Original subtitles

(light militaristic music)

(exploding)

(guns firing)

- Wait here.

- Hurry up, go!

Go!

(exciting music)

- We'll need that.

Thank you lady.

- Are you feeling okay?

(gun firing)

- Don't anybody move!

- Open the door!

- That's a Marine hat, son of a bitch.

Where you coming from?

- About 60 miles north of here.

Charlie blew up our mission.

We're heading south.

- I am Major Kutran of the South Vietnamese Army.

I have to contact the joint command at Wei City

as soon as possible.

- Why would you want to do that?

Sir?

- I do not think it is any concern of yours, soldier.

- There ain't no more joint command, sir.

It's gone, finished!

- We're cut off.

We need the bus.

So we can join up with one of my units pulling out.

After that, it's all yours to go south with.

- This is a mission bus!

You had no right to commandeer it!

- Anyone who doesn't like it can get out and walk!

(taps)

- Turn the bus around, man.

The south is back thataway.

- That's crazy.

He's been driving for us a long time now.

He knows this area better than anybody.

- Sergeant!

Would you tell this goddamn missionary

that the compasses used by the US Marine point north

and this bastard has been driving north,

straight into the hands of Charlie!

Fuck!

(dramatic music)

(shouts)

(explodes)

(guns firing)

- This is it.

Never gonna make it with all that stuff on board,

get it off.

- Okay guys, throw off all the junk.

- No. (gun cocks)

These are all my things and the mission's.

Nobody's laying a hand on them.

- Gun down, Anne.

(crying out)

- One more trick like that and you are gonna get hurt!

- Listen soldier.

- My name is Gus Johnson and I ain't your fuckin' soldier!

General.

I'm a Marine, a United States Marine!

- Alright Gus, what's the problem?

- No problem.

- This road is known to the enemy.

The opposite side will almost certainly be mined.

- Only that bank?

- The road is on this side.

Both armies use it.

- He been that way (mumbles).

Wouldn't even trust his own mother.

Come on, let's go.

I'll take the wheel.

- Hey man, come on!

(suspenseful music)

(gun firing) (exploding)

- Motherfuckers.

Chain reaction.

- Okay Major.

Now what do you suggest?

- Further downriver is old wooden bridge.

If it has not been destroyed and if we succeed

in crossing it, we should be able to get to the city

and pass and from there to one of your supply bases.

Next time you have to make a decision,

ask my opinion first.

- You'll live, Gus.

- Wanna get out and stretch your legs?

- Where's he from? - Who?

Oh, the Australian.

When I arrived he was already delusional.

He say he study insects.

- Why, don't you believe him?

- I don't know.

He say the government pay for it.

- What brings you here?

- I came to get my daughter.

She is the only important thing in my life.

- What are you missionary too?

- You could say that.

I run brothels in Saigon.

- Nothin' doin', out of fuel.

- Where's the rest?

- This is it.

We had our last delivery three months ago.

- Ah, shit!

- Only one?

- Yeah, only one.

- Will that get us to Danang?

- Danang's 100 miles away for Christ sakes!

We ain't gonna make it halfway.

- Sergeant.

I plot the point where I believe

there's another supply base.

We have just enough fuel to reach it.

- A US base? - Yes.

- Our orders are to leave nothing behind we pull out.

- Well let's hope that this time you left

a little gasoline.

- Which way do we go?

- First we have to get out of this place,

then we have to rest until dawn.

We're all tired.

- Yeah.

(easy music)

- Will you tell me the truth?

Are we gonna make it? - Yes.

- Well if it's necessary,

you can give the order to unload.

It's my life.

It's all my things.

All my memories of there.

- I understand.

(screaming)

(gasps)

- That should do it.

- Hi there.

Would you like some chocolate?

It's chocolate, it's good.

You don't like chocolate?

What's your name?

- Niho.

- Niho, I'm Ben.

- Okay Ben, go now.

(chuckles)

(screaming)

- Don't move!

Easy, slowly.

Easy, slowly.

You're okay, okay, it's alright.

(gentle music)

Cut it out, will ya!

- You don't get it from your wife, do you?

So you get your rocks off watching other people.

Just can't let it go, huh?

What is it, she loaded?

- Get the hell outta here.

- Sergeant.

If the supply base is in enemy hands,

return immediately.

I don't want any one of you playing the hero.

- Is that an order, sir?

- No, just a piece of advice.

- Bye.

- Bye.

- Don't go far now.

(dramatic music)

- Major, come here, look, it's a village!

Can we stay here tonight?

- No child, that's impossible, we have to go.

- Oh, but it's so pretty here.

Come and see what Mom and Anne are doing,

come on Major, she's over here!

- Not bad, eh Major?

- I really do not know how she managed

to keep her beauty hidden for so long.

- Oh please.

- I completely forgot about this.

It's a reserve supply we never had to use.

There's enough here to get us to the bridge

and on to the US base, right?

- We will try.

- When?

- As soon as the three Marines return.

- Why not now?

They're Marines, they can make it on their own.

They're used to the war.

They don't need our bus.

- Without our friends the Marines,

we would not get very far.

- If you help us now Major, you won't regret it.

You'll be well paid.

This is a living hell.

The longer we stay here we'll all burn for our sins!

- That would be a fitting end for a man like you.

You knew about the fuel and you said nothing,

endangering the lives of three Marines

and perhaps our own.

Your soul is rotten, like that of every coward!

- No!

You don't understand!

I'm not a coward!

(gun cocks)

- Calm down.

- I am going to take care of this.

Thank you.

(dramatic music)

(hitting) (crying out)

(coughing)

- How do you feel?

- I'm alright.

- Unload the bus, I want it emptied completely.

- We're gonna have to wait until nightfall.

- Got a plan?

- Not yet.

- Listen guys, why don't we all--

- Hey hey. - Okay, okay.

Just wanted to say those huts look like

they gotta be full of ammo.

Shit.

(speaking foreign language)

(siren blaring) - Come on, get moving!

(guns firing)

(explodes)

- Hey, Dixie's stuck!

- I saw.

(guns firing)

- Over there!

(exploding)

- You can't do this!

You can't leave me here, no!

No!

Don't leave me!

No!

Don't leave me!

Don't leave me!

- Come on, let's go.

I'm driving.

Let's go!

You wanna stay here, sir?

- No matter what he has done, we cannot leave him here.

- And what do you wanna do with that son of a bitch,

give him a medal?

- He will pay for what he has done.

- To whom, and when?

- His debt is not to you, soldier.

And it will not be paid now.

- Thousands and thousands of young men

are dying in this fucking war!

It's to them he has to account.

Not to me, sir.

Not to me.

(suspenseful music)

- [Dixie] I'll go take a look.

- There's no point, sergeant.

We will only know if there are guards posted on the bridge

when we start to cross it.

- Hey Dixie, I ever tell you the story about Mike Peterson?

We was in business together in Alabama.

Man, he was a genius.

- Okay Ben, tell us about your life story another time.

- I'm driving this stolen truck, right?

Up ahead there's a road block manned by cops.

I slow down, right, and Mike, he says,

"Make like the engine sick."

So man I pumped that gas pedal like crazy,

jerking forward, jerking forward.

Until we reached the cops.

And then I put my foot down real hard.

We shoot outta there!

They were so sick man, they couldn't even catch us!

(clapping)

- All civilians descend from the bus please.

Military personnel remain on board.

(suspenseful music)

Where are we now?

- Almost to the bridge.

No guards from here to the other side.

- How far from the bridge?

- About 10 yards.

There's a bunker on the left.

Now!

(guns firing)

(explodes)

(guns firing)

- I was trained at the military academy at Sandhurst.

It was there that I was taught to respect courage.

What you have done here is something I shall never forget.

- Thank you, Major.

Thanks.

- Yeah?

- Hey, I don't feel too good.

- I'll take your place.

(light militaristic music)

- What are we waiting for?

For god's sake let's give those guys a decent burial.

- It's a booby trap, kid stuff.

They pack dead bodies with explosives.

We go to bury them, be blown sky high.

(gun firing) (exploding)

We better take a look.

- We'll take the bus to a less exposed place.

- I noticed a cave on the way up here.

You wait for us there. - Okay.

(dramatic music)

- Ben, train's coming. - Hurry up!

- Oh!

(helicopter whirring)

- That's one of our choppers.

- At least it ain't Charlie.

- That's crazy, why?

- I dunno, let's check it out.

(suspenseful music)

- Hey. (hits)

(explodes)

(coughing)

It's the chopper crew.

Those sons of bitches.

(rats squeaking)

- See if you can get this bird off the ground, buddy.

(coughing)

(dramatic music)

- Deeper into the cave, go on!

(guns firing)

(explodes)

(guns firing)

- Everybody on board.

We're going to attempt to take them all out.

- Come on let's go, move it!

(guns firing)

(exploding)

- Everyone okay?

- Go back slowly.

- We are now 20 miles to the west of Danang.

The base is probably about two or three miles away,

on the opposite bank.

- Still south?

- Yes, it was one of our old bases.

It was used by the Japanese in the last war.

As little as about a month ago it was used

by your first reconnaissance unit.

- Charlie probably would have taken it over.

- I think not.

Tis some distance from the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Consequently from the direct hits of the war.

Sergeant.

Are you not feeling well?

- Just a little tired.

(easy music)

- Hi gorgeous.

- I want you to have it.

- I don't drink.

I'd like to thank you for saving my life.

- You know I have two children in Johannesburg?

I haven't seen them in three years.

- Why have you not seen them?

- My wife can't stand the sight of them.

They're not hers, you see.

She never could stand the sight of them,

even from the beginning.

- Then why did you marry her?

- She had this mental problem.

They thought a while in the mission would help.

I followed her.

I loved her.

I have to get out of here alive.

I've gotta see my kids, understand?

- I understand.

Okay, let's go.

You drive.

Sergeant, who's going to make the reconnaissance?

- Myself and Gus.

- Major!

If you'll pardon me. - Yes?

- Let me go.

The sergeant here looks beat.

- Fire once if it's safe for us to proceed.

If you're not back by dawn, we shall be heading east

to Danang.

- Hey Gus, I'm taking the sergeant's place.

- [Gus] Sure.

- Why have we stopped?

- This is where we have to wait for the signal.

(suspenseful music)

(seizing)

- Go away, go away!

I'm sorry, but if other people are around

his attacks get worse.

- But why?

- He's epileptic with schizophrenic tendencies.

- Why do you loathe his children?

- There are no children, there never have been any.

They're a product of his sick mind.

A nightmare that has obsessed him for 12 years.

And I've nursed him for 12 years and now I'm tired.

- Why did you choose to live out here in the jungle,

so far from the civilized world?

- My father was a missionary.

I was born in a mission.

And that was my mission back there, Major!

It was there because I wanted it.

I created it and I built it with my own hands

and with my own money.

And as for your so-called civilization,

I can assure you there's far more of it

in a humble jungle community than there is

in one of those slums you call a city!

- Perhaps you're right, my dear.

- You can go back there and help him now, if you want.

(flare fires)

- Just my luck.

- I found it over there.

- You were born fucking lucky, Aussie.

I could see that the moment I pulled my ass on the bus.

That missionary, she's really got the hots for you.

I wanna ask you something, Aussie.

You really study bugs?

(laughing)

Bullshit!

You know what I think?

I think you skipped jail.

Hey, are you mad at me?

(coughing)

Hey Aussie, I asked you a fucking question.

Are you mad at me?

- No.

- I'm glad to hear that.

- Soldier.

- Don't ever call me that again, ever!

Ever!

- You're a lucky man, Gus.

Many years ago I met a bloke.

I didn't like him.

He was just like you.

He's dead now.

But I did my time, all of it.

- Sorry about that.

(bus rumbling)

- Any problems? - No.

- Where's Gus?

- He's looking for some provisions.

All he's found are some cans of soya beans.

- Any ammunition?

- I found a few weapons and some crates of--

- Where are they?

- Follow me.

- Alright, we're gonna be passing the night here.

Everybody make yourselves comfortable where you can.

- Hey, Dixie!

Hey, the Australian's a lucky son of a bitch.

I couldn't even find one bottle, look what he found.

I bet there's more of this stuff.

- Where?

- Let's go look.

(bottles clinking)

Jackpot.

There ain't no label on here

but it sure tastes like the real thing.

(beeping)

Hey Dixie.

You know you look real cute in those glasses.

How come I ain't ever seen you wearing them before?

- Okay so now you've seen 'em.

Leave that whiskey and go call the major.

- Keep him out of it.

He's just a gook.

Like all the other gooks.

And don't you ever forget it.

- Gus.

I said go call the major.

- Why don't you go and call him yourself?

(kicks)

- Next time I give you an order,

don't make me say it twice.

(suspenseful music)

(screaming)

- Come on.

(crying)

- We'll be safer here.

I'll find out where the others are.

- Yeah.

(speaking foreign language)

(beeping)

(light music)

(static buzzing)

Don't have enough power to transmit.

- There's a third one but it's flat.

- That's enough to make you start believing in miracles.

- I'll hook it up for ya.

- Hey.

Do you understand that bastard when he talks?

- I speak a lot of different dialects.

- What was the gook saying?

- He was trying to get ahold of Allied command at Danang.

- Here.

You still got it in for me, huh?

- No.

- You still think I would have left you in a cage.

I'd a come back for you.

Don't you believe me?

- No.

Give me the bottle.

- Alright, give it a shot now, Major.

(beeping)

(speaking foreign language)

(dramatic music)

If the weather and operational conditions permit,

they will send two helicopters to take us out of here

at dawn.

- Alright this calls for celebration.

- Well here's to ya, Major!

Oh god, if you were back home with me

I'd take you kangaroo hunting.

- Hey, they're coming to get us!

Woohoo, right on, baby!

Alright!

(upbeat music)

- We're saved, they're coming to get us at dawn.

Aren't you happy?

- Yes.

(cheering)

- Excuse me, Major.

- That looks good, huh?

(speaking foreign language)

- The battery is the soul of the bus.

- Maybe, but the bus is dead, we don't need it anymore.

- The soul never dies.

- Charlie, Charlie!

(dramatic music)

(guns firing)

(explodes)

- Ronny!

(shouting)

(screaming)

- Mommy, help, help me!

- You there? (shouts)

- Ben!

Ben! (crying)

- Get out of here, get out of here, move, move!

- No, Mommy!

(guns firing)

(exploding)

- Get down for Christ sake, get down!

We gotta get outta here, Major!

Like it or not, sir.

Let's go.

Hang in there, major!

(guns firing)

- Soldier!

We've got to drive the bus.

We've got to drive the bus, soldier.

- Yes sir.

(guns firing)

- Now!

(shouting)

(explodes)

(exploding)

(screams)

- Come on, we're leaving, quick!

(guns firing)

(engine starts)

(explodes)

(gentle militaristic music)