Since the Nicaraguan revolution,
chaos has descended on tiny El Salvador, in Central America.
Today, 18 people were killed and 36 wounded
in a gun battle between demonstrators and the national police.
It started when students, workers and peasants linked to the guerillas
occupied foreign embassies and took over the National Cathedral.
So far, in two months, more than 3000 people have disappeared.
The government blames the murders on left-wing Marxist terrorists
while left-wing spokesmen point to the right-wing death squads.
You cannot walk in like this!
Good morning. You got some money for me?
- No, I have no money. - I want you out of here, okay?
- We cannot go out! - I want you out!
Look, I put up with this shit every month.
I want you, your crumb-snatcher
and your war hero, or whatever the fuck he is
I want him out of here!
Fuck your husband! You got no bucks...
No bucks, no Buck Rogers, Boyle!
Wait until I've had my coffee, huh?
- You're disturbing my kid. - Better get your bitch!
Shit on your papers!
Good morning.
I've had it!
I cannot live like this no more!
Nancy, it's Richard. Listen...
- Richard who? - Boyle.
Richard Boyle, yeah.
I think El Salvador's gonna blow real soon.
With a new press card and two grand I can get some good stuff.
- No way. - Okay.
- How about a new press card? - Forget it.
- Come on, Nancy, please! - I gotta go.
We've had it with you. We gave you $2500 on that Lebanon gig.
- You fucked it away in Greece. - I can't take Muslim nightlife, okay?
You lose tickets, passports, you drink
and you're an embarrassment, Boyle.
I get the piece, don't I?
How about the IRA, "Tortured by the Brits in Belfast"?
And how about Cambodia, "The Last Man Out"?
Sidney Schamburg was having cocktails at the Plaza
and I was getting my ass kicked.
How about freezing my nuts off in the Khyber Pass? I got giardia.
- I was stapled to the toilet for weeks. - Remember El Salvador?
How about El Salvador? Didn't I call that one?
- Huh, Nancy? Come on. - Bye.
- Hey, come on. - Get the fuck out of here, will you?
Not you, Nancy. Nancy? I'm sorry. Nancy?
Nice work, you piece of...
Larry, I need another favor.
I gotta be at the airport in an hour for Beirut.
This is serious. For old times' sake.
You gotta give me $500 to go to El Salvador, $400...
They'll kill you if you go back there.
I need money, not a lecture.
Okay, $300. I'll meet you at Pan Am in 40 minutes.
Great.
Take the quarter. Such a fucking hurry.
Shit.
Mr. Boyle, your license has been revoked.
You're driving without a license, registration or insurance.
You've got four outstanding speeding tickets, all gone to warrant.
You've got 43 unpaid parking tickets.
- Jesus. - Nothing is legal about your car.
- Even your press card is out-of-date. - Out-of-date?
- Damn. - I'm taking you in.
No. I'm not that Richard Boyle.
This happens all the time.
- There's another Richard... - Give me your other hand.
Have some humanity, officer. I just...
You, come here. You, come on.
Back up.
- Thanks for getting me out. - Come on and get your car.
Look, they got Bagel. The Nazis busted Bagel.
They're gonna gas him. Get your car.
I don't have my car, Doc, I need $75 to get it out.
Shit, I just paid $125 to get you out!
Stop whining.
- Here, this is all I got. - Thank you.
Come on before they drop the pellet.
It's just a fucking dog.
It's my dog!
Faster, Richie, will you?
I don't even have a license. They'll throw away the key.
- How long has he been there? - I don't know.
I left him with shit friends.
They're not gonna gas the poor dog, okay?
Everything's turned to shit, Miriam's thrown me out, man.
She says I'm too old to be a disc jockey.
She wants me to sell computers in Silicon Valley, you believe that?
I can't take these yuppie women.
With the Walkmans and the running shoes
and the "rather go to aerobics than fuck," forget about it.
They got pussy exercises too.
Latin women, they're totally different.
They're kind and understanding.
Look at Claudia. She doesn't give a shit what I do...
- Yeah. - Primo.
Best thing about them is they don't speak English.
Richie, can I crash at your place tonight?
I got no place to go. I'll sleep in the shower, toilet, doesn't matter.
Light up another joint, Doc. I got some bad news.
I don't got a place.
We're evicted. We were gonna stay with you and... Bosco.
- Bagel? - Bagel.
You mean I gave you my last $200 and I got no place to stay?
- Hey, Doc... - That's great.
Now what am I supposed to do? I'm in deep shit.
Man, I should've just left you in jail.
Move over, move over!
Another yuppie in a fucking Oldsmobile.
This town is full of goddamn yuppies.
Yuppie town!
Bagel!
Bagel?
Where's my dog?
What does he look like?
- Yeah, I know this dog. - Where is he?
- Bagel! - Excuse me.
Sir? Excuse me.
No, that's not your dog.
We had to put your dog to sleep.
We keep the dogs around 14 days. We kept him more.
- You put him to sleep? - Yeah.
When's he going to wake up?
You killed him, didn't you? You gassed him.
We gave him an injection. It's much more humane...
What kind of humanity is that?
You're a murderer, you know that?
I can't believe it.
That was my only relationship, my best friend. Seven years.
My marriage only lasted five.
- It's not just! - I'm really sorry.
Would you like some puppies?
- My dog's leash. - I'm sorry.
Doc, she can't do anything. Now come on, okay?
All right?
What's it say?
"Fuck you" in Italian.
Shit, she's gone back to Italy to her parents, goddamn it.
That's too bad, Richie.
Well, at least she left the TV.
It was a marriage made in hell.
I'm sure gonna miss my boy.
Maybe she'll be back.
Sure.
Who could leave all this?
- Where we going now? - Guatemala.
Why?
Why not?
No cops, no laws, sun, it's cheap.
No yuppies. Great dope.
Look at you, will you?
You are like a walking museum of the '60s.
What the fuck are you?
I'm a forward-thinking human being.
I know about life. I explore things.
Being a journalist, you're in touch with reality.
You come off with this journalism bullshit all the time, you know that?
I haven't seen one goddamn article that you've written.
I wrote a book. Flower of the Dragon.
Flower of the Dragon was ten years ago!
It was a big exposé.
Ten years ago. What have you written since?
What are you talking about? I've written articles.
I have one in a newspaper in El Salvador about guerillas.
The one in El Salvador? I read that, my whole family read it.
Everyone saw that article, Boyle.
You said Guatemala, man, not El Salvador.
Come on, I've never been out of the country.
They kill people here, Boyle.
You believe everything in the papers?
You'll love it here.
Give me the joint.
This is my last chance, man. I'm serious.
If I can get some good combat shots for AP, I can make some money.
- I could pay you back. - Better pay me back.
We'll head for La Libertad,
the best surfing beach in the world.
Good times, kick back for a few months. It'll be fantastic.
You could live in this country for 300 bucks a year.
- What the fuck is this? - Mace.
- Mace? For what? - Wild dogs.
Yeah, wild dogs? That's bullshit. You've lied to me straight through.
Want me to be honest with you?
What are you doing with all these?
- Here you could have a life. - What are all these?
They come in handy.
You're gonna love it here, Doc.
- I'm going home, man. - You can drive drunk,
- and get anybody killed for $50. - I don't want to.
The best pussy in the world.
Where else can you get a virgin to sit on your face for seven bucks?
Seven bucks.
It better be the best pussy in the world or I'm going home.
Two virgins for 12.
You're just lucky I'm fucked up, you know that?
Drugs? No prescriptions. They got stuff that keeps you hard all night.
All these people want to do is fuck.
Twelve bucks?
I think we can get them down.
- Now you're talking. - You're such an asshole, Boyle.
You're gonna love this place.
You're gonna be in pig heaven, man.
- Why are they blocking the road? - Don't ask.
This ain't gringo-land.
Here, take this, be dumb, act cool, all right?
Is this some kind of tranquillizer?
Yeah, permanent one. Cyanide.
You're gonna be sorry when they cut off your balls
and stuff one in each ear.
You're so fucking dramatic, man. Jesus!
Who are these clowns?
- What the fuck? - Traffic accident.
Jesus, Boyle.
- Oh God, man! - Relax, man, it's just some guy.
Shit.
Get out of the car.
Whatever you do, Doc, whatever you do
don't get on the ground.
Jesus Christ, man, this is scary.
I can't believe this, man.
- Friends of Figueroa. - I'm a friend of Figueroa's.
Is that bad?
He's a friend of Figueroa's.
Shut up!
What's going on here, man?
I think they're checking cédulas.
What's a cédula?
Birth certificates, voting papers.
If you don't have a cédula, you're in deep shit.
Put your hands on your head.
He's probably a student, the worst thing you can be.
Fucking ridiculous. I should've never bailed you out of jail, man.
Shit.
Holy shit! They're gonna fucking kill us now, Boyle.
I thought you knew your way around.
They're gonna kill us now, aren't they?
They're gonna fucking kill us!
Shut the fuck up! Just be cool!
I don't know what they're gonna do.
This is it.
You got any of those tranquillizers left?
How the hell did you get in here?
No periodistas are allowed.
I snuck in through Guatemala, colonel.
You're lucky you've got your huevos, you know that?
You look like shit.
Come with me.
You wash up.
You got some drinks, some food.
We got some nice tight pussy.
For my amigo here,
he write me up in the American newspaper
like the Patton of El Salvador.
You were. It was the last great cavalry charge in history.
Your Soccer War with Honduras, '69.
All the way to Tegucigalpa.
Not since Attila the Hun have there been such amazing cavalry tactics.
This one takes it up the culo real nice.
How about this one? She take it up the culo too?
All right.
Libertad, Doc. End of the rainbow.
I'm sick.
My asshole hurts, my dick burns...
You know, Richie, I don't know how to say this,
but it's been fun traveling with you.
I'd like to catch a plane out.
Do you think you're gonna die?
I got the best doctor in town.
You have nothing to worry about once you get the shot.
It's a joke, it's a joke.
- What the hell's she laughing at? - Nothing.
Everything in there will clean you out.
If it doesn't, it'll kill you.
- What about a subscription? - All you need is an ass.
Don't pay her. I got credit here.
I gotta run.
That's a big fucking needle!
Now, come on, please. Just give me...
Son of a bitch!
Ricardo! Ricardo!
Did you miss me? Did you miss me?
You still drunk? You still crazy?
At the casa, we'll see the television.
Another woman?
Is that you, Major Max?
I like your friend, Dr. Rock.
How bad is it here?
If I had one of those, I'd be a little better off.
You gotta be good-looking and rich.
- If you have a woman you have it made. - My ass hurts.
- Ricardo, can I have some? - Yeah, go ahead, go ahead.
Yeah, yeah, Guatemala gold.
Driving down this road, isn't it beautiful?
You want to go back home?
Everywhere I turn,
dogs screwing other dogs,
pigs in the street, it's like Baltimore, for chrissake.
How are we for cash?
You hungry? Want a hamburger?
Maybe just one before you take me to the airport.
I mean, I got a life there, even without Miriam.
I bailed you out of jail, you owe me a lot of money over the years,
I wish you'd pay me so we can, like, part company, you know?
- John. - Rick!
I thought I'd find you here.
- I thought you were dead. - Do I look that bad?
Yes. I heard stories from Guatemala.
They pulled your toenails out.
Fucking Guatemala. Jesus.
- How was Beirut? - Fucking awful.
You gonna eat those fries?
Dr. Rock, John Cassady.
Thanks.
That was a great cover for Newsweek, John.
What happened? How come you split so fast?
What, from here? I had a beef with Major Max's boys.
They weren't happy about the torture chamber story.
Waiter!
Major Max?
Who's Major Max?
This guy's after you too, on top of everything else?
That was a year ago. They don't have computers.
- Get out of here. - I'm getting out.
First plane, I'm gone. I'm not kidding this time.
Get the fuck out of here!
I want my money, Boyle.
- What money? - I want the money you owe me.
- No bullshit! - You're on drugs. There is no money!
The transmission in Guatemala, gas, whores, the border rip-off.
You know at the border we had 70 colones?
You know how many we got left? 12.
How much is 12 colones?
- Four bucks. Three bucks. - Three American dollars?
That's all we got left?
My dog is dead, Boyle.
Stop doing that! You know why he's doing that?
This is why. He drinks Tic Tack.
It's 17 cents a bottle.
You can't get rid of the guy.
He'll follow you anywhere. Want to go to Beirut?
Tell me what it has to do with me.
It's your yuppie liberal bullshit...
It has nothing the fuck to do with me, man!
I'm stuck in the middle of his fucking country, man.
I got the shits and I only got three fucking dollars!
I gotta get out of here, man!
Fuck you, Boyle. Fuck you.
Fuck you!
He was this hitchhiker I picked up in Guatemala.
Look, John, I'm really sorry...
It's on Newsweek.
You want me to be honest with you?
I got fired by PNS, okay? And I could use a string real bad.
- Could you help? - There's no work here.
- Nobody cares about this war. - I care.
They're not just shooting the Indians.
Last week a Mexican TV guy got blown away
by their paramilitary groups.
They're shooting at us.
- Why don't you try Angola? - It's got no nightlife.
Hey, I can get you in with Figueroa.
I got carte blanche with his elite unit.
You still got the death-mobile.
Come on, Boyle.
Want to go out on dawn patrol?
Or are you too big of a media star these days?
- Let's go. - All right.
You haven't looked through a lens in a while.
Take some pictures. There's fresh bodies up there.
Have you got...
...a 24 or a 28 I could use?
You know what made photographers like Robert Capa great, Rich?
They weren't after money.
They captured the nobility of human suffering.
That was a great shot in Spain.
One flying through the air.
Yeah, but it was more than a body, Richie.
He got...
...why they died.
That's what Capa caught. He caught that moment of death.
You're right up there with him.
You're the best.
You gotta get close, Rich,
to get the truth.
You get too close, you die.
Someday,
I want a shot like Capa.
Someday.
I gotta go, man.
We gotta go.
I don't have to tell you to watch yourself, do I?
Alvarez's people are staked out at the Cathedral, nowadays.
I'll talk to him for you.
And Tom Kelly's the new ambassador.
- From Cambodia? - You should check him out.
I know him. He's a good man.
There's gonna be a party at the embassy on Tuesday for the election.
John, thanks.
Cambodia was something, huh?
What's going on here?
This is where people find out about the disappeared.
- What did he say? - These people are from a land co-op.
They were evicted by police, so they're on strike.
I saw that in Zapata.
Carmen!
Carmen Sanchez. Hey, it's Ricardo.
Hi, how are you?
Ramon?
Did John Cassady talk to you about my going out with the guerillas?
Ramon, I need a break and I did a good story on you last year, remember?
Look, I'm not a travel agency for you guys.
I know, but if Max takes power, you'll need good press. I'd like to help.
Good press.
There are 10,000 disappeared
and every day the list grows, and you pendejo
talk about good press.
Ramon,
I got some shots this morning and maybe they can help you
from El Playon. I'm sorry, okay?
Come back next week. I arrange it.
Oh, God. Thank you, Carmen.
Sister Stan?
- Hi, how you doing? - Fine.
- It's good to see you back. - Good to see you.
Cathy's around somewhere.
You look awfully busy.
Yes. Parents missing, dead, lost.
These are some survivors from the massacre at the Sempa River.
I heard government helicopters fired as they crossed.
It's very bad now. Very bad.
Madness on both sides.
Cathy Moore.
The prettiest Colleen in all of El Salvador.
What are you doing here, you degenerate?
Back to see old girlfriends at the Noa Noa?
- You ruined that by converting them. - I try.
Need a ride to La Libertad tomorrow?
I can't, I got too much to do around here.
Fudge!
It's the wrong piece! It's for an elbow!
I told Cleveland! It happens every time! They promised.
Come on, Cathy. We'll have another shipment next month.
Anisetta can wait.
Can't you, darling?
One... Two...
Three...four...
...five.
Now you can go to any urban city and you can make it.
Try to halt the infiltration into the Americas
by terrorists, by outside interference
and those who aren't just aiming at El Salvador
but I think are aiming at...
...the whole of Central and possibly later, South America
and, I'm sure, eventually North America.
Can you believe that
the straight man to a chimpanzee will be the next president of the U.S.?
I mean, doesn't that depress you?
- Know what depresses me? - What?
- You! - I can accept that.
I can't! This is like a gig. I'm trying to make money.
How can I, with you yakking and hobbling around?
Go get something to eat or go to the pool and meet girls, will you?
- Stay out of my face! - Okay, I'm easy.
Yakking all the time.
...going for Ronald Reagan.
- Morgan. - I thought you were dead.
What brings you here? Reagan planning ahead?
Colonel Hyde, remember me?
- Pacific News Service, Vietnam? - Bob Samuels, USAID.
How do you do?
Millicent Davies, US AFL-CIO.
Remember me, sir?
Yeah, I remember.
Last time I heard about you was when Thieu kicked you out.
Then Mr. Thieu got kicked out after me.
I never understood why you guys like the Commies so much.
"We guys."
If you were Vietnamese, you'd be in a reeducation camp pulling turnips.
I never really liked turnips very much.
And I'm not applying for Vietnamese citizenship.
They don't like that funny stuff you smoke, old buddy.
Why, you got some?
Colonel, let me ask you something. It's a big favor.
You think you could get me out on a Cazadore op?
If I get you out,
what's in it for me?
These guys never change.
Vietnam. You know, Vietnam.
I mean, are we gonna invade here or what?
I don't know what you're talking about.
I was young during all that.
Look, I'm not supposed to talk to the press, okay?
And you're weird. So fuck off.
I'm not the press.
- Go with the guerillas? - With anybody.
The National Guard, the muchachos... Want a drink? Yeah, you do.
Something big is in the wind.
Rebels are getting weapons through Nicaragua.
They'll make a move soon, so any news or photos you could throw my way...
No, that's stuff's hard to prove and I hate doing that.
I'm not asking you to spook. Just show them to me first.
You'll publish them anyway.
I hear they're getting it from the black market, from government troops...
Last year. This year Castro's got them organized.
I'm not messing around. This is all bloc stuff.
Jesus. Same old "Black Jack" Morgan.
You won't think it's a joke when they take this place.
Nicaragua was just the beginning. Guatemala and Honduras are next.
In five years you'll see Cuban tanks on the Rio Grande.
Give me a break. I'm more worried about Major Max on the Rio Grande.
Major Max may be running things here soon.
So you'd better watch yourself, sport.
Jesus. Hey, could you lend me 50 bucks?
- What? - 50 bucks.
Tom!
Ambassador Kelly, how are you? I'm Richard Boyle, PNS.
I was the last man out of Cambodia. After Schamburg.
I wrote Flower of the Dragon. I'm a friend of Captain Moore's.
Ambassador, does this Reagan thing pose a problem for you?
Let me grab a couple of shots.
General, have you met Mr. Doyle?
Hello. Nice to meet you. That's Boyle. Boyle.
Thanks.
ABC has projected the next president...
...Ronald Reagan.
I gotta do a standup at 10, boiling all this down.
You couldn't go far wrong saying:
"With Reagan in the saddle, the guerillas are in deep shit."
That's lovely, Peter, but have you seen the Journal today?
Here. It's real rah-rah democracy, free elections, all that.
I think it's what the networks want tonight.
So, what's your sign?
"Stop."
That's really cute.
I thought it was "Slippery When Wet."
This article and you, Pauline, are 100 percent
and unequivocally full of shit.
Who's talking? You're so full of shit I can't believe it.
- I resent... - Know what I resent?
- I resent what we saw in Santa Ana. - What was that?
A kid shot in the head and hung because he didn't have his cédula.
- Know what a cédula is? - Yeah.
If you're gonna analyze a situation, analyze it right.
You don't have a cédula on election day, stamped, you're dead.
What kind of democracy is it when you have to vote
and if you don't you're branded a Commie subversivo.
These people would vote for Donald Duck
or whoever the local cop tells them because if they don't,
this is what happens.
You're a real pro. That's why you can't last two weeks with a network.
Yuppies do a standup from the Camino Real, they think they got the story.
City lights, my ass.
"My Two Weeks in El Salvador" by Pauline Axelrod.
Oh, yeah.
"Whoring Through El Salvador" by Richard Boyle.
Never with you, blowjob queen of New York.
You're kissing all the right asses, no wonder you're on the networks.
Excuse me.
- Pauline, I'm sorry. - Fuck off!
Just be a sport. I'm an asshole!
I'm an asshole, all right?
Well, you don't have to worry about her.
She's gonna boil it down real good.
I put 500 mics of acid in her drink.
- Are you serious? - Yeah.
With Ronald Reagan sweeping the elections,
here at the Camino Real Hotel...
Finally, we have someone in the White House with balls.
The time has come for us, brothers,
former members of Orden,
patriots of the Maximiliano Hernandez Brigade
and brothers of La Mano Blanca.
These fucking priests poisoning the minds of our Salvadoran youth
are gonna be the first to bleed.
They are pig shit.
And this Romero is the biggest pig shit of all.
A shitfaced desecration of an archbishop.
And with this bullet...
...he will be the first to die.
For every one of our people we will kill 100 of them.
We will avenge the deaths
of the South African ambassador
of Foreign Minister Mauricio Borgenovo,
of Roberto Cuoma
of Colonel Rosario, of Gutierrez and Molina
and of the Mayor of El Paraiso.
These subversives that have sold our country to the Communists will die.
Erlich, Zaun, Kelly, Duarte, et cetera, et cetera.
And these pseudo journalists sent by the Zionist-Communist conspiracy
to divide and confuse our people, they will die.
Now,
who will be the one
among you
to rid me of this Romero?
You will be famous.
As you well know,
I stand for nationalism,
law and order, and economic prosperity.
More important,
I stand for Church and family
and a peaceful Salvador.
There you go. You like that?
Yeah, rock 'n' roll.
Your tab is way high. You owe me 400 colones.
I'm running a restaurant, not a bank.
I know, okay?
I got an NBC radio gig in the works,
I got a CNN feed tomorrow, I'm hot again.
Have I ever stiffed you in 10 years?
I'll pay you the whole thing next week.
Okay. Don't tell Elena. She'll kill me.
Besides that, could you throw in 100 colones cash, walking around money?
In front of Maria, I don't want to look like a jerk.
- You're doing it to me again. - I'll make it 750.
Okay, man.
...who are the masters of deception.
Christian Democrat green on the outside,
Moscow red on the inside.
Listen to your conscience.
Who is inflicting more violence?
Terrorists?
Carlos, come on. Get down.
This isn't funny. Come on.
I want to talk to you! Sit down.
This stuff's like white lightening.
You keep drinking that, you'll end up in the street begging.
I'm not kidding you, you will.
Who are you? Get off the fucking car.
Get in the car, Doc.
Hey! What are you doing?
Jesus.
Get in the car.
Doc, get in the car.
Where'd you get all those marks on your face?
Couldn't keep your hands off the blackheads in high school?
Could be death squad, got it? Get in the car.
You can drop me here.
Where are you going?
What will your parents say?
She knows.
It's not safe here anymore.
I go, okay?
You gonna join them?
In my country, amigo, there is no more God.
Go in the house, I'll take care of it!
What are you talking about? It's my brother!
I know it's your brother! I'll take care of it.
Now get in the fucking house!
I'll take care of it!
Fuck!
Get me the fuck out of here!
You want to live? Shut up.
Doc, go, go! Get out of here. Go.
Take him out.
And the other one?
No, he's a bad kid. No respect.
He stays here. Or you stay as well.
All right.
Carlos, just stay cool. I'll get you out.
- Hi, Cathy, how are you? - I'm fine.
- You look a little tired. - I'm fine.
- Ambassador, Richard Boyle. - Sir.
Good to see you again.
- You remember me? - I certainly do.
I'm sorry, but I had actually written two articles about you in Cambodia.
- Really? - "Fall of Phnom Penh."
I was the last American journalist out.
Schamberg gets his Pulitzer Prize, and I almost got cholera,
but we saved 1100 refugees from the Khmer Rouge.
- Awful, what they did to that country. - Yes, it was.
Are you one of the people portraying them as the good guys for a while?
Yes, sir, I'm afraid I was wrong there.
But a lot of people were.
If these guys running around the hills took power
it'd be much worse than Pol Pot.
Are they as bad as Major Max and the Mano Blanco?
I don't know.
A killer on the right, God knows what on the left and a gutless middle.
Boyle, about your problem here,
Carol's checked the National Guard, the Treasury Police, the Army.
Nobody seems to know anything about this boy.
- Now we think... - With all due respect,
they're lying.
He didn't just disappear. Nobody disappears here. They got him.
Carol, have you checked Human Rights?
Fuck the Human Rights office!
They rearranged this kid's molecules!
- Richard! - He's dying out there, those fucks.
He's just a kid! He's just a kid!
- Richard, please calm down. - Okay, I'm sorry.
Ambassador, look, his sister,
she's my girlfriend. I've gotta get a cédula for her.
They could come tonight, take her away and kill her, too.
Richard! That doesn't have anything to do with us.
You know the laws here.
She'll have to go back to her hometown.
- Where's she from? - Morazon, sir.
If she gets near there, the guards will kill her as a suspected G. Fuck!
I'll do the best I can, but it's very tough.
Everybody's in the same boat.
Thousands of people want a cédula.
Let me ask you this...
What if I married her?
Richard, you're already married.
Sir, I know you're busy. Thank you for your time.
But this is El Salvador. Suppose I just married her?
- I'll do whatever I can. I will. - Thank you, sir.
Maybe you could talk to Immigration?
Just let me see what I can do.
Joan and I want to see you at the Christmas party.
- Maybe I could keep in touch with you? - Yeah, sure.
- I give up on you. - What do you mean, give up?
- Every time I try to get something... - This guy, he liked me.
- What's up? - I gotta get Maria a cédula.
Maria.
They can't find Carlos, but the ambassador is personally involved.
The thing is, though,
you're in danger. Without a cédula they can grab you, comprende?
So I've been thinking about something, and what I think we should do...
- Marry me. - What?
We could have a family.
Duglas and Reina and you and me.
- And Carlos, what about him? - And Carlos, yes, when we find him.
You already have a wife?
No, that's been over, six months. I got a divorce. I never told you.
- Hi, Boyle! - Just a second.
- Hey, Peter. - Atlanta's giving you a shot.
No!
- If you fuck up this time... - Not a chance. That's great, man.
I want some real stuff on the Gs.
- You set with Alvarez? - We're like this.
You got the camera, the crew, and the Arena press conference.
- Right, Major Max. - He's gonna declare for president.
I'm going to Venezuela, so you'll have to cover for me.
You're a mensch. Could you lend me fifty bucks, man? I'm low.
You don't change, do you?
- This is what we got here. - 100 would...
- 200 of them. - 200 colones?
Out of my own pocket, so no whores.
- Do a good job, Boyle. - Peter, you're a mensch, thanks.
- So what? - I can't marry a divorced man.
And you, Richard, are a bad Catholic in all ways.
How am I a bad Catholic?
- You're living in sin. - No, I'm not.
- You drink. - Okay, sometimes.
You sleep with many women.
- You smoke marijuana. - No, that was Rock's.
And you lie, you scheme and you scam.
What is good or decent about you?
What redemption can you expect?
Well, none. Okay, you got a point, I am a fucking weasel.
But think about this. If I went to Church,
I haven't been to Church in 30 years, but we'd go to communion together...
Redemption, it'd be great! We could go to Archbishop Romero.
He knows me and likes me very much.
I could become a lay Catholic worker. It'd be wonderful, I could...
This redemption thing feels good. I feel cleansed already.
- You want some of this? - No, no more marijuana.
It's possible Archbishop Romero could annul my marriage to Claudia.
She was a Commie atheist anyway.
I'm gonna talk to him about this, seriously.
Very good man.
Man of the people. Man of God. He could win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Hey, what's this? Another demonstration, Boyle?
Do you follow in the way of Christ?
Not exactly. I mean, in my heart, yes.
But I've done a lot of, you know,
carnal sins, and
drunk a lot of alcohol, and done some drugs.
I've weaseled around in my life, trying to get the edge all the time.
But basically, I'm a good-hearted person.
I haven't done anything malicious in my life.
I haven't done anything great either.
I've tried to do things, find truths. I do love this woman.
- For her, I'd... - You'd change for this woman.
For this woman I'm willing to change. I mean not just...
If God gave me this woman,
then there must be a God.
So if He knows what's right, then I'd do what's right by Him.
Just repent. Change your ways.
That's gonna be a little tough.
You love this woman, you will be willing to change.
Okay, I can still drink
and take a few hits from a joint once in a while, right? That's okay?
Twelve Our Fathers, ten Hail Marys, and an Act of Contrition.
That's it?
Ask the Lord for forgiveness from your heart.
From my heart.
If I'd known this, I would've come earlier, before 33 years.
You should've come earlier.
- I'll come back. - Next time don't wait so long.
Taxi! Taxi!
You will note, I did not agree with the bishop.
He sometimes got carried away with his politics.
He did not understand that with the Left in power,
there will be no Church in this country.
And he will be out of a job.
In my book, it was the subversives that killed him.
No question. To provoke this atmosphere, this cause.
It's rumored that you're head of the death squads terrorizing the city.
Care to comment?
- You're pressing your luck, Boyle. - Nice going, Boyle.
I really resent that question.
Get the fuck off.
Why do you never ask the Communist leaders?
They are not the only victims. We have victims too.
They know there are no death squads in El Salvador.
The outrage of the people against the Communist threat
cannot be stopped or organized by anyone.
Sir, the polls show you trailing the Christian Democrats.
Are you sure you can capture both the Catholic and the woman's vote?
Bullshit question. Saves a tape.
Do you mind? I'm gonna buy it for my sister. Looks nice.
Here he comes. Mr. Gomez?
Mr. Gomez, question, please.
Get him, get him.
No interviews with this piece of shit.
What are you gonna do about it, fatso?
This is not going to fly.
Think about your image.
Shit about your image. I'll cut your balls off, Boyle!
Do it yourself, huh?
Huh, you chicken shit?
Hi, you guys from Washington? Huh?
You're a real pro, Boyle.
Doc! Doc, where's Maria?
Boyle! They found Carlos, man.
- Where? - He's fucked up.
Over there, man, he's really fucked up bad.
- Maria, please. - Don't touch me!
He was acting stupid! Why blame me?
It wasn't my fault!
Great going, Boyle. Have a drink.
Damn it.
I really love her, man. I mean...
She and the kids were the only decent thing I ever had in my life.
I don't know why I'm living anymore.
That's all I got is 10.
- Fifteen. - I was only in there for five minutes.
That guy kept interrupting me.
I would have been out of there faster. All I got is 10.
Okay, 10.
You asshole.
I'll give you 50 percent interest.
- Know what you said? - Huh?
That you'd pay her in two menstrual cycles, you moron.
I'm sure you don't need it, and I can't say I approve, but...
Merry Christmas, Richard.
Get over here. Get over here.
Get over here.
Richard.
Cathy, talk to Maria.
I need Maria. Talk to Father Paul. She listens to him.
You're old enough to be her father. Forget her.
I'm in love with her.
I love you, Richie.
Father Paul has to follow the papal orders, there's nothing...
I hate that. I hate when you do that so much.
- What about your other wife and kid? - She left me. She took my kid.
So you're going to bring Maria back with you?
What's she gonna do, Richard? Sell snow cones on Fisherman's Wharf?
Down here she has a purpose. Up there she's a fish out of water.
Yeah, I know.
You don't have enough money to support the kid you've already got.
I need to talk to you about my whole life, it's such a mess.
- It's disgusting. - You're disgusting.
What are you doing here?
- You're not making it as a journalist. - I'll make it again.
I will make it again.
The white hand's been painted on the parish house wall.
Your altar boy is dead.
Even the Peace Corps has moved out.
I love it here.
I just can't go back.
I know. I love it here, too.
- Can you have dinner with me? - No.
- Tomorrow night? - No, I can't. Besides, you smell.
I'm going to the airport tomorrow. Two nuns are coming in.
Sometime?
Maybe.
- Be careful on the way to the airport. - Yeah.
Wait a minute, I'll walk you to your car.
- Merry Christmas, Richard. - Bye.
- You be good. - I will.
- I don't trust you. - I will be.
- Bye, sweetheart. - Bye.
Gringo.
Let's take a walk down by the beach, gringo.
I'm not going to the beach with you.
I'll tell you something else, I'm not only a fucking Irishman, I'm...
I'm a fucking Viking.
I'll take as many of these creeps to fucking Valhalla as I can!
You got a big mouth. Major Max has got a present for you.
Come to the beach.
Come on, cocksucker, you'll have to fucking kill me!
You ain't fucking taking me alive! Come on!
You want to play a fucking game, Boyle?
Okay, first I'll take your arms,
then I'll take your legs
then your balls. Sound like a fun game?
Okay, cocksuckers, how do you like these odds, huh?
Boyle, I'll be back for you.
Fuck you!
Yeah, up yours too, Jack.
- How was Nicaragua? - Bad.
There's no gasoline. People line up for hours to get food.
Worse than... Very, very destructive.
On the other hand, there's been no political execution of Somazastias.
I can't believe this. Get your passports ready.
What's the matter?
We have done nothing!
I'm a good friend of Ambassador Kelly. You'll be in a lot of trouble.
The bodies of four American women missing since Tuesday were found
here today, at a roadside grave
25 miles east of San Salvador.
The victims were identified as...
I just heard five guards did it for 15 colones and a bottle of Tic Tack.
And they got this clown mayor to sign the death certificates.
- Will he talk? - If we can keep him alive.
- What are the chances of that? - Slim to none, and he knows it.
He had no business signing without an autopsy.
I want to know if those bullets are rebel or government!
You knew Cathy well, didn't you?
What do you think?
Rumor has it they ran a roadblock and there was an exchange of gunfire.
He says the doctors won't do it because they don't...
- They don't have their masks. - Masks, huh?
Okay, pal. All right.
We're cutting off all aid as of today.
Sir, they were coming from Managua, and they were Communist-oriented.
Maybe they got spooked at the roadblock, maybe they were packing.
Pistol-packing nuns, my ass.
I knew Cathy. You can't sell me that shit.
General Garcia has assured me of a complete investigation.
Have the fox investigate the chicken coop, huh?
You must think I'm stupid, colonel.
I know all about you.
Reagan's team coming down here to talk to Max without checking with me.
It's all going in my report.
You gave a clear signal to the Arana people that resulted in this.
We want to do a real in-depth and sympathetic portrait.
For the first time our armies are united.
We now control a third of Chatalengo in the west
and Morazon Province in the east.
We want the people and all government troops to join our final offense.
We'll take all major cities.
Santa Ana, San Vicente, San Miguel.
Then San Salvador will fall.
When, captain?
Before Reagan.
And you think you're ready?
With 4000 troops, take all of El Salvador?
The Pentagon won't let it happen.
The will of the people and the march of history cannot be changed.
Not even by the Norteamericanos.
- Careful on the way out. - Don't worry, I have experience.
- I'm serious. - Thanks.
- Good luck. - Okay, bye. Thank you.
This doesn't show much.
I stuck my neck out for you, Boyle. You're not too popular around here.
- Where were these taken? - I can't tell you, but it's old stuff.
Shotguns, bolt action rifles, captured Belgian FLNs.
Fifty cals, 120 mike-mikes taken from government troops.
- Any anti-aircraft stuff? Any SAMs? - Nothing.
How about it? How about a cédula for my woman and her two kids?
There's not much, or you're not saying everything.
Christ!
What about recoilless rifles, RPGs?
They're in shit shape, getting nothing.
When will you believe what your eyes see
and not what Intelligence tells you to think?
We got AWACs, infrareds, statements from a defecting FRAN commandant,
and enough military intel to prove 10,000 percent
that this ain't no civil war, but Commie aggression.
You've been lying about that from the beginning.
You've not presented one shred of proof to the American public
that this is anything but a legitimate peasant revolution.
Don't tell me about the sanctity of military intelligence.
Not after Chile and Vietnam. I was there, remember?
I personally resent that kind of shit.
Then resent it, okay?
You've lied about the advisers here.
- Lied about the trainers on TTY. - Bullshit!
You're lying about switching humanitarian assistance money
to Salvadoran military coffers.
It's a lie that this war can be won militarily, it can't.
Of course it can.
Calm down, Boyle. I'm sorry about this.
I'm not gonna listen to this wino journalist's left-wing Commie crap.
We know where this guy's sympathies lie. Why are we talking to him?
Look, Richard, you saw Martin.
We know they're starting some kind of an offensive.
I'm not a fucking spy for you guys.
Left-wing, colonel? Well, maybe.
But I'm not a Communist, and you guys are never able to tell the difference.
- Is that a fact? - Yeah.
I love my country the same as you. That may surprise you.
You're the ones who trained Major Max at the police academy.
You trained Jose Medrano and Rene Chacon.
Trained them to torture and kill, then sent them here.
What did Chacon give us? He gave us the Mano Blanco.
What are the death squads, but the brainchild of the CIA?
- You like that they're anti-Moscow. - Bullshit!
You let them close the universities, wipe out the best minds.
You let them wipe out the Catholic Church.
You let them do it all because they aren't Commies.
And that, colonel, is bullshit.
You've created a major Frankenstein.
We can control him.
Like you control the Major Maxes...
- Well, look who's here. - Hi.
What about Pol Pot and Castro? Are they any better?
Pol Pot and Castro? I don't know if they're better.
All I know is that some campecino who can't read or write
or feed his family, has to watch his kid die of malnutrition.
You think he gives a shit about Marxism or capitalism?
It was that kind of crap thinking that lost us Vietnam, this guilt shit.
You liberal assholes. What do you think the KGB's doing, huh?
Is that why you're here?
Some kind of post-Vietnam experience, like you need a rerun?
You pour $120 million in here and turn it into a military zone.
- So you can have chopper parades? - You're blowing it out your ass.
You're only bringing misery to these people.
I don't want to see another Vietnam.
I don't want to see America get another bad rap.
I lost my hearing in this ear over there, and for what?
Fifteen dollars a photo from Pacific News Service?
I did it because I believe in America.
I believe that we stand for something.
For a constitution.
For human rights, not just for a few people
but for everybody on this planet.
You gotta think of the people first.
In the name of human decency, something Americans are supposed to believe in.
You've got to try to make something of a just society here.
Look, Richard, it's all part of our national plan.
We do a lot of good down here.
I'm often asked by people like you to examine my conscience...
And I do examine it.
And what do you find, Jack?
That whatever mistakes we make down here,
the alternative would be ten times worse.
Maybe I'll just, like, forge a cédula for my girlfriend.
They're on the house.
Boyle.
Boyle!
There's something you should know.
My Salvo counterparts are mighty pissed about some periodistas
going out with the terrorists.
If they can catch one, they'll make a lesson out of him.
Look, I'll get out of your hair.
Just get me a cédula for my girlfriend and her two kids, I'm gone.
Getting a cédula for your whore is the least of your problems.
Personally, I don't give a shit if they kill you or not.
I happen to hate the species you belong to.
But I'm telling you, they're serious.
If I were you, I'd get my rubber shoes on and get to the airport.
You'll fit in here really well, you know that?
You sound just like another gangster.
Dumb fuck!
...a panning shot for the beginning of the interview, okay?
Come over here.
- Can you tell me your name? - Sorry, we can't speak to the press.
Thank you, private. I appreciate it.
- Can you tell me your name? - No, I'm sorry, I cannot.
- How about where you're from? - Okay. Long Island, New York.
Well, welcome to El Salvador, what do you think?
It's not bad, but I'm anxious to watch the Giants' game.
- Know where a TV is? - I don't know.
Thanks, soldier.
Excuse me, colonel. Pauline Axelrod, ANS News.
Does this signal a buildup of U.S. combat troops here in El Salvador?
Ma'am, these are not combat troops.
They're trainers, officially authorized by Congress.
- No further comment. - Thank you, sir.
This is Pauline Axelrod, ANS News, San Salvador.
Listen, you got one thing going for you
and that's Maria still cares about you.
She does.
If I were you, I'd straighten out my act and go back to her on my knees.
Doc, please.
All right, just trying to help you.
Doc!
- Wilma! Hi, how are you? - Fine.
Boyle, did you meet Wilma?
- Is this Wilma from the Panama Club? - Well, she straightened up her act.
And look at this.
Bagel II, huh?
That's great, Doc.
- Come on. Let's go. - She wants to take me shopping.
- Do something about these drinks? - Let me... Just a couple bucks.
- What's this? - She had a long career.
- Thanks. - See you.
- Rich, you still got your wheels? - Yeah.
The Gs just hit Santa Ana.
- Wait, I gotta stop in the Libertad. - No.
- I gotta see Maria. - No.
Then go without me.
All right, come on.
Shit!
Fuck.
Sign!
Fuck me.
John!
Look!
John, wait! Shit.
Crazy... John!
Fuck.
You crazy fucking fool! You're not that magic!
Today I am, Boyle.
The Sandinistas have entered the war. Equipment's being unloaded at Fonteca.
- Possibly troops too. - Any backup?
No time. Santa Ana's fallen. The country's split.
The First Army's wiped out. It's deteriorating very fast.
El Salvador will fall in 48 hours.
In 24. Their air force has no ammo, no gas.
We restore military aid or go to Phase Three.
The 82nd Airborne's on alert and Marines are in position.
- God almighty. - What do you want to do?
I won't get steamrolled into this. Get substantiation on Nicaragua.
That would take days.
If we don't give the order to evacuate soon,
I can't be responsible for the safety of the embassy
or the American community here.
Listen, Tom,
we know you're leaving in a few days, that's not the issue.
The issue is, do you want to go down in the history books
as the man who lost El Salvador?
That's hardly the issue!
We're talking about human lives!
We're not playing some computer game!
Jesus, history books!
God!
The line is dead, sir.
Where the fuck are the Americans?
Sir,
you have a decision to make.
All right.
Okay.
I'll recommend that we restore all military aid.
Give the order to release the fuel and arms runs to Ilopango.
Yes, sir.
My 120's fucked up.
Tanks?
Panhards.
Shit!
Can you lay two more rolls of Tri-X on me?
Is this your justice?
You've become just like them!
This is war! You don't have the stomach for it.
Get out!
You've become just like them.
Fucker! Fucker!
You believe this?
John, no!
John!
Jesus, God.
God, John.
Why'd you want to put your...
Don't move.
Breathe out.
Can you breathe?
I got the shot, Boyle.
You got the shot.
- Take it to New York. - I'll get it to New York.
Got it.
Jesus, God.
You got the magic shot.
You got it. You're the best.
We fucked up, didn't we?
Don't wipe it on your thing, clean it!
Rich, you okay?
Doc, give me a Valium, anything.
I got something for you.
- Here's two. - Thank you.
Goddamn, that looks horrible.
Hey, hey! Where you going?
Where you going?
- Is it okay? - It's all right. It'll be all right.
I got some good news for you.
Look, the bruja gave me some cédulas for Maria and the kids.
She did a pretty good job.
And look, I got your exit visa forged too.
She kind of fucked up on that, but I think it's gonna be all right.
- Thank you. - It'll work.
You gotta get out of here, man.
The police were over at Roberto's looking for you.
They say you're in the country illegally.
Roberto said he thinks you're dead.
You got to get out of here.
When we get there, hang back.
If there's any trouble, call Kelly.
If Kelly's gone, Morgan will help. Got it?
I heard you the first time. I know.
Take care, don't stay here too long.
Don't become a Tic Tack monster. They kill people here.
You believe everything you read in the papers?
I'll miss you, Doc.
I'll miss you too.
Is that my watch?
Give it to me for the border.
Cheap son of a bitch.
Say hi to gringo-land for me, all right?
You guys be careful.
It's fake.
Look, I'm not gonna bullshit you, all right? It was a rush job.
I have to get to America. I'm an important journalist.
Newsweek. Understand?
Newsweek. Time.
CBS. Big shot.
It's very important.
Where's he going?
Capital. You know... Oh, God.
I have a very important appointment in the capital
with Ambassador Kelly and Mr. Jose Duarte.
Why don't you hold that...
I'm a big fan of the Raiders, actually.
The ambassador, you know? United States Embassy.
The Mano Blanco doesn't hate you, but you make trouble for Mr. Gomez.
Willie Gomez is a friend of mine.
That's why he wants you dead?
God, not that film!
That's the best war film of the year!
Cassady died getting it, you motherfucker!
He died getting that film!
Fuck you! Fuck you, cocksuckers!
Boyle is about to fucking die.
And if he does, if he does,
your next job will be in Rwanda counting fucking spears, understand?
Get the ambassador on the phone!
Okay, I'm not kidding.
I got $50,000 in traveler's checks.
They're hidden, like, two kilometers from here.
You lie, you stupid gringo.
You tell General Martinez
that I am still the ambassador to this country for another day.
I want those people out of there now
or I'll make it the worst day of his fucking life. You got that?
Okay, fuck it.
Let's get it over with.
Are you kidding?
A little American trick here.
You know what that means? You're all stupid cocksuckers.
I hope you get anal herpes.
Next?
Where've you been?
We just went to Nogales for the afternoon with the family.
- Did you take the roast out? - Yes, I took care of it.
When are we going to Disneyland?
I don't know, next month. He's getting spoiled, I'm telling you.
- Okay. Next? - Great. Thanks.
Come on.
I always dreamed to come to California.
It's a wacko joint.
Not like El Salvador.
You can be what you want, do what you want,
as long as you got the money.
Maybe I'll get some of my Salvador stories published.
I could write a story on John.
I think we're gonna be okay.
Why are we stopping here?
Please don't be alarmed, just a routine Immigration check.
May I see your I.D., sir?
Yeah, sure. Will a driver's license do?
We just went to Nogales for the day.
Is that right? Are you his wife?
- What is he saying? - Yes, she is. Is there a problem?
May I see some identification?
What is he saying?
What is the problem here? Look, she's with me.
She's been through hell.
I'm a journalist, she's my researcher. I don't understand the problem.
Come with me. Bring your children.
Wait a minute. What are you doing?
Sit down, sir, please.
- Wait a minute. - Hey, sit down.
I'll sit down, but she's...
Richard, stop it. I go.
- But Maria, wait. - I go. I be all right.
Just take care of yourself.
If you send her back, they will kill her, rape her and mutilate her.
If you send her back there...
If you send the kids, they'll kill them.
You don't know what it's like!
- You're under arrest. - You have no idea what it's like!
- Move it! - You have no idea!
Check point.
Three illegals. One female Latino,
and two children.
Bringing them in.
One WMA. One Boyle, Richard,
birthdate 2-26-43.
Check. Ten-four.
Get him in.