MAN 1 [OVER RADIO]: Redouble, knots fathom. One point two.
MAN 2: Clear deck.
JOURNALIST: Patrick Michael Williamson interview, take one.
Commander Williamson...
...there's a small but growing concern in Congress...
...that we might be getting in over our heads in Southeast Asia.
How does this strike you?
[BELL CLANGING]
MAN [OVER PA]: This is a drill, this is a drill....
Well, I think we ought to be here.
South Vietnamese wanna establish...
...a country with values similar to our own.
I think we ought to help.
And what values are those?
Freedom. right to think for yourselt, to follow your own taith.
You know. individual freedom.
JOURNALIST: Is that why you‘re here?
Well, I think I‘ve told you why I‘m here.
But if you want the official reason. you‘ll have to ask the civilian authorities.
They lawfully ordered me here.
On that level, l'm serving my country.
I‘m here to serve my government.
MAN: Give them hell, Pat.
[MAN GRUNTING]
They held it on the eject?
No, I hit the tree on the way down.
It will be all right.
The medivac will be here.
Okay. Thank God.
[HELICOPTER THUMPING]
There it is.
[RADIO BEEPING]
Christ, get us out of here, Pat.
Yeah, I gotta get out in the open.
I gotta make official contact.
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
[RADIO STOPS BEEPING]
[GROANING]
[SCREAMING]
Hey, he‘s got a broken leg.
MAN: A leg? -Yeah.
Get-- Get him off me.
Get him off me.
[GUNSHOT]
Mason. Mason.
Mason.
[GUARD SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
The legacy of colonialism.
[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]
Replacement parts from France are very difficult to obtain...
...to say nothing of the expense.
That you stand when | enter is good. It‘s proper.
Shows correctness of attitude.
Welcome to Hanoi and Hoa Lo Prison.
I am Major Ngo Doc. And you are?
2210771, Lieutenant Commander Williamson, Patrick Michael.
Sixteenth October, 1930.
And where was your aircraft destroyed?
2210771, Lieutenant Commander Williamson, Patrick Michael--
Yes, yes. All well and good, commander.
You are no doubt trying to hide behind the Geneva Convention. n'est-ce pas?
Well. commander, when the United States declare war upon my country...
...then we will fulfill our international commitments.
But for the moment, there is no declaration of war.
And since you cannot be a prisoner of war, you are a criminal.
| suggest you should ask for a pardon.
President Ho Chi Minh is a great man.
He will personally protect you while you are here in Hoa Lo Prison.
2210771, Lieutenant Commander Williamson, Patrick Michael.
Sixteenth October, 1930.
Our war with the French lasted for a decade.
You might be here for several years.
Think carefully. commander.
Now...
...where was your aircraft shot down?
“2210771, Lieutenant Commander Patrick Michael Williamson.
Sixteenth October, 1930.
Recently pictured in LIFE magazine.
Married to Sheila Powers. June 15. 1954.
Two sons, age 7 and 9.
Home is Philadelphia."
No point continuing, eh, commander?
$0....
Let us try again.
-Are you married? -Look. I know what you‘re trying to do.
If I start telling you this. I‘ll be on board your program.
-I can‘t-- -Are you married. commander?
No.
[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]
It might be two or three years...
...before I give you another chance to cooperate...
...to show correctness of attitude.
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
You bow.
Okay.
We can handle this.
Won‘t be more than a couple of months.
We can handle this.
[SOUEAKING]
[DOOR OPENING]
No eat? You bad.
Down.
I said. down.
[WILLIAMSON GRUNTING]
Ow. Jesus.
Damn.
[SPEAKS IN VIETNAMESE]
[CLATTERING]
Hey. flyer. Navy.
[SPEAKS IN VIETNAMESE]
[HUMMING]
Oh, God, if there‘s another Yank here, we can make it.
We can make it. we can make it, goddamn it.
Yeah...
...we can make it.
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
Well, commander. how have you been these past few months?
Surviving.
Yes. indeed. you have.
And I think you should deserve some reward for that.
Some of your compatriots may be joining us.
Perhaps we should allow you some contact.
Move you around from time to time.
In spite of my threat to leave you in isolation for three years...
...I offer some change after merely one.
You can therefore see I am a very lenient man.
Lenient. hell.
| just outlasted you.
All clear.
HUBMAN: Hi.
Welcome to the bridal suite of the Hanoi Hilton.
Williamson. lieutenant commander.
-Off the Hancock. -Yeah, well-—
The Hancock?
How long have you been...?
A year, I think. The other end of the cellhlock.
Hi. I‘m Paul Kennedy. lieutenant jg. Off the Enterprise.
Earl Hubman. captain. Air Force.
Bill Oldham. Marine major.
I‘d get up but the Ieg's gone. Busted in two places.
I‘ve been here the longest, six months over in the annex.
—Well, that is, besides you. -Four for me.
—And the cripple here is the new boy. -Three weeks.
A year‘s a long time.
—Who else have you seen? -No one.
I saw a message on the bathhouse wall.
It was signed, “a Navy driver.“
That message and
And that's all.
So it‘s been....
It‘s been a very long time.
I began to think that I wouldn‘t see anyone. and so--
[CRYING]
Seeing you guys is....
-What‘s your name again? -Paul Kennedy. sir.
Paul Kennedy. How are you?
-And you‘re...? -Captain Hubman.
Captain. how are you?
-Bi||. -Bi|l. How are you. Bill?
Welcome. sir.
Welcome.
WILLIAMSON: How long you in. Bill?
Twenty-one years in the corps.
Twenty-one years. semper Ii.
Where you from?
Philly. You?
—St. Louis. -Oakland.
So tell me about what‘s going on at home.
What have I been missing?
I‘ll tell you. Williamson.
For openers. I got this 16-year-old daughter...
...brings home this kid, a boyfriend.
Okay, now, this kid has got hair almost across his ears...
...so my wife asked him in a decent. courteous way...
...she says. “Don't you lind your hair a little feminine?“
Little son of a bitch looks at her straight in the eye and says:
“Compared to you. maybe.“
So I killed him.
Don‘t believe him.
Something wrong, commander?
WILLIAMSON: Maybe.
I mean. I don't know who you guys really are.
Why you‘re allowed company.
It‘s okay. sir. Relax.
There‘s no conspiracy here. look.
Our war‘s over. Once we‘re in here. we‘re as good as discharged.
As far as us being together. look, Oldham‘s hurt.
-Hey. get me-- -That‘s why I‘m in here.
Give me a hand. will you?
Yeah, and I‘m here as an afterthought.
Until three weeks ago. l was in a jungle camp.
I'm not supposed to be a fighting man anymore.
I did my war in Korea. I‘m a recall.
Right about now. I should be taking the 503...
...from Grand Central to Scarsdale.
Nice place you got here.
Hey. you did a real A-one spit-and-polish job.
Now. I‘m gonna need an 8:00 wake-up call.
—You bow. -You bow.
You bow.
I'll never bow to you. you lousy son of a--
[GRUNTS]
Never!
Goddamn it! Get your skinny little ass back here.
A voice too deep to be a V. Must be a flyer.
Flyer. Hey. driver.
Come on.
No do. no do. You quiet.
Hey. don‘t put him back in solitary.
Fuck you!
CATHCART: Well. whoever just told me to go screw myself...
...had sure better outrank me.
—Uh, who said that? -|‘m Cathcart.
Cameron Cathcart.
Air Force.
Colonel. Full colonel.
Where are you?
Sir. where are you. sir?
-Keep talking. -|‘m Miles. Captain. Air Force.
Captain. huh?
-Well, you just keep talking. —Yes, sir.
A little discipline around here would be good. sir.
I know I could use some structure.
I‘m alone.
That‘s enough.
Captain...
...I found it.
It‘s a hole. Back of that pipe.
About 9:00.
Get up on your bunk.
—l‘m sorry, sir, I can‘t. I‘m in stocks. -Oh.
[TAPPING IN MORSE CODE]
I got contact with a man on the other side.
He says he just got himself 60 days in irons...
...for trying to contact you.
Tell him congratulations on joining the ankle-biters club. sir.
And. sir. could you do me a favor?
Ask him how he works the bucket in the stocks.
I‘ll find out.
In the meantime. hear this and pass it on.
The code of conduct will apply to all American servicemen in here.
Nobody handed you a discharge when you got captured.
We will keep the faith in God. in country. in one another.
We will honor military ranks...
...and obey the senior ranking officer at all times.
For the time being. until I hear different, I am that SRO.
My orders are simple.
Firstly, save everything.
Collect every piece of scrap you can find.
It will all come in handy.
Secondly. stay in contact at all times.
You must contact every arrival.
You must memorize every name.
We will manipulate the enemy...
...but we will not antagonize him needlessly.
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
No matter what they do to us, we are Americans.
If we help...
...and support one another...
...we will...
...prevail.
No, thanks, I‘m growing a beard.
Beat it!
Well. maybe just a trim.
No. You no good.
You tough guy. You go away.
[GUN CLICKS]
MILES: Hey. Einstein. what are you doing?
Gassing up the gook H-bomb?
Great disguise.
No. really. you had me fooled.
I like it.
WILLIAMSON: You got here just in time. sir.
We needed an SRO.
Carry on. commander.
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
WILLIAMSON: All clear.
Report out.
Kennedy. Cell 8. A-okay. sir.
Williamson, Cell 6. First-class shape. sir.
Me and Oldham in Cell 7 are okay. sir.
We're fantastic over here.
Never better.
Ashby in Cell 5. Coming along fine, sir.
Ashby? How‘s the arm. son?
Can you use it?
Uh....
It‘s getting there, sir.
Firstly. you must resist any attempt to make you act contrite.
Repeat. do not act contrite.
Secondly.
Williamson...
...you keep working on that transom with that nail you found.
You hear? All right, carry on, gentlemen.
Okay. Ashby. this time I want a straight answer. understand?
Yes. sir.
All right, now explain.
If Rod Steiger was on the czarist side. why would he wanna help Omar Sharif?
Oh, because he really wants Julie Christie‘s bones.
WILLIAMSON: But she was in love with Tom Courtenay. right?
Uh. no. sir.
Courtney was on the train. was all.
I think he was meant to be Trotsky.
Hey, forget that.
Colonel Cathcart. what did you mean that Johnson‘s ordered a bombing pause?
Did the V respond?
Will they talk?
You know. in Korea. they talked for three years before the POW‘s came home.
Three years.
Hubman, you‘re a delight.
Living with a happy, upbeat guy like you is a real delight.
You know something. if this was World War II. I‘d escape...
...l‘d get away from you and the gooks.
ASHBY: Colonel. could it really be that long?
CATHCART: Ashby. we don‘t have to tell you that this is not Korea.
We‘re not gonna...
...be here forever.
Bombing pause or not. our people. they know we‘re here.
-They‘|l never let us down. -I know, sir.
It‘s just a little lonely. is all. sir.
I‘m not used to being alone like this.
Big family, college fraternity, the Air Force. |--
I hate being alone.
You can always. uh. pray. son.
Then you‘re never alone.
I‘d just settle for a mirror.
Just a mirror.
MILES [SINGING]: 0h. his name is Colonel Cathcart
He 's the leader of the group
So gather around. all you Yanks He 'II give you all the poop
He took no shit. he gave them lip The commandant was pissed
They clamped him in a stinking hole They thought he'd not be missed
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
Hey. hey. What are you doing. taking your sister to lunch?
Trying to sing here.
Jesus. Everybody‘s a critic around here.
DOC: “Colonel Cameron Cathcart. ..
...United States Air Force.
Hmm. Twice-decorated Korean ace.
Twenty kills.“
Twenty kills.
You like flying, eh? You like the war.
Perhaps I should read a little bit more.
I‘ve seen it.
It has no relevance here.
But this is a highly respected publication.
Innocent enough, I suppose.
But here in Hoa Lo Prison. it is your indictment.
l have no need to keep you alive.
You have not been confirmed as a prisoner.
Only last Sunday. The New York Times listed you as an MIA.
The other men know I‘m here.
Who knows what they will remember in 10 or 15 years?
We had Frenchmen here for longer than that.
So. American colonel.
I am fully aware that you are attempting to maintain American ranks...
...and military discipline here.
You will stop immediately.
Cathcart. things might get much worse.
The ranks do exist.
We are American servicemen. I‘m an American colonel.
There are those in my government who dislike educated men such as myself...
...who were schooled by the Jesuits.
They consider me ideologically unsound.
Too prone to compassion for people like you.
They must see that l have helped you to cooperate...
...to put your white man‘s arrogance aside.
Stop these silly Army games.
I will consider it an act of contrition.
The ranks do exist.
We are American servicemen. I am an American colonel.
No. Cathcart. American criminals.
Yes. criminals.
You wish to maintain discipline here?
You wish to challenge me?
Good. Acceptable.
I will pick at random one of your men...
...and I will exert on him the same physical pain...
...you and your country inflict on my people with your war.
Yes. Cathcart.
You will only have yourself to blame for his pain and his anguish.
I want you to think about that.
[SPEAKS IN VIETNAMESE]
What the hell kind of haircut was that?
Jeez. what I wouldn‘t give for that suit. though.
Welcome to the pigsty.
Pigsty population doubles.
Young kid. An Air Force flight suit.
Lieutenant bars.
Welcome. Lieutenant X.
Good luck.
You‘re gonna need it.
Might as well be dead as here.
[SOUEAKING]
[SCREAMING]
Get away!
Jesus!
Get out!
Oh. thank God. Thank God.
And you too. Heck. you too.
Okay. Okay, guys, it‘s all right.
Oh. Jesus Christ.
GUARD: No noise.
[GREGORY SC REAMING]
No!
Stop.
GUARD: No noise!
[WHIPPING AND GREGORY SCREAMING]
GREGORY: Jesus.
Stop!
Gregory, lieutenant.
USAF. sir.
Who right now wishes he‘d gone to law school.
God bless you. son.
God bless you.
I am told you still insist that you have some special status here.
[GREGORY SC REAMING]
So speak.
Speak for him.
[GREGORY CONTINUES SC REAMING]
GREGORY: No! DOC: Will you not speak to save him?
...but not until you yourself have visited Room 18.
And then you will disappear.
Maybe three or four years.
MILES: Soldier on, colonel.
Soldier on.
You too. flyer.
You too.
Williamson‘s the new SRO.
Me?
Oh. shit.
CATHCART: Good luck.
[JANG LING AND FOOTSTEPS]
Oh. my God. Oh. my God. Oh. my God.
Oh. my God. What the hell?
Oh, my God. Hey, it‘s gonna be all right.
Hey. it‘s gonna be fine. It‘s gonna be fine.
Hey, you‘re gonna be fine. All right?
You stay awake on me.
That‘s what drives me. You stay awake. you'll stay alive.
There‘s no way I‘m gonna let you die. all right?
You got that? There's no way I‘m gonna let you die. Stay awake!
All right.
SRO Williamson wants to know what you did that antagonized them the most.
Nothing.
Negative.
Nothing.
Come on. you stay awake on me.
He wants to know what you said.
After Room 18?
Whatever they wanted.
All right.
-Now. what's your name. flyer? -Gregory.
First lieutenant. Air Force.
I know. I know. I know.
Now listen to me.
Listen to me.
Now. this is an SRO order.
And you can never let them think that you can be beaten into anything.
You lie to them. mislead to them. anything. but you never let them break you.
-You got that? -You mean. none of you guys broke?
-Why don‘t you get some sleep. -I gotta know.
You didn‘t break? None of the rest of those guys broke?
-No, no. -No?
No. Oh. man.
Oh. man.
I‘m so sorry.
I‘m so very sorry.
[CRYING]
|-- I couldn't hold out.
ldidn‘t....
Now. I'm a short-termer.
I‘m not like you guys, but I love....
Home.
Yeah, I want to go home.
I know. I know.
-Please. you gotta-- -Shut up. shut up. shut up.
Shut up. Shut up.
Listen to me. Shut up, Gregory.
[GREGORY CRYING AND MUMBLING]
He‘s hurt.
He‘s hurt bad. He‘s hurt bad.
He‘s hurt.
[GUARDS SPEAKING lN VIETNAMESE]
He‘s hurt.
Can‘t you see this man? He‘s hurt.
—Gregor -Ahh! Y-
It‘s all right. man. You‘ll be all right. man.
You‘ll be okay. You‘re gonna be okay.
You're gonna be okay. Gregory. You‘re gonna be okay!
Yeah. he must have been looking for a fight.
It stinks. He stinks.
They‘ve just never been brutal like that.
Who cares about them? The man broke.
He told the V what they wanted.
Fischer. Fischer.
You, go.
[GROANS]
I‘m
I‘m Cathcart.
Cathcart.
Colonel Cathcart.
Air Force.
-What happened? -They broke me.
The-- The others. the boys...
...they won‘t be able to help it. either.
You tell them.
Take care of them. huh?
Fischer.
Your turn will come.
[GONG TOLLING]
KENNEDY: All clear.
WILLIAMSON: Hey. new boy. Cell 3.
Work the transom. l loosened that one myself.
Work the mortar chips in the corner. It will slip out.
Hi. Welcome to the Hanoi Hilton. Pretty nice. huh?
The food here is pretty lousy, but it‘s all room service, so it‘s--
| suggest the continental cuisine.
This visual intercom‘s courtesy of the SRO.
The rest of us chippers.
It‘s our version of escape.
I‘m Williamson. l was a lieutenant commander.
But Oliviera. who just joined us...
...has said I got boosted a rank day the V got me.
Yeah. it‘s true. man.
Really?
WILLIAMSON: That means I‘m senior ranking officer unless you outrank me.
What about Colonel Cathcart?
You saw him?
-You saw the colonel? -Where?
Are there no guards here?
It‘s siesta.
Three whacks to the gong. pause then one.
You live by the gong here. Tells you what to do and when to do it.
These two empty?
The one on my left has a youngster who talked...
...and he‘s been in solitary ever since.
Now how about you? Who are you?
All right.
Name‘s Fischer. major. 82nd Airborne...
...now attached to the Pentagon.
How did you get here?
I was here for one helicopter trip.
It malfunctioned.
We crash-landed north of the DMZ.
Shh. Tell us about Cathcart.
As far as Cathcart's concerned. let me say that I saw him.
What was left of him.
What do you mean. “what‘s left"?
How was he. huh? How were his arms?
Swollen. Very swollen.
Blue with rope burns.
-Gregory. PRISONERS: Gregory.
WILLIAMSON: Gregory. PRISONERS: Gregory.
Look. major. I‘ve been in here almost two years.
The punishment has been brutal. but it‘s never been life-threatening.
Until Gregory?
He must‘ve brought it on himself.
He must have. He‘s just a kid.
—It doesn‘t—- -It doesn‘t what?
Make sense.
HANNAH [OVER PA]: This is the voice of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
The peace-loving people of Vietnam wish to forgive all American criminals.
The people of Vietnam want you to know the truth.
Have you been wonder why...
...there are so little number of new American criminals?
Did you think it is because your cohorts are winning the war?
HOW YOU are wrong.
Your own president has order slow down.
No more do your bombers strike at us.
You are being deserted by your own confederates in crime.
Things will get worse. fellows. because as we suffer from your war...
...so will you.
They won‘t slow down the bombing.
Christ.
We'd be here forever.
We‘ll never get out of here. Never.
Yes. we will.
We stick together. We follow orders.
We'll make it.
Who cares what happens in here?
Why should I take orders from somebody because they used to outrank me?
He still does outrank you.
[GONG TOLLING]
GREGORY [ON RECORDING]: l'm Lieutenant Donald Allen Gregory...
. .. U. S. Air Force.
I wish to admit my crimes...
...against the peace-loving peoples of Vietnam.
l have many times flown my aircraft at the Vietnamese people...
...even enjoying the death my masters made me....
[MUMBLING AND METAL CLANKING]
l have used cluster bombs.
l have used napalm.
I am ashamed of myself and of America and of Americans.
[TAPPING IN MORSE CODE]
l plead forgiveness.
I beg President Ho to forgive my crimes.
-SRO order. -I trust that the freedom-loving...
—...socialist people will forgive me. -If taken...
...resist as long as poss.
Then do the best you can.
CATHCART [ON RECORDING]: lam Cameron Cathcart.
We are all together.
—-by the peace-loving Vietnamese peoples...
God bless us all.
...l was a colonel in the criminal armed forces.
Yeah. I hope he does. Hope he does.
-You can bet Lyndon Johnson won‘t. -You shut your son-of—a-bitch mouth.
I am ashamed of my cruelty to the Vietnamese people.
As a senior officer. I personally ordered the execution...
Lord...
...of hundreds of innocent Vietnamese women.
This is a psalm. I think. I don‘t know which one, I....
l was taught to hate....
I shall lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whenst cometh my strength.
My strength cometh from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth.
I thank Senator Fulbright for demanding the bombing pause.
I don't know the rest.
I pray for the victory of Vietnam.
I am glad to, again, to be a civilian.
-l renounce... -Kiss my rosy red American ass!
—I embrace the forgiveness... -Goddamn it.
...of the compassionate Vietnamese captors.
And now good night...
...with the reminder that despite your crimes...
...Ho Chi Minh. the president. loves you.
Well. there‘s one guy that doesn't outrank me anymore.
I am also very tired. Williamson.
It is late.
I can‘t do it.
I ask so very little.
I'll only lie. What good is a biography full of lies?
Williamson, you are an intelligent man.
You‘re a family man like myself.
Why will you not do what I ask?
WILLIAMSON [ON RECORDING]: My name is Patrick Michael Williamson.
l 'm from Philadelphia.
l was a professional athlete. a university professor...
...and a part-time bank president.
[GUARDS SPEAKING lN VIETNAMESE]
My father owned Ouaker State motor oil.
My brother was a professional football player...
...who was killed in a game.
My sister was a concubine for a United States senator.
—I understand the violence of America. -|s that me?
—Last week I went up in a tower in Texas. -No. It‘s me.
l was a sniper.
-l murdered 314 people. -You need a blanket?
Can‘t even hang yourself with them.
Hurts.
Worse is when they untie them.
I know how to help it.
You know, I thought we‘d never lose a battle.
Any battle.
And I‘m so ashamed.
[CRYING]
But that means that we've gotta stick together...
...you and me and everyone who broke.
We gotta hang in, we gotta survive...
...because we got to see home.
We‘ve got to see home.
Damn.
[CRYING]
Hubman.
The Vietnamese people in whose hands lie your fate...
...have no wish to keep you here.
Glad to hear that.
I‘m delighted to hear that.
However, our indulgence is not without limits.
There must be an entente.
You mean, like a bargain?
Precisely.
I‘m sorry. but I can‘t do that.
Now, l have no wish to antagonize you...
...but I can‘t.
Hubman...
...you have no idea what we want to ask of you yet.
Now, Major Ngiap here is a pilot.
He understands your language.
Come.
Sit. Hubman.
Now. we know you were in an A-6 aircraft...
...and we know this aircraft has two men. a pilot in front and there is a back-seat man.
And we have deduced that the back-seat man controls the radar.
Now. Hubman. all we need to know is...
...how does the radar pick targets?
You know. I can‘t answer. I‘m sorry. I--
DOC: You must never gesture like that.
It is impolite to show the palms of your hands. Now. remember that.
Such arrogance does not speak well of your sorrow.
Now. about the radar.
Oh. the A-6 radar.
Well. you know. that‘s exactly the same as the B-17.
You know, the old bomber from World War II.
The Flying Fortress they call it. it‘s exactly the same.
Does he know that system?
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
Major Ngiap, he say your statement...
...confirms the assessment of our intelligence.
Well, they‘re a smart bunch of guys.
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
Hubman, this is a small beginning.
You are closer to your home now than ever before.
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
[BRAKES SOUEALING]
How you been. Bob?
Hanging tough.
I‘ve been praying for a bonus like this.
You‘re the first American I‘ve touched in 19 months.
It‘s so lonely. I gotta get out of here.
—I don‘t care if it‘s in a fucking box. -Bul|shit.
You‘ve got to survive.
We didn't spend two years getting every captive name to you for nothing.
You‘re the recording secretary of this operation.
My old man. you know...
...he was always preaching that hang-tough sermon.
His heroes were the Grenadier Guards.
Yeah, the whole regiment.
See. when the Germans had the British pinned down at Dunkirk...
...it was a madhouse. you know.
So when the Grenadier Guards arrived...
...they lined up in parade order. band and everything.
The German planes were strafing the beach.
The truth of color.
Diving planes killing men.
Men dying at attention.
...was. "Close ranks. close ranks."
They swallowed their fear.
Rallied the whole British army to live to fight another day.
He was a tough son of a bitch. my old man.
We‘re always with you. Bob.
Every man here.
We say your name.
God bless you.
So do you.
[GUARDS SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE AND LAUGHING]
[WOMAN GASPING]
—They greet everyone like this? -No.
-Where you from? -New Jersey.
Yeah. the gooks don‘t see many people from New Jersey.
—Baptist? -Yeah.
Yeah.
A Baptist from New Jersey. that‘s quite an oddity around here.
-Got any advice? -You hang tough as long as you can.
They don‘t beat you. they lose. They don't break us. we win.
And when they torture you...
...try to concentrate on the places that don‘t hurt.
Torture?
[GROWLING]
This better look good on my record.
[ROARING]
HANNAH [OVER PA]: Hi. you pilots.
It's late summer. and in Iowa. the corn is as high as elephant's eye.
In Vermont, the trees are red and gold...
...and you all may be here for another 10 years.
But Lyndon Johnson promises to pull out American troops...
...if President Ho will surrender the South to fascists.
Hey. criminals. you don ’t want to die here.
Our relationship is now entering a new phase.
You will be given the opportunity to atone, to make restitution...
...to show the world the righteousness of our cause.
Yes. yes.
If you refuse...
...it will be on your head.
KENNEDY: You push us too far and they‘ll bomb you.
There are guys that'd bomb you back to the Stone Age.
The real war is not in the delta, it is in the United Nations...
...Champs Elysées. at Berkeley. California...
...on the Washington Mall, the cities of America.
And what we will not win on the battlefield...
...your journalists will win for us on your very own doorstep.
And you will help by cooperating with them...
...and other friendly Americans.
And you will do this on film.
Wendell Burke, Program 21, Vietnam Resists.
American bomber pilot. take one.
And who have we here?
What is this?
BURKE: It‘s a television interview for syndication.
Will they see this at home?
Possibly. Why?
Is it that important to you?
-|t‘s important. yeah. -Why?
It‘s very, very important. We gotta....
We have to get the names home.
People at home remember us, right?
Yeah.
But not with any pride.
You gotta tell them, you see.
KENNEDY: There‘s lots of us here that they don't know about.
You see?
They‘re hiding us. There‘s more here than they know about.
Yeah, according to the Vietnamese. it‘s certainly true to say...
...that the number of American prisoners increases daily.
Are you aware that Lord Bertrand Russell has convened a war tribunal?
A war-crimes tribunal.
You and your cohorts will be the defendant.
No.
You‘ve gotta tell them. you see. Gotta tell the people at home. you see.
They can kill an MIA. but they can‘t kill a confirmed POW.
You gotta tell them. You tell them.
—Gotta get the names home. -Just one American.
Just one very lonely man. being re-educated...
...by the humane and lenient treatment of his captors.
Ashby. Oliviera.
Cut.
It will edit. but don't bring me any more like this.
What‘s wrong with you. Major Doc? Have you no control over these men?
[THUNDER CRASHING AND RAIN PATTERING]
HANNAH [OVER PA]: Hey. guess what. boys. Senator Fulbright told press...
...that you're only here killing people because gooks are yellow.
Well, us gooks are people too.
Humane and lenient people.
And the world is going to see to that.
We have surprise for you. black pirates.
-Tell you what they gonna do. -What they gonna do?
Hey. I can‘t take much more of this. Let's go home.
She‘s right. Let them kill each other.
As long as I‘m free, fuck them.
Forget them. Listen to me.
The minute you play their game. they have control and you're nothing.
You‘re not one of us and not one of them.
And all you have is us.
One goes, we all go.
No early release.
Get out of here.
I wanna be alone.
Let me out of here.
I want out right now.
Right now. Right now.
[GRUNTS]
HANNAH: Hey. pirates. don 't you get sleepy.
There is big happening tonight for each and every criminal.
We will keep you up all night.
This happen often?
Sir?
—You okay? -Yeah.
l was just thinking.
Lieutenant. I‘m older than you are.
Well. quite a bit older. in point of fact.
And, you know, I‘ve got three daughters.
And the middle one. Millie. she‘s. uh....
She‘s 18 now.
-And she's really beautiful. -0h. yeah?
She‘s a bit wild, I suppose. She‘s fond of loud music.
But she‘s not exactly out of range for you by the time you get out of here.
[CHUCKLING]
Look her up. will you?
Well. I‘m sure you‘ll be the one that introduces us. sir.
No. I doubt it.
You‘ve only been here a few weeks, but listen to Hannah.
Something‘s up. I don‘t know what.
It‘s Kennedy.
I don't think I can take much more of these guys.
[METAL CLANKING]
Criminals. this is a proclamation of the People‘s Tribunal.
"Here in Hoa Lo Prison...
...and in our other facilities throughout North Vietnam...
...we. the government of the People‘s Republic of Vietnam...
...have been your protectors and we have insured your safety.
But you have refused to cooperate with visitors and journalists...
...and you have shown no contrition.
So tonight. we shall show the world how our people truly feel.
Even now. the other blackest of criminals are being assembled...
...here in the center of Hanoi.
Tonight, criminals, you will be reunited...
...so that you might confront your innocent victims.“
And all of this will occur...
...before representatives of the other friendly peace-loving nations.
[CHATTERING IN VIETNAMESE]
[C HANTING IN VIETNAMESE]
Keep your heads up.
We‘re Americans.
God bless you.
GBU.
[SHOUTING IN VIETNAMESE]
Watch yourself. man.
Goddamn it.
Break ranks.
Come on. lean on me. Watch your heads.
Get up. buddy.
[SHOUTING IN VIETNAMESE]
Thanks for helping me out back there.
I thought it was you helping me.
We‘re gonna let the gooks have it.
MEN: Yeah.
[SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[SPEAKING IN SPANISH]
DOC: I fear our only common language is English.
Perhaps a small saving grace of colonialism.
To the peace—loving people of the world.
And to their eternal struggle for our freedom.
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be here.
In fact. I would say this...
...realignment will change the progress of the war for you.
Perhaps.
But we have been known for our patience.
There were the Japanese...
...the French. now the Americans.
And we are not without experience.
Of course not.
[CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYS OVER SPEAKERS]
SRO on the deck.
As you were, gentlemen.
[SPEAKS IN VIETNAMESE]
Comrades.
Finally. we have news in which we all can rejoice.
Yes.
Rumors that release would be preceded by a change in diet are indeed true.
[C HATTERING AND CHUCKLING]
Are you saying the war‘s over, major?
World opinion guarantees our victory and the press predicts it.
Yes. comrades.
Since the valuable footage of the parade. you are of no longer use to us.
At least, not as a group.
Then we must meet. you and I...
...to discuss the method of our release.
There can be no special cases.
We are all one here.
So if one goes, we all must go.
DOC: lt behooves you to cooperate.
I‘ll take early leave if you wish your letters from home.
[CUP CLINKING]
Major Fischer will offer a homily with a scriptural basis.
When I was young...
...at religious school...
...I remember a great deal was made of Abraham and Isaac.
How God ordered Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. his only son.
His beloved child.
Abraham stood with a knife in his hand and wrestled within himself...
...to decide whether to believe, to trust God...
...or to deny him.
And I suppose that most of us identified with Abraham...
...wondering how we would use free choice if that was us.
Well, since I‘ve been in here, I‘ve had time to think about Isaac.
Helpless...
...tied up on an altar...
...an audience to what might become his own death.
And he couldn't trust in God.
He had to trust in Abraham and hope that God would act through him.
Well...
...in the end it all worked out for Isaac and Abraham...
...just as it will for us.
MEN: Amen.
Captain Turner.
TURNER: Well
...all my life...
...l‘ve tried to seek light in the midst of darkness.
And I've learned that the greater the darkness...
...the greater the possibility for light.
I know that all people...
...are not kind and just.
But I‘m reminded by you all every day...
...that the voice of God speaks through the conscious...
...the decent people.
CATHCART: Closing prayer from Commander Williamson.
Dear Lord. we can all draw strength from the words of a 14-year-old boy...
...who wrote them on a wall in Auschwitz:
How can I believe in God when I see what is around me?
I believe in God in the same way I believe in the sun...
...even when it doesn‘t shine...
...and in love. even when I don't feel it.
Dear Lord. we offer you praise and thanks.
We are grateful to be together.
We are thankful that we are sound of mind.
We ask you to bestow blessings upon our loved ones...
...upon our countrymen. upon America. upon our families.
There is one more formality...
...before you may make contact with your home.
As you can see. the envelopes are empty.
When you cooperate. the letters will be given to you.
That is the subject of my sermon.
It concerns early release.
We have no more patience.
Those of you who are willing to cooperate. there will be freedom and a trip home.
Disassociate yourself from the blackest of criminals.
Merry Christmas. sir.
GBU all.
MEN: Merry Christmas. sir.
Merry Christmas.
God go with you, Bob.
MILES: Merry Christmas. Pat.
God don‘t know you‘re alive. Williamson.
He don‘t fucking care about you.
TURNER: Merry Christmas.
He wants a make on the Cuban.
No go. Too dark.
Steady. man.
We‘re gonna get out of here without kissing the V‘s ass.
Hang tough. just like you showed me. remember? Hang tough.
I think | used up all my tough.
[GROANING]
The Cuban.
-Who the hell is the Cuban? -I told you. he's nobody. he's nothing.
It‘s Cat playing games. He‘s trying to break us.
Someone act tough so Cat can go back to...
...try pumping sunshine up our asses.
Pump what? Up where?
Where‘d you get that? Miles?
No, he got it from me.
I got it from a guy I played hockey with in college.
I knew it. I knew it. man.
I knew you was part barbarian.
Hockey. barbaric? Never.
Hockey is pure heart and grace.
A great hockey player has courage and strength and endurance...
...just like a boxer.
But he moves at 50 miles an hour like a ballet dancer.
Ballet dancer?
TURNER: Sounds very honky to me. Williamson.
That‘s because you‘ve never seen a game, Turner.
I‘ll take you to one. and we‘ll go to New York. see the Rangers.
| used to see the Rangers play all the time before my old man died.
He‘d take me whenever Boston came to town.
We‘d grab something to eat up near his office. near 57th. you know.
And grab a cab.
He‘d always make us wait for a Checker cab.
Never liked the little ones.
l have a friend who has great seats for the Rangers.
So we‘ll go, okay?
Sounds great. I‘ll check my diary.
So who do you think the Cuban is, Desi Arnaz?
[METAL CLANGING]
Oh, gentlemen, must be my attorney.
WILLIAMSON: It‘s Murphy. My God. it‘s Murphy.
We‘re friends. We were together on the Hancock.
You new here too?
No. I'm a veteran. man.
Oliviera. lieutenant. Navy.
How the hell did you get here, swim?
No. sir. I went up on deck to watch them shell Haiphong.
I fell off the ship.
I got picked up by V fishermen.
[LAUGHING THEN COUGHING]
Look. this joint‘s no fun.
You gotta get yourself a story. you stick with it. You got it?
Don‘t let them fool you.
Stick with a story.
We‘re saying no to early release. They‘d only do it for propaganda.
Lot of pressure lately. trying to break up the group.
Figured that's because our guys are whipping their butts.
Even the food‘s getting better. Fresh fruit.
Might as well give it to you as let it rot on the docks.
We‘ve pasted Haiphong.
No shipping in or out.
We gotta set this.
Yeah, but things are getting better. Murph?
I hope so.
Because the folks back home have just about had it.
Don‘t look for any help before the election.
Election? That‘s eleven months.
There‘s no problem. Ashby.
Murph brought us our absentee ballots. right?
[CHUCKLING]
Tropical heat. it‘s too humid.
[HUMMING]
You know something? Frank Sinatra himself uses this.
Great artist.
Wonderful artist.
Hey. Latino...
...I wouldn‘t lie to you.
Back home. they say you guys are criminals.
But you got an excuse.
You‘re downtrodden.
You, you‘re a Spanish-speaking nigger.
You know what I‘m saying?
So you take a nice early release.
Your black ass is gonna be back on the streets of Harlem in a week.
Go screw yourself.
Go screw myself?
Hey, man, I know your neighborhood.
I lived up there.
110th Street. yeah.
Yeah.
[PANTING AND GRUNTING]
But there ain‘t nothing you can tell me about honkies.
So why‘s a brother like you sticking with white scum?
What difference does it make to you, man? This ain‘t no Cuban war.
Hey. this here‘s my internationalist duty.
You understand ?
Wherever we can kick Yankee ass. you‘ll find my people.
[SPEAKS IN SPANISH]
We‘re all at war with you. baby.
And my internationalist duty gives me the right to go anywhere to hassle your ass.
Then go try Chicago.
You stupid Puerto Rican son of a bitch.
I‘m offering you freedom, man.
I‘m already free. man.
And scum ain‘t always white.
Baby...
...one way or the other. you‘re gonna do as I tell you.
Just think of me as another white man.
You look like you got lots of experience looking up white men's ass.
And I‘m telling you. you should have listened to the Chink...
...and stop all this one-go-we-alI-go bullshit.
You‘re gonna go home like I tell you.
Gonna separate yourself from those white men like I tell you.
And you‘re gonna stop pretending a spic is an American...
...Iike I tell you.
You‘re gonna show the whole world that‘s a lie.
[SPITS]
[CHUCKLING]
Adios. Latino.
Adios.
[GUNSHOT]
I heard it.
A pistol, like the jungle camps.
Hi. Sure am glad to meet you.
So. uh. what can I do to help?
Name‘s Rasmussen. sir. from Iowa.
Am I happy to be here? Yes. sir.
I joined the Navy five months ago, sir.
I just fell off my ship. I fell off my ship.
They told me l was stupid. but I mean. it can‘t be because. right. I‘m here.
No more seasick for me. boy. No. sir.
[CLEARS THROAT]
By the way. sir. where. uh. is here?
[CHUCKLING]
[GRUNTS]
Thank you. sir. Thank you.
PEOPLE [ON RECORDING]: Hey. hey. LBJ. how many VCs killed today?
Hey, hey. LBJ. how many VCs killed today?
Hey, hey. LBJ. how many VCs you kill today?
You know. heh. I‘d like....
I‘d. like. love to strangle one of those bastards in his own long hair. you know.
Hell. no. you don‘t know. Long-haired hippie bastards.
You're doing exactly what the gooks want. Gregory.
It doesn‘t matter what they yell. No one is making them demonstrate.
Hell, no, we won 't go.
You don‘t understand.
If I wasn‘t stuck in here. I‘d probably be one of them.
Hey, tough guy.
They tell me you‘re SRO.
So I say to myself. I say. what is SRO?
And then. man. like a beauty. it hits me.
It means "Sings Right Out.“
That‘s it.
Hey. you gotta learn I‘m your senior ranking officer.
Am I hurting you?
No, but it‘s the thought that counts, isn‘t it?
It most certainly is. you smartass motherfucker.
I‘m gonna break you.
It‘ll make those other assholes wise up.
Yeah. You have a good day.
[GONG TOLLING]
Psst. Soles.
You see this truck behind me? Come here.
Comes once every two weeks.
We‘re getting out of here, buddy.
Hey. Soles.
[SPEAKS IN VIETNAMESE]
RASMUSSEN: Hi all. fellas. How you doing?
How‘s every little thing? Excuse me, sir. Excuse me.
My commanding officer. Clark Kent. told me to help as much as possible. sir.
And so did his girlfriend, Lois Lane.
[LAUGHING]
-No laughing. -Yeah. no laughing.
YOU were mean 10 me.
l was the best boy on my ship. I was. And we had a good ship.
We-- The USS Lollipop.
[LAUGHING AND GONG TOLLING]
Williamson‘s been in irons for four days.
He‘s going on the bricks tonight.
—Won‘t take an early release, won‘t break. -What else? Who‘s next?
Don‘t know. but the Cuban‘s looking for somebody.
In the third row...
...is Billy Zucker.
Now....
Oh, no, Miss Bogart was the teacher...
...and in the first row, there was Robert Adams...
...and there was...
...Mary Flora.
And then there‘s....
Next to her was...
...Frank Young.
Now, if we can just get someone....
Miles. to cause a commotion.
We can cover the missing hole for three shifts of the gongs...
...until you leave the latrine. Then we‘re safe till bed check.
-Four hours. -Apart from reprisals--
-Have you considered-- HANNAH [OVER PA]: Hey. Mr. Fischer.
—-what might happen once you——?
Your daughter. the middle one. she got busted in demonstration.
Busted in head by fascist cop.
0h. Mr. Fischer. I would think of early release....
Hey, man. that‘s all a line of bullshit, man.
She just talks bullshit. That‘s Hanoi Hannah. Don‘t listen to her.
Millie‘s okay.
-You understand? Millie‘s okay-- -lt‘s all right.
You told me she can take care of herself, sir.
Gregory wants your okay for escape.
-What do you say. SRO? -Temporary SRO.
That decision will be made when Williamson is better.
Send this out.
We‘re gonna beat these sons of bitches.
Gregory and Soles will go over wall it all else fails.
First. we try to get Rasmussen early release.
Must get complete roster to him.
Must memorize every name. must get complete roster to him.
This guy's as crazy as Miles. He‘s gonna get us all killed.
One go, all go.
That‘s all.
He's talking about escape. The Cuban will go ape.
Hey. that rhymes. do you hear that?
Semper fi.
Um....
In the third row. there....
There was....
Sally Snider.
Sally Snider. Sal
You. You.
You wanna rap with him. Miles?
-Fuck you. faggot. -Fuck me. faggot?
Hey, the tough guy.
Do you want him. tough guy? He ain‘t no good to me.
Now. the world's seen him. me and you. we gotta keep him alive.
Just barely, though.
Just barely. Oh, very touching. Touching.
You‘re a whole different story. On your knees.
You can‘t kill Murphy. He‘s a confirmed POW.
And you‘re not gonna be able to keep Williamson alive.
-I don‘t give a fuck what you do with me. -Oh. you don‘t. huh?
You‘re doing me a favor.
You‘re right, Miles. You‘re right.
Dying‘s too good, too easy for you.
[GROANS]
Look after your buddy here.
You‘ll get him back on his feet. I can count on you.
Then it's back to the pigsty where you belong. tough guy.
Come on. man.
Come on. Murphy. man.
Oh. Jesus Christ. you showed him. huh? We got him.
HANNAH [OVER PA]: Hey. air pilots. do you know some of you guys have been here...
...long enough to become citizens?
We 're winning the war.
Don 't you miss a McDonald's, a fries and a Coca-Cola?
Got reports of new guy in Dogpatch, sir. What will I do with the name?
MILES: Keep it with you.
Every time an MlA‘s confirmed POW, it‘s harder for the V to kill him.
Sir, this is getting mighty tough. It‘s been 14 months.
Hey. stop your bitching. Now. let me hear that song again.
Yes. sir. captain.
[SINGING] Maior Cat, he had a farm And Heartbreak was its name
And on this farm he had some pigs They all had different names
A Cathcart here. a Williamson there Soles. Ashby. Fischer
Oldham was there, too, my friends Turner still remains
Sir. this 249 names. I mean. I‘m starting to go nuts with this song.
Yeah? Two-fifty. Uyeyama. Terry. Lieutenant. USAF.
Uyeyama? Uyeyama. Pajama.
[SINGING] Uyeyama had some pajamas E-l-E—l-O
Hey. Hubman.
| feel great.
Just great.
Yeah.
Great.
—ls this thing supposed to be this? -Yes.
[SPEAKS IN VIETNAMESE]
Hi.
—Hi. -Hi.
What on earth are you guys doing here?
We‘re here to try and end the war.
[SIGHS]
ASHBY: What can I do to help?
We want you to try and set the record straight.
-How? -Apologize.
-To who? -To the women and children you bombed.
Listen, the only thing that I hit was the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
I know that there are a lot of innocent North Vietnamese.
But they sure aren‘t carrying weapons to the South in the middle of the night.
You believe that?
Then you believe in the war that cost you your freedom. Don‘t you know that?
[WHISPERING]
MAN: He‘s trying to tell us something.
Are you trying to tell us something?
I‘m telling you the food stinks.
And don‘t swallow that crap about us getting the same as them. not true.
They don't get the cabbage with the maggots in it or the human....
But who cares about food when you‘re being tortured?
I‘m telling you. guys are getting killed down here.
You tell everyone.
We were told that you asked for an early release of your own free will.
Yes. that‘s more or less true.
More or less?
Oh. I‘m sorry. There‘s no equivocation meant.
| asked to go home.
Were you tortured for this request?
No.
What are your views on the war?
I hate it. I hate war. all war.
Captain, do you think our country should be in this war?
No. No. I don't.
Nope. I don‘t.
It‘s all right.
You‘re famous. now. aren‘t you?
I don‘t think that that‘s important.
Why do you think these bastards let you in here?
Ain‘t movie fans. I can tell you that.
Fact is. they just wanted a way to get the press all hot and bothered.
They‘re using you.
I think we can handle the politics of the situation.
I think we know what we‘re doing.
[CHUCKLING]
Are you hungry, captain?
Like you couldn‘t believe it.
I suppose you‘re no stranger to hunger.
Not after three years in this joint.
How do you feel about the Democratic Republic?
Democratic Republic?
Oh. heh. heh.
You mean the gooks.
You‘re safe with us, Eric. There‘s no need to use that word.
You call me captain, lady. I worked hard for that rank.
I use the work “gook" because I can't think of anything worse I‘d use in front of you.
Just trying to help you, Eric.
Why don‘t you shove it?
I don‘t need help.
Never from you.
You don't even know when you‘re being used.
So I'm sorry. boss. but you got the wrong nigger.
This has been an amazing two days.
Obviously. you‘re doing everything that you can.
Some of the men did complain about the food.
I can sympathize, but none of us like to eat what we‘re forced to.
However. it is war.
[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]
Oh. only Ashby. really.
But he can‘t help it. He‘s a product of his environment.
He‘s used to having his own way.
[don‘t think this is his idea of a country club.
Yes. yes. yes.
And as a sign of our enduring friendship for the American people...
...I will parole three prisoners to you.
That is wonderful.
Oh. thank you.
[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]
HANNAH [OVER PA]: Hey. black criminals. things are changing.
Your people do not have will to fight no more.
President Nixon is withdrawing 25. 000 troops.
Be smart. Take early release.
At this moment. in the center of Hanoi...
...three of your countrymen await three of your fellow prisoners.
You too can be watching Baltimore beat Cincinnati in World Series.
Say goodbye to wise ones amongst you.
And you two are to be congratulated.
I‘m sure Major Doc will miss you.
No doubt...
...but we shall do our best.
HUBMAN: What? -Take it easy. all right?
You know. lwould‘ve ended up like all of them.
Is that what you want. huh?
Oh.
I‘m supposed to die here. is that it?
Is that right?
Am I supposed to die. huh?
Am I supposed to die?
For what? For what?
[RASMUSSEN WHISTLING "OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM']
[GONG TOLLING]
GUARD: Move it. Move it.
Oh, no, l have to wait for my gong.
-Come on, Miles, move. -Move it.
Don't knock me around.
MEN: Come on. Let‘s move.
PRISONER: Hey. hey. hey.
GUARD: You, back! Move back!
[SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
-Get back. -0 kay.
-You move. You move. —What, what, what?
-Nice going. -Look. you got him upset.
-My fault. I suppose. -I told you to move. Move.
[LAUGHING]
Okay. it‘s 10 feet to a buttress. 10 to the ground.
You think you can handle it?
Okay, here we go.
Stupid. stupid!
Stupid! You should have known better.
It‘s our duty to escape as prisoners of war.
—War criminals. Criminals, criminals! -Bastard.
War criminals. Criminals. criminals!
Major. please. l--
And you.
Since Murphy was moved. you pretend to be senior ranking officer. huh?
Please. be reasonable. They‘re just kids.
They didn't have a chance. You got them.
[GRUNTING]
We stood out in the crowd.
No.
FISCHER: There‘s nothing to be accomplished by doing anything rash.
GREGORY: It was my fault.
There's nothing to be gained by doing any of this. It's not the--
It was my idea.
So you‘re the leader. You‘re usable to us if controlled.
He‘s a follower. He‘s of no use to us.
[SPEAKING IN VIETNAMESE]
[GROANING]
Soles! No.
Soles!
—Don‘t. You‘re gonna kill him. No! -So|es!
They‘re gonna kill him.
KneeL
Oh. no.
You killed him! You shit!
I will take you from your cell personally to your execution.
FISCHER: You will...
[TAPPING IN MORSE CODE]
...not see me after tomorrow.
Important message to wife and family.
I‘m sorry I did this to you.
I love you as life itself.
But would have to do it again if necessary.
Soles' last words were, "We stood out in the crowd. "
That is the apology of a man...
...who wants only to be ordinary.
But none of the men here. and especially not Soles...
. ..are ordinary.
They are the bravest of the brave...
...people who go on even when deserted by friends and countrymen.
What they carry inside of them is something very extraordinary.
It is the spirit that makes all human beings unique.
It makes them heroic.
I do not believe my death will help win the war.
It seems that people at home no longer care. anyway.
I die not so much for love of country...
...as for love of countrymen.
God bless you all.
To me. you all stand out in the crowd.
[DOORS BANGING]
[CHAINS RATTLING]
For the time being. your fate is being decided by other events.
Yes. Fischer. circumstances and things have changed matters.
Your execution is to be delayed.
| tell you this personally because I do not wish for you to think...
...that l have relented on my anger with you.
In time. you will be informed.
[GONG TOLLING]
HANNAH [OVER PA]: The light from our lives has gone.
President Ho Chi Minh has died.
Thank you.
From all us Isaacs.
[SHO UTING AND LAUGHING]
MAN: Hey. -0h. you look like hell.
The Asian flu.
Hey. Some break. huh. Pat?
Let‘s wait and see.
—What, you don‘t know? -What?
Man. you Hilton guys are really in the dark.
Special Forces raided the camp at Son Tay.
The guys were gone. but they made the point.
And with old President Ho dead. they're gonna ease up on us.
They‘re putting us all together here in Hanoi.
Nice to save as bargaining chips for Paris.
FISCHER: Paris? -Hey. what‘s up. Doc?
DOC: Do not assume your good fortune. Miles.
Show me respect or you will deeply regret your folly.
[DOC SHOUTING IN VIETNAMESE]
Easy. easy. easy.
We just wanna know what‘s going on.
Simply we are showing our humane and lenient treatment.
You will all be put in one cell.
You will be forbidden to do anything until ordered.
And you?
I am being reassigned.
Your failure to take early release...
...was considered a significant propaganda defeat.
And you. commander...
...you did what you had to do to survive, eh?
No. to win.
We won.
One goes, we all go, remember?
Tell him to fuck himself. Pat.
Ten-hut.
Right face.
Forward. One. two.
One. two. One. two. three. four.
One. two. three. four. Hut. hut. hut.
Hut. hut. hut.
Hut. hut.
How are you?
Seems kind of indecent sleeping in the same room as other people.
-How‘s Fischer? -He made it through perfectly.
God. that was some speech about standing out in a crowd. huh?
Wasn‘t it?
You think this means real change. like maybe we'll get mail or Red Cross?
Hope so.
Yeah.
Cigarette?
No. You know. I think I quit.
[LAUGHING]
SHAVICK: What's the matter? You‘re so goddamned uptight.
MILES: Son of a bitch. don't tell me Hubman's doing okay.
You‘re gonna fight this war forever?
-You'd go to war over your zip code. -You're damn right I would.
What‘s a zip code?
Okay. look. I apologize. I‘m sorry. I know it's been hard on you old men.
Old men? Watch who you say that to.
I haven‘t seen a mirror for nine years. I‘m not an old man.
—Do I look like an old man to you? -No.
-Do I look like an old man? -Huh, I don‘t know.
Are my teeth as bad as yours are?
Excuse me. You Barry Ashby?
Yeah.
I'm Charlie Cummins. I went to Greenwich High School.
You‘re a hero there.
An alum. Hey, come over here, come over here.
Pretty crummy high school if Ashby‘s a hero.
[LAUGHING]
Of course. some students call you a fascist.
Is that true? The hippies?
Not just the hippies. Most people. I guess.
Most people?
Yep. by now.
See. people are tired of a war you‘re not trying to win.
Especially when things at home are so good. you know?
No. I don‘t know. Explain.
-They gonna put us on trial like the V say? CUMMINS: No. I doubt it.
People are kind of into themselves now, self-awareness.
Sensitivity training. consciousness-raising.
What the fuck are you talking about?
Well. you‘ll have to see it.
-Maybe to live through it to understand it. GREGORY: Right.
Hey, Cummins. come on. We need a fourth for hearts.
It‘s a real honor to meet you, sir. A real honor.
Man. thank you.
I gotta apologize for my hockey team.
They don‘t play the national anthem. they sing "God Bless America.“
-Why do you think they do that? -|t‘s hockey.
All this time. what finds its way here?
A past-due notice for my Playboy subscription.
My luck. my Little League team goes to the state finals without me.
Damn, my little sister got into Harvard.
Goddamn son-of-a-bitching fucking perfect.
-She waits till now. now. -From his daughter. His wife divorced him.
MILES: Hey. move out. -All right. you heard the man.
It‘s not your problem.
[FISCHER CRYING]
GREGORY: Those guys are my ticket to law school.
-At your age? -Yeah. what if they bomb us?
No sweat. we've improved bomb sites since they got you.
-They don‘t come near this place. -Never heard of a wild shot?
No way. I‘ll bet the Vietnamese are sleeping in our courtyard.
[CHUCKLING]
-What do you think? -I don‘t know.
If we were really going home. them planes should have been here now.
[just hope I‘m home in time for opening day at Dodger Stadium.
Just wait until you see the pilot.
If he‘s an American. I‘ll buy you a ticket to the World Series.
You guys are paranoid. They wouldn‘t go through all this for nothing.
Wouldn‘t be the first time. pal.
Ten-hut.
Lieutenant Commander Patrick Williamson reporting return to the United States. sir.
Where in the world have you guys been?
We‘ve been here all along. Where the hell have you been?
[SHOUTING AND CHEERING]