Original subtitles

(Tank machine gun firing)

Checkmate King 2, this is King Tiger.

Checkmate King 2, this is King Tiger.

Come in Checkmate King 2.

Come in King, Tiger

Checkmate King 2, this is King Tiger.

Come in King Tiger.

Come in Checkmate King 2.

(A loud explosion) BOOM

Hey Sergeant, look.

Don't know where you came from, but we're sure glad to see you.

That tank had us in a bind for nearly an hour.

You know if If you'd stuck to the high ground, you wouldn't have got yourself pinned down.

Corporal?

You alone?

My number 2-man got killed about a mile back.

You gonna wander around the hills with that thing or

do you belong to somebody?

Are you Saunders, Company squad K-company, 361st

That's right.

I belong to you, Sgt.

(dogs barking noisily)

Hey Littlejohn.

Hey, where'd you get the bike?

Haven't got time to talk to you Billy. I'm a courier taking a message from Lt. Hanley to Sgt.

Oh Yeah. What's up?

You know better than to ask a courier a question like that.

We're moving out.

-Moving out?

-You heard me.

Where to?

There you go again, pumping me Billy.

Well, well. I was only trying to find

You want to take advantage of friendship to get information.

A place called Barais.

It seems this little farmhouse on a hill.

Littlejohn. That farmhouse on the hill. Has it got any crops in it?

Ain't they always.

Um,hum.

Hey how's that new corporal doing?

Who, Cross?

Is that his name or his disposition.

Ha ha. Both. John Cross.

You know, something really strange about him.

I mean, the way he keeps to himself all the time.

I'll bet he hasn't said more than two words to me since he joined the outfit.

Oh, that's probably cause you're all the time talking. Billy. Never give him a chance.

It goes deeper than that.

I mean there's something really wrong with him, Littlejohn.

You know how I am about sensing things.

Yeah. Like the time you sensed there were no Germans on Omaha Beach.

-Well.

-The trouble with you Billy is you worry too much.

Why don't you just relax and enjoy the war like the rest of us.

Well, you mark my words, Littlejohn. That fella, Cross, has got a problem.

So have we, Billy.

A little farmhouse on the hill.

We'll take the main road to Bufray, then swing south from there.

The farmhouse is situated on a steep rise just beyond the break in the timberline.

What's so, what's so important about that place Sarge?

According to Lt. Hanley the regiment is regrouping for a flanking move to the north.

The Germans have a big battery of guns here at Maubeuge.

We tried to knock 'em out but couldn't. So we're gonna have to go around.

This farmhouse has a commanding view of the entire area in all directions.

Our job is to deny the enemy the high ground.

Keep them blind so they can't see what's going on down below.

We take it.

Hold it.

Until such time as we're ordered off.

If that ground's so important to them, why they send a squad up there? Why don't they send a Company?

They don't want to draw attention.

How many Germans are there?

They don't know for sure. Maybe none at all. We'll find that out when we get there.

Great. haha

How do we always manage to get these stinking details?

Make you feel any better, Kirby, G-company is sending up a squad of men to secure a hill on our flank.

We're just a cog in a wheel.

I don't know about you Sarge. But this cog is getting a little tired of being shot at.

Wouldn't be so bad if there was any future in it. Like, uh

maybe even getting promoted once in a while.

Course when that time comes, they go bring somebody in from the outside that, uh

He ain't walked a mile with this squad.

I didn't hear you kicking when Cross took that tank off your back, Kirby.

Be ready to move out within the hour.

Any questions?

Go ahead. Ask him.

Sarge.

How do you feel about bicycles?

Bicycles?

Yeah. Littlejohn just bought one.

If we're not coming back here, I'd hate to leave it behind.

We could take it along, it'd make us kinda mechanized.

I could carry the other guy's packs, extra ammo.

This is an infantry squad, Litlejohn. Not a circus act.

Meaning I can't.

Well.

That's war.

Littlejohn.

Talk to the mess sergeant. Maybe he'll haul it in the kitchen truck for you.

Hey. I never thought of that.

Saddle up.

Cross.

I'm sorry the way Kirby sounded off before.

There's one in every outfit.

Yeah.

Cross.

I understand you were with the 423rd.

That's right.

They fought their way up to Rouen, didn't they.

Mortagne. Gournay, Mantes.

I left them just outside of Vernon.

And I can't get over the fact that for once they sent us a man who's been around.

Usually it's some recruit fresh out of basic training, or cooks and bakers school.

Why don't you just ask me, Sergeant.

Ask you?

Why I was transferred.

That's what this third degree is for isn't it?

One of those sergeants who just has to know all about the men under him, especially the next in command. Isn't that right.

Well, isn't it?

I think you got me mixed up with the Chaplain.

You don't have to tell me anything.

Sergeant?

Look. I don't hire and fire. I just work here. I do like I'm told.

I was told to climb a hill, and who to take with me. You're one of them.

We leave in 30 minutes. Double basic load of ammunition. Light machine gun, and rations for three days.

If anything happens to you on that hill

Then you're in command unless you want to take off those stripes.

Bring up the rear and be your getaway man huh.

-I didn't say that.

-You mean it!

Look Cross. We'd all be in the ground if you hadn't taken that tank off us in that clearing. All of us.

But don't expect me to spend the rest of the war thanking you for it.

I don't expect anything from you, Sergeant.

Then just stay two paces off my tail and one to the right, and we'll get along just fine.

30 minutes.

Sarge says to hurry it up with that gun.

Aah.

Ever get the feeling we do all the work around here Caje. Huh.

I mean, the squad needs a new machine gun, so who goes and gets it. Us.

Thing's all full of grease, who's gonna clean it. Us.

Don't you ever get tired of griping, Kirby.

It's a sign of a good soldier, boy.

Ain't that right, Caje.

They say that.

I'll leave the bowing down and bucking to you guys, Littlejohn.

Extra stripe on my sleeve don't mean nothing to me.

You were busted once, weren't you Kirby?

Twice.

Never was entered in my service record though. cause I was just acting squad leader.

I just can't picture you as a non-com, Kirby.

-Why not?

-I just can't.

I had the best squad in the outfit.

Then why'd ya get busted.

It was politics.

Look, it ain't what you know in this man's army. It's who you know.

You just take that new fella Cross. There's an example.

-Of what?

-Of politics.

I mean, he's a good enough soldier. You can see that.

Still, that didn't stop them from transferring him.

And you can bet he didn't request it, either.

He was just sold down the river without so much as a bye your leave.

You check into it.

You'll probably find that our new corporal just stepped on somebody's toes.

If anybody knows about stepping on toes, it'd be you Kirby.

Why don't you drop dead, you big ox.

Don't pay attention to him Littlejohn. He's his own worst enemy.

You wanna bet.

Ah, what a sorehead.

Now.

That old Cross just probably stepped on somebody's toes real good.

Ready to move out Sgt.

Yes Sir.

Keep your radio fired up. I'm gonna want to keep in contact with you at all times.

And Saunders?

No matter what happens

you're on your own.

If anything goes wrong, we can't make any major moves to help you.

Not for at least 24 hours.

If we can run those guns at Mamere, cut em off

We can save days, maybe weeks of fighting.

You and your squad are buying time for the regiment.

Questions?

One. Cross.

What about him?

That's what I would like to know, Lieut.

I'll talk to you about it when you get back.

Why not now?

If he's got a problem, it could make that hill higher to climb.

He's a good man Sergeant.

If he wasn't, I wouldn't have assigned him to you. You know that.

Yup.

Sergeant. I'll see you when you get back. Good luck.

Yeah.

Alright. Let's straighten out.

Come on. Let's move.

-Kirby!

-Yo.

You and Caje give Billy and Littlejohn a hand with that air cooled.

Alright.

Wait a minute.

You and Billy expecting rain, Littlejohn.

Well, no. Not exactly, Sarge.

Let's see, you turn around.

Yeah, I see.

I thought I told you to load that bike on the kitchen truck.

I did. At least I tried to.

The mess Sgt. only had room for the body and fenders.

Yeah. He, he had to offload a crate of powdered eggs even for that.

Sure this isn't gonna be too much for you to carry.

Because if it is, we can leave the machine gun here.

I can handle it Sarge.

Well, I'm glad.

Cross.

Yo.

Move 'em out.

Alright. Rab step. Let's go.

Get that gun up.

-Cross, Kirby.

-Yo.

You come with me.

The rest of you stay put.

Let's go.

What's the matter with you Cross. You gonna let that kraut take the Sgt.

My rifle jammed.

You're a liar. He's a liar, Sarge.

Shut up, Kirby.

Look. He was gonna...

I said shut up.

Go on down the hill.

Bring up the others.

Go on, move.

What happened?

Like I told Kirby.

The gun jammed.

(Gun fires flawlessly)

Rotten night.

Wonder how long they're gonna leave us up here.

Sgt. said 24 hours or more.

Huh. It'd be less if the Germans find out we moved in.

Yeah.

-Hey. Look Littlejohn.

-Yeah.

I checked the head space on this thing 5 times already and I still can't pull the trigger.

-Tighten the barrel?

-Yeah.

Back it off one click.

Thought it was one turn.

One click.

You know it's amazing how much you know about weapons.

No, I mean it. The way, the way you handle water cools, air cools, carbines, M1's, everything.

Alright. Let's have it.

What?

Well, you're not building me up for nothing.

Did you do something wrong, Billy?

Well, it wasn't my fault.

What wasn't?

I heard a hiss as we were coming over the wall at the foot of the hill.

A hiss.

Yeah well, I must have caught it on a sharp rock or something.

What caught?

The tire. Look.

Flat. As a pancake.

I told you to be careful, Billy.

It was an accident. I'm sorry.

Ahumph. Humph. Hahaha.

What's so funny?

I was thinking maybe Doc could fix it. He's good at patching things up.

Well you better get him to work on our friendship.

Cause I'm just about ready to split the blanket with you Billy.

Well I said I was sorry.

Well you don't act it.

Do you have any idea how far it is between inner tubes in this country?

Nothing I like better than burying Germans in the rain.

We never raised Lieut. Hanley yet.

About 10 minutes ago.

He said he'd check with us on the hour, starting at midnight.

Good.

-Kirby.

-Yo.

You and Caje take over. Go after Billy and Littlejohn.

Alright

-The rest of you get some sleep.

Cross.

I want to talk to you.

I'll ask you one more time, Cross. What happened down there in that cellar?

Like I told you.

Your gun didn't jam.

Alright I froze.

I won't buy that either.

And what will you buy, Sergeant? That I'm a coward.

You're not a coward. You proved that.

Then why don't you get off my back.

Because you owe me an explanation.

I don't owe you anything.

Remember me. I'm the guy who's supposed to stay 2 paces off your tail and 1 to the right and everything will be just fine.

Well not anymore. From now on you stay right in front of me.

Where I can keep an eye on you.

I was right about you, wasn't I Sergeant.

You're the kind has to know all about the men under him.

Just the ones that might get me killed.

Sarge. Somebody's coming.

Caje. Get that fire out.

(German)

Brockmeyer. What are they saying?

They're skinners.

Bringing up supplies for the outpost.

I'll get the one on the left.

Hold it Littlejohn. There may be more.

They get away we'll have more kraut company than we can handle.

-Caje.

-Yeah.

You and Cross come with me.

Whaddaya think Sarge?

They're alone.

Cross.

Take the one in the barn.

Caje. You and I will get the other one.

Lets go.

(breaking glass from lantern)

(fires at closed door)

Get him?

Yeah.

Yeah I got him.

Looks kinda weak to me.

Give it a chance. It's just started to boil.

Better add another shot of coffee.

Want to drink it, or paint with it.

Look Davis. Who's in charge of this detail anyway? You or me?

You?

And, whose helmet is this?

Yours.

The coffee.

I'll put in another shot.

Hey Doc.

Look what I found out behind the barn. Think it'll work?

Can try. She ready in a minute.

Yeah. That oughta do it.

Give me a probe.

Just trip that valve.

Opened up.

Bellows.

Easy.

Easy.

That's got it.

Hey, it's holding.

Shh. Listen.

I think I hear a leak.

Give me that bucket full of water Billy.

-No bubbles.

-No bubbles.

Doc. If you ever decide to give up medicine, you could open up a garage.

Hey Littlejohn.

The Sgt. sent you out to reconnoiter.

I did. I scouted all along the back side of the hill. I didn't see anything.

I'll tell the Sgt.

Yes Sir.

Yes Sir. It's getting light now.

Yes Sir?

Yes Sir we will.

Roger. Out.

Regiment's been slowed down by the storm.

They need another 12 hours. Maybe more if the weather doesn't break.

Meaning, we gotta stay here till everybody else is safe and sound.

Then they'll let us fight our way back to the outfit.

That's what the man said.

The mans expecting an awful lot if you ask me.

Nobody asked you, Kirby.

Hey Sgt. Littlejohn says it's all clear in the back.

Let's hope it stays that way.

Where's Cross?

Haven't seen him.

Did ya look under the beds, huh?

Just trying to help.

Cross.

Have a drink Sgt.

You're drunk.

Roaring.

Here. Help yourself.

A lot more where that came from.

I have my own private stock.

(breaking glass)

Coarse, it's a little the worse for wear.

I think if we play our cards right, and ration it out very carefully, we oughta have

enough here to last till the end of the war.

Whaddaya say we stay here and drink until it's all over Sgt. Hmm, the duration plus six.

Let the other guys get the glory and get shot at.

We'll stay.

Right down here, wait it out where it's quiet. Peaceful. Whaddya say?

No.

You still burn that.

You burn that cause I let that Sherman crawl on your back.

I don't blame ya. I don't blame you at all.

Me, if I was you.

Well, I'm not you. Am I?

I'm your next ..

What did I say?

No, what.

What did you say. You said I had you mixed up with chaplain.

Hmmph!

Boy, how can I make a mistake like that?

You don't look anything like a chaplain.

You have no forgiveness in your eyes, Sergeant.

No compassion.

Did anyone ever tell you that?

Anybody ever tell you a man might have a reason for what he does?

Like letting that kraut put a bayonet in my back.

You think I wanted that to happen?

-Didn't you?

-No.

But you were afraid it might.

-Yes.

-Why?

Cause it was another hill.

It was another farmhouse. Just like this one.

I thought you didn't want to know about my problems, Sergeant.

What happened on that hill?

A man died.

There wasn't a German within 10 miles, and a man died.

(bottles smashing)

We were sent up the hill, just before dark.

7 of us.

Sergeant Coulton's squad.

He led on, and I was right behind him. Just like always. He told us to

stay closed up, cause the light was going fast.

And when we got to the top of the hill, we fanned out.

And I went in a barn.

I was alone.

And it was dark.

And when I turned around to come back out

I saw something move.

It was a shadow of a man.

So I fired.

And there was a scream.

And the other guys came running and

Somebody found a lantern and lit it.

Even before the light went on, I knew who it was.

It was Sgt. Coulton.

I killed him.

Well, I picked him up and I carried him all the way down that hill.

and I wouldn't let anybody touch him.

They, tried to tell me it was an accident.

But all I could hear was that scream.

Night and day for a week..just that scream.

And, then when I came out of it, I was in an EVAC hospital.

They kept me there for awhile.

And they gave me a choice.

I could transfer to another land outfit or

stay there and take my chances with Section 8.

So you took the line.

I thought I could work it out.

How many dead men do you figure to leave behind before you do.

I tried.

Like you're trying now. With a bottle.

It's easy for you to talk.

Easy?

You think I never lost a man because I made a mistake?

It's not the same.

I'm alive. They're dead.

The only difference between us, Cross, is I haven't got my head stuck in some wine cellar feeling sorry for myself.

Come on. Take it.

Enjoy it while you can. Because when we get back, I'm gonna make sure they throw the whole book at you.

We're not getting back, Sergeant.

We're never gonna get off this hill.

Krauts are probably on their way up right now.

The German.

The one in the barn.

What about him.

I let him get away.

I tried to kill him and I couldn't. I swear I tried.

I'll wring your neck!

We got company.

-Where are they?

-They took cover just outta range.

-How many?

-20 at least.

Maybe more.

-What are we waiting for?

(Thump)

-Listen.

Mortar. Get down.

BLAM

Here they come.

BLAM

Hey, Kirby.

BLAM

BLAM

BLAM

BLAM

Get going.

BLAM

BLAM

BLAM

BLAM

Gotta get that mortar off us.

Keep firing.

Cross.

Cross.

That was a fool thing to do.

It's awright Sergeant.

It's a good way.

It's the only way.

There'd always be another hill.

I told you we should have stayed out the war in that cellar.

Where it's quiet.

Peaceful.

Kirby.

You alright?

First time I ever been kicked off a hill like that.

It won't be the last.

Sergeant?

There was just too many of them.

Sorry, Littlejohn.

I still got the body and fenders.

Sergeant.

It's Lieut. Hanley.

This is King Tiger.

Yes Sir.

Yes Sir we did.

Roger.

Out.

Any word on the regiment, Sergeant.

Yeah, they made it.

Hey, how about that.

The storm gave em cover.

Way it turned out, they didn't need us on the high ground after all.

That's the way it goes.

Yeah.

That's the way it goes.

Subtitles by Jack T.

www.tvsubtitles.net