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General Tadamichi Kuribayashi: [Tadamichi turns up in time to stop Ito from beheading Saigo and Shimizu] I don't want you to kill my soldiers needlessly. Put down your sword. Put it down!
[Ito sheathes his katana and salutes]
General Tadamichi Kuribayashi: What's going on here?
Lieutenant Ito: These men ran from Suribachi.
General Tadamichi Kuribayashi: Lt. Ito, I gave the order that all survivors retreat to the north caves.
Lieutenant Ito: [embarrassed] I am very sorry, General. It's just... Suribachi... has fallen.
[Tadamichi rushes to a cave opening and sees Mount Suribachi from a distance, with a U.S flag raised on the summit]
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[door opens]
Lead Woman: Congratulations! Your husband is going to war.
Saigo: Thank you very much. I'm happy to serve the country.
Lead Woman: [Lead Woman stares piercingly at Saigo and steps forward] Prayers for your eternal success at arms.
Hanako: [desperately] I beg of you! We have only each other.
Lead Woman: [Lead Woman shouts - scolding Hanako angrily] Mrs. Saigo! *This* is not the time.
[firmly]
Lead Woman: We have all sent our husbands and sons to war. We all have to do our part.
[looking down at Hanako's baby bump, and then... sympathetically]
Lead Woman: At least you'll have a little one to carry on your name.
[Lead Woman bows with authority and walks away]
Mark Ofuji
Extended Reading
