Heartbreak Ridge Page #6

Gunney, I filled out all the forms there are.

What the Corps could give

just isn't enough for the family.

So I took a job.

- You got a job?

- Yes.

- You want out of the Marines?

- No! No way.

Then we're going to have to cut through

all the red tape B.S., aren't we?

- Yes, we are.

- Knock it off.

Here. Here's a special fund.

Gunnery sergeants only.

Don't worry, you can pay it back.

- Here. You better take him. Jesus Christ.

- Thank you.

- What are you smiling at?

- I always knew you were Santa Claus.

You pull another suckhead play like that...

...the only thing that will beat you

to the brig is an ambulance.

Yes, sir, Gunnery Sergeant Highway, sir.

You can't leave the Duke of Cool!

This man has no social graces.

So?

Lureen down at the Palace

said you had the night off.

Lureen talks too much.

Can I buy you a beer?

Jesus.

You can't come back after all this time,

with no warning whatsoever.

Interfere at my place of work,

almost started a brawl...

...almost lost me the only crummy job

I could find.

Then you show up here,

expecting me to just smooth as silk...

...invite you in for a sit-down and a smile.

It's always the same, Highway.

All balls, no brains.

Is there something you're afraid of?

Yes. I'm afraid I'll dent that

thick skull of yours with this frying pan.

- It wouldn't be the first time, would it?

- No.

Nice place you have here.

Thanks. You want a glass?

- Feet still bothersome?

- I hawk booze five nights a week.

There's no senior prom

looming on my horizon.

To the old times.

Just as long as you don't say good times.

We had our share of those, too, didn't we?

I don't know. I can't think that far back.

How are you feeling?

Terrific.

Absolutely couldn't feel better.

What brings you here?

I'm back with Recon, back where I belong.

So?

It's different this time.

How?

I'm coming to the end of it.

I don't know where I go from here.

I just want it to end

as right as it was when I started.

Do you want some chips? There's pretzels.

Yes, thanks.

Fringe benefits of work.

Tell me something.

Did we mutually nurture each other?

I beg your pardon?

Did we communicate in a meaningful way

in our relationship?

Relationship?

Hell, I thought we were married.

I've been thinking about the past lately.

I was just wondering what went wrong.

With what?

With me.

The Corps. With us.

That is so damn much like you.

You never could see that things just don't

fit neatly into right and wrong.

What else is there?

It isn't that simple.

I went by those rooms that we rented

when we got married.

Damn, they're small.

They say everything shrinks with age.

Tell me something.

What did you want out of our marriage?

We talked once about an avocado ranch...

...about buying a house

with a barbecue in the back.

But then you'd volunteer for every damn

war that came down the pike.

- Goddamn it!

- What's the matter?

How could I be so stupid?

What do you mean?

- You changed tactics on me!

- What are you talking about?

Gave up the old frontal assault,

tried to outflank me.

I am onto you, Highway,

and I want you out of here, right now!

You're not acting very dignified

for a mature woman.

You old f***ing Marine warhorse,

I'll show you dignified!

You get out of here! Go on!

Get the f*** out of here!

You better get your tail out of here

or I'll get mad!

Take that, you old f***!

I never want to see your craggy,

old face again, you hear?

Don't ever come back. Ever!

She's as crazy as she's always been,

for Christ's sake.

You a**hole!

I hate you, Highway!

F*** you!

Tonight's winner...

... is Miss Sarita Dwayne!

Wait a minute, man. That's bullshit.

You're trying to rip me off.

Nobody likes a sore loser.

I'm an equal opportunity ass-kicker.

Let's vote.

You people have a right to vote.

Whoever voted for Miss Banana Titties,

say, "Yes."

No!

All who voted for me,

say, "Rock the house."

Rock the house!

No man. You all the f*ggot Mod Squad?

I don't play none of this jail

give-up-the-booty bullshit.

Don't ask for my autograph.

You can rob me...

...you can starve me, you can beat me,

and you can kill me...

...just don't bore me.

- I'm really glad I could help.

- I owe you another dinner.

Powers will thin-slice your prick

if he finds out about this!

- Sergeant Major!

- Who are you?

Jones, 2nd Battalion. Recon Platoon.

Highway's platoon?

Snap to, Marine. Give me a hand.

Highway knows I'm innocent.

We're like brothers.

I posted his bail.

- He needs you, Aggie.

- Until the next war.

Good thing we got him out.

Oh, sh*t.

Coffee.

I always wanted to check this place out.

Look at all this history.

Little Mary's served Marines

from three wars.

How is he doing?

Aggie will put him back together again,

just like she always has.

Highway's something else.

High-speed, low drag.

No one better to be with

if you're in a hot LZ.

Heartbreak Ridge.

It was the truth.

What's Heartbreak Ridge?

Listen, we have to understand each other...

...before we go any further.

Are we going any further?

You'll be out of the Corps soon.

But you are gung-ho, through and through.

Always will be.

And there is no room in my future

for a Marine.

I'm not sure I like how you say "Marine."

I can say "Marine" any damn way I choose.

I earned that right.

- That's right, you did.

- I lived in a rathole...

...when they were bringing those boys

home in those flag-draped, metal coffins.

I don't think I got a wink's sleep in 1968.

- Do you remember that year?

- Yes. I remember.

I'd turn on the TV in the morning,

I'd eat dinner in front of it every night...

...eyes glued, hoping to catch

a glimpse of you on the news...

...and then praying I wouldn't.

Then I'd crawl into bed and wonder...

...where were you? What were you doing?

Were you alive?

And I had no way of knowing.

I guess there are things that work

harder on a woman than being shot at.

I swear the not knowing was the worst.

I'm sorry.

That's all right, baby.

That's all right.

We went up and down that dirt pile

for six days and six nights.

Fixed bayonets, hand-to-hand.

Fought them something fierce.

They gave back as good as they got.

Lots of men died.

We were the 23rd Infantry.

We joined the Corps later.

We were younger than you are.

I never heard of any Heartbreak Ridge.

It's not in any of the history books.

It's a little piece of war.

The place didn't have a name,

just a number.

Stoney Jackson looked at it

and said, "Ladies...

"...if this don't kill us, it'll break our hearts."

- Who's Stoney Jackson?

- Little Mary's husband.

He was our platoon sergeant.

He recommended Highway

for his Congressional Medal of Honor.

Gunney Highway won the CMH?

He charged two machine gun nests

by himself.

He didn't sleep for three days.

The final human wave he held off

almost single-handedly.

When it was over...

...there was me, Stoney Jackson...

...and Tom Highway.

We were the only ones still alive.

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