Transcript: (2x1) Saigon Part One

From Bravo 3/44th

Directed by: Bill L. Norton

Written by: Rick Husky

See the Episode Guide

[1:35] Saigon, 1968

ANDERSON: Oh man LT, this ain’t the kina place I wanna get caught in after curfew.

GOLDMAN: This guy’s been through hell an’ back. We find him, we pull him out, we get outta here.

ANDERSON: I heard that.

[2:02] Confronts Street Gang

GOLDMAN: Didi mao. Come on, come on get the hell outta here. Come Rivera, time to go home.

RIVERA: I ain’t goin’ anywhere.

ANDERSON: C’mon get up outta there. We ain’t got time to mess with ya.

THUG:  ???

ANDERSON: Alright, hold it right there.

GOLDMAN: Rivera you’re gonna get us all wasted.

THUG:  ???

ALEX: Rivera

ANDERSON: …..right there, don’t move. Get him outta here.

ALEX: Come on, come on. Out here, this way

[3:05] Who The Hell Are You?

GOLDMAN: Who the hell are you lady?

ALEX: Alex Devlin, ANI Wire Service.

ANDERSON: Let’s get outta here.

[3:12] Drugs And Black Market

GOLDMAN: What were you doin’ out there?

ALEX: Drugs and the black market. I was working on a story, Rivera was feeding me information.

GOLDMAN: Well, what good’s a story if you wind up dead.

ALEX: Depends on the story. Do you know what was happening there? We’re not talking just a little recreational opium. These people control half the dope in country. Heroin, you name it.

GOLDMAN: No, let me tell you what was happening out there. There was a GI in a mountain of pain, on drugs and in trouble – and you used him.

ALEX: Rivera’s part might be personal but there’s a bigger picture here.

GOLDMAN: I’m sorry. We don’t see that many women in the press corps in-country.

ALEX: Well, I’m the only female in the bureau in Saigon. Fought like hell to get here, paid my own way. Still get resistance from the boy’s club, your basic macho types, but that goes with the territory.

GOLDMAN: How long you been in Saigon?

ALEX: Four months. I was at An Khe with the First Cav and with the Riverine Force in the Delta. Covering this damn war is almost as confusing as fighting it. I don’t know how you handle it day to day.

GOLDMAN: You don’t. You hump all day and you set up ambushes at night. Tracking charlie’s like tracking a hummingbird.

ALEX: Rivera said your unit was pulled back to MacV for security at Tan Son Nhut and a perimeter defense of Saigon.

GOLDMAN: I thought we were through with the bush but we’re still running garbage missions. If charlie’s in the grass we lock an’ load, we make a collection.

ALEX: Fed up with combat?

GOLDMAN: I’m fed up with body counts, I’m fed up with kill ratios, I’m fed up with looking at boys with men’s faces who are getting wasted before they even learn how to shave. And I’m fed up with the press burrowing for Pulitzers, trying to change the world before tomorrow’s deadline.

ALEX: I’m not trying to change anything Lieutenant. I’m here for the truth.

[4:55] Couldn't Stop Bleeding

ANDERSON: They couldn’t stop the bleeding.

ALEX: Oh God no. Look, I—I’m sorry, the way it went down----I…. they must have felt you were a threat to their drug operation.

GOLDMAN: It’s not your fault. Just don’t write it the way it happened.

ALEX: What do you mean?

GOLDMAN: What I said. Just let it be. Let him go home a soldier.

ALEX: Lieutenant, I put a lot of time into tracking this story. Now why shouldn’t I write it the way it happened.

GOLDMAN: Because I’m asking you not to.

[5:31] Tan Son Nhut Base

PERCELL: I'm tellin' you man, this heat has got me. Lack of sleep's, what's bringin' me down.

TAYLOR: What's bringin' you down Percell is the lack of female companionship.

PERCELL: Yeah, well I figured bein' in a new base near Saigon Taylor, we're gonna have all the amenities of home, you know air conditioning

RUIZ: Yeah well, it ain't Miami Beach, but you got hot showers, three squares a day an' a roof over you that don't leak.

JOHNSON: An' no rats chewin' on your toenails in the middle of the night which is more than you had in the Bronx Roo.

[6:00] Letter From Horn

TAYLOR: Well so what's Horn gotta say Roo?

RUIZ: Well he says he's planning on goin' to Berkeley when they've mined all the lead out of him an' he says his only setback was when--er--he got our letter about Baker bein' transferred to the General's staff. He said he laughed so hard he busted his stitches.

TAYLOR: (laughs)

[6:12] Hotel Partnerships

JOHNSON: Hey sarge. Just got my ticket to the good life; a contract for my investment. A limited partnership was what Sergeant Bridger called it.

ANDERSON: Jake Bridger?

TAYLOR: Yeah sarge. In a coupla months Marvin is sayin' adios to this pain an' misery. He's gonna be a partner in Bridger's hotel in Saigon an' I'm gonna be Marvin's Entertainment Director. We're gonna book The Tops, The Temps and The Supremes

ANDERSON: I gotta tell you, ya know I wouldn't trust Jake Bridger if he told me the sky was blue.

TAYLOR: Yeah, well everybody's got a Jake Bridger story. So listen sarge, who's this new hot-shot pilot we've been hearin' about?

[6:40] Who's The New Chopper Pilot

ANDERSON: First Lieutenant John McKay. Golden boy with your basic hot-dog reputation. Got everythin' but the white scarf. He is good though an' he knows his business.

JOHNSON: Yeah, well you got somethin' here too. Hope your news is as fine as mine is.

TAYLOR: Ours...ours.

[7:06] Mama's Always Worrying

CRAWFORD: My mama's always worrying you know. She's scared I'm not gonna make it back. I mean I thought Tan Son Nhut was gonna be a cush gig man.

PERCELL: You're in country cherry. Hell there ain't no thing as a cush gig, is there Roo?

CRAWFORD: Hey, hey - Charlies' got a bullet out there with everybody's name written right on it huh. Survival's just a matter of time.

RUIZ: You don't say that man, you don't every say that.

CRAWFORD: Hey, I er didn't mean anythin' by it Ruiz. You superstitious or sumthin'?

RUIZ: We're all superstitious when it comes to dyin' man.

[7:46] What Is Your Name, Hot Shot

MCKAY: McKay gentlemen.

GOLDMAN: Goldman – Sergeant Anderson. We’ve got an insertion about ten clicks up the road at An Loc

MCKAY: Well, I’m your chauffeur an’ I hear you guys are number one, just short of being genuine heroes.

ANDERSON: Goes to show you can’t believe everything you hear Lieutenant.

GOLDMAN: What’s—er—with the speakers?

MCKAY: Appropriated them from a slick used in the chieu hoi program. I like to use them to psych Charlie out. Rock ‘n’ Roll’s here to stay.

GOLDMAN: That’s—er—that’s profound Mckay. I’ll have that laminated an’ put in my wallet.

[8:14] Chopper Goes Airborne

GOLDMAN: She’s pretty. Must take after her mother.

ANDERSON: Yeah, she does.

GOLDMAN: That a letter from your ex?

ANDERSON: Yeah. I thought we had us a life-time contract but—er—she gave me time off for bad behavior.

GOLDMAN: Yeah well if you produced a little doll like that, it couldn’t have been all that bad.

ANDERSON: Yeah that’s what I thought. I told her that in a letter. She moved to Fayetteville, she’s been working at Fort Braggs as a civilian employee. I told her I thought maybe we should try to patch things up again.

GOLDMAN: What she say?

ANDERSON: She said she’s catching a civilian flight to Saigon – she wants to tell me somethin’.

[10:15] We're Going In Hot

GOLDMAN: We’re goin’ in hot.

ANDERSON: Lock ‘n’ load.

MCKAY: Lay down some fire boys.

MCKAY: Go—go—go—go

MCKAY: Go—go. Let’s go.

[10:45] The Battle Rages

ANDERSON: Call in the arty.

GOLDMAN: Dammit. Redlake four-two, this is Bravo two-six. Over

CRAWFORD: You gotta help me Roo.

RUIZ: Alright

CRAWFORD: You’ve gotta help me man.

RUIZ: Alright—alright. Alright just stay down and behind me, alright cherry. When I move – you move.

[11:15] I Messed My Pants Roo

GOLDMAN: Fire mission from Romeo Papa Alpha

CRAWFORD: I can’t man. I can’t Roo.

GOLDMAN: Two-zero-zero mikes November. Will adjust.

CRAWFORD: I messed my pants. Oh God, I’ve messed my pants.

RUIZ: Okay cherry, you stay behind me like white on rice. You got it? You got it? Alright now fire your weapon sometimes Crawford, it’ll make you feel better. Alright let’s get set, come on. Ready?

[11:36] Let's Move, Newbie

RUIZ: Alright, let’s get outta here – come on Crawford, come on.

RUIZ: Fire Crawford. Fire.

RUIZ: Crawford!. Crawford! Crawford get down! Crawford!

ANDERSON: People let’s go.

JOHNSON: Medic!

[12:18] McKay Wants To Help Fight

MCKAY: We’re goin’ back

CO-PILOT: We’re low on fuel—we’re low on fuel.

MCKAY: Let’s rock ‘n’ roll

MCKAY: Take the controls

CO-PILOT: I’ve got the controls.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Yeah come on—come on—come on

TAYLOR: Yeah—yeah ???

[13:54] McKay, You Idiot!

ANDERSON & TAYLOR:  ???

GOLDMAN: You idiot.

???: Let’s go. Go--go

[14:42] Meeting With Bridger

ALEX: Hey, Bridger

BRIDGER: Hey, you look in fighting shape Alex. How you keep so tight?

ALEX: Running – trying to survive this war.

BRIDGER: I’m a survivor too. Korea, Nam – very messy life. But dyin’ before I’m old and grey, that just ain’t in my plans.

ALEX: Yeah well it’s never it anybody’s plans but it happens. Now, you said you had something for me.

BRIDGER: I gotta be careful talking to you, you know. See, some people come into my hotel here, they know I stumbled onto things I shouldn’t ‘ve.

ALEX: Is it about drugs?

BRIDGER: Black market covers my overhead and I sold my soul to the denizens of the swamp a long time ago, but drugs – ain’t my style.

ALEX: Look Bridger, I’ve been tracking the black market dope connections. I’m interested in government ties.

BRIDGER: Alex, corruption’s the flow. Headlining it in the Washington Post is not gonna change a century’s worth of history. Besides I got a bigger story than the black market.

ALEX: How big?

[15:58] What Do You Know About Tet?

BRIDGER: What do you know about Tet?

ALEX: It’s the oriental Lunar New Year. Most important Vietnamese holiday. Celebration lasts a week, it’s time for new luck, new resolutions.

BRIDGER: There’s supposed to be a seven day cease fire agreed to by both sides.

ALEX: Hm hm

BRIDGER: Well see, people who I do business with, they got VC connections and they say the city’s crawling with their kissing cousins. Comin’ in baby, not out.

ALEX: What else?

BRIDGER: Guns. Smuggled in in ox carts, false bottoms of trucks, you name it. I think the fireworks in Saigon during Tet, they’re gonna be for real this time.

ALEX: How much VC activity are we talking about?

BRIDGER: Enough to scare the hell out of ol’ John Wayne.

ALEX: So why don’t you take it down to Army Command at MacV?

BRIDGER: The VC. They know I know too much. I may already’ve signed my death warrant.

ALEX: You mighta what?

BRIDGER: That’s all I can tell you Alex. Have a drink on the house. And when I’m gone and you write the story, make sure you spell my name right.

[17:04] His Mother's Rosary

GOLDMAN: The new kid?

ANDERSON: Crawford. He never went anywhere without his mother’s rosary beads.

GOLDMAN: Lotta good it did him.

ANDERSON: I think the idea is it might do him some good now.

GOLDMAN: I admire anyone that’s got a plan.

[18:00] Sarge Comforts Ruiz

ANDERSON: Ruiz, let it go now.

RUIZ: You know that kid was right Sarge. Charlie’s got a bullet out there with all our names on it, only he took the one meant for me.

[18:14] Who Called The Shots?

MCKAY: Who the hell called the shots on this one Goldman?

GOLDMAN: I don’t know. It was supposed to be an easy operation. Look, you guys saved our bacon out there. Tell you what, you promise to crank down that music a tad next time, I owe you a beer.

MCKAY: Make that a case for my crew. You got your butts spared today ‘cos I was boogying in the kitchen an’ boogying in the hall.

GOLDMAN: Well don’t let modesty stand in your way Mckay.

MCKAY: Fact is there’s not another jockey in-country who can massage a huey like me. Now if you gentlemen ever need the Lone Ranger, you know the number to dial to rock ‘n’ roll.

[18:45] Tag 'Em & Bag 'Em

MORGUE ATTENDANT: Tag ‘em an’ bag ‘em. More bloods leavin’ on a jet plane. We zip ‘em up tight so they’ll be comfy for their flights back to Mobil, Motown, wherever.

JOHNSON: We’re losing our brothers out there every day brother. Ain’t nothin’ humorous about it.

MORGUE ATTENDANT: Tell it to the man Jim. It’s his war, not ours.

PERCELL: Don’t mean nothin’ Johnson.

TAYLOR: Yeah come on man. Look man, that’s just more of the reason why we should be getting’ into Saigon and talkin’ futures with Jake Bridger, that’s all that is.

JOHNSON: Okay but we—er—need a coupla passes man or we’re lookin’ KP right in the face.

TAYLOR: KP baby, look. Do you think I’m gonna get somethin’ like a little war get between you getting’ behind the wheel of our coffee colored cruiser. Come on.

[19:30] I Have A Date With A Shower

ALEX: Lieutenant Goldman.

GOLDMAN: Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I got a date with a hot shower.

ALEX: I heard it was rough out there today.

GOLDMAN: You hear a lot of things. You ever get any hostility in the field?

ALEX: Some, but all the average grunt wants is for us to tell it like it is, pain and all. And that’s not necessarily what’s been in the press till now.

GOLDMAN: Well I wouldn’t know -- my subscription ran out.

ALEX: Okay Goldman, I get the message alright, you’re not real fond of the press. Sometimes I’m not proud of the buttons I have to push either. But there’s more going on in this war than American casualties.

GOLDMAN: Not from where I’m standing lady.

ALEX: This country is being ripped apart. Two million refugees, hundreds of babies being born every day, one in ten dies in infancy, one in six dies of tuberculosis. The rest are headed where?

GOLDMAN: Where? Well you go into a ville and a mama-san smiles at you and her little girl rides by on her bicycle with a basket full of pineapple and beer. An’ the first GI that reaches in that basket goes up with it an’ they’re scraping what’s left of him off the nearest tree.

ALEX: I understand you have a responsibility to write a letter home to the family when something like that happens.

GOLDMAN: Yeah

ALEX: What do you say?

GOLDMAN: I tell them that their son died bravely serving his country and I leave out the part where he was reaching for a beer when he got aced because he was probably under-aged.

[20:57] He Died For His Country

GOLDMAN: Now it’s been over a week, where you at with this Rivera story?

ALEX: You delivered his body to the base, how did you write it?

GOLDMAN: Killed in the line of duty.

ALEX: You know I asked a few people about you. Straight-arrow rep, by the book. You’d be the last one I’d think would want something covered up.

GOLDMAN: Look, Rivera didn’t ask to come here. He was fighting a war and what you write sensationalizes it.

ALEX: Listen, when I first talked to Rivera, he just seemed like a burn-out who was spaced on war and dope and wanted to help stop the pain for other GIs.

GOLDMAN: Rivera’s unit got overrun by NVA. The only way he survived was to pull the dead bodies of his buddies on top of him an’ play dead himself. The gooks stopped and took the watch off his wrist. He never got past that.

ALEX: Okay, okay look. I’m filing the drug story and I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. But I won’t use Rivera’s name.

[21:37] Music And Showers

TAYLOR: Percell—Percell—Percell. We've been primed an' pumped for this party of yours for so long, I want you to know I expect Martha and the Vandellas to put in a personal appearance.

JOHNSON: Give the man some slack on his birthday Marcus, although Martha and the Vandellas do sound might fine by yours truly.

[22:18] Radio Propaganda

RADIO: Oh yeah, that was Junior Walker and the All Stars and we’re just warming up here….

TAYLOR: Oww. Listen to that voice.

PERCELL: Oh year man, ain’t she somethin’?

RADIO: … very warm. I’m getting so warm guys, I’m almost hot. So don’t go away, because this is Uptown Vanessa Brown and it’s party time in Saigon. Just you and me and Marvin and Tammy

TAYLOR: Johnson, I think I’ve found the woman I’m gonna marry.

PERCELL: I don’t know Marcus, I might be proposing to her myself.

TAYLOR: I heard that Percell. Anybody sounds that sweet could cure your insomnia an’ anything else that ails you.

PERCELL: I guess. Hey you guys have time to have a talk, maybe can go grab a beer before the party.

JOHNSON: We don’t wanna talk Percell.

TAYLOR: That’s right, we wanna get down.

[22:55] A Despondent Ruiz

JOHNSON: Hey Roo. Time to party man.

RUIZ: I ain’t going man.

TAYLOR: You mean—you ain’t what? What’d you mean, you ain’t goin’?

RUIZ: Just let me be alright Taylor?

TAYLOR: Look Roo, you ain’t getting’ into that Santiria crap again, are ya?

RUIZ: Santaria man. An’ it’s at times like these you get back into your traditional values.

JOHNSON: Hey come on Marcus, it’s his family’s religion man.

TAYLOR: Damn that. I ain’t got time for all this Puerto Rican mumbo-jumbo.

RUIZ: And I don’t wanna he hassled about my religious preference by a degenerate like you.

[23:34] Don't Drink Alone, Sarge

GOLDMAN: It’s not healthy to drink alone. Take it from an expert.

ANDERSON: Yeah?

GOLDMAN: Yeah. You know when I first got shipped over here I went on a classic bender – that’s fine -- I don’t think it was from fear of combat it was probably more from fear of failure.

ANDERSON: What, your ol’ man?

GOLDMAN: H’mm. Anyway I think I was still hung over when touched down at Cam Ranh. I figured I’m not gonna measure up to him anyway so I may as well find my own flames to get shot down in.

ANDERSON: My ol’ man was a boxer. Did I ever tell you that? Yeah, he was a club fighter. He had a glass jaw with a big reputation as a drinker, woman chaser.

GOLDMAN: Wait a minute—wait a minute. I thought you said you were an orphan.

ANDERSON: I was—I am. I mean he run out on my mom when she was still pregnant with me an’ after she had me she couldn’t keep me so she had to turn over custody to the State. A coupla years later she got killed in a car wreck an’ there I was.

GOLDMAN: Sorry. So what happened to him?

ANDERSON: Well, when I was old enough I er—I set out hitch-hikin’ round the country tryin’ to find him. Took a whole year tryin’ to track him down, this er—this man I’d never met that I hated. I didn’t know what I was gonna do when I found him, maybe I was even gonna kill him.

GOLDMAN: Well d’you find him?

ANDERSON: Yes I did. Elizabeth, New Jersey. I spent a whole day one day watchin’ him play in the park with his new wife an’ kids, an’ at the end of the day I just got up an’ walked away an’ I never looked back. LT, I got stuff goin’ on in my life now I cannot come to terms with.

GOLDMAN: Seeing your ex?

ANDERSON: Yeah. I mean it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out why she left me. I re-upped twice, three tours in Nam.

GOLDMAN: Well look, the Tet cease-fire’s coming up. Charlie’s gonna be on vacation, baying at the moon or visiting his dead relatives – whatever the hell he does. Why don’t you take a day or so? Hell I’m goin’ into Saigon.

ANDERSON: The lady journalist?

GOLDMAN: Yeah. She promised not to write to Rivera story, I promised to buy her a drink.

[25:46] Brothers Shootin' Craps

TAYLOR: Ah

???: Damn man, I ain’t never seen anybody on such a hot roll.

TAYLOR: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet Home an’ you know what? I’m willin’ to let it all ride for those passes into Saigon you brothers’ holdin’ in your pockets.

???: Alright

TAYLOR: Come on baby. Hello seven—yeah mama. Come on with it boys, hand over them passes.

[26:10] Take It Somewhere Else

MCKAY: Hold it. Gentlemen.

GOLDMAN: McKay.

MCKAY: This is Billy the Kid gentlemen. Say hello Billy. Billy’s crew just got in from An Khe, LZ Lima.

GOLDMAN: With all respect McKay, why don’t you take it somewhere else, huh.

MCKAY: Billy’s gunship got hit by Victor Charles and went down hard. Billy survived but his crew, well they weren’t so lucky – goin’ back to the world in that long black limousine.

ANDERSON: Lieutenant, I think everybody in this room’s seen their share of the war.

MCKAY: That’s true but you see Anderson I was born an’ bred a winner. It’s never been enough for me to just be in the game. You know I was told by a mutual friend in Saigon that you were a winner too Goldman, or at least a contender.

GOLDMAN: And who would that be McKay?

MCKAY: Oh Alex Devlin.

[27:04] Prove Yourselves A Lot

GOLDMAN: Tell me somethin’ McKay. Why is it most of you chopper jocks gotta constantly prove what hotshots you are. Is there some sort of a code? Hearts an’ minds, heroes an’ villains.

MCKAY: Well um, mostly I’m just here to grease gooks for mom, apple pie an’ the flag. What are you here for Goldman?

ANDERSON: Excuse me gentlemen. Lieutenant McKay, no disrespect intended here but won’t you please just take it on down the line. We don’t want no blood spilt here tonight.

MCKAY: Whatever’s fair gentlemen. An’ you’re right, if we spill any blood, it oughta be Charlies. Say goodnight Billy.

[27:55] Danny Wants A Word

GOLDMAN: I’m outta here.

PERCELL: LT, LT you got a minute?

GOLDMAN: Yeah, what is it Percell?

PERCELL: I need to talk to someone about this—the insomnia that I got.

GOLDMAN: Insomnia? Okay well why don’t you head on down to the dispensary…….

PERCELL: No—no—no—no-- LT I know what it is that’s making it so’s that I can’t sleep. It’s er—my—my conscience is hurtin’ me

GOLDMAN: Your conscience?

PERCELL: Yeah LT an’ I’ll tell you what it is, it’s the lyin’. All the lyin’.

GOLDMAN: Lyin’?

PERCELL: Yeah LT, I’m tellin’ you we lie to the press, we lie about the body counts, we lie about our feelin’s about the war. Hey I find myself lyin’ about—just about everything.

GOLDMAN: Percell, you don’t need a lieutenant, you need a chaplain.

[28:45] Happy Birthday, Percell

???: Hey hey, cut the music. Hey Percell. Happy birthday to you….happy birthday

PERCELL: Hell, it ain’t even my birthday. I lied.

???: …happy birthday Percell, happy birthday to you

[29:05] Ruiz Visits The Morgue

RUIZ: ….. said something, helped you somehow. Maybe if I had you’d be sitting here and it would be me on that jet plane instead of you man. You know but all things considered you look good. You know I never noticed before but you got a nice profile. Good character in your face. An’ you know that’s what your family an’ friends you know, that’s what they’re gonna remember.

MORGUE ATTENDANT: Hey—hey—hey soldier – you’re not allowed in here. This is off-limits.

RUIZ: My friend and I are having a chat an’ we don’t wanna be disturbed, so get the hell outta here.

[30:18] You've Got The Freedombird

RUIZ: You know the trip home to Georgia, it’s gonna be a breeze Crawford. You know you get the freedom bird, then the midnight special. You get a nice casket with the flag on it – an’ you’ll be buried on the hill overlooking your town. Hey man, it don’t sound that bad huh? It don’t sound that bad.

[30:48] Bridger Is A Hustler

TAYLOR: …….. man we’re gonna do it. You’re lookin’ at the future land barons of the Orient Sarge. See, I’m an idea man. I don’t know why it is, but zap! Ideas just pop into my head.

ANDERSON: Right Taylor.

TAYLOR: No I’m serious. Johnson an’ me, we’re gonna franchise the hotels. See we open up the one in Saigon, then we open up one in Bangkok then Singapore.

JOHNSON: See Sarge, my family’s been dirt farmers for generations, never owned anything more than a fistful of Mississippi mud. This hotel really means a lot to me.

ANDERSON: Johnson, you look in Webster’s under “hustler” you’re gonna see mugshots of Jake Bridger. He’s the biggest scrounger this army ever saw.

TAYLOR: Well the man’s okay in my book Sarge. He took me under his wing an’ showed me a couple of tricks when he was runnin’ the clubs. See he bought half the booze with his own money, put half the profits in his own pocket.

ANDERSON: Taylor, you were his driver, you understand what I’m sayin’? Otherwise he wouldn’t have even noticed you. How’d you two get out of the KP duty anyway?

TAYLOR: Yeah, well the Lord works in mysterious ways Sarge.

JOHNSON: Yeah, like crap games. Taylor beat the Chaplain’s assistant out of two passes an’ four hundred bucks.

ANDERSON: That figures. How much a piece of this hotel put you back Johnson?

JOHNSON: Just cashed in my Class E Allotment, sort of as a down payment.

ANDERSON: Oh no! All of it? Have you even seen the hotel Johnson?

JOHNSON: Absolutely. Well, Bridger showed me a picture.

ANDERSON: A picture? That’s wonderful Johnson.

[32:02] Bus To Saigon

ANDERSON: Excuse me miss, excuse me. You do realize this is a military bus to Saigon, don’t you?

STACY: I have permission from the Transportation Officer.

ANDERSON: Oh that’s okay.

STACY: Why are the windows covered?

ANDERSON: Oh that’s to stop Charlie from using ‘em as targets for his grenades.

TAYLOR: Hey, you wanna know about the war darlin’? See, we’re all bona fide Medal of Honor winners, we’re just waitin’ for LBJ and Diana Ross to sashay over on Air Force One for the official ceremony.

ANDERSON: Get on the bus.

[32:36] Saigon Tet Fireworks

GOLDMAN: We’re gonna hear fireworks all over the city this week. The Vietnamese believe in the Chinese superstition that Tet’s the time of year for fireworks, they scare away the evil spirits for the coming year.

ALEX: Well, if the superstition works, the year of the Monkey should be a good year then.

GOLDMAN: Yeah right.

ALEX: You know Lieutenant, you have the smarts and the background that would be very attractive to Intelligence. I could introduce you to a major at S-2.

GOLDMAN: Well first of all my name is Myron, and I don’t think I better be making any sudden career moves before I figure out who’s winning this war.

ALEX: Well if you believe the PR handouts from command at MacV, we’re kicking charlie’s butt royally.

GOLDMAN: And who do you listen to?

ALEX: If I listened to my sources, I’d say we might be in real trouble. There’s been a pattern of recent VC activity.

GOLDMAN: How do you know that?

ALEX: You mean how do I know what the grunt in the field doesn’t know? I’m plugged into City Hall, I work hard at cultivating my sources.

GOLDMAN: Your major at S-2?

ALEX: He let it slip that an operation order for an attack against Pleiku was captured. ARVN 23rd captured another order for an assault on Ban Me Thuct.

GOLDMAN: Alex, every single year there are rumors that the Tet cease-fire may be cancelled and that the dinks are gonna try something big.

ALEX: Yeah, but this time there’s also been a precipitous drop in enemy defections. Look, I just fell into it a week or so ago while I was tracking my black market story, but from what I hear ………

[34:19] Brush With Mo-Peds

GOLDMAN: What the hell are you doing?

ALEX: Myron, Myron leave it alone, it’s not gonna prove anything.

[34:36] Bus Bound For Saigon

STACY: You look like you have something heavy on your mind. Like maybe the gas chamber and there’s not going to be any last minute phone call from the governor.

ANDERSON: Oh I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna meet with somebody I haven’t seen for a while.

STACY: I know what you mean, I’m meeting my father. My name’s Stacy.

ANDERSON: I’m Zeke, glad to meet you.

STACY: Hi Zeke.

ANDERSON: Your dad in the army here?

STACY: Retired. Who are you meeting?

ANDERSON: My ex-wife. And it’s a long story.

STACY: A man of few words?

ANDERSON: Yeah, that’s me I guess.

STACY: That’s what my mother used to tell me about my father. Things happened, combat, that made it difficult for him to talk – at least around her.

ANDERSON: Does he know you’re comin’?

STACY: Not exactly. It’s a surprise.

[35:43] Next Stop, Saigon

ANDERSON: Well, that’s me.

STACY: Good luck.

ANDERSON: Thanks. Hey, you two. Take it easy.

TAYLOR: Yeah, we’ll catch you at the hotel Sarge.

ANDERSON: Alright, hang on to your watches – and your pants.

[36:22] Sarge Meets Carol

CAROL: Hi Zeke.

ANDERSON: Hey Carol. I tried your room but they said you were down here.

CAROL: You know me and my coffee. If I don’t have a few cups in the morning I have to have a kick-start to get through the day.

ANDERSON: Come here.

ANDERSON: It’s good to see you.

CAROL: You too. I was worried about you. There were some marines in here and they were talking that Khe San had been attacked by a large unit of VA and NVA.

ANDERSON: Yeah, we’ve been hearing those reports. They’re getting’ mortared and rocketed pretty hard up there. We’re just prayin’ it doesn’t turn out to be another Dien Bien Phu you know. Look Carol, I—I’ve got so much I wanna say to you, you know. I mean you know how I feel. I mean I’ve said it about as well as I could say it in a letter ……

CAROL: Zeke, I only have a short time. I have a return flight tomorrow.

ANDERSON: Well I was thinkin’ that you could at least stick around for a couple of days, you know.

CAROL: Well, it isn’t that easy.

ANDERSON: Oh don’t get me wrong. I mean I know it wasn’t smooth sailin’ for you to get over here.

CAROL: Tell me about it. I was lucky enough I could make arrangements through Bragg, catch a military hop over, but I couldn’t get that much time off work.

[37:55] Zeke I Got Your Letter

CAROL: Zeke, when I got your letter I felt I had to come. We had to talk.

ANDERSON: That’s good. Because even though we have a short time, this is an opportunity for us to clear the air. My God you look good. You do. I like your hair like this.

CAROL: You have time for a walk?

ANDERSON: Hey, Carol I’ve got nothin’ but time for you. Now if I can ever get this war out of the way, maybe you’ll give me a chance to prove it.

[38:40] Hotel Paradise

TAYLOR: We’re gonna be rich home, take it to the bank.

JOHNSON: All I want is some interest on my investment ???

TAYLOR: Wait a minute now. All I see is a bunch of regulation haircuts and some fine lookin’ young ladies.

JOHNSON: Well Bridger did say he had strong business with servicemen.

[39:22] Myron And Alex Dine

GOLDMAN: Yes we have taken our share of beatings in the bush but what you’re talking about is a major……..what you’re talking about is a major offensive. Charlie isn’t capable of synchronizing anything that big. Look at this meat.

ALEX: Oh, black market pleasures of Saigon. Wait till you get the tab?

GOLDMAN: I thought you had an expense account.

ALEX: What expense account? Listen, current estimates put the number of NVA and VC at three hundred thousand. Now that’s an increase over last month’s figures. Why couldn’t Charlie put together something big?

GOLDMAN: By dispersing his forces, he’s multiplying his points of vulnerability.

ALEX: You know you’re just proving you should be considering something with more opportunity than platoon leader.

GOLDMAN: Well I’ll give up combat when you trash your typewriter.

ALEX: What, go back to Portland an’ cover peace demonstrations? Watch the war on a teletype?

GOLDMAN: I like Portland.

ALEX: And I still like my typewriter.

GOLDMAN: And I’m still trying to figure out who you are.

ALEX: Nobody special. Just trying to work my way through the war like you and survive all the pain and suffering I see. You know, Evac hospital, An Khe, there was this kid from Memphis. He’d been given last rites twice. He asked me to sit up with him one night while he slept – he woke up in the middle of the night screaming “there ain’t no frigging justice”. Then he died.

GOLDMAN: Everybody’s a critic these days. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.

ALEX: Don’t worry about it.

[40:58] Shoeshine GI?

SHINE BOY: Hey GI, need shine? Number one shoe shine.

ALEX: They’re all pros huh. They’ll be selling used cars in Cleveland after the war. No shine today sweetheart, GI cheap Charlie.

SHINE BOY: Dinky dau cigarette? Changee money.

WAITRESS:  ????

GOLDMAN: No, no. It’s okay ??? it’s okay. Here, give him something to eat if he wants it.

[42:21] Zeke And Carol Take A Walk

ANDERSON: You remember Harley Correll don’t you, from Boyse Fishing Guide Service. Well I got a letter from him, he said that that fishing guide job is mine whenever I want it. He’d be willing to loan me the money for a down payment on my own boat.

CAROL: That’s wonderful Zeke.

ANDERSON: Well I just wanted you to know I intend to be gainfully employed when I get back. I want it to work out this time.

CAROL: Zeke, I always wanted it to work.

ANDERSON: I figure, you know, trying to have a personal life and a life in the military at the same time, you’ve gotta make sacrifices you know. I made some mistakes, I made all the mistakes. But I just don’t wanna throw away what we had.

CAROL: Zeke, what we had was slipping away even before you left for Nam whether you want to admit it or not.

ANDERSON: I know, I know but…….

CAROL: Zeke, your daughter just turned three. Do you know when her birthday is? Do you remember the color of her eyes?

ANDERSON: Alright, I shouldn’t’ve forgotten her birthday, I’m sorry about that. I’m only fightin’ a war over here. I’m not nominating myself for any medals or anything Carol. I’m just tellin’ you if I had a chance, if I had half a chance I know I could come back and be a damn good father and a good husband.

CAROL: Zeke, people either have to get to the point where they’re going forward or going back.

ANDERSON: Well you think I don’t know that? Honey we gotta – we gotta reach for more than what we got. I’m just tryin’ to tell you I’m willin’ to do that.

CAROL: Oh Zeke, I wanted to…….

ANDERSON: Listen, please. Give me another chance. I wanna come home.

[42:54] I'm Getting Remarried, Zeke

CAROL: Zeke, I’ll always love you but I have to make a life for Katie and myself. I made this trip because I felt I had an obligation to tell you, face to face, I’m getting remarried Zeke.

ANDERSON: What?

CAROL: He’s not you. It’s not magic. But he’s a nice guy, and I’m happy. For the first time in four years, I’m happy – and I have a life outside the army. Can you understand that?

[43:43] Shoeshine Boy Dines

GOLDMAN: By the way, I met a chopper jock named McKay. Mentioned he knew you.

ALEX: Did he?

GOLDMAN: Yes he did. Not that I’m jealous by nature, but oh, let’s say an NVA fifty caliber were to take his chopper down, how would you feel about that?

ALEX: Well that depends, would you be on the chopper with him?

GOLDMAN: One of my pet peeves is people who answer a question with a question.

ALEX: Alright, I met McKay when I was doing a story on chopper pilots.

GOLDMAN: How in depth did this story get?

ALEX: Well it didn’t get as personal as McKay would have liked, but he’s great copy.

GOLDMAN: Yeah I’ll bet.

ALEX: The first day in-country, he trades a nine millimeter pistol and a humidor of Cuban cigars for a jeep, because he felt pilots shouldn’t walk.

GOLDMAN: Are you seeing him?

ALEX: I thought jealousy wasn’t in your nature.

GOLDMAN: Only when it counts.

[44:35] Shoeshine Boy Flees

GOLDMAN: How do you handle it over here? Don’t you get lonely?

ALEX: I was married when I was in college. It didn’t work out, it was too young, too early-- broke up after, like, two years. But no, I’m not lonely.

GOLDMAN: Sounds like it might’ve been rough.

ALEX: Well, loving someone it no guarantee that you’re gonna make each other happy.

GOLDMAN: So, would you like to get a ………..

End

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