Attack Page #2

Let's face it, this is for keeps.

- So what is the plan?

- OK...

I'd like to lay it on the line with Bartlett,

suggest that he kick Cooney upstairs.

- Not a chance.

- Why not?

He gets the guy stashed away

in a desk job at Battalion or Division.

Worst he can do is get

his thumb caught in a filing cabinet.

Our worries are over, Bartlett's worries

are over. All we gotta do is fight the war.

Come on, Joe, what do you say?

How about it, huh?

It won't work.

Why not?

It won't work! And he won't go for

this straight-talk routine.

He's a lieutenant colonel,

and you're just a lousy lieutenant.

He'll hit you with

that old, sweet song about

"Son, I was in the National Guard

while you was learning your ABCs."

They're two of a kind.

Huh! I bet Cooney never figured on a war

when he joined that National Guard.

Probably figured it was gonna be

all corn pone and chitlins and...

and the chance to wear his uniform

to the Saturday fox hunt.

OK, I'll go it alone.

Don't go dramatic on me, dogface.

I'll play cards,

if you think it'll do any good.

OK. I tell ya, it's the only way

we're gonna get close to Bartlett.

Just remember,

one crack out of Cooney...

Just one.

- Five in a row!

- When are leaves gonna start, Colonel?

Soon as we get back

to France and settle down.

You suppose this war might be over

before we re-form?

I hate to disappoint you,

but I wager it will be.

Sure hate to go in any rough stuff

with those green kids they've sent us.

Yeah, those replacements need work.

Don't worry. We'll all go home

with a record we can be proud of.

Anybody says Fox Company

isn't tops can answer to me.

I swear, this CO of yours is about

as touchy as a she-bear with cubs.

Yeah, sure is.

What's it gonna be here,

five-card no-draw?

Suits me. OK with the rest of you boys?

Still a 50-franc limit?

Yeah.

Wheel 'em and deal 'em, Lieutenant.

Wheel and deal.

"She-bear with cubs".

What kind of a crack is that?

What do you mean by that?

- Come on, Erskine.

- Ante up, Joe.

This is a friendly game, Costa. I aim to

keep it that way. You're trying to bait me.

Sit down. He didn't mean a thing.

- You think so?

- It was a joke.

Tell him it was a joke, Costa.

I made a joke.

I guess you'll be mixing in some politics

back in Riverview, Colonel.

Oh, I don't know. I might run

for dogcatcher or something.

"Tippecanoe and Bartlett too."

I'm under the gun?

- Yeah.

- Cost you gentlemen 50 francs.

I'll just have to bump you, Colonel.

Oh. Well, I'll take a peek.

Expose yourself, Lieutenant.

- Threes and jacks.

- That's a good hand.

But not good enough. Three lovely ladies,

and I'll just rake the pot.

- You ever lose?

- I can't afford to.

- I'm just a boy from little ol' Riverview.

- I won't forget that last session.

Where was that?

Oh... that was in that cellar

outside Aachen.

You cleaned us all out that game, too.

I kept bucking you.

Oh, yeah. You and that...

Lathrop was his name, Colonel.

Lieutenant Ned Lathrop.

That's right. Lathrop. He was a good man.

Too bad about him. What was he doing?

Trying to help the squad that got cut off?

Sergeant Ingersoll's squad

from my platoon.

- Well, he...

- He what?

Ingersoll disobeyed orders, trying to take

that pillbox. He overstepped his authority.

They were good men.

The best, if you ask me.

Well, I didn't ask you, Lieutenant.

Now, gentlemen,

let's keep this a friendly game.

Same game.

- Anyone could've seen it was hopeless.

- I don't think it was hopeless, Captain.

You can think anything you want.

There's no law against it.

But I'm ordering you to keep

your lousy insinuations to yourself!

- Erskine!

- He has no right to question my honour!

- Ingersoll was one of my best men.

- Sit down, Erskine.

If you're so friendly with your men,

resign your commission.

You don't want to be an officer.

You're just a snotnosed pup!

Cooney!

Come on, come on! Come on, Joe.

It's all right, Harry. I'm going.

If you'll excuse me, Colonel.

I'm sorry I blew it, Clyde.

Why don't you go outside and walk

around? Maybe that'll cool you off.

Yes...

I guess I will.

I'm mighty sorry

this had to happen, Clyde.

I'll give this to Joe when I see him.

Everybody goes off the deep end

sometime or another, don't they?

Yes, sir.

All the same, I don't think

we should spread this around.

- Spread what around?

- That's the idea.

Boys seem a little touchy these days.

Yes, sir, they are.

While we're on the subject, Colonel...

There's something that I'd like to say.

Shoot.

Well...

The morale of this company is in what

I consider to be a dangerous condition.

Oh? And what do you suppose

brought this about, Lieutenant?

I think it stemmed from

what happened at Aachen.

Oh?

Colonel, I know you

and Captain Cooney are very close.

Maybe I'm sticking my neck out on this,

but the feeling among the men is that

the captain... that he chickened out there.

That your opinion, too?

He had the only reserve.

He might've done something.

On the other hand he may have felt

his reserve wasn't strong enough.

Then the facts are hardly conclusive.

It's not a matter of conclusive facts, sir!

Colonel, can I talk to you straight?

Rank and all that aside?

I don't see why not.

Don't suppose whatever it is you want

to go beyond the two of us. Shoot.

Colonel, you know

Captain Cooney better than...

...better than any man in this division,

maybe better than any man alive.

I know Erskine. Ever since I was 14 years

old, a clerk in the judge's office.

You know his good points

and his shortcomings.

- Go on.

- You know he fouled up there at Aachen.

He cost the lives of a whole squad.

A good sergeant, a good lieutenant.

Think what he could do

if this company got in a real bind.

Come on, son, give me the punch line.

You want me to kick Erskine upstairs?

- Yes, sir, as a matter of fact...

- It figures.

And it's not a bad solution. But there's

some points you're not considering.

You talked straight to me

and I'm gonna talk straight to you.

I'd appreciate your discretion. This is

in confidence between you and me.

Erskine's very important to me. Let's

make no pretence. We both know why.

My staff is small, compact, efficient.

Runs like clockwork.

Between you and me, I got no room

for Erskine over at Battalion.

- I thought of Division.

- I send him up to General Parsons?

In what capacity? I mean, specifically.

So you see how it is.

We all got our troubles.

I appreciate your concern

for the morale of this company.

I'm just as concerned. More.

- I'm responsible for this company.

- Why don't you face the facts?!

- A lot of guys are gonna get killed...

- Shut up!

You spoke your piece, now I'm gonna

speak mine. You listening?

Yes, sir.

It all boils down to one basic fact.

This company is...

Let's just say it's a bit shaky in the morale

department and not too fit for combat.

- Correct?

- Correct.

- That's your worry?

- That's my worry.

Then you can forget about it.

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