Transcript: (3x11) Green Christmas

From Bravo 3/44th

Directed by: Helaine Head

Written by: Steven Phillip Smith

See the Episode Guide

[01.43] Christmas patrol

no dialogue

[02.54] VC Camp fire

THIEU: (Subtitles) The Americans were asleep when we hit. We killed twenty-two then disappeared into spider holes where their bombs couldn’t touch us. We will never be defeated by men who need to sleep at night.

[03.52] Drop the first man who moves

GOLDMAN:  ??? Get your hands on your head.

TAYLOR: I’ll drop the first man who moves.

ANDERSON: Drop your weapons. Now!

PERCELL: Now!

ANDERSON: Nobody moves – don’t even think about it.

THIEU:  ???

GOLDMAN: Take ‘em alive.

PERCELL: Drop the weapons! Drop ‘em! Drop ‘em.

GOLDMAN:  ??? Get your hands up. Sergeant, get a medic in here, this one’s hit.

ANDERSON: Doc get up here. Alright Taylor….Ruiz let’s form a perimeter.  ??? these turkeys in our stockings an’ let’s on go home an ‘have some Christmas.

[04.44] Back in the USA

JOHNSON: Mmmm. Oh man that’s good. Just seems to taste so much better now.

DARDEN: First beer back in the world. Got to be good.

GOLDBERG: Do you think it might have something to do with bein’ alive? Being done with all that stuff?

JOHNSON: I don’t know man. I don’t—I don’t believe this. Less than a week ago the VC had me prisoner. I mean I thought it was all over. Had voices in my head tellin’ me “Johnson – you ain’t gonna make it outta here”.

DARDEN: You’re home brother. Gooks damn near took me out right here.

GOLDBERG: Twelve months humpin’ the boonies - I don’t get a scratch. Then I get plugged in the booty by some drunk in my hootch.

JOHNSON: Hey-hey. We’re home now. We’re home. To the guys still there – an’ to the ones we lost.

DARDEN: Amen.

GOLDBERG: So—er—anyone told you how we’re s’posed to act?

DARDEN: Hey, don’t need no lessons about that. Toledo better be ready. Miss Mary too ‘cos here I come, one hundred and eight pounds of rompin’ stompin’ be-boppin’, romancin’, dancin’, pure woman satisfaction. I’ll be puttin’ the big hurt on Miss Mary ???

JOHNSON: Hey but Darden, doncha feel kinda weird though? I mean we’ve been fightin’ for over a year now an’ they pull us back, send us home an’ don’t tell us nothin’.

GOLDBERG: What do you want ‘em to tell ya. It’s all a dream.

JOHNSON: I want them to tell me somethin’. I mean, what’d they tell the guys after World War Two?

GOLDBERG: Ah they told them something ‘cos that was the real war. Guys came home on boats, had time to get their heads together. Get home there’s a parade, a job, your girl waitin’ for you.

DARDEN: Vietnam just pretend Johnson. They want us to forget about it.

GOLDBERG: I’m already tryin’. Sure not gonna tell anybody I was there.

JOHNSON: Well I ain’t ashamed of nothin’ I did over there.

DARDEN: Can’t say that I’m proud of it.

[06.54] Show a little Christmas spirit

WILLS: Come on—come on

HOCKENBURY: Wills stop that. Cut if out.

TAYLOR:  ??? past Christmas Doc. Could have got us all killed.

HOCKENBURY: An’ we killed fived of them. Let’s try to show a little Christmas spirit. Dammit. Sarge….he’s bleeding again.

ANDERSON: Alright then Doc, you patch him up. Just watch your wallet.

HOCKENBURY: Alright.

GOLDMAN: Alright Sergeant, we’ll hold(?) him up right here. We’ve got about two hours before we’ve gotta hit that PZ. Get security out.

ANDERSON: Alright, take five. Let’s go.

???: Alright you heard him. Security out – fifteen yards.

[07.33] Doc tends prisoner

HOCKENBURY: Alright, this is probably gonna hold ya till we get back to the base. At least I’ll try to keep from lettin’ your wound get infected. You don’t understand a word I’m sayin’ do ya?

THIEU: You don’t carry a weapon?

HOCKENBURY: I’m a medic.

THIEU: You’re still a soldier. You do not fight because of conscience?

TAYLOR: Dude knows his politics Doc - spotted you right off. Where’d you learn Engish slim?

THIEU: Paris.

TAYLOR: Paris huh? You a rich kid? Your parents send you there?

THIEU: You know your politics too.

TAYLOR: Yeah, I know we’re both boony rats now an’ I’m poor an’ black. What happened to you?

THIEU: I wanted to close the gulf between the classes.

PERCELL: You really believe all that stuff?

THIEU: Don’t you believe in what you’re fighing for?

PERCELL: I believe in keepin’ my buddies alive.

THIEU: A man needs more than that.

TAYLOR: That’s a nice thought Breeze, but all that commie stuff’s a dream. Most people just like lookin’ out for number one.

HOCKENBURY: You’re living proof of that Marcus.

PERCELL: But you all kill people who don’t agreed with ya. At least they do in Russia. Seems to me you can’t make everyone think the same way.

HOCKENBURY: It’s not all that simple Danny, I mean they view all this as just a stage in the revolution.

PERCELL: It’s killin’ Doc, for an idea. You gotta let people speak out.

THIEU: You’re a very naïve young man. What do you think the South Vietnamese intelligence people are going to do to me?

PERCELL: Well now, if you don’t tell ‘em what they wanna know, s’pose you’re in for a world of hurt.

[09.28] Last round on me

JOHNSON: Tell you what, last round’s on me, then what you say we head over to San Francisco an’ catch that big bird home.

DARDEN: Home for Christmas.

GOLDBERG: I missed Hannukkah, but I figure I’ll find somethin’ to celebrate.

JOHNSON: Hey—hey—hey. You guy’s just getting’ in too. Welcome home---I’m buyin’.

HEINZ: We ain’t drinkin’. Take your hands off me.

JOHNSON: I didn’t mean nothin’ by…… you guys are from First Cav, that don’t mean we can’t have a drink together.

HEINZ: Cav ain’t what this is about. I hang with my own kind now. Got the picture?

GOLDBERG: Welcome home Marvin.

HEINZ: Yeah, welcome home. To the land of the free where a man can associate with who he wants. There ain’t no niggers in the picture.

JOHNSON: You son of a …………

JOHNSON:  ??? hell you

DARDEN: Cut the low-life.

GOLDBERG: Do it!

DARDEN: Go on – get on(?)

JOHNSON: No I can’t.

DARDEN: I’ll do it then.

JOHNSON: No! No. You get the hell out of here. Both of you.

JOHNSON: Look, just let it go man. We better get outta here before the cops come. Everything’s okay. Everything’s fine.

DARDEN: I could’ve killed him.

GOLDBERG: Me too.

JOHNSON: Yeah me too. And that’s what scares me. A guy comin’ back from ‘Nam should be the last person in the world to feel that way. Let’s get outta here.

[11.04] Interviewing Sergeant Hannigan

KITTY: I’m here with Master Sergeant Marion Hannegan from Iron City, Tennessee. Sergeant is in charge of the supply at Camp Barnett. Looks like a lot of Christmas spirit Sergeant.

HANNEGAN: Yes ma’am. Gonna be a real fine holiday for the men.

KITTY: Where do these presents come from?

HANNEGAN: All over. VFW, American Legion, even church circles and school kids in little towns. We got letters to our fighting men from college girls. You can see only a minority of the folks back home don’t support what we’re doin’ over here.

PERCELL: I’d like to know where I can get one of them letters.

KITTY: Looks like we’ve just got a group of men come back from a mission. Where have you been guys?

TAYLOR: We’ve been snatchin’ prisoners in Cam………

ANDERSON: Missions are classified ma’am. But we’re all real happy to be here.

KITTY: Well what do you men have planned for the holidays? How about you? What’s your name? C’mon.

MCKAY: Lieutenant Johnny McKay. Ah, we—er—adopted an orphanage not too far from here an’ we’re gonna feed the kids some Christmas dinner an’-er give ‘em some presents. That type of thing. Perhaps some of these presents right here, huh Sergeant?

HANNEGAN: Yes sir.

KITTY: That’s very sweet.

RUIZ: Yeah, we’re sweet guys. Make sure you tell ‘em that back home.

KITTY: Well why don’t you?

RUIZ: What?

KITTY: This is gonna be on television.

???: Yeah

KITTY: Who are you?

ANDERSON:  ??? talk to the lady Ruiz

RUIZ: Erm—Alberto Ruiz from the Bronx.

TAYLOR: He escaped from the Bronx zoo.

KITTY: Is there anything you’d like to say to the folks at home?

RUIZ: Um, say hello to my mom an’ my dad an’ my sister an’ we love ‘em.

TAYLOR: Yeah, an’ if Marvin Johnson’s out there – we love him too. ???

RUIZ: Friend of ours just went home.

KITTY: That’s great. Anything to say about the lack of support for the war in the US? How about you? Who are you?

ANDERSON: I’m First Class Sergeant Zeke Anderson, Boise, Idaho. We need the support of the American people to win this war. Er—we can’t do it without it. An’ even if you don’t agree with what they’re doin’, the men who served here deserve your respect. Erm—I mean take a little time, talk to them. It ain’t gonna hurt you. You might learn somethin’ and—er—they would appreciate that. An’ I wanna wish everybody a Merry Christmas.

KITTY: Thank you.

[13.29] Come in if its good news

ANDERSON: Knock knock

GOLDMAN: Come on in if it’s good news, go away if it’s bad.

ANDERSON: There’s only one kinda news over here LT. Hey, Merry Christmas.

GOLDMAN: Thank you.

ANDERSON: You’re welcome.

GOLDMAN: Happy Hannukkah.

ANDERSON: Well thank you. Thank you very much.

GOLDMAN: So how’s Jennifer?

ANDERSON: Well I got a care package from her. It’s got some home made cake, new socks, Hawaiian shirt an’ this book—er—Sigmund Freud –er- “Interpretation of Dreams”.

GOLDMAN: Well now you’re gonna find out what a sexual pervert you are.

ANDERSON: Well that’s old news.

ANDERSON: Thank you – very much.

GOLDMAN: Yeah well it’s better than that rot gut you’ve been drinkin’ down at the Team House. Thank you.

ANDERSON: Batteries included there. It’s really from all the guys.

GOLDMAN: It’s that time of year again. How many Christmases you spent overseas?

ANDERSON: Oh I dunno LT, I’ve forgot ‘em all – except for the first one. I was in Europe, some desolate hell-hole up by the East German border. I was eighteen years old. I was pullin’ guard duty at some little ol’ airstrip. It was Christmas Eve. I mean I’m out there—I’m out there walkin’ around guarding a few piper cubs you understand, an’ I’m freezin’ my tail off an’ all my buddies are out gettin’ drunk somewhere, I dunno. I ain’t got no family anywhere in the world an of course I’m feelin’ sorry for myself. Then all of a sudden it occurred to me that I was doin’ what a soldier oughta be doin’.

GOLDMAN: Well a soldier’s gotta have a life too.

ANDERSON: Yes Sir. That was my life. I figured as long as I was out there standing guard, I was allowin’ somebody else to enjoy their Christmas. As long as I was out there, they didn’t have anything to worry about.

GOLDMAN: Zeke Anderson making the world safe for democracy.

ANDERSON: Me an’ a few other guys, yeah. I tell you one thing LT, that was the first time in my life I ever felt like I was doin’ anything important. Guess I still do.

[16.00] Flowers for Susanna

RUIZ: Susanna.

SUSANNA: Oh. Hi Alberto.

RUIZ: What’s the matter? You look awful. I mean, you look great but………….Shut up Ruiz. Merry Christmas.

SUSANNA: Thank you. They’re beautiful.

RUIZ: Not bad for a combat zone.

RUIZ: Lot of casualties today?

SUSANNA: Pretty light actually. I had my first repeat today.

RUIZ: Repeat?

SUSANNA: First case I ever worked on. About four months ago he came in, nothing serious just some shrapnel in his leg. He’s dead.

RUIZ: I’m sorry.

SUSANNA: He was a farm boy from Minnesota. He was so grateful to us when we patched him up the first time. Oh we just couldn’t do it this time. I mean he had three bullets in his chest an’ nothing was working in there any more. We just ….

RUIZ: Susanna, don’t do this to yourself.

SUSANNA: I just don’t get it. I mean he’s lyin’ there an’ he’s gagging an’ his eyes are flying all over the place an’ he was just looking for someone to fix him. An’ no-one could fix him. When he died the doctors just said “we lost him”. We should never have let him go back out there---we should—we should never have let him go back out there.

RUIZ: I know it’s hard, but you can’t take this personal Susanna. This is a war, people get messed up. Nobody’s askin’ for miracles.

SUSANNA: I wanted—I wanted to make a miracle. I wanted to reach into his chest an’ make it work. It’s crazy but I feel like it’s all my fault.

RUIZ: Fine. But then you gotta take credit for all the other kids that walked out of there alive.

SUSANNA: He only had six more days. He was goin’ home after New Year’s.

[18.35] Marvin's home

ARTHUR: Marvin? Marvin.

JOHNSON: Dad!

ARTHUR: Marvin! Oh ???. Hey mama, mama it’s Marvin. Marvin’s home.

MAMA: Marvin? Oh God! Oh God! Marvin—Marvin. Oh Lord, I’ve been countin’ the days. Oh you’re the best thing I’ve ever seen.

JOHNSON: No mama, you’re the best thing I’ve ever seen.

JOHNSON: Dad, I’m home. Home. I can’t believe it. I never thought the word could sound so good. Home dad an’ I made it outta there mama, I made it.

MAMA: Just look at him. Look at him! All these medals, your sergeant’ stripes. A real war hero.

JOHNSON: There are a lot of war heroes over there Ma.

MAMA: I know, but only one of ‘em’s our son. But Lord, you got skinny without your mama’s cooking.

JOHNSON: Well I was thinking about that while I was over there – an’ all the way home.

MAMA: You just think about this. A big ol’ ham with honey an’ pineapple glaze an’ cloves all over it. Candied yams, collard greens an’ my special cornbread.

JOHNSON: Mama you’re killin’ me now.

MAMA: An’ for your funeral, I’m servin’ sweet potato pie. I gotta—I gotta fatten you up boy. Oh Marvin, I’m so happy to have you home.

ARTHUR: Yeah, you done us proud son. Welcome home.

[20.38] Used to be a psycho

TAYLOR: You know I don’’t get you Danny. A while back you about drowned some fat chump in a bowl of oil for eatin’ your cookies. Now you wanna give ‘em away to psychos.

PERCELL: I used to be one of those psychos Taylor. It’s Christmas man, don’t you want to give anybody anything?

TAYLOR: Yeah I wanna give somebody somethin’. Once we get down town I wanna give my body to a few of Doc’s ladies.

HOCKENBURY: I’ll have Sister Bernadette light two candles for you.

PERCELL: No Doc, I don’t think that’s gonna get it. I’ll be out in a minute.

TAYLOR: You know you’re due for a stay in that Psycho Ward Doc before long. You still messed up about that gook major dyin’?

HOCKENBURY: I’m messed up about everybody dyin’. You know that line “Every man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind” – it’s by John Donne.

TAYLOR: Yeah well I’m gonna be done with you keep quotin’ that trash. The man was NVA Doc, probably killed more Americans than you can count.

HOCKENBURY: And he was our prisoner. We’re supposed to be takin’ care of our POWs. An’ the South Vietnamese people tortured him till he died.

TAYLOR: The VC tortured me an’ Johnson less than a week ago. They’re probably doin’ the same thing to those fly-boys up north right now.

HOCKENBURY: I know that, but we’re supposed to be better than that. I don’t—I don’t know. An’ you know what? He seemed okay. I mean, you know, he was—he was bright, intelligent…

TAYLOR: That’s what war’s all about. Killin’ people you’d get along with fine if you met ‘em on the block.

HOCKENBURY: What’s eatin’ you?

TAYLOR: What’s eatin’ me? It’s Christmas and I’m in Vietnam. What could possibly be eatin’ me Doc?

HOCKENBURY: You’re missing Johnson aren’t you? You know I didn’t—I didn’t know him that long, but I kinda miss him too.

TAYLOR: You know I hate this stinkin’ place.

[22.28] No next duty station

ARTHUR: So, you got a thirty day leave before you report you report to your next duty station?

JOHNSON: Well there ain’t no next duty station.

ARTHUR: Whoa - what you sayin’?

JOHNSON: I’m saying I’m done. As soon as I register for school they’re gonna me an early out.

ARTHUR: Well I thought the military was going to be your career.

JOHNSON: Well I guess I did too Dad, but it didn’t seem like enough.

ARTHUR: Well the war’s over for you Marvin an’ the military’s secure. You got a roof over your head, food in your belly, no doctor bills.

JOHNSON: Yeah they can send me back to Vietnam but Dad, that ain’t the point. I just wanna do something more. Dad I wanna get an education.

ARTHUR: What are you thinkin’ about son?

JOHNSON: I don’t know, I wanna learn things. I might even study government. Now I know you think that’s crazy but Dad there’s a whole world openin’ up out there for the black man – I want to be a part of that. I’m going to enroll at the University of Mississippi.

ARTHUR: Ol’ Miss?

JOHNSON: I’m going up there right after New Year’s.

ARTHUR: Son them crackers is gonna eat you up.

JOHNSON: See Dad that’s where you’re wrong. Ten years ago they’d have killed me for tryin’ to go there but things are different now. The government had to protect me. Dad, they’re gonna give me a hundred and thirty dollars a month.

ARTHUR: W-w-well what’s wrong with agricultural school?

JOHNSON: Dad I don’t want to be a farmer.

ARTHUR: Oh I see. Farmin’s always been good enough for me but it ain’t good enough for you no more.

JOHNSON: Of course it’s good enough for me. I just wanna do other things. I wanna move ahead. Thought you’d feel glad for me.

ARTHUR: I worry for you son. I worried for you in Vietnam an’ now I’m worried for you back here. Oh well, look I-er-I got work to do. I’ll see you later.

JOHNSON: Well let me help you now. I ain’t too good to get my hands dirty.

ARTHUR: No—no. You stay here an’ you take it easy. I’ll sort this out on my own.

[24.50] Presents for orphanage

???: That’s a fair price for a free present Sergeant.

HANNEGAN: Nothing like a little Christmas spirit boys to make the soul shine as though it were a new mornin’. I do believe I hear the poet in me stirring. I’d say it’s time for y’all to be surrendering your Christmas bonuses.

PERCELL: Excuse me, Sergeant.

HANNEGAN: Specialist Percell. Come to volunteer for latrine duty? A nice fire to warm the cockles of your hear at Christmastime.

PERCELL: We’ve come to pick up that stuff for the kids at the orphanage.

HANNEGAN: And what stuff would that be?

PERCELL: Those presents that came in yesterday. Lieutenant McKay talked to you about it. He’s sending a truck over in ten minutes.

HANNEGAN: Don’t recollect.

RUIZ: Come on Sarge. We’re throwing a party for some orphans. It’s not like we want anything for ourselves.

HANNEGAN: Your philanthropy’s touching Ruiz but your truck stays empty. Those heathen orphans probably won’t miss nothin’ anyway.

HOCKENBURY : C’mon man, there was enough stuff out there for twenty teams. I mean, what are you, Scrooge or somethin’? They’re kids for God’s sake.

HANNEGAN: You about to give me the haemorrhoidal flare up boy. Those kids are just future VC. I got nothin’ here anyway.

RUIZ: Yeah, then I guess you don’t mind if we take a look for ourselves, right.

HANNEGAN: You got serious trouble starin’ you in the eye son. Now why don’t you all stop your fat-mouthin’ an’ didi out of here before I have you scrubbin’ that defecatorium with a toothbrush. Do you soldiers read me?

PERCELL: Roo! Sargeant, sorry our mistake. Come on Roo, I got this one figured out. Come on.

HANNEGAN: Better listen to the man Ruiz. Last day on the privy almost put him round the bend. (laughs)

[26.34] Far West

SHAKEY: What you goin’ back to Barnett for blood? Ain’t nothin’ there.

TAYLOR: Some of my guys are havin’ a Christmas party.

SHAKEY: Well we’re havin’ a party here. Beer ain’t enough for you, we got somethin’ more serious in the back.

TAYLOR: No I don’t feel like getting’ messed up Williams. I’ll check you out.

SHAKEY: You oughtta be checkin’ out of that Team Viking. You’re the only splib left there anyway.

TAYLOR: I’ve been thinkin’ about that.

SHAKEY: Lot of brothers dyin’ over here Taylor. Gets you thinkin’ it might even be the reason for the war. Less of us to have to deal with back in the States.

TAYLOR: They’re killin’ us back there too man.

SHAKEY: What you gonna do brother?

TAYLOR: Look man I don’t know. What am I supposed to do?

SHAKEY: Start by takin’ yourself off that line. Just refuse to go back out there. I did. Told ‘em I quit – resigned from all that bull. Then you start organizing, getting ready.

TAYLOR: Getting’ ready for what? KP? Long Binh jail?

SHAKEY: You don’t know what’s happenin’, do you?

TAYLOR: No, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me.

SHAKEY: Storm’s comin’ Jim. And if you ain’t ready, honky’s gonna take you down. Now I aint gonna let that happen. Lot of brothers feelin’ the same way.

TAYLOR: ( I’ll be checking you ?)

SHAKEY: I can dig it brother.

[27.55] Lucky guy sarge

???: That beats me

HANNEGAN: Not so fast son. Crowded cabin – jacks over trey

PERCELL: Great hand. Isn’t that a great hand?

RUIZ & HOCKENBURY: Oh yeah

PERCELL: You’re a lucky guy Sarge.

HANNEGAN: Y’all lookin’ at Long Binh jail.

PERCELL: Same place you may be goin’ on your way to Leavenworth.

HOCKENBURY: Tell you somethin’ Sarge, this khaki mafia stuff is just gettin’ a little bit out of hand.

PERCELL: Sure is. Hey listen, Doc’s gonna put them presents on that truck out front for us okay?

RUIZ: Yeah an’ then you’re gonna forget we stole ‘em and we’re gonna forget you stole ‘em. Not blow the whistle on any of you little businesses here. Does that sound fair guys?

PERCELL: Sounds fair to me. Doc?

HOCKENBURY: Oh yeah I think eminently fair.

PERCELL: Well there it is. Let’s load ‘em up boys. Load ‘em up.

HOCKENBURY: Oh now you wipe that grimace off your face Sarge. We’re gonna be leavin’ you a little somethin’. We don’t want you to feel deprived. Not you – not at Christmas. I’ll tell you what. You know what’s gonna cheer you up? We’re gonna sing us a little “Jingle Bells”. What’d you say? Now you know the words okay? And a one and a two……

HOCKENBURY: Jingle Bells….

& RUIZ: Jingle Bells

& PERCELL: Jingle all the way. Hey! Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh- Hey! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, jingle all the way ……….

[29.07] Glad to see you Debbie

JOHNSON: I’m really glad you came by Debbie. I was wondering if I’d ever even see you again.

DEBBIE: You wouldn’t’ve called?

JOHNSON: I don’t know. I guess I might have been waiting to see what happened with you an’ Jimmy.

DEBBIE. Oh go on.

JOHNSON: Well that’s your husband. The father of your child.

DEBBIE: He left me. We’re getting’ divorced. I never liked him as much as I liked you Marvin.

JOHNSON: Yeah sure you did. That’s why you went with him.

DEBBIE: You went away.

JOHNSON: I was away at basic training at Fort Polk for two months.

DEBBIE: I needed to be with somebody.

JOHNSON: You always need to be with somebody. Look I’m sorry. That’s ancient history – water under the bridge. Let’s just be friends, okay?

DEBBIE: I was hopin’ that we could be more than just friends. I still like you a lot.

JOHNSON: Look Debbie, I just got home. I need some time to sort things out. I mean I got a lot of big plans.

DEBBIE: I heard about your plans. You’re gonna be a big college man on the GI bill.

JOHNSON: An’ what’s the matter with that? Why the hell is everybody so against me makin’ something of myself. Is it some kind of sin? First my best buddy in ‘Nam comes down on me for it, then my father thinks I’m out of line. Now you look at me like I’m crazy or somethin’.

DEBBIE: It ain’t no big thing.

JOHNSON: It is a big thing dammit. This is my life. I ain’t gonna toss it away just ‘cos some people are……are jealous of what I’m tryin’ to do. That’s what it is, isn’t it? Look Debbie I don’t mean to hurt nobody by what I’m doing, I just wanna be somebody and not spending the rest of my life regretting what I didn’t do.

DEBBIE: Well I guess I’ll be goin’.

JOHNSON: Yeah.

DEBBIE: Come on sugar.

[31.15] Truck ride to orphanage

RUIZ: This is nice huh?

SUSANNA: Glad I let you talk me into it.

RUIZ: Glad I could talk you into something.

SUSANNA: Get outta here!

WILLS: She’s tough Ruiz.

RUIZ: Hot blooded Latin women Wills. Drive a man crazy, even in his grave.

WILLS: It’s nice of you to come and bring your friends.

SUSANNA: Nice of you all to invite us.

[31.48] Obstacle in road

???: Check it out

???: That’s right

???: Lieutenant what’s the hold up?

PERCELL:  ??? get there Taylor

RUIZ: Hey LT, why don’t we run it over and barbecue it.

SUSANNA: Look – beautiful.

RUIZ: Women and flowers Wills. Get’s ‘em every time.

WILLS: The lady likes flowers – she gets flowers.

SUZANNA: Hey, you don’t have to do that.

WILLS: Hey it’s Christmas.

TAYLOR: Come on—come on. Get out of here you big steak

ANDERSON: Hit the deck

RUIZ: Get down—get down.

???: Get down here

???: Get Doc(?)

???: Watch the perimeter

RUIZ: I know what you’re thinking but you’ve just gotta let it go. Let it go okay?

HOCKENBURY: Oh man – he’s dead.

GOLDMAN: Alright Doc, let’s get him in the poncho and on the truck. Charlie’s gonna be real nearby.

HOCKENBURY: Marcus! Help us.

ANDERSON: Get up Doc, Let’s go—let’s go—let’s go

RUIZ: Let it go. Come on. Just stay down.

ANDERSON: Covering fire – tree line.

GOLDMAN: ???

ANDERSON: Go—go--go

[33.27] Arrive at orphanage

TAYLOR: ???

TAYLOR: Sarge

ANDERSON: Somebody doesn’t want us celebrating Christmas LT.

GOLDMAN: We’ve got a coupla snipers.

ANDERSON: Well we can’t stay here. We’ve gotta go on in after ‘em.

GOLDMAN: McKay!

MCKAY: Yo!

GOLDMAN: Grab Ruiz an’ Percell and flank ‘em on your nine o’clock. Taylor! You stick with Sergeant an’ me.

ANDERSON:  ???

[34.12] Christmas carol

SUSANNA: Let’s sing a song. Let’s sing a Christmas carol.

SISTER BERNADETTE: I think “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

HOCKENBURY, SUSANNA, SISTER BERNADETTE: Hark the Heralds Angels sing …….

[35.10] Christmas dinner at the Johnsons

JOHNSON: Thanks mom that was the best meal I’ve had in my entire life.

MAMA JOHNSON: And it was the happiest one I’ve ever had. I got my boy back home.

ARTHUR: Yeah, I’ll drink to that.

???: Yeah I’ll drink to that too.

MAMA JOHNSON: ‘Bout time for me to bring out the sweet potato pie.

ARTHUR: Mm, wait. Son, come in the kitchen for a second.

[35.48] Problem with Old Miss?

ARTHUR: I’ve—er—I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout you goin’ up to Ol’ Miss.

JOHNSON: And you’ve still got a problem with it.

ARTHUR: You know it can be pretty hard when a son goes past his father.

JOHNSON: Dad, nobody’s going……….

ARTHUR: No—no—no. Hear me out. You see, I know ‘cos I went past mine. You never did know your granddaddy but the way things were beat him pretty bad, took away his will to live. I mean the man couldn’t even hold a job and-um well I felt ashamed of him. And-em I-I-I think he felt ashamed of me when I started workin’ steady.

JOHNSON: Dad, you did just fine by me, always made me proud.

ARTHUR: Yeah, but you’re gonna do better. And the more I think about it, the better it makes me feel. Son, ain’t nobody in this family ever gone to college before.

JOHNSON: Dad…..

ARTHUR: No—no—no. Don’t say anything.

JOHNSON: Dad. Now it’s because of you and mom that I made it. I always felt that I could count on you an’ I couldn’t have made it without the values you gave me.

ARTHUR: Son, you go on to college an’ you show ‘em what you’re made of. Come here son.

[37.32] They'll be back

MCKAY: We got ‘em all – this time.

SISTER BERNADETTE: This time?

MCKAY: I’m afraid they’ll be back. They—er—they were layin’ for us. They knew we were coming.

SISTER BERNADETTE: How?

MCKAY: I’m so sorry Sister. I think our friendship brought this on you. If I hadn’t taken an interest an’ the unit hadn’t adopted the orphanage, this never would have happened.

SISTER BERNADETTE: They will make an example out of us.

MCKAY: If not tomorrow, next week. But it’ll come. We’ll help you move, don’t you worry. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

SISTER BERNADETTE: There is nothing to forgive.

MCKAY: This has all meant a lot to me you know. Most of what we do over here – take land an’ then give it back – it don’t mean nothin’. But these kids, they count. Gave me somethin’ to believe in, you know.

SISTER BERNADETTE: Believe in it John McKay. Now you go tell the children a Christmas story.

MCKAY: Me?

SISTER BERNADETTE: Make them smile. And that’s an order.

MCKAY: Yes ma’am. Okay kids, come on. Come on, I’m gonna tell a Christmas story, let’s go. Come on everybody gather round here. “Was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…….”

[38.57] Ruiz on guard duty

RUIZ: You okay?

SUSANNA: Not really. If you’d told me a year ago I’d be spending Christmas like this….

RUIZ: Don’t beat yourself up about Wills Susanna. The VC killed him, plain and simple. It’s a fact of life over here.

SUSANNA: But if I hadn’t said something about the flowers……….

RUIZ: You wouldn’t have said something about the flowers if I hadn’t invited you. Maybe it’s all my fault.

SUSANNA: Don’t Alberto.

RUIZ: I know. I’m just trying to make you see….

SUSANNA: I know. I know. It’s just this place. Everyone I touch seems to end up in pieces. Who’s it gonna be next? You? Don’t you see why I can’t get involved Alberto? I don’t know if we can be friends any more.

RUIZ: I know all about not wanting to get involved. You know it’s funny ‘cos we all do it a little. We talk about people getting greased and zapped, call burn cases “crispy critters”. Never get too close to the new guys.

SUSANNA: You’ve gotta protect yourself.

RUIZ: From death yeah. But you go too far – you’ll lose yourself – then you might as well be dead.

SUSANNA: What am I gonna do?

RUIZ: You’re gonna be my friend. Let me be yours. Hell, there’s nothin’ more I can give you and there’s not much more I want. Merry Christmas Susanna.

SUSANNA: Merry Christmas.

[41.30] How's it look Sergeant

GOLDMAN: You stayin’ alert Roo?

RUIZ: Yes Sir.

GOLDMAN: Ho ho ho. How’s it look Sergeant.

ANDERSON: Well---it’s dark.

GOLDMAN: Yeah?

ANDERSON: Well I mean I don’t think they’ll be back tonight.

GOLDMAN: No, it’s Christmas, they wouldn’t do a thing like that.

ANDERSON: Alright, then we’ll rotate some shifts an’-er get out of her first thing in the mornin’.

GOLDMAN: You take the midnight to two?

ANDERSON: LT, I think I’m gonna stay up all night tonight. I don’t get many chances to guard a bunch of nuns and children.

GOLDMAN: Vietnam – the land of new experience.

ANDERSON: Oh LT, what the hell else we gonna we doin’?

GOLDMAN: Yeah. You could be home with Jennifer. I could be looking after my father. What’d you think? Do you think they’re sleeping any better knowing we’re here.

ANDERSON: No Sir. Probably worse.

GOLDMAN: Right, so much for that.

ANDERSON: Well I’m finally starting to feel good about where I am. Don’t get me wrong LT, I’d rather be at home with Jennifer but I’m not, I’m here. An’ somehow, that’s okay. Does that sound weird to you?

GOLDMAN: No weirder than most of the things you say.

ANDERSON: LT look at it like this. Here it is, Christmas Eve, you know. An’ the kids are in there singin’ an’ Lieutenant McKay’s in there bein’ Santa Clause, an’ Ruiz there. Ruiz just might get himself a girlfriend, who know. I mean, its—its almost perfect.

GOLDMAN: An’ I got you.

ANDERSON: I said almost perfect.

[43.38] Johnson’s House

TV (Hannegan): All over VFW, American Legion, church circles and school kids in little towns……..

JOHNSON: Guys!

TV (Kitty): Looks like we’ve got a group just returned from a mission…. What area your plans for the holidays men? What’s your name?

TV(McKay): Lieutenant Johnny McKay. We, a bunch of the guys adopted an orphanage not too far from here an’ we’re gonna just take ‘em some Christmas gifts an’ give ‘em a Christmas dinner, that type of thing.

TV(Kitty): That’s sweet.

TV(Ruiz): Yeah we’re sweet guys.

TV(Kitty): Who are you?

TV(Ruiz): Alberto Ruiz from the Bronx.

TV(Kitty): Anything you’d like to say to the folks back home?

TV(Ruiz): Say hello to my mom, my dad and my sister, an’ we love ‘em.

TV(Taylor): Yeah an’ if Marvin Johnson’s out there, we love him too.

TV(Kitty): Who?

TV(Ruiz): Friend of ours just went home.

TV(Kitty): Who are you. What’s your name?

TV(Anderson): Sergeant First Class Zeke Anderson, Boise Idado. The men who served over here deserve your respect even if you don’t agree with what they’ve been doin’. So take a little time an’ talk to them. You might learn somethin’ and they’d sure appreciate it. And I wish you a Merry Christmas”

TV(Kitty): This is Kitty Ashton at Camp Barnett, near Saigon, South Vietnam. Christmas 1968.

MAMA JOHNSON: Marvin. Desert honey.

JOHNSON: Yeah, comin’ Mom

End

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