Battle of the Bulge Page #2

We have the resources

for 50 hours, full-scale attack.

Maps, clocks, toys.

But with what will I fight?

Colonel Hessler...

...I'm putting you in command

of our armored spearhead.

It can be done.

This came in from SHAEF.

I got a Christmas cake

from home today.

- Think I'll still be here to eat it?

- Send this right through.

Develop this. Bring me the prints

as soon as they come out.

- Yes, sir.

- Hello, Kiley.

Find any Germans under

your bed this morning?

Marching around under there all night.

Couldn't sleep a wink.

That's an order.

I want every item on that menu delivered

to every soldier in the division...

...especially those

in the forward positions.

And I want them delivered

in time for Christmas dinner.

Counterintelligence picked

this up from an enemy agent.

Dated November 29th.

"From Field Marshal Keitel. Most secret.

Officers and men who speak English

are wanted for special mission.

Volunteers will report

to General Kohler's headquarters."

- What do you make of it?

- You know my opinion.

This is one more confirmation.

They're going to attack.

Oh, come on, Kiley, not that again.

They're probably preparing a fifth column

to drop behind our lines.

Were you

in the State Department too, Kiley?

I thought your experience

was limited to police work.

Having been an inspector of police

doesn't disqualify me from thinking.

All cops aren't flatfoots.

Your limited military experience...

...doesn't inspire confidence

in your conclusions. If you think...

Why do you keep saying

they're mounting an offensive?

I spent 20 years before the war

asking questions.

Ever since D-day,

you've had me doing the same thing...

...interrogating prisoners.

I can only report what I've learned.

The German soldier facing us

is still an undefeated enemy.

He can still fight.

His leaders know that.

As long as he can fight, they'll attack.

I have 10 other officers in my section.

We see the same information,

get the same facts as you, Kiley.

All of us come up with one answer, you

come up with the complete opposite.

When 10 men tell you you're drunk,

you'd better lie down.

Colonel Pritchard,

you may be my superior officer...

He is.

Excuse me.

Here are the prints you wanted.

Thank you.

Look what showed up on this one.

I took it over the Ardennes.

Is this a Tiger tank, or isn't it?

So it appears.

One tiger doesn't make a jungle, sir.

I expect tigers in jungles. When I discover

one in a peaceful neighborhood...

...I recommend all of us

take a good look under our beds.

Excuse me, sir.

Step outside.

With your permission, sir.

This is from headquarters, Kiley.

Top-secret.

The Third Army has been ordered

to attack the Germans in the Saar.

General Patton is launching

the offensive in two days.

Does it seem possible...

...headquarters would commit an entire

army to an offensive in the south...

...if there were any possibility of the

Germans attacking in the Ardennes?

With all due respect to headquarters,

they could be wrong.

Send this to headquarters anyway.

There seem to be new features

on that tank.

- Yes, sir.

- Anything else?

Yes, sir. I'd like a rundown

on this German officer.

- All right, send this along.

- Yes, sir.

Get up to the line and tell them

to grab some new prisoners.

- I'm interested in any fresh information.

- Yes, sir.

One thing more. What are

you doing in a reconnaissance plane?

We're not paying you

to be a combat soldier.

- Trying to shorten the war by yourself?

- No, sir.

Just wanna make sure I can enjoy

that nice Christmas dinner you ordered.

I see the colonel's

in fine appetite again.

I am.

Join me in a glass of wine.

Thank you, sir.

- Sit down.

- Thanks.

Conrad.

Speak.

What does the colonel wish me to say?

Speak your mind, the truth.

Don't be afraid, Conrad. I must have

someone to tell me the truth.

I've always been fortunate

to serve under brilliant men...

...who know everything.

From them, I've learned one thing:

When all was lost,

these brilliant men never lost hope.

I admire that.

What else do you admire

about these men?

The illusion.

Maybe I'm not using

the right word, colonel.

I'm not an educated man.

The hope that there is

always one more chance.

That is the illusion.

Go on, Conrad. Yes, that's very good.

It's not my place

to speak of such things.

Go on.

I order you to.

Colonel...

...this new command is an illusion.

Give it up.

I am Martin Hessler.

Four years ago,

my panzers overran Poland in one week.

That was no illusion.

In 39 days, my tanks smashed all

the way to Paris. That was no illusion.

I conquered the Crimea.

That was no illusion.

Today...

...I was given a brigade of Tiger tanks.

When I have a brigade of tanks...

...that is reality.

And who will drive your tanks?

The men you led were soldiers.

Veteran soldiers.

Are there any left?

What will they give you now?

I was by your side

in Poland, France, Crimea.

Look at me, colonel,

I'm not the same man.

I jumped in a ditch today at the sight

of an unarmed reconnaissance plane.

My two boys remember me

as a good soldier.

They wouldn't believe it.

But, colonel, I am not the only one.

How sure can you be of the men

who will drive your tanks?

Major Diepel?

- Diepel.

- Yep.

I want to see my tank commanders.

Have them assembled at once.

Conrad, my boots.

Your commanders, sir.

Boys. Too many boys.

The first battle will turn them into men.

In the old days,

I lived six months with my men...

...before going into action. I knew them,

they knew me. These are strangers.

Too many boys.

They have never tasted defeat.

Do they know what is expected of them?

They are ready to die for you.

Can you ask more?

Sing.

Louder.

Hold it. Hold it.

Pull up. We got brass on our tail.

Take it...

Pull it forward, you idiot!

Drop dead.

Pull it forward, you idiot!

Just a little bit. Hold it.

Hold it! Hold it!

You're dropping my merchandise!

Barrel and Eddie,

come on out of there.

Come on, Cortland.

Disaster.

Solid. Some driver, huh?

Lucky thing for you nothing's busted.

- Complain to my union.

- Yeah, go ahead, tie it up.

- We near enemy territory yet?

- Too near.

- Give me a cigarette.

- I don't smoke.

Sarge, when will we see

some Germans?

- Barrel?

- Smoke your own.

Got a cigarette, Eddie?

- You kidding?

- You cheapskates.

Reach into my bag,

get me a carton of cigarettes.

What's with you and the Germans?

Nothing. I just ain't never seen one.

You know, I've never

even seen a German plane.

Sarge, when are we

gonna get in the action?

What are you, some kind of a nut?

What kind of replacements

they sending us, huh?

"I wanna see action."

- What's this?

- Put that back. That's merchandise.

Don't tell me there's women

where we're going.

- Who are you gonna give these to?

- Guffy don't give nothing.

- He's peddling them.

- You keep tying it up.

- Peddling them? To who?

- The boys in the front.

They're gonna need that in Germany.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes