China Beach (TV Series)

The World: Part 2 (1989)

Dana Delany: Colleen McMurphy

Photos 

Quotes 

• Paul : You believe in the war?

  Nurse Colleen McMurphy : I believe in the guys.

  Paul : What's it like?

  Nurse Colleen McMurphy : It's hot.

  Paul : No really

  Nurse Colleen McMurphy : It's hot and sticky.

  Mike : What do you care? You're gonna be carving ice blocks out of the frozen tundra for your igloo.

  Mac : Pledging your allegiance to the Queen. Saluting the Maple leaf.

  Paul : Hey look I believe in my country, I'm not a coward.

  Nurse Colleen McMurphy : Hot, sticky, the kids, the smells, the sweet rain, laughter, blood under your fingernails that won't come out. I've held a boy as his life bled out. I turn out the lights at night and saw their faces their voices. I recognize them in everybody I see. You are a boy from Terra Haute. Played the Tuba in his marching band. I washed what was left of him down the drain. Hoped that his stain would remain on me, a kiss you don't want to wash from your cheek. A boy's life reduced to a dried bloodstain on my hands that won't come out and when it does come out I don't want it to. Ever. And what if I forget? What if I can't remember? Are they gone forever? One boy had this ring, it was a class ring. I can't remember whether his hand was black, white, yellow, red, brown, I can't remember his face. Just that ring as he died. What's Vietnam like? It's Heat, Sticky, Smells, Laughter, and I won't forget them. Ever.

  Mike : Amen