Dunkirk Page #7

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Alex takes it, hands part of it to Tommy and they quietly

drag behind the boat as it rows in to the shore... The men in

the rear notice, but nobody says anything...

As the dawn breaks, the small, packed boat pulls across the

calm water to the vast, packed beach at Dunkirk.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOONSTONE -DAY

The Shivering Soldier steps up to Mr. Dawson

SHIVERING SOLDIER

What is it you think you can do out

there?! On this thing?!

MR. DAWSON

Not just us. The call went out -we

won’t be the only ones to answer.

SHIVERING SOLDIER

YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE GUNS!

MR. DAWSON

Did you have a gun?

SHIVERING SOLDIER

Course. A rifle -303.

MR. DAWSON

Did it help you against the dive

bombers? Or the U-boats?

The Shivering Soldier glares at Mr. Dawson.

SHIVERING SOLDIER

You’re an old fool. And you’re

going to die if you don’t turn

around.

38.

The booms echo. Closer now.

SHIVERING SOLDIER (CONT’D)

We’re turning around, now!

The Shivering Soldier steps towards Mr. Dawson, screaming at

the top of his lungs SHIVERING

SOLDIER (CONT’D)

TURN IT AROUND! TURN IT AROUND!

Peter, hearing this, makes his way back from the bow. The

Shivering Soldier grabs the wheel. George grabs his shoulder The

Shivering Soldier smashes his elbow into George’s face,

sending him flying backwards down the companionway Peter

pulls the Shivering Soldier away from the wheel.

PETER:

Calm it down, mate.

The Shivering Soldier looks at him, shocked. Confused.

Peter calls down the companionway

PETER (CONT’D)

George?

Nothing?

PETER (CONT’D)

George?!

Nothing. The Shivering Soldier watches as Peter climbs down

to find

INT. CABIN, MOONSTONE -CONTINUOUS

George, sprawled out at the foot of the steps, on his back,

quietly groaning, bleeding from the back of the head. Peter

grabs a life jacket and outs it behind George’s head.

PETER:

It’s okay. You’re okay. It’s okay.

George blinks at Peter. Frightened.

CUT TO:

39.

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 -DAY

Farrier chases the 109, gradually closing...

Up ahead, a convoy of ships is gathered around the entrance

to the harbour...

Farrier passes over a fishing trawler with a blue cabin,

covered with soldiers, strangely low in the water, water

washing across its decks...

He looks up ahead to the 109, just coming into range...

He spots German planes in the distance, heading towards him

he sights the 109... Fires a short burst... Nothing...

He remembers his fuel gauge... Pointlessly pushes the button

next to the cracked gauge.

No response.

Farrier checks his position on his chart. Checks the last

fuel reading he grease-penciled... knows he should turn

around Farrier

sights the 109, banking slightly to bring it across

his sights...

Farrier fires -the 109 starts smoking, dropping

Farrier spins around -turning away from the approaching

planes. Heading for Dover... for home.

As he passes over the sinking blue trawler, he sees men

jumping into the water, swimming for a destroyer nearby...

In his rear-view mirror: the enemy planes approaching...

Farrier looks at his cracked fuel gauge... Thinking...

CUT TO:

EXT. BEACH AT ZYDECOTTE (7 MILES EAST OF DUNKIRK) -DAWN

The surf has picked up since yesterday...

Tommy, Gibson, Alex lie on the beach, sleeping as the light

comes up on a stormy day.

In the distance, towards the dark smoke of Dunkirk, the lines

of men extend into the sea.

40.

Nearby, small groups of soldiers attempt to climb onto small

vessels. Row boats are being swamped and overturned in the

surf, overcrowded boats are grounded on the sand

MALE VOICE:

Right. Three of you out, or the

rest’s stuck.

Soldiers give up their places. Some head back out of the

surf. Some wade out past the break...

EXT. BEACH AT MALO LES BAINS -CONTINUOUS

Colonel Winnant walks the beach, surveying. He approaches a

group of Engineers driving trucks onto the sand, taking the

air out of their tires, laying duckboards on top...

ENGINEER:

(brightly)

A pier. When the water comes back

in. Tide’s turning, now.

Colonel Winnant looks out at the churning water.

COLONEL WINNANT:

How can you tell?

ENGINEER:

(quietly)

The bodies come back.

Colonel Winnant looks out at the water -men in line, chest

deep, gently push floating bodies aside as they wash in.

EXT. BEACH AT ZYDECOTTE -CONTINUOUS

Tommy bangs a tin of vegetables on a rock. It springs a leak

and he sucks the juice. Gibson holds out his hand. Tommy

keeps sucking for a beat or two, then hands it over.

Tommy watches Vanquisher loading troops from the vast crowd

lining the mole. Despairing.

Alex opens his eyes and sits up. Spots some Highlanders

walking past, away from Dunkirk in loose formation...

ALEX:

Hey! Highlanders!

Tommy watches as Alex gets to his feet, heading over to his

regimental comrades.

41.

ALEX (CONT’D)

What’s that way?

HIGHLANDER 1

(points)

A boat.

Alex follows his gesture to a fishing trawler with a blue

cabin, listing in the shallows a mile up the beach.

ALEX:

She’s grounded.

HIGHLANDER 2

Not when the tide comes in, she

isn’t.

Tommy and Gibson are already on their feet. Alex nods at them

as they follow the highlanders down the beach towards the

grounded trawler...

CUT TO:

INT. CABIN, MOONSTONE -DAY

Peter goes down below to check on George. He checks the

bleeding on the life jacket behind George’s head.

PETER:

What’d you want to come along for,

George?

GEORGE:

Sea cadet? You and Mr. Dawson? Best

thing I ever done. Only thing I

ever done. I told my dad I never

done nothing at school. I told my

dad I’d do something one day. Maybe

get in the local paper.

PETER:

The Herald? Why?

GEORGE:

Maybe teachers would see it. Make

my school proud.

PETER:

(laughs)

Who cares what your bloody school

thinks, George?

George looks up at Peter, desperate.

42.

GEORGE:

Please! Please! Don’t laugh at me!

Peter looks at George, deciding how to respond.

PETER:

I’m going to laugh at you, George cos

you’re being bloody silly.

George is crying.

PETER (CONT’D)

Now, stop it. I need you back up on

deck.

George keeps crying.

GEORGE:

I can’t. I can’t see.

Peter looks at him. Gets a blanket, puts it across George’s

chest.

PETER:

Get some rest.

Peter gets up. Looks down at the softly weeping boy.

PETER (CONT’D)

I’ll need you as soon as you’re

able.

George nods. Smiling through his tears.

EXT. MOONSTONE, ENGLISH CHANNEL -DAY

Peter comes up on deck.

The Shivering Soldier, crouched in the well, stares at him.

Mr. Dawson is at the helm. Peter comes close. Speaking low

PETER:

The blood won’t stop. Should we

turn back?

Mr. Dawson looks back towards Britain. Then forward to

France. Thinking. Shakes his head.

MR. DAWSON

Come too far.

BOOM! Explosions nearby

43.

The Shivering Soldier moves into a foetal position.

Mr. Dawson and Peter look ahead to where plumes of water

rise, seemingly in slow motion, amongst the ships up ahead.

German bombers drifting overhead, 109 fighters buzzing around

them...

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