| ACT II
8. EXT. CAMPGROUNDS - NIGHT
FADE IN:
Janice gets her nerves under control. She stands at attention. She
readies herself to deepen her voice.
JANICE
(German with subtitles)
I had to relieve myself, Lieutenant. I could not wait.
SS Lieutenant
(German with subtitles)
You are relieved of duty and confined to quarters.
JANICE
(German with subtitles)
Yes, sir.
Janice quickly turns as if to give the 'Heil Hitler' sign. In an
instant Janice can tell the man doesn't recognize her and looks as if he's about to call
out. Janice punches him with her raised elbow and blood pours from his nose. Before he can
yell for reinforcements she takes her revolver out and clubs him with the butt. He
crumbles to the ground unconscious.
JANICE
So much for being quiet.
Janice can hear the two guards at the other end of the building
coming around to investigate the noise. An older guard and another who looks fresh from
the Hitler Youth Group round the corner toting Schmeisser machine guns. The older man
takes aim and Janice fires a single shot that fells him. The young man stands shaking at
the sight before him and drops his weapon before running away.
Three seconds later the warning siren goes off and Janice runs up to
grab the discarded machine gun. She darts into the supply shed and closes the door behind
her. Outside she can hear the Nazis shouting along with the sound of running feet and a
big truck moving.
She looks around and removes the lid from one of the crates and sees
that it's filled with M24 stick grenades, the "Potato Masher" as it was commonly
known. She starts to collect them.
JANICE
(wicked grin)
Oh, yes. This will do nicely.
Janice opens the door to see a line of Nazi guards holding machine
guns.
JANICE
Uh oh!
Janice slams the door bolting it shut before jumping to the side.
The sound of rapid machine gun fire fills the air as the walls of
the shed are pierced with shells; light from the spotlight can be seen through them. When
silence falls, Janice stands, dusting herself off as she gets up.
JANICE
Now you've done it, Janice.
Janice looks around and realizes with all these bullets flying
around this is not a good place to be - it's loaded with explosives.
JANICE
(muttering)
This whole place might go up. Son of a -
Janice doesn't finish. Suddenly a truck comes barreling through the
side of the thin sheet metal wall. As the truck comes to a stop, Janice can see Mel -
glasses askew on her face and her hair disheveled, but wearing a smile.
MEL
Looks like you could use some help.
At first Janice is shocked that Mel just drove right into the
building but she quickly recovers and shakes it off before grabbing the box of grenades
and opening the door and climbing aboard the driver's side.
JANICE
Scoot over.
Janice drops the grenades between them and closes the door as the
Nazis try to get closer. They start to take aim and Janice pulls Mel's head into her lap.
JANICE
Stay down!
Janice slams the truck into reverse and in doing so the building
starts to collapse trapping a group of Nazis who start to work themselves inside the shed.
She rams the truck into drive and starts to make her way to the fuel dump as another group
of five Nazis take aim on the truck. Janice lays her body over Mel's just before the
bullets start to spray the windshield. The glass shatters and the Nazis scatter as Janice
keeps driving toward them. Janice rises up, her face cut from the flying glass. She sees
nothing in front of them and motions for Mel to sit up.
JANICE
Here.
(motions to the grenades)
Get these ready for when I drive past the fuel dump.
MEL
(looking at the grenades)
How do they work?
Mel looks over at Janice and sees the blood on her face.
MEL
Oh, Janice! You've been cut.
JANICE
Just focus - stick to the plan.
Mel gives a nod but is obviously still concerned.
JANICE
Watch!
Janice takes one of the canisters and twists the top.
JANICE
Lean back!
Janice tosses it past Mel and out the passenger window.
CUT TO:
8. EXT. CAMPGROUNDS - NIGHT
The grenade rolls to a stop in front of a fuel tank. The truck with
Janice and Mel drive on as a huge explosion erupts behind them.
A machine gun tower close to the explosion rocks back and forth
before tumbling to the ground.
CUT TO:
9. INT. CAB OF TRUCK
MEL
Oh, my!
Janice pushes the remaining grenades to Mel.
JANICE
Throw 'em!
Mel looks at Janice, the grenades and then Janice again. She shrugs
and tosses them all out the window at once toward the raging fire behind them. Janice does
a double take in disbelief and then floors the accelerator.
CUT TO:
10. EXT. CAMP - NIGHT
Huge explosions of red and yellow lights up the entire camp. People
in the holding cell point to the different hues and chatter in anticipation. The back end
of Janice's truck lifts off the ground as the impact of the blast literally pushes them
toward the holding cell.
Janice slams on the brakes and turns to Mel deadpan as the truck
stops.
JANICE
Well,
(beat)
we did want a diversion.
MEL
(meekly)
Sorry.
They hop from the truck and see Nazis scrambling everywhere - the
entire camp aglow. Janice races around to Mel's side.
JANICE
Here. Catch.
(tosses Mel the key)
I'll get the back ready.
Mel simply nods and races toward the building.
CUT TO:
11. INT. TRUCK - NIGHT
Janice reaches inside to the seat and grabs the machine gun. She
slings it on her back and heads toward the back of the truck.
At first she doesn't notice but it's actually black from the soot of
the explosion. She reaches for the handle and it burns her hand but she goes back after
burying her hand inside the baggy shirt sleeves. She lifts
the latch again as the door shoots up. Lines of people start to come out making their way
to the truck with Mel organizing their movements. Three men divert however, running toward
the motor pool yelling something.
Janice doesn't understand so she looks to Mel.
MEL
They're gettin’ another truck.
Janice races up to Mel who's helping the women climb up into the
rear of the truck.
JANICE
I want you to get inside, Mel.
MEL
You need help getting everyone loaded, Janice.
JANICE
It's too dangerous for you to be out here.
Just as she says the words a group of Nazis round a corner and
Janice sprays machine gun fire in their direction. The people around them duck and pick up
their pace to the truck as the Nazis make a retreat back around the corner.
JANICE
(sarcastic)
See?
MEL
(sweet smile but acidity under it)
Sorry, Dr. Covington but I'll get in when you do.
Janice sighs and shakes her head at Mel’s stubbornness. She
then watches as the three men scurry around the courtyard.
Janice's eyes never rest. She looks above one of the buildings where
she sees a sniper taking aim on the group of men.
Janice raises her gun and fires but it’s too late. The sniper
manages to get one shot off first. The end man who was lagging behind watching their backs
falls to the ground unmoving and a little girl from the truck watches in horror.
GIRL
Poppa!
A woman tries to grab the small child but the little girl darts out
of the truck and dashes toward the man lying in the dirt face down. Janice just reacts -
not paying attention to her surroundings and she sprints after the little girl.
JANICE
(to Mel)
I'll get her! Get them loaded!
Before Janice can lay a hand on the little girl, her right shoulder
feels like it's been hit with a hammer. Her steps falter and quickly she realizes she's
been shot. As she falls to her knees, the two escaping men witness what has happened and
return. One man rounds up the little girl while the other takes Janice's machine gun. He
fires across the courtyard to give them cover. The girl's mother then runs over and the
men order them back to the truck. Crying, they obey.
Hearing the gunfire, Mel looks back to check on Janice who by now
has been helped to her feet by one man. Janice is upright so Mel goes back to helping the
others. They try to help her get back to the truck but Janice points to the wounded man.
Since she is standing, they race over and collect him instead. The men get to the fully
loaded truck with Mel standing outside.
When Janice sees Mel's eyes go wide she realizes that Mel knows that
she's been shot. Janice staggers toward the truck. Mel races out with two other men, who
have now dropped off their human cargo, and they catch Janice before she hits the ground.
The Nazis begin to regroup and a formation comes toward them.
MEL
We've got to go! Now!
The three of them race back to the truck holding Janice and everyone
climbs aboard. The truck's driver is looking out the mirrors.
DRIVER
(German with subtitles)
Are we ready?
MAN IN BACK
Go! Go!
The man closes the door as the truck starts in motion. The gate is
locked and he pushes the accelerator with all his might and crashes through to the main
road. The crowd cheers but Mel isn't celebrating.
MEL
Janice? Can you hear me?
Janice opens her eyes and licks her lips before she speaks.
JANICE
If I don't make it promise you'll go to Switzerland - forget about
the artifact. You’re more important than any State Department mission, Mel.
MEL
Don't talk that way! You're gonna be fine.
JANICE
Just promise me, okay?
MEL
(sadly)
I promise. But you're gonna be okay. Just keep fighting, Janice. You
hear me?
Janice closes her eyes and doesn't reply.
MEL
Damn it! You keep fighting.
That opens Janice's eyes and brings a smile to her lips.
JANICE
Why, Mel Pappas, I think that’s the second time I've heard you
swear in four years. First time was in Egypt when you broke your foot.
(beat)
Remember?
Mel smiles fondly.
MEL
(cocky smile)
I remember. But remember this, 'dear husband', I'm too young to be a
'widow' so you hang on.
JANICE
(light chuckle)
I will.
MEL
For me?
Janice smiles and licks her dry lips again.
JANICE
For you.
Janice closes her eyes to rest as Mel leans over and places a tender
kiss on Janice's forehead.
MEL
We came too far to give up now.
We see the truck traveling down the road. They make three turns with
one shot melding into the next until the driver starts to shout from the front of the
truck joyously.
DRIVER
It's the Americans! It's the Americans!
The group gives a cheer which jolts Janice back into consciousness.
The crowd is happy but Mel and Janice instantly give a concerned look to each other.
MEL
I gotta-
JANICE
Go on.
Mel scrambles her way through the sea of bodies to make it to the
back window that's open looking into the cab. She sees the Americans in front of them and
a Sherman tank leading the way. As the turret starts to move down taking aim, Mel panics.
MEL
(whispers to herself)
They think we're the Germans!
(to the Driver she yells)
Hard Right! Hard Right!
What looks like a bolt of lightning leaves the turret in their
direction.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT
III
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