Cast a Giant Shadow Page #2

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I merely repeated your instructions, sir,|that I was to be given the VIP treatment.

Col. Marcus,|would you mind explaining to me...

...how you arrived in|this particular area...

...before the whole U. S. Army?

Yes, sir. We missed our drop zone.

We were up in the hills|when the Nazis pulled out.

We saw lots of guys|die in the last week.

I thought there might be|something to drink in this town.

- Got your bellyful?|- No, sir.

We've been knocking off guys|who were making soap out of my relatives.

I don't ever want to|get behind that desk...

Get down! He's on the clock. Get him.

Dirty Kraut.

Cut that man down.

- Capt. Billings!|- Yes, sir.

Clean out every building on this square.

Yes, sir.

That was close.

Did you find anything to drink around here?

I don't mean water.

I don't mean water.

You're right.

Thanks.

Arrest this officer, take him to the rear,|and put him on the first air transport out.

You must be joking.

If I were running the Pentagon,|I'd have you stood up against a wall.

Instead, they'll probably|pin a medal on you.

Have you ever heard|of the word "discipline"?

A staff officer acting like a kid|playing cowboys and Indians...

...is an example that might cost us|a few thousand lives.

What are you trying to prove, Marcus?

I wish to hell I knew, sir.

I wish to hell I knew, sir.

I wish to hell I knew.

I wish to hell I knew.

Mickey.

Mickey.

Why don't we get a divorce?

What?

I don't want a divorce,|but a girl has to have some pride.

What are you talking about?

We haven't really had a marriage.

It's been more like the|world's longest affair.

So why not be sensible?|Just cut the whole thing.

We can just go to bed together|every time you pass through New York.

That's a great proposition|from your own wife!

Emma.

I told you...

...we're starting the marriage right now.

I'm staying here.

No.

You're going.

I have to send you off|to your flea-bitten war.

It gets you more excited than I do,|doesn't it?

- That's a hell of a thing to say right now.|- It's true.

If I tried to keep you here,|our marriage wouldn't have a prayer...

...if it still has one.

I'm not going to lock you in a cage|and let the relatives throw you peanuts.

The family hero...

And have you hate me for keeping you|from trying to get yourself killed.

I love you too much.

Someday, you're going to find|whatever it is you're looking for.

Then you're really going to come home.

Did you ever notice|we don't have any children?

Only me.

I'd like so much to have your child.

I was the only girl in Brooklyn|who didn't get pregnant during the war.

My mother kept the statistics.

What kind of a father would I make now?

- Maybe when everything's right...|- Everything's never going to be right...

...for anybody.

But they still have children...

...and I want yours.

Ours.

Now.

There's a chance, isn't there,|I might never have you again?

You always come barging|into the Pentagon...

...asking a question|on a life-or-death matter...

...to be answered in exactly two minutes.

I'd just be an adviser.|It's headquarters stuff.

You couldn't advise a taffy|pull without slugging somebody.

I know it's touchy.

What's our official policy|in the Middle East?

This afternoon or this morning?

There's good military reason for remaining|friendly with the Arab governments...

...and none for loaning a reserve officer...

...as military adviser|to a pipsqueak nation...

...that'll be blown off the map on May 15.

You can't put out all the fires.

Suppose I go as a private citizen?

Then don't involve the Army in|any way. Don't use your rank...

...or even your right name.

Is it all right with you|if I keep the same sex?

Colonel, I am not requesting you|not to go...

...I am ordering you not to go.

That's the best|damn reason I've heard yet for going.

You're going to get yourself killed|someday sticking your neck out.

I can hardly wait.

Thank you, General.

You sure this passport's okay?

It must be. You're the|fourth one to use it.

- Mr. Michael Stone?|- Yes, sir.

For what purpose|are you entering Palestine?

Pleasure.

This is hardly a pleasant country just now.|You've chosen an odd time.

Some of us have odd pleasures.

Where will you be staying?

Tel Aviv...

...with relatives.

Somebody's supposed to be|meeting me here.

- Indeed?|- Michael!

Mike, it's so good to see you after so long.

I'm sorry. I'm very late. How are you?

How do I look?

Tired, like you've been making|love to all the girls in America.

It's good to be back.

Welcome to the promised land,|Col. Marcus.

Thank you.

If he knew, why didn't he stop me?

Some of the British are angels,|the rest are bastards.

You were lucky. Probably he's with us.

Is that a bus or a tank?

A little bit of each.

- Shalom, Yaakov.|- Shalom, Magda.

By the way, what's your name?

- Magda Simon.|- Magda.

You'll live at our apartment. It's|better if the British ask questions.

From now on, I'm your sister.

That's nice. What's the attitude|on incest in this country?

Very biblical.

Especially since I'm also married.|My husband is an officer in the Palmach...

...but you can try if you wish.

It makes life interesting.

- Shalom, Magda.|- Shalom, Rona.

Here.

This, there.

What'd she say?

Never mind. You wouldn't do it anyway.

Rona! Rona!

She's hit.

Give me a bandage.

I wrote the book on this gun, and I|don't like girls fighting my wars for me.

She's not fighting for you.|It isn't your war.

Why do you turn everything|into a meeting?

Look, I'm sorry.

You don't understand a word|I'm saying, but I'm sorry.

Go to hell!

- David, why do you people take this?|- What do you mean?

Send out some men|and wipe out that town!

- Battles aren't won from inside a bus.|- The British are still in control.

We're not even supposed to have|these guns. It's punishable by death.

Then at least die standing up.

Sometimes we do.

In the Negev, Egyptian|tanks, armor and artillery...

...are ready to roll across the|border against us. Number unknown.

In Jerusalem,|4,000 of the Grand Mufti's men...

...already brought the city under fire.

They're trying to close the road|that connects it with Tel Aviv.

Our convoys are being ambushed,|with terrible losses.

Somewhere in Jordan...

...the Arab Legion:|British-armed, British-officered.

The best-equipped|force in the Middle East...

...apart from my wife's family.

Since the United Nations|voted for partition...

...the British are leaving, slowly...

...turning over their fortified positions|to all the Arabs in this country...

...who've never loved us.

We're outnumbered 60-to-1...

Pardon me, 60-to-2,|now that you're here.

What would the Pentagon|suggest we do, Mr. Stone?

Teach them to love you, fast.

Wait a minute.

Asher, you've told me everything,|except what I want to know:

The disposition of your own army,|the Haganah.

They have a mean disposition, Mr. Stone.

Certainly you must have heard that.

Don't you want to tell me?

I'm not quite sure|what you need that information for.

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