Brass Target (1978) Movie Script

1
Ugh.
Relax, Wally.
We're inches away.
[TRAIN CHUGGING]
There's a quarter of a billion
dollars in gold on that train,
and you act
like it's a load of tires.
My shirt, please, Auntie.
Don't call me that!
ROGERS:
Then stop acting like one.
Haven't I always
taken care of you?
Relax, Wally. Trust me.
Trust me.
[TRAIN HOOTING]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[TRAIN HOOTING]
SOLDIER 1:
Son of a bitch!
SOLDIER 2:
Get out!
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[SQUEALING]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[GUNS COCKING]
SOLDIER 3:
What the hell was that?
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
[CHATTERING CONTINUES]
[HISSING]
SOLDIER 4:
Gas!
SOLDIER 5:
Gas!
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
[SOLDIERS COUGHING]
[COUGHING CONTINUES]
[EXPLOSIONS]
(MAN: 1)
General Truscott,
Officer Simmett.
All good things
must come to an end.
The best thing that
has ever come to me thus far
is the honor
and the privilege
of having commanded
the third army.
The great successes
we have achieved together
have been primarily to
the fighting heart of America.
Please accept my heartfelt
congratulations
on your valor
and devotion to duty.
And my fervent gratitude
for your unwavering loyalty.
Goodbye
and God bless you.
SOLDIER:
All Hail George.
[PEOPLE CHEERING]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
[KNOCKING CONTINUES]
Come in.
PATTON:
What is it, Stewart?
What is that garbage?
I have more papers
for your signature, sir.
Papers.
Papers, son of a bitch,
that's all I hear.
They've given me
a goddamn paper Army.
Analyze supply procedures,
do historical studies.
It's all a bunch of crap!
If Roosevelt were alive, they
never would've done this to me.
So I hired
a couple of Nazis
to help me run
the military government.
Who else knew how to do it?
And those goddamn Russians.
There isn't a man
on the general staff
who won't admit privately we're
going to war with them next.
Well, maybe so, sir.
But, uh, telling it
to that Russian general
at the victory dinner
with all the brass listening,
maybe it wasn't
a very good idea.
I'm no politician like Ike.
The only reason I got drunk
was so I wouldn't tell him.
What? What?
This has been hanging
around for some time, sir,
but they expect a reply.
What is it?
General Ostranov wants
your presence at Iszenok.
General Ostranov?
STEWART:
Yes, sir.
Next.
But, sir, it's protocol.
Then you go.
Protocol.
I'm through
with these Cossack bastards.
Drunk or sober.
Now, tomorrow or ever!
OSTRANOV:
It's good to see
you again, general.
General Eisenhower sends
his respects.
Thank you.
To our glorious victory.
To the United States
of America.
[RUSSIAN SOLDIERS
SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN]
What the hell is that?
You do not shoot officers
in the American Army, general?
Not very often, no, sir.
We try to shoot people
in enemy uniforms.
But you would shoot spies
and traitors?
PATTON:
After a proper court martial,
if the court imposed
such a penalty, of course.
What is the penalty
for an officer
who steals from the army
and sells on the black market?
You mean you're going to
execute that boy for stealing?
He took rations, clothing,
whatever he could sell.
He was a traitor
to the Red Army.
[RUSSIAN SOLDIER
SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN]
[GUN COCKS]
[RUSSIAN SOLDIER
SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN]
[RUSSIAN SOLDIER
SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN]
[GUNS FIRING]
[RUSSIAN SOLDIER
SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN]
[RUSSIAN SOLDIER
SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN]
What would you have done
with such a man,
General Patton?
PATTON:
Our Code of Military Justice
is different than yours, sir.
We don't take a human life
that cheaply.
OSTRANOV:
I know about your idea
of justice.
The Americans are selling
trucks, gasoline, tires, food,
cigarettes, even their guns.
And you, general,
you and your high command
do nothing.
We throw the bastards
in jail.
That's what we do.
Pardon my French, general,
but you're full of shit.
PATTON:
Come on, Stewart, staff,
we paid our respects.
OSTRANOV:
The Americans are thieves!
If they are not,
then where is the gold
from the Reichsbank?
How l should I know?
OSTRANOV:
But the gold
was under your command.
It was your order that sent it
to the vaults at Frankfurt.
Only some of your men made sure
it never reached there.
If that gold had been stolen
under my command,
I assure you
it would not be missing now!
And the man who stole it
would have faced
a firing squad!
There is no proof that
Americans hijacked that train.
OSTRANOV:
General Patton, please.
Even you know better.
I must warn you that the gold
is not yours to keep.
It belongs
to all the Allies.
And we want it back!
You want your gold?
Well, general,
you'll get your gold.
I personally will go out
and find it for you.
Do you hear that, sir?
I will find
every goddamn bar!
And when I do,
you have my assurance
that I will come
right back here
and shove each
and every one of them
right up your
sweet red commie ass!
Colonel Dawson.
SOLDIER:
Second floor, sir.
[DOOR KNOCKS]
DAWSON:
Come in.
Major De Lucca, sir.
Major De Lucca.
Yeah. Been looking forward
to meeting you, major.
Heard a lot about you.
Of course, uh, half these
OSS stories you can't believe--
Never mind the bullshit,
colonel. Let's get to it.
[CLEARS THROAT]
I sure admire the job
you did in Italy.
What job was that?
DE LUCCA:
I've been responsible
for 137 acts
of sabotage,
and a hell of a lot
of statistics.
Yeah, well, I'm thinking
of one specific job.
DE LUCCA:
Oh, you mean the partisan
I drowned in Lake Ariana?
Or was it the factory
that I blew up in Siena?
I killed a lot of people.
No, sir. I mean the train
out of Milano.
Oh, yeah, that.
DAWSON:
Now, that was an operation.
An armored train
with the Krauts' whole war room
right in the middle of it.
You blew it open,
took Kesselring's
whole defense plan.
Terrific.
It's brilliant.
Gassing the train
in the tunnel.
Become a classic model.
For what?
The Reichsbank
gold robbery.
Then someone used
your exact plans
to steal the whole reserve.
It's like
they had your blueprints.
Only this time,
instead of killing Germans,
they killed
59 American soldiers.
DAWSON:
Now, no one knew
about that plan in detail
except you
and your OSS group.
Are you investigating me?
No, sir.
But you know the CID.
Paranoid.
Yeah, I know them.
Look, colonel,
let's lay it on the line.
You think there's a chance
that I killed 59 GIs
for a million,
a hundred and fifty million?
Whatever the goddamn figure was
after what I've been through?
Look, major, I am convinced
that this
was an inside operation.
Now, I want your help.
I'm the wrong man for the job.
The war is over for me.
I have my orders.
I'm going home.
Well, I'm getting you
assigned over here
to help break this thing.
That'll be all, major.
You'll hear from me.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Heinz!
Heinz! Raus!
[MUSIC STOPS]
Fritz.
[FRITZ SPEAKS IN GERMAN]
Colonel McCauley?
[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
DE LUCCA:
What did you do? You stole
the whole goddamn castle?
Just requisitioned it.
Gotta have someplace to sleep.
You understand?
I need a clearance.
McCAULEY:
For what?
I wanna go home.
McCAULEY:
You wanna go home.
Everybody wants to go home.
McCAULEY:
I know where you came from.
You just saw a little
ol' southern fried chicken
by the name of Dawson,
right?
And a 16-year-old kid.
Colonel.
McCAULEY:
Young for a colonel.
I saw him too.
You know what?
The OSS used to be
the greatest thing
during the war,
but since then,
all we are now
is a bunch of thieves
and murderers.
Isn't that right?
I wish the war
had never ended.
Really?
Yeah.
We just did
what we had to do.
Did you?
And we didn't think
about it.
Didn't you?
Alright.
My lover. Buddy.
Give me a couple of weeks.
I'll do some
of my, uh, very fancy,
uh, typing, paperwork,
with that southern
fried chicken young colonel.
He'll be so confused
within two weeks,
that you'll be back home
in New York
eating your favorite steak at
your favorite place which is--?
Toots Shor's.
McCAULEY:
Medium rare.
You're full of shit.
How are you,
you son of a bitch?
[McCAULEY
SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
Joe!
Hello, Mara.
Nice place you got.
Yes.
It's an improvement.
DE LUCCA:
How did you get
out of Poland?
The only way I could.
A friend
in the right uniform.
I always wondered
what happened to you.
I waited for you.
Did you?
I waited in chow lines
longer than you stayed around.
Why didn't you come back?
I'm sorry,
the war got in the way.
How the hell did they
transport it out of here?
That's what I wanna know.
Begging the general's pardon,
but that's all in the report
we sent over to your office.
Some jeeps were seen
in the area that afternoon.
We're trying to find out
where they came from.
I read your goddamn report
and it's a load of crap.
No wonder the Russians
are shoving it in.
The CID couldn't find horseshit
in a stable.
PATTON:
You're missing something,
colonel.
I don't care
how many times we do this.
They must have made a mistake
and we're gonna find it. Clear?
DAWSON:
Yes, general. No problem, sir.
PATTON:
No problem.
PATTON:
Let's have some light.
ROGERS:
What was
the crazy bastard doing?
I haven't seen him like this
since Bastogne.
The Russians hold him
responsible for the gold.
He's taking on
the investigation.
He can't do that.
It's the CID's job.
What the hell does he care?
He's taking it on anyway.
The man is dead.
Why doesn't he lay down?
He's yelling
that Ike screwed him,
and he's gonna stick it
to him good.
He wants to prove that someone
at SHAEF is involved.
Rog, he's gonna find us.
I'm telling you now.
He won't stop till he does.
PATTON:
Stewart!
Where the hell are you?
The gold's brought him
right out of his cage.
Hey!
Hey, goombah!
Goombah!
I thought
you were back at base.
Waiting till ship docked?
You didn't get to Dawson,
did you?
Not yet.
Well, getting
very comfortable here.
They even got me a room.
Not as nice as yours.
Then you don't have to do the
sort of entertaining that I do.
No.
That's history,
okay?
Yeah.
Forget it.
Mike, I went
to your Paris bank.
Did you?
Someone made
the deal.
They sold a million dollars
worth of gold.
Say where it came from?
They say
a private investor.
Might have been.
No, I don't think so.
I think I have something.
It's real.
Why are you messing around
with Dawson?
What the hell are you talking
about messing about?
This jerk has me
on the gold case.
If I leave it to the CID,
I'll never get home.
These are schmucks, the
military, they go by the book.
Me, I'm a Sicilian.
To me, everything
is a conspiracy.
Yeah.
Mike, everyone's making deals.
So, somebody swiped your idea
how to hijack a railway cart.
Uh, what's that?
Shit. The whole thing
is turning to shit.
I mean,
the war was one thing
but killing 59 GIs
on your own side.
I can't let that go.
Joe,
why don't you tell Dawson
"go jump off a cliff."
And go home,
get out of here.
And find yourself
a real, nice girl.
Get married.
Have a lot of kids.
And get rich, huh?
You dumb bastard!
[TRAIN HOOTING]
Son of a bitch!
American bastard.
You know, you nearly blew
the whole goddamn thing?
Keep your voice down!
Why did you have to get rid of
that money so fast in Paris?
What was that
goddamn hurry?
De Lucca found out the bank
where you stashed away
that million. You know that?
What's he doing about it?
Talking his head off to Dawson,
and we have to get
De Lucca home fast
before he does anymore damage.
It's in the works already,
but we've got another problem.
What?
Someone's butting in.
Somebody that I can't buy off.
Who?
Patton, George S. Junior.
He's taken over
the investigation.
Which means he's not
going to stop till he finds us.
ROGERS:
So to put it plainly, McCauley,
we're gonna have to put him
out of business.
We?
My part's done.
Not yet.
We gotta shut him up.
McCAULEY:
Nobody shuts up Patton!
Besides, I only fight guys
my own size.
What's the next stop?
I'm gonna get off it.
Too late, buddy. You're
on the Board of Directors.
If we hang, you hang.
McCAULEY:
I didn't kill those guys.
You sold me De Lucca's plan.
Same thing.
Does Stewart know
that you're gonna knock off
his boss?
ROGERS:
Just you, Gilchrist and me.
Rogers, you're a sewer--
McCAULEY:
A rat-infested sewer.
Now, I may drink
just a little bit too much
and play with the girls a little
bit, and steal a little bit.
But you're out
of your goddamn mind
if you think I'm gonna kill
General Patton!
My dear colonel,
we're not asking you to do it.
Everything you need,
everything
that you have to know,
is in this briefcase.
[TRAIN HOOTING]
[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
Mr. Rogers.
Mr. Peter Shelley.
McCAULEY:
A mutual friend, Esposito.
You must have paid him a lot
for the recommendation.
Too much.
[CHUCKLES]
Well, the black market in Italy
has slowed down.
The poor fellow
has to make a living.
You have a heart.
I must have the wrong man.
Mr. Rogers.
Your dog tags please.
Rogers, jolly dee.
Religion, Protestant.
Blood type O.
Any mistakes on your part,
and you may have need of both.
I think we're both aware
of the price of failure.
Do you mind if I have that back
in case they have to bury me?
We must try to have confidence
in one another.
Five hundred thousand
American dollars.
For that, I'd do it myself.
[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]
How much?
I never bargain.
You wish a man killed.
I didn't ask you why.
I'm sure you will profit.
SHELLEY:
But I must also benefit
for my silence.
So you pay in advance,
500,000 in small bills.
Everything you need is here.
Background information.
Habits, staff.
McCAULEY:
Everything.
When?
McCAULEY:
As soon as possible.
December.
Sometime in December.
It must look
like an accident.
It will.
[PHONE RINGS]
Colonel Rogers.
It's all set. Done.
Good.
McCauley, I want you back
in Frankfurt.
We've got another problem.
Frankfurt?
Ah, come on, Rogers,
what's the hurry?
I wanna spend a couple of days
in Switzerland, uh,
playing around.
You know what I mean.
Be in your apartment,
2100 hours, Wednesday.
Alright.
I'll be there. Wednesday.
What--?
What's the other problem?
McCauley.
[HILDE GREETS IN GERMAN]
[CHUCKLES]
I did not mean to frighten you.
Not at all, fraulein.
Matter of fact,
I feel much better.
[HILDE CHUCKLES]
Your friend
will be a little late.
And he has asked me
to make you comfortable.
I've had a hard, tiring day.
[CHUCKLES]
HILDE:
I have ready a bath for us.
Yes?
With bubbles?
With lot of bubbles.
Pretty bubbles.
[MUSIC PLAYING
OVER THE RADIO]
[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
Well, I'm maching
all the schnell I can.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[LAUGHS]
Ah.
[CHUCKLES]
There are bubbles for you.
Oh. Steam.
Yeah.
McCAULEY:
Beautiful. I like it.
[LAUGHING]
[GRUNTING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[DOOR OPENS]
KASTEN:
Hilde!
[SIGHS]
Dumb bastard.
I wanna see all his clothes,
everything he had on him.
DAWSON:
They're in the effects vault.
The CID gone through this yet?
Not yet. The examiner's
on the way over here now.
There's not much.
Some coins, his gun,
pack of cigarettes, ID.
What do you mean cigarettes?
He had a pack of Camels.
Mike smoked cigars,
he didn't smoke cigarettes.
You guys gave me
a tough one.
A real ball buster.
McCauley was OSS too,
wasn't he?
I guess that's why the CID here
couldn't bust it.
I mean,
you cloak-and-dagger guys
use such sophisticated codes.
Too bad we didn't borrow this
one to use against the Japs.
Captain Levy, uh,
you did decipher the note?
It's a joke!
You brought me a code
a kid could break.
Now, this is the date:
November 3rd, 1945.
On November 3rd,
McCauley met S, regarding BG.
Now S or BG had grey hair,
eyes brown.
Height:
Over 6 feet tall, about.
Weight: 180 pounds, about.
Now, this is a telephone number.
Comstock, 6245.
What the hell's that?
Joe, I checked this out
personally, myself.
It's the Great Meadow Prison,
upstate New York.
LEVY:
Now, this last group
of numbers were tricky.
But I found out
that it's the serial number
of a prisoner
in Great Meadow.
What's the name?
Lucky Luciano.
Joe.
What is it?
Mike's dead.
How did this happen?
He was murdered.
In an apartment
in Frankfurt.
Why?
We don't know.
Mara, did Mike say anything
about going to New York?
No.
Did he ever mention a town
called Comstock?
Great Meadow prison.
He never told me anything.
He said he was going
to live forever.
Well, he almost made it,
didn't he?
I was going
to throw him a wake.
The old bastard finally got up
and conduct the thing himself.
Stupid, son of a bitch.
He was kind to me.
He helped me when I needed it.
What do you wanna do now?
Where you gonna go?
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC]
I don't know.
Well, you can't stay here.
[SIGHS]
Mara, I wanna help you.
I'm going to New York
for a few days.
I wanna know where you gonna be
when I get back.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
No, Joe.
We did it once before.
Please go.
Please.
You have to understand,
major.
Mr. Luciano is shocked
by this whole incident.
The man you call McCauley
came here
claiming
to be Commander Gilbert
of the United States Navy.
The man who came to see you
is being investigated
by Army Intelligence.
Well, what's all that
gotta do with me?
DE LUCCA:
Tell me what Colonel McCauley
was doing here.
He was selling me
some war bonds.
Frank, will you get rid him!
You're in trouble,
Mr. Luciano.
Oh. What, you gonna lock me up?
Just inform Mr. Luciano
that if he and this Gilbert
were conspiring against
the United States government,
his problems haven't started.
Hey, you!
[SPEAKS IN ITALIAN]
Espionage during wartime
is punishable by death.
LUCIANO:
Espionage?
Are you hard of hearing?
Now wait a minute, major.
You rotten punk!
Do you know what I do
for this country?
LUCIANO:
I practically put the whole
goddamn Army through Sicily!
Then I fix it so the Navy
can clear up those saboteurs
on the waterfront!
What else do you want?
I want the truth.
What about my deal?
What deal is that?
FERRARO:
Now, let me explain it
to the major, Charles.
You see, major,
for his services
to the government,
it's been arranged
by Washington
for a reduction
in sentence.
Maybe even a release.
Naturally, Mr. Luciano
doesn't wanna see that upset.
That's the reason
he cooperated
with this so-called
commander.
If you don't talk,
your whole deal's
gonna fall apart like that:
Tell him what he wants to know.
Yeah, alright, alright!
See?
Mr. Luciano is always willing
to cooperate
fully and patriotically.
Mr. Navy,
whatever his name is,
was looking for a hit man
in Europe.
LUCIANO:
The best in the business.
A hit man.
LUCIANO:
Now, you don't hear so good?
You're lying.
It's true!
I know. I cleared it myself!
Who did he want killed?
That was his business.
And you gave him someone?
Yeah, sure. The guy
said it was of the deal.
The name. I want the name.
Esposito.
Gino Esposito. Naples.
Naples.
Where in Naples?
I wand the address.
Uh, since last Friday,
the Holy Cross Cemetery.
He was in the black market.
Some MP blew his brains out.
Yeah, well, that's it, major.
That's all I got.
Now, use your influence
to get me deported
back to my cell, will you, pal?
Thank you.
Hey, De Lucca.
You're Sicilian, ain't you?
How's your family?
They're all dead.
Major, lucky he was telling the
truth. You know that, don't you?
Yes, I know.
Got time for a drink?
No, I don't.
You related
to Judge De Lucca?
He was my father.
He was a good man.
Very fair.
You're a lawyer too I heard.
That's right.
You know, I wanted
to be a lawyer once.
Fat chance
of that now, eh?
Mr. Ferraro, the first time
I walked into a courtroom,
I looked around.
I asked my father
who are the whores
and who are the spectators?
You know, I tried
to get in the uniform.
Too old they said.
Look. This is for your own ears,
nobody else.
Esposito was just a contact man,
and they used him a lot.
The man you want
comes out of Switzerland.
He's the best
in the business.
What's his name?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Ah, Mr. Shelley.
Come in.
Can the device I described
to you be made? Yes or no?
With time and patience,
anything can be made.
It must be light and small.
Easy to carry.
Details.
The construction can do
all that you say.
But the ammunition
you insist upon,
I've never known of it
to be used in a firearm.
Without it, the device
would be useless to me.
Then I must ask two questions
you may not wish to answer.
Well, ask them.
What is your target?
A man.
And the range
at which you must fire?
Seventy feet. And time
for no more than one shot.
A third question then.
Will the target be moving
or at rest?
I will try to make certain
that my target
will be either standing still
or sitting.
And you will not accept
a conventional bullet?
Impossible.
You accept the commission?
It will be difficult.
[CHUCKLES]
But I cannot resist.
[BOTH LAUGH]
One more thing, Herr Schroeder.
I have very little time.
We have that in common,
my friend.
Thank you general.
Alright.
ROGERS:
Asking for liaison with
intelligence pretty damn late.
We were waiting to see what
De Lucca could come up with.
Don't wait when you're
talking about assassination.
But we weren't sure
who the target was.
Now the major thinks
it's Patton.
Patton. What do
you base that on?
McCauley.
We found a coded record
of his activities.
Look, this is a goddamn
dereliction of duty!
Why wasn't my office
informed?
Because it was
a CID investigation, colonel.
And McCauley named Patton
as the target?
Not exactly.
But we found the initials
BG in his notes.
Blood and guts?
That's your connection?
Patton dealt himself in
on the gold investigation.
Whoever engineered
the robbery
could've decided
to deal him out permanently.
DAWSON:
Before McCauley was murdered,
he made contact
with an assassin.
He better damn well hurry.
Ike just gave me the word.
Truman's ordered Patton home
December 10th.
They're putting the old bastard
out to pasture. About time.
You gotta have extra security
till then, sir.
Don't tell me my job,
major!
The target
could be Eisenhower.
Tried twice before
that I know of.
Some think Ike can keep
the communists out of Europe.
You already put a wall
around him, sir.
Damn it, it's Patton!
Maybe!
Maybe that's what
they want us to think.
We're all looking at Patton
and Ike gets shot.
Colonel, I want
all the information
that you have right now.
Mara!
Mara!
DE LUCCA:
Mara!
Mara!
Excuse me, please. Mara!
Excuse me, please.
Where are you going?
Somewhere.
You're staying with me.
No.
You're not running out
on me again.
I'm not. I'm just going.
Where're you going?
Help me?
Wait-- Where're you going?
I'll find a place.
Did you find someone? Is that
what you wanna tell me?
Let me go.
I need you.
MARA:
Let me--
[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
SCHROEDER:
It is ready.
Tempered
gun-metal aluminum,
high carbon Swedish steel.
Each part hand-threaded
on a jeweler's lathe.
First, the ammunition.
As you instructed,
it resembles something
that might have come
from the engine
of an automobile.
And now, the gas cylinder.
You see, it is simple.
That will give the absolute
accuracy required.
The range is 70 feet
or more.
I have carried out
extensive tests.
SCHROEDER:
It was difficult
to keep the skin unbroken
and to crush
the spinal cord.
However, I have found
the precise spot to hit.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
At 70 feet
and a gas pressure of 4,
the rubber will not enter
the head.
I will prepare your target.
This is the spot to hit.
And if your target is moving,
aim a fraction to your right.
Under the cover girls,
it's the house detective.
[CHUCKLES]
Well, how was it?
You didn't come all the way out
here to ask me that, did you?
No.
No.
I picked up your mail.
What're you doing
with this tag?
You mean what was McCauley
doing with it?
Someone sent this.
From Lucerne.
Who do you suppose
that was, aye?
McCauley had your name and
serial number put on that tag.
And now the guy he hired is
telling us
no double crosser us.
If De Lucca tracks him down,
we're dead.
How the hell's
he gonna do that?
When even we don't know
who he is.
Don't get hysterical. We'll
find De Lucca and stop him.
That's all.
[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Where're you going?
I'm gonna be out
for a little while.
I'll be back soon.
I'll go with you.
I wish you could.
I have to meet someone.
Who?
Look, does this tie
go with this shirt?
What do you think?
It's very nice.
Tell me.
Where are you going, hmm?
I came here to find someone.
A man I used to know.
Who?
He works
for the War Refugee people.
His name is Webber.
Martin Webber?
You know him?
MARA:
I knew of him
in the refugee camp.
MARA:
Some people said
he knew too many Nazis.
He's not a man
to be trusted.
I know that.
Be careful, please.
WEBBER:
Mr. Bedwell. Do you have
any further problems?
No, sir.
Good.
Then the World Refugee Committee
will meet again in Paris
as scheduled
on January the 9th.
I thank you, ladies
and gentlemen. The records.
Our business
has now concluded.
WOMAN:
Thank you.
For God's sake. Joseph.
What a delightful surprise.
How are you?
Fine.
And you? So good to see you.
Thought you would be
back in America by now.
I've got
some unfinished business.
Not with me, I hope.
You and I,
we are part of history now.
Can I get you
some refreshment?
As long
as you don't poison it.
[LAUGHING]
That was an old habit of yours.
Yeah.
Well, self-preservation.
The war was made-to-order
for you, Martin.
You stole from both sides
with equal grace.
Listen.
Which was the greater
immorality?
My petty crimes
or the war itself?
Petty crimes?
You're lucky
you weren't shot.
[LAUGHS]
Oh, please, Joseph.
A little discretion.
We'll reminisce over lunch.
WEBBER:
I know a charming place
where we can talk
without interruption. Come on.
If you like chateaubriand,
you'll bless the chef.
Well.
Not bad.
This may be the first time in
your life you told the truth.
Oh. I do have
my honest moments.
I'll give you $5000
for one of them.
Joseph, you were
never that generous.
You used to take
what you wanted and then talk.
Well, the rules
were different then.
I'm learning how
to be civilized again.
I never thought you were well
suited for your work, Joseph.
You were never able
to look past your morality.
Sorry.
My father spoiled me.
You know, some people
have to be killed
for all sorts of reason.
You always asked "why."
That time in Italy, remember?
Where the partisan, Mario..
You jeopardized
the entire operation
by hesitating
to kill him.
He would have informed
the Germans.
There was no proof.
Ah, except my word.
You never even
saw that operation.
Of course I did.
How? From the top
of the Alps?
Shacked up
with your girlfriend?
You knew about that?
I never trusted you,
you know.
[LAUGHING]
Waiter.
Remy Martin, bitte.
Yes, monsieur.
So?
I need some information.
About?
I'm looking for someone.
The man I want
is a hired assassin.
A professional killer.
Europe is full of those.
Every former soldier
with a gun, perhaps.
This one is special.
I see.
Would you have any form
of description?
He's over 6 feet.
With graying hair,
brown eyes.
Weighs around
a hundred eighty pounds.
We have an initial: S.
Mr. S?
Does that mean anything?
Hmm. I don't think so.
What else
do you know?
He operates
out of Switzerland.
WEBBER:
I see.
And you want me
to find this fellow?
Well, you know
most of the scum of Europe.
You should be able
to find him.
You flatter me, Joseph.
I have reduced my outside
activities since the war.
My principle profession now
is binding up the wounds
of a ravaged world.
Find him.
Give him a message.
A message?
DE LUCCA:
Tell him I know about him.
Tell him I wanna meet with him.
Make a deal.
What sort of a deal?
Hmm. That part I'll handle.
[CHUCKLES]
I was mistaken.
You haven't changed a bit.
Mr. Webber's office
told me where to find you.
Are you alright?
Yes.
And you are?
Mara Danelo.
Oh, yes.
How nice to see you again.
Let's go.
You know where to reach me.
Excuse us.
Of course.
MARA:
A man keeps calling.
He says it's urgent.
He's going to call back.
[PHONE RINGS]
Hello?
KASTEN: Major De Lucca?
Yes?
KASTEN:
You wish some information.
Who is this?
I may be able to help with the
person you wish to find.
Who is this or I'll hang up.
Tomorrow morning, go
to confession at Saint Paul's.
The church by the hotel.
First confessional
on the right.
Ask for Father Kasten
and confess your sins.
Are you Father Kasten?
KASTEN:
Be there at exactly 9:00.
[CHURCH BELL TOLLING]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
Father Kasten?
KASTEN:
Yes, my son.
Forgive me, Father,
for I have sinned.
KASTEN:
Haven't we all, my son?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[BELLS TOLLING]
[TOLLING CONTINUES]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[KASTEN SCREAMING]
[SCREAMING]
[FOOTSTEPS]
STEWART:
Okay, Theresa. Okay.
You didn't enjoy yourself.
I'm sorry.
I mean, you hardly spoke
to anybody.
All my friends there, hmm?
THERESA:
I did enjoy it.
STEWART:
Now, come on, tell me,
what's bothering you, huh?
Was it something I said
or maybe something
I didn't say?
THERESA:
Somebody has been asking
questions about us.
Who?
THERESA:
A man called Peter Shelley.
THERESA [CHUCKLES]:
What would Patton say if he knew
you had a German mistress?
Oh, come on, Theresa,
half the American Army
are living with German girls.
Who is this Peter Shelley?
THERESA:
I don't know.
But it frightened me.
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING
OVER THE TURNTABLE]
Not this music.
[MUSIC STOPS]
I'll be right out.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING
OVER THE TURNTABLE]
THERESA:
Get me a drink, please, darling.
[SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES]
[GUNSHOT]
[MUSIC STOPS]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
WEBBER:
Good morning. Cable, please.
To Peter Shelley.
Franz Schuberstrasse 15th,
Lucerne.
Can offer 500 Swiss francs
for article on economic future
of postwar Germany.
Can arrange meeting
in Frankfurt, if agreeable.
Please reply my office,
Wilhem Publishing,
Ludwigstrasse 72, Berne.
Your name, please.
Heinz Wilhem.
I trust your urgent information
can tell me
who killed Colonel Stewart.
Same man
who's after Patton.
Are we speculating again?
No, sir.
Stewart's death confirms
that Patton is the target.
He knew the general's schedules
and habits.
The girl they found with him
was Theresa Von Rodeck.
She was really Dora Mueller.
Her husband
was a Nazi cabinet minister.
DE LUCCA:
The guy was probably using
her association with Stewart
in order to get
any information he wanted.
Then he shut them both up.
The assassin McCauley hired
had a code name S.
Yes, Major,
I read Dawson's report.
CID Forensic traced the name
Peter Shelley on this pad
they picked up
in Mueller's room.
Shelley's a journalist
living in Lucerne.
Swiss father,
English mother,
sometime feature writer
and novelist.
No strong political convictions
or party affiliations.
And this telephone number?
Shelley left for Frankfurt. We
don't know where the hell he is.
Alright.
I'll issue an additional
security order for Patton.
Get our intelligence onto
the search for this Shelley.
And, colonel,
if your men find him first,
have them notify me
immediately!
Yes, sir.
That's all.
SERGEANT:
Colonel Rogers.
Intelligence got a call
about Peter Shelley.
Where is he?
A gasthof in Wilden Hirschen,
Hofmannstrasse.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Uh, yes, sir.
[PIANO PLAYING]
I survived World War II
and three marriages.
Ah, now there you are.
So here's to the end
of the world, Mr. Shelley, sir.
And may we live
to write about it.
[LAUGHING]
[LAUGHING]
Mind you,
the way I'm going,
I think you'll be here
by yourself.
[SOLDIERS CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY]
MP:
How many damn gasthofs
does De Lucca want us
to check out anyway?
I thought the Irish
had all the luck.
But, Shelley, my friend,
you seem to have
appropriated a bit.
Where did you find
this rich uncle?
In Berne.
He's a new publisher,
Heinz Wilhelm.
I'm to meet him here
tomorrow.
CARBERRY:
And how much did you say
he was paying?
Cable said 500.
In Swiss francs.
You don't suppose he'd be
interested in doing a story
on four-power control
of Berlin, do you?
Uh-uh.
Well, um,
what about
two-power control of Ilsa?
Some dinner, meine herren?
Of course, my darling.
I will bring you a menu.
[LAUGHS]
[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]
May l see your register,
please?
How long has this man Shelley
been here?
He came this morning.
Uh, uh, that's him.
WOHLER:
There. The man
with the grey hair.
Is-is-is something wrong,
sir?
Don't get excited.
Just take it easy.
Yeah.
Where's your telephone?
In-in my office. Please.
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
Close your bar.
The curfew's still enforced.
B-but we--
Close it.
Watch him.
But keep out of sight.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
[PIANO PLAYING]
WOHLER:
Siegfried, hold it.
That's it. We're closing.
[CROWD GROANING]
Look, eh,
meine Damen and Herren,
ladies and gentlemen,
we are closing.
The bar is closing for tonight.
Drink up, please!
Drink up, please!
Where is he, Rowan?
Hotel Zum Wilden Hirschen,
Hofmannstrasse.
Hotel Zum...
Wilden Hirschen.
Wilden Hirschen.
In Hofmannstrasse.
If Shelley tries to leave,
grab him!
I want him alive.
No one goes near him,
you understand?
We're on our way.
Alright!
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
WOHLER:
Do you know what means
to have, uh, trouble...
You have to.
You see, I have to close
because we have trouble
with the police, you know.
Well, thank you very much.
Maybe tomorrow, yes? Thank you.
I'll tell you,
I'll see you tomorrow.
We'll have another bottle.
It's fine. Alright.
Yes. Sleep good.
[WOHLER SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
Which room is Shelley in?
Uh, number 27.
A-a-at the top of the stairs.
Get rid of the waitresses.
And disappear yourself.
Ja.
[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
Leave everything as it is
and-and, uh, go home.
Quickly. Hurry. Schnell.
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
Let's go.
Excuse me, sir.
Major De Lucca's orders were
not to let anybody through.
Lieutenant, this is a SHAEF
Operation. Where is he?
Did you hear me?
Corner room, sir.
Ah!
ROGERS:
Easy, Wally.
Ah!
ID.
Stack!
Stack,
where the hell are you?
Sir?
What day is this?
Why, it's Sunday, general.
Then we're going hunting
as usual.
STACK:
Sorry, sir, I thought
with the security measures
still in effect,
we'd call it off.
They caught the sons of bitches.
What do I need security for?
I would have found that gold
if they weren't sending me home.
They can't keep me
from hunting, can they?
No, sir.
Find anything?
No.
I checked out all the people
who were here last night.
Nothing.
What did Patton say?
He wants me to send a report
to Eisenhower today.
Said he always knew
that those bastards from SHAEF
were involved.
Now that it's over,
he's ignoring security.
He's going hunting.
It's not over.
What do you mean?
It's not over.
Something stinks here.
What do you expect to find?
With Patton going home,
an assassination
wasn't necessary.
Rogers had to get to Shelley
to silence him.
How the hell
did he and Gilchrist
get to him before we did?
Someone had to tip him off.
Well, Rogers had informants
all over town.
Anyone could've made that call.
Shelley could've made it.
Shelley called him
then he waited in his room
to get shot in the head?
Where was his gun? Where
the hell was Shelley's gun?
He was a professional.
He would've slept
with the damn thing!
Look, colonel,
McCauley, Stewart,
Rogers, Gilchrist,
they're all dead.
I've gotta believe
it was someone else.
And it wasn't
this Peter Shelley either.
[SIGHS]
Well, I gotta do that report
for Eisenhower.
DE LUCCA:
You do that.
My priority is to make sure
that Patton isn't killed.
I'm gonna go see Patton.
DAWSON:
He's in his hunting lodge.
He's not gonna see you.
He's all packed to go home.
Well, he can call my mother
when he gets to New York.
What are you doing here?
Joe, tell me about Webber.
Webber?
Yes, are you working with him?
What's the matter?
Are you alright?
When you were in Berne
with Webber,
someone tried
to kill you.
Now, he's here
in Frankfurt.
Webber is here?
I saw him.
He was in an
American uniform.
What?
I saw him this morning!
It was him alright.
I know his walk,
the way he moves.
He was always doing that,
impersonating other people.
Yes.
I know because
I lived with him.
When I thought you were never
coming back in Poland,
he was the one
who looked after me.
That's alright. It's okay.
After you met him in Berne,
he called me. He still wants me.
He said I would be
with him again soon.
When I saw him here today,
I knew what he meant.
That something
will happen to you.
Joe, he's come here for you,
hasn't he?
No.
It's not me he wants.
Come on, get in.
Many thanks
for your information, sir.
Get ready. Get ready.
General Patton's on his way!
Get ready!
He will be here soon!
[ENGINE STARTS]
He's coming! He's coming!
Go on, get ready! Get ready!
Looks like you've got
a reception committee, general.
Who the hell arranged
for this? You?
No, sir.
Well then, who did?
I don't know, sir.
PATTON:
Pull over, sergeant.
SERGEANT:
Yes, sir.
Another damn reception.
[PEOPLE CHEERING
AND CLAPPING]
WOMAN:
We thank you so much,
General Patton.
Uh, thank you.
Thank you, very much.
This damn window's broken!
Let's get out of here.
SERGEANT:
Yes, sir.
[PEOPLE CHEERING
AND CLAPPING]
Make a note to get that
DP Camp fumigated.
Yes, sir.
SERGEANT:
Where's he hurt?
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
DRIVER:
I don't know.
It all happened so quickly.
We came down
around this curve.
We didn't see anything.
And then we just rammed
right into that truck.
Excuse me, gentlemen.
OFFICER:
Certainly.
MAN 1:
Look at this. This way.
CAPTAIN:
Get those civilians
out of here?
MP:
Yes, sir.
What happened?
Patton's car crashed
into that truck.
Doc thinks
his neck is broken.
MAN 2:
Some crash.
The driver must've been drunk.
Anyone else get hurt?
CAPTAIN:
No. They were shaken up.
But Patton's hurt pretty bad.
CAPTAIN:
You, uh,
serve with him, sir?
No.
He was shot.
I told you, major,
it was an accident.
The car just hit
that parked truck.
I wanna see the driver of that
truck. I wanna talk to him.
Sorry, major, but we don't
know who he was yet.
Where's Patton's driver?
Uh, he went to the hospital
with the general.
Major,
what's this all about?
I was with the medics
when they examined him, sir.
And I'm telling you
no one was shot!
What's this?
I don't know.
That looks
like a bushing, maybe.
MAN 3:
Is the general alright?
Excuse me, sir, but half
the Army is showing up.
Come here.
You get up that hill
and don't let anybody down.
Yes, sir.
Okay, go ahead.
Talk to them now.
Thank you, sir.
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
Anyone see what happened?
Yes, sir.
We were following
the general's car.
They just turned out into that
truck. It was an accident.
Lieutenant, we need
a report from you.
Yes, alright.
Has he been taken
to the hospital?
Sir, this is the vehicle struck
by General Patton's car
causing extensive damage
of the right..
General Stackwood
was sitting there.
And General Patton
was sitting over here
where he sustained
serious injuries.
What a fool place
to park a truck?
It was Patton.
His neck was broken.
It was Webber.
I know it.
Somehow I know
it was Webber.
[SIGHS]
Oh, God.
Patton.
He'll come for you next.
Let me worry about that.
I know a way we can.
Listen, you stay out of this!
No.
I've had too much
taken away from me.
He's not going to take you.
I know what I have to do.
And neither you or anyone else
is going to stop me.
Do you have
a letter for me?
My name is De Lucca. Joe.
One moment please, sir.
I shall get it.
Here, this one.
Let's go.
Here.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Shelley!
DE LUCCA:
It's all over, Martin.
Let's go.
[GUNSHOT]
[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]