The Great Raid Page #2

Sir, it's hard to determine the number of

men we'll need without more specific intel.

Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury,

Bob. I selected you for your flexibility.

Now, you've got

a 24-hour jump on us, Lieutenant.

Is that enough time to get Captain Prince

all the dope he needs?

We'll be ready to report to you at 0800

hours on the morning of the 29th, sir.

- (Mucci) Get it done.

- (Men) Yes, sir.

Sir, the tough nut is the final approach.

No cover for over 800 yards.

It's as flat as a pancake.

Hey. Hey!

(Whimpers)

How far do you think

Hewitt's got by now?

What difference does it make?

The Japs are gonna catch him

sooner or later.

You couldn't have got me

something easier to chew?

A mango, banana?

Duke's selling graveyard rats,

but I thought...

I thought that'd be overindulging.

Is it your gums

or your teeth hurting?

(Groans)

Starts at the gums, works its way

around the back of my head

and then ends up

in my neck somewhere.

Don't worry.

It's not malaria.

- Sir.

- Take a knee, Lieutenant.

We've just translated

a telegram to Colonel Mori.

MacArthur's conquered the southern

islands. He's landed here on Luzon.

Good ol' Dugout Doug.

He can take in the sun for a few days,

then head on back to Australia

like he did the first time.

The information's good, Major.

I'm in that office every day.

We don't know how close MacArthur is

or when he'll reach Cabanatuan.

Tell the men the best thing to do is sit tight

and stay calm till we find out more.

Yes, sir.

- Make sure McMahon gets that.

- Yes, sir.

(POW) Come on, get up!

- Come on, get up!

- (Guard speaks Japanese)

- They caught Hewitt.

- Who was watchin' him?

Poor dumb bastard

couldn't even wait till it got dark.

(Guard shouts in Japanese)

(Speaks Japanese)

(Hewitt yells)

(Japanese) You are responsible for this.

You surrender like cowards,

then you run away like dogs.

He'll die, because none of you

had the courage to stop him!

(Whipping continues. Hewitt yells)

(Japanese)

(Guard shouts in Japanese)

Redding.

(Speaks Japanese) I need food.

(Grunts)

Colvin, watch his back.

- How much?

- Five.

- You should not have come.

- Neither should you.

(Guard yells in Japanese)

(POWcries out in pain)

The guards are getting

harder to bribe.

What we really need is more medicine.

Carlos and my father were questioned

by the Japanese last week.

They are watching us.

Then tell Margaret

not to take any more risks.

(Speaks Filipino)

You think she'll listen?

(Guard shouts in Japanese)

Is there anything else

you want me to tell her?

Just to take care.

There is some quinine in the peanuts.

Take some yourself, huh?

You don't look well.

(Colvin) Who's Margaret, Red?

She's an American nurse who was married

to his commanding officer.

He died of malaria about a year ago

in one of the other camps.

- (Colvin) Is the major involved with her?

- (Redding) What makes you ask?

(Colvin) Nothing.

He just sounded concerned.

Well, he wasn't involved with her,

but he should have been.

Her husband

didn't give a damn about her,

and Gibby couldn't give a damn

about anyone else but her.

- Why didn't he do something about it?

- 'Cause he's a gentleman.

He'd never fool around

with another man's wife.

I, on the other hand, might.

(Colvin) Where is she now?

(Redding) She's still in Manila.

Who do you think smuggles

all the medicine into the camp?

(Prince) In 1941. Manila was considered

the pearl of the Orient.

An international city where people

from all over the world lived and worked.

That all changed

when the Japanese took over.

They believed

that as a conquered people.

The Filipinos should do

as they were told.

Those who disobeyed were jailed.

Tortured or executed.

This made the bond between the Filipinos

and the Americans even stronger.

Resistance grew throughout the country.

By 1945. hundreds of ordinary people

had joined the underground.

It's like they have been

watching me for weeks.

The Japanese

have questioned our people before.

It doesn't necessarily mean anything.

They know

that the Americans are closing in,

and they know that we have evidence

of their war crimes.

Don Antonio is right. This...

This wasn't like before, Margaret.

Now they know of things

only an informer could have told them.

Then why'd they let you go?

I'm sorry, Carlos,

but if you're worried, you're free to go.

I won't hold it against you.

I won't hold it against any of you.

I wouldn't leave unless we all go.

You know that.

I can't leave, not as long as there is

a single prisoner left in Cabanatuan.

(Speaks Filipino)

...Margaret.

I saw Daniel.

How is he?

He did not look well.

I think he has malaria again.

I know my father said to wait, but

if we do that, it may be too late for Daniel.

No, your father's right.

It's too dangerous. Don't listen to me.

No. I will meet you outside the hospital

in the usual place, OK?

I should go.

Company... atten-hut!

At ease.

I'm here to tell you men

the latrine rumors are true.

We've finally got a mission

worthy of Rangers.

We're going to push right through

our front lines into the Japs' backyard

and rescue 500 American prisoners of war.

It's going to be a rough son of a b*tch.

A textbook-style raid

that can only succeed

through speed, surprise

and overwhelming firepower.

That's why you've been chosen.

Before you start congratulating yourselves,

remember that you haven't achieved

a damn thing yet.

You're the best-trained,

least-proven battalion in this whole army.

This is your one chance

to do something about it.

And I mean one chance.

How you acquit yourselves

over the next 48 hours

will determine how you are judged

for the rest of your lives.

Men worthy of serving in this army,

or an embarrassment that history and time

will eventually forget.

It's up to you.

Now, I happen to think it's the former.

That's why I'm accompanying you

on this raid.

There's not another group of men in this or

any other army I'd sooner trust my life with.

You're the finest, best-prepared soldiers

this country's ever sent to war,

and I expect you to prove it.

One final thing:

I wanna see every last one of you

in the chapel after this formation's over.

I do not want any damned atheists

on this raid.

And no fakers either.

I want you to get down on your knees

and swear before Almighty God

that you'll give your lives

before you let any of those prisoners die.

- Is that clear?

- Yes, sir!

- Are you sure?

- Yes, sir!

Carry on.

Company... atten-hut!

The general liked your plan.

(Chaplain)... and build an enduring peace

founded upon thy holy laws,

and upon that unselfish goodwill

to all those who love justice and peace

which thou hast given unto us through

Jesus Christ, thine only son, our Lord.

- Amen.

- (All) Amen.

Take charge of your platoon!

Can't believe the colonel said

don't wear no insignia.

He's got that pencil mustache. Even

the Nips are gonna know he's an officer.

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