Jack alexander

Jack AlexanderA Bridge for a Cross

Jack alexander

FADE IN:

Quote: In Peace, Sons bury their Fathers, in War, Fathers bury theirSons.

The following film is based on true events, following the accountsof a real soldier and his men.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. HOLLAND COUNTRYSIDE NIGHT

Various establishing shots of C-47s flying peacefully over theHolland countryside, no city to be seen.

INT. GLIDER NIGHT

CAIN (A stiff expression on his faceand body language. He is trying not to show fear among his men.)

When we land I want sound discipline until I say otherwise, get toyour platoon leader and keep moving.

As the glider approaches its designated landing zone, the camerapans across the entire glider to focus on each soldiers preparingfor impact.

PRIVATE (Talking to another soldier)

You know Ive got a feeling there are Germans in Arnhem.

PRIVATE 2 (Sarcastic)

Well you dont bloody say, hey why dont we drop in Berlin? I amsure there are Germans there too.

PRIVATE 1

I am simply saying we are being given dogshit, I mean its thebridge closest to Germany over the Rhine. Wouldnt it be ridiculous

that it is totally undefended?

PRIVATE 2

Then why dont you ask the Lieutenant?

PRIVATE 1

Hey Lieutenant! Do you-

Jack alexander

He abruptly and without warning cut off by the sound of the tow ropebecoming disconnected from the C-47, causing the glider to staggerwhile the tow rope coils up and lashes back at them. The impact ofthe rope breaks the glass windows.

LIEUTENANT TAYLOR

What the bloody hell was that??!!

The glider makes a safe landing in a field, bumping over the roughground and rips through a fence before coming to a standstill.

CAIN

Is everyone alright!? Get to your platoon leaders now!

SEVERAL SOLDIERS

Yes sir!

A cluster of gliders crash land in a field in a smoke screen of dustand debris. Squads of men rushing to their rally positions and theirCOs. Cains scattered remains of his company rush towards him.

CAIN

Are we all here? Sergeant, get the map; we need to know where therest of the bloody 1st landed.

SERGEANT

Majorsir something just confused my knowledge of this operationsir.

CAIN

Go on Sergeant.

SERGEANT

Where the bloody hell did we just land!?

Silence proceeds for a minute. The faces of each soldier are shown,some are confused, some look fearful, some already smoking before

Cain comes to his decision.

Jack alexander

CAIN

Well the highway is just over there 150 yards south, it continuespredictably into Arnhem to the north east. It looks like weve got

an 8 mile fast march.

SERGEANT

8 miles? We are 24 hours late to begin with, and what if we run intoJerry on the way there?

CAIN

No MG42s were reported on the briefing map so any remnants of abunker would have been deserted in order for them to reinforce the

Forward Combat Zone efficiently.

CORPORAL

Whats the plan of action sir?

CAIN

We move out and capture the roads that are currently intact so wecan move the armour through when they arrive. The main road leadingto the bridge is our primary objective; the bridge is our goldentreasure at the end of the rainbow. Once we reach the perimeter of

the city we meet up with A and D Companies to make a push forOosterbeek, then we head for the bridge.

As the soldiers depart on their 8 mile walk to the city, there areno signs of German activity. Scenes continue in a peaceful manner ofcountryside filled with British troops until a city eventuallyappears.

EXT. ARNHEM CITY OUTSKIRTS DAY

A peaceful looking suburb on the outskirts of Arnhem, as the menapproach the streets a woman is noticed looking out a window at theBritish with a stiff posture and blank face which slightly unnervesCain and the men who spotted her. As soon as she closes the window asingle gunshot is fired but is only noticed by no less than 3 men. ABritish soldier falls straight down with a hole on his forehead.

CAIN

INCOMING! RIGHT FLANK! COVER, COVER!

Machine gun starts spraying at the pinned troops and the Britishstart garrisoning any buildings they could to avoid the shots. Ablazing gun fight erupts in the suburbs, with men storming buildingsto clear German troops. Soldiers are being killed all over the placeon both sides.

Jack alexander

CAIN

Get those PIATs ready and lay down suppressing fire! Taylor, takeyour platoon and clear the left flank and watch the road! Dont letanything get through!

LEUTENENT TAYLOR

11TH PLATOON ON ME! CLEAR THOSE BUILDINGS!

PRIVATE

PIAT is loaded and ready sir!

CAIN

Knock out that MG42 NOW!

The PIAT is a light anti-tank weapon which the Paratroopers hateddue to its huge weight and complicated loading procedure, but wasthe necessary tool for the job. A loud popping sound is heard fromthe PIAT and the MG42 nest disappears in a huge plume of smoke.

CAIN

COMPANY! MOVE UP! CLEAR THE BUILDINGS!

As CAIN moves up he looks around to notice up to 10 of his men arelying stone dead. When he noticed one fallen soldier his eyes staredback at him, he quickly releases himself from the trance and movesinto the town.

CAIN

Keep moving men! Dont stop until you hit the bridge!

Just as he said this unmistakable sound of a tanks engine rumblingalong a road nearby was heard by everyone, the men stopped abruptly.

SOLDIER

I thought the 2nd Army wasnt scheduled here for another 3 days?

As CAIN worriedly looks around for clues he spots a tank rolling onthe road towards them and is the first to see it.

CAIN

TIGER!! COVER! COVER!

SHARP

We should weave in and out of cover along the outskirts!

Jack alexander

CAIN

That is not our plan Lieutenant! EVERYONE! Move in to the dell!Centre road along the bank!

As the Company moved along the main road, without warning literallyall hell broke loose; Mortars, Machine guns and artillery started topound the men who were out in the open with little cover. Men beingslaughtered left right and centre. More German infantry swarming upthe road ahead of them and starting to fire at them. Then more tanksarrive, consisting of Panzer IVs Stug IIIs and Tigers.

CAIN

DOWN THE BANK! And keep weaving to avoid being pinned down!

As the men continued down the bank more infantry and tanks wereadvancing towards them on the other road, slaughtering more ofCains men. He looks back and notices some of his men screaming infear, pain and confusion. 10 Minutes later Lt. Colonel McCardiecomes to him.

MCCARDIE

Major! Get your men out of the dell!

As they were talking, Cain saw an entire bush being blown clean outof the ground, killing a rear guard of about a dozen men and a Brengun.

CAIN

Where is Taylor?

SOLDIER

Dead sir.

CAIN

Norwood?

SOLDIER

Dead.

CAIN

Sharp?

LIEUTENET SHARP

Here sir!

Jack alexander

CAIN (exasperated and confused)

Taketake your platoon and fall back to the suburbs, get them outof the dell.

CAIN

RETREAT, ALL COMPANYS RETREAT TO THE RALLY POINT!

As the men retreated the wounded were told to wait, being promised the men will be back soon which never happened.

As the three companies now under CAINs command scattered, he tookthe men he had left and garrisoned a few buildings in the suburbs.The sun now began to rise.

INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY

CAIN

I want a body count and a wound report immediately.

A few minutes pass as CAINs men attempt to recuperate from theirordeal. Most of them with a trance-like expression on their face ina state of shock.

CORPORAL

85 dead, 230 missing or KIA, 30 wounded

CAIN said nothing but as the CORPORAL was dismissed a tiny shed of atear slowly trickled down his face.

CAIN

Make sure those exit points are covered, PIATS on the upper levelsof the building. I am going to the reserve for ammo.

EXT. SUBURBS DAY

As CAIN was stumbling along his face was now showing complete rageand deep thought. Before he had time to think he looked around thecorner only to see a party of five German troops who dont noticehim until he opened up his Bren gun and killed all of them in theblink of an eye. The last German he shot gave CAIN a look of fear;he was no older than 18 and looked like a school boy sent into hell.

INT. WAREHOUSE DAY

Jack alexander

CAIN

Make sure you share this with the rest of the companys CORPORAL. Ohand by the way, those troops are SS. A division at the very least,but more than four tigers could mean two; they would never use that

many in one division because theyre too valuable.

CAIN found a small empty room in the warehouse, slumped down andbroke down into tears.

INTERCUT FLASHBACK

The young soldier staring back at CAIN.

After a short moment CAIN pulled himself together and re-joined hismen.

CAIN

Any Germans been sighted?

SERGEANT

No sir, we did hear a couple of tank engines but they sounded maybe300 meters north of this position, possibly regrouping in the dell

where we retreated.

Suddenly artillery shells began landing a few feet from thewarehouse, followed by mortars and several tanks and infantry.

CAIN

GIVE ME A PIAT!

CAIN sprinted out of the warehouse with his PIAT, when he hit theroad an artillery round hit a house near him. As the smoke startedto fade CAINs men couldnt believe their eyes when they saw theircommander in a prone position facing a Tiger tank head on.

CAIN

SPOTTER! Are you with me?

SPOTTER

Here sir! Ten plus infantry approaching from the right side of theroad!

CAIN fired his PIAT and directly hit the tank just below the turret,dealing no damage at all.

CAIN

Jack alexander

RELOADING! FALL BACK TO THAT SHED!

CAIN fires again, doing a further zero amount of damage.

CAIN

AGAIN!

SPOTTER

SIR IT IS USELE-

He is cut off by a mortar round which hits him directly, he iskilled instantly.

CAIN

JESUS CHRIST! Lieutenant Sharp, get over here!

CAIN notices SHARPs dead body on the other side of the road with aleg missing.

CAIN

Somebody pass me that blasted 61mm!

CAIN uses his mortar without the help from anyone else. He picks itup, loads it and begins firing it horizontally at the Germaninfantry.

CAIN

I NEED.MORE.AMMO!

SERGEANT

Sir, are you alright?

CAIN (Raging)

I AM FINE SERGEANT! BACK TO YOUR POST OR YOUR FLANK WILL FALL!

CAIN fires more rounds directly at a German Machine gun nest,destroying it. He moves on to force a platoon of German troops toretreat in disarray. What the German's are looking at is a gaspingman with a blackened face, torn trousers and boots with spots ofblood all over. Cain is filled with rage with the men he is losing.

Jack alexander

LT. COLONEL MCCARDIE

Major we are getting out of here, you are wounded get yourselfcleaned up! D Company will cover!

As the remaining lot of Cains men scramble for the outskirts of thecity and began the evacuation process, CAIN despite his woundsdecides he should look respectable when giving his report to his CO.He finds a razor and shaves.

CAIN

Lets just get out of this place troopers

CAIN looks back at the city he would now vow to never visit again,the closing close up shot of his still blackened face with splodgesof blood.

FADE OUT:

Cain and his men were evacuated from Arnhem a week after theyarrived.

Out of the 767 men in the 2nd Battalion who tried to take the bridge,only 124 would be evacuated. Operation Market Garden was anoperational failure, the mission to capture all of the bridges overthe River Rhine failed at Arnhem. This bridge is often known as theBridge too far.