When Trumpets Fade Quotes

[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 shit.

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]

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]

Bobby: I AM dying.

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

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!

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: 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: [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 fucking way, no fucking way, no fucking way!

Pvt. David Manning: Get up there, Baxter!

Pvt. David Manning: Goddamn you, stick with it, Bobby! Fucking 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]

Capt. Roy Pritchett: You Manning?

Pvt. David Manning: I think so.

Lt. Lukas: Give him a straight answer Private.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: Relax!

[Turns back to Manning]

Capt. Roy Pritchett: 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 fucking 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.

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: 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]

Warren Sanderson: I'll go with you.

Pvt. David Manning: Request permission for a section eight. I'm fucked up, I can't do this, I - I'm no good.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: Listen to me soldier. A week ago I had a company of almost 200 men, now I've got 50. As hard as this may be for you to swallow, your efforts to stay alive hold very little value at this particular time and place. What does hold value are the objectives. The longer it takes to obtain them, the more dead we'll be stockpiling at the side of the road. Now, it's my job to obtain those objectives, and I will utilize anybody at my disposal to do so, that includes you Sergeant. Now I'm just as sorry as hell about your bruised nerves, but you are out of your skull if you think I'm gonna let you bail on a section eight. Is that clear?

Pvt. David Manning: Yes sir.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: At 1400 hours you will rendezvous with your new squad. You've got until then to get your shit together. Is that clear?

Pvt. David Manning: Yes sir.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: Good. Now get out of my sight.

Lieutenant Colonel: Now G-2 said it'll be clear sailing up to the bridge, but once you get there, it's gonna get pretty hot.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: With all due respect sir, did G-2 forget about the tanks the Jerries had been clobbering us with?

Lieutenant Colonel: No. The artillery is gonna take care of the tanks.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: They've been saying that for a week.

Lieutenant Colonel: Well they're saying it again, and this time they're right.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: Bunch of chickenshits...

Lieutenant Colonel: Do you have a problem, Captain?

Capt. Roy Pritchett: What if those tanks are still firing, sir?

Lieutenant Colonel: Then we'll deal with it.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: No problem.

Lieutenant Colonel: Captain Pritchett, if you feel you're unable to carry out your orders, you let me know, and I'll relieve you of your command and find somebody who can.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: We're getting replacements in from the channel, tonight you'll be fitted with a new squad. Congratulations Private, you're a sergeant now.

Pvt. David Manning: I don't want it.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: You'll get used to it.

Pvt. David Manning: I don't wanna get used to it.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: I don't give a damn what you want. I'll put up with that mouth of yours because I figure after surviving a week up here, you've earned that right. You have not earned the right to question my orders.

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

Capt. Roy Pritchett: That may be your opinion Sergeant, but it's not mine. You 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 makes you qualified for the job.

Lieutenant Colonel: [Reading from a file] Sergeant Manning has an excellent innate understanding of battlefield conditions. His ability to react to aggressive situations is unmatched by anybody in the company. His disrespect for authority is unable to hide his ability to lead. I strongly suggest that he be considered for the next platoon leader when and if the situation presents itself. Captain Roy Pritchett.

Lieutenant Colonel: If I'm not mistaken Sergeant, the situation has presented itself.

Pvt. David Manning: Sanderson, eat your food.

Warren Sanderson: I'm not hungry.

Pvt. David Manning: It's not the point.

Warren Sanderson: I'm not hungry.

Pvt. David Manning: Last time I had a hot meal was 5 days ago. Since then my entire platoon has been wiped out. That's why you're here. Just a bunch of guys in line to get shot so they can bring in a bunch of other guys. See how that works? Now once you get that through your fucking head, maybe you'll realize how important a hot meal could be.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: We're making another push.

Pvt. David Manning: You gotta be shitting me.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: Our company is to try and take the bridge on the Kall Trail again and hold it. Kraut 88's on the ridge are gonna have us right on the chopping block.

Pvt. David Manning: Fuckers.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: There's a road leading up to the ridge from the north side. I figure a single squad with a couple of flamethrowers might have a shot at taking'em out. Their gun crews will be firing at us.

Pvt. David Manning: What about their infantry support?

Capt. Roy Pritchett: Krauts are holding their manpower back about a mile behind the ridge. Apparently they're having trouble finding replacements, so they're relying on their 88's to wipe us out. I need a squad to volunteer.

Pvt. David Manning: Good luck.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: You take out those guns, and I'll get you that section eight you were begging for.

Pvt. David Manning: [long pause] It's a deal.

[smiling]

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

Pvt. David Manning: Don't go anywhere. Stay where I can find you, we're making a push.

Baxter: We get orders, Sarge?

Pvt. David Manning: We will.

Baxter: If we didn't get orders how do you know we're making a push?

Pvt. David Manning: Hot food, coffee, cigarettes. We're making a push, sure as shit.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: Lukas, take a walk.

Pvt. David Manning: Fucking greenie.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: You better get used to him, he's your new platoon leader.

Pvt. David Manning: He'll be dead in a week.

Sgt. Talbot: We all know about that section eight deal you cut with Pritchett. Anything to save your own ass.

Pvt. David Manning: That's right.

Sgt. Talbot: It's too bad he won't be around to hold up his end of the deal.

Pvt. David Manning: What are you talking about?

Sgt. Talbot: Got wounded. Took him off the line today. Life's a bitch ain't it?

Sgt. Talbot: [Under heavy artillery fire, shouting over the radio] This is Sergeant Talbot. Lieutenant Lukas has lost it.

Capt. Roy Pritchett: I put you in charge of this, Sergeant. Now listen up, you gotta pull your platoon back to this side of the river.

Sgt. Talbot: You expect me to get these guys to leave cover in this shit?

Capt. Roy Pritchett: If you don't get that platoon to move, you're all gonna be dead 10 minutes, now haul ass!

Pvt. David Manning: The way I see it, we've got two choices. We can settle for being slaughtered in the push tomorrow, or we can take those tanks out tonight.

Sgt. Talbot: There's no way in hell company will approve that.

Pvt. David Manning: This isn't about company, if we do it, it's just us. We'll slip past the lines unchecked, just another sorry ass patrol.

Medic Chamberlain: Let me get this straight. Yesterday, you were pulling for a section eight. Now you wanna lead some kind of renegade force, against the German tanks.

Pvt. David Manning: The question is, how do we stay alive. What you think of me doesn't really matter.

Pvt. David Manning: [looking at bodies at the side of the road] Why do they leave them there like that?

Medic Chamberlain: Fucking brass. They don't wanna waste the trucks on the dead, they still got more guys to haul in for the slaughter.

Pvt. David Manning: No more room in hell.

Medic Chamberlain: What are you talking about? There's plenty of room. All they gotta do is stack'em higher.

Pvt. David Manning: Shit flows down.

Medic Chamberlain: Goddamn right. Regiment wipes its ass with Battalion, Battalion wipes its ass clean with Company, and we're left to lick the shit off of them. Mark my words, they're gonna keep sending us in until the whole fucking division is gone.

Pvt. David Manning: Anything notable?

Medic Chamberlain: Those fucking tanks again. They've been jamming their barrels down our throat from that fucking high ground for a week now. Air Corps can't see'em, artillery can't hit'em. They better find some way in knocking those fuckers out, and I mean fast.

Pvt. David Manning: What about the 88's?

Medic Chamberlain: They're still out there. Tanks on our right side, 88 millimeter cannons on our left side. This fucking army.

Pvt. David Manning: Fucking army.