EXT. WOODS – DAY
Steve stands in the woods surrounding Roeder’s summer house on the outskirts of Dusseldorf, examining it. Bucky looks through binoculars as the housekeeping staff get into a car and drive away.
BUCKY
And there they go.
Bucky hands the binoculars back to Steve.
BUCKY
Isn’t Canadian Jim operating in this neck of the woods?
Sure would’ve been a good thing to have him with us
On this.
Steve starts walking toward another position from which to see the house at a different angle. Bucky follows him.
STEVE
Canadian Jim is committed to Fox Company, which is
Currently en route to Japan.
BUCKY
Nuts. Did I mention how I don’t like this mission?
STEVE
Once or twice.
Beat.
BUCKY
So what’s the plan, Steve?
STEVE
Dino can arrange for transport, find a good spot
With a clear path to the road to hide it in. I’ll
Infiltrate the house, you and Carter stand in reserve.
BUCKY
…That’s the plan?
STEVE
Afraid so.
A beat. Bucky shrugs.
BUCKY
Beats Market Garden.
EXT. ROAD – NIGHT
A sedan coasts down the road with two buzz-cut, beefy types in dark suits sits in the front.
EXT. ROEDER’S HOUSE – NIGHT
The car pulls up next to a few others. ARNIM ZOLA (55) steps out. There’s a crowd of other heavy-set men in suits loitering nearby.
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Peggy and Bucky look through their binoculars.
BUCKY
Man looks familiar.
PEGGY
That’s Arnim Zola. Hitler’s top weapons man.
EXT. ROEDER’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Zola heads for the entrance, addressing his men without looking at them.
All German characters naturally speak German.
ZOLA
Stay here.
EXT. WOODS SOUTH OF ROEDER’S – NIGHT
Several rum-looking men in plainclothes patrol the grounds around the house. Steve scurries, dressed in a black pull over and wool cap with a dark backpack on, using the terrain for cover as he looks for an opening.
INT. ROEDER’S HOUSE/CORRIDOR
Zola walks the hallway leading to the den which door is ajar. He enters…
INT. ROEDER’S DEN
…to be met by a group of distinguished men, their line of work easily imaginable, numbering short of a dozen, each with a drink in his hand. Their names are ROEDER, KRUMMPT, FROBRICH, KLAUBER, UBERHART, MAULLER, DOMMERLEIN, FREISSEL, HAUSER, RITZIK, INNSBRUCK, and standing by the fireplace is the Red Skull.
ZOLA
(cautious)
Gentlemen.
The men great him back.
RED SKULL
Arnim, old friend. Hope you’ve had a pleasant
Drive.
ZOLA
I was never the travelling type, Johann.
What did I miss?
RED SKULL
Nothing, really. We were actually about to drink to
The untimely passing of Pim Bucher.
ZOLA
I’m afraid I don’t know him.
RED SKULL
You wouldn’t.
There is a cold familiarity between the two, as if they know each other too well to be comfortable with each other. Roeder motions for his butler to pour Zola a drink. The butler does so.
RED SKULL
Lieutenant Colonel Wilhelm Bucher died in a fire in
His home earlier this week. He fell asleep with a lit
Cigarette in his hand, apparently.
RED SKULL
Not a fit way for a warrior like Bucher to go, but as
Someone who has seen him go to war… Well, I’d
Say that it comes as no surprise that the only thing
Capable of killing Pim was Pim.
RED SKULL
He was a fish in the pubs, a lion on the battlefield,
And as loyal a friend as can be hoped for.
(raises his glass)
This is to him.
Red Skull, Zola and the Wehrmacht officers drink.
EXT. ROEDER’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Steve scales the side of the house, a patrolling sentry dangerously close to him. All the sentry has to do is look up on a whim, but he doesn’t. With astonishing grace for a man his size, Steve latches himself to an attic window frame with one hand while he works the lock with an ice-pick-like tool. It gives way and he slinks quietly into a….
INT. SPARE ROOM
Musty and dark. Steve goes to the door and creaks it open. He looks at the well lit corridor outside, making sure there’s no one to spot him. He produces a suppressed pistol and steps out.
INT. STAIRS
Steve moves swiftly but quietly, careful not to cause any alarm or run into company, but the house seems to be deserted.
INT. FIRST FLOOR
Steve approaches the den door, hearing sounds of a loud conversation, or an argument. He listens for a moment or two before heading to the next door.
INT. NEXT ROOM
Steve locks the door behind him then heads to the wall separating the room from the den. He takes a stethoscope-like instrument out of his backpack and puts it on, presses it against the wall, and listens.
INT. ROEDER’S DEN
The officers are now all talking angrily at once. Zola is nervous and stays out of it. Red Skull is calm and quiet, quite obviously the cause of the discord.
KRUMMPT
I should’ve known! I should – have - known!
KRUMMPT
(turns to Roeder)
And you! You knew, didn’t you?!
ROEDER
Of course I knew! Stop trying to act intimidating,
You haven’t got it in you.
KRUMMPT
Oh, you Prussian son of a –
RED SKULL
(sternly)
Gentlemen, that’s enough.
You’re all senior officers, so act like it.
Now, look beyond what habit dictates you see.
Think about -
ZOLA
Treason, Johann. That’s what you’re proposing to these
Men.
RED SKULL
The war is lost, there’s no question about that. At this point
It is only a question of whether Germany becomes a slave camp
For the Bolsheviks or for the Americans…
FROBRICH
You took an oath.
RED SKULL
…Do not consider the intentions, but the consequences.
FROBRICH
You took an oath of obedience to the fuehrer, to be upheld
At all times, bad and good, and if need be it, to lay down
Your life in his service.
RED SKULL
I did. I joined his side early on. I watched, and I would say
I helped, as he shaped the fatherland into something great.
Swore to protect the leader and the Reich at all costs.
RED SKULL
And now I’ve seen him as he’s bungled it, now I seen him as
Nothing but a weakling, in over his head, doing his part in
The return of Germany to the place we came from. Or a worse
Place.
HAUSER
Bullshit.
Hauser’s outburst is meek and unsure, and fails to devalue Red Skull’s words, eliciting only a couple of nervous chuckles. The officers obviously think Red Skull is expressing what they’ve often felt.
INNSBRUCK
So where do you think you’ll fail succeed where
Von Witzleben and Beck have failed?
The others look to the older Innsbruck, surprised he would show even a brief sign of entertaining Red Skull’s proposal.
RED SKULL
Because my plan isn’t to negotiate an end of the
War with the English and the Americans. It is to
Prolong it, and to turn it to our favor.
KRUMMPT
(scoffing)
Well, that’s quite a notion. I wish I had thought of
Turning the war to our advantage, you should get right
On it.
RED SKULL
Once actual Generals are in charge of this war-
KRUMMPT
Meaning you. Right, I’ve had enough.
Krummpt gets up.
KRUMMPT
As an officer of the Reich, I am hereby arresting you,
For the charge of conspiring to compromise the
Integrity of the German high command!
KRUMMPT
(looking at Roder)
And that goes for all of you that stand with him!
RED SKULL
Sit down, Major General. Please.
KRUMMPT
Stand down!
Krummpt reaches for a gun, but Red Skull is the quicker draw. He produces a luger and trains it on Krummpt, prompting every man in the room to follow their example. Within seconds, every man in the room is on his feet and pointing a gun at someone else, lines are drawn, and every man who’d been feeling conflicted suddenly knows where he stands. Only Zola stands still, terrified, and Innsbruck.
KRUMMPT
You’re a thug, “Red Skull”. Always have been, always
Will be.
RED SKULL
Am I, really?
KRUMMPT
You don’t want to save Germany, you just want
Free reign to wreak havoc as you please, like you’d
Done in Norway and Sweden, searching for whatever
You’d deluded yourself into thinking you were going
To find.
RED SKULL
Well, I admit you shown a bit more fortitude than I’d expect
From a flyer. Interesting.
It appears my coup is off to an awful start.
KRUMMPT
You’ve failed. Even if you and your ilk manage to make your
Way out of here, there’s no way you could cover up the dead.
RED SKULL
Good point.
After a tense moment, Red Skull holsters his weapon.
RED SKULL
Well, why don’t you leave?
KRUMMPT
What?
RED SKULL
I’m sure you will welcome the opportunity to leave
Unscathed.
ROEDER
What are you playing at?
RED SKULL
Keep calm, Commander.
ROEDER
But –
RED SKULL
Trust me.
KRUMMMPT
You… You can’t expect me just to believe you.
RED SKULL
You’re right; I can’t hide the disappearance of
Any of you, least of all not by myself.
So I’m going to let you go, to report the rest of
Us back to high command, but that will be without
Consequence, because by the time you reach your
Destination, these men will be standing with me to
A man.
KRUMMPT
Are you really that arrogant?
RED SKULL
You claim to know me well, but I see right through
You. You are a coward, Von Krummpt. It is cowardice,
Not loyalty that prevents you from siding with me. As a
Coward you are reluctant to die here, so you’re going to
Take this opportunity to spare your own life, whether you
Believe me or not.
Another tense moment passes before Krummpt takes out his gun and nervously points it at Red Skull as he edges to the door. Zola eyes the door as Krummpt disappears behind it, and hears his footsteps heading up the corridor.
RED SKULL
Not you, Arnim.
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Bucky, Peggy and Dino looks through binoculars as Krummpt barks in rapid fire, indistinguishable German at the men waiting outside. He then gets into a car with his man.
PEGGY
That’s Krummpt. And he’s displeased.
DINO
Is the pow-wow over already?
Should I start the car?
PEGGY
No...
INT. NEXT ROOM
Cap aims a lit flashlight at the corner of the room’s only window, using his hand to break the lightstream.
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Bucky watches intently as the message is signaled and repeated.
BUCKY
“Pursue Krummpt.”
He wants us to “Pursue Krummpt”.
DINO
Are you sure?
BUCKY
(annoyed)
No, I’m guessing.
DINO
What’re we pursuing a Luftwaffe general for? This
Is supposed to be a spying mission.
BUCKY
Cap’s gotta have his reasons. Way Krummpt stormed off,
I’m a bit curious why, myself.
PEGGY
Indeed. You take the car, cut him off and hold him.
I’ll remain here.
BUCKY
Come again?
PEGGY
I can take care of myself, Corporal. Just leave me the Dreyse.
BUCKY
You’re not the one I’m worried about, ma’am.
A beat.
BUCKY
You’re driving, Dino. We’ll head due west, and
Cut him off at the fork.
(turns)
Might even have enough time to set up a trap.
INT. ROEDER’S DEN
Hauser’s grip on his pistol strains as the Mexican stand-off continues.
RED SKULL
Put your guns down.
The Red Skull sits down.
RED SKULL
Put your guns down. Roeder, Ritzik, Mauller, you
Too Dommerlein.
RED SKULL
It’s alright …
(smirking)
… We’re done for.
The four men on his side reluctantly lower their guns, and sit back down.
RED SKULL
We’re all soldiers here, so we can all be trusted
To handle ourselves as soldiers should.
The rest of you, lower your guns or don’t, but
Don’t do anything stupid.
RED SKULL
As of now, all my designs are going to hell.
Now do you really think that’ll work out for the best?
INT. NEXT ROOM
Steve prepares his tools retrieved out of his backpack, he pieces together a stripped burp gun and prepares a charge. He stands up, and removes his black sweater and cap.
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Peggy looks through binoculars at the men patrolling the grounds and the escorts massed out front.
INT. DEN
Somehow, the situation seems to have been somewhat diffused. No gun is drawn, and most have sat back down.
RED SKULL
… As I expected Von Krummpt’s reaction, I had…
Measures put in place. Should I give the word, he
Will not be able to convey the happenings here to
The high command.
RED SKULL
Of course, we must act as one.
INNSBRUCK
Krummpt is a loyalist, that’s who he is. Had he been
Born in England, he would have been loyal to Churchil.
What you say rings true… To the rest of us.
Innsbruck looks to Frobrich, who covers his face with the palm of his hand. Frobrich raises a hand in a sign of grudging resignation.
INNSBRUCK
But how can you possibly persuade us that you could
Turn the tide of this war with our enemies bearing down
On us from each side?
KLUBER
(pointing to Zola)
And what’s he doing here?
He’s no officer or politician.
RED SKULL
I’ve invited Zola because he could tell you my plan
Will work, though I haven’t yet shared it with him yet ….
The door opens, and Steve steps in nervously. All eyes turn to him, incredulous and annoyed.
RED SKULL
I’m going to share it ….
Steve clears his throat.
STEVE
(speaking German)
Sirs… I had just seen General Von Krummpt storm
Out of here. And… And the things he said…
RED SKULL
What do you think you’re doing here, idiot?
Get out there!
Steve sheepishly withdraws and leaves. The officers chuckle nervously and disbelievingly.
RED SKULL
(incredulously)
What in… Who’s man is that?
The officers look between each other, still chuckling, expecting someone to admit responsibility for the bumbling fool, but none does.
An icy sense of shock fills them as realization dawns.
INT. FIRST FLOOR
In the foreground, we see a wire held taught between the two opposing walls of the corridor, connected to a bundle. Steve tosses a couple of small canisters beyond the wire, which seep a thick red smoke that fills the corridor from floor to ceiling.
INT. DEN
Before anyone can say anything, the charge, covertly planted by Steve moments ago, EXPLODES.
Three of the officers get taken out by the blast, and everyone close get knocked off their feet. Before the shock is over, the door is KICKED in, and Steve comes in with his burp gun, firing short bursts at every man in the room, finishing off by pumping the rest of the magazine into the Red Skull’s chest.
EXT. ROEDER’S HOUSE – NIGHT
All the escorts charge in, pushing past Roeder’s men….
INT. FIRST FLOOR
…They fill into the smoke filled corridor, where one of them trips the wire, causing the bundle to explode. Steve gets out of the den and heads to the stairs as this goes on.
INT. ROEDER’S DEN
With considerable effort, Zola pushes the Dommerlein’s bullet-riddled body off of him. He gets onto his shaky feet, looking with horror at the carnage before him. He notices the Red Skull stir as he stumbles away.
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Peggy fires a light machine gun as she lays belly down, hitting some of Roeder’s men as they try to enter the house. A few take notice of her and try returning fire. She does her best to disappear into the soil as she fires away.
EXT. ROEDER’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Steve jumps out of a window, landing onto one of the sentries and knocking him out. He picks up his weapon and proceeds to take out the three firing at the tree line.
One of Roeder’s men happens upon him, but before he can take his shot, Peggy guns him down from the distance. Steve notices and runs toward where his covering fire is coming from.
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Steve comes to a slide next to Peggy.
STEVE
I thought you were Bucky.
PEGGY
How flattering.
PEGGY
Corporals Barnes and Manelli have gone off in
Pursuit of Von Krummpt.
The last of Roeder’s men go down or are pushed back far enough. Steve pulls on Peggy’s arm to get her up.
STEVE
Let’s go!
Steve and Peggy run through the woods, leaving the chaos at Roeder’s estate in their wake.
EXT. ROAD – NIGHT
Dino and Bucky’s car scoots along a long narrow road with trees on both sides.
INT. SEDAN (MOVING)
Dino drives, while Bucky sits shotgun, holding a German submachine gun. The two are silent for a short while, and more than a little bit on edge, Bucky the most.
DINO
So, that Carter’s got some nice yams, huh?
BUCKY
(laconic)
They’re not bad.
Suddenly, they hear the sound of GUNFIRE, rapid and repetitive. Dino instinctively speeds up.
DINO
Jesus, what was that?
Bucky slides the window down.
BUCKY
Spandaus. Focus on driving, and keep your head
Low.
Bucky sticks his top half out of the car. Moments later he spots a lone figure preparing to fire on him, but Bucky fires first, taking him out.
Moments later, the car runs into the scene of the disturbance, where a team of five armed men stand near Krummpt’s bullet riddled car, with Krummpt wounded and spilled out onto the road. Bucky fires on the group which scatters, as the car comes to a screeching halt.
Bucky and Dino get out of the car on the far side, using it for cover, and a firefight ensues. Despite being out numbered, Bucky and Dino perform with the same level of swift efficiency they did on a bridge days earlier, with Bucky being the more masterful shot. Dino lastly lobs a grenade, timed to explode fragments of a second before hitting the ground feet away from the last man.
Bucky and Dino get out of their cover.
DINO
Jeez Louise!
BUCKY
Keep your voice down.
DINO
What?
BUCKY
Krummpt’s still kicking.
Get over to him, Give with the fritz talk.
Let’s see how good an actor you are.
DINO
Right.
Dino heads over to Krummpt and leans down to him.