Lucky Strike (2026) – Transcript

Lucky Strike
Year: 2026
Directed by: Rod Davis Lurie
Written by: Marc Frydman Rod Davis Lurie
Starring: Scott Eastwood (Captain John Castle), Colin Hanks (Colonel Neale), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Mrs. Caldwell), Henry Hughes (Dauntless), Taylor John Smith (Sergeant Bellingham), Kwame Patterson (Maren), Jonathan Yunger (Cash), Jariko Denman (Top), Scott Alda Coffey (Averil), Stephanie Rodriguez (Rebecca Castle), Alfie Stewart (Miller), Jake Lowe (Murphy), Alexandra Vale (Rebecca Castle), Ori Pfeffer (Capt. Joachim), Boyan Arsov (Kemp), Atanas Srebrev (General Lauer), Lorne MacFadyen (Barrett), Caroline Piette (Juliette), Hazel Rogers (Nicole), Elijah Loyd (Child Hunter)
Release date: June 26, 2026

Plot: In December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge of World War II, an American soldier, John Castle, is the wounded lone survivor when his entire military unit is killed by a Nazi ambush.

With a field radio nicknamed “Lassie” and a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes, Castle travels across miles of enemy territory evading Panzer squads and SS patrols to reach safety.

* * *

Transcript

Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[RUMBLING]

[EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]

Goddamn it, Evans! Be careful.

Sorry, Top. It’s these damn roads.

It’s fucking pea soup out there.

Didn’t you, um, tell me you was a professional truck driver in Chicago?

Detroit, First Sergeant, and yeah.

Well, then why don’t you quit your yapping and let’s get these resupplies to Schoenberg and we’d be done?

Yeah, Top.

Done would be real nice.

Everybody’s saying we could be home by Christmas.

What the fuck are you talking about, Evans?

These bastards just broke through our front line like an ax through butter, and they planned in the worst weather so we couldn’t get air support.

They ain’t stupid.

And it’s dangerous thinking it’s over.

It ain’t goddamn over, and I don’t know if it’ll ever be over.

Just keep driving, Evans.

We gotta be there by 0800.

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS]

God!

Fuck! [GROANS]

[ENGINE WHIRS]

We gotta get outta here.

Let me check on it.

[ENGINE WHIRS]

[ENGINE WHIRS]

Stop, stop, stop!

Evans, it’s not gonna work.

Fuck. [DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

We’re stuck, guys.

Lancaster, help me with this winch.

SOLDIER: What’s going on, First Sergeant.

LANCASTER: On it, Top.

[VEHICLE APPROACHING]

SOLDIER: What’s that, Sarge? Don’t move.

[ENGINE WHIRS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

SS SOLDIER [IN GERMAN]: Be careful.

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[GUNS COCK]

Fire!

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[US SOLDIER GROANS]

[GUNSHOT BLASTS]

SS SOLDIER [IN GERMAN]: Go. Let’s finish this.

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[IN GERMAN] What was the name of the Black American in Berlin?

SS SOLDIER 2: Jesse Owens.

They all look the same.

But they don’t all run the same.

[SS SOLDIERS LAUGH]

We’re 10 hours late. Let’s go.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

SS SOLDIER: Let’s go. I hate Lucky Strikes.

Shut your mouth. Faster! Yes, sir.

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

Let Schmidt lie there. We don’t have time for him.

Yes, sir.

SS SOLDIER [IN GERMAN]: I said get in!

[ENGINE WHIRS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

CASTLE: Mrs. Caldwell?

Yes.

Hi. My name’s John Castle.

I’m a colonel in the United States Army.

I got your name and address from Galvin.

Yes, what can I do for you?

Well, I’m here to talk about your pension plan, ma’am.

Do you work with Galvin?

I– I do.

But, ma’am, I promise this– This won’t take long.

99th Infantry.

99th Division. 324th Engineers.

Hmm.

Battle of the Bulge.

That’s correct. Hmm.

Yeah, my son…

My son was there too, 761st.

CASTLE: It’s quite a unit, I heard.

They, uh… Colonel Castle, you said you worked for Galvin?

With them, not for them.

Well, my lawyer says that I’m not supposed to be talking to anybody that works with Galvin.

Is that coffee that I smell, ma’am?

Yeah, I just…

I just put on some. Would you like some?

Like my life depends on it.

I can’t believe Galvin Industries has given away my whereabouts like that.

Well… there was a lot of persuasion and a little sweet talk.

I assure you, it didn’t come easy, ma’am.

They’re a very serious corporation.

Very, very serious people over there.

Oh, I know that for sure.

They’re very serious… about not paying me my pension.

Thank you.

That’s why I’m here, ma’am. Is that right?

Yes, ma’am.

Well, I have been threatening them for years.

CASTLE: Mm.

They know that I don’t have the money to take them to court.

Are you some kind of army lawyer?

No, no.

But I know some of the folks over at Galvin, and I do know that they hold you in high regard.

[SCOFFS] Me? CASTLE: MM-HMM.

Really?

Top of the line employee.

Yeah, that’s what they said, top of the line employee, their words right there on your file.

Not that I need anyone to tell me though.

I know.

You know? Hmm.

Firsthand.

You don’t mind, do you?

Old habit.

Help yourself.

CASTLE: Cheers.

[RADIO PLAYING “I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS”]

TOP: Hey, you two. K-rat’s on the truck, let’s go.

Miller, what the fuck are you doing here?

RAMIREZ: Hey, you heard him, move that shit out.

MILLER: All right, I’ll– Hurry the fuck up.

Hey, Ram, I might need your help with this.

Top. Sir.

How much time do we have? RAMIREZ: Get this shit out.

Like 30 minutes, sir.

RAMIREZ: Anybody seen Miller?

Cash. TOP: Cash!

Cash! CASH: Sir.

Get over here. RAMIREZ: Anybody seen Miller?

Yes, sir. We’re gonna get you treated.

You’re going back with the colonel, and then probably on a steamer home with that million-dollar wound.

Congratulations.

To hell with that, sir. We’re nowhere near done here.

Well, you are.

This is a horrible time to leave, sir.

The company needs me. Yeah.

Well, I guess we’ll just have to win the war without you then.

Probably faster, actually. Yeah, Cash.

You’re the unit egg ball anyway. [CHUCKLES]

Remind me who you are again, green boy.

And you burn the Lucky Strike logo first.

Yeah, yeah, all right.

Sir.

Captain Castle, everybody knows that you qualified for deferment.

You got a point to make?

I do.

I mean, here you are, Captain.

Mm… Right, truth, justice, and the American way.

Exactly, we’re both here to do our part.

Right.

You lost three fingers, Cash, so you’re going to the hospital, and the goddamn colonel’s driver is gonna take you there.

Feel honored.

Yes, sir. Good morning, sir.

Let’s get inside.

It’s so cold, I think my nuts fell off two miles back.

Yeah, you’re telling me.

Uh… What’s Charlie Company’s status?

We have full sections and individual engineers mining and blowing up bridges where they can.

I also got some guys on the front line.

Other than that, we’re pretty much ready to roll.

All right, well, we got Able and Baker already out there with their M1s, so I’m counting on Charlie Company.

Okay, guys, get the maps out.

TOP: Hey, Ram, grab our maps.

Moving, Top. [EXPLOSION BOOMS]

Here you are, sir. RAMIREZ: If there’s one thing the Krauts are good at, it’s making noise.

Yeah.

All right, Aventi, turn Lassie off.

Yes, sir.

[MUSIC STOPS]

All right, no time for small talk.

This road here between Lanzerath and Elsenborn, now that’s about what, five miles from here would you say?

Seems right, sir.

I know it, sir. Yeah, it’s a little under that maybe.

Okay, well, we need you to block that road this morning.

All right? German counteroffensive has been going on for three days, and it is massive.

Hitler’s probably jacking off because he’s running the same game plan in the Ardennes that he ran four years ago, and it’s working, again.

But we’re not gonna let the Fuhrer have the glory, all right?

We’re gonna stop these bastards down and make sure they get nowhere near our fuel depots.

There’s one more thing.

It’s the 1st SS Panzer-Division coming down that road.

RAMIREZ: Damn.

Used to be Hitler’s bodyguards.

The worst of the worst.

You boys have never fought anything like them, all right?

No one in the 99th has, I can promise you that.

Right, now, these guys, they are not…

They’re not soldiers, all right?

They’re fucking murderers.

Just two days ago, some soldiers from the 285th surrendered, threw down their weapons, put their arms up, and the SS lined them up and mowed ’em down right there on the spot just like that.

Jesus.

And that has been happening nonstop.

So when it comes to the SS, there are no rules.

There is no international law.

You get the chance, you take these fuckers out.

Am I understood? PLATOON: Yes, sir.

And these monsters, they actually brand themselves with a tattoo up under their arms.

Imagine giving yourself the mark of the devil.

We’ll get this road cut off, sir.

I will supervise it personally.

How much time do you need?

Thirty minutes to get us there, sir, and then I’d say about two hours to set it up, give or take.

I’m taking.

Okay.

[EXPLOSION BOOMS] Okay, all right.

Fantastic.

Let’s get it done, boys. Let’s see what you can do.

TOP: Yes, sir.

Cash, where are you?

Sir.

All right, grab your gear. You’re coming with me.

I’m taking you to the field hospital.

Thank you, sir, but I think I–

Cash, no buts.

Get your ass in the fucking jeep like the CO told you to.

God’s sake, all right?

You can’t even hold your own dick to take a piss.

Grab your shit, let’s go, all right?

Take this order!

Come on, go! CASH: Yes, sir.

TOP: All right, boys, we need about a hundred blocks of…

All right, by the time you guys are done, the battalion will have cleared out.

So we’ll keep the frequencies open so you’ll know where to rejoin.

You got it, sir. All right, and remember, our sons of bitches are better than their sons of bitches.

Right. RAMIREZ: Aventi, make sure we have extra batteries for Lassie.

Good luck, sir.

TOP: All right, boys, we gotta load up that deuce and a half.

Let’s go, fast, fast, fast. [EXPLOSION BOOMS]

Murph. [ENGINE CRANKS]

MURPHY: Sir. How much TNT we have left?

We’ve got about a hundred pounds.

But we got plenty.

All right, load it up. Yes, sir.

[ENGINE WHIRS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS] [EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[SOLDIERS CHATTERING]

TOP: Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.

Come on, come on, come on. MILLER: Coming.

RAMIREZ: Miller, get that stuff on the truck right now.

Get it up here. TOP: Come on, come on, come on.

We’re good to go, sir. Fucking cold.

Let’s go.

Look out for them mines.

[CHUCKLES]

[ENGINE WHIRS] [HAND BANGS ON TRUCK]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

Dauntless 06, Romeo. Dauntless 06.

This is Derrick 06, Romeo. Do you…?

Hey, Miller, you and me are on mines.

I’m gonna fuse ’em. You check ’em and pack ’em.

Aventi, how’s that radio check?

I’m working on it.

[TRUCK RUMBLES]

Murph! Murphy!

I’m sorry, sir.

You do realize we have 400 pounds of explosives back there, right, Murph?

At least those guys will go before we do, sir.

Good to know you’re always looking out for the guys.

Call the captain.

If it’s not up and ready, he’s gonna kill me.

Hey, Top, you ever actually set one of these things up before?

Somehow you fumble fucks make it here calling yourselves engineers.

MILLER: I don’t even know what these types of mines are made of.

Sulfuric acid, and nitric acid, and dimethyline.

It has a molar mass of 287, Top.

Sir, you mind if I ask you a personal question?

Sure, why not?

I heard you and Cash talking.

Is it true, you were an agricultural engineer back home?

Yeah.

So you were like fixing irrigation systems and all that?

Yeah, that’s right.

So you qualified for an exemption.

Yes, I did.

So how did your wife feel with you signing up?

Okay, Murph, this interview is over.

Just keep your eyes on the road, okay?

Sorry, sir.

RADIO OPERATOR: Derrick 06, roger.

This is Dauntless 06, roger. I have you loud and clear.

How do you read me, over?

AVENTI: Loud and clear, over.

RADIO OPERATOR: Roger, Derrick 06.

Good luck out there. No mercy.

Stop these assholes cold. 06 out.

We got ’em, guys, we got ’em.

You got a photo of your wife, sir?

I bet she’s a looker.

I’m not showing you or anyone else a photo of my wife.

We all know how that goes.

[GROANS]

We can’t be there already, can we?

[ENGINE STALLS] Oh, shit.

What? Not now, man.

It’s the damn fuel pump again.

Fuck. Come on, baby, come on.

Fuck!

You didn’t handle this in the rear?

MURPHY: The engine’s flooded again, sir.

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS] How long?

It’ll need like an hour.

An hour? I’m sorry, sir, I’m sorry.

Fuck.

All right, it’s okay, it’s okay.

We’re on foot. Let’s go.

MURPHY: We’re getting out, sir? Yep.

TOP: Shut the fuck up. I’ll find out.

Top. TOP: Sir.

Flooded.

Fuck, flooded again. All right.

Look’s like this trip’s over.

All right, sir. Let’s go, boys, let’s go.

MILLER: Reminiscing about the beaches of Puerto Rico, Ram?

I’m from the Upper West side, Miller.

I’ll take a New York winter over this shit any day.

MURPHY: You guys think that’s bad?

Imagine how those poor bastards felt in Stalingrad.

Yeah, it was so cold there, the guys’ bowels were exploding when they tried to take a dump.

AVENTI: Hey, Cap. Yeah, what is it?

If I die from taking a shit, don’t put that in the letter to my mom.

You got a deal, AV. TOP: Oh, don’t worry, Aventi.

I’ll be writing your letter.

It’s gonna be a real beaut.

[EXPLOSION BOOMS]

All right, guys, let’s move it on out.

CASTLE: Aventi. AVENTI: Yeah.

CASTLE: No shame in passing Lassie off.

AVENTI: I’m good, sir.

I think this is it, sir, yeah. CASTLE: Okay.

Let’s get it started with these six trees right here.

Got it.

[EXPLOSION BOOMS] Jesus Christ, what the fuck?

88s, boys, brought out the big eggs.

Yeah, and a goddamn Macy’s parade of Panzer’s coming down this road, so let’s get it blocked.

[EXPLOSION BOOMS] Oh, shit!

Let’s get it done quickly.

TOP: All right, Ram, that tree. RAMIREZ: Already on it, Top.

TOP: Murph, start unpacking this shit.

Aventi, Miller, that tree.

TOP: Let’s go. MILLER: Got it.

RAMIREZ: Come on boys. TOP: Miller, Aventi, here.

RAMIREZ: Top, I need those wires run here now.

Murph, you almost done with those mines?

[SOLDIERS CHATTER]

TOP: On it.

Okay, Murph, this one’s gonna be 18.

MURPHY: Yes, sir.

And how are you guys doing on that abatis?

Almost done, sir. Actually, sir, it’s abatie.

RAMIREZ: Actually it’s abatee, dumbass.

It’s French.

Hey, Murph, bring that det cord.

Yeah, I got it.

[GUNSHOT BLASTS]

RAMIREZ: Fuck, fuck! Snipers!

Murph! MILLER: What the fuck?

RAMIREZ: Murphy! TOP: Stay back.

Murph! Murph!

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

Murph!

Stay back. Fuck, fuck!

RAMIREZ: Get down! Get down, Aventi!

AVENTI: Where’s he hit at? We can’t leave him here!

Miller, get down!

Damn it!

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

Fuck!

I see ’em, sir, 9 o’clock, 300 meters.

Yeah, I see ’em, sir. It sounds like an MG34.

Okay, we’re gonna have to take this bastard out.

[GUNSHOTS BLAST] Ramirez!

Yes, sir. You’re on me.

RAMIREZ: Ready when you are, sir.

Hey, sir, let me go. No, no.

I need you to finish this.

We’ll let you know when we’re clear.

Ready? RAMIREZ: Moving.

All right, go! TOP: Got you covered, sir.

AVENTI: We’ve got you guys. RAMIREZ: Move, move, move!

[GUNSHOTS BLAST] [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[GUNSHOTS CONTINUE]

[WHISPERS] There’s two.

[GUNSHOTS CONTINUE]

[WHISPERS] Yeah, got it.

You good, Cap?

Yeah, I’m good.

[GUNSHOTS CONTINUE]

[GROANING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

Ram.

[MOUTHING] On three.

[MOUTHING] One. Two.

SS SOLDIER: Grenade! [EXPLOSION BANGS]

[RAMIREZ PANTING]

That was fucking beautiful, sir.

All clear, all clear!

Just make sure these Kraut fucks are dead.

[RIFLE CLICKS] Whoa, easy on the ammo.

Just get in there.

I don’t care what they say about you, sir.

You’re all right.

CASTLE: Yeah, just check ’em out.

RAMIREZ: Kraut piece of shit.

[GERMAN SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

RAMIREZ: What?

[SPEAKING GERMAN] Shut the fuck up.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

What the fuck is he saying, sir?

He wants you to finish him.

[RAMIREZ SNORTS, SPITS]

I’ll oblige.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

What the fuck is this?

Grenade!

RAMIREZ: Sir, get back! No!

[EXPLOSION BANGS]

No, no!

Fuck!

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[GROANS]

[VEHICLE APPROACHING]

Oh, shit.

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS]

[HEART BEATING]

Come on, get out of there.

CASTLE: Come on, come on. Hide, hide, guys.

Shit.

Come on.

Oh, come on.

Come on, guys.

Okay, okay, okay.

[HEART BEATING INTENSIFIES]

[OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES]

Come on, come on.

Shit!

Oh, fuck.

[HEART BEATING INTENSIFIES]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

Son of a bitch.

[CASTLE SCREAMS]

[GROANING]

[GROANING]

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]

[DISTANT GUNSHOTS BLAST] [DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[CASTLE GRUNTS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

Ah!

[GROANING]

Shit.

Ah!

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

Come on.

Come on.

[ENGINE STALLS]

Come on.

Come on, please, please.

Come on.

[SS SOLDIERS CHATTERING IN GERMAN]

RADIO OPERATOR: Derrick 06, Derrick 06.

Are you still with us?

Derrick 06, over.

[RADIO STOPS]

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[DOOR OPENS]

[SOLDIER GROANS]

[BOTH GROANING]

[BOTH CONTINUE GROANING]

[BOTH CONTINUE GROANING]

[CASTLE PANTING]

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

Dauntless 06.

This is Derrick 06, over.

Any Dauntless?

Dauntless, this is Derrick 06, over.

RADIO OPERATOR: Derrick 06, this is Dauntless 06, roger.

Send status, over.

Roger, Dauntless.

Mission accomplished.

Current situation, five KIA.

I’m WIA.

Vehicle’s hard broke.

I need some help, over.

RADIO OPERATOR: Roger, Derrick, understood.

Send position, over. 06 Derrick, grid as follows.

Able, fox, two, seven, five, eight, niner, two, over.

RADIO OPERATOR: There’s a hell of a lot of heat between you and us.

You need to get to rally point Elsenborn on your own.

No. Copy, Dauntless, wait.

Wait one.

06, roger, this is Derrick.

It’s– That’s too big of a hike.

I’m walking but confirm there’s no closer stragglers I can move to, over.

RADIO OPERATOR: I don’t know who we have down there but we can’t deal with this now.

We’re under intense artillery fire.

Um…

Dauntless 06.

I say again, we have five KIA.

RADIO OPERATOR: I get it, I’m sorry.

Come up on comms top of every hour and use SOI encoding in the future.

Keep your radio battery alive.

It’s your lifeline now.

Out.

[MUTTERING]

[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYS]

[GROANING]

[WOLF HOWLS]

[CHICKEN CLUCKS]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[CHICKEN CLUCKS]

[GASPING]

[WIND BLOWING OUTSIDE]

I’m gonna make it.

I’m gonna make it.

Come on.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[MAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

American. American, American.

American?

America, please.

[MAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

[BOTH GRUNTING]

CASTLE: Okay.

[MAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

CASTLE: Okay.

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

[MAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

WOMAN: Hmm.

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

[MAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

[MAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

Uh-huh. Merci.

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

Okay. [SPEAKING FRENCH]

Mm-hm. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah?

[CASTLE GROANS]

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH] Yeah.

Okay.

Oh.

Yeah.

CASTLE: Come on.

[CASTLE SIGHS]

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

I don’t– I don’t understand.

Rabbit.

[SPEAKING FRENCH] Food.

Rabbit. Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, I’m hungry, yeah.

Okay. Yeah.

[GIRL SPEAKING FRENCH]

[WOMAN & GIRL SPEAKING FRENCH]

Oh.

Merci.

[EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[WOMAN GASPS] [DOG BARKS]

CASTLE: Yeah.

I know, it’s scary, right? Yeah.

It’s scary, yeah.

This… House. Mm-hmm.

On the map.

Ah.

Uh… Ici.

Here, Asi? -Ici.

Esi? -Ici.

-Ici. -Oui.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

All right, come on, Lassie.

Come on, girl. [RADIO STATIC HISSES]

Dauntless 06, over.

Dauntless–

Any station on this net, over.

[VEHICLES APPROACHING]

Mama.

Mama!

Dauntless 06.

Dauntless 06, this is Derrick 06, over.

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH] CASTLE: Goddamn it.

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

CASTLE: Ah, yeah.

[VEHICLE ENGINES WHIRRING]

[SS SOLDIER SHOUTS IN GERMAN]

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

[SS SOLDIER SHOUTS IN GERMAN]

[GLASS SHATTERS] [DOG BARKS]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

Fuel depot.

Fuel. [SPEAKING FRENCH]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[DOG BARKS]

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH] SS SOLDIER: Ja.

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING] [SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

Fuel depot!

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

SS SOLDIER: Amerikanisch fuel depot.

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH] Fuel.

GIRL: Mama?

[WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH]

WOMAN: No.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SOBBING] No.

No. [GIRL SCREAMS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[GIRL CRYING]

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

Come on, we gotta go, we gotta go.

Get down there. You’ll be okay.

[GIRL SOBS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

CASTLE: Oh, shit.

[VEHICLE ENGINES WHIRRING]

CASTLE: No.

[SS SOLDIERS YELLING] I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

Oh, shit.

[SS SOLDIERS SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST] [SS SOLDIER GROANS]

Come on, come on.

Let’s get out of this.

Okay.

Ah, shit.

[ENGINE WHIRS]

[SS SOLDIERS YELLING] [GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[BULLETS RICOCHETING]

Ah.

Shit.

Come on.

Come on, John.

Keep digging.

Come on, come on.

Come on.

Fuck.

Come on, come on.

Shit! Come on.

Come on down right.

Come on, come on.

Come on, you damn dog.

Turn back, come on.

Come on.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]

[CASTLE SCREAMS]

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[EARS RINGING, GROANS]

[GROANS]

[GROANS]

[GRUNTS]

Come on.

Oh, man.

I am not dying in this Kraut machine!

Piece of shit.

Come on, come on.

Come on.

Oh, God.

Come on, God.

If you’re not helping the Yankees, again, please, please get me out of this…

[GRUMBLES]

Oh, ah.

Thank you.

[GROANS]

[PANTING] [DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[DOG WHIMPERS]

Oh.

Ah!

Fuckers.

Hello?

Ah!

Hey.

Hi. Hey.

Hey.

Are you okay?

That’s a stupid question.

Of course you’re not okay.

Yeah.

Look, uh…

The Americans are coming, okay?

They’ll, uh…

They’ll help you.

Okay, okay.

Come on, John. Come on, John.

[PISTOL CLICKS]

I’m sorry.

I should have come out faster.

I’m sorry.

You keep that for protection, okay?

And, uh, don’t tell anybody about that or they’ll court-martial me.

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[GROANS]

[SOBBING]

Come on, John.

Come on.

Come on, come on.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[ENGINES WHIR]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

CASTLE: Dauntless, my current position is Oboe, William, Peter, Oboe, William, Roger, Sugar.

RADIO OPERATOR: Okay, looks like you still have a big trek up here.

-Maybe… [RADIO CRACKLES]

The Krauts are all over. I say… [RADIO CRACKLES]

We cannot get to you.

You made that clear last time.

Uh…

I got the SS crawling all over me.

Please advise.

RADIO OPERATOR: Look, we’re trying to hold our fucking position here, Derrick.

All hell’s coming down.

Stay in the same vector. I’m out.

Goddamn it.

Ah!

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS]

[WIND WHIRRING]

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[ENGINE WHIRS] [VEHICLE APPROACHING]

[VEHICLE SLOWS, STOPS]

[SS SOLDIERS SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SS SOLDIERS SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SS SOLDIER GROANS, LAUGHS]

[SS SOLDIERS SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[KNIFE SLIDES]

[SS SOLDIERS SPEAKING GERMAN]

[ENGINE REVS]

[SIGHS]

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[KETTLE WHISTLES]

What the hell?

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

[SS SOLDIER GRUNTS]

[CASTLE GRUNTS]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SS SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[FLOOR CREAKING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[SS SOLDIER SCREAMS]

[SS SOLDIER GROANING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[EXPLOSION BANGS]

[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYS]

CASTLE: Any station?

Any station on this net?

This is Derrick 06.

Any Dauntless, over?

RADIO OPERATOR: Dauntless, how you holding up?

CASTLE: Dauntless, I– I steered clear of Bellingen.

I think, uh, I’m back on track, traveling north by northwest to rally point.

RADIO OPERATOR: They’re surrounding our southern side, which means you’re behind enemy lines.

They’re pounding us.

Find shelter.

CASTLE: No, negative, Dauntless.

There is no shelter.

I need to keep moving.

I’ll take my chances to get to you.

RADIO OPERATOR: Just be careful.

1st SS is gonna unload everything they have.

Good luck.

[CASTLE GROANS]

Oh, my God.

Oh.

Jesus.

[PIERCE COUGHS]

Oh, hey.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey, hey.

Are you okay?

Oh, man.

Other than being shot twice.

All right, Sergeant.

Yeah.

Hey, what’s your name?

Maren.

Maren, that’s your first name?

[EXPLOSION BOOMS] Pierce.

Pierce. Pierce.

The truck work?

Yeah, but it’s stuck. It’s stuck.

Okay. [PIERCE COUGHS]

Okay, okay.

Look, I’m gonna…

I’m gonna get this thing unstuck, okay?

Any water? Water?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, sorry.

Yeah, of course.

Here.

Come on, come on.

Come on, here.

Come on, come on.

Yeah, there you go.

Oh, shit.

Okay.

Oh, man, I need a rope or something to get this out of here.

Shit.

You gotta use the winch. Winch.

Oh, there’s a winch, good.

Okay, good call.

Okay, I’m gonna get this thing.

[PIERCE COUGHS]

Come on, man, you need to talk to me, okay?

Pierce, you talk to me, okay?

Fuck.

So where are you from?

PIERCE: Bridgeport.

Ah, Connecticut. [GROANS]

[GRUNTS] Never been.

I hear it’s…

I hear it’s nice there.

Is that true?

PIERCE: Yeah, I think you’d like it.

Pierce. Pierce.

Come on. [PIERCE COUGHS]

Come on, pal, stay with me.

How long you been out here, huh?

Long time.

All right, long time.

All right, all right.

Tell me, are you ready to go home?

[EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[GROANS]

[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC FADES]

[HORSE CHUFFS]

[EXPLOSION BOOMS]

CASTLE [SCREAMS]: Shit! [HORSE WHINNIES]

[EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[EXPLOSIONS BOOM]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

Shit!

[CASTLE SCREAMS]

Stop, please.

Stop.

Please, God.

[CASTLE SCREAMS]

Help, please.

Take me home.

Hunter.

[CASTLE COUGHS]

[CASTLE GROANS]

[CHAIN RATTLING]

[CHAIN RATTLING]

[DOG BARKS]

BELLINGHAM: Hey, stop! Fido quiet, hey!

Quiet, hey, American.

Who are you?

Captain Castle, 324th engineers.

Sergeant Bellingham, sir, 14th–

CASTLE: Agh! Ooh, ooh.

I got you, I got you.

Here, let me help you with your radio.

CASTLE: AH, yeah, yeah.

You okay?

Looks like you took some shrapnel.

Yeah.

CASTLE: Geez, what happened here?

BELLINGHAM: Our willy’s…

Willy’s got mortared, I think.

I don’t really remember what happened.

What was that hell show anyway?

Oh, I don’t know.

Yeah.

That looks pretty severe, sir. We should–

We should get you sitting down.

I got you, sir.

So… where were you headed before this?

I need to get to the 99th Division command and get a package to the commander.

General Lauer?

Yes, sir. Yeah.

Okay.

I don’t know their position now, do you?

No, I don’t.

I’m only in contact with battalion, not division.

You have a priority frequency for him?

If you do, we could– We could try him.

It’s above my pay grade.

Right.

We’ll try the 324th then.

That’d be great.

I have to courier these reports on them.

Yeah. Yeah, you said that.

Progress of the Third Army.

What, Patton’s not allowing scrambled lines between armies now?

[SIGHS]

I can’t see anything.

Can you turn that on– On for me?

BELLINGHAM: Let’s see if it even works.

Patton, huh?

Great general.

Huge pain in the ass.

BELLINGHAM: Yes.

Thanks.

What about you, sir?

What are you doing out here? You, uh…

You get separated from your unit or something like that?

Yeah. [DOG PANTING]

Yeah, something like that.

Are you hungry, sir?

It’s tuna loaf. CASTLE: Oh, thanks.

[BELLINGHAM MUTTERS TO DOG]

Oh, good boy.

Good boy.

Nice trophy.

You got a Luger.

I’ve been trying to find one of those since I got here.

CASTLE: Oh, yeah, yeah.

I just gotta find that station.

CASTLE: Oh, come on, old girl. Come on, please.

I got nothing.

BELLINGHAM: I think the battery’s still alive.

Do you mind, sir?

Yeah, she’s pretty beat up.

You a– You a radio guy?

Let me see.

Lassie, huh?

Yeah, yeah, man.

Our radio operator named her that.

Seemed fitting how reliable she’s been till now.

Yeah, I’m more of a Rin Tin Tin man myself.

[RADIO HISSES STATIC]

[CHUCKLES] She may be reliable after all.

How about that? Yeah.

Oh, good work, knew it. She’s receiving.

Good work. Yeah.

Okay.

Oh, shit, sir. You’re bleeding out.

CASTLE: Yeah, I know.

That’s not good. Mm-mm.

CASTLE: Let’s just focus on getting out– Out of here.

Yeah, you have a point guy at the 99th?

No, no, no, no.

I was supposed to report to HQ directly.

I have the sealed positions maps with me, but I don’t…

I don’t know shit besides that.

Oh, any station?

Any station on this net?

Any station.

This is Derrick 06, over.

[RADIO HISSING, TUNING]

Yeah.

Nobody’s home.

[EXPLOSION BOOMS]

Krauts.

They love to fight at night. Yeah, they can’t…

They can’t wait to…

To die for their fatherland.

BELLINGHAM: That’s true.

I’ll tell you why.

[COUGHS]

Because they don’t have much to live for.

Yeah, sorry.

Yeah, thank you, sir.

Like, when you say they don’t have much to live for, I mean, from their point of view, I don’t know, Hitler’s given them a hell of an economy.

He gave them the Olympics.

And if I’m being honest, every country has its… undesirables.

I mean, look at what we did to the Indians.

Look, don’t get me wrong, okay? Hitler’s a– A monster.

He’s a vile beast.

But when we don’t understand them and we don’t understand what drives them, then we underestimate them too.

Mm-hmm.

RADIO OPERATOR: Derrick 06, Derrick 06, do you copy, over?

Copy, copy, copy. This is Derrick 06 actual.

RADIO OPERATOR: Derrick, we’ve secured Elsenborn.

We’re trying to release some assets to get to you.

Any idea where you are at all, over?

Yeah, hold on, hold on.

CASTLE: Okay.

Now, listen, I think we’re on the south side of…

Hittenberg maybe.

RADIO OPERATOR: Roger. Did you say we?

Are you with somebody, over?

Yeah. Yeah, I got a…

What is it–? What is it?

Bellingham. Belling…

I got a Sergeant Bellingham here who’s assigned to deliver maps to the 99th HQ.

You got a position for him?

RADIO OPERATOR: Okay, let me check on that, over.

CASTLE: Copy, this way. Copy.

So where are you from, huh?

Milwaukee.

Does that make you a Cubs or a White Sox guy?

No, no, no, I’m not a, not a big baseball guy.

So football then?

Definitely, yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, that’s my game.

Naval-Army game is like a national holiday in my household.

We gather around the radio and listen to the game every year.

How long you been in? God, I lost track of that.

They had me down in Africa driving tanks… until someone spilled the beans and told ’em I was a engineer back home.

Now I’m up here blowing up bridges.

You got a girl back home?

[LAUGHS] No.

No, I got my dear John two weeks into basic.

Yeah.

How about you?

[CHUCKLES] Kids?

Yeah.

Yeah, one, my son, Hunter.

Looks like you’ll be seeing him soon.

Yeah, that’s the plan.

My wife lost her brother at Midway, so I better get home.

Oh, you will, sir.

We’re gonna get you back.

I’m gonna…

I’m gonna take care of business.

I’ll be back.

[CASTLE COUGHS]

[DOG YAWNS]

[DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS]

[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYS]

LUCKY STRIKE

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS]

Uh…

Uh… Who’d you say you take again in the Naval-Army?

BELLINGHAM: What?

RADIO OPERATOR: Derrick 06, do you copy?

Yeah.

Yeah, copy, copy.

RADIO OPERATOR: Okay, prepare to write down.

Yeah, go ahead.

RADIO OPERATOR: SOI, Baker, Charlie, x-ray, yoke, love, able, tare, uncle.

Over.

CASTLE: Yeah.

Copy.

[OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES]

CASTLE: Hey, do me a favor.

Tell the guys…

Tell the guys to step on it, okay?

I’m in bad shape.

RADIO OPERATOR: Godspeed to you, Captain Castle.

Out.

Godspeed.

CASTLE: Here. Here’s the info.

That’s the position of HQ. Thank you, sir.

[CHUCKLES]

You don’t know what you’re looking at, do you?

Like I said, it’s above my pay grade.

It’s an SOI encoding.

SOI. Signal Operating Instructions.

But you wouldn’t know that.

Sir.

Please put the weapon down.

You mean my– My trophy?

Sir.

You’ve been badly injured, okay?

You’re not thinking straight. Shut up!

No one– No one taught you how to light up a Lucky the right way, did they?

Please, sir. You see, we do this so we don’t leave breadcrumbs for you assholes.

Please, sir.

Next time, think of that, fucker.

They warned us about scumbags like you, born in America, yet killing Americans.

You think because I smoke a cigarette a different way that I’m a Nazi sympathizer?

Not a sympathizer, a Nazi!

I told you I’m not SS. I’m a fucking American.

Oh, yeah, really?

Yes, sir, I’m– Show me.

Show me you don’t have a SS tattoo underneath your arm.

RADIO OPERATOR: Derrick 06, Derrick, copy, over?

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST] [DOG BARKS]

[CASTLE GROANS]

[DOG BARKS]

[CASTLE COUGHS]

Two left.

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[DOG BARKS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST] [DOG WHIMPERS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES]

[GUNSHOT BLASTS]

[GUNSHOTS BLAST]

[GUNSHOT BLASTS] [BELLINGHAM GROANS]

[CASTLE GRUNTS]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC FADES]

RADIO OPERATOR: Derrick 06, this is Dublin 06 Rider.

Over.

Derrick 06, Derrick 06, do you copy? Over.

[OVER RADIO] ♪ I’ll be home for Christmas ♪

♪ If only in my dreams ♪

[ENGINE WHIRS]

CASTLE: Where’s Lassie?

Are you okay, sir? Can you hear me?

CASTLE: Where–? Where–? Where–? Where are we?

You’re doing great, sir. We’re almost at the field hospital.

CASTLE: Where’s the radio?

Right here, sir.

NURSE: I’ll be back shortly.

Captain Castle?

Yes, sir, he’s right over there.

Good afternoon, Captain [CASTLE GROANS]

Good to have you still with us.

Sir.

At ease, son.

Relax.

I’m General Lauer.

Nice to meet you, sir.

From what we’ve been able to ascertain, you’ve really been through it.

Left a lot of dead Nazis in your wake.

And that abatis you created stopped them in their tracks and bought us some precious hours.

CASTLE: Yeah.

But that final position you ended up in–

I don’t even… remember or know what happened, really.

Those goddamn Krauts blew the hell out of that place because they were trying to create a path for themselves to Elsenborn.

It’s just your bad luck you were there.

I want you to know we’re putting you in for the Silver Star captain.

You damn well deserve it.

Oh, I…

What about the, uh…?

The soldier, the guy where you found me?

Yes, he was SS posing as an American.

He’s dead.

You got him.

And our intel tells us that they were trying to find the location of General Lauer, so you were right in shooting the bastard.

Right.

How did you know, by the way?

Oh, he, uh…

He said some wrong things.

And he didn’t burn the brand off his Luckies.

Sin number one.

Well, three cheers for shitty German training.

You look like you could use a bit more rest, so see you soon.

Sir, I– I don’t…

All my men are dead.

Yes, I know, and I’m very sorry.

Yeah, I just don’t think that I deserve any kind of medal.

Luckily, that’s not for you to decide.

Well, with all due respect, sir, I just gotta say no, thank you.

I’m an officer and keeping my men safe that…

That’s my job, and I failed that.

That’s really what you think, that your job is to keep your men alive?

Yes, sir.

Well, that’s, uh…

That’s a crock of shit, son.

Soldiers die in war.

Your job is not to keep your men alive.

Your job is to keep my mother alive.

Your job is to keep your mother alive.

Your job is to keep all our children alive.

So… with all due respect, Captain, you can take your no thanks and you can shove it up your ass.

A bit of a miracle, those things, huh?

Hmm, bit more reliable than a miracle.

Get some rest.

[ENGINE WHIRS]

[SIGHS]

SOLDIER: Get the deuce and a half ready!

CASH: Hey, sir.

CASTLE: Cash.

Good to see you, partner. CASH: Good to see you too.

CASTLE: Yeah.

I saw your nurse, sir.

I didn’t fare as well.

Yeah.

I guess rank has its privileges.

[CHUCKLING] Yeah, I guess it does.

[CASH SIGHS]

I heard the men died well, sir.

Yeah.

Yeah, that they did.

You survived.

I guess we can be grateful for that.

Not sure survival’s all it’s cracked up to be, Cash.

They’re sending me home, like you said.

Going to a hospital in Paris and on that steamer.

What about you?

Do you finally get to go home to that beautiful wife and boy of yours?

Yeah.

CASH: They’re saying there may be a lot more snow.

Yeah, it sure isn’t gonna make this fight any easier.

Both sides though, right?

I’ll see you later, sir.

Here. No, keep it.

He really said Naval-Army game?

He did.

MRS. CALDWELL: Everybody in America knows it’s the Army-Navy game.

Americans fighting for the Nazis.

Dear Jesus, I had never heard of that before.

Yeah, there were rumblings about turncoats and spies.

MRS. CALDWELL: Yeah.

But I was kind of like, you know, how unlucky do you really have to be to run into one of them?

Very unlucky.

Hmm.

But lucky enough to make it through.

Well, there was definitely luck.

But without Lassie…

Oh, you think I built…?

MRS. CALDWELL [SCOFFS]: No.

[CHUCKLES] No, no, no, no, no, no.

No.

I’ve worked on the assembly chain at Galvin, and I did build the 300s, but there’s no way of knowing for sure that I built–

Production unit number 5204, assembly line four, station seven, batch 52.

Date of issue, 11/5/1943.

And in charge that day…

Rose Caldwell.

You memorized it.

Like my children’s birthdays, ma’am.

That might have been the sturdiest radio in the war.

Hmm.

That was the goal.

Take a look at this.

[MRS. CALDWELL SIGHS]

Hmm.

Nine thousand.

Thank you, Colonel.

I have been trying to settle with these folks for years.

For years.

Nothing doing.

How did you–? Well, I just told them they should do the right thing by you, an outstanding worker… as a matter of principle.

Now that’s a load of horseshit.

Well…

I may have told them that since I’m in charge of all radio equipment purchases nationwide for the United States Army that, they should heed my request, lest I look for another supplier.

Eighty years from now… everyone will know the history of what happened in that battle.

But will they understand it?

I hope they do.

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]

Tomorrow, we’ll play, but you have to go to bed, okay?

Okay, all right.

Who loves you, pal?

HUNTER: Dad. That’s right.

Go off to bed.

All right, this time for real now.

[SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LIGHT CLICKS]

♪ Show mercy to the hero ♪

♪ A pale horse Haunts his fated road ♪

♪ Depleted heart ♪

♪ And his nerves on fire ♪

♪ And soldier on The only way he knows ♪

♪ Show mercy ♪

♪ To the hero ♪

♪ Who fights a fight He didn’t choose ♪

♪ Show mercy ♪

♪ To the hero ♪

♪ There’s nothing left But his soul ♪

♪ To lose ♪

♪ He carries The weight of survival ♪

♪ He sleeps with the ghosts Of wrong and right ♪

♪ He remembers each breath He thought was his last ♪

♪ And the empty stare Of every endless night ♪

♪ Show mercy ♪

♪ To the hero ♪

♪ Who fights a fight He didn’t choose ♪

♪ Show mercy ♪

♪ To the hero ♪

♪ There’s nothing left But his soul ♪

♪ To lose ♪

♪ They’ll give him a parade And sing his name ♪

♪ He’ll do his very best To smile and wave ♪

♪ Nobody understands The sorrow and the shame ♪

♪ Pale horse will come to see ♪

♪ Hero lives in agony ♪

♪ Pale horse will come to see ♪

♪ The hero lives in agony ♪

♪ Show mercy to the hero ♪

♪ Show mercy to the hero ♪

♪ Show mercy to the hero ♪

♪ There’s nothing left But his soul ♪

♪ To lose ♪

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC FADES]