Robertino

Robertino is the eleventh episode of The Gallant Men. It was written by Herman Groves and directed by Charles R. Rondeau. It aired on December 14, 1962.

Plot summary
The men of Able Company are lined up for some much-desired hot chow when Lucavich notices a boy nipping packages out of a supply truck. The kid runs into a mined field and Lucavich cautiously picks his way through the field to reach him before he blows himself (or Ernie) up. After a few tense moments, Lucavich picks the boy up and takes him back to the company’s temporary camp. The Americans, including Capt. Benedict, regard the child with a mix of amusement and puzzlement. He identifies himself as Robertino.

As Lucavich and Hanson give the boy a much-needed bath in a trash can, Robertino defends himself, saying he stole the food packages only because he was hungry. He takes a liking to Lucavich and wants to stay with Able Company. Ernie allows him to go only as far as the next village, San Angelo, where Robertino can be reunited with his parents. The child says he doesn’t have any parents. Lucavich discusses the situation with Conley Wright and laments Robertino’s predicament.

Meanwhile, Benedict briefs Lt. Kimbro and Sgt. McKenna on a possible Allied advance in the works. Able Company is to hang tight in San Angelo until battalion gives the order to advance on German positions in the nearby mountains.

On the road to San Angelo, Kimbro and Pvt. Saunders spot a German armored vehicle coming toward the Americans. Benedict decides to attack with grenades and Lucavich’s B.A.R. Hanson comforts the terrified Robertino during the assault.

Able makes it into town without further incident. They are greeted by local priest Father Rossi and San Angelo’s mayor, and warm greetings are exchanged. Rossi recognizes Robertino, but the boy runs away from him.

That night, the Americans have an impromptu party with food, local ladies and Pete’s music. Robertino looks for Lucavich. Wright offers to help. They catch up with Ernie as he exits a butcher shop, a whole dressed chicken under his arm. Wright suggests Ernie have dinner with the youngster, and Robertino offers use of the stove in his house to cook the bird. After dinner, Robertino offers Lucavich board in the house as well, and Ernie agrees.

Back at the party, Father Rossi fills Wright in on Robertino’s background: His mother and father belonged to an Italian partisan group and were executed by the Germans. The killing was ordered by a Maj. Strasser, a man who lost his arm in the North African campaign. Robertino inadvertently witnessed the execution, scarring him.

Early the next morning, Robertino notices Ernie is asleep, and he pockets a chocolate bar and other small items from Lucavich’s knapsack. He finds and examines an expensive-looking gold pocketwatch, but puts it back. Word comes from battalion that the advance is on, and Able Company is ordered to move out of San Angelo at once. Robertino watches from a window as the soldiers line up. Lucavich immediately figures out his chocolate is missing and chastises the child for stealing. Robertino reluctantly returns the pilfered objects and helps Ernie finish getting dressed. But then he begins packing a pillowcase and dons a too-big Army uniform the company had given him earlier. Robertino says he should come along because Able is headed to Amorosi, where his sister lives, but Ernie tells him to stay put in San Angelo. Robertino sadly complies, but later that night Lucavich is depressed. Hanson correctly deduces Ernie misses Robertino. Lucavich says he’s reluctant to form a bond with Robertino because he reminds Ernie of his younger brother, who died some years ago.

Along the way to Amorosi, Able is shelled by German artillery. Saunders is wounded, and Lucavich carries him to the nearest aid station. Just before he can leave, he discovers a chipper Robertino sitting in an Army ambulance. The boy now joins Able as the company continues its march. The group comes across a vineyard that could be a helpful shortcut, but Benedict doesn’t want to risk it unless they get some information about a house on the property – a house that could be filled with Germans.

As the company waits, Lucavich notices his gold pocketwatch is missing from his knapsack. He suspects Robertino and confronts the child. He angrily demands the watch back; Robertino denies having it. Lucavich shoves Robertino, sending the boy tumbling, and tells him to get lost. D’Angelo and other soldiers are appalled by Lucavich’s behavior. Hanson discovers the watch has been in Ernie’s pack the whole time. Regretful, Lucavich goes after Robertino, only to see him running across the vineyard to the house. Ernie insists on following but Benedict shuts him down, saying the risk of tipping off the Germans to Able’s presence is too great.

Benedict is right, and the house is indeed occupied by Germans. They regard Robertino with amusement and allow him in. The commanding officer appears and questions Robertino. The kid notices the officer has one arm – it’s Strasser. Robertino angrily reacts and runs from the building. Strasser is puzzled, but orders his men not to shoot the fleeing boy.

Robertino makes it back to Able Company and tells the men he saw Strasser. Wright realizes the significance of this and comforts Robertino as Benedict orders an assault.

The Americans open fire on the house before surmounting a low wall and charging forward. Several are cut down. Upon entering the house, Benedict finds Lucavich standing over Strasser’s body.

After the skirmish, Wright finds Robertino’s sister and the siblings are reunited. Robertino says goodbye, and Lucavich decides to give him the pocketwatch. Wright bids the boy farewell and hops aboard a transport truck. He and Lucavich wave goodbye as the truck pulls away.

G-2 Report

 * This episode does not have a cold open. It’s the only episode of the series that doesn’t have one, and it’s not clear why. The length of the episode could have required cutting the cold open and launching directly into act one.
 * The footage of the Gallant guys assaulting the German armored vehicle was lifted from the 1945 film A Walk in the Sun, intercut with fresh shots of the main cast hurling grenades.
 * Interesting character note from Capt. Benedict in this episode: When Kimbro offers to share a bottle of wine, Benedict turns him down, citing paperwork. William Reynolds plays the explanation as an excuse to get out of Kimbro's offer. This is consistent with what we see in other episodes: Benedict never really gets close to anyone around him. That’s never fully explored in the series, but would have been a fine storyline.
 * The song D’Angelo sings at the top of the third act is an Italian-language version of “My Heart Belongs to You,” The Gallant Men’s theme song.
 * Amorosi is a real town in Italy's Volturno River valley, about 28 miles northeast of Naples. The village of Sant' Angelo In Formis is about 12 miles west-southwest of Amorosi. It may have been the inspiration for the fictional "San Angelo," Robertino's hometown and where Benedict and his men take a breather.
 * Robertino is Peter Soli's first known acting role. He has only one other acting credit on the Internet Movie Database, a 1965 episode of Lassie. Soli returned to acting in 2017, with five appearances in the American web series The Admired.
 * The church seen in act two is the same one seen in “Next of Kin” and “The Bridge.” The vineyard house used by the Germans as a command post is also seen in “Boast Not of Tomorrow.” The staircase where Benedict shoots a German soldier in act five is seen in "Some Tears Fall Dry," “A Place to Die” and “One Moderately Peaceful Sunday.”