CUT TO: JUNGLE – NIGHT
Soldiers are set in a fixed position, holding the line against any approaching enemy troops. These soldiers are all part of an Airborne trained Company attached to the 1st Marine Division, performing reconnaissance for the Army’s eventual arrival. Among these are Pvt. BUCKY BARNES (18) and Pvt. JAKE KURTZBERG (25), crouched behind a machine gun looking toward the moonlit tree line ahead.
The time and the place is…
SUPERIMPOSE: GUADALCANAL – EIGHT MONTHS LATER
BUCKY
So did you hear the one about Hitler, DeGaulle and
Captain America?
Kurtzberg doesn’t answer.
BUCKY
Kurtzberg
KURTZBERG
Huh?
BUCKY
I was trying to tell a joke there, but you look like you’re
Head’s somewhere else. Thinking about home, are you?
KURTZBERG
No, I was thinking about Captain Sawyer. You know
they say he’s off the line? For good, I mean.
BUCKY
Yeah. That’s a crying shame, poor bastard. Heck, poor us,
Stranded on the other side of the world with no one but
Tojo’s heavies and the Marines to keep us company.
KURTSBERG
Think he’s real?
BUCKY
Tojo?
KURTZBERG
Captain America.
BUCKY
I don’t know. Maybe. Whatever that schmo on those
Recruitment posters is, though, super-soldier or rich
College boy football player, he’s probably going to
Spend the war chasing skirt, posing in his pajamas and
Leaving the fighting to you and me.
KURTZBERG
Took the words out of my mouth… Being a super-soldier must be
Some kind of neat, though.
KURTZBERG
So, what about Hitler, DeGaulle and Captain America?
BUCKY
Well. Captain America and DeGaulle walk into a bar but
Find it full. Hitler is sitting in a booth by himself and he
invites Both over. DeGaulle orders a- Wait. Did you…
A sound rises, the unmistakable high pitched sound of an approaching mortar shell. Someone down the line screams a warning, Bucky and Kurtzsberg duck into their hole, covering their ears.
The shell lands several feet away outside their hole. The barrage continues for a good twenty seconds, and then the machine gun fire erupts from the opposing tree line. The soldiers return the favor. Bucky mans the M1919, while Kurtzberg keeps the belt taught.
The firefight rages on, every now and then a mortar shell lands too far or just far enough to cause the Americans trouble. The belt runs out and Kurtzberg moves to load another one, but is hit and he falls back.
BUCKY
Kurtzberg!
KURTZBERG
(pained)
My shoulder! I think it hit the bone.
Bucky franticly loads the belt.
BUCKY
Hang in there, bud. We’ll get you out soon enough.
Bucky goes back to firing. For some reason, he happens to glance at his far right to see some approaching silhouettes.
BUCKY
(shouting)
Contact right! They’re flanking us!
Bucky does his best to aim toward the oncoming ambush, and opens fire. The next two guns on the right are out, having been hit earlier, so Bucky finds himself bearing the brunt of the ambush, which make it that more devastating when the gun jams.
Before panic kicks in, Bucky hears the reassuring sound of a Tommy being fired behind Bucky. A couple of guns on the left also manage to cut down the oncoming charge at the side.
TOMMY GUN SOLDIER
(lobbing a grenade)
How’s that gun going, Soldier?
BUCKY
It’s jammed!
Kurtzberg groans as the man with the Tommy jumps into the same hole as they while his grenade goes off. The man changes magazines rapidly and hands it to Bucky. Bucky wastes no time firing at the screaming oncoming Japanese ambush.
BUCKY
(opening fire)
Who’re you?
TOMMY GUN SOLDIER
(lobbing grenades)
Rogers. Lieutenant.
Steve goes to work on the jammed machine gun. Hastily but masterfully doing hi best to repair it while Bucky does his best to make the thirty rounds count. The magazine runs out, and as Bucky ducks to reload, Steve rises with the hundred pound weapon in hand, handling it with the same ease as he’d been with the Tommy a minute ago, and opens fire on the waves of soldiers, keeping his finger on the trigger until the waves subsides.
Suddenly, just as it started, it stopped. Though the enemy is still behind that tree line, and unlikely to retreat, there is a lull in the fight as a flair is sent up from the rear, shinning bright and illuminating the clearing in the jungle.
Bucky’s eyes widen in childlike awe as he along with the soldiers nearby see Lt. Rogers, decked in old glory. He stands among them, an icon in the making, previously a source of some awe on the homefront and amusement or resentment in the field, but right now standing among them like a six foot colossus.
They stare at him mouth agape. Captain America looks back at them, for a moment embarrassed, worried about being too much of a distraction. But he’s responsible for them and responsible for holding the line, so he puts on a straight face.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Soldiers, time isn’t on our side, so I’ll make this short.
This is the worst time and place to introduce myself,
I realize this is too much to take in, but you know who
I am… I’m going to be your Company CO.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Second through fourth platoon, maintain your position.
First platoon on me.
Cap turns his attention toward Bucky, just as the flare goes out.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
What’s your name?
BUCKY
Um, Bucky. Barnes. Private James Bunchan-
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Get two from the next crew that can spare them to
replace you and your friend. Then catch up with us.
Bucky nods. Cap moves on followed by first Platoon, while the rest follow his orders. Bucky picks up the Tommy gun, leaning over Kurtzberg to say…
BUCKY
I can’t believe you thought he was going to
Keep himself out of the fight.
Kurtzberg looks up at Bucky with bewildered disbelief.
END OF ACT I