Cross of Iron Page #4

Yes.

Stransky springs to his feet, directly in front of him.

STRANSKY:

Speak up! You said yes. You said

yes. didn't you? Don't you dare

lie to my face.

At the sight of Stransky's enraged face, only a few inches

from his own, Triebig closes his eyes in horror. Stransky

shakes him.

TRIEBIG:

(feebly)

Yes.

STRANSKY:

(releasing him;

stepping back)

Stand up!

Trembling, Triebig obeys. Slowly, Stransky looks him up

and down.

STRANSKY:

I can assure you of this! If

I catch you trying any of that

stuff, I'll have you hanged,

remember that! Before all the

men! Do you understand that?

Do you hear me?

Triebig is unable to answer.

STRANSKY:

Now get the hell out of here and

keep out of my sight for the next

twenty-four hours. You turn my

stomach.

Triebig stands immobile.

STRANSKY:

Get out!

For a second Triebig looks at Stransky's distorted face.

Then he wheels around, stumbles across the threshold I end

VANISHES. Stransky remains in the same spot for a moment,

then he fishes for a cigarette, smiles. He is satisfied

with the picture of the complete military, masculine image

he has presented.

DISSOLVETO:

Steiner walking watching men digging in, goes into

Brandt's bunker after looking up at the sky for a long moment.

17. BUNKER COL. BRANDT

The door opens and Steiner COMES IN. The scowl leaves

Brandt's face. He strides forward to meet Steiner;

presses his hand vigorously.

BRANDT:

So here are you -- unpunctual and

unsoldierly as ever.

He laughs and propels Steiner toward a chair.

BRANDT:

(laughs)

I read your report. It's enormously

valuable. I intend to transmit it

personally to the General -- Ah,

one thing. Captain Stransky has

sent in an official complaint about

the guns. What have you to say to

that?

STEINER:

(stolidly)

What can I Say? I threw away German

guns to make room for Russian guns.

BRANDT:

Why?

STEINER:

The Russian guns are better. I know

it. You know it. The men know it.

Captain Stransky seems somewhat in

the dark.

Brandt looks at him.

BRANDT:

You're a fresh bastard, aren't

you?

STEINER:

Yes, sir.

Brandt looks at Steiner and crumples Stransky's report. He

offers Steiner a cigarette.

BRANDT:

Last month I offered to pull

you out of the line and give

you a staff post?

STEINER:

Yes, sir --- and I remember refusing.

BRANDT:

....something about your feeling of

solidarity with your men. Well --

I renew the offer. I want you on

my staff.

No answer from Steiner.

BRANDT:

All right -- what's the reason for

refusing this time?

STEINER:

(after a moment)

I don't want to be dependent on

anyone -- not even a regimental

commander.

BRANDT:

As usual, I find it hard to under-

stand you.

STEINER:

(dryly)

I'm sorry to hear that. A good

sgt. should be completely under-

stood by his superior officer.

BRANDT:

Steiner! Are you laughing at me?

(getting up)

Steiner stands up and looks expectantly at Brandt, whose

mouth twitches.

BRANDT:

(voice shaking)

Get out!

Steiner half salutes and leaves.

DISSOLVE TO:

18. CLOSE SHOT MAAG

in machine gun emplacement. Darkness has fallen. Maag is

looking out into the night. Suddenly, a Russian sub-

machine gun OPENS UP. Maag, frightened, tries to bury his

head in the dirt.

19. MED. SHOT STEINER

walking in the darkness. At the BURST of BULLETS, he has

dropped to one knee. Now, there is silence again, and

Steiner peers cautiously into the darkness. There is

ANOTHER BURST of FIRE and Steiner stretches out flat on the

ground. Then there is silence again. Steiner gets up

quickly and bounds to the nearest machine gun emplacement

-- bumping into Maag, who is trying to get out. Another

BURST of BULLETS.

STEINER:

(shouting to be

heard)

Where are you going?

MAAG:

(stammering)

To -- get reinforcements.

STEINER:

(angrily)

Leaving your post for that?

He pushes Maag back into the hole. They huddle together till

the Russian machine guns are quiet. Then Steiner peers

through the loophole. A few shells WHINE through the air,

EXPLODE nearby.

MAAG:

(gasping)

They must be right in front of

us. In the Shell holes down

there.

Behind them there is the SOUND of RUNNING FEET and Schnurrbart

dives into the emplacement. Behind him come Kruger and

Hollerbach, and Lieutenant Meyer.

MEYER:

What's happening?

STEINER:

The big craters on

the slope are full of

Russians.

Meyer stands frowning for a few seconds, then:

MEYER:

(to Steiner)

Signal for a barrage. Kruger --

get the rest of the company. I'll

inform the Commander.

He hurries OUT. Steiner picks up the flare gun.

Back bent, he LEAVES the emplacement.

20. MED. SHOT STEINER

as he reaches a position in the trench. He inserts the

cartridges in the flare gun. He sends up a FLARE.

21. FULL SHOT SLOPE OF HILL

ILLUMINED by the FLARE. The dark shapes of the Russians are

visible in the craters. Then there is darkness -- then once

again the landscape is ILLUMINED. The dark shapes can be

seen burrowing into the ground.

22. MED. SHOT STEINER

He is looking at his watch with bated breath. Then he smiles

grimly as a hollow roaring SOUNDS above his head. It swells

rapidly to a mighty moan and a moment later comes the heavy

detonation. Steiner turns as he HEARS hasty FOOTSTEPS.

He sees Meyer running past him toward the MG emplacement.

Steiner follows.

23. MG EMPLACEMENT

as Steiner slides IN, followed by Meyer. The men of the

platoon are already assembled.

MEYER:

Commander's order. The Second

Platoon is to undertake a counter-

attack at once. You are to occupy

the craters and take as many

prisoners as possible. Sergeant

Steiner, you will command. How do

you think to proceed?

STEINER:

(considersbriefly)

We'll attack from three sides. Kruger

from the west, Schnurrbart from the

east and I from the south. When the

firing starts We'll need artillery

support -- to keep the Russians pinned

down in the woods. I guess that's

all.

MEYER:

(nodding)

Good in theory; let's hope it works

out in practice.

STEINER:

(smiles grimly)

It's too simple; it'll never work.

All right -- First Platoon, down the

trench till I step you.

With bent backs, Anselm and Pasternack in the lead, the men

start down the trench.

24. TRUCK SHOT THE MEN

as with bent backs and faces taut with tension they proceed

down the trench. The CLATTER of weapons persists.

The men stop, look at each other -- some with frightened grins.

ANSELM:

(With a nervous

laugh)

Sergeant -- could I go make a

telephone call?

A titter, totally Without mirth, runs through the men.

STEINER:

(to Kruger)

You and your boys stay here.

Steiner raises his arm. The rest of the men follow him.

25. SPOT FURTHER DOWN TRENCH

as Steiner and the men come INTO VIEW. Steiner raises his

hand in a signal to halt. Then he peers over the trench,

lifts himself over, gives the signal for the men to follow.

26. SLOPE OF HILL

We SEE the shadowy figures of Steiner and the men descending

the slope. When they reach the level field Steiner again

gives the signal to halt.

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