From Here to Eternity Page #21

THORNHILL:

Ain't you want to see it, First?

WARDEN:

(shouts suddenly)

No! I ain't want to see it! Nor you

either! Get out of here!

Thornhill goes. The screen door in the Orderly Room bangs.

Warden walks to his desk, stares down at the application

form, picks it up. He carries it over to Holmes' desk. He

looks at the picture of Karen on the desk.

CLOSE SHOT PHOTOGRAPH OF KAREN

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT WARDEN

He stares at the picture, then looks at the application

blank. Then he looks down at the chevrons on his arm. He rubs

his hand over the chevrons gently, fondly. He looks at the

application blank again very thoughtfully.

EXT. BARRACKS - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT PREW AND GALOVITCH ON LAWN

A continuation of the fight. Prew is tiring, his face is cut

and bleeding and there is a welt under one eye. Galovitch is

unmarked but grunting now from Prew's constant jabs at his

stomach. He seems perplexed, as before, by his opponent+s

tactics.

MEDIUM SHOT SPECTATORS

FEATURING the non-"ath-a-leets" of G Company, including

Anderson, Clark and Treadwell. Ad-libbed shouts of “In the

face, Prew! In the face!”

ANOTHER ANGLE:

FEATURING the "ath-a-loots," including Dhom, Wilson and

Henderson. They are watching quietly, nodding with approval

as Prew feints, then darts several punches into Galovitch's

ribs, It almost seems as if they are admiring Prew's courage,

inwardly rooting for him. Holmes enters the group, Thornhill

tagging after him. Holmes stops and watches the fight. There

is a look of satisfaction on his face.

MEDIUM SHOT PREW AND GALOVITCH

The fight continuing.

110.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

near rear of crowd. An officer, walking across the lawn, is

attracted by the noise. He steps into the crowd. This is

COLONEL WILLIAMS. He wears the insignia of the Inspector

General's Department. He watches the fight, is about to step

through to break it up when he sees Holmes. He stops, watches

Holmes’ reactions.

MEDIUM SHOT PREW AND GALOVITCH

Prew, backed up against the crowd, trips over somebody's

feet. He falls without being hit. Galovitch kicks at him and

Prew rolls away. The crowd murmurs angrily. Sergeant Stark

steps out into the open circle, faces Galovitch.

.

STARK:

This ain’t no rassle, Ike. You got

to fight this man fair.

Approving shouts from the crowd. Stark steps back. Ike waits

for Prew to get up.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT PREW

looking up at Galovitch.

CLOSEUP GALOVITCH SHOOTING UP FROM PREW'S POV

CLOSEUP GALOVITCH’S EYES

CLOSEUP PREW:

His eyes narrow, harden as if his inner struggle has been

resolved.

MEDIUM SHOT PREW AND GALOVITCH

Prew gets to his feet. As Galovitch comes to him, Prew feints

for the stomach, then throws a hard right to Galovitch's

face. It hits him flush on the nose. Blood spurts. The crowd

roars.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Galovitch, surprised and hurt, throws up his hands. Prew

drives both fists to his solar plexus. Galovitch drops his

guard. Prew smashes him in the face and Adam's apple.

Galovitch falls to his knees, hawking and choking.

MEDIUM SHOT PREW AND GALOVITCH

The whole nature of the fight has changed. Galovitch, hurt

and reeling, rushes Prew, bull-like, head down, defense wide

open. Prew dodges easily, slamming hard with rights and lefts

to the head.

MEDIUM SHOT:

Holmes, seeing Prew is now clearly in command, steps out of

the crowd and up to the two fighters.

111.

HOLMES:

(severely)

All right. Let's cut it.

There is a look of relief on the faces of both Galovitch and

Prew as they stop fighting.

HOLMES:

What started this?

GALOVITCH:

(puffing)

Prewitt talk back to non-com.

Refuse order I give him, start

fight. I teach him lesson.

A laugh from the crowd.

HOLMES:

You won't disobey any more orders

in my Company, Prewitt. Warden

saved you from a court martial once

but he won't this time -

Anderson steps into the circle.

ANDERSON:

Sir -- I'm sorry, sir but Private

Prewitt’s not to blame for this.

Sergeant Galovitch started it.

Holmes reacts, momentarily at a loss. He turns to Thornhill.

HOLMES:

(meaningfully)

Thornhill, you're in charge of this

detail. How about it?

Thornhill steps into the circle, nods toward Anderson.

THORNHILL:

‘e’s right, sir.

(points to Galovitch)

‘e begun it. Prewitt done nothin.

From the crowd step Sergeants Dhom, Wilson and Henderson.

They face Holmes and Galovitch implacably.

HENDERSON:

No, sir, this wasn't Prewitt's

fault.

112.

DHOM:

That's right, sir. Everybody knows

Galovitch started it.

Wilson nods. There is a murmur of agreement from the crowd.

Holmes looks at his fighters, rocked by this betrayal. They

stare back at him.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT COLONEL WILLIAMS

Still near the rear of the crowd, he watches the scene with

much interest.

MEDIUM SHOT:

Holmes pulls himself together, turns to the crowd.

HOLMES:

That's all. Break it off. Let's get

back to our jobs.

(to Prew and Galovitch;

weakly)

I'm giving you two a break. I'll

ignore this.

He walks off. He does not see Colonel Williams. Galovitch

moves off toward the barracks. Wilson, Henderson and

Thornhill remain grouped around Prew.

PREW:

You guys figure this means I'm

steppin into a ring, you're wrong.

EMERSON:

It's your show, kid. Run it the way

you want.

WILSON:

You better put same iodine on them

cuts.

DHOM:

Yeah. An come over to Choy's

tonight. We buy you a beer.

The non-coms walk off, Prew stares after them.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. CHOY’S - NIGHT

LONG SHOT ACROSS ROAD PREW CLARK ANDERSON

Sounds of gaiety from the beerhouse mingle with the mournful

twang of guitars being played by Clark and Anderson. CAMERA

MOVES SLOWLY toward the trio until the beerhouse noises are

113.

low. The men are surrounded by many empty beer bottles.

.

PREW, CLARK AND ANDERSON

(singing softly)

Woke up sick on Thursday

Feelin like my head took a dare

Looked down at my trousers

All my pockets was bare

That girl sure was bad news

Re-enlistment Blues...

The guitars finish the stanza with a flourish as CAMERA HOLDS

on MEDIUM SHOT. The men chuckle.

CLARK:

Some day I’m goin back to Scranton

and play it for my folks. And tell

em it wan composed in the Hawaiian

Islands! Clear across the Pacific

Ocean!

PREW:

(finishes long swig of

beer)

Hey, Friday.

CLARK:

Yeah?

PREW:

Why you called Friday?

CLARK:

Don't know. I was borned on

Wednesday.

(plucks guitar, sings)

Went back around on Friday

Asked for a free glass of beer...

The three laugh, sing in unison.

PREW, CLARK AND ANDERSON

My friends had disappeared

Barman said, ‘Take off, no credit

here’...

MEDIUM SHOT NEAR ENTRANCE TO CHOY'S

The music from across the road almost lost in the laughter

and shouts from the beerhouse. Warden comes out, wobbles a

bit. He has One On. He cups his hand over his ear, straining

to hear the singing. He stumbles into Choate, coming along

the sidewalk.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes