Original subtitles

It's dangerous on Espritos Marcos. How would you rather go,

chasing Zeros or chasing nurses?

(SIREN BLARING)

(EXCLAIMS)

Hi, Jimmy.

BRAGG: reallythink you're something special.

Listen, ifthe two of you have a beef, it's all right with me,

just as long as you...

NE WSREEL NARRA TOR: Waves of enemy bombers fly east

from the Japanese-held islands in the Pacific.

Their target, Allied positions in the Solomon Chain.

The greatest Japanese offensive since the Battle ofMidway,

strains the determination of our fighting troops to hold the Solomons,

and continue the drive to recapture the Philippines.

Day and night, death rains from the sky,

but to a man, our soldiers, sailors and airmen,

meet the enemy with antiaircraft guns and fighter planes,

inflicting heavy losses against the Japanese.

We will not be moved.

GREG: The air raids had been coming every three or four hours for 10 days.

The night attacks were the worst.

We flew without lights and had to trust our instincts not to fly into each other.

Sleep was something we'd all forgotten about.

We'd put small pieces of tobacco in the corners of our eyes to make them sting

and keep them open.

And we prayed our aircraft was in better shape than we were.

We were edgy, irritable, and scared.

For every bomber we sent down in flames,

it seemed like the Emperor had a dozen more in reserve.

It couldn't go on much longer, but it did.

GREG: There they are, about 10 degrees off starboard.

Everybody see them? MAN: Got them, Greg.

Okay, let's get into it.

Stay together, don't get separated from your wingman.

Try and stay inside with the bombers.

We're not up here to play tag with the Zeros.

And don't take any chances. I want to see all you guys at breakfast.

(EXPLOSIONS)

Thanks.

They're coming back!

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

They all made it!

Pappy, I don't think these birds can take it much longer.

I don't think my pilots can take it much longer.

How was the oil pressure this time? It's low. Real low.

I'm sorry. Did you get any sleep?

What are you kidding? Did you?

GREG: We were flying split missions, 10 airplanes, each in rotation.

It was the only way we could keep our firepower in the air around the clock.

Jerry, keep this stuff on your side ofthe tent!

(FABRIC TEARING)

(MEN CHATTERING)

Hey, Jim. Yes.

You ready for some good news? Roosevelt surrendered?

We just drew three days leave, starting tomorrow.

This leave for Espritos Marcos?

Right.

You know, Espritos Marcos is where those chickens are dropping all them eggs.

lt's dangerous on Espritos Marcos. How would you rather go,

chasing Zeros or chasing nurses?

I've always been a little partial to the nurses.

Hey, Casey, did you hear the news? We got leave coming.

Jerry, where are my clean socks?

I had to borrow them yesterday. Borrow them?

Yeah, I was out of socks.

That gives you the right to borrow mine?

What's the matter with you?

Well, for one thing, somebody short-sheeted my bunk again.

It wasn't me. And I can't find my shaving kit.

I could hardly find my bunk with all your stuff on it

and now you're telling me I can't put on a clean pair of socks.

Yeah, you can put on a pair of clean socks, Larry.

I did your laundry for you last night.

You did my laundry?

That's right.

Where is it?

It's in here with my stuff.

Why'd you throw all this stuff around? It was all clean.

Why did you put it on my bunk in the first place?

What am , Jerry, your mother?

I got to put your clothes away for you?

Well, l was trying to be a nice guy,

but ifthat's the way you feel about it, you can go to hell.

That's the way I feel about it!

You know what you are, Jerry? You're a slob.

GREG: We flew two more missions,

and then turned our planes over to Hutch for repairs.

Got on the transport, and headed for the rear area.

We had 72 hours vacation coming,

and we were bound and determined to make the most ofit.

Back to your rowboats, swabbies!

Hey, I'm gonna park this thing

before that guy from the motor pool comes looking for it.

Forget it, there's more where you found that one!

More difficult to drive than a plane.

(JAZZ PLAYING)

It was a textbook situation.

There was only one way out.

So, I said to this brigadier who just couldn't see it,

"Listen, we've got to create a diversion and draw their forces in."

Well, he looked at me and he said,

"Lieutenant, lam in command ofthis operation."

So I said, "In that case, lreallythink we ought to surrender."

Well, he looked at me, his face turned red,

his eyes popped out, and his Adam's apple started bouncing up and down.

BARMAN: What'll you have, Major? Scotch.

Boyington. Hello, Colonel.

Thank you...

What are you guys doing, hiding back here?

Yeah, yeah, we didn't want to get mobbed.

You know how these nurses go for fighter pilots.

Why don't you show us your mob?

We'll show you, Captain Gutterman.

But Bobby Anderson likes to do a little shopping before he buys.

You want institute? I'll show you. All right, over there.

Got what you call your basic lively prospects.

Admittedly, they're nurses.

Over there you got your women Marines.

Very nice.

Well, well, well.

Yes, indeed, if you gentlemen will excuse me a minute...

Wait a minute, she's getting up.

I knew it, an angel.

Gentlemen, I really hate to do this to you. Not as much as I hate it.

Get out of my way T.J.

Oh! I'm sorry. Excuse me. Sorry.

Oh, no, Bragg.

Annie?

Jerry?

Jerry Bragg?

It's okay, let's go. Come on.

This is incredible. What are you doing here?

I'm a fighter pilot. Really?

Hi, my name is T.J.

just saw this clumsy oaf bump into you.

And I thought I'd come over and rescue you.

What did you say?

My name is T.J. No, no, no. Something about being clumsy?

It's all right, Annie, these guys are friends of mine.

This is Bob Anderson, this is T.J.

And this is Bob Boyle. Fellas, this is Anne Schaeffer.

Hi, how are you?

Guess you two know each other? Yeah, we came from the same hometown.

Over here is James Gutterman.

That's Donald French, and that's Larry Casey.

Say, do you think your friends would mind

if you and I talked about old times for a little while?

No, I think that'd be a great idea.

You guys don't mind, do you?

No, no, I want you to.

Oh, well, we'll see you later maybe.

Gee, it's so great to find somebody I know. Come on.

That's real nice going, T J.

Can I help it? They're old friends.

What'll you have?

(AIR RAID SIREN BLARING)

MAN: Air raid! Jerry, bring the bottle!

What? Bring the bottle!

Exactly what we need now, is a vacation.

Everyone out! Get the women out first! Move it!

Come on! Come on! Into the shelters!

Come on, I know a shortcut.

We'll never make it to the shelter!

Over here! Quick! Come on!

lt's locked!

(EXPLOSIONS)

Come on! We'll get soaked.

Jerry!

(BOMBERS RETREATING)

I think it's all over now.

(EXCLAIMS)

Hi, Jerry.

Hi.

It sure is good to find somebody from home.

Come on, I'll sneak you into my quarters and we can get dry there.

Sure.

ANNIE: If they hear a man's voice, we'll both go up on charges.

Soaked! What a night. Yeah.

Here, wait.

Here, you can put this on.

Go ahead, take your clothes off.

It's okay, I'll change back there.

Do you ever think about dying?

All the time.

Sure, yeah, you're a pilot.

I never did, until these air raids started.

And to me, the war was always someplace else.

lfl hadn't been a language major...

I went to Sweet Briar, you know.

When I enlisted, I never thought they'd take me.

And I never thought they'd send me out here.

I'm glad they did.

It's amazing, us running into each other.

And all because I wanted to study Japanese.

You were always smart.

Done!

It's like we're old, old friends.

We never really knew each other that well back home.

Oh, I saw you at the football games.

You used to go out with Larry Potter.

Oh, right. Yeah, he was the halfback.

He got killed in Europe.

I'm sorry. I didn't know.

Annie,

lreallythink you're something special.

You were always so sweet.

I think you're special, too, Jerry.

Shouldn't we be getting back?

What for? Won't your friends be worried?

Let them worry. No, really, I want to go back.

I can't just leave Cheryl. Who's Cheryl?

She's my best friend, my only friend.

Well, until tonight.

What about tomorrow night? You wanna go to the beach?

I'd love to.

Hey, could we make it a double date, so Cheryl could go?

Don't be mad. You could ask one of your friends.

We'll have a good time.

Okay. Oh, good. Come on, get dressed.

Come on, Larry, it'll be fun. Cheryl's a nice girl.

How do you know? Annie told me so.

Anyway, Annie won't go with me unless Cheryl comes along.

Look, maybe one of the other guys, huh?

Look, the other guys didn't make a good impression.

Annie said you were the best looking guy of the whole bunch,

except for me, of course.

All right.

That's great.

We'll take the jeep, we'll go to the beach, we'll start a nice big fire...

Wait a minute. That jeep's gotta get back to the motor pool

before the M.P.'s start looking for T.J.

That's T.J.'s problem. No, Greg asked me to take it back.

What are you on vacation, or what, Larry?

"Casey, do this." "Casey do that." You're too nice a guy, Larry.

People are always taking advantage of you.

No kidding?

Look, you don't know how lucky you are, Larry.

We're gonna go out on the beach, nice, warm tropical night,

beautiful girls. You're gonna love it.

(STATIC CRACKLING ON RADIO)

Casey, you wanna see if you can get something on this radio?

I'd even settle for Tokyo Rose.

Boy, this is fun, isn't it?

Hey, Annie, you wanna give me a hand with the sandwiches?

I can't carry them all myself.

Allow me.

(STATIC CRACKLING ON RADIO)

(JAZZ PLAYING)

Is something wrong?

What is it?

lt's Cheryl.

What now?

She really likes you, Jerry.

She likes me? Uh-huh.

Didn't you know?

No.

She's too shy to say anything, but she does.

She must know how I feel about you.

Well, that's just it. She really doesn't.

Then we got to tell her.

Would you do me a big favor tonight?

Just for tonight, would you talk to her,

pay attention to her?

lt'd mean a lot to me.

Tonight is my last night.

We'll have lots of other nights, won't we?

Maybe we could go dancing. I'll keep Larry company.

lt'd make Cheryl so happy.

She really is crazy about you.

Annie,

I'm crazy about you.

Please?

(JAZZ PLAYING)

CASEY: I never heard that before.

It's true. Really. I could show it to you sometime.

It must be getting late.

No.

Where's my watch?

Oh, I must've left it at the beach.

You sure you were wearing it?

lthink so.

Could we go look for it?

Sure. I'll tell Jerry.

Oh, let's just go.

They're having fun, and we'll be back in just a few minutes.

Come on, let's go.

Hey, Bragg, where's Casey?

He's over there. He was over there just a second ago.

Jerry, let me talk you for a minute, will you, please? Excuse me.

Every MP. on this island is looking for the jeep.

It wasn't outside?

We looked outside and came in here, Bragg.

And they're looking for T.J.

Any idea where the jeep could be?

No.

Well, start looking.

I'm sure I wore it tonight.

Do you remember taking it off?

No.

There's one other place it might be. Do you mind if we go and look?

Of course not.

Oh, a sorority?

(SHUSHING)

ANNIE: lfthey hear your voice, we'll both go up on charges.

Wouldn't you know?

Thank you for putting up with me.

I can be so forgetful sometimes.

I'm even worse than forgetful.

I'm also a sneak.

You mean you planned this?

I'm sorry if you're mad at me.

No, no, I'm not mad.

Jerry's the one who should be mad.

Yeah.

It wasn't very fair to him.

Look, I'm not really a flirt.

It's just... When you meet somebody that you like,

and you don't know when you're gonna see them again...

If you wanna go back, I understand.

"Casey, do this." "Casey, do that."

What?

Nothing.

Greg.’ Something seemed to be going on between Bragg and Casey,

but whatever their problem was,

I had a more immediate problem getting T.J. off the island.

The M. P. 's were still looking for him over that stolen jeep.

Hey, Jerry, wait up!

Bragg, First Lieutenant.

Wiley, Thomas Joseph, First Lieutenant.

Anderson, Lieutenant.

Come on, where are they?

Relax, they'll be here.

(GROANING)

Staff Sergeant Wilkerson. Burn case.

Excuse me.

(GROANS)

Hey, Janey, thank you very much.

See you next time.

Jerry, just listen to me for a second. Stay away from me, Casey.

ljust want to explain.

I don't want to hear it.

What's that all about?

Don't tell me.

(GRUNTS)

GREG: This is thick.

I'm going as fast as I can.

I couldn't breathe.

They forgot to put air holes in it.

Oh, that's very funny. It is.

That's what you get for stealing jeeps.

GREG: We flew back to Vella la Cava,

and the next day we were flying missions again.

We forgot about the trouble. l'd figured it had gone away.

Well, it hadn 't.

Got him!

Lieutenant Casey, that was my kill. You stole it from me.

What're you talking about?

l was right on that Zeke and you cut right in front ofme!

ldidn't even see you! Like hell, you didn't see me!

Knock it off, both you guys!

But, Pappy... lsaid knock it off, Bragg!

I never want to hear an argument in this unit about who gets a scalp.

Is that clear?

(MACHINE GUN FIRING)

Here they come again!

Hey, Larry.

What's the matter? What's wrong between you and Bragg?

Nothing. Nothing, huh?

Listen, ifthe two of you have a beef, it's all right with me,

just as long as you keep it on the ground.

You don't have to tell me that, Greg.

(SIGHS)

How long is this gonna go on?

That's up to you.

I'm ready to settle this thing right now.

(CASEY SIGHS)

Okay. How do we settle it?

I'm calling you out.

That's a great solution.

What's the matter, Casey?

Afraid I'm gonna mess up your nice clean flight suit, or what?

Look, Jerry, I've been trying to explain... Explain what?

About Annie.

You leave her out ofthis.

Leave her out of it? She's what it's all about.

It's about a lot ofthings. It's about how you're always criticizing,

always acting superior.

You stole my kill today!

You stole my girl.

I didn't steal your girl!

It was her idea!

You're a liar!

She said she was gonna talk to you! She said you'd understand!

Go ask her! I ain't asking her nothing.

(GRUNTS)

Hey, a fight.

What are they fighting about? I don't know, but I got $20 on Bragg.

Good cover.

Is this for fun or what?

I don't know. Maybe we ought to break it up.

All right, guys. Guys, break it up.

I said that's enough. What's the matter with you?

You okay?

Yeah.

How did this get so far out of hand?

It just started, we couldn't stop them. Couldn't stop them, huh?

Hold still and we'll get you cleaned up a little.

Where's Jerry?

I don't know.

Hey. What's going on between the two of you guys?

Take it easy, will you?

I heard it's over a girl.

It's about a lot ofthings. The guys are saying you horned in on Jerry's girl.

I want the two of you to work it out.

In the meantime, I'm gonna change your tent assignments, ifthat's all right with you.

Fine.

Okay, Boyle moves in with you, and French will move in with Bragg.

Greg, could I talk to you alone?

Sure.

Why don't you tell French to get his stuff together?

Pappy, I've been thinking about this for a long time now and...

I would like a transfer out ofthe Black Sheep.

Okay.

And I don't want you to try and talk me out of it

because you don't know what it's like for me.

What is it like, Larry?

I don't fit in here.

The guys are always giving me a hard time, they're always playing jokes on me.

I don't really mind,

but it just goes to show you that I don't belong here.

lam not really a misfit.

Some ofthe things you guys do, well, they really bother me.

Okay. lfthat's the way you want it.

Please.

Don't misunderstand me. I really love this outfit.

You and all the guys, even Bragg, you've been like family.

ljust don't feel like I'm part of it.

I don't agree with you.

You were the first Black Sheep.

You and l formed this squadron, son.

I don't wanna lose you.

I would like to transfer, sir.

Okay, but you know what I think?

I think you're trying to get even.

You're as good a pilot as any man in this outfit.

Then why doesn't anybody in this outfit take me seriously?

Even you. It's always, "Casey get this." "Casey get that."

"Casey do this", "Casey do that."

You said I want to get even! Well, maybe I do.

Maybe I just wanna go somewhere and start out even!

Leaving? That's right.

What for? Why don't you ask him yourself?

Why should I?

Seems to me he ought to come to us if he's unhappy about something.

Leave the Black Sheep, that's a low blow.

You guys know about this? Yes.

That just seems to prove he never was a Black Sheep.

Possible for you to stay out of this, Bragg?

If he wants to go, then let him go.

You couldn't stop him anyway, Boyle.

I've got one question, though, if Casey leaves, who's gonna work on the books

and keep all the deals straight with the other units?

He did a lot of stuff for this outfit.

Very good question, Bob.

I can take care of the books.

Anybody can do that.

You took your degree at Yale, didn't you?

Hi.

just dropped by to say that I'm gonna miss you guys.

Well, most of you anyway.

Maybe not the guy who kept short-sheeting my bunk,

or the guy who put mud in my boots for three days in a row.

Or the guy who hid all the alarm clocks in my room that night on leave,

so I couldn't get any sleep.

But, hey, no hard feelings, huh?

Here's to Larry.

Oh, excuse me, one more thing.

I really would like my shaving kit back.

My mom sent it to me and...

Whoever took it, if you could just set it outside my tent sometime tonight,

I'd really appreciate it.

Guess that's it.

(CLEARING THROAT)

ldid it.

It was ajoke.

Excuse me.

Sorry.

Thought it was funny.

Mud inside his boots?

Short-sheeting his bed? Pretty funny stuff, isn't it?

I didn't do it.

Who did?

Hey, Jim.

(DOOR SLAMMING)

I looked for you in your tent, but...

Think I'd let you leave without saying goodbye?

I sent your orders to Colonel Lard.

Pappy, if it weren't for you, I'd still be flying a desk back at Espritos.

Come on, Larry. Don't underestimate yourself.

You're as good as they come. You're gonna do fine.

You know something else, Larry? You never needed this outfit.

Thanks, but you know that's not true.

I know it is.

Get going.

Sit down, Lieutenant.

I've just been looking over your record.

Your military record is quite good. Excellent, as a matter of fact.

Your proficiency rating is consistently very high.

Thank you, sir.

In fact, Casey, l have never been able to understand

how you got mixed up with Boyington in the first place.

All right. It's not important.

The fact is that you have come to your senses now anyway.

And congratulations, it looks like you're gonna be moving over to the 138,

under Patterson.

You'll like Patterson. He's a good commander

and he's a very good Marine. No nonsense.

You'll get along there fine.

When would I be joining that unit, sir?

It shouldn't be any more than a week or 10 days.

Until then, you'll be on leave.

So, enjoy yourself.

Casey, there are one or two more questions l have to ask you.

What made you decide to transfer away from the Black Sheep?

Personal reasons, sir.

All right, l'll respect that. But, Casey, you know as well as I do that

as far as the Marine Corps is concerned,

Boyington and that pirate band of his,

outside oftheir military accomplishments,

are a disgrace to the uniform.

Part of myjob is to do a monthly report on Boyington.

And that's where you can help me.

With your intimate knowledge of the way he operates...

Excuse me, sir,

but Major Boyington happens to be the finest man I've ever known.

And a good commanding officer.

All the Black Sheep are good friends of mine.

I couldn't say anything against any ofthem.

only wish that I could've stayed part ofthat unit, sir.

All right, Lieutenant.

(JAZZ PLAYING)

BRAGG: Hey, that's another one. Go get him, Don.

Come on, hit number four.

Make way for the next ace. Four big ones!

(MEN CHEERING)

One to go.

I'd like to have drinks for everybody on the house, please, Anderson.

Gentlemen, I hate to say this, but we're dry.

Dry? We have no Scotch.

In that case, we'll drink some beer.

All right.

They're all empty.

This is a disaster.

Wait a minute, didn't we have a deal with those Seabees for 20 cases of Scotch?

Remember we were gonna trade those Japanese machetes for it.

That's right. So, what happened?

That was Casey's deal.

Well, Jerry?

I guess I forgot.

What do you mean you guess you forgot?

Bragg, you forgot about 20 cases of Scotch?

I've had a lot on my mind lately.

Come on, you guys, leave him alone. Jerry, I want to talk to you.

Right.

You've been saved by the bell, Jerry.

Out of his mind lately.

Where are the personnel reports?

I'll go look for them, Pappy. Look for them?

Those personnel reports were due at Fleet the day before yesterday.

Now without them, none of us are gonna get paid.

just can't find anything in my tent anymore, Pappy.

lt's French, he's an animal. He never puts anything away.

He never washes his clothes.

He picks his toenails and throws the little pieces all over the floor.

Look, I know you're upset.

A woman makes it kind of hard to concentrate on your work, I know that.

Jerry,

did I ever tell you about my girl in China? No.

I loved her so much that if anyone had stood in my way, I would have killed them.

You know why?

For the first time in my life, someone was shooting real bullets at me.

l was scared. Having her was the most important thing in my life.

I guess I kind of know how you feel. Mmm-mmm.

I wanted to marry her.

That bad, huh?

Yeah.

I got the ring, I proposed. She accepted.

Set the date.

When I went to pick her up, she was gone.

Was gone?

She left a note that said, "Dear Greg, tomorrow one of us could get killed.

"You can't do anything about it, but I can. Love and thanks."

That's all? No. No. No.

She hawked my wedding ring, took a boat back to the United States.

You know what I call that, Jerry? Smart.

I never made that mistake again.

I guess nothing lasts very long in the middle of a war, huh?

Uh-uh.

Jerry, find those personnel reports.

Pappy,

thanks.

Hey, Bragg? What?

Like to talk to you, Jerome.

This outfit's been a mess ever since Casey left.

That's right. And it's your fault. My fault?

It doesn't matter whose fault it is.

It's all his fault and it's up to him to do something about it.

It's up to all of us to do something about it.

That's right. We all let Casey go.

Listen, if you guys would all just quit arguing forjust a second,

I got the most beautiful plan in the whole wide world.

Now, come here, I want to tell you about it.

You better have a good plan.

(SNORING)

(RUSTLING)

(MUFFLED SCREAMING)

Take offthe clothes.

FRENCH: Keep him quiet!

I've got his eyes.

CASEY: Let me out of here.

All right. Let him out.

What the hell is this all about?

It's a commando raid, you've just been kidnapped.

What for?

Because we want you back, Lawrence.

Well, what about what I want?

At least think it over. And if you still want out...

You know how we feel.

Whose idea was this anyway?

Jerry's.

At least, let me put my trousers on.

Well, what do you think?

You cleaned it up.

Yeah.

Come on, the guys are waiting.

(MEN SINGING)

CASEY: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. ANDERSON: No, you wait a minute.

Before you say anything. Gentlemen.

A toast.

You were about to say?

All right, now, look, I'll come back, but under one condition!

No more "Casey do this" and "Casey do that." Agreed?

Agreed? ALL: Agreed!

All right. Now that that's agreed to, let's open up a case of Scotch.

(ALL CHEERING)

Where is the Scotch?

The Scotch is in the truck outside.

Casey, get it.