The platoon has set up camp in the rain, and are joined by a replacement (Dean Stockwell). He's something of a mystery but some soldiers have heard of him. But in a series of incidents, he performs heroic acts, but appears to be reckless and unafraid of enemy fire -soft-spoken and something of an enigma. Though reprimanded by both Jason and Morrow, there's no denying he's an effective fighter against the Germans.
Suspense mounts gradually as one wonders whether guest star Stockwell can survive while taking such risks -does he lead a charmed life? Finally Morrow takes him aside and lectures him on false bravery and the importance of teamwork. "There's no room for show offs here Lawson", says Vic, but the young soldier seems unwilling to listen.
Cleverly plotted by writer David Zelag Goodman, the upisode plays almost like one written for "The Twilight Zone", in the strangeness of Dean's exploits and the fear and resentment toward the "outsider" that develops among the tight group of the other men. They decide to confront him, and matter-of-factly he explains his fatalism, convinced he, like his ancestors, will be killed in the war, so why worry?
It makes for a thoughtful, almost absurdist approach to the dire situation our heroes find themselves in -leading to a tense mini-battle and an unexpected conclusion.
