EPISODE 1x02 - CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION
[VO – all on radio]
MARINE
All Hitman Victors, be advised, we are rolling freaks to TAC 1-1-9 at 1400 Zulu.
How copy?
HITMAN TWO TWO
Roger. Two Two copies all. Interrogative: I need crypto. Do you know who's got the
CYZ? I'm pretty sure I lost my fill. Over.
MARINE
Negative. I don't know a damn thing.
[00:00:23]
Daytime. Bravo drives down an MSR.
FICK
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors, keep tight dispersion when linking up with the
column. Make sure other units don't get mixed in.
Colbert waves to a roadside Iraqi.
COLBERT
Yes, we are the conquering heroes.
PERSON
[OS] Whoa, check it out.
COLBERT
Look at this, Gents. Little more than forty-eight hours into the war, and the First
Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, is rolling with impunity
on Saddam's highways.
TROMBLEY
[OS] This sucks. We were on point in front of the whole invasion. Now we're back
in the traffic jam.
COLBERT
[OS] Trombley, how dare you question the strategic plan?
Bravo joins the rest of the Marine traffic on Route 8.
PERSON
Oh my God, look at this. "Angry American." Aw. "Get some"? "Don't tread on me"?
"Let's roll"? Fuck, man. I hate that fucking cheesy moto bullshit.
COLBERT
Ray, when you're right, you're right.
PERSON
You know, it's like that song "Where Stars and Stripes and Eagles Fly"? Fuck, man,
eagles fly in Canada, too. When we got back from Afghanistan my mom tried to play
me that song and I was all, "Fuck no, Mom. I'm a Marine." I don't need to fly a
little fucking patriotic flag on my car to show that I'm patriotic.
COLBERT
That song is straight homosexual country music, Special Olympics-gay.
GARZA
[OS] "Nasiriyah." 40 klicks.
MARINE
[OS] Hey, Q-tip! Your truck's all blinged out. How you gonna refuel it?
A Iraqi is in a civilian truck next to Hitman Two One vehicle. Person sees him and
spits.
ESPERA
[on radio] Echo Four Papa, I think that Hajji's getting sweet on you.
PERSON
Awww, Brad, this fucking sucks! We're in the rear with the fucking chicks, the supply
trucks, and the Hajji truckers. We trained for that bridge mission for six fucking
weeks, and they take it right out from underneath of us.
GARZA
Yeah, I'll be mad if this war ends before we get a chance to get in it.
COLBERT
Drop down here, my little brown friend. Missions are always getting fragged. We're
Marines. We obey our orders. Our mission now is not to do our original mission.
GARZA
Semper gumby. Always flexible.
[00:02:56]
Nighttime. There are distant explosions, dogs barking, men chatting.
(In the background:
MARINE 1
Are we supposed to put our cammie nets up or what?
MARINE 2
See where that education goes? Motherfucker out here with the rocks and Fred Flintstones
and shit.)
COLBERT
I'm taking a shit.
Colbert gets out of the vehicle.
FICK
[on radio] Hitman Two One Alpha, this is Hitman Two. Over.
PERSON
[into radio] Standing by to copy. Over.
FICK
[on radio] I need Two One actual on the hook. Over.
PERSON
[into radio] Two One actual is uh, on a mission. Taking a dump. First combat dump
in country. Over.
FICK
[on radio] Two One, when he returns, have Two One actual contact me. Over.
PERSON
[into radio] Roger that.
McGraw walks by humming the Marines Hymn.
PERSON
Hey, Captain sir! Where'd you get that nice looking AK?
MCGRAW
Part of a cache we found in a culvert near where we took those prisoners. Well-oiled,
pretty clean. Not bad for a third-world army. [walks away and addresses Carisalez]
Corporal, stow this next to my seat. Gotta be prepared. Never know when you might
need an AK.
CARISALEZ
That's why you're in charge, sir.
Carisalez spits as McGraw leaves.
CARISALEZ
Captain America, man!
(In the background:
MARINE
Yeah yeah, I got it.)
CARISALEZ
To think I believed the judge when he told me the Marine Corps was a superior alternative
to jail. I should have shut up and done my time.
Sixta walks up to Bravo Two.
SIXTA
I don't want none of you ladies moping and crying. Mustaches gots to go now. Hey,
Turd! Scrape that hippy shit off your lip.
STAFFORD
Screwby.
SIXTA
You mocking the grooming standard, Stafford?
STAFFORD
Naw, Sergeant Major. It's screwby.
SIXTA
I wants to see clean purty smiles before we step off.
Colbert walks back to his Humvee humming.
TROMBLEY
Good dump, Sergeant?
COLBERT
Excellent. Shit my brains out. Not too hard, not too runny.
TROMBLEY
It sucks when it's runny, and you have to wipe 50 times.
COLBERT
That's not what I'm talking about. If it's too hard or too soft, something's not
right. You might have a problem that affects combat readiness.
PERSON
And it should be a little bit acid, Trombley. Burn your asshole a little when it
comes out.
COLBERT
Maybe on your little bitch asshole, Ray, from all the cock that's been stuffed up
it.
ESPERA
Man, we Marines are so homoerotic. It's all we talk about. You ever realize how
homoerotic this whole thing is?
WYNN
[OS] LT wants to see you, Brad.
Wynn walks up to the Humvee.
PERSON
Aww shit, homes. I forgot to tell you he was on the radio for you.
Colbert glares at Person.
PERSON
I'm sorry.
WYNN
Garza, how are your legs? They all right standing in that turret all day?
GARZA
Good, Gunny. I'm Mexican, too hard to feel nothing from that. I got retard strength.
WYNN
I got good news, guys. We're staying here on 25% watch. That means three of you
get to sleep a couple hours.
TROMBLEY
Sleep? What kind of fucked-up war is this?
Colbert and Fick watch a helicopter fly towards Nasiriyah.
FICK
It's not good. Casevac bird's been going back and forth since sundown.
COLBERT
Sir, the fucking army declared Nasiriyah secured. It was on the net.
FICK
Whatever's going on up there, it doesn't sound to me like we've secured much of
anything.
Person and Wright lie underneath the Humvee.
PERSON
Hey! Reporter!
WRIGHT
What?
PERSON
If you lay with your cock against the ground as the tank goes by, it feels fucking
great. Come on, do it!
Wright turns over as a tank drives by.
[00:06:58]
(In the background:
MARINE
You're dismissed.)
Daytime. Person shits in front of an Iraqi house while Esperza collects Marine litter.
(In the background:
PERSON
Hey, Rudy! I forgot my baby wipes.
REYES
Use your hand, you nasty thing.
PERSON
Come here and wipe my ass, you heartless fuck.)
ESPERA
I'm fucking ashamed, dawg. Back in Afghanistan we didn't leave a speck of Americana
behind.
(In the background:
PERSON
Rudy! Rudy!)
LILLEY
Brah, could you imagine if Hajjis invaded our country and started shitting in people's
suburban yards?
ESPERA
Not really.
Person finishes and begins dressing.
PERSON
[singing] Why you gotta go and make things so complicated?
When I see you acting like somebody else gets me frustrated.
[walking up to Burris] You guys in Alpha getting some?
BURRIS
Same as you dick smokers in Bravo.
PERSON
Oh shit, look. Cody's got a diary.
Person grabs Scott's diary as Lilley films.
LILLEY
Get some, brah.
SCOTT
Hey man! Give it back.
PERSON
No, listen, listen. "Leading men into battle is my calling." Not bad, Corporal.
"Since I was young, I felt drawn to the warrior society." Now that's a little gay.
"Our minions are roll-" Jeez, "Our minions are rolling"? John, he just called you
a minion. "The people here live like rats-"
SCOTT
[attempting to get the diary back] Give it!
PERSON
"Hopefully what we are doing will lead them to a better life." Your calling wasn't
to be a warrior, man, it was to be a fucking retard.
Members of Bravo Two gather around the hood of Colbert's Humvee, listening to the
radio.
[BBC radio]…captured American soldiers, some of them apparently wounded. The channel
says the Americans were members of the army supply unit and were ambushed outside
Nasiriyah. And in fierce fighting in that city, U.S. Marines were said to have suffered
heavy casualties.
PATRICK
I heard the Hajjis are faking surrenders and using civilians to trick Marines.
WYNN
I don't fucking believe it. How did so many of us get hit?
BRYAN
Here we sit with our thumbs up our asses while Marines are dying a few klicks up
the road.
Fick walks up.
PATRICK
[OS] Well you shouldn’t pet a burning dog.
FICK
Why the fuck are there Iraqis walking through our lines? Why the fuck is there nobody
up on our guns? Come on!
WYNN
Jacks, get up in the turret!
(In the background:
MARINE
You guys got any oil?)
FICK
Brad. We've got orders to bust north to Nasiriyah, support the Regimental Combat
Team there. And there's been a change in the ROE. Anyone with a weapon is declared
hostile. If a woman walks away from you with a weapon on her back, shoot her. If
an armed Iraqi sells good humor out of the back of a VW, shoot him. I don't care
if you hit him with a 40mm grenade.
COLBERT
Roger that, sir.
(In the background:
MARINE
Let's get radio checks going.)
COLBERT
Gear up, gents. Move it out!
Bryan inspects Trombley.
BRYAN
Close your fucking flak vest. Where's your Delta tourniquet? Come on, Trombley.
[takes Trombley's tourniquet and ties it around his neck] Fucking keep it here.
[walking over to Wright, inspecting his vest] Where the fuck did you get this?
WRIGHT
What? Ebay?
BRYAN
Ebay? Christopher?
CHRISTOPHER
[OS] Yeah, doc?
BRYAN
You got rigger tape?
CHRISTOPHER
Yeah sure.
BRYAN
Thank you, sir.
Bryan takes the tape and tapes Wright's flak vest closed. Fick helps.
(In the background:
MARINE
Get your vehicles crossed to miker-5.)
BRYAN
I got this.
Fick pats his shoulder and walks away.
BRYAN
And this lunatic doesn't even know he's in Iraq. Thinks he's a superhero from some
Japanese comic.
REYES
Hey, I put on my superhero uniform everyday I'm in the Corps, brother. Hoorah.
MARINE
[OS] Hoorah!
REYES
Now we find our true Dharma.
(In the background:
MARINE 1
Mike, Red-con One in five.
JACKS
Let's get it on!
REYES
Budweiser, we got our call signs straight?
MARINE 2
Let's roll!
MARINE 3 (LILLEY?)
Hey, Leon, I thought you were Mexican?
LEON
I am.
MARINE 3 (LILLEY?)
Then why aren't you loud and stealing my shit?
MARINE 4
Let's go.)
[00:10:21]
Daytime. Marines cheer as Bravo rolls by.
MARINE
Get some! Here comes the Marines, motherfuckers. Look out!
TROMBLEY
[OS] Fucking POG.
WRIGHT
What's a POG?
TROMBLEY
Persons Other than Grunts. Rear echelon guys. Pussies.
FICK
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors be advised. We are now departing friendly lines.
TLs ensure that all weapons are Condition One.
COLBERT
Brass-check all weapons.
RAPTOR
[on radio] Godfather, this is Raptor. We're taking small arms fire from the east.
COLBERT
Alpha's in contact ahead. We're prosecuting targets with Cobras.
Bravo Two One drives by a blood-stained Army truck.
PERSON
A supply company. Army.
TROMBLEY
Oh, damn. And we ain't in the city yet.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Godfather, this is Hitman Actual. Interrogative, do you want Bravo to
push to the uh river's edge and link up with Alpha? Over.
ECKLOFF
[on radio] Hitman, this is Godfather. Negative. Take an overwatch position and stand
by for possible casevacs.
[00:11:25]
Alpha is shot at on the southern bank of the Euphrates. Colbert observes from a
hill overwatching the river where Bravo is stationed.
COLBERT
[on radio] Victors, all Victors. [into radio] Get out of your vehicles and take
cover. Our sister company is finally in this war.
Colbert returns to the Humvees.
PERSON
How come Alpha gets to pop their cherry and we don't?
COLBERT
They have their mission, we have ours.
SIXTA
Love this shit! We's in the middle of it now, boys! Garza, get your stupid ass down!
Ain't nothing for you to shoot at.
(In the background:
JACKS
Fuck this shit, for sure.)
Colbert walks up to Fick's position behind Fick's truck.
COLBERT
Sir, how long do we have to sit up here with our nuts out getting shot at before
RCT One goes into the town?
FICK
Brad, we sit here with our nuts exposed, but when RCT One assaults over the bridge
and we go in behind to get their casualties, we get our nuts blown completely off.
COLBERT
Alpha's getting smacked pretty good down there. Shall we dig in, sir?
FICK
Not a bad idea.
Colbert walks away as Fick runs to Espera's position.
ESPERA
LT! Those grunts from RCT One are taking fire from across the river.
A electric line is blown down.
ESPERA
Shit, Marine arty. That was friendly.
BRYAN
Sir, request going up there-
FICK
Go!
Bryan runs towards RCT One's position. There is constant gunfire.
INJURED MARINE
I'm hit, I'm hit.
BRYAN
Hey, buddy. I'm gonna give you a bandage. You're okay. Push it on the wound. You
keep steady pressure. It's gonna be all right. Check for breathing. Stop the bleeding.
I want to hear reports. Head wounds, chest wounds, bleeders.
Patterson scopes out Iraqi positions across the river as Alpha continues to be shot
at.
(In the background:
MARINE
You guys see where that shot came from?)
PATTERSON
[into radio] Godfather, this is Assassin Actual. Over.
FERRANDO
[on radio] This is Godfather. Send traffic. Over.
PATTERSON
[into radio] Interrogative, request permission to engage unarmed targets, suspected
enemy forward observers. Over.
FERRANDO
[on radio] Stand by, Assassin. I'll confer with division.
ECKLOFF
Division approves change in the ROE.
FERRANDO
[into radio] Assassin, this is Godfather. Change in the ROE is approved. You are
approved to destroy unarmed targets suspected as spotters. How copy?
PATTERSON
[into radio] Solid copy. Out. [addressing team] We're cleared hot on civilian targets,
regardless of whether they're armed. If they're spotting those mortars, take them
the fuck out.
ALPHA MARINE
Roger that.
Mattis and Dowdy confer from RCT One's position.
MATTIS
Be 100% sure that these Marines…
ECKLOFF
Sir, it's Colonel Dowdy from RCT One with General Mattis. They're up on the MSR.
Dowdy and Mattis walk along a bridge outside Nasiriyah.
DOWDY
With the resistance we're seeing, I'm concerned that initiating movement too hastily-
MATTIS
The question is why the fuck am I standing here looking at a fucking bridge that
doesn't have my Marines rolling across it.
DOWDY
Sir, we're 30 mikes from initiating the armored assault to engage the enemy along
the MSR through the city. Our problem has been refuelling the tanks.
MATTIS
Not only "no", Colonel, but "fuck no". Okay? I don't give a rat's ass about the
resistance in this city. Your mission is to punch through this city, put RCT One
north of it where our objectives are. T his is just a fucking sideshow. You have
7,000 Marine riflemen who have been ready to go for the past 24 hours, and you're
standing here with your foot on your dick. No, check that, not your dick, my dick.
Godfather walks up.
MATTIS
Godfather, hold your Marines back for now. When Colonel Dowdy here sees fit to unfuck
himself and push through this fucking shithole, I'll turn First Recon loose.
FERRANDO
That'd be my Alpha Company taking out their spotters. I'd expect this mortar fire
to stop shortly, sir.
Colbert stands in a field outside the city while a Marine wanders by, looking lost.
COLBERT
How's it going?
MARINE
They shot one of my Marines in the stomach. Out there. We returned fire, blew a
donkey's head off. We didn't see much else.
COLBERT
Hey buddy, do you need anything? Food, water...
MARINE
It's all good, bro.
[00:16:46]
Artillery strikes Nasiriyah at night. Godfather holds a meeting inside his tent.
FERRANDO
Expect a fight. Expect casualties when we push through Nasiriyah. Task Force Tarawa
has been in that city for thirty-six hours getting chopped up pretty good while
we sit here with the Regimental Combat Team, nursing our thumbs with our assholes.
Gentlemen, what does Ferrando think? We have allowed the enemy to dictate the tempo
of our movements. If it were up to Ferrando, we would not have stopped at the bridge
this afternoon. We'd be through that city. But the good news is, once we clear the
Euphrates, General Mattis informs me that we are going to be in the game, gentlemen.
And when we play, we, not the enemy, are going to dictate the tempo. Once we're
over the river, we're going to detach from the RCT, push north, and flank or destroy
anyone who tries to stop us. All right, that's it for now, gentlemen.
Everyone leaves the tent area.
SCHWETJE
He didn't say anything about the grooming standard. Is he giving us a pass on our
men not shaving?
PATTERSON
I'd interpret what he said to mean facial hair’s not going to be our focus for the
next 24 hours.
Schwetje looks confused and walks away while Patterson shakes his head
Espera and Wright lie under a Humvee smoking cigars
ESPERA
[OS] 50% of Americans are obese. You know what obese means, right? Fat as a motherfucker.
All these other countries, nobody's fat. Think about that shit, dawg. How does a
motherfucker get fat? You gotta sit on a couch, do nothing but eat and watch TV
all day. White trash, poor Mexicans and blacks… All obese as motherfuckers. See,
the white man has created a system with so much excess that even poor motherfuckers
are fat.
WRIGHT
Mmm.
ESPERA
A few years ago, dawg, I refused a diploma from my community college.
WRIGHT
What?
ESPERA
Yeah, I didn't want no piece of paper from the white master saying I was qualified
for his world.
WRIGHT
Huh.
ESPERA
Then I joined the Corps. Figured you can't beat 'em, join 'em. See, that's what
this is all about, dawg. The U.S. should just go into all these fucked-up countries,
Iraq, Africa, set up American government and infrastructure. McDonald's, Starbucks,
M.T.V. Then just hand it all over. I mean how else are we going to make these hungry
motherfuckers want to stop killing everybody? Put a McDonald's on every fucking
corner. [Wright laughs.] If we've got to blow up the corner, then build the McDonald's,
so be it.
Colbert walks over.
COLBERT
Enough lecture on the white man's oppression. I need my Assistant Team Leader for
a meeting with the LT.
ESPERA
I was just elucidating on the white man's burden, dawg.
Wright and Espera laugh.
COLBERT
[OS] Now, Poke.
ESPERA
You know I'm rollin' wit you. Come on.
WRIGHT
Thanks, man.
Wright and Espera get out from underneath the Humvee.
ESPERA
[to Colbert] What? Just wanted to get one last cigarette before we all die.
Bravo Two's Team Leaders meet around the hood of Two One's Humvee.
PATRICK
BBC had that U.S. Army convoy hit here. Captured 11 soldiers. Showed 'em on Arab
TV. Abusing 'em on TV.
LOVELL
Shit, they raped the one woman soldier. They broke her bones and then raped her.
It was on Al Jazeera.
COLBERT
News for you, Gents. [walking up] This neck of desert, when they capture soldiers,
not just the women get raped.
ESPERA
In your dreams, Brad.
FICK
As we learned today from the eight hours we spent getting our asses shot at by the
Euphrates, the enemy's got some fight in him. I have no word on our mission, but
I assume we're going into Nasiriyah. Those are all casevac birds. Word is that task
force Tarawa has taken 200 casualties in that city.
PATRICK
Any idea when we might get tasked with going in?
FICK
Godfather's meeting with Company Commanders right now.
WYNN
You all take advantage of the time now to have your men get some shut-eye.
ESPERA
LT, what's the skinny on who we're fighting in the city?
FICK
All I saw today were those guys in black pajamas, irregulars. The Fedayeen.
ESPERA
Guys in pajamas stopped two Marine regiments?
COLBERT
You know, Poke, guys in black pajamas did all right in Vietnam too. You gotta respect
the pajamas.
WYNN
[OS] From the amount of arty we’re putting down, I don't think we'll have as much
to worry about when we go through.
ESPERA
[OS] What's the population here?
FICK
I've heard 400,000.
Loud explosion in Nasiriyah.
ESPERA
Scratch a few off that number.
FICK
Gunny and I are going over to Godfather's position, see what's coming down to the
Captain.
Fick and Wynn walk away.
TROMBLEY
[from inside the Humvee] What about James Alvarez Trombley?
PERSON
That's stupid.
TROMBLEY
You're stupid!
COLBERT
Change of personnel. Gabe, you're swapping with Hasser. You've got more experience
on the 50 cal.
GARZA
Fine with me.
ESPERA
Hasser!
HASSER
Yeah?
ESPERA
I'm trading you for a Mexican. You're in Brad's truck now.
HASSER
Good to go.
WRIGHT
Oh, hey, Gabe! Do you have the photograph of my girlfriend I was showing to Person
the other day?
GARZA
No, I think I gave it to Leon.
WRIGHT
Leon?
COLBERT
[OS] You let these plebeians look at a photograph of your girlfriend?
PERSON
Hey, Walt, can you keep it down? I’m having trouble hearing the artillery.
Fick and Wynn confer with Schwetje beside his Humvee.
SCHWETJE
... then we have to play the game harder. Godfather said that.
FICK
Was the Colonel any more specific about our orders than that?
SCHWETJE
Godfather told us the mustache-growing contest had nothing to do with building morale.
Before the war began, Division G2 had covert asset intel that Iraqis planned to
infiltrate our units. The mustaches were part of the General's plan to uncover enemy
infiltrators. So if you see a Marine with a mustache from now on, he might be an
Iraqi. So no more mustaches. But the men don't have to shave tonight. [turns to
walk away, then turns back] Oh, yeah. Bravo's on point when we roll through Nasiriyah
and then break from the main force.
MCGRAW
On point? In broken-down unarmored Humvees. They should change our name to First
Suicide Battalion.
WYNN
We need to make sure the stupidity in this company doesn't roll down too hard on
our guys.
Two-One talk inside their Humvee.
TROMBLEY
What about just James Trombley?
PERSON
Oh, come on. Trombley, you should name your kid Jesus. I mean, your wife's Mexican.
I mean fucking Mexicans do it all the time. That's what's cool about knocking up
a Mexican girl. She could drop a Jesus.
COLBERT
Never have kids. In fact, Trombley, you should never have gotten married. Women
will always cost, but marriage is the most expensive way to go. If you want to pay
for it, go to Australia. For a hundred bucks you can order a whore over the phone.
Half an hour later she arrives at your door, fresh and hot like a pizza.
Wright and Trombley laugh. Fick walks over and knocks on the Humvee's door.
FICK
2000 hours Zulu time we go in. Hitman Two is leading the battalion. Your vehicle
is on point for all of us.
COLBERT
Yes, sir.
FICK
Once we cross the Euphrates, expect contact from both sides.
COLBERT
[points at the Blue Force Tracker screen] Task Force Tarawa Amtracs. Looks like
a CAP team, straight-leg grunt platoon.
FICK
Gotta be careful about blue-on-blue contact. Any potential targets we see within
300 meters of our position, double-check to make sure they're not friendly.
PERSON
Hey, what time local is 2000 Zulu?
FICK
2300 hours. It'll be dark. It's to our advantage.
COLBERT
True, sir, if we had enough batteries to power our night optics.
FICK
We turn everything on when we move.
COLBERT
I'm just glad they had the wisdom to push us through at night.
FICK
I'm assured that we will be crossing that bridge before dawn. I'm assured of this.
[00:24:57]
The next day, Bravo Two approaches the bridge outside Nasiriyah
FICK
[on radio] Be advised, we're gonna see friendlies on our right immediately after
the bridge.
ESPERA
[on radio] Hitman Two, this is Two One Bravo. Be advised, we have friendlies on
both sides. How copy? Over.
TROMBLEY
Sergeant, I thought they were gonna send us over the bridge in the darkness.
PERSON
[chugging Ripped Fuel tablets] Nuh-ugh. Not retarded enough.
COLBERT
Careful with the Ripped Fuel.
PERSON
Fuck, man, I'm on 30 hours no sleep. Beats the record I made in high school when
I was on the debate team.
WRIGHT
Wait a minute, you were on the debate team?
COLBERT
[OS] What channel's for the 1-19?
PERSON
Six, Four, and TAD Seven. Yeah, I was really, really fucking good, but all the other
guys on the team thought I was high all of the time.
COLBERT
Shut up, Ray. All right! Let's make some money.
Bravo Two begins crossing the bridge.
COLBERT
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors, this is Hitman Two One. Be advised, we have elements
of Task Force Tarawa strong pointing intersections north of the bridge.
ESPERA
[on radio] Two One Bravo, copy.
PATRICK
[on radio] Two Two, copy.
Bravo Two enters Nasiriyah.
PERSON
Shit! Fucking tranny fluid from the Amtrac. Jesus, Brad!
COLBERT
Watch the road. [passing members of Task Force Tarawa, some dead ] It's nothing,
Trombley.
A helicopter drops ordinance nearby.
BAPTISTA
[on radio] Thees Eetman Two tree. [Continues in Portuguese]
PERSON
Fucking Baptista.
BAPTISTA
[on radio] How copy, eh? How copy?
COLBERT
[into radio] I don't copy, Hitman Two Three. I don't copy a word you're saying.
COLBERT
[OS] Every time Baptista gets excited, his English goes out the fucking window.
PERSON
He's not even a citizen. He snuck in from whatever fucking greaseball country he's
from and now he's a Marine. You know, there ought to be at least some sort of grammar
test before you're out here blowing shit up with heavy weapons.
COLBERT
If they did that, fucking bucktooth, cross-eyed, sister-fucking hicks like you wouldn't
get in either.
Person grins.
COLBERT
I've got friendlies to my three.
TROMBLEY
Yeah, I got them on my nine.
Bravo continues driving past more Tarawa Marines.
TARAWA MARINE
Pick it up. Pick it up.
Tarwar Marines engage an Iraqi in an alley.
FICK
[on radio] Hitman Two Victors, Hitman Two Victors, be advised, Assassin and Raptor
are in enemy contact to our rear. How copy?
COLBERT
[into radio] Two One copy.
TROMBLEY
Fuck! All the bad guys are opening up on the guys behind us. Why aren't they shooting
at us?
A chopper shoots a bomb into a riverside building while Leon films.
MARINE
[OS] Misfit cleared hot.
LILLEY
They got some, didn't they brah?
LEON
Fuck yeah!
LILLEY
You caught that, right?
LEON
Most definitely.
LILLEY
Yo, CNN would definitely pay for drama like that, brah. That shit was extreme.
Espera shakes his head. Bravo Two continues rolling through Nasiriyah.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] All Hitman victors halt.
COLBERT
Stop here.
The convoy halts, and Marines take up position outside of their vehicle.
MARINE 1
[OS] Two ragheads, the second floor of the building, 300 meters at 12.
MARINE 2
[OS] Go a little higher, we gotta get that nine-line up.
HITMAN THREE ONE
[on radio] Three One, solid on our sector.
KOCHER
[on radio] Hitman Three Two, roger.
MCGRAW
[on radio] Hitman, this is Hitman Three. Interrogative, what are we doing here?
Over.
PERSON
This is a nice place for an ambush. Why the fuck are we stopped?
COLBERT
Orders.
MARINE (SCHWETJE?)
[on radio] Hitman three this is Hitman. Raptor's casevacing a Marine from the RCT.
Over.
COLBERT
Charlie's halting for five mins to help casevac a wounded Marine from RCT One.
MCGRAW
[on radio] This is nuts halting us here. We're sitting ducks. This is the last place
that we should be.
PERSON
I am so sick of Captain America spazzing out on our comms.
MCGRAW
[on radio] They could be coming from all sides. They could be coming from all sides!
DARNOLD
Is our platoon commander okay?
REDMAN
We'll be all right if I turn my fifty to our six and let off a few rounds.
AK fire in the background.
KOCHER
You guys got that?
REDMAN
It's fucking ours.
KOCHER
No, it's not. It's an AK.
REDMAN
Yeah, and it belongs to our fucking platoon commander.
KOCHER
[into radio] Hitman Three, this is Three Two. Interrogative, what are you engaging?
McGraw shoots a car multiple times.
CARISALEZ
Sir, why did you shoot the car?
MCGRAW
Denying the enemy transportation.
MCGRAW
[into radio] This is Hitman Three. How much longer are we going to be halted here
waiting to die in fucking ambush alley? My men really need to know. Out.
RAPTOR
[on radio] Godfather, Godfather, this is Raptor. Casevac Marine is stabilized. We're
Oscar Mike. Over.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] All Hitman victors, this is Hitman. The battalion is Oscar Mike.
Bravo starts moving again. They cross a bridge and leave Nasiriyah.
BRAVO TWO-TWO
[singing OS] Nothing wrong with me.
Nothing’s wrong with me.
Something’s got to give.
Something’s got to give.
Something’s got to give.
Bravo continues driving down Route 7 outside the city.
CHAFFIN, BRUNMEIER, JACKS
[singing] Aaaaaa-ha! Let the Hajjis hit the floor.
Let the Hajjis hit the floor.
Let the Hajjis hit the flooooooor-ha!
[continue OS] Let the Hajjis hit the floor.
Let the Hajjis hit the floor.
Let the Hajjis hit the floooooor-ha!
TROMBLEY
Sergeant, I didn’t get to shoot.
PERSON
That fucking sucks, Trombley. Your recruiting officer tell you you get to shoot
people?
TROMBLEY
Fucking-a, he did.
PERSON
See, Trombley asked about shooting people. I asked about pussy. The guy told me
I'd get to go to Thailand, get all kinds of strange. What'd you ask about, Brad?
Brad probably saw that TV commercial, the one with the knight who fucks up the dragon
then turns into the Marine.
HASSER
Ooh ooh, dress blues with a sword.
PERSON
[laughing] That fucking dress-blues commercial, man, that got so many fucking guys.
Now look at us! Trombley hasn't killed anybody, I am half a world away from good
Thai pussy, and Colbert is out here rolling around Fuckbutt, Iraq, hunting for dragons
in a MOPP suit that smells like four days of piss and ballsweat.
Wright mouths "Wow!"
HASSER
Hahaha! Nice!
PERSON
[OS] You should have rolled into battle with a sword, Brad. That would have fucking
rocked.
[00:31:54]
Fick, Wynn, and TLs meet around a Humvee studying a map of the AO.
FICK
Orders are to push north along route 7 until we get to a cut-off here. Gentlemen,
our AO is now Mesopotamia, the land between the Euphrates and the Tigris, cradle
of civilization.
ESPERA
[gesturing towards some dead Iraqis] The Marines ahead of us sure civilized these
motherfuckers.
FICK
Second LAR was out here alone last night, pushed through Nasiriyah ahead of us,
set up here. RPG teams came at them all night, they cut them down with their Bushmasters.
ESPERA
Mad respect for the LAVs, sir.
FICK
Don't get too comfortable. We're losing them after 10 klicks. Cutting off the highway
here, separating from the main element, and once we leave the hardball here, Godfather
has us pushing through a canal area, rolling on our own.
PATRICK
[OS] Team Two, rally up!
Colbert walks up to Two Three.
COLBERT
Shady.
BAPTISTA
Wha huh?
COLBERT
I wanted to apologize for blowing my stack on comms back there.
BAPTSTA
Ah, I think to myself, why is Iceman so angry? Someone pees in his corn flakes this
morning?
COLBERT
Shit, I'm not being critical of you, but sometimes when you get excited, you speak
Spanish on the comm.
BAPTISTA
Hmm, this is strange. Because in Brazil, my country, we speak Portuguese.
COLBERT
Yeah, well whatever language you people speak down there, try to stick to English
when we're on Marine Corps comms.
BAPTISTA
Si, Colbert, si.
Colbert walks away.
ESPERA
[OS]...25mm bushmaster, put a round through the same hole at 2,000 meters.
LEON
[OS] Yeah, man, they actually had to make the gun less accurate.
COLBERT
Still railing on the white man?
ESPERA
Man, I don't hate the white man no more. Leave that to these motherfuckers. [turns
to dead Iraqi soldiers] Me? I'm just staying here in Iraq, eating my pound cake,
playing on the white man's team.
COLBERT
Not the surrendering Iraqis we've seen. These guys came to fight.
ESPERA
Dawg, motherfucker died trying to get a round off. Combat discipline.
[00:33:44]
Bravo Two continues driving down the MSR. Dead bodies line the side of the road.
FICK
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors, observe everything, admire nothing.
PERSON
Man, I am so high from not sleeping. So check this out, maybe they didn't issue
the wrong color fatigues for the invasion. Maybe our blouses actually aren't green.
Maybe they are desert beige. You know like sometimes colors actually start to look
different when you're so sleep-deprived? Like the sun, it looks red when it actually
is yellow. You know, maybe our blouses aren't green. We're just so fucking sleep-deprived
that's the way that they look to us.
COLBERT
Are you making this up?
PERSON
Fuck yeah, I'm making this up. It passes the time, brother.
Two One passes a destroyed truck.
TROMBLEY
Get some! Look at that truck.
COLBERT
BM-21, a legit target.
Two One passes another truck with burnt bodies inside.
TROMBLEY
Oh, it's like a Halloween funhouse. [laughs]
COLBERT
Stay frosty. [into radio] Two One Bravo, two men in that car to our three. Do you
see weapons?
ESPERA
[into radio] Two One Alpha, this is Two One Bravo. No weapons. These guys are down
for the count.
Bravo Two drives by a dead girl on the side of the road.
COLBERT
She's dead. Nothing we can do.
Wright takes a picture of the girl.
PERSON
Well, well, well, who's the sicko in our Humvee now? The psycho-ass jarheads or
the fucking liberal media just looking for a little exploitation?
Christopher films the dead girl.
LILLEY
Brah, get that dude right there.
CHRISTOPHER
It's not a dude.
LILLEY
Hey, Christopher, man, turn it off.
CHRISTOPHER
Turn the camera off, brah.
ESPERA
So it's a snuff film now?
[00:35:48]
Fick and Colbert scope out a possible enemy camp.
FICK
I'm seeing what you see. You and Doc take Christeson and Stafford off my truck.
They need some experience.
COLBERT
Roger that, sir.
FICK
[into radio] Hitman, this is Hitman Two. We have what looks like an enemy encampment-
Schwetje and Greigo approach Fick from behind.
SCHWETJE
Hitman Two, this is Hitman actual on your six.
GRIEGO
LAR taught these Hajjis a lesson they won't forget.
FICK
Girl with the chopped off legs is sure gonna remember.
GRIEGO
The hell is your problem?
FICK
Last night my best team could only maintain night optics at 50%. You are not supplying
us with the batteries we need.
GRIEGO
LT.
FICK
You've got more optics and thermals on that vest than I've got in the whole platoon.
And I bet you've got the batteries to run them all night long.
GRIEGO
You're way out of line. These are for Bravo's command.
SCHWETJE
The men need to conserve resources. The Marine Corps teaches that.
Colbert, Bryan, Christeson, and Stafford investigate the enemy encampment they found
earlier.
BRYAN
PFC Fucknuts, this is an enemy encampment.
STAFFORD
Yo, man, it might be booby-trapped. Don't blaze a trail. Tread in Sergeant Colbert's
footsteps.
Christeson pees on a bag of rice.
CHRISTESON
"Say hello to my little friend."
COLBERT
What the fuck are you doing?
CHRISTESON
Denying the enemy.
BRYAN
We could have took that for our own.
CHRISTESON
Hajji rice?
BRYAN
These men living here on rice and beans, sleeping out here in the cold on these
rags, these are some fucking hard men. You ladies bitch if you get an MRE without
a fucking Pop-Tart.
STAFFORD
Movement right!
CHRISTESON
Nine o'clock!
Everyone gets in position and aims toward the movement which turns out to be McGraw.
He holds up an Iraqi uniform shirt.
MCGRAW
Republican guard insignia. Special Saddam division.
STAFFORD
Bravo Three's commander. Should I shoot him?
BRYAN
Don't waste your bullet.
[00:38:40]
Bravo resumes driving down the MSR.
FICK
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors, this is Hitman Two. Be advised, the report of
an enemy gas attack was again in error. Break. All Hitman teams return to MOPP-2
posture. Over.
COLBERT
[on radio] Two One Alpha, copy.
ESPERA, LILLEY, LEON, CHRISTOPHER, GARZA
[singing] Two One Bravo in a Humvee.
I roll down my window and I start to say,
"It’s all about killing Hajjis today."
'Cause the boyz in the hood are always hard.
Come talking that shit and we’ll pull your card.
Knowing nothing in life but to be legit.
Don’t quote me, boy, I ain’t said shit.
Two One takes off their gas masks.
COLBERT
This is plain undignified.
Wright sighs.
PERSON
[holding up a gloved hand] Hello, everyone. I'm Michael Jackson.
WRIGHT
This is fucking miserable.
PERSON
Yeah but we get to invade a whole fucking country, dude.
COLBERT
At this point, I almost wish Saddam would gas us. It would make all the effort with
our MOPP suits worth it.
WRIGHT
It would justify the invasion.
PERSON
Oh, there's no doubt Saddam's got chemicals. It's just you liberal dicksucks who
try to pick everything apart.
COLBERT
[scoping field] Foot-mobiles, two o'clock.
KOCHER
[on radio] Hitman, Hitman, this is Hitman Three Two.
COLBERT
Maybe 900 meters out.
KOCHER
[on radio] Be advised, took a few rounds from that gas station. We're pushing through.
WRIGHT
Bravo Three's behind us, right? They're taking fire from that gas station we passed?
SCHWETJE
[on radio] All Hitman victors, this is Hitman. Raptor is taking fire from the gas
station to our rear.
COLBERT
Slow down.
TROMBLEY
I guess.
FICK
[on radio] This is Hitman Two. Roger that.
COLBERT
[looking through scope] Is that an RPG Tube?
MCGRAW
[on radio] This is Hitman Three. Roger that.
COLBERT
[into radio] Hitman Two, this is Two One. We got two foot-mobiles on our two o'clock,
900 meters out in black. They appear to be carrying an RPG tube. How copy?
FICK
[on radio] Hitman Two One, wait One. Over.
COLBERT
[OS] Hey Walt, do you see them? Fucking popped down.
HASSER
I see 'em. Down that ditch.
FICK
[on radio] Two One, go ahead and halt your vehicle. Over.
COLBERT
[OS] Person, halt the vehicle.
FICK
[on radio] Hitman Actual, this is Hitman Two. We're halting to engage possible foot-mobiles.
How copy? Over.
Bravo Two stops. Colbert gets out of his Humvee to scope the foot mobiles.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] This is Hitman. Solid copy. All Hitman Victors, be advised, Raptor is
now actively engaged with foot mobiles to our six.
Fick walks up to Colbert.
COLBERT
Flashing. They got optics on us.
LOVELL
[on radio] Hitman, this is Hitman Two Three. Interrogative, was that the same gas
station that engaged Three Two? Over.
COLBERT
One keeps popping his head up.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Unknown at this time. Over.
COLBERT
I'm not 100% confident that was an RPG tube. But I'm sure they're putting optics
on us.
FICK
[into radio] Pappy, Reyes, get the M-40 and punch out to that berm.
PATRICK
[on radio] Two Two, roger.
Patrick and Reyes take out a sniper rifle from their Humvee.
FICK
[into radio] Hitman, this is Hitman Two. Be advised, enemy foot-mobiles to our east
have optics on us and appear to be armed with an RPG Tube. How copy?
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Hitman Two, this is Hitman. You are approved to engage those targets.
FICK
[on radio] Solid copy. [into radio] Hitman Two Two Echo Five Romeo, this is Hitman
Two. You are approved to engage.
PATRICK
[on radio] Roger that.
Patrick and Reyes set up a sniper position on a berm.
(Background radio chatter:
ECKLOFF
Raptor, this is Godfather. What's your status? Over.
RAPTOR
Godfather, this is Raptor. We are still taking small arms fire in the vicinity of
the gas station. Break. Currently...
ECKLOFF
Standing by...)
Reyes and Patrick observe the two foot mobiles through their scopes.
REYES
Range to target, niner, seven, niner. Wind moving from west to east, quarter value.
On scope. [chanting: Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō]
PATRICK
On target.
REYES
Fire.
Patrick fires and hits one foot mobile in the head. Patrick reloads.
REYES
Stand by for second target. Low crawling, east, five yards. You got him?
PATRICK
I tally.
REYES
Fire.
Patrick fires, and the other foot mobile drops down. Patrick reloads.
REYES
Hit.
Reyes pats Patrick on the back.
COLBERT
[To Fick] Men from that camp we found.
RAPTOR
[on radio] Raptor to Godfather. The target has been suppressed.
ECKLOFF
[on radio] Raptor, this is Godfather. Solid copy.
Jacks bumps fists with Reyes as Reyes returns to the Humvee.
FICK
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors, this is Hitman Two. We have destroyed the RPG
Team. Over.
CHAFFIN
You all got some? How'd it feel to kill?
REYES
I don't know, dawg. Felt fucking good, I guess.
CHAFFIN
Man.
REYES
I try to live my life by the Tao, bro. I can't always make my own dharma.
CHAFFIN
I hate them filthy Hajji fucks.
REYES
That's what I love about you, dawg. You're so fucking messed up.
CHAFFIN
That's how I roll.
Jacks laughs.
REYES
[OS] All right, gents, let's mount up.
RAPTOR
[on radio] Godfather. Neutralized personnel inside the gas station. Still receiving
sporadic mortar fire. Over.
CARISALEZ
Charlie's still taking fire from that gas station?
ECKLOFF
[on radio] Raptor, this is Godfather. Solid copy. Out.
An Iraqi soldier stands up from behind a berm and attempts to run. McGraw guns him
down with his AK.
HITMAN THREE THREE
[on radio] All Hitman Victors, this is Hitman Three Three. We're taking inaccurate
fire at our 9 o'clock, about 600 meters. Cannot observe the shooter.
REDMAN
Eric, you fucking see that? I don't think that guy was armed.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Hitman, solid copy.
KOCHER
We didn't see what the Captain saw. He's our commander.
COLBERT
[on radio] All Hitman Victors, we are Oscar Mike.
[00:43:18]
Bravo drives down an MSR.
COLBERT
See that trail? We're going to the left. The whole rest of the division is going
the other way.
PERSON
Just us?
COLBERT
Just First Recon. This has the makings of a legit fucking mission. We're screening,
doing a route reconnaissance, maybe movement to contact. We got 15 klicks on our
own. Gonna link up with RCT One outside the next shithole town. We got no air. There's
a shamal storm coming. Rotary isn't flying.
PERSON
Oh great, so we're basically just like bait for the bad guys.
COLBERT
Yeah, but we'll be the first Americans to roll down this road. Turn and we're money.
Bravo Two turns down side road.
FICK
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors, hold 35kph, maintain dispersion.
PERSON
[on radio] Roger that. Turning left.
MARINE (LOVELL?)
[on radio] Solid copy.
COLBERT
I smell a goddamn Charms.
Trombley and Wright spit out their Charms.
TROMBLEY
Sorry, Sergeant. I had one left. [To Wright] Hey, you know what sucks? All those
dead bodies we saw today, and I didn't get to shoot any of them.
PERSON
I see foot-mobiles. 12 o'clock, 100 meters.
Two One approaches some Iraqi girls. Person takes off his helmet.
PERSON
Damn!
Person puts on some sunglasses.
PERSON
Brad, they're fucking hotties! I didn't know Hajjis could be hotties. I thought
they were all camel-faced hags.
Person honks, and the Iraqi girls wave.
PERSON
Hey, as-salāmu `alaykum, ladies. Damn, homie. Better than when I was in my band!
COLBERT
'Cause they haven't heard you play.
IRAQI MAN
[holding up a baby] We love you, Americans. We love you!
COLBERT
Thank you! Vote Republican.
IRAQIS
I love you Americans! I love you Americans!
FICK
[on radio] Two One, this is Two. I need you to take that bridge over the canal ahead.
How copy?
COLBERT
[into radio] Hitman Two, interrogative, am I to understand you mean the near bridge?
Because I don't think that's the correct turn.
FICK
[on radio] Direct order from Hitman Actual. He's going off of his map.
COLBERT
[into radio] Roger that.
PERSON
They let him have a map?
Bravo crosses the bridge and continues down the dirt road.
PERSON
Whoa whoa!
COLBERT
[into radio] All Hitman Two Victors, halt.
All vehicles stop. Colbert gets out of his Humvee.
MARINE
[OS] The fuck are we stopping for?
ESPERA
[OS] Brad, what's going on?
LOVELL
[on radio] Hitman Two One Alpha, this is Hitman Two Three. What's going on up there?
Colbert looks out across a field.
COLBERT
Motherfucker.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Hitman Two One, this is Hitman. Interrogative, why have we stopped? Over.
PERSON
[on radio] Hitman, this is Hitman Two One. No more road.
Fick walks up to Colbert.
FICK
[Referring to Schwetje standing over his Humvee looking at a map.] Just figuring
out we're lost.
COLBERT
I could have told him that a half an hour ago. The whole battalion's two klicks
east of us on the other side of the Gharraf canal. We are now to the rear of everybody.
FICK
He's our commander, Brad.
Schwetje signals Colbert and Fick.
SCHWETJE
[into radio] Hitman Two, this is Hitman Actual. We're gonna backtrack. Hitman Three
will be on point. Colbert's team took a wrong turn at the bridge.
Colbert presses the send button on his radio. Fick shakes his head, and Colbert
lets go. Schwetje and Greigo continue to study their map.
[00:47:35]
Bravo drives across a bridge.
FICK
[on radio] Hitman, this is Hitman Two. We have multiple unarmed civilians fleeing
the town en masse. We're gonna stop to question them. Over.
SCHWETJE
This is Hitman. Roger that.
Bravo begins interrogating some villagers.
IRAQI VILLAGER
[speaks aggressively in Arabic]
MEESH
Villagers say they are grateful to be liberated by the Americans and look forward
to working hand-in-hand here in Iraq-
BRYAN
You're lying, Meesh, and they fucking know it.
An Iraqi villager points and mimics throat slitting.
FICK
Meesh, cut whatever fucking bullshit the higher ups have told you to say.
BRYAN
We're all alone out here, Meesh. You fuck us, I'll smile-kill you.
MEESH
When they hired me, they told me to put a little spin on things, a little psy-ops.
But you're right. We're in this together. These dudes are saying there are some
bad dudes up ahead. They know we're coming, and they want to hit us. They hate America,
man. I say we call in some air, some Cobras, fuck them up.
FICK
There is no air. The shamal is coming.
Fick, Bryan, Wright, and Colbert walk away, leaving Meesh with the Iraqis.
BRYAN
Where did we get the so-called interpreter?
FICK
He told me he works directly for General Mattis.
WRIGHT
He told me he worked for the CIA.
COLBERT
Back at Mathilda, he told me he could hook me up with free satellite TV.
Fick laughs.
ECKLOFF
[on radio] Hitman Two, this is Godfather. I can't raise Hitman Actual, but be advised,
Raptor and Assassin are taking heavy fire from the town.
FICK
[into radio] Roger that. [to his men] Stay frosty. Two klicks up the road, Alpha,
Charlie, and H&S are pinned down taking heavy fire from the town. Looks like another
Nasiriyah.
ECKLOFF
[on radio] Hitman Two, this is Godfather. We're gonna try to find a way to bypass
the town.
FICK
[into radio] Copy. [to his men] Battalion's trying to find a way around. Link up
with RCT One. We hold this position until instructed further.
Person puts on his helmet. Colbert and Wright return to the vehicle.
COLBERT
Gentlemen, we're looking at a pretty short ride. We're gonna link up with Regimental
Combat Team. After which, we rack out tonight.
TROMBLEY
Aren't we going through the town?
COLBERT
No.
TROMBLEY
But I didn't get to shoot yet.
PERSON
Hey, that town stopped a whole regiment with, like, tanks and shit.
TROMBLEY
But I didn't even get one-
COLBERT
Trombley, if we went through that town, we'd get smoked.
Ferrando observes artillery fire being dropped on Al Gharraf.
FERRANDO
That was a danger-close fire mission right there. On the money. Good effect on target.
[into radio] Assassin, this is Godfather. How copy?
PATTERSON
[into radio] Solid copy, Godfather.
FERRANDO
[into radio] Outstanding fire mission. Stand by. [to his men] Listen, this town
is just up the road. I see it's not even named here on my map. Frankly, Ferrando
doesn't give a fuck what they call it. I'm not gonna visit long or make friends.
ECKLOFF
We're planning to go through?
GODFATHER
Do we have a sitrep on enemy forces inside this town?
ECKLOFF
Enough to stop Colonel Dowdy and 7,000 RCT Marines.
FERRANDO
Enough to stop Colonel Dowdy. But personally, Godfather doesn't like being told
what to do by the enemy. I don't like the fact that the enemy had me sitting in
this shithole for the past couple hours. I might choose a different hole, somewhere
else. I plan to find that hole by going through that town up ahead. If there's one
thing I learned these past days in Iraq, there's no shortage of shitholes. More
shitholes in this country than oil wells.
FERRANDO
[into radio] Assassin, this is Godfather.
PATTERSON
[into radio] Roger, Godfather. Standing by.
FERRANDO
[into radio] Assassin, Godfather thinks you did a shit-hot job calling in those
danger-close fires. [on radio] Just like you were shit-hot taking out those forward
observers by the Nasiriyah bridge.
PATTERSON
[into radio] Roger that.
FERRANDO
[into radio] I want Assassin on point when we push through that town. How copy?
PATTERSON
[into radio] Godfather, we found there's an open route around the town.
FERRANDO
[into radio] I want you to step off in five mikes. [on radio] Push through that
town. How copy?
PATTERSON
[into radio] Honored. [to his team] Through the city in five.
Colbert cleans his gun inside the Humvee.
COLBERT
$300,000, Trombley. That's the cost to raise your average middle-class white kid.
Maybe since your fiancee's Mexican and you'll have little half-Mexican babies, you
can cut corners, do it on the cheap. I bet Sergeant Espera's parents didn't spend
more than a hundred to raise him. But of course, look how he turned out.
TROMBLEY
You against marriage, Sergeant?
PERSON
Brad got dumped.
COLBERT
My sweetheart since junior high left me and married my best friend since junior
high. We're all still friends. They're one of those happy couples that likes to
take pictures of themselves and hang 'em up all over their goddamn house. Sometimes
I go over there just to look at my ex-fiancee doing all the things I used to do
with her with my best friend. Surfing and jet skiing. It's nice having friends.
Fick walks up to the Humvee.
FICK
Change of orders. We're going through the town. Alpha's already rolling. We're picking
up the rear. It's just us. There's no air because of a shamal moving in. We're the
last element to roll through. Nobody stops, nobody gets cut off. [patting Colbert's
shoulder] Glad you're my team leader.
COLBERT
Thank you, sir.
PERSON
Shit.
[00:52:39]
Bravo Two begins rolling towards Al Gharraf.
CHRISTESON, STAFFORD
[singing] And can't nobody stop the juice so baby tell me what's the use.
I said,
It's getting hot in her.
So show me where you kill.
It is getting so hot, I'm gonna bust my 40s off.
With a little bit of ah, ah.
And a little bit of ah, ah.
Bravo Two approaches Al Gharraf.
COLBERT
We're way behind.
PERSON
I'm doing the best that I can. This isn't the 805 above La Jolla, you know?
FICK
[on radio] Hitman Three sustained casualty-
COLBERT
Bravo Three has a casualty.
FICK
[on radio] They were taking fire from the left and right.
COLBERT
Took fire from both sides.
WRIGHT
Who was it?
COLBERT
I don't know.
FICK
[on radio] Alpha and H&S have cleared the town.
COLBERT
Alpha and H&S are through the town. [into radio] Roger that.
Colbert kisses a grenade and loads it.
COLBERT
Gentlemen, from now on we're gonna have to earn our stories.
Bravo Two enters the town.
FICK
[on radio] Hold your dispersion.
ESPERA
Hitman Two says Alpha cleared this town under heavy fire. No casualties were reported.
LILLEY
Brah, why aren't they shooting at us?
Bravo Two approaches a building. Gunfire errupts.
WRIGHT
Gah!
COLBERT
Contact right!
Bravo Two returns fire.
PATRICK
Here we go, boys.
BRUNMEIER
Yeah? What a fucking birthday.
CHAFFIN
Happy birthday, bitch. Too bad you get shot in the face.
Weapons fire on both sides.
COLBERT
Give me a grenade!
Wright hands him a grenade. Colbert blows up a car.
ESPERA
Second-floor balcony! Shoot that motherfucker!
Garza's gun jams.
GARZA
Don't leave me here.
ESPERA
What?
GARZA
Don't leave me!
ESPERA
Take that fucking gun out!
GARZA
Fuck!
ESPERA
Hit that building!
REYES
Get down! Get down! Pick up the rate of fire.
Jacks takes out the building where Iraqis have been shooting at them.
MARINE (FICK?)
Three o'clock.
FICK
Go, go, go, go!
Two Three runs over a parked car on the side of the road.
LOVELL
Slow down!
WRIGHT
God... fuck!
Trombley shoots an Iraqi.
TROMBLEY
I got one. I got one! Saw his knee explode.
HASSER
Fuck, Mark-19's down!
Two One drives underneath some low hanging telephone lines which knocks down Hasser
and chockes him.
PERSON
Hass is down. He caught a wire.
Person backs up, and Hasser is freed.
HASSER
Good, go!
COLBERT
Is Hasser good? Are we good to go?
WRIGHT
Go, go, go!
FICK
[into radio] All Hitman Victors, radio check.
Bravo drives out of Al Gharraf.
COLBERT
[on radio] This is Two One Alpha, up 120 and up.
ESPERA
[on radio] Two One Bravo is up 700 and up.
PATRICK
[on radio] Hitman Two, this is Two Two, up 200 and up.
LOVELL
[on radio] This is Hitman Two Three, up 300 and up.
COLBERT
We got fucking lit up.
FICK
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors, this is Hitman Two. Roger.
Person laughs
COLBERT
Man! Everybody is okay, right?
WRIGHT
Yes!
TROMBLEY
Yeah.
PERSON
Yeah.
TROMBLEY
Hey, I fucking got one.
COLBERT
[OS] You all right?
Wright whistles, and Trombley laughs excitedly.
[00:57:54]
Bravo stops and makes camp.
PERSON
Fuck yeah, that was awesome! Did you see Walt? He tried to kill himself.
HASSER
Thanks to your driving.
CHAFFIN
That was fucking heavy, man.
REYES
Fuck yeah, brother.
WRIGHT
Who was the casualty in Bravo Three?
JACKS
It was Darnold, man. In the arm.
REYES
Yo, did you see my man Manimal? Fucking wall of fire. Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah! He
brought that building down. He saved our asses.
PERSON
Yes, he did, he did!
JACKS
Get off me! This shit ain't funny. If it goes a little different, we could have
all got killed today.
Everyone laughs.
PATRICK
Don't pet a burning dog.
ESPERA
We damn sure pet one today, didn't we?
PATRICK
Yep.
SIXTA
[singing] Grooming standard! [walks up] By first light tomorry, I expect all y'all
to be clean-shaven.
WYNN
After what we've just been through?
SIXTA
There's a lots can go wrong out here. Lack of battery, cold chow, lack of pussy,
but the one thing these mens can counts on is the grooming standard. I believe it
always ought to be there for them.
FICK
Sergeant Major, my company commander informed me last night that Godfather said
the men wouldn't have to shave.
SIXTA
In his infinite wisdom, the battalion commander never said that. You'd best check
with your company commander.
Sixta walks away. Fick turns to Wynn.
FICK
The one solid piece of information he passed, and he was wrong.
[00:59:34]
Company leaders meet with Ferrando under his command tent.
FERRANDO
Ferrando believes in the violence of action. The enemy, he stared us down in Nasiriyah.
But I wanted to show him today that some Americans won't back down from a fight.
I can put it in terms of tactics or strategy. I could quote Boyd. The simple way
to say it is that some people might reasonably fear these Iraqis running around
trying to organize ways to kill us. I don't. And not because I'm a particularly
courageous individual. I simply have a bigger fear. In my darkest hours, I sometimes
fear that I will do something General Mattis won't like. Gentlemen, I have no such
fears tonight.
[01:00:54]
That night, Person walks up to Colbert in his ranger grave.
PERSON
Brad. Brad, get up. We have a mission, search and rescue. [sighs] One of the officers
went out to take a shit, stepped over the berm and hasn't been heard from since.
COLBERT
An officer.
PERSON
From H&S company. He's probably just lost in the dark somewhere.
Colbert gets up and walks out with Person.
COLBERT
Fucking officers will be the death of us yet.
[01:02:01]
End Credits.
[VO - all on radio]
HITMAN
Rolling Thunder, this is Hitman. SEAD, over.
ROLLING THUNDER
Hitman, this is Rolling Thunder. SEAD, out.
HITMAN
Grid to suppress Mike-Charlie 4-3-5 9-2-1, grid to mark Mike-Charlie 4-7-3 9-8-9,
over.
ROLLING THUNDER
Grid to suppress Mike-Charlie 4-3-5 9-2-1, grid to mark Mike-Charlie 4-7-3 9-8-9,
out.
HITMAN
SA 6 gainful, non-standard minus 2 to minus three 3-0 plus 3-0 to plus 1, marks
smoke on the deck, two rounds HE-VT, cast TOT 5-3, over.
ROLLING THUNDER
SA 6 gainful, non-standard minus 2 to minus 3-0 then plus 3-0 to plus 1, marks smoke
on the deck, two rounds HE-VT, cast TOT 5-3, over.
HITMAN
OT direction 1600.
ROLLING THUNDER
Message to observer, Charlie two rounds, HE delay in effect, five yards. Bravo,
one round, one gun, smoke on the deck. SEAD. Cast TOT 5-3, target number Echo-Kilo
3-0-0-9, over.
HITMAN
MTO, Charlie, two rounds, HE delay, five guns, bravo, one round, one gun, smoke
on the deck. SEAD. Cast TOT 5-3. Out.
HITMAN
Tourman, this is Hitman. Standby for avail flying information.
TOURMAN
Tourman, standing by.
HITMAN
TOT 5-3, SEAD, non-standard minus 2 to minus 3-0 plus 3-0 to plus 1, gun target
line 0-9-3. I'm gonna talk you on.
TOURMAN
Tourman copies all.
HITMAN
West of the 7-3 Eastern, there is a large urban sprawl. Call contact.
TOURMAN
Contact.
HITMAN
Splitting the urban sprawl in half from the North to the South is an MSR. Call contact.
TOURMAN
Contact.
HITMAN
We’re observing everything to the west of that MSR. Can you see the palm grove in
the northwest quadrant? Call contact.
TOURMAN
Tourman. I see two prominent palm groves, not sure which one you’re calling.
HITMAN
Ok, ok. Do you contact dub truck heading north in the quadrant?
TOURMAN
Tourman. Contact the dub truck.
HITMAN
In about a minute, that technical will pass through the palm grove. There’s two-story
structure, that’s your target. Call contact.
TOURMAN
Tourman. Contact. [pause] November 1-2 off safe, one away.