Saving Private Ryan
Writers: Robert Rodat
S A V I N G P R I V A T E R Y A N
by Robert Roday
(Early Draft)
Typed for the Internet by:
David Pritchett screenwryter@hotmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
FADE IN:
CREDITS: White lettering over a back background. The
THUNDEROUS SOUNDS OF A MASSIVE NAVAL BARRAGE are heard. The
power is astonishing. It roars through the body, blows back
the hair and rattles the ears.
FADE IN:
EXT. OMAHA BEACH - NORMANDY - DAWN
The ROAR OF NAVAL GUNS continues but now WE SEE THEM FIRING.
Huge fifteen inch guns.
SWARM OF LANDING CRAFT
Heads directly into a nightmare. MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS from
German artillery shells and mined obstacles tear apart the
beach. Hundreds of German machine guns, loaded with tracers,
pour out a red snowstorm of bullets.
OFFSHORE
SUPERIMPOSITION:
OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY
June 6, 1944
0600 HOURS
HUNDREDS OF LANDING CRAFT Each holding
thirty men, near the beaches.
THE CLIFFS
At the far end of the beach, a ninety-
foot cliff. Topped by bunkers.
Ringed by fortified machine gun nests.
A clear line-of-fire down the entire
beach.
TEN LANDING CRAFT
Make their way toward the base of
the cliffs. Running a gauntlet of
explosions.
SUPERIMPOSITION:
THE FOLLOWING IS BASED ON A TRUE
STORY THE LEAD LANDING CRAFT Plows
through the waves.
THE CAMERA MOVES PAST THE FACES OF THE MEN
Boys. Most are eighteen or nineteen years old. Tough.
Well-trained. Trying to block out the fury around them.
A DIRECT HIT ON A NEARBY LANDING CRAFT
A huge EXPLOSION of fuel, fire, metal and flesh.
THE LEAD LANDING CRAFT
The Motorman holds his course. Shells EXPLODE around them.
FLAMING OIL BURNS on the water. CANNON FIRE SMASHES into
the bow.
THE MOTORAMAN IS RIPPED TO BITS
BLOOD AND FLESH shower the men behind him. The mate takes
the controls.
A YOUNG SOLDIER
His face covered with the remains of
the motorman. Starts to lose it.
Begins to shudder and weep. His
name is DeLancey.
THE BOYS AROUND HIM
Do their best to stare straight ahead. But the fear infects
them. It starts to spread.
A FIGURE
Pushes through the men. Puts himself
in front of DeLancey.
The figure is CAPTAIN JOHN MILLER. Early thirties. By far
the oldest man on the craft. Relaxed, battle-hardened,
powerful, ignoring the hell around them. He smiles, puts a
cigar in his mouth, strikes a match on the front of DeLancey's
helmet and lights the cigar.
DeLancey tries to look away but Miller grips him by the jaw
and forces him to lock eyes. Miller smiles. DeLancey is
terrified.
Delancey Captain, are we all gonna die?
Miller Hell no, two-thirds, tops.
Delancey Oh, Jesus...
Miller I want every one of you to look at the man on your
left. Now look at the man on your right. Feel sorry for
those to sons-of-bitches, they're going to get it, you're
not going to get a scratch. A few, including DeLancey, manage
thin smiles. Miller releases his grip on DeLancey who moves
his jaw as if to see if it's broken. Miller pats him on the
cheek and moves on to the bow.
MILLER
Looks over the gunwale at THE HELL
IN FRONT OF THEM.
PAN DOWN TO MILLER'S HAND
It quivers in fear. Miller glances around, sees that none
of the men have noticed. He stares at his hand as if it
belongs to someone else. It stops shaking. He turns his
eyes back to the objective.
THE LEAD LANDING CRAFT HITS THE BEACH
The six surviving boats alongside.
EXPLOSIVE PROPELLED GRAPPLING HOOKS FIRE
From the landing crafts. Arc toward the top of the cliffs.
THE LEAD CRAFT RAMP GOES DOWN
A river of MACHINE GUN FIRE pours into the craft. A dozen
men are INSTANTLY KILLED. Among them, DeLancey.
MILLER
Somehow survives. Jumps into the
breakers.
MILLER
MOVE, GODDAMN IT! GO! GO! GO!
EXPLOSIONS EVERYWHERE
THE GERMANS On the edge of the cliff.
Rain down MACHINE GUN FIRE and
GRENADES.
THE AMERICANS
Struggle through the surf. FIRING
up as best they can. Making for the
base of the cliffs.
INCENDIARY GRENADES, HURLED FROM ABOVE,
EXPLODE, SPREADING FIRE
MILLER
Ignores the EXPLOSIONS and BULLETS.
Uses hand signals and curt orders.
MILLER
THERE! THERE! HOOKS THERE! FIRE
SQUAD, THOSE ROCKS!
THE MEN
Obey instantly. Set the grappling
hooks. Take position. Return fire.
THE SOUNDS OF BATTLE
Drown out most voices. Except the SCREAMS OF THE WOUNDED
AND DYING.
THE MEN
Know what they have to do. Start up
the ropes. Into the teeth of the
German defenders.
MILLER
Back-straps his Thompson sub-machine
gun. Starts climbing with the first
group.
THE CLIFF FACE
The Americans swarm up the ropes.
Taking turns firing up at the Germans.
MILLER SEES A STALLED CLIMBER
A soft-faced boy. Grabs him by the back of his collar.
Roughly yanks him up. Nearly choking him. They boy climbs
on.
HALF-WAY
An American private is HIT. FALLS,
taking two others with him. All
three land on the rocks below.
Another way to die.
NEAR THE TOP
Less steep. They leave the ropes.
Free climb, scrambling up the rocks.
MILLER
Joins half-a-dozen pinned down men.
Others bottleneck behind them. Miller
scans the route and the defenders.
Sees an open gap. Deadly. Beyond is a protective overhang.
With a clear line to the top.
MILLER
That's the route.
Miller motions to six men huddled near him.
MILLER
Go!
THE SIX MEN
Take an instant to get ready. Then
SCRAMBLE into the gap.
MILLER AND THE OTHERS
Do their best to cover them. POUR FIRE up at the Germans.
Bad angle. No Germans are hit.
THE SIX MEN
Are CUT TO RIBBONS by MACHINE GUN
FIRE. All KILLED. They fall to the
rocks below.
SARGE, mid-twenties, experienced, Miller's right arm and
best friend, dives into the rocks next to Miller.
Sarge That's a goddamned shooting gallery, Captain.
MILLER
It's the only way.
MILLER
Turns to the next half-dozen men.
MILLER
YOU'RE NEXT!
THE SECOND SIX
Move to the head of the gap. Miller
moves for a better angle against the
machine guns. Calls to JACKSON, a
tall, gangly Southern country boy,
sharp-shooter.
MILLER
JACKSON, PICK OFF A FEW OF THEM,
WILL YOU?
JACKSON
(heavy Southern accent)
You betcha, Captain.
Miller signals others where to direct their cover fire.
Turns to the second six.
MILLER
GO!
THE SECOND SIX
Take deep breaths. Head into the
gap.
MILLER AND OTHERS BLAST SURPRISING FIRE
JACKSON, NAILS a pair of Germans. MILLER CUTS DOWN two more.
SARGE gets one. Not enough.
THE SECOND SIX
Are RAKED BY MACHINE GUNS. All are
KILLED.
MILLER
Turns, looking for the next six.
His eyes fall on Sarge and REIBEN
who is a cynical, sharp, New Yorker.
Reiben smiles.
REIBEN
(heavy Brooklyn accent)
Captain, can I put in for a transfer?
MILLER
Sure, meet me at the top, we'll start
the paperwork.
THE THIRD SIX
Moves into place. Sarge and Miller
exchange a look. They both see the
madness of what they're doing.
MILLER AND THE OTHERS
OPEN UP on the Germans.
MILLER
GO!
SARGE
Rolls his eyes, takes a breath.
Scrambles into the gap. The other
five right behind.
IN THE GAP
BULLETS EVERYWHERE.
Three are HIT. Then another. POTATO MASHER GRENADES bounce
down. EXPLODE below.
THE GERMAN MACHINE GUN swings toward Sarge and Reiben. Miller
sees them about to get it... MILLER STEPS OUT INTO THE OPEN.
A perfect target. Captain's bars glinting. FIRING. TRYING
TO DRAW THE GERMAN FIRE.
THE GERMAN MACHINE GUNNER
SEES MILLER STANDING IN THE OPEN. Too much to pass up. He
swings the machine gun away from Sarge and Reiben, toward
Miller.
A ROW OF GERMAN BULLETS approaches Miller...he's an instant
from death.
SARGE AND REIBEN DIVE
Under the overhang to safety.
MILLER DIVES BACK TO COVER, BARELY MAKES IT, HIS BOOT HEAL
IS BLOWN OFF.
UNDER THE OVERHANG Sarge and Reiben untangle themselves.
REIBEN
I'll be Goddamned! I'm not dead!
Sarge hollers back to Miller.
SARGE
CAPTAIN, IF YOUR MOTHER SAW YOU DO
THAT, SHE'D BE VERY UPSET!
MILLER
I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY MOTHER.
Quick smiles. MILLER AND HIS RANGERS lean out and FIRE.
HIT more Germans.
SARGE AND REIBEN run up the path, under the overhang. Stop
near the top. Pull pins on grenades. Count. Both throw
long, arcing over the crest, perfectly aimed.
THE TWO GRENADES EXPLODE.
Putt out the two worst machine gun nests.
MILLER
Crosses the gap. His men follow.
AT THE CREST
The Americans swarm over the top.
FIRING.
TWO DOZEN GERMANS FIRE BACK as they retreat.
Abandoning the perimeter defense of the bunkers. The Germans
are CUT DOWN.
MILLER motions to WADE, a small, wide-eyed, demolition man
who's struggling under the weight of half-a dozen satchel
charges.
MILLER
Okay, Wade, your turn.
Wade Captain, I love it when you say that.
Miller, Sarge, Reiben and Jackson cover Wade as he races to
the first of three bunkers. Dodging bullets from inside.
Wade tosses a SATCHEL CHARGE into a gun port. A HUGE, MUFFLED
EXPLOSION, rocks the bunker.
MILLER AND SARGE
Survey the field.
SARGE
What the hell were you doing? Drawing
fire!
MILLER
Worked, didn't it?
SARGE
You tryin' to get yourself killed?
MILLER
Don't need to, the Krauts go that
covered.
Sarge shakes his head at Miller, then he looks over the cliff
at the scores of men, their shattered, burning bodies covering
the rocks and the beach below. He's clearly affected.
Miller coldly glances at the dead and wounded. Then he moves
on, leading his surviving men toward the two remaining German
bunkers. The SOUNDS OF BIG GUNS and MACHINE GUNS FIRE
surround him. DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WAR DEPARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
The SOUND OF CLATTERING MACHINE GUN FIRE SEGUES TO that of
CLATTERING TYPEWRITERS. A huge government building stands
in the heart of Washington, D.C.
SUPERIMPOSITION:
WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
JUNE 8, 1944
INT. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE - WAR DEPT. - DAY
Very busy. A dozen, somber military clerks work behind desks,
quickly and efficiently. No small talk.
A CLERK
Older than the others, sad-eyed,
adds a sheet of paper to a large
pile in his out-box.
CLOSE SHOT
An outgoing telegram. It reads:
"We regret to inform you...killed in
action...heroic service..." This is
the paperwork of death.
THE CLERK
Pulls out a file. Reads. Finds
something troubling. Quickly shuffles
through some other papers. Finds
what he's looking for. Rises from
his desk and hurries out of the
office.
INT. LIEUTENANT'S OFFICE - WAR DEPT. - DAY
Seen through the glass wall. The clerk speaks to a YOUNG
LIEUTENANT who is visibly shaken by what he is being told.
He motions to the clerk to follow and he strides out of the
office with the clerk on his heels.
INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE - WAR DEPT. - DAY
Again, seen through a glass wall. The Young Lieutenant speaks
to a YOUNG CAPTAIN who, like the Lieutenant is clearly
bothered by what he's being told. The Captain takes the
papers from the Young Lieutenant and strides out.
INT. COLONEL'S OFFICE - WAR DEPT. - DAY
A busy office. Aides and secretaries scurry about. The
walls and tables are covered with maps of Normandy and complex
deployment charts. A ONE-ARMED COLONEL with a chest full of
ribbons pours himself another cup of coffee. He clearly
hasn't slept in a long time. The Young Captain, his staff
officer, walks in.
Young captain Colonel, I've got something you should know
about.
One-armed colonel Yes?
Young captain Two brothers died in Normandy. One at Omaha
Beach, the other at Utah. Last week in Guam a third brother
was killed in action. All three telegrams went out this
morning. Their mother in Iowa is getting all three telegrams
this afternoon.
The life drains from the Colonel. Others in the room hear
and freeze.
One-armed colonel Oh, Jesus.
Young captain There's more. There's a fourth brother. The
youngest. He parachuted in with the Hundred-and-First
Airborne the night before the invasion. He's on the front.
One-armed colonel Is he alive?
Young captain We don't know.
The Colonel regains his bearings. Stands and motions curtly
to the Captain. One-armed colonel Come with me.
The Colonel regains his bearings. Stands and motions curtly
to the Captain.
One-armed colonel Come with me.
The Colonel strides from the room with the Captain on his
heels. The aides and secretaries watch them go.
EXT. FARM ROAD - IOWA - DAY
A black car drives along a dirt road, a cloud of dust rising
behind. Passing through an endless expanse of ripening corn.
EXT. RYAN FARM - IOWA - DAY
A whit farmhouse. A barn. A stand of trees. Cornfields as
far as the eye can see.
IN THE YARD
A tire swing. A bushel basket nailed
to the barn over a dirt basketball
court.
A PORCH SWING
Sits empty. Moves slightly.
ON THE GLASS OF THE FRONT DOOR
Four American flag decals. Each one, a man in service.
MARGARET RYAN
Steps out. Around sixty. Her face
shows the lines of a life of hard
work and mother hood. A good woman.
She wipes her hands on her apron and looks out across the
fields. Far in the distance she sees the dust rising behind
the black car.
She watches the car get closer, then sees it turn toward her
house. She starts to grow uneasy.
As the black car approaches, her breath comes hard. She
reaches out and steadies herself on the porch post.
The car pulls up to the house. She sees three men get out,
one wearing a clerical collar. The first of her tears come.
INT. GENERAL MARSHALL'S OFFICE - WAR DEPARTMENT - DAY
Another busy office filled with aides and secretaries.
GENERAL GEORGE MARSHALL, Army Chief of Staff, stands next to
his conference table, reading the Ryan brother' files. Half-
a-dozen subordinates, among them the one-armed Colonel and
the Young Captain, wait. General Marshall puts down the
file.
GENERAL MARSHALL
(softly)
Goddamn it.
One-armed colonel All four of them were in the same company
in the 29th Infantry but we split them up after the Sullivan
brothers died on the Juneau.
GENERAL MARSHALL
Any contact with the fourth brother,
James?
One-armed colonel No, sir. He was dropped about thirty miles
inland, near Ramelle. That's still deep behind German lines.
General Marshall hardens.
GENERAL MARSHALL
Well, if he's alive, we're going to
send someone to get him the hell out
of there. That's just what the
General's staff wanted to hear.
EXT. NORMANDY - CRATER FIELD - DAY
NEAR CONSTANT MORTAR EXPLOSIONS. HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE.
Miller's Ranger company is pinned down by a superior force
of German troops. The Americans hug the bottoms of the
craters, FIRING BACK as best they can. BIG GUNS THUNDER in
the distance.
SUPERIMPOSITION:
Normandy 1300 hours June 9
MILLER
Trailed by a RADIOMAN, dashes through
the fire and dives into a sludge-
filled crater. He surfaces, sees
Sarge and Reiben, and reels from a
horrific smell. Their conversation
is repeatedly broken by FIRING And
DUCKING GERMAN FIRE.
MILLER
Jesus Christ! What the hell are we
swimming in?
REIBEN
Shit, sir.
SARGE
Fertilizer, Captain, I think we're
in a cranberry bog.
REIBEN
Out of the frying pan, into the
fucking latrine.
MILLER
Look at the bright side, the Krauts
sure as hell don't want to advance
and hold this cesspool.
Miller barks to his RADIOMAN.
MILLER
Get Fire Control, we need some
artillery...
Radioman Trying, sir.
MORE EXPLOSIONS. They all duck. Reiben's worried.
REIBEN
Sir, what if they send some other
company into Caen ahead of us while
we're pinned down here?
MILLER
Don't worry, we're the only Rangers
this side of the continent, we've
got to be first into Caen.
SARGE
Who cares?
REIBEN
I care. Don't you know what Caen's
famous for, Sarge?
SARGE
Frogs?
REIBEN
Lingerie.
SARGE
Yeah? So?
THE GERMAN FIRE diminishes for an instant. Miller, Sarge
and Reiben immediately rise and POUR FIRE at the German
positions. GERMAN MACHINE GUN FIRE RESPONDS and they duck
down again.
REIBEN
So, you ever heard of employee
discounts? My uncle sells shoes,
gets twenty-five percent off
everything in the line, got a closet
filled with the best looking shoes
you ever seen.
MORE MORTAR EXPLOSIONS.
REIBEN
Just picture some French number been
spending all day, every day, making
cream-colored, shear-body negligees
with gentle-lift silk cups and
gathered empire waists, what the
hell you think she wears at night?
MILLER
Reiben, how the hell do you know so
much about lingerie?
REIBEN
Lingerie is my life, sir. My mother's
got a shop in Brooklyn, I grew up in
it, from the time I could crawl, we
carry Caen lingerie, it's the best
there is, it's all I been thinking
about since the invasion.
Another pause in the German shelling. Reiben rises and BLASTS
HIS B.A.R, then ducks as the GERMANS RETURN FIRE.
MILLER
There's a war on, good chance they're
not still making lingerie in Caen.
REIBEN
Oh, Captain, they'll always make
lingerie, it's one of the three basic
needs of man -- food, shelter, silk
teddies. Miller Dream on, private.
REIBEN
Happy to, sir.
Radioman Captain, I've got Command, they want you back at
H.Q., right away.
MILLER
Maybe the war's over.
A MORTAR SHELL EXPLODES VERY CLOSE. After the debris stops
falling, Sarge and Reiben rise, spitting out sludge. Reiben
looks dubiously at Miller.
REIBEN
I don't think so, Captain.
MILLER
(to Radioman)
Stay at it until you get fire control.
(to Sarge)
Keep 'em down, wait for the navy.
SARGE
Yes, sir.
Miller waits for a pause in the MORTAR BARRAGE, then scrambles
out of the crater and takes off in a crouch-run.
EXT. NORMANDY - FIELD H.Q. - 19TH INFANTRY - DAY
Chaos. Under fire. INTERMITTENT MORTARS, SOME BIG GERMAN
SHELLS and fairly close SMALL ARMS FIRE.
MILLER
Runs over the broken ground and makes
it to the sandbagged H.Q. He stumbles
down the make-shift stairs.
INT. H.Q. SANDBAGGED BUNKER - DAY
Sand and dirt falls with the closest of the EXPLOSIONS which
continue through the scene. Miller salutes a Major.
MILLER
Miller, Company B, Second Rangers.
Major Go on in.
Miller goes deeper into the H.Q. bunker where he finds a
dozen officers with as many aides, runners and radiomen.
Very busy. A field map dominates the center of the small
space.
The men in the room note Miller, a few nod to him
respectfully. He's clearly someone special.
COLONEL SAM ANDERSON is in command, talking on a field-phone.
He's about fifty, firm and steady, the calm at the eye of
the storm. He sees Miller and motions for him to wait.
COLONEL ANDERSON
(into field-phone)
...I understand your problem, but if
we don't get those tanks off-loaded
by 0600, we're going to have an entire
division up at Caen with its ass
hanging out of its pants...
A LIEUTENANT steps up to Miller and hands him a sheet of
paper.
Lieutenant Captain, here's your company address list.
MILLER
My what?
Lieutenant For letters to the families of your killed-in-
action.
Miller hands the list back to the Lieutenant.
MILLER
Find a chaplain.
COLONEL ANDERSON
(into field-phone)
...alright, let me know when.
Anderson hangs up, speaks to an AIDE.
COLONEL ANDERSON
Have the Second and Third Regiments
hold at St. Michel until we get those
tanks. Aide Yes, sir.
Colonel Anderson turns to Miller.
COLONEL ANDERSON
Report.
MILLER
Sector four is secured, we put out
the last three German one-fifty-fives,
found them about two miles in from
Ponte du Hoc.
COLONEL ANDERSON
Resistance?
MILLER
A company, Wehrmacht, no artillery,
we took twenty-three prisoners, turned
them over to intelligence.
COLONEL ANDERSON
Casualties?
MILLER
Fourty-four, twenty one dead.
An instant of SILENCE, all hear, none look.
MILLER
They didn't want to give up those
one-fifty-fives, sir.
COLONEL ANDERSON
It was a hard assignment, that's why
you got it.
MILLER
Yes, sir.
COLONEL ANDERSON
Where are your men now?
MILLER
Pinned down, a mile east of here,
waiting for some help from the navy
guns.
COLONEL ANDERSON
I'm sending Simpson to take over for
you, the division is going to Caen,
you're not coming with us, I have
something else for you.
MILLER
Sir?
COLONEL ANDERSON
There's a Private James Ryan who
parachuted in with the Hundred-and-
First near Ramelle. I want you to
take a squad up there. If he's alive,
bring him back to the beach for
debarkation. Take whoever you need,
you've got your pick of the company.
MILLER
A private, sir?
COLONEL ANDERSON
He's the last of four brothers, the
other three were killed in action.
This is straight from the Chief of
Staff.
MILLER
But, sir...I...I...
COLONEL ANDERSON
Spit it out, Captain.
MILLER HESITATES, THEN:
MILLER
Respectfully, sir, sending men all
the way up to Ramelle to save one
private doesn't make a fucking,
goddamned bit of sense.
(beat)
Sir.
The other officers freeze, listening without turning. Colonel
Anderson glares at Miller.
COLONEL ANDERSON
You think just because you hold the
Congressional Medal of Honor, you
can say any damn thing you please to
your superior officers?
Miller considers the question, then smiles.
MILLER
Yes, sir, more or less.
Colonel Anderson looks as if he's about to bit Miller's head
off, then he smiles, too.
COLONEL ANDERSON
Alright, I'll give you that.
Continue.
MILLER
The numbers don't make sense, sir.
His brothers are dead, that's too
bad, but they're out of the equation.
Sending men up there is bleeding
heart crapola from three thousand
miles away. One private is simply
not worth a squad. Colonel anderson
This one is. He's worth a lot more
than that. Which is why I'm sending
you, you're the best field officer
there is.
Miller Shrugs.
MILLER
Yes and no, sir, what about Morgan?
Fine officer, regular church goer,
writes poetry, he might like a mission
like this.
(beat)
And he's taller than me.
Colonel Anderson listens with amused tolerance, but it's
time to get back to business.
COLONEL ANDERSON
That's enough, Captain, you have
your orders. Major Thomas will fill
you in.
Miller knows when to back off. He salutes.
MILLER
Yes, sir.
Miller and Colonel Anderson exchange a private look.
COLONEL ANDERSON
Good luck, John.
MILLER
Thank you, sir.
Miller joins Major Thomas at one of the smaller map tables.
Colonel Anderson watches Miller for an instant, then notices
the other officers in the tent watching. A glare and they
go back to work.
EXT. BATTLESHIP - DAY
A MASSIVE BARRAGE of fifteen-inch shells BLASTS from the
deck of the enormous ship.
EXT. CRATER FIELD - CRANBERRY BOG - DAY
HUGE EXPLOSIONS. The big naval shells SLAM into the German
position on the far side of the cranberry bog crater field.
IN THE CRATERS
Miller's Ranger company ducks and
covers. The BARRAGE SUBSIDES. The
Rangers rise, FIRING, leap-frogging
from crater to crater, advancing
against the remaining Germans who
return SMALL ARMS FIRE.
MILLER
Crouch-runs and dives into a crater
with Sarge.
MILLER
Put on your traveling shoes, Sarge,
we're heading out.
SARGE
Caen?
MILLER
I wish. You and I are taking a squad
up to Ramelle on a public relations
mission.
SARGE
You? Leading a squad?
MILLER
Some private up there lost three
brothers, got a ticket home.
SARGE
What about the company?
MILLER
Simpson.
SARGE
Simpson? Jesus Christ on a fucking
pogo stick!
MILLER
I want Reiben on B.A.R; Jackson with
his sniper rifle; Beasley, demolition.
SARGE
Beasley's dead.
MILLER
Okay, Wade. Translators?
SARGE
Fresh out.
MILLER
What about Talbot?
SARGE
Twenty minutes ago. Miller Damn,
I'll go see if I can find another
one. You get Reiben, Jackson and
Wade, meet me at transport.
SARGE
Yes, sir.
They wait for a lull in the firing, then scramble out of the
crater and crouch-run in opposite directions.
EXT. TRANSPORT H.Q. - NINETEENTH INFANTRY - DAY
Just in from the beaches. DISTANT ARTILLERY AND EXPLOSIONS.
Nothing close. Dust. Confusion. Vehicles of every sort
moving out. Tanks, half-tracks, troop trucks. In the middle
of the mess, a cigar-chewing SUPPLY SERGEANT works at a make-
shift desk made out of crate. He yells at a PRIVATE.
SUPPLY SERGEANT
GET THOSE GODDAMNED HALF-TRACKS OUT
OF THERE!
Private They're blocked in!
SERGEANT
THEN UNBLOCK 'EM!
SARGE< REIBEN, JACKSON AND WADE
Wait nearby. Reiben is beside himself, pacing, muttering.
The others are relaxed.
MILLER
Strides through the chaos, avoiding
the passing vehicles. He sees his
men and walks toward them. Reiben
hurries up to Miller, pleading.
REIBEN
Please, sir, you can't take me to
Ramelle, I gotta go to Caen, sir,
please, I told you, they make Caen
lingerie there, it's beautiful, it's
the best there is, it's...oh, please,
sir...
MILLER
Sorry, I need a B.A.R. man, you're
the best.
REIBEN
(desperate)
No, I'm not, Kaback is, honest. Or
what about Faulkner? Or that little
guy with the glasses?
MILLER
Trust me, you're the best.
REIBEN
(whimpering)
But, sir...
Miller jerks his head for his men to follow and he strides
off toward the Supply Sergeant's table. Sarge falls in next
to Miller.
SARGE
You get a translator, Captain?
MILLER
I've got a line on one.
TRANSPORT OPERATIONS TABLE
Chaos. Vehicles THUNDERING by. The
Supply Sergeant juggles runners and
paperwork. Miller steps up to him.
MILLER
Sergeant, I need a truck.
SUPPLY SERGEANT
Sorry, sir, fresh out of trucks, how
'bout a '38 Ford Roadster, hard-top,
red with black interior.
MILLER
White-walls?
SUPPLY SERGEANT
No white-walls, sir, there's a war
on.
(to the Private)
NOT THERE, YOU GODDAMNED IDIOT, OVER
THERE!
(to Miller)
I can't help you, sir.
MILLER
A half-track, anything.
SUPPLY SERGEANT
Sorry, sir. Division is using
everything on wheels to get up to
Caen.
(notices Miller's
shoulder patch)
How come you guys aren't going?
Miller ignores the question. He spies a jeep.
MILLER
How about that jeep?
SUPPLY SERGEANT
That's General Gavin's. His lap dog
told me if anyone breathes on it,
I'll get busted and if anyone so
much as touches it with their little
finger, I'll get court marshaled.
If you were to take it, they'd shoot
me.
JACKSON
Cap'n, does that mean we got to walk
all the way up to Ramelle?
SUPPLY SERGEANT
What's at Ramelle beside a lot of
Germans.
MILLER
A paratrooper named Ryan. He's going
home, if he's alive.
SUPPLY SERGEANT
Senator's son?
MILLER
No, three brothers of his were killed
in action. Command wants him out of
there.
The Supply Sergeant grunts as if punched in the belly.
SUPPLY SERGEANT
Damn...I got a couple brothers...
Miller looks at him, noting his reaction coldly. The Supply
Sergeant shifts his eyes toward General Gavin's jeep.
EXT. ROAD LEADING FROM TRANSPORT - DAY
Miller and his men drive off, fast, in General Gavin's jeep.
Sarge is at the wheel, weaving and bouncing through the bedlam
of men and vehicles. Miller rides shotgun. Reiben, Jackson
and Wade are crammed in the back.
The SUPPLY SERGEANT Watches them go. Behind him, GENERAL
GAVIN, pure piss and vinegar, strides up, trailed by his
huge staff. He looks around for his jeep, comes up empty.
GENERAL GAVIN
SERGEANT, WHERE THE HELL IS MY
GODDAMNED JEEP!?
The Supply Sergeant puffs his cigar with a smile and turns
to take his lumps.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Miller and his men weave through the chaos of the American
staging area.
MILLER
We've got to make one stop.
Miller points the way for Sarge.
EXT. INTELLIGENCE TENT - DAY
Miller and his men skid to a stop in front of a perfectly
white, taut-lined tent. A steady stream of ROARING vehicles
and CHATTERING men move out around them. DISTANT GUNS RUMBLE.
SPORADIC MEDIUM-DISTANCE EXPLOSIONS BOOM. Miller hops out.
MILLER
Wait here.
He strides into the tent.
INT. INTELLIGENCE TENT - DAY
Three bookish corporals hover over map tables like studious
nerds the day before finals. They're breaking down and
gridding field maps and covering them in plasticine. Tedious,
detailed work.
One of them is TIM UPHAM, a thin, twenty-four year old,
patrician with gentle, thoughtful eyes behind his thick
glasses. He nervously jumps at the sound of a VERY DISTANT
EXPLOSION, then he forces himself to concentrate on his work.
Miller strides in. Miller I'm looking for Corporal Upham.
Upham raises his eyes from his map and re-focuses.
Upham Sir, I'm Upham.
MILLER
I understand you speak French and
German.
Upham Yes, sir.
MILLER
Do you have an accent?
Upham A slight one in French. My German is clean. It has a
touch of the Bavarian.
MILLER
Good, you've been re-assigned to me,
we're going to Ramelle.
Upham knows enough geography to know what that means.
Upham Uh, sir, there are Germans up at Ramelle.
MILLER
That's my understanding.
Upham Lots of them.
MILLER
Do you have a problem with that,
Corporal?
Upham Sir, I've never been in combat. I make maps. I
translate.
MILLER
I need a translator, all mine have
been killed.
Upham But, sir, I haven't held a gun since basic training.
MILLER
It'll come back to you. Get your
gear.
Upham hesitates.
Upham Sir, may I bring my typewriter?
Miller looks at him closely, not sure if he's joking.
Upham I'm writing a book and I...
Miller's expression gives him his answer.
Upham Uh, how about a pencil?
MILLER
A small one.
Miller shoos him off.
MILLER
Go, go...
Upham scurries away. Miller sighs.
EXT. ROAD LEADING FROM INTELLIGENCE TENT - DAY
Miller and his men peel out, now with Upham crammed with the
others in the back of the jeep. As they drive off, the CAMERA
CRANES UP to reveal the vast tableau of the biggest invasion
in military history.
The scope of the operation is stunning. The beach is covered
with mountains of supplies. A steady stream of vehicles
winds up the dunes. Hundreds of barrage balloons, anchored
by heavy steel cables, hover over the entire scene. Off-
shore, a massive Mulberry port is under construction, workers
swarming over it like ants. Beyond that, thousands of ships
and boats of every type and description. The smoke of
hundreds of fires rises on the horizon. EXPLOSIONS, some
distant, some close, BOOM and RUMBLE.
It's an awesome, breathtaking sight. Miller and his tiny
band of men, weave their way through the middle of it,
speeding away from the beach, heading inland, leaving the
bulk of the American Army behind. Ext. french road - day
Miller and his men drive fast passing American vehicles and
infantrymen moving forward. The sides of the road are
littered with the debris of burning German vehicles, abandoned
equipment, bodies.
Sarge drives. Miller reads a map. Upham, cradling a pristine
M-1 rifle, is all eyes and ears. Jackson and Wade calmly
take in the view. Reiben checks out the close quarters in
the back of the jeep.
REIBEN
Captain, can I ask you a question?
MILLER
Sure, Reiben.
REIBEN
Where are you planning on putting
Private Ryan, sir?
Miller doesn't raise his eyes from the map.
REIBEN
(continuing)
It's just that it's kind of crowded
back here, I was wondering if you're
expecting to have more room on the
way back?
Miller points out a turn to Sarge.
MILLER
Left.
Sarge makes the turn. Miller folds up the map and pockets
it.
MILLER
Now we've got a straight shot, due
north, to Ramelle, twenty-six miles,
two villages between here and there,
St. Mere, then Bernay. We'll take
the jeep as far as we can, then go
on on foot.
SARGE
We in radio contact with anybody up
there?
MILLER
Somebody put the wrong crystals in
every one of the Hundred-and-First's
radios the night before the drop,
not one of them works. We're going
in blind.
REIBEN
I usually like surprises.
SARGE
What are we likely to run into?
MILLER
A fucking mess, two maybe three Kraut
divisions, no fronts, no lines, the
drops were completely fouled up,
we've got little pockets of
paratroopers all over the place,
trying to hang on. Command says we
hold St. Mere, but north of that,
it's all Krauts. Even if Ryan's
where he's supposed to be, he's more
than likely dead.
SARGE
Hell of a mission.
MILLER
Yep, hell of a mission.
IN THE BACK OF THE JEEP
Upham avidly takes in everything. He notices Reiben staring
at him, grows nervous under his look and offers a hopeful
smile.
Upham Hi. So, uh, you're all Rangers?
Reiben, Jackson and Wade look at Upham as if he were an
insect.
Upham I'm Upham.
(pointing at his corporal's stripes)
Ignore these, please, I know all that breaks down in combat.
Their jaws drop.
REIBEN
(to Wade)
You want to shoot him, or should I?
Wade It's not my turn.
REIBEN
(politely)
Jackson?
JACKSON
Hell, no, last time I shot a corporal,
Cap'n Miller near bit my head off.
Upham reacts to the metion of Miller's name.
Upham Miller?
MILLER
I don't want anybody to shoot him,
that's an order. He speaks French
and his German has a touch of the
Bavarian.
Upham Sir, are you Captain John Miller?
Miller sighs, he knows what's coming.
UPHAM
(continuing)
...who won the Congressional Medal
of Hon...?
Upham's words are frozen in his throat by the warning glances
of Miller's men. Miller himself remains relaxed but stone-
faced.
No one speaks for a few seconds, then the moment passes as
if it had never happened.
REIBEN
Captain, I gotta tell you, the irony
of this mission is fucking killing
me.
MILLER
Yeah, how so?
REIBEN
I should be on my way to Caen, sir.
It's like Beethoven, the guy's one
of the greatest composers ever lived
and he goes deaf. Go figure, I mean,
who'd he piss off? And here I am,
the Beethoven of ladies foundation
garments, one step away from Caen,
the center of the known lingerie
universe and instead, I'm going to
Ramelle to save some fucking private
who's probably already dead.
MILLER
There's to be a bright side, look
for it.
REIBEN
Sir, you know what Ramelle is famous
for? Cheese. The rest of the company
is going to Caen and we're going to
the goddamned cheese capital of
France. There is no bright side.
MILLER
There's always a bright side.
REIBEN
I'm listening, sir.
MILLER
Well, I, for one, like cheese.
Wade pipes up cheerfully.
Wade Hell, I don't mind going to Ramelle, as long as there's
something up there for me to blow up.
REIBEN
Well, you're a happy idiot.
THEY ROUND A TURN
SKID TO A STOP AT A:
BOTTLENECK OF AMERICAN VEHICLES
A LIEUTENANT is roadmaster. Miller calls to him.
MILLER
How's the road up to St. Mere?
Lieutenant Bad, sir. There're some eighty-eights hiding
somewhere, knocking the hell out of our traffic.
MILLER
Anybody getting through?
Lieutenant The lucky ones.
Miller nods to Sarge who floors it. They take off, spraying
gravel behind them. Ext. St. Mere Road - day The jeep barrels
down the road, fast. The road is pock-marked with craters.
They pass the wreckage of a pair of American jeeps. Direct
hits. Sarge swerves around them without slowing.
AN AMERICAN TROOP TRUCK SMOLDERS
On the side of the road, surrounded by the charred bodies of
a dozen American troops. It's a nightmare vision. Upham
grows weak at the sight. Miller takes note of Upham's
reaction.
IN THE BACK
The men bounce up and down like
stuffed animals, doing their best to
not be thrown out.
REIBEN
Hell, this is better than Coney
Island!
A HUGE BUMP
Bounces Reiben up and slams his back
down on his shovel. He HOLLERS IN
PAIN.
MILLER
Just trying to make room for Ryan.
Reiben shoots Miller a smile and shifts his belt, moving his
shovel from under his bruised ass.
THEY ROUND A BEND
See a long, straight stretch of road. Half-a-dozen burning,
obliterated American vehicles. A gauntlet to run.
AN EIGHTY-EIGHT SHELL SCREAMS IN
Lands right behind them. BLOWS A NEW CRATER
MILLER
(sweetly)
Sarge?
SARGE FLOORS IT. Everyone hangs on.
ANOTHER SHELL EXPLODES
Thirty yards ahead of them.
MILLER
Directs Sarge off the road.
MILLER
They've got the road zeroed.
SARGE
Yanks the wheel, driving the jeep
off the road.
THE JEEP BOUNCES
Off the shoulder. Nearly throwing
everyone out. Somehow they hang on.
The jeep tears along the rutted field.
ANOTHER EXPLOSION
Just behind them.
SARGE DRIVES MADLY
Not slowing down. Trying to avoid
the biggest ruts and bumps.
ANOTHER EXPLOSION
Close on their side. Showers them
with debris.
SARGE
Jesus Christ!
MILLER SCANS THE TERRAIN
Sees a cluster of buildings about half-a-mile ahead.
MILLER
They've got a hell of a spotter
somewhere.
ANOTHER EXPLOSION
Even closer. The jeep's PEPPERED
WITH SHRAPNEL. They BARREL THROUGH
the smoke.
MILLER
S-curves, Sarge.
SARGE
Turns shallow curves without slowing
down.
SUDDENLY SEES A CRATER
Tries to avoid it. Too late. Brakes. PLOWS into overturned
earth. STOPS SHORT.
REIBEN, UPHAM, WADE AND JACKSON
THROWN from the jeep. TUMBLE into the dirt. Not hurt.
SARGE AND MILLER
Hang on. Stay in the jeep but are
battered. All stunned. MILLER Is
first to regain his bearings. Jumps
up. Checks out the jeep. Undamaged.
Deep in the soft dirt.
AN EIGHTY-EIGHT SHELL SCREAMS IN EXPLODES THIRTY YARDS LEFT
MILLER
Sarge! Reverse!
Sarge puts his head back on and throws the jeep into gear.
The wheels spin. Miller throws his shoulder into the jeep.
Yells to the others.
MILLER
COME ON! YOU WANNA WALK?
STILL DAZED
Reiben, Wade, Jackson, Upham screw
their heads back on. Shoulder into
the jeep. Push for all they're worth.
The WHEELS STILL SPIN.
ANOTHER EIGHTY-EIGHT SHELL LANDS EXPLODES THIRTY YARDS RIGHT
MILLER IGNORES IT
He's the only one who does.
SARGE
Captain, they got us zeroed.
Upham is very nervous.
UPHAM
That's bracketing, right?
They all ignore him.
UPHAM
I know about bracketing. I read
about it. The next one is going to
land right on us.
MILLER
FORWARD! FORWARD!
(beat)
NOW REVERSE!
Sarge SLAMS THE JEEP INTO REVERSE. Rocks it. SLAMS IT BACK
INTO FORWARD. Makes progress.
ALL THE MEN PUSH, ALL EYES UP. WAITING FOR THE NEXT SHELL.
SARGE
Uh, Captain...
MILLER
PUSH!
SARGE
Uh, Captain...
THE TIRES SCREAM
A bit more progress. It's almost
out.
THEY ALL PUSH LIKE MANIACS
Knowing the shell is coming any second. Upham is beside
himself.
SARGE
(sweetly)
Oh, Captain...
ONE MORE PUSH
The jeep rocks back in, deeper.
MILLER
SHIT!
THEY HEAR THE SCREAM OF THE SHELL MILLER BARKS TO HIS MEN
MILLER
GO!
THE MEN
Instantly take off. Away from the
jeep. As fast as they can.
THE SHELL SCREAMS IN
The men hit the dirt.
DIRECT HIT
OBLITERATING THE JEEP
THE MEN
Barely out of the BLAST PERIMETER.
STUNNED by the concussion. SHOWERED
with dirt, rock and debris.
MILLER
Is first up. Sarge and the men
struggle to their feet. Hear MORE
INCOMING. Miller grabs Upham by the
collar and pulls him up.
MILLER
HERE COME THE MORTARS!
THEY ALL TAKE OFF
Running as fast as they can.
THE FIRST OF THE MORTAR SHELLS COME IN
The eighty-eight is big, with pauses spaces between. But
there must be a dozen mortars firing. The shells are almost
constant.
THE FIELD
The six Americans run madly, in zig-
zag patterns through the gauntlet of
MORTAR EXPLOSIONS. BOOM
RUNNING, STUMBLING
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM
UPHAM IS THROWN TO THE GROUND
Miller yanks him up. Half-drags him to the edge of the field.
THEY MAKE IT TO THE TREES
Keep running. Through the bushes and brambles. Thirty yards
in.
THE EXPLOSIONS STOP
THE MEN ALL STOP Panting. Struggling
to catch their breath. Check their
body parts. Everything's there.
They have their weapons, most of
their gear.
Reiben looks back through the trees at THE JEEP, which is
nothing more than a burning carcass. He shakes his head.
REIBEN
General Gavin is going to be very
irritated at you, Captain.
MILLER
Stands on the edge of the woods,
almost in a trance.
UPHAM
Captain, I...
SARGE
Sssssh!
Miller, far away, quickly shifts his eyes and ears from
position to position.
MILLER
Sarge, maps.
Sarge quickly opens up the map case. The men are dead silent,
frozen in place.
MILLER
Two eighty-eights, just under two-
and-a-half miles, that way, vector
from the jeep, through those two
trees at the base of the hill. The
mortars came from behind that rise,
there, four of them.
Sarge quickly starts vectoring on the map. Miller snaps out
of it.
MILLER
Wade, the radio.
Wade instantly starts cranking it up. Upham is amazed.
UPHAM
You can tell all that, just by the
sound, sire?
MILLER
That's not all. There were nine
gunners on the eighty-eights, one
had a broken heel on his boot, two
had bratwurst for supper last night,
one of them is named Fritz, the other,
Hans, maybe, I don't know, it's hard
to tell.
JACKSON
Corporal, you have just seen one of
Captain Miller's many God-given
talents. If, by some miracle, you
survive, you will witness many more
of them.
Sarge finished vectoring.
SARGE
Got it, sir. We gonna go take care
of those eighty-eights?
MILLER
That's not what we're here for.
WADE
(re. radio)
I've got command, Captain.
Miller takes the handset from Wade and the map from Sarge.
MILLER
(into radio)
This is Baker Charley One, fire mark,
sector three, foxtrot quadrant, four-
three by baker-three. Two eighty-
eights. Tell our boys to come in
low from the east in case the Krauts
have ack-ack. Good hunting. Over.
A VOICE ON THE RADIO SIGNS OFF through the static. Wade
packs up the radio. Miller folds up the map. Jackson Sir,
wouldn't take us but a minute to put out them eighty-eights.
SARGE
He's right, Captain, it might be
kind of dangerous for those flyboys.
MILLER
Tell that to Private James Ryan.
We've got our orders. Let's go.
Miller heads off without pausing or looking back. The rest
of the men don't like it, but they follow. Upham trails,
amazed at Miller.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Miller walks point. His men follow warily. Upham falls in
alongside Reiben.
UPHAM
So, where are you from?
REIBEN
Get lost.
Upham smiles lamely and moves on to Jackson.
UPHAM
So, where are you from?
JACKSON
You writin' a book or somethin'?
UPHAM
As a matter of fact, I am.
JACKSON
Figured.
Wade overhears and smiles at Upham.
WADE
I'm Wade, that's spelled, W-A-D-E,
I'm small but wiry, with piercing,
steel-gray eyes, and a rough-hewn
but handsome face, I'm from Colorado,
my father's a mining engineer, don't
you take notes?
Upham shakes his head.
UPHAM
Demolition, right?
WADE
Since I was nine years old. They
got a lot of explosives around mines.
Me and my little brother could get
into any warehouse you ever saw.
Damn, we had fun!
Jackson shrugs.
JACKSON
I'm Jackson. I'm from West Fork,
Tennessee. My pappy's a preacher.
Him and his two brothers got a
ministry, The Blessed Church of the
Wandering Gospel.
UPHAM
In West Fork?
JACKSON
In the back of a nineteen and thirty-
one stretch Hudson with a big ole'
trailer.
UPHAM
No kidding.
JACKSON
I don't make jokes about things of,
or related to, the preaching of the
Holy Gospel, including the ministerial
calling of my family.
UPHAM
So they travel around from place to
place and preach?
JACKSON
We got us a tent, forty-two feet
across, eighteen feet at center,
hundred-and-ten foldin' chairs.
Circuit's eleven towns, covers all
'a Hasset County and most 'a Weller
County. I expect that upon completion
of my military service I will be
joinin' said ministry.
UPHAM
What about the Captain? Where's he
from?
They all shake their heads. Miller's out of earshot.
JACKSON
You figure that out, you got yourself
one nice prize.
SARGE
Over three hundred bucks, last I
heard. Wade Company's got a pool,
five bucks gets you in, whoever
guesses where the Captain's from and
what he did as a civilian gets it
all.
JACKSON
The whole kit and caboodle.
UPHAM
But everybody's heard of him, he won
the Congressional Medal of Honor, he
saved a dozen men.
REIBEN
We know.
UPHAM
Somebody must know where he's from,
what he did for a living.
SARGE
Somebody probably does.
UPHAM
Why don't you just ask him?
JACKSON
The Captain prefers not to discuss
certain aspects of his life, in
particular, everything up to and
including his enlistment in the United
States Army.
SARGE
I've been with him since Anzio. I'm
closer to him that I am to my own
brother but I don't even know what
state he's from. Somewhere in the
Northeast as near as I can figure.
I don't even have a clue what he did
for a living as civilian.
Reiben shakes his head.
REIBEN
No one's gonna win the money for the
simple reason that the Captain never
was a civilian. They assembled him
at O.C.S. out of spare body parts
from dead G.I.'s. I know this for a
fact.
JACKSON
(defensively)
You got somethin' against the Cap'n?
REIBEN
Hell, no. I think he's the best
officer in the whole goddamned army,
bar none.
They all nod in assent, no argument there.
JACKSON
You got that right.
Miller walks on ahead, unaware of their conversation. Upham
watches Miller, with even more curiosity.
EXT. HEDGEROW FIELD - DAY
Miller and his men walk along a hedgerow that parallels a
country cow path. They're staying close to the cover of the
brush. Miller walks tall now.
JACKSON
Captain, my feet are most
uncomfortable. If I'd 'a known we
was gonna have to walk all the way
to Ramelle, I never would 'a
volunteered for this here mission.
MILLER
You didn't volunteer, Jackson.
JACKSON
I most likely would have, sir, had I
been given the opportunity.
REIBEN
If we find Ryan and he's still alive,
that son-of-a-bitch is gonna carry
this goddamned B.A.R. back to the
beach for me.
JACKSON
Army life is too dang easy, my feet
have gone soft. Back home, we go
out squirrel huntin', I walk forever
and a day and then some, don't even
raise a blister.
REIBEN
You know what a B.A.R. weighs?
Nineteen and a half pounds, not
counting ammo.
(re. ammo bandoleers)
And you think these things are
comfortable? They may look good but
they weigh twelve pounds each, that's
thirty-six pounds, right there.
WADE
So what? I've got three satchel
charges, six gammon grenades, a dozen-
and-a-half pineapples, and all my
regular gear. You don't hear me
complaining.
REIBEN
That's because, as I have pointed
out on numerous occasions, you are a
happy idiot.
WADE
No, I just happen to take the
Captain's advice and look at the
bright side of things.
UPHAM
How do you do it?
WADE
It's easy, it runs in my family,
take my grandfather, for example...
REIBEN
Oh, Christ, now we gotta listen to
that grandfather thing again.
WADE
As I was saying, before I was so
rudely interrupted, my grandfather
got old, as grandfathers tend to do.
He needed someone to take care of
him. We move around all the time,
going from one mine to another, so
we had to put him in a home. Nice
enough place but kind of depressing.
But not for Granddad. He just
convinced himself he was on a cruise
ship, going to Tahiti, he had his
own cabin, first class, with room
service. It just so happened that
the weather was always lousy, so he
never bothered to go up on deck.
Happiest guy you ever saw until the
day he died.
UPHAM
You think he really believed it?
WADE
Who knows? It worked.
REIBEN
Fine, you convince yourself you got
a pack full of feathers and goddamned
Private James Ryan can carry my
fucking gear.
WADE
Reiben, you can be very unpleasant
to be around sometimes.
REIBEN
You want unpleasant? Just wait, I
can do much better than this.
WADE
Look at Upham, you don't hear him
complaining.
Upham, feeling bold and a bit naughty, decides to give it a
shot.
UPHAM
Well, as a matter of fact, I was
just thinking...
The men roll their eyes, expecting the worst.
UPHAM
(continuing)
That I'm so fucking tired of this
goddamned walking, I'd pay a thousand
dollars to see that bastard Ryan
crawl on his belly over an acre of
broken glass to hear my great-aunt
Martha fart through a field-phone.
The men are stunned.
REIBEN
Jesus Christ, he's a natural!
MILLER
Upham, are you sure you've never
been in combat?
Upham wiggles with pride. Upham Positive, sir, I'm certain
I'd remember.
Miller eyes Upham respectfully and nods to the men.
MILLER
He's good.
They walk on.
JACKSON
Cap'n, my feet are most uncomfortable.
Miller smiles, situation normal.
EXT. ST. MERE - LATE AFTERNOON
A small town has been reduced to rubble and is still an active
battlefield. HEAVY SMALL ARMS FIRE. GRENADE AND MORTAR
EXPLOSIONS. MEDIUM ARTILLERY BEYOND. American soldiers
crouch in doorways, FIRING at well-placed Germans.
Some French civilians dash across a street. A man and a
couple of women, one carrying a child. They make it across
and disappear into the remains of a building.
Miller runs up and flattens himself against a wall at a
corner. Sarge and the other men follow in leap-frog, spread
out down the block behind him.
Miller glances around the corner, taking a quick mental
picture of a GATHERING OF G.I.'s crouching in the cover of
an alley across the street and down the block. They are
CAPTAIN HAMILL, about Miller's age, and HIS MEN.
As Miller ducks back behind the corner, A GERMAN BULLET
SMASHES into the bricks where his head was an instant before.
Miller motions Jackson across first.
MILLER
Stay low.
Jackson gathers himself, takes off. GERMAN BULLETS BLAST,
kicking up the cobblestone behind him. Jackson zig-zags and
makes it to the cover of the far side.
JACKSON
Dang! That was close!
Miller nods to Upham.
MILLER
Your turn.
Upham, scared shitless, doesn't move. Miller speaks to him
very gently.
MILLER
Zig-zag, change your pace a couple
times, you'll be alright.
Upham's frozen. He can barely breathe. Miller sighs.
MILLER
Okay, I'm going to draw fire for
you.
(sternly)
But if I do, you goddamned well better
go.
Upham nods. Miller gathers himself, takes a deep breath.
CLOSE SHOT: MILLER'S HAND quivers.
MILLER
Looks to Upham
MILLER
Ready?
Upham nods, still terrified.
MILLER STEPS INTO THE OPEN
Stands motionless, presenting himself to the German snipers.
MILLER
Go.
Upham runs.
A GERMAN BULLET HITS THE BRICKS NEAR MILLER.
He doesn't budge.
UPHAM TEARS ACROSS THE STREET very, very fast.
REIBEN watches Upham run.
REIBEN
Hey, that guy can move.
A GERMAN BULLET WHIZZES PAST Miller's ear. UPHAM gets to
the far side.
MILLER DUCKS BACK around the corner. Reiben and Wade don't
even react to what Miller has just done. Sarge is pissed.
He shakes his head at Miller, like an irritated parent.
SARGE
(under his breath so
only Miller can hear)
Damn fool.
(beat)
Sir.
REIBEN
Captain, he's fast!
MILLER
(glances at Sarge,
speaks to Reiben)
Glad of it.
UPHAM
On the other side of the street,
crouches in a doorway with Jackson.
Upham is a bit in shock, less from
the nearness of the bullets than
from what Miller just did for him.
MILLER
DASHES across the street.
GERMAN BULLETS TRAIL HIM, shattering the cobblestones, inches
behind him.
HE MAKES IT across. Calls back to Sarge.
MILLER
Bring 'em over.
UPHAM, tries to thank Miller.
UPHAM
Captain, I...
Miller ignores him, motions to Sarge, Reiben and Wade.
MILLER
One at a time.
MILLER
Ducks out of the doorway and crouch-
runs down the block. He passes a:
BOMBED OUT BUILDING
Out of the line of fire. A dozen
dead American soldiers lined up on
the ground. The battered, bloody
bodies, only partially covered by
ponchos.
Some badly wounded G.I.'s are being treated next to the dead.
Blood puddles have spread out onto the sidewalk.
MILLER
Sees the dead and wounded, shows no
reaction. Runs to:
AN ALLEY
Captain Hamill and his men are bunched
there, out of the line of fire.
He's sending off a squad to continue
their door-to-door.
Captain hamill Fundamentals, short runs, double up at the
corners, one man close, one man wide. Be careful. Go.
The squad takes off. Captain Hamill sees Miller. The two
captains glance at the bars on their shoulders, then speak
familiarly.
Captain hamill How was the road in?
MILLER
We had a jeep until a few hours ago,
a nice one, it had a cute little
flag with a couple of stars on it.
Captain hamill Oh, what a shame.
One by one, Miller's men join them in the alley.
MILLER
We called in a strike on the eighty-
eights that took it out, but it's
the Kraut spotter that counts,
wherever the hell that bastard is.
Captain Hamill points across a wide field toward a distant
chateau that has a private chapel with a fifty-foot steeple.
Captain hamill That's where your boy is. We've been trying
to get him since this morning. He killed two of my men trying
to get close enough for a shot. Miller eyes the distant
steeple.
MILLER
Jackson.
Jackson steps up. Miller points to the steeple. Jackson
knows what he's supposed to do. He puts down his M-1 and
takes off the long, zippered, leather sheath, strapped to
his back.
He spits a massive bullet of tobacco juice, then calmly and
methodically unzips his leather case and pulls out a very
unusual, long-barrel, rifle.
Miller and his men give him some room. Hamill and his men,
along with Upham, watch curiously.
Jackson opens a two-foot tripod with a flick of his wrist,
sits down and carefully attaches the rifle to it. Then he
takes a scope from a narrow wooden box and mounts it. He
adjusts the eye-piece and clicks in the bolt-action. Upham
is fascinated.
UPHAM
What is that?
Jackson pulls back the bolt and loads a single, over-sized
shell.
JACKSON
Thirty-ought-six, Norton long-barrel
with dual-groove, parallel rifling,
elevated three-glass scope and a
single-throw hammer.
UPHAM
The Army gave you that?
JACKSON
Yep.
UPHAM
You must be a hell a shot.
JACKSON
Not where I come from.
Jackson sights on a tree about a thousand yards away and
FIRES. Evaluates. Calibrates the scope. He re-loads.
Jackson FIRES AGAIN. Evaluates. Perfect. He wipes the
dirt and sweat from his forehead, puts his eye to the sight
and waits, absolutely motionless.
UPHAM
That must be four thousand yards.
JACKSON
(without taking his
eye from the scope)
Forty-two-hundred, I figure.
UPHAM
You take account of the wind?
Jackson doesn't dignify that with an answer but he looks
back with an expression that clearly says, "What are you,
some kind of fucking idiot?" Reiben puts himself between
Upham and Jackson.
REIBEN
(put-on Southern accent)
Dang right, he take 'count of the
wind, ain't ya'll ever heard a
Kentucky windage?
Jackson keeps his eye to the scope and his finger on the
trigger.
JACKSON
Reiben, how many time I got to tell
you, I'm from Tennessee.
REIBEN
They got squirrels there, too, right?
Jackson FIRES. Waits. A tiny smile. He starts taking apart
the rifle. A very impressed Captain Hamill barks to his
radioman. Captain Hamill Get a hold of Command, tell them
the St. Mere road is open.
The Radioman cranks up his radio. Captain Hamill turns to
Miller.
Captain Hamill How far back is the rest of division?
MILLER
Very far, they're not coming this
way, they're going to take Caen first.
Captain Hamill Goddamn it, I was afraid of that. We're in a
lot of trouble up here, and it's gonna get worse before it
gets better. How many men did you bring?
MILLER
Five, but we not staying, we're on
our way to Ramelle.
Captain hamill Shit, are you the guys going up to find Private
Ryan?
MILLER
Yeah, you know about that?
Captain hamill Command radioed, wanted to know if he came in
with the early wounded or dead.
Several of CAPTAIN HAMILL'S MEN, among them a GENTLE-FACED
PRIVATE, prick up their ears at the mention of Private Ryan.
Captain hamill We're supposed to tell you, they intercepted
a German transmission after you left. The Krauts have two
companies on their way to Ramelle to take back that bridge,
they'll be there sometime late tomorrow.
MILLER
Wonderful.
Captain Hamill If Ryan's alive, you'd better get him the
hell out of there before those Krauts show up.
MILLER
How do we get out of here?
Captain hamill You don't, until tonight, we're hemmed in
real tight. After dark you try to slip out to the east. If
you tip-toe, stay off the main roads and roll a few sevens,
you've got a fair chance of making it up to Ramelle by
tomorrow night.
Miller processes the information. Captain Hamill shakes his
head.
Captain hamill Tough, huh? Three brothers?
Miller shrugs.
Captain hamill We sure as hell could use your help here, but
I understand what you're doing?
MILLER
Yeah?
Captain hamill Good luck.
MILLER
Thanks.
Captain hamill I mean it. Find him. Get him home.
Miller is a bit taken aback by Captain Hamill's forceful
sincerity. Then he shakes it off and motions to his men.
MILLER
Let's find someplace to hole up.
Miller nods to Captain Hamill, then, as he moves to the head
of the alley, Miller passes Upham.
UPHAM
Sir, I'm sorry about what happened,
I...
MILLER
(interrupting)
It was nothing.
UPHAM
But you could have gotten killed and
I...
MILLER
(interrupting)
Like I said, it was nothing.
(to the men)
Don't bunch up.
He takes off, crouch-running back down the block. Upham
watches him go.
UPHAM
Did you see what he did, back there?
He stepped right into the open, so I
could get across.
JACKSON
Shit, that was no big deal.
WADE
They can't kill him.
SARGE
Like hell they can't.
REIBEN
Wade's right, it's some kind of
scientific, magnetic thing, I can't
explain it, but I've seen it.
WADE
We all have, he's got nine lives, or
he's bulletproof, or some damn thing.
The men are equal parts joking and admiring. Sarge is
neither.
SARGE
No one's bulletproof. No one.
(beat)
C'mon, stay low.
Sarge takes off after Miller.
EXT. ST. MERE CATHEDRAL - DUSK
Miller and his men are bivouaced in the middle of the ruins
of a medieval church. Miller, settled into a comfortable
spot in the debris, eating his K-rations, looks very relaxed.
Reiben paces.
REIBEN
Captain, could you please explain
the math of this mission to me?
MILLER
Sure, what do you want to know?
REIBEN
Well, sir, in purely arithmetic terms,
since when does six equal one? What's
the sense in risking six guys to
save one?
MILLER
Ours is not to reason why.
REIBEN
Huh?
MILLER
Never mind, don't worry, we'll pick
up this kid, high-tail it back to
division, everything'll work out
fine.
REIBEN
I'd much rather die in Caen than
Ramelle, sir. It's a personal thing.
MILLER
Reiben, there's a fairly good chance
you're not going to die at all.
REIBEN
Easy for you to say, sir.
(beat)
Fucking James Ryan, I'd like to wring
his fucking neck.
SARGE
Jesus, Reiben, think of the poor
bastard's mother.
REIBEN
Hey, I got a mother. Jackson, you
got a mother?
JACKSON
Last I knew.
REIBEN
Wade, Sarge, Corporal Insect, all of
us, hell, I'll bet even the Captain
has a mother.
Miller smiles. Reiben eyes him and reconsiders.
REIBEN
Well, maybe not the Captain, but the
rest of us have mothers.
MILLER
You have orders, too.
JACKSON
Sir, I have an opinion on this matter.
MILLER
I'd love to hear it.
JACKSON
Seems to me, Cap'n, this mission is
a serious misallocation of valuable
military resources. Miller Go on.
JACKSON
Well, sir, by my way a thinkin' I am
a finely made instrument of warfare.
What I mean by that is, if you was
to put me with this here sniper rifle
anywhere up to and includin' one
mile from Adolf Hitler, with a clear
line of sight, war's over.
Miller nods.
MILLER
Reiben, I want you to listen closely
to Jackson. This is the way to gripe.
Jackson, continue.
JACKSON
Yes, sir. It seems to me, sir, that
the entire resources of the United
States Army oughta be dedicated to
one thing and one thing only, and
that is to put me and this here weapon
on a rooftop, smack-dab in the middle
of Berlin, Germany. Now I ain't one
to question decisions made up on
high, sir, but it seems to me that
saving one private, no matter how
grievous the losses of his family,
is a waste of my God-given talent.
MILLER
Wade?
WADE
Hell, I don't mind this mission,
sir, as long as there's something up
at Ramelle for...
REIBEN
(finishing Wade's
sentence)
...for you to blow up, yeah, yeah,
we heard that.
MILLER
Upham?
UPHAM
Pass.
MILLER
Sarge?
SARGE
I'm just here to keep a bunch of
numb-nuts, including one certain,
frequently suicidal, tempter-of-fate,
from getting themselves killed.
Reiben eyes Miller.
REIBEN
And what about you, Captain?
Miller looks at Reiben, shocked.
MILLER
Reiben, what's the matter with you?
I don't gripe to you. I'm a captain.
There's a chain of command. Griping
goes one way, up, only up, never
down. You gripe to me, I gripe to
my superior officers. Up, get it?
I don't gripe to you, I don't gripe
in front of you. How long you been
in the army?
REIBEN
I'm sorry, sir, I apologize.
(beat)
But if you weren't a captain, or if
I were a major, what would you say?
Miller considers his response.
MILLER
In that case, I would say this is an
excellent mission, with an extremely
valuable objective, worthy of my
best efforts.
Reiben rolls his eyes. Miller plays it straight, with no
obvious sarcasm.
MILLER
(continuing)
In addition, as I pointed out earlier,
I have a fondness for cheese and I
hope to have the opportunity to sample
some of the Ramelle products, when
we arrive there, to see if they live
up to their excellent reputation.
Moreover, I feel heartfelt sorrow
for the mother of Private James Ryan
and I'm more than willing to lay
down my life, and the lives of my
men, especially you, Reiben, to help
relieve her suffering. The men
thoroughly enjoy the performance.
REIBEN
Sir, if you were not a captain, I
would compliment you, now, for being
an excellent liar.
MILLER
But I am a captain. If I were not a
captain, I would thank you for the
compliment and tell you that the
ability to lie comes from being a
top-notch poker player, which I am,
having learned at the side of my
mother who is, by popular acclaim,
the best poker player in...
The men all learn forward expectantly, believing they're
about to find out Miller's home town. Miller smiles.
MILLER
(continuing)
...my home town, which shall remain
un-named.
The men ease back, disappointed.
MILLER
Any further thoughts on the subject?
REIBEN
Yes, sir, as a final note, I'd like
to say, fuck our orders, fuck Ramelle,
fuck the cheese capital of France
and while we're at it, fuck Private
James Ryan.
MILLER
I'll make a note of your suggestions
but I'll leave that last one to you,
especially if he's already dead.
The men wince and laugh. Miller checks his watch and gets
serious.
MILLER
We move out in two hours, try and
get some sleep.
The men know when to can it. Without another word, they all
settle down into the debris, close their eyes and try to
follow Miller's order. Upham looks around at these strange
men, then, a simple, hard glare from Miller makes him follow
suit.
Miller looks at his men, then pulls out his map case and his
flashlight. He turns it on, in the dim glow of the light,
he studies his maps while his men rest.
EXT. ST. MERE CATHEDRAL - NIGHT (LATER)
Dark. ARTILLERY RUMBLES IN THE DISTANCE. Reiben, Jackson,
Wade and Upham sleep. Miller still sits in the glow of his
flashlight, studying his maps. Sarge lies near him, awake,
watching him. Sarge notices some unopened envelopes in
Miller's map case and speaks quietly to him.
SARGE
You ever going to open those letters?
Miller keeps his eyes on the maps.
MILLER
Maybe.
SARGE
It's not normal, not reading letters
from home.
MILLER
Since when have things been normal?
SARGE
You got me. Afraid of bad news?
MILLER
Nope.
SARGE
Good news?
Miller looks at Sarge. A moment passes between the two of
them, then miller takes refuge in the maps. Sarge looks at
the men.
SARGE
You think they'll be alright?
MILLER
They're fine. As long as they can
gripe, they'll be alright.
SARGE
And what about you?
Miller considers the question, doesn't answer.
MILLER
They guys here aren't going to be
able to hold out until battalion
shows up.
SARGE
Nope.
MILLER
Command isn't going to let them
withdraw and the Germans sure as
hell aren't going to let them
surrender.
SARGE
Three for three.
MILLER
If we stayed, we could make a
difference.
SARGE
You're kidding yourself.
MILLER
You never know.
They sit in silence for a moment.
SARGE
I hope this boy Ryan is worth it.
MILLER
Now you're the one kidding yourself.
(beat)
Hell of a mission.
SARGE
Yup, hell of a mission.
Miller looks at his watch, rises and barks at the men.
MILLER
Rise and shine, boys. Let's go.
Grumbling, the men get up and start shouldering up their
gear.
EXT. ST. MERE STREET - NIGHT
SMALL ARMS FIRE ECHOES through the village. DISTANT ARTILLERY
BOOMS. Miller leads his men from the ruins of the cathedral
toward the outskirts of town. They're just a small squad,
but these six, heavily-armed men, in full battle gear, are
very formidable-looking.
EXT. ST. MERE - OUTSKIRTS - NIGHT
Miller's men are getting ready to move out. Captain Hamill
and a few of his men are there to see them off. Suddenly:
A FLASH OF LIGHT APPEARS ON THE HORIZON
Then REPEATED FLASHES OF LIGHT. The sky is on fire. The
AIR TREMBLES. A FAR OFF RUMBLING THUNDER ROLLS over the
countryside like a tidal wave.
Then, THE OPPOSITE HORIZON LIGHTS UP AS WELL.
IT'S A MASSIVE ARTILLERY BATTLE. The MAGNITUDE OF THE FURY
is incredible, strange, other-worldly.
EVERY MAN THERE IS TRANSFIXED.
Frozen in place. The lights play on their faces.
MILLER looks down and sees his hand quivering.
SARGE notices, says nothing.
MILLER stares at his hand, forcing it to stop. Their eyes
go back to the BLAZING SKY.
SARGE
(awe-struck)
Makes you feel small, doesn't it?
MILLER
It doesn't take this.
Upham's face shows more fear than awe.
UPHAM
I wasn't made for this.
MILLER
(bitterly)
You think the rest of us were?
Upham recoils. Miller instantly regrets his words.