
[From my long-ago time in Berlin this movie script (and two novels) emerged. Here is the beginning sequence.]
EXT. BARREN FIELD WITH AUTUMN GRASS – DAY
Traffic sounds comes from the four streets bounding the field.
EXT. HILL IN FIELD – DAY
An information sign is at the foot of the hill. A newly-painted Linden tree grows beside it.
EXT. INFORMATION SIGN – DAY
THE INFORMATION SIGN READS Fehurer Bunker
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
A middle-aged TOUR GUIDE stands by the front seat, facing the passengers.
TOUR GUIDE
The Berlin police don’t
want us any closer.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
Tourist faces peering from the windows.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
Tourists from the far side of the bus bend and peer over those seated.
EXT. LINDEN TREE ON HILL – DAY
One raven flutters and lands on a tree limb.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
Two or three faces are pressed in each window.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Tour Guide is pointing through the window.
TOUR GUIDE
All of a sudden, the city says it
is unsafe. (laughs) They don’t want
to see all you rich tourists being
swallowed.
2.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
Peering faces, and Tour Guide’s finger pressed to window.
EXT. INFORMATION SIGN – DAY
A second Raven settles upon the sign. It hops about until it
stops over the word ‘Fehurer’.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
A BOY and GIRL, both slender and twelve, are staring from a window. A MAN WITH AN EYE PACH, in his forties and muscular, wearing a suit from the Salvation Army and a work shirt, bends over them, peering.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Boy and Girl have their heads together. The girl moves her
hand, and points through the top of the window.
EXT. LINDEN TREE – DAY
A third crow is landing on one of the branches. The other two
are agitated, but quickly settle.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch hastily puts his hand over the
girl’s mouth.
MAN WITH EYE PATCH
Shh.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The girl moves her hand from the window. The childrens’
faces move back.
EXT. LINDEN TREE – DAY
The two Ravens in the branches descend to the Information
Sign.
EXT. INFORMATION SIGN – DAY
The Three Ravens shuffle together, and stand shoulder to shoulder.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Tour Guide has his head pressed against the window.
3.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Tour Guide, bent against the window, speaks loudly.
TOUR GUIDE
Too big for crows. They’re ravens.
EXT. INFORMATION SIGN – DAY
The three Ravens flutter down to the ground. They hop
erratically on the brown grass.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Tour Guide reluctantly leaves the window, and faces
the tourists.
TOUR GUIDE
Maybe the ground is dangerous, and
they feel it. Hitler’s original
bunker is still down there. Even the
Russians didn’t dare blow it up. It
would have caved in a dozen
surrounding blocks.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
There are now so many faces in the windows that some
jostling is going on. A few heads turn, speaking
angrily.
EXT. FOOT OF INFORMATION SIGN – DAY
The three Ravens no longer hop erratically. They are
obviously moving in a ritualized formation. Their
dance finishes with them lined up, staring at the
Tour Bus.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Tour Guide is standing at the top of the steps,
facing a YOUNG MAN with a Movie Camera around his
Neck.
YOUNG MAN
I gotta get a picture for my
Gramps. He fought Hitler and
still hates him.
4.
TOUR GUIDE
I’m not supposed to let –
YOUNG MAN
One guy won’t make it cave in.
TOUR GUIDE
But the others –
YOUNG MAN
I’ll be off and back in a minute.
The YOUNG MAN hold up the Camera to the Tour Guide.
YOUNG MAN
I’ll use the zoom. I won’t even walk
on your precious field.
EXT. FOOT OF SIGN – DAY
The Three Ravens are stock still. The one in the middle cocks
his head toward the bus. The Other Two close their eyes.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY.
The door of the Tourist Bus opens.
EXT. FOOT OF SIGN – DAY
The Two Ravens with closed eyes cock their heads in the same
direction as the middle bird.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Young Man steps from the bus.
YOUNG MAN
Gramps will kick my ass if I
don’t.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The man With the Eye Patch pushes the Two Children onto the seat,
EXT. FOOT OF SIGN – DAY
The Two Ravens with closed eyes open their eyes in unison.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With The Eye Patch stands in the aisle.
- MAN WITH THE EYE PATCH
Stop him!
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Tour Guide takes one step along the aisle of the bus.
TOUR GUIDE
It’s just a frigging picture.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Young Man walks across the sidewalk to the edge of the field.
He holds the Camera in front of his face.
YOUNG MAN
Cement twenty feet thick. It
can’t cave in.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With The Eye Patch sits with the Two Children.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Young Man looks behind him at the bus, then starts to walk
across the field.
YOUNG MAN
There’s something written on the
sign, but the zoom can’t get it.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Tour Guide is standing on the bottom step.
TOUR GUIDE
Hey!
EXT. FOOT OF SIGN – DAY
The Three Raves silently take flight
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Young Man is adjusting the Camera when he hears the Tour Guide. He turns around with a scowl.
6.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Tour Guide is standing outside the open door. He is beckoning with his hand.
TOUR GUIDE
I can get fined. Come back here!
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Young Man is adjusting his Camera, his back to the field. He doesn’t look up as he yells to the Tour Guide.
YOUNG MAN
They’re not going to fine you
for two more minutes.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Middle Raven starts to dive, while the others fly on.
EXT. TOUR BUS – DAY
The Tour Guide starts crossing the sidewalk.
TOUR GUIDE
I’ve already got one guy
complaining.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Two Ravens fly in unison, side by side.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Young Man finishes adjusting his Camera. He looks up to see
the Tour Guide at the edge of the field. He holds up his Camera.
YOUNG MAN
It’s new. I got it for this
trip.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Tour Guide is on the grass. He stops, and puts his hands on
his hips.
TOUR GUIDE
You said a minute. I’ll have to
leave you here.
7.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Two Ravens start into a steep dive, one above the other.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Young Man lets go of his Camera. It swings on the neck strap,
bouncing against his chest.
YOUNG MAN
Then you’ll have another guy
complaining.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Single Raven adjusts its dive. Its eyes blink.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Young Man glares at the Tour Guide. He grabs his Camera again,
then turns back toward the Sign, raising the Camera to his face.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Two Ravens shift position, the bottom one moving to the top.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Tour Guide just starts to look up as the Lone Raven strikes
him on the side of the head.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Two Ravens are in a steep dive. The top one gets behind
the other.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Tour Guide is rolling on the ground. The Raven’s claws are
clamped to his ear, and its beak is in his eye.
EXT. TOUR BUS – DAY
The Two Ravens enter the door of the bus.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Single Raven tears off the Tour Guide’s ear.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Bus Driver holds his hands protectively in front of his
face as the Ravens fly past.
8.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Young Man turns toward the bus. He starts filming.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Tour Guide attempts to get up. The Raven has its beak in his
mouth.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Ravens fly along the aisle, amid screaming passengers.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With The Eye Patch grabs the two children. He shoves them
onto the floor between the seats.
MAN WITH EYE PATCH
Stay down!
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Tour Guide has managed to stand. The Raven is fluttering in
front of his face. It has the Tour Guide’s tongue in its beak.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Young Man continues taking pictures.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
Panicked, screaming faces are in the windows. Many passengers are
beating their hands against the glass.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Ravens keep a steady course, but get side -by- side.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch is taking off his suit coat.
MAN WITH EYE PATCH
Not fucking again.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Ravens skim the roof of the bus. They both look down.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch glances at the Two Children.
9.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Two Children huddle on the floor. The Boy lies on the Girl.
stretching over her. He turns his head toward the Man With the Eye Patch.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch yells at the Boy.
MAN WITH EYE PATCH
Hide your face!
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Two Ravens dive simultaneously.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch holds up his suit coat in front of him.
The two Ravens fly right into the suit coat, pulling it from the Man’s hands. The Birds, entangled in the suit coat, hurtle against the window. One Bird gets free, while the other, still encased in the suit coat, falls on the Children.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Boy shoves the Girl under the seat in front of them.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The freed Raven flies up toward the Man With the Eye Patch.The Man
crouches into the stance of a boxer, and punches the bird directly
on the side of its head. The stunned Raven tumbles over the
seat back.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Boy scurries under the seat where he had been sitting.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch grabs his suit coat with the trapped
Raven, and throws it to the far side of the bus.
MAN WITH THE EYE PATCH
(yelling)
All of you – get down!
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Raven is half out of the suit coat when it hits the window.
10.
It spirals to the roof of the bus.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The raven which the Man With the Eye Patch hit, teeters on the
top of a seat back.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch grabs for his suit coat.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Raven on the seat back lifts into the air.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Boy finally manages to squeeze completely under the seat.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The two Ravens start flying to the front of the bus.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch holds his suit coat in front of him
again.
MAN WITH EYE PATCH
Stay down!
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Ravens reach the front of the bus. The Bus Driver is crouched
on the floor, jammed under the steering wheel.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch lowers his suit coat. He glances at the
two Children.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Two Ravens fly out of the door of the bus.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Tour Guide is sprawled on his back. The Raven’s claws are
gripping either side of his neck, and its beak is jabbing into
his other eye.
11.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Two Ravens wobble in their flight as they raise into the air.
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Young Man is walking toward the Tour Guide, filming. He
hesitates, stops walking, and looks up.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch is reaching between the seats.
MAN WITH EYE PATCH
Come on out.
EXT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Young Man raises his Camera and steps back, aiming into the
sky.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch helps the Girl from under the seat.
As she gets up and stands by the window, he assists the Boy. When
The Boy is standing, the Man With the Eye Patch puts on his suit
Coat.
MAN WITH EYE PATCH
You two knew about this, didn’t
you?
The Girl taps her finger against the window.
GIRL
Look!
EXT. BARREN FIELD – DAY
The Two Ravens swoop toward the Third Raven on the ground.
INT. TOURIST BUS – DAY
The Man With the Eye Patch and the Children look out the window.
The Boy glances up at the Man.
BOY
You said we’d be safe.
The Man With the Eye Patch stands straight.
MAN WITH EYE PATCH
You’re safe, ain’t you?
(Image)https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3f/33/98/3f3398e10b275d21c698e4918748f790.jpg