Inchon

On a Sunday, the 2nd of September, 1945, World War II came to an end.

And on the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay, General Douglas MacArthur accepted

the surrender of the Japanese armed forces.

The war to end all wars had ended, or so people believed.

But less than five years later, war was to break out again.

This time, in Korea.

Already in the north, Premier Kim Il-sung was planning

the invasion of his neighbors across the 38th parallel.

And when, in April 1950, he flew to Moscow, it was to

obtain support for the war from the communist leaders.

As the result of a treaty signed by the Russian Foreign Minister Vyshinsky,

a new military alliance was formed by which Premier Kim

received offensive weapons for his invasion of South Korea.

Russian aircraft, heavy artillery, anti-aircraft

guns, and, most important of all, tanks.

And it was with these Russian tanks on the 25th of

June, 1950, that a peaceful neighbor was to be invaded.

Another war was to break out that soon was to involve 25 different nations.

They'll all be this quality, Jimmy, huh?

Uh-huh.

You know my clients in Philadelphia are very fussy.

Well, have I ever laid anything but the best on you?

Oh.

I remember some soapstone curios.

Oh, that's when I didn't know you.

This is quality craftsmanship.

This is art.

Better not say too much, Jimmy.

I understand you can get shot for perjury in this country.

What would the cost be on two dozen?

For you, such a beautiful lady, such a good customer, my very best price.

It's so cheap, it embarrasses me to say it.

Oh, and of course, there's 25% discount, and...

What's he saying?

The invasion from the North. You must all go home to get out.

From the north, the communists have crossed the border.

Listen.

They come through this way.

Toward the capital.

You must get out.

Now.

Get out?

Uh-huh.

What about your army?

Army? No.

American Embassy in Seoul.

They'll take care of you.

Please go now.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Well, get me this number.

- Inchon. - No time.

- Please go now. - Please get it for me. Please.

How close are they?

We're only 10 miles from the 38th parallel.

The border.

Nobody answers.

I might've guessed.

Please. Hurry.

Please. Hurry.

Your husband must come.

You will need him to leave the country.

No.

I'm going to get the hell out of here without him.

I have to report to Seoul.

Then I'll come back for you.

Your wife is in Seoul.

You've seen her.

Yeah, that's right.

I wanted to talk to her about the divorce.

Now it's my responsibility to get her out of Korea.

You understand that, don't you?

I understand that you're leaving.

Lim.

What's between you and me has nothing to do with anything else.

But a war's started.

There's nothing between Seoul and the parallel,

but a lot of green kids and under-equipped ROKs.

They don't know it.

But right now, as we're talking, they're dead.

Hey.

I told you I'm coming back to take you away.

To America?

I'd feel a lot better if you waited down south.

I'll wait here.

And when they come, you know what they'll do

if they find out an American officer was here?

Nevertheless, I will stay with my family.

Just remember one thing.

I love you.

Greetings.

Good morning.

Saito-San.

Your shadow is in the wrong place, my friend.

You heard.

I have to go.

I understand war.

Only because of the war.

I liked it here.

You'll need this.

All those hours we talked together.

About the Buddhism.

About the non-violence.

You think that was all talk?

War changes everything.

This is war, you know.

And this is life.

So, that's how this man feels today.

You know how women are.

My wife will not let me throw that picture

or that sword away.

No matter.

I have had my last of wars.

Yeah, well.

If some son of a bitch laid a hand on my family, I'd sure as hell want to use this.

Now, we see if talk becomes my way of life.

Wait while I change.

I will accompany you to Inchon.

Why did you stay on here?

Thought you had enough of war?

Maybe I'm wrong.

After what I saw at the Hiroshima.

I never thought there could be war again.

And only five years later.

Well, anyway.

I'm glad you stayed on.

A man's wife is his wife.

You know what my wife did when I met her at the airport and told her about Lim?

She got a car and a driver.

And went shopping for this furniture for her damn interior decorating business.

Some woman.

She is still your wife.

Lim doesn't believe I'm coming back.

You too?

War.

People are changed.

Yeah, I know.

I've been there.

I want you and your family to go south.

To Pusan.

Pusan is not our home.

This is.

Goodbye, Frank.

So you know about the war?

Sure, I know. Does the brass know?

Well, it's after midnight back in Washington.

You used to work for MacArthur.

Don't want to be the first one to tell him there's a war starting in Korea?

I think Truman can tell him.

Hell, I bet you he doesn't even know where Korea is.

All right, let's move. Seoul.

Time to take care of business, huh?

Barbara's hotel.

Then we're on a plane out of here.

- So? - No sign of her. She's still registered.

Well, maybe we'd better head back north then?

Yeah.

I mean, the orchestra's rehearsing right now.

That's where I oughta be, not here.

You don't think my newspaper made a mistake, do you?

What, the New York Herald make a mistake?

Never happen, yank.

Who cares about the 38th parallel anyway?

Try the White House.

Try the world.

I always thought it was a dumb way to divide a country.

But when the war ended and the Russians started to

come into Korea, we had to do something in a hurry.

So this very bright staff officer decided to draw a line on a map.

And that's the 38th parallel.

God, you don't think they'd send me there, do you?

And what makes you so special?

Johnson, he's our regular Tokyo correspondent.

He's home in the States, on leave.

I'm a critic.

I came all the way here with the New York Philharmonic.

From New York, by the way.

Yeah, be thankful it's not L.A. You ever heard them play?

They're not so bad.

As a matter of fact, the string section's very good.

Especially since Wallenstein took over.

My boy, your editor says you will fill in till Johnson gets back.

So you will do what your editor tells you to do.

Be prepared to cover the war in 4/4 time.

Anyway, it won't be a long one once the U.S. comes in.

And they will, you know.

They always do.

This time, maybe they'll have to.

Or it's tomorrow the world.

And goodbye, Japan.

I'm glad you didn't say "sayonara, Japan."

For these small mercies, thanks.

You take the pictures I told you.

I'll do the captions.

My friends, it will not be a short war.

After five years of peace, the greatest army

the world has ever seen has grown fat on beer.

You want an example, look at Japan.

Half the regiments couldn't go to battle without their Mama-sans and their shoeshine boys.

And for this, we thank the politicians.