In the Valley of Elah

This film contains strong language

(STATIC CRACKLES)

"(GARBLED NOISES)"

-What are you doing?

-(PANTING)

Get back in the fucking vehicle, Mike!

Mike, get back in the fucking vehicle!

Let's go, Mike, now!

(PHONE) "Dad?"

"Daddy?"

-I can hardly hear you.

-"I said your son has gone AWOL."

-My son's in Iraq.

-"Your son was in Iraq, sir."

"His unit arrived stateside four days ago."

-If my son were back, I'd know it.

-"Sir, your son has until Sunday

to get back to the base or he'll be listed as absent."

(ANSWERPHONE BEEPS) "You have no messages."

(COMPUTER CHIMES)

-"(RINGING TONE)" (SIGHS)

-"Hey, this is Mike."

-"Leave a message, I'll call you back."

-Hey, Mike, it's your old man.

Heard you're back. Give me a call when you get a chance.

(SIGHS)

(TV) "Freedom is on the march and we're safer because of it."

"Iraq is still dangerous."

"It is dangerous because that society is becoming more free

and heading toward democracy."

"Analysts say a broader strategy is at work,

one that began with the offensive in the Sunni Triangle city of Samarra

earlier this month." (TV CHATTER CONTINUES)

There you go.

You sure that thing's gonna fit?

You gotta trust somebody sometime, Hank.

-Anyone call?

-Nope.

"(RINGING TONE)"

"Fort Rudd. How may I direct your call?"

First Sergeant Arnold Bickman, Criminal Investigations Division.

-"I'm sorry, sir, I have no-one by that name on base."

-Thank you.

(SIGHS)

Anything you wanna tell me?

-Why can't I go with you?

-If he's someplace celebrating,

the last thing he needs is his mother walking in on him.

Call you when I get there tomorrow.

-It's a two-day drive.

-For some people.

-You don't wanna let it touch the ground.

-Oh, OK.

-Where you from?

-El Salvador.

Do you know what it means when a flag flies upside down?

-No.

-It's an international distress signal.

-No shit?

-No shit. It means we're in a lotta trouble, so come save our ass

cos we don't have a prayer in hell of saving ourselves.

-It says a lot.

-Yes, it does.

-You know how to do it now?

-Oh, yes.

-Good.

(RADIO) "This whole concept of Vote or Die, to me the question is,

are they gonna vote? Are they gonna leave the bong long enough

to actually vote? I don't know."

(PHONE) '"Dad?"'

'"Daddy?"'

Dad?!

Dad?!

Dad?!

(RADIO) "A low-pressure system will pass across New Mexico tonight,

bringing with it colder temperatures and overcast skies."

Go ahead, Sergeant.

Thank you, ma'am.

Sergeant Deerfield?

-Hi.

-Thanks for seeing me, I know you're busy.

I bet the base has changed a lot since your day.

-Thanks, Corporal.

-Welcome, Sergeant.

-What about his buddies?

-We asked, of course.

The rest of my guys just got back from a 72.

I don't wanna seem like I'm not concerned but where they've been,

-it's a miracle more guys don't blow off.

-Would you mind

if I had a look at his quarters?

No.

-Penning.

-Yes, Sarge?

-This is Specialist Deerfield's father.

-Have you heard from Mike?

-No.

-He wants to look at his son's quarters.

Certainly, sir. Short cut's through here.

Me and Mike go back to Bosnia.

He's sure told me enough stories about you.

-He hasn't called or anything?

-Does that surprise you?

I recall Mike showing up for roll call

with a collarbone sticking through his skin. Long, Ortiez,

-this is Doc's dad.

-Oh, honoured to meet you, sir.

Good to meet you.

-Doc?

-A nickname we gave him. Made no sense.

-That's Mike's room there.

-You boys have any idea where Mike could be?

-No, sir.

-Sorry.

-Must be one helluva woman.

-Yeah.

-Good to meet you, sir.

When you hear from Mike,

-you tell him to get his butt back here, OK?

-OK.

Sergeant?

This is Specialist Deerfield's dad. We've come to look at his bunk.

Roger. Sorry, I thought you were someone trying to steal shit.

-Is that your room?

-Yeah. That's Mike's bunk there.

It was nice to meet you, sir.

-Who's that?

-We lost a man.

-(CHUCKLES)

-That's your duffel, right?

-Yep.

-Tried to convince him to take the one he was issued.

-It was like talking to a wall.

-(CHUCKLES)

(SIGHS)

No photographs.

-Sorry?

-Mike's always taking pictures and emailing them to me

and I don't see any photographs or a... camera.

Property theft is a real problem.

-Guess it was the same during your stint.

-Yeah.

You mind if I take this?

His mother gave it to him and I... left mine at home.

I'd like to but... I can't let you remove anything.

-I understand.

-OK.

(TV) "I think New Mexico is a very important state."

"I think New Mexico has great possibilities

of better jobs, more jobs." (TV CHATTER CONTINUES)

This phone's been around some intense heat.

-It's been in Iraq.

-That could do it.

-(BLOWS) Alright.

-"(BEEPING)"

Oh, this is seriously fried.

Let's see. OK.

Address book. Alright, there's numbers for barracks,

burgers, chicken, Mom, pizza, TD's, Ted -

-What's TD's?

-That's a local joint.

-Could've been more but that's all that's left.

-OK, thanks.

-How much?

-You want the media?

-Media?

-Yeah. Look.

"Speed up!"

Nah, this is trash.

-"(GARBLED NOISES)"

-Oh, yeah, here we go.

"Bonner, take this. Long, toss the ball!"

"Historical moment. The first time one of these kids

-is gonna get to touch an American football."

-That's your son?

That's Mike. "(CHILDREN SHOUT)"

"Yeah! No, you're going this way! This way!"

"Hey, that's my ball, you little fuckers! Hey!"

"Shit!"

"Aw! What's wrong, man? Did Ali Baba take your football?"

-"Turn off the fucking phone."

-Any more?

Yeah, but it looks like the rest of the files are corrupted.

If you want, I have a program at home that can pull 'em off.

It's slow but I could charge you a hundred flat.

-Can you email them to me?

-Yeah, no problem.

-Thanks.

-Where's TD's?

(HIP-HOP MUSIC BLARES)

I'm looking for my boy!

(ALL CHEER)

(ALL CHEER / WOLF-WHISTLE)

I'm looking for my son!

Good luck.

(WOMAN) I need four tequila shots! Four!

(ALL CHEER)

-"What are you doin'?"

-Looking at some old photos Mike sent me.

You gonna be OK?

It doesn't make sense.

He wouldn't leave without telling us.

I will find him.

(SIGHS) OK.

-Night.

-"Good night."

(SIGHS)

"(WHIRRING)"

-I can hardly hear you.

-(PHONE) "Ya gotta get me outta here."

-Well, she should've known better.

-(DRUMS FINGERS)

Hold a sec. (SIGHS)

-Your son is in the Army?

-Yes, ma'am.

You need to see the military police.

I'm trying to check things out for myself.

-All you can do is file a missing person's report.

-Fine.

In which case, you'll need to see the military police.

Let me talk to somebody that does more than answer a phone.

(CHATTERING)

Sir, I wondered if you could help me with this, erm...

I don't think you understand. He loved that dog.

I'm sure he did, ma'am, but the dog bit him.

-When a dog bites, what do you do?

-I don't know.

You tie it up, you give it away, you might even shoot it

but you don't pick it up by the throat, wrestle it into the bathroom

and drown it in the tub! That doesn't sound strange to you?!

-(BARKS)

-(BOTH CHUCKLE)

-Maybe he thought it was more humane.

-More humane? It's a Doberman!

He's drowning it right in front of our son and it's biting him!

I'm crying for him to stop! That all sounds humane to you?

-Your husband ever threaten you or your child?

-He'd never hurt us,

-he just needs help.

-Go to the VA.

Go to them and ask them about counselling.

-You think I haven't been down there?

-(BARKS)

He won't go. He's gonna hurt himself, I know he is.

-Look, I'd really like to help you.

-Really?

Oh, cos it looks to me like you don't give a crap.

You know, I do, but, I gotta tell you,

crimes against dogs are hard to prosecute. So, if you don't mind,

-I have somebody waiting for me.

-Fuck you, lady.

-OK.

-Great(!)

-(BOTH CHUCKLE)

That kind of morning, huh?

Take that to military police.

I'm trying to keep my son out of more trouble.

I know you're busy but all I need you to do

is call his bank and find out if he's made withdrawals

-or used his credit card in the last week.

-Retired cop

-or just watch a lot of TV?

-Military police, retired.

Army has jurisdiction over its own personnel.

-Sorry, I hope you find your son.

-If your job is anything like mine was,

it's to roll up drunks, twiddle your thumbs,

not ask too many questions. But my son has spent the last 18 months

bringing democracy to a shithole and serving his country.

He deserves better than this.

(TV) "Because we have done the hard work,

we are entering a season of hope."

(TV CHATTER CONTINUES)

Oh, my God, Hank Deerfield! I'll be a son of a bitch.

-What are you doin' at home?

-You almost missed us.

We're taking the camper to go see the grandkids.

-I called you at the base.

-Base?

Well, Christ, Hank, I've been retired for 14 years!

-You have not.

-Yeah, goin' on 15.

-How in the hell are you?

-Fine. Oh, want coffee or a piece of pie?

No, no, I don't have time, Helen's waiting in the camper.

-(SIGHS)

-What'd you do, bust an axle and call me for a tow?

No, I was hoping you were still at CID.

-I'm looking for a friendly face.

-One of your boys in trouble?

No.

-What was that oldest one's name, er, Darren?

-David.

-David, that's right. Joined 82nd Airborne, didn't he?

-Yeah.

Yeah, tough bunch of sons of bitches. How's he liking it?

He died in a helicopter crash on manoeuvres

at Fort Bragg ten years ago.

Oh, God, I'm sorry to hear that, Hank. Very sorry.

-How about the younger one?

-Mike?

-Yeah.

-Regular Army, just like his old man. In Iraq, doin' well.

-(CHUCKLES)

-I'm doing a favour for a neighbour lady.

One of her boys is in a little trouble.

Is there anybody we know still there?

-No, no, they're all gone.

-(CAR HORN TOOTS)

-Hm. She got you on a short leash.

-(CHUCKLES) Well, you know...

The kids are waitin' for us. (SIGHS)

I found his old chequebook.

Is there anything written on it? I need a password.

No, there's nothing on it.

-You sure?

-Which do you think it is, honey, gone blind

-or I just don't feel like telling you?

-(SIGHS)

(COMPUTER CHIMES)

I'm worried, Hank.

-I'm truly worried.

-He's a good boy. He'll have a reason.

-Hank?

-I'll find him.

Talk to you tomorrow.

"(GARBLED NOISES)"

Whoa!

-What's going on?

-Don't you worry, it's not animal related.

-What?

-They found body parts out on Mesa Luna Road.

-I'll get the car.

-OK.

"(GARBLED NOISES)"

-"Hey, Bonner, there's your family."

-"(GOATS BLEAT)"

"Stop fucking around!"

-"You could've fucking broken it!"

-"Fucking idiot."

-"Oh, fuck!"

-"What do I do?!"

-"Do not stop."

-"Do not fucking stop! Speed up! Speed up!"

-"(THUDDING)"

"(GARBLED NOISES)"

-"(GARBLED NOISES)"

-"What are you doing?"

(POLICE RADIO CHATTER)

Maybe go down there a little bit further.

-I need more evidence markers.

-You got all we have.

Straighten out some wire hangers

and buy Dixie Cups to stick on the ends of them. Come on.

And get me a receipt.

(SIGHS)

Sean?!

-(FLIES BUZZ)

-Thanks.

(ALL CHATTER)

Tell me good news, Hodge.

Well, it looks like the victim was killed by that fire site there,

er,... then, er, the body was chopped up, it was burned

and animals scattered the parts, so...

And you're smiling like an idiot because...?

Well, the base bought this field from the city two months ago.

City property only extends 50 feet from the centre of the road,

so... I don't think it's our body, Chief.

Well, hallelujah. Let's go home.

(WHISTLES) Wrap it up, fellas!

The boys with the shiny buttons are comin' in!

(SIGHS)

(GRUNTS) Agh!

(TV) "..break the back of the insurgency."

"It is not, though, the panacea. Just by taking it out

does not mean the rest of the insurgency will fall."

"More than half of Fallujah's residents have already fled

in anticipation of the offensive. Insurgents have been busy

preparing defences, attacking US troops and rigging booby traps."

(TV CHATTER CONTINUES)

Mr Deerfield?

Jim Osher. Could, er,... could I get a word?

Yeah, come on in. I'll just be a minute.

(SIGHS)

Sir, I regret to inform you that a body was found last night.

We believe it to be the remains of your son,

Specialist Michael Deerfield.

Right. They'll need me to identify the body?

No, sir. We've... They've determined identity in other ways,

-I believe partial fingerprints.

-What do you mean "partial"?

-What happened to him?

-I'm not at liberty to say, sir. Someone -

I wanna see his body now!

Sergeant Deerfield, this isn't necessary.

-It's not the way you wanna remember your son.

-Maybe not

but it's the way he left this earth, so I don't see I have any choice.

Working backwards, er, the carbon patterns show

that the body was dismembered before it was burned.

A large knife or tool was used but the blade was dull,

which is why the bones are shattered.

The dismembered parts were doused with an accelerant

in an attempt to incinerate the body.

But you'd need an oven to approach an effective temperature,

so most of the tissue would've been left intact. So the damage

is largely the result of scavengers stripping the bones.

Now, cause of death, there is evidence of multiple stab wounds.

-How many?

-I'm sorry?

-How many?

-With so much flesh missing, we can only count the blows

-that made impact with bone.

-How many of those were there?

42.

One knife or several?

One.

Gonna turn these over to the Army?

Tried to. Said they took their own photos.

And they didn't say it in a nice way.

I'd like to give you a call tomorrow before you go home.

-I have a few questions.

-Ask 'em now.

-Your son didn't happen to own a green car?

-Mike doesn't own a car.

Motorist reported seeing a green sedan parked on the shoulder

near the field that Saturday night. One of the theories

is that this is a carjacking or a robbery gone wrong.

There's a big uptick in gang activity lately.

-I wanna see where he died.

-I'm sorry, it's still an active crime scene.

-I will let you know as soon as you can.

-OK.

What else do you wanna ask?

A lot of the deaths we've seen like these have been drug related.

Are you asking if Mike was a drug dealer or just an addict?

I don't wanna be asking anything.

You know the Army does regular drug tests.

Not when they're in Iraq.

Now, we found this under your son's mattress.

It's not gonna go in my report.

Why I ask is last month we arrested three soldiers

who were trying to smuggle heroin in from Kuwait.

They'd made arrangements to sell it to a local Mexican gang.

I understand Mike spoke Spanish?

And you think he could've been a drug mule because he spoke Spanish?

No,... because somebody cut off his hands and his head.

I'm really sorry about your son.

Show me.

I'm sorry?

I need to see where he died.

It's not our case. The murder occurred on military property.

-But you know where it is?

-There's nothing to see.

Then, there shouldn't be any problem with me seeing it.

(SIGHS)

You people know how to trample a crime scene, I'll give you that.

I suppose you thought it was a good idea

to have everybody you ever met park on this shoulder.

If your crime-scene boys knew what they were doing,

they'd have found traces of blood in the gravel right here.

It's where he was killed.

So you don't see blood but you know it's there?

Yeah. Just like I know his body was dragged from here...

..to there.

That's remarkable. The ground is rock hard

-but you see drag marks.

-You go to the trouble to burn a body,

don't you think you'd try to cover your tracks?

I'm going to the restroom.

You might find it easier just to drive around that field in your car!

You couldn't do any more damage!

Everybody knows everything.

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO)

-Hi.

-Hi.

-Can I help you?

-I suppose the MPs have been in here asking questions

about what happened in that field.

-They sure have. Terrible thing.

-I'm checking it out for the family.

-You see anything?

-I wish we had, we would've liked to help.

-We didn't know what it was when we smelled it, did we, honey?

-No.

-How's that?

-That Sunday, when we drove in the parking lot,

we just thought somebody had been barbecuing.

Smelled like, erm, burned meat.

Thank you.

Tell your MP friends they should be looking for a blue car,

-not a green one.

-Why?

Because a blue car under a yellow light looks green.

Doesn't it?

It certainly does.

-Thank you.

-It's the least I could do.

I'd say that's accurate.

"I'll get a plane ticket."

No.

What do you mean "no"?

-"I'll bring him home soon as I can."

-I need to see him.

-I need to be with Michael.

-"He's gone."

-I need to be with my boy.

-There is nothing left.

-What does that mean?

-(SIGHS) Joanie, for once in your life,

-will you take my word for something?

-"For once?"

I seem to remember me being the one saying no and you saying

it'd be good for his character. Who won that argument, Hank?

-Mike wanted to join, I didn't encourage it.

-Living in this house,

he never could've felt like a man if he hadn't gone! (SOBS)

Both of my boys, Hank. You could've left me one!

(SOBS)

"Joanie?"

Joan, please.

"(CRIES)"

(SIGHS) Joanie, I can't sit here and listen to you cry.

Well, then, don't.

(SOBS)

(SIGHS)

Door.

Night.

Night, sweetheart.

-"(EXPLOSION)"

-"Oh, fuck!"

"(GUNFIRE / EXPLOSIONS)"

"(GARBLED CHATTER)"

-"Better not be fucking around with that phone."

-"Absolutely not."

"See how the clothes aren't burnt?"

"It's really weird, Dad."

"All clear! Let's move it out!"

"Move it out."

(SIGHS)

(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS)

-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

-Sure.

Evie, chicken sandwich!

"(CHEERING)"

-Mustard or mayonnaise?

-Erm...

-No, thank you, ma'am.

-A woman stands topless in front of you,

"ma'am" could be taken as an insult.

-This your son?

-Yes, ma'am. I'm asking if anybody saw him.

It would've been a week ago Saturday.

I'm sorry, I don't recognise anything but the uniform.

Thank you, ma'am. Er, miss.

Right here.

(CHUCKLING / CLUCKING)

(CLUCKS)

Stay here.

Excuse me, Lieutenant, I was just wondering

how I came to be assigned this case.

-Er, which case?

-Jacob Ronald Millard,

slaughterhouse employee, arrested for torturing chickens.

It's no big deal! Everybody does it!

-Everybody doesn't poke their eyes out.

-Sure they do!

-Shut up!

-Boss just doesn't want me humpin' his daughter.

Now we're shocked beyond words.

Hey, you see how you can draw information out of people?

People like you, Emily. That is how you got promoted

from traffic to detective squad, am I right?

-I'm sorry?

-Oh, don't be. If Wayne or Hodge here

could've fucked their way in, they would've, too.

Well, Wayne would have. One of us needs to know what we're doin'.

-(MEN CHUCKLE)

-You see, that's what concerns me.

Having fucked my way into the job, I may not be qualified enough

to piece together this complex of a crime.

Take that murder site. I would've never concluded

that he was killed on Army property. I would've been fooled

by the signs of struggle on the road. And you know that trail

of broken brush from there

to where he was burned? That would've made me think

he was killed in our jurisdiction, then moved. Because the killers

didn't think it smart to chop him up under a bright streetlight.

Yeah,... I would've totally misread that crime scene.

No, no, no, no, it's good work. I mean, we needed another homicide.

What, we've solved three out of the last ten? Another unsolved murder

would cement my standing with the mayor. Do you have a problem

-with your fellow detectives? You feel the need to show 'em up?

-No, sir.

So it's the military police?

-You think they're gonna bungle the investigation?

-No, sir,

but we know the real motives for the Army wanting this case.

Psychic powers! Er, when did you discover you had these?

So you don't believe their primary concern will be

how this incident reflects on the Army?

-You see this as a career move?

-I don't have a career, I have a job.

I do what I'm told. But this boy died in a ditch

beside one of our streets. Someone burned him like a cord of wood,

leaving his remains for the animals. With respect,

if that was your son, I don't think you'd toss this case off

-so you look better come election time.

-That was with respect?

-That was my intent, sir.

-Fine. I'll think about it and I'll let you know.

-Every second we lose -

-Didn't you say you would do what you were told?

-Yeah, I sometimes exaggerate for effect.

-Mm-hm.

How's David?

-Sorry?

-Your son.

He's fine, thanks for asking.

That, er, deadbeat ex of yours ever show up for any of his games?

David's pretty pathetic at every sport he attempts,

-so he wants as few people to witness it as possible.

-That's a shame.

It's not like he's the boy's father.

(SIGHS)

The way I see it, it's the oddballs and the misfits

who go on to do interesting things with their lives.

How many former high-school quarterbacks

do we roll into the drunk tank every Saturday night?

-A little misery in school is a good thing.

-You know,

I was first-string quarterback in my high school.

-I seem to recall you showing me pictures of such, sir.

-Mm-hm.

You're just gonna keep after me about this Deerfield boy, aren't you?

I think you know what the right thing to do is, sir.

Hm.

Jesus H Christ. (SIGHS)

-Hilary.

-"Yes, sir?"

-Get me Captain Fenderman at the base.

-"Yes, sir."

(PLANE ROARS OVERHEAD / TANNOY CHATTER)

Would you like to sit down, ma'am?

Is that everything?

-Is that all of him?

-Yes, ma'am.

-You must have to keep that room cold.

-Yes, ma'am.

It looks cold.

I wanna go inside. Can I go inside?

No, ma'am, I'm sorry.

My deepest sympathies, ma'am.

You don't have a child, do you?

Do you?

(SIGHS)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Mr Deerfield?

-Hi.

-I overheard you asking if you could have Mike's Bible

and I,... I thought it might bring you some comfort.

-Anybody know you took this?

-No, sir. I asked at the visitor centre

where you were staying and they told me.

-Can I buy you a coffee?

-I really should get back.

How about a drink?

To Mike.

I need to ask you something and I want the truth.

-Was Mike doin' drugs?

-Doc?

I guess. No more than the other guys.

He wasn't, like, a heavy doper or anything.

You ever see him hanging out off the base with anyone?

-Maybe Mexicans?

-No, sir.

How you adjusting?

-Being back?

-Mm.

Hasn't been that long.

-Call your parents?

-My mom.

My dad and I aren't close.

-Did you guys talk much?

-Sure.

We could've talked more. (SIGHS)

-Did he ever say anything to you that I should know?

-No, sir.

I mean,... you see a lotta shit over there

-you don't wanna talk about it, even with your buddies.

-Yeah.

-But he did alright, Mike?

-He was a first-class soldier.

You know Mike, he loved the Army. Couldn't wait to get over there

and save the good guys, hurt the bad guys.

They shouldn't send heroes to places like Iraq.

Everything there's fucked up.

Before I went, I'd never say this but you ask me now,...

..they should just nuke it and watch it all turn back to dust.

Hank?

-You OK?

-"Yeah, I was just about to call you."

A package came from Michael.

-What kind of package?

-I don't know, it's a package.

He sent it to himself. It's from overseas.

-I'm gonna open it.

-No.

What do you mean "no"?

Does it look like it's been opened by customs or by the military?

How would I know? No, it doesn't.

-"Why can't I open it?"

-Just don't. Please. Erm,...

..just put it someplace safe.

(SIGHS) OK.

-Night.

-"Good night."

-Morning.

-Morning.

I was wondering if I could ask you about your son.

-I thought it wasn't your case.

-It sort of fell back to me.

Isn't that our good fortune(?)

I was wondering if you knew if your son had any enemies.

You mean other than the thousands of Iraqis

and foreign fighters who were trying to kill him?

Yeah, that shirt looks like it's still wet.

It's dry enough.

-Anything bothering him that you know about?

-No.

You looking into the gang connection?

You have reason to think your son was involved in gangs or drugs?

No.

-When did you last speak to him?

-Why?

Capital One faxed me a recent summary of his credit-card charges.

-The day after he got back, he bought some tube socks -

-I told him

those are the worst socks - they have no heel, they wear right through.

-And then he went out for some chicken.

-Does it say what time?

Then no more charges.

We're assuming your son was killed sometime Saturday night

or Sunday morning. We haven't found his wallet

but if it was stolen, we'd see a lot more charges on it -

computers, stereos, what have you.

Have you been to the chicken place yet?

(LATIN MUSIC PLAYS)

-Enjoy.

-How can I help you?

We're inquiring about a soldier who was here a week ago.

You're kidding, right? We're a block from the base.

-Can you tell what time he was here from the statement?

-1:03am,

Sunday morning. We bill that as Saturday. Anything else?

Can you tell us what he bought?

-Not without the actual receipt.

-OK. Thank you.

Your 4-piece dinner is 6.79. Is that what most people order?

-That or the three-piece.

-So with tax,

21.77 would be...

-..three meals, three people.

-Four, if it's the three-piece,

or one really hungry soldier.

(ALL CHATTER)

There you are. I just dropped something off for you.

-You did?

-We took statements from the men of Mike's squad.

-Thought you'd want 'em.

-Great.

-I was gonna call you to arrange interviews.

-Saved you the trouble.

-How so?

-Sworn statements on your desk.

What, you didn't think I'd want to interview them myself?

Just trying to give you a leg up.

Thanks. I sort of like to do my own detective work.

I'll tell you what. Read the statements.

If you still wanna question them,

I will be glad to take the request to my CO.

Perhaps you misunderstood me. It's not a request.

-I want the list of the men in his unit...

-On your desk.

-..and I wanna interview them.

-You'll have to ask my CO.

My chief already spoke to him.

-This one's a jurisdictional mess.

-There is no mess. The murder

-was in our jurisdiction.

-That's where it gets murky. Read those.

I'd be glad to put the request in.

You don't have the sworn statements?

-I have -

-Then, they're cooperating. I don't see the problem.

I have a right to interview potential witnesses.

-Has the Army said you can't?

-They're considering my request.

-That was ten minutes ago.

-I'd like to talk to these men

before they've been coached and inconsistencies

in their stories disappear. I'm sure you've seen that happen,

perhaps when you served with Lieutenant Kirklander?

I'll tell you what. (CLEARS THROAT)

Skip upstairs and cry to your boyfriend

because I'm just not in the mood to give a shit.

(SIGHS)

(TV CHATTER)

"We're showing video that has just come in to CNN from Fallujah."

You ordered yet?

OK, dig in, men.

-May I?

-Please.

OK, out.

-No, I can do it.

-You can.

Now get ready for bed. Go on.

Is there anything I can do?

(SIGHS)

You're supposed to read it to me.

-I don't understand one word of it.

-Well, do you know any stories?

-I'm not much of a storyteller.

-Well, then, read me the book.

(SIGHS)

You know where your name comes from?

-My mother?

-No, before that.

You're named after King David. Your mother didn't tell you that?

-That figures.

-(SIGHS)

Alright. (CLEARS THROAT) There were two great armies assembled -

the Israelites and the Philistines, and they were both up on hills,

the Valley of Elah in between. It's in Palestine.

-You know where it is?

-No.

-Doesn't matter.

Anyway, the Philistines had a champion -

-a huge giant... named Goliath.

-Really?

-There's a robot named Goliath.

-This is a different guy.

So, every day, for 40 days,

Goliath would stride down into the valley

and challenge somebody from the other side to fight but nobody would.

All the bravest warriors that the king had were all too scared.

-Why didn't they shoot him?

-They didn't have guns, they had arrows.

But there are rules to combat - you don't shoot somebody

that's challenging you to fight with a sword. So, anyway,...

..one day this kid, not much bigger than you,

comes delivering bread. He says to the king, "I'll fight Goliath."

-Really? No way.

-True story.

So the king dresses David in his own armour

but it's much too big and heavy, so David takes it off

and he looks around and he finds five smooth stones about that big.

And he steps out into the valley, with his slingshot in his hand.

Goliath comes running, yelling this horrible scream,

and David lets fly with that slingshot. Hits him in the forehead,

cracks his skull open. Goliath falls down, dead.

-So he shot him.

-With a rock.

-Not the same thing.

-(SIGHS)

-And you wanna know how he beat him?

-How?

The first thing David had to fight was his own fear.

He beat that, he beat Goliath.

Cos when Goliath came running, David just planted his feet,

took aim and waited. You know how much courage that took?

Just a few more steps and Goliath would've crushed him.

Then he let fly with that rock.

That's how you fight monsters -

you lure 'em in close to you, you look 'em in the eye,

you smack 'em down.

-You fight a lot of monsters?

-Yeah.

-You win?

-If I didn't, I'd have been crushed, right?

-Yeah.

-OK, then.

Good night.

-Oh, he likes to sleep with that door open.

-He'll be OK.

Door!

-Not that much.

-OK.

That's good.

-You know that story isn't true.

-Of course it's true.

It's even in the Koran.

May I read the men's statements?

There's nothing in them that'll help. The last time

any of the men saw Mike was Saturday afternoon, before he left base.

You're a good father.

You don't have to prove you loved him.

I'm sure he knew.

(STATIC CRACKLES)

(PHONE) '"Dad?"'

'"Daddy?"'

'"Somethin' happened, Dad."'

(GASPS)

(PANTS)

(TV) "It's the second day of what the US military

is now calling the New Dawn in Fallujah."

"The operation is aimed at crushing the insurgents

in their strongholds. But how many insurgents are still there?"

"We'll go live to the front lines in a moment."

Hi.

Evie, from the bar.

Ma'am?

(CHUCKLES) Yeah.

-I'm sorry. Hello.

-I saw the picture of your son in the newspaper.

When you came in, I thought he was just missin'. I'm sorry.

Thank you.

-May I?

-Mm.

Nice eyes.

Him I remember.

I work in another bar on the weekends. He was there.

-Must've been... Saturday night.

-What's the name of that bar?

(DANCE MUSIC PLAYS)

-Yeah, they were here.

-Both of 'em?

-Yeah, and their buddies.

-Saturday night?

Had to throw 'em out. That one was harassing a dancer. Asshole.

-This guy?

-Other one.

Get a lot of assholes in here but he was going for the prize.

-Shouting obscenities.

-I think you got the wrong man.

You ask me to ID a guy and then you tell me that I'm wrong.

-You two related?

-What time did they leave?

Fuck if I know. They weren't happy about it.

Two of them got into it in the parking lot.

-Thought I was gonna have to break it up myself.

-Thank you.

(SIGHS)

The detective will stay while you write your statement.

I want the pen back, Nugent. Word?

This is not Saigon. This is not 1967.

-You do not question witnesses.

-I figured somebody should.

It must be frustrating being such a good investigator

surrounded by incompetent fools. What is it you do?

-I haul gravel.

-Shame. Think of all the crime that could've been solved

in the last 30 years if you'd been on the job. This goes to trial,

-the defence will say you poisoned the well.

-It won't go to trial.

-What?

-It wasn't them.

-I'm sorry?

I don't know why they lied about not being with him

-but they didn't do it!

-They were fighting!

Blowing off steam! You have not been to war, so you don't understand.

You do not fight beside a man and then do that to him!

That's quite the world you live in.

Find out why they lied.

There'll be a reason.

So you were there?

Yeah.

-So why would you lie?

-It's complicated.

Why don't you just tell me what happened?

(SIGHS)

We were at this strip club, just hanging out,

having a good time. We were drinking, of course.

And Mike starts acting really weird.

Got really angry, throwing change at the stripper.

And then he started talking trash,

so she started talking trash and they tossed us out.

And we're getting in the car

and Bonner's all pissed, saying Mike can walk.

So Mike grabs him and they start going off on each other.

But it's the kinda shit that happens all the time -

the whole macho-warrior crap. Nobody got hurt,

so we got in the car, we drove around for a while

and then we stopped at the Chicken Shack.

Mike bought, for getting us kicked out.

-And what time was this?

-I don't know. Around one.

And then we came back here.

All of you?

No,... just the three of us.

-Why would you leave him there?

-Because we were wasted.

We had had enough but Mike wanted to find some meth.

-He wanted to buy drugs?

-Yeah, like he needed to be more fucked up.

-Pardon my language, ma'am.

-You think that's what happened?

-He went looking for drugs, ran into the wrong people?

-Who knows?

Mike always had secrets. He was always sneaking off by himself.

He really didn't get along too well with people.

So you get kicked out of the strip club at 11,

show up at the shack at one. What were you doing for two hours?

Driving around, looking for a party... or women.

Did you stop anywhere?

Yes, ma'am. (GULPS)

Now you want me to guess?

(CLEARS THROAT) We found a hooker. She blew all four of us.

Why didn't you say that when you were questioned?

We didn't think Mike would've wanted his parents to know.

You didn't want his father to know he got a blow job?

And was buying drugs. Wouldn't want somebody telling my parents.

So, what was the fight about?

Mike was in some dark mood, I don't know why,

and then he started saying nasty things to that stripper.

-Like?

-Stuff I'm not gonna repeat.

The woman's a stripper, not something on your shoe.

-Penning said Mike came at you.

-Might have, I don't recall.

-You have a knife?

-If I wanna kill someone, I don't need a knife.

I guess in Iraq things are different.

-Somebody makes you mad, you can deal with it.

-You lost me.

You got power.

-You've never been in the Army.

-No, but I know

you've got weapons, authority. You put men face down in the dirt,

kick in their doors, somebody comes at you, you kill 'em.

-The guy could have bombs or guns. You kill him first.

-Make the -

React or die. You ever stab someone?

-None of your business.

-You're there one day, back here another.

Somebody comes charging at me, I'd reach for my weapon.

-Interview over.

-Glad none of this bothered you.

My father came back from war and things he couldn't deal with

-pretty much destroyed him.

-You have no idea what we did!

-And we did it for you!

-For me?

-I'd just say thanks,

-leave it at that and kiss my ass!

-Walk away.

-You happy now?

-I want the clothes they were wearing.

And I wanna take full-body photographs for cuts and bruises.

Ma'am, you can have all the undies you want

but you might want to take a glance at this.

You still want 'em?

Yeah.

"(GARBLED NOISES)"

"You better hang up, Saddam could be calling."

"Mike, Mike, I give up!"

"(INDISTINCT CHATTER)"

-"Leave him alone!"

-"Fuck you, man!"

"(GARBLED NOISES)"

"(INDISTINCT CHATTER)"

-"Leave him alone!"

-"Fuck you, man!"

(SIGHS) You were right, they couldn't have done it.

They were with Mike at the Chicken Shack at one.

Bonner, Penning and Long arrived back at base

20 minutes later.

The field where we found Mike's remains is half an hour away.

There's no way they could've driven there in time, never mind...

-(SIGHS)

-So they left him there?

-They said Mike wanted to buy drugs.

-And that's why they lied?

(SIGHS)

And they had no idea where he went when they left him

-or who he met?

-No.

And I have statements from every other man in the squad.

-May I see those?

-(SIGHS)

If they're telling the truth, no-one saw him after dinner time.

Lab says no traces of blood

on their clothes or their belongings.

-Did you look at these clothes?

-Mm-hm.

This shirt has crease marks where it came off the shelf.

Clothes are cheap on the base. First thing you do when you get back

is toss every stitch you took with you.

There are nine soldiers in an infantry squad.

-Yeah?

-They lost a man in Iraq.

There ought to be seven statements here and there's only six.

-So one of them's on leave.

-When I got here,

the sergeant told me ALL of his men were back.

Read the names.

-Yeah?

-Hi, this is, er Fred Gainley at the Buxton sheriff's office.

Are you missin' a man?

Because I have a Robert Ortiez here on a drunk and disorderly,

-says he's one of yours.

-Thanks. I'll send someone over.

I appreciate it, thank you.

-He's AWOL.

-Check for priors and warrants. And see if he owns a car.

Ooh, bad boy!

He's a local boy. First arrested Bobby Ortiez when he was 14

for drug trafficking. Got bail and the witness disappeared.

About a year and a half ago we liked him for drug smuggling.

He gets all patriotic and joins up.

-How the hell did they let him in the Army?

-No felony convictions.

-There's a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu registered in his name.

-What colour?

Er,... blue.

-That's not enough for a warrant.

-He's AWOL.

The Army can go after him, we can't.

Well, he's got four unpaid parking tickets.

Try Judge Osorio. Any idea where our boy might be?

Finding Bobby's never the problem.

Go back to your motel. I'll call you.

(TYRES SCREECH)

(BANGS ON DOOR) Police! Open up!

(DOOR BANGS OPEN)

He's on the roof!

I got him!

Take the street, not the alley. Take the street, jackass.

(TYRES SCREECH)

(GASPS)

Shit!

(TYRES SCREECH)

-Fucking wetbacks. It's always knives, isn't it?

-Agh!

-You like cuttin' people up?

-(GROANS)

What the hell...?! Agh!

Come here! Come on!

-Get off him!

-I didn't do it!

Don't you move.

-Don't you fucking move.

-Agh! Jesus!

-You OK?

Fuck! Agh!

Change him up.

Alright.

-Good.

-We'll take him from here.

What was it, chico?

You wanted him to carry drugs and he wouldn't do it?

Is that it, chico?! Afraid he was gonna tell on you?!

Wouldn't it be funny if the devil looked just like you?

Come back here! I'll show you what the devil looks like!

Fuck you, man!

-I see you cracked him wide open(!)

-Put your hand up.

He isn't pressing any charges. And you're lucky I feel pity on you

-or I'd be doing it myself.

-I didn't mean to hit you.

-That an apology in your world?

-I'm sorry.

-Keep it.

-Isn't anybody gonna question him?

-We did! We searched his house!

-There's no evidence he had anything to do with it!

-(SIGHS)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

(KNOCKING CONTINUES)

(KNOCKING CONTINUES)

Something's happened.

Found him hanging in his room.

Jesus.

-Did he leave a note?

-No.

My father gave it to me when I went to Vietnam. I gave it to Mike.

-It was in Bonner's pants pocket.

-He was carrying it?

He didn't leave a note,

-he just put it in his pocket and then hung himself?

-I'm sorry,

but this is as close as we're gonna get to a confession.

Confession.

Bonner's car, what colour is it?

Blue. Why?

(SIGHS)

You don't kill someone for no reason. The watch doesn't prove anything.

-Think he would've given him that watch?

-Could've been planted.

-So why did he kill himself?

-I don't know. You tell me how he killed Mike.

-He had an alibi. Why'd he kill him? When'd he kill him?

-I don't know!

(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)

-What?

-"Hey."

Er,... you remember that woman with the dead dog?

(POLICE RADIO CHATTER)

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

(SIGHS)

(GASPS)

We drained it.

-Where's the boy?

-He wasn't home, thank God.

-He was at his grandparents'.

-That's good.

That's good.

(SIGHS)

The remains will be shipped.

-Please check the address of the funeral home.

-That's correct.

If I can be of any other help, please let me know.

(ENGINE SPLUTTERS) (SIGHS)

(ENGINE SPLUTTERS)

(SIGHS)

Sir?

(SIGHS)

You got any jumper cables?

(ENGINE REVS)

Thanks.

I wanted to say... how sorry I am for what happened to Mike.

And I wanted to apologise for lying

about not seeing him that night. I just thought

that if I were Mike, I wouldn't want my parents to know.

-You got a cigarette?

-Yeah.

You think Bonner killed him?

No.

I don't know.

I don't understand any of this.

-What would he have against my boy?

-Nothing.

I'm sorry.

-Mike tell you much about Bosnia?

-Some.

We seemed to always pull sentry duty together.

Freezin' our asses off. He used to try to convince me

-of the craziest things.

-Try to get you to wear pantihose?

-Did he tell you?

-No, I told him.

-Cuts the cold like nothing else.

-(CHUCKLES)

-So he wasn't lyin'?

-Just don't get shot wearing a pair of those,

you'll never live it down. (BOTH CHUCKLE)

(CHUCKLING FADES)

(SIGHS)

-It's fucked up, isn't it?

-Yeah.

(SIGHS)

-"(GARBLED NOISES)"

-"Let's get you to a good American hospital."

"Come on, speed this thing up!"

-"(IRAQI MAN SCREAMS)"

-"It's OK, I'm gonna help you."

-"(ALL LAUGH)"

-"Take it easy. We're gonna take care of you, OK?"

"(IRAQI MAN SCREAMS)"

"You OK? You alright?"

-"Now, where does it hurt? There?"

-"(IRAQI MAN SCREAMS)"

-"Easy. Right there?"

-"(CONTINUES SCREAMING)"

"We're gonna take care of you, OK?"

Good night.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Tell me that's your son's signature on his credit-card receipt.

No, it is not.

We always assumed Mike was there. That's Penning's signature.

Three meals - Penning, Bonner and Long.

(DOOR SLAMS)

Penning and Long, I want 'em now.

-I can't give them to you.

-Oh, yes, you can.

-And you will.

-Corporal Penning has come forward.

He's implicated Long and Bonner.

You sonofabitch.

You went to him with a fucking deal, didn't you?

-He'll do serious time.

-Yeah? How serious?

How serious? How much time?

As much as I could get.

Well, luckily for me, that means shit.

You see these? Those are warrants.

We have jurisdiction, you're compelled to deliver those men.

-I want 'em now.

-I am not the only one who made a deal.

My CO talked to yours.

It is just one less headache for them.

It's out of our hands now. I'm sorry.

I bet you are.

I wanna hear the confession.

Long isn't speaking. I'll get you Penning's statement.

No, I wanna hear it from his lips and I want him present!

That's not gonna happen.

How many soldiers do you think leave this base every night

-to go visit a bar, hm?

-I know you're feeling burned.

No, I'm pissed off! On an average weekend, what, 8,000 soldiers?!

I'm gonna sit in my car outside any one of your entrances,

pull over every vehicle that comes back and arrest every soldier

whose blood alcohol is 1/1000 over the legal limit.

-How many men would that be?

-And how long till you're fired?

I'm gonna do it on my own time, and we have a good union,

so I'm gonna say four to five weeks.

How many DUIs do you think I could make in a month?

Shall we find out?

-"Commander's office."

-Let me speak to Captain Henning, please.

"One moment, sir."

We were leaving the strip club

and we thought that Mike and Bonner have cooled down.

They could be like that - laughing one minute, fighting the next.

Anyway, we're in the car and Mike's all pissy

and Bonner just starts needling him.

-Just saying shit.

-Like what?

I don't know. Like what a good driver Mike is.

Stuff that makes no sense. But Bonner has enough and he pulls over

and they just start going off on each other.

And Long was yelling for them to cut it out so we can go home.

And Mike starts cussing at him, too. And then I look down

and I'm stabbing him.

You,... you are?

Yeah.

And your friends didn't try and stop you?

I think they were sorta stunned.

They're yellin'. And Mike falls to the ground

and... he's dead.

And Long is screaming, "Christ, what do we do now?!"

It was Bonner's idea to chop him up.

He used to work for a butcher.

He knew how to work the knife around the joints. Made it easier.

We would've buried the parts

but... it was getting late and we hadn't eaten.

-You were hungry?

-Starvin'.

We stopped at the Chicken Shack.

I liked Mike, we all did,

but I think on another night

that would've been Mike with the knife and me in the field.

I think he was the smart one.

I think he could see.

I'm truly sorry, sir. I'm sorry for your loss.

I saw a video Mike shot, him in the back of a Humvee.

Looked like he was torturing a prisoner or...

We arrested some haji... who was wounded

and we were riding along

and Mike was pretending like he was a medic.

And he would stick his hand in this guy's wound...

..and he says, "Does this hurt?"

And the haji screamed, "Yeah, yeah!" (CHUCKLES)

And then Mike would stick his hand in the exact same place

and say, "Does that hurt?" (LAUGHS)

It was pretty funny.

It became a thing with Mike.

That's how he got the name Doc.

It was just a way to cope.

We all did stupid things.

(SIGHS)

Excuse me, sir.

You know where Private Ortiez's room is?

You got a minute?

-I need to apologise to you.

-You got some real serious issues, man.

Yeah.

That's true.

I got a honourable discharge, if you could believe it.

It's the Army, I'll believe anything.

I hated it over there.

Sleep in fucking tents. No toilets, no showers. No toilet paper,

gotta use your hand. I couldn't wait to get out.

After two weeks here...

..all I wanna do is go back.

How fucked is that?

You know what that is?

Mike took it and emailed it to me. Why would he do that?

I don't know what anybody's told you.

There were standing orders. You're in a convoy,

someone or something gets in front of you, you do not stop.

You stop, shitheads pop up with RPGs and kill you all dead.

First week in Iraq,... we're driving downrange.

Six of us in the back. You can't see squat back there.

Doc hit somethin'.

We hear it thump around underneath.

He stops... and gets out.

Drives on.

Not a word.

Later, some guy said... we hit a kid.

I don't believe it.

You ask me,...

..we hit a dog.

We killed a dog.

I don't know what that is.

No fucking idea.

-"Hey, Bonner, there's your family."

-"(GOATS BLEAT)"

-Stop fucking around!

-You could've fucking broken it!

You're a fucking idiot. Oh, fuck!

-Oh, shit!

-Do not fucking stop!

-What do I do?!

-Speed up! Speed up!

-(THUDDING)

-(GASPS)

"(TYRES SCREECH)"

-What are you doing?

-(PHONE) '"Dad?"'

Get back in the fucking vehicle, Mike!

-Mike, get back in the fucking vehicle!

-(PHONE) '"Dad?"'

(CHILDREN SHOUT)

-(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

-Let's go, Mike, now!

-"Are you there, Dad?"

-I can hardly hear you.

Ya gotta get me outta here. (SNIFFS)

Well, that's just nerves talking.

Somethin' happened, Dad.

-"(CRIES)"

-(SIGHS)

For Christ's sake...

(SIGHS) Is anybody there with you?

No, I'm alone.

(SIGHS) That's good.

(SIGHS) OK, Daddy, I, erm, I gotta go.

You be safe, son. Stay safe.

Yeah. You, too.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

(SIGHS)

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS)

You know, my son's been driving me crazy ever since you came over.

-He wants a slingshot.

-(CHUCKLES) Hm.

Guess it could be worse. Could be a BB gun.

(SIGHS)

Thank you. (STARTS ENGINE)

So every day, Goliath would walk into the valley

to challenge someone, anyone.

But no-one would fight him... until David showed up

and said, "You know what? I'll do it. I'll fight him."

So the king dressed David up in his own armour,

-which was so big -

-But why would he let him fight a giant?

He was just a boy.

-I don't know, sweetheart.

-(SIGHS)

Do you think he was scared?

David?

(SIGHS / CHUCKLES)

'Yeah,... I think he would've been really scared.'

# This is the sound

# Of a baby's first breath

# The dying of footsteps

# The touching of flesh

# To hold in your memory

# To keep by your chest

# This is the sound

# Of the planes in the night

# Coming out of the darkness

# And into the light

# Shining alarmingly

# Curiously bright...

-Just like that?

-Just like that.

-It looks really old.

It's been well used.

-And I shouldn't take it down at night?

-No.

You leave it just like that.

-(SIGHS)

-That's a lot easier.

-Hm.

# Tell me the story

# About when you were young

# I want to hear it again

# Leave in the parts

# Where the hero gets stung

# I want to savour it

# I want to play it again