Captain
Max
All the children
Maria
Friedrich
Franz
Zeller
Karl
All the Nuns
Rolfe



CUT TO:
EXT. VON TRAPP VILLA - LATER THAT DAY
The Captain yanks down a Nazi flag from above his front door. He rips the flag in half. Max & the children pull into the driveway. The Captain rolls up the flag & hides it behind his back.

CHILDREN Father! You came so soon.
CAPTAIN Hello. Hello. Hello.
FRIEDRICH We didn't expect you so soon.
CHILDREN We wanted to meet your train. Did you bring us anything?

The children swarm around the Captain & Maria.

MARIA Hello. How are you?
FRIEDRICH O, why didn't you telephone us?
MARIA Well, we tried to, but we couldn't get thro. We tried…

The Captain shows the flag to Max.

MAX I had nothing to do w/ that, George.
CAPTAIN (quietly, to Max) We came back as fast as we could.

The Captain joins Maria & the children, snatching up Marta & giving her a big hug.

CAPTAIN (to the children) Well, well, well, well, well! We missed you!
MARIA We missed kissing you good night.
CAPTAIN We missed all the noise you make in the morning telling each other to be quiet.

The children laugh.

MARIA Mostly, we missed hearing you sing.
BRIGITTA O, you came back just in time.

Brigitta takes a program from Max's hand & shows it to Maria.

BRIGITTA Look, Fraulein Maria, I mean Mother…

The children laugh. The Captain winks at Maria.

BRIGITTA We're going to sing in the festival tonight.
MARIA What?

As the children all chatter at once, the Captain takes the program & shoots Max a dirty look. Max tries to laugh it off.

MAX (to the Captain) Surprise! Surprise!

The Captain manages a grin & a chuckle.

CAPTAIN (to the children) All right! Surprises for you on the terrace.
CHILDREN Presents! O, good!

The children run into the house. Liesl stays w/ Maria.

CAPTAIN (off the program, to Max) We'll talk about this inside.

Maria, Liesl, Max, & the Captain walk inside.

MAX George, I would have told you but you were away. I had to make a last-minute decision. I was fortunate to enter them all.
CAPTAIN Max…
MAX They'll be the talk of the festival. Imagine 7 children in 1 family.
CAPTAIN Max! Somehow I recall having made it quite clear to you how I feel about my family singing in public.
MAX But the committee heard them. They were enchanted.
MARIA O, Max, what did they say?
MAX I have never heard such enthusiasm.
MARIA (to the Captain) O, darling, don’t you think just this once…?
CAPTAIN Absolutely out of the question.
MAX George, this is for Austria.
CAPTAIN For Austria? (laughs darkly) There is no Austria!
MAX But the Anschluss happened peacefully. Let's at least be grateful for that.
CAPTAIN Grateful!? You know, Max, sometimes I don't believe I know you.

Liesl pulls out Rolfe's telegram.

LIESL Father, I forgot. This is for you.

Liesl walks over & hands the Captain the telegram. He takes it & walks off. Maria & Liesl watch worriedly. Max presses his thumb to his lips.

MAX Maria, he's got to at least to pretend to work w/ these people. You must convince him.
MARIA Max, I can't ask him to be less than he is.
MAX (sighs) Then I'll talk to him. If the children don't sing at the festival, well, it'll be a reflection on Austria. I know, it wouldn't do me any good, either.

As he leaves, Maria & Liesl walk arm in arm to the drawing room.

LIESL Mother?
MARIA Hm?
LIESL That sounds so nice. I like calling you Mother.
MARIA I like hearing it.
LIESL You love Father very much. I can tell you do.
MARIA Very much.
LIESL Mother, what do you do when you think you love someone, I mean, when you stop loving someone or when he stops loving you?

They sit on a small sofa.

MARIA Well, you cry a little & then you wait for the sun to come out. It always does.
LIESL There's so many things I think I should know. But I don't. I really don't.
MARIA How can you?
LIESL Sometimes I feel the world is coming to an end.
MARIA & then you feel it's just beginning.
LIESL Yes.
MARIA It was that way w/ me, Liesl, & for you it will be just as wonderful I promise.
LIESL Do you really think so?
MARIA (sings) When you're 16 going on 17
Waiting for life to start
Somebody kind who touches your mind
Will suddenly touch your heart
LIESL (sings) When that happens, after it happens
Nothing is quite the same
Somehow I know I'll jump up & go
If ever he calls my name
MARIA (sings)
Gone are your old ideas of life
The old ideas grow dim
Lo & behold you're someone's wife
& you belong to him
You may think this kind of adventure
Never may come to you
Darling, 16 going on 17
Wait a year…
LIESL (sings) I'll wait a year…
MARIA (sings) …or 2...Just…
MARIA AND LIESL (singing) …wait a year or 2

They grin & touch foreheads. Suddenly, the Captain appears w/ the opened telegram in his hand. His expression is grave.

CAPTAIN Liesl!

The Captain beckons to Liesl, then nods for her to leave. She rises, her grin fading. The Captain gives her hand a reassuring squeeze & pats her cheek w/ the backs of his fingers. Smiling, she hurries out.

MARIA What it is?
CAPTAIN Berlin. They've offered me a commission in their navy. I've been requested to accept immediately & report to their naval base at Bremerhaven tomorrow.
MARIA I knew something like this would happen. I didn't think it would be so soon.
CAPTAIN To refuse them would be fatal for all of us. & joining them would be…unthinkable.

He kisses Maria on the forehead, slips an arm around her shoulders, & they walk into the front hall.

CAPTAIN Get the children all together. Don't say anything that's going to make them worry. Just get them ready. We've got to get out of Austria & this house…(scans the front hall)…tonight.

Maria looks at him nervously, then he pulls her into a comforting hug.

DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. IN FRONT OF THE VON TRAPP VILLA - THAT NIGHT
We look down thro the elegant wrought-iron front gate to a circle of grass lined w/ neatly trimmed shrubs. The grass is surrounded by the circular gravel driveway & high walls to the left & right. The Von Trapp's black car, steered by Friedrich, rolls into view from a side
path. The Captain, Max, & Kurt push it from behind. The Captain wears a green wool jacket & hat. Following on foot, Maria & the children wear wool, button-collared capes & hats or scarves. Max turns to the Captain.

MAX (quietly) It not only strains my back, it breaks my heart when I think of a certain singing group that will not appear at the festival tonight.
CAPTAIN By the time you've made the announcement, we'll be over the border.
MAX I hope you appreciate the sacrifice I'm making.
CAPTAIN You have no choice.
MAX I know. That's why I'm making it.
MARTA Why doesn't Father turn the motor on?
KURT (too loudly) Because he doesn't want anyone to hear us!
CAPTAIN Sh!

The Captain scowls at Kurt. Louisa looks at Maria.

LOUISA What will Frau Schmidt & Franz say when they discover we're gone?
MARIA They'll be able to answer truthfully they didn't know anything about it if anyone asks them.
LIESL Will we be coming back here?
MARIA Someday, Liesl. I do hope someday.
GRETL Are Father & Uncle Max going to push the car all the way to
Switzerland?
MARIA Shh!

From a 2nd story window in the villa, we look down on the family & car approaching the front gate. Kurt runs ahead & opens the gate, then runs back to continue pushing. Franz, the butler, watches them from the window wearing a dour expression. As the Von Trapp's pass through the gate, they scurry to climb into the car. Bright lights flash on. They all freeze & turn to see that the lights are the headlights of 2 automobiles beside which stands Gauleiter Zeller & a squad of Nazi soldiers.

ZELLER Something wrong w/ your car, Captain?
CAPTAIN Yes, as a matter of fact, we couldn't get it started.
ZELLER Karl!

Nazi soldier Karl steps forward.

ZELLER Fix Captain Von Trapp's car so that it will start.

Karl marches over to the car…the Captain steps aside w/ friendly smile…& Karl gets in. Of course, the engine starts up on the 1st try. The Captain smiles & shakes his head as if amazed. He gives Karl a friendly pat on the shoulder & shrugs at Zeller. The stiff, unsmiling Karl rejoins Zeller.

ZELLER Excellent, Karl. (to the Captain) I've not asked you where you & your family are going…nor have you asked me why I'm here.
CAPTAIN Well, apparently, we're both suffering from a deplorable lack of curiosity.
ZELLER You were sent a telegram which you did not answer. A telegram from Admiral Von Schreiber of the Navy of the Third Reich.
CAPTAIN I was under the impression, Herr Zeller, that the contents of telegrams in Austria are private…at least, the Austria I know.
ZELLER I have my orders…& they are to take you personally to Bremerhaven tonight where you will accept your commission.
CAPTAIN I'm afraid that's going to be quite impossible. You see we, uh, um, all of us, the entire family, will be…singing in the festival tonight. As a matter of fact, that's where we were going now. Couldn't possibly let them down now.
MARIA I just hope we're not too late.
CAPTAIN Yes.
ZELLER & you ask me to believe this…that you, Captain Von Trapp, are singing in a concert?
MAX Believe me, it will be a performance beyond anything even I've dreamt of.
CAPTAIN Like you, Herr Zeller, I, too, am a man of hidden talents.
MAX Yes, um, here. Program.

Max walks over & hands Zeller the program. Zeller studies it skeptically.

ZELLER It says here only the names of the children.
CAPTAIN It says the Von Trapp Family Singers. & I’m the head of the Von Trapp family, am I not?
ZELLER & these, um, these travel clothes that you're all wearing?
MARIA Our costumes, naturally. Herr Zeller, this night air is not good for the children's voices.

Maria & the Captain exchange conspiratorial glances. Zeller looks
thoughtful.

ZELLER Well, a slight delay in my orders will not be serious…therefore, you will sing. You will all sing. But only because that's the way I want it to be. It will demonstrate that nothing in Austria has changed. & when you are finished singing, you, Captain Von Trapp, will be taken to Bremerhaven. Now, if you will all get into your car, we will escort the Von Trapp Family Singers to the festival.
CAPTAIN No escort will be necessary, Herr Zeller.
ZELLER Necessary?! A pleasure, Captain! After all, we would not want you to get lost in the crowds, would we?
CAPTAIN (whispers) No.

Zeller grins smugly & returns to his car. The children pile into the Von Trapp car. The Captain crosses his fingers, nods to Maria, & gets in the car.

DISSOLVE TO:
AT THE FESTIVAL - LATER THAT EVENING
The huge festival audience, a full house, watches the family who stand center stage in a large spotlight singing a complex arrangement of "Do Re Mi"…

From 1 side of the stage, Max eyes Nazi sentries posted around the theater. The Captain spots Zeller in the front row, then gives Maria a reassuring nod. The song comes to an end & there is a tremendous storm of applause from the audience. In the front row, a judge marks his ballot. Karl sits scowling beside Zeller who forces himself to clap. As Maria & the children bow, the Captain steps forward to a microphone. He glances at Max who holds up a guitar & raises his eyebrows questioningly. The Captain nods to him, then speaks into the mike.

CAPTAIN My fellow…Austrians, I shall not be seeing you again, perhaps for a very long time. I would like to sing, for you now, a love song.

Max hands him the guitar.

CAPTAIN I know you share this love. I pray that you will never let it die.

The spotlight follows him to center stage. In the shadows, Maria & the children move offstage. The Captain strums the guitar and sings.

CAPTAIN (sings) Edelweiss, edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small & white, clean & bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow, may you bloom & grow
Bloom & grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Looking out over the audience, the Captain's smile wavers.

CAPTAIN (sings w/ faltering voice) Edelweiss, edel…

He blinks, choked w/ emotion. Maria steps in from the wings, followed by the children.

MARIA (sings) Small & white, cleann…
MARIA AND THE CAPTAIN …& bright…
MARIA, THE CAPTAIN AND THE CHILDREN You look happy to meet me

The Captain waves to the audience, urging them to join in.

ALL THE GOOD AUSTRIANS IN THE AUDIENCE Blossom of snow, may you bloom & grow
Bloom & grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

There is a moment of silence, charged w/ emotion, & then the audience gives a large round of applause. Zeller shifts uncomfortably. Max comes out on stage & whispers to the family.

MAX I think it'll work. I shall miss all of you. I shall miss the money I
could've made w/ you.

He carries the Captain's guitar to the microphone.

MAX Thank you, ladies & gentlemen, thank you. The festival competition has come to its conclusion, except of course we don't know yet what that conclusion will be. & while the judges are arriving at their decision I have been given permission to offer you an encore. This will be the last opportunity the Von Trapps will have of singing together for a long, long time. Even now officials are waiting in this auditorium to escort Captain Von Trapp to his new command in the naval forces of the Third Reich.

The crowd murmurs & grumbles at this.

MAX & so, ladies & gentlemen, the family Von Trapp again…to bid you farewell.

The audience applauds. Max blows a kiss to the family. The children line up behind Maria & the Captain. Music begins.

MARIA (sings) There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
& the bells in the steeple too
& up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say "cuckoo"

CHILDREN (peeking out from behind their parents, singing) Cuckoo, cuckoo

CAPTAIN:
CHILDREN:
Regretfully they tell us
Cuckoo, cuckoo
But firmly they compel us
Cuckoo, cuckoo
To say goodbye…
THE FAMILY (sings) …to you

The Captain & and they all form a line across the stage.

THE FAMILY (sings) So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night
KURT AND MARTA (singing) We hate to go & miss this pretty sight

Kurt & Marta walk off stage & into a shadowy hallway. The rest of the family waves.

THE FAMILY (sings) So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
FRIEDRICH AND LIESL (singing) Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu

Friedrich & Liesl bow, then exit into the hallway. They glance back at the family nervously.

THE FAMILY (sings) So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
BRIGITTA AND LOUISA (singing) We flit, we float, we fleetly flee, we fly

Brigitte & Louisa kick their legs back, then dance hurriedly offstage.

THE CAPTAIN, MARIA AND GRETL (singing) So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye

GRETL (sings) The sun has gone to bed & so must I. Goodbye!

Maria gives a gentle push to Gretl who exits.

MARIA (sings) Goodbye!

The Captain puts his arm around Maria.

CAPTAIN (sings) Goodbye!
MARIA AND THE CAPTAIN (singing) Goodbye!

Maria & the Captain exit hand in hand as the music comes to an end & the audience applauds. A woman in a green, feathered hat slips a paper into an envelope. She hands it to a man who hands it to Max on stage. Max opens it & walks slowly to the microphone. He picks up the mike & carries it to center stage.

MAX Ladies & gentlemen, I have here the decision of our distinguished judges. We will start w/ the award 3rd prize. For this honor, the judges have named the 1st soloist of the choir of St. Agathe's church in Murbach, Fraulein Schweiger.

A trumpet fanfare. The audience applauds. A spotlight picks up Fraulein Schweiger walking onto the stage from the shadowy hallway. Grinning & bowing all the while, she runs up to Max who hands her a bouquet of flowers. He bows to her then claps. She keeps on grinning & bowing. Max bows awkwardly again. The audience laughs at all this bowing. Max beckons an usher who steps out of the shadows & escorts her offstage. More applause. She keeps grinning & bowing.

MAX 2nd prize to…the Toby Reiser Quintet.

A trumpet fanfare. Applause. The spotlight reveals the quintet as they come out onto the stage. They bow to the audience, shake hands w/ Max, & then exit.

MAX & the 1st prize, the highest honor in all Austria, to the Von Trapp Family Singers!

Max flourishes a hand toward the hallway. A trumpet fanfare. A large round of applause. The spotlight searches for the Von Trapp family, but they don't appear. Zeller peers up at Max. As the applause dies out, Max tries again to summon the family.

MAX The family Von Trapp!

Trumpet fanfare. Applause. But no family Von Trapp appears. Zeller scowls at Max. Suddenly, Karl comes running into the spotlight & shouts.

KARL They're gone!

Zeller leaps up. Max clenches his jaw in suppressed triumph & relief.

DISSOLVE TO:
AT THE ABBEY - LATER THAT NIGHT
Zeller's patrol…2 vehicles w/ their sirens on…reach the Abbey. Uniformed Nazis scramble out. They go storming toward the Abbey door.

INSIDE THE ABBEY
The Von Trapps confer w/ the Reverend Mother. The Abbey door bell rings.

MOTHER ABBESS Come w/ me.

She leads the family to a tall wooden door. They exit into it.

MOTHER ABBESS Quickly, quickly. I have a place you can hide.

Sister Berthe walks toward the front door.

MOTHER ABBESS (to Berthe) Slowly, slowly.

As Berthe enters the stone hallway leading to the gate, we see Zeller, Karl, & a ½ dozen soldiers standing outside.

ZELLER (impatiently) Open this gate!

Sister Berthe smiles serenely.

SISTER BERTHE Good evening.

She slides the key into the lock.

ZELLER Hurry up, woman!

She continues to smile peacefully, nods, & slowly opens the gate. Zeller & his squad march in, glance at Sister Margaretta near the tall wooden door. Then walk off in a different direction. The soldiers run thro the Abbey.

ZELLER 2 men in there. 6 of you, fan out & cover the yard. You 2, cover the corridor.

A group of soldiers runs across the cobblestone courtyard. Elsewhere, the Reverend Mother leads the family thro an enclosed graveyard.
Arched openings in 1 wall reveal tall mountains beyond.

MARIA Reverend Mother, we didn't realize we'd put the Abbey in this danger.
MOTHER ABBESS No, Maria, it was right for you to come here.
CAPTAIN We thought we might borrow your caretaker's car.
MOTHER ABBESS I'm afraid our car would do you no good now. I've been listening to the wireless. The borders have just been closed.

At the far end of the graveyard, she unlocks a gate into a crypt. Maria leads the children inside.

CAPTAIN All right, the borders are closed. (looks at the mountains) Then we'll drive up into the hills & go over those mountains on foot.
MARIA But the children?
CAPTAIN We'll help them. They'll be all right.
FRIEDRICH We can do it without help, Father.
MOTHER ABBESS Maria, you will not be alone. Remember: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.”
MARIA Yes, Mother.

Maria hugs the Reverend Mother.

MARTA I'm scared.
BRIGITTA Me, too.

Maria joins the others in the crypt's hallway, lined w/ large monuments. The Reverend Mother locks the gate & hands the key to the Captain. She clasps his hand then makes the sign of the cross.

MOTHER ABBESS God be w/ you.

She leaves. The family hides in 2 groups behind the large monuments.

GRETL Mother?
MARIA Yes?
GRETL Would it help if we sang about our favorite things?
MARIA No, darling. This is 1 time it would not help. You must be very quiet. Hold tight to me.

Maria hugs her. The Captain peers out from behind his monument, which is about 10 feet tall. He holds a finger to his lips, then stiffens. Footsteps. Flashlights appear at the other side of the graveyard. The Captain ducks behind his monument. Karl leads 5 brown-uniformed soldiers past the gravestones. 1 soldier holds a flashlight & uses it to scan the dirt floor for footprints. Behind her monument, Maria crouches, still holding Gretl. Louisa huddles beside them, her back to the stone. Carrying a flashlight, Karl approaches a gate at the far end of the crypt hallway. 2 soldiers accompany him as he tries to open the gate. It rattles but does not open. Karl directs his light along the crypt's stone walls, then he moves along the length of the crypt, trying 1 gate after another, moving ever closer to the family. He approaches the Von Trapps, hidden behind monuments at a gate in the middle of the crypt hallway. Maria taps Friedrich on the shoulder, he glances at her, nods, & tucks himself into a lower crouch. Karl's light shines on a monument only a few yards away from Maria's. Maria looks at the Captain who huddles w/ Kurt, Liesl, Marta, & Brigitta. Karl arrives at their gate. Grasping its curlicue wrought iron bars, he peers at the stone monument behind which Maria hides. Maria & Gretl try to avoid the flashlight's roving beam. The Captain stares at Maria w/ wide eyes, holding tight to his children. Karl makes a final pass w/ his light, then suddenly snaps it off. He walks away, followed by all the other soldiers.

KARL Come on, let's try the roof.

As they exit, another soldier arrives at the graveyard, climbing some stairs from another direction. He faces the crypt. It's Rolfe. Liesl sees him & claps her hand to her mouth…but too late…she gasps & we know Rolfe hears her because he flinches. But he turns away pretending he has not heard Liesl's gasp. Still hidden, Liesl & the Captain exchange glances. Maria turns to them, wide-eyed & waiting. Rolfe walks away from the crypt, hides behind a gravestone at the center of the graveyard, & holds his flashlight at the ready. The Captain slowly peeks out from his hiding place. Rolfe is nowhere in sight. As the Captain nods, the family steps out into the open. The Captain pauses for a moment, then creeps toward the locked gate. Suddenly Rolfe appears & points his flashlight directly into the crypt. Everyone freezes. Rolfe swings the beam from Maria to the Captain & Liesl.

LIESL Rolfe, please!

Rolfe stares at Liesl for a moment, then reaches into his pocket for a
whistle.

CAPTAIN Rolfe! Wait!

The Captain unlocks the gate & slips out quickly to face Rolfe. Rolfe backs away, drawing his pistol.

CAPTAIN Maria…children…

He gestures to the steps from which Rolfe arrived & they hurry down behind him.

ROLFE (to the Captain) I-It's you we want. Not them.
CAPTAIN Put that down.

The Captain walks slowly toward Rolfe.

ROLFE Not another move or I'll, I'll shoot!
CAPTAIN You're only a boy.

The Captain stops, 10 yards away, then moves closer.

CAPTAIN You don't really belong to them.
ROLFE Stay where you are!

The Captain keeps walking.

CAPTAIN Come away w/ us…before it’s too late.
ROLFE Not another step. I'll kill you!

Rolfe grows increasingly tense.

CAPTAIN You give that to me, Rolfe.
ROLFE Did you hear me? I'll kill you!

Rolfe's breath grows shallow & quick.

CAPTAIN Rolfe…

Rolfe winces painfully…he can't bring himself to shoot. The Captain stops only a few feet away. Suddenly, he grabs Rolfe's arm. Holding on to the gun, the Captain stares into Rolfe's eyes, then gently takes the weapon from his hand. Rolfe bows his head in shame.

CAPTAIN You'll never be 1 of them.

Rolfe's eyes flash.

ROLFE Lieutenant! Lieutenant! They're here! They're here, Lieutenant!

As Rolfe runs toward the graveyard entrance blowing his whistle, the Captain scurries down another set of steps. At the bottom, he joins Maria & the children in a dusty old car. He starts it up & they drive off. Whistles blowing. Zeller & his men sprint across the cobblestone courtyard heading for the Abbey's front gate. Outside the gate, the old car speeds past the 2 Nazi cars. Moments later, Zeller & his men run out of the Abbey & climb into their cars. They turn their keys in the ignition…

INSIDE THE ABBEY
To the sounds of the Nazi car engines stalling noisily & refusing to start, Sisters Berthe & Margaretta confer w/ the Reverend Mother.

SISTER MARGARETTA Reverend Mother, I have sinned.
SISTER BERTHE I, too, Reverend Mother.
MOTHER ABBESS What is this sin, my children?

The 2 sisters share a guilty glance, then take their hands from the folds of their garments to reveal several parts from the Nazis' cars: a distributor cap & some spark plug wires.

DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. THE ALPS - MORNING
The Captain hikes up a high, grassy meadow carrying Gretl on his back. Kurt follows, then Friedrich, Brigitta, Louisa, & Maria who helps Marta. They scan the mountains, smiling in wonder.

HEAVENLY CHOIR A dream that will need
All the love you can give
Everyday of your life
For as long as you live

A stiff wind blows over the meadow as the Von Trapps cross to the other side.

HEAVENLY CHOIR Climb ev'ry mountain
Ford ev'ry stream
Follow ev'ry rainbow
'Till you find your dream

Over a scene of dizzying peaks & valleys, a title reads: THE END