Original subtitles

Thank you.

you

Yeah, this is it.

This is it, men!

All right, get the stuff back to the bivouac.

And all you guys, including you, stay away from the booze. We'll ration it

later.

Okay, Hiawatha, start tootin'. Don't you call me Hiawatha.

As a matter of fact, Sergeant Rich Boy, you just keep your mouth shut.

Phew.

DJ, you better pick him up. Come on.

When do you expect the nips?

Full moon tonight.

Yeah, they'll hit early.

Think we're gonna have booze for supper.

You can't win.

You miss the drop and the yellows starve you out. You take it down the chimney,

they spot you and attack.

Clever, these Japanese.

Ah, brilliant.

What's the usual, huh?

Yes, morphine's added, too.

Again, no doctor, do I?

Nope. Here's the doctor.

The gods of drink.

The spirit of spirits.

You are, Tom? You are, doctor.

You aren't very fine, doctor.

I have to amplify.

Probably the local oscillator. There's not one of those within 500 miles.

He's got the cranks again.

Stop making excuses for that damn thing and make it work.

We're good at the old college trot.

Okay, Hiawatha, belch a little Navajo.

Hold it.

I told you, Sergeant Richard Bowie, don't you call me Hiawatha.

I'm on your feet.

What's your problem, Danforth?

I don't like this lash-up.

You volunteered for it. This is what you volunteered for.

These are the people you work with.

I didn't volunteer to take a lot of puke from this Sergeant Rich Boy here just

because I'm a Navajo.

And I'll tell you something else.

I didn't volunteer to take orders from that Nottong that you sent to give him

to me.

He's a gook, and I take no orders from gooks.

You know, Danforth's a very small world.

You and Nortung are relatives.

Yeah, you're blood brothers.

I was once told that the Kachins are the revered ancestors of the Navajo.

I find that fascinating.

You know, like one of those indoctrination lectures about democracy

in the big picture.

Well, I'm not sure I can even spell democracy, and I don't know what the big

picture looks like.

But I do know you got a big mouth.

And if you open it again and start spouting about gooks, you're gonna get

none of this to pour into it.

Now, let's go to work.

Yes, sir.

That's on the berserk again.

They'll do it.

Thank you, brother.

Moon coming up.

Tonight we make fine ambush. Always fine ambush.

Only how long we go on like this?

Who knows?

We're the only active force in the hills.

Now it works.

Hope the walkie-talkies are working.

You chaps make a fine lot of decoys.

Run this up for me.

I tried, Annie.

Great way to play poker. Come on, you sitting ducks, Annie, up.

From old man?

Column of Japanese are crossing river, taking the east trail through the

jungle.

They're right on. Ask Dan Folkton and I'd tell him they'd be right on.

It's ringing to a chip. Not tonight.

He says the hardware business is good. He bought two more stores.

Cheap.

He thinks I should pray once in a while because prayer never hurt anybody and it

don't cost a dime.

America, a very funny place full of prayers and money.

Another column coming from the east.

Estimate over 200 men.

Get ready. This is no way to fight a war.

Well, another evening of joy unconfined.

Sucked him in rather good, huh?

Fire.

Fire.

Dua.

I've got it in the stomach.

It's hopeless.

You know, last morning, I... I was to God we had that morphine.

Sorry.

You're a real soldier now, Bayan.

You have tasted the pain of wound in combat.

Tommy, you can't do it.

Would you rather he suffered for another 12 or 15 hours?

You chewed a lousy horse with a broken leg to end his misery. Now get out. A

human being is not an animal.

Don't give me any sermons. You're not the chaplain. You can't murder a man

without killing part of yourself.

I've been killing men all night long. Now get out. So have all of us. If that

doesn't give you the right... Get out!

Why? Why'd you have to do that?

Get back to your squawk box.

Why didn't you let Nha Thong do it?

Because it's my job, that's why.

You get back to your job.

Get hold of the colonel and tell him I'll see him tomorrow morning. I'll meet

us plain at coordinates George 6.3.

Yes, sir.

Charlie Fox Dog calling Zebra 42.

Over.

Zebra 42, over.

George 6.3.

Over.

Over.

They want to know your purpose for coming in.

Colonel Fargetson's driver.

Where's the colonel?

Locked on a military mission. He said he'd meet you at headquarters at 0800 in

the morning.

What do you expect us to do at 0800 in the morning? Play a fast game of jacks?

He suggested the captain adjust himself to civilization.

You know, girls, booze.

You got my weapons here in the bank, Dick.

We put no trust in slingshots.

The jeep and I are both at the captain's convenience.

Any questions, sir?

Yeah, you wouldn't happen to know a Red Cross lady named Margaret Fitch, would

you? Fitch?

Fitch.

Well, it seems to me that the Emperor's Hotel and a couple of those other local

creep joints, they're Red Cross country. I'll find you, sir.

Thank you, Corporal.

Thank you, sir.

This is a grand way to live. This is even a better way to die.

Well, thanks for the toboggan ride, corporal.

But you really belong in a PT boat.

My pleasure.

I'm just kind of sorry we didn't have a flat tire or something, sir.

Ma'am.

Good night.

Well, when do we eat?

Take it easy, Papi. This isn't slowing up time. This is slowing down time.

Let's drink easy and long and consistent. Right-o. We'll drink

ourselves into a tortured hunger.

Darling!

Oh, darling!

Well, what's happened to you?

You've changed.

Yeah, but you haven't. You'd like to bent me double. And where have you been?

Everybody I've talked to acted as though you're top secret or something.

Uh, Margaret, this is Danny DeMortimer. He speaks English like he hates it.

Margaret Fitch. What pumpkin did you pop out of?

The Empress Hotel.

You see? Just like good old Corporal Thank-You-Sir Ring has stated.

Oh,

would you think me terribly, Jay, if I were to ask just what you're doing in

the war? Well, I'd rather tell you what I do. You see, I'm working on military

secrets. I'm looking for a beautiful spy to sell them to.

You wouldn't happen to number a beautiful spy among your friends, would

you? We'll find your girl, Danny.

As a matter of fact, if it weren't for Tom and this and that, you'd have me

completely enslaved.

I think it's the monocle.

I think it's very chic.

Oh, it's smashing.

Well, I have an injured eye through which I take a rather jaundiced view of

the world.

Margaret, don't ask him how he keeps it in.

How do you keep it in?

Well, the problem is getting it out. You see, it can't even be dislodged by a

severe blow.

Tom, shall we demonstrate?

Let's not play that game.

Oh, come on, Thomas, old man. One blow for the edification of the lady.

Remarkable, isn't it?

Hello, Fred.

Well, I suppose there's no use pretending I don't know you.

Miss Carla Vasari, Mr. Nico Regas, this is Captain Tom Reynolds and Captain

Danny DeMortimer. How do you do? How do you do?

Won't you, uh, join us?

Delighted.

Oh, uh, Margaret Fitch, this is Miss Vasari, Mr.

Regas, and Colonel Parkson. So these are the twin legends you were telling us

about?

Am I disappointed?

Oh, no, no, not at all.

It's just that you're rather young to be legends.

Well, we're over 21.

How do you plan to spend your leave here?

No leave, no plans. Well, we could shoot off a couple of firecrackers or

something. We should be able to provide you with something more exciting than

sparklers.

Any suggestions, Carla?

I think the captain will fill up his time, eventually.

I could use a little help with that.

Would you like to dance?

Of course, my dear.

Have you been in India long, Miss Fitch?

Several months.

Allow me.

Is it a brand of ownership?

Not at all. It's just a good old American salutation.

Means nothing?

Nothing.

You'd be surprised at some of the customs of my people.

Well, relax.

I beg your pardon?

Let it go.

I'm a mild-mannered, soft-spoken man, and I'm a gentleman and an officer. And

I never make a sudden move.

I'm very pleased to hear it.

And what's your rank in serial number?

I'm cautious, conventional, and very, very careful.

And you're on the green side of 25. You're put together like a Christmas

package.

And you remind me of a pretty girl I once saw in a perfume ad before I became

a lonely soldier.

And I, too, am looking for signs of ownership.

Are you attached to the handsome old gentleman?

You're amusing.

It seems to be one of your more astounding treats.

Name another.

Your love of combat.

You even bring the war back here with you.

Well, sometimes men brawl to forget combat.

Captain Reynolds, is this your first war?

It is definitely my last.

I think you'll love it. Like most men, you relish war.

Miss Vasari, this may come as a shock to you, but I do not like war.

What did you do back home?

I worked in my father's hardware store in Indianapolis, Indiana.

And look at you now. You're having more fun than you ever had in your life.

You're off on a great adventure, living in the middle of a travel post.

And all because you found in yourself a rare ability for violence.

You are a gifted killer.

Somebody had to lease the dogs of war. Of course. You're patriotic. A fighter

for freedom.

All right. So I like war.

What do you like?

I like mature men, Captain Reynolds.

They ripen a girl, if you know what I mean.

They know how to speak to head waitress.

They know how to behave in public.

But certainly a little thing like an attachment wouldn't make any difference

to you.

Hell no.

However... I'm always interested in improving myself.

What could you offer me?

Well, I could send you flowers, I could mow your lawn, I could buy you an ice

cream soda, and we could hold hands in the movies.

You tempt me.

But on second thought, you couldn't even afford my cook.

You mean I'm not in the same league with the... The old gentleman?

Financially. You are not in the same league with him in any department.

Mr. Saric.

Can I see you again?

Hell no.

Nico?

Yes, my dear.

Thank you for your hospitality.

I'd like to return it. We are going tomorrow to our cottage at Kavagar.

Very rural, very away from it all.

If you do ever get leave, please drop around any time.

Good night. Good night.

Good night. Good night, Miss Fitch.

I will see you in the morning.

Yes, sir.

0800, sir.

Good night, gentlemen.

Wow.

Danny, you know anything about this guy Regas?

Well... He's supposed to be in the shipping business, but I think he's an

opium smuggler in wool's clothing.

What about Carla Vasari?

She's quite a crock of curry.

Nick O'Riggis is a shy, retiring bloodsucker of all trades.

What about Carla?

What do you suppose Fred's doing with him?

What do you suppose Carla's doing with him? What she's doing with him is

obvious.

I think we've just about exploited the possibilities of this joint, huh?

Waiter, check.

All right, Ringo, out.

Out!

Now look, Ringo, I don't... Good

show.

Ten minutes, sir.

Be back in a minute, sir.

How about the delay, sir, any time the captain's ready?

How about those guardians of law and order?

Yeah, well, you shouldn't have jerked me up like that, sir.

I mean, well, any trouble of violence, naturally, I want to be a thousand miles

away from it. But, uh, cops make me nervous.

Corporal, what did you do with them?

Oh, they're relaxing, sir.

They're sort of allies of ours, you know.

Don't you think there might be, um, repercussions?

Well, not on an official level, sir. I mean, I know these guys.

They've got their pride, their professional pride.

They'll probably report they were hit by a truck or something.

Ma'am.

What about an unofficial level?

Oh, well, I'll apologize.

I mean, I'll buy them a drink, ask to see pictures of their children.

Say, you know that big Indian fella?

Well, he's got four kids.

What'll it be, something big and brassy, sir?

Yeah, it's fine.

Charge!

Excuse me for saying so, sir, but you look terrible.

Inside of my mouth tastes like the outside of a crocodile.

Well, there's some toothpaste in here, sir. You can use it on your finger for

washing your teeth.

I've got some water here for rinsing out your mouth.

But I'd like to caution the captain against drinking that water, sir. It has

a tendency to cause ulcers.

Now, for swallowing, it's just the gin, sir.

Gin?

Yes, sir. Old Panther. Very, very popular among the enlisted personnel.

You mean to say they drink this?

Guzzle it.

Like the old story about the crap game.

Everybody knows it's crook, but it's the only crap game in town.

Where do they get it?

From me, sir.

I make it, bottle it, label it, sell it.

I even drink it.

God, you've got guts.

You interest me, Ringer.

Thank you, sir.

Knock off the sir detail.

You ever seen any combat?

Here and there, sir, a little bit.

Where and where a little bit?

New York City, mostly.

I've seen action in Williamsburg, Hell's Kitchen, Yorkville, Weehawken. Well, of

course, that's in New Jersey.

You know, the funny part about it is, since I've joined the Army and the war

started, I've led a comparatively sheltered life.

Well, you're gonna be about ten minutes late.

Morning, sir. He's waiting for you.

Good morning, Colonel. Morning, sir.

Morning.

Well, what can I do for you?

I want a doctor, Fred, and I want one right away.

Or you won't have a single kachin left to fight your war.

Did you fly down here just to bicker about doctors?

Among other things, but most important, the doctor.

Look, we've only been here a few hours, but already I've seen 10, 15 doctors.

Where are they coming from? Where are they going?

Tom, I'm going to listen to anything you've got to say.

But just who do you think you are?

You and your jungle wallows coming down here out of the bush, flexing your

muscles and polishing your halos? You're not the only guys fighting a backwash

war. We're the only guys without a doctor.

All right.

You find yourself an unassigned doctor, and I'll tag him for your outfit.

What else?

We want morphine and medical supplies.

Those guys have been dropping them in egg crates, have been busting them.

On demand, extra care and packing.

Give each medical chest a double chute.

What else?

What's being done to take the pressure off the Kachins?

40,000 NIPS are rolling down on us from Ubachi Airfield.

40,000. There's a strike scheduled for Ubachi.

Throw everything we've got at them. When?

You'll be the first to know.

What's the catch, Fred?

Catch? Yeah, what are you up to?

Want you and Danny to take a holiday.

Pick any rest area in the Himalayas. Take two weeks.

Holiday?

No.

Out of the question.

I couldn't stay out of the hills for two weeks.

The Kachins got by for hundreds of years before you were born, and they'll get by

long after I spit on your grave. At least for another two weeks.

Which you will take, and that, as we desk colonels say, is an order.

All right, Fred, we'll take the two weeks, providing.

Providing?

Providing the Kachins are moved out to a rest area.

And? We get ringer.

Who? R-I-N-G-A.

Your driver.

He's a kid. He's a baby-faced kid.

Is he?

We want him. You want him, you got him. Where do you want to go?

Kawagar.

Kawagar?

Yeah. You heard what the man said.

I'd like to go up there and think things over, like getting a doctor for my

campaign. And a few other things, right? Right.

Okay.

Bye, sir.

You have a reservation for Reynolds and DeMotiva? Yes, sir.

Captain, let up for you.

Thank you.

We're invited to a party tonight.

By Mr. Nico Regas.

How did he know?

There's something spooky about that man.

How can you say that?

You know he's the squarest shooter on the road to Mandalay.

I wish I had a copy of Who's Who in India.

Or maybe the Bombay police blotter.

Like a look-up friend, Regas. Anybody who invites us to a party can't be all

that bad.

And let's not bite the hand that buys the booze.

Some cottage.

Very rural.

Stately, but rural.

You can bet me he didn't get it by trading beads with the natives.

Welcome, allies.

Mr. Regas?

We didn't realize you were tossing a garland. Oh, nonsense. This sort of

thing goes on around here every night.

Now, I want you to consider this your home in Kavagar, your foxhole away from

your foxhole, so to speak.

Now, after you've enjoyed all this, perhaps the pool might amuse you.

And tomorrow, the gymnasium, the stables.

Stables? Oh, yes, I have a few Arabians, ex-polar ponies. They hack quite well.

Carla rides every day.

Janine. Oui?

Permettez-moi de vous présenter le capitaine de Mortimer, le capitaine

Reynaud. Enchanté. Désolé.

Sérieusement, je n'ai pas soif pour champagne.

Whisky, peut-être? Mais oui.

That takes excellent care of the captain in any language.

Now... I say,

how about some caviar instead?

Oh.

Carla?

How are you?

Very well, thank you. It's nice to see you.

Reckoning nightclubs lately?

Could I interest you in some caviar?

European,

Sikhs, Chinese, doctors, lawyers, merchants and thieves.

You're a terrible poet.

Mr. Riggis throws quite a net.

He has many friends.

And much money.

It's just like Indianapolis, except this goes up and down.

Isn't that beautiful?

It is.

You live here with Nico?

I want to tell you something, Captain, and then perhaps you'll let me alone.

I live here with Nico.

So why don't you go back to the hills and play with your pop guns?

I still think he's a little old for you.

Your innocence is touching.

Do you really think the young have all the advantages of the world?

I was thinking of certain advantages.

Tell me about Nico.

He buys and sells things in seven languages at all hours.

Nico tells me you ride every morning not every morning

Would you ride with me

tomorrow perhaps

Danny lived like that once.

For a while, but I couldn't stand it. So I came back to the world of men and

their commodities.

Couldn't stand that either.

Hey, you all right, chum? I feel a bit clammy. Too much nightlife and lazy

living.

You come here often?

Yes.

The saddest... I don't know how to say it.

Fascinate me.

They believe in prey and contemplation and take no interest in worldly

pleasures.

Might set you a good example.

I could never make it.

I no longer qualify for the state of grace. I've been a soldier for three

years. What do you believe in?

Live and let live.

It's funny when you think of the business I'm in.

Oh, Danny!

What is it?

Oh, he's getting a bit...

He has

typhus.

Better get out of here, all of you.

I haven't got typhus.

I beg your pardon?

I have not got typhus.

You have a medical degree?

What is your opinion?

Cerebral malaria.

Cerebral malaria.

Cecil, tell him, make him at once.

Perhaps he's right. Why don't you leave? No, I've seen typos and malaria, too.

He's got malaria.

Get out of here! Wait a minute. I'm gonna kill you!

We're gonna have to tie him down.

We have to sweat him to break his fever. Yeah.

Take it easy, Danny.

I obtained his medical history from headquarters.

He's had cerebral malaria.

It's obviously flared up again.

As I suppose he was trying to tell me. How long has this been in here?

A little over three minutes.

Nothing more to do tonight except keep sweating him.

Fever's breaking. I'm starting him on quinine in the morning.

He shouldn't be moved for a few days.

Of course he's our guest.

I'll be by to see him tomorrow.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night, Captain. Good night, Doctor.

What are you trying to do?

Bring me back alive?

You scared the out of me.

Put on a good show, huh?

Smashing.

Now, you get some rest. You may ruin my leave as it is.

You wouldn't dare go out and have fun and leave me flat in my dove.

Don't be ridiculous. Of course I wouldn't.

You seem like an old serial.

When does the train run over me?

Oh, shut up and go to sleep.

How's the Englishman?

He'll live.

And the American?

He'll live, too.

And you?

I'll live forever.

I'm going into China for a few days.

Would you like to come with me?

I'd better stay here, if you don't mind.

We have guests, and one of them is ill.

Calla, dear, beware of sickbed scenes, particularly against a background of

war. A man and a woman hovering over a sickbed make an abomination of romance.

She sees him as a selfless, devoted pillar of strength.

He sees her as tender and merciful, a ministering angel.

So what happens?

The patient dies.

No matter whether he lives or dies, the romance is a success.

Nicodia, I hate to dispel your fantasy, but... Now let me dwell just for one

moment on the American male.

They're absolutely insidious, Carla.

They're full of the lonesome prairie and the smell of tumbleweed.

They're sincere and dedicated, and you're Tom Reynolds.

Really, Nico, he's not my Tom Reynolds.

Your Tom Reynolds is no exception, a regular Abe Lincoln in North Burma.

A girl like you with a sophisticated palate is a pushover for the type.

What a terribly civilized man you are. You never lose your balance.

Let me be honest with you.

I understand appetite, and I know what it is to want things.

But I must tell you something rather disagreeable about myself.

I'm a bad loser.

If I stay with you, Nico, it won't be because I'm afraid of you.

In this day and age, my dear, fear is a very good basis for a relationship.

I thought an old monkey lover like you would appreciate it.

Once when I was a kid, my grandfather took me to the circus and there was

maybe 20, 30 monkeys.

And I thought they were all of the monkeys in the world.

Tell me about when you were a kid.

I was a sneak and I was satanic.

That's enough.

Tell me about your grandfather.

He was a sneak and he was satanic.

And once he told me that he could never trust a man who claimed that he never

had a hankering for women.

Hankering?

Hankering. To hanker means to have a strong desire for something or someone.

In this case, a girl.

I see. You hanker.

I hanker for you alone.

Don't sweep me off my feet.

What would you like for Christmas?

A 12-foot statue of your grandfather.

No, be serious.

We jump off on December 25th, and the days are getting shorter.

You are the most depressing seducer I ever thought of. And don't fight.

And then what?

Your jungle hand in hand?

Or should I wait for you until you can take me to live above the hardware store

in Indianapolis?

And please stop sniffing around me like an animal.

You know the kind of world I want.

And you know the kind of world I've got.

You've got a few boyish notions about love.

I know love's reality.

Let's go back.

Nico will be waiting for me.

He's in good shape.

I won't have to see him again.

Well, when do I get out of here?

You mean, when will you be ready to play soldier again?

Oh, three days.

When will you be ready?

Ready? For what?

Well, we needed you in our outfit, and I put in a request for you, and it was

granted.

The request was... Well,

you might have asked me how I felt about it. I'm not interested in your personal

considerations. We needed a doctor, and you were it.

We take a plane out of here in three days and bail out over the Kachin Hills.

Bail out?

Bail out.

You mean... Jump.

Parachute, old man.

We'll see about this.

He's gonna love it up there in the hills.

Good evening, sir. Good evening.

How about having dinner with us tonight?

All right. More comfortable here, then.

All right.

Oh, I'm sorry. I must have misunderstood you. Oh, come in and sit down.

How is Danny tonight?

Oh, he's, uh... I guess he's all right.

When do you think it'll be over?

The war, I mean.

I don't know.

It may never be over.

When it is over, what will you do back in America?

I've never thought about it.

I may never go back to America.

Relax.

Where would you go?

I'd better stay in the jungle. It's a lot simpler there.

Tom, wait!

Please, wait!

Wait for what?

Must it be like this, just because I'm not in the market for an affair?

Oh, you're in the market all right. It's just a matter of price.

I know what I'm well off.

Do you now?

Is that why you invited me in your bath?

Don't be so provincial. In Japan, men and women bathe together.

This is not Japan, and you'd well know it.

It was a mistake. I'm sorry.

Does that satisfy you? No.

Your stern Midwestern morality is so refreshing.

All right, you wanted me to squirm, so I did.

But there's another thing.

I don't like striking out until I get the bat.

You've got the wrong girl, wrong place, wrong time.

Okay, I'll see you get a good conduct medal to add to the rest of your loot.

Meantime, let me pin this one on you.

You're very sure of yourself.

I am now.

I kissed you, lady, and you kissed me back.

You... And I got the message.

This lady is the Staten Island Ferry.

We've sent the kids off to my mother's, and this is the first time we've been

together in a week.

Hi, Junior.

Little Petey just got over a cold.

We've had the chicken pox bit. You said to me, get me out of the house or else.

How many children we have?

Four. And Jenny's on the way.

Do we have room in the house for Jenny?

Of course. I'm going to move out to the fire escape.

And I have one of those wonderful American wrap-around electrical

kitchens, giant economy size.

The payments are breaking me. All the food is frozen, no?

No.

Your place, woman, will be at the stove, whipping up pasta, minestrone, lasagna,

and zabaglione.

What do you want for tonight?

Lasagna.

In the summer, we go to the country, and the children drink goat's milk.

at coney island is that where one gets goat's milk yes darling that's where you

get goat's milk

I'm going to miss you.

Where I'm going, nobody smells of soap.

I shall worry about you.

Don't worry.

I'm not your responsibility.

That's precisely why I am worried.

It was fun, though, wasn't it?

That's the way I am.

A lot of fun with a heart as big as the Himalayas.

That's not what I had in mind.

I've been looking for answers to certain problems.

I don't think I've even been asking the right kind of questions.

Well... Carla, I'm falling in love with you, I think.

Are you sure?

Can't be sure of anything.

But I know one thing.

I didn't figure it would turn out this way.

You tripped over your own shoelaces.

No. I realized that I wanted somebody to come back to.

And I want you.

Stay alive for yourself.

My plans include you. All of my plans from now on.

Please, Tom.

We'll talk about it when you come back.

Let's talk about it now.

You change your address.

Tell Nico it's over.

Fini. Tell him you're going down the social scale.

That she's taken up with a no-good G.I.

Who's gonna keep you barefoot and pregnant and on the edge of town.

We're gonna be married.

spot captain it's a silk happy landings doc

maybe

i should have practiced what's the sense of practicing what you can only do wrong

once doc

Merry Christmas.

A little breast of peacock, water buffalo, and the tiniest dollop of

monkey brains.

I'm a hairy brute with an empty stomach.

Merry Christmas, Lua.

Hey, uh, what do you use for bait?

Penguin eggs.

Grenade. That's a funny way to kill fish.

Oh, people.

Well, hiya, boss.

Hey, old dad's kind of on a Yale afternoon drunk.

Hey, did you see what Billingsley got me for Christmas?

He went out on a mule-buying expedition.

Expedition. He went out to buy some mules, and he came back with this.

I took her off his hands real cheap. She's fine, boss. She's really fine.

I am humble before you do, huh?

I have heard great tales about your many battles.

Oh, wait a minute.

She's pretty nice, huh?

And if you're interested, Captain, the line forms.

Come here.

Let her go, Danforth.

You fixing to pull rank, sir?

You're a big man with the bars, huh?

I'll make him off easily enough.

Well, don't you worry about it, because I'm gonna take them off for you.

Okay?

The whites are sure restless tonight.

The white force behind me.

Who's that?

I'm sorry.

Ring her.

Don't need that, sir. They're gone. It was hit and run.

Want to hold that there, sir?

How did we come out?

We got hurt.

Hey, Jim.

Jim.

Uh, hiya, Danny.

What's been going on?

Been pretty good with the mortar.

Where's he learn it?

I didn't. I'm just trying to find something to shoot him with.

Here we go.

Doc, knock off the whistling.

Nobody's interested in how medically unconcerned you are.

How is the wound, do I?

It's a good wound, old man.

Million-dollar wound.

It'll get me hospital leave and get me out of sight of your ugly old face.

I still can't understand how the nips had us figured out.

Neither can I. According to the scouts, there wasn't a yellow within 40 miles.

Well, I imagine we'll soon find out.

Ringer's got a jab out there, and I imagine he'll talk.

You got a count on the wounded?

30 walking, 22 litter.

Danny, get the walking wounded back on the line.

They'll just keep it from griping and feel sorry for themselves.

You know, the movies have got it all wrong.

Cigarette tastes lousy when you're wounded.

He was a tough one, Paddy.

A real tough one.

But he split.

Right down the middle.

If Norton wants to tell you himself, he'd be right in.

A hard day, boy?

At the office?

You know what I said, Doc? I said we had a hard day at the office.

I stand in disgrace before you two.

He who betrayed us is of my people.

It was Billingsley.

Billingsley and the shun, girl.

What is your wish, notell? What is the wish of your people?

Billingsley will be put in the circle tomorrow.

And the girl?

She must be shot.

Reynolds, you're not judge and jury.

You'll spill the plasma.

You're a lousy barbarian.

You're a murderer.

You're an idealist, and a lousy idealist. Well, maybe I am.

But this is murder, and we're all part of it.

You've got a lot to learn, Travis.

You've got a kid safe at home.

Suppose the information Ringer got off the Jap could keep him safe at home.

Would you call Ringer a murderer?

And if the Kachins assassinate a traitor in order to save their own lives, you

think they would be murderers?

Or us?

Go to bed, Doc. You got assistance.

They're tired.

Sure.

And tomorrow you'll be tired and all screwed up.

But they'll be well rested.

Is that the important thing?

When I give an order, there's a reason for it.

I'm sorry.

You just do as you're told until you find out what year it is and you won't

have to be sorry.

Yes, sir. Have a drink.

Not while I'm working. Don't be an ass. Have a drink.

I wish there was time to tell you everything, but... Look, we don't drink

to get drunk. We nip.

The booze just helps to keep you going.

Take my word for it.

How are the men?

What men? They're boys.

Say, didn't you do the field operating around here?

Yeah.

Well, you were lousy.

The base surgeon said so.

That's why I wanted you, Doc.

Maybe you can teach me a few things.

You know, the base surgeon didn't say you were lousy at all.

Matter of fact, he said you were pretty good.

I kind of made that up.

What's this?

It's your airlift tag.

I'm shipping you to the base hospital tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

Here's your lunch.

Oh, you're a new one.

Mind if I ask you the world-famous question?

Where am I?

Still at the base of Dassault.

All right, knock it off, you guys. Drop your griping and grab your socks.

Hey, Dua, no good in here.

No rice,

Dua.

What's that all about?

Give me that robe. You stay right in bed.

Give me the robe.

You stay in bed and watch your language. You're not in the jungle.

Stand back, Lieutenant.

Thank you.

You'll excuse me.

Captain, there's some very sick men in here. You fellas want to spend the rest

of your lives in the feathers? Why don't you go back to the jungle where you

belong, you tarantulas?

No can do, do I?

No got lakus. No food.

Can't eat.

No good.

Our bellies sing with hunger.

And they feed us.

Torn up weeds.

No food.

Captain, please.

And hot water.

Smelling dead chicken.

No good.

This will soon remedy.

Uh-oh.

You get back into bed. That's an order.

Get back into bed!

One of these days I want to meet a nurse who doesn't sound like a troop

commander.

Captain, I'm going to report you to the colonel.

Tattletail.

Colonel. Now, just what is this?

Colonel, I'd like to have a few words with you about this stuff.

Captain, may I remind you that this is a hospital and not a circus?

That's just an opinion.

Put that down.

Well, surely you don't mind if we have a drink.

I'm not running a bar for kachins.

Well, you feel they're below your station, Doctor?

You know, your type, so-called democratic American, burns my butt.

The captain is a mental case.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to report this.

Do you realize how weak these patients are?

Well, of course I do.

They're all wounded. They've got dysentery. What do you suppose that is?

It's the water.

It's the diet.

Salad.

Chicken soup.

Cornbread.

Well, Captain, we don't have the personnel to cater to the whims of...

These people are brought up on pure red peppers, Doctor, and when they can't get

red peppers, they get dysentery.

Now, do you feed them rice?

We do the best we can.

Doctor, let's assume that you were wounded and you were moved to a strange

place, and you were fed red peppers and rice and laku and monkey and gonan

trails. That's what they eat.

Now, don't you suppose that would knock the slats out of your system?

And furthermore, if you've got nobody to cook for them, they'd be happy to cook

for themselves.

That's the way they are, and you gotta respect it.

Now, let's cooperate, shall we?

I just had a rather interesting discussion about garbage.

Yeah, I heard the last part of it.

Well, I don't have to ask how you feel. What can I do for you? You can give me

some scotch.

And what can I do for you?

As soon as you get back to the hills, your Kachins will attack the airfield at

Yubachi. It's garrisoned by only a token force.

How large a token force?

We're not sure.

Your Kachin detachment will attack in force.

You mean all 324 of us?

Infiltrating enemy positions.

Blowing ammo dumps, gas tanks, and destroying all possible aircraft on the

ground. You'll chop it up good.

What about some support, Fred?

You'll be supplied by trucks from the Chinese border.

Among other things, the trucks will carry high explosives and a few pieces

of mobile artillery. They'll give you the support you need.

Chinese border?

That's a long way.

Think they can make it?

Don't be unpleasant.

That's a lousy detail.

I'd rather shinny up a thorn tree with an armful of eels.

Tom, you and your kachins are the only ones we've got for the job.

I'll get you the scotch.

You got a visitor in there.

Well, I'm glad to see you have both your arms and they are still strategically

placed.

Can't you say something?

I don't know what to say.

I'm just so glad to see you.

Well, you were saying enough in there and at the top of your voice.

I didn't expect to see you again so soon. How did you know?

Nico and I were in town again. The colonel told us you were badly chewed

up.

I'm so glad he exaggerated.

They didn't even lay a band-aid on me.

Can you break out of here?

Can you sneak out the back door?

I don't like back doors, Carla.

Whatever you say, I don't care, darling.

Tomorrow, then.

And in the meantime, don't burn down the hospital.

I kiss you and the bells ring wildly in my temples.

Temple bells.

Why do you suppose that is?

Because you put me in a turmoil.

It's too difficult to explain.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were no more goodbyes?

It would indeed.

That day will come. And when it does, I'll lead you a terrible life.

I will never let you out of my sight. I will be greedy for you every hour of

every day.

I would be jealous, too.

And 20 years from now, if you dare to look at another woman, I wouldn't be

ashamed of making you see.

All of this is so beautiful.

You like it?

Yeah.

You do not like it.

How do you expect me to?

Take a look around.

Here we are playing house in the hotel room, courtesy of Regas.

Flowers, courtesy of Regas.

Even the booze, courtesy of Regas.

Tom.

That day in the boat, you made a beautiful case for us.

For us alone.

It was a fairy tale, Kara.

It was nice to believe for a while, but... But what?

I told you about the kind of world I live in. And this isn't it.

What's the matter with you, Tom?

You once told me I had a lot of boyish notions about love and that you knew

love's realities.

Why must you spoil everything? And then you said, I think we'd better go,

because Nico will be waiting.

And you were right.

So let's be honest.

That's the way it should be.

That's the way you want it.

Now I know what kind of man you are. So brave in battle, but so afraid of life.

You talk of the future, but you won't take a chance on it.

I won't plead with you, Tom.

I can't.

I don't know how.

Hey, Danny, where are those trucks?

I'm sick and tired and weary of all this bird law.

Trucks aren't there.

You want me to break out another scouting party?

We've had scouts out for two days.

We're gonna move on Yubachi.

Without the artillery and those trucks, we got no support.

We're gonna hit Yubachi.

We're gonna get murdered.

You take the flank.

Well... Things are going to boil tonight.

Move your men out, Danny.

What's your hurry?

Let's think this thing out. Let's not.

Tom, you're a man of gruesome courage, but moving on Ubatia without support is

about as sensible as a hot foot in hell. Nothing in this war makes sense.

What's expected to make sense now?

Ammo, gas dump, barracks.

I think it's time for a meeting.

It's all right, Hiawa.

You're all right.

Hiawa.

Are you lousy?

Roger that, my boy.

Thank you.

Daniel, come out. It's over.

Gotcha.

Old man.

Is it bad?

You have been good to me.

Leave me alone.

I don't get it.

This is a convoy we were supposed to meet.

I don't see how the Japs could have killed as many of our men without having

a single casualty. Unless they've been carrying off their own dead.

Get a load of these hats.

And what are these uniforms they're wearing?

Found these men in the village up ahead.

They say these guys weren't killed by the Nips. They were killed by the

Chinese.

What kind of Chinese?

Tonguan or Daichak?

Daichak.

Renegades. Chinese troops of a warlord. They're holed up across the Chinese

border.

According to them, they've got G.I. gear, guns, and everything else they can

lay their hands on.

Yeah, well, these warlords or troops or who the hell ever they are, they just

didn't knock off a convoy.

They've been killing armed men.

How would you people like to go over the border to China?

You can't cross the border. Why not? They paid us a visit. Let's return the

courtesy. You out of your mind?

China's a bit off our beat, isn't it? I'd follow those lice to the North Pole.

And take your long-suffering kachins with you. I will, and you, and you, and

you, and the rest of you. Boss! Get the colonel on a squawk box and tell him

we're gonna cross over to China.

Release these guys.

Let's move!

Go home.

Go, Jeff. I need love.

Little beauties asleep?

Yeah, they're not only asleep.

I bet you five of them are drunk.

Good.

Man-ha.

Man-ha.

Man-ha. Man-ha.

Jim. Yeah, boss?

You radio operating?

Sure is. We're out on the edge of the village. Get to the colonel. Tell him

we've occupied this place and we're taking these licensed prisoners.

Right.

Danny, will you translate that?

It's a warrant from the Changqing government.

The bearer is charged and entrusted... to preserve the territorial integrity of

China... by preventive measures, if necessary... within or beyond the

geographical bounds of the Republic.

Preventive measures?

Yeah. The bearer is further authorized to confiscate all military material, to

deal with all invaders, to rout out all traitors, domestic or foreign.

Do you mean to say that this thing gives these lice the right to raid and loot?

And split the take with Chongqing.

50-50.

Chung King issued that?

Well, that gives these bandits the green light to kill Americans.

I've heard of warrants like this before.

All protected warlords have them.

So Chung King licensed these warlords to knock off American convoys and sell our

gear to the Japanese, and Chung King pockets half the loot.

Say, uh, what kind of a war is this?

Our government couldn't know about that.

I thought I knew what a rat was.

I had no conception.

I got a message for you, boss.

Before I could get the other one off, this came in.

Chinese government most disturbed your crossing border.

Has filed complaint highest American authority.

Do not make any attack.

Repeat. Do not make any attack.

Rearm and release.

Any prisoners you may have taken, destroy any documents.

Headquarters will expect immediate apology to Chung King.

More afraid this is an incident sorry sign, Fred.

Looks like we're going to get a court-martial.

They couldn't have understood right, boss.

We're going to get a court-martial.

For stopping the Japs from getting our gear.

And for stopping these dirty little... Run. Ring it.

Round up the prisoners and anchor them somewhere.

Yes, sir.

Whiskey.

Just liberated it.

How do you know it's not poisoned?

No, I don't. That's why I decided to share it with you.

Thanks, Jim.

What am I going to do, Danny?

You're the boss.

It's your decision.

How tangled can a knot get?

Well, if I were you, I wouldn't stick your head out any further.

Somebody's going to knock it off for you. Would you rather I kept it buried

in the sand?

I want to see justice done just as much as you do.

But you can't right all the wrongs in the world by yourself, or you'll be

destroyed. What the hell is the sense of fighting a war if you can't yell for

what's right? How can you be so... I'm sure you know what's right.

I'm not sure.

But I'm sure I'm going to do something, even if it's wrong.

You know, this war seems to go on forever.

The longer it lasts, the smaller my loyalties seem to get.

We've been together for what seems like a lifetime.

Despite your hard and thorny nature, I rather like you.

And I don't want to lose you now.

Execute the prisoners, Ringer.

Shoot them all right now.

And lay them out in the line so the rest of these rats can see them.

This is to Parkson.

To Parkson, for Chung King.

Go to hell.

To Parkson for headquarters CBI.

Go to hell.

To Parkson for Parkson if he goes along.

Go to hell.

Now move.

Move it, Norby.

Plane's ready, boss.

Wait, I'm gonna have to bad news you, Jim.

This is not a particularly good time to do it.

Well, in this lash-up, one time's about as bad as the next. What I mean is,

somebody's gonna have to run the outfit.

Ringer?

I'm gonna jump him over you.

I was afraid you were gonna take me off the squawk box.

Nah, nothing as drastic as that.

Keep your glasses clean, Junior.

I've given you a field commission, second lieutenant.

You'd rather change your ways than you're a damn fool.

Yeah.

A meat-headed second lieutenant.

William Lewis Ringer.

A gentleman.

By act of Congress.

I'm just sorry it had to happen this way.

But I'll tell you one thing.

I'd give you the shirt off my back.

You already did, remember?

This is one of our general staff bungalows, sir.

The colonel said you were to consider yourself under arrest, confined to

quarters here, the colonel said.

I can imagine what the colonel said.

May I go on, sir?

The colonel said he'll come to see you. It won't be too long.

You have a visitor.

You're first and last, the colonel said.

I know why you are here, Tom.

I know how serious the charges are and what the penalty can be.

You seem pretty well informed.

Nico?

Tom, from what I've said to you, the way I've acted and the people you've seen me

with, you should know that Nico and I are close to high authority.

Have I had any doubt?

He's with Allied Intelligence, and I worked with him.

You acted a fool by trying to be noble the last time we were together.

You must be foolish now, or you'll be charged with murder.

Or they can certify you insane, or... I

couldn't stand that.

Funny thing.

I thought it was all over between us.

It's not all over between us, Tom. It will never be.

I want you, not the medals of a hero.

What you did was right.

You must make them understand you were suffering from battle fatigue.

You must make them realize this.

You've got to tell them.

I can't tell them.

At ease, Reynolds.

You might get an infection.

Not after I soak him in this stuff.

This is General Sloan.

General's out of headquarters, Washington.

You like a drink, General?

Thanks, Reynolds.

I'd like one.

Colonel would like one, too.

Thanks.

Well, Reynolds?

Looks like you really did it.

This is one of the warrants from Chongqing that I picked up.

This is my answer to anything you people have to say.

Those documents were ordered destroyed.

Have you any idea of the far-flung complications that you have provoked?

The drastic effect it has on American-Chinese relations?

General, I know a little something about you.

You're a Medal of Honor winner of the First World War, self-made millionaire

in civilian life.

In both areas, your exploits are what they say in the comic books, a legend.

I guess I expected something different from you instead of the usual old

hogwash.

I'd like to say one thing, General, before we go any further.

Captain Reynolds has had a hard tour of duty.

Too much for any one man.

Butt out, Fred.

I don't need a public defender.

I'm here to nail down a few things myself.

To hell you are.

You're here to hang, unless you come up with the right answers.

Over there in the main house is General Chao, official representative of the

Chinese government.

He's patiently waiting for your personal apology.

I'll stand trial.

I resign my commission, but I will not apologize.

Suppose we confiscate this document.

I couldn't stop you, except I got a couple of them stashed away in safe

places.

Fairly tricky.

But you don't know what genuine trickiness is.

I've got a couple of tricksters.

Real star-spangled banner, hell-for-leather tricksters. Right

outside that door.

An investigating team from headquarters, CBI.

They're panting to chew you up.

I only hope I don't have to use them.

I've just seen 34 American GIs with their heads blown off by Chinese troops.

And I want to know why.

This is sickening.

But doesn't it strike you, Tom, that your actions were to say the least

unprecedented? Doesn't it strike you that we're fighting a rather

unprecedented kind of war?

Isn't that right, General?

Well, it has its bad moments, but in the long run... I don't give a damn about

the long run if it adds up to this.

You can't deny what's been going on and what'll continue to go on unless

something's done about it.

I know I'm right about this.

And if you don't know it, I pity you.

Colonel Reed, Captain Olofsson.

Drink?

Proceed, Doctor.

Oh, no, not while you're in the room, Colonel.

Doctor, you know the regulations.

I have a right to a private examination.

Particularly in view of the fact that every blood-sucking politician in the

CBI is looking to snap me out into Section 8.

Who said you were to be examined?

I didn't say that anyone said it, did I, Colonel?

Reynolds, you're in a sling. According to your 201 file, your actions have for

some time refuted your psychological fitness for command.

You should have my problems, Colonel.

You really should.

Proceed, Doctor.

You got a very neurotic friend there, Doc.

That's all that's left of the 34 men we found.

Reynolds, I've got to examine you.

Okay.

Mind if I smoke?

Supposing I said I wished you wouldn't?

Well, if you gave me a good reason, I probably wouldn't. But seeing as how you

don't outrank me, I think I will.

Well, that's a specific, logical answer.

Thank you, Doc.

About your 201 file.

I guess we both know what Colonel Reed had reference to.

For instance?

For instance... you're killing one of your own men,

Kachin.

I had to put him out of his misery.

We had no morphine, he couldn't be saved, and we had no doctor.

Without a doctor, how do you know he couldn't have been saved?

I've seen a lot of bad belly wounds, Doc.

This one was one of the worst.

What else?

You seem to have challenged the authority of an army physician in his

own hospital, in his report to headquarters.

Man, they really stack the deck, don't they?

About the Yubachi strike where you lost so many troops, would you say you were

under stress at the time?

Yeah, I think so.

Would you say that your subsequent action in attacking the bandits was

influenced by the same kind of stress?

No, Doc.

I knew exactly what I was doing.

Chung King is most understanding.

If Captain Reynolds is sick... and hospitalized, my government will be

satisfied.

Nevertheless, he must apologize for his absurd charges.

Without an apology, Chongqing would suffer what many Orientals characterize

as a severe loss of face.

As an American, I must say I am outraged at Captain Reynolds' attitude.

Doctor?

Well, it's advised.

that Reynolds be sent to the American Hospital in Delhi for further

observation. Gentlemen, shall we take first things first?

How about that?

Those warrants were either destroyed...

You see, sir, Captain Reynolds has several more of those safely hidden

away.

I'm sure they could be recovered.

But what bothers me is, why were they issued in the first place?

Are you questioning, sir, the judgment of the Chongqing government?

I'm questioning the use of these warrants.

You see, sir, if there's nothing wrong with them...

Why do you want them destroyed?

These warrants were issued to the troops of independent Chinese generals, whose

integrity cannot be questioned.

Warlords? For the purpose of prosecuting enemies of the Chinese Republic.

Americans were, as you say, prosecuted.

We of the Chongqing government have no proof of that.

You have the sworn deposition of an American officer.

Whose qualifications have already been confuted by his own superiors.

and whose rebelliousness I personally find unbearable.

I must insist on Reynolds' apology.

And I, sir, must insist that these warrants were misused by a warlord who

took it upon himself to kill Americans.

And it's his conduct that should be examined, not Reynolds'. And

the high command of the American and Chinese should be made aware of that.

So there will be no apology.

Certainly not by Captain Reynolds.

You see, this boy has influence in Washington.

Influence? Who?

Me.

Colonel Reed, I think you fiddle-fouled this whole detail.

You and Elophson both.

It seems to me that Captain Reynolds is...

Saner than either of you.

Is that what you would have us report?

I'll do the reporting.

To your government and to the Chongqing government.

Do you wish to speak further with me on this?

In the words of an old hymn, you go to hell.

Sir. Gentlemen.

As for you, I could pulverize you on a hundred grabs.

and make them, each one of them, stick.

Disobedience of orders. Yes, sir.

Conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the military service.

Yes, sir. Use of provoking words and gestures to an officer.

Disrespect towards same.

Yes, sir.

Conduct against the prejudice of good order and discipline.

Colonel, you got any more of that foot wash?

Yes, sir.

Conduct on becoming an officer in a... What do you call it?

Yes, sir.

May I say that I owe you a debt of gratitude?

Perhaps you're not aware of the fact that I got my Medal of Honor for

disobeying orders.

No, sir.

I'd forgotten how fine it feels to do what you think is right, regardless of

the consequences.

Oh, I think there's one more thing you should know.

The Chongqing government sincerely deplores the actions of renegade

bandits.

Possession and misuse of warrants issued by the Republic of China are being

investigated by proper authority.

Our wish, Captain Reynolds, be exonerated of all charges immediately.

Signed, Chiang Kai-shek.

Well, I guess the generalissimo needed a little time to think things out like the

rest of us mortals.

I'll have an airplane in the morning to take you back to your kachins.

I guess congratulations are in order all around. Yes, sir.

I want our house painted white with blue curtains.

I want brass candlesticks and the clock and the metal.

And I want a little rocking chair for the baby's room.

Already it starts.

We have to hold our head up in the neighborhood, don't we?

Anything you say, Caramilla.