Ambush (2023) Movie Script
1
At ease.
Well, let's get to it.
Never known you
any other way.
Intelligence binder.
It's fallen into enemy hands.
It has the names
and locations
of hundreds of
Vietnamese operatives
working with our military.
As you can imagine,
it's imperative
that their identities
not fall into the Viet Cong.
[slurps]
That binder must be
retrieved and destroyed.
At any cost.
Understood.
We sent two
Special Forces teams north
to recapture it.
They're on the route
back to us.
Where?
North of the DMZ.
Small outpost
in the Quang Tri province.
Area's hot.
If the Viet Cong
discover the binder
is missing...
They'll send
a division after it.
Expect a firefight.
When do I leave?
Chopper's ready.
I'm sending
Crawford with you.
Crawford?
What aren't you telling me?
It's chess.
Let's stay
ten moves ahead.
[helicopter whirring]
I'm Corporal Ackerman,
engineer, sir.
You in charge?
O-Of the camp, yes, sir.
The-- The ARVN soldiers
fall under the Special Forces
who are training them, sir.
Leaving you the tents.
Sir?
Do you understand
the nature of my presence here?
No, sir.
Your mission has not been
disclosed to me, sir.
Take me to HQ.
This way, sir.
What are your orders?
Sir, to assess
the viability of this site
as a forward base location.
Study the topography,
sight lines, threat levels,
evaluate what
construction equipment
is needed for a base,
and to establish
a 100% secure camp
perimeter concurrently, sir.
Concurrently?
Yes, sir.
100% secure?
That is the attitude
I must maintain, sir.
A highly classified package
is due to be delivered here.
This has yet to occur, correct?
Yes, sir.
Uh, uh, no. No, sir.
It has not occurred, sir.
To be painfully clear:
If any package,
no matter how small,
were brought to this location,
you would know about it!
I'm in charge
of the camp, sir.
Except for
the ARVN soldiers
and the Special Forces
commandos.
Except for them, sir.
Leaving you the tents.
Sir?
Dismissed.
[soldier] Easy.
Belt-fed, gas-operated,
1,800 meters effective range.
[Ackerman grunts]
[grunts] Hey.
Uh, do you need help
with anything?
Aren't you eager?
Sir...
What?
Did you find out what
we are really doing out here?
They're not building
a base out here, right?
We're too exposed.
Guys--
Doesn't that captain--
Wait, wait, wait.
That guy is a captain, right?
Is that what he's doing here?
I'm assuming you told him
we've been done here for weeks.
Yeah.
Guys. Guys, guys, guys.
Please, please.
I, um-- I just need to know if,
uh, if you've seen a package
get delivered here.
Package? Do we get
mail service out here?
No. No, no, no.
Never mind--
Well, no--
Never mind.
Just... As you were.
Forget about it. Thank you.
[groaning]
Hey! Hey!
I need to be painfully clear
about something.
Have either of you witnessed
the Special Forces boys
receive a package
to this location?
Mail? We don't get
mail service out here.
No.
No, not like mail.
And not officially delivered.
Covertly brought here.
No.
You seen anything
looked like that?
No, nothing like that.
Well,
you know how they are.
They might not disclose
something like that
to the engineers,
but I need to know
everything that goes on
inside this camp, all right?
You feel like you don't?
Yes.
No, I... I do not have
eyes on 50 men.
All right? So I ask my team
for a little bit of assistance.
You are a part of this team?
Yes, sir.
Yeah, I am
part of your team, sir.
Who's the new captain?
He's just a new captain.
Were you supposed
to have a package for him?
Never mind.
As you were.
[Ackerman]
Have you seen a package?
My friend...
What?
I need you to get down
and grab yourself a rifle.
Why? What do you see?
Movement.
Where?
Somewhere.
American?
[soldier] American.
Your engineers set mines
around the camp, right?
[Ackerman] Uh-huh.
Please safely escort
our guests.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Okay.
Shit.
[panting] Ah. Hi.
How you doing?
I'm Corporal Ackerman.
Water.
Water? Yeah.
Yeah, we have water. Sure.
You want some? Um, okay.
Just follow me.
Uh, we got some at the base.
Just, you have to be careful
because we've got mines
around the perimeter.
So just...
Captain Mora,
Special Forces Commander.
My family summers
in Lake Tahoe.
Are you familiar
with Lake Tahoe?
Tahoe is a term
we are familiar with.
Just the two of you?
There were
six of us, sir.
Does the enemy
know about this?
There were six, sir.
The safety's off
tonight, sir.
Okay.
Let's get you guys
some R and R.
[gunshot]
[Ackerman] Shit.
Friendly fire!
Friendly fire!
Dude, don't!
Are you crazy?
You don't
want to do that.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
What the fuck
were you doing?
[gasping]
I did not order you to breathe!
I ordered you
to answer my question!
[Ackerman]
Sir, he was cleaning
his weapon, sir.
That is correct!
He is under your command,
so you will answer for him!
What the fuck
was he doing?
Sir, he was cleaning
his weapon, sir.
I ordered him to do it, sir.
Sir, it is my fault, sir.
What the actual fuck
does that child need
with a gun?
That was not rhetorical,
dipshit!
Sir, protection
of this camp, sir.
He does not protect.
You and your engineers
do not protect.
You build.
You dig a ditch.
You plant
some goddamn mines.
But you sure as shit
don't fire your weapons
in my perimeter!
Sir, yes, sir!
But what you can do is
help that fucking child
build a world-class
shit-eating latrine!
I have it in my possession.
[airplane passing overhead]
Excellent.
Describe the contents.
I have a translator
on that right now.
ETA for confirmation
is five hours.
Confirmed.
What type
of documents are these,
based on the structure?
Maps and lists.
Does it read like a ledger?
Yes.
Listen to me.
Cross-reference the words
from the ledger.
And scan the map.
Yes.
There is a relationship
between the markings on the maps
and the words in the columns.
See if the same words appear
on the maps in the binder.
Yeah, I recognize them.
This is Trieu Phong,
right in our own backyard.
Well, it seems we have a map
of potential locations
to operatives, doesn't it?
The sooner we get this
to a secure base,
the better.
How long until extraction?
ASAP,
first thing tomorrow,
barring a marine layer
or any other bullshit.
Confirmed.
[laughing]
Oh, you missed the move.
Hey, buddy.
What the fuck
you want?
Do we help them?
What?
Dig a shit hole?
[scoffs] Okay, yeah, yeah.
You could go if you want.
But hey, make sure you're
sleeping outside tonight, okay?
'Cause I don't want to have
nobody stinkin' up the place.
You already stink enough.
[soldier]
But it's not
our call, is it?
We have to follow our--
our leader.
Come on, man.
What's in the binder?
Wait, you looked
in the package?
Tell me
you're kidding.
Is everyone
in this squad
a fucking moron?
[smacks lips]
[exhales]
Let me tell you something, guys.
I don't have a good hand.
I haven't had
a good hand all night.
Uh, so if you could, like,
trade, that'd be good--
[stammering]
What was in it?
Words, letters,
and the like. So...
Asshole.
Look, honestly,
half of it was in Viet Cong
with some
English code words
next to it, so...
Like a ledger?
What do you mean,
a ledger?
A list.
Yeah, like a list.
Like why are so many
of us engineers and ARVN
sitting out here for a month
if we're not actually
building a base?
Maybe Captain Mora is--
knows what our mission is
once he decodes
whatever the binder is.
Hey, what's his deal anyway?
Is he in charge now?
Is anyone in charge?
Why do you rag on him
so hard?
[laughs] Gates
wants a promotion.
What do you guys think, huh?
Gates for corporal, 1966?
[laughter]
You know, I'm afraid
there's gonna come a time
when he gets
all of our asses killed.
You stick close
to Captain Mora.
I'd rather have a hard-ass
giving me orders
than a little "buddy."
Take all three.
[chattering]
[metal squeaks]
Ah. Hey.
This bullshit tastes
like horseshit this morning.
[soldier 1] Yeah, I know,
that's right. [chuckles]
[soldier 2] Hey. I like it.
[soldier 1] Come on, man.
You eat that rancid baby shit
and just do your job.
[Gates]
Oh, right on.
I'm crushed under the weight
of your rancid words, sir.
So crushed.
Ain't that right, boy?
Can I go home now?
What kind of horseshit
are we not gonna be able
to shit later?
You-- You know
the thing with, um,
with that is that MREs only
contain one gram of fiber? So...
Did you sift through
your own shit to discover that?
No. That information
was achieved
through something
called reading.
I'm reading that your face
was so far up
Captain Mora's asshole
that you just sampled it
off your nose.
[soldiers hooting]
[soldier 3]
Damn, man.
The ultra-smart
engineer has no reply?
In front of your men?
Y'all want him to roast me?
[soldiers jeering]
Come on, Ackerman.
Ackerman.
A true leader can out-shit-talk
a dumb grunt like me.
Not before my coffee.
That's no fun.
[machine gun fire]
[shouting]
Get down! Get down!
Stay covered!
[whistle blowing]
[explosion]
[shouting]
[shouting continues]
[Ackerman exclaims]
[screams]
[screams]
[soldier]
Take cover!
Go, go,
go, go, go!
[Mora] Get your head
in the battle, son!
And get to the 60!
Now!
Y-Y-Yes, sir.
[shouting]
Everyone, full assault!
Now!
[shouting]
Kill them all!
No! No!
God-- Goddamn it!
[grunts] Shit!
[Mora on radio]
Clear the line.
Captain.
[airplane passing overhead]
Give me a status report.
Fourteen casualties.
Forty enemy dead.
And the binder?
Gone.
Then why are you still alive?
[scoffs]
You fought off an ambush,
outnumbered and surrounded.
They knew the value
of what you had.
Well...
to be fair, we didn't know
if the information was legit.
I need to be
in the field, James.
I don't know
what's really happening
sittin' behind this desk.
You can do
a lot of good
at that desk.
The army needs
combat vets
calling the shots,
not bureaucrats.
Well, this office
is full of those.
Damn it, James.
I can't know the enemy
if I can't see 'em fight.
Tell me the truth.
They're relentless
and fast.
Give me more.
They'll face down
the barrel of your gun
and charge in.
Totally fearless.
What it must feel like
to command a platoon of men
like that.
We are fighting them
with engineers, sir.
Special Forces might be
the tip of the spear,
but the rest... they're
construction workers.
We're up against the clock,
James.
Whatever your orders are,
I will not fail you again.
We have any idea
which direction
the attack came from?
We were suddenly surrounded.
And we have no trace
on which direction
they left with?
Minimal.
The battle tore up
the remaining terrain.
I'm gonna send someone in.
Someone who can
take care of this.
Someone who thinks
outside the box.
Confirmed.
This is a new kind of warfare.
Sir. You, uh,
you asked for the map, sir?
You studied
the surrounding
topography.
If you had to guess,
which direction?
Um, well, sir...
Cambodia is that way.
And Hanoi is that way.
[helicopter whirring]
That is very
fucking helpful.
[barks]
Morning, sir.
Good morning.
[sighs] Where's your boss?
Captain Mora is CO.
You can find him
at HQ with Ackerman.
All right.
[helicopter whirring]
Captain Mora, sir?
Lieutenant Colonel Miller.
Drummond gave me a report
that you guys were attacked
by an invisible enemy that
seemed to come out of nowhere.
Not familiar
with that description.
Now you are.
Ackerman, right?
Yes, sir.
Let's hear it.
We had sight lines
going out 50 meters, sir.
We surveyed
the surrounding topography
and had claymores and flares
set to trip wire
deep in the jungle.
But they seemed
to bypass all that, right?
Yeah.
Like they came
out of nowhere?
More practically speaking,
we were dug in,
and they moved about undetected
because they're
familiar with the land.
We need to find out
where they're going.
Where they're going?
Don't you mean
where they came from?
No.
Can you track them?
That's the idea.
We need to find them
immediately.
Well, that is
usually the desire, sir.
I'm not experiencing
a sense of urgency
from you, sir.
Well, Captain Mora,
huntin' is huntin'.
There is a highly
classified document
which is missing
and must be retrieved.
Time is of the essence.
I appreciate that, sir.
Ackerman.
Sir?
Get me a dead body.
Nice fresh one.
[Miller]
Thank you, sir.
[clears throat]
What's with the kid?
Engineer.
Very green.
Engineer, huh?
Good.
We're gonna need him
with what we find.
And what is that?
Well, I expect
to find their subway system,
so to speak.
Your cooperation on this
is much appreciated, sir.
[Miller]
Come on. Go on.
[dog panting]
[Miller] Go on, boy.
Come on. Come here.
Hey. Look at me.
Hey, you good?
[barks]
All right.
Time to hunt.
I'll need three teams.
Okay, boys,
let's move out.
Come on.
[dog panting]
Not bad back there.
That was you on the 60?
Yeah.
Hey, thanks.
That's where a boot like you
will earn the rank.
More importantly,
the respect of your men.
You, uh, mind saying that
a little bit louder,
how good a job I done,
just so the guys could hear?
Doesn't work
that way out here.
Nothing can be faked.
If I see it, they'll see it.
You short-time, Rusty?
Double digits.
I'm so short I can't see
over the dogs up there.
Sixty-four days
and I wake up
and my ass is di-di
out of the bush.
You?
Um, 325 days.
How about you count
the months at this point?
[machine gun fire]
[Ackerman] Rusty!
Rusty. Rusty!
Medic!
[Ackerman]
Rusty!
[shouting]
[continues shouting]
[soldier] C-Team!
Be my six! Be my six!
Wills!
[dog barking]
Move your men
to the right.
Stay low. Go!
Yes, sir. C-Team!
[shouting]
Go!
Make way! Make way!
Make way now!
Stay low.
Cole, I'm on your six!
[shouting]
[soldier]
I got two! I got two!
[shouts]
[shouts]
Clear!
What is that?
[Miller panting]
We're fighting a new enemy.
They don't come from the sky.
They don't come across water.
And they don't come on land.
They come from the earth.
Flashlight.
I need you
to send a message
to Captain Mora.
Pay close attention.
Yes, sir.
[static, voices on radio]
Captain.
[Mora on radio]
It's to a tunnel.
Miller said they can surface
an entire regiment through them.
They go on for miles.
Miles?
Did he say how long
it would take to cover
miles of tunnel?
He didn't.
Miller's plan is
to cover above
and send a team below,
see what's down there
and map it out for us.
He said subterranean
warfare is new.
Lot of unknowns.
Crawford there?
As requested.
So we can expect
the binder is in the tunnels.
And they have limited comms.
Which gives us
a window of time.
Do we have protocol
for tunnel warfare?
No.
Improvise.
You got two hours.
What's at the end
of two hours?
The end.
Where do we put the pawns
and where do we put the queen?
Bishops, rooks, knights...
up on top.
Pawns down below.
And one queen with them.
I'll go below.
Negative.
I need you above ground.
Sir, my experience
is an asset.
You're my link
in this fight.
I can source
a radio man.
Are my orders received,
Captain?
Crystal clear, sir.
Speak.
They're kids.
I'm afraid
they don't have the stones
for close combat.
Tell them to grow a pair.
Confirmed. Over and out.
Captain, step aside.
I want to speak
to Crawford in private.
Stepping out.
Sir?
Crawford.
Are you seeing anything
Mora hasn't?
I believe you're asking
for a contingency plan
when the two hours are up.
Does a fail-safe exist?
It does.
Is it an ironclad solution?
It clears the board
of all the pieces,
but that's only a call
you can make.
Two hours. Then clear it.
Ten-four.
[rain falling]
[thunder rumbling]
Okay.
Understand me?
Gotta get to L-4.
We got two hours.
[sniffles] Copy that.
Let's brief them.
Gentlemen, if I could have
your attention, please.
A binder was stolen
during the battle
that contains information
about South Vietnamese
operatives north.
We need to retrieve
or destroy that binder
at all costs.
Now, we will have teams
covering the jungle
for enemy resurfacing,
but we will have to
send a team below.
Ackerman, your team's below.
Cole, you're with them.
Cole takes the rear.
The rest of you concentrate
on mapping that network.
Sir, what does
my team offer, sir?
Jesus, Ackerman.
Are you seriously asking me why
you're being sent below, sir?
Yes, I am, sir.
Okay.
It's obvious.
You're an engineer
and you're smart.
I need your eyes
to analyze what's down there.
I will provide
a detailed map, sir.
Well, I'd appreciate that,
Ackerman.
However, the priority
of this mission
is the retrieval or
the destruction of that binder.
While that is being pursued,
I need you boys
to focus on mapping
that network.
And boys, it's likely gonna be
a labyrinth down there.
So, watch your topknot.
At minimum, you're recon.
At best,
you get in the shit
and you save the day
and we all live
above ground
as normal mammals.
Yes, sir.
You gonna save the day,
young man.
[Miller] Ackerman.
Cole is your ace.
If it gets hot,
you lean on him.
The rest of you boys
concentrate on mapping
that network
and get back here alive.
You have two hours
to complete your mission.
What happens
at the end
of two hours, sir?
You have two hours.
Lock and load, gentlemen.
Godspeed.
Damn, man.
That's fucking narrow.
I'll take point.
I don't mind, sir.
No, that's my job.
Why don't you lead
from the middle?
Help Boyd and Gledhill
down there?
Sure thing.
You ain't gotta ask.
Just make the order.
Okay.
Wait until
the person ahead of you
gives the all-clear
before descending.
[Ackerman grunts]
[water dripping]
[breathing heavily]
Clear!
[grunting]
[grunts]
[Cole] I'll see you
on the other side, man.
[Ackerman breathing shakily]
[Gledhill]
These are cool, man.
They made all these?
[Ackerman]
Hey. Count pace with me.
[soldier]
Yeah, you got it.
[breathing heavily]
[Gledhill] What the fuck?
Oh, shit! Fuck.
[dog panting]
Shh, it's okay.
[birds calling]
[grunts]
Fuck.
[Ackerman breathing heavily]
[gasps]
[Cole] Make space.
Pass it along.
[soldier] Cole says make space.
What's your count
to this juncture?
I got 35 meters. You?
Okay, I had 40.
That's close enough.
Keep charting.
[breathing heavily]
It's clear.
[Cole]
What's the status?
Mapping the tunnels.
But, um, I think we--
we gotta split up or--
We split up.
Who else can create
a map of the progress?
Nevins.
Okay.
He'll go with me and another.
Give me anyone difficult
off your hands,
I'll see to it
they stay in line.
Gledhill, Nevins.
You're going with Cole.
So, Mera, Boyd, Gates,
you're with me.
Any direction
gets too hot
or confusing,
we rendezvous back here.
Okay?
[soldier] Copy.
Okay.
Let's move out.
[soldier] Shit.
[breathing heavily]
[Gledhill] Hey, I--
I can take point.
[Cole] I need you
to cover my six.
Don't you know
that's most important?
[Gledhill] Yeah, that's--
that's right. That's right.
[Nevins] Hey, thanks
for your bravery, Gledhill.
[Gledhill]
Yeah, no problem.
[Nevins whispers]
God, you're a tool, man.
[Ackerman breathing heavily]
[Ackerman] Okay.
All right, Mera,
I need you to take point.
Go slow and don't go far.
[Mera] Okay, sir.
[Ackerman]
Gates, stay on our six.
[Gates] Yeah.
[Mera exclaims]
Fuck! Fuck!
Shit!
[Gates] Hey, come on!
[Ackerman] Mera!
[Mera gasping]
[Ackerman] Mera!
[Mera panting]
[Gates] What's wrong?
Shh, shh. Calm down.
It's okay.
It's okay.
What's wrong?
Oh, shit.
It's okay.
It's all right.
[gasping]
It's all right.
Can these things kill me?
No. They're just like
really bad bee stings.
How you know that?
I read about it.
Okay, listen, Mera.
If we come across an exit shaft,
I'm gonna send you and Gates
up and back to camp. Okay?
Yes, sir.
I need you to get up.
You gotta get up.
All right?
Come on,
come on, come on.
Let's go. Let's go.
[Ackerman]
I'm comin' across here.
All right.
Okay. Come on, boys.
Easy, easy. Shh.
[whispering] Gledhill?
Gledhill?
Gledhill?
Fuck.
Gledhill?
[exclaims]
[Nevins breathing heavily]
[Nevins breathing heavily]
Oh, fuck.
Hey.
He's fucking dead.
Fuck.
Oh, fuck. Fuck.
Hey.
Huh?
Look, we have to go.
Look. Listen to me.
We have to go.
Stay here.
[gunshots]
[shouting]
[gasping, groaning]
Nevins, come here!
Check-- Check them.
Check all of them.
[groaning]
[Cole]
Find the goddamn binder.
I-- I can't--
I don't see shit.
Just look.
Hey, I have to--
I just gotta
find this thing
and I'll get you out.
We'll get you topside.
It'll all be good. Okay?
It ain't here,
brother.
Fucking-- Fucking
useless shit!
Hey.
Hey, prop me up.
I command you. Now!
Hey. Hey, I got you.
I got you, bro.
Come here. Come here.
[Nevins groaning]
[gasping]
Fuck. Oh, fuck.
Give me the AK.
[groaning]
[panting]
Listen. Listen.
They're closing on in.
Your friend is dead.
Go on, get out of here.
Hey.
We don't leave men behind.
That's a command.
It's just war.
It's just war.
I'll buy you time.
It's gonna be okay.
[groans]
[exclaims, panting]
Clear.
Okay. Mera, Boyd, I need you
to cover our exits.
Oh, here we go.
Here we go.
[Ackerman] It's a--
It's not gonna be papers.
It's-- It's like a ledger.
It's bound. Like a book.
Mera, exits.
Yes, sir.
Here we go. Hold that.
That's a map.
[Ackerman] You see this?
[Gates] You found something?
[Ackerman] It's a map.
[Gates] Okay. Okay.
[Ackerman] I'm trying
to find our camp.
[Gates] Write something down.
[Boyd gasps]
[Ackerman]
Boyd! Boyd, that door.
[Ackerman] See these?
[Gates] Oh, shit.
[Gates]
I got you some tape.
[screams]
Watch the back.
Okay. Okay. Let's go.
Let's get what
we're looking for, right?
It's not here, man.
How do you know that?
Because...
you saw how many guys
came after it at camp.
They wouldn't leave it
unguarded. All right?
And those shots we just heard,
that's our team.
We gotta find them.
Let's go. Get up.
Come on.
Okay.
[humming]
[footsteps approaching]
[body thuds]
These fuckers need to come out
and start fighting like men.
New objective.
We take the fight to them,
put an end to this bullshit.
We're in and out
in under an hour.
When hour's up, anything
in that tunnel is dead.
Come on.
[dog panting]
It's better for the dog
if your boys are downwind.
Copy.
[dog whimpers]
What is it?
Bunker.
Where?
I don't know.
I gotta flank wide.
How do you know?
It's that nasty fermented
fish sauce they fucking eat.
Dog's not the only one
who can smell.
You slacking on me, boy?
Huh?
No.
[dog whimpers]
[Wills]
All right, let's go.
Slowly.
Lights.
All right, we're clear.
Shit.
Oh, fuck.
Look at the size
of these things.
You could feed
a whole regiment.
[Boyd] How many soldiers
you think are down here?
[Ackerman]
That doesn't matter.
We're at a dead end.
We gotta keep moving.
You know where we are?
Yeah.
Then why are we
at a dead end?
Because it's a maze.
You find your way through
by eliminating dead ends.
Stop.
[panting]
Nevins?
[Nevins] Ack?
Come here. Nevins.
Oh, shit. You're hurt?
Fuck.
[Gates]
Where's Gledhill?
They're all fucking dead.
Gledhill's dead?
Yeah.
Cole?
It's his blood.
[Gates] No.
[Mera] Cole is gone?
We're fucked. He was our best
chance of getting out of here.
Tighten up.
What happened?
I-- I don't--
I don't fucking know, man.
We-- We found a room.
I mean, everything fucking
just went to shit, man.
We-- We fucking found this room
and there was nothing in it.
We searched
the whole fucking thing and I--
I just couldn't find shit, man.
It's all right.
And I, uh--
I crawled back here,
I got bit by spiders and shit.
Fuck, man. Fuck. Fuck.
This place is fucked, man.
We're all gonna
fucking die!
[Ackerman]
We're not gonna die.
[Nevins] Yeah?
Do you know the exits?
Yeah? Then which fucking way?
[Ackerman] Yes.
[Gates] He doesn't know
what he's doing.
Yes, I do.
I know where we are
and I know how to
get out of here.
Bullshit. That map
tells you the same exit
that we already came,
the same exit
we all already know.
You are lost.
We are about
a klick away from camp.
So, we're due
for another exit.
Now, I told Mera
I would get him out of here.
That's what I'm gonna do.
But I need your help.
Please, man.
We've been, uh... yelling and--
and they can probably hear us.
So ca-- can we move? Please?
Let's go.
He's fucking lost, man.
Hey, Gates for corporal, 1966.
[Ackerman] Double the space
between you.
This is tighter.
[inhales sharply]
[panting]
Mera?
I got daylight.
Okay.
You think
you can cover me?
Yeah. One second.
You got me?
Yeah, I got you.
Okay.
[breathing heavily]
[soldier speaking Vietnamese]
[gunshots]
[Miller] Friendly?
Yeah.
[Miller] Who is it?
It's Ackerman!
I've got a wounded man!
Am I clear to come out?
Hold your fire!
[Ackerman]
They shot Mera!
Ackerman!
Yeah?
All clear. Come out.
Guys, send Mera up!
Send him up. We're good.
[Mera groaning]
Oh, fuck!
Come on, Mera. Hey.
Come on, man.
Come on, man.
I got you, buddy.
No, no.
I got you.
Okay, I won't touch it.
Here. I got you.
Come on. Come on.
Come on,
come on, come on.
Lay down.
Lay down right here.
[screams]
[Miller] Where's he hit?
[Ackerman]
Mera? Where'd they
get you, buddy?
Huh?
Where'd they get you?
My shoulder.
Shoulder.
His shoulder.
I can feel it
in all my body.
Okay. All right.
Please!
It's okay.
You're gonna be all right.
[Mera panting]
[Miller]
Ackerman, come here.
[Ackerman] Yeah? Okay.
[Gates] It's all right.
It's all right, it's all right.
Your boy's been shot
in his extremities.
No organs or arteries damaged.
He ain't gonna die.
But his body
is trying to panic
and go into shock.
If that happens,
his life's in danger.
What he needs right now
is people around him
who aren't panicking,
who are firm and calm.
You're his leader.
What do you think
you should do?
Yes, sir.
[Gates] You're all right.
You're all right.
Hey, uh, hey, Mera.
[Mera groaning]
Hey, can you do me
a big favor?
Can you hold this for me?
Hey, so I just spoke
to the colonel.
You know what he said?
Huh?
Look at me. He said
you're gonna be fine.
Huh? So, you're gonna
be fine, right? Yeah?
Okay.
Okay, do me a favor.
Breathe like you're fine.
All right?
I'm going to be fine.
Yeah, breathe.
[Miller] Okay, you three
take him back to the camp
and report his status
to Captain Mora.
Just you and me, cowboy.
[Wills] Copy that.
[Miller]
You got the documents?
Yeah. Yeah.
[Miller]
Wills, take a look.
[Wills] Can I see them?
[Ackerman]
You want one, sir?
Here you go.
What we got?
[Wills]
These ain't them.
Fucking shit.
We missing someone?
I'm sorry.
[Miller] Cowboy,
why don't you take a minute.
Take ten steps away,
turn around.
You are ordered to breathe.
You are ordered to be alone.
Go on now.
[Mera continues groaning]
I'm sorry
about your boys.
Pretty hot down there, huh?
Heavy contact
with the enemy, sir.
We're two KIA
and now one wounded.
It twisted and turned.
It's a very extensive system
down there, sir.
You're just a klick away
from forward camp.
Yeah, that's roughly
my estimate.
Let me take a look.
Yes, sir.
You was just
about counting steps?
Been trying to.
Is it accurate?
I hope so.
Gates, Boyd.
I need you two to make me
a copy of this map.
And, Gates, I want it
detailed as this one is.
You got it.
No problem.
I know you will.
All right.
So, you want
the good news
or the bad news?
How about the bad news?
The Mets lost.
And you gotta
go back inside.
You did good, Ackerman.
You did real good.
Yes, sir.
Get some chow.
Clear.
Clear.
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
Hey, hey.
[Crawford] Fuck.
Hold your fire.
[Crawford]
Friendlies?
Yeah.
Yeah, there's
four of us in here.
Hey, you're, uh--
you're Crawford, right?
Yeah.
You're "Hack," right?
Ackerman. "Ack."
How many of you are there?
There's three of us.
You find the binder?
No. Did you?
Would I ask if I had?
No.
What's with the arsenal?
Oh, we found
their weapons storage.
About 50 meters down there,
turn right.
Go grab yourself something.
I think we're good.
Suit yourself.
There's some good shit in there.
Check this baby out.
Need a light?
Hey, stop.
It's not
a fucking joke, man.
Where are the rest of you?
You lost?
There were three casualties.
One wounded.
Is what it is. Hmm?
Come on.
Let's check this out,
see what we can find.
Aren't you
supposed to be topside,
covering the exits?
Let's go, big man.
Recon down left,
see what you find.
[Ackerman] Yeah.
Ditch diggers,
you're going right.
You and me are gonna
hold this junction, chief.
This ain't up for
discussion, kiddos.
[fingers snap]
It's okay.
Just be careful.
How you feeling,
chief?
I'm great.
Too bad
about those casualties.
Yes, it is.
Hell of a thing
sending all you engineers
into this shit.
Yeah.
Why you think
they put this whole mission
on your shoulders?
I don't know.
You would have to ask
Captain Mora.
Well, they want you
to find this thing.
But what else
is your objective?
To map the tunnels.
[Crawford chuckles]
That's a mission, huh?
Draw maps?
[laughing]
"What did you do
in the war, Daddy?"
"Well, son, I drew maps."
[laughing]
Wow, you got us figured out.
Eh.
Wanna know my guess?
Sure.
Bait.
Send you down,
hoping they'll go topside.
How's that sit with you?
Hmm?
Hmm? Bait.
Mmm.
Less than an hour
of mapmaking left.
Nothing that way.
Just a water well
and a dead end.
But no enemy contact.
My team on my six.
Ackerman, you and your boys
hold this junction.
[yells]
Turn your lights off.
[gasping]
[groaning]
[metal clanks]
Contact.
Hold your fire.
Hold your fire.
Hey, what are you guys
waiting for?
No, no! Leave them be!
Hey, what the fuck
do you care?
He's barely alive.
Yeah, well,
then it's a mercy kill.
Hey, you leave them.
There's no honor in killing
sick and wounded.
Honor?
These guys sharpened stakes,
hid them in the ground,
and Gledhill died on them, man!
I'm sorry that you weren't there
to watch him bleed out!
Were you guys there for that?
[Gates]
Relax.
Relax?
Relax? Is that
the honorable thing to do?
I'm not trying
to take away
from what you saw.
But this is war, right?
It's what you signed up for!
[both shouting]
Hey! Hey! Hey!
I didn't grab you!
Don't grab me!
None of us were there!
That's my fault!
It's my fault, okay?
And if you think it's right
to kill these people,
then you should do it.
But I am ordering you
not to!
It's your choice.
Captain Mora
ordered us down here, right?
Yes.
Well, then it's his call!
And he doesn't give a damn
about us or anybody's life!
Well, Mora
ain't here, is he?
Ack's giving orders.
Hey, weren't you the one
that said stick close to Mora?
Don't listen to Ack, because
Ack was gonna get us killed.
Yeah, you know what?
Topside, that's the right call--
you follow the vets.
But it's just us down here.
And like I said, you choose to
follow my orders or you won't.
Do you want to do this,
Daniel?
Do you want to
kill these people?
We're moving out.
We're moving out.
Go ahead.
[groaning]
Fat fuck.
[grunts]
[gun clicks, gunshot]
What the fuck was that?
That was Crawford.
Hey, what's the point
of the map, man?
I mean, this is fucking chaos.
Do you know the way?
I'm just saying.
That map's only good for
the next person you give it to.
So we don't keep
going down the same tunnels
we done been down.
Can you quit your bitching?
[rustling]
What the fuck is that?
[coughing]
[high-pitched ringing]
[screaming]
[groaning]
What was that?
[screaming continues]
[screaming stops]
[Gates] Nevins?
Nevins?
Nevins, let's go.
[groaning]
Come on, baby.
Come on, Nevins. Come on.
[coughing]
I'm not leaving him.
We're not leaving him.
We have to.
No.
You're hurt.
We don't leave men behind.
We don't leave men
behind.
Ack, we either take Gates
or we drag Nevins's corpse.
We can't do both.
Come on. Come on.
I'm gonna get you
out of here.
[Ackerman]
We're leaving him.
No.
We gotta leave him.
Come on, baby.
Get you out of here.
We gotta leave him.
No, we're not
leaving him!
Gates.
We gotta leave him.
Gates, please!
No!
Please!
No!
Please, man, please.
[Gates shouts, groans]
Okay.
Move.
Grab my fucking arm.
Go right. Right.
Sit. Sit.
[groans]
[gasps]
I can't hear anything!
[panting]
Hey, that, uh--
that grenade
came from up top, right?
The ceiling
had a hole in it.
Okay.
So, they're
ventilation shafts.
That means
multiple layers.
'Cause the smoke from here
has to be fed up
and out somehow.
How big is this
fucking place?
Hey, Gates.
We'll find a ventilation shaft
big enough to put you in,
get you topside.
What about the binder?
Do you give a shit?
Hell, no.
I'm not losing you guys.
Come on.
[groans]
[Ackerman]
Good? Let's go.
Oh, shit.
Shit, I think
this is a dead end.
[Gates] We can't go
no further down.
We gotta make a stand.
He's right.
We fight our way out.
[gunshot]
Fuck!
[shouting]
No!
[grunting]
[gunshot]
Gates.
Hey! Hey, hey, hey.
You all right, Gates?
Boyd? You doing good.
Don't listen to Nevins.
He's an idiot.
Ack's a good leader. Okay?
Just tell Gle--
Tell Gledhill to do--
do what he says.
[shouts]
Boyd!
Yeah?
He's gone.
It's... It's just us.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
We got... [panting]
We got 30 minutes.
What happens after that?
I think Mora only cares
about the mission succeeding.
Nothing else matters.
We... We don't matter.
Is the mission over?
I don't know.
What do you wanna do?
They died
for that binder.
If we finish,
it's for them.
Twenty minutes.
Okay?
[sniffles]
We don't find it,
we get out of here.
Okay.
But for them.
Not for Mora.
Okay.
Okay, for them.
Where do we go now?
Up.
Okay.
Ready? [grunts]
Boyd. Come on.
[grunts]
[Ackerman] Hold on.
[Ackerman grunts]
Okay. We need
to go that way.
You take point.
You sure?
Yeah, you're faster anyway.
I'll follow you.
[grunts]
Okay.
[both panting]
You know where we are?
Yeah, hold on.
I think so.
Right or straight?
Um, go straight.
Okay.
Storage.
Rockets. And grenades.
[Ackerman]
Good job.
Okay.
[whirring]
[metal clanking]
[whirring]
[clanking stops]
[whirring stops]
[metal clanking]
[whirring]
[chuckles softly]
Jackpot!
What?
The binder?
Yeah.
Okay.
Okay.
Um, let me think. Okay.
You turn around.
We're gonna go back
through this way. All right?
Okay.
Come on.
[Ackerman] Hey, Boyd.
I'm, uh-- I think--
[Boyd] Yeah?
I'm out.
You got any other clips?
[Boyd] No. I'm out too.
[Ackerman] Okay.
We gotta search the boxes
when we get in there.
[grunts]
Okay. Quiet.
If you, uh--
If we can't find something,
we gotta grab an AK.
Okay.
[soldiers speaking
in Vietnamese]
[speaking Vietnamese]
[grunting]
Boyd!
Boyd, get the binder!
Get the binder!
The binder! [yells]
Fuck. Hey. Hey, hey.
[groans]
Get up, get up, get up.
Hey, sit down.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
The binder? The binder?
Have you seen the binder?
The bin-- The binder!
Have you seen it?
Yes? Where? Here?
Fuck! Here? Here? Here?
Here?
Here? Here?
Here? Here?
Here.
Fuck. Okay.
Fuck!
Fuck!
Fuck!
Open. Please, please.
[gasps, chuckles]
Ah, fuck!
[grunting, groaning]
Come on!
[speaking Vietnamese]
This way. Come on.
[panting]
Boyd!
Boyd, go that way!
Go! That way!
Back! Back!
Back! Come on!
[explosion]
[coughing]
Hey, hey, come on.
Please, please,
I need a minute.
My fucking leg.
We don't have a minute.
Okay, you just go
and I'll catch up with you.
What? Hey!
We don't leave men behind.
I left fucking
everyone behind, Boyd!
They're all fucking dead
because of me!
No. Those deaths
aren't on you.
These are Captain Mora's orders,
from someone above him,
from someone above him,
from someone above him!
You always gave a shit.
Ack!
It's nearby.
I was here last.
I lost my--
my torch.
There we go. Okay.
[speaking Vietnamese]
[knife slashes]
[grunting, groaning]
[screaming]
Ack.
Get up!
Go!
[explosions in distance]
[explosion]
Time's up.
They're still down there.
Is that a problem?
We needed a fail-safe.
Crawford took care of it.
I've never known you
to turn a blind eye.
Or fail.
No. But not like this.
Victory is measured
in body count.
How do you count them
when they're buried?
One by one.
Hell of a war.
Link up with Miller
at the LZ.
Confirm mission success.
Yeah.
It's just a war.
[both coughing]
[loud rumbling]
[Ackerman groans]
Come on, man.
It's just right there.
[coughing, groaning]
[gasping]
[Wills]
Identify yourself!
We're friendlies!
Hold fire!
Who is it?
It's Boyd and Ackerman.
He's wounded.
We need help.
Come on.
You gotta stop.
Get your man up.
Can you see
my hand?
[gasping, coughing]
Do you have the package?
[Boyd] There. There.
How'd you find us?
His dogs.
Cowboy, we good?
Yes, sir.
[gasps, coughs]
You won the hunt, son.
Let's try this again.
We've got it.
Destroy it.
Direct orders.
Put the engineer on.
General Drummond.
This is Ackerman.
You did good, kid.
It seemed like it was...
do or die after two hours, sir.
We can't let that information
get into enemy hands.
If you're overrun before
that Huey arrives,
we're gonna have to start
this whole shit show over.
Failure didn't seem like
an option, sir.
It's your first time
in combat, son?
[Ackerman] Yes.
Well... this is your one time
to speak to a general freely.
What are you doing?
That is a general
on the line.
You will talk,
and you will accept.
I'm gonna let you go now.
Understand?
I have to confirm
that they're burning the binder.
My friends died
bringing that binder back.
Is there no... Is there
no record of what they did here?
Listen to me, son.
I didn't write this,
and I'm not the first to say it,
but a warrior's record
is not written in books
or decorated with medals.
You and your men...
you're part of
something deeper now.
Your blood is in the earth.
They live forever.
Out.
Let it go.
That's not what
you take from here.
At ease.
Well, let's get to it.
Never known you
any other way.
Intelligence binder.
It's fallen into enemy hands.
It has the names
and locations
of hundreds of
Vietnamese operatives
working with our military.
As you can imagine,
it's imperative
that their identities
not fall into the Viet Cong.
[slurps]
That binder must be
retrieved and destroyed.
At any cost.
Understood.
We sent two
Special Forces teams north
to recapture it.
They're on the route
back to us.
Where?
North of the DMZ.
Small outpost
in the Quang Tri province.
Area's hot.
If the Viet Cong
discover the binder
is missing...
They'll send
a division after it.
Expect a firefight.
When do I leave?
Chopper's ready.
I'm sending
Crawford with you.
Crawford?
What aren't you telling me?
It's chess.
Let's stay
ten moves ahead.
[helicopter whirring]
I'm Corporal Ackerman,
engineer, sir.
You in charge?
O-Of the camp, yes, sir.
The-- The ARVN soldiers
fall under the Special Forces
who are training them, sir.
Leaving you the tents.
Sir?
Do you understand
the nature of my presence here?
No, sir.
Your mission has not been
disclosed to me, sir.
Take me to HQ.
This way, sir.
What are your orders?
Sir, to assess
the viability of this site
as a forward base location.
Study the topography,
sight lines, threat levels,
evaluate what
construction equipment
is needed for a base,
and to establish
a 100% secure camp
perimeter concurrently, sir.
Concurrently?
Yes, sir.
100% secure?
That is the attitude
I must maintain, sir.
A highly classified package
is due to be delivered here.
This has yet to occur, correct?
Yes, sir.
Uh, uh, no. No, sir.
It has not occurred, sir.
To be painfully clear:
If any package,
no matter how small,
were brought to this location,
you would know about it!
I'm in charge
of the camp, sir.
Except for
the ARVN soldiers
and the Special Forces
commandos.
Except for them, sir.
Leaving you the tents.
Sir?
Dismissed.
[soldier] Easy.
Belt-fed, gas-operated,
1,800 meters effective range.
[Ackerman grunts]
[grunts] Hey.
Uh, do you need help
with anything?
Aren't you eager?
Sir...
What?
Did you find out what
we are really doing out here?
They're not building
a base out here, right?
We're too exposed.
Guys--
Doesn't that captain--
Wait, wait, wait.
That guy is a captain, right?
Is that what he's doing here?
I'm assuming you told him
we've been done here for weeks.
Yeah.
Guys. Guys, guys, guys.
Please, please.
I, um-- I just need to know if,
uh, if you've seen a package
get delivered here.
Package? Do we get
mail service out here?
No. No, no, no.
Never mind--
Well, no--
Never mind.
Just... As you were.
Forget about it. Thank you.
[groaning]
Hey! Hey!
I need to be painfully clear
about something.
Have either of you witnessed
the Special Forces boys
receive a package
to this location?
Mail? We don't get
mail service out here.
No.
No, not like mail.
And not officially delivered.
Covertly brought here.
No.
You seen anything
looked like that?
No, nothing like that.
Well,
you know how they are.
They might not disclose
something like that
to the engineers,
but I need to know
everything that goes on
inside this camp, all right?
You feel like you don't?
Yes.
No, I... I do not have
eyes on 50 men.
All right? So I ask my team
for a little bit of assistance.
You are a part of this team?
Yes, sir.
Yeah, I am
part of your team, sir.
Who's the new captain?
He's just a new captain.
Were you supposed
to have a package for him?
Never mind.
As you were.
[Ackerman]
Have you seen a package?
My friend...
What?
I need you to get down
and grab yourself a rifle.
Why? What do you see?
Movement.
Where?
Somewhere.
American?
[soldier] American.
Your engineers set mines
around the camp, right?
[Ackerman] Uh-huh.
Please safely escort
our guests.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Okay.
Shit.
[panting] Ah. Hi.
How you doing?
I'm Corporal Ackerman.
Water.
Water? Yeah.
Yeah, we have water. Sure.
You want some? Um, okay.
Just follow me.
Uh, we got some at the base.
Just, you have to be careful
because we've got mines
around the perimeter.
So just...
Captain Mora,
Special Forces Commander.
My family summers
in Lake Tahoe.
Are you familiar
with Lake Tahoe?
Tahoe is a term
we are familiar with.
Just the two of you?
There were
six of us, sir.
Does the enemy
know about this?
There were six, sir.
The safety's off
tonight, sir.
Okay.
Let's get you guys
some R and R.
[gunshot]
[Ackerman] Shit.
Friendly fire!
Friendly fire!
Dude, don't!
Are you crazy?
You don't
want to do that.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
What the fuck
were you doing?
[gasping]
I did not order you to breathe!
I ordered you
to answer my question!
[Ackerman]
Sir, he was cleaning
his weapon, sir.
That is correct!
He is under your command,
so you will answer for him!
What the fuck
was he doing?
Sir, he was cleaning
his weapon, sir.
I ordered him to do it, sir.
Sir, it is my fault, sir.
What the actual fuck
does that child need
with a gun?
That was not rhetorical,
dipshit!
Sir, protection
of this camp, sir.
He does not protect.
You and your engineers
do not protect.
You build.
You dig a ditch.
You plant
some goddamn mines.
But you sure as shit
don't fire your weapons
in my perimeter!
Sir, yes, sir!
But what you can do is
help that fucking child
build a world-class
shit-eating latrine!
I have it in my possession.
[airplane passing overhead]
Excellent.
Describe the contents.
I have a translator
on that right now.
ETA for confirmation
is five hours.
Confirmed.
What type
of documents are these,
based on the structure?
Maps and lists.
Does it read like a ledger?
Yes.
Listen to me.
Cross-reference the words
from the ledger.
And scan the map.
Yes.
There is a relationship
between the markings on the maps
and the words in the columns.
See if the same words appear
on the maps in the binder.
Yeah, I recognize them.
This is Trieu Phong,
right in our own backyard.
Well, it seems we have a map
of potential locations
to operatives, doesn't it?
The sooner we get this
to a secure base,
the better.
How long until extraction?
ASAP,
first thing tomorrow,
barring a marine layer
or any other bullshit.
Confirmed.
[laughing]
Oh, you missed the move.
Hey, buddy.
What the fuck
you want?
Do we help them?
What?
Dig a shit hole?
[scoffs] Okay, yeah, yeah.
You could go if you want.
But hey, make sure you're
sleeping outside tonight, okay?
'Cause I don't want to have
nobody stinkin' up the place.
You already stink enough.
[soldier]
But it's not
our call, is it?
We have to follow our--
our leader.
Come on, man.
What's in the binder?
Wait, you looked
in the package?
Tell me
you're kidding.
Is everyone
in this squad
a fucking moron?
[smacks lips]
[exhales]
Let me tell you something, guys.
I don't have a good hand.
I haven't had
a good hand all night.
Uh, so if you could, like,
trade, that'd be good--
[stammering]
What was in it?
Words, letters,
and the like. So...
Asshole.
Look, honestly,
half of it was in Viet Cong
with some
English code words
next to it, so...
Like a ledger?
What do you mean,
a ledger?
A list.
Yeah, like a list.
Like why are so many
of us engineers and ARVN
sitting out here for a month
if we're not actually
building a base?
Maybe Captain Mora is--
knows what our mission is
once he decodes
whatever the binder is.
Hey, what's his deal anyway?
Is he in charge now?
Is anyone in charge?
Why do you rag on him
so hard?
[laughs] Gates
wants a promotion.
What do you guys think, huh?
Gates for corporal, 1966?
[laughter]
You know, I'm afraid
there's gonna come a time
when he gets
all of our asses killed.
You stick close
to Captain Mora.
I'd rather have a hard-ass
giving me orders
than a little "buddy."
Take all three.
[chattering]
[metal squeaks]
Ah. Hey.
This bullshit tastes
like horseshit this morning.
[soldier 1] Yeah, I know,
that's right. [chuckles]
[soldier 2] Hey. I like it.
[soldier 1] Come on, man.
You eat that rancid baby shit
and just do your job.
[Gates]
Oh, right on.
I'm crushed under the weight
of your rancid words, sir.
So crushed.
Ain't that right, boy?
Can I go home now?
What kind of horseshit
are we not gonna be able
to shit later?
You-- You know
the thing with, um,
with that is that MREs only
contain one gram of fiber? So...
Did you sift through
your own shit to discover that?
No. That information
was achieved
through something
called reading.
I'm reading that your face
was so far up
Captain Mora's asshole
that you just sampled it
off your nose.
[soldiers hooting]
[soldier 3]
Damn, man.
The ultra-smart
engineer has no reply?
In front of your men?
Y'all want him to roast me?
[soldiers jeering]
Come on, Ackerman.
Ackerman.
A true leader can out-shit-talk
a dumb grunt like me.
Not before my coffee.
That's no fun.
[machine gun fire]
[shouting]
Get down! Get down!
Stay covered!
[whistle blowing]
[explosion]
[shouting]
[shouting continues]
[Ackerman exclaims]
[screams]
[screams]
[soldier]
Take cover!
Go, go,
go, go, go!
[Mora] Get your head
in the battle, son!
And get to the 60!
Now!
Y-Y-Yes, sir.
[shouting]
Everyone, full assault!
Now!
[shouting]
Kill them all!
No! No!
God-- Goddamn it!
[grunts] Shit!
[Mora on radio]
Clear the line.
Captain.
[airplane passing overhead]
Give me a status report.
Fourteen casualties.
Forty enemy dead.
And the binder?
Gone.
Then why are you still alive?
[scoffs]
You fought off an ambush,
outnumbered and surrounded.
They knew the value
of what you had.
Well...
to be fair, we didn't know
if the information was legit.
I need to be
in the field, James.
I don't know
what's really happening
sittin' behind this desk.
You can do
a lot of good
at that desk.
The army needs
combat vets
calling the shots,
not bureaucrats.
Well, this office
is full of those.
Damn it, James.
I can't know the enemy
if I can't see 'em fight.
Tell me the truth.
They're relentless
and fast.
Give me more.
They'll face down
the barrel of your gun
and charge in.
Totally fearless.
What it must feel like
to command a platoon of men
like that.
We are fighting them
with engineers, sir.
Special Forces might be
the tip of the spear,
but the rest... they're
construction workers.
We're up against the clock,
James.
Whatever your orders are,
I will not fail you again.
We have any idea
which direction
the attack came from?
We were suddenly surrounded.
And we have no trace
on which direction
they left with?
Minimal.
The battle tore up
the remaining terrain.
I'm gonna send someone in.
Someone who can
take care of this.
Someone who thinks
outside the box.
Confirmed.
This is a new kind of warfare.
Sir. You, uh,
you asked for the map, sir?
You studied
the surrounding
topography.
If you had to guess,
which direction?
Um, well, sir...
Cambodia is that way.
And Hanoi is that way.
[helicopter whirring]
That is very
fucking helpful.
[barks]
Morning, sir.
Good morning.
[sighs] Where's your boss?
Captain Mora is CO.
You can find him
at HQ with Ackerman.
All right.
[helicopter whirring]
Captain Mora, sir?
Lieutenant Colonel Miller.
Drummond gave me a report
that you guys were attacked
by an invisible enemy that
seemed to come out of nowhere.
Not familiar
with that description.
Now you are.
Ackerman, right?
Yes, sir.
Let's hear it.
We had sight lines
going out 50 meters, sir.
We surveyed
the surrounding topography
and had claymores and flares
set to trip wire
deep in the jungle.
But they seemed
to bypass all that, right?
Yeah.
Like they came
out of nowhere?
More practically speaking,
we were dug in,
and they moved about undetected
because they're
familiar with the land.
We need to find out
where they're going.
Where they're going?
Don't you mean
where they came from?
No.
Can you track them?
That's the idea.
We need to find them
immediately.
Well, that is
usually the desire, sir.
I'm not experiencing
a sense of urgency
from you, sir.
Well, Captain Mora,
huntin' is huntin'.
There is a highly
classified document
which is missing
and must be retrieved.
Time is of the essence.
I appreciate that, sir.
Ackerman.
Sir?
Get me a dead body.
Nice fresh one.
[Miller]
Thank you, sir.
[clears throat]
What's with the kid?
Engineer.
Very green.
Engineer, huh?
Good.
We're gonna need him
with what we find.
And what is that?
Well, I expect
to find their subway system,
so to speak.
Your cooperation on this
is much appreciated, sir.
[Miller]
Come on. Go on.
[dog panting]
[Miller] Go on, boy.
Come on. Come here.
Hey. Look at me.
Hey, you good?
[barks]
All right.
Time to hunt.
I'll need three teams.
Okay, boys,
let's move out.
Come on.
[dog panting]
Not bad back there.
That was you on the 60?
Yeah.
Hey, thanks.
That's where a boot like you
will earn the rank.
More importantly,
the respect of your men.
You, uh, mind saying that
a little bit louder,
how good a job I done,
just so the guys could hear?
Doesn't work
that way out here.
Nothing can be faked.
If I see it, they'll see it.
You short-time, Rusty?
Double digits.
I'm so short I can't see
over the dogs up there.
Sixty-four days
and I wake up
and my ass is di-di
out of the bush.
You?
Um, 325 days.
How about you count
the months at this point?
[machine gun fire]
[Ackerman] Rusty!
Rusty. Rusty!
Medic!
[Ackerman]
Rusty!
[shouting]
[continues shouting]
[soldier] C-Team!
Be my six! Be my six!
Wills!
[dog barking]
Move your men
to the right.
Stay low. Go!
Yes, sir. C-Team!
[shouting]
Go!
Make way! Make way!
Make way now!
Stay low.
Cole, I'm on your six!
[shouting]
[soldier]
I got two! I got two!
[shouts]
[shouts]
Clear!
What is that?
[Miller panting]
We're fighting a new enemy.
They don't come from the sky.
They don't come across water.
And they don't come on land.
They come from the earth.
Flashlight.
I need you
to send a message
to Captain Mora.
Pay close attention.
Yes, sir.
[static, voices on radio]
Captain.
[Mora on radio]
It's to a tunnel.
Miller said they can surface
an entire regiment through them.
They go on for miles.
Miles?
Did he say how long
it would take to cover
miles of tunnel?
He didn't.
Miller's plan is
to cover above
and send a team below,
see what's down there
and map it out for us.
He said subterranean
warfare is new.
Lot of unknowns.
Crawford there?
As requested.
So we can expect
the binder is in the tunnels.
And they have limited comms.
Which gives us
a window of time.
Do we have protocol
for tunnel warfare?
No.
Improvise.
You got two hours.
What's at the end
of two hours?
The end.
Where do we put the pawns
and where do we put the queen?
Bishops, rooks, knights...
up on top.
Pawns down below.
And one queen with them.
I'll go below.
Negative.
I need you above ground.
Sir, my experience
is an asset.
You're my link
in this fight.
I can source
a radio man.
Are my orders received,
Captain?
Crystal clear, sir.
Speak.
They're kids.
I'm afraid
they don't have the stones
for close combat.
Tell them to grow a pair.
Confirmed. Over and out.
Captain, step aside.
I want to speak
to Crawford in private.
Stepping out.
Sir?
Crawford.
Are you seeing anything
Mora hasn't?
I believe you're asking
for a contingency plan
when the two hours are up.
Does a fail-safe exist?
It does.
Is it an ironclad solution?
It clears the board
of all the pieces,
but that's only a call
you can make.
Two hours. Then clear it.
Ten-four.
[rain falling]
[thunder rumbling]
Okay.
Understand me?
Gotta get to L-4.
We got two hours.
[sniffles] Copy that.
Let's brief them.
Gentlemen, if I could have
your attention, please.
A binder was stolen
during the battle
that contains information
about South Vietnamese
operatives north.
We need to retrieve
or destroy that binder
at all costs.
Now, we will have teams
covering the jungle
for enemy resurfacing,
but we will have to
send a team below.
Ackerman, your team's below.
Cole, you're with them.
Cole takes the rear.
The rest of you concentrate
on mapping that network.
Sir, what does
my team offer, sir?
Jesus, Ackerman.
Are you seriously asking me why
you're being sent below, sir?
Yes, I am, sir.
Okay.
It's obvious.
You're an engineer
and you're smart.
I need your eyes
to analyze what's down there.
I will provide
a detailed map, sir.
Well, I'd appreciate that,
Ackerman.
However, the priority
of this mission
is the retrieval or
the destruction of that binder.
While that is being pursued,
I need you boys
to focus on mapping
that network.
And boys, it's likely gonna be
a labyrinth down there.
So, watch your topknot.
At minimum, you're recon.
At best,
you get in the shit
and you save the day
and we all live
above ground
as normal mammals.
Yes, sir.
You gonna save the day,
young man.
[Miller] Ackerman.
Cole is your ace.
If it gets hot,
you lean on him.
The rest of you boys
concentrate on mapping
that network
and get back here alive.
You have two hours
to complete your mission.
What happens
at the end
of two hours, sir?
You have two hours.
Lock and load, gentlemen.
Godspeed.
Damn, man.
That's fucking narrow.
I'll take point.
I don't mind, sir.
No, that's my job.
Why don't you lead
from the middle?
Help Boyd and Gledhill
down there?
Sure thing.
You ain't gotta ask.
Just make the order.
Okay.
Wait until
the person ahead of you
gives the all-clear
before descending.
[Ackerman grunts]
[water dripping]
[breathing heavily]
Clear!
[grunting]
[grunts]
[Cole] I'll see you
on the other side, man.
[Ackerman breathing shakily]
[Gledhill]
These are cool, man.
They made all these?
[Ackerman]
Hey. Count pace with me.
[soldier]
Yeah, you got it.
[breathing heavily]
[Gledhill] What the fuck?
Oh, shit! Fuck.
[dog panting]
Shh, it's okay.
[birds calling]
[grunts]
Fuck.
[Ackerman breathing heavily]
[gasps]
[Cole] Make space.
Pass it along.
[soldier] Cole says make space.
What's your count
to this juncture?
I got 35 meters. You?
Okay, I had 40.
That's close enough.
Keep charting.
[breathing heavily]
It's clear.
[Cole]
What's the status?
Mapping the tunnels.
But, um, I think we--
we gotta split up or--
We split up.
Who else can create
a map of the progress?
Nevins.
Okay.
He'll go with me and another.
Give me anyone difficult
off your hands,
I'll see to it
they stay in line.
Gledhill, Nevins.
You're going with Cole.
So, Mera, Boyd, Gates,
you're with me.
Any direction
gets too hot
or confusing,
we rendezvous back here.
Okay?
[soldier] Copy.
Okay.
Let's move out.
[soldier] Shit.
[breathing heavily]
[Gledhill] Hey, I--
I can take point.
[Cole] I need you
to cover my six.
Don't you know
that's most important?
[Gledhill] Yeah, that's--
that's right. That's right.
[Nevins] Hey, thanks
for your bravery, Gledhill.
[Gledhill]
Yeah, no problem.
[Nevins whispers]
God, you're a tool, man.
[Ackerman breathing heavily]
[Ackerman] Okay.
All right, Mera,
I need you to take point.
Go slow and don't go far.
[Mera] Okay, sir.
[Ackerman]
Gates, stay on our six.
[Gates] Yeah.
[Mera exclaims]
Fuck! Fuck!
Shit!
[Gates] Hey, come on!
[Ackerman] Mera!
[Mera gasping]
[Ackerman] Mera!
[Mera panting]
[Gates] What's wrong?
Shh, shh. Calm down.
It's okay.
It's okay.
What's wrong?
Oh, shit.
It's okay.
It's all right.
[gasping]
It's all right.
Can these things kill me?
No. They're just like
really bad bee stings.
How you know that?
I read about it.
Okay, listen, Mera.
If we come across an exit shaft,
I'm gonna send you and Gates
up and back to camp. Okay?
Yes, sir.
I need you to get up.
You gotta get up.
All right?
Come on,
come on, come on.
Let's go. Let's go.
[Ackerman]
I'm comin' across here.
All right.
Okay. Come on, boys.
Easy, easy. Shh.
[whispering] Gledhill?
Gledhill?
Gledhill?
Fuck.
Gledhill?
[exclaims]
[Nevins breathing heavily]
[Nevins breathing heavily]
Oh, fuck.
Hey.
He's fucking dead.
Fuck.
Oh, fuck. Fuck.
Hey.
Huh?
Look, we have to go.
Look. Listen to me.
We have to go.
Stay here.
[gunshots]
[shouting]
[gasping, groaning]
Nevins, come here!
Check-- Check them.
Check all of them.
[groaning]
[Cole]
Find the goddamn binder.
I-- I can't--
I don't see shit.
Just look.
Hey, I have to--
I just gotta
find this thing
and I'll get you out.
We'll get you topside.
It'll all be good. Okay?
It ain't here,
brother.
Fucking-- Fucking
useless shit!
Hey.
Hey, prop me up.
I command you. Now!
Hey. Hey, I got you.
I got you, bro.
Come here. Come here.
[Nevins groaning]
[gasping]
Fuck. Oh, fuck.
Give me the AK.
[groaning]
[panting]
Listen. Listen.
They're closing on in.
Your friend is dead.
Go on, get out of here.
Hey.
We don't leave men behind.
That's a command.
It's just war.
It's just war.
I'll buy you time.
It's gonna be okay.
[groans]
[exclaims, panting]
Clear.
Okay. Mera, Boyd, I need you
to cover our exits.
Oh, here we go.
Here we go.
[Ackerman] It's a--
It's not gonna be papers.
It's-- It's like a ledger.
It's bound. Like a book.
Mera, exits.
Yes, sir.
Here we go. Hold that.
That's a map.
[Ackerman] You see this?
[Gates] You found something?
[Ackerman] It's a map.
[Gates] Okay. Okay.
[Ackerman] I'm trying
to find our camp.
[Gates] Write something down.
[Boyd gasps]
[Ackerman]
Boyd! Boyd, that door.
[Ackerman] See these?
[Gates] Oh, shit.
[Gates]
I got you some tape.
[screams]
Watch the back.
Okay. Okay. Let's go.
Let's get what
we're looking for, right?
It's not here, man.
How do you know that?
Because...
you saw how many guys
came after it at camp.
They wouldn't leave it
unguarded. All right?
And those shots we just heard,
that's our team.
We gotta find them.
Let's go. Get up.
Come on.
Okay.
[humming]
[footsteps approaching]
[body thuds]
These fuckers need to come out
and start fighting like men.
New objective.
We take the fight to them,
put an end to this bullshit.
We're in and out
in under an hour.
When hour's up, anything
in that tunnel is dead.
Come on.
[dog panting]
It's better for the dog
if your boys are downwind.
Copy.
[dog whimpers]
What is it?
Bunker.
Where?
I don't know.
I gotta flank wide.
How do you know?
It's that nasty fermented
fish sauce they fucking eat.
Dog's not the only one
who can smell.
You slacking on me, boy?
Huh?
No.
[dog whimpers]
[Wills]
All right, let's go.
Slowly.
Lights.
All right, we're clear.
Shit.
Oh, fuck.
Look at the size
of these things.
You could feed
a whole regiment.
[Boyd] How many soldiers
you think are down here?
[Ackerman]
That doesn't matter.
We're at a dead end.
We gotta keep moving.
You know where we are?
Yeah.
Then why are we
at a dead end?
Because it's a maze.
You find your way through
by eliminating dead ends.
Stop.
[panting]
Nevins?
[Nevins] Ack?
Come here. Nevins.
Oh, shit. You're hurt?
Fuck.
[Gates]
Where's Gledhill?
They're all fucking dead.
Gledhill's dead?
Yeah.
Cole?
It's his blood.
[Gates] No.
[Mera] Cole is gone?
We're fucked. He was our best
chance of getting out of here.
Tighten up.
What happened?
I-- I don't--
I don't fucking know, man.
We-- We found a room.
I mean, everything fucking
just went to shit, man.
We-- We fucking found this room
and there was nothing in it.
We searched
the whole fucking thing and I--
I just couldn't find shit, man.
It's all right.
And I, uh--
I crawled back here,
I got bit by spiders and shit.
Fuck, man. Fuck. Fuck.
This place is fucked, man.
We're all gonna
fucking die!
[Ackerman]
We're not gonna die.
[Nevins] Yeah?
Do you know the exits?
Yeah? Then which fucking way?
[Ackerman] Yes.
[Gates] He doesn't know
what he's doing.
Yes, I do.
I know where we are
and I know how to
get out of here.
Bullshit. That map
tells you the same exit
that we already came,
the same exit
we all already know.
You are lost.
We are about
a klick away from camp.
So, we're due
for another exit.
Now, I told Mera
I would get him out of here.
That's what I'm gonna do.
But I need your help.
Please, man.
We've been, uh... yelling and--
and they can probably hear us.
So ca-- can we move? Please?
Let's go.
He's fucking lost, man.
Hey, Gates for corporal, 1966.
[Ackerman] Double the space
between you.
This is tighter.
[inhales sharply]
[panting]
Mera?
I got daylight.
Okay.
You think
you can cover me?
Yeah. One second.
You got me?
Yeah, I got you.
Okay.
[breathing heavily]
[soldier speaking Vietnamese]
[gunshots]
[Miller] Friendly?
Yeah.
[Miller] Who is it?
It's Ackerman!
I've got a wounded man!
Am I clear to come out?
Hold your fire!
[Ackerman]
They shot Mera!
Ackerman!
Yeah?
All clear. Come out.
Guys, send Mera up!
Send him up. We're good.
[Mera groaning]
Oh, fuck!
Come on, Mera. Hey.
Come on, man.
Come on, man.
I got you, buddy.
No, no.
I got you.
Okay, I won't touch it.
Here. I got you.
Come on. Come on.
Come on,
come on, come on.
Lay down.
Lay down right here.
[screams]
[Miller] Where's he hit?
[Ackerman]
Mera? Where'd they
get you, buddy?
Huh?
Where'd they get you?
My shoulder.
Shoulder.
His shoulder.
I can feel it
in all my body.
Okay. All right.
Please!
It's okay.
You're gonna be all right.
[Mera panting]
[Miller]
Ackerman, come here.
[Ackerman] Yeah? Okay.
[Gates] It's all right.
It's all right, it's all right.
Your boy's been shot
in his extremities.
No organs or arteries damaged.
He ain't gonna die.
But his body
is trying to panic
and go into shock.
If that happens,
his life's in danger.
What he needs right now
is people around him
who aren't panicking,
who are firm and calm.
You're his leader.
What do you think
you should do?
Yes, sir.
[Gates] You're all right.
You're all right.
Hey, uh, hey, Mera.
[Mera groaning]
Hey, can you do me
a big favor?
Can you hold this for me?
Hey, so I just spoke
to the colonel.
You know what he said?
Huh?
Look at me. He said
you're gonna be fine.
Huh? So, you're gonna
be fine, right? Yeah?
Okay.
Okay, do me a favor.
Breathe like you're fine.
All right?
I'm going to be fine.
Yeah, breathe.
[Miller] Okay, you three
take him back to the camp
and report his status
to Captain Mora.
Just you and me, cowboy.
[Wills] Copy that.
[Miller]
You got the documents?
Yeah. Yeah.
[Miller]
Wills, take a look.
[Wills] Can I see them?
[Ackerman]
You want one, sir?
Here you go.
What we got?
[Wills]
These ain't them.
Fucking shit.
We missing someone?
I'm sorry.
[Miller] Cowboy,
why don't you take a minute.
Take ten steps away,
turn around.
You are ordered to breathe.
You are ordered to be alone.
Go on now.
[Mera continues groaning]
I'm sorry
about your boys.
Pretty hot down there, huh?
Heavy contact
with the enemy, sir.
We're two KIA
and now one wounded.
It twisted and turned.
It's a very extensive system
down there, sir.
You're just a klick away
from forward camp.
Yeah, that's roughly
my estimate.
Let me take a look.
Yes, sir.
You was just
about counting steps?
Been trying to.
Is it accurate?
I hope so.
Gates, Boyd.
I need you two to make me
a copy of this map.
And, Gates, I want it
detailed as this one is.
You got it.
No problem.
I know you will.
All right.
So, you want
the good news
or the bad news?
How about the bad news?
The Mets lost.
And you gotta
go back inside.
You did good, Ackerman.
You did real good.
Yes, sir.
Get some chow.
Clear.
Clear.
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
Hey, hey.
[Crawford] Fuck.
Hold your fire.
[Crawford]
Friendlies?
Yeah.
Yeah, there's
four of us in here.
Hey, you're, uh--
you're Crawford, right?
Yeah.
You're "Hack," right?
Ackerman. "Ack."
How many of you are there?
There's three of us.
You find the binder?
No. Did you?
Would I ask if I had?
No.
What's with the arsenal?
Oh, we found
their weapons storage.
About 50 meters down there,
turn right.
Go grab yourself something.
I think we're good.
Suit yourself.
There's some good shit in there.
Check this baby out.
Need a light?
Hey, stop.
It's not
a fucking joke, man.
Where are the rest of you?
You lost?
There were three casualties.
One wounded.
Is what it is. Hmm?
Come on.
Let's check this out,
see what we can find.
Aren't you
supposed to be topside,
covering the exits?
Let's go, big man.
Recon down left,
see what you find.
[Ackerman] Yeah.
Ditch diggers,
you're going right.
You and me are gonna
hold this junction, chief.
This ain't up for
discussion, kiddos.
[fingers snap]
It's okay.
Just be careful.
How you feeling,
chief?
I'm great.
Too bad
about those casualties.
Yes, it is.
Hell of a thing
sending all you engineers
into this shit.
Yeah.
Why you think
they put this whole mission
on your shoulders?
I don't know.
You would have to ask
Captain Mora.
Well, they want you
to find this thing.
But what else
is your objective?
To map the tunnels.
[Crawford chuckles]
That's a mission, huh?
Draw maps?
[laughing]
"What did you do
in the war, Daddy?"
"Well, son, I drew maps."
[laughing]
Wow, you got us figured out.
Eh.
Wanna know my guess?
Sure.
Bait.
Send you down,
hoping they'll go topside.
How's that sit with you?
Hmm?
Hmm? Bait.
Mmm.
Less than an hour
of mapmaking left.
Nothing that way.
Just a water well
and a dead end.
But no enemy contact.
My team on my six.
Ackerman, you and your boys
hold this junction.
[yells]
Turn your lights off.
[gasping]
[groaning]
[metal clanks]
Contact.
Hold your fire.
Hold your fire.
Hey, what are you guys
waiting for?
No, no! Leave them be!
Hey, what the fuck
do you care?
He's barely alive.
Yeah, well,
then it's a mercy kill.
Hey, you leave them.
There's no honor in killing
sick and wounded.
Honor?
These guys sharpened stakes,
hid them in the ground,
and Gledhill died on them, man!
I'm sorry that you weren't there
to watch him bleed out!
Were you guys there for that?
[Gates]
Relax.
Relax?
Relax? Is that
the honorable thing to do?
I'm not trying
to take away
from what you saw.
But this is war, right?
It's what you signed up for!
[both shouting]
Hey! Hey! Hey!
I didn't grab you!
Don't grab me!
None of us were there!
That's my fault!
It's my fault, okay?
And if you think it's right
to kill these people,
then you should do it.
But I am ordering you
not to!
It's your choice.
Captain Mora
ordered us down here, right?
Yes.
Well, then it's his call!
And he doesn't give a damn
about us or anybody's life!
Well, Mora
ain't here, is he?
Ack's giving orders.
Hey, weren't you the one
that said stick close to Mora?
Don't listen to Ack, because
Ack was gonna get us killed.
Yeah, you know what?
Topside, that's the right call--
you follow the vets.
But it's just us down here.
And like I said, you choose to
follow my orders or you won't.
Do you want to do this,
Daniel?
Do you want to
kill these people?
We're moving out.
We're moving out.
Go ahead.
[groaning]
Fat fuck.
[grunts]
[gun clicks, gunshot]
What the fuck was that?
That was Crawford.
Hey, what's the point
of the map, man?
I mean, this is fucking chaos.
Do you know the way?
I'm just saying.
That map's only good for
the next person you give it to.
So we don't keep
going down the same tunnels
we done been down.
Can you quit your bitching?
[rustling]
What the fuck is that?
[coughing]
[high-pitched ringing]
[screaming]
[groaning]
What was that?
[screaming continues]
[screaming stops]
[Gates] Nevins?
Nevins?
Nevins, let's go.
[groaning]
Come on, baby.
Come on, Nevins. Come on.
[coughing]
I'm not leaving him.
We're not leaving him.
We have to.
No.
You're hurt.
We don't leave men behind.
We don't leave men
behind.
Ack, we either take Gates
or we drag Nevins's corpse.
We can't do both.
Come on. Come on.
I'm gonna get you
out of here.
[Ackerman]
We're leaving him.
No.
We gotta leave him.
Come on, baby.
Get you out of here.
We gotta leave him.
No, we're not
leaving him!
Gates.
We gotta leave him.
Gates, please!
No!
Please!
No!
Please, man, please.
[Gates shouts, groans]
Okay.
Move.
Grab my fucking arm.
Go right. Right.
Sit. Sit.
[groans]
[gasps]
I can't hear anything!
[panting]
Hey, that, uh--
that grenade
came from up top, right?
The ceiling
had a hole in it.
Okay.
So, they're
ventilation shafts.
That means
multiple layers.
'Cause the smoke from here
has to be fed up
and out somehow.
How big is this
fucking place?
Hey, Gates.
We'll find a ventilation shaft
big enough to put you in,
get you topside.
What about the binder?
Do you give a shit?
Hell, no.
I'm not losing you guys.
Come on.
[groans]
[Ackerman]
Good? Let's go.
Oh, shit.
Shit, I think
this is a dead end.
[Gates] We can't go
no further down.
We gotta make a stand.
He's right.
We fight our way out.
[gunshot]
Fuck!
[shouting]
No!
[grunting]
[gunshot]
Gates.
Hey! Hey, hey, hey.
You all right, Gates?
Boyd? You doing good.
Don't listen to Nevins.
He's an idiot.
Ack's a good leader. Okay?
Just tell Gle--
Tell Gledhill to do--
do what he says.
[shouts]
Boyd!
Yeah?
He's gone.
It's... It's just us.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
We got... [panting]
We got 30 minutes.
What happens after that?
I think Mora only cares
about the mission succeeding.
Nothing else matters.
We... We don't matter.
Is the mission over?
I don't know.
What do you wanna do?
They died
for that binder.
If we finish,
it's for them.
Twenty minutes.
Okay?
[sniffles]
We don't find it,
we get out of here.
Okay.
But for them.
Not for Mora.
Okay.
Okay, for them.
Where do we go now?
Up.
Okay.
Ready? [grunts]
Boyd. Come on.
[grunts]
[Ackerman] Hold on.
[Ackerman grunts]
Okay. We need
to go that way.
You take point.
You sure?
Yeah, you're faster anyway.
I'll follow you.
[grunts]
Okay.
[both panting]
You know where we are?
Yeah, hold on.
I think so.
Right or straight?
Um, go straight.
Okay.
Storage.
Rockets. And grenades.
[Ackerman]
Good job.
Okay.
[whirring]
[metal clanking]
[whirring]
[clanking stops]
[whirring stops]
[metal clanking]
[whirring]
[chuckles softly]
Jackpot!
What?
The binder?
Yeah.
Okay.
Okay.
Um, let me think. Okay.
You turn around.
We're gonna go back
through this way. All right?
Okay.
Come on.
[Ackerman] Hey, Boyd.
I'm, uh-- I think--
[Boyd] Yeah?
I'm out.
You got any other clips?
[Boyd] No. I'm out too.
[Ackerman] Okay.
We gotta search the boxes
when we get in there.
[grunts]
Okay. Quiet.
If you, uh--
If we can't find something,
we gotta grab an AK.
Okay.
[soldiers speaking
in Vietnamese]
[speaking Vietnamese]
[grunting]
Boyd!
Boyd, get the binder!
Get the binder!
The binder! [yells]
Fuck. Hey. Hey, hey.
[groans]
Get up, get up, get up.
Hey, sit down.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
The binder? The binder?
Have you seen the binder?
The bin-- The binder!
Have you seen it?
Yes? Where? Here?
Fuck! Here? Here? Here?
Here?
Here? Here?
Here? Here?
Here.
Fuck. Okay.
Fuck!
Fuck!
Fuck!
Open. Please, please.
[gasps, chuckles]
Ah, fuck!
[grunting, groaning]
Come on!
[speaking Vietnamese]
This way. Come on.
[panting]
Boyd!
Boyd, go that way!
Go! That way!
Back! Back!
Back! Come on!
[explosion]
[coughing]
Hey, hey, come on.
Please, please,
I need a minute.
My fucking leg.
We don't have a minute.
Okay, you just go
and I'll catch up with you.
What? Hey!
We don't leave men behind.
I left fucking
everyone behind, Boyd!
They're all fucking dead
because of me!
No. Those deaths
aren't on you.
These are Captain Mora's orders,
from someone above him,
from someone above him,
from someone above him!
You always gave a shit.
Ack!
It's nearby.
I was here last.
I lost my--
my torch.
There we go. Okay.
[speaking Vietnamese]
[knife slashes]
[grunting, groaning]
[screaming]
Ack.
Get up!
Go!
[explosions in distance]
[explosion]
Time's up.
They're still down there.
Is that a problem?
We needed a fail-safe.
Crawford took care of it.
I've never known you
to turn a blind eye.
Or fail.
No. But not like this.
Victory is measured
in body count.
How do you count them
when they're buried?
One by one.
Hell of a war.
Link up with Miller
at the LZ.
Confirm mission success.
Yeah.
It's just a war.
[both coughing]
[loud rumbling]
[Ackerman groans]
Come on, man.
It's just right there.
[coughing, groaning]
[gasping]
[Wills]
Identify yourself!
We're friendlies!
Hold fire!
Who is it?
It's Boyd and Ackerman.
He's wounded.
We need help.
Come on.
You gotta stop.
Get your man up.
Can you see
my hand?
[gasping, coughing]
Do you have the package?
[Boyd] There. There.
How'd you find us?
His dogs.
Cowboy, we good?
Yes, sir.
[gasps, coughs]
You won the hunt, son.
Let's try this again.
We've got it.
Destroy it.
Direct orders.
Put the engineer on.
General Drummond.
This is Ackerman.
You did good, kid.
It seemed like it was...
do or die after two hours, sir.
We can't let that information
get into enemy hands.
If you're overrun before
that Huey arrives,
we're gonna have to start
this whole shit show over.
Failure didn't seem like
an option, sir.
It's your first time
in combat, son?
[Ackerman] Yes.
Well... this is your one time
to speak to a general freely.
What are you doing?
That is a general
on the line.
You will talk,
and you will accept.
I'm gonna let you go now.
Understand?
I have to confirm
that they're burning the binder.
My friends died
bringing that binder back.
Is there no... Is there
no record of what they did here?
Listen to me, son.
I didn't write this,
and I'm not the first to say it,
but a warrior's record
is not written in books
or decorated with medals.
You and your men...
you're part of
something deeper now.
Your blood is in the earth.
They live forever.
Out.
Let it go.
That's not what
you take from here.