Flight of the Maybug (Script)

ACT 1

Fritz takes a moment to cool down.

FRITZ: Is there a chance you're wrong? I mean I'm just a bloody Sergeant; no-one listens to me!

Marcel walks over to Max who is still reading.

MARCEL: Max, put the book down.

MAX: Piss off.

MARCEL: Fritz?

Fritz refuses to speak.

MARCEL: Fritz?!

Pause.

FRITZ: Do it, put it down.

Although annoyed, Max obeys.

FRITZ: Why the fuck did you do that?!

MAX: Because you told me to!

FRITZ: Oh don't make it worse...

Defeated, Fritz slumps to the ground.

Pause.

FRITZ: Deal's back on.

MAX: What deal?

FRITZ: Nothing, just an expression. What are you reading?

MAX: (Reading) "We have resorted to burning the wretched corpses upon open pyres as the ovens continue failing to cope with"-

Fritz snatches the diary out of Max's hands.

FRITZ: Where the fuck did you get this?

MAX: It was the Captain's.

Fritz skims through the diary.

FRITZ: Christ, how much did you read?

MAX: Not much, I skipped the boring bits.

FRITZ: Boring bits?

WILHELM: What is it?

FRITZ: Doesn't matter. Pass me the matches.

MAX: You should be proud-

FRITZ: Matches, now!

Wilhelm throws Fritz a small box of matches.

MARCEL: I wouldn't do that.

FRITZ: Marcel, for my own mental wellbeing, from now on if I want your advice, I'll ask for it.

Fritz sets the diary on the ground and pulls out a match. However, stops moments before striking it alight.

FRITZ: (Unable to refrain himself from asking) Why shouldn't I do that?

MARCEL: If you give that to me, I'll take you where you want to go.

Fritz strikes the match alight.

WILHELM: Fritz did you hear him?!

FRITZ: I heard him.

Wilhelm snatches the diary away.

FRITZ: What do you think-?!

WILHELM: Getting us out of here!

Wilhelm, diary in hand, walks over to Marcel.

FRITZ: Read the last entry.

WILHELM: I don't need more trouble.

FRITZ: Wilhelm, fucking read it!