The Desert Rats Page #6

---

nor do l need to tell you this column

will be in vital need of supplies.

(explosion)

l think that both Rommel and l can

promise you a very interesting week ahead.

- MacRoberts?

- Same thing last night, sir.

- On the move all along the front.

- Yes.

l think you'll find pressure

all around our defences.

However, it seems to me that

this hill, Ed Duda, is a key position.

lt commands the Bardia road

and our supply road to the harbour.

Consequently, l'll have to

move troops to hold it.

But l can only spare one battalion,

so it'll have to be our best

and most experienced one.

That's it, gentlemen.

We will hold for three days or until relieved.

We will need every round of

ammunition we can carry.

- Start moving the men out right away.

- Yes, sir.

- Any questions?

- Well, l...

l wondered why it had to be us.

We've been in the line the longest...

ln the first place, it's an order.

ln the second, if it's any good to you,

the general asked for the best

and most experienced troops.

- ls that all?

- Yes, sir.

That'll put the cap on it.

There'll be some choice comment on this.

Come off it, sir. lt's only an order.

They may even get a kick out of

the general choosing their battalion.

Uh-huh. And l may even run

for prime minister of Australia.

- What's up, Blue?

- The war over?

- We getting relieved?

- Beer ration?

Don't sit on it until it hatches, Blue.

You gents will be proud to know the general

considers you the pick of the garrison.

- Here we go again.

- Another dirty deal.

Consequently, you've been selected to hold

the key position in the comin' festivities.

- We're moving out.

- That ruddy MacRoberts.

He's volunteered us again.

He's pushing for general.

(laughter)

Here, rally round and l'll show you

the points of interest.

Now, this here's Ed Duda.

The mob's supposed to be coming up from

Cairo, and we're gonna hold it for three days.

(narrator) They were asked to hold

for three days. They held for eight.

Eight freezing nights of roaring gunfire,

eight blazing days of searching

the horizon for a sign of the relief column.

On the morning of the ninth day...

See anything?

Not a ruddy thing.

Just hold it for three days

and the relief column will be along!

Well, it's eight flamin' days now,

and there ain't a sight of 'em.

Gone back to ruddy Egypt, l reckon.

One more night of this

and they'll take me off in a sack.

- They'll be along in a bit.

- ln a bit!

Yeah, in a bit! Always in a bit!

Well, l ain't waitin'! l can't...

(sobbing)

Let me up.

All right now?

Yeah.

Give me another tin of grub.

Three wounded and two dead.

Company strength down to 57 men.

About a thousand rounds of small arms

ammo and 23 mortar bombs.

- And C Company?

- Lost four more last night.

Down to 41 men, one officer,

One machine gun completely destroyed.

Take command of A Company.

What about the forward post?

That's where we lost two of our four, sir.

ls it manned now?

Well, no, l...

l haven't been able to pick the men, Colonel.

Four hours is about as long

as anyone lasts out there.

- l thought after they had breakfast...

- All right. Let it go.

- lf headquarters sent us replacements...

- They can't.

Rommel's throwing everything

he has round the perimeter.

- Will there be any change in orders, Colonel?

- lf there is, l'll tell you!

Change, change.

What are they asking me for?

l don't give the orders, l obey them.

Headquarters told me to hold. l can't!

Get me headquarters.

Let them decide.

- Colonel Orten?

- Yes.

Diamond Red.

Coming on.

MacRoberts here.

lt was a tank roadblock,

but they knocked it out.

They're moving now, Mac.

By nine o'clock, Mac. Noon at the latest.

No good, Orten.

You told me that four days ago.

No. We've had it.

We're through.

The first attack will sweep the hill.

- There's a chance we can detach a unit...

- Don't lie to him.

Let me have it.

- MacRoberts?

- Yes, sir?

We can't get anything to you

for at least six hours. Maybe not then.

- l called for air strikes over your position...

- They've been pounded for eight days!

- l'm down to less than a company!

- l know.

All l can tell you is

the relief column is moving.

Maybe one hour, maybe four.

All l can do is release you to make

your own estimate of the situation.

Whatever you do, l'll back yourjudgment.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you for what?

Dumping it back in my lap.

The old army game.

My estimate of the situation.

What else can he do? He's not here.

He can only trust yourjudgment and hope...

That l pull off a miracle

and take what's left of a battalion...

- Make the right decision.

- Right decision...

Jerry artillery moving out

in the desert, and plenty of it.

- Tell the commanders to stand by.

- Right, sir.

Get the artillery. Tell them we want

covering fire when we pull out.

- Call 'em! What are you waiting for?

- ls that what you want?

- Suppose they stand off one more attack?

- Are you out of your mind?

They'll be lucky to have

the strength to march out of here.

- They might, if you asked them to.

- lf l asked them.

l might have known it.

Let's forget the old-school-tie nonsense

and face reality for once.

l'm the English colonel that got

their captain and Carstairs killed.

The officer that's whipped them in and out

of these caves for the last nine months.

- They'd rather see me dead than Rommel.

- No, Tammy. You don't understand men yet.

l don't say they love you,

but they do know you.

You're authority to them.

The general, why, he's just a name.

You're the one that's running their war.

lf you give the order, they won't like it,

but they're just stubborn enough to follow it.

Uh-huh. And my order is to pull out.

Get the artillery. That's an order.

You know that, if Rommel takes this hill,

the advance could be held up for days.

Quite a tactician. Get the artillery.

- The general said that there may be a...

- You drunken old fool!

l'm responsible for over 100 men.

lf l order them to stay, they'll be killed!

lt's senseless to ask them for what they

haven't got! l can't do it and l won't do it!

l'm old, l'm a drunk... and maybe l'm a fool.

But l do know what l'm talking about.

Don't take all this on yourself, Tammy.

Everybody needs help sometimes.

Let them help you. Ask them.

No. l've had it.

l can't.

All right.

lt's your decision, but if you make it

you'll be no good to yourself or anybody else.

You told me that yourself once.

- Remember?

- Then l'll be no good to myself.

- Ah, Tammy, an hour and...

- Don't call me that!

Tell the commanders we'll move out

in 20 minutes, and that's an order!

Yes... sir.

Devil? Give me Colonel White.

Barney?

l'm pulling out in 20 minutes.

Give me all the covering fire you can spare.

- lt's that rough, Mac?

- lt's that rough.

l'll put up a green flare when we're ready.

Sir, l think they have an OP

dug in on this first rise.

lf that's the case, perhaps

we can manage to get some...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes