A gritty and emotional look at the lives of a platoon of American soldiers as they patrol, fight and die in the jungles of Vietnam as seen through the perspective of a young recruit. Two veteran sergeants clash when one of them precipitates a massacre of villagers.

The role of Chris was originally offered to Kyle MacLachlan, who turned it down.

Sgt. Barnes:
You talking about killing? Hmm? Y'all experts? Y'all know about killing? I'd like to hear about it, potheads.

[takes pipe and inhales drag]


Sgt. Barnes:
Are you smoking this shit so's to escape from reality? Me, I don't need this shit. I am reality. There's the way it ought to be, and there's the way it is. Elias was full of shit. Elias was a crusader. Now, I got no fight... with any man who does what he's told. But when he don't, the machine breaks down. And when the machine breaks down, we break down. And I ain't gonna allow that... in any of you. Not one.

[hands pipe back and spits]


Sgt. Barnes:
Y'all love Elias. Oh, you wanna kick ass. Yeah. Well, here I am, all by my lonesome. And there ain't nobody gonna know. Six of you boys against me. Kill me. Huh. I shit on all of you.

Boom mic visible: In right upper corner, when they are "emptying the shitter."

Written by Samuel Barber
Arranged and Conducted by Georges Delerue
Used by arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc.