The heart-breaking tale of their relationship was communicated hrough flashbacks and the night-time reading of the deathbed letter written by the dying woman - she was the wife of the man the pianist must duel at the coming dawn.Hands raised, the men shout their support for their Colonel when he disappears inside.A few moments later, his legs limp, Nicholson is dragged to a corrugated metal-encased sweat box (called "the oven" by Shears) to be tortured under the blazing sun so that he will change his mind.Nicholson""s role of Garrett Breedlove was specifically written by Brooks for Burt Reynolds, who elected instead to star in the racing flopStroker Ace (1983)- Reynolds"" fifth film with director/former stuntman Hal Needham.As Elliott walks slowly back up the driveway to the house with the pizza, he hears sounds coming from near their home""s backyard toolshed.The shuttle landed on the rear platform of the dark structure.Inside, a black-cloaked figure, Vader""s servant Vanee (Martin Gordon) walked along a catwalk through airlocks o a steaming enclosure, flanked by two red-garbed royal guards.