Author's Note: I edited this chapter too. I hope you like it, it was a nice one to write. Please review! Thank you all. =)

Act One, Scene Three

Exterior-Campsite-Dawn

(The red glow of the rising sun creeps along the edges of the grass in the field that Reiben and Wade passed through to get to the rocky crest. Birds quietly chirp to each other and a thrush hops about in the amber stalks. A small waft of smoke rises from the fire. It died down overnight, because there wasn't anybody to bring it more kindling for fuel, but the coals are still glowing and red.)

(Wade and Reiben are both awake, picking their belongings up off of the ground, where they left them the previous night. Wade walks up next to Reiben. The dark-haired man is putting on his gear with the reluctance of a tired draft animal putting his neck through the collar to begin pulling.)

Wade: I don't hear gunfire anymore---we need to look for the others. It's not good to be separated from them. (Reiben folds his arms, lighting a cigarette and putting it in his mouth. He disagrees, and strongly.)

Reiben: It's pointless. We're not going to find anybody.

Wade: (Firmly.) Don't say that!

Reiben: Why, because you're afraid of the goddamn truth? (Wade sighs, watching him for a moment before he turns, starting towards the town. When he speaks, it's blunt and he doesn't turn around.)

Wade: (Coldly.) No. Because you're being a coward.

(Reiben is silent, a look of pain and frustration reflecting on his features for a moment before he starts after Wade wordlessly, staying about seven strides behind him. His true character has been brought to light. Although he is aggressive, confrontational—it is all because he's truly an insecure man, hostile because he fears exposing himself without using his sharp words as a shield.)

(They cross through the field and the silence remains as they see the first house in the abandoned town on the horizon, the roof skimming the line. A few people walk about, but not very many. They are all American soldiers, from what can be observed. There are a few bodies still in the street, and the buildings look more decrepit than they did before. A low, cool mist hangs over the town. Some of the buildings have been burned, and smoke rises from their remains. Ash is everywhere, along with torn up earth and smoke. The home that they stayed in is blackened, but not burned to the ground.)

(A few people look up at them as they walk, but for the most part, they're more concerned with their own business. There are a few men carrying water that cross paths with the two, holding the buckets on their heads. Wade stops one of them, taking his arm in one hand.)

Wade: Excuse me-! Have you seen any soldiers around here? Can you tell me what happened? (Reiben stands to the side with his arms folded, watching darkly.

Water Carrying Man: Sure, Mister. Our men fought them back—most of them have moved on by now, but they're keeping some wounded in those houses. (He makes a gesture towards two houses, both on the other side of the street.)

Wade: By any chance, do you know where the soldiers went?

Water Carrying Man: Sorry, sir. I don't have any idea. I really have to get back to what I'm doing now. (He walks across the street to the house where they had been residing the day before. Wade hesitates for a brief moment and then follows him, limping still. Neither say anything—they've both been silent since Wade snapped at Reiben.)

(The two enter the house, but they hear muffled sobs and moans before they open the door. There are at least fifty casualties all stuffed into the little downstairs room, laid side-by side, like sardines in a can. There are maybe two or three doctors, and they all look harrowed—as if they have just spoken to Death himself. Wade approaches the doctor nearest to them. Reiben hangs back, about four to five feet away with his weight on one leg and the other bent at the knee. His arms are folded across his chest. Despite his external appearance, Wade knows that he's worried.)

Wade: Excuse me—do you have anybody named Jackson, Upham, Horvath, Miller, Mellish…? (Doctor looks down at a sheet of paper he's holding and frowns.)

Doctor: We have an Upham, although I don't know whether or not he's your guy, corporal. I'll take you to him. Come this way. (Doctor leads them through the maze of wounded, bloody bodies, stopping in front of a dark haired man who lies on his side, sleeping—his shoulder is bandaged. Wade starts to set a hand on Upham's shoulder, but eiben speaks before he can.)

Reiben: Upchuck---wake up. (Upham stirs, looking up at them, and then immediately sits up. Wade's expression brightens for a moment and then fades upon seeing his arm.)

Wade: Upham, what happened to your arm—is it serious?

Upham: No—the bullet only took off a bit of flesh…a scrape. (He seems hesitant to speak, as if a great weight is on his shoulders. Wade looks at him with an immediate concern that causes Reiben to watch him darkly, smoking. He's jealous of the friendship the two share?)

(Upham starts to speak up, but then he pauses and looks away for a moment. He isn't paying much attention to his wound, because more pressing matters are on his mind at the time being. Reiben cuts straight to the point.)

Reiben: Upchuck, come here. I want to talk to you.

(Upham gets up without protest, docile and submissive by nature. He's more comfortable following orders without question than actually giving them. They leave the building and lean against the wall. Reiben closes the door behind them.)

Reiben: What the hell's going on?

Upham: I...found these.

(Upham slowly removes a set of dogtags from his breast pocket. Wade grows paler, staring at it for a moment. Reiben watches with a grim look.)

Wade: Whose...whose are they?

Upham: They belonged to Mellish. (Reiben watches him with a shaken expression. Wade swallows, closing his eyes for a long moment. He finally speaks up.)

Wade: Mellish---he's dead?

Upham: I don't know---I found it on the ground. It could have just fallen off... (Reiben has turned away, and has started towards the campsite, leaving the two to discuss.)

Reiben: (in a monotone) I need to be alone.

End scene three, fade to black.