Patton Page #6

- I heard the news, sir.

- They announced it on the radio.

- What news?

About General Bradley, sir. How they

gave him the top American command.

Oh.

Oh, yeah.

I just thought you might be

feeling kind of low, sir.

Your writing things, sir.

Here on the desk, sir.

Yeah. Thank you, George.

One little dog face.

One measly little slap.

That's what done it.

Ah, George.

I wish I'd kissed the son of a b*tch.

He's paying tribute to the Free French

Forces under DeGaulle and Leclerc.

And to the people of the Resistance...

...who risk their lives

to help destroy the Germans.

"France will be free again.

I give you my word. "

"Just as Free French troops liberated

Corsica, Napoleon's place of birth...

...I will someday land in France to

liberate the birthplace of Lafayette. "

General, the reporters would like

a word with you.

- Good afternoon.

- General.

Can you tell us the purpose

of this visit to Corsica?

General Eisenhower ordered me here.

You wrote the mother of the boy you

slapped, "The rat should've been shot. "

- Is that true, general?

- No comment.

Sir, I understand

Gen. Alexander suggested...

...you take over Gen. Clark's

Italian campaign...

...but it was killed

due to the incident.

- No comment.

- Can you say where you're going, sir?

Off the record,

Eisenhower's ordered me to Malta.

Interview concluded.

You plan on slapping

any soldiers there, general?

In 1528, these forts

were defended by...

...400 Knights of Malta

and 800 mercenaries...

...against a force of 40,000 Turks.

Codman.

- Still no word from Gen. Eisenhower?

- No, sir.

Not even a response about

the two turkeys I sent for Christmas?

No, sir.

Go ahead, gentlemen.

Take a closer look for yourselves.

Looks like you boys have hitched

your wagon to a falling star.

Pass the word.

If anyone wants out, I'll understand.

Sir, I can speak for the entire staff.

We want to stay with you, no matter

what duty you're assigned to.

Up in London, they're planning

the invasion of Europe.

I've trained my mind,

body and spirit for that.

What, in God's name, am I doing here?

All right.

Let's get on to Cairo.

See if the pyramids

are still standing.

- This place is for me?

- Yes, sir. This way, sir.

Whoever found it has a genius

for cloak and dagger.

Who picked this cathouse?

I think it was Gen. Smith, sir.

To spite me, that son of a b*tch.

- Welcome to London, Georgie.

- Bedell. How are you?

- Is Ike here?

- He asked me to brief you.

Would you excuse us, please?

Let me put you straight about Ike.

We hear a lot about you

criticizing his decisions.

Not really. You know me.

I'm just an old fool.

At times, I do wonder whether

he isn't a limey at heart.

George, this is the toughest coalition

ever attempted in history.

Ike's trying to hold it together

and lick the Germans at the same time.

- It's a hell of a job.

- I understand.

You have an important assignment

connected to the Normandy invasion.

Good. I've studied the Overlord Plan

and there's a number of flaws in it.

You can't depend on Monty taking

Cannes by D-day. He'll never make it.

I've drawn up an alternate plan

to land at Calais...

- ...following an air bombardment-

- Will you just listen for a change?

Ike stood by you when everyone,

I mean everyone...

...wanted Patton

with a rope around his neck.

We're gonna let it leak out

that you are here undercover.

That you're preparing to invade

at the Pas de Calais.

We hope to pin down

the German 15th Army there...

...so that they can't be used

against us at Normandy.

Is that all I'm good for?

We're going to build an army

of 12 divisions around you.

All fictitious, of course.

Dummy troop concentrations,

dummy landing craft...

...simulated radio traffic.

The Germans are convinced that you

will lead the main invasion effort.

Their agents will spot you soon...

...then we can move you to Knutsford.

- What do I do there?

- Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Frankly, George, you're on probation.

Take my advice and behave yourself.

Remember...

...your worst enemy

is your own big mouth.

Look at this nasty-faced

son of a b*tch. Ready for combat.

I'll call him William

as in "the Conqueror. "

- Sir, should we leave him in the car?

- No. Good afternoon, ladies.

Good afternoon.

Watch this, Cod.

- Sir, he'll kill that dog.

- I'll hold him.

I'm terribly sorry, general.

Did Abigail frighten your dog?

That's quite all right, madam.

This way, sir.

Your name isn't William.

It's Willie.

My dear friends.

General George S. Patton, Jr.,

has accepted our invitation...

...to say a few words to you...

...on the occasion

of this inaugural ceremony.

General Patton is not here

in an official capacity...

...and I have assured him

most earnestly...

...that nothing he says

will be quoted.

May I present General Patton.

- Remember, sir, watch your language.

- Yeah.

My dear ladies.

Until today...

...my only experience

at welcoming has been...

...to welcome Germans and Italians

to the infernal region.

At this I have been

quite successful...

...since the troops, which I have had

the honor to command...

...have, to date, killed or captured...

...some 170,000 of our enemies.

I feel that such clubs as these

are of very real value...

...because I believe

with Mr. Bernard Shaw...

...that the British and the Americans

are two peoples...

...separated by a common language.

Since it is the destiny of the British

and Americans to rule the world...

...the better we know each other...

...the better we will do it.

The Russians,

don't forget the Russians.

I think that a club like this...

...is an ideal place

for promoting mutual understanding.

Because as soon as our soldiers meet

and get to know the English ladies...

...and write home and tell our women

just how lovely you truly are...

...then the sooner the American ladies

will get jealous...

...and force this war

to a quick termination.

And then I'll get the chance to go

to the Pacific and kill Japanese.

All over the nation...

...mass meetings are held to protest

General Patton 's statement...

... that Britain and America

will rule the post war world.

That Russia will have no say.

Congressional leaders like Senator

Clayburn Foss are quick to react.

This man has insulted

our Russian allies...

...implying Anglo-American world rule.

In my opinion, he should be

severely disciplined.

This time I didn't do a damn thing.

They promised there

wouldn't be any reporters.

I made a few remarks off the record.

Ike told you to keep your mouth shut.

You know how suspicious the Russians

are of the British and us.

I was only trying to be polite

to the old ladies.

lf I'd seen the Russians there, I'd

have mentioned the sons of b*tches.

Bedell, I don't know

anything about politics.

I have no political ambitions.

All I want to do is

to command an army in combat.

Well, it's out of our hands now.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote