Bridge of Spies Page #17

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 97.

CONTINUED:
(2)

HOFFMAN:

What if they think about it, say

forget it, you keep our guy, we’ll

keep your guys?

DONOVAN:

Well then, I have f***ed it all up.

(suddenly brightens)

Hey, honey, it’s me!! Yeah! The

fishing’s been great!

(throws an evil look to

Hoffman as he shuts the

door on him)

I’m in London. Just for one more

meeting, then I’m on my way home.

Yeah, yeah I remember that

marmalade. It’s that shop right by

Regents Park. All right, I will if

I have the time. Hey, could I say

hi to Roger? Can I say hello to the

girls? Is anyone not busy?

Have they even noticed I’m not

around?

SAFE HOUSE:

Hoffman is sitting quietly, waiting. So is Donovan. They

are freezing -- breath visible in the indoor air, and now

Hoffman has a cold. A telephone sits in the center of the

room on a small table, under a ratty lamp.

The the phone rings! Both go for it, as do Michener and

Pinker, entering from another room. Hoffman picks it up.

Donovan turns and watches Hoffman’s face. Hoffman looks at

Donovan. Donovan looks at Hoffman. Both unreadable.

Slowly, Hoffman hangs up the phone. Unreadable. Finally

Hoffman cracks the smallest smile.

HOFFMAN:

We’re on. Two for one.

DONOVAN:

Hot dog! Let’s have a drink.

He reaches for a bottle on a table.

HOFFMAN:

One wrinkle.

DONOVAN:

What’s that?

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 98.

CONTINUED:

HOFFMAN:

They won’t release Pryor with

Powers. Not at the bridge. They’ll

release him at the same time -- when

the Russians give us Powers on the

bridge, they’ll release Pryor over

at Checkpoint Charlie.

DONOVAN:

...What does that mean?

HOFFMAN:

I think it means, “We wanna have the

last word.”

DONOVAN:

...But they will do it.

A shrug.

HOFFMAN:

You tell me. You felt ‘em out.

MORNING:

TITLE:
THE GLIENICKE BRIDGE

The snow-covered Glienicke Bridge. Mid-February: it’s just

before dawn. Morning fog. Gray-blue light.

Hoffman and Donovan are at the foot of the bridge, looking

east.

The other side:
some guard presence, but no officialdom, no

prisoner.

Some pacing from Donovan.

DONOVAN:

Where’s our guy? Where’s their guy

- they’re late.

HOFFMAN:

(looking through

binoculars)

Nobody’s late. We’re early.

DONOVAN:

May I?

He takes the binocs. His look catches on something:

Two men in a tower, holding rifles. Snipers.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 99.

CONTINUED:

Donovan squints, looks.

DONOVAN (CONT’D)

Hoffman.

HOFFMAN:

Yeah.

DONOVAN:

I think they have... snipers.

HOFFMAN:

I’m sure they do.

DONOVAN:

Why are they sure they do?

HOFFMAN:

Because we have snipers.

Hoffman swings to the buildings on our side of the bridge,

revealing our snipers. For the first time Donovan feels the

extent to which he is out of his depth, not in control.

Engine noise nearby: two cars approaching, from our side.

They pull up. Avalon emerges, walks to opposite side

passenger door and opens it.

AVALON:

Step out, sir.

Rudolf Abel steps out, takes in the environment, sees Donovan

on the bridge, waiting for him. His clothes are too big on

him as Donovan’s coat is too big on Donovan. Abel, carrying

his suitcase, walks to Jim, hand extended.

ABEL:

Dear Jim. How are you.

Donovan clasps his hand, shakes it.

DONOVAN:

Happy to see you.

ABEL:

Have you arranged all this for me?

DONOVAN:

Well...let’s see what this is before

I take credit for it.

Donovan gives a look to Michener on a field telephone.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 100.

CONTINUED:
(2)

DONOVAN (CONT’D)

Anyone word from Pryor at Checkpoint

Charlie?

Michener speaks into his phone.

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

As at Glienicke Bridge, there is a small military presence.

The checkpoint itself is quiet: no traffic.

Pinker is summoned to a phone.

PINKER:

Nothin cookin yet.

GLIENICKE BRIDGE

Michener on the field telephone gives Donovan a headshake.

Donovan nods acknowledgment.

A plainclothes official walks up with a young man in uniform.

VERONA:

Excuse me, sir. This is Lieutenant

Joe Murphy. United States Air

Force. Here to identify Powers.

DONOVAN:

Lieutenant Murphy.

MURPHY:

Sir.

Abel takes Donovan aside.

ABEL:

There may be a “glitch.” I was a

young man when I left; who will they

find to identify me?

DONOVAN:

I hope it’s not your East German

family. I don’t think they could

identify each other.

A WHISTLE. A sniper gestures to the other side.

Engine noise from the other side of the bridge.

Two cars arrive. Small figures get out.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 101.

CONTINUED:

Our snipers raise rifles.

Long lens finding the emerging people, focusing on them.

Schischkin is among them. A young man -- Powers -- also

among them.

Hoffman peering through the binoculars.

HOFFMAN:

Looks like our party.

A beat as the small figures on the opposite side sort

themselves out, survey our side.

The two parties gazing at each other.

Schischkin and another man start walking Powers toward the

middle of the bridge.

HOFFMAN (CONT’D)

Well. Let’s go. You can stay here,

Donovan.

DONOVAN:

Not likely. (to guard) Open the

gate.

He accompanies Abel, Hoffman, and Murphy toward the middle of

the bridge.

Silent beat walking. Then, to Abel:

DONOVAN (CONT’D)

...What do you think’ll happen?

When you get home?

ABEL:

I think...I’ll have a vodka.

Silent walking.

DONOVAN:

But will they -- Rudolf -- is there

not the possibility -

ABEL:

That my people are going to shoot

me?

DONOVAN:

Well...yes. You’re not worried?

Abel is ever placid:

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 102.

CONTINUED:
(2)

ABEL:

Would it help?

Murphy is apprehensive as they approach the midpoint,

reacting to the quiet.

The men stop, just short of midway. A waiting beat.

Abel talks to Donovan to his side, but his look remains

forward, directed at the men approaching from the other side

of the bridge.

ABEL (CONT’D)

To answer your question, my friend:

I acted honorably. I think they

know that. But sometimes people

think wrong. People are people.

We’ll see how they greet me.

DONOVAN:

What can I look for?

ABEL:

If I’m embraced. Or just shown the

backseat.

Quiet. Crisp footsteps approaching.

The other party stops, just short of midway.

Total quiet.

Floodlights burst on, illuminating both sides.

Schischkin steps forward, projects a few words in Russian

toward Abel.

Abel sets down his suitcase and takes off his hat and

glasses, to be more easily identified. He and Schischken

exchage words in German.

Schischkin motions for Powers to step forward.

DONOVAN:

Take off the hat.

Powers removes his hat.

Murphy is looking at the young man many yards away. He calls

out:

MURPHY:

Hey, Powers.

(CONTINUED)

12.17.14 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 103.

CONTINUED:
(3)

POWERS:

Hey, Murph.

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