Combat! (1962–1967): Season 1, Episode 16 - The Volunteer - full transcript
An exasperated Hanley finds himself saddled with a 13-year-old French orphan who wants to join the squad.
[church bells ringing]
Come on, Little John
Stick your snoot out there and hold it, will you?
That's better
Hey, Doc
Where'd you learn to read French?
I can't. I'm just looking for pictures.
[Hanley] ...strength the Germans have brought in. We don't know exactly...
Bonjour
[speaking French]
I'm sorry, son, I don't speak French
ne parlez vous
Caje, what did he say?
He says his name is Gilbert Barole
So?
So he wants to join the American army
Let's see what Sgt. York looks like
Somehow he just don't look life size
He said that he is sure he would be a great service to the American army, sir
since he has a thorough knowledge of the area
and also that he knows a lot about soldiering
He says he eats very little and he requires very little sleep each night
Grab him, Lieutenant, he's a bargain!
Hey, I could walk around on my knees and still be the tallest guy in his outfit!
and the dumbest!
All right, knock it off. Is he serious? This isn't a joke?
He's dead serious, sir
This boy wants to join the American army with all his might
How old is he?
He is thirteen and a half, sir
Well, tell, what's his name?
Gilbert
Well, thank Gilbert but tell him he's too young...
No
Tell him that young men like himself, young soldiers who are able to carry arms
are needed here in the village to protect the women and children
His mother and sisters and brothers
Gilbert...[continues in French]
He says that they are all dead, sir
Oh
Well, Caje, tell him
In very polite language
that the Lieutenant extends his sympathies for his family loss
but that
Army regulations forbid the induction of men in the field
regardless of age
Gilbert...
All right, come on. We're moving out of here in fifteen minutes.
Fall out! Take ten!
Doc, what do you got?
Cheese
I got deviled ham, you wanna swap?
Yeah
Sounds like we're getting close to something
Yeah, a German outpost
they'll be a lot closer than those guns
It's good we got those tanks in front of us
We had those tanks in front of us. They turn off here and head south.
Well, that's nice.
What do we do from here on in?
Keep moving forward, look for them.
Outposts?
Outposts.
We got the left flank. Try and keep the good man out there, will you?
Check
Kirby!
Yo!
You just been promoted!
Left flank when we move out of here. You're in then.
Gee, thanks Sarge.
Mounsieurs Américain!
Mounsieurs Américain
[explosions]
Mounsieur Américain!
Mounsieur Américain!
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Shut up and keep your head down!
What's he doing here?
I don't know. Maybe he thinks it's a recruiting station or something!
You think that's it? You think they've stopped?
They're not going to stop until we're all dead!
Does that kid know he came within an inch of being blown off the face of the Earth?
Our little friend doesn't give up, does he?
You tell him he almost got one of my men killed!
Never mind, never mind! Just tell him to go on home!
What's he saying, Caje?
He says he's very strong and a very good soldier and he wants to fight with us.
Home! He goes home!
Lieutenant!
Lieutenant!
Those lousy, no good Krauts!
Where are you hit, Lieutenant?
Left arm and side
Caje, get that kid under cover!
Bone's not broken
What about the artery? He's bleeding a lot, Doc.
No, I don't think so.
My head hit something
You took quite a fall
You keep quiet. He was mad at you before.
Pardon?
Never mind!
How do you feel, Lieutenant?
Lousy
We'll rig up a stretcher.
There's nothing wrong with my feet!
Doc?
Can he walk?
Well, the shrapnel passed right through his arm. The bleeding stopped but he's liable to be pretty weak.
What do you think, Lieutenant?
Let's give it a try
All right, easy now.
Are you still here?!
Caje!
What's he saying now?
Well, he wants to help you walk, Lieutenant
He said he had an uncle back home who had a bad foot and he used to use Gilbert as a cane. He'll help you.
He will go back to his village!
With you.
Now I don't...
Maybe you're right
I'll send Doc with you
I don't need him as bad as you might. I'll be all right.
As soon as Battalion moves in, they'll set up an aid station.
Whatever you say, Lieutenant
You just keep moving forward until you make contact.
When you do, radio company
and wait until you're joined by the advance guard, understand?
Yes, sir
You sure you're all right, Lieutenant?
I'm fine. Fine. Now move out of here before they start shelling this area again.
All right, let's move out. Kirby!
Yo!
Take the point!
Hey, you!
Hey kid, come on back here. Caje!
Yo!
Bring that kid back here!
There he is, Lieutenant
They will replace nobody
Tell him he's going back to the village with me.
and I don't want any lip from him
All right, get going. I'll see you in a day or two.
Right, sir.
How come the kid is so eager to go back?
I just told him the Lieutenant made him adjutant.
and that his new orders were to accompany him back to the village.
You know you get brighter everyday?
Yeah.
I think better in French, Sergeant.
Lieutenant, Lieutenant
Gilbert...
you go
allez
to the
village
get a doctor
I will stay here
No
Gilbert, go to the village
Lieutenant, Lieutenant
Lieutenant!
...the Bosch!
Halt!
Mueller?
[speaking German]
What's your name?
dein name?
Quel est votre nom?
Mein name Kurt Hammelman
Quelle la vôtre?
Gilbert Barole
Ah, Gilbert Barole?
Commentaire tallez vous, Gilbert!
Dreizehn
Uh...thirteen!
How old...
treize
Auf weidersen, Gilbert
Gilbert?
chocolat
Ten of them
Automatic weapons
Lieutenant, Lieutenant!
[grunts]
[coughs]
Your father must have had a strong stomach
The Bosch, the Bosch
All right, slow down! Slow down! Now what about the Bosch?
L'bosch sont dans le village
They let us through on purpose
They getting ready to really clobber the advance guard.
Quoi?
I've got to radio company
Gilbert
Now listen carefully
you
must find
my men
my sergeant
tell him
to use
radio
radio
tell him about Germans
Bosch, bosch
Tell him about the Bosch
Understand?
Comprend?
Oui!...[continues in French]
Yeah, go and find them. Go.
Doc, behind you!
Caje, grab him!
Ask him what happened to Hanley.
What did he say?
I don't know, Sergeant. He speaks too fast, I can't make him out.
He's talking about the Lieutenant being under the bed and machine guns
We should listen to the radio
Ask him again but tell him to take his time
Lieutenant?
Lieutenant Hanley?
Under here
[Saunders screaming]
Kirby, Little John!
Put them against that wall. Take their weapons.
Gilbert, go inside. Don't tell me any lies.
Feel better, Lieutenant?
I'll be all right
You ready?
All ready.
Where's Gilbert?
I want to thank him.
I already did, sir
He's going to make a fine soldier someday
I already told him that too but I don't think he wants to be a soldier anymore
Oh? Did he get a little scare?
I guess so but he wouldn't tell me what it was.
He'll get over it when he grows up, whatever it is.
Yeah
Won't we all?
All right, let's move out.
Yes, sir
Come on, Little John
Stick your snoot out there and hold it, will you?
That's better
Hey, Doc
Where'd you learn to read French?
I can't. I'm just looking for pictures.
[Hanley] ...strength the Germans have brought in. We don't know exactly...
Bonjour
[speaking French]
I'm sorry, son, I don't speak French
ne parlez vous
Caje, what did he say?
He says his name is Gilbert Barole
So?
So he wants to join the American army
Let's see what Sgt. York looks like
Somehow he just don't look life size
He said that he is sure he would be a great service to the American army, sir
since he has a thorough knowledge of the area
and also that he knows a lot about soldiering
He says he eats very little and he requires very little sleep each night
Grab him, Lieutenant, he's a bargain!
Hey, I could walk around on my knees and still be the tallest guy in his outfit!
and the dumbest!
All right, knock it off. Is he serious? This isn't a joke?
He's dead serious, sir
This boy wants to join the American army with all his might
How old is he?
He is thirteen and a half, sir
Well, tell, what's his name?
Gilbert
Well, thank Gilbert but tell him he's too young...
No
Tell him that young men like himself, young soldiers who are able to carry arms
are needed here in the village to protect the women and children
His mother and sisters and brothers
Gilbert...[continues in French]
He says that they are all dead, sir
Oh
Well, Caje, tell him
In very polite language
that the Lieutenant extends his sympathies for his family loss
but that
Army regulations forbid the induction of men in the field
regardless of age
Gilbert...
All right, come on. We're moving out of here in fifteen minutes.
Fall out! Take ten!
Doc, what do you got?
Cheese
I got deviled ham, you wanna swap?
Yeah
Sounds like we're getting close to something
Yeah, a German outpost
they'll be a lot closer than those guns
It's good we got those tanks in front of us
We had those tanks in front of us. They turn off here and head south.
Well, that's nice.
What do we do from here on in?
Keep moving forward, look for them.
Outposts?
Outposts.
We got the left flank. Try and keep the good man out there, will you?
Check
Kirby!
Yo!
You just been promoted!
Left flank when we move out of here. You're in then.
Gee, thanks Sarge.
Mounsieurs Américain!
Mounsieurs Américain
[explosions]
Mounsieur Américain!
Mounsieur Américain!
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Shut up and keep your head down!
What's he doing here?
I don't know. Maybe he thinks it's a recruiting station or something!
You think that's it? You think they've stopped?
They're not going to stop until we're all dead!
Does that kid know he came within an inch of being blown off the face of the Earth?
Our little friend doesn't give up, does he?
You tell him he almost got one of my men killed!
Never mind, never mind! Just tell him to go on home!
What's he saying, Caje?
He says he's very strong and a very good soldier and he wants to fight with us.
Home! He goes home!
Lieutenant!
Lieutenant!
Those lousy, no good Krauts!
Where are you hit, Lieutenant?
Left arm and side
Caje, get that kid under cover!
Bone's not broken
What about the artery? He's bleeding a lot, Doc.
No, I don't think so.
My head hit something
You took quite a fall
You keep quiet. He was mad at you before.
Pardon?
Never mind!
How do you feel, Lieutenant?
Lousy
We'll rig up a stretcher.
There's nothing wrong with my feet!
Doc?
Can he walk?
Well, the shrapnel passed right through his arm. The bleeding stopped but he's liable to be pretty weak.
What do you think, Lieutenant?
Let's give it a try
All right, easy now.
Are you still here?!
Caje!
What's he saying now?
Well, he wants to help you walk, Lieutenant
He said he had an uncle back home who had a bad foot and he used to use Gilbert as a cane. He'll help you.
He will go back to his village!
With you.
Now I don't...
Maybe you're right
I'll send Doc with you
I don't need him as bad as you might. I'll be all right.
As soon as Battalion moves in, they'll set up an aid station.
Whatever you say, Lieutenant
You just keep moving forward until you make contact.
When you do, radio company
and wait until you're joined by the advance guard, understand?
Yes, sir
You sure you're all right, Lieutenant?
I'm fine. Fine. Now move out of here before they start shelling this area again.
All right, let's move out. Kirby!
Yo!
Take the point!
Hey, you!
Hey kid, come on back here. Caje!
Yo!
Bring that kid back here!
There he is, Lieutenant
They will replace nobody
Tell him he's going back to the village with me.
and I don't want any lip from him
All right, get going. I'll see you in a day or two.
Right, sir.
How come the kid is so eager to go back?
I just told him the Lieutenant made him adjutant.
and that his new orders were to accompany him back to the village.
You know you get brighter everyday?
Yeah.
I think better in French, Sergeant.
Lieutenant, Lieutenant
Gilbert...
you go
allez
to the
village
get a doctor
I will stay here
No
Gilbert, go to the village
Lieutenant, Lieutenant
Lieutenant!
...the Bosch!
Halt!
Mueller?
[speaking German]
What's your name?
dein name?
Quel est votre nom?
Mein name Kurt Hammelman
Quelle la vôtre?
Gilbert Barole
Ah, Gilbert Barole?
Commentaire tallez vous, Gilbert!
Dreizehn
Uh...thirteen!
How old...
treize
Auf weidersen, Gilbert
Gilbert?
chocolat
Ten of them
Automatic weapons
Lieutenant, Lieutenant!
[grunts]
[coughs]
Your father must have had a strong stomach
The Bosch, the Bosch
All right, slow down! Slow down! Now what about the Bosch?
L'bosch sont dans le village
They let us through on purpose
They getting ready to really clobber the advance guard.
Quoi?
I've got to radio company
Gilbert
Now listen carefully
you
must find
my men
my sergeant
tell him
to use
radio
radio
tell him about Germans
Bosch, bosch
Tell him about the Bosch
Understand?
Comprend?
Oui!...[continues in French]
Yeah, go and find them. Go.
Doc, behind you!
Caje, grab him!
Ask him what happened to Hanley.
What did he say?
I don't know, Sergeant. He speaks too fast, I can't make him out.
He's talking about the Lieutenant being under the bed and machine guns
We should listen to the radio
Ask him again but tell him to take his time
Lieutenant?
Lieutenant Hanley?
Under here
[Saunders screaming]
Kirby, Little John!
Put them against that wall. Take their weapons.
Gilbert, go inside. Don't tell me any lies.
Feel better, Lieutenant?
I'll be all right
You ready?
All ready.
Where's Gilbert?
I want to thank him.
I already did, sir
He's going to make a fine soldier someday
I already told him that too but I don't think he wants to be a soldier anymore
Oh? Did he get a little scare?
I guess so but he wouldn't tell me what it was.
He'll get over it when he grows up, whatever it is.
Yeah
Won't we all?
All right, let's move out.
Yes, sir