December (1991) - full transcript
Set in a New England prep school on the day after Pearl Harbor, five close friends must choose whether to stay in school or go to war. Their decisions shock themselves and each other as they must grow up faster than they ever imagined.
[AIRPLANES APPROACHING]
[MEN SHOUTING]
[AIR RAID SIREN WAILING]
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT:
Yesterday,
December 7th, 1941...
a date which will
live in infamy...
the United States of America
was suddenly and
deliberately attacked
by naval and air forces
of the Empire of Japan.
The United States
was at peace with that nation,
and at the solicitation
of Japan,
was still in conversation
with its government
and its Emperor...
Hey, Allister.
What's going on?
Look out. Watch out.
looking toward the maintenance
of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed,
one hour after
Japanese air squadrons
had commenced bombing
the American island of Oahu...
* Silent night
the Japanese ambassador...
* Holy night
* All is calm
delivered to our
Secretary of State...
* All is bright
...a formal reply
to a recent American message
* Mother and child
While this reply stated
that it seemed useless
to continue the existing
diplomatic negotiations,
it contained no threat
or hint of war or
of armed attack.
No matter how long
it may take us
to overcome
this premeditated invasion,
the American people
in their righteous might
will win
through to absolute victory.
[CHEERING]
I believe
that I interpret
the will of the Congress
and of the people
when I assert
that we will not only
defend ourselves
to the uttermost,
but will make it very certain
that this form of treachery
shall never again endanger us.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
ON RADIO]
Hostilities exist.
There is no blinking
at the fact
that our people,
our territory,
and our interests
are in grave danger.
With confidence
in our armed forces,
with the unbounding
determination
of our people,
we will gain
the inevitable
triumph,
so help us God.
[APPLAUSE]
I ask
that the Congress declare
that since the unprovoked
and dastardly
attack by Japan
on Sunday,
December 7th, 1941,
a state of war
has existed
between
the United States
and the Japanese Empire.
[APPLAUSE]
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
That was the President
in a joint address
to Congress
and the nation
earlier today.
The intercontinental
radio news
will continue to repeat
the President's message
and bring you
current developments
on yesterday's attack.
We return to our program
of dance music.
[**]
[TURNS RADIO DOWN]
Today in geography class,
Mr. MacMillan showed us
where Pearl Harbor was.
It's pretty darn near
the other side
of the world.
That's not the only place
they hit.
I was talking to a couple
of guys after practice,
and they say
they bombed Alaska too.
Yeah,
and the guy on the radio said
that there were Jap subs
waiting off of California, too.
- [KNOCKING]
- Hey, guys, let me out.
This isn't funny anymore,
all right? Come on.
Hi, Allister.
What's it doing?
Snowing again?
Yes, and it's
cold as hell, too,
so let me in, please.
[LAUGHS]
[WINDOW SLIDES OPEN]
Nice talk, choir boy.
It can't be cold as hell.
You know,
it is downright pathetic
when a little kid tries
cussing to act grown up.
Since when
do you care?
You're my brother,
not my mother.
Oh, cut him
some slack,
will you, Kipp?
You were a lot worse
when you first got here.
Yeah, well, my folks gave me
a lot more to cuss about, Tim.
What are you writing
to Mom and Dad about?
It's none of your
god damn business,
and why the hell
aren't you
in choir practice?
Are you kidding?
I ditched.
The Japs could be
bombing campus
and old Jenkins
is still holding
choir practice.
Besides, I have to tell
you guys something I heard.
Do Mom and Dad know
you skipped
choir practice?
Do Mom and Dad know
you started smoking again?
You'd probably
tell them, too,
wouldn't you,
you little snitch?
Relax, Kipp.
[WHISPERING]
Geez, what's with him?
He spent two hours
in Thurston's office
this afternoon.
Could you mind
your own business, Russell?
Hey, Kipp,
what's up?
I mean, why'd you
have a run-in with
Thurston for anyhow?
Look, it's nothing.
Just forget it, okay?
It's just
that you said--
It's no big deal.
Just drop it.
Hey, Allister...
what were you so
fired up about, anyhow?
Oh, God, I almost forgot.
You know Stanley Burns,
that kind of goofy kid
in my class
with that big, old
raspberry birthmark
on his neck?
Well, he was busing
the headmaster's table tonight,
and he had to stay late
on account of old Thurston
and all the class hotshots
sitting around, drinking coffee,
and talking about
what the President
said and all.
Is there a point
to this, Allister?
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, Stanley
heard Thurston saying
that all the seniors who were
going to enlist right away
could go home early
for Christmas,
spend a little time
with their families
before shipping out.
Where would you go
for a war? Europe?
The Pacific Ocean?
Well, it's not
just on the radio
anymore, guys.
Now it's our war.
If you're going
to join right away.
Yeah, well, I am.
The stinking Japs
pulled a cheap shot.
We're going to show them
that they can't
get away with it.
Hell, you heard
the President.
I bet we got
these Japs wrapped up
by this time
next year,
and if those Nazis
want to get in it,
we're just going to
have to whip them, too.
Well, maybe
it ain't such a good idea
to jump right into
this thing, Tim.
Oh, Jesus, Russell.
Captain America
ain't going
to save the day.
It's up to us.
This is an honest-
to-goodness,
real, live war
we're going
to be fighting, guys.
and a fella's got to do
what he's supposed to do,
right, Kipp?
I think a fella ought to do
what he thinks he should.
Damn straight.
Serve his country.
Look, all I'm saying is,
let's find out
what's going on first.
Stuart sat
at Thurston's table tonight.
When he gets home,
we can ask him.
Hell, I've got
to get packed.
Kipp, see if you can
talk some sense
into this guy.
You thinking on joining up, too?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Then why are you
getting all packed up?
Is it any of your
god damn business, Allister?
You know, you're in a
real pissy mood tonight.
I'm going
to go next door
and wait for Stuart.
You think the war
will go on long?
Hell, no.
We're going
to kick ass.
The way I figure it,
with all these ships we lost,
it could take a while.
Oh, well...
while I'm off serving my country
and living
a part of history,
you'll still be here.
Kipp's packing, too.
Of course he is.
We're a team.
We stick together.
If I go Navy,
Kipp'll go Navy.
Wow, the Navy.
You and Kipp in the Navy.
How about that?
Yeah. We'll probably serve
on some destroyer.
Some big-ass battleship.
Sail all over the Pacific
and back.
Tropical islands,
tropical women.
Swimming in water
as blue as the sky.
Boy, it's going
to be something.
Bet you'll be
the fastest swimmer
in the Navy.
I don't know.
There's thousands of
guys joining up.
I'm sure there'll be a bunch
faster than me.
I wish I was a better swimmer
or a better ball player.
Even a little bit taller.
Well, not everybody
can be athletic, Allister.
I mean, you're good
at book stuff.
Brainy stuff.
Heck, I bet
you're smarter
than most of the seniors
at the school.
You see here?
Before Steve Rogers
drank Dr. Reinstein's
super-serum
and became Captain America,
he tried to join the Army,
but they had him declared 4-F
on account of his being
so scrawny and weak.
Anyways,
now he's smashing Nazi spies.
I can't wait to see what
he does to those Japs.
Russell, it's a comic book.
Colored ink,
newspaper.
Oh, I know,
but I was thinking
that even if I tried
to join up now,
they might not even take me,
like old Steve Rogers.
Remember, I've got
that flat foot condition
and I had to wear
those really bad shoes
until I was 15,
and then--
Russell. Russell!
What?
Never mind.
Hey, Stuart.
What's up?
This damned weather.
Damned bombing.
They've gone and canceled
tomorrow's chess tourney
with Middlebury.
No, not the chess tourney.
That's it. These Japs
have gone too far.
- This means war.
- Okay, okay,
your sarcasm isn't
appreciated, Mitchell.
What are you doing?
Get off my bed.
Come on.
All right. I wasn't
hurting anything.
- Jesus.
- What time is it?
Aren't you supposed to be
back at your own dormitory
by this time?
Why is everybody so worried
where I'm supposed
to be, anyway?
Oh, oh, they stopped enforcing
the sophomore curfew?
I'm sorry, I didn't hear that,
Allister.
Oh, give it a rest,
will you, Stuart?
What are you doing?
Packing.
The word is,
Thurston's letting
all the seniors who
are going to enlist
go home early
for Christmas.
Oh, yeah?
Where'd you hear that, huh?
What, are you
denying it?
Hey, guys, Stuart's back!
Well, it's about time!
Come on, Stuart, give.
What's going on?
How should I know?
You had dinner with
Thurston tonight.
What did he say?
Look, any information
I have as a result
of my dinner
conversation
with Headmaster
Thurston
is certainly not
for public broadcast.
So something is up?
You're going to
make this difficult,
aren't you, Stuart?
Nothing difficult
about it.
You'll all
just have to wait
for the announcement
at breakfast tomorrow.
Look, Stuart, this
is very important.
We don't have
time for games.
So why don't you
just drop
the conceited asshole bit
for about five minutes
and tell us what
Thurston said?
No. If you don't mind,
Mitchell...
I've got finals
to study for.
Let me put it
another way, Stuart.
Kipp?
Tim?
Swirly time!
Hey, I'm not one of your
crude swimmer friends
who enjoys this sort of thing!
Nobody enjoys being on
the porcelain end of a swirly.
Hey, you guys,
this is really immature!
No, not really.
Do it!
Are you going
to tell us
what Thurston said,
Stuart?
Yes. Yes, I will.
Just please let me out,
Mitchell. Come on.
Gosh, you are
one of the most irritating...
no-class human beings--
Stuart! Just tell us
what Thurston said.
Well, I'm certainly not
going to carry on a conversation
with four other people
in a bathroom.
Excuse me.
A bus will leave campus
tomorrow at 4:00.
It'll take any seniors
who want to enlist
to the train station
in Middlebury...
[CLEARS THROAT]
...and from there,
it's home to your
local recruiting officers.
- What about finals?
- Do we get to graduate?
Are any other
schools doing this?
That's it.
That's all I know.
I suppose
we'll hear more details
tomorrow at breakfast.
Tomorrow,
we're leaving.
You're with me,
right, Kipp?
Huh?
You're with me?
Right.
With you, Tim.
Okay, Russell,
what's it going to be?
I don't know.
I don't think so.
It may be right for you
right now, but I'm not sure.
Russell, where's
your sense of duty?
Of commitment?
I mean, this is
our time to fight.
This is... To leave
Green Mountain behind
and see the world.
I mean, come on,
we're going to be
in this together.
I understand
what you're saying, Tim,
but I can't.
I can't leave
Green Mountain now,
not if I don't have to.
Well, you might
have to anyway,
if the draft age
is low enough.
You're going to be 18
in a few months.
Look, my folks
have worked really hard
for me to be able
to go to school here.
They don't have a lot of money,
and they're going without a lot
for me to be here right now.
Neither one of them
even got to go
to college, and I am.
I can't disappoint them.
Well, you can
still do all that...
after the war.
You can come back and pick up
right where you left off.
No. I can't.
You've got to understand.
That you can't...
or you won't?
Hey, Tim,
let it go.
I just don't understand
how you can turn your back
on your own country.
I'm not turning my back
on anything.
I've just got my priorities.
Yeah, well,
if you're not on
that bus tomorrow,
you're turning your back
on all those guys
at Pearl.
Yeah. Well, I've got
finals to study for, so...
Oh, Jesus, Russell!
Why don't you grow up
and accept some
responsibility for once?
Pull your nose out
of the comic books
and live life in the
god damn real world?
Hey, Tim.
Just relax, okay?
Tim, I'm sorry.
I'd really hate for you to think
that I'm letting you down.
Well, you are.
Yeah.
Hey, Russell, wait.
He's doing what he feels
he has to, Tim.
Jesus, he looks
up to you!
Do you know
how hard it was
for him to stand here
and tell you
he wasn't going?
Yeah, well, he's wrong.
You're wrong!
Well, Russell isn't the only one
with finals to study for,
so if you gentlemen,
and I use the term loosely,
will excuse me...
You know, I should have figured
you weren't going, Stuart.
That's right,
Tim, I'm not.
Oh, yeah?
And why is that?
Not that I owe you
any explanation,
but I'll tell you why.
You see, a country at war
not only needs manpower
for its armies,
but it needs to supply that army
with guns, tanks, planes, ships,
and all the other equipment
it takes to run a war.
The government doesn't just
pull open some big gym bag
and pull this stuff
out, Mitchell.
It's got to be
manufactured,
and that's why
my father's factories
are gearing up to switch over
to the production of war goods.
Oh, it sounds
like your father talking.
No, it's me talking.
Stuart, we're young.
We belong fighting
in this war.
I'm sorry...
but I'm staying.
You know, I thought
that maybe,
somewhere deep inside you,
you had a feeling of obligation,
responsibility.
I mean, you live in a country
which allows you and your family
to acquire so much,
and now, when they need you,
what do you do?
You walk away.
It's not like that, Tim.
I'll be doing my part.
Yeah, well, your part
isn't good enough.
Oh, yeah?
Who are you to judge me, huh?
You are getting
way out of hand with this.
Look, I have to study.
Okay?
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Reports from the Pacific
indicate that fierce fighting
continues at this hour
at sea and on land.
Japanese troops
have invaded Thailand
and North Malaya.
Hey, wait. Keep that on.
[SWING MUSIC PLAYING]
Let's just listen
to the music, okay?
Yeah, sure.
How many times
do you think
you've read that?
A bunch.
How come
you don't want
to listen to the news?
Well, they keep saying
the same thing.
I know what's going on.
I know what's happening.
What is it?
Captain America.
Yeah?
What about him?
I mean, he's going to have
to go fight in the war.
He can't stay here
going after spies and
saboteurs anymore.
We're in the war.
He's got to go,
and I know he's smarter
and faster and stronger
than the other guys,
but in a war,
there's bombs and bullets
flying at you from all sides,
and his titanium shield'll
only cover one side at a time.
What if he gets hit, Allister?
He can't be able
to go to the war and die.
All of those people die in wars.
I mean,
they get shot or blown up and...
and when they're dead,
that's it.
Those guys at Pearl Harbor...
they're already dead.
Some of them probably
never even saw it coming.
Is, uh...
is that why
you don't want to go off
and fight in the war?
I don't want to die, Allister.
Does that make me chicken?
Who knows?
I don't know.
But it's true,
it really is,
and I'm only trying to make you
at least
partially aware
of your own
personality flaws.
Well, I ain't flawed.
You're telling
Russell and I
that we're staying
for all
the wrong reasons.
Well, you're going
with the wrong attitude.
It's not so much
duty and honor to you
as it...
as it is just plain
beating the Japs,
showing them
who's stronger.
For you, it's just
one big swim meet
in the Pacific.
You know,
you always think
you got people
figured out, Stuart.
Well, you're wrong.
Okay, fine.
How about this?
We take the fastest
Japanese swimmer and you,
and we stick the both
of you in some pool
on an island
between here and Japan,
then the two of you
do 50 yards freestyle,
and the one who wins
wins the war.
That's dumb.
Aha, but you actually
thought about it for a minute.
Face it, Mitchell.
You're looking for a fight.
No, the Japs
are the ones
who came looking
for a fight,
and I sure as hell
am going to give them one.
Oh, what, you personally?
No.
Kipp, me,
and a whole bunch
of real Americans.
Americans who are
willing to fight.
Guys who are willing
to lay it all on the line.
None of this bullshit
about helping out the war effort
in some damn factory.
You don't hear Kipp
spouting some chicken shit
line like that, do you?
Look, I'm going to let that
comment pass, all right?
Because I consider you a friend.
Yeah, well, don't do me
any favors, Stuart.
Look, why don't you just get off
your patriotic soapbox already,
because I've heard
all I care to.
Yeah? Well, you're going
to hear a lot more!
You know, sometimes
you can be so smug.
Anyone who's not
playing the game your way
isn't playing right.
You're so full of yourself,
so...
so god damn sure of yourself.
"Oh, I'm going to go
join the Navy."
"Kipp and I are
going to fight the Japs."
What?
You're not really going
to go off and fight in that war,
are you?
Why don't you
level with him?
Why don't you
level with us?
Hold it right there.
What the hell are you
talking about, Stuart?
Why not ask Kipp?
Kipp knows
what I mean.
Don't you, Kipp?
Don't you?
You see, the war
wasn't the only
topic of discussion
at the dinner
conversation
you were all so eager
to find out about.
Our friend Kipp here
was mentioned
a couple times.
If memory
serves me correct,
Headmaster Thurston
referred to Kipp
as a bad influence.
Disruptive Kipp,
troublemaker Kipp...
expelled Kipp.
- Kipp, what happened?
- Kipp, no.
Headmaster Thurston
said he wouldn't
even expect
a selfish
little delinquent
like Kipp Gibbs
to even serve his country
in a time of need.
Was he right, Kipp?
You know something, Mitchell?
If I'm a chicken shit
for not going,
then our friend Kipp here
is a chicken shit
for running away
from Green Mountain.
Sure, he's packing up,
but he's not going
where you are.
He's getting
the hell out of here
before anybody finds out
he's being expelled.
Catching a ride
on the old glory bus, eh?
Is that the plan, Kipp?
Why the hell are you
doing this, Stuart?
Because you're so blind.
Kipp here can do no wrong.
Kipp's brave, loyal,
and trustworthy.
He's a god damn boy scout,
and all I am is a conceited,
chicken shit asshole
who's good for a laugh
if we stuff his head
in the toilet.
Well, you're not laughing now,
are you, Mitchell?
Jesus, Stuart.
Is that what this is about?
A joke a couple of hours ago?
No. It's more than that.
You son of a bitch!
Oh, what are you going to do,
beat me up?
Is that what you're
getting kicked out for?
For all the fighting?
For what you did to that
Curtis kid in P.E. class?
- Kipp didn't start that.
- Oh? Then what are you
getting kicked out
for, Kipp?
Why don't you
just tell us?
Because it's none of
your god damn business,
that's why.
Tim, I'm not
going to enlist,
and I'm not getting
on any bus either.
I'm going to get
the hell out of
Green Mountain tonight.
- Where are you going to go?
- Of course you're
going to enlist.
- We're going to
join the Navy, Kipp.
- No, Tim, we're not.
- But you said...
- No, I didn't!
You just got it
in your head that way.
You were so certain
that I was going to go.
You were so sure!
I couldn't even tell you
that I wasn't going.
Well, Kipp, we can go.
We will go, Kipp. It's...
it's you and me, Kipp.
I mean, this bull shit with
Thurston doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter why
you got kicked out, Kipp.
You're free to go.
Tim....
Tim, you don't understand.
No, you're damn right
I don't, Kipp!
What the hell
is going on?
Look, I just need to get
out of here, all right?
No, Kipp, wait.
We'll work it out, okay?
- I need to be alone.
- Kipp, wait!
Maybe I should
go on after him.
No, just leave him
alone a minute.
You can be
a real shit sometimes.
You know, Stuart,
I should kick your ass.
What the hell
did you think you
were doing, huh?
I don't know.
I just...
I mean, I...
Well, I thought that...
That's the problem.
You didn't think.
Fine.
I don't need any
of you guys either.
Kipp?
Sorry.
I didn't mean
to startle you.
What the hell
do you want?
Aren't you finished
humiliating me yet?
Look... I just
brought you your cap.
Thanks.
I really just want to be
left alone, all right?
Kipp...
I need to talk to you.
Haven't you said enough already?
Why don't you just
get the hell out of here?
Oh, please,
just hear me out.
Fine.
You stay, I'll go.
No, wait.
I'll go.
I just wanted to apologize
for what I said and did.
I know it was pretty rotten.
That's all.
You treated me
like dirt, Stuart,
for no good reason.
Look, I'm sorry.
I said it.
Kipp, I'll keep on saying it
as long as you want me to,
but I cannot undo what I did.
Why did you do it, Stuart?
Why did you say all those things
in front of everybody?
I guess...
I just wanted to shut Tim up.
I wanted to hit him,
but I knew he'd just
put me through the wall...
and I knew cutting you down
in front of him
would really get him.
Tonight at dinner,
when Thurston was saying
all those things about me,
- did you say anything?
- No.
No, I didn't say anything.
I just sat there
and I kept quiet.
I wanted so badly
to shout out, Kipp.
I wanted to...
I wanted to tell them
to shut up.
Just shut up!
I wanted to yell
across the table
and tell Thurston
that...
that he was
a dirty liar
and a pompous fool,
and that Kipp Gibbs
was a friend of mine,
but I didn't.
God, why didn't I?
Thurston never said
why I was being expelled?
No.
No, he hinted at
a couple things,
but...
Do you want
to hear a story?
Look...
it's your business
and none of mine.
You don't have to
tell me anything.
I was wrong to try
and make you.
No, I want to.
You know that...
10 guys a year
out of the senior class
fall victim to Thurston
for English tutorial,
and I'm one of the
lucky bastards
that got him.
About two weeks ago,
I had a book report due.
It was due on Monday,
so the Friday before
I was in the library
trying to find a book.
It was real quiet.
Nobody was there,
because they were
getting ready to close up,
and all of a sudden
I heard yelling.
There's no more
discussion. Get going.
It was Thurston.
That's censorship.
He was mad as hell
and arguing with Miss Langley.
Where does it stop?
Answer me that.
I wasn't sure what
they were talking about,
but Thurston was waving
some book around
and Miss Langley
was trying to get it back.
She was really upset.
Thurston is such a bastard.
This didn't happen.
It was burnt a little bit,
but it hadn't torched up yet.
Now, I'm not a big reader
or anything, but I knew
that if Thurston
didn't want that book read,
I was going to read it.
It was about war,
and this fellow named Joe
who was in the Great War.
He'd been hurt real bad.
He had no arms or legs.
He was deaf,
pretty much of his face
was blown off.
About the only thing
he could do was think,
and what he thought
about was the war.
I read the whole book...
in that one night...
and I haven't stopped
thinking about it since.
This book,
it made me see
how crazy war is.
First...
First they start name-calling,
and then they start shouting,
and then,
when they can't shout anymore,
they start
shooting each other...
and then, when the smoke clears,
they'll sit down,
and they'll talk peace
and they'll sort it all out.
And you told all this
to Thurston?
Yeah.
I put it all in my book report.
The son of a bitch
hauls me into his
office this afternoon
and he starts lecturing me.
He lectures me about
God and country
and that's what
Green Mountain
is all about...
and then he tells me
I'm being expelled,
because
I'm a bad influence.
He doesn't want everyone to
know what the real reason is.
That son of a bitch
couldn't throw me
into the fire...
so he did the
next best thing.
Stuart, I'm so glad
that you and Russell
aren't going.
I wish to God
that Tim wasn't.
Then tell him, Kipp.
You know, I'm not the only one
who should hear this story.
He wouldn't understand.
I'd lose him as a friend.
No. You need to
make him understand,
or you will lose him
as a friend.
Apology accepted.
Thanks, Kipp.
What do you say we get
the hell out of here?
I'm freezing
my ass off.
Yeah, me too.
[WIND HOWLING]
A book?
You're not going
because of some book?
Is that all you saw
in those pages, Tim?
I hoped that that would help you
understand some of the things
I'm trying to understand myself.
Bullshit.
This was for Thurston.
We've been through
too much together, Kipp.
You owe me a better
explanation
than to hand me some
god damn lousy book report!
Real lousy, in fact.
He got an F.
- Shut up, Russell.
- Bite my head off.
I was just making a joke.
Hell, I've seen you
get in fights
over a seat
in the auditorium.
This is a fight
for something
that really matters.
Come on, Kipp.
Two weeks ago,
I probably would have
agreed with you, Tim,
but now... I don't think I can
make any sense out of war.
And what about the guys
at Pearl?
What about them, Kipp?
Do they help you make any sense
out of this at all?
What, revenge?
That kind of sense?
Any eye for an eye?
They killed our guys,
so let's kill theirs?
Maybe a little revenge
isn't such a bad idea.
Besides, Kipp, that's not
the only way to look at it.
The President called
on us to serve.
Oh, that's brilliant.
Some guy comes along and
he taps you on the shoulder
and says, "Hey, Tim,
come die for us,"
and you're going to go.
You know, you have
a pretty selfish way
of thinking about this.
Do I?
Some things
are worth fighting for.
Maybe even dying for, Kipp.
You're right.
Some things are worth dying for,
but that's different
for each person.
Russell, you're back in
Dallas with your mom and
you're shopping downtown,
when this truck
goes out of control
and jumps the curb.
You have
just enough time
to push your mom out
of the way or save yourself.
What do you do?
I... I don't like this story,
Kipp. Knock on wood.
[KNOCKS]
What do you do, Russell?
I'd push her out of the way.
It's a dumb question.
Of course he saves his mom.
And chooses to give up his life
because it's worth it to him.
No, it's a reflex.
Your mom's in trouble,
you save your mom,
and when your
country's in trouble,
- you serve your country.
- Why?
Because the President
called on us to serve?
Tim, there's always somebody
who's willing to sacrifice
some other guy's life.
They're usually the ones
that are waving flags,
making speeches,
and shouting slogans.
Politicians will send
people off to die in a war
like it's a game of chess.
They'll tell you
about the glory of war
and they'll
keep the rest
all their dirty,
little secret.
Thurston throws a book
in the fire,
then at dinner,
he sits there and talks
about the suppression of ideas
and the fight for democracy
in Europe.
Right. Hitler's burning
books over there,
and Thurston's doing
the same exact thing
right here.
Tim, every guy who gets
on that bus tomorrow
never had a choice.
They don't know what war is.
All they know is what Thurston
wanted them to know,
what Thurston
wanted them to read.
He made their
choices for them.
Is that democracy?
In all the years
I've known you,
you've never walked away
from a fight, Kipp.
What'd you have to go and
read that book for, anyhow?
This is about more
than a book, Tim.
Remember that
meet at Concord
when I got in a fight
with those jerks
who said I was
crowding their lane?
Who was it that jumped out
of the bleachers
and got into it
with me?
You did.
I need you on
this one, too, Kipp.
I'm sorry, Tim, but
I can't back you up on this.
You know, you're just like them.
You're scared to fight, Kipp.
No, I think you're worse,
because you don't feel
the least bit guilty, do you?
You're just hiding behind
some stream of bullshit
and you're sneaking out of here
in the middle of the night.
Tim, don't say that.
Please,
listen to me
and understand
what I'm saying.
No, you know,
maybe Thurston
is right about you.
You are a bad influence.
Look at them.
Look what you've
done to them, Kipp!
Okay, Tim.
Do what you feel you have to,
but I can't
enlist right now.
All right.
I will.
- Where are you going?
- I think Tim's right.
Do we know how to spend
a fun evening or what?
Look...
Kipp,
you told him how you felt.
The rest is up to him.
Yeah.
Do you guys know
what time it is?
It's a little
after midnight.
I think my dad's
still up.
I'm going to go down
the hall and call him up.
Hey, Kipp, do you have
any more of those cookies
that your mom sent you?
No, I gave them all
to Allister.
I'm starved.
Allister...
I just can't figure him out.
He's just a kid, Russell,
but he thinks he's so grown up.
Yeah, little brothers
can be that way sometimes.
How would you know?
You're an only child.
Well, exactly.
I mean, that gives me an
objective view of the situation,
and besides, with Allister
around all the time,
it kind of feels
like I've got a little brother.
Yeah, well,
I bet he wishes he were
Tim's little brother
right now and not mine.
No. I think it's just
kind of a hero worship.
I mean,
all the freshman and sophomores
look up to him.
I mean, he's a champion swimmer.
He's Green Mountain's best.
Don't you think we all kind
of look up to Tim as a hero?
Yeah, a hero
and a son of a bitch.
[KNOCKS]
Tim.
I, uh, was just packing,
and I found a few things
that belonged to you, Kipp.
I figured
I'd better return them.
Just put them
on that chair.
- I got your blue shirt.
- You might as well keep it.
I'm sure you've stretched
the shoulders all to hell.
No, I only wore it the once.
Hey, look, I even found
your New York World's Fair mug.
That's your mug, Tim.
I gave it to you.
Don't you remember?
Really?
Thanks.
Say, listen,
if you come across
any of my stuff,
just hold onto it for me,
will you?
Hell, I probably
won't be missing it.
Oh, except that
Rita Hayworth picture.
I want to take that with me.
Well, let me see
if I can find it.
It's no rush.
Hey, Tim, you got any food
over in your room?
I'm starved.
No, but you might try
the dining hall,
sneak in that back window
that doesn't latch.
I do it all the time
when I stay late for practice.
Good idea.
Yeah, actually,
I could go for a bite to eat.
I'm going to go see
if Allister wants
to go with us.
Look, I can't find it.
Why don't you come with us,
Kipp?
I'm not hungry, Russell.
The fellow
in this book
got hurt
pretty bad, huh?
Yeah.
He lost both his arms
and his legs?
And his face.
At least he didn't die.
Russell, it was worse
than being dead.
You all set?
Yeah.
See you later, Kipp?
I don't know, Tim.
Kipp?
What, Allister?
I think it'd be a good thing
if you came with us.
I'm tired, Allister.
I'm tired of fighting.
I'm tired of arguing.
I don't want to go.
Come with us. Please?
Ye...
Yes, Father, I know, but...
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Yeah, sounds great. Bye.
Where are you guys going?
Dining hall.
Yeah, to polish off
some leftovers.
Why don't you
come with us?
You're asking me to join you?
Yeah, that's
the idea, Stuart.
Thanks.
All right.
All right, let's go.
[WHISTLING]
You're doing it
again, Mitchell.
You're whistling
the school song.
I could always
play my harmonica.
- No.
- No.
Thanks a lot, guys.
You're pretty quiet
all of a sudden, Russell.
Has the evil Red Skull
got your tongue?
No. It's this place
and Pearl Harbor.
I mean, it seems
so far away, it's...
- Yeah.
- It's like another planet.
It's hard to believe
it can be so quiet
and peaceful here,
when somewhere else in the world
there's a war going on.
Guys...
Guys, guys!
Listen.
How do Germans
tie their shoes?
I don't know.
I don't know.
In little Nazis.
[HOOTING AND LAUGHING]
That was worse
than the last one.
Wait, wait, hold on,
hold on, hold on.
Maybe Pearl Harbor
wasn't really bombed.
What?
No, no, no,
like that, uh...
that radio gag
about those Martians
a couple years ago.
Allister,
don't be stupid.
No.
Pearl Harbor
was definitely bombed.
[SIGHS]
When I talked to my
father a while ago...
he'd just gotten
off the telephone
with a friend in Washington.
Anyway, this fellow...
he said that more than
2,000 guys were killed,
and they still
were finding bodies.
The President said that there
were casualties, but...
Over 2,000?
Makes you stop
and think, huh?
It should.
You know something?
This may be
the last time
we're all together.
For a while, at least.
I mean, when this war's over,
we're all getting back together
again, right, guys?
- Yeah.
- Why'd those Japs have to go
starting a war
with us, anyhow?
Seems pretty stupid, doesn't it?
I mean,
it makes me mad!
Like I want
to hit something.
You know,
hit it hard!
You got the right
idea there, chief.
You want to hit
something, Allister?
Why don't you hit this?
Well, come on!
Hit it!
Here's your 1938
Champion Season ball, Thurston!
Yeah! Whoo-hoo!
- My turn.
- We need music.
Yeah!
[PLAYING RAGTIME MUSIC]
Okay, look out, squirt.
Come on, Tim,
bust a window.
This one's going
to the cheap seats.
Hey, you guys...
[WHOOPING AND CHEERING]
We're going
to get caught.
Oh, come on.
Relax, Stuart.
Hit something.
No, really. I mean it.
Come on,
take off your jacket.
Okay. Thank you, Allister.
Here we go.
Good job, Stuart.
- Give me another ball.
- Come on.
Sorry, Stuart,
that was the last one.
- Prepare to defend yourself.
- Get him, Allister.
Go on, Stuart.
Give him a fight.
Here comes Gibbs
down the left side.
He's challenging Mitchell.
He fakes it! Yes!
Ladies and gentlemen,
what an amazing play!
Not very coordinated
outside of a pool, are you?
Oh, slash, slash!
It's a fight between
Gibbs and Mitchell,
ladies and gentlemen.
It's a real brawl!
They're tearing
each other apart!
[RUSSELL PLAYS AN OMINOUS CHORD]
- Gotcha.
- Yeah.
Don't leave us.
Hang on!
He was so young.
He's a fighter.
He'll make it.
- He'll pull through.
- Well, maybe not.
[APPLAUSE]
I always wondered.
Does your dad look like
he does in that picture?
A little older.
A little grayer.
Definitely
a little heavier.
He still fits
that uniform, though.
He puts it on
every Armistice Day.
Was your dad going
to school here
when the World War
started?
No.
He had already
graduated,
but he signed up
the first day
America got into it.
Does he...
talk about when
he was in the war?
Only constantly.
I mean, even tonight
on the telephone.
He never quits.
He wants you to go,
doesn't he?
That's what
he said to you tonight
on the phone, isn't it?
My father expects,
and gets the best.
The biggest boat on the sound,
the best wine
in the restaurant,
the first class train tickets.
Everything is to his
specifications...
and then there's me.
He can send me to the
same school he went to,
but I'll never be like him.
I'm not afraid to go, Tim.
I'm not even afraid to die.
I mean, we're all
going to die someday, right?
When your number's up,
it's just up...
but going off to fight bravely
just won't be enough.
My father was a hero.
An honest-to-goodness
god damn hero.
One of the most
decorated soldiers
in the World War.
Every Armistice Day,
he shows me each medal
and tells me what they were for.
He was a god damn hero,
and I'm not!
Sure, I'll go off,
and I'll come back and I'll say,
"Look, Daddy, here...
Here's my good conduct medal."
I can't do that!
I won't do that!
If your father's
half the hero
you say he is,
he should be
proud of you
just for serving.
I can't be...
what he expects me to be.
I don't know.
Why don't you give him
the benefit of the doubt?
He sounds pretty
self-serving to me.
What about your parents?
They're not the least
bit self-righteous?
- No.
- Sure they are.
Three PhDs
between the two of them,
and they can't even see
beyond their own
academic little world.
They're a lot like your father
in that way, Stuart.
The only reason
I'm even at this school
is so I'll turn out
the way they want me to.
God forbid
I should be different.
That isn't fair, Kipp,
and you know it.
It's you, you don't even
try to understand them.
Oh, Jesus Christ, Allister.
How would you even know?
You're their god damn
answer to a prayer.
Straight A's,
straight head,
you're as cute as
a god damn button.
You are so perfect
for them to show off
for their Cornell
colleagues at faculty
cocktail parties.
You're their perfect
little angel.
You're wrong, Kipp!
You're wrong about them
and you're wrong about the war.
Those guys at Pearl Harbor
were guys just like us...
only they chose to be there.
They're dead, Kipp,
and I can't forget that,
I can't turn my back on that.
I'm not going to stay here,
safe and protected, anymore.
I'm going to go off and
fight in that war with Tim.
- Allister, no.
- Allister, you're
talking crazy.
For the first time in my life,
I'm making sense.
Allister, you're too young.
You can't go.
I can get a fake birth
certificate or something.
Tim said a lot of guys
would be doing it, right, Tim?
Well, why not, Kipp?
It's freedom
of choice, right?
It's democracy, right?
It's his choice.
Stay out of this, Tim.
Allister, you listen to me,
and you listen to me good.
I am not about to let you
end up in some hellhole
with artillery shells
exploding over your head,
with people dying
left and right,
and you pissing
in your pants
and crying like
a little baby.
Bullshit!
You're the little baby!
I hate you!
Allister,
come back here!
- I'll go get him.
- No, no,
he's my brother.
I'll go get him.
Oh, you're doing
a good job at that.
Don't start with me, Tim.
You know, the kid came
in to talk to me today.
Asked me advice about this
Bennington girl he likes.
He said he couldn't
even talk to you
because he was afraid
you were going to make
fun of him, Kipp.
He said that?
I'll go.
Oh. Hey, Kipp.
Hey, Billy.
I'm sorry I woke you up.
Is, uh... is Allister here?
No, he never came in.
I thought he was staying
over with you again.
Yeah, he was with me.
Well, look,
next time you see him,
tell him I'm not going
to cover for him in choir.
- Goodnight, Billy.
- Jenkins was pissed as hell.
Getting much
studying done?
No, I can't study.
I can't sleep.
Thinking about your father?
Look, if you're going to brush
your teeth, just do it,
but don't stand there
and chew on that thing.
It's very irritating.
Truth.
Are you having second
thoughts about not going?
I'm just a little
confused right now,
that's all.
Come with me, Stuart.
He'd be real proud of you.
Who?
My father.
Your father?
I only met him once.
I've seen him at the
swim meets a couple times,
but...
I never really thought
he knew who I was.
He knows who you are.
In fact, he...
even asks about you
- whenever I speak to him.
- What?
See...
my father swam
for Green Mountain
when he went here.
He wanted me to.
I didn't.
It disappointed
the hell out of him.
Gosh, Stuart,
I'm sure your father's
very proud of you.
How could he be?
I'm not a leader.
I'm not strong or brave or...
or even decisive.
All the things he is.
Well, Stuart, you can't
stay out of the war just
because you're afraid
you're going to
disappoint your father...
and on the other hand,
you can't go just to try
and prove something to him.
You have to go
because you feel
it's right.
Stuart...
I want you there
with me.
Why?
Because you
can't get Kipp to go?
No.
Because I don't want
to do this alone, Stuart.
You know something, Mitchell?
When I first met you,
I thought you were, uh...
a loudmouth braggart jock
who lacked even an ounce
of refinement.
I know.
You kept telling me.
Yeah,
but you became...
You are...
a good friend...
But that's not
why I'm coming with you.
You're coming with me?
I can't keep living my life
to try to please my father,
or not live it
the way I want to
because I'm afraid
it won't please him.
I mean, after all,
it is my life.
Yeah.
Yeah,
I'm going to come with you.
I think your father has
a lot to be proud of in you.
Yeah?
Well, you're going to be
the one to tell him
I'm joining the Navy
instead of the Army.
* Silent night
* Holy night
* All is calm
* All is bright
* Round yon virgin
* Mother and child
* Holy infant
* So tender and mild
* Sleep in heavenly peace
* Sleep in heavenly peace *
That was pretty good.
I didn't know that you
could sing so well.
It's hard to tell
with your voice mixed in
with everyone else.
You just never listened.
I looked everywhere for you.
What are you doing
in here, anyway?
I missed practice,
remember?
No, seriously.
Okay.
I came here to pray.
Oh?
Do you pray a lot?
Sometimes.
How come you never
talk about it?
It's kind of a private thing.
Were you afraid
I'd laugh at you?
Something like that.
Do I do that a lot?
Enough.
Is that why you told Tim
about your girlfriend
instead of me?
Because you thought
I'd make fun of you?
She's not my girlfriend.
I mean, the girl
from Bennington
that you like.
Yeah.
I'm sorry, Allister.
I'm really sorry.
I don't ever
want you to think
that you can't
tell me anything.
I really want to go, Kipp.
Can't you
understand that?
Mom and Dad
aren't going to let you go.
They have to sign for you
because you're too young.
No, but you can.
I mean, you're 18.
I can't sign for you.
No, not sign.
Go yourself, and I'll be you.
I just need
your birth certificate,
and I know you have it.
You keep it
in your desk.
Well, if you want
to go so badly,
why didn't you just take it?
Because...
maybe I wanted you to
give it to me, you know?
Say, "Goodbye, good luck,
I'll write,"
just like at...
at the end of one of
those corny movies.
I wanted to know if you cared.
I care a lot about you,
Allister.
- That's why you're not going.
- The hell I'm not!
Don't you cuss in here.
I'm going to go,
with or without your help,
and you can't stop me!
Allister, wait!
Listen to me, please.
I can't let you do this!
Well, it's my life, Kipp!
[SWING BALLAD PLAYING]
Do you have to do that now?
In here?
- It helps me relax.
- No, music's relaxing.
Chin-ups are exhausting.
I guess nobody's
really tired tonight, huh?
Russell...
Stuart's going
to go with me.
And now you've
come over
to convince me
that I should come too.
I saw your face
when you heard about
the guys at Pearl.
I know you want
to do the right thing.
Stuart said in the dining hall
that he wasn't afraid to die.
Well, I am.
I am afraid to die.
I'll bet that, uh...
Captain America
or Submariner have...
- Sub-Mariner.
- Yeah, right.
Well, I bet they've
all been scared
at one time
or another.
They're just
comic books, Tim.
That's the first time
I've ever heard you say that.
Yeah?
Well, maybe it's
the first time
I've ever felt
like saying it.
Kipp, did you
find Allister?
Yeah...
for a minute, anyway.
Can I talk to you
a second?
Don't worry, Stuart,
he'll be back.
No, it's not that.
What is it?
I just wanted to tell you
before you heard
from somebody else.
I've decided to go.
I'm going to join
the Navy with Tim.
I'm going to be
on that bus tomorrow.
I just got off the telephone
to tell my father
that I'd be home early and why,
and, boy, this time,
I really did get him out of bed.
- You're going to do it.
- That's what I said.
If Tim Mitchell told you
to jump off the roof,
would you do it?
No, look,
that's not it at all.
I'm going because this
is what I want to do.
I don't have a duty to Tim
or to my father
or to even you.
I have a duty to this country.
I feel good about this.
You should be happy
for me, Kipp.
I can't be.
- TIM: Hey, Stuart.
- STUART: Hey.
Did you talk to him?
- Yeah, we talked.
- What did he say?
He wasn't exactly
jumping up and down about it.
I'm getting ready to head out.
I'll stay
at the bus station,
catch the first one
in the morning.
Tim...
I want you to have this.
Read it if for no other reason
than I'm asking you to.
Looks like pretty heady stuff.
Yeah, you could say that.
- No, thanks.
- Tim, please.
Look, the time for debating the
good and bad of the war is over.
An ocean on either side of us
couldn't keep us out of this.
We can't just
bury our head in the sand
or in some book, Kipp.
- It's time to fight.
- [STUART CLEARS THROAT]
- Kipp?
- Yeah?
I'm going to get cleaned up
and get ready for bed.
Okay.
I'll see you later.
Okay, Stuart.
Am I asking for
that much, Tim? Huh?
- A little understanding?
- Poor Kipp.
He's so abandoned
and misunderstood.
Yeah, well, what about me, huh?
The way you make me out,
I'm just after Jap blood,
out to fight
regardless what
it's all about.
That's the way you tried to
make Russell and Stuart see it.
Some friend.
Why do you refuse
to accept the fact
that I'm not
going, Tim?
Do you really think
that I'm chicken shit?
Look me in the eye
and tell me that you
think I'm chicken shit.
I think you're chicken shit!
Well, I guess I know
where we stand, then.
Yeah, well, I've still got
to clean out my locker.
Yeah, why don't you
stay here and finish this,
if you're so
gosh darn brave?
Because there's
nothing more to say.
The hell there isn't!
You know something, Kipp?
I hoped that when
we got on that bus tomorrow
that we'd still be friends,
but you're making
that really hard.
Fine, Tim.
Go, then.
Go and clean out
your locker.
But you better
pack it all the way,
because you might never
be needing it again.
No, I'll swim again
when I get back!
Maybe here at Green Mountain,
maybe at some college, Kipp.
Hey, I'm having
my best season ever.
The season just
ended for you, Tim.
Have you ever tried to swim
with just one leg?
One shell and it's all over.
No patch up.
They just cut it off.
What the hell do you know
about it, anyway?
Amputation, Tim.
It's one of those
wondrous time savers
of war medicine,
or what about both of
your legs, both gone?
Then what?
Oh, no big deal either,
because you'd still have
your big, tough arms
to push you around
in your wheelchair.
You could sit in a bar
and arm wrestle for drinks
and tell glorious war stories.
All right, that's enough, Kipp!
Oh, what's wrong, tough guy?
You afraid to hear
what really goes on?
Just shut up before I have
to shut you up, Kipp.
Then why don't you do it,
then, if you're man enough?
Come on!
Get up! You want to fight?
I'll fight you.
Nice shot.
I thought I heard
a fist connect,
and I figured you were
on the end of it.
I never got in a fight
with Tim before.
Well, he's your
best friend, Kipp.
All that best friend shit's
for grade school kids.
[ALLISTER GROANS]
Hey, Allister.
Wake up.
Five more minutes,
please.
It's so early.
No, come on, get up.
Come on.
Here.
I'm just going to
take you upstairs, okay?
Come on, let's go.
You still planning
on leaving tonight?
I don't think
that I can.
There's something
else I got to do.
Kipp, I'm sorry
I ran out on you.
You've just got to see
that I'm not a kid anymore.
I guess I'm
finding that out.
I guess so.
Hey, Allister.
How long
have you been up?
Since Kipp brought you in.
You know,
until yesterday morning,
I had never even heard
of Pearl Harbor.
My biggest headache
was Chemistry finals.
That seems so long ago.
Yeah.
Are you scared
of going, Allister?
I'd be a liar
if I said I wasn't,
but, don't tell Tim, all right?
Don't worry, I won't.
You know, I've always
thought that I would do
something special with my life,
something important,
something that mattered,
and if this is it,
and being scared's
what's keeping me from going...
You want to go, don't you?
I do.
- I think I have to.
- Come with us.
I'm still going to be scared.
We'll be scared together.
I mean...
- that'll be less scary.
- Yeah, I think so.
- Thanks, Allister.
- Sure.
Goodnight, Allister.
Goodnight.
[STARTING GUN FIRES]
Come on, Tim!
Come on, let's go!
Come on!
- Come on, Tim.
- Push it! Come on!
You've got it,
you've got it!
Go! Go!
Whoo!
All right,
Mitchell!
- You're winning!
- Go! Go! Go!
Tim!
You can do it, Tim!
Go! Go!
Yeah!
All right, Tim!
[CLAPPING]
I didn't come here to...
argue or to preach
or to fight or anything.
I tried all those things
and they didn't work.
I've been thinking...
Why don't you just
go away, Kipp?
You're not going to be able
to hold your breath
long enough
to get rid of me.
Will you just listen
to what I have to say?
In all the things...
that we argued
and yelled about tonight...
I missed
the most important thing.
Even though I think
you're wrong about this war,
you're still my friend,
and that's more important
than anything.
I thought you were
leaving, Kipp.
You know that when I
came to this school
I didn't make friends
very easily.
I was just that kid who smoked
and got in fights
all the time,
until the day
you came
and sat down
next to me
and asked me my name.
You've always been someone
that I could talk to...
and who'll listen to me.
And I still am listening.
At least, I'm trying to.
If that's what a friend is,
then I never had one
before I met you.
When you told me
you were going off
to fight in the war tonight,
I got scared, Tim.
It scares me to think
that you might die
and never come back.
Well, how do you think I felt...
when you told me
that you weren't going?
I mean...
we've done everything
together, Kipp,
and now you're
bailing out on me.
I was mad
as hell at you.
But this war isn't my fight.
Not right now.
I can't go halfway
around the world
and fight for democracy
when I have my own fight
right here.
Thurston is not
going to shut me up
as easily as he thinks.
I'm going to stay here
and fight my expulsion.
Knowing you, Thurston's in
for a hell of a fight.
Friends?
Always.
I'm going to miss you.
I'm going to
miss you too, Kipp.
Come on, let's get
back to the dorm.
What? What?
Oh, no, you don't!
Hey, where are you?
Get up here!
Oh-ho, I'm going
to kill you!
Grow up, will you?
I can't believe
you did this.
Enough!
[BELL TOLLS]
All right, choir,
gather around.
Let's get together, boys.
Now, where's Allister gone?
In the key of G.
* Hail to thee
* O Green Mountain
* Loyalty we pledge to you
Let's go! Seniors!
Over here!
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Recruiting stations
in the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps,
and the Coast Guard
are said
to be receiving applicants
in numbers unprecedented
in the history of the nation.
The pressure today
is particularly strong
at the Navy offices
in the Federal Building
at 90 Church Street,
where thousands of men,
some only youngsters,
are attempting
to join the service.
At the outset,
Navy officials estimate
that 2,000 men
have applied for naval service
in the past 24 hours,
and there are
an estimated 1,500
standing in line this morning.
On the West Coast,
two formations of planes
described as undoubtedly enemy
flew over the San Francisco Bay
area last night.
The announcement was made
by Brigadier General
William Wells
from the Fourth Interceptor
Command.
Official word
from the White House
confirms that one battleship
has capsized at Pearl Harbor.
No further information
as to the severity
of the damage...
[CHEERING]
Big smiles, guys.
This one's for the yearbook.
Hi, Kipp.
Allister.
What are you doing up here?
I thought you were
going to be on the bus.
I'm going to get on
at the last minute
while Tim distracts Thurston.
Oh.
I came here to say goodbye
and give you this.
It's a letter to Mom and Dad.
Here. It explains.
You can read it.
It's not private
or anything.
I'm going to go home with Tim
and ship out with him.
The Navy.
- I'm going to join the Navy.
- Yeah, I had that figured.
The second I know
what's going on,
I'll give Mom
and Dad a call.
Okay, I'll tell them.
Stay close to Tim, will you?
- He's a good guy, Allister.
- He'll look out for you.
- I will.
- I'm serious.
I want you to
come back from this.
Me too.
Here.
It's my birth
certificate.
It'll make things a hell
of a lot easier for you
when you get to
the recruiting office.
Just talk a little deeper and...
stand on your toes
when you come to
the front of the line.
I know that I haven't been...
very good at all the
big brother stuff.
I know I don't say it
very often, Allister.
I love you, Allie.
I love you too.
I really do.
I'm going to miss you
something awful.
Yeah, I know.
Me, too.
[BUS STARTS]
I got... I got to go.
Take care of yourself, Allister.
I will.
I'll be seeing you.
Yeah.
Son, you should
feel good today.
We're very
proud of you.
Okay, okay.
I'll do it, I'll do it.
Better run quick, Billy.
- Hey, you made it!
- Yeah.
Give 'em hell,
Mitchell.
Kick some ass
over there, Mitchell.
KIPP: December 9th, 1941.
Dear Mom and Dad...
Enclosed you will find
a letter from Allister.
He left today
with a bunch of guys
to enlist in the Navy.
It was something
he felt he needed to do,
so I let him.
I may soon have to
follow him if I'm drafted,
but for now I'll stay here.
I have another fight of my own.
I have been expelled
from Green Mountain
by Headmaster Thurston.
I plan to appeal.
He has no serious grounds
for what he did,
and I feel confident
that I will be able
to remain here.
[CHEERING]
Looking forward to Christmas
with the both of you.
Love, Kipp.
[**]
[MEN SHOUTING]
[AIR RAID SIREN WAILING]
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT:
Yesterday,
December 7th, 1941...
a date which will
live in infamy...
the United States of America
was suddenly and
deliberately attacked
by naval and air forces
of the Empire of Japan.
The United States
was at peace with that nation,
and at the solicitation
of Japan,
was still in conversation
with its government
and its Emperor...
Hey, Allister.
What's going on?
Look out. Watch out.
looking toward the maintenance
of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed,
one hour after
Japanese air squadrons
had commenced bombing
the American island of Oahu...
* Silent night
the Japanese ambassador...
* Holy night
* All is calm
delivered to our
Secretary of State...
* All is bright
...a formal reply
to a recent American message
* Mother and child
While this reply stated
that it seemed useless
to continue the existing
diplomatic negotiations,
it contained no threat
or hint of war or
of armed attack.
No matter how long
it may take us
to overcome
this premeditated invasion,
the American people
in their righteous might
will win
through to absolute victory.
[CHEERING]
I believe
that I interpret
the will of the Congress
and of the people
when I assert
that we will not only
defend ourselves
to the uttermost,
but will make it very certain
that this form of treachery
shall never again endanger us.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
ON RADIO]
Hostilities exist.
There is no blinking
at the fact
that our people,
our territory,
and our interests
are in grave danger.
With confidence
in our armed forces,
with the unbounding
determination
of our people,
we will gain
the inevitable
triumph,
so help us God.
[APPLAUSE]
I ask
that the Congress declare
that since the unprovoked
and dastardly
attack by Japan
on Sunday,
December 7th, 1941,
a state of war
has existed
between
the United States
and the Japanese Empire.
[APPLAUSE]
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
That was the President
in a joint address
to Congress
and the nation
earlier today.
The intercontinental
radio news
will continue to repeat
the President's message
and bring you
current developments
on yesterday's attack.
We return to our program
of dance music.
[**]
[TURNS RADIO DOWN]
Today in geography class,
Mr. MacMillan showed us
where Pearl Harbor was.
It's pretty darn near
the other side
of the world.
That's not the only place
they hit.
I was talking to a couple
of guys after practice,
and they say
they bombed Alaska too.
Yeah,
and the guy on the radio said
that there were Jap subs
waiting off of California, too.
- [KNOCKING]
- Hey, guys, let me out.
This isn't funny anymore,
all right? Come on.
Hi, Allister.
What's it doing?
Snowing again?
Yes, and it's
cold as hell, too,
so let me in, please.
[LAUGHS]
[WINDOW SLIDES OPEN]
Nice talk, choir boy.
It can't be cold as hell.
You know,
it is downright pathetic
when a little kid tries
cussing to act grown up.
Since when
do you care?
You're my brother,
not my mother.
Oh, cut him
some slack,
will you, Kipp?
You were a lot worse
when you first got here.
Yeah, well, my folks gave me
a lot more to cuss about, Tim.
What are you writing
to Mom and Dad about?
It's none of your
god damn business,
and why the hell
aren't you
in choir practice?
Are you kidding?
I ditched.
The Japs could be
bombing campus
and old Jenkins
is still holding
choir practice.
Besides, I have to tell
you guys something I heard.
Do Mom and Dad know
you skipped
choir practice?
Do Mom and Dad know
you started smoking again?
You'd probably
tell them, too,
wouldn't you,
you little snitch?
Relax, Kipp.
[WHISPERING]
Geez, what's with him?
He spent two hours
in Thurston's office
this afternoon.
Could you mind
your own business, Russell?
Hey, Kipp,
what's up?
I mean, why'd you
have a run-in with
Thurston for anyhow?
Look, it's nothing.
Just forget it, okay?
It's just
that you said--
It's no big deal.
Just drop it.
Hey, Allister...
what were you so
fired up about, anyhow?
Oh, God, I almost forgot.
You know Stanley Burns,
that kind of goofy kid
in my class
with that big, old
raspberry birthmark
on his neck?
Well, he was busing
the headmaster's table tonight,
and he had to stay late
on account of old Thurston
and all the class hotshots
sitting around, drinking coffee,
and talking about
what the President
said and all.
Is there a point
to this, Allister?
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, Stanley
heard Thurston saying
that all the seniors who were
going to enlist right away
could go home early
for Christmas,
spend a little time
with their families
before shipping out.
Where would you go
for a war? Europe?
The Pacific Ocean?
Well, it's not
just on the radio
anymore, guys.
Now it's our war.
If you're going
to join right away.
Yeah, well, I am.
The stinking Japs
pulled a cheap shot.
We're going to show them
that they can't
get away with it.
Hell, you heard
the President.
I bet we got
these Japs wrapped up
by this time
next year,
and if those Nazis
want to get in it,
we're just going to
have to whip them, too.
Well, maybe
it ain't such a good idea
to jump right into
this thing, Tim.
Oh, Jesus, Russell.
Captain America
ain't going
to save the day.
It's up to us.
This is an honest-
to-goodness,
real, live war
we're going
to be fighting, guys.
and a fella's got to do
what he's supposed to do,
right, Kipp?
I think a fella ought to do
what he thinks he should.
Damn straight.
Serve his country.
Look, all I'm saying is,
let's find out
what's going on first.
Stuart sat
at Thurston's table tonight.
When he gets home,
we can ask him.
Hell, I've got
to get packed.
Kipp, see if you can
talk some sense
into this guy.
You thinking on joining up, too?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Then why are you
getting all packed up?
Is it any of your
god damn business, Allister?
You know, you're in a
real pissy mood tonight.
I'm going
to go next door
and wait for Stuart.
You think the war
will go on long?
Hell, no.
We're going
to kick ass.
The way I figure it,
with all these ships we lost,
it could take a while.
Oh, well...
while I'm off serving my country
and living
a part of history,
you'll still be here.
Kipp's packing, too.
Of course he is.
We're a team.
We stick together.
If I go Navy,
Kipp'll go Navy.
Wow, the Navy.
You and Kipp in the Navy.
How about that?
Yeah. We'll probably serve
on some destroyer.
Some big-ass battleship.
Sail all over the Pacific
and back.
Tropical islands,
tropical women.
Swimming in water
as blue as the sky.
Boy, it's going
to be something.
Bet you'll be
the fastest swimmer
in the Navy.
I don't know.
There's thousands of
guys joining up.
I'm sure there'll be a bunch
faster than me.
I wish I was a better swimmer
or a better ball player.
Even a little bit taller.
Well, not everybody
can be athletic, Allister.
I mean, you're good
at book stuff.
Brainy stuff.
Heck, I bet
you're smarter
than most of the seniors
at the school.
You see here?
Before Steve Rogers
drank Dr. Reinstein's
super-serum
and became Captain America,
he tried to join the Army,
but they had him declared 4-F
on account of his being
so scrawny and weak.
Anyways,
now he's smashing Nazi spies.
I can't wait to see what
he does to those Japs.
Russell, it's a comic book.
Colored ink,
newspaper.
Oh, I know,
but I was thinking
that even if I tried
to join up now,
they might not even take me,
like old Steve Rogers.
Remember, I've got
that flat foot condition
and I had to wear
those really bad shoes
until I was 15,
and then--
Russell. Russell!
What?
Never mind.
Hey, Stuart.
What's up?
This damned weather.
Damned bombing.
They've gone and canceled
tomorrow's chess tourney
with Middlebury.
No, not the chess tourney.
That's it. These Japs
have gone too far.
- This means war.
- Okay, okay,
your sarcasm isn't
appreciated, Mitchell.
What are you doing?
Get off my bed.
Come on.
All right. I wasn't
hurting anything.
- Jesus.
- What time is it?
Aren't you supposed to be
back at your own dormitory
by this time?
Why is everybody so worried
where I'm supposed
to be, anyway?
Oh, oh, they stopped enforcing
the sophomore curfew?
I'm sorry, I didn't hear that,
Allister.
Oh, give it a rest,
will you, Stuart?
What are you doing?
Packing.
The word is,
Thurston's letting
all the seniors who
are going to enlist
go home early
for Christmas.
Oh, yeah?
Where'd you hear that, huh?
What, are you
denying it?
Hey, guys, Stuart's back!
Well, it's about time!
Come on, Stuart, give.
What's going on?
How should I know?
You had dinner with
Thurston tonight.
What did he say?
Look, any information
I have as a result
of my dinner
conversation
with Headmaster
Thurston
is certainly not
for public broadcast.
So something is up?
You're going to
make this difficult,
aren't you, Stuart?
Nothing difficult
about it.
You'll all
just have to wait
for the announcement
at breakfast tomorrow.
Look, Stuart, this
is very important.
We don't have
time for games.
So why don't you
just drop
the conceited asshole bit
for about five minutes
and tell us what
Thurston said?
No. If you don't mind,
Mitchell...
I've got finals
to study for.
Let me put it
another way, Stuart.
Kipp?
Tim?
Swirly time!
Hey, I'm not one of your
crude swimmer friends
who enjoys this sort of thing!
Nobody enjoys being on
the porcelain end of a swirly.
Hey, you guys,
this is really immature!
No, not really.
Do it!
Are you going
to tell us
what Thurston said,
Stuart?
Yes. Yes, I will.
Just please let me out,
Mitchell. Come on.
Gosh, you are
one of the most irritating...
no-class human beings--
Stuart! Just tell us
what Thurston said.
Well, I'm certainly not
going to carry on a conversation
with four other people
in a bathroom.
Excuse me.
A bus will leave campus
tomorrow at 4:00.
It'll take any seniors
who want to enlist
to the train station
in Middlebury...
[CLEARS THROAT]
...and from there,
it's home to your
local recruiting officers.
- What about finals?
- Do we get to graduate?
Are any other
schools doing this?
That's it.
That's all I know.
I suppose
we'll hear more details
tomorrow at breakfast.
Tomorrow,
we're leaving.
You're with me,
right, Kipp?
Huh?
You're with me?
Right.
With you, Tim.
Okay, Russell,
what's it going to be?
I don't know.
I don't think so.
It may be right for you
right now, but I'm not sure.
Russell, where's
your sense of duty?
Of commitment?
I mean, this is
our time to fight.
This is... To leave
Green Mountain behind
and see the world.
I mean, come on,
we're going to be
in this together.
I understand
what you're saying, Tim,
but I can't.
I can't leave
Green Mountain now,
not if I don't have to.
Well, you might
have to anyway,
if the draft age
is low enough.
You're going to be 18
in a few months.
Look, my folks
have worked really hard
for me to be able
to go to school here.
They don't have a lot of money,
and they're going without a lot
for me to be here right now.
Neither one of them
even got to go
to college, and I am.
I can't disappoint them.
Well, you can
still do all that...
after the war.
You can come back and pick up
right where you left off.
No. I can't.
You've got to understand.
That you can't...
or you won't?
Hey, Tim,
let it go.
I just don't understand
how you can turn your back
on your own country.
I'm not turning my back
on anything.
I've just got my priorities.
Yeah, well,
if you're not on
that bus tomorrow,
you're turning your back
on all those guys
at Pearl.
Yeah. Well, I've got
finals to study for, so...
Oh, Jesus, Russell!
Why don't you grow up
and accept some
responsibility for once?
Pull your nose out
of the comic books
and live life in the
god damn real world?
Hey, Tim.
Just relax, okay?
Tim, I'm sorry.
I'd really hate for you to think
that I'm letting you down.
Well, you are.
Yeah.
Hey, Russell, wait.
He's doing what he feels
he has to, Tim.
Jesus, he looks
up to you!
Do you know
how hard it was
for him to stand here
and tell you
he wasn't going?
Yeah, well, he's wrong.
You're wrong!
Well, Russell isn't the only one
with finals to study for,
so if you gentlemen,
and I use the term loosely,
will excuse me...
You know, I should have figured
you weren't going, Stuart.
That's right,
Tim, I'm not.
Oh, yeah?
And why is that?
Not that I owe you
any explanation,
but I'll tell you why.
You see, a country at war
not only needs manpower
for its armies,
but it needs to supply that army
with guns, tanks, planes, ships,
and all the other equipment
it takes to run a war.
The government doesn't just
pull open some big gym bag
and pull this stuff
out, Mitchell.
It's got to be
manufactured,
and that's why
my father's factories
are gearing up to switch over
to the production of war goods.
Oh, it sounds
like your father talking.
No, it's me talking.
Stuart, we're young.
We belong fighting
in this war.
I'm sorry...
but I'm staying.
You know, I thought
that maybe,
somewhere deep inside you,
you had a feeling of obligation,
responsibility.
I mean, you live in a country
which allows you and your family
to acquire so much,
and now, when they need you,
what do you do?
You walk away.
It's not like that, Tim.
I'll be doing my part.
Yeah, well, your part
isn't good enough.
Oh, yeah?
Who are you to judge me, huh?
You are getting
way out of hand with this.
Look, I have to study.
Okay?
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Reports from the Pacific
indicate that fierce fighting
continues at this hour
at sea and on land.
Japanese troops
have invaded Thailand
and North Malaya.
Hey, wait. Keep that on.
[SWING MUSIC PLAYING]
Let's just listen
to the music, okay?
Yeah, sure.
How many times
do you think
you've read that?
A bunch.
How come
you don't want
to listen to the news?
Well, they keep saying
the same thing.
I know what's going on.
I know what's happening.
What is it?
Captain America.
Yeah?
What about him?
I mean, he's going to have
to go fight in the war.
He can't stay here
going after spies and
saboteurs anymore.
We're in the war.
He's got to go,
and I know he's smarter
and faster and stronger
than the other guys,
but in a war,
there's bombs and bullets
flying at you from all sides,
and his titanium shield'll
only cover one side at a time.
What if he gets hit, Allister?
He can't be able
to go to the war and die.
All of those people die in wars.
I mean,
they get shot or blown up and...
and when they're dead,
that's it.
Those guys at Pearl Harbor...
they're already dead.
Some of them probably
never even saw it coming.
Is, uh...
is that why
you don't want to go off
and fight in the war?
I don't want to die, Allister.
Does that make me chicken?
Who knows?
I don't know.
But it's true,
it really is,
and I'm only trying to make you
at least
partially aware
of your own
personality flaws.
Well, I ain't flawed.
You're telling
Russell and I
that we're staying
for all
the wrong reasons.
Well, you're going
with the wrong attitude.
It's not so much
duty and honor to you
as it...
as it is just plain
beating the Japs,
showing them
who's stronger.
For you, it's just
one big swim meet
in the Pacific.
You know,
you always think
you got people
figured out, Stuart.
Well, you're wrong.
Okay, fine.
How about this?
We take the fastest
Japanese swimmer and you,
and we stick the both
of you in some pool
on an island
between here and Japan,
then the two of you
do 50 yards freestyle,
and the one who wins
wins the war.
That's dumb.
Aha, but you actually
thought about it for a minute.
Face it, Mitchell.
You're looking for a fight.
No, the Japs
are the ones
who came looking
for a fight,
and I sure as hell
am going to give them one.
Oh, what, you personally?
No.
Kipp, me,
and a whole bunch
of real Americans.
Americans who are
willing to fight.
Guys who are willing
to lay it all on the line.
None of this bullshit
about helping out the war effort
in some damn factory.
You don't hear Kipp
spouting some chicken shit
line like that, do you?
Look, I'm going to let that
comment pass, all right?
Because I consider you a friend.
Yeah, well, don't do me
any favors, Stuart.
Look, why don't you just get off
your patriotic soapbox already,
because I've heard
all I care to.
Yeah? Well, you're going
to hear a lot more!
You know, sometimes
you can be so smug.
Anyone who's not
playing the game your way
isn't playing right.
You're so full of yourself,
so...
so god damn sure of yourself.
"Oh, I'm going to go
join the Navy."
"Kipp and I are
going to fight the Japs."
What?
You're not really going
to go off and fight in that war,
are you?
Why don't you
level with him?
Why don't you
level with us?
Hold it right there.
What the hell are you
talking about, Stuart?
Why not ask Kipp?
Kipp knows
what I mean.
Don't you, Kipp?
Don't you?
You see, the war
wasn't the only
topic of discussion
at the dinner
conversation
you were all so eager
to find out about.
Our friend Kipp here
was mentioned
a couple times.
If memory
serves me correct,
Headmaster Thurston
referred to Kipp
as a bad influence.
Disruptive Kipp,
troublemaker Kipp...
expelled Kipp.
- Kipp, what happened?
- Kipp, no.
Headmaster Thurston
said he wouldn't
even expect
a selfish
little delinquent
like Kipp Gibbs
to even serve his country
in a time of need.
Was he right, Kipp?
You know something, Mitchell?
If I'm a chicken shit
for not going,
then our friend Kipp here
is a chicken shit
for running away
from Green Mountain.
Sure, he's packing up,
but he's not going
where you are.
He's getting
the hell out of here
before anybody finds out
he's being expelled.
Catching a ride
on the old glory bus, eh?
Is that the plan, Kipp?
Why the hell are you
doing this, Stuart?
Because you're so blind.
Kipp here can do no wrong.
Kipp's brave, loyal,
and trustworthy.
He's a god damn boy scout,
and all I am is a conceited,
chicken shit asshole
who's good for a laugh
if we stuff his head
in the toilet.
Well, you're not laughing now,
are you, Mitchell?
Jesus, Stuart.
Is that what this is about?
A joke a couple of hours ago?
No. It's more than that.
You son of a bitch!
Oh, what are you going to do,
beat me up?
Is that what you're
getting kicked out for?
For all the fighting?
For what you did to that
Curtis kid in P.E. class?
- Kipp didn't start that.
- Oh? Then what are you
getting kicked out
for, Kipp?
Why don't you
just tell us?
Because it's none of
your god damn business,
that's why.
Tim, I'm not
going to enlist,
and I'm not getting
on any bus either.
I'm going to get
the hell out of
Green Mountain tonight.
- Where are you going to go?
- Of course you're
going to enlist.
- We're going to
join the Navy, Kipp.
- No, Tim, we're not.
- But you said...
- No, I didn't!
You just got it
in your head that way.
You were so certain
that I was going to go.
You were so sure!
I couldn't even tell you
that I wasn't going.
Well, Kipp, we can go.
We will go, Kipp. It's...
it's you and me, Kipp.
I mean, this bull shit with
Thurston doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter why
you got kicked out, Kipp.
You're free to go.
Tim....
Tim, you don't understand.
No, you're damn right
I don't, Kipp!
What the hell
is going on?
Look, I just need to get
out of here, all right?
No, Kipp, wait.
We'll work it out, okay?
- I need to be alone.
- Kipp, wait!
Maybe I should
go on after him.
No, just leave him
alone a minute.
You can be
a real shit sometimes.
You know, Stuart,
I should kick your ass.
What the hell
did you think you
were doing, huh?
I don't know.
I just...
I mean, I...
Well, I thought that...
That's the problem.
You didn't think.
Fine.
I don't need any
of you guys either.
Kipp?
Sorry.
I didn't mean
to startle you.
What the hell
do you want?
Aren't you finished
humiliating me yet?
Look... I just
brought you your cap.
Thanks.
I really just want to be
left alone, all right?
Kipp...
I need to talk to you.
Haven't you said enough already?
Why don't you just
get the hell out of here?
Oh, please,
just hear me out.
Fine.
You stay, I'll go.
No, wait.
I'll go.
I just wanted to apologize
for what I said and did.
I know it was pretty rotten.
That's all.
You treated me
like dirt, Stuart,
for no good reason.
Look, I'm sorry.
I said it.
Kipp, I'll keep on saying it
as long as you want me to,
but I cannot undo what I did.
Why did you do it, Stuart?
Why did you say all those things
in front of everybody?
I guess...
I just wanted to shut Tim up.
I wanted to hit him,
but I knew he'd just
put me through the wall...
and I knew cutting you down
in front of him
would really get him.
Tonight at dinner,
when Thurston was saying
all those things about me,
- did you say anything?
- No.
No, I didn't say anything.
I just sat there
and I kept quiet.
I wanted so badly
to shout out, Kipp.
I wanted to...
I wanted to tell them
to shut up.
Just shut up!
I wanted to yell
across the table
and tell Thurston
that...
that he was
a dirty liar
and a pompous fool,
and that Kipp Gibbs
was a friend of mine,
but I didn't.
God, why didn't I?
Thurston never said
why I was being expelled?
No.
No, he hinted at
a couple things,
but...
Do you want
to hear a story?
Look...
it's your business
and none of mine.
You don't have to
tell me anything.
I was wrong to try
and make you.
No, I want to.
You know that...
10 guys a year
out of the senior class
fall victim to Thurston
for English tutorial,
and I'm one of the
lucky bastards
that got him.
About two weeks ago,
I had a book report due.
It was due on Monday,
so the Friday before
I was in the library
trying to find a book.
It was real quiet.
Nobody was there,
because they were
getting ready to close up,
and all of a sudden
I heard yelling.
There's no more
discussion. Get going.
It was Thurston.
That's censorship.
He was mad as hell
and arguing with Miss Langley.
Where does it stop?
Answer me that.
I wasn't sure what
they were talking about,
but Thurston was waving
some book around
and Miss Langley
was trying to get it back.
She was really upset.
Thurston is such a bastard.
This didn't happen.
It was burnt a little bit,
but it hadn't torched up yet.
Now, I'm not a big reader
or anything, but I knew
that if Thurston
didn't want that book read,
I was going to read it.
It was about war,
and this fellow named Joe
who was in the Great War.
He'd been hurt real bad.
He had no arms or legs.
He was deaf,
pretty much of his face
was blown off.
About the only thing
he could do was think,
and what he thought
about was the war.
I read the whole book...
in that one night...
and I haven't stopped
thinking about it since.
This book,
it made me see
how crazy war is.
First...
First they start name-calling,
and then they start shouting,
and then,
when they can't shout anymore,
they start
shooting each other...
and then, when the smoke clears,
they'll sit down,
and they'll talk peace
and they'll sort it all out.
And you told all this
to Thurston?
Yeah.
I put it all in my book report.
The son of a bitch
hauls me into his
office this afternoon
and he starts lecturing me.
He lectures me about
God and country
and that's what
Green Mountain
is all about...
and then he tells me
I'm being expelled,
because
I'm a bad influence.
He doesn't want everyone to
know what the real reason is.
That son of a bitch
couldn't throw me
into the fire...
so he did the
next best thing.
Stuart, I'm so glad
that you and Russell
aren't going.
I wish to God
that Tim wasn't.
Then tell him, Kipp.
You know, I'm not the only one
who should hear this story.
He wouldn't understand.
I'd lose him as a friend.
No. You need to
make him understand,
or you will lose him
as a friend.
Apology accepted.
Thanks, Kipp.
What do you say we get
the hell out of here?
I'm freezing
my ass off.
Yeah, me too.
[WIND HOWLING]
A book?
You're not going
because of some book?
Is that all you saw
in those pages, Tim?
I hoped that that would help you
understand some of the things
I'm trying to understand myself.
Bullshit.
This was for Thurston.
We've been through
too much together, Kipp.
You owe me a better
explanation
than to hand me some
god damn lousy book report!
Real lousy, in fact.
He got an F.
- Shut up, Russell.
- Bite my head off.
I was just making a joke.
Hell, I've seen you
get in fights
over a seat
in the auditorium.
This is a fight
for something
that really matters.
Come on, Kipp.
Two weeks ago,
I probably would have
agreed with you, Tim,
but now... I don't think I can
make any sense out of war.
And what about the guys
at Pearl?
What about them, Kipp?
Do they help you make any sense
out of this at all?
What, revenge?
That kind of sense?
Any eye for an eye?
They killed our guys,
so let's kill theirs?
Maybe a little revenge
isn't such a bad idea.
Besides, Kipp, that's not
the only way to look at it.
The President called
on us to serve.
Oh, that's brilliant.
Some guy comes along and
he taps you on the shoulder
and says, "Hey, Tim,
come die for us,"
and you're going to go.
You know, you have
a pretty selfish way
of thinking about this.
Do I?
Some things
are worth fighting for.
Maybe even dying for, Kipp.
You're right.
Some things are worth dying for,
but that's different
for each person.
Russell, you're back in
Dallas with your mom and
you're shopping downtown,
when this truck
goes out of control
and jumps the curb.
You have
just enough time
to push your mom out
of the way or save yourself.
What do you do?
I... I don't like this story,
Kipp. Knock on wood.
[KNOCKS]
What do you do, Russell?
I'd push her out of the way.
It's a dumb question.
Of course he saves his mom.
And chooses to give up his life
because it's worth it to him.
No, it's a reflex.
Your mom's in trouble,
you save your mom,
and when your
country's in trouble,
- you serve your country.
- Why?
Because the President
called on us to serve?
Tim, there's always somebody
who's willing to sacrifice
some other guy's life.
They're usually the ones
that are waving flags,
making speeches,
and shouting slogans.
Politicians will send
people off to die in a war
like it's a game of chess.
They'll tell you
about the glory of war
and they'll
keep the rest
all their dirty,
little secret.
Thurston throws a book
in the fire,
then at dinner,
he sits there and talks
about the suppression of ideas
and the fight for democracy
in Europe.
Right. Hitler's burning
books over there,
and Thurston's doing
the same exact thing
right here.
Tim, every guy who gets
on that bus tomorrow
never had a choice.
They don't know what war is.
All they know is what Thurston
wanted them to know,
what Thurston
wanted them to read.
He made their
choices for them.
Is that democracy?
In all the years
I've known you,
you've never walked away
from a fight, Kipp.
What'd you have to go and
read that book for, anyhow?
This is about more
than a book, Tim.
Remember that
meet at Concord
when I got in a fight
with those jerks
who said I was
crowding their lane?
Who was it that jumped out
of the bleachers
and got into it
with me?
You did.
I need you on
this one, too, Kipp.
I'm sorry, Tim, but
I can't back you up on this.
You know, you're just like them.
You're scared to fight, Kipp.
No, I think you're worse,
because you don't feel
the least bit guilty, do you?
You're just hiding behind
some stream of bullshit
and you're sneaking out of here
in the middle of the night.
Tim, don't say that.
Please,
listen to me
and understand
what I'm saying.
No, you know,
maybe Thurston
is right about you.
You are a bad influence.
Look at them.
Look what you've
done to them, Kipp!
Okay, Tim.
Do what you feel you have to,
but I can't
enlist right now.
All right.
I will.
- Where are you going?
- I think Tim's right.
Do we know how to spend
a fun evening or what?
Look...
Kipp,
you told him how you felt.
The rest is up to him.
Yeah.
Do you guys know
what time it is?
It's a little
after midnight.
I think my dad's
still up.
I'm going to go down
the hall and call him up.
Hey, Kipp, do you have
any more of those cookies
that your mom sent you?
No, I gave them all
to Allister.
I'm starved.
Allister...
I just can't figure him out.
He's just a kid, Russell,
but he thinks he's so grown up.
Yeah, little brothers
can be that way sometimes.
How would you know?
You're an only child.
Well, exactly.
I mean, that gives me an
objective view of the situation,
and besides, with Allister
around all the time,
it kind of feels
like I've got a little brother.
Yeah, well,
I bet he wishes he were
Tim's little brother
right now and not mine.
No. I think it's just
kind of a hero worship.
I mean,
all the freshman and sophomores
look up to him.
I mean, he's a champion swimmer.
He's Green Mountain's best.
Don't you think we all kind
of look up to Tim as a hero?
Yeah, a hero
and a son of a bitch.
[KNOCKS]
Tim.
I, uh, was just packing,
and I found a few things
that belonged to you, Kipp.
I figured
I'd better return them.
Just put them
on that chair.
- I got your blue shirt.
- You might as well keep it.
I'm sure you've stretched
the shoulders all to hell.
No, I only wore it the once.
Hey, look, I even found
your New York World's Fair mug.
That's your mug, Tim.
I gave it to you.
Don't you remember?
Really?
Thanks.
Say, listen,
if you come across
any of my stuff,
just hold onto it for me,
will you?
Hell, I probably
won't be missing it.
Oh, except that
Rita Hayworth picture.
I want to take that with me.
Well, let me see
if I can find it.
It's no rush.
Hey, Tim, you got any food
over in your room?
I'm starved.
No, but you might try
the dining hall,
sneak in that back window
that doesn't latch.
I do it all the time
when I stay late for practice.
Good idea.
Yeah, actually,
I could go for a bite to eat.
I'm going to go see
if Allister wants
to go with us.
Look, I can't find it.
Why don't you come with us,
Kipp?
I'm not hungry, Russell.
The fellow
in this book
got hurt
pretty bad, huh?
Yeah.
He lost both his arms
and his legs?
And his face.
At least he didn't die.
Russell, it was worse
than being dead.
You all set?
Yeah.
See you later, Kipp?
I don't know, Tim.
Kipp?
What, Allister?
I think it'd be a good thing
if you came with us.
I'm tired, Allister.
I'm tired of fighting.
I'm tired of arguing.
I don't want to go.
Come with us. Please?
Ye...
Yes, Father, I know, but...
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Yeah, sounds great. Bye.
Where are you guys going?
Dining hall.
Yeah, to polish off
some leftovers.
Why don't you
come with us?
You're asking me to join you?
Yeah, that's
the idea, Stuart.
Thanks.
All right.
All right, let's go.
[WHISTLING]
You're doing it
again, Mitchell.
You're whistling
the school song.
I could always
play my harmonica.
- No.
- No.
Thanks a lot, guys.
You're pretty quiet
all of a sudden, Russell.
Has the evil Red Skull
got your tongue?
No. It's this place
and Pearl Harbor.
I mean, it seems
so far away, it's...
- Yeah.
- It's like another planet.
It's hard to believe
it can be so quiet
and peaceful here,
when somewhere else in the world
there's a war going on.
Guys...
Guys, guys!
Listen.
How do Germans
tie their shoes?
I don't know.
I don't know.
In little Nazis.
[HOOTING AND LAUGHING]
That was worse
than the last one.
Wait, wait, hold on,
hold on, hold on.
Maybe Pearl Harbor
wasn't really bombed.
What?
No, no, no,
like that, uh...
that radio gag
about those Martians
a couple years ago.
Allister,
don't be stupid.
No.
Pearl Harbor
was definitely bombed.
[SIGHS]
When I talked to my
father a while ago...
he'd just gotten
off the telephone
with a friend in Washington.
Anyway, this fellow...
he said that more than
2,000 guys were killed,
and they still
were finding bodies.
The President said that there
were casualties, but...
Over 2,000?
Makes you stop
and think, huh?
It should.
You know something?
This may be
the last time
we're all together.
For a while, at least.
I mean, when this war's over,
we're all getting back together
again, right, guys?
- Yeah.
- Why'd those Japs have to go
starting a war
with us, anyhow?
Seems pretty stupid, doesn't it?
I mean,
it makes me mad!
Like I want
to hit something.
You know,
hit it hard!
You got the right
idea there, chief.
You want to hit
something, Allister?
Why don't you hit this?
Well, come on!
Hit it!
Here's your 1938
Champion Season ball, Thurston!
Yeah! Whoo-hoo!
- My turn.
- We need music.
Yeah!
[PLAYING RAGTIME MUSIC]
Okay, look out, squirt.
Come on, Tim,
bust a window.
This one's going
to the cheap seats.
Hey, you guys...
[WHOOPING AND CHEERING]
We're going
to get caught.
Oh, come on.
Relax, Stuart.
Hit something.
No, really. I mean it.
Come on,
take off your jacket.
Okay. Thank you, Allister.
Here we go.
Good job, Stuart.
- Give me another ball.
- Come on.
Sorry, Stuart,
that was the last one.
- Prepare to defend yourself.
- Get him, Allister.
Go on, Stuart.
Give him a fight.
Here comes Gibbs
down the left side.
He's challenging Mitchell.
He fakes it! Yes!
Ladies and gentlemen,
what an amazing play!
Not very coordinated
outside of a pool, are you?
Oh, slash, slash!
It's a fight between
Gibbs and Mitchell,
ladies and gentlemen.
It's a real brawl!
They're tearing
each other apart!
[RUSSELL PLAYS AN OMINOUS CHORD]
- Gotcha.
- Yeah.
Don't leave us.
Hang on!
He was so young.
He's a fighter.
He'll make it.
- He'll pull through.
- Well, maybe not.
[APPLAUSE]
I always wondered.
Does your dad look like
he does in that picture?
A little older.
A little grayer.
Definitely
a little heavier.
He still fits
that uniform, though.
He puts it on
every Armistice Day.
Was your dad going
to school here
when the World War
started?
No.
He had already
graduated,
but he signed up
the first day
America got into it.
Does he...
talk about when
he was in the war?
Only constantly.
I mean, even tonight
on the telephone.
He never quits.
He wants you to go,
doesn't he?
That's what
he said to you tonight
on the phone, isn't it?
My father expects,
and gets the best.
The biggest boat on the sound,
the best wine
in the restaurant,
the first class train tickets.
Everything is to his
specifications...
and then there's me.
He can send me to the
same school he went to,
but I'll never be like him.
I'm not afraid to go, Tim.
I'm not even afraid to die.
I mean, we're all
going to die someday, right?
When your number's up,
it's just up...
but going off to fight bravely
just won't be enough.
My father was a hero.
An honest-to-goodness
god damn hero.
One of the most
decorated soldiers
in the World War.
Every Armistice Day,
he shows me each medal
and tells me what they were for.
He was a god damn hero,
and I'm not!
Sure, I'll go off,
and I'll come back and I'll say,
"Look, Daddy, here...
Here's my good conduct medal."
I can't do that!
I won't do that!
If your father's
half the hero
you say he is,
he should be
proud of you
just for serving.
I can't be...
what he expects me to be.
I don't know.
Why don't you give him
the benefit of the doubt?
He sounds pretty
self-serving to me.
What about your parents?
They're not the least
bit self-righteous?
- No.
- Sure they are.
Three PhDs
between the two of them,
and they can't even see
beyond their own
academic little world.
They're a lot like your father
in that way, Stuart.
The only reason
I'm even at this school
is so I'll turn out
the way they want me to.
God forbid
I should be different.
That isn't fair, Kipp,
and you know it.
It's you, you don't even
try to understand them.
Oh, Jesus Christ, Allister.
How would you even know?
You're their god damn
answer to a prayer.
Straight A's,
straight head,
you're as cute as
a god damn button.
You are so perfect
for them to show off
for their Cornell
colleagues at faculty
cocktail parties.
You're their perfect
little angel.
You're wrong, Kipp!
You're wrong about them
and you're wrong about the war.
Those guys at Pearl Harbor
were guys just like us...
only they chose to be there.
They're dead, Kipp,
and I can't forget that,
I can't turn my back on that.
I'm not going to stay here,
safe and protected, anymore.
I'm going to go off and
fight in that war with Tim.
- Allister, no.
- Allister, you're
talking crazy.
For the first time in my life,
I'm making sense.
Allister, you're too young.
You can't go.
I can get a fake birth
certificate or something.
Tim said a lot of guys
would be doing it, right, Tim?
Well, why not, Kipp?
It's freedom
of choice, right?
It's democracy, right?
It's his choice.
Stay out of this, Tim.
Allister, you listen to me,
and you listen to me good.
I am not about to let you
end up in some hellhole
with artillery shells
exploding over your head,
with people dying
left and right,
and you pissing
in your pants
and crying like
a little baby.
Bullshit!
You're the little baby!
I hate you!
Allister,
come back here!
- I'll go get him.
- No, no,
he's my brother.
I'll go get him.
Oh, you're doing
a good job at that.
Don't start with me, Tim.
You know, the kid came
in to talk to me today.
Asked me advice about this
Bennington girl he likes.
He said he couldn't
even talk to you
because he was afraid
you were going to make
fun of him, Kipp.
He said that?
I'll go.
Oh. Hey, Kipp.
Hey, Billy.
I'm sorry I woke you up.
Is, uh... is Allister here?
No, he never came in.
I thought he was staying
over with you again.
Yeah, he was with me.
Well, look,
next time you see him,
tell him I'm not going
to cover for him in choir.
- Goodnight, Billy.
- Jenkins was pissed as hell.
Getting much
studying done?
No, I can't study.
I can't sleep.
Thinking about your father?
Look, if you're going to brush
your teeth, just do it,
but don't stand there
and chew on that thing.
It's very irritating.
Truth.
Are you having second
thoughts about not going?
I'm just a little
confused right now,
that's all.
Come with me, Stuart.
He'd be real proud of you.
Who?
My father.
Your father?
I only met him once.
I've seen him at the
swim meets a couple times,
but...
I never really thought
he knew who I was.
He knows who you are.
In fact, he...
even asks about you
- whenever I speak to him.
- What?
See...
my father swam
for Green Mountain
when he went here.
He wanted me to.
I didn't.
It disappointed
the hell out of him.
Gosh, Stuart,
I'm sure your father's
very proud of you.
How could he be?
I'm not a leader.
I'm not strong or brave or...
or even decisive.
All the things he is.
Well, Stuart, you can't
stay out of the war just
because you're afraid
you're going to
disappoint your father...
and on the other hand,
you can't go just to try
and prove something to him.
You have to go
because you feel
it's right.
Stuart...
I want you there
with me.
Why?
Because you
can't get Kipp to go?
No.
Because I don't want
to do this alone, Stuart.
You know something, Mitchell?
When I first met you,
I thought you were, uh...
a loudmouth braggart jock
who lacked even an ounce
of refinement.
I know.
You kept telling me.
Yeah,
but you became...
You are...
a good friend...
But that's not
why I'm coming with you.
You're coming with me?
I can't keep living my life
to try to please my father,
or not live it
the way I want to
because I'm afraid
it won't please him.
I mean, after all,
it is my life.
Yeah.
Yeah,
I'm going to come with you.
I think your father has
a lot to be proud of in you.
Yeah?
Well, you're going to be
the one to tell him
I'm joining the Navy
instead of the Army.
* Silent night
* Holy night
* All is calm
* All is bright
* Round yon virgin
* Mother and child
* Holy infant
* So tender and mild
* Sleep in heavenly peace
* Sleep in heavenly peace *
That was pretty good.
I didn't know that you
could sing so well.
It's hard to tell
with your voice mixed in
with everyone else.
You just never listened.
I looked everywhere for you.
What are you doing
in here, anyway?
I missed practice,
remember?
No, seriously.
Okay.
I came here to pray.
Oh?
Do you pray a lot?
Sometimes.
How come you never
talk about it?
It's kind of a private thing.
Were you afraid
I'd laugh at you?
Something like that.
Do I do that a lot?
Enough.
Is that why you told Tim
about your girlfriend
instead of me?
Because you thought
I'd make fun of you?
She's not my girlfriend.
I mean, the girl
from Bennington
that you like.
Yeah.
I'm sorry, Allister.
I'm really sorry.
I don't ever
want you to think
that you can't
tell me anything.
I really want to go, Kipp.
Can't you
understand that?
Mom and Dad
aren't going to let you go.
They have to sign for you
because you're too young.
No, but you can.
I mean, you're 18.
I can't sign for you.
No, not sign.
Go yourself, and I'll be you.
I just need
your birth certificate,
and I know you have it.
You keep it
in your desk.
Well, if you want
to go so badly,
why didn't you just take it?
Because...
maybe I wanted you to
give it to me, you know?
Say, "Goodbye, good luck,
I'll write,"
just like at...
at the end of one of
those corny movies.
I wanted to know if you cared.
I care a lot about you,
Allister.
- That's why you're not going.
- The hell I'm not!
Don't you cuss in here.
I'm going to go,
with or without your help,
and you can't stop me!
Allister, wait!
Listen to me, please.
I can't let you do this!
Well, it's my life, Kipp!
[SWING BALLAD PLAYING]
Do you have to do that now?
In here?
- It helps me relax.
- No, music's relaxing.
Chin-ups are exhausting.
I guess nobody's
really tired tonight, huh?
Russell...
Stuart's going
to go with me.
And now you've
come over
to convince me
that I should come too.
I saw your face
when you heard about
the guys at Pearl.
I know you want
to do the right thing.
Stuart said in the dining hall
that he wasn't afraid to die.
Well, I am.
I am afraid to die.
I'll bet that, uh...
Captain America
or Submariner have...
- Sub-Mariner.
- Yeah, right.
Well, I bet they've
all been scared
at one time
or another.
They're just
comic books, Tim.
That's the first time
I've ever heard you say that.
Yeah?
Well, maybe it's
the first time
I've ever felt
like saying it.
Kipp, did you
find Allister?
Yeah...
for a minute, anyway.
Can I talk to you
a second?
Don't worry, Stuart,
he'll be back.
No, it's not that.
What is it?
I just wanted to tell you
before you heard
from somebody else.
I've decided to go.
I'm going to join
the Navy with Tim.
I'm going to be
on that bus tomorrow.
I just got off the telephone
to tell my father
that I'd be home early and why,
and, boy, this time,
I really did get him out of bed.
- You're going to do it.
- That's what I said.
If Tim Mitchell told you
to jump off the roof,
would you do it?
No, look,
that's not it at all.
I'm going because this
is what I want to do.
I don't have a duty to Tim
or to my father
or to even you.
I have a duty to this country.
I feel good about this.
You should be happy
for me, Kipp.
I can't be.
- TIM: Hey, Stuart.
- STUART: Hey.
Did you talk to him?
- Yeah, we talked.
- What did he say?
He wasn't exactly
jumping up and down about it.
I'm getting ready to head out.
I'll stay
at the bus station,
catch the first one
in the morning.
Tim...
I want you to have this.
Read it if for no other reason
than I'm asking you to.
Looks like pretty heady stuff.
Yeah, you could say that.
- No, thanks.
- Tim, please.
Look, the time for debating the
good and bad of the war is over.
An ocean on either side of us
couldn't keep us out of this.
We can't just
bury our head in the sand
or in some book, Kipp.
- It's time to fight.
- [STUART CLEARS THROAT]
- Kipp?
- Yeah?
I'm going to get cleaned up
and get ready for bed.
Okay.
I'll see you later.
Okay, Stuart.
Am I asking for
that much, Tim? Huh?
- A little understanding?
- Poor Kipp.
He's so abandoned
and misunderstood.
Yeah, well, what about me, huh?
The way you make me out,
I'm just after Jap blood,
out to fight
regardless what
it's all about.
That's the way you tried to
make Russell and Stuart see it.
Some friend.
Why do you refuse
to accept the fact
that I'm not
going, Tim?
Do you really think
that I'm chicken shit?
Look me in the eye
and tell me that you
think I'm chicken shit.
I think you're chicken shit!
Well, I guess I know
where we stand, then.
Yeah, well, I've still got
to clean out my locker.
Yeah, why don't you
stay here and finish this,
if you're so
gosh darn brave?
Because there's
nothing more to say.
The hell there isn't!
You know something, Kipp?
I hoped that when
we got on that bus tomorrow
that we'd still be friends,
but you're making
that really hard.
Fine, Tim.
Go, then.
Go and clean out
your locker.
But you better
pack it all the way,
because you might never
be needing it again.
No, I'll swim again
when I get back!
Maybe here at Green Mountain,
maybe at some college, Kipp.
Hey, I'm having
my best season ever.
The season just
ended for you, Tim.
Have you ever tried to swim
with just one leg?
One shell and it's all over.
No patch up.
They just cut it off.
What the hell do you know
about it, anyway?
Amputation, Tim.
It's one of those
wondrous time savers
of war medicine,
or what about both of
your legs, both gone?
Then what?
Oh, no big deal either,
because you'd still have
your big, tough arms
to push you around
in your wheelchair.
You could sit in a bar
and arm wrestle for drinks
and tell glorious war stories.
All right, that's enough, Kipp!
Oh, what's wrong, tough guy?
You afraid to hear
what really goes on?
Just shut up before I have
to shut you up, Kipp.
Then why don't you do it,
then, if you're man enough?
Come on!
Get up! You want to fight?
I'll fight you.
Nice shot.
I thought I heard
a fist connect,
and I figured you were
on the end of it.
I never got in a fight
with Tim before.
Well, he's your
best friend, Kipp.
All that best friend shit's
for grade school kids.
[ALLISTER GROANS]
Hey, Allister.
Wake up.
Five more minutes,
please.
It's so early.
No, come on, get up.
Come on.
Here.
I'm just going to
take you upstairs, okay?
Come on, let's go.
You still planning
on leaving tonight?
I don't think
that I can.
There's something
else I got to do.
Kipp, I'm sorry
I ran out on you.
You've just got to see
that I'm not a kid anymore.
I guess I'm
finding that out.
I guess so.
Hey, Allister.
How long
have you been up?
Since Kipp brought you in.
You know,
until yesterday morning,
I had never even heard
of Pearl Harbor.
My biggest headache
was Chemistry finals.
That seems so long ago.
Yeah.
Are you scared
of going, Allister?
I'd be a liar
if I said I wasn't,
but, don't tell Tim, all right?
Don't worry, I won't.
You know, I've always
thought that I would do
something special with my life,
something important,
something that mattered,
and if this is it,
and being scared's
what's keeping me from going...
You want to go, don't you?
I do.
- I think I have to.
- Come with us.
I'm still going to be scared.
We'll be scared together.
I mean...
- that'll be less scary.
- Yeah, I think so.
- Thanks, Allister.
- Sure.
Goodnight, Allister.
Goodnight.
[STARTING GUN FIRES]
Come on, Tim!
Come on, let's go!
Come on!
- Come on, Tim.
- Push it! Come on!
You've got it,
you've got it!
Go! Go!
Whoo!
All right,
Mitchell!
- You're winning!
- Go! Go! Go!
Tim!
You can do it, Tim!
Go! Go!
Yeah!
All right, Tim!
[CLAPPING]
I didn't come here to...
argue or to preach
or to fight or anything.
I tried all those things
and they didn't work.
I've been thinking...
Why don't you just
go away, Kipp?
You're not going to be able
to hold your breath
long enough
to get rid of me.
Will you just listen
to what I have to say?
In all the things...
that we argued
and yelled about tonight...
I missed
the most important thing.
Even though I think
you're wrong about this war,
you're still my friend,
and that's more important
than anything.
I thought you were
leaving, Kipp.
You know that when I
came to this school
I didn't make friends
very easily.
I was just that kid who smoked
and got in fights
all the time,
until the day
you came
and sat down
next to me
and asked me my name.
You've always been someone
that I could talk to...
and who'll listen to me.
And I still am listening.
At least, I'm trying to.
If that's what a friend is,
then I never had one
before I met you.
When you told me
you were going off
to fight in the war tonight,
I got scared, Tim.
It scares me to think
that you might die
and never come back.
Well, how do you think I felt...
when you told me
that you weren't going?
I mean...
we've done everything
together, Kipp,
and now you're
bailing out on me.
I was mad
as hell at you.
But this war isn't my fight.
Not right now.
I can't go halfway
around the world
and fight for democracy
when I have my own fight
right here.
Thurston is not
going to shut me up
as easily as he thinks.
I'm going to stay here
and fight my expulsion.
Knowing you, Thurston's in
for a hell of a fight.
Friends?
Always.
I'm going to miss you.
I'm going to
miss you too, Kipp.
Come on, let's get
back to the dorm.
What? What?
Oh, no, you don't!
Hey, where are you?
Get up here!
Oh-ho, I'm going
to kill you!
Grow up, will you?
I can't believe
you did this.
Enough!
[BELL TOLLS]
All right, choir,
gather around.
Let's get together, boys.
Now, where's Allister gone?
In the key of G.
* Hail to thee
* O Green Mountain
* Loyalty we pledge to you
Let's go! Seniors!
Over here!
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Recruiting stations
in the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps,
and the Coast Guard
are said
to be receiving applicants
in numbers unprecedented
in the history of the nation.
The pressure today
is particularly strong
at the Navy offices
in the Federal Building
at 90 Church Street,
where thousands of men,
some only youngsters,
are attempting
to join the service.
At the outset,
Navy officials estimate
that 2,000 men
have applied for naval service
in the past 24 hours,
and there are
an estimated 1,500
standing in line this morning.
On the West Coast,
two formations of planes
described as undoubtedly enemy
flew over the San Francisco Bay
area last night.
The announcement was made
by Brigadier General
William Wells
from the Fourth Interceptor
Command.
Official word
from the White House
confirms that one battleship
has capsized at Pearl Harbor.
No further information
as to the severity
of the damage...
[CHEERING]
Big smiles, guys.
This one's for the yearbook.
Hi, Kipp.
Allister.
What are you doing up here?
I thought you were
going to be on the bus.
I'm going to get on
at the last minute
while Tim distracts Thurston.
Oh.
I came here to say goodbye
and give you this.
It's a letter to Mom and Dad.
Here. It explains.
You can read it.
It's not private
or anything.
I'm going to go home with Tim
and ship out with him.
The Navy.
- I'm going to join the Navy.
- Yeah, I had that figured.
The second I know
what's going on,
I'll give Mom
and Dad a call.
Okay, I'll tell them.
Stay close to Tim, will you?
- He's a good guy, Allister.
- He'll look out for you.
- I will.
- I'm serious.
I want you to
come back from this.
Me too.
Here.
It's my birth
certificate.
It'll make things a hell
of a lot easier for you
when you get to
the recruiting office.
Just talk a little deeper and...
stand on your toes
when you come to
the front of the line.
I know that I haven't been...
very good at all the
big brother stuff.
I know I don't say it
very often, Allister.
I love you, Allie.
I love you too.
I really do.
I'm going to miss you
something awful.
Yeah, I know.
Me, too.
[BUS STARTS]
I got... I got to go.
Take care of yourself, Allister.
I will.
I'll be seeing you.
Yeah.
Son, you should
feel good today.
We're very
proud of you.
Okay, okay.
I'll do it, I'll do it.
Better run quick, Billy.
- Hey, you made it!
- Yeah.
Give 'em hell,
Mitchell.
Kick some ass
over there, Mitchell.
KIPP: December 9th, 1941.
Dear Mom and Dad...
Enclosed you will find
a letter from Allister.
He left today
with a bunch of guys
to enlist in the Navy.
It was something
he felt he needed to do,
so I let him.
I may soon have to
follow him if I'm drafted,
but for now I'll stay here.
I have another fight of my own.
I have been expelled
from Green Mountain
by Headmaster Thurston.
I plan to appeal.
He has no serious grounds
for what he did,
and I feel confident
that I will be able
to remain here.
[CHEERING]
Looking forward to Christmas
with the both of you.
Love, Kipp.
[**]