John Terry credited as playing...
Lt. Lockhart
- Lt. Lockhart: [reading] ... we have a new directive from M.A.F. on this. In the future, in place of "search and destroy," substitute the phrase "sweep and clear." Got it?
- Private Joker: Got it. Very catchy.
- Lt. Lockhart: Charlie has hit every major military target in Vietnam, and hit 'em hard. In Saigon, the United States Embassy has been overrun by suicide squads. Khe Sahn is standing by to be overrun. We also have reports that a division of N.V.A. has occupied all of the city of Hue south of the Perfume River. In strategic terms, Charlie's cut the country in half... the civilian press are about to wet their pants and we've heard even Cronkite's going to say the war is now unwinnable. In other words, it's a huge shit sandwich, and we're all gonna have to take a bite.
- Private Joker: Sir... does this mean that Ann-Margret's not coming?
- Lt. Lockhart: Joker... I want you to get straight up to Phu Bai. Captain January will need all his people.
- Private Joker: Yes, sir.
- Lt. Lockhart: And Joker, you will take off that damn button. How's it gonna look if you get killed wearing a peace symbol?
- Private Rafterman: Sir? Permission to go with Joker?
- Lt. Lockhart: Permission granted.
- Private Rafterman: Thank you, sir.
- Private Joker: Sir, permission not to take Rafterman with me?
- Lt. Lockhart: You still here? Vanish, Joker, most ricky-tick, and take Rafterman with you. You're responsible for him.
- Lt. Lockhart: All right, Ann-Margret and entourage are due here next week. I want someone to be there on the airfield and stick with her for a couple of days. Uh, Rafterman, you take it.
- Rafterman: Aye-aye, sir.
- Lt. Lockhart: And get me some good low-angle stuff. Don't make it too obvious, but I want to see fur - and early morning dew.
- Lt. Lockhart: Joker, maybe you'd like our guys to read the paper and feel bad? In case you didn't know it, this is not a particularly popular war, and it's our job to report the news that the why-are-we-here civilian newsmen ignore.
- Lt. Lockhart: Joker, I've told you we run two basic stories here. Grunts who give half their pay to buy gooks toothbrushes and deodorants - Winning Of Hearts and Minds. Okay? And combat action which result in a kill - Winning the War. I don't ask much of you people but I do expect you to adhere to my editorial policy.
- Lt. Lockhart: You must have seen blood trails, drag marks?
- Private Joker: It was raining, sir.
- Lt. Lockhart: Well that's why God passed the law of probability. Re-write it and give it a happy ending. One killed. Make it a sapper. Or an officer. Which?
- Private Joker: Whichever you say.
- Lt. Lockhart: Grunts like reading about dead officers.
- Private Joker: Okay - an officer. How about a general?
- Lt. Lockhart: The Tet holiday's like the Fourth of July, Christmas and New Year all rolled into one. Every zipperhead in Nam, North and South, will be banging gongs, barking at the moon and visiting his dead relatives.
- Lt. Lockhart: I've had my ass in the grass. Can't say I liked it much. Lots of bugs and too dangerous. As it happens, my present duties keep me where I belong. In the rear with the gear.