Sahara Page #2

---

I told you to measure

that water in a cup.

- I wasnt thinking.

- Lll do the thinking for you.

Frenchie, bring the canteens to me.

Weve got our own officer.

Lll take my orders from him.

Lm glad you brought

that up, Williams.

Lve something to say

to the men, sergeant.

Weve only one purpose.

To save ourselves

so that we can fight again.

Weve got to work together

and have discipline.

Sergeant Gunn was in command

when we joined him.

Hes an experienced soldier...

...and it seems proper to ask him

to continue in that capacity.

I shall confer with him on the safety

and conduct of the expedition...

...but immediate authority

will rest with him.

My canteen, sergeant.

Thank you, sir.

Here you are, Frenchie.

What do you make of them?

Thats what lm trying to figure out.

Hey, Waco.

Fire shots in front of them.

That ought to turn them back into us.

Thats a British Sudanese

with an Italian prisoner.

I think hes going to fight us.

Give me something white to wave.

Make it snappy.

It is true, Bimbashi.

I thought ld captured an enemy tank.

Whered you get this prisoner?

At Bir Hacheim.

A column of many tanks and

many machines attacked us there.

All my company died in battle.

I alone escaped.

It was then I captured...

...this man to carry my pack.

What is your name?

Sergeant Major Tambul.

Force Sudanese Battalion.

You know this desert?

Yes, sergeant.

Is it all like this?

Yes, all that way...

...worse for tank.

Deep sand?

And salt marshes.

Only one caravan trail. Very old.

- Hard to follow.

- Where does it lead?

To the well at Hassan Barrani.

You think you could find it again?

I think I can.

I will try.

Get your pack off and get on top.

Jimmy, throw down a ration.

The rest get back in place.

Waco, start her up.

Were moving on right now.

Look!

Those birds know

just when to show up.

They can smell death ahead of time.

Anybody know what hes babbling?

I speak English.

Speak very good.

Dont leave me here.

Take me with you.

Sorry, we got no room.

I learn English in school in Torino.

And I learn Americano

from reading the letters.

Its the cousin of

the uncle of mia moglie.

Thats my wife, signore.

She got an uncle

whose cousin live in America...

...and he write all the time.

He tell about the big mountain,

the big building, the big art.

Everything big in America!

Waco, wind her up.

Were moving on.

I show you letter.

I got a letter from my wife.

She told me she get a letter...

...from the cousin of the uncle.

He work now in Pittsburgh, USA.

In the steel factory.

Maybe he make the steel

for this tank in Pittsburgh, USA.

And, signore...

...I show you picture.

I got no time to look at pictures.

Hes right.

Its stupid to have pity in war.

You kill in a fight. Not like this.

I know better than you.

- Lve been fighting them since 1936.

- 36?

Spain.

Theres no pity.

My wife and bambina.

Thats my baby.

Its a nice picture.

You must be very proud of them.

Lll see what I can do.

I wish youd change your mind.

This man is a prisoner of war.

As such, hes entitled

to certain rights.

Weve got to take him.

We cant leave him to die.

If we asked the men, theyd agree.

Theyd agree now.

What about when theyre starving

and dying of thirst?

You put me in command to look ahead.

- This is a matter of a mans life!

- Youre wrong.

Its a matter of

the lives of 10 men.

We got a long ways to go.

We need every crumb of food

and drop of water.

Lm taking the Sudanese

because hes a British soldier.

But I wont take on

a load of spaghetti!

He walked this far, and

he can walk back.

Thats the end of it.

What are you waiting for?

Wind her up.

Okay, Joe.

You better get in, Doc.

Lm sorry.

Dont leave me here to die.

I swear, I work for you.

I dont drink your water...

...I dont eat your food.

Dont leave me here.

Stop!

Come on. Come on!

Hold your fire.

Let the blighter have it.

I could squash him like a fly.

No, let him think

were out of ammunition.

Blasted him out of the sky!

You men all right down there?

Yes, Bimbashi.

Tambul, follow me!

Doc, come along in case

that guy dont speak English.

- Lll come with you, Tambul.

- Heres your gun!

Drop that gun!

You heard me, drop it!

Whatd he say?

My Germans a little rusty,

but I think I got the sense of it.

He said we havent got a chance.

He wants us to be his prisoners.

Is he crazy?

Ask him if he speaks English.

He says no.

He didnt know Americans were here.

A surprise for you, Fritzie.

- We saved it for you, special.

- Search him.

- Whats eating him?

- He wants someone else to do it.

He does, does he? Why?

He doesnt want to be touched

by an inferior race.

Tell him not to worry

about his being black.

It wont come off on his uniform.

Search him.

A knife.

And this.

Thats what I thought.

What do you make of that, Doc?

It says an offer has been made

to the British Army.

Raise the white flag

and give up your arms.

We have proved the British are led

by incompetents and idiots.

- Whats that?

- The fall of...

...Tobruk!

Whats that about Tobruk?

Hes lying like his blasted Fhrer!

Lll teach him to lie!

Signore Sergeante!

Somebody is hurt.

The German, he shoot.

Bring him along

and pick up that chute.

Bring some water.

- Wheres Halliday?

- What happened?

Take it easy, fella.

We didnt know he was lying there.

Hes hurt so bad he couldnt speak.

Get the first-aid kit, please.

Move him into the shade.

Very gently.

Take it easy.

Thats it.

Did you get him?

Dont try to talk now.

Well fix you up, all right.

How is he, Doc?

Hes badly shot

but he may pull through.

We cant hang around here any longer.

- Is it safe to move him?

- Yes, if we take it easy.

We got to move quickly,

after what the German said.

Maybe hes right.

Doyle, get on that radio.

Yes, sarge.

What will we do with this prisoner?

There is no doubt

we have too many in this tank.

Here is another mouth

that asks for water.

I dont mean we can leave him here

in this desert to die.

My heart is very soft for this Nazi.

Let me have a little talk with him.

Lll march him behind the hill...

...there.

When youre ready to go,

lll come back alone.

Corporal, you got a lot to learn.

This is a Nazi.

Maybe you find out.

Its like a mad dog.

Maybe. But hes won a lot of prizes.

Ld like to turn him

over to headquarters.

If we can get there ourselves!

Well keep him

as long as we can, then see.

In the meantime...

...hes in your charge.

Thank you.

Did you get anything?

- The Germans got Tobruk.

- I know. Anything else?

Theyre attacking Sidi Barrani.

Were still falling back,

trying to reform our lines.

What are you smiling at?

You look like you understood

every word he said.

Doc, ask him what he was smiling at.

He thinks its funny...

...we want to fight

with this curious detachment.

Wipe that smile off your puss...

...or lll knock your teeth

through your head. Verstehen?

All right, boys, we move on.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes