All the men, with the exception of Steiner, are present.
They are busy packing ammunition boxes.
ANSELM
Damn it. I hate to leave this
place. We worked weeks fixing
this place up -- this damn army.
ZOLL
The trouble with you is -- you're
scared stiff.
ANSELM
(looks at him)
You don't know how grateful we are
that you were sent to us. It's
nice to have one brave man in the
platoon.
as it opens, and Steiner, his uniform wringing wet, COMES
IN.
STEINER
Well -- are we all still here?
KERN
What do you mean "still here"?
STEINER
(pretending surprise)
No deserters?
(walking to table)
All right, then, let's have a look
at the map before we start.
He looks at map. The men gather around him.
KERN
How far is it to Krimskaya?
STEINER
About twenty miles.
(staring thought-
fully at the map)
The stuff between is regular
wilderness. And a stream
running through.
(MORE)
STEINER (CONT'D)
How big a stream? Suppose there's
no bridge? And the whole region
is marshy. The big question is
whether we can get through.
KRUGER
Then let's use the highway.
Steiner just looks at him.
KERN
(anxiously)
What does that look mean? Did
you see any Russians on the high-
way?
STEINER
Infantry, trucks, tanks, the whole
damn Russian army.
There is a moment's silence.
KERN
On the highway?
STEINER
Not in the air, take my word for
it.
ANSELM
(strapping on ammuni-
tion box)
How are we going to cross the highway
with the Russians on it?
STEINER
It's dark, it's raining--and there
are bound to be a few gaps in the
procession. We'll wait for the
right moment and scoot across.
KERN
It's hopeless. It's just plain
suicide.
ZOLL
(slinging his tommy
gun over his shoulder)
We're eight self-reliant, resource-
ful Germans. We'll make it.
STEINER
(sardonically to Kern)
There! Do you feel better?
KERN
Suppose we do make it. The Russians
will be in Krimskaya before us.
That means to get to our lines,
we'll have to cross theirs. How?
How, I'm asking?
STEINER
(his boxes are
strapped to him)
We can tunnel beneath the Russians
-- or we can pole vault over them.
Are we all ready?
KERN
(groaning)
You can joke, but we're finished.
Finished.
STEINER
Of course we are. No doubt about
it. And because you have so
brilliantly pointed that out,
you may lead the way.
He flings the door open I motions for Kern to start the
exodus. Kern looks sour, but leads the way. The others
squeeze past Steiner at the door. When they are GONE,
Steiner kicks the stove so that it falls over, spilling
its golden embers on the floor. Then he GOES OUT, closing
the door behind him.
huddled together in the rain, waiting for Steiner. After
a moment, he comes INTO the SCENE. He jerks his head
in the direction he wishes them to take. Then he starts
off. The men exchange glances, but no one says a word.
They trudge off.
DISSOLVE TO:
It is still dark, but in the east the sky is beginning to
lighten. In the distance WE SEE the line of men walking
slowly, their heads bent against the rain.
The ANGLE FAVORS Zoll and Kern. They are panting under the
burden of their machine-guns and boxes of ammunition.
They are cursing under their breaths. The CAMERA PANS
DOWN to their boots. They are caked with great lumps of
muddy soil.
His face expressionless, he is walking steadily on. Ahead
of him the terrain begins to slope upward. Suddenly,
Steiner stops in his tracks r holds his hands up for the
men to stop.
KRUGER
What the devil's the matter now?
No one answers. Schnurrbart motions for them to listen.
After a moment, the low DRONE of big MOTORS, the CREAKING
of heavily laden TRUCKS is HEARD. Also an occasional
windblown SHOUT is HEARD.
ZOLL
(whispering)
Russians.
KERN
(nervously)
A whole army.
With quivering fingers he unthinkingly reaches for his
cigarettes and thrusts one between his lips. As he strikes
a match, Steiner suddenly APPEARS in front of him. There
is a sharp SLAPPING SOUND, followed by a RAIN of SPARKS
from the crushed cigarette. Kern utters a whimpering
sound and presses both hands against his mouth.
STEINER
(voice thick with
rage)
You idiot!
The men look at him in alarm, but he whirls around and
runs forward, signaling for the men to follow.
as he walks along. There is a burn on his upper lip
which he pats tenderly. His face is clouded with resent-
ment. The VOICES ahead become increasingly distinct. The
crisp TREAD of nailed boots is very marked -- grows even
louder.
signaling for the men to halt. He walks back to the
group.
STEINER
(to Schnurrbart and
Anselm)
You come with me. The rest will
wait here.
Steiner, Anselm and Schnurrbart run off. The men watch them
as, bent low, they DISAPPEAR into the darkness. Then,
one by one, the men sink down onto the wet ground. For a
few moments no one has the strength or the inclination to
speak. Then --
ZOLL
He shouldn't have hit you.
KRUGER
Why not?
ZOLL
What's more important than the
treatment of one German soldier by
another -- I'd like to know.
KRUGER
I'll tell you what's more important --
(MORE)
KRUGER (CONT'D)
(brings his face
close to Zoll's)
It's more important that we have to
get out of here. And you know why?
I'll tell you --
He pokes his finger into Zoll's chest. Zoll moves indignantly
back.
KRUGER
We have to get out so that we'll
be on time to get into the next
mess. Out of one mess into the
next. That's been going on for
three years, and it'll go on until
we get into one mess good and deep
and don't come out of it --
He has worked himself into such a rage that he can't go on.
There is another morose silence. Zoll sits up on one
elbow, listens.
SCHNURRBART
I think all that activity on the
highway is slackening.
KERN
Don't worry. We'll never get
across.
He stops, for everyone is listening intently. He listens
too. There isn't a sound from the direction of the highway.
KERN
(whispering)
I don't hear a thing....
KRUGER
Here comes somebody --
Every head turns.
From the group's P.O.V. The figure stops.
SCHNURRBART
It's Anselm.
Anselm stops, waves his fist in the air.
KRUGER
Let's go.
They snatch their guns, run up the slope, DISAPPEAR into
the mist.
Beneath it lies the highway in the gray dawn LIGHT.
Deserted. In the b.g. WE SEE the platoon slipping down
the steep decline and racing across the trampled, rutted
width of the road toward the edge of the woods which rise
like a dark wall against the further mountains.
He is standing about 100 yards in the forest, looking toward
the highway. The men can be seen running towards him.
In a few seconds, they reach Steiner. As they fight to
catch their breaths, Steiner looks at them, triumph in his
eyes.
KERN
Well --
Steiner holds up his hand for quiet. They listen. The
rumble of vehicles can be HEARD from the highway.
KRUGER
(grinning)
Now that we're here that sounds
like music to me.
STEINER
(dryly)
I think it's a little early for
congratulations.
(picks up his gear)
We're ready.
ZOLL
Sergeant --
Steiner turns to regard him.
ZOLL
Before we start, there's a matter
I'd like to bring up. The matter
of your treatment of a comrade,
Private Kern.
Steiner looks at him closely.
ZOLL
One soldier of the Fuhrer is just
as -- good as --
He wilts under Steiner's gaze, stops.
STEINER
(coldly)
Please continue. Just as good as
what?
ZOLL
(weakening)
Anyway -- I believe I speak for
all the others --
Steiner looks at the others.
KERN
(to Zoll)
Why don't you mind your own lousy
business! It was idiotic of me
to light that cigarette. Now,
let's go.
Steiner looks at Zoll, then, without a word, turns and
starts walking. The others follow.
DISSOLVE TO:
The scene is one of great bustle and activity. Trucks are
unloading. Anti-aircraft guns are being set up on empty
lots between houses. A Staff car speeds INTO the SCENE,
jolts to a stop before one of the houses. Captain Kiesel
alights, taking a salute from the SENTRY, ENTERS one of
the houses.
are supervising the installation of phones. Kiesel comes
RUNNING IN.
KIESEL
You're slow with those phones,
Captain. Regiment has been trying
to speak to you.
STRANSKY
They'll be in any minute, Captain
Kiesel.
KIESEL
with the Russians breathing down
our necks, the Colonel wants a
patrol out front. I think Steiner's
the most experienced --
STRANSKY
Sorry, Captain. I haven't the
faintest idea of the whereabouts
of Steiner and his platoon.
KIESEL
What do you mean by that?
(stares at Stransky)
You mean you didn't pull him out
of line and bring him back? You
had your orders.
STRANSKY
I tried to contact Steiner immediately
-- wasn't that so, Lieutenant?
TRIEBIG
Yes, Captain.
STRANSKY
But he had already moved his platoon
from the bunker.
KIESEL
Why? He had orders not to move till
dark.
STRANSKY
(shrugging)
You know Steiner Disobeying orders
is a speciality of his.
KIESEL
How the devil is he going to get
back here? He's got the whole
Russian army to get through.
STRANSKY
He had his orders--he disregarded
them.
KIESEL
It doesn't sound like Steiner.
He'd risk his own neck, not a
whole platoon's --
(looks at Stransky
closely)
I think I can promise you a full
investigation, Captain Stransky,
when Steiner gets back. If he
gets back.
He turns and walks OUT rapidly. The telephone men are
still in the room, so Stransky and Triebig can only exchange
covert congratulatory glances. The CAMERA MOVES to the
window, THROUGH IT to an open field and as it MOVES EAST...
DISSOLVE TO:
The CAMERA MOVES DOWN through thorny undergrowth until
it picks up Steiner's platoon, fighting their weary way
through. The undergrowth has ripped the men's uniforms
and scratched their hands and faces. Sweat is pouring
from their faces. They are almost continually s lapping at
almost invisible stinging mites which hover about them.
The CAMERA PANS DOWN to two pair of boots slogging through
the marsh. It is evident that they are suffering a great
deal.
It will be dark in a little while. From THIS ANGLE the
CAMERA ZOOMS DOWN into the forest. It picks out Steiner
trudging in water that is halfway up to his knees.
There is no one in sight behind him. Suddenly, from the
rear there are HOARSE SHOUTS. Steiner stops, turns,
listens. The SHOUTS are HEARD again. Steiner starts
back, CAMERA TRUCKING with him. There is a slight rise
in the terrain, which is firm and dry. Most of the men
are stretched out on the ground.
STEINER
What's the trouble?
SCHNURRBART
You'll have to call a rest, Rolf.
STEINER
(tersely)
We're not even half way yet.
SCHNURRBART
I know, but what can't be done
can't be done.
STEINER
(reluctantly)
All right.
He notices Zoll, who is lying on his stomach off to one
side, his head pillowed in his arms.
STEINER
Where are your ammunition boxes?
The others become attentive. Zoll doesn't stir. Steiner
digs the toe of his boot into Zoll's side.
STEINER
Didn't you hear me?
ZOLL
(a grunt)
Leave me alone.
KRUGER
He had them ten minutes ago. The
swine must have dumped them.
STEINER
Then he'll go back for them.
Zoll still doesn't move, so Steiner grips him by his
cartridge belt and pulls him to his feet. Face twisted
with fury, Zoll whirls, snatches up his rifle, brandishes
it.
ZOLL
(hoarsely)
Keep your dirty paws off me.
If you touch me again.
Steiner looks into Zoll's rabid face with a sort of
curiosity.
STEINER
(quietly)
You're too much of a coward.
Watch!
He drops his tommy gun and gestures Schnurrbart and Kruger
back. They watch worriedly as Steiner steps so close to
Zoll that the barrel of his rifle touches his stomach.
Quietly he reaches out, grasps the rifle by the barrel and
takes it from Zoll's hands. A sort of relieved sigh goes
up from the men. Zoll stands motionless, his face re-
flecting fear, rage and shame. Steiner picks up his tommy
gun.
STEINER
Get those boxes.
Zoll hesitates for just a second. Then he turns and walks
off INTO the brush. The men look after him grimly.
making his way to the top. When he nears it, he pushes
aside two branches to give himself a view.
An enormous expanse of reeds cuts a swath across the
woods. Brown water shimmers along the thick stems. Then
there is a hundred yard width of muddy water, then more
weeds.
He looks grim as he starts his descent.