Isle of the Dead

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FADE IN:

CLOSE SHOT— Cerberus — night. The three-headed guardian of

the dead, The marble figure glares watchfully from one head

while the other two seem to drowse in sleep.

INT. HEADQUARTERS TENT — NIGHT

CLOSE SLOT — the hand of General Nikolas Pherides The

General's hand spasmodically opens and closes around the hilt

of a sword which has been struck into the earth, point

foremost as a support.

The CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal his naked forearm and from

this forearm gush gouts of arterial blood. The blood falls

into an enamel basin,

Over this CLOSE SHOT VOICES can be heard.

FIRST OFFICER'S VOICE

Dead on the field, four thousand

five hundred seventy—two of the

enemy — three thousand of our own

men. Burial parties are already at

work. We are assigning men from

every company to clear the field,

DR. DROSSOS' VOICE

(cutting in)

Tell them to pour lime in the

graves.

The CAMERA IS DRAWING BACK to reveal General Nikolas

Pherides, the commander of a Greek army corps, seated behind

a small table His left hand is outstretched to the

barber—surgeon who kneels at his side and is engaged in

bleeding him,

FIRST OFFICER'S VOICE

(same tone)

Enemy casualties estimated as nine

thousand —— prisoners ——five

hundred.

The CAMERA CONTINUES DRAWING BACK to disclose the entire mise

on scene. Four Greek officers stand before the General. Two

are great burly line officers; their uniform tunics open at

the neck, their caps on the back of their heads and their

great sabres trailing along the ground. The third is a

medical officer, Dr. Alexander Drossos. He is excessively

neat and dandified in his uniform, with pince—nez glasses set

perfectly straight on the bridge of his nose. The fourth is

an Adjutant, military enough in dress and bearing but with a

great brigand's mustache and merry black eyes. At the

General's right hand sits a young American, Oliver Davis, a

reporter for the New York Morning Globe. He is dressed in the

semi—uniform outfit which Richard Harding Davis popularized:

breeches, leather leggings and a khaki tunic of military cut.

While the rest talk, he is busily scribbling on a pad,

without paying the least attention to any of then.

The second officer breaks in on the first officer's report,

unable to restrain his enthusiasm longer

SECOND OFFICER:

A greet battle —— a great victory!

MED. CLOSE SHOT — General Pherides and Dr Drossos.

DR. DROSSOS

(dryly)

To be sure . Enough blood spilled

to satisfy anyone --

(turning to the General)

except General Nikolas Pherides.

You're letting that fool drain your

life away.

GENERAL:

(looking up)

Your father always prescribed it,

and I'm alive to tell you so.

FULL SHOT — the entire party inside the tent. In the

meantime, the barber-surgeon has finished his work and is

binding up the General's arm. He cinches the bandage tight.

The doctor shrugs.

DR. DROSSOS

At least get a decent night's

sleep.

(smiling)

Consider it a prescription from my

father..

The General nods. The three officers and the Adjutant leave,

pausing at the tent flap to call back their "good nights".

Hardly have they gone when the General rises from his chair

and begins to pace the narrow floor of the tent; his shadow

walking with him on the side walls and ceiling. The young

correspondent looks up and watches him. Finally, he speaks.

MED. TWO SHOT - Oliver and the General.

OLIVER:

Why not Take the doctor's advice?

You're the hero of the battle of

Corphon.

GENERAL:

Hero?

OLIVER:

(insistently)

In the New York Morning Globe,

the man who wins victory is always

a hero. -

The General puts his hand on Oliver's arm.

GENERAL:

Listen ——

Both men are silent in an attitude of listening - from

outside can be heard distantly the screaming and groaning of

the wounded.

GENERAL:

You know that sound, Oliver?

OLIVER:

I heard the same sound at

Ladysmith, at Nukden, Port

Arthur. What do you expect

after a battle?

GENERAL:

You were at those battles as a

spectator — — I wonder if you can

think what that sound might mean to

me —— those men out there —— dead

or dying —— by my order -- because

I willed it so.

CLOSE TWO SHOT — Oliver and the General. Oliver holds up the

lantern and tries to peer into the darkness. The General

starts off and Oliver falls into step behind him. They pass a

sentry who salutes. Only the lighted lantern can be seen as

they go into the darkness.

EXT. BATTLEFIELD - NIGHT

The CAMERA in SET UP TO SHOOT PAST the heaped-up dead. The

only illumination is the lantern which Oliver carries, he and

the General pick their way between the dead.

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