SCENE: During the Mexican War, then-Lieutenant TIBBALS and his Sergeant HEATHCOTE, find themselves before the Mexican stronghold at the fortress of Chapultepec, where they make an astonishing discovery.
INSERT F/X SHOT - BINOCULARS CLOSE PERSPECTIVE
Tibbals is focused — as we are — on the militiamen as they trudge up and down along the length of the stone wall. At this point, he can make out certain details about them: their uniforms, the types of guns they carry, but most importantly their age. These “men” are really little more than boys who’ve assumed the roles of men. Probably because many of their fathers, brothers and cousins are no longer their to do the job themselves.
TIBBALS
(O.S.)
Tibbals lowers the binoculars.
HEATHCOTE
What?
Tibbals passes the binoculars to Heathcote.
TIBBALS
Walking the wall up there. They look as though they can barely hold those rifles.
Heathcote raises the binoculars to his eyes and takes a cursory glance. He nods appreciatively.
HEATHCOTE
Then we must doing our job.
Heathcote removes the binoculars from his eyes.
TIBBALS
How can you say that?
HEATHCOTE
If they’ve gone so far as to call up military cadets to fill their ranks, it won’t be long before this whole mess is over and done with.
TIBBALS
Did you get a good look at them, Sergeant? They look as though they haven’t had a decent meal in weeks.
HEATHCOTE
Hey, I went without food or water for nearly a month when some of my boys and I got cut off from our unit because of them. And you expect me to feel sorry?
TIBBALS
They’re just boys, Sergeant. They should be running with their friends, playing games. They shouldn’t be out here.
HEATHCOTE
Hell, sir. None of us should be out here.
TIBBALS
You don’t believe it’s our country’s manifest destiny to stretch from sea to sea?
HEATHCOTE
Well, they sure as hell don’t. Can’t say I blame ‘em anymore.
TIBBALS
What do you mean by that?
HEATHCOTE
This war’s not about manifest destiny or any other high-minded ideals to them. It’s as basic as schoolyard etiquette. They were here first. We’re the bully trying to muscle them out and they ain’t gonna let us. No matter what it costs.
Heathcote points to the hill.
HEATHCOTE
Know what “Chapultepec” means?
TIBBALS
Something Spanish, I imagine.
HEATHCOTE
It’s Indian, actually. Aztec to be precise. It means “hill of the grasshopper.” The faces of Aztec chiefs are carved into the rock up there. One of ‘em, the last of his tribe, even committed suicide rather than surrender.
TIBBALS
War tends to bring that out in people, Sergeant.
HEATHCOTE
Exactly. And if you believe those boys up there are any different than the men you’ve encountered on the battlefield, you’re in for a big disappointment.
TIBBALS
How do you know all this?
HEATHCOTE
I wasn’t always just a Sergeant, sir. Besides, when you’ve been out here as long as I have, you hear things. If you listen.
