Short screenplay from the Done Deal Memorial Day contest,
June 2007
"Wings of Eagles"
FADE IN:
EXT. SKIES OVER FRANCE - DAY
Smoke trails write curling patterns across the blue sky as
biplanes fight to the death.
A German biplane spirals down in flames and EXPLODES on the
ground. The wreckage burns, a pillar of black smoke marks
the pilot's grave.
An American biplane zooms through the smoke, wings wiggling.
EXT. YODEL'S COCKPIT - FLYING - DAY
The pilot cranes his neck to check out the burning wreckage
below. CORPORAL PETE YODEL grins at his victory. 22,
handsome, cocky, a gifted pilot who thinks the Great War is
just... well, great.
Tracer rounds whip past Yodel's head, his grin vanishes,
another German is on his tail, guns blazing.
EXT. AERIAL COMBAT - YODEL VS. GERMAN - DAY
Yodel twists and turns and somehow gets behind the German
and shoots him full of holes! The German trails smoke and
breaks off, flying close to the ground.
EXT. YODEL'S COCKPIT - FLYING - DAY
Yodel watches the German fly away as he flies off in another
direction. He slaps his machine guns, not happy at all.
EXT. AMERICAN AIR BASE - DAY
Tin huts, a dirt runway, a limp American flag.
Just off the runway two MECHANICS service a biplane, they
stop and watch as Yodel brings his biplane in to land.
MECHANIC #1
Yodel's good but he's no Rogers,
that's for sure.
EXT. YODEL'S BIPLANE - AIRFIELD - DAY
Yodel climbs down and takes off his leather flying helmet.
BRIGGS, his mechanic, older and wiser, walks up and examines
the biplane, notices the bullet holes.
BRIGGS
I guess the ventilation gives you
extra lift, huh?
YODEL
You're a funny man, Briggs. Get
your paint brush, I need another
cross on my fuselage. Right there
beside the other two.
Two German crosses already decorate the fuselage.
BRIGGS
If it's all right with you, I'll
wait until it's confirmed.
YODEL
It will be.
INT. ADMINISTRATION HUT - DAY
STAFF SERGEANT SHAW looks up from papers as Yodel enters.
Shaw jerks his thumb over his shoulder, telling Yodel to go
see CAPTAIN KERAWAY, 30s. Yodel saunters over to Keraway's
desk.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
Corporal Yodel. You're back.
YODEL
Guess I am, sir.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
Where are Lieutenant Rogers and
Sergeant Mackenzie?
YODEL
Soon as we hit low cloud they pulled
a disappearing act. Guess they must
have got lost.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
Stand to attention.
Yodel wearily stands to attention, he's been here before.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
At this morning's briefing you were
told to patrol Sector Nine. According
to reports from our esteemed British
colleagues, you flew into Sector
Seven.
YODEL
In pursuit of a Boche fighter.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
Navigation isn't your strong point,
is it Yodel?
YODEL
There's nothing wrong with my map
reading, Captain. It's those pesky
Germans, they just won't respect the
grid lines. And by the way? I shot
that Boche down. Maybe the Brits
will be kind enough to confirm my
kill.
A droning biplane engine catches their attention.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
Sergeant Shaw, see who that is--
YODEL
It's Rogers.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
That's a wild guess.
YODEL
(honestly surprised)
It's Rogers' engine.
EXT. ADMINISTRATION HUT - DAY
Yodel, Captain Karaway and Shaw exit the hut and watch as a
biplane glides in to land.
EXT. ROGERS' BIPLANE - AIRFIELD - DAY
LIEUTENANT BILL ROGERS wearily climbs down and takes off his
oil-spattered goggles and leather flying helmet. He surveys
the damage to his riddled kite, shakes his head.
Rogers looks over at the administration hut, sees the three
men. His eyes narrow.
INT. SHARED PILOT QUARTERS HUT - DAY
Yodel peels off his fleece jacket and hangs it up. He pours
water into a bowl and splashes his face.
SERGEANT OREN MARTIN lies on a lower bunk reading a book.
MARTIN
This English dame is driving me nuts,
she can't decide if she wants the
English guy or the French guy.
YODEL
I bet if one of 'em turned up wearing
a pilot's uniform, she'd decide pretty
damn quick.
MARTIN
Are you speaking from experience?
YODEL
It's a theory I'm working on.
Staff Sergeant Shaw enters.
SHAW
Thought you'd like to know. Sergeant
Mackenzie came down on the British
side of the line.
MARTIN
He okay?
SHAW
He's got two busted legs. Captain
thinks he might be shipped home.
Yodel towels his face dry.
YODEL
That's too bad.
SHAW
Rogers confirmed they lost you in
cloud. You're off the hook.
YODEL
I was never on the hook.
Shaw exits, glancing at Martin on the way out. His look
says "This boy is trouble." Martin shrugs.
MARTIN
They tell me my kite's ready to fly
again.
YODEL
That's bad news.
MARTIN
What's that supposed to mean?
YODEL
If you're shooting down Germans,
that means there's less for me.
Martin shakes his head and reads his book. Yodel puts on a
shirt and buttons it up.
EXT. SHARED PILOT QUARTERS HUT - DAY
Yodel exits the hut and runs into Rogers' fist. Yodel hits
the ground and lies stunned for a moment.
ROGERS
Sam Mackenzie sends his love.
YODEL
Go ahead, blame it on me. You're
the one who was with him.
ROGERS
Four Germans jumped us. You should'a
been there.
Rogers stamps into the hut. Yodel gets up, rubs his jaw.
INT. ADMINISTRATION HUT - DAY
Yodel, Rogers, Martin and NEFFER, a young pilot new to the
group, sit as Captain Keraway points to a detailed map.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
We'll be supporting the big push in
Sector Nine today, I repeat--
(looking at Yodel)
--Sector Nine. That means keeping
the Germans' heads down. Lieutenant
Rogers, you'll be flying with Sergeant
Martin as your wingman. You two
will lead the attack.
Yodel senses what's coming... doesn't want to hear it.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
Corporal Yodel, you'll fly with
Private Neffer as your wingman.
You'll provide straffing support for
Lieutenant Rogers and Sergeant Martin.
YODEL
I don't see why I should have to
nursemaid some damn rookie.
No one's happy with that, least of all nervous Neffer.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
If any Boche aircraft are sighted,
Lieutenant Rogers will decide whether
to withdraw or engage. You'll watch
for his signals and follow his
instructions. Is that understood?
Keraway and Yodel lock stares. Yodel sighs, defeated.
YODEL
Yes, sir.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
Briefing is concluded. See Staff
Sergeant Shaw for signals of the day
and weather reports.
Everyone gets up and heads for Shaw's desk.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
Yodel.
Yodel stops, turns back.
CAPTAIN KERAWAY
It's Neffer's first mission. Try
and make sure it's not his last.
EXT. FLYING ABOVE GERMAN TRENCHES - VARIOUS - DAY
Four American biplanes, two leading, two following.
German soldiers with spike helmets see the four biplanes
flying overhead. SHOUTS of alarm, random SHOTS.
Rogers looks down -- sees something -- signals to Martin.
Martin gives a thumbs-up to Rogers.
Rogers chucks a bomb at the Germans below.
An EXPLOSION -- flying mud, SCREAMS.
Yodel fires his machine guns.
German soldiers are mowed down by Yodel's deadly fire.
Yodel looks up--
Six German biplanes are diving like hawks on their prey!
Oblivious, Rogers chucks another bomb, and another...
Yodel wiggles his wings, look at me, look at me!
Martin looks back over his shoulder -- sees Yodel -- looks
up, reacts with horror--
The leading German biplane spits tracer.
Martin is riddled with bullets, his biplane flips over and
crashes and blows up.
Rogers looks up, sees the danger, banks his plane, looks
around for Yodel and Neffer.
Neffer's looking everywhere, scared witless, he sees Rogers,
Rogers circles his arm and points -- return to base!
Yodel slaps his guns and points up, let's take 'em on!
Rogers shakes his head, return to base, return to base!
The three American biplanes turn and run for it.
The six German biplanes pair off, two for each American.
Yodel flips his biplane into a barrel roll, he's behind an
astonished German, he blasts the German out of the sky.
But Rogers sees Yodel's maneuver leaves Neffer vulnerable.
ROGERS
Stay with Neffer, dammit! Stay with
your wingman!
Neffer tries to shake the Germans on his tail but they stick
to him like glue, bullet holes pepper his wings.
Yodel outmaneuvers and coldly kills his second German.
Rogers banks and flies across Neffer's tail -- drawing fire
from four German biplanes -- giving Neffer a chance.
Rogers dies in a hail of bullets, he slumps forward.
Yodel turns in time to see Rogers' biplane dive into the
ground. Yodel understands what Rogers did. Jesus!
The two Germans who killed Rogers turn and head for home.
Yodel angrily banks after them, gets one in his sights, pulls
the trigger -- his guns are empty! Yodel curses.
Yodel looks down, sees the two Germans on Neffer's tail.
Neffer still can't shake the Germans off, he's trailing smoke
and he's scared, bullets zip and sping around him.
Yodel dives in pursuit.
Neffer skims low over the ground, the Germans are equally
low, closing the last inches for the inevitable kill.
Yodel's biplane smashes through the Germans' wings, sending
them all tumbling into the ground. Three fiery EXPLOSIONS.
Neffer looks back. Three columns of black smoke rise above
the German trenches. Neffer continues on, a lone eagle,
flying home.
FADE OUT
05/07
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