Interlude: Must See

INT. HOTEL YASHA ROOM, LUXEMBOURG CITY - DAY

GILLIAN (22), in sweat clothes, and DAN (24), in a blue-orange ensemble, walk in to their cosy-sized hotel room and throw down their backpacks. They stare at the one bed they have to share. Gillian flops down on it.

GILLIAN

There is no way we’re going to

that fucking cemetery.

DAN

What?! But Patton was buried there!

Gillian sighs deeply, frustrated. Dan looks out the window at the dirty, seedy bars and night clubs across the street. They are closed for now. He turns back to Gillian.

GILLIAN

(grumbling)

Alright... how do we get there?

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. BUSY STREET - DAY

Dan is wandering around the bus terminal, Gillian following reluctantly. They get on the number 16 bus.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. BUS - DAY

The BUS DRIVER is looking at Dan, confused. Gillian looks away.

BUS DRIVER

Non, vous avez besoin de prendre

le numero quinze.

The Bus Driver mimics drawing something on the ticket counter with his finger.

DAN

Uh... je m’excuse?

Gillian is concerned.

BUS DRIVER

Nu-me-ro quinze.

Again, the Bus Driver mimics drawing something on the ticket counter with his finger.

DAN

Uh... pardon?

Gillian is concerned for her and Dan’s well-being. The Bus Driver “draws” with his finger much slower a “1” and a “5”.

BUS DRIVER

(thick accent)

One. Five.

DAN

(realising)

Ohhhhhhh. (beat) Oh.

Dan and Gillian get off.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. OTHER BUS - DAY

BUS DRIVER #2 is looking at Dan, confused. Gillian looks away.

BUS DRIVER #2

(heavy accent)

You speak English, yes? You need

another bus.

DAN

What?!

Gillian mutters the Lord’s name in vain.

BUS DRIVER #2

This is the right bus. But you need to

go the other way.

DAN

(hint of frustration)

Oh.

Dan and Gillian get off.

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. BUS STOP - DAY

Dan and Gillian are waiting at the correct bus stop, finally. Gillian squints.

GILLIAN

Well this is a productive use of our

time in Luxembourg.

Dan tries to remain cheerful.

DAN

Well this is the big American Military

Cemetery. What else would you be

doing with your time?

GILLIAN

Walking around. Enjoying the city.

Dan tries to remain cheerful.

DAN

But this is fun. It’s an adventure!

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. EMPTY ROAD - DAY

The sun is beating down on Dan and Gillian as they walk down a deserted back road. Gillian frowns. Dan laughs nervously to himself.

GILLIAN

Are you sure this is the right way?

DAN

The sign said “American Cemetery 1km”

in this direction.

Gillian is concerned for their lives.

GILLIAN

We’re gonna die here, aren’t we? I

don’t wanna die in Luxembourg.

DAN

You won’t die in Luxembourg.

Dan looks around. There is a beautiful green and yellow field to the left. Bushes and forest to the right. An empty road ahead of them.

DAN (CONT’D)

Hmmm... maybe we should just head

back.

GILLIAN

(annoyed)

No, let’s just keep going.

They trudge on in silence.

DAN

Why don’t you take a picture of the

beautiful field? You love yellow.

Gillian rolls her eyes at him, stops, and gets out her camera.

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. END OF ROAD - DAY

Dan has given up. Gillian is indifferent. Dan is about to say something when the road turns and they see a parking lot. They keep walking and they see a golden eagle over the side of a wall. As they continue, they see a magnificent entrance with a golden eagle on either side of it. They have arrived at the cemetery.

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. LARGE MILITARY CEMETERY - DAY

Dan and Gillian walking amongst 5,076 graves for American soldiers who died in World War 2, including a special separate one marked for General George S. Patton, Jr.

Worth it.