Transcript: (1x19) Paradise Lost

From Bravo 3/44th

Directed by: James L. Conway

Written by: Robert Burns Clark

See the Episode Guide

[1:41] Tip Toe Through Tall Grass

JOHNSON: Looks like a fresh trail to me.

ANDERSON: Alright, LT, I suggest we take it real slow and easy here, now.

GOLDMAN: Yeah. let's go.

[3:34] We Are Not Alone

ANDERSON: Grenade!

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: Cover! . . . Down! . . . Twelve o'clock! . . . Run for cover!

GOLDMAN: Go, go, go!

SOLDIER [o.s.]: Run for cover! Ambush! . . . Stay low, stay low!

[4:08] What Is That?

GOLDMAN: What the hell is that?

PERCELL: What the—?

GOLDMAN: Charlie's pulling back.

ANDERSON: Why would he do that? He's got us pinned down like a hog in a slaughterhouse.

JOHNSON: Spooky, man.

ANDERSON: Alright, LT, I'm gonna check it out.

GOLDMAN: Go.

[5:04] Check It Out Sarge

GOLDMAN: Let's go.

GOLDMAN: What the hell is this? Indians?

ANDERSON: Not exactly, but sort of.

ANDERSON: We're Americans. We have food and salt.

GOLDMAN: Shh!

ANDERSON: Hey, they haven't shot at us yet, have they? We have food and salt. We'll trade with you. We're your friend. GI.

[6:40] Let's Be Friends

ANDERSON: We have food to trade with you. We have no quarrel with you. GIs are your friends. We have food. Food.

ANDERSON: LT.

GOLDMAN: Everybody stay real cool.

WARRIOR: Gia, gia.^[1]

ANDERSON: We don't want to fight you. We didn't come here to fight you.

WARRIOR: Gia, gia.

WARRIOR: Hu lu, hee, dee. ^[1]

ANDERSON: LT. I think he wants us to go with him.

GOLDMAN: Well, why not? They just saved our tails.

GOLDMAN: Alright, real slow, everybody lower their weapons.

GOLDMAN: Alright, mount up, we're goin' with them.

[8:27] Going For A Visit

RUIZ: Hey, what do you think they are?

BAKER: Well, I don't guess they're Apaches, now, do you?

HORN: They're probably Montagnards.

RUIZ: What?

HORN: Montagnards, possibly Katus.^[2] They're the indigenous people of this region.

BAKER: Indigenous? Sounds like another kind of disease.

[9:07] Mountain Village

WARRIOR: Al lie.^[1]

ANDERSON: I think he's tellin' us to stay here.

TAYLOR: I got a feelin' we're about to become the main attraction at a barbecue.

PERCELL: Sir, do you foresee a problem with this?

ANDERSON: Well, Percell, we have the weapons.

PERCELL: Yeah, so did the VC.

JOHNSON: Hey, Sarge, check it out.

[10:01] Is He One Of Us?

KITHEM: [speaking in Katu]

KATU CHIEF: [speaking in Katu]

PERCELL: Guy looks like he might be an American.

HORN: I think he's speaking their language.

KATU CHIEF: [speaking in Katu]

TAYLOR: This place is weird. This whole place is weird, man.

[10:39] Meet The Village Chief

KITHEM: This is Krnoon. He's the village chief. He wants to know who you all are.

GOLDMAN: Lieutenant Goldman, Bravo Company, Third Battalion, 44th Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Who are you?

KITHEM: Kithem.

GOLDMAN: Kithem? That's it, just Kithem?

KITHEM: It's a Katu name. These are Katu people.

[11:07] Looking For Ho Chi Minh Trail

KITHEM: And what are you doing in the area, Lieutenant Goldman?

GOLDMAN: Patrolling.

KITHEM: Why?

GOLDMAN: Intelligence reports there's VC trails through here. We were sent to find them. It looks like we did. At least we found VC, anyway.

KITHEM: Were you attacked?

GOLDMAN: Yeah, we were attacked. We were almost wiped out, and then these natives helped save us. I wanna thank you for that.

KITHEM: Don't thank me. I'd have watched, and let whatever happens happen.

GOLDMAN: What kind of soldier are you?

KITHEM: I was in, now I'm out.

GOLDMAN: You just tell him we're grateful.

[11:40] VC Are Sons of Pigs

KITHEM: Okeen luk tam VC.

KATU CHIEF: Yon VC cocut. Yon VC sufri cocut.

KITHEM: Chief says the VC are sons of pigs, and he's always grateful to butcher a fat pig. I might add he feels the same about government troops, too.

GOLDMAN: How's he feel about Americans?

KITHEM: It's his one failing. He likes 'em.

KATU CHIEF: Nu ban, nu ban.

KITHEM: The chief says you should, uh, consider yourselves guests of the village. But don't take advantage of the hospitality.

GOLDMAN: This is a war zone. There's nothing hospitable about that.

[12:30] I Smell Mean

GOLDMAN: Who does he think he is?

ANDERSON: I don't know who he is or what he is, but he must've been in a world of hurt to run this far.

TAYLOR: I smell mean all over that cat.

GOLDMAN: That's affirmative, they helped us out. We've got three VC dead, and I don't know how many wounded crawled off. Over.

RADIO: We need to get these people in the war, Six. We're authorizing a civic action project for the village. Over.

GOLDMAN: Affirmative. We'll be waiting for your shipment. Bravo-two-six out.

ANDERSON: What shipment is that, LT?

GOLDMAN: Guns and supplies. They want us to stay here, set up a strategic hamlet, and help the natives cut off the VC supply trails.

ANDERSON: What about Kithem?

GOLDMAN: Well, they'll do what they can on their end. Meantime, we'll check him out on ours.

[13:19] Chopper Load Of Goodies

PERCELL: Horn.

HORN: What?

PERCELL: What's up with the supplies?

HORN: They're for the villagers. The brass said, and I quote, "if the Katu tribesmen want to waste VC, they might as well have the tools to do it right."

PERCELL: Hey, what? You've gotta be kidding. We're givin' them weapons?

HORN: I'm not kidding. They're getting 16s, they're getting a 60, they're even getting mortars.

[14:00] Send Them Back

KITHEM: Why don't you send these weapons back where they came from?

GOLDMAN: You tell the chief: with these weapons, the Katu can defend their families and their village.

KITHEM: They don't need defending.

GOLDMAN: Just tell him.

KITHEM: Can't you understand they're safe the way they are? They fight with spears and arrows, and nobody cares much about them. But you give them real weapons, they're gonna end up with real enemies. They'll become a target.

GOLDMAN: Look, I've got my orders. You can understand orders, can't you?

KITHEM: You're handing them a death warrant.

GOLDMAN: Just tell the chief these are his weapons. My men are assigned to train his men how to use them. Now, you tell him.

[14:38] Lt. He Has A Point

ANDERSON: LT, he's got a point.

GOLDMAN: What are you, crazy? This is a chance for these people to move into the 20th century. We've got a chance to help 'em, too.

[15:10] Let The Training Begin

ANDERSON: Gentlemen and warriors, what we have here is a fully automatic, 5.56 millimeter, gas-operated, air-cooled, and magazine-fed rifle.

ANDERSON: It's not gonna work, is it? Alright, alright. Hold on, hold on. This... is a bullet. Bull-et. Say that, bull-et.

WARRIORS: Bull-et.

ANDERSON: Good, good. This is a magazine. Mag-a-zine.

WARRIORS: Mag-a-zine.

ANDERSON: That's amazing. You guys are beautiful. Okay. Now, you put the magazine in here, you pull back the bolt here, and you pull the trigger here. This is the trigger, and... bang. Easy, huh?

WARRIORS: Easy, huh?

[16:17] Johnson What Is That Thing?

JOHNSON: Okay, guys, now that we got aiming this baby down to a science, here's how we drop the rounds. Please note that for training purposes, the firing mechanism has been blocked. Now, take the round with two hands, hang it, drop it, run your hands down the tube like so. Be sure and keep your face and your hands away from the muzzle. Got it? Okay, let's, let's start over.

[16:40] Machine Gunnery 101

RUIZ: Alright, my man. It's time to rock and roll. Here we go. Alright, off safe. Just pull the trigger, okay? Ready? Go.

WARRIOR: Oh, oh, oh, oh!

RUIZ: Whoa, whoa, whoa, get your finger off!

KITHEM: Don't you know you never train a new man with a full belt? Only use six to eight rounds. This'll never happen.

[17:08] Ready On The Firing Line

ANDERSON: Gentlemen warriors, rifles up, fingers off those triggers, now. Single magazine lock and load. Guns off safe, on full automatic. On my command. Ready... Aim... Fire!

RUIZ: Yeah. That's my boy. Yeah!

JOHNSON: Hang it and drop it.

JOHNSON: Whoo!

WARRIORS: Whoo!

[17:52] Unwanted Company Coming

WARRIOR: Karin sali morra, karin sali morra, karin sali morra.^[1]

KATU CHIEF: [speaking in Katu]

GOLDMAN: What's goin' on?

KITHEM: Visitors. Friends of yours.

[18:13] ARVN Major Area Boss

TUNG: I am Major Tung, District Chief of this province. What are you Americans doing here?

[18:33] Goldman In Charge

GOLDMAN: I'm Lieutenant Goldman, sir. Bravo Company's been engaged to sweep this area.

TUNG: I heard the sound of heavy gunfire, Lieutenant. Did you give these people weapons?

GOLDMAN: Yes, sir. We're training them to use them. Brigade authorized a civic action program for the village.

TUNG: I approved no such program, Lieutenant. No indigenous tribes may be armed without the special permission from the civil authority. That's me. Disarm them immediately.

GOLDMAN: No, sir, I can't do that. We're trying to close the VC trails in this area.

TUNG: Lieutenant, the trails also fall within my jurisdiction. The commercial caravans that use them are an important source of revenue for the central government.

GOLDMAN: Major Tung, I've got my orders.

TUNG: You. So you are still here. Are you behind all this?

KITHEM: No.

[19:47] I Shall Return

TUNG: I will take this matter up with your superiors, Lieutenant. You will soon be back at your base camp, I assure you. Lieutenant Goldman, be very careful. It's a very dangerous place.

[20:12] He Comes And Goes

ANDERSON: Yo, Kithem. So, now, what do you know about this guy?

KITHEM: He's a district chief. Comes around a coupla times a year. Bullies a young man, tells the village how much their taxes are gonna be, steals a few chickens, and he goes.

GOLDMAN: And the people do nothing about it?

KITHEM: So long as they're poor and no threat to him, they have an uneasy peace. You've probably changed all that.

GOLDMAN: And what would you have them do? Defend themselves with rocks and sticks?

KITHEM: I'd rather you hadn't come at all. These people mean absolutely nothing to you or your superiors. You just wanna use 'em.

GOLDMAN: We're tryin' to help.

KITHEM: Then guns and weapons aren't the answer. If you wanna help 'em, do something decent. Don't teach 'em to kill. Help them to live. Or has this war destroyed your regard for life?

[21:06] You Can Dig Latrines

GOLDMAN: We can't keep sending back to the CO for food and supplies. We've got to help these people become more self-sufficient.

JOHNSON: They ought to be able to raise whatever they need, LT. I mean, this soil's as rich as Mississippi Delta mud.

PERCELL: Sir, if we get the CO to just send some more pigs and chickens, we could go ahead and build these people some pens.

GOLDMAN: That's good. Alright, let's hear some ideas.

RUIZ: I don't know nothin' about farming, LT.

TAYLOR: Me neither, sir, I hate dirt. I happen to be a concrete and asphalt man, myself.

ANDERSON: Well then, the two of you wouldn't be much help with the farming, would you?

RUIZ/TAYLOR: Nope, sorry. Ha ha.

ANDERSON: You can dig latrines, then. I know you're both experts at that.

GOLDMAN: Alright, let's get it done, gentlemen.

[21:45] Till The Soil

GOLDMAN: How's it going, Johnson?

JOHNSON: Looks like they were born to this, LT.

BAKER: You dudes like eggs, man? You know what they say where I come from? "An egg a day keeps the doctor away." You guys ever hear that?  ??? Eggs and toast tomorrow. What d'ya say, man?

[22:09] The Right Way To Fish

RUIZ: Hey, no luck, huh, my man?

VILLAGER: [speaking in Katu]

RUIZ: Hey, maybe you're using wrong kind of bait. Let's try one of these, yeah?

RUIZ: Yeah! Alright, it's lunch time. Come on, c'mon, go get the fish, kids. Go get the fish, c'mon. Good, huh?

[22:43] Who Are You, Really?

ANDERSON: How you doin' there? Tell me somethin', uh, how did you end up here, anyway? And what is your real name?

KITHEM: I told you. Kithem.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and I heard you, but I figured you're a Special Forces type. Back here in the early days, they had a lot of Green Berets working with the Montagnards, and, I don't know, it all kinda makes sense to me.

KITHEM: Be careful, Sergeant. There's an old Appalachian saying: "Don't step in nothin' you can't wipe off."

[23:37] Horn's Little Helper

HORN: Thank you very much. You're a really good little helper.

GOLDMAN: Aagh! Ooh, Go—! I'm going to work on my reports.

[24:02] I'm Changing Jobs

ANDERSON: Horn... look at my hand. Tell me what you see.

HORN: Dirt?

ANDERSON: No. Blisters, Horn. You see blisters. I haven't had a hammer in my hand for three years, and it's killin' me. I mean, I love it, but it's killin' me.

HORN: Sarge, this stuff is normal for most people.

ANDERSON: What? Livin' with Injuns?

HORN: Man, just livin'! You know, this is the first time I've been in 'Nam I really feel like I've done some good. You know, it's nice to be building things up instead of tearing them down.

ANDERSON: I tell you one thing, Horn, it's a helluva lot different from what we've been doin'.

HORN: It sure feels good.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it does feel good.

[24:42] Supply Train Going By

WARRIOR: [speaking in Katu]

ANDERSON: Kithem, what's goin' on?

KITHEM: A VC supply train movin' down the trail.

[25:18] We've Been Waiting For This

WARRIOR: VC. VC.

GOLDMAN: Alright. Gentlemen, this is what we've been waiting for. First team's with me. Set 'em up, Sergeant.

ANDERSON: Alright, we're gonna set up an L-shaped ambush. Johnson?

JOHNSON: Yo!

ANDERSON: Get your mortar team over on that ridge over there. Baker, Ruiz, take a fire team and that '60 down there at the center point. Taylor, you got the blooper with ya?

TAYLOR: Yo.

ANDERSON: Alright, take a fire team down by the trail there. You stop 'em now, wild dog (?). The rest of y'all, bring that '60, come on with me. No talkin' beyond this point. Let's go.

[26:55] Fought A Good Fight

ALL: Yeah! Whoo! (cheering, whistling, etc.)

[27:11] Lt. We Have A Problem

ANDERSON: LT, we got problems.

GOLDMAN: What's up?

ANDERSON: These aren't VC. Look here, these are M-16's they're using. And check out the uniform on this guy, and that patch there. He's an officer of some sort.

GOLDMAN: Oh man, this is the same insignia Tung's men were wearing.

ANDERSON: Yes, sir, it is.

JOHNSON: Hey, take a look at this.

ANDERSON: Corsican gold—pure, raw opium.

TAYLOR: This stuff must be worth millions, Sarge.

[28:06] A Bosses Face Off

DALBY: Major Tung, we have a little problem here. It seems that some of your men have been smuggling opium.

TUNG: Colonel Dalby, you have no proof that those were my men.

DALBY: I don't know, some of these uniforms look very similar.

TUNG: Huh! Probably deserters. Colonel, the opium trains have traveled these trails for hundreds of years. My government has done everything in its power to put a stop to them.

DALBY: Apparently they haven't been very successful. I mean, it's a lot of dope.

TUNG: Yes. The opium will be turned over to my office for investigation. Those are my orders, which, by the way, have been approved in Saigon.

DALBY: Tell me, Major. Your efforts to keep the trails open wouldn't have anything to do with the opium traffic, would it?

TUNG: I do not have to take your insults!

[29:42] You're A Pirate, Major

DALBY: Major Tung, the last thing in the world I want is any disagreement with our South Vietnamese allies. But in your case, I'm willing to make an exception. You've been nothing but trouble for MACV Command since day one. We cannot win this war without the support of the people, which we could do easily if characters like you wouldn't keep getting in the way. Sit down, Major, I'm not finished.

TUNG: I will report this to your superiors. You will be transferred out of my district immediately.

DALBY: Well in your report, you be sure and say that I treated an officer of the South Vietnamese military with total contempt and disrespect, because that's the truth. You see, I consider you nothing more than a pirate. You may go, Major.

TUNG: [speaking in Vietnamese] Chó Mỹ -or- Cha mày. Đi mao! (transl: American dog -or- Curse you. Let's go!)

[30:17] Way To Go, Anderson!

ANDERSON: Don't ever touch one of my men like that, not ever. You understand me? If I ever catch you out in the bush, I'm gonna cut off your fingers and ears and make a necklace out of them. Hell, I might even cut out your tongue.

TUNG: [speaking in Vietnamese] Đi mao! (transl: Let's go!)

DALBY: Well said, Sergeant.

DALBY: You have your orders, Lieutenant. For how long, I don't know.

GOLDMAN: Yessir.

[30:33] Another Supply Chopper

BAKER: Remember the look on that guy's face? Man, that was classic.

RUIZ: Yeah, Sarge hung Tung, alright. You definitely won't be seeing any more of him.

BAKER: I know. He'll be applying for a soft job in Saigon with the rest of the politicians.

RUIZ: Yeah, if Colonel Dalby gets his way, he'll have 'em rendered and sold for lard.

[30:52] Need Some Help?

KITHEM: Need some help?

ANDERSON: Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do. I got blisters on my hand so bad, I can't even pick up that ax. Why don't you give me a couple of whacks with that, alright?

ANDERSON: Well looks like you swung one of those before.

KITHEM: Well where I come from, every kid knows how to split wood.

ANDERSON: Yeah? I'll tell you one thing, old buddy. You got yourself a long ways away from the Smoky Mountains.

KITHEM: Well it's not so different. It's mountainous, rural. People like to be left alone.

ANDERSON: I never thought of it like that. You got a point there. I'll tell you one thing, though. First day we came marching in here, looked out there and saw all those natives and we saw this big ole, long-legged white boy... We thought you was crazy.

KITHEM: Every time I see a man in uniform, I know he's crazy.

ANDERSON: Yeah, I heard that. But I'll tell you the honest to God's truth, though. 'Cause now that we've been here a while, you know, like, livin' here, you don't seem crazy no more. Well, let's take a look and see what we got here. Oh yeah. Just right.

[32:10] Horn's Little Helper Again

HORN: Hi, honey.

PERCELL: Come on up here.

HORN: Ooh. Hi, sweetheart. How are ya? This for us? That's for Danny, that's for me.

PERCELL: That's real nice, thank you, darlin'. Thank you. That's— That's just great, I guess. What is it?

HORN: It's a sarong, Danny. It's, uh, it's like a dress. It is a dress. It's a dress for the party.

PERCELL: For the party? Horn, what party?

[32:39] It's Party Time

GUYS: Whoo! Woo!

[33:52] Your Turn To Entertain

KITHEM: Gentlemen, may I have your attention? According to Katu custom, you should now entertain us.

[35:41] Incoming!

BAKER: Sarge!

ANDERSON: Incoming!

SOLDIERS [o.s.]: Let's go! Incoming! Take cover! Get to your weapons! Can't get to 'em!

[36:00] Assessing The Damage

ANDERSON: Horn... Horn? Horn, you've gotta give her up, now. She belongs to them.

ANDERSON: You've gotta give her up, Horn.

[37:08] We Have To Go Now

GOLDMAN: Yes. Can you confirm that? Over.

RADIO: The ARVN Command claims it's an unfortunate case of mistaken identity, Six. Over.

GOLDMAN: Yes, sir. What about your orders? Go.

RADIO: Somebody in Saigon's already pulled the plug, Six. CAP is canceled. Get your people out of there. Over.

GOLDMAN: Roger. Out.

ANDERSON: LT?

GOLDMAN: The CO seems to think that the South Vietnamese mistook this as a VC village.

KITHEM: Had to be Tung. Everybody knows that.

GOLDMAN: Colonel Dalby got the order this morning to cancel the mission. We're moving out. You don't look surprised.

KITHEM: I'm not surprised. [speaking in Katu]

GOLDMAN: What'd you tell him?

KITHEM: I told him that Americans are like big children. They come in, they break things, create problems, and then they leave for others to clear up the mess.

[38:36] Saddle Up, Men!

KATU CHIEF: (chanting)

GOLDMAN: Saddle up.

ANDERSON: Just a second, LT.

ANDERSON: Kithem... You can come on back with us, you know. Yeah, I don't blame you. I had to ask, though. Take care of yourself, you hear?

[39:48] A Gloating ARVN Major

TUNG: Lieutenant Goldman. I'm so glad I got to see you before you got away.

GOLDMAN: How do you know what my orders are?

TUNG: Very little escapes me, Lieutenant. Very little.

GOLDMAN: That's obvious.

ANDERSON: What are you gonna do with the Katu?

TUNG: That's Major Tung, Sergeant. "Major Tung, sir," to you.

GOLDMAN: What are you gonna do with the villagers, Tung?

TUNG: Well, we intend to continue the good work that you have started here, Lieutenant. In a few weeks it will be a fortified hamlet—an island of safety in a sea of danger. It's a shame that you will not be here to see it.

ANDERSON: No, that's not a shame, Tung. Let me tell you what a shame—

GOLDMAN: Anderson. Move the men through.

[41:31] Time To Harass The Village

VILLAGER: [speaking in Katu] Karin sali morra, karin sali morra, karin sali morra! ^[1]

[42:00] Gunfire In The Village

JOHNSON: They'll be alright. They're tough people. They've been through worse. They'll get through this.

PERCELL: Yeah, I'm tryin' hard to believe that.

HORN: Gunshots! In the village!

GOLDMAN: Maybe it wasn't.

PERCELL: There's no mistakin' that.

ANDERSON: Oh, the hell with it. I'm goin' back.

GOLDMAN: Sergeant, wait a minute! We're goin' with you. Johnson, you're on point. Drop your rocks. Baker, you bring up the rear. Go.

[42:56] Showdown In Village Square

TUNG: Where are the rest of the weapons?

KITHEM: I don't know.

TUNG: You lie!

ANDERSON/GOLDMAN (?): Hey!

TUNG: What are you doing here?

ANDERSON: Call it a garbage detail.

TUNG: Lieutenant, you have your orders.

GOLDMAN: My orders are to aid and assist the people of this village. That's what we intend to do.

ANDERSON: I got an order for you, Tung. You get on outta here in thirty seconds.

TUNG: You cannot do this. I am your ally!

ANDERSON: One... two...

TUNG: Wait! I have many friends in Saigon, and in the American military, as well.

ANDERSON: Three... four... Aw, the hell with it, twenty-seven... twenty-eight...

TUNG: Your superiors will hear about this, Lieutenant. They will not be pleased when they hear about this. Lieutenant! Our alliance of our forces may be weak at times, but still—

GOLDMAN: Go!

[44:26] Catch That Major, Sarge!

ANDERSON: I'm goin'!

[45:48] Village Will Move To Thailand

GOLDMAN: Thailand's a long haul.

KITHEM: I appreciate the contacts with the missionaries. With a little luck, I think we'll make it.

KITHEM: You know, I really didn't like you.

ANDERSON: Well I never felt especially romantic about you, either.

KITHEM: There's some folks back home wonderin' about me. Would you give 'em these and tell 'em I'm okay?

ANDERSON: Yeah, I'll do that for you... Sergeant Carter.

KITHEM: So you know?

ANDERSON: Yeah.

GOLDMAN: Brigade radioed two days ago. Master Sergeant Carter, Special Forces Group. Two Silver Stars. Not bad.

ANDERSON: And honorably discharged. You gotta understand, that's the thing that makes me feel especially good about you. The guy that saved my tail is not a deserter.

GOLDMAN: You take care of these people, Sergeant.

KITHEM: Yes, sir. [speaking in Katu]

GOLDMAN: Well I guess he just got tired of killin' people and decided to help them instead.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Now, ain't that a subversive idea?

GOLDMAN: Ain't it, though?

End

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