Battle Cry Page #3

I'll have them run a line up.

All right.

- You got your Indians working?

- Yes, sir. Right over here.

Lighttower and his all-Navajo network.

That Huxley's really a smart boy.

He's gonna foul up the Japs

so they can't intercept our messages.

Seems that he read someplace that

they used Sioux talkers in World War I.

You can stop. We know you're reading

High Pockets the Riot Act.

Mr. Jones, I hate to interrupt your meal hour...

...but when you finish feeding your face,

I want you to run a line up to Fox Company.

Yes, sir. Right, sir.

On the double, sir.

Come on. If I don't get this dame's sister

a date, I'll be out in the cold.

No, thanks.

Man, you're the limit.

You gotta loosen up sometimes.

I enjoy myself on liberty.

- What do you do?

- Ride the San Diego Coronado Ferryboat.

You what?

Take a boat ride.

You ought to try it sometime, Andy.

It's very pleasant.

It gives me a chance to think.

I might write a book about all this one of these days.

You ride the Coronado Ferry.

Marion, believe me, I think you will write that book.

Excuse me.

I don't seem to have a light.

Thanks.

Don't think I'm forward,

but I've seen you here before.

I travel to Coronado every night.

You're almost getting to be a fixture.

I was curious.

It's quiet here. I can think.

Lonesome?

No, not really.

I'll bet you're thinking about a girl.

I haven't got a girl.

No man has a girl back home

when he's talking to a girl in San Diego.

Look, lady, I'm not one of those guys.

There are things that mean more to me

than a brief conversation.

I'll bet you really don't have a girl.

I said I didn't.

Forgive me.

I shouldn't have bothered you.

Miss?

I'm sorry.

It's sort of hard to explain.

But being out here, for me, well, I can think.

Things make sense.

That rat race back there's almost another world.

What do you think about, Marine?

I think about how I'd like to write

about the war and this city and the guys.

I suppose you think I'm off my rocker.

- How old are you?

- Nineteen.

A completely honest gyrene.

You're one for the books.

You should have said 25 to impress me.

Is it a crime to be 19?

Miss?

My name's Marion, Marion Hotchkiss.

You said you take this boat often.

Maybe I'll see you again.

Could be.

Try your skill here.

Ten shots for a quarter.

Everybody wins here.

Ten shots for a quarter here.

- Give me a bourbon and Scotch.

- What?

Well, just give me what that guy's got.

I'm gonna tell you, buddy.

I'm gonna tell you, I don't like Huxley.

He's a nice guy, I know, I know,

but I don't like him, see?

You know, I don't like this lousy town.

I don't like the people in it, see?

I like people.

I like people who likes me, see?

All the people here cares about is your money.

Lousy, rotten money.

Did I ever tell you about Kathy?

She's my girl.

She's a character, but she's cute.

Feeling better?

Where am I?

You'd better take this.

- How did I get here?

- You're at the USO.

Some Marines dropped you off.

Never again.

Thanks a lot for...

...for taking me in.

You'd better get back to camp.

Sleep it off.

I guess I'd better.

Thanks again, Ms...?

Mrs. Yarborough.

Thanks.

- Mrs. Yarborough?

- Yes?

I was wondering if you'd walk me to the bus depot.

I'm sorry. I'm terribly busy.

Can I ask you something?

I know working one of these clubs

you hear this all the time...

...but I haven't talked to a woman for almost six months.

I just thought that...

Wash up.

I'll get my coat.

I had a crush on a football player one time.

How come you live in San Diego

and run the USO club?

The USO keeps me busy.

Vernon... Mr. Yarborough's

what you call a dollar-a-year man.

He tours the Pacific.

He only gets in a couple of days a month.

I found commuting from Illinois

pretty difficult these days...

...so I've sort of become a Navy wife till the war's over.

Guess you have a pretty fancy place

in Arlington Heights.

It wasn't always that way, I can tell you.

I come from a family of nine girls.

Well, let's not fall into a dirge.

Say, young man, USO has a hayride

every Friday night.

I highly recommend it instead of getting drunk.

Cigarette?

- I shouldn't smoke on the street.

- Go on.

I'd better go back.

You're not sorry.

Neither am I.

I don't know what got into me.

I've got to go back.

I'll see you Friday.

- All right, try it.

- Nothing coming in.

I tell you, it's completely gone, Mac.

- Fix it.

- Fix it?!

Sir, the TD Y's on the blink again.

- Keep some runners handy.

- They're standing by.

Them radios aren't worth

the tubes they're made of.

Do you feel you're incapable of operating

with the present equipment?

None of my equipment would've

helped Custer at Little Bighorn.

Sergeant, we're also carrying small arms from World War I.

Now, I'm not going through our present equipment roster.

But you keep one thing in

Until we're issued new gear, we'll get 100% efficiency...

...out of every last piece we have now.

And we'll train these men in such a manner

as to overcome faults in the equipment.

- Is that clear?

- Very clear.

- Are you the communicator on this lash-up?

- Yes, sir.

Well, then start communicating.

That's it.

It's a beautiful story, Marion.

Do you really like it?

Very much.

I like meeting you here every liberty.

I like talking to you.

Me too.

Let me tell you something

about my writing these stories.

Just being with you, it's untied a lot of knots.

Don't.

Don't stop me now.

I don't get this brave very often.

Rae, I just never could write until I met you.

Does that sound funny?

You're a sweet kid.

You'll be a big writer someday.

Yeah.

Rae, how about our meeting

in San Diego next liberty?

We can have dinner and take in a show.

Couldn't we go on just meeting here?

We've been seeing each other for a month,

but it's always here on the ferry.

I can't.

What do you mean you can't?

I just can't.

I thought you liked me.

Of course I like you, Marion.

Would I sit here until dawn

every time you were in if I didn't?

Yeah.

If you want to make a big secret of it, I...

- I guess I'd better shove.

- Marion?

Will you be here next liberty?

Yes.

I'll be here.

Goodness, that was fun.

I haven't been on a hayride in years.

Come on in.

- May I fix you a drink?

- I gave it up for hayrides, remember?

Oh, yes.

If you'll excuse me a minute, I think I'll freshen up.

This darn hay is driving me nuts.

Sorry. I felt kind of itchy.

A buddy of mine back at the base reads a lot.

I'll bet he's read all those books.

Nice place you've got here.

Got a pool too, huh?

Won't you change your mind about that drink?

I guess I better shove off for camp.

Will I...?

Will I see you tomorrow night?

I shouldn't.

Oh, all right. I'll see you.

You should have fun like this more often.

I've been too busy.

With all this, I...

I guess you have everything.

I have everything I want, Danny.

I had nothing before I met my husband.

Everything?

Do you know, I...

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