"TRINITY" - PART 9

The enormity starts to dawn…

EXT. APACHE PASS - DOS CABEZAS MOUNTAINS - DAY

Thunderheads rise above the peaks. A rainbow glows in the afternoon sun over the pine-covered slopes.

A MOVING POV FROM ABOVE - Ray and Williams in the lead, appear out of the pines and make their way along the rocky trail.

The ponchos of all glisten in the light drizzle that drips off their campaign hats.

ROBERTS is tired, wet and saddlesore. That office he left doesn't seem so bad right now.

RAMIREZ brings up the rear. A line from his saddle pommel connects behind him to the pack horse's bridle.

THE POV ROARS, lunges forward, and becomes A MOUNTAIN LION that rips into the pack horse's neck! The mortally injured, terrified animal rears up and falls back on its load. The suddenly taut tow line yanks Ramirez from his saddle.

SCOTT AND BATES wheel their horses back past a horrified Roberts. Scott’s horse bumps Bates’ horse, spoiling his aim, as they get off a pair of shots at the lion...

THE LION bolts as bullets explode the ground around it.

SCOTT AND BATES chase a short, futile distance after the lion. A GUNSHOT brings them back to see...

WILLIAMS lowers his smoking gun from the dead horse while Ramirez gathers the parts of his crushed radio.

RAY

Private Ramirez, ride back to camp and report to the Major.

RAMIREZ

I'd like to stay, sir.

RAY

The need to know the radio’s down.

RAMIREZ

Yes, sir.

INT. GENERAL LESLIE GROVES' OFFICE - LOS ALAMOS - DAY

The man who keeps the Manhattan Project on track is a formidable presence, a fact not lost on Phil.

GENERAL GROVES

All right, Dr. Hamilton, tell me more about this guy Cline.

PHIL

I've known Ray Cline since we were in graduate school in 1937. I introduced him to my sister. He married her in...

GROVES

He’s a history professor?

PHIL

Assistant Professor. His doctoral thesis is “Leadership: The Spanish Campaign of Publius Cornelius Scipio...”

GROVES

(nods)

The Second Punic War.

(Catches himself)

Cut to the chase, Dr. Hamilton.

PHIL

Ray volunteered for the draft in 1940. They commissioned him in ‘41. He went into the Rangers and commanded the only company of Americans at Dieppe, where he won the Silver Star getting his men out despite being shot up pretty bad. He was sent home from the hospital last fall, but he requested duty to free an able-bodied man for combat.

GROVES

In other words, he's not too likely to run around yelling the sky is falling.

PHIL

(Nods)

And the German knows about "Manhattan."

GROVES

(BANGS his desk)

Goddammit! How could they?! Nazi sons of bitches! Why in hell haven't we seen a report from this camp...?

PHIL

Gladden, sir.

Groves shoots a look out the window that could scorch water.

GROVES

God-DAMMIT!!!

General Groves uses the red phone on his desk.

GROVES

Mr. Hoover. We've got a problem...

EXT. PRISON YARD - CAMP GLADDEN - LATER THAT AFTERNOON

A STAGGERWING BEECHCRAFT, all silver, in Army Air Force markings, ROARS low over the camp.

INT. STAGGERWING - LATE AFTERNOON

JOHN KELLY, 40, a man who never sweats, in dark fedora, dark suit and white shirt, sits in the big leather rear seat.

EXT. CAMP GLADDEN - LATE AFTERNOON

Major Brand runs out of H.Q. at the ROAR of the Staggerwing.

KELLY'S POV - OUT BETWEEN THE WINGS - THE CAMP BELOW - A pandemonium of milling prisoners, guards’ faces upturned.

KELLY allows himself a smile at the commotion he’s caused.

BRAND - sees the Staggerwing bank around on final approach to land on the parade ground. The Staggerwing stops 50 feet from Brand and shuts down.

A moment later, the cabin door opens.

Kelly ducks under the top wing and jumps to the ground. He strides over to an uncertain Brand and flashes his ID.

KELLY

Take me to your commanding officer, Soldier.

BRAND

(It takes him a moment)

I am the commanding officer.

Major Willis Brand.

KELLY

John Kelly. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Hoover wants to know why the escape at this camp was not reported in a timely manner.

Brand's oak leaves almost curl at that, but he's quick on the uptake.

BRAND

I'm glad you're here, Agent Kelly. I was awaiting further information. The Germans who weren’t immediately recaptured yesterday are heading north.

(wipes his brow)

Let's get out of this heat.

He leads the way into the camp headquarters.

EXT. CAMP GLADDEN - PARADE GROUND - SUNSET

Kelly and Brand walk out of the office to the Staggerwing.

Kelly leafs through photos of the five missing Germans, then slips them in his briefcase before climbing on the wing.

THUNDERHEADS cloud the sky to the north, beyond the plane.

KELLY

We'll keep you advised of the situation as it develops.

BRAND

I’m sure I'll soon be advising you that they've been brought back here, Mr. Kelly.

Kelly's glance at Brand as he slides into the cabin says he doesn't think so.

BRAND'S POV - The sleek biplane takes off. It gleams in the last light of day as it climbs into the stormy skies.

EXT. LOST HORSE MINE - NEXT MORNING

Five horses are tethered. Roberts comes out of the shack.

INT. MINE SHAFT - RAY AND WILLIAMS - DAY

Ray picks up a shovel and regards the fresh scratches on it.

RAY

Somebody's been busy.

WILLIAMS

Seems that way, sir.

Roberts enters with a cardboard carton.

ROBERTS

Sergeant Major, Corporal Scott found this.

Williams takes it. Ray watches him fold over a flap corner that doesn't crumble. Williams turns it over, examines it.

WILLIAMS

The Lost Horse Mine was abandoned in 1939, sir, when the price of silver went down.

(tests another corner)

Cardboard wouldn't last six weeks out here like this, let alone six years.

RAY

When did Stahlberg arrive?

ROBERTS

Right after Thanksgiving, sir.

RAY

(More to himself)

This is a highly-organized operation...

WILLIAMS

Captain, you know something about all this I don't?

RAY

Corporal...

Roberts takes the hint. He salutes and leaves. Ray takes out his Camels, offers one to Williams. Surprised, Williams takes it. Ray pulls out his Zippo, lights both.

RAY

Let's walk, Sergeant Major.

They walk out of the mine. Ray pauses on the hillside.

RAY

I’m not sure I can prove what I think is going on, Sergeant Major...

(Thinks a moment)

I can’t even explain it myself.

It’s...it’s a feeling that came to me when I went over their records. I can’t prove a thing. But if I’m right, what it comes down to is, this is more than just an escape attempt to show they’re good soldiers.

He stares at the surrounding mountains.

RAY

If my guess is right, the biggest secret of the war is out there somewhere in these mountains. Stahlberg has a plan, and what we’ve found here proves he’s got help we don’t know of, other agents in the vicinity.

(Pauses)

And we’re the only ones who can stop him.

Ray takes another drag on his cigarette, then butts it. He regards Williams with a deadly serious look.

RAY

Sergeant Major, it is crucial that we catch him. If it comes down to it, and there’s only one of us left, that man must do everything he can to stop them.

Williams stares down at the Buffalo Soldiers at the mine.

WILLIAMS

I never did like that bastard.

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