Transcript: (1x15) Soldiers
From Bravo 3/44th
Directed by: Bill L. Norton
Written by: Rick Husky
See the Episode Guide
[1:40] The Tale Of Two Choppers
ANDERSON: Redwing, this is Zebra. I've got you visual, over.
REDWING: Roger, Zebra. LZ your November Echo.
ANDERSON: Roger that, I'm poppin' smoke your eight o'clock. You identify.
REDWING: Roger, Zebra. We're comin' to get you. Got your smoke in sight.
ANDERSON: That's right, you've got good eyes. Now, come on, get us outta here.
[2:17] Mama Said They'd Be Days Like This
RUIZ: Yeah, mama told me there'd be days like this.
PERCELL: I can handle today as long as I know there's gonna be a tomorrow.
PERCELL: Damn.
TAYLOR: Medic! Medic!
ANDERSON: Let's get outta here; we're sitting ducks right here! Come on, get your wounded man. Let's go, go, go!
SOLDIER: Move, move!
SOLDIER: Give us some cover fire, come on!
SOLDIER: Watch your back, watch your back!
SOLDIER: Go!
SOLDIER: Move, move!
[2:23] Meanwhile Back At Ladybird
TAYLOR: Man, I can already taste the sweet lips of those sexy little mamas of Bangkok.
ANDERSON: Yeah, how the three of you all manage to get R & R together in Bangkok, anyway?
RUIZ: It's sorta like the Miss America contest, Sarge, only this was to select the three handsomest boys in the platoon to represent the fighting forces in Bangkok.
PERCELL: Crummy job, but someone's gotta do it.
[3:48] Goldman Has Bad News
GOLDMAN: Percell.
PERCELL: Sir?
GOLDMAN: I just got a telegram from the Red Cross. Your father's in a hospital in Honolulu.
PERCELL: Hospital?
GOLDMAN: Yeah. He had a heart attack. Now, look... Now, the Red Cross arranged an emergency leave for you. You better go get your trash, pack it up. There's a chopper going back to the rear. You better hustle if you wanna make it.
PERCELL: Okay. Thank you, sir.
GOLDMAN: Yeah.
[4:20] Touchdown In The Land Of Lei
PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM: Doctor Lydon, please call Cardiology. Doctor Lydon, please call Cardiology.
PERCELL: Excuse me. I'm looking for a patient.
1st NURSE: Uh, Vietnam? Uh... Ward, third floor.
PERCELL: You have guys from the 'Nam here?
1st NURSE: Isn't that why you're here?
PERCELL: Uh, no. No, the patient I'm looking for had a heart attack, he came in through emergency.
1st NURSE: Oh. He have a name?
PERCELL: Percell, Jack Percell.
[4:58] Taylor and Ruiz Wants To Go Too
RUIZ: Hey, Sarge.
ANDERSON: What's going on? I thought the two of you'd be in Bangkok with a woman on your arm by now.
RUIZ: That's what we want to talk to you about.
TAYLOR: Yeah, we figured with Percell goin' through what he's goin' through, it wouldn't be right, you know?
ANDERSON: Now, wait. Why do I get the feeling there's more to all this comin'?
RUIZ: We wanna change our R & R, Sarge.
ANDERSON: What do ya mean, "change it?"
TAYLOR: Change it, Sarge. We wanna go to Honolulu instead.
ANDERSON: Look, Taylor, you know you can't do that. I mean, come on. You put in for R & R months in advance. It comes down from higher up, a seat on a specific flight on a specific day.
TAYLOR: Yeah, we know that, Sarge, but we figured an emergency situation... You know, a sarge like you... You might be able to pull some strings.
RUIZ: Yeah, Sarge. Percell's in Hawaii; he needs our support. That's where we oughta be, Sarge.
ANDERSON: Give me a break.
[5:39] Pappa Percell Ain't Well
PERCELL: Excuse me.
2nd NURSE: Yes.
PERCELL: Ma'am, this is my father and I was wondering if my mother was here. See, he was here for a rodeo, I figured she'd be with him. So he's gonna be okay, isn't he?
2nd NURSE: Doctor's in Emergency. I'll ask him to stop by.
PERCELL: Ma'am, about my mom?
2nd NURSE: The young lady who was with your father just left, been with him thirty-six hours straight. But, uh, she didn't look quite old enough to be your mother.
[6:39] Danny Here We Come!
RUIZ/TAYLOR: ???
TAYLOR: Thanks, Sarge!
GOLDMAN: You let 'em know you're with the 196th, now!
RUIZ/TAYLOR: Yeah, we love ya! See ya! Aloha!
GOLDMAN: Oh God, sending those two guys into Honolulu with all those round-eyed women is just askin' for trouble.
ANDERSON: Yeah, it's like lettin' a couple o' coyotes loose in a rabbit hutch.
[7:05] Aging Rodeo Star's Bedside
DOCTOR: Sorry. I know you've been waiting. He's stable, in reasonable shape under the circumstances.
PERCELL: How'd it happen?
DOCTOR: He was thrown from a horse, broke a few ribs. The shock apparently led to cardiac arrest.
PERCELL: Well then it's pretty serious?
DOCTOR: Oh yes. It could have been fatal, if Miss Garrett hadn't gotten him here fast. He's been in and out of consciousness, but he's monitored, so we're aware of his condition.
PERCELL: He's gonna be okay, isn't he?
DOCTOR: It's too early to tell. Why don't I check back later?
JESSIE: Thank you.
[7:53] Where Is My Mother?
JESSIE: I left the, uh, the hotel room number here in case—
PERCELL: Where's my mother?
JESSIE: Montana. I'm Jessie, Jessie Garrett.
PERCELL: My mother's not coming because you're here, right?
JESSIE: Uh... Uh, Danny, your mother and father have been separated for the last eight months, and that's how long we've been together, Jack and me.
PERCELL: Why didn't he write me?
JESSIE: Oh, I'm sure he didn't want to hurt you.
PERCELL: Hurt? Since when has he cared about how much I hurt? The man's lived his whole life for himself. Booze and honky-tonks.
JESSIE: Hey, he loves you, and I'm sure you care about him or you wouldn't be here.
PERCELL: Yeah, well, that's a matter of opinion, lady.
[9:02] Support Team Has Arrived
RUIZ: Man, I feel naked without my helmet. Lightheaded.
TAYLOR: What is this orientation crap? We gotta go to some lecture on how to act in civilization?
RUIZ: Hey, it's just a couple of hours, that's all. You pick up a folder on local activities, what to do if we get arrested, like that.
TAYLOR: I see. What, do they think we're animals just crawled out of some jungle— Rawrrr! Lord have mercy! Look at that, Roo, look at that.
RUIZ: Miniskirts, man. Is that too much or what?
TAYLOR: Oh man, her... The legs, they... They go all the way up.
RUIZ: Yeah, on a clear day you can see forever. Come on, we're gonna miss our bus.
TAYLOR: It's been so long since I had sex, I forget who gets tied up.
TAYLOR: How ya doin', fella?
[9:51] Honolulu Sick Bed Again
JESSIE: He's gonna be pleased you made it. Was it difficult? Getting here, I mean.
PERCELL: Caught a supply chopper at Chu Lai as soon as I heard.
JESSIE: Bet you were glad to get out of there, huh?
PERCELL: No, I love it over there. I love wastin' people and seein' my buddies die by the dozen.
JESSIE: Look, Danny, um, I am not some rodeo bimbo groupie, alright? So don't talk to me that way. I know soldiers are dyin' out there. I think it's wrong. I'm sorry.
PERCELL: Look, don't be. I didn't mean to pop off like that. Can I get you a cup of coffee?
JESSIE: No. No, thank you. Why don't you go get some air? I'll come find you when he wakes up.
PERCELL: You know, he almost bought the farm in Korea. He's been in more barroom brawls than any man has a right to. Now he's layin' flat on his back 'cause he's still tryin' to act nineteen.
JESSIE: That's just Jack livin' life the only way he knows how.
PERCELL: When I was growin' up he wasn't around much. If he was to die right now, I'm not certain how I'd feel.
[11:30] Trouble Thy Name Is Taylor and Ruiz
RUIZ: Keep the change.
TAYLOR: Lookin' fine, ladies, lookin' fine. Moves that'd make a grown man cry.
LESLIE: Soldiers?
TAYLOR: You got that right. Protecting your every freedom from communist aggression.
LESLIE: Well we appreciate that. Keep up the good work.
TAYLOR: Oh we'll do that, we will.
RUIZ: Ah, chicks like that just yankin' your chain, Taylor. You couldn't get close to that if you were Audie Murphy.
TAYLOR: Yeah, well, if Audie Murphy would've had my flash and talked my trash, he'd have made better movies.
PASSERSBY: You alright, fellas? . . . You alright? . . . What are they doing on the ground?
[12:30] Hospital Coffee Machine
RUDY: Hey, don't waste your dime. Next floor's the only machine that works.
PERCELL: You been in country?
RUDY: What's it look like?
PERCELL: Which outfit?
RUDY: What difference does it make?
[13:17] Your Room, Boys
BELLMAN: You'll like these accommodations. You're overlooking the pool.
TAYLOR: Well it's guaranteed to beat our last accommodations, I'll assure you that.
NEWS CORRESPONDENT [on TV]: ...and US forces have had to move in inches rather than yards—
BELLMAN: Sorry, the maid must have left it.
TAYLOR: Leave it, leave it.
RUIZ: Hey, where can we get some clothes?
BELLMAN: Men's shop should have whatever.
NEWS CORRESPONDENT [on TV]: So for the third straight day, the men of Charlie Company have tried to take this hill in some of the fiercest fighting we have yet seen in Vietnam. This nameless hill, outside a nameless hamlet, held by the North Vietnamese Regular Army—
RUIZ: Oh, wow, man.
NEWS CORRESPONDENT [on TV]: —has been a strategic objective.
TAYLOR: Hey, Roo, they're talkin' about south of Chu Lai. That's where our guys are.
BELLMAN: Must be forty miles of bad road down there.
NEWS CORRESPONDENT [on TV]: The casualties have been high, but the word has come down from above. This hill will be taken, no matter what the cost.
BELLMAN: I believe in peace, myself. Well, if you need anything...
NEWS CORRESPONDENT [on TV]: This is Frederick Danson with the 196th Infantry Brigade, south of Chu Lai.
[14:20] Casualties Of War Ward
ORDERLY: Let me get that for ya.
HAROLD: I was with the Big Red One. We was assigned to secure Highway 13 for a supply convoy, when we run into a hornet's nest.
PERCELL: NVA?
HAROLD: VC main force. LT from One radioed for airstrikes to help us out, but the F-100s dropped their napalm short.
PERCELL: You mean on our own troops?
HAROLD: Yeah. By the time the smoke cleared, half my outfit was ready for body bags. The other half was runnin' and screamin', fatigues burnin' off of us. I got me a Purple Heart for my trouble, delivered by a desk jockey from Brigade. Thought it'd make a good photo opportunity.
PERCELL: Why'd they call the strike in so close?
HAROLD: Close battle, close call. Zoomies said they missed us by only fifty meters, that's all. At least that's what they told us. But what am I gonna do? Write my congressman?
PERCELL: Hey, look, I, uh...
HAROLD: You don't know what to say to me at all, do you? You chokin' up.
PERCELL: I guess I don't know what to say except... Hey, man, I'm sorry.
HAROLD: My mother's flyin' in to see me, all the way from Georgia, but I won't see her 'cause I don't want her to see me like this.
PERCELL: Can I— Is there anything you want? Can I get you anything?
HAROLD: Yeah, sure, sunshine. How about a new face?
[18:30] Here's Your Rosary
RUDY: He don't need your sympathy, man. So why don't you just get the hell outta here?
PERCELL: Here.
RUDY: Whatever it is, I don't wanna hear it, pal.
PERCELL: I just wanna know if the guy was—
RUDY: Harold. He's got a name, man, and it's Harold.
PERCELL: Is he gonna be okay?
RUDY: They gave him last rites twice. If he makes it, what kind of future do you think he's got?
PERCELL: What about you?
RUDY: You're lookin'. You can see. I did my duty, served my purpose, and now they toss me on the scrap heap.
PERCELL: How'd it happen to you? How did you get hit?
RUDY: It happened when I made the stupidest mistake of my life. I enlisted. Anything after that's my own fault.
[19:41] Pappa Percell Is Awake
JESSIE: He's been askin' for ya.
JACK: Like hell I have.
JESSIE: Don't listen to him, Danny.
PERCELL: Always a tough guy, huh?
JACK: I used to be tough. War eats tough guys up. You a tough guy, Danny? A killing machine?
PERCELL: No. No, I'm just a grunt doin' my best to get the job done.
JACK: When I went in, I was lean and mean and hungry for a fight, too dumb to be afraid of anything else. But I found out that the only glory in war is surviving.
PERCELL: Vietnam, it's a... It's a whole different kind of war. A lot more complicated than I had thought when I joined up.
JACK: That's what they told us about Korea. That it was a police action, too, not a war. Somebody forgot to tell the Chinese. It's good to see you, boy. Can you stay?
PERCELL: I got emergency leave.
JACK: When can I get out of here?
JESSIE: Are you crazy? You almost died.
JACK: Old soldiers never die. That right, Daniel?
PERCELL: What about old cowboys?
JACK: You got something against cowboys? You used to be one.
PERCELL: No, I used to be a kid playin' at bein' a cowboy. You know, there's a difference between bein' a kid and playin' games, and being fifty-something years old and playin' at bein' a kid.
JACK: Where's my damned doctor?
PERCELL: Dad, we gotta talk.
JACK: Oh? You gonna talk me to death like your mother tried to do?
PERCELL: I just wanna know why you didn't let me know what was goin' on.
JACK: And I wanna know, dammit, if I'm gonna live or die.
[21:33] Breezeway Conference
JESSIE: Look, I don't expect you to understand any of this. Jack and I have somethin' together. I don't wanna lose it.
PERCELL: Did he tell you how many times he left my mother and me? Just left us flat?
JESSIE: Alright, that may be, but he's got a lot of good in him. I mean, he used to be a war hero, remember?
PERCELL: He won't let me forget.
JESSIE: Danny, you wanna keep beatin' the past to death, man, go ahead. Jack is so proud of you. All he talks about is you.
PERCELL: Yeah, well, maybe he should have practiced talkin' to me, 'cause as it stands now, I don't have any idea who that man is or what he's about.
JESSIE: Maybe we can fix that.
PERCELL: You fix it. I've had my turn. Hey, I can't get through to him, and he can't get through to me. So the hell with it, I'm going back to the war.
[22:36] Danny Discovers His Pals
TAYLOR: ...where she was going— Danny!
RUIZ: Hey, Danny, how ya doin'?
PERCELL: What are you guys doin' here? You're supposed to be in Bangkok.
RUIZ: Bangkok can wait, man.
TAYLOR: Yeah, we figured you might need a little immoral support here. How's your dad?
PERCELL: Oh, he's, he's okay.
TAYLOR: You sure everything's copacetic?
PERCELL: Oh man, I tell you, I ain't sure about a lot of things.
[23:04] Out On The Town
PERCELL: I came 'cause I wanted him to know that no matter how bad he'd blown it, I still had some feeling left.
RUIZ: Man, my old man split when I was still suckin' on a nipple. Last I heard he was shacked up with some bimbo in Puerto Rico.
TAYLOR: You know, Danny, maybe there was circumstances then, you know?
PERCELL: Oh right, Marcus. It's all a bad movie like the 'Nam and it'll all be over when the lights come up.
TAYLOR: I just mean maybe you ought to talk to him some more, find out where he's comin' from.
PERCELL: After what he did to my mother, I'd rather try and sandpaper a bobcat's butt in a phone booth.
RUIZ: Hey, can you wait, man? Meter off?
JOE: Sure, sure. Servicemen, huh?
RUIZ: Yeah, how d'ya know?
JOE: Shoes and socks, black and black. Dead giveaway, no matter how duded up you get. Don't let 'em rip you off in there, huh?
TAYLOR: Alright, Joe.
TAYLOR: Ooow!
RUIZ: Hey, baby, come here, baby.
TAYLOR: Do you like soldiers? Woo!
TAYLOR: Man, let's go!
[24:00] Tattoo Anyone?
LEONARDA: There's an art to this, you know.
RUIZ: Yeah, I guess so.
LEONARDA: What you got on your mind, sugar?
RUIZ: I don't know. Somethin' that suits my personality.
TAYLOR: That would be an extinguished light bulb, ma'am.
LEONARDA: "Mother" is a real popular item.
RUIZ: Oh, come on, something with a little more style.
PERCELL: Yeah, yeah, he needs somethin' like, "Live fast, die young, and try and leave a pretty corpse."
RUIZ: Alright, how about "Born to Kill?"
LEONARDA: What are you? Some kinda Hells Angel or somethin'?
RUIZ: I'm a soldier.
LEONARDA: That figures. Cash. No credit. You want extras, it's gonna cost you.
RUIZ: Extras?
LEONARDA: I also do windows, honey.
[25:00] Born To Kill
???: Come on.
TAYLOR: Oow! Leonarda da Vinci, Joe. Check it out.
JOE: Hey, hey, Leonarda the friendly type, now.
RUIZ: Man, if she was any friendlier, we could've got arrested.
JOE: Where to, fellas?
PERCELL: Wine, women, and song, Joe. Wine, women, and song.
JOE: Hey, like Sinatra says, "whatever gets you through the night."
RUIZ: You wanna check out my tattoo?
[25:42] Philosophy And Disco
TAYLOR: You know, my grandmama raised me. The main thing she taught me? Ain't nuthin' positive came out of a negative thought.
RUIZ: That's right. You know, you gotta go back, Danny. You gotta get yourself straight with him, man.
PERCELL: Oh, what's gonna make this time any different than the last six or seven disappointments?
TAYLOR: He's blood, man. You gotta respect that.
RUIZ: You know, one thing's sure. These people aren't worried about no war. Man, you think they give a damn that we're out there dying and fighting in some jungle hellhole?
TAYLOR: They ain't got time to worry about stuff like people dyin'. They're too busy worrying about getting an even tan, and whether they got the latest dance steps down.
PERCELL: You know, upstairs in the hospital, they got this whole ward of guys from 'Nam. I talked to a couple of those guys, and let me tell you, they're pretty messed up.
RUIZ: Well look, man, the way I figure, if there's a bullet out there with my name on it, then I'd just as soon have my family collect my G.I. insurance than to go home with any vital parts missing.
[26:40] Check Out The Blond
TAYLOR: Hey, man, check it out. There's those chicks from the hotel.
RUIZ: Man, forget that.
TAYLOR: Come on, man, let's go talk to 'em.
PERCELL: Hey, what the hell, Roo? "Wine, women, and song..."
TAYLOR: How y'all doin'? How you doin', ladies?
LESLIE: ...So I was telling—
TAYLOR: Excuse me, we're the soldiers you saw at the hotel today, remember?
PERCELL: Yeah, some of Uncle Sam's finest.
TAYLOR: That's right. This is Danny Percell, marksman par excellent, mi amigo Alberto Ruiz, and I'm Marcus Taylor. We're at your service.
PERCELL: Damn straight, glad to meet you, too.
LESLIE: Hello.
TAYLOR: Oh God. Looks like an angel, speaks like an angel.
RUIZ: Yeah, but this ain't the Pearly Gates.
TAYLOR: Yeah, well, heaven on Earth's good enough for me. Excuse me, ladies, how ya' doin'? You got a name?
LESLIE: Leslie.
GIRLFRIEND: Leslie always has had a thing for men in uniform. Right, Leslie?
TAYLOR: Yeah, well, is that right, Leslie? Well, with all due modesty, John Wayne happens to be a wimp compared to some of my war exploits.
RUIZ: Is it me, or is it getting deep in here?
PERCELL: Hey, now, come on, Roo, we can't deny the man his truth. Girls, I have to tell you, Marcus Taylor's a pure fighting machine. I, for one, am proud to walk in the man's shadow.
LESLIE: Well maybe it's a stroke of luck that I met you guys. You see, we're here on vacation from Stanford University, and uh, I'm supposed to be working on my thesis.
TAYLOR: Thesis? What's the subject?
LESLIE: Vietnam.
[28:00] Thesis Subject, Vietnam
TAYLOR: War or country? See, we happen to be certified experts on both.
LESLIE: It's about American imperialism. America fighting an immoral war and our soldiers killing innocent men, women, and children.
RUIZ: Look, lady, I don't know what you're tryin' to prove.
LESLIE: I mean, how does it make you feel to take an innocent human life? How do you feel when you have the blood of babies on your hands?
RUIZ: Listen, you little—
TAYLOR: No, Roo! Let the lady finish what she started.
LESLIE: I think I'm finished.
TAYLOR: Oh no, you haven't finished, 'cause I haven't answered your question.
LESLIE: Let me go.
TAYLOR: When I pull a trigger, I feel a rush, the power that I greased a gook and the pain that I had to do it. You pull an M-16 on somebody, lady, you just do 'em, and if it happens to be a woman or a kid, you have nightmares, but you do it, because you know that if you don't kill them, they're gonna kill you.
LESLIE: Please—
TAYLOR: It's war, lady, and we didn't ask to be included, but you know what hurts the most, is that we might die for our country in some godforsaken rice paddy, and people like you calling us baby killers.
LESLIE: Let go.
BOYFRIEND: Take your hands off her.
TAYLOR: You know, you people are such smart-asses you could probably sit on ice cream and tell what flavor it is.
[29:28] Barroom Brawl
[Ooo's ow's oh's argh's, etc.]
TAYLOR: Come on, Roo! Hit it, Roo!
PERCELL: Yee-haw! Go, go, go!
JOE: I got it. Okay.
[hahaha, ahahaha, etc.]
[30:01] Wading Water
PERCELL: I need to know somethin', Marcus.
TAYLOR: I need to know somethin', too, Danny. I need to know what God's master plan for me is. Am I gonna be a movie star, or rock 'n' roll idol, or is my grandmother gonna be mad when I decide to leave Motown and move to Hollywood in a long pink Cadillac?
RUIZ: Hey, Joe.
JOE: Yeah.
PERCELL: I need to know how you could play it so cool when that girl was hasslin' you?
TAYLOR: You know how many times I've been called "nigger?"
RUIZ: Man, I wanted to punch her lights out, but once you hear "spic" and "greaseball" enough, "baby killer" only raises your temperature a little bit.
PERCELL: You know what else I wanna know? I wanna know what all this stuff is I'm hearing about peace marches and protests while we're laying our lives on the line.
RUIZ: Like that guy at the hotel throwing peace in our face? Who the hell does he think he is?
JOE: Well, maybe the guy, he just wants peace. Most people take peace over war.
TAYLOR: Hold it, hold it. You're Japanese, Joe, right?
JOE: Yeah.
TAYLOR: I mean, we're over there greasing Orientals. How's that make you feel about us?
JOE: Interesting question. I'm Japanese, but I lived in L.A. till the Second World War broke out.
RUIZ: You moved then?
JOE: Oh, my family was moved to an internment camp. You know, surrounded by barbed wire. My brother and me, we later served with the Four Four Deuce Regimental Combat Team in Italy and France, yeah? Yeah, my brother, he was killed by a grenade just six days before he was supposed to ship back.
RUIZ: Your brother dies fighting for America while your family's in a prison camp?
JOE: Ah, when you reach my age, boys, you learn there are no clear answers about war. We're Japanese-Americans. "Nisei," huh? We served proudly.
PERCELL: I'm proud, too, Joe. Damn proud. I hate killing, but I love this country, so I'm gonna fight to preserve what all the wars before this one were fought for. But it bothers me, what that girl said about us.
JOE: You mean, "baby killer?"
PERCELL: Because it's true, Joe. And the truth hurts. Bad.
[32:23] It's War Danny
TAYLOR: It's war, Danny. Damn it, let it go.
PERCELL: I can't, I just can't.
RUIZ: It don't mean nuthin', Danny, man. Look, what does is that you're a helluva soldier, man. I mean, this side of Sarge, you're the best in the platoon.
TAYLOR: He's right. Maybe even better than Sarge.
PERCELL: Marcus, better than Sarge? You mean that?
TAYLOR: Yeah.
RUIZ: Better than Sarge? No offense, Percell, but you ain't better than Sarge.
TAYLOR: I didn't say, "better than Sarge." I said, "maybe better than Sarge."
RUIZ: Are you crazy, man? What you been smokin'?
TAYLOR: Hey, hey, hey, you don't have to get hostile, man.
RUIZ: Alright, tell me how he could be better than Sarge, alright?
TAYLOR: Okay, okay, okay, so big deal, I lied. No offense, Danny, but uh, now that I think about it, you ain't even as good as Johnson.
[33:10] Drunks March Hotel Halls
RUIZ/TAYLOR/PERCELL: ♫ ...and if you asked her why the hell she wore it, she wore it for her true love who was in the infantry! Infantry... ♫
RUIZ: ♫ Bum-da-dum ♫
ALL: ♫ Infan—! ♫
WOMAN: Shhh!
TAYLOR: If you don't like what we're singing, lady, we do requests. Ha, ha, I bet you wanna hear somethin' by The Temptations.
RUIZ: She probably likes Elvis, The King—
PERCELL: [burp]
RUIZ: You know, he was a good soldier, too, like us.
RUIZ: Steak and eggs, man. I never got my steak and eggs. I think I'm gonna have 'em for breakfast. Come on, beddy-bye time.
[34:17] Taylor and Ruiz By The Pool
RUIZ: Oh yeah.
WAITER: Something to drink, sir?
TAYLOR: Yes, martini.
RUIZ: Yeah, and a double Zombie, pronto.
WAITER: Yes, sir.
TAYLOR: Well, well. How you feelin', big spender?
PERCELL: Like I was led astray.
RUIZ: Oh yeah, we dragged you kickin' and screamin'.
PERCELL: Hey, I've been thinking about what you said about family and blood. I think I'm gonna go to the hospital and talk with my father.
RUIZ: Do you want us to tag along, Danny?
PERCELL: No. No, I wouldn't want you to lose your rhythm.
[35:05] Water Dad?
JACK: Thanks. Somebody told me once that if you marry the Army, you wake up one morning realizing you married a whore. Now, that's no disrespect to the Army, it just means it can suck you dry if you're not careful. Understand?
PERCELL: Yeah, I'm tryin' to.
JACK: When I re-upped for my second tour, it killed whatever was left between your mother and me. Oh, we made pretenses, went back and forth, but finally decided that life goes on.
PERCELL: Well how come she never tried to explain it?
JACK: What's to explain? We're still friends, we own the horses together, and I'd like to think I'm not as big a bastard as you think I am.
PERCELL: Hey, you know what I'm talkin' about. I mean, when you get out of here and you get back home, it might be time to slow down. Quit the circuit and trying to outparty the whole state of Montana.
JACK: I don't know, bud. I'll take that under consideration if you'll make me a promise.
PERCELL: Like what?
JACK: That you'll come home safe.
PERCELL: Hey, you know I figure if you're a soldier and there's a war, there's only one place for you to be, and that's where the fightin' is. Yeah, I know there's no guarantees.
JACK: I just want you to watch your butt. War forces a man to reach inside himself and pull out a part of himself he didn't even know was there.
PERCELL: You ain't lookin' at no hero, that's for sure.
JACK: Daniel, if you don't want to come home for me, then come home for your mother. Do your tour, do your duty, and then come home.
[37:11] Angry Soldier's Ward Again
RUDY: Where's Harold, man? Where is he? His mother's comin' in today, man. His mother, man! Where is he? Oh God. He did it to himself, didn't he? He did it himself, didn't he?
ORDERLY: He pulled out his IVs. We didn't catch it till it was too late.
[38:01] Breakfast Of Champions
PERCELL: Spent the night talkin' with him. You know, that never happened before. I mean, the man was never around long enough for that to happen.
RUIZ: Did you try the eggs? You gotta try the eggs, man.
PERCELL: No, thanks, bro.
TAYLOR: You queer or somethin' for eggs, Roo? We spent the night with these two dollies, and all he keeps talkin' about all night is eggs.
RUIZ: I was hungry.
TAYLOR: Eggs are very romantic, Roo. If you're a chicken.
RUIZ: Man, I spent six months without eating a real egg. When do you think I'm gonna get a chance to eat another one, huh?
PERCELL: You know, I talked to him about... When I get back to the real world, maybe he and I are gonna get a breeding farm together.
TAYLOR: You mean, like, real live horses?
PERCELL: Sure. Start small. Maybe after a while, give the big boys a run for their money.
TAYLOR: You know about horses?
PERCELL: Marcus, I know about horses like you think you know about women.
RUIZ: You're in trouble.
TAYLOR: Horses eat, Percell. They eat and they eat and they eat, and then when they finished eatin', you got to go in there and rake up what they just ate.
PERCELL: The point is, maybe it's not too late for me and him to get it together. It gives me somethin' to look forward to.
RUIZ: I want some more eggs. Do you guys want some more eggs?
[38:08] Call Hospital Security
TAYLOR: Now, these ladies said they were gonna meet us at the beach, and we told them you were gonna be with us.
PERCELL: Yeah, well, I think I'm gonna spend some more time with my dad.
TAYLOR: Well that's cool. It'll wait. All of 'em'll wait, 'cept the one I had for you, the one that looked like Natalie Wood. I just want you to be thinkin' about that, okay?
PERCELL: Oh, I'm thinking, I'm thinking.
ORDERLY: Come on, come on!
RUIZ: Hey, what's going on?
TAYLOR: You guys work on the deaf ward?
ORDERLY: Security's in 503, right? I hope they're up there.
ORDERLY: Look out.
PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM: Security Ward K. Stat.
RUIZ: C'mon.
PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM: Repeat, Security Ward K. Stat.
ORDERLY: Excuse me. Comin' through.
RUIZ: Hey, what's goin' on?
NURSE: ??? please.
[40:05] Give Me The Keys
RUDY: Where's the keys? Give me the keys!
ORDERLY: Better call the MPs.
PERCELL: Hold on. Let us talk to him.
ORDERLY: He's got a gun.
RUIZ: We've seen guns before.
RUDY: Where's the drugs? I want my medication. Give the cripple his medication.
TAYLOR: Unlock the door, brother. We just wanna talk.
RUDY: You unlock it, sport. Go ahead, unlock it.
RUIZ: Hey, look, why don't you let that guy in there go, man? You don't need a hostage. (in Spanish) No hagas esto, hermano. (transl: Don't do this, brother.)
RUDY: (in Spanish) ¡No te metas! (transl: Don't mess with me!)
TAYLOR: Yeah, let him go, man. You don't want to hurt anybody.
RUDY: Do you know how many people I've killed? How much do you think they hurt? Go on. Get outta here.
RUDY: (in Spanish) ¿Qué tú quieres? (transl: What do you want?) What do you want with me?
RUIZ: Nothing, man. We're just grunts that's all. On R & R.
RUDY: Slumming?
PERCELL: Hey. Remember me? I'm the guy you talked to about Harold.
RUDY: Oh yeah. Harold. Sweet Harold. What kind of chance did he have? Ain't no way they could put him back together. Look at the rest of those guys out there. Who's gonna give them back their lives? Who's gonna give me back my life?
TAYLOR: We just don't want anybody to get hurt any more than they've already been. Maybe we could talk to your doctor.
RUDY: Yeah, sure, my doctor. What's he gonna do? Give me a fresh plastic bag for my urine when the one I got's filled? He gonna be able to explain to me why I can never walk again? Or make love to a woman again, ever? Ever in my life?
RUDY: You hear me, man? You hear what I'm tellin' you?
TAYLOR: I hear you, man.
[42:26] Why Was I Sent To Vietnam
PERCELL: I wanna come in there and get that gun.
RUDY: I don't want you to do that. Don't come in here, man. All I wanna know is why was I sent where I was sent. Why was I sent to Vietnam? Why was I killin' people, and why were they tryin' to kill me?
PERCELL: Hey, man. Hey. That's what we all wanna know.
RUDY: Yeah, well, I got some advice for you grunts. Desert, go AWOL. Don't let 'em send you back. You got your chance, so why not take it? Don't end up like me.
PERCELL: I hear ya. I hear ya, man. But listen. Listen, Harold wouldn't want you to be gettin' upset like this, now, would he? He wouldn't want this to be happening.
RUDY: Harold's dead, man. Dead! He pulled the plug himself. Suicide!
[44:19] Please Don't Do It
PERCELL: Think about your family, man. You gotta think about your family. Your mom, your dad... What's more important than your family? Now, listen to me. I wanna come to you and take that gun. Oh, but please don't shoot me, man. Because, hey, if I gotta buy it, I wanna buy it in the bush, doin' a John Wayne, takin' about a half a dozen gooks with me, but not here, not by a brother. Please. Don't do it, brother, don't do it. Please. Listen to me. You don't wanna do that. Let me take the gun. Please. Let me take it. Let go, please. It's okay, man, it's okay. Alright, it's alright, it's alright. You're alright, man, you're alright. We're with ya, we're with ya.
[45:07] Back To The Other War
TAYLOR: Join the Army. Travel to exotic, distant lands. Meet exciting, unusual people... and then kill 'em.
RUIZ: Before they kill you.
TAYLOR: You know, I've been thinking about what that dude said.
RUIZ: About not goin' back, goin' AWOL?
TAYLOR: Yeah.
PERCELL: Our buddies are dyin' in some stinkin' mud hole, and we take off? I wouldn't want them to do that to me, and I as sure as hell ain't gonna do that to them.
[46:46] Incoming!
SOLDIERS' VOICES: Incoming! . . . I'm hit! I'm hit! . . . Mayday, mayday! . . . We're goin' down! We're caught in a crossfire! . . . Medic! Medic!
End
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