Saving Private Ryan Page #2

THE CLIFF FACE:

The Americans swarm up the ropes.

Taking turns firing up at the Germans.

MILLER SEES A STALLED CLIMBER

A soft-faced boy. Grabs him by the back of his collar.

Roughly yanks him up. Nearly choking him. They boy climbs

on.

HALF-WAY

An American private is HIT. FALLS,

taking two others with him. All

three land on the rocks below.

Another way to die.

NEAR THE TOP:

Less steep. They leave the ropes.

Free climb, scrambling up the rocks.

MILLER:

Joins half-a-dozen pinned down men.

Others bottleneck behind them. Miller

scans the route and the defenders.

Sees an open gap. Deadly. Beyond is a protective overhang.

With a clear line to the top.

MILLER:

That's the route.

Miller motions to six men huddled near him.

MILLER:

Go!

THE SIX MEN:

Take an instant to get ready. Then

SCRAMBLE into the gap.

MILLER AND THE OTHERS

Do their best to cover them. POUR FIRE up at the Germans.

Bad angle. No Germans are hit.

THE SIX MEN:

Are CUT TO RIBBONS by MACHINE GUN

FIRE. All KILLED. They fall to the

rocks below.

SARGE, mid-twenties, experienced, Miller's right arm and

best friend, dives into the rocks next to Miller.

Sarge That's a goddamned shooting gallery, Captain.

MILLER:

It's the only way.

MILLER:

Turns to the next half-dozen men.

MILLER:

YOU'RE NEXT!

THE SECOND SIX:

Move to the head of the gap. Miller

moves for a better angle against the

machine guns. Calls to JACKSON, a

tall, gangly Southern country boy,

sharp-shooter.

MILLER:

JACKSON, PICK OFF A FEW OF THEM,

WILL YOU?

JACKSON:

(heavy Southern accent)

You betcha, Captain.

Miller signals others where to direct their cover fire.

Turns to the second six.

MILLER:

GO!

THE SECOND SIX:

Take deep breaths. Head into the

gap.

MILLER AND OTHERS BLAST SURPRISING FIRE

JACKSON, NAILS a pair of Germans. MILLER CUTS DOWN two more.

SARGE gets one. Not enough.

THE SECOND SIX:

Are RAKED BY MACHINE GUNS. All are

KILLED.

MILLER:

Turns, looking for the next six.

His eyes fall on Sarge and REIBEN

who is a cynical, sharp, New Yorker.

Reiben smiles.

REIBEN:

(heavy Brooklyn accent)

Captain, can I put in for a transfer?

MILLER:

Sure, meet me at the top, we'll start

the paperwork.

THE THIRD SIX:

Moves into place. Sarge and Miller

exchange a look. They both see the

madness of what they're doing.

MILLER AND THE OTHERS

OPEN UP on the Germans.

MILLER:

GO!

SARGE:

Rolls his eyes, takes a breath.

Scrambles into the gap. The other

five right behind.

IN THE GAP:

BULLETS EVERYWHERE.

Three are HIT. Then another. POTATO MASHER GRENADES bounce

down. EXPLODE below.

THE GERMAN MACHINE GUN swings toward Sarge and Reiben. Miller

sees them about to get it... MILLER STEPS OUT INTO THE OPEN.

A perfect target. Captain's bars glinting. FIRING. TRYING

TO DRAW THE GERMAN FIRE.

THE GERMAN MACHINE GUNNER

SEES MILLER STANDING IN THE OPEN. Too much to pass up. He

swings the machine gun away from Sarge and Reiben, toward

Miller.

A ROW OF GERMAN BULLETS approaches Miller...he's an instant

from death.

SARGE AND REIBEN DIVE

Under the overhang to safety.

MILLER DIVES BACK TO COVER, BARELY MAKES IT, HIS BOOT HEAL

IS BLOWN OFF.

UNDER THE OVERHANG Sarge and Reiben untangle themselves.

REIBEN:

I'll be Goddamned! I'm not dead!

Sarge hollers back to Miller.

SARGE:

CAPTAIN, IF YOUR MOTHER SAW YOU DO

THAT, SHE'D BE VERY UPSET!

MILLER:

I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY MOTHER.

Quick smiles. MILLER AND HIS RANGERS lean out and FIRE.

HIT more Germans.

SARGE AND REIBEN run up the path, under the overhang. Stop

near the top. Pull pins on grenades. Count. Both throw

long, arcing over the crest, perfectly aimed.

THE TWO GRENADES EXPLODE.

Putt out the two worst machine gun nests.

MILLER:

Crosses the gap. His men follow.

AT THE CREST:

The Americans swarm over the top.

FIRING.

TWO DOZEN GERMANS FIRE BACK as they retreat.

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