Bataan Page #5

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I wouldn't want to use it up too fast.

It's your radio. Do what you want with it.

Hey, you, I thought I told you

to look after him!

What have I got to do, put it in writing?

You're off duty, Sailor.

Jake, take charge of this gun.

Okay.

Sarge!

Sarge! First Jap I've seen,

right out there in the open!

He's just standin' there askin' for it!

Okay, Mr. Monkey, you're gonna get it!

No, Sarge, he's my Jap!

That's no Jap!

You got fog in your eyes, Sailor.

Take another look.

That's Salazar.

Yeah.

What's left of him.

The Japs probably got him last night.

Worked on him a long time

before they finally strangled him...

...and put him out of his misery.

- Shut up!

Take it easy, Sailor. Relax.

You need a little rest.

Dirty... dirty... dirty... dirty!

Pobre mamaciya...

He's talkin' Spanish. Talkin' of his mother.

Jitterbug kid, shakin' himself to death.

Sergeant.

Sergeant!

Lay still, boy. Lay still.

I'm solid, Sarge...

...honest.

Sure, you are.

Padre Manuel.

Padre Manuel.

Take it easy, Soldier. Take it easy.

Si, Padre, si.

Yes, Father, I remember.

I learned it by heart...

...just like you say.

Thinks he's talkin' to a priest.

''Confiyeor Deo omnipoyenyi...

''...beayae Mariae semper Virgini...

That ain't Spanish now.

''...beayo Michaeli Archangelo...

That's Latin. I taught Latin in high school,

back in Kentucky.

''...sancyis Aposyolis Peyro ey Paulo...

''...omnibus sancyis, ey vobis

frayres quia...

''...peccavi mimis cogiyayione...''

''I confess that I have

sinned exceedingly...

''...in thought, word and deed.

''Through my fault...

''...through my fault...

''...through my most grievous fault.''

- What's the matter, Sergeant?

- Got the same thing he had, haven't you?

Any quinine left?

Gave the last of it to the kid, huh?

That's fine.

According to the papers from the Captain

you enlisted as 1-A-0, non-combatant.

Wouldn't kill anybody else.

That's fine. Fine!

Stay in here and take it easy.

You don't have to stand inspection.

Eeps will take care of him.

The kid?

Yeah.

Tell Eeps, will you?

And tell the Sailor when he comes in.

In case he doesn't know

how to spell the name.

R- a-m-i-r-e-z.

First name, Felix.

Okay, Sarge.

- 'Morning, Lieutenant.

- 'Morning, Sergeant.

- How's it, Sailor?

- Oh, fine, Sarge.

I got used to workin' nights

when I was a cab driver in Kansas City.

'Course, I slept days.

Okay. Go lay down for a while.

Oh, no, Sarge.

No, go on, go on.

Well, okay, if you say so.

How's the plane?

I'll try a takeoff tonight.

Think you'll make it?

Yeah, I think so.

Those Japs know what you've been up to.

No use givin' them too much of a target.

When you're ready,

we'll open up from here.

The noise of our firing ought to cover

the motors's sound when you take off.

I've got an alternate suggestion, Sergeant.

It seems to me that your patrol has done

about all that can be done.

I suggest that you abandon

all but necessary equipment.

We'll find some way to stow the men

aboard the plane.

Thanks, Lieutenant.

I'd like you to take Private Hardy there.

He needs doctors, medicine, hospital...

You go along too, Sailor.

Me? Oh, no, sir, Sarge!

Those are orders.

I ain't Army, though, Sarge, I'm Navy...

...and I joined up for the duration,

which ain't yet.

Besides, I still gotta get me

a couple of Japs.

The rest of us had better stay here.

Hey, kid...

...when you get around to fixin'...

It's R-a-m-i...

Yeah, I know.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.

Hey, look...

Well, never mind.

I offered a suggestion, Sergeant.

I'd hate to have to use my rank

to make it an order.

I'd hate to have you do that, Lieutenant.

You might get to Corregidor,

you might not.

Meanwhile, nobody's told me it's time

to let those Japs move through this pass.

- How much longer can you hold on?

- I don't know.

Maybe I oughta call the whole thing off.

Maybe I've done everything wrong.

Maybe this, maybe that...

...but I'm playin' the hand the cards dealt.

The patrol stays here.

Sooner or later they have gotta come out

in the open where we can see 'em.

We're gonna be here when they do.

I don't want to pull out of here either...

...but I guess that's the right thing to do.

For you, yeah.

But as I understood it at the beginning,

the patrol's my job, the plane's yours.

That still go?

Still goes, Sergeant.

Hey, Sarge?

What? You think you got a first mortgage

on this war or somethin'?

Well, I own a piece of it.

Maybe you can stop us

from goin' by plane.

Just what do you do if

we start walkin'?

The Japs would do it same as

to Salazar and Katigbak.

Me, I'm gonna die all in one piece...

...if and when.

Well, maybe the Japs don't worry us

as much as they do you.

Walk if you want to, only...

...it says in the book

I tell you when and where to stop.

It also says that if you keep on going,

I let you have it.

Deserting in the face of the enemy.

You'll have to shoot awful fast

to stop five guys.

There won't be five!

You're not goin' anyplace, except with me.

When you and I leave, we leave together.

- Now, look...

- Get back on your gun!

You...

I wish there was more moon tonight.

We need the extra light down in the grove.

- Is five minutes enough?

- Yeah, that'll do it.

Start firing at 11:00 on the nose.

Make all the noise you can.

- Better issue me a couple grenades.

- Okay.

- It was nice meeting you, Lieutenant.

- It was nice knowing you too, Sailor.

Well, thanks.

You too. I'll see you some more.

We'll be countin' on that.

Here you are, Sarge.

So long, Lieutenant.

So long, Jake.

Let's go, Hardy.

Come on, kid.

Lay on the bridge.

Come on, kid.

I'm sorry.

Get in there. Here.

And don't fire until I give

the order, please.

All set?

They're working down there. Hear 'em?

Busy little beavers, ain't they?

Well, let them have their fun.

In four minutes and 20 seconds...

...we'll break up their party.

It'll be a pleasure, Corporal.

Let's go, Soldier.

Cease firing!

What's the matter with him?

Why don't he take off?

Get in there!

Stay put!

All of you!

- What happened?

- They got the Lieutenant.

He wouldn't let me move him.

He'd fall apart.

Get some dynamite.

- For what?

- Go on, get it.

Purckett, take care of him.

- Where's he hit?

- Just fever.

Todd, you're in charge until we get back.

Stand ready to fire at will.

- What goes on, Sarge?

- Lieutenant's orders. Come on.

Cover us.

Lieutenant, I can't let you do this.

Got to get this ship in the air...

...let 'em have it.

But you may never even get her

off the ground.

Got lots to do...

...and not much time left.

Plane's my job, Sarge.

Remember?

Okay, Lieutenant.

Okay.

I wish the Sarge'd get back.

They're working on that bridge again.

Shouldn't we open up on 'em?

Sergeant said, ''Fire at will.''

I want to hit me a Jap and know

I hit him. That's what I want.

- Look, Corporal...

- Shut up, will you?

- Wait a minute, I got a right to ask...

- I said, shut up.

Hey, look at it. Look at it!

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