A Midnight Clear Page #5

We're not gonna do it!

And don't tell me to shut up!

Will, I know it sounds nuts,

I know, but...

I think it's the only way

they're gonna go for it.

They're just kids.

They're just scared.

They're just scared kids.

Look at 'em.

I don't know.

You trust these

f***in' Nazis, Stan?

- What does that mean?

- He said they're not Nazis.

They're just regular German army.

They're regular army like we are.

I say we do it.

What if it's a trap?

It's not much of a trap, having us

both come fully armed to a skirmish.

I mean, at best, it's just

mutual suicide, right?

What if they're using the noise

to bring in reinforcements?

No. If they wanted to do that,

they could've done that the first night.

He's right, Will, he's right.

And take a look at 'em.

Things must be bad in the vaterland

to have an army of old men and boys.

- Okay, what do we do?

- Just give a little nod.

We agree to come

this afternoon...

make a lot of noise with rifles

and grenades and take them in.

Able 1 to Able 4, over.

Able 1 to Able 4, over.

Yeah, you got anything yet, over?

Yes, sir, I think we're gonna

be able to take a prisoner, sir.

We found some tracks.

Our plan is to hit their outpost...

around 3:
00 this afternoon.

- Over.

- Good. Do it.

I'll come out. Maybe Griffin too.

We'll bring the prisoner back. Over.

No, sir, I don't think

that's necessary, sir.

Tell Major Griffin that...

No sense in him taking the risk

coming all the way out here.

We'll have the jeeps ready

with the chains...

and we'll get that prisoner

to you, sir, over.

- I'll tell him.

- Over and out.

Over and out.

I tell Mother we're going out

to try for a prisoner.

I tell him if we're not back in

two hours to call Ware at the base.

He's obviously glad

not to be on the patrol.

We hide Miller's officer outfit

under his snow poncho.

Now what? Walk down there

and knock on the door?

Well...

here I go.

I'm not sure what to do

so they don't shoot me.

- Try yelling "comrade."

- Is that it?

Well, Stan, you could

wave a white flag.

Then it would look like

the wrong group was surrendering.

We're right here covering you.

Good luck.

Oh, boy.

We wait.

There's nothing else to do.

- What's going on? Everything all right?

- Yeah.

He wanted to talk to our officer

"Herr Muller" here.

You know, I'm sure

it's because I'm a Jew.

All right, you nick-prickJew-type,

take me to my Aryan friends.

All right,

if they're really giving up...

why are they

putting a guy on post?

Who are they

guarding themselves from?

Maybe other Germans.

They probably have

a Major Griffin of their own.

Ubergruppenfuhrer Griftoch

or something.

Don't worry.

Come on.

- That's nice.

- Okay, here's how it's gonna work.

They'll wind up in front of the cabin.

Miller and I will stay as protection.

All right, now, you go on out

with the rest of the squad.

When old Shickelgruber here and I

signal, we all start firing.

When we signal again,

we all stop.

Then you guys come down the hill,

we disarm them and take them in.

All we need is a nod from Miller

and they'll get their stuff together.

Dismiss me.

I'll go inform Father and Mel.

- What?

- Dismiss me.

Will, why don't you get up on that hill

and go inform Father and Will... Mel.

Mother!

Hold your fire!

Go check on

Shutzer and Miller.

Hang in there, Father.

We're gonna get you wrapped up

and get you outta here.

You warm enough?

Anybody else hit?

Everybody's fine, Father.

- Are the Germans dead?

- Don't worry about that.

You all right?

God have mercy

on those poor Germans.

God have mercy on us.

- Don't... Don't tell Mother.

- I won't.

- Don't tell Mother.

- I won't.

Don't tell...

Don't tell Mother.

Promise me.

I won't.

Is he dead?

I think so, Vance.

He ran out to warn me.

Why?

I don't understand.

I had a perfect position.

I don't get it.

He's stupid, Vance.

He does stupid things.

What a mess.

Sh*t! It looked so easy.

Looks like our friend here

got a million-dollar wound.

The one guy who wants

to fight these bastards...

and I get

the million-dollar wound?

Isn't it the way?

How's Mundy?

He's dead. He died fast.

There was nothing I could do.

What a fuckup.

Father said don't tell Mother.

That's what we'll do.

We were pinned down,

and he saved us.

That's the plan.

Mother tells us

why he came out after us.

Ware and Griffin are at the chateau,

looking for their prisoner.

Well, we've got one,

if he stays alive.

It's hard to look at Father.

I keep waiting

for his eyes to open...

waiting for him to tell me

it'll be all right if I just have faith.

Sergeant Knott.

- Yes, sir.

- Get some men out on post.

The enemy camp may have heard

that skirmish and sent out a patrol.

Well, sir, before the prisoner

went into shock...

he told Shutzer that an enemy attack

was expected at any time.

Well, now, holy sh*t, soldier!

Just when the f***

were you gonna tell us that?

I thought this was an I & R platoon,

for Christ's sake!

Lieutenant, get me Regiment

on the horn immediately.

Whiz kids, my ass!

Able 1 to Able 4, over.

- Able 1 to Able 4, over.

- Corporal Leary here, over.

Son, this is Major Griffin.

You take down this message...

and get it to Regimental Command

on the double-quick, over.

Wilco, sir. Over.

"Have contacted enemy

and taken prisoner.

Have suffered casualties.

One dead, one wounded.

Have destroyed enemy outpost.

Prisoner claims impending enemy attack

through this sector at any moment.

Repeating. Prisoner claims impending

enemy attack at any moment.

Am leaving immediately with prisoner and

wounded for base. Signed, Major Griffin."

- Get that to the regimental commander.

- He ain't gonna make it.

Over and out. Let's go.

Sergeant Knott...

have your men transfer the chains

from your jeep to my vehicle.

We have a long way to go,

and the road's gonna be very rough.

- Yes, sir.

- Son...

I am shocked by

the conditions of these quarters.

This is private property.

The United States government

is responsible for it.

It was in bad shape

when they moved in, Major.

Are you finished, Lieutenant?

Because there is ample evidence

to indicate a dereliction of duty...

and conduct not becoming

an American combat troop.

I'll be dead honest

with you here, son.

I wonder if your f***ing men even know

there's a war going on outside.

Were it not for extreme

extenuating circumstances...

I would see that this soldier,

as noncom in charge...

were brought before a military

review board and severely disciplined.

And where the f***

are your stripes?

I'll be goddamned if you haven't

had enough time to sew them on.

Yes, sir.

- I'll get on it.

- No! You know what you'll do?

You will march your ass outside...

and transfer those chains from your jeep

to my vehicle on the double-time.

Now!

Lieutenant...

do not ever contradict me

in front of the men again.

All right, buddy,

you're almost home.

What do you think, Mel?

Is he gonna be all right?

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