From Here to Eternity

FADE IN:

EXT. QUADRANGLE - DAY

.

LONG SHOT:

The quadrangle of Army buildings is quiet and deserted. A

broken-down taxi drives in at one corner and slowly makes its

.

way around the quadrangle. SUPERIMPOSED over shot is the

.

legend:

.

HAWAII, 1941

SIX MONTHS BEFORE

PEARL HARBOR .

The taxi pulls up across the street from camera. A soldier

gets out, pulls two heavily loaded barracks bags after him.

.

He pays the driver, hoists the bags to his back, moves toward

camera. The taxi drives away slowly. The soldier walks toward

steps leading to a low building. He is PREWITT (called "PREW"

.

for short), 22 years old, well-built, good-looking. He wears

an enlisted man's uniform and on the sleeves are marks where

chevrons have been removed. He pauses, looks up over the

door. CAMERA PANS UP to sign which reads: ORDERLY ROOM - G

COMPANY, 219TH REGIMENT.

MEDIUM SHOT:

.

A small thin soldier in an undershirt and fatigue pants backs

out of the screen door and into shot. He is wielding a frayed

broom. This is PRIVATE ANGELO MAGGIO. He is violent and funny

.

and sour and friendly. He sees Prewitt's legs but not his

face, speaks as he sweeps a cloud of dust off the porch.

MAGGID:

Fine way to pass the time. Good for

the mind.

PREW:

Hello, Maggio.

Maggio turns and stares at Prew, astonished.

MAGGIO .

Prew...? .

.

PREW:

(nods)

I transferred out of Fort Shatter.

.

Maggio notices the marks on the sleeves where the stripes

have been removed. Prew follows his glance.

MAGGIO:

You quit the Bugle Corps...?

2.

Prew nods. Maggio jerks his head toward the sign.

MAGGIO:

To here...?

PREW:

(shrugs)

That's what the orders say.

MAGGIO:

You made a bad mistake. This outfit

they can give back to Custer.

Prew smiles slightly, starts toward door.

MAGGIO:

The Captain ain't in yet.

Prew puts down his barracks bags.

PREY:

I'll look around.

MAGGIO:

(smiles for first time)

Maybe we borrow some money from a

twenty per cent man and take a real

trip to town some night.

PHEW:

Maybe.

TRUCKING SHOT ALONG COMPANY STREET

Prew walks slowly down the raised porch alongside the street.

He takes the mouthpiece of a bugle from his pocket, jiggles

it idly, a habit of his. He comes to the Dayroom, glances

through the screen door, goes in.

INT. DAYROOM - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT:

The Dayroom has a pool table, ping-pong table, a radio, etc.

Moth-eaten, upholstered chairs line both walls. The place is

empty as Prew enters. He looks around casually, sees the pool

table in an alcove. He moves over to it, puts the bugle

mouthpiece in his pocket, picks a cue from the rack on the

wall. He switches on the light, chalks the cue.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT

The triangle of balls is already racked on the table. Prew

addresses the cue ball, shoots and breaks the rack solidly.

He watches the balls hurry around the table.

3.

WARDEN'S VOICE (O. S.)

What’re you think you're doing!?

Why ain't you out in the field with

the Compny? What’s your name?

The voice is brawling, brash, vigorous. Prew turns slowly.

CAMERA ANGLE WIDENS to INCLUDE FIRST SERGEANT MILTON WARDEN,

almost at Prew's elbow. He is thirty-four, big and powerful,

has a neatly-trimmed moustache.

PREW:

Prewitt. Transfer from Shafter.

WARDEN:

Yeah. I heard about you.

PREW:

I heard about you, too, Warden.

WARDEN:

Well, put up that cue and come

along. This here's a rifle outfit,

Prewitt. You ain't suppose to enjoy

yourself before sundown. The Man's

very particlar about little things

like that.

Warden goes out of the Dayroom. Prew puts up the cue and

follows him.

.

EXT. COMPANY STREET

TRUCKING SHOT:

as Prew and Warden walk along the porch, Warden a few paces

ahead. They go into the Orderly Room.

INT. ORDERLY ROOM - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT:

as Prew and Warden enter. Maggio is sweeping the room.

MAZZIOLI, a bespectacled, intellectual-looking Private First

Class, is at the clerk's desk, opening it, taking out papers,

etc. Prew sits on a bench as Warden goes over to Mazzioli.

WARDEN:

Mazzioli! Grant went to the

hospital yesterday. Did you make up

his sick record? Did you make a

note for the morning report?!

You're the Compny Clerk. The lousy

Sickbook is your job!

4.

MAZZIOLI:

Those medics didn't get the

Sickbook back till late yesterday --

I'll tend to it right now -

WARDEN:

Thanks. I already done it for you.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Maggio has swept his way over to Prew. He stops sweeping now,

stares at the other man as if still incredulous.

MAGGIO:

But you the beat bugler they got

over at Shatter. You probly the

best on this whole Rock.

In b.g., Warden has turned from Mazzioli and is looking at

Prew. Prew looks back coolly, answers Maggio thoughtfully.

PREW:

That's true.

Maggio wags his head, bends over to pick up wastepaper

basket.

MAGGIO:

Well, friend, I feel for you. But

from my position I can't quite

reach you.

WARDEN:

Ten-sh-HUT!

Prewitt, Mazzioli and Maggio spring to attention. The screen

door bangs and CAPTAIN DANA HOLMES enters shot. He wears

cavalry boots and spurs. He is about forty, unsure of

himself, therefore always too certain with his men. He nods

pleasantly.

HOLMES:

At ease. Good morning, men.

Anything special this morning,

Sergeant Warden? I've only a few

minutes.

WARDEN:

New man here, sir.

HOLMES:

Oh, yes. Bring him in.

5.

Holmes goes into his office. Warden jerks his thumb toward

the door. Prewitt goes into the office. Warden follows him.

.

INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE - DAY

Holmes is seated at his desk as Prewitt and Warden enter. A

placard on it reads: CAPTAIN HOLMES. A smaller desk nearby

has a placard' reading: 1ST SERGEANT WARDEN. Warden seats

himself at this desk. On the walls are framed photographs of

prizefighters as well as one of a large golden trophy. On

Holmes' desk is a small framed photograph of a very

attractive blonde woman. Prewitt comes to attention in front

of Holmes' desk.

PREWITT:

Sir, Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt

reporting to the Compny Commander

as ordered.

HOLMES:

At ease.

(takes papers out of

drawer, glances through

them)

They sent your service record

over... Twenty-two years of age...

born in Kentucky... enlisted first

at Fort Myer, Virginia... Bugle

Corps... re-enlisted for overseas

duty... Fort Shafter... First

Bugler...

(benignly)

Prewitt, I always make it a policy

to talk to my new men. It's

important for an officer and his

men to understand each other. Now I

have a fine smooth-running outfit.

ANGLE FEATURING WARDEN

Holmes cannot see Warden who is grinning at Prewitt with

unholy glee.

HOLMES:

Plenty of room for advancement for

a man who knows how to soldier. But

he's got to show me he's got it on

the ball. I don't know what you've

been used to in the Bugle Corps,

but in my outfit we run it by the

book. What kind of trouble were you

in over there?

6.

PREW:

No trouble, sir.

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