The door opens and Steiner COMES IN. The scowl leaves
Brandt's face. He strides forward to meet Steiner;
presses his hand vigorously.
BRANDT
So here are you -- unpunctual and
unsoldierly as ever.
He laughs and propels Steiner toward a chair.
BRANDT
(laughs)
I read your report. It's enormously
valuable. I intend to transmit it
personally to the General -- Ah,
one thing. Captain Stransky has
sent in an official complaint about
the guns. What have you to say to
that?
STEINER
(stolidly)
What can I Say? I threw away German
guns to make room for Russian guns.
BRANDT
Why?
STEINER
The Russian guns are better. I know
it. You know it. The men know it.
Captain Stransky seems somewhat in
the dark.
Brandt looks at him.
BRANDT
You're a fresh bastard, aren't
you?
STEINER
Yes, sir.
Brandt looks at Steiner and crumples Stransky's report. He
offers Steiner a cigarette.
BRANDT
Last month I offered to pull
you out of the line and give
you a staff post?
STEINER
Yes, sir --- and I remember refusing.
BRANDT
....something about your feeling of
solidarity with your men. Well --
I renew the offer. I want you on
my staff.
No answer from Steiner.
BRANDT
All right -- what's the reason for
refusing this time?
STEINER
(after a moment)
I don't want to be dependent on
anyone -- not even a regimental
commander.
BRANDT
As usual, I find it hard to under-
stand you.
STEINER
(dryly)
I'm sorry to hear that. A good
sgt. should be completely under-
stood by his superior officer.
BRANDT
Steiner! Are you laughing at me?
(getting up)
Steiner stands up and looks expectantly at Brandt, whose
mouth twitches.
BRANDT
(voice shaking)
Get out!
Steiner half salutes and leaves.
DISSOLVE TO:
in machine gun emplacement. Darkness has fallen. Maag is
looking out into the night. Suddenly, a Russian sub-
machine gun OPENS UP. Maag, frightened, tries to bury his
head in the dirt.
walking in the darkness. At the BURST of BULLETS, he has
dropped to one knee. Now, there is silence again, and
Steiner peers cautiously into the darkness. There is
ANOTHER BURST of FIRE and Steiner stretches out flat on the
ground. Then there is silence again. Steiner gets up
quickly and bounds to the nearest machine gun emplacement
-- bumping into Maag, who is trying to get out. Another
BURST of BULLETS.
STEINER
(shouting to be
heard)
Where are you going?
MAAG
(stammering)
To -- get reinforcements.
STEINER
(angrily)
Leaving your post for that?
He pushes Maag back into the hole. They huddle together till
the Russian machine guns are quiet. Then Steiner peers
through the loophole. A few shells WHINE through the air,
EXPLODE nearby.
MAAG
(gasping)
They must be right in front of
us. In the Shell holes down
there.
Behind them there is the SOUND of RUNNING FEET and Schnurrbart
dives into the emplacement. Behind him come Kruger and
Hollerbach, and Lieutenant Meyer.
MEYER
What's happening?
STEINER
The big craters on
the slope are full of
Russians.
Meyer stands frowning for a few seconds, then:
MEYER
(to Steiner)
Signal for a barrage. Kruger --
get the rest of the company. I'll
inform the Commander.
He hurries OUT. Steiner picks up the flare gun.
Back bent, he LEAVES the emplacement.
as he reaches a position in the trench. He inserts the
cartridges in the flare gun. He sends up a FLARE.
ILLUMINED by the FLARE. The dark shapes of the Russians are
visible in the craters. Then there is darkness -- then once
again the landscape is ILLUMINED. The dark shapes can be
seen burrowing into the ground.
He is looking at his watch with bated breath. Then he smiles
grimly as a hollow roaring SOUNDS above his head. It swells
rapidly to a mighty moan and a moment later comes the heavy
detonation. Steiner turns as he HEARS hasty FOOTSTEPS.
He sees Meyer running past him toward the MG emplacement.
Steiner follows.
as Steiner slides IN, followed by Meyer. The men of the
platoon are already assembled.
MEYER
Commander's order. The Second
Platoon is to undertake a counter-
attack at once. You are to occupy
the craters and take as many
prisoners as possible. Sergeant
Steiner, you will command. How do
you think to proceed?
STEINER
(considers briefly)
We'll attack from three sides. Kruger
from the west, Schnurrbart from the
east and I from the south. When the
firing starts We'll need artillery
support -- to keep the Russians pinned
down in the woods. I guess that's
all.
MEYER
(nodding)
Good in theory; let's hope it works
out in practice.
STEINER
(smiles grimly)
It's too simple; it'll never work.
All right -- First Platoon, down the
trench till I step you.
With bent backs, Anselm and Pasternack in the lead, the men
start down the trench.
as with bent backs and faces taut with tension they proceed
down the trench. The CLATTER of weapons persists.
The men stop, look at each other -- some with frightened grins.
ANSELM
(With a nervous
laugh)
Sergeant -- could I go make a
telephone call?
A titter, totally Without mirth, runs through the men.
STEINER
(to Kruger)
You and your boys stay here.
Steiner raises his arm. The rest of the men follow him.
as Steiner and the men come INTO VIEW. Steiner raises his
hand in a signal to halt. Then he peers over the trench,
lifts himself over, gives the signal for the men to follow.
We SEE the shadowy figures of Steiner and the men descending
the slope. When they reach the level field Steiner again
gives the signal to halt.
STEINER
(to Schnurrbart)
You wait here. Attack in exactly
five minutes --
Schnurrbart looks at his watch.
STEINER
As soon as the first shots are fired,
we'll come in. Clear?
SCHNURRBART
(grunting)
All Clear.
He shakes hands with Steiner, who walks into the darkness
followed by Kern, Anselm and Pasternack.
trudging toward a clump of woods. Suddenly, Steiner drops
to the ground.
The other men have wordlessly followed his example. Anselm,
crawling on his belly, comes INTO THE SCENE.
ANSELM
(whispering)
What's wrong?
Steiner points his head leftward. Anselm follows his gaze.
moving cautiously through the darkness. They are no more
than twenty yards away.
ANSELM
Russkis! At least a hundred of
them!
Steiner is hesitant.
STEINER
How many men has Schnurrbart got --
a dozen? They'll run right over
them.
ANSELM
Why don't we fire on them now?
STEINER
That may louse up the whole counter-
attack.
(bites his lips as
he thinks hard)
Schnurrbart probably won't even
see them coming --
He reaches into his belt for flares.
STEINER
A couple of flares -- and Schnurrbart
can see he's getting visitors --
Then if we start shooting up
their rear --
(shrugs)
Maybe, the confusion --
He sends up two flares in quick succession.
is taken by surprise. SHOTS RING OUT, several fall.
STEINER
All right -- after them. Stick close
together and don't save on hand
grenades.
(ironically)
Remember, the eyes of the entire
German nation are upon you.
He runs in the direction of the Russians, the men following.
The air is crackling with the SOUND of GUNFIRE and heavy
EXPLOSIONS. Captain Stransky comes running OUT of the
bunker, followed by Lieutenant Triebig. A Private comes
running INTO the SCENE from the opposite direction.
PRIVATE
Word from Corporal Schnurrbart,
sir. The Russians have broken
into the trenches.
Triebig looks alarmed.
STRANSKY
(to Triebig)
Take up positions in front of the
bunker with all the men attached
to staff. I'll phone the combat
train.
He turns and runs hack INTO the bunker.
manning a machine gun. They are lying on the slope FIRING
toward the trenches.
ANSELM
We've mowing them down.
STEINER
Who? Ours or theirs?
There is the SOUND of faraway BURSTS of machine gun fire.
Hollerbach and Kern are helping Anselm who is limping
badly. Behind them are Dorn and Kruger. All look weary
and begrimed.
as they come IN.
KERN
(to Anselm)
You're a damn fool not to go to
the Field Hospital --
ANSELM
(sinking to the floor)
I'll wait until the holiday rush
is over. Otherwise, they're
just as likely to amputate as not.
HOLLERBACH
Does anybody still have any idea
what the hell went on?
DORN
(who seems dazed)
--- confusion --- confusion --
ANSELM
I couldn't see anything. When
something moved I fired at it.
Probably got as many Germans as
Russians.
HOLLERBACH
Shut up!
ANSELM
Please -- a little respect for a
wounded man.
Steiner comes IN. He has a bandage on top of his head.
STEINER
Kruger, what happened to you at the
signal?
KRUGER
I was Clearing Out the craters --
then I heard the firing from your
direction --
STEINER
I was wondering if you were waiting
for a formal invitation.
KRUGER
You know what you can do with your
fuckin' sarcasm. I saved your ass.
STEINER
Oh, did you? Well, you know what
You can do with my --
as Stransky and Triebig come IN. The men start to come to
attention.
STRANSKY
(curtly)
At ease.
(to Steiner)
That was a bad business. You know
half of 2nd Company was put out of
action?
STEINER
Yes, Sir. Our platoon was hit, too.
STRANSKY
Why didn't the plan go according to
schedule?
KRUGER
We didn't think that --
*以下SCENE67まで不明。