(DRAMATIC CHANTING IN SOMALI) (HELICOPTER ROTORS BEAT SOFTLY) (HORN HONKS) (ALL SHOUT) There! Technicals, 9 o'clock! (YELLING) (YELLING CONTINUES) (GUNFIRE) (ALL SCREAM / YELL) Oh shit! Did you see that? Chief, we got unarmed civilians getting shot down here at 9 o'clock! I got it, Matt. I don't think we can touch this. (SHOUTS IN SOMALI) Command, Super 6-4. We got militia shooting civilians at the food-distribution centre! Request permission to engage. "Super 6-4, are you taking fire? Over." Negative, Command. "UN's jurisdiction, 6-4." "We cannot intervene. Return to Base. Over." Roger. 6-4 returning. (MIMICS SOUND OF GUNSHOT / LAUGHS) (YELLING) (HORNS BEEP) (GUNFIRE) (SHOUTS IN SOMALI) Mmm. (HORN BEEPS) (GUNFIRE) Leaving. (BOTH SPEAK SOMALI) (DOOR SQUEAKS / CLANGS) General Garrison? No, thanks. I got one. These are Cuban. Bolivar... Belicoso. So's this. (CHUCKLES) Miami, my friend, is not Cuba. (CHUCKLES) I see not catching Aidid is becoming a routine. We weren't trying to catch Aidid, we were trying to catch you. Me? (CHUCKLES) But am I that important? I hardly think so. You're just a businessman. Trying to make a living. Selling guns to Aidid's militia. You've been here, what? Six weeks? Six weeks you are trying to catch the general. You put up reward posters. $25,000! What is this? Gunfight at the KO Corral? (LAUGHS) It's, er,... it's the OK Corral. You think bringing me in will make him suddenly come to you? Make him more agreeable? Hm? You know where he sleeps. You pay for his beds, militarise his militia. We're not leaving Somalia till we find him. And we will find him. Don't make the mistake of thinking because I grew up without running water I am simple. I do know something about history. See all this? It's simply shaping tomorrow. A tomorrow without a lot of Arkansas White boys, ideally. Well, I don't know about that. I'm from Texas. Mr Garrison, I think you shouldn't have come here. This is civil war. This is our war,... ..not yours. 300,000 dead, and counting. That's not a war, Mr Atto. That's genocide. Now, you enjoy that tea, you hear? How'd he strike you? Urbane, sophisticated,... cool. Yeah, he's a good catch. It'll take time, but Aidid'll feel the loss. Time's not something we got much of. This is not Iraq. It's much more complicated than that. Boss, Washington might disagree. They been calling for the situation reports every morning this week! Well, tell them the situation is, er,... ..fragile. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Cliff Elvis Wolcott. I'll be your pilot today. This is a non-smoking Black Hawk helicopter. Those of you on the Mogadishu frequent-flyer programme will be earning 100 credits today, and the airsickness bags are located in the seat back in front of you. Indications are good, Cliff. You got it. (RADIO) # "Suspicious Minds" - Elvis Presley "# Because I love you too much, baby # Why can't you see... # "6-1, this is 6-4. Go to UHF secure." I got some bad news. Limo is a word, Durant! I don't wanna hear about it. "It is not a word. It's an abbreviation." Limo is a word in common usage. That is the key phrase in Scrabble! "Common usage!" No! If it's not in the dictionary, it doesn't count! "It doesn't have to be in the dictionary!" "It does!" When we get back, it's coming off the board. You touch it and I'll fake you, you hear me? Promises! That's a nice beach down there. How's the water? Yeah, it's nice and warm. And it's loaded with sharks. Name? Todd. Last name? Blackburn. First name, Todd... So, what's it like? What's what like? Mogadishu. The fighting. Serial number? 72163427. Firstly, it's the Mog, or simply Mog. No one calls it Mogadishu here. I wouldn't know about the fighting. Why not? Don't ask. Kid, you look like you're about 12. Let me explain something to you. I've a rare and mysterious ailment that precludes me from missions. Typing. Can you type? No. Date of birth? 2-27-75. Well, I'm here to kick some ass. There was a lot of smoke! Single shot to the engine block! Shit! That's a shame. That was a nice Jeep. (BLOWS WHISTLE) Cease fire! Cease fire! Check your weapons. Sergeant Eversmann! Sergeant? Yeah? Private First Class Blackburn. Yeah? Reporting for duty. Not to me. Report to Lieutenant Beales. He's around here somewhere. Not to me. Report to Lieutenant Beales. He's around here somewhere. Can I leave him with you? Yeah, all right. Got your weapon? Yes, sir. Want me to shoot? I'm rested! When'd you get in? Just now, Sergeant. Hey, who's hungry? What is it, another tax-payer-funded Delta safari? Not if General Garrison's asking. I'm asking. Not if General Garrison's asking. I'm asking. Have a nice meal, Captain. Hey, man, there's a line! I know. This isn't the back of it. Yeah, I know! Sergeant? Sergeant! What's going on here? Just some aerial target practice, sir! Didn't wanna leave it behind. I mean your weapon. Delta or no Delta, that's a hot weapon. You know better than that. Safety should be on. You know better than that. Safety should be on. That's my safety, sir. Let it go, sir. He hasn't eaten in two days. You Delta boys are undisciplined cowboys. Let me tell you something, Sergeant. We get on the five-yard line, you're gonna need my Rangers, so you gotta learn to be team players. We're done here. Speak up! You say this is your safety? This is my boot, son! (ALL LAUGH) And it will fit up your ass with the proper amount of force. Guys, I'm trying to do this. Gimme a break. Take those sunglasses off, soldier. Delta wants to wear Oakleys, they can. I don't wanna see them on you! (BOTH LAUGH) Is that a hot weapon? You guys! It's not your move. I got my hand on the piece. I'll mate you in three whatever you do. I'd keep my eye on that queen before counselling with others. She's just lying in wait. Griz? That's good. You're really improving. Ah... If I may make a suggestion, observation... Uh-huh? It's a children's book, right? Right. You are not supposed to scare the living shit out of the children. This part of the story, a knight's about to slay the dragon. That's scary. My daughter loves this stuff. I thought you finished that last week. You done? Hey! We are at the ten-yard line here, men! You understand? (ALL LAUGH) Can you count? One, two, ten! Where are my running backs? Where are my running backs? Where are my running backs? Where are my running backs? (ALL) Huh! Hey, I didn't see you at church on Sunday, soldier. You had something more important to do? Not on Sunday, you don't! I will make you believe, understand? Pretty funny, huh? (ALL) Huh! (SOBS WITH LAUGHTER) Good impression! I recognise myself. All right. Carry on. A quick word, Specialist. Sir. Tell me, you understand why we have a chain of command, don't you? Roger that, sir. If I see you undermine it again, you'll be cleaning latrines till you can't tell shit from french fries. Hoo-ah, sir! All right. (ALL) Yeah! (ALL CHEER) Listen to this. One skinny kills another skinny, his clan owes the dead guy's clan a hundred camels! Camels! I wouldn't pay one camel. Must be a lot of fucking camel debt. Is that really true, Lieutenant? Ask Eversmann. He likes skinnies. Sergeant, you really like the skinnies? It's not that I like them or I don't. I respect 'em. What you fail to realise is, the sergeant is a bit of an idealist. He believes in this mission down to his bones, don't you, Sergeant? Look, these people, they have no jobs, no food,... ..no education... and no future. I just figure that, you know, we have two things we can do. We can help... or sit back and watch the country destroy itself on CNN. Right? I don't know about you guys, but I was trained to fight. Were you? I think I was trained to make a difference, Kurth. (ALL CHUCKLE) Like you said, he's an idealist! (TELEVISION CHATTER) Wait! It's my favourite part! "Stay away from the cans!" (LAUGHS) "Die, gas-pumper!" (LAUGHS / COUGHS) (CHOKES) Beales! No, no, no! Stay back! Stay back! He's having a seizure. Put something in his mouth. (MOANS) It's OK, John! It's OK. It's OK. (MUEZZIN SINGS CALL TO PRAYER) * Well? He'll be fine,... but not in this army. He's out of the game. He's epileptic. Going home. I'm putting you in charge of his chalk. You got a problem with that? No, sir. It's a big responsibility. Your men will look to you to make the right decisions. Their lives depend on it. All right. Rangers lead the way, sir. All the way. Good luck, son. (SPEAKS SOMALI) (CLICKING) (FIRES) (SHOUTS IN SOMALI) 'A meeting of Aidid's senior cabinet may take place today at 1500hrs.' I say may because we all know that with the intel we get on the street, nothing is certain. This is actual intel confirmed by three soldiers. Two tier-one personalities may be present,... ..Omar Salad, Aidid's top political advisor, and Abdi Hassan Awale, Interior Minister. These are the guys we're after. Today we go. Same mission template as before. 15:45, Assault Force Delta will infiltrate the target building and seize all suspects within. Security Force Rangers, four Ranger chalks under Captain Steele, will rope in at 15:46 and hold a four-corner perimeter around the target area. No one gets in or out. Extraction force. Lieutenant Colonel McKnight's Humvee column will drive in at 15:47 on the Hawlwadig Road and hold just short of the Olympic Hotel, waiting for the green light. Once Delta gives the word, the next column will move in and load the prisoners on to flatbed trucks. Immediately after the prisoners are loaded, the four Ranger chalks will collapse back to the target building, load up on Humvees, and the entire ground force will exfil the three miles back to base. Mission time, from incursion to extraction, no more than 30 minutes. Now, I had requested light armour and AC-130 Spectre gunships, but Washington in all its wisdom decided against this. Too high-profile. So Black Hawks and Little Birds will provide the air-cover with mini-guns and 275 rockets. In the C2 bird, Matthews will coordinate the air mission, and I will coordinate ground forces. Colonel Matthews? Mission launch code word is Irene. Questions? Which building is it, sir? We're confirming now. Somewhere around the Bakara market. I don't choose the time and place of their meetings. I didn't say a word, sir. Make no mistake. Once you're in Bakara Market, you're in an entirely hostile district. Don't underestimate their capabilities. We'll be going through friendly neighbourhoods before we hit the market, so remember the rules of engagement. No one fires unless fired upon. Let's go and get this thing done! Good luck, gentlemen. What's the matter, Danny? Something you don't like? No gunships, late afternoon when they're all fucked up on khat, only part of the city Aidid can mount a serious counterattack on short notice. What's not to like (?) Well, life's imperfect. For you two, circling above it at 500ft, it's imperfect. But out on the street... it's unforgiving. # Tryin' to step to me, you take your last breath # I got the skill, come get your fill # Cos when I shoot to give I shoot to kill # I came to get down, I came to get down # So get out your seat and jump around... # What the fuck, Smith?! Well? Well, what? We going? Why should I tell you that? Because I'm me. Yeah. 3 o'clock. Downtown. Bakara Market. All right! Listen, Smith, I need you to back me up out there today, all right? Keep sharp. Yes, sir, Sergeant Eversmann! Ev,... it's gonna be nothing, man. Nothing! It's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science. You're looking at the guy who believed the commercials about "be all you can be". I made coffee through Desert Storm. I made coffee through Panama while everyone else got to fight, got to be a Ranger. (SLAMS POT DOWN) Now it's, "Grimesey, black, one sugar" or "Got a powdered anywhere?" What happened to you? Ping-Pong accident. What? So, guess what? Your wish has been granted. You're going out today. You're fuckin' me! You're taking my place assisting the 60 gunner. Sergeant Eversmann said to get your stuff and get ready. It's what you wanted, isn't it? Oh, yeah. Hell, yeah! Grimesy! I want you to stick with Waddell. Help him when he needs you. Hoo-ah. I wouldn't worry about that. Somalis can't shoot for shit. Watch out for the Sammys throwing fucking rocks and you'll be fine. Might be fun. D boys do their thing now. We just cover them. Chopper's gonna cover us, and we'll be all right. Look, you guys, I know this is my first time as chalk leader, but this isn't our first time out together. This is serious. We're Rangers, not some sorry-assed JR OTC. We're elite. Let's act like it out there. Hoo-ah? (ALL) Hoo-ah! Any questions? We're gonna be OK. Grab your gear. Let's move out. (ALL) Hoo-ah! # "Falling To Pieces" - Faith No More You're not gonna need that. We're not out there long enough. # Back and forth, I sway with the wind # Resolution slips away again... You're not gonna need that, either. We'll be back before dark. You might as well take dope and beer instead. What?! (LAUGHS) Ammo, dude. Take ammo. Let me tell you something. You got about 50lb of gear as it is. You don't need another 12, unless you're planning on getting shot in the back running away. I'd better keep mine in. Grimes, the most important thing... When everybody else is shooting, shoot in the same direction. All right. Look at this, Ruiz. He's tapin' his blood type to his boots! That's bad luck. No, it's smart. All Delta do that. That's bad luck, too, man. Come on. Let's go. Good thing you're right-handed... or I don't know what you'd do. or I don't know what you'd do. You're a funny guy, man (!) I'm not takin' no death letter. We have a deal. I'll give it to you back in an hour. Blackburn! You OK? Excited! In a good way. I've trained my whole life for this. You ever shot at anybody before? I've trained my whole life for this. You ever shot at anybody before? No, sir. Me, neither. (BLARING SOMALI MUSIC FROM RADIO) Think he's reliable? Well, we'll see. It's his first time out. (RADIO BLARES) Tell him to turn his damn radio off. Yes, sir. Tell him to turn his radio off. Abdi, you need to turn your radio off. (MUSIC STOPS) "Hi! You've reached Stephanie and Randy." "Leave us a message. Thank you." (BEEPING) "Hey, baby. It's me. Are you there?" (DOG WHIMPERS) "Pick up if you're there." I'm just calling to check up on you and make sure everything's all right. I'll... call you in a couple of hours. You'd better not be sleeping. Your move, Randy. "I'm missing you." I love you, baby. I love you, baby. Hello? Hello? "(BEEPING)" Thanks, bud. You know, it's kinda funny, ain't it? Beautiful beach, beautiful sun... Could almost be a good place to visit. Almost. You don't think we should be here? You know what I think? It don't really matter what I think. Once that first bullet goes past your head, politics and that shit just goes right out the window. politics and that shit just goes right out the window. I just wanna do it right today. Just watch your corner and get all your men back here alive. Is this supposed to be the place, or did his car just take a dump?! Abdi, come in! Abdi, can you hear me? Is this the place? "Abdi, come in!" "Can you hear me, Abdi?" "Abdi, come in! Is this the place?" To my right-hand side, above the cafe. "Sir, he says this is the building." He's certain? Abdi, you need to be sure! Are you sure? Well,... it's down the road, two blocks over on my left. There's too many militia. "If I go closer they might shoot me." Now he's saying the building's two blocks down but if he's seen, he'll be shot. I'll fuckin' shoot him myself! Tell him I want his skinny ass parked in front of the damn building. He's not getting paid until he does exactly that. It's three miles to the target, main roads. At the traffic circle, we turn east on National and wait until extraction is complete... here. Then we roll up in force, load the prisoners then the assault forces, and bring 'em back. Home in an hour, OK? There will be shooting. Bakara Market is the Wild West. But be careful what you shoot at, because people do live there. Hoo-ah! (ALL) Hoo-ah! Last one of these guys shot himself in the head playin' Russian roulette. Last one of these guys shot himself in the head playin' Russian roulette. (CHUCKLES) (HISSING) "Sir, the vehicle has stopped." So, this is the real deal, now? He's sure this time? "He sounds scared shitless!" Good. That's always a good sign. "That's it! That's our signal." All right. All QRF out of the airspace. All QRF, out of the airspace. * All units, Irene. I say again, Irene. IRENE! Fuckin' Irene! Come on. Good luck, boys! Be careful! No one gets left behind! What's wrong? Nothin'! He's just never done that before. Oh, fuck! Let's go. Sergeant Struecker, let's roll. (SPEAKS SOMALI) (SPEAKS SOMALI) (SPEAKS SOMALI) (SHOUTS IN SOMALI) (SPEAKS SOMALI) (SHOUTS IN SOMALI) "Two minutes!" Two minutes! (YELLING) Why are they burning tyres? Signals to the militia that we're coming! One minute! One minute! What's that for? Last rope, I almost bit my tongue off! "Little Bird is touching down at target." (GUNFIRE) Ropes! GO! GO! GO! "Chalk One, troops are on the deck. Chalk Two deployed." "This is McKnight. Uniform 6-4 approaching staging area." (SCREAMING) Get down! Everybody down! Now! (YELLING) Let's go, let's go! GRIMESY! NO FEAR! Oh, yeah(!) Right(!) "Securing perimeter, four quarters." COLONEL! THEY'RE SHOOTING AT US! They're shooting at us! Well, shoot back! "Chalks on the ground. Going into holding pattern." "Roger." "6-2, going into holding pattern." "Super 6-2, provide sniper cover." "Super 6-5, chalks on the ground. Going into holding pattern." Go, Blackburn, go! Go! Go, Blackburn! RPG! Hold on! NO! "C-2, we got a man fallen." "Super 6-1, you're a sitting duck there." Blackburn! "Take up overhead pattern and provide sniper cover." "Roger. 6-1 coming out." "C113, C113, go ahead! Move to the north of the street!" "Right there! Right there! Hold it!" Doc! Doc, quick! COME ON! We've got a man hit! Where's he hit? He's not. He fell! What?! He fell! (YELLING) Why aren't you shooting?! We're not being shot at yet. How can you tell? A hiss means it's close. A snap means` (GUNSHOT) Now they're shooting at us! Galtine! Gimme Captain Steele! Juliet 6-4, this is Juliet 2-5. Come in. Over! Blackburn, can you hear me? Juliet 6-4, this is 2-5. Come in! I can't get him! Juliet 6-4, this is Chalk 4! We got a man down! We need to get him out of here! This is 6-4. Say again, 2-5! Over. (GARBLED, OVER GUNFIRE) "We got a man down! Over!" Take a breath, 2-5, and calm down! Over! MAN DOWN! "2-5, say again." Fuck it! Matt, it's a long way to the Humvees! Yeah! We'll get a stretcher, get him to the target buildings! OK! "Super 6-1, we got a man wounded on the ground!" Stretcher. Jamie, stretcher! Stretcher! Come on! Grab this end! Let's go! All right! (GRUNTS) Get him to the Humvees. We'll hold down the corner! Go! Go! Keep moving, Grimes! Run! Secure! Let's move out! Everybody out! Grimes, run! Right! "C-2, this is Super 6-1, orbiting the target area." "Roger." "This is 6-1. Providing cover for prisoner extract." 6-4, green light. 6-4, green light. "Ready for extraction. Over." "Roger that, Kilo 1-1." That's it. We got 'em. "Uniform 6-4, ready for extraction. Over." Roger. There's the call. Move out! Move out. HOLD ON! (CONTINUOUS ROAR OF GUNFIRE) How much longer? Five minutes, sir! What? Five minutes. Nothing takes five minutes! What happened to him? He fell! Missed the rope. How'd he do that? (GUNFIRE) Put him in that Humvee! Briars, give him a hand! Let's go! Move it! Move! Move! Come on! Get ready to move! Move! Hey! HEY! GRIMES! COME ON! Mike! MIKE! Argh! FUCK... THIS! Fuck! Aaagh! Let's go! Hey! Come on! Go! Go on, sucker! Move, move! 6-4. I need to send up three Humvees with a critical casualty. He looks bad. I need evac now! Roger, Uniform 6-4. We'll chalk a team of gunships to you. Roger that. I need extra security on these Humvees! I'll go. My team'll get them back OK. Do it. Struecker, get in that Humvee! Hoo-ah! Come here! "Mount up. We're moving back to base." MOVE OUT! Go, go! Things OK, Struecker? I don't wanna talk about it now! "I'm busy!" Sergeant Pilla is hit! Christ, he's fucked up! "Is anyone hit?" Struecker, talk to me! Sergeant Pilla. "What's his status?" WHAT'S HIS STATUS?! He's dead. He's dead. Pilla's dead, sir. "C-2, this is McKnight. We have a KIA, Dominick Pilla. Over." "Roger that." GET ON THAT 50! SOMEONE GET ON THAT 50! Come on! (FIRES) (SHOUTS IN SOMALI) We got an RPG, coming up on your side! Go! (SHOUTS) (YELLS) "6-1! I'm hit! I'm hit." "Super 6-1 is hit." "Wolcott's bird is hit." You wanna pull those VTLS offline? Right! "(BEEPING)" 6-1, going down. 6-1, going down. "6-1 is going down. Going down." 6-1 is going down! "6-1 is going down." "Super 6-1 is going down." Come on! "We got a Black Hawk down. We got a Black Hawk down." "Super 6-1 is down. We got a bird down in the city." "Super 6-1 is on the deck now." Get an MH-6 on site and check for survivors. Send in the SAR bird. I want ground forces to secure a new perimeter around that crash site. Can you guide the convoy in there? "Roger that." Well, move quick. Whole damn city'll be coming down on top of them. * Star Four One, come inbound and see if you can land at the crash site. "Roger that. Star Four One inbound." We just lost the initiative. (GUNFIRE) 2-5, this is 8-4. Over. This is 2-5. Over. 2-5, Chalk 4 is closer to crash site. Over. 6-4, I can't see the crash site. Over. 2-5, it's due east of you. You will find it. Leave a security element in place, take the rest of your chalk on foot to the crash. Check for survivors. All other chalks will follow. Over. 2-5, do you read me? Over. Roger that. Galtine! Schmid! Go get Yurek. Get to Twombly. There's a Black Hawk down. Twombly, Nelson, stay here. Hold this corner then exfil with the Humvees. Galtine, Schmid, you come with me. Hoo-ah! How come I gotta stay back here? Because you're dependable. All right! (FIRES) Let's go! Hate being dependable, man! "Juliet 2-5, hostiles advancing parallel west of your position, women and children among them." Hit the wall! INCOMING! Grenade! Go! We still got guys inside! All right! I'm going to the crash. Take the rest of the team. I'll finish loading the prisoners. Negative! Go to the site together! Secure the perimeter and wait for the Humvees. Roger that. Sergeant! Are you receiving me? Yeah, I heard you. We should be leaving, sir. All right! We need to move out... now! I'll finish loading the prisoners and pick you up at the crash site. Let's move out! Moving out! Go! Hey, Grimes! Stay away from the walls. Hey, Grimes! You OK? Yeah! Let's go, Maddox! C-2, convoy movin' out. "Roger that." Maddox, look at these jerks! These idiots! Go! Go! Right, Maddox, right! Twombly! The convoy's leaving! Hey, Twombly! What? I think they've forgotten us! What? Doesn't matter. "Indigenous person now advancing to Wolcott crash site." Say again. Over. "A lot of people closing in." How far is Chalk 4 from the crash site? "Six blocks, sir." They need to haul ass! (SHOUTING IN SOMALI) Get down, get down! ARE YOU OK? NO! GO BACK! (SCREAMS) Get down! (GUNFIRE) GO! MOVE! Go! Go, go, go! Go! Go! Come on! Yurek, leaving! Come on! (ALL YELL IN SOMALI) (YELLS) Shh... (SHOUTS) (WAILS) (GROANS) "Uniform 6-4 left turn, left turn." Mobile 6-4, I need to know before I get to the goddamn street! You have to slow down. There's a delay from the time directions are relayed from surveillance to me. We can't slow down! We're taking heavy fire! We can't slow down! "..fucking directions to the crash site!" "Danny, hold on. I no longer have the best view of your route." "Danny, hold on. I no longer have the best view of your route." "Get us in the right place, dammit!" What the hell is the status of Struecker's Humvees? What the hell is the status of Struecker's Humvees? ETA to base, Stuecker's column? "ETA base momentarily." Open the gate! (ALL YELL) Watch his head. Blackburn? Hear me? Get a tube in him. "Star Four One is at the crash site to evacuate the injured. Over." "Star Four One is at the crash site to evacuate the injured. Over." "Roger that." I got you. Easy. Agh! Galtine, you all right? Galtine, Kurth, with me! Cover fire, now! Close cover! Hey! Jones! How many are in there? Two pilots are dead. Two crew chiefs wounded. This guy's hurt bad. We gotta go. Go, then! (CONTINUOUS GUNFIRE) 2-6, this is 2-5. Is that you shooting up the technicals? Over. 2-6, this is 2-5. Is that you shooting up the technicals? Over. This is 2-6. Roger that. Take the south-east corner. We're setting up a perimeter. Over. 2-6, roger that. Moving in now. MOVE OUT! Captain Steele, come in! 2-5, this is 8-4. We got two wounded and we got both the pilots dead in the chopper. We need medevac over here now! It's too hot to land a bird. You gotta secure the perimeter first. Over. Where are the Humvees? Be advised, 2-5, a convoy will be there! They're encountering a lot of resistance. 6-4 out. (SCREAMING) Get the 50 up! "You should see the crash ahead." All I see is a roadblock! All right. I'll have to figure out another way. Give me a defensive perimeter so we can load the wounded! FIRE YOUR WEAPON! Tell my girls... they'll be OK. OTHIC! MEDIC! Medic! MEDIC! George! George! Come on, help me pick him up! "Get us off this fucking street! Where's the crash site? Say again!" "Get us off this fucking street! Where's the crash site? Say again!" Keep going straight, 200 metres. "Roger that." Let's go! Let's go, goddammit! Let's go! (GUNSHOT) Hey, Twombles! Come here. The Humvees ain't coming back, dude. What...? Were we supposed to go to them? I thought they were supposed to come to us! Shit, I think we were supposed to go to them. Shit! OK... Let's go to the crash site. OK. Just don't fire that thing so close to my head. I can barely hear as it is. Move out. (GUNFIRE) Shit! Get down! What I just tell you? I swear to God, if you do that again...! (MOANS) You OK? Nelson! You all right? WHAT?! "Search and rescue bird on station, inserting medics." Go, go! Son of a bitch... C-2, this is 6-8. We've been hit. Super 6-8, there is smoke coming from the top of your rotor. Come out now. Roger. Dropping last men. I've got skinnies with RPGs at 12 o'clock! Go, go! Got it. Coming down on your left. 6-8 coming out. "Super 6-8 is out. Over." Hey, Wilky, what's the situation in there? Both pilots are dead. 2-5. We can't move these guys, Matty. We'll kill 'em just carrying 'em. Stabilise in here? Roger! Stabilise in the bird. Stabilise in here. Over. Understood. We got you covered. Super 6-4, come in to take Wolcott's position. Roger. 6-4 is inbound. "Super 6-4, are you all right?" "Super 6-4. We're good." "You sure?" You look like you got clipped pretty good. The pedals are OK. We're good. Got a slight... ..vibration, but we're good. Put it down on the airfield. Have it checked out just to be safe. Put it down on the airfield. Have it checked out just to be safe. "Roger." I'm getting a lot of movement in these pedals. Check the systems. "(BEEPING)" We lost the tail rotor. It's gone. "6-4 going down." "6-4 is going in hard." 6-4 going down. "We're going down. Hey!" Get Struecker's column back out. They need to get to the crash site fast. "Got another bird down." I want 'em out of there. All of 'em. * Captain Steele, we gotta move or we'll get pinned down. We're moving fast as we can. You let me do my job and you do yours. Argh! FUCK! FUCK! Ruiz, stay down! Medic! Fuck this! Captain Steele! I'll take out the threat at the window. Rally point at the grey building. Sergeant! Let's move! Let's go, now! MOVE! COVER ME! Let's go! MOVE OUT! Friendlies coming through! Let's go, let's go! Move up! Come on! Come on! Come on! Arrgh! (SCREAMING) Go, go, go! Move up! What the fuck are you doing? My job! We gotta get to that crash site. We gotta get out on that street and move! (SCREAMING) You have got to keep up, sir! Don't you ever give me orders, Sergeant! We are combat-ineffective. We got too many damn wounded to move! Gimme some shooters and I'll get us there! (EXPLOSION) Grimes! You're with Chalk Four? Yes, sir! Hook up with Delta. Rejoin Sergeant Eversmann. The rest of you men secure this position! See to wounded. We'll wait for the convoy and rally at the crash site. See to wounded. We'll wait for the convoy and rally at the crash site. All right, let's go! (WAILING / SHOUTING) (WOMEN SHOUT AGITATEDLY IN SOMALI) C-2, I have two Delta snipers, Shughard and Gordon, volunteering to secure crash site two. "No, Super 6-2." "Negative. Can't risk another bird." We don't see anything moving. We don't know if anyone's alive. A ground team is being organised to go in now. ETA on ground team. Over. "Er,... unknown." Not long. Do what you can from the air. All right, gather round! A 6-4 is down. We're going in to get 'em. That's crazy. Is anyone alive? Doesn't matter. No one gets left behind. Wasting time here. All right! Refit and max out ammo and grenades. You got five. Sizemore, where are you going? With you guys. Not with that cast on. All right, all right, all right! Go get your K-pot. Hey! Talk to me. I can't go back out there. Thomas, everyone feels the same way you do. All right? It's what you do right now that makes a difference. It's your call. Hoo-ah? Hoo-ah. It'd probably help to wash the blood out of the Humvees. Sergeant Stuecker! (BANGS ON DOOR) Sergeant Stuecker! Can I go, sir? You got some ammo? Lots of it, sir. Hop in! Wait! Let's go, Thomas! Get in! Which way? THAT WAY, I THINK! (Not so fuckin' loud!) Nice donkey! (GUNFIRE) Rangers! Hup! It's Yurek,... ..you fucking assholes! Fuck! We almost fucking killed you! Come to us! Fuck you! Come to me! Sorry, Sarge! Where the fuck have you been? Never mind. You brought your NOD, right? No. I didn't bring it. You wanna know why? You said we'd be back in a half hour. I didn't say it to you. Arrgh. Nelson, cover this way. We're gonna need night vision. What is the matter with you? Huh? Oh, he's deaf. I guess it's my fault. We need to get out of here! We can't be far from the crash. Which way? I thought you might know. Let's move out. "Nelson? Twombly? Come in! Over." and you won't get to choose again for another six years. If you are Maori and 18 or over, you have a choice whether you want to be on the General Roll or the Maori Roll. Your decision is important. But if you haven't decided yet, you don't have much longer, and you won't get to choose again for another six years. If you're still not sure what to do, get in touch today. Now is your time to choose. Mau tonu e kowhiri. "Come in. This is Galtine. We need the position of the convoy. Over." I can't raise him! I can't raise him. (GUNFIRE) Let's get the fuck out of here! Let's move out! All right! Back to the stronghold! Come on! Ground forces have occupied several buildings along the Marehan Road, but they're spread out. Chalk 4 have set up a perimeter around Wolcott's crash site here. DiTomaso is in the next structure. Captain Steele and about 40 Rangers are here. They're banged up pretty bad. He's set up a casualty-collection point. I don't think they can move. Sanderson and a small Delta team are moving from Steele's position to the crash site as we speak. Draw fire! When this asshole stops to reload, cover me! Go! Again! Loading! Keep going! Keep going! I'm jammed! (SHOUTS IN SOMALI) I GOT IT! Ah, shit! RPG! (SILENCE) (SILENCE) You all right?! You OK? Yeah. I can hear bells ringin'. (LAUGHS) Come on! Let's go! "There's a crowd advancing six blocks from the crash." "Shughart and Gordon again request permission to secure until convoy arrives. Over." "The crowd's in their hundreds." "They can see things clearer than us. They know what they're asking." Let me talk to 'em. This is Garrison. "Do you understand what you're asking for? Say it out loud and clear." To go in and set up a perimeter until ground support arrives. I cannot tell you when that might be. It might be quite a while. Roger that. "Do you still wanna go in there?" Yes, sir. Harrell? "Yes, General." It's your call. Harrell? "Yes, General." It's your call. "Roger that." "Goffena,... put 'em in." (MOUTHS) Argh! RPG! SET UP YOUR PERIMETER! There's a fucking rocket in him, sir! Othic, calm down. That's live ordnance! Get out! Get out! Sonofabitch! All right, lift him up! Lift him up! Easy, easy! Get him in there. Good. Easy! Get in and drive. I'm shot. Everybody's shot! We need the prisoners! Go! "Surveillance says to take Hawlwadig, then go straight." McKnight, we need you to turn around and head back to Hawlwadig. Shit! We just came through there! There's gotta be a better route. That's the info I'm getting from JOC. You need to turn around and head back. (GUNFIRE) Roger that! I cannot believe this shit! Turn us around, Maddox. They're trying to get us killed! (ENGINE REVS) Goddamn! Get us out of here! Drive! (HOWLS) Keep your foot on the gas! Keep your foot on the ga- Agh! (YELLING / FEROCIOUS WHOOPING) Fuck! Shit! "C-2, Shughart and Gordon are on the deck. Over." "Roger." Friendlies! God, it's good to see you! And you. How bad? My leg's broken and my back feels weird. We gotta get you outta here, buddy. Pulling him out! Cover! Agh! Wait, I - AARGH! Argh! Let's put you down. C-2, we're at the 6-4 crash site, securing perimeter. You all right? I'm good. You're locked and loaded. Any skinnies come round here, watch our backs! Where's the rescue squad? We're it. All right, stop! Stop! 6-4, we're right back where we started. I'm low on ammo. I got many wounded, including me, vehicles barely running. "Danny, I need a no-BS assessment here." Can you get to the crash site? Colonel,... I can't see shit. Negative. With all the wounded we have, we'd do more harm than good. We need to come back to base, rearm and regroup and then we can go back out. We need to come back to base, rearm and regroup and then we can go back out. Roger. C-2. Bring 'em back. Get 'em out of there. Roger. Return to base. We're goin' home! Let's go. Left! "Roger that. Convoy returning to base." What's up? They're sending them back. The convoy's headed back to base. Hah, that makes sense, don't it? We need to exfil the wounded and get out of here before it's too late! If McKnight went back, he had a good reason. It changes nothing. Listen up. We're gonna hold the perimeter and the strongpoint. Hoo-ah? (ALL) Hoo-ah! Conserve your ammo. Only shoot what you can hit. The convoy's gonna come. We're gonna get home. Loading! Loading! I need a pistol mag! Loading! Randy, last mag! Gordy! Fuck! Gordy's gone, man. I'll be outside. Good luck. (SHOUTING IN SOMALI) We need the 10th Mountain in there. Everything they got, Pakistanis, Malays, I want their tanks and APCs. They still don't know we've gone in. We've stirred up the hornet's nest. We're fighting the entire city. I want every vehicle possible that's got four wheels and armour. Get everything. Once assembled, we'll move our men out the hostile area, back to the Pakistani stadium, the safe zone. Let's go. Roger that, boss. Argh! Argh! Argh! (MOB ROARS) (MUFFLED SHOUTING) (GUNSHOTS) (SPEAKS SOMALI) (SPEAKS SOMALI) * (AGITATED COMMOTION) Get down! Get down! Medic! (CROWD SHOUTS) "See where those tyres are burning? All that black smoke?" I can see it, but I can't get there. Over. Go a hundred meters past it, that's the crash. Negative. You don't understand, it's roadblock after roadblock. You have to find us another route. Over. There ain't one, the only other route is all the way around the city. Roger that. Kilo 6-4, this is Kilo 1-1. Request permission to move to crash site number two on foot. Over. "Green light, Kilo 1-1. Green light." Stop the vehicle. Let me out. (MUEZZIN SINGS CALL TO PRAYER) After I'm finished with this, I'll whip you boys up some margaritas. The usual,... blended, no salt. Ahh. "This is Kilo 1-2. We've gotta change our position, over." Mira, papa. Eversmann, come in. Eversmann. Roger, who is this? "Sanderson." Do not, I say again, do not fire to the east. We are coming to you. Understood. DiTomaso is on the southeast corner. Get on the northeast building. Roger. We'll take it. Hey, watch out for skinnies. They're on the rooftops. They're in prayer, but not for much longer. Hold your fire to the east. Oh! Oof! Eversmann,... it's Yurek. I got Nelson and Twombly with me. We got the chopper in sight. Where are you? We're on the southwest corner. Are you OK? Where are you? We're on the southwest corner. Are you OK? Yeah. Hold your fire, we're comin' in. (We gotta go.) Shawn, listen! Sergeant Yurek's gonna run first! When he gets across the street, he's gonna turn around and he's gonna cover you as you run. When you get there, turn around and cover me, OK? And you're not just gonna run to Eversmann's position. You're gonna stop, you're gonna turn around and you are gonna cover me. OK, are you ready? Yeah, I guess. Hey. Hey! Don't forget. What?! Don't forget. I got him in my sights. Comin' up on the west gate. I see him. (PANTS) Let's move out. Can you cover us, Sergeant? We gotcha. Nelson! Fuck! Argh! (GUNFIRE) Twombly! Argh! Smith, no! Are you all right?! Argh! Aaaaargh! Get it off o'me! Get it off! (SCREAMS) Come on, man! Come on! (GUNFIRE) Doc, give me some help with Smith here! (ALL SHOUT IN SOMALI) Argh! Aargh! My leg! My leg! Come on, buddy, I got you! Get him up! Get him up! No! No! You're all right! You're all right! All right, I need pressure on this wound! Pressure, OK?! No! Are my balls OK?! You still have your balls. I need more men in here! Twombly! Nelson! (GROANS) Oh, man! (GROANS) OK, I need that chair! That chair! Pressure. Direct pressure on it! (GROANS) No! Let me see it! All right. All right. Let me look at that. (RIPPING) Aaargh! Argh! What the fuck was that?! It's all right! It's all right! Hold that down! I need a medevac now! Galtine! No! Galtine, get me Captain Steele! How you doin'? (SPLUTTERS) They're not going to come and get us. They're not gonna come for us. I need you to focus for me. Can you do that? "Come in, over!" Now, can you hold your weapon? Yes, sir. Anybody comes in, you give 'em two in the chest and one in the head. You understand? I'm still in the fight, sir. Captain Steele, I need a medevac now! Corporal Smith has been hit! Hold on. '(GUNFIRE)' I'm in the fight. He's hurt bad. "We've got wounded, too. Maintain your situation." Aaaaargh! If he doesn't get to a hospital he's in trouble! "This is 6-4." I'm requesting an immediate medevac for a critically wounded, over. "Chalk-4 is requesting medevac." Can't risk it. It's still too hot. "Captain, we cannot send in medevac at this time. Sit tight, over." 3-5, this is 6-4. It's a negative on the medevac. It's not possible. "Garrison cannot risk another bird." Noooo! "You're just gonna have to hold on." Aaarh! (CONTINUES TO MOAN IN AGONY) Arh! All right, I got him! I want direct pressure on the wound. Aaarh! It's gonna be all right. It's gonna be OK! Aaaargh! (ALL SHOUT) (SPEAKS SOMALI) (GUNSHOT) Aaarh! This is Kilo-11. I'm at the Durant crash site. "Roger that." (EXPLOSION) "Crash site two secured." Lieutenant Colonel Cribbs for you, sir. Cribbs. Sir, they're still debating the route. "How long?" At least a couple of hours. We haven't got that long, Joe. Pakistani general says we didn't deign to inform him of the raid, it's gonna take time to mobilise the 10th Mountain and 100 vehicles. You tell the general this. I understand, but it is my duty to remind him that my men are surrounded by thousands of armed Somali militia. It is imperative that we move them out of the hostile area and into the safe zone. I need his help now. of the hostile area and into the safe zone. I need his help now. Yes, sir. Durant. Michael Durant. Yes. You are the Ranger who kills my people? I'm not a Ranger. I'm a pilot. Hmm. That's right. None of you Americans smoke any more. Hmm. (GROANS IN PAIN) You all live long, dull, uninteresting lives. What do you want with me? You are taking hostages. We have you. My government will never negotiate for me. Then perhaps... you and I can negotiate. Eh? (COUGHS) Soldier to soldier. Hmmm? I'm not in charge. Course not. You have the power to kill but not negotiate. In Somalia killing is negotiation. Do you really think that if you get General Aidid we will simply put down our weapons and adopt American democracy? That the killing will stop? We know this, without victory there can be no peace. There will always be killing, you see? This is how things are in our world. (HELICOPTER APPROACHING) "Mike Durant, we won't leave you behind!" "Mike Durant, we won't leave you behind!" You gotta take over from me. Both hands. It's the femoral artery, but I can't see it. Which means that it's retracted up into the pelvis... which means that I have to find it and clamp it. The only way to stop the bleeding. I've got no more IVs. So... I'm gonna need you to assist. OK? Yeah. Yeah. Mmm-hmm. Now listen, Jamie, I've gotta do something that's gonna hurt. OK? I've gotta cause you more pain, but I have to do it to help you. All right? You understand? Morphine. I can't. It'll lower your heart rate too far. I'm sorry. Twombly, take his hands there. I need you to hold the wound open. Keep pressure on the top of the leg. Yurek, take the feet and the torch. On my count. All right, Jamie. Mmm! All right! One. Two. Three. (GRUNTS) Aaaargh! Aaaaaargh! Aaaargh! Wait, wait, wait! OK. Ah! I feel it. I feel the pulse. Yeah? I got it. I got it! Got it? Yeah, I got it! I got it! I got it. You got it? Yeah. Clamp. Yeah. I got it clamped! Hold it. All right. Here, grab it. It's tearin'! I got it. No! Doc, it's goin' back in! HOLD IT! It's tearing! OK, get out. Get out. OK. Hold the wound! OK, I'm holding. Move your hand. Yeah. Arh! What? You fix it? Yeah. Yeah. We got it. What the hell are you doin'? It's all in the grind. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. Grimesy, you are squared away! (DISTANT GUNFIRE) Sergeant? How would you like a nice hot cup of Joe? Gold Coast blend. Sit down. I want to take a look at that foot. Oh, no, it's not a problem. Come on. Where the hell did they find you? Behind a desk. (LAUGHS) No, really. What, you think I'm kidding? (EXPLOSION / GUNFIRE) Anybody hurt? We're good! (EXPLOSION) Are you all right? Yeah! Is everybody all right? Yeah! (GUNFIRE) (GRUNTING) (EXPLOSION) (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) (SPEAKS SOMALI) (EXPLOSION) Incoming! (EXPLOSION) (GUNFIRE) (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) (SPEAKS SOMALI) (EXPLOSION) (GUNFIRE) (EXPLOSION) (EXPLOSION / DISTANT SHOUTING) (EXPLOSION) DiTomaso's hit! Pull him out! (ALL GASP) No, bud. Argh! (GUNFIRE) (SPEAKS SOMALI) (EXPLOSION) (EXPLOSION) This is Kilo-11. We're at the southeast point of the crash. Who's this? "Hoot. I'm comin' in with three friendlies." I need some cover fire, over. Roger that, Kilo-11. Hold your fire! Delta's comin' in! Hold your fire. Ground personnel have to mark target positions with infrared strobes. Get the Little Birds on strafing runs keep 'em going all night long. If we don't hold back this city we're gonna have 100 caskets to fill by morning. Yes, sir. Colonel Harrell, ground personnel at crash site one will have to mark the target with infrared strobes in preparation for air strikes. McKnight. Between the 10th Mountain and the UN you've got enough personnel. Danny, you guys do not have to go back out again. I can't... die here, man. You're not gonna die, all right? You're not gonna die. I'm sorry. You don't have anything to be sorry for. You saved Twombly. You did perfect! (SNIFFS) Are you OK, Twombs? Yeah. I'm... I'm OK, Jamie. You did what you were trained to do. You should be proud of that. (GAGS) Be proud that. (SNIFFS) Ev? Yeah? Do me a favour. Yeah? You tell my parents that I fought well today. And that I... ..that I... ..that I fought hard. You're gonna tell 'em yourself, OK? Do you hear me? All right? Are the Humvees here? They're comin', Jamie. They're comin'. You've just gotta hang in there a little bit. Hold on for just a little bit. You can do that. Yeah, I can. It's nothin'. It's nothin'. It's nothin'! It's nothin'. It's nothin'. Nothin'. Oh, shit! Hold the wound! Doc? Doc? It's OK. (DISTANT GUNFIRE) What are you doin'? We need the ammo. You did all you could here. They should've sent a medevac. Well, right now we'd be out there defending another crashed chopper. And more men would get torn up. Maybe. So you're thinkin'. Don't. Sergeant, you can't control who gets hit or who doesn't. Who falls out of the chopper or why. It ain't up to you. It's just war. Yeah, well, Smith's still dead. Black Bird wouldn't have fallen, none of this would've happened. Should have or could have, it don't matter. You'll get time to think about that later. Believe me. Sergeant, you got your men this far. You did it right today. Start thinkin' about gettin' these men outta here. '(GUNFIRE)' Well? Shall we? (ALL YELL) (GUNFIRE) I need four guns in this corner now! (GUNFIRE / EXPLOSION) RPG! This is Barber-52 in position for gun run. Jesus Christ! Look at that. This is 2-5. I can see you! You're right above me! Eversmann, I can't tell who's who down there. Too much activity. I'll mark the target with a strobe, over. Roger that. "You see it?" Nah, I can't see shit. I'm puttin' it on the roof! You'll need help! Cover me! OK, guys, we're gonna lay down some cover fire for him on three! (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) Ready? One! Two! Three! Go! (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) I got your position. I got the target. We're inbound and hot. (SPEAKS SOMALI) (GUNFIRE) (ALL YELL) "C-2, mini-guns dry. Request permission to return to base. Rearm." "Over." "Roger that. Second team inbound. Your station." "On your location, four minutes." (GUNFIRE) They're here! Get the wounded ready to move! Move! Move! Lay down some cover fire! I thought I heard a noise out here! Get your men loaded up. We're gettin' out. Yes, sir. (GUNFIRE) 2-5, this is 6-4. The rescue column has arrived. We'll be at your location in five minutes. Prepare your men for exfil. Yeah, roger that, sir! Roger that! Five minutes! The convoy's gonna be here in five minutes! (GUNFIRE - POIGNANT MUSIC) I need a mag! I'm out! Kurth, my last one! (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) The convoy's here! Sergeant Eversmann? I heard you guys needed a lift! Yes, sir! Bring your wounded right over there and load 'em up! I got ya. I got ya! It's OK! I wanna walk! Yeah, I would, too. Let's go! Go! Go! Go! Right here. Move! Move! We'll get the pilots' bodies out, OK? Then we go to the stadium. We're runnin' out of room. Just cram into every possible space. OK, 10th Mountain provides security for armour. Walks us out of the hot zone. 10th Mountain? With respect my Rangers can provide rear security. We'll walk you out of the hot zone then jump on the last vehicles. OK, let's get outta here. Let's go. All right, you got him? Yeah, come on. Come on! These things are fuckin' bullet magnets! Come on! Let's go! We go when I'm ordered to, soldier. Careful. Easy. Easy. Easy. Easy. Go easy. "Key-56, if you cannot..." Colonel, what is goin' on down there? They're dismantling the entire cockpit around the body. "How long's it gonna take? I need an honest, no-shit assessment." They can't say! Danny,... ..no one gets left behind. "You understand me, son?" "Yes, General." You do what you have to do. Roger. All right, come on. Bring him through. I got him. Get all of his gear! Get the wounded out of here! Got ya, sir! Go! (GUNFIRE) Over here! Go! Go! Go! MOVE! Go! Move! Move out. Move out! Let's go! (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) Fire! Throw it over there! Fire in the hole! Go! Let's go! Let's go! Come on! Come on! (EXPLOSION) Open up the hatch! We've got men back here. No room here! Go on the roof! What's goin' on? The roof? I'm not gettin' on no fuckin' roof! Sir? No, no! It's full! We're running out. Keep moving! Use the vehicles as cover. Move it! Go! All right, hold it up! Hold it up! (GUNFIRE) Son of a- Move! Go! Move! Move! Go! (GUNFIRE) (POIGNANT MUSIC) (GUNFIRE) (SCREAMS) Oh, shh! Get down! Get down! (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) GET DOWN, LADY! (SCREAMS) I'm out of ammo! (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) Sanderson, I'm out of ammo! Don't you do it! What are ya doin'? Don't you damn do it! (YELLS) (GUNFIRE) Kurth, let's go Kurth, let's go! Steady! Argh! Come on! (SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) (GIGGLES) (ALL GIGGLE) (ALL CHEER) 1 (COUGHS) Easy. Easy! (CHUCKLES) Ah, shit! The bullet missed your jugular by about 3mm. Don't move! All right! All right! Hurry up! Hurry up! Grimes? A little short on coffee, but I got ya some tea. How ya doin', soldier? Can't feel a thing. Let's go! Everybody in surgical, let's go! Stop! Stop! Take his pulse. Take his pulse! Ruiz? Hey, Sergeant? Hey? Captain. Lorenzo. How ya doin'? It went in and out, so the medic said I should be OK in a couple of days. That's great news! Are we goin' after 'em? You bet your ass we will! We gotta regroup. Don't go out there without me. Don't go back out there without me. I can still do my job. You get some rest now, OK? You goin' back in? There's still men out there. Goddamn! When I go home and people ask me, "Hey, Hoot, why do you do it, man?" "Why?" "Are ya some kinda war junkie?" I won't say a goddamn word. Why? They won't understand. They won't understand why we do it. They won't understand it's about the men next to you. And that's that. That's all it is. Hey. Don't even think about it, all right? I'm better on my own. Hey, we've started a whole new week. It's Monday. (POIGNANT MUSIC) 'I was talking to Blackburn the other day.' 'He asked me, "You know, what changed? Why are we going home?"' 'And I said, "Nothin'." 'But that's not true, you know?' 'I think everything's changed.' 'I know I've changed.' A friend of mine asked me before I got here when we were shippin' out, he asked me, "Why are you goin' out to fight somebody else's war?" "What do y'all think, you're heroes?" I didn't know what to say at the time, but... ..if he asked me again, I'd say no. I'd say, "There's no way in hell." Nobody asks to be a hero. It just sometimes turns out that way. I'm gonna talk to your ma and pa when I get home, OK? "My love, you are strong and you will do well in life." "I love you and my children deeply." "Today and tomorrow, let each day grow and grow." "Keep smiling and never give up, even when things get you down." "So in closing, my love, tonight, tuck my children in bed warmly." "Tell them I love them, then hug them for me and give them both a kiss goodnight for Daddy." # "The Minstrel Boy" ` Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros # The minstrel boy # The war has gone # In the ranks of death # You will find him # You will find him # His father's sword # he has girded on # And his wild harp # slung behind him # His wild harp slung behind him # "Land of Song," # said the warrior bard # "Though all the world # betrays thee # One sword, at least # thy rights shall guard # One faithful harp # shall praise thee!" # The minstrel fell # But the foe-man's chain # Could not bring # this proud soul # under # The harp he loved # ne'er spoke again # For he tore # its cords asunder. # www.able.co.nz Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Able 2018