Sunday Scribblings initiator of these story prompts is hosted by peckapalooza – the Confusing Middle.

Company

Company led to Military and, in my mind, that thought led to one of my favorite movies.

Cadence

It was a terrible hardship but I had to watch this movie again this morning before I could lay pen to paper, just to be sure I had the story straight in my mind.

I was right, this is still one of my favorites even after all these years.

Filmed in 1990, starring Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, and Laurence Fishburne, the setting is a US Army stockade in W. Germany during the 1960s.

His father’s last ditch effort to help him grow up is the reason Private Bean was in the US Army in the first place.

Now, home on bereavement leave for his father’s death Private Bean is experiencing enough grief filled remorse to do some crazy things. Things like multiple tattoos – on his hands, rip – roaring drunk, starting a major bar fight, punching the arresting MP.

His 90 day sentence lands him in a minimum security stockade living in a tight security barrack.

His bully Sargent placed him with a group of guys he expected Private Bean to hate. The Sargent has an agenda to reform Bean and bring him over to his way of thinking, although it’s unclear exactly what that means.

To tell you what I like about this film I have to take a step back and look at the big picture. The bird’s eye view.

• Things are not always what they seem.

• We can survive impossible situations if we find ways to see the good in life.

• If we let down our walls we can form alliances that will make us stronger.

• An eclectic group of guys can become a brotherhood.

• They stood up to the bully and won.

• Most of all… I liked the song,

• … and the fact the movie made me, and everyone else, cry.

This trailer sums it all up well, I think

Private Bean was in good company with these guys.