Bridge of Spies Page #14

POWERS:

No, no...

HALLWAY:

Gary Powers being marched down a hall.

GARY POWERS:

Being pushed down onto a seat in a dark interrogation room.

He blinks blearily as a bright overhead light ignites.

POWERS:

I need to sleep. I need to sleep.

MAN:

I told you:
you can sleep once we

talk. But we need to talk. You

must focus on me. Your government

does not care about you. You know

that. Any of you. You know that

twelve U-2 pilots incurred brain

damage. They are vegetables.

Because of altitude, insufficient

oxygen. But they keep you flying,

Gary. You and your friends. They

gave you this, didn’t they?

(holding out the silver

dollar)

A scratcher, yes, potassium cyanide?

(pops open the coin)

Does that look like they care about

you?

HALLWAY:

Gary Powers being marched back to his cell.

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 79.

GARY POWERS’ CELL

Gary Powers is escorted to his bed, where he flops down,

instantly closing his eyes. The overhead light goes out.

The cell door slams closed. A time jump...

Now the overhead light glares on. Gary Powers’ door is flung

open. Two men pull him to his feet and drag the still

sleeping Powers out into the hallway.

HALLWAY:

Powers marched down the long hall.

INTERROGATION ROOM

Powers in the chair. His eyes fluttering between wake and

sleep. A bucket of cold water poured over his head. Four men

interrogate him.

MAN 1

What is the construction of the

destructor unit? By what means is

this unit operated?

MAN 2

With what explosives is the unit

charged? And what destruction is it

capable of?

POWERS:

I don’t know. The pilots were never

shown any of the equipment.

MAN 3

How wide-far can the radar map an

area during an overflight?

POWERS:

I don’t know! I don’t know!

MAN 1

Were you making the overflight on

April 9th, over the industrial area

and the bomber base.

POWERS:

I was not. This was my first

overflight.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 80.

CONTINUED:

MAN 4

I need to know about engine out-to

glide ratio-- how the plane get so

high. We know it reaches altitude

of 70,000 feet. Gary, we know this.

I need to know where the planes have

flown. Where they have flown, Gary.

And we must have this talk now.

Now. And then, you can sleep a

little.

HALLWAY:

Powers locked back into his cell.

PRISON CELL:

Abel sleeping.

A hand enters to shake him awake.

VOICE:

Sir...

Abel stirs, looks up.

A civilian, not a guard, stands over him. This is Avalon.

Two other civilians linger at the door.

MAN:

Sir, could you come with me please?

We need to move, could you come with

me?

Abel groggily sits up, swings his legs out.

ABEL:

...What time is it?

MAN:

It’s late. But we need to talk, and

then get on a plane.

EMBASSY MEETING ROOM

Donovan sits before Schischkin.

SCHISCHKIN:

So, I have received a favorable

decision from Moscow on your

proposal that we help our friends in

the German Democratic Republic, by

exchanging Mr. Powers for Mr. Abel.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 81.

CONTINUED:

DONOVAN:

That’s swell!

SCHISCHKIN:

May I suggest the Glienicke Bridge

as a place for the swap.

DONOVAN:

Why not Checkpoint Charlie?

SCHISCHKIN:

Well, we are not looking for

publicity! Glienicke Bridge is very

quiet. Especially early morning.

DONOVAN:

Glienicke Bridge, I’ll run that by

our side. We can have Abel here on

Friday, so -- Saturday morning?

SCHISCHKIN:

Always impatient, yes?

DONOVAN:

Yeah, I’ve gotta get back home and

get into bed. So, Saturday morning?

SCHISCHKIN:

5:
30?

DONOVAN:

All right. We’re done here. This

is a number (writing)...in case

anything should come up...Someone

will answer, at any hour.

SCHISCHKIN:

(taking the paper)

All right. I don’t expect to use

it. Shall we toast the arrangement?

DONOVAN:

Why not.

Schischkin heads for a sideboard, holds up a bottle.

SCHISCHKIN:

Armenian brandy. Good bracer for

your cold.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 82.

CONTINUED:
(2)

DONOVAN:

Thank you. Would you mind -- it’s

not part of our business but I’d

like to ask a couple of questions?

You do not have to answer.

SCHISCHKIN:

I shall answer what I know.

Schischkin returns with the drinks.

DONOVAN:

I like this guy. Your guy. What

happens to your guy...when he gets

home?

SCHISCHKIN:

Well. We have to make a

determination whether our guy is

now...your guy.

DONOVAN:

As I said to you before, he’s acted

very honorably. He’s still your

guy, believe me.

SCHISCHKIN:

Of course:
you would say this if it

were true, and if it were not true.

DONOVAN:

Yeah. I guess it has come down to

that... Forgive me for pushing,

but...is he in any danger? If the

determination is made...

SCHISCHKIN:

Well, goodness. As things are now,

everyone is in danger. Cheers.

He raises his glass. Donovan toasts him in Russian.

The toast is interrupted by a knock. A secretary puts his

head in.

SECRETARY:

A message for Mister Donovan...

VOGEL’S OFFICE

The familiar squalid counterpoint to Schischkin’s Louis XIV

swank.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 83.

CONTINUED:

Dapper Vogel in a new change, as incongruously fine in this

office as was his last one. But his manner is different, not

at all the happy fixer of yesterday. His tone is cold as

Donovan, dabbing at his nose, is shown in.

VOGEL:

There will be no exchange on

Glienicke Bridge.

Vogel rises and reaches for some files he puts into his

briefcase.

DONOVAN:

Excuse me, sir.

VOGEL:

There will be no exchange. Not for

Frederic Pryor.

DONOVAN:

Mr. Vogel. I thought yesterday --

we agreed -

VOGEL:

We agreed on an exchange: Abel for

Pryor. Now I learn you are a rug

merchant selling the same rug to two

customers. Abel for Pryor, you sell

to us. Abel for Powers, you sell to

the Soviets.

Vogel’s secretary helps him on with his overcoat and scarf.

DONOVAN:

...I’m not sure I understand the

problem. If the arrangement

satisfies two parties, or three, or

four, what difference -

VOGEL:

The arrangement does not satisfy

this party.

He exits into the corridor and Donovan follows.

DONOVAN:

Now Mr. Vogel, please -

VOGEL:

Obviously you do not know who you

are dealing with.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 84.

CONTINUED:
(2)

VOGEL (CONT'D)

Here is the interest of the German

Democratic Republic: to deal with,

and to be seen to be dealing with,

another sovereign power, the United

States. An equal power. Instead

you treat us as stooges for the

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

DONOVAN:

Can we just call them “the Russians”

-- it’ll save time.

VOGEL:

I have an appointment sir. I think

it is you who are wasting time.

He heads down the stairs; Donovan follows.

DONOVAN:

Tell me if I’m describing this

wrong. You have a kid, a university

student, somebody you know is not a

spy, and no threat to you. In

exchange for this person, worthless

to you, you play an equal part in an

exchange with two other powers, the

Americans and the Russians.

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