02x23 - A Silent Cry

[bunniefuu]

It's right over there, Sarge.

Kirby, scrounge yourself a place to sleep.
We're probably going to be here for awhile.

That's the best order you gave all week!

[train whistling]

You wanted to see me, Lieutenant?

Yeah, sit down.

This is Sgt. Perkins of communication center.

- How do you do?
- Hi, sergeant.

I hope you and your men haven't settled in yet.

Well, we're hoping to.

Kirby's out now looking for a place to sleep.

You better explain it to him, sergeant.

You're being sent with two of my men to deliver field
radios to a group of French partisans,

who will support us and act as observers as we go into the sector.

What's a matter with air reconnaissance, Lieutenant?

The terrain is pretty rugged.

Deep valleys, trees, etc. No chance.

Well, field radios, they don't have a long enough range.

Oh, so you're an expert on radio transmissions, Sergeant?

No, I'm no expert but I read the manual.

Well, I helped write it.

Of course, Sgt. Saunders is right about the limited range of field radios.

However the field radio people will be feeding bits and pieces

of information to a main radio hidden away in a country house.

The owner will coordinate and transmit to us.

Now, you'll deliver your field radios to a man named Fontaine.

Intelligence doesn't want the Krauts
smelling out the location of the main radio

so they're arranged the rendezvous point away from the house.

The equipment is all ready to go, you can leave immediately, Sergeant.

In broad daylight, Lieutenant?

Well, we're lagging behind Division.

We've got to pull up the line, keep the Krauts from taking advantage.

[radio buzzing]

The equipment that you'll be carrying is critical
so you'll have to be very careful with it.

Well, I'll do my best to make sure that nothing happens to the equipment.

Right, out.

Perkins, your C.O just called. One of the men
supposed to go out on the mission can't make it.

You'll be taking his place.

Well, that doesn't make sense, sir.

I'm not worth anything in the field.

My job is at Comm. center.

Well, your C.O will fill you in on the details.

But you better get ready because you will be going.

Yes, sir.

You ready to move out?

Yes and no, Lieutenant.

I don't think I know what you mean.

This Sgt. Perkins, I don't like the idea of going out with him.

Well, we can't always choose our companions in this w*r, Saunders.

I know that, Lieutenant.

But what I'm trying to say is, I don't like
putting my squad on the line with him.

Sounds to me like you got problems.

I got a few problems.

You see this map? I've been staring at it for the past two days.

It's not just a map, it's a jigsaw puzzle.

Unless I can put the pieces together, there's going to be a
lot more lives on the line than just your squads.

Look, Lieutenant, I don't know about this jigsaw puzzle.

But I do know I'll be taking unnecessary risk if
I send my men out with a man like Perkins.

Well, Perkins and this jigsaw puzzle are pretty closely related,

so you better try to understand.

Now, I'll put it as simple for you as I can.

If the Krauts knew how weak we were,

they could knock us a week from next Sunday.

We can't move ahead because we don't have enough information,

we can't move back because it will show them just how weak we are.

So we're stuck with a man like Perkins?

Comms center says he's the only man that can
do the job and I believe Comms center!

So I guess you're stuck with Sgt. Perkins.

We're now blowing a bunch of civilians.

That's some way to run a w*r.

Yeah, some way to run a w*r.

Look, I'll be standing here waiting to hear
from the Frenchman's radio at the chateau,

just as soon as his men report in from the field.

Now, as for Perkins.

Our staying alive may depend on your keeping Perkin's alive.

Saunders.

Good luck.

How far we gotta carry this stuff?

- About three more miles.
- I think I'm getting hungry.

Hey.

- Oh, sorry, Sarge.
- What are you trying to do, blind me?

- It's an accident, I'm sorry.
- Well, look out where you're going.

He said, he was sorry so let's forget it.

Let's not, Sergeant.

I read your manual too.

Look out for low-hanging branches.

Boy, oh boy. We sure got a live one this trip.

He's a little nervous. It's his first combat patrol.

Are you kidding?

Hey, Sarge? Did you know that?

Let's say I had an idea.

Three stripes and this is his first time out!

Can't blame him, he's only been in the Army nine months.

Well, that explains it.

He's a genius, at least that's what they
say at the communications center.

They promoted him real fast.

Okay, let's pick it up.
Pick it up.

Take five.

Five.

What are we stopping for?

There's no percentage in wearing ourselves out.

If we run into Krauts, I'd like to have some wind left.

Marks has been telling me you've only been in about nine months.

Oh, I've become the object of conversation?

Perkins, look, this is your first time out.

You better learn how to relax.

I've never relaxed before in my life, Sergeant, this isn't the place to start.

You know...

who's on the lookout for Germans?

We all are.

You know, Saunders, you seem so casual about the prospect of dying.

I wonder why.

Perhaps life is meaningless to you.

You take a lot for granted.

He may be a genius at communications center,

but I peg him for a washout if things get rough out here.

- He'll shape up.
- Oh. Sure, he will.

You're just saying that because we're stuck with him.

I never saw you take that much lip off anybody.

Well, like you said, Kirby.

We're stuck with him.

The army really operates on the effort and reward theory, doesn't it?

They put me in communications to clear up
the mess and where do they send me?

Here.

That reward might save a few lives.

Or lose a few.

[vehicle approaching]

Never get through them.

We'll go around them.

Can't risk that.

I said, we'll go around them!

After you, Sergeant.

There's more of them.

It's just a couple of rear guard, come on.

Get him out of here.

Come on, let's go.

- Let's go.
- Come on!

Told you it wouldn't work.

[indistinct], Perkins.

This is my first mission.

You should have taken that into account.

Everybody up here had a first mission.
You were trained for it.

- Caje, how is he?
- He can walk.

Okay, let's get out of here.

Better wait until it gets dark before we head back.

We're not quitting, Perkins.
We're going to deliver those radios.

Are you serious?

The Germans know we're here.

I'm injured.

Marks is laying back there with all of our
extra equipment in his knapsack.

There's no reason for us to go on.

All right,you had your say.

Caje, take the point.

All right, Saunders.

You're taking my life in your hands now.

That's right.

And our lives are in your hands and don't you forget it.

Now move out.

I believe you are looking for me, Sergeant.

If you're looking for radios, I'm looking for you.
What's your name?

- Fontaine.
- I'm looking for you.

Come on.

All right, take off your equipment.

Caje and Kirby. Lookout across the bridge.

This is Sgt. Perkins. He'll tell you all about this stuff.

- You are wounded, Sergeant?
- Astute observation.

We ran into the Krauts a little ways back.

My men do not speak English.

If you explain the operation of the radios
to me, I will translate for you.

I speak French. I speak four languages.

[exclaims]

[speaking French]

I do not appreciate my men to be
referred to as 'clumsy fools', Sergeant.

Perkins, you watch what you say in
all four languages, you got it?

[speaking French]

Got a prisoner, I almost shot him.

The main radio in the house is not working.

- What's wrong with it?
- I'm not sure, Sergeant.

Grandpère hopes one of you can come and look at it.

Without the main radio, all of this is useless.

- How far is it to your house?
- A few minutes.

We're supposed to stay away from that house.

We were told to deliver the field radios to feed the main radio.

This whole patrol is a waste of time if that main radio isn't' working.

What makes you so sure that I can fix it?

You're the expert. You wrote the manual, remember?

All right, move out.
Stay apart and no firing.

Hey.

We'll be there soon.

My grandfather's house.

It was a fine house once.

That's open ground out there so watch yourselves.

What kind of vehicle is it?

I don't know what kind of vehicle it is.

But I'll tell you what's inside it.

A radio direction finder.

It shows where the radio is.

Have the Germans been to your house before looking for the radio?

No.

Perkins, how does that radio tracking equipment work?

Very accurately.

They pick up a radio transmission, they find out what direction it's coming from.

They go to another point and do the same thing.

Then they triangulate both directions,

and where they intersect,

that's where the radio is.

Maybe they took a fix on that radio before it went dead.

They didn't finish their tracking.

They could be guessing. Canvassing the area, asking questions.

Or they could be in there now, destroying the radio.

Either way, we're going to have to wait here and find out.

Look, Saunders, even if they're just asking questions,

Why don't we leave well enough alone?

Let's go to a new location and set up a new radio.

That might take more time than we can afford.

We wait.

The Sergeant has no choice.

The Sergeant and I are different kinds of men.

We stand for different things.

I don't think you stand for anything, Perkins.

I don't think you believe in anything.

I believe in myself. My mind, my body.

That I can count on.

- A real machine?
- Call it what you like.

I spent a lifetime developing this mechanism.

Giving it all I got.

You think I want to destroy you?

I didn't send you on this mission, Perkins.

I was sent by someone like you.

There's no sanity in the world, Saunders.

Just ignorance and violence.

I believe everybody has a right to prosper, to live, grow.

That's why I hate violence and violent people.

By destroying the world, they're trying to destroy me.

So, you see. This mechanism, as you say, that I'm trying to save,

has more worth and more dignity,

than blind animal courage.

Sergeant! The house.

Grandpère!

Sergeant, my grandfather Andre LeClair.
My grandmother, Renee LeClair.

[continues in French]

Enchante, madame.
Enchante, monsieur.

- Tu parle français?
- Oui.

- Ask him why the Krauts were here.
- I just did.

The Germans know there's a radio around here.
They don't know exactly where.

They've been asking questions.

The radio is in the cellar.

You can only reach it through here.
I'll show you.

Caje, Kirby. Keep a lookout out those windows.

Okay.

- Check the power supply.
- Nothing's wrong there.

I already checked the converter.
It's perfect.

Let's see.

Seems to be in order.

I think the main trouble in in the buffer tube.

I think I have some buffer tubes in my bag, take a look.

Find a DT-221.

Here it is.

Good.

How do you know all about this, boy?

I learned all I could about the theory of radio transmission.

You see?

Here it explains buffer stage.

Where did you get all those books?

Some I bought, others I borrowed.

Some I stole from the Germans.

These are my favorite.

Philosophy of the Western World, Gerta.

Oh, Midsummer Night's Dream!

You read all these?

At least three times.

I read while I watch the radio for my Grandpère.

How did you get interested in them?

Before the w*r, I went to school for five years.

The rest I taught myself.

And do you understand everything you read?

No, not completely.

But what I don't understand, I feel inside.

I know that someday, it will be all clear.

The eye of man hath not heard,

the ear hath not seen,

the hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive.

nor the heart report what my dream was.

And you fight Germans too?

We do what we must, Sergeant.

Yeah. Well...

See what we got here.

Keep staring out there, one of you gonna strain an eyeball.

- It's a screwy setup, ain't it?
- Yup.

Here we are standing right in the middle of Kraut territory.

Sgt. Fauntleroy down there in the basement playing with his radio.

Well, it may turn out to be something important.

Or we could get k*lled. That's very important.

A coward dies a thousand times. The brave, only once.

That's about all it takes, ain't it?

You were right.

It was the buffer tube.

Now there's something wrong with the receiver.

I got to work on it.

Well, while you're doing that, I can get us some bread and cheese.

Yeah, that'll be fine. Thank you.

How's it going?

I think the Sergeant and I will work well together.

[speaks French]

Your grandmother's worrying about you, Jaques?

Yes.

You don't scare easy, do you?

The trick is to hide the fear.

I found out what was wrong.

It's called the IF alignment.

Why didn't I think of that?

What would you have done if you had?

I'm not completely sure.

Here, let me show you.

Put this here.

Now, watching the meter,

You can tune back and forth and get maximum voltage.

I see.

There.

Now you're going to do just fine, Jaques.

Sergeant!

- Are they finished down there?
- Not yet, but they're coming along.

He said, the Germans are moving into the wooded area.

How many?

A great many! Troops, tanks, a*tillery.

They are coming through an old mine tunnel.

That means our rear observers won't be able to see them.

We won't know how large a force they have.

- How far is Lemonte?
- About half a mile.

Look, why don't we take that field radio and see if
we can make it back within range of our own lines?

Because it will take too long. The odds are better if we transmit from here.

Better for who?

For a couple thousand of our boys who might be wiped out

if the Krauts pull a surprise attack. That's who!

Sergeant!

The radio is fixed.

[speaking French]

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook.
Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook, over?

[radio static and whining]

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook.
Do you read me?

Do you read me, over?

White Rook, your transmission is weak.
Do you read me, over?

[faint transmission]

Checkmate King-Two, do you read me, over?

White Rook, your transmission is weak, acknowledge.

[speaking German]

- Herr Hauptmann?
- Ja

[faint voice over radio]

[faintly]
Checkmate, do you read me, over?

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook.
Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook, over.

King-Two, this is White Rook. Do you read me?
Do you read me? Over.

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook. Do you read me, over?

[faintly]
White Rook, this is King-Two, over.

Perkins.

This is White Rook, do you read me, over?

[faintly] White Rook, do you read me?
Your transmission is weak, over.

Try it again.

Checkmate King-Two, come in.

Checkmate King-TWo, come in please, over?

I read you weak, White Rook, over.

Kirby, they're back!

Sarge! Krauts are back!

We can't get through yet.

You must keep your men down there until you are finished.

Go ahead, Sarge. We'll take care of the Germans.

All right, you two come on down here.

- You going to allow that boy to go up there?
- You keep working on that radio!

Bounjour, Capitan.

[speaking German]

Checkmate King-Two, you're coming in weak, over.

Checkmate King-Two, you're coming in weak, over.

Checkmate King-Two, come in!

Checkmate King-Two, come in, over.

- Sergeant, I gotta help that boy.
- No, Sergeant!

- You must not interfere.
- Interfere?

They're going to k*ll them and the boy!

They knew the risks they were taking.
We cannot help them.

They would not want us to die uselessly.

Checkmate King-Two, please come in, over.

Checkmate King-Two, I have vital information.
Please acknowledge, over!

They going to k*ll them.
They're going to k*ll that boy too!

Checkmate King-Two, I have vital information.
Please acknowledge, over!

Saunders, will you please listen to me?

Checkmate King-Two, come in, over!

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook.
Please acknowledge, over.

God, will you forget that thing for a moment?

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook.
Please acknowledge, over.

Where's all that blind courage when you need it?

All of a sudden you want to join the human race?

Those three people up there?
They joined a long time ago.

They do their job, we do ours.

You think it's easier for me to stay down here than it is for you?

You get on that radio and you make it work!

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook, over.

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook, over.

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook, over.

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook, come in!

Checkmate King-Two, this is White Rook, over.

[over radio] White Rook, we got you loud and clear!
Send your message.

There's a large concentration of cups and saucers moving into sector C.

Do you read me, over?

Sir, this is Lt. Hanley.

I'm getting a transmission from one of my patrols.

They report a heavy concentration of German troops and vehicles

moving through the wooded area of sector C.

I recommend we lay in a barrage immediately, sir.

Yes, sir!

Checkmate King-Two, do you acknowledge?

Checkmate King-Two, did you acknowledge my last transmission?

White Rook, this is Checkmate King-Two, over.

Feuer!

Come on, let's go.

[door creaks]

Jaques, will you tell your grandmother that we have to leave?

We'll get rid of the Germans.

Tell her we're sorry but we haven't got the time to stay behind and help.

I understand, Sergeant.

If the rest of the Americans fight as well as you have,

We will meet again very soon.

Tell your officers that our radio will be
working as long as they need it.

- Bye, Jaques.
- Au revoir, Sergeant.

Maybe someday we will talk about the books again, Sergeant?

You can count on it.

Now all we have to do is make it back to our lines.

Anything you say, Sergeant. After all, you're the expert.

That's right, Perkins.

Helped write the manual.

Nice to have you back, Sergeant.

Looks like everybody's pulling out.

Yeah. The Krauts got a taste of our a*tillery and took off.

You got that jigsaw puzzle put together, Lieutenant?

Thanks to you and Sgt. Perkins.

Yeah, Perkins.

Guess it takes all kinds.

Yep. All kinds.

Close up shop, soldier.