Coming Home Quotes

Marine Recruiter: The Marine Corps builds body, mind and spirit. Thank you.

High School Class Pres.: And now, with a different perspective, we have Luke Martin, combat veteran of the Marine Corps.

Luke Martin: Sergeant, do you mind if I ask you a question?

Marine Recruiter: No, sir.

Luke Martin: Just call me Sergeant. That's what I was. Where were you stationed?

Marine Recruiter: Danang.

Luke Martin: [Luke's speech is spliced with final scene of Capt. Bob Hyde where he is at the beach] You know, you want to be a part of it, patriotic, go out and get your licks in for the U.S. of A. And when you get over there, it's a totally different situation. I mean, you grow up real quick. Because all you're seeing is, um, a lot of death. And I know some of you guys are going to look at the uniformed man and you're going to remember all the films and you're going to think about the glory of other wars and think about some vague patriotic feeling and go off and fight this turkey too. And I'm telling you it ain't like it's in the movies. That's all I want to tell you, because I didn't have a choice. When I was your age, all I got was some guy standing up like that, man, giving me a lot of bullshit, man, which I caught. I was really in good shape then, man. I was captain of the football team. And I wanted to be a war hero, man, I wanted to go out and kill for my country. And now, I'm here to tell you that I have killed for my country or whatever. And I don't feel good about it. Because there's not enough reason, man, to feel a person die in your hands or to see your best buddy get blown away. I'm here to tell you, it's a lousy thing, man. I don't see any reason for it. And there's a lot of shit that I did over there that I find fucking hard to live with. And I don't want to see people like you, man, coming back and having to face the rest of your lives with that kind of shit. It's as simple as that. I don't feel sorry for myself. I'm a lot fucking smarter now than when I went. And I'm just telling you that there's a choice to be made here.

Wounded Vet #1: Some of us, not all of us, some of us need to justify to ourselves what the f*ck we did there. So, if we come back and say what we did was a waste, what happened to us was a waste, some of us can't live with it.

Wounded Vet #2: So, they'd do it again.

Wounded Vet #1: So they say, well, they gotta keep, man, they gotta make, you know, inside of themselves, they're lyin' to themselves, continuously, saying, "What I did, was okay, because this is what I got from it, man. I have to justify being paralyzed. I have to justify killing people. So, I say it was okay." But, how many guys, though, can make the reality and say, "What I did was wrong and what all this other sh*t was wrong, man" - and still be able to live with themselves, because they're crippled for the rest of their f*ckin' life.

Capt. Bob Hyde: I've waited a long time for an opportunity like this.

Capt Hyde's Friend: You're going to make Major.

Sally Hyde: Major?

Capt. Bob Hyde: Major.

Sally Hyde: Major Mrs. Robert Hyde? I'll have to get my skirts lengthened for that one.

Capt. Bob Hyde: Start wearing girdles.

Sally Hyde: There's not enough beds. There's not enough staff. It''s really crowded and guys have to wait in line. They are just not prepared for the number of wounded guys that are being sent back.

Martha Vickery: I don't think we are really clear at what you are asking us for, Sally?

Sally Hyde: Well, it's what I said. I think we could do an article in the paper, you know, maybe using some of these photographs, interviewing some of the guys, maybe.

Officer Wife: Isn't it difficult for the men to be around young women? When I joined Weight Watchers, I didn't want any candy around the house.

Connie: I don't think that that's our function, Sally. It seems that we're more a Base gossip sheet. You know, fun and games for the fellas.

Luke Martin: Are you nervous?

Sally Hyde: [laughs] Yes.

Luke Martin: Why are you nervous? This isn't "Have a gimp over for dinner, night" is is? You're not one of those weirdos.

Capt. Bob Hyde: Why did you have to go to work in the *hospital*?

Sally Hyde: Because I wanted to.

Capt. Bob Hyde: It's the pits! You didn't have to do that. I just - don't want you to work.

Sally Hyde: [In a crowded bar in Hong Kong] Bob, let's just be alone for a few minutes.

Capt. Bob Hyde: We are alone.

Sally Hyde: There's something wrong, Bob.

Capt. Bob Hyde: It's not you - it's, it's 'em, it's f*cked up, it's all this bull sh*t about Nam, it's in my head, I can't get it out.

Sally Hyde: Well, why don't you talk to me about it? I want to know what it's like.

Capt. Bob Hyde: I don't know what it's - I don't know what it is? The TV shows what it's like. It sure as hell don't show - what it is.

Sally Hyde: You like tiger balm? It makes you feel real cool. I'll put some on your back.

Capt. Bob Hyde: Is that the way you massage the basket cases at the hospital?

Prostitute: Hi.

Luke Martin: Where's Adrian?

Prostitute: Couldn't make it. She asked me to take her place.

Luke Martin: I was kinda counting on Adrian.

Prostitute: I've been around this part of the pool before.

Luke Martin: With a gimp?

Prostitute: Yeah. A guy in Reno.

Luke Martin: I'm not a very nice person.

Sally Hyde: You are to me.

Luke Martin: Turn the light on. I want to see you.

Sally Hyde: What do I do?

Luke Martin: Everything. I want you to do everything.

Sally Hyde: Where can I touch you? Where can you - where can you feel?

Luke Martin: It's nice. I'm real sensitive, in all areas that I feel - real sensitive.

Sally Hyde: Can you feel that at all?

Luke Martin: I can't feel it, but, I can see it.

Sally Hyde: I wish you could feel me.

Luke Martin: I feel.

Sally Hyde: Hi.

Luke Martin: [Hands Sally a letter] It's from Bob. I opened it. He's coming home.

Capt. Bob Hyde: [Bob coming home] What the hell did you do to your hair?

Sally Hyde: I've stopped straightening it.

Capt. Bob Hyde: Where's all the demonstrators? Some asshole on the plane told us there was going to be a bunch of flower-heads out here.

Sally Hyde: Oh, there's some kids out there. They can't come on the base.

Capt. Bob Hyde: You never told me that you were this close to the beach.

Sally Hyde: I wanted to surprise you.

Capt. Bob Hyde: You're full of surprises.

Vi Munson: So, Bob, tell us about your foot.

Capt. Bob Hyde: Its not my foot, it's my leg and it's a god damn bore. Just like this whole f*ckin' war is boring. But, ladies, ha-ha, ole Bob has got to tell you one thing that is not boring and that is a good ole U.S. of A. martini! Of which, I am going to partake, as much as I can and as quick as I can.

Vi Munson: Drink it up. I made gallons.

Capt. Bob Hyde: Say something else *f*ck*. Say - something - else - *f*ck*.

Luke Martin: I'm not the enemy. Maybe the enemy is the f*cking war. But, you don't want to kill anybody here. You have enough ghosts to carry around.