When Trumpets Fade

[last lines]

[Pvt. Sanderson is carrying David on his back, mortally wounded after the final battle, mirroring the movie's opening scene]

Pvt. David Manning:
I'm not gonna make it. I'm losing too much blood.

Warren Sanderson:
You're gonna make it. You're gonna owe me big, lieutenant.

Pvt. David Manning:
I'm gonna owe you sh*t.

Warren Sanderson:
Less than a mile, in less than a mile.

Pvt. David Manning:
It's too far.

Warren Sanderson:
It's not too far.

[David lets out a sad, disheartened laugh]

Warren Sanderson:
What's so funny?

Pvt. David Manning:
...You.

Warren Sanderson:
You mean what?

Pvt. David Manning:
Forget it.

Warren Sanderson:
I'm taking you home, Dave.

Pvt. David Manning:
Sure.

Warren Sanderson:
You're going home.

[David loses consciousness as the two go off into the distance]

Pvt. David Manning:
Remember: nobody dies.

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
You smile at me again, and I'll kick your teeth out!

Bobby:
[about his wound] It hurts... Don't pick me up anymore.

Pvt. David Manning:
Listen Bob, if I leave you, ain't nobody gonna find you. You're gonna die out here.

Bobby:
Just sit here for a bit. [after a pause] I AM dying.

Pvt. David Manning:
[evasively] We can't sit here.

Pvt. David Manning:
[has just shot one of his own troops in order to hide their position] Go! Go, Sanderson!

Lonnie:
[the new troops are lounging around] Hey dude, give me that cigarette!

Lonnie:
[pulls his pants down and places the cigarette near his rear end] See, only ass holes smoke!

Pvt. David Manning:
Listen, I'm getting the hell out of here. I've done my share, and I'm getting out!

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
Congratulations Private, you're a sergeant now.

Pvt. David Manning:
I am absolutely the wrong man!

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
You've managed to stay alive for a week: that's something the rest of your platoon couldn't do. Call me crazy, but from where I'm standing, that qualifies you for the job!

Medic Chamberlain:
What's your name?

Warren Sanderson:
Warren.

Medic Chamberlain:
Welcome to the death factory, Warren.

Pvt. David Manning:
[carrying his wounded comrade] You're gonna make it! You can do this!

Pvt. David Manning:
If I can help you in any way without endangering my own life, I won't hesitate. But I'm not taking a bullet for anybody!

Lt. Lukas:
That's not good enough.

Pvt. David Manning:
That's as good as it gets.

Pvt. David Manning:
I'm through with this. I'm getting out as soon as I can.

Pvt. David Manning:
[Hands Capt. Zenek the dog tags of Lt. Lukas' platoon] You wanted to know the status of his platoon?

Lieutenant Colonel:
Just a minute soldier, you're treading dangerously close to a court-martial!

Pvt. David Manning:
That gets me out of here, right... sir?

Lieutenant Colonel:
You're Manning aren't you?

Pvt. David Manning:
What do you care?

Pvt. David Manning:
Baxter!

Baxter:
No! No f***ing way, no f***ing way, no f***ing way!

Pvt. David Manning:
Get up there, Baxter!

Pvt. David Manning:
Goddamn you, stick with it, Bobby! F***ing dig in, Bobby! Come on, whose tough as nails?

Bobby:
Me, sir.

Pvt. David Manning:
That's right, you're tough. Tough as what?

Bobby:
Nails.

Pvt. David Manning:
That's right, now you say it.

Bobby:
Tough as nails!

Pvt. David Manning:
You're goddamn right, you're tough as nails!

[first lines]

Narrator, news footage:
August 1944. The outcome of the Second World War appeared to be no longer in doubt. Paris was liberated. After four years of fighting, victory against the Germans seemed assured. Since the Normandy landings, American and Allied forces had battled their way across northern Europe, and pushed the German enemy to within its own homeland.

Lt. Lukas:
Captain Pritchett sir? You have a Private Manning here.

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
Alright [Looks at Manning] You Manning?

Pvt. David Manning:
I think so.

Lt. Lukas:
Give him a straight answer Private.

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
Relax! [Turns back to Manning] You can stop looking for your platoon. They didn't make it.

Pvt. David Manning:
What?

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
Looks like you were the only one who made it out. Your lucky day.

Pvt. David Manning:
[Sarcastic] Lucky day?

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
You're alive.

Pvt. David Manning:
Am I?

Sgt. Talbot:
You know it's amazing really when you stop to think about it. Whole platoon fingers its way into the Factory and one guy makes it out to talk about it. You got twenty-five or thirty guys dead or dying and you walk out without a scratch on you.

Pvt. David Manning:
It's my lucky day.

Sgt. Talbot:
Yeah lucky. That's one way of looking at it.

Pvt. David Manning:
But not the only way, right Talbot?

Sgt. Talbot:
There isn't anything sacred with you, is there Manning?

Pvt. David Manning:
Warm dry feet.

Sgt. Talbot:
How'd you manage to get out Manning? Did you get cut off from the rest of your platoon? Trees get pretty thick out there? Did you get lost? Come on, what happened?

Pvt. David Manning:
You got something in that vat of yours, just spill it.

Sgt. Talbot:
Alright. Look it's like this. See, your routine isn't as seamless as you think it is. Always hanging back a little bit, never volunteering. Doing just enough to keep out of trouble, but never enough to really help out.

Pvt. David Manning:
[Sarcastic] I'm kind of an emotional guy.

Sgt. Talbot:
[Grabs Manning's shoulder] Get one thing f***ing straight, man. There is no hang-back now. You got a glob of greenies looking at you to keep 'em alive and if I find out that one of them answers the last muster because of your yellow streak, I will personally put a bullet in your brain.

Medic Chamberlain:
[Instructing new recruit] You don't think about it, you don't hesitate, you just do it, you understand? Otherwise, you're gonna go home to your mama in a box, alright?

Pvt. David Manning:
What is your name?

Doug Despin:
Doug... Despin.

Pvt. David Manning:
Well, Doug Despin, this is the second time I'm telling you to shut up.

Lieutenant Colonel:
[Through the walkie-talkie] You hold that bridge Captain! That's an order!

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
I've already lost thirty men!

Lieutenant Colonel:
This isn't a debate, Pritchett! You hold that goddamn bridge!

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
[Screams] This is suicide!

Medic Chamberlain:
[Running forward in the smoke] Manning!

Pvt. David Manning:
[Sees a German soldier aiming his gun at Chamberlain] No!

Lieutenant Colonel:
Where's Lt. Lukas?

Lieutenant Colonel:
How you doing, Roy?

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
I'm fine sir. I can stay.

Lieutenant Colonel:
I think you need a rest.

Capt. Roy Pritchett:
Everybody here needs a rest, sir.

Lieutenant Colonel:
Captain, this conversation was over the first time we had it and it is just as over now.

Sgt. Talbot:
[Points gun at Manning's head] You executed Baxter!

Pvt. David Manning:
You're damn right I did! He ran, you'd have done the same thing!

Medic Chamberlain:
Put the gun down, Talbot!

Sgt. Talbot:
Shut up!

Pvt. David Manning:
Go ahead. We're all dead anyway.

Sgt. Talbot:
Where's your squad?

Pvt. David Manning:
[Points at Sanderson] Over there.

Pvt. David Manning:
[Is being promoted against his wishes] I was a private three days ago

Captain Zenek:
This isn't up for discussion, Lieutenant. You've got no choice in this. And as it is... neither do I.

Warren Sanderson:
[about Manning] If he hadn't shot Baxter, we all would've run. And we'd still be taking fire from those 88's. [Looks at Manning] I'll go with you.

Sgt. Talbot:
[Stares at the carnage] I'll be a son of a b*tch!

Medic Chamberlain:
[Has overheard Manning's selfish deal] Tell ya what Dave. You find yourself out there in the middle of a fire fight, with your guts hanging out, screaming for a medic, if I can help you without endangering my own life, I won't hesitate.