Kings Go Forth (1958) - full transcript

Bonjour, madame.

Bonjour, monsieur. Bonjour.

Vive L'Amerique.

Vive la France.

Vive le President Roosevelt.

Vive Le General de Gaulle.

Vive le Radio City Music Hall.

Vive les Folies Bergére.

First time I saw him,
we'd stopped off in a little town

in the mountains of Southern France.

Up north, at the time,
they were liberating Paris.



That was the big war, the glamour war.

The one they were taking all the pictures
of and writing all the words about.

But we had our own war,

and they weren't writing many words
or taking many pictures.

We'd landed near Saint-Tropez.

There wasn't much
resistance on the beaches,

not at all like the day
we got to Sicily or Salerno, or...

Oh, yeah, Anzio.

We started north, and once in a while
the Germans loped over an 88,

and once in a while somebody was killed.

Sometimes it was a friend.

He was one of a truckload of replacements,

and at firs! They looked
like any bunch of new guys...

Too young, too clean and too polished.



And they all looked scared...

Except him.

He wasn't scared.

He was the kind of a guy you'd notice.

You know, take any group of guys,

there's always one that stands out.

Attention!

Any of you guys know
how to operate a radio?

Yes, sir. I do, sir.

Okay, the rest of you
guys can knock it off.

What's your name, soldier?

Technician 5th grade Britt Harris, sir.

Let's see your Form 20.

Yes, sir.

Uh-huh.

Graduate of Culver Military Academy,
attended Virginia Military Institute,

Penn State, Colgate and Cornell.

I never met a guy who
went to four colleges before.

How come you're not an officer?

Uh, it's rather diff cult to explain, sir.

Try.

I wanted to serve with the men, sir.

Would you like to try that again?

Well, there are a few people
I wanted to prove a few things to, sir.

You got anxious a little late.

You been in the Army eight months,
we've been overseas 20 months.

I was deferred, sir,
because of my job.

Yeah, "General Manager of the Harris
Woolen Mills, Newark, New Jersey."

You're named Harris and the mill's
named Harris. Coincidence, huh?

My father, sir.

That's pretty smart
of you to pick an old man

who owns a textile mill.

Only one'?

Four, sir.

My old man was in business, too.

Ran a little candy store in New York.

123rd Street, near 8th Avenue.

He used to ask me to help him out once
in a while when he had a run on bubble gum.

You run that radio right,
and we'll get along fine.

If you don't, I'll boot your tail up
around your neck.

Comprenez?

Yes, sir.

Wait around here and I'll check you in
with the room clerk.

Does the, uh, Lieutenant
wish me to carry these, sir?

The Lieutenant wishes for you to knock off
that stateside chicken!

I needed someone to do Wiley's job.

He was one of the men
we left behind on the beach.

All right, dream boy, up and at 'em!

Come on, I got a new radio operator.

Check him in.

The artillery makes the replacements.

Why don't you let the artillery
make the repl...

They make 'em.
Why don't you let them?

I mean, you know how the old man...

Shut your big, fat mouth
and grab a pencil. Come on!

That's not a nice way to talk,
you know that.

Not a nice way to talk for someone
who was just made an officer

and a gentleman, sir.

This guy's from Newark, too.
Do you know him?

Ho, ho.

No, l... Well, we're not exactly
buddy-buddies, but I know about him.

Yes, sir, "Corporal Britt Harris."

"Army serial no. 33170247."

You've got yourself a real doozy
this time, Lieutenant.

Would you like lo explain that, Corporal?

You mean a "doozy"?

Mm-hmm.

Well, a doozy, in this
case, is a celebrity.

I mean, Mr. Britt Harris was quite
a celebrity up around our way.

It seems

that a member of the draft board,
of Harris' draft board,

just happened to be working in a factory
that Harris just happened to be running.

He tried to bribe him,
he gave him a Chevrolet.

I would've held out for a Cadillac.

Naturally.

What then...
What happened then?

Well, he had to enlist. In a hurry.

Huh.

Thanks, Corporal.

You're welcome.

Oh, uh... Corporal,

you will keep this to yourself, won't you?

Tear out the fingernails, sir.
Tear out the fingernails.

And a very sanitary measure
it would be, too.

Don't worry about me, Sam, Lieutenant, sir.
You know me, sir.

Big mouth!

Je pane Le francais an petit peu,

but I'd like to borrow your eggs.

Oh!

Les oeufs, monsieur?

Yeah, I'll take one, two...

Yes.

I never told him I knew,
but I kept an eye on him.

You see, in our outfit we had to get along.

We were a forward observation team.

We lived in each other's pockets.

Oh.

Hey, Harris.

Bye-bye.

What are those?

Les oeufs.

Did you pay for them?

No, sir. That woman gave them to me.

Why?

I don't know why, sir,
but women are always giving me things.

Let me see now, that'll be one for Rogers,

one for Harmer,

one for Breglio,

and one for...

No, two for me.

I keep forgetting I'm an officer now.

Yeah, that about leaves one for you, right?

Right.

I guess I gave him a rough time,
all right.

Partly because I didn't trust him,

and parity because he was
born rich and handsome,

and I was born poor and not handsome.

You guys met Harris yet?

Uh-huh.

Yeah.

I understand he got son of held up
getting in the army.

We had a couple of dry runs today.
He's pretty good with a radio.

So was Wiley.

Land mines!

Land mines!

Get the medics up here on the double!

It's those replacements.
They went into that other orchard.

I thought everybody knew
that place was loaded with mines!

It was marked!
I know it was marked!

Shut up, you guys! Shut up.

My God, Mama!

Oh, my God, Mama!

Everybody knew it was mined.

Everybody should've known it was mined!

You men in there,

don't move an inch,
you'll touch off some more mines!

Stay right where you are!

Oh, God, Mama!

Get the P and A men up here on the double.

Tell 'em to bring their detectors.

Oh, God, Mama!

Oh, God, Mama!

Oh, God, Mama!

Oh, God, Mama!

Oh, God, Mama!

You, stop! Hold it there!

Don't move, you'll touch off more mines!

They're all in here in close order.

Tell the medics to take
a bearing on my clothes.

One was dead, two had lost legs,
five were hospital cases.

You're quite a guy, Corporal.

Yes, sir, a real live hero.

You want me to pin the medal on you now,

or you wanna wait for the General to do it?

Well, I figured speed was essential, sir.

You ever hear of a little gadget
called a mine detector?

Answer me.

Yes, sir.

Didn't you hear me holler for you
to stop when you went in there?

Oh, no, sir.

That's too bad.

You got a razor blade in your gear?

Yes, sir.

Then use it to cut off your stripes,

Private Harris.

'Morning, sir.

'Morning, Sam.

Find yourself a place to sit.

I'm, uh, not going to try to persuade you

not to yank this man's stripes,

but I thought maybe you'd fill me in
on just what happened.

Nothing much happened, Colonel.

It's just that I hollered at him to stop
and he didn't obey orders. That's all.

I can recall a couple times
when you didn't hear an order.

I wouldn't have gone in there. Would you?

You kiddin'? We got too much sense.

Yeah.

You know, I can't quite figure this kid.

Maybe you don't have to. No, thanks.

Sam, don't ride the man so hard.

He can't help that he went to college.

I was going to put him up for a citation.

Oh, don't worry.

You'll get plenty of chances
to give this guy a medal.

Sam, um...

How many days have
you and your men been under fire?

Altogether?

Yeah, altogether.

188, 89.

You familiar with the French Riviera?

Only what I've read in
the National Geographic.

Well, I'm told that, um...

Big hotels are fixed so that
you turn on a water faucet

and you get either Cognac or Champagne.

Now that, uh, probably isn't true,

but suppose you and your men
go down there

and make a 24-hour investigation.

Yes, sir.

An hour later we were
halfway to Nice.

That's the kind of a war it was.

Some people call it
the Champagne Campaign.

Nobody who was there will ever forget

the way the French Riviera was that season.

The Army had made it a rest area.

There'd never been one like it before

and never would be again.

They shipped in oranges from North Africa,

eggs from Sweden, steaks from Argentina.

The Champagne and Cognac
were already there...

So were some of the girls,

but others came by bus,
by foot and by plane.

Oh, there were all kinds of girls.

The hotels were luxurious, ail right,

but it wasn't quite like the Colonel said.

You had 10 go at! The
way out to the terrace

in get the Cognac and the Champagne.

You can forget how beautiful
a beautiful woman can be,

but it doesn't take long
to refresh your memory.

I saw what they meant
by the French Riviera.

After a few hours, I got fired

of looking at 10,000 other men
wearing the same suit I was

and doing the same things I was.

I left the guys at a bistro
and just took off in the jeep.

Bren venue, American?!

Bravo, les Americains!

Ah!

Bienvenue, les Americains.
Bienvenue!

Soyez bienvenu!

You are the first American I have seen.

I have been thinking

that I must give something
to my first American...

Something I like very much.

Four...

Cinq, five...

Six, six...

Sept, huff... Sept...

- Sev... Sev...
- Sept...

- Sept, seven...
- Seven...

I try now to remember
what I thought in that first moment...

That she was beautiful, I guess.

Quatre, four...

That I wanted very much to speak to hen.

- Cinq...
- Cinq, five...

Six, six...

Sept, seven...

Huff.

Oh, non, non, non.

Uh, mademoiselle, um...

Je suis American.

Uh, yes, I know.

You speak English.

My mother sometimes says
I speak it perpetually.

Lieutenant Sam Loggins.

Oh...

I don't understand.

He does not know you mean him to keep it.

He has never had a gift before, I think.

Uh, Lieutenant Sam Loggins,
Jean-Francois Duvan.

Merci bien' monsieur.

You're welcome.

And now I must go. Lam very late.

Thank you again and goodbye.

I know Jean-Francois' name,
but I don't know yours.

Oh, lam Monique Blair.

Your English is very good.

I am an American.

You're kidding!
Then why do you talk like that?

Well, I was born in Paris.
I have always lived in France.

And you've never been home...
Uh, to the United States, I mean'?

France is my home.

Miss, whatever it is she's
cooking in there smells awful good.

What do you call it?

Poulpe.

It... It tastes very good, too.

Uh, come. I...
I will introduce you to the madame.

Ah, bonjour!

Bonjour.

That looks good.

Mmm, that's wonderful.

What do they call this?

Uh, uh... Poulpe.

What's it mean?

Octopus.

My father felt the same way.

He loved poulpe.

Very nice.

Can't you recommend something else?

Uh... The small sardines,
fried crisp in butter.

Could you, uh...

Could you stay and...

Have some with me?

Please?

Thank you, ma'am.

Does she give Brandy
to everybody on the house?

Madame is French.

It is unlikely that she
has ever done so before,

or that she ever will again.

Now...

Tell me what happened
after your father died.

Well, I hung around New York for a while,

then I realized that
all the guys I grew up with

were either drafted or in jail.

So I went back to Los Angeles.

Then one day, Mr. Boiling called me
in his office and he said, uh...

"Sam, take a look at the new letterheads."

Sol looked at them and I said,
"They look fine."

And then I saw it.

The letterhead said,
"Boiling and Loggins, Constructionists."

He made me a panner just like that.

And what did you do then?

Well, I thanked him.

You thanked him,

making your voice very deep,

then you

excused yourself,

and you went into your own office,

closed the door,

and you wept.

You wept because.

Mr. Fred Boiling is such a good man.

Well, to tell you the truth,

I never mentioned this before,
but that's exactly what I did.

I wept.

How did you guess that?

Oh, I did not guess.

I think

Americans are

ashamed when they feel tenderness.

You know, my father once told me...

"Monique, you cannot judge a man,"

"by what he says"

"unless you see his face."

Your father was a very wise man.

Oh, yes,

he was,

very wise indeed.

What'd she say?

Uh, oh, ah...

She said that

she loved having the Americans here.

Thank you.

Uh, she wishes you

very much good luck.

For me, it will be very bad luck
unless I go home now.

My mother will worry.

Think I could see you again?

I can get another pass next weekend.

I cannot see you again.

You cannot or you will not?

Will not.

Well, I guess that wraps it up then.

I like you, Sam.

I think you are a very good American.

But you won't see me again.

I won't see you again.

Well, I don't usually
press my luck, but, uh,

if you change your mind,

around 8:00 next Saturday
night, I'll be here.

Goodbye, Sam.

And thank you again.

When we got back,
it was still the same old war.

It was funny. Some days we drank
Champagne, courtesy of the French,

and some days we ate dirt,
courtesy of the Germans.

Our objective that morning was a ridge

that overlooked a valley
held by the Germans.

The valley was only five kilometers
from the pass leading into Italy,

but I! Was a very valuable
piece of real estate.

Intelligence figured the Jerres
had moved off the ridge,

but intelligence couldn't be sure.

So it was our job to find out.

Sugar 3, this is Sugar 7.
Sugar 3, this is Sugar 7.

Fire mission. Over.

You got 'em?

Sugar 3, this is Sugar 7.

From Checkpoint 8.

From Checkpoint 8.

Azimuth 4000.

Azimuth 4000.

Right 5-0. Drop 2-0.

Right 5-0. Drop 2-0.

A concrete bunker. Fire for effect.

Concrete bunker.

Fire for effect. Over.

Here they come.

Duck!

Okay, that's it.

End of mission. Area covered. Out.

There goes our radio.
We're gonna have to wait for support.

Duck!

Then they started paying us back.

We couldn't move in any direction.

We were locked in.

They got guns, too.

I figured maybe we had
five minutes to live,

give or take a mile.

You're quite a guy' Harris.

Pretty fancy dancin'.

You like your stripes back,
I'll get 'em back for you.

Thanks.

Next time we're on a pass together,
I'll buy you a beer.

Thanks, Lieutenant.

It's nothing, Sergeant.

That night, we took over the bunker,

we started to zero in
on the valley with our howitzers.

We blasted them whenever we saw them.

But the thing is, we almost never saw them.

Peek-a-boo.

Hi, Lieutenant.

I'm your new radio operator.
Anderson, Roy.

Hey, Britt.

Hi.

You guys know each other?

Sure. We just about got our tails
blown off together. Didn't we, Britt?

Yeah.

How's that?

We're in the same bunch of replacements.

Remember that night all those guys
went into that minefield

and got blown to hell?

Me and old Britt were in there
getting a helmet full of apples.

Okay, Anderson, get on over to the billet.

Rustle yourself up a spot to lie down in.

Right you are, Lieutenant.

Take it easy, Britt.

So you'd already explored the orchard, huh?

You knew pretty much
where the mines were.

Uh, well, I wasn't sure.

I figured you wouldn't pull a bonehead
trick like that without an angle.

If you'd told me about it,
I wouldn't have yanked your stripes.

But then I guess nobody
would have thought of you as a hero.

Did somebody?

You know something?

I can't figure you.
Every time I think I've got you zeroed in,

I gotta figure out another bracket.

On Saturday night, I was early.

I don't know why,
but I really expected her to come.

Anyway, she didn't show.

Can I have the check, please?

Eh, Colette!

No, thank you.

Lieutenant.

Yes, ma'am.

Come, sit down.

Let me buy a fellow American a drink.

It's been a long time
since I've had the privilege.

You're very kind, but, uh,
I'm son of in a hurry.

Please.

Beside, I've had enough
to drink for one night.

I thought all American soldiers
drink as much as they can.

As quickly as they can.

Some do.

I would, too, if I were a soldier.

You, uh, were waiting for someone.

A girl?

If you'll excuse me now,
I have other plans.

What other plans,

if you don't mind my asking?

No, I don't mind you asking.

Sit down, Sam.

I'm Monique's mother, of course.

It was, uh, rather rude of me
to pretend to be otherwise, wasn't it?

Yes, it was.

Are you always so honest?

No, not really.

You ever been
out of the States before, Sam'?

No. Well, once, I went to Catalina Island.

You like living in Los Angeles?

You're in the construction business.

Is there much money in that?

Mrs. Blair...

I'm not asking for your daughter's
hand in marriage.

I just wanted to spend an evening with her.

Did you sail from New York?

Mm-hmm.

I remember the morning I left.

The sun was shining

and there was just a little haze.

That was 20 years ago.

Leaving,

that's what I remember best.

I remember there were
some very nice gray ladies.

They gave each of us a cup of coffee

and then word came to board ship,

and each and every one of us stooped down

and placed the cup next to his right foot.

And then as the ship
pulled out of the dock,

I looked down and saw all of these cups.

Some guy behind me said
they looked like rows of tombstones,

and maybe some of them were.

Come on, Sam.

Monique's waiting dinner for us.

How do you feel about riding in a jeep?

Well, it's one of the several experiences
I promised myself before I die.

Uh!

Another is jumping out of a parachute.

No, dear, you jump out of a plane.

You hold on to the parachute.

It was quite a place they lived in.

We had a home-cooked meal,

and after dinner,
Monique took me on a tour.

During the occupation,

Mama and I each had
an hour alone in this room

every day-

Uh, hers was from 3:00 to 4:00
in the afternoon,

and mine was
from 9:00 to 10:00 in the morning.

It's a lovely room.

Yes.

What is this, Monique?

It is a piece of brown bread.

An old family relic?

No.

No. There... There was one week

when there were 30 of us in the villa...

Mostly refugee children, like...
Like Jean-Francois, remember'?

And we had only brown bread
and water to drink.

My father said that when the time came
that we had enough again,

and there would be such a time, he said,

I must not forget
what it is like to be hungry.

So you kept it.

Mm-hmm.

Your father must have been quite a guy.

When did he die?

About two years ago.

I miss him very much.

I'm sure you do.

Sam...

Oh, I've got to run.

I've got to get back to the outfit.
I'm on the midnight shift.

Oh.

Now that the Germans are gone,

I keep thinking that the war is over.

Is it bad?

No, it's been worse,

but it's always bad
when somebody's shooting at you.

You be careful, now.

I am the most careful girl in these parts.

Return soon.

It has been most pleasant.

It was wonderful.

Uh, Monique...

In America, we have a custom
called a good-night kiss.

It is the custom in many countries.

May I kiss you?

I should like you to.

Good night.

I had never seen the moon so bright.

Right then, I could've KO'd Joe Louis,

hit a homer for the Giants
and climbed an Alp.

I lived for my passes.

We went on a picnic.

There was fried chicken, ail right,

and also pété de foie-gras sandwiches,
and a view.

I'd heard it's the most
beautiful in the world.

Vi! Buy that.

We went pedal-pushing.

It's for kids, you know, like me.

I made a deal with the Mess Sergeant.

I gave him my liquor ration,

and he gave me, well,
a lot more fund than ii was worm.

I did them in at poker,

and Mrs. Blair murdered me a! Chess.

And men mere was that night in the garden.

I know one thing,
you are not very much for flowers,

but in here I planted
these American beauties.

But it is not time for a goodnight kiss.

Mm-hmm, but in America,
some people just don't wait.

If they feel like kissing, they kiss.

Kiss, kiss, kiss all the time.

That's how I feel

with you.

Monique,

remember the day we met

at Madame Brieux's,

and she said something to me in French

and I asked you what she said?

And you told me that
she wished me much luck?

Yes, I... I remember.

Well, that wasn't what she said.

No.

I consulted an expert
and found out what she really said was,

she wished for me a great love.

Now, that was quite a thing
for her to say because,

well,

I'm not much of a catch.

As a matter of fact,
nobody ever tried to catch me,

and I've never tried 10
catch anybody either.

Well...

What I'm trying to say is that

I love you, Monique.

I love you very much.

But you don't love me.

No, Sam.

Well...

You can't win 'em all.

Sam,

when I came home that first afternoon,

I said to my mother...

"I have met a very nice American

"from Los Angeles, California.

"A lieutenant," I said.

"And it would be my dearest wish

"that he would like me,"

"and that he want me"

"as a friend."

I still wish that.

I'll settle for that for now.

Mmm, that love-at-first-sight routine
rarely happens anyway,

and we've got time.

I'll try to make you love me,

and I hope you will.

No, Sam. There is no such hope.

You... You can't stop me from trying.

I can stop seeing you.

I will.

That's fine.

I always say, "If you're going
to kick a guy in the teeth",

"be sure to use both feet."

It is for you that I have said that.

Thanks a lot.

Sam!

Sam.

I was just shoving off.

Sam, I was listening.

Well, good for you. It will save
a lot of time, a lot of trouble.

Come in.

Come in, Sam.

Please.

Uh, sit down, Sam, please.

I have had something to tell you

ever since that first afternoon.

I did not because

I did not see any point to it then.

No, that...

That is not true.

I did not because

I liked you.

Uh, I still do,

but...

I...'

know how Americans

feel about some things.

I have read and

I know the way so many
of the soldiers talk.

I...

I have told you

that my father

was a very great man.

Believe me, he was.

He was also a negro.

I guess

"nigger" is

one of the first words
you learn in America' isn't it?

Good... Goodbye, Sam.

Monique's father was a rare man.

I've never known another like him.

This picture was taken
a year before he died.

Fred was a poor boy

from Georgia.

His mother took in washing

and he never knew his father.

But he ran errands,

he swept floors,

he dug ditches to get through
Hampton Institute.

And at 35, he was president of
an insurance company in Philadelphia.

I was a public health nurse
in West Virginia.

When I went back home to Philadelphia,

I met him for the first time
at a welfare conference.

I fell in love with him

and married him.

I didn't care what color his skin was.

He was the finest,

dearest man I've ever known in my life.

When the time came,

I discovered I was going to have a child.

I cried that night.

I said to my husband...

"There are ways," I said.

See, for us, it hadn't mattered
what people thought.

We walked the streets of Philadelphia,

proud and

defiant,

and in love.

But a child...

My husband was a rock of a man.

He said...

"It is the will of God."

He said, "We will go to France."

"In France, they have
a beautiful blindness to color."

"Our child will be French."

We've lived here ever since.

All our friends were French.

Monique was 13 when
the last Americans left the Riviera.

She had not seen one since
until she met you.

Maybe I should've told you
that first night, but...

I thought to myself, "Sam is a soldier.
He will soon move on."

I'm going to bed now, Sam.

Please don't say anything. Please.

If you want to come back and see us,

you'll always be welcome here.

If not,

you've already given us a lot of happiness.

I fought two wars that week...

My own and the Amy's.

The Army's was easy.

Mostly, I thought about that word.

Monique was wrong.

It's not the first one you learn at all,

and some kids never learn it at all.

Some learn it and never use it.

I learned it early and used it often.

It showed just how tough I was,

and that wasn't all.

Where I was brought up, Harlem near 125th,

they were on one side,

and we were on the other.

Why? I don't know why,

except a lot oi people need
somebody to look dawn on,

or they think they do.

What's the matter, Lieutenant?

Not a thing.

It got to be Saturday night.
It always does.

My mother wants to know,
am I taking my vitamin pills?

I was scared,
but I mean really scared.

I said, "God, you get me oui of this one",

"and I'm really gonna shape up."

I mean, I said, "God, you can trust me,
you can count on me!"

"No more drinkin',"

"no more smokin',"

"no more, you know,
swearin' or, uh, any of that stuff."

Well, well, what happened?

Well, tell you the honest truth,

I don't think I had a cigarette
for about two days there.

'Evening, sir.

Sit down.

Am I interrupting something?

No.

Writing a letter to my wife.

She was always in charge of Saturday night.

Whatever she wanted to do, you know,

it was her night.

You know what we used to do?

Half the time, we'd stay home,

barbecue a steak,

then play a couple of hands of blackjack,

go to bed early.

That's what we used to do.

Uh, have some.

Angel food cake, butterscotch frosting.

Best damn cake my wife ever baked.

Um...

Sir, um...

Well, the guys all went
off lo town, and I...

I wasn't gonna go,

but I...
I changed my mind and I...

And I was wondering whether I would, uh...

You can, uh,

take my jeep-

I'm not going anyplace.

Thank you, sir.

Sam...

You know the worst thing in the world?

Loneliness.

Yes, sir.

Sam!

Hello, friend.

Sam!

Maman!

Oh...

Sam!

Oh...

You have come back.

Oh.

Maman!

It's Sam!

Welcome.

Now look, we're gonna go to Nice,
all three of us.

How long will it take you to put
your glad rags on?

Oh, it will take only five minutes.

Make it four.

Oh.

Well, come on, come on.

No.

I'm too old and too tired

and I've got too much sense.

You're a good man, Sammy.

I'm a little better than I was a week ago.

Are you happy?

I am more happy than I deserve.

You have, uh, whiskey-soda?

Only white wine!

I'll have white wine.

We want the Sergeant!

We want the Sergeant!

We want the Sergeant!

He's one of the guys in our outfit.

He's pretty good, huh?

Yes.

Monique Blair, this is Britt Harris.

Mademoiselle, enchanté.

You can speak English, she's American.

Oh, Sam, I knew there was
something in the wind.

I'd say to him, "Where you headed?"

And he'd say,
"Well, I thought I'd go and explore."

Then he started asking me to translate
a couple of phrases in French.

So I knew wherever he was exploring

that the, uh, natives were friendly.

Why don't you sit down?
Get your girlfriend, bring her over.

Oh, I don't think she's feeling well.

She's got a toothache.

You play beautifully.

Thank you. Thank you very, very much.

Where'd you pick up that little sideline?

Oh, I've been blowing the horn
most of my life.

The year I was supposedly
at Cornell University

studying Business Administration,

I used to spend most of my time
on 52nd Street.

Oh, do you know the singing
of Bessie Smith?

Do I? I've got every record she ever made.

Oh.

I have only one.

Well, I'll see that you get some of mine.

Do you know the recordings
of Monsieur Jacques Frenet?

Jacques Frenet?

Sam, you're such a sly one.

Huh, he's so solid, isn't he'?

Big time operator. Solid Sam.

I'll give you some news...

From now on in, I'm going to take
lessons from you, 'cause you're the master.

No, no, no, no, tomorrow night.

- Oh, please.
- Let's get out of here.

I know a delightful little place that sells
the craziest fromage and some chablis.

Oh, and some pété?

I've not had any for a very longtime.

If you want pété,
you're gonna get pété.

Come on.

Goodbye.

We dropped Britt at the hotel
we were staying at.

I don't think Monique said
two words on the way home.

You like him, don't you?

Yes.

It figures.

Yeah, he's a smooth operator,
a real fancy dancer and talker.

Why do you say that?

Because I know him, and I know
he knows all the angles.

That is a good trait, I think.

Maybe, if you don't play poker
with him too often.

It was a beautiful evening

and night

and sunrise.

Thank you.

You're welcome, Monique.

Good night.

Sam...

Thank you for coming back.

Will...

Will you tell Britt about me?

I'll tell him.

Sam?

Uh-huh?

What are you going
to do when the wars over?

Probably go back to Los Angeles.

Why don't you come and work with me?

Huh.

You think we'd get along?

Great.

Just so long as we know who's the boss.

You.

Sam...

How serious are you about Monique?

What do you mean?

Well, um...

Uh, how serious'?

We're just good friends.

That all?

That's all.

I like her a lot, Sam.

I like her a lot.

I believe you.

You want to go with me
next time we get a pass?

Her mother cooks up some pretty fair chow.

Great.

She asked me to tell you something, Britt.

She asked me to tell you that

her father was a negro.

What do you know?

That's the way it was.

You?! Think the war was over and wham,

it started at! Over again.

And this time it didn't stop.

Three days later,
they were still sending them in.

Britt.

Sam, I'd love to sneak up behind 'em
and see what's going on.

You can't see anything from here.

You know, there's one spot
where you can see the whole works from...

Checkpoint 30.

That's the town hall tower.

Yeah.

And you can bet it ain't well-manned.

This is too good a target for us.

You know, I'll bet a couple
of guys could get in there.

Sure, with Superman suits.

Don't they ever run out?

I sure would like to take a whack at it.

Samuel,

what's the first thing you learned...

The very first thing you learned
in basic training?

Never to volunteer for anything.

Right.

I still think we could do it.

"We" could do it?

You don't think I'd be idiot enough
to go alone?

Sam, you don't seem to understand...

Here, cocktail hour.

Did he go for the town hall idea,
or did he think we were nuts?

No, he didn't think we were nuts.
He said he'd pass it on to headquarters.

Well, that's the end of that.

If you want to bury something in the army,

all you do is you send it
through channels in triplicate.

He didn't take away
our overnight pass, though?

He wouldn't dare.

Well, away we go like whooping cranes.

Oh, uh, Britt...

I've seen you in action, comrade,
and I just wanted you to know

that Monique is a very nice girl,
and she bruises easily. I know.

You're not going to believe this, Sam, but
before I put on this Buster Brown outfit,

I went out with a couple of nice girls
and never had any complaints.

- Allez?
- Allons!

And he was wonderful
with her, of course'.

He even knew all about flowers.

They liked the same books, the same music,
and they spoke the same language... French.

They both liked Picasso and...

There was one other thing...

She was in love with him.

I didn't know about him.

I never knew about him.

Britt and I went on
almost every pass together

and it was always the same...

There were the two of them, and me.

Sam, I know you're not much
of a wine drinker,

but this stuff is the wildest.

Here.

Bonsoir, madame.

Want to let me in on it?

Uh, she said that friendship

between a man and a woman is, uh...
ls what?

Is only for

those who are

very old

or very tired.

Oh, Sam,

you should not drink chablis that way.

It is a tender wine.
It must be sipped only.

Yeah, I'm a slob.

A very sweet slob.

Thanks.

Hey, why don't we play that game,

uh, "I Love My Love Because"?

Oh, yes, that is a lovely game.

No.

Sam, look, it's a very simple...

No!

I'll get the check.

Why don't you two go along?
I'm not going.

Notre Dame de la Garoupe
is very beautiful at night.

I've seen a cathedral and a lighthouse.

But never together, Sam.
It's the only one like it.

You sure you don't want to come along?

Uh-huh.

- You sure?
- I'm sure!

Mind if we take the jeep?

No, go right ahead.

Have a good time.

Thank you, Sam.

Hello, Joe.

Desirez, monsieur?

Cognac.

Grand ou petit?

Grand.

Grand.

The grandest, largest Cognac in the joint!

Do it again!

Hi, Sam.

You really should have
seen that lighthouse.

It was absolutely the...

Hey, Sam, you're my buddy, right?

Thick and thin? Fire and water?

Sleet and snow? Muck and mire?

Look, Sam, buddy, pal, friend,
I've been through quite a bit this morning.

The old lady was waiting up for us.

Huh.

Sam, I think you're familiar
with the term "love."

It's never properly been defined,
although a lot of guys have tried it,

even those fellows that make it
with the poetry.

Sam, I'm in love with the girl!

Well, I didn't think
this was going to happen!

I don't care whether
you hate my guts or not,

that's beside the point.

But I never figured that
I was the guy that...

Sam...

Monique and I are going to get married.

Someday, Britt?

When the shootings all over?

You're going back to New Jersey?

Sam...

I'm never going back to Newark.
I never was.

Uh...

Well, I never mentioned
it to you, but, uh...

I got in a little trouble when
I was back there, you know, and...

I've had Newark,
and I think Newark's had me.

Besides, I've got a little money
going for me.

I've got a trust fund.
So maybe we'll even settle here.

I don't know.

When, Sergeant?

You know how the Army is, Sam.

There's a right way
and there's a wrong way.

When?

The Chaplain, the Colonel,
everything in triplicate,

right through channels.

I suggest that you begin today.

Sam, I was going to ask you
to be my best man.

I'd be delighted.

Sammy, don't you trust me?

I just remembered I forgot something.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

Hello, Sam.

Good morning, dear.

For me?

Did you make him ask her?

Oh, no.

What... What do you think, Sammy?

Well, I'm not exactly neutral.

No, you're not.

It won't be easy for them,

even at best.

You know what I bet?
I bet everything turns out just dandy.

Maybe.

I hope that's true.

Monique...

Well, I've protected her' and I'm

not sure I was right.

Britt is handsome,

charming.

My daughter loves him.

When he...

Came to me this morning
with those great eyes

that must have got him so much
and saved him so much.

Mm-hmm.

He told me that he loved her

and wanted to marry her.

Well, I said what I said.

Now, go wish her all the
happiness there is.

Howdy.

I was hoping you would come.

I thought I'd better report in
and see how you are.

Uh, did Britt tell you... Tell you?

Oh, he was blabbering about
love and marriage and all that stuff.

I didn't quite understand
what he was talking about.

I am very happy'-

That's good.

I am in love.

I guess that's about all anybody can ask.

It is a very great deal.

And there is even more.

Oh, there couldn't be.

Yes.

That first night,

uh, when he was here,

we went into the garden

and he looked at me, and

he said...

"Sam has told me about your father."

"You must be very proud of him."

You can see, can you not,
that I worship Britt?

I think you've got it all taped,
all buttoned up.

You approve then?

Well, I wouldn't want to get this around,

but I'm puttin' in for best man.

You think I got a chance?

Oh!

I shall speak to the man in charge.

Hey, Sam, I thought
you weren't coming back.

I'm back.

Britt?

Hmm?

You're not kiddin' this time, are you?

You're not just foolin' around?

Sam, I'm in love with the girl.

OKEY-

There's just one thing worries me.

What's that?

I haven't got a thing
to wear for this wedding.

He got the marriage application
the next day.

A month passed and then another,

and the Germans kept pouring them in,

and every week,
a few more men were killed.

But there was still no word on the mission.

Finally, the old man sent for me.

Hi, Lieutenant.

He'll be with you in just a minute.
He just got back from regiment.

Havin' a little conference with the staff,
you see. Take a load off, Lieutenant.

Thank you, Corporal.

1725...

Tell me, uh...

How's the pride of Newark, New Jersey
making out?

He's turning out to be a damn fine soldier.

Yeah?

You know what General Grant always said.

No, what did General Gram "always said"?

I don't know. He just, uh...

He said somethin'.

By the way, how's our boy's
marriage application coming along?

It's been in the works
for over two months now.

Are you kiddin'? He picked those papers
up here about three weeks ago.

He just never brought 'em back.
I don't know.

Wait a minute.

Oh, yeah. Hey, listen, I, uh,
I mentioned that to him about,

uh, a couple of days ago.
You know what he said?

He said the whole thing was a gag.

It was just a big gag.

He's a character.

You know what I figured?
I mean, personally,

I figure that some French mama

put the squeeze on our boy, you know,

but he, uh, he smoothed himself out of it.

You know him, he's quite a smoother.

Oh, he is quite a smoother.

Sam, regimental headquarters
approved your plan.

You haven't changed your mind, have you?

No, sir.

All right.

Sam, I think you know everybody.

Yes, sir. Hi, Sam.

Hour is 0300 at hill 209.

I'll personally see you off.

When you get to town hall,
set up an OP and check in

and report all activity while en route.

Yes, sir.

Now, Captain Harrison
will brief you on net operation.

You won't follow
any regular radio procedure.

FDC will be alerted.

Two men will monitor the net
at all times for your signals.

Now, when you reach the tower,
switch on your radio and say...

"Established."

Any questions?

No, sir.

- Good luck.
- Thank you.

Anything else?

Well, I guess that about covers it.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Sir, does this mean
our passes are cancelled?

Yeah, I'm afraid it does.

Well, sir, it's important that Sergeant Harris
and I get into town for a little while.

It's, um, personal and it's...

It's pretty important, sir.

But I promise to get us back by 0100.

I guarantee it.

All right, Sam. You wouldn't ask if it
weren't important. Permission granted.

I'll pick you and the Sergeant up
at your billet at 0200.

Yes, sir.

Lieutenant Sam? Yeah.

Any news?

Yeah, we've got it.

Tonight's the night. Hour is 0300.

Well, that cancels our soufflés.

No, but we've got to be back by 0100.

Well, I'll shake a leg.

It would've been nice if your papers
had come through.

Yeah, that would've been great.

I went by headquarters this morning

and they told me it takes a lot of time.

Well, you know how it is.

You know, I sometimes think the Army
doesn't want people to get married.

The ladies expect you, gentlemen.

Beautiful, you're beautiful.

I couldn't get you a mink coat
or a bag of diamonds today

'cause they didn't have any in the PX,
so I got you these.

Oh, that's sweet of you, Britt.

Well, I'm a very sweet fellow.

How are you, Sammy?

He's not feeling well at all.

All the way down the hill,
he didn't say a word.

But I have a feeling that that chocolate
soufflé with those black-market eggs

is going to clear up his mind beautifully.

You touch her, and I'll kill you.

Tell her.

Are you out of your mind'?
What are you talking about?

I talked to Corporal Lindsay today.

He's not much of a
conversationalist, is he'?

Tell her!

You really want me to, Lieutenant?

Like you thought it over real hard?

Mon cheri...

What is wrong?

Monique.

Uh, I guess...

I guess what Sam means is

I'm not going to marry you, Monique.

That's about it, I guess.

You never even planned to, did you?

You scum.

I don't like that word, coming from you.

Get out of my house.

Mrs. Blair?

On several occasions,
I've been engaged to marry,

and on several occasions I've been not
engaged to marry, if you follow me.

And a lot of these girls I wouldn't
take to a country club, but

with the exception of your daughter,
Mrs. Blair,

all of them were white.

Sam, look,

you understand.

It was like a new kick for me.

Come on, Sam, you...

Sam!

Sam, she's gone!

I'll find her.

Captain, Captain, it was I who rescued her.

I was coming home slowly,
taking my leisure

because it is so beautiful an evening,

then I saw the girl running fast.

At first, I think she's
going to a rendezvous,

but then I recognize she's trying to jump.

I was very close behind her,
but below are many rocks...

Monique.

Monique, it's Sam.

I'm your... Your friend, Monique.

Monique.

Go away.

I don't know when I decided...

When I saw Monique's face,

when I left her mother at the villa

or when I got back.

Now, any questions?

No, sir.

I'm gonna have to take
your sidearm and your rifle.

Sir'?

If you don't have weapons,
you'll hide instead of trying to shoot.

Now, you can carry your knives.

Sam, you still with me?

Yes, sir, I'm still with you.

Good luck, Sam.

Thank you, Colonel.

Sergeant.

Wait a minute, Sam.

Uh...

It's a long way down this hill.

Shake hands with me, huh?
What do you say?

Sergeant, I'm going to kill you.

I don't know when or where or how,

but I'm going to kill you.

Sam, I'm not proud of what I did.

I apologize.

Look, in a month, six weeks,
she won't even remember my name.

I'm going to kill you.

If you think I'm going on a mission
with a nut like you,

you've got rocks in your head!

I'll see that you get court-martialed...

Desertion in the face of the enemy.

That'll be just dandy,

and, by God, I'll make it stick.

Now, get moving.

It works both ways' Lieutenant.

I'll give the Colonel your dog tags.

I'll say, ah, "A sniper got him."

Or maybe I'll say,
"He stepped on a mine, sir. It was awful."

It'd be a long time before
they found your body,

and by then, who'd know?

Listen, Lieutenant,
anybody you want me to write to?

Funny.

Now, get moving!

Don't worry, you won't get it in the back.

When I kill you, I want to see your face.

Move.

Halt!

Amerikaner!

Psst. Come here.

There's our bunker.

Man, it's a long way back home.

Okay, tell 'em we're here.

Established.

Checkpoint 1... Illuminate.

Checkpoint 1... Illuminate.

No wonder we couldn't spot it!

Checkpoint 1.

Heavy artillery, fire for effect. Over.

Blow hell out of it.

Bingo!

Now, let's clean out this valley
once and for all.

Checkpoint 7... Illuminate.
Checkpoint 8... Illuminate.

Checkpoint 1-6... Illuminate.

Checkpoint... Wait a minute!

One at a time.

Okay. Checkpoint 7.

Checkpoint 7.

Bingo!

Checkpoint 1-0.

Checkpoint 1-0.

Bingo.

Checkpoint B.

Checkpoint B.

Bingo!

Psst.

Britt, look.

They're trying to
fix the position of the radio.

We'll wait a couple of minutes,
then start transmitting again.

A couple of minutes?

That means two minutes!

Sam?

I'm, uh...

I'm very sorry about Monique.

I never dreamt anything like this
would happen and I didn't...

I met her and I liked her.

Well, I was a little fed up
with those tramps at the Negresco Club.

I'm not like you, Sam. That's all.

In fact, I

sort of envy you.

I remember when I went to...

Went to one of
the several colleges I attended.

I was asked to join a fraternity...

One of those, uh, secret organizations

where they give you a secret handshake,

and then they

bend you over and then paddle your fanny

till you can't sit down.

Well, I happened to overhear two of
my fraternity brothers talking one night.

They were talking about me. One said...

"Gee, that Britt.
Hmm, boy, he's got everything.

"He's got looks,

"money,

"personality,"

"brains:-."

And then...
And then the other one said...

"Yeah, that Britt, he's got everything,
except one thing."

"He hasn't any character."

Want to know something, Sam?

He was right.

I haven't any character.

You're the kind of a guy,

you see something you want very badly,

you say to yourself,

"Well, how badly do I want it?"

"Can I really afford it?"

"What do I have to give up to get it?"

Me?

I see something I want,

I ask myself...

"What do I have to say to get it?"

And I say it.

I...

Sam, did you...

Sam, did you hear what I said?

Plug in, Sergeant.

If you think I'm going to sit around here,
you're crazy.

You ain't going nowhere, buddy.
You're staying right here with me.

And if you did get back,
and the chances are awful slim,

I'd see you got life in Leavenworth.
Now, plug in!

From Checkpoint 9...

One gun illuminating.

Checkpoint 9...

One gun illuminating.

Fire direction was way off on that one.

Correct your fire.

No wonder they kicked out the civilians.

Look at the stuff they got in there.

They've got enough stuff
to blow up the Alps!

Or launch an offensive!

What is it?

They're evacuating the town.

When?

At 0400.

It gives us about an hour.

Fine!

In an hour, we'll be in the woods watching
the biggest explosion you ever saw.

That's cutting it a little,
uh, thin, isn't it?

Tell 'em at 0400 I want everything
available. Everything!

I wanna blow this joint right off the map!

Listen.

What are our chances of
getting out of here?

Some.

Checkpoint 2-8, supply dump in town.

All available fire for effect

at 0400.

Over and out!

Ahh!

Ahh!

Amerikaner!

Amerikaner!

They're moving out right away.
They're not waiting for 0400.

Halt!

Sam!

Sam!

Brit!

Oh.

You thinking about Monique now, Britt?

You sorry now, Britt?

It's too damn late now, Britt.

It's too late.

You're going to be all right, Sarge.

You're going to be fine.

You know,

there's no satisfaction.

Don't wait for 0400!
Don't wait for 0400!

They're getting out!
They're moving out!

Give 'em everything you've got,
on the double, quick!

I'm on my way out.

I'm all right.

When my outfit got
into the rubble the next day,

they found 13 people still breathing...

Twelve Germans and me,

or what was left of me.

I was in the hospital in Paris
for seven months.

When I got out, I had $4,967 in back pay,

and I was one of the displaced.

I'd had two fetters from Monique
while I was in the hospital.

"Dear friend," the first one began.

"I think of you often.".

And at the end, she added,
almost as an afterthought,

"I have met a soldier
named Harmer in Nice."

"He said that Britt Harris was dead."

That was all.

I was glad she could write it like that.

The second letter was also short.

Ll merely said ma! He: Mother
had died the week of VE Day.

I didn't answer the letters. I...

I didn't really know what to say.

And then one afternoon
as I took my first sip

of what must have been my 2,000th beer,

I saw myself in the ring
the glass left on the table.

I realized then that I'd known guys like me

left over from the first war.

They got shot up at the Battle of the Meuse

and spent the next 20 years
brooding about it. I 'd had it.

I went to the American Express
and sent a cable to my partner...

"Reporting back three weeks from today.

"Meantime,
taking small sentimental journey.“".

The next morning I was in Villefranche.

Merci, monsieur.

Are you the lieutenant of the top?

I am,

and you are Jean-Francois Duvan!

Tsk-tsk.

You've grown.

I have become taller.

Yes, you have.

And you have lost one arm.

Sol have. I've never even missed it.

But one is enough for anybody, and beside,

the Army's going to make me
a brand new one.

Does the mademoiselle know you are here?

No.

I will find her.

Hello, Sam.

How are you, friend?

I was sorry to hear about your mother.

Oh, she had a very good life.

What is all of this?

Oh, it is recess.

All of this is a school for children

whose parents have been killed by the war.

On the first clay they are here,

I remind them of something
my mother told me.

She said,

"Everyone in the world
has some kind of a burden,

"but"

"it is not the burden that's important."

"It's how you carry it."

Are you happy?

Sometimes,

like most people.

Let me show you our classroom.

Silence, s'il vous plait.

Today we have a visitor,

an American.

His name is Lieutenant...

No,

Captain Sam Loggins.

In his honor,

we shall sing a song.

Sous Le ciel de Paris.

Sous ie ciel de Paris.

Oui! Oui! Oui, oui, oui!