Patton Page #2

The Army rejected it, of course.

Goddamn, it was beautiful.

Lloyd Fredendall is just leaving.

George, there's one other thing I put

in my Kasserine report.

Some of our boys

were just plain scared.

That's understandable.

Even the best foxhound is gun-shy

the first time out.

I can remember...

...when nothing frightened me

as much as the idea of...

...a bullet coming

straight for my nose.

I don't know why, but the image of a

bullet coming right for my nose...

...was more horrible

than any other possibility.

Well, I can understand that,

with such a handsome nose.

You want to know why this outfit

got the hell kicked out of it?

Blind man could see it in a minute.

They don't look like soldiers.

They don't act like soldiers.

Why should they fight like soldiers?

You're absolutely right.

The discipline's pretty poor.

ln about 15 minutes we're going

to start turning these boys...

...into fanatics, razors.

They'll lose their fear

of the Germans.

I hope to God they never lose

their fear of me.

Up bright and early, general?

Breakfast?

Have all my officers

finished breakfast?

We're open from 6 till 8.

Most of the officers are

just coming in, sir.

Please inform these officers

the mess hall is closed.

But, sir! It's only a quarter to 8.

From now on, you will open at 6

and no one will be admitted after 6: 15.

Where are your leggings?

Leggings? Well, hell, general, sir,

I'm a cook.

You're a soldier.

$20 fine.

Gentlemen...

...from this moment any man...

...without leggings, without a helmet,

without a tie...

Any man with unshined shoes

or soiled uniform...

...is going to be skinned.

This is a barracks.

It's not a bordello.

- Good morning.

- Good morning, sir.

Doctor.

Sir.

I understand you have two cases

of self-inflicted wounds.

Yes, sir, we do.

Get them out of here.

One has developed a serious infection.

I don't care if he dies,

just get him out of here.

Doesn't belong in the same room

with men wounded in battle.

- I'll see that they're moved.

- One more thing.

There'll be no "battle fatigue. "

That's an order.

Battle fatigue is a free ride

to the hospital.

I'm not going to subsidize cowardice.

Yes, sir.

Doctor...

Where's your helmet?

I don't wear a helmet

in the hospital.

Start.

I can't use my stethoscope

when I'm wearing my helmet.

Well...

...then cut two holes in your helmet

so that you can.

And get those yellow-bellies

out of here, today.

Hold it.

Turn right, here.

The battlefield is ahead.

Don't argue.

I can smell a battlefield.

He was out here yesterday.

It's over there. Turn right, damn it.

It was here.

The battlefield was here.

The Carthaginians

defending the city...

...were attacked by three

Roman legions.

They were brave, but they

couldn't hold. They were massacred.

Arab women...

...stripped them of their tunics

and their swords and lances.

The soldiers lay naked in the sun...

...2000 years ago.

I was here.

You don't believe me.

You know what the poet said:

"Through the travail of ages

It's the pomp and toils of war

Have I fought and strove and perished

Countless times upon the star

As if through a glass and darkly

The age-old strife I see

Where I fought in many guises

Many names

But always me. "

You know who the poet was?

Me.

There's an opportunity

for us to mount an offensive.

We've concentrated on the flank...

...draw strength from the British.

It appears now that we could...

...split the African corridor.

Drive through Rommel to the sea.

I'm sorry, but that territory

has been reserved...

...for General Bernard Law Montgomery.

We're supposed to let him win this one

no matter what.

They're entitled to have their hero.

Montgomery did push Rommel

clear across North Africa.

What about the Americans?

Don't they need a hero too?

You have anybody in mind?

Air Vice-Marshal Coningham

is here with General Buford.

Excuse me, gentlemen...

...while I ask our British friends

what's happened to our air cover.

Harry.

How are you?

George. Good to see you.

- You know Arthur Coningham.

- Sir Arthur.

Delighted to see you.

I've heard so much about you.

Gentlemen, it appears there's been a

slight misunderstanding here...

...and Ike thought we should fix it.

No, no. No misunderstanding.

We're supposed to have Allied

air cover and we don't.

German planes are strafing my troops.

lf I may say so, general, I'm afraid

your operation reports are inaccurate.

Report? Three days ago, the crowds

took off after my command car...

...ran my ass into a ditch.

My staff has assured me,

we have complete air supremacy...

...everywhere in the Mediterranean.

When I complained about air cover...

...you said our troops

were not battleworthy.

You spoke of the discredited practice

of using air force as an alibi...

...for lack of success on the ground.

I have to wet-nurse Montgomery,

I don't have to stand for that.

I sincerely apologize for that remark,

whoever made it.

And I promise you one thing, general:

You will see no more German planes.

We were discussing air supremacy,

Sir Arthur.

Damn door won't open!

By God, that's enough!

Get that thing out of here!

Come on, you bastards,

take a shot at me on the nose!

Get back in here, George! We need

a corps commander, not a casualty.

How'd you manage to stage that?

I don't know...

...but if I could find

the Nazis flying those things...

...I'd give them each a medal.

Can't get over how cold

it gets in the desert.

Awfully cold, sir.

Rommel's out there somewhere,

waiting for me.

Yes, sir.

You know...

...if I had my way, I'd send

that genius son of a b*tch...

...an engraved invitation

in iambic pentameter:

A challenge in two stanzas

to meet me alone in the desert.

I'll deliver it.

Rommel in his tank and me in mine.

We'd stop about 20 paces.

We'd get out, we'd shake hands...

...then we'd button up and do battle,

just the two of us.

That battle would decide

the outcome of the war.

It's too bad jousting's

gone out of style.

It's like your poetry, general.

It isn't part of the 20th century.

You're right, Dick.

The world grew up.

Hell of a shame.

Dick, I want a 24-hour guard

put around this area.

lf we don't, the Arabs will dig

them up for their clothes.

Yes, sir.

Our graves aren't gonna disappear

like everybody else's who fought here.

The Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians.

God, how I hate the 20th century.

General.

General?

We intercepted a German radio message.

Rommel's 10th Panzer is going

to hit us near El Guettar.

Rommel, huh?

All my life...

...I've wanted to lead a lot of men

in a desperate battle.

Now I'm going to do it.

Look.

Battalion strength at least.

They haven't spotted our positions yet.

They'll get an education

in about 10 seconds.

Wait till they get a dose of

that artillery fire.

Commence firing.

Fire at will.

Commence firing. Fire at will.

Commence firing. Fire at will.

What a hell of a waste

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