AceA Screenplay by 2uponatime A World War I fighter pilot is forced to team up with his snobbish rival to outwit a slippery spy in their squadron. ACE FADE IN: EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Far below are the extreme ends of BRITISH and GERMAN trenches that scar the once-beautiful landscape. SUPERIMPOSE: Northeastern France, summer 1916. For the moment, the battlefield is quiet. But that’s about to change. South African pilot LIEUTENANT DANIEL "SNOOPS" CAMERON flies his plane over the battlefield. The plane, the Blue Blazer, has a blue stripe down each side and tally marks near the seat to record Snoops’s victories. Flight leader LIEUTENANT GEOFF LEE and English pilot LIEUTENANT FRANK FORREST and are close on Snoops’s tail. Suddenly GERMAN PILOT #1 and GERMAN PILOT #2 zoom out of a cloud bank and make for the British lines. EXT. SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Snoops grins. Just what he was hoping for. EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Snoops swings to the left. Geoff sweeps to the right while Frank comes up the middle. Seeing the Brits coming, the German planes split up. As Geoff approaches, German Pilot #1 fires sudden burst at him and dives sharply. Flames spurt from Geoff’s engine, and he veers wildly. Frank dives after German Pilot #1. Snoops turns after the other plane and opens fire. Frank struggles to maintain control in the steep dive as he looks for a good shot. German Pilot #1 doesn’t let up as the ground zooms up toward them. Geoff scrambles to regain control of his plane. Snoops keeps firing at German Pilot #2.
Finally realizing his peril, German Pilot #1 frantically tries to pull up, but his plane slams into the ground. Above him, Frank pulls up and heads after Snoops. Snoops finally scores a hit on German Pilot #2, but suddenly Frank zooms up and scores a better one. EXT. SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Snoops scowls. Nobody steals his victory. Least of all Frank Forrest. EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Both Frank and Snoops keep firing at German Pilot #2. His engine catches on fire, and the plane spirals down and hits the ground with a spectacular explosion. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - RUNWAY - DAY Snoops climbs out of his plane and furiously jerks off his goggles and gloves. Geoff lands next to Frank, engine still smoking. MECHANICS swarm around Geoff with questions as he gets out. Geoff clutches his right hand, wincing. Frank climbs out of his plane, and Snoops storms up to him. SNOOPS What’s the big idea? Frank methodically removes his goggles and gloves. FRANK Taking down an enemy plane. SNOOPS It was my kill! FRANK Then you should have finished him off before I got there. SNOOPS I had it fine without you horning in! Out of the nearby barracks come squadron commander MAJOR JOHN CHILD and his aide, CAPTAIN ZACHARY ROBERTSON. Seeing Snoops and Frank at each other, Child heaves a sigh and Robertson frowns. Not again. INT. EDWARD OFFICE - DAY Robertson sits at the desk with the squadron’s logbook. Snoops and Frank--both steaming--and Geoff stand at attention. Now that Geoff no longer wears his flight jacket, several ribbons stand out on the chest of his uniform. For now, he’s the 102nd’s sole ace. A window behind the desk lets in plenty of light, and a large map hangs on one wall. Penciled X’s are concentrated in the area southeast of a dot labeled "Edward Airfield," and Child adds another X to the pattern. GEOFF I couldn’t say, Major. I saw both Cameron and Forrest hit the enemy aircraft, but I honestly don’t know which was the killing blow. CHILD Fine. Captain, submit the report giving Lieutenant Cameron and Lieutenant Forrest--Daniel Cameron and Frank Forrest--joint credit for the victory. ROBERTSON Yes, sir. CHILD Fine job today, gentlemen. Dismissed. Snoops, Frank, and Geoff salute. On the way out the door, Snoops and Frank knock into each other. SNOOPS (quietly) Watch it, Limey. FRANK (quietly) Bushwhacker. When all three pilots have gone, Child lets out his breath. CHILD I never should’ve put them in the same flight. ROBERTSON They started it, sir, not you. CHILD (sighs) Anything else noteworthy? ROBERTSON Report from Otis's flight. He hands a report to Child, who scans it, goes over to the map, and pencils another X into the pattern. CHILD What do you make of it, Robertson? Robertson joins him at the map. ROBERTSON Does that map include data from all the reports, sir? CHILD Every one since we received The Order. ROBERTSON (points) So we’re consistently engaging the enemy here. That would be ... CHILD Approximately one hundred and twenty miles at the furthest. About half the range of our planes. He points to the farthest two X’s from the Edward dot. CHILD These two became stranded because they didn’t have enough fuel for the return trip. ROBERTSON And the German planes have about the same range as ours. CHILD Yes. But every plane we’ve sent in this direction has been destroyed, stranded, or forced to retreat before they could get beyond this point. And the reports indicate that there’s no sign of the enemy airfield in any of the terrain we’ve searched. Robertson studies the map. ROBERTSON With the range of the planes we’ve been seeing, the airfield would have to be somewhere in here. He pencils in a rough radius. Both men look dubiously at the large circle. ROBERTSON At least we’re getting closer. CHILD (frustrated) That’s all we’re getting. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - PLANE PARKING STRIP - DAY English mechanic HARRY BROOKE, Snoops’s best friend, tinkers with the propeller on the Blue Blazer. A patch covers Harry’s left eye. Snoops storms up, grabs a wrench from Harry’s toolbox, and furiously goes to work on another part of the plane. HARRY (cheerful) Snoops Cameron. (beat) Don’t I even get a "Hello"? SNOOPS (stiffly) Hello, Harry. HARRY (beat) What’d you find out? SNOOPS Nothing we didn’t know already. We could’ve gone farther if Geoff hadn’t gotten hit. HARRY Still have to fly in pairs? SNOOPS (mocking Robertson) "For your own safety in heavily defended enemy territory." HARRY Did you say anything to Major Child? SNOOPS He wasn’t interested. It was all, "We’re already fighting the Huns--we don’t need to fight each other. Let’s just all get along and share our victories." HARRY How many do you have now? SNOOPS Five. HARRY And Frank? SNOOPS Six. HARRY You’ll have plenty of chances to pass him up. SNOOPS He only needs two more solo victories to make ace. And if Child keeps sending us out together ... HARRY You’re both going to make it. Does it really matter who’s first? SNOOPS Our boys and the Huns are out there blowing each other to bits, and far as I can tell, nothing we do is going to change that. But being an ace ... it’s something to fight for when nothing else makes sense. And I’m not going to let some high-and-mighty Oxford blighter beat me to it. HARRY (beat) I wish I could be up there with you blokes. SNOOPS Me too. But then I’d have to beat you too. HARRY (laughs) Dream on. INT. EDWARD INFIRMARY - EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY Squadron physician DR. ABBOTT examines Geoff’s injured hand; his thumb is dislocated, a patch of skin scraped off. SARAH MURPHY, a pretty Irish nurse, observes. DR. ABBOTT Iodine and bandages, please, Nurse Murphy. SARAH Yes, sir. Sarah looks through a cabinet, pushing aside an almost-full bottle of syrup of ipecac to grab the iodine and a roll of bandages. DR. ABBOTT Jerk your controls too hard? GEOFF I think so, sir. DR. ABBOTT Well, I can fix that fairly easily. Ready? GEOFF (deep breath) Yes, sir. Dr. Abbott twists the thumb back into place. Geoff gasps. DR. ABBOTT All right? GEOFF (in pain) Yes, sir. Thank you. DR. ABBOTT You’re welcome. Dr. Abbott releases Geoff, and Sarah comes to his side and dabs iodine on the scrape. INT. EDWARD MESS SHELTER - DAY (EVENING) In a rough wooden shelter with canvas sides, Harry and Snoops sit at a barrel-and-board table, eating. Frank sits alone, though there are many PILOTS and MECHANICS around. Pilots IDE, JACOBY, KELLY, MARCHANT, and WHITTAKER sit together at one table. Pilots PIKE, TAYLOR, and VICKERS are at another with mechanics GILBERT and LIONEL. Geoff, thumb now bandaged, approaches Harry and Snoops with his food. GEOFF May I join you? HARRY AND SNOOPS Sure. Geoff sits beside Harry and begins to eat. HARRY What happened to your hand? GEOFF Dislocated thumb. Nothing serious. Dr. Abbott fixed it. SNOOPS How’s the plane? GEOFF She'll be all right, but she won’t be going up for a few days. HARRY Don't remind me. GEOFF Well, the Huns see me and say, "Oh no, it’s Geoff Lee! Shoot him down or we’re doomed!" Can’t do much about that. Harry and Snoops laugh. Frank finishes eating and brings his mess kit toward the tables with washbasins at one end of the shelter. His route requires him to pass behind Snoops. Whittaker gets up, not looking where he’s going, and bangs into Frank. The remnants of Frank’s dinner splatter down Snoops’s head and back. FRANK Watch it, Whittaker! WHITTAKER Sorry--sorry. Snoops jumps to his feet. So do Geoff and Harry. SNOOPS You got a problem with me? GEOFF Easy, Snoops -- FRANK Matter of fact, I do. HARRY Frank -- SNOOPS Then say it to my face. FRANK I doubt your little South African mind could process it. Geoff hurries around the table and steps between them. GEOFF Stop. It was an accident. I saw. Just lay off, all right? After a shared venomous glare with Snoops, Frank continues to the washbasins. Whittaker sneaks off, cringing at the trouble he’s caused, and Snoops, Geoff, and Harry sit down. GEOFF He’s not always out to get you, mate. Snoops humphs. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY (MORNING) Geoff, Pike, and Taylor soar above the countryside. Each pilot scans the ground below him, searching for any sign of an enemy airfield. GEOFF (V.O.) Flight plan: east until we cross the lines, then southeast from there. Look for anything that might tell us where the Hun airfield is. When we’ve used just under half our fuel, we turn around. Understand? PIKE AND TAYLOR Yes, sir. As the long flight continues, Taylor begins to get bored. He circles his plane once and then continues on course. Pike decides to play along and does two circles. Geoff notices and rolls his eyes. The aerobatics competition escalates with increasingly difficult stunts. Pike zooms up in a steep climb--and his plane suddenly stalls. Geoff and Taylor zoom over to try to help, knowing that there’s little they can do. Pike frantically wrestles with the controls. The ground zooms closer and closer, and Pike finally pulls up just in time. Geoff lets out his breath, his fear turning to disgust, and looks at his fuel gauge. Three-quarters full, but he angrily turns around; Taylor and Pike shakily follow. One near-accident is plenty for one day. INT. EDWARD OFFICE - DAY (AFTERNOON) Geoff stands in front of Child’s desk. Robertson stands behind Child, who shakes his head. CHILD Was anyone hurt? GEOFF No, sir, and no damage to the planes. Pike was feeling a bit faint, so Taylor took him to the infirmary. CHILD (sighs) Anything more? GEOFF If we’re going to focus our scouting in that direction, sir, we may want to consider establishing a refueling post in the area to widen the range of our search. CHILD Very good, Lieutenant. Dismissed. Geoff salutes and leaves. INT. EDWARD OFFICE - NIGHT Child examines maps and written reports from his squadron members. He adds another line to the memo he’s writing, signs it, and seals it in an envelope, which he addresses to "Wing Command." A hidden button under the desktop opens a secret compartment in the side of the desk, and Child slips the reports inside. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - BARRACKS - DAY (MORNING) All pilots and mechanics stand at attention before Robertson and Child. CHILD I’ve noticed an alarming trend in this squadron lately: a tendency to always try to outdo the next man. Any of us alone, gentlemen, wouldn’t stand a chance in this war. I expect you all to put the success of your assignments and the safety of your teammates ahead of your personal feelings. Anyone who allows grudges or rivalries to jeopardize those objectives will face severe discipline. Do I make myself clear? ALL PILOTS AND MECHANICS Yes, sir. CHILD Dismissed. The group breaks up. Harry and Snoops head back toward the barracks together. HARRY What do you think? SNOOPS (shakes his head) Leave it to Taylor and Pike. Geoff overhears and catches up to them. GEOFF Just Taylor and Pike? SNOOPS Well, I don’t know about the blokes in the other flights -- GEOFF Come off it. SNOOPS What? GEOFF Child’s right. I’ve been letting this go for too long. Someone’s going to get hurt or worse if you and Frank don’t stop -- SNOOPS If you think I’m going to let him walk all over me -- GEOFF Don’t give me a reason to report you. He hurries off toward the planes. Snoops glares after him. At the far end of the airfield, a horse and wagon drive up the road with boxes of food and several FOOD STAFF in the back. DRIVER #1 waves. HARRY Ready for breakfast? SNOOPS You assume they’ve brought something edible. Harry laughs. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Three 102nd planes continue the search. INT. EDWARD OFFICE - DAY (MORNING) A COURIER hands a sealed envelope to Child, who opens it. Reading the message, he grins. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - PLANE PARKING STRIP - DAY (MORNING) Pulling on gloves and scarves, Snoops and Frank join Geoff (no longer bandaged) and Vickers by the planes. The sky is blue with large, fluffy clouds. SNOOPS What’re we after, Geoff? GEOFF Wing Command wants us to get some photographs of possible locations for a refueling position to the southeast. FRANK Who’ll have the camera? GEOFF Snoops. Vickers will be your gunner, and Frank and I will fly escort. His look warns the rivals to cooperate. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Snoops circles in a modified bomber, using a camera attached to the side of his plane to take pictures. Vickers faces backwards in the rear seat, hands on the machine gun. Geoff and Frank fly in wide circles around Snoops, watching for trouble. Finally Snoops pulls out of his circle and continues forward. His wingmen follow. Over another possible site, Snoops begins circling again. Suddenly, from behind a cloud come four German planes: two fighters and two bombers. FRANK Watch it! Four coming in! Snoops pulls out of his circle; Vickers swivels his gun into position. All three British planes engage the enemy fighters, piloted by GERMAN PILOT #3 and GERMAN PILOT #4. Bursts of bullets from both sides. Frank’s plane is hit by German Pilot #4 and veers out of the line of fire. Snoops dives, enabling Vickers to shoot down German Pilot #3, but German Pilot #4 swoops around and fires. Geoff convulses as he’s hit below the collarbone. SNOOPS Geoff! Mortally wounded, Geoff flashes Snoops a weak grin, wrenches his controls around, and slams his plane into one of the bombers. The explosion tears both planes to shreds. SNOOPS, VICKERS, AND FRANK No! Flying shrapnel cripples the second bomber, which spirals down and blows up. Furious, Snoops zooms dangerously after German Pilot #4’s plane. As the startled German tries to evade his maddened opponent, Vickers blows him out of the sky. Frank finally regains altitude and heads back toward Edward Airfield. Shaking, Snoops follows him. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - RUNWAY - DAY As Snoops, Frank, and Vickers climb out of their planes, Harry comes over with a few other MECHANICS--then freezes when he realizes there are only two planes. Snoops trudges up to Harry, while Vickers hangs back, talking quietly to the Mechanics. HARRY Where’s Geoff? SNOOPS (tautly) Ask Limey. Frank hears and stalks up to Snoops. Both try to smother grief with anger, each secretly fearing that he’s to blame. FRANK (tautly) Don’t you dare blame this on me. SNOOPS If you’re so great, why couldn’t you get that blighter before he got Geoff? FRANK Why couldn’t you? SNOOPS You were closer! FRANK I was hit! SNOOPS Why’d you let him hit you? FRANK If you’re so smart, why didn’t you get him, Bushwhacker? SNOOPS Vickers and I were busy with the other one! FRANK Geoff could’ve handled it! SNOOPS How would you know? You were busy playing dead -- Frank swings at Snoops. Snoops ducks and grabs him around the waist. The Mechanics crowd around, shouting, as the rivals fall into the dirt, rolling and scuffling. MECHANICS Fight! Give it to him! Oh! That’s it! Nice one! HARRY Stop it! Snoops--Frank! Stop! Sarah sticks her head out the infirmary door and lets out an angry sigh when she sees what’s happening. ROBERTSON (O.S.) Attention! Harry and the Mechanics snap to attention as Robertson rushes onto the scene. Snoops and Frank keep fighting. ROBERTSON Attention, airmen! Robertson seizes each man by the collar and yanks until they lay off each other, panting. Robertson roughly lets go. ROBERTSON On your feet. Snoops and Frank slowly get up and stand at attention. Unnoticed in the confusion, Child is coming from his office. ROBERTSON Shake hands. But the rivals simply stare each other down. Child, angry, finally arrives. CHILD You’re both confined to barracks until I give the word. INT. EDWARD OFFICE - DAY (EVENING) Child wearily drops Snoops’s and Frank’s reports onto his desk. ROBERTSON Frankly, sir, I’m surprised they didn’t come to blows a long time ago. CHILD I think we have Lieutenant Lee to thank for that. He was a good man. ROBERTSON (nods) That reminds me, sir: this came just before the ... incident. The new men will be here a week from today. Child puts the reports in the secret compartment and reads Robertson’s document. He takes the list of current flight assignments from another drawer and gives it and the new document to Robertson. CHILD I’d like no more than two new men in each flight. Look that over and bring me your recommendations after the evening mess tonight. ROBERTSON Yes, sir. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - PLANE PARKING STRIP - NIGHT Under a bright full moon, Snoops sits in the cockpit of his plane, silently grieving. FADE TO: EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - DAY (DAWN) A week later. The sun blazes into the sky above the base. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) Blinking sleepily, Snoops comes out to find Child standing beside the door. SNOOPS You wanted to see me, sir? CHILD Yes, Lieutenant. Wing Command has decided to test a new program in this squadron, and I want you to participate. SNOOPS What kind of program, sir? CHILD We have a handful of new pilots arriving today. Each of them will be partnered with a more seasoned man for a few weeks; we don’t want to lose them on their first assignments. So you’ll start with patrol missions, then transition into reconnaissance and combat. SNOOPS So I won’t be working with my flight, sir? CHILD Your partner will be assigned to your flight, but for the time being, you’ll fly only with him unless you’re badly needed elsewhere. SNOOPS Point of interest, sir, who’ll be ... our new flight commander? CHILD Lieutenant Whittaker. As Snoops frowns over this news, Robertson leads several new PILOTS out of the mess shelter. CHILD (points) There’s your man now. Snoops looks at the indicated man: Scot LIEUTENANT NEIL GEDDES, easily the youngest of the group, with a boy’s face and a teenager’s awkward movements. Snoops makes a face. One of the best pilots in the squadron, and he’s stuck babysitting while Frank flies combat missions? CHILD Any questions? SNOOPS Why me, sir? CHILD (stern) Because if that young man can become half the pilot you are, it may save his life. Snoops sighs heavily. INT. EDWARD BARRACKS - DAY Neil and the other new men are stowing their belongings around their bunks as Snoops comes in. SNOOPS (sour) Which one of you’s Geddes? Neil stands up and salutes. NEIL Me, sir. Neil Geddes--Second Lieutenant Geddes. SNOOPS Pleased to meet you. Follow me. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - PLANE PARKING STRIP - DAY Snoops leads Neil toward the rows of planes. SNOOPS Usually the same bloke takes the same plane on each mission, unless his is damaged. They come to the Blue Blazer, and Snoops pats the fuselage affectionately in spite of his bad mood. SNOOPS This one's mine: the Blue Blazer. Best plane in the whole Royal Flying Corps. NEIL Aye, she do look it, sir. SNOOPS (irritated) Don’t call me "sir." "Cameron" is fine. NEIL Aye, sir--Cameron. (beat) Permission to ask a question? SNOOPS (sighs) Go ahead. NEIL Thank you, sir--Cameron. How many kills does it take to become an ace? I’ve heard the different squadrons have different rules. SNOOPS In the 102nd, you need eight solo victories. NEIL Eight kills? SNOOPS Not necessarily. You can make the blighter lose control and crash, capture him, or just shoot him down. You can shoot down spy balloons, too. NEIL Has anyone done it yet? Gotten eight, I mean? Snoops stiffens. Does this kid ever stop talking? And now he’s prodding a sore spot. SNOOPS One. NEIL Who? SNOOPS He’s dead. (beat) His name was Geoff Lee. NEIL (subdued) Sorry. A long silence. SNOOPS Well, the mechanics’ shed is over this way -- NEIL How many kills have you got? SNOOPS Doesn’t matter. NEIL Come off it, mate. We’re partners, aren’t we? SNOOPS (blowing up) If you mean we’re stuck together, then yes! Taken aback, Neil clams up. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Frank, Whittaker, and Pike scout the countryside. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - MECHANICS’ SHED - DAY As Snoops looks on sourly, Harry shakes Neil’s hand. HARRY Harry Brooke. INT. EDWARD OFFICE - NIGHT Robertson briefs Frank and Taylor on another mission, pointing out features of photographs spread across the desk. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - RUNWAY - DAY From the ground, Snoops watches Neil fly. Neil lands and jogs up to Snoops, grinning in exhilaration. Snoops doesn’t smile as he gives Neil feedback that makes the younger man’s face fall. EXT. EDWARD MESS SHELTER - DAY Frank and Snoops pass each other, headed in opposite directions. Frank has his flying gear on and sneers at his rival. Snoops glares back. EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Snoops and Neil fly on patrol. Nothing is happening on this part of the lines, and Snoops is bored out of his mind. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Frank and Whittaker together shoot down a German plane. INT. EDWARD BARRACKS - NIGHT Harry, Neil, and several PILOTS and MECHANICS play cards. Snoops comes in, and the others call for him to join them, but Snoops shakes his head and goes to his bunk. Neil looks defeated. No matter what he does, he can’t get his trainer’s approval. EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Snoops and Neil fly another patrol. Nothing to report. Far below, an ambulance jolts to a stop, smoke streaming from under the hood. EXT. SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Seeing, Snoops pulls out his binoculars and steers with one hand as he looks down. SNOOPS’S P.O.V. - EXT. BEHIND THE LINES - DAY - MATTE The AMBULANCE DRIVER gets out and lifts the hood. EXT. SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Still watching the ambulance, Snoops hits an air pocket. The plane jolts, and he drops the binoculars. EXT. NEIL’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Neil sees and dives after the binoculars. EXT. SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Horrified-angry, Snoops dives after his trainee. SNOOPS Neil--no! EXT. NEIL’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Neil catches up to the binoculars and dips down a bit to get beneath them. He leans out of the cockpit, straining as they fall toward him. With a jerk, he snags the strap of the binoculars, then pulls up safely. EXT. SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Astounded, Snoops levels out. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - RUNWAY - DAY As Snoops climbs out of his plane, Neil shuffles up and holds out the binoculars, bracing himself. Snoops takes the binoculars and checks for damage, his face unreadable. Finally he puts them back in his cockpit. Harry comes up to join them. SNOOPS If you can shoot as well as you catch, the Huns had better watch out. Startled, Neil looks up. Snoops smiles just a little and slaps him on the shoulder, then heads for Child’s office. Neil stands staring after him. Harry looks from one man to the other, then finally puts the pieces together and bursts out laughing. HARRY You know you’re crazy? Neil finally smiles. INT. EDWARD OFFICE - DAY Snoops, Neil, and Whittaker stand across the desk from Robertson. ROBERTSON Based on your last report, Major Child believes you’re ready for a new assignment. They cross to the map on the wall. ROBERTSON Lieutenant Geddes, what are this squadron’s two main objectives at this time? NEIL Protect our lines and destroy the enemy airfield in this area, sir. ROBERTSON Precisely. Robertson indicates the radius he drew earlier. ROBERTSON According to our intelligence, the airfield must be somewhere in this area. It’s heavily patrolled, so no one’s been able to penetrate very far into it. Go as far as you can and look for anything that might indicate the presence of the airfield. Once you encounter enemy forces, disengage and return here as quickly as possible. You’ll leave immediately after the noon mess. SNOOPS AND WHITTAKER Yes, sir. NEIL Aye, sir. INT. EDWARD MESS SHELTER - DAY (NOON) Food Staff serve stew from three large kettles. Whittaker, Neil (unusually subdued), Harry, and Snoops stand in line by the second kettle. Other PILOTS and MECHANICS join the lines. Whittaker and Neil get their food and step aside. Harry gets his but trips as he starts to walk away. His spoon plops into the kettle, and his bowl flies out of his hands, splattering stew in front of the third kettle. FOOD STAFF Oi! I say! Good gracious! HARRY Blast it. I’m sorry. He fishes in the stew and retrieves his spoon. One of the Food Staff refills the bowl from the third kettle, while another worker grabs a rag and begins cleaning up. HARRY Just call me Grace. Snoops chuckles and steps up to the second kettle. INT. EDWARD BARRACKS - DAY Snoops and Whittaker gather their flight gear. SNOOPS Ready, Neil? No response. Both men look around, but Neil is missing. WHITTAKER Maybe he already went out to the planes. Snoops frowns, not convinced. EXT. EDWARD AIRFIELD - MECHANICS’ SHED - DAY Snoops rounds the corner of the Mechanics’ shed to find Neil sitting on the ground with paper and a shiny fountain pen that has his name engraved on it. SNOOPS Where’ve you been? Neil jumps, then gets up when he sees who it is, slipping the pen into his breast pocket. NEIL (sheepish) Sorry. SNOOPS Nervous? NEIL (nods at the paper) It calms me down. SNOOPS What is it? NEIL Lines I memorized from Die Walküre. You know, the opera? Wagner? The Ring Cycle? SNOOPS Never heard of them. NEIL Wagner was a German composer. Brilliant. We’ll have to go see it sometime. SNOOPS What’s it about? NEIL Mythology--Norse, I think. Gods and heroes, things like that. SNOOPS You seem to know a lot about it. NEIL I was hoping to go to university in Munich. Trying keep up my German--you never know, after the war ... SNOOPS (points) What’s that say? Neil gives him the paper. NEIL It’s from Wotan’s aria in Act II. "Als junger Liebe / Lust mir verblich, / verlangte nach Macht mein Mutte ..." Wait, "mutte" or "mut"? I can’t remember. SNOOPS Ask Harry. He was studying in Berlin when the war started. NEIL Was he, now? Frank comes around the corner. FRANK If it isn’t Nanny Bushwhacker. Snoops stuffs the paper into his pocket. SNOOPS At least I’ve been productive for the last two weeks. Frank sneers and moves on. Neil looks questioningly at Snoops. SNOOPS A rich blighter goes to Oxford and leaves thinking the world should grovel at his feet. Especially South African farmboys. NEIL I thought a bushwhacker was a bloke from Australia. SNOOPS It’s not England; it’s all one to him. Come on. They start toward the planes, but Snoops suddenly pauses, clutching his stomach. NEIL You all right? Snoops’s face whitens, and he falls to his knees. Neil grabs his arm. INT. EDWARD INFIRMARY - WARD - DAY White as a sheet, Snoops lies in a bed, a bowl on the floor beside his nightstand. Sarah comes to Snoops’s side and takes his temperature and blood pressure. As rotten as he feels, Snoops notices her good looks. Neil and Dr. Abbott talk nearby. Dr. Abbott makes notes on his clipboard. DR. ABBOTT So it just came on suddenly? NEIL And violently. DR. ABBOTT Was he vomiting blood? NEIL No, sir. Dr. Abbott adds that to his notes, then glances down the ward at the four other patients in bed--a MECHANIC and three PILOTS, all looking as sick as Snoops does. JOANNA, another nurse, adjusts blankets on one bed. DR. ABBOTT Must have been something bad in the mess. NEIL But we got our food from the same kettle, sir, and I feel fine. DR. ABBOTT Did you notice anything unusual about the food? Did it taste strange at all? NEIL It never tastes like much of anything, sir. DR. ABBOTT Did you see any way the food might have been contaminated? NEIL (thinks) Well, Harry dropped his spoon in it, but it looked clean to me. DR. ABBOTT (sighs) Very well. You may go. NEIL What should I tell Captain Robertson, sir? DR. ABBOTT Tell him that Lieutenant Cameron is in no condition to be flying this afternoon. If he has any questions, direct him to me. And you report here immediately if you become ill. NEIL Aye, sir. (hesitantly joking) You owe me a mission, Snoops. You’d better get well soon. Neil leaves. SARAH Ninety-eight degrees, Doctor Abbott, and one-twenty over eighty. Dr. Abbott makes a note of it. DR. ABBOTT Has he had any fluids since he arrived? SARAH No, sir. DR. ABBOTT Get some in him so he doesn’t dehydrate. SARAH Yes, sir. Dr. Abbott goes to check on the other patients, and Sarah retrieves a glass of water for Snoops. He sips at it slowly, then returns the empty glass. SNOOPS (weak) What’s wrong with me? SARAH Probably food poisoning. But you should be out of here in a day or two. SNOOPS We don’t have a day or two. He tries to push himself up but collapses. SARAH And you stay there, or I may have to resort to drastic measures. SNOOPS (scoffs) Like what? SARAH Do you prefer ether or chloroform? Snoops gapes at her. Sarah smiles just a little, dangerously, and leaves. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Neil, Frank, and Whittaker dogfight with two German planes. Finally GERMAN PILOT #5 and GERMAN PILOT #6 chicken out and break out of the circle. Frank and Whittaker follow German Pilot #5 and shoot him down. Neil follows German Pilot #6 and blows him away. Hearing the noise, Frank and Whittaker turn sharply. They’d completely forgotten about the rookie, and if he’s dead-- Neil swings around and gives them a thumbs-up. Impressed, Frank waves, and the group goes on. EXT. SKY ABOVE SECONDARY AIRFIELD - DAY The three planes are now over unfamiliar terrain. EXT. WHITTAKER’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Whittaker eyes his fuel gauge uneasily and waves to Neil and Frank to turn around. Frank nods and swings out, but Neil looks ready to protest. Whittaker gestures sharply at his fuel gauge. Reluctantly, Neil nods, but when he looks ahead again, he starts and points wildly. EXT. SKY ABOVE SECONDARY AIRFIELD - DAY An airfield in the distance. Not a big one, not nearly big enough to support the kind of resistance the 102nd has faced, but an airfield nonetheless. EXT. FRANK’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Astounded, Frank and Whittaker pull out their binoculars. FRANK’S P.O.V. - SKY ABOVE SECONDARY AIRFIELD - DAY - MATTE The planes on the ground have the Iron Cross of Germany painted on them. EXT. SKY ABOVE SECONDARY AIRFIELD - DAY Shaking his head in disbelief but finally smiling, Frank puts away the binoculars. Whittaker gives Neil a thumbs-up and again motions to turn around. Grinning, Neil nods. The three planes turn back to base. INT. EDWARD BARRACKS - NIGHT Neil, Frank, and Whittaker come in, and the other PILOTS and MECHANICS stand up, applauding. PILOTS AND MECHANICS Hey! There they are! Bravo! Well done, mates! Men slap Neil and Whittaker on the back and shake their hands. One man slaps Frank’s shoulder, but Frank gives him such an icy look that everyone else sticks to shaking Frank’s hand. Harry finally reaches Neil and wrings his hand so hard that Neil winces. HARRY They can’t call you a rookie now. NEIL (sobering) How’s Snoops? HARRY Still in the infirmary. You’ll have to go tell him in the morning. INT. EDWARD INFIRMARY - WARD - DAY Snoops sits on his bed, back to full color and dressed in his uniform. Neil sits on a stool beside him while Dr. Abbott fills out Snoops’s release paperwork. NEIL So I saw Frank and Whittaker were going after the first one, so I had to go for the second one. SNOOPS Were you consciously thinking about it, or -- Sarah walks by and winks at him. Snoops clams up. NEIL What? Sarah disappears through a door. SNOOPS Nothing. I wish I could’ve been there. CHILD (O.S.) You will be. Surprised, Neil and Snoops both stand as Child strides into the ward. CHILD Dr. Abbott, is Lieutenant Cameron ready to be discharged? Dr. Abbott quickly signs the last line on his report. DR. ABBOTT Yes, sir. CHILD Both of you come with me. Snoops and Neil march after him. INT. EDWARD OFFICE - DAY All 102nd pilots stand at attention. Child and Robertson stand at the map. A large red X marks the location of the enemy airfield. CHILD Thanks to Lieutenant Forrest, Lieutenant Whittaker, and Lieutenant Geddes, we now know the location of one of the enemy airfields we’ve been assigned to destroy. Confused murmurs break out. CHILD Yes, airfields. The intelligence indicates that this airfield isn’t large enough to support the number of planes we’ve been encountering. EXT. SECONDARY AIRFIELD - DAY GERMAN PILOTS and MECHANICS look up at the sound of planes nearby. British fighters and bombers. Shouting, the Germans scramble for cover as the enemy planes buzz in. Anti-air emplacements begin firing, but bombs crash down, blowing the guns to smithereens. Most of the planes on the parking strip are severely damaged or destroyed before their pilots even get to them. CHILD (V.O.) We believe that this is a secondary airfield, meaning the planes come from a larger, main airfield somewhere else and refuel there before coming to engage us. Therefore, to aid our search for the main airfield, we’re going to capture the secondary airfield and transfer some of our operations to it. EXT. SECONDARY AIRFIELD - DAY - LATER Trucks and wagons transport supplies and gear to the battered airfield. Harry, Frank, Neil, Snoops, Whittaker, Ide, Kelly, Jacoby, Marchant, Vickers, Gilbert, Lionel, Pike, Taylor, and other PILOTS and MECHANICS help repair buildings and sheds. ROBERTSON (V.O.) As our main airfield already bears the name of the Prince of Wales, I propose that we name this new location Albert Airfield, in honor of our sovereign’s second son. PILOTS AND MECHANICS Hear, hear! Yes! EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD (SECONDARY AIRFIELD) - RUNWAY - DAY (LATER) As Snoops climbs down from his plane, his watch slides out of his pocket and clangs against the fuselage. Something cracks. SNOOPS Drat. He gently shakes the watch; it rattles. He scowls. Harry and Neil both get to Snoops at the same time. HARRY Let me take a look. Go make your report. Snoops gives him the watch. Harry goes toward the Mechanics’ shed, while Snoops and Neil head for Child’s new office. INT. ALBERT MECHANICS’ SHED - DAY As Snoops and Neil come in, Harry dexterously puts the disassembled watch back together and winds it. When he hands it to Snoops, it ticks again. SNOOPS (pleased) Is there anything you can’t fix? Harry laughs and taps his eye patch. HARRY This. NEIL How’d you lose it? HARRY Playing with a knife when I was a kid. NEIL And they let you into the service? HARRY After I fixed the recruiter’s watch on the spot. They all chuckle. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Frank, Pike, and Neil versus three German planes in a furious dogfight. One after another, two German planes go spiraling to the ground. The third, smoking, beats a hasty retreat. Thinking fast, Frank swoops dangerously in front of Neil before the rookie can fire again. FRANK Don’t shoot! Follow him! Neil and Pike wave acknowledgment, and Frank drops back to fly beside them. EXT. SKY NEAR SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY The German plane limps along, Frank, Pike, and Neil following at a distance. The smoke grows thicker from the German’s engine, followed by erupting flames. The plane spirals down and crashes. Frustrated, the heroes look around. No airfield in sight. Neil catches Frank’s and Pike’s attention and taps his fuel gauge. The older men nod, and they all reluctantly turn around. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - PLANE PARKING STRIP - DAY A blustery day, the ground a muddy mess. Frank is already climbing into his plane, with Taylor boarding the adjacent plane. Gilbert hands a pistol up to Taylor, who slips it into the holster mounted near his seat. TAYLOR Thanks, Gilbert. Snoops and Neil jog toward their planes. NEIL I’ve got a good feeling about today. SNOOPS Then I’ll follow you. Snoops, Neil, and Taylor get aboard and start their engines smoothly, but when Frank starts his, there’s a horrible SCREECH like grinding metal. SNOOPS, NEIL, TAYLOR, AND MECHANICS Stop! Turn it off! Frank shuts off his engine and scrambles out of the plane. MECHANICS come running. Snoops and Neil shut off their engines. Neil and Taylor hurry over to Frank’s plane; Snoops follows more slowly. Frank opens his engine compartment, releasing a cloud of smoke. Waving it away, he and the Mechanics peer into the guts of the engine. As the smoke dissipates and Snoops finally catches up, Gilbert carefully reaches inside and, after some tugging and grunting, pries a mangled wrench out of the machinery. FRANK (incredulous) How’d that get in there? GILBERT Don’t know, sir. Snoops tries to repress a smirk. FRANK (suddenly angry) What’re you smirking at? SNOOPS Nothing. FRANK Is this your idea of a joke? SNOOPS Expensive joke. FRANK If you’re trying to keep me from flying, it won’t work. SNOOPS Why would I do that? I don’t need to. Frank glares at him, then turns to the Mechanics. FRANK Who worked on this plane last? MECHANICS AND GILBERT Don’t know. Didn’t see. FRANK Then where’s Harry? NEIL He and a couple of other blokes were going back to Edward this morning to get more tools. GILBERT (beat) We’ll have to fill out a report, sir. We’ll need your input. SNOOPS We only need three men anyhow. Frank gives him another dirty look, then waves dismissively. TAYLOR Let’s go. He, Snoops, and Neil head back to their planes. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - RUNWAY - DAY Snoops is waiting on the ground and Taylor is heading for Child's office when Neil comes in for a rough landing, splattering mud all over his plane. When the engine finally stops, Neil shakily climbs out but slips on a patch of mud on his wing, bangs his forehead on the fuselage, and splats into the mud. Snoops runs to Neil, who isn’t moving. SNOOPS Neil, you all right? Snoops turns Neil over. Neil is unconscious, a goose egg already swelling on his forehead. SNOOPS Neil, come on, wake up. He slaps Neil’s face gently, then harder. No response. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - RECEPTION AREA - DAY Sarah quickly stands up behind the tiny reception desk as a rattled Snoops carries Neil in. SARAH What happened? SNOOPS Where’s Dr. Abbott? Sarah hurries around to help him. SARAH He and Joanna went back to Edward for more supplies. But we can do this if you’ll help me. SNOOPS (unsure) All right. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - WARD - DAY Snoops and Sarah haul Neil over to a cot and lay him down. Sarah removes Neil’s mud-spattered goggles and flying cap. SARAH How far did he fall? SNOOPS Four or five feet. SARAH What’s his name? SNOOPS Neil Geddes. SARAH Neil, can you hear me? No response. Sarah bends over Neil, checking his neck for a pulse and listening at his mouth. SARAH He’s alive. Run out and get some water. Snoops bolts. Sarah lifts Neil’s eyelid to check his pupil dilation. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - WELL - DAY Snoops drags the bucket out of the well and lugs the pail back to the infirmary as fast as he can, water sloshing out with every step. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - WARD - DAY Snoops brings the bucket in to find Sarah gently feeling Neil’s neck, searching for injuries. SARAH Come on, Neil. Wet a rag and put it on the bump. Snoops looks around frantically, snatches a rag, and dunks it in the bucket. Sarah pulls one of Neil’s boots off but struggles with the second one. Snoops wrings out the rag and puts it on Neil’s forehead, then steps over to help Sarah. Their fingers overlap as they tug on the boot, and finally it comes off. SARAH Thank you. Neil, can you hear me? She checks his breathing again. SARAH You have a watch? SNOOPS Uh ... yes. SARAH Time ten seconds for me. Snoops pulls out his watch. SNOOPS Go. Sarah keeps her fingers on Neil’s neck, counting beats. SNOOPS Stop. Perplexed--Neil’s heartbeat is normal--Sarah begins probing Neil’s limbs, looking for broken bones. SNOOPS Why isn’t he coming round? SARAH I don’t know. The door suddenly opens; Dr. Abbott and Joanna enter. DR. ABBOTT What’s going on? SARAH Good to see you, Doctor. Lieutenant Geddes fell getting out of his plane and hit his head. Pulse and respiration are normal, but he’s been unresponsive for approximately ten minutes. Sarah’s colleagues quickly join her. DR. ABBOTT Anything broken? SARAH Not that I can tell. I was just starting to assess. Dr. Abbott lifts the cloth and examines Neil’s skull. Sarah takes Snoops’s arm. SARAH Go back to the barracks and get his effects. He’ll probably be here for a few days. Snoops nods and hurries out, and Sarah rejoins her colleagues. Dr. Abbott mouths "thank you." INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - WARD - DAY - LATER As Dr. Abbott and the nurses work on him, Neil slowly opens his eyes. DR. ABBOTT Welcome back, Lieutenant. NEIL (groggy) What happened? SNOOPS (O.S.) Neil! Snoops bursts into the closest empty spot around the cot, dropping a valise. Neil winces at the noise. SNOOPS You all right, mate? NEIL What happened? DR. ABBOTT You had a bit of an accident getting out of your plane. Dr. Abbott catches Sarah’s eye and glances at Snoops. Sarah grips Snoops’s shoulder. SARAH Come with me. Reluctantly Snoops follows her out of the room. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - BEHIND INFIRMARY - DAY Snoops and Sarah come around from the front of the building. He grits his teeth and slowly pounds his fist into his palm. SARAH It’s not your fault. He’ll be fine. Snoops doesn’t answer. SARAH You need to relax. Worrying about it won’t help either of you. SNOOPS I can’t help it. SARAH Try reciting a poem or a song, something like that. Snoops takes a frustrated breath, then softly begins reciting, soon breaking into quiet song out of habit. SNOOPS (half-sings) "My Sarie Marais is so ver van my hart, / Maar’k hoop om haar weer te sien. / Sy het in die wyk van die Mooi Rivier gewoon, / Nog voor die oorlog het begin. / O bring my trug na die ou Transvaal, / Daar waar my Sarie woon. / Daar onder in die mielies / By die groen doringboom, / Daar woon my Sarie Marais." SARAH (beat) That’s beautiful. Startled, Snoops belatedly realizes that he was singing in front of a woman he hardly knows. SNOOPS Oh, er ... thank you. SARAH Who’s Sarie Marais? SNOOPS I don’t know. She’s just in the song. You speak Afrikaans? SARAH A bit of Dutch. My mother’s parents were from Holland. SNOOPS (beat) I’m sorry. I don’t even know your name. SARAH Sarah Murphy. SNOOPS Snoops Cameron. SARAH It said "Daniel Cameron" on your records. Snoops reddens but is impressed that she remembered. SNOOPS (embarrassed) It was my grandfather’s name. SARAH Why "Snoops"? SNOOPS My older brothers used to say I was always snooping around where they didn’t want me. It sort of stuck. Sarah chuckles, and Snoops smiles shyly. SARAH Are you all right now? SNOOPS (deep breath) I suppose. SARAH Come back in the morning. You’ll probably be able to see him then. She starts to leave but turns back. SARAH Thank you for your help. Snoops only nods, and she heads around the building. INT. ALBERT BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) Pike shakes Snoops awake. PIKE Cameron, wake up. SNOOPS (groggy) What? PIKE We’ve got a briefing. Child’s changing our flight plan. Snoops groans and starts to get up. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Pike, Snoops, and Taylor zoom toward three German planes. Things are about to get hot. INT. ALBERT BARRACKS - NIGHT Exhausted, Snoops stuffs his gear under his bunk and flops onto the mattress. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - RECEPTION AREA - DAY (EARLY MORNING) The desk is empty as Snoops comes in. MOANING comes from the ward. Snoops hurries toward the door and almost runs into Sarah as she comes out. SARAH Where do you think you’re going? SNOOPS He’s worse. SARAH He has a serious concussion. But Dr. Abbott’s just given him a sedative, so he should be all right in a few minutes. Snoops tries to go around her, but she blocks his path. SNOOPS (exasperated) Will you please move? SARAH He needs quiet. I have to obey orders just as much as you do. SNOOPS You let him see me. SARAH With permission, when you’d recovered and were waiting to be discharged. SNOOPS Please. SARAH (beat) I’ll show you what I can do. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - BEHIND INFIRMARY - DAY Sarah leads Snoops to a window and points. SNOOPS’S P.O.V. - ALBERT INFIRMARY - WARD - DAY Neil is asleep on his cot, his face still wrinkled in pain. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - BEHIND INFIRMARY - DAY Snoops relaxes a little. SARAH You can come back here whenever you’d like. Except at night. I’m a light sleeper, and I keep a pistol under my pillow. Snoops eyes her. He’s starting to like this spunky woman. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - DAY (SUNSET) Shadows lengthen across the airfield. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - WARD - DAY (DAWN) Neil sleeps peacefully. Snoops peers in the window, and relief softens his expression. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - BEHIND INFIRMARY - DAY (DAWN) SARAH (O.S.) I could set my watch by you. Snoops turns as she, hiding a yawn, comes to join him. SNOOPS (shrugs) Grew up on a farm. They both watch Neil for a moment. SARAH He’s doing better. He finally got a good night’s rest. SNOOPS Don’t tell me you were up all night. SARAH Only half. Joanna and I take turns watching the patients. Snoops looks at her with new respect. SNOOPS When can I talk to him? SARAH Maybe today. Depends on how he feels when he wakes up. (beat) Not many of the men are this attached to their flightmates. SNOOPS I trained him. And ... I already had one mate die because of me. SARAH He’s not going to die. A moment of silence. SARAH So what do you do on a farm when you aren’t working? SNOOPS Dad used to read to us. Or Mother would play the flute and we’d sing. SARAH Did you ever dance? SNOOPS (laughs) I tried. Once. SARAH Then how will you ever learn? SNOOPS Do you give lessons? SARAH Depends on who’s asking. Snoops grins nervously. SARAH First you offer your hand. Snoops holds out his hand as if to shake Sarah’s. SARAH No, not like that. Palm up--that’s right. Then you say, "May I have this dance?" SNOOPS May I have this dance? SARAH Then she’ll say, "Of course." SNOOPS What if she doesn’t? SARAH Then you didn’t want to dance with her anyway. She takes his hand. SARAH Then you give her your arm. Snoops does; Sarah takes it. SARAH And you lead her onto the floor. Sarah looks around, then points to a nearby spot. She and Snoops go there. SARAH Then you face each other. They do. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - WARD - DAY Woken by his friends’ voices, Neil rolls over to look out the window. He grins and waves Dr. Abbott over. Dr. Abbott smiles. SARAH (O.S.) You put your right hand behind her shoulder. Then she puts her left hand on your shoulder. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - BEHIND INFIRMARY - DAY SARAH And you give her your left hand. She and Snoops clasp hands, ready to dance. SNOOPS (awkward beat) Now what? Inside, Dr. Abbott puts on a record, and Neil cracks the window. As the MUSIC floats out, Sarah begins to lead. Clumsily Snoops follows her. SINGER (sings, filtered) "Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling / From glen to glen and down the mountainside. / The summer’s gone, and all the roses falling. / It’s you, it’s you must go, and I must bide. / But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow, / Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow. / ’Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow. / Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so. / But when ye come and all the flow’rs are dying, / If I am dead, as dead I well may be, / You’ll come and find the place where I am lying / And kneel and say an Ave there for me. / And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me, / And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be. / For you will bend and tell me that you love me. / And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me." The song ends, and Snoops and Sarah are left looking into each other’s eyes. INT. ALBERT BARRACKS - DAY (EVENING) At a small table, Frank opens a letter. Snoops comes in with paper and pen and, after a little hesitation, takes the chair across from Frank and starts to write. Harry comes in with Neil, who looks much better. HARRY There he is. Snoops looks up and grins. He stands and shakes his trainee’s hand. SNOOPS They finally put you back together? NEIL Or they got sick of me. Seeing Frank’s unusually contented expression, Harry smiles. HARRY From Gloria? Frank? Frank snaps out of it. FRANK Sorry? HARRY From Gloria? Frank smiles sheepishly and nods, then returns to the letter. Confused, Snoops and Neil look to Harry for clarification. Harry taps his left ring finger. Neil nods and heads for his bunk, but Snoops stares at Frank’s hand, finally noticing his wedding ring. How has he not noticed in all this time? Neil digs around in his cluttered footlocker in increasing frustration. NEIL Anybody seen my pen? SNOOPS The one with your name on it? NEIL It’s the only one I’ve got. It’s got to be here somewhere. HARRY When’d you last have it? NEIL I thought I put it in here the night before I got hurt. Snoops looks around the table and Harry checks under bunks, but no luck. Snoops finds his own pen and offers it to Neil. SNOOPS Who’re you so desperate to write to? NEIL (blushes) Mum made me promise. Snoops smiles and lets him take the pen. INT. ALBERT OFFICE - DAY Child stands behind the desk, where Robertson sits. Snoops, Frank, and Neil stand at attention. CHILD The trouble is we’ve been meeting them on even ground. So we’re going to try something they won’t expect. FRANK Such as, sir? CHILD You three are going on a night flight. Snoops, Frank, and Neil look at each other incredulously. CHILD The moon will be full tomorrow night, so you shouldn’t have any visibility problems. The enemy doesn’t have lights on their planes, either, so I doubt you’ll encounter any resistance. SNOOPS (dubious) What’s the mission profile, sir? Child crosses to the map, which has a new dot labeled "Albert Airfield" over the red X and more X’s farther out into the radius that Robertson drew. Child traces a route with his finger. CHILD You’ll fly southeast, following this road and looking for any signs of the main airfield. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT Snoops, Frank, and Neil fly under the full moon, spread out farther than usual to avoid accidents. All three have a bad case of the jitters. Nothing on the ground to reward their efforts--yet. CHILD (V.O.) It’s strictly reconnaissance--you’re not to engage the enemy under any circumstances. If they learn that we’re flying at night, they may try it themselves, and we’ll be in a more dangerous situation than ever. (beat) One last thing: this assignment is classified. Don’t mention it outside this room. FADE TO: EXT. SKY NEAR MAIN AIRFIELD - NIGHT A faint light on the ground ahead. Frank signals the others, and they head over to investigate. It’s the main airfield, all right, flanked by forest on one side--and four German planes come roaring into the air to meet the intruders. SNOOPS Watch out! FRANK Don’t engage! Get out of here! The three heroes zoom around and fly for their lives, dodging intense fire. Neil is hit badly, and he struggles to keep his plane aloft. Snoops breaks formation to drive back the attackers, shooting one down but taking a few hits. Frank finally gives up on following orders and joins Snoops. Frank is quickly hit, but the pair take down a second plane and badly damage a third. That plane and its last remaining companion turn back to the airfield. Badly shaken, the British teammates head back to Albert. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - EXAMINATION AREA - NIGHT (JUST BEFORE DAWN) Child paces while Robertson takes notes. The three exhausted pilots sit in chairs. Joanna patches up minor shrapnel cuts on the back and side of Neil’s neck, while Dr. Abbott checks for burns in the singed hair around Frank’s ear. Snoops seems unscathed, but Sarah examines him anyway. CHILD And you didn’t mention this assignment to anyone? FRANK No, sir. NEIL But they were sitting on the landing field waiting for us. Silence as it sinks in: they’ve been betrayed. But by whom? SNOOPS (beat) Anyone here could’ve heard us taking off and coming back. ROBERTSON But how could they have gotten word to the Germans so quickly? No one has a response. INT. ALBERT OFFICE - DAY (DAWN) Child and Robertson come in--and freeze. Child’s desk has been ransacked, drawers open and papers scattered everywhere. ROBERTSON What the -- ? CHILD What did they take? They rapidly begin searching through and sorting papers. INT. ALBERT BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) Neil is fast asleep in his bunk, but Snoops gives up trying and gets out of bed. So does Frank. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY (DAWN) Dr. Abbott steadies a panicky MECHANIC who has his hand wrapped in a bloody rag. Sarah looks quickly through the medicine cabinet--and her eye falls on the bottle of ipecac. It’s only half full now. Frowning, Sarah pulls out the bottle and examines it. SARAH Dr. Abbott? EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - GARBAGE PITS - DAY Snoops wanders across the airfield, thinking hard. On the edge of the field, a MECHANIC dumps a bucket into a trash pit in the ground. Something bright flashes, and Snoops turns. The Mechanic strikes a match to burn the trash. SNOOPS Wait! Surprised, the Mechanic obeys. Snoops hurries over and picks up the shiny object: a pen sticking out of a tube of paper. Snoops unrolls the tube to uncover Neil’s missing pen. He reads the paper--and goes wide-eyed. INT. ALBERT MECHANICS’ SHED - DAY (DAWN) As Frank and Whittaker look on, Harry fixes the knob on a set of binoculars. Hearing FOOTSTEPS, all three look up as Snoops comes in, his expression deeply troubled. HARRY Morning, Snoo--what’s wrong? INT. ALBERT OFFICE - DAY Tense, Child and Robertson work as fast as they can. DR. ABBOTT (O.S.) What happened in here? Both officers look up sharply to see Dr. Abbott and Sarah, gaping, in the doorway. A quick shared glance, then a wordless agreement to trust their colleagues. CHILD We appear to have had an intruder last night. But what is it, Doctor? DR. ABBOTT I think we’ve found what sickened those men last week, sir. And it wasn’t foodborne illness. Child quickly comes out from behind the desk. Sarah hands the bottle of ipecac to him. CHILD Syrup of ipecac? DR. ABBOTT Used to trigger vomiting when a patient’s ingested something poisonous. But that bottle was sealed when I was transferred to this squadron, and according to our records, we’ve only administered one dose since then. SARAH I found it like this in our medicine cabinet this morning, sir. CHILD Are you saying someone used this to poison my men? DR. ABBOTT (deep breath) Consider this, sir: all the patients ate out of the same kettle in the noon mess that day. But not everyone who ate out of that kettle became ill. SARAH And Lieutenant Cameron and his flightmates were going to fly a critical mission that afternoon. Nodding slowly, Child accepts the facts. ROBERTSON (O.S.) Sir ... Child turns to see that Robertson has gone pale. Hurrying around the desk, Child looks at where Robertson points. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) The BUGLER sounds ASSEMBLY. INT. ALBERT MECHANICS’ SHED - DAY (DAWN) Hearing the CALL, Snoops, Frank, Whittaker, and Harry look up gravely from the note to each other. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) Pilots and mechanics assemble before Child and Robertson. CHILD Gentlemen, we have a spy among us. Murmuring instantly breaks out. CHILD Last night, a classified mission was compromised and three of our men were nearly killed. Then this morning, Dr. Abbott informed me that the outbreak of foodborne illness last week was, in fact, a case of intentional poisoning. Then only moments ago, Captain Robertson and I found that someone had broken into my desk and stolen the reports from every mission flown during the last two weeks. The murmuring gets even louder. Child holds up a hand, and the men settle down. CHILD As long as the spy is free, we’re vulnerable. If any of you have any information that could lead to the spy’s arrest, it’s your duty to bring it to the attention of myself or Captain Robertson. That’ll be all. The crowd slowly breaks up, the men discussing the news in low voices. Child turns to talk to Robertson, only to look up in surprise when Snoops approaches, his posture rigid. Snoops starts to explain, and Child motions for him to come to Child’s office. Snoops waves for Harry and Frank to follow. INT. ALBERT BARRACKS - DAY Perplexed, Neil sits on his bed in the deserted barracks, looking at a piece of paper. SNOOPS (O.S.) Practicing German again? Neil jumps to his feet as Snoops slowly comes closer. NEIL (uncertain) No. Snoops snatches the paper from Neil’s hand. INSERT - PAPER Whatever the message is, it’s in German. And it includes the word "Cameron." BACK TO SCENE Snoops’s face darkens. NEIL I didn’t write that. I found it in my locker. I was trying to figure out what it was. Snoops takes two scraps of paper from his pocket. The first is Neil’s lines from Die Walküre, and the second is the paper from the trash pit: the orders for the night flight, written in both English and German. The handwriting matches on all three papers. SNOOPS (sarcastic) Then the spy must be a master forger, too. Grimly Snoops signals. Harry and Frank come in the front door, and Snoops hands Harry the paper. HARRY (reads aloud, translating) "Forty men and two women here, including maintenance crews and medical staff. Twenty-two planes. Cameron’s plane has a blue stripe down each side and tally marks on the fuselage near his seat to keep track of his victories." Neil turns pale. NEIL I swear, that’s not what you think. FRANK Then what should we think? Child, Robertson, Whittaker, and two PILOTS come in the back door. Neil looks around frantically as they surround him. CHILD What do you have to say for yourself, Geddes? NEIL I’ve never seen that paper before, sir. I found it in my locker a few minutes ago. CHILD You’re not doing yourself any favors. NEIL I’m telling the truth, sir! CHILD The court-martial will be the judge of that. The Pilots take Neil’s arms. Neil glares at Snoops. NEIL I thought we were mates. SNOOPS So did I. CHILD Enough. Take him away. The Pilots march Neil out of the barracks and load him into a waiting wagon with armed BRITISH SOLDIERS. The wagon drives off. A collective release of breath. CHILD Thank you, gentlemen. He and Robertson leave. Snoops sinks onto Neil’s cot and crushes the scraps of paper in his fist. Harry grips Snoops’s shoulder. Frank takes a slow, deep breath and leaves the room. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - MECHANICS’ SHED - DAY (SUNSET) Harry and a couple of MECHANICS wait for an approaching wagon, driven by DRIVER #2. Snoops wanders around the corner. SNOOPS Where are you going? HARRY (disgusted) The spare parts we asked for? Wing Command sent ’em to Edward. Child wants ’em here as soon as possible. The wagon pulls up, and the Mechanics climb aboard. SNOOPS You be careful. HARRY No worries. They shake hands, and Harry climbs into the wagon. Snoops watches as it drives off. Robertson comes up with a somber-faced Frank in tow. ROBERTSON Cameron? Snoops turns. INT. ALBERT OFFICE - NIGHT Snoops, Frank, and Whittaker follow Robertson in and salute. Child, behind the desk, stands, returns the salute, and motions for his men to sit down. They do. For a moment, no one speaks. CHILD I doubt I’ve ever asked more from anyone than I did from you today. Thank you. No answer. CHILD I’d want to keep you here to testify, but if we don’t destroy that airfield soon, the Germans could use it to launch bombers against this position. There’s no telling how much information Geddes leaked. WHITTAKER What are our orders, sir? Child pushes a stack of paper and several pens across the desk. CHILD Write out your statements, everything you know for certain about this case, and sign them. Whittaker starts to write immediately, but Snoops picks up his pen and hesitates. Frank suddenly stops in mid-word. FRANK Do you need one from Private Brooke, sir? ROBERTSON I got it from him before he left. Frank nods. Snoops finally starts to write. INT. ALBERT OFFICE - NIGHT - LATER The three pilots sign their statements and slide them to Child. Child signs each paper as a witness, followed by Robertson. CHILD Thank you, gentlemen. I hope we don’t have to use these. A KNOCK at the door. CHILD Come in. Pike, Taylor, Vickers, Marchant, Kelly, Ide, and Jacoby come in. Child stands, waits until Taylor shuts the door, and takes a deep breath. CHILD I’m about to assign you possibly the most dangerous mission this squadron has ever attempted. There’s a good chance some of you won’t come back. SNOOPS (without emotion) We knew that when we joined up, sir. Another pause. Child crosses to the map, which now has the main airfield marked on it. CHILD In order to destroy the main airfield, we need accurate intelligence about its layout and defenses. You’ll be gathering that intelligence. Two camera planes: Marchant, Taylor. Pike, Vickers: gunners. The rest of you will provide escort and, if necessary, diversion. We need as many photographs as you can take, over as wide an area as possible. Get a count of planes and anti-air emplacements and an estimate of personnel. You leave at dawn. Above all, gentlemen, the camera planes must make it back here, or this mission will be a failure. The men exchange glances or look at the floor, drawing deep breaths. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - BEHIND INFIRMARY - NIGHT Inwardly churning, Snoops leans against the back of the infirmary, near the window. FOOTSTEPS, and Snoops straightens as Sarah comes to join him. For once, she doesn’t know what to say. A pause. SNOOPS (bitter) I hope they shoot him. He doesn’t mean it. She knows. SARAH (beat) You’re flying in the morning? SNOOPS How’d you know? SARAH Major Child would want to act before the Germans find out their spy’s been captured. SNOOPS (beat) I’ve got a bad feeling about tomorrow. SARAH (beat) Then you’d better kiss me now. Snoops looks at her incredulously. Sarah smiles coyly. Slowly, hesitantly, Snoops takes Sarah’s face in his hands. To their mutual surprise, once the kiss begins, neither of them wants to end it. Finally Snoops pulls away. They stare at each other for a moment, and then he leaves. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - PLANE PARKING STRIP - DAY (DAWN) The grim mission team crosses the field almost in formation, splitting off to board individual planes. RATTLING WHEELS catch everyone’s attention. The Mechanics’ wagon is rolling up, Driver #2 slumped across the seat. Snoops, Marchant, and two MECHANICS run over to stop the wagon. Driver #2 is semiconscious, his clothes ripped and his face and arms already bruising. DRIVER #2 (rambling) They took ’em ... they took ’em ... Snoops and Marchant lift him down and hand him to the Mechanics, who rush off to the infirmary with him. The two pilots peer around the back of the wagon. Blood drops spatter the empty, chipped-and-cracked bed--and a crude Iron Cross is carved into the side. MARCHANT Oh, no. Snoops sucks in his breath, trying to clamp down on his feelings. There’s no time. SNOOPS One more thing the Huns will have to pay for. Marchant nods grimly, and the two pilots march back to the planes as other MECHANICS come for the wagon. Lionel, face greasy and eyes bloodshot, a toolbox in one hand and an oil can in the other, talks to Frank next to Frank’s still-battered plane. Frank throws up his hands and angrily climbs into another plane. When Snoops reaches the Blue Blazer, Gilbert, as dirty and worn out as Lionel, is working furiously on the engine. GILBERT She’s not ready, sir. SNOOPS What do you mean, she’s not ready? I have to fly her now! Gilbert starts the engine, which roars but then coughs to a stop. Snoops whirls on Lionel as he approaches. SNOOPS Lionel -- ! LIONEL Sorry, sir, we’ve been working on her all night. (points) But this one’s in fine shape, sir. Just as good. SNOOPS (angry) Fine. He swings up into the new plane and starts the engine. EXT. SKY ABOVE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY The team has split into two groups, approaching opposite sides of the main airfield. Marchant and Vickers are escorted by Snoops, Whittaker, and Kelly, while Taylor and Pike fly with Frank, Ide, and Jacoby. Marchant and Taylor snap photos, while their escorts keep an eye out for trouble. MARCHANT We’ll have to get closer! Whittaker signals to his teammates, and he and Snoops pull out in front, leaving Kelly to guard Marchant more closely. Across the field, Frank and Ide pull out in front of Taylor and Jacoby. Six German planes, led by a GERMAN ACE, zoom up to engage the intruders, splitting up to cover both sides of the airfield. Anti-air batteries swivel into position. Soon the sky is in total chaos: planes whizzing around each other, furious bursts of bullets, anti-air shells singing up from the ground. The German Ace comes after Snoops and Whittaker. Whittaker engages him, while Snoops chases down another plane going after Marchant and blows it up. As the battle drifts closer to the center of the airfield, the fighting heats up. Two more German planes scramble, and Ide is shot down. Taylor’s plane is hit by an anti-air shell, sending it down to a fiery crash. The German planes go after Marchant, the furious Frank and Jacoby zipping after them. Snoops circles around Marchant, doing his best to help Kelly keep the Germans at bay while Whittaker dogfights with the German Ace. A bullet cracks the casing of Marchant’s camera, and Vickers is killed. Frank and Jacoby weave through the morass, firing madly. Snoops destroys another oncoming plane just as Whittaker is shot down. The German Ace and another plane head straight for Marchant. Frank is tangled up with another plane, but Jacoby zooms toward his threatened comrades. EXT. SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING SNOOPS Go! Kelly snaps off a grim salute, and he and Marchant zip away from the airfield, flying for their lives. EXT. SKY ABOVE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY Snoops and Jacoby intercept the German planes, and they spin into a dogfight. It seems to be an even match until the second plane fires, shooting down Jacoby and forcing Snoops to dodge and the German Ace blows a gaping hole in Snoops’s wing. Frank finishes off his opponent and zooms toward Snoops. As Snoops struggles to regain control, the German planes chase after him until the second plane suddenly explodes. EXT. SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Snoops looks up in time to see Frank going after the German Ace. But then Snoops is forced to concentrate on his own predicament. Hanging on for dear life, he aims for a controlled crash. EXT. SKY ABOVE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY Frank and the German Ace duel in the air. After a few hair-raising turns, the German Ace shoots up Frank’s engine in an explosion of flames. EXT. OUTSIDE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY Snoops’s plane slams against the ground, skids a little, and tips onto its side. Much farther down the field, Frank’s plane smashes into the dirt. Gasping in pain, Snoops drags himself out of the wreckage and falls to the ground; his lower trouser leg is bloody. The German Ace lands and sprints over to Frank’s plane. Painfully Snoops crawls back to the plane and retrieves his binoculars. SNOOPS’S P.O.V. - OUTSIDE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY - MATTE The German Ace drags the limp Frank out of the burning wreckage, supporting his head. He lays Frank down, but his gloved fingers come away bloody. He pulls off his own goggles and Frank’s and peers at Frank’s face. It’s Harry. His eye patch is gone, and both of his eyes are completely normal. EXT. OUTSIDE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY Badly shaken, Snoops lowers the binoculars. GERMAN PILOTS are running up from the main airfield. There’s no time to be paralyzed by this new development. Thinking fast, Snoops grabs his pistol and squirms through a narrow, jagged opening to get under the plane, gritting his teeth. EXT. UNDER SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY Snoops positions himself to shoot anyone who comes in after him. Rips in the metal allow him to watch his enemies. SNOOPS’S P.O.V. - OUTSIDE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY The German Pilots split off in small groups to investigate each of the downed planes. The bodies of Whittaker, Taylor, Pike, Ide, and Jacoby are respectfully laid in a line. Harry, on the other hand, rapidly gives orders to the German Pilots with him, and two go dashing back to the airfield. Harry cinches his scarf around Frank’s head wound. GERMAN PILOT #7, GERMAN PILOT #8, and GERMAN PILOT #9 come toward Snoops’s hiding place. EXT. UNDER SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY Snoops tenses and c***s his pistol. EXT. OUTSIDE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY The three pilots examine the wreck and look all around it, perplexed by its pilot’s absence. German Pilot #7 looks through the opening that Snoops used but stands up, shaking his head. (NOTE: All uses of German will be enclosed in brackets. On screen this text will appear in subtitles.) GERMAN PILOT #7 [Nobody could fit under there.] GERMAN PILOT #8 [Then where is he?] GERMAN PILOT #9 [Maybe he bailed out. He could’ve gone into the forest.] GERMAN PILOT #7 [All right.] They leave. EXT. UNDER SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY Snoops lets out his breath. Now that he has time to worry about his pain, he bandages his leg with his scarf as best he can. A CAR ENGINE catches his ear. EXT. OUTSIDE MAIN AIRFIELD - DAY An ambulance chugs out of the airfield and stops near Harry’s group. GERMAN MEDIC #1 and GERMAN MEDIC #2 jump out and help load Frank into the back, where German Medic #2 stays. German Medic #1 gets back in the cab. The ambulance drives down a faint dirt road leading east. Harry and the German Pilots return to the airfield. EXT. UNDER SNOOPS’S PLANE - DAY Snoops watches the ambulance go, then glances back at the forest. The three pilots are coming out, heading back to the airfield. Snoops weighs his options. If he’s seen, he’s almost sure to be captured. It’s an extremely long shot for him to get back to Albert on foot and injured. And, most inconveniently, he owes his life to Frank Forrest. So now what? FADE TO: EXT. OUTSIDE MAIN AIRFIELD - NIGHT Snoops carefully drags himself out from under the plane and gingerly gets to his feet. Painful, but good enough, so he hobbles toward the road. WHITTAKER (O.S.) (very weak) Don’t go. Startled, Snoops whirls and almost loses his balance. SNOOPS Whittaker? WHITTAKER (O.S.) Cameron? Snoops stumbles toward the voice and finally collapses beside Whittaker. The flight leader breathes with difficulty; his uniform is bloodstained over his heart. SNOOPS I thought ... WHITTAKER They are. Won’t be long now. Snoops takes a deep breath, searching for comforting words and trying to keep his emotions in check. Not another one. SNOOPS Marchant got away. And Kelly. Limey’s alive, but they’ve got him. WHITTAKER What’re you going to do? SNOOPS (hesitant) He saved my life. Whittaker raises his eyebrows. SNOOPS He’s hurt. WHITTAKER So are you. (beat) I should’ve gotten that rotter. SNOOPS Me too. I’m sorry. Whittaker shakes his head. Silence for a few seconds. The death rattle rises in Whittaker’s throat, and his breathing grows more strained. WHITTAKER Do me a favor? SNOOPS Anything. WHITTAKER When you get in there ... punch him on the nose for me. SNOOPS With pleasure. Whittaker smiles faintly and slowly releases his last breath. Snoops bows his head. EXT. OUTSIDE MAIN AIRFIELD - NIGHT - LATER Snoops limps away from the bodies in the direction the ambulance went. FADE TO: EXT. ROAD TO SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY (DAWN) Face twisted, Snoops stumbles along, on the verge of collapse. No civilization is anywhere in sight. Forest lines one side of the road. Then the ambulance comes rolling around a bend through the trees. Snoops pauses, thinking quickly. Realizing he doesn’t stand a chance on his own, he takes a deep breath and makes his decision. SNOOPS Oi! Over here! INT. GERMAN AMBULANCE - DAY - TRAVELING German Medic #1 drives, but German Medic #2 points. GERMAN MEDIC #2 [What’s that?] GERMAN MEDICS’ P.O.V. - ROAD TO SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY (DAWN) - TRAVELING Snoops hobbles toward the road, waving. GERMAN MEDIC #1 (O.S.) [I don’t know.] EXT. ROAD TO SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY (DAWN) The ambulance stops about twenty feet from Snoops. Both medics open their doors but keep behind them, standing inside the cab and pointing their guns at Snoops. GERMAN MEDIC #1 [Don’t move!] SNOOPS I surrender! He sets his pistol on the ground beside him and raises his hands. The medics exchange glances, and German Medic #2 carefully climbs down and approaches Snoops. Snoops offers no resistance as German Medic #2 takes his pistol and goggles. SNOOPS I want to see Frank Forrest. The medics frown, not understanding any of the English words except the name. GERMAN MEDIC #2 [Who are you?] SNOOPS Frank Forrest. I want to see him. Or Harry Brooke. The second name raises the medics’ eyebrows. GERMAN MEDIC #2 [No, you. What’s your name?] Seeing that Snoops doesn’t understand, German Medic #2 points at himself, then at Snoops. GERMAN MEDIC #2 [Klaus Dittrich.] SNOOPS (getting it) Daniel Cameron. The medics exchange glances again. German Medic #1 nods and climbs down, so German Medic #2 motions with his gun for Snoops to come with him. Snoops tries, but his injured leg suddenly buckles. German Medic #2 grabs Snoops’s arm before he hits the ground, pistol ready. When Snoops makes no move to attack, the medic hauls him to his feet and helps him to the back of the ambulance. EXT. OUTSIDE SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY The ambulance drives through the gates of a prison camp. A sign above the gate proclaims "SCHÖNE WIESE DURCHGANGSLAGER." SUPERIMPOSE: SCHÖNE WIESE TRANSIT CAMP. Armed GUARDS are stationed around the perimeter, and a barbed-wire fence encircles the entire camp. A wire barrier with a rough gate divides the camp between a few FEMALE PRISONERS and close to a hundred MALE PRISONERS. One faucet stands near the barrier, and tar-coated wooden buildings make up guards’ and prisoners’ barracks, the kitchen, the mess hall, and the commandant’s office. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE INFIRMARY - DAY A DOCTOR finishes sewing up Snoops’s leg. German Medic #1 stands watching, gun in hand. The camp commandant, TÖREN, comes in with Harry and German Medic #2. Seeing Snoops on the table, Harry freezes. TÖREN [Do you know this man, Captain?] HARRY (beat) [Yes, sir.] The Doctor bandages the wound, and he and German Medic #1 start to sit Snoops up. TÖREN [Leave him. You all may go.] GERMAN DOCTOR, GERMAN MEDIC #1, AND GERMAN MEDIC #2 [Yes, sir.] The medical men leave. Tören starts forward, but Harry stops him. HARRY [Sir, I think he’ll say more to me alone.] TÖREN [Very well.] He leaves. Harry pulls up a chair; Snoops glares at him. SNOOPS What’d you do with Limey? HARRY I don’t know what you’re talking about. SNOOPS You pulled him out of the plane. HARRY How’d you -- He breaks off abruptly, then lets out his breath. HARRY Oh. SNOOPS Is that all you can say? HARRY I didn’t know it was you? SNOOPS What about the five RFC men we left on that field? What’re you doing? HARRY Keep it down! Some of the men speak English. SNOOPS I don’t care if they all do. First Neil -- HARRY Not Neil. SNOOPS (beat, shocked) All you? HARRY All me. SNOOPS (beat) Why? Taking a deep breath, Harry goes to the window. Finally he turns back to Snoops. Somehow he has to justify himself to the friend he didn’t intend to make. HARRY While I was studying in Berlin ... I met someone. Her name's Katrin Liebing. SNOOPS A girl? This is about a girl? HARRY You don’t know her, Snoops. She’s beautiful, she’s smart, she’s -- SNOOPS I don’t believe this. HARRY Don’t tell me you don’t feel the same way about Sarah. Snoops sullenly doesn’t answer. HARRY The night I went to talk to Herr Liebing ... SNOOPS Yes? HARRY It was the day we heard that they’d declared war at home. Herr Liebing was awarded the Iron Cross during the Franco-Prussian War. And all my friends were packing their bags to go home and enlist. SNOOPS But you weren’t man enough -- HARRY (suddenly angry) You think it was easy? SNOOPS It should’ve been! You’re English! HARRY I don’t care about politics, Snoops! SNOOPS War is politics! Spying is politics! HARRY Look, Snoops -- SNOOPS Did you ever tell me the truth about anything? HARRY I did like you. SNOOPS (beat) Why’d you frame Neil? Sudden cold-bloodedness comes over Harry. HARRY Insurance. It was easy. He was the new man, he spoke German, and he keeps a very untidy locker. SNOOPS And now they’re going to shoot him, thanks to you. HARRY They would’ve shot me if they’d caught me. Snoops lunges at Harry, who jumps aside, and Snoops falls with a heavy thud. Tören, GUARD #1, and GUARD #2 burst into the room, guns ready. TÖREN [What happened, Captain?] Snoops curls up, clutching his leg. Harry lets out his breath. HARRY [He thought the interrogation was over and tried to get up too quickly. That’s all.] TÖREN (beat) [Take him to the prisoners’ barracks.] GUARD #1 AND GUARD #2 [Yes, sir.] Harry looks as though he wants to say more, but he keeps silent as Snoops is hauled out of the room. TÖREN [You won’t be able to get back to the airfield before dark. You’d best spend the night.] HARRY [Yes, sir.] INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - DAY Head bandaged, eyes closed, Frank lies on a straw-stuffed sack, holding his ribs. The door SQUEAKS open, and Snoops staggers in and sits on the sack beside Frank. The door CLOSES. SNOOPS Hello, Limey. Startled, Frank opens his eyes, but he can’t seem to locate Snoops. His face wrinkles in frustration. FRANK Bushwhacker? SNOOPS Yes. What’s wrong with you? FRANK Where are you? SNOOPS (perplexed) Right here. Frank gingerly turns toward Snoops’s voice. He squints at Snoops but doesn’t seem to recognize him. Starting to understand, Snoops waves his hand in front of Frank’s eyes. Frank fumbles for and grabs Snoops’s hand. FRANK Stop! I’ve gotten enough of that from the Huns. Snoops lets out his breath. Frank is almost totally blind. SNOOPS What’d they do to you? Frank shakes his head and immediately winces. FRANK Hit my head when I crashed, and next thing I knew, I was waking up in hospital. They got you too, eh? SNOOPS Marchant and Kelly got away. The others are all dead. FRANK (beat) Same blighter got both of us, didn’t he? SNOOPS Yes. FRANK Any idea who he was? SNOOPS (deep breath) Harry Brooke. FRANK (suddenly serious) You’re barking. SNOOPS You’re the one who hit your head. FRANK How could Harry even fly a plane? He wears that eye patch for a reason! SNOOPS I know what I saw! FRANK Not if it’s impossible! SNOOPS Fine! Don’t believe me! Furious, he flops down on his sack. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - NIGHT Snoops and the other MALE PRISONERS sleep. Frank shifts uneasily, trying to get comfortable. The door opens quietly, and Harry comes in. Hearing his footsteps, Frank tries to sit up but can’t do it. FRANK Who’s there? Harry pauses. Frank looks from side to side, but unable to see anything clearly, he closes his eyes. Quieter this time, Harry comes up to the side of Frank’s sack, kneels for a close look, and snaps his fingers above Frank’s eyes. They fly open. FRANK Who’s there? Harry waves his hand in front of Frank’s face. Irritated, Frank grabs the hand. FRANK Not funny, Bushwhacker. Harry raises his eyebrows--the injury is worse than he’d thought. To his surprise, Frank yanks on his hand, dragging Harry across Frank’s chest. Harry’s foot strikes the wall with a loud thump. Snoops wakes up, as do several other PRISONERS. PRISONERS Oi! What’s going on? Keep it down, can’t you! Can’t a man get some sleep round here? Harry struggles to get out of Frank’s grasp, but Frank fumbles and gets a handful of Harry’s hair, twisting Harry’s face towards him. FRANK Do that again and I’ll -- GUARD #3 rushes in with a lamp. GUARD #3 [What’s going on in here?] With the light and at close range, Frank recognizes Harry, and Frank’s jaw drops. Harry frees himself and gets up. GUARD #3 [Oh, Captain, apologies. I didn’t know --] HARRY [That I sleepwalk? Yes, I suppose I tripped and fell on the prisoner. Go back to your post.] GUARD #3 [Yes, sir.] Harry and Guard #3 leave. The Prisoners settle down, and Snoops, mystified but not up for an argument with Frank, lies down again. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - NIGHT - LATER All is quiet. Snoops turns over, still not asleep. FRANK Tell me I didn’t see that. SNOOPS (beat) He pulled you out of the plane. Frank stubbornly shakes his head but stops with a grimace. FRANK I won’t live in a traitor’s debt. SNOOPS Then we’re going to have to find a way out of here. Frank scoffs. SNOOPS He framed Neil. The court-martial has to be soon, maybe even next week--it’s not as if they have to gather evidence. They’ll shoot Neil if we don’t get back in time. FRANK We’re only here until the Huns can send us to a permanent camp. SNOOPS That’s why we’ve got to move fast. FRANK How? Snoops sighs heavily. Good point. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - PLANE PARKING STRIP - DAY MECHANICS work on Marchant’s and Kelly’s battered planes. Sarah slowly walks along the strip, looking around dazedly as if she expects to find the Blue Blazer among the planes. INT. ALBERT OFFICE - DAY Child, Robertson, Kelly, Marchant, and a PHOTOGRAPHER stand around Child’s desk. The Photographer spreads a handful of photos across the desktop. PHOTOGRAPHER About half the film was ruined, sir, from that crack in the camera casing. But here’s what I was able to develop. Everyone bends over the photos, but an ENGINE ROAR suddenly distracts them. ROBERTSON That can’t be -- They all rush outside. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - DAY It’s not. The entire base has turned out to see what seems to be half the German air force, bombers and fighters alike, heading toward Albert. CHILD All pilots, to your planes! You, man the anti-air batteries! Everyone else, take cover! Robertson, the signal flags! ROBERTSON Yes, sir! The PILOTS bolt for the plane parking strip. The MECHANICS scatter, some to the barracks, others to the shed, and a few to the anti-air batteries. Dr. Abbott pulls Joanna and Sarah into the infirmary after him, and Child runs to one of the guns to get a good look at what they’re up against. Robertson darts into the office and rejoins Child with a set of signal flags. Several German fighters split off and rake the ground with bullets. Running people duck, dodge, or are knocked sprawling. The anti-air guns desperately return fire. Pilots take off as fast as they can and engage the fighters. CHILD Tell them to concentrate on the bombers! Don’t let them get through! ROBERTSON Yes, sir! He spells out the order with the flags. A few German bombers slip past the defenders and drop their payloads. Dirt, grass, metal shards, wood splinters, and glass fragments spray in all directions. INT. ALBERT INFIRMARY - EXAMINATION AREA - DAY Huddled under tables, Dr. Abbott and the nurses cringe at the EXPLOSIONS, GUNFIRE, and SHOUTING from outside. A sudden WHISTLING gets louder by the millisecond. DR. ABBOTT Brace yourselves! Joanna panics and scrambles out from under her table. DR. ABBOTT AND SARAH Joanna! No! Come back! With a deafening roar, a bomb crashes through the roof of the infirmary. Joanna is caught in the blast and slammed against a wall. Sarah tries to go to her lifeless colleague, but Dr. Abbott pulls her toward the door, which has been blown open. DR. ABBOTT She’s dead! We have to get out of here! Realizing he’s right, Sarah runs with him. EXT. ALBERT AIRFIELD - DAY The battle is not going well in the air. Several Pilots are down, and another falls out of the sky. Bullets ricochet off the anti-air battery, and Child and Robertson dive out of the way. CHILD Order a retreat! We can’t stop them! ROBERTSON Yes, sir! Robertson signals but takes a bullet to the shoulder. Child drags him along as he runs behind the office, shouting. CHILD Retreat! Abandon base! Just get out of here! Another bomb misses them by yards. MECHANICS scatter, some being hit by bullets or caught in bomb blasts. Dr. Abbott and Sarah come roaring around the infirmary in the ambulance. DR. ABBOTT Everyone get in! MECHANICS scramble into the back. Gilbert and Lionel squeeze into the cab. Child zooms around from behind the office in his own car, Robertson slumped in the front seat. CHILD Get in! Everyone! In! More MECHANICS pile into his car. When there’s no room for anyone else into either vehicle, Child and Dr. Abbott take off, leaving the remaining men to fend for themselves. EXT. NEAR ALBERT AIRFIELD - DAY The two cars roar away. CHILD Split up! Meet at Wing Command headquarters! DR. ABBOTT Yes, sir! The vehicles split up, dodging bombs and bullets. Dr. Abbott drives like a maniac, and it seems to be working. Nothing has touched the ambulance yet. INT. BRITISH AMBULANCE - DAY - TRAVELING Then a bomb hits the road directly in front of the ambulance. There’s no time to dodge or stop. DR. ABBOTT Hold on! Sarah and the mechanics brace themselves. EXT. NEAR ALBERT AIRFIELD - DAY The ambulance shoots into the crater, lands hard, and rolls. INT. BRITISH AMBULANCE - DAY - TRAVELING Sarah, Dr. Abbott, Gilbert, and Lionel are thrown against each other as the ambulance tumbles. EXT. NEAR ALBERT AIRFIELD - DAY The ambulance ends up on its side, dented and scratched. One door pops open, spilling out Mechanics. INT. BRITISH AMBULANCE - DAY Everyone in the cab is tangled up with each other. Dr. Abbott is crushed against the steering wheel, not moving. SARAH Is everyone all right? GILBERT AND LIONEL Yes. Yes, ma’am. SARAH Dr. Abbott? No answer. Lionel, closest to Dr. Abbott, checks him. LIONEL I’m sorry, Nurse. Sarah fights tears. EXT. NEAR ALBERT AIRFIELD - DAY A few GERMAN PILOTS land and go to investigate the crashed ambulance, pistols in hand. INT. BRITISH AMBULANCE - DAY The German Pilots can be seen through the cracked windshield. LIONEL They’re coming for us. GILBERT They won’t get us without a fight. SARAH Don’t get yourselves killed for nothing. GILBERT (beat) Yes, Nurse. FADE TO: EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY A GUARD opens the barbed-wire gate. The FEMALE PRISONERS join the MALE PRISONERS marching toward the mess hall. After a near-spill, Snoops and Frank are forced to lean on each other as they walk. The irony is not lost on them. SARAH (O.S.) Danny? Snoops whirls to see Sarah, Gilbert, Lionel, and twenty-some captured MECHANICS--dirty, scraped, bruised, and escorted by GUARDS. Snoops stumbles out of line, and Sarah runs to him. He clutches her to him. The nastiest guard in camp, THE HAMMER, marches up and grasps Sarah’s arm none too gently. HAMMER (heavy accent) Come on. Forced apart, Sarah and Snoops try to project bravery as she’s taken away. She finally notices that he’s hurt. SNOOPS We’ll--we’ll talk later. SARAH Right. See you soon. Sarah and the Mechanics are marched into the camp’s main office. Snoops turns away and lets out his breath. FRANK (frustrated) I know that voice. SNOOPS Nurse Murphy. Frank catches the edge in his voice. FRANK Just her? SNOOPS And about twenty boys from Albert. FRANK Don’t do anything stupid, Bushwhacker. Snoops’s lip curls. Finally he marches off as best he can toward the mess hall, leaving Frank to struggle on his own. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY - LATER Snoops hobbles around the perimeter, using the fenceposts for support. He runs out of gas at the dividing fence and leans against a post. Sarah appears on the other side of the fence and hurries over to Snoops. SARAH You shouldn’t be walking on that leg. SNOOPS You’re hurt, too. SARAH Not badly. Sit. Snoops half-reluctantly, half-gratefully sinks down. Sarah kneels and reaches through the wires to hitch up his torn pant leg. SNOOPS It’s not that bad. SARAH I’m still a nurse. She undoes the bandage and peers at the injury. Frowning, she rewraps it. SARAH Where’s Lieutenant Forrest? Snoops points. Frank sits against a building, his face turned up as if the sunbeams will revitalize his eyes. A fly buzzes past his face, and he swats blindly at it. Sarah sits back on her heels and lets out her breath. SARAH They shot you both down? SNOOPS Harry did. Sarah looks at him sharply until VOICES catch her ear. Harry and the Hammer talk at the far end of the courtyard. SARAH So we had two spies. SNOOPS One real and one framed. SARAH (beat) What’re we going to do? SNOOPS I’m open to suggestions. They sit for a moment, racking their brains. Harry glances in their direction. He raises his eyebrows upon seeing Sarah, then goes back to his conversation. Sarah and Snoops exchange glances and, thinking, look around. Snoops spots a big crack in the nearest fencepost. SNOOPS There. If we think of something, we can hide notes in here. SARAH Brilliant. She reaches through the wire again to help Snoops up, and he holds onto Sarah’s hand for a moment longer. When GUARDS’ VOICES come from the other end of the courtyard, Sarah quickly leaves. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - NIGHT GUARDS go about their patrols. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MESS HALL - DAY The Prisoners quietly eat their meager meal. Snoops and Sarah look around but miss each other in the crowd. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - WOMEN’S COURTYARD - DAY (DAWN TO DUSK) No one goes near the post. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY Lionel and Gilbert huddle together. As Snoops hobbles by, Gilbert thrusts out a crude crutch: a fencepost and a narrow board lashed together with a scarf. Startled, Snoops hesitates. Both mechanics give him looks of mixed eagerness and pleading. Finally Snoops takes the crutch. Relief washes over his face as he shifts his weight off his hurt leg. Gilbert and Lionel grin encouragingly at him. Unable to find adequate words, Snoops nods his thanks and limps off. As he walks, Snoops looks around with new eyes. MECHANICS salute, nod, grin at him as he passes. Snoops’s jaw tightens. It’s not just Neil counting on him. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - WOMEN’S COURTYARD - DAY Hidden behind the privy, Sarah scratches lightly in the dirt with a stick. FEMALE PRISONER #1 and FEMALE PRISONER #2 drift over to see what she’s drawing: a rough diagram of the camp and the guards’ positions. Suddenly both Female Prisoners step onto Sarah’s drawing. Before Sarah can protest, the Hammer passes the group and flashes her a nasty grin. When he’s gone, Sarah meets the Female Prisoners’ eyes and nods her thanks. The others nod and step back. FEMALE PRISONER #1 The men call him the Hammer. Sarah smiles grimly, thinks, then wipes out the drawing, mouthing "Later" to her new friends. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY (DUSK) MALE and FEMALE PRISONERS file into their barracks. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - WOMEN’S COURTYARD - DAY Sarah sighs heavily, wipes out a new map, and begins doodling in the dirt: a stick-figure version of Snoops. WHISTLING filters over from the men’s side of the camp: "Sarie Marais." Sarah smiles a little. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY Snoops checks the post and pulls out a note: "Don’t believe everything you read." Puzzled, Snoops looks up at VOICES from across the courtyard. FRANK (V.O.) What? Frank sits against a building, but the Hammer shoves a newspaper, the European Bulletin, at him. Other Prisoners sit or stand around, reading it with troubled expressions. HAMMER Read it. He grins at Frank’s "you can’t be serious" look, aimed in the wrong direction. HAMMER That’s what one does with a newspaper. Sizing up the situation, Snoops shoves the note into his pocket and hauls himself up on his crutch. Realizing he’s being mocked, Frank looks away, jaw set. The Hammer yanks him to his feet, laughter in his voice. HAMMER You’d better show some respect, or I’ll -- Limping by, Snoops flagrantly trips, banging into the Hammer and sending all three men sprawling. HAMMER Watch it, you -- SNOOPS Sorry! I tripped! It was an accident! Sorry! Muttering under his breath, the Hammer brushes himself off, kicks Snoops, and leaves. Snoops and Frank sit up; Snoops picks up the newspaper. SNOOPS What’s this? FRANK How should I know? Snoops scans the headline: "BRITISH AIRFIELD CAPTURED - OVER 100 DEAD OR PRISONERS." It’s the story of Albert Airfield’s fall, and Snoops grits his teeth. Across the fence, Sarah begins whistling "Danny Boy." Hearing, Snoops glances at her. She motions to the post. Snoops looks back at the newspaper. This time, he notices a motto on the masthead: "Only the truth." He snorts. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY (DUSK) Several MALE PRISONERS wash up at the faucet. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE FEMALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - NIGHT Sarah lies awake, staring at the ceiling and thinking. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - DAY The barracks are deserted except for Frank, lying on his sack with eyes closed, and Snoops. SNOOPS I could pick the lock on this door. Then we’d just have to get over the fence. FRANK Past the guards. SNOOPS They won’t see us if we time it right. FRANK And how precisely do you think we’re going to climb over? I’d like to see Nurse Murphy try to give us a leg up. SNOOPS Maybe we could bribe some of the guards. FRANK With what? SNOOPS I’ve still got a few quid. He pulls a few bills from a hidden pocket in his jacket and counts them. FRANK They’ll take it and report you. SNOOPS (angry) You’re not helping. FRANK I’m being realistic. SNOOPS We can’t just give up. FRANK What else can we do? SNOOPS I’ll tell Neil you were going to let him die. Frank abruptly tries to sit up but collapses, clutching his ribs. FRANK (icily) Would I be lying here if there were anything I could do about it? That silences Snoops. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY A dozen new MALE PRISONERS are marched through the gates, including THE ROOSTER. Despite his predicament, his swagger dares anyone to cross him. Snoops eyes the Rooster warily. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MESS HALL - DAY Prisoners line up outside the mess hall to buy paper. Others sit around the camp to write letters. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - WOMEN’S COURTYARD - DAY Sarah sits down with her paper. As she looks up, thinking about what to write, she spots Frank near the fence, agitatedly twisting his wedding ring. SARAH Write to her, Lieutenant. FRANK (bitter) And tell her what? SARAH (thinks) She’d rather know you’re blind than think you’re dead. Frank lets out his breath. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY Snoops slips his letter into an envelope. He looks up as Frank shuffles toward him, paper and envelope in hand. FRANK That you, Bushwha-- Cameron? SNOOPS (startled) What do you want? FRANK I ... I need your help. SNOOPS (suspicious) Why would you want my help? FRANK You’re the only one I know here. Well, besides Nurse Murphy, but she can’t help with this. SNOOPS Why not? FRANK I can’t send my wife a letter in another woman’s handwriting. SNOOPS (hiding surprise) You want to sit down? Frank sits, and Snoops takes the paper and removes a pencil from his chest pocket. SNOOPS Ready. FRANK (after some thought) "My darling, don’t be alarmed that this letter isn’t in my handwriting. I was shot down over enemy territory and am being held in Schöne Wiese Transit Camp in Germany." Snoops writes as Frank dictates, looking up at the lengthy pause after the last sentence. FRANK "I struck my head during the crash and ... have lost most of my sight. I’m able to recognize objects and faces at a few inches, but everything else is a blur. My ... colleague, Lieutenant ..." (realization) I forgot your first name. SNOOPS Daniel. FRANK "Daniel Cameron, is writing this letter at my dictation. I’ll probably be transferred to an officers’ camp soon, but for the time being, please send any mail or parcels to Schöne Wiese Transit Camp. Please don’t fret about me. I’m otherwise in good health -- " Frank takes a breath, then grasps his sore ribs. FRANK " -- and am treated well. Your face is the one thing I see clearly, my first sight in the morning and my last sight at night." Snoops keeps writing, trying not to laugh but touched by Frank’s sappy sincerity. FRANK (with growing conviction) "I give you my word of honor that if there’s a way to come home to you, I will find it. Your devoted husband," and I’ll sign it. Snoops finishes writing, then hands over the paper and pencil and guides Frank’s hand to the correct spot. Frank clumsily scrawls his name. Snoops puts the paper in the envelope and seals it, pondering. FRANK "Mrs. Frank Forrest, 24 Myrtle Street, London." Snoops finishes the address as Gilbert comes by. GILBERT I’ll take those over if you’d like, sir. SNOOPS Thanks. He hands over his and Frank’s letters, and Gilbert leaves. Silence for a moment. SNOOPS Did you mean it? FRANK Mean what? SNOOPS About seeing her face. Frank pauses, embarrassed to realize that he said that aloud--in front of his rival, no less--then nods. FRANK (beat) So how are we going to get out of here? SNOOPS (startled) I thought you said there was nothing we could do. Before Frank can answer, angry VOICES make both men turn. ROOSTER (O.S.) Who did that? The Rooster has a blob of mud stuck to his ear. Other Prisoners are laughing at him, PRISONER #1 loudest of all. PRISONER #1 If you could see your face! ROOSTER That was my ear! PRISONER #1 Yes it is. Glad you know your anatomy. Incensed, the Rooster scoops up a handful of mud and flings it at Prisoner #1. SPLAT! Startled, then grinning, Prisoner #1 fires back but hits PRISONER #2. PRISONERS (laughing) Mud fight! Is that the best you can do? Get him! The Hammer and a few other Guards rush over and collar the three offenders. HAMMER What do you think you’re doing? PRISONER #1 (intimidated) It’s not my fault he’s got no sense of humor, sir. HAMMER You think that’s funny? PRISONER #1 Just trying to loosen him up, sir. HAMMER I’ll loosen you up. He throws Prisoner #1 against a fencepost. Other Guards drag him to his feet and lash him to the post. The Rooster and Prisoner #2 are bound to the adjacent posts. The Hammer turns to the other Prisoners. HAMMER Anyone else think that’s funny? No response. Smirking, he stalks off, followed by the other Guards. Frank turns back to Snoops. FRANK She’d never forgive me if I made it home and let the boy die. (beat) I’d never forgive myself. SNOOPS (beat) So any ideas? FRANK (beat) Not yet. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - WOMEN’S COURTYARD - DAY (DUSK) Sarah checks the post and turns to Female Prisoner #1 and Female Prisoner #2, who are on lookout. Sarah shakes her head; their shoulders slump. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY GUARDS trade off watch outside the gate. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MESS HALL - DAY (EVENING) The Prisoners leave the mess hall, men in one line, women in another. The mud-fight participants are still tied up, wilting in the sweltering heat. A loud BUZZING overhead makes everyone look up sharply. Three battered planes are swooping down toward the camp. PRISONERS We’re saved! There’s our boys! Hurrah! A few Prisoners rush the Guards, who beat them back with fists and rifle butts. More Prisoners join in. Sarah and Snoops catch each other’s eyes, uncertain whether now is the opportune moment. One charging PRISONER bangs into Frank, who bumps into Snoops and knocks them both over. Tören rushes out of his office. He glances up at the planes and throws up his hands. TÖREN [They’re ours, boys!] (heavy accent) They are German planes! PRISONERS Don’t listen to him! No! It can’t be! They’re ours! But everyone, minus those busy fighting, looks up again. The planes come in for a landing near the camp--low enough to see the Iron Cross painted on them. The Prisoners fall silent, hopes dashed. Tören joins his men as they pull the rebellious Prisoners to their feet; several Prisoners can’t stand alone. TÖREN [Take the wounded to the infirmary. The posts for all of them.] The Guards haul off the injured rebels. The Hammer cuts Prisoner #1 loose and shoves him away. Prisoner #1 falls to his hands and knees, then shakily gets up while the Guards release the Rooster and Prisoner #2. The Guards tie the other rebels to fenceposts. Tören gives the rest of the Prisoners a warning look, then gathers several Guards and hurries out the gate. Gilbert and Lionel help Snoops and Frank up as Sarah and the other Female Prisoners are herded back to their area. EXT. OUTSIDE SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY (EVENING) LIEUTENANT KOPPELIN and LIEUTENANT MONSTADT help LIEUTENANT SCHRÖDER, wounded in the chest, down from his plane. Koppelin and Monstadt salute--Schröder tries to--as Tören and his Guards rush up to them. KOPPELIN (out of breath) [Lieutenants Koppelin, Monstadt, and Schröder of the Forty-Third, sir.] Tören returns the salute and signals to the Guards, who help Schröder toward the infirmary. TÖREN [What happened to you?] KOPPELIN [Ran into some trouble over the British lines about twenty miles southwest of here, sir. Met a force we weren’t prepared to take on, lost two planes. Didn’t think Schröder could make it back to the airfield.] TÖREN [Are you hurt?] MONSTADT [No, sir, but we need to report to Major Rossmann and have these planes repaired. They won’t be going anywhere until then.] Tören looks over the planes, his wheels beginning to turn. TÖREN [Is Captain Harry Brooke still at the airfield?] KOPPELIN [I believe so, sir.] TÖREN [Come with me.] EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY - LATER (DAWN) Tören, Monstadt, Koppelin, and several Guards are waiting as a car pulls up. Harry and MAJOR ROSSMANN get out. ROSSMANN [This had better be good, Tören.] TÖREN [I believe I’ve found you a way to reinsert Captain Brooke into his British squadron.] INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) Snoops, PRISONER #3, PRISONER #4, Gilbert, and Lionel peer out through a gap between boards at the clandestine meeting. Frank is awake but makes no move to get up. PRISONERS’ P.O.V. - EXT. OUTSIDE SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY (DAWN) Tören points in the direction of Albert Airfield and acts out an air battle with his hands; his words are inaudible. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) SNOOPS Anyone speak German? PRISONER #3 I do. GILBERT What about reading lips? PRISONER #3 I’ll give it a try. The others make way as Prisoner #3 wiggles his way closer to the boards and watches the Germans intently. PRISONER #3 "... repair these two ... enough to fly ... British lines ..." Brooke? SNOOPS That’s the man on the left. Go on. PRISONER #3 "British uniform ... Koppelin, that’s a name ... will follow you ... convince, persuade ... chasing ... return to airfield ... when questioned, say ... two planes ... escaped." Now the other major’s talking ... "Can you fly ... with the ..." Something about his eye? SNOOPS His eye patch. FRANK (O.S.) They’re going to reinsert him. Everyone turns sharply to him. Frank slowly sits up, an intense expression on his face. PRISONER #4 Come again? FRANK Brooke is a spy. The eyepatch was his disguise. Supposedly he was captured just the day before we were. SNOOPS So they’re going to fix the planes enough to fly and have that Koppelin fellow "chase" him back so it’ll look like he escaped from here. Brilliant. PRISONER #4 What about the third plane? PRISONER #3 The pilot who was shot won’t be flying for a while. FRANK They’ll probably repair the other planes first. They’ll want Harry back in the 102nd as soon as possible. LIONEL We’ve got to do something. Snoops’s mind is racing, and finally he smiles tensely. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY GERMAN MECHANICS work on the planes outside the fence. A tiny fuel truck waits nearby. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE FEMALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - DAY In the deserted barracks, Sarah takes a note from her pocket as Female Prisoner #1 and Female Prisoner #2 look on. All three read it and exchange puzzled looks. Then understanding dawns. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY Hearing Sarah WHISTLING "Danny Boy," Snoops looks up. Sarah gives him a thumbs-up. Snoops grins and returns it. FADE TO: INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) The MALE PRISONERS sleep quietly. Suddenly the ROAR of airplane engines shatters the stillness. Everyone snaps awake. SNOOPS No! He rolls off his sack and presses his eye to the gap as Gilbert, Lionel, and the other Prisoners crowd around him. SNOOPS’S P.O.V. - EXT. OUTSIDE SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY (DAWN) Harry and Koppelin roar into the sky, leaving the German Mechanics, the third plane, and Tören behind. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MALE PRISONERS’ BARRACKS - DAY (DAWN) Snoops slams his fist against the wall. Everyone stands in stunned silence. FRANK Did they take all three planes? SNOOPS No. FRANK Then calm down. It’ll still work. Snoops takes a deep breath. INT. SCHÖNE WIESE MESS HALL - DAY MALE and FEMALE PRISONERS file in, get their meager bowls of porridge, and sit down. Snoops positions himself between Lionel and Frank so that all three sit on the bench directly behind the Rooster. Snoops glances at Sarah and winks; she replies in kind. Tören suddenly enters and goes over to talk to the GUARDS near Snoops and Frank’s bench. SNOOPS Well, well. FRANK What? SNOOPS We’re in luck. The commandant’s here. Snoops only takes a few bites, then looks around furtively and presses his crutch into Frank’s hand under the table. When the Guards aren’t looking, Snoops scoops up a small handful of porridge and stealthily lobs it at the Rooster. The porridge hits the Rooster low on the back. ROOSTER Oi! He spins and looks around, then angrily resumes eating. After a few seconds, Snoops throws another glob of porridge. With a growl, the Rooster throws some porridge in the general direction of the two missiles--and hits Lionel. LIONEL Hey! Lionel retaliates, but the Rooster ducks and the porridge hits Gilbert, across the table. A GUARD starts down the row to restore order. Gilbert fires and hits Frank just as the Guard walks behind Frank. FRANK Who did that? Frank blindly whirls, crutch in hand, and trips the Guard. Snoops jumps on the disoriented German, and Sarah flings two handfuls of porridge in opposite directions, setting off a full-mess-hall food fight. The other Guards rush around the room, shoving bowls out of reach and bashing Prisoners with their rifle butts. Tören hurries down the row to help subdue Snoops. As he arrives, Snoops wrestles the Guard’s pistol away from him, bashes him in the nose with it, and whips the pistol around to point at the startled Tören. SNOOPS Tell them to drop their guns! Tören hesitates for only a heartbeat. TÖREN [Drop your guns!] The food fight comes to an abrupt end. The Guards freeze, eyeing each other and Tören uncertainly. Nearby Prisoners help Snoops to his feet, and murmurs break out among the Guards. TÖREN [What are you waiting for? Put them down!] The Guards quickly comply. Sarah joins Snoops, and Frank disentangles himself from the bench, brushing himself off. FRANK Don’t just stand there. Remember the plan. Keep them quiet. Everyone abruptly remembers what to do. Weapons are confiscated, and the Guards are bound and gagged with their own belts and handkerchiefs. All the Prisoners--especially the Rooster, Gilbert, and Lionel--look gleefully or smugly pleased. It worked. TÖREN It appears I’ve underestimated you, Cameron. SNOOPS You in the habit of learning prisoners’ names? TÖREN Only the special cases. Suddenly the door opens, and a dozen guns snap around to aim at the Hammer as he walks in. He freezes. SNOOPS Close the door and come over here. Quietly. Slowly the Hammer obeys, scowling as Prisoners search him and take his weapons. HAMMER I should’ve known you’d be trouble. Prisoner #3 grabs the Hammer’s arms. FRANK Half a mo’. Frank squints at his target, clenching his fist at belt level to hide his movements. Sarah steps up and repositions Frank’s arm, then steps back. Frank lands a solid uppercut to the Hammer’s chin. The Hammer staggers, and Prisoner #3 and Lionel catch him. FRANK Carry on. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - MEN’S COURTYARD - DAY Tören, now bound, and Snoops leave the mess hall first, followed closely by Sarah, Frank, Gilbert, Lionel, and the Rooster. The other Prisoners spread out, weapons ready. The rebels are still tied up, and startled Guards look up from their duties. Snoops nudges Tören with the gun. TÖREN [Drop your weapons! Release them!] The Guards lay down their arms and untie the rebels. The other Prisoners take the weapons and secure the Guards to fenceposts with their own belts. EXT. SCHÖNE WIESE - TÖREN’S OFFICE - DAY Tören’s car is visible behind his office as the strange procession reaches the building. SNOOPS Crank? TÖREN Top right-hand desk drawer. Gilbert runs inside. Snoops gives Tören to Lionel, who prods the German into the front seat and sits beside him. TÖREN What, precisely, do you intend to do with me? SNOOPS As long as your men cooperate, we’ll leave you in the car. Lionel? Lionel blindfolds Tören with his handkerchief. Gilbert returns and cranks the engine to life. He jumps into the driver’s seat and gives a thumbs-up. FRANK Remember your orders, gentlemen. You’ll be safe as long as you stay with the car. When you reach the woods, split up and make your way back to your units. Under no circumstances are you to abandon the women. Good luck. The Prisoners cheer lustily. Several of them swing open the prison gates, and Gilbert drives out. After a moment of exhilaration, Snoops turns to Frank and Sarah. SNOOPS We’ve got a traitor to catch. EXT. SKY ABOVE SCHÖNE WIESE - DAY The battered German plane roars into the sky to the cheers of the departing Prisoners. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Snoops is at the controls, Sarah squashed into the cockpit next to him and Frank in the gunner’s seat. Frank lets out an uncharacteristic crow. SARAH You all right back there? FRANK Good to feel the wind in my face again. Sobered, Snoops doesn’t answer. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Harry and Koppelin fly west. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Snoops checks the compass and adjusts course, then lets out his breath a little. Sarah kisses him on the cheek. SARAH You were brilliant. SNOOPS So were you. SARAH You two planned it. I just helped with the execution. SNOOPS Brilliantly. Sarah laughs and smothers a yawn. SNOOPS You all right? SARAH Didn’t sleep much last night. Anticipation, I suppose. SNOOPS It’ll take us a while to reach the lines. You may as well rest while you can. SARAH Do we have enough fuel? Snoops glances at the fuel gauge, which isn’t encouraging. SNOOPS We’d better. Sarah nods and, since there’s no other place to put it, rests her head on Snoops’s shoulder and closes her eyes. EXT. SKY ABOVE COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Harry and Koppelin press on. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Sarah is fully asleep. FRANK So what’ll we do when we catch up? SNOOPS (thinks) Get on the ground before they shoot us down. It’d help if we had a gunner. FRANK Then Nurse Murphy and I had better trade places. SNOOPS Not on your life. We didn’t get out of there just to have someone fall. FRANK (smirks) I didn’t know you cared. SNOOPS (frustrated) I owe you one. FRANK What? SNOOPS They would’ve blown me out of the sky if you hadn’t distracted them. FRANK (beat) Just doing my duty. SNOOPS Then let me do mine! Unsure how to react, Frank doesn’t answer. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - DAY BRITISH and GERMAN SOLDIERS and OFFICERS hunker down in trenches as their artillery pound at each other. In the sky above, German and British planes battle. Anti-air batteries fire from both sides, scoring a few hits. EXT. BRITISH LINES - DAY Near one British anti-air battery and its GUNNERS, a GENERAL looks up at the aerial slugfest through his binoculars, then turns to the CAPTAIN at his side. GENERAL And you’re sure there’s no other air support available? CAPTAIN What you see is what we’ve got, sir. The 102nd’s got nothing, and the 78th’s giving us all they have. GENERAL Intensify fire from the left batteries. Nothing gets to our artillery. CAPTAIN Yes, sir. He dashes off as the General raises his binoculars again. EXT. SKY NEAR BATTLEFIELD - DAY Smoke rises from the trenches as Harry and Koppelin arrive. At Harry’s signal, Koppelin drops back. EXT. BRITISH LINES - DAY As the Captain comes back, the General lifts his binoculars again and starts. GENERAL What the -- ? The Captain takes out his binoculars, looks up, and starts. CAPTAIN’S P.O.V. - EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Harry weaves wildly through the smoke as Koppelin fires madly at him. CAPTAIN (O.S.) Is he attacking his own man, sir? GENERAL (O.S.) So it appears, but why -- As Harry half-rolls, his uniform is exposed. EXT. BRITISH LINES - DAY CAPTAIN -- is he wearing our uniform? Captain and General both snap down their binoculars. GENERAL We’re going to find out. (to Gunners) Don’t shoot that one in front! EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Sarah wakes to see the ever-nearer smoky trenches. SNOOPS Good afternoon. SARAH So this is it. SNOOPS Yes. A grim few seconds’ silence. SARAH AND SNOOPS (almost together) I love you. They smile tightly, then exchange a kiss for as long as they dare. Finally they pull away and face the challenge ahead. SNOOPS You ready, Limey? FRANK Let’s go. EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Snoops zooms into the smog above the trenches. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING FRANK Mind the anti-air- -- An anti-air shell whizzes by, making them all jump. SNOOPS Duly noted! EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Snoops zips wildly to dodge friendly and enemy fire. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING SARAH There they are! Harry flies along a trench with Koppelin in hot pursuit. Snoops adjusts course to follow, and Koppelin swoops around to intercept them. SNOOPS Oh no, you don’t! EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY He dives, firing. A few back-and-forth bursts. EXT. BRITISH LINES - DAY The General has his binoculars up as the Captain returns. GENERAL Now what? The Captain lifts his binoculars again and starts. CAPTAIN What do they think they’re doing? GENERAL Trying to confuse us. (to Gunners) Belay that last order! Resume fire on all German aircraft! CAPTAIN AND GUNNERS Yes, sir! The Captain dashes off again to tell the other batteries. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Harry is getting away, and the anti-air fire is heating up. Frank grabs the gun and squints at Koppelin’s plane. FRANK’S P.O.V. - EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY - TRAVELING A huge metal blur zooms around behind the plane’s tail. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Frank leads the enemy as best he can and fires madly. EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY A few bullets actually find their mark, tearing open Koppelin’s fuselage and sending him spiraling down. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING SNOOPS (surprised) Nice work ... Frank! FRANK Thanks! SARAH There goes Harry! EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Snoops veers after his onetime friend. EXT. HARRY’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Harry glances over his shoulder and frowns as he realizes he’s not only lost his escort but picked up a tail. EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLEFIELD - DAY Snoops finally brings the heroes’ plane alongside Harry’s. EXT. STOLEN PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING SNOOPS Take over! He abandons the controls and scrambles out of the cockpit. The heroes’ plane dips. SARAH What are you doing? I can’t fly -- ! Ignoring her, Snoops leaps over to Harry’s plane. He nearly skids off but grabs the tail as Harry zooms away. Sarah grabs her controls and yanks them upward, pulling the plane out of its dive and into a climb. SARAH Frank! FRANK I can’t see! SARAH Then tell me what to do! FRANK Level out! Push the stick forward! Sarah does, and the plane pulls somewhat level. FRANK Now look for someplace open so we can land! Sarah looks around wildly. EXT. HARRY’S PLANE - DAY - TRAVELING Snoops hauls himself toward the front of the plane. Harry jinks and bobs erratically, trying to throw Snoops off. Gritting his teeth, Snoops hangs on for dear life and keeps moving. Finally he slides over the back of the cockpit and falls on top of Harry. The former friends wrestle furiously, fighting for the controls. Snoops finally lands a heavy punch to Harry’s nose, making Harry jerk the stick to one side. EXT. BRITISH LINES - DAY BRITISH SOLDIERS and OFFICERS along the trench leap out of the way as Harry’s plane zooms just over their heads. Snoops is thrown from the plane and skids across the dirt. The plane slams into the ground and plows through it for several yards before it finally stops fifty yards behind the trenches, destroyed. Fifty yards away, Sarah tries to land and bounces across the ground until one of the plane’s wheels snaps off. The plane thunks to a stop and almost flips over. As Sarah and Frank dazedly sit up, BRITISH SOLDIERS and OFFICERS run over, guns raised. The Captain and General rush up to Snoops, pistols ready, as Snoops crawls over to Harry’s plane, wincing. His hurt leg is now twisted awkwardly, and he’s scraped all over. GENERAL AND CAPTAIN Freeze! Snoops raises one hand, supporting himself on the other. SNOOPS (in severe pain) Don’t shoot! I’m from South Africa! The General pauses, scanning Snoops’s tattered uniform. The Captain waits tensely for orders. GENERAL What unit are you from? SNOOPS The 102nd Squadron. Major John Child commands it. He collapses. Sarah and Frank are climbing out of their plane at gunpoint, and she sees Snoops fall. SARAH Danny! CAPTAIN Danny? SNOOPS Lieutenant Daniel Cameron. The General frowns in thought as Sarah and Frank are marched up to him. GENERAL (to Frank) Who’re you? FRANK Lieutenant Frank Jonathan Forrest, 102nd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. SNOOPS (groans) Limey ... CAPTAIN (to Sarah) And you? SARAH Nurse Sarah Murphy, medical staff assigned to the 102nd. CAPTAIN Why were you flying a German plane? FRANK We just escaped from Schöne Wiese Transit Camp in Germany. SARAH (points) We were following him. He was a spy who infiltrated our squadron. HARRY (very weak) It’s true. Snoops drags himself up the side of the plane. The General and Captain rush over, and Sarah starts to follow, but the British Soldiers stop her. SNOOPS Harry? HARRY Tell Katrin, will you? SNOOPS Oh no, you don’t. He can’t hold on any longer and slides to the ground. The Captain crouches beside him and examines his leg while the General quickly looks Harry over. GENERAL Get medics! Captain, run and inform Major Child. CAPTAIN Sir, he’s in a court-martial. SNOOPS (remembers) Take us there. GENERAL Lieutenant, we need to get you to the infirmary or you could lose that leg -- SNOOPS And an innocent man’s going to be shot if we don’t get to that court-martial now! INT. WING COMMAND HEADQUARTERS - DAY Pale, Neil stands rigidly before the table where OFFICER #1, OFFICER #2, and OFFICER #3 sit. Two BRITISH SOLDIERS flank Neil, while Child and Robertson, his arm in a sling, stand to one side. OFFICER #1 It is the sentence of this court-martial that the defendant be shot at dawn. Neil shakily draws his breath. Suddenly the doors burst open. The General marches in ahead of four BRITISH SOLDIERS carrying Snoops on a stretcher with his leg crudely splinted. Sarah and another BRITISH SOLDIER lead Frank. CHILD Nurse Murphy--Forrest! Is that Cameron? FRANK (looking around) Yes, sir. SNOOPS (in extreme pain) You can’t shoot Neil, sir. He was framed. Neil lets out his breath. OFFICER #2 What evidence have you of that? SARAH Private Brooke was the traitor, Major Child. He’s in the infirmary and probably won’t live through the day. You’d best interrogate him as soon as possible. Child and Robertson exchange wide-eyed glances. OFFICER #3 This is highly irregular -- CHILD These are my personnel, and I trust their word. GENERAL And the traitor confessed in my presence. (beat) There have already been thousands of lives wasted needlessly in this war, gentlemen. If there’s even the slightest possibility that this young man may be innocent, isn’t that worth investigating? Officer #1, Officer #2, and Officer #3 exchange glances. INT. WING COMMAND INFIRMARY - HARRY’S ROOM - DAY Harry, deathly pale, bandaged, and connected to several IVs, lies in bed. Officer #1, Officer #2, Officer #3, Child, and Robertson stand around the bed. Officer #2 finishes taking some notes. CHILD (grim) Why confess now? HARRY (very weak) I’ve failed anyway. No one else should have to pay for it. OFFICER #1 But you were willing to let Lieutenant Geddes die in your place. HARRY No need for that now. No one has a response. INT. WING COMMAND INFIRMARY - SNOOPS’S ROOM - DAY (LATER) Snoops comes around slowly to find his leg in traction. HARRY (O.S.) (very weak) You awake? Slowly Snoops turns to see Harry on a gurney next to him. SNOOPS (groggy, angry) Don’t talk to me. HARRY Not even to say I’m sorry? SNOOPS Are you, or is it because you’re dying? HARRY Both, I suppose. SNOOPS If you’re asking for forgiveness -- HARRY I just want you to know it wasn’t personal. SNOOPS You can’t expect me to not take it personally. HARRY I never meant for you to get hurt. SNOOPS But it was all right for Frank and Neil to get killed. HARRY I did what I had to. I wasn’t going to make friends in the 102nd, but I couldn’t help it with you. SNOOPS (sarcastic) Thanks. A long silence. SNOOPS Would you have shot me down if you’d known it was me? HARRY (beat) I might’ve thought twice about it. You were going to kill me, weren’t you? SNOOPS (not sure) I owed you a punch on the nose from Whittaker. HARRY (wry chuckle) Was it worth it? SNOOPS Was Katrin? HARRY (fading) Yes. Tell her for me, will you? SNOOPS Harry -- The traitor exhales for the last time. Snoops sets his jaw as an unexpected rush of emotion hits. Sarah, NURSE #1, and NURSE #2 come in. The Nurses examine Harry and look at each other, then at Sarah. Nurse #1 draws the sheet over Harry’s head. Sarah takes Snoops’s hand as he struggles unsuccessfully not to cry. The Nurses wheel Harry’s gurney out. Without letting go of Snoops’s hand, Sarah pulls over a chair and sits. SARAH His last request was to be with you until the end. SNOOPS It’s my fault. SARAH It’s better than a firing squad. SNOOPS I shouldn’t have gone back. SARAH What do you mean? SNOOPS When I was shot down, I hid under the plane. The Huns didn’t find me, but they got Frank, and he was hurt and everyone else was dead. I couldn’t leave him. FRANK (O.S.) So you came for me? Frank is standing in the doorway, a cane in his hand and a stunned look on his face. Snoops grimaces; he hadn’t intended for Frank to find out. SNOOPS Just doing my duty. Frank slowly comes in, squinting at Snoops’s hurt leg. FRANK How far did you have to walk? SNOOPS I don’t know. Doesn’t matter. FRANK Will he lose the leg? SARAH Dr. McKay doesn’t know. SNOOPS I’m still here! FRANK (torn) Why’d you have to do that? SNOOPS You saved my life! What else could I do? FRANK Not that! SNOOPS What, then? SARAH Something that wouldn’t have put him in your debt. The sudden candor startles both men into silence. FRANK (hesitant) Does that make us even, then? SNOOPS (still angry) I’m all for it if you are. Frank shuffles his way over to the bed and offers his hand blindly. Snoops grabs and squeezes it furiously. Child comes into the doorway and raises his eyebrows. CHILD Good afternoon, gentlemen. Snoops and Frank both salute. CHILD At ease. I only came to see how you both were. FRANK Well enough, thank you, sir. SNOOPS Been better, sir. CHILD Wing Command’s preparing the paperwork for you both to be honorably discharged. Snoops’s and Frank’s faces tighten. CHILD I know. I hate to lose you. But under the circumstances ... SNOOPS AND FRANK (glumly) Yes, sir. Robertson enters, a stack of papers in his good hand. CHILD What is it? ROBERTSON Just come from Wing Command, sir. (nods to Snoops and Frank) Some news I think they’ll be very pleased with. He hands the papers to Child, who looks through them and raises his eyebrows, then actually grins. CHILD Well done, gentlemen. He hands the top paper to Frank and the next one to Snoops. CHILD Oh, forgive me. May I? FRANK Of course, sir. CHILD (reads) "For uncommon valor. During the period from September 26th, 1914, to July 12th, 1916, Lieutenant Forrest destroyed or forced down eight enemy aircraft singlehandedly and six jointly. The final aircraft he destroyed during a heated aerial combat over enemy territory, saving the life of a fellow pilot." INSERT - SNOOPS’S CERTIFICATE "For uncommon valor. During the period from September 26th, 1914, to July 12th, 1916, Lieutenant Cameron destroyed or forced down eight enemy aircraft singlehandedly and ten jointly. The final two aircraft he destroyed during a heated aerial combat over enemy territory, staying behind to engage the enemy while two of his fellow pilots escaped with critical intelligence. In the same engagement, Lieutenant Cameron was shot down and sustained severe leg injuries. He was subsequently captured by enemy forces but later helped two other prisoners to escape with him. Wing Command is therefore pleased to award him this citation in recognition of his heroic actions." CHILD (O.S.) "In the same engagement, Lieutenant Forrest was shot down and sustained head injuries that cost him his sight and was subsequently taken prisoner by enemy forces, from which captivity he later escaped. Wing Command is therefore pleased to award him this citation in recognition of his heroic actions." BACK TO SCENE Snoops stares at his certificate. Frank looks equally shocked. FRANK But how ... ? SNOOPS When did I ... ? ROBERTSON Marchant and Kelly reported your victories from the reconnaissance mission. Going over his memories, Frank suddenly realizes something and smiles grimly. FRANK Fancy that. CHILD What? FRANK You’ve beaten me, Bushwhacker. SNOOPS At what? FRANK You made ace first. SNOOPS I did? FRANK (impatient) You got your last kill before I blasted the Hun off your tail, unless you shot someone else down in the process of crashing. Startled, Snoops quickly runs through his memories. His eyes widen. FRANK Congratulations. And despite his frustration, he means it. SNOOPS Same to you. And he means it. He grasps Frank’s hand firmly. Surprised, Frank returns the gesture. CHILD Am I seeing things? ROBERTSON That would make two of us, sir. SARAH Three. Suddenly remembering the others’ presence, Snoops and Frank glance at them, then back at each other, and let go. It’s not friendship. But at least there’s respect now. INT. WING COMMAND INFIRMARY - SNOOPS’S ROOM - NIGHT Snoops tries to turn and wakes up with a gasp as the motion tugs his hurt leg. Breathing through his teeth, he looks to where his citation hangs on the wall. He smiles faintly. Sarah sticks her head into the room. SARAH What’s so funny? SNOOPS Irony. Sarah comes in and sits beside him. SARAH Do tell. SNOOPS (motions to the citation) It’s all I’ve wanted ever since I joined the RFC. But now ... Sarah nods in understanding. SNOOPS (beat) Am I going to lose my leg? SARAH I don’t know. If it was a sure thing, they’d have taken it off right away. SNOOPS Anything’d be better than just lying here not knowing. Sarah takes his hand. SARAH You’ll walk again, with or without it. I promise. SNOOPS (beat) Any word on what’s happened to the 102nd? SARAH It’s complicated right now. Most of the men were killed or captured when Albert was destroyed. Major Child’s trying to convince Wing Command to re-form the squadron, but they may just reassign the survivors. SNOOPS What does that mean for you? SARAH Major Child’s ordered me to stay here for now. Once you and Frank go back to London ... SNOOPS How soon will that be? SARAH I think Frank will leave tomorrow. You, probably the beginning of next week. Dr. McKay doesn’t want to move you yet. SNOOPS Back to London. SARAH Is that a bad thing? SNOOPS I just didn’t think I’d be going back until the war was over. SARAH War changes things. SNOOPS Yes. SARAH (beat) Will you have someone to look after you in London? SNOOPS My family’s still in South Africa. I came to London to work for my father’s cousin, but then the war started just after I arrived. Cousin Henry was furious when I joined the RFC. SARAH Is he still? SNOOPS (shrugs) I haven’t heard from him since. SARAH You shouldn’t have to be alone so far from home. SNOOPS (beat) Nurse Murphy, are you asking me to marry you? Sarah pauses as she reexamines her words, then laughs. SARAH Apparently I am. SNOOPS And what if I say no? For once, Sarah is shocked speechless. Snoops laughs. SNOOPS (sobering) Sarah, I don’t know what’s going to happen when I go back to London or even tomorrow, but every time I think of my future, you’re in it. I can imagine life without my leg, but not without you. I’ll always be your Danny Boy. Will you be my Sarie Marais? SARAH I will. They kiss. INT. WING COMMAND HEADQUARTERS - DAY A week later. A CHAPLAIN faces Sarah and Snoops, who has his leg in a heavy cast and is supported by Marchant. A wheelchair stands nearby. Child, Robertson, Kelly, Nurse #1, Nurse #2, and DR. MCKAY look on. CHAPLAIN You may kiss the bride. Snoops and Sarah oblige. The onlookers applaud, and the Nurses and Dr. McKay come over to congratulate Sarah. Marchant lowers Snoops into the wheelchair, and Snoops shakes hands with the chaplain and the other men. Child hands over Snoops’s discharge paperwork with his free hand. CHILD Congratulations, Mr. Cameron. SNOOPS Thank you, sir. CHILD You take care of yourself. SNOOPS She will. INT. TRAIN CAR - DAY Sarah and Robertson help Snoops settle himself on a seat with cushions under his hurt leg. ROBERTSON Oh, I nearly forgot. You left this. He pulls Snoops’s citation from his breast pocket and hands it to him. SNOOPS My word ... Thank you. SARAH Thank you. ROBERTSON My pleasure. Have a safe trip. Cameron. The two men exchange salutes, and Robertson leaves. Sarah sits beside Snoops. The train WHISTLES. SNOOPS Shall we go home, Mrs. Cameron? SARAH Home it is. As the train pulls away, they kiss. FADE OUT. THE END © 2012 2uponatimeAuthor's Note
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Added on July 7, 2012 Last Updated on September 8, 2012 Author
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