All right,the end of the line.
- Off your butts. - (ALL GROANING)
- Let's go, let's go. - My aching back.
- I can't move! - (GROANING CONTINUES)
MAN: Come on, come on.
All right, drop your packs.
- Ackerman. - Yo.
- Bulow. - Here.
- Carson. Dagget. - (MEN ANSWERING)
- Galloway. - Yeah, here.
Hacker.
Hacker!
Private Hacker, Everett H.!
Here.
Hello.
Welcome to World War II.
Hacker.
- Hilton. - Here.
Jones.
- Jones. - Here.
- Johnson! - Here.
Snap it up, son. Snap it up.
Cooley.
- For me? - Who else?
You're a very funny man, you know that?
Thanks, Sarge.
- What's your name, son? - Hacker.
I'm Sergeant Cooley.
Foley, over here.
Foley, this is Hacker.
He'll be staying with you for a while.
- Hi. - Hey.
Foley can tell you just about anything you want to know.
Glad you're with us, son.
Real glad.
I'm not running a rifle squad, I'm running a boy scout troop.
Sometimes I think that damn Wadley
- saves all the kids for me. - (SCOFFS) Could be.
Poor old Sergeant Cooley.
That makes five of us now.
- Five what? - He calls us "children."
What's he got against us?
Oh, I don't think he has anything against us.
I guess he just thinks we don't know what we're doing.
Well, how old's he?
Gee, I don't know. He's old, though.
I think somebody said he was 38.
He couldn't be that old, could he?
Why you doing that?
Because it's dirty.
You and Schumacher oughta start a club.
He's forever cleaning his rifle.
Not that it isn't good to clean your rifle.
He even cleans his bayonet, though.
Is he one of the "children"?
No, he is old. I know he's 38.
Guthrie, Riley, and Chambers are the other young guys.
You seen any combat?
No.
You?
Some.
Being company messenger, though,
keeps me pretty busy behind the lines.
I haven't seen much.
You know where we're going?
No, I have no idea.
Sometimes I wonder if anybody does.
Here, take it.
Mail call.
- Word from the home front. - Thanks.
Oops, a new face. You just visiting?
- HACKER: What? - I'm Guthrie. You're, uh...
Hacker.
Hey, I got a letter for you here, Hacker, someplace.
Here it is, "Private Everett H. Hacker."
From Chicago. I knew a girl in Chicago once.
Her name was Adeline.
She had... Oh.
Well, I gotta forge on.
Here, take this.
Oh, a letter to mums.
Neither rain nor hail nor sleet
nor garbage, nor what the hell.
Don't mind him. He's crazy.
His father's an actor on the stage.
He's had six mothers. Can you feature that?
Well, I guess he isn't as crazy as he seems.
It's from my girl.
(DISTANT EXPLOSIONS)
You know when we move out?
(EXHALES)
This afternoon, I guess.
(EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)
(CHATTER)
Relax, it isn't gonna be half as bad as you think.
You'll see.
Well, guess I'd better be reporting to the captain.
Lots of messages to deliver.
Good luck, Hacker.
Take it easy, now.
Hey, Foley. Where you going?
To Captain Miller.
He's got somebody from another squad.
- You're to stay with us. - But I'm supposed to...
Load it, son.
Second squad meeting right away, over here.
Wish the old man had kept Foley.
Hope he knows what he's doing sending him into combat.
Yeah. Well, I'll keep an eye on him.
Hacker, this is Riley...
- Pierce. - Hi.
- Schumacher... - Hacker.
- Chambers. - Hi.
Guthrie, Corporal Lippincott.
Foley, you know.
(SNEEZES)
Oh, God, bless me.
All right, boys, we got ourselves
a real easy job this afternoon.
All we have to do is walk across a couple miles of countryside.
- Nothing to stop us? - Nothing but Germans.
(JAPANESE ACCENT) No Japanese?
- (LAUGHS) - Shut your mouth, Guthrie.
(RIFLE CLICKS)
(CLICKING CONTINUES)
All right, boys.
Let's move out.
Come on, let's go! Spread out!
Attack!
All right, move out. Let's go!
Medic! Over here.
It's Chambers.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(SPUTTERING)
Cut it out.
(COUGHS)
What exciting delicacy do you prepare?
Pork and egg yolk.
Piquant.
Bet poor old dad isn't having anything that good at Sardi.
Probably some lousy pheasant under glass or something.
Well, carry on, old boy.
Pip pip, what ho, hail Britannia,
and God bless us all, Sir Tiny Tim.
How's your health?
What health?
Completely gone now, huh?
(WEAKLY) Completely.
I'm walking sickness.
What's the specialty of the day?
(SIGHING) Trench foot.
Oh.
Not to mention my throat, my stomach, my kidneys.
No bubonic plague?
If you could get it up here, I'd get it.
Hi, Hacker.
- How you doing? - Okay.
I was watching you today. You did fine.
You didn't get rattled. You knew what was going on.
One thing I wanted to mention, though.
When you get up, get up faster,
and not straight on, at an angle.
That way, you make less of a target, you understand?
Couple of other things I want you to remember.
Your main job is to kill or capture the enemy.
The second thing is, stay alive.
You don't have to worry about anything else,
that's my job.
We'll send you home with a medal yet.
Folks would like that, wouldn't they?
Oh, yeah, they'd probably hock it.
Take it easy.
- You leaving us? - Oh, there you are.
I was just about to look for you.
- What's up? - The Lieutenant was just here.
He wants us to check on outpost Charlie.
They spotted a German patrol.
Oh?
(RIFLE CLICKS)
What's the matter, you tired?
Oh, just fed up.
What now?
The new one. Hacker.
Got a wall around him.
I don't know whether I'll be able to reach him or not.
You gotta quit acting as though you were a father to these kids.
I could've been, Dave.
Better find someone to go with us.
Guthrie?
Hark.
Yes, Sergeant?
Since you don't feel like sleeping, get the rest of your gear
and meet us back here in five minutes.
Five minutes.
Good work, Guthrie, you've done it again.
What's with him, anyway?
God knows, I don't.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
Chocolate.
(WHISPERS) Sundae.
Advance.
Listen, I'd rather retreat if it's all the same...
Shut up, Guthrie.
Hi, Cooley.
Bender, where are they?
Down in the woods there.
COOLEY: How many?
Oh, three, maybe four.
It's hard to tell.
We saw them in that patch of...
(GUNSHOT)
(GROANING)
- Let me look. - (GRUNTS)
Doesn't look too bad.
Think you can make it to the aid station by yourself?
Yeah.
Wait till your buddy opens up.
Soon as we start down the hillside, open up on those woods.
Use up the belt and then sit tight.
Guthrie, don't fire till I say so.
Let's go. Come on.
- Now. - (AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE)
Looks like they went home?
Shut up.
All right, spread out.
Dear Dad...
Having a wonderful time. Wish you were here.
(RIFLE COCKS)
(AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE)
- (GUNFIRE) - (BULLETS RICOCHETING)
(RIFLES COCK)
LIPPINCOTT: Hit it, Sarge!
(GUNSHOT)
Thanks, Dave.
See if any of them are still alive, will you?
Right.
Did I tell you not to fire till I said so?
I guess I just got carried away.
Keep soldiering like that
and you'll get carried away, all right, in a box.
Gotcha.
You just don't care, do you?
At least you know how to use that thing.
All right, off and on, let's go.
Everybody up!
- (MEN GROANING) - Come on, move!
It's from my girl.
You told me.
Here's a picture of her.
Pretty, isn't she?
Hmm.
You got a girl?
No.
Your family sends you letters, though, huh?
I have no family.
Well, who sent you that letter?
My Uncle George, to ask for allotment money.
Gee, I'm sorry. I didn't mean...
Your rifle's filthy, you know that?
LIPPINCOTT: Let's go, boys.
Coffee and across the pond.
Hey, are we moving out?
Oh, you dropped it.
Thanks.
Hey, wait.
All right, this is Corporal Lippincott,
Schumacher, Foley.
This is Pierce, Guthrie, Riley and Hacker.
This is Fairchild. He just joined us.
Pleased to meet you.
There isn't time to give you instruction now,
so the best thing you can do
is just watch the squad, and me, of course.
I surely will, Sergeant.
Get it down fast. We move out in 10 minutes.
(GUNFIRE)
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
Cooley, take two men and see what's up there.
Dave, Hacker, on me.
(AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE)
All right, cover me.
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
Zigzag!
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
All right, grenades. On three.
Pull!
One, two, three.
(GUNFIRE STOPS)
- Good boy. - FOLEY: I'm hit.
I'm hit!
Where'd it get you, son?
I'm hit.
You're not hit.
I'm not?
The bullet must have hit a rock or something,
bounced it off your skull.
See any blood?
(GASPS)
A rock, you think?
That's all?
COOLEY: That's all.
Okay, Sergeant, move out. Let's go.
I thought I had a Purple Heart for sure.
Funny, isn't it?
Oh, yeah. A riot.
(SHOVELS DIGGING)
My rheumatism.
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
I'm gonna have this set in bronze
and mail it to dear old Dad.
Anybody home?
Oh, you're putting in carpeting, are you?
What are you trying to do, get yourself killed?
You'd really miss me, wouldn't you?
Not at all.
When do you shingle the roof?
Why don't you go to hell?
Haven't you heard, Schumacher?
We're already there.
COOLEY: Guthrie.
There are Germans out there, Guthrie.
You remember them, don't you? Germans?
Germans. Yeah.
Well...
Call me when the moving van gets here
and I'll help you carry in your furniture.
Get the hell back to your foxhole!
I'm going, I'm going.
It's for my foxhole.
Hmm, you're learning.
Better get in it. There might be snipers around.
Hey, you better dig in.
I will.
What's that?
It's a bird.
It's dead.
See?
Poor thing.
What do you suppose killed it?
Concussion?
No.
No, it died of fright.
(SHELL WHISTLES)
(EXPLOSION)
(SHELLS WHISTLING)
Screamin' mimis!
Get down!
They're coming in.
No!
- Foley! Foley! - (SHELLS WHISTLING)
No! No! No!
- (SHELL WHISTLING) - (WHIMPERING)
(SCREAMS)
- (SHELLS WHISTLING) - (MAN SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY)
(WHISTLING AND EXPLOSIONS STOP)
- You all right? - Yeah.
Ah.
Good boy.
Where you going?
Foley went back...
Stay down here. You don't wanna see it.
I'll be right back.
What happened?
It was Foley.
He just ran away.
Just ran away, screaming and...
(SIGHS)
Well, so much for being loved.
At least he'll be mourned.
Which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for myself.
COOLEY: Second squad, over here right away.
We're being paged, Hacker.
Cheer up, Riley. The germs didn't get you after all.
Are you kidding?
Probably end up in some lousy hospital.
They got every germ there is there.
Nurses, too.
With my luck,
I'll probably get pregnant.
All right, second squad, over here on the double.
Come on!
Come on, gather round.
All right, here's the scoop.
Looks like they're getting ready to pull a big fat counterattack on us.
So what we're gonna do is pull back
to a better spot and dig in again.
That, children, is what is known
in the Army manual as a retreat.
- (MEN GROAN) - Knock it off.
There'll be hot chow waiting for us when we get there.
- Come on. - (ALL CHATTERING HAPPILY)
Food!
- (OVERLAPPING VOICES) - GUTHRIE: Eat up, Fairchild.
MAN 1: Doesn't that look good?
MAN 2: Keep the ashes out of the pot.
GUTHRIE: Got any Chinese food?
(LAUGHING)
You got any Japanese food?
May I?
Thank you.
I don't believe we've been personally introduced.
Loren Fairchild is my name.
Pleased to meet you.
I believe the Sergeant said your name was Hacker?
- Mmm-hmm. - Where you from, Hacker?
Chicago.
That right?
I'm from Pineyville, Ohio, myself.
My father runs a funeral parlor there.
I was his assistant.
You know, it's... It's downright tragic
how few people appreciate embalming.
They just don't seem to understand the craft involved.
It's an art, Hacker.
I remember one particular project my father had,
an old gentleman who had been crushed beneath the wheels
of an onrushing truck.
You wouldn't believe how little was left, Hacker.
I mean, you just wouldn't believe it.
My father stayed up nights remodeling those remains.
He had to fashion out the cheeks,
rehang the ears,
build up the nose.
It was a pulp.
I tell you, Hacker, you would have been inspired
to see that old gentleman when he finished.
He looked so natural...
And at peace.
Why, it seemed as if he had
the glow of health in his cheeks.
- He was the most... - Hack, I need a man
to help me load some ammo when you're through.
I'm through.
When do you suppose they'll attack?
When they're ready.
You don't have anything to worry about,
good shot like you.
Hey, do I have time to clean out my kit?
Sure.
Oh, Sergeant Cooley, glad I ran into you.
It saves me a trip.
This is Harris.
This is Tremont.
Aren't they beautiful?
They're all yours.
Something wrong, Sergeant?
The roster says three.
You're right.
I just remembered I forgot one.
Oh, Horton!
- Why, you dirty, miserable... - Watch it, Sergeant.
Not in front of the children. Ta-ta.
Uh, fellas, you want to start unloading this ammo?
Well, Horton, where you from?
Cincinnati.
No kidding? That's a great town.
Hey, you seen any combat?
That's all I have seen in the last two years.
Africa, Sicily, Italy, and southern France.
You name it, I've been there.
Well, am I glad to see you.
- Wish I could say the same. - (CHUCKLES)
Come on, I'll buy you a cup of coffee.
- Ow! (GROANING) - Hey, take it easy.
- What's the matter? - My ankle.
- Your ankle? - (GROANS)
- Oh, no. - What's the matter?
I don't believe it.
What did he do?
I just don't believe it!
He didn't break it? (LAUGHS)
Give me a hand with him, will you?
Give me a hand with him.
Will you give me a hand with him, huh?
- Sure. - (GRUNTING)
- Come on.
- (LAUGHS) - Shut up, Wadley!
- (LAUGHING) - Wadley, will you shut up?
- (GROANS) - I can't help it.
The first guy we give you who ain't a kid,
look what happens, he fell down, broke his ankle.
Hacker, get that truck unloaded.
Ten seconds after I gave him to you. I can't stand it.
(LAUGHING)
(LAUGHTER CONTINUES)
All right, come on.
Are we too late for chow?
Somebody said they were gonna attack soon.
- Is that right? - Yeah.
How soon?
When they're ready.
Don't get panicky.
I won't expect you to knock 'em out.
(DISTANT EXPLOSIONS)
(EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)
This is Fox 2-8.
Fire mission.
Coordinates, 3-0-5...
6-0-1.
Right 5-0.
Not yet. Not yet!
Good shooting.
Pour it on, boys. Pour it on.
Hold it!
COOLEY: Fire!
They're turning back! They're turning back, Sarge!
Hold your fire!
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
It's over, Hacker.
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
- Hacker! - (GUNFIRE STOPS)
(SIGHS)
MAN: That's it.
That's it.
I'm not hurt that bad, I tell you.
The hell you aren't. You can barely walk.
- I can walk. - Come on, buddy.
I got a job to do.
You did it, Dave. You did it.
No one could have done it any better.
Now, go home. You're out of it.
(ENGINE STARTS)
Hacker!
Sit down.
(SIGHS)
You know about Lippincott?
Yeah.
Pierce and Schumacher?
Yeah.
You're the only one left.
"Left"?
To be assistant squad leader.
Well, what about Guthrie?
I can't depend on him.
He knows his job, but he just doesn't give a damn.
Well, there's...
Nobody, Hack.
You're the only one I can count on.
Don't let me down, now.
Okay.
That's the stuff.
You're from Chicago, aren't you?
Yeah.
Folks live there now?
No, they're dead.
You're kidding.
Oh, two of a kind, then.
My folks were killed in a car wreck when I was four.
They were?
Yeah, I had to go out
and live with my aunt and uncle
in Taos, New Mexico.
That's where I live now.
At least I will when this damn war ends.
I live with my aunt and uncle, too.
No kidding.
You like your uncle?
He's all right, I guess.
A little rough around the edges.
Not bad, though.
Oh.
How do you get along with your uncle?
Oh, he thinks I'm a bum.
My father dumped me on him right after I... I was born.
That's when my mother died.
Hmm.
How about your aunt? How do you get along with her?
Oh, not too well. She...
She had a little boy that died.
And...
She doesn't really know too much what's going on,
you know? She's always, uh...
Mourning him?
Yeah. Yeah. You know?
I know.
My wife and I lost our son when he...
When he was just five.
Well...
Being my assistant makes you a corporal,
- you know that, don't you? - It does?
Keep it up and you'll be a sergeant before you know it.
What's your first name, Hack?
Everett. What's yours?
Promise you won't tell anybody?
I'll blast you if you do.
Well, my old lady got real impressed by Shakespeare
when she was lugging me around.
She was reading Hamlet.
That's your name?
What, "Hamlet"?
No. I'd settle for it, though.
No, the old lady thought Horatio was a real fine name.
Horatio?
You tell anybody...
I won't. I won't, really.
Good deal.
Now, you and I will be going on patrol after dark.
Got a little job to do. Nothing special.
German tank the air corps can't get at.
Okay.
Incidentally, son,
haven't got anything better to do when the war's over,
come on out to Taos.
We've got plenty of room.
Thank you. (CHUCKLES)
I like your style, kid.
Oh. (CHUCKLES)
Hey!
What's the matter?
Look at that!
Take a look.
- Nature's realm unsullied. - Oh, boy. (CHUCKLES)
- Until now. - What do you mean?
I intend to submerge my feet down there.
Hey, yeah, that's a good idea. Let's go.
Aren't you gonna take your shoes off?
Presently, Tremont. Presently.
Hey.
Hey, a swan. (CHUCKLES)
I believe it's a duck, Tremont.
Oh, yeah, a duck. Yeah, well, sure.
- Tremont? - TREMONT: Huh?
How'd you like to have that stuffed and roasted?
Aw, cut it out.
COOLEY: Hey!
Who the hell told you you could go down there?
You see what the sign says?
It says this slope is mined.
Mined and uncleared.
All right, I don't know how you got down there,
but you're gonna crawl back up.
Have any of you got your bayonets with you?
Well, have you?
Great.
Have any of you got a knife?
Well, what have you got, then?
(LAUGHS)
A fork.
All right, now use the fork.
Give it to Guthrie.
Me?
Oh.
You mean I'm... I'm gonna...
You got it.
Start crawling up the hill one after another.
Guthrie first.
Start probing, Guthrie!
You do remember how to probe, don't you?
Yeah, it's one of my favorite hobbies.
Well, do you?
Yes, sir. (GRUNTS)
- Not so fast, Tremont. - Oh.
Shallow angle, Guthrie.
If you hit anything, mark it and move around it.
"Mark it and crawl around it," he says.
(STUTTERS) Have you hit anything yet, Guthrie?
If I do, I'll let you know.
Huh?
- I'll faint. - (LAUGHS)
(DUCK QUACKS)
Oh, no!
Go back, duck. Don't come after us.
Duck, go away!
What if he steps on a mine?
Why are you stopping?
There's a, uh...
There's a duck following us, Sergeant.
(SOFTLY) "A duck is following us."
Well, throw something at it.
Something light.
- (QUACKING) - (RELIEVED SIGH)
All right, come on, let's go.
Keep moving, keep moving.
Probing in a minefield with a fork.
Whoever heard of such a stupid...
Stop!
- I'm stuck on something. - What?
My shoelace is caught.
(WHIMPERS)
It's Tremont, Sergeant. He's caught on something.
- Yeah. - Don't move, Tremont.
Hold still. Don't move a muscle.
- Could be a booby trap. - FAIRCHILD: Yeah.
Check it, Fairchild.
Huh?
What is it? What is it?
Huh?
(GASPING)
(WHIMPERING, GASPING)
It's your other foot!
(LAUGHS)
(CHUCKLING)
Would you all like to go back to your places now and stay there?
We certainly would, Sergeant.
That's good, I'm glad. All right, dig in!
Get in your foxholes and stay in your foxholes
till I get back from patrol tonight.
Well, what's he mad at us for?
We didn't even hit a mine.
You bragging or complaining?
(CHUCKLES)
I lost my appetite now.
(EXPLOSION)
(METAL CLANGING)
(HAMMERING)
(WHISPERS) What am I doing out here anyway?
You could have stayed with your squad
and just loaned me your grenade launcher, you know.
(WHISPERS) The hell with that. I've lost enough equipment.
From now on, I keep my eye on everything.
Knock it off, will ya?
Hey.
Would you like a receipt?
The rest of you, cover me.
When I fire, open up on 'em.
He better not lose it.
Will you knock it off?
(EXPLOSION)
(GUNFIRE)
Come on, let's go!
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
Hit the dirt!
Soon as the flare goes out, we split up.
Give me my grenade launcher first.
(RIFLE COCKS)
Sorry if I got it dirty.
Knock it off!
All right, let's go.
- (THUDS) - (MEN GRUNT)
Get some sleep, Hack.
We'll be moving out in a couple hours.
- Where are we going? - Who knows?
Forward, backward, sideways, wherever they send us.
- Get some sleep now. - Okay.
If Guthrie starts blabbing, shoot him.
All clear?
He moves on triumphant.
He's all right.
- GUTHRIE: Hacker? - He's all right.
All right, he's all right.
Everybody picking on poor old Guthrie this morning.
Cooley told you to get some sleep.
What, are you in love with that thing?
Well, since you're incommunicado, I shall read my mail.
(YAWNING) Wake up, Guthrie. The world needs you.
(PAPER RUSTLING)
(LAUGHS)
Here I sit in a hole in the ground
in the middle of nowhere, and this silly...
Wants me to ask my old man to help her meet a producer.
How's that for the backbreaker of the week?
Your dad knows a lot of big people, doesn't he?
Scads, Hacker, scads.
How come you're not an officer, then?
Because everybody knows that joining the infantry and getting killed
is the only thing a real hero can do.
You really wanna know, Hacker?
I might have had a commission in the Signal Corps.
So why didn't you?
I guess I didn't want dear old dad
to do anything else for me.
Or to me.
Listen, you really should get some sleep.
Oh, shut up.
(TAPS)
Come on, children.
- (AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE) - Hit it!
Hack, come on.
Let's see you cover us.
(GUNFIRE)
(EXPLOSION)
Cover me.
(GUNSHOTS)
(GUNSHOT)
Can't you tell he was surrendering?
- (THUDS) - Hey there, Hacker!
Hack, come here.
- Sit down. - I'm not tired.
Sit.
You all right?
There's nothing wrong with me.
Yes, there is.
I didn't see he had his hands up.
All right, we'll skip that for now.
I know it isn't easy to switch gears
in the middle of a firefight.
What I want to talk to you about is...
- Good job, Cooley. - Thank you, sir.
There's a squad leaders meeting.
Yes, sir.
Look, Hack, it's...
It's one thing to kill because it's your duty.
It's another thing to kill because you like it.
Oh, now I'm a killer?
- I didn't say... - LIEUTENANT: Cooley.
Yes, sir.
Killing's a job, Hack.
You do it, and it's over.
But you gotta know when it's over.
You gotta stop yourself.
- Or other people have to stop... - Cooley!
(GRUMBLES)
We'll talk about it later.
Caramba!
What's the matter?
Today is September 3rd, isn't it?
- Yeah. - It's my birthday.
Many happy returns of the day, Guthrie.
Thank you.
Just don't say, "Many more of the same."
I see what you mean.
Well, here's your birthday present.
You shouldn't have.
The best is none too good for you.
Here's another present for you, Guthrie.
Hey, that's just what I needed.
Mmm, speech.
Speech?
Friends, Romans...
Dog faces...
Guthrie, you're a humorist.
No, I'm an escapist.
Well, if that's being an escapist, I'd enjoy being one as well.
No, no, no, no, you're the spiritual type.
- No offense. - What type am I?
(GERMAN ACCENT) Well, let's see. You're the extroverted type.
To you, war is an adventure.
You respond in your skin und not in your heart.
- Bull. - As you say, bull, ja.
And Tremont, how would you classify him?
Tremont is our secret weapon.
We sneak him in behind "zhe" enemy lines
und he starts to eat "zheir" food.
Und within three meals, the enemy faces starvation
and is forced to capitulate.
What about Hacker?
Oh, listen, Hacker.
Here is a very special problem. Hacker.
A man in love with his rifle,
a most mysterious and highly suspect malady.
Oh, ja.
- Guthrie? - Hmm?
Oh.
Men, you better dig in.
Looks like we'll be staying here for a while.
(NORMAL ACCENT) Oh, good, we get to dig in again.
We must be extra kind to Guthrie today, Sergeant.
He's a birthday child.
Birthday child, huh?
How old are you, Guthrie, 10?
No, I'm 11.
Happy birthday. Dig in.
Hack?
Yeah?
When they've finished,
put Harris on two-hour guard duty out there.
Then Tremont, Guthrie, Fairchild, yourself,
and I'll take the last watch.
You missed my birthday party, Corporal.
Cooley bawl you out for taking a shot at the German, did he?
Look, I wouldn't let him bother you, he's just...
Oh, Horatio doesn't bother me.
Who?
"Horatio"?
You're not telling me that Cooley...
(LAUGHS)
You jest, Hacker. You jest.
- Dig! - Yes, sir.
Anything you say, little Corporal.
His name's not really Horatio.
I said dig.
Yes, sir.
These noncoms is all the same... Power mad.
"I told you to dig, confound you, boy."
"Yes, sir, I'm digging. I'm digging."
"Don't call me 'sir.'
"I'm a noncommissioned officer, you boob.
"Corporal Hacker of the light horse Marine Corps."
Oh, see Hacker.
Hacker is shooting Germans.
Shoot, Hacker, shoot! Bang, bang goes Hacker's gun.
"Ouch, ouch," go the Germans.
See them falling dead.
(GRUNTS) "Uh-oh," says Hacker.
"Look what my nice gun can do."
(GRUNTS)
I wouldn't worry about shooting that German, Hacker.
It could happen to any of us.
Hell, you get... You're all tensed up
and you can't help pulling the trigger, just like that.
None of us would kill a guy in cold blood.
Halt! Who goes there?
Hacker.
Right you are.
You're supposed to ask for the password.
I'm sorry, I forgot.
- Are you angry, Hacker? - About what?
About what Guthrie said this afternoon.
He was only joshing.
You mustn't take everything so personally, Hacker.
- We're all your friends. - Oh, but...
- Oh, Hacker. - Oh, drop it, will ya?
- Hacker, please don't... - (DISTANT EXPLOSION)
Oh, my good Lord.
(GUNSHOTS)
Hacker, shoot!
Why don't you shoot?
Hacker!
(GUNSHOTS CONTINUE)
(BREATHING HEAVILY AND WHIMPERING) Hacker...
- Fairchild... - (PANTING)
Hacker...
(GASPS, BREATHING STOPS)
Fairchild?
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
I couldn't shoot.
What?
I couldn't shoot.
And it's your fault, damn it!
You and your, "Good boy, good boy.
"Shoot the enemy, that's your job.
"Fire! Fire! Fire! No, no, don't shoot.
"No, you're a killer. Stop yourself!"
- Oh, you dirty son of a... - Stop it!
Stop it! Stop it!
Now get back to the squad. Go on.
I'll take your watch. Go on.
Soldier?
Ah. Time to go.
- Where? - To Berlin.
Coffee?
Hey, why didn't you wake me?
Cooley said to let you sleep.
Hacker, you all right?
Oh, shut up.
You're all right.
How you feeling, Hack?
He's happy as a lark.
All right. Tremont, Harris, over here.
The platoon's been ordered up
to help secure an observation post.
A farmhouse a couple miles down the road.
The Germans might try to take it back again.
They've already done it four times.
Any questions?
Who would I see about getting a discharge?
Let's get ready.
(GROANS)
Hack, you were pretty bad last night.
I'd hate to see you going into this one unprepared.
Stay with it, huh?
I'm all right.
(EXPLOSIONS)
I swear if I don't get a raise soon,
I'm gonna quit this job.
Well, here comes retreat number five.
Get ready to give them covering fire.
Fire!
Fire, Hacker! Fire!
Hold your fire! Hold it!
Squad leaders, over here.
Holy mackerel, we've only been here 15 minutes.
What are we waiting for? Let's move it.
Hey, I wonder how they're gonna serve chow.
You would.
Well...
What's the matter, Hack?
- Hack? - Nothing.
(GUNFIRE)
If there's something I can do...
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
What's with him?
What is it?
Well, Tremont's got a point. How are they gonna serve chow?
Huh?
All right, we take the house again.
We just lost the house.
So, we take it back.
And round and round she goes.
You gonna make it?
Look, I'd send you back if I could, but...
No one has to send me back.
Then wake up, I need you!
All right, let's go!
(EXPLOSIONS)
Harris, go, go!
Hacker, go.
Hack.
Back!
Now fire, damn it!
Fremont, Guthrie, go.
All right. Hacker, go. Let's go!
Reload, Hacker! Reload.
Let's go!
Up! Up!
Guthrie, cover us. Let's go!
(DISTANT GUNFIRE)
Good boy.
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
All right, break it up.
I said break it up!
Oh, it's you, Guthrie. That's all right.
New wallpaper and some curtains,
it'll be just like home again.
Oh, with Mother Tremont at the stove,
preparing to make her boys an omelet.
Show you how you do this, Tremont.
You take three eggs, you see?
Then you throw them up in the air
and you make very sure that you don't drop one,
- or two... - (YELPS)
- Because if you... - (YELPS)
That's how you make eggs a la Guthrie.
- Are you nuts? - I must be.
Show you how to do that again...
Don't you touch them.
I'm just trying to help you, boy.
(EXPLOSION)
Well, it ain't over yet.
The Lieutenant, he's dead.
- Harris, radio. - Yo!
(EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)
Wolf 2, this is Wolf 1, over.
Enemy artillery's zeroing in.
Hey, let's move him, huh?
Yes, sir. Wilco.
Out.
Let's get out of here!
Enemy tanks reported moving in.
Let's get out of here.
(EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)
Let's go.
No.
Oh!
Go! Will you go?
Go! Come on.
Let's go. Make it!
Hacker, where the hell are you...
(EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)
Get outta here.
No. Hack, don't. Get outta here.
Oh... Hack...
Hack.
Get the...
Get the hell outta here.
(GRUNTS)
Get the hell outta here, Hack.
No.
Damn it, Hack.
No.
Ah, will you go? Will you go?
(GROANS)
(EXCLAIMS IN PAIN)
I'm sorry.
Take it easy. (GROANS)
Hey, Sarge?
Sarge?
(GRUNTS WEAKLY)
Oh, for...
Hey, will you keep your eyes open?
- Hack, for God's sake... - Will you just your eyes open?
(GROANS SOFTLY)
(TANK APPROACHING)
(GUNSHOTS)
(SHELL WHOOSHES)
(FIRING CONTINUES)
Hey, Sarge, it's our guys.
Our guys are coming back, Sarge.
Hey, come on! Come on!
(GRUNTS WEAKLY)
(SIGHS)
Hey, wait!
Hey, no, wait!
Better stay put, son.
(MEN MOANING SOFTLY)
COOLEY: Hacker? Down here.
(MAN COUGHS)
- Yeah. - I'm glad to see you.
Yeah.
Yeah, how are you?
I'll be all right.
How do you feel?
I... I don't even know what's wrong with me.
(CHUCKLES WEAKLY)
What are you doing walking around?
I... I was looking for you.
Yeah?
You...
You saved my life.
I didn't do anything.
The hell you didn't.
(CHUCKLES)
You were gonna fight off the whole damn German army
to do it, too, weren't you?
Huh?
Oh, I saw you.
You thought I was out, but I wasn't.
You had your cartridge clips on the windowsill
and your grenades, and my Tommy gun and your rifle.
(CHUCKLES) What were you gonna do,
take 'em all on, tanks and everything?
No, I...
No.
I... I just knew I was gonna die.
Yeah.
Well, I... I guess you got the million-dollar wound, huh?
I guess so.
Well, I guess they'll be...
I... I guess they'll be discharging you.
What's the matter?
Oh, nothing. Nothing.
I guess you'll... Guess you'll be going home.
I don't know, Hack.
Yeah, well... Well, I...
I guess I'll be seeing you sometime again, huh?
MAN: Look out, soldier.
(GROANING)
Just a minute, medic.
(GRUNTS)
Hack?
- Yeah? - Don't forget, now...
You come on out whenever you're ready.
Taos, New Mexico.
It's T-A-O-S. Got that?
You take care, now. I'll see you.
Yeah, I will.
I will.
Hey, Sarge...
Look what we got.
Here they are.
And I threw the little ones back.
Guthrie, you're a joker. You're a real joker.
Well...
Come on, children.
- Hi. - Help me up.
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - Watch it.
Come on.
- (ENGINE REVS) - Watch yourself. There we go.
(BOTH GRUNT)
Watch.