Battle Cry Page #8

That's all that matters to me,

is this day and this minute.

I'm tired, Andy.

I'm tired of living in fear.

Congratulations.

I can thank my boys for these.

One sour note.

Mac's boys are acting up again.

More limericks.

- Fox Company.

- Get Mac up here, please.

What are you trying to hide?

- We decided we wouldn't let you see this.

- Let's have it.

"Report on the 8th Marines'

Hike to Foxton."

Let's see, now.

"Sixty miles to Foxton.

Concrete highway.

Bivouac in the field.

Trucks drove them back to camp.

Twenty hours marching time."

Great Scott, that's no record. Our battalion

can cut hours off of that time.

I knew you'd say that.

Get this to Message Center

to inform all company commanders.

The 1 st Battalion's already

scheduled a hike...

...but I think it's a bit soon for us

to attempt a 60-mile hike with full packs.

If you ask me,

it's just what the doctor ordered.

We'll crack the record.

And as far as the 1 st Battalion goes...

...they haven't seen the day we couldn't

hike them into the ground. Come in.

Get with Operations on that.

They can start typing it up.

I understand those boys of yours

have been getting poetic again.

And just because I gave permission

to build a clubhouse...

...I didn't okay your stealing

every loose board in camp.

I guess they're just red-blooded American boys, colonel.

How did you find out I made lieutenant colonel?

I just heard myself.

Communicator's job is to communicate, sir.

Well, you tell those red-blooded

American boys of yours...

...they better enjoy that dance tonight,

because after that...

We know all about that too, sir.

- You know all about what?

- The 60-mile hike to Foxton.

My outfit handles Message Center too.

- Get out of here.

- Yes, sir.

Colonel Huxley.

Your Honor, I'd like to have you meet

some of the ladies we're dancing with.

This is...

I've forgotten their names, but make yourself at home.

I'll get us some beer.

Hello, Pedro.

Incidentally, congratulations on your Silver Star.

Gracias, my storywriting friend.

Like I was saying, we've got the best sergeant,

the best outfit...

...and the best colonel in the Marine Corps.

- Excuse me, colonel.

Have you seen the view from the terrace, sir?

I'd like to have you see it, sir.

If you'll excuse me.

- What is this, Mac?

- The view's best from over here, sir.

Compliments of those red-blooded

American boys of yours, sir.

- A little fuel for Foxton.

- Yes, sir.

Sir! Colonel Huxley!

Colonel Huxley, Mrs. Rogers.

Sergeant Mac, Mrs. Rogers.

Beautiful night, isn't it?

Nice dance we're having.

Mac, Andy, come on! These girls want to

hear our marching song! Let's go.

Excuse me, sir.

Excuse me, Pat.

So you're Andy's girl.

I've heard an awful lot about you.

I'll never know how that big lumberjack

ever ran into such a wonderful streak of luck.

And you're High Pockets.

- Oh, excuse me, Colonel Huxley.

- That's all right.

I don't mind High Pockets as long

as they don't call me the old man.

I should be very angry

if they called you the old man.

As a matter of fact, your men adore you.

Well, I don't think I'd go quite that far,

Mrs. Rogers, but thank you.

- My name is Pat.

- Thank you, Pat.

No, don't go in just yet. Please.

I don't get an opportunity like this

very often...

...to talk to such an attractive young lady.

Must be wretched having to keep yourself

isolated from your men.

I see you have a knack for reading people's minds.

You must be a very wise girl, Pat.

It's not hard to see a lonely person...

...even though he is surrounded by 900 Marines.

I imagine you know what it's like to be homesick.

I didn't realize it showed.

- Would you like to see...?

- Your children?

No, we have no children.

This is my wife.

She's lovely.

I know how you must miss her.

Jean has a lot in common with you New Zealand girls.

This war has done that.

You're all soldiers' wives here.

It's funny, she could always read my mind too.

In a great many ways, you remind me of my wife.

Well, I'm sorry, did...?

Did I say something wrong?

I'm not fit to remind you of your wife, colonel.

I'm so ashamed.

I can't use the war as an excuse anymore,

I know that.

But this chance with Andy,

I thought it would mean happiness.

It was a straw, and I grabbed for it.

I see.

Well, I didn't...

You're not the only person in this world

who ever grabbed for a straw.

We all do it sometime in our lives.

But in our mind, in our conscience...

...we have to find out for ourselves

what we can live with and what we can't.

You're the only one who can make that decision.

Nice dance, wasn't it, honey?

I won't be able to see you for a few days.

We're hiking to Foxton.

- We've got something to talk about.

- It'll keep till morning. I'm tired.

It won't keep, Andy.

I'm calling it off between us.

What'd you say?

I don't think I get you.

It's all over, Andy.

Honey, what are you talking about?

Are you nuts?

What have I done?

- I don't want a scene. Please.

- Pat, you're talking crazy.

I know what you may think of me.

I can't do anything about it, it's too late now.

But I'm just not cut out for this sort of thing.

I was miserably mistaken to think

I could live like this.

Whatever you may think is right...

It just doesn't matter anymore.

- I'm crazy about you!

- Andy, please...

I don't want a showdown. I'm not asking

anything from you, I just want you to go.

I can't stay in this country and not be able to see you.

Don't shout!

I know this is sudden.

You're shocked and hurt.

- You're liable to say something you'll regret.

- I'm regretting nothing. I love you!

Don't say that, you know you don't mean it.

Honey, I could never leave you, I love you.

I got an idea. Let's get married.

Let's get married when I get back from Foxton.

I know how you feel about the war,

but us Swedes are tough. I know I'll make it.

We've got to take a chance.

Oh, Andy...

Andy, I'm so frightened!

I'll see the chaplain. It's a lot of red tape,

but I'll get it squared away.

Pat, I ain't never been so happy in my life.

- Andy.

- What, honey?

If we have a little boy...

...would you mind terribly if we named him Timmy...

...after my brother?

Are we gonna have a baby?

We're gonna have a baby?

- Yes, Andy.

- Why didn't you tell me, honey?

I didn't want to hold you that way.

You'd have let me go?

You'd have sent me away,

you'd have done that for me?

Andy, I've loved you a long, long time.

What other decision could I make?

At least I knew I had something

this war couldn't take away from me.

Hut, two, three, four.

Hut, two, three, four.

Column, right, huh!

- How far we going?

- About 60 miles.

- I wonder where we'll bed down tonight.

- Wherever it is, you'll be alone.

From the moment we left the camp,

we knew High Pockets meant business.

The pace never slackened through

a torrent of rain and a long, black night.

The sun felt good the next morning,

but the rain had taken its toll.

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