"TRINITY" - PART 11
What comes next is known in screenwriter’s parlance as “the big twist in the middle of second act”…
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - LOS ALAMOS - LATE AFTERNOON
The daily briefing over, the three Colonels depart. Groves and Oppenheimer pause at the doorway a moment.
Kelly turns to the map and studies it.
He lays his hand on the too-broad rectangle marked "possible routes" as if hoping to feel the Germans beneath his palm. He takes his hand away, they're still not there.
GROVES (O.S.)
Dammit, where are you, Captain Cline?
Surprised his thoughts were given voice, Kelly turns to General Groves behind him.
KELLY
It's not science fiction this time, sir.
(Groves doesn't follow)
The story in "Astounding," back in '42? That writer, Cartmill, who figured out the triggering device for The Gadget?
GROVES
(remembers, nods)
Too bad we can't do what John Campbell told us then.
(rueful laugh)
Ignoring this won't make it go away! We can’t let on to anyone that there’s anything unusual going on in the state of New Mexico. And for damn sure we don’t want anyone knowing there are any goddamned Germans running around out there!
The (O.S.) NOISE OF MEN draws their attention to the window.
THEY LOOK OUT - and watch the MARINES emplace the howitzers.
Kelly looks over at Groves.
KELLY
I hope it doesn't come to that.
GROVES
It's been my experience that you can hope in one hand and piss in the other and it's a sucker's bet which one fills up first.
EXT. CONTINENTAL DIVIDE - LATER
The sun noticeably lower as the Buffalo Soldiers appear from the trees. Bates reins in at a confusion of tracks.
BATES
Sergeant Major...
Bates dismounts to study the ground, Williams joins him. Ray comes over. Bates checks most closely at the point where the tracks split into two groups.
Bates points out two different sets of tracks.
BATES
Looks like they split up, sir.
RAY
(Comes over)
Well, we can't split up. Which trail goes where?
WILLIAMS
We've been out of my bailiwick for a day now, sir.
RAY
And we’re in mine, now. I grew up in this country.
Ray goes to his horse, gets his map and spreads it out. A long moment, he shakes his head. The map's no help.
RAY
Assuming they know where they're going, it's been straight northeast so far.
Bates kneels and examines one set of tracks more closely.
BATES
So far...
RAY
Just what's that supposed to mean, Sergeant Bates?
BATES
I just have me a feeling, sir. The tracks are...
RAY
We follow the evidence.
A “look” from Williams, who remembers Ray confiding in him about his own “feelings.” Ray’s set in his position.
RAY
These Germans are methodical bastards. They're not going to deliberately get themselves lost changing direction.
Bates’ eyes narrow as he examines the tracks.
BATES
They haven’t changed direction!
Ray is surprised by that. Bates rises, points at the tracks.
BATES
Goddamnit, sir! Those aren’t their tracks! They’re messin’ with us! Captain Cline, you...
RAY
These Germans aren’t going to come all this way and head off away from their goal for no reason.
BATES
Those aren’t their tracks, sir!
Williams shoots Bates a look and he shuts up.
Williams kneels and examines the tracks more closely.
WILLIAMS
Captain Cline, can you take a look at this, sir?
RAY
(Comes over)
What?
WILLIAMS
These tracks here are deeper, sir. Look over here...
(Rises, moves around)
Here they are, they ride up all together. These tracks are theirs.
(Points)
Then they stop and dismount.
(Points)
(CONTINUES)
WILLIAMS (Cont)
Then they ride off. But...
(Kneels, points)
These tracks going off to the left are deeper than those tracks before the split.
He’s pointing at the tracks that head to the left.
He rises and goes to the tracks that head off to the right.
WILLIAMS
These tracks look like what we’ve been following.
Ray has been moving around with Williams through this. He examines the tracks, looks at the others.
RAY
(Dismissive)
We’ll stay on course, Sergeant Major.
WILLIAMS
(by-the-book)
Yes, sir. If you say so, sir.
RAY
(Catches the tone)
You have a problem with that?
WILLIAMS
No, sir.
RAY
Fine. North-east then.
They mount up, and ride off down the wrong trail!
EXT. PINOS ALTOS RANGE TRAIL - SUNSET
The Germans are jubilant.
HEYER
(to Count Punski)
I thought we were done for when he came back at you!
EMMERER
Never fear when the dead-eye shot is near!
MOELDERS
Lucky shot.
COUNT PUNSKI
Luck is a matter of timing and concentration, Hans.
(taps his forehead)
He turned where I wanted him, and I used the right weapon.
Moelders looks down at his Tommygun, glowers back at Punski.
SERGEANT MAJOR WILLIAMS
Shades his eyes, looks west toward Mimbres Peak. Building thunderheads weight down the setting sun. He turns to Ray.
WILLIAMS
I think we might've skunked ourselves, sir.
RAY
I'll do the thinking.
Bates glares at Ray from behind, looks over at Williams, whose face masks his feelings. Ray eyes the ground.
RAY
The trail still looks fresh to me. We'll keep going at least until we lose the light.
WILLIAMS
Yes, sir.
Bates sees something in shadow beneath a bush several yards down the trail.
He walks over, reaches down, and picks up an unexpectedly-heavy bag.
Williams and Ray watch as Bates turns the burlap bag on end, and the rocks fall out.
RAY
Dammit!
Ray stares at Williams, then at Bates, almost daring them to say something.
He and Williams lock eyes a moment.
Williams looks away at the thunderheads.
WILLIAMS
We've got less than an hour before that storm hits.
STAHLBERG
Consults his silk map. His brow furrows.
EMMERER
How much farther, Erich?
STAHLBERG
A ways.
HEYER
How much of a ways?
STAHLBERG
We must return to our original route.
MOELDERS
But the Amis are there.
STAHLBERG
Not if we cut across here.
A deep arroyo leads down through the hills to the north.
He maneuvers his horse down the slope into the arroyo.
EXT. MOUNTAINS - ANOTHER LOCATION
Ray points at a cut in the hills.
RAY
If we go through there, we can still catch up.
The Buffalo Soldiers ride as fast as the terrain permits.
EXT. MOUNTAINS - ANOTHER LOCATION - DUSK
Sunlight through the hills to the west lights the Germans.
Stahlberg urges his horse up the slope, out of the arroyo...
EXT. THE MOUNTAIN CUT - DUSK
Rain starts falling. Scott, in the lead, reins in, surprised to SEE the five Germans cross the hillside!
SCOTT
There they are!
Ray gallops past Scott, down the slope.
RAY
Charge!
MOELDERS looks back and sees the Americans ride down the slope! Lightning flashes across the sky and THUNDER RUMBLES.
WILLIAMS is right behind Ray in hot pursuit...
PUNSKI urges his steed on as MORE LIGHTNING FLASHES!...
STAHLBERG rides across the slope...LIGHTNING FLASHES!
ROBERTS rides for his life down the steep slope...
THUNDER BOOMS...A BURST OF MACHINEGUN FIRE ECHOES!
MOELDERS' HORSE rears at the SECOND BURST...his Tommygun flies over the slope as he hangs on for dear life...
WILLIAMS charges across the slope...
BATES, caught up in the moment follows his lead, rides abreast...
MOELDERS charges up the slope in the wrong direction! Blood-lust contorts his face as he heads right between Williams and Bates...he YELLS and leaps at Bates...
WILLIAMS' momentum carries him past BATES AND MOELDERS as they crash to the ground like two jousters...
EMMERER FIRES HIS PISTOL over his shoulder as he charges across the slope...gear falls off his horse...
SCOTT's horse trips over the tumbling crates, and he goes down. He grabs the reins and struggles to remount...
A CRASH OF THUNDER...BATES swings wildly; Moelders decks him with a powerhouse right, then runs into the arroyo after his comrades...BATES staggers to his horse and hangs on...
STAHLBERG catches up with Punski...
HEYER cuts loose the mortar and ammo strapped behind his saddle as Roberts gains on him...
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING...ROBERTS gracefully jumps his horse over the obstacle and charges on...
RAY digs his legs into the horse's side and wraps the reins around his left hand...He's two horse lengths behind...
HARD-RIDING STAHLBERG fires a wild Tommygun burst at Ray... THUNDER BOOMS...
PUNSKI charges down into the arroyo and manages to get off a single shot at Scott...
EMMERER rides back for MOELDERS, pulls him up behind...
STAHLBERG jumps his horse over a fallen tree and crests the arroyo. He slews his horse around and aims at Ray...
RAY pulls his pistol and aims at Stahlberg...
LIGHTNING casts the duelists in stark relief...BLAM-BLAM!
STAHLBERG jolts from Ray's bullet!
RAY HAS A SURPRISED LOOK ON HIS FACE AS HE’S HIT!
WILLIAMS charges toward Stahlberg...MORE LIGHTNING AND THUNDER. Stahlberg FIRES at Williams, then turns and flees.
WILLIAMS' POV - Ray sits his horse unmoving as the animal gallops off in fear....
WILLIAMS spurs his roan after his commander...
WILLIAMS' POV - RAY slumps over in his saddle and falls to the side.
LIGHTNING AND THUNDER - his foot caught in the stirrup, Ray's dragged across the ground!
RAY’S HORSE gallops toward the arroyo ahead.
WILLIAMS spurs his mount and gains on Ray.
THE GERMANS flee down the steep slope ahead of the pursuing Troopers...
SCOTT sees Ray being dragged across the rocks...
MOELDERS hangs onto Emmerer, glances over his shoulder as...
ROBERTS AND BATES close the distance...
RAY'S HORSE starts down into the arroyo...THUNDER BOOMS...
WILLIAMS and his horse crash through the bushes behind. He grabs at the bridle and misses...
DOWN IN THE ARROYO - Blood leaks from STAHLBERG's leg as he tries to keep his mount...THE OTHER GERMANS are dark shapes beyond.
LIGHTNING ETCHES RAINDROPS that burst against the rocky walls to form rivulets that coalesce into streams that pour down into the arroyo...
A NEW, LOW PITCHED SOUND ABOVE THE STORM...THE SOUND BECOMES A ROAR!
THE GERMANS' POV - A WALL OF WATER SURGES DOWN THE ARROYO!
WILLIAMS stops the terrified horse. He reaches for Ray as the ROARING SOUND OF WATER INCREASES!
They go INTO THE WATER! Williams struggles to get the horse.
RAY’S FOOT is twisted in the stirrup as the flood tries to pull him away...
SCOTT leaps off his horse and runs downhill to Williams.
WILLIAMS continues to struggle for control.
SCOTT’S POV - THE GERMANS are overwhelmed, swept down the arroyo in the ROARING WHITE WATER CATARACT!
SCOTT REACHES WILLIAMS and together they grab for Ray and his horse as the flood roars past mere feet away!
STAHLBERG goes down with his horse, comes up, gasping...
MOELDERS is torn from Emmerer's horse...
BATES slings a rope around a tree and heads down toward the others.
EMMERER hugs the horse's neck as they sweep downriver...
WILLIAMS pulls Ray’s lifeless body uphill.
HEYER grabs for a tree branch as the rushing water bears him up the rocky wall.
SCOTT AND BATES fight the two terrified horses...
COUNT PUNSKI grabs at Stahlberg, desperate...they go under, come up...go under again...they're swept down the arroyo...
BATES manages to pull Ray’s horse out of the water at the last instant. The animal is terrified.
THE FLASH FLOOD CHURNS THROUGH THE ARROYO.
ROBERTS stares at the raging waters as he leads Moelders' laden horse.
ROBERTS’ POV - The Germans are gone.
WILLIAMS staggers up the hillside with Ray on his shoulders. Roberts leaps off his horse and goes to help.
SCOTT AND BATES manage to lead the two horses out of the arroyo to where Roberts and Williams kneel over Ray. The three soldiers stare at Williams and wait for direction.
ROBERTS
Is he dead?
WILLIAMS
I can’t tell.
Williams wipes rain from his eyes. He removes his poncho and Bates helps him wrap Ray in it.
Williams mounts up, and Scott and Roberts maneuver Ray onto Williams' horse.
They tie Ray’s arms around Williams, who stares down into the seething water in the arroyo.
Lightning etches Williams' determined face as he turns back to his men.
WILLIAMS
Let's get out of this before we die of pneumonia.
Bates takes the reins of Ray's horse.
They mount up and ride slowly into the darkness.
Scott brings up the rear with Moelder's horse.
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Well, I'm exhausted..... I am thinking of how complex the filming would have to be to coherently edit this!
Very well done! I have backpacked in this country and seen flash floods.