Pride of the Marines (1945) - full transcript

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This is Philadelphia, 1941.

Everybody's got a hometown.

This one's mine.

My name is Schmid.
Al Schmid.

Maybe you've heard of me,
maybe not.

Anyhow, one way or another,

what I've got to tell you
starts here in Philly.

I grew up here.

Used to go to places
like independence hall.

That's where the liberty bell is,



and where the declaration
of independence was signed.

When I went to school,
we used to visit the museums

and famous places
like constitution hall.

Our first congress met
right here at Tun tavern,

where the U.S. Marines
were founded back in 1775.

And this is where
Betsy Ross lived.

You heard about her, I guess.

She made the first
american flag.

None of these things meant
a whole lot to me then.

When you grow up with something,
you kind of take it for granted.

And the reason you're
seeing these places now

is just because this
is where my story begins.

But it could have
begun anywhere.

It could have begun
in your hometown maybe.



And what happened to me
might have happened to you.

Hey, look what I got.

Say, what's the idea?

What are the flowers for?
Somebody kick the bucket?

No. First bouquet
I ever bought for a gal in my life,

and they're for your wife.

Say, what are you doing?

I got tired of buying batteries.

I'm hooking this up
to the house circuit.

What do you know
about electricity?

Nothing, but it ought to work.

Might set the house afire.

Short circuit. Where's Ella Mae?

Cooking.

On your anniversary?

It was her idea.

Hi, Al!

Hi, Loretta.

Those flowers for me?

Nope. For your hard-working Mom,
honey.

Gee Willikers.

If anybody ever gave me flowers,

I'd fall flat on my face.

Mrs. Merchant,

when a star boarder buys a bunch
of posies for his landlady,

you know she's a swell gal.

Happy anniversary.

Al...

the only couple I know
that are happy though married.

One of these days,
you'll be bringing flowers

home to a wife of your own.

Then there'll be two happy couples.

I live alone and like it.

You live alone and look it.

Wait till you live double.

It's more fun.

Aw, those flowers are beautiful, Al.
Thanks.

Now you better get ready for dinner.

Come on, Al,
let's go get shaved.

Ok.

I should have thought
of that myself.

What do you shave for, Al?

Oh, to make me handsome.

I think you're handsome already.

I think you're beautiful.

Do you like girls, Al?

I sure do.

When did you first start liking girls?

Well, when I found out
they weren't boys.

Well, if you like girls,

how do you know you're
gonna be a bachelor?

'Cause I ain't gonna
ever get married. Ever.

I wish I could shave, too.

Oh, that's easy.

Here. Sit right here.

Slap on the soap.

Feels good.

It tickles!

Now lift your head.

Al, ma says she knows
lots of legible girls.

Yeah, I know that already.

Mom can get almost
anybody married, pop says.

That's why she invites
all those girls here to meet you.

Ma says someday you're
gonna get hooked.

Not me.

If I do, I won't be
a bachelor anymore, see?

I'll tell you a secret
if you give me a big kiss.

You know, I am gonna get married.

Honest?
Mm-hmm.

When?

Oh, 5, 6 years from now.

To me?
Mm-hmm.

Oh, you wouldn't really marry me.

Honest to pete, I would.

Oh, Gee!

I'll always remember
the first time I shaved,

you did it.

I put my car in the garage.

Wouldn't you know it?
It rained on my anniversary.

Never in all my born
days did I ever see a prettier table.

Candles and everything.

Oh, those flowers are beautiful, Al.

You do know the way
to a woman's heart.

You know,
the funniest thing happened today.

I ran into a girl I used to know.

Pretty as a picture.

Nice manners, and she's
a good bowler, too.

Ruth bowled 500.

300 is tops.

What's the extra 200
for, good behavior?

Maybe. I don't know
anything about bowling.

Ella Mae, stop being
mrs. Cupid, will you?

Ditch the bow and arrow.

Girls are great for laughs,

like those silly hats they wear.

Don't bring any new girls
around here, please.

Well, anyway,
she's a wonderful bowler.

Hey!

You blew a fuse, Jim!

I fix something,

then everything goes black.

Daddy, the lights are out!

Yes, dear, I know they're out.

You're sure a great electrician.

Thanks for the compliment.

Jim, the lights went out!

Don't you think I know it?

Did you ring the bell?

Yes, and sparks flew out.

We blew a fuse.

Don't the merchants live here anymore?

Yeah, I'm al Schmid.
I board here.

I suppose your name is Ruth.

How did you know?

Ella Mae was te...

It's silly for you
to be standing out there.

Come on in.

Confound it!
Where's the stairway?

Hi, Ruth.
Gotta find some fuses.

Why don't you take that thing off
before it flies away?

Hat. Hat.

Jim, something's burning
on the stove,

and I can't see a thing.

Find a safe spot and sit.

Where's Ella Mae?

The kitchen. Have a sofa.

I fell over
a waste basket, daddy!

Then pick yourself up.

Ella Mae and I used to
work in the same office.

Jim and I, we work
in the same factory.

That must be nice.

Yeah.

I bumped into the door, daddy!

Jim, do you know what you're doing?

Of course I know what I'm doing!
I'm fixing it!

Ouch!

Did you get a shock, daddy?

Put a penny in the fuse.

I just got a shock taking
a penny out of the fuse!

Don't let anybody ring the doorbell.

You see how simple it is?

They have a lovely home,
haven't they?

I suppose you'd like one
yourself someday.

Well, yes, someday I'd
like a home of my own.

I thought so.
On the installment plan.

Most couples start out that way.

Hmm. They sure do.

The flowers are nice.

So many of them, it's
almost like a wedding.

A wedding? Oh, boy,
that's a hot one.

You're way ahead on
your installments, sister.

Hi, Ruth.

Well, you two are
good friends already.

Yep. I feel
as if I met her dozens of times.

Well, isn't that nice?

Come on upstairs, Ruth.

Stuck a pin in the doorbell.

What gives?

Ella Mae has got to stop
picking out girls for me to marry.

I'm fed up. I just can't
take it anymore.

She doesn't mean to be
a nuisance, Al.

It's just kind of a disease with her.

I'm gonna cure her.
Tonight.

Bowls 500.

What's the score?

You've got 220.
Ruth's got 40.

Bowls 500, does she?

How much longer does
that poor girl have to take this?

He's making her feel
like a monkey.

Not that he isn't enjoying himself.

Every once in a while those pins
act like they're nailed down.

He's using her to tell you off.

That's what you think.

Jim, what are you doing?

I'm gonna fix this gadget.

It's out of focus.

You'll do no such thing.

Yeah, but...

you'll be sued. Now,
put that toolkit away.

Put that toolkit away.

Yes, dear.

You know, I figured out what's wrong.

This alley must be warped.

So is your sense of humor.

Hey, what do you say
we drop over to webber's

and schlup up a few beers, huh?

Aw, but Ruthie hasn't
hit her stride yet.

Aw, come on, Al.

She wants to get her game going,
don't you, Ruthie?

Yes. I'd enjoy another game.

Well, come on, dear.

Good night, kids.
Have a good time.

Good night.
Good night, all.

Thanks for dinner.

You be good.

Well, champ, start bowling.

You know, I think
there's something wrong with the way I play.

You don't mean it.

I'd be terribly grateful
if you'd show me how you do it.

Well, I'll tell you,

It takes a long time to learn.

Not with a wonderful
bowler like you to teach me.

Well, uh...

well, um, you, um,

bring the ball all the way
back like this...

now I see where all
your power comes from.

And then you let it go
like that.

Oh, I'm so sorry,

but the way you moved
your legs was so graceful,

I forgot to watch
your grip on the ball.

Oh. Like this.

And that little step you do...

is that one
of your secrets for success?

Oh, well, that was a mistake.

You made a mistake?

I was a little nervous.

You, Al Schmid, nervous?

Now, look, are you
gonna try what I just showed you?

I could never do
that cute little step.

Now you're angry.

I'm not angry!

Either put the ball down
or throw it.

I didn't say on my foot!

I missed your foot.

By 1/4 of an inch.
How would you feel if...

from the way you've
been acting tonight,

I didn't think you knew
what feelings were.

See here, this wanting
to bowl was just a gag?

Now, don't spoil things
by acting intelligent.

Are you trying to make
a monkey out of me?

It wasn't hard.
You're not very bright.

Is that right?

Now maybe you know
how I've been feeling all evening,

thanks to you.

Thanks to me? Who asked you
on this date? Not me.

You cooked it up
yourself with Ella Mae

so you could hook
yourself a husband.

You wanted me to cooperate.

Well, I didn't. I'm no dummy.

When I take out
a dame... look out!

I don't know what you expected
from this date, Mr. Schmid,

but I certainly didn't expect you.

Ella Mae said there'd just be
Jim and her.

And as far as I'm concerned,

I've spent a dreary evening
with an awful drip.

Good-bye.

Hi, Ruth.
Ride you home?

Go away.

But our little boy is sick, Ruth.

He keeps crying for you.

You can't desert him like this.

Stop being a clown and go away.

But he didn't sleep
all last night.

He kept crying, "Mommy,
dear! Mommy, dear!"

It's all right if you
don't love me anymore,

but you can't desert an innocent boy.

You ought to be ashamed
of yourself.

It's all nonsense.
I don't even know him.

Young man, is this just a pickup?

Does she look like
she don't know me?

Or do I have to go as far
as to tell you

she happens to have a mole on her...

excuse me.

Take my advice, young woman.

You'll go home to your child.

Go on, sister.
Go home to your kid.

Probably crying its head off.

It's all right.
It's got two of them.

Two heads.
Imagine that.

You know, you acted
just like you didn't like my looks.

Oh, you're not so bad-looking.

You'd say so, even if
you didn't think so.

You'd think so,
even if I didn't say so.

Why don't you answer
the phone sometime?

I do. Depends on
who's at the other end.

You know, I struck up
quite a friendship with your uncle Ralph,

except he's a little
too old to date.

Try harder.
He won't hook you.

I'm apologizing, see?

How about if we throw away
the rest of the cards

and start with a new deck, huh?

How about you keeping
your eyes on the road?

Would you mind driving
a little faster?

It's my birthday tomorrow,

and I have a dinner date
to celebrate it tonight.

You got a date
to celebrate tonight for tomorrow?

It don't make sense.

Does it have to?

Why are you slowing down?

It feels like my left
rear needs some air.

If you stop, I walk.

I guess I was wrong
about my left rear.

Is that your date
waiting for you in front of your house?

Yes, it is.

Hey, what's the idea?

What's the matter?
Didn't you see my car?

See it? I hit it, didn't i?

Who are you?

Al Schmid. You want to
make something of it?

Don't stay out too late,
sweetheart.

I'll be back at 10:30.

What makes men
do such crazy things?

Women!

Uncle Ralph!

Is that the doorbell?

Uncle Ralph!

Uncle Ralph!

It's 10:30, sweetheart.

Happy birthday tomorrow.

Can I interest you in
a whirlwind courtship?

Say, any loose
bowling balls around here?

Uh-uh. Don't say it.

What girl wants to
stay home on the night before her birthday?

You don't have to worry about me.

I've got plenty of boyfriends.

Then I'll start at
the bottom of the list

and work myself up
to number one man.

You start going with me,
and you're liable to get hooked.

Stop throwing that hook
at me, will you?

After tonight, if you still
don't want any part of me,

I'll... I'll leave Philadelphia.

I'm going to bed.

How about celebrating
your birthday tomorrow

with me and something special,

like going to the fights?

Save that for your birthday.

Ice hockey?
Roller skating?

Oh, I get it.

You either want to exercise
or see other people exercise.

Oh, don't get me wrong, Ruth.

I'll do anything you say.

Like going hunting?

Believe me, Ruthie,
there's nothing like it

when the weather
is cool and crisp

and frost is in the air.

You're glad to be alive,

and, oh, it feels good
to smell those autumn leaves burning.

You can hear
the coon dogs running.

Honest, it's great.

Hi, Ruth!

Coffee perkin'?

It's on the fire.

If it gets cold again,
why, we'll keep warm.

We've got plenty
of wood.

Boy, when I get out in
the country like this,

I don't know why I ever
came back to the city.

Why did you?

After my ma died,
my old man got married again, see,

so I hit the road.

Where's the corn?

Right there.

I was just a kid,
but I could take it.

How old were you when
you started to work?

15.

That's kind of young
to be on your own, isn't it?

How about you?

Oh, I like it.

I like to live independent.

Even if the money ain't much.

At the end of that year
I saved 8 bucks.

Right now I'm sitting pretty.

S burner at the foundry.

Making 40 bucks a week,

trying hard to spend it all.

You want to help me spend it?

Easy come, easy go, hmm?

Easy come nothing.
It's hard work.

What's the use of making
dough if you can't have any fun out of it?

You might save some
for a rainy day.

What rainy day?
Ain't gonna be any.

I got it all arranged.

Every day is gonna be
sunday in summer.

No responsibilities,
no worries,

no waiting around on women.

Real rugged, aren't you?

You know what?

No, what?

You're the best girl
I ever took any place.

You know what I like about you?

I can't imagine.

I like the way you stand up to me.

I like the way
you curl up in the car seat.

I like the way you don't
jabber all the time and you sit quiet.

I like the way you laugh
at my corny jokes.

I like the way you listen.

I like it when you say you're
gonna do something, you do it,

and you don't make up
a lot of silly excuses.

Silly excuses about what?

Oh, about going out.

I didn't think you would.

Look where we are.

That's the second time you've
kissed me without warning.

You want a warning next time?

Like what?

Oh, something like hello.

That's a fair enough warning.

Hello.

You brown-eyed devil.

Jim, what in heaven's name
are you doing?

I'm fixing the radio.

It just so happens
that the adjuster case

and stud for the oscillator coil

are too close to the 5-point
female plug for the speaker cable.

What does that mean?

It means the beginning
of the end of our radio.

This thing snores.

Ah ha ha.

Ha ha.

Have a rug with the boyfriend.

This prince valiant,
oh, he's a real rugged fElla.

Here, have a comic.

Boy, what I'd give for two weeks
in Canada now, huntin' bear.

Let's go. I'm ready.

Oh, no, not with my responsibilities.

Dinner's almost ready.
Jim, call Loretta.

5 bucks it works.

I haven't got 5 bucks.

Jim and Ella Mae
have picked out

their favorite joint
for new year's eve.

Want to come with me,
or should I look up

in my address book
and find some good-looking dame?

Suit yourself.

You know, uh,
come to think of it,

I don't have any other
boyfriends anymore.

That's not so good.

What's wrong with me?

So you want a new crop
of boyfriends.

I didn't say I did.

All right,
if that's the way you feel about it.

Maybe you won't have
to put up with me so long.

I kind of feel
the moss under me.

Soon as I get
a neat little pile in the bank,

I'm gonna
pull up stakes, go to canada,

spend the whole year
huntin' and fishin'.

Want to come?

When the time comes,
ask me and see.

I always told you
I was a rolling stone.

You're not surprised,
are you?

No.

Radio announcer:
A report has just come in

that the japanese
have bombed pearl harbor.

We have no further
information at present,

but more bulletins
are coming in over the wires.

Where's
pearl harbor?

I don't know.

I was never good
at geography.

You want
to come with me new year's eve?

I might,
if you ask me nice.

Oh.

Once upon a time,

he told me he was gonna marry me
when we were shaving.

Fine thing.

I think we're
both out of luck, Loretta.

He'll probably end up
happily married to a shotgun

and having a romance
on the side with his fishing tackle.

Well, there's nothing wrong
with a shotgun wedding

if it's your own shotgun.

Jim, where's Pearl Harbor?

Pearl Harbor?
Oh, it's down the Jersey coast,

near Atlantic city someplace.

Can't be,
the japs are bombing it.

I know where Pearl Harbor is.

We had it in geography.

Aw, it's one of those
men from mars programs.

The japs just got through
telling Roosevelt they love us.

We interrupt this program

with news of grave importance
to every american.

Look.

War broke with lightning
suddenness in the pacific today.

Doesn't it smell good? Shh!

Without warning,
waves of japanese planes

attacked Hawaii this morning.

Bombers blasted at Pearl Harbor,

at the city of Honolulu.

The initial attacks caused
widespread damage and death.

Full reports have not yet come in,

but one thing is already certain:

The United States is at war
with Japan.

Stand by.

Dinner's ready.

War...
what do you know?

Are you going to war, daddy?

Are you gonna be a soldier?

Come on and sit down.
The roast will get cold.

We're at war, honey.

The United States is at war.

Yes, dear, I know,

but the roast will get cold.

Now, come on and start carving.

Yes, dear.

Are you gonna be a soldier, Al?

Ah, I'm going to Canada,
shoot bear.

Leg of lamb, mmm.

Boy, oh, boy, that
smells wonderful, Ella Mae.

It's about time somebody said that.

I hope you two are
going with us new year's eve.

It's that little
chop suey place.

The management likes
to have us come on new year's.

Says we add class to the joint.

Jim and me got engaged there...
oh, I forgot the candles.

Oh, here you are.

Why, I'm the best little
candle lighter in Philadelphia.

You know, I bet it would
be more fun shootin' japs than bears.

Hiya, Joe.

Hi, Al.

Hiya, scott. Hi.

Hey!
Where you been?

Downtown, joining the marines.

Ah, baloney, they'd never take you.

Aw, is that so?

Take a look at this.

United States marine corp.

Say, that's pretty good.

Happy new year!
Happy new year!

Happy new year!

Haa ha.

You know, you gotta be real rugged

to get in the marines.

First to land
first to fight.

They turned down
4 guys in front of me.

Yeah, the marines
aren't takin' everybody.

I walked in, they took my pulse,

eyes, ears, nose, throat.

I coughed.

Raised my hand.
Slapped me on the back.

I'm a U.S. Marine.

Well, that was fast.

Took 4 hours.

How come they held up the war

to let you keep our date?

Oh, I just described you
to them, sweetheart.

A picture of the MacArthur

when he hears
Al Schmid's in the marines.

War's over.

Ruth, how do you think
you're gonna like al in a uniform?

Don't expect I'll
see enough of him to tell.

As soon as I get on the train,

Ruthie's gonna get
herself a new batch of boyfriends.

Aren't you, Ruthie?

Yup, one for every night
of the week.

We kind of made
a little agreement for tonight.

No getting soft-hearted.

Isn't that right?

That's right.

Boy, oh, boy.
7 more hours before my train leaves.

Kind of gettin' excited.

Hurray for the U.S. Marines!

On your feet, Miss Hartley.

Jim?
Hmm?

Do you suppose he's gonna propose?

Search me.

I kind of thought maybe
he'd do like you did here,

when you asked me.

Maybe he isn't as smart as I was.

You know, Ruthie, I been thinkin'.

Yes, Al?

The only japs I ever seen
were at atlantic city,

where you throw the ball
and win a kewpie doll,

and it gets broke
before you get it home.

Those japs always were snikey.

Yep, shootin' japs
oughta be more fun than...

shootin' bear?

Yeah.

You don't figure they could shoot you.

Me? Well, what have
they got against me?

Happy new year, everybody!
Happy new year!

Ruthie, I... I want a kiss
that'll last me for the duration.

You got one like that?

I'll do my darndest.

Hello.

And days of auld lang syne

for auld lang syne...

happy new year, darling.

Happy new year.

For auld lang syne

we'll take a cup...

Don't you believe it.

The marines'll get every one
of those islands back.

Providing Al Schmid's
one of the marines, huh?

Well, I sure hope
to be there when it happens.

If you two kids
want to take an extra minute

saying good-bye,
Jim'll keep me warm.

I won't be long.
Gotta pack, still, you know.

Call me tomorrow, Ruthie.

OK.

Happy new year.

I don't know whether
to ask you to sit down, or what.

I, uh, I gotta pack, sweetie.

You packed that trunk
10 times already tonight.

It's not a trunk.
It's just one of those little...

I know.

Kind of exciting being a marine

going off to war, isn't it, Al?

Yeah.

Well, I guess if I were a man,

I'd join the marines, too.

I'm glad you're not a man.

Why?

Why do you think?

I'm not thinking
very much right now.

Honey, I, uh...

well, there's
a lot of things I'd like to say,

but I don't know how to say them,

so, uh, I'll just cut it
down to good-bye.

I'd like to see you off
at the train.

I don't want you
to stay up that late.

I'm not tired.

No.

All right, al, if that's
the way you want it.

It's better that way.

You know, I'm...

I'm not much good
at letter writing.

I'll bet you're not.

Anything I want to say,
I'd better say now.

I know I've been kind of
monopolizing your time

the last couple of months.

I... I want you to get
back into circulation.

Have fun.

You don't have to worry about me.

Sure... isn't as if
anything was said between us.

That's right.

Can't tell.
Things may be different.

Sure.

Well, I, uh...

hello.

You've been fun, sweetheart.

You've been fun, too, Al.

I want you to get back
into circulation, have fun.

Ruthie: You don't have
to worry about me...

you don't have to worry about me...

Ruth.

You came anyway.

Are you sore?

Sure, I'm sore.

I could murder you.

Aw, honey, you were
gonna just stand here

and let me go
without saying anything.

I don't know, I might've called
to you at the last minute.

Sun line limited arriving
on track number two.

Wilmington...

we only got a minute.
Ruthie, listen, you love me?

Well, me, too, you.

I don't want you doing what I said;
going out with other guys.

I guess I wouldn't have, anyway.

You've spoiled me for anyone else.

Will you wait for me, Ruthie?

You'll have to pry me loose.

I'm the sticking kind now.

All aboard.

I want one last look
at that sweet face you got.

Don't change the way
you look, will you?

That's the way I want
to see you when I come back.

Take care of yourself,

and, darling,
don't be a hero or anything.

Honey, I'm gonna
wrap myself up in cellophane.

I got a reason now.

Aboard! Aboard!

I see you got
your trunk packed.

Yeah.

Oh, I forgot about your present,

and the train's gonna start.

Here, it's for good luck, Al.

Oh. Aw, thanks, that's right.

I got something here for you.

Well, mail it.
The train'll go without you.

Here, I want you to have it.

It's kind of dinky.

If you don't like it,
throw it away.

Good-bye, honey.

I even like your hat.

Say good-bye to Al?

Yes, uncle Ralph.

Winter
lightning.

We don't often see that.

Kind of special.

Yes.

Sort of a special day.

The day came when Al sent me
a new forwarding address.

He didn't know where he was going.

Later, a card came
saying that private Schmid

had arrived safely at his destination.

Of course, it didn't say
that destination was Guadalcanal.

All of us were reading about
how important it was

that the marines capture
henderson field.

After we hit the beach,

Taking Henderson field
was pretty easy.

Hangin' on to it
was something else.

Then the japs pulled back
into the jungle.

Things got plenty rugged.

They taught us what
infiltration really meant.

They were good at it. Too good.

We learned a lot of lessons.

Man, we had to.

Wasn't enough of anything.

Not even any mail.

So we read our old letters
over and over again.

I got one letter off to Ruth.

Then things got worse, and there
wasn't much time for writin'.

Where's that shambo?

I don't know.

Somebody oughta take care of that.

Guess somebody did.

I hear they got 4 of
our cruisers last night.

Now all the nip crews
has got to do

is sit out there tonight
and spit at us.

Anybody tell you
you're gettin' ripe?

That's all right,
I'm gettin' used to it.

Anyway, jap stinks worse.

Gonna dig this hole so deep,

it'll be just short
of desertion.

Got any dope?

Scuttlebutt's the nips are landing
up the coast a-ways.

Jawohl. No sleep, no chow,
no smokes, no mail,

not enough planes,
not enough navy, not enough doctors...

brother, we're hangin' on the ropes,

and the referee's up to 8.

You know something, Al...

we've been here two weeks, already.

It's our anniversary.

Remind me later, I'll bake a cake.

Imagine me,
gettin' married in the morning

and leaving for
the embarkation point

that very noon.

No honeymoon?

No nothin'.

How do you like this guy?

He gets married in the morning

and embarks in the afternoon.

It's like buyin' oats
for a dead horse.

Don't let him rib you, lenny.

I wish I'd done the same thing.

Why you guys gangin' up?

Didn't you hear what
the lieutenant said?

Thought you were takin' your legs

back to the medical?

I'm ok.

It's time to relieve
those guys, ain't it?

Be dark in a few minutes.

Let's make a run for it.

Naw, they'd cut you in two.

Then the two of us should go.

Legs running one way,
torso the other.

Ha.

Diamond comin' in.

Rivers coming in.

Schmid coming in.

Too many in here, get goin'.

Is that the straight dope
about them comin' over tonight?

Shove off, knucklehead.

Ok by me.

Home and mother.

He didn't change the bolt in this.

It's still burred.

Maybe there's a spare bolt
in the parts box.

Check your water hose, Al.

Water hose, clear.

No extra bolt.

Dandy.

Check the final protective line.

Every time we relieve those guys,

we have to have a traverse
and search exercise.

Check the ready boxes, Al.

Huh, not on.

What's the lay
of the base of that stunted tree?

That's 400 left...

up 10.

What do you make
that brush across the river?

Which one?

Right there, right in front
of that busted coconut pod.

The base point?
Yeah, yeah.

Come on, come on,
the light's failing.

Left 920...

come on, come on...

down 6 mils.

Why don't those guys
learn how to make up a range card?

Hey, lee.

Here's a belt with 1 in 3.

Stow it.

How many boxes you got
belt 1 and 5?

22.

Here, you guys. Hot potatoes.

Ha ha!

How do you like that?

Scared by a crab.

Ha!

Sand crab.

Doesn't this hole smell bad enough

without you cracking a crab in it?

What do you expect me to do?

Pack it in ice and ship it home?

When you two joes quit
discussing seafood,

there's a small matter
of a couple million nips across the river,

more or less.

Peeyoo. This place stinks.

I'm gonna get some air.

Better put that back before morning.

It'll be back. It'll be back.

When they come, I figure
they'll cross the river at the sand bar.

It's darkest there.

Don't fire until then.

Move the machine guns
up the river,

the whole battalion's dug in.

Hold your fire till
Diamond's outfit opens up.

Once the nips spot us,

boom, the mortars begin.

Jawohl.

You're gonna speak
your piece tonight, baby.

Jawohl...

chop their heads off.

Al can tell you.

He saw me fight
in Philly once.

Maybe they went home.

No, no.
This is their chance.

They've been getting
reinforcements.

We haven't.

It'll come sooner or later.

I'll take sooner.

I'll take later.

Warm night.

Jawohl.
I'm thirsty.

I'm gonna kiss my shamrock.

Just for luck.

Maybe a ship'll come in tomorrow

with some mail on it.

Why is it that everything good

is always gonna happen tomorrow?

Nah, nothing will happen tonight.

I'm gonna flop.

Tonight you die. Tonight you die.

Can you see them?

Can you see any of them?

No. But they're there.

That's their cheerleader
working up their nerve.

The shambos are getting
crocked again tonight.

Their version of Chloe.

Sounds like they're
all looking for Chloe.

Chloe, they're all looking for you.

And most of 'em are gonna find you.

It's starting. It's starting.

We're getting it now.

Keep down!

No. Don't look till the last second.

All they gotta do is wade
across to get us.

Wish it were quicksand.

They won't come from
where they're shooting.

I think they're crossing!

There on the sand bars,
Johnny!

That's them!

Wait.

Wait.

Fire at the wreckage.
Wait.

Now! Now! Fire!

The tree! The tree!
The best tree left!

...traverse!

Get up...

knock 'em over, boys!

One big bowling alley!

In the gutter!
Kill 'em!

Good boy. You stopped 'em.

Don't waste your fire there.
That's pool sector.

Hit 'em in the...
hit 'em!

Come on. Hurry up.
On the double!

We're loading as fast as we can.

Ok. Ok.

There's some that crossed over.

Where?

On our side!

Fire, Johnny, fire!

Take over. Take over!

I'll feed. I'll feed.

Over the sand bank.
The sand bank!

The sand bank!

Come on, you dirty...

right now! Attaboy!

I got him.
I got him!

They got bill waters' gun.

You'll have to watch
that side, too.

I'll watch it.
I'll watch it.

How's Johnny doing?

He's dead.

Right through the head.

Oh, you yellow-bellied,
dirty, stinking, slimy pigs!

The best guy in the world.

Al!

Watch it! Don't get trigger-happy.

Watch it! Watch it!

You hit?

No.

They got the water jacket.

We're gonna get a stoppage.

Where's that skivvy who was yelling?

Never mind him!

Find that stinking crumb for me!

Forget him. Keep watching.

They'll be coming...

Lee!

Push me out of your way.

Where you hit?

Arm. Shoulder.

Get me out of your way.

Get back, Al. Watch 'em.

I'll give you blood poison,
you ringtails!

Al, don't let 'em...

You die!
Tonight, you die!

Tonight you die.

Watch him.
Watch him, Al.

We come, you die.

We come...

Eat dirt, tojo!
Eat dirt!

I'll shut you up.
I'll find you.

Short bursts, Al.

No stoppage.

We'll hold 'em, lee.
We'll hold 'em.

Good ol' gun.

Don't jam on me, sweetheart.

You suckers.

You think I don't see you.

That got you rattled,
didn't it?

Come on. Come on.
Just try to get through.

Come on, suckers!

Thought you wanted
to have us in fear.

I'm still here.

I'm all staked out.

Staying here right till
the end of the world.

Lee, you hurt bad?

Stick it out, lee.

Get light soon.

We're holding.

Tonight you die.

Tonight you die.

Just give me...

Why can't I shut you up?

Why can't I shut you up?

Tonight you die.

You ain't coming so fast now.

What's the matter?

You don't like
what you're getting, do you?

Come on. There's nobody in your way.

Just a couple of marines.

Come on.
I'll take you.

One at a time or in bunches.

Lee!

Al. Al.

My face.

I... I can't see.

My hands.

I can't see!

Lee: Don't do it, Al.
Don't do it.

Don't do it, Al.

We'll get help soon.

Don't shoot yourself.

Shoot myself?

Just...

just tell me where they are, Lee.

Tell me where they're coming from.

Show me where they are.

I'll shoot 'em.

Tell me where they are, Lee.

Tell me where they're coming from.

Show me where they are.

I didn't hear from al for a long time.

Philadelphia seemed
a long ways from the war,

but we thought of al every day.

Ruth Hartley, telephone.

Hello?

Oh, Ruth?

Oh, yes, uncle Ralph.

There's a letter here
from the naval hospital in san diego.

I opened it.

Yes?

Yeah, it says Al is there and ok.

Oh, thank God,
uncle Ralph. He's safe.

He can't write right away,

but he wants you to write him.

He sends lots of love.

He says to address reply
in care of Miss Virginia Pfeiffer.

Virginia Pfeiffer...

american red cross...

naval hospital, San Diego.

And as far as the
red cross workers are concerned,

why, they're ok,
like the one who brings me a letter.

As for me,
I'll take a girl named Ruth every time.

You know, Miss Pfeiffer,
once out there,

Ruthie mailed me a curl of her hair,

and when I opened the envelope,
this curl fell out.

The guys ribbed
the daylights out of me.

From then on, I always used to take
her letters away somewhere to read.

You never know what was
gonna pop out of them.

Now, where was I, Miss Pfeiffer?

"Well, I'll take a girl
named Ruth every time"

yeah, well, um,
I guess that's all.

Oh, come on, Al.
Give a little bit.

Think how many letters
she's written you.

Think how she wants
to come to you.

Well, what do I say?

Well, you want to tell
her about your gang?

Oh, yeah, sure. We got a great gang
of gyrenes here, Ruthie.

A lot of them from the canal.

Lee Diamond,
who was with me at kebabian.

Um... where's that ashtray, please?

On the desk, by your hand.

Your right hand, Al.

Oh, thanks.

Um, "the Guadalcanal gophers
knitting society" we call ourselves.

More grab...
excuse me. Heh heh.

More horsin' around
than I've seen in a month of sundays.

Guess everybody's
sure glad they're alive.

Well, I guess that's all.

Um... isn't there
anything else you wanna tell her, Al?

Like what?

About your eyes.

No.

Well, she'll have to know sometime.

Look, after I've had my operation,

after I can see again,
then I'll tell her,

then it'll be a big laugh
for both of us, understand?

Al, the doctor doesn't
promise you'll see after this operation.

Maybe they're...

I know those doctors.

They never promise anything.

I remember the one onboard ship,

he kept telling me I'd lose my leg
because of that blood poisoning.

Didn't, did I? They're both here,
and they ain't cork.

And add this: Ruthie, I've been
saving the best part for the end.

You've been asking me why I haven't
been able to write to you myself.

Well, the reason is... my hands.

I... I caught some grenade fragments
in them like a dumb boot,

but any day now,
you'll be getting a letter

written by yours truly himself.

Al, this isn't any good!

You're just storing up
trouble for both of you.

Don't be a killjoy!
Here I am, sitting on top of the world.

Now, put this in.

Pretty soon, I'll be coming home,

walking right up to
the steps of your house.

And don't you worry
about my hands, baby,

because when I get them on you,

well, you'll know they're all right.

Gosh, sweetheart,
I can hardly wait to see you.

I, uh...

oh, say it, Al.
Just make-believe I'm a typewriter.

Don't be embarrassed.

I...

I can hardly wait to kiss you
for the first time, honey.

I never told you what I feel like
when you're in my arms,

looking up at me
with your eyes like...

like... with that kind of
funny, wonderful light in your eyes,

like you did
on the railroad station platform.

Say it, Al.

Lots of love,
your brown-eyed devil, Al.

She called me that once.
It's a kind of joke between us, see?

Sure.

Ain't that a nice face, though?
Ain't it? Take a look.

Oh, come on, Schmid.

I just looked at it
a little bit ago.

Now, don't rib me.
I only showed it to you once.

Yeah, it's a nice face.

A guy could lean on a girl like that.

A marine don't lean on anyone.

If there's any leaning to be done,

now the female sex
is the weaker, isn't it?

Well, everybody leans
a little on somebody.

Nobody stands alone.

You just wait until tomorrow
after my operation,

I'm all fixed up.

I'll stand alone.
You just wait. You just watch me!

I'll ask permission to be there.

Well, you better be.

I wanna find out if
you're as good-looking

as your voice sounds like you are.

Oh, don't spoil me, Schmid.
Keep it tough.

Hi, Al.

Is that you, Lee?

Yeah, I've been waiting outside.
I'm next.

You better be careful of this guy.

He's a little short on the brain.

Yeah?

He got
3 machine gun bullets in the shoulder.

You'd think after the first one,
he'd have sense enough to duck.

At least I had sense enough
not to play catch with a jap grenade.

Why don't you hang
a lantern on that thing?

Uh, did you buy
that present for my wife for me?

Yeah, I bought two
for you to choose from.

Hiya, Tom,
how's your malaria?

Wonderful.
It's that tall.

You'd never know it.

Ha ha.

Wither wouldst thou
love to be shoved, alberto?

Oh, once around the hall,
Thomas. Ok.

Here we go gathering nuts in may

nuts in may, hay in may

here we go gathering...

Darken the room, please.

Hold the bandage,
will you, Schmid?

Guess we're ready, now.

Not too soon for me, sir!

I'm bustin' at the seams!

It's been the longest 3 weeks
of my whole life!

Now, look, Schmid.

Don't you expect
to see the minute the bandage is off.

I'm darkening your room... ok.

Ok, you told me that.

Just get it off, will you?

Now, I'm not making
any promises either.

You see, the healing process...

all right, all right.

Let's try it, please, sir!

The bandage is off now.
You can open up.

No!

Not a darn thing!

You told me it was dark in here.

How about that flashlight, sir?

You promised!

I will. Take it easy.

I'm taking it easy, sir.

Well, you don't expect me
to see with the blinds down.

You think I don't know
my eyes have been injured?

Why, I even expect
to be wearing glasses

the rest of my life.

"Four-eyes Schmid. "
I don't mind, sir.

I don't mind
the glasses. Really, I don't.

I'm going to snap
the flashlight on behind my back

and then bring it around
towards your face.

First time
you see it, holler.

I'll holler.

I'll holler so loud
my girl will hear me in Philadelphia.

Ready?
Yeah, I'm ready.

I'm ready!
Turn it on, sir.

Even if it's only
a two-bit flashlight.

I wanna see stars
and angels and Ruth.

Give me something
to holler about, please!

Come on, this is one time

I wanna get hit right
smack between the eyes,

come on, doctor.
Let's see the light.

Bring it closer.

See anything?

Yeah, like a locomotive headlight.

Way off in the fog.
Bring it closer!

Closer!

Closer, please!

I'm sorry, Schmid.
The light was put on your eyes.

Close.

No. I can't be blind...

not my whole life!

Look, Schmid...

please... please...

you medicine fellows,
you know.

You're educated, you're smart.

You got ways of fixing guys up.

I tried my best.
I fought.

I'm not asking for so much!

Schmid, this examination isn't final.

I told you yesterday it wouldn't be.

When can we try again, sir?

Tomorrow? Next week?

You're still suffering the effects
of eye concussion, Schmid.

There's still pieces
of grenade that have to work themselves out.

You'll probably need
another operation after a while.

When?

We'll have to wait 6 months, a year.

Even then, there's no assurance
you'll ever see.

6 months?

What are my chances, sir?
Give it to me straight.

Miss shelby,
bring me a card, please.

I have a card here
I want you to take with you, Schmid.

We have people
right here now who will teach you.

This is for blind people!

I don't want any of this stuff!

I want to stand on my own!

I don't want any of this stuff!

Schmid... right now, I'm thinking
of someone, a doctor friend of mine.

We went to school together.

He was blind from the time
he was 10 years old,

but that didn't stop him.

He's married and has two kids.

He's a fine psychiatrist
and a happy man.

Are you listening to me, Schmid?

I'm not saying
it'll be easy for you,

and these first few months
are the toughest.

People get the wrong idea
about blindness.

A blind man isn't helpless;

he just has to do some things
differently from the rest of us.

Are you listening
to me, Schmid?

Why don't God strike me dead?

We back at the warden?

A couple more steps.

I'll take it
from here. All right.

Hi, Al!
Hiya, gophers!

I'm shoving off.
Good luck.

Now, listen, tommy,
let me get the picture straight.

You mean to tell me that she tricked
you into going up to her apartment?

Sure, I was trapped!

She had a beautiful
two-room joint overlooking los angeles.

So I go up there with her,

and she pours me a nice, tall drink.

Then we sit down on the sofa.

What happened then?

Take it easy, I'll tell you.

Well, we're sitting on the sofa,
see, and I got my arm around her.

Everything's
getting cozy, see?

Just as I'm about
to kiss her,

all the lights
go out.

Killed all
the conversation.

Well, what'd you do?

I was in luck.
I had my flashlight with me.

Did you light it?

No, she wouldn't
let me!

She told me the noise
would wake up her father.

Tommy: Hey, sarge,
where you going?

I got my first
3-day liberty, tommy.

I'm going to
los angeles.

You got a date?
No.

You call this number
when you get there.

I don't like
blind dates.

She'll be sober
when you get there. Give her a ring.

What's she like?

Out of the world.

Out of this world, huh?

Well, los angeles
city limits,

how much farther out
can you get?

What's she look like,
an umbrElla?

Are you kidding?
She's a beauty!

Big brown eyes
like saucers.

And when she smiles,
she flashes the most beautiful set of teeth you ever saw.

And what a build!
This girl has got a figure out of the world!

When you see
this girl's figure...

now, I've seen a lot
of figures, brother,

and I know
what I'm talking about.

She's got the most...

wait a minute.
I'll get my hat. I'll go with you.

Where's my hat?

Al, this is lee.

I just heard
the bad news about... about the eye test.

Look, al, I got an uncle
who's a doctor...

and he's no dope.

4 years city college,
harvard med school grad, a real smart guy.

And sometimes
he's right,

and sometimes
he's wrong.

Like the time, al,
that my aunt, his very own wife,

went to him,
and he says,

"Minnie, you're gonna have a baby. "

I mean, this is his very own wife!

And she's overjoyed.
And he's happy.

And they call us
on the telephone,

and they tell us how
they always wanted to have a baby.

And we tell them
we think it's wonderful.

You shoulda
been there, al!

They were going
to name the baby leroy, after me.

You know what, Al?

The next morning,
the very next morning,

we find out it was
something she ate.

So you see, al,
what do you got to worry about?

Doctors are human,
they make mistakes!

Thanks for coming, lee.

I'll see you
in the morning.

Ok, Al.

Ruth!

Ruth!

No, stop it!

No, stop it!

No, stop it!
No, stop it!

Stop it! Stop it!

Stop it! Stop it!
Stop it!

Where is he?
Where are they?

Find them for me.
Please find them.

Please... find them.
Please find them for me.

Please...

find them for me, lee.
F-f-find them for me.

Find them... where are...

Why can't I shut you up!?

No!

Ruth! Ruth!

Ruth! Ruth!

Ruth! Ruth! Ruth!

Ruth. Ruth. Ruth...

where's that bench
you were talking about?

Right here.

I want to get this
over with quick.

Got your pencil?

Yes.

Dear Ruth...

what harm would it do
to wait another week?

What good will it do?
I made up my mind last night.

Your mind's made up,
but what about giving Ruth

a chance to decide
for herself?

To decide what?
How to ruin her life?

Look, she's worked hard.
Me, the bigshot.

I was gonna
buy her things she never had,

I was gonna see that
she'd never have to work again.

What good
can I do her now? I can't get married.

I'll never be able
to earn enough money to keep her.

But, Al...

I won't have her being
a seeing-eye dog for me!

How do you know she'll
feel that way about it?

At least tell her the tRuth!
Find out what she wants!

Sure. Tell her the tRuth
so she'll pity me.

Nothing doing.
I'm leaving pity out of this.

Aren't you leaving
love out of it, too?

You don't seem to care
what you do to her.

She isn't going to stop
loving you, writing to you!

Send the letters
back, then!

Supposing she does have
a few bad days.

She's pretty.
She'll meet another guy.

She'll fall in love.

You gonna write
the letter for me

or do I have to ask
lee Diamond to do it?

All right... ok.

Dear Ruth...

I know this is gonna
be a kind of surprise to hear,

but I'm going to give
it to you straight.

I'm not
coming back to Philly. Not now, not ever.

And as far as getting
married is concerned,

well, it just ain't up
my alley, that's all.

I hope you'll be
very happy,

and I hope you'll find
a new boyfriend real soon.

Yours, al Schmid.

Oh, Al.

Schmiddy, don't you get tired
eating in the supply room?

Why don't you eat
in the mess hall with the rest of the guys?

Why don't you learn
how to feed yourself?

It's easy, honest.

Coming up.

We put the food on the plate
according to the clock.

Like, potatoes at 12 o'clock,
vegetables at 3:00,

meat at 6 o'clock.

Coming up.

It's part of our job
to teach blind guys how to...

don't call me blind!

I don't see so good yet,
that's all.

Don't you ever
call me blind again!

Ok, kid, ok!

Anyway, why don't...

mind your business.

Coming up.
I don't want any more.

You want dessert?
No.

Al, here you are!

Al, there's a long-distance
telephone call for you.

I'll take you.
From where?

It's from Ruth,
from Philadelphia.

I ain't here.

Well, she's probably
received your letter...

Don't you understand?
I can't talk to her.

Tell her to leave me alone!

All right, Al.

Can I steer you
anyplace, Schmiddy?

No.
Wanna hit the sack?

I can sleep anytime.

See with me,
it's always night time.

How about the recreation room?

We can get Jack Benny on the radio.

Ok.
Ready?

You know, that was
an old girlfriend of mine calling.

Her name was Ruth.

Yes, operator.

One Moment, please.

A friend of the party's wants to
know if she can accept the call.

A Miss Virginia Pfeiffer
from the red cross.

Oh, yes, yes.
She's been writing.

Go ahead, san diego.

Hello?
Hello?

Is this Ruth?

Yes, Miss Pfeiffer.
I got al's last letter!

Understand this, Ruth...

he isn't breaking with you

because he doesn't love you.

Believe me, he does.

Well, then, why?

He just had a very bad shock.

What is it?

Al has completely lost
the sight of one eye

and may never regain
sight in the other.

That's why he's not calling.

He's afraid of becoming a burden.

Do you understand now?

Hello, Ruth?

Yes. Yes, I understand.

There's one thing
I'd better find out.

Uh, now, you can
think this over if you want to.

It'll
make a difference in helping Al.

You still love him?
Do you want him?

I mean, as a husband.

Oh, yes!
Yes, I do!

Remember, he may be totally blind

for the rest of his life.

What does that matter?

Do you want to think it over?

Think what over?

I didn't fall in love with his eyes
nor the color of his hair.

I fell in love with him, with Al!

That hasn't changed just because
something's happened to his eyes.

You're the kind of girl
I thought you were.

Now, listen carefully, Ruth.

I know you'll want
to come out here, but don't come.

Al seems to go off the deep end

every time I mention your name.

Just keep writing to him

and try not to mind
if he doesn't answer.

Just be patientand keep loving him.

We have a pretty big job ahead,

but we can do it.

My part first, and then yours.

Understand?

I do understand.

And I'm so grateful
to you for everything.

Remember that he loves you

and that he needs you terribly.

So if you'll keep loving him...

oh, I will. Always.

Good-bye, then.

I guess Al still doesn't know

what a wonderful girl he has.

Bye.

Lee: Hey, angelo,
how do you like that?

Hey, guys.

Take a look.

No more cast,
isn't it wonderful, huh?

How do you like it?
Isn't that marvelous? Marvelous.

I want you to meet my friend.

Glad to see ya.

Hey, guys!

The cast...
it's off, look.

Let's barbecue it.

Ha ha.
Would you care to say a few words

to the radio audience?
Sure.

Hello, Mom?
It was a great fight.

Didn't lay a glove on me.

Ha ha.

You know what
I'm gonna do with this?

Don't say it.

Gonna have it mounted.

To decorate the homestead
in flatbush,

directly over the stove.

How's the arm work?

Come again?

How does the arm work?

Great. Here,
give me one of them darts, I'll show you.

Tom, hold this.

Observe.

Spitball Diamond is now on the mound.

Let me out of here.

What are you, a coward?

Right down the alley.
Two fingers.

Hmm... almost a bull's-eye.

A bull's what?

Well, the wind was against me.

Would you like
to dance with a girlie

with a hole in her head?

Hi, al!

Hi, gofers.

Hi, Al. Tommy.
Hi, hero.

Guy made
that crack gets his neck broken.

Ok, killer.

Killer I don't mind.

It ain't pretty, but neither am I.

Whose turn is it next?

I'll take it, red.

In the evening, by the moonlight

you can hear those darkies singing

in the evening, by the moonlight...

any of you birds
hear talk about goin' home for Christmas?

Yeah. Wish I could believe it.

Wonder what kind of a Christmas

they have in california?

I hear they got no snow,
but they got variety.

One year, fog;
the next year, rain.

I heard everybody
who's fit goes home,

walking cases get a furlough.

That's the scuttlebutt.

Speak up, red.
Or write it down.

If I did write it down,
you couldn't read it.

You blind bat.

Ha ha. I've heard
of bedroom eyes.

Red here's got a bedroom voice.

Well, I guess I'll be stuck here.

Me, too.

You're a walking case, Al.

Yeah, except I got
no place to go, see?

Well, I know I'm going home.

The doc says for good.

I telephoned my wife last night

to give her the glad news.

When I told her I was comin' home,

she got all choked up, couldn't talk.

Just busted out cryin'.

Don't you hate it when a dame cries?

No, with me it's different.
I'll tell you why.

When a guy gets
married, like me and my girl did,

and goes overseas,

a lot of things can
happen by the time you get back.

The way she cried
told me a lot of things.

Told me how much
she wanted me back.

Sometimes, when a dame cries,

it makes you feel good.

You read in the paper
about a guy's wife runnin' out on him,

and right away,
you think it's gonna happen to you.

Lee: I figure it this way.

Any guy's wife
that would double-cross him

while he's in the service

will do it in peacetime,
sooner or later.

What's the first thing
you're gonna do when you get home, bill?

I think I'll spend
about 3 solid weeks

just saying hello to my wife.

What are you gonna do
after you get tired saying hello?

I got myself a nice
little street corner

all picked out for my business.

You lucky stiff.

Hi, Virginia.
Hi, lee.

Join the gofer sewing circle.
We're cookin' up a storm.

Sure it's not private gab?

We got no secrets from you.

Irish has been telling us

about a business he's going into,

after he gets his discharge.

Yeah, on a corner.

Oh, if it's on a corner,

It must be a saloon or a bank.

Which is it, Irish?

You're not even close.

Twice in his life
my old man got his name in the papers.

The first time, in 1917.

He was the first
to enlist in milwaukee.

The second time, in 1930.

He was the first vet
to sell unemployed apples.

Any of you guys
want a piece of my street corner?

I ain't bright, but I'm honest.

Count me in.

"Irish and Schmid,
apples and pencils. "

We oughta do all right.

Aw, come on.
Climb out of your foxholes.

What's the matter, you guys think

nobody's learned
anything since 1930?

Think everybody's had their eyes shut

and their brains in cold storage?

I'll tell you guys something funny.

I'm scared.

I wasn't half as scared
on the 'canal.

If a man came along...
anybody...

and told me
I'd have a decent job the rest of my life,

I'd get down on my knees
and wash his feet.

Well, I'm not scared.

You talk like a guy
with dough in the bank.

You ask me what I want out of life.

Well, I'm not an ambitious guy...
30 bucks a week.

Enough to take
my girl out on a saturday night,

a ball game on sunday...
That's about all I ask.

Or is that too much?

You're a cinch.

Things are different now.

The whole country has its eyes open.

Won't be like 1930 again.

That's pretty music,

but I don't understand the words.

What about
the G.I. Bill of rights?

I'm going to college on that.

They guarantee your old job back,
Bill.

They guarantee your job, do they?

I wrote my old boss
to get my job back.

What did he write me?

Quote, I'll tell you
what he wrote.

"I'm in a new business,
and your old job just ain't. "

There's nothing in the G.I.
Bill of rights to cover that.

You can't get your job back
if it doesn't exist.

That's gotta be considered.
Considered?

Now I'll come out
and say what I'm thinking.

How about them considering
the silver plate in my head?

How long did we get to consider

when they said,
"hit the beach," at Guadalcanal?

They said, "go," and we went.

Well, that's ok.

Well, I want some considerin' now.

I got a wife.
I want to support her.

The doc says I can
never do heavy work again, ever.

Well, I wanna work.

My boss says,
"no job, nothing to come back to. "

How do I know anybody'll ever want me?

Yeah. Yeah, when I get
back to el centro,

I'll probably find
some mexican's got my job.

Quiet.

I'm sorry, Juan, you're a mexican,
but you're different,

y-you're one of the guys
in "b" company.

Nah. I'm not different, joe.

I'm just a mexican,

like a lot of other mexicans
who fought.

You dumb coot.
He's got more foxhole time

than you've got in the marine corps.

Can I put in my two cents?

You guys are all jumpy.
Nobody can blame you.

You're shut off here,

and sometimes it must seem
as if nobody cares.

Who does?

Well, people care, all the people.

Civilians aren't strange animals.

They're your own fathers
and mothers and wives,

your sweethearts, your friends,

and believe me, if they can help it,

you're not going to be let down.

Aw, that's a dame's...

I mean, a female's point of view.

So the G.I. Bill
sends some guys back to school.

Gets some other guys jobs.

Gets a guy started on a farm.

So maybe we'll even have prosperity
for two years after the war

while we catch up on things...

like making diaper pins
and autos,

things the poor civilians
did without.

But what happens after two years?
Answer me that.

A bonus march.
No, sir.

You guys think because you did
the front-line fighting

you can take a free ride
on the country

for the rest of your lives...
No, sir.

Look, there's no free candy
for anybody in this world.

I know what I fought for...
I fought for me.

For the right to live in U.S.A.

And when I get back
into civilian life,

if I don't like
the way things are going,

ok, it's my country.

I'll stand on my own two legs,
and I'll holler.

And if there's enough of us hollering,
we'll go places, check?

Check.

Listen to these two characters

checking each other off
like a couple of bookkeepers.

So what? We agree.

Only you ain't got
the books to check, that's what.

You ain't gonna write the piece.

You ain't gonna run the country.

You're just a couple of ex-heroes
sittin' around in a hospital.

I'm going to be a lawyer.

Who says, in 10 years from now,
I won't be a congressman?

I'm going into politics
with both feet.

And if I have anything
to say about it,

my kid isn't gonna
land on any beachhead.

And if any old windbag tries to sell
me the idea of shipping oil to japan

or doing business with any new
Hitler, he'd better start ducking.

Ok, Junior. I'll check that.

And I'll put a little handwritin'
on the wall for you, too.

We don't want no apples.

And whoever's running
the country better read it too...

no apples, no bonus marches.

I'll paste
that in your hat, congressman.

Ok.

Like they say in those
old revival meetings,

"hallelujah and amen. "

Ok, Al, ok.

And I'll wrap it up for you.

One happy afternoon,
when God was feeling good,

he sat down, and he thought

of a rich, beautiful country.

And he named it the U.S.A

All of it, Al...

the hills, the rivers,
the lands, the whole works.

Don't tell me
we can't make it work in peace

like we do in war.

Don't tell me we can't pull together.

Don't you see it, guys?
Can't you see it?

You askin' me?

Yeah.

I'm askin' you like everybody else.

I don't see none
of those things you said God made.

I don't see a thing.

I didn't mean it that way.

No, you didn't.

But a lot of things
take time in this life.

When a man has to climb
a mountain all alone,

sometimes he loses the way...

and it's up to his friends to help.

What's on your mind?
You.

I thought it was something important.

You're important. Sit here.

I want to say
something important, too...

straight and tough.
Shoot.

Suppose the worst
happens to you, al,

and you don't get your sight back.

I'm not kidding you,

you're gonna
be cut off from certain things.

No hunting, no driving your own car,

no watching ice hockey.

But even without sight,

a man can swim and dance
and go fishing.

He can't hunt,
but he can walk in the woods

when the leaves are falling.

With only a little training,

he can learn to play poker,

checkers, chess, dominoes.

He can learn to read
by the touch system,

type his own letters,
listen to music...

he can play any old
instrument he wants.

Don't you see, Al...

once you get over your fear
of being helpless,

the whole world is wide open for you.

With a tin cup?

If you're afraid
you can't hold down a job anymore,

that's just crazy, Al.

You can go back
to a job that's just as good

as the one you left.
Yeah?

Why, right here in California,

there are over 400 blind workers
in the aircraft factories.

I tell you, it's
all very interesting, Virginia,

but it sort of
doesn't apply to me.

A couple of months from now,
I'll be able to see all right.

Sure, Al.
I hope so, too.

I just thought you might like

to know some of these things.
Yeah. Sure.

Ok, Al.

Yeah.

Hey, tommy, tell 'em
about the first time you went huntin'.

Oh, the time I want
to take my girl huntin'...

so I go out, and I buy
the whole thing...

the hat, you know,
with the tail in the back,

and the leather coat
with the things across here,

with the shells...
you know, and the gun.

Now I gotta get a dog, see?

I buy the best dog
in Illinois,

the best huntin' dog you could buy.

75 bucks.
One dog. $75.

So I went huntin' with her, see?

We get out there.

Soon as he sees a rabbit or a bird,

stops dead, he goes like this.

Doesn't catch nothing.

Just like this...

see?

I beat him over the head
with the gun a coupla times.

I broke him of that habit.

Ha ha ha.
Ha ha.

Hi, Virginia.

Hello, boys.

Al, it's time
for you to see the captain.

I want you
to see a picture of my girl.

Beautiful?

She sure is.

But who's the guy
with his arm around her?

That's my friend
from the draft board.

Beautiful girl.

Great friend.

Captain Burroughs says
to come in.

Thank you.

Door, Schmid...
to your right.

Good morning, Miss Pfeiffer.

Good morning,
captain Burroughs.

Good morning,
Schmid. Good morning, sir.

Hi, Al.

Sounds like lee.

That's it.

Schmid, I got great news for you.

You're getting a navy cross.

Congratulations.

That's wonderful, Al.

Navy cross...

never in all my born days
did I think...

the navy cross?
Stand at ease.

Corporal Diamond's getting one, too,

although the ceremonies
won't be held at the same place.

That sounds great, lee.

Yeah, gave me a wallop.

Your hometown's
quite proud of you, Schmid.

I guess you know
that the papers have been printing

a lot of stories about you.

So the navy's decided
that you'll get your award

at the Philadelphia navy yard.

Corporal Diamond's
going on furlough, too.

He'll be on the train with you

and effect your transfer
to the naval hospital.

You leave tomorrow.

You'll be home in time for Christmas.

Couldn't ask for a better Christmas
present than that, could you?

I gotta go back there?

It's your hometown.
Why not?

Well, it's notmy home anymore.

We've found, from past experience

that men convalesce quicker
in a hospital near their home.

But it isn't my home, sir.

According to your record,
it was when you entered service.

Yes, sir. But, uh,
I-I'm gonna move.

I got a brother in Chicago,

and when I don't
have to go to no hospital no more...

let's stop shadowboxing.

You don't want to return
to Philadelphia

because you've got friends there.

You're afraid to have them pity you.

That's it, isn't it?

No. N-no, sir.

That isn't it...
just because a guy happens

to have a little eye trouble.

Why, in a couple more months,

after I've had another operation,

I'll be able to see
all right, sir.

Well, then, why don't you go home?

You've got a girl there.

No, sir.
She and I are all washed up.

I got nobody in Philly for me.
Nobody.

You need to find out

from the people who knew you
before you were injured

that you mean
just as much to them now.

Until you learn that,
you won't make any progress.

I'm making progress, sir.

I'm trading a couple
of eyes in for a ribbon on my chest.

Now I'm going home
so people can stare at me.

That's fine progress!

You're under orders,
Schmid.

You're going back.

Good-bye.
Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

Good-bye, Diamond.

I'll be seeing you.
So long. So long, Schmiddy.

Here we are,
Schmiddy.

You gonna miss me, Ginnie?

I don't know how
we'll run the place without you.

By the way, I put
a couple of letters in your bag

you don't know about.

Thought maybe you might want
Lee to read 'em to you.

Aw, you're a great fixer,
aren't you?

I don't wanna read 'em.

I'm sorry, I just
wanted to help...

listen, I-I've
been carrying a beef inside me,

but it hasn't been against you.

You're great.

I'm glad you think so, Al.

Listen, will you do me a favor

and send Ruthie a wire
and ask her to...

ask her to meet me
at the station, will you?

Sure, I will.

It's not for the reason you think.

I just want to get things
straightened out once and for all.

As long as I can't see,
I don't want to marry anyone.

Ok, Al?

Keep your powder dry, Virginia,

and thanks for everything.

Good-bye, Lee.
Good luck.

You know... some of these days,
I'm gonna come back here

and find out what
you really look like.

I'll be an awful disappointment.

No, you won't.
You're swell.

Don't stop fighting now... don't.

So long, Ginnie.

Bye.

So long, Schmiddy,
you lucky stiff.

Say hello to Philadelphia.

So long, fellow. Have a swell trip.

Dear heavenly father,

he's got to come home
where he belongs.

He's got to know he's wanted.

Lee: It was gonna be
the biggest production we ever had,

and... don't you gentlemen
want to get some sleep?

How about it, Al?

I'm not sleepy.

Well, call me when you want me.

Thanks anyway.

So, like I was saying...

everything was going
along all right

until our high school teacher
hands me the girdle,

and she says, "put this on. "

I took one look at that
belly choker and I hit the roof.

I says, "look, Miss Tuttle,

"I am willin'
to be the dame in this play,

"I am willing to wear
the blonde wig.

"I'm willing to wear
the dress with the phony fronts.

But a girdle stops me cold. "

Nobody was gonna
get me to crawl into that booby trap.

So she gives me a pep talk

about how if I don't wear the girdle,

I'll have nothing
to hold up my stockings.

You know how them girdles are.

They got long tentacles

hanging down all around them.

And by this time I'm burnin',
I'm really steamed up.

And I say,
"look, Miss Tuttle, I won't do it. "

She says, "you will. "

And I says, "I won't!"

So I put on the girdle.

Well, it was about this big...

junior miss size.

I wrestled
with that thing for a solid hour.

I was on a chair.
I was on a table.

I was on a floor.
You've gotta get leverage.

I pulled it,
I yanked it, I jerked it,

then, by some supernatural miracle,
I got it on.

It was like sitting
in a tight foxhole.

Why do women insist
on wearin' them things?

Believe me, Al,
if I was a dame,

I'd settle for the spread.

You don't have to entertain me, Lee.

Where are we?

Still crossing Ohio, I guess.

What time is it?

Uh, 5 to 3:00.
Wanna go to bed? I'll call a porter.

Aw, I feel kinda jumpy.
You don't have to sit up with me, Lee.

Oh, I'm not sleepy.

How about some dominoes?

I'm the sticking kind, Al.

Don't change
that sweet face of yours,

Suppose the japs shoot you?

Me? What have they got against me?

I'm the best little ducker
in the world.

I'm the sticking kind, Al.

I wanna see
that sweet face when I come back.

Why'd you join up, Al?

I wanna see...
why'd you join?

I wanna see!
I wanna see!

What's the sense
of seeing Ruth just to break up with her?

It was a crazy idea I had.

Won't do her any good,
won't do me any good.

We're finished.

There's no point in having
a wake over the corpse.

I don't want her
to come to the station.

I don't want to see her at all.

You send a telegram for me.
Tell her not to come.

That's not fair, Schmiddy.

She's probably
planned a Christmas celebration.

You're going to see her.

Lee, don't make me fight you.

You and me, we don't
have to be polite with each other.

What have I got to celebrate?

What does "welcome home"
mean to a blind man?

Maybe more than to anyone else

if he doesn't hide it
from himself.

Cut the guff.

You're not talking me
into anything.

Al, I want to tell you something.

You gonna write that wire?

I'll write the wire,

but first I want
to get something off my chest,

from me to you without etiquette, too.

Al, back there on the 'canal,

I thought something
about you I never told you before.

It was after
you got the grenade in your face.

Towards morning, it was,

when we thought the japs
were coming in on us.

You remember what you did?

You pulled your. 45,

and I thought you meant
to kill yourself.

But you kept yelling out,

"tell me when
they come in, lee, I can't see 'em,

but tell me
where they are, and I'll shoot 'em. "

Well, I was scared to death

and layin' on the ground
waitin' for a jap bayonet.

But I kept thinking something.

I thought, "that boy Schmiddy

has more guts
than any man alive. "

I was wrong, Al.

I think you were hopped up
by excitement,

like you'd taken
a shot or something.

I don't think you got any guts, Al.

I think you're kind of yellow.

You haven't got guts to see Ruth.

Shut up, shut up!

You haven't got guts
to pay off on a bet!

You didn't enlist
in the marine corps

because you had any
sense in your head.

You didn't care about this was
the U.S.A. And you lived in it.

You didn't know what the war
was about, and you didn't care.

You're a hopped-up kid
lookin' for excitement...

that's a lie,
and you're a stinkin' liar.

You're saying those things

'cause you know
I can't crack you in your lyin' face.

Ok...
then ask yourself a question.

Would you do it over again?

If you knew you was
gonna be blind,

would you do it over again?

Or would you ask
for shore duty, maybe?

Al, look.

In a war, somebody gets it,
and you're it.

Don't you think I'd crawl

on my hands and knees to a doctor

if he could take an
eye out of my head

and put it into yours?

But he can't, al,
he can't.

Believe me,
you ain't been a sucker.

There ain't a guy
who's been killed or disabled

in this war who's been a sucker.

I know it's a stinkin' war,
but it has to be won.

And you're one of the guys

who lost some chips
in the winning.

Everybody's got problems.

I know you're in a tough spot,

but it ain't peaches and cream
for everybody else.

What problems have you got?
You're in one piece, ain't you?

Your wife don't have to turn
over in her insides when she sees you.

When you go for a job,
there ain't nobody gonna say,

"we got no use
for ex-heroes like you. "

That's what you think.

Sure, there'll be
guys who won't hire you,

even when
they know you can handle a job.

But there's guys that won't hire me

because my name is Diamond
instead of Jones,

'cause I celebrate passover
instead of easter.

Do you see what I mean?

You and me,
we need the same kind of a world.

We need a country to live in

where nobody gets booted
around for any reason.

Aw, I'm all mixed up...

mixed up and scared.

Draggin' at the heels and yellow.

Oh, no, no, I...
I wasn't telling the truth before.

You're not yellow.

Aw, you're a swell guy.

You're a pure sort
of a guy if I ever saw one, but...

don't leave
all your guts back on the 'canal.

You need 'em now, too.

That girl loves you, Al.

You two can make out.

She's the real goods.

Ok, Lee.

But now we send that wire.

Didn't what I said
mean anything to you?

Yeah.

It means send that wire.

It's good we're late.
Ruth got that wire, then.

Yeah.

It's too bad we can't
get those navy crosses together.

We won 'em together;
we oughta collect 'em together.

Say, Al...

you hold any hard feelings
about what I said last night?

Nah, forget it.

Say, you don't have
to come to the hospital with me.

Your wife's sittin'
in new york, bitin' her fingernails.

We're late enough already.

It's all right.
The trains run pretty often.

Well, maybe
there's a navy car waitin' for me.

Or you can just
stick me in a cab.

Well, I'd like to get you settled.

Come in.

Your bags are
in the vestibule, gentlemen.

Mr. Schmid, I heard
that march of time broadcast

about what you done
on Guadalcanal,

and I saw
your picture in life magazine.

And I want to say
I feel honored you rode in my car.

Thanks.

And I read you were
there with him, sir.

Thanks for letting
us stay up so late last night.

No. Like I said,
it's been an honor.

I want to navigate
this on my own.

Your bags are
right there, gentlemen.

Boy. It sure smells
like Philly, all right.

You know, not so long ago,
I left from the same place.

Ain't it grand to be home?

Say, you don't
see Ruth around here, do you?

No.
That's fine.

Now that's off my mind.

Uh, do you wanna
wait here a second?

There's a conductor
over there I want to ask about trains.

I wanna gauge my time.
Sure, go ahead.

Stick here
with the bags a minute, will you?

I'll be all right.
All aboard!

I recognize you from Al's snapshot.

You're Ruth.
Yes.

I'm Lee Diamond.
Didn't you get the telegram?

Yes, but I decided to come anyway.

Lee, you've got to help me.

I have to get him
back among his friends, where he lived.

He's got to know that we...

he's pretty set on not going.

Where are you taking him now?

Navy hospital.

Well, he's got to come home first,
even if it's just for an hour.

It'd mean so much right now.

If he won't go with you, he won't.

You'll just have to try.

I've got Al's car with me.

Couldn't you lie to him
and tell him it's a navy car, maybe?

I don't know. It...

I want one chance, lee,
won't you give it to me?

It's his whole life
I'm fighting for.

Yeah. I know.

And yours.

Al, here's luck.

Number one,
there's a navy car waitin' for you;

number two,
I can get a train to new york

in 15 minutes.

Do you mind if I take you up
on that proposition?

Sure, lee.
Go right ahead. Thanks.

Your bag's on your right.

Here's the navy car.

There's a good-looking wave
ready to take you.

A wave?
Say, that's class.

Don't step out of line.
She's a loo-ie. Ha ha.

I guess I won't
see you for a long time, huh, Lee?

Well, maybe after my furlough,

I can drop off and see you
on my way back to San Diego.

Hey, that would be
great, if you could.

You'll probably see
a lot more action before this is over.

Looks that way,
my arm's coming along good now.

It'll be funny,
sittin' around,

thinking of you landing
on a beachhead again.

When I hit the beach,

I'll mark the first nip
for you, Al.

Yeah. Get 'em
in the eyes.

Right in the eyes!

Gosh...

that kind of popped out of me

without me even thinking of it.

Ha ha.

Take care
of yourself, Al.

Likewise.

I'm gonna miss you, you old ball of fire.

Yeah. Likewise.

Say, uh, what were them
old hebrew words you told me?

Sholem alechem?

Yeah. Well, uh...

Sholem alechem,
kid.

That goes double for you, Al.

Well, I'm off
to the beachhead.

Ok, lieutenant.

I'll write you, Al.
Thanks.

So long, Lee.

So long, Al.

I know where we are now...

passin' independence hall.

I used to remember
hearing the bell strike the hour.

Somehow, whenever
it struck 12 noon, I got hungry.

Out on Guadalcanal, I remembered
that bell whenever I was hungry.

Good day for huntin'.
Cold and crisp.

Had my huntin' coat
and boots on... be all right.

Ever go huntin'?

Mm-hmm.

Couldn't hit the broadside
of a barn right now.

Got eye trouble.

That's why I'm here...
get 'em fixed up.

Are we at the hospital?

Mm-hmm.

Steps.

I used to count steps
when I was a kid.

Now I'm back at it again.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Any more?
Uh-huh.

7, 8, 9...

Ruth...

you're home now.

Please forgive me
for doing it. I had to.

Why? It's no good.

Now, be
reasonable, al, it's Christmas eve.

I didn't have the heart

to tell Ella Mae about your wire.

She has dinner all ready for you,
in your honor, and...

Loretta has a present for you.

It won't work.
I'm not going in.

You can tell 'em
anything you want.

You're still the same stubborn...

look, if you and I are finished, ok.

But why can't you stay
to a Christmas party with your friends?

Al.

Oh, Al.
Hiya, kid.

I read all about you
in the newspapers.

You killed 200 japs,
didn't you, Al?

So they tell me.

Come on inside.
I'll take your bag.

I'll show you the way.

You got hurt
in the eyes, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

Sometimes I need some help.

Ma? Al's home.

What's it like when you can't see good?

Is it like being in a dark room?

You got it.

Al! Oh, it's so good to see you.

I don't see why
I can't be sentimental, too,

especially under mistletoe.

Hi, Ella Mae.
How's Jim?

Oh, he's fine.

He'll be home from work
any minute now.

Give me your coat.

Now, you just make yourself
right at home again.

Loretta, you come on
in the kitchen

and help me get the drinks ready.

Al and Ruth,
you go on in there and sit down.

Sofa still in the same place?

Yes, everything's just the same.

Smoke?

No, thanks.
I don't smoke, al, remember?

Yeah. I remember.

Do you have a match?

Got one.

Things pretty much
the same, huh?

Yes. Everybody's working
a little harder, of course.

Things are rationed, too.

Yeah. I heard all about it.

As long as I'm
staying for dinner,

you might as well know

how they feed chow
at the hospital.

I mean, with people
with eye trouble.

They use the clock method.

Potatoes at 12:00 on the plate,

vegetables at 3:00.

Meat at 6:00.
You see?

Virginia wrote me, Al.

Oh. Great little
fixer, that girl.

She's wonderful.

Yes. She's ok.

You're looking fine, Al.

How about you?

You change your hairdo or anything?

No, I... I look
the same, I guess.

You still wear those
silly-lookin' hats?

I guess you'd think so.

We're awfully proud of you, Al.

Aw.

Cocktails, Al, we're being
very festive in your honor.

Cocktails? That's
class, all right.

Have some nuts?

Sure. Thanks.

Oh. Daddy,
Al's here!

Where?
Right there.

Al, you old no-good marine.

How are you?
Boy...

Gee, it's good to see you again.

Isn't it great
to have him back?

Am I glad you could make it
for Christmas with us.

Me, too.

Al? Here's your gun, Al.

Thought you might
like to see how clean I kept it.

Put it
down, dear, he doesn't want it right now.

Here's your drink, Al.
Oh, thanks.

Now, you go on upstairs
and get cleaned up.

I won't have my dinner spoiled.

No, dear.

There,
you see that, Al? I'm still henpecked.

Ha ha.
Sounds it.

I'm having a cocktail
too, Al... ginger ale and grape juice.

Same old stuff, huh?

You betcha.

There's some new
boys up the block.

Kinda rough,
but I found a smooth one.

Ha ha.
I bet you did.

We have a super tree
this year, Al.

Almost touches the ceiling. Swell.

You want me to tell
you what's on it? Never mind.

There's a great
big star on top, and underneath...

never mind, Loretta,
I don't wanna hear about it!

Oh, honey.
Excuse me.

Of course
I want to hear about your Christmas tree.

I'm just tired
from the train, that's all.

It's a nice tree.

Lots of colored lights.

Sure, honey, sure.

Forgive me.

In a minute,
you can tell me all about it, huh?

All right.
I forgive you.

Thanks.

How was your trip, Al?

Ok. Every state sounded alike.

Your old room's all ready.

It's got new wallpaper.
I did it myself.

It's a little lumpy,
but it's clean.

Sorry, Jim,
I've got other plans.

I'm going to Chicago,
to live with my brother.

Oh, I, uh... didn't know that.

Well, I'll see you
in a minute, folks.

I gotta help Ella Mae
in the kitchen.

But, Al...
yeah?

I thought you were
going to stay here and marry Ruth.

Loretta and I have
talked everything over, Al.

She's quite
grown up now. I'll say I am.

Too big to give me a kiss?

Big girls kiss, too.

Mm, you've been
practicing. Uh-huh.

On stevie,
the smooth boy I told you about.

Ha ha. It felt smooth, too.

Al? You're not different, are you?

Of course he's not.

Ma says all
soldiers come back different.

She said you'd be different, too.

I'm a little different,
I suppose.

No, you're not.

Can't see Loretta's
Christmas tree, can I?

I can't see you.

Doesn't that make me
different?

No, I don't mean your eyes.
I mean you.

You're not different.
No?

No...

I think you're just the same.

I can tell.

Thanks.

Ok, kids, come and get it.

Dining room still in the same place?
Sure.

Am I sittin' where I always used to?

Yes, right next to Ella Mae.

Watch me make this on my own.

There. You see?

There have been 20 babies
born on this block

since you left, Al.

Guess that always
happens in wartime.

Train whistle
still go at night? Sure.

Bet you didn't remember
to light the candles, did you?

Oh, dear, no.

Here you are.
Remember me, Ella Mae?

The best little
candle-lighter in Philadelphia.

There.

Al, there's a blind fellow
working at our factory now.

Loretta, stop reaching for things.

Haven't you got a tongue?

Sure, Mom.
But my arm's longer.

It's time for you
to take your present to stevie now.

Go upstairs
and get our coats.

This blind fellow
I was telling you about

went to a school.

You know, it's
a funny thing, al, but...

he can feel those
small rises better than I can see 'em.

It's God's tRuth.

How does he get to the plant?
By bus.

Somebody takes him, huh?

Oh, no, he goes by himself.

Al, I went to see
mr. Davidson last week,

and he said that if you'd go
to the same school

for a couple of months,

you could have
your old job back anytime you wanted.

He did, eh?
Yes.

Well, it just doesn't
fit in with my plans.

I lit the Christmas tree lights.

I'm all ready, Mom.

We promised to
drop in on these neighbors of ours.

Their youngster has a crush
on Loretta, and he's sick.

We won't be gone long.

I'll give you
my present tonight if you stay, Al.

Ok.

There's some beer
in the icebox. Help yourself.

Thanks.
We'll be right back.

Now, don't you dare touch those dishes.

All right.

You're gonna love my present.

It's just what you've always wanted.

Swell, Loretta.

Shall we go into the living room,
Al?

Sure. I don't need any help.

I can find my way
around this house blindfolded.

Peace on the earth, goodwill to men

turn the radio off,
will you, Ruth?

It's some kids outside.

The world in solemn stillness lay

to hear the angels sing

for lo, the days are hastening on

by prophets seen of old...

I want you to take me
to the hospital. Now.

But you said you...

I said I'd stay
because I didn't want any arguments.

Now I want to go.

Loretta will be awfully upset.

Am I going to have
my life run by Loretta?

I wouldn't have
been stuck here in the first place

if it hadn't been
for that kid.

Now, don't blame her.
I brought you here.

Then get me out.

Al, I want
one fair chance to talk to you,

and you've got to give it to me.

Ok, you can talk your head off.

There's nothing you can say

I ain't said to myself
a thousand times.

What's the use?

You don't know what I want to say.

You don't even think of me.

Always trying to run
the whole world by yourself.

Don't pull any tears on me.

That's why I didn't
want to see you in the first place.

I'm not pulling
any tears on you.

You didn't want to see me
because you love me.

Yet you're ready to let
some fool idea in your head

wreck both of us.

Ruth, I'm helpless.
I'd be a drag on you all your life.

Why don't you let
me decide that?

Because I'm nobody's lap dog,
that's why.

You think I want
to live out my life

knowing every day of the year

you married me out of pity?

I got too much pride
for that. I'd rather live alone.

Pride...
you haven't got any pride!

You just tell yourself that.

You haven't got
enough pride to face the tRuth.

Virginia told you
about the jobs.

You could get hundreds of them.

But you didn't want
to learn one.

You want to be lonely.

You want to feel sorry for yourself!
You wanna be helpless!

You haven't got the pride
to accept being blind like a man.

Get me out of here! I won't.

Get in that car
and drive me. I won't.

You're going to stay here
and listen to me. I won't drive you.

That's fine.
That's great. That ties it up.

I could beat
your ears off for saying that.

But you missed
one card... I may be blind,

but I know where
the phone is in this house.

I'm calling a cab!

Al!

I don't need any help.
Please leave me alone.

Oh, Al, don't be hurt.

I've gotta go get that cab.

If you go out
of this room now,

you'll leave me
to stumble all through my life

the way you just did.

I don't pity you, Al.
I love you.

Suppose there never was a war,
darling.

What if we were married and
one day I got hit by a car

and was left a cripple...

would you walk out on me?

No, you wouldn't.

Darling, my heart's
been falling over things all year

because you've been gone.

I need you, Al.

Sure you'll need me, too.

What's wrong with that?

Why shouldn't
two people need each other?

I know these last months

have been awful
for you, sweetheart.

And it's only
because you're fine and decent

that you're afraid of being
a burden to me.

But you won't be, not you, Al.

You can work.

We can have a family.

Sure, we'll have a problem,

but everyone has problems.

All married couples do.

People can't let
each other down because of that.

I don't know what I'll do
if you leave me now.

I need you too much.

Ruthie, don't.

I don't want to make you cry.

It's just that I was
an ordinary guy before,

and I wasn't worth you then.

And now, I'm less than an ordinary guy.

I can't see.

Less than ordinary.
You?

Oh, sweetheart, don't you realize

that every single
man who's fought

is no longer ordinary?

Don't you realize
that millions and millions of people

were looking
to Guadalcanal every day

when you were fighting there?

They were, millions of them.

Every civilized
person in the world, I guess.

It wasn't any ordinary guy

who kept the japs back that night.

It was one of the most extraordinary
fellows in the world.

You...
al Schmid.

South pacific force
of the United States pacific fleet,

headquarters of the commander.

In the name of the president
of the United States,

the commander, south pacific area
and south pacific force,

takes pleasure in presenting
the navy cross to

private albert a. Schmid.
350951,

United States marine corps reserve,

for service as set forth
in the following citation.

"For extraordinary heroism in the
line of his profession as machine-gunner

"in the action against
a strong japanese landing force

"in the solomon islands
on august 21, 1942.

"Schmid's machine-gun squad
was attacked by the enemy.

"Lacking the protection
of riflemen,

"it was necessary for the squad

"to tear down
their frontal protection,

"in order to meet the oncoming enemy.

"Under the greatest difficulties,

"the enemy attack was met
and repulsed.

"In the action,
Schmid was seriously wounded.

"His courage,
intrepidity, and fortitude

contributed largely
to the defeat of the enemy. "

W.F. Halsey.
Admiral, U.S. Navy.

I congratulate you, Schmid.

I'm mighty proud, sir.

That was wonderful, Al.

Let's get that cab
with the red top on.

How do you know it's red?

Its kind of fuzzy,
but it's red, ain't it?

Yes, darling, it is red.

Now, look, honey,
don't get your hopes up.

That doesn't mean
I'm gonna see good again.

Whichever way it is,
we'll do it together.

Where to, folks?

Home.

America, america...

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