Original subtitles

They wanted to meet a member of the unit that so infuriated Hitler.

I have a nephew about his age.

Bang! - Bang!

Bang!

Any one of you who surrenders

is to be executed.

So this was a kind of a last supper.

Bill Stirling ordered me not to let you go anywhere near the front line.

Welcome to the SAS.

I gave you one extra day of life.

You're not SAS. I guess you can give this one to me.

I don't think so.

The first ever engagement of 2 SAS...

Speed up! Get out of the way!

Will be one of the most important engagements

of the war in Europe so far.

Fighting beside some of the best soldiers on Earth.

Come on!

Move!

Reg! - Matteo!

He's got no chance, Reg.

Now, look, I know the last words of lots of people are rather heroic, but...

Fuck you.

And your mothers, and your fathers

and your fucking boyfriends, they can all fuck off.

Alright, look. Just give me another swig of that schnapps.

Komme, komme!

Squad!

Squad... 'shun!

Stand easy.

Where is Cooper?

Hospital, sir.

Concussion, broken rib.

Right.

Here are the accounts

from our recent exchange

in the defense of the town of Termoli.

21...

men of the Special Air Service lost their lives

during our successful engagement with the enemy.

Many have sustained injuries.

McLoughlin critically.

Others are missing.

Or taken prisoner.

We who are gathered here are what remains of us.

Those taken prisoner will be dead now.

Dead by the rising sun.

Blindfolded and shot

cos our enemy is too afraid of us

to let us live.

So now, we are indeed liberated

to be the dogs we are.

Paddy.

We're here to bury comrades.

We will now share the privilege...

of reading the names of those who fell.

Parachutist G. Cassidy.

Lance Corporal L. Crisp.

Parachutist S. Davison.

Parachutist A. Duncan.

Lance Corporal J.W. Fassam.

Sergeant J.S. Finlay.

Good man.

Lance Corporal C.M. Grant.

Parachutist E. Grimster.

Parachutist W.H. Hearn.

No.

No, I can't.

Sergeant J.B. Henderson.

Lance Corporal J.O. Hodgkinson.

Parachutist W.M. McAlpin.

Good man.

Lance Corporal J. McDonald.

Sergeant B. McNinch.

Sergeant O'Dowd.

Parachutist Pocock.

Lance Corporal Scherzinger.

Silifants.

Skinner.

Stewart-Johnson.

Wilson.

And also Sergeant Seekings.

Sergeant Reginald...

Seekings.

Don't you dare put your name on that list, Reg.

Staff Sergeant Jim Almonds.

Riley.

Cooper.

Kershaw. - Pull yourself together, will you, Reg?

Paddy Mayne. - Show some respect, lad.

Say my name again.

Major Paddy Mayne.

Skinner.

Seekings.

Riley.

Cooper.

Fraser.

Kershaw.

Say my name again. - Mayne.

Put me at the front.

Put me in first. Put me where I won't last a day.

Every night lasts ten years. I can't live that long.

Now you're making sense.

Send me with a bayonet, Paddy.

Here we see the final stages of a process, men.

The living soldier

who wants to be on that list.

Now you're truly unstoppable.

I hereby promote you to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

All those in favor say aye.

We are not human anymore, Paddy.

Soldier's Bible.

And you can keep it, since I know it by heart.

Now piss off while we sing a hymn.

Go.

Abide With Me, lads.

♪ Abide with me ♪

♪ Fast falls the eventide ♪

♪ The darkness deepens ♪

♪ Lord, with me abide ♪

♪ When other helpers fail ♪

♪ And comforts flee ♪

♪ Shine through the gloom ♪

♪ And point me to the skies ♪

♪ Heaven's morning breaks ♪

♪ And earth's vain shadows flee ♪

♪ In life, in death ♪

♪ O Lord, abide with me ♪

West...

south.

Sunshine, decent boots...

and... very good company.

Everything a Boy Scout could possibly need, eh?

320 miles.

Piece of cake.

I thought I'd give you time to pay your respects.

But now I'm afraid it really is time for you to go.

Who packed my things?

A nurse, tending to some of our wounded.

My driver will take you back to Bagnara.

Eve, you really don't have a choice.

You can't stay here.

Last night, I used a transceiver to radio London.

I spoke to my editor.

Your editor.

Who had spoken to President De Gaulle

who had recently spoken to the Minister for War

who had spoken to General Montgomery

who is the supreme commander of all British forces.

Yes, I know who General Montgomery is.

What I don't think you know is that he's on his way to Termoli

right now to congratulate the SAS

on resisting the German advance.

I had London send a coded transcript to confirm De Gaulle's instruction to me

to stay in Termoli to speak with the important visitor

as official representative of the Free French Forces in Italy.

What Free French Forces?

The ones that will be sent to join you

in preparation for the liberation of France.

I understand Lieutenant General Dempsey is going to tell you all about it

when he gets here.

He's coming along with Montgomery.

Classified material.

I will burn it.

Change of plan. Unforeseen.

Return to your duties.

Lieutenant Colonel Stirling.

I am not leaving the front line until we reach Paris

where I will buy you a bottle of champagne.

♪ Fare thee well, Enniskillen ♪

♪ Fare thee well for a while ♪

♪ And all around the borders of Erin's green isle ♪

♪ And when the war is over ♪

♪ We'll return in full bloom... ♪

The song dies when you stop singing.

♪ A beautiful damsel of fame and renown ♪

♪ A gentleman's daughter from Monaghan town ♪

I could order you to sing

but you sound like a fuckin' camel.

I am a camel, Paddy.

Carrying a great weight.

You mean me?

You mean my immortal soul? Is that it?

I mean I'm... carrying a great weight, Paddy.

Oh, fuckin' not you as well.

♪ They were all dressed out like gentlemen's sons ♪

♪ Their fine shining sabres and their carbine guns ♪

♪ Their silver mounted pistols, she observed them full soon ♪

♪ Because she loved an Enniskillen Dragoon ♪

I am on a tour of my men hoping to boost morale.

How is your morale?

No English.

Riley!

Translation required. - / And when the war is over /

Vaffanculo.

I am on a morale-boosting exercise

and I sense there might be an issue

that is affecting the morale of our wee Italian friend here.

You want me to translate that?

It is a morale issue involving you, Sergeant Major.

I think you might've gotten his goat.

Yeah, I think I might have gotten his goat too.

Alessia...

is not your wife.

Yeah, she's free to choose.

And she chose... Yankee Doodle Doo!

♪ And when the war is over ♪

♪ We'll return in full bloom ♪

♪ And we'll all welcome home... ♪

Whoa!

Drop it.

Go on, mate! - Come on!

♪ Well, I feel pretty good ♪

♪ And I guess that I could ♪

♪ Get crazy now, baby ♪

♪ Cos we all got in tune ♪

♪ When my dressing room ♪

♪ Got hazy now, baby ♪

♪ I know how you want it, child, hot, quick and tight ♪

♪ The girls can't stand it when you're doin' it right ♪

Anything serious?

Pretty hilarious, actually.

Couple of bones broken.

♪ Kick out the jams ♪

♪ I have to kick 'em out ♪

♪ Yes, I'm starting to sweat and now my shirt's all wet ♪

This is about that woman.

♪ You gotta have it, baby, you can't do without ♪

♪ When you get that feeling, you gotta sock 'em out ♪

♪ Jams ♪

♪ Kick out the jams ♪

How was the burial?

Everyone was buggered except for me.

The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not want.

Come on!

♪ Can't get enough, Miss McKenzie ♪

♪ Cos it gets in your brain, it drives you insane ♪

♪ With the frenzy ♪

♪ The wigglin' guitars, girl, the crash of the drums... ♪

General.

Welcome to Italy SAS headquarters.

Major Paddy Mayne.

I have a delivery for you and your men.

There has been an order from GHQ to all SAS personnel.

By order of GHQ, not me

these are the new...

the new berets

that 1 SAS and 2 SAS will now wear at all times

while on active and ceremonial duty.

The old sand-colored berets will now be...

forbidden. - What?

Good Lord.

And you will all, without exception

be required to wear the new beret

as of, well, as of...

right now.

Lieutenant, as you can see, my men and I are grieving.

So we are in no position to do anything right now

let alone sell our souls.

I appreciate that, but... - Now...

I respectfully

urge you to reconsider your interruption.

And save this futile discussion regarding headwear

for a more suitable time.

What say you, sweet pea?

I say that in three or four minutes' time

Lieutenant General Dempsey, Commander of 13th Corps, 8th Army

and General Montgomery, Commander of British Forces

will be walking into the monastery courtyard

for an inspection of the troops. - Fuckin' hell!

And General Montgomery will be expecting all SAS soldiers

to be wearing the maroon beret.

Anyone disobeying the order

will face being put on a charge.

Sir.

Fortunately, the monks who once lived here were very self-contained.

There's a well here which produces clean, fresh water.

And there's a legend that this is a holy well.

That if you drink from it, you have your wish fulfilled.

General, this is Eve Mansour

a French war correspondent.

A representative.

She is on the itinerary, sir.

For much later.

General De Gaulle sends his congratulations on the success of Operation Devon.

Apparently, you were on the itinerary

for later.

And yet here I am at the well, making a wish.

And what is your wish?

That Free French soldiers in southern provinces of France

receive training from SAS soldiers

in advance of the invasion and liberation of my country.

Her country is actually Algeria, sir.

And when France is liberated

I will work just as hard for the liberation of Algeria.

Eve Mansour? - Yes.

I will see you later.

Next. - This way, sir.

Thank you. - Thank you.

To the left, please, gentlemen.

This was once the refectory where the monks dined

but now we use it for a mess...

Now it is where your men relax?

Yes. - Oh, look.

A rear molar.

Excellent.

Take me to meet these wild beasts.

This way, sir.

Parade!

Parade...

'shun!

Staff Sergeant Jim Almonds, sir.

Won the Military Medal in North Africa.

How are you coping, Sergeant?

Coping very well, thank you, sir.

What do you think of the new beret?

I think it's very elegant, sir.

Wasted on a head like mine.

Old Jim's head could be improved by a bucket, sir.

In my opinion.

Uh, Sergeant Kershaw, sir, there.

A sergeant with opinions.

You don't wait to be spoken to before you speak?

No, we're encouraged to speak

if you think you've got something to say that'll...

that'll improve the mood, sir.

And if you all speak at once?

Then we decide who's right by fighting each other, sir

with fists and cutlery, isn't that right, lads?

Pardon me, sir.

Just popped up. - Oh...

The mood is indeed improved.

Staff Sergeant Reg Seekings, newly promoted.

Won the Military Medal in Sicily.

Encounter after encounter.

How are you coping?

I'm coping extremely well, thank you, sir.

Good.

Sir...

I'm coping extremely well.

Thank you, sir.

Major Robert Blair Paddy Mayne.

So...

the famous Paddy Mayne.

I'm not sure how I could be famous, sir

when I am not sure myself of who I am.

You appear to be wearing the wrong beret, Major Mayne.

No, actually, I don't think I am, sir.

Every single one of these men smells of alcohol.

They've just attended the funeral of 21 comrades, sir.

Though, in all honesty, we'd have taken a drink by now anyway.

And the reason I personally object to the maroon beret

is that it makes us look the same as every other parachute regiment

in the British Army.

But we are not the same as any unit in the British Army

as this parade has probably already proven to you, sir.

We are slightly drunk

opinionated, and borderline insubordinate delinquents.

Paddy... - And our unique ability

is to operate behind enemy lines

without regulation, in any way we see fit

inflicting the maximum amount of damage

on an unsuspecting enemy

without being directed by Central Command.

If I hadn't made that wee speech to your face

when I had the chance, sir, I would've regretted it

and being an impulsive man

I cannot afford regrets.

Men like these...

should not be ordered to simply run at machine guns.

It is an abuse of their courage.

You have my personal permission

to carry on wearing your sand-colored beret.

And for the avoidance of doubt

as far as High Command is concerned

we do not care about the mental health

psychological conditions, or the...

levels of insubordination amongst your men.

Just so long as you keep winning.

Await further orders, Major Paddy Mayne.

Sir.

Next.

The SAS working alongside the Free French

just as they did in North Africa

is our best chance of survival.

And I have witnessed firsthand how the SAS can work alongside

local Resistance and partisan soldiers.

Actually, now you mention his name, I do remember meeting your father.

He was a colonel?

He led the North African Brigade at Ypres.

That's where I met him.

I wonder what your father would make of you being amongst this rabble.

Ha-fucking-ha.

He would admire the bravery they display

and the result they achieve.

Sir.

According to the itinerary, General Montgomery

should have left ten minutes ago.

Yes, I know.

The delay is being caused by the commander of British Forces

being briefed on how to liberate France by a fucking journalist.

Go and tell them politely that their time's up.

And...

invite the journalist to join me for a glass of wine later.

Yes, sir.

Ah...

Oh...

God.

Well...

I've never milked a goat before, but...

I am going...

to learn.

A warning, my hands are... rather cold.

Inglese! Inglese. Inglese.

Inglese.

I was about to milk your goat.

Another hour and I would've eaten the fucker.

Where is your husband?

I saw him...

walk off in the rain.

Where did he go?

Mussolini, eh?

The bad man.

Yes?

Il Duce.

Ah.

You went to a neighbor's, perhaps?

What is the going rate for an escaped Allied soldier?

10,000 lira is what I heard.

10,000 lira.

Shh, shh!

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Stop!

Partisan.

The farmer fetched us.

We're here to help you.

Well, I am sorry.

Madre di Dio...

So where exactly are you taking me?

Someone will be coming. Yes?

Hey. Hey! Wait!

How was your discussion of military strategy with the general?

Polite.

Of course, they're lying to me about their plans

but at least now I'm someone they lie to.

What exactly is it that you want Montgomery to do?

To not lie to me.

To not be lied to by the French because I'm Algerian.

To not be lied to by the British because I'm French.

Can't think of a single occasion when I've lied to you.

No.

But there is always a first time.

Tell me.

What do you think of me?

What do I think of you?

Goodness. - You get angry with me, as if I matter.

You think I'm a spy.

You arrange cars to take me away.

And yet...

And yet what?

I asked you a question.

What do I think of you?

The truth.

I think I love my wife.

I miss my children.

And as regards you, there's nothing I can do about

what my own stupid self allows me to feel.

You have no idea how much I admire you.

What do you admire about me?

Today, General Montgomery was persuaded to make a decision.

For the rest of the Italian campaign and during the liberation of France

the SAS will return to its former way of operating.

They will be working behind enemy lines without GHQ command.

Montgomery was also persuaded

that they should once again be called SAS.

SRS will no longer be used.

And the person who persuaded him to make those decisions

was you.

Throwing men like these at machine guns

is a waste of their courage

you said.

I listened in on you, just as you listened in on me.

And Montgomery repeated what I said

word for word to Paddy Mayne.

Why don't you tell Paddy Mayne that you are actually on his side?

David gave me some advice.

For Paddy Mayne to function, he needs someone to rebel against.

And that someone is you.

I'm perfect for the job, don't you think?

Landed, entitled...

titled, slightly serious.

Not one of them at all.

Celebrate the fact that you are not one of them.

General Montgomery left this.

New orders, apparently.

Ah!

What a fucking nuisance.

Any of yous...

in any way nostalgic

for the days of well-defined strategies?

I would like a vague idea about where we are, what the fuck we're doing

and why we're doing it.

Am I being picky?

This is an officially designated 2 SAS operation.

This is 2 SAS standing on their own two feet.

We will, for the first wee while

be holding their hand.

Happy landings, gentlemen!

What is that noise?

Oh, that? It's my ribs scraping together.

Listen...

I've broken three of them.

But anyway...

we divide into two groups.

Captain Dudgeon will lead his party east towards La Spezia.

My party will head north

and concentrate on the Genoa-Bologna line.

I will take you 1 SAS scoundrels and show you how it's done.

No one in 2 SAS speaks Italian

so the chap with the nice hat

who looks annoyed about something will go with Dudgeon

and the lady will come with us.

With respect, can I suggest that both partisans go with Dudgeon?

Something about...

Anglo-Italian relations.

We should keep Romeo and Juliet apart

while some of us try to win a war.

OK.

Let's blow up some trains.

It'll be alright.

Doesn't that hurt ya, lad? - Ah.

I played a lot of rugby.

On the field of play, you never show pain.

Oh, right.

Right, we're OK.

Two and a half miles away, traveling roughly 40 miles an hour, Jim.

Can you really do that?

Well, in Liverpool, I didn't play rugby.

Played truant.

Messed about on the train tracks as a kid, like.

I was always the lookout, you see.

Very impressive, Kershaw.

Aye, you're welcome.

Bloody hell! - Kershaw!

Hang on! I'm 20 seconds out!

The fuck were you thinking! - Jesus Christ!

Move!

To the right! Let's go!

Take cover!

Bloody hell.

♪ Gonna race it to the ground ♪

♪ Nobody gonna beat my car ♪

♪ It's gonna break the speed of sound ♪

♪ Ooh, it's a killing machine ♪

♪ It's got everything ♪

♪ Like a driving power ♪

♪ Big fat tires and everything ♪

♪ I love it! ♪

♪ And I need it! ♪

♪ I bleed it ♪

♪ Yeah, it's a wild hurricane ♪

♪ Alright, hold tight ♪

♪ I'm a highway star ♪

♪ Nobody gonna take my girl ♪

♪ I'm gonna keep her to the end ♪

♪ Nobody gonna have my girl ♪

♪ She stays close on every bend ♪

♪ Ooh, she's a killing machine ♪

♪ She got everything ♪

♪ Like a moving mouth ♪

♪ Body control and everything ♪

♪ I love her! ♪

♪ I need her! ♪

♪ I see her! ♪

♪ Yeah, she turns me on ♪

♪ Alright, hold tight ♪

♪ I'm a highway star ♪

Woo!

Slow us down...

Two wee boys.

And all yous want is to go home.

Paddy, you know what they'd do to us if it was the other way.

Reg! - Fuckers would line us up...

and shoot us. Eh?

Paddy. Give the order.

Tell him to put the fucking gun down.

Geneva Convention, Reg.

Fuck Convention!

You tell him right now, Paddy.

You order him to stop now.

Go ahead, Staff Sergeant.

You're no use to me with all that hate in you.

Get it out of your system.

Blow the boy's brains out.

When you get home to England, you can tell your wife, Monica

and your nieces and nephew.

You tell them exactly what you did.

When you're just good old Reggie

back from the pub on a Saturday night.

You look into the fire, you'll see that boy's face.

That wee boy there.

And the way you look into the flames

your own wife will be terrified of you.

Go ahead, Reggie.

Do unto them as they would do unto us.

Amen.

Billy, Croft, here. Get him up.

Give them a drink of whatever the fuck we have left.

Let's get on to the rendezvous.

Sir... - It's alright.

When we get to France, they will say

"C'est la guerre."

Jump on. Let's go.

Oh, my God.

Daphne Reece-Williams.

Uh...

I might not look much like him now, but...

I'm John Tonkin.

My...

my sister used to ride in showjumping competitions with you

in the... in the Pony Club, Guildford.

You always won. She always cried.

Horrid... Johnny?

Yes!

Yes. Horrid Johnny.

Uh... are you... real?

Yes. I...

married an Italian.

Are you real?

Yes. Uh...

You married an Italian?

I've been killing Italians.

Goodness. How odd this is.

Yes, I'm with a regiment where odd things...

tend to happen rather a lot.

I don't know if this is God or fate

what with the war and everything.

I-I've got myself in rather a pickle.

Can I come in?

But of course.

I will... make tea.

Tea would be nice.

What's happened to the lads that went to La Spezia?

They ran into a German camp.

Foster, Shortall, Dudgeon and Brunt were captured.

Foster and Shortall were taken to Ponzano Margra.

Dudgeon and Brunt were picked up at La Cisa.

The new command from Hitler regarding SAS prisoners

was carried out to the letter.

And what about the partisans?

The lady took a bullet and was lying wounded.

Chap in the hat dashed in to save her.

They were both Killed.

I'm sorry, lad.

I'm glad we're us, Dave.

I'm glad we're us, Reg.

Right, listen up.

Ahem.

Mission completed.

We have a new task to prepare for.

We leave Italy to the ordinary soldiers now.

We...

the men of the Special Air Service, first and second...

we're going home.

David.

Stirling.

It's me.

The Allied troops are moving north.

The Italian government has fallen.

The Italian guards have left the camp.

The guards have gone, David.

I still have 15 days left.

No, no, no, you don't.

We all have 20 minutes to get the hell out of here.

The Italian guards have gone

but the German troops are coming up the mountain to take their place.

David.

Did you hear me?

We have 20 minutes

to get free.

Come on, David!

♪ This and that, they must be the same ♪

♪ What is legal is just what's real ♪

♪ What I'm given to understand ♪

♪ Is exactly what I steal ♪

♪ I wormed my way into the heart of the crowd ♪

♪ I wormed my way into the heart of the crowd ♪

♪ I was shocked to find what was allowed ♪

♪ I didn't lose myself in the crowd ♪