Saving Private Ryan Page #5

MILLER:

Maybe the war's over.

A MORTAR SHELL EXPLODES VERY CLOSE. After the debris stops

falling, Sarge and Reiben rise, spitting out sludge. Reiben

looks dubiously at Miller.

REIBEN:

I don't think so, Captain.

MILLER:

(to Radioman)

Stay at it until you get fire control.

(to Sarge)

Keep 'em down, wait for the navy.

SARGE:

Yes, sir.

Miller waits for a pause in the MORTAR BARRAGE, then scrambles

out of the crater and takes off in a crouch-run.

EXT. NORMANDY - FIELD H.Q. - 19TH INFANTRY - DAY

Chaos. Under fire. INTERMITTENT MORTARS, SOME BIG GERMAN

SHELLS and fairly close SMALL ARMS FIRE.

MILLER:

Runs over the broken ground and makes

it to the sandbagged H.Q. He stumbles

down the make-shift stairs.

INT. H.Q. SANDBAGGED BUNKER - DAY

Sand and dirt falls with the closest of the EXPLOSIONS which

continue through the scene. Miller salutes a Major.

MILLER:

Miller, Company B, Second Rangers.

Major Go on in.

Miller goes deeper into the H.Q. bunker where he finds a

dozen officers with as many aides, runners and radiomen.

Very busy. A field map dominates the center of the small

space.

The men in the room note Miller, a few nod to him

respectfully. He's clearly someone special.

COLONEL SAM ANDERSON is in command, talking on a field-phone.

He's about fifty, firm and steady, the calm at the eye of

the storm. He sees Miller and motions for him to wait.

COLONEL ANDERSON

(into field-phone)

...I understand your problem, but if

we don't get those tanks off-loaded

by 0600, we're going to have an entire

division up at Caen with its ass

hanging out of its pants...

A LIEUTENANT steps up to Miller and hands him a sheet of

paper.

Lieutenant Captain, here's your company address list.

MILLER:

My what?

Lieutenant For letters to the families of your killed-in-

action.

Miller hands the list back to the Lieutenant.

MILLER:

Find a chaplain.

COLONEL ANDERSON

(into field-phone)

...alright, let me know when.

Anderson hangs up, speaks to an AIDE.

COLONEL ANDERSON

Have the Second and Third Regiments

hold at St. Michel until we get those

tanks. Aide Yes, sir.

Colonel Anderson turns to Miller.

COLONEL ANDERSON

Report.

MILLER:

Sector four is secured, we put out

the last three German one-fifty-fives,

found them about two miles in from

Ponte du Hoc.

COLONEL ANDERSON

Resistance?

MILLER:

A company, Wehrmacht, no artillery,

we took twenty-three prisoners, turned

them over to intelligence.

COLONEL ANDERSON

Casualties?

MILLER:

Fourty-four, twenty one dead.

An instant of SILENCE, all hear, none look.

MILLER:

They didn't want to give up those

one-fifty-fives, sir.

COLONEL ANDERSON

It was a hard assignment, that's why

you got it.

MILLER:

Yes, sir.

COLONEL ANDERSON

Where are your men now?

MILLER:

Pinned down, a mile east of here,

waiting for some help from the navy

guns.

COLONEL ANDERSON

I'm sending Simpson to take over for

you, the division is going to Caen,

you're not coming with us, I have

something else for you.

MILLER:

Sir?

COLONEL ANDERSON

There's a Private James Ryan who

parachuted in with the Hundred-and-

First near Ramelle. I want you to

take a squad up there. If he's alive,

bring him back to the beach for

debarkation. Take whoever you need,

you've got your pick of the company.

MILLER:

A private, sir?

COLONEL ANDERSON

He's the last of four brothers, the

other three were killed in action.

This is straight from the Chief of

Staff.

MILLER:

But, sir...I...I...

COLONEL ANDERSON

Spit it out, Captain.

MILLER HESITATES, THEN:

MILLER:

Respectfully, sir, sending men all

the way up to Ramelle to save one

private doesn't make a f***ing,

goddamned bit of sense.

(beat)

Sir.

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