Cross of Iron

FADE IN:

THE CREDITS:

Which are SUPERIMPOSED OVER a SCENE of almost unnatural

beauty. A thickly wooded forest which practically shut out

the sunlight. All is not serene however. SHOTS RING Out --

and we are privy to a running battle between a German patrol

and a band of Russian soldiers. It is a desperate fight --

and several bodies fall. we see the faces of several men

whose identity we will learn later. The shooting is still

going on when the CREDITS come to an END. Then --

1. THE SLOPE OF A HILL - DAY

The CAMERA is MOVING SLOWLY up the hill. The verdancy of

the hill, the intermittent clusters of daisies and dandelions

are evidence of the season -- late Spring. Now the crest of

the hill is in sight; above it a patch of blue sky is

visible. The mood is pastoral, peaceful.

The CAMERA reaches the crest -- and suddenly a pair of highly

polished boots almost fills the SCREEN. The CAMERA comes

to an abrupt HALT. Then SLOWLY, the CAMERA PANS UP from the

boots to take in a carefully tailored German officer's uniform

and then the face of the German officer -- CAPTAIN STRANSKY.

It is a longish face with a high forehead and light blue

eyes. It is a face that gives an impression of extreme

forcefulness, an impression underlined by the thin - lipped

mouth and angular chin. His hair is white at the temples,

emphasizing by contrast the healthy tan of his face.

At the moment, Captain Stransky is gazing through a stereo-

telescope. His expression is grim. Behind the Captain

stands LIEUTENANT MEYER, a youngish, good-natured face.

However, it is apparent from his expression that he has

no great liking for his Captain. His lips are tight as

the Captain moves the knobs of the telescope with long thin

fingers. Captain Stransky straightens up, locks back at

Lieutenant Meyer, whose expression quickly changes to one

of impassivity. Stransky, whose demeanor is angry, says

nothing, but turns to peer again through the telescope.

2. VIEW THROUGH TELESCOPE WHAT CAPTAIN STRANSKY SEES

A patch of woods, about a square mile in area.

3. MED. SHOT STRANSKY AND MEYER

Stransky straightens up.

STRANSKY:

(angrily)

Incredible -- sheer stupidity.

Those woods should have been

cut down or destroyed by fire.

MEYER:

Excuse me, sir, but we retreated

too hastily for any such luxury.

STRANSKY:

I disagree. It was an irreparable

oversight, and I shall send a report

to that effect to Regiment.

(looks at the woods,

reaches for cigarette case )

Do you think the Russians are

already in those woods?

(offers Meyer a cigarette)

MEYER:

Thank you. We'II know soon enough.

Corporal Steiner is on a recconnai

sance patrol.

Stransky drops his cigarette butt, steps on it.

STRANSKY:

Reconnaissance patrols have a way

of not returning.

MEYER:

Steiner will be back.

STRANSKY:

(angrily)

I did not ask your opinion Herr

Meyer.

Meyer says nothing. We can see that he regrets his impu

dence. With a mixture of anxiety and curiosity, he waits

to see what will happen next.

The ANGLE WIDENS to TAKE IN a PRIVATE who walks up to the

Captain, salutes.

PRIVATE:

Captain Stransky? Lieutenant

Colonel Brandt Would like to see

you at headquarters.

Stransky nods, gazes sharply at Meyer, walks off, the

CAMERA TRUCKING with him. All about him are SCENES of

great activity. MEN are digging bunkers and preparing

positions. SHOUTS fill the air. As Stransky passes,

he is greeted by salutes which he acknowledges with the

briefest of nods.

4. EXT. REGIMENTAL BUNKER

An armed GUARD is on duty. He salutes smartly as .Captain

Stransky comes INTO SCENE, returns the salute without

looking at the Guard, ENTERS the bunker.

5. INT. BUNKER TWO OFFICERS

are examining a map that hangs on the wall. The older of

the two is LIEUTENANT COLONEL BRANDT. About fiftytwo,

a gaunt gray face. The younger officer is a CAPTAIN. In

his middle thirties, a tired expression, but his features

are intelligent. At the moment, he is Shaking his head.

CAPTAIN:

If our main line of resistance is

at Novorssysk, What are We doing

do��nhere?

BRANDT:

(shrugging)

We're playing fire department.

CAPTAIN:

Several hundred miles from the heart

of the fire? Does that make sense?

The door opens and a CORPORAL announces:

CORPORAL:

Captain Stransky.

Stransky APPEARS on the threshold.

BRANDT:

Come in, Captain. You know my

adjutant, of course.

STRANSKY:

Of course. How are you, Captain

Kiesel?

KIESEL:

Awful. Terrible. How are you?

Brandt laughs, Places a bottle of wine on the table.

BRANDT:

This might cheer you up, Kiesel.

Stransky inspects the label.

STRANSKY:

My respects, Colonel Brandt.

Producing a 1937 Moselle in the

southernmost corner of Russia.

BRANDT:

(fills glasses)

A bottle of Moselle is no more

absurd in this region than We

ourselves. Your health, gentlemen.

KIESEL:

I am not going to drink to my health.

My health is terrible and doesn't

deserve to be drunk to.

(holds up his glass)

To the end of the damn war.

STRANSKY:

Incidentally, Colonel, why does our

presence in the bridgehead strike

you as so absurd?

Brandt looks at Kiesel, then turns to Stransky.

BRANDT:

(ignoring the question)

Captain,

Why did you ask to be trans

ferred from France?

STRANSKY:

(laughs)

Exactly what my commanding officer

in France asked me. I can't stop

you, he Said, Since I'm convinced

that without you the eastern front

would collapse in a matter of days.

Go ahead, you heroic fathead.

KIESEL:

(quickly)

I withdraw my toast to the end of

the war. To heroic fatheads

everywhere.

Stransky doesn't know quite how to take this, but decides

on a faint, icy smile.

BRANDT:

Captain Stransky, is there any

news on Steiner?

STRANSKY:

No, sir, not yet.

Brandt shakes his head.

STRANSKY:

Incidentally, What sort is he,

Steiner?

Kiesel looks at Stransky closely.

BRANDT:

A problem....no respect, but a

first rate soldier so one looks

the Other Way.

Pause.

STRANSKY:

(a short laugh)

0f course, I've only been on this

front a few days, matter of hours

actually, but I see -- rather I

sense -- a sort of -- well, it's not

exactly insubordination -- Well, let's

call it -- a lack of respect.

KIESEL:

If I hope into a cab which gets

into an accident because the brakes

fail, I blame the driver, not the

company he works for. I'll say

that he should have refused to drive

a cab with defective brakes.

STRANSKY:

I'm not sure I know What you mean

by that.

KIESEL:

(looks at him a moment,

then easily)

I don't intend to discuss polities.

BRANDT:

(angry)

You talk avout lack of respect --

low morale..... it goes hand in hand

with impending defeat.

STRANSKY:

Defeat? I refuse to admit that

possibility.

KIESEL:

(dryly)

We'll, said, Captain.

STRANSKY:

I don't believe that the German

soldier --

KIESEL:

The German soldier!

(laughs mirthlessly)

In the early years they saw the

retreating backs of the Russians

too often to be frightened by his

face now. The replacements, on

the other hand, think every Russian

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