Generals and Sergeants

1.EXT.DAY MID SHOT Soldier bare headed and unshaven. Wild look. We hear his thoughts. Sound of marching feet and weapons being moved around.

SOLDIER: Someone once said that the eyes were the windows to the soul. Looking in that must be. If I was to look in each of their eyes, what would I see? Is each eye the window to a different quality of soul. Right is good left is …? Well, might find nothing even then. Could a magnifying glass help? No, even staring long and hard into each eye would result in nought. Blanks. That's what would present to me. [CHUCKLES TO HIMSELF] PRESENT….eyes. Ready for inspection SAH!!! The soul's there. But today, covered by curtains. Black curtains for - C Company, the Harrup twins, Foster. Grey for A Company. Corporal Finch and Thompson. Reluctant. And the last one from B Company. My Company. Jimmy Redfern……Now he's hung net. He'd want me to see in. At least catch a glimmer. He knows me and I know him. The Bastard. Generals and Sergeants have blankets over theirs. They must have. They couldn't continue if we could all see in. If we knew their insides like we know our own. And what about their eyes? What do they project back into their souls? Colours? Trees? Flowers? Love? Pity?

CUT TO: 2.EXT. DAY. Views of clouds, tops of trees etc. Do they see the leaves waving above the wall? Green, yellow and ochre. Do they have that capacity? Or, like dogs, only see black and white? Generals and Sergeants, ….dogs. ….the club. When you join their club you replace colours for black and white. Yes Sir, No Sir. Regulations. Written in black and white. No colour allowed. Deflect them from their job. The sergeants certainly but, the Generals? What about mess dinners? The colour of a good claret!!! Can they function or be amused by content torn from a black and white library? I am not in the club. I can still see the colours. AIM [SILENT CHUCKLE] …to see the colours for ever. I don't want to join the club. I said 'You can't have my eyes and I won't sign for your eyes at the quartermaster store. I'll stick with what I know'. The Sergeant Major shook his head. It's black and white to him of course. CUT TO: 3.CLOSE UP ON HIS FACE And Jimmy. Bet he's been up all night. Excited. Can't wait. Would I be the same? No. I don't bear grudges. I don't obey. Tragedy. The tragedy of obedience. Revelling in obedience. They've given it to him. Given him what he wants and signed away his guilt with an officer's fine pen. He doesn't have to fake it now. No mistake in the advance. No accidental discharge, …. false remorse. Will he remember in years to come? Will his old bones tremble as he thinks back? Will tears flow? Will his vengeance turn on him. Eat him up? Or will he be able to face his grandchildren as a hero. A good, honest man without fear. A tower of strength. Bastard. Smug bastard. He knows me and I know him. [A LONG PAUSE] The Soldier finally screams out loud. SOLDIER: FIRE!! Nothing happens.

He screams again. SOLDIER: FIRE!

OFF CAMERA We hear a voice SERGEANT: Steady lads! SOLDIER: [CRYING QUIETLY] Black and white. CUT TO: CLOSE UP ON SOLDIER'S EYES

They squeeze shut. SOLDIER: Let it be quick. SERGEANT: FIRE!!

CLOSE.

Copyright Neil Wills November 2001