Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Andrew Garfield: Desmond Doss

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Desmond Doss : Maybe I am prideful... but I don't know how I'm going to live with myself if I don't stay true to what I believe... much less how you could live with me. I'd never be the man that I wanna be in YOUR eyes.

• [repeated line] 

  Desmond Doss : One more. Help me get one more.

• Prosecutor : There is only one question that any military court need ask of the accused: Do you deny disobeying Col. Sangston's direct orders?

  Judge : Well, do you, Private?

  Desmond Doss : No, sir, I don't.

  Judge : Why are you contesting it, then? Why is it so important to you, given your refusal to even touch a weapon, to serve in a combat unit?

  Desmond Doss : Because when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, I took it personal. Everyone I knew was on fire to join up, including me. There were two men in my hometown declared 4-F unfit; they killed themselves 'cause they couldn't serve. Why, I had a job in a defense plant. I could've taken a deferment, but that ain't right. It isn't right that other men should fight and die that I would just be sitting at home safe. I need to serve. I got the energy and the passion to serve as a medic, right in the middle with the other guys. No less danger, just... while everybody else is taking life, I'm gonna be saving it. With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me to wanna put a little bit of it back together.

• Smitty Ryker : After what we've just been through... any sane man would be screaming for a weapon.

  Desmond Doss : Well, I never claimed to be sane.

  [smiles] 

• [first lines] 

  Desmond Doss : Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the Earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.

• Sgt Howell : I have seen stalks of corn with better physiques. Makes me want to pull an *ear* off, Private! Can you carry your weight?

  Desmond Doss : Yes, Sergeant!

  Sgt Howell : Should be *easy* for you then! Corporal!

  Corporal Jessop : Sergeant.

  Sgt Howell : Make sure you keep this man away from strong winds.

• Desmond Doss : [looking at Hollywood's face wound]  It looks much worse than it is. Girls will still wanna kiss ya.

• Desmond Doss : Please Lord, help me get one more. Help me get one more.

• Dorothy Schutte : [with back to Desmond]  Grab a seat. You ever given blood before?

  Desmond Doss : Yes, ma'am, I have.

  Dorothy Schutte : [turns to see Desmond]  You're the belt man.

  Desmond Doss : Desmond, yes, ma'am.

  Dorothy Schutte : Well, Desmond, we can't take your blood two days in a row.

  Desmond Doss : That's good. I came to get mine back.

  Dorothy Schutte : You what?

  Desmond Doss : My blood, I need it back.

  Dorothy Schutte : [laughing]  Well, it don't work like that. We can't just give it back to you.

  Desmond Doss : Well you got to. Ever since you stuck me with that needle, my heart's been beatin' real fast. Every time I think about you, beats faster still.

  Dorothy Schutte : [laughing]  I never heard that one before. It's pretty corny.

  Desmond Doss : It is? That's a shame. I done practiced that all night. No good?

  Dorothy Schutte : I didn't say that.

• Desmond Doss : [quoting Sgt. Howell's words back to him]  "You're tying a bowline, boy, not building a bra."

• Desmond Doss : You want some morphine?

  Sgt Howell : Hell, yes. That or a bullet.

• Smitty Ryker : You ain't gonna to eat them?

  Desmond Doss : I don't eat meat. Help yourself.

  Smitty Ryker : Of course you don't.

• Desmond Doss : I done everything they asked me, except this one thing, and I'm being treated like a criminal just 'cause I won't kill.

• Smitty Ryker : [referring to a picture of Dorothy]  That's one heck of a dame. You know you're fightin' out of your weight class with her, don't you?

  Desmond Doss : [chuckles]  Yes, I do. Don't tell her that.

  Smitty Ryker : She'd be much happier with a man like me anyway.

  Desmond Doss : Yeah, until she got to know you.

  [laughs] 

  Smitty Ryker : [laughs]  Ah, I'm an asshole sometimes.

  Desmond Doss : Sometimes?

  [both laugh] 

• [Sgt. Howell arrives at the barracks the night after Doss had been beaten by his fellow recruits] 

  Sgt Howell : As you were. Where's Doss?

  [everyone turns to the back of the barracks where Doss - visibly beaten - has just finished his shower; Sgt, Howell is disturbed by the sight and breathes a sigh of melancholy] 

  Sgt Howell : [sympathetic]  This isn't good for anybody.

  Desmond Doss : Sure ain't what I joined up for.

  Sgt Howell : It's not about what you signed up for. It's about the lives of every man in here... and yours, son. It's time you quit this. Finish gettin' dressed and I'll walk you down. It's okay, Doss. There's no shame in this. Let's go.

  Desmond Doss : I got extra guard duty today, and I'm on KP this morning, so... can't.

  Sgt Howell : [nods impressed with his character]  All right, Doss.

  [shifts to professional tone] 

  Sgt Howell : Private Doss, can you identify the men that beat you?

  Desmond Doss : No, Sarge.

  Sgt Howell : Are you saying that you don't know who attacked you?

  Desmond Doss : I never said I was attacked, Sarge.

  Sgt Howell : Well, what the hell are you sayin', Doss? You bruised half your body sleepin'?

  Desmond Doss : I... I sleep pretty hard.

  Sgt Howell : [Doss has finally won him over]  All right.

• Sgt Howell : This is a personal gift from the United States government to each and every one of you -- a standard issue U.S. rifle, caliber .30, M1, a clip-fed, shoulder-fired, semi-automatic weapon designed to bring death and destruction to the enemy. This is to be your lover, your mistress, your concubine, perhaps the only thing in life you'll ever truly love.

  Corporal Jessop : Fellas, let's dance. Grab a girl.

  [the privates begin grabbing weapons] 

  Sgt Howell : Don't point your gun forward. I do not want to be shot today, no matter how much you are tempted. Place the weapon by your side. Pay attention.

  [one rifle remains in the rack; Doss is the only one who has not picked one up] 

  Sgt Howell : Problem, Private Corn Stalk? Is there not one in your size, or is it the color that is the issue?

  Desmond Doss : No, Sarge. I was... I was told I don't have to carry a weapon.

  Sgt Howell : Come again? Step forward, Private. I can't be hearin' this right.

  Desmond Doss : Well, I'm sorry, Sergeant. I can't touch a gun.

  Captain Glover : [new scene in Captain Glover's office]  What exactly is the problem?

  Desmond Doss : No problem, just a mistake, sir. I-I... I told the Army when I s... when I joined up...

  Captain Glover : That's not possible. Do you know why it's not possible, Private?

  Desmond Doss : No, sir.

  Captain Glover : 'Cause the United States Army does not make mistakes; so, if there's a problem, you must be that problem.

  Desmond Doss : I was just never supposed to be sent to a rifle company.

  Sgt Howell : He's a C.O., sir.

  Captain Glover : You're a conscientious objector, and you joined the Army?

  Desmond Doss : Well, no, sir, I'm... I'm a conscientious cooperator.

  Captain Glover : [bemused]  Are you screwin' with me, Doss?

  Desmond Doss : No. No, sir. I volunteered. I ain't got no... no problem with wearing my uniform or salutin' the flag and-and doing my duty. It's just... just carrying a gun and the taking of human life.

  Captain Glover : You don't kill. That's all?

  Desmond Doss : Yes, sir, that's all.

  Captain Glover : You know, quite a bit of killing does occur in a war?

  Desmond Doss : Yes, sir.

  Captain Glover : I mean, that is the essential nature of war.

  Desmond Doss : Yes, sir.

  Captain Glover : All right. You have any other requirements of the United States Army? Is there anything else that we can do to ensure that you have a comfortable stay here with us?

  Sgt Howell : He doesn't wanna... work on Saturdays, sir.

  Desmond Doss : Well, Saturdays... I'm a Seventh-Day Adventist, so... Saturday is MY Sabbath, so I'm not allowed to work then.

  Captain Glover : I don't think that poses a problem, do you, Sergeant? We shall simply ask the enemy not to invade on the Sabbath, 'cause Private Doss here's at prayer. All right. And now we got that clear. Now let me tell you my requirements. They're not as complicated as yours. They're very simple. As long as you're in this company, under my command, you will obey my orders. Period. If you can't do it here, I can't trust you to do it in battle. I'm putting you in for a Section 8, psychiatric discharge. Dismissed.

• Sgt Howell : Gentlemen! I want you to meet Private Desmond Doss. Apparently, Private Doss does not believe in violence. He does not practice violence. He will not even deign to touch a weapon. You see, Private Doss is a conscientious objector, so I plead with you -- do not look to him to save you on the battlefield, because he will undoubtedly be too busy wrestling with his conscience to assist.

  Desmond Doss : Sarge, that's not true. Sarge...

  Sgt Howell : PRIVATE, AS YOU WERE! Now, I realize some of you might have strong feelings about this. It is what we men fight for -- to defend our rights, and to protect our women and children, even if Private Doss' beliefs might cause women and children to die -- so, I will expect everyone in this company to give Private Doss the full measure of respect he is DUE for the short time he will be with us. Am I clear?

• Desmond Doss : [at the movies]  What's the difference between an artery and a vein?

  Dorothy Schutte : [smiling]  What are you talkin' about?

  Desmond Doss : The... the boy's accident.

  Dorothy Schutte : Ateries spurt blood.

  Desmond Doss : And veins?

  Dorothy Schutte : Bleed. I think you need to practice your boy/girl datin' talk at home before you come out.

  Desmond Doss : Yeah, I probably do.