It approaches a destroyer, its sheer iron side towering above the launch, as it bobs up and down alongside.
Cargo nets are dropped over the side, and the men start to step up onto the rail of the bobbing ship, waiting for the rhythmic movement towards the iron wall, grabbing at the rope mesh, struggling to pull themselves up.
Tommy steps up to the railing, next to an exhausted soldier who can barely lift himself up. Tommy grabs his shoulder to steady him on the rail as the launch bounces off the iron wall of the destroyer.
They both grab at the net, Tommy climbing up –
The exhausted soldier has not got his feet into the netting, he slips lower …
The gap between the launch and the destroyer shrinks to nothing –
The soldier’s legs are crushed between the two oblivious craft-He screams – hands pull him up as the craft separate …
EXT. DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
The men collapse onto the deck in exhausted piles. Sailors and Nurses urge them to move below decks.
SAILOR
Down below. Come on, mate –
Tommy follows Alex and his mates to a doorway at the head of the stairs down below. A Nurse is standing there.
NURSE
Come on, boys. There’s a nice cup of tea for you down there. This way, come on.
INT. DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
Tommy starts down the stairs. Gibson has stopped at the top, looking down into the stairwell.
NURSE
Come on, down you go –
Gibson, shaking his head, steps back.
Alex sees this – turns to follow Tommy into the crowd in the hold. They are handed a cup of tea each and a hunk of bread.
EXT. DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
Out on deck, Gibson sits by the companionway in the gathering dark as the ship gets under way …
INT. HOLD, DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
Down below, Tommy and Alex eat and drink hungrily and gratefully. Between bites, Alex gestures to the stairs.
ALEX
What’s wrong with your friend?
Tommy watches the door to the hold close. Takes another bite. Uneasy.
Looks around the hold, packed like the tube at rush hour.
TOMMY
Looking for a quick way out. In case we go down.
Tommy and Alex edge through the crowd towards the stairs …
Cut to:
EXT. MOONSTONE, ENGLISH CHANNEL – DAY
George hands the Shivering Soldier a steaming mug of tea.
The BOOMS start reverberating again.
The Shivering Soldier glances up. Realizes something …
SHIVERING SOLDIER
Where are we going?
MR DAWSON
Dunkirk.
SHIVERING SOLDIER
No, we’re going to England!
MR DAWSON
We have to go to Dunkirk first.
SHIVERING SOLDIER
I’M NOT GOING BACK!
Peter watches from the companionway. The Shivering Soldier throws his arm out at the dark cloud on the horizon –
SHIVERING SOLDIER
Look at it! We go there we’ll die!
Mr Dawson looks at the Shivering Soldier. Calm.
MR DAWSON
I see your point, son. Take your tea below and warm up while we plot a course.
The Shivering Soldier considers this. Then takes his blanket and heads down the companionway. Peter helps him down below.
INT. CABIN, MOONSTONE – CONTINUOUS
Peter opens the door to the forepeak and sits the Shivering Soldier down on a narrow bunk.
PETER
I’ll get you some more tea.
Peter shuts the door. Looks at the bolt. Considering.
EXT. MOONSTONE – CONTINUOUS
George looks up at the Commander. Addresses him with the tone of a child trying to speak like a grown-up …
GEORGE
Is he a coward?
Mr Dawson looks sharply at George.
MR DAWSON
He’s shell-shocked, George. He’s not himself. He may never be himself again.
INT. CABIN, MOONSTONE – MOMENTS LATER
Peter hands the Shivering Soldier a cup of tea. The Shivering Soldier accepts it wordlessly. Staring in front of him. Peter closes the forepeak door. Pauses.
Peter gently slides the bolt.
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier looks down at the mass of ships and boats passing each other. There is the minesweeper, Castor, every inch of her deck covered with troops –
COLLINS
(over radio)
Heinkel, eleven o’clock, lining up to drop her load on that minesweeper –
Farrier’s head snaps around – spots the German bomber –
FARRIER
Fighters?
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – CONTINUOUS
Collins peers down, scanning around the Heinkel bomber for its fighter escort … Spots –
COLLINS
109s – off her starboard –
FARRIER
(over radio)
I’m on the bomber.
Collins pushes forward into a dive …
EXT. SKY OVER ENGLISH CHANNEL – CONTINUOUS
Spitfire 2 dives at the German fighters, cannons blasting …
Spitfire 1 dives at the German bomber, cannons blasting …
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – CONTINUOUS
Farrier has the Heinkel in his sights, bucking and weaving as his Spitfire slices down through turbulent air … He pushes the button on the stick which controls his guns …
He rolls away from the Heinkel as he dives beneath it, taking his finger off the trigger, fighting the g’s with his neck as he pulls out of the dive …
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – CONTINUOUS
Collins fires at one of the 109s until he sees smoke trailing. He dives between the German planes …
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – CONTINUOUS
Farrier scans his surroundings as he tries to orient himself relative to the Heinkel …
Finding it, he pulls the stick, lining up for another run at it, this time from below …
The bomber is in his sights – he fires his guns …
He flashes past, dangerously close to its top turret which hurls tracer bullets at him. He sees sparking on the hull of the bomber –
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – CONTINUOUS
Coming around, starting to climb, Collins sees the Heinkel veer off course, heading away from the minesweeper –
COLLINS
She’s turning – you must’ve damaged her.
FARRIER
(over radio)
Where’s the escort?
COLLINS
I got one of –
BLAM BLAM BLAM!! Cannon fire rips into Spitfire 2. Collins yanks the stick but it’s too late. Flames leap from the fuselage …
COLLINS
I’m going down.
FARRIER
(over radio)
I’m on him – bail out.
Collins checks his parachute, opens the canopy. The wind howls inside the cockpit. He surveys the water below – slides his canopy shut again.
COLLINS
The swell looks good, I’m ditching.
Cut to:
INT. HOLD, DESTROYER – NIGHT
The munching and slurping of starving soldiers.
The engines kick into gear as the destroyer starts to move –
A cheer goes up around the hundreds of men in the hold …
EXT. DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
Up on deck, Gibson watches several row boats heading towards them. Hearing the engines, they start shouting –
MALE VOICES
Wait! Wait for us!
Gibson spots white water on the black sea – a wake –
MALE VOICE
(out of shot)
TORPEDO!
An explosion lifts water at the sid
e of the ship –
INT. HOLD, DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
The cheering stops, Boooooms shudder the suddenly fragile iron walls of the hold, massive percussions of wobbling metal sheets.
EXT. DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
A blast that moves every bolt of the destroyer –
INT. HOLD, DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
Anyone standing is thrown off their feet –
EXT. DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
A vast plume of fire explodes up and out of the funnel. The deck blasts apart –
INT. HOLD, DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
Men scream as the iron plates of the walls buckle. A glimpse of water blasting in –
The lights go out. Complete darkness …
Sound of men screaming barely audible over the sound of blasting water and bending metal –
EXT. DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
The ship lists, rapidly sinking. The row boats pull away, hard. Gibson prepares to jump – glances back at the closed door to the hold – jumps back, opens the door –
INT. HOLD, DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
Blackness.
The dim light of the open door becomes a beacon. Tommy spots Gibson waving –
Tommy and Alex claw their way up the steps as the entire ship goes under –
EXT. DESTROYER – CONTINUOUS
Tommy and Alex burst free of the door as it sinks beneath the waves and –
They pull away from the disappearing ship with the strength born of absolute desperation …
Cut to:
EXT. MOONSTONE, ENGLISH CHANNEL – DAY
George hears planes behind them. He looks up –
Three Spitfires in confident formation sweep overhead …
Mr Dawson keeps his eyes on the black smoke ahead of them.
MR DAWSON
Spitfires, George. Greatest plane ever built.
George smiles. Then looks quizzical –
GEORGE
You didn’t even look.
MR DAWSON
Rolls Royce Merlin engines. Sweetest sound you could hear out here.
INT. CABIN, MOONSTONE – CONTINUOUS
Peter is folding a chart. A clicking sound catches his attention – the handle of the forepeak door is being rattled from the other side. Peter freezes, uncertain what to do …
BANG – the rattles become bangs–
SHIVERING SOLDIER
(out of shot)
Hello?! Anyone there?!
Peter puts the chart down, takes a step towards the door –
BANG!
SHIVERING SOLDIER
(out of shot)
OPEN UP, DAMMIT!
Peter freezes. Turns back to the companionway –
EXT. MOONSTONE – CONTINUOUS
Peter pokes his head out. Mr Dawson looks at him, quizzical –
PETER
He wants to come out –
The banging and shouting of the Shivering Soldier continues.
MR DAWSON
What did you do? Lock him in?
Peter is at a loss.
Let him out, for God’s sake!
INT. CABIN, MOONSTONE – CONTINUOUS
Peter comes down the companionway, reluctantly approaching the banging, rattling door …
The banging stops …
Peter reaches up to the bolt, braces, gently slides it back …
Opens the door. The forepeak is empty … Peter rushes in, spots the open forward hatch …
EXT. MOONSTONE, CONTINUOUS
Mr Dawson leans down to try and see in the cabin –
SHIVERING SOLDIER
(out of shot)
You haven’t turned around!
Mr Dawson turns calmly to the Shivering Soldier.
MR DAWSON
No. We have a job to do.
SHIVERING SOLDIER
Job? This is a pleasure yacht! You’re weekend sailors, not the bloody navy! A man your age –
MR DAWSON
Men my age dictate this war. Why are we allowed to send our children to fight it?
SHIVERING SOLDIER
YOU SHOULD BE AT HOME!
MR DAWSON
There won’t be any home if we allow this slaughter across the Channel. There’s no hiding from this.
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier chases the 109 as it circles around on Collins …
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – DAY
Collins glances out at his burning wing. Checks his altimeter, checks his canopy is locked in the half-open position –
Lower …
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – CONTINUOUS
Farrier fires at the 109, chasing him off –
FARRIER
He’s turned tail, I’m after him –
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – CONTINUOUS
Collins checks his belts are tight, checks the release pin on his harness –
COLLINS
Good luck. Watch your fuel … (Reads.) Fifteen gallons.
Checks his Mae West, puffing into the inflating tube –
Lower …
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – CONTINUOUS
Farrier grease pencils the reading on the chart –
FARRIER
Fifteen gallons, understood …
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – CONTINUOUS
FARRIER
(over radio)
Best of luck, Collins.
Collins checks wind direction, checks wave direction on the surface of the water –
Lower …
Turns, lining up along the the waves as he descends …
Lower …
The water rushes by blindingly fast …
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier watches Spitfire 2 carve gracefully across the water, before coming to a stop, floating.
Farrier spots a civilian yacht heading for Collins …
He sees Collins’ hand stick out of the canopy, waving … He tips his wings at Collins, turns away, looks ahead, chasing the 109 towards Dunkirk …
Cut to:
EXT. WATER, JUST OUTSIDE DUNKIRK HARBOUR – NIGHT
Tommy and Alex, life jackets on, swim on the swell, bodies and burning wreckage all around, fuel burning on the surface of the water.
Tommy and Alex pull for an overloaded row boat. Tommy grabs the side, tries to climb. He’s pushed off by the men inside –
MALE VOICE
Piss off – it’s too crowded!
Alex is grabbing at the rail as well –
ALEX
You can’t leave us! Make some room –
SOLDIER
(out of shot)
You men, leave off. You’ll capsize the boat – it’s gone over twice on the way out here …
Tommy looks at the Soldier. It is the Shivering Soldier, not yet shivering, in full control of his faculties.
SOLDIER
You have to stay calm. There are plenty of boats.
ALEX
Calm?! Wait till you get torpedoed, then tell us to be calm!
SOLDIER
You have life jackets?
MALE VOICE
Yeah, they do.
SOLDIER
Don’t panic, the water’s not too rough, or too cold. We’re heading back to the beach –
MALE VOICE
Fuck off! Let’s go to Dover!
Several voices join in.
SOLDIER
We can’t make it across the Channel on this, lads. We need to get back to the beach and wait for another ride. (Gestures.) It’s not even half a mile. You men in the water float here, save your strength, we’ll come back for you.
The men start rowing.
Gibson is in the back. Alex spots him.
Gibson quietly drops the rear painter (a small rope attached to the stern) into the black water.
Alex takes it, hands part of it to Tommy and they quietly drag behind the boat as it rows in to the shore … The men in the rear not
ice, but nobody says anything …
As the dawn breaks, the small, packed boat pulls across the calm water to the vast, packed beach at Dunkirk.
Cut to:
EXT. MOONSTONE – DAY
The Shivering Soldier steps up to Mr Dawson –
SHIVERING SOLDIER
What is it you think you can do out there?! On this thing?!
MR DAWSON
Not just us. The call went out – we won’t be the only ones to answer.
SHIVERING SOLDIER
YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE GUNS!
MR DAWSON
Did you have a gun?
SHIVERING SOLDIER
Course. A rifle – 303.
MR DAWSON
Did it help you against the dive bombers? Or the U-boats?
The Shivering Soldier glares at Mr Dawson.
SHIVERING SOLDIER
You’re an old fool. And you’re going to die if you don’t turn around.
The booms echo. Closer now.
SHIVERING SOLDIER
We’re turning around, now!
The Shivering Soldier steps towards Mr Dawson, screaming at the top of his lungs –
SHIVERING SOLDIER
TURN IT AROUND! TURN IT AROUND! –
Peter, hearing this, makes his way back from the bow. The Shivering Soldier grabs the wheel. George grabs his shoulder –
The Shivering Soldier smashes his elbow into George’s face, sending him flying backwards down the companionway –
Dunkirk Page 6