Shooting Stars - Ross Osterholt
FLORENCE
(Voiceover)
Darling, It’s been rough on this side of the pond. I wish for nothing more than to see your face again. In the day I am busy with my usual activities, and those are going well. There is a lack of all vital things here, as I’m sure you are also experiencing. We are all hungry all of the time. Food is scarce and when it’s around it’s dull and dry. The days are monotonous, and the nights are loud. By night I fear sleep, and even if I didn’t it would still come with great difficulty. There is a great commotion that comes over people when the moon arises and darkness falls. It is such a strange thing. The kind you would love to analyze if you were over here. Always a people person you are.
FADE IN:
EXT. FOREST – DAY
The voiceover continues over the following footage. We see the text on screen: GERMANY – 1944
As the black fades, we see a forest with smoke lingering in the air, blowing between the trees. We see sandbags, trash, tattered fabrics and clothing, random gear, guns, puddles and mud, etc. The words said in the voiceover match up with the visuals. “We are all hungry” and we see empty cans and trash. “I fear sleep” and we see guns and bullet casings. Etc.
CUT TO:
INT. POST OFFICE – DAY
We see the text on screen: AMERICA – 1944. HARVEY LEVENTHAL
walks into the Post Office. A young man (Early 20s), wearing casual clothing fitting for the era. He waits behind the person in front of him impatiently. When they leave he eagerly goes up to the CLERK. An old man
with a friendly but tired face.
HARVEY
Hey-
CLERK
Excuse me! You forgot your pen!
The person that just left returns and reaches past Harvey, who is taken aback by the sudden intrusion.
HARVEY
Excuse me sorry.
They take the pen from the Clerk and nod in thanks and leave.
HARVEY (CONT’D)
Hey. Anything for me?
The clerk seems to recognize Harvey, he gives him a flat smirk.
CLERK
Sorry Harvey, still nothin’.
HARVEY
Did ya check?
The Clerk sighs and turns around, checking the shelves for any recent mail. It’s not long before he turns back to Harvey.
CLERK
(With a shrug)
Nothin’.
HARVEY
Really? Nothing from overseas or anything?
The clerk shakes his head. Harvey turns away and crosses the store to the newspaper section.
CLERK
You know it usually takes quite a bit for letters to cross the water.
Harvey, not listening, picks up the day’s paper. He flips through the pages quickly without much interest in the words he sees. He stops on a page and reads over it intensely, but his interest wanes and he flops the paper down back onto the stack. He turns to the Clerk, who is now helping another person.
HARVEY
Thanks anyway.
The Clerk is not listening, helping the other person.
HARVEY (CONT’D)
I’ll be back tomorrow.
As Harvey leaves, the Clerk waves an uninterested goodbye, still talking to his customer.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST – DAY
A group of American soldiers trod through the forest. They are quiet, bored, and exhausted. We see FLORENCE VITA, a young man (early 20s) walking in the middle of this group. Another soldier catches up to him and walks alongside, wiping his nose and out of breath.
RONNIE
Vita. Vita you ever heard of Robert
Frost?
FLORENCE
(Scoffing)
You read?
RONNIE
Hey man.
FLORENCE
I never thought of RoNaLd as much of a poet.
RONNIE
And FlOrEnCe is?
FLORENCE
Oof not at all. I’ve got someone back home that never stops talking about it though.
RONNIE
Ooo someone back home huh? Lucky you, I’ve got my old man and a dog.
Beat.
RONNIE (CONT’D)
Say, why’d you enlist? I’m asking everyone, I wanna write a little documentary book after all this.
FLORENCE
You write too?
RONNIE
I ought to shoot you where you stand.
The two laugh and continue walking for a beat.
FLORENCE
Why’d YOU enlist?
RONNIE
Me? Oh, I had nothing better to do.
Florence scoffs.
RONNIE (CONT’D)
My daddy fought in The Great War. Raised me with all of his “grand adventure” stories. Knew that since he can’t fight no more I ought to- The soldier in front of them puts an arm out to stop them, he points to the loose rocky ground, indicating for them to
watch their step over a specific spot. They traverse carefully and continue onward.
RONNIE (CONT’D)
Anyway. Why DID you enlist?
Florence shrugs.
RONNIE (CONT’D)
(With a sly smile)
You say you got people back home, you got a missus?
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT – DAY
Immediately we cut to a cat. It is swiftly swooped up by Harvey and carried like a baby.
HARVEY
How long am I gonna have to babysit you? You ought to get a job and feed yourself at this rate. Harvey points at the cat sharply.
HARVEY (CONT’D)
Florence has made you soft. You wouldn’t last a day out in the real world.
The cat cuddles him, then hangs over the edge of his arms. He sets it down on the bed, which is covered with physics textbooks and many papers of homework. Harvey puts his hands on his hips, and sighs. He sits on the bed next to the cat and shows it one of the papers.
HARVEY (CONT’D)
Can you figure this stuff out?
He waits for a response. The cat sniffs the paper. Harvey begins to gather the other papers.
HARVEY (CONT’D)
Well it’s due tomorrow so you’d better get to it!
CUT TO:
Harvey is sitting on the bed with the cat on his lap. He is holding the book “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” in front of the cat. He turns the page and reads:
HARVEY (CONT’D)
“When you notice a cat in profound meditation, the reason, I tell you, is always the same. His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation of the thought, the thought, the thought of his name.”
CUT TO:
Harvey is searching the apartment, looking high and low. Beneath tables and above cabinets.
HARVEY (CONT’D)
Elizabeth?
He searches more.
HARVEY (CONT’D)
Come out kitty.
He shakes a bowl of kibble and wiggles a shoelace above the ground as a cat toy.
HARVEY (CONT’D)
(Sing-song)
Elizabeth? Where are you?
The camera pans down to show the cat stalking below the bed. It creeps forward, inching towards the shoelace. As it rushes to attack it we cut.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST – DAY
The soldiers stalk low but quickly along the edge of a rocky hill. They stop and crouch. Ronnie grabs Florence’s shoulder to get his attention from behind and they both turn to their commander, who speaks to the group quietly.
COMMANDER
Comin’ up to our left, up past this outcrop, is the watch post. Stay low and hidden, but watch your ankles on these rocks. We’re going to split and surround the post, then go up and surprise ’em. Vita and you two, go up ahead past the
boulder. Rest of you come with me.
He points out certain soldiers as he says this, Florence being one of them. Ronnie remains with the commander’s group. Florence’s group goes ahead and waits at the edge of the rocky outcropping that has been concealing them. He glances back at the commander for guidance, they both wait a beat, and then the commander gives a sign to go. Both groups go off in their separate directions.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – LATE AFTERNOON
Harvey exits the apartment building and walks to the street. As he leaves the threshold of his building he passes two people whispering secretively, when Harvey passes they stop and stare suspiciously. There is a group beginning to gather in the middle of the street. Harvey peers at them as he walks past, trying to figure out what is going on. A person bumps him roughly in the shoulder as he walks by, they say nothing and continue without a glance. Harvey continues forward, approaching the post office.
Before he gets there a MAN stumbles into him, causing him to drop the envelope he’s holding. The man picks up the envelope and reads the return name as he hands it back to Harvey. As Harvey tries to take it, the man doesn’t let go.
MAN
Leventhal.
The man releases the envelope and Harvey holds it to his chest, confused. He shows an awkward smile and tries to walk around and past the man, but two other men come to surround him.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST – DAY
Florence and the two other soldiers with him creep past trees and along the rocky ground. They slowly approach the crest of the hill where sandbags can be seen. Florence looks to the others to make sure they are on the same page. They all nod in agreement. With guns held ready in front of them, the three men rush up the hill and over the sandbags. At the same time, the other group of soldiers crest the hill across from them. Both groups point their guns at each other in surprise, Ronnie and Florence meeting eyes. They all then sweep their muzzles around the entire area ensuring it is clear. Other than these American soldiers, not a soul is here. The men search the area, peering down into the trees and checking the supplies on the ground to see how long they have been left undisturbed.
RONNIE
How long you think they’ve been
gone?
FLORENCE
Two minutes to two years, hard to tell. This place is cleared.
RONNIE
Damned efficient.
Florence chuckles in agreement. The two walk to a small pile of supplies and begin to look through it, checking to see if any of the cans are intact. Ronnie twists his ankle on a rock as they walk, stifling a curse.
RONNIE (CONT’D)
Ow. Fuckin’ Nazis bringing me all the way up here and I don’t even get to shoot any of ’em.
Ronnie throws an empty can at Florence.
FLORENCE
Keep talkin’ and I’ll shoot you instead.
RONNIE
Keep talkin’ and I’ll turn you into target practice.
FLORENCE
Yea cause you always hit your target huh?
Ronnie’s arms fall to his sides in offense. He then reaches down and picks up a stick. He enters an en-garde position, challenging Florence to a duel.
RONNIE
(French accent)
You insult my honor sir. Prepare to meet my blade.
Florence removes his bayonet from his gun and enters the same fighting stance. The two begin to engage in a reserved sword fight.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – LATE AFTERNOON
The three men surround Harvey. The crowd in the street has grown. There is a tension in the air. This crowd seems full of unrest. As the man speaks, the three close in on Harvey, forcing him to walk backwards towards the crowd.
MAN
You know we sent our boys overseas for you right? Your people? You couldn’t even go and fight for your own kind. Among your kind. At least if you died overseas it’d mean something. This war wasn’t none of our business and you think you’re too good for us.
The man jabs his finger into Harvey’s chest as he says this last word. As the man speaks, the crowd grows rowdy behind.
MAN (CONT’D)
Why do you deserve to sit pretty here?
(MORE)
MAN (CONT’D)
My brother is off fighting for your ass and you’re here doing what? Sending little letters? Who’s out there expecting letters from a rat like you?
The man slaps the letter out of Harvey’s hand and onto the ground. Someone in the crowd throws a rock across the way at another person, and suddenly the mass erupts into chaos around Harvey and the three men. People are attacking each
other, punches rain and people fall to the ground. Stones are thrown, fires are started, smoke rises among the horde. Invigorated by the chaos, the man shoves Harvey and the two others begin attacking him. It’s not long before he is on the ground being kicked by the three of them. We see the pandemonium unfold around this area, reminiscent of a classic war movie battle scene. All riot footage is in slow motion.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST – DAY
At the same time, we see our soldiers sitting around in this empty encampment. They look unbelievably bored. Ronnie, Florence, and a few others sit against a line of sandbags. An empty can sits in front of them and they take turns attempting to toss pebbles into said can. The sound of the pebbles pinging off the metal can are rhythmic. There is a soldier attempting to sleep across from them.
SLEEPING SOLDIER
Hey can you shut the fuck up?
RONNIE
Fuck else you want us to do? They’ve got us sitting here for no reason and we don’t even know why.
He tosses a pebble at the soldier, who swats it away.
SLEEPING SOLDIER
Be bored quieter.
RONNIE
Whatever man.
The soldier trying to sleep throws the pebble back at Ronnie.
FLORENCE
I’ve got a deck of cards.
RONNIE
Why the hell didn’t you tell us that 4 hours ago?
Florence smirks a devious smile and removes the deck from his coat.
FLORENCE
Missin’ a few cards but.
He begins to deal the cards.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – DUSK
We cut to see Harvey unmoving on the ground, the envelope next to him, laying amidst the running and panicking flocks
of people as police join the fray. The camera dollies backwards away from Harvey’s body, revealing more of the chaotic streets as night falls.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST – DAY
The soldiers are playing cards. They seems so very bored and over-it. One of the other soldiers has dozed off and Ronnie carefully switches his hand of cards with the other, much to the amusement of the other men. Ronnie shushes them to not laugh loudly. He clears his throat.
RONNIE
All in. I win.
He pushes his pile of pebbles into the middle of the group and lays down his cards. The sleeping soldier awakens to disappointment and throws his cards down. Ronnie gathers his winnings, a decent pile of pebbles, and starts tossing them at various people, who swat them away and throw them back. The commander approaches and all of this group rushes to stand to attention.
COMMANDER
Sergeant Vita.
FLORENCE
Sir.
COMMANDER
Come with me.
FLORENCE
Yes sir.
The two leave the vicinity of the rest of the group, walking down into a beautiful section of trees. The commander removes his hat with a solemn look.
COMMANDER
I’ve received a letter for you from one “Mrs. Bridgeport”.
FLORENCE
My neighbor sir?
COMMANDER
She left a note attached saying she delivered it on behalf of the one who wrote it. I am sorry for your loss Vita.
The commander hands Florence the envelope with a solemn nod. He places a hand on his shoulder as he leaves him alone. Florence quickly removes the letter from the envelope.
FLORENCE
(Under his breath)
“Darling its been rough on this side of the pond…”
Florence closes the letter and takes a second to process what is happening. He then goes to a nearby tree and sits against it. The scenery is beautiful. He takes a breath, then opens the letter again, this time reading in his head. As we hear the following voiceover, we see footage of the empty street where Harvey died, his bed that will never be slept in again with homework lying unfinished, the shoelace and bowl of kibble, a window left open.
HARVEY
(Voiceover)
Always a people person you are. I wish others shared your same heart. This war has given fangs to the jaws of hatred. Humans are no longer seen as such. How can we go on this way? I tell myself that you went off to fight to put a stop to things like this, yet I fear walking outside. It makes me wonder how a battle across an ocean could ever fix things here. I miss you lots. Hope to hear from you soon. -Your love.