's all you'll be seeing pretty soon. CLOSE - LT. DIETRICH He pays no attention to conversation and seems depressed. SHOT - GROUP Murmur of officers' laughter. A SERGEANT enters. He salutes in front of Lts. Dietrich and Kraus. SERGEANT The car is ready, sir. LT. KRAUS So soon? (rises with Lt. Dietrich) Well, gentlemen, I hope you have a splendid evening. They exit as the romantic strains of the Blue Danube Waltz rattle out of the projector. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. LONG SHOT OF BARRACKS - 10TH PARATROOPER REGIMENT - DAY Before the war the buildings were a school. They are shuttered, two-story stone barracks in two rows along a brick street. In the playing fields behind the barracks are parachute training apparatus. At the end of the street is the headquarters building. There is a large Swastika over the door and a staff car and courier bicycles parked outside. SUPERIMPOSED TITLES: "HEADQUARTERS 10TH AIRBORNE REGIMENT" They fade out -- then: "THE LAST WEEKS OF THE WAR" Lts. Dietrich and Kraus enter a camouflaged Volkswagen jeep and are driven away. DISSOLVE TO: MAIN TITLES DISSOLVE TO: EXT. LONG SHOT DOWN ROAD - DAY Two wrecked trucks burn with an oily, yellow-black flame. Along each shoulder of the road a column of infantry trudges wearily toward the camera. They carry their weapons slung over their shoulders and their machine guns high across their backs. As the left hand column reaches the burning trucks, they skirt out on the road to avoid the heat and then move back on the shoulder. A dot far down the road moves toward the camera. As it nears, it is seen to be the camouflaged jeep. SLOW PAN - JEEP, TROOPS, BURNING TRUCKS The driver is in front and Lieutenants Dietrich and Kraus are in the back. The troops pay no attention and do not look either right or left. Their heads are hunched on their shoulders and steam rises in the cold air from their warm bodies. The driver eases the jeep past them. The passengers glance at the troops and the burning trucks and at two men hanging from a tree. SHOT - TWO DESERTERS HANGING FROM TREE There are cardboard signs hanging across their chests indicating their crime. EXT. ROAD - SHOT FOLLOWING THE JEEP - DAY The road is elevated above wet fields on both sides. The driver slows as he nears a crowd of mixed soldiers and civilians, many obviously refugees. The jeep creeps along until motioned to a halt by a black-uniformed SS SERGEANT with a swastika armband. The jeep stops right in front of him. DRIVER AND SERGEANT SS SERGEANT (giving an order) Identification check. Pull into line on the left. The driver looks around to Lt. Dietrich. LT. DIETRICH Sergeant... SS SERGEANT Yes, Oberlieutenant! LT. DIETRICH We are overdue in Karlstadt already with these muddy roads. SS SERGEANT You can move to the front of the line, sir. The Captain can help you. PAN SHOT - THE CHECKPOINT An SS CAPTAIN is at the head of the column questioning each person in turn. Behind him two corporals with SMG'S lounge idly against the fenders of the truck. Herded into the back of the truck are about a dozen men in uniform or civilian clothes. They are dejected and scared. On a signal from the captain, the corporals move in on a man, search him and shove him on the back of the truck. The captain waves up the next man just as the jeep eases up to the front of the line. The SS officer looks up with mild interest as Lt. Dietrich gets out, but goes back to his questioning of a private. Dietrich and Kraus light cigarettes and watch. SHOT OF CHECKPOINT - FAVORING SS CAPTAIN AND SIGNALMAN SS CAPTAIN Your papers. SIGNALMAN Here they are, sir. Private Erich Hovlund, 7746539, the 124th infantry. SS CAPTAIN Where is your unit and why aren't you with them? SIGNALMAN (without hesitation) I believe they're at Wurtzburg. I'm trying to reach them. SS CAPTAIN You believe? Why haven't you reached them? I see no leave authorization. SIGNALMAN I lost the company last night near Gretsburg. I took the wrong turn coming from filling my canteen and couldn't catch up in the dark. SS CAPTAIN It must have been very dark. You seem to have strayed off your course for Wurtzburg. However... (tapping the papers) You seem right on course for your home in Koenigshofen. SIGNALMAN No, sir. I'm trying to get to Wurtzburg. SS CAPTAIN Undoubtedly, but we'll hold you for the moment until we can check with your unit. (he turns toward the truck) Corporal Hartl, put him in the truck. VARIOUS SHOTS - ACTION SEQUENCE As the corporal starts forward, the private suddenly jumps back into the crowd and dodges back down the road. The crowd stands quietly as he pushes them aside and knocks one down in his hurry. The two corporals race after him. They cannot fire because of the crowd. The private jumps down the embankment to avoid the sergeant heading him off. He starts across a muddy field towards a small woods. The machine gunner on the truck snaps his bolt several times and the ejected rounds clatter on the truck roof in the silence. Many of the crowd squat down. The gunner pauses what seems a long time as the private rushes desperately for the woods. He has almost made it when the gunner squeezes off a long burst which follows the man slowly at first, then catches up, holds him a long moment and stops abruptly. The last rounds crash loudly in the woods as the man skids in the mud on his face and lies still. VARIOUS SHOTS OF THE CROWD The crowd watches the dead body in silence. They get back to their feet. Several shuffles back to the rear of the line. SS CAPTAIN AND LIEUTENANTS DIETRICH AND KRAUS SS CAPTAIN (gesturing to his men) Keep them in line back there. And get the body. LT. KRAUS (unemotionally) Sad but stupid. He didn't weigh the chances. A man can't outrun a machine gun. LT. DIETRICH (depressed indifference) He was obviously a deserter or else he wouldn't have run. SS CAPTAIN (approaching) Yes, Oberlieutenant. You wish to pass through. LONG SHOT - MUDDY FIELD The two corporals are splashing across the muddy field for the body of the dead man. THREE SHOT Dietrich watches. LT. KRAUS (with slight irony) You have an exciting job here, Captain. The corporals have reached the body and are dragging it back. SS CAPTAIN (following his gaze) Yes. That is regrettable. But they think the war is over. LT. DIETRICH Yes, we wish clearance. These muddy roads are making us late in Karlstadt. SS CAPTAIN What is the nature of your business in Karlstadt? LT. DIETRICH Of a personal nature, sir. SS CAPTAIN I'm sorry but I must have a more explicit answer. LT. DIETRICH We are going to visit the wife of a comrade, sir. SS CAPTAIN (dirty laugh) Nothing to be ashamed of, lieutenant! We all need a little relaxation now and then. LT. DIETRICH (coldly) Do you wish to see our papers, sir? Dietrich and Kraus exchange glances while the papers are scrutinized. SS CAPTAIN These are in order. I am sorry to have detained you, lieutenant. They exchange salutes and drive off in the jeep. DISSOLVE TO: STREET IN KARLSTADT - LONG SHOT - DAY Complete ruin. Half shells of houses still standing. The street is plaster dust, broken glass and rubble. Two boys are throwing stones at the house while a younger girl sits on the curb watching and shouting comments at them. The jeep noses around the corner and haltingly moves through the rubble in low gear. SHOT - JEEP AND CHILDREN The jeep pulls up and Kraus and Dietrich get out, slamming the doors. The children have been watching them in silence all this time. LT. DIETRICH (to the children) Do any of you know where Elizabethstrasse 14 is? 1ST BOY (he points) That's it right in front of you. Dietrich looks at the house which is a burned-out hulk with the top floor completely gone. He starts to climb over the rubble to go in. 2ND BOY Nobody is home. I wouldn't go in, sir. LITTLE GIRL (importantly) I went in looking for Pauli and they bit me. The rats. Two big ones. She sticks out her leg. The bites are wrapped in a dirty cloth. LT. DIETRICH (gently) Do you know where Frau Koenig has gone? She used to live here. The children shake their heads. LT. DIETRICH She was tall and dark. The children look dumbly at each other. LT. DIETRICH She had a boy, Klaus -- about your age. One of the boys throws quickly at a rat in the rubble. 2ND BOY Did you see him, Hans? I almost got him. 1ST BOY (suddenly remembering) Yes, sir, I remember her! She is safe but I don't know where she lives now. We're the only ones left on this street after last week's raid. His concern for Frau Koenig satisfied, he allows the depressing condition of the children to penetrate fully. LT. DIETRICH Can I give you some money? 1ST BOY (politely) No thank you, sir. No one wants it around here. (notices package under Dietrich's arm) Have you got any vodka? LT. KRAUS You can't be over ten. You don't drink it? 1ST BOY Sometimes, sir. But mostly we trade it for food. The soldiers like it. LITTLE GIRL We used to get turnips at the hospital but the sisters went away. Dietrich hands the boy the bottle wrapped in paper. 1ST BOY Thank you, sir. LT. KRAUS That's the best Yugoslavian slivowitz. Make sure they give you a lot of food for it. (he musses the little boy's hair) Let's go. 1ST BOY Thank you, sir. Heil Hitler, sir! Dietrich turns back, pauses, then nods vacantly to the boy. LIEUTENANTS DIETRICH AND KRAUS - FOLLOW SHOT as they walk slowly back to jeep parked some distance away. LT. KRAUS (trying to cheer up friend) They'll be all right. Children always land on their feet and forget. LT. DIETRICH Yes, I suppose so. LT. KRAUS Come... come... Paul. We need a drink. What do you say? (no reply) We'll go to the Cafe Wein and maybe we find out where Anna is. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. LONG SHOT, STREET PARTIALLY DAMAGED BY BOMBS - DUSK Dietrich and Kraus get out of the jeep. Dietrich pulls out his satchel. He points out where he wants the driver to wait. MEDIUM SHOT - DIETRICH AND KRAUS They start down the stairs into a basement cafe. A LUFTWAFFE LIEUTENANT stumbles up the stairs, drunk. He bumps into Dietrich, slips to one knee. Dietrich pulls him up roughly. LT. DIETRICH (brusquely) You are drunk, Lieutenant. Your uniform is filthy. I suggest you go back inside and get yourself cleaned up. LUFTWAFFE LT. (jerking away) Your pretty uniform may impress the girls but uniforms are going out of style quicker than German heroes. (staggers up the sidewalk) Drunkenness is in style, Herr Oberlieutenant. And your fine medals, will they get you a high position in the coming Fourth Reich? LT. DIETRICH Lieutenant, you are making a fool out of yourself. LUFTWAFFE LT. (salutes drunkenly) Go straight to hell, Herr Oberlieutenant! During this exchange the driver has come up. JEEP DRIVER (to Dietrich) Shall I have him placed under arrest, sir? CLOSE - DIETRICH He is greatly agitated and obviously upset. LT. DIETRICH No, let him go. (emotionally indignant) Disgusting to see an officer make such a fool of himself. LT. KRAUS You're right -- but he is drunk. LT. DIETRICH That is no excuse. (spoken with child-like conviction) He should know that the uniform is nothing but what the man inside brings to it. LT. KRAUS Of course, Paul. Let's go inside. They enter the cafe. INT. CAFE - VARIOUS SHOTS OF THE CAFE - EVENING Smoke, noise, singing, music and laughter. Several men are already passed out on the floor, their heads resting on their arms. PAGE MISSING She kisses Kraus passionately and laughs. Kraus won't let her go. She makes a mock protest and kisses him again. LT. KRAUS (as if incredulous at her passion) What have you been drinking? They sit. LISE (hysterically cheerful) Everything, and plenty of it. But that's not why I'm so happy. Four days without a bombing. And a Colonel told me the Americans are so close there won't be any more. LT. KRAUS Aha! I knew there was a master plan behind our retreat. Lise laughs, then screws her face into a thoughtful pose. She rests her chin in her hand. LISE How close are they? LT. KRAUS (very serious) I don't know exactly but I heard they captured an American officer outside the Cafe, yesterday. He was nailing up a sign saying, "Off Limits." LISE How can you tease about such things, Oskar? LT. KRAUS Who's teasing? LISE You may joke all you like but I think we're in for a hard time. LT. DIETRICH (sullenly) You have nothing to worry about. Your talents will never go unappreciated. Stops angrily, her mood changes to icy dislike. LISE Well, well... the high and mighty Oberlieutenant Dietrich is finally joining the party. LT. DIETRICH One never likes to interrupt such witty and brilliant conversation. LISE We will see just how high and mighty Herr Oberlieutenant is when the Americans get here. LT. DIETRICH (flushing anger) Just what did you mean by that remark? LISE Nothing, just wondering whether you plan to sell apples or sweep the streets? LT. DIETRICH (rises to leave) Go to hell you ignorant little whore. LT. KRAUS (grabs Dietrich's arm) Come, come, children. We are here to have a good time. Let's not spoil everything. CLOSE - LT. DIETRICH Eyes downcast, his anger changes into self-disgust. CLOSE - LISE Regains her composure and realizes how deeply she has hurt Dietrich's pride. Brushing back her hair with a careless gesture, she smiles. LISE I apologize, Paul. It's just that you made me angry with that remark about... LT. KRAUS (interrupts) Certainly... all just a big misunderstanding. Everyone's friends again. Nobody's angry. Come on, Paul, sit down. They all sit again. LT. DIETRICH I'm sorry, Lise. LISE Oh, forget it. Nothing lost. LT. KRAUS I propose a toast. To the three of us, Paul Dietrich, Lise and Oskar Kraus, three who have survived twelve years of madness, each in their own way!! LISE I'll drink to that! All drink. They all appear to have a few moments of private thought. Then Lise leans forward to Kraus, confidentially. LISE (nostalgically) It's really lost, isn't it? LT. KRAUS (smiles) Of course! And you can thank heaven for that. LISE How long until the end? LT. KRAUS A week, maybe two at the most. If it isn't over by then, it will be the Americans against the Russians. LISE (a bit drunkenly) It's hard to believe it's really over. I was just a kid when it started. We were all just kids. (sudden change of tone) You know what I look forward to most is soap. Soap and hot water. Scalding hot water and soap. LT. KRAUS (pseudo-Valentino) You don't have to wait until then. I have some soap and some matches. Let's go to your place and I'll give you a bath. LISE (laughs and kisses him) I'll think about that offer but right now how would you like to dance? LT. KRAUS At your service, madame. LT. DIETRICH Before you two love birds disappear, I want to ask Lise if she knows where Anna is. LISE Anna Koenig? LT. DIETRICH Yes. LISE She was in here just yesterday looking for a place. She was bombed out. LT. DIETRICH Yes, I know. Do you know where she is now? LISE (frowning to aid her memory) Yes, I think I remember. She took a room from one of the girls. Kirchenstrasse... yes, Kirchenstrasse! Number... twenty- seven. LT. DIETRICH Kirchenstrasse, twenty-seven. LISE That's it. LT. KRAUS I'll come with you, Paul. LT. DIETRICH No, please... I'd rather go myself. (forces a grin) Besides, Lise could use a good bath. LISE (concerned) Has something happened? LT. DIETRICH Her husband was reported killed yesterday. I have to break the news to her. (a few seconds pass) Well, perhaps I'll see you all later. He exits. A man in civilian clothes (GESTAPO AGENT) stands up at the next table and follows him outside. EXT. STAIRS TO CAFE AND STREET - NIGHT There is a mist in the air. Dietrich stops at the head of the stairs and takes a deep breath. The man in civilian clothes appears behind him in the doorway. GESTAPO AGENT One moment, please, Lieutenant. LT. DIETRICH Yes, what can I do for you? He notices a drawn Luger in the man's hand. GESTAPO AGENT (flashing card) You are under arrest for being a party to treasonous propaganda and making defeatist and disloyal statements. LT. DIETRICH You must be joking. GESTAPO AGENT I assure you I'm not. LT. DIETRICH But then this is completely ridiculous. GESTAPO AGENT What is the name of your friend inside? LT. DIETRICH What do you want that for? GESTAPO AGENT Be kind enough to answer my question. LT. DIETRICH I don't know who you mean. GESTAPO AGENT The officer you were seated with. LT. DIETRICH I'm afraid I don't know him. I was just sharing a table. GESTAPO AGENT And the girl? LT. DIETRICH She's with him. GESTAPO AGENT You have a rare wit, Herr Oberlieutenant. We shall see how it holds up at headquarters. Start walking to the corner, if you please. VARIOUS QUICK CUTS The agent has laid one hand on Dietrich's arm. Suddenly Dietrich stomps heavily backwards on the agent's foot and ankle hurting him painfully and throwing him backwards. Turning swiftly, Dietrich pounds a vicious, closed-fist, judo chop into the side of the agent's neck. Stunned, he drops heavily to his hands and knees. Dietrich gives him a brutal kick in the jaw with his boot, tumbling the agent over on his back in collapse. CLOSE - DIETRICH Dietrich gets up. His mouth is open and he pants loudly from the adrenalin, fear and exertion. His face is in a sweat. He looks quickly around. Dietrich pulls the agent to the curb and tumbles him under a truck with a push of his boot. EXT. NIGHT - JEEP PARKED IN AN ALLEY His jeep is parked in a deserted alley just off a main street. Opening the front door, Dietrich finds the driver lying on the front seat, wrapped in a blanket and asleep. He shakes him. LT. DIETRICH Wake up, Soderbaum. Come on, wake up. Soderbaum gets up with a start. It takes his eyes a few seconds to focus. Seeing Dietrich, he slides over behind the wheel, the blanket still around his shoulders. Dietrich gets in. Soderbaum tries twice before getting the cold motor to turn over. INT. FRONT OF JEEP - DRIVER AND DIETRICH DRIVER (as jeep rolls out of the alley) Back to the barracks, sir? LT. DIETRICH No, I still must visit Frau Koenig. She is living at Kirchenstrasse twenty-seven. That's off the Hitterstrasse. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. NIGHT - STREET OF PARTLY-DAMAGED HOUSES The jeep pulls to a stop in front of one of the houses. Dietrich gets out. LT. DIETRICH Wait for me. I'll only be a few minutes. INT. HALLWAY AND STAIRS - NIGHT The hallway is lit by one light bulb hanging on an extension cord from a chandelier. Trash, dirt and broken plaster are everywhere. Dietrich looks at the directory on the wall. It is obviously out of date, but written on the wall in lipstick with an arrow pointing to apartment 7 is the name "Koenig." He starts up the stairs. The rail is broken off. INT. LANDING - NIGHT Dietrich looks closely at one door in the dim light and then at the other. On the second he sees the impression of the number 7 in the chipped paint. He knocks on the door. He waits a moment and knocks again. From within a woman's voice. WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.) Just a moment. Who is it? LT. DIETRICH It's Paul... Paul Dietrich. The door opens. ANNA is a strikingly attractive woman in her thirties. Her full but slender figure is revealed under a turtle-neck sweater and skirt. LT. DIETRICH Good evening, Anna. ANNA Paul, come in... come in! INT. ANNA'S APARTMENT The apartment is shabby with broken furniture, cracked plaster and a single lamp. LT. DIETRICH It's so nice to see you again. ANNA Would you like to keep on your coat. There hasn't been any heat. LT. DIETRICH (taking coat off) That's perfectly all right. I am quite comfortable. ANNA Please sit down. There is only a couch. They both sit. LT. DIETRICH You're looking very well, Anna. ANNA I'm afraid that's not true. But I'm lucky to have a roof over my head. Several moments of awkward silence. ANNA How did you happen to find me here? LT. DIETRICH One of the girls at the Cantina told me. More awkward moments. ANNA Which girl? LT. DIETRICH Oh, little Lise. ANNA Yes! I know her. LT. DIETRICH You were bombed out. ANNA Yes, fortunately it was a daylight raid and we weren't home. I was taking little Klaus to the doctor. LT. DIETRICH How is little Klaus? ANNA He is much better now but he had a terrible cough. It kept him awake at night for a week. You know how hard it is to get any medicine or find a doctor. LT. DIETRICH Where is he now? ANNA He is sleeping in the other room. Would you like to see him? LT. DIETRICH If it won't wake him up. FOLLOW SHOT - ANNA AND DIETRICH ANNA Nothing wakes him! He sleeps through the bombings. He follows her into the next room. CLOSE - SICKLY BOY OF EIGHT He is sleeping in the middle of a large, bare mattress placed on the floor. No other furniture is in the room. A wooden crate and some sheets of newspaper complete the decor. FOLLOW SHOT They watch him sleep, then exit. LT. DIETRICH He's a wonderful boy. ANNA Yes, and so much like his father. Some awkward beats. Dietrich sits down again. Silence. Anna folds her hands in her lap and smiles. ANNA Why have you been such a stranger lately? LT. DIETRICH My duties at the base have kept me very busy. ANNA You and Klaus are such good friends. We talk of you often. CLOSE - DIETRICH He tries to find an approach to the subject. CLOSE - ANNA She adjusts herself with great composure. Starts to speak, then stops. Thinks a moment and folds her hands. ANNA (matter of factly) You are here because of Klaus, aren't you? Something has happened. LT. DIETRICH (haltingly) Yes, he is dead. I'm sorry, Anna. I should have been more direct. ANNA It was not difficult to guess the purpose of a visit at this hour. LT. DIETRICH I am terribly sorry, Anna. You have my greatest sympathy. ANNA Yes, it's tragic. But I've been expecting the news ever since he left five days ago. LT. DIETRICH Then you were prepared? ANNA Yes, one must. In these times one must be prepared for anything. As she speaks the last lines she accidentally knocks some change off a table. As she bends to pick up the scattered pfennigs, she begins to cry. Gently at first, then in great wracking sobs. LT. DIETRICH I know what Klaus must have meant to you. ANNA (crying) Klaus dead... I almost can't believe it. LT. DIETRICH You must remember, he was a brave man he died defending the Fatherland. ANNA The Fatherland! What does it matter now? Klaus is dead. LT. DIETRICH In these times such men don't live to an old age. ANNA But what will I do now? What will I do without him? LT. DIETRICH Anna... you must listen to me. I am proud of Klaus and you should be too. Death is not such a tragedy. We will all be dead. A few years more or less should not be that important. What is important is that he died honorably. ANNA That's easy for you to say. LT. DIETRICH I don't expect you to understand now but someday you will. Anna gets a handkerchief and blows her nose. ANNA (sniffling) Someday. That's the day we all wait for. Let's have a drink. LT. DIETRICH I'd like to, but I'm afraid I must be leaving. If there's anything I can do -- CLOSE - ANNA She smiles ruefully. ANNA I wish you wouldn't leave just yet. CLOSE - LT. DIETRICH Thinks for a moment. LT. DIETRICH Well, I guess I can stay for a while. TWO SHOT He sits down and watches her walk across the room to get the bottle. ANNA I have some Steinhager left. Is that all right? LT. DIETRICH Excellent. ANNA Water? LT. DIETRICH Nothing, thanks. ANNA That's the way I like it too. She returns with two water glasses and the bottle and sits down beside him. She pours the Steinhager carefully. They both touch glasses. LT. DIETRICH To the memory of Klaus. They both toss the drinks down. Anna utters a little contented sigh as the drink warms her. ANNA At least you are one of the lucky ones. LT. DIETRICH (gloomily) Yes, I am one of the lucky ones. A few seconds pass. ANNA (after a pause) Another drink! LT. DIETRICH (kindly) Thank you, but I think I really ought to be going. ANNA Oh, please. Just one more. LT. DIETRICH (smiling) All right. She pours two more. She holds out her glass. ANNA (ironically) To the future. LT. DIETRICH (dismally) To the future. They both toss the rather large drinks down in a single motion. She utters another warm sigh. ANNA Talk to me about something. LT. DIETRICH What would you like to talk about. ANNA Oh, I don't know. Tell me a funny story. He thinks, frowns and gives up. LT. DIETRICH I'm afraid I have a very poor memory for jokes. ANNA It doesn't matter! Let's have another drink. She starts to pour and he puts his hand over the glass. ANNA Oh, don't be so stiff! Take your hand away. LT. DIETRICH (gently) This must be the last one. My driver is sitting outside in the cold. ANNA Well, send him away. LT. DIETRICH Then how will I get back to the base? ANNA You can take the bus. LT. DIETRICH It doesn't run at night. ANNA Then you can take it in the morning. LT. DIETRICH (laughs) Oh, that's impossible. I have no place to spend the night in town. ANNA (as if it were perfectly obvious) But you can spend it here if you like. LT. DIETRICH (quizzical smile) I couldn't very well do that. ANNA (matter of fact) I don't know why. LT. DIETRICH (awkwardly) No, it wouldn't be right. ANNA Of course you could. LT. DIETRICH (smiles) No, that's impossible. ANNA (snaps on a battered phonograph) Before you go then, one dance. And no excuses! LT. DIETRICH (listens to the sentimental tune) All right. He takes her in his arms and they begin to dance. He holds her lightly and at a respectful distance. The music plays. The smell of her perfume seems to disturb him. He holds holds her further apart. ANNA (smiles) You don't have to be afraid. I won't break. Lt. Dietrich holds her closer. She comes closer still. ANNA That song brings back a lot of memories. LT. DIETRICH Yes, funny how music can do that to you. They dance, each absorbed in their own thoughts. ANNA You must think I'm a terrible person. LT. DIETRICH Don't be silly. ANNA (the drinks make her speak with extra care) You do. I know that. But then there's so much about Klaus and myself you don't know anything about. She stops dancing and gives him a significant look. LT. DIETRICH (surprised) Well... yes... I suppose there is. ANNA (laughs ironically) You'd really be surprised if you knew. LT. DIETRICH I suppose every marriage has its secrets. They start dancing again. Then Anna suddenly embraces Paul, her face up to his. ANNA Paul, I want you to make love to me. LT. DIETRICH What? ANNA I want you to make love to me. I want to feel a man in my arms. LT. DIETRICH You must be drunk. ANNA Oh, do you think a couple of drinks has loosened me up? Paul, take me in your arms and do anything you want. LT. DIETRICH If you're not drunk, you must be insane. ANNA What's the matter. You like women don't you? LT. DIETRICH That has nothing to do with it. ANNA I think it has everything to do with it. I like men and you like women. The rest is rather simple, don't you think? LT. DIETRICH Don't be disgusting. You know what I mean. ANNA You mean we must respect the dead? LT. DIETRICH If you enjoy putting it that way. ANNA I'd much rather have you take pity on a poor widow. LT. DIETRICH Anna! ANNA Shall I tell you a secret? LT. DIETRICH I've had fifty men better than you this year. LT. DIETRICH Are you proud of that? ANNA I'm not ashamed of it. LT. DIETRICH Did Klaus know? ANNA I was unfaithful, but I wasn't cruel. LT. DIETRICH He never suspected? ANNA I made him completely happy. LT. DIETRICH You're disgusting. ANNA (shouts) You don't have the right to be so smug. I have brought much more happiness to the world than all you little tin soldier boys playing at being heroes. Dietrich slaps her heavily in the face and she loses her balance, tripping backward over a lamp. ANNA (holding her face) Ha, ha, ha, ha... you've proven your manhood. Bravo, you men are all the same. Dietrich stands stunned and amazed. He walks slowly back to Anna and helps her to her feet. She brushes her hair back and laughs. ANNA Now, come to bed! CLOSE - DIETRICH He stands perfectly still and has a strange look of helplessness. FADE OUT. FADE IN: EXT. LONG SHOT OF 10TH PARATROOPER REGIMENT BARRACKS - DAWN INT. COL. VON SPERLING'S OFFICE - DAWN The office is very severe. On one wall is a blackboard. On a second is a map rack. Behind the colonel's plain desk are two framed pictures; one of Gen. Kurt von Student, the other of Gen. Gerd von Rundstedt. In the room are the colonel's adjutant, MAJOR GOSSWALD: his executive, LIEUTENANT COLONEL PRAEGER; his operations officer, MAJOR VON BREDOW; CAPTAIN ABTMEYER, Lt. Kraus and Lt. Dietrich. They are seated or standing around a table. There is a knock on the door and a guard hands a pitcher of steaming coffee to Major Gosswald. SHOT - FAVORING DIETRICH Dietrich crosses over to Captain Abtmeyer, a haggard, puffy- looking, giant of a man. They exchange friendly, ironic glances. LT. DIETRICH (under his breath) What do you think this is all about? CAPT. ABTMEYER (as if it is common knowledge) They are going to pull us back. They say the front is getting too close. Dietrich looks down, disgruntled. Captain Abtmeyer offers him a cigarette. SHOT - COLONEL VON SPERLING The door is opened by a guard and COLONEL VON SPERLING briskly strides into the room. He is a wiry, tall man in his fifties. Closed-cropped hair and the usual dueling scar. Everyone snaps to attention. COLONEL VON SPERLING Please remain as you were, gentlemen. There is a momentary reshuffling of positions. COL. VON SPERLING I don't think it is necessary to go into detail about the present situation on the West Front. The Fuehrer has promised us victory and we all have, I'm certain, the fullest confidence in the wisdom of his efforts. CLOSE - LT. DIETRICH His attention wanders as Col. von Sperling begins. He has heard these morale speeches many times before. COL. VON SPERLING Three days ago, in the retreat from Obernburg, an important railway bridge spanning the Main River was ordered destroyed. Our engineers did not have sufficient time and the bridge was captured by the Americans. They are pouring supplies and motorized units across the bridge 24 hours a day. (pauses for emphasis) We have received the order to destroy that bridge. VARIOUS QUICK SHOTS AROUND THE ROOM Everyone seems mildly stunned. The downcast eyes and skeptical expressions tell the rest. CLOSE - KRAUS He looks as if the death sentence had just been pronounced. He looks at Dietrich, incredulously. CLOSE - DIETRICH He is the exception. As the details of the mission are expounded, he appears to come to life for the first time. Until now he has appeared mildly depressed with everything and everybody. His face takes on a new vigor and intensity. He listens closely. SHOT - INCLUDING ALL COL. VON SPERLING We got the order in about midnight. I had you aroused as soon as von Bredow had worked out the details. (he pauses and drinks) We drop a special force of 50 men tonight by parachute. Captain Abtmeyer, you will lead the mission. There is another pause. Everyone is expecting Capt. Abtmeyer to ask some pertinent questions on the raid. CAPT. ABTMEYER (explosively) Sir, if I can speak my mind? COL. VON SPERLING Certainly, Captain. CAPT. ABTMEYER This mission is suicidal and futile. Not only will it drop the group almost in the middle of the American Third Army but for absolutely no purpose. COL. VON SPERLING Yes, go on, Captain. CAPT. ABTMEYER It surely can't have escaped you, sir, that the war is no more than weeks from ending. I can only consider this mission a tragic joke that will kill off my entire group. There is a significant silence. The members of the colonel's staff pay strict attention to their coffee cups. COL. VON SPERLING (slowly) Captain, I do not doubt your courage. You have proven it many times before. However, I want you to consider carefully what I say. (pauses briefly) This mission was ordered by our superior headquarters; I make no value judgments on orders I receive. I see that they are carried out to the best of my ability and the full resources of my command. (softly) I expect you to make no judgments and do the same. This mission is assigned to your group and I order you to carry it out. CAPT. ABTMEYER (without hesitation) And, sir, I must again... COL. VON SPERLING (explosively interrupting) Pause a moment and consider all the possibilities, Abtmeyer. Don't let a late night of drinking and a ready mouth get you in trouble. This is no joke. ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING ABTMEYER'S FACE CAPT. ABTMEYER (pausing a moment to satisfy von Sperling) I realize the full seriousness, Colonel. And I again refuse this order. This is a unique situation in special times. COL. VON SPERLING (after a long pause; to Major Gosswald) Call in the guards. Gosswald crosses, opens the door and calls in the guards. They shuffle into the room, ill-at-ease in the presence of all the brass. They are armed with sub-machine guns. COL. VON SPERLING (to the guards) Men, you are witnesses; give your names to Major Gosswald afterwards. (to Capt. Abtmeyer) Captain Abtmeyer, you have refused a direct order. I consider this a special situation... the refusal of an order under combat conditions. VARIOUS QUICK CUTS OF THE FACES IN THE ROOM SHOT OF COL. VON SPERLING FROM BEHIND ABTMEYER COL. VON SPERLING I sentence you to be shot immediately. (to Major Gosswald) Major Gosswald, I order you to carry out this sentence as soon as possible by the most humane means. CLOSE - ABTMEYER - HE IS STUNNED A very short pause while the significance of this sinks in. Apparently he did not expect such a severe punishment. MAJOR GOSSWALD (to the guards) Fall back outside. (to Abtmeyer) Will you please come with me, Captain? Abtmeyer has himself fully under control. He refuses to speak, however, not knowing what he would say. His glance crosses with that of Dietrich for a long moment as he turns to leave. He strides rapidly from the room; Gosswald follows him out and closes the door. SHOT - FAVORING DIETRICH Several moments of silence. Colonel von Sperling walks to the window, his hands clasped behind his back. He turns and begins abruptly. COL. VON SPERLING That is an unfortunate beginning. Oberlieutenant Dietrich, I'm putting you in charge of the mission. You are the only man left who is capable of commanding such a daring and dangerous assignment. LT. DIETRICH (cannot conceal a note of pride) Yes, sir. May I ask a favor of the Colonel? COL. VON SPERLING Certainly, Dietrich. LT. DIETRICH May I ask the Colonel to reconsider his execution order for Colonel Abtmeyer? He has been a brave officer for three years in our outfit. It is not difficult to understand a man's courage breaking under such a strain. PAGE MISSING REVERSE SHOT - THE GUARDS AND GOSSWALD FROM BEHIND ABTMEYER Gosswald slowly walks back to the guards. He places Abtmeyer's gear carefully on the ground. The guards position themselves about two yards apart with Gosswald behind them. He instructs them. MAJOR GOSSWALD Fire on my command. Aim for the chest and fire a short burst of about five rounds. Ready... The guards brace the sub-machine guns against their hips. MAJOR GOSSWALD Aim... They adjust their weapons. MAJOR GOSSWALD Fire. The rounds burst out jolting Abtmeyer's body. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. DESERTED TRAINING AREA - LTS. DIETRICH AND KRAUS - DAY They are walking in thoughtful silence. LT. KRAUS (after a long silence) Tragic... unnecessary... to go through the whole war and come to an end like that. LT. DIETRICH And such a brave officer. LT. KRAUS At least he might have been a little more clever about it. LT. DIETRICH He obviously didn't expect to be shot. They walk in silence. LT. KRAUS He knew it was suicide to go. I guess he just decided to gamble on von Sperling's kindness. LT. DIETRICH Yes, well -- I guess there's nothing anyone can do about it now. And I think we'd better get going. We've got lots to do. LT. KRAUS (with absolute conviction) Paul, I'm not going along on this and neither are you! They stop walking. LT. DIETRICH What? You must be crazy. LT. KRAUS On the contrary. LT. DIETRICH Do you want to be shot like Abtmeyer? LT. KRAUS I don't intend to be. LT. DIETRICH What are you going to do? Hand in your resignation to von Sperling? LT. KRAUS It would not be difficult to disappear. LT. DIETRICH You'd get as far as the first checkpoint and they'd hang you from a tree. LT. KRAUS Remember the time we hid for a month dodging Russian patrols. We could strike out cross country and just stay in the woods a few weeks until the Americans come. Dietrich reflects for a moment and shakes his head. LT. DIETRICH I couldn't do something like that. LT. KRAUS Why in hell not? LT. DIETRICH It would be running away and leaving someone else to do my lousy job. LT. KRAUS Paul, don't talk like a child. LT. DIETRICH I would never be able to face myself again. LT. KRAUS This is not the time for Wagnerian poses. Dietrich speaks to his friend as though explaining something to an uncomprehending child. LT. DIETRICH Whatever my personal sentiments may be, I am an officer. I swore an oath of allegiance. It is my duty to obey this order. LT. KRAUS Duty... duty to whom? To the madmen who have brought nothing but shame and ruin to our country? LT. DIETRICH Oskar, we are friends. There is no one closer to my heart than you. I would give my life for you. But there is no point in trying to prove you are right to me. I will do whatever I can to help you but I cannot go with you. Silence. They resume walking. LT. KRAUS You agree it's suicide to go? LT. DIETRICH I would feel the same way if I did, but I don't think that's necessarily the case. Lieutenant Kraus nods his head ironically. LT. DIETRICH You know, it wouldn't be the same this time without you along. LT. KRAUS That's true, then only one of us would be killed. LT. DIETRICH At least you haven't lost your sense of humor. Look, if you've really made up your mind not to go -- LT. KRAUS Don't be silly. You know I couldn't let you win all the glory alone. Besides it will look better being shot by the Americans than by the SS. The two men embrace each other, manfully. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. MEN IN TWO LINES OUTSIDE THE SUPPLY HOUSE - DAY The supply house is an ugly, one story, wooden warehouse. Two lines of battle-clad paratroopers minus helmets and weapons pass into the building through a wide, sliding door. FIRST SOLDIER (bitter sarcasm) They're going to drop us on Washington and we're going to hold the American government for ransom. SECOND SOLDIER Let's drop on Paris instead. There are a couple of other things I'd like to hold for ransom while we're at it. THIRD SOLDIER That's only fair. They held you up for a pretty high price the last time. FIRST SOLDIER (disgustedly) I wish it was Berlin. We could end this damn war in a hurry with a couple of grenades introduced in the right government circles. The line shuffles slowly to the door of the warehouse. INT. THE SUPPLY HOUSE - BRUGGEMANN AND KRAUS - DAY The supply house is run like a store. It has a large counter where the men wait for their equipment to be brought to them by the supply clerks from the racks, chests, bins and boxes in which the various items are stored. As each man reaches the counter, his officer, either BRUGGEMANN or Kraus, finds his name on the team list and reads off to the supply clerk the equipment for this man item by item. As the supply clerk gets each item, the lieutenant checks it off his list. The team sergeants flank the lieutenants keeping the lines quiet and closed up. The men are stunned by the quantities of ammo and demolitions they are getting; they realize the mission must be a tough one. Much of the dialogue is carried on simultaneously as the two teams draw equipment at the same time. SECURITY TEAM SERGEANT Close the line up and keep it quiet. LT. KRAUS (from his clipboard) Blecke, Corporal, machine gunner... Light Machine Gun and pistol. LT. BRUGGEMANN Do you have the sub-machine gun there? SUPPLY CLERK Right, sir. LT. BRUGGEMANN Ten magazines SMG ammo; two magazines pistol ammo. LT. KRAUS Give him two magazines of ammo for the pistol and 250 rounds for the MG. SUPPLY CLERK Check, sir. DEMOLITION TEAM SERGEANT (shouting) Keep the noise down out there. The lieutenants can't read from the lists. LT. BRUGGEMANN Two 150 foot lengths of climbing rope, fifteen snap links, fifteen pitons, piton hammer... CLIMBER I've got my own hammer, sir. LT. KRAUS Schreiber, Corporal, assistant gunner... pistol and two magazines of ammo. SUPPLY CLERK Check, sir. LT. BRUGGEMANN Mohring, Corporal, demolitions man... twenty pounds plastic explosive, Torbite A-2... SUPPLY CLERK Explosive... check, sir. LT. KRAUS Three boxes, LMG ammo... 750 rounds. LT. BRUGGEMANN Cap box with ten percussion caps, crimper. ASSISTANT LMG GUNNER 750 rounds? SECURITY TEAM SERGEANT What's the matter, Schreiber? Too heavy for you? ASSISTANT LMG GUNNER (sarcastically) This must be the big winter offensive we've been waiting for, sergeant. LT. KRAUS Keep the noise down, Sergeant Kohler. LT. BRUGGEMANN Ten feet time fuse and two fuse lighters. Lt. Dietrich pushes past the men standing in the door and comes into the supply house. One of the sergeants sees him and starts to call attention but Dietrich quiets him. LT. DIETRICH Carry on... carry on with the work. He walks around the counter and up to his lieutenants. They pause for a minute. LT. DIETRICH (inquiringly) It's 1220. How close are you to being finished? LT. BRUGGEMANN I think we're both about three- quarters through. LT. DIETRICH Leave your sergeants in charge and tell them to finish up here in a hurry. LT. KRAUS What is it? LT. DIETRICH I don't know. Colonel von Sperling wants to see us. He quickly pushes out of the supply room again. The men stand back respectfully and let him pass. THE SUPPLY HOUSE DOORWAY SECOND SOLDIER Did you see that demo equipment and climbing gear. Maybe we're finally going to invade Switzerland. SECURITY TEAM SERGEANT Next man, move up. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ENTRANCE TO HEADQUARTERS - DAY As the three Lieutenants enter they notice a Gestapo staff car parked in front. SHOT OF GESTAPO STAFF CAR WITH DRIVER DISSOLVE TO: INT. COL. VON SPERLING'S OFFICE - DAY The door opens and Major Gosswald ushers in the three officers and goes out shutting the door. The three line up in front of the colonel's desk and Dietrich reports. LT. DIETRICH (in official tone) D Group officers reporting as ordered, sir. COL. VON SPERLING (mildly) Stand at ease, gentlemen. Col. von Sperling pauses as the lieutenants relax. COL. VON SPERLING There is a Gestapo agent outside checking on a murder of another agent last night in Karlstadt. This agent was last seen following an officer of this command from the Cafe Wein. He was found outside in the morning with his chest crushed in and otherwise badly beaten. (there is silence as he pauses a moment) D Group officers were the only ones authorized leave last night. I wonder if any of you, gentlemen, have information on this matter. CLOSE - DIETRICH He exchanges a brief glance with Kraus, who from all appearances has been told of the fight outside the cafe last night. CLOSE - COLONEL VON SPERLING He notices the significant exchange of looks. He frowns. GROUP SHOT - EVERYONE LT. DIETRICH (in a loud, mechanical voice) I believe I may be responsible, sir. COL. VON SPERLING Please be responsible in a softer voice, Lieutenant. LT. DIETRICH Yes, sir. An agent from the Gestapo tried to arrest me last night as I was leaving the Cafe Wein. In the resulting fight I may have been responsible for his death. COL. VON SPERLING (gazing out window) Why did he want to arrest you? LT. DIETRICH He accused me of making politically disloyal statements. Colonel von Sperling inscrutably taps a pencil on his desk, wrapped in thought. COL. VON SPERLING (loudly) Gosswald... Major Gosswald. His adjutant opens the door. COL. VON SPERLING Please show in Herr Grauschmidt. Kraus gives Dietrich a look, as if to say, "Why in hell did you have to admit that?" MAJOR GOSSWALD Yes, sir. (speaking to someone offscreen) The Colonel would like to see you again, sir. Gosswald holds the door for the Gestapo agent. He is a fat, cherubic looking German in a suit and heavy belted coat. HERR GRAUSCHMIDT (he has little love for von Sperling) I see you waste little time, Colonel von Sperling. Colonel von Sperling forces an insincere smile, bows his head slightly in ironic deference. HERR GRAUSCHMIDT (he bows and smiles to the lieutenants) The colonel explained to me that you are preparing for a mission and that your time is tightly scheduled. COL. VON SPERLING Your time is valuable also, I suspect, Herr Grauschmidt. I'll get right to the matter. It is as I suspected... Lt. Dietrich stiffens. After von Sperling's harshness with Abtmeyer, he fully expects to be turned over to the Gestapo. COL. VON SPERLING Yes. It is as Capt. Abtmeyer admitted prior to his execution this morning. These officers left him in the canteen or immediately outside it. Lt. Dietrich tells me that Abtmeyer was not himself and was showing him a propaganda leaflet. The fact that he refused a direct order this morning indicates that he was under a severe mental strain. The Gestapo agent does not appear to believe him, but is powerless to press anything further. HERR GRAUSCHMIDT (bowing his head) Thank you, Colonel. I am extremely sorry but I shall have to file a full report on this. (a veiled threat) COL. VON SPERLING As you wish, Herr Grauschmidt. The Gestapo man exits. COL. VON SPERLING (to Dietrich) Do not mistake my lie just now for sentimentality. As an Army man I have no love for the Gestapo, and I have no interest in political matters or opinions. The only thing that concerns me is my duty and your ability to carry out your orders. You are one of the best officers in the unit and you are too important at the moment to be handed over to those pigs. LT. DIETRICH Yes, sir. COL. VON SPERLING You may go. They salute and exit. The camera holds on the Colonel. He walks to the picture of General Kurt Student. He stands before it as if expecting an expression of sympathy from a friend. SLOW DISSOLVE TO: EXT. AFTERNOON - AIRFIELD The field has been bombed recently. There are several burned and damaged aircraft pushed off to the edge of the concrete strip and the strip itself is damaged. The hangers and the maintenance and operations buildings are well-camouflaged with nets. Several pairs of anti-aircraft machine guns and one flak gun are dug-in in the vicinity. LONG SHOT DOWN AIRSTRIP Five lorries roll down the airstrip and pull up under a camouflage net outside an empty hanger. With shouts of the sergeants and slamming of truck gates the men jump off the rear and file into the hanger. They are heavily ladened with weapons and equipment and in full battle gear. Their boots make a pounding sound on the concrete. DISSOLVE TO: INT. AFTERNOON - INSIDE THE HANGER The men are seated on the hanger floor. They have taken off their gear and are leaning against it and cradling their weapons between their legs. In the front Dietrich is conferring with Bruggemann and Kraus. Behind him is a reversible blackboard on a stand. A staff car pulls up outside the hanger and Colonel von Sperling and his staff get out; they enter the hanger. LT. DIETRICH (in loud, command voice) D Group, attention. The men spring to their feet and stand rigidly at attention. Col. von Sperling and his staff walk to the rear of the men. Their steps echo hollowly in the hanger. When and only when he has reached the rear, does von Sperling put the unit at ease. COL. VON SPERLING At ease, men. The men sit back down with an undertone of talking and shuffling as they settle themselves. COL. VON SPERLING You may begin the briefing, Lieutenant. LT. DIETRICH We were just starting, sir. Dietrich moves to the blackboard and looks briefly at notes on his clipboard; he is without nervousness, obviously in his element. LT. DIETRICH All right, give me your attention. (the hushed conversations cease) D Group has been selected for a night parachute drop and a bridge demolition in the Obernburg-Main River area. (he pauses) Take-off will be at 1900 hours and the drop at 2100. There will be three planes with twenty men in each. SHOT - THE MEN LISTENING Bruggemann, Kraus and the sergeants are taking occasional notes. One man is oiling the bolt of his SMG by rubbing it across the bridge of his nose. Another gently hones his killing knife on the sole of his boot. In the rear the colonel and his staff listen intently. NOTE: The briefing will be visually interesting. Ample drawings, photographs and models will be employed. The goal of this scene is to make the audience understand the details of the mission, so when it later unfolds, they feel a sense of participation. ANOTHER - LT. DIETRICH AT THE BLACKBOARD LT. DIETRICH Pay attention to this. Especially you, Masserman. The last jump you had to ask directions from the Russians. There is an undercurrent of guffaws. LT. DIETRICH This is what the drop zone looks like. (he draws an arrow) The planes will fly from East to West. The assembly area is in the south-east corner on the high ground here. The sergeants will show you all the aerials afterwards. (he points to the board) I want a rapid, silent assembly. It will be night and the darkness will give us a big edge in surprise. Dietrich glances at his clipboard. LT. DIETRICH The drop zone is about eight kilometers from the target bridge so that if we lose security, it won't disclose the objective. (he flips the blackboard) Here's the way it looks. The sergeants have maps and will show it to you afterwards. (he draws rapidly) The Main River runs here. Sort of North-South. The bridge is here. Near Obernburg. The drop zone is north of the bridge and on the east of the river, here. It should take us not more than three hours to get from the drop zone to the bridge. (he looks at his clipboard) Here are the enemy dispositions in the bridge area. SHOT - THE MEN LISTENING As Dietrich reads from his list, the men glance at each other in surprise and dismay as the list grows formidably long. Bruggemann has a grin on his face but Kraus looks a little sick. The officers in the rear are non-committal. ANOTHER ANGLE - DIETRICH Dietrich finishes the list and pauses. LT. DIETRICH That's part of the American Third Army rear echelon and mobile reserve. But they've got bigger things on their minds than us. We've got a small enough group to slip through and a big enough one to handle anything coming our way. Dietrich flips the blackboard back over. It still has the drawing of the drop zone on it. He tears off a sheet of paper from his clipboard and scrubs most of the drawing off. LT. DIETRICH Here's what the bridge area looks like. (he draws rapidly) This is the road to Obernburg. Now the immediate area of the bridge is defended by a company of combat engineers who also maintain the span. They have about two hundred men on top of the cliffs at road bed level. SHOT - THE MEN One man has fallen asleep. A sergeant reaches over and gives him a thump on the head. He wakes up with a start and looks a little guilty. ANOTHER ANGLE - LT. DIETRICH LT. DIETRICH (pointing as he goes along) The bridge spans a deep ravine and the lower abutments are sunken into the face of the rock walls about two hundred feet above the bottom of the ravine. (using pointer to illustrate each feature) This is in our favor since we believe the bridge is only guarded from the top. By day the area below can be well protected from the high vantage point and by night it is assumed the rock walls are impossible to climb. Our job is going to be to show the Americans what we learned in our Alpine weekends. CUTS TO THE MEN They look skeptical about the sheer climb. FAVORING DIETRICH He smiles confidently. LT. DIETRICH When the mission has been completed we will infiltrate our way back through the lines in small groups. Do you have anything to add, Colonel? COL. VON SPERLING (said simply and with sincerity) No, Lieutenant. You did an excellent job. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of luck. He nods to Dietrich. LT. DIETRICH Following this briefing, each squad will be briefed in detail by their squad leaders. Then there will be hot rations. I guarantee no ersatz ersatz. We will chute up in one hour and fifteen minutes. As Lt. Dietrich leaves, there is an organized chaos of men getting up, finding their gear and shuffling out of the hanger. EXT. LATE EVENING - MEN SITTING IN GROUP The men are sitting against the wall of the hanger. They are idly eating from several cans of food. One is not eating at all but is leaning back smoking. DISSOLVE TO: INT. EVENING - LUFTWAFFE OPERATIONS ROOM Crowded into the room and sitting or standing around are Dietrich, von Sperling, Major Gosswald, Major von Bredow, three pilots and their navigators, several enlisted clerks and radio operators and a lieutenant colonel in the Luftwaffe who is in charge of the airfield. They are all sitting idly waiting for something. In the corner the radio is crackling. One of the clerks is posting the flight information on the operations board. The navigators are copying it down. One of the radio operators gets up and takes off his head set. He brings the message over to the lieutenant colonel. LT. COLONEL (in low tone) Is this the latest? RADIO OPERATOR Yes, sir. That's the special report you requested. LT. COLONEL I want a report every thirty minutes and a special report if there is any sudden change. COL. VON SPERLING (having caught something) What is it, Colonel Bleuler? Has the weather changed? The men in the room stop and look around. The navigators stop copying but the clerk keeps posting the compass plots on the blackboard. Dietrich gets up and comes over. He has been conversing quietly with Major von Bredow. LT. COLONEL I'm afraid so, colonel. The weather on the drop zone will be affected by rain and high winds moving in from the north-west in another thirty minutes. They expect it to clear in several hours. A hush falls over the room. COL. VON SPERLING Let me know immediately if the weather changes. LT. COLONEL Yes, sir. We'll continue the briefing and put the planes on standby. EXT. A GROUP OF ENLISTED MEN - EVENING The men are falling into plane loads in front of the hanger on the concrete strip. A sergeant is reading the makeup of the planes from a list. SERGEANT (loudly) First Plane: Assault Team One, Demolition One. Move into the hanger. FIRST SOLDIER (dead pan; standing in a group nearby) The German Army is the only army that holds formations for organized sleeping in ranks. SECOND SOLDIER (stonily) Your outlook has cheered up with this postponement. Your jokes are almost funny. THIRD SOLDIER (bitterly) Postponement. He thought the lieutenant said cancellation and this was a formation to sleep out the rest of the war. SERGEANT (turning to them) A little quiet so they can hear the instructions. (loudly) Second Plane: Assault Team Two, Security Team One. DISSOLVE TO: INT. HANGER - MEDIUM LONG SHOT - NIGHT The men are sleeping, leaning against the hanger walls or against their gear. Many have their helmets pulled over their faces. Here and there men are awake and are smoking in silence. There is an occasional murmured conversation. INT. LUFTWAFFE OPERATIONS ROOM Many of the personnel have left. Colonel von Sperling is wrapped in a blanket, in a chair with his feet propped on a desk. The lieutenant colonel is sitting at a desk playing cards with Major von Bredow. One of the radio operators is wrapped in a blanket, sleeping on the floor. The other is at his set. On the board are the completed flight instructions. The pilots and navigators have long since returned to the more comfortable quarters of their planes. The clock on the wall shows 2330 hours. DISSOLVE TO: INT. LUFTWAFFE OPERATIONS ROOM The clock now shows 0230. The only people awake now are the radio operator and Major von Bredow who is reading a book. The Luftwaffe officer has slumped over and is sleeping with his head on the desk. Dietrich enters and von Bredow looks up. MAJ. VON BREDOW Back again. You must have some interest in the weather. LT. DIETRICH I just have a natural curiosity. MAJ VON BREDOW Still weathered in with change expected "momentarily." COL. VON SPERLING Damn their momentary change. (he throws off the blanket and sits up) If they delay the thing any more, we'll be fighting the Americans for the airstrip. (to von Bredow) What exactly did the report say? MAJ. VON BREDOW It said exactly, sir, "No change. Weather front moving east. Change expected momentarily." INT. HANGER - DIETRICH, KRAUS, BRUGGEMANN - NIGHT Dietrich approaches the other two in the dark. LT. DIETRICH (whispering) Are you awake? LT. BRUGGEMANN I'm awake. LT. KRAUS (sitting up suddenly from near by) What is it? Are they ready? LT. DIETRICH (gloomily) No change. LT. KRAUS (eagerly) Hell, it's almost 0300. If it gets much later, it'll be canceled. They won't drop us in daylight. They're not completely insane. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. LONG SHOT OF THE HANGER AREA FAVORING GRAY SKY - DAWN MEDIUM SHOT - DIETRICH He stands stamping his feet to get them warm. He looks up at the sky. It's grey and clouded, getting light around the edge in the east. Kraus comes up behind him and pounds him on the back. LT. KRAUS (smiling) Pure Austrian weather. Rain off the mountains. Dietrich stares gloomily at the sky. The men are up and are stamping the cold and the aches out of their bones. They are cheerful, knowing the mission has undoubtedly been canceled. They call across the hanger at one another. An orderly approaches. ORDERLY Colonel von Sperling would like to see you, sir. LT. DIETRICH (to the orderly) I'm coming right away. He walks rapidly towards the operations building followed by the orderly. DISSOLVE TO: INT. THE OPERATIONS ROOM - DAWN The pilots are sitting around drinking coffee with the Luftwaffe lieutenant colonel; they are laughing and joking. Obviously the tension is off. The colonel is reading a radio dispatch. As Dietrich comes up, von Sperling motions Major von Bredow over. LT. DIETRICH (saluting) You sent for me, sir. COL. VON SPERLING You can get your men ready, Lt. Dietrich. The weather has cleared in the drop zone. (glancing at his watch and the clock) It's 0624 now. Station time will be 0650 and take-off at 0700. QUICK CUTS - THE PERSONNEL In stunned astonishment. ANOTHER ANGLE - THE OPERATIONS ROOM LT. DIETRICH (seems almost relieved) Yes, sir. COL. VON SPERLING There are undoubtedly many disadvantages. But at least they won't be expecting any attack and especially in daylight. LT. COLONEL (coming over hurriedly) I can't believe, Colonel von Sperling, that you plan to go through with this mission in the daylight. COL. VON SPERLING Colonel, my instructions were to destroy this bridge; nothing was said as to the proper time of day! (he pauses) Instruct your pilots to re-plot for a one-leg pass at the drop zone with a low level approach at 250 meters. If they hedge-hop, they shouldn't be much bothered by ground fire or fighters. Station time is 0650 and take-off at 0700 hours. The Luftwaffe officer turns away without a word and begins conferring with his pilots. COL. VON SPERLING (to Dietrich) You will probably lose security before you reach the bridge. Reroute so that the Americans won't discover the objective by plotting your route. LT. DIETRICH Yes, sir. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. AIRSTRIP IN FRONT OF THE HANGER - DAY The men are formed up in teams under the camouflage net in front of the hanger. They are talking quietly and joking. The tension is off. Dietrich comes out of the operations building and walks to the front of the formation rapidly. He looks around. LT. DIETRICH (in command voice) Sergeants, reform the men into their plane loads. And move them over to the trucks to draw chutes. There is a moment of silence as the men and NCO's grasp the situation. Then the sergeants begin to shout out orders and the men scramble back into plane load formation. The trucks with the chutes pull around in front and the sergeants begin to move the men by to draw the bag containing a back pack and reserve. Bruggemann and Kraus come rushing up. LT. KRAUS They can't be meaning to drop us now. The group of pilots and navigators with Col. Bleuler leave the operations room. LT. DIETRICH (ignoring them) They are flying a straight route to the drop zone. Drop altitude 250 meters. You won't need reserves. Have the men leave them by the planes. (he checks his watch) Have them in the planes at 0650. Take-off ten minutes after. (he looks at them) Make sure you tell your plane loads the new route azimuths. He slaps Kraus on the back and shakes his hand. Then Bruggemann's. LT. DIETRICH Good luck. See you on the drop zone. They salute and all run to their plane loads. The men have almost finished drawing chutes. DISSOLVE TO: ANOTHER ANGLE The planes have started up and taxi in front of the hangers in line. They stop. The men file over to their planes, staggering under the double loads of chutes and battle gear. They plop down their chutes. CLOSE SHOT - SEVERAL MEN IN THE STICK FIRST SOLDIER (pulling out the chute) I wish von Sperling was on this trip. I'd like to stick this knife in his ear. SERGEANT (pointing) Throw the reserves over there. We won't be needing them at 250 meters. SECOND SOLDIER (spitting) 250 meters. We don't need a chute... Just a long ladder. THIRD SOLDIER Just before you hit, jump up. SERGEANT (shouting) Put them on. SHOT - PLANE The planes are tri-motor, Junkers 502's with that peculiar corrugated metal fuselage. Dietrich jumps in the rear door. INT. PLANE - DIETRICH AND FLIGHT CHIEF Dietrich runs his hands along the edge of the door, feeling for sharp edges. FLIGHT CHIEF (shouting over engines) Do you want the bell and the light, sir. LT. DIETRICH (getting up) Right, Chief. Have the pilot check them out. The chief goes forward to pilot's compartment. FLIGHT CHIEF (to pilot) The jumpmaster wants a bell and light check, sir. PILOT (from the compartment) Right, Chief. Dietrich is pulling on the anchor line cable, testing it for tension and secureness. The emergency bell rings loudly in the troop compartment. LT. DIETRICH Bell, checked out. In a box by the door a red light flashes on. LT. DIETRICH Red light, all right. It changes to a green light. LT. DIETRICH Green all right. Everything is in good shape, Chief. We'll be loading in a couple of minutes. Dietrich jumps back out the rear door. SHOT - PLANE, DIETRICH, MEN IN HIS STICK The prop blast staggers Dietrich a little as he moves toward the men in his plane load. His sergeant, all chuted up, is waiting for him. The men are standing, squatting or sitting. SGT. STANGE All chuted up, Lieutenant. I've got your chute right here. (he points to a chute bag) LT. DIETRICH Thank you, Sergeant Stange. He unzips the bag and pulls out the reserve, then the back pack. He untwists and straightens the harness, carefully spreading out the straps and checking the chute automatically. He picks it up and Sgt. Stange takes it from him. Dietrich turns and shrugs into it like an overcoat. As he buckles it in front, Sgt. Stange tucks in a few stray edges of canopy. ANOTHER ANGLE - DIETRICH, STANGE AND THE MEN SGT. STANGE How is the fit, sir. LT. DIETRICH Too small as usual. (he raises his hands, resting them on his helmet) Buckle that belly band, will you? Get it good and tight. I almost fell out of the last one. Stange buckles the belly band and then snaps it tight. Dietrich brings down his hands to look at his watch. LT. DIETRICH That's got it. Let's check out the men and then load. We've got six minutes to station time. You start at the rear. SGT. STANGE Right, Lieutenant. ANOTHER ANGLE - DIETRICH AND THE MEN Dietrich moves down the stick checking chutes. As he comes to each man, the man raises his hands to his helmet. Dietrich checks his buckles, straps, belly band, then spins him and checks his back pack for loose silk. When he finishes he slaps the man on the rear and moves on. LT. DIETRICH (pulling on the belly band) You've got that pretty loose, Fromm. FIRST SOLDIER I like it loose, sir. Then when it opens, I know it's there. LT. DIETRICH (spinning him to check the back pack) Don't fall out; you'll scare the spectators. (he slaps him on the rear) All set. Dietrich moves to the next man. SECOND SOLDIER Any word on the wind, Lieutenant? THIRD SOLDIER (bitterly) The wind... Hell, worry about how you're going to open a tank with a pair of wire clippers. LT. DIETRICH (spinning the man and then running his hands over the chute) All set, Hassebrauk. (he moves to the third soldier) Don't worry, Corporal Vollmecke, you take a tank in each hand and crack them like nuts. (he spins Vollmecke) We'll get the wind reading from the pilot in the plane. SGT. STANGE (finishing the next man) All set, up to here, Lieutenant. LT. DIETRICH (tapping Vollmecke) Lead them on, Sergeant Stange. SHOT - MEN FILING ONTO PLANE BY REAR DOOR Stange leads off and the stick files to the rear of the plane. One by one they struggle up the steps helped by the man in the rear who holds their weapon and pushes. The engines are idling with a throaty rumble. The pilot leans out the window and shouts something to Dietrich smiling all the while. Dietrich smiles and waves. He looks at his watch once before loading on. Stange pulls him up. The crew chief leans out and unhooks the ladder, pulling it in. He shuts the door. INT. PLANE In the dim light the men are jamming themselves into the narrow canvas seats and struggling to find their seat belts. The quarters are cramped and hot. Stange moves down the aisle checking the seat belts on one side; then back up checking the other side. He takes his seat and fastens his belt. The plane stops with a lurch. The pilot begins to run up his engines. EXT. LONG SHOT OF AIRSTRIP AND THE THREE PLANES - DAY The three planes are canted to the runway running up their engines. The first plane eases off and taxis onto the end of the strip pointing down the runway. Setting his brakes he revs up. SHOT - THE PLANES Releasing his brakes, the pilot starts it down the runway. The next plane taxis up. The first roars towards the end of the strip and slowly climbs into the air. SHOT - THE PLANES The second plane and the third follow. The three reach for altitude and then level off. Turning back across the field they move into a V formation. INT. PLANE Lt. Dietrich unbuckles his seat belt and make an unbuckling movement with his hands. He lurches across the aisle to the flight chief sitting opposite. Cupping his hand he shouts above the roar of the engines. LT. DIETRICH Chief, let me have a verbal at twenty minutes and another at ten. The red light at four minutes. A one minute and the green and the bell together. Got that. FLIGHT CHIEF (nodding) Right, sir. Twenty, ten; red at four; a one and then the green and the bell. LT. DIETRICH Get the wind reading from the pilot for me as soon as he gets it. FLIGHT CHIEF (getting up) Yes, sir. Maybe he's got something now. The chief moves forward toward the pilot's compartment. Dietrich reaches up and attaches his static line to the anchor line cable. INT. PLANE - ANOTHER ANGLE Dietrich grabs the handle of the door. Bracing one foot against the wall of the plane, he cracks the suction and pulls open the door. The wind rushes in. Pushing the door as far to the rear as it will go, Dietrich reaches behind it and latches it firmly open. Grabbing tightly to both sides of the door, he leans out to look. The wind ripples his face weirdly and whips fiercely at his clothes. SHOT - THE WING AND LEFT ENGINE SHOT - THE GROUND FROM 300 FEET DISSOLVE TO: INT. PLANE The engines drone away. Several men have gotten out of their seats and are lying on the floor. Most have their eyes closed trying to rest. Some near the door, look out at the ground. One man is sharpening his killing knife even now. But most have their eyes closed. The engines drone on. Sgt. Stange gets to his feet and lurches down the aisle. He stops by Lt. Dietrich who is studying the map. Leaning one hand on the wall of the plane for balance, he bends down and shouts to Dietrich. SGT. STANGE How much longer, Lieutenant? LT. DIETRICH It's hard to tell, Sergeant Stange. Probably another thirty minutes. SGT. STANGE It's hot as hell back there. I'm going to try a little air. He hooks up and leans out the door. The wind beats in against him making a roaring sound in the door. The flight chief opens the door from the pilot's compartment and comes out. He steps over the men on the floor and comes down to Dietrich. He flashes ten fingers twice. Then he sits down on his seat. INT. PLANE The flight chief gets up and moves to the rear of the opened door. He picks up a pair of ear phones and puts them on. He plugs the set into a socket on a box on the wall of the plane. FLIGHT CHIEF Plugged in back here, Captain. Minus twelve. INT. PLANE The flight chief holds up ten fingers to Lt. Dietrich. Dietrich pulls on the pants leg of Sgt. Stange. The sergeant comes in out of the door. Dietrich holds up ten fingers. The sergeant nods and moves back to his seat. He kicks the men on the floor as he goes, signaling them back into their seats. The men who have been trying to sleep sit up, wide awake now. INT. PLANE The flight chief holds up four fingers and points to the light. The red light is on. Dietrich gets up and deliberately folds up his seat. He rehooks his static line to the cable and pushes it back out of the way. LT. DIETRICH (gesturing) Stand up and hook up. The men struggle to their feet and shuffle around until they have some room. They hook their static lines to the cable running down the center of the plane's ceiling. The men on the right hold the hook in their left hands. The men on the left hold it in their right. LT. DIETRICH Check your equipment. (he pats his chest) The men check their straps, weapons and the back pack of the man in front. LT. DIETRICH Sound off on check. SGT. STANGE (shouts) Number 20, check. (slaps the rear of the man in front) FIRST SOLDIER (shouts) 19, check. And does the same. The count comes forward. LAST SOLDIER (shouts) All check. Dietrich turns to look at the flight engineer. The chief holds up two fingers. Dietrich releases his static line and pivots to stand in the door. SHOT - THE GROUND INT. PLANE The man behind Dietrich in line tugs at his jacket. Dietrich looks around and sees the flight chief holding up one finger. He steps back into the plane for a moment and raises a clenched fist in an encouraging salute to the men and steps back into the door. SHOT - DIETRICH Dietrich coils himself in the door. His hands are flush against the outside, his head up, his knees flexed, his body straight. Suddenly the light flashes green and the bell rings in a continuous chilling clamor. Dietrich springs and is carried away. The next man pivots blindly into the door and is gone. VARIOUS SHOTS - THE MEN FALLING FROM THE PLANE The men are coiled in a bent position against the opening shock. The prop blast sweeps them back as they fall. Their static line pulls out the chute. It stretches out until it breaks away from the static line. Then the blast whips it back and it cracks open, jerking the man. He swings down under the canopy. The three planes are laying men behind them like a fish lays roe. INT. PLANE The left stick has started to move. Sgt. Stange is bringing up the rear. The men are practically running out the door now. Stange comes to the door. Pausing a moment, he gets set and then uncoils, springing up and out. AERIAL SHOT - THE THREE STRINGS OF MEN IN THE AIR AERIAL SHOT - THE GROUND BETWEEN THE FEET OF A JUMPER SHOT - FROM THE GROUND - THE THREE STICKS APPROACHING SHOTS - DIETRICH FROM THE GROUND AND AIR There is a great stillness except for an occasional rustle or crack of a canopy. Dietrich approaches the ground. His feet are apart, legs flexed. He saws back and forth on opposite risers to keep his chute from oscillating dangerously. He hits the ground with a thump, sinking to his knees and bouncing back to his feet. He grabs his settling canopy in great armfuls. He drops to the ground on one knee on top of it. Tearing at his buckles he gets out of his chute. Several more jumpers crumple around him. He works the bolt on his SMG several times to make sure it's working and then trots towards the edge of the field. VARIOUS SHOTS - MEN LANDING IN THE FIELD In the stillness the men land with a loud crump. Some make upright landings. Others, coming in on a backwards drift or oscillation, land head over heels. One man injures himself landing with a partially-opened canopy; he is being dragged across the drop zone with a wind- filled canopy when another jumper runs across the path and grabs the chute even before he gets out of his own harness. LONG SHOT - ANOTHER ANGLE The men are beginning to move off the drop zone at a crouched trot, their weapons at the ready. The sergeants are motioning them to move faster. All is ominously silent except for the panting of the men. SHOT - MEN IN TREES Two men have drifted into tall trees at the edge of the drop zone. Their chutes are tangled in the tops. They dangle about twenty-five feet from the ground. Two soldiers on the ground try to help them. SOLDIER ON GROUND Cut loose the MG, Willy. SOLDIER IN TREE All right, here it comes. He cuts the bindings tying the machine gun to his waist and thigh. It comes crashing down into the underbrush. SHOT - UP THE TREE - THE MAN AND THE CHUTE The chute slips a little. The man twists and untwists in the harness. He takes out a jump rope and ties it to the harness. Wrapping one leg around the rope, he cuts loose the harness from his body. He starts to slide down the rope. The chute pulls loose from the tree and he falls heavily to the ground from about fifteen feet in the air. SHOT - THE OTHER MAN The second man dangles lifelessly. A suspension line is twisted around his neck. He has strangled. MEDIUM LONG SHOT - MEN MOVING ALONG EDGE OF DROP ZONE REVERSE - FROM THE ASSEMBLY AREA Lt. Dietrich is dispersing the men in position as they come in. Sgt. Stange is checking the men off a list. LT. DIETRICH Demo team move straight back in. Lt. Bruggemann will put you in position. (to men walking) Move out... Move out. How many are we missing, Sergeant Stange? SGT. STANGE About fifteen, sir. Most from the security team. LT. DIETRICH Damn. (to men moving in) Security team? FIRST SOLDIER (one of three men) Yes, sir. LT. DIETRICH Where's Lt. Kraus and those two machine guns? FIRST SOLDIER I don't know, Lieutenant. LT. DIETRICH Move out along the edge about fifty meters. Corporal Muench is down there. A group of five men of the assault team run up. Dietrich grins at them. LT. DIETRICH (jokingly) No tanks yet, Corporal Vollmecke? PAGE MISSING LT. DIETRICH I'll send this gun down. Go back and pick up the other one. Hurry along anybody you find. (he punches Kraus lightly in the arm) LT. KRAUS (surprised and a little irritated by Dietrich's tone) All right. He trots back up the drop zone. LT. DIETRICH (to the gunner) Move your gun on about twenty meters to the head of that gully. The gun team trots off in the other direction along the edge of the woods. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. IN THE WOODS - THE LIEUTENANTS - DAY The woods slope sharply up hill to a ridge two hundred yards away. They are pine with occasional scrub oak and lightly scattered bushes. The ground is damp and matted with leaves. In the background, hidden or partly hidden, the patrol stretches in a long line ready to go. Some are standing, others squat. The men are alternately faced right and left for security. The lieutenants are squatting on their heels around a map. Sgt. Stange comes up. LT. DIETRICH (looking up) What's the final count? SGT. STANGE (standing) All here, Lieutenant. Except Kraeling. Had to leave him hanging. LT. DIETRICH How about the wounded? SGT. STANGE Fromm won't make it with both legs broken. The man who fell from the tree broke his elbow. Kraus has set the bones. LT. DIETRICH (getting up) Leave Fromm with some food, but get his SMG. (to Kraus as they walk) Send me up two point men. LT. KRAUS Right. They split and move through the brush to the patrol. The men stand up as the lieutenants approach. They are ready to go. DISSOLVE TO: SHOT - DIETRICH AND THE TWO POINT MEN They are checking compasses. The sun is cutting through the trees and a slight mist is rising from the damp ground. It is caught by the bushes and clings to the ground. LT. DIETRICH Keep it at 115 degrees until I change it. And check each other. And don't shoot unless you have to. He motions them forward. They take one more look at the compasses and move out about twenty yards before Dietrich starts after them. He glances behind him at the MG team. They follow him. The gunner shifts the gun which is across his shoulders like a yoke; the belt of ammo hangs down across his chest. SHOTS - THE PATROL MOVING OUT THROUGH THE MIST AND BUSHES The men follow Dietrich. They push aside the bushes with their hands. Behind the MG team is Sgt. Stange and the assault team. They each have their SMG's ready, hanging loosely from one shoulder. Following the last of the assault team is Lt. Bruggemann. He is leading the heavily ladened demolition team. They strain forward under the weight of the explosives. Next are the four climbers. One has his rope coiled around his waist. Then the men of the security team follow with the second MG team next to last. Kraus and two riflemen bring up the rear. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. THE POINT MEN - DAY The point men move cautiously through the bush. Now and then they disappear. The front man checks his compass occasionally. Suddenly he stops. SHOT - DIETRICH Dietrich signals the patrol to stop. He moves forward to the point men and squats down beside them. CLOSE - INSERT Two fairly new looking C-ration tins. CLOSE - DIETRICH He exchanges a worried glance with the point men. Then he motions for absolute stillness and listens to the forest noises, while at the same time scanning the trees before him. CLOSE - THE POINT MEN They split their attention between Dietrich and the forest. LONG SHOT Dietrich satisfies himself and motions the point men on. They rise and move ahead. Dietrich and the patrol follow. SHOT - DIETRICH NEAR - POINT MEN FAR Point men stop and point to the ground. Then they move on again. Dietrich and the patrol come up to the area. Glancing down, Dietrich sees a Superman comic book. SLOW PAN FOLLOWING POINT MEN They move down a wooded slope on a diagonal. THE CAMERA FOLLOWS THEM FROM FULL LEFT TO FULL RIGHT. They reach the bottom of the gentle slope, push through the thick band of bushes at the bottom and start up the far slope. THE CAMERA SWINGS FULL RIGHT AND HOLDS FOLLOWING THE POINT MEN. Dietrich comes into view in the foreground. QUICK CUT: SHOT - POINT MEN NEAR They see a movement in the brush ahead about 150 yards up the slope. SHOT - POINT MEN CROUCHING, SMG'S READY Dietrich moves up to them at the crouch, very quietly. He squats beside them. They point up ahead and Dietrich scans the area. FIRST POINT MAN (softly) I saw movement, sir. About 150 meters up that slope. LT. DIETRICH Flank left for one hundred meters. Keep the area covered but don't fire. They nod and Dietrich scrambles back. DIETRICH AND PATROL Dietrich half stands. He raises his arm and pumps it once. Then he motions off to the left. The patrol flanks left moving at a crouch as silently as possible. SHOT - THE PATROL Suddenly several rifle shots crack out followed by a short burst of BAR fire. The patrol squats immediately, disappearing below the level of the bushes. The shots crash in the trees behind them and the noise rolls in echoes across the small valley. SHOT - FEATURING DIETRICH AND MG SERGEANT Dietrich turns to the MG Sergeant. LT. DIETRICH (with hushed fierceness) Tell them not to return fire and to keep moving. Pass it along. He moves forward and the patrol, following his lead, continues to flank. The fire starts again with a M-1 emptying an eight round clip as quickly as possible. The ping of the ejected clip is followed by the crashing sound of the rounds in the trees. SHOT - THE PATROL The Germans continue to move. They change direction at Dietrich's signal and move again on the original azimuth. A light sun breaks through the trees and cuts the mist away. The patrol reaches the crest of the ridge. SHOT - THE PATROL The Germans clear the ridge line and disappear. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. THE POINT MEN AND DIETRICH - ABOVE ROAD - DAY Dietrich and the point men stand, looking down the slope of the hill at a road curving along the valley. The heavy growth of pine threes partially conceals it. They are about 200 yards from the road. FIRST POINT MAN It's not on the map, Lieutenant. LT. DIETRICH Go down and take a look. Get me an azimuth. The point men move off down the slope. Dietrich motion up the patrol. They come up and halt. Dietrich sends back for Bruggemann and Kraus. They come up on the double. SHOT - THE THREE LIEUTENANTS SITTING ON THE GROUND Behind them the patrol is spaced out and well deployed in a defensive perimeter. The effort of climbing hill after hill at a rapid pace is beginning to tell. Their shirts are soaked in sweat even in the chilled air. The slope is steep and many men brace their feet against trees to keep from sliding. Even while resting, their weapons are ready and they cover alternately right and left. The three officers are checking their maps. LT. DIETRICH (almost to himself) One thing's certain. We don't cross any roads on the planned course. LT. BRUGGEMANN According to the map we should reach the gully very soon. LT. DIETRICH (grimly) Yes. The point men struggle back up the slope. FIRST POINT MAN (breathlessly) Nothing on the road, Lieutenant. The azimuth is south 168 degrees. They flop down on the ground like hunting dogs. Dietrich carefully studies his map. LT. KRAUS Those damned Luftwaffe pilots dumped us on the wrong drop zone. We're lost. LT. BRUGGEMANN Those navigators couldn't find their way up a rope. LT. KRAUS I thought that drop zone looked different. As if it wasn't bad enough before -- now we don't even know where we're going. Dietrich looks up sharply and breaks into the conversation abruptly. LT. DIETRICH (to Bruggemann) Take Stange and form two groups for road crossing with one MG in each. Take them down by the road. The three officers get up. Bruggemann moves off up the slope to find Stange. Dietrich pulls Kraus off to one side. TWO SHOTS - DIETRICH AND KRAUS In the background the patrol moves down the slope and is broken down into two lines paralleling the road. LT. DIETRICH What are you thinking about, talking like that in front of those men. LT. KRAUS (shrugs) They know we are lost without me telling them. LT. DIETRICH It's your job to set an example for them. You're not going to let me down, are you? LT. KRAUS I don't think it's necessary for you to ask me that question. LT. DIETRICH (after a long, accusative look) Perhaps you're right. I apologize. LONG SHOT - THE SLOPE AND ROAD FROM ABOVE The back firing and roar of a truck engine as it gears down sounds loudly in the valley. Dietrich and Kraus crouch down and move down slope to the patrol. They slip and scramble in the stones and bushes. THE CAMERA FOLLOWS THEM TO Bruggemann and Stange. SHOT - THE ROAD - MOTOR CONVOY Around the northern curve of the road 400 yards away rolls a jeep followed by a truck. In the back of the truck are about fifteen American foot- soldiers. Mounted on the cab roof is a .50 cal MG manned and ready against planes. Following the first truck at regular intervals is an entire convoy. They keep coming around the curve. THE CAMERA PULLS BACK UP THE SLOPE UNTIL IT CONTAINS THE PATROL. SHOT - THE OFFICERS AND STANGE (RAIN) The trucks keep coming. It starts to rain gently. The patter of rain on the leaves combines with the swish of tires on the now wet road and the engine noise. The trucks now tow artillery. SGT. STANGE (awed and shaking his head) That must be an entire mechanized division and its artillery. LT. BRUGGEMANN (grinning) Think you could handle it, Sergeant Stange? SGT. STANGE (awed and shaking his head) That's the way we were in Russia. LT. DIETRICH Move along the lines Sgt. Stange. Tell the men to stay put and keep still. Have the second group face up-hill. Stange slips off along the two lines of men. The officers sit silent and the trucks keep coming. The rain now falls more heavily. DISSOLVE TO: THE SAME SCENE It is now raining steadily. The road is clear. The lines of men are standing silently in the rain. Dietrich is placing the second MG in position to cover the road during the crossing. He points and the MG team goes in place. SHOTS The first line moves down the hill and up to the edge of the embankment, crouching and ready. Behind them the second wave waits to go into position. SHOTS There is a long, tense silence as everyone listens for approaching trucks. Everything is silent. No trucks. Dietrich waves his hand forward and the first wave led by Kraus and Stange drops over the embankment. Immediately the second wave falls into position behind them. SHOTS - THE FIRST WAVE ON THE ROAD They slide down the muddy embankment into the near drainage ditch. Slipping and falling in the greasy, red mud they scramble out onto the road and pound across leaving red mud tracked on the black asphalt road. The rain begins to melt it into a red stain. They scramble up the far embankment. The rain has made it very slippery and many fall back. Some leap clear across the far ditch and stick right in the bank, kicking toe holds and clawing up. SHOTS From around the curve comes the back fire of an approaching truck. Several men are still floundering in the ditch. Men reach down and give them hands up. Stange reaches down and grabs up the last man by the scruff of his uniform and hauls him bodily up into the bushes just as the truck clears the corner. CLOSE SHOT - THE EMBANKMENT The section of the embankment where the men scrambled up is torn up and conspicuous. The CAMERA SLOWLY DRAWS BACK. The rain has smeared the mud into a wide, red stain. DRAWING BACK FARTHER THE CAMERA PICKS UP THE TRUCK ON THE LEFT. The truck skids slightly on the mud and rolls on. The driver is concentrating on the road. It disappears around the south curve. SHOT - THE ROAD The rain starts a sudden, fierce, noisy downpour. It splatters heavy drops on the asphalt. Suddenly, the second wave bursts out of the bushes and leaps down the embankment. They stumble across the ditch and out on the road. QUICK CUT - THE NORTHERN CURVE A jeep rounds the curve followed quickly by another. They are a motorized patrol. The noise of the rain has concealed their approach. Both are open and mounting a .50 cal MG on a pedestal mount. Each carries a driver, scout, gunner and assistant gunner. QUICK CUT - THE SECOND WAVE The Germans see the jeeps and dive across the road into the far ditch. QUICK CUT - THE JEEPS The first jeep sees the men crossing. It tries to stop but skids in the mud and spins off the road to the left. The second jeep stops. The gunner opens fire. SHOT - THE SECOND JEEP - 100 YARDS AWAY Fire from the second jeep plows the embankment behind the men in the ditch, preventing them from moving. SHOT - BRUGGEMANN AND THE MG TEAM Bruggemann jerks the MG gunner up and helps him jam his gun into firing position, shouting to get the jeep on the road. The gun opens up. Its fire is high but it draws the .50 cal fire. SHOT - THE FIRST JEEP IN THE DITCH The first jeep is stuck in the mud. The driver races the engine and tries to jockey it out but it sinks deeper. The gunner opens fire and the others roll off into the ditch. The rounds ricochet off the asphalt and scream off into the woods across the road. SHOT - DIETRICH IN THE DITCH Dietrich scramble crab-like up the ditch towards the second jeep. He cradles his SMG in his left hand and plucks out a grenade with his other. He gets part way to the jeep before the scout in the front seat spots him. SHOT - THE JEEP The scout fires at Dietrich with his carbine. The jeep's wheels scream as the driver gives it the gas, but the traction is bad on the rain-slick pavement and the jeep slews sideways before it can build up speed. SHOT - DIETRICH Dietrich skids up against the lip of the ditch on his belly and underhands a grenade beneath the rear of the jeep. SHOT - THE JEEP The explosion turns the jeep on its side. The wheels spin wildly in the air. It topples over. The wheels continue to spin. SHOT - THE MG OF THE FIRST WAVE ON THE EMBANKMENT Stange has finally gotten the first MG into action. It opens fire. From the rear of the gun THE CAMERA MOVES IN CLOSE UNTIL IT IS LOOKING ALONG THE AXIS OF SIGHT. The first burst is off to the right. The gunner shifts the burst onto the jeep and holds the fire on it. THE CAMERA MOVES FORWARD TOWARD THE JEEP. The rounds chew up the jeep and splatter in the mud embankment behind it. The gunner is killed instantly. THE CAMERA MOVES CLOSER. Suddenly the jeep explodes, a tracer igniting the gasoline from the ruptured gas tank. REVERSE - TOWARD THE GERMANS WITH JEEP IN FOREGROUND The American scout runs screaming up on the road. His clothes are on fire. All the others are dead. SHOT - THE GERMANS IN THE DITCH The American jumps into the ditch and rolls in the mud. Several Germans nearby beat out the flames with their hands. SHOTS - DIETRICH Dietrich runs down the ditch, yelling for them to get up the embankment. Bruggemann is pushing the MG team up the bank. They hand up the wounded. The prisoner is shoved up the bank by Bruggemann. Two men lie dead in the ditch. Another of the wounded dies as he is being passed up the embankment. They lay him down gently in the mud. Dietrich is shouting for them to clear the road; he urges them with vigor. He and Bruggemann are the last to leave. Several men pull them up. SHOT - THE ROAD The road is quiet except for the burning roar of the gasoline. The area is a mess of broken equipment, tracked mud and smoke. The dead lie quietly in the ditch or on the road. EXT. THE PATROL MOVING IN THE WOODS UP THE SLOPE - DAY The patrol is moving at a fast pace. Dietrich drops back along the column to urge the men forward faster. They are moving at almost a trot. He races back towards the front. He is carrying one of the MG's plus his own weapon. They are moving up a long, wide wash that is clogged with brush. There are rocks of a dried-up water course underfoot. In many places they are concealed with a matting of leaves. The rain is no longer falling but the sky is threatening. SHOT - THE MEN Their mouths are open gasping for breath. Their uniforms are steaming from their body heat. They pay attention to nothing but the ground underfoot and the steps of the man in front. Their only thought is to keep up the pace. SHOT - BRUGGEMANN AND PRISONER In the middle of the column, Bruggemann is pushing the prisoner ahead of him. The American is hurt from his wounds and in a daze at being captured so unexpectedly. He slips on a rock and Bruggemann quickly pulls him up by his belt. SHOT - DIETRICH AND WOUNDED MEN Dietrich is helping one of the wounded German up the wash by the seat of his pants. The man bleeds to death from a wound in his neck and in the rush and falls face down. The men behind them pass around as Dietrich bends down and turns him over. The man is staring straight ahead; his face is very white under the grime. He is a demo man. Dietrich unbuckles his demo pack, shifts the MG to one shoulder and swings the pack over the other. He closes the man's eyes with a sweep of his hand. Standing up, he turns to the stragglers in the rear. LT. DIETRICH (shouting) Hurry up. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. PATROL ON A HILLTOP - DAY The members of the patrol are widely deployed in various attitudes of alert exhaustion. Some men are still straggling up. Stange is in the rear of them, encouraging them on and half-carrying a wounded man. He reaches the top and gently lowers him to the ground. The wounded man begins to gingerly unlace his boot. Dietrich calls Stange over. LT. DIETRICH We're not going to be here long, sergeant. First, get security out. Then I want a complete status report on dead, wounded and missing. Also on any significant ammo shortages. Bruggemann comes up. LT. BRUGGEMANN I've got that prisoner over here, Lieutenant Dietrich. Dietrich turns his attention to the prisoner. SHOT - THE PRISONER The prisoner is sitting on the ground by a fallen tree. He is hunched over, supporting his left arm by cradling the elbow in his right hand. His clothes are scorched and his hair and eyebrows are singed. SHOT - FAVORING DIETRICH, KRAUS AND BRUGGEMANN - MEDIC AND PRISONER IN B.G. In b.g. the medic opens his kit bag. He whips out his knife and cuts open the man's shirt. The medic begins to spread salve from a tube on the burns. The prisoner looks over anxiously as the officers inspect his things. LT. BRUGGEMANN (squatting on the ground) Here are his personal effects. LT. DIETRICH (going through them) Nothing here. He's Corporal Robert John Scott, 323rd Reconnaissance Company. It's on these orders here. (looks at the dog tags) Serial 17147358. Protestant. (he looks through the billfold) Money. Photo of girl friend. Photo of a dog. Looks like a Weimaraner. I used to have one. (he throws the inspected things in a little pile in the ground) Letters from home. (he discards these and shakes the odds and ends in his hands) LT. BRUGGEMANN He can tell us where we are. LT. DIETRICH I am aware of that, Bruggemann. He tosses Bruggemann a stick of the prisoner's gum and gathers up all the things in his hands. The medic is finishing the bandaging. Dietrich stands up and walks over. LOW ANGLE - DIETRICH ABOVE MEDIC AND PRISONER MEDIC All done, sir. He'll be all right. (exits) LT. DIETRICH Good morning, Corporal Scott. Feeling pretty under the weather, I suppose. CORPORAL I'm not complaining. Dietrich places the man's personal belongings on the ground. The prisoner tries to resist the temptation to grab them eagerly. With a studied casual air he stuffs them back into his pockets. LT. DIETRICH You'll find everything untouched. CORPORAL Thanks. LT. DIETRICH I must pay you a compliment, corporal. CORPORAL Oh? LT. DIETRICH Very few men would have been able to experience what you have just gone through with as few ill effects as you have. CORPORAL I wish my lieutenant could hear that. LT. DIETRICH (laughs cordially) Like a cigarette? CORPORAL Thanks. They both light up. Dietrich exhales as if he has nothing to do but sit and chat. LT. DIETRICH (charmingly) Don't say it. I admit your American cigarettes are much better but they are rather difficult to buy just now. CORPORAL (grudgingly laughs) Say, I know you're supposed to be asking the questions but do you mind if I ask you one?