Co: Why did they pick you? Because you like to fight?
Rambo: I'm expendable.
Co: What mean expendable?
Rambo: It's like someone invites you to a party and you don't show up. It doesn't really matter.
Murdock: Rambo, I swear to God, I didn't know it was supposed to happen like this. It was just supposed to be another assignment!
Rambo: Mission... accomplished.
[thrusts knife into table]
Rambo: You know there's more men out there and you know where they are. Find 'em. Or I'll find you.
Podovsky: I see you are no stranger to pain. Perhaps you have been among my Vietnamese comrades before, hm? No answer. Do you wish to give your name? Now, what possible harm can that cause? Pride is a poor substitute for intelligence. What you must understand is that we have to interrogate you. To Sergeant Yushin here, you are a piece of meat. A laboratory experiment. But to me,
you are a comrade, similar to myself, just opposed by an act of fate. I know you are trying to facilitate the release of war criminals held by this republic. I can appreciate this. But this incident, your capture is... embarrassing. We must have explanation. First of all, I wish you to radio your headquarters and say that you have been captured and condemned for espionage activities, and that no
such criminal aggression should be attempted in the future or they will meet with the same fate as yours.
[Podovsky arrogantly turns on radio transmitter]
Rambo: Fuck you.
Murdock: Colonel, are you sure Rambo's still in balance with the war? We can't afford having him involved in this mission and then crack in the pressure of that hell.
Trautman: Pressure? Let me just say that Rambo is the best combat vet I've ever seen. A pure fighting machine with only a desire to win a war that someone else lost. And if winning means he
has to die, he'll die. No fear, no regrets. And one more thing: what you choose to call hell, he calls home.
Trautman: What are you doing? Do you know what the hell you've done?
Murdock: Don't act so innocent, Colonel. You had your suspicions, and if you suspected then you're sort of an accessory aren't ya?
Trautman: Don't ever count me with you and your scum! It was a lie wasn't it? Just like the whole damn war, it was a lie!
Murdock: What are you talking about?
Trautman: That camp... was supposed to be empty. Rambo goes in, a decorated vet, he finds no POWs, the Congress buys it - case closed! And if he happens to get caught, nobody knows he's alive except you and your computers... and you can reprogram that can't you?
Murdock: Who the hell do you think
you're talking to, Trautman?
Trautman: A stinkin' bureaucrat who's tryin to cover his ass!
Murdock: No, not just mine Trautman. We're talkin' about a nation here! Besides, it was your hero's fault. Now if your warrior had gone in and done what the hell he was supposed to do, we'd be out of this clean and simple. He was just supposed to take pictures!
Trautman: And if those pictures showed something they would have been... lost... wouldn't they?
Murdock: Oh Trautman, I still don't think you understand what this is all about.
Trautman: The same as it always is! Money! In '72 we were supposed to pay the Cong four-and-a-half billion in war reparations. We reneged, they kept
the POWs... and you're doing the same thing all over again.
Murdock: And what the hell would you do, Trautman? Pay blackmail money to ransom our own men and finance the war effort against our allies? What if some burn-out POW shows up on the six o-clock news? What do you want to do... start the war all over again? You wanna bomb Hanoi? You want everybody screaming for armed
invasion? Do you honestly think somebody's gonna get up on the floor of the United States Senate, and ask for billions of dollars for a couple of forgotten ghosts?
Trautman: Men, Goddamn it! Men... who fought for their country!
Murdock: That's enough! Trautman, I'm gonna forget this conversation ever took place.
Trautman: You
bastard!
Murdock: And if I were you... I'd never make the mistake of bringing this subject up again.
Trautman: Oh you're the one who's making the mistake.
Murdock: Yeah? What mistake?
Trautman: Rambo.
Murdock: [reading Rambo's file] Rambo, John J. Born 7-6-47 in Bowie, Arizona. Of Indian-German descent - that's a hell of a combination. Joined the army 8-6-64. Accepted special forces, specialization: light weapon, medic, helicopter and language qualified. 59 confirmed kills. Two Silver Stars, four Bronze, four Purple Hearts. Distinguished Service Cross and Medal of Honor. You
got around, didn't you? Incredible.
Murdock: Now if there's any of our men in this POW target camp you confirm their presence by taking photographs.
Rambo: Photographs?
Murdock: Just photographs. Under no circumstances are you to engage the enemy!
Rambo: I'm supposed to leave 'em there?
Murdock: I repeat: don't engage the
enemy!