Sahara Page #4

---

- From my village. Moulin-Merillac.

What its like?

A sort of Brie or Camembert?

Theres no village like mine.

There is no cheese like we make.

You should have such a meal!

You take a knife.

Here, you have a little cheese,

a little bread.

Then you wash your throat with wine.

Then a little cheese.

And a little onion.

Good! A little onion.

A little bread, a little wine.

A little cheese, a little bread.

A little wine, a little onion.

A little cheese, a little bread.

Lay off! You had enough.

I feel better.

All this is no more.

Six months ago lm in my village,

but I dont know it.

There is no cheese!

How do you make cheese without milk?

How do you make milk without cows?

We had fine cows with the brown face

and the white neck.

The Nazis take these cows.

They cut the throat with a knife.

There is no more cheese

and milk for the children.

You were in occupied

France six months ago?

- Why were you there?

- He worked with the underground.

I learned from the channel.

I have seen 12 people executed.

Hostages. The mayor,

who has a white beard...

...Madame Michelet was

as big like a jelly...

...Monsieur Le Pecq,

who teaches the school...

...Rosalie, who has

hair like sunshine.

I can do nothing.

So lm no good for the underground.

Too much hate in my eyes!

So I come here.

I wish only to kill...

...to pay back for my village!

Theres something headed this way!

See the cloud of dust?

Moving fast.

German scout car.

Keep your eye on them.

Keep down so they cant see you.

Leroux, get the Italian inside!

Bates, bring those canteens

back to the tank.

The rest of you men take cover.

Come on, get in.

You speak English?

- Coming our way?

- Straight for us.

All right, watch them.

- Where are they?

- Behind that hill, coming right at us.

Waco and Jim,

get behind that ridge.

Hold your fire! I want prisoners.

The rest of you, keep down.

You understand what they say,

dont you?

You speak English.

Then you can speak with me.

Shut up!

When the time comes,

I will tell you what to do.

Sheik Ali, Hans, mirnach.

What happened?

There was shooting,

then there was nothing.

Be quiet!

Ask him what regiment.

Ask him where their outfit is.

This aint getting us nowhere.

Bates, bring me up some water.

Tell them to take their hands down.

- What do you make of that?

- Nothing.

All right, take him away.

Ask him again what his outfit is.

Ask him if hes thirsty.

Tell him he can have water

only if he talks.

Theyre lost, separated

from their company.

Tell him hes lying.

Only if you talk.

Keep asking him.

We got to break him.

Come on, talk!

Theyre an advance party...

...of a battalion cutting southeast

across the Egyptian border.

Light, motorized units,

no tanks, but about 500 men.

Theyve had no water in days.

Theyre told theyll get

all the water they want here.

Heres your water.

Go on, take it.

Sergeant Gunn!

Sergeant Gunn!

Just as I expected,

the well has gone dry.

How much have we got?

Nine and a quarter cans.

It dont matter,

because were leaving.

Itll be a good joke on the Jerries

when they get here.

Wouldnt have minded

seeing their faces.

Whatd you say?

I wouldnt mind seeing their faces

when they get here.

Thats right.

Maybe we ought to see their faces.

Any water within 100 miles?

Not from here, but the first well?

- Anything in sight?

- Nothing, sarge, not a thing.

Hey, Doc, Williams, Stegman!

I got a lot to say,

and not much time to say it.

We found out those Germans

are part of a battalion...

...stuck back at the first well,

badly in need of water.

Think of a battalion

so in need of water...

...they got to come 70 miles

off their line of march.

Suppose they got held up long enough

for us to send a message?

How?

Suppose we send

the two Germans to tell them...

...theres water here.

Suppose we hold them up

for two or three days...

...while they try to get it.

Theres just one thing wrong

with that plan. Here we are.

Here are the Germans

and heres what happens.

You hit it right on the nose.

Its 100-to-1 shot.

We could clear out of here quick.

With some luck, get through

German lines and back to ours.

If we did get back there,

they might even give us a medal.

If we stay here...

...maybe nobody will ever know

what happened here.

Or if it is worthwhile...

...or if it is all wasted.

I realize its not common sense,

9 men fighting off 500.

Still, its the duty of every man

in the Army to do everything he can.

Excuse me, sir.

Nine of us with peashooters

doesnt make any sense.

If its our duty to delay

this column, why all the talk?

Just give us our orders.

That brings us down to cases.

I look at it this way.

Because its 100-to-1 shot...

...because its much more

than line of duty...

...because theres so little chance

of us coming out of it...

...I felt I ought to put up to you.

Youve all got families at home.

Wives, mothers and sweethearts.

I aint got none,

so it doesnt matter about me.

I know how you feel about them.

Whatever you decide,

you better decide quick.

Lll speak for Waco and Jimmy myself.

Nobody minds giving his life,

but this is throwing it away. Why?

Why did your people go

about their business in London...

...when the Germans threw

everything at them?

Why did your boats take the men

off the beach at Dunkirk?

Why did the Russians

make a stand at Moscow?

Why did the Chinese move whole cities

thousands of miles inland...

...when the Japs attacked them?

Why Bataan?

Why Corregidor?

Maybe they were all nuts.

But theres one thing they did do:

They kept delaying the enemy...

...until we got strong enough

to hit them hard.

I aint no general...

...but it seems to me

thats one way to win.

If all I said...

...dont answer your question...

...then somebody tell me why.

Lm for staying.

- Lll stay.

- Me too, sarge.

It may surprise you, professor,

to know that youre the one man...

...I was absolutely counting on.

Mind you, its against

my better judgement.

Then I know lm right.

What about you, Frenchie?

I still like your cigarettes.

All right, on your feet.

Stand up.

Hey, Doc!

Tell him were sending him back.

The other fellow told us the truth.

Tell him were lost too.

We need food, they need water.

Its a fair exchange.

No use fighting about it.

Water for food.

Shut that man up!

He knows English.

He tried to warn them.

Youre playing a game?

You can call it that.

If he moves again, shoot him.

I shall be happy to, sergeant.

You know he talked English?

I just found out.

Why didnt you tell me?

I was afraid.

Lm like a man who fights his shadow.

You give me water, I eat your food.

I swear I will do nothing wrong.

I give you my parola.

Thats my word.

We got to work fast.

I want that tank dug in,

and slip trenches.

Thats William, Stegman and Bates.

Take the Italian along to help out.

All right, Doc, go ahead.

Waco, start them on their way

and then bring up the half-track.

Go on, beat it!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes