Thin Red Line, The (1998) Movie Script

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What's this war in the heart of nature?
Why does nature vie with itself?.
The land contend with the sea?
Is there an avenging power in nature?
Not one power, but two?
I remember my mother when she was dying.
Looked all shrunk up and grey.
I asked her if she was afraid.
She just shook her head.
I was afraid to touch the death seen in her.
I couldn't find nothing beautiful or up liftingabout her going back to God.
I heard people talk about immortality,but I ain't seen it.
I wondered how it'd be when I died.
What it'd be like to know that this breath nowwas the last one you was ever gonna draw.
I just hope I can meet it the same way she did.
With the same... calm.
Cos that's where it's hidden -the immortality I hadn't seen.
Kids around here never fight.
Sometimes.
Sometimes when you see them playing
they always fight!
- Is she afraid of me?- Little bit.
- Are you afraid of me?- Yes.
- Why?- Cos you look...
You look as an army!
- I look army?- Yes.
Well, that don't matter.
It doesn't matter.
- Baby's tired.- Yes.
If she swims, she wants, she will sleep.
All right, come on. Turn around.
Go, go, go, go. Go!
Come on, go.
Go, go, go, go!
Witt, patrol boat!
She's American.
What's it doing out here all alone?
You haven't changed at all, have you, Witt?
You haven't learned a thing.
All a man has to do is leave it to you,you'll put your head in the noose for him.
How many times you been AWOL?
Been in the army, what? Six years now?
Ain't it time you smartened upand stopped being such a punk recruit?
I mean, if you're ever gonna.
We can't all be smart.
No, we can't, and that's a shame.
Look at you.
Truth is,you can't take straight duty in my company.
You'll never be a real soldier,not in God's world.
This is C Company,of which I'm First Sergeant. I run this outfit.
Captain Staros, he's the CO, but I'm the guywho runs it. Nobody's gonna foul that up.
You're just another mouth for me to feed.
Normally, you'd be court-martialled.
But I worked a deal for ya.
Gotta consider yourself lucky.
I'm sending you to a disciplinary outfit.
You'll be a stretcher-bearer.You'll be taking care ofthe wounded.
I can take anything you dish out.
I'm twice the man you are.
In this world...
a man himself is nothing.
And there ain't no world but this one.
You're wrong there, Top.
I seen another world.
Sometimes I thinkit was just... my imagination.
Well,
then you've seen things I never will.
We're living in a world that's blowing itselfto hell as fast as everybody can arrange it.
In a situation like that all a man can dois shut his eyes and let nothing touch him.
Look out for himself.
I might be the best friend you ever had.
You don't even know it.
He hates you worse than poison.
I never felt he hated me, cos I don't hate him.
I love Charlie Company.
They're my people.
They call it "The Rock".
Nobody wants this island.Japs just put an airfield there.
Fighting's confined to this area.
This is their road to Australia, and this is theirway of controlling the sea lanes to America.
If we're gonna stop the Japs' advance into theSouth Pacific, we've gotta do it right there.
The Marines have done theirjob.Now it's our turn.
Worked myass off.
Brown-nosed the generals.
Degraded myself
for them andmyfamily.
For myhome.
- I admire you, Colonel. I do.- Thank you, sir.
Most men your agewould have retired by now.
It's OK.
We need general officerswith maturity and character like you.
We've got good sergeantsand good lieutenant colonels.
But once a man gets those eagles,he can't wait to get that star.
He becomes a politician, right?
Goes along to get along.
So goddamn hard to stay upright.
- You said it there, sir.- With the Admiral watching, which he will be.
- There's always someone watching.- Yeah.
Like a hawk.
Always someone ready to jump in,if you're not.
- D'you have a son, Colonel?- Yes, sir.
Good. We don't want our sons or grandsonsfighting this war 30 years from now, do we?
- No, sir, we sure don't.- Then you crush 'em without mercy.
You dig them out ofthe hillsand protect that airfield.
Yes, sir.
You wonder why... Why did the Japsput an airfield there of all places?
I guess we don't know the bigger picture,if there is such a thing.
- What do you think?- Well, sir, I never ask myselfthat question.
You're a humble man.
Nobody wants that island... but you.
How much do you want it?
As much as I have to, sir.
All theysacrifiicedforme
poured outlike water on the ground.
All lmighthave given forlove's sake.
Too late.
Died...
slow as a tree.
D'you feel it?
Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
Take topside to the signalbridge.
The closeryou are to Caesar,the greater the fear.
I just can't helphow damn scared I am, sarge, all right?
I can't help it. I got...
My stepdaddy took a blockand beat me when I was real little
and I was scaredand I used to run, I used to hide.
Hell, I slept in the chicken coopa whole lot of nights.
And I never thoughtit'd get no worse than that.
But I'm living by the... by the minute here.I'm counting the seconds.
Hell, we're gonna be landing soonand there's gonna be air raids.
We're probably gonna diebefore we get offthe beach.
This place is...It's like a big floating graveyard.
- What's your name, kid?- I wanna own an automobile when I get out.
- What's your name?- Edward, Edward B Train.
Train?
The only things that are permanentis, is dying and the Lord. That's it.
That's all you gotta worry about. This warain't... gonna be the end of me or you neither.
- Think we'll catch an air raid?- How in the hell should I know?
All's I know are them crew guys saidthey didn't catch no air raid the last time.
On the other hand,time before last they nearly got blew up.
What d'you want me to tell you?
You're a big help, Tills.Nothing. Tell me nothing.
Tell you something.
We're sitting out here on this oceanlike a couple offuckin' ducks in these boats.
I already know that.
Well, brood on it, Tills.
Brood on it.
- Ain't you watching the fun?- I ain't interested.
- Yeah, I guess it is pretty crowded.- Wouldn't be interested, even if it wasn't.
Well, I'm on my way to get me that pistol.
Yeah? Well, have fun.
Yeah, have fun.
You'll wish you had one once we get ashoreand run into some ofthem samurai sabres.
Open this door! Open this goddamn door!
Open the door!
You all learn to deal these cards...
All right. Here I am sleeping, yeah.
All right, ladies.Is this a sewing circle or a card game?
All right, jack's high, jack to bet.Robert's got two jacks.
I never bargained for nothing like this when Isigned up for this man's army before the war.
How was I supposed to know there wasgonna be a fuckin' war, huh? Answer me that.
All I know is Charlie Company'salways getting screwed. Always.
And I can tell you whose fault it is, too.
It's that captain of ours.
First he gets us stuck off on this boatwhere we don't know a fucking soul.
Then he gets us stuck way down in fourthplace on the list to get offthis son of a bitch.
Hello, Captain.
I read in your 201 filethat you were an officer before the war.
How'd you end up a private?
Cos of my wife.
I was in the corps of engineers.
We'd never been separated before,
not even for a night.
I took it for four months and then I quit.
Just resigned.
They sent me back to the States.
They told meI'd never get another commission.
They said they'd see to it I got draftedand that I for damn sure'd be in the infantry.
Sons of bitches.
No, I don't blame them.
Well, where is she now?
She's home.
Why shouldlbe afraid to die?
I belong to you.
Move! Move! Move!
Move! Move!
Move! Move!
Moving out!
Iflgo fiirst, I'll waitforyou there.
On the otherside ofthe dark waters.
Put your helmet on.
Be with me now.
- Feeling the pressure, Captain?- Yes, sir.
I like you, Captain.
And I just want you to know, well,we're in this thing together. All right?
Keep pressing inland till you reach the line.I'll catch up with you there.
- Yes, sir.- It's all yours, Captain.
Gangway! Gangway there!
Coming through!
Squad leaders! Both teams!
This way, son. This way, right here.
Stand by to go over the side!
Our Father, who art in heaven...
And forgive us our debts,as we forgive our debtors.
For Thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory.
Your outfit's lucky.
Transports must've been spotted.
You're getting outta here just ahead oftime.
Take a breath, mister. You gotta breathe!
- You Charlie Company?- Yeah.
We went in a mile. Nothing there.
Some oil drums.There'd be nothing there for...
- A week.- A week, sir.
No casualties. Japs must've hauled ass.
Two mortars hit the beach,but most guys came in standing up.
Darnedest thing I ever did see.
They got fish that live in trees.
If they didn't know this beach was deserted,what else don't they know?
Who are you to live in all these manyforms?
Your death that captures all.
You, too, are the sourceofall that's gonna be born.
Your glory.
Mercy.
Peace.
Truth.
You give calm a spirit,
understanding,
courage.
The contentedheart.
Get a medic here!
Maybe allmen got one big soulwho everybody's a part of.
All faces ofthe same man.
One big self.
Everyone looking forsalvation byhimself.
Each like a coal
drawn from the fiire.
We're going straight up that hill there.
- We can't do that, Colonel.- Well, there's no way to outflank it.
On the left is a cliffthat falls down into the river.
The Japanese hold the jungle.It has to be taken frontally.
What about water, sir?It's not getting up here.
My men are... passing out, sir.
Only time you worry about a soldieris when he stops bitching.
We're all gonna attack abreast.Third Platoon in reserve.
We've gotta crossthose three folds of ground. You see?
Once we get beyond that,we gotta attack that hill.
Colonel says there's no way to outflank it,so we gotta take it head-on by frontal assault.
- Whyte?- Yeah?
- See the grassy ridges at the foot ofthat hill?- Yeah.
When you get to the end ofthat field,eliminate all strongpoints on those ridges.
I'm sure the Japs got something thereto protect the approaches.
Are you here?
Let me not betray you.
Let me not betray my men.
In you I place my trust.
Rosy-fingered dawn.
You're Greek, aren't you, Captain?
D'you ever read Homer?
We read Homer at the Point.
In Greek.
What kind ofartillerysupportdo we have, sir? Over.
- Two batteries of 105s.- They won'tmake a dent. Over.
No, but it bucks the men up.It'll look like the Japs are catching hell.
OK, you guys.
This is it.
We're going down in groups often.
There's no point in going by rushes.Only make a better target stopped, so...
run all the way.
We ain't got no choice.We're picked, so we gotta go.
I'm gonna take the first bunch myself.
I want Charlie Dale with me. Dale?
You go organise them guys that's up there.
Moving out in five minutes.
Let's go.
Sico?
- What's wrong with you?- I'm sick to my stomach.
Sico, you get up now,or I'll kick you so hard you're gonna be sick.
I can't. I would if I could.
I'm sick.
I'm sick.
You ain't sick. Get up!
- What's the matter, Sico?- I don't know, Sergeant.
It's my stomach. I'm in pain, I got cramps.
I can't even sit up straight. I'm sick.
- Come on, get up!- Leave him.
I need a volunteer to carry the BAR!Drop your gear. I'm taking you to the medics.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Don't argue with me.
Good luck, Keck.
Plug that hole on your right!
Move!
Maybe they pulled out.
Hit dirt!
Hit dirt!
Calm down, calm down,calm down, calm down.
Stretcher-bearers!
Come on!
Stretcher-bearers, this way!
- Go get that man.- We already got eight or nine down there...
- Don't argue with me! Get that man!- He's not the one we should think about...
Goddamn it, all ofyou!Am I in command here or am I not?!
- Am I the captain or a goddamn private?- Others are hit bad. That's all I meant.
- I gave you an order, private!- Yes, sir!
Hello, First Sergeant.
Who we going after over here?
We think it's Jacques.
Ol' Jockey.
Well, shit. That's, that's, that's too bad.
Sir?
Sir? Sir, can I come back to the companyafter we get Jockey back to the battalion?
- OK, but you gotta get permission.- Sure. And my rifle.
Nicky! You're still alive!
Keep moving! Keep moving!
Magnificent, Staros, magnificent. The finestthing these old eyes have seen in a long time!
Beautifully conceived and executed!You'll be mentioned in battalion orders.
Young Whyte ledbeautifully.
Yes, sir. Over.
But sending in your second too was brilliant.
They may have carried the ridge. I don't thinkthey were hurt too bad. Blane led well, too.
Now, how many emplacementsdid they locate?
Did they knock any out?
We ought to have those ridgescleaned outbynoon! Over.
Hello! Hello! Staros, are you there?
Here, sir. Over.
I said, howmany emplacements did theylocate? Did theyknock any out? Over.
Children.
I don't know, sir.
What the hell do you mean, you don'tknow?How can you notknow? Over.
I'm right here behind the first swell, sir.I'm right here behind the swell.
You want me to stand up and wave? Over.
No, I can see where you are.I want you to do something.
I want you to get up thereand see what the situation is.
I want Hill 210 in my hands tonight.
Now, goddamn it,the Admiral got up at dawn for this!
Come to life up there, Staros. Out!
Move up!
Hey, Keck!
Yeah!
- We gotta get out of here.- I know it.
Blane's dead.
You're in charge.
We know you there, Yank!
Tojo eats shit!
No! Roosevelt eats shit!
I got him! I got him!
I killeda man.
Hey, Queen!
Queen, you there?
Worst thing you can do.Worse than rape.
Queen! You see them Japsleaving that left ridge?
- I killed a man. Nobody can touch me for it.- I ain't seen nothing.
Well, get your fuckin' head upand look around!
I'm serious!
I counted seven Japsleaving that left-hand grassy ridge!
I got me one of 'em.
So?
I think maybe they're pulling out.
Maybe somebodyought to go tell the captain.
You wanna be the one to do it?
You just stay put! I'm ordering you!
Down!
Stay low.
Go! Go!
Go! Go!
What do we do now?
We wait right here. Maybethey'll send us up some reinforcements.
To do what?
To capture some ofthesefucking positions around here!
- You mean you really wanna go on with this?- Hell, no. No, not no uphill charge.
If they send us reinforcements,maybe we could scout around
and locate these machine guns.
- Anyway, it's better than going back down.- Something's coming!
They're coming!
What are they doin'?
If they want to throw us out,why didn't they come in force?
Maybe they was acting on their own.
Maybe they wanted to get into nirvana.
They're coming.
Keck!
Jesus!
Oh, Jesus!
I blew my butt off!
- It's all right. It's all right.- I blew my butt off!
Lay down!
What a fucking recruit trick to pull!
- Take it easy. Take it easy.- I grabbed it by the pin!
You write my old lady. You tell her...I want her to know I died like a man.
Nobody's gonna have to write her.You'll make it.
- Don't bullshit me!- Stay down!
Hey, hey.
Have I got mud on my face?
Wipe it off. Get it off.
No!
I'll write her. I promise.
Take my canteen.There's still some water in there.
It's for the best.
I'm all messed up down there.
I can't fuck no more.
Whoa... Where am l?
Where am l?
You're gonna be all right.
Even ifyou die,you didn't let your brother down.
If you hadn't thrown yourself againstthat embankment, we'd all have been killed.
I'm cold.
I'm cold.
I'm... freezing.
You gonna write his wife?
Fuck, no.
I don't know his old lady.
That's the company commander's job. Yououtta your mind? I ain't no good at writing.
You told him you would.
I'll say anything to 'emwhen they're like that.
Somebody ought to do it.
Well, then, you write her. Yeah, you write her.
What's wrong, Jim?
There's nothing anybody can do for him.He'll die before they get him to a surgeon.
- Then I can't ask you to go out there.- Maybe I could get some morphine into him.
- Would it keep him quiet?- Not for long, but I can give him two.
And I could maybe leave himthree or four for himself.
Couldn't you give 'em to him all at once?
That's what you are.
That's all there is for us.That's us, that's us.
I lost all twelve. I lost all twelve.
All twelve of 'em.
It's insanity up there.
I told 'em what to do, I showed 'emwhere to go and I gave 'em a push.
- Somebody help!- I know you. I know you, Sergeant.
It's insane. I don't know who's in charge here,but don't let him go! Don't let him go!
I'm outta here. I'm outta here.
I'm outta here. All right, move feet.Move, move, move, move. Move, move!
I'm moving. I'm moving. I'm moving now.
Don't touch. Don't touch. Don't look at me.Don't touch. OK, I'm outta here.
All right. All right.
All right. All right.
Somebody help me!
Help me!
You gotta be quiet. I came to help you, Tella.
- OK. Calm down.- Fuck you!
I'm dying! I'm dying, sarge!
OK. Well, goddamn it, do it with less noise!
- How you gonna get me out?- I'm gonna take you back.
- Come on.- No!
Put me down! Put me down!
Leave me alone... Leave me alone.
Please, leave me alone.
Give me more. Give me more.
Give me more. Give me more.
Give me more. Give me more.
Here, Tella.
Goodbye... goodbye.
Bye, kid.
Goodbye, sarge. Goodbye.
Fortunately, Jim, the fate ofthe companydoesn't depend on one man.
Sergeant, I saw the whole thingthrough the glasses.
I'm gonna mention you in orders tomorrowand recommend you for the Silver Star.
- It's the most courageous thing...- Captain,
you say one more word to thank me,I'll knock you right in the teeth.
You mention me in your fuckin' orders,and I'll resign so fast
and leave you hereto run this busted-up outfit by yourself.
You understand?
Property!Whole fuckin' thing's about property.
What's the matter with you, Staros? Thosemen should be reinforced immediately!
What are they doing?I can see 'em through my glasses.
They're lying behind thatledge!
They shouldbe up and out,cleaning out those machine guns! Over!
I don't think you understandwhat's going on, sir.
We've had... heavy casualties.
We had a man... His gut got shot outon the slopes, sir. Created quite an upset.
Fine, fine. Now,what about those reinforcements? Over.
I have... two squads to...
First Platoon I can send up, sir. Over.
What the hell do you mean, two squads?!
Goddamn you, Staros!When I say reinforcements,
goddamn it, I mean it! You commiteverybody you have there and do it now!
Your First Platoon, too. I see 'emlying on their fat asses doing nothing.
Get a man to 'em right now with orders toattack, and move 'em by the flank to the ridge.
Then get that Second Platoon over to the hill!
Have 'em press the centre.Go straight up that goddamn hill!
Attack them right now!
Jesus, Staros! Do lhave to give youa lesson on infantry tactics
while yourmenare getting theirasses shot off?.
Colonel, I don't think you fully understandwhat is going on here.
My company alonecannot take that position, sir.
The Japs are too well dug in.They've got too much fire power.
Colonel, there's a bunker up there.
We can't see it, and it's...it's chewing my men to pieces, sir.
I request permissionfor patrol reconnaissance around
to the right of Hill 210.I believe the entire position, sir,
can be outflankedwith a manoeuvre there in force.
- No! Goddamn it, no!- Mightsave lives!
There'll be no flanking move.
Listen, Staros.You're notgonna take yourmen
around into the jungleto avoid a goddamn fight!
Do you hear me, Staros? I want you to attackright now with every man at your disposal!
Now, attack, Staros! That's a direct order!
Sir, I must tell youthat I refuse to obey your order.
- There it is, right there. See it?- I don't see it.
This is not your fault, Jim.He's ordering you to.
I again request permission for patrolreconnaissance around to the right in force.
The time, sir,... is 1321 hours, 25 seconds.
I have two witnesses here. I request thatyou do the same with witnesses there. Over.
Staros, don't pull thisguardhouse-lawyer bullshit with me!
Now, lknowyou're a goddamn lawyer!This is nota court oflaw.
This is a war. It's a goddamn battle!
Now, I want that frontal attack.I repeat my order. Over.
Colonel, I refuse to take my men up therein a frontal attack.
It's suicide, sir.
I've lived with these men for two years, andI will not order them all to their deaths. Over.
This is a very important decision, Staros.
But if you feel that strongly, maybeyou have a reason, so I'm coming down.
Go take a look.
I'm not rescinding my order to you, son,
but if I find extenuating circumstanceswhen I get there, I'll take that into account.
Now, in the meantime, goddamn it,I want you to hold on until I get there.
And, ifpossible, you get those menon the ridge outandmoving! Out.
One spot's as good as another, men.
There's no place to hide.
Just take it easy, son.Take it easy. Take it easy.
Where's... where's Fife?
Fife? He's right here, son. Fife.
Hold my hand, Fife.
Hold my hand.
I got it.
I'm dying, Fife.
Oh, Captain...
Shut up in a tomb.
Can't lift the lid.
Played a role lnever conceived.
Get that blouse on, soldier.It's not a goddamn bathing beach!
Put it on right now.
What you aiming at, son?Let's go get those son of a bitches.
Move up!
What are you doing laying down therewhere you can't see a damn thing?
Observing, sir. Just sentFirst Platoon forward to the ridge.
- How many of 'em were hit this time?- None, sir.
None? Not one?
Doesn't sound like the situationyou described to me over the sound power.
Well, it's not. The situation's changedjust in the last five minutes, sir.
Captain, you listen to me.
We're going over thereand taking everybody with us.
Do you have any more complaintsor demurrers?
- No, sir. Not now.- All right! We're gonna do things my way!
My way! You understand that, Captain?
We're taking everybody over to that ledge!We may take that ridge by nightfall!
I think the ridgeis quite a way from being reduced, sir.
Show me how to see things the way you do.
Show me how to see things the way you do.
We're just dirt. We're just dirt.
We're gonna get killed ifwe stay here.
Bell, take six men
and go see what's up there.
And we'll cover you the best we canfrom down there.
OK.
You guys, you guys, stay here. OK?
I'm going alone.
Come out.
Come out where lam.
There was a... There was a...
There's a bunker... up there.
It's five guns.
It's five guns.
That strongpoint up there,somewhere up there around those rocks,
is the key to this ridge.
Bell here is quite right.
From their knob up there, those little brownbrothers can cover the whole ofthe ground
in front ofthis position for 1,000 yards.They've left this ledge unguarded.
Now, goddamn it, that's a mistake.That's a hell of a mistake.
We need to take advantage of itbefore they see their error.
All right, all right,I know you're all pretty exhausted,
and we've had a hell of a timegetting water up here.
For that I'm sorry. I apologise to you all.
But ifwe can reduce this bunker tomorrow,I think we can take this ridge.
So I'm asking for volunteers.
Go back up there and knock it out.
Sir?
I'll be glad to go back up
- and lead the way back for a party.- Right.
- I'll go, sir.- You.
All right.
- I'd like to lead the party, Colonel.- All right, John. I was hoping you'd say that.
- You'll be in command.- I'll go, sir.
- Sir?- You.
All right, men, that's enough.Seven is plenty. Gather up.
I don't know ifyou realise the importanceof this operation, Staros.
Once our position is secured,we can move the bombers in.
That means air powerfor 1,000 miles in every direction.
Guadalcanal may bethe turning point in the war.
- It'll cost lives. Is that what's troubling you?- No, sir.
I explained to youthe importance ofthis objective.
How many men do you think it's worth?How many lives?
I can't say, sir.
Are you prepared to sacrifice the livesof any ofyour men in this campaign?
How many? One? Two?
Twenty?
Lives will be lost in your company, Captain.
And ifyou don't have the stomach for it,now is the time to let me know.
No, sir. You're right...about everything you said.
Fine, fine.
That's all, Captain.
One more thing, Staros.
It's not necessary for youto ever tell me that you think I'm right.
Ever.
We'll assume it.
Dismissed.
I feel sorry for you, kid.
- Yeah?- Yeah, a little.
This army's gonna kill you.
If you were smart, you'd take care ofyourself.There's nothing you can do for anybody else.
You're just running into a burning housewhere nobody can be saved.
What difference do you think you can make?One single man in all this madness.
If you die, it's gonna be for nothing.
There's not some other world out therewhere everything's gonna be OK.
There's just this one.
Just this rock.
Go ahead! Come on, come on.
Who's deciding who's gonna live?
Who's deciding who's gonna die?
This is futile!
Look at me!I stand right up here and not one bullet.
Not one shot!
Why?
How come they all had to die?
I can stand right here, I can stand right upand nothing happens to me!
We.
We together.
One being.
Flow together like water,
till I can't tell you from me.
I drink you.
Now.
Now.
You're my light.
My guide.
John, I'll be behind you.If you wanna break through, we'll come after.
We'll charge at your whistle signal.
All right, let's go, men. Go get 'em.
OK.
Stay down, below this ledge,
and I'll call down the data from above.
Once the 81s have plastered that rock...as much as possible,
we're gonna crawl outalong that big rock for cover
and then flank 'em to the right.
OK?
OK. OK.
Azimuth 1470... from Easy Roger 7.
Uncle Baker 1, fire mission.
Azimuth 1470 from Easy Roger 7.
Left 100, add 200.
Machine gun. Will adjust. Over.
Understand. 1470 from EasyRoger 7.
Left 25, drop 50!
Left 25, Uncle Baker 1.
Left 25, drop 50.
Fire for effect. Over.
Roger, Uncle Baker 1.
Let's go!
OK, we're gonna continue onup the hill to the right.
Nobody fire or throw the grenadestill I give the signal.
OK, let's do it.
Is he OK? ls he all right?
What we gonna do? Can't take him with us.
- No, we can't leave him here.- He's from your platoon. You stay with him.
We can leave him and pick him upon the way back,... if he's still alive.
- Is he dead?- Not yet.
Dale, stay with him!Cover our flank! Move!
Behind you!
We're pinned down!
Fall back!
Go!
Watch out.
Clear!
Come on. Get out.
Go on.
Think you're soldiers?
You piece of shit!
Son of a bitch!
Son of a bitch!
All right?
I shot a man.
Stinks around here.
- All these dead people.- Put a cigarette up your nose.
Look at 'em move!
Look at 'em move!
We got 'em on the run!
Way to go, John. When they saw youmake that attack and win,
you put their hearts back into them.
- Hey, hey!- Don't do that, soldier.
Take care ofthe others. G-2 will want them.There'll be somebody around before long.
We've wasted enough time here. Let's go.
Sir, I've a few recommendationsfor decorations.
Yes. We'll get everything for all of 'emthat we can, but later.
Meantime, I want you to know I'm personallyrecommending you for something, John.
Perhaps the big one.
- Thank you, sir, but I don't feel...- Yes, you do, John.
Getting it for youwill be the goddamn problem!
But, hell, it'd be a big thing for the battalionand the regiment, ifyou did get it.
We better move out.
We need to extend our lines, hook up withthe other companies and push on to the top.
Would you like to take commandof Baker Company?
Of course.
Sir, I don't mean to be a wet blanket,but about the water. Ifwe don't get water...
Don't worry about water.
John, I don't want anything to break up thisattack of ours now we have the momentum.
We'll have some water in a... couple of hours.
I've arranged for that.
Now, we just can't stop now, goddamn it,and wait for it.
No, sir.
That's right.
And if some ofthe men... pass out,why, hell, they'll just have to pass out.
All right.
They could...
- They could die from it.- They could die from enemy fire, too!
They're all tough boys.
Come on, men, let's go! You'll seeplenty more ofthose where we're going!
Are we going up this hill or aren't we?
John, I'm convinced thatthe Japanese position can be broken now.
All we have to do is keep going and we'llhave this hill. We'll have this hill by sundown.
You see the spirit in these men?D'you see the new spirit?
Well, I want to take advantage ofthat beforesomething happens to sap their strength.
To have this battalion relieved in a defeat,
or even to have it reinforcedfrom troops from the reserves,
if we were to stallbefore reaching the top, well,
Jesus Christ, that's justa hell of a lot more than I could stand!
I've waited all my life for this.
I've worked, slaved, eaten... oh, untoldbuckets of shit to have this opportunity!
And I don't intend to give it up now.
You don't know what it feels liketo be passed over.
I mean, you're young.You're just out ofthe Academy.
You're, you know, you've got your war!This 15 years, this is my first war!
John, some day you'll understand.
You're like a son to me, John.
You know what my son does?
He's a bait salesman.
You've done a hell of ajob, John.
I'm gonna make sure that you get everything,everything that you deserve.
Thank you, sir.
God...
Goddamn it! I want three runners!
Get me three runners!
You go back to the rear to find water
and get back here with it as fast as you can!
We attack in one hour!We'll throw everything we got at 'em.
We're going all the way! Nothing'll stop us.
It's high ground by nightfall!
You seen many dead people?
Plenty.
They're no different than dead dogs,
once you get used to the idea.
They're meat, kid.
Are you righteous? Kind?
Does your confiidence lie in this?
Are you lovedbyall?
Know thatl was, too.
Do you imagine your sufferings will be lessbecause you loved goodness?
Truth?
Get fucking on the ground!Get down! Get down!
Get down. Stay there.
Get on the ground!Get on the fucking ground!
Now!
This great evil.
Where's it come from?
How'd it steal into the world?
What seed, what root did it grow from?
Who's doing this?
Who's killing us?
Robbing us of life and light.
Mocking us with the sightof what we might have known.
Does our ruin benefit the Earth?
Does it help the grass to growor the sun to shine?
Is this darkness in you, too?
Have you passed through this night?
I'm gonna sink my teeth into your liver.
You're dying.
See them birds up there?
You know they eat you raw?
Where you're going,you're not coming back from.
What are you to me?
Nothing.
Have a seat here.
Staros, I'm relieving you ofyour command.
Lieutenant Band will take over for you.
I already told him.
It's a hard thing to do.
Difficult decision to make.
I don't think you're tough enough.
You're too soft. You're just too softhearted.You're not tough-fibred enough.
Anyway, it's my decision to make.I've already made it.
I don't like to see my men get killed, sir.
Have you ever had anyonedie in your arms, sir?
Have you?
I don't see any reasonto make a scandal out ofthis.
I don't want it in the records ofthe battalion.There's no reason for you to have it on yours.
This has nothing to do withcowardice or inefficiency.
Look at this jungle.
Look at those vines, the way they twinearound the trees, swallowing everything.
Nature's cruel, Staros.
I'm going to let you apply for reassignmentto the Judge Advocate General Corps
for reasons of ill health.
You're a lawyer.
- You had malaria yet?- No, I haven't.
Doesn't matter. I can fix that.
Anyway, you probably will have it.
I'm also recommending youfor the Silver Star.
And I'll recommend it in such a wayit definitely won't be refused.
Might as well have the Purple Heart, too.
Why?
Because of that scratch on your faceand because of those cuts on your hands.
Listen to me, Staros.
I think it's best you go back withthe next batch of wounded and prisoners.
It is no goddamn good for youto keep hanging around.
The quieter we keep this,the better it'll be for all.
This is from Colonel Tall.
"Our victory gives usthe highest reasons for pride."
"lt will prove a milestonein the battle for Guadalcanal."
"Tomorrow the division commanderwill arrive to make an inspection ofthe line."
"After the inspection we're to be relieved by abattalion of the division's reserve regiment."
"l've secured for the battaliona week's rest offthe line."
That's all.
Hours like months.
Days like years.
Walked into the golden age.
Stood on the shores ofthe New World.
I would've come byand paid you guys a visit,
but...
I just felt like being alone, you know?
Yeah?
We wanted to thank you, sir.
For asking to make that flanking move.
For watching out for us.
Keeping us together.
We're all sorry to see you go.
We feel like you got a rotten deal.
Well, I'm not sure that you're right.
Tough part is...
not knowing ifyou're doing any good.
That's the hard part.
But it doesn't matter. I don't care.
I'm glad to be going.
I'm glad.
- There's still time. We could file a complaint.- For what?
What good would that do?
Anyway, I wanna go.
Leave it alone. Let it lay.
What does that mean, sir?
It means "You've been like my sons".
You are mysons.
My dearsons.
You live inside me now.
I'll carryyou whereverlgo.
Can't nothing make you forgetit.
Each time you startfrom scratch.
War don't ennoble men.
It turns 'em into dogs.
Poisons the soul.
My dear wife,
you get something twisted out of yourinsides byall this blood, filth, and noise.
I wanna stay changeless foryou.
I wanna come back to youthe man I was before.
How do we get to those othershores?
To those blue hills.
Love.
Where does it come from?
Who lit this flame in us?
No war can put it out,
conquer it.
I was a prisoner.
You setme free.
No matter how much training you got,
how careful you are,
it's a matter of luckwhether or not you get killed.
Makes no difference who you are,or how tough a guy you might be,
if you're in the wrong spotat the wrong time, you're gonna get it.
I look at that boy dying,
I don't feel nothing.
I don't care about nothing any more.
Sounds like bliss.
I don't have that feeling yet.
That numbness.
Not like the rest of you guys.
Maybe cos I knew what to expect.
Maybe I was just frozen up already.
I haven't touched another womansince I was called up.
Or talked to one.
I don't wanna...
I don't wanna feel the desire.
All right. Abrahams!
Abrahams. Here you go.
Stack! Where's Stack?
Bring him out.
Bell?
Bell!
Another one for Bell. Another one for Bell.
Dear Jack,
I've met an AirForce captain.I've fallen in love with him.
I wanta divorce to marryhim.
I know you can say no,but I'm asking you anyway,
out of the memory of what we had together.
Forgive me.
It just got too lonely, Jack.
We'll meet again some day.
People who have been as close as we've beenalways meetagain.
I have no right to speak to you this way.
I can'tstop myself.
A habitso strong.
Oh, my friend of all those shining years.
Help me leave you!
What's your name?
We were a family.
How'd it break up and come apart?
So that now we're turned against each other.
Each standing in the other's light.
How did we lose the good that was given us?
Let itslip away?
Scatter it careless?
What's keeping us from reaching out?
Touching the glory?
I'd have had you, Witt, ifyou was a Jap,
Iong ago.
They leave you here?
Yup.
I slowed 'em up.
Don't mind, really.
The medic fixed me up pretty good.
I got plenty of ammo.
Somebody'll be along for me eventually.
- They got you good.- Right in the knee.
Yeah.
I'm out ofthis war for good, Witt.
- What you doin' down here?- Just, you know,
I'm heading back to the company.
Yeah.
Well, you give all them boys my best.
You can come with me if you want.
I'll help you along.
No, it's nice and quiet.
Peaceful up here.
I'd just slow you up.There'll be somebody along.
I'll remind 'em.
OK.
Hey, Witt.
Who you making trouble for today?
What d'you mean?
Well, isn't that what you like to do?
Turn left when they say go right?
Why are you such a troublemaker, Witt?
You care about me, don't you, Sergeant?
I always felt like you did.
Why do you alwaysmake yourself out like a rock?
One day I can come up and talk to you,
by the next day it's like we never even met.
Lonely house now.
You ever get lonely?
Only around people.
Only around people.
You still believing in the beautiful light,are you?
How do you do that?
You're a magician to me.
I still see a spark in you.
One man looks ata dying birdandthinks there's nothing but unansweredpain.
But death's got the fiinal word.
It's laughing athim.
Another man sees thatsame bird,
feels the glory.
Feels something smiling through him.
We need to get out of here right now.
- You explain to... headquarters the situation?- No.
Do they know where we are?Cos we're sitting ducks out here.
Well, I think that's...up to me to judge, Sergeant.
I think we just need to send somebodyup there and find out how close they are. OK?
It's easy.
Hey, Weld...get headquarters on that thing.
The fire's coming closer, sir.
Line's cut!
We need to send somebody out thereto find out where that line is being cut.
And we need to find out how close they are.
Come on.
OK. OK.
Hey, you.
You go.
You're going, Fife.
Coombs. You go, too.
Come on!
I'll go. I want you to knowI think the whole thing's a bad idea, though.
If they come down here in any strength,Lieutenant, they'll knock our position to hell.
You don't have to go. Others'll volunteer.
No, I wanna go, sir. In casesomething bad happens, I wanna be there.
All right. You stay by the river.
That jungle's too thick. And be very careful.
I will.
Good luck, Witt.
You OK, Fife?
A reinforce battalion.
We need to go back.
Tell the lieutenant.
Let's go.
I'm hit!
One of us needs to stay here and hold 'em off.
We'll be all right.
My friend here doesn't have long,
so... you go.
You go on ahead.
Witt!
They're coming.
I gotta go. I don't want you to be afraid.
Just hide out here till you hear firing,then push on down the river.
No.
- Where's Coombs?- Get back. Get back, they're coming.
Fall back.
Where's Witt? Fife, where's Witt?
Fife, where's Witt?
Fife. Fife, where's Witt?
America.
Where's your spark now?
Now, I know you men have beenmaking and drinking this goddamn swipe.
That's OK by me.
Everything a lie.
Any man in my outfitcan get as drunk as he wants to every night.
Everything you hearandsee.
As long as he's in shape to make reveilleand carry out any assignment given.
If he can't do that,he's gonna have trouble from me.
- So much to spew out.- I prefer to think of myself as a family man,
and that's what we all are here,whether we like it or not.
We are a family.
I'm the father.
Guess that makesSergeant Welsh here the mother.
Theyjustkeep coming, one afteranother.
That makes you all the children in this family.
Now, a family can have only one head,and that is the father.
Father's the head, mother runs it.That's the way it's gonna work here.
- If any ofyou wanna see me about anything,- You're in a box.
- anything at all,- A moving box.
you will find that I am available.
This war is not gonna be overby next Christmas.
It's gonna be a long timebefore we get home...
They wantyou dead.
Or in theirlie.
Only one thing a man can do.
Find something that's his.
Make an islandforhimself.
Iflnevermeetyou in this life,
Iet me feel the lack.
A glance from your eyes,and mylife willbe yours.
Somethin' I can come back to.Some kind offoundation.
I mean, I don't know what, you know,what your plans are, but...
I'm determined now.I've been through the thick and thin of it.
You know, I may be young,but I've lived plenty of life.
I'm ready to start living it good.
You know, my daddy always told me it'sgonna get a lot worse before it gets better.
You know, cos life ain't supposed to bethat hard when you're young.
Well, I figure after thisthe worst is gonna be gone.
It's time for things to get better.That's what I want.
That's what's gonna happen.
I'm getting older now.
By no means old, but older.
Where is it that we were together?
Who were you thatllived with?
Walked with?
The brother.
The friend.
Darkness from light.
Strife from love.
Are they the workings ofone mind?
The features ofthe same face?
Oh, mysoul,
Iet me be in you now.
Look out through my eyes.
Look outat the things you made.
All things shining.