Cross of Iron Page #3

soon.

STRANSKY:

What about your platoon -- any

casualties?

STEINER:

Two killed. One missing.

STRANSKY:

Two killed. How?

STEINER:

(dryly)

Bullets.

STRANSKY:

(flushing angrily)

I deduced that. That missing man --

did you look for him, Steiner?

STEINER:

(shrugs impatiently)

We had no time to lose. It would

have been irresponsible to risk the

safety of the entire platoon for

the sake of one man.

STRANSKY:

There ought not to be a missing man

in Such a case.

STEINER:

(no expression)

Sorry, sir. I'll try to do better

next time.

STRANSKY:

(grimly; after a

moment)

I have the feeling, Sergeant, that

you somewhat overestimate your

importance.

STEINER:

(eyes darken; but no

change in voice)

At the moment, I am free of any

such illusions.

The two men look at each other; then Stransky's eyes fall

on the tommy gun Steiner holds in his hand.

STRANSKY:

That's not a German gun.

STEINER:

No, sir It's all in the report.

We surprised a Russian platoon --

and when they ran, they left

their guns.

STRANSKY:

Oh, captured material. Good.

Where is your gun?

STEINER:

We couldn't carry both, so we left

ours.

STRANSKY:

What! You left your guns for the

Russians!

STEINER:

(quietly)

Yes, sir. Our guns for the Russians.

STRANSKY:

That I cannot understand. You

must be aware that the quality of

our arms is far superior to that

of the Russians and --

He stops as Steiner shakes his head. Stransky raises his

eyebrows.

STRANSKY:

I beg your pardon?

STEINER:

...the Russian guns are better!

STRANSKY:

(sharply)

That is stupid, loose talk. You

have every reason to be grateful

for the fine equipment the Father

land puts into your hands at the

cost of countless sacrifices.

STEINER:

(cannot suppress a

mirthless grin)

I never asked then to put the stuff

in my hands,

Meyer looks toward heaven. Stransky takes a deep breath.

MEYER:

(hastily)

sir, Sergeant Steiner is greatly

in need of sleep. I'm positive

that When he --

Stransky cuts him short by turning his back in a gesture of

dismissal. Meyer motions for Steiner to follow him.

15. EXT. BUNKER THE MEN

jump to their feet as they see Steiner and Meyer.

MEYER:

Be careful

he's taken strong dislike

to you.

STEINER:

(wryly)

Too bad. I'm crazy about him.

MEYER:

He can be trouble...

STEINER:

(laconically)

I've survived many a battalion

commander. I'll survive Stransky,

too.

16. INT. BUNKER STRANSKY AND TRIEBIG

at his desk, coffee cup in hand, sipping.

STRANSKY:

Dammit. This coffee is cold.

TRIEBIG:

Sorry, sir. It was heated not too

long ago

There is a LOUD EXPLOSION as a shell lands nearby.

The near miss has shaken up the bunker. Lieutenant Triebig

is righting a table that has overturned. Captain Stransky,

girm faced, is dusting off his uniform.

TRIEBIG:

(placing some papers

on the table; feeble

smile)

Too close for comfort, I should say,

Captain.

STRANSKY:

How many more papers are there for

me to sign?

TRIEBIG:

Quite a few, I'm afraid.

STRANSKY:

(sitting down; crossly)

Let me have the junk.

As he glances through the papers and signs his name. Triebig

watches him with his soft eyes, the smile remaining fixed

on his face. As Stransky finishes signing he looks up,

sniffs the air, looks at Triebig rather strangely.

STRANSKY:

That isn't perfume I smell -- is it?

TRIEBIG:

Oh, no, Captain --

(apologetically)

Just a bit of after shave lotion.

It -- bucks me up.

STRANSKY:

I see.

He fixes his gaze upon Triebig whose smile fades under the

scrutiny. Then, Stransky's manner changes suddenly. He

gestures toward a chair, tries to inject a cordial note

into his voice.

STRANSKY:

(offering him a

cigarette)

Where were you stationed before

you joined the battalion?

TRIEBIG:

(voice softening)

In the south of France -- Bordeaux.

STRANSKY:

Ah! Then being transferred must

have come hare, eh?

(voice casual)

Why were you transferred anyway?

TRIEBIG:

(after a moment's

Silence)

I voluntarily applied for a transfer,

sir.

STRANSKY:

(suspiciously)

How interesting.

There is mounting apprehension in Triebig's face as Stransky

regards him fixedly. Then again there is a sudden change in

Stransky's expression. Again it becomes friendly -- to Triebig's

great relief.

TRIEBIG:

We lived in real mansions right On

the beach. Swimming at any hour,

day or night. It was indescribable

-- the sea, the palms, the beaches,

the people, everything --

Overwhelmed by his memories, he stops. Stransky is surprised

to see him swallow with emotion.

STRANSKY:

(a knowing smile;

winks)

The women, you mean.

TRIEBIG:

(raising his head�j

I beg your pardon?

STRANSKY:

I said, the women. I mean -- in

referring to the people -- you meant,

of course, the women?

TRIEBIG:

(shrugging)

Not so much that. I am -- that is--

(suddenly confused)

I didn't have much time to think

about women.

Pause.

STRANSKY:

(casually)

Do you like soldiering?

TRIEBIG:

(emphatically)

Certainly.

STRANSKY:

(nods patronizingly)

I'm glad to hear that.

TRIEBIG:

It's like living in an altogether

different world.

The Candle hag burned down. Stransky rises to light another.

STRANSKY:

It is indeed a very different

world. A world of danger and a

world of men, a world without women.

(laughs; puffs, gets

thoughtful)

men can get along without

women. I tell you, man's truly

natural destiny is not to breed

children, but to be free, to rule

and fight -- in other words, to

lead a man's existence....

women are no more than a fancy,

a superfluous dessert.

(blows a smoke ring;

looks at Triebig)

Or do you disagree?

Triebig looks at Stransky in some confusion. What is Stransky

getting at. Then he gets a grip on himself. Intertwining

his fingers, he regards his thumb thoughtfully.

TRIEBIG:

I don't think I disagree, sir.

(after some

hesitation)

I think that if I have to I Can

live without women.

STRANSKY:

I'm pleased to hear that.

He studies the burning tip of his cigarette; then looks up

quickly.

STRANSKY:

In other words, you prefer the company

of a man to that of a woman?

TRIEBIG:

(greatly troubled

now)

It depends on the situation.

STRANSKY:

Really?

Stransky smiles. Triebig does not reply.

STRANSKY:

If it will help you, I will put

your thoughts into words for you.

(smilebroadens)

You prefer the society of men to

that of women in any and all

situations.

The words hang in the silence of the bunker. Triebig re-

treats into himself like a snail sealing itself up in its

shell. He stares with mingled fear, assent and hope at

Stransky's face which still registers nothing but friendly

assent. Then, afraid silence might be interpreted as

agreement, he murmurs...

TRIEBIG:

I -- don't understand, sir --

STRANSKY:

(smiles confidentially)

Let's drop the hide and seek. By

God, Triebig, you don't have to

put up a front with me of all

people. What I said is true,

isn't it? Say yes, man, for heaven's

sake.

TRIEBIG:

(with the air of a

man wanting to stop

himself; in a bare

whisper)

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