Patton Page #5

- Yes, sir.

Move it! Let's go!

- What's holding up this column?

- I don't know, sir.

Planes!

Come on, move it!

Pull up over there.

- Come on.

- What's going on here?

Sir, these mules-

Jackasses!

You let a column get stalled and

strafed on account of two jackasses?!

No. No.

Now, dump them over the side

and clear this bridge!

We're pinned down because

we can't get air support!

Nobody's getting any air support!

Put fire into this battalion,

or I'll get somebody who can.

Major!

- You the executive officer here?

- Yes, sir.

- Your name?

- WaIker.

You're now commanding officer.

You've got 4 hours to break through

that beachhead.

lf you don't make it, I'll fire you.

50,000 men on this island would

like to shoot that son of a b*tch.

Please take me home.

Take me home.

Please take me home.

Take me home.

- There he goes, "Old Blood and Guts. "

- Yeah, our blood. His guts.

Hi, how are you, son?

Where are you from, Gomez?

California, sir.

Me too.

- Where were you hit?

- In the chest, sir.

Well...

...this might be interesting to you.

The last German I saw had no chest.

Didn't have any head either.

You get well quickly, son.

What's the matter with you?

I guess I just can't take it, sir.

What did you say?

It's my nerves, sir.

I just can't stand

the shelling anymore.

Your nerves?

Hell, you're just a goddamn coward.

Shut up!

I won't have

a yellow bastard crying...

...in front of these

brave, wounded men.

Shut up!

Don't admit this yellow bastard.

Nothing wrong with him.

I won't have sons of b*tches afraid to

fight stink up this place of honor.

You're going back to the front,

my friend.

You may get shot, you may get killed,

but you're going up to the fighting.

Either that or I'll stand you up

in front of a firing squad.

I should shoot you myself,

you bastard! Get him out of here!

Send him up to the front!

You hear me? You goddamn coward!

I won't have cowards in my army.

I had to kick a few butts...

...but Truscott finally broke through

to those people on the beach.

Have you seen the casualty lists?

Yes, I've seen them.

What's the word from the coast road?

The 3rd Division's east of Brolo,

heading toward Messina.

Let's get over there.

I want to go in with the troops.

You go ahead, George.

I'm not very good at that.

General Bradley...

...it's time to consider how many

casualties we'd have...

...if we were still crawling on

that goddamn road.

Forward, march!

Don't smirk, Patton.

I shan't kiss you.

Pity. I shaved close this morning

to prepare for getting smacked by you.

Forward, march!

You wanted to see me, George?

Got a letter here from Ike.

I was rereading Caesar's

Commentaries last night.

In battle, Caesar wore a red robe to

distinguish him from his men.

I was struck by that fact because-

"Despicable. " First time anybody's

ever applied that word to me.

Well, at least it's a personal

reprimand, it's not official.

The man was yellow. He should've

been tried for cowardice and shot.

People have taken a lot worse

than a little kick in the pants.

I ruffled his pride a bit.

What's that compared to war?

Two weeks ago at Palermo they said

I was the greatest general...

- ...since Stonewall Jackson.

- Now they draw cartoons about you.

Dirty bastard!

They got me holding a little Gl

and kicking him with an iron boot.

You see that, what's on my boot?

A swastika.

On my boot.

An iron boot with a swastika!

"You will apologize to the soldier

you slapped...

...to all doctors and nurses present

in the tent at the time...

...to every patient in the tent

who can be reached...

...and last but not least

to the 7th Army as a whole...

...through individual units,

one at a time. "

God, I...

...feel low.

Oh, God...

... Thou art my God.

Early will I seek Thee.

My soul thirsteth for Thee.

My flesh longeth for Thee

in a dry and thirsty land.

So as I have seen Thee

in the sanctuary.

My soul followeth hard after Thee.

But those that seek my soul

to destroy it...

...shall go into the lower parts

of the earth.

They shall fall by the sword.

They shall be apportioned for foxes.

But the king shall rejoice in God.

Everyone that sweareth by him

shall glory.

But the mouth of them

that speak lies...

...shall be stopped.

Ten-hut!

At ease.

I thought I'd stand up here

and let you people see...

...if I am as big a son of a b*tch

as some of you think I am.

I assure you I had no intention...

...of being either harsh or cruel

in my treatment of the...

...soldier in question.

My sole purpose was to try

to restore in him...

...some appreciation of his

obligations as a man...

...and as a soldier.

lf one can shame a coward...

...I felt one might help him

to regain his self-respect.

This was on my mind.

Now, I freely admit...

...that my method was wrong...

...but I hope you understand

my motive...

...and will accept this...

...explanation...

...and this...

...apology.

- Dismissed.

- Ten-hut!

Good evening, general. I want to

report on a private poll I'm taking.

What poll?

The fan mail.

Eleven percent con,

89 percent pro.

And that 11% of protest, in most

cases, is both obscene and anonymous.

But the pro letters are mostly from

relatives and servicemen.

"I want you to know we're proud

our son is serving in your army.

From the newspaper, we're not clear

exactly what you did and why...

...but we want you to know

we're for you.

Keep going, and God bless you. "

Keep going, huh?

Where?

I thought you might like a sip

of wine, general. It's New Year's.

You didn't celebrate at all

last night.

I'm sick of sitting around this...

...royal doghouse.

We've taken Sicily.

I'm ready for a new assignment.

Maybe you've got it.

Here's a radio message, just came in.

Cod.

I've been relieved.

They've relieved me from command

of the 7th Army.

I don't believe it.

Happy New Year.

Just a minute, sir.

Since they're sure to give you

another command...

...isn't it logical they'd

relieve you here first?

You mean command of all American

troops going into Europe?

It's possible. I know it's been

discussed from time to time.

The logic of it is so obvious,

it couldn't mean anything else.

Sir, I'm going to open

this bottle of wine.

No, Sir Cod...

...but if you find a bottle of cognac,

I'll help you drink it.

- How you feeling tonight, general?

- Not bad, not bad at all.

- Get me some writing paper, will you?

- Yes, sir.

Your wife ever give you the devil

for not writing?

All the time, sir.

Only I don't write as often as you

do. Don't seem to get around to it.

Lucky for us we got them.

Who wants to marry a couple of

broken-down old horse captains?

That's what my wife says to me

every time I come home, sir.

Why are you up so late, George?

Thought you'd like a nice hot bath

or something.

I got this sleeping pill from the doc,

just in case you need it.

Sleeping pill!

- What's going on here?

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