CE CPT Elisabeth Campbell
[Chief Warrant Officer 4 Paul Brenner is undercover as First Sergeant Frank White on an unnnamed U.S. Army base, speaking with a pronounced Southern accent. He is dealing with a flat tire on the side of the road when a Humvee pulls over nearby.]
Out of gas?
Yeah. That's why I'm looking at a flat tire with a pair of pliers in my hand instead of a lug wrench... [trails off as he turns around, seeing Campbell is an officer]
CC CPT Campbell
Uh-oh, she's a captain.
CC CPT Campbell
This looks like the work of ten chimpanzees.
Well, you just missed the other nine. They got bored and went for a beer.
CC CPT Campbell
Well, I have a lug wrench. Can I try?
If you don't, I'll drag you over.
CC CPT Campbell
Get the spare.
Yes, ma'am. [watches Campbell change the tire, visibly impressed] Golly-dang. If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, I might just have to marry you, Captain.
CC CPT Campbell
You'll have to take this in. Just a temp tire. Spare won't be good for more than 30 miles or so.
If a fella got courageous and wanted to send you - a thank you notion or a basket of fruit, where might one find you?
CC CPT Campbell
Psychological Operations. I teach there.
CC CPT Campbell
Mostly we **** with people's minds.
CC CPT Campbell
[In a flashback; General Campbell arrives out on a deserted firing range area late at night, in response to a phone call directing him out there; the General's daughter is naked, pinned to the ground with tent stakes]
Here's the answer to your damn ultimatum. Do you see what they did to me? Do you see? Don't turn away. Come closer. See what they put me through!
What the **** do you hope to accomplish?!
CC CPT Campbell
There's a rope around my neck. Strangle me or cover it up again.
Have you gone completely out of your mind?
CC CPT Campbel
It happened. It happened! I want to hear you say it happened!
I don't give a damn what happened to you seven years ago.
CC CPT Campbell
Whatever hurts you makes me stronger.
[about to leave]
You can't hurt me anymore. We're even.
CC CPT Campbell
[calling after him]
That's fine with me. You never helped me! Daddy, please don't go. Come back. Please. Please ... Daddy ...
COL Fowler Mr. Brenner; I understand that you have special arrest powers.
COL Fowler But I'm going to ask that before you arrest anyone, you notify me.
COL Fowler We don't like our personnel being arrested by outside people, without our knowing about it. There are three ways of doing things: the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way. See that in doing it your way, Mr. Brenner, you don't forget about the Army way.
Is Colonel Fowler coming?
No, he's taking some much-needed R&R. He's a good man, George. A good man and a good soldier. Sometimes the lines get a little blurred, but when push comes to shove, he'll do what needs to be done.
LB LTG Brenner
Why, say Moore called him, of course. And that I was never out there. He'll do that for me, even if it means his career. Like a good soldier. Nothing is gained by my involvement. A letter of commendation will be inserted into your file, in recognition of your exemplary work on this case. Remember when you asked you if you were a cop or a soldier?
Well, you're a soldier, Paul. And a damn fine one. [Salutes Brenner and starts to walk away.]
[Follows Campbell]
General Campbell! You're wrong, sir. I'm a rotten soldier.
You really don't get it, do you? The only mind that Elisabeth wanted to **** with was yours. And you still don't get it.
Seven years ago in that hospital room, when you told her to just forget about it, you killed her.
No. He just put her out of her misery. I once asked Moore what was worse than rape. Now I know; betrayal.
I loved Elisabeth. But there were larger issues to consider.
CB CW4 Brennner
You traded her trust for your career. You made a deal, didn't you? You kept silent and they gave you another star.
You watch your mouth, Brenner.
I'm gonna say that in my report. That you went out there, talked to her, and left her there to die.
[Laughs coldly]
You don't have the balls.
Oh, you're wrong, sir. Because that's just about all I have left.
You do that, and you can kiss your career goodbye.
I'm gonna have you court-martialed, General! Under Article 32 for conspiracy to conceal a crime!
[The doors to the hangar open, and a bagpipe begins to play as CPT Cambell's casket is carried out of the plane that has landed. General Campbell and Brenner put on their dress uniform hats and turn to watch, standing at attention.]
When this all started I told you we would find the son of a bitch, sir. I never expected that the son of a bitch would be you.
First, I want you to know that you have my full cooperation, and the cooperation of everyone on this base.
You understand the time element?
The time element? No, sir.
COL Fowler After thirty-six hours the FBI will send in a task force to investigate. But we'd prefer to keep this an Army matter. The General can keep a lid on it through tomorrow.
Once the FBI moves in, the media will be all over this base. And my daughter's... Captain Campbell's death... they'll turn it into a goddamn circus.
We'll do everything we can, sir.
I'm sure you will. Look, let me be blunt. You're going to have to decide on this one, Paul- are you a soldier, or a policeman?
Sir, I met your daughter.
Well, it was just a coincidence, but she helped me change a tire.
That she could do. She could do almost anything. Her mother was the same way. Fix a tire. Bake a hell of a key lime pie. Speak five languages. Extraordinary woman. Two extraordinary women... goddamn waste.
CS CW2 Sunhill
Again, our deepest sympathies, sir. And if there's anything else we can do for you at this time...
Just... just find the son of a bitch.
[Brenner is questioning Colonel Robert Moore, Captain Elisabeth Campbell's commander at Psychological Operations]
Did you work together on a daily basis?
Did you, uh, play together?
CM COL Moore
What a truly excellent question. You see, here at Psy Ops, that's one of the things that we teach. Threatening quietly. Think of the echoes inherent in those four simple words: "Did you play together?" Did you go out with her? Did you **** her? Did you love her? If you did, did you love her so much that you murdered her?
I meant did you play golf, or tennis, or checkers, or something.
CM COL Moore
No, you didn't.
CM COL Moore
So now we both know we're smart guys. Do you think I'm involved in this?
One way or another, yes, I do.
CM COL Moore
Then wouldn't it behoove me to retain the services of an attorney? I know a good one.
Two problems there. First, the obvious: there are no good ones. Second, you're not a civilian, Colonel. You're in the Army. You have no right to an attorney, you have no right to remain silent. And if you don't cooperate I may have to put you in jail, and that would make me feel bad.
CM COL Moore
You see what you're doing here?
CM COL Moore
Of course, that. But how? How? You're trying to make me like you. And you know what? It's working; I do. But you see what I'm doing now? I'm trying to make you like me, too.
[Chief Warrant Officer Paul Brenner is undercover as First Sergeant Frank White, pretending to oversee a black-market arms deal from his armory on an Army base. He speaks with a pronounced Southern accent.]
There you go. Genuine and made in the U.S.A. All you gotta do is give me and Dalbert $100,000 each and you'll see them guns come Sunday.
M Man
You'll get your money. Same time I get the guns.
Now, you listen to me, funny boy. How do I know you ain't one o'them- them Army cops?
M Man
Hey, I'm a freedom fighter.
Well! Check it out, Dalbert! We got ourselves Che-****-Guevera there. Woop-dee-doo, a freedom fighter! Well, where's your kooky red hat, boy? Ain't been a freedom fighter worth a damn ain't got him a kooky red hat.
M Man
[Visibly angered]
You listen to me, stupid.
Dalbert, I think it's one o' them Freudian-
[The 'freedom fighter' approaches Brenner; as he does, Brenner instantly grabs him, spins him around, and pins a knife to his back.]
Hey, Dalbert, Dalbert!
SD SSG Dalbert Elkins
What?
How many freedom fighters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
SE SSG Elkins
I don't know!
M Man
Hey, come on, man. Relax, huh?
Well, you don't sound like no criminal investigator to me.
[Releases the man, slapping him on the back]
Well, you're all right, pal! I'm sorry about that, but we get a little jumpy around here before an exchange. So we'll see you Sunday, then!
M Man
[Quietly furious]
I'll be there.
Yeah, you be there! [After the man leaves, he turns to Dalbert] Aw, unclench your ass-cheeks, Dalbert! The scary part is over!
[At a ceremonial dinner]
Thank you all. As you know, my official retirement isn't until next week. But this here, now, tonight, with you- is my real retirement. Because you and I have known fear together, shed blood together, battled pain and suffering, and all of their foot soldiers. We know that there is no glamour in a sudden death, and that no one ever wins a war. And it is that knowledge that will bind us together forever. That, and a love for this country that no bayonet can pierce, no bullet shatter. [Raises a glass] To you.
