The Cockpit - Episode 03 knight of the iron dragon - English subtitles

This is Zelabanca, an old war field on Leyte Island. One seldom sets foot on the Zelabanca Plain now. But if you listen carefully, you may hear a murmuring about the cruel fate of two brave men. It has been nearly 50 years since this engine stopped running. Everything's gone into eternal sleep. This rusty machine gun will never fire again. This engine, hit by the rain, beaten by the wind, would tell a story of the metal and the blood of two men. KNIGHT OF THE IRON DRAGON Everybody listen! These are divisional orders. Retreat 300 km and settle into position. We are to abandon these artillery batteries. Move out! You don't have to pack so hurriedly. It doesn't matter whether you go to the right or to the left, you'll still be surrounded by enemies. Target, ahead left, 23,000, an enemy artillery battery! Hey, hey. What are they doing? Don't tell me they're gonna fire that cannon. They went to a lot of trouble to bring these big field cannons from Japan. They're gonna want to use them at least once or twice. Ready! Oh man, that *** has no clue! Oh damn, that did it! We're gonna get a thousand times that gunfire in return any second. You're right. Oops! I almost forgot this. Here it is! Incoming! It seems to have stopped. Yes. Let's see. They've done a pretty good job. What happened?! Who the hell ran over my head? What kind of idiot would drive a motorcycle through an artillery barrage? Hey, he was driving through the whole bombardment, I think. He's okay. He just got knocked out by the blast. You fool. Most people die in bomb blasts! Hey. Say something! Mom... ''Mom?'' He's a kid! Still just a baby! Oh, he's coming around. Here, this'll starch your shorts. How's that for specialized medicine? May I ask where... May I ask where the headquarters of the 28th artillery regiment are? The headquarters of the regiment? You're looking at it. Oh, it's here, sir? Well, I mean, it was here... a little while ago. Look, there's nothing left. Not a trace of it. Oh no. What you see is what you get. We're in trouble. You figured that out, huh? Where did you come from? I came from Karakechile Airfield as an orderly. Karakechile? That airfield, 100 km South, where are bombers used to stay? Yes sir. Our garrison and air force have been jeopardized by... the American attack. So, you came here to ask for reinforcements? Yes sir. Well, you came here a bit late. The regiment just retreated. Oh no! Don't you have a radio? If we had, I wouldn't have come here on the motorcycle. That's true. Give me that. I am going back as an orderly to inform of the divisional retreat. This motorcycle isn't even usable. The engine is burned up, and it has holes everywhere. Retreat with us. Yeah, come with us. I'm definitely going back. You'll be going back there to die. I don't care if I die. I'm... going back there... for my fellow... He just passed out. Well, he must be exhausted. I wonder if he's really going back when he wakes up. It's absurd, but a lot of his friends must be waiting at the airfield. I'd lend him a motorcycle if I had one. Don't be stupid! There isn't a car or even one usable wheel. Everything... is blown up... I suppose that artillery officer is satisfied, since he died after firing the cannon. Idiot! That's unfair to the soldiers who got killed because of that! You say it's unfair, but we're in a war. so we can't complain. You're an idiot! What's unfair is unfair, at all times. Won't the battery at the airfield retreat at their own discretion? Idiot! The Japanese never, ever retreat... without an order, even if it costs us our lives! If it's for a hundred years or two hundred years... we will never quit! We were born in a strange country, I must say. We sure were. What are we going to do with him? Are we gonna leave him? Kumada... Kawakami... Wait for me... I'm coming back. We've been ordered to retreat. Are you up? I've cooked some rice for you. Eat it and get some strength. We're the only people here. Everybody else has retreated. Here, the artillery left this food. Eat. Wow, real Japanese rice! How come you are still here, sir? Somebody needs to be on the sidecar to man the machine gun. But my motorcycle... It's broken. My motorcycle... It's been fixed! Our motor pool company gathered part from broken motorcycles and cars... to fix your cycle before they retreated. Wow! This is great! That machine gun is one our battery men left behind. The part used to fix her are from Harley Davidsons, some Rikuoh, Kurogane, and even from Datsun. It has a full tank of gas, it won't break down. Do you know who repaired my motorcycle? What does it matter? Now, let's go. Into the sidecar. I'm going by myself. You shouldn't get involved, sir. Stupid! However I may look, I'm a combat specialist. I can handle artillery, small arms, self-propelled guns, you name it. I can drive. I can even cook rice. Of course, I can also drink and sing songs. You wanna swig? A drunk driver can't break through enemy lines. Just one kick. Wow, the engine started with one kick! By the way, what's your name? I'm Private First Class Utsunomiya. I'm Private First Class Kodai. Well, we're both privates, but I'm a little too old, so... No problem. I'll help you out whenever you need. Let's go! I'm gonna drink. She's running and running! She's in great condition! Of course she is! He's great, whoever fixed her. It's incredible. She's running so good with all these odds and ends. He calls himself the best in Japan. What's that? Our fellow fighter. Hello! ***! We're fellow... He's not one of our pilots. What do you mean? He's coming! ***! I'm not gonna let this go on anymore! Kodai, what is this all about? Just drive. Americans often do this. They captured a Japanese aircraft to attract us. Japanese soldiers get so excited that they come out, waving and everything, then the Americans start shooting. That's dirty. There's nothing dirty or fair in war. That pilot probably wasn't accustomed to Japanese aircraft. What's wrong? You look pale. Were you shaken up by the attack? No, nothing's wrong. You're pretty good at riding motorcycles with sidecars. I came with this motorcycle from Japan. It's been with me this whole time. It's like a part of me. This engine is like my heart. When I die... it should die too. By the way, is there a usable airfield around here? Nope, except the one at Karakechile, where we're headed. Other than that, there are none, American or Japanese. I see. That seized Japanese fighter we saw means Karakechile is... I know that, sir. But I'm going back there because I promised. I see. It's 20 minutes from here if you ride straight. I'm going by myself. You can return now. You idiot! How can I return now when we're almost there? Look, there are enemy fighters landing at Karakechile. A promise is a promise. I'm going back no matter what the cost. What's wrong? Do you have a stomachache? Nothing, I'm just a little tired. Okay, let's take a short break. I'd be a shame if we got spotted by the enemy after coming this far. Why don't you lie down until it gets dark. I don't wanna leave her. Lie down in the sidecar, then. Beautiful stars... It looks like heaven. It's time to go. My, my, he's still sleeping good. W-what? Kodai, this can't be driven by an inexperienced rider. An American scout! He's coming! Hold on tight! He's a professional! He has great skill shooting an M3 while driving one-handed. Kodai, those goggles...? These are for racing. For racing? Yes. I used to wear these goggles all the time while racing in my youth. Kodai, you're a... Don't talk! Shoot! Yes sir! You must've been a professional rider too! Well, yes. Who fixed this motorcycle? Don't take your eyes off your enemy! We can't fool around with him any longer. Ready! You could've killed him if you crashed directly into his motorcycle. Why didn't you? It would be a shame if I killed such a skilled rider. It was the mercy of the samurai. Let's switch, Kodai. I'll drive from here on. I understand. Sorry, I'm going by myself from here on. Kodai! Don't think bad of me. No! You're going there for no reason! Don't do it! The airfield has already fallen into enemy hands. I know that. You were going to storm the airfield despite knowing that... You were going to storm the airfield despite knowing that... it was taken over, when the Japanese fighter attacked us. it was taken over, when the Japanese fighter attacked us. So was I. That's the way men are supposed to be, aren't they? But you're still young. Look, the Americans shot up a flare. That's their front line. The airfield will be just beyond. I decided that the airfield will be my goal. I've never completed a race. I always had to give up and quit because of mechanical troubles. That's why I'm not gonna give up this race. It's my last race. Utsunomiya, make it back alive! Kodai! Wait! I promised my friends... Besides, I can't make it back anyway. I've been shot in the stomach. Go, Kodai! The goal is over there! I'm almost at the finish line! Goddammit, I failed again! I've never once finished a race. But that's all right. I did my best. I haven't given up riding until death. I'm satisfied. I'm very satisfied. He would've won if this was a race, because bullets wouldn't have been flying from the finish line. Years ago, many men shed their sweat and blood. This is the old war field in Leyte. The Iron Dragon is asleep, lying with its holed heart. The heart sheds red rusty tears in the rain and dew. It sheds tears wondering why those men died, when they could have chosen not to.