fulda gap - episode 1 - black horse (present this)

FADE IN

EXT. - ROAD GOING THROUGH FULDA GAP - 1945

A column of US Army Sherman tanks and half-tracks race downthe road.

Dust escapes from underneath the vehicles as their roadwheels squeak and clank against the treads.

CAPTAIN MICHAEL HAFF, 30s, stands out of the hatch of histank and vigilantly watches the terrain. He turns on hisradio.

CAPT. HAFF(holding radio)

Keep an eye on those woods. One-four, get ready to level thatfarmhouse.

EXT. - ROAD GOING THROUGH FULDA GAP

One of the lead tanks erupts into flames, followed by thescream of the incoming round.

Surviving tank troopers jump out of the flaming tank, some onfire. Capt. Haff quickly lowers into his hatch, keeps itopen, peers out.

INT. - FARMHOUSE

A squad of Volksstrum (civilian militia) huddle together, andlean on the walls of the cottage.

A group of teenage boys and old men. They look awful intheir poorly fitted uniforms.

They clutch their weapons, with confused, paralyzed looks totheir faces.

Dishes, pottery, and fixtures rattle with each thundering ofthe nearby 88mm anti-tank gun, a few fall off the shelves andshatter.

Members of the Volksstrum turn and glance at the threemilitary policemen, MEIER, KAPPEL, and KUEPER, all 18 to early 20s.

The MP's watch the Volksstrum like guard dogs, with theirsubmachineguns at ready.

2.

EXT. - COUNTRYSIDE

The US tanks weave out of their columns and form lines asanother round from the 88 streaks over them.

INT. - CAPT. HAFF'S TANK

The 88, spotted in the gunner's optics. MERRITT, 20s, callsin . . .

MERRITT(o.s. on Capt. Haff's radio)

Six-six, this is one-three, we've spotted an 88 in the woods at 2o'clock!

CAPT. HAFF(on radio)

HATCHET form line and assault!(switching his radio)

EXT. - COUNTRYSIDE

The tanks exit the road and form lines as they creep towardsthe 88.

EXT. - 88MM GUN EMPLACEMENT

The gun crew is humming along. Shells are heaved into thebreech. The crew chief gives orders. The gun is rotated.

The gunner peers through his optics, another US tank in hissights.

He shouts a number, the rest of the crew ducks and coverstheir ears.

The gunner turns cranks, the gun moves slightly, he squeezesa handle.

The gun flies back as flames discharge from the muzzle. Aspent round falls out. The crew recovers. Another cycle.

INT. - MERRITT'S TANK

Merritt barely peeps out his hatch.

Another one of his Shermans is hit.

The 88 round punches its armor. The tank stops. The crewbolts.

3.

MERRITT(on his radio)

Six-six, we're more than a click away . . .


Capt. Haff sees the same thing.

MERRITT(o.c.)

. . . I'm firing smoke!

Capt. Haff shakes his head at his platoon commanderspanicking . . .

CAPT. HAFF(on his radio)

One-four, leave the smoke alone, I'mcalling in a strike. (hits aswitch, gets his map)

EXT. - P-47 THUNDERBOLT

A P-47 Thunderbolt, maintains a holding pattern above thearmored column.

Its piston engine roars as it banks and descends.

INT. - FARMHOUSE

The increasingly loud roar of the Thunderbolts engine fillsthe cottage.

The Volksstrum move to the windows. They nervously searchthe sky.

AUGUST<Damn, it's a Jabo!>

HANS<Jabo? Is that like a Stuka, papa?>

KLAUS<He's already told you yes, Hans!>

HERR WEISS<Where is it, August? I don't see it.>

4.

AUGUST(beat) <It's coming for us! (to the MP's) LET US GO!>)

They all look to the MP's, pleading furiously with them, onlyto be met with more fervent threats.

VOLKSSTRUM<Let us go! We'll die! Are youmad? Show some decency!>

MP'S<BACK TO YOUR POSITIONS! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!>

AUGUST, 40s, rises up, faces the military police.

MEIER(shaking submachinegun at AUGUST)

<RETURN TO YOUR POSITION, NOW!>

August stops, retreats to his position.

The roar of the P-47 is louder, louder . . .

HERR WEISS, 60s, makes a dash for one of the windows . . .

They spray Herr Weiss with their submachineguns. Othersduck.

All look in horror.

HANS<HERR WEISS!>

His limp body hangs over the window sill.

MEIER<Get him back in here! (to theothers) Stay in your positions!>

Two quickly lower the body back in the cottage, carefully layhim down.

One of the Volksstrum, GERT, 50s, covers Herr Weiss' facewith his hat.

The Volksstrum glare at the military police.

Engine noise from the P-47 saturates the cottage, louder andlouder.

5.

Heavy machineguns fire. Everyone hits the floor.

EXT. - P-47 THUNDERBOLT

The P-47 rips into the 88mm gun and its crew with itsmachineguns, sandbags explode into dust. Heavy rounds sparkoff the 88, tinks and thumps.

Two bombs are released. They crash into the ground, send ashower of dirt into the air.

The gun is a twisted heap, trees are on fire. Survivorssprint into the woods.

EXT. - CAPT. HAFF'S TANK

Through his binoculars, CAPT. HAFF sees the gun emplacent inflames.

CAPT. HAFFNow we're cooking. (on radio) Get back on the autobahn.

INT. - FARMHOUSE

Everyone is stuck to the floor, hands over their heads. TheMP's urgently get up.

MEIER<Get up! Get up, YOU (HANS), getyour panzerfaust!>

AUGUST<NO! LET ME TAKE IT!>

Meier gestures with his submachinegun.

Hans grabs the panzerfaust, a portable anti-tank weapon thatlooks like a large scepter.

He secures it into the crook of his shoulder . . .

He shakily points it out the window . . .

He steadies himself . . .

One of the American tanks crosses in front of him . . .

The rest of the squad look at him and the tanks outside, someshaking, some just pale and motionless.

August looks at him nervously, and looks back at the MP's.

6.

AUGUST<He's out of range.>

Meier motions with his weapon, which brings August'sattention back to his son.

Hans attempts takes aim.

The sights tremble with his hands.

Klaus moves to him . . .

KLAUS(reaching for the weapon)

<Hans, give me that, you don't know . . .>

Hans squeezes the trigger, Klaus' hand gets caught in thebackblast.

Klaus clenches his hand, falls, screams.

The round from the panzerfaust falls horribly short.

Everyone rushes to help KLAUS, with HANS reaching him first,then AUGUST. The MP's freeze.

MEIER<RETURN TO YOUR POSITIONS!>

Gert quickly points his rifle at Kappel and takes a snapshot. The round punches Kappel in the chest, falling him.

Meier blasts Gert.

Kueper's weapon jams. He violently attempts to unjam it.

August puts a round into Meier's skull.

Hans and his neighbor, Wenzel, 60's, fire their rifles, woundKueper, then furiously rush and whip him with their rifles.

August looks outside of the window, and sees the Americantanks turning toward the house. He grabs Klaus.

AUGUST(running to the back)

<OUT! NOW!> (he grabs HANS off of KUEPER)

7.

INT. - MERRITT'S TANK

Merritt's gunner, KIRSCHMANN, brings the turret to bear untilthe sights are on the farmhouse.

MERRITTLight it up.

KIRSCHMANNOn the way. (steps on trigger)

The turret shakes as the gun recoils with a boom.

EXT. - CAPT. HAFF'S TANK

CAPT. HAFFSparky, do your thing.

SPARKYRoger, captain. (works turret, steps on trigger)

SPARKY, late teens, hits a switch, sends a cannon round tothe farmhouse, the empty round flies out, he hits another foot switch, the tank's coaxial machinegun rattles. Shellstingle as they hit the floor of the turret.

EXT. - FARMHOUSE

The Volksstrum rush out of the house. The house behind themexplodes, they hit the ground. Machinegun fire pops, ceases.

AUGUST<TAKE OFF YOUR TUNICS!>

August helps Klaus with his, being careful with his hand. The others take off theirs.

AUGUST<UP! GO! Leave your weapons!>

They get up, drop their weapons. August and Hans help Klausto his feet.

EXT. - WOODS

The half-tracks park near the woods and disgorge theirtroops. Men rush and take positions.

8.

A three-man team of American infantrymen creep through theforest.

They spot the Volksstrum, take cover, and observe them for amoment. Their team leader, MATTHEWS, calls out . . .

MATTHEWSFREEZE!

The Volksstrum pause, look around.

August's hands go up, the others see him and do the same.

The Americans materialize, weapons still at ready, check thesurroundings.

EXT. - HALFTRACK

The Volksstrum quietly sit in jeeps. An American medic,KOONCE, carefully wraps bandages around Klaus' hand. Hissquadmate, DEICHMANN, is there to translate . . .

KOONCE(to DEICHMANN)

Tell him I've seen guys with worse come out all right.

DEICHMANN(to KLAUS)

<He's seen others with worse get better.>

AUGUST<So have I.> (squeezes KLAUS)

KOONCEThere. (rubs KLAUS's head) Takecare, fella. (to driver) All set!

The jeep comes to life.

August, Hans, and Klaus embrace each other . . .

Tears pour out of Hans and Klaus as they tremble . . .

One tear escapes August's aged eyes.


SPARKY(to CAPT. HAFF)

Captain Haff, that's just sick.

9.

CAPT. HAFFI know, Sparky. My kid brother'sthat age.


The armor column speeds down the autobahn.

The jeeps cruise in the other direction.


Four American M1 Abrams main battle tanks cruise along thesame road in column.

Their turrets face in different directions. One of them has"TERMINATOR" painted on the front of the turret.

INT. - TERMINATOR

SSG. GEORGE DUPLESSIS, 40s, platoon sergeant, mans thecommander's station of "TERMINATOR," looking through his optics.

In it is CPL. CONRAD HAFF, mid 20s, sits in the gunner's station, head pressed against the headrests of the gun'ssights.

SPC. JOSEPH MORALES, early 20s, drives, looks through hisvision blocks, constantly adjusts the steering yoke.

PFC. HOWARD SUTTON, 20s, sits in the loaders position, looksout of his vision blocks.

He looks and shakes his head at FW. LUKAS KOBLENZ, late 20s, a Bundeswehr attache.

The interior of the tank is filled with the sounds of thehissing turbine engines and the rumbling of the tracks on theroad.

Koblenz's radio, on his lap, blares out the heavy metal bandAccept's "Balls to the Wall." He nods his head, drums withhis fingertips to the rhythm. Sweat beads on the all of thetankers faces.

DUPLESSIS(on his radio)

Acknowledged, 4-1, moving into lineformation, forming defensive line inthe woods. (to KOBLENZ) That's some fine crappy music you've got on,Koblenz.

10.

SUTTON(on the intercom)

The Bundeswehr can keep their attache! Shoot, if the space ain'tsmall enough . . .

Koblenz smirks at Sutton, gives him the "devil's horns" withhis hand

EXT. - ROAD GOING THROUGH FULDA GAP

The tanks of the platoon move off the road.

They form a line with each tank side-by-side. They creeptoward the woods. Except for TERMINATOR, which dashes into it.

INT. - TERMINATOR

Duplessis quickly switches on his intercom.

DUPLESSISDriver, slow it down, slow it down!

EXT. - TERMINATOR

"TERMINATOR" crashes the woods.

The tracks strike a large fallen tree covered in thick brush.

INT. - TERMINATOR

The crew gets knocked against the walls of the tank. Haff'shelmet smacks the sights' headrest.

EXT. - TERMINATOR

The tracks displace and leave the road wheels.

"TERMINATOR" continues, slows, stops.

INT. - TERMINATOR

Haff looks at Sutton. Sutton strikes the turret wall. Theengine shuts down.

DUPLESSIS(into his radio)

4-1, this is 4-2, we'reimmobilized. Am dismounting!

11.

EXT. - TERMINATOR

The crew starts to climb down off the tank. Haff andDuplessis make their way to the dislodged tread.

Sutton dashes towards the driver's hatch. Morales just sitsthere, with the hatch open.

SUTTONNICE PLAY SHAKESPEARE! YOU SHOULD JUST BE LOADIN'! DID YOU NOT HEARSARGE TELLING YOU TO SLOW THE HELLDOWN! GET OUT, OUT NOW!

MORALESYeah right, you screwed up PCMS, it was your damned job to make sure thetreads were right!

SUTTONLike hell, you screwed up . . .

MORALESYou go fix it, I gotta stay here and man the radio!

Haff works while Koblenz just watches and smiles at the two,who just won't stop arguing.

DUPLESSIS(whistles) Both of you, get ya asses down here, we don't need anyone inthe driver's hatch right now. C'mon, let's go, move!

MORALESStupid redneck . . .

Morales angrily flies out and heads to Koblenz and Haff.

Sutton opens the sponson boxes, grabs tools, slams thesponson boxes shut.

Haff climbs back on the turret, and opens the sponson boxes,putting together a large metal pole that is used to fix thetrack. Koblenz unwinds rope.

LT. MARK DEMAREST's tank arrives, announced by the sound ofthe engine. He pops out the hatch.

12.

DEMARESTNot a way to treat an Abrams, Duplessis.

DUPLESSISYeah, don't I know it. This'll takeus an hour, lieutenant.

DEMARESTWe need to get going with the exercise, catch up with us whenyou're finished. (hits switch) Driver, move out.

Demarest's tank leaves and joins the rest of the platoon. Duplessis goes over to Haff.

DUPLESSISSo whatcha think, Haff?

HAFF(still working)

Oh, the usual thrown tread, with a damaged linkage, which means we'llbe working on our tans for the next hour or so.

DUPLESSISNo, I see that, I meant Morales andSutton. Why didn't you get in themiddle of it, at least pick a side? What, you don't care about yourcrew?

HAFF(stops working, looks at DUPLESSIS)

No, Sarge, I just didn't . . .

DUPLESSISGet involved, Haff. Don't use workas an excuse to ride the pine, getin the mix, even if you're wrong. (turns around to Morales and SUTTON)Now Morales, what in the wide world of sports did your St. Bernard ass do to our beloved "TERMINATOR?" Son,how's Charlie troop ever gonna be the . . .

13.

KOBLENZ(quietly, still working)

Hey Haff, don't tell anyone, but you got your (screams) BALLS TO THEWALL, MAN!

HAFF(still working)

Lukas, we need to get you off ofmetal. How bout' Prince, you like him? I can see you having a thingfor cross-gendered black men fromMinnesota.

KOBLENZ(while working)

Screw Prince, metal rules!

Metal clangs as the crew continues to repair the tread,sweating and grunting in the noonday sun.

EXT. - WOODS

A pair of Soviet Spetznaz (or "special forces") troopers,TSAREV and ZHDANOV, donning American uniforms, hide in theforest at a distance from the tank crew.

Zhdanov watches Duplessis through his scoped assault rifle,while Tsarev looks through his binoculars. He puts themdown, gets on the radio.

TSAREV(whispering)

<WOLF 2, this is WOLF 5, elephant platoon heading north, minus one.>

WOLF 2(o.c. on radio)

<Acknowledged.> (TSAREV puts radio down)

PRIVALOV(o.c.)

<Already our spetznaz units have infiltrated the area, incognito, andare currently performing reconaissance.>

INT. - CENTRAL FRONT HQ

PRIVALOV, 40s, points to a wall-mounted map as he briefs COL. GEN. IVAN VORONOV, 60s, Central Front Commander.

14.

There is a buzz in the room, printers making noise, radiossquawking, men giving and taking orders, lots of movement.

PRIVALOV(taps on map) <We fully expect them to give us target positions as wellas perform direct combat operationsthemselves behind enemy lines. This of course includes the role ofreconnaisance-strike complexes.>

VORONOV<"Bird dogs." (beat) Keep me postedon their activities, Artur Pavelich.>

PRIVALOV<Will do, Comrade General, sir, did you want me to . . .>

Privalov is interrupted by the built, powerful figure of LT. GEN. ANDREI CHESNOKOV, 50s, 8th Guards Army Commander, whobutts right between Privolov to face Voronov.

CHESNOKOV<Comrade General, how the hell am Igoing to piss in the Rhine with Moscow tying my damned hands?> (Privalov leaves)

VORONOV<I understand your concern about the tactical nuclear weapons, AndreiSergeyavich. Times have changed. You have priority with Frontal Aviation and I've given you enough chemical shells to poison theMediterranean.>

CHESNOKOV<Sounds like the damned Politburo is more concerned about saving facethan winning. The original plan had25 weapons to be fired for just oneof my divisions.>

VORONOV<What else can we do, Andrei? This isn't the 60's, we can't just pavethe way with nuclears.>

15.

CHESNOKOV<Not if we want to win. ThePolitburo . . . (beat) What aboutyour friends in Stavka, couldn'tthey . . .>

MAJ. GEN. GUSTAV SCHRÖNER and COL. SEPP KORFF march over toVoronov. Chesnokov's face distorts and stares at the EastGermans contemptuously as SCHROENER cuts in.

CHESNOKOV(to Voronov)

<Comrade General.> (leaves)

KORFF(to SCHRÖNER and )

<Excuse me, gentlemen.> (goes to VORONOV)

SCHROENER<Comrade General, with all due respect, I must protest this notionof carving up my army to bolster your numbers.>

CHESNOKOV(walking away, mutters)

<YOUR numbers . . .>

VORONOV<You've seen the figures, General Schroener cholera breakouts arerampant in our armies, it's the onlyway to maintain readiness.>

SCHROENER<OUR armies are at full readiness, and we would have no objection toleading the operation . . .>

Korff catches up to Chesnokov, who doesn't even stop.

KORFF(offers handshake)

<General Chesnokov, Colonel Korff, I for one am honored that my divisionwill be fighting in your army,Comrade General, and . . .>

16.

CHESNOKOV<I was butchering your kind before you were soiling yourself, so justscrew up on my watch, VON Korff, andI'll bury you and your division insome turnip field near Fulda.>

Korff is too shocked to reply. Chesnokov keeps going pasthim, Korff retreats to where Voronov and Schroener.

VORONOV<. . . we ourselves have enough in our strategic rear, so if you don't. . .>

KORFF<A damned beast! (to Voronov) Comrade General, with all duerespect, there must be some way wecan . . .>

Korff catches himself.

Voronov and Schroener turns to look at him.

VORONOV<Colonel, I raise Turkish Sheepdogs back in the steppes. If a pup neverbites, it's worthless. >

EXT. - WOODS - EVENING

A group of infantrymen of the 39th Guards Infantry Divisionare bivouaced in the woods, surrounded by their BMP's.

PVT. SERGEI GUROV is with his squadmates around the fire,stuffs his obese face with rations. A radio blares.

GUROV(turns up the radio)

<Nothing like exercises to get us in range of the western stations. Heard this while nailing this slutin Berlin.>

OTHER SOLDIERS<Awww, go to hell. Liar. Whatever.>

GUROV<No kidding, it's true . . . songgave me a nice rhythm too! (belches,blows it in OBUKOV'S face) Damn, this meat is gassy.>

17.

OBUKOV waves it away, gives a disgusted look, and slugsGurov, everyone laughs.

OBUKOV<Stupid pig! Seriously, Gurov, turnit down, you'll get the commissar on us!>

GUROV<Like hell, he doesn't care. Hegives me trouble, he gets no moreJames Bond movies. (to URITSKI) Damn, Uritski, you old afghanets, how's our star forward going to get a word in?>

SGT. IVAN URITSKI remains quiet, leans against the BMP,stares down, smokes a cigarette.

"Star forward" refers to PVT. BORIS ABELEV, who looks up and fiercely scowls at Gurov.

URITSKI (gives ABELEV a little kick)

<Let's go.> (ABELEV slowly rises up and they go)

GUROV<There goes Abelev's virginity! (all laugh) Break the rookie ineasy, Uritski, we need him to win the championship this year!> (alllaugh)

Abelev turns to confront Gurov, but Uritski clutches him byhis uniform with both hands, pulls him back. The troopscheer.

GUROV<Oh, come on you stupid lifer, let the little whore defend you!>

URITSKI(still pulling Abelev, rushing out of the scene)

<Don't worry about that Abelev, Baturin was right about him allalong.>

BATURIN's head darts, looks around, a panicked look.

18.

GUROV(rocketing out of his seat)

<I'm sick of you, you little whore (launches his ration can at Baturin). . .>

Baturin squares up, Gurov runs up to him and smashes him inthe face.

The rest of the troops instantly form a human stadium aroundthe two, cheering the fight on.

Abelev and Uritski bolt toward a bunch of crates and boxes bysome trucks.

ABELEV<Uritski, what the hell was that all about?>

URITSKI<Boris, we don't have much time. We're invading the West.>

ABELEV<What?>

URITSKI<It's too serious. The officersaren't talking.>

Uritski is busily undoing latches on one of the largeheavy-duty boxes, all with cigarette dangling from his mouth.

ABELEV<You've lost your mind . . . > (turns to leave)

URITSKI(opens box) < Look.>

Abelev's halts and sees the contents of the box,thermobaric warheads for RPGs.

URITSKI<Look familiar? Thermobarics or"Satan sticks" as the mujahadinscalled them. Turns your RPG into ahowitzer. And a cave full of dukhisinto bacon.> (slams box shut)

19.

ABELEV<And I'm not KGB?>

URITSKI<You're a gebist. (beat, takes a drag) And I'm James Bond. >

Abelev leans against the crates.

ABELEV<What do you want?>

URITSKI(takes a drag)

<Abelev, there was this man I knewback in the war, Pilkin. Had a wifeand three children waiting for him back in the Urals. The war ends. Pilkin's BTR crosses our side. Takes a hit, burns him and his squadalive. (beat, takes another drag)Didn't read that in Pravda, didyou?>

ABELEV<Are you here to scare me?>

URITSKI<You are in this alone. Thebattalion, the officers, the party, no one cares about you. Marx wasright, there is no God.>

ABELEV<(Pause) So they put me on the cover of Pravda for me to die?>

URITSKI<You'd make a great martyr.>

ABELEV<Right, "St. Boris." I can seemyself on an icon in my mother'scloset.>

URITSKI<Speaking of your mother, make sure you have a letter for her and anyoneelse in your pockets. Also, writedown your blood type, put it in your. . .>

20.

ABELEV(starts to sit down)

<This can't be happening . . .>

URITSKI(pulls him back up)

<Back to school, son. When thingsstart, don't shoot, just save yourammo for when things get too close.>

ABELEV<The commissar will like that. Who's supposed to do the shooting,then?>

URITSKI<You know what the old guys said in the big one? "Artillery kills,infantry dies." (smiles) The cannoneers will do the first, but we won't let the second happen to us,will we Boris?>

ABELEV<Do we even have a choice?>

EXT. - DOWNTOWN FULDA

Duplessis and his wife Celeste stroll along the activesidewalk on a busy evening.

Others walk by, cars pass, people dine, drink, shop.

DUPLESSISBaby, how's ya ankle holdin' out, are the meds workin'?

CELESTEI can shop forever, don't worry about me.

DUPLESSISGood, give me some them, after today, I'm sore as hell . . .

CELESTEMorales put you to work didn't he?

DUPLESSISHell, they all do, even Haff, it's like raising kids all over again . ..

21.

A deep voice booms behind them.

HENDERSON(o.c.)

'Scuse me sir, but I don't think your kind belongs here.

Duplessis and Celeste turn and see PFC. PARRISH HENDERSON, who holds a framed picture in a brown paper bag.

DUPLESSISAww, hell, if it ain't ol' "Folk Love" himself, Private Henderson.What's the story, young blood?

CELESTEYoung man, shouldn't you be home, the street lights are about to comeon?

HENDERSONNo ma'am, "bad" ain't gotta curfew. (they laugh)

DUPLESSIS(nods to the picutre)

Ok, "Bad." Is that your latest? C'mon, son, let's see it. If it'sas good as that T-80 you did . . .

HENDERSON"'Scuse me while I whip this out." (pulls out the picture)

Henderson shows a drawing of an M4 Sherman and itsAfrican-American crew, members of 761st "Black Panthers" tank regiment of WWII. Duplessis and Celeste are blown away.

DUPLESSISYes-indeed, the real black panthers! Look at them treads, the runninggear . . . somethin' fierce, son!

CELESTE(taps on the picture)

I like Miami Vice over here with his sunglasses on.

HENDERSONThat's Lieutenant Warren Crecy, the baddest man in the 761st.

22.

DUPLESSISWhat, you the baddest man in the 11th?

HENDERSONNope, just in Charlie!

DUPLESSISOw, come on'! (they laugh)

HENDERSONI'll be seein' ya. Tell your boyhappy birthday for me (waves, walksaway).

CELESTE AND DUPLESSISTake care, good seeing you!

CELESTEIs that the one you told me about?

DUPLESSISYep, straight outta LA, former gangbanger. Figured if he's gonna dosome shootin', might as well be the right targets. Good God, yes-indeed.

Duplessis freezes.

He sees the locals and some military men at a local pub,eating and drinking.

Gigantic glowing pretzels.

Large hunks of bratwurst sausage.

Generous-sized glasses filled with golden beer.

DUPLESSISYou know what baby, I think you got a point. It ain't New Orleans, butit ain't too bad here . . . (starts walking) I won't be long, baby, Ijust see something I need . . .

CELESTE(grabs him, laughs)

Boy, that ain't "need," that's just "want."

23.

DUPLESSIS(puts up a fight, quits)

Aww shucks Celeste, "Mongo only pawn in game of life." Is that how it is?(she laughs)

INT. - A BAR IN DOWNTOWN FULDA - NIGHT

Everyone focuses completely on Haff as he lines up in frontof the dart board.

He concentrates on the board . . .

He lets the dart fly . . .

He hits the bullseye from ten yards away.

The crowd cheers, a mixture of praise, awe, and dissapointment.

The air is thick with smoke and music, as Nena's "99Luftballoons" fills the place.

Sutton makes his way around the group.

SUTTON"WHATCHA GONNA DO, BROTHER WHEN HAFF-A-MANIA RUNS WILD ON YOU!?"(beat) Yes sir, now you know why he's the number one three-pointshooter in the regiment! C'mon now, let's see them buckskins! (startscollecting money) Thank you kindly, thank you, thank you . . .

MORALESDamn Haff, I'm glad you're gunning with us. Man, you oughta pitch onthe baseball team with us.

HAFFAll in the wrist, Morales (pounds a shot of vodka).

SUTTONIf your dad saw that, . . .

24.

HAFFHere's to His Eminence, the beloved Reverend Conrad E. Haff, Sr. (poundsanother shot). (with a drawl) Praise the Loooord. (normal) Now it's timeto save the human race with smart bombs.

Haff walks over to the Defender video game and starts toplay. A cute girl in braided pigtails, JESSICA, comes up tohim.

JESSICASome sharp-shooting there, Jayhawk.

HAFF(playing game)

Thanks.

MORALESYa know, I've been here only for a few months, and I ain't even been inthe batter's box. Him, he's gotthat all over him and just grips hisjoystick. (drinks beer)

SUTTONCuz just needs to shake off Kansas. (to Koblenz) C'mon Lukas, quitjerkin' around and chuck that badboy.

Koblenz gestures as if he's throwing it at Sutton. He turnsback to the board and releases one.

MORALESSo really Sutton, when the balloon goes up, you think Haff's gonna comethrough?

HAFF(still banging away, whispering)

They just keep comin'. And I knock em' down. They don't stop. I don'tstop.

JESSICAWhat?

25.

SUTTON(gulps beer)

May not even matter. It may go outright nuclear. Even if it'sconventional, Ivan's got more arty than he knows what to do with. Wemay get plastered like Haff's liver before we even fire a shot.

Koblenz hurls another dart at the board.

MORALESSo we'll just plaster them back with nukes (sips beer).

KOBLENZYou wouldn't say that if Fulda was in New Orleans. (looks up) Nena, Iso wanna nail you. (throws dart)

MORALESI'm from Delacroix, Lukas, so screw dem up-da-roaders in town anyway,and the reds too.

SUTTONWait, wait, our Bundeswehr colleague has made two quality notions,Morales, you can't just go chuckin'a-bombs on someone else's homeland without their say-so. (beat) Andthat Nena is a trophy-screw. (drinks)

Haff jerks the joystick, smashes buttons.

JESSICASo you're from Kansas? What part?

HAFFLiberal.

JESSICAWhat a name! What's it like?

HAFFHell. Without the excitement.

SUTTONLukas, throw one of those at his ass, maybe he'll get a clue.

26.

MORALESYeah, or get your Stasi on him.

Koblenz fires the dart at the wall and shotguns his beer.

He dashes to the bar for more, where the barkeep gives him anearful. Everyone stops and looks.

Sutton gives Morales a disgusted look.

SUTTON(to Morales)

Damn son, you really try hard to screw up, don't you.

MORALES(goes to Koblenz)

Dammit, Lukas, come back, I was kidding!

SUTTON(comes right next to Haff)

'Scuse me darlin', Haff, Morales pissed off Lukas, go check on him.

HAFFDid he mention the East Germans?

SUTTONYep.

HAFFDumbass. (he abandons his game and goes to Koblenz)

JESSICAConrad, give me a call! (to Sutton) What's his deal, Howard?

SUTTONJessica, sweet-heart, I've been tryin' to beat sense in im' sinceday one, just don't quit on my boy.

Haff parks right next to Koblenz at the bar and orders a beerfor himself and eats a couple of peanuts.

Koblenz drums his fingers on the bar in perfect time to themusic.

Haff drinks, then Koblenz is the first to speak, in German.

27.

HAFF<I was about to beat my high score.>

KOBLENZ<Sorry about that.> (takes a drag from his cigarette)

HAFF<Forget it, Lukas, as long as you didn't hit me. Remember that placewe got stuck in today?>

KOBLENZ<My back still hurts from that. What about it?>

HAFF<My grandfather's been there.>

KOBLENZ<How do you know? ESP? Are youreligious again?> (drinks)

Haff produces an old map from his pocket, unfolds it in frontof Koblenz.

HAFF<It all looked too familiar. See,(pointing) he called the jabo on the88 there.>

KOBLENZ<And here we are, forty years later, still in the Fulda Gap, but thistime keeping east from coming west.>

HAFF<If you know a shorter way to the Rhine, let me know. Hell, let Ivanknow. (grabs peanut, tosses it intohis mouth) Look, (pointing on themap) that was the old farmhouse heblew up.>

KOBLENZ<And nearly taking those volksturm with it, right?> (drinks)

HAFF<But also saving them in the process.> (drinks)

28.

KOBLENZ<So you've gone from Jesus to . . . Hegel.>

HAFF<No. More like from Jesus to Yoda.> (tugs on his "Star Wars" shirt,drinks)

KOBLENZ(laughs)

<Now if we can only get you from Yoda to Leia.> (gestures to Jessica)

HAFF(Darth Vader voice)

"You underestimate the power of the dark side."

Koblenz laughs, Haff takes a peanut and throws it over theunaware bartender, sinking it into the trash.

INT. - DUPLESSIS' HOUSE

It is just before dawn. Slight thumps are heard.

Duplessis gently gets up out of bed.

He sees the windows momentarily shake.

Celeste, awakens, looks up with sheets still on her, movesher hair out of the way.

CELESTE(rising up)

Baby . . . what is it?

DUPLESSISI don't know, Celeste, maybe it's just . . .

The phone all of a sudden rings, a jet roars overhead, Celeste jumps out of bed, the base claxon sounds, Duplessis picks up the phone.

INT. - BARRACKS - HAFF AND SUTTON'S PLACE

Haff, moves quick, puts on his BDU's as the claxon is heard.

29.

HAFF(shaking Sutton awake)

C'mon, dammit, let's go! (grabs his gear)

SUTTON(stumbling out of bed)

Aw hell . . . (grabs BDU's, starts putting them on)

EXT. - MOTOR POOL

The cav troopers of Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron dash fortheir tanks.

Some stop, keel over, and puke in the hallways and on thetarmac from the night before, others trip and fall.

They jump into their Bradleys and Abrams vehicles, bring theengines to life, the Bradleys hum, the Abrams hiss and whine, the Soviet fighters scream.

Troopers yell at each other. Haff and Sutton run, andMorales catches up with them, their gear beats on them astheir feet strike the asphalt.

MORALESIs this it, is this the real thing?

HAFFDunno Morales, dunno . . .

SUTTONDon't sound like ours . . .

MORALESWhere the hell is sarge?

A pair of Soviet fighters roar low over head, low enough forthe boys to see the red star blazoned on their rudders.

The cav troopers hit ground, quickly duck into vehicles andclose hatches.

Haff, Sutton, and Morales hit the ground covering theirheads, thump hard onto the concrete, with their gear hittingtheir backs.

A huge explosion is heard, followed by a huge gust of air,

The three look up to see several of the vehicles in motorpool in flames, men scream.

30.

The boys hear a familiar voice bark at them.

DUPLESSISDammit, get up, keep moving!

They get up and sprint to their M1.

Another crew runs by a destroyed Bradley in flames, whoseammo just cooks off right when they get there, shreds them.

They reach their M1, climb aboard, frantically open hatches,fall into their seats, put on their helmets, chemical masksand suits, plug in radios.

The interior of the tank darkens as their hatches close.

DUPLESSISDriver, get us to the rally point.

Morales hits switches, starts the beast with itscharacteristic whine. "TERMINATOR" leaves the chaos of themotor pool and gets on the road, treads grind on the tarmac.

INT. - FRANKFURT TRAIN STATION

The train station is packed with German military of allpersonnel, many with different uniforms. The air is filledwith chatter, the PA squawking, and occasional shouts.

Koblenz trudges toward the open train door, when LANG grabshis tunic.

LANG<Over here, damn you, we've got a spot in the train for you.>

They speed through the crowd, finding the open train car withHUBER and RICHTER, standing. Another SOLDIER tries to getin, but LANG shoves him away.

LANG<One side, kid.>

SOLDIER<ASS!>

They scoot in, the train doors close just in time. The traincruises away, KOBLENZ sees RICHTER and HUBER waiting for him.

KOBLENZ<Richter, Huber.>

31.

RICHTER<Glad you made it, Sarge, we couldn't hold any longer.>

EXT. - FULDA COUNTRYSIDE

Scores and scores of Soviet APC's and tanks roam across theGerman countryside in their columns at a quick pace, escortedoverhead by Hind attack helicopters.

Smaller BRDM reconnaisance vehicles and motorcycle troopsspeed ahead of the entire mass.

Flights of Soviet fighters scream overhead . . .

INT. - SOVIET BMP

Everybody is quiet inside the BMP, except for the occasionalcoughing due to the fumes. The only other sounds heard arethe engine, running gear, and the occasional squak from the intercom and radio.

Abelev surveys the interior of the BMP and sees Gurov givingBaturin the most menacing look. Uritski looks bored.

The radio squawks, the driver works the yoke and throttle.

Abelev looks out of his vision port and sees the marker forthe inter-German border.


The vehicles move into smaller columns made up of both BMP'sand tanks.

EXT. - WOODS IN FULDA

Spetznaz appear out of clandestine tunnels and culverts.

EXT. - SOUTH OF FULDA

BMD vehicles on top of platforms descend with parachutesdeployed. Rockets fire underneath them, slow their descent. They hit the ground, disengage their parachutes andimmediately speed to their objectives.

EXT. - 39TH GUARDS INFANTRY DIVISION HQ

Men frantically unload trucks, self-propelled SAMs andanti-aircraft guns position themselves, other men setuptents, desks, maps, shout at others.

32.

Chesnokov storms right through it all, into the main opscenter tent, and stands over division commander BRIG. GEN. LINAS PIKELIS, who is with MODIN, hunched over some maps.

PIKELIS<Deploy them as you see fit, Major, as long as all the flight lanes arecovered. Get everything you got,shilkas, SAM's, shoulder-fireds, as long as their air gets stopped. (toChesnokov) I swear it's like my grandfather's old store in Vilniusduring Christmas.> (they walkoutside)

CHESNOKOV<Except that a drop in sales doesn't get anyone killed.>

PIKELIS<You obviously didn't know my grandfather. >

CHESNOKOV<Keep the pressure on them, Pikelis,these bastards will turn on you as soon as you give them a chance. I've got that wimp Von Korff with his division coming through Geisa.>

PIKELIS<I know Korff, not a bad one, but more of a staffer type.>

CHESNOKOV<More of a political type . . .>

PIKELIS<A new-found confidence in our "brothers in solidarity?">

CHESNOKOV<No, his unit just happen to be theonly one in my army without the running bowels. I'm sure you heardStavka's holding back the nuclears.>

PIKELIS<Moscow again . . . (beat) It's a new world, Comrade General.>

33.

CHESNOKOV<Hell (beat). . . Linus, I learned in Afghanistan that those foolsaren't always on our side.>

PIKELIS<We're already risking an all-outexchange.>

CHESNOKOV<They don't have the nerve. (beat) But we've been through thatalready. Don't think twice aboutusing those chemicals. Dump it onthem, I'm getting more than scheduled.>

PIKELIS<Katsev, again? Who doesn't he knowin the party? He's quite the devil,you hate him because you need him.>

CHESNOKOV<Only reason I've kept that little pest in my staff, I swear he couldpull a Tupolev out from his mother'sass. Linus, no matter what he doesfor you, he's never on your side, sowatch him.>

They get to Chesnokov's helicopter. The engine starts.

PIKELIS(chuckles)

<General, I've dealt with his type all too well, I've known what he wassince I met him. The Nicaraguanshave a saying: "the devil's not the devil because he's smart, but (tapsforehead) only because he's old.">

CHESNOKOV(climbs aboard, over the whine of the engine)

<The Sandanistas. Bunch offire-breathing madmen, just like youLithuanians. I miss thosebastards. (shakes hands withPikelis) You've got a new business now, Pikelis, and it better beprofitable.>

34.

PIKELIS<I'll be sure to keep it in the black, General.>

EXT. - CHARLIE TROOP ASSEMBLY AREA

"TERMINATOR" pulls up to the line of vehicles forming acircuit around the assembly area. Vehicles run through likean assembly line, refueling, loading ammunition and supplies.

The crew of "HD" is unbuttoned, stand out of their hatches,when Demarest jogs quickly out of the CP toward Duplessis.

DUPLESSISWe lost three brads and an M1 back there, sir, what's the word?

DEMARESTNot much, Bravo's ready to go north of Hunfeld. We'll be moving to theeast of them, taking care of what's comin' out of Geisa. Get with Topand make sure everyone's loaded up.

As their tank goes through the circuit, the men heave boxesof ammunition and main tank rounds, load them in compartments, putting some of the ammo boxes on the floor.

They thread out belts of rounds for the machineguns, open thechambers, load the rounds, and chamber them in.

DUPLESSISHa ha, yeah, "Mongo like, Mongo like."

Haff takes a large hose and fits it onto an opening in theM1, refueling the tank. Morales and Sutton tote jugs ofcoolants and other fluids into their respectivecompartments.

INT. - KOBLENZ'S TANK

The turret is filled with the rattling of the turbo-dieselengine. Koblenz is on his radio, receiving orders.

He notices through his vision blocks an roadblock in front ofhim.

He sees a group of American soldiers manning it, with one ofthem halting his tank. His driver, Richter, chimes in.

35.

RICHTER<Checkpoint ahead.>

KOBLENZ<Get close and halt.>

LANG(looking through his optic)

<Sign down the road says "Gas.">

HUBER(looking through vision blocks)

<Looks like a damned mess.>

Koblenz looks through his sights, and an large diamond shapesign with the word "GAS" on it.

EXT. - KOBLENZ'S TANK

Koblenz opens the hatch as the tank comes to a halt.

Around him teams wearing chemical gear perform tests withequipment, haul covered bodies into houses.

One of the "Americans" walks up to him. Tsarev puts down hishand and walks up to Koblenz's turret.

TSAREVIvan put a chemical strike further up ahead, thank God we're upwind. Lotsa dead civvies, corps wants us to clean up before anyone comesthrough. You'll need to findanother way around.

KOBLENZAll our vehicles have NBC protection, we can just drive rightthrough and . . .

TSAREVCorps orders, no one gets through.

KOBLENZGot our damned balls to the wall .. . (on radio) <Chemical strikeahead, they're making us turn around.> (yanks out his map, starts marking it)

36.

TSAREV"Balls to the wall?" I saw Accept, last month in Frankfurt.

KOBLENZYou're an idiot, man, they were in Japan (puts map away, gets backinside and closes hatch).

The German armor turns around and drives off.

Tsarev stands, turns around and sees Zhdanov giving him ahard look.

A pair of spetznaz haul a covered body on a gurney into anearby house.

They drop it off in the front room among others like it.

As they leave, blood wicks from the body onto the sheetcovering it, creating an expanding red stain.

EXT. - 39TH GUARDS INFANTRY DIVISION SECTOR

BMP's and tanks are moving in their columns.

Ahead of them, explosions from their artillery create wallsof fire and shrapnel.

The BMP's form lines, with tanks in front of them.

Smaller detachments begin to form and speed ahead, differentcombinations of tanks, infantry carriers, and self-propelled artillery.

INT. - BMP

The BMP's gunner looks out of his sights and sees two ballsof light in the sky, moving, dancing, getting bigger. Theyfill up his gunsight.

RANDOV<INCOMING MISSLES, INCOMING . . .>

The missle strikes the carrier, fills it with flames thatswallow ammunition, coolant and bodies.

EXT. - BMP

Flames erupt out of the hatches of the BMP.

Survivors, mostly on fire, run out of the BMP's and startdropping on the ground.

37.

An explosion flies out of the back of the BMP, catching moreof the soldiers.

The other missle strikes a tank, causing an explosion thatrockets its turret into the air.

INT. - ABELEV'S BMP

All this is seen from the men in Abelev's BMP, and theyimmediately panic.

The BMP starts to violently shake as the driver jerks theyoke, shaking the men inside.

GUROV<Open the damned hatches!>

Two soldiers move to open the rear hatches.

URITSKI<Stay in the hedgehog!>

The men freeze and sit back in their seats.

OBUKOV(looking out of his vision port)

<Where are the shilkas, where arethe damned shilkas?>

ABELEV<Uritski, let us out!>

GUROV<Dammit, old man!>

URITSKI<You won't survive outside!>

The crew is paralyzed as the roaring of engines becomeslouder and louder.


Two incoming A-10's scream toward the armor.

Rounds spray from their gatling guns, buzzing, shredvehicles, destroying or immobilizing them.

38.

They pull up, and drop two cluster bomb units, which explodeinto tiny bomblets, a staccato of tiny explosions followed bylarger ones. More destruction

INT. - 39TH GUARDS INFANTRY DIVISION HQ

The HQ is a whirlwind of activity, as men listen intently toradios and desperately write reports.

Pikelis charges into Modin.

PIKELIS<Where the hell is our air defence? What did I say about it?>

MODIN<Sir, the op-plan states we are not weapons-free until we crossphase-line six-six-four, until then all divisions must rely on . . .>

PIKELIS<Get everyone weapon's-free . . .>

Pikelis gives Modin one hard look before he storms out.

INT. - ABELEV'S BMP

The man frantically look out of their vision ports, shoutingat Uritski to let them open the door.

Uritski stares out in the vision port in front of him.

Abelev watches as BMP's come to a bucking stop to let outtheir troops. In some of them, the crews escape out of them.

GUROV<They're letting them go! Uritski!>


The columns are deploying into lines behind a forest.

A flight of two F16's pop up over the terrain and come in onan attack run.

They are immediately met with dense anti-air fire.

A missle from a SAM streaks toward one of them.

39.

The F16 dispenses flares and performs evasion maneuvers.

The missle finds it, explodes, destroys the fighter's engine,and sends it into the ground in flames.

The remaining F16 continues on its mission.

INT. - ABELEV'S BMP

BATURIN<They got one! They got one!>

The men scream at Uritski, who is just a statue, as they lookout of their vision ports. Their BMP lunges forward.

GUROV<I WILL KILL YOU!>

ABELEV<URITSKI, LET US OUT!>


The remaining F16 drops its clusterbomb payload, unleashingmore destruction on the BMP's and T-80's.

The troops that exited their vehicles are caught amidst theblasts and the shrapnel of the cluster bombs.

The BMP's and T-80's creep into the woods ahead.

INT. - ABELEV'S BMP

They stare at the carnage.

OBUKOV<Damn, they didn't have a chance!>

EXT. - BRAVO TROOP SECTOR

The M1's and Bradley's of Bravo troop are hull-down in trenches on the reverse slope.

Their turrets move, scan the forest in front of them.

INT. - BRAVO TROOP BRADLEY

A Bradley gunner, LEWIS, sees the explosions and columns ofsmoke pouring out from behind the woods through his optics.

40.

LEWIS(through his intercom)

Sir, zoomies just murdered those bastards!

NAVAS(looking through his sights)

Soon it'll be our turn, Lewis. (switches radio) WINDSOR, WINDSOR,WINDSOR.

EXT. - WOODS - 1ST SQUADRON ARTILLERY BATTERY AREA

Six American self-propelled howitzers are in a clearing.

The men inside them confirm their orders and work switchesand buttons, the cannons raise.

Muzzles blaze and smoke as the guns fire, booming with everyround.


As the rounds from the artillery land, smoke pours out ofthem, creating a screen between the cavalry troop and the Soviets in the forest.

INT. - ABELEV'S BMP

DEMICHEV, the gunner for the BMP sees the curtain of smoke infront of him and nothing else.

DEMICHEV<Smoke's in front of us!>


Through the smoke, missles, tank rounds, and cannon firepunches through, connecting with the T-80's and the BMP'sstill in the woods, destroying or knocking them out as theyleave the forest.

Some attacks fail, rounds bounce off or set off reactivearmor blocks on the T-80's.

INT. - SOVIET T-80

Inside the T-80, all the commander sees through his gunsightis smoke.

GALPERIN<Crowbar, from the move, fire!>

41.

CHAZOV<No target!>

GALPERIN<Fire!>

The gunner pulls the trigger, the main gun fires.

The gun recoils as the tracer round disappears into thesmoke.

On the turret floor, a carousel full of main gun roundsrotates, a mechanical arm and piston reload a round followedby a propellant canister into the breech.


Main tank guns fire from the M1's, as missles and cannon firestreak from the Bradley's.


NAVAS(moves lever, turret turns)

Gunner, TOW, tank!

LEWISIdentified! (moves lever)

NAVASFire!

LEWIS(pulls trigger)

On the way!

The turret interior shakes as the missle leaves toward itstarget.

Lewis looks through his thermal imaging scope and sees themissle hit the tank on its bow.

This strikes where the turret meets the main body, causingthe turret to fly into the air.

NAVASTarget! (moves lever) Gunner, TOW, BMP!

INT. - BRAVO TROOP ABRAMS

The men in the Abrams find targets, kill them, find more,kill them, find more . . .

42.

SCHAEFFER(moves lever)

Gunner, sabot, tank!

LAFLEUR(moves lever)

Identified!

SCHAEFFERFire!

LAFLEUR(pulls trigger)

On the way!

The turret shakes from the firing of the main gun.

LAFLEUR looks through his scope and sees the round hit itstarget, stopping it. An explosion erupts out of itshatches, survivors scramble out of it.

WILLIAMS, the loader, instantly rotates on his seat, opens ahatch containing the main gun rounds.

He snatches one, loads the main gun, and rotates back inposition, the hatch quickly shuts back into place.

WILLIAMSSabot up!

SCHAEFFERTarget! (moves lever) Gunner, sabot, tank!

INT. - ABELEV'S BMP

The men outside are shocked from what they see out of theirvision ports.

Uritski's radio crackles.

URITSKI(on his radio)

<Copy, (to everyone) Dismount!>

Obukov and another soldier open the hatches. The men quicklyrun out of their BMP.


The rumble of the BMP's interior is instantly replaced bytank guns screaming, cannon fire popping, explosions.

43.

The smoke cover is like a ghost to the men, with tracer firefrom a variety of weapons appearing out of it and findingtargets, men and vehicles.

Some only damage tanks and set off reactive armor blocks,which explode on contact.

Soldiers are cut down as soon as they step out of theirvehicles.

The Soviet vehicles return fire, firing blindly into thesmoke.

As Uritski exits the BMP and runs in front of his men, hehears the distinct triple-pop of an RPK light machinegun, and turns to see Baturin on the ground clutching his chest,moaning.

Uritski notices Gurov's RPK smoking. Uritski looks pissed.

GUROV<Damned thing went off as I got out!>

URITSKI<Move!>

The men, like the infantrymen from the other BMP's, fan outin front of their respective vehicles.

Uritski immediately hits the ground and out of the path ofhis BMP. He begins to low crawl.

URITSKI<Cover, men, cover!>

Abelev is the first to listen to him. SOTNIKOV, the platoonleader, intervenes . . .

SOTNIKOV<Dammit, Uritski, get up and keep your lines! All of you, keep yourlines and get up now!>

Some men listen to Uritski and get on their stomaches, othersstay on their feet.

URITSKI(to OBUKOV)

<Get down, Obukov!>

Obukov looks at Sotnikov, and back to Uritski, but is thenshredded by tracer fire.

44.

Upon seeing this, all of the men get down.

SOTNIKOV<On your feet, all of you! (pointsweapon at URITSKI) Uritski! Tellyour men to . . . >

Sotnikov is eventually cut down by machinegun fire.

URITSKI<Stupid ass . . .>

They are all crawling. Some of the them start shooting,firing blindly into the smoke.

URITSKI(waving hands)

<Hold your fire, hold your damn fire!>


The gunner holds the trigger, the 25mm autocannonthump-thump-thumps as rounds are fed into it.

Through his sights he sees troops falling from his shooting.

INT. - BRAVO TROOP ABRAMS

The coaxial machinegun rattles, empty casings tinkling asthey hit the floor.


Tracer fire sprays the Soviets. The surviving soldiers quitfiring.

On the other side of the smoke curtain, a heavy artillerybarrage falls on Bravo troop.


The men inside can hear the muffled thumps of the artillery,and the pinging of shrapnel hitting the hull.

NAVAS(on his intercom)

Driver, displace! (hits switch) All JOKER elements fall back to lineTORONTO. (hits switch) Golf-two,golf-two, fire-for-effect FASCAM at . . .

45.


The Bradley's and M1's of Bravo troop exit their trenches toescape the incoming artillery fire.


The cavalry artillery starts firing another mission, gunsthumping, flames pouring out of the tubes.

INT. - M109 SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZER

The crew inside is at work getting rounds out, men reloading,the gunner firing, the commander receiving more orders.


As the Bradleys and M1's of Bravo troop approach theiralternate trenches in the ridge behind them.

They see a FASCAM (artillery-delivered mines) barrage totheir rear, shells explode into tiny fireballs fifty feetabove the ground.


Navas' radio crackles with a warning order, he looks to therear vision block. He sees the Soviet FASCAM barrageexploding in the distance.

NAVAS(on radio)

Copy, barrage spotted. (hitsswitch) (to Lewis) That's FASCAM,they're tryin' to channel us.


Some of the armor reaches the trenches, enter them, thenexplode.


NAVAS(on radio)

All JOKER elements, the BP's are fouled, repeat . . .

46.


NAVAS(o.s.)

. . . .the BP's are fouled. Get indefilade.

The armor immediately stops and seeks improvised positionsbehind the hills, showing only their turrets.

EXT. - 39TH GUARDS INFANTRY DIVISION OBSERVATION POST

A small group of men hide in a knoll on a hill.

They are heavily camoflaged and have tripod-mounted listeninggear pointing toward the American lines.

One of them, with headphones on, hears the distinct poundingof artillery.

TREFIOLOV<Gun battery. Definitely notmortars. No line-of-sight.>

NENOV<They're in the woods. Range it.(gets on radio) Squadron artillery battery found, acquiring range . . .>

EXT. - 43RD GUARDS ARTILLERY BRIGADE AREA

Countless self-propelled artillery pieces and rocketartillery fill a valley.

As their handlers receive orders, their guns and tubes raiseto the sky and traverse, then fill it with fire and smoke, guns hammer, rockets screaming.


The M109 self-propelled howitzers fire, but are interruptedas the incoming Soviet counterbattery fire swamps them inexplosions.

EXT. - SOVIET COMMAND POST

In the woods on a hill, a command post is set up, whichconsists of a few men outside of a BTR, using radios,looking at maps and charts, or standing guard.

47.

FEDOTOV, a Soviet forward observer, uniform distinct withartillery insignia, looks at the two barrages throughbinoculars.

FEDOTOV<Sir, they're in the box.>

"Sir" refers to his battalion commander, ANDROPOV, who coolysmokes a cigarette, sees the explosions in front of him.

ANDROPOV(to SAICHUK)

<You're up.>

A man in a Frontal Aviation field uniform gets on his radio.

SAICHUK(turns on radio)

<Commence run . . .>


The barrage in front of Bravo Troop creeps closer . . .


LEWIS(looking through his vision blocks)

Barrage is closing in, sir.

NAVAS(On his radio)

JOKER elements, displace to . . .. (screech is heard) They've nailedthe radios! (on his intercom)Driver, displace to first platoon's sector, didi-mau. (looks out visionport) Where's the FASCAM?


A flight of four Soviet ground attack fighters, Su-25's, scream toward the cavalry troop, no longer in the security oftheir trenches.

Some of the armor speeds into the valley.

ABELEV(demanding an explanation)

<URITSKI!?!?>

48.

GUROV(panicking)

<WE'RE GOING TO DIE!>

URITSKI<They're ravens, they're ours!>

They fly toward the cavalry troopers, fire their autocannonsand rockets, destroyor immobilize some of Bravo troop'sarmor.

One American soldier, armed with a Stinger shoulder-firedSAM, fires a missle at one of the Soviet fighters.

It connects, sets the fighter jet ablaze, it crashes below.


Rounds punch through the armor, ricocheting and makingshrapnel in the interior.

The Bradley bucks from the attack then stops.

The engine noise is gone.

Navas hears screams on his intercom and in the interiorcabin.

NAVAS(on his intercom)

DRIVER! TALK TO ME! (looks at his driver) MEHRTENS!

LEWISSir, we're immobilized!

NAVAS(looks through scopes)

GUNNER, (moves lever) air, gun, fire!

LEWISIdentified! (pulls trigger)

The gun fires at the jets with its popping sound, misses.

Through their scopes, Navas and Lewis can see the jetsclosing in.

49.

The fighters drop bombs that explode into a circular cloud ofvapor, which ignites and creates a huge fireball comingtoward their Bradley.

NAVASNo . . .


More Bradley's, including Navas', and M1's are destroyed dueto the fireball created by the fuel-air explosive bombs.

More vehicles abandon the reverse slope and try to escapethrough the valley behind them.


The men at the command post see explosions and black smokecome out of the valley as Bravo troop is attacked.

SAICHUK(on his radio)

<On target, out.>

ANDROPOV(to FEDOTOV)

<Now.>

EXT. - 39TH GUARDS INFANTRY DIVISION ROCKET ARTILLERY SECTOR

Further to the east, about twenty trucks with rocketlaunchers on them start to raise their launchers.

Rockets scream out of them, shaking the ground, creating muchsmoke.


The rockets crash on Bravo troop, destroying and immobilizingmore armor.


The noise from the rockets is too much for the troops. TheSoviets cover their ears to the scream of the rockets.

ABELEV(holding his ears in pain)

<AHHH!>

GUROV(can't handle the screaming)

<OH MY GOD!>

50.

URITSKI(smiling, not covering his ears)

<Tulips, just lovely . . .>


They see the rockets fall. The rocket artillery stops,Fedatov gets on his radio.

FEDOTOV(on radio)

<Cease fire.> (hits switch)

ANDROPOV(on radio)

<Remount and advance. (hangs up radio, to everyone) We're moving.>

The men of his HQ grab their equipment, fold their maps, andmount in their vehicles.


The surviving vehicles leave their positions and rush outtoward into a nearby town.

Some are towed, others show signs of serious damage, bulletholes, blown pieces of armor.

From far away, four Soviet Hind attack helicopters fly towardthem.

INT. - SOVIET HIND HELICOPTER

The cockpit is filled with the whine of the engine, thechopping of the blades, and the occasional chatter of theradio.

They spot the vehicles moving traversely in front of them.

The gunner looks at his scopes and zooms in on one of theM1's.

He presses the trigger on his stick.

The helicopter shudders with the firing of the missle.

He keeps the aiming reticle on the M1.

The missle enters the view of his scopes, finally strikingthe M1, knocking it out of commission.

51.

EXT. - SOVIET HIND HELICOPTERS

The other helicopters are joining in, firing missles,rockets, eliminating more American armor.


The vehicles do their best to avoid being hit, firing smokegrenades, moving evasively.

The survivors eventually make their way into the town,putting them out of view of the Hinds.


The Soviet troops regroup and remount into their BMP's, moveforward.

URITSKI<Mount up, mount up! Back to the hedgehog!>

Uritski's squad mounts into their BMP.

INT. - ABELEV'S BMP

The men rush aboard, with some new members.

The men have wild-eyed looks about them, except for Uritski.

URITSKI<Hit the ground, crawl, that's it! Gurov, (hits GUROV's helmet) are youlistening? Stay with me.>

ABELEV<Uritski, what the hell do they need us for if the ravens and guns doeverything?>

URITSKI<We're just the anvil, Abelev, that's it. The ravens and guns arethe hammer.>

EXT. - VILLAGE - 1ST SQUADRON HQ

Vehicles and people move to and fro at the 1st Squadronheadquarters. LT. COL. WALTER RUNNELS walks through thevillage, with one of his staff officers, MAJ. BILL HARPER,who shows him some reports.

52.

HARPER12th Panzer is at fifty percent and having delays, something about achemical attack. Bravo's attriteddown to twenty-five, thirty percent tops, so they're out of it. (beat)They've lost their CO.

RUNNELS(beat) Navas was a damned goodtrooper. Alpha and Charlie.

HARPERCharile's on the way to Hunfeld, Alpha will be waiting on the EastGermans from Geisa.

RUNNELSTacair oughta slow em' down. In themeantime, let em' help out Charlieif the NVA's comin' late, no point having them do all the work. AirCav.

HARPER58's and the scout platoon are now up, but the cobra's are stillloading out, they should be up within the hour.

RUNNELSGet the 58's and the scouts to do some spotting in the divisional rearand let's see if we can splash some of their support.

HARPERSpeaking of support, the cannon battery's scratched.

RUNNELSSurvivors?

HARPERNone.

Runnels shakes his head, slams the door open, and walks intohis command post, the city hall of the village. Harperdashes to catch up with him.

53.

HARPER8th Army must've put every tube on em', there's nothing we could'vedone.

RUNNELS(continues walking, picks up the pace, and enters tent)

We're getting too greedy. We'resupposed to delay, not defend. Remind everyone not to fall in lovewith their damned BP's, just get their licks in, and displace.

HARPERA lot of the alternate BP's have been fouled by spetnaz.

RUNNELSThen tell Gerosa to get his MP's in gear, this isn't an FTX, nowhere issafe. And Bill, I want the air cavto feel like home when they'rerefueling and reloading, so they need to be on top of that. Ivan'sbeen having too much fun in ourrear, so we need to . . .

Huge explosions shake up the building, windows shattering.Men duck for cover as jets roar over head.

Runnels gets up, runs out, looks down the street.

Outside, he sees vehicles and buildings burning, men sprawledon the ground.

Harper catches up to him, sees the same.

HARPER(to another staffer)

Ambulances! MOVE!

RUNNELS(surveying the scene)

Our antenna's out. They've got ournumber. Time to pack up and move.

HARPER(to another staffer)

We're displacing, TOC! (runs off) (to another staffer) Get me the SO .. . (leaves)

54.

Runnels pauses, looks at the scene in front of him.

RUNNELS(to himself)

Nowhere is safe. (walks back inside)

EXT. - FULDA COUNTRY SIDE

Meanwhile, Charlie troop travels in column down the autobahn.

INT. - DEMAREST'S M1

DEMAREST(on radio)

Copy, KING 6. (Switches radio) 4,we are proceeding to zone CHICAGO,watch for JOKER coming your way.

INT - TERMINATOR

DUPLESSIS(on radio)

Roger, 4-1, out.

MORALES(on intercom)

Sarge, that's Hunfeld, that's Bravo's sector.

Haff takes his eyes out of his optics.

He exchanges a tense look with Sutton.

They get back to their respective sights and vision blocks.

DUPLESSIS(on intercom)

I know, Morales, change in plans. Gunner, get your A-game on.

HAFF(looking through his sights)

TERMINATOR's good-to-go, ready to kill-kill-kill, Sarge.

SUTTONDo it for Bravo, Haff. Balls to thewall, son.

55.

INT. - HENDERSON'S BRADLEY

Henderson occupies his gunner's position, looking through hissights. RIVERS, his Bradley commander, has a word with him.

RIVERS(on intercom)

Folk Love, we're bailing out Bravo, what you think of that?

HENDERSONIvan ain't ready for Charlie, sir.

RIVERSDamn right, son.


A small group of Soviet armor crests the hill, only to bestruck by the survivors of Bravo troop.

The survivors of this attack dismount.

T-80's and BMP's fire back, striking some of the Americans,more missles, tank gun rounds, and autocannon fire.

INT. - SOVIET BATTALION COMMANDER BMP

ANDROPOV(on his radio)

<Dismount before the ridgeline and advance.>

EXT. - ABELEV'S BMP

The men inside hastily open the hatches.

URITSKI<GO GO GO GO!>

The troops pour out of their BMP and rush out.

Uritski takes the lead, runs in a crouch toward theridgeline.

He drops to the ground, and the rest of the squad does thesame.

They low-crawl their way over to the ridgeline, and takecover behind the berms of the empty trenches.

56.

They see disabled and destroyed American vehicles below, someof the on fire, rounds exploding as they are cooked off.

Cavalry scouts are dismounted, taking cover behind thevehicles, firing back at the Soviets with assault rifles,machineguns, and light anti-tank weapons (LAW's).

The BMP's come over and start firing their autocannons andmachineguns.

Uritski and his men start shooting at the men below.

Gurov screams joyfully as he fires his light machinegun atthe Americans below.

ABELEV<ELEPHANT! ELEPHANT! (points) GETTHE RPG!> (snaps out his own light anti-tank weapon)

ALL<RPG! RPG! GET IT READY!>

"Elephant" refers to an American tank, immobile, but stillshooting at the squad.

Another tank is trying to hitch it for towing, but its creware cut down.

A member of Uritski's squad sets up his RPG, takes aim andshoots.

Abelev snatches his telescopic LAW, extends it, aims it andstrikes the immobile American tank.

It stops shooting . . . then resumes.

More RPG and LAW rounds strike it, causing fire to explodeout of the turret blast panels.

The crew dashes out, with smoke coming out of the hatches,arms in the air, and walk toward the Soviet lines . . .

They are cut down by the Soviets, including Gurov.

GUROV(shooting)

<WHORES!>

Abelev and Uritski resume the task of finishing off theAmericans in the valley.

57.

Mortar rounds start descending on the remnants of Bravo troopbelow, killing more of the cavalry scouts.

The barrage stops, Zimyatov, a Soviet officer is with hisradioman.

ZIMYATOV(on radio)

<Copy, out. (hangs radio up) Mountbayonets!>

Subordinate units pass the order along.

The troops nervously and clumsily attach their bayonets ontheir rifles, some slipping and hurting themselves in theprocess.

Uritski puts his on like an old pro, and notices that Abelevattaches his smoothly.

ZIMYATOV<Forward! Advance!>

The troops move up, ready, with T-80's and BMP's behindthem. The sounds of rifles popping are heard throughout.

URITSKI<Keep away from anything on fire!>

A wounded cav trooper ambushes the squad, firing his lightmachinegun wildly, tracers flying everywhere.

ABELEV<MACHINE GUN LEFT! MACHINE GUN LEFT!>

They take cover, firing back along with the supportingarmor.

The machinegunner is silenced.

They get back up, advance toward a disabled Bradley with itsramp down.

Uritski leads Abelev with him toward it.

URITSKI<Gurov, cover us!>

Gurov kneels and readies his light machinegun. He looks overhis shoulder at Uritski.

58.

URITSKI<Face the line!>

Gurov snaps his head to the front.

Uritski motions to Abelev to go the left of the Bradley.

URITSKI<Get a lemon ready and toss it on my signal.>

Abelev waits by the entrance.

Uritski pauses, readies a hand grenade, Abelev does the same.

URITSKI<NOW!> (pulls pin and throws it)

Abelev throws his, they quickly duck back.

The grenades go off, one right after the other. Screaming isimmediately heard.

Uritski quickly sprays rounds into the cabin, rounds pingingoff the walls.

The screaming stops.

URITSKI<MOVE! NOW!>

Uritski and Abelev rush in, seeing two dead Americans on thefloor, one holding a pistol and another holding a rifle.

The picture in the cabin is the stuff of nightmares. Ablood-letting.

Blood trickles out of the cabin and onto the ground below.

Uritski surveys the cabin, then turns and leaves.

URITSKI<Back to work, little brother.>

Abelev stands, stares. He vomits.

INT. - 39TH GUARDS INFANTRY DIVISION HQ

Pikelis studies a map with DALETSKY, one of his staffofficers.

59.

DALETSKY<(points on map) Third regiment just broke through here. They'vedestroyed much of the cavalry troop.>

PIKELIS<Commit the second echelon through their position.>

DALETSKY<I've sent out the order.>

Pikelis pats Daletsky on the back, walks away.


DEMAREST(on radio)

4, get ready, Bravo's coming to us.

Demarest looks through his vision port and sees the remnantof Bravo troop.

M1's and Bradleys drive by, with burn marks, signs ofpenetrated armor, parts blown off. Some vehicles are beingtowed.

DEMAREST(on radio)

Copy, 6. (hits switch) 4, enterbattle positions.


The vehicles of Charlie troop fan out as they approach theirdefensive positions, which consists of trenches cut out of the slopes of the hill.

Small scout helicopters, OH-58's, fly overhead toward theSoviet formations.

INT. - CAVALRY SCOUT HELICOPTER

The co-pilot, LIDDICK, sees a mass of Soviet armor on hisblack-and-white screen.

LIDDICKContact, armor, reinforced recon company.

60.


DEMAREST(on radio)

INDIGO's spotted advance guard.

INT. - TERMINATOR

DEMAREST(o. s., on DUPLESSIS' radio)

Fire-at-will. Check your sectors.

Morales moves the yoke and adjusts the trottle to slow thetank down.

Duplessis looks through his vision port and sees nothing butthe dug-out slope they are on, which is blocking his sight.

They crest it, he sees the hills and the sky above.

EXT. - TERMINATOR

TERMINATOR comes to a stop in the trench on the hill.

The main body of the tank is hidden behind the berm on thehill, leaving only the turret exposed above it.

The sounds of the M1's engines are the only things heard inthe German countryside, a combination of woods, hills, andvillages. The turret slowly rotates.

EXT. - HENDERSON'S BRADLEY

Henderson's Bradley rumbles as it enters its own trench.

INT. - HENDERSON'S BRADLEY

RIVERS(looking through his sight, on intercom)

Look alive, Gunner.

HENDERSON(doing the same, moving turret)

Bring em' . . . bring em' . . .

INT. - TERMINATOR

Duplessis pushes a lever, the turret moves. He looks in hissights and sees the ridgeline.

61.

Nothing is heard besides the whine of the engine andoccasional chatter on the radio.

Sutton's knees bounce as his feet move. He looks out hisvision blocks.

Morales tightly regrips the steering yoke, mouthing an "OurFather," gives one quick look at his instruments, thenfocuses on the ground in front of him.

He sighs deeply, loud enough for everyone to hear on theintercom.

DUPLESSISGunner, fire-at-will.

Haff firmly plants his head on the rests, his eyes tirelesslyscan the terrain for anything. Sweat drips on his face.

He sees something crest the ridgeline in front of him.

He hits a switch. His sights zoom in on a T-80, glowinggreen in the monochrome of the thermal sights against a blacksky.

HAFFTANK!

Haff moves the handle, places the sight on the tank where theturret meets the hull.

He presses a button on the handles. The gun elevates toadjust, servos quickly whirr as the gun rises.

The range reads out in the bottom of the sight picture.

He pulls the trigger.

FADE OUT

fulda gap - episode 1 - black horse (present this)

Documents