Season 1: Episode 10: Nowhere to Run
From Bravo 3/44th
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Contents |
Overview
- Directed by
- Randy Roberts
- Written by
- Rick Husky
- Guest Stars
- Pamela Gidley ... Lt. Nikki Raines
- Clyde R. Jones ... Point Man
- Also Starring
- Tony Colitti ... Ercolani
- Ed Monaghan ... Hazzard
- Dung Nguyen ... Vietnamese Woman
- Bob Whiting ... Chaplain
- Thao Thi Nguyen ... Mama-san
- Sylvian Cho ... Vietnamese Girl
- Steve Cohen ... Intelligence Officer
- Scooter Kindle ... Corpsman
- William Le Bus ... Doctor
- Ric Groenendal ... Crewmember
- Original Air Date
- 17 December 1987
- Title Card
- In World War II, the average age of a combat soldier was 26. In Vietnam, it was 19.
Episode Summary
The responsibilities of war are heavy; the results of war are final and lasting; the pains of killing cannot be eased; and forgiveness can save a life from sure destruction. This is a story of Purcell having to deal with the death of a small child at his hand.
The reality is that there are numerous cases of men having to deal with the killing of another human being. For some, even the death of an enemy is a heavy burden. The death of the child was unavoidable, but how do you explain that to a grieving mother? You don't.
Anderson and Goldman had to find their lost sheep and bring him back into the fold. For killing instruments of war, these two leaders turned out to be caring and not too gentle shepherds. In this story, we find out that the platoon leaders not only have to know how to win a war but also how to be a mother and friend to many frightened young soldiers.
These war experiences do not fade into unseen scars. They continue to be open wounds that fester for a life time for many. The only cure for war is no war at all! (By Ernest Johnson)
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Transcript (see transcript listing)
Excerpt from scene [25:28/25:36] Found A Drunk Danny Boy
ANDERSON: Well now, how you doin' there, Percell?
PERCELL: Well, I'm doin' just great. Real fine.
GOLDMAN: We're givin' you a lift, soldier. Get it together.
PERCELL: Hey, you're wastin' your time, Lieutenant. I can't go back.
GOLDMAN: Why is that, Percell?
PERCELL: I'm getting married, ha ha ha... to ole' what's-her-name here, Brenda.
GIRL: Bren-da.
ANDERSON: I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Percell.
PERCELL: Oh, Sarge, how come?
ANDERSON: Well, 'cause I married her myself, last week, didn't I? Except your name was, um... Daphne last week, wasn't it?
GIRL: Daphne. GI want boom-boom?
ANDERSON: Now see, what'd I tell you, now, Percell? Women are very fickle creatures.
PERCELL: No, no, Sarge. See, see that woman of mine back home... that one there, she's sharp as a tack. Goin' to college--Missoula! Marchin' in peace marches--
GOLDMAN: Look, Percell, everybody's got an opinion. The point is, your little honeymoon suite here is gonna be crawling with VC after dark.
PERCELL: She thinks we're all baby killers. Ha ha ha ha ha, hell, I guess I proved that.
GOLDMAN: This is a war, people get killed, even kids. It's nobody's fault.
PERCELL: Yeah, like the boy I shot, an' that baby we left in that ville to die.
ANDERSON: All right, now, Percell. Are you gonna get up outta bed, or am I gonna have to pick you up over my back?
PERCELL: Sarge, sarge. Listen to me. You know, I really want you to be my best man with Brenda here.
ANDERSON: All right, Percell, I will be your best man. And I promise ya, honest to god, as soon as we get back to The World, I'll take you to Missoula myself, an' I'm gonna look up that little rodeo queen of yours, I'm gonna tell her what a good soldier you are.
PERCELL: No, no, dammit, no. Now! Now, I want you to be my best man, now!
ANDERSON: Percell, now you're actin' like a jackass.
GIRL: Agh!
ANDERSON: Percell, you really done it now.
SLIM: [speaking in Vietnamese] (transl: Those lunatic hooligans!)
ANDERSON: See what I mean?
Song Listing (see full series listing)
- Your Precious Love (N. Ashford/V. Simpson) Performed by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. United. Motown, 1967.
Scene: Goldman thinks back on an old flame.
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- Baby, Please Don't Go (Big Joe Williams) Performed by Them featuring Van Morrison. World of Them. Decca, 1969.
Scene: Goldman and Anderson go to the boom-boom bar and pick up Percell, his baby done gone.
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- Here Comes the Night (B. Berns) Performed by Them featuring Van Morrison. Here Comes the Night. Parrot, 1965.
Scene: Percell won't go without a fight, and here comes Slim!
- Tell It Like It Is (G. Davis/L. Diamond) Performed by Aaron Neville. Classic Blues, Vol. 2. BluesWay, 1965.
Scene: Myron and Nikki tell it, in bed.
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- Something About You (L. Dozier/B. Holland/E. Holland) Performed by The Four Tops. The Four Tops' Second Album. Motown, 1965.
Scene: Goldman and Percell head back to base. Myron and Nikki part, but remain in each other's thoughts.
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Trivia
- Goldman, Myron
- does not have a wife and kids
- Percell, Daniel
- had a girlfriend back home
- father served in Korea and was a rodeo champion
- Raines, Nikki
- has an unmarried cousin
- Ruiz, Alberto
- has a girlfriend back home
- plans to marry and have lots of kids
Favorite Quotes
ANDERSON: All right, people! Sixth floor, ladies' lingerie. You can try 'em on, but you can't wear 'em home.
GOLDMAN: Cat got his tongue.
Screenshots (see Screenshots page)
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