Cross of Iron Page #7

the belongings of -- Sgt. Rolf Steiner.

Suddenly, Ilse jumps to her feet, starts to run, knocking

the flashlight from Steiner's hands. But Steiner catches

her in two strides. She kicks him and pummels him with her

fists. Steiner drags her down to the water, wades in knee

deep and thrusts her head under.

83. MED. SHOT - STEINER

holding Ilse's head under water. Then he pulls her up by

the hair.

STEINER:

Will you sign now?

She coughs and struggles for breath. He picks her up in his

arms, carries her back to the bench, dumps her on it uncere-

moniously. He picks up the pencil and paper and the flash-

light. He flashes the LIGHT on her face. Water is dripping

from her hair down her forehead and onto her hands.

STEINER:

Maybe in bed you could cry your way

out, but not here.

He thrusts the pencil into her hand. He flashes the LIGHT

on the bench so that Ilse can see. With trembling hands,

she signs the paper. Steiner switches off the flashlight.

STEINER:

(looking at paper)

All right -- you may go now.

She doesn't stir.

STEINER:

(repeats sharply)

You may go now.

Unsteadily, she gets to her feet, looks at him.

ILSE:

(tonelessly)

You're going to report me.

He nods grimly.

ILSE:

Oh, God. Oh, God, what am I going

to do?

He shrugs. Slowly she walks away, her wet skirt clinging

to her legs, head bowed, shoulders twitching.

84. CLOSE SHOT - STEINER

watching Ilse go. There is no pity in his face. Then, he

sits on the bench, examines the paper closely. He is deep

in thought when there is the SOUND of SOFT FOOTSTEPS in the

sand. Steiner looks up, Gertrud stands beside him.

GERTRUD:

(quietly)

So you have what you want?

Steiner nods his head slowly, looks at the paper again. Then

he gets up, walks to the water's edge. For a moment, he

hesitates, then he tears the paper into tiny scraps, tosses

them into the water. Gertrud comes INTO the SCENE, stands

at Steiner's side. Together they watch the scraps being

carried out on the waves, dancing and scattering until they

vanish from sight. There is a moment's silence, broken by

Gertrud.

GERTRUD:

Why?

STEINER:

(shrugs; then, slowly)

I'm not interested anymore

in clearing my name. Doesn't matter.....

He starts away.

GERTRUD:

Rolf--

He stops, turns, looks at Gertrud.

85. CLOSE SHOT - GERTRUD

as she looks steadily toward Steiner.

86. MED. SHOT - STEINER AND GERTRUD

He walks to her. Without a word he takes her in his arms.

They cling to each other.

DISSOLVETO:

87. MED. SHOT - NIGHT - CREST OF HILL - GERTRUD AND STEINER

Gertrud, her knees drawn up, sits facing the sea. Steiner

sits at right angle to Gertrud, his head resting on her

shoulder, as he reads a letter:

STEINER:

"-- Well, here I am, back in dear old

Mother Russia, after six weeks in

the hospital. Why did no one eyer

tell me before about the pleasures

of being wounded?

That nice, clean hospital -- the food

-- those nurses -- rather, that one

nurse in particular. But why am I

telling you. Every hospital, I hear

has that one particular specimen... "

He turns his head to look at Gertrud. They smile at each

other. Then he resumes reading.

STEINER:

Anyway -- "At the moment things are

quiet here, so you can be sure the

Russkis are preparing something

big. I suppose you heard that Dorn

got it. We had finally persuaded

the professor to put in for Officers

Training, and the very next day the

Russkis lobbed over a few shells

to let us know they're still in

business --"

He stops reading. Gertrud looks at him.

GERTRUD:

Bad you heard of it?

STEINER:

No.

GERTRUD:

Were you fond of him?

STEINER:

The professor? I don't know -- not

particularly, I guess.

(reflects a moment)

He was a good soldier. Did his

job.

(pause)

I'm sorry he's gone.

(back to letter)

"Well, to get on to more cheerful

news. Our darling Captain Stransky

is in some sort of trouble --"

(looks up from

letter)

Him -- I can be more definite about.

(resumes reading)

"Seems in the Captain's report on

the Russian action, the night we

got it, he somewhat overplayed his

hand. His report, I hear, pictures

Stransky, accompanied by Triebig,

appearing at the last moment among

his fleeing men, stemming the panic,

and leading the counterattack --"

(pauses)

A damned lie!

(back to letter)

"From what I hear, Stransky sat out

the engagement in his bunker. Colonel

Brandt informed Stransky that he

was entitled to the Iron Cross First

Class for bis actions, but he also

pointed out that two witnesses were

required. Triebig, that sweet-

smelling skunk, naturally signed,

but the signature of the Company

Commander was also needed. Since

Lieutenant Meyer was killed and

you were then in charge, it looks

like you're elected. We can't wait

until you get back and are asked

to sign. So, don't linger by the

wayside. Hurry back and join the

fun. Keep well and watch out that

they don't pick you up and stick

you in some other unit. Things

are supposed to be pretty hot

on the main front. All the best,

your old friend, Schnurrbart."

Steiner looks out at the sea. After a moment...

GERTRUD:

You don't want to go back do you?

STEINER:

(Pause)

Not now.

GERTRUD:

(trying to sound

cheerful)

In the morning you're going

home for a month. I know it

sounds crazy -- out maybe in a

month it'll all be over.

STEINER:

It'll never be over. Not for me.

He falls silent. The POUNDING of the SURF can be HEARD.

Gertrud stretches her hand out to Steiner.

GERTRUD:

Rolf -- sit beside me.

He takes her outstretched hand, sits beside her, rests

his head on her breast. She puts her arm around him.

He lies quietly for a moment, then lifts his face to kiss

her.

GERTRUD:

No, darling -- later -- later -- later --

Her arms around him, she is rocking him almost like a

child as we:

DISSOLVETO:

88. FULL SHOT - STREET - DAY

There are two fleets of army trucks lined up. On one

side of the street the trucks face west; on the opposite

side they face east. SOLDIERS are boarding both fleets

of trucks.

89. MED. SHOT - SERGEANT MULLER - IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET

He calls out to a soldier who is walking hesitantly to-

ward the trucks facing west.

MULLER:

You there -- let me see your orders.

The soldier hands his orders to Muller, who looks at then.

MULLER:

Where do you think you are going?

(with sadistic glee)

These trucks are going home. You

belong there --

(Pointing to east-

bound trucks)

You're going to the front!

(pointing to west-

bound trucks)

Lucky ones there!

(waves to east bound trucks)

Unlucky ones there!

(laughs again)

90. MED. SHOT - STEINER

standing outside the rest home, near the parked trucks. He

is looking up and down the street -- evidently waiting for

Someone. Muller, who CAN BE SEEN in the b.g. , calls out --

MULLER:

Steiner--! Get into your truck.

It's ready to move!

91. MED. SHOT - MULLER

as Steiner walks slowly up to him.

MULLER:

What's wrong, Sergeant? For one

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