Cast a Giant Shadow Page #6

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It was my baby, too. Remember?

I remember.

If you'd written me when it happened...

...I could've come back|when it might've done some good.

Are you angry|because I'm not desperately sick?

Of course not.

But you could've answered my cable|to say you were fine.

- I gave up everything to rush here...|- All right, Mickey.

Part of my sickness was you,|that should be obvious.

I wanted you back.

I heard so many stories about you and...

Did you believe them?

I don't now. Now that you're here.

Mickey?

Why did you come home?

I was lonesome for your mother.

Don't hate me for loving you so much.

To Col. David Marcus, for his|able work in World War II...

...in the fields of combined planning|and military government...

...which paved the road for Anglo-American|agreement on many complex problems...

...His Majesty is glad to bestow the rank of|Honorary Officer of the Military Division...

...of the Most Excellent Order|of the British Empire.

Thank you, sir.

Congratulations, darling.

- I think this calls for a drink.|- Mr. Ambassador, my wife.

- How do you do?|- She drinks, too.

That's a fine tan you have there, Colonel.|Might I inquire where you got it?

- Traveling, Ambassador.|- Indeed?

- Any place I'd be interested in?|- You'd be interested in every place.

"The sun never sets on the British Empire. "

- Not if we can help it, it doesn't.|- Sometimes you can't help it.

But this time...

...Mr. Stone...

...I think your friends would realize|that we're only trying to be helpful.

A British military base in the Middle East|is a necessity for the free world.

If they insist on our forces|being withdrawn...

...your friends will be at the mercy|of terrible, powerful enemies...

...with legitimate claims|on their territory...

...and enough arms to overrun|them within a few days.

And they will find,|possibly to their surprise...

...that they're alone and friendless|in the practical political world.

No nation is going to risk|being the first to recognize...

...so weak and controversial a government.

They are...

...as the Bible says...

..."a stiff-necked people. "

Perhaps you could persuade|them that it's better to...

...bend a little, if those necks|are going to be saved at all.

Excuse me.

What was that all about?

I got this medal because they|don't trust Western Union.

They want me to deliver a message.

Listen, Mike, do you|think the United States...

...will ever recognize the new|state, when and if it's declared?

What the hell for? What's|in it for us but trouble?

Your friends may have the|Bible in their favor...

...but the Arabs have the oil.

Do you think our state department's|going to hesitate choosing up sides?

I guess you're right.

They're already putting the pressure|on your pals to postpone independence.

What's a few years,|a few centuries, to those people?

And I'm glad you|finally got some sense...

...and pulled out before it was too late.

Now, listen, Mike, you|bigoted, ignorant...

I'll try to enlighten|you, but I doubt I can...

...because you have no idea of|what the stakes are over there.

Here's a country surrounded|by five Arab nations...

...ready to shove them|into the Mediterranean.

No guns, no tanks, no friends, nothing.

People fighting with bare hands|for a piece of desert...

...because it's the last place|on this whole earth...

...that they can go to and try to live...|- Then why did you come back?

Wouldn't they let you play captain?

You know me too damn well.

You don't know me at all.

You don't give any of the rest of|us credit for being human beings.

I saw Dachau, too. Remember?

And if anybody ever deserved a home|on the basis of sheer gallantry...

...it's those poor|devils from those camps.

And you have friends too, Mickey...

...although it'll probably|upset you to find it out.

They'll ring every doorbell in Washington|from the White House down, if it'll help.

And I'll raise such a stink...

...they'll go in and out of the|state department with gas masks.

But what about you?

Are you too big to go back|and help your own people...

...unless they bow down and|kiss your West Point ring?

Get off my back.

What happened to that|insubordinate SOB...

...that jumped out of one of my planes|over Normandy?

He won the distinguished service medal?

Are you proud of that medal, and|ashamed you might win the star of David?

Stand up and be counted, Mickey.

And there's a lot of us|who'll stand up with you.

L'Chalm.

Maybe you ought to|stay off our side, Mike.

Nobody will ever believe it.

L'Chalm.

Stone!

Hello, Asher. What's new?

- I never thought I'd see you again.|- It's a surprise to both of us.

My apologies for the airport. The|Arab Legion took Lydda two days ago.

I'll bet.

So you're back. Why?

Never mind. We're glad to have you.

I hope you mean that, 'cause|I'm staying, even if you don't.

Haven't you heard?

The Palmach and Haganah have accepted|your suggestions for unification.

And the old man has us|following your training program.

You and the Palmach sneered|at every suggestion I ever made.

Don't you realize who|you're dealing with?

We have to pretend we know|everything because we know so little.

Everything'll be different from now on?

Of course not.

We'll criticize every suggestion you make,|but that doesn't mean we won't do it.

I'll bet if Moses came down|from Mount Sinai again...

...you'd turn down five|of the Commandments...

...just so God wouldn't get a swelled head.

Mick? Hang on to this.

It may be the only bourbon|between here and the next oasis.

I got the pilot in New Jersey,|plane in Burbank...

...license in Panama,|and the guns in Czechoslovakia.

It's a new kind of Foreign Legion.

Vince Ramondi, pride of Passaic,|Asher Gonen, pride of Tel Aviv.

According to my flight plan, we're|in Mexico City, so buenas noches.

Sorry, I might have|dented your plane landing.

Glad to have you and the|plane in any condition.

It's not much of a bargain.|It's leaking a lot of oil.

- And I'd fly for anybody who pays me.|- It doesn't matter.

- To us, you're a hero.|- Maybe that's why we're all here.

And furthermore...

...we've been told that if|we go through with our plan...

...the city of Tel Aviv|will be bombed tonight...

...by an enemy air force.

They may come over in great strength...

...and as yet...

...we are not equipped|to meet such an attack.

We've also received word|that the United Nations...

...would like to revise|its decision of November 29...

...granting us independence.

We have informed all|nations concerned...

...that we consider the original|decision to be irrevocable!

Therefore, we members of the|people's council assembled here...

...on the day of the termination|of the British mandate...

...by virtue of our natural|and historic right...

...and on the strength of the resolution|of the United Nations General Assembly...

...do hereby declare the|establishment of the State of Israel!

"The United States of America...

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