Original subtitles

He won't answer, Colonel Schiller.

He just got in an hour ago.

Said he hadn't slept since he left Hickam

Field.

Give me your keys.

Bill, Sergeant.

Matt.

Oh, Matt.

Hello, Matt.

Wow.

Been a long time.

Sorry to break in on you like this

at four in the morning.

Orders?

Yeah.

Didn't anybody ever sleep around here?

These pilots I'm supposed to deliver by the

22nd, how much training have they had?

Transition from light airplanes, not much more.

Most of them will even be strangers to

a World War II airplane like an F

-51.

But we've had pretty good luck so far

training these South Korean boys.

They'll make out all right.

And if they don't?

It's your job to see that they do.

Fly them night and day if you have

to.

Nothing I'd like better, Walt, if I were

flying with them.

Matt, if South Korea is invaded, there'll be

700 American nationals trying to evacuate.

May take time to get our own planes

in here from Japan.

Without air cover, our people on the ground

won't have much of a chance.

These pilots you'll be training may make the

difference.

When do I leave?

There's a Red Cross cargo going out at

0600.

Take you right into Kangju.

You better meet McIntyre at operations at quarter

of.

Good luck, Matt.

Yeah, thanks.

Is there anything you need?

Anything I can get you?

Yeah, round-trip ticket.

Still open for business?

Only one other customer after midnight, sir.

In that case, I better give this some

thought.

Hello, Major.

Buy you a drink?

Nah, don't be that way, Major.

Might have to give you a bad write

-up.

I didn't know anybody was still printing your

stuff, Dixon.

Or have I been misinformed?

Copy still sells.

With or without credentials.

But what about you?

I haven't seen you since the island.

You still grounded?

Don't be in a hurry.

We don't have to talk about you being

grounded if that bothers you.

Not when we have so many other things

in common.

Don't flatter yourself, Dixon.

I still take baths regularly.

You're quite a boy, aren't you?

I'll have to remember to tell Mrs. Cottrell

that...

the next time I see her.

What about her?

If you have something to say, say it.

It's unhealthy thing to hold such an interest

in another man's wife, Brady.

I'm surprised you haven't learned that by now.

Or isn't that why you're here?

It's all right, Sergeant.

The Major and I were just talking.

I was discussing a mutual acquaintance.

It's touch and water.

It's 5.30, Major.

You wanted me to tell you when it

was 5.30, sir.

All right, thanks.

This address.

Do you want to take it with you,

sir?

No, it doesn't matter.

Look, Matt, I'd like to help you.

But you know how it is.

Once the orders are cut, there's nothing I

can do.

Maybe in a week or two.

Yeah.

All right, Walt.

Matt, Dr. Cottrell asked me about you...

when I told him you were being assigned

to Kanju.

That's before he took over the residency.

After what you told me, I...

I don't think he'd have done it without

first talking it over with his wife.

You think that changes anything?

I don't know.

But if Cottrell's wife doesn't mind, why should

you?

So long, Walt.

Has Captain McIntyre showed up yet?

No, sir, he hasn't.

I checked his quarters.

They said his bed hadn't been slept in.

Another five seconds, and you'd have had to

walk.

Another five minutes, and it would have been

worth it.

I wonder why it is.

Whenever I think of going anyplace with you,

I associate it with being cold, hard, and

full of ribbons.

I wonder if they have any geisha girls

where we're going.

I hear that place at Kanju is quite

a country club.

Not anymore.

What do you mean?

We're doing a place over.

Who is?

We are.

Maybe we're early.

Is the adjutant in?

No, sir, I think he's eating breakfast.

Give him these when he comes in.

Won't leave any message for him, sir?

Yes, when he finishes breakfast, tell him to

organize this post for inspection and to call

a general squadron meeting for four o'clock.

Yes, sir.

Attention!

As you were.

Gentlemen, I've called this meeting today in order

to clear up any doubts that may exist

as to the purpose and function of this

command.

Some of you already know me.

Some of you don't.

We'll remedy that right now.

I'm Major Brady, and this is Captain McIntyre.

He'll be your new operations officer.

Now, since what I have to say concerns

all of you, I've asked Captain Lee Aitzee

of the Korean detachment to translate.

Now, as most of you know, the length

of time it takes to train a combat

pilot is a flexible thing.

Probably most of you also know the demands

for defending this country are becoming increasingly great.

It'll be our job to attempt to meet

those demands.

Even if it means cutting our scheduled training

time in half.

It won't be easy.

It'll require a full-time effort from all

of us.

And I will ask for and expect your

cooperation.

But in any event, I intend to see

that such an effort is made.

Even if it means cutting our scheduled training

time in half, I intend to see that

such an effort is made.

All right, gentlemen.

Your squadron commanders will give you details by

2100 tonight.

All headquarters officers and flight instructors, please remain

seated.

Dismissed.

Too bad they ain't butterflies.

We wouldn't have to teach them how to

fly at all.

How are you, Betters?

Oh, I'm all right, Major.

If you don't ask for details...

Mind if we smoke, Major?

No, go right ahead.

Gentlemen, I'll make this short.

Today's the 28th.

Exactly 25 days from today, on the 22nd

of June, the training of the Korean pilot

group now on this field is scheduled to

be completed.

That schedule will be made public.

It will be met.

On the 23rd, they'll be placed on orders

and shipped out for duty assignments.

Any questions?

If there are, now's the time for them.

Major, who do I see about a transfer?

Captain Wyckoff will handle it for you, Lieutenant.

But I can tell you right now that

any requests for transfer will be forwarded without

approval.

Major, if there is trouble out here, are

we...

I mean, are U.S. forces committed to

fighting it?

I'm afraid I don't have the answer to

that.

Anything else?

Major, just when do you propose they start

flying?

Tomorrow.

And the stragglers no later than the day

after.

Major Brayden, surely you can't think that any

of these Koreans are ready to be checked

out on their own.

Why, sir, sending them up in one of

those single-seaters tomorrow would be almost the

same as committing a homicide.

I'll be the judge of that, Captain.

Wouldn't take long to send out a patrol,

Major.

We could be there in half an hour.

There are a lot of small farms up

there, sir.

When these local terrorists hit them, they don't

usually have much chance.

Be over before we got there.

Sounds like it's quieting down right now.

Anyway, it's out of our hands, Corporal.

What the civilians do around here is strictly

off-limits for us.

What's that over there?

Reserve fuel, Major.

There's another storage tank at the other end

of the strip.

Why isn't the fuel kept on the field?

It was a slip-up somewhere.

They sent in some of the wrong octane

rating.

That stuff in there would be great for

tractors, sir.

If we had a tractor.

They've started again.

Looks like Dr. Cottrell's wife.

Matt.

Hello, Donna.

What are you going to do?

There's not much I can do, is there?

My husband's up there, Matt.

He should be back now.

I know there's something wrong, because they usually

build a signal fire when he's starting down.

There hasn't been a sign up there all

day.

You think I should send out a patrol

because of that?

He's an American citizen.

Isn't that reason enough?

Maybe.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Apparently, your husband's pretty well able to take

care of himself.

That's his signal, isn't it?

Yes.

I'm sorry, Matt.

I guess I was beginning to get a

little desperate.

Forget it.

I suppose I shouldn't say this now.

I thought there'd be another time, another place.

Knowing I was going to see you again,

I was hoping it would be soon.

Why?

I'd like to think you understand about the

way things are.

The letter you sent me six months ago

was plain enough.

You thought when you met me your husband

was dead, killed in Indochina, wasn't it?

When you found out he wasn't, you went

back to him.

That about covers it, doesn't it?

If you want it that way.

But I haven't forgotten.

I have.

Or tried to.

It would have been better if you'd let

it end where it did.

You think I wanted it this way?

My husband happens to be in love with

me.

Knowing you were being sent here, how do

you suppose it would have looked to him

if I'd made an issue about coming here?

And you've told him about us?

All that any woman would have under the

same circumstances.

I'll never hurt him, Matt.

I don't want anyone to.

This may or may not be a good

idea.

Are you sure you want to come along?

Of course.

Why shouldn't I?

How's Jocent?

She seems to be resting quietly.

I left word you could be reached at

the air bay.

I'm sorry.

Have you seen Brady yet?

Yes.

He's not nearly as attractive as I'd remembered

him.

That sounds to a husband like a very

promising beginning.

Wait till you meet him.

You'll see.

He's really very average.

Do you think this is going to work?

I don't know.

Major.

Oh, hello, Taylor.

Everything all right?

Yes, sir.

Going fine.

I just thought I'd ask you whether you'd

heard anything yet on that tracer you sent

out about my orders.

Not yet.

We'll probably hear something this afternoon.

Thanks, Major.

Another transfer request?

Yeah, but this one I'd like to see

come through.

He and his wife have been over here

for over two years.

His wife?

That's right.

They have a place over on the other

side of the field near International Red Cross.

Wife's going to have a baby pretty soon.

They're both due for a trip stateside.

I'd like to see them get the break.

He's had his wife out here with him

for two years.

I'd say he already had one.

You expecting company?

No.

Major, I'm Dr. Cottrell.

Hello, Doctor.

I suppose this isn't much of a day

for visiting, but I have an interest in

those men you're training.

Quite all right.

This is Captain McIntyre.

Doctor.

McIntyre.

I believe you already know my wife.

Yes.

Hello.

Donna, this is Captain McIntyre.

How do you do?

How do you do?

I understand you're planning on flying some of

the Koreans today.

That's right.

Is it necessary that they fly so soon?

I'm afraid it is, Doctor.

We have a schedule to meet.

But you will admit there are some dangers

involved.

Doctor, I think there are dangers involved in

practically everything.

Matt, perhaps Dr. Cottrell would like to go

out on the flight line and see how

we're setting things up.

Maybe if we show him what we're trying

to do, he'll feel better about it.

I'd like that very much, Captain.

Major, I hope you understand I meant no

offense.

My sole concern is for the safety of

those men out there.

That's all right.

I understand, Doctor.

Did you have to do that?

What's going on out there is my business,

not his.

You really believe that, don't you, Matt?

When he comes back, maybe you'd better look

at his hands.

What about them?

The Viet Minh burned his nails out with

lighted bamboo sticks.

Tortured him for seven days before he escaped.

When I thought he was dead six months

ago, he was probably wishing he were.

He was a fine surgeon once.

Now it's agony for him just to hold

a scalpel.

But in spite of that, he's done more

good out here than anybody I know.

Or haven't you ever really heard much of

the war in Indochina?

Or the man they called the Bible Doctor?

It just so happens, Matt, his name is

Cottrell.

Stephen Cottrell.

Upwards.

To the left.

Oil.

Explosives.

Inner cells.

To the left.

To the right.

Downwards.

Start.

You mean it's actually possible to teach a

man to fly this way?

No, it doesn't go that far.

These men already know how to fly.

It's simply a matter of familiarizing them with

51s.

Teaching them cockpit procedure blindfolded is the most

direct way to do it.

It's the same in all the planes.

Not one of these men will fly until

we've made every effort to see that they're

ready.

This is very interesting, Captain.

I'm afraid I did Major Birdie something of

an injustice.

Forget it.

We deduct all injustices from our income tax.

When will you start them flying?

Well, it's hard to say.

Maybe a little gusty up there now.

He's coming in loud and clear, Major.

What's that boy's name again?

Kim Simpson.

All right.

Turn him loose.

Tornado.

Tornado.

Tornado.

Now he's up.

He happens

to stay in close to the field.

Tornado.

No, they'd spin him in for sure.

He'll have a better chance where he is.

You think they tried to cause him trouble?

I haven't any doubt of it, Doctor.

More than likely, they've been waiting all day

for this.

They seem to like working somebody over that

can't fight back.

Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

How long will it take you to hang

a couple of rockets on that plane?

Just long enough to get them, sir.

All right, on the double.

Is that a fire on them?

No.

As long as the shooting war hasn't started,

we don't want to give them any reason

to open up on us either.

But maybe we can give them something to

think about long enough to get that boy

of ours down on the ground and take

over.

All set, Major.

Good.

Tell Captain McIntyre to clear Kim Simpson in

for a landing.

And tell him to have him keep his

approach altitude down below 100 feet.

Whenever you're ready, Major.

All right.

Raise her up.

Left.

Higher.

A little to the left.

A little more.

That's good.

All clear.

Drop it.

Come on, let's go.

Thanks for lining it up that way.

Let's get out to that plane.

If that boy's as shaky as I am

right now, he'll be needing a ride in.

He really put that rocket in there, didn't

he?

Oh, yeah.

Brady's a good man.

On the ground.

What have you got against him anyway?

Did you ever hear of Johnny McKay?

Test pilot was killed at Bureau a couple

of years ago.

No, I don't think so.

What thought he?

Johnny was my best friend.

He'd be alive today.

Brady hadn't bailed out on him.

What is it?

That tracer you sent out about Taylor's orders

not coming through must have gotten a rise

out of somebody down at command.

That's the reply.

It just came in.

How are you going to tell him?

I don't know.

He and his wife asked me over for

dinner tonight.

I didn't feel much like going.

Maybe now I'd better.

Well, it's nice country out here.

Taylor's still young.

Maybe in another year or two, he'll get

to like it.

Thanks.

I'll tell him you said that.

He'll love me.

Well, an occasion like this calls for a

toast.

But my wife tells me I'm not much

good at it.

Major, will you do the honors?

To our two very beautiful women.

Come, dear.

Don't give it a thought, doctor.

Party's never any good till the table's been

christened.

Thank you.

Hey, honey.

I thought we made a bargain.

I'm just rinsing them off.

I'll be along in a minute.

I suppose you know you're pretty sensational.

Dinner was strictly Waldorf.

I guess it was all right after it

got started.

But...

Woody...

Well, I wish you'd told me that Major

Brady and Donna had known each other before.

How could I?

I didn't know myself what was going on

till we were halfway through dinner.

Forget it, Annie.

It's working out all right.

I'll get it.

Dr. Cotterill, is it necessary?

Dr. Cotterill, please, he's needed.

It's for you, doctor.

Excuse me.

I think I have a bottle of brandy

around here somewhere.

Would you like a little, if I can

find it?

No, no, thank you.

How about you, Major?

Not right now, thanks.

Woody, you'll have to excuse us.

One of the girls at the hospital is

quite ill.

Well, Joe said...

I'll get my things, excuse me.

Doctor, is this the girl you started to

tell us about?

The one you thought might have yellow fever?

Yes, let's hope I'm wrong.

Good night, Major.

Good night.

Sorry, Woody.

I have to, doctor.

Good night.

Good night.

I'm sorry you have to leave so soon.

I don't even know about you, but I'm

going to have some of that brandy.

Annie, do you remember where I put that

bottle?

Oh, I think it's in one of the

kitchen closets, in the back.

Excuse me, Major.

Major.

Yes?

I hope you'll forgive me for asking like

this, but...

Woody sometimes just lets things go.

We've been out here so long, Major.

Have you had any word yet about his

transfer?

Yes, I have, Mrs. Taylor.

I'm afraid it isn't coming through.

I'm sorry.

How is she?

Respiration's becoming normal.

Pulse is good.

She seems to be past the crisis, whatever

it was.

It isn't what you thought, huh?

No, fevers are sometimes hard to distinguish.

It's easy to make mistakes.

I really make a great many of them.

What are you trying to say?

That we shouldn't have gone there tonight.

That for the first time in my life,

I...

Stephen, don't.

It's over now.

Why don't you try to get some rest?

Yes, I think I will.

I'll be along in a little while.

Good night, Donna.

How is she?

She'll be all right.

It isn't yellow fever, you're sure?

My husband is really quite capable, Matt.

I didn't mean it that way.

The boy who was upstairs with those Russian

planes this afternoon is her brother.

He asked me to find out how she

was.

When you left the way you did, I

began getting a little worried about what I

was going to have to tell him.

I'm sorry, Matt.

This just isn't one of my better nights,

I guess.

Anything wrong?

No.

I was watching your husband at dinner tonight.

Those hands of his can be pretty painful

sometimes, can't they?

Yes, they can.

It takes a lot for a man to

hold something like that inside him the way

he does.

I'm trying not to like him, but he's

not making it very easy.

Matt, don't come here again.

Why?

What's wrong?

I want to do what's right.

I can't this way.

If you still don't understand, I'll make it

very plain.

I'm sorry.

Well, it's you, Major.

What's going on over there?

I don't know.

Somebody just opened up on me with an

automatic.

I heard the shots all right.

Sounded like one of those foreign deals.

Mauser or Schmeisser, maybe.

Those choppers up in the hills are sure

getting brave.

Yeah, we'll see if we can't do something

about that tomorrow.

But for now, don't say anything about this,

Corporal.

Yes, sir.

Oh, Major, Captain Wyckoff wanted me to be

sure to tell you there's a message for

you in communication, sir.

All right, Corporal.

Thanks.

We're on the board for a flight leader.

You'd better get over to operations.

Do you have to do that?

Yeah, it relaxes me.

Which, by the way, never hurt anybody.

Something bothering you, sir?

Yes, there is.

I think we should take Kim Sin off

the schedule this morning.

Anything else?

Look, Matt.

I'm not trying to whitewash Kim for being

AWOL last night.

But he hadn't seen his sister since they

took her home.

And Leatey tells me that he had to

run better than 20 miles to make it

back here by daylight.

He should have thought of that before he

went over the hill.

That's not the point.

Everybody on this field, except maybe you, knows

that he's in no real condition to fly.

There's a value in discipline, Mac.

Especially out here.

Schedule stays as is.

We should change your mind about this, Matt.

He'll be all right.

What you're trying to do, make it easy

for Vedders, is that it?

What's he got to do with it?

You know what he's been saying as well

as I do.

Tell a lie often enough, help it along

with something like this, and sooner or later

somebody will believe it.

Vedders doesn't have to lie.

What he said is pretty close to the

truth.

Then you've changed since I knew you.

Matt, I may not always agree that you're

right, but I've never heard you give an

order that you wouldn't back up yourself if

you were still flying.

That's a side of it I hadn't heard.

I thought you meant what he said happened

to McKay.

Maybe you'd better tell me what did.

Johnny McKay was Vedders' best friend.

He was also a friend of mine.

We were ringing out an XB-51 at

Muroc two years ago.

Number two jet exploded.

Johnny got hit.

I tried to get him out, but I

couldn't move.

It was like I was caught in a

vice.

I still don't know how I got out.

Johnny went in with a plane.

Medics have got a high-powered word for

it.

No gravity tolerance.

Which is another way of saying that when

a fighter loses his ability to roll with

a punch, he's through.

For me, that's meant being grounded ever since.

Not much of an explanation, is it, for

another man's life?

Maybe that's what's been happening to all of

us out here, Matt.

For weeks, we've been trying harder to accomplish

the impossible than anybody has a right to

expect.

We've had bad weather, the works.

So today is Saturday, and we're one or

two days over schedule.

What difference does it make?

No difference.

I just told command we'd finish over the

weekend, that's all.

Matt, unless we slack off, finish will be

the word for it.

Major, one of our planes just went in

about a mile from here.

How bad is it?

Don't know.

A radio call said it looked like it

was on fire.

Who is it?

Kim Sin.

How did it happen, Matt?

We don't know yet.

He crashed right after takeoff.

We were preparing him for X-ray.

I heard one of your men say he

shouldn't have been flying.

Mainly, he meant that I'm to blame for

this.

Probably he's right.

There's not much I can do, Major.

Multiple skull fractures.

I'd be lucky if I could get some

help.

I'd be lying to both of us if

I told you in a case like this

I could successfully operate.

Can't we fly him out to a service

specialist?

He won't last that long.

He has 20 or 30 minutes at the

outside.

You'll need a tray, Major.

Just coffee.

Has Captain McIntyre been in yet?

No, sir.

Saw him out by the plane wreck about

two hours ago.

He's probably still there.

Cream.

Thanks.

It's all right, Major.

I don't want you to get the wrong

impression of us.

It's just that when somebody dies needlessly, like

that boy did today, it's bound to have

an effect on people.

But I guess by now, Major, that you're

used to that.

I'm not used to it.

I never figured this command was going to

be easy, veterans.

There wouldn't have been much point in sending

us out here if it were.

Do you know why you were sent here?

I'll tell you why.

They needed somebody to do a job that

any flying man would have pegged from the

start.

So they picked you, because you've forgotten what

it's like up there.

Because you can sit nice and safe behind

a desk, filling out reports while somebody else

takes all the chances.

And if anything goes wrong, all it costs

you is a little time with an ink

eraser.

There's only one thing that bothers me, Major,

and that is how you manage to sleep

at night.

You know, Matt, I think I would have

liked it better if you had dropped them

right here.

You think that would have settled anything?

I think it would have settled that when

you make a decision, you ride it out

all the way.

Under the circumstances, it's a little late for

that, isn't it?

No.

I saw Kim's plane go down.

It was much too good a flyer to

spin in right after takeoff.

There had to be a better reason than

what first came into most of our minds.

It took me four hours to find it,

but here's the answer.

You ever see an oil line blow out

under pressure like this?

Take a closer look.

This tubing was cut almost completely in two,

probably with a file, before that plane ever

left the ground.

Once he was airborne, he never had a

chance.

Major, there's a man by the name of

Dixon in your office.

He says he's a newspaper man.

I didn't know whether you wanted to see

him or not, sir.

All right, Corporal.

Get some photo plates on this right away.

I'll be in the office.

Hello, Major.

What can I do for you, Dixon?

Not a thing, Major.

It's what I can do for you.

I hear you lost one of your boys

in a pretty bad crash today.

I got pictures of the whole thing.

A film like this could cause you some

trouble, if it got in the wrong hands.

And that concerns you?

Look, I don't care who gets on a

peacetime casualty list or who doesn't.

All I want to know is what's really

going on out here.

Is there going to be a war or

isn't there?

And if there is, when is it due

to start?

And in return for that information, you'll forget

about what happened today, is that it?

Something like that.

In the Orient, Major, we all have to

learn to compromise.

Just for the record, Dixon, how did you

manage to get into Korea in the first

place?

On the balls of my feet.

Then take my advice.

Leave now while you can still get out

the same way.

Oh, come off it, Major.

I can make trouble for you if I

have to.

You Air Force pencil-pushers are all the

same.

First time somebody has to salute you, you

think you own the world.

Get this, Dixon, and get it straight.

I like the service.

It may not be perfect, but I like

it.

Sure, it's a great institution.

My two brothers are buried on Wake Island.

So I should feel good about that, shouldn't

I?

Well, I got a scoop for you, Major.

I hear Uncle Joe's sending a tank army

down from Manchuria.

And if and when he turns it loose,

there'll be graves like fence posts from here

to Indochina.

Now, I know it's asking a lot, but

just for once, why don't we tell a

few innocent people so they can get out

of the way?

Because we're doing everything we can to keep

from being panicked into a war out here,

that's why.

But if there is trouble, I imagine we'll

find some way to handle it.

The way you handled Johnny McKay.

Get him out of here.

Save your strength.

You'll need it.

Try to get these out right away.

I'll be leaving in 20 minutes.

Yes, sir.

Anything for Brady yet?

No, sir.

Keep trying, Sergeant.

Anything coming in?

Not a thing, sir.

There's a pretty bad jam on tonight.

It's even worse than last week.

No chance getting through on one of the

portables?

Not a chance, sir.

All right, Corporal.

Keep trying and call me as soon as

anything comes through.

Yes, sir.

Maybe we're making too much out of this,

Matt.

Those phones have never been any good, and

that generator is as temperamental as a female

acrobat.

And besides, it's nearly 2 o'clock in

the morning.

If anything were really wrong, somebody would have

flown in here by now.

Yeah, it could be like that.

Major.

What's the matter, Captain?

Don't you value your sleep?

I know it's late, Major, but when we

heard what caused Kim's plane to crash, we

felt.

All of us.

We owe you an apology, sir.

Forget it, Captain.

Good night.

Good night, sir.

Come on.

Looks like Colonel Schiller's plane now.

Wait a minute.

Come on, girl.

You mean you're gonna send them out right

away?

Just as soon as you can get those

trucks ready to roll.

The Korean squadron you've trained will be stationed

at Kempo temporarily.

I don't know for how long.

Seoul is probably already under fire.

Are we in it, Walt?

Well, for the moment, it's their war, not

ours.

All U.S. civilian and military personnel will

be sent to Japan.

You'll have your outfit ready to pull out

in 12 hours.

It's all right there on the transcript.

Might let us smoke with that as soon

as you've gone over it.

There may still be a few things in

it they haven't managed to get a hold

of yet.

Yeah, they don't miss much.

What about the 51s out there?

They'll stay put for the time being.

South Korea loses those at Kempo.

These are all that'll be left.

It's not leaving them as much, is it?

No, it isn't.

General Connors will probably be up in one

of the first evacuation planes.

He'll give you whatever else you need to

know.

Better get those trucks under way.

Matt, I'll see you sometime, huh?

Where are you headed now?

Seoul.

Now, Major.

Thanks.

Good luck, Captain.

Kabachi!

The last time I saw a truck squad

like that was in Manila in 1941.

I didn't like the feeling it gave me

then.

I don't like it much now.

Well, don't lose any sleep over it.

Just stick close to Brady.

If things get rough, he'll be the first

one out.

You'd better go over to Red Cross and

see the patrol and the others get started.

We've got a long drive ahead of them

if they're gonna make the coast by nightfall.

I still don't know why we can't fly

them out with us, save everybody a headache.

They're taking a lot of our heavy stuff

out when they go.

An LST's waiting for them.

It'll chin.

And, uh, say goodbye to Donna for me.

Don't you want to tell her?

It's better this way.

Perhaps I should remind you, Captain, the Army

has no real authority over me.

If I choose to stay here, it's no

one's concern but my own.

Well, that's not the point, Doctor.

Nobody knows what's gonna happen here in the

next 24 hours.

Why risk your life by staying?

Captain, about the time we learn to make

the most of life, the most of it

is gone.

My work, such as it is, is here.

I'd be useless anywhere else.

What about your wife?

We've discussed it fully.

She's leaving with the others.

Very well.

What'd he say?

Just what you told me he'd say.

Matt coming over?

No.

You'll all be leaving soon, huh?

About an hour or so, I guess.

As soon as the planes get here.

You're waiting on us, ma'am.

Goodbye, Captain.

Good luck.

You'll probably never heard of it.

Cortez, Arizona.

Mostly desert out there.

Pretty this time of year, though.

No roads like this.

Why did you want to move way out

here?

What are you doing out there?

To get rid of my accent.

You'd like to be there now, huh?

Yes, and no.

You're homesick when I'm away.

Yet I always wish I was somewhere else

when I'm there.

Is that why you joined the service?

Partly.

My wife and I weren't getting along too

well.

Hard for her sometimes, I guess.

Living way out there.

But then I see somebody like yourself.

Perfectly happy.

Here with your husband.

Don't end up right.

I guess some women must just pick the

right man.

Maybe we can backtrack our way out of

this.

Connors?

Looks like it.

How's the news?

Not good, Major.

Sounds to me like we're getting out just

in time.

Good to see you, sir.

Good to see you again, Major.

General Captain Lakoff.

Lakoff?

Our operations officer, Captain McIntyre.

McIntyre?

Sir.

Have you got a car?

A jeep, sir.

Oh, good.

You can dismiss the driver.

You'll drive.

I hope the rest of the planes that

are coming in aren't far behind yours, sir.

Another hour or two and we may be

closed in.

There aren't any other planes, Major.

We're not evacuating?

Not entirely.

That's one reason I wanted to look over

the field.

We may have to defend it.

General, does Colonel Schiller know about this?

Colonel Schiller's plane was shot down over Seoul

four hours ago.

There were no survivors.

The boys you sent to Kimpo had a

little better luck.

Most of our own nationals are out of

there by now.

Last I heard, your pilots were giving a

very good account of themselves.

Sir, if you don't mind my saying so,

why don't we either get in this jamboree

or get out of it?

Well, it isn't as easy as that, Brady.

We don't have the answer yet, but the

United Nations may sanction our intervention here.

If they do, it's well worth waiting for.

And if they don't?

Complete evacuation of all remaining United States personnel.

But meantime, we'll have to try to cover

ourselves either way.

We'll have to have a pilot here for

every plane that's left on the field and

enough ground crewmen to cover them.

The rest I'll take out with me when

I go.

Any questions, Major?

General, if Seoul is wiped out, the airstrip

at Kimpo will go with it.

That'll make this field a prime target.

We'll never be able to hold it without

ground support.

An infantry battalion from Seoul is due in

here right now.

They'll cover until we can get air support

from Japan.

And that'll be soon?

As soon as the UN okays it.

Tomorrow at the latest.

Otherwise, we pull out.

Oh, and Major, you'd better get your things

together and appoint an acting commanding officer.

Intelligence wants a full report, so you're flying

out with us.

They're loading the enlisted men going out.

I told Wyckoff to pick men with dependents

first.

Then any of the others he could spare

on the basis of their service records.

Where's Connors?

Over-talking the patrol.

They're going to consolidate all medical facilities on

this side of the field.

What do you want to do about officers?

Get them all together at operations, brief them

on what's going on.

I'll be along as soon as I finish

this.

Well, as one hero to another, how does

it feel to be getting out?

You go ahead.

I'll be along in a minute.

We all set?

Yes, sir.

Where's Major Brady?

Oh, he's not coming, sir.

He said to give you this.

Said it was some kind of report you

wanted.

Do you want me to get him, sir?

No.

You can close the door, Sergeant.

Major.

Major, wake up, sir.

Yeah.

What is it?

Combat orders just came in, sir.

They've located a strike up at Seoul.

All right.

Have everybody here at 5.30. We'll take

off at 6.

Yes, sir.

Sergeant.

Major, we've got the planes all staked out

and are starting to get them ready.

We could sure gas them a lot faster

if we didn't have to work under those

nets.

Just do the best you can, Sergeant.

I know that camouflage nets are pretty useless

sometimes, but in case we should have some

unexpected company, I don't want our best silverware

getting shot up before we get a chance

to use it.

Matt, the infantry battalion's coming in up the

road.

I thought you said this was a battalion.

Are you Major Brady?

That's right.

Warnowski, the 24th.

We're glad to see you, Captain.

Yeah.

Major, we picked up a stretcher case a

few miles back along the road.

Both his feet shot off above the ankles.

He says he's one of your drivers, or

used to be.

He keeps talking about a Red Cross convoy

that came in here.

They tried to get through to the coast

yesterday.

Name's Weiler.

Ever hear of him?

Where is he?

He's back there.

If you want to talk to him, make

it fast.

He hasn't got long.

Weiler.

Hello, Major.

What happened to the convoy?

They got us as soon as we hit

the hills.

Tried to get out.

What about the others?

Don't know.

Some of us made a run for it.

Misses a trail and a couple of the

others made it double back inland.

I think some...

The rest of us...

Cut off, Major.

Loosen my shoes, will you?

They hurt.

Captain, how many men are there in this

outfit of yours?

I don't know.

Haven't counted in the last couple of hours.

There were 33 a little while ago.

What happened to the others?

Ran into a tank column last night.

A big one.

Must have bypassed Seoul.

They chopped us good.

A battalion of 400 men and you couldn't

save anything?

No equipment?

Nothing?

We saved 33 lives, Major.

I don't know for how long, but we

saved them.

Do you think you can hold this field

with that kind of a force?

No, I don't think so.

Do you?

Might be ours.

Yeah.

Fire!

Fire!

Got them all, huh?

Yeah.

They must have known where every one of

our ships were staked out.

How could they have known?

We only just finished camouflaging them a few

hours ago.

And even if somebody had the information, how

could they get it out?

Captain, where'd you get this?

Needn't have knew you.

Major, ever seen that woman before?

Turn her loose.

You didn't answer my question, Major.

I said, have you seen her before?

Maybe.

What about it?

The men found her trying to clear out

with this.

It's a Mauser.

Pretty handy sniper's weapon, if you know how

to use it.

Have you searched her?

Tiger!

Guess you could send out almost any kind

of information on a contraption like this.

Pretty neat.

Tiger!

Must have run low on ammo.

There's nothing in here but a steel pile.

Major, if you have no objections, I think

it'll be just as well if we let

our own people handle this.

No.

I have no objections.

No!

A lot of dust over there.

Yeah, probably some refugees getting out.

No, I've been watching it.

It's too heavy for that.

Tank column, I think.

Probably the one that cracked into us last

night.

Looks like old Mother Hubbard really fixed us

good.

Any way of stopping them?

Not with what we've got.

We'll have to figure some way to stall

them.

Our own planes are probably on the way

in here right now.

Major, you may as well get used to

the idea nobody's going to bail us out

of this but ourselves.

And they haven't made the man yet that

can outrun a tank.

We're all likely as good as dead right

now.

It's just a matter of time the way

I see it and how you want to

get it.

Me?

I'll take mine tomorrow and hope tomorrow never

comes.

And if those tin cans want me, they're

going to have to push hard.

Because when I get mine, it's going to

be on the run.

What do you think, Mac?

I guess we're kidding ourselves by staying if

we've nothing to fight with.

We're sure not going to stop those tanks

just by throwing rocks at them.

Okay.

But maybe we can bait those tanks when

we pull out.

Make them figure we're an easy target.

There's a chance if we can keep it

up long enough when our planes do get

in here, they'll catch those tin cans out

in the open.

All right, let's get started.

Follow them.

We're moving out.

We ain't even going to get a breather,

Captain.

Those tanks are getting close.

That guy Vedder's is hit pretty bad.

The Major says we got to rest him.

So we rest him.

Easier going if we're on the roads.

Make better time, too.

You know it and I know it.

But the Major thinks we have a better

chance up here.

Look what he said about our planes coming

in.

And where are they?

And it's for sure he don't know nothing

about ground fighting.

I'll let you in on something, Guthrie.

If I knew anything about ground fighting, I

wouldn't even be here.

Moving out again?

Yeah.

I guess I've been wrong about a lot

of things, Major.

I'd like to tell you about it sometime.

Ten minutes.

Ten minutes, Doctor.

Oh, doctor, I think you better have a

look at him.

I gave him plasma a little while ago,

but he's still about the same.

After all he's been through, he's lucky he's

still around here at all.

Just lie there quietly for a few seconds,

Major.

I'll help you sit up.

Thanks, Doc.

Okay.

Does Mrs. Cottrell know about her husband yet?

Yes.

One of the boys told her.

Feel like trying it now?

Major, we gotta move out of here in

a few minutes.

Feel able to make it all right?

Yeah.

What's this?

You better keep it there.

Give you a ride, otherwise you may have

to walk.

They'll assign you to a truck outside.

Hey, Doc, you think we'll ever outrun those

Russian tanks?

I couldn't say, Corporal.

I left my Ouija board back home.

Anything wrong, Major?

McIntyre.

Where's McIntyre?

Oh, relax, Major.

Captain McIntyre's gonna be all right.

We put him on one of the trucks

that left early this morning.

He said that if you needed something for

your nerves, I was to give you this.

Thought you'd appreciate it.

Hey, I don't want to break anything up,

but this truck is waiting.

Hello, Major.

What's the matter, Major?

Don't you feel like talking?

I think you'd better go.

Without saying goodbye to Caesar?

No.

We're old friends, aren't we, Major?

Real old friends.

What's the matter, Major?

Didn't they tell you about the red tanks?

Or maybe you thought they were evacuating you

because it was such a nice day for

it.

Go ahead.

Take a good look.

They weren't ever gonna get through this far,

were they, Major?

Where are the planes that were gonna stop

them?

Or maybe it's still too foggy for them.

What does the Air Force have to say

now?

Keep them.

They won't do either one of us much

good anymore.

Hey, where's that driver of ours?

Let's get out of here.

Hey, hurry up, will ya?

Well, Major, what do you think of the

service now?

And just in case I make it out

of here, how about a statement for the

folks back home?

Looks like very clear Major.

Transcription and translation (AI) By Kasamaruti/GM JUL 2025