The Devil's Brigade Page #6

Serial number...

You bastard.

Another one? Maybe he can be persuaded.

At least he is looking

more intelligent than this one.

Rocky, lad.

What have they done to you?

Peacock!

Gunter!

We took it, sir.

- Now what the hell do we do with it?

- We keep it.

Does this answer your question?

At ease.

Absolutely everything you did,

from beginning to end...

...was directly contrary to my orders.

Sir, I recall a lecture, some advice...

...some criticism of our ability,

but I don't recall any orders.

How's your recollection

concerning unnecessary risks?

Why did you lead that patrol?

If you will recall, sir,

I hadn't had any combat experience.

I wanted to see what it was like.

You've never been killed, either.

Do you want to find out what that's like?

- How many men did you lose?

- None, sir. Six wounded, not bad.

There's no doubt, sir, that we were lucky

that it worked out as well as it did.

Yeah. As well as can be expected, sir.

Come over here.

What'll you have?

Sir, I'd like about a dozen cases

for the men if you can spare it.

- You're an insolent bastard, aren't you?

- You're right, sir.

Two hundred German prisoners

will tell you that.

- You want a drink or not?

- No thank you, sir.

- Dismissed.

- Yes, sir.

Sir, you must come now.

It's very important.

- You won't believe what we just found out.

- It's an emergency, sir.

Emergency?

What kind of an emergency? Make sense.

The clerk was going over

personnel records. There's no denying it.

No doubt about it. We got proof.

Proof of what?

What are you talking about?

It's your birthday. Happy birthday, sir.

Happy birthday, sir!

Give me a drink!

"For he's a jolly good fellow

"For he's a jolly good fellow

"For he's a jolly good fellow

"Which nobody can deny

"Which nobody can deny"

Okay, knock it off! All right. Pipe down.

Listen. If you guys can hold off

gettin' drunk for a couple of seconds...

...you're gonna hear

a few well-chosen pearls of wisdom...

...from that distinguished Irishman

and eminent scholar...

...Maj. Crown.

Today I had the pleasure...

...of interrogating some German prisoners.

They said some flatterin' things about us...

Gangsters, murderers, savages...

But the most memorable compliment...

...came from their commanding officer.

And he referred to us as...

...members of the Devil's brigade.

Long life...

...to the devil!

- Give me a drink.

- You organize this?

No, sir. It was a popular uprising.

Cast your bread on the waters,

it comes back a testimonial dinner.

But where it comes from,

I wouldn't be askin'.

It's done my heart a world of good

the way you guys have shaped up.

I couldn't have done a better job myself.

Attention!

- General.

- General.

- Frederick.

- What is going on here?

Little celebration, sir.

- May I offer you a drink?

- Certainly.

No, later. Is there someplace

we can talk, Colonel?

This way, sir.

Mount la Difensa.

It's on the road to Rome,

flanked all around by mountains.

Mount la Difensa's the key point

to this entire sector.

We've been trying for weeks

to take it from them.

We've had total failure.

And we've had heavy casualties.

But we've got to get it.

For good behavior in prison,

you're rewarded with time off.

In the army, double time,

and a swift kick in the rear.

Your reward, Colonel, is la Difensa.

Study the maps, send out scouting patrols,

give me a plan of attack.

General, this fellow doesn't

send out patrols.

- He leads 'em.

- Full Colonels are not expendable.

Sir, how low in rank does a man

have to be before he's expendable?

Good night, Colonel.

Enjoy your celebration.

Night, Colonel.

"Around her leg she wore a purple garter

"She wore it in the springtime

and in the month of May

"And when you asked her

why the hell she wore it

"She wore it for her parents

who were far, far, away

"Far away, far away

"Far away, far away

"She wore it for her parents,

who were far, far away..."

Our reconnaissance has shown...

...that the German guns

are facing west and south.

That's why I propose

that we attack from the east.

What I need from you, sir,

is an artillery barrage, all you've got...

...on the forward slopes.

That'll give 'em the idea

that we're attacking from here.

In the meantime, at 06:00, I can be here...

...at 09:
00, here.

By reaching this point, we'll be

above them, holding the high ground.

For us, it'll be a downhill fight all the way.

If we can drive them beyond

these big rocks, they'll have no cover.

They'll have to surrender or die.

It sounds good, Colonel, but your

attack force up that cliff in three hours...

...with weapons, ammunition, food?

You must have remarkable faith

in your men.

Yes, sir, I have.

Faith moves mountains,

it doesn't take them.

How would you know until we try?

Overlooking your disrespect,

there's no sense trying what can't be done.

I hope the Germans have

the same sensible attitude.

Lf, in their opinion, it can't be done,

they won't be expecting us.

That'll give us a chance to get from here

to here without being discovered.

I tell you,

that's the only way it can be done...

...with all respect.

Any further comments?

You'll get your artillery support, Colonel.

Good luck.

Thank you, sir. General.

They're giving us artillery until 09:00.

By that time, we have to be on top.

Our one and only chance is surprise.

- How much of a chance is that?

- Ask me tomorrow.

Ask me now.

This'll be their Dunkirk.

We'll whip 'em this time.

There'll be nothing stopping us

but a white flag.

I'd settle to be alive tomorrow night.

- Wonder how many...

- 20 minutes.

Pass the word, 20 minutes.

That's quite a load, soldier.

Good luck, son.

Double-check all weapons, Captain.

Ornery...

...send my love to your wife.

If you don't make it out of here,

I'll give it to her myself, in person.

I didn't mean it,

you know me better than that.

- I know you.

- You all packed up?

How is everybody? In good shape?

- Fine, thanks, sir.

- Great.

- Leave something for the mules.

- I will, sir.

Be sure everyone has a sweater on.

It's gonna be cold.

Sweater, yes, sir. I'll check 'em out.

You okay?

- As well as could be expected, sir.

- Need anything?

Yes, sir, an honorable discharge.

Stick around.

You'll get one if you deserve it.

- Sgt. Peacock?

- Sir.

- How are your men?

- The best, sir.

- Take care.

- Will do, sir.

How about that?

What's eating him?

Have you never heard a man say good-bye?

Holy cow. It's straight up.

What's the beef? It's only a mile high.

Greco, Guthrie, Gatling, Smith.

Three hours of artillery.

Three hours only. Let's go.

Batteries ready.

Batteries fire!

This is as far as we can go.

- Overhang?

- Yeah.

Give me your grappling hook.

No, Bronc.

This is my part of the act, right?

We're okay.

There was only one guard on this side.

Move. Get the ropes over fast.

Secure the ropes. Let's get moving fast.

Keep your head down.

- Keep down.

- They're over the ridge, sir.

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