Lesson 15

[Jan Fantl]

Many many changes from Lesson 13,14,15

THIRST

SEASON ONE – STEAL
A SOLDIER IS COMING HOME (PILOT)

Written by

Jan Fantl

Idea developed by

Jan Fantl

EFOROX OÜ
Narva mnt 5
10117 Tallinn, Estonia jan_fantl@me.com

EXT. WAR ZONE VILLAGE – DAY
SOLDIER BAUER, in combat uniform, drinks from his canteen.

Desert heat. Some twenty soldiers load two trucks with bags tightly wrapped in plastic.

SUPER: 2021 AFGHANISTAN

A child in an Arabic Niqab (10ish) approaches BAUER’s car, mimicking the drinking sign.

EXT. WAR ZONE ROADSIDE – DAY

In a distance Major OLIVER WIND, in full German combat gear, sits on the roof of a DINGO, an armored military vehicle, grabs for his mouth piece…

OLIVER (in mike)

Falcon One for nest. Keep the kiddo away. Don’t let it come near to any of you.

…and scans the huts and houses around the square. His special unit of fifteen German soldiers cover the activities with an inner ring.

EXT. WAR ZONE VILLAGE -DAY

Bauer, sits on a semi armored pick up truck, waves with his hand towards the kid to stay away.

The kid stops, signals too, makes the international sign for drinking again.

OLIVER (O.S.)

Soldier in nest, do not let the kid approach, it could be an asset. Copy.

It waves with both hands, Please! The soldier ignores the warning ..

The Kid approaches the truck…

BAUER
I think he really asks for

something to drink. He looks thirsty

Focused and not happy about the answer.

OLIVER (O.S.)

Shoo him away. This is an order.

EXT. WAR ZONE ROADSIDE – DAY

OLIVER
Any team near the kid and nest?

AIDE (over intercom)

I am 30 sec away

VOICE 3 (over intercom)

On my way, in 20
… the kid is only 18 sec away.

Oliver shoots into the air. He raises attention.

The working soldiers turn. The kid the last meters towards the truck.

Soldier Bauer lifts his weapon. He now.

BAUER
Stop. Do not come close!

Oliver aims at the kid through his the kid … nothing in his hands

turns… and starts to run understands the situation

Stop now!
special rifle’s scope…

OLIVER
Somebody has to be around. All ring

one: check visuals, somebody must have an eye-line with him.

He searches the windows and roof tops from his PoV

VOICE (over intercom)

Suspect on my eleven o’clock, your eight.

Oliver swings around, backwards ….

VOICE (CONT’D)
Window, first floor, zero25 clicks.

2.

… and sees through the scope a man watching. He swings back…

OLIVER
Stop the boy, shoot in the sand in

front of his feet, or his feet, NOT THE BODY! stop him. NOW.

BAUER
Stop. Do not come close! Stop now!

… He’s only nine or so.
The kid is almost in reach of the truck.

Oliver swings around with his scope. The man behind the window speaks. Is this praying? Yes!!!!!

Oliver swings back, aims through scope. The back…

OLIVER (his inner voice)

It’s a kid… the butt …

the leg…

OLIVER (CONT’D) It’s a bomb..

OLIVER (CONT’D) It’s a kid..

the knee…

OLIVER (CONT’D) It’s a bomb

Oliver triggers…

… the back of the leg is hit, blood gushes visibly on the niqab, the kid stumbles, falls.

The momentum makes the kid continue to roll on its way forward.

Oliver swings around. The man bows. The kid touches the truck

ARABIC KID Allah is great

KARRRBOUUMMMMHH

3.

Everything explodes, a fireball, the truck is lifted several meters, no kid, a soldier body flies burning through the air …. a second detonation, fire and dust.

Oliver his face covered, watches, speaks same time.

OLIVER (intercom)

All team Falcon. Outer ring: nobody leaves the village. Inner ring: Swarm and find his accomplices, the kid didn’t trigger it by himself. Somebody nearby did. Find these fuckers!

… jumps off his Dingo and runs

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Medics, stay back, wait for orders.

Bauer lies 24 meters away from where seconds ago his truck was. Oliver knees next to him…

.. checks the area, with scope and without.

OLIVER (CONT’D) Clear. Medics come in.

..and opens the Kevlar vest, a lot of blood gushing.

OLIVER (CONT’D) Falcon One for Camp M, copy.

VOICE CAMP (O.S.)

Come in Falcon One.

OLIVER
We have been ambushed. One man

wounded, one seriously…. Two medics appear, bend over BAUER.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
… We are 45 clicks out, preparing

for transport. Send Medvac for air transport, prepare hospital. Copy that.

Around them, soldiers run around, villagers scream… it’s turmoil.

4.

VOICE CAMP (O.S.)

Copy. Two injured, one for immediate surgeries. Forward ID and we’ll prepare for blood preserves at al.

OLIVER
Complete ID on daily sheet … for

He grabs the dog-tag out of the gushing blood, wipes it.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
… Golf-Echo-Mike-Zero-One-Zero- Seven-One-Nine-Nine-Four ID five-

zero-five-zero-six-seven.

VOICE CAMP (O.S.)

Recorded. Will forward. ESTA us once airborne. Copy that

OLIVER

Cop..
The medics try to keep Bauer alive.

VOICE CAMP (breaking up, white noise)

Falcon? Copy…….Falcon Cop SCREEN GOES BLACK.

EXT. MILITARY CAMP – IN FRONT OF POLICE BUILDING – DAY OVER BLACK

AIDE (O.S.)

Oliver…Oliver, common, Oli for God’s sake.

ON: Oliver explodes out of a nightmare dream, disturbed and agitated.

OLIVER
You can make … What. Ohh. What.

….Fuck… Again.

AIDE
Yo bro. You need to wake. Here.

5.

SERGEANT AIDE holds a bottle of water. Oliver goes from something into nothingness, starts shaking on his seat, hyperventilates.

OLIVER
No. Ohhhhh. W…what….hm Hm hm

It’s a panic attack.
Aide, not surprised, slaps his face.

AIDE
Yes, you can…, come back, I am

here, ….common…

It does not work, he grabs a grocery bag from one of his many soldier pants pockets and pulls it over Oliver’s head. Pulls it tight.

AIDE (CONT’D) Calm, calm….it’s all good.

Oliver defends himself, wriggles and squirms. Aide holds tight and he faints and slumps in his seat.

Aide releases the grocery bag instantly and Oliver gains consciousness and returns to this side of the universe…

..handed a can with a power drink.

AIDE (CONT’D)
Welcome back, boss. Are we ready to

continue with that prick?

OLIVER In a sec.

Takes a sip. Inhales. Another sip. Not fit.

OLIVER (CONT’D) Ok, Allah is great. Let’s see

He gets up and they walk into the building marked Military Police – MP.

END OF TEASER

6.

ACT 1: TRAVEL

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY

Oliver leans over the table – time has passed – and pushes a plastic cup to the end of his third of the table.

OLIVER (in English)

Ok, let’s look at it this way. Here is some water. What do you want to put on your side of the playfield? A name, a name of a tribe, a village? Tell me.

The TRANSLATOR seated next to him points at the cup.

TRANSLATOR
Bāshe, bīāyīd īnja bengarīm. Īnjā

ye kam āb hast. Mikhāy chīzī rūy-e zamin-e bāzi begzāri? Ye nām, yā nām-e yek dehkade? Behem bego.

MAHMOUD
Nāme man Mahmūd Khālid ben Khālid

Al Masmoorī ast va man yek jangjū- ye Khodā hastam.

TRANSLATOR
My name is Mahmoud Khalid ben

Khalid Al Masmouri and I am warrior of Allah.

OLIVER
Yes. But he is all Muslims Allah,

not yours alone. And he would accept apologies if we’d knew who ordered you to trigger.

TRANSLATOR
Baleh. Amma hattā jangjūhā ham

shavāliyehā, khādemhā va rūesāyi dārand. Agar bedānim kī dastur-e to rā barā-ye eqdām dāde ast, Khodāvand ‘ozrkhāhī rā qabūl mīkonad.

MAHMOUD
Khodā hekīm ast. Ū hameh chiz rā

mibīnad.
Oliver cuts off Translator

7.

OLIVER
Allah is wise. He sees it all. I

heard this one before.
Yes, he does. And he will see that the kid does not know what to do with 99 virgins. Too…

A YOUNG SOLDIER enters the room, salutes and walks over to Oliver, whispers discreetly in his ear.

OLIVER (CONT’D) Thank you soldier. (turns) Now

we’re heading to new playgrounds. Death row, Mahmoud. One kid, two body counts on our end. Murder.

TRANSLATOR
Hālā be so-ye zaminhā-ye bāzi

jadīdī mīravad. Rū be marg, Mahmūd. Yek bachcheh va do jasad dar entezār-e mā. Qatl.

Oliver hangs in silently. Patient.

MAHMOUD
(in broken English)

Allah is wise. One of our child heroes took two of your well trained men. (looks at Oliver). We have more children and women than you soldiers.

Oliver looks at the translator…

OLIVER
So we do speak languages. Good.

.. breathes to calm himself .. turns to soldier

OLIVER (CONT’D) Thank you soldier, dismissed.

The young soldier salutes, turns…the wrong way around … Mahmoud checks and jumps… Oliver realizes instantly but the table is in his way. Mahmoud grabs the knife from the young soldiers hip and re surfaces with the deadly blade in his hands.

Oliver pushes the young soldier out of the way and signals the guard by the door to not use his weapon.

8.

MAHMOUD (in English)

Allah will show me the way. Allah is wise.

OLIVER
He will show you no exit Mahmoud.

Nothing will happen here. Nothing.
He signals towards the door. Stays behind the table.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Nobody is armed here but the guard

and you. Not me and not the young stupid walking in here with a knife to his hip.
What do you want to do? Want to debate with Allah?

I tell … stop, don’t move – listen.
Sergeant, do not kill the suspect. Aim at his thighs and ankles. Shoot until he cannot get off the ground. Copy.

GUARD BY THE DOOR Sir, copy that, I will shoot not

kill, sir.

OLIVER
That’s for that. You will not die

through the enemy. My comrades will stay back in the far corner…And they will survive…And you will.

Oliver moves slowly.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Leaves you with me. Hmm. No dying,

no virgins, no honor. So, what now? Mahmoud reacts to Oliver’s negotiation.

MAHMOUD (agitated back to

mothertongue)
Īn nū-ye afsānehhā-ye parīhā bā Khodā kār nemīkonnand.
Mā majbūr nīstīm be kāfarān gūsh konīm

OLIVER
Ok, back to Farsi. Translator.

9.

From the corner where he stands with young soldier and Guard.

TRANSLATOR These kind of …

OLIVER Louder!

TRANSLATOR
These kind of fairy tales do not

work with Allah. We don’t have to listen to infidels.

Oliver continues to negotiate

OLIVER
Fine, leaves us with just you. And

this interrogation about a cowardly set ambush. And your trial of course. No honor… but death row? Depends. Honor… No. Certainly a No

Mahmoud steps back into his corner, raises the knife …against himself, to cut his own throat.
Oliver knew it, steps on the chair , grabs the cup of water from the table… flies into Mahmouds corner … who is… for a split second … irritated whether to turn the knife against Oliver or himself … looses time … and Oliver gushes the water into his face… and has a second later.. his wrist. Knife gone, Oliver on top of him.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Guard, take him. And to his cell.

Done. No fight.

The guard rushes into their corner, fixes one hand and from Oliver, getting up, the other one.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
24 hours no contact. Food and water

based on human rights, nothing more, nothing less.

Mahmoud spits on the floor in front of Oliver.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
How does it get any better than

that?
Mahmoud is led away. Through the open door AIDE marches in.

10.

AIDE (formal)

Major Wind, Lieutenant Colonel Brauen requests your presence.

Oliver looks at his buddy, they are comrades and soldiers, he knows every tone between the lines. Doesn’t sound good.

AIDE (CONT’D) … Instantly

Oliver reacts …

EXT. MILITARY CAMP – DAY

… and they – Aide and Oliver – walk together through the German desert camp. Busy outdoor army life.

OLIVER What is it? You know?

AIDE
Nope, nothing. But he looked …

calm?

OLIVER
Calm? That sounds dangerous. About

my latest complaint back home?

AIDE
I have checked mail and IT, not a

word. Not what I have access to.

OLIVER (suddenly agitated)

Really, I have to do that. We have a different mission than protecting drug transports on behalf of the government. And watch our people get killed

AIDE
Or it’s something about your

nightmares. It won’t take long and the team will know. You’re having them now already in open daylight.

OLIVER (uninterrupted)

It’s not our job. Even if our pharmaceutical industry really needs it…I spend my time with the wrong killers.

11.

AIDE
Or maybe, because you could have

pulled the trigger 1,5 secs earlier? You know that.

Oliver blinks.

AIDE (CONT’D)
I’m with you, but now cool it.

Let’s be all army business now.

OLIVER Right.

… they walk into the building marked HQ.

INT. CAMP HQ – OFFICE – DAY
Oliver stays in front of a desk.
Commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel BRAUEN looks at a map.

LT CL BRAUEN
Sad afternoon, Major Wind. Stay at

ease.

OLIVER
Yes Sir, losses. Triggered by a

misinterpretation…led to casualties. And his own death. If I may …( he is not interrupted) We had 15 minutes left packing the trucks. It was a really well prepared trap. The mistake of…

LT CL BRAUEN
I appreciate your instant report,

Major but have to interrupt you. (break)

Oliver stops, waits for the bad news.

LT CL BRAUEN (CONT’D) You are flying home. You are

released for an undetermined window of time.

Oliver is surprised. Brauen considers how to continue.

OLIVER
Sir. I had to send this. Too many

of my men are dying because of …

12.

LT CL BRAUEN
..and it is not about your petition

either. Please have a seat.
Oliver does, Brauen fills two glasses with water.

LT CL BRAUEN (CONT’D) Please. It is my sad duty to send

you home because … You are flying home to assist your mother as your father has passed away.

He stops to drink, looks at LT CL Brauen. Stone faced. Stare. Nothing.

LT CL BRAUEN (CONT’D) Yesterday. Nothing to soother this away. Death back home is different

than here. Please go see your family, stay in touch, we are here for you.

Oliver gets out his chair.

OLIVER
I appreciate Sir. With your

permission?

Lieutenant Colonel BRAUEN gets up as well. Oliver about to salute but Brauen offers a handshake.

LT CL BRAUEN
With all respect, Major Wind. Be

strong, be back. They shake hands.

LT CL BRAUEN (CONT’D)

Dismissed.

INT. CAMP HQ – TRAVEL MANAGEMENT – DAY

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER LT. Yes and Yes. YES, you have travel

status. And Yes, you have the next available seat

AIDE
Common there must be a better

option than “in 42 hours”. This is a sad thing and he ….

13.

Oliver is not part of this conversation, stays behind in the back

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER LT. No, .. he has already Prio 2 from

Lt.Cl.Brauen. We ….

AIDE
… Prio 2? How about Prio 1 then?

Can’t you put him on prio one??

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER LT. One? That’s a flight code to report

directly to the Chancellor and the ministers.

OLIVER (from the back)

Really? Any other short cut?

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER LT. Yes Major. In two days.

EXT. CAMP – DAY
Oliver strolls with Aide through the desert camp.

OLIVER
I need you to find something to

take me out of here. Not 42 or 40. In six hours the latest. A flying carpet, an elephant, anything.

AIDE Yes, man.

Aide leaves.

INT. TENT/BARRACK – OLIVER – DAY

Oliver sits on his bed, next to an almost empty backpack. He tries to reach his mother on his satellite phone.

No answer. Aide enters.

AIDE
Oli, let’s run. No flights other

than the one fucking cargo leaving in six minutes.

14.

OLIVER (wakes alert)

Six … like in Now?

AIDE
Details on the way, Now-Now.

Oliver grabs his backpack while already on the move.

EXT. AIRFIELD – DAWN
Oliver and Aide run through camp.

AIDE
You have probably no seat or so.

Stuff flying back for repair. Aide hands him a couple of energy bars.

OLIVER
That’s ok, haven’t slept since days

anyway…You make sure when our American friends pick him up, that Mahmoud is alive and still around when I’m back.

AIDE
Oli? We have to hand him over!

OLIVER
That is not an order, I want you to

promise.

AIDE
He will be alive and waiting.

OLIVER
You will talk in person to our US

comrades and tell them, we have a witness. I am the witness, what ever it needs, he does not go Guantanamo.

Oliver grabs him by the shoulders.

OLIVER (CONT’D) ……Promise.

AIDE
And you work on your trauma?

15.

OLIVER
Deal. I will send you my report.

Inform the prosecutor’s office to contact me in Germany. I’ll do the funeral and will be back. Days, may be a week ….

It’s loud. Oliver phone rings.

EXT. AIRFIELD – NEAR CARGO PLANE – DAWN

Aide eyes the blue light flashing through Oliver’s breast pocket, points at it. Oliver grabs his satellite phone and it shows MAMMA.

SPLIT SCREEN OPENS -ZOOM/FACE TIME LIKE BOTH ARE ON-SCREEN

OLIVER Mum? I am on..

FREDDIE
Oliver, are you coming? I need …

The cargo plane engines are tested, it is deafening…

OLIVER
Yes Mum, I am just running to catch

the plane and …

FREDDIE
I need to tell you something

urgent. Can we speak for a few minutes?

From the other side a semi truck speeds into frame. Two soldiers bring a body bag, run towards the open hatch.

OLIVER
Mum, this is the only plane. I need

to go on board ….

FREDDIE
But it’s urgent. Your dad. The

family is going out ….

Aide opens a midsized metal briefcase, Oliver takes his handgun from the hip, unloads the weapon and puts it into the briefcase. Aide closes it.

The cargo officer waves him in….. Oliver runs towards the open hatch of the cargo…

16.

OLIVER
I can’t hear you well. I will try

from the plane. Or will call when landed

…hangs up, turns, waves to Aide

AIDE
(signs and mouth moves)

Call me, weirdo. Aide makes some idiot moves.

Oliver smirks, nods. Aide runs with briefcase towards the front of the cargo plane. Closing hatch interrupts their eye line.

INT. CARGO PLANE – DARK

Oliver sits between damaged jeeps and trucks, weaponry. A large water bottle in his hands, the energy bars next to him. Unable to take his eyes away from the body bag with the small German flag on it. He shakes like a baby – no tears though.

EXT. AIRFIELD GERMANY – NIGHT Rain, wind, fall.

Oliver in his sand uniform disembarks down the open hatch. Soldiers wait. He checks, approaches the officer who supervises the procedure.

OLIVER Sergeant.

AIRFIELD OFFICER (salutes)

Major, sir.

OLIVER
At ease. Do me a favor?. One of my

soldiers returns home in a bag.

AIRFIELD OFFICER
A Comrade? Fuck… We loose so

many.

OLIVER
FiftyOne. We loose as many as other

nations on ISTAF.

17.

AIRFIELD OFFICER
Sorry Major, we are just the only

ones not educated to loose soldiers in war.

An airfield soldier comes from the pilot’s door, holds the midsized metal briefcase. He salutes, unlocks the briefcase.

OLIVER
We learn. Please have the Staff

Sergeant pick some of your sensitive guys when they go to see his parents.

AIRFIELD OFFICER
We will look after him on his way

home.

OLIVER
Appreciated. Is my driving service

around?

Oliver takes his handgun and the magazine out, checks, loads and puts in his holster.

AIRFIELD OFFICER
Yes sir, No sir. We got information

your driver will be about 3 to 4 hours late.

…signs for his weapon, the soldier is dismissed.

Why?

OLIVER

AIRFIELD OFFICER
We have no intel on this, sir.

Two soldiers disembark with the body bag. Oliver stops in his move, turns into attention, salutes.

…. …. …. … The bag is loaded on a truck.

OLIVER
I need to sleep, any bunk free

here.

AIRFIELD OFFICER
Sorry, no sir. This is an airfield

only, no barracks, no nothing other than trucks and gasoline.

18.

OLIVER Next exit?

AIRFIELD OFFICER
The 9Inn, I can get you a lift.

Best option around. Oliver nods, his fatigue visible.

OLIVER
And let my transport know where to

p.u. me.

INT. THE 9 INN – NIGHT Oliver looks at..

CONCIERGE 9INN …not kidding. 360 €uro it is

until six o’clock. We charge by the 30 minutes, you’ll do the math.

OLIVER
I really want to sleep, nothing

else.

CONCIERGE 9INN
Got it, but then room is blocked,

dude.

OLIVER
How does it get any better? Look, I

just return from war, brought back a buddy home. In a bag. A rebate maybe, for just a shower?

CONCIERGE 9INN
Your a real soldier? Not from the

airfield? Ok, here’s my hero rebate.

He turns the sign paper, with a scribbled number on it

OLIVER
Hm, seems I AM a hero.

Grabs the pen and signs.

CONCIERGE 9INN
But maybe one of the girls needs to

take a nap on the other side of your bed, just a nap.

19.

OLIVER
Man, I am so dead, haven’t slept

for more than 40 hours. As long as she doesn’t shoot at me.

CONCIERGE 9INN No extra service. Right?

..and plucks the key card. The Concierge salutes.

INT. ROOM WITH A BED – DARK
Oliver emerges from the in-room-shower, worn out.

A tiny room. He steps over his backpack, his body is marked with tattoos, but the scars on his back, shoulders and thighs tell deeper stories of past hardships.

Exhausted, he grabs his satellite phone, glances at his watch.

2:25AM.

He rests the phone on the nightstand, brushes his face with his hands….slips into slumber before his head touches the linen.

INT. ROOM WITH A BED – DARK

Uneasy in his rest, Oliver bumps into an arm and is up, immediately on alert. He startles, looks, ready to fight… XENIA, a semi-attractive pro with wit, wakes too.

XENIA What?

Sees his hands ready for combat

OLIVER
I said, no services, did I?

XENIA
Right but boss told you, I might

need a rest too.

Yes?

OLIVER

XENIA
Yes. Man, sex worker, sleep, peace.

She looks at the blanket

20.

XENIA (CONT’D)
But maybe you wanna reconsider,

regulate some pressure before going home seeing Mutti.

Wrong button “Mutti” rings the bell, looks at his wrist watch

OLIVER
Shit, it’s eight thirty? Man.

He jumps out of bed, forgetting he is totally naked. Xenia looks at his/him

XENIA
(sarcasm yet motivating)

You sure you don’t want to regulate a bit?

Oliver looks out of the window, no car outside.

OLIVER
What are you doing this mornin’?

I’ll give you 50. Conversation goes sideways.

XENIA
Changed your mind quickly. Sure.

OLIVER
Surely not. Drive me to the next

car rental

XENIA Oh, ok. 70 then.

Oliver stepping naked over his backpack towards bath room, looks at her in her exotic prostitute underwear

OLIVER Need a tee or so?

Xenia kind of likes his humor but mostly looks at his/him

XENIA
Got two… or so. In case you ever

need to regulate pressure, lemme know.

Xenia totally openly smiles at Oliver. He first time realizes he stands in front of her with an erection

OLIVER Can we?

21.

END OF ACT 1

22.

ACT 2: ARRIVAL

EXT. COTTBUS STREETS – DAY

Oliver drives into town, still in his sand uniform. He takes in the places he has not seen for quite a while. Sad moments for him.

A public bus honks from behind, he drives on a bus lane. He hasn’t noticed, waves a “sorry”.

The car GPS guides him…

SIRI (O.S.)

In 200 meters take a right. The location will be on your right hand side.

OLIVER I know, thanks.

EXT./INT. HOME STREET – OLIVER

Oliver arrives. He has to give way to a grey minibus transporter that leaves the drive way next to the house.

Oliver passes by.

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE WIND HOME – DAY

Oliver walks up the small driveway. He sees a woman – PETRA – locking the main door.

He approaches her.

OLIVER
Hi there, good morning.

PETRA
Good morning. Are you a relative?

OLIVER Yes. I am his son.

They are on different stages of information.

PETRA
His son? OK then, where is the

husband, your father?

23.

OLIVER
Bad timing for jokes. I am just

arriving for mourning. Is she home?
Oliver moves to walk around Petra to ring the doorbell.

PETRA
I am not into jokes. Fredericke

Wind passed this early morning and if you know how to contact her husband I would appreciate you give me the information.

Oliver stops in his motions.

OLIVER
There must be a misunderstanding. I

believe my father died 49 hours ago. And who are you, actually?

Petra pulls her detective ID and holds it in his direction.

PETRA
Petra Müller, Homicide Cottbus. I

am sorry for your loss but I don’t know of any misunderstandings. And I would like to see your IDs.

There is a brief, difficult moment for Oliver. He could loose his calm within this one ..two ..three secs of dangerous blink in his eyes.

Oliver stays calm, pulls out his ID and hands it over.

PETRA (CONT’D) (checks)

Oliver Wind. Major with the Saxonian hunter brigade. You have any other ID?

OLIVER
If rules haven’t changed since

got on the plane 36 hours ago, officer, soldiers don’t fly in out of war zones carrying ID’s them but this one.

Petra sees that Oliver carries a handgun

I

and on

on his hip.

PETRA
But the registration to carry a

weapon in Germany you do have?

24.

Oliver leans forward and Petra overreacts a bit as if he would attack.
He points to a certain line on his ID…

…and she reads.

Soldier weapons wide.

PETRA (CONT’D)
is authorized to carry in all territories world

OLIVER
Actually it is Major, Military

police, at the Nato Response Force. So please fill me in.

PETRA
I am filling you in shit, you have

no jurisdiction here.
Oliver takes a deep breath. She is right.

OLIVER
Ok. You mind I give you some

answers inside?
Petra looks at him ..2..3.. turns and unlocks the door.

INT. THE WIND HOME – DAY
Oliver looks around, it is very silent. He turns to Petra.

OLIVER
For what I know, we received

message via the family intel
that my father has passed. I
been released from duties to
and to assist my mother with the funeral and all what comes with it. And mourning. This happened Tuesday late afternoon local time Camp Marmal, North of Kundus, Afghanistan. Now it’s Thursday morning and you are saying not my father passed but my mother?

She hits a different tone now as well.

PETRA
Then it’s my sad duty to inform you

that your mother passed this early morning, yes, here at her home.

(MORE)

center have travel

25.

PETRA (CONT’D)
I don’t know about your father. Who

gave you this information?

OLIVER
I assume my mother informed the

FIC, our contact hub for all relatives… And my mother and I spoke on the phone before boarding. What happened to her?

He walks around, Petra follows him, always watches what he does or touches. But he doesn’t touch anything.

PETRA
Police received a call by neighbors

that a window was constantly slamming open and close in the weather. Which seemed unusual for them.

They reach the bedroom of his parents. His brain takes pictures.

PETRA (CONT’D)
A patrol car stopped by, checked and opened the door after nobody

responded. They found your mother on the bed at 2:11 and called us.

Oliver looks at the bed. It begins to dawn he is an orphan as of now.

PETRA (CONT’D)
Your mother died peacefully during

her sleep.
This is not so rare in very long relationships. Sorry.

He leaves the bedroom, strolls to his mothers home office.

OLIVER
(back to this world)

No. Never. The other way round? Maybe. My mother? Trust me, wouldn’t die this way. No. Something is wrong.

Petra is not impressed by his analyzes.

PETRA
I understand your grief. But no

signs of external circumstances. No indication to start investigation.

(MORE)

26.

PETRA (CONT’D)
We looked carefully, the open

window nor the door show any signs of outside intrusion.

He strolls by the desk and sees an open calendar on the desk. Without stopping his brain takes picture despite the writing is upside down.

FLASH OF CALENDAR: THURSDAY 16:00 NOTARY , FRIDAY 13:00 UNDERTAKER L.

PETRA (CONT’D)
It’s tough, sure. You just arrived,

you must be tired. Maybe you should touch base with the other relatives first.

OLIVER
Yes, the other relatives.

(sarcastic) That should be great help.

Oliver is not happy with this suggestion.

PETRA Yes. Shall we?

Oliver looks at Petra.

OLIVER Shall we what?

PETRA Leave?

OLIVER Where?

PETRA
I don’t know. You are not

registered under this address, you have no own keys as I understand. You can’t stay. Officially this is not your home. And I don’t know if you are in charge or somebody else from the family. Siblings or so.

OLIVER
You are kidding me. I m flying

5.000 kilometers to have no access to my parents home? What do you want me to do?

27.

PETRA
I don’t know. To hand you the keys

I need to see something, Mr. Military police Major Wind, correct? Confirmation of registration, power of attorney, last will.

He knows she is – inhumanly – right, he follows her to leave the house.

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE WIND HOME – DAY Oliver passes by Petra. She locks the door.

PETRA
(with a tone of irony)

You actually should thank me. A minute ago you claimed this to be a crime scene.

Petra hands him a business card.

PETRA (CONT’D)
Present anything that proves your

authorization to enter and stay at this house and I will hand you the keys.

Petra leaves Oliver stunned.

OLIVER
Be sure I will. Something is off.

And this will be sorted. Petra doesn’t turn.

END OF ACT 2

28.

ACT 3: DOORS WIDE SHUT

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE WIND HOME – DAY

Oliver sits in his sand uniform, alone on the doorsteps, helpless for the moment, contemplating.

Phone rings.
Oliver pulls the satellite phone, answers it.

OLIVER

Wind.
SPLIT SCREEN OPENS -ZOOM/FACE TIME LIKE BOTH ARE ON-SCREEN

BRIGADIER GENERAL
Major Wind. I am just popping in to

see how you are holding up.

OLIVER
Brigadier General. Thank you for

calling.

BRIGADIER GENERAL Are you in a private situation?

OLIVER Yes, sir. I am alone.

BRIGADIER GENERAL Skip the sirring. Oliver please

accept my dearest condolences. I wish for lot of strength for the up coming time. And please say high to your mum and give her my best, will you?

OLIVER
Thank you Paul, but it’s worse than

that…. My mother passed away too, few hours ago while I was still in the air.

…..Paul says nothing for a couple of seconds.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
You know I, no…. words won’t do.

You know …shit. Rest if possible. Oliver I have your back when you need me, right?

29.

OLIVER
I appreciate, that is good to know.

Thank you.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
Is there anything you need right

now?
Oliver gets up, walks off the estate, towards

OLIVER
I think it was not as peaceful for

my mom as the local police perceives it. But I need to clear my head first.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
You are in a civilian, non military

setting. Take it slow, Oliver.

OLIVER Certainly I will.

BRIGADIER GENERAL Sounds like your famous: I will

certainly not. Oliver, family stuff is different.

OLIVER Certainly in this family.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
Will you listen to me, Major Wind?

OLIVER
Aye sir, General brigadier, I will.

But there is a truth that needs to be uncovered, I can smell it, Paul.

BRIGADIER GENERAL You will let me know, promise?

OLIVER Yes, Sir.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
And get yourself a cell phone, no

need to call via satellite while your home.

the car.

Oliver hangs up, packs satellite phone into jacket.

Home?

OLIVER

30.

EXT. COTTBUS STREETS – DAY

Oliver looks on a screen of a smart phone. An arrow shows how to walk. Oliver looks up, unfamiliar with the buildings of his former home town.

INT. RESIDENTS’ REGISTRATION OFFICE – DAY SUPER: A NUMBER BLINKS

Oliver walks to a long row desk with four boothes, shows the number and his military ID.

OLIVER
Hello. Madam, I hope you can help

me. I just flew in and as an active soldier I carry this as only identification. I need registration at my parents house, what do I need to fill?

LADY AT REGISTRATION Sure. Where are you registered

currently.

OLIVER
At the address of my regiment. FJR

One, 13405 Berlin.

LADY AT REGISTRATION Have you been registered here in

Cottbus as well?

OLIVER
Yes, but that was eighteen years

ago. Before I joined the army. Not since.

LADY AT REGISTRATION Then we have a problem.

OLIVER
Because I am with the army?

LADY AT REGISTRATION No…. But …

She turns towards her screen and types stuff. He looks at her name tag on her desk, it shows Mrs. Wind.

LADY AT REGISTRATION (CONT’D) …Yes. We are digitizing all paper

files and documents. (MORE)

31.

LADY AT REGISTRATION (CONT’D) And progressed so far only into

year 2009. I can’t find you.

OLIVER
But then you have me on paper

files?

LADY AT REGISTRATION No, unfortunately. They have been

outsourced for digitization.

OLIVER
What else is possible? I see we

have the same name. Did you know Friedericke and Harry Wind?

LADY AT REGISTRATION Freddie? Sure we are from the same

tribe. Her father is my mums cousin. Say hi to them. But then the solution is simple. (lowers voice). Have one of them join you and see me, sign for you and I’ll register you, right then and there. (she whispers even more) We don’t need to make a big fuzz then, do we?

OLIVER
That actually is the problem. My

parents passed away the last two days. Nobody to show up here.

The Lady with the name Wind looks at him in painful surprise.

LADY AT REGISTRATION OMG, I am so sorry. Please accept

my condolences for this hard situation in life.
…. But then I am afraid I have no solution to offer.

Oliver looks stunned.

EXT. COTTBUS STREETS – DAY

Oliver on the steps of the local registration office. He pulls out his new smartphone and types a number from the top of his head.

OLIVER
Major Wind, FJR One, 356561. Staff

office 1 please. … I am holding.

32.

Listens.

Listens.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Yes, hi. Major Wind, FJR One, ID

356561.
I do need your assistance please. I have been released of duties for a short period of time. I am in Germany and need you to check my files, if there is a copy of certificate of birth? Or my last address before joining the army? Please check for anything to document where I lived before 2002.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Yes, I understand. Check with the

commanding officer of staff office. And when in doubt, he should double check with Brigadier General Paul Flut in Hannover HQ of MP.

Walking the street, Oliver recognizes a man – on the open air terrace of a restaurant next to the town hall. Double checks – not sure. The man sits opposite an attractive young woman (32ish) in business apparel.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
I appreaciate your assistance,

please make it urgent. Do you see the number on your screen. Yes. Thank you Master Sergeant Baum. …Ah, and please inform Staff One, my transportation yesterday night never appeared.

No, never did.

Oliver by an ugly monument on the square, pulls his satellite phone, finds and types a number into the smart phone. Dials.

He sees in the distance the man – UNCLE HANS – grabs the phone and picks up.

SPLIT SCREEN OPENS -ZOOM/FACE TIME LIKE BOTH ARE ON-SCREEN

UNCLE HANS

Wind?
Yes, me too. Oliver Wind.

OLIVER

33.

UNCLE HANS
Oliver. I am so sorry about your

father. What a terrible accident. Where are you? Still in Afghanistan?

Oliver packs the satellite phone away. He gets up and starts to walk towards the terrace of the restaurant where his uncle, HANS WIND, sits.

OLIVER
No, I just arrived in Cottbus. I

thought I call you, his brother first and we can talk …

UNCLE HANS
Yes. Absolutely. The right thing to

do. ..It’s just.. He closes in on Uncle Hans

UNCLE HANS (CONT’D) …I am not in town today. .. I am

on a business trip and will be back tomorrow.

… looks at the man speaking clearly into the phone while he looks at the young lady. Oliver stops

UNCLE HANS (CONT’D) You must be tired. Why don’t you

take a rest. And be with your mother, I m sure she will need you in these tough hours…

Oliver realizes he obvious doesn’t know the actual situation.

UNCLE HANS (CONT’D) …and you come by tomorrow. Then

we will talk things through. Funeral and so.

OLIVER
Ok, thank you. I will.

Oliver decides and strolls slowly by the terrace to see if Uncle Hans traps himself in his lies. But Uncle Hans doesn’t look at the people passing by. He addresses the young woman – CLARICE- .

UNCLE HANS (O.S.)

He is already in town.

34.

CLARICE
Then we have not much time left.

He can hear their conversation

CLARICE (CONT’D)
I will discuss with my father next

steps.

UNCLE HANS
Do that. Family Urgencies. We need

to swing into action

Oliver walks out of eavesdropping distance. Question marks on his face.

INT. REGISTRY OFFICE – DAY Oliver meets with the registrar.

OLIVER
Thank you for seeing me on such

short notice. My parents passed away within the last couple of hours. I have no access to their home and I need a copy of my birth certificate. What do I have to do?

REGISTRAR
Please accept my condolences for

your loss. Have you and your parents lived here in Cottbus?

OLIVER
Yes. I am born in Cottbus to

Fredericke and Harry Wind.

REGISTRAR
No way. I am so sorry. Then you are

Oliver. I am so so sorry. What happened?

OLIVER
My father had an accident two days

ago and my mother was found …, this morning in her bedroom. Without papers it seems tough as long as it’s not documented that I am the only child alive.

35.

REGISTRAR
You are. I remember when you left

twenty years ago, or so. Wasn’t there a story to it?

Oliver doesn’t blink.

REGISTRAR (CONT’D) Yes, and your older brother has

been declared dead and missing, 10 or eleven years ago.
What papers have you got?

He sighs, he has explained this a couple of times already.

OLIVER
It seems to be a not widespread

information: Soldiers who go to war carry only their military ID.

REGISTRAR
Hm. I have a solution for you. You

come back with Harry’s brother or your grandmother Lehner and one testifies you are you and I will expedite a Birth certificate for you.

OLIVER
Is that the simplest way?

REGISTRAR
Yes, and I am already bending the

rules there.

OLIVER
And it will take how long?

REGISTRAR
A couple of days. Two weeks tops.

Oliver looks stunned.

EXT. COTTBUS STREETS – DAY
Oliver takes the ringing smart phone out of his pocket.

CORONER’S CLERK Mr. Wind? Mr. Oliver Wind.

OLIVER Speaking.

36.

CORONER’S CLERK
This is regarding your call this morning. You left messages about

your mother’s body and her whereabouts.

OLIVER
Yes. Have you spoken with your

boss?

CORONER’S CLERK
Yes. And he asked me to give you

the following information and message.
Do not call again unless you have some kind of authorization or power of attorney.

OLIVER
Listen. I did explain …

The call is abruptly ended
Frustrated, Oliver takes a deep breath, shakes his head.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Home town, as friendly as it gets.

NT. BANK – DAY

Oliver sits opposite a BANK CLERK, whose name tag again bears the name Wind. Is here anybody not a Wind?

BANK CLERK WIND
I am sorry to sound repetitive yet

as said, the policy of the bank is individually and set a bit differently.
The power of attorney needs not only be signed by the both of you. It has to be notarized as well.

OLIVER
What will happen if I can’t present

it?

BANK CLERK WIND
We will need to wait for the Death

certificate and the confirmation who the validated administrator of estate is. He, she or them will be authorized to request the bank to act.

37.

OLIVER
And until then? What about standing

orders, direct debits? Other responsibilities of my parents.

BANK CLERK WIND
I am not entitled to speak about

this in detail but rest assured, I will be taking care that things continue smoothly.

OLIVER
But you are family too, correct?

Shouldn’t that be overlooked by somebody else?

BANK CLERK WIND (gets up)

Mr.Wind, Please, again accept my deepest condolences for your losses but there is actually nothing more to discuss. Don’t misunderstand me yet things are regulated and my hands are tied.

EXT. COTTBUS STREET – NEAR TOPPER CAR COMPOUND – DAY Oliver walks and grabs the ringing phone

OLIVER Major Wind

SOLDIER STAFF OFFICE 1 Staff Office One, Master Sergeant

Baum, sir. We spoke earlier.

OLIVER
Yes, Master Sergeant. You have

intel for me?

SOLDIER STAFF OFFICE 1 Yes, sir. There is no home

registration nor other documents. There is your signed application to join the army; co signed by your mother and your high school diploma.

OLIVER Nothing else?

38.

SOLDIER STAFF OFFICE 1 No, sir. There are all your

diplomas and course certificates within the army, of course and your promotions and order of merits. But nothing from the outside world. Sir.

OLIVER (speak-thinks)

Is there an address printed on my mothers confirmation letter? An address in Cottbus or Goyatz?

Oliver’s attention is caught by a large car dealer compound with big marketing adds “Toll, Top, Topper.” He looks at it with disdain…

SOLDIER STAFF OFFICE 1 Let me check sir. … It’s on

letterhead of a Wind shipyard in Goyatz. Sir.

…particularly at a man – JÜRGEN TOPPER – who is involved with customers.

OLIVER
On the diploma, is there an address

of the high school?

SOLDIER STAFF OFFICE 1 There is an address, in Cottbus,

sir.
He watches the man, with a sense of disgust.

OLIVER
Send scans to my army mail address.

And prepare them as hardcopies, I will call and give you an address for landmail too. Copy.

SOLDIER STAFF OFFICE 1 Will send scans via email now and

prepare landmail, sir. You will provide an address tomorrow, sir.

OLIVER
Copy that. And have them confirmed

or stamped by an authorized officer. Thank you

Yes, sir.

SOLDIER STAFF OFFICE 1

39.

He hangs up. Disheartened, he gives Jürgen and the car dealer compound a dirty look.

OLIVER
Will not work in this shit hole.

He contemplates his next steps

OLIVER (CONT’D) But worth a try

…and turns away.

EXT. IN FRONT OF SHIPYARD WIND – DAY

Oliver gets out of the car and rings a bell at the closed gate. A large shipyard, boats out of water, on trailers, in repair, a large ship building hall. A lot new to Oliver.

A Man looks around the corner of the big shipyard hall, far away from the fence. He shouts.

SIGGI
We are closed. Family reasons.

Please call Saturday.

OLIVER (shouts back)

Siggi! It’s me. Oliver

Siggi does not react, disappears around the corner, off… Oliver is not in his toolbox.

…

OLIVER (CONT’D) Oliver Wind. C’mon Siggi.

SIGGI (Polish accent)

Jessus Maria, Oliver. Baby Oliver? I am coming.

Siggi returns.

The gate begins to open automatically. Siggi shows up running.

He hugs Oliver instantly, tears running down his face.

40.

SIGGI (CONT’D)
Oh my God, Oliver I am so sorry.

Your dad, he was always such a nice fellow. And my boss. And …

OLIVER
Siggi. Yes, he was a good boss. And

a strong boss.

Oliver creates a bit of a distance between the two guys. Siggi looks at him.

SIGGI
For how long haven’t I seen you,

decades, no?

OLIVER Eighteen years.

He looks around

OLIVER (CONT’D)
.. and many things have happened

since, I can tell.

SIGGI
We are quite big yes. Not only

repairing, we are mainly in house boats now.

OLIVER
My father hated house boats. Shit

houses for tourists he called them.

SIGGI
I know, but house boats sell well.

And for good money. We deliver them to Potsdam or even Berlin. Customers paying up to half million.

OLIVER (surprised)

Really?

SIGGI
Yep. Your father focused on the

boats and yachts. And me on the houseboats. I brought more workers from Poland. Good business. I was surprised he decided to sell.

OLIVER
The shipyard is sold?

41.

SIGGI
I don’t know. Your mum said no, he

said yes. They discussed for weeks. I don’t know. This went on and on.

OLIVER (interrogator now)

Ok Siggi. Can you tell me the whole story? What happened to my dad?

Siggi presses his remote, the gate starts to close

SIGGI
Common, I show you. There is not

much of a story.
Together they walk towards buildings at the lakeside

EXT. SHIPYARD – YACHT & SAILING CLUB – DAY

Oliver and Siggi appear between typical white buildings of a private sailing club.

Siggi leads Oliver towards the jetties

SIGGI
….He asked me if and how I would

continue with the house boats in case he would retire. I told him I couldn’t buy a share of the company but he was fine with it; it would just have new owners.

OLIVER
He said who? Did they show up?

SIGGI
I never met them. Nor did he said

who.

OLIVER And my mum?

SIGGI
First she was ok, then she was

against it. Last thing was, she requested to divide the shipyard in their will, he would do what he wants, she would keep her part. …For you.

OLIVER
Me? The shipyard. No way.

42.

They walk the jetty, two thirds out Siggi shows Oliver around.

SIGGI
This is where the accident

happened, police says.

OLIVER What happened here?

SIGGI
He was…. They say probably…Do

you need to hear this, really?

OLIVER …. Yes.

SIGGI (swallows)

He fell from a ladder,.. broke both legs before he slipped into the lake. Unfortunately the ladder fell on top of him, hit him on the head, made him dizzy. Trying to stay afloat, he must have tangled with the ladder…. And drowned only a meter away from the jetty.

OLIVER Nobody around?

SIGGI
The club is closed on Tuesday’s. At

the shipyard Mondays and Tuesdays are our days off. He was alone, why, Jesus knows.

Oliver looks around, his brain takes picture. The jetty, the boats. A few lamppost with lights and a garland with colored light bulbs. While he looks around, Siggi recognizes a boat coming in.

CLARICE
Hey, can you assist please?

A midsized nice motorboat, driven single handed by Clarice.

She manages to steer the boat slowly alongside to the jetty and wrap the stern rope around one of the posts…

Siggi assist with the bow rope…
CLARICE jumps on the jetty, identifies herself.

43.

CLARICE (CONT’D)
Hey there, thank you for the hand,

appreciated. Are you Siggi?

SIGGI Yes, Madam….

CLARICE
Siggi, my father and I we would

like to express our gratitude and say sorry that Wind shipyard has lost such a great …

SIGGI
Maybe better tell the son?

Clarice switches tone and style – a real hydra

CLARICE
O? … uh, I am sorry.. you are

Harry’s son? …I am so sorry, I didn’t know

Oliver remembers her well, and what she said a few hours ago to Uncle Hans.

CLARICE (CONT’D) You are Oliver, Oli?, Right?

Clarice walks towards Oliver, offers her hand for a handshake, then decides to hug Oliver.

CLARICE (CONT’D)
I am soo sorry. I wish you all the

strength you will need.

Clarices unhugs herself from almost no reaction, and offers her hand again.

CLARICE (CONT’D) I am Clarice, your cousin

Clarice… Wind-Feuer. He accepts the handshake

OLIVER
Oh, cousin Clarice? Must have been

a while we met.

CLARICE
Ah, not more than 15-16 years.

Maybe.

44.

OLIVER
Maybe 18. But my mum told me here

and there over the phone how pretty you become.

CLARICE
Aunt Freddie? Yes, she had so much

fun pulling my leg. Please say high to her…or better why don’t you both come over. My dad will certainly be glad to …

OLIVER Thank you. But …

CLARICE
No, I insist. I am sure my mother

wants me to insist, her sister to be treated well.

OLIVER
Aunt Freddie … (bites and clears

his throat) .. my mother died this morning.

Clarice stops in her motions, prepared to speak, stares at Oliver.

SIGGI (hands over mouth)

Jessus Maria. That ain’t true. Jessus. What are you saying, Oliver?

Clarice looks at Siggi, back at Oliver

CLARICE
(tears dwell but don’t)

My Aunt died? What? When? How? This morning. What happened?

OLIVER
(no tears, coarse voice)

She was found in her bed, early morning by police. Neighbors called because of a clashing window in the wind.

SIGGI (deep emotional)

Only one day after?

45.

CLARICE
Does my mum know? …. Guess not.

Must call her. I don’t want her to hear it from Swiss police.

She jumps back on her boat, revs the engine. Siggi helps with the bow rope. She uses engine and steern rope to turn around.

Oliver watches her depart and fumble with her earpods. Siggi wraps his arms around him.

SIGGI
Only one day and she follows him? I

am so sorry Oli.

Frozen in time and emotion, Oliver – no tears – has no idea what to think, who to believe, what actually to do.

He kind of wakes up, checks his watch and realizes the time.

OLIVER
I need to go back to town, my

mother made an appointment for this afternoon.

They walk back on the jetty

SIGGI
You should return the rental in

town. I’ll bring you dads car tomorrow. No need to pay for a car.

OLIVER Thank you Siggi.

SIGGI What ever you need.

Oliver turns and checks the jetty again with a thoughtful look.

EXT. HOUSE OF NOTARY NEBEL – DAY
A street with nice houses and trees alongside the driveways.

INT. OFFICE – NOTARY WAITING ROOM – DAY

Oliver enters the room, still in his dune jacket, approaches the secretary who looks at her wrist watch.

46.

SECRETARY NOTARY It’s after four, we don’t take

appointments this time of the day.

OLIVER
Yes. Excuse me. I am here on behalf

of my mother, Friedericke Wind.

SECRETARY NOTARY
You cannot be her “on her behalf”.

She has requested a personal appointment with Dr. Nebel. And ..

OLIVER
..and it will stay personal. Please

tell Dr. Nebel, her son is asking to see him. Please.

SECRETARY NOTARY
I don’t think he has time, he is in

an appointment. He looks at his watch.

OLIVER
Yes, with my mother. Since six

minutes. Tell him I am sorry for being late and that I will be patiently waiting in his waiting room.

The secretary is surprised by this attitude, walks back to her desk.

She leans forward, looks into the semi-connected waiting room.

This soldier in his sand dune combat gear has leaned back, closed his eyes and doing nothing.

She peeks again. Unchanged. She gets up and walks into the notary’s study.

NOTARY NEBEL
What is it you are asking for? Your

mother is not in my office.

Oliver opens his eyes and gets up. He has spoken with so many people within the last hours. He’s had it, no intro this time.

TIME CUT:

47.

OLIVER
My mother died. Last night, this

early morning.

And looks for the reaction. The notary’s body language speaks, the notary does not.

Notary Nebel looks Oliver in the eyes.

NOTARY NEBEL In my office, please.

He turns and walks.

NOTARY NEBEL (CONT’D) Mrs. Singer, and a clients warrant

for Mr.Oliver Wind. Oliver follows the notary. Turns..

OLIVER And no condolences?

..closes door.

INT. OFFICE – NOTARY STUDY – DAY Oliver closes the second door.

NOTARY NEBEL This city is so fucked up.

Oliver surprised

OLIVER
No condolences either.

NOTARY NEBEL
I told her yesterday, to leave town

for a couple of days. But she wouldn’t listen.

It’s getting weird, Oliver takes a deep breath. Knock on the door.

Yes

NOTARY NEBEL (CONT’D)

Secretary comes in, puts a two pager in front of Nebel and leaves.

Oliver is about to speak, the notary lift his hand with his fist clenched.

48.

Second door closes.

NOTARY NEBEL (CONT’D) You must have many questions, I am

sure. Therefore I suggest you let me tell you what I am allowed to tell you. And after that we’ll see which questions I may answer. Does that sound?

OLIVER
Might be a good short cut.

He sits opposite the notary.

Fade

NOTARY NEBEL
Well then. Let me start with a

short cut too.
Do you know the expression platonic lover, Oliver?

OLIVER Go on.

NOTARY NEBEL
I was at your mum’s house yesterday

evening until eleven or so. After what happened the day before …..

INT. OFFICE – NOTARY – DAY

The door opens from the study, notary Nebel walks out with Oliver.

NOTARY NEBEL
Please stay in contact with me or

..(turns to his secretary, stresses it).. with my office.

He turns again

NOTARY NEBEL (CONT’D) Mrs. Singer, hand me the envelope

we signed yesterday with Mrs. Wind please.

Secretary Singer opens a cabinet and selects from files.

49.

NOTARY NEBEL (CONT’D) … there are details that I am not

entitled to speak about before the will is opened to the family.
But I strongly suggest you to stay until then. We will send out the invitations first thing in the morning.

She returns with an envelope, hands it, Nebel opens it and puts it on the table.

NOTARY NEBEL (CONT’D) Please sign here…. And here.

OLIVER What is this?

NOTARY NEBEL
Once you have signed, it will be a

fully notarized Power of attorney, signed by your mother yesterday afternoon.

This time Oliver is really stunned.

EXT. OFFICE – NOTARY – DAY

Notary Nebel lets Oliver out. Oliver still in combat and piece of paper in his hand.

NOTARY NEBEL Stay and dig. Some of your

questions will be sorted before the funerals.

END OF ACT 3

50.

ACT 4: BRAWL & SEX

EXT. LAKE DISTRICT – HIGHWAY – DAY DRONE:

Oliver’s rented car journeys through the nice landscape of the Lake Spreewald District.

SOUND ONLY: CAR DOOR IS SHUT, STEPS WALKING AWAY

INT. GOYATZ POLICE STATION – DAY

Oliver approaches the high bar with a police officer behind it.

OLIVER
Hello. My name is Oliver Wind, son

of Harry Wind…
Oliver takes out his military ID and puts it next to the PoA.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
…who had a lethal accident three

days ago in the Yacht Club.

POLICE OFFICER 1 (looks Oliver up and down)

And you are here for a war or so? Is this a loaded weapon, sir?

The police officer has his hand to his own weapon. Oliver had these looks all day long, inhales to stay calm, points at a line on his ID

OLIVER
And I am entitled to carry it. I

flew in this morning. From Afghanistan.

POLICE OFFICER 1 From …Afghanistan War?

OLIVER
Yes, Camp Marmal, Kundus, in case

this sounds familiar. And I would like to talk to the officer in charge about my father’s accident.

The Officer looks at the military ID

51.

POLICE OFFICER 1
We don’t see these here often…

actually it’s the first time ever. Don’t you have some different document? Like personal ID?

OLIVER
We don’t carry other IDs in war

zones as a matter of fact. Officer looks into PoA.

POLICE OFFICER 1 Hmh….Hmh. This power of attorney

is for your mothers business not your fathers. I doubt it is valid for this case.

OLIVER (inhales again)

My mother passed this morning. You can check with Cottbus homicide. Would actually be good, cause they don’t know about my fathers accident either.

As my mother was the only widow of my father, results in: I am in charge now, right?

That is too much of information at the same time. The police officer walks away.

POLICE OFFICER 1 Please wait.

POLICE OFFICER 2 That sounds unusual

OLIVER
Sir, is that a question?

TIME CUT:

Yes.

POLICE OFFICER 2

OLIVER
Which part? Sounds or unusual?

POLICE OFFICER 2
Sir, can we please stay civilized

and polite.

52.

OLIVER
Look. I heard all day I need a

proof of authorization. Here it is. A Power of attorney. Please, I request … politely .. to know if this authorizes me to hear details about my fathers accident. Do I?

POLICE OFFICER 2
We don’t know you. But probably

yes.
Have you been here 18 years ago?

No You? No

OLIVER POLICE OLIVER POLICE

OFFICER 2

OFFICER 1

OLIVER
See. I have ….almost every day.

With my parents. Do I question you? It has no meaning. What do you know about the accident?

POLICE OFFICER 2
It was an accident. I don’t want

sound rude but the club was closed, your father slipped, fell, entangled with the ladder, drowned.

OLIVER
That is what’s on file?

Indeed

POLICE OFFICER 2

OLIVER
Would you please write down for me

who and where I can find the prosecutor in charge. And the morgue where my father is.

POLICE OFFICER 2 Prosecutor? Why?

OLIVER
Because I will file for an autopsy.

53.

POLICE OFFICER 2
Ok. But there was nothing, just an

accident.
He pulls his military ID out again,

OLIVER
I understand your point of view.

and it’s nothing personal, officers…

shows the officer a detail.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
..see this? I am police too. We are

kind of colleagues, and I have a different point of view.

Officer 1 hands him a piece of paper.

POLICE OFFICER 2
We are not colleagues. From what I

know, MP manages traffic and checks that soldiers go to bed without being too drunk or too loud.

OLIVER
Thank you (turns) Like you manage

traffic and check pubs closing on time, right?

Oliver leaves.

OLIVER (CONT’D) Only that you do not feal one hundred percent with educated

killers,correct? On behalf of your fatherland.
Sirs, can we please stay civilized and polite. And respectful? …Make sure to give the morgue a correct notice in writing.

EXT./ INT. CAR/ LAKE DISTRICT -View at SHIPYARD – SUNSET / BLUE HOUR

Oliver drives by the lake. He stops the car.

On the opposite lakeside is the yacht club and the shipyard in the dusk. He just stares. No tears. Suddenly he opens the door and vomits.

Oliver gets out of the car and starts wildly kicking and fighting trees.

54.

INT. CAR – NIGHT

Oliver punches in a number into his smart phone, starts driving. Fumbles with earpiece.

SPLIT SCREEN OPENS -ZOOM/FACE TIME LIKE BOTH

PETRA
Homicide Cottbus, Miller speaking.

OLIVER
Oliver Wind here. Where can we

meet?

PETRA
You found authorization?

OLIVER
Yes, Power of attorney, notarized.

I would like you hand me the keys to the family’s house.

PETRA
So it’s not a crime scene anymore?

Glad to hear that.

OLIVER
It’s a crime scene more than ever,

and I am happy to fill you in.

ARE ON-SCREEN

PETRA
We can meet tomorrow. I am out to a

different crime scene, a real one. Tomorrow ten in the police Headquarter, homicide, 2nd floor.

OLIVER
No, I would like to …

PETRA
Other than you, I am working, not

hallucinating. Tomorrow, ten. Hangs up on him.

EXT. CAR RENTAL COTTBUS – NIGHT

Oliver throws the car keys into the night-box, picks up his backpack.

He walks tired and angry, ponders his options. He triggers his earpiece.

55.

OLIVER (into headset)

Hey, show me simple hotels nearby

He pulls the phone and looks on the map. He turns into a side street. Walks.

…and sees a nightlife pub BACK SALON.

OLIVER (CONT’D) BACK SALON, really.

INT. BACK SALON – NIGHT
Oliver among a few guests, calm.

He sits at a table across the bar. A glass of beer on the table.

Marie 26ish, attractive, tattooed on one shoulder and arm, checks, walks over from the bar, Oliver’s glass is almost empty.

MARIE Another one, soldier?

OLIVER
Yes, bar tender, in uniform the two

beer rule is on.
New guests arrive, walk past Marie and greet.

MARIE
Two beer rule? Certainly not known

to many around here. Funny though.

TOUGH GUY 1
Whats up? Half empty tonight.

MARIE
It’s football night. And we have no

streamer.

TOUGH GUY 1 Four tanks on my neck.

MARIE
Coming. (turns to Oliver) See?

The four guys begin to play darts, having fun.
In one corner three guys are in an excited debate.

56.

In one booth a guy is heavily working to impress his target girl for the night.

Oliver takes it all in, he shakes his head from time to time, obviously thinking about stuff.

The dart guys squeak. A dart arrow glides over the floor, stops near to Oliver’s foot.

TOUGH GUY 1
Sorry man, Sergeant. It bumped

backwards

OLIVER
No problem, things happen.

Tough guy walks back, they play.

Oliver realizes how one guy throws towards the dart board and another one throws his dart unnoticeable backwards.

Tough Guy 2 picks it up in front of Oliver.

TOUGH GUY 2 Sorry, again it bumped.

OLIVER
Yes sometimes a dartboard seem the

be full of metal.

TOUGH GUY 2
You wanna play with us man? It’s

one beer per round only.

OLIVER
That’s kind. But no, was a long

day.

TOUGH GUY 2
Got it, must be back at the

barracks

OLIVER Yes, no. Kinda

TOUGH GUY 2
Yes, no, kind of. You don’t want to

talk to me, right?

OLIVER I’m just tired.

57.

TOUGH GUY 2
Hey guys, he is tired talking to

me. While I am paying for his uniform and his pay check.

TOUGH GUY 1
Really, that’s arrogant, isn’t it.

The other three walk back to Oliver.

TOUGH GUY 2
Look, we pay taxes, you are sitting

in your barrack, playing with war toys and rocking your balls.

Oliver gets up

OLIVER
I believe you talking to the wrong

man. I left a war zone yesterday afternoon far away from here. I believe it’s ok to be just tired

TOUGH GUY 2
You left a war zone? Uhhh now I am

afraid of you. What are you doing in a war zone?

Oliver steps aside to find a space to walk towards the bar.

OLIVER
My team and I watch and protect

other soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

TOUGH GUY 1
Protecting other soldiers. Sounds

like a luxury job.

OLIVER
Would you mind? Please.

He waves for Marie

OLIVER (CONT’D) I’ll check out my tab.

Marie comes closer

TOUGH GUY 2
You are turning your back on me?

That’ll cost you. (MORE)

58.

TOUGH GUY 2 (CONT’D) Marie put another 8 beer on his

tab, the soldier wants to say he is sorry for being disrespectful.

He doesn’t turn.

OLIVER
No, the Major doesn’t invite these

gentlemen. …now turns.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
In respect of respect. Have one of

you served in the army? Is anyone a reservist?

TOUGH GUY 2
No. We don’t accept your fucked up

country. We have our own Reich. And our own army.

…it dawns who he is talking to.

OLIVER
Your own Reich, own army, got it.

So who is the highest rank here? Looks at Tough Guy 2. He doesn’t answer.

TOUGH GUY 3 I am, soldier.

OLIVER
Ok, what are your men calling you?

TOUGH GUY 3 Sergeant Major.

Oliver becomes aware, he can’t smooth talk his way out of this situation.

OLIVER
Right. Sergeant Major. I request

you make your men listen to you.
I am Major of the military police, 2. Grenadier hunter Battalion, actually in charge as NATO Response Force. I don’t care if you have ever heard of it.
They call us the bad boys watching over good guys. We are even taking the trash out when needed.

(MORE)

59.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Now tell your men to step back, let

me pay, end this useless provocative conversation and then we walk in two different directions. Like nothing happened. Copy?

Tough Guy 3 looks embarrassed but amused

TOUGH GUY 3
Is there a plan B to your

suggestion?

And actually… Oliver doesn’t even make the effort to get out smoothly any more.

OLIVER
Marie? Marie was it, right?

Yep

MARIE

OLIVER
Would you mind to keep my backpack

behind the bar? I am traveling light. And I don’t want my toothbrush broken.

TOUGH GUY 2
You might not need a toothbrush for

a while.
He does not even react to this.

OLIVER (to tough Guy 3)

You want Plan B described in detail or is a brief description enough?

TOUGH GUY 3 Brief is enough

OLIVER
All four of you will be fucked up,

and no one of you will make it alone to the hospital.
Now let’s get outside or I will charge you afterwards for everything that will be broken in here.

The guys look at each other. Yes, hurray! This will be fun.

60.

Oliver hands his backpack over and in the last moment rips one of the zippers open and pulls out a Tonfa.

Turns. With his back to the bar he faces all four guys.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
Now would be the best time to end

this.

TOUGH GUY 3
Yes Major, Mister special police

forces shit. But we’ll end it our way. Guys.

(Rough choreography). Two gyus attack Oliver, he responds by hitting one against the throat, backing the other guys arm, kick against his ankle. He turns and twists, away from the bar, breaks the third guys arm and facing Tough Guy 3

OLIVER
Again, you are still up and could

drive them to the hospital.

Tough Guy 3 grabs a bottle from the bar and breaks it. One other gets up and attacks again. Oliver throws TG 3 over, unrests his arm and falls with the bottle into TG2. Done. Up again there its one left who is like a ragging bull. Oliver stops him with the Tonfa, not hitting yet.

Mistake, one guy gets up, attacks from behind and strikes his arm with a blade.

TOUGH GUY 3
So, Mr. war zone, how about respect

now, German soldier pussy?

Oliver has enough, briefly looks at his arm. He unwinds 4-5 fast kick, hits and moves. Done.

OLIVER
Didn’t I tell, we even take the

trash out from time to time?

He kneels down on him, his eyes burn. He could easily take the whole day out on this guy, he is close to kill.
Oliver breathes…. 2…3 then empties the pockets of TG3 and TG2, no other weapons. He grabs a couple of bills, all hundreds out of their pockets, hands them to Marie

OLIVER (CONT’D)
For the broken stuff. I’ll keep

one, my sand jacket needs to see a seamstress.

(MORE)

61.

OLIVER (CONT’D)
And you guys out. Or do you want

another round on my dance card? Marie looks over the bar.

The other guests leave as low-key as possible

MARIE
Not you, you may stay.

LOVERBOY
Thank you. But no thank you.

He drags his girl outside. The Tough Guys leave, everybody else too.

Marie passes Oliver, heading for the door

MARIE
And I complain we have no streamer

tv?
We have live action.

END OF ACT 4

62.

ACT 5 RESTLESS NIGHT

INT. BACK SALON – NIGHT

Marie locks the door and returns. Oliver packs the Tonfa back into his back pack.

63.

MARIE
You are one of the bad boys. Fuck

OLIVER
And we do watch over the good guys.

Is there a small hotel nearby you would recommend?

MARIE
Yes. But let me look at your arm

first.

Marie sits behind Oliver and putting some meds on his wound. Oliver’s sand tee is ripped open at the arm, covered with blood. He is not a muscle guy but very ripped and trained sleek with scars and tattoos.

OLIVER
…. I arrived last night in

Germany, this morning in this town. (grins his teeth) Mhhh.

Marie continues to bandage his upper arm.

MARIE Hurts a lot?

OLIVER
Hurts. A lot is different.

Marie locks eyes with Oliver.

MARIE Go on, bad boy.

OLIVER
Nobody seems to know about the war,

everybody stares at my uniform or ID … if I tell you everything what happened since this morning, I’d sound like a whiner…and you wouldn’t want to have sex with me.

TIME CUT:

Marie doesn’t stop

MARIE
Do I want to have sex with you?

OLIVER
From what I see I‘d say ….

MARIE Actually, yes.

OLIVER
So you won’t give me a suggestion

for a Hotel nearby?

MARIE

OLIVER

MARIE

No Seriously?

Yes

Marie finishes lousily the bandage, comes up and turns in for a kiss

INT. APARTMENT – MARIE – NIGHT

Oliver and Marie bump through the door – kiss wildly

…. undressing each other.

Marie bumps into the fresh bandaged wound which makes Oliver groan.

MARIE
Don’t be such a whiner, you pussy

OLIVER
I forgot, you’re the pussy here

On they go, they engage in a passionate and wild encounter of sex.

Find joy and temporary solace in each other’s arms.

INT. APARTMENT – MARIE – NIGHT

After their encounter. Marie naked, has her head on Olivers naked chest, purring like a cat.

64.

MARIE
How long did you say you had no

sex.

OLIVER
Four, four and half month.

MARIE
Can we do this again, like in the

morning?

OLIVER (smiles)

I hope so.

MARIE (sleeping away)

Mhhmmmm.

OLIVER
You still won’t suggest a hotel

nearby?

MARIE Nooo wayyy

Marie sleeps. …..Oliver does not fall asleep. …..He looks at the ceiling. …..He dims the lights.

He is restless. He walks up and down the room.

He gets dressed, about to leave the apartment. Too late, the attack is on it’s way.

OLIVER (under his breath)

We have to wait until the morning, Mum.

Oliver makes it to an armchair next to the bed. His hands start to tremble. He tries to be silent, his arms and knees, then his head and neck, everything trembles, goes out of control.

Oliver looks at the ceiling, bites not to make noises. The pictures come. Flashy. No story, just flashes of his soldier life, watching others die.

Soldiers being shot, running, falling. Soldier Bauer in his arms, the shot into the kids niqab, the water canteen, the truck exploding.

END OF PILOT