Original subtitles

You hear something, Raphael?

Private First Class Rafael Jesus Rivera filed for his VA benefits three months

ago.

Private Rivera served with the 1st Marine Division during the Chosin

Campaign. One of the Chosin few. Correct.

The night of 28 November 1950, during the battle for the high ground on Fox

Hill, Private Rivera acquitted himself of distinction.

He was wounded three times.

So what's the problem, sir?

Well, when the Veterans Administration went to process his 21 -526, they

discovered that Private Rivera had never been discharged from the Marine Corps.

He deserted?

April 4th, 1951.

Walked away from Kirkland VA Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico, never to be

heard from again.

And now he's filed for Veterans benefits. Why would he do that?

I don't have a clue.

Does anyone care at this late date, Admiral?

Care to answer that question, Colonel?

There's no statute of limitations on desertion, bud.

You run away from the Marine Corps, which takes you all the way to hell.

The Private Rivera is being held by the sheriff at Angel Falls, Sierra County,

New Mexico, pending our instructions, Colonel.

I'll take care of him, sir. Thank you, Colonel. That'll be all. All right, sir.

Seems like our week for deserters.

Seaman Owen Zugler picked up a running red line in the district.

Apparently had an unauthorized absence from his ship at Norfolk.

Spent 30 days in the brig, during which time he claimed he was not in the Navy.

Seems like a pretty lame excuse, sir. Easy to check.

Turns out the man who spent 30 days in the brig is indeed a civilian.

An unknown man stole his self -security number and used it to enlist.

Mr. Zugler has retained counsel.

Since you'll be acting jag while I'm gone, Lieutenant Roberts will handle the

case under your supervision.

Yes, sir.

Colonel filled in last time, did an excellent job.

Yes, sir, and I filled in the time before that, sir.

Car and driver waiting outside, Admiral. Here's your plane ticket, sir. Row 12

on the aisle. There's a rental car waiting at the Albuquerque International

Sunport. Have a good trip, sir. Thanks, designer.

Morning, sir. New ride?

It's got a clip that weighs 2 .9 ounces.

Medium fast action?

High flying speed?

What kind of flies are you using, sir? Well, I'm thinking about a blue -winged

olive and a pale morning dun.

Outstanding choices, sir. Tell my sister hello, Will.

Gunny, I really appreciate you setting this up for me. Reed's the best pitching

guy in the state, Admiral. She booked you on a private lake. You won't be

disappointed. Great.

How would you like me to handle this case, sir?

Cheaply.

Sir?

The Admiral's on a cost -cutting jag, bud. No pun intended.

He's counting the paperclips, so we are going to show him how much money we can

save.

Cut! Sir?

Sir, are you all right? I'm fine.

Here, sir, come on.

Whoa, whoa.

Are you sure that maybe you don't want to lay down, put some ice on you?

Commander, I am fine.

Lieutenant, let's see.

Get down.

Good.

Make arrangements for the absentee collection unit to bring Private Rivera

from Angel Falls. I want everything you can find on him. Service records,

medical history, in particular if there's any incident of mental illness.

And see if you can locate anyone who remembers him from the Marine Corps.

Where are we going with this, ma 'am? I want to know why Private Rivera

deserted. And if I don't like the answer, I'll see to it that he's

discharged so that he'll never receive the benefits. It should rightly go to

who met their full obligations.

Ma 'am, the men who served at Chosin Reservoir were about the bravest Marines

who ever wore the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.

They were outnumbered ten to one, ma 'am.

They suffered 7 ,000 casualties out of 15 ,000 men.

It was so damn cold there that the water in their canteens froze.

Couldn't eat their sea rations, so they existed on a diet of Tootsie Rolls. And

they fought to the last man. I know the history, Gunny.

I don't think a Marine who served at Chosen would just walk away from the

Corps, ma 'am.

Well, it looks like that's just what he did.

G'day, bud.

Oh, Mick, she's not here.

Actually, it's you who I came to see, Lieutenant.

Really? I represent Owen Zugler.

I came by to see if we could reach a settlement and save the Navy the cost of

going to trial.

How did Mr. Zugler find you?

Actually, I found him. I saw the news reports and gave him a call.

I've started my own firm.

Brumby and Brumby. I do the work of two men.

As you know, there are numerous people who have grievances with the Navy, so

going to become their voice.

Does the colonel know about your new specialty?

No, so far it hasn't come up.

Mr. Zoodle is suing the Navy for false arrest and imprisonment, loss of wages,

and damages to his physical and mental health.

He wants compensation for his pain and suffering, bud, and punitive damages.

He's willing to settle the case for $2 .5 million.

The Navy made an honest mistake, Nick. I mean, we're prepared to offer a

settlement, but Mr. Zugler is a short -order cook. He makes $6 .72 an hour,

which works out to $268 .80 a week. He was out of work for four weeks, which

comes to $1 ,075 .20. I'll double that to $2 ,000. I'll add $500 for

his inconvenience.

Inconvenience? My client was in the brick for 30 days.

where he was housed and fed at government expense to the tune of $40 a

dollars a day, which you'll notice I am not deducting from his lost wages.

Two million.

Five thousand.

Ten.

Twenty. Ops.

That's chump change, bud.

Is that the best you can offer?

I can arrange a meeting with Commander Rabb, if you would like.

Tomorrow, at the latest.

The night of November 28, 1950, Fox Company was dug in on the ridgeline a

east of the Chosin Reservoir.

Temperature was 35 below that night.

We had to work the slides in our carbines to keep them from seizing up

cases of frostbite.

Chinese threw a whole damn regiment against us.

No one expected to get off that hill alive. We just wanted to kill as many

as possible so as not to let down our fellow Marines.

Colonel Hazard, what part did Private Rivera play that night?

I'd put Private Rivera, Private Barksdale, and five others out on the

with good fields of fire.

Private Rivera was wounded three times that night, but he fought the enemy off.

The Fox Company was the only thing that stood between the gooks and what was

left of First Division.

So I guess you could say he saved a hell of a lot of lives that night, him and

Barksdale.

I was going to put Rivera up for the Navy Cross. I filled out the paperwork.

But when I found out he deserted...

I kept hold of this.

Kind of a souvenir.

What kind of man was Private McGrath?

He wasn't a man, Colonel. He was 18.

He was 17, sir. He lied about his age to get in the Marine Corps.

I didn't know him all that well.

I didn't speak Spanish, and he didn't speak a hell of a lot of English.

The Corps took him like that back then.

As long as they understood Semper Fi and follow me.

Were you surprised when he deserted, Colonel?

I was remembering what Bill Mauldin said.

Look into an infantryman's eyes and you can tell how much war he's seen.

While it shows in, we all saw too much.

Well, that doesn't excuse Private Rivera.

No, but it may explain what he did.

There were Marines that chose in who fought on Iwo Jima and Tarawa.

They said... Chosen was the hardest battle it had ever been in.

Even Genghis Khan didn't go there.

Ma 'am, I'd like orders to New Mexico to pick up Private Rivera.

Why not let the absentee collection unit handle it?

It'll be low priority for them, ma 'am. It'll be a couple of weeks before they

can pick up the prisoner.

Meanwhile, Private Rivera just sits in his cell.

Why is this so important to you, Gunny?

I looked at his paperwork, Colonel.

He's old, poor, Hispanic.

Because he's a Marine, ma 'am.

There's no statute of limitations on heroism.

I'll have to clear it with Commander Rabb.

He controls all the assignments this week.

Thank you, ma 'am.

It's gonna rain this afternoon.

Perfect weather for making love.

Well, you ought to know, sweet thing.

Harm?

Harm?

What are you doing?

Uh, just checking.

What happened to your head?

Admiral's chair fell out from under me.

Are you okay?

Yeah, of course.

You called me sweet thing.

Why would I say that?

And what exactly was it that I'd know?

Did you want something?

I want you to authorize orders.

I want to send Gunny to New Mexico to pick up my prisoner.

Fine by me.

No argument?

Not at the moment, but maybe something will come up.

Look at that. They sent a messkin to pick up a messkin.

Sheriff said we had two more weeks.

Prevera makes it cross the county line, we're ruined.

Only if it crosses the county line alive.

What are you doing here?

Well, a girl can't get too much of a good thing, so... I was hoping we'd pick

where we left off last night.

Harm.

Mac.

Harm.

Did you just call me Mac?

No.

Well, it sure sounded like that.

Well, why would I call you Mac?

I mean, I... No, the difference between you and Mac. And what would that be,

other than the fact that her boobs are bigger?

You're more entertaining.

Don't ever tell a girl she's entertaining unless she's a stripper.

No, no, I meant... I know what you meant.

I've always been the class clown.

But actually, not everybody finds me to be entertaining.

It might surprise you to know that some people find me obnoxious. Would you

please say something so I can stop babbling?

Stop babbling, Renee.

I suppose I should be counting my blessings.

Despite the blow to your head, you still liked me well enough last night.

What was

in

my mind?

Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galendez reporting, Sheriff.

Wasn't expecting you, Galendez.

These are my orders authorizing the transport of Private Rivera.

Last I heard, some chaser from the F .C. collection unit was due here 11 days

from now.

It's been a change of plans, Gerald.

It just seems like you're going to an awful lot of trouble for some baritone.

Think you can handle him yourself?

Well, he's 67 years old. He'll be handcuffed.

I think I can manage.

But he was younger, he'd have given you a run for your money.

I'm going to need you to sign out for the prisoner.

It's all yours.

You difficult?

He's, uh, stubborn, like a lot of you people.

He and I, we've had our troubles before.

During picking season, Rivera would get into fights on Saturday night, and he'd

sweat off his drunk in my jail cell on Sunday morning.

Back in the 70s, he stole the pickup truck.

He wasn't the kind of man that knew his place.

Now, what place is that, Sheriff?

Angel Falls is my town.

This is my county.

I've been in law here for 33 years, and I have a very low tolerance for

disobedience. civil or uncivil.

We take care of our own here.

You sure they're fishing this lake?

Got six trout here last week.

There you go.

Good stroke, Admiral.

And nice tight loop.

There's really no trick to it. You just have to be smarter than the fish.

It was a lot easier to fish when I was young. You used to catch 1 ,500 fish a

day.

You're kidding.

Oh, you'd throw a hand grenade over the side of a patrol boat, have enough for

lunch. Hell, one time I threw in a stick of dynamite, killed enough fish to feed

an entire Vietnamese village.

Oh, my brother told me you had a sense of humor, Admiral.

I mean, not that we talk about you a lot.

I mean, of course you are worth talking about.

Maria.

I bore myself sometimes. I wonder why anybody even pays attention.

Because you are the big fish.

There are several questions I'm required to ask you, Private Rivera, before you

can be transported.

I've not been a private for 50 years.

Technically, you still are a member of the United States Marine Corps, subject

to its rules and regulations.

You feeling depressed?

You come 2 ,000 miles to ask me that?

Have you had any thoughts of taking your own life?

When you get to be my age, Gunnery Sergeant, every day is very precious.

Every breath.

No.

I don't want to cut my life short.

Feeling angry?

What does it matter?

Is your anger so great that you're a threat to yourself or others?

I have not killed anybody in 50 years.

Stand up, please.

Let me get this straight. The

Marine Corps took Mr. Ziegler, a civilian, put him in the brig for two

and then knowing they had the wrong man, they held him for an additional two

weeks? They tasked him with policing the area. That's not hard time.

But you can't go around plucking innocent civilians off the street and

them in the brig.

Sir, the Navy made an honest mistake, but it's not worth $2 million.

Brumby wants too much. No, that's just Brumby. What's just Brumby?

Oh, I was saying that his reach far exceeds his grasp.

Not in my case.

So have you heard from New Mexico? The Admiral checked in via cell phone. He

caught three trout.

Yeah, apparently the Gunny's sister is a very good guide.

Valerie fishes?

I never thought she'd leave the mall.

Not Valerie, Maria.

Gunny has four sisters, but...

So counting airfare, car rental, fly rod, and lodging, that comes to $400 a

fish. Closer to five.

Hey, guys.

Hey. I thought our lunch was at one. Yeah, it is.

Lieutenant, have you discussed my offer with the commander?

What offer?

Mr. Brumby is representing Mr.

Zugler.

You didn't tell me you had a new job.

Small potatoes.

Two million dollars is not small potatoes.

So, Commander.

Not even in the ballpark.

Then make me an offer.

$25 ,000.

That was the question.

$30 ,000.

Take it or leave it. You have 15 seconds to decide.

If you want to play hardball, mate, I'll see you in court.

I'll see you at work, sir.

Brumby and Brumby.

1 -800 -SUE -NAVY.

Does not say 1 -800 -SUE -NAVY.

Minder?

Sure. Are you all right?

Of course I'm all right.

Why do people keep asking me that?

Well, you look a little spacey, sir.

You ever see things?

Like UFOs, sir?

No, no, no.

I mean, like, you know, things that aren't there.

No. Actually, no, sir.

You say that you did.

And that these things challenged the assumptions by which you led

your life.

They seem to lead you in a different direction.

What direction, sir?

Away.

But none of it is real.

Who's to say what's real and what's illusion?

Moody Blues?

Thanks, bud.

You've been a big help.

Sir.

Have you considered an MRI?

Sir, sir.

Oh, should I congratulate you on your new career?

Well, that's what I would expect.

This is the second time you've gotten a new job without telling me.

Sir, every time I do something, I don't want to have to climb over you.

You have to trust what I'm doing is the right thing.

Trust that I'm not working against us.

Besides, I'm only taking advantage of what I know best.

What, litigating against the Navy?

What do you do, Sarah?

Either prosecute individual servicemen and women or defend them, often by

attacking the institution of the Navy.

How is that different from what I'm doing?

Except you get to wear the uniform.

Albuquerque International Subport. Have a safe trip.

Make sure they don't get there.

What about the Marine?

He may be a Marine, but he's just another beaner to me.

That new?

Sheriff got it for me. No paper trail.

We should have burned Rivera in that damn rusty trailer of his when we had

champ. There's no point in killing him before it was time, Felton.

Hell, he's an old man.

He might have died natural before his case ever went to trial.

Besides, Rivera's not that bad of a guy.

Him, the only reason that nice old man ain't dead already is he got arrested by

the Marines.

There's no way the sheriff is going to kill him in his own jail.

Loaded them myself.

Extra powder and ball bearings instead of buckshot.

Eight to a shell.

We can't just shoot them. We only got between here and Albuquerque.

You kill a Mexican, the sheriff can fix it, but you shoot a Marine... You gotta

do this smart, Felton. Rivera makes it out alive.

He's gonna take your land and mine and the sheriff's and a lot more besides.

these damn things off. It's against regs.

You don't trust me.

Why I should trust you?

Because I'm on your side, Private Rivera.

And I have been from the start.

So what we have here is some wetback that's by the side of the road.

Do whatever you want. You're about to own half the county.

How I know you're on my side?

Well, for starters, I made the arrangements to come out here two weeks

time. Otherwise, you'd still be cooling your heels over at that Angel Falls

jail.

Why? Why are you helping me?

God's pride, Rivera.

Chosin Reservoir, you shot great bravery under fire.

Did you know Lieutenant Hazard submitted you for the Navy Cross?

For daringly exposing himself to machine guns, grenades, and small arms fire.

And holding its position in the face of overwhelming odds.

You were wounded three times, but you kept on fighting.

You risked your life to save a wounded comrade.

I was young.

I didn't know no better.

Was that why you walked away from the Marine Corps, Private Rivera?

Because you didn't know better?

I was not educated when I joined.

My English no good.

Half of the time I don't understand what they say to me.

Why did you enlist?

Because all my life I wanted to get the hell away from New Mexico and see the

world.

But all I saw was a lot of guys puking in the hull of some damn troop ship in

the top of a freezing hill in Corea.

That was not the world I wanted to see.

Is that why you deserted?

I am not a deserter.

Well, then how do you explain the fact that you never reported back for duty?

After the air lifted me back to the States, it took a long time for

my wounds to heal.

In the beginning, I felt sorry for myself.

Then I saw men with no legs, no arms.

Some of them could not move at all.

So I stopped feeling sorry for myself.

After five months, the doctor told me I was discharged, that I was free to

go. I could return home.

Entonces, me fui para mi casa.

Well, if you don't think that you were a deserter, how come you never applied

for benefits until now?

Because until now, I'd need no money.

Now, I have to pay lawyers.

Well, just how much trouble are you in?

Not too much.

I can handle it.

You think I have to do break time?

Not for me to say, Private Rivera.

I'm only a gunnery sergeant. No, senor.

Staff NCOs run the Marine Corps.

Yeah, don't tell the officers.

Look, Rafael, I'm going to do everything I can to help you.

Really?

Yeah, really.

Oh, someday I hope Victor will come back to where he belongs and find a wife.

I wouldn't count on it, Maria.

He's excelling where he is.

Does he know that?

Of course.

You told him?

Well, not in so many words.

But he'd know if he had a problem with you.

They all know.

So, you ever thought about leaving here?

No, not when I'm out here on this lake, Admiral.

I don't understand that.

It's AJ.

What do you do when you're not a fishing guy?

I'm a paralegal with a law firm.

Spend my time going through dusty records in libraries.

All you see here was once owned by Spanish landowners, AJ.

It was taken from them by force 100 years ago.

Now they're all fighting to get it back.

You're talking about land that's been owned by others for generations.

Not owned, AJ.

Stolen.

Probably make a case both ways.

Yeah, well, sometimes a little too forcefully.

A lawyer handling one of our most promising trials was shot to death last

I hate these damn things.

Why do you carry one?

Because I'm indispensable.

Excuse me.

Check wooden.

Sorry to bother you, Admiral.

We're about 40 miles from Eagle Nest Lake, sir. With your authorization, I'd

like to make a detour to Cibola.

Gunny? Yes, sir.

What the hell are you doing in New Mexico?

I'm picking up the colonel's prisoner, sir.

Did Commander Rabb authorize this?

Yes, sir.

What the hell did he do, fall on his head?

Pretty much, sir.

Sir, Private Rivera has requested the opportunity to return to his home in

Cibola to retrieve certain personal effects.

Well, surely someone can ford them.

Well, he lives alone, sir, in a trailer out in the middle of nowhere, and he's

afraid his things won't be there when you return.

Sir, Private Rivera's an old man.

He doesn't have much, but what he does have means a lot to him.

This is a job, Gunny. Don't let it get personal.

Sir, I believe there's been a miscarriage of justice here.

It's my firm belief that Private Rivera did not desert from the Marine Corps.

All right.

You know Eagle Nest Lake.

Oh, yes, sir. I fished on that lake since I was a kid.

Go to Cephala. Bring your prisoner to the trailhead. Call me when you get

I'll come down. Maybe we can work something out.

Yes, sir.

Roses.

Okay, flyboy, what's the occasion?

Promotion? Birthday?

Anniversary?

Are you dumping me?

I just spent 60 bucks on roses.

Yeah, they're always nice to you right before they kick you out.

They? People of your gender.

I'm not kicking you out.

Arm, you called me Mac.

Is she your dream girl?

You want to know the truth?

I can handle it.

I've been doing some thinking lately.

About Mac coming out of your shower clothed only in raindrop?

Sorry.

Are you in love with her?

Come on, Renee. We fight like cats and dogs.

Besides, she's getting married soon. Remember?

Remember? I'm counting the days.

I'm telling her to get out of your dreams.

And then you can have me, and I can have my miracle.

I know one thing.

I want you in my life.

Not a second best?

I want to show you something.

They were beautiful.

You know what I remember most about them?

the joy they took in one another.

It's the prize in the box of Cracker Jack.

It's what every woman wants to be, Harm.

That's what she was to him.

We had a wet winter.

A lot of washouts.

What happens if we go right?

Uh, you see, long way around.

But we'll get to the lake.

We're down!

Are you okay?

I just broke my arm.

Jacqueline!

What the hell are you doing?

You don't hunt a wounded animal at night.

The Marine can still travel, Tim, and the Braco's not hit. They won't get far,

Felton. We can track them at first light.

rounds you got left?

Two mags of 15 rounds each.

Give me my cell phone.

You got shot right through the phone.

You know what you're doing?

I've got practice getting shot.

Still no answer.

Out of service. This is not like Victor. A lot of things could have happened

last night. Flat tire, could have run off the road.

Victor is a deputy in his house. He has friends in law enforcement. I know

they'll be able to help us.

Call them.

telling him her brother was transporting a prisoner, Rafael Jesus Rivera.

When last contact, he was taking Private Rivera to his trailer at Cibola. Why

didn't you tell me this sooner?

Well, I'm in your business center.

I know where to find Rafael, A .J. He was a client of the murdered lawyer.

$175 ,000.

$80 ,000. $80 ,000 with the written understanding that Mr. Ziegler cannot

disclose the amount of the settlement.

Done. And give no interviews to any publications, including but not limited

the National Enquirer and People magazine.

Lieutenant, that may adversely affect the ability of my client to make up the

losses he suffered at the hands of the Navy.

Come on, Mick, we've heard all this. Now, your client has legitimate beef,

granted. But you were in the Navy.

You want to see the servant subject to ridicule?

I need to think of my client.

Who is being well taken care of. And now it's time to consider the greater good.

What are you, appealing to my better angels?

Exactly.

Besides, you're not going to do better than 80 ,000.

Done.

I'll see you then.

At the wedding, if not before.

You set a date?

That's what Sarah and I are going to do at lunch.

Well, the sooner the better, huh?

Yeah.

Never too soon to hook up a good thing.

Lieutenant.

Cheers, Mike.

That was masterful, sir.

You're his new best buddy.

You misjudge him, but probably not so bad once you get used to him.

Is something wrong?

Why are you staring at me?

You're out of uniform.

Right?

I changed in the ladies' room. I'm going to lunch with Mick. Oh, and did I tell

you I'm taking the afternoon off?

No. No, you failed to mention that.

It's a big day for you two, huh?

Yeah, it is.

You know, Mick said that you were fair, friendly.

Well, come on.

You and I are friends, and, you know, Mick's gonna be your husband, so it's

only... Fit England, he and I should be friends.

Sir, about that MRI.

Did you hear something?

Yeah. They're out there.

Hey, Rape, who are these guys?

Doesn't matter.

If I'm going to get killed, I want to know why.

These men want my land.

What? And those have come to me two, three years ago.

and told me I have a claim to 100 ,000 acres that was given to my grandfather's

grandfather.

The lawyer says I have good chance to win lawsuit.

That means I'm going to be very rich.

You know,

they say...

30 -06.

Maybe they're hunters.

People hunt with 9mm pistols around here?

Uh, call the health care department again. Tell them we need a chopper out

fast.

Can you travel?

No.

Listen, Ray, just get the hell out of here.

Pretend you're a damn Marine and just follow orders.

I'm out of practice.

What the

hell

was that?

Johnny!

Over here, sir!

Despacio, despacio.

Any more?

No, sir.

You all right?

I've been hurt worse before, Admiral.

Sure am glad to see you, sir.

Who the hell are you?

Private Rafael Jesús Rivera, sir.

Changing the orders.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross

to Private First Class Rafael Jesús Rivera for extraordinary heroism as a

rifleman with the 1st Marine Division in action against enemy forces in Korea.

on November 28, 1950.

While severely outnumbered, Private Rivera continued to fight while exposing

himself to intense machine gun grenade and small arms fire.

Although seriously wounded, he was able to hold his position, which was vital to

the mission of his unit.

His great personal courage and valiant fighting spirit in the face of

odds reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.

Congratulations, Rivera.

Thank you, sir.