Alligator

Number 1 Lieutenant is arguing with Number 2 Lieutenant in a tent after a failed reconnaissance mission in where a 17 year old soldier was just killed.  Number 1 Lieutenant chucks a personal Item of the young soldier who just died at Number 2 Lieutenant and says, “ You got him killed today…”  Number 2 Lieutenant, in a mellow, numb voice says. “This is war, many have died…”  Number 1 Lieutenant, “Is this how you made 1^st Lieutenant from Private in 2 years??”  Number 2 Lieutenant, “I guess it is.  I did what I had to do.”  Number 1 Lieutenant is interrupted from his next set of angry, disgusted words by a tiny voice.  An orphaned 6 year old girl and her 7 year old brother have entered the tent.  They seem to be having a bit of an argument as well.  They’re both dressed in raggedy, dirty clothes. Children of War.  They live in the temporary camp / base with the soldiers.  Despite what she’s wearing, she’s still beautiful.  She’s got short black hair, big brown eyes and has lost her two front teeth as children her age do.  A casualty of war, her Left, little arm has been amputated just below the elbow.  “Excuse me?.” She says.  “Excuse me?.” In her baby voice.  She demonstrates her stump and says to the Lieutenants.  “Isn’t it true that my arm will grow back when I grow up??”  Her brother, “It will not grow back, It will not!  Her, “It will grow back, it will…”  Lieutenant Number 2 breaks in to a long, loud, crazy, hysterical laugh.  Number 1 Lieutenant stares at him in disbelief.  Number 2 Lieutenant says to the 6 year old, orphaned child with the raggedy clothes and her missing limb in a crazy, humorous voice.  Her big brown eyes begin to swell with tears. “Look.  What do you think you are, a Lizard? He continues his laugh.  “It will never grow back.  Arms don’t grow back.  You’ll be armless till you die, you little freak!”  Number one Lieutenant loses it and begins punching him in the face as the baby runs away crying, wailing that it isn’t true.  Number two Lieutenant doesn’t fight back, takes the beating.  A beating he craved... Scene Ends.

The Front Line - Hangul: 고지전 Gojijeon - 2011