Original subtitles

[grand music]

[lion roaring]

[lion roaring]

[intense music]

[music continues]

[news anchor] In the wake of the Nicaraguan Revolution,

chaos has descended on tiny El Salvador

in Central America.

Today 18 people were killed and 36 wounded in a fierce gun battle

between antigovernment demonstrators

and the national police.

The confrontation started

when students, workers, and peasants linked to the guerrillas

occupied foreign embassies

and took over the national cathedral in the capital.

- [knocking on door] - so far, in two months,

more than 3,000 people have disappeared.

- [knocking on door] - Government spokesmen

attribute the murders to the left-wing Marxist terrorists

while left-wing spokesmen point to right-wing death squads.

- [door opens] - [woman] Wh--you cannot walk in like this!

- [landlord] Good morning. - [woman shushing]

You got some money for me?

- [baby wailing] - [woman] I have no money.

[landlord] I want you out of here.

Okay, you understand that?

[indistinct shouting]

Look, lady, I've put up with this shit every month, alright?

I want you, I want your crumb-snatcher,

and I want your war hero or whatever the fuck he is,

I want 'em out of here!

- Come on, come on. - [baby wailing]

[landlord] Fuck your husband! You got no bucks.

Look, no bucks, no Buck Rogers, Boyle.

Why don't you just wait till I've had my coffee, huh?

For Christ's sake, you're disturbing my kid.

You better get your bitch, Boyle!

Shit on your paper!

I ain't no bitch.

[shouting in Italian]

[baby wailing]

[woman crying]

[Richard] Good morning.

I've had it!

I cannot live like this no more!

Hey, Nancy, hi, it's Richard. Listen--

[Nancy on phone] Richard? Richard who?

- Boyle. - [Nancy] Oh.

Richard Boyle, yeah.

Listen, you know I think it's gonna blow in El Salvador real soon.

I thought if you guys could get me a new press card and two grand,

I could get you some really good stuff. What do you say?

- [Nancy] No way. - Okay.

Okay, well then, how about a new press card?

- [Nancy] Forget it - Huh?

- [Nancy] Boyle, I really--1 gotta go. - Come on, Nancy, please, man.

[Nancy] Look, Boyle, we've had it with you.

We gave you 2,500 dollars on that Lebanon gig

and you ended up in Greece fucking it away.

I can't take Muslim nightlife, okay? I got--hey, Alice, how you doin'?

- Hey, hey! - [Nancy speaking indistinctly]

You lose tickets, passports, you drink too much,

and you're a general embarrassment to the business, Boyle.

Look, I get you the piece, don't I, huh?

How about that thing on the IRA? Tortured by the Brits in Belfast.

And how about Cambodia? The last man out, you know?

Sydney Schanberg was havin' cocktails at the Plaza

and I was getting my ass kicked over there.

- Look, Boyle, we've had-- - How about freezing my fucking nuts off

for you guys in the Khyber Pass? You know I got giardia?

I was staple-gunned to the toilet for a week on that one, okay?

- Huh? - [Nancy] Yeah, remember El Salvador?

I tell ya--well, how 'bout El Salvador? How 'bout it? I--

[stammers] Didn't I call that one?

- [Nancy] Boyle, goodbye. - Huh, Nancy? Come on.

- Hey, c'mon. - C'mon, what?

Get the fuck out of here, will you? Get!

Not you. Nancy? Nancy? Nancy, I'm sorry. Nancy?

Nice work, you piece of--

Larry, thank for fixing my camera, but I need another favor.

[Larry on phone] Look, Rich, I gotta be at the airport in an hour

for Beirut, alright?

Yeah, look, this is serious, okay? I need one for old time's sake.

You gotta gimme 500 bucks to go to El Salvador. 400 if--

[Larry] El Salvador? They'll kill you if you go back there, man.

Look, what I need's the money, not a lecture, please.

- [Larry] Okay, 300 bucks-- - Come on!

- Jesus Christ! Hello? - [Larry] Meet me at Pan Am in 40 minutes.

Oh, great! Here, take the quarter! Such a fuckin' hurry.

[siren blares]

Oh, shit.

Mr. Boyle, your license has been revoked.

You're driving without a license, registration, or insurance.

You've got four outstanding speeding tickets all gone to warrant.

You've got 43 unpaid parking tickets.

- Jesus. - Nothing is legal about your car

and even your press card is out of date.

Press card's out of date?

- Goddammit. - I'm taking you in.

No, oh. You know, I'm not that Richard Boyle.

This--this, uh, this--ah-- happens all the time.

You know, uh, there's another Richard Boyle.

- Come on, give me your other hand. - Yeah, I'll give ya the hand right there.

Come on, man, have some humanity, will you, Officer? Really, I just--

- [indistinct chattering] - [man 1] Hey, baby.

- [indistinct chattering] - [guard] Here, c'mere.

[indistinct chattering]

[Richard] Doc, man, thanks for getting me out.

Yeah, yeah, well, come on, come on. Get your car.

Look, man, they got--they got Bagel.

The Nazis busted Bagel. He's in dog Dachau.

They're gonna gas him. Get your car.

I don't have my car, Doc, I need 75 bucks to get it out.

Shit, I just paid 125 to get you out!

Stop whining.

Here, here, here, here. This is all I got.

Now come on before they drop the pellet.

- Will you take it? - Oh, hey, man.

What are you worried about, man? It's just a fucking dog.

It's my dog.

[upbeat rock music]

[Doc] Faster, Richie. Come on, will you?

[Richard] I can't, man. I don't even have a license.

They're gonna throw the key away!

How long has he been in there?

[Doc] I don't know. I left him with some friends.

Yeah, shit friends.

[Richard] Look, it's not like they're gonna gas the poor dog, okay?

No, man, everything's turned to shit.

Miriam's throwing me out, man.

You know, she says I'm too old to be a rock 'n' roll disc jockey anymore.

She wants me to sell computers in the Silicon Valley.

- [Richard] Oh, please. - Do you believe that?

You know, you know, I can't take these yuppie women,

you know, with the Walkmans and running shoes and the--the--

rather go to the aerobics jazz class than fuck. Forget about 'em, man.

[Doc] Yeah, yeah, they got those pussy exercises too.

See, Latin women, now they're totally different.

They're kind, they're understanding.

Look at Claudia. She's the greatest, man.

I mean, she doesn't give a shit what I do.

- [Doc] Yeah. - Primo.

Yeah, best thing about Latin women is they don't speak English.

Hey, listen, Richard, can I crash at your place tonight?

Huh? Come on, I got no place to go, man.

I'll sleep in your shower stall, your toilet, doesn't matter, man.

I need a home, man.

You better light up another joint, Doc, 'cause I got some bad news for ya.

I don't got a place, alright?

- What? - [Richard] We're evicted, man.

We're gonna come and stay with you and Miriam in Bosco.

- Oh, Jesus, Bagel! - [Richard] Bagel? What--

You mean I gave you my last 200 bucks and I got no place to stay?

- Hey, Doc-- - [Doc] That's great.

- Now what am I supposed to do, man? - [Richard] Stop whining, will you?

[Doc] I'm in deep shit, you know that? Man, I should have just left you in jail.

- [Richard] It was a fake jail. - Move over! Move over!

[Richard] See? Another yuppie.

- Another yuppie in a fucking Oldsmobile. - [Doc] Fuck it.

This town is full of goddamn yuppies!

[shouts] Yuppie town!

- [dogs barking] - ; Running on ♪

♪ Running on empty ♪

Bagel! Bagel!

Where's my dog?

What's he look like?

Oh, yeah. I know this dog.

- Where is he? - Uh...

- Bagel! - [woman] Excuse me.

- Bagel! Come here, boy. - [woman] Sir! Excuse me!

- Bagel! C'mere, boy! C'mere! - [woman] No, no, that's not your dog.

Excuse me! We had to put your dog to sleep.

Um, we keep the dogs around 14 days. We kept him more than 14 days.

- You put him to sleep? - Yeah.

- When's he gonna wake up? - [woman] Uh...

You killed him, didn't you? You gassed him!

No, we gave him an injection. It's more humane so you don't ha--

Yeah, what kind of humanity is that, huh?

You're a murderer! You know that?

I can't believe it. That was my only relationship.

That was my best friend. Seven years.

My marriage only lasted five!

It's just not just!

I'm really sorry.

Hey, would you like some puppies? We got a lot of puppies here.

- [dogs barking] - My dog's leash.

- Doc... - l--1 c--I'm sorry.

Doc, man, she can't do anything, huh? Come on.

Okay? Alright?

[Richard] Great.

- [Doc] What's it say? - [Richard] "Fuck you" in Italian.

Ah, shit. She's gone back to Italy to her parents.

God damn it!

[sighs]

Ah, man.

Shit. That's too bad, Richie.

Well, at least she left the TV.

Well...

A marriage made in hell.

I'm sure gonna miss my boy.

Maybe she'll be back.

[Doc] Sure.

Who could leave all this?

- [groovy music] - ; Midnight ♪

♪ And I'm a-waitin' on the 12:05 ♪

- [Doc] Where are we going now? - [Richard] Guatemala.

Why?

Why not?

No cops, no laws, sun, it's cheap.

No yuppies.

Great dope. [laughs]

♪ Playing with the queen of hearts... ♪

[Richard] Look at you, will you?

You are like a walking museum of the sixties.

[Doc] What the fuck are you?

[Richard] What do you--I--I-- I'm a forward-thinking human being.

I know about life because I explore things.

Being a journalist, you're in touch with reality.

[Doc] You know, you come off with this journalism bullshit

all the goddamn time, you know that?

I haven't seen one goddamn article that you've written.

[Richard] I wrote a book, Flower of the Dragon.

[Doc] Flower of the Dragon?! That was 10 years ago, Boyle!

- [Richard] An exposé, it was a big exposé. - [Doc] 10 years ago.

What have you written since?

[Richard] What are you talkin' about? I've written, uh, articles.

[Doc] What article?

[Richard] I had one in a right-wing newspaper

in El Salvador about guerrillas.

[Doc] Oh, the one in El Salvador.

Oh, yeah, I read that and my whole family read that.

Everyone saw that article, Boyle.

[bright music]

[Doc] You said Guatemala, man.

You didn't say anything about El Salvador.

Come on, I've never been out of the country!

They Kill people here, Boyle!

You believe everything you read in the papers?

- God, dude! - Come on, man. You're gonna love it here.

Give me the joint.

Look, Doc, this is my last chance, man. I'm serious.

If I get some good combat shots for AP,

you know, I can make some money.

So I can pay you back.

You better pay me back.

[Richard] Then we go to La Libertad, man, it's the best surfing beach in the world.

Good times, kick back for a few months.

It'll be fantastic.

I mean, you can live in this country for 300 bucks a year.

- What the fuck is this? - Mace.

- [Doc] Mace? For what? - Uh, wild dogs.

Yeah, wild dogs, that's bullshit, Boyle.

You've lied to me straight through, haven't you?

[Richard] Do you want me to be honest with you?

No.

What the hell are you doin' with all these?

[Richard] All I'm sayin' is that here, you could have a semblance of a life.

- What are all these? - [Richard] Give me one of those, yeah.

I--they come in handy sometimes at odd times.

Come on, man, you're love it here, Doc.

[Doc] No, shit, I'm goin' home, man.

You can drive drunk.

You can get anybody killed for 50 bucks.

I don't want to kill anyone for 50 bucks.

[Richard] The best pussy in the world.

Where else can you get a virgin to sit on your face for seven bucks?

Seven bucks.

[Doc] This better be the best pussy in the world,

or I'm going home.

Two virgins for 12.

You're just lucky I'm fucked up, Boyle, you know that?

And drugs? No prescriptions, man.

They got stuff that keeps you hard all night long.

I mean, all these people want to do is fuck.

12 bucks?

I think we can get 'em down, don't ya think?

[laughs] Now you're talking.

- Huh? [laughs] - Yeah, you're such an asshole, Boyle.

You're gonna love this place! Ha!

[laughing]

- [laughing] - You're gonna be in pig heaven, man.

[Doc] Shit. Why are they blocking the road?

[Richard] Stop asking why, man. This ain't gringoland, okay?

Here, take this. Be dumb, act cool, alright?

What is this? Some kind of tranquilizer?

[Richard] Yeah, a permanent one. Cyanide. Come on, put it away.

- I'm not taking this shit, man! - Wha--you know something?

You're really gonna be sorry when they fucking cut off your balls

and stuff one in each ear. Get rid of your shit.

- Here, get rid of these fuckin' joints. - You're so fucking dramatic, man.

Jesus!

[glass shattering]

[Doc] Who are these clowns?

Hold on. What the--

- What the--what the fuck-- - [Richard] Traffic accident.

[Doc] Jesus, Boyle!

Oh, god, man!

[Richard] Would you relax, man? It's just some guy.

Uh-oh. Hold on. Hola. Ah, shit!

[Richard and men speaking Spanish]

The road to Santa Ana is closed.

I understand, but Colonel Figueroa told me to give a present to you boys.

...uh, uh, you know, because the road's closed.

They're journalists.

- [Richard] No, no, uh, no, no. - [shotgun cocks]

- Shit, man. Goddammit. - No, no. No, no, no--

Get out of the car. Get out of the car.

[speaking Spanish]

[men speaking Spanish] [ominous music]

- [Doc] Christ! - [Richard] Okay.

[Doc grunts]

Whatever you do, Doc,

whatever you do, okay?

Don't get on the ground.

Oh, Jesus Christ, man, this is fucking scary!

- Can't believe this, man. - [men shouting in Spanish]

What? What?

Oh.

[speaking Spanish]

[man speaking Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

[Richard grunts]

[Lieutenant and man speaking Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

[Lieutenant speaking Spanish] [stammering]

I'm a friend of Colonel Figueroa...

- How do you say-- [stammers] - What?

[speaking halting Spanish]

Friends of Figueroa's.

I'm a friend of Figueroa's.

- [Lieutenant speaks Spanish] - Is that bad?

[music continues] [men chattering in Spanish]

[stammers] He's a friend--

- [speaking Spanish] - He's a friend of Figueroa's.

I was actually--

- [speaks indistinctly] - Come on, man. Shut up!

[engine revving]

[indistinct chattering] [music continues]

[speaking Spanish]

[indistinct chattering in Spanish]

[foreboding music]

[Doc] What's going on here, man?

I think they're checking cedulas.

What's a cedula?

Birth certificate, voting papers.

If you don't have a cedula, you're in deep shit.

[Lieutenant speaking Spanish]

[Lieutenant speaking Spanish]

[distant explosion]

[soldier speaking Spanish]

- Rock, put your hands on your head. - [soldier speaking Spanish]

[soldier 2 speaking Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

We've stopped a truckload of suspicious campesinos.

[men speaking Spanish]

[soldier and man speaking Spanish]

[Doc] What did he do?

He's probably a student, that's the worst thing you can be.

[soldier speaks Spanish]

[Richard speaking halting Spanish] [soldier speaking Spanish]

Why did you leave your papers at home?

I always leave them there. Please, sir.

[Lieutenant and student speaking Spanish]

Look, I'm a friend of Colonel Figueroa's.

- [metal clanging] - [whispers] Shit. Dammit.

Where the fuck are they taking us?

I should have never bailed you out of jail, man.

- Who are your friends? - Communists.

Take off your glasses.

[tank rumbling] [music continues]

[student speaking Spanish]

[gun fires]

Oh, shit!

Holy shit!

Holy shit!

- [Richard] Oh... - They're gonna fucking kill us now, Boyle!

Goddammit! I thought you knew your way around here, Boyle!

They're gonna fucking kill us now, aren't they?

- Doc, Doc, just be cool. - Goddammit!

- They're gonna fucking kill us-- - Stop. Stop it!

- Goddammit! - Shut the fuck up!

Just be cool!

I don't know what the fuck they're gonna do!

Goddammit.

[Doc whimpers]

[engine fades] [distant chanting]

This is it.

This is it.

[metal clangs]

You got any of those tranquilizers left?

[soldier chuckling] [distant chanting in Spanish]

[helicopter blades whirring]

[child speaking Spanish]

[playing bugle]

[chanting continues]

[children chattering] [men continue chanting in Spanish]

[ominous music] [men chattering in Spanish]

[phone ringing]

COLONEL JULIO FIGUEROA Commander 3rd Brigade Infantry

Hey, Boyle!

[Richard] Ahh.

- How the hell did you get here? - [Richard laughs]

You know no fucking periodistas are allowed!

I snuck in through Guatemala, colonel.

- [speaks Spanish] - [Figueroa laughs]

You damn bastard!

You're lucky you've still got your huevos, you know that?

But you look like shit!

[both speaking Spanish]

- [Richard laughs] - Come with me.

[speaks Spanish]

We'll wash up, you wash up.

[Richard speaking Spanish] Have some drinks, some food.

Okay? We'll have a nice time [indistinct].

[Figueroa speaks Spanish]

- [woman] Hi. How are you? - [Richard] Oh.

[Figueroa speaks Spanish]

My amigo here, he write me up in the American newspaper.

Like "the Patton of El Salvador,"

- he called me. - Well, you were, Julio.

It was the last great cavalry charge in history.

In the soccer war with Honduras, '69.

- Woo! - Yeah!

- All the way to Tegucigalpa, huh? - [distant explosions rumbling]

Tegucigalpa, right.

Not since, uh, Attila the Hun have there been such amazing cavalry tactics.

Oh, yes, and this one takes it up the cula real nice.

Oh! How about this one, huh?

- She take it up the cula too? - [laughter]

Alright!

[bright music playing on radio]

Libertad, Doc. End of the rainbow.

[Doc] I'm sick.

My asshole hurts, my dick burns.

You know, Richie, I don't wanna say this, but, uh,

it's really been kinda fun travelling with you and all.

I really think I should catch a plane out of this place.

[Richard] What, do you think you're gonna die?

[stammers] I got the best doctor in town for ya.

You have nothing to worry about once you meet the bruja, I mean, she's great.

[both speaking Spanish]

[laughing] [continues speaking Spanish]

No, it's a joke, it's a joke.

[Doc] I'm sick. What the hell's she laughing at?

- Nothin'. - [Doc] Man...

It's a good look. She just said she's puttin' everything in there.

It'll clean you out, if it doesn't, it'll kill you, alright?

[Doc] Yeah, well, what about a subscription?

You don't need one. All you need is an ass. Too late, Doc.

Listen, don't pay or anything, okay? I got credit here.

I gotta run, alright?

[speaking Spanish]

That's the biggest fuckin' needle I ever saw!

Come on, please. Please, just gimme a fuckin'--

- Oww! Son of a bitch! - [bruja speaking Spanish]

[bright music]

[man speaking Spanish]

[man speaking Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

[both speaking Spanish]

Ricardo! Ricardo!

Ricardo! Ricardo!

[speaking Spanish]

Did you miss me? Did you miss me? Huh?

[music continues]

What a pretty girl.

They said you were dead.

Where's her father?

Disappeared.

Let's go to the house.

Still drunk?

- Still crazy? - No, no.

No, for you I stopped. No more alcohol.

[baby fussing]

[baby crying]

[Richard] Ah?

[both speaking Spanish]

[Richard] Mmm!

[speaking Spanish]

- [Douglas growling] - Ahh!

Here, you keep your hulko, and--

[both speaking Spanish]

- [cheering] - Ahh, television!

Okay, Douglas, come on. We'll see it at the casa, huh?

- Okay - [both speaking Spanish]

At the casa, we see the television.

Come on, por favor, Maria.

I know you have another woman in the north.

Another woman?

- [speaks Spanish] - No, no. No.

[speaking Spanish]

Come on. [speaks Spanish]

[gentle music] [gulls crying]

[baby cries]

[toad croaks]

- [Richard] Is that you, Major Max? - [toad croaks]

[both speaking Spanish] [baby crying]

[Richard and Maria chattering] [whistling]

[Richard laughing]

Eh, Ricardo!

- You back from the dead, man. - Hi.

[speaks Spanish]

I like your friend. Dr. Rock.

- [Doc groans] - [Richard] Dr. Rock. [speaks Spanish]

[laughs] [brother speaks Spanish]

How bad is it here, huh?

Well, if I had one of those I'd be a little better off.

- [laughs, speaks Spanish] - You're gotta be good-looking and rich.

Oh! You have a woman, you have it made.

Yeah, well, my ass hurts.

[brother speaking Spanish] [baby crying]

Hey, Ricardo, can I have some?

Huh? Yeah, go ahead, go ahead.

[speaking Spanish]

Yeah, yeah. Guatemala gold.

[Carlos] Ah.

[Doc] Here, go on.

- [Carlos] Good shit. - [Doc] Yeah, bueno caca, ah?

Yeah, yeah. Here.

[Richard] So, Doc, how is it driving down this road, it's beautiful,

you want to be back in San Francisco with Miriam and the dog?

[Doc] I'm tellin' ya, everywhere I turn, there's a dog screwing another dog,

there's pigs in the street.

It's like Baltimore or something, for Chrissake.

- [horn blaring] - So, uh, how are we for cash?

[Richard] You hungry? You want to get a hamburger?

[Doc] Yeah, yeah, alright, maybe just one before you take me to the airport.

I mean, I got a life there even without Miriam.

So look, I bailed you outta jail. You owe me a lot of money over the years.

I wish you'd pay me so we can, like, part company, you know?

[children speaking Spanish]

John.

- Rick. - Hey, man.

- l thought I'd find you here. - Yeah, I thought you were dead.

- Dead? Why, do I look that bad? - Yes.

Beat it.

I heard stories from Guatemala.

They had you and they were pullin' your toenails out.

- Ah, fuckin' Guatemala, Jesus. - l know what you were doin'.

Yeah. How was Beirut?

- Fucking awful. - Really?

Are you gonna eat those, uh, fries?

No, no, he, uh-- Dr. Rock, John Cassady.

- Oh, yeah. - Thanks.

Hey. That was a great cover for Newsweek, John.

Thanks.

So what happened to you?

- What do you mean? - How come you split so fast?

- What, from here? - Yeah.

Oh, I had a little beef with Major Max's boys.

They weren't too happy about that torture chamber story, you know?

Oh, waiter, waiter! Waiter!

- Major Max? Who's Major Max? - [Richard chuckles]

You mean this guy's after you too, Boyle, on top of everything else?

Doc, it was a year ago, they don't have yuppie computers down here.

- Get out of here. - I'm gettin' outta here, Boyle.

- Yeah. - First plane, I'm outta here,

and I'm not kiddin' this time.

- I've had enough of this shit. - [Richard] Get the fuck outta here!

You understand? I want my money, Boyle.

- [Richard] What money? - l want the money you owe me.

This is--I'm serious and no--no bullshit! No bullshit!

[Richard] You've been on Valiums too long, man, there is no money!

Transmission in Guatemala, gas, whores. How 'bout the border rip-off?

You know at the border we had 70 colones? You know how many we got left?

Huh? 12. 12 colénes. Alright?

- Don't give him Tic Tack-- - How much is 12--how much is 12 coldénes?

[Richard] Uh, four bucks. Three bucks.

- Three American dollars? - Yeah.

You're tellin' me that's all we got left?

My dog is dead, Boyle!

You know why he's-- Stop doing that!

You know why he's doing that? Huh?

This is why. Because he drinks Tic Tack.

It's 17 cents a bottle, okay?

And you can't get rid of the guy. He'll follow you anywhere.

Hey, you want to go to Beirut?

Si? Huh?

What does that--tell me what that has to do with me, Boyle!

[indistinct] your liberal, yuppie bullshit--

- Bullshit! - ...make this guy follow us!

- He'll go to Minnesota with us. - That's got nothin' to--

- nothin' to fuckin' do with me, man! - [Richard] Sorry, man.

I'm stuck in the middle of this fuckin' country, I can't speak the language,

I got the shits, and I only got three fucking dollars, man!

I gotta get outta here, man! I--

Fuck you, Boyle! Fuck you!

- Fuck you. Fuck you. - [Richard] Hey--

- Hey, hey, hey-- - Fuck! You!

He was this hitchhiker I picked up in Guatemala, I...

Ah, you know.

Look, John, I'm really sorry, uh...

- It's on Newsweek. - No, no, I-- [stammers]

Look, I'm gonna be honest with you.

I got fired by PNS, okay?

And I-l could use a string down here real bad.

You think you can help me out?

There's no work here for you, Boyle.

Nobody cares about this stinking little war.

I care about it.

They're not just shooting the Indians.

Last week, a Mexican TV guy got blown away by their paramilitary groups.

They're shooting at us.

Why don't you try Angola?

Angola doesn't have any nightlife.

Hey, I can get you out with Figueroa, John.

I saw him yesterday. I got carte blanche with his elite unit.

You still got the deathmobile.

- [Richard] Yeah. - Come on, Boyle.

Want to go out on a little dawn patrol?

Or are you, uh, too big of a media star these days?

[both laugh]

- Let's go. - Alright.

EL PLAYON Dump site for death squad victims

[camera shutter clicks]

[John] You haven't looked through a lens in a while, have you, Rich?

- [Richard sighs] - Come on, take some pictures.

There's fresh bodies up there.

[flies buzzing]

[helicopter blades whirring]

John, have you got a...

a 24 or a 28 I can use?

[somber music]

[camera shutter clicking]

[John] You know what made photographers

like Robert Capa great, Rich?

They weren't after the money. They...

They captured the nobility of human suffering.

That was a great shot in Spain.

One flying through the air.

Yeah, but it was more than the bodies, Richie.

He got...why they died.

That's what Capa caught,

he caught that moment of death.

[Richard] You're right up there with him, John.

You're in his league. You're the best.

You gotta get close, Rich,

to get the truth.

You get too close, you die.

Someday...

I want a shot like Capa.

Someday.

Someday.

John, I gotta go, man.

We gotta go.

I don't have to tell you to watch yourself, do I, Rich?

Alvarez's people are staked out at the cathedral nowadays.

I'll talk to them for you.

- Thanks, John. - And Tom Kelly's the new ambassador.

- Tom Kelly from Cambodia? - [John] You should check him out.

[exhales sharply] I know him really well. He's a good man.

There's gonna be a party at the embassy on Tuesday for the election.

- He'll be there. - John, thanks.

Cambodia was something, wasn't it?

Ohh!

[sobbing]

RAMON ALVAREZ, Director of Human Rights Office and spokesman

for the Revolutionary Democratic Front

[speaking Spanish]

[bell ringing]

MAIN CATHEDRAL San Salvador

[man speaking Spanish over loudspeaker]

Hey, what--what's going on here, Richard?

This is where people come to look-- find out about their disappeared.

Hey, amigo. [speaking Spanish]

[both speaking Spanish]

What'd he say?

Uh, these people are in from the land co-ops.

They were kicked off their land by the police

so they're here on strike.

Oh, yeah, yeah. No, I saw that in Zapata.

Carmen. Carmen! Carmen Sanchez!

Hey, it's Ricardo.

- Richard. - Hi. How are you?

[both speaking Spanish]

[crying]

Ramon. Uh, Ramon.

- [Ramon speaking Spanish] - I'm sorry, but...

Did John Cassady talk to you about my going out with the guerrillas?

[Carmen] Ramon.

[speaking Spanish]

[Richard] Ramon, I need a break real bad and

I did a good story on you last year, remember?

[Ramon sighs] Look, Boyle, I'm not a travel agency for you guys.

I know that, it's just if Major Max takes power,

you people could use good press. I'd like to help.

[Ramon] Ah, good press?

There are 10,000 disappeared

and every day the list grows,

and you, pendejo, talk about good press?

[speaking Spanish]

Ramon, I...

I got some shots this morning.

And maybe they can help you.

From EI Playon.

- And...and I'm sorry, okay? - [Carmen] Thanks, Richard.

To the mountains?

- [Ramon speaks Spanish] - Richard, come back next week.

I arrange it.

Ah, God, thank you, Carmen! [speaks Spanish]

[somber music]

- Sister Stan? - [Sister Stan] Oh!

- [laughs] - Hi, how are you doing?

Oh, fine. It's good to see you back.

Good to see you.

Cathy's around here somewhere.

You look awfully busy.

[Sister Stan] Yes. Parents missing, dead, lost.

These are some of the survivors

from the massacre up the Sumpul river.

I heard about that.

A bunch of government helicopters opened up as they were crossing the river.

It's very bad now.

- [speaking Spanish] - [Sister Stan] Madness on both sides.

Okay.

Cathy Moore.

The prettiest colleen in all of El Salvador. [laughs]

Boyle, what are you doing here, you degenerate?

Back to see your old girlfriends at the [indistinct]?

[Richard] No, you've ruined all that by converting them on me.

Yeah, I try.

I'm going to La Libertad tomorrow. You need a ride?

No, I can't. I've got too much to do around here.

Fudge! It's the wrong piece!

This is for an elbow!

I told Cleveland! This happens every goddamned time!

They promised me!

[Sister Stan] Now, come on now, Cathy.

We'll have another shipment next month

and [indistinct] can wait.

Can't you, darling?

- [children laughing] - [Doc] Ready?

One,

two,

three,

four,

five.

Now, see, now you can go to any urban city,

and you can make it.

Alright?

...try to halt

the infiltration into the Americas

by terrorists, by outside interference,

and those who aren't just aiming at El Salvador,

but I think are aiming at, uh...

the whole of Central and possibly later South America

and I'm sure eventually North America.

[TV anchor speaking Spanish]

[bright music playing] [indistinct chattering]

[indistinct chattering] [laughing]

[men singing in Spanish]

[stammers] Can you believe that a straight man to a chimpanzee

is gonna be the next president of the United States? I mean...

doesn't that depress you?

- You know what depresses me? - What?

You are starting to depress me!

- Well, I can accept that. - l can't accept that!

This is like a gig for me. I'm trying to make some money here.

How am I gonna do that with you yakking and hobbling around, okay?

Look, just go get something to eat. Or go to the pool. Or meet some girls.

- Do somethin', will ya? - Alright, alright, I understand.

- l understand. - Stay out of my face!

- Okay! I'm easy, I'm easy. - Yakking all the time!

[announcer] ...show New Hampshire going for Ronald Reagan.

- [man] Boyle? - Morgan. What are you doing here?

- l thought you were dead. - [laughs] Takes more than wishing.

- Come on, what brings you down here? - [laughs]

Was Reagan planning ahead?

- Colonel Hyde? - [Morgan] Colonel Bentley Hyde.

- [Richard] Yeah. - [Morgan] Richard Boyle.

COLONEL BENTLEY HYDE Senior Officer MILGROUP

[Richard] You don't remember me, sir?

Richard Boyle. Pacific News Service. Vietham.

[Morgan] And this is Bob Samuels, USAID.

[Richard] Ah, how do you do?

- [Morgan] Millicent Davies, US AFL-CIO. - Pleasure to meet ya. Hello.

Hello. How are you? Remember me, sir?

Yeah, I remember.

Last time I heard about you is when Thieu kicked you out.

[laughs] Then Mr. Thieu got kicked out after me, didn't he?

You know, I never understood why you guys like the commies so much.

- We guys. - Yeah.

If you were Vietnamese, you'd be

working in a re-education camp pulling up turnips.

Well, I never really liked turnips very much, Colonel. [laughs]

And you don't see me applying for Vietnamese citizenship, do you?

They don't like that funny stuff you smoke, old buddy. [laughs]

Why? You got some? [chuckles]

Colonel, um, let me ask you something.

It's a big favor.

You think you can get me out on a causatory op?

Is that possible?

If I get you out, what's in it for me?

These guys never change, do they?

Vietnam. You know, Vietnam.

I mean, come on, are we invading or what?

I don't know what you're talking about.

I was kind of young during all that.

Look, I'm not supposed to talk to the press, okay?

And you're weird. So fuck off.

Hey, come on, I'm not the press.

So, you're trying to go out with the guerrillas?

JACK MORGAN U.S. State Department Analyst

Pssh, I'm tryin". I'll go out with anybody.

I'll go out with the National Guard, the muchachos--

You want a drink? Yeah, you want a drink, come on, a little vodka tonic. Gracias.

Listen, something's on the way.

The rebels are getting weapons, lots of them, through Nicaragua.

They're gonna make a move pretty soon,

so any information or photos you can throw my way

- can make life real easy for you. - Jack, nah.

You know, that stuff's hard to prove and I hate doin' that anyway. I can't do that.

I'm not askin' you to spook. Just show me your pictures first.

You'll publish them anyway.

Look, from what I hear, they're getting all their stuff from black market Miami,

- from government troops, I mean-- - Last year.

- This year Castro's got them organized. - Oh, Castro's--

They're not messin' around, man. This is all Warsaw bloc stuff, ya know.

[chuckles] Jeez! Same old Black Jack Morgan.

Yeah, well, you're not gonna think it's all one big joke

when they take this place.

You know, Nicaragua was just the beginning.

Guatemala and Honduras are targeted next.

In five years, you're gonna be seeing Cuban tank divisions on the Rio Grande.

Yeah, gimme a break. Cuban tanks on the Rio Grande?

I'm more worried about Major Max on the Rio Grande,

- okay? - Yeah, from what I understand,

Major Max may be running things here pretty soon,

so you better watch yourself, ol' sport.

Jesus.

Hey, could you lend me 50 bucks?

- What? - 50 bucks.

- Uh, Tom. Tom Kelly. Richard Boyle. - Oh, Ambassador Kelly. Hi, how are you?

- [Kelly] Good. - I'm Richard Boyle, PNS.

- l was the last man out of Cambodia. - [Kelly] Really?

- Yeah, after Schanberg. - [Kelly] Oh, really?

Yeah, I wrote Flower of the Dragon. I'm a friend of Cathy Moore's.

- [Kelly] Oh, yes. - Yes.

- [Kelly] Nice meeting you. - Nice--nice--nice meeting you.

THOMAS KELLY U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador

- [partygoers applauding] - Lemme just ask you one thing, Ambassador.

Does this Reagan thing pose a problem for you?

Could you hold this and let me just grab a couple of shots, okay?

Uh, General, have you-- have you met Mr. Doyle?

[Richard] Oh, hello. Nice to meet you. It's Boyle. Boyle.

- Hi. Thanks. Boyle. [speaks Spanish] Bye. - [announcer speaking indistinctly]

[announcer] ABC has projected the next president...

Ronald Reagan.

[partygoers cheering and applauding]

You know, Peter, I gotta do a standup at 10 boiling all this down.

Well, Pauline, you couldn't go far wrong saying,

[in low voice, imitating American accent] "With Mr. Reagan in the saddle,

the guerrillas are in deep shit."

That's lovely, Peter,

but have you seen the Journal today by any chance? Here.

It's real rah-rah democracy, free elections, all that,

and I think that's what the networks are gonna want tonight.

[Doc] So what's your sign?

Stop.

[chuckling] That's really cute.

I thought it was slippery when wet.

This article and you, Pauline,

are 100% and unequivocally full of shit.

Look who's talking, Boyle.

You and your friend are so full of shit, I can't believe it.

- l resent you, of all people-- - [Richard] You know what I resent?

I resent what we saw in Santa Ana the other day.

[Pauline] Oh yeah, what was that?

It was a kid shot in the head and hung from a tank

because he didn't have his fucking cedula.

- You know what a cedula is? - Yeah, I know what a cedula is.

[Richard] What I'm sayin' is, if you're gonna analyze the situation,

just analyze it right.

You don't have a cedula on election day, stamped,

you're dead.

Democracy. I mean, wha--wha--what kind of democracy is it when you have to vote,

and if you don't vote,

you're branded a commie subversivo? I mean-- [stammers]

These people would vote for Donald Duck

or Genghis Khan or whoever the local cop tells them to

because if they don't, this is what happens.

You're just a real fucking pro, Boyle, aren't you?

That's why you can't even last two weeks with a network.

- [Peter] Let's go get a drink. - Fuckin' yuppies,

they do a standup from the roof of the Camino Real,

they think they got the whole story.

[Pauline scoffs] City lights, my ass.

"My Two Weeks in El Salvador" by Pauline Axelrod.

- Oh yeah-- - [Richard] Hiding under a bed--

"Whoring and Drinking My Way Through El Salvador"

- by Richard Boyle. - [Richard] Well, anybody'd be whoring

with you, blowjob queen of New York.

[Pauline] I don't need to take this shit, I'm sorry.

Executive suites wall to wall, huh? Kissin' all the right asses.

No wonder you get your glamor puss on the networks.

Excuse me.

- Okay, look, Pauline. Look, I'm sorry-- - [Pauline] Fuck off, Boyle!

[Richard] Just be a sport, will ya? I'm an asshole.

I'm an asshole, alright?

[Doc] Well, you don't have to worry about her.

She's gonna boil down real good on that roof.

I put 500 mics of acid in her drink.

Are you serious?

[chuckles] Yeah.

With Ronald Reagan sweeping the elections--

[wheezes, laughs]

[laughing] Here at the Camino Real Hotel...

[laughing]

Oh, God.

[laughs] Here at the Camino Real...

[horns honking] [gunshots blasting]

[people cheering] [man speaking Spanish over radio]

Attention, residents of Escalon.

Ronald Reagan has been elected President.

Finally we have someone in the White House with balls.

MAJOR MAXIMILIANO CASANOVA (aka Major Max)

Yes. The time has come for us, brothers,

Presidential Candidate and Former Director of Salvadoran Intelligence.

former members of Orden,

patriots of the Maximiliano Hernandez brigade,

and brothers of La Mano Blanca.

These fucking priests

that are poisoning the minds of our Salvadorian youth

are gonna be the first to bleed.

They are pig shit.

And this Romero is the biggest pig shit of all.

[laughter]

A shit-faced desecration of an archbishop.

And with this bullet,

he will be the first to die.

For every one of our people,

we will kill 100 of them.

We will avenge the death of the South African ambassador,

of Foreign Minister Maurice Yoborganobo,

of Roberto Cuoma,

of Colonel Rosario,

of Gutierrez and Molina,

and of the mayor of El Paraiso.

These shit-faced subversives

that have sold our country out to the communists will die.

Erlich, Zaun, Kelly, Duarte, et cetera, et cetera.

[guests applauding]

And these pseudo-journalists

sent here by the Zionist-communist conspiracy

to divide and confuse our people,

they will die.

Now...

who will be the one...

among you...

to rid me of this Romero?

You will be famous.

As you well know,

I stand for nationalism,

law and order, and economic prosperity.

[bright music playing]

[Major Max] But more important, I stand for the church,

the family,

and a peaceful Salvador.

- [laughter] - [Major Max] Always peace.

[boy] Hey, Roberto, my man.

- [indistinct chattering] - [Doc] There you go.

- You like that? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah! - Ah!

[Doc] Yeah, yeah. Rock 'n' roll.

- Your tab is way high, ya know? - [Richard] I know, I know, I know.

You owe me 400 coldnes.

I'm trying to run a restaurant, man, not a fuckin' bank.

I know. Okay? Listen, I got an NBC radio gig in the works.

I got a CNN feed with Cunningham tomorrow. I'm hot again. Okay?

Come on, have I ever stiffed you in 10 fuckin' years? Come on.

Alright? I'll pay you the whole thing next week, scout's honor.

Okay. Don't tell Elena.

- She'll kill me, man. - Alright.

Besides being a prince, do you think you could throw in, like,

100 colénes cash? You know, just, kind of just walking-around money--

- in front of-- - [scoffs]

Come on. In front of Maria?

I don't want to look like a jerk, you understand? Okay?

- You're doing this to me again. - I'll make it--

I'll make it a 750 even, okay?

Okay, man.

...who are the masters of deception.

Christian democrat green on the outside.

[indistinct chattering] [knife bangs]

Moscow red on the inside.

[speaking Spanish]

[Spanish music playing]

[Major Max] Listen to your conscience.

Who is making more violence?

Terrorists?

[boys laughing, chattering in Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

Come on. Hold her.

Hey. Hey. Carlos!

Carlos, Roberto. Come on, come on.

Get down, huh?

Come on. Come on. This isn't funny. Come on.

[speaking Spanish] Come on. [speaking Spanish] Hey, hey.

[speaking Spanish] Hey, hey!

Sit down!

[music continues]

[boys chattering in Spanish]

[waiter speaking Spanish]

It's getting dangerous here.

Hmm.

Yes, we're living in a bad time.

Like 1932 again, I detect a bad feeling in the air.

[Spanish music playing] [indistinct chattering]

- Boyle. Boyle! - Yeah?

This stuff's like white lightning, this Tic Tack.

You keep drinking that stuff, Doc,

you're going to end up in the street begging for bottles.

I'm not kidding you. You will.

[Maria speaking Spanish]

[man] Hey.

You and your friends are really funny.

Yes, but you'd look better without your balls.

[man laughing] [Carlos speaking Spanish]

How 'bout I cut yours off!

C'mon, who are you, huh?

Get off the fucking car, huh?

Uh-huh. Ah-ah!

[Richard] Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey.

- [laughing] - [Richard] Shut up, Doc! Alright? Uh...

[speaking Spanish]

Cervezas for the amigos, huh? Huh? Cervezas?

[singing in Spanish]

Get in the car, Doc.

Cervezas Supremo, huh?

How about some beers for everybody?

Get in the car, Doc.

Let's go to the beach. I've got my pickup truck.

Me with you? Not even to church. Why don't you ask your mother?

- [indistinct shouting] - [Doc] Hey! Hey, hey! Hey!

Hey, what are you doing?

- [Maria] Carlos! - Jesus!

[Richard] Ah! Amigo, huh? Cerveza.

Huh? Cervezas Supremo. Huh?

Cabrén, get in the car.

Doc, get in the car.

[Richard speaking Spanish]

How did you get all those marks on your face?

Couldn't keep your hands off the old blackheads in high school, huh?

Doc, the guy's a death squadder. Now, have you got it?

Get in the car.

- [man laughing] - [Richard] Okay?

[speaking Spanish]

[men and boys shouting in Spanish] [baby crying]

[speaking Spanish]

- Fucking Christ. - [baby continues crying]

[speaking Spanish] [car starting]

- [Roberto shouts in Spanish] - [Richard] No, no, no. [speaks Spanish]

[indistinct shouting in Spanish]

You can drop me here.

Where are you going?

I'm going up with the guerrillas in the mountains.

What about your parents? What will they say?

She knows.

It's not safe here anymore.

I go. Okay?

You might join them?

[speaking Spanish]

In my country, amigo, there is no more god.

- [Maria speaking Spanish] - [Richard] Huh?

They took Carlos and Dr. Rock! They saw the marijuana!

[Richard] What?

Wha--okay, okay! I'll take care of it.

Go in the house. Go in the house. I'll take care of it.

- Maria, you don't have a cedula. - You have to do some--

- You have to go. I will do it! - What are you talking about?!

He's my brother!

- l know he's your brother but-- - We have to go and get him!

...he wouldn't be there!

- Now get in the fucking house! - [Maria shouting indistinctly]

[Richard] I'll take care of it!

[men laughing, chattering in Spanish]

[men speaking Spanish]

[Doc grunting] Fuck!

[all speaking Spanish]

No, no, no, it's okay.

- Senor, it's okay? - [captain shouting in Spanish]

- Senor, Senor, it's okay? - [Richard speaking Spanish]

It's okay, it's okay.

[both speaking Spanish] [man laughing]

[Doc] Boyle, get me the fuck out of here!

[Richard] Doc, you wanna live? Shut up!

[both speaking Spanish]

They're marihuanos. Subversives.

[all speaking Spanish]

[both speaking Spanish]

[laughing]

[Cathy and Richard speaking Spanish]

Eh?

[Richard and captain speaking Spanish]

[all speaking Spanish]

- Doc, go, go, go! - [captain speaks Spanish]

- Just get out of here. Go, man. Go, go. - [Cathy speaking indistinctly]

- Take him out, take him out. - [captain speaks Spanish]

[both speaking Spanish]

No, he's a bad kid. No respect.

He stays here. Or you stay as well.

[Carlos speaking Spanish] [captain and Richard speaking Spanish]

Oh, no. [laughs] Okay.

[speaking Spanish]

Don't go! Don't...

[Richard] Carlos. Carlos, just stay cool, man.

I'll get you out. Okay?

You're going!

[crowd shouting]

- Hello, Cathy, how are you? - [Richard] Thank you.

- [Cathy] I'm fine. - You look a little tired.

No, no, I'm fine. Ambassador Kelly, Richard Boyle.

- How do you do, sir? - Good to see you again, Richard.

Oh, you--you remember me from the party?

- l certainly do. - Oh, God, I'm sorry, but, you know,

I had actually written two articles about you

in Cambodia,

- about the fall of Phnom Penh. - Is that right?

- Really? - Yes.

And I was the last American journalist out.

Schanberg was running to get his Pulitzer Prize

and I was almost getting cholera,

but we managed to save 1,100 refugees from the Khmer Rouge.

Terrible thing, what they did to that country.

[Richard] Yes, sir, it was.

Were you, uh, one of the people writing them up as the good guys

there for a while?

Yes, uh, yes, sir, I'm afraid I was wrong on that one.

But you know, a lot of people were, a lot of people...

Yeah, well, from our intelligence,

if these guys running around the hills here ever took to power,

they'd make the Pol Pot incident look like a picnic.

Respectfully, sir, are they as bad as Major Max and the Mano Blanco?

I don't know.

We got a pathological killer on our right,

and God knows what on the left, and a gutless middle.

Now anyway, Boyle, about your problem here...

Carol here has checked with the National Guard, the Treasury Police,

the National Police, the regular army--

Nobody seems to know anything about this boy.

We think that might've been--

With all due respect, Ambassador, they're lying.

He didn't just disappear.

Nobody just disappears in El Salvador.

They got him.

Carol, have you cross-checked with the Human Rights Department?

Oh, the Human Rights Office?!

They rearranged this kid's molecules

- and they took their time about it! - Richard.

He is dying out there right now while we're talking!

Those fucks--he's just a kid! He's just a kid!

- Richard-- - [Richard] Look, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

- Richard, please calm down. - Okay. I'm sorry.

Ambassador, look, his sister, she's my girlfriend

and she's on the shit list.

I gotta get a cedula for her. She doesn't have one.

I mean, they could come tonight, they could take her away,

and they could kill her too.

Richard, Richard...

That doesn't have anything to do with us.

Now, you know the laws of this country.

She's gonna have to go back to her hometown.

- Her ho-- - [Kelly] Where's she from?

Morazan, sir. She can't get anywhere near there.

If she gets near there, the guards will kill her as a suspected G--

These fucks...

Alright, alright. Look, I'll do the best I can but it's very, very tough.

I mean, everybody's in the same boat.

There are thousands of people in the same predicament.

Everybody wants a cedula.

Let me ask you this. Uh...

What if I married her?

Richard, you're already married.

Sir, I know you're very busy. Thank you very much for your time.

- But that's in the States. - Richard--

And this is El Salvador. Suppose I just-- if I married her, would that--

I'll do whatever I can. I will.

- Okay, thank you, sir. - Okay.

[Richard stammers] Maybe you could talk to immigration.

Maybe they'd have a different angle--

Just--just--just, let me see what I can do.

- Fine. - Thank you.

Now, June and I want to see you at the Christmas party, alright?

- Mm-hmm. - Maybe I could, like,

keep in touch with you and we could just talk over

- some ideas. - [Kelly] Yeah, sure, okay.

- l give up on you! - What do you mean you give up?

I give up! Every time we try to get something done--

He liked me, this guy. He liked me.

- What's goin' on? - l gotta get a cedula for Maria.

Maria.

- Maria-- - [Maria] What happened?

They can't find Carlos yet,

but the American ambassador is personally involved.

See, the thing is, though, you're in great danger.

Without a cedula,

they can grab you at any time. [speaks Spanish]

So I've been thinking about something and

what I think we should do...

Marry me.

What?

We could have a family together.

Douglas and Reina and you and me, we could go to the States--

But Carlos, what about him?

And Carlos, yes, Carlos too, when we find him.

- See? - You already have a wife.

Oh, no, no, that's been over, six months.

I mean, I got a divorce, see? I never told you.

- [Peter] Hey, Boyle. - Uh, just a sec.

Hey, Peter!

- Atlanta's gonna give you a shot. - No!

- If you fuck up this time, Boyle-- - Not a chance, not a chance.

- Oh, that's great, Peter. Thanks, man. - Right.

- Well, I want some real stuff on the Gs. - Right, okay.

You sure you're set with Alvarez?

We're like this. No problem.

Okay, you got a camera,

- got a crew together-- - Great!

...you got the Araya press conference tomorrow.

Right, Major Max.

- Major Max is gonna declare for president. - Right, great.

Now, I'm going to Venezuela so

- you are gonna have to cover for me, okay? - Oh, that's great!

- Oh! You're a mensch. - Doin' the job, Rich.

Okay, Peter, listen. Could you loan me 50 bucks?

I'm a little low, okay?

You don't change, do ya, Boyle?

- Let's see what we got here. - Oh, 100 dollars--

- Get out of it! - Okay.

200 of them. You owe me.

200 coldénes?

- Out of my own pocket... - Right.

So no whores.

- Okay. - Do a good job, Boyle.

Okay, thanks. You're a mensch. You're great. Thanks.

[both speaking Spanish]

- So what? - l can't marry a divorced man.

Oh, God.

And you, Richard, are a bad Catholic in all ways.

[stammers] How am I a bad Catholic?

- You're living in sin. - [stammers] No, I'm not.

You drink.

I--okay, yeah, once in a while I have a drink.

- You sleep with many women. - [exhales sharply]

You smoke marijuana.

- No. That was Rock's. He's a troublemaker. - And you lie.

- I, well... - You scheme and scam.

What is good or decent about you?

What redemption can you expect?

Well, none, I guess. But, look. Okay. Okay, you got a point.

Okay? I am a fucking weasel. There's no doubt about it.

But think about this. If I went to church--

I haven't been to church in 30 years, but,

if I went and I took confession,

and we went to communion together--

A redemption. That would be great!

We could go to Archbishop Romero.

You know, he knows me. He likes me very much.

I could become like a lay Catholic worker. It'd be wonderful.

I could get a little basket and collect coins and do all--

You know, I feel good about this. I do. This redemption thing is--is good.

I feel cleansed already.

[Doc] Hey, you want some of this here?

[Richard] No. No. No more marijuana.

You know, I'm going to talk to this Archbishop Romero.

You know, it's possible he could annul my marriage to Claudia.

I mean, she was a commie atheist anyway.

I want to talk to him about this seriously.

He's a very good man.

He's a man of the people, he's a man of God.

You know, Doc, they say this man's gonna win the Nobel Peace Prize.

- [Doc] Hey, what's this? - [crowd shouting]

- [bell ringing] - [Doc] Another demonstration, Boyle?

Calm down, take it easy...

[shouting continues] [Ramon continues speaking Spanish]

Stop! Stop, please!

I have orders to evacuate the plaza. In five minutes. Do you understand me?

I have superior orders signed.

Why don't you stop the repression?

No matter - five minutes or violence.

Why don't you do something about the Disappeared?

Violence! You understand me?

[speaks Spanish] [crowd shouting]

[Ramon speaking Spanish]

Stop the repression!

[boots thudding] [Ramon continues in Spanish]

[shouting continues] [inaudible dialogue]

[priest] Are you following the way of Christ?

[sighs] [organ music playing]

Not exactly. I mean in my heart, yes.

But I've done a lot of, you know, of, you know...

carnal sins and I've drunk a lot of alcohol.

I've done some drugs.

I kinda weaseled around a lot in my life, you know what I mean?

You know, trying to get the edge all the time,

but basically I would say that I'm a goodhearted person.

I haven't really done anything malicious in my life.

Um, I haven't done anything really very great in my life, either, you know.

I've tried to do some things, tried to find some truth.

And I do love this woman. For her, I...

[priest] You're willing to change for this woman?

For this woman, I'm willing to change.

I mean, not just... mean, I would...

If God gave me this woman,

then there must be a God.

And so if he knows what's right,

then I would do what's right by him.

[priest] Just repent, change your ways.

That's gonna be a little tough.

You know? [mutters]

[priest] You love this woman,

you will be willing to change.

Okay. I can still drink and

take a few hits of a joint or something once in a while though, right?

That's okay?

[priest] 12 Our Fathers,

10 Hail Mary's, an act of contrition.

That's it?

[priest] Ask the lord for forgiveness from your heart.

From my heart.

[sighs, laughs]

uh, if I'd known this, I would have come earlier.

You know, before 33 years. You know?

[priest] You should have come earlier, yes.

I'll come back.

- [priest] Next time, don't wait so long. - Okay. Thank you, Father.

[priest speaking Spanish]

The governing junta has good intentions with their promises of land reform...

and their desire to control...

the so-called paramilitary forces in the army.

But, sadly, it is a failure...

because the power within the junta is the Army...

and the Army itself is an obstacle to the reign of God.

They know only how to repress the people...

and defend the interests of the rich oligarchy.

[speaking Spanish] [people murmuring]

I have called upon the United States repeatedly...

to stop all military aid to this Army...

until it satisfactorily resolves the problems of the Disappeared...

and submits itself to civilian control.

When a dictatorship seriously violates human rights...

and attacks the common good of the nation...

When it becomes unbearable and closes all channels of dialogue...

When this happens, the Church speaks...

of the legitimate right of insurrectional violence!

[people murmuring]

We are poor. You in Washington are so rich.

[man coughing]

Why are you so blind?

My children...

you must look to yourselves...

in this sad time for El Salvador.

I wish to close with an appeal to the men of the Army...

and in particular, the National Guard.

Brothers, you are part of our people.

Yet you kill your own peasant brothers and sisters.

But before a man may Kill, the law of God must prevail.

And that law says, "Thou shall not kill."

No soldier is obliged to obey an order against the law of God.

Violence on all sides is wrong.

Violence is wrong.

In the name of God, and in the name of these suffering people...

whose laments rise to Heaven each day more tumultuous...

I beg you...

I ask you...

I order you in the name of God...

stop the repression!

[indistinct chattering]

[organ plays]

[Archbishop Romero speaking Latin]

Amen.

[Archbishop Romero speaking Latin]

[whispers] Amen.

[Archbishop Romero speaking Latin]

[organ continues]

[Archbishop Romero speaking Latin]

[spits]

[speaks Spanish]

[gunshots blasting] [crowd screaming]

[dark dramatic music]

[gunshot fires]

[Richard] Go!

[Doc] Richard! Richard!

Here! Go! Get to the streets! Go!

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[screaming continues] [gunshots]

[music continues] [gunshots continue]

- Go! Get off! - [Maria screams]

[rapid gunfire blasting]

[speaking Spanish]

[dark somber music]

Arrest him for the murder of the Archbishop Romero.

[dramatic music]

[Carmen shouting in Spanish]

[John] No!

No!

Taxi! Taxi!

- [tires screech] - [Richard] Stop! Get in the car!

[dramatic emotional music]

[gunshot]

[crowd shouting]

[Carmen] Ramon!

Ramon!

[machine-gun fire] [crowd screaming]

[Major Max] As you well know, I did not agree with the bishop.

He sometimes got carried away with his politics.

He did not understand that with the left in power,

there will be no church in this country

and he would be out of a job.

[crowd laughing]

- [Richard] Mr. Casanova! - [Major Max] But in my book,

it was the subversives that killed him,

no question,

to provoke this atmosphere, this cause.

- [Richard] Mr. Casanova, sir! - [reporters clamoring]

[Richard] Mr. Casanova! It is widely rumored, sir,

that you are the head the death squads terrorizing the countryside and the city.

- Would you care to comment? - [indistinct chattering]

[speaking Spanish]

[John] I think you're pressing your luck, Boyle.

[Pauline] Nice going, Boyle.

I really resent that question.

Get the fuck off me!

Why do you never ask the communists this?

They are not the only victims.

We have victims, too.

Seior, there are no death squads in El Salvador.

[Richard] Okay, back to him.

[Major Max] The outrage of the people against the communist threat

cannot be stopped or organized by anybody.

- [Richard] Sir! Sir! Mr. Casanova, sir! - [Pauline] Sir, please, I have a question!

- Sir! - [Richard] Sir!

[Pauline] Sir!

Sir, polls show you trail with the Christian democrats.

Are you sure you can still capture both the Catholic and the women's vote?

That's a bullshit question. [speaks indistinctly]

[girls singing in Spanish] [indistinct chattering]

There you go. Like a Nazi, it looks nice, huh? Do you mind?

I'll buy it for my sister. Ooh! Looks good, huh?

Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes.

Come here. Mr. Gomez?

Mr. Gomez, a question, please.

Hey, get him, get him.

No interview with this piece of shit.

- [Richard] What? What the shit?! - [camera clattering]

- [Richard] Hey, hey, come on, man! - [camera shatters]

- What are you doing? - [indistinct shouting]

[speaking Spanish]

Come on, what are you gonna do about it,

- you fat asshole? Come on! - [Gomez shouts in Spanish]

[man] Mr. Gomez, this is not going to fly, alright?

[woman] Think about your image.

We don't give a shit about your image!

- l want to cut your balls off, Boyle! - Calm down.

- Calm down! - [Gomez shouts indistinctly]

Why don't you do it yourself instead of your dogs?

- Huh? What are you gonna do, huh? - [camera shutters clicking]

- Huh? You chickenshit! - Settle down.

[Richard] Jeez!

Hi. Are you guys from Washington? Huh?

[camera shutters clicking]

[reporters clamoring]

[Pauline] You're a real pro, Boyle.

[Doc speaking Spanish]

[engine revving]

[Richard] Doc! Doc, where's Maria?

Boyle! Boyle!

They found Carlos, man.

[Richard] Where?

- He's fucked up. - [Richard] Where is he?

Over there, man.

He's really fucked up bad, man.

Gimme that, fucker! Gimme that, you fuckin'...

[indistinct chattering, shouting]

[shutter clicks]

[ominous music]

[shutter clicks]

- [Cathy shouting in Spanish] - You're a monster, you know that?

[Cathy] Please, Seiior! [speaks Spanish]

[Sister] He was our altar boy and I want him buried now, damn it!

[indistinct chattering] [music continues]

[car approaches]

[car doors slam]

Maria, please.

- Don't touch me! - Listen to me.

It's not my fault. He was acting stupid.

- Because of you, he changed! - Why are you blaming me?

What are you talk--Maria, just don't-- Ever since you've gotten here, there's been nothing but problems.

- [Maria shouting in Spanish] - It wasn't my fault! What...

You're a pathetic worm, Boyle.

Have a drink.

Damn it.

Damn it.

I really love her, man. I mean...

She and the kids were like the only decent thing

I ever fucking had in my whole life, and--and...

[sighs]

I don't know why I'm living anymore.

Come on. Let's get the fuck out of here.

[Richard groaning] [glass shatters]

[upbeat music playing] [indistinct chattering]

Excuse me, do you-- [belches]

Excuse me...

[John] Sorry.

[Richard] Oh, hey...

Oh, yeah. Hi.

[woman] Hi!

That's all I got, is 10.

15.

Come on, I was only in there five minutes.

The guy kept interrupting me, you know.

I woulda been outta there faster if he didn't interrupt me.

All I got is 10,

Okay, 10.

Ahh.

Ay!

[speaking Spanish]

[speaks Spanish]

Ay!

[bright music playing] [indistinct chattering]

[speaking Spanish]

[laughs]

[continues in Spanish]

- [Richard] You asshole. - Okay? Interest 50%.

- I'll give you 50% interest. - You know what you just said?

- What? - You just said you'd pay her

- in two menstrual cycles, you moron! - [laughing]

[speaking Spanish]

[Cathy speaks Spanish]

Para Carmen...

[indistinct chattering]

[Cathy] José.

[speaking Spanish]

[Richard] Wait, wait. Come on. Give me those. Those are mine.

[Doc] One for you, one for...

You know, I'm sure you don't need it,

- and I can't say I approve, but... - [bottle thuds]

Merry Christmas, Richard.

Oh! Ohh.

Oh! Get over here.

- [Cathy laughs] - Get over here!

Get over here! Mwah!

Oh, Richard.

Cathy, talk to Maria.

[stammers] I gotta get Maria back.

Just talk to Father Paul, she'll listen to him.

Richard, you're 42 years old.

You're old enough to be her father.

Forget her.

I'm in love with her!

[Doc] I love you, Richie.

I love you.

Father Paul has to file the papal orders. There's nothing he can do. You were--

Aah!

I hate that. I hate when you do that so much! I could--

[Cathy] What about your other wife and kid?

[Richard] She left me. She took my kid.

So what are you gonna do, bring Maria back to the States with you?

What's she gonna do up there, Richard?

Sell sno-cones on Fisherman's Wharf?

Down here, she has a purpose, she has a reason.

Up there in gringoland, she's nothing but a fish out of water.

Yeah, I know, I--

And besides, asshole, you don't have enough money to support her

or the kid you've already got.

[Richard] See, Cathy, I need to talk to you about like, my whole life.

It's like, such a mess.

- I'm like--I'm disgusting. - [Doc] Disgusting!

Richard, what are you doing here?

You're not making it as a journalist.

I'll make it again.

I will make it...again.

A white hand has been painted on the parish-house wall,

your altar boy is dead,

and the fucking Peace Corps has moved out.

I love it here.

I guess I can't go back.

I know.

I love it here, too.

Huh!

- [Richard] Will you have dinner with me? - [Cathy laughs]

- [Richard] Come and have dinner with me. - [Cathy] No, no.

- [Richard] Tomorrow night? - No, I really can't.

Besides, you smell.

I've gotta go to the airport tomorrow.

Two other nuns are in from Nicaragua.

Sometime?

Maybe.

Okay, y-you...you be careful on that road to the airport, okay?

Yeah.

[bright music playing]

Wait a minute.

I'll walk you to your car.

- Okay. - Merry Christmas, Richard.

Alright.

[Cathy] Okay, you be good.

- I will. - [Cathy] I don't trust you.

- I will! - [motorcycle engine starts]

Bye-bye, sailor.

Bye.

Whoops.

Gringo.

What do you say you and I take a walk down by the beach, gringo?

[laughing] I'm not going to the beach with you.

And I'll tell you something else. I'm not only a fuckin' Irishman,

I'm a

I'm a

- [knife clicks] - Come on.

I'm a fucking Viking!

Huh? And I'll take as many of these creeps to fucking Valhalla as I can!

- Ha! Ha! - [Lieutenant speaking Spanish]

You got a big mouth, Boyle.

Major Max has a present for you.

You gotta come down to the beach.

Come on, cocksucker! You're gonna have to fuckin' kill me!

You ain't fucking taking me alive, motherfuckers! Come on, come on!

Aah!

[men speaking Spanish]

- Ay! - [Richard grunting]

[Lieutenant speaking Spanish]

[both grunting]

[speaking Spanish] [gun clicks]

So you want to play a fucking game, Boyle.

- Yeah. - [Lieutenant] Yeah. Okay.

First I'll take your arms,

then I'll take your legs,

then I'll take your balls.

Sounds like a fun game?

[John speaking Spanish]

Okay, cocksuckers,

- how do you like these odds, huh? - [Richard groaning]

[John speaking Spanish]

You are an important man, Jefe.

[groaning]

A photograph for me?

Okay. Cassady.

[speaking Spanish] [shutter clicking]

[speaks Spanish]

Enough!

[speaks Spanish]

Boyle, I'll be back for you.

[Richard] Fuck you!

[men speaking Spanish]

[man laughing]

[speaking Spanish]

[Doc] Yeah, up yours, too, Jack.

- It's good to have you back. - [indistinct chattering]

Thought we'd be in Nicaragua forever.

[Cathy] Well, we've got a party planned for you.

[Sister] Really?

[Sister] There we go.

How was Nicaragua?

Oh, bad. There's no gasoline.

People have to line up for hours to get their food.

The war's been very, very destructive.

Oh, but on the other hand,

there's been no political execution of the Sampasistas.

- [siren wailing] - l can't believe this!

Looks like police. Get your passports ready, Sisters.

Why, what's the matter?

[siren wailing]

[siren fades]

[man laughing]

We have done nothing!

Don't!

- [men shouting] - [Cathy] These are sisters!

[Sister screams] [dark music]

I am a very good friend of Ambassador Kelly's

and you're going to be in a lot of trouble when he hears about this.

[Sister shouts in Spanish] [man yelling]

The fiesta is just beginning.

[Sister] Ow!

- [sisters crying] - [Sister] Lord, help me!

Jesus, please!

- [sisters sobbing] - [Sister 2] My God!

[men speaking Spanish]

[screaming] [man speaks Spanish]

[fabric tearing]

Oh, God, oh! Ah, Jesus!

[Cathy] Okay, okay.

[sisters sobbing] [music continues]

[screaming, crying]

- [Sister 2] Please, what's going on?! - [Cathy groans]

[man speaks indistinctly] [Cathy yelps]

- [speaking indistinctly] - [Cathy] Oh!

- [sobbing] Oh! - [man laughing]

No! [groans]

[music fades]

[speaks Spanish]

[flies buzzing] [indistinct chattering]

[man] Mr. Ambassador, please, could we speak with you?

[Pauline] The bodies of the four American women

missing since Tuesday were found here today

in a roadside grave

25 miles east of San Salvador.

The victims were identified as

[indistinct] from New York City

and lay worker Cathryn Moore from Cleveland, Ohio.

Although there has been no autopsy done yet,

it does appear that all four women were brutally raped and murdered.

I just heard five guards did it for 15 coldnes and a bottle of Tic Tack each.

Then they got this clown, the mayor, to sign the death certificates.

Will he talk?

Not if we can't keep him alive.

Yeah, what are the chances of that?

Slim to none. And he knows it.

Okay, you tell him he had no business

sighing death certificates without an autopsy.

I want one now

and I want to know if those bullets are rebel or government.

Yeah, you knew Cathy pretty well, didn't you?

What do you think?

You know, rumor has it that they may have run the roadblock

and there was an exchange of gunfire.

He said that the doctors won't do it because they don't have

- their o--their surgical masks. - Yes, they don't have

- their surgical masks. - No masks, huh?

Masks, huh? Okay, pal. Okay. Alright.

[speaking Spanish]

Alright, I'm recommending we cut off all aid as of today.

Sir, as I see it, they were coming in from Managua.

They were communist-oriented.

Maybe they got spooked at the roadblock. Maybe they were packing.

I mean, it just got out of control.

Pistol-packing nuns, my ass.

I knew Cathy Moore, Colonel.

There's no way you're gonna sell me that shit.

Sir, General Garcia has personally assured me of a complete investigation.

Oh. That's great. We let the fox investigate the chicken coop.

You must think I'm pretty stupid, Colonel.

I know all about you.

Reagan's little transition team came down here last month

to talk to Major Max without checkin' in with me.

It's all going in my report.

'Cause whatever you did,

you gave a clear signal to the Arana people and it resulted in this.

[melancholic music]

[group praying in Spanish]

[music fades]

[insects chirring] [foliage rustling]

[gentle music]

[vocalists singing in Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

[camera shutter clicking]

We want to do a real in-depth and sympathetic portrait.

[Comandante Marti] For the first time, our four armies are united.

[speaking Spanish]

We now control the northern third of Chalatenango province in the west

COMANDANTE MARTI Nom de Guerre

and Morazan province in the east.

We're calling on all government troops to join our final offensive

and the people to rise up.

We will take all major cities,

Santa Ana, San Vicente, San Miguel.

Then San Salvador will fall.

When, captain?

Before Reagan.

And you think you're ready?

I mean, with 4,000 troops take all of El Salvador?

The odds are the Pentagon won't let that happen, sir.

The will of the people and the march of history

cannot be changed, not even by the North Americanos.

[gentle music] [vocalists singing in Spanish]

What does it say?

"Leticia cleans her gun."

oth speaking Spanis [both king S ish] [music continues]

[music continues] [children chattering]

You be careful on your way outta here, alright?

Oh, don't worry, man. I've been doing this long enough.

- Alright, I'm serious though. - And thanks, huh?

- Okay. - [Peter] And good luck!

- Okay. Bye-bye, all. Thank you. Okay. - [indistinct chattering]

[Richard speaking Spanish]

[music fades]

This doesn't show much.

You know, I really stuck my neck out for you, Boyle.

You're not too popular around here.

- Where were these taken? - l can't tell you that, Colonel.

But you can see it's mostly old stuff.

I mean, shotguns, bolt action rifles, some captured Belgian FLNs.

Look at this. 50 cals. 120 mic-mics ripped off government troops.

- Thank you. - Any antiaircraft stuff?

- Any SAMs? - Nothing.

[speaking Spanish]

Okay, so what about it?

How about a cedula for my woman and her two kids?

There's not much here or you're not telling us everything.

Oh, Christ!

What about recoilless rifles, RPGs?

[Richard] Look, they're in shit shape. They're getting nothing.

Come on, Jack, when are you gonna believe what your eyes see

and not what military intelligence tells you to--to--to think?

Listen, Boyle. We got AWACS, infrareds,

statements from a defecting FARN comandante,

and enough military intel to prove 10,000%

that this ain't no civil war,

but outright commie aggression.

You guys have been lying about that from the beginning.

You have not presented one shred of proof to the American public

that this is anything other than a legitimate peasant revolution.

So please don't start telling me about the sanctity of military intelligence,

not after Chile or Vietnam. I was there, remember?

You know, I personally resent that kinda shit.

Well, then resent it, okay?

You've been lying about the number of advisers here.

You've been lying about the trainers here in TDY.

[Hyde] Bullshit.

You've been lying about switching so-called humanitarian assistance money

to Salvadoran military coffers.

And you've been lying saying that this war can be won militarily,

which it can't.

- Of course it can. - Oh--

Hey, now calm down, Boyle. I'm sorry that we--

And I'm not gonna listen to this wino-journalist

left-wing commie crap, Jack.

Now we know where this guy's

- sympathies lie. - [woman] Hi, Jack.

I don't even see why we're talkin' to him.

- [man] See you at club, Jack! Look, Richard. Right!

You saw Marti.

Now we know they're starting some kind of an offensive.

Hey, I'm not a fucking spy for you guys.

Left-wing, Colonel? Well, maybe.

But I'm not a communist.

And you guys never, ever seem to be able to tell the difference.

- Is that a fact? - Yeah, it's a fact.

You know, I love my country as much as you do.

That may surprise you.

You are the ones who trained Major Max in the Police Academy in Washington.

You were the ones who trained José Medrano and René Chacon.

You trained them how to torture and how to Kill,

and then you sent them here. And what did Chacén give us?

He gave us the Mano Blanco.

I mean, what other death squads were the brainchild of the CIA?

But you'll run with them because they're anti-Moscow.

[Hyde] Bullshit!

You let them close down the universities.

You let them wipe out the best minds in the country.

- Bullshit! You let them kill whoever they want!

You let them wipe out the Catholic Church,

and you let them do it all because they aren't commies.

And that, Colonel, is bullshit.

You've created Major Frankenstein.

Yeah, we can control him.

Yeah, well, like you control the Major Maxes in--

Well, look who's here.

- [Hyde] Well, hi. - ...Chile and Guatemala?

- [Hyde] You lose your sea legs yet? - And Argentina?

What about Pol Pot and Castro?

Are they any better?

- What about Pol Pot and Castro? - Yeah.

I don't know if they're better.

All I know is that some campesino who can't read or write,

or feed his own family has to watch his kid die of malnutrition.

Do you think he gives a shit about Marxism or capitalism?

It was that kind of crap thinking that lost us Vietnam, this guilt shit.

You liberal assholes.

What the hell do you think the KGB's doing, huh?

[Richard] Is that why you guys are here? Hm?

Some kind of post-Vietham experience?

Like you need a re-run or something?

You pour 120 million bucks into this place,

you turn it into a military zone so, what?

So you can have chopper parades in the sky?

You're blowin' it out your ass, Boyle.

All you're doin' is bringing misery to these people, Jack.

I don't want to see another Vietnam.

I don't wanna see America get another bad rap.

I lost my hearing in this ear over there. What do you think I did that for?

$15 a photo from Pacific News Service?

I did it because I believe in America.

I believe that we stand for something.

For a constitution.

For human rights.

Not just for a few people,

but for everybody on this planet.

Jack...

you gotta think of the people first.

In the name of human decency,

something we Americans are supposed to believe in,

you gotta at least try and make something of a just society here.

Look, Richard. It's all part of our national plan.

We do do a lot of good down here.

You know, I'm often asked by people like yourself

to examine my conscience,

and every now and then I do examine it.

[Richard] What do you find there, Jack?

That whatever mistakes we make down here,

the alternative would be 10 times worse.

Maybe I'll just, like,

forge a cedula for my girlfriend.

They're on the house.

Boyle.

Boyle!

There's something that you should know.

My Salvo counterparts are mighty pissed about some muy malo periodistas

going out with the terrorists.

They figure they can catch one of these guys,

they're gonna make a lesson out of him.

Look, I'll get out of your hair, okay?

Just get me a cedula for my girlfriend and her two kids.

I'm gone, alright?

Getting a cedula for your whore girlfriend's

the least of your problems, Boyle.

Now personally, I don't give a shit if they kill you or not.

I happen to hate the species you belong to.

But I'm telling you, they're serious.

If I were you, I'd get my rubber shoes on

and get to the airport.

You' know, you're gonna fit in here really well. You know that?

You sound just like another gangster.

Dumb fuck!

A panning shot for the beginning of the interview, okay?

- [man speaking Spanish over PA] - Just come over here.

Excuse me, could you tell me your name, please?

[man] I'm sorry ma'am, we have orders not to speak to the press.

Thank you, Private. Appreciate it.

Excuse me, Private, can you tell me your name, please?

No, I'm sorry, ma'am, I cannot.

How 'bout telling me where you're from?

Uh, okay, I'm from Long Island, New York.

[chuckles] Thanks a lot. Well, welcome to El Salvador.

What do you think so far

Well, it's not bad, but I'm a little anxious to watch a Giant game.

- [laughing] - Do you know where a TV is?

I don't know. Maybe you'll get ahold of one.

- Thank you. - Thanks, soldier.

Excuse me, Colonel. Hi, I'm Pauline Axelrod, ANS News.

Can you please tell me, does this signal a build-up

of US combat troops here in El Salvador?

Ma'am, these are not combat troops.

They are trainers, officially authorized by Congress.

I have no further comment.

Thank you, sir.

This is Pauline Axelrod, ANS News, San Salvador.

Well, listen, you got one thing going for you,

that is, Maria still cares about you.

She does!

You know, if I were you, I'd straighten up my act

and go back to that woman on my knees.

Doc. Please.

Alright, man. Just trying to help you.

Doc!

Wilma! Hi. How are you?

- [Wilma] Fine. - Oh, uh, Boyle, did you meet Wilma?

You know Wilma?

- Nah. - Hola.

Is this Wilma from the Panama Club?

Yeah, well, you know, she's straightened up her act, you know.

- Yeah. - And look, look at this.

- Bagel Two, huh, yeah? - [Richard chuckles]

- [woman speaking Spanish] - [Doc] You like the dog?

That's great, Doc.

Come on, Doc, let's go.

- Okay. - She wants to take me shopping.

Honey, could you do something about these drinks?

Yeah, lemme, just, uh, just a couple bucks.

What's this?

You know, she had a long career.

Yeah.

- Thanks, Doc. - See you later.

[man speaking Spanish on PA]

- Hey, Rich. - Hey, John.

- You still got your wheels? - Yeah.

The Gs just hit Santa Ana.

Wait, John, John, I-1 gotta stop in La Libertad.

- No, Jesus Christ, no. - I--1 gotta see Maria!

Then--then...then go without me.

Fuck! Alright. Come on.

[explosions rumbling in distance] [horn honks]

[somber emotional music]

Maria.

[explosion rumbling in distance]

[music swells]

[Maria crying]

[speaks Spanish]

[pig squealing]

[indistinct chattering] [squealing continues]

[man speaking Spanish over bullhorn] [gunfire in distance]

[gunfire in distance]

[man continues speaking Spanish over bullhorn]

[camera shutter clicking] [gunfire in distance]

[speaking Spanish]

[men speaking Spanish]

[people screaming]

[gunfire]

[camera shutter clicking]

[gunfire]

[explosion blasts] [glass breaks]

Shit!

[gunfire]

Oh, fuck!

[gunfire]

[gunfire continues]

[gunfire continues]

[Richard] I can't fucking see through here!

- [speaking Spanish] - [Richard] No, don't, don't! John!

Oh, fuck me!

[John and Richard shouting in Spanish]

[missile whooshing]

[gunfire continues] [man speaking Spanish]

[John shouting in Spanish]

[gunfire continues] [man speaking Spanish]

[missile whooshing]

[Richard] Fuck me!

[speaking Spanish]

[soldier shouts in Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

[missile whooshing]

[Richard shouts, grunts]

[gunfire continues]

- [clattering] - John!

Look!

[hooves thundering]

[gunfire]

- John! John! John, wait! Oh, shit. - [gunfire continues]

Are you crazy? John!

- [incoming projectile whistling] - Fuck!

John!

You crazy fucking fool! You're not that magic!

Today I am, Boyle.

[gunfire] [bright triumphant music]

- [Richard] John! - [John] Get the fuck out of here!

Get back!

[vocalist singing in Spanish]

[gunfire]

[singing continues]

[indistinct shouting] [horses whinnying, shorting]

[Jack] The Sandinistas have entered the war, sir.

We have a report of major equipment being unloaded in the Gulf of Fonseca.

Possibly troops, too.

[Kelly] Any back-up on this?

Sir, there's no time. Santa Ana has fallen.

The country's split in half.

The first army's getting wiped out.

The situation is deteriorating much faster than we expected.

El Salvador will fall within 48 hours.

24. Their air force has got no ammo, no gas.

We either restore military aid right now

or we go to phase three.

82nd Airborne is on alert and the Marines are in position on the Ranger.

- [Kelly] God Almighty. - What do you want to do, sir?

Alright, what I don't want to do is get steamrollered into anything.

Now get some substantiation on this Nicaraguan stuff!

Sir, we can't do that. That would take days.

Sir, if we don't give the order to evacuate soon,

I can't be responsible for the safety of this embassy

or the American community here.

Listen, Tom.

Come on, we all know you're gonna be leaving here in a couple of days.

That's not the issue here.

The issue is

do you want to go down in the history books

as the man who lost El Salvador?

That's hardly the issue here!

We're talking about human lives here!

We're not playing some computer game!

Jesus! History books!

God!

[gentle guitar music]

[gunfire in distance]

[vocalists singing in Spanish]

[gunfire continues] [explosions rumbling]

The line is dead, sir.

Where the fuck are the Americans?

[singing continues]

[shouts]

Sir, you have a decision to make.

Alright.

Okay.

I'll recommend that we restore all military aid.

Give the order to release the fuel and armaments at llopango.

Yes, sir.

[telephone rotary whirring]

[dramatic music]

[music fades]

[shouting in Spanish] [missile whooshing]

Figueroa's broken through.

They're coming! Tanks!

Don't let Figueroa pass! I'll hold the front!

- What about the prisoners? - I'll take care of them.

My 120 is fucked up.

[engines rumbling]

Tanks?

Panhards.

- Ah, shit! - [man shouting in Spanish]

John, can you lay two more rolls of Tri-X on me?

[gunshot blasts]

[shouting in Spanish continues]

[gunshot blasts]

[indistinct shouting]

[gunshot blasts]

No pictures!

[speaking Spanish]

[gunshot blasts]

[man speaking Spanish] [gunshot blasts]

- [man speaking Spanish] - Is this your sense of justice?

It's necessary. Get them out of here.

You've become just like them.

You've become just like them!

It's war!

You don't have the stomach for it. Get out!

[man speaking Spanish]

[camera shutter clicks] [gunshot blasts]

[Richard] You've become just like them!

[bells clanging]

[intense music]

[missiles whooshing]

[Richard] No, no, no, no, John, just--

[indistinct shouting]

[gunfire]

[people screaming] [gunfire]

[music continues]

[gunfire continues]

[people screaming]

[indistinct shouting]

[music continues]

[indistinct shouting] [gunfire continues]

[John] Get down!

[gunfire]

[gunfire]

[gunfire continues]

[projectile whooshing]

[people screaming]

[people screaming]

[indistinct shouting] [gunfire continues]

[camera shutter clicking]

Oh, motherfucker!

[music continues]

Do you believe this?

John! John, no!

[gunfire]

[gunfire] [John shouts]

John!

John!

John!

[gunfire] [intense music]

[Richard screams]

[music fades]

[indistinct shouting] [gunfire]

Oh, Jesus God.

Oh, God, John.

Lie and put your head down.

[gunfire]

Don't move.

Don't move.

Don't move.

[choking]

[choking]

[inhales]

Breathe out.

Breathe out!

Can you breathe?

Can you breathe?

[sucking]

[coughing]

Can you breathe?

Okay.

I got the-- I got the shot, Boyle.

- You got the shot. - [exhales]

[gurgling] Take it-- Take it to New York.

I'll get it there.

I'll take care of it.

I got it.

Oh, God!

Oh, Jesus God!

- John, you got the magic shot. - [gurgling]

You got it.

You're the best.

- [gurgling] - We kinda fucked up, didn't we?

Didn't we?

[Richard crying]

[bells tolling]

[person sobbing] [indistinct chattering]

[Richard] Ugh!

Come on, man, don't wipe it on your thing! Clean it. [groans]

Rich, are you okay?

- Oh, Doc. - You alright?

Oh yeah, man, give me a Valium or anything.

Here, I got something for you.

[Douglas speaks Spanish]

Oh.

Here's two.

God damn, that looks horrible.

Hey, hey, hey, hey! Where are you goin'?

- Wait, where are you going? - Where are you goin'?

Oh, great! Is it okay?

It's alright, man. It's alright, it'll be alright.

Hey, look, hey, hey, I've got some good news for you, man.

Look. Look what I got.

Bruja gave me some cedulas for Maria and the kids.

- What is that? - She did a pretty good job, man, really.

- Oh, good. - And look.

I got the, uh, I got your exit visa forged, too.

She kind of fucked up on that,

but--but I think it's gonna be alright. I think it'll work.

- Thank you. - [Doc] It'll work.

- Good. - [Doc] Hey, look.

You gotta get out of here, man.

Hacienda police were over at Roberto's last night looking for you.

They say you're in the country illegally.

Roberto said he thinks you're dead.

- Oh. - So you got to get outta here.

[engine rattling]

[bright flute music]

Okay.

When we get there, hang back.

If there's any trouble, call Kelly.

If Kelly's gone, Morgan'll help. Got it?

Okay, I heard you the first time. I know all about it.

- And Doc? - Huh?

I'm tellin' you, take care of yourself, man. Don't stay here too long.

- Don't become a Tic Tack monster. - [chuckling] Hey, come on.

They kill people here.

Boyle, you believe everything you read in the papers?

I'll miss you, Doc.

Yeah, yeah.

Sure.

Yeah, I'll miss you, too.

- Is that my watch? - [Doc] No.

Give it to me. C'mon. I'll need it at the border.

[Doc] Come on!

You cheap son of a bitch.

You say hi to gringoland for me, alright?

[speaking Spanish]

Via con, uh, "dos."

[speaking Spanish]

[Doc repeating Spanish]

You guys be careful.

[men speaking Spanish]

Jefe!

[both speaking Spanish]

It's fake.

Alright.

Alright, look, I'm not gonna bullshit you, alright?

It was a rush job.

I have to get back to America. I'm a very important journalist.

Newsweek. You understand?

Newsweek. Time.

You know, CBS. Big shot.

[speaks Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

So it's--it's--

- Senor? - It's very important.

[Maria speaking Spanish]

Maria, Maria!

- W-W-Where's he going? - [Maria speaks Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

Capitol. Oh, God! Fuck.

I got a--1 have a very important appointment in the capitol

with Ambassador--Ambassador Kelly

- and Mr. José Duarte. - [speaks Spanish] Richard Boyle.

- Uh, why don't you hold that? And um... - [man speaking Spanish]

- [speaking Spanish] - [Douglas] Mama!

[groaning]

[speaking Spanish]

[panting]

I'm a big fan of the Raiders, actually.

[men speaking Spanish]

The ambassador.

- You know, United States Embassy. - [man speaking Spanish over phone]

Uh, hello?

Hello!

[Richard speaking Spanish]

I like the White Hand a lot.

Tremble, tremble, Communists, with the instincts of animals...

Oh! [groans]

La Mano Blanca doesn't like you, fuckface!

You make trouble for Mr. Gomez?

Willy Gomez is a friend of mine!

That's funny. He wants you dead.

[speaking Spanish]

[man speaking Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

- Oh, God. Not that film! - [speaks Spanish]

That's the best war film of the year!

[boss speaking Spanish]

[dramatic music]

[Richard] No!

Cassady died getting it, you motherfuckers!

- [speaking Spanish] - Fuck you!

- He died getting that film! Fuck you! - [man speaking Spanish]

Fuck, you cocksuckers!

- [man speaking indistinctly over phone] - Boyle is about to fucking die!

And if he does, man, if he does,

your next job will be in Redondo counting fucking spears!

You understand that?!

Get the fuckin' ambassador on the phone now!

[airplane engines whirring]

[no audible dialogue]

[men speaking Spanish] [Richard groaning]

[coughing]

[men speaking Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

[men laughing]

[man] Let me have it.

Okay, now. I'm not kidding.

[man chuckles]

I got fi-- $50,000 in traveler's checks.

They're hidden, like, two kilometers from here.

You lie, you stupid gringo!

Don't castrate him in here. You'll make a mess. Shoot him.

[men speaking Spanish]

Yeah, well, you tell General Martinez

that I am still the ambassador to this country for another day.

I want those people out of there now,

or I'll make that day the worst day of his miserable, fucking life!

You got that, amigo?

Okay. Fuck it.

[spits]

Let's get it over with.

[cocks gun]

[labored breathing]

[gun clicks]

[boss speaking Spanish]

Are you kidding?

[men speaking Spanish]

[gun clicking]

[ominous music] [gun clicking]

[speaking Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

[grunts]

[men chattering in Spanish] [gentle music]

[speaking Spanish]

A little, umm, a little American trick here, huh?

- [laughter] - Hey!

[men speaking Spanish]

You know what that means?

It means you're all stupid cocksuckers.

[laughter] [speaking Spanish]

- Yeah! - [men speaking Spanish]

I hope you get anal herpes, okay?

Next.

- [Richard] Hi. - Where have you been, sir?

Oh, just went to Nogales for the afternoon with the wife and the kids.

Honey, did you remember to take the roast out of the oven?

Yes, honey. I took care of it.

[Douglas] When are we going to Disneyland?

Oh, Disneyland. I don't know. Next month.

He's getting spoiled, I'm tellin' you.

- Okay. Next. - Oh, great. Thanks.

Oh!

Come on.

[border agent] Where have you been, ma'am?

[Richard speaking Spanish]

[Maria] Yes.

I always dreamed to come to California.

[Richard] It's a wacko joint, not like El Salvador.

You can be what you want here. Do what you want...

as long as you got the money.

Hey, listen, maybe I'll get some of my Salvador stories published.

I could--l could write a story on John.

I think we're gonna be okay. Yeah.

I think we're gonna be okay.

[brakes squeak]

Why are we stopping here?

- [indistinct chattering] - Douglas? It's okay.

[officer] Ladies and gentlemen, please don't be alarmed.

- It's just a routine immigration check. - [speaking Spanish] Sit down.

- [officer 2] May I see your ID, sir? - [man] Uh, yeah, sure.

Will a driver's license do?

Just took the wife and the kids to Nogales for the day.

- Here you go. - Is that right? Are you his wife?

- What is he saying? - Yeah, of course she is.

Is there a problem, officer?

May I see some sort of identification, please?

What is he saying?

[speaking Spanish]

[speaking Spanish]

[stammers] What is the problem here?

Look, she's with me.

Look, she's been through hell in El Salvador, okay?

I'm a journalist, she's my researcher, and she's my assistant.

So I don't understand what the problem is here, officer,

Will you come with me, please? Bring your children.

[speaking Spanish]

Please.

Wait a minute. Hey, man. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

- [stammers] What are you doing? - Sit down, sir, please.

Wha--officer...

- Wait a--wait a minute, officer, can I-- - Hey. Sit down.

[Richard] Okay, I'll sit down, but I just wanna tell you she's been--

Richard, okay? Stop it, I go!

- [Richard] No--w-- - I go.

- What--but-- - [Maria] Take care.

But, Maria, wait!

I go, I'll be alright, okay?

Just take care of yourself.

[speaking Spanish]

Maria!

If you send her back, they will kill her.

They will rape her

and they will mutilate her if you send her back there! Maria!

Wait--I--

The kids! If you send the kids back, they'll kill 'em, too!

- Alright, asshole! - You don't know what it's like

- in El Salvador! - You're under arrest. Come on! Come on!

[Richard] You have no idea what it's like there!

- [passengers chattering] - [officer] Move it!

You have no idea!

Maria!

[emotional music]

- Maria! - [officer] Spread 'em!

Check point.

- [woman over radio] B3, go ahead. - Three illegals.

One female Latino and two children.

Bringing them in.

[engine revving] [woman speaks indistinctly over radio]

[officer] Also one WMA,

one Boyle, Richard.

Birthdate, 2-26-43.

- [woman over radio] Check, seven. - [officer] Check. 10-4.

[music continues]

[woman speaking indistinctly over radio]

Get him in there.

[engine starts]

[music fading]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]