Hart's War Page #4

that they teach you...

in the third year

of law school?

What do you expect

from me, anyway?

A ''Hey, yes, sir, boss.''

Or ''Why, thank you, boss.

You're mighty kind.''

Is that the way

a railroaded colored man acts...

where you're from?

Nobody's railroading you, Scott.

Then how come

the only real lawyer...

is the guy

that's prosecuting me...

and I'm stuck with you

defending me?

That's how the Colonel

wanted it.

Yeah, but I ain't

being railroaded.

I'll meet you

back at the barracks.

Yes, sir.

Well, Lieutenant?

I'm gonna need

a few things, sir.

Who has Bedford's

personal effects?

We do.

I'll need to see them...

and the photographs

that were taken of the scene...

and of course, his body.

What did Scott tell you?

Sir?

You were with him all day.

What did he tell you?

I'm sorry, sir.

I can't reveal that.

Sure you can.

Attorney-client privilege, sir.

Only an attorney

has attorney-client privilege.

I need to be briefed

on everything...

that Scott intends

to testify to.

Sir, you're going to be

President of the court-martial.

How can I possibly

discuss our case with you?

Are you suggesting...

that I would betray

Lieutenant Scott?

That I would share

details of his case...

with the prosecution?

No, sir.

Scott followed Bedford out

through the night latrine.

If he testifies to that fact...

every German in this camp

will know how we get in...

and out of the barracks

after dark...

and every man in this camp

would be compromised...

because of that.

Are you following this,

Lieutenant?

-Yes, sir.

-Good.

Now, Scott will testify

that he went out...

through a hole

beneath the stove...

in the barracks.

And you will make certain

that he is clear on that.

Do we understand each other,

Lieutenant?

We do, sir.

Dismissed.

Permission to speak, sir.

Speak freely.

Scott thinks this is all

just for show.

He thinks you passed sentence...

as soon as the body

hit the ground.

Is he right?

Bedford's footlocker

is in my barracks.

I'll make sure you get it.

Not much to look at, is he?

Did you know him?

No.

Not personally.

But my guards certainly

seemed to.

These are for you.

Thank you.

How well?

Your guards,

you said they knew him.

How well?

Well, you'll have to ask them

about that.

This is yours, too.

We found it on his wrist.

But with the inscription...

and those new boots

on your feet...

I made the assumption.

It's a little hard

to imagine, Colonel...

your guards

sitting for an interview.

I can arrange it.

I can arrange

anything you like.

It seems only fair...

what with your colonel

throwing you to the wolves.

I'm not sure I follow you.

Really?

Yale isn't in the habit

of accepting half-wits.

At least it wasn't

when I was studying there.

The oldest member

of the class of '28.

My fellow students voted me

hardest worker.

But we can swap stories

some other time, can't we?

Right now we've got a trial

to prepare for.

It's a sincere offer,

Lieutenant.

Anything I can do to help...

Truly.

And exactly where were you,

Major Fussel...

on the night in question?

I was walking the area

behind this theater...

and the Australian compound.

At about what time?

Maybe about 1:
00

in the morning.

And can you tell the court

what you saw?

The schwarz Lieutenant Scott

was kneeling over the body.

It looked to me like he was

checking that the man was dead.

I blew my whistle,

and he started to run.

And what did you do next?

I would have shot,

but it was dark.

And so was he.

Major Fussel, how well

did you know Sergeant Bedford?

A little, I think.

You traded with him regularly.

Traded?

Bartered.

Cigarettes for a pair of boots.

Chocolate for some spare parts.

No. I never did this.

A kriegie trading

with a German soldier?

I never saw it.

Am I allowed to repeat what

he actually said to Captain?

You may, Private.

Lieutenant Scott said,

''I'll kill you.

''I'll f***ing kill you,

Bedford.''

Corporal, have you ever

heard any other man...

threaten a fellow soldier

during your time in the army?

''Better shape up

or I'll kill you.''

''I'll kill you if you touch

my cigarettes again.''

-That sort of thing?

-Yes, sir.

I'll bet you've even made such

a threat yourself once or twice.

I suppose so.

Corporal, did you ever

actually kill any of the men...

you threatened in this manner?

No, sir.

But I'm not colored.

I can control myself.

So, you, too,

had heard the threats...

made by the accused

against Sergeant Bedford?

Your Honor, this being the

fourth prosecution witness...

called to testify

in this matter...

if the defense will stipulate

that the accused...

did indeed threaten the life

of Sergeant Bedford...

could we dispense

with any further testimony...

-to his having done so?

-Your Honor...

Sergeant Webb is being called

as an eyewitness...

to the crime itself.

He's what?

Is that right, Sergeant?

Yes, sir.

-Sir, that's a lie.

-Your Honor...

the sergeant will testify that

on the night of the murder...

he watched through a window

in barracks 27...

as Lieutenant Scott

accosted Sergeant Bedford...

outside the theater

and broke his neck.

Your Honor,

he did no such thing.

I was standing

right beside Sergeant Webb...

at the exact time

of the murder.

-He saw nothing of the sort.

-The hell I didn't.

You don't know what I saw.

Sir, I request that this court

instruct this witness

as to the consequences of

perjuring himself in a court--

He put his hand on the Bible...

and swore to tell the truth,

Lieutenant.

-That's good enough for me.

-Objection, Your Honor.

We've had no prior notice

of his testimony.

-Sit down, Lieutenant.

-Your Honor, his bias alone--

Lieutenant!

Sit down, please.

I'll catch up.

I gotta go make some trades

in barracks 18.

See if you

can get me some smokes.

Webb...

You're a lying sack of sh*t,

you know that?

Yeah, and maybe you ought

to mind your own business.

This doesn't concern you, West.

-Hey, Lieutenant.

-Or you. Any of you.

What do you know, Joe?

George S. Patton just showed up.

Return to your barracks,

Corporal.

Take your 2 friends with you.

So, what is it, Webb?

Up there today.

You think you owe it to Vic?

Why are you so bent about

that flying bellhop anyway?

He's a soldier.

Vic Bedford was a soldier.

He fought.

He had courage.

You wouldn't know too much about

that, would you, Lieutenant?

You lied in there today.

You didn't see what happened

any more than I did.

I didn't have to.

I know.

Not good enough.

It's good enough for McNamara.

Sorry about what happened

in there today, Lincoln.

I didn't see it coming.

You're saying that's

the first time...

you seen a man lie

through his teeth...

holding his hand on a bible?

I was writing a letter

to my father.

Figured I should tell him first.

He was part of

the 369th Infantry...

in the last war,

the old 15th.

They was the first negro troops

to go into action in France.

Did your father serve?

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