"TRINITY" - PART 12

Off we go into the changed reality…

INT. GENERAL GROVES’ OFFICE - NIGHT

Groves looks up as Kelly enters.

GROVES

Well?

KELLY

There’s a squall line clear across the area. We couldn’t fly in.

GROVES

And no word from them?

Kelly shakes his head.

INT. CAVE - NIGHT

Two flickering candles light the scene. The others gather behind Williams as he opens Ray’s shirt and examines him. THE RAINSTORM DRUMS on the rocks by the cave entrance.

Bates holds a candle so that Williams can see better.

A long moment. Williams leans over and puts his ear over Ray’s mouth.

Roberts and Scott are anxious.

Williams rises slightly, stares at Ray.

He pushes on Ray’s chest, gently. Down. Up. Down. Up...

WILLIAMS’ POV - A BARELY-AUDIBLE GASP from Ray!

BATES suddenly sees in the flickering light that Williams’ arm is bloody.

Williams turns to the others.

WILLIAMS

Get your blankets. We’ve got to keep him warm till this storm breaks.

BATES

Marcus - you’ve been hit!

They wrap Ray in all the blankets as Bates goes to Williams.

WILLIAMS

It’s a scratch. Get some wood - we need a fire before we all catch our death.

The others turn to follow his orders.

Bates grabs Williams and opens his shirt. He pulls it off to reveal a bloody flesh wound in his arm.

Bates checks it.

WILLIAMS

Told you - a scratch...

BATES

Yeah. Lucky it ain’t broke.

He applies a tourniquet, then takes the last of the bandages and bandages the wound.

LATER THAT NIGHT

The Buffalo Soldiers are curled around the fire, sleeping a troubled sleep, save Williams, who sits vigil beside Ray.

OUTSIDE - THE STORM RAGES.

FADE TO:

A PUDDLE glistens in the DAWN light.

A DEAD HORSE'S LEGS stick up from a debris dam.

SADDLEBAGS sit wedged between rocks.

A BOOT sticks up between other rocks. A ground squirrel climbs out of it, shakes itself dry, and scrambles up the rocky wall.

COUNT PUNSKI opens his eyes. What happened? He rolls off a pain in his back and finds their binoculars. He slips the strap over his head, then checks if his pistol is still in its holster. It is. Now he scans his surroundings.

HIS POV - The arroyo is flat, with large rocks uphill.

COUNT PUNSKI

(Stands, cups his hands)

Karl-Friedrich! Max! Erich! Hans?!

He stumbles over the rocky ground toward a tree stump, where

Stahlberg lies inert.

Punski drops beside him and listens at his chest for a heartbeat. He slaps him.

COUNT PUNSKI

Erich...Erich...

STAHLBERG opens his eyes and stares up at the sky a long uncomprehending moment.

STAHLBERG

Are...are we...alive?

COUNT PUNSKI

Does this look like Valhalla?

He helps Stahlberg sit up against the tree. Stahlberg gathers his strength and tries to stand.

He grimaces as he stares down at his bloody pants leg.

STAHLBERG

That damn Cline. He shot me.

Count Punski rips open the pants and examines the leg.

COUNT PUNSKI

You’re going to live, Erich.

Count Punski rips his shirt and makes a bandage.

EXT. THE MOUNTAINS - DAWN - SAME

Pink light etches Mimbres Peak. The countryside has been washed clean by the rain. STEAM rises from six sodden horses tied under the trees.

BATES AND WILLIAMS crawl out of the cave and survey their surroundings.

Williams’ shoulder is stiff as he moves it.

They SQUELCH through the mud to the horses.

Williams gives his horse a sugar cube, then he studies Ray's map.

WILLIAMS

Silver City's the nearest doctor.

BATES

And then what?

WILLIAMS

We see that the Captain's taken care of proper and then we finish what we came here for.

BATES

We got ‘em good, Marcus! They’re dead! Gone in that flood!

(Glances back at the cave)

We’d a got ‘em all for damn sure, he hadn’t a let ‘em fool him. It’s time to head home! He damn near got us killed!

WILLIAMS

Sergeant Bates, we are engaged in the most important campaign of our careers.

Bates gives him a surprised look.

WILLIAMS (Cont)

If the Captain’s right, these Germans are after the biggest secret of the war. All that’s happened leads me to believe he’s right.

(Bates stares in amazement)

If there’s one of them left - if there’s only one of us left - that man’s duty will be to stop them. If it costs him his life.

WILLIAMS’ POV - Bates stares at him a moment, not wanting to believe him. Then a lifetime in the cavalry kicks in and he straightens, a loyal soldier.

BATES

I’ll get the others.

EXT. DOWNSTREAM - SAME

Stahlberg grimaces as Punski finishes bandaging his wound.

MOELDERS (O.S.)

Hauptmann Stahlberg?

COUNT PUNSKI

Over here!

Moelders stumbles out of the rocks upstream.

MOELDERS

Gott in Himmel! I thought I was the only one!

A HORSE WHICKERS. Then...

EMMERER (O.S.)

Where are you?

Heyer, barefoot, carries the Springfield beside Emmerer, who leads a horse around a bend.

EMMERER

Count Punski!

STAHLBERG

Max, Karl!

Stahlberg is rejuvenated at seeing them - they all survived.

STAHLBERG

Fate tests us, my friends, to make us stronger.

EXT. CAVE - LATER

Still unconscious, his head bandaged, Ray MOANS as Williams and Bates lift him onto a rough horse-pulled travois from ponchos and tree limbs, used for an ambulance. Scott brings an oil-paper wrapped block over to Williams.

SCOTT

I found this on the German's horse, Sergeant Major.

Williams takes it. He examines the putty-like contents and then checks the boxes tied over Moelders' horse.

SCOTT

What is it, some kinda clay?

WILLIAMS

It's enough plastic explosive to blow us off the face of the Earth!

Scott pales and backs away.

ROBERTS

We coulda been blown up in our sleep.

WILLIAMS

Not without the detonators. Sergeant Bates, secure those crates and let's get moving.

EXT. PINOS ALTOS MOUNTAINS - DAY

Stahlberg, suffering blood loss and shock, sits the horse unsteadily. His hand grips the pistol in his tourniquet. The others march alongside. Count Punski pauses at the BLEATING OF SHEEP.

COUNT PUNSKI

At least, we won't starve.

(takes out his knife -

Come with me, Karl.

Count Punski and Emmerer head off.

EXT. SILVER CITY - MAIN STREET - DAY

Several CHILDREN play in the street.

They stop, agog at the troop of Buffalo Soldiers that ride in out of the Old West.

One child runs toward the General Store.

CHILD

Horse so'jers! Daddy, daddy, horse so'jers comin'!

ADULTS, all white, stare silently. Williams reins in as the General Store OWNER steps outside with his Child.

WILLIAMS

Good afternoon, sir. Could you point out the Sheriff's office?

Too stunned to speak, the Owner nods and points. Scott and Roberts glance around at the unfriendly town.

EXT. MEADOW - PINOS ALTOS MOUNTAINS -DAY

Emmerer lifts the struggling lamb by its rear legs while Count Punski slits its throat. Emmerer sees the OLD NAVAJO shepherd step out of the trees.

EMMERER

Company.

COUNT PUNSKI looks up at the Old Navajo, who stares at the Germans, two boys caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Right out of the movies, Count Punski takes a step toward the Navajo and raises his hand.

COUNT PUNSKI

How.

The Navajo stares at their torn clothes, their battered appearance. Count Punski holds his pose.

Despite his dead lamb, the Navajo can't help laughing. (HE SPEAKS IN SUB-TITLED NAVAJO)

OLD NAVAJO

That lamb you killed at least had the sense to be on high ground in the rain.

Count Punski stares blankly. A moment.

COUNT PUNSKI

(in English)

White Man need help from Red Brother.

No response.

EMMERER

Maybe he doesn't speak Tom Mix.

That hadn't occurred to Punski. He stares at the Old Navajo, then signs, pointing at himself, then Emmerer.

COUNT PUNSKI

Hurt in flood...

He makes a water sound, mimes water rushing downhill. The Old Navajo nods.

INT. MAJOR BRAND'S OFFICE - DAY

Circles under Brand's eyes. The intercom BUZZES him from paperwork. He flips the switch.

BRAND

What is it, Miller?

MILLER(from intercom)

Sergeant Major Williams is on the phone for you, sir.

Brand lunges for the receiver.

BRAND

Do you have them?

He reddens as he listens.

INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY

Williams, the phone held to his ear, stiffens to attention.

WILLIAMS

Yes, sir. Right here, sir.

INT. GROVES' OFFICE - SUNSET

General Groves triumphantly rams his finger on the map.

GROVES

They’re in Silver City. Get out there and wrap it up.

(Kelly nods, turns to go)

And, Kelly...remember: we can’t afford to have anyone knowing that the damn Nazis ever figured this out - it never happened.

INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE - DAY

Ray lies in the bed. Williams turns to the DOCTOR.

WILLIAMS

How bad, sir?

DOCTOR

Can’t say. He took a beating when he fell off the horse. The gunshot wound was through and through. Clean.

EXT. MOUNTAINS - A LONELY HOGAN - SUNSET

Smoke rises through the hole in the roof. The Germans' horse is hobbled to the side. The sheep bleat in their pen. Heyer, Emmerer and Count Punski eat. Heyer wears Navajo boots.

INT. HOGAN

The central fire provides smokey light. Moelders watches the Old Navajo dress Stahlberg’s wound.

MOELDERS

What now, Erich?

STAHLBERG

The original plan includes a contingency. The supplies in the Lost Horse Mine did not arrive by themselves.

EXT. HOTEL - SUNSET

Williams walks up to Bates who stands in front of the hotel.

WILLIAMS

Sergeant Bates, I told you to get us rooms.

The hotel MANAGER blocks the doorway like a Pinkerton guard.

MANAGER

Like I told your boy here, I have my standards.

WILLIAMS

(keeps his cool)

Is there another hotel?

MANAGER

Nope. You bein' so'jers 'n all, I'll let you biv-oo-ac out back in the livery...if my horses don't mind.

Williams has to restrain Bates.

If you like this, please consider supporting That’s Another Fine Mess with a paid subscription for only $7/mont or $70/year, saving 14.

Comments are for paid subscribers.