All language subtitles for The.Greatest.Beer.Run.Ever.2022.WEBRip.x264-ION10

["Soul Finger"
playing on speakers]

[patron 1] Thank you, Colonel!

[grunts] Sorry. Hey, come on.
Coming through! Coming through!

-That's for you.
-[patron 2] All I'm saying is,

I can't remember the last
time Chickie paid for a beer.

Wait, are you calling me cheap?

No, he's calling
you a freeloader.
Now, where's my change?

Thank you.

Are you shittin' me?

-Hey, Noodle.
-Mmm?

When I get off a ship
flushed with cash,
who picks up more tabs than me?

-No one.
-Bingo.

But you haven't been on a ship
in three months. Do the math.

Can't even go to the Shilling
no more, 'cause he ain't
paid his tab!

Hey, that's bullshit! I can't
go to the Shilling no more,

because that's where
the Keenan brothers hang out.

They still mad
about you and their sister?

I don't know.
And I don't wanna find out.

-["Cherish" playing]
-Hey, who put this shit on?

I did. I love this song!

I love this song too.

-[patron 2] This song sucks.
-It's not great.

Hey, Colonel! One more round!

Forget it, Donohue.
You're three weeks
behind on your tab.

This ain't on me!
It's on Brendan!

Lucky boy!

[chuckles] And keep 'em comin'!

-[door opens]
-[parent 1] Hey.

Get your ass out of bed,
you lazy bum! Come on.

-Fuck. I'm up.
-You're not up!

11:30 mass began ten minutes
ago, for Chris--
Get the hell up, Chick!

I went there five
o'clock last night.

Bullshit. Your mother
and I were at the five.

Look at you,
sleeping your life away.

I'll stay awake when I'm dead.

[parent 2]
For God sake's, Chickie.
Church started already!

Get up!

[pipe organ playing]

[church choir singing]

[churchgoers chattering]

[singing continues]

-What are you doing tonight,
Chickie?
-What do you think he's doing?

[sighs] It's the same
every night with him.

He's off on a toot.
He sleeps all day.
He's "Good Time Chickie."

Must be fun.

Oh, my Go--
Here we go again.

You know, being a
merchant mariner ain't no
pleasure cruise, okay?

-Yeah, yeah.
-It's backbreaking work.

Oh, boohoo, Chickie.

So this is my time to
kick back and relax a little,

like a professor
on summer break.

Oh. Oh, yeah. You're--
You're a professor, and
your grandmother's Miss America.

Oh, come on.
Do we gotta start this again?

You know what? It's my house.
He's gonna live by my rules!

He wants to be a drunk
and sleep all day. Maybe
he should get his own place!

Fine. I'll move out.

-[grunts]
-That's a waste
of money, Chickie.

You're out to sea
more than half the year.

Catherine,
you gotta stop babying the boy.

When I was your age,
I had two jobs. I had
three kids. I had a wife.

Mmm. So it's my fault you
knocked up Ma in high school?

-Hey! [hisses]
-Chickie!

We got pregnant
after we were married!

[Chickie] Oh, come on, Ma.

You got married in January.
Gerard was born in June.
It don't add up.

-It was a leap year.
-A what?

What does that mean?

Gerard came early.
That's how it adds up.

-Very common in
first deliveries.
-Hmm.

[sibling] Johnny Knopf's dead.

-No.
-I just ran into
Judy Byrne. [cries]

She's best friends with
his sister, Mo. [sniffles]

But he... [stammers]
...he just got there.

Well, you know,
the family can be proud.
He died a hero, that boy.

[scoffs] How do you know?

How do I know?

Because he died
for his country.
That's how I know.

For his country to do what?

Hey, Christine.
This ain't the time.

[sighs] Well,
when's gonna be the time?

We don't even know why
we're fightin' over there.

Oh, for Chrissakes.
Has it ever occurred to you

our country knows very well
what they're doing,

they just haven't told you yet?

LBJ's lying to us!
He won't even admit it's a war!

-Oh, yeah. Everybody's lying,
Christine.
-[Christine] They are lying!

Christine, that's enough.

[sighs] Yeah, Ma, it is enough.

Eight kids from this
neighborhood are dead already.

How many's it gonna
take before you all wake up?

[sighs]

[newscaster]
The young mother's
daughter was shot

while quietly riding
a bicycle with her father.

On a public lane,
in a little village.

In the warm sun
on a beautiful day.

-[people speaking Vietnamese]
-She will be dead
in an hour...

Knopf wasn't even
supposed to be there.

He and his old man
signed a waiver
so he could enlist at 17.

Jesus.
What the hell was his rush?

His rush was he was
doing his patriotic duty.

You make a very good point.

[Colonel scoffs]

This is bullshit. They should
not be showing this on TV.

This would not fly
back in my day.

There was no TV
back in your day.

Yeah. And we were better for it.

War is not a TV show.
It's too real-life.

And the American people
can't handle real life?

No, they can't.
And they shouldn't have to.

Bringing dead soldiers,
guys with no arms and legs,

into our living rooms

is not helping no one.

If they had showed
the Battle of the Bulge on TV,

we'd have quit after three days.

We didn't. We took our licks,
but we pushed 'em back,
and we won.

It was a different time.
It was a different war, Colonel.

[sighs]
What are you selling, Noodle?

You saying
you're on their side?

I'll throw you right
the hell outta here.

Jesus, Colonel. You got
a short fuse today, huh?

I ain't got a short fuse.
You just don't know
when you lit it.

[chattering]

[friend]
God, I hate these things.

Why can't they just have
a funeral and get it over with?

This just drags it out and
makes it worse for everyone.

-Asshole.
-Ow.

The wake is for the family.
It's not about you.

It gives 'em time to grieve
and shit before they
put him in the dirt.

You hit it on the head.
We need wakes.
They're important.

It's very good
for everyone to grieve.

Jesus, Danny. Don't you
ever have an opinion
that you stick to?

-You just blow with
the wind, don't you?
-No.

I just try to be open-minded
to everybody's point of view.

-Oh.
-Like the way dogs are.

"Like the way dogs are"?

-What's he saying?
-Oh, I'm just saying
dogs don't judge.

The Minogues got
a telegram this morning.

Tommy's MIA.

[sighs]

Come on.

[sniffs]

[sighs]

[crying]

Goddamn it.

The ball's dropping
in ten minutes.
We're gonna miss it, Chick.

Don't worry about it, Tommy.
It'll drop again next year!

Yeah, but I've never seen it.

-You've never seen
the ball drop?
-Only on TV.

-[passengers cheering]
-Bullshit.

I swear. I've never seen
it live, Chick. Just once
I wanna be there live.

All right, come on. Let's go!

[sighs]

Goddamn it. [breathes shakily]

[protesters chanting]

Poor Minogue. He was the best.

Don't say "was."
MIA doesn't mean dead.

If anyone can survive
out there, it's Tommy.

He and his brothers, they got
those street smarts, you know?

[friend] Look at these scumbags.

[protesters chanting]
Hey, hey, LBJ! How many
kids did you kill today?

Hey, whoa. What are you doing?

Go home! Go home,
you commie bastards.

[blowing]

Hey, man! Stop, man!
What are you doing?

Those candles represent soldiers
who were killed in Vietnam!

Oh. Sorry. I thought
they were peace candles.

What, you got
a problem with peace?

I got a problem with you, mouth!

These demonstrations
are hurting our troops!

Yeah, why don't you
just keep marching
right up to Canada

and lock the key behind you?

Come on, Chickie.
Let's get outta here.

[chanting continues]

What the hell?

How many kids
did you kill today?

Hey, hey, LBJ! How many
kids did you kill today?

-Hey! Let's go.
-[exclaims]

...go of me!

What the hell are you doing?
Go home now!

You're embarrassing yourself,
and you're embarrassing
your family!

Trying to save more
Inwood kids from dying
is embarrassing myself?

That's right. Because this--
this ain't helping nobody.

At least I'm trying
to get 'em home alive.

Everyone's doing something,
and you're doing nothing.

Doing nothing?

I served four years
in uniform, starting
when I was 18 years old.

You were playing poker in a
military base in Massachusetts.

You weren't dodging bullets,
you were dodging bar tabs.

So quit acting
like you've been there!

Oh, come on.
You know what? Screw you!

Now, let's go.

Oh, I'm not
going anywhere with you!

I'm gonna be here every
day until this war's over,

because this war is immoral!

Don't tell us
about immoral, all right?

We're burying Johnny Knopf
tomorrow,
and Tommy Minogue's MIA,

and you're out here
marching with the enemy?

-Tommy?
-Let's just go home, please?

Don't tarnish
Johnny's memory like this.

"Tarnish his memory"?

I'm doing this to honor
his memory, you dumb shit!

I don't wanna see no
more kids die for nothing!

For nothing? They died
to save us from communism!

This war isn't about stopping
communism, it's about
spreading imperialism!

Hey, cool-breeze.
Shut the fuck up!

-You shut up!
-Yeah. Don't push us
into your war.

-Fascist pig!
-You're the problem, man!

What the f-- My war?

I'm just here
looking out for my friends,
who, by the way,

-are over there
fighting for you!
-Exactly!

We don't need your friends
killing for us, man!

You know what, baby killer?
You and me, let's go!

I don't wanna fight, man.
This march is about peace.

Oh, to hell with your peace!
Come on. You and me, let's go!

-I'm not gonna fight you.
-[Christine] Stop it.

You don't have a choice! I'm
gonna hit you in about three
seconds.

But I'll give
you the first crack.

Go ahead,
give it your best shot.

[gasps] What are you doing?

Don't you do it,
Chickie, don't!

-You asshole!
-Stop! Stop it!

[protesters clamoring]

[grunts] Hey! Ba--
Back off! Back off!

Stay there! Hey! Back off!

Hey, Christine!

Christine!

Take a shower!

Those pussies had us
outnumbered 10-to-2, and we
still kicked their asses!

So how'd your cheek
get all swelled up?

Sucker-punch. Some hippie.
That's what started it.

Do these dumbass protesters not
know that our soldiers see
that bullshit on TV

and that it's broadcast
all over the world?

And this is exactly
what the enemy wants.

To see us divided. Fighting.

If Americans can't agree,

it makes it look like
they're right, and we're wrong.

I just wish our guys could see

that the vast minority
of the country's behind them.

-You-- You mean vast majority?
-Well, no. I wouldn't go
that far.

I think most people
are behind them, yeah, sure.

But not everyone.

You know what I'd like to do?
I'd like to go over to Vietnam

and track down Reynolds,
Collins, Pappas, Duggan,
Minogue.

You know, all the boys
in the neighborhood.

And just give them a beer,
you know? To say thank you.

To the boys!

-[Colonel] To the boys!
-[all] The boys!

I could do that.

-Do what?
-Bring 'em beer.

I could sign up for a ship
headed to 'Nam.
Drop off a few brews.

Are there even boats
going over there
with the wars going on?

Hell yeah. Who do you think's
bringing 'em supplies?

Are you serious, Chick?

You can just hop on a
merchant marine ship
and drive over there?

Of course he's not serious.
He's hammered. Look at him.

The man's stone sober. That's
his fifth beer, maybe, tops.

Don't bullshit us, Chick.
Could you really pull this off?

Could, would, and will.
That's a promise.

I'm gonna show 'em that this
neighborhood and this country
is still behind 'em.

-[Brendan chuckles]
-What Chickie's
saying is important.

It's very important.

It'll prop our boys up.

Maybe a good ol' American
beer will remind them

what they're fightin' for.

Thank God someone knows.

You bring it to 'em in this.
That way they know it's from
all of us.

We're bringing the boys beer.

Hey, Chickie? Chickie,
don't do this.
Tell 'em you're full of shit.

-It's always harder afterwards.
-Okay.

Get me a list of
all the guys and the units
that they're in, okay?

Because I'm going to Vietnam,
and I'm bringing them beer!

-[all] Yeah!
-Yeah! Let's go!

God bless you, Chickie.

Those brave bastards over
there, fighting and dying
for this country.

We're sitting on our asses
doing nothing. Except for you.

Yeah. Well,
I ain't done nothing yet.

The hard part's
gonna be finding a ship.

Then, once I get over there,
how am I even gonna
track 'em down?

Shouldn't be that difficult.
Small country, right?

Shitload of trees, though.
It's like an African jungle
over there.

Hey, McFadden just
got back from 'Nam.
I bet he's got a map.

He could show you
where they're all stationed.

Right,
but like I said, getting
there's the real problem.

Even if I do find a ship,
what if they're
fully staffed up? They--

Chickie! When you're
in Vietnam, you're gonna
visit my son, right?

-Well--
-127th MP Company.

See, it's right there
on the patch on his shoulder.

He'll be so excited
to see a friendly face.

Yeah, there's still
a few kinks to iron out,
Mrs. Collins.

Like, I don't even know if
it's possible for me to get
over there.

And when you see him,
please give him a hug for me.

Jesus, those guys are
putting the horse way
in front of the cart.

What do you mean?

I never said I was going to
Vietnam,
I said I was gonna try to go.

No, I'm pretty sure you said
you was going and that you was
bringing beer.

Yeah. If there was a boat.

Yeah, I don't
remember that part.

Shit, Noodle.
Read between the lines!

How the hell can I control
if there's a boat or not?

-Okay.
-No, it's not okay.

'Cause now I'm gonna look
like an asshole if I don't go.

-To who?
-To those guys.

Don't worry about those guys.
They don't really think
you're going.

They're just busting your balls.

What?
They don't think I'm going?

Well, you're not going, right?

That's beside the point.
Why do they think I'm not going?

Well, no offense, but,
come on, Chick.

There's a lot of things
you say you're gonna do

that you don't get around
to doing 'cause, you know,
you get busy.

What things I ever say I was
gonna do I didn't do, huh?

Seriously. Name one thing.

You never became a cop.

And you never played
shortstop for the Yankees.

-What?
-It was fifth grade.

I said I was gonna be a cop.

What, you're not allowed to
change your mind after
fifth grade?

That doesn't count.

Well, you never graduated
high school.

When did I say I would?

You never sold peanuts
at the Polo Grounds.

Because the day
I was gonna start,

Patty Benedetto gave me a way
better job loading rigs
at Empire Trucking.

Yeah, but then you quit
that job one day after.

So it's my fault
the boss was an asshole?

Well-- Look, Chickie,
all we're saying is,
you don't have to go to Vietnam.

It's not like
people really expect you to.

Let's go.

So when were you gonna tell us?

You know, that you're bringing
beer to your friends in Vietnam.

Richie Reynolds's girlfriend,
Jeanie, dropped these socks off.

She already mailed him a few
pairs, but he never got them.

So she wants you
to hand deliver 'em.

And Mr. Collins dropped off
33 bucks for Tommy,

so he could pay back his poker
losses and he wants you to tell
him to stop.

So, I'm just curious,
how many pops in were you

when you came up with
this brilliant notion?

So Christine,
you saying I'd have to be drunk

to wanna support
my friends in Vietnam?

How would bringing
beer be supporting them?

It's about friendship and
loyalty, something you know
nothing about.

If you really want to support
them, help us get 'em the hell
out of there.

Oh, my God. You're like
a broken record.

You know, I can't--
The thing I can't figure out

is how he's gonna get all
the Clydesdales on the boat.

-[chuckling]
-You three,
don't laugh at him.

You'll talk him into this
foolishness and get him killed.

Stop it, Catherine.

No one's ever gotten killed
sleeping till 3:00 in
the afternoon.

Chickie's fine.

Mrs. Minogue. I-I-- Uh--

Chickie, I-- I hear you're
going over to visit the boys.

I want you to bring this
to Tommy when you see him.

-Yeah, come on in.
Just, come on in.
-No. No, no, no.

I want to drop these off.

They can't find Tommy
right now...

but I'm sure they will.

No, please, Mrs. Minogue,
you hold onto those, all right?

If I end up going,

then I'll come and pick 'em
up from you, okay? I promise.

No. You see, Tommy
said that he brought some,

but I bet he didn't.

Anyway, having two sets
can't hurt, right?

No, I guess not.

Thank you, Chickie.

-[clears throat]
-[phone ringing]

Hey, chief.

Uh, no chance you have a ship
heading to Vietnam any time
soon, right?

That cargo ship, Drake,
getting ready to push off.

No shit. What time?

1700 hours.

Tonight?

-What, in three hours?
-Yeah.

Goes out of Jersey,
straight to Panama,
then straight to 'Nam.

Should be there
in two months or so.

But I doubt they need an oiler
this late in the game?

Um, oiler. [sighs]

Hey, you're in luck.
They're still one short.

Oh.

And why are they
going out of Jersey?

She's loaded with
10,000 tons of ammo.

Blow up half of Manhattan
if something went sideways.

If Jersey goes up,
who'd miss it?

You want in?

[car hoots]

Chickie!

You can't be serious?

What?

Please don't do this.
This is the dumbest thing
I ever heard.

Dumber than carrying around
signs, calling our friends
baby killers?

Don't give me that shit.
I wasn't carrying that sign.

Yeah, but you were
marching with someone who was.

Just imagine being a soldier,

just got home and that's
the first thing he sees,
is that sign.

[sighs]

Please, Chick.

-You're gonna get
yourself killed there.
-No, I'm not.

Yes, you are!
I-- I don't get it.
Why are you doing this?

It's like you said.
Everyone's doing something.

I'm doing nothing.

[engine starts]

Three days' leave? You got
some nuts on you, Donohue.

Nobody gets three days.

What about the engine room?
That's gonna run itself?

Sir, I worked double-time
the whole way here,

and I got all my
shifts covered, sir.

I don't give two shits.

And don't talk to me like we're
in the marines, you butt-licker.

No one's getting off this ship.
We're in a goddamn war zone.

But I have to.

Oh, you have to?
What's your deal, Donohue?

I need to find my stepbrother.
Uh, Ricky Duggan, First Air Cav.

Stepbrother? He's not
your goddamn real brother?

No way.
You ain't getting three days
for a half-ass brother.

I got a rust bucket to run here.

But he is my real brother,
sir. Uh... [stammers]
...my mom is his mom.

Uh, you know, my-- my dad
died fighting in Okinawa.

And, you know, my mom
remarried and Ricky was born,

and we was raised together,
just like real brothers.

You know, I just got word my--
my stepdad,
Ricky's dad, just died.

I don't want Ricky to
read the news in a letter

or hear about it
on a phone call.

I would like to
tell him in person.

How'd he die?

-Stroke.
-Linger?

Yeah. Like a week or two.
It got real ugly
at the end there, so...

Where's this stepbrother?

[clicks tongue] Oh, he's, uh--
He's up north. The LZ... Jane.

Christ.

Shit's hit the fan up there.
You could be walking
into a bloodbath.

You know that, right?

Well, he-- he's my brother.

You get all the info on
the stepbrother and all that,

in case Donohue gets his
balls blown off stepping
on a land mine?

Yeah, all right here.

Okay. You got three days.

It's 8:05. If you're not back
here in 72 hours and one second,

you better be dead.

Yes, sir. You have my word, sir!

[chattering]

Hey, you guys ain't
with the 127th MP Company?

Yeah, and what about it?

You don't happen to know
a guy named Tommy Collins
from New York?

[chuckles]
Yeah, we know Collins.

-No shit?
-[military policeman] Yeah.

[laughs]

Yeah. Uh, you wouldn't know
where I could find him,
would you?

-Why?
-I just brought him
a couple of beers

from New York. [grunts]

Seriously, pal,
why you looking for Collins?

No, I'm being serious. I--

This whole thing's
full of beer from back home.

Now, listen, smart-mouth.
You looking to take a swim?

No, no, no. Guys--
Look, I ain't messin' with you.

I'm serious. This-- Here.

In fact, you know what?
I got a couple for you too.

Hey, Pete. He's good.
Let him in.

Hey, buddy.
He is in there somewhere.

-Thanks, guys.
-All right.

All right, which one of
you donut holes wants to get
your ass kicked first?

-The fuck you say?
-You heard me, cupcake.

What, you think
that uniform makes you tough?

Come on, bring it on. I'll
stuff you right in that helmet.

[both laughing]

Chickie, Chickie, Chickie!
What the hell
are you doing in here?

Oh, you know, I was just
in the neighborhood.

-No, seriously.
What are you--
-[laughs]

Guys, this is my buddy
from back home,
Chickie Donohue.

Yeah.

Got some pretty
screwy friends, Collins.

Oh, without a doubt. Guess what?

This screwy friend just
came 10,000 nautical miles

to deliver your ass
a sudsy thank-you card.

["C'est Les Vacances" playing]

-[song continues on radio]
-Like my grandfather
used to say,

always ring the doorbell
with your elbow.

And that, my friends,
is called the Irish hello.

-Here. Take that.
-Hello, Ireland.

Hello.

-Take it.
-Mm-hmm.

I still can't believe you came
all this way just to bring
me a beer.

Not just you.

I came for Duggan, Reynolds,
Pappas. All the guys.

-That's the dumbest thing
I ever heard of.
-[Chickie] Really?

Is it dumber than the time
you took a pull off
your nephew's baby bottle,

'cause you wanted to know
what titty milk tastes like?

-[chuckles]
-Whoa, that was
your sister's titty milk?

No, it was my brother's wife's.
I'm not an asshole.

Oh, hey, hey. Wait, wait.

So, I got this from your
old man, $33 to pay off
your poker debt.

-Thank you.
-Almeida, what the hell--

Uh-uh. Now we're even, buddy.

What the hell's going on here?

Attention!

-Where'd those beers come from?
-[music stops]

Who the hell are you?

I'm Chickie Donohue.

And what the hell
are you doing here?

Just got off a ship, sir.

Am I talking to you, Collins?

What's your business?

Uh, just traveling around.

Be more specific.

Okay. Uh, more specific--
I'm traveling around Viet--
In Vietnam,

and I'm... [stammers]
...bringing beers

to as many of my friends
from my neighborhood as I can.

You're traveling
in country? Alone?

Yeah. That's right.

[sighing] Understood.

As you were.

As you were.

-Ah, h-he seems like
an okay guy.
-He's not.

Did he just have a stroke?

Nah, nah, nah. Don't you get it?

He thinks your man
Don Ho here is a "tourist."

Mmm.

What do you mean?
I am a tourist.

-Tourist is what we call CIA.
-CIA? Get the hell outta here.

Man, who else but CIA
would be headed up-country,

dressed like they're
going on a golf trip?

[chuckles] No, Erickson's right.

The military brass does not
like to mix it up with CIA.

Yeah, that's the quickest
way to get your ass reassigned
to combat patrol.

You're kidding me. He thinks
I'm CIA? Like James Bond?

-[Chickie giggles]
-[all chuckle]

Well, in that case...

["Je Veux Te Graver
Dans Ma Vie" playing]

[all laughing]

Yeah, come on!

-[Chickie]
Reynolds is over there.
-Yeah.

Duggan's up here
somewhere and Pappas is--

He's right around
the ammo dump, right here.

So... I mean, what's my
plan of attack, I guess?

How much time you got?

Forty-seven hours.

Oof. It's gonna be tight.

What if he starts up here with
Duggan and then hustles
down to, uh...

-Reynolds. Yeah.
-...Reynolds.

And then... [clears throat]
...back down to Pappas?

Why? I don't understand.
How come I just can't go
see Pappas first?

'Cause I can practically
see his base from here.

Nah, Baby-Face is right.

Pappas might be the closest,
but he is furthest in time.

Long Binh's the biggest
ammo dump in this country.

They'll be doing
background checks.

Ask about your high school
girlfriend,
count your hemorrhoids--

Christ, it would take
Westmoreland half a day
to get in there.

-Go see Duggan and
then the other guy...
-Reynolds.

...and if you're still
alive and you have time,

then you can hit Pappas
on the way back.

That's right.
How you getting there?

I don't know.
I figured I'd hitchhike.

[chuckles] What?
You-- You don't have a plan?

Are you kidding me?

How would I have a plan?

It's not like you can hire
a tour bus out here. Can you?

-Oh, Jesus Christ.
-I don't know.

-W-- [scoffs]
-What if he caught
a plane to LZ Jane?

Go airplane?

How's he gonna do that?
He ain't military.

Wait, wait. Why can't I
just hitchhike?
Isn't there still roads?

I don't know if it's
hit the papers back home yet,

but folks are getting
their asses shot in these parts.

[Collins] Are you guys nuts?

Give me that thing.

Stop helping him. What are you
trying to do, get him killed?

[sighs]

Chickie, you gotta get
the hell out of here.

Yeah, okay. I'll get my shit.
I don't want to
get you guys in trouble.

No, I mean out of 'Nam.

Yeah, I will. In a few days,
as soon as I see the other guys.

You can't be serious
about this, Chick.

Come on, man, you did it.
You got me hammered in Vietnam,

and I'm sure we're gonna have
a lot of laughs about this
forever.

Let's quit
while we're ahead, huh?

I didn't come all this way
just to quit after one night.

What am I supposed to do?
Let you go out there like
a babe in Toyland

and get your brains blown out
like Knopf did?

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
You're worrying way too much.

I'm not gonna be fighting no
one, I'm just deliverin' beers.

You don't get it, do you,
Chick? This isn't a John Wayne
movie, all right?

Where you know who the good
guys are and the bad guys are.

This is guerrilla warfare,
and they can come at you
from anywhere, at any time.

Bringing beers into a
fucking war zone?
That's a batshit crazy idea.

I mean, you didn't
really think you can
pull this off, did you?

But why the hell you think
I came all the way to 'Nam?

I don't know, Chick!
You lost a bet, you're
runnin' from the cops,

you knocked someone up--
I-I can't figure it out!

Chickie, even if you wanted to
do this, there's no way for
you to get around.

The only non-military people
who can travel the country
are the press.

Well, where are they?
I'll go talk to them.

They're at the Hotel Caravelle,
but they're not gonna help you.
You're a civilian.

I'm an American civilian.
I'm one of them, you know?

No-- No, you're not. You're
nothing like them. [sighs]

I think you're forgetting
who you're talking to, yeah?

It's me, Chickie.

Look, you just guard the ships,
okay? I'll handle the press.

[vendors speaking Vietnamese]

[speaks Vietnamese]

Whoa! No, thank you.
[chuckles] It's okay.

-[scooter hoots]
-Whoa!

Thank you. Thanks.

You American?

Yeah. Yeah.

You from Oklahoma?

No. New York.

Near Oklahoma?

No, not really.
Not even close, actually.

Like Oklahoma! Good movie.

Yeah. Good football too.

MacRae, great actor.

Oh. Gordon MacRae.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he is.
He's very good. Very good.

Hey, um, do you know where the
Caravelle Hotel is around here?

Two down, on left.

-Safe to walk.
-Okay.

Hey, Oklahoma?

Thanks a lot!

[cars hooting]

[elevator dings]

[smooth jazz
playing on speakers]

[exhales deeply]

Oh. Hello. My name is Hien.
How may I help you?

A whiskey soda, please.

Whiskey soda on the way.

[speaks French]

Boy, this is one hell of a
place to watch a war from,
right? [chuckles]

War, it's far.
But managed here in Saigon.

Hey, do you know where I can
find any of the reporter guys
around here?

Press? Throw dart,
hit press guy.

Right. Hey, thank you.

[speaks Vietnamese]

[newscaster presenting on TV]

[sighs]

[Chickie] Hey, how's it going?

I'm American.

And I find
an attitude of confidence
and growing optimism.

It prevails
all over the country.

This is bullshit.
Are you hearing this?

Westmoreland's saying there's
a feeling of optimism
all over Vietnam

and that the Communists
are running for the hills.

Finish up your drinks, chaps.
Time to go home.

[sighs]

A number of South Vietnamese
living in areas

under government protection
tonight has grown by
more than a million

since January of last year.

[journalist 1]
Turn that lying asshole off.

Whoa. Hey,
I don't appreciate that.

That's the President of
the United States you're
talking about.

He deserves some respect.

Why?

All right, look.
Look, I don't care

what you think of him
personally as a person,

but you gotta respect
the Office of the President
of the United States.

I mean, look who he is.

You expect us to respect
the man who's telling
the American people

we're actually winning the war?

And that we, the media,
are keeping it a secret?

If the shoe fits.

Hien.

One more time for Jesus.

So, tell me.

How did you become
such an expert on the
public relations of war?

I'm not an expert,
and I never said I was one.

Thanks for the disclaimer.

Hey, mister, people back home
get their news from you guys.

And look, let's face it,
it ain't all been
that positive lately.

Why should it be positive?

You don't understand
why it's important

that people back home get
positive news about the war?

No. I don't.

So they don't lose hope.
It's going crazy out there,
and you--

You're takin' the wind
out of everyone's sails.

You're riling up protesters,
it's--

Look, I'm just saying,

you might wanna support
our boys every once in a while.

Telling the truth
about this war is being
supportive of our boys.

Well, it sure don't
come across that way on my TV.

How are you supporting them?

I support 'em in-- in, uh...

in, like, many ways,
in-- in lots of different ways.

Yeah, that's what I figured.

Okay, for one thing, uh,

I just traveled 12,000 nautical
miles to bring all my enlisted
friends a gift.

What kind of gift?

Beer. Beat that.

Beer?

They can get beer here,
you know?

Yeah, but not American beer.

Yeah, but this beer came all
the way from New York. So...

Listen,
the beer's not the point.

The point is
that I'm trying to show them

that somebody back home
still gives a shit.

[journalist 2]
Well, I give him credit.

It may be idiotic,
but it's a noble gesture.

Well then, do you think
you guys can help me out?

Listen, I need to
hop a plane to LZ Jane.

You know what?
I think I can swing it.

I could maybe, uh, book
you a flight out of Bien Hoa.

What's your preference?
You want like a window seat?
Aisle?

Oh, I don't care.

Hey, you wanna go
first-class?
Meal service?

Anything you want, kid.

[journalist 3] Sorry, buddy.

Why don't you just pack up
your beer, take it back
to your frat?

Besides, they won't
even let us up there.

Don't let them get to you.
You'll never win.

But they're right
about one thing.

Impossible to get around
in my country right now.

Military travel only.

Military, huh?

-[soldier] Where you headed?
-Uh, I'm trying to get to...
Bien...

Uh, Bien...

[stammers] The air base.

-[soldier] Ah,
come in. I can take you.
-Yeah?

Thanks.

Hey, thank you!

Just go inside
and up the stairs.

Hey. Do you have a plane
heading to LZ Jane?

Um...

I can get you most of the way
there. Then you're gonna have
to chopper in.

Okay. Go ahead and put my name
on the manifest.
It's John Donohue.

-Donohue, you said? Right.
-Donohue. Yeah. Yeah.
John Donohue.

And, uh, what's your rank, sir?

Oh. I'm not military.

That's gonna have to be
cleared with the captain, sir.

Okay. Uh, you can go get him.

Get him!

[Captain] Yeah?

[door opens]

You the guy
trying to get to LZ Jane?

Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

You're a civilian?

Yes. As far as you're concerned.

Oh, it's one of you guys.

Why didn't you say so, Private?

Put the gentleman's name
in the manifest immediately!

Yes, sir.

As soon as they're done
unloading the bodies,
you can get on.

Right.

John Donohue?

No.

Um, sorry. I must have
gotten the name wrong.

Uh, Captain Dyer in Saigon
instructed me to be of
assistance in any way I can.

Oh. Oh, yeah.

Oh, Dono... [chuckles]
...Donohue, yeah. But they--
they call me "Chickie."

So, he told you to help me?

Yes, sir.
He's my superior officer.

They shuffle me between here
and Tan Son Nhut air base,
right outside Saigon.

Habershaw,
Lieutenant Habershaw. Yeah.

Let me get that for you,
Mr. Donohue.

Thank you. Thank you.

[grunting]
So, what can I do you for?

Well, I, uh,
need a lift to LZ Jane.

Not a problem. I can
have a bird ready for you
in 60 minutes.

Really?

Yeah, perfect.

Have you eaten, sir?

No, I have not.
How's the food around here?

[sighs] It'll make a turd, sir.

That sounds great.

I'd be honored to have you
join me in the Officer's Club
for lunch.

A friend of mine
would love to meet you.

You know what?
Thanks, Habershaw, I'm just--

After that flight, I just don't
have that much of an appetite.

-You sure?
-Yeah.

We carry the best
scotch this side of Tokyo.

The...

[Chickie] So, what department
are you guys in?

[Habershaw] Army transport
service, in conjunction with
mortuary services.

-We move bodies.
-Mmm.

Our soldiers. KIA. In caskets.

That must be hard,

dealing with the dead all day.

I don't think about it much,
sir.

I'll have plenty of time
to think about it all later.

So, any chance you can
brief us a little about
what you guys are planning?

-You can trust us.
-Come on, Habershaw.

If he could trust us,
he wouldn't be a very good
CIA agent. Now, would he?

Mmm. That's true.

Not that I am a CIA agent.

[all chuckle]

By the way, I wasn't the one
who told Fusco who you are.

That came from
Captain Dyer in Saigon.

-I would never blow your cover.
-Mmm.

I see a lot of shit,
and it all stays right in here.

-Everything.
-Mmm.

I got a lot of shit in here.

So, come on.
Can't you give us just a hint?

You know, tell us
without telling us?

All right. Let's just say...

I'm here to deliver
beer to a friend.

Beer? To who?

A friend in Bravo Company.
First Air Cav.

Keg?

Cans.

[exhales sharply]
Wow, that's gonna be
a shit show, isn't it?

It's been a pleasure
meeting you, sir.

If you and your people
ever need any help. Any help.

I mean, like, if you ever need
to get something out of here
or back in,

and you need it to be
under the radar, I'm your guy.

Good to know.

-Can I ask you a question, sir?
-Shoot.

If someone wanted
to do what you do,

how does one go about
getting noticed by Langley?

-Langley?
-Headquarters.

[stammers] How do the big boys
at the CIA find you?

Just be a good soldier
and a good person.

[chuckles] Oh, I am, sir.
If it's not asking too much,

do you think you could maybe
put in a positive word for me?

Which helicopter
am I getting in?

-Straight ahead.
-Ah, okay.

So, you think you could?
Put in a good word?

Okay, sure.

Thank you, sir.
I very much appreciate it.

Do you need my name and company?

No, we'll find you.

Lt. Gill Habershaw.
528 Support Battalion.

That'll make it easier.

-Who the hell is this guy?
-[soldier] I don't know.

-I'm looking for Rick Duggan.
-Who?

Rick Duggan.

-You got orders?
-No.

Let me see your papers.

I don't have any.

No orders, no papers.
Mission classified?

Goddamn it!
They never tell me shit.

Call Duggan in
from the ambush post.

Tell him he's got a visitor.

What's your name, sir?

Uh, just call him in.
I kind of wanna surprise him.

[radio operator 1]
Romeo-45, this is
Romeo-06, over.

[Duggan] This is Romeo-45.

Duggan,
report to TOC ASAP, over.

[Duggan] Right now?
That's 200 meters,
and our situation's hot. Over.

Right now.

[Duggan] While it's still
light out? Over.

[radio operator 1]
That's affirmative. Out.

He's on his way.

Okay. Uh...

Uh... That's good.

-[zipper opens]
-This is good.

Okay. I'm gonna hide here.
And you guys cover me with this.

No.

Okay.

[grunts]

[gunfire in distance]

-[panting]
-[gunfire continues]

[panting continues]

-You wanted to see me, Sarge?
-[Sergeant] No.

Ta-da. [laughs]

[pants] Chickie?

-What are you doing here?
-I brung you beer.

Wh-Wh-- Who are you with?

I'm with you.

[sighs] Seriously, Chickie,
what the hell are you
doing here? Really.

[chuckles]
Me and all the fellas
were sitting around

talking about what we could
do to bring your spirits up.

And then, bang! It hit us.
Bring you a beer.
So, I brought you a beer.

-You dumb shit!
-[grunts] What?

You almost got me
killed out there!

Wait a minute, Duggan.
You mean to tell me
this asshole's a civilian?

-Yeah. Yes, Sarge.
-Is he nuts?

I don't know. Chickie,
are you nuts?

What? No.

-You're delivering beer
in a battle zone?
-Yeah, so? It's fine.

I just came from seeing Collins.
He didn't mind.

You found Collins?

Yeah.

[sighs]
It was easy. He was right
next to my ship in Saigon.

After this, I'm going
to visit Reynolds and Pappas.

By the way,
a lady tried to sell me
a snake on the way over here.

-You think this is funny? Huh?
-What?

-It's not funny at all!
-I don't think it's funny,
okay!

I'm not doing this
for laughs, Ricky!

I'm doing it for you,
for all you guys.

This is a goddamn war, Donohue.
You shouldn't be here.

Chickie, get back to
your boat right now.

Forget about the other guys.
You can buy 'em a beer when
they get home.

This is serious shit out here.

Yeah, I know.

No. No, obviously you don't,
or you wouldn't be here!

You keep on this stupid
beer run, there's a 99%
chance you're going tits up.

Sarge, can we get a...
[stammers]
...egg beater in tonight

and, you know,
scoot him out of here?

It's too dangerous.
Nothing's flying till morning.

So what am I supposed to
do with him?

Hell if I know.
He's yours now.
Take him with you.

What-- I'm on ambush post, sir.

Your problem, Duggan!

[gunfire continues in distance]

You want a taste of Vietnam?

You're about to get it.
Grab your shit.

[sighs]

-Grab your shit!
-I am.

Hey.

Thanks.

-What's this for?
-To shoot the bad guys, dodo.

If it looks like you're
gonna be taken for prisoner,

shoot yourself or they'll
torture you for info.

For info? Hold on.
I don't have any info.

They don't know that, asshole!

Okay, geez. A bit edgy.

No. Bad idea, Sarge.

He's got a better chance of
shooting one of us than one
of them.

W-What are you talking about?
I know guns.
I was in the military.

-Where'd you serve?
-Massachusetts.

Yeah, give me that.

Are you ready?

I guess. What are we doing?

We're gonna run for our lives.

[gunfire]

[grunting, panting]

[panting continues]

All right.

-We're halfway home.
-Halfway?

On the count of three,
follow me. One--

Wait, wait, wait.

-What?
-Let's go back.

Just as bad going back
as it is going forward.

Then let's just stay here.

Here? We're in no-man's-land.

So? I'm okay with that.

We gotta keep going.

[whimpers] Can't we just
call a tank or something?

Tank-- There's no
goddamn tanks out here.

[groans] All right.
On the count of three.

-One, two, three.
-[whimpering]

[gunfire continues]

[breathing heavily]

[Chickie] Oh, shit! [pants]

-[pants] Oh, God. Oh, shit.
-[rapid gunfire]

-All I could think about...
-[panting, coughs]

..."What if these are the
last moment of your life?"

And all I could think was,

"I hope they're aiming at
the asshole..." [panting]
"...in the checkered shirt."

[muffled explosion]

-[exclaims]
-Relax, relax.

One of your beers just exploded.

-[panting, whimpering]
-Just a beer. Just a beer.

[sighs]

[insects chirping]

Duggan,
where's the Starlight scope?

We got a lot of movement
on the perimeter.

What's going on? Are we okay?

NVA are out there moving around.

-NVA?
-Probably just passing by.

But if they attack,
boogie on back to the line post.

Okay. The line post is...

-[Duggan] Back where
we came from.
-Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

Tell them to turn on the lights.
Let's see what's out there.

India-26, this is Romeo-45.

We need illumination
forward of our position. Over.

[radio operator 2]
Copy that, Romeo-45.
Illumination inbound.

[loud bang]

-[soldiers shouting]
-[whistle blowing]

[soldiers screaming]

[exhales sharply]

[breathes deeply]

Who's this hand job?

Hi.

He's my next-door neighbor.
He brought me a beer.

What the hell does that mean?

It means he jumped on
a freight in New York.

Came all the way out here.
Bring me a beer.

-Seriously?
-[pants] Yeah.

Wait a minute. Are you telling
me you don't have to be here,

and you're here?

Yeah.

[gunfire]

[insects chirping]

[soldier] Yo.

How many beers you bring?

A bunch.

Now would be the time
to pass them out.

-Yeah?
-Mm-hmm.

Busker.

Sorry, they're a little warm.

[groans] That is good.

Reynolds is dead.

What?

Got word a few days ago.

[Chickie] No.

Goddamn it. [sighs]

We never saw that kid
without a smile on his face.

Yep.

Any word on Minogue?

No.

Now, let's get some sleep.

Where?

Here. What, are you expecting
a Howard Johnson's?

[chuckles]

Throw this on if it gets rainy.

You really Duggan's
next-door neighbor?

Yeah.

Couple of apartments over,

but close enough to hear
his old man yelling at him.

He was a yeller.

Where you from?

Philly.

How long till you go home?

I don't really
keep track anymore.

You don't wanna jinx it?

I went home after my first tour.

I didn't fit in.

So, I came back.

Twice.

I'm way more at home here.

Christ.

Come on. Time to go.

Is it over?

Yeah, you're dead.

[soldiers chattering]

That wasn't so bad.

[sighs]

[Duggan] Okay, guys.
We're heading out.

[Chickie] Wait, hang on.
Hang on. One second.
One second.

One breakfast
beer, first.
[groans]

-All right.
All right, just one.
-Thanks.

Hey, fellas. Smile.

[shutter clicks]

-[soldier] Hey.
[chuckles] Hey.
-Here you go.

-Thank you.
-This is great.

-Anyone else? Whoo.
-Oh, yeah.

Here, for your scrapbook.

-Don't peel it open
for 90 seconds.
-[Chickie] Got it.

Thank you, sir.

[Chickie] What's he doing?

What?

[Chickie] Just smoking a jay?

What if the sergeant finds out?

The sergeant
probably sold it to him.

[Chickie] Huh?

[Duggan] Look, Chick.

Me and my guys are happy
as shit you brought us beer.

It's the first time I've seen
a couple of the asswipes smile
in weeks.

But we're going out on patrol
today, and you can't come
with us.

I mean, hell,
you don't wanna come with us.

All right, there'll be
choppers coming in on the
LZ in two to three hours,

once this shit clears up.

Try to grab the first one
out of here.

Yeah.

Okay.

Oh, hey. I got something
for you. [grunts]

[exhales sharply]

Reynolds's girlfriend
wanted me to give these to him.

Guess you could use them.

That's not a rock
you're sitting on.
That's elephant shit.

-[sighs]
-VC trains them
to move equipment.

-Really?
-Yeah.

Promise me you'll
go right to your boat,
Chick. End it here, please.

Yeah. Yeah, okay.

And I kind of got to go anyway.
I'm running out of time.

[Sergeant] Duggan, let's go.
We're moving out!

Be right there, Sarge.

Well, thanks for coming
all the way out here, Chick.

You're probably the only
crazy bastard on earth
to do something like this.

-Hey, stay safe, Ricky.
-Yeah.

I'll see you back
in the neighborhood.

[sighs deeply]

[grunts]

[strains]

Don't worry about him.

Every once in a while you
run into a guy who's
too dumb to get killed.

[explosion]

[helicopter whirring]

Hey, can you take me to Saigon?

Is that where
you're bringing him?

Bringing who?

[gasps]

Where's the rest of them?

[speaks Vietnamese]

-[speaks Vietnamese]
-He said, "Who?"

Listen, Charlie,
I want names now.
Who's been helping you?

[speaks Vietnamese]

[speaks Vietnamese]

He says,
"I don't know anything."

-Okay. Strap in!
-[groaning]

Time to see if this
piece of shit can fly!

Now!

[screaming]

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey!

You got ten seconds or you're
going out the door! I'm serious!

What the hell are you doing?

[speaks Vietnamese]

Who's been helping you?

-[interpreter
speaking Vietnamese]
-[whimpering]

[speaks Vietnamese]

[interpreter] He swears
he don't know anything.

Well, tell him
he better make something up,

or he's going out!

Come on, man! Just tell him
to tell him what he wants!

[cries]

[speaking Vietnamese]

[speaking Vietnamese]

We got it!

Okay! Take her down!

[screams]

["Cherish" playing]

What's this? This isn't Saigon.

The hell you talking about?
Your partner told me
to land at Kon Tum.

Who are you again?

-Just a tourist, like you!
-Yeah?

Who's your travel agent?

Same as yours.

I'll tell the boss you say hi.

Sorry, sir. I can't find
nothing going to Saigon.

Well, keep looking, okay?

I need to be at the harbor
by 8:00 a.m. So I need to get
out by tonight.

I could ask the helicopter
you came in on if he could
take you to Saigon.

No, I-I can't go on that.

Somebody blew their lunch all
over the place. It's disgusting.

What about those ones?

Oh, they're down.

Got a couple mechanics driving
in from Pleiku air base
to pitch in.

We'll set you up
with a bed in the barracks,

-get you out tomorrow afternoon.
-I just told you.
I have to be back--

Pleiku, do they have choppers?

Sure, it's a helicopter base.

-Well, how far is it?
-Twenty-four klicks due south.

-In American.
-About 16 miles.

-Well, can you get me
a lift there?
-Not tonight, sir.

But I can get you a ride back
with the mechanics tomorrow.

-What if I walk?
-Sixteen miles?

-Yeah. I could hitch,
you know. I--
-Not advisable, sir.

The VC own the night
on that road.

All right. [sighs]
Give me a second.
Let me see what I can do.

Thanks.

[Chickie] Anything?

No, but tell you what.

I'll give you a lift
over to Pleiku myself.

Really? Y-You can just
leave your post like that?

Yeah. As long as I'm back in
an hour or so, I should be okay.

Oh. Amazing.
Which way's your head?
I gotta take a leak.

-Last door on the left.
-Oh.

I'll meet you out front.

Thank you.

[soldier]
Shit! He's running! Let's go!

[panting]

[birds chirping]

[breathing heavily]

[agent] All right.
Let's get out of here.

[breathing heavily]

[vehicle departing]

[pants]

Raquel Welch is with us
tonight. Uh, pretty young lady.

-[audience member] Oh, yeah.
-Mmm?

-Yes. I'll drink to that.
-[audience laughs]

-You'll drink to that?
-[audience laughs]

-[chuckles]
-You'll drink to a--
[indistinct]

You know. "There's a tree.
I'll drink to that."

What do you think, Chick?
Am I doing the right thing
enlisting?

Of course you're
doing the right thing, Tommy.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I think I'm
doing the right thing too. Yeah.

But sometimes, you know...

What?

[stammers] Everything, you know.

The whole thing is--
It's-- It's-- It's confusing.

I mean, all the shit you hear
about what's going on
over there,

and everyone's got
a different point of view.

Who does?

Like my uncle Leo.

He was a flamethrower
in World War II.

Even he said
he wouldn't fight in Vietnam,

because he doesn't even know
who the Nazis are over there.

There's still Nazis?

The bad guys.

Who are we even fighting, huh?

Well, that would be
the Reds, the commies.

The guys who want to come
over and take over everything.

Yeah. When I was talking
to your sister's friends,

they said just
the opposite thing.

They said there are no bad guys.
It's just a-a revolutionary war.

And the people
we're there defending,

they don't even want
us there in the first place.

Minogue, don't listen
to my sister's friends.

I told you,
sh-- Columbia morons.

Hey, Tommy.

You're going over there to
defend the United States of
America.

How could that possibly
not be the right thing to do?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah,
you're right, Chick. Yeah,
you're right. You're right.

["I'd Like to Walk Around
in Your Mind" playing]

[no audible dialogue]

-[mosquitoes buzzing]
-[sniffs, grunting]

You fuckin'--

[leaves rustling]

[footsteps approaching]

[leaves crunching]

-[whimpers]
-[elephants trumpeting]

No! Don't shoot!

Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

[breathing heavily]

[soldier] Chickie?
Chickie fricking Donohue?

Who's that?

-It's McLoone!
-Who?

Kevin McLoone from
Dyckman Street! Jesus! What
the hell are you doing here?

Loony?

You know this guy?

Yeah, we used to play
CYO basketball together.

Chickie, what the hell?
Why are you--
[stammers] Am I dead?

Why are you
in the middle of the jungle
in the middle of Vietnam?

Long story. But the CIA,
they're after me, man.

-But--
-They're trying to kill me.

The CI--
What are you talking about?

The Central Intelligence Agency.

-[stammers]
They're after me, man.
-So you came to Vietnam?

No, I came to deliver Duggan
and Reynolds and the other
Inwood's guys beers.

Wai-Wai-Wait, beers?
What-- What do you mean,
beers?

I thought it would be
nice to bring them all beers.

But now the CIA is after me,

because I saw shit
that I wasn't supposed to see.

What did you see?

They were throwing people
out of helicopters.

-How'd you know it was CIA?
-Because I was in the chopper
with them.

Wait. Y-You're CIA?

No. No, what? No, no, no,
no, no. They thought that
I was one of them.

That's because
a major came up to me.

He saw how I was dressed, so
I just-- I went along with it.

They-- For a second, it--

Then they started throwing
people out the helicopter.

And this kid, he said he could
drive me all the way to Pleiku,

like he could
just leave his post.

But I knew it was bullshit.
I knew it was bullshit.
He was setting me up.

There was a foot long
caterpillar climbing up my arm,

on my face, almost in my mouth.

-Okay, buddy.
-It was seriously--

Hey, take a breath.
Look, get in the Jeep, Chick.

We got to get the hell out
of here before we get killed.

-Come on.
-Okay.

[grunts] Sorry, guys.
Can you take me to Pleiku
so I can catch a chopper?

Right now we're
heading to Kon Tum.
Just a few miles up.

-We got to fix--
-What? No,
I can't go back there.

-That's where the CIA is.
-Oh, for Chrissakes.

I have to get to my ship
in Saigon right away.

[stammers] I'm sorry,
man. We got orders.
We got to get up there.

All right, fine. Then I'm out.

Hey. W--

Come on, Chick.
Please get back in the Jeep.

We'll get you back to Saigon,

and we'll make sure
the CIA doesn't get you.

No. I'm not going back
to Kon Tum.

I'm not messing around, Kev.

I'm in big trouble if I don't
get my ass out of this country.

Look, man. We don't
got no choice, all right?

We got to go fix
those helicopters,

and if you stay out here
alone, you're a dead man.

I'll take my chances.

-Don't be an asshole! Come on.
-No, you don't be an asshole!

You know me, Loony. Why would
I make up a story like this?

[sighs]

Please. Kev.

Mason, turn it around.

[Chickie sighs] Thank you.

Hey, what happened to
those elephants back there?

Napalm. It's a miracle
anything survives out here.

I'm sorry about this, Kev.
I really appreciate it.

Hey, it's not every day you get
to help a secret agent in need.

[chuckles]

Hey, Chick.

I'm real sorry about
Tommy Minogue. I know
how tight you guys were.

It's not over yet.
They just haven't found him.

Yeah. Okay.

Stay safe, Loony. I'll see
you back in the neighborhood.

Hey, Kev.

Thank you so much.
Thank you. Thank you.

[Chickie]
The Drake wasn't supposed
to leave till tomorrow.

[harbormaster] Intel picked up
chatter. Enemy planning a raid.

With all that ammo on board,
we unloaded her first.

She's halfway to Manila by now.

But she can't leave.
I'm her oiler.
I-I run the engine room.

Well, apparently
she doesn't give a shit.

[stammers] How-- How
can I catch up with it then?

How fast can you swim?

This ain't funny, man.

[stammers] Can you call the ship
or something and just tell
them to stop?

No, I can't, man.

[scoffs] Just--
Just give me a break.

I'm-- I'm a civilian,
and I just need to
get out of this war.

Well, you're gonna
find out it's a lot harder
to get out of a war

than it is to get into one.

My suggestion,
go to your plan B.

[sighs] I don't have a plan B.

Well, off the top of my
head, I'd say you're borked.

[sighs]

Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

New York. Happy New Year.

Aw, thanks. You're about
a month too late, but--

No. Tonight Tét eve.
Vietnam New Year.

[speaks French]

Ah. Right. Well,
hey, happy New Year.

Hey. [stammers] Which way's
the US Embassy from here?

Right around the corner.
Cannot miss.

What corner?

Come on. I show you.
Nobody listen me here anyway.

Oi! [speaks Vietnamese]

After war, I visit Oklahoma.

Really?

Well, I doubt there's a direct
flight from here to Oklahoma,

so, why don't you stop over
in New York,
and I'll buy you a beer?

Okay. New York
people nice? Friendly?

Oh, the best.

Just don't look them
in the eye on the sidewalk, or
you might have to fight them.

[traffic officer]
There your embassy.

Thank you.

[stammers] Hey, hey.
What-- What New York street
you live on?

You serious?
You're really coming?

Unless you-- you not serious?

[laughs] No, I'm serious.
Yeah,
I'm more serious than you.

Hey, here's my address.

And this is my phone number.
[chuckles] Give me a call.
This is great.

You can stay with me
and my family.

You'll meet my dad.
He's a real ballbuster.
You'll like him.

I'm Chickie, by the way.

Hieu.

-Hieu. Nice to meet you.
Thank you.
-Thank you, Chickie.

-Thank you.
-See you in New York.

[Chickie] See you there.

[embassy worker] Name.

Donohue. John Donohue.
I'm American,
I'm a merchant mariner.

My ship,
the Drake, left early.
Something about chatter.

Anyways, it took off without me,
so I'm in a real jam here.

You're right here.
I got a file on you.

Oh, great.

The captain of the Drake
left a message for you.

And...

The captain said if you're not
dead, he'll take you back on
the ship

if you can catch up with it.

[chuckles]
Well, I'm not dead. So...

[embassy worker] Not dead.

So-- So, sorry. Hold on.
What's going on?
How do I catch up with it?

You sit.

[sighs]

I can get you on a flight out
of Bien Hoa Air Base to Manila

tomorrow night at 1900.

[sighs] Thank you. Thank you.

Come by tomorrow morning
after 10:00, and
I'll have your papers.

Tomorrow morning after 10:00.

You're the greatest. Thank you.

Uh, hey. Do you mind if I lay
down just for 20 more minutes?

Then I'll be out
of your hair, I swear.

Great. Thank you.

[grunts]

[firecrackers exploding]

[newscaster]
For the first time
in five years,

firecrackers are
ringing in the Lunar New Year.

The South Vietnamese
Government have...

I hope you have
a safe trip back home.

How'd you know I was leaving?

[Hien] Everyone leaves Saigon.

First the Chinese,
then the French.
Next, the Americans.

After we fix it up, someone
else comes, knocks it back down.

You really need to bone up
on your American history, fella.

Every country
America goes to war with,

we leave it in better
shape than we found it.

But don't take my word for it,
just ask the Germans
and the Japs.

If the Americans aren't winning,

then why would Hanoi
call for a cease-fire?

Maybe it's not a cease-fire.
Maybe the enemy
just ran out of bullets.

I think you're wrong, Arthur.
I think this is the real deal.

The first steps towards
legitimate peace talks.

I believe this country
wants what you Americans want.

I would hope so.

I mean, half the people in
the city we saved from
bombed-out villages.

We opened our doors to them
when they were
running away from the commies.

Maybe they weren't
running away from the commies.

Maybe they were just
running from the bombs.

Well, well, the
blustering beer boy is back.

I agree with him.

They might smile at us, but they
sure as shit don't want us here.

Maybe the cease-fire
will make them happy.

Cease-fire. Wh-When
does this cease-fire start?

Three days ago. There's
a truce through New Year's.

Well, someone forgot to tell
that to the people living up
in the woods.

[journalist]
What are you talking about?

They're still fighting
like crazy up north.

-Where'd you hear that?
-I didn't hear it.

I saw it.

I was up in the mountains at
LZ Jane with the First Air Cav.

Rubbish. They haven't let
non-military personnel
up there in weeks.

That may be true,

but they didn't mention
that when I was up there.

Let me see that.

You silly twat. You're serious.

Yeah.

Hey, kid. What did
you say your name was again?

Chickie. Chickie Donohue.

Hien, Chickie Donohue
is drinking on me.

All night.

At the same time, Chick,
I see 100 villagers killed

and only ten guns recovered.

I know someone, one of
our guys, got trigger happy.

And I got to report
that story too.

But see, that's the stuff that
the press can't get enough of.

That's all you guys report.
That's what pisses me off.

It's not the whole story.

I don't know. Maybe-- maybe if
some of you guys lost as many
friends as I had,

you'd feel a little differently.

Those names behind the bar...

that's the names of
the journalists who've been
killed so far.

Friends of mine. Friends
of everyone in this room.

[sighs]

But then why do you guys
just report the bad stuff?

That's what we hear back home.

I mean, doesn't that hurt us?
Like, as a country?

The truth?
The truth hurts us? No.

The truth doesn't hurt us.
It's the lies.

The lies and the conspiracy
to distort the truth,
that's what hurts America.

You've seen the soldiers
we've got out here.

They're just kids.
Good kids being patriots.

Doing what their country asks.
And I want the truth told
for them.

The people running this war,
they're not patriots.

They're politicians. And they
deal in the currency of lies.

And if the lies continue,
they're just gonna keep sending
boys out here to be killed

to justify the boys
who already got killed.

And every GI that dies...

is what, 50, 60 Vietnamese?

And they're not soldiers.

They're moms and dads.
Children. Little babies.

[gunfire in distance]

You sure got some weird
fireworks out here.

That ain't fireworks, man.
They're tracer rounds.

-[explosion]
-[speaks French]

-[speaks French]
-[porter speaks French]

-[glass shatters]
-[patrons screaming]

-Where you going?
-The embassy.

-I'm going with you.
-No, it's too dangerous.

Hey, I need to get my papers
or I can't fly out tomorrow!

[journalist speaks Vietnamese]

[taxi driver]
C-C-C-Come on.
[speaking Vietnamese]

[Chickie] Wait, wait!

It could be VC.

[pedestrians shouting]

[soldier 1 speaks Vietnamese]

-[journalist] No, don't shoot.
-Don't move.

Don't shoot.
[speaks Vietnamese]

[speaks Vietnamese]

[speaks Vietnamese]

[breathing heavily] Yeah.

[grunts]

-Hey!
-[soldier 2] Whoa!
[speaks Vietnamese]

[speaks Vietnamese] Wait, yeah?

[speaking Vietnamese]

[breathes heavily]

Both of us.

[speaking Vietnamese]

-[gunshots]
-[speaks Vietnamese]

-Ah, yeah?
-Go! Go!

[journalist] Come on.

Soldier, what's the word?

Saigon's under attack.

Viet Cong are everywhere.
They got half of Cho Lon.

We got to get to the embassy.

There's fighting
on every block and Charlie
has the embassy!

-That's not possible.
-[soldier 3] Let's move!

Hey! Hey! Can you get
us closer to the embassy?

No, I told you. Get your
asses out of here before you--

[grunts]

[shutter clicks]

[journalist] Chick!

[gunfire]

[shutter clicking]

[panting, grunting]

[soldiers shouting]

-[breathing heavily]
-[gunfire continues]

[groans]

[yelps]

[breathing raggedly]

[rumbling]

Oklahoma?

Oklahoma!

Hieu! Hieu!

Chickie! Get out of the street!

[journalist] He's dead! Move!

[gunfire continues]

[explosion]

[groans]

[Chickie] No.

[speaks Vietnamese]

[speaks Vietnamese]

You okay?

Yeah.

Don't forget to breathe.
[panting]

[muffled explosion]

I had this coming.

[panting continues]

You know, when I was a kid,

if I did something wrong
like lie to my mother or,

you know, sneak into
the teacher's office to steal
the test answers,

hocking candy, or whatever...

God always found a way to
make me pay for it, you know?

Like, I'd make an error in
the big game, or I'd break
my leg or something.

I'm telling you, man. I never
got away with nothing. Nothing.

First time I had sex,
I got crabs.

She blamed me.

Smuggling beer
into a war zone...

that's not the smartest
thing I've ever heard of.

It's certainly
not the worst either.

[sighs]

[yawns]

[shutter clicks]

Hey, Chick.

Let's go see what the world
looks like today. Come on.

[civilians shouting]

["Today" playing]

[shutter clicking]

Coates, you were right.
The cease-fire was bullshit.

NVA came in with 80,000 troops.
Attacked over 100 cities
and towns.

How did they get in here?

VC sappers blew the wall open.

That wall?

Our guys blew that out. After
the VC was already in here.

The military just briefed us.
The VC blew it open and
piled in.

Uh, the military
must be mistaken.

-I saw it with my own--
-[explosion]

Oh, God. Please tell me
we didn't drop an atomic bomb.

No. Someone just blew
the ammo dump at Long Binh.

-Shit.
-Where are you going?

I got a friend in Long Binh!
I got to get over there!

You don't even
know how to get there.

I'll follow the mushroom cloud!

Chickie, they're not
gonna let you in. All right?

They will if I'm with you!

This one's got keys.
I'm going. Are you coming?

Push over. Come on.
Push over. Hold that.

[Chickie] I'm telling you,

I watched one of our tanks
pull up and blast a hole
in that wall.

I believe you.

Why would the military say
that it was the VC?

There's a lot of wars going on
in Vietnam. Most of all,
the public relations one.

The enemy blasting a hole
in the wall is an easier sell

than some kind of
VC inside job, you know?

Whoa. Hold it, cowboy.
Identification.

Arthur Coates. Look magazine.

[guard]
All right. They're clear.

[soldiers shouting]

[soldier 1] Just get anything.
Get over here and help.

[ambulance siren wailing]

-[radio chatter]
-[fire alarm ringing]

[soldier 2 shouting]

I'm gonna look for my friend!

[Coates] Hey.

Put this around your neck.
Anybody asks you,
just say you're press.

[vehicle hooting]

-Hey! Bobby Pappas.
Uh, you know him?
-No.

-New York kid. New York kid.
-No, I'm sorry.

Do you know where
I can find Bobby Pappas?

No idea, man.
A lot of hurt people out here.

-Well, is there an
infirmary somewhere?
-Yeah, building 8.

[soldier 3] There you go.

[soldier 4] They're
gonna take good care of you.

[soldier 5 groans]

[soldier 6 coughs]

[nurse] What are you doing?

I'm just looking for a friend.

-You can't be in here.
-It's okay. I'm with the press.

You think being with
the press makes it okay?

Get the hell out of here.

Come on.
Give me a break, please.

I've come all the way from
New York to look for a friend.

He might have just got killed.

Just trying to find out
if he's alive or not.

What's his name?

Bobby! Holy shit. Thank God.

Really? They had to flatten
my entire base to get you to
visit me?

Goddamn, it's good to see you.

Heard a rumor you were coming.
Bringing beer or some shit.

Yeah.

How you doing? You okay?

I'm still alive.
Better than nothing.

You shouldn't be here,
Chick. It's not safe.

Don't worry, I got a flight
out of Bien Hoa tonight.

I don't got any papers, but
I'm sure I can weasel my way on.

There are no flights out of
Bien Hoa. VC torched the place.

Then where can I fly out?

You can't. The whole country's
grounded for commercial air.

Only military's
allowed in and out.

-For how long?
-Who knows?

Hey.

It's just a little thank you
from everybody back home.

For what?

For what? F-For this.
For all this. F--

For putting yourself
on the line for us.

And a goddamn beer's
supposed to make it all okay?

Ah.

[sighs] Listen, Chickie,
all right. I got a
ton of shit to do.

Okay, we got to find a place
for you to lay low before
you get yourself killed.

Do the phones
still work around here?

Okay. Can you just say
that for me one more time?

Tan Son Nhut.

Okay, great. Thanks.
Yeah, I will be there.

Thank you.

Is there any way that you can
get me a ride to Tan Son Nhut?

Why?

Because I got a connection
there, and he can help me out.

[sighs]

-[scoffs] Yeah, sure.
-Thanks.

[newscaster]
Commander General
William Westmoreland

described the embassy attack
as a Viet Cong defeat.

In my opinion, this is
diversionary, uh, to his,
uh, main efforts,

which, uh, he had planned
to take place in
Quang Tri province.

[Chickie] "Diversionary"?

They didn't just attack
the embassy, they attacked
the whole damn city!

"Diversionary."

Chickie. Come on. Let's go.

[soldiers shouting]

[shutter clicks]

-[Chickie] Hey, let's go.
-What?

-I got us a way out.
-A way out of where?

Vietnam. I called a friend.
He's pulling some
strings for us.

I don't need to
get out of Vietnam.

What?
What are you talking about?

I'm a war correspondent, Chick.

This is a war.

Somebody's got to be here
to see what's going on.

Well, yeah. I get that.
I get that, but this is
just for a few days.

You can come back as
soon as things cool down.

[Pappas] Chickie, let's go.

Don't be dumb, Arthur.
This ain't a war no more.

It's mass murder.

That's what war is, Chick.
It's one giant crime scene.

[Pappas] Come on, Chickie.
Let's go. I got to get back
here. I got a job to do.

Hey, take care of yourself.

You too, Arthur.

Hey, when you get home,
do me a favor.

Take a bath.

[shutter clicks]

This will get you to Manila,
sir. Then you're on your own.

Thanks, Habershaw.
This is most appreciated.

Well, we're all on the same
team. At least, I'd like to be.

Uh, I hope you'll let
Langley know about this.

-Langley?
-Headquarters.

Right. Right, I will. Actually,
I'm gonna write him a letter.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Look, Habershaw, um,
I got to come clean.

I'm not CIA.

Yeah, right.

No, really. I'm not.

You're not?

No.

So...

What are you?

I'm nothing.

[chuckles]

You guys are the fucking best.

[chuckles]

I don't even want to know.

Thanks, Pappy.
I appreciate you
taking care of me out here.

-I'll see you back
in the neighborhood.
-Yeah, of course.

You got a good heart,
Chickie. It's your brain
that I'm worried about.

[chuckles]

This life's
just a crapshoot, huh?

And assholes like you and me
live, while Reynolds and
Minogue die.

Mate, Tommy could still turn up.

He's-- He's gone, Chick.

Tommy, they-- they found him.

You sure?

Yeah.

[engine whirring]

[car hooting]

No way! Chickie! [laughs]

Get your ass over here. [laughs]

Hey. [laughs]

Hey, look who it is.

-Chickie?
-Chickie!

-Hey.
-Son of a bitch, he lives.

-He came back to
settle his tab.
-No.

So how was the trip?
You must have had a ball.

A ball? He was in a war,
for Chrissake.
It must have been hell.

Uh-- Yeah. I mean,
it must have been hell.

And if you ever want to talk
about it, ever,
I'm here for you.

And if you don't, I won't.

Jesus Christ.
You flip-flopping
son of a bitch.

[friends laugh]

-I missed you.
-[chuckles]

You, um-- You hear about Tommy?

The kid died a hero.

So how was it, Chick? Really.

Yeah, are we kicking ass
and taking names?

No.

What? Well, what do you mean?
[chuckles]

I mean, it's tough to make
sense of anything over there.

Well, that's what war is.
It's a-a messy business.

Yeah. Yeah, but Colonel,
all due respect... [stammers]
...this is different.

It's...

It's chaotic.

They all are.
But it's a controlled chaos.

Not this time. The chaos
over there isn't under control.

It's not under control at all.

Look, I know our granddads
and our dads,

they went over to Europe
to save the world.

And-- And I would put today's
guys up there with them any day.

And I mean any day.

But I-- I'm not so sure we're
saving the world this time.

Well, right or wrong,
it sounds like you need a drink.

Chickie, grab a stool.
First one's on me.

-Maybe the first couple.
-[friends chuckle]

Thanks. [inhales sharply] But
I got to go do something first.

[door closes]

-[sighs]
-[knocks]

Chickie.

I'm sorry I couldn't get
these to him, Mrs. Minogue.

-It's okay.
-[inhales deeply]

I'm proud of you for
going over there, Chickie.

No one else would do that.

[sighs] It was pointless.

It didn't help no one.

It helped us.
Everyone in Inwood.

It felt good knowing
that someone was over there,
checking on our boys.

Take these.

Tommy would want
you to have them.

No.

I'm the one who talked
Tommy into going.

What? N-No, he wanted to go.

No, he didn't.

I knew Tommy was scared.
Everyone knew.

So, I talked him into it.

[voice cracks]
I don't know why.
I didn't want him to be afraid.

But I should have
let him be afraid. [sobs]

[sniffles] I should have
let him listen to himself

instead of listening to me.

[Chickie crying, sniffling]

[whimpers] I'm sorry.

[sobs]

[sighs]

-[protestor 1] Yeah, I think so.
-[protestor 2] I can--

Guys.

Hey.

Hey.

Do you know what
you've put us through?

We've been worried sick.
Don't ever do something
like that again.

I won't.

So did you give them
their stupid beers,

or did you drink 'em
all before you got there?

They got the stupid beers.

Well, I'm sure it meant
a lot to them.

[sighs]

You okay?

Got to change a few things up.

Such as?

[inhales deeply]

A little less drinking.
A little more thinking.

[both chuckle]

You really gonna quit drinking?

I said "less drinking".

[chuckles]

I saved the last one for you.