Transcript: (2x15) Hard Stripe

From Bravo 3/44th

Directed by: Jim Johnston

Story by: Dennis Cooper and Jerry Patrick Brown

Teleplay by: Jerry Patrick Brown

See the Episode Guide

[01.30] On patrol

No dialogue

[03.26] Johnson spots something

GOLDMAN: What?

JOHNSON: Not sure. Through there...

GOLDMAN: Who the hell is that?

ANDERSON: LT, you know who that is? That’s Jim Doyle, my buddy from CIA. You met him last week on the base. He was recruiting short-timers.

GOLDMAN: I know who he is. What’s he doin’ out here?

ANDERSON: Dunno. They don’t call ‘em spooks for nothin’.

GOLDMAN: Alright, let’s move to ???

???: Security out. Let’s go.

???: Security out. Let’s get a perimeter

[04.15] Jim Doyle in a tree

DOYLE: Zeke! My lucky day. Lieutenant.

GOLDMAN: This is a free-fire zone Doyle. What are you doing out here?

DOYLE: Now don’t get your oysters in a stew LT. Just taking care of business.

DOYLE: Russian Dragunuv. Intelligence has been tryin’ to get a look at one of these for a while. My Cambodian contact scored these for me. But I had to come out here to get ‘em.

GOLDMAN: And you just happened to be standin’ around out here in the middle of nowhere, half a click from my PZ with no way to get your prize back to the base.

DOYLE: Like I said LT – my lucky day.

GOLDMAN: Yeah, right.

ANDERSON: Alright, c’mon (Phil?), Dwain—grab this box(?). C’mon Johnson, you’re on point. Go – you know what to do.

???: You heard him we’re movin’ out.

[05.20] Ambush on The River

ANDERSON: Take cover—take cover

ANDERSON: Two o’clock—two o’clock

ANDERSON: Cover him—cover him

ANDERSON: Lay down cover

JOHNSON: Grenade! Smitty roll outta there!

???: Grenade!

GOLDMAN: Hold your fire. They’re pullin’ back.

DOYLE: What you guys lookin’ at? Get over here an’ give me a hand with these crates.

[07.12] Back at Tan Son Nhut

SMITH: ‘Fraid it’s shot LT.

GOLDMAN: Ah it’s just a radio Smitty. Grab me a survey sheet. I’ll have someone write it up as a combat loss

ANDERSON: LT. Smitty was lucky to get outta that one. He was asking me about his promotion.

GOLDMAN: Well you can tell him he got it. He’s almost a sergeant.

ANDERSON: Of course you realize, that wasn’t Charlie that hit us out there. Those were Montagnards. The thing is the Montagnards in that area are supposed to be friendly.

GOLDMAN: I know. That’s not the only thing about today’s mission I don’t buy. You know we were supposed to ??? on a recon. I don’t believe it.

ANDERSON: So what are you sayin’?

GOLDMAN: I don’t think it was an accident that Doyle just crossed our path. I think we were sent out there to pick him up.

ANDERSON: Look here LT, I know where he stays in town. How about I stop by there an’ have a few words with him. Maybe I can pump some information out of him.

GOLDMAN: You think he’ll tell you anything?

ANDERSON: I’ll give it a shot.

GOLDMAN: Alright. Let me know.

[08.32] Palm burning

DOYLE: One of our guys used to do this till his palm turned black. Never batted an eye.

ANDERSON: Yeah, why go bowling when you can toast your palm right

DOYLE: I’m talkin’ about nerve man. Guts.

ANDERSON: Well it took somethin’, that’s for sure. Jimmy, tell me somethin’. You bein’ out there today all on your lonesome like that. What in the hell was that all about?

DOYLE: I told you, I was takin’ care of business. I had to meet some of our people out there. Highway One man—it’s the main drag for making deliveries - for all goods comin’ out of Cambodia to Saigon. Narcotics to the world, weapons to Victor Charlie. Everything. Everything goes down that main road or real close to it – including those Ruskie rifles. I tell you somethin’ Zeke, that it a hot weapon. Trajectory – flat as a pancake. Shoots straight as a stick an’ way out there. These guys made a field grade weapon with competition specs.

ANDERSON: Yeah an’ our Intelligence guys just wanna tear it apart an’ see what makes it tick. Right?

DOYLE: You’ve got it. An’ that’s why I locked those babies up in the Company’s Arms’ Room

ANDERSON: No, no. I got this Jimmy. I got it.

DOYLE: Alright.

[10.03] Zeke & Doyle in the street

ANDERSON: Well what about the Montagnards today. I can’t figure.

DOYLE: How you supposed to figure those guys out. They’re one generation away from swinging through the trees.

ANDERSON: I don’t know about that. Just between you an’ me an’ the gatepost here, how’d you plan on getting’ back today if we hadn’t just happened along when we did?

DOYLE: It’ was taken care of Zeke.

ANDERSON: My LT, and the boy’s no fool Jimmy, my LT figures that you kind of had us in your plans from the beginning. You know like you knew where we were gonna be an’ you knew when we were gonna be there.

DOYLE: Well, he’s no fool but what difference does it make? We’re all on the same team, right?

ANDERSON: Well, he’s not so sure. An’ to be real honest with you, I’m not either. I’m only tellin’ you this Jimmy ‘cos I don’t want you to get jacked up by surprise.

DOYLE: Man I could be sellin’ anthrax cans to Uncle Ho and nobody gonna jack me up. Not only do these guys pay me a ton of money, they look out for me too - no matter what. It’s like I was tellin’ you before, my people they take care of their own. I mean even if I get a little dirk on my hands, I can’t be touched. I’m tellin’ you Zeke, it’s a great job. Just think about it, alright?

ANDERSON: Oh man, I’m too tired to think about anything else tonight.

DOYLE: Alright

[11.20] Myron asks Alex to check out Doyle

ALEX: You want me to use my Intelligence contacts to check out Doyle. All I’m asking is why?

GOLDMAN: Because I think our mission was a cover to provide protection for Doyle. Two guys got killed an’ I don’t think it was a legitimate CIA operation. ‘Cos if it was - why didn’t they give him cover? Why didn’t they bring him out? I think he’s going into business for himself.

ALEX: Okay, what do you want me to find out?

GOLDMAN: Anything. Where’s he’s from, what he’s doin’ here. Anything about those rifles.

ALEX: Alright. I’ll leave whatever I get with the clerk at S-3, okay?

GOLDMAN: Oh wait a minute – that’s a little impersonal don’t you think?

ALEX: That’s the way you wanted it, remember?

GOLDMAN: No that’s the way you insisted it would be.

[11.57] Anderson interrupts

ANDERSON: Miss Devlin.

ALEX: Sergeant. See you.

GOLDMAN: Alex. I thought I saw you on the flight line yesterday.

ALEX: No uhu, you’re not gonna be seein’ me there.

ANDERSON: Sorry about that.

GOLDMAN: That’s alright. I gotta walk to my hootch. Come on.

ANDERSON: I talked to Jim Doyle last night. He still claims it was a coincidence runnin’ into him in the bush like that.

GOLDMAN: You buy it.

ANDERSON: Well I mean, when he says it, it sounds good. He said the rifles are locked up in the Arms Room, and—er—that’s about it. Other than that, he just bragged about what a good job he’s got.

GOLDMAN: Okay, forget it. I’m gonna talk to the Major about it.

ANDERSON: Oh-er-I told Smitty he’s almost a sergeant. He asked me not to call him a dirty name.

GOLDMAN: I can understand that Sergeant.

ANDERSON: They’re having a party for him at the EM club

GOLDMAN: Good.

ANDERSON: You know some of the guys figured that—er—that Johnson earned that stripe.

GOLDMAN: Well, Johnson’s a real good soldier, but Smith’s got more time in service, he’s got more time in grade. He’s a short-timer an’ he’s got a wife an’ baby at home. I figured that extra stripe might help him get a rear area job for the rest of his tour.

ANDERSON: Well then I guess that makes Johnson next in line for the next opening then, huh?

GOLDMAN: AN’ he’ll get it. Tell him he can count on it.

[13.27] In the Showers

MCKAY: How you doin’ Myron? Listen, I wanted to talk to you.

GOLDMAN: Yeah

MCKAY: Yeah. I saw you on the flight line yesterday. You looked P-O’d at the universe. I figured it was because Alex wasn’t there to welcome you back.

GOLDMAN: That’s what you figured, huh?

MCKAY: You know life would be a lot easier if you just applied for the staff job, like she asked – or at least give it a try.

GOLDMAN: Oh that’s a helluva piece of advice comin’ from a combat junkie like you McKay.

MYRON: C’mon Myron, we’re different. You’ve got some education, a family history. You’ve got a future to look forward to. Me, I’m at the top of my game right now, right here in Vietnam. I mean, I love it but it will be over.

GOLDMAN: What are you getting at McKay. Alex put you up to this?

MCKAY: You’re not dumb Myron, so don’t say dumb things. Look she goes through the wringer every time you go out there. If you ignore that you’re gonna wind up out in the cold.

GOLDMAN: And you’re gonna be sitting by the fire holding her hand. Is that it?

MCKAY: Dammit Goldman, can’t you understand a thing I’m tellin’ you?

GOLDMAN: Are you tryin’ to tell me you’re not interested?

MCKAY: No. To me Alex is a class act but I’m not tryin’ to shoot you down. You crash an’ burn on your own, then that’s another story.

[14.42] Chow time

TAYLOR: I’ll bet you one day y’all learn to listen to me. Now take LT. Now as long as we’re out in the field – he’s one of us. But when we’re back here in the rear, around other officers – he’s one of them. See, us grunts we got needs an’ we got feelin’s. They don’t see that. They treat us like they own us – like we’re cattle.

PERCELL: Er--Marcus, I think that’s chattel.

TAYLOR: Whatever. But I still gotta go straighten up some new transfer’s office because Patterson happens to be preceded by Lieutenant an’ they think Taylor’s preceded by dirt.

JOHNSON: I never see you get so bent up over scutwork before

TAYLOR: I ain’t work brother, it’s the mentality. Take you – anybody been with you when it counts knows that you deserve them stripes. Unless of course they think you’re a little ‘too dark’ for the job.

JOHNSON: No, wait—wait. Ain’t nobody pullin’ that one on me brother. You should know better than that. LT did the right think by Smitty, an’ when it’s my stripe, he’d better do right by me.

RUIZ: You know something what the man says Marvin. Smitty ain’t half the soldier you are.

PERCELL: You know maybe you oughta give up this humble stuff an’ stick up for yourself.

JOHNSON: It’s got nothin’ to do with humble.

TAYLOR: Then why aren’t you in LT’s face?

JOHNSON: ‘Cos I humped those damn boonies too many times to--to jump bad an’ blow it now. So from now on, I’m gonna do things the smart way an’ let the system work for me. See, first you do the job, then if you don’t get what you deserve, you got a gripe. Show you how I feel, I’m gonna be the first one to buy ol’ Smitty a beer when he gets that stripe on his sleeve.

PERCELL: I’ll tell you what Marvin. When you do get your hard stripe, you’re gonna be the best sergeant this army ever had.

TAYLOR: If he lives to see it.

JOHNSON: LT knows what he’s doin’. Believe that.

TAYLOR: Yeah, sure he does. But do you? Damn officers!

[16.31] Taylor meets Patterson

TAYLOR: ‘Scuse me. I’ve been sent here to wet-nurse some officer by the name of Patterson. You have any idea where he might be.

PATTERSON: I’m Lieutenant Patterson.

TAYLOR: Specialist Taylor reports ma’am. Sorry

PATTERSON: Not the first time it’s happened. Temporary office, I need to move some things around.

TAYLOR: Yes ma’am.

PATTERSON: This—this needs to go about four feet that way. They send you to watch?

TAYLOR: Oh, sorry ma’am.

PATTERSON: Okay, now-um—this desk……..

PATTERSON:  ???

TAYLOR: You’re gonna cut yourself on that glass ma’am. I’m sure the lady in the picture wouldn’t want that to happen.

PATTERSON: It’s my grandmamma. She passed away three weeks ago. She raised me.

TAYLOR: You know, my grandmother raised me too – from a baby. You called her by her first name?

PATTERSON: Yeah, all us kids did. We heard the people she used to clean for.

TAYLOR: You know, you’re not gonna be able to get this glass from the PX, but I know a place in Saigon I can get it for you.

PATTERSON: No—no. It’s not necessary.

TAYLOR: No--no problem. I want to.

[18.10] Darling playing toy soldiers

GOLDMAN: Sir, Agent Doyle was a good click to a click and a half from any ground transportation. He would have had to be extracted out of there by chopper, but there weren’t any other choppers in that AO, except for our pickup.

DARLING: Fifteen hundred meters isn’t much of a walk Lieutenant.

GOLDMAN: Carrying two crates of rifles at about fifty pounds a piece

DARLING: He could have concealed the rifles and come back for them later with transportation.

GOLDMAN: Sir, it’s a free-fire zone.

DARLING: Lieutenant, make your point.

GOLDMAN: Yes Sir. Agent Doyle knew where to be and when to be there. He knew my orders.

DARLING: We have an open relationship with the CIA. They are a government agency.

GOLDMAN: But Sir, I don’t think he was working on a legitimate CIA operation. Otherwise, why didn’t they pick him up? I mean they have men, they have choppers ….

DARLING: Lieutenant, I want you to forget about those rifles, Agent Doyle, yesterday’s missions, and keep out of the CIA’s business. Understand?

GOLDMAN: I hear you.

[19.12] Patterson in the Club

PATTERSON: You run this club Sergeant, you keep the books. When the Inspector General’s office says present your records for audit, that’s what you do. Understand? There’s a river of government goods running from Tan Son Nhut to the black market in Saigon. We’re gonna dry it up. I want to see your inventory on tobacco, liquor as well as income and disbursements. Fourteen hundred hours – my office – with your books.

SERGEANT: Yes ma’am.

[19.39] Smitty's party

JOHNSON: Here’s to you Smitty. You deserve it man.

ALEX: Yeah, congratulations Smitty.

ANDERSON: Yo Smitty! You’re gonna have to get used to bein’ called that dirty five-letter word………….Sarge.

ALEX: Well listen, I’ve really enjoyed working with all you guys. I’m gonna miss it.

JOHNSON: We’re gonna miss having you around with us too.

SMITH: Yeah, thanks for coming by Miss Devlin.

ALEX: You got it.

[20.00] McKay & Alex

MCKAY: Alex. Hold on—listen. What was that I just heard? It sounded like you’re leaving us.

ALEX: Oh, no—no—no. What I meant was I’m just gonna be doing fewer stories on Myron’s platoon. I wanna write a broader view of the war. That’s all.

MCKAY: So you an’ Goldman really are quits?

ALEX: When we’re just not as involved as we were. Actually, we’re not involved at all.

MCKAY: Well I guess that’s kinda sad.

ALEX: Onward and upward Johnny.

MCKAY: Listen, I’ve always been interested in you but Myron became a friend, so I kept my distance. Now if you two are really history ….

ALEX: Johnny, come on. Aren’t you ever serious, huh?

MCKAY: I’m serious right now. Have dinner with me tomorrow night.

ALEX: Alright, I’ll be on the base tomorrow, we can talk okay?

MCKAY: Okay. Bullseye!

[20.44] Patterson

BARNETT: Man the bet’s ten bucks.

PERKINS: That’s military money. But this cash is worth five times what MPC’s are worth in town.

PATTERSON: What are you doing with cash Private? Possession of U.S. currency is in direct violation of army regulations, isn’t it?

PERKINS: Yes’m

PATTERSON: So I know the first thing you’re gonna do in the morning is take that cash to the Finance Office, which is next door to my office, and exchange it for MPCs. Right soldier?

PERKINS: Right.

PATTERSON: First thing. Don’t make a liar out of me.

[21.20] Taylor's u-turn

JOHNSON(?): Oow

PERKINS: Frill’s got no business bein’ an officer. I mean the least she could do is cut a brother some slack.

TAYLOR: What’d you mean, cut you some slack? She didn’t call the MP’s did she? You know you’re problem is you don’t know a good officer when you see one.

PERCELL: Taylor! Seems your opinion of officers took a u-turn.

RUIZ: Yeah, a u-turn at the sight of some soft shoulders.

JOHNSON: An’ some dangerous curves.

TAYLOR: What you guys know?

RUIZ: We know that if you try to get close to an officer, you’re gonna end up in the stockade.

TAYLOR: Nobody’s tryin’ to get close to her. She happens to be a decent person with some class. Course, you suckers wouldn’t know anythin’ about women like that.

[22.05] Patterson's office

PATTERSON: This Vong Hoi Trucking Company in Saigon. Have they been contracted to do army work?

BRADY: Yes ma’am. Little one-truck outfit. Captain Bean hired them. He’s rotated back.

PATTERSON: These Bills of Lading are supposed to indicate cargo and destination. They don’t. Cargo: miscellaneous. Destination: local. That won’t do. Paperwork goes out over your desk, doesn’t it Mr Brady?

TAYLOR: Excuse me, sorry.

BRADY: I might have some collateral reports on this stuff. Requisition maybe. Receipts. I’ll look.

PATTERSON: Don’t look Mr Brady. Find.

[23.12] Taylor's swift idea

TAYLOR: I didn’t mean to interrupt Lieutenant. I’m beginning to think this wasn’t such a swift idea, what I had in mind.

PATTERSON: What is it Specialist?

TAYLOR: Okay…..I was thinkin’ about you an’ your grandmother. See, when I first came over here I was into some real troubled times. I was scared an’ alone. Well my grandmother, she sent me this tape. Spirituals, you know, songs she really loved. Some of ‘em she taught me when I was a kid. Well it helped me out a lot – it was like she was right there with me. And I—er—I thought it might help you.

PATTERSON: Thank you. Very much.

TAYLOR: Um—I hope it helps.

[24.30] Johnson's stripes

JOHNSON: Hey Smitty. What’s happenin’?

SMITH: I brought you somethin’.

JOHNSON: Sergeant’s stripes?

SMITH: Yeah, they give you a couple of sets an’ there’s no way I’m gonna be here to use both of them so-er—it’s my gift to you.

JOHNSON: Wow—thanks man. Thanks a lot.

SMITH: C’mon, only cost me about twelve cents.

JOHNSON: Well these mean a lot more than twelve cents to me.

SMITH: If it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t be around for them to pin ‘em on.

JOHNSON: Oh come on man.

SMITH: Look – I know some of the guys think you shoulda got the stripes instead of me an’ I don’t know if I don’t agree with ‘em.

JOHNSON: Hey Smitty, you deserve it man, I mean it. I mean, you got time on me. Besides, I’m due up next allocation.

SMITH: Marvin, you’re the best there is an’ if I’m half the sergeant you’d have been, I’ll be proud.

JOHNSON: Hey, you’re gonna be a fine sergeant – as long as you keep my name off the KP roster.

SMITH: This is my orders. Hand carryin’ these puppies down to the Finance Office so’s that kick-in pay starts next week instead of a month or five down the line.

JOHNSON: Well, let me know how it feels.

SMITH: I will ------ By the way, this hootch could use another coat of paint.

JOHNSON: Sergeant Johnson.

[25.58] Smitty spies Doyle

[26.40] Patterson and Anderson

PATTERSON: Part of your unit’s job is base security. That’s the part I’m interested in. A large part of the equipment and supplies that’s being reported lost or destroyed is ending up in the Saigon black market. Do you have any idea how it’s being taken off the base?

ANDERSON: Lieutenant Patterson, our people at the gates check everybody’s papers very thoroughly. But-er—the Vietnamese who work on the base will pretty much take anything they can get their hands on. Now you know usually its trash or scraps an’ stuff we don’t need like a piece of cardboard to patch a window, you know a scrap of tinder to keep the rain off their heads or somethin’ like that. The rule is: if we don’t need it, it’s alright.

[27.21] Enter Smitty

PATTERSON: Yeah?

SMITH: Lieutenant. Sarge, can I speak to you for a minute? I think it’s—er-- important.

ANDERSON: Yeah?

PATTERSON: Mm

ANDERSON: What y’doin’, fast walkin’ your papers to Payroll?

SMITH: Yeah, it’s right down the hall. Sarge, are those Russian rifles s’posed to be in the Arms Room?

ANDERSON: As far as I know. Why’d you ask?

SMITH: I was short-cuttin’ through Supply Dump just now an’ I saw that guy Doyle an’ a couple of Vietnamese loadin’ one of those rifle crates into a truck.

ANDERSON: Were they Vietnamese ARVN?

SMITH: No, civilians. The---er-- truck said “Vin—Vinh Hoi Saigon” on the door.

ANDERSON: Alright well Smitty—er--Lieutenant Goldman’s handlin’ the matter. Why don’t you just forget about the rifles for now an’ get your pay squared away an’ think how much you’re gonna enjoy bein’ a sergeant an’ a short-timer. They might even make you trade in your M-16 for a desk like this.

SMITH: Won’t have to twist my arm. Lieutenant.

PATTERSON: Well-well. Looks like we can add rifles to the scraps and trash the Vietnamese are carrying away Sergeant.

ANDERSON: Well Lieutenant, it’s like I told my man there – my LT’s in charge of the matter.

[28.23] Goldman & Duffy

DUFFY: Are you sure that wasn’t a VC ambush? You sure they were Montagnards?

GOLDMAN: I’m positive. Duffy, you’re in an’ out of that area all the time. I figured if there was something unusual goin’ on, you’d know about it.

DUFFY: I had to ditch a bird up there this Spring and the Montagnards were the only people that kept me from bein’ MIA or worse.

GOLDMAN: See, that’s what I can’t figure out. Why would they attack us? They’re friendlies. All the ones in that area have a reputation for loyalty.

DUFFY: Believe it, unless you mess with their women or cheat ‘em at trade.

GOLDMAN: What kind of trade?

DUFFY: A lot of it’s drugs – opium bricks, like any other type of trade to them. You can see the sheds where store the stuff.

GOLDMAN: I’d like to see ‘em.

DUFFY: I’ve got a last-light recon up there in a little bit. You’re welcome to go along.

GOLDMAN: Thanks Duffy, that’s what I wanted to hear.

DUGGY: You got it LT.

[29.05] Guard duty

PERCELL: I tell you what, I think Taylor’s lookin’ for trouble messin’ around with that Lieutenant.

RUIZ: Yeah well, don’t talk him out of it yet. If she like’s him, he can get us off of some of these lame details – like guard duty.

PERCELL: Hey what’s the hurry?

GI: Man down next to the wire.

RUIZ: It’s Smitty.

PERCELL: Get a medic!

???: Somebody get a medic.

[28.28] Waiting for news

JOHNSON: With all the fightin’ an’ killin’ Smitty’s been through an’ everythin’ he got to come back home to—wife, a baby, probably a good job waitin’ on him. Just wouldn’t be right if he died now.

ANDERSON: Johnson, it’s never right. No matter what you’ve got, no matter who you are.

PERCELL: Do you think it was a sniper Sarge?

ANDERSON: I don’t know—I don’t know. I just wonder what Smitty was doin’ out there.

RUIZ: Maybe he saw something.

TAYLOR: You know the question is: why didn’t someone see him when he went out there?

PERCELL: There’s a lot goin’ on out there during the day – workin’ on the wire, stringing trip-flares, vehicles comin’ an’ goin’.

DOCTOR: It looks bad. He’s lucky it was only a twenty-two.

ANDERSON: What twenty-two caliber? That was no sniper.

DOCTOR: No. Whoever shot this man did it at point blank range.

PATTERSON: Sergeant. I need to show you something – right away.

ANDERSON: Yes ma’am.

TAYLOR: C’mon Smitty, you can make it.

JOHNSON: You’ve gotta make it man.

[30.33] On the chopper

DUFFY: Myron get your camera ready.

GOLDMAN: That’s the biggest hootch I ever saw.

DUFFY: It’s not a hootch, it’s for storage.

GOLDMAN: You think that’s where they store the opium?

DUFFY: Yeah. Either that or the family station-wagon.

GOLDMAN: Look, this is real close to where I found Doyle. Why don’t you take me back around again alright?

DUFFY: I’ll have to charge you extra.

GOLDMAN: Hey. VC! VC!

GOLDMAN: …… taking some fire

DUFFY: Chief, they got Proctor—they got Proctor. Get him off the cyclic – he’s jammin’ the cyclic.

GOLDMAN: Duffy!  ??? hit

DUFFY: I’m hit—I’m hit

GOLDMAN: Duffy!

DUFFY: I’m losin’ it—I’m losin’ it.

[31.53] Mckay & Alex

MCKAY: A little beef, a little vino, an’ then its party Saigon.

ALEX: Okay. Listen, I wanna stop at my place and change first. Alright?

MCKAY: You look great to me -- whatever you like. Listen, we can leave those there.

ALEX: Oh Johnny, you’re spoiling me.

MCKAY: That’s the plan.

GI: Lieutenant—Lieutenant. They need you in Operations right now. It’s an emergency.

MCKAY: You wanna stay here while I check this out?

ALEX: Oh no.

[32.15] Myron's flying the chopper

DUFFY: Took some ground fire -- gunner and co-pilot down. I don’t think I can make it back.

OPERATOR: Blue Fox, this is Golden Eagle. Over. Lieutenant Duffy.

GOLDMAN: Duffy’s unconscious an’ the co-pilot’s dead. Look I’m in the seat an’ I’m holding cyclic. What the hell do I do?

ALEX: Johnny – Johnny that’s Myron.

MCKAY: Alright hold the cyclic steady Myron -- this is Mckay. Over.

GOLDMAN: Alright, I read ya – I read ya.

MCKAY: Alright now, just keep the cyclic steady and come down easy on the collective. You’ve gotta get the aircraft level.

GOLDMAN: Alright. Down easy—down easy.

MCKAY: Now listen to me Myron, you can do this you’ve been in that seat before.

GOLDMAN: Yeah but you were flyin’ the damn thing.

MCKAY: Don’t worry about that, I’m gonna talk you in.

GOLDMAN: I’m listening.

MCKAY: Alright, just keep her nice, straight and level ‘cos I need you to read these gauges for me. Your air speed is the big one in front of you—okay about an inch right is the torque meter, right below is the altitude. Read those to me

GOLDMAN: Alright—sixty knots, forty five percent torque an’ I think it’s five hundred feet altitude. I think I’m too close to the tree tops.

MCKAY: Don’t look at the ground!

ALEX: Do something!

MCKAY: Just keep your eyes on the horizon and your instruments. Pull power though.

[33.32] Get a message to Zeke

GOLDMAN: I want you to get a message to Zeke. You tell him that the Montagnards were after Doyle – tell him it had somethin’ to do with narcotics. Tell him to tell Major Darling ASAP. Do you read me?

ALEX: Find out where he is. Find out where he is in case he goes down.

MCKAY: Alex! Alex I’ll handle it …. Would you get her outta here?

ALEX: No—no I’m okay. I’ll go ??? I’ll go—I’ll go find Anderson

MCKAY: Okay, let’s concentrate on flying buddy.

[33.55] The Truck

MP: Ma’am.

ANDERSON: Yeah, this looks like the truck that Smitty saw Doyle loading the rifles into.

PATTERSON: It is the truck. This company’s name kept cropping up on a lot suspicious circumstances. I called CID. They located the truck in the Vietnamese section of the airbase, impounded it and brought it here. Here are the rifles----but this is what interests me.

ANDERSON: Good Lord! Maybe I ought to go into the truckin’ business huh?

PATTERSON: I estimate a hundred thousand dollars.

ANDERSON: Whose is it? What’s it for?

PATTERSON: My audit of our records involving the Vinh Hoi Trucking Company shows a lot of paperwork that allows easy access to the base but no contract. No-one authorized it.

ANDERSON: I just wanna touch it.

[34.35] Alex bring's Myron's message

ALEX: Sergeant! Sergeant! Lieutenant, excuse me. Listen Myron wanted me to tell you right away, he thinks the Montagnards were after Doyle, not the GI’s. He thinks Doyle might be involved in drug trafficking.

ANDERSON: Wait a minute. If Doyle was runnin’ drugs that explains what this money’s all about.

ALEX: What’s this?

PATTERSON: We don’t know what it’s for.

ALEX: Well I know what the rifles are for. My contacts told me that Doyle knows this Air Force General back in the States who’s a gun collector. He gets exotic guns then the General sends an Air Force plane to pick them up.

ANDERSON: Alright, these rifles are Doyle’s ticket to ride. He’s got all this currency he’s gotta get into the States. He uses the General’s plane, that way it doesn’t have to go through customs. His people unload the money and the General doesn’t know anything about it.

ALEX: Myron wanted you to take this to the Major right away. He radioed it in from Duffy’s chopper. He’s flying back to base right now.

ANDERSON: Alright, if that’s what he wants. Miss Devlin, are you alright?

ALEX: Yeah

[34.25] Smitty didn't make it

RUIZ: Sarge!

ANDERSON: Excuse me ---- What’s up?

RUIZ: Smitty died.

ANDERSON: Twenty-two caliber, point blank to the head – just like the CIA teach. Yeah, that’s Doyle all the way.

[35.52] Darling & Anderson

ANDERSON: Doyle was freelancing Major. He needed a way of getting’ the money through customs and the Russian rifles were his key.

DARLING: Army Intelligence tells me they have received all the rifles.

ANDERSON: They didn’t get ‘em all. Smith saw Doyle loadin’ some of ‘em up when they were supposed to be locked in the Arms Room. An’ then Smith was shot point blank with a twenty-two caliber pistol. If that isn’t a spook execution, I don’t know what is. If you’re not gonna haul in Doyle, I’m going to get him myself.

DARLING: You know where he is.

DARLING: (on phone) I want to men from CID and eight MP’s at the gate now.

DARLING: Remember, you’re just an observer.

[36.33] Meanwhile back on the chopper

GOLDMAN: My clothes are soaked and I got (cotton?) mouth.

MCKAY: That’s what we call the zacklies. That means that your-er-mouth tastes zackly like the bottom of your boot.

GOLDMAN: That’s fascinating McKay. Look, I think I can see the base.

MCKAY: Alright, we wanna start cuttin’ your power now. You watch the indicator—ease down on the collective an’ bring the cyclic back a hair.

GOLDMAN: I’m doin’ it. Alright I’m doin’ it.

MCKAY: Alright, keep givin’ me your air speed.

GOLDMAN: Forty….

MCKAY: Alright, there’s a big open space on the other side of the fence.

GOLDMAN: I’m gonna need about as much room as I can get.

MCKAY: Now you’re gonna come in an’ you’re gonna do a shallow run-on landing. That means that you’re gonna skid in instead of a vertical descent, okay?

GOLDMAN: What, I’m gonna argue?

MCKAY: Alright, you’re gonna have to do this by sight and touch.

GOLDMAN: What the hell does that mean?

MCKAY: That means when your air speed is close to zero an’ you’re near touch-down, you have to watch the ground. An’ you easy the collective down as it feels right. Where are you?

GOLDMAN: I just cleared the trees.

MCKAY: What’s your air speed?

GOLDMAN: It’s fifteen and it’s dropping.

MCKAY: Pull power! Pull power!

MCKAY: Okay, okay. Just relax. We’re gonna try this again. Now you’re gonna have to cut your air speed sooner this time. Start now. You’re gonna feel it try to yaw to the right.

GOLDMAN: Yeah, yeah. I feel it.

MCKAY: Okay real easy, just touch the left pedal that’ll keep you horizontal. Where are you?

GOLDMAN: I’m comin’ up on the spot

MCKAY: Air speed?

GOLDMAN: It’s fifteen an’ it’s still dropping.

MCKAY: Okay down easy on the collective.

GOLDMAN: Okay! Okay!

MCKAY: Sight and touch buddy. This is it.

???: …. On the double

GOLDMAN: I’m on the ground. I’m on the ground.

???: Move it. Move it.

[39.14] Looking for Doyle

ANDERSON: Alright, that’s his place up there.

MP: Alright, we’ll take it from here Sergeant.

ANDERSON: Look, I’d better go with you.

MP: I said We’ll take it from here Sergeant. Let’s go.

ANDERSON: Doyle! Whoa Doyle, hold it. That’s him right there.

MP: Stay back Sergeant. You halt!

DOYLE: Hey Zeke.

MP: Up against the wall. Hold it right there. Sergeant, tell the CID guys we’ve got their man down here.

ANDERSON: Watch him. He’s slippery.

[39.48] He's slippery

DOYLE: Hey—hey—whoa Zeke—Zeke. I could make you a lot of money - a very rich man.

ANDERSON: I’m a simple man Doyle. You put down the knife, I’m takin’ you

DOYLE: Zeke ??? Take me in? It’s not gonna happen Zeke. I’m gonna walk. That’s the way it is Zeke, like I told you – my people take care of our own, you know.

[41.35] Back on the ground

GOLDMAN: Even this feels too far off the ground.

MCKAY: You were a good stick out there today Myron. You saved Duffy’s life. Be proud

GOLDMAN: Yeah. I’ll settle for bein’ lucky. Thanks for bein’ there.

ALEX:  ???

MCKAY: Well-er—maybe we should all get somethin’ to eat huh? You know it’s too late to go into town but I got a pal in mess hall that’ll fix us up somethin’ tasty.

GOLDMAN: No thanks. I think my stomach’s been through enough for one day.

ALEX: Yeah I think that goes for all of us Johnny but listen would you drive me back to my car.

GOLDMAN: I could fire the chopper up and fly you back.

MCKAY: Well the way I drive you have as good a chance of hitting a tree either way.

ALEX: I think I’ll take my chances on the ground.

MCKAY: We’ll see you later.

[42.24] Clubhouse

RUIZ: Ain’t gonna seem right ruckin’ up without Smitty.

PERCELL: Yeah he made this place a lot better than it woulda been without him.

JOHNSON: Somebody ought to write his wife or somethin’

TAYLOR: You know LT usually does that.

JOHNSON: Maybe I’ll do it this time.

RUIZ: I think you should Marvin.

PERCELL: Yeah, I think you’d say what we’re all feelin’.

PATTERSON: Taylor

TAYLOR: I’m out guys.

[42.56] Just be my friend

PATTERSON: Hi

TAYLOR: Hi

PATTERSON: I—er—heard about your friend.

TAYLOR: Yeah, we were friends. We weren’t as close as me an’ Johnson are but—damn! You know every time it happens like this you wish you’d taken the time and got to know the person better. I just wonder if I bought it tomorrow how many guys’d be like ‘yeah, too bad’ an’ just move on.

PATTERSON: Hey. I really haven’t thanked you adequately for your kindness toward me. I thought maybe—you know maybe I could help you in the same way. But I don’t have anything to share – like your songs.

TAYLOR: Just bein’ my friend is the greatest thing in the world you can do for me right now.

[43.52] Don't mean nothin'

GOLDMAN: Yeah, come on.

GOLDMAN: Grab a chair.

ANDERSON: Well I guess we both have a decent reason to have a drink for a change – here I’ll do that.

GOLDMAN: Learnin’ to fly a chopper is enough for one day an’ this business about Doyle makes me sick.

ANDERSON: Well, believe it or not LT, he used to be a good soldier.

GOLDMAN: You know I used to think that war was a pretty orderly process. Us against them. But this is nuts. It’s one thing fighting an enemy you can’t even see, it’s a whole other thing when it’s one of your own. Sometimes I guess I don’t know what this all means.

ANDERSON: Sure you do LT. It don’t mean nothin’.

GOLDMAN: To nothin’.

End

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