From Here to Eternity Page #24

PREW:

Yeah. Let's step around the corner

here where we can talk.

Prew's voice is so toneless as to be ominous.

FATSO:

(grins)

Okay. Good night, gents.

The sailors go off. Fatso walks into the darkness of an alley

next to the building. Prew follows.

EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT

MEDIUM SHOT PREW AND FATSO

Just enough light from the street lamp to illuminate about

ten feet into the alley.

FATSO:

Okay. You sore about somethin?

PREW:

No. I just don't like the way you

play the piano.

Fatso throws back his head and laughs loudly.

PREW:

You know Maggio?

FATSO:

The little Wop? The one who bust

out of the Stockade? Sure. He was a

real tough monkey. But crazy, see?

PREW:

You killed him.

.

FATSO:

Did I? If I did, he ask for it.

126.

PREW:

I hear they're gonna court martial

you, Fatso. But before the Army

gets you, I want a piece of you

myself.

There is the snick of a blade snapping open as Fatso pulls a

knife. He moves toward Prew, who steps swiftly to one side.

PREW:

I kinds thought you'd try that.

There is the same sound as Prew pulls a knife from his

pocket, snaps it open, holds it out flat in his hand, showing

it to Fatso.

PREW:

This here's the one you pulled on

Maggio once. Reconize it?

Fatso darts at Prew, knife raised. Prew moves back, but Fatso

is on him and they both roll to one side along the building.

The movement throws them deep into the shadows.

ANOTHER ANGLE SHOOTING INTO THE SHADOWS

The two figures feint and dart. There is the occasional

silver flash of the knives as light hits them. The men go

deeper into the shadows, are all but lost to view. There is a

startled, pained cry. Then one of the figures falls to his

knees and starts to crawl toward camera.

CLOSE SHOT SHOOTING NEAR GROUND

as the figure comes directly to camera, REVEALING the

anguished face of Fatso. It slowly turns, is upside down in

the frame.

MEDIUM SHOT:

Fatso is on his back, his stomach gushing bloods his eyes

already glazing. Prew staggers into the light now. His left

side has two vicious cuts; he is bleeding badly. He stares

down at Fatso, who manages a small, reproving voice.

FATSO:

You've killed me. Why'd you want to

kill me?

Prew backs away from Fatso, turns, staggers down the alley

away from camera.

WIPE TO:

127.

EXT. CLIFF ROAD - NIGHT

MEDIUM SHOT:

Prew comes toward camera, laboriously struggling up the road.

His side is hemorrhaging steadily, his shirt and trousers

blood-soaked. He stops close to camera. He wads his

handkerchief, sticks it inside his shirt near the knife

wound. He smiles wearily, crookedly.

.

PREW:

(mumbles to himself)

Gonna have an awful bad scar

there...

He lights a cigarette, his fingers shaking. The flame from

the match illuminates his left wrist. There is a deep scar on

it. It seems to fascinate Prew as he stares at it, rubs his

fingers across it.

PREW:

... scars...

He turns, moves on up the road; CAMERA MOVES CLOSE behind

him, as if overhearing his thoughts which come over on sound

track.

PREW’S VOICE (O.S.)

... got that one fallin off the

barn back home... gashed it on a

spike... Dad laughed... Dead now...

Uncle John+s dead, too...

Prew moves away from camera out of shot.

WIPE TO:

EXT. CLIFF ROAD - NIGHT

TRACKING SHOT ANOTHER SECTION OF THE ROAD

CAMERA FOLLOWS Prew, as he keeps in shadows, moves slowly up

the cliff. He is in much pain now. His hand rubs across his

face; his fingers linger on his forehead near his eye.

PREW’S VOICE (O.S.)

... that cut over the eye... in the

ring at Myer... wouldn’t let ‘em

stop it... knocked the guy out...

sixth round...

CAMERA LOSES Prew again as he stumbles into shadows.

WIPE TO:

128.

EXT. CLIFF ROAD - NIGHT

TRACKING SHOT SITE OF PREVIOUS PREW-ALMA SCENE

CAMERA FOLLOWS Prew, who is now fighting hard to keep his

feet. His hand is pressed tight to his side.

PREW'S VOICE (O.S.)

... ten stitch gash in the hip...

workin in the gym attic... fell

through the skylight... where was

that?... so many scars... so many

years... where they all gone to

anyway...?

He moves on around bend in road out of shot.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. ALMA'S HOUSE LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

MEDIUM SHOT ALMA AND GORGETTE

The radio is blaring the "Hut Sut Song." Alma is crocheting.

Gorgette is reading. CAMERA SHOOTS across them to the front

door. The doorknob moves slowly, the door opens. Prew falls

into the room and pitches to the floor.

.

ALMA:

Prew -

She rushes to him, bends over him. Gorgette runs to the

radio, turns it off.

CLOSE SHOT ALMA:

Her face agonized as she leans over Prew.

ALMA:

Prew!

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT ALMA AND PREW

He pushes himself up on one elbow, seems pleased by her

stricken expression. He manages a smile.

PREW:

(weakly)

Don't worry... Ain't gonna die.

They savin me for better things...

Gorgette kneels into shot. Prew's smile becomes silly as he

turns his head to her.

129.

PREW:

... just came up to borrow a good

book.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. GENERAL'S OFFICE - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT GENERAL SLATER COLONEL WILLIAMS HOLMES

The American flag, the General's flag and the Division flag

are the only colorful elements in a rather severe office.

Colonel Williams is reading from a typed report.

COLONEL WILLIAMS

--- In addition to inefficiency

in administering his command and

neglect of duty, Captain Holmes has

been guilty of indefensible cruelty

to the aforesaid Private Prewitt.

This extended to instigating and

encouraging wholly unauthorized and

discreditable tactics to force the

soldier to join the inter-regiment

boxing team. These findings are the

result of personal investigation by

the Inspector General and are

corroborated by numerous members of

G Company.

Colonel Williams puts his report on the General's desk.

Holmes’ face reflects a weary resignation as if underneath he

has really expected something like this for a long time. He

makes no move to speak. The General is angry clear through.

GENERAL SLATER:

I'm waiting for your reply to this.

HOLMES:

I haven't any, sir... The charges --

are true.

GENERAL SLATER:

Holmes, the first thing I ever

learned in the Army was that an

officer takes care of his men. It

seems to be the first thing you

forgot. It's monstrous to think of

anybody like you in command of

troops. And believe me, you won't

be for long. My only regret is that

we have to keep you in uniform

until a court martial is concluded.

(MORE)

130.

GENERAL SLATER(cont'd)

In the meantime, of course, I'm

relieving you of your present

duties.

He indicates the meeting is over. Holmes rises, is about to

leave, pauses.

.

HOLMES:

If there were any way to avoid a

court martial, sir. Any way...

The General frowns, is unresponsive. Holmes looks to Colonel

Williams helplessly.

COLONEL WILLIAMS

There is one alternative,

General... if you're so disposed. A

resignation for the good of the

service under AR 600-275.

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