"I was going home today." "I was going home after a year of this shithole." "And yesterday they tell me i'm staying 90 more days and taking on a squad of virgins!" "Qiff!" "Qiff!" "Fire!" "Any chance they were just civilians trying to get away from the fighting?" "Any chance of that?" "Yep." "Can i give you a piece of advice, sir?" "No." "Oh, shit!" "I want my men taken care of first." "Understand?" "I want the americans taken care of first." "Yeah, they generally try to look at the americans first, sir, but as soon as the emergencies are sorted out, they work with whoever's hurt worst." "I don't care what they generally do, sergeant." "I want to do what i want to do." "Understand?" "Hey, you warning me?" "Yeah." "About what?" "I'm not afraid of dying, but i'm afraid of losing you." "They flew in a visitor for you." "It's your dad." "He's out in the hall." "What?" "I ain't spoken to my father in six years." "He left when i was 14." "Said he was going out for cigarettes." "Welcome back, pop." "What can i do for you boys?" "My orders are to escort you to the base hospital, sir, now." "I'm asking you why you didn't tell them we don't speak." "You trying to say something about me?" "About how i let you down or something?" "How i quit?" "I wasn't talking about you." "'Cause i didn't quit, all right?" "I got five minutes on this phone card if you got anybody you want to call." "You can't reach nobody?" "Nah, there's no answer." "Shit, sergeant." "I'd love to use your five minutes." "Yeah." "Thanks." "* well, it's early this morning * * i got a long way to go" "* walk away, that's right * you ready?" "* i said when i walk away have a seat, sergeant." "Thank you, sir." "Do you want cold water?" "I got ice." "Thank you, sir." "The reason i asked you in is because your e.a.s. Is coming up, and i haven't seen your paperwork." "Is that an oversight?" "No, sir." "I'm not re-enlisting, sir." "Does this have anything to do with the disaster lieutenant hunter provoked?" "No, sir." "You're 13 years in, sergeant." "Seven more, and you can retire with full benefits." "I'm ready for something new, sir." "You're one of the best staff ncos i've got, and i want you to stay." "You have something waiting on the outside better than this?" "Carpets, sir." "A friend of mine from high school opened a chain of carpet stores in topeka." "His business is doing well." "He wants me to run it." "He's offering me a real opportunity, sir." "You're not from topeka." "No, sir." "How did you know that, sir?" "I read your file." "You're from bellmore." "Yes, sir." "I'm from long island, too." "Yes, sir." "You never struck me as in it for the money, sergeant, but the army has set aside $400 million for retention bonuses." "There's no reason some of that shouldn't be yours." "If you do a 6-year re-enlistment, i can get you a $50,000 bonus." "Sir... i just want to keep you in the army, sergeant." "I'm sorry, sir." "* walk away, that's right if there's anything i can do to change your mind, you let me know." "* walk away, that's right * you ready?" "* i said when i walk away man: ... yesterday in a massive explosion in a southern district of baghdad." "The bomb was apparently detonated by a remote device." "This report of a series of attacks has unleashed a wave of car bombings in tikrit this morning, killing 8 civilians and wounding at least 30, including u.s. Marines." "Man #2:" "Despite u.s. Troops facing extended deployments and continued danger in the war in iraq, pentagon officials claim morale..." "Sergeant, this is a notice to quit the premises." "Somebody getting evicted, bro." "I know that." "Homey don't pay, homey got to go." "Why are we delivering it, sergeant?" "Are we working for a landlord now?" "The iraqi interim government." "Why they evicting people?" "They need the building, i guess, for a police station or something." "They have the right to take private property for public projects." "Eminent domain." "Apparently whoever's in it doesn't want to move, though." "Imagine that." "I've been evicted." "Now you're on the other side." "Guess i'm moving up in the world." "America!" "I beat you!" "Hold up!" "Hold up!" "Whoa!" "Stop right there!" "Tariq, talk to him!" "[Speaking arabic]" "[Speaking arabic]" "He wants to show us his box." "Tell him to drop the box!" "America!" "I beat you!" "Tell him to drop it, god damn it!" "I'm on the box!" "Put it down, god damn it, now!" "Put it down, or you're dead!" "Sophie:" "What is wrong with you?" "He is just a boy." "This is a boy." "What is the matter with you people?" "Lady, stop right there." "I am a french citizen, and this is one of my boys." "Lady!" "Lady!" "Lady, i'm not letting you put my men at risk." "I don't care who you think you are." "If you have any influence over this boy, use it to save his life." "Now, tell him to put the box down and walk away." "He thinks you will destroy it." "He's right." "That's my job." "Now, tell him to put it down and walk away." "Now!" "[Speaking arabic]" "I beat you." "Fire!" "It's a chess set." "You are a monster and a fool." "Yes, ma'am." "47... 48... you're tiring him out good." "He's gonna sleep like a log tonight." "You talking to him or me?" "Good point. [chuckles]" "Are you tiring daddy out, tank?" "I'll still have some energy for you left, don't worry." "You're sweaty and disgusting." "Just the way you like me." "Always. [laughs]" "Hey, i've been going over the bills again, and i think i figured out why nothing's adding up." "You know you haven't gotten paid since you got home from germany?" "What?" "You're still in the military." "They should be paying you." "Yeah, i'm not exactly working." "If you're out, you get disability, but if you're in, you get a paycheck, and we're not getting either." "Today's army." "Yeah, well, today's army owes us almost $3,200." "That's not my department, sweetheart." "That's finance." "I'm in department "get back into shape."" "Well, at least your department's doing well anyway." "Daddy." "Ow." "Good job." "Want to go to the kitchen?" "Okay." "Oh..." "Who wants candy?" "Come on, come on." "The papers are in order, ma'am." "You've been served with them twice." "You don't have a choice anymore." "This is an orphanage, officer." "It's sergeant, ma'am, and i'm sorry to hear that." "But you have to vacate the building anyway." "Another helpful gesture from the americans?" "No, ma'am." "I have run this orphanage from the time of the sanctions." "I have watched iraqi children die from infections because the americans wouldn't let the antibiotics in." "I have watched iraqi children die from american bombs." "Ma'am, please." "Sergeant... every time the americans have a helpful idea, more iraqi children die." "Don't ruin the lives of these troubled children because you have had yet another helpful idea." "Like i said, it's not the americans' idea." "Of course it is." "It's the iraqi interim government." "They are american puppets." "They're the government the iraqi people elected." "They are paid to do your bidding." "It's a struggle to work with them, ma'am." "Take my word." "Public-relations scam!" "It's a collaboration, which, as a french person, you should be able to understand." "You have until 1800 hours friday to vacate the premises." "Until then, we can help you move." "After..." "you're out in the street." "Hey." "Hey." "Want some punch?" "Thanks." "Kids all right?" "They're not killing each other?" "They're fine." "What's wrong?" "Uh, nothing." "It's stupid." "Don't say that." "It's just..." "this morning when i got home, there was a message from my wife." "She got the cookies, and she was going on about the pictures of me and the baby and how happy we look." "And i just sat there thinking, you took those pictures." "Sergio..." "no, you took them." "And she's there, and we're here and... it's okay." "We shouldn't even be talking like this." "It's not right." "We can talk." "There's nothing wrong with it." "The more we talk... the more we... no, this isn't..." "this isn't right." "I'm sorry." "Woman:" "Hold your horses!" "You see sprinkles for the cupcakes?" "Little monsters." "They see some cupcakes have sprinkles." "Now everybody has to have them." "Here." "Thank god." "You got more punch?" "'Cause they're screaming for that, too." "Right here." "[Chuckles]" "Hold up." "When we get back to town tomorrow, find the kid." "Give him this." "What is it?" "Travel chess set." "I didn't know scream was a chess player." "If he is, why is he giving his chess set away?" "Maybe he figured he don't need it no more." "What's that supposed to mean?" "A brother in the captain's office told me he at the end of his contract, and he ain't re-upped." "Shit." "He leaving us?" "Shit, wouldn't you?" "He said he only had 90 more days." "Yep." "That's less than a week now." "It scares the shit out of me, man." "Me too." "Don't scare me." "Don't tell me he's received his checks." "We haven't gotten one." "They've all gone out, ma'am." ""Rider, bo," right here." "Well, they may have gone out, but they haven't come in." "So, maybe you could cancel them and hand me new ones." "Computer says they've all cleared, ma'am." "He's cashed them." "Look, we've never gotten any of these checks." "Ma'am, these checks have been issued and cashed." "Not by me they haven't." "Well, maybe your husband cashed the checks without your knowledge." "Man:" "At least 18 iraqis, almost all of them children, have been killed by suicide car bombings southeast of basrah." "Two u.s. Soldiers... hey, sergeant, you need a translator?" "You fluent in french?" "You better handle it." "I can translate." "You speak french?" "No, i speak bitch." "It's his first language." "Somebody call the media." "Angel made a joke." "Sarge, you want me to give the kid the chess set now?" "I told you to, didn't i?" "Yeah." "Then do it." "Hey, give me a hand, will you?" "Hey, kid, you speak english?" "You said the other day, "i beat you."" "I thought maybe you spoke english." "I beat you." "We got something for you." "[Speaking arabic]" "It's another chess set." "Here." "I beat you." "Why does he keep saying that?" "I think he's challenging you to a game." "Really?" "I beat you, i beat you, i beat you." "I don't know about that, kid." "I used to play chess at cornell." "You was like in the chess club or something?" "Yeah." "Oh, god, jesus." "How'd you even become a soldier, man?" "You're a goddamn geek." "And proud of it." "Sergeant!" "Mind if i play the kid a game of chess?" "Yeah, just make sure the building's covered while i'm inside." "If she ever answers the goddamn door." "I think he wants to use your watch as a timer." "Oh, speed chess, huh?" "You know chess?" "Just what i seen in the park." "Ahh, this is gonna be good." "You think he's gonna beat me?" "Never underestimate your opponent." "Uh-oh." "Can i help you with something?" "Want to talk inside?" "I would prefer if your men left my children alone." "Soldiers are frightening to them." "They're playing chess." "Where did the chess set come from?" "It's mine." "It was mine." "You are here to throw this boy out of the only home he has ever known, and you want to make friends first?" "Is that it?" "You think that will make it easier?" "Can we just talk inside?" "Please?" "That boy your men are playing chess with... his parents were walking into school when they were caught in a battle." "They covered him with their bodies." "They bled to death on top of him." "You are afraid of insurgents?" "Shut this place down, you may as well be turning him over to them." "That goes for all the children here." "Madame... [speaking arabic]" "[Speaking arabic]" "Wait here, please." "Ma'am, this is important." "So is this." "I have to change a diaper." "Then i will be free to deal with your shit, sergeant." "You know, chess started in india around the 7th century." "It's been played in every major culture on the planet." "It's the game of the civilized world." "Makes you wonder why we're seeing it here then, right?" "Maybe it's a good sign." "Nations used to send their greatest minds around the world to compete." "Used to?" "In the '90s, gary kasparov, world's greatest chess player, he got challenged by this team of guys at ibm." "They built this computer called deep blue, programmed it to play chess." "Kicked his butt, did it?" "Twice." "Kind of the end of an era." "Hmm." "Era of the uppity, white chess snob?" "You wouldn't understand." "Oh, i understand, all right." "Not chess." "Excuse me?" "See, that's the point." "There was a time when men used to compete with something called their brains." "Oh!" "So, you saying i ain't got brains?" "You can take the winner." "You mean play the kid?" "Hey, don't look now, but that old volvo's cruised by twice." "Maybe he's lost." "Want to go check it out?" "We'll cover the building." "Tell him i'll be back." "Hey!" "Hey!" "Don't touch that!" "[Speaks arabic]" "He's just saying you're chicken, that's all." "Tell him he's right, but not when it comes to chess, and the board's not going anywhere." "[Speaking arabic]" "We'll see who's got reason to be afraid when i get back." "I beat you, america." "I beat you, america." "I have five minutes." "What could you possibly have to discuss with me that we haven't already discussed?" "I might have a solution to your problem." "Hm." "That is funny." "My problem is you." "You know what, lady?" "I don't need this shit." "Good." "Then go away." "I'm trying to help you." "If you don't want to see that, fine." "I'm out of the army in 10 days." "Good." "Go home." "Forget about us." "I'm looking forward to it." "In the meantime, i'm stuck with you." "Now, do you want to hear my idea for saving your goddamned orphanage, or are you too pigheaded to listen for 90 goddamn seconds to someone you look down at?" "[Chuckles] I'm sorry." "Go ahead." "There's a vacant apartment building outside town." "They stopped construction on it during the war." "I know it needs work, but if the local council agrees, maybe you could take that building instead." "It won't be easy." "But if we can get them to agree to give you the building, there's all kinds of reconstruction moneys available that might pay to get it in shape." "Are you through?" "Yeah, that's it." "Why should these children be uprooted again?" "Why should they go to the edge of town?" "If you can rebuild an abandoned building, why doesn't the local council put its police there instead of here?" "The council doesn't want you here at all." "That's what infuriates me." "Don't think about it." "I'm not sufficiently respectful." "Don't make it about you." "Excuse me?" "You love these kids, right?" "[Scoffs] what business is it of yours?" "I can see it in the pictures." "You'd give up anything to help them, wouldn't you?" "What business is it of yours, huh?" "You have given up everything." "You don't have any other life, do you?" "This is it, isn't it?" "You think about going back to france, but you never do, do you?" "How dare you?" "You're just like me." "You are insane." "Don't let these kids be put out in the street because you're offended." "You keep your deranged opinion to yourself." "Just think about the apartment building, okay?" "I'm not leaving." "Understand?" "I'm drawing the line right here." "I am not leaving." "I am as pigheaded as you are." "Lady, i'm sorry to hear that." "Man:" "Allah-hu akbar!" "Ugh!" "[Coughs] you okay?" "Can you hear me?" "Are your ears all right?" "Yes." "They are ringing." "All right, then listen for once." "Stay here." "Don't move, okay?" "I have to check on my kids." "Yeah, well, i got to check on mine, too." "Keep away from the windows." "And tell the kids to keep away from the windows, too." "Sound off!" "Who's where?" "Smoke!" "I'm good!" "Me too!" "Dim and tariq went to check out a suspicious vehicle." "We were covering the front." "All right, let's go find it." "Dim, tariq, sound off, god damn it!" "I'm good, sergeant." "I'm okay, sergeant." "Son of a bitch turned around and came right back at us." "I think they were going for the humvee." "They were going for the building, man." "Everybody's okay." "Angel, call it in." "There may be people hurt inside." "Let's walk through and make sure, okay?" "Oh, shit." "God damn it." "God damn it." "Get the first-aid kit out of the hummer now!" "God damn it!" "Hurry up!" "Rawhide six, this is rawhide one." "I need a medevac at grid sierra, bravo, niner, 73820, break." "One civilian male child." "Over." "Rawhide six, this is rawhide one!" "Over!" "God damn it." "Icom's for shit." "You want the 119?" "Is he bad?" "Get her, smoke." "Lady, lady, lady, lady." "Oh, god." "Oh, my god." "Man:" "Rawhide one, this is rawhide six." "Over." "Rawhide six, this is rawhide one." "I need medevac at grid sierra, bravo, niner, 73820, break." "One civilian male child." "Over." "Rawhide one, roger civilian medevac request." "Just keep breathing kid, okay?" "Just keep breathing, kid." "I want him ready for dust-off immediately." "Sergeant." "Get that." "Get it." "Get it." "Get it." "This is rawhide six." "Confirm medevac at grid sierra, bravo, niner 73820." "Over." "One, six." "Copy medevac at grid sierra, bravo, niner, 73820." "Dust-off will be at your position in 30 minutes." "Over." "I need that medevac now." "This kid is gonna bleed out." "Over." "Civilian medevac confirmed in 30 minutes." "Over." "It's a civilian child, god damn it!" "He doesn't have 30 minutes!" "Over." "I said i want him ready to move out!" "Now go!" "Rawhide one, dust-off is 30 minutes out." "That's the best they can do." "Over." "All right, disregard medevac." "We'll get him out on our own vehicle, all right?" "One, two, three." "Move, move." "Let's go." "I'm going with you." "I want to ride with him." "Go, go, go!" "Whoa." "He stopped breathing." "Put him down." "Keep that wound clamped." "Just do the best you can." "He's... he's... all right." "All right." "Let's go." "The goal is to give backpacks to several thousand iraqi children." "You believe that guy?" ""I've been doing this a long time, ma'am." "The computer's never wrong, ma'am."" "You accusing me of something?" "No, i'm saying the guy's an ass." "That's about the third time you brought it up, so... i'd never think that." "Huh?" "Come on." "Well, if you don't think it, can i stop hearing it?" "Please?" "You think that's such a good idea?" "I'm just sayin'." "I decided to get off the morphine, and i did it cold turkey." "I think i proved i can handle it." "Well, if you can handle it, then why you taking so many?" "I need them to get over this hump, okay?" "I'm pushing myself real hard." "Then don't push so hard." "I'm pushing so i can heal faster." "I got it under control, okay?" "Come here." "I always do what i need to, right?" "I get the job done, don't i?" "Yeah." "Okay." "Baron:" "Sergeant, lieutenant hunter tells me the local council is adamant." "They want her and her orphanage gone." "I think we should override their authority in this matter, sir." "It's a nonmilitary decision." "They voted." "The whole point is their getting democracy." "I believe deeply in democracy, sir." "I'm glad to hear that, sergeant." "I'm just talking about a little horse trading, sir." "Well, i hate to ask, sergeant, but what are you bringing to the table?" "I'll re-enlist." "Six years." "Keep the 50 grand." "I'm not the army's most valuable asset." "I know that." "But i'll throw what i got into the pot." "You're going all-in?" "Every once in a while, a man has to do that." "All right, but i won't keep your bonus." "You might not think so, but you earned it." "Thank you, sir." "Otherwise... sir?" "...you have yourself a deal." "Thank you, sir." "The sergeant tells me you have an issue with your husband's paychecks." "Well, if you call not getting any of them and having my husband accused of cashing them behind my back an issue, yeah." "Your husband's bo rider?" "Yes." "Well, he's cashed all his checks." "No, he hasn't." "He's not depositing them at a bank." "Looks like he's using check cashers, getting cash." "Take a look." "Abilene?" "Why the hell's the army sending his checks to abilene?" "That's his address." "His address is right here on the base." "That's his address as it appears in his file, his recruitment address." "When did you start sending his checks to his recruitment address?" "When his status changed, i guess." "When he got hurt." "I guess so." "Well, that's brilliant." "All right, mrs." "Rider... really, the army at its best." "Mrs. Rider." "I love the army." "I'm gonna take care of this myself." "You're gonna take care of this yourself?" "Yes." "Really?" "Without help?" "My recruitment address?" "Your dad's, in abilene." "It's in their computer." "My dad's cashing my paychecks?" "It's his name, too." "It's not his money." "They know that now." "I explained it." "How much?" "How much did he steal?" "!" "$3,200." "Major doten says they have a legal clinic." "He gave me the name of a lawyer there." "He might be able to recover some of it." "From now on, we're getting direct deposit to our usaa account." "Bo, where are you going?" "Bo, please, where are you going?" "To get my money back." "Sophie:" "I don't understand." "Suddenly, the local council is letting us stay?" "Well, they're getting a lot of money from the rebuilding effort." "They know it's because of you." "How did you manage that?" "What do you mean?" "I didn't do anything." "You are a terrible liar." "No, i'm not." "Why would i lie?" "What did you give up?" "What did you give up, sergeant?" "Are you still going home next week?" "[Sighs] What have you done?" "Merci." "You think he would have won?" "I know he would have won." "You were gonna let him?" "I'll play his hand out." "I'm not gonna let you win." "Well, i'm not gonna let you win, either, white boy." "Black's move, ain't it?" "Black versus white." "No bullshit." "That's what i love about chess." "Woman:" "Manager to produce department." "Manager, i need a 34 at register 5." "Sergio." "Hey." "Hey." "I've been calling you a lot lately." "Is your machine broken?" "I've been busy." "This one is running you ragged, huh?" "Oh, yeah." "We've been up to our ears." "Hey, you want to hang out this weekend?" "Maybe go to the park?" "Nah, we can't." "Too busy." "Actually, we've got to get somewhere now, so... oh, okay." "Hey." "Hi." "What was that about?" "What?" "What are you talking about?" "Did i do something that i don't know about?" "No, i... maybe we shouldn't be hanging out so much." "Why?" "It's nothing." "It doesn't mean anything." "Then it won't mean anything if we stop doing it, right?" "Right." "You guys almost done?" "Yep." "No." "Got a call to pick up scream." "He's at the orphanage." "Why'd he go out there so early?" "Question is, why he didn't come home last night?" "Ooh!" "Sergeant scream and the strident frog?" "Right on." "Yeah, but we should go." "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." "Now we can go." "I beat you, america." "Hey, baby, it's me." "I'm sorry i keep missing you on the phone." "It's crazy, between work and the baby." "He's good." "He's sleeping now, finally." "I'm trying to teach him to say "mama" for you." "And, uh... i miss you, so... try to call me again soon." "It's hard." "I know." "It always feels like it's the middle of the night here when it's day there, but... i'll try to be home more." "I love you." "Bye." "You will visit?" "Well, i think you'd be better off if the army stays away for a while." "But you are not the army." "I am, actually." "I am the army." "I got to go." "* the day is comin' * the drums are drummin' * if you know one, say a prayer *" "* there's mothers cryin' * and fathers sighing', uh-huh * war is in the air" "* the trains are filling up with boys *" "* who've left behind their favorite toys * * they're going over there * over there" "* where someone has to die sarge, you want to get some breakfast?" "Or you already filled up on the croissant?" "Just drive, smoke." "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah." "* where ours is not to reason why *" "* over there * where someone has to die" "* over * over, over there"