Mousa This is Afghanistan... Alexander the Great try to conquer this country... then Genghis Khan, then the British. Now Russia. But Afghan people fight hard, they never be defeated. Ancient enemy make prayer about these people... you wish to hear?
Rambo Um-hum.
Mousa Very good. It says, "May God deliver us from the venom of the Cobra, teeth of the tiger, and the vengeance of the Afghan." Understand what this means?
Rambo That you guys don't take any shit?
Mousa Yes... something like this.
John Rambo So where you coming from?
Washington. Good to see you again!
Rambo Yeah, you too.
Do you want to tell me about it?
Rambo About what?
About yesterday, I've seen you stick fighting in a warehouse in Bangkok.
Rambo You saw that?
Yeah. And today I find you, working in a monastery.
Rambo They let me live here and I help out, fixing things.
Rambo I just do that for their lack of money.
Yeah...I saw you give it to the monks.
Rambo You see a lot. [referring to Trautman's company] Colonel, who are they?
They're part of the reason I'm here. This is Robert Griggs, he's a field officer of our local embassy.
Robert Griggs John Rambo? Pleasure. Well, you're sure not easy to find!
Rambo Why are you keepin' track?
Griggs Well, like the Colonel says, good men are hard to find! John, I'd like you to take a look at some of these photos. I don't know how much you know about Afghanistan. Most people can't even find it on a map! But over two million civilians, mostly peasants farmers and their families, have been systematically slaughtered by invading Russian armies. Every new weapon, including chemical warfare, has been used to eliminate these people. And they've been very successful, at many levels. I assume that you're out of touch with the current states of the war. But after nine years of fighting, the Afghan Forces are now getting their Stinger missiles, and are now beginning to hold their own against the Air-Strikes. Except for one region. Apparently, the Soviet Commander there is exceptionally brutal, as those photos indicate. And he's managed to string along all aid from the outside. So we want to investigate the problem firsthand.
Rambo And what that's got to do with me?
They've asked me to go in.
Rambo You're not gonna do it?
Yes. And I want you to come with me, John.
Rambo I put in my time.
Griggs What does that mean?
Rambo [to Griggs]
It means my war is over. [walks off]
Griggs [to Trautman]
I thought you said he was this great soldier. Well, Colonel...looks like we've got a long walk down those stairs.
Don't be tough on him, he's just following orders.
[Trautman goes to meet up Rambo for a private conversation]
This mission's important, John.
Rambo Do you really think we can make a difference?
If I didn't, I wouldn't be going.
Rambo It didn't before.
That was another time. Come with me, John.
Rambo I don't know what you think about this place, but I like it. I like bein' here, I like workin' here. I like belong into something.
You do belong into something. Not this. When you're gonna come full circle?
Rambo What are you talkin' about?
You said that your war is over. I think the one out there is, but not the one inside you. I know the reasons you're here, John. But it doesn't work that way. You may try, but you can't get away from what you really are.
Rambo And what is it I am?
A full-blooded combat soldier.
Rambo Not any more. I don't want it.
That's too bad, 'cause you're stuck with it. Let me tell you a story, John. There was a sculptor and he found a stone, a special stone. He dragged it home and he worked on it for months, until he finally finished. When he was ready, he showed it to his friends, and they said he had created a great statue. The sculptor said he hadn't created anything. The statue was always there. He just cleared away the small pieces. We didn't make you this fighting machine. We just chipped away the rough edges. Your own is gonna be tearing away with yourself, until you come to terms with what you are! Until you come full circle.
Rambo I guess I'm not ready yet.
Well, I got to move. Promise me you'll look for me when you're back in the States.
Rambo I promise. [as Trautman starts to walk off] Colonel! I'm sorry. But it's gotta end for me sometime.
[beat, nods]
I understand.
Robert Griggs [Robert Griggs visits the monastery to meet Rambo to report on the failed operation]
Rambo! Something went wrong.
John Rambo What happened?
Griggs Soviets intercepted the team, just over the border. Among we've gathered, Trautman and the rest of his party have been taken to the regional commandment post.
Rambo And what are you doing about it?
Griggs I can't do anything about it. I'm sorry... I just thought you should know. [starts to leave]
Rambo [beat]
What about me?
Griggs What about you?
Rambo Can you get me in?
Griggs You're not serious.
Rambo [sternly]
Oh yeah, I'm serious.
Griggs It can't be done officially.
Rambo Then make it unofficial.
Griggs If it can be done... I want you to know upfront that if you're captured, or any of this leaks, we'll deny any participation, or even knowledge of your existence.
Rambo I'm used to it.
Mousa Ghani [Rambo visits a local weapons post to seek out one of the Afghan Rebel Forces]
I am Mousa Ghani. What is it you want?
John Rambo I was sent by Griggs.
Mousa You do not look like men Griggs sent before. You not look like you are with military.
Rambo I'm not.
Mousa What you are? A mercenary?
Rambo No.
Mousa You're not military, you're not mercenary, what are you? [grins] Lost tourist?
Rambo [walks closer to Mousa, unsettling him]
...I'm no tourist.
