One Shot – Sound Of Music

A Man's Duty

This is a one shot written from the scene where Georg discovers his request to start work at Bremerhaven and has to report first thing in the morning. They plan to escape - but does all go to plan? Very dramatic take on what could have happened!

It was dark and eerie night over the manor as Georg, Max and Kurt pushed behind the car to exit the gates of the villa. The girls followed closely by Maria's side riddled with fear, confusion, and questions. Not a sound could be heard as they knew that alarming Franz and Frau Schmidt would only result in more questions and the delay of their escape. Max, although he was devastated by the result of this runaway plan still found the time to convey his deep disappointment of them not singing at the festival.

"This not only strains my back but it breaks my heart when I think of a singing group that will not appear at the festival tonight." Looking over to Georg who responded quickly;

"By the time you've made the announcement we'll be over the border." Max knew this was true but really didn't want this to be the result.

"I hope you appreciate the sacrifice I'm making…" Georg laughed off his remark by responding sarcastically…

"You have no choice" Max sighed at his response. "I know that why I'm making it…"

They continued to push the car towards the gates of the manor. The youngest girls really didn't understand the urgency of the situation and were confused and had many questions. Marta was the first to ask as she was latched as was Gretl to Maria's hand.

"Why doesn't father turn the motor on" she asked quietly, and glanced towards Maria for a response. Kurt, however, looked back to Marta and quite loudly gave her a response..."Because he doesn't want anyone to hear us!"

Georg quickly hushed Kurt to be quiet as he really didn't want to raise any alarms as to their departure - continuing to walk towards the exit.

Louisa was next to pose a question. "What will Frau Schmidt & Franz say when they discover we are gone?" She asked inquisitively. Maria responded with the truthful answer that they would be able to answer truthfully as they didn't know or suspect anything. Liesl, who had remained quiet, really did want to return and didn't want to leave; she too wanted to know things and wanted questions answered.

"Will we be coming back here?" She asked politely and quietly with the hopeful thought of getting a positive response. However, Maria answered back with "Someday Liesl, I do hope someday."

She glanced back towards the house as if she didn't want to leave as they had just settled and only returned the same day. She was riddled with a sustained fear that Georg would be summoned but did everything to keep her faith strong. Suddenly out of nowhere, Gretl who had remained quiet blurted out.

"Are father and Uncle Max going to push the car all the way to Switzerland?" Maria hushed her and patted her lightly on the head in her response to her question. As they reached the gates Kurt ran around to release the lock and returned to help them push the car out towards the road.

As they turned the corner, it was still extremely dark; they all scurried for the doors of the car when a sudden beam of light came from behind highlighting all of them. They all turned in shock covering their eyes as the light was so bright. It was none other than Herr Zeller, and two cars full of soldier officials.

The family stood in shocked when Herr Zeller said: "something wrong with your car Captain?" his voice seething with anger and sarcasm. Georg felt the response would have to be something that wouldn't annoy him or make him suspicious.

He replied: "Yes as a matter of fact, we couldn't get it started." Herr Zeller walked over a little closer and called forward one of his men.

"Please, help Mr Von Trapp start his car." As the soldier approached he sat in the seat and turned the key. The engine roared and both Georg and Maria glanced at each other with fear instilled in their eyes. Georg tapped the top of his car and smiled at the officer who exited shortly after. Herr Zeller's face wasn't shy of a smile; he walked even closer placing his hands in his pockets.

"I have not asked you where you and your family are going, nor have you asked me why I am here?"

"Well apparently we are both suffering from an improbable lack of curiosity." He could not help but giggle to try and somewhat to lighten the mood.

Herr Zeller quickly responded: "You were sent a telegram of which you did not answer - a telegram from Admiral Von Shriver of the Navy of the Third Reich." Georg perked up and looked coldly in to his eyes. He slammed his car door and spit out:

"I was under the impression Herr Zeller that the contents of telegrams in Austria are private. At least the Austria I know…" He slowly started to raise his voice. Maria looked on in concern as she could see her husband getting angrier every second. Herr Zeller seemingly unnerved by his tough response replied coarsely;

"I have my orders, I'm here to take you personally to Bremerhaven tonight where you will accept your commission." With a slight smirk on his face he approached Georg slowly…

Maria looked on holding the two youngest very closely as the others gathered around her. The men that Herr Zeller travelled with exited their cars, slowly surrounding them all.

"Don't come one step closer Herr Zeller, or you will make me do something I will not regret." Georg said sharply his eyes fixed on his face - cold with envy and anger. Zeller not taken aback by the Captain's threat laughed it off.

"And what do you suggest we do to solve this issue? I am not returning empty handed, so perhaps you could come up with some arrangement?" He smiled looking over to Maria. Her face was riddled with disgust at his remarks he was making towards her. Little did they know the group of officials had surrounded the entire family.

"Captain, the Admiral would settle for your wife, a prize possession I'm sure, but you could cope without her could you not?" Georg darted his eyes towards Maria in shock as two officials forcefully grabbed her arms and shuffled her towards Herr Zeller. The children squealed with fear and the littlest began to cry.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY WIFE!" Georg shouted – ushering his hands towards the men who had their grasp on Maria. She was frozen in shock and tears had escaped her eyes, rolling down her cheeks.

"Now, now Captain that is no way to address your fellow soldiers is it." He moved closer to Maria causing her to flinch in discomfort. He suddenly pulled a gun from his pocket causing the children to gasp in fear, and pointed it straight at Maria's side. Georg stood frozen as he looked directly into Maria's eyes filled with fear and tears that were escaping rapidly.

"Please…" She mouthed almost at a whisper.

Max scurried over to the children crowding around them holding them closely as he observed.

"Please…" she protested almost silently as the gun moved slowly up and down her side.

Zeller, now with his own grasp on Maria, had one arm across her chest and the other holding the gun that was roaming up and down her right side.

"You hear that Captain? Your wife, pleading?" he looked on to the Captain.

"She has nothing to do with this, it is me you came for, why hurt her?" He stared straight into Maria's eyes that were red and her cheeks stained with tears.

"Because Captain we know exactly how to press your buttons." He said with a sarcastic evil tone.

How could he stop this, his wife and his children mean the world to him and he didn't want to hurt them.

"Let her go and you can take me, as you requested."

Maria shaking with fear and tears falling heard his confession - "No Georg, no…"

Herr Zeller tightened his grasp around her chest, causing her to flinch due to the pain. He pointed the gun towards her stomach.

"Now Fraulein, did I allow you to speak?" Georg moved slowly towards Maria… The soldiers halted and one pointed his gun towards the Captain.

"Now, not one more move or your beloved Fraulein will have to deal with more grief if I decide to play God." He pointed the gun towards her stomach jabbing it into her side.

"If I decide to play God and mess around with your future, perhaps no more Von Trapp children will roam around your villa Captain?" Georg looked on confused and in shock.

"Yes Captain, we know everything." He said vulgarly.

Maria, now crying, whispered: "I'm so sorry Georg, I was meant to tell you, I am expecting, I'm with child…" She let the tears fall from her eyes as she waited for a response from Georg who looked more worried now than he did previously.

"A child?" He looked very solemn and concerned at this entire situation.

He had remembered that on their honeymoon Maria was feeling unwell in the mornings and continued to empty the contents of her stomach and rarely ate anything. They had taken a trip to the doctors but she needed to be examined so Georg left the room. Little did he know that Maria was expecting and she hadn't had the time to tell him properly so she shrugged it off saying it was due to travel sickness as they had the check up just before they headed home and only got back this morning.

Georg coming back from his thoughts was elated at the prospect of a new baby but couldn't believe the current situation.

Maria now looking onto Georg - "Please say something?" she whispered.

Herr Zeller jolted her back and roughly tightened his grasp.

"Now will I have to warn you again Fraulein? Georg moved closer.

"Let her go please!" He protested.

Maria looked even more uncomfortable and he wanted to ensure she was safe.

"Let her and my children go, and you can take me, just as you have come to do this evening."

Herr Zeller did contemplate this for a second but then shrugged it off.

"I'd prefer and so would the Admiral someone with a feisty attitude and I know your Fraulein here is full of tricks and I would love to get to know her on such a personal level." His hand gradually moved down towards her breast as hebegan fondling her inappropriately, she attempted to get out of his grip as she was in evident distress and was uncomfortable; he however, tightened his hold causing her to wince.

Georg saw red.

The solders surrounded him as he attempted to free Maria.

"Captain I've had just about enough of this fun and games." He called over two of his men and shoved Maria towards them and motioned for them to get in the car. The children were inconsolable at this point as they didn't want to raise Herr Zeller's anger. Max, trying to keep them calm looked on to Georg who was surrounded by soldiers.

Maria was bundled into the car and two soldiers held her at gun point. Georg trying to reason with Herr Zeller was not getting anywhere. It was evident that he wanted only to take Maria now, and was going to get rid of Georg once and for all. He handed his gun to one of his soldiers and they surrounded Georg, and closed in on him.

"Finish him."

These two words rang through everyone's mind. The soldiers impaled their wrath on Georg as he fell to the ground in pain. They were beating him, he was unable to defend himself, and lay there allowing them to, in some way trying to prove a point to Herr Zeller, that this is what he wanted and he should let Maria go. Herr Zeller laughed at Georg's expense and headed towards the children and Max. They all looked on in horror and were all exhausted with the amount they had sobbed for their mother and father.

"Now, no need to be frightened I am no monster. I am purely taking what is mine, by order. Surely when you are older you will understand. Now get in your car and pretend this whole thing never happened."

He gestured for Max to take them while he could he ushered them to leave even though the little ones were crying terribly, Liesl didn't want to leave her mother and father, not knowing if they would return, but she knew if she wanted them to have a chance at staying alive - they needed to co-operate. She tried to hurry them along into the car, as painful as it as for them they retreated.

Herr Zeller called his men away from Georg, as they left his body heaped on the floor. "We are done here, let's go" He said coldly.

He joined Maria in the car and sat next to her stroking her face. She flinched away from his touch as he tried to stoke her tear stained cheeks clean. Their car started and they drove into the distance…

I know this was EXTREMILY dramatic you will have to let me know what you think as I had this in mind as a story for ages. Would you like to see more? Thanks so much for your support of my first story I am still continuing with it just thought I'd get this one up!

Thanks!