"TRINITY" - PART 6

The chase begins…

EXT. CAMP GLADDEN - DAWN

REVEILLE. Williams and Scott escort Prager to the cooler. They stop outside. Williams unlocks the door.

INT. COOLER

Scott's the first in. He gives an INVOLUNTARY CRY OF SHOCK.

Williams enters to see Anton Held's head in a pool of blood.

Prager stands behind Williams in total shock.

WILLIAMS

Summon the guard, Corporal!

Scott tears himself away. HIS POLICE WHISTLE SCREAMS.

Williams is outraged that this could happen in his POW camp.

EXT. PRISON YARD - LATER

475 GERMAN POWs stand at attention as AMERICAN GUARDS run back and forth across the field. ON VARIOUS GERMANS as they crane around to look at Hut #4. The atmosphere's electric - their side just scored a goal.

AT THE DITCH - a livid Brand questions Ray and Williams while Prager watches with interest.

BRAND

How could this happen, Captain Cline? How did they do this?

RAY

We left them this nice ditch here to get filled up with last night's rain, sir.

(Looks at the ditch)

If I can hold my breath that far, so can the Germans.

Prager eyes the ditch. Conflicting emotions cross his face.

BRAND

How many?

WILLIAMS

Twenty-five, sir.

Brand turns to Prager.

BRAND

How long have they been gone?

PRAGER

By the rules of the Geneva Convention, I am not required to answer that question.

Brand's complexion reddens closer to "beet."

RAY

I brought the Colonel back to his quarters at 2300, Major.

I didn't see anything, but then there was a helluva lot of rain coming down. Something could’ve been happening ten feet away.

WILLIAMS

Lieutenant Held was alive when the guard checked at 2230, sir.

BRAND

(thoughtful)

No earlier than 2230, I know the rain let up around 0300, so no later than that. The surrounding desert's soaked.

Bastards think they can do this and make us look bad. It’s not going to happen!

Sergeant Bates - who stands by the ditch - suddenly sees something in the water. His eyes go wide.

BATES

Major Brand!

Brand and Ray go to Bates, who points into the muddy water.

THEIR POV - The body of Oberleutnant Harald Tischler floats below the muddy surface.

BRAND - is angry enough to chew nails, and beyond words as he looks at this awful sight. Bates, on the other side of the fence, kneels, examines the ground, then points south.

BATES

Tracks say south, sir.

BRAND

Mexico. Dammit! I want those murdering sonsofbitches back here pronto!

Oberst Prager stands at the ditch - he can’t take his eyes off Tischler’s body. Conflicting emotions cross his face.

INT. BARN LATER THAT MORNING

A horse stamps impatiently in the stall.

Regimental Sergeant Major of Cavalry Marcus Williams strides into the barn and comes over to his steed. Spurs jangle on his boots as he begins saddling up.

INT. MAJOR BRAND’S OFFICE - SAME

Ray and Brand are mid-argument.

BRAND

(Shakes his head)

I need you here, Captain.

Ray pauses a moment to compose himself and remain within the bounds of military courtesy.

RAY

Major Brand, sir. This happened on my watch. I’m the one who delayed filling in that damn tunnel. It’s my job to bring the escapees back.

Brand won’t buy it. Ray remembers Williams’ POW greeting.

RAY

Besides, sir, just like these troops, I’ve lived in this country all my life.

BRAND

Captain Cline, you’re a cripple!

RAY

Major Brand, sir, who else can you send? We know what these Germans are capable of, now. If word gets out that this happened...

BRAND

(considers that, nods)

It’s on your head then, Captain. This is our problem. We solve it ourselves. Here. Understood?

RAY

Yes, sir.

EXT. CORRAL - LATER

Ray stands by his saddled horse. He sees Williams lead his saddled horse out of the barn.

RAY

I don't recall you being ordered on this detail, Sergeant Major.

WILLIAMS

This is my job, Captain Cline. Sir.

A moment as Ray regards Williams. He nods.

RAY

Very well, Sergeant Major.

As earlier, Ray grabs the lanyard tied to his pommel. Though he mounts awkwardly, he sits with assurance. Williams turns to the troop.

WILLIAMS

Forr-ward!

BRAND - watches this sight from another age and returns Ray's snappy salute as the Cavalry departs "Fort Apache."

EXT. COCHISE STRONGHOLD MOUNTAINS - LATER THAT MORNING

Apache Peak looms above as Bates kneels and checks the stony ground. Ray watches. Williams sits his horse near Ray.

RAY

I think even I could follow this trail, Sergeant.

BATES

Yes, sir. Not more'n two hours old. They're stickin' together.

RAY

Makes sense. None of 'em know this desert.

EXT. DESERT - PANLONA WASH - LATER

The desert has soaked up the storm. The Germans are a ragged bunch as they stumble past the rocks and cacti.

EXT. LONG SHOT - SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS - SAME TIME

The Buffalo Soldiers, small against the landscape, ride on.

EXT. WATER HOLE - SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS - MID-DAY

Sunlight reflects from the glassy surface. HEAVY BREATHING.

Approaching human images shatter into ripples and droplets as the first human connects with his image.

POW #1 brings his cupped hands to his mouth ... SPPPFFFTT!!! It's bad water. Others try, with similar reactions.

POW #2 goes to the cactus, then jumps back from a nest of scorpions.

EXT. DESERT - SAME

Bates reins in and scrutinizes the ground ahead. He looks over at Ray.

BATES

Tracks're headin' for an old sour water spring. They won’t know it's bad til they try it. Might slow 'em up a bit.

EXT. WATER HOLE - AFTERNOON

After twelve hours in the desert, even the most hard-headed of the POWs is ready to call it a day. POW #1 looks up to SEE riders silhouetted at the ridge. The other Germans see them. Cries of "KAMARADEN!" and "WASSER!" fill the air.

LATER - SAME WATERHOLE

Scott turns to Williams.

SCOTT

Only twenty, Sergeant Major.

RAY

Where are Hauptmann Stahlberg and the others?

POW #1 regards him with a bitter "you're-too-late" smile.

POW #2

They left us and went on ahead to get horses. Probably in Mexico already.

POW #1 lunges at POW #2. Two soldiers pull him off the man.

RAY

(to Williams)

Any idea where somebody could find horses around here?

WILLIAMS

About six miles. My uncle's place.

Ray catches the worry that suddenly etches Williams' face.

RAY

We'll check that. Detail one man back to get a truck for the prisoners. Scott, Bates, you come with us.

EXT. DESERT - ABOVE MADERA CANYON - LATER THAT AFTERNOON

Williams reins in on the promontory, looks down into Madera Canyon, where A LONELY RANCH nestles quietly in the valley. Ray catches up, and they head downslope. The others follow.

WILLIAMS

Yes, sir, Uncle Walker, he retired back in '35. Doesn't really make much of a livin', 'cept for his retirement.

RAY

The postman can find him?

WILLIAMS

Pony Express, sir.

The troopers laugh as they ride down.

EXT. THE RANCH - MADERA CANYON - LATE AFTERNOON

As they arrive, we realize we have been here before. A gust spins the blades on the CREAKING windmill.

WILLIAMS - cautiously scans the area, takes special note of the empty corral. He dismounts, crosses to the front porch, KNOCKS. No answer.

WILLIAMS

Uncle Walker?

With mounting dread, he grasps the door handle, twists it down and pushes the door inward an inch — BANG! Everyone starts at the LOUD REPORT!

RAY - turns in his saddle to see the wind-blown barn door recoil from its frame. He stands in the stirrups, swings his right leg over and jumps down easily to catch up with Williams, who crosses to the barn. The door BANGS again.

Ray drags over a sawbuck to prop the door open. His right hand goes to his pistol as he follows Williams inside.

INT. BARN

Dust eddies in a ray of light as Williams checks the stalls.

WILLIAMS

Last time I was here, Captain, he had ten good ones. Arabs. Two stallions, eight mares.

Williams stops dead-still before he reaches the far door.

WILLIAMS

Jesus Mary Mother of God!

WILLIAMS' POV - Uncle Walker, a 70-year old black cowboy, lies in the last stall, his throat cut.

Williams kneels at the body and gently touches its forehead as Ray comes up behind.

WILLIAMS

Still warm...

RAY

Corporal Scott! They were here! Check everything!

Williams is close to tears, but won't let them flow.

RAY

I'm sorry, Sergeant Major.

Ray’s look says he holds himself guilty for this death.

EXT. RANCH HOUSE - TOWARD SUNSET

Ray and Williams stand beside a freshly filled-in grave.

Scott, stripped to the waist, trades a shovel for his shirt.

Bates comes from the house.

BATES

No sign of any weapons.

WILLIAMS

That means they’ve got two Colt Peacemakers, a thirty-eight Smith and Wesson, his forty-five service automatic, a Winchester '73, and his Springfield.

(Stares around)

We lose the trail in the dark, we’ll be worse off than giving them a few extra miles.

(looks up)

Sky’s clear. We can stay here and pick up the trail at dawn.

RAY

No, Sergeant Major, we’ll return to Camp Gladden. I need to know what we’re up against.

Williams is too good a soldier to protest the order.

WILLIAMS

Yes, sir.

RAY

We’ll get them, Sergeant Major. I promise.

WILLIAMS

Yes, sir.

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