lying quietly on the floor. A ray of SUNLIGHT is coming
through the window -- and we see the feet lying in a pool
of flickering LIGHT.
dimly LIT by one candle. At the window, his back to CAMERA
stands a half-dressed man. Evidently, he has been roused
from bed. O.S. we HEAR another man's VOICE.
MAN'S VOICE
--They'll be coming through at
Hill 124 at 0400. Sergeant
Steiner and what's left of his
platoon. Their signal will be
two flares in quick succession.
then a count of four and a third
flare. We are to hold our fire.
The man at the window turns and we SEE that it is Captain
Stransky. His lips are set tight. The CAMERA PULLS BACK
to reveal the scene as Stransky's bedroom. The man who
has been speaking is Lieutenant Triebig.
STRANSKY
(after a moment)
I see. Who received this message?
TRIEBIG
Corporal Stemple.
STRANSKY
was there anybody with Stemple?
TRIEBIG
No,sir.
Pause.
STRANSKY
How well do you know Stemple?
TRIEBIG
(a split second's
hesitation)
Very well, sir.
STRANSKY
He's a very good -- ah -- "friend"
of yours?
TRIEBIG
(not looking at
him)
Yes, sir.
Stransky looks at him closely.
TRIEBIG
He knows how I feel about Sergeant
Steiner.
A look passes between the two men.
STRANSKY
Then I take it that only you, I
and this Stemple know about this
message.
TRIEBIG
That's right, sir.
Pause. Stransky indicates two packed bags on the floor.
STRANSKY
You know, of course, that I'm
leaving for Paris?
TRIEBIG
Of course, sir.
STRANSKY
(evenly)
I could arrange to have you sent
for. Or would you have some
objection to continuing on as my
adjutant in Paris?
For a moment, Triebig merely gasps.
TRIEBIG
(stammering)
You don't know how grateful I
would be to you for that.
STRANSKY
(after a moment)
If I sent you out on a patrol --
just four men -- two machine-gunners --
If, in the dark, you saw half a
dozen men in Russian uniforms
advancing on you, could anyone
blame you if you opened fire?
Triebig blinks. Stransky's voice changes. It rings like
steel.
STRANSKY
Get that creature Steiner off my
neck and I guarantee that you will
survive this war. He must not come
back even if you have to kill him
with your bare hands.
Triebig stands stunned, incapable of speech.
STRANSKY
I know from reliable sources that
the men in this bridgehead have
been written off. Everyone south
of Perekop will suffer the same
fate as the sixth Army at Stalingrad.
Do you want to be here then?
TRIEBIG
(a hoarse whisper)
No.
STRANSKY
within five days after I reach Paris,
you'll have your orders to join me.
You know my connections. What do
you say, Triebig?
TRIEBIG
(stares up at Stransky's
flushed face, swallows
hard)
I -- don't know.
STRANSKY
You have the choice. You can rot
here in a grave, or guzzle champagne
in France. Which do you prefer?
Pause.
TRIEBIG
May I know one thing?
STRANSKY
What is that?
Their eyes lock.
TRIEBIG
Why is it so important to you?
If you are leaving here in a few
hours, it shouldn't matter to you
what happens to Steiner.
Stransky steps over to the window to stare out into the
darkness. Finally:
STRANSKY
(in measured tones)
What happens to Steiner is more
important to me than whether we
win or lose the war.
(turns)
But you will not understand that.
It's my personal affair, Triebig.
(pause)
Are you going through with it or
not?
The CAMERA MOVES UP to a CLOSE SHOT of Triebig's face as
he stands, indecisive.
The CAMERA PULLS BACK to SHOW that he is looking at the
outstretched figure of Kern who is covered by a blanket
up to his chin. The SCENE is an open field. It is quite
dark. Schnurrbart comes RUNNING IN.
KRUGER
Do you honestly think we can slip
through?
SCHNURRBART
Well, we'd have a better chance
if we didn't have to --
(MORE)
(looks at the sleep-
ing figure of Kern,
lowers his voice)
-- lug him along.
KRUGER
What else can we do?
(pause)
Too bad about Kern. That's all
we needed.
Suddenly the SCENE DARKENS. The men look up.
It is covered by thick clouds.
SCHNURRBART
That's the end of the moon for
tonight. That's lucky anyhow.
Suddenly Kern turns on his side and lets out a terrible cry.
Kruger and Schnurrbart start. The scream continues to
issue out of Kern like an endless coil of sound unwinding
and unwinding from his throat.
SCHNURRBART
Kern! -- Kern! -- for God's sake -- !
But the screaming continues.
Steiner, Anselm come RUNNING IN. Steiner kneels at Kern's
side.
SCHNURRBART
(anxiously)
He'll have the Russians on our
necks --
The screaming continues.
ANSELM
(hysterically)
Shoot him! Shoot him! Or it's
the end of us!
Steiner turns such a look of scorn upon Anselm that he
subsides immediately, shame-faced.
STEINER
(holding flashlight
close to Kern's
face)
Be quiet now -- You don't have to be
afraid -- we're all with You.
The screaming, which has been dwindling, stops. Steiner
bends to listen to his heart.
KRUGER
If we only had a medic with us.
He ought to have a shot or morphine.
STEINER
(dully)
He's dead.
silence a moment.
ANSELM
Why be hypocrites about it? It's
better for Kern and it's better
for us. We couldn't get through
the lines carrying him.
STEINER
(enigmatically)
Yes, he was good enough to die in
time.
ANSELM
What do we do now, bury him?
STEINER
We haven't got the time. Let the
Russians do it.
SCHNURRBART
At least we're going to have some
sort of service, aren't we?
STEINER
I see. You believe in God?
SCHNURRBART
At any rate, I believe we are
dependent on Someone who decides
our fate.
STEINER
I believe in God, too, but I think
He's a sadist.
Pause. The men are silent.
STEINER
All right. For the sake of
Schnurrbart who believes in God,
and so that it shouldn't be brought
up against us at the Peace Table,
we'll have a service.
(grimly)
Gather around.
They do. Steiner looks down at Kern.
STEINER
If Kern had died at home, a few
dozen, maybe even a hundred people
would be standing around his grave
in their best dark clothes. And
they would Say, "So young, it I s
always the best who go first" --
A few weeks later they would have
forgotten him. Let us not forget
him. And let's not feel too sorry
for him. At least now, he's rid
of his guilt.
(pause)
Cover him up -- and let's go.
Steiner STRIDES OFF. The men stand a moment, then follow
him OFF.
DISSOLVE TO:
AS SEEN FROM a trench. The CAMERA MOVES UP to a MED. SHOT
of Triebig and four MEN in the trench.
Two machine guns have been set up. We SEE Triebig stealing
a furtive look at his watch. Then he looks out over the
field, his eyes trying to pierce the darkness. The CAMERA
FOLLOWS his gaze, MOVES SLOWLY DOWN the field. In the b.g.
we begin to perceive a huddled mass. The CAMERA MOVES
CLOSER and we SEE Steiner and his men, lying flat on the
found. Steiner is looking at his watch. Then he looks
toward Schnurrbart who raises a flare gun, FIRES TWO quick
FLARES.
their FACES VISIBLE in the LIGHT o{ the FLARES. Triebig's
expression is tense. He turns to the men who are manning
the machine guns.
TRIEBIG
Look sharp -- we may be getting
visitors.
The LIGHT from the FLARES dies away. A brief interval
and the THIRD FLARE goes up. In its light, we SEE
Steiner and his men running for the trench.
TRIEBIG
Russians! Fire!
The two MACHINE GUNS OPEN FIRE. The SCREAMS of men mix
with the RATTLE of guns. We SEE three men drop. Then
the LIGHT is gone. All is darkness again.
TRIEBIG
(peering into the
darkness)
Steady now -- they may be coming
on again.
A moment's silence, then:
STEINER'S VOICE
(shouting)
Sergeant Steiner here, don't shoot!
Triebig's face goes white. Now, figures are SEEN running
again, for the trench out of the darkness, their arms
upraised.
STEINER
It's US -- Sergeant Steiner! Don't
shoot!
For a moment Triebig stands paralyzed, his face contorted.
Then, when Steiner is almost upon him, Triebig raises his
tommy gun, points it at Steiner's chest.
ONE OF TRIEBIG'S MEN
(frantically)
Don't Lieutenant -- it's one of our
men!
Triebig, unheeding, is about to press the trigger when
the man hits his arm. Triebig's GUN FIRES harmlessly
into the sky. Steiner and another figure jump into the
trench.
slumped against the rear wall of the trench. He is staring
wildly at Steiner who is bent over double, trying to
catch his breath. His companion is also breathing heavily.
We SEE it is Kruger. The man who had deflected Triebig's
aim addresses him.
MAN
You see, Lieutenant, I was right.
It's our men.
Triebig, still staring at Steiner, can't answer. Now
Steiner is standing erect. He fixes a steely glance on
Triebig.
STEINER
Why did you fire?
(savagely)
You got our message!
Triebig finally finds his voice.
TRIEBIG
Uh--uh--what message?
KRUGER
(with nervous anger)
We said we were coming through
in Russian uniforms -- and where
and when --
TRIEBIG
(not looking at
anyone)
I don't know anything about any --
(his voice trails
off)
KRUGER
Schnurrbart sent it. He --
(looks around)
Where's Schnurrbart?
A silence falls as the men turn to look through the darkness
at the field. Finally --
STEINER
(voice low but
tight)
Is Anselm there too?
KRUGER
(barely audible)
He must be.
(pause, puzzled)
I don't get it. How could they
help seeing it was us?
Steiner turns to look at Triebig. Then he turns back to
his men.
STEINER
(voice still low)
Bring them in.
KRUGER
(stupidly)
Who?
STEINER
Who do you think? Schnurrbart
and Anselm.
KRUGER
But they must be dead.
STEINER
I know they're dead. Bring them
in.
(to Triebig's
men)
Give them a hand.
Triebig's men look to him for approval. Triebig barely
nods his head, so they scramble up the trench with Kruger
and DISAPPEAR INTO the darkness.
as Steiner turns to face the terrified Lieutenant. Triebig
waits for Steiner to speak but the Sergeant doesn't say
a word. He just looks at Triebig's ashen face. For a
few brief moments, Triebig tries to stand up under Steiner's
unrelenting s tare but he cannot -- and breaks.
TRIEBIG
(hysterically)
It wasn't me -- I begged him -- !
But he insisted --
Steiner's face shows no surprise.
TRIEBIG
He could have me shot, Captain
Stransky!
(his hysteria grows)
I said to him -- what does it matter
to you what happens to Steiner --
I begged him -- I --
He is practically shouting now. The men can be HEARD
RUNNING back from the field. Steiner s laps Triebig hard,
across the cheek, silencing him. His head is down as the
men APPEAR carrying two bodies. with the help of the
other men they lower the bodies into the trench. Not a
word is said. Finally the silence is broken by Kruger.
KRUGER
They're finished ail right, both
of them.
STEINER
(after a moment)
Take them back to Battalion. The
least we can do is bury them
decently.
(as the men are
slow to comply)
Hurry up, it'll be light soon.
as the men set about picking up the bodies, he looks
anxiously at Steiner.
His eyes are fastened upon the two bodies. He doesn't
look at Triebig.
as they start down the trench with the two bodies. Triebig
and Steiner are in the rear. As Triebig starts to follow,
Steiner steps quickly to his side.
STEINER
(a fierce whisper)
Stay here!
TRIEBIG
But --
STEINER
(his gun in Triebig's
ribs)
Stay here!
Triebig freezes.
From Steiner's and Triebig's ANGLE, the group DISAPPEARS
into the darkness.
Triebig turns terrified eyes on Steiner who is looking in
the direction of the departing men. Then he turns to
Triebig.
STEINER
(pointing to
top trench)
Climb up.
TRIEBIG
Why?
STEINER
Climb up!
TRIEBIG
(quavering)
You're not going to shoot me--?
STEINER
(grimly)
I promise you I am not going to
shoot you. Unless, of course,
you don't get up there at once.
Triebig casts an anxious, appealing look at Steiner who
waves to the top of the trench with his gun. Triebig
raises himself to the top, sits on the edge.
STEINER
Stand up!
Triebig stands up slowly, then turns.around.
TRIEBIG
Steiner, I --
STEINER
Turn around!
(as Triebig
hesitates)
Turn around, or I shoot!
Triebig turns. He is now a figure in the darkness. Steiner
reaches into his belt, takes something out -- SHOOTS OFF a
FLARE. The figure of Triebig is BRIGHTLY ILLUMINATED.
TRIEBIG
(screaming)
Steiner -- !
But his scream is lost in the RAT - TAT - TAT of bullets from
the Russian side. Triebig's both hands reach into the
air. He reels, falls heavily back into the trench. For
a moment, Steiner looks down at the dark shape, the LIGHT
of the FLARE gone. Then he turns, walks quickly in the
direction the men have taken.
DISSOLVE TO :