Original subtitles

You know you're sitting on the grave of a hero?

What?

A woman who wasn't much older than you when she died.

Sorry.

I didn't realize.

The young never do.

Not their fault.

It happened long ago.

Vietnam?

Hmm. World War II.

I never realized women were buried here

or that any of them were heroes.

They were allheroes.

Especially the nurses.

She was a nurse?

Navy nurse in the Pacific.

And you knew her?

Mm-hmm.

Want to see her picture?

Sure.

Which one was she?

[theme song playing]

That was a long time ago.

That it was.

The Fourth and Fifth Marine Divisions were preparing

for the opening assault on Iwo Jima.

You could see a Navy Hospital ship just offshore.

She stayed with the fleet...

right where she was needed.

I hope the fleet won't have to keep this up all night.

Japs must be dug in deep.

Looks like the Fourth of July out there.

I don't think it's anything likethe Fourth of July, Joni.

I suppose not.

I can't even look at it.

You're going to have to get used to it, Jane.

Let her look away, if she wants.

She'll have plenty to get used to tomorrow

when the Marines land.

Well, I hope you girls aren't light sleepers.

-Cigarette? -No, thanks.

Joni, you miscounted the bandage rolls.

Would you please start again

and do it right this time?

Yes, ma'am.

How bad's it going to be?

It's not the Northern Lights you're looking at, honey.

Worst injury I ever saw was old Mr. Jenkins--

run over by his own tractor.

I haven't even seen thatmuch.

I just finished my Cadet Corps training.

If you didn't think you could stomach it,

you should have stayed home.

One mistake from you, honey,

and it makes the rest of us look bad.

She's just a kid, Lieutenant. Whysuch a hard case?

She's the same age as some of those Marines out there.

Well, maybe some of them are nervous, too.

Did you ever think about that, Lieutenant?

They'll rise to the occasion when called on,

and Ensign Connors will do the same.

She'd better.

You understand, Jane?

Yes, ma'am.

[soldiers shouting]

I need him downstairs in Thoracic.

-Prep him for surgery immediately. -Yes, sir.

Okay, take him to Thoracic, and prep him.

-Seaman Thomas! -Yes, sir.

Get him to the morgue.

I got him, sir.

Hey, buddy.

I need this man debride right now.

-Yes, sir. -Sorry.

Everyone who's conscious, up against the aft bulkhead.

I need some room to move around here!

-Yes, Commander. -You heard the doctor, ladies.

Move anyone who's ambulatory

-or stabilized. -Nurse.

Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?

You can get that doctor to get Corporal Tanner into a bath

or a Bunyan-Stannard envelope.

Lukewarm, weak saline, Salvarsan solution.

How do you...?

Oh, you're-you're a Corpsman.

You can't let the infection set in.

The doctor's seeing to him now.

Guess he'd be the better pick

to look after the Corporal.

You know, two eyes and all.

Please don't talk that way.

I'm going to lose my eye, sure as the day is long.

Want to put a little wager on it?

A sawbuck?

What do you say, angel puss?

I was nearsighted in that one anyway.

[Thomas] And that's why I alwaysask for gravy.

Price is the same, but it sticks to your ribs, right?

What's that?

I ain't never heard nothing like that before.

What you say? [laughing]

Jane, if you're not going to be working,

-then don't be here, please! -Yes, sir.

-I'm sorry. -Are you lost, Jane?

No, sir. I'll be fine.

Thank you, sir.

I've never seen a "C" for Catholic

on a Finkelstein before.

Converted, sir?

Possible clerical error.

Through this holy anointing and His most tender mercy,

may the Lord pardon what sins you have committed.

And for good measure--

Yeetgadal v'yeetkadash sh'mey rabbah.

[sobbing]

How's the pain, Marine?

Nothing I can't handle, ma'am.

Please call me Joni.

My name is James.

James Tanner.

Commander?

Commander?!

Send him to the ward. Albumin and morphine every two hours.

Well, just albumin and morphine, sir?

Quickly.

What about a course of penicillin?

We're running short on penicillin.

We are running short on everything.

-I know, but, sir... -Ensign, this is triage.

If you don't know what that means,

I suggest you ask someone!

Stanley Thomas, you are Gary Cooper.

What would Gary Cooper be doing here?

Just acting his behind off is all, sir.

A place like this can drive you crazy, huh, Thomas?

You think I got a screw loose upstairs, sir?

-Talking to the dead like they was living? -It's for them out there.

Those men don't need to know their buddies are on the way

to the morgue...

Very charitable of you, son.

I'm not a doctor, sir.

It's the most I can do for them.

[man] Don't do it right now!

Beverly, is he...?

Ma'am?

I'm not getting anything.

Don't you worry, ma'am.

I'll take it from here.

But he's still warm.

There's no pulse.

He's dead.

Move on.

Can we clear an aisle here?

[bombs exploding]

It's hard for you to talk about war.

Just 'cause something's hard to do

doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

Let me tell you, those Navy nurses were tops.

Good as doctors, some of them.

But we needed them for something more than that.

They were girls.

They brought a bit of home with them.

They made us feel normal, in spite of ourselves.

Oh!

That's just Jake.

I don't even know why we have to wear stockings.

You think the native Hawaiian girls wear stockings?

We're practically in the same part of the world.

I think we should wear grass skirts

and brassieres made of seashells.

You and your Hawaii.

You've never even been.

[bell clanging]

What is going on out there?

They took Suribachi.

This damn war can't last

much longer now.

I'm on shift in ten.

You just can't stay away

from that Lazarus Marine of yours.

His name is Lieutenant Ron Graham,

and he's hardly risen from the dead.

I'd stay away from Lieutenant Graham,

if I were you.

A concussion like that is unpredictable.

You almost sent the man to the morgue, after all.

I've seen it before.

A pretty nurse falls for a wounded man.

In the end, all she can do is watch him die.

[Jane] You shouldn't be trying

to help me, Petty Officer.

Corpsman or not, you need your rest.

Okay, Ensign Connors, okay.

But I'm going to keep an eye on you.

[chuckles]

What's the matter?

I'm nursing Groucho Marx.

Excuse me, sir, do you have a minute?

What's on your mind?

Actually, sir, Corporal Tanner.

He's been on my mind quite a lot, frankly.

Sir, we're not doing anything for him.

Even the Corpsman that brought him in

said he needed an antibiotic bath.

Do you suppose that this Corpsman

that you're speaking of

has spent any time in medical school?

We nurses train the Corpsmen, and you know that, sir.

Ensign, listen.

He's a 22-year-old man

with third-degree burns over 80% of his body.

You know the formula, don't you?

Yes, sir. Age plus burn area

equals likelihood of death.

Corporal Tanner's total is 102%.

The boy doesn't have a chance in the world.

All that we can hope to do

is keep him comfortable and wait.

No, sir, that's not all we can do.

This man is going to die.

It is your job to fluff his pillows

and tell him he is going to be fine.

Do you think you can manage that?

Why the long face?

It's the Corporal over there.

Dr. Rayburn says he's not going to make it.

[sighs]

I'm sorry, Joni.

[man coughing]

Don't fight it, Lieutenant.

It's okay.

Wake up, Lieutenant.

Come on, now.

It's okay.

That man can't hear you. His recovery's a matter

of intracranial pressure reduction, not your sweet talk.

Oh, and by the way, we're out of fluffs,

and five and ten glucose,

so maybe your time would be better spent in Supplies.

[man coughing]

You can hear me.

You know you can.

Come on.

Wake up now.

Nurse...

Beverly.

Where, where are my men?

They're here.

They're here with us.

You brought them this far.

You've done your job.

[explosions]

As you were, people.

The fleet's just keeping the pressure on.

Best thing you can do for the war effort

is your jobs.

[woman on film] Good night, Joe.

[man on film] Good night, honey.

I won't see you for breakfast.

I'm starting out real early.

[Jane] He makes me nervous, Beverly.

We should all have such problems, Jane.

A patient who's actually in a goodmood?

This one's in toogood a mood.

Petty Officer Rowe lost an eye,

and all he does is joke about it.

Hmm.

-Speak of the devil. -Excuse me.

I hope you don't mind me, uh, crowding in.

I'm only halfwatching the movie, anyways.

[man in film] What?

Who? Who? Higgins?

And there's no mistake.

How's your platoon leader, sailor?

Doing well, ma'am.

No small part thanks to you.

It's Dr. Rayburn you have to thank.

No, ma'am.

I know my way around the human condition,

and what you did for Lieutenant Graham, ma'am...

Well, let's just say it's something

you can't learn out of a book.

Is the Lieutenant awake now?

-I think so, ma'am. -Excuse me.

[man] I'll get that.

[woman] How are you going to get in the store?

- Don't worry how I get... -See that fellow there?

I used to look just like him.

[ukulele playing]

♪ I brought home a memory ♪

♪ And it won't stop haunting me ♪

♪ That Hawaiian melody ♪

Thank you, Joni.

Are you okay, Jimmy?

A little tired.

I'll let you rest.

No.

Please don't.

I'm... going to die...

aren't I...

Joni?

Now, you listen to me.

Nobody knows what's around the next corner.

And I figured, if I ever found myself

in the Pacific Ocean with an attractive man,

it would be on my honeymoon cruise.

Jimmy, don't you dare underestimate the power of hope.

My mama says that all the time.

Well, your mama's swell in my book.

[Graham] Nurse?

Nurse?

How's Corporal Tanner?

Well, just you rest, Marine.

Okay?

Look, there was...

there was another nurse here earlier.

Where-where is she?

I... Yes, I know who you mean, and she's off right now.

I'm the head nurse.

Is there something I can get for you?

Yeah. You can get me my boots, and help me get back out there.

Put that out right now! Marianne!

We are working with oxygen here.

You're going to light the whole ward up

like a bonfire. Smoke 'em on the deck.

It's all right. It's best to do that outside.

Doctor, please understand. They don't know any better.

Will you explain to them that O2 is flammable?

Lieutenant Graham...

you've made a miraculous recovery.

The other nurse said you were off tonight.

Well, I don't think they'll fire me

for putting in a little overtime.

I, uh...

I remember seeing your face.

I...

I don't remember much else.

Well, don't worry.

You were quite the gentleman.

How are my men?

Why don't we go for a walk?

You know, the nurses aren't supposed to talk

about the reality of the medical cases.

Not even to platoon leaders.

Yeah, I know.

Keep smiling. That's the rule.

It's lying, is what it is.

I saw Corporal Tanner after it happened.

He rolled down a hill.

I know it's not good.

Doctor said he had burns over most of his body.

What else did the doctors tell you?

You ever hear of the Fighting Irish

of McMurphy High School?

[laughs]

Should I have?

Only if you follow high school football, I guess.

We were the top team in the league...

four years in a row.

Let me guess.

It was the four years you were on the team?

Yeah. Me and a quarterback named Joe Tanner.

[laughs]

Guy threw an incredible spiral.

Any relation?

He's Corporal Tanner's big brother.

I made him a promise that I would bring

his little brother back in one piece.

Not going to be able to keep that promise, am I?

No, Ron.

[sighs]

So, why did you break the rules for me?

Why did you tell me?

'Cause for some strange reason, I feel like I can trust you.

I know you from somewhere.

Well, let me guess.

I remind you of the guy back home, right?

That's not what I was going to say.

There's no guy back home.

You know, uh...

Beverly, uh...

that day you sat down beside me in bed...

You were talking to me. I...

I couldn't make out what you were saying.

But it made me want to open my eyes

and find out who was doing the talking.

You gave me a second chance

to make things right, Bev.

To show my men that we're still a team.

We're still Marines.

Maybe sometimes it's okay...

not to be a Marine.

To be just... a man.

So, did he kiss her?

I don't believe he did on that occasion.

Well, why not?

Nurses made us feel safe.

They stepped in

where mothers and sisters,

wives and sweethearts couldn't be.

And they hid their own fear so well that...

they seemed invincible.

And no man wanted to ruin that.

Not even for a kiss.

Thanks, Padre.

I see you're doing some writing, Lieutenant.

Ah, yeah, Padre.

I'm a mustang, you know.

I was ten years enlisted before my unit went to Guam.

I was the last man standing, so they made me an officer.

I'm not used to having to write home

to tell folks that I got their sons killed.

-[bombs exploding] -Well, you know, Lieutenant,

I've always believed in the-the hand of God

as the controlling force in this world.

Don't I feel like an ass to find out it's a Marine?

How the hell am I going to tell Corporal Tanner's family?

How am I going to break it to them, Father?

When the time comes, you'll know.

"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Matthew 5:4.

"For every man shall bear his own burden."

Galatians 6:5.

[Thomas] "If any man's work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward."

First Corinthians 3:14.

Well, Seaman, I didn't take you as a churchgoer.

-A Baptist? -No, sir. Catholic.

I read from the same Good Book you do.

Thank you, Padre.

Say, Seaman?

Sir?

Will you deliver a note for me?

It's for Nurse Beverly.

Since you asked nice like.

You know, you're all right, sir, for an officer.

You take a real interest in your men.

[Dr. Rayburn] Would you please

sharpen these needles and put them in the autoclave?

And for the love of God,

will somebody bring out some more drip stands?

I mean, seriously, Marianne,

it's bedlam in here.

[Marianne] Nancy, more drip stands now.

I have the misfortune to serve under Dr. Bluebeard.

You're a lot smarter than you let on, Seaman.

You're a rare one for noticing, sir.

I'll get this note to your lady friend.

-Ooh! -[metal clanging]

Here, let me help you.

It's fine.

Hey. Hey, Jane, take a seat.

No.

Oh, come on. Please, Jane, take a seat.

You know, my first case in battle was this Marine.

Got hit in the neck.

Felt like I was going to faint.

Got easier the next time, and the time after that.

It'll be the same for you.

I'm supposed to be cheering youup,

not the other way around.

There's nothing you could have said

that I haven't said to a dozen guys just like me.

You wonder how I joke at this.

I laugh, because the alternative is something

I was raised to believe a man doesn't do.

[Graham] Where's that ukulele-playing

friend of yours, Jimmy?

I'm not the only patient

she has, Lieutenant.

Just the best-looking.

We're going to have you up and dancing in a day or two.

Don't worry.

I'll be jitterbugging

in no time, sir.

Yeah, you will.

You will, partner.

Get some rest, okay?

We all knew we were going to take Iwo Jima eventually.

We also knew that more Marines were going to have to die

to make that possible.

That must have been hard.

We had our moments of normalcy.

Uncle Sam was very good about sending us records and...

and playing cards.

Nurses.

Nurses.

[big band music playing, laughter]

Joni said we could be heading to Hawaii right now.

Joni has Hawaii on the brain.

Any sevens?

Mm. Go fish.

What's the first thing you'd do in Hawaii, Bev?

Me? I'd eat a meal that wasn't beans and franks.

Sleep in a bed that didn't make me seasick.

I'd go to Pearl Harbor, see what they did to us.

[hands clapping]

Shift change, ladies.

You win, Jane.

Lieutenant?

I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened to you.

The nurse who fell in love and watched her patient die--

that nurse was you, wasn't it?

I forgive you your bitterness, Marianne.

You came by it honestly.

Hm.

You think I give a moment's thought

to earning your absolution for what you say I am?

For your information, the nurse in that story wasn't me.

She was just a stupid young girl.

By the way, Ensign...

regular Navy or not, I subscribe to the theory

that a senior officer is to be respected.

Yes, ma'am.

[sighs]

[man speaking indistincly over P.A. system]

Dr. Rayburn?

What are you doing in here?

I want all those needles carefully dulled

and for the love of God,

would somebody put the bedpans in the freezer?

Seriously, it's bedlam around here.

Whoa-ho! She responds to my touch.

If Rayburn finds you in here,

he'll put you in four-point restraints.

-Oh, yeah? Let him try. -Oh, tough guy.

Patient came into my office last week.

I said, "Sir, I'm sorry to say, but you've got a tumor,

and what's more, you're showing signs of dementia."

He said, "Thank God, I thought I had a tumor."

[laughs]

Oh, I feel guilty laughing when there's so much going on.

Well, we owe it to the ones who may not make it

through this war to go on with ourlives.

That's what this fighting's all about, isn't it?

Ron?

Shh. Shh.

Breathe for me.

I can't.

[gasps softly]

Your heart is racing.

Nerves, I guess.

I-I don't...

You're a stranger to me,

despite what I said on deck last night.

What you said on the deck last night

is the reason I'm here.

You're not alone in believing we met for a reason.

Hold me.

But I'm not done with my examination yet.

I don't want to play doctor anymore.

Fine, I'll be the country gentleman, then,

-you be the blushing debutante. -Is that what you want?

Or we live what we have here now without apology.

But no amount of Red Cross ditty bags

will make this feel like home, Beverly.

I'd be lying to you if I didn't say

I wonder what you'd look like in a pretty dress.

It's, uh, Corporal Tanner, sir.

You remember?

We're fourth and goal. We're down 14-10.

Lasryville thought they had us.

Ball snaps, Joe takes it.

I block.

He runs into the backfield,

he's zigzagging like a sidewinder.

In the end zone right on the horn.

You remember?

[weakly] It's time... Ronnie.

You... tell... Joe

I died brave...

like a Marine.

No, you're going to tell him yourself, Jimmy.

You're going to tell him how you pulled through.

All right? You're not going anywhere.

All right?

[soft exhaling]

Jimmy.

Jim.

Clear the area.

You are a heartless bastard, you know that?

You don't think that I want to help these men?

I took an oath to save lives.

And look around--

I have to pick and choose

who's worthy of... supplies... time.

[explosions and gunfire in distance]

It's not your fault, Commander.

None of this is your fault.

[gunfire continues]

Why are they so close?

Fleet's under attack.

[alarm blaring]

You go take care of the ones you can.

I just couldn't be there, Bev.

I couldn't watch that boy...

For goodness' sake, let's get out of here!

Joni?

Joni!

[Graham] Medic! Get me a medic!

[elderly man] We didn't know if Joni would make it.

All we could do was hope.

So she was hit by us.

Friendly fire-- isn't that what they call it?

I think you need this more than I do.

Thanks.

There was no safe harbor to be had in all that chaos.

The Goodwill stayed off of Iwo Jima the whole time.

Right in the line of fire.

In a way, those nurses were as brave

as any of the men on land.

Ron, I'm sorry about Corporal Tanner.

Yeah, well, we're all sorry, Beverly.

It doesn't change a damn thing.

I wasn't finished.

I'm sorry about him and every man like him

who passes through here.

Stop.

We take care of these men.

We hurt when one of them doesn't make it.

You don't have a monopoly on pain, you know.

Whatever happened to our owing the dead?

To our needing to go on

so that their sacrifices would mean something?

You convinced me that it was okay to be human,

that I didn't have to stop living

just because I was surrounded by death.

-I can't be there for you, Beverly. -Don't say that.

I got to take care of what I already have.

There's no room in there for you.

For anybody.

You were so right, Marianne.

The Lieutenant didn't die on me-- he didn't have to.

He's gone just the same.

[crying softly]

Your ability to love is a gift.

M... My what?

Love. It's a gift.

It wasyou, wasn't it?

This is your patient.

He was a Marine, just like Ron.

And he died in my hospital ward,

just like Corporal Tanner.

Sometimes, I think I gave him every ounce I had, you know?

Every bit of what made me like... like you are now.

And then he was gone,

and he... took all that with him.

And I promised myself that I would never...

give that much again.

Your Marine is still here, Beverly.

Go to him.

She's right, you know.

[gasps] Oh...

Dr. Rayburn said that you wouldn't regain consciousness,

that you lost too much blood.

You didn't think I was going to let him be right about me?

I'm up and about just to spite the good doctor.

You were going to go get yourself a Marine lieutenant.

I was, wasn't I?

[both laugh]

The Marines just took Motoyama.

I heard.

We'll be leaving soon.

Our sister ship will take over.

You'll be able to go home, if that's what you want.

I'm not going home.

I'm going back out there... as soon as I'm cleared.

It won't make the guilt go away, Ron.

Whether you stay here

or you go back to face Joe Tanner.

This isn't about Joe Tanner.

I lost someone I swore to protect.

I didn't keep my word...

to a family, to a whole town.

You don't understand.

If I start to care about you...

D-Do you think I need protection?

I can't let anybody else down.

I don't need you to carry me.

I can walk withyou.

Do you think my family was happy

to see me join up and go off to war?

That's just not something a girl is supposed to do.

But here I am,

and I've done a pretty good job of protecting myself.

You know, I read somewhere

that we are each of us angels with one wing,

and we can only fly by embracing each other.

And I believe that.

[airplane approaching]

[gunfire]

[people yelling]

I have patients in oxygen tents.

[people shouting]

[man] Come on, folks. It's time to go!

Jane! Jane! Are you all right?

Help me! Please!

-Hang on! -Help me!

-Hold it. -Cut it. Cut it.

[man] Go! Go!

[people coughing]

Everything's going to be okay.

We'll get you out of here.

[gas hissing]

[gas hissing]

Doctor... is Beverly up ahead?

I don't know.

I haven't seen her, Lieutenant.

[man coughing]

Just head towards the door.

Someone will find you and help you out.

[gas continues hissing]

[Joni] Get to the starboard deck

and wait for the abandon ship klaxon!

Let's go! Let's go!

Where's Beverly?

She went to turn off the taps on the O2.

-[explosion] -Get the hell out of here.

No, not on your life, Lieutenant.

This is why I joined the Navy.

Let's go!

Come on, let's clear this corridor!

Beverly! Beverly!

[coughing]

Beverly...

[grunting]

[yells]

[grunting]

[coughing]

[coughing]

[Joni] Beverly?

She'd done it, though.

She turned off the oxygen.

She saved a lot of lives that day, mine among them.

If Beverly...

had been a man...

she would have been given the Silver Star for what she did.

It was you.

You were the Marine that Beverly fell in love with.

And today's... February 28,

the day she died.

A lot of people died that day.

And the one that's buried here...

[sniffles]

she reminds me...

never to take a single moment for granted.

After the war, I, uh, I married

one of those nurses.

We went to... Kauai on our honeymoon.

Hey, Grandpa. I'm sorry I'm late.

Lieutenant Graham here is...

the latest Navy nurse in the family,

and she looks a lot like her grandma.

-Hi. -Hi.

[theme song playing]