Cross of Iron Page #20

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.

198. CLOSE SHOT - TRIEBIG

as the men set about picking up the bodies, he looks

anxiously at Steiner.

199. CLOSE SHOT - STEINER

His eyes are fastened upon the two bodies. He doesn't

look at Triebig.

200. FULL SHOT - THE GROUP

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.

201. CLOSE SHOT-STEINER AND TRIEBIG

STEINER:

(a fierce whisper)

Stay here!

TRIEBIG:

But --

STEINER:

(his gun in Triebig's

ribs)

Stay here!

Triebig freezes.

202. LONG SHOT - THE GROUP

From Steiner's and Triebig's ANGLE, the group DISAPPEARS

into the darkness.

203. MED. SHOT - STEINER AND TRIEBIG

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 :

204. EXT. KRIMSKAYA STREET HOUSE - DAY - LONG SHOT

A SENTRY stands guard outside. Steiner, dressed now in

a rather makeshift German uniform, walks INTO the SCENE,

exchanges a few words with the Sentry, ENTERS the house.

205. INT. ROOM OF HOUSE - BRANDT AND KIESEL

are facing the door expectantly. It opens and Steiner

COMES IN. Brandt greets him with an outstretched arm.

BRANDT:

Well, well, Steiner--you're a

wonder!

(pumps his hand

vigorously)

How you ever got through with your

platoon--!

STEINER:

(Wryly)

Another man and me, Colonel.

That's my platoon.

KIESEL:

I imagine you have a long report

to make, Sergeant. You'd better

have a cigarette first.

He reaches for his cigarette case.

BRANDT:

I don't have to hear the report

to know there's an Iron Cross in

it for you, Steiner.

(quickly)

Now, don't tell me what I can

do with it.

The PHONE RINGS. Brandt picks up the receiver as Kiesel

lights Steiner's cigarette.

206. MED. SHOT - KIESEL AND STEINER

BRANDT'S VOICE

Yes, yes, Captain Stransky.

Steiner stiffens. This is not lost on Kiesel, who snaps

his lighter shut.

207. MED. SHOT - BRANDT ON PHONE

Steiner and Kiesel in b.g.

BRANDT:

(coldly)

I'm sorry, Captain Kiesel and I

will be needing my staff car almost

immediately. It's only a mile and

a half to the air strip. You can

walk it in twenty minutes -- Good-

bye, Captain.

(dryly)

I hope things aren't too rough in

Paris.

(hangs up)

I could let the bastard have the

car, but to hell with him. Let

him walk.

(to Steiner)

Well, I'm anxious to hear your

story. It must be astounding.

STEINER:

May I make a request, Colonel?

BRANDT:

Of course.

STEINER:

Could I have a few hours sleep

before I make the report?

BRANDT:

Why certainly -- even though I'm

consumed with curiosity.

KIESEL:

There's an empty room in the next

house. Why don't you nap there --

and report when you're rested.

STEINER:

Thank you very much. I'll

do that.

He GOES. The two officers are silent for a moment.

BRANDT:

Stransky in Paris...! What

I cannot understand is why this

creature is the one to escape.

Stransky of all people.

(walks to window

and looks out)

Do you know what I'm looking at?

Steiner running down the road

like a madman.

KIESEL:

Which road?

BRANDT:

The road to the air strip.

Kiesel runs toward the door.

BRANDT:

(sharply)

Where are you going?

KIESEL:

I've got to stop Steiner... he'll

kill Stransky.

BRANDT:

You will stay here.

Kiesel continues to stand, indecisive, at the door.

Brandt's tone becomes harder.

BRANDT:

I have given you an order.

KIESEL:

Colonel -- you are making me guilty

as an accomplice.

BRANDT:

(straightening up)

I am on the point of leading my

regiment into a cul-de-sac from

which it has not the slightest

chance of escaping.

(ironically)

If the whole fuhrer business

were to start tomorrow, what

would I most likely do? I'd

close my eyes again - I'd click

my heels, I'd' march, I'd heel!

Germany will lose this war but

Germany will survive.

(puts bottle on

the table)

-- My last bottle of wine. Captain,

will you join me in drinking to the

success of Steiner's mission --

whatever it is?

He starts to pour.

208. EXT. AIR STRIP - LONG SHOT

There are several small planes on the field. Several MEN

are lounging about. One small plane stands on the edge

of a runway. Its MOTORS are WARMING UP. The CAMERA

SWINGS AWAY from the strip towards the road leading to the

air strip. A tiny FIGURE is DISCERNIBLE in the distance.

209. MED. SHOT - STRANSKY

A bag in each hand, is walking toward the strip. The

SOUND OF RUNNING FOOTSTEPS behind him causes him to turn.

A figure is running towards him. His jaw drops as he

sees it is Steiner. Steiner is now close to him. We has

a Luger in his hand. The bags fall from Stransky's hands

as he sees the Luger.

STRANSKY:

Steiner--!

STEINER:

Clasp your hands behind the back

of your head.

As Stransky hesitates, Steiner makes a menacing move with

the Luger. Stransky puts his hands behind his head.

STRANSKY:

Are you aware of what you are

doing? You're dealing with an

officer --

STEINER:

I think that for the time being,

we can forget about the differences

in our rank -- and class.

STRANSKY:

Steiner -- you'll hang for this --

STEINER:

I doubt it.

STRANSKY:

I don't know what you're planning,

but you'll never get away with it.

This is a heavily traveled road.

STEINER:

In that case, I'll be quick. For

a long time, Captain Stransky, I

haven't had anything to live for --

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