They want to talk to our officer in charge.
- I don't speak German or Yiddish. - It's okay. I'll translate.
I don't have stripes on my arm. They won't believe I'm an officer.
I just don't think they're very happy about surrendering to a Jew, okay?
Did they say they want to surrender?
Just stuff about wanting to talk to our officer in charge.
- What was all the yelling about? - I'm not sure.
- You're not sure? - Look!
I'm doing the best I can, okay?
Look, just... Just come over with me.
I'll tell them our officer's back at the chateau.
You look goy enough. Maybe they'll come out more with you around.
Okay? Come on.
This is, uh, meine friend. Freund.
He's in the "schtieb," you know?
Okay, I think I got it. There's seven of them.
They just got sent back from the Russian front...
where it sounds like they got the shit knocked out of'em.
He keeps talking about that big offensive south of here...
and he doesn't want any part of it.
They think the war's almost over and they don't want to get killed...
in the last few days.
I told him we'd bring our leader here tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.
We're going to bring Ware here?
Look, just get Mother out on guard duty...
and get the squad together, all right?
What are we gonna do about an officer?
I don't know about this. Why can't Will just do it?
- He's the leader, for Christ's sake. - They've already seen him.
Besides, no Kraut's ever gonna believe that a guy like Will is an officer.
- Take a look at him. - Thank you, thank you.
Then let's let Mel just do it. He's a natural leader type.
Hey, wait a second. I'm not even sure I want to be part of this plan.
Besides, I don't look like an Aryan god.
What is this? Father, it's all stripes and no rocker.
- What's that mean? - It's something new, Miller.
You're our bastard sergeant minor. Besides, we don't have any rockers.
What if it's like some kind of...
"capture the commander" scheme the Krauts have worked out?
You know, put a bullet in my head or something.
Hey, look, Bud, why don't you just try walking now?
- The man walks like a soldier. - Put more pigheaded asshole into it.
- That I can do. - Chest out, chest out.
Yeah, that's it! That'll do just fine.
Just stand there like an SOB and nod occasionally.
You know, you actually do look like an officer.
- I actually feel like an asshole. - That's about the same thing.
Mother gets off post in five minutes.
- Let's not blow his Christmas present. - Sure this is a good idea?
I can't stop worrying.
God, I hope we're doing the right thing.
- Yeah. - Will, listen.
There are five or six of them down here working like crazy.
They got something big with them. Could be a mortar.
I think maybe you better have somebody man that upper post to cover us.
Shit. Mel, you and Mother go up to the upper post.
Stan says they're setting up a mortar.
All right. Listen. Mother and Avakian are going to the upper post.
You want me down there?
- Father? - Yeah, Will.
Get your butt down here. You of all people shouldn't miss this.
Bethlehem
Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.
For you. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas Happy New Year.
Thank you. Merry Christmas.
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright
Round yon virgin
Mother and child
Holy infant
- So tender and mild - Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.
Sleep in heavenly peace
O come ye O come ye
To Bethlehem
Hey, Father, they teach you German in the seminary?
What the hell were you two talking about?
I just kept saying "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year."
I said it maybe 50 times.
- What did he say to you? - Well...
he said something that sounded like...
"Throw me a why not."
And then, when he tried to hand me his gun, he said...
"Why not go shrink."
"Frohlich Weihnachten" is "Merry Christmas..."
and "Weihnachtsgeschenk" is "Christmas present."
I wonder what the Germans thought Father was saying.
What's going on?
Couldn't get anybody to answer the phone.
Oh, my God. Mother, I'm sorry.
I forgot all about you up there.
I...
I heard singing.
- Everything okay? - Yeah.
The Germans just wanted to spread a little holiday cheer.
Father even did some present exchanging.
They gave us sausages, Vance.
- Is that what happened, Will? - Yeah, that's it.
This particular branch of the German army...
seems to believe in turning off the war every once in a while.
I don't know if I can take this kind of war.
I'd rather we kept out of each other's way, except when we have to fight.
Oh, shit.
This is meine kommandier.
Hey, Will, come over here.
Okay. Okay, they do want to surrender.
As soon as possible. Today. They...
He's convinced that this German push is coming through here any time now.
There's a kicker.
It's a big kicker.
The young ones are scared shitless that if the Germans come through here...
and it looks like they surrendered without a struggle...
it's gonna be taken out on their families.
Everything is nuts back home and they don't want their parents to get shot...
or put in camps because their sons were cowards.
Well, do they have a suggestion?
Yeah.
They want us to take 'em in a fake skirmish.
What?
Just make some noise, leave some spent cartridges, grenade fragments.
No. No, absolutely not.
- Will... - No! It doesn't make any sense.
Just calm down. Now you're gonna blow the whole operation here.
- It's crazy! - Be quiet! Quiet!
- Shut up! - You wanna get us killed?
We're not gonna do it! And don't tell me to shut up!
Will, I know it sounds nuts, I know, but...
I think it's the only way they're gonna go for it.
They're just kids. They're just scared.
They're just scared kids. Look at 'em.
I don't know.
You trust these fuckin' Nazis, Stan?
- What does that mean? - He said they're not Nazis.
They're just regular German army. They're regular army like we are.
I say we do it.
What if it's a trap?
It's not much of a trap, having us both come fully armed to a skirmish.
I mean, at best, it's just mutual suicide, right?
What if they're using the noise to bring in reinforcements?
No. If they wanted to do that, they could've done that the first night.
He's right, Will, he's right. And take a look at 'em.
Things must be bad in the vaterland to have an army of old men and boys.
- Okay, what do we do? - Just give a little nod.
We agree to come this afternoon...
make a lot of noise with rifles and grenades and take them in.
Able 1 to Able 4, over. Able 1 to Able 4, over.
Yeah, you got anything yet, over?
Yes, sir, I think we're gonna be able to take a prisoner, sir.
We found some tracks. Our plan is to hit their outpost...
around 3:00 this afternoon.
- Over. - Good. Do it.
I'll come out. Maybe Griffin too. We'll bring the prisoner back. Over.
No, sir, I don't think that's necessary, sir.
Tell Major Griffin that...
No sense in him taking the risk coming all the way out here.
We'll have the jeeps ready with the chains...
and we'll get that prisoner to you, sir, over.
- I'll tell him. - Over and out.
Over and out.
I tell Mother we're going out to try for a prisoner.
I tell him if we're not back in two hours to call Ware at the base.
He's obviously glad not to be on the patrol.
We hide Miller's officer outfit under his snow poncho.
Now what? Walk down there and knock on the door?
Well...
here I go.
I'm not sure what to do so they don't shoot me.
- Try yelling "comrade." - Is that it?
Well, Stan, you could wave a white flag.
Then it would look like the wrong group was surrendering.
We're right here covering you. Good luck.
Oh, boy.
We wait. There's nothing else to do.
- What's going on? Everything all right? - Yeah.
He wanted to talk to our officer "Herr Muller" here.
You know, I'm sure it's because I'm a Jew.
All right, you nick-prickJew-type, take me to my Aryan friends.
All right, if they're really giving up...
why are they putting a guy on post?
Who are they guarding themselves from?
Maybe other Germans.
They probably have a Major Griffin of their own.
Ubergruppenfuhrer Griftoch or something.
Don't worry.
Come on.
- That's nice. - Okay, here's how it's gonna work.
They'll wind up in front of the cabin. Miller and I will stay as protection.
All right, now, you go on out with the rest of the squad.
When old Shickelgruber here and I signal, we all start firing.
When we signal again, we all stop.
Then you guys come down the hill, we disarm them and take them in.
All we need is a nod from Miller and they'll get their stuff together.
Dismiss me. I'll go inform Father and Mel.
- What? - Dismiss me.
Will, why don't you get up on that hill and go inform Father and Will... Mel.
Mother! Hold your fire!
Go check on Shutzer and Miller.
Hang in there, Father.
We're gonna get you wrapped up and get you outta here.
You warm enough?
Anybody else hit?
Everybody's fine, Father.
- Are the Germans dead? - Don't worry about that.
You all right?
God have mercy on those poor Germans.
God have mercy on us.
- Don't... Don't tell Mother. - I won't.
- Don't tell Mother. - I won't.
Don't tell... Don't tell Mother.
Promise me.
I won't.
Is he dead?
I think so, Vance.
He ran out to warn me.
Why?
I don't understand.
I had a perfect position.
I don't get it.
He's stupid, Vance.
He does stupid things.
What a mess.
Shit! It looked so easy.
Looks like our friend here got a million-dollar wound.
The one guy who wants to fight these bastards...
and I get the million-dollar wound?
Isn't it the way?
How's Mundy?
He's dead. He died fast. There was nothing I could do.
What a fuckup.
Father said don't tell Mother.
That's what we'll do.
We were pinned down, and he saved us.
That's the plan.
Mother tells us why he came out after us.
Ware and Griffin are at the chateau, looking for their prisoner.
Well, we've got one, if he stays alive.
It's hard to look at Father.
I keep waiting for his eyes to open...
waiting for him to tell me it'll be all right if I just have faith.
Sergeant Knott.
- Yes, sir. - Get some men out on post.
The enemy camp may have heard that skirmish and sent out a patrol.
Well, sir, before the prisoner went into shock...
he told Shutzer that an enemy attack was expected at any time.
Well, now, holy shit, soldier!
Just when the fuck were you gonna tell us that?
I thought this was an I & R platoon, for Christ's sake!
Lieutenant, get me Regiment on the horn immediately.
Whiz kids, my ass!
Able 1 to Able 4, over.
- Able 1 to Able 4, over. - Corporal Leary here, over.
Son, this is Major Griffin. You take down this message...
and get it to Regimental Command on the double-quick, over.
Wilco, sir. Over.
"Have contacted enemy and taken prisoner.
Have suffered casualties. One dead, one wounded.
Have destroyed enemy outpost.
Prisoner claims impending enemy attack through this sector at any moment.
Repeating. Prisoner claims impending enemy attack at any moment.
Am leaving immediately with prisoner and wounded for base. Signed, Major Griffin."
- Get that to the regimental commander. - He ain't gonna make it.
Over and out. Let's go.
Sergeant Knott...
have your men transfer the chains from your jeep to my vehicle.
We have a long way to go, and the road's gonna be very rough.
- Yes, sir. - Son...
I am shocked by the conditions of these quarters.
This is private property.
The United States government is responsible for it.
It was in bad shape when they moved in, Major.
Are you finished, Lieutenant?
Because there is ample evidence to indicate a dereliction of duty...
and conduct not becoming an American combat troop.
I'll be dead honest with you here, son.
I wonder if your fucking men even know there's a war going on outside.
Were it not for extreme extenuating circumstances...
I would see that this soldier, as noncom in charge...
were brought before a military review board and severely disciplined.
And where the fuck are your stripes?
I'll be goddamned if you haven't had enough time to sew them on.
Yes, sir.
- I'll get on it. - No! You know what you'll do?
You will march your ass outside...
and transfer those chains from your jeep to my vehicle on the double-time.
Now!
Lieutenant...
do not ever contradict me in front of the men again.
All right, buddy, you're almost home.
What do you think, Mel? Is he gonna be all right?
Yeah, Shutzer's strong. He'll be okay.
They won't fall out if you're careful, sir.
It's a rough trip, but it'd help if you'd loosen the tourniquets...
every once in a while.
- We'll do the best we can, Knott. - Thank you, sir.
Don't worry, Knott. You done a good job.
I don't think so, sir.
Knott, Major Griffin wants you to keep the squad here...
until the Krauts attack.
Stay here, sir?
What do we do when the attack comes?
You contact us by radio. We'll give you our position...
then you get the hell out, understood?
- Understood, Knott? - Yes, sir.
Lieutenant Ware, goddamn it!
Are you going to baby-sit or drive this fucking jeep?
- Be right there, sir, on the double. - Get your ass in here!
Good luck, Knott.
Did you ever think about how many dead people there must be?
Looks like Father just joined the great majority.
Father told me he still wanted to be a priest.
He just didn't think he was pure enough.
You know, I've been thinking maybe Father's the lucky one.
I mean, is this whole world run by shits like Griffin?
If we get through this, is that the way it's gonna be?
What's the tree for? You gonna burn it?
Vance thought a little Christmas cheer...
would pick things up around here a little bit.
Thought we could roast some chestnuts and stuff ourselves with turkey.
You first, Will.
You aren't the rankest, but...
you do have rank on us.
It's a...
It's a Christmas present.
We try to turn off the war. We don't even keep a guard on.
We figure when the attack starts, we'll hear it.
I asked Ware to put you in for a citation.
I hope that's okay.
I think Father or Stan should get it.
No. You should.
The Germans had us pinned down, and you saved our asses.
I only shot twice.
After Father went down, l... I didn't shoot anymore.
My glasses were all fogged up.
- I don't even know if I hit anybody. - It doesn't matter.
Just stick with the story.
You shot them all. That's what I told Ware.
Maybe if you get decorated, we can get you pulled out of here.
Two-thirds of the squad is gone now. I don't see how we're gonna make it.
I'll make you a bet, Vance.
I'll bet you that in six months...
you're back with Linda, and she's pregnant...
and this will all be something you hardly remember.
I doubt that.
I'll bet you $100.
Who has $100?
You can pay me off a bit at a time.
We'll start New Year's Day, 1946.
- It's a bet. - Yeah.
Able 1 to Able 4, over.
- Able 1 to anybody, over. - Will, we got to go.
Pull up the phones and the wires.
Miller, if anybody can get through on this thing you can.
Just keep trying, all right? Let's get Father out to the jeep.
- Come on. - Able 1 in.
Able 4, come on. Able 1 to Able 4.
- Come on! - Come on, Will! Let's go!
Shit!
Come on, Will, move it! Move it!
Fuckin' Griffin took the chains off the jeep!
Christ! There they are!
- Oh, fuck! - You all right?
- I think so. - Father got some.
Another 100 yards and we'll be out of range!
- Straighten out. - I can't! It's not doing anything!
Straighten out! Jesus Christ!
- You guys all right? - Hold it! We're about to slide over.
Put some weight on the back, Mother, on the back!
Let's go. Let's go.
- All right? - Let's get Father and get out of here!
Well, Sergeant Knott, what the fuck do we do now?
I can't believe they'd just leave.
Mel, what do you think?
I don't know, but we'd better keep moving.
- I have no idea where we are. - Just go.
- We could be heading for Berlin. - Just go!
We're out of gas.
We'll probably have to surrender any time now.
Miller insisted on rigging up the.30 caliber.
But without a real mount...
it probably wouldn't sit still long enough to hit anything.
We can't stay here long, and the jeep is dead.
I wish Shutzer were here. He might know what to do.
I'm through playing soldier.
Did you see those markings? That was honest-to-shit SS.
What do we do now, Will?
We stay away from them.
What, you think they were advancing or retreating?
I wonder what they'll think?
Maybe this will convince them I am over the edge.
We'll have a mutiny.
I'll join it.
- Thirty caliber? - We'll bury it.
- Radio? - Bury it.
- Rifles too? - There's no other way.
Even if we pull this off and get back, what are we going to say?
We'll say we were captured and they took our weapons and then we escaped.
But I'm thinking with all this confusion going on...
there's not gonna be too many questions.
We do it together or nothing.
If anybody has any objections, any at all, speak up now.
Well, for what it's worth, I say we do it.
Yeah, me too.
I mean, the idea's so wild, I'd be sorry for the rest of my life if I didn't try.
Of course, the rest of my life could be today.
Mother, don't let us pressure you. You make up your own mind.
I already have. I was only waiting on the other guys...
so I wouldn't put pressure on them.
This could be the deepest finesse in squad history.
I've never seen a better smile.
It's the smile I need to make myself do what we're gonna do.
All right.
Bleacher!
Bleacher, goddamn it!
We don't know the counter. We're from another sector.
Stay where you are.
We're Americans.
Is that blood?
We give him our escape story.
They tell us to take Father to the grave registrar.
They drive us back to our own regiment.
I'm sent straight to Ware, and I tell him our story.
I wander into the kitchen tent...
and curl up to sleep behind the warm pots of hot water.
Just wanted to let you know it's all settled.
Since you weren't in a POW compound, you won't have to go through clearance.
You can go right back out in the field.
I'm gonna fill out your platoon with an antitank group they broke up.
I put in for a Bronze Star for Wilkins.
Had him reassigned to the motor pool. He's gonna be okay.
Thank you, sir.
Just wanted you to know I did my best to radio you before we pulled out...
but Griffin said there wasn't any time.
How's Shutzer doing?
Real tough shit. He was dead before we even got back.
Kraut was dead too. Didn't even have time to interrogate him.
Before I go, you're gonna have to fill out a statement of charges...
for the jeep, radio and phones.
We'll be moving out soon.
Gonna push those fucking Kraut bastards all the way back to Berlin.
Merry Christmas, Knott.