:20:01
Yes, sir, they are.
:20:04
While we're on the subject, Colonel...
:20:08
There's something that l'd like to say.
:20:11
Shoot.
:20:13
Well...
:20:16
The morale of this company is in what
l consider to be a dangerous condition.
:20:20
Oh? And what do you suppose
brought this about, Lieutenant?
:20:23
I think it stemmed from
what happened at Aachen.
:20:26
Oh?
:20:28
Colonel, l know you
and Captain Cooney are very close.
:20:31
Maybe l'm sticking my neck out on this,
:20:33
but the feeling among the men is that
the captain... that he chickened out there.
:20:38
That your opinion, too?
:20:41
He had the only reserve.
He might've done something.
:20:44
On the other hand he may have felt
his reserve wasn't strong enough.
:20:48
Then the facts are hardly conclusive.
:20:50
It's not a matter of conclusive facts, sir!
:20:54
Colonel, can l talk to you straight?
Rank and all that aside?
:20:58
I don't see why not.
:21:07
Don't suppose whatever it is you want
to go beyond the two of us. Shoot.
:21:12
Colonel, you know
Captain Cooney better than...
:21:17
..better than any man in this division,
maybe better than any man alive.
:21:22
I know Erskine. Ever since l was
14 years old, a clerk in the judge's office.
:21:26
You know his good points
and his shortcomings.
:21:29
- Go on.
- You know he fouled up there at Aachen.
:21:32
He cost the lives of a whole squad.
A good sergeant, a good lieutenant.
:21:36
Think what he could do
if this company got in a real bind.
:21:40
Come on, son, give me the punch line.
You want me to kick Erskine upstairs?
:21:46
- Yes, sir, as a matter of fact...
- It figures.
:21:49
And it's not a bad solution. But there's
some points you're not considering.
:21:54
You talked straight to me
and l'm gonna talk straight to you.
:21:57
I'd appreciate your discretion. This is
in confidence between you and me.