The Last Mission (4)
ANDERSON What about- MITCHELL I can still shoot if that's what you want to know. Anderson walks to his bedside. ANDERSON Who did it? Mitchell turns away. ANDERSON Why protect them? MITCHELL You said it yourself. They think I'm a coward. What did you expect them to do? Anderson sighs. Moves to Campbell. ANDERSON Let me know if he needs anything. CAMPBELL Yes sir. Anderson leaves. Pritchard follows. EXT. HOSPITAL TENT McTavish, Taylor and Shaw hover at the door. Anderson and Pritchard exit. MCTAVISH Mitchell feeling better sir? Nasty business this. Anderson stops. Notices a cut beneath McTavish's eye. ANDERSON Cut yourself shaving Lieutenant? McTavish touches his cheek. ANDERSON You're safe McTavish. He's not going to turn you in. That might be your way. It's not his. He starts to walk off. MCTAVISH He's gutless sir. That's his way. You know it. And so do we. Anderson stops. Walks to McTavish. Fists clenched in tight balls. Eyes wild. They stand close enough to smell each other's breath. ANDERSON Gutless? I've seen him risk his life a dozen times. I owe him mine. He watched his men get cut to pieces right in front him. ANDERSON What could he do? (beat) What would you have done? Anderson quakes with anger. Pritchard touches him on the shoulder. He composes himself. ANDERSON There's a latrine detail that needs bodies. You three just got volunteered. MCTAVISH That's for non commissioned personnel. ANDERSON Not today, it isn't. Anderson and Pritchard walk off. Shaw looks at Taylor, confused. SHAW Why didn't he say it was us? MCTAVISH How in Christ would I know? EXT. EL KUFRA - TARMAC Anderson and Pritchard walk along. Past Mechanics working on planes. PRITCHARD Having him here splits the unit apart. Anderson walks on. PRITCHARD You have to get the men under control. ANDERSON They are. PRITCHARD I should tell you. I've considered going to Montgomery. Anderson stops. They face one another. PRITCHARD I've known you your whole life Arthur. ANDERSON Then trust me. PRITCHARD You, I trust. It's Mitchell I can't. ANDERSON You were sure of him before. PRITCHARD It was you, I was sure of. EXT. MITCHELL'S TENT A hand opens the door. PRITCHARD (V.O.) First chance he gets, he'll run. It's Mitchell. He looks around. Satisfied he's alone, he enters. ANDERSON (V.O.) A shilling says different. INT. MITCHELL'S TENT Mitchell walks to his bunk. PRITCHARD (V.O.) Done. He reaches under his pillow and removes the calipers he stole from Anderson's desk. PRITCHARD (V.O.) How come you're so sure of him? Mitchell grabs a map and compass from beneath the mattress. ANDERSON (V.O.) I'm not. I just believe he'll make the difference. Quickly, Mitchell makes for the door. EXT. EL KUFRA - AIRFIELD Anderson and Pritchard walk on. PRITCHARD Helping Mitchell won't change what happened to Jack. ANDERSON I know that. The wind WHISTLES. A ghostly wail. The sky grows darker. PRITCHARD What then? Another medal? Another promotion? Just like the Admiral? ANDERSON You think this is about my Father? PRITCHARD Isn't it? The wind gets stronger. Blows gusty. A jeep drives up. Stops. EL KUFRA OFFICER gets out. He's early twenties. Salutes. A little out of breath. EL KUFRA OFFICER Captain Anderson? ANDERSON Yes? EL KUFRA OFFICER (pointing) Sandstorm! On the horizon, dark clouds lead a swirling mass of sand. Approaching fast. ANDERSON Get the convoy moving! Now! EXT. EL KUFRA - MOTOR POOL The wind HOWLS. Sand whips in all directions. Soldiers work feverishly, preparing the cargo trucks for departure. Engines GROWLING. Drivers hop in and the convoy rolls out. Heading for the main gate. A lone JEEP lags behind, racing to catch up. Mitchell's behind the wheel. His face concealed behind Arab headdress. It passes through the MAIN GATE And disappears into the blinding sand. EXT. DESERT - PLATEAU - DAY A remote area. Zahir sits on a motorcycle. Samira stands beside him. A haversack over shoulder. The SILENCE is interrupted by the BUZZ of A SMALL PLANE Landing. It drives up and stops. THE PILOT Opens the door and beckons to her. He's twenty-five. Wears sunglasses. Leather jacket. SAMIRA Turns to Zahir. SAMIRA (in Arabic) God be with you. She nods. Embraces him. Heads for the plane. She climbs in. The plane races away and takes off. Rising into the sky. Zahir leaves. EXT. DESERT - NEAR EL KUFRA Trailing behind the convoy, Mitchell's jeep is caught in the full brunt of the storm. Visibility is a few feet. He barely SEES the truck in front of him. Suddenly, he loses sight of it. Sand totally obscures his vision. He can't tell what direction he's going. He can't even tell if he's still on the road. Just then, he loses control and the jeep spins out. It fishtails and slides to a stop. The engine SPUTTERS. Dies. He tries the ignition a couple of times. But, it doesn't start. He gets out of the jeep. Taking cover behind it, he wraps a blanket around himself and waits out the storm. EXT. PLANE Samira watches sand dunes zip past the window. A sudden gust of wind punches the plane. She's concerned. The Pilot struggles for a moment, then regains control. PILOT Sorry about- He looks to the horizon. His mouth drops open. Samira follows his gaze. Her eyes go wide. Dark skies. A rolling wall of sand, directly ahead. SAMIRA Oh no. The Pilot pushes the throttles all the way forward. But, he can't climb fast enough. The plane noses over. Swallowed by the storm. INT. EL KUFRA - COMMUNICATIONS TENT The storm rages. Anderson enters. A wall of communications equipment faces him. Operators type messages. Pritchard and Taylor stand near a cabinet. Anderson walks over. Taylor hands him a message. TAYLOR She's overdue. ANDERSON I know. Pritchard clears his throat. Holds out his hand. Anderson digs into his pocket and hands him a coin. Pritchard's delighted. ANDERSON He'll be found. (to Taylor) Send out search parties when the storm breaks. Find the plane... He turns and heads for the door. ANDERSON ...and find Mitchell. He exits. EXT. DESERT - NEAR EL KUFRA - DAY The storm's passed. A slight breeze blows. A large mound of sand rests beside the jeep. Suddenly, it comes alive. Mitchell rises out of the sand like a corpse. He shakes himself off and looks around. Carter stands a few feet away. Pale skin. Bloody, torn uniform. His mouth moves as if speaking. But, there's no sound. Mitchell cries out. Leaps backward against the jeep. Shudders. A shiver up his spine. Rubs his eyes. He looks again. Empty sand. Carter's gone. Shaken, Mitchell stands up. Takes a minute. Catches his breath. Looking at the jeep, it's partially buried in drifts. He sighs. EXT. DESERT - NEAR EL KUFRA - LATER Mitchell digs using a small shovel. Bare chested. Dripping with sweat. He's made good progress. The jeep's nearly dug out. The DRONE of an approaching plane. Mitchell looks up. EXT. SAMIRA'S PLANE Flies erratically. Just above the ground. Heavily damaged. Part of a wing missing. Barely able to stay in the sky. THE PILOT Desperately wrestles with the controls. The nose drops. PILOT We're going in! Brace yourself. She steels her body for impact. SMACK! The impact is terrific. A wing breaks free. The fuselage splits in half. Spilling fuel everywhere. The wreckage smoulders. Sparks shoot from the engine. Landing near the spilled fuel. MITCHELL Races over. Shovel in hand. He reaches the plane and looks into the cockpit. Slumped over the wheel is the Pilot. Face bloody. Skull crushed. A moan. Mitchell looks at Samira. She's barely conscious. Laying against the door. A large gash on her head. Blood trickles down her face. Mitchell moves to her side of the plane. Tries the door. It doesn't move. It's partially buried. Mitchell digs, furiously. A spark flies from the engine. WHUMP. The fuel catches fire. Engulfing the tail in flames. He digs on. Clearing the sand from the door. He pulls again. But, it's jammed by bent metal. It won't budge. The flames spread along the fuselage. Getting closer. Mitchell looks. A river of fuel leads from the flames to the cockpit, Samira and himself. He has to work fast. He jams the shovel into the door. Tries to pry it open. Still won't give an inch. He pulls at the door for all he's worth. Slicing his fingers on jagged metal. Flames LICK. Even closer. He's almost out of time. But, the door gives. Slightly at first. Then, all the way. Surrounded by flames, he tosses the shovel and pulls Samira from the plane. He drags her only a few yards when BOOM! It EXPLODES. Knocking them to the ground. The plane's a flaming mess. He looks to Samira. SAMIRA Kufra...El Kufra... Mitchell strokes her hair. MITCHELL Easy. Easy. SAMIRA Jack... She passes out. Mitchell looks toward his jeep. EXT. EL KUFRA - DAY Mitchell's jeep races through the main gate. EXT. HOSPITAL TENT The jeep stops out front. Mitchell leaps out. Anderson, Pritchard and Taylor await him. So does Campbell. With a stretcher and two Doctors. Mitchell lifts Samira. Carries her to Campbell. She's placed on the stretcher and Campbell hurries her into the tent. Mitchell stands there. Anderson gives him a hard, cold look. ANDERSON Taylor. Taylor steps forward. ANDERSON Arrest him. Taylor smiles. Pushes Mitchell against the jeep. Wrenches his arm. SLAMS Mitchell against the hood with relish. INT. ANDERSON'S TENT - DAY Anderson sits behind his desk. Writing feverishly. Mitchell stands before him. Hands cuffed in front. MP#1 stands like a statue near the entrance. Stoic face. Anderson finishes writing. Slides the paper across the desk. ANDERSON Read it. MITCHELL I think I know what it says. ANDERSON That's right. You're out. Effective immediately. (beat) We found the things you stole in the jeep. This wasn't a snap decision. You'd been planning this all along. MITCHELL No offense. Being here seemed better than jail. So, now I'll be court martialled. ANDERSON Consider yourself lucky. I could have you shot. And I was wrong about you. You are a coward. MITCHELL What did you expect- Anderson shoots from the chair. ANDERSON I expected you to do your duty. MITCHELL Well, what about yours Captain? How many more bodies will it take for the next medal? The next promotion? ANDERSON (to MP#1) Wait outside please. MP#1 departs. MITCHELL You didn't give a damn about my men at Bir Hacheim. Angrily, Anderson turns. Rummages around behind him. Picks up a sac. Drops it on the table. It lands with a CLINK. ANDERSON Open it. Mitchell doesn't move fast enough. ANDERSON Open it! Mitchell opens it. Reaches in. Pulls out silver identification discs. Dozens of them. ANDERSON Read out a name. Mitchell picks one up. MITCHELL Randles. Lance Corporal. ANDERSON Land mine. Near El Agheila. Pick another. Mitchell does. MITCHELL Morgan. Sergeant Major. ANDERSON Mortar attack. Dunkirk. Back in forty. Pick another. Mitchell does. MITCHELL Lieutenant Jack Sterling. Anderson pauses. MITCHELL What happened to him? Anderson shudders. Looks away. ANDERSON Died in captivity. Mitchell puts the discs back. MITCHELL Some collection. Each one for God, King and Country. ANDERSON You think I believe that bullshit! I fight for the man on my left and the man on my right. Just like you do Sergeant. Because, out here. That's all you have. Anderson sits. Suddenly tired. ANDERSON It's not the dead who matter. It's the lives we save. And you don't understand that. Mitchell becomes sullen. Reflective. ANDERSON Private! MP#1 enters. ANDERSON I'm finished with him. Anderson nods. The MP escorts Mitchell from the tent. INT. MITCHELL'S TENT - DAY Mitchell packs his things under the watchful eye of the MP. He folds up a tunic. About to place it in. He notices the crest on the pocket. A winged dagger. It reads, WHO DARES WINS. Mitchell rubs his finger across it. For a moment, his face tightens. A split second of determination. Resolve. But, it passes. Quickly fades. He ZIPS up his kit bag and starts for the door as a jeep drives up. EXT. MITCHELL'S TENT Mitchell walks out. Escorted by MP. A jeep waits for them. Anderson in the passenger seat. MP#2 drives. MITCHELL What are you doing here? ANDERSON Making sure you get on that plane. Mitchell and MP#1 get in and the JEEP Drives off. Heads through the compound. They drive for a few moments in SILENCE. Anderson reaches into his pocket. Hands something to Mitchell. It's Carter's identification disc. ANDERSON Right or wrong, I thought you should have it. Mitchell takes a deep breath. MITCHELL How did you get it back? Anderson smiles. ANDERSON Boxing at Oxford taught me a few things the streets didn't teach him. Mitchell smiles. EXT. AIRFIELD A transport plane waits on the tarmac. Propellers spinning. The jeep drives up. Mitchell gets out. Takes his kit bag. MP#1 gets out too. Anderson gestures to Mitchell, who steps forward. Anderson takes out a key. Undoes the cuffs. ANDERSON I didn't thank you for bringing her back. MITCHELL Seemed the least I could do. ANDERSON Thank you. Nonetheless. MITCHELL Who is she anyway? ANDERSON A friend. Mitchell nods. ANDERSON This is good bye I guess. MITCHELL And good luck. ANDERSON We have some obstacles. But, we'll manage. MITCHELL You always do. Anderson smiles. ANDERSON Yes. I do. Mitchell turns. Walks toward the aircraft. Gets about halfway. Stops. Looks at the disc. Holds it in his hand. Looks at it. Then, grips it tightly. He turns and walks back to the jeep. Anderson looks over. Surprised. MITCHELL I want another chance. ANDERSON It's too late for that. MITCHELL No. It isn't. ANDERSON They won't trust you. MITCHELL You don't need them to trust me. You just need me to make that shot. Remember? ANDERSON But, how can I trust you? Mitchell holds up Carter's identification disc. MITCHELL Because he did. Anderson smiles. ANDERSON (V.O.) This is the situation... INT. EL KUFRA - HANGAR - DAY Mitchell and Anderson slowly circle the massive model arranged on the floor. ANDERSON German Special Forces have moved into the target area. We can't infiltrate the base as planned. MITCHELL Meaning? ANDERSON We can't get as close to Rommel. MITCHELL How far? ANDERSON Almost a thousand yards. MITCHELL Jesus... Mitchell bristles. Rubs his forehead. MITCHELL How will we get in? ANDERSON A fogarra. Toward the oil tank farm. MITCHELL A what? ANDERSON Underground irrigation system. He points to the model. ANDERSON We infiltrate the base. Reaching this drainage ditch. Mitchell points to the model. MITCHELL What about here? ANDERSON The monastery? More than a thousand yards. Lies adjacent to the coast road and a cemetary guarded twenty four hours a day. Too risky. MITCHELL The drainage ditch then. And getting out? ANDERSON We fall back the same way we came in and make for the sub. By the time the Germans know what's happened, we'll be gone- MITCHELL And Rommel will be dead. ANDERSON That's right. (beat) Or we'll be. EXT. GOBI AIRFIELD - CRUWELL'S TENT - DAY The airfield is alive with activity. Aircraft taxi. Planes land and take off. Cruwell, Franz and Kempka walk quickly toward the tent's entrance. CRUWELL When did he arrive? FRANZ Just now, sir. Cruwell reaches the door. Hesitates. CRUWELL Dammit. They enter. INT. CRUWELL'S TENT Cruwell, Franz and Kempka stop in the doorway. VON RAVENSTEIN sits in a chair. His back facing them. His shiny jackboots rest pompously on Cruwell's desk. A black, leather doctor's bag rests beside the chair. CRUWELL Can I help you? VON RAVENSTEIN No Captain. Von Ravenstein faces them. He's late thirties. Disarmingly attractive. Thin, sinister lips. Black suit. Tie. A skull and crossbones pin on the lapel. Sips from a silver flask. VON RAVENSTEIN I can help you. CRUWELL And you are? VON RAVENSTEIN Agent Von Ravenstein. Department Four. Reich Security Office- CRUWELL Gestapo. Cruwell sits. CRUWELL What do you want? Von Ravenstein holds up the silver flask. VON RAVENSTEIN A glass for my schnapps. Resting on Cruwell's desk is a glass, half filled with water. Cruwell takes the glass and pours the water onto the sand. He holds it out to Von Ravenstein. VON RAVENSTEIN A clean glass? CRUWELL Lieutenant Franz? Franz nods. Exits. VON RAVENSTEIN I understand you've been assigned to locate the British Commandos. What is your progress? CRUWELL I report to Field Marshall Rommel- VON RAVENSTEIN And I report to Berlin. What progress have you made? Cruwell's face gives him away. VON RAVENSTEIN I see. My timing could not be better. An operative I recently captured was most helpful. CRUWELL How so? VON RAVENSTEIN His associate, escaped by aircraft. But, she'll be found. CRUWELL Why tell me? VON RAVENSTEIN They were scouting this very airfield. Cruwell sits forward. VON RAVENSTEIN Berlin believes Rommel could be the target of these commandos. CRUWELL This operative. What else has he told you? Von Ravenstein reaches down. FLICKS the clasps on his doctor's bag. Reaches in. VON RAVENSTEIN Very little. Recently.
Copyright © 2004 Shaun Goldsmith |