Decision Before Dawn Page #6

The night is shorter

when you have someone to talk to.

Say, I hope you don't mind, but,

uh, I've been meaning to ask you.

Where did you get all your money?

- What money?

- That fat roll you

carry in your pocket.

I just got back pay for three months.

Besides, it isn't very much.

Well, I really don't care how much it is,

as long as you'll kindly agree to...

Ioan me-

let's say- half of it?

- Now let me explain it to you.

I'm simply in need of cash...

and I'm perfectly willing

to let you profit by it.

Here. Take your choice. Where else in our

country could you get a better deal?

Paper for gold.

The fat stomach this used to go around,

I assure you, is much thinner now.

But maybe this. This is a better

investment for a young man like you.

It comes from a good marriage.

I think they had been together-

yeah- 25 years. How about it?

No thanks.

I don't plan to get married.

Well, that's up to you.

But if you change your mind,

remember, you'll be helping a friend.

Who knows?

Maybe someday you'll need one.

I think we better get some sleep now.

You know, sometimes I envy

you fellows at the front.

At least you can save your money.

Me, I spend all mine here-

on trains or busses

or, at best, on my motorcycle.

I'm Scholtz, special courier

of the Waffen S.S. Some title, eh?

But money? No.

Well-

happy dreams, Corporal.

Your main objective

is to locate the 11 th Panzer Corps.

Weren't they in Frth?

Are you sure

you'll stick to your convictions?

You'll be facing your own people.

The fat stomach

this used to go around, I assure you...

is much thinner now.

It may become hard

for you then to hold on to your beliefs.

Halt.! Hey.! Halt.!

Everybody out.! Halt.!

Halt! Halt!

Come on. Keep moving.

We have to clear the track.

Other trains are coming.

Come on.

Hey! What's going on?

Is this Nuremberg?

That's right. They hit us

for three hours this morning.

Keep in line.

- Keep in line.

- You'll all be

rerouted at the Frontleitstelle.

Attention. Left face. March. Hut. Hut.

Would you know if the 11 th Panzer Corps

is still in Frth?

Eleventh Panzer Corps?

No, I don't.

How do I get to Frth, please?

Can't you read? Over there.

Don't crowd, please. Don't crowd.

Keep moving, please.

- My sister was bombed out last night-

- Oh, excuse me.

- for the third time.

- How long can it go on?

- How long can they expect us

to live like this?

- Shh! Don't talk like that.

Yes. And then he kept

complaining about the food.

"You get it all at the front,"

I told him.

He laughed like he was crazy.

Fritz, my own son.

Karl.! Karl.!

Herr Maurer. Excuse me.

Excuse me, please.

You're Karl Maurer, aren't you?

Don't you remember me?

I'm Paula Schneider.

I worked for your father in Berlin.

Sure, I remember.

You were the head nurse at his clinic.

I suppose it's the uniform.

It does make us all look different.

- How long have you been

in the Luftwaffe?

- I was called in '43.

Look at you. I remember

when you first started school.

You were still living

across from the clinic.

That was a long time ago, wasn't it?

Nuremburg west, control point.

All passengers out.

I saw your father yesterday

at the base hospital in Wrzburg.

- You saw my father?

- Yes. Did you know he was stationed there?

Oh, yes. I heard he was

transferred from Berlin.

He's better off in Wrzburg.

Safer, I hope. Are you going to see him?

I'm trying to get permission

to stop there.

Well, they'll give it to you. Just tell them

you haven't seen your father for a long time.

- Name and rank?

- Schneider, Paula. F.P.N. 347.

All right, go ahead.

Name and rank?

Uh, I'm afraid I didn't have

my orders stamped today.

You'll have to see the Feldwebel.

He's at the main control point.

Excuse me. Maybe I can help.

I know the corporal very well.

His father is chief surgeon at the Wrzburg

base hospital. If you want, I can vouch for-

Don't worry, Frulein Schneider.

It's just a formality. Go ahead.

- Well, when you see your father,

please give him my best.

- I will. Thank you.

- Auf Wiedersehen. Heil Hitler.

- Heil Hitler.

Hey, where you going? It's up there

on your left next to the monument.

This is the control point,

not the Kommandatur.

I can't help you if your papers

aren't in order. Come on, get moving.

I know. I know. Not you.

I can't let you through.

- Corporal Steiner reporting, sir.

- Yes?

I didn't have a chance to get

my orders stamped in Nuremburg.

I'm looking for H.Q., 11 th Corps.

Eleventh Corps? They moved

a couple of days ago to Crailsheim.

I see you've been

in the army two years.

Don't you know you should

have your orders stamped?

Say, look who's coming.

Hey, Heinz.

What happened to you?

I haven't seen you

and your tin horse for quite a while.

Just back from a trip east.

But as you see...

it didn't take long for them

to get me on the road again.

I'm on my way to Wrzburg now.

Well, if it isn't the corporal.

- Do you know him?

- Know him? Why, he's a good friend of mine.

- Anything wrong?

- No, nothing serious.

I'll let you through this time.

- This man with Corporal Scholtz can pass.

- Okay.

Thanks. I'll be back tomorrow.

See, sometimes it's good to have a friend.

Where are you going?

I'm trying to get to

Crailsheim by tonight.

Well, if you don't mind a little

detour, I'll give you a ride. Come on.

I'll be right back. Just have to make

a pickup at the Kommandatur.

Frau Karen? Frau Karen,

can I have 10 liters?

Certainly, sir.

There's always some for you.

- Good day, sir.

- Badly hit here in Wrzburg, weren't you?

Yes. Last fall.

But it's coming back to life again.

They moved a big chemical plant

into town last month from East Prussia.

Uh, there is a base hospital

here, isn't there?

Yes, up there on the Berg.

Most of the casualties from

the west come through here.

- It's next to the factory.

- Uh, do you have a phone?

Inside. It's an army line.

It's to your right.

- Yes?

- The base hospital, please.

- Hello.

- Uh, base hospital?

- Yes.

- Can I talk to Dr. Maurer?

Dr. Friedrich Maurer?

Hold the line, please.

I'll connect you with him.

Hello?

Hello. This is Dr. Maurer.

- Operator, did you ring me?

- Yes, sir. The party's still on the line.

I can't hear them. Hello. Hello!

Are you calling Dr. Maurer? Hello.

Operator, this must be a mistake.

Got some friends here?

I thought I had.

Well, I know a good place where we can

spend the night, right near Crailsheim.

It's a little out of the way,

but it's worth it.

- Heil Hitler, Frau Karen.

- Heil Hitler.

There's no more room tonight.

Everything's taken.

I know. I know.

I tell you there's no more room.

- Is Frau Kollwitz across the alley?

- There's nothing she can do-

Come on.

One of the few places

left in Germany...

where a soldier can get a clean bed

and a bottle of wine.

- That is, if he has money.

- Or if he has a friend who will pay for him.

That's right.

- Hey, is Fritzi around?

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