From Here to Eternity Page #5

HENDERSON'S VOICE

'at's fair time. Now lemma see you

put it together.

Prew's hands start to work over rifle parts, putting them

together.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. FIELD - DAY

CLOSE SHOT THE RIFLE

in Prew's hands, assembled, CAMERA PULLS BACK as Prew stands

up, holding the weapon. The rest of the men are still working

over their rifles, Maggio is staring up at Prew in awe.

Henderson grabs the rifle from Prew, turns his back to him,

pretending to squint along barrel.

CLOSE SHOT HENDERSON

looking along barrel. SHOT FEATURES his thumb as he flips the

rear sight to one side. Henderson turns around and ANGLE

WIDENS to include Prew. He throws the rifle at Prew, who

catches it, staggering back.

HENDERSON:

Your rear sight's way off! You'd be

fifty feet off your target at three

hundred yards!

(to others, mockingly)

That's what comes when a soljer

don't know how to assemble a

rifle.

(to Prew)

You better get down to the track

and carry it around a few times.

Maybe that’ll teach you...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. CINDER TRACK - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT PREW

running around track to sun, rifle held before him. The smile

is fainter but still there.

DISSOLVE TO:

24.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

GROUP SHOT BAYONET PRACTICE

The platoon is divided into teams of two. Thornhill is the

instructor. This is actual hand-to-hand training. Prew wields

his rifle, bayonet fixed, in expert thrusts. Maggio is

fighting in next lane. Thornhill walks behind Prew, trips him

quickly as he passes. Prew falls off balance. His opponent

smashes his rifle against Prew’s, knocks it to the ground.

Prew whirls on Thornhill in protest.

THORNHILL:

Wide open, ey, Prewitt? Maybe seven

laps’ll teach you to watch

yourself...

Maggio, wielding his rifle madly, yells over.

MAGGIO:

Hey, I saw that -- I saw what you

pulled -

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. CINDER TRACK - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT PREW AND MAGGIO

toiling around track together, holding rifles.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. COMPANY STREET - DAY

TRUCKING SHOT OUTSIDE SUPPLY ROOM

Maggio and Prew trudge wearily along the porch, rifles on

shoulders. Their sweaty uniforms are plastered to their

bodies.

MAGGIO:

I use to think a shipping clerk was

a dog's life.

(sighs, shakes head)

What I would not give to be back in

Gimbel's basement!

As they come up to the Supply Room, Warden, neat and cool, is

leaning on the counter. He steps aside to let them pass,

beams at Prew.

WARDEN:

Chow's almost over, men. Better

hurry up and wash. ‘less of course

you'd rather go in the way you are.

25.

Maggio gives Warden a dirty look. Prew's expression is

noncommittal. They carry their rifles into the Supply Room.

Leva comes up to the door as Warden turns to go back to the

Orderly Room. As he does, Karen's convertible comes down the

street. Warden stops, watches it.

LONG SHOT FROM WARDEN'S POV

as Karen drives by, turning her head slightly toward Warden.

There is the vaguest trace of i smile.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT FEATURING WARDEN

as he turns to watch the departing car.

LEVA:

I'm tellin you, Top, she's trouble.

You better keep your mind off what

you're thinkin.

CAMERA MOVES TO CLOSE SHOT

of Warden, still looking after the car, thinking.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT WARDEN AND HOLMES

It is a gloomy, rainy day and the lights are on in the

office. Warden is at his desk, working. Holmes is buckling on

his trench coat. He wears a happy smile.

.

HOLMES:

I won't be back in time to take

Retreat.

(winks at Warden)

Or Reveille either, probably.

WARDEN:

Yes, sir.

HOLMES:

(strides back and forth;

jovially)

All work and no play, Sergeant. All

you do is sit around sweating over

this paper and that. There are

other things in this world beside

work.

Warden carries some official papers to Holmes' desk.

HOLMES:

(bending over, tying

shoelace)

(MORE)

26.

HOLMES(cont'd)

You ought to get out more yourself,

Warden.

Warden is looking directly at the picture of Karen on Holmes'

desk.

WARDEN:

I've been considering it.

He turns aside as Holmes straightens up.

HOLMES:

Well, I'm going.

He claps Warden on the back fraternally.

HOLMES:

I'm leaving it in your care,

Sergeant.

WARDEN:

It'll be here when you get back.

Holmes goes out. Warden turns back to Holmes' desk. He is

still holding the papers in one hand. He looks at Karen's

picture, picks it up with his other hand, squints at it,

considering the chances very, very carefully.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. BACK PORCH OF HOLMES' HOUSE - DAY

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT WARDEN

standing on the open porch, in the rain. He wears a GI

raincoat. He is squinting at the door with the same

expression he used looking at Karen's picture. He takes a

deep breath as if he were going off a high diving board, then

knocks briskly. A shadow moves across the room behind the

curtains. Then Karen opens the door. She is in shorts and a

blouse.

KAREN:

Oh. If it isn't Sergeant Warden.

You better step inside or you'll

get wet.

Warden opens the screen door and jumps in past the water

running off the eaves.

INT. SMALL PANTRY OFF KITCHEN - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT:

as Warden jumps in. He takes off his rain hat.

27.

WARDEN:

I am wet.

KAREN:

If you're looking for my husband,

he isn't here.

WARDEN:

(taking the long chance)

And if I'm not looking for him?

KAREN:

(unsmiling)

He still isn't here. If that does

you any good.

WARDEN:

(quickly)

Well, I'm looking for him. Do you

know where he is?

KAREN:

I haven't the slightest idea.

Perhaps he's in town. I guess it

was ‘in town’ the way you put it,

wasn't it? Or perhaps he's at the

Club. Having a drink.

WARDEN:

(fishes in his pocket,

brings out papers)

I got some papers it's important

for him to sign. Today.

KAREN:

(turns)

I'll try phoning him at the Club

for you.

WARDEN:

I never like to disturb a man

drinking.

KAREN:

(turns back)

What is it you want, Sergeant?

WARDEN:

I could use a drink myself right

now. Bad. Anyway, I got a faint

suspicion the Captain's ‘in town.’

Ain't you going to ask me in?

28.

Karen finally smiles, faintly. She goes into the kitchen,

leaving the door open. Warden follows her.

INT. KITCHEN HOLMES HOUSE - DAY

MEDIUM SHOT:

The kitchen is small and undistinguished. Karen takes a

whisky bottle from a cabinet, pours a straight, stiff drink,

puts it on the sink. Warden puts the papers down and drinks.

Karen sits on a high kitchen stool.

KAREN:

You’re taking an awful chance, you

know. My maid is liable to be home

any time.

WARDEN:

No she won't. Thursday's her day

off.

He takes off his raincoat, drops it on a chair.

KAREN:

You think of everything, don't you,

Sergeant?

WARDEN:

I try. In my position you have to.

KAREN:

(goes to sink, picks up

the papers)

Are these really important?

WARDEN:

Yes. But not important they get

signed today. Tomorrow's okay.

Karen suddenly, deliberately, rips the papers in half. Then

she tears them into bits and throws them into the

wastebasket. Warden appreciates the gesture, relaxes for the

first time. He grins widely.

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