Cross of Iron Page #2

is an infallible fighting machine.

I feel damn sorry for our poor land

sers.

STRANSKY:

(frigidly)

In the present state of our nation,

such talk borders on treason. I

am a soldier and as such it is my

duty to subordinate my own ideas

to the interests of my country.

KIESEL:

(Smiles easily as he

lifts glass)

We are still doing our duty,

Captain Stransky.

Stransky, his face white, glares at Kiesel.

The PHONE has been RINGING. Brandt picks it up with a

Snap.

BRANDT:

Yes? -- What? -- Good, Meyer.

Wonderful. What sort of shape

are they in? -- I see.

(hangs up)

Lieutenant Meyer. Steiner is back.

KIESEL:

Of course.

STRANSKY:

Naturally, I'd like to talk to him.

I intend to promote him to Senior

Sergeant on the spot.

KIESEL:

(wryly)

Most generous of you.

STRANSKY:

(saluting)

If you'll excuse me.

Brandt nods. Stransky LEAVES. There is a moment's silence.

6. CLOSE SHOT BRANDT AND KIESEL

BRANDT:

Well, what do you think of our

Captain?

KIESEL:

(a moment's thought)

Must have the most expensive

tailor in Berlin.

BRANDT:

And, of course, he won't rest until

he gets the Iron Cross.

KIESEL:

(toasts)

Gets......not earns?

Brandt, who has lifted the wine bottle, finds it empty.

BRANDT:

Oh, to hell with Stransky and

the Iron Cross. And you, too,

Kiesel.

They smile at each other grimply.

DISSOLVET0:

7. LIEUTENANT MEYER

Pacing back and forth in a trench, outside of a bunker

door. Occasionally he steals a glance at a group of men

who are slumped in various indolent positions on the floor

of the trench.

8. FULL SHOT THE GROUP OF MEN

The CAMERA PANS SLOWLY from face to face. There are

nine men in the group (all will be identified later indi

visually). At the moment, all look exhausted, dirty and

somewhat disgusted. The men, with the exception of two,

PASTERNACK and ANSELM, are in the same age range (about

25 to 30). Pasternack and Anselm are younger. SCHNUR

BART is distinguished by a heavy beard. KRUGER by a

tough weather beaten visage. DORN has the look of an

intellectual. STEINER'S extreme gauntness is what catches

the eyes. His face is expressionless. The others,

MAAG, HOLLERBACH and KERN are nondescript, runofthemill

faces.

Meyer walks past the men in silence. They do not pay too

much attention to him. Several are smoking cigarettes.

Meyer looks toward the bunker. The CAMERA, following his

gaze, MOVES TOWARD the bunker.

9. INT. BUNKER LIEUTENANT TRIEBIG

is seated at the table. He is a very young, very handsome,

officer. An orderly. KEPPLER, is busy at a hot plate with

a coffee pot. He, too, is very young. After a moment --

TRIEBIG:

Is it very hot? Captain Stransky

won't stand for anything but hot

coffee.

KEPPLER:

It is practically scalding, sir.

TRIEBIG:

Good.

KEPPLER:

Is there anything else you wish,

sir?

TRIEBIG:

Not at the moment.

As Keppler starts out:

TRIEBIG:

Just a minute. You can keep me

company for awhile. I really

hardly know you. Sit down some

where.

Keppler looks around uncertainly. Triebig is sitting in the

one and only chair.

TRIEBIG:

Sit on the bed. Are you always

so timid?

KEPPLER:

(with a shaky Smile)

No.

He perches on the extreme edge of the narrow bed. Triebig

studies him. Keppler's habitual expression is one of

helplessness, accentuated by a mouth he keeps permanently

slightly open.

TRIEBIG:

Where do you come from?

KEPPLER:

Frankfurt, sir.

TRIEBIG:

Is that so? I know Frankfurt quite

well.

(sits on the cot

beside Keppler)

If you get along with me, you'll

have a good life here. You may go

now. Come to my bunker tonight

and arrange my gear.

KEPPLER:

(jumping enthusiastically

to his feet)

Yes, sir. When shall I come, sir?

TRIEBIG:

Don't come too early. Around ten.

We'll have a chance to talk.

Do your best and I'm sure I shall

be satisfied with you.

Keppler salutes and GOES.

10. EXT. BUNKER

as Triebig COMES OUT. The men are watching Keppler as he

WALKS OFF.

11. MED. SHOT SCHNURRBART AND ANSELM

SCHNURRBART:

Not a very robust type, would you

say?

ANSELM:

(the youngest of the

group)

Well, Schnurrbart, you're so excessively

masculine, it evens things up.

The CAMERA PANS to Triebig. He seems to sense what the men

are thinking. A bit disconcerted, he turns to Meyer.

TRIEBIG:

(sardonically)

Do you think we can get them to

Stand at attention when the Captain

gets here?

MEYER:

(grins)

I don't know, Lieutenant. I'll put

it up to them, man to man.

There is some half hearted laughter from the men. Steiner

is noticeably quiet.

SCHNURRBART:

I'm not getting up till they want

my Signature On the Peace Treaty.

But he gees someone approaching, and slowly he starts to

his feet.

12. STRANSKY

approaching the trench. In the b.g. the men CAN BE SEEN

reluctantly getting to their feet. Triebig snaps to attention

as Stransky comes in.

TRIEBIG:

(a Smart salute)

Captain.

Stransky, barely nodding to Triebig, looks over the men, no

discernible expression on his face. Finally --

STRANSKY:

Which one is Corporal Steiner?

Steiner takes a step forward, slackly comes to attention.

Stransky studies him -- disappointed.

STRANSKY:

You are Corporal Steiner?

STEINER:

(almost nonchalantly)

Yes, sir.

(pause)

I am Corporal Steiner.

STRANSKY:

I had formed a -- somewhat different

picture of you.

STEINER:

(unconcern in his

face)

I'm sorry if I disappoint the Captain.

In the b.g. several of the men permit themselves slight

smiles, which fade immediately at a glance from Triebig.

Stransky looks at Steiner again.

STRANSKY:

(loudly)

You are promoted to Senior Sergeant,

promotion to be effective at once.

He watches Steiner's face. It is as if he had spoken to

a tree. There is no surprise in Steiner's face; only a

slight flexing of his arms indicates that he has heard at

all.

STRANSKY:

You heard me, Corporal -- Sergeant

Steiner.

STEINER:

Yes, sir.

STRANSKY:

Your promotion doesn't seem to have

made much impression upon you.

STEINER:

No, sir.

There is an involuntary giggle from young Anselm. Stransky

glares and there is silence.

STRANSKY:

(to Lieutenants Meyer

and Triebig)

Come in -- you, too, Sergeant.

He starts down the steps to his bunker, Meyer, Triebig

and Steiner following.

13. OMITTED

14. INT. STRANSKY'S BUNKER STRANSKY

is seated behind a table. Steiner, Meyer and Triebig,

slightly to the side of him, stand facing Stransky, who

has taken out an elaborate cigarette case. He extends

it to Meyer who takes a cigarette.

MEYER:

Thank you, Captain.

Stransky offers a cigarette to Steiner.

STEINER:

No, thank you, Sir.

STRANSKY:

(lighting his cigarette)

After what you've been through,

you don't feel the need of a cigarette?

STEINER:

No at this particular moment -- sir.

STRANSKY:

I'm ready for your report.

He reaches into pocket, lays sheaf of crushed papers on the

table. Stransky looks at him in amazement.

STRANSKY:

I'd like to hear the gist of your

report.

STEINER:

Lots of

Russians. Lots of guns.

(grimly)

We should be hearing from them very

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