Across the Pacific Page #3

they wouldnt have me.

- I cant understand that.

- It'ss simple.

They dont want men that have been

kicked out of another army.

Youre frank, anyhow.

- I admire that quality.

- Why shouldnt I be?

The so-called facts...

...are known in every army post

in this hemisphere.

I understand how you feel.

But you cant afford to be bitter

against your own countrymen.

- Particularly in these troubled times.

- Cant I?

How do you know what I can afford?

Im sorry.

I didnt mean to intrude

an unwanted opinion.

Okay, doc.

Ill hire out to whoever

will pay for my services.

Chiang Kai-shek, Hirohito.

Anybody who will pay.

I cant tell you

how I sympathize with you.

- Were you stationed long in the Canal Zone?

- Quite a while.

I served at Fort Amador and Fort Sherman.

I was attached to staff.

Amador guards the Pacific approach,

doesnt it?

Yeah.

- I think Ive had too much to drink.

- You'rre ill?

Can I help you, Mr. Leland?

Sick? Need help?

Go away.

Tea? Hold the head?

Beat it.

- Too much whiskey. Very sick. Should-a be.

- Beat it.

This is the happiest moment of my life.

My prayers have been answered.

Close the door when you leave.

They have a nice burial at sea.

Go away, will you?

I wanna die alone without a friend.

You will. Is there anything I can do?

Something to make you sicker?

Just hang around.

Keep your shoes on.

I hope youll need them.

- Rick, before I get off the gangplank...

- What?

Are there any stray hayseeds

in my hair?

Now look, angel,

Ive gotta see a friend of mine.

I think I can borrow some money.

You wait here for me.

- Ill only be a few minutes.

- Okay.

Here you are, folks. Here you are.

The collected ingenuity of

the four corners of the Earth for a quarter.

Twenty-five cents apiece.

Every article is unconditionally guaranteed.

If they dont work,

bring them back.

I wont be here.

Here'ss something nice.

Scare your friends.

You wont have many friends.

Whats the matter?

You taking root there?

Step right up, folks. Twenty-five cents.

One-quarter of a dollar.

It amuses the kiddies

and amazes the old folks.

Send you to the madhouse.

Here you are, folks. Here you are.

The collected ingenuity of

the four corners of the Earth for a quarter.

- Eighth floor.

- Eight.

- Eight, please.

- Eight.

Atlas Finance Company.

- One moment, please. Yes, sir?

- Id like to see Mr. Hart.

- May I have your name, please?

- Leland.

Hes expecting you. Go right in.

Yes?

- Well, glad to see you, Captain Leland.

- Colonel Hart.

- Sit down.

- Thank you.

Say, I had to duck a fellow

on the way up here.

White man.

Tall and thin.

Wore a long black overcoat and derby hat.

I think I know the man.

We may soon pay him a visit.

- How did it go up north?

- Everything went about as expected.

But I must say that their rejection

of my army application...

...was just a little bit

on the insulting side.

By the way, how did you manage to

get me on the boat?

Your story was told in the right quarters.

Dr. Lorenz was well informed

about you before you even came aboard.

- Now, theres a girl.

- I know. We'vve been checking on her.

But from what I hear,

I dont think she'ss the type.

- Would she be there if she werent?

- Possibly, but I doubt it.

However, thats up to you to find out.

What'ss she like?

Well, remember the girl you used

to dream about when you were 19?

Why, very well.

- This is her in the flesh.

- I see.

Well, how are you

and the doctor getting along?

Famously, Id say.

Well, dont take too much for granted.

Lorenz is no chump,

or he wouldnt have lasted so long.

He may be just giving you enough rope.

Another thing, remember, on shipboard,

anything can happen to a man.

A box drops on your skull,

a wave washes you overboard.

Ill be careful.

Youre going to have a new shipmate.

Getting aboard is a young man

by the name of Totsuiko, Joe Totsuiko.

A member of the Kokuryukai,

and tough.

A Jap gunsel.

So watch out, if you bump into him.

- Yeah, Ill do that.

- There'ss one other item.

The details of your disgrace

have been widely circulated...

...in Panama and the Pacific.

So you wont be welcomed

exactly with open arms.

Ill be on my own down there?

Smith is expecting you.

No one else knows.

Some big things are brewing.

We have reason to believe theyll boil over.

We dont know how soon

or what side of the pot...

...but theyll involve the canal,

and that'ss where you come in.

Because Lorenz

may or may not be the key man.

Its up to you to find out.

- Success.

- Thank you.

I hope you and the girl

I wanted to marry when I was 19...

...have a nice lunch together.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye.

- Whos your friend?

- I don'tt know.

I hate to complain,

but hes been pretty nasty.

- Yeah? About what?

- The usual thing.

- Do you want to meet this lady?

- No.

She was under the impression

you wanted to talk.

Not me. I guess I was just

reciting something to myself.

Why dont you recite something to me?

I dont know what you'rre talking about.

I gotta get going.

Its not polite to walk

out on a lady like that.

First, you say youre sorry,

then you say goodbye.

I beg your pardon, lady.

I mistook you for a girl who used

to come in here and sit all the time.

It wont happen again...

- Why didnt you really hit him? Afraid?

- No, he had my number.

- Did you get your money?

- Yeah, more than I expected. Did I talk fast.

In that case, youre going

to get yourself a new suit.

This has been some day

for a girl from Medicine Hat.

Is that a gag, or do you really

come from Medicine Hat?

Whats wrong with Medicine Hat?

Except its cold in winter

and nothing happens there?

You happened there.

Thats enough for me.

By any chance, are you a woman

of means, by any chance, I hope?

My fathers a farmer.

I work in a 10-cent store.

I sell peanut brittle.

I see you whipped up

the gaudy gown that you wear...

...on the family sewing machine.

- Im on your blacklist?

- No, I'mm used to bad luck.

Itll probably end up with

Captain Higoto marrying us.

Oh, no. I want a church wedding

and a groom who has more than two suits.

How long were you in Panama, Rick?

About four years.

You ever hear of a man by the

name of Morton? Dan Morton?

Dan...

Yeah, hes a planter, isn'tt he?

A lot of dough. Why?

Hes related to some friends of mine.

Look him up. He might take a fancy

to you and leave you all his money.

Im not so obsessed

with money as you seem to be.

I can do without it.

Well, you stick around with me

and youre going to get plenty of practice.

We can walk, Rick. Save your money.

This is no time to be a pinchpenny.

Im wooing a girl.

Pier 16.

Someone should tell our little friend that

tight overcoats and guns dont go together.

Hes liable to get picked up by a cop.

Pier 16.

Well, if wed known he was coming here,

we could have given him a lift.

Whats up, Rick?

- You stay here.

- You cant dump me.

- Somethings gonna happen.

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