All language subtitles for The.Mountain.Road.1960.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX] eng

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(GUNSHOT FIRED)

Looters?
Yes, sir.

We're abandoning
the base anyway, sir.

We might as well let them
have the stuff.
We'd only burn it.

All right,
let's go.

All set?
Okay. No trouble.

The loaded drums of gas
are all stacked.

You want to try for
the big cigar, Major?

Okay, Prince

Collins, get the jeep
over there, will you?

There's a twist
to it, Major.

You hit the top drum
with the first shot, see.

It's got ordinary
low-octane in it.

And if it don't burn
the first shot,
you give it a minute

maybe two,
to leak, see.
I see. I see.

Those fumes,
they fill up the shed.

Then, you cut loose
with your second shot

and those fumes,
they're in there
and whammy!

the whole thing
goes.
Okay.

Once at Hengyang,
wasn't it, Niergaard?

We blew off the whole
roof with the second shot.

Yeah the whole roof. Wham!

That was before you came
into the outfit, Major.
Uh-huh

(GUN COCKS)
You, uh, got it, Major?

The fumes, then
the second shot.
Yeah, yeah.

I got it, Prince.

That's a cigar, Major.

You wanna try
for the whole box?

Or a Kewpie doll
for the little lady?

Give the man
the Kewpie doll.

I'd rather see gasoline
go than anything.

Last year, in Kunming
I okayed plans
for these installations.

Now, I'm blowing them up.

All right, back
to the alert shack.

We're gonna blow the field.

Then a little sleep,
then out, huh?

Out where, Major?
Back to Kunming?
That's right.

We fly or truck back?

I'm gonna check with
General Loomis now.

Oh, I'd sure like
to fly, Major.

Well, you just be back
at the alert shack
at 1600 hours.

And be careful.
The base's crawling
with looters.

Come on, come on,
come on, let's go.

What do you think, Prince?
You think this Baldwin knows
what the score is?

You think he'll make
as good as demolition
officer as McNeil was?

It'll be tough for us
if he don't.

How close are the Japs?
I mean, from here?

About 40 miles.

Demolition's always
the last guys to leave,
all the time.

How are you, sir?
Hi.

Bombs all in?
Yes, sir. 60 of them.

That ought to give us
good big craters scattered
all the way across the field.

How long before
the Japs make the field
operations again?

I estimate a week, sir.

Message for you.
From Kunming.

It's the last to come in.
Read it to him.

"Direct you attempt withdrawal
westward via road stop."

"At your discretion,
repeat, at your discretion"

"achieve maximum
delaying effect
on main motor supply route."

"Maximum use
available explosives"

"with due concern
safety your men
at your best judgment."

"Signed, Hutcheson
for Chief of Staff."

You don't have to do it.

Sir?
LOOMIS: I can countermand
those orders.

I'm going out
off the taxi strip
in the morning.

You have until then
to make up your mind.

Is blowing this field
your first demolition
job, Major?

Yes, sir.
You were
with an engineering firm

before the war,
weren't you, Baldwin?

Laury and Moody.

A bit different handling
men than handling papers.

Oh, I'm aware of that, sir.
I asked for this assignment.

Asked? Why?

Well, to have a command, sir.

Even for a few days.
Even during a retreat.

You know what
command is, Major?

Well, sir, the book says...

LOOMIS: Command is power.

Pure, simple, unlimited.

You have until morning
to make up your mind.

Yes, sir.

When are you set
to blow the last strip?

Oh, we're all set
to blow the main strip
right now.

We were gonna
plan to blow the taxiway
as soon as you take off.

All right.

You pushing off
now, sir?

Yep. How about you?

Well, sir, I've decided
to go out by truck.

Now, we'll blow this
remaining strip

as soon as you
get off the ground.

Are you sure?

Yes, sir,
I'm sure.

You know, if the Japanese
come up this road

isolate our main base
at Kunming, you know...

Well, I... I'd, uh...
I'd just like to get a crack

at cutting the road, sir.

Good luck
on the road.
Thank you, sir.

All I know
is the Major said
load up and wait.

So, you're waiting.

So, I'm waiting.

That's initiative
for you.
Look, Prince.

Don't needle me.

I've been out
on the road
with this circus

since last summer
so don't needle me.

Mike, you got
any atabrine?
I feel lousy.

You look lousy.
No, honest, Mike.

Well, what am I,
a drug store?

Look in the medical kit.

All right, at ease.

We had a message
last night

from our main
headquarters in Kunming.

Last night?
That's right.

Now, what they want us to do

is to stay out on
the road for a few days

and see what we can
destroy on our way
to Kweiyang.

We gonna do it, Major?

Headquarters said
after this job

we barrel right back
into Kweiyang
with no stops.

Ain't that right,
Prince?
That's what they said.

BALDWIN: I'm in command now.

(HORNS HONKING)

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

Yeah.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

Uh, he says that
the Chinese Command Post

is up this road, sir,
up there in that temple.

He doesn't know
if the CO's
up there or not.

Okay. Let's go.

Hey, uh, give me...
Give me the...

(HORN HONKING)

Pull over there.

Go on, go on.

I'm gonna get
an okay from
Chinese Headquarters.

You wait here.

Okay, come on.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

(DOGS BARKING)

Please, sit.
Thank you.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

America
is China's best friend.

Today is sad.
Today we eat
bitterness.

But the final victory
will be ours

because China
and America
are friends.

Yes.

Has Major Baldwin
been long in China?

One year, Colonel.

And I want to thank
the Colonel for the tea.

I'm sorry we don't
have more time to
enjoy his hospitality.

But I have something
very important to speak
to the Colonel about.

What is this
important thing, Major?

Well, Colonel, we are
the American Engineers
Demolition Team

of the East China
Task Force.

Now, we've been ordered
to delay the advance of
the Japanese from Liuchow.

Now, down here
in the valley there
is a small bridge.

We wish to destroy
that bridge.

What does the Major
wish me to do?

Well, the Colonel
is in command here.

I can't blow up
the bridge until
the Colonel agrees.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

The Japanese will go
as far as Tushan.

I am Colonel Kwan.

Tushan.

Tushan? That's where
the railroad ends,
isn't it?

About 120 miles
from here.
Yes, sir.

No, it is not
the railroad.

At Tushan there are
ammunition dumps.

The Japanese know this.
They will go to Tushan
and they will stop.

Tushan, the dumps,
to blow them up.

That is all right.

Yes. Tushan,
that's all right.
No, no, no, no.

No, Colonel.
I'm not making
myself clear here.

Now, Tushan, that's way
at the end of the line.

We'll think of that
when we get to it.

Now, how about
this bridge?
This is what

I'm concerned about.
Excuse me, sir,

may I speak with you
just a moment?

Excuse me.

What's the matter?

I think Colonel Li
is afraid of us, sir.

Well, afraid of what?

Afraid we're gonna
blow everything up.

Well, what does
he think I am?
Attila the Hun?

Come on, come on.

I'm sorry.
Uh, you sit over
there, will you?

Now, Colonel...

Colonel, the war is sad.

The war is a bitter thing.

Uh, America and China
are friends.

But the Colonel
must understand,

we have orders
to delay the Japanese.

My men are anxious
to get to Kweiyang.

We wish only
to destroy this
one little bridge.

Here, in Ishan.

Only this one little bridge
we wish to destroy.

Nothing more.
Nothing.

Only the bridge?
Right.

The bridge is
all right to destroy.

Fine. All right.
Now, if the Colonel will...
Oh, yes, yes.

I will put my seal
on your pass.

Thanks, Colonel.
Thank you, sir.

Are you drive all
the way to Kweiyang now?

Yes, that's right.

Colonel Kwan will go down
to the bridge with you.
Fine.

He will talk to
my soldiers.

He will show
my order to them.
Fine.

And then, he will go
to Kweiyang with you.

What? Kweiyang now?

In ten minutes.

Perhaps, Major, you like
to see the courtyard
while you wait?

Well...

Now, what's
the matter here?

Major, is this
the first time

you've had to negotiate
a deal with the Chinese, sir?

Yes. Why?

Well, sir, uh, the thing
to remember is that they're
running this country.

Uh, not that that's
so bad, mind you.

And I'm not making
a moral judgment but...

Well, sir,
that's just the way
the country is

and that's the way
they have to run it.

And it's kind of interesting
once you get to know
what's going on.

You like China, don't you?

Yes, sir.

After the war,
when I go back
to school

I was thinking maybe
I'd take a couple of
courses in Chinese history.

What school is that?
Columbia.

Uhuh.
Majoring in Government.

I've only got
two years to go.

Uh-huh.

I wonder who she is.

Colonel Li's wife,
or daughter?

Maybe just his woman.

Well, I'll never
understand this country.

Women and temples
and TNT.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

Yeah. Yeah.

Please be seated.
You must eat
before you go.

Oh, well,
I thank the Colonel,
but we're in a great hurry.

Now, if Colonel Kwan's ready,
we'd like to leave
immediately.

But you have
not eaten today.

Colonel Kwan has
not eaten today.

China and America
are friends.

It is together,
friends eat.
Yeah, yeah.

Please a little,
it is not much.

Well...
One cannot eat TNT.

Okay. All right,
all right, Colonel,
just a bite. Come on.

(SINGING IN MANDARIN)

Say, I arranged to
take Colonel Kwan only.

The lady is Madame Hung.

She is the wife
of General Hung.

General Hung was
killed this summer.

She has friends in Kweiyang.

Yeah, but...

Okay, Collins, come on,
come on, let's go.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

To the end of the road,
peace and safety.

Collins.
Yes, sir?

The, uh,
lady in back...

Yes, sir?

Well, explain to her
that this is gonna be
a pretty rugged trip.

Yes, sir.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

Yeah, we sleep
out of doors,
we're soldiers.

The Army has regulations
about women.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

Ask her if she wouldn't
like it if we put her
on a Chinese bus?

You know, we could
trade some gasoline

for a passenger ticket
or something.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

Thank you.

Please don't
worry about me.

I know you don't
want me, Major

but I'll try
not to be a bother.

(HORN HONKING)
Hey!

Ain't that a dame
with them, Mike?
In the back seat?

(HONKING)

We thought they
might have picked
you off, Major.

Oh, we had
a little trouble
up at headquarters,

getting the bridge
cleared for the blow.

Colonel Kwan.
Yes, Major?

Uh, tell those sentries
down there to clear the road.

What do you think the bridge
will take, Sergeant?

Oh, half a dozen charges
tied to the beams.
That'll do it.

All right,
let's get at it.

MIKE: All right,
let's get moving.

Blow the bridge.

Who's the dame?

How do I know?

Is she the Major's
private stock
or do we draw cards?

Shut up!

Let's get this
stuff planted.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

(MAN SHOUTING IN MANDARIN)

Come on, come on!
Everybody off the bridge.

Let's go, Miller!
Come on!

(MAN YELLING IN LOCAL DIALECT)

(CHILD CRYING)

Okay.

(CRYING)

This is far enough.
Stop right up there.

(CHILD CONTINUES CRYING)

Okay.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

CHILD: Mama!

Okay, Mike.

Fire in the hole!
Major!

Fire in the hole!
Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

All right, I'll wait.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Do you think they'll
understand, Collins?
What?

Do you think
they'll understand
why I'm doing this?

Blowing the bridge.

Well, sir, they can
come through that
gorge later on.

Uh-huh.

Unless they're
sick or old.

(MAN YELLING IN MANDARIN)

Give it again, Mike!

MIKE: Fire in the hole!

(ALL CLAMORING)

MIKE: Fire in the hole!

Fire in the hole!

(MAN SHOUTING IN MANDARIN)

(MAN SHOUTING IN MANDARIN)

Collins!

(ENGINE STARTING)

How about something to eat.
The pot's full.

Thank you.

You can use my mess kit.

You eat American food?

Yes. In Shanghai we used to
eat American all the time.

I have my own bowl,
thank you.

That's enough, Prince.

Here.

Thank you.

(CLANGING)

Is it good?
Yes.

Hmm. Pork and gravy.
I know.

Miller, he... Every once
in a while he cuts up
some Chinese vegetables.

Uh, that is
when he can get
the Chinese vegetables.

Was he a cook?

Well, I mean, in...
In America?

Who, Miller?
Mm-hmm.

BALDWIN: No.
He was an electrician.
SUE-MEI: Really?

BALDWIN: Yeah.
And the others
were mechanics,

and students, foundry men.

Prince was
a race track bookie.

And you?

Well, before the war,
I designed bridges.

Now, I blow them up.

Uh, Madame Hung,

don't you think you'd
be more comfortable

if we put you on
a Chinese bus, and...

If you want to put me
on a bus, do it.

Well, now, I don't
want to sound harsh.

But we have two
or three days' work before
we get to Kweiyang and...

It just isn't
a good military idea

to have a woman
with the outfit for that long.

And we could
put you on the bus,

you could go right
straight through
to Kweiyang.

Have you ever been
on a Chinese bus?

No.

After Changsha fell,
my husband's officers

put me on a bus
going to Hengyang.

We went only ten miles.

Then the driver stopped
the bus and asked everyone
for more money.

I paid him.

He threw a woman
and a child off

who had no money
and made them walk.

Well, I... I thought
there were trains
for officers' families.

I took a train also,
but it was not
an officers' train.

It was a...
A train for refugees.

They build special
platforms on those
refugee trains.

A woman had a baby
on the platform
on which I was.

But it was better than
being on the roof.

There were people
on all the roofs.

And they held on
with their fingers.

Then the train
went through a tunnel.

Just before we come
to a grading.

And when the train
came out of it,

the engineer stopped
the train and everyone
went out for some air.

When I looked up,
there was an old man

still lying on top
of one of the cars.

He hadn't been
completely scraped off.

Then I saw a student
lift the old man's head up

by the hair
and looked at his face.

Then he pushed
the old man off the roof

and lay down
in his place.

And then?

And then when I
arrived in Liuchow,

I sold my watch
to get food.

It was an American watch.

Then I found
Colonel Kwan.

Kwan was a student
of my husband's at
the military academy.

Then he took me to
Colonel Li's regiment.

Well, I don't understand
this place.

You don't like China,
do you?
No. I...

(STUTTERING) I don't
understand it.

I don't understand
the brutality.

Why?

Hmm. We're...
We're just a different
people, that's all.

Anyway, you shouldn't
be traveling like this,
a General's wife.

My husband was shot.

Yes. Colonel Li told me.

He was executed.

Yes.

Major Baldwin?

BALDWIN: Yes?

The Japanese have
entered Liuchow, Major.

When?
This afternoon.

Patrols are reported
coming up the road.

Excuse me.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Well, let's see
if we can get
a few hours rest.

We're going to
have to move fast
in the morning.

(VESSELS CLANGING)

(ENGINE CHOKING)

Oh, trouble.

Sounds like
the distributor, Mike.

Nah, I don't think
it's the distributor.

Well, get the tool kit
and maybe we can
find out, huh?

Oh, Miller, will you
get this out of here?

Mike! I'm sick.

I don't think it's
the malaria, though.

I'm hot, I'm dry and hot
and my bones ache all over.

I think the doctor
ought to look at me.

I'll tell the Major.

When, Mike?

Oh, listen, for Pete's sake,
Lewis, turn it off.

Baldwin's running
this outfit, not me.

I'm a sergeant,
not a wet-nurse.

Oh, sure, Mike,
only the way I feel,
the way everything hurts...

Okay, it hurts.
I'll give Baldwin a memo.

(COUGHING)
Ballo! Get the Major quick.

(CONTINUES COUGHING)

All China to get sick in,

you gotta pick my truck.

(COUGHING)

(HONKING)

(YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

(HONKING CONTINUES)

(YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

(HONKING CONTINUES)

Now what?

Relax, Mike.
We ain't never gonna
make the first race.

What's holding this up?

Where's the Major?

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Hey, Santa Claus,
you finished?

I like their kids, Mike.

Someday one of them's
gonna knife you.

Well, suppose we
get invaded, Mike?

Illinois could
look like this.

Oh, save
the big-picture stuff.
What's holding us up?

Well, it's a truck up there
that belongs to a gent
who picked some

cotton out of Guilin
or Liuchow.

Anyway, he's trying
to get it up north.

If he does, he'll make
a small fortune,

provided he gets it there.
His truck conked out.

All right, let's
shove him off the road.

We can't!
The guy's got a gun!

(SPEAKING IN LOCAL DIALECT)

He says you'll push
his truck up the hill,
or no one will go past.

Okay. Mike, come here.
Come here.

Now, this is a fast one.
Now, listen.

We're going to push
this fella's truck
off the road,

but it's going to have
to look like an accident,
you understand?

Well, then, nod
like you understood
and smile.

Mike, we don't
want any shooting.

Now here's what
we're going to do.

(SPEAKING IN LOCAL DIALECT)

He says that his truck
will go or no one will go.

All right. Now, explain to him
that this fellow's my mechanic

and he's going to see
if he can fix the engine.

(SPEAKING IN LOCAL DIALECT)

Ow!

No dice, Major.

All right. Now tell him
we're going to push
his load up the hill

with one of our trucks,
try and get
the engine started.

And tell him,
I'll get in there
and drive the truck.

I'll steer his truck.
Go ahead, tell him now.

(SPEAKING IN LOCAL DIALECT)

Me. Me. I... I'll get in
your truck, drive, okay?

All right, come on,
let's get this road
cleared. Come on.

(YELLING IN MANDARIN)

Hurry up! Hurry up!

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Let's go.
We're gonna push it.
Let's go, Miller.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Come on, come on,
come on, come on.

All right, easy there, easy.
All right, come on,
come on, come on.

Let's go. Here we go.

(SHOUTING IN MANDARIN)

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Get in fast!

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

All right, come on,
let's go.

(HONKING)

What's the trouble, Miller?

I think I got a flat.

Ah, it's a fine place
you picked to get a flat.

All right, pull up
around there and fix it.

Oh, Major Baldwin!

Major Baldwin!

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Something I didn't
tell you last night.
What's that?

Colonel Li has gone
into the hills.

BALDWIN: Gone into the hills?

But he was... He was dug in.

I saw the machine
gun emplacements.

He had...
Why, he had orders to
hold off the Japanese.

Colonel Li is
a very brave man.

He was wounded
twice in Shanghai.

But his soldiers are
from this province,
and they have lost hope.

To Colonel Li, it was
better that they go now

into the hills and wait
for the next offensive.

Gone into the hills.

All right.

How long have they been
using this road, Colonel?

KWAN: Since the days
of the Emperors.

Peasants build it
with their hands.

Machines could do it
just like that.

China has no machines.

After the war
you'll have them.

We'll give you the machines
to fix up roads like this.

Roads that have to be closed
because Colonel Li
went into the hills.

How will you
close it, Major?

I'll close it with TNT.

Now, if I could
just find a bend,
just a horseshoe bend.

Like that?

Yeah, like that.

(MACHINE DRILLING)

Well? Why aren't you
and Ballo working?

We got the road holes dug,
but we can't figure out

how to get into
those pockets up there
in the rock.

Mike said you were
the engineer, Major,
you could figure it out.

Yeah, suppose we loosen
something up there.
We could get brained.

Yeah, all that
loose stuff up there,
you know, Major?

Did anybody ever call
you fellows stupid?

Like who, Major?
Like anybody.

Maybe once.
On a show parlay.
Both horses won.

Uh-huh.

I'm gonna take
a look up top.

Get that truck up here.

Ballo, tie the hammer
on this line.

All right,
haul it away.

Are you into it, Major?
It works?

Yeah, it works.

That's tough
going in there, Major.

I'll take over
if you want.

I got a dull bit here.

See if there's another one
down in the kit, will ya?

Yes, sir. I'll get one
right away.

Can I get you something?

Can I get you
a drink of water?

How about I get
Miller to make you
some coffee, huh?

I want a glass
of milk.

Lewis, we're in China,
there's no milk,
you know that.

I want a glass of milk.

Now, come on. Listen.

Now, we're up
in the mountains

and I'm going to
try and break this road,
you understand?

If I blow this road open,

we may be the ones
that hold West China
together. You see?

I want a glass
of fresh milk.

Didn't you understand
what I said?

There isn't any fresh milk.
And we're going
to blow this road.

I need a doctor,
a hospital.

Now, take it easy.

I don't want to
die in China.

You're not dying!

Now stop it!
You're a soldier!
Act like one!

I ain't gonna die just so
you can get a lousy medal
for blowing up a road.

(SOBBING)

Here, uh...

Come on, Lewis.
Now...

I'll get... I'll get
Miller to open a can

of condensed milk
when we break
to eat, huh?

Okay?

Okay, Lewis?

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

There you are.

Is everything all right?

Everything except Lewis.

I got tired sitting
in the jeep, and I
felt so useless.

I've been sitting here
and wondering how

all this must look
to an American.

Why?

I've become
so used to it.

I was with my husband
for four years
at headquarters.

And now,
watching you I...

I wondered how all this
must look to
someone like you.

Because in America,

when the roads are crowded,
it's always for fun.

That's what
an American road
is for, but

here, when people
are on the road, it's...

Well, this is a war.

Yes. Or a flood,
or a famine.

We have all
the natural disasters.

And I was thinking
how different
this road is

from the road that goes
from Boston to New York.

Uh-huh,
it's quite a road.

You ever been on it?

Many times.
I went to school
at Radcliffe.

Oh. I was born
and raised in Boston.

Are you really going
to cut this road today?

Yeah.

Is it dangerous?
I mean, demolition?

No. Not if you know
what you're doing.

We know what we're doing.

That's so American.

Well, it's just
simple efficiency.

And the people?

What do you mean?

While the road is being cut,
how will you...

How will you stop
the people on the road
from getting in your way?

Well, uh...

That's Kwan's job.
He's along to
handle the Chinese.

Besides, there's just
foot traffic along here now

and we'll cordon off
the road and then we'll
set out some cigarettes

and some food
and a little sugar,

and that'll hold 'em
long enough for us
to make the blow.

See?
You mean,

leave some food
for them as a decoy?

As if they were animals
you were baiting.

Well, now what do you
people want me to do?

Hold back the Japanese
with a couple of

polite bows and a bowl
of chop suey?

Colonel Li quit.

That... That glorious
212th regiment,

they're up in
the hills, safe.

Uh, this...
This road's wide open.

It's like a door,
all the way from
here to Kweiyang.

Now, somebody's
got to shut it
or try to shut it.

Colonel Kwan!

Colonel, I'm going
to blow up this road.

Now, how can we keep
the people off?

Off?

Well, I... I need them
stopped for about
ten minutes.

Can you do it?
How?

Well, uh...

How about, uh...
How about if we get a couple
of empty gasoline drums,

put 'em on either
side of the road,
stretch a rope across?

They'll go
under the rope.

Well, then we get
some Chinese soldiers
to explain to them.

Explain to them that
we're cutting the road.
How about that?

The soldiers will want
to get through themselves.

Well, could we
give them something?

What?
Well, money?

They cannot spend
money here.

Well, food?
How about food?
We've got K-rations.

Cigarettes?
How about cigarettes?

Uh, what will they
take for the job?

Mei you ban fa.

I don't speak
Chinese, Colonel.

There is no way.

Do you also object
to me trying to bribe
your people, Colonel?

Or would you rather
have me blow up
the road under them,

like some
Chinese generals?

If you wish,
I will try.

How about it?

The boots convinced them.
All right, come on.

They will warn the people
to wait ten minutes.

Come on!

You go on ahead, Collins,
keep your eye on Lewis.

Okay.

(WHISTLES)

All right, come on. Come on.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

All right, give it the call.

BALLO: Fire in the hole!

Fire in the hole!

Fire in the hole!

Let her go, Major.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

(ALL CLAMORING)

Boy, I wish we had
a picture, huh, Mike?

A whole summer's work,
and we ain't even got
a picture to take home.

Yeah. Next war
bring your camera.
(CHUCKLING)

Now who's gonna
put that together?

Nobody. Never.

Hey, look at them!

Boy, if they could
steeplechase.

(ALL LAUGHING)

All right.
That's enough.

Come on,
let's get out of here.

(HONKING)

(HONKING CONTINUES)

So, listen, there I was,
I was laying there,
and I was sick,

sick as a dog.

And my Aunt Esther
comes into the room
and she says,

"I don't hold with
these new doctor's."
(CHUCKLING)

Atta boy.

How are you
feeling, Lewis?

Lousy.

The milk okay?

Yeah, thanks.

Well, maybe we'll be
in Kweiyang tomorrow.

You'll be able to
rest up in Kweiyang.

KWAN: In China,
before the war,

every man had
an exact relationship
to every other person.

The son to his father.
The wife to her husband.

The teacher
to his student.

The soldier to his officer.

A Prince to his people.

It's what we call
the Old Learning.

Oh, Madame Hung.

Say, I want to ask
you something.

I bought this
in a bazaar in Kunming.

And, I was going
to send it home.

Is... is that... is that
anything special?
What is that, anyway?

It is KwanYin.
KwanYin is mercy.

She's the Goddess
who hears all
the crying and prayers.

And she's never angry,

and she always forgives.

Oh, I see.

Well, my father
always said

that mercy was
better than justice.

No. China is too big.

There are too many
of us for mercy.

What China needs
is unity.

First, you must have unity

and then,
you can have mercy.

Madame Hung. I...

Please don't call me
Madame Hung.

My name is Sue-Mei.

Sue-Mei.

Sue...
Major, can I talk to you
for a minute?

Yeah.

Suzie!

Excuse me. Suzie!
Front and center.

She's going into
Kweiyang, too.

She says she
has a brother

that works for
an American in Kweiyang.

How about giving
Suzie a lift, Major,

when we pull out
in the morning, huh?
Nothing doing.

Well, uh, Suzie's
not so big.

And if nobody'd look,
you wouldn't even notice her.

The answer is no.

She's not going to
get in the way up
there in the cab.

The answer's still no.

All right, Suzie,
start walking.

It's a long way
to Kweiyang.

See, baby?
Why weren't you born
a General's wife.

Excuse me.

Major, you want
some more coffee?
No, thanks.

(KIDS SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

(SPEAKING IN LOCAL DIALECT)
Good morning.

Morning, Major.
Hi, Mike. The men set?

Well, they're
up and moving.

What's the deal
for today?

Uh, I don't know yet.

It depends on
the Japs and the roads.

Sure, could stand
a day of rest.

Yeah. What about Tushan?

You mean those
ammunition dumps?

We blowing 'em?
Like Colonel Kwan wants?

I'm running this outfit,
not Kwan.

Yes, sir.

That's a Chinese
job ain't it?

Tushan's their cookie,
ain't it, Major?

Well, we'll see.

Look, Major Lewis is,
uh, sick. Real sick.

We got to get him
to a hospital soon.

Lewis is a weak slob.

Okay, Major.

I'm sorry.
Sure.

Forget what I said.
No, it's true.

Lewis is a slob.
I'm a slob.

You're either
a big wheel or a slob.

I learned that when
I was a shop steward
in the foundry.

Now cut it out, Mike.

You know I couldn't
run this outfit
without you.

Well, that just makes
me a helpful slob,
that's all, Major.

What do you want,
a public apology?

No, I don't
want nothin'.

Well, suggest something.

Slobs ain't got the brains.
I said cut it out!

Now, wait a minute,
wait a minute,

now let's uh, let's
go over this again
calmly, huh?

Now what would you suggest
that I do, Sergeant?

Your orders said,
"At your discretion."

So?

So we're eight guys
and four trucks.

Is eight guys,
one of 'em sick
and four trucks

gonna save China?

Somebody's kiddin'
somebody if they think so.

What we ought to save,

while we've got the chance,
is ourselves.

Because if we
don't, Major...

Major! Colonel Kwan just
picked up a Chinese
infantryman, sir.

BALLO: Hey, out!
Out! Out!

What outfit's he with?

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He's not with
any outfit now.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He was ordered back.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

The Japanese are comin'.
When?

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He does not know.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He was in Liuchow.
The Japanese came there.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He was in Liuchow
and the Japanese came there.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

Now they're coming
here to Hochih.

(SOLDIER SPEAKING
IN CANTONESE)

KWAN: He's seen their cavalry.

Uh, how many divisions there?

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He says two.

(SOLDIER SPEAKING
IN CANTONESE)

KWAN: He says he heard
an officer say two.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He's only a soldier.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He knows when
he's hungry.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He knows when
he's wounded.

(SOLDIER SPEAKING
IN CANTONESE)

KWAN: That's the only positive
information that he knows.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

He also says Americans
are lucky.

Major, you'd better
take a look at Lewis.

He's boiling,
he's real sick.

BALDWIN: Kwan,
give him some cigarettes.

And tell him
he's lucky, too.

Deserters are shot.

(KWAN SPEAKS IN MANDARIN)

I think he has pneumonia.

Ain't there a doctor in
this town someplace?
He needs a doctor.

What makes you think
it's pneumonia?

The fever
and the way
he's breathing.

I saw pneumonia in
hospitals in Shanghai.

Have you any sulfa?

Yeah, I think there's some
in the medical kit there.

There ought to be
a doctor in Kweiyang

if we ever get to Kweiyang.
All right, shut up!

Shut up. Mike,
come here.

All right. All right,
we're going to move
out of here.

The trucks ready?
Yeah. They're all gassed up.

All right. Now,
get... get Lewis in
Niergaard's truck.

See that he has
plenty of water.

Right.

Japs, heat and pneumonia,
that's a combination for ya.

Fellas, help out
with Lewis, will ya?

Yes, sir.

Major! Are we going to take
this stuff with us, sir?

Sure. Why?

Well, I was thinking, sir.

We've got enough rations
on the trucks to last
two or three weeks.

And well, the people out there
in the village are starving.

I thought maybe I could pass
some of this out to them.

Now, Collins, now,
how many...

How many bellies
could this stuff
feed out there?

Only a few.

Well, I know,
sir, but...

All right,
all right. Okay.

Fine.
Well, here, here.

Thank you, sir.

Where's Collins going?

Oh, he's just giving
some of our rations to
the people in town.

Collins!
(SHOUTS IN MANDARIN)

What's the matter?

Call him back,
it's dangerous.

What's dangerous about
giving people food?

Well, you see...
I mean, you were talking

last night about
the Goddess of mercy.

Well, isn't that what
Collins is doing?
An act of mercy?

Oh, please.
Don't you understand?

Leave the food here.
Let them take it.

(ALL CLAMORING)

(GUNSHOT)

Collins!
Come on, kid.

He's...

He's dead.

I don't get it.

Collins, he liked
the slopeys.

Come on, let's
get him inside.

You keep
the street covered.

(ALL CLAMORING)

(SHOUTS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

This one town
I'd like to burn,
with pleasure.

Right down to
the lousy ground.

Major Baldwin,
I suggest we go
now and quickly.

There are bandits
who are hungry as
the people outside.

And they have guns.

All right. Now...

Now, I want you to put
Collins in the ammo truck.

And I want all of you to
keep your trucks close
together as we move out.

And if a Chinese
gets in between,

just keep going,
don't stop.

Mike, I want you
in the jeep with me.

All right,
now, come on.

(HONKING)

How far is it
to Tushan?

150 li.

That's about fifty miles,
isn't it?

Yes.

How many lis is it,
from Collins to Tushan?

I'm going to have
to write his family.

They'll want to know
how he died.

What will you say?

I'll tell them he was murdered
by a bunch of Chinese

while he was doing
an act of mercy

in a dirty, filthy little town
in East China.

They'll understand.

No one will understand.

They'll understand.
I'll explain it to them,
carefully.

But you can't explain
it to Americans.

Can't I?

I can try.

I can send them
a carton of C rations

and show them what
their son died for.

Now, everything
is falling apart.

Now, there has to be
something that takes
care of people.

There has to be
an order somewhere.

And the invasion has left
no order anywhere in China.

They're going to die.

Everybody back there
in the village
is going to die.

If any of them live,
it will be by accident.

Life shouldn't be
by accident.

Dying should be
something that

that you can avoid
only by trickery,
or by being cruel.

We have law,
we have government,

but it can't function
on this road on account
of the disorder.

That's what
happened to Collins.

Things were falling
apart right here,
and they fell on him.

You are Americans,
so go back to
where the roads are safe.

You can't help us either.

Don't you understand?
Don't you see?

But if...
If we can't help China,
what am I doing here?

What uh...

What am I going
to do tomorrow?

At... at Tushan?
If nobody can do anything,

what difference does
it make whether I blow up
the dumps or not?

What...

What, I, uh, I...

I don't know.

I can't think.

I, uh, but I've
got to decide.

I've got to decide.

I've got to believe
that what I'm doing
means something.

But I can't...

I can't think.

I can't...

You can leave us
here on the road.

Colonel Kwan and I will
go on to Tushan alone.

Well, Collins
is dead. You...

I'll need an interpreter.

You'd better get
some sleep now.

You talk to him, Mike?

Yeah.

Well, what's the pitch, Mike?

When are we getting
into Kweiyang?

We ain't.

We ain't? What do
you mean we ain't?

I thought the Major...
We're going into Tushan.

You volunteered for
this lousy outfit,
didn't you, Ballo?

You don't
like the army,

write a letter
to your Congressman.

We're going into
Tushan, see?

You want to know why?
I'll tell you why.

I'll tell you the way
the Major told me.

He says he's paid
for the next card.

He's going to stay
for one more round

because he's
already paid to look!

So now he's playing poker?
And he's holding us
for a hand.

Yeah, well what do
you want me to do?
Change the deck?

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Say something to me
so I can translate.

Why?

The General doesn't like
having a woman here.

Oh. I'm Major Baldwin
of the American Engineers.

Here's my pass.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

All right. Now tell him that

we're on our way
from Liuchow to Kweiyang.

And we've heard that
there are ammunition
dumps here,

and that the Japanese
are going to Tushan.

Now, ask him courteously

what he would like us to do.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Please sit down.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

This pass carries
the seal of Wang Ta Kung
of Kwangsi war zone.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Tushan is not part of
the Wang Ta Kung's command.

Well, what's that mean?

It means you have no authority
to operate in this area.

Fine. Tell him
it was nice meeting him.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Oh, please sit down.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Will you have some tea?

Oh, now, let's cut
the formalities.

If he doesn't want our help,
then he doesn't want our...

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

He said he would be
very pleased

to have the honorable
American General instruct him.

I'm a Major.

He knows it. He means
he wants your views
on the situation.

Huh. Well, you tell him

he's the General.
I want his views.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

The Japanese
have no trucks.

And it takes them about
two days of hard march
to approach Tushan,

so there's no
immediate danger.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Chungking ordered him
to wait and the Americans
want him to fall back.

This is his difficulty.

Yeah well, that's a helluva
way to run a railroad.

Please, don't say that.
The General isn't afraid.

It's just that
he has two sets
of orders.

That's how my
husband died.

Yes, yes, I know.
You told me.

He obeyed one order
and disobeyed the other.

Yes. All right.
Now, I'm...

I'm just interested
in the ammunition dumps.

Now, does he want me
to blow the dumps

or doesn't he want
me to blow the dumps?

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

He said, "What is
the honorable American
General's opinion?"

I'm a Major.

Well, he, he has promoted you
to his equal.

All right. Okay.

All right.
I... It...

It's best and it's wise to
blow up the ammunition dumps,

before the Japanese
get here.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

And now, tell him,
that he is, oh,
the General here,

he's older than I am,
he's seen more of
the war than I have,

so, now ask the General
what he'd like me to do.

You're learning
to speak Chinese.
Just ask him. Go on.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

The American General
is young, but very wise.

And he's very glad that
the American General has
decided to explode the dumps.

I didn't decide.
I suggested.

In his opinion,
you've decided.

Okay. I've decided.

All right, now,
if the General will put
his seal on there,

I'll assemble my men.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

Thank you, sir.

(SPEAKING IN MANDARIN)

So long, General.
Zai jian.

Mike, come here.

Now, we're going to have
to send Lewis on ahead
to Kweiyang

and get him to a hospital.

Well, how about letting
Miller take him?
He'll get 'em there.

If he barrels right through,
he can get Lewis
to Kweiyang tonight.

He could take
Collins, too.

And if we blow the dumps,
we can all be in
Kweiyang tonight.

All right.

How are you feeling, Lewis?

All right, now, now,
listen to me.

You're moving out.
We're going to get
you to a hospital.

You'll be in Kweiyang tonight.

Is Collins going
on this truck, too?

That's right.

Then can I ride up front?
I don't want to ride in back
with a dead man.

You're going to ride
back here with Collins.

You're look, it'd...
it'd be better back here.

You you'll be able
to take it easy.

Miller'll be up front.
You like Miller, don't you?

Yeah. I like Miller.

Major,

you think I'm going
to be all right?

Lewis, you're going to
live to be an old man

with forty grandchildren
and all the fresh milk
you can drink.

Yeah. That'd be somethin',
wouldn't it?

Sure. Okay. Okay, now.

Miller!

Okay, take off.

To go home,
you gotta be sick
or dead.

Boy, how do you take
something like this apart?

Well, it sure ain't going
to be easy.

But at least when we blow it,
that's the end of it.

Right, Major?
The job's finished.

That's right.

Look at the size
of this.

This is quite a collection,
ain't it, Major?

You mean, we're going
to blow all this now?

This is the last job,
huh, Major? For real?

You want me to tattoo it
on your butt?

All right,
come on now,

let's spread out,
see what's in these sheds.

Come on.
Come on, let's go.

Niergaard, take that section.
The one in the middle. Ballo!

Come on, let's check
these sheds.

All right,
on the double.

The way it looks
to me, Major

we bring our main
lines in from there,

and there, the whole thing
ought to go.

All right, that's the way
we'll set it up, Mike.

Now, you put your charges
in the...

In the sheds with
the high explosives
and the bombs,

the artillery shells,
start way back there
in the corner

and work up
from there.

Come on.
We're ready.

Get the box.

I'll do that, Mike.

You get the trucks up
the road and take cover.

Where are you
going to fire from?

Well, just as far out
as that wire'll put me.

Now, look,
when you get up there
and get all squared away,

give me a couple of shots
as a signal.

And I'll let her go.
Got it?

Got it.

All right, now,
clear the area. Everybody.

MIKE: All right,
let's go.

All right,
take cover.

Well, what do you
think you're doing?

You ought to be down
with the trucks.

This is the last job
for me, too.

I would like to see
how it ends, with you.

When it goes,
there will be
nothing left?

The artillery pieces, maybe.

I told the men to destroy
the mechanism.

They'll all rust
after the fires are gone.

Rust. That's all that
will be left of us. Rust.

We lost a campaign,
not a war.

(GUNSHOTS)

It's time, now.

Fire in the hole!

Fire in the hole!

Fire in the hole!

(EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)

(EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)

Sue-Mei.
Yes.

Don't be afraid, Sue-Mei.

I'm not afraid.

I'm glad I found you.

Are you?

How do you say
"yes" in Chinese?

Dwayluh.

Baldwin, I think
that was an American.

What?

I think I saw an American.
Where?

Back there on the side
of the road.

We just passed him.
It was a body.

Something wrong, Major?

No. You stay
where you are.

Mike!

Come on down here a minute.

They must have been jumped,
huh, Major?

They wouldn't dump him.

Huh, Major?
Somebody must
have jumped Miller.

Get back! Get back
or I'll blow your head off.

Where's the truck,
Collins?

Where's Miller?

Where's Lewis?

Collins, where...

I'd get Ballo
to help me carry him.

We searched the area, Major.

Nothing.
Not a sign.

All right, we're going
to turn around

and try and find
them back along the road.

And then we're going
to try and find the truck.

And then we're going to look
for the Chinese who did it.

And what will you do then?

They were my men
and I was responsible
for them.

Now, come on,
let's go.

(SNIFFLING)

They must have stood
over Lewis in the truck

and fired straight down
into his face.

Miller must have been jumped
when his back was turned.

And then they stripped
both of 'em,

threw 'em down
here on the rocks.

What do you
think, Colonel?

What do you think?
Did they have a chance?

Either one of 'em?
Miller, Lewis?

They came a long way
to fight in your war.

Do you think the men
that shot them gave either
one of 'em a chance?

KWAN: I do not know, Major.

Look. Look, they traded.

A dirty pair of straw sandals
for a couple of pair
of G. I. boots.

Only they left
the sandals.

Why did they
leave the sand...
That was...

That was very generous
of them, wasn't it?

They could have taken
the sandals, too,
couldn't they, Colonel?

Yes, Major.

Well now, you...
You're a military
strategist, Colonel.

Educated in the Academy.

Who do you think shot
and robbed those men

and threw them down
there in the rocks?

I think soldiers.
Whose?

Nobody's.
Deserters?

Soldiers. Of no regiment
who are far from home,

who will die on the road
because they are
sick and hungry.

No, no. No, that's
where you're wrong,
Colonel.

That's where you're wrong.

That's not the way
they're going to die!

Come on, Mike.

Help get this...

Ballo! Niergaard!

What are you
going to do now?

I told you I'm going
to find the truck.

They'll be where
the truck is.

Please. All you want
is revenge.

It's too late for revenge.

They were my men.
And this is my command.

And on this road,
I'm the only justice
there is.

All right, you coming?

It's revenge.
It will change nothing
and mean nothing.

Shut up! I don't want
any more advice
from any Chinese!

There's the truck.
Our truck.

Yes.
Mike!

That's Miller's truck.

Whoever jumped Miller
is right down there with it.

What do we do, Major?

All right.

We'll go around the town,
pull up on the far side.

Right over there.
Right over there.

All right. Now,
who's got the BAR?

It's in my heap.
All right.

Now, Prince, when you get
over there, set it up

and cover us
if we need it. Mike!
Yeah?

We'll go down to the Inn.

Why take
a chance, Major?

We had to destroy
other towns.

That's right, Major
and they didn't kill
Miller or Lewis.

You hold your fire.

Mike, take the convoy
up above.
Right.

The Inn is there.

All right. Meet me over
at the Inn.
Okay.

You'll need someone
who speaks Chinese.

That's right.

(TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

Major!

(GUNSHOTS)

(SOLDIERS SPEAK IN MANDARIN)

What are they saying?

They shouted,
"We are bandits."

They're saying, "Kill them!"

Go on, Mike!

We got a gasoline
drum ready to roll.
What do you say, Major?

All right.

All right. Tape a pound block
of TNT on the drumhead

set the fuse
for about 30 seconds.

Ballo!

Baldwin, don't!
Baldwin, don't! Don't!

Baldwin, don't!

Baldwin, please don't do it!
You'll be just like them!

Don't you hear me?

They killed Miller.

They killed Collins!

And they killed Lewis!

And whom will you kill?
The homeless? The starving?

Here they come!

Are they all dead yet?
Not yet.

You'll see to that.
Simple efficiency.

It's in a book.
An army book, isn't it?

Baldwin, don't!
Baldwin, don't! Don't!

I beg you, don't!

Sue-Mei!

Stop it! Don't!
Do you hear me? Don't!

Baldwin! Baldwin!

Baldwin, you don't care
about the truck.

You want someone to pay
for what you think
is your guilt.

Because you didn't protect
Collins or Lewis, or Miller.

Get out of here.

Don't! Baldwin!

Stop it!
Stop it!

Wait a minute, Ballo, stop!
Stop! Stop everybody!
All right, stop it!

Stop it!

Stop it!

(HONKS)

We have contact
with Kweiyang, sir.

Fine.

Colonel Masterson of
the American Liaison
is waiting.

This is Major Baldwin.
Base Engineers.
Who is this? Over.

Masterson here.
What's your message?
What's your message?

Masterson, Sixth Liaison
to Baldwin Base
Engineers. Over.

Uh, Roger. Request you relay

the following message
to the Commanding Officer,
Base Engineers, Kunming.

Report bridge blown
on outskirts of Liuchow.

Also extensive demolition
on the road 20 miles
south of Hochih.

Repeat, Hochih.

Uh, also destroyed
ammunition dumps
Tushan. Over.

MASTERSON:
Repeat about Tushan.

Were the dumps blown? Over.

Roger. That's correct.
Uh, dumps at Tushan blown
at 1500 hours. Over.

We've had an order
out for 48 hours
to get that job done.

Do you know who
did it, Baldwin? Over.

We did it, sir.

Good work.

Roger. Out.

Thank you.

Shall we finish
this together?

Finish what?

The trip on the road.

It was finished back
at the village.

Sue-Mei please, I...

Please, listen
to me. I...

I don't know whether
this is something
I can explain or not.

But it's about this power
that was in my hands

and using it because...

Because they were Chinese.
Because...

No! No!

You weren't just killing.
You were stepping
on something.

No! But I asked
for this job.

Now, listen to me. Listen.

I asked for this job.

And with it came this power.

And, I don't know,

I guess maybe I've always
been afraid of it,

afraid of having power,
of using it.

But then here on the road,
I found out that it was easy.

It was easy as long as
it was between me

and the Japanese
and the road.

But then yesterday
in the village,

it just reached out
and possessed me.

It just walked in
and took over and I...

The gasoline drums
and the explosions...

I had the power
and I could use it.

And it wasn't
because they were Chinese.

It wasn't because I was
an American and they
were Chinese.

Power has no face.
It has no country.

What is it you
want from me?

I want you
to understand.

I understand.

You're trying to say,
if you live with the beasts

you become a beast.

No, no.

You're trying to tell me
what happened at the village
happens over and over again.

With Americans,
just as it does with us.

I'm trying to tell you
what I've learned.

I'm trying to tell you
what the road taught me.

That being strong
isn't enough.

That one has to be
responsible oneself

for the power that
falls into your hands.

And I know

I... I know now

that, that I had more power
than I knew how to use.

It doesn't matter now.

Sue-Mei, please,
I don't want to lose you.

We've already
lost each other.

And you won't come
to Kweiyang with us?

No. Colonel Kwan
and I will go on alone.

Well, I reported
in to Kunming.

And they think
we did a good job.

And I... And I want
to thank you.

Okay, let's... Let's...

Major, you think you could
get us some slug of leave
when we hit Kweiyang?

I mean, now the job's over.

That's a real
good idea, Mike.

We'll get some leave.

Ain't she coming?

No.

To the end of the road,

peace and safety.