Steiner wipes his sleeve with his right hand.
STRANSKY
For that remark alone, back home
I would have had dogs chase you
over the fields until your feet
were bleeding straps.
STEINER
We're not back home.
STRANSKY
You'll wish you were before long.
(turns his back on
Steiner, picks up
the phone)
Triebig? Come in here!
He hangs up, turns, sees that Steiner is leaning easily
against the wall.
STRANSKY
Stand at attention!
Steiner takes a half step forward, lets his arms dangle.
The door opens and Triebig COMES IN.
STRANSKY
How far has my new bunker progressed?
TRIEBIG
About a foot and a half.
STRANSKY
The bunker is to be ten feet deep.
Sergeant Steiner will work on it
tonight until that depth is reached.
TRIEBIG
(astonished)
Tonight?
STRANSKY
Tonight. I shall hold your respon-
sible for having that bunker ready
by tomorrow morning.
TRIEBIG
Yes, sir.
Steiner has listened with an impassive face. Now, without
change of expression, he holds the door open for Triebig,
then he turns to look at Stransky. without a word, he
GOES OUT.
as they walk toward the spot (seen in b.g.) where the new
bunker is being dug. They walk in silence a moment.
TRIEBIG
I want you to know I have nothing
to do with this business.
STEINER
That's lucky for you.
(pause)
Where's your "friend"?
TRIEBIG
(looking straight
ahead)
He's dead.
STEINER
Oh -- too bad.
(sardonically)
Well -- bear up. Fresh recruits are
coming in every day.
Triebig looks at him and his voice shakes with hatred.
TRIEBIG
I have only one wish, and the
Commander shares it. We could
court martial you or get rid of
you some other way. But we want
to have the pleasure of seeing
you -- croak.
STEINER
(smiles)
You'll have to take very good care
of yourself if you want to outlive
me.
Triebig clenches his fists in helpless fury.
TRIEBIG
Thank you for the warning.
STEINER
You're entirely welcome.
By this time they have reached the pit where four men are
digging.
TRIEBIG
(to the men)
Ail right -- you're relieved. You
may return to your quarters.
The men, seeing only Steiner with Triebig, don't quite
comprehend.
TRIEBIG
(shouting)
I said you may return to your
quarters!
The men hastily drop their shovels, clamber out of the pit,
and walk AWAY. They keep looking back at Triebig and
Steiner, still not certain of what's going on. Triebig
turns to Steiner.
TRIEBIG
If I were you, I'd make sure it
was done by morning.
STEINER
It won't be for lack of trying,
sir.
Triebig glowers at him, walks AWAY. Steiner jumps into
the pit, starts to shovel. The CAMERA notes that Steiner
is up to his kneecaps in the pit.
DISSOLVE TO:
The CAMERA PANS UP from the boots to Steiner's face.
Steiner is asleep in a chair, his feet stretched out.
The scene is the outer room of Brandt's command post.
After a moment, the inner door opens and Kiesel and
Triebig COME OUT.
KIESEL
You'll wait here, Lieutenant.
Triebig nods nervously, Kiesel looks at Steiner, shakes
his head.
KIESEL
Steiner!
Steiner opens his eyes, stumbles to his feet, straightens
up. Kiesel holds the door open. Steiner looks at Triebig,
then walks IN.
Brandt is sitting behind a huge, clumsy desk piles with
all sorts of useless objects. He holds a lighted cigarette
between his fingers. Steiner and Kiesel COME IN.
BRANDT
So there you are. Next time you're
wounded, give me a week's notice
that we're going to lose you, ha,
ha. How are you, Steiner?
STEINER
I can't complain.
Brandt stands up, shakes hands heartily, then gestures
toward chair.
BRANDT
Make yourself comfortable.
(extends cigarette
case to Steiner)
How was it in the hospital?
STEINER
(laconically)
Pretty good.
BRANDT
And the Rest Home?
STEINER
I recommend it.
BRANDT
(laughs, then, casually)
That night you were wounded -- did
you know that Captain Stransky
led the Second Company's counter-
attack?
STEINER
That's what they tell me.
BRANDT
Is it true?
STEINER
The counterattack was led by
Lieutenant Meyer. Captain Stransky
was nowhere in sight.
Brandt and Kiesel exchange glances.
KIESEL
Are you sure of that?
STEINER
Absolutely. In the first place,
I would have seen him, and in the
second place, Lieutenant Meyer had
to report to the Captain what had
been happening in the lines.
KIESEL
How do you know that?
STEINER
I was there when Lieutenant Meyer
phoned.
BRANDT
A-ha!
(sharply, to Kiesel)
Fetch Triebig.
Kiesel GOES OUT.
BRANDT
(grimly)
I think you're entitled to a little
fun.
as it opens and Triebig and Kiesel COME IN. Triebig looks
very worried. For a moment, Brandt just looks at Triebig
who bites his lip. Finally, Brandt speaks. His voice is
unusually soft and low.
BRANDT
You signed your Captain's report,
Lieutenant Triebig. Were you
present when Captain Stransky
led the counterattack?
TRIEBIG
(after a notice-
able hesitation)
I accompanied the commander to the
hill and saw him calling several
men around him. Then he sent me
back to the command post.
BRANDT
Then how do you know that Stransky
really led the counterattack? You
signed a statement to that effect,
Lieutenant Triebig.
TRIEBIG
I -- I learned of it from wounded
men who were returning.
BRANDT
Can you give me the name of one
of these wounded men?
TRIEBIG
They weren't staff men -- just company
men. I -- I knew them only by sight.
Besides, it was pitch dark when I
spoke to them.
BRANDT
(icily)
I want you to know, Lieutenant
Triebig, that I have had your
statements checked. Captain
Kiesel will inform you of the
results of our investigation.
Steiner watches closely as Kiesel takes a sheet of paper
out of his pocket, studies its contents for a moment.
KIESEL
(placidly)
Our investigation so far has
disclosed that at the moment
there are forty-two men in 2nd
Company who took part in that
counterattack. They declare
Unanimously that the attack was
led by Lieutenant Meyer. None
of them saw Captain Stransky, and
none of them heard that he was
even with the company.
Brandt turns to Triebig, who looks ds if he were standing
against a wall watching an execution squad line up in front
of him.
BRANDT
To my mind, there is nothing more
contemptible than snatching the
laurels that properly belong to
a man who died in action. I shall
abide by Sergeant Steiner's testimony.
If he stands by his statement that
Captain Stransky was not with the
company, I shall be compelled to
institute disciplinary proceedings
against the Captain. You may go
now. You are no longer needed
here.
TRIEBIG
Yes, sir.
He doesn't look at Steiner as he LEAVES the room.
BRANDT
(to Steiner)
Very well. Do you stand by your
statement?
To Brandt's surprise, Steiner doesn't answer immediately.
Then, after some hesitation:
STEINER
Would it be possible for me to
think it over for a few days?
BRANDT
(anger and disappoint-
ment in his voice)
Think it over? What is there to
think over? Did you see Stransky
or not?
Steiner doesn't answer.
BRANDT
I don't understand you. Are you
a friend of Stransky's? My im-
pression is that you wish him
in hell.
STEINER
My differences with Captain Stransky
are a private matter.
BRANDT
(losing patience)
Oh, they are? Why were you
ordered to dig Stransky's bunker
tonight?
Steiner compresses his lips.
BRANDT
I asked you something!
Steiner looks up, their eyes meet.
STEINER
Do you want to hear lies?
BRANDT
(leaning forward)
Do you know that Stransky intends
to recommend disciplining you?
STEINER
(a growl)
If I were he, I wouldn't lose a
minute about it.
BRANDT
(to Kiesel)
I really think I should place a
guard over him and have him dig
holes until he's blue in the
face.
KIESEL
(shrugs)
Why try to revise the decisions of
Providence?
BRANDT
(sternly, to Steiner)
Listen to me. You know I've always
shown a great deal of understanding
for you. But I am beginning to
get tired of battling with your
superiors over you.
STEINER
(defiantly)
I didn't ask you to.
AS soon as the words are out, it is obvious from Steiner's
expression that he regrets going that far, but it is too
late. Brandt rises and leans on his desk. His voice is
hoarse with rage.
BRANDT
Didn't ask me to! You didn't ask
me to! Have you gone clean out
of your mind? Do you have any
idea what you're saying?
KIESEL
Steiner -- you ungrateful idiot --
For a second, Steiner closes his eyes. Se is struggling
not to let the words out -- but they come pouring forth
violently.
STEINER
What are you asking me, Captain
Kiesel? To love Colonel Brandt?
I hate Colonel Brandt. I hate
you, Captain Kiesel, and Stransky
and Triebig, and ever since I've
put on this damn uniform I've hated
everybody and anybody connected
with it. If I get into any trouble,
if I have any problem with anything
or anybody, I'll solve them myself --!
Thank you very much!
Me pauses, shaking. There is a dead silence in the room.
Brandt is breathing heavily. His unsteady hands grope
across the top of his desk.
BRANDT
(his voice broken)
Get out. Get out of here at once!
Steiner doesn't move for a split second, then he GOES OUT.
Brandt tries to regain control of himself. Kiesel looks
at the floor.
DISSOLVE TO:
all headed west. This is followed by QUICK CUTS of the
troop-laden trucks. The total impression is of a gigantic
exodus.
Steiner, Schnurrbart, Kruger, Zoll, and Anselm are all
present. They have packed all their belongings, ready
to move out. Schnurrbart and Kruger are playing cards.
Steiner is sitting quietly on his bunk. The others are
moving about -- obviously beset by impatience.
KERN
Why the hell aren't we moving
out?
ZOLL
What's everybody so worried
about? Moving a regiment is
quite a job, let me tell you.
It doesn't move all at once.
The PHONE RINGS.
ZOLL
Ah -- that's probably our orders
now.
AS Steiner goes to the phone, everybody makes for their
packs, ready to leave at the word.
STEINER
(into phone)
Yes -- yes, sir -- I see --
(no change of
expression)
Yes, sir -- at what time? -- Yes,
sir.
KRUGER
(to Steiner, who
has hung up)
What's the good word?
STEINER
The good word is that we've been
elected.
KERN
(cautiously)
Elected to -- what?
STEINER
Captain Stransky's paid us a great
honor. We -- that is, our platoon --
is to stay here as a rear guard
until dark. For two hours. Maybe
three.
The men are frozen in disbelief.
STEINER
I think we ought to feel very
proud.
ANSELM
Those idiots are crazy.
SCHNURRBART
Not so crazy. They're pulling out,
we're not.
STEINER
(takes a map from
his pocket, spreads
it on the table,
traces with his thumb)
The division is moving back to new
positions east of Krimskaya --
ZOLL
(nodding)
Much easier to launch an offensive
from there.
SCHNURRBART
Why us? Of all the platoons in the
battalion, why us?
KERN
(violently)
Because our sergeant is such a pal
of Captain Stransky'e! That's
why us!
STEINER
I'm sorry. In the next war I'll try
to pick my enemies more carefully.
The car stands outside Stransky's bunker. A military
CHAUFFEUR is at the wheel, and the MOTOR is RUNNING.
A steady stream of trucks and equipment, headed west,
flows past the staff car. In the b.g. the door to Stransky's
bunker flies open and the Captain with Lieutenant Triebig
behind him, STEPS OUT. As they make for the car, the phone
within the bunker is HEARD RINGING.
as Stransky comes INTO the SCENE, picks up phone. Triebig
is in the b.g.
STRANSKY
Captain Stransky -- Yes, yes,
Captain Kiesel, we were just
about to leave -- Yes, sir --
What's that, sir?
(his expression is
cloudy as he listens)
I see, sir. Yes, sir. I'll attend
to that immediately. Yes, sir.
He hangs up. Triebig looks at him inquiringly.
STRANSKY
Intelligence reports that the
Russians are already on the high-
way. Regiment feels that it would
be not only useless but suicidal
to leave behind any rear guard
platoons. They're to join the
evacuation immediately.
TRIEBIG
I see.
He and Stransky exchange glances.
TRIEBIG
Shall I call -- I believe it's
Sergeant Steiner's platoon, is
it not?
Stransky nods. Triebig waits for him to say something,
but he doesn't so Triebig picks up the phone.
STRANSKY
Just a second, Lieutenant --
Triebig turns to face Stransky.
STRANSKY
What do you think of this story?
We tried to establish telephone
communication with Steiner's
bunker, but evidently his wires
had already been cut. You, Lieuten-
ant Triebig, upon personal investigation,
discovered their bunker abandoned.
Apparently, the platoon had already
left to take up its forward position.
The two men look at each other. Then!
TRIEBIG
(slowly)
I think it's an excellent story.
STRANSKY
Just a story?
TRIEBIG
Much more than a story. I think
it's fully justified.
STRANSKY
You do? Why?
TRIEBIG
(after a moment's
thought)
It is my firm conviction that the
Third Reich would be better off
without the likes of Steiner and
his cronies.
The two men stand looking at each other without speaking.
Then Stransky takes the telephone wire in his two hands
and yanks it out of the wall. He doesn't look at Triebig
as he strides from the bunker. Triebig follows.
DISSOLVE TO: