David07:03 May 18 2008
Times Read: 810
David
Daire Lynch
INT. MEDICAL TENT – NATURALLY LIT, EARLY MORNING, DIM.
Two NURSES walk into the tent and start to move among the cots of injured men. They are moving quickly through the cots, stopping now and again to answer a wounded soldier.
The Two nurses continue to move through the tent until they reach the back where a mosquito net has been strung across the tent a QUARANTINE sign is posted by the net.
NURSE 1.
Make sure you have your mask on before you go in, and once you start removing the bandages don’t stop or else they are likely to get tangled.
NURSE 2.
(Her voice muffled from behind a cloth mask)
Just let me get the sponges ready. I almost scrubbed him down with a dry one yesterday.
CUT
INT. MEDICAL TENT – NATURALLY LIT, EARLY MORNING, DIM. POV BED BEHIND THE NET.
A hand pushes aside the netting surrounding the bed and two nurses step under it before the second nurse reseals the netting.
TILT UP AND PAN TO FOLLOW THE NURSES AROUND THE BED
Nurse 1.
Good Morning Mr. Macatear it’s that time again. ALICE, you start on his left leg while I check the chart.
Alice
(quietly)
Yes SISTER GRAY.
Sister Gray
Well now Mr. Macatear, it appears that Dr. Robson says that you are to continue with the daily baths and that you should be able to handle breakfast in a little over a week.
CUT
INT. MEDICAL TENT – NATURALLY LIT, EARLY MORNING, DIM. POV LOOKING DOWN AT THE BED.
A Man is laying on the cot, his entire body is wrapped in bandages with the exception of one eye which is open and unblinking.
Alice
You sure he can hear you? I haven’t heard a peep from him since he got here.
Sister Gray
(While unwrapping bandages from the patients legs)
Oh he can hear me, can’t you Mr. Macatear. He is just praying for all these poor souls, isn’t that right Mr. Macatear.
The two nurses unwrap the bandages from the patient until his leg bare. The extent of his wound can be glimpsed as the Nurses move to start sponging his leg from a water bowl at the end of the bed.
Alice
(Shocked)
Jesus.
Sister Gray
(offended)
Alice.
Sister Gray looks over to see what has happened. She sees Alice holding a sponge in one hand, her other hand is held against her mouth.
Alice
Oh Jesus.
CUT
INT. MEDICAL TENT – NATURALLY LIT, EARLY MORNING, DIM. PAN SHOT FOLLOWING ALICE TO THE NETTING.
Alice drops the sponge to the floor and staggers to the netting where she struggles to open the flaps.
CUT
EXT. – MILIRATY CAMP – DAYLIGHT - MORNING
Alice is standing outside the medical tent, her hands on her knees, her mask hung loosely around her neck. As she is breathing heavily Sister Gray emerges from the tent looking angry.
Sister Gray
What in Gods name are you doing Alice? You could have aggravated his wounds acting that way.
Alice
Aggravated? His entire leg just came away in my hands. His skin is like wet paper. He is as good as dead. You know it is true. Why not just let him die, its obviously what he wants. He hasn’t said one word to anyone since they brought him last Tuesday.
Sister Gray starts to speak, blessing herself she turns back into the tent her fingers pulling her mask back over her face.
Sister Gray
(off screen)
Father Mathews is going to be hearing about this Alice, now get out of here, I’ll wrap Mr. Macatear back up, you can make a start on tent 12.
CUT
INT. MEDICAL TENT – NATURALLY LIT, EARLY MORNING
Sister Gray continues to talk to Mr. Macatear as she changes his bandages however he is remaining quiet. ZOOM in on the bandaged mans only visible eye while the sound of Sister Grays voice is slowly fading into the background and being replaced with the sounds of SHELLING
CUT
EXT. TRENCH – EARLY EVENING
A group of soldiers are crouched in a trench, they are all dirty and ragged. All but two of the soldiers are flinching with every EXPLOSION or passing BULLET. One UNFLINCHING SOLDIER is pressed against the trench wall peering over the edge.
The other CALM SOLDIER is sitting against the opposite trench wall watching the UNFLINCHING SOLDIER.
CALM SOLDIER
Can’t wait to join in ehy DAVEY (DAVID)
DAVID
(turning back to the Calm Soldier)
Sure they wouldn’t stand a chance if I were to go over the top, I just don’t want to make the rest of the lads look bad.
Calm Soldier
Aye, and I’m sure you’d just take a stroll through those shells coming in from Jerry and our boys on the hill .
David
I’m not worried about the shells from our lads, it’s the Jerries they are aiming for.
Calm Soldier
You know those artillery boys couldn’t find their asses with both hands never mind the bleedin Jerries.
A shell lands a few feet from the trench and explodes showering the squad of men in debris. David drops below the lip of the trench and places a hand over his helmet.
David
Jesus that was a close one.
The Calm soldier crosses to the other side of the trench and with his shoulders pressed against the earth wall he peers up over the edge towards a tree lined hill in the distance.
Calm Soldier
Aye, those Jerries have fierce good aim from that position, they could stay up there all day and just lob shells anywhere they wanted to.
As another shell explodes nearby an OFFICER can be seen coming out of a bunker dug into the side of the trench, he is dressed in a pristine uniform and is ducking with every explosion. he is followed closely by a SERGEANT who is walking determinedly towards the squad.
Officer
Ok paddies listen up. We just got orders to move forward once the shelling ceases. You will have time enough to make it to the tree line over by the Scots of the 15th regiment while 9th Heavy Regiment resumes fire on the Jerry Artillery position.
The Officer turns to leave duck back into the bunker but he is stopped as he is addressed by one of the soldiers.
David
Not coming with us then sir?
Before the Officer can reply the Sergeant steps forward
Sergeant
Ok you little paddy fuck, you just volunteered to be first over the top. As for the rest of you I want to see you moving quick and low to get across to those Scots in the 15th. They may only be a bunch of Scots but as far as I’m concerned they make much better soldiers then the lot of you micks.
The Officer can be seen entering the bunker as the Sergeant finishes shouting. After two more shells explode the Sergeant stands up and points at David.
Sergeant
Ok paddy, off you go.
The Calm soldier is watching as David grins at the rest of the men before vaulting over the trench wall. The rest of the squad prepare to leave the trench when there is an explosion. The Calm soldier drops his kit and riffle and jumps out of the trench. The Sergeant forces his way through the men preparing to go over the top.
Sergeant
Pick up your riffle and kit you paddy bastard the 9th HR aren’t going to fuck about waiting for you to get your boyfriend. Move it you stupid micks move move move.
The Squad assemble and leave the trench running in a stooped position towards a line of trees. As they are running they can hear shells WHINE overhead followed by a dull THUMP as they explode on the hill. While running the Calm Soldier spots a prone figure laying near a smoking crater. As he runs by he sees the figure in the crater move but before he can reach the prone figure the sound of overhead shells increases and suddenly there is an explosion between him and the figure in the crater.
POV Calm Soldier
Dirt and debris rains down and the sky can be seen fading in and out of focus then the sky fades to black.
CUT
Fade in.- Int. Medical Tent – Late evening
Two figures can be seen behind a veil of netting, they appear out of focus and their voices are mumbles. As the figures come into focus their voices become clearer. One of the two is Sister Gray the second SHADOWED FIGURE is an unknown male.
Sister Gray
(Talking in a low voice but not whispering)
Look Derrick I know we need all the hands the lord will send us but she is awful.
Fr. KEOGH
Siobhán I’ve told you before you can’t hold these girls to the same standards you would at home, half of them don’t even speak a lick of english and you don’t speak french you can’t expect miracles, not here.
CUT
Int. Medical Tent – Late Evening
Sister Gray is talking to a priest who appears to be in his late 70’s. Over her shoulder a figure is struggling to sit up in a cot. Before the figure is able to sit up Sister Gray looks back over her shoulder.
Sister Gray
Mr. Macatear you lay down in that bed at once.
Throwing the netting open Sister Gray walks quickly over to the figure and gently pushes him back into the cot.
Mr. Macatear
(Horse voice)
David?
Sister Gray
Mr. Macatear do you know where you are?
Mr. Macatear
France.
Sister Gray
You are in a field hospital near Lorraine. Mr. Macatear, do you remember?
Mr. Macatear
Yes. But David.
Sister Gray
Mr. Macatear you have to lie down. Don’t worry about David now.
Sister Gray tries again to push Mr. Macatear back onto the cot.
Mr. Macatear
No, I’m David. Call me David.
Mr. Macatear collapses back onto the cot unconscious. Sister Gray checks his pulse and settles him back into the cot. Fr. Keogh walks up behind her and lays a hand on her shoulder.
Fr. Keogh.
Ah, this is the young man you mentioned. Goodness.
Fr. Keogh makes the sign of the cross and walks around to stand over Mr. Macatear.
Fr. Keogh
Sister Gray, would you be so good as to fetch me my bible and rosary from my tent.
Sister Gray looks as if she wants to disagree but notices the blood soaking through the bandages around the mans leg.
Fr. Keogh
I’ll give him the last rights when you get back Sister.
Mr. Macatear rolls slightly in the cot as he slowly begins to regain consciousness.
CUT
POV Mr. Macatear - INT. Medical Tent – Late Evening
An elderly face is looking downwards, his mouth moving but the sound is muffled so none of the words make sense. The elderly face moves in and out of focus and fades to black as Mr. Macatear begins to loose consciousness again.
Fade Out
Fade in – Ext. Battlefield – Early Evening
A loud BUZZ mutes the sounds of GUNFIRE and EXPLOSIONS off-screen. A Soldiers face is looking downwards, it is covered in mud and blood and is too badly out of focus to see who it is. The Soldier is obviously shouting but none of the words can be heard over the buzzing. The BUZZING slowly starts to fade and the Young mans words are slowly becoming audible.
David
DAD……DAD, can you hear me?
Calm Soldier
Davey? Are you ok?
David
I’m fine dad, I heard the shell coming, it just knocked me around a bit.
The Calm Soldier tries to sit up but David stops him with a hand on his shoulder.
David
No dad, don’t move. I called for a medic but the squad kept moving. The Jerries are going to start shelling again once our lads stop, we have to get back to the trench. I’ll carry you, but we need to stop your bleeding first.
Calm Soldier
Don’t bother with me, you just get back to the squad
David
Don’t be daft, now shut up while I sort our your leg.
David rips a sheet of cotton bandage into strips and ties them around two deep wounds. He then lifts his father onto his shoulder and starts to move back towards the trench.
As they get within sight of the bunker the Officer can be seen huddled in the opening a pair of binoculars held to his face. He is gesturing for David to turn around and head towards the squad.
David
What does that bollocks want now?
David continues to move forward towards the trench. A loud WHINE can be heard approaching from off-screen. Just as the two men reach the lip of the trench the shell explodes obscuring them from view.
CUT
Int. Medical Tent – Late Evening
Fr. Keogh is holding Sister Grays hand in the opening of the Medical tent. When he has left Sister Gray turns around and walks towards the Cot. She is about to put on a mask when she sees something that makes her rush forward. Mr. Macatear is sat on the edge of his cot, blood pooling at his feet from a wound in his leg.
Sister Gray
Mr….I mean David, get back on that bed at once, how many times do I have to tell you.
David
Sure sister, just tell me what happened to Davey. He hasn’t come to see me and nobody has mentioned him since I’ve been here.
Sister Gray
David, I’m sorry but your son isn’t here.
David
You mean?
Sister Gray
No. I don’t mean. I don’t know where he is, you were on your own when you arrived here half dead.
David(Mr. Macatear) finally allows Sister Gray to lay him back onto the cot.
Sister Gray
A condition you are not helping with your constant efforts to get out of this bed.
David(Mr. Macatear)
If I survived that last shell he must have too, can’t you just tell me where he is. Just to, you know, settle me nerves.
Sister Gray
MR. Macatear I haven’t seen hide nor hair of your son since you arrived, he is probably back on the lines.
David(Mr. Macatear)Leans back onto the cot and closes his eyes as Sister Gray tries to change his bloody bandages.
David(Mr. Macatear)
I just want to know he’s ok. I just want to know.
David(Mr. Macatear) passes out just as a figure walks up behind Sister Gray and places a hand on her shoulder.
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