Original subtitles

You know, you're sitting on the grave of a hero.

What?

A woman who wasn't much older than you when she died.

Sorry. I didn't realize.

The young never do.

Not their fault.

It happened long ago.

Vietnam?

World War II.

I never realized women were buried here.

Or that any of them were heroes. They were all heroes.

Especially the nurses.

She was a nurse?

Navy nurse in the Pacific.

And you knew her?

Mm -hmm.

Want to see her picture?

Sure.

Which one was she?

That was a long time ago.

That it was.

Fourth and Fifth Marine Divisions were preparing for the opening assault on Iwo

Jima.

You could see a Navy hospital ship just offshore.

She stayed with the fleet right where she was needed.

I hope the fleet won't have to keep this up all night.

That must be dug in deep.

Looks like the Fourth of July out there.

I don't think it's anything like the Fourth of July, Joanie.

I suppose not.

I can't even look at it.

You're going to have to get used to it, Jane. Let her look away if she wants.

She'll have plenty to get used to tomorrow when the Marines land.

Well, I hope you girls aren't like sleepers.

Cigarettes? No, thanks. Joanie, you miscounted the bandage rolls.

Would you please dart again into it right this time?

Yes, ma 'am.

How bad's it going to be?

Not the northern lights they're looking at, honey.

Worst injury I ever saw was old Mr. Jenkins.

Run over by his own tractor.

I haven't even seen that much.

There's my connect core training. If you didn't think you could stomach it, you

should have stayed home.

One mistake from you, honey, and it makes the rest of us look bad. She's

kid, Lieutenant.

Why such a hard kid?

She's the same age as some of those Marines out there. Well, maybe some of

are nervous, too. Did you ever think about that, Lieutenant?

They'll rise to the occasion when called on, and Ensign Connors will do the

same. She's better.

You understand, Jane?

Yes, ma 'am.

I need him downstairs in thoracic prepping for surgery immediately.

Yes, sir.

Okay, take him to thoracic and prep him.

Seaman Thomas?

Yes, sir. Get him to the morgue. I got it, sir.

Deeply.

I need this man to breathe right now.

Yes, sir.

Everyone, who is conscious, up against the apt bulkhead. I need some room to

move around here. Yes, Commander.

You heard the doctor, ladies. Move anyone at all. Nurse.

I can do to make you more comfortable.

You can get that doctor to get Corporal Tanner into a bath or a bunion standard

envelope.

Neurotic. How do you... You're a

corpsman.

You can't let the infection set in.

The doctor's seeing to him now.

I guess he'd be the better pick to look after the corporal.

You know twice and all.

Please don't talk that way.

I'm gonna lose my eye.

Sure as the day is long.

Want to put a little wager on it?

A sawbuck? What do you say, Angel Puss?

I was nearsighted in that one anyway.

And that's why I always ask the great. Price is the same, but it sticks to your

ribs, right?

What's that?

I ain't never heard nothing like that before.

What do you say?

Jane, if you're not going to be working, then don't be here.

Please. Yes, sir.

You lost Jane? No, sir. I'll be fine. Thank you, sir.

Well, I've never seen a seat for Catholic on a fickle stain before.

Converted, sir?

Possible clerical error.

Through this holy anointing and his most tender mercy, may the Lord pardon what

sins you have committed, and for good measure, be good to all, be it Kaddish,

may Rabban.

How's the pain, Marine?

Nothing I can't handle, ma 'am.

Please call me Joni.

My name is James.

James Tanner.

Commander!

Commander!

Send him to the ward. I'll give him morphine every two hours.

With just albumin and morphine, sir?

Quickly. What about a course of penicillin?

We are running short on penicillin. We are running short on everything.

I know, but sir... This is triage. If you don't know what that means, I

you ask someone.

Tell me who you are.

Gary Cooper.

What would Gary Cooper be doing here?

Backed in his behind office, I'll say.

A place like this can drive you crazy, huh, Thomas?

You think I got a screw loose upstairs tonight?

Talking to the dead like they was living?

It's for them out there.

Those men don't need to know their buddies are on the way to the morgue.

Very charitable of you, son.

I'm not a doctor, sir. It's the most I can do for them.

Beverly?

Is he?

Ma 'am? I'm not getting anything.

Don't you worry, ma 'am.

I'll take it from here.

He's still warm.

There's no pulse.

He's dead.

Move on.

Can we clear an aisle here?

It's hard for you to talk about war.

Just because something's hard to do doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

Let me tell you, those Navy nurses were tops.

Good as doctors. We needed them for something more than that.

They were girls.

They brought a bit of home with them.

They made us feel normal.

In spite of ourselves.

Oh.

That's just Jake.

I don't even know why we have to wear stockings.

You think the native Hawaiian girls wear stockings? We're practically in the

same part of the world. I think we should wear grass skirts and brassieres

at seashells. You and your Hawaii.

You've never even been.

What is going on out there?

I took the robot to me.

Damn war can't last much longer now.

I want to shift in ten.

You just can't stay away from that Lazarus Marine of yours. His name is

Lieutenant Ron Graham, and he's hardly risen from the dead.

I'd stay away from Lieutenant Graham if I were you.

A concussion like that is unpredictable.

You almost sent the man to the morgue, after all.

I've seen it before.

A pretty nurse falls for a wounded man.

In the end, all she can do is watch him die.

You shouldn't be trying to help me, Petty Officer.

Corman or not, you need your rest.

Okay, Emerson Connors, okay.

But I'm going to keep an eye on you.

What's the matter? Nursing graduate, Mark.

Excuse me, sir. Do you have a minute?

What's on your mind?

Actually, Sir Corporal Tanner has been on my mind quite a lot, frankly.

Sir, we're not doing anything for him.

Even the corpsman that brought him in said he needed an antibiotic bath.

Do you suppose that this corpsman that you're speaking of has spent any time in

medical school?

We nurses train the corpsman, and you know that, sir.

Ensign, listen.

That was a 22 -year -old man with third -degree burns over 80 % of his body.

You know the formula, don't you?

Yes, sir. Age, blood burn area, equal likelihood of death.

Corporal Tanner's total is 102%. The boy doesn't have a chance in the world.

All that we can hope to do is keep him comfortable and wait.

No, sir, that's not all we can do.

This man is going to die. It is your job to fluff his pillows and tell him he is

going to be fine.

Do you think you can manage that?

Quite a long face.

My little corpful over there.

Dr. Ravens, this is not going to make it.

I'm sorry, Joni.

Don't fight it, Lieutenant.

It's okay.

Wake up, Lieutenant.

Come on now.

It's okay.

That man can't hear you.

His recovery is a matter of intracranial pressure reduction, not your sweet

talk. And by the way, we're out of fluffs and 5 and 10 glucose, so maybe

time would be better spent in supplies.

Beverly. Where are my men?

They're here.

They're here with us. You brought them this far.

You've done your job.

As you were, people.

At least just keeping the pressure on. Best thing you can do for the war effort

is your job.

Good night,

Joe. Good night, honey.

I want to see you for breakfast.

Starting out real early. You make me nervous, Beverly.

We should all have such problems, Jane. A patient who's actually in a good mood?

This one's in too good a mood.

Petty offered her a lot, didn't I? And all he does is joke about it.

I don't understand it, honey. Speak of the devil. Excuse me.

If you don't mind me, uh, crowding in.

I don't want to have to watch the movie anyways.

What?

Oh, who, Higgins?

And there's no mistake.

How's your platoon leader, sailor?

Doing well, ma 'am. No small part thanks to you.

It's Dr. Rayburn you have to thank.

No, ma 'am.

I know my way around the human condition and what you did for Lieutenant Graham,

ma 'am.

Let's just say it's something you can't learn out of a book.

Is the lieutenant awake now?

I think so, ma 'am. Excuse me.

See that fellow there?

They used to look just like him.

I brought home a memory And it won't stop haunting

me That Hawaiian melody

Thank you, Johnny.

Are you okay, Jimmy?

I'm a little tired.

I'll let you rest.

No.

You listen to me.

Nobody knows what's around the next corner.

And I figured if I ever found myself in the Pacific Ocean with an attractive

man, it would be on my honeymoon cruise.

Jimmy, don't you dare underestimate the power of hope.

My mama says that all the time.

Your mom is swell in my book.

Nurse!

Nurse!

How's corporal Tanner?

Well, just you rest, Marine.

Look,

there was another nurse here.

Where is she?

Yes, I know who you mean, and she's off right now.

I'm the head nurse. Is there something I can get for you?

Yeah, you can get me my boots and help me get back out of there.

Put that out right now, Marianne!

We are working with oxygen here. You're going to light the whole ward up like a

bonfire. Smoke them on the deck. It's all right. Best to do that outside.

Doctor, please understand, they don't know any better. Will you explain to

that O2 is flammable?

Dan Graham, you've made a miraculous recovery.

The other nurse said you were off tonight.

Well, I don't think they'll fire me for putting in a little overtime.

I, uh... I remember seeing your face.

I don't remember much else.

Don't worry, you were quite the gentleman.

How are my men?

Why don't we go for a walk?

You know, the nurses aren't supposed to talk about the reality of the medical

cases.

Not even to platoon leaders.

Yeah, I know.

Keep smiling, that's the rule.

It's lying is what it is.

I saw Corporal Tanner after it happened.

He rolled down a hill.

I know it's not good.

Doctor said he had burns over most of his body.

What else did the doctors tell you?

the Fighting Irish from McMurphy High School?

Should I have?

Only if you follow high school football, I guess.

We were the top team in the league four years in a row.

Let me guess. It was the four years you were on the team?

Yeah, me and a quarterback named Joe Tanner.

Guy threw an incredible spiral.

Any relation?

I made him a promise that I would bring his little brother back in one

piece.

I'm not going to be able to keep that promise, Emma.

No, Ron.

So why'd you break the rules for me?

Why'd you tell me?

Because for some strange reason, I feel like I can trust you.

I know you from somewhere.

Well, let me guess. I remind you of the guy back home, right? That's not what I

was going to say.

There's no guy back home.

Beverly, that day you sat down beside me,

You were talking to me.

I couldn't make out what you were saying.

But it made me want to open my eyes and find out who was doing the talking.

You gave me a second chance to make things right, Beth.

Show my men that we're still a team.

We're still Marines.

Maybe sometimes it's okay not to be a Marine.

To be just a man.

So, did he kiss her?

I don't believe he did on that occasion.

Then why not?

Nurses made us feel safe.

They stepped in where mothers, sisters, wives, sweethearts couldn't

be.

And they hid their own fears so well that... they seemed invincible.

And no man wanted to ruin that.

Not even for a kiss.

Thanks, Padre.

I see you're doing some writing, Lieutenant.

Ah, yeah, Padre.

I'm a Mustang, you know.

I was ten years enlisted for my unit, went to Guam.

I was the last man standing, so they made me an officer.

I'm not used to having to ride home and tell folks that I got their sons killed.

You know, Lieutenant, I've always believed in the hand of God as the

force in this world.

Don't I feel like an ass to find out it's a Marine?

How the hell am I going to kill Corporal Tanner's family?

How am I going to break it to him, Father?

When the time comes, you'll know.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5, 4.

For every man shall bear his own burden.

Galatians 6, 5.

If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a

reward.

1 Corinthians 3, 14.

Now, Stephen, I didn't take you as a churchgoer, Baptist.

No, sir, Catholic.

Free from the same good book you do.

Thank you, Padre.

Say, Seaman.

Sir.

Will you deliver a note for me?

It's for Nurse Beverly.

Since you asked. Nice life.

You know you're all right, sir, for an officer.

Take a real interest in your man.

Will you please sharpen these needles and put them in the autoclave?

And for the love of God, will somebody bring out some more drip stands?

I mean, seriously, Marianne, it is bedlam in here.

Nancy, more drip stands. I have the misfortune to serve under Dr.

Bluebeard.

You're a lot smarter than you let on, Seaman.

You're a brave one for noticing, sir.

I'll give this note to your lady friend.

Here, let me help you.

Fine.

Hey, Jane, take a seat. No.

Come on, please, Jane. Take a seat.

You know, my first case in battle was this Marine.

Got hit in the neck.

Felt like I was going to faint.

It got easier the next time. And the time after that, it'll be the same for

I'm supposed to be cheering you up, not the other way around.

There's nothing you could have said that I haven't said to a dozen guys just

like me.

You wonder how I joke at this.

I laugh because the alternative is something I was raised to believe a man

doesn't do.

Where's that ukulele playing friend of yours, Jimmy?

I'm not the only patient she has, Lieutenant.

It's just best luck.

I'm going to have you up and dancing in a day or two, don't worry.

I'll be jitterbugging in no time, sir.

Yeah, you will.

You will, partner.

Get some rest, okay?

We all knew we were going to take Iwo Jima eventually.

We also knew that more Marines were going to have to die to make that

That must have been hard.

We had our moments of normality.

Uncle Sam was very good about sending us records.

I'm playing cards.

Nurses?

Nurses.

Tony said we could be heading to Hawaii right now.

Tony has Hawaii on the brain.

Avenue 70?

Go fish.

What's the first thing you do in Hawaii, Beth?

Me? I'd eat a meal that wasn't beans and Frank.

Live in a bed that didn't make me seasick.

I'd go to Pearl Harbor.

See what they did to us.

Get changed, ladies.

You win, Jane.

Lieutenant!

I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened to you.

The nurse who fell in love and watched her patient die.

That nurse was you, wasn't it?

I forgive you your bitterness, Marianne.

You came by it honestly.

You think I give a moment's thought to earning your absolution for what you say

I am?

For your information, the nurse in that story wasn't me.

She was just a stupid young girl.

By the way, Ensign.

Regular Navy or not, I subscribe to the theory that a senior officer is to be

respected.

Yes, ma 'am.

Dr. Ravens?

I want all those needles carefully dolled, and for the love of God, would

somebody put the bedpans in the freezer? Seriously, bedlam around here.

Oh, she responds to my touch. If Raven finds you in here, he'll put you in full

-point restraint.

Oh, yeah, let him try.

Oh, tough guy.

A patient came into my office last week.

I said, sir, I'm sorry to say, but you've got a tumor. And what's more,

showing signs of dementia.

He said, thank God, I thought I had a tumor.

Oh, I feel guilty laughing when there's so much going on.

Well, we owe it to the ones who may not make it through this war to go on with

our lives.

That's what this fighting's all about, isn't it?

Ron. Shh, shh.

Breathe for me.

I can't.

Your heart is racing.

Nerves, I guess.

I don't... You're a stranger to me, despite what I said on deck last night.

What you said on the deck last night is the reason I'm here.

You're not alone in believing we met for a reason.

Hold me.

But I'm not done my examination yet. I don't want to play doctor anymore.

All right, I'll be the country gentleman, then you be the blushing

that what you want?

Well, we live what we have here now without apology.

No amount of Red Cross titty bags will make this feel like home, Beverly.

I'd be lying here if I didn't say I wonder what you'd look like in a pretty

dress.

A couple of tanners, sir.

You remember?

We're fourth and goal.

We're down 14 -10. Lazareville thought they had us.

Ball snaps.

Joe takes it.

I block.

He runs into the backfield. He's zigzagging like a sidewinder.

In the end zone, right on the horn.

You remember?

tell him yourself, Jimmy. You're gonna tell him how you pulled through.

Alright, you're not going anywhere.

Alright.

Jimmy.

Jim.

Clear the area.

You are a heartless bastard, you know that?

You don't think that I want to help these men?

I took an oath to save lives and look around.

I have to pick and choose who's worthy of supplies.

Time.

It's not your fault, Commander. None of this is your fault.

Why are they so close?

Fleet's under attack.

be there Bev.

I couldn't watch that boy.

This isn't safe. Let's get out.

We didn't know if Joanie would make it.

All we could do was hope.

So she was hit by us.

Friendly fire.

Isn't that what they call it?

I think you need this more than I do.

There was no safe harbor to be had in all that chaos.

The Goodwill stayed off of Iwo Jima the whole time.

Right in the line of fire.

In a way, those nurses were as brave as any of the men on land.

Ron, I'm sorry about Corporal Tanner.

Well, we're all sorry, Pamela. It doesn't change a damn thing.

I wasn't finished.

I'm sorry about him and every man like him who passed through here.

Stop.

We take care of these men. We hurt when one of them doesn't make it.

You don't have the monopoly on pain, you know.

Whatever happened to our Owings dead?

to our needing to go on so that their sacrifices would mean something. You

convinced me that it was okay to be human. That I didn't have to stop living

just because I was surrounded by death.

I can't be there for you, Beverly.

Don't say that.

I'm going to take care of what I already have.

There's no room in that for you.

For anybody.

You're so right, Marianne. The lieutenant didn't die on me. He didn't

He's gone, just the same.

Your ability to love is a gift.

My what?

Love.

It's a gift.

It was you, wasn't it?

This is your patient. He was a Marine just like Ron.

And he died in my hospital ward just like Corporal Tanner.

Sometimes I think I gave him every ounce I had, you know?

Every bit of what made me like... like you are now.

And then he was gone.

And he took all that with him.

And I promised myself that I would never give that much again.

Your Marine is still here, Beverly.

Go to him.

She's right, you know.

Dr. Rayburn said that you wouldn't regain consciousness, that you lost too

blood. You didn't think I was going to let him be right about me.

I'm up and about just to spite the good doctor.

You were going to go get yourself in a ring, Lieutenant.

I was, wasn't I?

Marines just took Moriyama.

That hurt.

We'll be leaving soon. Our sister ship will take over.

You'll be able to go home if that's what you want. I'm not going home.

I'm going back out there as soon as I'm cleared.

And it won't make the guilt go away, Ron.

Whether you stay here or you go back to face Joe Tanner.

It isn't about Joe Tanner.

A lot from what I swore to protect.

I didn't keep my word to a family, to a whole town.

I don't understand.

I don't start to care about you.

Do you think I need protection?

I can't let anybody else get in. I don't need you to carry me. I can walk with

you.

Do you think my family was happy to see me join up and go off to war?

It's not something a girl is supposed to do.

But here I am.

And I've done a pretty good job of protecting myself.

You know, I read somewhere that we are each of us angels with one wing.

And we can only fly by embracing each other.

And I believe that.

I have patients in oxygen tents.

Come on.

Are you all right?

Hang on. I'm doing that.

Cut it. Cut it. Cut

it.

I don't know.

I have to see her, Lieutenant.

Just head towards the door. Someone will find you and help you out.

Get the hell out of here.

Beverly?

She'd done it, though.

She turned off the oxygen.

She saved a lot of lives that day, mine among them.

If Beverly had been a man,

she would have been given the Silver Star for what she did.

It was you.

You were the Marine that Beverly fell in love with.

And today's February 28th, the day she died.

A lot of people died that day.

And the one that's buried here, she reminds me

never to take.

A single moment for granted.

After the war, I married one of those nurses.

And we went to Kauai on our honeymoon.

Hey, Grandpa, I'm sorry I'm late.

Lieutenant Graham here is the latest Navy nurse in the family.

And she looks a lot like her grandma.

Hi. Hi.