Original subtitles

(Cannon shells are heard whizzing by overhead)

(Machine gun firing)

He's alright there now.

Yes Sir.

Queen six, This is King 2. I can give you the Lieutenant right now.

Lieutenant, it's captain Power. He's been trying to get you all morning Sir.

Yes Sir.

Yes Sir, right away.

What's up, Lieutenant.

Italians pulling back to Averanche.

That's a shame.

It is for us, we stay.

We stay?

We're the rear guard. They need eyes to cover the withdrawal.

Have they checked lately. We're just about blind.

You get a replacement today.

Replacement, eh. One?

One.

Don't they know that we're under strength in this Company Sir.

Take your ticket to the chaplain, Sergeant. He'll punch it for you.

By the way, the replacement is a B.A.R man, your squad gets him.

He'll take Grady Long's place.

He will?

Delaney?

Yes Sir.

End of the line.

Yes Sir.

You'll find 2nd platoon, K company, right over there.

Thank you Sir.

Good luck.

Yes Sir.

You too Sir.

Let's go.

(Hanley's voice, giving instructions)

Move back along the main road, as far as the branch.

Group there and wait.

Not before dark, won't get 100 yards before they spot us.

That's the whole idea.

According to intelligence there's a concentration of enemy armor here in the area of Leiya.

They haven't committed themselves as yet.

Until they do, Regiment doesn't dare move forward one more mile.

What good is pulling out gonna do.

3rd battalion is right here in the center of the line.

They fall back, the Germans are more than likely to throw tanks in to fill the gap

Tanks from here, at Leiya.

Where does that leave us.

In a position to judge the strength of the armor we're up against, and direct artillery fire.

And get our heads blown off.

There's always that.

You move your squad to the north end of town, in the clock tower.

I want two men on watch at all times, day and night.

Heavy battalion moves out. You keep off the street and be careful to stay away from windows.

This town has to play dead.

That's the only way we can draw them out.

I'll join you before morning Any questions.

No, no questions.

Good luck, Sergeant.

Who are you.

Private Delaney, Sir.

Delaney.

Yes Sir, replacement from Aberanche.

This is the 2nd platoon, K-company isn't it.

What's left of it.

Nice to have you with us, Delaney.

Thank you Sir.

Can't say too much for your timing, though.

What the Lieutenant means is that they're about to put us between a rock and a hard place.

Why don't you write your congressman, Sergeant.

They drafted him.

Saunders, You might as well go with him Delaney. You'll be assigned to his squad.

Yes Sir.

Lieutenant, under the circumstances,

You'll need every man you can get.

Yes Sir.

What did you say your name was again.

Delaney.

I understand you're a B.A.R. man Is that right.

That was my primary weapon in basic training.

But being a cook's helper, I never did..

You were a cook's helper?

Up until now.

Follow me, Delaney.

(Kirby making imitation gun noises)

Hey watch what you're doing with that thing, Kirby.

You want to kill somebody, Kirby.

Krauts, just krauts, old buddy. That's all.

That's what I call a gun.

That's what you're supposed to call a rifle.

Don't you remember anything they taught you in basic training Kirby.

Look, I'm alive, ain't I. Must have picked up one or two things along the way, right.

Yeah, like digging your hole deeper than anyone else. Always volunteering to be the getaway man.

You kill me Littlejohn.

It's crossed my mind.

I never saw anything so pretty.

A man could really chop something up with this baby.

Just think how long I been trying to get my hands on it.

You figure the Sergeant's going to give it to you.

He hasn't said, one way or the other.

Matter of fact, he hasn't said much of anything ever since Grady got it.

They were close.

Yeah.

Well.

If Grady was alive and you was to ask him something, he'd tell you.

Tell us what.

That I'm the one who oughta take over his gun.

I don't know how many times I cleaned it for him.

I can field strip this thing with my eyes closed.

That's a fact. A man gets the feeling for a weapon.

He gets to know it. He gets the balance, the trigger pull.

You know exactly what you can expect from it in a bind.

Kirby..

Huh.

Don't you ever think of anything else except shooting and killing.

That's what we're here for, ain't it.

Well, ain't it.

Yeah.

But we don't have to be all the time saying it out in words.

Littlejohn.

Hey Littlejohn.

Yeah.

You seen my helmet.

I can't find it anywhere.

Was it all beat up and black with the chinstraps burned off.

Yeah that's it.

Hey, that's it What are ya doing.

Well, what does it look like I'm doing Billy, boiling water.

Yeah, but..

You can't expect us to cook a chicken dry.

A chicken.

Braddock spotted some tracks out behind the barn.

He went stalking off after them.

I told him they're probably big pigeons, but he said.

Hey Littlejohn Look.

Watch it, Braddock. Watch it.

Ha Ha Ha Hold on to it.

Don't let it get away boy.

Boy, Braddock, I swear you're a hunter.

A born hunter.

That's nothing.

How's the water coming.

Ready in a minute.

Good.

Good.

Look, why do you always have to cook in my helmet, Braddock.

No use burning more chinstraps than we have to.

Right Kirby.

Right, that's right.

Yeah but I...

Look, Billy. You volunteered your hat to cook coffee in, right.

Coffee, then it was eggs, now it's chicken.

What if there was an air raid or something I could get a hole knocked in my skull.

Don't you think of anybody but yourself.

That red hen's the first fresh meat this squads seen in 2 months, boy.

And you begrudge us cooking her.

Well..

Look kid, go get a knife and cut her head off.

You want me to kill her?

We can't eat her alive, can we.

I, I couldn't kill a chicken.

Sometimes, Billy, I don't understand you.

Up and at em.

Saddle up.

What gives, sarge.

We're moving.

Where to.

You'll find out.

I want a column facing me. Come on, Hurry up. We haven't got all day.

Put that fire out.

Ouch, you see what I mean.

What do I do with this chicken sarge.

That's your problem.

Alright come on now settle down.

This is Delaney, a new man. He's gonna be with us.

This is Caje.

Hi.

Hi.

The one with the chicken's Braddock.

Littlejohn.

Hi.

Howdy.

Nelson.

Kirby.

Hi.

Kirby.

Yo.

Catch up Grady's rifle.

Give it to him.

I was Grady's ammo carrier, I figured that....

I said give it to him.

Fall back Kirby.

Nelson.

Yes Sir.

Carry Delaney's ammo.

Yes Sir.

Fall back in the rear, Delaney.

Alright, straighten out.

Hey sarge, where they going?

Averanches.

Knock it off.

We stay.

Right step,hard!

(rain, lightning, thunder)

It's a stinking situation.

Like the Sergeant said somebody's got to size up that German armor.

Hah, I'm not talking about that I'm talking about giving that new man Grady's gun.

You know what he was fore we got him don't ya.

A cook's helper, a stinkin' cook's helper, that's what he was.

Where does he get off thinkin' he'd take Grady's place.

Boy, people forget awful easy. Sure can forget ya.

You think the Sergeant's gonna forget Grady Long.

He already has, if you ask me.

Nobody asked you, Kirby.

Put you up here to use your eyes, not your mouth.

Got some things need saying.

Like why I didn't give you Grady's gun.

That's one of them.

It's a long story.

Tell it.

You wouldn't like it, Kirby.

I'm not man enough. Is that what you're saying.

Yeah, that's it.

I'm every bit as good as that cook. I'm not gonna be brought down.

And tomorrow you'd be marching off to the north like I told you, not standing here shooting off your mouth.

You two get downstairs. Send up Braddock and Littlejohn.

Look sarge, I didn't mean.

Do like I tell ya.

Sergeant.

Coffee.

I thought I gave orders there's not to be any cook fires.

I kept it low just for coffee figured the other guys could use it having to stay up the night and watch.

You're not in the kitchen anymore, Delaney.

Yeah, that's what the other guy said.

Delaney.

Takes awhile for a squad to get used to a new man, now, come on up.

Yeah, sure.

We had a young fella come into our kitchen back at Fort Bragg, hadn't been out of basic training but a week or two and,

Right off, the mess Sergeant put him in charge of canned goods and vegetables.

You know, a new man usually starts off at the bottom.

Cleaning stoves, dry skillets, hauling out garbage and low jobs like that.

Well, we didn't take very kind to that fella.

You know, starting out right near the top.

Canned goods and vegetables is just one step away from setting tables and serving officers mess.

Sure gave that guy a rough time.

We got to know him, where he came from, went to school, things like that.

Turned out he wasn't half bad after all.

Wasn't his fault they gave him an important job right off.

Like I've given you.

The squad depends on the B.A.R. man.

First one they look to when they get in trouble.

And you don't think you can handle it.

I'm a cook's helper, Sergeant.

One day I hope to be as good as the others, maybe better.

Till that time, I'd count it a favor if you took that gun away from me and gave it to Kirby or one of the others.

According to your record you're qualified to handle a Browning automatic rifle.

How can I be. I've been stuck in a kitchen for 2 years.

It'll all come back to you.

In the mean time...

In the meantime you just do as I tell you.

Braddock, what do you think you're doing with that chicken.

I'd eat it but you won't let us build a fire.

You know a better way to let the Germans know we're here

What's the matter with him?

Grady Long.

Billy?

Yeah.

You go on guard after Saunders and Caje.

Right.

Braddock?

Yeah.

What are we watching for?

Germans. The war, remember.

Delaney.

Yeah.

You're a cook right?

Well, just a helper.

Well, you spent some time around the stove, right.

2 years.

You saw them cook some of those fancy dishes like chicken cacciatore, a la king and rickosey.

Fricassee.

Well. I think this bird deserves something better than a hat full of hot water.

When this bird goes out, I think it should have, like, something fancy.

A little garlic, onion powder, celery seed and maybe a bay leaf or two.

It'll be a crying shame for this bird to be cooked plain.

Let me see her.

No.

What do you mean, no.

She's 6 pounds if she's an ounce.

That's bad huh.

Should be 3, 4 at the most.

You'll have to stew her.

Stew her, are you sure.

Yep.

Sorry honey.

Delaney, there's something been bothering me.

I know it's none of my business, but how old are you.

Forty

Forty!

Those bad boys are murderers.

Don't they realize this is a young man's war.

Listen, if I were you...

I wasn't drafted.

You weren't?

I joined.

You joined, no kidding.

It was the only way I could get in.

You wanted in the army?

How come?

You ever hear of a little town called Hannah, Wisconsin.

No.

Well, I come from there.

It's 100 miles from Milwaukee, 70 from Madison, 210 from Chicago.

You know something, I never got to any of those places.

I never got anyplace until the war.

I was a clerk in a grocery store.

Now look at me.

Been to London, on my way to Paris, maybe even Berlin.

You'd had a better chance of getting there if you stayed in the kitchen,

and not get yourself transferred to a line outfit.

I know.

Then why did you do it.

To me, a cook in the army is like being a clerk in Hannah.

It's a way to stay alive.

Well, there's more important things than that.

Name one.

Going home after the war, looking back on what you did, or didn't do.

Living with it.

Look, I'm not much of a deep thinker, but I know one thing.

Anybody that got himself into this man's war when he didn't have to is OK in my book.

A little nuts, maybe, but OK.

Any questions.

No, no questions.

You guys gonna talk all night.

Kirby.

Yeah.

Drop dead.

Littlejohn?

Yeah.

What's the matter.

You're gonna be mad at me again.

I am, why?

Look.

I'm looking.

The pin, it's gone.

Gone.

You see, it was loose and I was trying to bend it so it wouldn't come out.

And I dropped it and I can't find it.

Don't let go of the handle.

I won't I won't.

How many times have I told you not to fool around with grenades, Billy.

I was just trying.

You were just trying to blow your head off. Not to mention the rest of us.

It's gotta be here someplace.

If Sergeant finds out about this, he'll really give it to me good.

Like that time you washed your rifle in soap and water.

Ooh, yeah.

Well, I guess you're gonna have to stay up all night and hold that handle Billy.

I can't do that.

Only thing you can do if you want to stay in one piece.

Billy.

Hmm.

Give it here.

(loud thunder roars)

Thanks.

Nothing to it.

Hey, Delaney.

Hang on to that.

Littlejohn.

What's the matter now.

I, I thought I heard something.

What.

I don't know, it sounded like a...

(magazine snap is heard)

The bolt slipped. I was trying to put the magazine back.

Here, let me help you.

This is a browning automatic rifle, commonly known as a B A R.

It's a gas operated, air cooled, portable machine rifle.

Fed from a magazine, capable of firing from 200 to 350 rounds a minute.

Provided the man behind it isn't a kitchen cop who doesn't know his trigger housing from his butt plate.

Knock it off Kirby.

The bullet comes out the small end, Delaney.

But they already told you that at cook's and bakers school, right.

I said.

You said you gave him Grady's rifle because he's qualified to carry it. Now that's a lie and you know it.

He's just a cook, a lousy rotten...

I've had all I want to take from you Kirby.

Sergeant.

Listen.

Tanks.

Sergeant, Sergeant.

There's somebody moving out there.

They're coming in.

Hold it.

Fire up that radio corporal.

Yes Sir.

What's coming in out there Lieutenant. Sounds like the whole German army.

I thought it was a recon patrol but it's not.

There's at least 10 tanks deployed at the other end of town, half-tracks, armored cars, the works.

I'll get the men ready to move out.

We're not moving.

They're all around us.

You can call a fire mission and make a run for it.

You'd never make it 50 yards.

We got to keep our heads down and sweat this one out.

Like you said Lieutenant, at least we're in a position to judge their strength and direct artillery fire.

Trouble is we're smack in the middle of our own target How about that radio.

Checkmate King six This is Checkmate King 2 over.

Checkmate King six. Checkmate King six.

This is Checkmate King 2 This is Checkmate King 2 over.

Can't raise them Lieutenant.

Keep trying.

I guess you were right, Sergeant.

About them putting us between a rock and a hard place.

Things are tough all over Lieutenant.

Checkmate King six this is Checkmate King 2 over.

(chicken starts clucking)

(the noisy chicken gets German's attention)

(talking in German)

(they are called back at crucial moment)

From what I could see up there they've got about 50 pieces of medium and heavy armor scattered in and around this town.

I'd give my right arm to call a fire mission right now Lieutenant.

You'd give more than that, if you did Sergeant.

Standby Checkmate, we're fixed.

Lieutenant, I got Battalion.

Checkmate King 2 over.

Yes Sir.

Yes Sir we are.

Yes Sir Roger out.

What did Battalion say Lieutenant.

Sit still and wait till they pull out.

You got a better suggestion Sergeant.

I already made it. Call a fire mission wait till it starts coming in and make a run for it.

You wouldn't stand a chance.

This town is crawling with krauts. They've already sent out patrols. They're bound to find us sooner or later Lieutenant.

Lieutenant, Lieutenant.

Look.

Everybody through that door Quick! Move!.

(Speaking German)

Buckmeyer.

Yes Sir.

Can you make out what they're saying.

They're going to set up a command post in the loft.

That tears it.

Well Lieutenant.

Buckmeyer.

Yes Sir.

Get me Division Artillery.

Yes Sir.

Men ready to go Sergeant.

Yes Sir.

We got 3 minutes.

There will be over 50 pieces of artillery firing at your first insurgent target.

They'll be coming in from every direction, planes if we're lucky.

I'll head for the outskirts of town. Tell your men to follow me and stay spread out.

There's a fringe of timber just outside the outskirts.

Get there, we've got it made.

Yes Sir.

Sergeant.

Good luck.

Same to you Lieutenant.

Leave your packs We're going to make a run for it.

Lieutenant and I will lead out Delaney, fall in at the rear.

Nelson Stick with us.

And no matter what happens don't bunch up just stick on my tail.

Any questions.

Alright.

Hey Delaney. Are you alright.

Yeah yeah I'm alright.

Won't be long now Sergeant.

No Lieutenant.

Corporal.

Yes Sir.

Keep the radio fired up I want to keep in contact with Division.

Yes Sir.

27 Lieutenant.

Fire!

Go!

Go.

Delaney Delaney, You hit.

No.

Well come on come on We gotta get outa here.

Go on, Go on, Go on, I'll follow you. Go on.

Get the B.A.R. man up here.

Yes Sir.

Where's Delaney.

I saw him go down.

Was he hit.

No Sir.

I, I tried to get him up. I couldn't.

I told you sarge I told you.

Shut up.

Delaney!

Delaney!

Come on Get up.

I can't.

You listen to me Delaney.

We've got to knock out that gun or our whole squad's gonna get it.

Caje, Kirby, Braddock All of them.

You can't tell me that you're going to stay here with your head stuck in the ground and let that happen.

Because if you are you better get used to it

Cause you're gonna spend the rest of your life with your head stuck in the ground trying to forget that you blew those men to pieces.

Men you depend on.

Now are you going to help me blow up that gun or not.

Are you!

Cover me.

Delaney.

Let's go.

Come on Let's go.

Sergeant.

Yes Sir.

Time to get going.

William D. Delaney.

I didn't even know his first name.

Doesn't seem right asking a man to die without even knowing his name.

I was wrong Lieutenant...

Wrong?

I gave Delaney Grady's gun because...

I didn't want to lose one of the others the way I lost Grady.

I thought if it was...someone I didn't know it would be..easier.

It's not.

We'll take the truck as far as Laier, join Battalion.

Yes Sir.

Who are you.

Baker, Sir

Baker?

He's a new man, Sergeant

He's taking Delaney's place.

You got a first name Baker?

Yes Sir.

What is it?

Albert..Albert Baker Sir.

Glad to know you, Albert Baker.

Subtitles by Jack T