Cross of Iron Page #5

STEINER:

(to Schnurrbart)

You wait here. Attack in exactly

five minutes --

Schnurrbart looks at his watch.

STEINER:

As soon as the first shots are fired,

we'll come in. Clear?

SCHNURRBART:

(grunting)

All Clear.

He shakes hands with Steiner, who walks into the darkness

followed by Kern, Anselm and Pasternack.

27. TRUCK - STEINER AND MEN

trudging toward a clump of woods. Suddenly, Steiner drops

to the ground.

28. CLOSE SHOT - STEINER ON GROUND

The other men have wordlessly followed his example. Anselm,

crawling on his belly, comes INTO THE SCENE.

ANSELM:

(whispering)

What's wrong?

Steiner points his head leftward. Anselm follows his gaze.

29. LONG SHOTA COLUMN OF DIM FORMS

moving cautiously through the darkness. They are no more

than twenty yards away.

30. STEINER AND MEN

ANSELM:

Russkis! At least a hundred of

them!

Steiner is hesitant.

STEINER:

How many men has Schnurrbart got --

a dozen? They'll run right over

them.

ANSELM:

Why don't we fire on them now?

STEINER:

That may louse up the whole counter-

attack.

(bites his lips as

he thinks hard)

Schnurrbart probably won't even

see them coming --

He reaches into his belt for flares.

STEINER:

A couple of flares -- and Schnurrbart

can see he's getting visitors --

Then if we start shooting up

their rear --

(shrugs)

Maybe, the confusion --

He sends up two flares in quick succession.

31. LONG SHOT - THE RUSSIAN COLUMN

is taken by surprise. SHOTS RING OUT, several fall.

32. MED. SHOT - STEINER AND HIS MEN

STEINER:

All right -- after them. Stick close

together and don't save on hand

grenades.

(ironically)

Remember, the eyes of the entire

German nation are upon you.

He runs in the direction of the Russians, the men following.

33. EXT. CAPTAIN STRANSKY'S BUNKER

The air is crackling with the SOUND of GUNFIRE and heavy

EXPLOSIONS. Captain Stransky comes running OUT of the

bunker, followed by Lieutenant Triebig. A Private comes

running INTO the SCENE from the opposite direction.

PRIVATE:

Word from Corporal Schnurrbart,

sir. The Russians have broken

into the trenches.

Triebig looks alarmed.

STRANSKY:

(to Triebig)

Take up positions in front of the

bunker with all the men attached

to staff. I'll phone the combat

train.

He turns and runs hack INTO the bunker.

34. CLOSE SHOT - STEINER AND ANSELM

manning a machine gun. They are lying on the slope FIRING

toward the trenches.

ANSELM:

We've mowing them down.

STEINER:

Who? Ours or theirs?

35. EXT. 2ND. PLATOON'S BUNKER

There is the SOUND of faraway BURSTS of machine gun fire.

Hollerbach and Kern are helping Anselm who is limping

badly. Behind them are Dorn and Kruger. All look weary

and begrimed.

36. INT. BUNKER

as they come IN.

KERN:

(to Anselm)

You're a damn fool not to go to

the Field Hospital --

ANSELM:

(sinking to the floor)

I'll wait until the holiday rush

is over. Otherwise, they're

just as likely to amputate as not.

HOLLERBACH:

Does anybody still have any idea

what the hell went on?

DORN:

(who seems dazed)

--- confusion --- confusion --

ANSELM:

I couldn't see anything. When

something moved I fired at it.

Probably got as many Germans as

Russians.

HOLLERBACH:

Shut up!

ANSELM:

Please -- a little respect for a

wounded man.

Steiner comes IN. He has a bandage on top of his head.

STEINER:

Kruger, what happened to you at the

signal?

KRUGER:

I was Clearing Out the craters --

then I heard the firing from your

direction --

STEINER:

I was wondering if you were waiting

for a formal invitation.

KRUGER:

You know what you can do with your

f***in' sarcasm. I saved your ass.

STEINER:

Oh, did you? Well, you know what

You can do with my --

37. MED. SHOT. AT ENTRANCE TO BUNKER

as Stransky and Triebig come IN. The men start to come to

attention.

STRANSKY:

(curtly)

At ease.

(to Steiner)

That was a bad business. You know

half of 2nd Company was put out of

action?

STEINER:

Yes, Sir. Our platoon was hit, too.

STRANSKY:

Why didn't the plan go according to

schedule?

KRUGER:

We didn't think that --

68. CLOSE SHOT - STEINER

He is now close enough to the beach to stand. He takes an

uncertain step or two to stand, then he falls, his face

down in the water. He makes no effort to rise -- allowing

himself to slide deeper and deeper into the water. Suddenly

Gertrud's hands come INTO THE SCENE, grip Steiner's feet,

pull him back.

69. MED. SHOT - GERTRUD AND STEINER

Struggling for breath, he lies on the ground.

Steiner turns over on his back and looks at her. There is

rage and shame on his face. The blood starts streaming down

his face again. He tries to sit up. She tries to support

him and he knocks her arm back.

STEINER:

If you don't leave me alone I'll

smash --

He stands up, takes a few steps to meet the incoming surf,

bends, scoops up a handful of water, washes the blood from

his face.

Then he turns and sees that Gertrud has retreated a few feet

up the beach, and stands watching him. The wind is blowing

her skirt close to her thighs.

He looks at her a moment, then, CAMERA TRUCKING with him, he

makes his way to her side. Gertrud looks at him steadily.

Suddenly he seizes her. She struggles, wordlessly. Steiner

forces her to the ground. With one swift movement he pulls

her blouse from off one shoulder.

70. CLOSE SHOT - STEINER AND GERTRUD

She has stopped struggling. His face is close to hers.

There is no resistance in her expression, but neither is

there compliance. She looks steadily into his eyes as

if there is a battle of wills. Roughly Steiner grabs her

shoulders. Suddenly, he releases her, stands up. He

watches her as she slowly sits up, rearranging her clothing.

He stares at her without Speaking. Then --

STEINER:

(in a low voice)

Why did you follow me?

She doesn't answer. He shakes his head slightly.

STEINER:

Nurse Gertrud.

keep your humanitarian

paws off drunken men. It might be

misunderstood.

GERTRUD:

(breathing heavily)

You'reinsane.

STEINER:

(laughs harshly)

We are all insane.

(he makes a tiny,

mocking bow)

goodnight.

He walks toward the blackness of the garden. Gertrud turns

to watch him until He is no longer in sight.

DISSOLVE TO:

71. HALL - REST HOME - STEINER

has just reached his bedroom door He is about to go in,

when he stops, hesitates. Then he walks slowly to the next

door, leans forward, listening. He glances up and down the

hall, then Slowly depresses the latch.

72. INT. DARK BEDROOM

A streak of LIGHT coming through a space afforded by the

blowing curtains. As Steiner COMES IN, we SEE Inge's shape

sitting up in bed.

INGE:

Who's there?

STEINER:

(Closing the door

behind him)

Three guesses.

Inge, her long nightgown trailing around her ankles, approaches

him in the darkness.

INGE:

Leave my room at once.

STEINER:

Out of character, but very nicely

said. Don't worry; I just wanted to

ask you if you have any aspirin.

Inge comes two steps Closer, looks at him. She hesitates.

As she turns toward the door, he grips her shoulders and

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