1. EXT- ALBERT LANDSCAPE- SUNRISE
Fade in on a shot of the Albert sunrise, morning light flooding over a desolate and inhabitable landscape. SUPER: Outside Albert, France, December 1916.
Ernest’s face comes into view, staring into the distance, serious, impassive. He has blood and dirt on his face. His hair has grown long out of a short back and sides. Close shot of his eyes, which close, as if in deep internal pain.
*FLASHBACK* A girl stands... her back to the camera... a few metres away. There is a gentle breeze... she is wearing a summer dress. She begins to turn... soundlessly... this is ERNEST’S happiest memory of his wife and all of the sounds of war have disappeared
His eyes open again. We see his hands tied behind his back. Scrunched up, but just visible in them is a picture of his wife. He wears a ring. Some birds are nestling in a tree. His lips are chapped and dry. He licks them.
*FLASHBACK* We see ROSE once more, the same shot, she turns slightly more.
Ernest’s face again. He breathes in slowly and then releases.
2. INT- ERNEST’S LIVING ROOM- NIGHT
ERNEST and ROSE are lying on the floor, on their backs. They look happy and content- a scene of domestic bliss.
ERNEST
Frowning, thoughtful
There’s an image in my mind that I can’t seem to get out
ROSE
Oh? What is it?
ERNEST
Do you remember that day... it was one of the first times we’d met each other... It was summer, and we were on the farm
As he speaks, slow motion colour blur images match his speech
ROSE
Yes, I remember
ERNEST
And I just remember, you stopped, ahead of me and turned
As he says this, the clip is played of her turning in slow motion
I couldn’t see your face, but I knew exactly how you would look when you did. I didn’t need to see it. It was as if I had known you for years. Like you’d always been with me... and always would
ROSE stares at him, tears in her eyes slightly. She leans over and kisses him
ROSE
I don’t want you to go
ERNEST sighs, he looks stricken now. He glances down, the
ERNEST
And I don’t want to go
ROSE
Half joking, half serious
Couldn’t we just... run away?
ERNEST
If only we could. But they say the war’s nearly over. I doubt I’ll even get to shoot anyone. I’ll come back to you at Christmas
ROSE
Make sure you do
ERNEST
Come home or shoot someone?
She smiles
ROSE
Just come back to me
ERNEST smiles
ERNEST
I will. I promise
ROSE
And promise you won’t be shot by a German
ERNEST
I promise I won’t be shot by a German.
ROSE smiles
ROSE
Oh and one more thing... I’ve been to see the Doctor...
ERNEST sits up, and looks at her, worried
I’m pregnant
ERNEST looks at her, and then breaks into a huge, shocked smile
3. EXT- ALBERT LANDSCAPE- SUNRISE- AS BEFORE
A tear rolls down ERNEST’s cheek. There is movement behind him, and he sniffs. He composes himself. An Officer’s legs comes into view behind him
OFFICER
That’s your five minutes. Come on
The shot remains on his face, which is impassive, emotionless as he is dragged to his feet. We stay on his face as he is lead towards the post, the shot only interrupted by close ups of his feet, squelching in the mud, the OFFICER’S hand on his arm, his arms behind his back. He is bound to the post by the officer, but we never leave the close shot of ERNEST’s face.
CHAPLAIN
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil
OFFICER
Ernest Beeby, you are found guilty of desertion when on active service, without orders from your superior officer, No.443 Sgt Williams on the 4th November, 1916. Under Section 12 of the Army Act, you are sentenced to death by firing squad.
Throughout this passage, the focus is mainly on his face, but occasionally there are cuts to the same shot of ROSE, still facing sideways, her hair blowing in the breeze.
The OFFICER walks forward, with a bag in his hand and attempts to place it on ERNEST’s head.
ERNEST
Please- no blindfold
OFFICER
Very well
ERNEST nods his appreciation
OFFICER
Take aim...
The scene is building pace, the music quickens
ERNEST
I will come back to you.
The music is at a peak, a crescendo
*FLASHBACK* A young soldier is rousing ERNEST from his sleep on the floor. He hands him a letter and leaves. ERNEST opens it- we see his face as he reads the words- shock. Extracts of the letter flash on screen- ‘Mrs Rose Beeby... died in childbirth...25th October...sorry for your loss... remain in active duty’. We see a shot of him from behind as he sinks to his knees, shaking. We see him packing his things, and walking off into the sunset.
Suddenly cuts back to the lips of the officer as he screams:
OFFICER
FIRE!
BANG! Six shots are heard, the music stops, a group of birds takes off from a nearby tree and all is quiet. The picture that was behind his back falls from his hands, but is caught by the wind, and falls in front of him. He looks down on it- he is just alive. He smiles, the light in his eyes just about there. A hand comes into view, checks his pulse.
OFFICER
Is he gone?
DOCTOR
Aye, he’s gone.
The hand disappears. His face hasn’t changed- locked eternally in a peaceful smile.
FADE OUT
No comments:
Post a Comment