A Quality of Mercy - Recap

It's August 6, 1945, and in the last days of World War II in the Philippines a platoon of American troops observes for a mortar attack against Japanese soldiers holed up in a cave for two days. Sgt. Causarano calls into headquarters to note that the bombardment is doing no good and to recommend they bypass the cave. He reports to the tired men that HQ may give the order to bypass later that day, and they hope that they won't be called on to storm the enemy soldiers. However, HQ sends a gung ho Lt. Katell to take command of the platoon. Katell orderes a frontal assault but Causarano warns against it as the other soldiers grumble. One of the soldiers, Watkins, is particularly disgruntled and Katell orders the men to shape up. Causarano interrupts his tirade and Katell confirms his orders. The sergeant advises him to remove his insignia so the Japanese won't target him as an officer. He then suggests that they wait the Japanese out and Katell considers his advice, but decides to go with an assault. Causarano observes that the lieutenant has only been on the battlefield a short time and hasn't been shot at yet or shot at anyone. Katell is eager to kill Japanese and tells Watkins to clean up his weapon. When Katell snaps at the men, Watkins says they've had enough of killing and Katell storms off to observe the cave.



Later the men use mud as camouflage and prepare for the assault. Katell is eager to go and Causarano tries to convince him again to bypass the cave. Katell accuses him of battle fatigue or cowardice, and the sergeant analyzes Katell as a novice who's afraid people won't think of him as a hardened soldier and wants to prove his manhood. Katell snaps at him and Causarano snaps back at him, asking how many men have to die. Katell insists that the enemy die no matter when or where it is. As he turns back to his weapon, Katell drops his binoculars. He stoops over to pick them up... and sees a Japanese sergeant pick them up and address him as Lt. Yamuri. The astonished Katell runs off into the jungle toward an enemy cave... and the soldiers inside open fire on him. Katell dives for cover and sees that an American soldier is shooting at him. "His' Japanese soldiers return fire and Katell sees a shell casing labeled Corregidor.



Katell has no choice but to return to "his" camp where Sergeant Yamazaki praises him for his bravery. He asks who Yamazaki is and where he is, and the sergeant wonders if he's suffering from malaria. Yamazaki answers his questions, confirming it's May 4, 1942. A confused Katell drops to the ground where his superior demands to know if he's well enough to move. Katell starts to say who he is but realizes that if he does they will either kill him or consider him insane. He pulls himself together and insists that he's okay, and the captain gives the order to move out in five minutes. They will attack the American cave in force and make no effort to take prisoners. Katell confirms with Yamazaki that there are wounded Americans and suggests they should bypass the cave to spare the wounded. The captain insists that the enemy must be destroyed no matter what, echoing Katell's earlier words to Causarano. When Katell refuses, the captain slaps him to the ground and orders the men to move out. Katell wonders if their actions will shorten the war and wonders how many will die. Again, the captain echoes Katell's earlier words and shoves him aside. Katell sees his broken binoculars on the ground... and finds himself back in the American camp.



An astonished Katell confirms he's back where he is supposed to be. They receive orders to pull back when an atomic bomb is dropped on Japan. Causarano confirms the orders and notes that Katell will have another chance in future to kill men. Katell swears to God that isn't the case.



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