The Last Castle

COL Winter: I know what you're thinking. Do I salute you, or do you salute me? Well, the answer is neither. My men salute me, of course, and each other according to rank, but there is no saluting within the facility by the general prison population. Well, first things first; are you hungry? Eugene R. Irwin: No. COL Winter: Are you sure? Mondays are our Salisbury-steak night. Irwin: Always a cause for celebration. COL Winter: [Smiles] Indeed, indeed. [Motions to Irwin] If you'll step over here, I'll give you a general layout of the prison. The building we are in now is the administration building. That building there houses the tiers; that's where you and the other inmates will live. The building next to it is the laundry, where I've had you assigned. [Notices Irwin looking at a dilapidated stone wall in the prison yard] Oh, that is the old prison block wall. That's all that's left from the original prison from the 1870s. I could've removed it, but I thought it was important to keep a s

The Last Castle, CC BY-SA 4.0

CPT Peretz: Prisoner Aguilar, resume your punishment. Irwin: The punishment is over. CPT Peretz: Aguilar, I'm warning you. Guard: MAN DOWN! MAN DOWN! Irwin: You're better than this. CPT Peretz: Okay, okay! That's enough! Loudspeaker: All inmates will remain on the ground in the prone position. COL Winter: Prisoner Irwin. I understand that coming here must be a big adjustment for you. To go from commanding thousands of troops in battle, to having no war to fight and no one to follow you must not be easy. However, I do ask that you learn how things are done around here. I try to set an example for the other men. Saluting is prohibited. Aguilar was saluting; he needed discipline. Surely you understand that. Irwin: Sir. May the prisoner speak, sir? COL Winter: Yes? Irwin: According to the regulation manual, a punishment begun on the evening shift, may not exceed the following morning's horn. COL Winter: [considers; exceeding the regulation was deliberate] Prisoner Irwin, you are exactly co

The Last Castle, CC BY-SA 4.0

CPL Zamorro: Privates are "Pal", Corporal's "Buddy", Sergeant's "Sport", officers are "Chief"- playing soldiers, sir. COL Winter: Hearts and minds. He is offering them self-respect, in exchange for loyalty. The general is building himself an army. CPL Zamorro: He can have the hearts and minds, sir. Long as we got 'em by the balls. COL Winter: Well put, Corporal. CPL Zamorro: Thank you, sir. COL Winter: Bring him to my office. CPT Peretz: Who? COL Winter: The Prince of Venezuela! Who do you think? CPT Peretz: General Irwin? COL Winter: Mister Irwin!

The Last Castle, CC BY-SA 4.0

COL Winter: These men are not here for unpaid parking fines and traffic- Irwin: I'm under no illusion as to why the men are here, Colonel. I just think that they might be reminded of some of the good things they've done, rather than only the worst. COL Winter: Yes, that is something my predecessor used to say. And in his last two years here there were seven escape attempts, 12 injury assaults on officers and NCOs - including one killed. Since I've assumed command there have been zero escape attempts, zero injury assaults , zero fatalities. Some may question my methods- but they do work. No soldier has ever died needlessly under my command, Mr. Irwin. You see, I too share the burden of command. You may not think that I have ever set foot on a battlefield, but that is because you have never sat behind this desk. This desk! My men and I are vastly outnumbered. We spend every day behind enemy lines because, make no mistake about it Mr. Irwin, they are the enemy! [Pauses, gets up and faces

The Last Castle, CC BY-SA 4.0

Irwin: No. Not okay! It's too late, Colonel. Winter: Too late for what? Irwin: For your offer. The men don't want to salute. They don't want to use rank. They don't want better food and they don't want more TV. They just want your resignation. So do I. Winter: My resignation? Irwin: You're a disgrace, Colonel! A disgrace to the uniform! You should not be allowed to retain your command. Winter: [sarcastic] Well, I guess I better go pack! Irwin: I think you should. Winter: Tell me, Mr. Irwin. What's to stop me from simply placing you in the Hole, for say six months? Irwin: Nothing. If that's the way you want to win.

The Last Castle, CC BY-SA 4.0

BG Wheeler: So you thought he was gonna try to take me hostage? COL Winter: Yes, sir, it was a precautionary move. BG Wheeler: [Sharply] What the hell kind of grab-ass unit are you running here, Colonel? COL Winter: Sir, at 11:58 this morning I received a letter stating that a group of inmates were planning on taking you hostage at 12:10. I thought it prudent to act immediately to ensure your safety- BG Wheeler: Let me tell you something. I've been hearing some pretty disturbing things about what goes on in here. And now I'm hearing it from a man who I trust. And whose opinion I respect. COL Winter: May I speak freely, sir? BG Wheeler: Yes, you may. COL Winter: With all due respect, General, I don't know what you may have been 'hearing'... but until you've spent some time in the yard with those animals, you have no idea what happens in there. BG Wheeler: Point taken, Colonel. Nevertheless, if I hear one more story about a man dying under your command you are through here. Now, do you u

The Last Castle, CC BY-SA 4.0