Stalag 17 Page #13

DUKE:

Static is right! The radio's static,

Patton's static, we're static!

SEFTON:

Maybe it's going to be a longer war

than you figured -- eh, Duke?

Triz, who has been standing watch at the door, now sees:

EXT. COMPOUND

Marching toward Barrack 4 are four German soldiers headed by

Schulz.

INT. BARRACK

Triz reaches up and snaps a string. All the wash in the

barrack jumps up and down. That's the signal.

Immediately the boys jump into action. Triz and Blondie

disconnect the wires. Hoffy takes the radio off the table

and they all start dispersing.

EXT. BARRACK

Schulz and the four German soldiers are about to enter the

barrack. Schulz pauses as he sees the guard playing volley

ball enthusiastically. Schulz taps him on his back. The guard

wheels around, freezes, clicks his heels. Schulz gives him a

disapproving look. Then he leads the four soldiers into the

barrack. Harry, Stosh and the other P.O.W.s follow, worried.

Schulz and the soldiers enter the barrack, followed by Harry,

Stosh and the other players.

The guys have just assumed innocent positions. A little too

innocent maybe.

SCHULTZ:

Did I interrupt something, gentlemen?

STOSH:

Yeah. We were just passing out guns.

SCHULTZ:

(laughing)

Always joking. Always making

wisecrackers!

HARRY:

Wisecrackers? Where did he pick up

his English? In a pretzel factory?

SCHULTZ:

You always think I am a square. I

have been to America.

(he shows them his

cauliflower ears)

I wrestled in Milwaukee and St. Louis

and Cincinnati. And I will go back!

The way the war is going I will be

there before you!

HARRY:

You should live so long.

Schulz has taken a wallet out of his pocket, shows a

photograph to them.

SCHULTZ:

This is me in Cincinnati.

STOSH:

Who's the other wrestler? The one

with the mustache?

SCHULTZ:

That is my wife.

STOSH:

(taking the photograph)

Look at all that meat. Isn't she the

bitter end!

SCHULTZ:

(snatching it from

him)

Give it back. You must not arouse

yourselves.

HARRY:

Hey, Schulz! I got a deal for you.

Suppose you help us escape. We'll go

home and have everything ready for

you in Madison Square Garden. For

the world championship! Schulz, the

Beast of Bavaria versus Halitosis

Jones!

SCHULTZ:

Droppen Sie dead!

(to the German soldiers)

Raus mit dem Ofen. Los! Los!

The soldiers move toward the stove. As the scene proceeds

they dismantle the stove and ultimately carry it out.

SCHULTZ:

(to the P.O.W.s)

All right, gentlemen! We will now

all go outside for a little gymnastic

and take some shovels and undig the

tunnel which you digged.

STOSH:

Why don't we just plug up that tunnel --

with the Kommandant on one end and

you on the other.

SCHULTZ:

It is not me. It is the orders. I am

your friend. I am your best friend

here.

DUKE:

Cut out the guff, Schulz. We're on

to you. You know everything that's

happening in this barrack. Who's

tipping you off?

SCHULTZ:

Tipping me off? I do not understand.

HOFFY:

You're wasting your time, Duke.

(to the others)

Outside, everybody! Let's get it

over with.

PRICE:

Wait a second, Hoffy. Schulz says

he's our best friend. Maybe he can

give us a little hint.

DUKE:

Come on, Schulz! Spill it! How did

you get the information? About

Manfredi and Johnson? About the stove

and the tunnel? Who's giving it to

you? Which one of us is it?

SCHULTZ:

Which one of you is what?

PRICE:

Which one of us is the informer?

SCHULTZ:

You are trying to say that an American

would inform on other Americans?

DUKE:

That's the general idea.

(looking at Sefton)

Only it's not so general as far as

I'm concerned.

SCHULTZ:

You are talking crazy!

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