Transcript: (1x18) The Short Timer

From Bravo 3/44th

Directed by: Bill Duke

Story by: Bruce Reisman and Peter Lubliner

Teleplay by: Bruce Reisman

See the Episode Guide

[1:42] To The Jungle of War

ANDERSON: Taylor. We're following a blood trail here. This ain't no time to be daydreamin' about home, sweet home. C'mon.

PERCELL: Atchoo!

GOLDMAN: Where's Stone? Taylor, come on!

[5:02] Death On The Trail

TAYLOR: Holy—

GOLDMAN: Looks like a bouncing betty. Must've blown everything from the waist off. Looks like this blood trail led right to it.

TAYLOR: Poor kid, he's only been out here two months. Maybe he's lucky he's dead.

ANDERSON: Stone?

TAYLOR: A bouncing betty nailed him, Sarge. God, another kid down.

ANDERSON: Yeah, well, you just keep your head down. You stay alert, Taylor, otherwise you might make it home in a paper sack.

[5:45] Who'll Take Point

GOLDMAN: Well we just lost whatever advantage we had. Now they know we're following 'em. That damn explosion's gonna bring 'em down on us like flies.

ANDERSON: Think we oughta head back?

GOLDMAN: No, then we wouldn't be doin' our job, would we?

ANDERSON: Alright, I'll check it out.

GOLDMAN: We just lost our pointman. Who's next on point?

TAYLOR: I am, sir.

BAKER: No way. You're short, I'll take point.

PERCELL: Forget it, I'm next after Taylor.

TAYLOR: Hey, what's wrong with me on point?

HORN: Nothin', but you got two days and a wake-up call, and you're outta here.

GOLDMAN: Short-timers don't take point, Taylor. You'd be messing with tradition.

TAYLOR: I'd like to take point, sir.

RUIZ: You're crazy, man. You'd be a sitting target for Charlie.

GOLDMAN: It's up to you, Taylor.

TAYLOR: If any one of you guys took point and somethin' happened... I couldn't leave like that. Thanks, guys.

GOLDMAN: Let's go.

[6:49] Mumblings On The Trail

TAYLOR: You got a death wish, Marcus? What d'ya think you're provin' by takin' point? Oh yeah, you're provin' you're real stupid. Yeah, that's it, I get it.

[7:15] A Nest of Charlies

GOLDMAN: Horn, get the XO on the phone!

TAYLOR: What am I doin'? Two days and a wake-up. Lord have mercy, get me outta this.

HORN: Bravo-six, this is Bravo-two-six. Do you read? Over.

TAYLOR: You just had to take point, didn't ya?

[8:25] Lord, Can We Talk?

TAYLOR: What are you doin' to me, Lord? I didn't mean it. Thanks, God. I just know you want your boy Marcus to make it outta here alive. Don'tcha?

TAYLOR: Wha-hooo! Yeah!

PERCELL: Way to go, Taylor!

GOLDMAN: Alright, Taylor!

ALL: Whoo! Yeah!

TAYLOR: Whoo-hoo! Woo! Yeeaahh!

[9:02] Goodbye, Vietnam!

PERCELL: You know, Taylor, you really bailed us out, bro.

TAYLOR: Yeah, I bailed me out, too, and I'm kissin' this ugly land goodbye. Goodbye, Vietnam! Goodbye, gooks! And goodbye, dirt! I'm outta here, bro.

PERCELL: I hear that.

[10:04] Chopper Choir Boys

BAKER: Well dude, that's the last time you'll ever see Ladybird.

TAYLOR: Yeah, well, it breaks my heart, Baker. Now, let's get on to Chu Lai and process me out of this nasty mess.

TAYLOR: ♫ We gotta get out of this place... ♫

ALL (except Horn on harmonica): ♫ if it's the last thing we ever do, we gotta get outta this place, girl, there's a better life for me and you. ♫

TAYLOR: You know what you're doin', baby.

ALL (except Horn on harmonica): ♫ We gotta get outta this place, if it's the last thing we ever do, we gotta get outta this place, girl, there's a better life for me and you. ♫

TAYLOR: Goodbye! Whoo! *mwah* Comin' home, Louise, comin' home, baby, mwah! You know, I've been thinkin' about that GI Bill, Sarge. I'm gonna enroll in school, and stash the cash on Easy Street. You know where Easy Street is, don'tcha? It's where I'm gonna be strolling with a fine lady on my arm, Sarge. Ha ha!

ANDERSON: You ain't gonna be so happy when you start out-processing.

JOHNSON: You're gonna get writer's cramp signin' all those forms.

TAYLOR: Yeah, well, it won't hurt as much as gettin' shot at, I'll bet you that. You just keep your eyes fixed on these teeth, Sarge. You see that grin? You can show them Super 8 home movies on my face, ha ha! Whoo! Louise, heat the coffee, the cream is on the way!

[11:55] Back At Camp

ANDERSON: Unless my watch is wrong, we should be just in time for chow!

TAYLOR: God bless the rear echelon! Hot food!

PERCELL: Hot damn!

[12:32] Re-up Sarge Is Waiting

CARLTON: Hey, Anderson.

ANDERSON: Hey, Carlton, how ya doin'?

CARLTON: Heard you got a short-timer in your bunch named Taylor.

ANDERSON: Yeah, that's him back there, but he's more interested in hot food than your hot air.

CARLTON: Why don't we just let the boy decide that for himself?

ANDERSON: Alright, suit yourself, but you're barking up the wrong tree.

[12:49] Want To Re-enlist, Taylor?

CARLTON: Hey, Taylor, I'm Sergeant Carlton, your reenlistment NCO. Ole Zeke tells me you're one of his best.

TAYLOR: I am, but what are you sellin'?

CARLTON: Your future, son. We've discovered that when a man leaves the Army, he's in for a very confusing time, a very frightening time. I just want you to know I'm here to help you through this passage.

TAYLOR: Do I look like, uh, a lifer to you?

CARLTON: You look like a good soldier to me, son. A good soldier's got a future in the Army.

TAYLOR: I'd rather French kiss Ho Chi Minh than reenlist in the Army.

CARLTON: Well at least I know where you stand. Drop by the office sometime. I got some papers I want you to fill out.

[13:25] Told You So!

ANDERSON: What did I tell ya?

CARLTON: He might come around. The Army gives a home to a lot of people; it's just not stylish to admit it. It's been okay to you and me, hasn't it, Zeke?

ANDERSON: Ha!

[13:40] Chow Time!

TAYLOR: Alright. Hungry GIs comin' through, hungry GIs...

SOLDIERS/TAYLOR/RUIZ (?): Alright, okay. . . . Move. Move, move, move. Move.

TAYLOR: Excuse me, guys, 'scuse me, 'scuse me. We're hungry, we're hungry, we're hungry.

SOLDIER: Hey! Hey! Get back in line!

RUIZ (?): Hey, Johnson did you make reservations?

JOHNSON (?): Don't need 'em.

COOK: In from the bush, guys?

RUIZ: Yeah, what's it look like?

COOK: Hey, just wanna help you out. Come on up here. You gentlemen don't mind, do you?

RUIZ: Alright. Didi, didi. I think I've died and gone to heaven.

COOK: First hot meal in a while, huh?

TAYLOR: Over a month, but from here on out, it's all hot food for me. Hot food and owww! Wall-to-wall ladies.

JOHNSON: Thanks, brother.

HORN: Gimme, gimme, gimme. Gimme some bread. I'm hungry, I'm hungry!

PERCELL (?): Mashed potatoes, I love it!

BAKER: You know, the stuff looks too good to eat.

JOHNSON: Beats c-rats, I'll tell you that. You almost wanna look at it and smell it before you even dig in.

BAKER: I know. I feel like it's gonna be the best meal of my life.

[14:30] Let's Talk Peas

BAKER: I mean, look at these peas, man. Dude, these are perfect peas.

RUIZ: Oh man, peas are peas.

BAKER: No, peas are not peas. They're— I mean, yeah, they are, but there's a hundred different varieties of peas. I mean, you got your black-eyed peas, you got snow peas and baby peas, English peas, green peas, sweet peas...

TAYLOR: Sweet pea? Somebody call me?

RUIZ: How come you know so much about peas, man?

BAKER: Because, dude, I'm into peas, man! Don't you remember I'm a vegetarian?

RUIZ: Still? After all we've been through?

BAKER: Well in my heart I'm still a vegetarian, but my stomach's got a more practical attitude about things.

TAYLOR: Vietnam taught you somethin', huh?

BAKER: Yeah, it taught me I gotta do what I gotta do to survive. But I'll tell you what, guys; when that big, green pea of your dreams comes by, you better grab that sucker and chow it down.

HORN: If you like peas so much, why don't you have some of mine?

[15:22] Good Ole' Fashioned Food Fight

BAKER: Oh okay. Oh, that's funny, huh?

RUIZ: Think it's funny, huh?

SOLDIER: Alright. Incoming!

TAYLOR: Mashed potatoes!

RUIZ: Hey, wait, wait, wait, wait! Wait, wait! Wait, wait, come on!

TAYLOR: What?

BAKER: What?

PERCELL: What?

RUIZ: Look!

TAYLOR: Hey, check 'em out. Check 'em out, check 'em ou— haha!

BAKER/RUIZ/HORN/TAYLOR/JOHNSON/PERCELL and nobody else: Hahahahahahaha!

[16:24] I Will Miss You, Taylor

PERCELL: You want a card, huh?

BAKER: Just go.

PERCELL: That was too much—

RUIZ: Come on, man.

PERCELL: I told you it's too much.

RUIZ: I'm good, I'm good, I'm very good.

JOHNSON: Hey, man. Hey, man, I'm gonna miss ya.

TAYLOR: Nah, man, you got the guys.

JOHNSON: You know, you and me are different, man. Same blood.

TAYLOR: Yeah, well, you keep yours in your skin, you hear? You gotta make it, too.

JOHNSON: Okay. If I don't, I just wanted to let you know that... Hey, man, what I'm tryin' to tell you is, you've been a good friend. You're alright.

[17:14] Short Timer's Stick

ANDERSON: Taylor? Taylor, come on over here. We got somethin' for you, son. Come on. Step lively, now. This is like a tradition.

TAYLOR: Yeah, well, I better go with this one. I messed with the short-timer on point theory, and almost got smoked.

ANDERSON: Yeah, I heard that. Well we got somethin' here for ya.

RUIZ: (drum roll noise)

ANDERSON: Now, look here. It's your own personal short-timer's stick. You see, it says your initials right here, and, uh, it's like a good luck charm. It, it, well, it'll guarantee that you get of 'Nam alive.

TAYLOR: I only got a day, Sarge.

ANDERSON: So? You mean you don't need this, then? Huh? Hey, one day is like forever over here, so you keep this with you, you hear me?

JOHNSON: Now, that ain't just for luck, either. It's so you remember where you've been and the guys you were with.

ANDERSON: That's right.

BAKER: Hey, let's drink again. I mean, it's a farewell party, right?

RUIZ: Yeah.

BAKER: Yahoo! Yeah!

RUIZ: Taylor! We love you, man, we love you.

PERCELL: Come on, Taylor, play a game.

BAKER: Come on, Taylor.

[18:22] Where Ya' Going, Taylor?

[19:08] Chu Lai Base On Red Alert

BAKER: Hey, Sarge, I thought it was supposed to be nice and safe back at base camp.

HORN: I hear two men were killed in this.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it's happened twice in the last month. They're putting this base on red alert.

RUIZ: Yeah, great, we finally get to the rear where it's supposed to be safe, and this happens?

PERCELL: Well, I'll tell you, it almost makes you wish you were back at Ladybird.

ANDERSON: Yeah, well, don't. It might come true.

[19:34] I Thought You Went Home

JACKSON: Yo, Marcus, my man. I heard you were shippin' out of this jungle paradise.

TAYLOR: Duke Jackson, what are you doin' here, man? I heard you went home.

JACKSON: And I'm back. This time it's for business. See, I took home a little bundle of that Thai weed. I sold it for more than I could make workin' half a year. Now, I can deal from this side of the sea.

TAYLOR: Yeah, man. Well how's the neighborhood?

JACKSON: Incredible, man. Everybody's into somethin'. You remember Willy Plunkett?

TAYLOR: Willy the Weeper?

JACKSON: Got a stable of fine hammers, man. Taking in eight, nine hundred a night. Cousin got shot doin' a liquor store.

[20:30] Take A Package For Me

JACKSON: So, uh, when you goin' home?

TAYLOR: Tomorrow, man.

JACKSON: Fine, perfect. Why don't you take a package back for me? Be my man on the other side.

TAYLOR: I don't handle it, man.

JACKSON: You will. See, that's the best gig guys like you and me can find over there. Can you dig it?

TAYLOR: No, I can't.

JACKSON: I'm talkin' serious dollars, breeze. Thai weed. Look, we can split the profits 50-50. How that sound?

TAYLOR: You're gonna get busted, Duke.

JACKSON: Yeah, well, I'd rather do time than spend the rest of my life workin' in a car wash. I'm talkin' advancement. It's business.

TAYLOR: I got better things to do when I get back home.

JACKSON: Like what? Some jive gig at General Motors? Man, you be lucky if they let you put on the hubcaps.

[21:18] Re-Up Office

CARLTON: Who are you lookin' for?

TAYLOR: I'm lookin' for the clerk. Supposed to turn in these papers.

CARLTON: You know, you're gonna get some nice, shiny medals, young man. You're a good soldier.

TAYLOR: You bet.

CARLTON: Join the Army and see the world, or get away from it.

TAYLOR: Save your bad breath, Sarge.

CARLTON: Now, is that any way to talk to an NCO, Marcus Taylor, PFC? I know ole Zeke don't take that kinda crap.

[22:24] Drink Up Marcus

CARLTON: Some of Kentucky's finest, for my friend Marcus Taylor. You got anything against bourbon, Marcus?

TAYLOR: Nothin' I can think of.

CARLTON: And it's good bourbon, too, Marcus. Bet it's been a while since you had any of that. A gesture of goodwill.

TAYLOR: I ain't interested in re-upping.

CARLTON: Well then, let's have a drink, sit down, and talk about home. It's Detroit, right? Fourth Street and Billings?

TAYLOR: What d'ya know about Fourth and Billings?

CARLTON: Most of those buildings been torn down by now. They call it urban renewal. Talked to home lately? You know if it's even still there?

TAYLOR: I send home money orders. They don't come back, so somebody's gettin' 'em.

CARLTON: That's no way to plan, son. And home ain't a sure thing for people like you and me. I got a kid back last week. He went home, couldn't find any of his friends. His family had all split up and gone all over the place. He had nothin'.

TAYLOR: So that sucker come back to 'Nam?

CARLTON: No, Paris. Thirty days leave with pay. He's having the time of his life, 'cause for the first time, it is his life. He's got three hots and a cot^[1], big, fat reenlistment bonus, and some training that's gonna make his life worthwhile when he gets out of this mess.

[23:30] I Have A Life

TAYLOR: I got my own life, I got my own family and friends.

CARLTON: C'mon, son, I looked at the records. After you stole that car, the judge gave you a choice: the service or the joint. You made the right choice, but who was at the bus when you said goodbye?

TAYLOR: There I got ya. My girl was there. Louise.

CARLTON: You heard from Louise lately, son?

TAYLOR: She don't write, literally, but she's there. Hey, I got a home, man. I got people that care about me, and I don't have to sit here and listen to this. You know my grandmother always told me, never take candy from people like you.

CARLTON: You know what, son? Your grandmother had very good instincts.

[24:45] M. T. Call Home

TAYLOR: They got through, they got through.

WELLS: Do they have the Bell system in Detroit?

TAYLOR: Quiet, man, it's ringing. This is the girl I'm gonna marry.

TAYLOR: (talking on the phone) Hello? Louise? Yeah, baby, it's me, Marcus. Eight o'clock. What time is it there? Yeah. Listen, baby, listen. I'm comin' home. Yeah, your Marcus is gonna be flyin' back into them cocoa arms of yours. Two or three days. Yeah, I gotta wait. You know, I gotta collect all my medals and stuff, you know? My medals. My medals! I've been over here fightin', remember? Louise... Louise... Are you listenin' to me?

[26:31] Goodbye Louise

TAYLOR: Yeah, I hear you. While the cat's away, huh? Yeah, I know how hard it is to wait—

TAYLOR [to Wells]: She's telling me how hard it is to wait.

TAYLOR: Somebody what? In the wha— Somebody in the laundry business?! Yeah, I guess it is steady. But I'm over here gettin' shot at, while you're home takin' up with Jodie. Yeah... Yeah, well, God and LBJ gonna get you for this.

TAYLOR: I guess I told her, huh? What kinda guy goes into the laundry business? See you later, Wells.

[26:54] Charlie On Chu Lai Base

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: What's happening? . . . I don't know. . . . Charlie's on the base!

ANDERSON: Get down!

RUIZ: Medic, medic!

PERCELL: Grenade!

TAYLOR: Alright! Whoo! Alright, guys!

ANDERSON: Let's go.

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: I got him, Sarge. . . . Yeah! Whoo-hoo! Alright, Sarge! Hold your fire.

JOHNSON: Where the hell did they come from?

ANDERSON: They're sappers. Anytime, anyplace, in all kinds of weather.

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: Yeah, yeah. Alright, yeah. Alright, Zeke! Alright, yeah. Proud to be in (?) the 196th!

[29:00] Bravo For Bravo!

[29:20] Marcus, Mamasan & A Mop

TAYLOR: Good evenin', mama-san.

VIET MAID: I be out soon.

TAYLOR: Mama-san, I got a good reason to get bombed.

VIET MAID: [speaking in Vietnamese] GI điên cái đầu. [transl: GI crazy in the head.]

TAYLOR: Can I see this, mama-san? ♫ Seems like a mighty long time, shu wop shu wop, my baby ooh... ♫ Seems like a mighty long time, mama-san.

VIET MAID: Not happy?

TAYLOR: Not happy. I gotta stop pretendin'. I got no real place to go. Home is where a man wants to be, and it ain't there.

VIET MAID: GI, go home. No more fight.

TAYLOR: Maybe, mama-san. Maybe, mama-san.

VIET MAID: [singing in Vietnamese] (partial transl: The road home tonight is lonely...)

[31:14] Back To Re-Up Office

TAYLOR: Sergeant Carlton, where are ya? I can't go home, I'm here to re-up.

[31:28] I'm Back!

PERCELL: Baker, hump that.

BAKER: And I die.

ANDERSON: Not gonna happen—

TAYLOR: This lowlife Army!

ANDERSON: Oooh, Taylor, what's eatin' you, man?

TAYLOR: Your buddy Carlton tricked me. He got me blitzed, and tricked me into signing the reenlistment papers.

ANDERSON: Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ralph Carlton did?

TAYLOR: I don't know, I was drunk. Maybe I thought he was handin' me rotation papers. I even took the oath.

PERCELL: Wait, wait. Is this legal? Can they make this stick?

TAYLOR: Of course they can! They got my name, they got me back. I'm supposed to be goin' home, Sarge. I got people waitin' on me. I wanna go home.

ANDERSON: Oh Taylor, Taylor, Taylor.

RUIZ: We gotta do something for him, Sarge.

ANDERSON: Do what?

JOHNSON: But he was tricked. Ain't that right, Sarge?

ANDERSON: Yeah, he was tricked. That's how Carlton does it; he tricks people. He's got the best re-up list in 'Nam. I mean, he fills his quota, he gets, like, extra R & R days in Vung Tau.

JOHNSON: Hey, we just can't sit here and let nothin' happen, now.

ANDERSON: Well what do you propose we do? We can't do nothin', Johnson. Might as well just get used to it.

JOHNSON: It's bad enough they got us over here. Now Taylor's a lifer.

ANDERSON: Johnson, please. Now, who twisted your arm to get you to join? Or you, Ruiz? Who twisted your arm? Now, come on, I don't like this any better than you do. I mean, it stinks. Smells real bad. The smell's comin' downwind from old man Carlton.

BAKER: Yeah, go get that snake, huh, Sarge?

ANDERSON: You got that right.

[32:41] Anderson Charges Re-Up Office

CARLTON: Hey, Zeke, what are you doin' here? You're not due to re-up yet.

ANDERSON: I want the papers, Carlton.

CARLTON: What the hell are you talkin' about?

ANDERSON: You know what I'm talkin' about. Now you just go on back up in there to your little air conditioned office, and you pull the papers on my man Taylor.

CARLTON: Your man, huh? These boys are your possessions now.

ANDERSON: Not my possessions, just my responsibility.

CARLTON: Well one of your responsibilities just signed up for a burst of six. Got a big, fat, reenlistment bonus, too. Says he's gonna send the money back to his mama, maybe buy a car.

ANDERSON: He's already done his duty, Carlton, and then some. He's seen enough blood and death to last him a lifetime. Now, it's time for him to go on back home where he belongs, don't you think? No, you don't, do ya? That's why you tricked him, isn't it? Got him drunk, and messed with his head.

CARLTON: You're way out of line, Zeke. The Army treats all these morons the same. What about you? Didn't they promise you some kind of cushy assignment?

ANDERSON: Hey, we ain't talkin' about me.

CARLTON: We're all the same, Zeke. Figures on a ledger. Dead stats. Way I look at it, it's your own damn fault.

ANDERSON: Let me tell you something. Two weeks ago, I saw Taylor holdin' a buddy of his who died in his arms. He was cryin', he was all mixed up. I figure he's still mixed up, and I figure you took advantage of it.

CARLTON: I didn't take advantage of nobody. He made the decision.

ANDERSON: Alright, then he changed his mind. Now, get on back in there and get me those papers.

CARLTON: No way.

ANDERSON: Alright, then, I'll get 'em my own self.

[34:18] What's Going On?

CAPTAIN: Gentlemen! What's going on?

CARLTON: Oh nothin'. Just a little disagreement, sir.

CAPTAIN: Is that right, Sergeant?

ANDERSON: Yes, sir. See, I was just leavin'.

[34:32] Taylor Has To Stay

ANDERSON: Alright, you guys, listen up here. It ain't gonna work. I talked to Carlton, and he's got Taylor's papers locked away in his filing cabinet. Taylor took the oath. That means that's the end of it.

PERCELL: Who is this guy, anyway, Sarge?

ANDERSON: He's a scuzzball. Always has been, always will be.

RUIZ: How'd he trick Taylor?

ANDERSON: Well he says he didn't, but then, Carlton always says that.

RUIZ: Yeah, that's bull, and you know it.

ANDERSON: Tell me about it.

JOHNSON: I say we gotta help him, man. He saved our butts back at the bunker.

PERCELL: What we gotta do is get those papers before they're shipped off.

BAKER: You mean steal 'em, right?

RUIZ: Yeah, just like they did in Gunga Din. This guy reenlisted, then he changed his mind, so his buddies ripped off the papers.

JOHNSON: Search and destroy, my man. Search and destroy.

[35:16] Search And Destroy

BAKER: Well, can you see the file cabinet?

RUIZ: Yeah, yeah, three of 'em, right there in plain view. Taylor's papers gotta be in there, man. Alright, look, this is the way I figure it. A grenade launcher. We waste the filing cabinet with a grenade launcher. We destroy the papers and Taylor didis back to the World.

JOHNSON: Hey, don't you think that's a little heavy on the overkill?

RUIZ: Massive firepower, amigo. That's the name of the game.

PERCELL: That's a hell of an idea, Roo. While we're doin' that, why don't we just go ahead and reserve a couple master suites in the stockade?

JOHNSON: Hey, I think there's a better way.

RUIZ: Yeah, how?

JOHNSON: Okay, we'll get Carlton out of the office, you guys sneak in, get in the file cabinet, steal the papers, and that's that.

RUIZ: Yeah? How do you get Carlton out of the office?

PERCELL: I got it. I got it. We're gonna have a fight, a helluva fight. You and me, Johnson.

JOHNSON: That's no contest, man.

PERCELL: Well hell, so fake it—!

[35:56] Percell And Johnson Mud Fight

RUIZ/BAKER: Sarge, sarge, sarge!

CARLTON: What's goin' on here?

RUIZ: T... T... T... T...

PERCELL: Oh, his girlfriend's a dog, Sarge. She's got a face like a mud fence.

JOHNSON: Take that back.

PERCELL: Oh, "take that back." What is this, a school yard?

JOHNSON: That does it.

JOHNSON: That hurt, Percell.

PERCELL: I know, and I'm sorry about that, Johnson.

JOHNSON: Me too.

[36:22] Re-Up Papers Where Are You?

RUIZ: T... T...

BAKER: Roo, what's taking you so long?

RUIZ: Hey, relax, alright? I'm not a thief, okay? I always drove the getaway car.

BAKER: Well I thought we might get it done today, okay?

CARLTON: You guys are gonna have to stop this. You're outta line.

CARLTON: Break it up, or I will call the MPs.

JOHNSON: Ouch, you're on my foot!

[36:48] Got 'em! Let's Go

BAKER: Roo, Roo, Roo...

RUIZ: Alright, alright, alright. Here we go, here we go, Taylor, Taylor, Taylor, Taylor.

BAKER: Thank you.

SOLDIER SPECTATORS: Come on, come on, come on.

RUIZ: Come on, come on up, it's done. It's done, okay? Come on, let's get out of here.

BAKER: Forget about it.

CARLTON: That's strange.

[37:08] Give Me Back My Weapon

TAYLOR: Hey, my man, I think you got somethin' for me.

SOLDIER: Your weapon. Didn't you just turn it in?

TAYLOR: Yeah, but, like, this is the library, and I'm here to check out my favorite book, the one I just can't seem to put down. ♫ (to the tune of "La Cucaracha") I'm getting my gun back, I'm getting my gun back... ♫

SOLDIER: You like what you see?

TAYLOR: Oh, most definitely. Give me a rag, will ya?

[37:36] He Ain't Gonna Believe This

SOLDIER: Hi.

TAYLOR: Hey, brother.

RUIZ: Man, he ain't gonna believe this.

HORN: Man, he's gonna die when he sees this.

JOHNSON: He'd better appreciate it.

HORN: He will, he will.

RUIZ: Hey, hey.

[38:26] You're Going Home Buddy

JOHNSON: Hey, brother.

TAYLOR: Hey where you guys been?

TAYLOR: Hey, when we moving out?

JOHNSON: "We," Taylor?

TAYLOR: Yeah, I wanna get off this base.

PERCELL: Give it to him. Give it to him, Johnson.

RUIZ: Yeah, come on give—

BAKER: You'll never forget what we did for you, Taylor.

PERCELL: Never.

PERCELL: Ha, ha, ha, ha, whoo-hoo!

HORN: You're goin' home, buddy!

RUIZ: And it's Christmas in July, man!

(lots of whistling, etc.)

PERCELL: Way to go, bud! Way to go!

RUIZ: Yeah!

[39:26] Goodbyes Hugs All Around

ANDERSON: Well look, I know how much all this means to you, so I'm gonna make it easy for ya, and a little bit predictable. Taylor, you're a damned good soldier, man. You're a damned good soldier, and you're a better man.

TAYLOR: Are you sure you're that good a judge of character, Sarge?

ANDERSON: Yeah, I think so. Good luck to you, Taylor. I mean, it's goin' to be impossible to replace ya. You're one of a kind.

TAYLOR: A real pain in the butt, huh?

ANDERSON: Yeah, that's true, that's true. Good luck, man. Take care of yourself. Take care. Alright now, you guys, make it short and sweet, now.

JOHNSON: Hey, man, if I make it back, I want you to come down to Jackson and see me, okay? Some of that good country livin' to clean your life up, man.

[40:44] Load Up, Men

ANDERSON: Alright, c'mon, let's get it done. C'mon, Pitbull. Let's get on back to Ladybird before dark.

SOLDIERS: Excuse me. Excuse me, son.

CARLTON: Hey, Anderson.

ANDERSON: Well now, Sergeant Carlton. Hey, y'all, say hello to Sergeant Carlton here.

ALL: Hi, Sergeant Carlton!

ANDERSON: What do you want, Carl—?

CARLTON: A piece of you.

ANDERSON: Was it something I said?

CARLTON: Somebody got Taylor's re-up files. I know it's you.

ANDERSON: What are you talkin' about? Does anybody know what the man's talkin' about? Hey, let me tell you somethin', Taylor's gone.

CARLTON: Somebody got into my files and got those papers, and you're the prime suspect, Anderson.

ANDERSON: I am? Well, you're gonna have to prove that, and after you prove that, you're gonna have to catch Taylor. Like I said, he's gone. You know, I know how I can maybe help you here. I bet Taylor did it him own self. Yeah, see he woke up, sobered up, and realized how you suckered him in.

CARLTON: If anybody got suckered around here, it's you, Anderson.

ANDERSON: Let me give you some personal advice here. Let it go. It's over.

CARLTON: It ain't over. I got that boy to re-up fair and square. I got the best re-up record in Vietnam, and I didn't have to trick nobody to get it.

ANDERSON: He's beautiful, ain't he? Ain't it wonderful how he just keeps sayin' that and sayin' that? You know what? I bet you actually even believe these people wanna come on back over here.

CARLTON: They do.

ANDERSON: No, they don't, Carlton. Not all of 'em.

[41:57] Anderson, You Are A Liar

CARLTON: Anderson, you're a liar and a thief.

ANDERSON: And you're the sorriest excuse for a sergeant I ever saw in my life. These are people, man. These are kids. And you know how you make your livin'? You manipulate them into thinkin' the only way they can live a full and meaningful life is to fight this war for you. You're a pimp—no, no, you're worse than a pimp, man, because at least a whore stays home and a whore dies in bed.

[42:30] He's Mine, Boys

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: Sarge! . . . Hey, hey. Let's get him, guys, come on!

ANDERSON: No, stay there, sit, sit. Uh-uh. He's mine.

SOLDIER [o.s.]: You're in trouble now, Carlton.

ANDERSON: Carlton, my man, you just made a big mistake.

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: C'mon, Sarge!

BAKER: C'mon, Sarge!

RUIZ: C'mon, get up!

PERCELL: C'mon, Sarge.

(encouraging shouts c'mon Sarge, get up Sarge)

CARLTON: You were always cocky, Zeke, ever since I've known you.

ANDERSON: Oh hell, you don't know me. You're one of those unfortunate acquaintances people link up with when they're kids and can't shake 'em loose.

CARLTON: You've always had it in for me. Why?

ANDERSON: I don't like what you do for a livin'.

CARLTON: At least I don't lay low in the jungle and have these kids do my fightin' for me. I got my scam, and you got yours.

ANDERSON: "Lay low," what do you know about it? Hell, you've watched the whole war from the safety of back here.

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: Sarge, get up, man.

PERCELL: Sarge!

BAKER: Get up, man!

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: Get up, c'mon, Sarge. . . . Knock it off, Sarge!

PERCELL: Sarge, don't quit.

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: Sarge, c'mon. . . . C'mon, Sarge! . . . Sarge! . . . (more encouraging shouts, "Hit him again," "yeah," etc.)

[44:16] Taylor Where'd You Come From

TAYLOR: Come on, Sarge. Knock it off, Sarge.

ANDERSON: Taylor, what the hell are you doin' here? Huh?

TAYLOR: He didn't trick me, Sarge. I lied. I wanted to come back. I took the oath on my own, and I was sober when I did it.

ANDERSON: Wait a minute. You're supposed to be on a plane.

PERCELL: I thought you wanted to get out of this place, Taylor.

TAYLOR: I thought I did, too, but what was I gonna go back to? Hey, look, I serve up my years, the Army gives me some education. I'll be the only person in my family that went to college. Besides, I like bein' around you guys, okay?

ANDERSON: Now, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You're tellin' me that you came halfway around the world to be fulfilled over here?

TAYLOR: I guess so.

CARLTON: I told you so, Anderson.

ANDERSON: Yeah, yeah, but comin' from you, and comin' from him, it sounds a whole lot different, you gotta understand.

CARLTON: I don't hurt nobody. These kids are exactly where they wanna be.

ANDERSON: Now, wait a minute. Now, how does he know anything about where people wanna be? I mean, am I wrong? Tell me if I'm wrong.

TAYLOR: He knows, Sarge. He just takes advantage of it.

[44:44] You Guys Are My Family

TAYLOR: I know you guys think I'm a fool, maybe so. But you guys are my family, and I ain't ready to leave the nest yet, okay?

PERCELL: Welcome back, brother.

[46:01] Trucking Family Back To Camp

End

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