MacLEOD - Let me help.

CHARLIE - [tight] There's nothing you can do.
 

 
DAWSON - If I die, don't bury me -- Stay in Bravo Com-pa-ny!

[It's an echo of old times that rings right, but Kolski isn't biting.]
 

 
DAWSON - Gramma was slow, but she was old.

[Dawson laughs. It's a terrific moment, old buddies reunited. Kolski is powerful man, but pulled in and contained. He's a no bullshit kind of guy who Dawson obviously sees as a hero. Looking out the windshield, they see Jeep headlights coming toward them.]

[CLOSE - Dawson getting that thousand-year stare all over again, as we push in on his face, and from far off--]

SEVERAL TROOPS - [O.S.] [cadence]
I don't know, but I been told,
Navy men wear panty hose.
Please don't send me to the rear,
Army guys they wear brassieres.

[And PRE-LAP the cadence over into--]

[The Jeep goes on by. It's an army jeep and we're in Vietnam for the war, crossing a flat river delta. As the vehicle continues on its way, we discover in its wake the tag end of a Marine platoon following it into a devastated Cong village for post-battle recon. Some of the guys are singing, triumphant and full of piss. The usual collection of grizzled guys, 20 going on 60, new recruits, blacks and whites.]

SEVERAL TROOPS - [cadence]
I don't know but I been told,
Good Marines, they don't grow old.
If I die, don't bury me --
Stay in Bravo Com-pa-ny!

[There are two Marines we are particularly interested in. The first is a scared young grunt -- 18-year-old Joe Dawson. The other, walking beside him, is their Sergeant, Andrew Kolski. Kolski breaks from the unit, hangs back and calls to Young Dawson.]
 

 
[Young Dawson is agitated, but has no reply. He leaves Kolski at the door of the hut and starts toward some soldiers relaxing on the grass, some eating, some smoking. He barely gets a few yards when he hears the loud sound of a rocket-launched grenade hurtling through the air.]

KOLSKI - [reacts] INCOMING!

[Dawson turns in time to see it land very close to the jeep, and blow up both the vehicle and Butler. The Cong counter-attack has begun and all hell breaks loose. Soldiers grab their weapons and scatter for cover against the assault. Kolski turns and bellows, his first thought for his men.]

KOLSKI - Get down!

[Kolski is caught in a hail of bullets and goes down in front of the unit. Young Dawson runs back to Kolski. It's too late, Kolski is dead. Two other soldiers arrive. Soldier #1 searches for a pulse and there is none.

SOLDIER #1 - [scared] He's dead, man. The Sarge is dead.

[Young Dawson starts shaking the body, a crazed and desperate effort to jump start it.]

YOUNG DAWSON - Andy! Andy, come on! Breathe, Andy, breathe!

[Soldier #2 confirms that Kolski is dead, and rips the dog tags off the body.]

SOLDIER #1 - Let's get the hell out of here. [Young Dawson is slow to move, staring at his dead Sergeant in a horrified daze.] Joe... go. Go! Go!
 

 
[Kolski examines Young Dawson. His legs are mangled and he's bleeding hard. He's in terrible pain but sucks it up knowing he can't make noise and attract the Cong.]

YOUNG DAWSON - Oh, Christ, I'm dying too...

[He puts a hand over Young Dawson's mouth.]

KOLSKI - You will if you don't shut up. [beat] You're gonna be okay.

[Kolski shoots Young Dawson up with morphine and that calms him down pretty quickly. Kolski quickly and effectively applies tourniquets to both legs.]
 

 
YOUNG JOE - We'll never make it.

KOLSKI - Sure we will. [beat] I got a reputation to think of.

[With Young Dawson stabilized, Kolski hoists him onto his shoulders and starts into the deep brush.]
 

 
DAWSON - [beat; earnest] But don't worry. I know how to keep a secret.

[Kolski looks at his old friend for a long moment, sees it's true.]

KOLSKI - Semper fi. [beat; with fondness] You always were a boy scout, Joe.
 

 
[He holds Kolski's eyes, getting his message across. Kolski finally nods.]

KOLSKI - Hell of a coincidence, you knowing two of us.
 

 
CHARLIE - I should have died with them.
 

 
KOLSKI - If they were my men, they'd still be alive.
 

 
YOUNG BANCROFT - [beat] The Immortals.

[And OFF Young Dawson's wondering look, as he stares from Young Bancroft to the tattoo.]

YOUNG DAWSON - The hell you say.
 

 
KOLSKI - Busman's holiday, Joe. [wry] Gotta keep in shape somehow.
 

[As Charlie exits, we PAN to find Kolski watching from cover.]

KOLSKI - [satisfied] What do you know. Everybody comes to Joe's. [He moves off after Charlie.]

[Charlie crosses the street, heading for the dojo, when he hears his name called.]
 

[MacLeod gets the BUZZ, goes to the window and sees Kolski looking up at him. MacLeod grabs his sword and runs for the door. Through the window we see Kolski turn and move away.]
 

 
CHARLIE - Hell, aren't we all.

MacLEOD - It's true, Charlie. [beat]
 

 
[Charlie's eyes fill with wonder.]

MacLEOD - We'll talk about it later.

[It all clicks. Charlie knows it's true.]

CHARLIE - Sure. [almost laughs]
 

 
[It is a promise that clearly means the world to Charlie.]

CHARLIE - [going fast] MacLeod... [Charlie echoes MacLeod's last words to him the last time they parted, fading quickly.] Be safe.

MacLEOD - You know it.
 

[Dawson is at the bar and Kolski is practically jabbing a finger in his face.]

KOLSKI - He's going to come here looking for me. You just send him where I told you.

DAWSON - What the hell do you mean he'll come looking?

KOLSKI - Just tell him where I am. I want him on my turf.

DAWSON - [pissed] Forget it. It's not gonna happen.

KOLSKI - [smiles] I think he'll insist. [leaves]