Original subtitles

This is the day we've been waiting for for a long time.

We're pulling back for a rest and we deserve it.

They really put us through the wringer.

Like on the road to Gabray.

A village called Zarais.

Another one named Mortage.

I forget the name of the last one. But it was the last, for a while anyway.

Like I say. his is the day we've been waiting for for a long time.

Hey, You guys are going in the wrong direction. The war went that-a-way.

No kidding.

We're pulling in for a rest.

We're going to Avaranches.

Avaranches. Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha. Oh, man. What a town to have a rest.

Big USO. Red Cross Doughnuts all over the place.

Movies every night. Women. Oh..ho ho ho. Oh yeah. You'll just love Avaranches.

Good luck.

Well, Sergeant. Here we are in Avaranche.

Hey, that's cold.

Want another one.

No thanks.

That's okay. Tomorrow you pour.

Hey, Littlejohn.

Yeah.

You seen Kelly yet.

Nah.

You know that character. He must have gotten the football and sold it.

Yeah.

A what.

A football.

You blow it up and you pass it Hike you know, 1,2,...football.

Kelly do you have a requisition for a football.

A good question Sarge. That's a, I'm glad you asked that question..

Do you have a requisition.

Look sarge. We been in combat like, three months. We came here this morning to this rest area and we're supposed to rest.

Where's your requisition?

The whole idea is to get some relaxation. Fun and games. Football and baseball.

No requisition. No football.

You have no heart Sgt.

We're gonna be here maybe two, three days. That's all. Then back to the front lines. I might get killed the first day.

Now you're talking Kelly.

Ah, You know what you just said to Kelly.

What I said was "Kelly do you have a requisition for a football or don't you have a requisition for a football".

Certainly.

Why didn't you give me this in the first place.

Because it's too easy.

Kelly.

Kelly.

Hi ya Sarge. Um, that tall guy at the end there, blond guy. Is that Del Packer?.

Yeah. That's Packer.

Hey, I hate to bother you, but could you tell me what outfit he's going to.

K company.

K . Hey, that's my outfit.

Poor guy. Alright fellas. Let's go.

You're doing good Doc. Hang in there.

Atta boy Billy. Work on the arm.

Hey! Now what are you guys sitting around here for. Get out there and practice.

The football, where's the football.

Hey Doc, Billy, heads up. Come over here.

Hey Kelly. What's the matter with you, sunstroke or something.

I just been over to L company and I talked them into playing baseball with us tomorrow. Their company against ours.

So.

So I got $100 bucks bet on the game.

Hey Kelly Where did you ever get 100 bucks.

Well I got 20 bucks but I figured you guys would go in for 10 bucks apiece.

Hey Kelly. Where's the football?

It's a sure thing.

Billy, if you have your choice of anybody in the world to join our outfit, who would it be?

Rita Hayworth.

No, even better.

You mean better than Rita Hayworth.

Who's the best pitcher in organized baseball today.

Del Packer with a lifetime home run average of 2.04.

Led both leagues in strikeouts and shutouts in 38, 39, 40, 41

But he's not playing ball anymore. He got drafted.

He's joining us?

He's not going to L company. I saw the orders Okay. 10 bucks apiece.

Five 20 game winning seasons out of the last six You can't do better that.

And he'll be pitching for us Now, Whadda you say.

I say you ought to be on the stage, Kelly. You can't con me out of 10 bucks that easy.

I'll check with you non believers later.

Hi.

Am I in the right place This, uh, This company K.

Sure is, Mister Packer.

Here. Let me grab this stuff for you.

Thanks. I can do it.

And wear down that arm of yours.

Nothing doing.

Right this way.

Hey sarge.

Hey.

Sarge.

What do you think of my new replacement.

Can't you carry your own gear soldier.

Sarge. Don't you know who he is?

Yeah, I know who he is.

I saw you pitch your first no-hitter.

You his new manager now Kelly.

Well..no.

Oh well, Kelly cooked up a ballgame tomorrow with company L.

Yeah, you know. Just a friendly little game.

And now you're helping him save his arm. Is that the idea.

Do yourself a favor Packer. Carry your own gear.

He only wanted to help me out Sergeant.

So do I. We'll be in combat in a few days. You better get used to taking care of yourself.

Whatever you say.

Report in yet?

No.

Leave your gear here. Doc, take him over to company CP.

Packer.

Nice to have you with us.

This way Del.

There goes a great guy Sarge, a great guy.

Do you know how much he made last year for tossing that old horse hide.

40,000 bucks.

Well he's not making 'em now. He's making 50 bucks a month just like the rest of you.

So stop fawning all over him and he might forget it.

Sgt. you got something against hIm.

Just want to keep him alive.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

50, 75, 85, 95

50, 75, 85, 95

50, 75, 85, 95

50, 75, 85, 95

Littlejohn?

yeah.

You got a nickel?

Nickel.

5 cents.

Can I borrow it.

Borrow it.

What for.

Well, I need it to give to Kelly.

Kelly.

Yeah, well you see I'm going in for 10 bucks on the ball game with Company L. It's a sure thing.

Because Kelly's gonna use psychology to get Del Packard to pitch for us.

Like the time he used psychology on the squad. Had us all chip in to buy our own tank.

Well, he couldn't help it because that, that mechanized fella backed out of the deal, and ran off with all the money.

That mechanized fella didn't back out of the deal, Billy. He split with Kelly. They had it planned all along.

I told you then, and I'll tell you now. Kelly is not to be trusted especially with my money.

All I asked for was a nickel.

You gonna give it to me or not.

There, but don't say I didn't warn ya.

Hey Del, uh, how'd it go.

Fine, uh. I signed the hotel register, CO said welcome, and I'm in.

What squad you assigned to.

This one.

This one, hey, that's great.

You know, you're the first celebrity we've ever had in this outfit and if there's anything we can do for you, let us know.

Go on Del tell em.

You can let me pitch for you.

Hey, you really mean it.I mean, we were afraid you wouldn't want to.

Why not, the more I keep the arm in shape, the better I like it. It's my meal ticket.

Del, come right this way. I got a place picked out for you. Best spot in the hotel.

What'd I tell you.

Out a here babe, baby..Aah.

Come on now, Del.

Come on Del baby.

Come on now Del.

Pitch ready, babe. Pitch ready.

Hey Kelly, where'd you get the ringer.

Hey Del. We got a spy from Company L, huh.

Come on Del baby, grab some wind here.

Out..next batter's juice for you, Billy.

Hey Stanley. Where you going Stanley. Stick around to see a real pitcher.

If I stuck around Kelly, It'd only be long enough to break your neck.

Come on Billy.

I was just thinking. If Billy ever got a hit off you, he'd never forget it.

I'll do my best.

I was just telling him an easy way to strike you out.

Yeah.

Hey Billy baby.

I hit it.

I'll say you hit it. That would be a home run in any park in the league.

I must be losing my touch.

(Air raid siren goes off)

Hit it.

Blam

Blam

Blam

Del, get down.

Del.

(Air raid siren..attack over)

They're gone.

Del, you OK.

Yah, um.

Medic medic.

Uh oh. Somebody got hit. It's Jones.

Stand back. Give him room.

How is he, Doc.

I don't know Sir. It's his arm.

Littlejohn.

Yeah.

You asleep.

Yeah.

You know the guy who got hit today, Jones. He sure is lucky.

Lucky.

Yeah.

I heard Doc say he got hit just bad enough to get a one-way ticket home.

The same thing happened to Charlie Price the day we hit the beach.

Who?

Charlie Price. We came from the same town. We joined the Army together.

Got shot.

Right in the canteen.

They were picking tin splinters out of his rear area for two weeks.

He got sent home a hero. Hmph! Good old Charlie. You had to know him to appreciate him.

He was, he was a terrible soldier. Terrible.

Like you.

Worse. I had to lace his leggings every day in basic training.

And when he'd breakdown his M1 he could never get it back together again.

Heh, he kept losing parts little springs and things.

And he went home a hero.

He wrote me how it was. Said that he'd never have to pay for a drink in a bar. The girls were always falling all over him.

How he would walk down the street and everybody would look at him. Every once in a while he put on a limp to show off.

It sure makes you think.

It does.

Yeah.

What about.

About..figuring out a way to get out of this man's Army.

Going home.

Wouldn't you like to get a Purple Heart and a ticket stateside.

No, neither would you Billy.

I wouldn't.

Nope.

Why?

Look, I haven't been sleeping, eating, and walking along side you day in and night out for the last 2 months without getting to know something about you.

Wh, what's that supposed to mean?

Well it means that you wouldn't leave this outfit for anything in the world.

Why?

Because you like being a soldier Billy.

I do?

You wouldn't be happy anywhere else.

I wouldn't?

Nope.

I never knew that.

Now go to sleep.

Littlejohn.

Yup.

Good night.

Good night.

Trouble sleeping, huh.

Yeah.

Strange beds, they do that to you. That's a feather bed. You wait till next week.

Your arm bothering you.

No, it's just a habit.

How long before we go in the front lines?

That's hard to say. We're on a 12 hour alert now.

I don't know. Could be anytime. Two days, three days, maybe even a week.

You know Packer, I been doing some checking. You, you made expert on rifle, expert on carbine. Even expert on BAR.

You got a lot going for you.

You got a lot going for you. That's what my old man used to say to me. Son, you got a lot going for you.

When I was in high school I could throw ball harder and straighter than anyone in the state.

All I needed was a little experience they said like.

Four years with class E team in Toronto. Two in AA ball.

First year up they knocked me around real good.

I went back to the minors in 35 and I stayed till 37.

That's a long way up, a long way down.

My old man's got one leg, World War I.

You know Billy Nelson.

His father got it 6 months ago Traffic accident in St.Louis.

Million dollar arm, isn't that what they call it.

Yeah, that's what they call it.

You know how Billy's father got killed.

He was wearing a brand-new pair of shoes.

Didn't want to get them dirty.

Good night Packer.

By the way, Battalion S4 ran into a group of kraut stragglers on the supply run to Vyett.

Happened this afternoon. So we're gonna pull guard on the next run.

0800 in the morning, I'm putting you on it. You, me, Billy, Kelly.

Might as well start earning your money.

Night, Packer.

Hey sarge. Where we taking this stuff anyway.

Ordnance depot for repairs.

How do you like that. Running guard for a bunch of old broken down guns. Remind me to gas up my war bond allotment.

How's the old arm Del?

Fine.

Hope we get back in time for the game.

We'll be back in time.

I wrote my kid brother last night. Told him you were with us.

Why does anyone think the Germans might attack this truck Sergeant.

Food transportation maybe. Any krauts in this area are probably stragglers trying to get back to their own lines.

They don't know what we have.

Hey Del. I was wondering, after the game could you autograph a ball for me, I mean for my brother. He'd get a kick out of it.

I don't know, to prove I really know you.

Sure, I'd be glad to do it Billy.

Hey, that'd be great.

(German guns fire)

Take cover.

You and Billy keep em busy Packer, come with me.

You stay on my tail.

(Germans talking)

Sergeant.

He's gonna find Billy and Kelly. They won't have a chance.

I'm gonna rush them. Keep their heads down. Now when I go, you double back as fast as you can move.

You get that kraut before he reaches them.

OK Packer...Now!

Billy.

Hey sarge.

Is he dead.

He will be if we don't get him out of here.

Kraut came around the corner didn't have a chance.

Didn't see him until he was right on top of us.

Packer knows all about it.

I tried Sergeant.

Can you handle that truck Packer.

Go turn it around.

Sarge, I, I tried.

I gave you an order soldier.

And this time you better move.

Can we go in now?

Yes, but just for a few minutes.

How is he?

I'm sure he'll be alright.

Please follow me.

Right in here.

Hiya buddy how you doing.

Where's the sarge.

He had to report in. He'll be by in a while.

Hi Del.

Hi.

That'll be something won't it.

What's that Bill.

When I write my kid brother, um,

when I write him and tell him that the first person came to see me at the hospital was Del Packer, he'll flip.

Maybe you won't have to write him. Maybe you'll be able to tell him in person.

Maybe.

Billy, I think we better go. Give you time to rest up.

What do you say Del.

Yeah sure.

Wait a minute. Del?

Yeah.

Could you do me a favor?

My mothers gonna worry, and my kid brother, when they find out I'm in the hospital and all.

and I was wondering if you could write them a letter.

I mean, a letter from Del Packer would cheer them up.

And the ball, the one we talked about with the autograph on it.

If you could send that to the kid.

Sure.

I know its asking a lot.

It's OK Billy. I'll do it.

Thanks. You're a pal, a real pal.

Come on Sergeant. Let's have it. What happened.

I told you Lieut.

Not all of it.

It was Packer wasn't it.

Yes Sir.

We started to flank the krauts, and I saw one of them crossing over to Billy and Kelly.

I knew that if he came in on their blind side, they wouldn't have a chance, so.

I sent Packer back to cut him off.

He never made it.

Why?

He froze.

He couldn't move.

It was my fault, Lieutenant I should have never...

Sergeant. You told me something a long time ago. Something that's gotten me through a lot of rough spots.

You said we can teach a man to learn how to stay alive.

fire a rifle, dig a hole, but we can't hold his hand forever.

We tell a man to do something, we expect it done.

He wasn't ready.

He was as ready as any of the others we asked to go out and die.

How we supposed to know how a man's gonna react his first time under fire. We can't look in his soul.

We can only look at his service record. It's all we got to go by.

I should've known.

You gave a man an order. He didn't follow it. It's as simple as that.

Simple.

Billy may die, Lieutenant.

A lot of others may die before this stinking mess is over.

It's gonna be a long war Sergeant.

We can't go around feeling guilty.

Not if we expect to be of any use to ourselves or anybody else.

Yes Sir.

Sergeant.

Yes, Lieutenant.

We're going to be moving out tonight.

I want all requisitions filled before we go.

Lieutenant.

You wanted to see me.

Yes, Packer, we got orders down from Battalion. We're moving up to the line at 2100 hrs.

Yes Sir.

I also got some orders on you. They didn't get to Division until last night. Company got them this morning.

There's been a request from GHQ in London that you're to be moved to special services in that city effective immediately.

It's a nice soft job, Packer.

Division CO says he'll get the orders revoked. If you want to stay it's up you.

You mean Sir, I have a choice of going to London or staying here with the squad.

Not here, Packer, on the line. And we're gonna need every man we can get.

Which is it?

London, Sir.

All right. Get your gear together.

A Jeep will pick you up in the bivouac area, take you to replacement center. You stay there overnight, fly to London in the morning.

That'll be all Packer.

Yes Sir.

Is that all your gear.

Just what I came with.

Jeep will be here in a couple of minutes.

Alright sarge. Let's have it.

You think I'm a coward. Don't you.

I didn't say that, did I Packard.

You don't have to.

We can save ourselves a lot of talking, then.

Sergeant.

What do you want, Packer.

What do you want me to say that you oughta stay with the squad go up to the line and maybe, maybe get yourself killed.

Instead of pulling off to London. Is that what you want.

What would you do.

Nobody asked me. I don't have the choice.

Sergeant, I tried. So help me, I did.

I, I wanted to get that German but I, I couldn't move. I just couldn't move.

What do you want from me. A commendation.

No, I want you to know what happened.

I saw what happened, Packer, you froze.

You were so, so scared about that million dollar arm. It would have taken an ice pick to get you out.

Okay, so I'm not a hero. I never said I was.

I'm not a coward either.

You don't know what it's been like, that nightmare, that same dream ever since I knew I was coming overseas.

My arm gets shot up, they take me to the hospital, my right arm, they cut it off, my right arm.

Then this morning out there in broad daylight, that same nightmare I couldn't move, I just couldn't.

And then, poor Billy.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I am a coward.

Yeah, maybe.

That's your own private war Packer. Nobody can answer that but you.

You think I'm running away, don't you. Right now you, you think I'm running away.

Everyone wants to stay alive Packer, everyone.

There's, there's hardly a guy in this whole outfit, Caje, Doc, Littlejohn, Kelly all of them

and they're good soldiers.

There's hardly one of them wouldn't grab the chance you got. So what are you knocking yourself out for.

Would you go?

Like I told you before, nobody asked me. I don't have the choice.

(vehicle with squeeky brakes heard outside)

There's your Jeep. Get going, Packer.

Hey sarge, where's he going.

London, special services.

How come?

Orders.

Hey sarge, I heard a rumor. Are we really leaving this picnic ground.

Yeah. Within the hour. Get the others ready.

Get going.

Second platoon, company K.

Yeah.

Kelly there.

Hi Sarge.

Hey, I got something for you.

All requisitions filled.

What do you expect me to do with this.

Oh, you're a clever guy Kelly, you'll think of something.

Yeah.

Tell your star baseball player to throw it at the Germans.

He's on his way to London.

Lucky guy.

((cannons, machine guns, and other combat noises))

Yes sir, Check Mate King 2, Roger, Out.

Saunders.

Yes Lieutenant.

Know that winery up ahead.

S2 thinks it's a German observation post. We gotta get this stuff off of us.

Pick yourself 5 men and take a look.

All right.

I'll go with you sarge.

What happened to your transfer?

Revoked, sir.

By whose orders.

I requested it, sir.

We could use him Lieut.

He's yours Sgt. Take him with you.

Follow me Packer.

Change of mind.

I've got my own private war. I can't fight it out in London, can I.

Come on.

Looks deserted enough.

All that nice cool French wine in that cellar.

You're dreaming again Kelly. Don't you know the German likes French wine too.

You men. Stay put.

Packer. Stick with me.

What we gonna do. Walk in the front door.

Yeah. Something like that.

There can't be more than three or four Germans in there if that's an observation post.

We'll work our way to that wall first, then the next one, then on in..

I'll go first. When I reach that wall you follow and this time you see that you do it.

Alright.

Keep that gun up. Give me cover..

Cover me.

(German machine gun opens fire)

You ready.

Yeah.

Let's go.

Let's go!

Don't move.

They can finish him. Why don't they?

They're using him to draw us out.

You'll never reach them.

Is that an arm, or is that an arm. hahaha.

Can I help you.

Packer.

Give me a hand.

Subtitles by