Original subtitles

Once an Eagle, a sweeping story that spans both World Wars,

told through the lives of two career soldiers, one compassionate

Colonel my boys have had it. I need a crack company

on the line no later than 1800 Oh, it won't be

mine, sir. And the other man,

ruthless, driven by ambition, kind of

I think you mistake my position.

You have all the qualities to get to the top. I just feel sorry for anyone who gets in your way.

The war over both men chose wives as different as themselves.

For Sam Damon was the free spirited daughter of an Army Staff Officer

and Emily Courtney massengill found all the qualities he dreamed of

social connections and money.

Now some scenes from previous episodes,

Tommy, Tommy oh

I order you to remove that charge.

Sir. I refuse to carry out that order.

Lieutenant Damon. I am placing you under arrest for direct disobedience of orders.

Yes, sir.

You damn near got me killed out here. Me You're one of my men.

Now you're telling me to forget it

in a month this all thing soon it'll be forgotten, and I'll still be captain.

And use still be Lieutenant.

He's all Damon. And he comes complete with all the required part.

They had to rearrange my insides.

I'm going to be fine but

when the cupboards bare Sam that was it.

The one and only model I'm pregnant.

What you want me to do about it merry you. I mean, that'd be kind of cute for dinner you and me and the captain

is he the only one where there are others

now you're gonna have a baby

a baby needs a father

here I am.

I found your son out by the West fence today Sam

watching range practice

all right. So he was watching

I don't want him watching come on Tommy can't keep a kid like that locked up in a house

dolly Where are you

and now part four of once an eagle

stay away from him

recall that the gun was snapped and

he's gonna be alright tell me just banged his head.

He'll be alright.

All right

all right

he's asleep

and I was locked out

it wasn't

orange told me what happened

must have been a real scare.

scare a Daymon

why you should have heard him talking about it sam

the glow that came into his eyes

he I am sorry

it won't work.

Not anymore. The alibis are stale.

Tommy will you listen to me? No

we're going away Sam.

Donnie and me.

My Uncle Ed he has a place in Erie Pennsylvania.

He wrote again asking us to visit I'm going to write him this evening

because of this morning

because of a lot of things

you knew what I was when you married me?

But I never thought you'd stay in

SAM Don't you understand? I can't live with it anymore.

I can't even try

nine years ago maybe we had something

maybe just a chance at something

or maybe we were just kidding each other.

I'm not gonna let you go Tommy.

Unless you're telling me flat out that you don't love me anymore.

I'm not saying that. Then we can work it out.

Oh stop killing yourself. Sam

stop trying to kid me.

This damned army is sucking the life out of both of us

not just me. But you

what's happened to your dream Sam?

Where's the nobility of it? Show me something anything

look I'm not trying to hurt you.

But I remember what you were

I know what you can be.

He well i am what I am

a soldier

tell me maybe you are right I suppose we all go

to Erie when I get 60 days leave

there's precious little going on around here

Listen lady I got nine years and one little boy tied up with you

you're not going to get away that easy

suppose you go to Erie without me.

What's it going to prove that you're happy away from the army?

are happy away from me. Considering your opinion is a blessing

doesn't give me much of a chance doesn't it

All right.

But no promises.

No promises for me there Tommy

Well, Dad, we hit Erie only two days behind schedule

thanks to a couple of blowouts and a clutch that finally gave up and died.

An and Alma look wonderful.

They haven't changed in 11 years,

and neither is Eerie. An insisted on putting us up at the house by the lake

to give us a little privacy he said,

and it was like walking into a different world.

Last Saturday was the annual company picnic and everyone made us feel so much at home?

I haven't felt this happy or relaxed in years.

Even Sam got into the spirit of things and I do believe he's starting to enjoy himself.

He's even gotten a little curious about its factory

about some of the trouble they've been having.

An is picking up Sam this morning to take a look around.

Oh, I don't know dad. I just have this feeling that maybe our lives

are going to take a whole different turn.

Mister Caldwell sir, there's trouble down at warehouse 2

what kind of trouble Allan Brand got a gun

he's threatening to shoot somebody

can you hear me?

Come on I don't want to harm you

don't you that work nigger

you want them out of there. You've got to get the company police to go in and drag him out

or shoot him one of the two

all right. What happened? Where do you get the gun?

I can tell you that Mr. Caldwell sir.

He got it out of his locker. Nobody knew he had it.

See what happened was this morning him and badger here was having a little discussion over coffee.

You know how those things start? All of a sudden he had this big hog leg

I wouldn't go in there if i was you that's what I'm here for isn't Price

You better wait out here

man with the guns are dangerous things

I've had a little experience in that line

brand

Brian, it's Ed Caldwell

Can you hear me

Come on out so I can see you.

I'm fine here sir. We're no one can shoot at me.

I'm not carrying a gun here.

Look.

You can see for yourself. We're not armed.

What about your cops? You got one of them waiting for me to blow off my head.

No. You got my word on that. Come on out

they ain't gonna kill me.

I swear to God. I'll kill them first

it was just like I told you Mr. Caldwell. Badger and Brian brand here is mixing it up.

Brand I guess he didn't want to fight fair. So pulled his gun.

Ain't that the way it happened? Badger? Yes, sir.

What was the fight about?

Well, sir, it was

tell him that to badger

see badger and some of the boys is down by brands place last Sunday fishing.

I seen these two visitors come in. Old people turned out to be his parents.

What's the point? His mom was a nigger.

You're saying that man is half negro.

Half her whole a nigger is a nigger ?

And I see the problem is he's been passing itself off his white

madge here called him on it.

Badger did that to him all by himself?

Yes, sir. He did. I don't approve when the men fight

I don't mean.

Yeah, well, I guess I scratched myself up a little bit trying to break him up after the

after he pulled the gun.

And it looks like some of the other boys got scratched up to

just trying to break it up.

Yeah, well, as a matter of fact they did.

And they beat him just because he was part negro.

Real stuff that only happened in the South.

In some ways it's worse up here.

Understand brand was pretty good worker.

One of my best men, I hate to lose him,

specially whatever, they go on haywire now

Ed don't start that again. Oh motherKyle is gonna lick the problem.

If he asked me it Carl is your problem.

So it kind of reminds me of a sergeant I had back at Hardy,

great big fella intimidating, like Carl,

and bluffing his way along for years that everything all messed up.

We had a bad time for a week or so.

We got things straightened out. How so?

It was pretty simple stuff. We worked out the system for color coding our shipments

of carrier destination contents, made it pretty simple

to segregate everything coming in and going out.

Don't suppose you want to come down on shores how that worked? Me

I was just thinking out loud makes sense to me.

Well, sir, that the Army has got its own special problems.

Shipping ship matter, man, Ed Caldwell,

no mother, I was just asked him.

And that dad is how your one and only Son in law plunged into the cold and forbidding waters of private enterprise.

Not that it started out that way.

It just happened. You should have seen him last Monday.

Like a little kid going off to school for the first time.

A little nervous and yet kind of looking forward to

Elmo was dead set against it. afraid it would spoil our holiday.

But to tell you the truth to have after the first two or three days at the lake Sam was as antsy as usual,

looking for something to keep busy.

And I think this experience is going to be good for him.

I really think he feels challenged if he's got to prove something not

only about himself, but to himself.

Our girl, good morning Miss Damon, you're up bright and early.

Start early finish Earny

well, it won't be much going on around here for a while.

I'd be sending some stuff down from plant 2 by 10 o'clock,

but it's been off a slope.

That's a real shame. now this company has been losing sales

have some good customers because of shipping.

The is the railroad you see the railroads fouled up they always have been

wondering if anything gets shipped

about a cup of coffee.

No thanks. And also some of these gives out or you got a couple 100 cases a number ones and number twos

all headed for different parts of the country.

Yeah, well the reason for that of course is that

I try to start them out as best I can according to region

region. Gordon has manifest some that's just been sitting here for a week.

Is that so

I'll look into it.

But why. Let's take a look now.

We're off skids and see what we got.

Hold on

I know exactly what we got.

I don't I don't know that you have to

this ain't the army here. Mr. Damon and I'm the shipping boss.

That's your girl. That's no reason we can all pitch in.

Try to work things out.

I got a suggestion for you. Mr. Damon.

Why don't you go back to your polo ponies and leave the runway this lot to me

better I'll be Wilson.

Let's go guys. out all right with you, Mr. Damon.

Like you said, girl. You're the shipping boss.

Appreciate it

Mr. Damon.

Sorry, I had to tee off at you like that this morning.

But you been an old army man. I know. You understand.

I got to have the respect to my man.

Yeah, sure you do, Carl. That's why I didn't want to make an issue out of it.

A couple of grown men out of be able to get along with that bone and each other around.

It's my feelings. Exactly.

Yeah. And It still didn't change the fact if you got everything all fouled up.

That's gonna have to be changed.

You can save the hard look, Carl.

There's nobody around. on here it impressed with me

I'm not impressed

wow looks like I didn't make myself clear this morning.

Oh yeah yeah you did

which you see Carl I'm in charge your operation to get straightened out

and you are gonna get straightened out

that's so, that's so

now what I'd like you to do is organize that cleanup I was talking about

get everything off the skids and we'll see what we got

then together you and I work up a system that will be a little easier

I don't work that way come tosix o'clock you won't be working here anymore.

You're gonna be the one to throw me out the gate. Yeah, I

guess I could but what would that prove

that you're 45 fat and out of shape?

Hell I don't want to give those boys that kind of show.

Neither do you

I don't think Mr. Caldwell let you fire me

you want to go over my head go ahead

but don't bother saying goodbye on the way out the gate

well price did go to Ed and Ed backed Sam up all the way.

Exit Mr. Carl price from the premises.

A couple of days later three of prices cronies followed

leaving Sam with a good crew but a little shorthanded.

Hé Partner is your dad around

Mr. Brand I'm Sam Damon.

I work at the factory I know you're

Hello

What's your name?

I don't want your job Mr. Damon.

Gonna be moving on soon. We need good men.

How you fix for niggers like I said we need good men

look price has gone I fired badger dolliver and Lovato

so I'm a little short handed who's the new boss?

I am for now till I find a good man to replace me

other men may not want to work with me and we'll find some who will

I heard that before not from me

Look Mr. Brand You want to let price nose other boys run yeah to hear that your business

But you stay and I'll back you up right down the line

I think on it

Mr. Caldwell asked me to give you this

it is we're trying to make up for what happened

jurors if you want to. If not

be unloading platform at 7.30 tomorrow morning.

Your choice

Mr. Caldwell must feel real bad

I'll be there in the morning.

See you then.

You wouldn't believe Sam Dan.

He's got the shipping section really turned around.

And for the first time in a year the complaints have trickled to a stop.

I am not not sure he sold on civilian life.

But he's giving it a real try.

Still in all he hasn't completely let go.

Nothing stops him from listening to the nightly news from KDK.

And I can see the look on his face when they talk about the news from Europe.

Or the Japanese build up in the Pacific.

I guess the best part of all is what's happening between Sam and Danny

the way they found more time for each other.

Grab Ella and make

welcome home I thought you'd say all the way to China.

I see you mam.

Hé fisherman Look mam I got 2

They're beautiful. And how did you do Isaac Walton?

I am the Instructor That's a lame excuse.

And who's gonna clean these beauties? Hmm,

why do you have to clean them they are not dirty?

Oh, put them in the sink and then hop into the tub. Ah

If you want your breakfast scooped

up knew I came back for some

Did you have a good time?

You bet we did.

And what did you two men of the world talk about out there

for dormer mostly

want to know when we're going back

What did you tell him?

Told him I didn't know?

Sam

It is Brandon his wife

shot dead both of them

house burned to the ground

Oh Sam

Tony What is it

the boy

Joe he's missing

maybe he's just with a neighbor

it's not your fault

oh that Jesus sake Tommy

it's not our boy out there

I was scared to death

I've identified price knows who did it is that who did it. Who else could it be

left alone. Just let brown leave town like you want to.

I had Bruce. Sam don't

you did what you thought was best.

Just remembering something somebody said to me once

I've always been so sure I was right

other people think I was right

even if I wasn't

What's that

you had niggers Boy What have you done?

I had know me boy you got the hand

hey what was that

a big car I buy you a drink

dad has a pickled herring Sam one shot right through the heart

and that old hug leg 45 sitting on his chest

you're sure it was brands gum

no proof the boy did it though.

Unless they catch up with him and he owns up to it

but my guess is he's five run by now

gone where Ed? That kid can't be more than 12 years old.

What's he going to do?

Not your bother

I'm not so sure

are you gonna see if I can find him?

Hell sam been looking for him for a week.

Suppose he did kill price I think he's still going to be around now.

It'll be long gone use your head

come on up to my office got a little something we brought in the back door from Canada

anyway it's time you and I talked

you want to tell me about it Ed's office

Alma told me you talked

I guess he offered me just about everything tommy

money this house

promotions

maybe one day even a whole factory

you turned him down

yeah I turned him down

May I ask why? Because I just don't belong here.

But you do belong in dormer

That's right.

I could stay around here.

Go through the motions. I would do pretty good at it to make some money.

That's just not me Tommy.

I know that now. I really know it.

I'm a soldier

not a shipping clerk.

not a Banker.

A soldier making me the soldiers wife.

You always have been

it's not even a matter of wanting to go back

Oh Sam spare me duty honor country

I know the Litany by heart

can't you admit you like it? You really like it?

Yeah, I like it. Better sam

how much do you like Tommy come on Sam misses the hour of honesty.

Let's hear it flat out. Do you love it Sam?

I want an answer now.

Yes yes I love it

if that makes me some kind of a fool I can't help it

war do you love war?

killing them

you know me better than that

Tommy

listen to me you know what's going on out there

it's building up like 1914 all over again.

And it just can't happen. Maybe we're ready to start

I mean really prepared. Nobody will have the guts to start it

that's the only chance we've got honey

because it's coming unless we're strong enough to put a lid on it

that's why I want to go back while have to go back

I couldn't just sit around here and

watch the whole thing fall apart and not try to do something about it

I can live that

don't look so puzzled sam

you were going back there half hearted knowing how I felt

I wouldn't say much for how you felt about me what

if that were the case I couldn't go back

but you've got 2 loves and there's nothing I can do about that

Sure I am making you choose

and I won't do that

when we get back I want to put in for a tour mean

On Presidio someplace near Big City.

We'll get done a new good school.

Well we'll talk about it later.

Meanwhile, meanwhile,

we better get back for getting get an early start,

as a matter of fact,

are sort of packed already.

Maybe I cannot figure you out.

And I hope you never learn

we have got an hour or so.

Must be something we can do.

Well, I'm open to most suggestions.

Invitation is really marvelous, but I'm afraid Oh,

you're so full of buts and ifs and maybes.

A military man is terribly indecisive.

Excuse me, Mrs massengill. There's a phone call for you

Mike goodness do Excuse me

Hello? Yes, this is Mrs massengill.

What? When

was she all right?

Are you Sure. Positive sir.

Just came by coated cable.

A few weeks I'll be scrambling. Dennison Vandeventer Kelvin all it

that McArthur then we have call

general Jacqueline doesn't need McArthur

will he go? He needs an overseas tour as badly as I do.

Two years in the islands, then to the war colour

court. Excuses, please, Lieutenant certainly Mrs. Massingale. Yeah,

sir. Should I call the general Jacqueline myself since you seem to be tied up?

I'll speak to the general Phil. Certainly.

Ginny.

What's the matter? I was the school she ran off a couple of days ago.

She just got back. She wouldn't say where she'd been

great. Just great. They're going to expel her unless we go to the school

and talk to the headmistress.

For God's sake, it's 400 miles, know how

far it is? Just take off

for a couple of days deluding yourself.

Jenny doesn't need anybody, particularly me.

She's made that clear enough.

Whose fault is that?

I'm not getting into that discussion.

And I'm not leaving the city not now.

MacArthur has just announced his retirement.

Oh, has he really? Well, who cares?

I'm going to try and push through a transfer to the Philippines.

That'll get me into the war college.

With my time and grade it should mean a promotion to current.

Would you listen to me?

Our daughter is frightened into trouble

for leaving the country, it's just as well that she left that school anyway.

This, if you have to go, go.

I'll arrange for your transportation.

We'll talk about it later. Excuse me.

Tragedy general Caldwell is that our people, yours and mine?

have such a great love for one another.

And somehow this feeling cannot be translated to our respective governments.

Well, I think, sir, that, my God. Rightly so.

Perhaps worried about your complete abandonment of the Washington Treaty of 1922

times changed. Our conflict with imperialist forces in China has forced unnecessary build up in our naval capabilities.

It is true or to suggest that this threatens the interests of the United States in the Pacific

is not only unfair, it is incomprehensible to me.

You will excuse me.

I haven't had such a feeling of Brotherly Love since I first read the story of Cain and Abel.

Strange. I was thinking of David and Goliath

Thus holding the swing slingshot

outmanned outgunned, outnumbered Pacific Fleet, Harvard and Los Angeles.

Were across the Pacific.

Now you tell me sir,

you know, I have the Funny Feeling that I'm listening to Doug MacArthur.

He and I share similar views.

Or was that a fact?

Well, I'm surprised you didn't join him when he transferred to Manila.

Say I wasn't asked. Neither was Sam.

But that's where he ended up

Stand up nigger boy. You hear me stand up.

Lieutenant said attention straighten up.

What's the matter with you? Don't you hear good

I asked you a question.

I heard it's a matter of brand new. We're doing enough talking this morning.

Straighten up.

Maybe all of a sudden you ain't got such a big mouth

to record your Oh, Sergeant Stoner, an apology. Gabor.

Hello again

another hard Apple

brand you know what to do with hard apples

I turn them into applesauce

large and runny and mushy is my job making soldier an not cry babies.

Mamas prefer Hannah's head when to say so still pretty fair

way I see it some OBOR need to be afraid to fight

and pray to me

more and more afraid of me

you got to fight

you fight mighty hard to stay away from me

to where I see my job

why I take yourself serious

excuse me sir the captain outside to see the Lieutenant

yeah Bell what wouldn't say sir

so you want to see me

hello Merrick Damon

that she boy

I'll be damned today. I thought you'd be long on

listen on your stuff. First chance you got now

she'd be dead

she didn't meet this type of conversation we had last time we saw each other.

You remember that boy? A little town in France.

When you save your good buddy skin. Remember that?

What was that old boy's name? Name

I'm here to see Joe brand

brand. In fact,

what you want to see him for that's my business

you only see old boy or your lawyer maybe

I want to see him now. Merrick Yeah,

that'd be just like you to Damon.

Putting your damn nose in we're no longer just like last time

just like last time Well, this is a little difference

I know you socialize with niggers

you ain't surprise you might know him pretty well.

Around here's what we call it. Quite true. You've heard that expression.

And it's partly colored as like being partly practice

is in black and like many colored outfits when he's colored hair

Yeah, he's colored all the same?

Will I see him lieutenant? No, I get your butt deep fried by the Ford Commandant

war.

Started

Now I'd like it brought to Rome to

see that. When preach Kevin?

Yes, we aim please boy.