EPISODE 1x07 - BOMB IN THE GARDEN
ENRAGE THREE ONE
Hitman Two, Enrage Three One. We're checking in with you.
HITMAN TWO
Hey, roger. Hey, we just got uh, we just had contact. Stand by for a six-line.
ENRAGE THRE ONE
Enrage Three One, we're ready to copy.
HITMAN TWO
Hey, before I give you the six-line, do you have a visual on our pos?
[00:00:22]
Person urinates on the ground. Colbert, Wynn, and Fick observe Baghdad from
across the river.
JACKS
[OS] I need some more .50 cal ammo!
COLBERT
Jesus Christ. That's a lot of city.
WYNN
We're not careful, we'd get lost in this here.
JACKS
[OS] Hand me that other Mark 19!
MARINE
[OS] Hey, Redman, where's the 40 Mike-Mike?
Fick, Wynn, and Colbert return to Colbert's Humvee where they examine the Blue
Force Tracker's images of Baghdad. Person hums in the background.
FICK
Street after street, alley after alley. Look at it.
WYNN
You thought those little towns a kilometer long were tough.
FICK
You heard the radio traffic on the way in, still got Fedayeen sniping at
American units down there.
COLBERT
So where are we headed exactly?
FICK
This area right here, a Shia slum called Saddam City.
COLBERT
Saddam City, huh?
WYNN
Need to rename that bitch.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] All Hitman Victors, this is Hitman Actual. We are REDCON-1 in five
mikes. Over.
FICK
[into radio] Roger that, Hitman. [to Colbert and Wynn] We're Oscar Mike in five
mikes.
WYNN
Mount up! We're on the road, boys!
MARINE (REYES?)
[OS] All right, gents!
ESPERA
[OS] We're Oscar Mike!
REYES
Gear up, Team Two!
COLBERT
Ray.
MARINE 2
Hey, let's go, mount up!
PERSON
Dude, check it out. I wrote "USA" with my piss.
MARINE 3
[OS] Quit fucking around, let's get the hell out of here.
CHAFFIN
[OS] Hey, Rudy, we're going to roll up.
Bravo starts driving away.
WYNN
[on radio] All Hitman Two Victors, keep good dispersion and stay vigilant.
COLBERT
[on radio] Two One, copy.
ESPERA
[on radio] Two One Bravo. Roger.
LOVELL
[on radio] Two Three. Roger that.
CHAFFIN
[on radio] Hitman Two Two. Roger that.
[00:01:48]
Bravo drives into Baghdad.
COLBERT, HASSER, WRIGHT
[singing] Trailers for sale or rent.
Rooms to lent, fifty cents.
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road.
COLBERT
[into radio] Hitman Three Two Actual, this is Hitman Two One Actual.
MARINE
[on radio] This is Three Two Actual. Send it.
COLBERT
[into radio] Get me Kocher.
MARINE
[on radio] He is no longer on this team. Over.
COLBERT
[into radio] Say again.
MARINE
[on radio] Be advised: the team leader's been fired. Over.
PERSON
Can't raise Kocher?
COLBERT
He's not riding with Three Two.
PERSON
Were you guys singing "King of the Road" without me?
[00:02:37]
Bravo drives into the cigarette factory compound where Marines have set up camp.
ECKLOFF
[on radio] Hitman Actual, this is Godfather. Battalion Ops Chief is arranging
staging areas for the companies. Over.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Copy that, Godfather.
Bravo Two stop inside the cigarette factory where cigarette paper rains in the
air.
MARINE 1
[OS] Hail the conquering heroes!
MARINE 2
[OS] It's General Mattis's arrogant bastards!
MARINE 1
[OS] All hail First Recon!
MARINE 3
[OS] Fuck yeah!
MARINE 4
[OS] Show us your tits!
GARZA
[OS] Dance, you pretty bitch!
ESPERA
Brad, what the hell is this?
CHAFFIN
The fuck's all this silver paper they're throwing at us?
PERSON
Cigarette factory.
TROMBLEY
Anyone got a match?
PERSON
Where they make these Iraqi shit sticks.
COLBERT
Compliments of your new billet.
GARZA
[OS] Fuck man, if these were Marlboros, we'd be fuckin' rich.
CHAFFIN
Fuckin' Hajji cigarettes. Next we'll all be eating raghead pussy.
PERSON
This has got to be the biggest cloud of secondhand smoke ever. They fuckin'
execute people for shit like this in California.
WYNN
[OS] Hey, TLs, looks like we're staging the vehicles outside.
[00:03:30]
Bravo Two set up outside.
REYES
Gunny, what's the drill here? We've been digging holes every night.
WYNN
Combat's over, Rudy. Besides, you can't dig through concrete.
Colbert walks over to Carizales.
COLBERT
Dirty, what the fuck is going on?
CARIZALES
Kocher and Redman, you gotta hear it from them. They're back with Motor T,
Colbert.
COLBERT
Motor T?
Carizales nods. McGraw watches as Colbert walks away.
MARINE
[on radio] Roger that, Hitman Three Actual...
[00:04:03]
Colbert walks over to Motor T.
COLBERT
Hey buddy, where do I find Sergeant Kocher? Thanks.
MARINE
[OS] I think the belt's fucked. Dawson, get your fat ass over here.
Colbert walks up to Kocher and Redman.
KOCHER
Well, Brad, how do you like my new MOS? I'm a fucking POG.
REDMAN
At least we got tunes. It's gangster back here with the POGs, dude.
COLBERT
What's going on?
REDMAN
He ain't team leader no more. Because of that EPW takedown, the one where
Captain America was trying to get us to help bayonet the Hajji.
COLBERT
Yeah.
REDMAN
He tries to stick the dude, we stop him. We get suspended.
COLBERT
Fuck.
KOCHER
Them reservists reported our unit. The same First Sergeant who shook my hand and
told me I saved his life when I pulled that EPW out of the bushes writes up a
report saying we're all involved.
REDMAN
We were trying to stop the Captain. Now I'm a war criminal?
KOCHER
Battalion's got a full inquiry. Godfather's on it personally.
COLBERT
Why is the Captain still commanding the platoon?
KOCHER
They relieved him...for about 20 minutes. Then reinstated him. Seems like
officers don't like to suspend other officers. Every one of us, we get paid to
brutalize people. But our Captain, he's brutal to the wrong people.
COLBERT
Eric, I'm not gonna stand for this. I'll request mast.
REDMAN
You know where to find us.
[00:05:28]
Colbert walks back to Bravo.
MCGRAW
Brad, you heard, didn't you? I'm not gonna stand for my men being fucked like
this. My uncle's a full bird Colonel at CENTCOM and I'm contacting him. I'm
hiring a lawyer. For all of us.
COLBERT
For all of you?
MCGRAW
The important thing, Brad, is that Eric and Redman hang together. We don't want
them talking on their own. Eric looks up to you. Let him know I gotta take the
lead.
COLBERT
Sir, at the risk of speaking out of turn, it seems to me those men might not
share the same interests as you. They're suspended, and you're not.
MCGRAW
Beyond my control. You know, Brad, the Marine Corps promised to watch our backs.
They said that we would be held accountable to facts not as they are in
hindsight but as they appeared to us at the time. They told us that going in.
And now they're hanging us out to dry.
COLBERT
Yeah.
Colbert walks away.
[00:06:26]
Fick holds a platoon meeting inside the cigarette factory.
FICK
[reading] "First Recon will conduct military operations in and around Saddam
City, to include patrols that establish the American presence, stop the looting,
and restore a sense of security in order to allow critical life-sustaining
functions to take place. The intent is to locate key facilities in our zones,
such as schools and hospitals, to collect intelligence on Fedayeen and Ba'ath
loyalists who are still at large, and to prevent lawlessness and disarm the
populace. The end state is a humble, competent force occupying this area,
ensuring security and mutual trust between us and the local populace."
[addressing the platoon] We have rolled through this country fucking things up.
And now we have to show these people what we liberated them for. Marines have
been here for about 24 hours. They've set up on the other side of this
warehouse. They've had one killed and one wounded from sniper and mortar fire,
so keep your PPE on at all times. [a shot is heard] Those are Navy SEAL snipers
set up on the top floor of the office tower, and judging from their rate of
fire, dropping a bad guy every five or ten minutes. But compared to where we've
been, I think it's pretty safe here. We should all get a good night's rest.
That's it.
MARINES
Hoorah.
The meeting disbands.
[00:07:43]
A car drives by and explodes in front of the compound.
PERSON
A fuckin' car bomb at the main gate. Motherfuckers from One Five are lighting up
the street like it's cool.
TROMBLEY
Should we go help them out?
FICK
Looks like I was wrong about that good night's rest.
Some bullets land by Wright.
PERSON
[OS] No Purple Heart, no disability check for you, Reporter.
GARZA
[OS] Waste of a good bullet.
FICK
This is definitely not good.
COLBERT
[OS] Anti-air.
A helicopter takes off.
MARINE 1
[OS] Check it out, check it out.
MARINE 2
[OS] Whoa whoa whoa!
FICK
Not good at all.
WRIGHT
Fuck!
[00:08:32]
Nighttime. Wright walks while everyone around him sleeps.
REYES
[OS] Hey, who's on watch next?
CHAFFIN
[OS] Lilley and Leon.
REYES
[OS] Where's their racks at?
Colbert converses with Kocher.
COLBERT
Everyone in Bravo will stand up and testify as to his incompetence.
KOCHER
He has a full-bird uncle at CENTCOM. I'm sure he's mentioned it to you. There's
nothing to be done, Brad. Just suck it up and smile.
Kocher leaves.
Wright continues to walk. He stops briefly but notices a Marine masturbating
nearby. He walks down some stairs where a gate leaves the compound exposed to
the outside. Some Iraqis start shooting near it. Wright returns to the sleeping
area.
STAFFORD
Combat jack?
WRIGHT
No, I tried to shit. I was looking for a place. I ended up out by the front
gate. People started shooting at each other. I think I heard an Iraqi get shot
right in front of me.
GARZA
It's too bad. He probably would have liked democracy.
Shots are fired into the compound.
CHAFFIN
Is that all you got?
[00:10:35]
The next day. Carisalez distributes the mail.
CARISALEZ
Mail call. [he walks towards Bravo Two] Lilley. Chaffin.
CHAFFIN
Here.
CARISALEZ
Espera.
ESPERA
Yo, dawg.
CHAFFIN
Fuck, all I got is bills.
LILLEY
Brah, they repo'ed my car.
GARZA
Don't they know you're a war hero?
JACKS
Oh, fuck. Got a letter from my wife here.
ESPERA
What's wrong with that?
JACKS
It came from a lawyer.
ESPERA
Damn, dawg. That's cold.
JACKS
She wants to take my kids with her back to Reno.
WRIGHT
[OS] Everything okay?
ESPERA
Yeah, she's been taking Jessie to dance class. She's been managing the house
okay, she signed it "love." It's all good, dawg.
LILLEY
My wife says she misses me so much. She says she's gonna join the Marines so we
can be closer. She already signed the papers. What the fuck?
CHAFFIN
She'll get sent straight to Motor T so she can get airtighted by three niggers.
GARZA
Yeah, she'll look like a fucking cumdragon.
JACKS
Yeah, I'd like to call in some danger-close on my wife, that's for fucking sure.
Yeah, and maybe fly some Cobras right up her fucking lawyer's ass too! You know?
WYNN
Ain't all joy and happiness is it? Mail call kind of brings it home.
SIXTA
If morale gets really bad, Mike, let me know. I'll stir 'em up good with the
Grooming Standard.
WYNN
I'll let you know.
[00:12:08]
Fick leads Wright and Bravo Two's team leaders through the cigarette factory.
FICK
This was apparently Uday and Qusay's cigarette factory. They exported 20 brands
of cigarettes and made almost $50 million a year.
WRIGHT
Sounds like you've been doing some research.
FICK
Well, I might write a book one day. What about you?
WRIGHT
Yeah, I mean, I got so much…
They walk up to the gate where some Iraqis are gathered.
IRAQI
We need help. We need help.
FICK
We understand.
IRAQI
Please, stop the looting.
FICK
Listen, order will be restored very soon.
They continue walking outside to a chain-linked fence.
ESPERA
This is what we were talking about, sir.
REYES
Actually, sir, it's the only place in the compound not covered by this
three-meter wall, just this chain-link fence.
Someone shoots at them.
FICK
Reporter, get down!
ESPERA
Get down!
WRIGHT
Ow.
LOVELL
Sniper. He's in front of us.
WRIGHT
How can you tell?
LOVELL
You can only hear that clearly when you're directly in front of the rifle
barrel. That zip means it's passing a few meters from our ears.
FICK
One at a time. Colbert, go.
COLBERT
Bounding!
Colbert runs down the alleyway and around the corner.
COLBERT
Set!
ESPERA
I got no muzzle flashes.
FICK
Rudy, go!
REYES
Bounding!
Reyes runs after Colbert.
REYES
Set!
FICK
Lovell, go!
LOVELL
Bounding!
Lovell runs.
LOVELL
[OS] Set!
FICK
All right, Poke, go!
ESPERA
Bounding!
Espera runs.
ESPERA
Set!
FICK
Reporter, you ready?
WRIGHT
Yes!
FICK
Go!
Wright begins running in a zigzag pattern down the alley.
ESPERA
What the fuck?
COLBERT
Set, sir!
Fick runs up to the corner.
COLBERT
All up, sir. Reporter, what the fuck was that?
WRIGHT
"Serpentine, Shel, serpentine." You know, the movie "The In-laws". Peter Falk
tells Alan Arkin, "Always run in a serpentine fashion." I was running evasively.
LOVELL
The next time we come under fire, run in a straight line. You'll live longer.
COLBERT
And have a full happy life of betraying us and others with your venal lies.
[00:14:23]
Chaffin, Stafford, Jacks, and Redman walk around the cigarette factory.
CHAFFIN
This place is crawling with fucking grunts.
STAFFORD
Looks like my fucking high school, man.
CHAFFIN
I don't get it. We're sending out one patrol a day?
JACKS
Yeah, it's Charlie today, us tomorrow, and then, Alpha goes the day after.
CHAFFIN
How the fuck are we supposed to take over Baghdad on one patrol a day?
REDMAN
It's because battalion only got one translator. Meesh can only go out one patrol
at a time.
They enter a building where a bunch of Marines have already gathered.
MARINE
Gentlemen. First Battalion Fourth Marines have occupied this structure.
Respectfully, you are asked to ratfuck some other establishment.
They begin to walk away.
MARINE
[OS] Ricky Recon, you have a nice day.
CHAFFIN
Who the fuck they think they are?
REDMAN
They got there first is all.
JACKS
Yeah, fuck that.
Chaffin, Jacks, Stafford, and Redman climb up the side of a building, jump
across to the roof of another building, then rappel down to the roof of a third.
They remove the cover of a vent and jump down inside.
STAFFORD
Hells yeah.
They move quietly through the halls, hiding from the Navy snipers there, and
enter an office.
CHAFFIN
Shh. Oh ho ho, jackpot!
Chaffin sits down at the desk and puts on some glasses and picks up a newspaper.
JACKS
[OS] Damn, look at all this stuff.
STAFFORD
Oh, hells yeah.
CHAFFIN
Bring in my big-legged secretary. Yeah, now, right away, send her in. And tell
her to bring me a coffee. And a blowjob with extra slobber.
Redman picks up a computer and smashes it on the floor.
STAFFORD
Shit, man!
REDMAN
Fuck it! Captain America made me a war criminal anyway, huh?
JACKS
Damn right.
Jacks knocks some stuff over.
CHAFFIN
Whoo!
STAFFORD
This is like that holiday Dirty Earl is always talking about, the one where the
working man gets to fuck the rich man's shit up!
REDMAN
Oh!
Jacks urinates in a corner.
REDMAN, CHAFFIN
Oh, hell no!
STAFFORD
You heinous, dawg! Oh, god damn!
JACKS
Let's get the fuck out of here.
Stafford removes a painting and carries it with him.
REDMAN
Yeah, nice.
They leave the office.
[00:17:42]
Bravo Two drives down a Baghdad street. They stop, and some Iraqis walk up.
IRAQI 1
America good. Saddam no good.
IRAQI 2
No jobs. You want anything, bribes. No good. No good.
IRAQI 3
We have nothing to do but talk, play dominos, smoke. Saddam was an asshole!
PERSON
Do you want a cigarette?
IRAQI 3
Life is very hard. Smoke?
PERSON
Yeah, thanks.
IRAQI 3
You have Valium?
He lights a cigarette for Person.
PERSON
Valium?
IRAQI 3
Valium.
PERSON
No, no.
IRAQI 3
Because I can't sleep at night.
PERSON
Really? Why?
IRAQI 3
And the store to buy liquor has been closed since the bombing has been started.
PERSON
That's horrible. I got some uppers if you want to party all night.
IRAQI 3
Valium.
PERSON
No, no, just uppers. No downers.
IRAQI 3
No, Valium. Valium. Valium.
The other Iraqi approach him, and they walk away.
Bravo Two mingles with Iraqis. A young woman gives Stafford and Leon some
drinks.
STAFFORD
Groovy my brother.
Another young woman gives Espera and Leon some bananas. Some women plow a garden
nearby.
ESPERA
Check it, bro. The men are all sitting around talking shit, and the women are
all working.
LILLEY
Brah, if we fight the women instead of the men, we'd get our asses kicked.
STAFFORD
Man, they act like they actually want us here.
The Iraqi men from earlier talk to Garza.
IRAQI 2
Let me see under glasses. [Garza takes off his glasses] Ahh, you have beautiful
eyes. You like boys or girls?
GARZA
Girls, dawg.
IRAQI 2
Girls? Phew! Go with my friend. You'll like.
GARZA
Hey, Walt. I think we got a light one here.
HASSER
Just smile like it's all good.
LEON
He liked you, bro.
Fick approaches Colbert and Lovell.
FICK
It's a long list. Unexploded munitions, lack of electricity, no running water,
broken phone lines, ransacked hospitals, and bandits coming through at night,
robbing homes. Oh, and they want jobs.
LOVELL
Is that all?
FICK
Yeah, for now. Let's mount 'em up.
LOVELL
Yes, sir.
FICK
All right, mount up! We're Oscar Mike!
Bravo Two begin to drive away. Iraqis run after them, cheering.
STINETORF
That was cool.
[00:20:23]
Nighttime. Fick confers with Schwetje and Griego at the cigarette factory.
FICK
The phone lines are broken, the hospitals are ransacked, not to mention the fact
these people told me they're getting robbed by bandits at night. We should be
out there in these neighborhoods at night, when they really need us.
SCHWETJE
That's a no-go. Battalion is saying there's too much heavy fighting going on at
night for us to patrol.
FICK
Right, but that's exactly why-
SCHWETJE
Battalion thinks what we have to do is let this work itself out.
FICK
Work itself out?
SCHWETJE
[reading] "The ability of hostile forces in Baghdad to successfully and
continually engage our forces will be complicated by the local Shia's
intolerance for regime paramilitary forces hiding out in their neighborhoods."
FICK
You're saying we're gonna stand down and let one side kill the other?
SCHWETJE
Battalion says we don't go out at night. It's too dangerous. Godfather says the
Shias will be doing our dirty work for us. If we go out after dark, the Shias
might engage us. Oh, um, and tomorrow night we're billeted to the north of the
city in a hospital complex.
FICK
But Captain, the neighborhood we were at today needed us-
SCHWETJE
That's not our mission.
Schwetje and Griego walk away while Fick looks desolate.
[00:21:32]
The next day. Bravo Two drive through Baghdad.
COLBERT
[on radio] Hitman Two Actual, this is Hitman Two One. We're at the objective.
FICK
[on radio] Roger, dismount up here. Over.
COLBERT
[on radio] Two One copy. I'm halting.
Fick stops his vehicle.
FICK
Let's find out what they need.
Fick gets out with Hossein, the new translator. Wright joins them.c
HOSSEIN
Misa' il kheer.
IRAQI MEN
As-salaamu alaikum
HOSSEIN, FICK
Wa `alaykum as-salām
HOSSEIN
[speaks in Arabic]
IRAQI MEN
[respond in Arabic]
HOSSEIN
[to Fick] They say they require only two items: fresh water and statues of
George Bush, which they plan to erect up and down the street as soon as the
Americans help them pump out the sewage. They think Bush is a ruler like Saddam.
They don't understand the idea of a president who maybe next year will go out.
Colbert and Espera watch a woman gather some water from a pothole in the street.
COLBERT
They're drinking shit water.
ESPERA
Damn. Hey, where is our new interpreter from?
COLBERT
He walked up to the factory yesterday, volunteered his services.
An Iraqi man speaks in Arabic while Hossein translates.
HOSSEIN
They set up barricades to help keep people out... Everyone, everyone is armed…
And, and because the police stations and the armories have been emptied, an AK
now costs the same as about two packages of cigarettes… Those from an outlying
neighborhood have set up a mortar behind the mosque and at night, they shoot
mortars at random.
IRAQI MAN
They kill us!
IRAQI MEN
Ali Baba! Ali Baba!
HOSSEIN
You've taken the country apart. You're not putting it back together. The
violence that goes on at night, letting vigilantes and thieves out will not
correct the problems of Saddam's rule. All this is a bomb. If it explodes, it
will be bigger than the war.
[00:23:48]
Bryan tends to wounded Iraqi children.
BRYAN
[to child] Two, every other day. Two, okay? Two. Yeah. Stiney? Re-hydration pack
and water, all right?
STINETORF
You got it. Re-hydration packs and water.
The rest of Bravo Two stand guard around the waiting Iraqis.
COLBERT
You can smell the cordite in the air from all the gunfire overnight.
WYNN
This is supposed to be the Shia removing the Fedayeen and the Sunnis that backed
Saddam.
FICK
It's bullshit. That's what they tell us in the briefings but this is a one
hundred percent Shia neighborhood. They asked me if it was possible, could we
stay the night. I had to tell them no, we had orders. They asked for water. I
told them we'd come back another day. But guess what? I just got word that we're
gonna rebillet again, move from the hospital to some power plant further east.
Chances are we'll be patrolling some other neighborhood tomorrow and then
another one the next day. This is madness.
A group of men approach loudly and try to cut to the front of the line.
BRYAN
[to Iraqi men] Hey! Hey, hey!
HOSSEIN
They say they have headaches, they cannot sleep. They want Valium.
BRYAN
Tell them I'm not gonna give them Valium, I'm not going to give them anything
for cutting in front of the kids. [to child] It's okay.
CHRISTOPHER
[OS] Hey, hey, bro, give that back! Doc?
BRYAN
Yeah.
CHRISTOPHER
I'm handing out candy to the sick kids outside. These dudes just come by and
steal it from them. Grown fucking men!
BRYAN
[to Iraqi men] Hey! Okay, get the fuck out of here. Go!
Bryan approaches Fick and Wynn.
BRYAN
Sir, we're about to be overrun.
FICK
I can see that. All right. We're gonna egress as soon as possible.
[00:26:09]
Iraqis crowd around the Humvees as Bravo Two try to drive away.
ESPERA
[on radio] Two One Alpha, this is Two One Bravo...I think a Hajji van
is...outside...out
MARINE 1
Outta the way!
MARINE 2
I'm sorry, we've got to go.
COLBERT
[on radio] Back it up! Make sure they don't steal anything out of our trucks.
[00:26:32]
The next day. Bravo is stopped outside a mosque.
WRIGHT
You're gonna talk to them alone? Why aren't you going with Lieutenant Fick?
MEESH
The Imam will not talk to soldiers.
WRIGHT
Can I come with you?
MEESH
Dude, you're a soldier.
WRIGHT
No, I'm not.
WRIGHT
Where did Mr. Hossein go? I mean, wasn't he-
MEESH
He disappeared. He was a Ba'athist agent sent to spy on you.
WRIGHT
What?
Wright and Meesh enter the mosque and take off their helmets.
MEESH
[to some Mosque officials] As-salāmu `alaykum. [speaks Arabic]
Meesh and Wright sit down on a nearby bench and begin taking off their boots.
MEESH
Uh uh. Wait here. Infidel.
Meesh walks up to the Imam, and they converse in Arabic. They enter a side room
together.
WRIGHT
[leaving the mosque] So what did he say?
MEESH
Well, he says he welcomes the Americans as long as they don't expose the Iraqi
people to any corrupting influences. I told him we would bring water down to
distribute from the mosque. Also I asked him for help with the crowd so that
they don't go crazy. He says that the Americans should hit them if they come too
close.
WRIGHT
What?
MEESH
He says these people are used to being pushed around.
[00:28:51]
Arabic chanting is broadcasted from a minaret. Bravo Two stand in front of a
truck carrying water. Iraqis gather along the side of the road, watching them.
FICK
All week long, everywhere we go, people have been asking us for water. We
finally bring it to them and nobody fucking wants it.
MEESH
LT, they are broadcasting that it is against Islam to help the Americans.
PERSON
[OS] Yeah, we invaded their country. You'd think they'd at least be grateful.
WRIGHT
Are you sure the Imam wanted the Americans to come here?
MEESH
Dude, the meeting was totally cool.
Meesh walks away and smokes a cigarette.
FICK
I don't know what to think.
LOVELL
What does Meesh say?
ESPERA
Not that Meesh is that big of an asshole or anything, but how the fuck did an
elite unit like ours roll into this shit with only one guy who could fucking
speak Arabic? I mean, what the fuck, sir?
[00:29:45]
Bravo drive to another part of Baghdad.
FICK
[on radio] Roger, Hitman Actual. Solid copy on frag. Hitman Two out.
Bravo set up camp in a park.
COLBERT
This is a park right here that's supposed to be used as a staging area for the
Fedayeen. From our position, we're gonna be able to use night optics and set up
an OP on the park. And come morning, we move in and sweep it for signs of
hostile forces. Gentlemen, they finally gave us a night recon.
PERSON
[OS] You're really desperate, Brad.
[00:30:21]
Fick watches distant Baghdad traffic through his night-vision goggles. Artillery
fire can be heard in the distance
FICK
It's bizarre. All of them driving in and out of the city like it's normal.
COLBERT
Yeah.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Hitman Actual to Hitman Two.
FICK
[into radio] Hitman Two Actual.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Hey, uh Godfather is saying it's time for us to be more aggressive.
Suggest you send foot patrols out into the neighborhoods below. How copy?
FICK
[into radio] More aggressive?
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Godfather says it's time for us to increase our presence.
FICK
[into radio] Sir, given the level of disorder in the city at this time and given
our lack of a cohesive mission, I'm gonna have my men remain in a defensive
position until dawn when we'll move on the park.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Negative. Godfather-
FICK
[into radio] Hitman, having assessed the situation from close observation, I'm
gonna keep my men in a defensive posture until dawn. How copy?
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Hitman Two, I say again-
Fick pulls out the plug on his radio.
FICK
They want me to be more aggressive. Send the men into this. For what? So I can
come home with 21 men instead of 22? For what?
COLBERT
I trust your judgment, sir.
FICK
I can be wrong. A platoon commander's situational awareness doesn't extend very
far.
COLBERT
Far enough, sir.
[00:35:11]
The next day. Schwetje and Griego confer with Fick and Wynn.
SCHWETJE
I'm talking about a lack of obedience to orders. Your job, Nate, is to execute
whatever your Captain tells you to execute, and you don't.
FICK
Given that you were not actually present to assess the situation, I used my
discretion as the CO of the-
SCHWETJE
Nate, you've been questioning my orders ever since Ar Rifa.
FICK
No, sir, I have executed your orders on every occasion except those few in which
to do so would have needlessly jeopardized-
SCHWETJE
Can you believe this?
GRIEGO
The Corps won't forget. It never does, Lieutenant.
SCHWETJE
Dismissed.
[00:32:23]
Bravo drive through Baghdad.
[00:32:29]
Bravo have stopped outside some homes. Colbert is in a sunken pit in the middle
of a courtyard, examining an unexploded artillery shell. Person and Espera walk
up to him.
COLBERT
Get me the det kit.
ESPERA
Dawg, this is not cool.
COLBERT
Just go and get it from the truck, Poke.
ESPERA
Exactly what do you know about ordnance removal?
PERSON
[OS] Jack and shit.
COLBERT
Kids play in this garden.
ESPERA
This is some bullshit. [walking away to the Humvee] Garden? What garden? A
garden's supposed to have plants in it. This is bullshit.
Espera rummages in his Humvee and gets the detonation kit. He begins walking
back to Colbert's position.
TROMBLEY
What's the Sergeant doing?
ESPERA
Trying to blow hisself up. Probably gonna blow us all up.
TROMBLY
[OS] Cool.
Espera hands Colbert the kit.
PERSON
[OS] Hey guys. You remember those old movies where they like hit the bomb once
like before it's gonna to go off...
COLBERT
Thanks.
ESPERA
No problem, Brad.
PERSON
[OS] ...and the main guy has like to cut either the red wire or the black wire
and he's sweating his balls off? And it's getting really intense. This is kinda
like that. Who thought we'd be doing this shit...
COLBERT
[singing under his breath] Shut up, Ray.
Colbert, Leon, and Lilley hide behind a wall. Colbert looks at his watch.
COLBERT
It's time, gents.
They duck down and put their fingers in their ears.
LEON
God!
JACKS
[OS] Hell yeah! I love it when bombs go off! Love that shit!
COLBERT
Blowed up real good. Don't you feel better now?
ESPERA
Like this solves anything.
COLBERT
Well, there's one less bomb in the garden now, isn't there?
ESPERA
Dawg, did you hear on the BBC today?
COLBERT
Huh?
ESPERA
Some newly arrived grunts slaughtered some Iraqi kids who were playing on blown
tanks.
COLBERT
You serious?
LEON
It's true, man. It happened.
LILLEY
Brah, they were playing on top of the tanks, so the ROE said they were
technically armed. General Mattis is on the radio saying this was the worst
thing in the war so far.
COLBERT
They're screwing this up. Fucking idiots. Don't they fucking realize the world
already hates us?
MEESH
[OS] Hey! [walking over with an Iraqi and Stafford] Another one!
ESPERA
Fuck.
MEESH
He says it's in a hole next to his house.
Colbert, Espera, and Lilley begin walking.
ESPERA
Hey, dawg.
COLBERT
All right, let's go.
ESPERA
Hey, dawg! You know when I was gonna write a book about my life as a repo man in
LA? Know what I was gonna call it? "Nobody Gives a Fuck." That's right. Nobody
does. You know the ideal place and time to repo a car? Crowded parking lot,
mid-afternoon. You can jump in the car, drive that bitch off with the car alarm
blaring and everything. Nobody's gonna stop you. Nobody's even gonna look at
you. Know why? Nobody gives a fuck. In my line of work, that was key to
everything.
Colbert jumps into a hole where an unexploded artillery shell lies.
COLBERT
We keep killing civilians, we're gonna waste this fucking victory. We can't keep
doing this.
ESPERA
Relax, Iceman, relax. The only thing we gotta worry about here are fucking
do-gooders. Luckily there's not too many of those.
Fick and Wynn walk up.
FICK
Get out of there, Brad.
COLBERT
Sir, we've another Mark-82.
FICK
That's an order.
COLBERT
Sir, I strongly request-
FICK
I will not let you blow yourself up trying to maintain property values in
Greater Baghdad. That's a no-go.
WYNN
Up and out, Sergeant.
FICK
Get out of the hole.
Colbert climbs out.
FICK
We're done here, Brad.
Fick and Wynn walk away. Colbert looks at the shell.
[00:36:15]
Bravo set up camp inside a soccer field.
WRIGHT
Yes, but the secret to great porn is that you never want to see the guys, not
their faces.
TROMBLEY
[OS] What if he eats her out? How can you not see his face?
Jacks brings a bottle of clear liquid to Person and some other Marines.
PERSON
It definitely looks like gin. It's clear.
JACKS
The man's asking $5 a fifth. More than reasonable, huh?
BRUNMEIER
What kind is it?
FICK
[walking by with Wynn] It's the kind that doesn't come out when there are
officers or Senior NCOs present.
PERSON
Aye, aye, sir.
STAFFORD
Yo, what's this they got us racked out in?
ESPERA
It's a soccer stadium. It's where Saddam's kid had his soccer team. He'd torture
them if they'd lose.
CARISALEZ
They must have been pretty good.
PERSON
Well, boys, to our last night in Baghdad. LT's just got to hand in his write-up
so Ferrando can get all the medals and streamers lined up for battalion. And, I
heard Eckloff saying that we're moving to a base just south of the city
tomorrow.
LILLEY
So that's it, brah. We're out.
CARISALEZ
Shit! Back home on the news, I'll bet you they're talking about what heroes we
all are now. Reality is we're the kids other parents told their kids not to hang
with in high school.
CHAFFIN
[OS] Rudy, put your damn shirt on.
CARISALEZ
You know what I'd like to see? A couple of them college kids from an MTV beach
party drop into Iraq. They could see what being a hero is really like. The first
time they'd see what it was like not to have control over their fucking lives.
On second thought, scratch that. Middle-class college kids out here will get us
all killed.
STAFFORD
Yo, what I'd like to see? Shit, I've seen 203 rounds go into windows and through
a door one time. But what I wish I had seen? A grenade go up in someone's body
and just...boom. Blow that shit up.
ESPERA
Crazy motherfucker.
STAFFORD
I mean it.
Lilley films a Marine whose gun is caught on some chain link fence.
MARINE
[OS] That motherfucker's gun is caught?
PERSON
[OS] Pull, motherfucker, pull! Pull it!
The Marine pulls on the gun and lose his grip so that the force knocks him down
and he rolls down some stairs.
MARINE (CHAFFIN?)
[OS] Look at this fuck. God damn, that motherfucker's Mr. Magoo up there.
LILLEY
That was slapstick.
MARINE (CARISALEZ?)
[OS] Look at that fool! Shit, what up, brother? Yeah, you do your thing!
ESPERA
[OS] Hajji ought to hit him with a pie!
ESPERA
Hey dawg, you catch that?
LILLEY
Yeah, that one's in my movie for sure, bro.
ESPERA
Nice.
MARINE
[OS] The shit is magic.
REDMAN
You know the military can fuck up anything. They can even make going to the
beach suck. But one thing that ain't overrated is combat. You take rounds, you
shoot back, shit starts blowing up. Fucking sensory overload.
[00:38:59]
Bravo drives out of Baghdad.
PERSON
That was cool. Who do we invade now?
COLBERT
This isn't over, Ray. We don't even know what we've started. We may be here all
summer long.
ESPERA
21 days. 21 days to take down an entire country. You gotta give the white man
his props.
BRAVO TWO TWO
[singing] Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me,
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me,
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me.
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me,
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me,
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me.
Whew. Whew whew.
[00:40:00]
Nighttime. Bravo drive into a Marine camp.
WRIGHT
[OS] What's that? You writing her back?
ESPERA
Yeah. Uh, my wife, man, she's, she's smart, but she fucked up when she married
me. I was a piece of shit. I remember the first time, first time I met her, she
told me about all the books that she had read. Dawg, it hit me: there's a whole
world that I missed. Before I met her, I used to think, "Yeah, I got a shit load
of hand skills, welding, pipefitting, repoing cars. Any pussy can read a book."
See, I didn't... I didn't grow up with no understanding. I mean my mom tried,
but... but my dad, he was this, uh, he was a psycho ex-Marine Vietnam vet.
WRIGHT
What do you mean, "psycho"?
ESPERA
He won a Bronze Star. Shit, I wish I had his warrior skills. But, he left us.
Left after his fucking jealous bitch of a girlfriend shot his ass. In my mom's
house. One day, my old man, he tries to patch things up with me. He's gonna take
me fishing. Except on the way to the lake, he takes us to this porn shop so he
can have a jack in the booths. He leaves me outside in the parking lot, where
this old fruit tries to cruise me. I threw a fucking brick through that fool's
windshield. That was our father-son trip. Hey dawg, listen to this, [reading]
"I've learned there's two types of people in Iraq: those who are very good, and
those who are dead. I'm very good. I've lost 20 lbs, shaved my head, started
smoking, my feet have half rotted off, and I move from filthy hole to filthy
hole every night. I see dead children and people everywhere and function in a
void of indifference. I keep you and our daughter locked away deep inside, and I
try not to look there." Dawg, you think that's too harsh?
WRIGHT
Tony, you know, you think way too much.
At Alpha's position.
BARRETT
Sir, battalion's on the net.
PATTERSON
[into radio] Assassin Actual, standing by to copy.
ECKLOFF
[on radio] Battalion requires an escort for engineers no later than 2300 at grid
Papa Sierra 4-5-8 9-2-3. How copy?
PATTERSON
[into radio] Roger that. Now you copy this, Major. My men are not carrying out
that mission. This is a no-go.
ECKLOFF
[on radio] I say again, Godfather requires an escort for two engineers.
Patterson hangs up the radio.
PATTERSON
They wanted us to help engineers mark a minefield with chem-lights.
BARRETT
At night?
PATTERSON
Yeah.
BARRETT
It's against division orders.
PATTERSON
Fucking idiots.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Hitman Three, this is Hitman Actual.
MCGRAW
[into radio] Hitman Three, standing by to copy.
SCHWETJE
[on radio] Battalion requires an escort for combat engineers to mark a
minefield, no later than 2300 at grid Papa Sierra 4-5-8 9-2-3. How copy? Over.
MCGRAW
[into radio] Yes, sir. Hitman Three is on it. [to his team] Where's Kocher?
We're back in business tonight. Battalion has a minefield that needs to be
marked.
CARISALEZ
At night?
[00:44:00]
Bravo Three Two drive down to the minefield
DILL
Aren't you the guys that were suspended for trying to bayonet a prisoner?
KOCHER
Yep.
VALDEZ
What happened with that?
KOCHER
We weren't trying to bayonet a prisoner: we were exonerated. The Captain was
trying to bayonet the prisoner. I hear he's getting a medal for it.
MCGRAW
[on radio] Roger that.
KOCHER
The same goofus who's got us all out here at night, trying to mark a minefield.
The engineers walk around the minefield.
CARISALEZ
I thought they were just supposed to stand in the road and toss chem-lights in
the field. What are they doing way the fuck out there?
MCGRAW
[into radio] Hitman, this is Hitman Three. We are proceeding accordingly, and
the en-
A mine goes off, blowing the engineers into the air.
KOCHER
Dirty, get the corpsman! Man down!
CARISALEZ
Get the corpsman! [on radio] Hitman, Hitman, this is Hitman-Three...
REDMAN
Get up, bro. Easy, easy.
CARISALEZ
[into radio]…Had a landmine detonate on the engineers! Possible man down. I say
again, we have a po- correction! We have two men down!
REDMAN
Here, come down on your knees. There you go.
VALDEZ
I think it's my eye. How does it look?
Redman shines a flashlight at the remnants of Valdez's eyee.
REDMAN
All right. Yeah, it looks pretty good. What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna give you
some gauze, add some pressure to it. Here you go.
VALDEZ
Okay.
Kocher ties a cord around Dill's knee.
KOCHER
Okay, I'll get you on three. One, two, three!
He hoists Dill up.
DILL
Eric, Eric. Don't step on a landmine.
Dill rests on the hood of a Humvee as Bravo Three drive back.
KOCHER
[OS] Hey, Gunny. No drama. We'll have you back in no time.
DILL
Fuck, fuck, fuck, it hurts.
MCGRAW
Give him morphine!
KOCHER
No. We can't give him morphine 'til he's stabilized.
MCGRAW
Turn off here. I know a shortcut. It's on the map-sheet.
KOCHER
Sir, let's take the road we know-
MCGRAW
Move, Sergeant! It's a goddamn order! I know this shortcut!
The Humvee drives into a ditch filled with water. Dill screams out in pain.
KOCHER
Stop! Stop. We need to unload it. Carisalez, Redman! Get him to the back of
Moreno's vehicle.
REDMAN
Out, out. I got the leg. Keep going. Good. Good, good, good.
KOCHER
[OS] It's all right.
They move Dill while McGraw stares.
[00:46:41]
The next day, Bravo Two do inventory.
PERSON
[OS] This sucks.
COLBERT
We need this inventoried down to the last bullet before we ship out.
There is a gunshot and a whimpering sound.
HASSER
The fuck is that?
COLBERT
They got wild dogs roaming around the camp, by the shitters. They use shotguns
on 'em.
TROMBLEY
You see, Sergeant? We do shoot dogs in Iraq.
Trombley bites open a roll of Charms and offers it to Colbert.
Fick walks by Chaffin and Garza doing bench presses.
CHAFFIN
Rat-fucked a blown Hajji tank. I can't believe I'm getting paid to dip, work
out, and hang out with the best guys in the world.
GARZA
Okay, let's go.
CHAFFIN
Fuck it, dude.
Fick walks up to Colbert's team.
FICK
Brad? You need to fill these DD-40s in triplicate for the shipping pallets.
COLBERT
Yes, sir.
TROMBLEY
Any word on those mine casualties?
FICK
Casevaced at dawn. One lost an eye, the other a leg beneath the knee.
COLBERT
Any word on why Encino Man sent them out on orders that Alpha Company refused?
Fick begins walking away.
FICK
Oh. This war has an official name now: Operation Iraqi Freedom.
HASSER
[OS] Hoorah, sir. Hoorah.
COLBERT
I don't miss anything from home. The only exception is my bike. I miss that.
Speed, solitude, and no one can touch me. [to Person] Hey, where the fuck did
you go? You haven't said two words since Baghdad.
PERSON
No more Ripped Fuel. Man, it seems no matter where we go as Marines, it's always
some fucking shit-hole.
Wright walks up, carrying his bags.
WRIGHT
Well, I'll see y'all. [he looks around at Colbert's team] Uh, thanks.
COLBERT
Stay frosty.
Espera walks over.
ESPERA
Hey, yo. [tossing a football] We're gonna play some guys from Alpha. You guys up
for that? Hoorah, motherfuckers.
PERSON
Fuck it. I'll play.
COLBERT
Back among the living?
[00:49:36]
Wright walks into a building where Ferrando is eating by himself. Wright sits
down across from him.
WRIGHT
Colonel.
FERRANDO
So, what'd you see, Reporter? No other military in the world can do what we do.
The Marines are America's shock-troops. Is there anything you want to ask me
before you unhitch your wagon?
WRIGHT
Captain Ameri- Captain McGraw, sir.
FERRANDO
All right, now. He walked a fine line, okay? But in the end, he was within the
box of acceptable behavior. But in my mind, when you allow that behavior to
progress, you end up with a My Lai. You think I should have taken harsher
action?
WRIGHT
Two attempted bayonetings.
FERRANDO
But no Iraqi prisoners actually wounded. All right, now, I wasn't there to see
what happened, and I have conflicting reports from those who were. But we're in
a war zone, Reporter. And if I expect my subordinates to remain effective in
combat, then I have to show them trust until it's proven to me beyond any doubt
that they are undeserving of that trust. Now, the same support I extend to
Captain McGraw is extended to all my officers. Lieutenant Fick, for example. I'm
sure you're aware there's some in this Battalion who feel that Lieutenant Fick
is unfit for command.
WRIGHT
You should consider your sources, sir.
FERRANDO
So, what happens to my command if I respond to every complaint made against one
of my men? It's a terrible feelin' to be the man sending other people into
combat. Terrible feeling.
Wright closes his notebook and shakes Ferrando's hand. He gets up and picks up
his bags.
FERRANDO
But something else I'm struggling with is the excitement I felt. Getting shot
at. It's just something I hadn't anticipated about war. Did you?
Wright walks away.
[00:52:34]
Schwetje and a group of Bravo Marines emerge from a huddle.
SCHWETJE
Break! Let's, boys! We got 'em! We got Alpha, no problem, no problem!
They begin playing football.
MARINE
Hut one, hut two!
MARINE
Let's go, let's go!
MARINE
Get up, get up!
MARINE
Go. Go, baby, go.
SCHWETJE
Yeah, yeah! Fuck, yeah! Outstanding, baby! Alpha ain't got nothing on us. Let's
go! Huddle up! Huddle up!
MARINE
Next down.
MARINE
Come on, now!
DOC BRYAN
That'd be some buck-eye football!
MARINE
Hell, yeah!
MARINE
Ready?
MARINE
Let's go.
MARINE
Come on, motherfuckers.
MARINE
Let's go, guys.
MARINE
Come on, come on!
MARINE
Ready, set, hut!
Schwetje throws the ball to Stafford who makes a touchdown.
SCHWETJE
We own these motherfuckers!
MARINE
Way to go, baby!
SCHWETJE
Alpha's too slow! Alpha's too slow! Woo!
MARINE
Q-Tip, Q-Tip, Q-Tip!
MARINE
Way to go, Q-Tip.
SCHWETJE
All right, Bravo! Come on, come on!
REYES
Let's go, Bravo!
MARINE
Okay, c'mon, fucker, bring it.
PERSON
You ain't shit, Rudy. C'mon, my sister needs her shorts back.
A Marine on Bravo team makes an intersection and is tackled.
MARINE
Here we go, baby!
SCHWETJE
I own these motherfuckers! I own 'em, baby! Yeah! Yeah!
Patterson walks over to Schwetje and punches him. He tackles Schwetje to the
ground and contines to punch Schwetje's face.
MARINE
Captain! Captain!
The Marines break the two apart.
PATTERSON
Fucking kill you, man!
BARRETT
It's a game, sir. It just got out of hand.
WYNN
Relax, relax.
MARINE
Let go.
BARRETT
What was that about?
PATTERSON
Fucking asshole. I'm fine.
Wright walks by some wounded Marines being carried on stretchers. He gets on a
waiting helicopter, and it departs, flying over the field where the football
game continues.
MARINES
Break!
Reyes and Person face off on the line of scrimmage.
PERSON
Hey, check it out! Rudy waxed his chest for the big game! Missed a spot there on
your thigh, there, buddy. Come on, come on.
MARINE
Hut one, hut two.
Reyes knocks down Person and runs the ball.
PERSON
Motherfucker!
Person rushes Reyes and tackles him.
REYES
I'm gonna fucking kill you!
MARINE
Let him go!
Reyes gets Person in a headlock with his knees and punches Person.
JACKS
Rudy, Rudy! C'mon, Rudy!
PERSON
Motherfucker! You goddamn fucking piece of shit! Rudy! You fucking PTSD psycho!
You're just like every other jock piece of shit in high school! [to Jacks] Get
the fuck off of me!
ESPERA
[OS] Hey Person, chill! Chill. Maybe we shouldn't play football again.
REYES
[OS] Ray! Brother! Ray!
COLBERT
You all right?
JACKS
[OS] Goddamn it, Rudy. Go to your little quiet place and chant, motherfucker.
[00:56:30]
Bravo Two relax inside a building.
STAFFORD
Blackjack, motherfucker. Pay up.
SIXTA
Y'all gets a free pass on the hooch tonight. But tomorry, y'all tighten up your
assholes.
WYNN
Roger that.
Sixta walks away.
LOVELL
We have to believe things are better now than they were under Saddam.
BRYAN
This place was fucked before we got here, and it's fucked now. I personally
don't believe we liberated the Iraqis. Only time will tell.
ESPERA
I just wish I could go back to that road-block in Al Hayy. See if those guys I
shot in that truck were enemy or just confused.
FICK
Could have been a truck-load of babies. With our rules of engagement, you did
the right thing.
ESPERA
Priest told me it's not a sin to kill, if you don't enjoy killing. My
question is whether indifference is the same as enjoyment.
COLBERT
All religious stuff aside, the fact is, people who can't kill will always be
subject to those who can.
LILLEY
[OS] Yo, check it! Check it! This is the shiznit, my brothers!
CHAFFIN
Two One Bravo productions! Come on up!
MARINE (REYES?)
[OS] Fuck yeah, brothers.
MARINE
[OS] Do your thing.
MARINE
[OS] Let's see it.
LILLEY
[OS] Yeah, Two One Bravo's cholo video.
JACKS
[OS] Let me see your wife's titties.
MARINE
Motherfucker.
The Marines gather in front of Lilley's laptop.
STAFFORD
Yo, Doc, you want to come check out Lilley's movie?
Bryan walks over to them.
LILLEY
You're all gonna jerk off. You guys ready?
MARINE
Let's do it.
REYES
Bring it.
Johnny Cash's "When the Man Comes Around" plays as Lilley's movie starts.
[Johnny Cash] And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder.
One of the four beasts saying, "Come and see." And I saw.
And behold, a white horse.
MARINE
[on video] Mayday, baby! War is nothing!
MARINES
[on video] Scuba! Recon! Rangers! First Recon Battalion! Hoo-rah! 1, 2, kill on
three! 1, 2, 3, kill!
[Johnny Cash] There's a man going round, taking names.
And he decides who to free and who to blame.
Everybody won't be treated all the same.
There will be a golden ladder reaching down,
When the Man comes around.
Fick nods at Colbert and walks away with Wynn.
[Johnny Cash] The hairs on your arm will stand up
At the terror in each sip and in each sup.
Will you partake of that last offered cup?
Or disappear into the potter's ground?
When the Man comes around.
Person walks up to Colbert carrying some Styrofoam cups.
[Johnny Cash] Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singing.
Multitudes are marching to the big kettledrum.
Voices calling, voice crying.
Person and Colbert smile at each other, and Person walks over to the crowd of
Marines.
[Johnny Cash] Some are born and some are dying.
It's Alpha and Omega's kingdom come.
And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
ESPERA
Hey, Brad. Brad.
Colbert exits the building.
[Johnny Cash] The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
'Til Armageddon, no Shalam, no Shalom.
Then the father hen will call his chickens home.
TROMBLEY
That's how we fucking do 'em.
[Johnny Cash] The wise men will bow down before the throne.
And at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns.
When the Man comes around.
The Marines slowly leave, one by one.
[Johnny Cash] Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still.
Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still.
Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still.
Listen to the words long written down.
When the Man comes around.
Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singing.
Multitudes are marching to the big kettledrum.
Voices calling, voices crying.
Some are born and some are dying.
It's Alpha and Omega's kingdom come.
And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
TROMBLY
It's fucking beautiful.
[Johnny Cash] The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
In measured hundredweight and penny-pound.
When the Man comes around.
Everyone leaves. Only Trombley is left watching.
[Johnny Cash] And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts.
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse.
And his name that sat on him was Death.
And Hell followed with him.
Trombley picks up his rifle and walks away. Lilley's video ends.
[01:02:15]
End credits.
[VO]
MARINE 1
On November 17, '75, I was born in a bomb crater. My mother was a M-16 and my
father was the devil. Each moment that I live is an additional threat upon your
life. I eat Concertina, piss napalm, and I can shoot a round through a flea's
ass at 300 meters. I travel the globe, festering on anti-Americans everywhere I
go for the love of Mom, Chevrolet, baseball, and apple pie. I'm a grunt. I'm the
dirty, nasty, stinky, sweaty, filthy beautiful little son-of-a-bitch that's kept
the wolf away from the door for over two hundred and twenty-five years. I'm a
United States Marine. We look like soldiers, talk like sailors, slap the shit
out of both of them. We stole the eagle from the Air Force, the rope from the
Army, and the anchor from the Navy. And on the seventh day when God rested, we
overran his perimeter and we've been running the show ever since. Warrior by
day, lover by night, drunkard by choice, Marine by God. Semper fidelis.
MARINE 2
The selfless sacrifice of day-to-day military personnel, especially combat
veterans, is underappreciated. And you got the American society want to run as
fast as they can to the counter shop, to the fucking newsstands to grab
motherfucking U.S. Weeklys and fucking People magazine just to see what fucking
Jake Gyllanhaal did on Thursday afternoon. You know what I did Thursday
afternoon? I put one of my motherfucking Marines on a plane. I put that
motherfucker on a bird to fucking nowhere. I picked his lifeless ass-up body,
put him on a stretcher, and put him off. Why don't they put that? Why don't that
be in a motherfucking magazine? Or how about, let's put a day in the life of
fucking any average Marine out here going through the streets of Ramadi? Their
biggest concern is that, you know, they couldn't buy a mocha latte at fucking
Starbucks because it was under construction. Our biggest motherfucking concern
is getting blown up on fucking 295 and Michigan. But we're gonna go home, and
they're gonna say, wave their little flag and say, "Welcome home. Thanks for,
thanks for preserving our right to go on not giving a fuck."
MARINE 1
There it is, folks. We're sitting here fighting for your freedoms. You got the
right to say what you want. We got the right to punch ya in your fucking mouth
if we disagree.