Original subtitles

What the hell kind of a salute

do you call that, Sergeant?

Sir?

Do you know the origin of the salute, Sergeant?

No, sir.

The days of chivalry, when two Knights met on the road,

if they raised the visors of their helmets, it meant peace,

if they lowered them, it meant war.

Why don't you try that salute again

and put something more into it besides your thumb.

First turn on your right, last building on your right.

Sir.

Thank you.

Now hold it, Major.

Look, I don't want to get into an argument

with military council, all right?

Jack Knowles was a hard-ass, I'll give you that,

but only with his senior officers.

His men thought he was one helluva' leader

and for two very simple reasons.

He knew his job and he was a warrior.

- Sir. - Sir.

Colonel Knowles, knew how to fight a war.

He pushed for more ambush patrols,

he hit hard, and he returned with a minimum of casualties.

Now, can I have a glass of water?

Thank you.

But there's no denying, there was a problem.

Lieutenant Colonel Clark, sir, the executive officer.

Maybe, it was because his marriage failed

or maybe it was the war.

Ten-Hut!

Now, there isn't a classroom

from here to Fort Benning that teaches a course

on the Art of Defeat, is there?

So, the Army's answer was to put him in mothballs.

Assignment so far out of the way,

you couldn't find him on a map.

But when we met last summer, he had done an about face

and from every indication, he had his shit together.

So, I gave him a command of Camp Clayton.

Now, it's hardly the glamor off NATO, Counselor,

but I wanted to get him back

to doing what he does best, leading troops,

to dig his way out of obscurity.

Well, he dug his way out of obscurity, all right,

but it wasn't what I had in mind.

What's the problem, Sergeant?

I said, what's the problem?

Clogged fuel line, sir.

Happens all the time, no big deal.

No big deal, huh?

This track is leading this convoy.

If it breaks down under fire,

it's all our asses in a shit hole.

You got that?

Yes, sir.

All right, fix it!

Move it out!

Sir!

It's unfortunate, sir,

that a sense of responsibility seems now

to be a thing of the past.

That business back there with the Trac...

Can't blame those kids!

It's the instructors they've got.

Can't teach combat discipline

having never been in combat, it's a joke.

How'd you get your commission, Colonel?

Academy, sir, class of '70.

West Point, huh?

The Brass factory.

It was my grandmother's doing.

She believed the only way to get to the top

was to start there.

I take it your grandmother never heard of evolution, huh?

Well, she heard about it, sir, but she fought back.

Made a fortune marketing a creme rinse

that claimed to straighten black folks' hair.

Who won?

Evolution, sir.

After 10 million unhappy customers finally found out,

she gave up the fight and switched to wigs.

Stop here.

Listen up!

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Want to give me an overview

as to what's going on over there?

Yes, sir.

Well, what we have is a typical Eastern Bloc border.

However, there is one puzzling item in the pact.

The Czech's can advance into neutral territory

right up to our blue border markers.

That's, of course, if they were pursuing someone.

We don't have a reciprocal agreement.

Why would we want one?

Who the hell would want to go over there?

Well sir, you're right, of course.

Blue for us, red for them.

Well, that's clear enough.

Nothing else is very clear anymore.

You know what a guy told me on the flight coming over here?

They're bringing American football to Moscow.

I don't know.

Maybe I'm out of whack.

Yo, yo, give me a cigarette.

Look!

Czech defector making a run for it.

Whoa, hey, man, check it out, check this man out!

Come on!

- Shit, man, let's do it! - 20 bucks!

- Let's do it! - 20 bucks he makes it!

- You're on! - Take it home, man.

Take it home!

- Let's go! - Yeah, yeah!

Come on, you got it!

All the way, all the way now!

Oh, man, to the left!

Aw, man, come on!

- Keep coming! - Keep on coming!

- Yes, yes! - He's running front, man!

Yes, yes!

- Come on, bro! - Oh, no, no!

- Get the horse! - Oh, man!

- Go buddy! - Fresh air!

Pick it up!

Bo knows snow!

My man is coming, they need five to catch him!

- More than five! - Yeah!

- Come on! - Come on, I got money

on you, ya cunt!

Sergeant!

Prepare to engage enemy aircraft!

Sir?

You heard me, Sergeant!

Sighted!

Colonel.

Tracking now on!

Lock it on, Sergeant!

Solid lock, sir!

Sir, the Rules of Engagement don't allow us...

Stop doing my job and get the hell out of here!

Oh no, let's get him!

You murdering pig.

Colonel Knowles!

No, sir!

- Take it easy! - Get back!

Lower those weapons!

Put 'em down!

Colonel!

He must have played in the Cuban league.

Ah, right face!

Detail, atten-hut!

Right, face!

Forward, march!

Left, right, left!

Now, left, right, left!

Left, right, left, right, left, right, left!

Now, left, right, left!

Left, right, left.

Welcome, to Stuttgart, Colonel.

Colonel.

General.

I'm off to Hamburg, let's take a little walk.

How are you, Roger?

I'm okay, Jack.

What about you?

Here we go again.

Damn near started World War III out there.

Serious allegations have been filed

that tag you as an irresponsible malcontent.

May I see that report, sir?

Hell no.

I'm shredding it.

I'm the one who got you this assignment, remember?

And you assured me you could handle it, goddamn it.

What the hell happened out there?

Shot a man in cold blood right in front of us.

What, not the Soviets?

They don't do shit like that.

He was shot by a Czech.

I know they were Czechs.

They played cat and mouse with him before they killed him.

So, what the fuck else is new?

Maybe the guy was a criminal.

Who the hell knows?

It's different now, Jack.

Those Czechs have got a lot more freedom.

They let 'em have passports and shopping guides

to Vienna, for Christ's sake.

And what about this shit

about you throwing a snowball at Colonel Valachev?

I missed.

Son of a bitch threw one back.

I don't have time for this shit, Jack.

At least I've got a feeling, that the next time...

Yeah, well, you better get the feeling

that things have changed and you better change too.

Otherwise, you're gonna be out on your ass.

It's pick and shovel work now, no more heroics.

You're a patrol officer for all practical purposes,

a patrol officer in a nunnery.

You got that?

Roger, I've been in the service half my life.

I've learned to play on the white keys and the black keys.

Now, I'm expected to play in the cracks?

That's it exactly.

That's just where we are right now, in the cracks.

Brava!

Congratulations, you guys!

Excuse me, excuse me.

Congratulations, both of you.

Thanks very much, sir.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Many happy returns, Colonel.

What does that mean?

It's your birthday, sir, had you forgotten?

How did you know that?

This is the date you were born, sir.

Yes, I know that, but how the hell did you know it?

Sir, with all due respect,

maybe, we can discuss this later...

I wanna know now!

I happened to see your 201 file.

Snooping in my 201 file.

I wasn't snooping.

You damn well were.

You filed a report on me

and you sent it to divisional headquarters, didn't you?

Sir, now is not the time or place...

You filed a report on me, Colonel,

outside of the chain of command.

Now, I want to know under whose authority you did that,

and I want to know it now!

Sir, first of all, you're in breach of regulations...

Did you tell the General

that the Russians came across the border?

No, you didn't.

Did you tell the General that the attack helicopter

shoved rockets in our face?

No, you didn't, did you, did you?

Sir, if you would just allow me to finish.

Please.

And second of all, sir,

and I hope you can appreciate this,

we have gone through extraordinary lengths here

not to be seen as ugly Americans.

And finally, sir, you should know

that I was not merely snooping,

and I certainly wasn't trying to usurp up your authority.

I was simply following orders, the General's orders.

Now, you've been hidden in the Far East,

we have more of a public relations role to play here.

Perhaps the General has explained this to you.

I'd like to explain something to...

But gentlemen, gentlemen,

or may I call you officer and gentlemen.

If you don't mind, we are here to celebrate this happy day

which belong to Dwayne and Hannelore.

We're very sorry, I'm sorry, about this whole thing.

I don't want to join the Army

I don't want to go to war

I just want to hang around

Picadilly Underground

Livin' off the ends

Of some high born lady

I don't want no bullet up the asshole

I don't want me bollocks shot away

I want to stay in London

Jolly, jolly London

And fornicate me fuckin' life

Yes, I said, me fuckin' life

And fornicate me fuckin' life away

Knowles here.

Yeah, operator.

That's right.

Dexter Academy.

In Vermont, yeah.

You got him?

Well, put him on.

Hey, Timmy!

How are ya?

Of course, it's me.

You got some other old man stationed in West Germany, huh?

Wait, wait, wait, you gotta talk louder, I can't hear you.

What's that racket?

Music.

I thought you guys are suppose to be studying at this hour.

Ah, that's better.

Me?

I'm fine.

But, but, but listen, listen, listen.

You know what day this happens to be, huh?

Tuesday.

Yeah, it's Tuesday, all right.

But it also happens to be my birthday.

Yeah.

No, no, that's all right.

Listen, no, no, no, I forgot it too, yeah.

I forgot my own birthday.

Your mother?

No.

We haven't talked in about four years.

But listen, listen, how's the little guy?

How's Bobby, how's my little, Bobby?

What'd he think of that bike I sent him, huh?

In the school yard?

You mean, they just walked up to him and took it away?

And he didn't do anything about it?

Well, Jesus H. Christ!

I don't care, if it was three to one, he should've.

Shot them?

What do you mean, I would have shot them?

Is that supposed to be funny?

A few drinks?

Is that what you call it?

Let me hand you an education, counselor.

Colonel Knowles was whacked out of his skull.

He'd been tying one on from the moment he got into the base.

And let me tell you something else,

even if he'd been stone cold sober,

he still would have done it.

It was a challenge he had to accept.

Gentlemen, look at it this way,

we all know we're talking about a man

who's trained to react like this, you understand?

Conditioned!

It's drilled into him.

From the day he hit basic training,

he's told, hey, that's the enemy, bucko!

Go get him!

Jack Knowles is a soldier, for Christ's sake!

Not some candy-ass diplomat

who can turn his coat inside out

without taking his hands out of his pockets.

Look at his war record!

You think every one spent their time in Vietnam

talking to CBS news?

Colonel Knowles crossed that border

because he was looking to get even.

You shouldn't be here.

She loves me.

She loves me not.

She loves me.

She loves me not.

Drop 'em.

Drop 'em!

Neither do I.

Das radio.

Ah, smart boy.

I'll take that.

I've got sons your age

who can't even speak their own language.

At least not to me.

Here we are.

The 14-foot-tall giants of modern combat.

The troops that everybody knows

are the best soldiers in the world.

All of my military career,

you guys have been hanging over my head.

Kneel down!

Good.

You won't be needing those.

Now boys, put these on.

Put 'em on!

Come on, come on, come on, hurry up!

We haven't got all night!

Hustle it up!

This is a once in a year event, remember?

Here, give me that one, I like that one.

Now, my name is Knowles, Jack Knowles.

Colonel Knowles.

Say it, say it, Knowles, Knowles...

Knowles.

Jack Knowles, Colonel Jack Knowles,

I want you to remember that,

so you can report this to your Colonel Valachev.

Hey, now listen, listen.

Today is my birthday,

and we're gonna celebrate it in song.

You're gonna sing me Happy Birthday,

and I don't care in what language you sing it in

just so long as you don't forget Jack Knowles, okay?

Jack Knowles, got that?

All right, now, here we go, we're gonna sing it together

and I'm gonna lead it, you ready?

Happy birthday to you

Sing.

Happy, happy birthday to you

You

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday, Jack Knowles

Happy birthday to you

One more time.

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday, Jack Knowles

Happy birthday to you

That was nice.

That was terrific.

Now, we're gonna blow out the candles.

Come on, blow, blow.

You have to blow, it's bad luck,

if you don't blow out the candles.

Come on.

Aw, too late!

Sergeant Major!

Sir!

Sergeant Major, who ordered this?

Colonel Knowles did, sir.

And when was it installed?

Last night, sir.

Actually, early this morning, 01:30 hours.

He had the Alert Force put it in.

Thank you, Sergeant Major, that'll be all.

Very well, sir.

Get hot, you people, this ain't no rest home.

Real beauty, isn't she?

You know, that was sorta like carrying coals to Newcastle.

I purchased that car in Indiana and brought it over here.

You ever driven one of those?

Never have, sir.

Well, that one was known to be

a little twitchy in tight corners,

but other than that, it's a great car.

Maybe we'll go for a spin some day.

You know, Colonel, I've decided to forget

about that matter the other day.

Report you sent to headquarters,

it was dismissed, in fact, it wound up in the shredder.

You didn't do yourself much good there.

You were not a success.

As I have trouble coping with sudden failure,

I'll just do my best to forget the incident as well, sir.

Good.

Left, left, right, left!

Sir, we got the word you were missing.

Sir!

What?

That's what it said, sir.

Colonel Clark ordered a search party.

Said you were missing.

Do I look missing?

Hey, can I get some help?

Good afternoon, sir.

Follow me.

Yes, sir.

You put out an alert on me?

The jeep you were driving was found by a patrol, sir.

It was on fire, you weren't in it.

What the fuck are you up to, Clark?

I was concerned about your safety, sir.

I thought something had happened to you.

The jeep caught fire, that's all.

The patrol said, that there was...

The jeep caught fire, period!

I suppose you reported this to Division as well?

Yes, sir, I did.

Is that what they teach you at the Point?

Not specifically, sir.

They teach you to develop your skills

to a level where mistakes are things other people make.

One, two, three.

Two!

One, two, three.

Three!

One, two, three.

Four!

One, two, three.

Five!

One, two, three.

Six!

One, two, three.

Seven!

One, two, three.

Eight.

One, two, three.

I'm looking for the Colonel.

I've not seen him, sir.

Do you know if he slept here last night?

I don't reckon he was here, sir.

The bed wasn't slept in.

Czech?

Come on!

Wake up, we have to go, the patrol just went by.

You went out like a light.

I'm sorry.

You must have needed it.

Yes.

I don't know who you are.

Better not pull a stunt like that again.

As you can see, these border guards are serious.

You understand what I'm talking about?

I understand, I used to live there.

How'd you get here in the first place?

Bus.

Bus?

They don't allow buses on the border.

I came by the bus from Regensburg.

And in Diefenbach, I...

Hitchhiked.

That's what I did.

So, you live in Regensburg?

I work in Regensburg, for three years now.

I used to live in Prague.

Prague, huh?

Well, if that's where you're headed,

you better find a different route

because this way, you're only gonna get shot.

I must go back to Czechoslovakia,

and they must not know I am coming.

It's a political situation.

And my little girl is there,

she has no one to take care of her.

Who's taking care of her now?

My mother, but she is ill.

She cannot anymore.

No one else you can ask?

There is no one, nothing.

Get in the car.

I thought communist countries,

the state took this responsibility,

whether you liked it or not.

Whether you like it or not?

Sounds wonderful.

I didn't say it was wonderful.

Would you want them to take your daughter?

Look, I just heard things are better now.

- That's all. - And do you believe it?

No, I think it's bullshit.

It is bullshit, big bullshit.

Here, drink this.

This is my number at the base.

Call me if you need any more help,

but for god sakes, don't try and cross that border again.

There is no other way.

If there was, I would have done it long ago.

Why do you have to do this?

In Prague, I did translations

for the Revolutionary Underground Press.

We published a newspaper,

part of a student group committed,

committed to getting rid of the Soviets.

We did the printing in villages

outside the city to avoid detection.

One night, we arrived at the presses

at the house of a friend.

Police were there waiting for us.

I was able to escape,

but I had to leave the country at once.

Now, do you understand?

Yes, I understand.

And I'm very, very sorry, but I can't help you.

I wish you and your daughter much luck.

But Colonel, could you not...

Believe me, I can't.

That kick was 50 yards, the return 15,

all of which gives USC the ball

on the Trojan's 34-yard line.

Jeff Brown, the SC coach,

and his young quarterback, Greg Gayle,

in a meeting on the sideline.

A pretty long meeting,

discussion still going on.

Finally, Gayle heads onto the field.

And the coaches huddle on their own 20,

and the ball has been marked ready for play.

Must have been really short.

They're still in the huddle and time is running.

SC better get a move on,

they could get a delay of game call.

Finally, the Trojans

come to the line of scrimmage,

Ward is flanked to the right side, Cornell is.

- Go, go! - Go for it!

- Come on! - Yeah, yeah!

Catch it, Jesus. Let me show you how it's done!

Good afternoon, General, welcome aboard, sir.

Clark.

Yes, sir.

Gentlemen, I apologize for taking you away from the game,

but my schedule was bird-dogged

by a storm that's been chewing at my ass

all the way from Frankfurt.

Colonel Clark.

Carry on, Sergeant Major.

Gentlemen, enjoy the game.

Yes, sir.

Where's Colonel Knowles?

In his quarters, sir.

Been reading your reports, Colonel.

Yes, sir.

You're a West Pointer, right?

Class of '70, sir.

Well, a little after me.

Who sponsored you?

Senator Jordan of Maryland, sir.

No shit.

Correct, sir.

Sam Jordan, oh my god, Sam and I go way back.

We used to chase the ladies together.

Met his new wife, Mary Beth?

Haven't had the pleasure, sir.

Well, she's the balls of the family now.

Old Sam stopped roving

when he got remarried to that Mary Beth.

Half his age.

She really straightened his ass out.

The Senator was never anything but straight with me, sir.

Well, all right.

General.

Jack.

Thank you, Colonel.

Not the Jack Knowles I remember.

We'll have that cleaned up right away, sir.

Coffee, sir?

It'll be fine, Jack.

Keeping you busy, huh?

That's right.

Back to Frankfurt, then on to Stuttgart by 17:30.

Never seem to stop moving.

There was a time when I could relax, get in a little golf.

Sleep till noon on Sunday.

Now, my wife, you met, Rachel?

Well, she's insisting that I attend church.

Even got me to read the Bible.

Right up there in front of the whole damn congregation.

So, I decided I'd better brush up

a little bit on the Good Book.

And I found myself trudging through all those begats

in the book of Genesis.

Then I thought of you.

I don't understand.

Begats, Jack, it's the past tense of beget.

It means to produce offspring.

Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat, it's all that,

it's the beginning of the Bible, Jack.

Don't you read your Bible?

I would have thought that a man of your puritan spirit

would have it within arm's reach night and day.

What's your point, Roger?

Who do you think begat you, Jack?

Well, if I don't know, you're going to tell me.

Vietnam.

You're the offspring of the war in Vietnam.

Now mind you, you're not the only one.

That war also begat loonies and cowards

and dink heroin traffickers.

Iowa farm boys with their first dose of clap.

But most important, it begat heroes,

and you are one of them.

No, no, no, no, you are a hero, Jack, most definitely.

And I can attest to that

because you put your life on the line for me

many times under my command.

You want to know something?

I've been trying to save your life ever since.

I don't see what your driving at here.

Like shit, you don't.

You can't be trusted for five minutes.

You've been shuffled through the Army

more times than a deck of cards!

Bangkok, Manila, Guam!

And on each and every assignment, you spelt trouble.

You can't be referring to the jeep?

Of course, I'm referring to the goddamn jeep,

you war mongering, son of a bitch!

It exploded!

It caught fire!

Exploded!

I have the evidence.

It was shelled by a rocket-propelled grenade.

RPG fragments were found in the fuel tank.

I didn't know that.

You're a goddamn liar.

And you also know who did it, don't you, Colonel?

Because there is only one army

on the face of God's green Earth that uses rockets

like some old lady uses suppositories,

and that's the Armed Forces of the USSR.

You see, right over there where I am pointing

is another hero, just like you,

but he didn't go to Vietnam, he went to Afghanistan.

And it was a fucking mess.

And when he got home, nobody came out to cheer.

And he thought, what did I bust my ass for?

Why did Ivan die and Boris lose a leg?

So now, we've got two disillusioned pissed off heroes.

And I can understand that

because I am disillusioned and pissed off.

But I do not understand and will not tolerate

two malcontents who think they have the right

to start their own private little grudge war

when the rest of us poor sons of bitches

are in danger of being turned into French fries.

What then?

Formal apology?

Oh, it's too late for that shit.

After the investigation, you're gonna be goddamn lucky

if you're not apologizing to a General Court Martial.

And if that happens, Jack,

I'm not gonna have any room to maneuver in your behalf.

The most I'm gonna be able to do

is to try to keep you out of Leavenworth,

and buy you a subscription to Soldier of Fortune magazine.

Knowles.

Clark here, sir.

While you were having your meeting with General Hackworth,

a Miss Elena called.

She didn't leave a number,

said you'd know how to reach her yourself.

That's it, sir.

A car or something to get across the border.

Sit down, Private, before you fall down.

- Oh, Colonel, I was. - May I speak to you

for a moment, please?

What were you trying to do?

Involve that kid?

Colonel, I was not, I was explaining...

Don't lie to me, I saw you.

- Colonel. - You were trying to get him

to take you across the border.

I was not.

He's only a kid, for Christ's sakes.

The only place he is gonna take you

is to the senior prom.

I do not know what I am doing anymore.

No, I guess you don't.

Why do you not help me?

You're always looking for some battlefield.

Why do you not fight on one that saves a life?

I do not want to, but I must

if ever I want to see my daughter.

There's nothing I can do.

How much for that room?

Good evening.

Good evening.

You've been making such a habit of coming to me.

I thought it was time I returned the compliment.

I need this fine example of the American fighting forces

as a witness to this encounter.

You see, I have made a study of your Commander's career.

And believe me, there are no surprises.

Your commanding officer is a joke.

They have a name for him at your Divisional Headquarters.

His wife had a name for him too.

I think that's about enough.

When I'm done, Knowles, and not till then.

This is the Colonel's Czechoslovakian whore.

She's dressed for the part, don't you think?

You really should look for more honest work.

Why don't you clean the spot off my boot?

Clean it, until you can see your face on it!

What's it like with him?

Rather sad?

Bit pathetic?

Now, listen to me, Colonel.

If you come over the border one more time,

you'll never make it back

because I personally

will kill you.

Two, one, niner Delta,

proceed southwest Sector C, Charlie, checkpoint Beta.

Roger that, ETA 11 minutes.

Captain, Captain.

We searched the room again, it's the same old story.

We only found personal effects and some clothing.

As a matter of fact, we found hardly anything at all.

Red Army.

What the hell is the colonel doing up here though?

I was shittin' a fat brick,

they put a gun right to my head.

Hey, hey, hey, I asked is he fucking

this chick up here or what?

I have no idea, sir.

Sergeant.

Yes, sir?

Contact the base.

I need transportation to Stuttgart, immediately.

Did they find the Porsche, sir?

No, but we will.

We did find a lot of our supplies in his quarters.

Closet's full of it.

Yes, sir.

This is the church, you'll be safe here.

I'll be fine.

Nobody visits anymore.

I'll just stay indoors and sing a few hymns.

I won't be long.

My little girl is at school, it is not far.

Straight down on the main road by the town hall,

I just have to collect her.

I understand.

I'll see you then, soon.

I'll be here.

Captain.

Well, it's all over for him then, isn't it?

You know, one time in Vietnam,

we were fighting in the highlands out of An Khe

and Jack was wounded and I went out to see how he was doing.

And on his pillow was a medal.

And son of a gun, I said, they've gone and awarded you

the Distinguished Service Cross.

And he opened his eyes, first time in days the nurse said,

I don't give a goddamn what kind of medal, he said,

just so long as I don't die in a shirt

with one of them little alligators on the front.

Well Clark, you'll take over his command,

at least until we get this shit straightened out.

Recommendation, full Colonel.

Thank you, sir.

You brought me one hell of a day, Clark.

I can't wait for the sun to go down.

And painful as it is to contemplate,

we've got to do something to save the situation.

We've got to act like we never heard of him.

Just keep driving until we get across that border.

I could not...

Don't get upset with her.

She was just doing her job.

You're the one who blew it.

You blew it back at the Inn

when you called her my little Czechoslovakian whore.

She's a whore, all right,

but how would you know where she was from?

There's the five kilometer fence.

How do you think I got here?

You were allowed to enter, you had my permission.

I'm gonna have your permission again.

Colonel Clark.

Sir, we got major movement up on the Czech border.

Are you positive, Corporal?

All right.

It's Knowles.

Son of a bitch!

Muster the Alert Force.

Colonel Clark.

Do it, Sergeant Major.

Forward, come on!

On the double, on the double!

Get a move on!

Left, left, spread out!

They fought with everything that day.

It was a battle unique for its time.

It regressed, when they were out of ammunition,

they went for anything they could get their hands on.

You know, I remember

the Commandant of Cadets at West Point

telling me that Einstein was once asked,

what type of weapons would be used in World War III?

And he said, I don't know,

but the Fourth War will be fought with stones.