White Ghost (1988) - full transcript
An M.I.A. US soldier nicknamed White Ghost lives in hiding in the jungles of communist Vietnam. The US army finds out about him and sends a black ops team to rescue him. However, the team is led by a man who wants White Ghost dead.
(intense orchestral music)
(wind rushing)
(alarm beeping and ringing)
(ominous synth music)
(dreamy orchestral music)
(birds chirping)
(ominous orchestral music)
(speaking foreign language)
(eerie atmospheric music)
(ominous atmospheric music)
(monkey screeching)
(speaking foreign language)
(wood snapping)
(eerie atmospheric music)
(gun cocking)
(eerie atmospheric
music building)
(grunting)
(yelling)
(speaking foreign language)
(dramatic synth music)
(metal squeaking)
(speaking foreign language)
(ominous atmospheric music)
(gun firing)
(bomb exploding)
(bird screeching)
(dreamy synth music)
(speaking foreign language)
(ominous atmospheric music)
(grunting)
(speaking foreign language)
- None of your business.
(yelling and grunting)
(speaking foreign language)
How does that feel,
you ugly woman?
(yelling and grunting)
You all right?
- All right.
(light synth music)
- I missed you.
- Why are you so late?
Did you not miss
your child inside me?
I'm much worried for you.
You say you're coming
back yesterday.
- I'm sorry.
- Shepard?
Soldiers are coming.
The border war is
spreading north.
- Come on.
(dreamy synth music)
This is our home.
- If they find you, they find me
and our child.
It's not safe anymore.
We must go to the United States.
(ominous orchestral music)
- We believe the man
who sent the message
was Steve Shepard,
born August 14th, 1952.
Reported to Vietnam,
March, 1969.
He was attached to a
special forces unit,
operating the A Shau Valley.
Reassigned to train and
organize the Montagnards.
Ms. Kelley will you pass
out the files, please?
- [Ms. Kelley] Yes, sir.
General Stafford.
- Mmm.
- This was a special operation
along the Cambodian border.
He was never heard from again.
- [Stafford] Did he go AWOL?
- We don't know, sir.
He may have been on a mission.
He may have been captured.
All we do have is his message,
two to be extracted.
- Two prisoners of war?
- Survivors at
this point in time
are not gonna make
us look very good.
- [Stafford] How do
we know it's him?
- The message was sent
on outdated code system
that to our knowledge
was never broken.
- What other proof do we have?
- What other proof do we need?
- Rumors of a white ghost
have been circulating
through various
parts of Indochina.
- White ghost?
(laughing)
- The natives believe
that the spirit
of an American solder
lives in the jungle.
- Oh, come on.
- With confirmed sightings
of what they believe
to be a white ghost,
it is their belief that this
ghost roams through the jungle,
collecting souls of American
soldiers who never returned.
What we believe is, Shepard
could be the white ghost.
- Well, if that's true,
it means the man's spent
almost half his
life in the jungle.
- It could be our best
intelligence ever.
We should do our best
to bring him back.
- What's his current position?
- Here, sir.
- What intelligence do we have?
- Three battalions of
Vietnamese regulars
and a contingent of
Cambodian mercenaries.
- What about
diplomatic channels?
- Forget it.
Vietnamese deny all
knowledge of everything.
- Oh, Christ, it's suicide.
He's in the middle
of a border war.
- Well, we can't
send in any troops.
- I say we leave him,
pretend we never
got that message.
- We can't do that.
- Why not?
- Oh, come on, listen.
If this gets out--
(all yelling)
- Well, what other
options do we got?
- Gentlemen, gentlemen.
I think I have a
solution to our problem.
I suggest that we bring
in an outside agency
to bring Shepard back.
- Wait a minute.
Not another mercenary screw-up.
That's all we need now.
- We've used this man before.
He knew Shepard in Nam.
After 15 years in the jungle,
we should someone that he knows.
That's why Captain Walker
and his special operatives
are perfect for the job.
- Where is Captain Walker now?
- Central America.
(upbeat Latin music)
(speaking foreign language)
(laughing)
(speaking foreign language)
(ominous atmospheric music)
(muffled grunting)
(guns firing)
(screaming)
(gun firing)
(screaming)
- Put it down.
I won't hurt you.
- No.
- Put the gun down, damn it.
- No, senor.
- [Waco] Put the gun down.
(speaking foreign language)
- So, uh, kid, what's going on?
- Shit, Captain.
She won't put it down.
(speaking foreign language)
- No, no, no, senorita.
No problemo, okay?
Don't blow this.
No, no.
Now, watch out for that thing.
Don't shoot him.
He might deserve it,
but I need him, okay?
No problemo.
Amigo, okay?
Amigos.
No, no, no, no.
It's all right.
All right, all right.
That's right, that's right.
God, you're a beautiful thing.
No, no, no, no.
(gun cocking)
(gasping)
- Don't!
(gun firing)
She was just a kid.
- Get out of here, you
dumb son of a bitch.
(gun cocking)
(gun firing)
(upbeat Latin music)
(bells ringing)
(motor running)
Move it.
- We're going.
- Fucking hell.
Not one bleeding dentist
in the entire shithole.
- Shut up, Doc.
(coughing)
- Great way to get cancer.
- Maybe that's why I got it.
- No.
(laughing)
- Dumb shit.
- Leave the kid alone.
- Kid better grow
up then, innit?
- Hey, listen up, ladies.
Let's settle down.
- What's next, Captain?
- A little unfinished business.
- What kind of business?
- What the fuck do you care?
You're getting paid.
- This time we ain't
shootin' spics.
- All right, where are we going?
- Back to Nam.
(intense orchestral music)
(ominous atmospheric music)
- It even smells the same.
- You always say the
same fucking thing.
You ever think it's
just you you smell?
- Watch your mouth or you'll
be collecting your own teeth.
- Skinner.
- Stop your bitchin'.
- Pay attention, if you
wanna make it out of here.
- Gentlemen.
We've got 36 hours to accomplish
and hook up with
the evac chopper.
- What's the mission, Captain?
- We're here to
locate an American.
He's a traitor.
We bring him back,
dead or alive.
- What's it gonna be?
- It's up to him.
- So, how are we supposed
to find this guy?
- He thinks we're his
ticket out of here.
- We're 20 klicks north
from the rendezvous.
Let's pack up.
- [AJ] Where is
the pickup point?
- Yeah, what if
we get separated?
- I wouldn't recommend it.
(dreamy orchestral music)
- That's all.
(blowing)
(laughing)
- How do I look?
- Mmm.
(laughing)
Beautiful.
Shepard forget why he stay.
It's good you tell your
country about their sons.
- I bring them sad news.
- You bring them peace of mind.
- This was supposed
to be a round trip.
I'm not getting left
with me thumb up me bum,
while he gets his ass shot off.
- [Brownie] Give it a rest.
(ominous atmospheric music)
(door knocking)
- Enter.
- Major Cross.
- Yeah, what is it, Jones?
- It's about Walker
and the special ops.
We could have a situation here.
- Damn it, Jones.
How did this slip
through the cracks?
- Sir, I'm sorry, but
the computer wouldn't
allow us access
to the entire Shepard file.
- Well, shit, man.
They're gonna make
contact in two hours.
Lieutenant, you didn't see this.
Phone to field.
Security clearance 15.
Codename, White Ghost.
(dreamy synth music)
(eerie atmospheric music)
(low thudding)
(ominous atmospheric music)
- Snake, 12 o'clock.
(suspenseful atmospheric
music rising)
(grunting)
- Put him inside.
(ominous atmospheric music)
(speaking foreign language)
- Come on, man.
Let's get out of here.
- I ain't satisfied
with the score yet.
(speaking foreign language)
(ominous atmospheric
music rising)
(yelling)
(gun firing)
(speaking foreign language)
(guns firing)
(yelling)
(grunting)
- Wait here.
If something
happens, you go home.
- What we have here, gentlemen,
is a real clusterfuck.
- Captain, I tr--
- Shut up and hide the gooks.
You two assholes have
jeopardized this entire mission.
If it happens again,
I'll personally bust
a cap on your ass.
You got it?
(coughing)
- I'm gonna be
watching you shitheads.
(speaking foreign
language over radio)
(gun firing)
- Telephone, Captain.
(ominous atmospheric music)
- White Ghost Team to
White Ghost Leader, go.
I can't hear you, White Ghost.
You're breaking up.
Come back.
Can't hear you.
You're breaking up.
Lose this hunk of shit.
Let's go.
- White Ghost, come back.
Come back, White Ghost.
Shit!
Get me a plane.
I'm going to Thailand.
- Yes, sir.
- Fall out.
I'll be back.
- [Brownie] Skinner.
- What's wrong with the captain?
- Just do your job.
- Brownie, you are
one pleasant fellow.
(yelling)
(guns cocking)
- You guys my way out of here?
(ominous atmospheric music)
You my ticket out?
- Hey, asshole.
Wanna be my friend?
- Walker?
- You son of a bitch.
(low thudding)
(guns firing)
(gunfire echoing)
(yelling)
- Hey, cut him down.
- [AJ] Cut me down!
Cut me down!
(moaning)
(gun firing)
(eerie atmospheric music)
(distant guns firing)
(speaking foreign language)
- Thi!
Thi!
(intense orchestral music)
(grunting)
(suspenseful orchestral music)
(speaking foreign language)
- [Walker] Move it!
Come on.
- Maybe they'll take
care of him for us.
- Let's move.
- Thi!
Thi!
(speaking foreign language)
(bomb exploding)
(screaming)
(bombs exploding)
(snake hissing)
- This guy ain't fucking human.
- Eh.
No one could live through this.
(laughing)
- Fire in the hole!
(bomb exploding)
Waco, Skinner, in the hole.
Brownie, find the other
end of this tunnel.
I want that son of a bitch.
- Down river, let's do it.
(gun firing)
- Jesus, what the hell was that?
- Just a snake, kid.
- Quit calling me kid.
- Sure thing, kid.
(speaking foreign language)
(ominous atmospheric music)
- They've got somebody
tied up down there.
- Mercenaries.
They're Vietnamese regulars.
(speaking foreign language)
- It's a woman.
- At least somebody's
getting lucky.
(speaking foreign language)
(laughing)
(laughing)
(speaking foreign language)
(gasping)
(choking)
(bird calling)
(muffled screaming)
- I got no fight with you.
Walker's crazy, you know?
(eerie atmospheric music)
(gasping)
(screaming)
- Shepard.
Shepard.
(crying)
(laughing)
(screaming)
(bomb exploding)
(guns firing)
(yelling foreign language)
(yelling)
(gun firing)
(low growling)
(yelling)
(grunting)
(heavy kicking and punching)
(groaning)
(moaning)
(moaning)
(screaming)
(screaming)
- It took this place 15 years,
but it finally got me good.
(screaming)
- Shut up.
(bird calling)
- Where's the kid?
- I thought he was my backup.
- I never saw Shepard, man.
What?
I never saw him.
- We better shag our
asses out of here.
Place is gonna be
crawling with gooks.
- Yeah.
- We got less than 18
hours to wrap this up.
What about Skinner?
- You're not gonna leave me.
Hey, man.
I never told anybody.
15 years.
That oughta be worth something.
- Look, you'll be
dead before dawn.
Let's take a few
of 'em with you.
- What?
Are you fucking nuts?
You owe me.
- Listen, either you do
it yourself or I will.
You got it?
Saddle up!
- You can't just
leave him here, man.
- You wanna stay with him?
(groaning)
(laughing)
- Let's go, kid.
- You owe me!
You owe me!
(groaning)
(eerie atmospheric music)
(grunting)
(spitting)
Eat this, mother--
(bomb exploding)
(screaming)
- Keep moving.
(bird calling)
- Major Cross, you're
wanted on the phone.
(ominous synth music)
- No, sir.
There's no problem here.
I just wanted to
get a head start
on the briefing of Shepard.
Yes, sir.
There's absolutely
no problem here, sir.
Everything is under control.
(grunting)
(speaking foreign language)
(grunting)
(speaking foreign language)
(grunting)
(ominous atmospheric music)
(speaking foreign language)
(grunting)
(speaking foreign language)
(gasping)
(speaking foreign language)
- There are Americans in Vietnam
and you are with them.
I want to know why.
(heavy slapping)
(grunting)
Answer me.
Soon, you'll beg to tell me.
(speaking foreign language)
(crying)
No.
(speaking foreign language)
(screaming)
(grenade pin clicking)
(grenade pin clicking)
(grenade pin clicking)
- Oh, shit.
- This is battalion strength.
What the hell are we doing?
- Shepard's at three o'clock.
AJ, Doc, stake out
the south perimeter.
- Maguire, take this.
(gun cocking)
- Waco, Maguire, stake
out the other side.
(crying)
- They tell me the
white ghost is among us.
Tell me who he is
and why he is here.
America is our enemy.
You're now our enemy.
I know the American
soldiers all too well.
We fought them and won.
I will deal with
the white ghost.
(crying)
(mine exploding)
(speaking foreign language)
(screaming)
(gun firing)
(grunting)
(choking)
(speaking foreign language)
(grunting)
(coughing)
(speaking foreign language)
(coughing)
(speaking foreign language)
(crying)
- Your white ghost.
So, I see the ghost is
the real man who bleeds.
(coughing)
(speaking foreign language)
(crying)
(speaking foreign language)
Talk to me.
- Fuck you, you fish-head.
(spitting)
- I see you white devils
still have no respect
for our country.
(screaming)
Why have you come back?
(crying)
Bring the woman.
(crying)
The pain from such
a small object,
placed under the fingernail
is more than most men can stand.
But a woman...
Talk to me and
you'll be free to go.
- I don't know this man.
- Why protect a
coward like this?
As you wish.
(screaming)
- Jeez, how far are
they going with it?
- Till they get
where they're going.
(screaming)
- He's walking right into them.
What the hell's he doing?
- He's got balls, man.
That's for sure.
- Balls for brains.
- You should speak now.
If you're dead it doesn't
make any difference.
Why you are here?
- Fuck off, you fucking faggot.
(crying)
(gun firing)
(screaming)
(speaking foreign language)
- Oh, Jesus.
(gun firing)
- Throw him away.
- We should've helped him.
- God, this isn't real, man.
- Concentrate on your
objective or you could be next.
We want Shepard, not the gooks.
(ominous synth music)
(grunting)
(heavy kicking and punching)
(gun firing)
(speaking foreign language)
- Take him alive.
(speaking foreign language)
White ghost.
Who are you?
How long have you been here?
- Pull the plug.
- [Commander] What
is your mission?
- Come on, shoot the bastard.
You got a problem with that?
- No.
- Good, do it.
- [Commander] When
did you get here?
Are you a spy to
continue the war?
Where is your team?
Answer me.
How many men are here?
- Take the shot, kid.
Take the shot.
- Do it, kid.
- [Commander] Who are you?
Answer me.
(screaming)
(grunting)
(gun firing)
(speaking foreign language)
- You dumb son of a bitch.
- Leave him alone.
It's over.
(grunting)
- You're a dead man.
You're a dead man!
Give me that thing.
Give it to me.
Shepard!
(gun firing)
(guns firing)
(grunting)
(speaking foreign language)
(bomb exploding)
(speaking foreign language)
(gun firing)
(bomb exploding)
(speaking foreign language)
(guns firing)
- Thi Hau!
(gun firing)
(bomb exploding)
(grunting)
(guns firing)
(bomb exploding)
(guns firing)
(heavy breathing)
- He'll be back.
- Come on, let's get outta here.
(speaking foreign language)
(bamboo slamming)
(grunting)
(bamboo cracking)
(speaking foreign language)
(choking)
(grunting)
(guns firing)
(grunting)
(yelling)
(gun firing)
Let's go.
(ominous synth music)
- Stay with the car.
Major Cross, I'm John
Ehrlich, State Department.
Now, hang on, Major.
You've been asking
around for a chopper run.
What is it?
What's going on?
- Got something to attend to.
- [John] And what
exactly is that, Major?
Since you've arrived in Bangkok,
I've been inundated--
- [Cross] I told you.
I got a job to do
and I'm gonna do it.
- Right.
And I'm telling you, I
can't let you jeopardize
what is already a delicate
political situation.
(jet flying over)
Major, there are no
Americans alive in Vietnam.
Have you got that?
- No, sir.
- Damn it, it's over now.
It's old news.
Nobody believes
that shit anymore.
- I still do.
- Christ, Major, look at them.
They're running tours
of the damn place.
- There's a soldier over
there who needs my help.
Take a good look at my face.
Do I look like a crackpot?
Am I making this up?
- You got anybody,
anybody at all,
can verify your mission?
- No, damn it, and
I told you why.
Now, what the
hell's it gonna be?
- I hope you're right, Major.
'Cause right now I'm
breaking all the rules.
You got it.
Major,
(ominous synth music)
I hope you find him.
- I will.
- Okay, you take
the right flank.
We'll leap frog
till we pick him up.
- We got four hours
to extraction.
- Yeah, yeah.
- And with or without Shepard.
We are outta here.
(ominous atmospheric music)
(eerie atmospheric music)
- [Steve] You're in over
your head out here, Walker.
I figured you to be
robbing graves by now,
but I guess there's always
room in the government
for guys like you.
(eerie atmospheric music)
- When the going got
tough, you folded.
Assholes like you lost
it for us, Shepard.
- [Steve] So, the
State Department wants
me eliminated, huh?
- Not so.
I just got lucky.
I find it extremely appropriate
you ain't ever gonna
leave this place.
(ominous atmospheric
music rising)
(grunting)
(heavy punching)
This is fucking perfect.
You're gonna be
maggot-meat, traitor.
(heavy punching)
(grunting)
- You killed women and children.
- [Walker] It happens.
- You liked it.
- For the breeders and
the snipers of tomorrow,
had to be done.
(heavy punching)
(grunting)
- You didn't get past
the propaganda, Walker.
(heavy punching)
(grunting)
(mine clicking)
(ominous atmospheric music)
- [Brownie] Let's
get outta here.
Do him.
- Nah, we'll let
the landmine do it.
(spitting)
(speaking foreign language)
- Don't move.
You're in a minefield.
- Oh, Jesus.
- What are you doing here?
- Hell if I know, man.
I think I'm on the wrong side.
Oh, shit.
- Just relax.
Take a couple deep breaths.
We're gonna help each
other out of here.
Let me think.
You got a boot knife there.
Throw it over here, easy.
- What are you doing?
Is that gonna work?
- Probably not.
- Believe me, man,
Bakersfield's beginning to look
pretty good right now.
- This is one of ours.
Don't move, don't move.
Shuck.
All right.
Let's give this a shot.
Ready to move.
Now.
(mines exploding)
(yelling)
Let's go.
Come on.
(yelling)
(groaning)
- Shit!
- I can't reach it.
(gun firing)
- Gotta get Thi Hau.
- Where are we going?
- Need help.
What's your time schedule?
- Extraction's in one hour.
- Trust me.
- Jeez, look at the stash.
Hey, I want you to know
that I didn't know anything
about this mission, man.
Walker never told us.
(gun cocking)
Why does he want
your ass so bad?
- He was my commanding officer.
We hit a village one day,
(gun cocking)
killed a lot of
women and children.
- What, on purpose?
- I filed charges, tried
to get him court marshaled.
(gun cocking)
Army didn't wanna know about it.
It was just after My Lai.
They didn't want the bad press.
(laughing)
Politics.
- So, what happened?
- Nothing.
Just asked him to leave quietly.
(gun cocking)
Let's go.
(ominous synth music)
(speaking foreign language)
(gasping)
- [Commander] If he
does come this far,
you both will be blown to bits
with the push of a button.
- [Waco] Why do
you stay here, man?
- [Steve] My life is here now.
- Don't you have any family
or friends back home?
- My brother was MIA.
My mother died of grief.
- Sorry, man.
There any more guys
like you around here?
- I'm it.
Give me 45 seconds.
Cover my six.
- I'll try.
(gun cocking)
(gun firing)
(grunting)
(grunting)
(guns firing)
(grunting)
(grenade exploding)
(yelling)
(speaking foreign language)
(guns firing)
(screaming)
(grenades exploding)
(grenade exploding)
(screaming)
(gun firing)
(grenade exploding)
(grenade exploding)
(guns firing)
(screaming)
(speaking foreign language)
(grenade exploding)
(screaming)
(gun firing)
(grunting)
(guns firing)
(yelling)
(grunting)
(ominous synth music)
- Shepard, don't.
(heavy kicking and punching)
(grunting)
(screaming)
(crying)
- How's that feel,
you ugly woman?
- What took you so long?
- Go wait in the jeep.
(gun firing)
Run!
(gun firing)
(guns firing)
(grenade exploding)
(speaking foreign language)
(gun firing)
(guns firing)
Go on, get outta here.
(guns firing)
(screaming)
- [Waco] Take over.
(screaming)
(guns firing)
Hang on, we're
getting out of here.
- No, don't.
Wait.
- He's coming.
(low thudding)
- Shit.
(bomb exploding)
(gun firing)
(grunting)
(guns firing)
(screaming)
(grenade exploding)
(grunting)
(grenade exploding)
(screaming)
(missile exploding)
(yelling)
(jeep crashing)
- Get out.
Thi.
Thi, are you all right?
Son of a...
Mother fucker!
- Go on, get out of here.
I'll catch up.
Go!
- Come on, come on.
(speaking foreign language)
(guns firing)
(yelling)
(screaming)
(gun firing)
(grunting)
(gasping)
(gasping)
Come on.
(intense synth music)
(gun firing)
(screaming)
(grunting)
- Get this fucker in the air.
The gooks are right on my ass.
- Where's Shepard
and the rest of 'em?
- They got whacked.
Knee-deep in locals 10
minutes after we hooked up.
- None of them left?
- Look, you're gonna
crank up his coffin?
Come on, let's get out of here.
(intense synth music)
- There they are.
(guns firing)
(yelling)
(grunting)
(heavy punching)
(screaming)
(guns firing)
(screaming)
- Come on, move, move.
Come on, come on!
(screaming)
I got 'em.
Where you going?
- I'm coming.
(guns firing)
(grunting)
(muffled screaming)
(grunting)
(heavy punching)
(screaming)
(screaming)
(screaming)
(grunting)
(gun firing)
- Come on, leave him.
Leave him.
(screaming)
- Shepard!
(gun firing)
(crying)
(moaning)
You son of a bitch!
Damn you!
(guns firing)
(grunting)
(dramatic synth music)
- Welcome back.