Dunkirk Page #9

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With a shooosh, the plane is floating over the swell, like a

sprinter hearing the gun. Collins releases his belts, starts

inflating his life vest, pulls the catch on the canopy,

yanking it back along its track. It jams... He thrusts his

hand through the gap, struggling... From outside it looks

like he is waving...

He looks up to see Farrier’s Spitfire shoot over, dipping a

swing in salute...

Collins sits in the gently bobbing plane, collecting himself

as he watches the water start to rise around the slowly

sinking plane.

Collins tries the canopy again

50.

Jammed.

He is trapped in the sinking plane...

CUT TO:

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 -DAY

Farrier levels off, looking down at the Heinkel approaching It

has a single fighter escort -an ME 109 off the port

wing...

CUT TO:

INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER -DAY

Tommy jolts awake -there are steps outside. He moves up to

the door. Highlander 1 gets his rifle, moves in front of the

door. Aims. Nods at Tommy...

Tommy throws open the door. A Seaman stands there

SEAMAN:

Nee, nee!

Highlander 1 is confused.

Tommy grabs the Seaman, pulling him down into the hold.

Highlander 1 holds his gun on him

ALEX:

Kraut?

The Seaman looks uncomprehendingly up at Alex

ALEX (CONT’D)

Are you German?!

SEAMAN:

Dutch! Dutch! Merchant navy. Here

to pick you up. To help you.

They sit him up.

ALEX:

Why’d you leave your boat?

SEAMAN:

In case German come. We wait up the

beach with the soldiers. Wait for

the tide.

51.

HIGHLANDER 2

You came back, the tide must be in.

SEAMAN:

Coming, yes. But more hours till we

float.

ALEX:

Hours?! Why’d you come back?

The Seaman gestures around the packet hold SEAMAN

Not so heavy when I left!

Alex and the others take this in.

A gunshot penetrates the hull -everybody lies flat, Tommy

stares at the bullet hole, which lets in light...

CUT TO:

EXT. MOONSTONE, ENGLISH CHANNEL -DAY

Mr. Dawson pushes the boat towards where the plane went down.

PETER:

There was no ‘chute, dad...

Mr. Dawson ignores him. The engine is screaming...

PETER (CONT’D)

Dad, there was no ‘chute. He’s

probably dead MR.

DAWSON:

(snaps)

Damn it, he might be alive!!

Peter is shocked at his dad’s outburst.

Mr. Dawson stares at where the plane went down...

CUT TO:

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 -DAY

Farrier lines up for his attack... Sighting the Heinkel as it

commits to its bombing run over the destroyer, Farrier pushes

forward on his stick, going into his dive...

CUT TO:

52.

INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER -DAY

Everybody stares at the bullet hole, not making a sound...

Another shot punches a hole two feet from the first Highlanders

near the holes ease away, squeezing up against

the other soldiers...

BANG! A third shot, directly above the first...

Two Highlanders grab their rifles, going for the stairs

TOMMY:

No! Then they’ll know we’re in

here.

HIGHLANDER 1

Why else are they shooting at us?!

TOMMY:

Look at the grouping...

Everybody looks at the three bullet holes.

TOMMY (CONT’D)

Target practice.

BANG! A fourth hole, near the others...

CUT TO:

EXT. MOONSTONE, ENGLISH CHANNEL -DAY

The Moonstone is getting closer to the Spitfire bobbing on

the waves.

Close enough to see that it is sinking...

MR. DAWSON

Peter, go forward with the boat

hook.

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 -CONTINUOUS

Collins smashes the canopy back and forth on its track...

Jammed, jammed, jammed.

Water starts pouring in, streaming through the gap in the

half-open canopy. He shuts it... Trapped... Opens it,

yanking, water pouring in...

53.

Collins searches around looking for inspiration, for an

implement, for anything

Water rising past his ankles... his calves...

CUT TO:

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 -DAY

Farrier dives, plummeting towards the Heinkel...

He glances across at the 109, which suddenly banks towards

him, clearly reacting to Farrier’s attack...

INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER -DAY

As the men stare at the bullet holes, water starts slopping

through the lowest ones... A Highlander goes to plug the

holes.

BANG! The Highlander screams, clutching his face. His

comrades pull him back, trying to smother his cries...

The water pours in steadily through the lowest holes. Alex

points at the target zone

ALEX:

We have to plug it!

HIGHLANDER 1

After you, mate!

They stay back from the holes, wary. Watching the water pour

in...

CUT TO:

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 -DAY

Collins pulls the steel flare gun from its holder. Water is

coming up over his legs now... he smashes the flare gun into

the canopy, again and again...

CUT TO:

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 -DAY

Farrier fires at the Heinkel. Tracers zipping at the bomber.

The 109 rises at him, guns blazing. Farrier rolls away,

trying to dodge the fire

54.

EXT. SKY ABOVE DUNKIRK HARBOUR -DAY

As Spitfire 1 rolls way, the Heinkel releases its load bombs

falling around the destroyer CUT

TO:

INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER -DAY

A burst of machine guns fire opens a new group of holes

beside the first Alex

watches the water spraying in. He turns to the Dutch

Seaman ALEX

How do we get off?! Do we need to

ditch some ballast?!

The Dutch Seaman looks at him, uncomprehending ALEX

(CONT’D)

Weight! Do we need to lose weight!

The Dutch Seaman shrugs.

SEAMAN:

Weight, yes.

Alex turns to face the group ALEX

Somebody needs to get off.

HIGHLANDER 1

Well volunteered.

ALEX:

We don’t need a volunteer. I know

someone who ought to get off...

Alex turns to Tommy and Gibson. Points at Gibson.

ALEX (CONT’D)

This one. He’s a German spy.

TOMMY:

Don’t be daft.

Alex stares Gibson down...

55.

ALEX:

He’s bloody Jerry. You might not’ve

noticed that he hasn’t said a word,

but I have. He doesn’t speak

English -or if he does it’s with

an accent thicker than sauerkraut

sauce

TOMMY:

You’re daft. Tell him.

Gibson just stares at Alex...

ALEX:

Yeah, tell me.

Nothing. Just the sound of water spraying in hard, jetting in

through the bottom holes...

CUT TO:

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 -DAY

Collins smacks the canopy. The flare gun bounces off. He

drops the flare gun, scrambles to find it under the water.

The water is rising up his chest...

CUT TO:

INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 -DAY

Farrier cuts right, dodging away from the 109

Banking hard, he gets a clear look at the destroyer

weathering the explosions.

A plume of water right next to the destroyer comes so high he

flies through the top of its spray.

CUT TO:

INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER -DAY

Alex turns to Highlander 1, holds out his hand for his gun.

Highlander 1 hands it over. Alex moves to Gibson, pointing

the rifle, hooks the barrel on Gibson’s tags, pulling them

closer to read

ALEX:

Tell me... Gibson!

56.

Tommy looks at Gibson, panicking

TOMMY:

Tell him, for God’s sake!

Alex pushes the rifle against Gibson’s cheek. Gibson cracks

GIBSON:

FRANÇAIS! JE SUIS FRANÇAIS!

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