China Center for Economic Research
Black Hawk Down is a 2001 film about the U.S. military operation against warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid in Mogadishu, Somalia that began as a quick raid and escalated into a two-day battle in October, 1993.
Some historical notes appear on the discussion page.
"Leave no man behind." Tagline
"Only the dead have seen the end of war." Introductory Quote by Plato
Some historical notes appear on the discussion page.
- Directed by Ridley Scott.
- Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Ridley Scott.
- Screenplay by Ken Nolan. Based on the book Black Hawk Down: A Story Of Modern War by Mark Bowden.
- Starring Josh Hartnett, Tom Sizemore, Ewan McGregor, and Eric Bana.
Sergeant Matt Eversmann
- "Look, these people... they have no jobs, no food, no education, no future. I just figure that you know, I mean, we have two things we can do. We can help, or we can sit back and watch a country destroy itself on CNN. Right?"
- "Look, you guys, I know it's my first time as chalk leader, but, uh, this isn't our first time out together. This is serious. We're Rangers, not some sorry-ass JROTC. We're elite. Let's act like it out there."
- "All right, listen up. We're gonna hold the perimeter and we're gonna hold the strongpoint. Conserve your ammo. Only shoot at what you can hit. The convoy is gonna come. We're gonna get home."
- "Watch for Skinnies. They're all over the rooftops. They're in prayer, but not for much longer."
- (to the dying Cpl. Jamie Smith) "You did what we were trained to do. You should be proud of that. Be proud of that."
- "You know, a friend of mine asked me before I got here... it was when we were all shipping out. He asked me, 'Why are you going to fight somebody else's war? What, do y'all think you're heroes?' I didn't know what to say at the time, but if he asked me again, I'd say no. I'd say there's no way in hell. Nobody asks to be a hero. It just sometimes turns out that way."
Hoot
- "Hey - who's hungry?"
- "You wanna know what I think? It don't really matter what I think. Once that first bullet goes past your head, politics and all that shit, just goes right out the window."
- "Just watch your corner and get all your men back here alive."
- "It'd probably help to wash the blood out of the humvees."
- "Stop the vehicle. Let me out."
- "Sergeant, you can't control who gets hit or who doesn't. Who falls out of a chopper, or why. It ain't up to you. It's just war."
- "When I get home and people ask me,'Hey, Hoot, why do you do it, man? What are you? Some kind of war junkie? I won't say a goddamn word. Why? They won't understand. They won't understand why we do it. They won't understand that it's about the men next to you. And that's it. That's all it is."
- "Don't even think about it, all right? I'm better on my own."
- "Hey, we started a whole new week! It's Monday!"
Lieutenant Colonel Danny McKnight
- "Home in an hour, okay? Now, there will be some shooting. Bakara Market is the wild west. But be careful what you shoot at, because people do live there."
- "Nothing takes five minutes!"
- "Son of a bitch... Romeo 6-4, We're right back where we started. I'm running low on ammo, I got many wounded including me, and vehicles that are barely running."
- "Sergeant Eversmann, I heard you guys needed a lift."
Captain Mike Steele
- "You Delta boys are bunch of undisciplined cowboys. Let me tell you something, Sergeant. When we get on the five yard line, you're gonna need my Rangers. So y'all better learn to be team players."
- "If I ever see you undermine me again, I'll have you cleaning latrines with your tongue until you can't taste the difference between shit and french fries. Are we clear?"
- "We are combat-ineffective, you understand me? We got too damn many wounded to move!"-
- "Two-five, this is Six-four. That's a negative on the medivac, it's not possible. JOC can't risk losing another bird. You're just gonna have to hold on."
- "Tenth Mountain? No! Sir, with all due respect, my Rangers can provide rear security. We'll walk you out of the hot zone and then jump on the last few vehicles."
- "Pretty funny, hoo-ah? Recognised myself.Can I have a word, Specialist?
General William Garrison
- "Make no mistake: once you're in Bakara Market you're in an entirely hostile district. Don't underestimate their capabilities. We'll be going through friendly districts before hitting the market, so remember the rules of engagement: nobody fires unless fired upon. Now, Let's go get this thing done. Good luck, gentlemen."
- "Good luck, boys! Be careful. No one gets left behind."
- "We just lost the initiative."
- "Look, we have stirred up a hornet's nest here. We're fighting the entire city. I want every vehicle possible that's got four wheels and armor. Get it — get everything."
- "Well, you tell the general this: I understand, but it is my duty to remind him that my men are surrounded by thousands of armed Somali militia. It is imperative that we move them out of the hostile area and into the safe zone. I need his help now."
- "Ground personnel will have to mark target positions with infrared strobes. Get Little Birds on strafing runs and keep 'em going all night long. If we don't hold back this city... we're gonna have a hundred caskets to fill by morning."
Others
- Pvt. Blackburn: "Well, I came here to kick some ass."
- Cpl. Jamie Smith: "Ev, I'm telling you, man. It's gonna be nothing."
- Cpl. Jamie Smith: "If Colonel McKnight went back to the base camp, he had a good reason. It changes nothing."
- SFC. Randy Shughart: "Gordy's gone, man. I'll be outside. Good luck."
- Tech. Sgt. Wilkinson " After I'm done with this I'll whip you boys up some margaritas. The usual, blended, no salt."
- Somali Militia Leader: That's right - none of you Americans smoke anymore. You all live long, dull, uninteresting lives."
- SP4 Grimes: (in the back of a Pakistani vehicle) "Come on! These fucking things are bullet magnets. Come on!"
- SP4 Grimes: (after he was knocked to the ground by the shockwave of a RPG) "Fuck thiiiis!!"
- SP4 Grimes: "I can hear bells ringing..."
- Sgt. Sanderson: "Grimes? Uh, a little short on coffee... but I got you some tea."
- Sgt. Lorenzo Ruiz:(in field hospital) "Don't go out without me. Don't go back out there without me. I can still do my job."
- MSG. Gary Gordon: (Final montage before credits) "My love: You are strong and you will do well in life. I love you and my children deeply. Today and tomorrow let each day grow and grow. Keep smiling and never give up, even when things get you down. So in closing my love, tonight tuck my children in bed warmly, tell them I love them, then hug them for me and give them both a kiss goodnight for daddy."
- Multiple Soldiers: "RPG!! DUCK AND COVER!!"
Dialogue
- Mr. Atto: I see not catching Aidid is becoming routine.
- [...]
- General Garrison: We're not leaving Somalia until we find him. And we will find him.
- Mr.Atto: Don't make the mistake of thinking because I grew up without running water I am simple, General. I do know something about history. See all this? It's simply shaping tomorrow. A tomorrow without a lot of Arkansas white-boys' ideas in it.
- Gen. Garrison: Well, I wouldn't know about that. I'm from Texas.
- Mr. Atto: Mr. Garrison, I think you should not have come here. This is civil war. This is our war, not yours.
- Garrison: Three hundred thousand dead and counting. That's not a war, Mr. Atto. That's genocide.
- (New arrival Private Todd Blackburn reports in to HQ clerk.)
- Private Blackburn: So, what's it like?
- Specialist Grimes: What's what like?
- Blackburn: Mogadishu. The fighting.
- Grimes: Firstly, it's "the Mog" or simply "Mog". No one calls it "Mogadishu" here. Secondly, I wouldn't know about the fighting, so don't ask.
- Blackburn: Why not?
- Grimes: Didn't I just say, "Don't ask"? Look, kid, you look like you're about twelve, so let me explain something to you. I have a rare and mysterious skill that precludes me from going on any missions.
- Blackburn: Typing.
- Grimes: Can you type?
- (Troops are having an impromptu barbecue with a wild boar killed by Hoot.)
- Captain Steele: Sergeant, what's going on here?
- Hoot: Oh, just some aerial target practice, sir. Didn't want to leave it behind.
- Steele: I'm talking about your weapon. Delta or no Delta, that's a hot weapon. You know better than that. Your safety should be on at all times on base.
- Hoot (holding up his index finger): Well, this is my safety, sir.
- Lt. Beals: Ask Sergeant Eversmann. He likes the Skinnies.
- Unidentified Chalk Four soldier: Sergeant Eversmann, you really like the Skinnies?
- SSG Eversmann: It's not that I like them or don't like them. I respect them.
- Cpl. Kurth: I don't know about you guys, but I was trained to fight. Were you trained to fight, Sergeant?
- Eversmann: Well, I think I was trained to make a difference, Kurth.
- [Grimes is making coffee]
- SP4 Grimes: It's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science. I mean, you're looking at the guy who believed the commercials, you know, about "Be all you can be." I made coffee through Desert Storm. I made coffee through Panama while everyone else got to fight, got to be a Ranger. Now it's "Grimesy, black, one sugar" or "Grimesy, got a powdered anywhere?" (he indicates Sizemore's cast) So, what happened to you?
- Sizemore: Ping-pong accident. So guess what? Your wish has been granted. you're going out today.
- Grimes: You're fucking me!
- Sizemore: You're taking my place assisting the sixty gunner. Sergeant Eversmann said to get your stuff and get ready. It's what you wanted, isn't it?
- Grimes: (suddenly uncertain) Oh, yeah. Hell yeah.
- SSG Eversmann: You know, it's kind of funny. Beautiful beach, beautiful sun... this could almost be a good place to visit.
- Hoot: Almost.
- Eversmann: You don't think we should be here.
- Hoot: You know what I think? It don't really matter what I think. Once that first bullet goes past your head, politics and all that shit just goes right out the window.
- General Garrison: Same mission template as before. At 1545 Assault Force Delta will infiltrate the target building and seize all suspects within. Security force, Rangers. Four Ranger chalks under command of Captain Steele will rope in at 1546 and hold a four-corner perimeter around the target building. No one gets in or out. Extraction force, Lieutenant Colonel McKnight's humvee column, will drive in at 1547 on Hawlwadig Road and hold just short of the Olympic Hotel, here, and wait for the green light. Now, once Delta gives the word, McKnight's column will move to the target building and load the prisoners on flatbed trucks. Immediately after the trucks are loaded the four Ranger chalks will collapse back to the target building, load up on humvees, and the entire ground force will exfil the three miles back to base. Mission time from incursion to extraction, no longer than thirty minutes.
- [...]
- [Cut to Matthews, McKnight and Harrell having a conversation on Garrison's briefing]
- Colonel Matthews: What's the matter, Danny? Something you don't like?
- Lt.Col. McKnight: No Spectre gunships, daylight instead of night, mid-afternoon when they're all fucked up on khat, only part of the city where Aidid can mount a serious counterattack on short notice... what's not to like?
- Colonel Harrell: Life's imperfect.
- McKnight: Yeah, for you two, circling above it at five hundred feet, it's imperfect. Down in the street... it's unforgiving.
- (The Rangers make last-minute preparations for the mission; Grimes is filling a canteen.)
- Nelson: You're not gonna need that, dude. We're not out there long enough.
- (Grimes sets aside the canteen and starts to pack his NOD night vision goggles.)
- Twombly: You're not gonna need that, either. Might as well take dope and beer instead.
- Grimes: What?
- Twombly: Ammo, dude. Take ammo.
- Eversmann: Grimes, the most important thing: if everybody else starts shooting, try and shoot in the same direction.
- [...]
- Eversmann: Blackburn, you okay?
- Blackburn: Excited... in-in a good way. I've been training my whole life for this.
- Eversmann: You ever shot at anybody before?
- Blackburn: No, sir.
- Eversmann: Me neither.
- Pilla: Colonel, they're shooting at us! Colonel, they're shooting at us!
- McKnight:(matter-of-factly) Well, shoot back!
- (Super Six One, Wolcott's Black Hawk helicopter, has taken an RPG hit; radio exchange follows.)
- CWO Wolcott: This is Super Six One, I'm hit. I'm hit. Bull, you wanna pull those PCL's off-line, or what?
- CWO "Bull" Briley: Right, babe.
- CWO Wolcott: Six-one going down, Six-one going down. Hold on! Ah... (he breaks off on impact with the ground)
- Col. Harrell: We got a Black Hawk down. We got a Black Hawk down.
- Col. Matthews: Super 6-1 is down. We got a bird down in the city.
- Unidentified Voice: Super 6-1 is on the deck now.
- Gen. Garrison: Get an MH-6 on site, check for survivors. Send in the S.A.R. bird. I want ground forces to move and secure a new perimeter around that crash site. Can you guide the convoy in there?
- Matthews: Roger that.
- Garrison: Well, move quick. The whole damn city will be coming down on top of them. (Off radio, to executive officer) We just lost the initiative.
- Sgt. Eversmann: There's a Black Hawk down. Twombly, Nelson — you're gonna stay stay here and hold this corner and then exfil with the humvees. Galentine, Schmid — your'e coming with me. All right? Let's go.
- Nelson: How come I gotta stay back here?
- Eversmann: Because you're dependable. (To Schmid and Galentine) All right, let's go!
- Nelson: I hate being dependable man.
- (A hasty planning session outside the target building.)
- Sgt. "Griz" Martin: We still got guys inside.
- Sgt. Sanderson: All right, all right. I'm gonna go to the crash.
- Martin: You take the rest of the team, I'll finish loading the prisoners.
- Capt. Steele: Negative! We'll proceed to the crash site together, secure the perimeter, and wait for the humvees. Roger, sir?
- Lt.Col McKnight: Roger that.
- Capt. Steele: Follow my lead. Sergeant, are you receiving me?
- Sanderson: Yeah, I heard you. We should be leaving soon.
- McKnight: All right, we need to move out now! I'll finish loading the prisoners and pick you up at the crash site.
- Steele: Let's move out!
- Harrell: Uniform 6-4, left turn, left turn.
- McKnight: Romeo 6-4, I need to know before I get to the GOD-DAMNED STREET!
- Harrell: You need to slow down. there's a delay from the time directions are relayed from Surveillance to JOC, and then to me.
- McKnight: We can't slow down! We're taking heavy enemy fire, we can't slow down!
- [...]
- Harrell: You should see the crash site directly ahead.
- McKnight: All I see is a roadblock!
- Harrell: All right... I'll have to figure out another way.
- Nelson: The humvees ain't coming back, dude.
- Twombly: What? Were we supposed to go to them?
- Nelson: I thought they were supposed to come to us.
- Twombly: I think we're supposed to go to them.
- Nelson: Shit.
- Twombly: Okay, let's go to the crash site.
- Nelson: Okay. Just don't fire that thing so close to my head. I can barely hear as it is.
- [...]
- (Twombly spots a group of Somali militia closing in on them.)
- Twombly: Shit! Get down! (He fires a long burst inches above Nelson's head.)
- Nelson: What did I just tell you? I swear to God if you do that again -- (Twombly fires on another group of armed Somalis; Nelson screams.)
- Twombly: You okay? Nelson, you all right?
- Nelson: WHAT?!?
- (CWO Mike Durant's helicopter has taken an RPG hit.)
- Col. Matthews: Super Six-Four, you all right?
- Durant: This is Super Six-Four. We're good.
- Matthews: You sure? You look like you got clipped pretty good.
- Durant: Instrument panels are okay. No, we're good. Got a slight vibration in the pedals, but we're good.
- Matthews: All right, put her down on the airfield, Super Six-Four. Have it checked out just to be safe.
- Durant: Roger. (To copilot) Ray, I'm getting a lot of movement in these pedals. Check the systems again.
- (En route to the airfield, tail rotor assembly disintegrates.)
- Durant: We lost the tail rotor, it's gone. Six-four is going down! Six-four is going in hard! Six-four is going down! We're going down! RAY!
- [...]
- Gen. Garrison: Get Struecker's column back out there. They need to get to Durant's crash site fast. I want 'em out of there. All of them.
- Sgt. Sanderson: Captain Steele, we gotta move or we're gonna get pinned down!
- Capt. Steele: We are moving just as fast as we can. Now you do your job and let me do mine. Over.
- Sgt. Sanderson Cap'n Steele, I'll take out the threat in the window and we'll rally point at the grey building. Comin' through Captain!
- [...]
- Capt. Steele: What the fuck are you doing out there?
- Sgt. Sanderson: I'm doing my job. Now we gotta get to that crash site. We gotta get out on that street, and we gotta move. And you have got to keep up, sir!
- Steele: Don't you ever give me orders, Sergeant! We are combat ineffective, you understand me? We got too many damn wounded to move!
- Sanderson: Then give me some of your shooters and I'll circle us to the bird.
- Steele: Grimes, you're with Chalk Four? (Grimes nods) All right, hook up with Delta and link up with Sergeant Eversmann. The rest of you men secure this position and treat the wounded. We'll wait for the convoy. Then we'll rally at the crash site. Roger?
- Sanderson: My guys, let's go!
- (Goffena's Super Six-Two is directly over the site of Durant's crash.)
- CWO Goffena: C-2, I have two Delta snipers, Shughart and Gordon, volunteering to secure crash site two. Over.
- Col. Matthews: No, Super Six-Two, negative that request. Can't risk another bird. We don't see anything moving down there now. We don't even know if anyone's alive. A ground team is being organized to go in now.
- Goffena: E.T.A. on ground team? Over.
- Matthews: Ah, unknown, not long. Do what you can from the air.
- Sgt Struecker: All right, gather around! Durant's 6-4 is down. We're going back in to get him.
- SP4 Thomas: That's crazy! Is there even anyone alive on that?
- Struecker: Doesn't matter. No one gets left behind, you know that. All right, refit, max out ammo and grenades. You got five.
- Struecker (sees Sizemore suited up): Sizemore, where are you going?
- Sizemore: With you guys.
- Struecker: Not with that cast on, you're not. (Sizemore tries to cut cast with knife) okay-okay-okay, go get your K-pot.
- Struecker: Hey - talk to me.
- Thomas: I can't go back out there.
- Struecker: Thomas, everyone feels the same way you do, all right? It's what you do right now that makes a difference. It's your call. Hoo-ah?
- Thomas (after long pause): Hoo-ah.
- Twombly:: (To Nelson) Which way?
- Nelson: (Shouting) THAT WAY, I THINK!!!
- Twombly: (Whispering) Not so fucking loud!
- (A donkey pulling a cart passes Nelson and Twombly as they advance to more cover. Cuts to Sgt. Yurek, whom the donkey also passes.)
- Yurek: Nice donkey.
- (Yurek advances and Twombly starts shooting at him. Yurek gets to cover.)
- Yurek: Rangers?
- Twombly: Who?
- Yurek: It's Yurek. You fucking assholes!
- Nelson: Fuck!
- Twombly: Dude, we almost fucking killed you! Well, come to us!
- Yurek: Fuck you, come to me!
- (Nelson and Twombly advance to Yurek.)
- (Twombly and Nelson have linked up with Sgt. Yurek, another cut-off member of Chalk Four.)
- Twombly: Dude, where the fuck have you been? Never mind. You brought NOD, right?
- Yurek: No. No, I didn't bring it. You wanna know why? Because you said, "You won't need that, dude, we'll be back in a half hour."
- Twombly: Well, I wasn't saying it to you. Man, we are gonna need night vision!
- Yurek: Nelson, cover this way. (Nelson seemingly ignores him; Yurek turns Nelson to face him.) What's the matter with you?
- Nelson: HUH?
- Twombly: Oh, uh, he's deaf. It's-it's my fault. We need to get out of here.
- Yurek: We can't be far from the crash. Which way?
- Twombly: We thought you might know.
- (Goffena is still over the second crash; ground support keeps getting delayed.)
- CWO Goffena: There's a large crowd advancing six, seven blocks from the crash. Shughart and Gordon again request permission to secure until convoy arrives. Over.
- Col. Harrell: General, the crowd's in the hundreds now. From where they are they can see things clearer than any of us. They know what they're asking.
- Gen. Garrison: Let me talk to them. this is Garrison. I want to make sure y'all know what you're asking for, so say it out loud and clear.
- MSG. Gordon: We're asking to go in and set up a perimeter until ground support arrives.
- Garrison: And you realize I cannot tell you when that will be? It could take quite a while.
- SFC. Shughart: Roger that.
- Garrison: You still want to go in there?
- Gordon: Yes, sir.
- Garrison: Colonel Harrell, it's your call.
- Harrell: Roger that. Goffena, put them in.
- Col. McKnight: Othic, get in that truck and drive.
- Pvt. Othic: But I'm shot, Colonel!
- McKnight: Everybody's shot! We need the prisoners. Let's go!
- SFC. Shughart: (on radio) C-2, we're at the 6-4 crash site. Securing a perimeter. (to Durant) You all right?
- CWO Durant: Yeah, I'm good.
- Shughart, (handing him a weapon): You're locked and loaded. Any Skinnies come around these corners, you watch our backs. (He turns and starts outside.)
- Durant: Hey - where's the rescue squad?
- Shughart: We're it. (exits.)
- (McKnight halts his shot-up convoy at the original start point; his driver, Maddox, has a face full of shrapnel.)
- Col. Harrell: Okay, Danny, I need a no-B.S. assessment here. Can you get to the crash site?
- Pvt. Maddox: Colonel, I can't see shit.
- Lt.Col. McKnight: Negative. With the amount of wounded we have, we'd do more harm than good. We need to come back to base, rearm and regroup, and then we can go back out.
- Harrell: Roger.
- Gen. Garrison: C-2, bring them back. Get them out of there.
- Harrell: Roger. Return to base.
- McKnight: We're going home!
- Col. Harrell: You see where those tires are burning, all that black smoke?
- Sgt Streucker: Roger, I can see it, but I can't get there, over.
- Harrell: Go a hundred meters past it. That's the crash.
- Struecker: Negative. You don't understand. It's roadblock afer roadblock. You have to find us another route. Over.
- Harrel: There ain't one. The only other route is all the way around the city.
- Struecker: Roger that. We'll take it.
- Hoot: Kilo 6-4, this is Kilo 1-1. Request permission to move to crash site number two on foot. Over.
- Unidentified voice: Green light, Kilo 1-1. Green light.
- Hoot: Stop the vehicle. Let me out.
- (Yurek, Twombly, and Nelson have reached the first crash site.)
- Sgt. Yurek: We gotta go.
- Twombly: (taps Nelson to get his attention) Shawn - Shawn, listen. Sergeant Yurek's gonna run first. Now, when he gets across the street, he's gonna turn around and he's gonna cover you as you run. Okay? Listen closely: when you get there, you are gonna turn around and you're gonna cover me. Okay?
- (Nelson nods, then stands and gets ready to run.)
- Twombly: Now, you're not just gonna run to Eversmann's position. You're gonna stop, you're gonna turn around, and you are gonna cover me. It's important you understand that. Okay, you ready?
- Yurek: Yeah, I guess.
- Twombly: (to Nelson) Hey - don't forget.
- Nelson: WHAT?
- Twombly: (with exaggerated enunciation) Don't- forget.
- (Sgt. Ruiz was badly wounded during the move toward the crash site.)
- Capt. Steele: Sergeant? Sergeant Ruiz, how you doing?
- Sgt. Ruiz: Our guys aren't gonna come get us. They're not gonna come for us!
- Steele: I need you to suck it up, Sergeant. I need you to focus for me. All right? Can you do that? (Ruiz nods) Now, can you hold your weapon?
- Ruiz: Yes, sir.
- Steele: Anybody comes through that door, you give 'em two in the chest and one in the head. You understand?
- Ruiz: I'm still in the fight, sir. Still in the fight.
- (CWO Durant has been taken prisoner.)
- Somali Militiaman: You are the Ranger who kills my people?
- CWO Durant: I'm not a Ranger. I'm a pilot.
- [...]
- Durant: What do you want with me?
- Militiaman: You have taken hostages. We... have you.
- Durant: My government will never negotiate for me.
- Militiaman: Then perhaps you and I can negotiate, huh? Soldier to soldier.
- Durant: I'm not in charge.
- Militiaman: Course not. You have the power to kill, but not negotiate. In Somalia, killing is negotiation. Do you really think if you get General Aidid, we will simply put down our weapons and adopt American democracy? That the killing will stop? We know this: without victory, there can be no peace. There will always be killing, you see? This is how things are, in our world.
- (In a derelict building, Grimes has a pot over a small flame.)
- Sanderson: What the hell you doing?
- Grimes: It's all in the grind, Sergeant. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse.
- Sanderson: Grimesy, you are squared away.
- [...]
- Grimes: Sergeant, how'd you like a nice hot cup of joe? Gold Coast blend.
- Sanderson: Sit down. I want to take a look at that foot.
- Grimes: Aw, no, it's not a problem.
- Sanderson: Come on, come on. (Grimes sits and removes his boot; Sanderson applies a bandage) Where the hell did they find you?
- Grimes: Behind a desk. (Sanderson laughs) No, really! What, you think I'm kidding?
- (Hoot removes magazine from the dead Cpl. Smith's rifle.)
- Sgt. Eversmann: What are you doing?
- Hoot: We need the ammo. (a long pause) You did all you could here.
- Eversmann: They should've sent a medivac.
- Hoot: Well, right now we'd be out there defending another crashed chopper, and more men would get torn up.
- Eversmann: Maybe.
- Hoot: See, you're thinking. Don't. Because, Sergeant, you can't control who gets hit or who doesn't. Who falls out of a chopper, or why. It ain't up to you. It's just war.
- Eversmann: Yeah, well, Smith's still dead. If Blackburn hadn't fallen, none of this would've happened.
- Hoot: Would have, could have, should have - it don't matter. You'll have plenty of time to think about that later. Believe me.
- (Captain Steele is visiting his wounded in a makeshift hospital.)
- Capt. Steele: Ruiz? Sergeant?
- Sgt. Ruiz (weakly): Captain.
- Steele: Lorenzo, how you doing?
- Ruiz: It went in and out, so the medic said I should be okay in a couple of days.
- Steele: That's great news.
- Ruiz: Are we going after them?
- Steele: You bet your ass we will! We gotta regroup.
- Ruiz: Don't go out there without me. Don't go back out there without me. I can still do my job.
- (Sgt. Eversmann finds Hoot gearing up for a mission.)
- Eversmann (in disbelief): You're going back in?
- Hoot: There are still men out there.
Cast
- Josh Hartnett - Sergeant Matt Eversmann, Rangers
- Ewan McGregor - Specialist Grimes, Rangers
- Eric Bana - Master Sergeant "Hoot" Gibson, Delta Force
- William Fichtner - Sergeant Sanderson, Delta Force
- Tom Sizemore - Lieutenant Colonel Danny McKnight, Rangers
- Jason Isaacs - Captain Mike Steele, Rangers
- Sam Shepard - General William Garrison
- Ron Eldard - Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant, 160th SOAR
- Jeremy Piven - Chief Warrant Officer Cliff "Elvis" Wolcott, 160th SOAR