Opening Sequences

EXT. WOLFSCHANZE "WOLF'S LAIR" - RASTENBURG, GERMANY - DAY

Outside shot of briefing hut at Wolfschanze. Shots of army officers, SS officers walking around the area, then slowly focus on one German officer as he enters the briefing hut. The camera follows the officer into the briefing hut..camera focuses on hand turning doorknob then as the door opens as he enters the words type one letter at a time on the bottom of the screen.:

BRIEFING HUT
HITLER'S HEADQUARTERS
WOLF'S LAIR
RASTENBURG, GERMANY
JULY 20, 1944

Switch to first person view as door opens, camera pans around room. Music thumping. Officers sit around big oak table, some standing with arms crossed, others leaning with hands clenched into fists on table. Tense music continues, general mouths words, his face anxious, red, he appears under pressure. Camera pans to the right, to the middle of the table, music crescendoing, then camera shows a glimpse of Hitler standing (shot of back), first his fists "digging" into the table, then moving up his tunic, then his profile as he is nodding vigorously, then focus on his eyes manic nodding then a big deafening thump. Black.

CUT TO:

INT. "WOLF'S LAIR" - RASTENBURG, GERMANY - BRIEFING HUT

No music. Another general speaks, barely audible. Low volume. He points to a map that is spread out on table. Others look, nodding. Beads of sweat pour down his temples.

CUT TO:

CLAUS VON STAUFFENBERG walks to table to right of Adolf HITLER.POV camera shows Hitler's back, Hitler’s head turning, "glancing" uncomfortably at Claus then back. Camera pans to Claus leaning down, putting briefcase on floor, close up of briefcase and mangled hand. Cut to other side of room, Claus standing for a second, general's voice still a whisper. Claus leans into officer next to him, whispers. Claus turns and walks out. The general continues to speak looking down, looking up, looking down then suddenly a powerful bomb blast errupts. Blinding white then darkness.

CUT TO:

Credits: Softer music begins, credits roll. The music continues more intensely as the credits continue, more ominous with each continuing image. Images come to the screen as follows: five seconds each. Stock footage. Sound alternates between loud and soft during successive images.

BISMARCK
CROWNING OF KAISER WILHELM II
WORLD WAR I
VERSAILLES
ROARING TWENTIES
WEIMAR DEPRESSION, PEOPLE SUFFERING.
NAZI RALLIES
KRISTALLNACHT
BLITZKRIEG

Image of Claus (stock footage) as a child. Image of Claus graduating from military school. Image of Claus as adult standing looking out window. Close up on face of Claus.

Credits end

FADE IN:

INT. - CLAUS' STUDY - BERLIN, 1944 - NIGHT
Claus looks out a window. He wears a patch over his left eye. A grandfather clock ticks loudly and Claus turns his head slightly. POV widens. Claus’ brother, BERTHOLD sits facing the grandfather clock. The time shows 8:00 PM, the clock chimes loudly. Claus turns back to window.

BERTHOLD

It’s settled?

Claus stares out window looking at dark, rainy sky. Claus lost in concentrated, anxious thought, nods. Berthold watches Claus carefully. Several seconds pass. Claus appears pained.

CLAUS

We cannot wait any longer.

Camera back to Berthold who nods in understanding. Camera pans back to Claus.

EXT. - BATTLEFIELD - DAY

Flashback.

Bombs go off, destroying a large building.

INT. CLAUS’ STUDY - CONTINUOUS

CLAUS (CONT'D)

I should have seen this coming.

EXT. BERLIN -Images of Kristallnacht - NIGHT

INT. CLAUS’STUDY- CONTINUOUS

CLAUS

I was a fool.

EXT. MILITARY COLLEGE - DAY

Flashback of Claus taking an oath of loyalty as a young officer.

INT. CLAUS’STUDY- CONTINUOUS

CLAUS

It’s time.

EXT. MILITARY COLLEGE - DAY

Flashback continues of Claus’ oath. In a daydream, Claus mouths the words and then draws a gun from his holster. He steps forward and fires at a undefined target.

INT. CLAUS’STUDY- CONTINUOUS

Claus looks out window relieved. POV widens to ornate beautiful room with meticulous bookcases and antique furniture. Claus walks toward his desk. He opens a humidor, picks out a cigar. He offers a cigar to Berthold but Berthold refuses. Claus holds the cigar in his fingers, then throws it down in disgust.

CLAUS

Give me a minute, will you? I need to call Nina.

Berthold stands, walks to the door. Turns the doorknob, stops. The brothers look at each other for a long moment.
Berthold exits.